a step to the bath with a character of the place. ward, edward, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing w estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a step to the bath with a character of the place. ward, edward, - . p. printed and sold by j. how ..., london : . attributed to ward by wing and nuc pre- imprints. advertisement: verso of t.p. imperfect: stained. reproduction of original in the bristol public library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng bath (england) -- fiction. bath (england) -- description and travel. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - jennifer kietzman sampled and proofread - jennifer kietzman text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a step to the bath : with a character of the place . london , printed and sold by i. how , in the ram-head-inn-yard , in fanchurch-street , . books printed and sold by j. how , in the ram-head-inn - yard in fenchurch-street ; and by m. fabian , at mercers-chappel . . sot's paradise : or the humours of a derby-ale-house ; with a satyr upon the ale. price six pence . . a trip to iamaica : with a true character of the people and island . price six pence . . eclesia & factio . a dialogue between bow-steeple-dragon , and the exchange-grashopper . price six pence . . the poet 's ramble after riches . with reflections upon a country corporation . also the author's lamentation in the time of adversity . price six pence . . a trip to new-england . with a character of the country and people , both english and indians . price six pence . . modern religion and ancient loyalty : a dialogue . price six pence . . the world bewitch'd . a dialogue between two astrologers and the author . with infallible predictions of what will happen from the vices and villanies practis'd in court , city and country . price six pence . . a walk to islington : with a description of new tunbridge - vvells , and sadler's musick-house . price six pence . . the humours of a coffee-house : a comedy . price six pence . . a frolick to horn-fair . with a walk from cuckold's-point thro' deptford and greenwich . price six-pence . . the dancing-school . with the adventures of the easter-holy-days . price six pence . . the first volume of the london-spy : in twelve parts . . the second volume of the london-spy : in six parts . price six pence each ; or they may be had both volumes bound together ; and also bound with the rest of the authors writings . . the metamorphos'd beau , &c. . the english nun , &c. . laugh and be fat : or , an antidote against melancholy . containing great variety of comical intrigues in town and country . to which is added nine delightful tales . price is . a step to the bath . the town , and its diversions , being grown as stale as a cast-off mistress ; and the chiefest of its inhabitants withdrawn to their rural pleasures ; and duns as impudent as d — the poulterian officer : so that being bereav'd of the one , and damnably fatigu'd by the other ; necessity , the mother of invention , oblig'd me to take a country journey , for self-preservation sake ; having money to spend , tho' none to pay. and the last summers expedition at the wells , not agreeing with my present constitution , and my inclinations being bent after novelties , i resolv'd to steer my course westward , to see what pleasure those pools of iniquity , call'd the bath , would afford me . in order for which , i presently took hack , and bid him drive me to that terrible sign the sarazens-head in friday-street , where i gave earnest for a place in the following mondays coach ; but being saturday , and late in the season , i thought i should have no reason to curse my company , for mine was the first that was taken : but my tun-belly'd hostess , to encourage me , said , that notwithstanding 't was so late in the week , she doubted not but there would be more places taken before night . in hopes of which , i left her to prepare for my approaching journey ; and money being the life of the cause , i muster'd up a pretty tolerable sum , and for conveniency of carriage , converted it into the noblest of metals . then i began to think of the redemption of several captivated necessaries , which an unlucky accident had brought into bondage ; as an vltramarine ioseph , a pocket monitor of tompion's composing , and a silver hilted ripp of the isebrook's temper ; three as necessary implements for a traveller , as goose , yard , and sheers , for a taylor . well , to egypt i went , and redeem'd them from slavery . and by reason i would be ready on monday morning , i went to lye at the inn on sunday night ; and enquiring of the tapster what company i was like to have , he said more he believ'd than i desir'd ; for there was four places taken just after i went , and three of the passengers were in the house , and to lye there that night ; the other was for a merchant of bristol . then asking what those in the house were , he told me two gentlewomen and their maid servant , who were just going to supper . whereupon i bid him go and give my service to 'em , and tell 'em i was to travel with 'em to morrow , and should take it as a great favour , if they would please to honour me so far , as to admit me into their company , for i was alone . the fellow brought word they desir'd me to walk in , and they should be very glad of mine . this being what i wanted , in i went ; and after a few ceremonial complements , and begging pardon for my rudeness , i told them i was afraid i should have gone alone , but now i found i should be bless'd beyond my hopes , in having the honour , or rather happiness , of their good company . i wish , sir , reply'd one of 'em , it may answer your expectation , for our sex is counted but very indifferent company to travel with , and you are like to be fatigu'd with three of us . as for children , and testy age , madam , answer'd i , i agree in the opinion ; but otherwise , condemn it as erroneous : and for your number , the more the merrier . that 's according as it proves , sir , said she ; neither would i have you flatter your self too soon , least your hopes should prove abortive , but rather referr you to old saffold ' s advice , read , try , judge , and speak as you find . i must confess , madam , answer'd i , experience is the only touch-stone ; but i shall be mightily deceiv'd in my politicks , if it does not make good my assertion . i presume , sir , said the other lady , you have studyed saunders , and are well vers'd in physiognomy , or you could never pretend to so much fore-knowledge . at which i crav'd the honour of seeing her hand , telling her , i had some little skill in palmestry , by which art i perceiv'd she requir'd not much castration ; which made them both laugh : and the first lady ask'd me , if i had any skill in chiromancy , for the same author profest both . i told her no ; but was satisfied she had ; for her charms had rais'd such a spirit in me , that i knew not how to lay it without her assistance . i never understood magick , i protest , sir , reply'd she , and am mightily afraid of a spirit : therefore let 's discourse no more of such vnruly things , that neither of us know how to govern. your power is as absolute in laying as in raising of them , lady , answer'd i ; but since 't is your pleasure , your command shall be obey'd , and i 'll shape my discourse to what subject you please . but supper coming in , they desir'd me to sit down with them , and having more manners than to refuse so good a proffer , i comply'd with their request , and fed very heartily . the glass went briskly about , that we were as merry , as a knot of joval tinkers over a cup of nappy-ale , and i began to like my company extraordinary well ; but the charming inchantress and i , interchang'd so many learing ogles , that i could hardly mind our discourse ; yet i understood so much , that she was a widdow , the other a wife , and both sisters , and also strangers to the place they were going to , as well as i ; and had no other call but recreation ; but i was for fulfilling the scriptures , in comforting the widdow . supper being ended , they call'd for a bill , which was presently brought ; out i lugg'd , and was going to discharge , but they begg'd my pardon , and would by no means suffer me ; telling me i must submit to the rule that is generally observ'd in travelling , for the major of either sex to treat the minor. i must acknowledge , ladies , said i , 't is an old custome so to do , but we are not now on the road ; however that avail'd not , they pleaded the prerogative of the majority , and carry'd it nolens volens . seeing they were so resolute , i dispenc'd with the affront , considering i had often put up a greater , and would not press too hard least it should prevail ; but that was a needless thought , for the young widdow drew from between her snowy breasts , a purse cramm'd as full of yellow-boys , as a clerk of a markets bag of copper iohn's , and discharg'd the whole . seeing of which , i thought i could do no less in honour than call for my flask ; craving leave to present them with it as my foy ; and being a little elevated with the noble juice , we were as jocund and frollicksome , as a countrey-vicar at a gossiping . in came the wine , without disputing who should pay for it ; but at last , night , the lovers bliss , and bane of good company , oblig'd us to withdraw to our chambers . upon which , i told the ladies , i should think the time very tedious till i should be so happy as to enjoy their good company again . we are apter to believe sir , answered they , you will think the iourney so , by reason of the dullness of it . say what i will , ladies , said i , you foy'l me with my own weapons , and are pleas'd to retort my words to their own centre . so after a profound cringe or two , with a gripe of the paw , and as many amorous glances at my charming widdow , who return'd me the like , we parted : but never any happy bridegroom long'd for the approaching night , more than i for the succeeding morning . no sooner had i enter'd my chamber , but i found a secret passion had possest my soul , and i was all on fire : ye powers , cry'd i , what strange fever 's this that rages in my breast , and riots in my blood ? not liquid fire by its first cause fomented , burns fiercer in earths center , than i flame within . tame this unruly flame , or touch her heart that first kindl'd it , with a cole from the same altar . nay 't is impossible to relate how violent my passion rag'd ; but in love i was , that 's certain ; but whether her purse or person begat this flame , is a very nice question , and i protest i know not ; for , as mr. cowley says , gold alone does passion move , gold monopolizes love. for gold has unresistable charms as well as beauty ; is of a corroding quality ; of an attractive nature , and bears a great influence o'er the opticks . and 't was very probable that purse was only prologue to a far greater sum ; so by consequence must needs have some operation ; not but the ladies were both very amiable , in the bloom of vigorous youth , bore a good aspect , had no mean air , free , and without reserve in their conversation ; and their deportment declar'd them of no vulgar quality . but the charming golden widow was the idol of my soul , subject of my thoughts , and center of my wishes ; musing on whom , at last dull morpheus seal'd my eyes , to relieve my captivated senses . but , oh ye gods ! no rest could i obtain , the charming fair did o'er my slumbers reign ; and in strange dreams augment my rapid flame . by that time forked cynthia had withdrawn her influence , and bright aurora rose from thetis lap , i shook off the drowsy god , and blest the joyful day . looking out of my window i perceiv'd they were preparing for our journey , which made me rig with all imaginable speed ; and as i was going down , who should i meet but my cherubimical widow , equip'd like a goddess , and adorn'd with ribbon like the fore-horse of a country-team ? after we had given each other the time of the day , lord sir , said she , are you but just up ? why we are almost ready to go ; certainly you slept very sound . no madam , answered i , since i have had the happiness of see-you , rest has been a stranger to my brest . have i disturb'd you sir , said she ? if so , i ask your pardon , and am sorry for it . ye gods , cry'd i , what shall i say ? or how shall i express my self ? inspire my tongue with eloquence , thou god of love , to make her sensible of my pain . oh madam , cry'd i , you are innocent of your crime , and guilty of the fact : you have robb'd me of my rest , fir'd my blood , and stolen my heart ; see how it hovers o'er your panting breast , and fain would gain admittance . i vow sir , answered she , your discourse is so mysterious , that it wants another oedipus to unfold . and for what you are pleas'd to charge me withal , is a false accusation ; neither have i vacancy to entertain it . ah madam , reply'd i , i could soon convince you of your error , if you would give me leave to search in a certain corner you have about you that shall be nameless . at which she blush'd , and told me i was mightily mistaken : but allow it so , since 't was ignorantly committed , and without any premeditated design , she hop'd i would be so generous as to forgive her . never madam , said i , unless you vouchsafe to cast an eye of pity , and commiserate the condition of your languishing lover , on whom the god of love , if there be any such a deity , hath empty'd his whole artillery , and pierc'd my heart with your all-conquering eyes : o fye , sir , answer'd she , this is meer railery , and only for your diversion , a thing customary with you general lovers , in whom every new face creates a new flame ; of the libertines opinion , that a woman , after she is once enjoy'd , grows dull and insipid ; and what you have now so solemnly pretended to me , is no more then you have already done to half our sex , if possible ; and such i take it . by my soul i thought she was a witch by her guessing so right , and was a going to tell her so , for every syllable she utter'd was as true as an oracle . but finding by her parlying i had made a breach , i resolv'd to storm the castle . if you harbour any such thought of me , madam , answer'd i , by heaven you do me wrong ; for so pure is my flame , and so assiduous my passion , without you give me speedy hopes , i shall fall a sacrifice to your disdain , and phoenix-like , expire in my own flames . 't is but breathing a v●in sir , answer'd she , and your feaver will soon abate . oh madam , cry'd i , how can you be so cruel ? you gave the wound , but administer a contrary cure. wrack me no longer thus with doubts and fears , either retalliate me in the same nature , or pronounce my doom ; for on your lips my fate depends . indeed sir , answer'd she , that requires more consideration than the time will admit of now : yet take this for your satisfaction , if your character and quality answers your appearance , and your passion be real , you need not dispond of the entertainment of that trifle you are pleased to charge me withal , but it shall find a reception suitable to its merits . at which she sigh'd , and said our company waited for us , but in the evening would take an opportunity to discourse further of it . now madam , you have raised my drooping spirits to an extacy of joy , answered i , pardon my presumption , and abrupt proceeding i beseech you , in taking this opportunity to reveal my passion , and impute it to nothing but love , almighty love , for what will not a sinking wretch catch hold on to save his miserable life ? at which we separated , and joyn'd our company , who were preparing for an antidote against fasting , which we had scarcely compleated , but were call'd on to board our leathern-conveniency , and were pen'd up like the beasts in the ark ; but i took care to have my mistress my opposite ; and being settled , whip proceeded on his journey , and having a plentiful mornings draught , tickled his cattel , drove like iehu , and soon convey'd us to the sign of englands champion at cole-brook , an inn famous for an hostess , and extravagant bills for short commons . having refresh'd our selves with a good breakfast , we re-enter'd our coop , and was but very indifferent company , for our masculine traveller , the married lady , and mrs. betty the chamber-maid , had a long game at noddy : however it presented me with several opportunities of saluting my widdow , and exercise abundance of palm letchery ; but being come to reading , we din'd at the canonical . nabb , where our landlord was as remarkable for his bulk , as our late hostess for her tail ; formerly he was a profest baptist , but being chosen one of the head loobies of the corporation , he renounc'd his religion , embrac'd the faith , and was christned lumpus ; his corps is of the size of a rhinoceros , measures full three yards in the waste , and his legs bigger about than the piers of the town bridge , the doctor of the parish hath excommunicated him from the church ; because his snoaring not only drowns his voice , but disturbs the whole congregation . being depriv'd of the church , he then took to the flesh , and is reported to have overlaid three of his servants . having now stock'd our selves with substantial belly-timber , and liquor'd our whistles , we pursued our journey , and were more sociable ; the ladies oblig'd us with several songs , which they perform'd with an excellent voice , and good judgment : but my thoughts was chiefly ruminating on the fair object before me , and how to manage my amour at night , every fresh glance discovered concealed beauties , nor was she unsensible of my anguish , for her repeated sighs betray'd her yielding heart . oh what coelestial motion had her eyes ! her panting breasts , how they did fall and rise ! conspiring both to fall my sacrifice . and our merchant took notice of her sighs , and asked her the reason , she told him 't was only a foolish custome ; but i believe had he ask'd me , i could have given him a better account . but come , fellow-travellers , said he , will you please to take a dram of right nants ? a good cordial on the road , and will digest our dinner , i protest i forgot it in the morning : so we accepted of his kindness , and drain'd his bottle : but promised to recruit it the first opportunity ; and to pass the time away , we engag'd mrs. pert to sing a song , and our merchant and i promis'd to tell a story : she pleaded she could not sing , but would oblige us in relating a very strange accident lately discover'd ; which was as followeth . about fifteen year since , there was a noted tradesman near aldgate , had two children , a son and daughter , the son was aged about fifteen years , and the daughter twelve , he had a desire to put his son prentice to some good trade in the city , and gave him his choice , but he was very much averse to it , his inclinations being altogether for the sea , and nothing would serve him but a tarpaulin master . at last his father with much regret consented to it , and put him to a master of a ship that was bound for a trading voyage up the streights : at which the young man was extraordinary glad , took leave of his friends , and went aboard with great joy , but before three months was expir'd , news arriv'd that they were taken by the algerines , from whom at that time there was no redemption : the news of which , and a considerable loss the old man had lately sustain'd by fire , not only reduc'd his condition to a mean subsistance , but broke his heart , nor did his wife long survive him ; and with the remains of their decay'd fortune , the poor orphan was put to a sempstriss , but before her time was expir'd , one of exeter fell in love with her , marryed her , and took her with him to exon , unknown to her friends or acquaintance ; in a few years after he left her a widow , no children , and but little to trust to ; which to improve , she set up her trade , and maintain'd her self very handsomely , living in good credit ; but her unhappy brother , who had the misfortune to be a slave , was bought by one that liv'd several leagues up in the country , never having any opportunity of sending to england , his friends dispair'd of ever seeing him again , and gave him over for lost. but see how providence order'd it , his master dyed , and by reason he had been a good servant , not only bequeath'd him his liberty , but also a great sum of money to maintain him ; and his mistress who had often given him several evident testimonies of her affections , wou'd have married him , provided he would renounce his religion , and embrace the mahometan , which he deny'd to do ; but her love was so violent , or rather lust so raging , that it o'ver flow'd the bounds of modesty , and by the allurements of her gold , intic'd him to satisfie her exorbitant desires , by which means he had gotten a very considerable estate . but the natural inclination for his own native country , and great desire to see his friends , out-ballanc'd the embraces of his mistress , whose gold was more prevailing than her charms , and came the first opportunity for england , and in a short time arriv'd at plymouth , the next day reach'd exon ; and having present occasion for some linnen , he accidentally goes into his unknown sisters shop and furnish'd himself , then posts for london ; where to his great grief he found as i have already related , and by no means could get any information of his sister , his long absence not only bereav'd him of his friends , but also of all his former acquaintance ; that he was become an alien in the place of his nativity . the deprivation of which , was an extraordinary trouble to him , and the only way to redress it , he thought would be to alter his condition ; he coveted not riches , but content , to compensate for his hard fate . but , oh , how often are we deceiv'd in our expectations , and our hopes frustrated by an all-seeing power ? his fancy presented none so charming to his eyes as the exeter widdow : nay , so great was his passion , that immediately he goes down , courts her , and in a short time married her , brings her up to london , takes a house , and liv'd very happily together , had two children by her ; and no discourse as yet of their parents happened between them . but see how fate ordain'd it ! not long since , as he was walking by fleet-ditch , he espies his fathers picture expos'd to sale among old goods ; which presently he bought , and made a very strict enquiry where they had it , thinking thereby to trace his sister , but 't was so long since they bought it , that they could give him no account ; however he imputed it to be a very lucky accident , had it brought home with him , and with abundance of joy shows it his wife . telling her , 't was the picture of his father , and how accidentally he came by it : at which , she was mightily surpris'd , and told him , if that was the picture of his father , ( which heaven forbid ) she was his own natural sister : he astonish'd at this dreadful news , ask'd her a few more questions , she resolving of which , confirm'd the discovery , and hath involv'd them into a great deal of trouble and consternation of mind ; for the easement of which they have had the opinion of several learned divines ; who advise them to joyn no more in their incestuous bed , but live after the natural bonds of affinity , and since 't was ignorantly committed , it mitigated the crime , and they were more to be pittyed , and none could be so barbarous , as to reflect on their unhappy off-spring . but 't is to be fear'd , it will prove fatal to them both , for they labour under an agony of mind , that nothing but death or distraction is expected . her story being ended , the ladies confirm'd it , and declar'd they knew the parties ; and it had not been discover'd above two or three years ; but while we were commiserating their hard fate , we came to a vilage call'd theal , and stopt at old mother cleanly's , at the sign of the divine clamour ; as noted a house for bottle-ale and plumb-cakes , as the folly on the river of thames , for bad wine , and lewd whores : nay , slash declar'd he dares no more pass by without calling , than the forked animals miss cuckold's-point , in their journey to horn-fair : but having participated , and given our approbation on her commodity , we travel'd on , and our bristol merchant told us , he presum'd , we were a going to the bath for diversion ; but his journey to london was such a novelty , that 't was scarce to be parallel'd , and notwithstanding it had occasion'd him a great deal of trouble , it might divert us ; with that we desir'd him to relate it , which he presently did , after this manner : the place of my habitation you already know , of which i have been a merchant almost this thirty year , am a widower and have several children , but my eldest son being very desirous to live at london , i put him to an eminent draper in c — , but before he had serv'd half his time , he kept such high company , and was acquainted with so many rakes of the town , that his master was as weary of him , as he of his master ; so i was oblig'd to take him home , and design'd to bring him up a merchant , but the infection he receiv'd at london , made too great an impression to be discharg'd by my documents , which often occasion'd no small difference between us ; about a month since , having some very urgent business in wales , which requir'd my absence for at least twelve or fourteen days , i left my daughter to mannage my domestick , and he my other affairs , and took my journey ; but that night i left him , he sends word to all my correspondents at london , that i was dead , ( as i understand since ) and that he should be with them in a short time , for his father having left him a plentiful estate , he design'd to leave off merchandizing . this news startl'd my acquaintance , and they sent him several letters of condollence ; and my death past as currant on the exchange , as if it had been sworn by twenty irish witnesses . my daughter who kept my cash , sent him a letter of advice , of the payment of some bills , i had lately drawn on him , which he receiv'd and answer'd ; he also intercepted the letters i sent his sister , and about six days before i came home , takes fifty pound of my house cash and posts for london , and before he appeared publick , cloths himself in deep mourning , visits my correspondents , tells them he came to administer to his fathers will , and ballance accounts , and takes up of my goldsmith l. who pay'd it him all in gold , as he requested ; having accomplish'd his ends , cast off his mourning , new rigg'd , and now i hear is gone for rome , to assist at the iubilee ; but when i came home , missing of him and my money , i presently conjectur'd he was gone for london , and was afraid he would take up more , therefore made all the speed i could after him , to prevent it , but he was too nimble for me ; my acquaintance was all possest with a pannick fear , and so surpriz'd , that they took me for a spirit , and wou'd hardly believe their own eyes , but i soon convinc'd them of their mistake , and they me of my sons proceedings . and this generally the product of sending our children to london : well , had i forty , i 'd never send any of them to london again : now he is gone loaded with gold to rome ; perhaps , about a year or two hence , i shall have him return , as light as a common strumpet , as shabby as a broken officer , and as foppish as a city beau ; but i will never look on him again . make no rash vow , however , sir , said i , least you repent it ; ( for nature will prevail ) he may return a very accomplish'd gentleman , for travelling conduces much to education . yes , answer'd he , as going to the dancing-school , does young wenches , who if they have but a little money are presently catch'd up by some hopping coxcomb or another , that hath nothing to trust to , but a pair of rotting shanks , which are scarce able to support his wavering carcase . i find sir , reply'd one of the ladys , you have a great aversion to london education , and the very thoughts of it gives you the spleen ? pray , what is the bath for a nursery ? for during the season , that is a place of great resort . why , answer'd he , that 's out of the frying-pan into the fire , and as eminent for wickedness as london , ' bating its magnitude . with that , i told him , i perceiv'd he harbour'd no better opinion of the tuition of his own country , than of our metropolian seminary ; and my story would but augment his disgust . now being got to the end of our stage for that day , we referr'd mine for the next , and newbury was as wellcome to us , as michalemas term to the bauling quill-drivers , after the long vacation : our quarters was at the king of beasts , and after we had saluted our ladies , and bid them wellcome to newbury , we view'd our chambers , gave order for our supper , and refresh'd our selves with a glass of good burgundy ; and having some spare time , our merchant went to visit a friend in town , and i gave the ladies an invitation to take a walk , which my mistress was willing to , but her sister , being something indisposed after her journey , desir'd to be excus'd ; and as good-luck would have it , the maid was oblig'd to stay with her : so my charming widow , after she had dismantled herself of her riding accouterments , and i augmented the weight of my bush , by almost half a pound of powder , was ready to march ; our landlord understanding we were dispos'd for a walk , convey'd us out at his back-gate , where we found a most delicate grotto of nature's , not art's composing , half inviron'd with a murm'ring brook whose purling streams created a most melodious harmony , and the whole composure seem'd a second paradise . having walk'd a turn or two , i thought it convenient to put my widow in mind of her promise . pardon my presumption , madam , said i , in taking the boldness , to put you in mind of this mornings conclusion , for no fitter opportunity than now can present it self ; here we are retir'd , and the place seems to be dedicated for the same purpose . sir , answer'd she , how can i be assur'd your passion is real , since your acquaintance is so slender , in which if i should be deceiv'd , how shall i be ridicul'd by the censorious world ? i presume not , madam , reply'd i , to lay any claim of meriting your esteem , as to the quality of my person ; nor yet am i so despiseable in my descent or fortune , to incur your disdain . but love , almighty love , who knows no bounds or equals , is my plea ; and notwithstanding my love is of so late a date , it is as pure as vestals flames , and firm as fate , and all my pretensions honourable . if so , sir , said she , i do agnize your passion , and return you mine ; for blushing i must own it , when first i saw your face , an unusual flame seiz'd my heart and kindled in my breast vnknown desires . at this confession i flung my circling arms about her lovely wast , and almost stiffled her with kisses . what then remains , cry'd i , my life , my soul , but to quench our desires , and delay our bliss no longer ? at which she started back , and told me she thought , or she was much mistaken , before she reveal'd her passion , i declar'd i design'd nothing but what was honourable ; if so , what means this unruly proceeding ? onely the extream ardour of my flame , my dear , answer'd i ; for who can behold the tempting tree , and forbear to pluck its luscious fruit ? not till the priest hath made it lawful , sir , said she , for fear , — oh , for fear . — by heaven , and all that 's sacred , madam , cry'd i , those fears are needless ; for sooner shall the silver morn forget to dawn , the glorious sun to steer its course , than i prove false to you . what then should hinder us now , from satisfying our craving appetites , before the sluggish priest hath crav'd a blessing . at which , she sunk into my arms , and by her dying eyes gave her consent ; then calling to mind the alacrity to be us'd in courting a widdow , and that now might be the crittical minute , i lay'd her down on nature's carpet , and made bold with mother earth for a boulster ; and notwithstanding all her faint resistance , rifled her joys , roving through all the hidden labyrinth of love , and by our mutual embraces quench'd our fierce desires , then coo'd and bill'd like a pair of amorous doves , swearing eternal constancy afresh , and to tye the gordian knot the first opportunity . but in our discourse i took an occasion to make a scrutiny into her affairs , that i might understand what bargain i was like to have , if i perform'd my promise . she told me she had been a widow near two years , had no child , was worth l ▪ and liv'd with her sister , who was married to a gentleman near hackney ; and living so far off , was the reason they lay at the inn last night . this news methought augmented her charms , and having enjoy'd the shadow , i hop'd in a short time to reap the golden substance . having out-staid our time , a messenger came to desire us to make haste , for our company and supper waited for us : but when we came , and had given them an account of our pleasant walk , and description of the delightful grove , ( but not a word of the paradise of love ) they seem'd to be sorry they did not go along with us ( that neither of us was , i am certain . ) having supt , they brought us a bill , which was as reasonable as a reckoning at a hosier-lane bawdy-house during bartholomew-fair ; for a brace of midling trouts , they charg'd us but a lease of crowns , six shillings for a shoulder of mutton and a plate of gerkins , three and sixpence for six rowles , and three nipperkins of belch ; and two shillings more for whip in drinking our healths . their wine indeed was good , so was their price ; and in a bill of two pound four shillings , they made a mistake but of nine ; i ask'd what countrey-man my landlord was ? answer was made , full north ; and faith 't was very evident , for he had put the yorkshire most damnably upon us . but being to rise very early , we went to bed soon after we had supt ; and was called by break of day , my widow presented us with a pot of chocolat of her own preparing ; and filling my dishes fuller than ordinary , i conjectur'd 't was for my good performances , dasht with a little self-interest ; after which we recruited our bottle , and renew'd our journey ; but i marked his gate with a cross as red as the sign . and before we had travel'd a mile , the ladies laid claim to my promise to relate my story , which i was oblig'd to perform , and was thus . there was a very eminent shopkeeper in westminster , had the misfortune to have a very extravagant son , who by his continual profuseness , consum'd him a great many baggs of a certain commodity much better then cherry-stones ; he was not only very indulgent to him , but maintain'd his family ; he being of a roving mind , could not confine himself to business , but went from his father and family , chang'd his name , and rak'd about the town ; but by accident got acquainted with two young women , who kept shop on the royal-exchange ; the youngest of them he courted for a wife , and in a short time married her , made an extraordinary figure , and as mighty pretences ; but he had not enjoy'd her long before 't was discover'd , and he oblig'd to live with his first , who was no ways deserving of such an unkind action ; but rather worthier of a better husband ; and being ask'd the reason , why he would offer to commit poligamy ? he answer'd , though plurality of caesars was not safe for a state , plurality of wives could be no crime . but the poor young woman was very much disappointed ; all her hopes blasted , and her promising imaginations prov'd vain chimera's . for he in a little time after abandon'd both , and took a trip to iamaica , where in three months he married a rich widow , worth at least l . sterling , and before three years was compleated , she made her exit ; which he esteem'd to be the happyest day in all his life , the result of all his hopes , and the only mark he aim'd at . now being master of a plentiful estate , he soon converted it into the commodity of the country , and sail'd for england , with a joyful heart , and prosperous gale ; and upon his arrival at london , found himself a double widower , and his exchange wife married to a dutchman , who was so enamour'd with her fiz , that notwithstanding he had heard of her mis-fortune , he ty'd the nooze , and became one flesh , though of two very different constitutions . she was young and airy , and married him more for the sake of his money than person ; he old and impotent , and as jealous as a spaniard , by which her condition was much worse than before ; for on the least distaste , he would be reflecting on her former husband , who had not seen her since the discovery , nor she him , but heard of his success , though not by what means he had attain'd it ; and was extream sorry she had contracted the last marriage ; but he having a desire to see her , tho' not to take her again as a wife , and thinking time , absence , and the alteration of his attire , and hair , ( for when he liv'd with her , he wore his own , but now a full wigg ) was disguise sufficient to conceal him from her knowledge , goes to the shop , and she congratulated him , with the usual complement , of what do you want , sir ? two very necessary things , madam , said he , clean gloves and a pritty wife ; and i presume you may supply me . of the first , sir , answer'd his wife , we have choice ; but the last is a very scarce commodity , and very difficult to be had . i was in hopes , madam , reply'd he , you could have furnish'd me with both ; but more especially the last . but she and her partner both knew him , contrary to his expectations : sir , said her partner , i am perswaded you have no occasion for a clogg ; for so a wife is generally term'd . but such a pretty lady as this is , would be counted rather a blessing , madam , answer'd he . you wrong your iudgement very much , sir , reply'd his wife , for nature hath not been so liberal to me in her indowments , as you are pleas'd to flatter me with all . besides i am a wife already ; and here the dull animal : comes . as he approach'd the shop , the other spoke to him after this manner : i have been courting this lady for a wife , sir , but i find you are so happy as to be before hand with me . that 's more than he knows , sir , said she smiling . by which he perceiv'd they knew him ; but her last husband being ignorant who he was , took it as a great affront , and in a mighty passion abus'd her in a very high degree ; and upbraided her with her first husband ; which so grated his spirits , that it reviv'd the glowing embers of his love , and the conceal'd sparks broke out into a violent flame . thou mercenary villain , said he , to upbraid thy wife with what her innocence was impos'd on ; and as i am the man that was the aggressor , i 'll do her that justice to make you ask her pardon , here publickly on your knees : or by heaven , this moment is your last . at which he drew his sword , and the glittering steel so scar'd poor hogan , that he presently fell on his marrowbones , crav'd her pardon , and was glad he came off so . now , madam , said he , to his wife , had not you been so dis-honourable to me , on the discovery of my contract with you , i would have freed you from the embraces of this insip'd coxcomb ; but since you was so unkind , i can only condole your second mis-fortune , who was so ungrateful to me in your first ; then departed , and left poor butter-box , to be ridicul'd by the whole society of thimberkins . a friend of mine was an eye witness of this , and knew both the husband and wife . without doubt , said the gentleman , this spark was one of solomons race , and londons master-piece . oh , sir , 't is reported he is very much reform'd to what he was ; and lives very sober and sedate . then it ought to be chronicl'd for a miracle , said he . but being come to the rocky decent into marlborough , we were so damnably jolted , that our merchants pocket comfort vanish'd , and the brittle mettal was shatter'd into a thousand pieces ; for the loss of which , i intail'd such a hearty curse on the place , that never since hath a coach past , but it over-turn'd , a waggon or cart , but it breaks either wheel or axeltree , a horse , but he stumbles ; and all the beasts that graze near it , die of the murraine : at last with the help of a couple of gigantick loobies , to support our tottering caravan , we got into the town , and tipt them a hogg for our safe conduct . being come to marlborough , we broke our fast at the royal-diadem , and had mr. mayor for our landlord , a good jolly bachanalian , who hath bestow'd more in adorning his fiz , than the market-house cost building ; and being a magistrate , i made a heavy complaint against that cursed hill , demanded satisfaction for the dammage we had sustain'd , in breaking our brandy bottle , and told him , unless they took speedy care to have it mended , i would indite the whole corporation . that we cannot do by no means , sir , said he , for in so doing we should ruine half the town ; for the dammage that hill occasions , brings a considerable trade to our wheel-wrights , farriers , and chyrurgions ; also creates no small business to those of my own function , and maintains three or four families to support the coaches , and assisting at other accidents : but however , i 'll present you with a fresh cargo , and advise you to take more care for the future : before we had breakfasted , he was as good as his word ; but to retalliate his kindness , we call'd for two or three flasks extraordinary . having lay'd a good foundation to travel on , we quitted marlborough , and soon came on a curious down , much noted for its flocks of grey weathers , which often gave us confounded jolts , and put us in mind of our landlords caution , concerning our bottle . but before we had rod five mile , we receiv'd information of a party of light-horse that lay perdue to ease us of our rin● . this news made us look very queer , and my company to sink the cole with abundance of agility . my mistress was in a peck of troubles , for the security of her ponderous purse ; and i thought by the motion of her pettycoats , she was a going to put it where my lady — did her watch : our merchant shuffled loose yellow-boys by dozens , into the linning of his coat , and i trusted to providence : but at last to our great satisfaction it prov'd to be a false alarm , and by the help of our nanterian cordial , we recover'd our stragling senses : the discourse of which lasted us , till we got to sandy-lane , where the road was so damnable heavy , that two mile in three hours was an extraordinary journey , and the corporation trot to st. pauls on sunday , was a fool to it : but at last we arriv'd at the sign of chevalier bruine , where we was to dine . here we had such an amsterdam w — for our landlady , that the like was never heard of . she hath buried five husbands , never had but one son , and he was hang'd ; thirteen daughters , and a dozen of them was of their mothers stamp , and the other dy'd an infant ; the old one was a widdow , her daughters maid , yet between them had more children , then rosemary-lane affords on a sunday ; and most of their sires was souldiers or cattle-firkers . there was more coaches and waggons , drawn up before her gate , then hacks in palace-yard , during the sessions of parliament , or term-time . all her entertainment is loins of mutton , or rabbets ; and she makes more broth in a day , then all the chop-houses in castle-alley in a week . at last , with much ado , we got two of the aforesaid dishes for dinner , and a nasty jade to attend us ; who , as we understood afterwards , was one of her daughters ; but by her looks , one would conjecture the devil was her father ; yet she was recommended to us , for the flower of them all : but in my judgement the old one is more inviting then any of her off-spring . the best accomodation we had there was the juice of pippins , which we drank very plentifully , but by its urinical motion , hindred whip one mile in four ; and the ladies emissary , mistress pert , once was so hard put to it , that we thought by her sower looks , and the ringing of her knees , she had the dry-gripes ; but at last a natural evacuation gave her ease , and created us a great deal of laughter . our bill was compos'd in a few words ; and was very moderate , considering what extravagant prices , we often give for mutton and conny in some places . having din'd , we proceeded on our journey , but with a great deal of difficulty ; for the road was so rocky , unlevel , and narrow in some places , that i am perswaded the alps are to be passed with less danger , in the performance of which our firking essedarian was oblig'd to use abundance of horse-courting-rhetorick to his tired ambulators ; and when that prevailed not , to exercise his tickler ; but we were jolted so cursedly , that i thought it would have made a dislocation of my bones ; we all complained , but could find no remedy ; nor would i advise any who have been sufferers in venus sports , to adventure the fatigue of a coach to the bath , least it dis-joint a member or two . at last when our patience was almost worn out , we agreed to light rather than endure it any longer ; but our chariotier inform'd us , we were almost at our journeys-end , which we presently found to be true , and bath was as welcome to us , as a good dinner to a covent-garden tooth-picker . being come to the white-hart , our long wish'd-for port , we refreshed our selves with much joy , after our tedious mortifying-journey : and there our merchant took his leave of us , in a fresh coach for bristol : then enquiring for a lodging , we were recommended to a tonsers , whose wife kept a milliners-shop in the same house , where was accommodation for us all , tho' he had several other lodgers in the house of good quality . that night my widow and i had an opportunity to enjoy our selves to our mutual satisfaction , without any suspicion , and agreed to be made one flesh , the first opportunity that offer'd . in the morning we were saluted by the whole fraternity of cat-gut-s●rapers , and cou'd not get rid of them without the assistance of an angel. my mistress and her sister would not appear publick , till their baggage arriv'd from london , which they did not expect in three or four days , so i had the liberty to stroul alone . after i had accounter'd my self to the best advantage , ( in which i made no small figure ) i went to the coffee-house , where i found several of my acquaintance , who seem'd to be over-joy'd at my appearance , imbrac'd and slabber'd me , as an old woman does her grand child ; asking a thousand impertinent questions concerning london , and what company came with me ? if ladies , or gentlemen ? whether any quality was on the road bound for 〈…〉 in which i satisfied them to the best of my knowledge ; but after we had 〈…〉 or two , of that insippid liquor , we adjourn'd to honest c — at 〈…〉 where we enliven'd our souls with a glass of good burdeaux , 〈…〉 and from thence we went to see the diversion of the baths . of which , 't is not my design to give you an 〈…〉 original , and eminent cures ; or a description of their structure 〈…〉 ; for that 's already perform'd , in most of our chronicles ; 〈…〉 on the ways and intrigues that are manag'd there during the season . the first we went to , is call'd the kings ; and to it 〈…〉 , both running in one ; and the most famous for cures . in this bath 〈…〉 least fifty of both sexes , with a score or two of guides , who by their 〈◊〉 carcasses , and lacker'd hides , you would think they had lain pickling a century of 〈…〉 lake : some had those infernal emissaries to support their impotent limbs . others to scrub their putrify'd carcasses like a race-horse . in one corner was an old fornicator hanging by the rings , loaded with rotten humidity ; hard by him was a buxom dame , cleansing her nunquam satis from mercurial dregs , and the remains of roman vitriol . another , half cover'd with sear-cloth , had more sores than lazarus doing pennance for the sins of her youth : at her elbow was a young hero , supported by a couple of guides , rack'd with aches and intolerable pains , cursing of middlesex court , and beveridges dancing-school , as heartily as iob the day of his birth . at the pump was several a drenching their gullets , and gormandizing the reaking liquor by wholesale . from thence we went to the cross-bath , where most of the quality resorts , more fam'd for pleasure then cures , tho' they pretend it hath wrought miracles on barren-soil , and wonderfully helps conception . not long since , a gentleman of quality was beholden to it for an heir , as he reported ; but his lady is of a contrary opoinion ; yet i know not what operation such tempting objects may have by causing titilation , and heighten imagination , to procure an immediate conjunction . here is perform'd all the wanton dalliancies imaginable ; celebrated beauties , panting breasts , and curious shapes , almost expos'd to publick view ; languishing eyes , darting killing glances , tempting amorous postures , attended by soft musick , enough to provoke a vestal to forbidden pleasure , captivate a saint , and charm a iove : here was also different sexes , from quality to the honourable knights , country put , and city madam's : nay , the circumciz'd iew , could bathe in delight , swim in pleasure with the gentile , and out-vie a courtier in splendor , tho' they crucifi'd his god ; and dispence with christians-flesh , tho' not with swines . the ladies with their floating iappan-bowles , freighted with confectionary kick-knacks , essences , and perfumes , wade about , like neptun's courtiers , suppling their industrious joynts . the vigorous sparks , presenting them with several antick postures , as sailing on their backs , then embracing the element , sink in a rapture , and by accidental design , thrust a stretch'd arm ; but where the water conceal'd , so ought my pen. the spectators in the galleries , pleasing their roving fancies with this ladies face , anothers eyes , a thirds heaving breasts , and profound air. in one corner stood an old letcher , whose years spoke him no less then threescore and ten , making love to a young lady , not exceeding fourteen . the usual time being come to forsake that fickle element , half-tub-chairs , lin'd with blankets , ply'd as thick , as coaches at the play-house , or carts at the custom-house . bathing being over for that day , we went to walk in the grove , a very pleasant place for diversion ; there is the royal-oak and several raffling shops : in one of the walks , is several sets of nine-pins , and attendance to wait on you : tipping all nine for a guinea , is as common there , as two farthings for a porrenger of barley-broth , at the hospital-gate in smithfield . on several of the trees was hung a lampoon on the marriage of one mr. s — a drugmonger , and the famous madam s — an old b — of london . having almost tir'd our selves with walking , we took to a bench to ease our weary pedestals . now , said my friend , i 'll give you an impartial account of the perfections , qualities and functions , of a few particular persons that are are among this amphibious crow'd . for notwithstanding i have been here not above a fortnight , i am as well acquainted with the town and its intrigues , as old justice p — with more-fields and drury lane bawdy houses . those two ladies with the gentleman in blew , are sisters , live near the church that is dedicated to a saint who expir'd on a gridiron , they are amorous dames ; the gentleman is a broken officer , and lives better on their allowances , than he could on his pay. this gentlewoman in the white-damask gown , is a sea-captains lady ; who , while her ●orniferous mate is plowing the ocean , takes care to manure his pasture , that he may have a fruitful crop this harvest . that foppish beau in scarlet stockins , whose hilt of his sword bears a bob with his calves , and his jubilee hatband , lies stitch'd cross the crown , was a pettycoat-pensioner to madam c — near bucklersbury ; but being lately discarded , is come down here for promotion . that young lady with the gold orice pettycoat , was a great fortune , and not long since was married to a flannel wastecoat , and a double night-cap of the same stuff ; but now by reason of her husbands imbecility , is forc'd to have recourse to the bath . that tall gentleman attended by three liveries , is something of quality , a right courtier , for he abhors the citizens wives as much as the sword bearer does custard . that broad-piece doctor , in the diminutive band , makes a purchase every year by the wickedness of the age ; and vindicates w — ing more than ever g. k — writ against the quakers . that pert young gentlewoman with the two silver fringes , was compell'd by her friends to marry a slovenly stockjobber , and now is surfeited with his embraces ; and came to the bath to mend his breed . that crafty priest , that son of levi , is as fickle as a weather-cock , and would sooner discard a good conscience , then a fat benefice . this tun of iniquity , in the crimson gown with monsieur at her elbow , two devils behind her , aetna in her face , all the water in the severn is not able to quench her desires ; she is a second masselina , will tire , but ne'er be satisfied ; she hath already quarter'd a troop of french dragoons , a regiment of dutchmen , and now is come to exercise a battalion of brittains . that powder'd lobster in the edg'd hat , is the spawn of a broker ; from thence evapulated to a bully , now shams an officer , sets up for a stallion of the first rank , and pretends he receives several favours from a qualitificated lady . that spark with his hat under his arm , is a limb of the law , but hath studied chamberlins midwitry , more than cook 's reports . that dowdy minx in the scarlet topping , and pinck'd scarff , is the relick of a broken grocer ; an industrious woman , for her head 's no sooner lay'd , but her breech is at work. in short , for fops , beaus , and bellfa's , this place exceeds greys-inn-walks on a sunday evening ; and consists of greater variety of persons , remarkable for some vice or folly , than there are ingredients in a lombard-pye for a city feast ; to give you a particular description of each of 'em , will require a weeks time at least . come therefore let 's go to some tipling mansion , and carrouse , till we have exhilerated our drouthy souls : to which i readily agreed . about five in the evening , we went to see a great match at bowling ; there was quallity , and reverend doctors of both professions , topping merchants , broken bankers , noted mercers , inns-of-court rakes , city beaus , stray'd prentices , and dancing-masters in abundance . fly , fly , fly , fly ; said one : rub , rub , rub , rub , cry'd another . ten guinies to five , i vncover the jack , says a third . damn these nice fingers of mine , cry'd my lord , i slipt my bowl , and mistook the bias. another swearing he knew the ground to an inch , and would hold five pound his bowl came in . but in short , the citizens won the courtiers money , and the courtiers swore to be reveng'd on their wives , and daughters . from hence we went to the groom-porters , where they were a labouring like so many anchor-smiths , at the oake , back gammon , tick-tack , irish , basset , and throwing of mains . there was palming , lodging , loaded dice , levant , and gammonning , with all the speed imaginable ; but the cornish rook was too hard for them all . the bristol fair sparks had but a very bad bargain of it ; and little occasion for returns . bank-bills , and exchequer-notes , were as plenty , as fops at the chocolat-houses , or patternoster-row . having satisfied our curiosity here ; we left them as busie a shaking their elbows , as the apple-women in stocks-market , wallnuts in october . and meeting with three or four more acquaintance , we stroul'd to a bristol-milk dary-house , and enjoy'd our selves like 〈…〉 at night i stole into my mistresses arms , as vigorous 〈…〉 and love , could inspire me ; but she urging mightily for 〈…〉 was not very backward to , we agreed to be rivented 〈…〉 to ingage the maid to assist her , and i , our 〈…〉 which accordingly was perform'd the next day , with a great deal 〈…〉 the expence of half a score guineas ; and spouse deny'd it might 〈…〉 continu'd in the country , for some particular reason 〈…〉 by the priest , madam bride , and mrs. pert , managed it so , that we 〈…〉 any mistrust . let a woman alone for a contrivance , to 〈…〉 about ten in the morning , i was sent for by some 〈…〉 to the general rendezvouz — coffee-house , where fools , cullies , 〈…〉 , resort as thick , as stock-iobbers about the effigies on the royal exchange , 〈◊〉 witicism was abdicated , and nonsence banded to and fro , like a 〈…〉 . the last nights intrigue whisper'd with abundance of caution , and 〈…〉 was prognosticated would be very noble , for 't was given by a lady 〈…〉 , and after an hour or two of their insippid fustian and block-headly 〈…〉 went to raffle for a present for our mistresses ; and with the loss of 〈…〉 off a curious snush-box , worth four : but tho' i was fortunes 〈…〉 a young mercer of twenty iacobusses , and at the oake the same night double the number , and a bay gelding . from thence we went to the hot-bath , and leppers-bath , but there was nothing worth our observation , but a parcel of old crutches , hung up in memory of the persons , that receiv'd those miraculous cures . the next place we adjourn'd to , was to horrid-toms ; where we had good wine , and better company ; and being my wedding-day , i went home to dine with my bride , and in the evening prevail'd with her to go to the ball. which is always kept at the town-hall , a very spacious room , and fitted up for that purpose . during which , the door is kept by a couple of brawny beadles , to keep out the mobility , looking as fierce as the uncouth figures at guild-hall ; there was extraordinary fine dancing , ( and how could it otherwise chuse ) for spouse and i had a hand in it . a consort of delicate musick , vocal and instrumental , perform'd by good masters : a noble collation of dry sweat-meats , rich wine , and large attendance . the lady who was the donor , wore an extraordinary rich favour , to distinguish her from the rest , which is always the custome ; and before they break up , to chuse another for the next day , which fell upon a shentleman of wales ; but hur no ways derogated from hur honour , or disparag'd hur countrey in the least , but hur was as noble , and as generous , as e'er an english shentleman of them all : to hur honour be it spoke . the next day the ladies baggage arriv'd from london ; then they made as topping a figure as any of them all ; and the first night after their publick appearance , we were so troubled with some serenading coxcombs , that the whole family got up , and had not mrs. betty , been very vigilant , my new adopted flesh and i , had been catch'd abed together ; for which good service , i rewarded her with a broad piece of her own name . a sunday we went to church to the abby , a very ancient cathedral piece of antiquity , and kept as badly in repair ; 't is crowded during divine service , as much as st. pauls , in which time there is more billet deaux convey'd to the ladies , than notes to desire the prayers of the congregation at b's — meeting-house : and as the ingenious doctor in his discourse , told the audience , he was afraid most of them came more out of custome and formality , than in devotion to the sacred deity , or a sutable reverence to the place of worship . which was very true i am confident , and the ladies were the only saints several came there to adore ; as this billet deaux will confirm ; it was convey'd in a candid orange to a lady in one of the galleries , which she by accident dropt , and i had the fortune to find . madam , had fortune that fickle goddess , but honour'd me with your acquaintance , as she has by seeing of your person , i should not have been so presumptious as to have offer'd these imperfect lines to your fair 〈…〉 stars ordain'd me no such happiness , i was forc'd to make my 〈…〉 . commit that to writing , which ought rather to have been 〈…〉 this evening i shall be in the meadows , pitty your slave , and 〈…〉 r. in the evening 〈…〉 much resorted to for pleasant rivers , and delicate 〈…〉 parkfor coaches , and a st. iames's for beau's and 〈…〉 there was chaucer's sempstress , my lord r — mantua-makers 〈…〉 fops , antick beaus , and blustering bullies innumerable , london 〈…〉 like countesses , and case-harden'd impudence ; bantering young 〈…〉 shopkeepers prentices : nay my millenian landlady , and her sister 〈…〉 , and as well match'd as a pair of nice coach-horses ; much much 〈…〉 for an obliging temper , the other for a beauty ; but ask 〈…〉 cook , he 'll tell you they rival each other in their own proper 〈…〉 after an 〈…〉 walking , i treated my ladies with the best the place afforded , and then returned home . but the next morning i receiv'd a letter of advice from london , of the death of an aunt , who had made me her heir ; which put me in mind of the old proverb , it never rains , but must pour . however this was no ill news to my bride , nor me neither ; only requiring my speedy appearance at london ; but i promised spouse and the rest of my acquaintance to be with them again in a fortnights time , and tho' an heir , took leave of them with as much regreet , as the dutch-guards of kensington ; and the next morning took post for london . having now given you an account of my successful step , i 'll make bold , and give you my sentiments of the bath . a character of the bath . 't is , neither town nor city , yet goes by the name of both ; five months in the year 't is as populous as london , the other seven as desolate as a wilderness . it 's chiefest inhabitants are turn-spit-dogs ; and it looks like lombard-street on a saints-day . during the season , it hath as many families in a house as edenborough ; and bills are as thick for lodgings to be let , as there was for houses in the fryars on the late act of parliament for the dissolution of priviledges ; but when the baths are useless , so are their houses , and as empty as the new buildings by st. giles in the fields : the baths i can compare to nothing but the boylers in fleet-lane or old-bedlam , for they have a reaking steem all the year . in a word , 't is a valley of pleasure , yet a sink of iniquity ; nor is there any intrigues or debauch acted at london , but is mimick'd there . finis . of the celebration of the king's coronation-day, in the famous city of bathe. a true narrative in the letter sent from thence to dr. charleton, physician to his majestie. vivat rex. smith, william, fl. - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing s thomason e _ estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; :e [ ]) of the celebration of the king's coronation-day, in the famous city of bathe. a true narrative in the letter sent from thence to dr. charleton, physician to his majestie. vivat rex. smith, william, fl. - . , [ ] p. [s.n.], london : printed april . . dated and signed. a v: bath, april . . willam smith. annotation on thomason copy: " aprill ". reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng charles -- ii, -- king of england, - -- coronation -- early works to . bath (england) -- history -- th century -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - aptara keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion of the celebration of the king's coronation-day , in the famous city of bathe . a true narrative in a letter sent from thence to dr. charleton , physician to his majestie . vivat rex . london , printed april . . the manner of the celebration of the king's coronation-day in the city of bath . honoured sir , pardon me , my businesse now is only to give you the true and plain relation of our celebrating the coronation-day of his sacred majesty , in our city of bath , which was as followeth . viz. the first on-set was at the house of god , by the bells . the next by drums beating and armed men in three companies ; the first the trained band , commanded by lieutenant walter gibbs ; the second a volunteer company , commanded by their captain , the loyal and much suffering captain thomas gibbs ; the third a volunteer company of sixty men out of his majesties loyal and much suffering parish of weston , commanded by their loyal captain , captain iohn sheppard . these standing in order , made a lane for these persons following , ( viz. ) first , the maior , who declared his high loyalty , and expressed himself with much alacrity for the great honour which he lately received from his majestie in kissing his royal hand , and his acquitting him of some aspersions lately cast upon him . he with the aldermen in scarlet gowns ; our loyal , faithfull and learned minister , mr. iames masters ; the common council , and other officers in black gowns , according to order , with many other loyal persons , went to our great church , and entring into the church-yard were received by the foot companies with god save the king , they expressing themselves , with life and all to serve his majestie . the maior and his company taking their places in the church , the trained bands keeping their stations , mrs. maioress , the aldermens wives , with many other gentlewomen enter the churchyard , before whom marched about four hundred virgins , most in white wastcoats and green petticoats , going two and two , each two bearing aloft upon their hands gilded crowns , crowns made of flowers , and wreathes made of laurel mixed with tulips , which i think were those lillies of which our saviour said , that solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these . these ushered mrs. maioresse to her seat in the church , and were ushered themselves by two young champions , with swords drawn , all crying out , god save the king , and continued in the church till sermon was ended , which was preached by our learned mr. masters , the text taken out of matthew . and ver . . the sermon , if not put in print , willl be much wrong to his majesty , and all his subjects ; wherefore you may doe good service , if you will desire his majesty to command mr. masters to put it in print . the sermon ended , master mayor , his company , with the foot soldiers , marched to the conduit , there being presented out of the conduit with a health to the king in wine , which they all drank ; the loud musick plaid before them . from thence they went to the guild-hall , and there drank another health to the king , at which time there were four streamers bearing the kings armes , and the royal oak mounted upon the four pinacles of the hall. all this while mrs. mayoress was not idle ; for she , her company , her amazons and their champions , marched to the conduit , and from thence to the mayors house , as he himself had led the way with his train , who gave him a volley of shot , as they had done before when he came out of the church , this last receiving much honour by the addition of the volunteer troops of that most loyal knight sir william basset . the maior entred his house , whom mrs. maioresse followed with all her maiden guards , to all whom was given cake and wine , drinking a health to the king upon their knees , which was begun by mr mayor and mrs. mayoress . after which the mayor and his company marched before the souldiers through all the city , rendring acclamations of ioy. in like manner did mrs. mayoresse with her female royallists . and thus was the whole day spent , and that with as much alacrity , as i think can scarce be parallel'd . the night being come , some houres were spent in fire-works , after which each loyal soul betook himself to his home , whom the musick of the bells brought to quiet rest . and thus ended this joyfull day , for which i shall dayly pray to the almighty to continue us thankfull hearts , and that his sacred majestie may have a long and prosperous reign , that his friends may dayly increase , and all his enemies may be confounded , concluding with the words of our loyal minister , god save the king , and let all the people say amen . these shall be the never ceasing prayers of his majesties meanest , yet very loyal subject till death ; bath , april . . william smith . post-script . sir , at the writing hereof , the bells were ringing , the drums beating , and guns shooting off , the crowns and wreaths on the head of the lyon upon the cross in the king's bath . but all this will end in short time , but our loyalty not till death . sir , your very humble servant , william smith . a narrative of the manner of celebrating his majesties most glorious and joyfull coronation in the city of bath, april . . by the mayor, aldermen and citizens thereof, and their adjoying neighbours of the gentry and commonalty; / sent in a letter from iohn ford, esq; mayor, of the city, to william prynne, esq; one of their elected citizens for the approaching parliament. ford, john, mayor of bath. approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing f thomason .f. [ ] estc r this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (thomason tracts ; : f [ ]) a narrative of the manner of celebrating his majesties most glorious and joyfull coronation in the city of bath, april . . by the mayor, aldermen and citizens thereof, and their adjoying neighbours of the gentry and commonalty; / sent in a letter from iohn ford, esq; mayor, of the city, to william prynne, esq; one of their elected citizens for the approaching parliament. ford, john, mayor of bath. sheet ([ ] p.) printed for edward thomas at the adam and eve in little-britain, london : . dated and signed at end: bathe . april . john ford. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng charles -- ii, -- king of england, - -- coronation -- early works to . bath (england) -- history -- th century -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a narrative of the manner of celebrating his majesties most glorious and joyfull coronation in the city of bath , april . . by the mayor , aldermen and citizens thereof , and their adjoyning neighbours of the gentry and commonalty ; sent in a letter from iohn ford , esq mayor , of the city , to william prynne , esq one of their elected citizens for the approaching parliament . honoured sir , having yesterday solemnized his majesties coronation , here within our city of bath , i thought it an obligation upon me to give you a short accompt thereof , which you may please to take as followeth , viz. whilest the morning was ushered in , and welcomed by the bels , the drums beat , calling to such as would demonstrate their good affections to the king , to shew themselves in arms : for the celebrating the day , whereupon all men that had arms fit for that imployment , appeared by this time ; ( that we might the better mixt our joys with pious contemplations of prayers and thanksgiving unto the king of kings for returning unto us , and crowning this our unparalleld earthly king ) my self and the aldermen in scarlet , attended on by the rest of our corporation in their gowns , went to church , the streets being guarded by these forementioned persons in arms , on both sides ; leaving a passage for us to passe between , and crying out , god save the king , with great acclamations of joy ; after us followed , above foure hundred virgins , most in white wastecoats and green petticoats , going two and two , each two bearning aloft in their hands , guilded crowns and garlands , made in the forme of crowns , bedecked with all manner of rare and choicest flowers ; these ushered mistresse mayoresse to the church , who was attended on by the aldermens wives and common councel mens wives and diverse other gentlewomen of the city ; these being past , the souldiers marched after , and having laid by their arms , came into the church , as generally the whole city did : so that our church was never fuller , all persons expressing as much piety towards god , as loyalty towards their king. after mr. masters our minister had given us a most excellent and learned sermon , instructing us both in our duty towards god and towards the king , taking his text out of mat. . and . verse . the sermon being ended , the souldiery again made a guard for us , and we having now the loud musick playing before us , and being followed by the said . virgins , and the gentlewomen before mentioned , we passed from the church to the conduit in the market-place , being also guarded by the way with a company of foot , ( from the parish of weston a mile from us ) led by capt. sheppard of the same parish , and also by a troop of horse being volunteers , commanded by your nephew mr. george clark ; having passed these and come to the conduit , it began to run with claret , where we dranke a health to his majesty , which was seconded with loud acclamations of loyalty , each person crying out , god save the king. from thence we passed to the guild-hall , where having entertained the gentlemen of our city , and such gentlemen as came out of the countrey to us , we with the souldery marched from thence with the loud musick playing before us , through every street in our city : in the mean time , the gentlewomen and their virgin attendance were entertained by my wife at home . all which being performed with many vollyes of shot and loud acclamations of joy ; the night began to partisipate of our mirth , which we entertained with bonefires and flying fireworks , prepared by certain persons , sent for to that purpose from bristoll , who excellently well performed their undertakings for several hours ; which being done , the people civilly dispersed , and the whole days work carried on with great sobriety and temperance , i hope to the great credite of our city . this day again the souldiery having part of their yesterdayes allowance of powder left , and resolving not to rob his majesty of that honour , they ought to do him therewith , met together and spent this day also , marching about the city , giving severall vollies of shot , and great expressions of loyalty : and are now concluding the day with more bonesires . thus do all people give great expressions of their loyalty to the king , for whose prosperous reign ( according to my bounden dutie ) i most heartily pray . and now craving excuse for troubling you with these relations , i take leave , and subscribe my self , as i truly am , sir , your faithfull friend and servant , john ford. ba the . april . london , printed for edward thomas at the adam and eve in little-britain , . via recta ad vitam longam, or a plaine philosophical discourse of the nature, faculties, and effects, of all such things, as by way of nourishments, and dieteticall obseruations, make for the preseruation of health with their iust applications vnto euery age, constitution of bodie, and time of yeare. wherein also, by way of introduction, the nature and choice of habitable places, with the true vse of our famous bathes of bathe is perspicuously demonstrated. by to: venner, doctor of physicke, at bathe in the spring, and fall, and at other times in the burrough of north-petherton neere to the ancient hauen-towne of bridgewater in somerset-shire. via rectam ad vitam longam. part venner, tobias, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a stc estc s this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) via recta ad vitam longam, or a plaine philosophical discourse of the nature, faculties, and effects, of all such things, as by way of nourishments, and dieteticall obseruations, make for the preseruation of health with their iust applications vnto euery age, constitution of bodie, and time of yeare. wherein also, by way of introduction, the nature and choice of habitable places, with the true vse of our famous bathes of bathe is perspicuously demonstrated. by to: venner, doctor of physicke, at bathe in the spring, and fall, and at other times in the burrough of north-petherton neere to the ancient hauen-towne of bridgewater in somerset-shire. via rectam ad vitam longam. part venner, tobias, - . [ ], , [ ] p. printed by edward griffin for richard moore, and are to be sold at his shop in st dunstans church-yard in fleet-street, london : . errata on verso of c . reproduction of original in the central library (bristol, eng.). created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng hygiene -- early works to . bath (england) -- description and travel -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - olivia bottum sampled and proofread - olivia bottum text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion via recta ad vitam longam , or a plaine philosophical discovrse of the nature , faculties , and effects , of all such things , as by way of nourishments , and dieteticall obseruations , make for the preseruation of health , with their iust applications vnto euery age , constitution of bodie , and time of yeare . wherein also , by way of introduction , the nature and choise of habitable places , with the true vse of our famous bathes of bathe is perspicuously demonstrated . by to : venner , doctor of physicke , at bathe in the spring , and fall , and at other times in the burrough of north-petherton neere to the ancient hauen-towne of bridgewater in somerset-shire . london printed by edward griffin for richard moore , and are to be sold at his shop in st dunstans church-yard in fleet-street , . to the right honorable , francis , lord vervlam , lord high chancellour of england , &c. right honorable , i often meditating with my self , to whom i should ( according to the ancient and well approued custome of the best learned of all ages ) consecrate these my labours , i at length resolued , in testimonie , of my deuoted affections to your honour , as also in regard of the worthines and vtilitie of the subiect ( which is the dieteticall part of physicke , that for preseruation of health appertaines to all men , but to none , as i suppose , more then to your honour , who vnder his maiestie , doth cheifly weild the state of our reipublique ) to commit them to your honours protection . whereunto , your benigne nature , excellent learning , and singular respect towards learned men , haue not a litle also encouraged me . if the worke shall yeeld any manner of delight or profit to your honour , i haue my ayme and contentment . the god of heauen grant you a long and healthy life , with a prosperous fruition of your place and dignities , to his glory , your owne comfort , and the good of his maiesties subiects . thus referring both my self , and this worke to your fauourable acceptance , i in all obseruance humbly rest at your honours seruice and command , tobias venner . of the natvre and choise of habitable places . whether a temperate aire be the best and wholsomest for the preseruation of life ? seeing that , for the continuance of life and health , there is so great respect to be had of the ayre ( for without it we can scarcely liue a moment of time ) and place of habitation , as of the meats we eat ; i therefore thought it meete to expresse , by way of introduction , the knowledge of those things that demonstrate the salubritie of habitable places , which is expended cheifely in three things ; in purnesse of the aire , qualitie of the soyle and situation , and wholsomnes of the water : from which euery man may easily gather and conceiue of the healthfulnes of his habitation . and first as concerning the ayre , that is the best and wholsomest to preserue life , which is subtile , bright , and cleare , not mixt with any grosse moisture , or corrupted with filthy or noysome vapors , which also with calme & pleasant winds ( for great & boisterous winds are to the lungs , eyes , and eares hurtfull ) is gently moued : for such aire is in substance pure , in qualities temperate , and therefore most wholsome . but the aire that is infected with corrupt & filthy vapors , euaporating or breathing out of standing pooles , channels , or other impure places , or which is so shut vp with hills or mountaines , that it cannot be freely perflated and purified with the winds , is not fit for preferuing of health ; like as neither that , which is affected with too much heat or cold , or suffereth often and suddaine mutations . for as a pure , cleare and temperate aire is good for euery age and constitution : euen so impure , grosse , cloudie and intemperate aire is to euery age and constitution hurtfull . therefore touching the knowledge of the goodnes of the aire , it must be considered that it be not vaporous , moi●… , or putride , not too hot or too cold , not ouer-moist , or dry : for a vaporous , cloudy , grosse or putride aire doth cause theumes , annoy the lungs , corrupt the humors , infect the heart , deiect the spirits , and subuert the habit of the whole bodie . aire too hot doth relaxe the ioints , resolue the humors , and spirits , cast downe the strength , greatly weaken the concoction , with all other functions of the vegetall facultie , because it dissolueth and draweth out the naturall heat . moreouer it maketh the colour yellow , because it corrupteth the bloud which rubifieth the colour , and causeth choler to exceede other humors . last of all , it heateth the heart with an vnnaturall heat , it dissolueth , wasteth , and consumeth the humors , and causeth them to putrifie , and flow to the concauities and weake parts of the bodie ; and therefore it is not agreeable to healthy bodies : notwithstanding it is auaileable for ouer cold , moist , hydropicke , and paraliticke bodies , and such as are affected with the crampe proceeding of too much cold and moistu●…e . but aire temperately hot doth maintaine the naturall heat , confirme the strength , and maketh all the operations of the bodie more liuely : it is very comfortable and agreeable to euery constitution . aire too cold is of a congelatiue power , and therefore weakneth the sinewes , and greatly hurteth the braine , breedeth catarrhes , and * asthmaes , and extinguisheth the naturall heat , especially in weake bodies , by congealing the substantiall moisture thereof , and consequently it being not able to actuate as it ought , putrifieth . it is lesse hurtfull , nay sometimes profitable to bodies that are exceeding hot : and to sound bodies it is more conuenient and agreable then aire that is ouer hot . but aire meanely cold is healthfull , because it impelleth the naturall heate into the inner parts , and so causeth a strong digestion , prouoketh the appetite and maketh all the hidden operations of nature more effectuall : for such a coldnesse is proportionably contrary to the naturall heate , by reason whereof , the naturall and genuine heate is by an antiperistasis fortified , and the digestion , which is the roote of life , confirmed . aire too moist , such as is commonly in marish & low places , is to all bodies most hurtfull , because it too much lenifieth and moistneth the bodie , and filleth it with excrementall humors , and causeth distillations , the very roote almost of all diseases of the braine and sinewes , as cramps , palsies &c. with paines in the ioints ; and to speake all in a word , a generall torpiditie both of minde and bodie . but that aire which is meanely moist , especially in the summer time , is agreable to most complexions ; for it maketh a good colour , softneth the skin , and openeth the pores , whereby is caused the better difflation , and discussion of vaporous superfluities ; but yet it somewhat maketh the humors prone to putrefaction . this aire verily is very agreable to bodies of a dry constitution , but vnto other , by reason that it soone causeth putrefaction of humors , it is far lesse conuenient . a dry aire is contrary vnto this , and it is most agreable to moist constitutions . now these things , which i haue hitherto declared , concerning the election of aire , being considered , it doth plainely appeare , that of the same a temperate mediocritie in caliditie , frigiditie , humiditie , and siccitie , as much as possibly may be ; besides the lucide and cleare substance of it , is for the preseruation of health to be desired , because such aire doth cause and conserue the health of the inhabitants . for nothing verily causeth the bodie more liuely and iocunde , and lesse dull and vnapt about the voluntarie and animall motions , then to liue in a pure , cleare , and temperate aire , which hath in it no mixture of any filthy or offensiue vapour . and there are two things that doe plainely manifest the wholsomnes of such aire , as first , places free from very low valleys , and moores , and foggie mistes in the night ; then the bodies of the inhabitants , as an acute wit , a sound and liuely colour , a stable integritie of the head , quicke sight , perfect hearing , sound smelling , cleare voice , and no difficultie of breathing , or vnlustinesse of the limmes : for by these signes the wholsomnesse of the aire is approued , and by the contrary the offensiue and noisome breath thereof is detected . but seeing that it is not euery mans lot to liue in a pure and healthy aire , and such is the necessitie of the aire , that euen for a moment of time it cannot be eschewed , it must needs follow , that from it our bodies receiue very great alterations : wherefore the euillnesse of the aire being knowne , and the alteration which it maketh in our bodies considered , it may be easie in our meat , drinke , exercise &c. to obiect the contray , which may much hinder , infringe , and attemper the action and power of the aire ; but yet i counsell all such as are truly generous , that they make their habitations , so much as may be , remote from low , fennie , and moorish places ; for the health of the bodie ought to be preferred before any pecuniarie profits . whether the habitation that is somewhat eminent , be for health the best approued ? with good reason did our auncestors build their houses towards the south and the north , because through the northerne windowes , the north winde might in the summer passe in to coole the bloomie aire in them , and that the sunne , which rectifieth the aire , might through the southerne windowes in the winter enter into euery roome . for otherwise they cannot haue the benigne and sweet aspect of the sunne and the pleasant and healthfull blasts of the north winde at those distinct times of the yeare . but they did , for the most part euilly set them ( more regarding their commoditie then health ) in deepe and crooked places , because in such places they cannot be freely perflated and purified with the winds . neither is that house or place of ha●…itation to be commended , that lyeth open to the west , because it is perpetually subiect to the moist and excrementall blasts of the west winde . but in mine opinion those houses and habitations are best , which are somewhat eminently situated on pure & firme ground , far off from low , marish , or other filthy places , ( for there the aire is for the most part temperate , subtile and pure , seldome infected with vaporous blasts ) hauing springs or brookes of pure water neere adioyning , lying open to the south and east , with hills ( which may somewhat hinder and keepe backe the vaporous west winde , and the sharpe north winde in the winter ) a little remote on the west and north side , hauing windowes looking not onely towards the south and north for the reasons aforesaid , but also , so much as may be , towards the east , because the sunne in the beginning of the day , arising vpon them , doth excellently clarifie , and purge the aire of them , and is all the day after better exposed to the most wholesome blasts of the east winde . but here aduertisement must be giuen , that the easterne windowes or casements , be not set open , before the sunne hath somewhat purged the aire , and dissipated the clowds , especially in moyst seasons : for the morning aire , by reason of the coldnesse and moysture of the night , is grosse and impure , very hurtfull to them that haue weake braines , & subiect vnto rheumes , vntill it be illustrated by the presence of the sunne , and purified by his heat and splendor . and heere i would not , that the reader should so conceiue me , as that i iudge the west-winde , to be at no time wholsome : verily , i thinke nothing lesse , for it is somtimes wholsome enough , as if in the time of its blowing , the aire be bright and cleere , especially if it blow in the declining of the day , and the beginning of the night : for then it is the purer and lesse grosse , by reason of the presence of the sunne in the west part , which attenuateth the blasts of it . wherefore i doe conclude , that in an house , to the end it may be perflable , it is expedient to haue windowes on euery side , which may , ad placitum , bee opened and shut vp againe . why are those that inhabit eminent places in a free and open aire , of a more long and healthy life , and also of a more acute , generous , and magnificent minde , then those that inhabit crooked , low , and marish places ? this question consisteth of two parts : the reason of the first is , because the aire in eminent and open places , both by reason of the continuall motion of it , as also of the firme solidity of the earth , is more subtill and pure , whereby it commeth to passe , that the inhabitants , are euen to extreme old age , seene to enioy very good and perfect health . but in crooked , low , and marish places , for such verily are the spirits , as is the aire which is inspirated : the inhabitants are sickly , and haue turbid and obfuscated spirits , by reason of the grosnesse and impurity of the aire . for , impure , grosse , and intemperate aire doth corrupt the spirits and humours : from whence proceede infinite diseases , and vntimely old age . therefore eminent regions , because they are with pure windes freely perflated , are more healthy , then low and marish places , and in them men liue not onely more healthfully , but also longer , and from hence it was , that plato wrote , that hee euer found the longest liuers in high and temperate regions . therefore hee that desireth to liue a long and healthy life , must dwell in an eminent and champion countrey , or at least , in a place that is free from muddie and waterish impurities : for it is impossible , that a man should liue long and healthily in a place , where the spirits are with impure aire daily affected . wherefore i counsell them , that wish to enjoy true health , and a firme state of body , to take speciall care that they liue not in waterish places , or in a grosse , corrupt , and filthy aire , or otherwise subiect to vaporous blasts , which annoy the spirits , breede rheumes , and are very pernicious to the lungs . now the reason of the second is euident , by that which hath beene shewed concerning the former : for those that liue in eminent and champion countries , by reason of the tenuitie , puritie , and wholsomnesse of the aire in such places , haue cleare , pure , and subtill spirits , from whence it commeth , that they are witty , nimble , magnanimous , & alta petentes . but the contrary is seene in low and marish places , for there , the inhabitants , by reason of the euilnesse of the aire , haue grosse and earthy spirits , whereof it is , that they are for the most * part men , humum tantum sapientes , dull , sluggish , sordid , sensuall , plainely irreligious , or perhaps some of them , which is a little worse , religious in shew , externall honest men , deceiptfull , malicious , disdainefull . wherefore , seeing that the diuersity of spirits , and differences of wits and manners , doe so much proceede from the condition and nature of the aire , i doe here againe aduertise all such as are ingenious , generous , and desirous of perfection , both in minde and body , that they endeauour by all meanes , to liue in a pure and healthy aire , and so seldomly as may bee , frequent places , where the aire is wont to be infected with vaporous impurities . whether fountaine water , in goodnesse and wholsomnesse , excell other waters ? that water is esteemed to bee the best and wholsomest , which is most cleare and thin , pure in taste and smell , altogether clean from any impure , terrene , or other dreggy mixture . and such is , before all other , fountaine water , if it rise in a pure , high , and open place , and that against the east , for then it is the better depurated with the morning sunne , and pure orientall windes . of fountaine waters , those that rise against the north , because they haue not the radiant aspect of the sunne , which purifieth the waters , are least commendable , for they are not easily concocted , they weaken the stomacke , and cause fluctuations , and flatuousnesse in the body . but there are some fountaine waters , not to be allowed for alimentary vses , and such are those , which rise from sulphurous , bituminous , or metalline places , or which are carried thorow like veines of the earth , because they receiue an vnpleasant sauor and smell , and also an euill quality from those things that they issue from , or runne thorow . next vnto fountaine water in goodnesse , is raine-water , so it fall not in a boysterous or troublesome aire ; for the sunne , from all waters and humid places , draweth vp the thinner and purer portion resolued into vapours , which is the matter of raine to come . notwithstanding , the goodnesse therof doth alter according to the diuers parts of the yeere ; for that is the best , which falleth from the middle of the spring , to the middle of autumne , because in those seasons , the aire is for the most part pure , seldomly corrupted with noysome vapours , which defile the raine-waters . and there are some , to whose opinion a man may easily , without errour subscribe , which thinke , that such raine-water is not inferiour in goodnesse to fountaine water . but the waters which fall with great tempests of winds , haile , thunder , and lightnings , are , by reason of many confused vapors and exhalations collected in the aire , impurer , and therfore not so well to be approoued for the health of mans body . riuer water hath the third place of goodnes , both by reason the action of the sunne vpon it , as also because that by motion , it becommeth thinner , except it bee polluted by the mixture of other things , as it commeth to passe in riuers , that runne thorow marish places , or neere vnto populous townes or cities : for then , by reason of all manner of filth running , or cast into them , they become very corrupt and vnwholsome . therefore where the inhabitants through the want of most wholsome fountaines , are constrained to make vse of riuer water , let them take especiall care , lest insteede of that which is wholsome , they take that which is corrupt and very offensiue to the health of their bodies : wherfore let them make choyse of that riuer water , which is not subiect to the aforesayd hurts ; but runneth with a full streame vpon grauell , pebble-stones , rockes , or pure earth : for that water , by reason of the purity of the place , motion , and radiant splendor of the sun , is thinner , sweeter , and therefore more pure , and wholsomer , and in my opinion , it is doubtfull , whether fountaine waters surpasse in goodnesse such riuer waters . but if the riuer waters shall not be cleere , but slimie and muddie , and the same , for want of better waters , necessarily vsed , as in many low and marish places , then let them be kept so long in some vessell , till that the grosse part rest and settle in the bottome , for by this meanes , the thin and purer part of the water may be taken and vsed , and the grosser cast away . well-water is iudged inferiour to the former , in purity and wholsomnesse , not onely because it is voyd of motion , but also because it is not illustrated of the sun ; notwithstanding , if the well bee digged in pure earth , and the mouth open to the aire , not shut vp in a darke obscure place , not beset with a filthy bottome , but a pure , grauely , or rocky , then the water , especially if it be often drawen , is very good and wholsome . and heere vnderstand , that the waters that are drawen thorow pumps , because they are shut vp from the aire , are worse then other well-waters , for they more quickly putrifie , and acquire an ill quality . the like may bee said of cisternewaters . neither are the waters which are carried throw pipes of lead , so wholsome as they are supposed to be , not onely because they are shut vp from the aire , but also because they are thought to acquire an vnwholsome quality from the lead : they are troublesome to the stomacke , and ponderous to all the bowels ; but these hurts in their boyling , are well remooued . all standing waters , as of pooles , motes , and of pits , which in low and marish places , are very vsuall , are most vnwholsome , and altogether ( as pestiferous ) to bee auoyded and eschewed , for in that they are standing , or creeping with a very slow pace , the parching heat of the sunne often working vpon them , doth more mightily pierce to the bottome , and so leauing the grosser part , draweth vp the thinner , whereby it commeth to passe , that the waters appeare muddy , and of a leadish colour , corrupted both in smell and taste . waters that are taken neere vnto the sea-shores , or armes of the same , are for the most part corrupt , and of a stinking smell , and vnpleasant sauour , and therefore naught and vnwholsome for mans body . whether snow waters be in goodnesse matchable to riuer water ? no , and the reason is , because that while the snow is ingendred , the thinner part of the matter , is ( as it were ) pressed forth of the cold , and conuerted into clowds , the grosser part remaineth , and is turned into snow : wherof it commeth , that snow-waters are grosse and ouer cold , and therfore hurtful to mans bodie ; for they cause rheumes , and greatly hurt the sinewes . moreouer , they breed spleneticke passions , by causing the spleene to grow great , they confound the breast and liuer , cause asthma's , and fill the stomacke with flateous crudities : wherefore the vse therof , especially in elder yeeres , doth vndoubtedly induce exitiall affects to the sinewes , ioynts and bowels . but snow water is , of some in these daies , greatly esteemed of , to coole and extinguish thirst . perhaps , in hot countries , and in hot seasons , it may bee for some bodies agreeable ; but in our northerne countries , it is at no hand to be allowed , except to such as are impensiuely hot ; for it is onely profitable to a stomacke that estuateth with heat . whether in waters that are naturally warme , which wee call hot bathes , it be healthfull for healthy men to bathe ? waters naturally hot , and of a medicinable faculty , such as are our famous bathes of bathe , are of singular force , not onely against diseases gotten by cold , or proceeding from a cold and moyst cause , but also bring in time of health , exceeding comfort and profit , to all cold , moyst , and corpulent bodies : for they open the pores , resolue , attenuate , digest , consume , and draw forth superfluities , and withall , strongly heat and dry the whole habit of the body . they are of excellent efficacie against all diseases of the head and sinewes , proceeding of a cold and moyst cause , or of a cold only , or moyst only , as rheumes , palsies , epilepsies , lethargies , apoplexies , cramps , deafnesse , forgetfulnesse , trembling , or weaknesse of any member , aches and swellings of the ioynts , &c. they also greatly profit windie and hydropicke bodies , the paine and swelling of any part of the bodie , so that it proceede not from an hot cause , the sluggish & lumpish heauinesse of the bodie , numnesse of any member , paine in the loynes , the gout , especially the sciatica , cold tumors of the milt and liuer , the yellow iaundice in a bodie plethoricke or phleg●…aticke . they are also very profitable for them that haue their lungs annoyed with much moisture , because they consume and drie vp that moisture : and to make slender such bodies as are too grosse , there is nothing more effectuall then the often vse of these waters . wherefore let those that feare obesitie , that is , would not waxe grosse , be carefull to come often to our bathes : for by the often vse of them , according as the learned physition shall direct , they may not onely preserue their health , but also keepe their bodies from being vnseemingly corpulent . they are also singularly profitable to women , for they helpe them of barrennesse , and of all diseases and imperfections of the matrice , proceeding of a cold and moyst cause . they also cure all diseases of the skin , as scabs , itch , old sores &c. all which to be true , we daily finde with admiration to the exceeding great comfort of many , who with deplored diseases , and most miserable bodies resort to our baths in bathe , and are there , by the helpe of wholsome physicke and vertue of the baths , through the blessing of almighty god , recouered to their former health . but hot bathes , to bodies naturally hot and dry , are generally hurtfull , and so much the more , as the bodie is drier and the bathe hotter , because it distempereth and consumeth the very habit of the bodie , and maketh it carraine-like leane . wherefore seeing that naturall bathes are not indifferently agreable to euery constitution , i doe aduise that not any one goe into them rashly , or vpon an approperous iudgement , but that he be first aduised by some faithfull , iudicious and expert physition , and to him expose the state of his bodie , whereby he may vnderstand , whether or no it may be expedient for him to attempt the same . and whereas in bathe there are diuers bathes , and they differing in their heate , he must also from the learned physition be directed in which to bathe ; neither must he onely vnderstand which bathe to vse , as most conuenient for his present state of bodie , but also when and how often to vse the same . besides this , he must ( according as his state of bodie shall require ) be purged before he enter into the bathe , and be also directed in other things how to order himselfe , before he goe into the bathe , while he is in the bathe , and after that he is come out of the bathe , and when he leaueth the bathe . and must also , in the intermitting times of bathing and sweating , take such physicke , as his disease and present state of bodie shall require . the neglect of all these , or of some of them , either through ignorance or voluntarie wilfulnes , may be the cause that some that take great paines to come to the bathes , are not by them healed of their infirmities , but oftentimes neuer returne to their homes againe ; or if they doe ; it is most commonly with new diseases , and the olde worse then euer they were : whereas many of a generous and religious vnderstanding , vsing the true helpes of physicke with the bathes , are of their diseases perfectly cured . and here i exhort the physitions , in regard that the bathes , which proceed from sulphur , or from it , take their chiefest vertue and strength ( as our bathes in bathe doe ) doe weaken and subuert the stomacke , especially of some bodies , that they haue an honest care to corroborate the same by such meanes as shall be best fitting for the present estate of the bodie . here also i aduertise such as in the declining or fall of the yeare , which we call the autumne , shall for the health of their bodies repaire to our bathes , that they deferre not their comming till the middle of september or after , as many ignorantly doe ; but that they rather be there by the end of august , that they may haue the commoditie of the bathes before the aire grow to be too cold for bathing in hot bathes , as commonly it is in october , especially toward the end thereof : for if they shall make vse of the bathes when the aire is cold and moist , or very inclinable thereunto , they shall receiue ( the pores of the bodie being open by reason of the efficacie of the bathe ) farre greater hurt then commoditie . but perhaps some out of an ignorant timorousnes will obiect , that to come to the bathes at the end of august is too soone vpon the dogge-dayes . herein they are more scrupulous , then iudicious ; but to yeeld them satisfaction , i answer , besides the alteration of seasons from their ancient temperature , in this decrepit age of the world , that though the middle part of the day , about the beginning of september , shall be hot ; yet the mornings and euenings , which are the times for bathing , are rather cold or declining to a temperature , and the heat of the day following vpon bathing , is that which we specially respect for the health of our patients , for whom we approue the vse of the bathes . and verily , whosoeuer shall but consider the great variablenes , and inconstant disposition of the spring , from its ancient temperature , especially of later yeares , must ( in my opinion ) confesse , that the moneth of september is most commonly , in regard of the disposition of the aire , so fit for bathing in hot bathes , as any in the spring . wherefore such as for the health of their bodies repaire to our bathes , shall , if they be there by the end of august , receiue a double commoditie : for first , they shall haue the whole moneth of september very conuenient for bathing , and physicke also , as shall be occasion , yea and part of october , as the disposition of the aire shall permit : next , sufficient time for their returne to their homes , before the aire grow too cold , or the weather distempered : for to expose their bodies to trauell in foule and intemperate weather , vpon the vse of the bathes , induceth , ( the pores being open ) besides feuerous distemperatures and ventosities , oftentimes very great and dolorous affects of the braine , breast , sinewes , and ioynts . thus much i thought fitting to aduise concerning the vse of our bathes , and the rather that such as preposterously vse them , may not erroniously detract from the admirable vertues of them . now i will in one thing giue my aduise to the gouernors of the place , in which i shall nothing doubt of their vnanimous assent , as also of the approbation of all truly generous and religious gentlemen and gentlewomen , that shall for the health of their bodies resort thither , which is , that the immodest custome of men and women promiscuously at one time going into the bathes , may be reformed , which ( in my iudgement ) may with no lesse fitnes , then decencie easily be effected . for whereas there are foure publique bathes for strangers to bathe in , ( of which the kings bathe is the hottest , and it is for largenes and efficacie a kingly bathe indeed : next vnto it for efficacie of heat is the hot bathe , and the bathe that is adioyning to the kings bathe now called the queenes bathe : these two bathes are neere of one temperature . the crosse bathe is for heat the mildest ; it is very temperately warme : the vse of this bathe may , by the aduise of a discreet physition , sometimes be very profitably admitted euen to hot and drie bodies ) i would ; that men onely vse the kings bathe one day , and women another , that all occasion of offence might thereby be remoued : and because the crosse bathe , and hot bathe are neere togither , i would that the day that men vse the crosse bathe , women vse the hot bathe , and the day that women vse the crosse bathe , men vse the hot bathe : which order may be likewise obserued in the vse of the kings bathe , and of the other adioyning to it . for by this meanes such as please , or rather shall be so aduised by their physition , may without all offence , vse one bathe or another euery day . but perhaps some will obiect against me , that they came far , and with great expense to seeke their health at the bathes , and therefore that i doe them great wrong to seeke to barthem of the vse of the kings bath euery second day . to whom i answer ; that not the immoderate and preposterous vse of the bathes , ( for that is pernicious ) but the tempestiue and moderate vse of them doth acquire their health : for to vse the kings bathe oftner then euery second day , and to sweat , or houres vpon the bathing , as shall by the aduise of the learned physition be thought meete , for the particular state and constitution of the bodie , besides other fitting courses of physicke , is more , if you rightly weigh the great heat and efficacie of the bathe , then in any state or constitution of bodie can be well allowed , except perhaps in a few , that shall be of a very cold and moist temperature , for whom there may be a toleration . now by that which i haue written of our bathes of bathe , it may plainely vnto all men appeare , of what excellent efficacie they are , if they be rightly and iudiciously vsed : and seeing that in the true vse of them , there are many things , as i haue partly before touched , to be considered ; i doe therefore againe aduise all such as are respectiue of their health , that they enterprise not the vse of them without the counsell of some honest and learned physition ; which if they doe , the incommodum may be maius commodo . and so i conclude this introduction . of the divers kindes of bread. sect . i. whether bread that is made of the middle and purest part of the meale not separated , be the best and wholsomest ? among the things which serue for meate , i may with very good right giue the first place vnto bread , for it is the simplest nourishment , and to our nature very familiar : if it be well made and prepared , the nourishment which it yeeldeth is very substantiall and exceeding good . but the vertue and goodnes of the bread is to be taken from the nature of the graine , and manner of preparation . concerning the preparation , i will onely touch it a litle hereafter , where i will shew the properties , that ought to be in the best and wholsomest bread . and whereas there are diuers sorts of graine wherewith bread may be made , yet we most chiefly vse three , wheat , rie , and barly , for we neuer vse beanes , or otes , except in a very great scarcitie of the former . for bread made of beanes is very dry , by reason whereof it is brittle , vnpleasant , and hard to digest , it can in no wise be wholsome , for it filleth the bodie full of winde , and is voide of any good alimentall iuyce . of oates in wales , and some of the northerne shires of england , they make bread , especially in manner of cakes , which kinde of bread is of light digestion , but windie , and yeeldeth a weake nourishment to the bodie : while it is new , it is meetly pleasant , but after a few dayes it waxeth dry and vnsauoury : it is a bread of light nourishment , and ( in my opinion ) not agreable for men , especially for such as haue not bin from their youth accustomed thereunto . but these and the like sorts of bread , i separate from this treatise , both because that in regard of our great plenty of wheat , rie , and barley , it is lawfull euen for our poore people to make of them , or of the mingling of them , bread abundantly ; as also , because that other sorts of bread are with vs growne out of vse , wherefore of these onely will i entreat . of these three , the bread which is made of wheat is by reason of its moderate temperature , the best and worthiest of praise , for it is easily digested , and very strongly nourisheth the bodie ; but it is purer or impurer , according to the finenes or coursenes of the flower whereof it is made . for of the meale there are foure parts : pollen , simila , secundarium , and furfures . pollen is the purest part of the meale , that is , the finest part of the flower ; of this is made the whitest and purest bread , very profitable for thin , weake , loose , and extenuated bodies ; but not so commendable for those that are healthy and strong , and therefore if any such vse it , they are more curious then iudicious . simila is that part of the meale , which is the meane betweene the finest part of the flower and the coursest , which is called secundarium of this togither . with the finest part of the flower is made the wholsomest and best nourishing bread , and it is in greatest vse among the better sort of people . secundarium is that part of the meale , whereof yeoman-bread is made , which some call second bread . this bread because it hath in it the finer part of the bran , doth not giue to the bodie so great nor so good nourishment as the former ; but it quickly descendeth from the stomacke , and maketh the bodie soluble , and therefore sometimes good for such as are wont to be costiue ; and if a quantitie of rie flower be added to it , there will be made of them both an yeoman-bread , for strong and healthy bodies very conuenient . bread made onely of the brannie part of the meale , which the poorest sort of people vse , especially in time of dearth and necessitie , giueth a very bad and excrementall nourishment to the bodie : it is well called panis ca●…icarius , because it is more fit for dogs then for men . but if the grossest part of the bran be separated by a searce , and rie flower , or else barley flower and rie flower togither be added to that which is sifted from the grossest bran , there will be made a browne houshold bread agreable enough for labourers . sometimes onely the grosser part of the bran is by a searse separated from the meale , and a bread made of that which is sifted , called in some places , one way bread , wholsome enough , and with some in very familiar vse : it nourisheth lesse then that which is made of purer flower ; but by reason of some part of the bran which is conteined in it , it doth sooner descend and moue the belly , for there is a kinde of abstersiue facultie in the braine : wherefore , for those that are healthy , and yet subiect to costiuenesse , and also for such as would not waxe grosse , it is most profitable . in time of scarsitie of corne , bread is also wont to be made of the whole meale , from which the bran is not separated , and it is well called panis confusaneus , because all the meale , no part thereof being by sifting taken away , goeth into the making of the bread : this bread speedily descendeth and yet it is troublesome to the stomack , and filleth the belly with excrements . bread made of rie is in wholesomnes much inferiour to that which is made of wheat : it is cold , heauy , and hard to digest , and by reason of the massiuenes thereof , very burdensome to the stomacke . it breedeth a clammie , tough , and melancholicke iuyce ; it is most meete for rusticke labourers , for such by reason of their great trauaile , haue commonly very strong stomacks . rie in diuers places is mixed with wheat , and a kinde of bread made of them , called messeling bread , which is wholesomer then that which is made of rie , for it is lesse obstructiue , nourisheth better , and lesse filleth the bodie with excrements . some vse to make bread , especially in the times of scarsitie , of rie and barley mixed togither ; but this kinde of bread is more excrementall then the former , yet better then that which is onely made of barley : for barley bread is lesse nourishing then rie bread ; it is cold and dry , hard of concoction , and breedeth not a tough iuyce , but rather somewhat clensing , and therefore it hath speedier distribution through the bodie , then rie bread hath ; but it giueth a dry and excrementall nourishment to the bodie , filleth it with winde , and greatly hurteth the stomacke . how many properties ought there to be in the best and wholsomest bread ? seuen : the first is that it be made of the best wheat ; for according to the difference of the wheat , is tho goodnes or badnes of the bread . that wheat is best which is of yellow colour , of a close and compacted substance , cleane , weighty , and so hard , that it will not easily be broken betweene the teeth : contrary to this is that which is of a laxe and open substance , such as is commonly growen in low and vliginous places . and if wheat that hath all the aforesaid properties cannot conueniently be had , yet let it be such as is of an hard compacted substance , and weighty : for it is generally to be obserued in euery kinde of wheat , that the better and wholsomer bread is alwaies made of the weightier and more compacted wheat , and the wo●…ser of that which is more light and open . the second propertie is , that it be fitly leauened ; for the leauen causeth the bread to be of thin parts , by reason whereof , it is more easily digested , and breedeth better humors . but the leauen must be fitly proportioned , because common experience proueth in mens stomacks , that bread much leauened is of heauy digestion , and of no commendable nourishment . all the ancient physitions deemed vnleauened bread to be very vnwholesome , because it is of hard digestion and breedeth obstructiue humors . howbeit we daily proue that no bread is lighter of digestion , or giueth better nourishment to the bodie , then our manchet , which is made of fine flower of wheat , hauing in it no leauen , but in steede thereof a little barme . but by this i reiect not the vse of leauen , to the making either of manchet bread or of greater loaues , as a thing very profitable and good ; but i leaue it as a thing indifferent , and euery good housewife to her owne custome herein : onely i aduertise , that the leauen and barme be fitly proportioned . and by the former rule of the ancient physitions , all sorts of cakes , simnels , wafers , fritters , pancakes , and such like , are to be reiected , if they bee not well corrected with some other good ingrediences . the third propertie is , that it be temperately seasoned with salt , for bread ouer sweat is of hard digestion , and breedeth obstructiue humors , and bread ouer salt is a dryer , and breedeth aduste and melancholicke humors . but that which consisteth in a meane betweene both , is pleasant to the taste and more acceptable to the stomacke . the fourth propertie is , that it be light , and somewhat open , and such , although it be great in shew , yet it is of small weight , and therefore easily digested , and easily distributed from the stomacke . the fift propertie is , that it be very well wrought and laboured with the hands and brake , and not ouer-liquored , as many negligent and slothfull seruants oftentimes doe , to saue that labour ; for then it is heauy to the stomacke , and breedeth clammie and naughty iuyce . the sixth propertie is , that it be well baked ; for bread that is ill baked , whether too much or too litle , is of ill digestion , of ill distribution , and therefore very troublesome to the stomacke . the last propertie is , that it be not eaten ouer new , as while it is hot , nor when it is stale and growne dry . it must not be eaten hot , because it will fluctuate in the stomacke , slowly descend , oppilate , and abundantly breede winde in the bowels , by reason of a vaporous humiditie that is in it while it is hot , which in cooling euaporateth : and because it furneth vpward , it causeth drowsinesse , confoundeth the senses , and very greatly hurteth the braine it selfe . wherefore bread while it is hot , although it be to some mens pallats very pleasant and acceptable , yet it is to the bodie vnprofitable , because it breedeth flatulent and obstructiue humors . in like manner , bread that is stale and growne dry , because it hath lost his naturall temperature , is vnprofitable ; for it is hardly digested , and yeeldeth litle nourishment , and the same not good , but melancholick . wherefore it followeth , that the bread ought not to be too olde , nor too new : and to auoide all the aforesaid discommodities , i hold ; that the bread ought to be kept the space of houres , or at least one night in some cold place after the baking , before it be eaten ; and also that it be not aboue two or three dayes olde in the summer , especially if it be made in the forme of manchet or smaller loaues ; nor aboue foure or fiue dayes olde in the winter ; for by how much more it is dryed and indurated , by so much the worse it nourisneth , and is of harder concoction . whether bisket bread yeeld to the bodie any profitable nourishment . bisket bread is onely profitable for the phlegmaticke , and them that haue crude and moist stomacks , and that desire to grow leane , because it is a very great dryer ; and therefore let such as are cholericke and melancholicke beware how they vse it . the like may be said of the crust of bread ; for it is also very hardly digested , and breedeth choler adust and melancholike humors . wherefore let the vtmost and harder part of the crust be chipped away , of which let such as are by nature cholericke and melancholicke haue speciall care . but it is good for the phlegmaticke , & for such as haue ouer-moist stomacks , and yet healthy , and desirous to grow leane , to eat crusts after meat , the very superficiall and burnt part of them onely chipped away , because they presse downe the meate , and strengthen the mouth of the stomacke , by drying vp the superfluous moisture of it . of the divers kindes of drinke . sect . ii. whether it be wholsome for northerne people , that inhabit cold countries , to drinke water at their meales , in steed of beere ? although water bee the most ancient drinke , and to those that inhabit hot countries , profitable and familiar , by reason of the parching heat of the ambient aire , which doth exceedingly heat , inflame , and dry their bodies ; yet to such as inhabit cold countries , and especially not accustomed therunto , nor the constitution impensiuely hot , requiring and forcing the same , it is by the contrarie , in no wise agreeable : for it doth very greatly deiect their appetite , destroy the naturall heat , and ouerthrow the strength of the stomacke , and consequently , confounding the concoction , is the cause of crudities , fluctuations , and windinesse in the bodie . what , in generall are the commodities of wine ? manie and singular are the commodities of wine : for it is of it selfe , the most pleasant liquour of all other , and was made from the beginning to exhilarate the heart of man. it is a great encreaser of the vitall spirits , and a wonderfull restorer of all powers and actions of the bodie : it verie greatly helpeth concoction , distribution , and nutrition , mightily strengtheneth the naturall heat , openeth obstructions , discusseth windinesse , taketh away sadnesse , and other hurts of melancholy , induceth boldnesse and pleasant behauiour , sharpeneth the wit , abundantly reuiueth feeble spirits , excellently amendeth the coldnesse of old age , and correcteth the tetrick qualities which that age is subiect vnto ; and to speake all in a word , it maketh a man more couragious and liuely , both in minde and body . these are in generall the commodities of wine , which are so to be vnderstood , as that a meane and frugality bee had in the vse of it , notintemperancie and drunkennesse ; otherwise what can be more hurtfull then wine , seeing that the same immoderately taken , destroyeth the life and prosperous health , disturbeth the reason , dulleth the vnderstanstanding , confoundeth the memorie , causeth the lethargie , palsie , trembling of the hands , and a generall weaknesse of the sinewes . wherefore let wine bee moderately vsed , that neither distillation , nor inflammation , nor exiccation , or drunkennesse follow ; for if it be taken beyond measure , it will not be a remedie and confort for the strength , but rather a poyson and vtter ouerthrow . but seeing that there are diuers sorts of wine , and the same not indifferently agreeable to euerie age and constitution , i will therefore ( that euery man may make choyse of those wines that are best agreeable for him ) speake of the particular differences of them , according to their seuerall qualities , especially of such wines , as with vs are most vsuall . white-wine and rhenish-wine , doe least of all wines heat and nourish the bodie , they consist of a thin and penetrating substance , wherefore they are quickly concocted , and very speedily distributed into all parts of the body , and therefore they lesse annoy the head , then any other vrine . they cut and attenuate grosse humors , prouoke vrine , and cleanse the bloud by the reines . they moysten the bodie , and canse sleepe , mitigate the paines of the head , proceeding from a great heat of the stomacke , but especially the rhenish wine . they are most accommodate for those that are young , for hot constitutions , for hot countries , and for the hot times of the yeere , and for those that would bee leane and slender : they are lesse hurtfull , for such as are feuorous , then other wines are ; but being well mixed with water , they are very profitable for all hot distemperatures . it is verie expedient to drinke white-wine or rhenish-wine in the morning fasting , and also a little before dinner and supper , with a limmon * macerated therein , and the iuyce pressed forth , especially for them that haue hot and drie stomackes , or are subiect to obstructions of the stomacke , of the mesaraicke veines , of the liuer , and of the reines : for it greatly refresheth an hot and dry stomacke , stirreth vp the appetite , cleanseth away the sl mie superfluities of the stomacke , mesaraicke veines , and other obstructiue matter in the passages , by way of vrine . but it is very hurtfull to drinke white-wine or rhenish-wine with meat , or at the meales , or presently after meale ; except for such as are affected with too much astriction of the stomacke , because they deturbe the meats from the stomacke , before they are concocted , and so cause them to passe crude and indigested , whereby it commeth to passe , that the whole bodie doth greatly abound with flateous crudities . white and rhenish wines are very pernicious for such as are rheumaticke , and subiect to fluxion of humors into the ioynts , or other parts of the body , and therfore let such very carefully eschew the vse of them . claret wine is very neere of a temperate nature , and somewhat of an astringent faculty , as the sauour of it doth plainely shew : it breedeth good humours , greatly strengtheneth the stomacke , quencheth thirst , stirreth vp the appetite , helpeth the concoction , and exhilarateth the heart , it is most profitable for them that are of an hot constitution , for young men , and for them that haue hot stomackes , which it doth excellently refresh . but it greatly offendeth them that are of a cold and moyst constitution , that abound with crude humours , and that are subiect to distillations from the braine , especially if it bee taken immoderately , or not with meat : for it , being taken with excesse , or out of meale , is of all wines ( in regard of the rheumaticke nature of it ) the most pernicious : and therefore let such as are subiect to cold and rheumaticke diseases , beware how they vse it . but verily , it being moderately taken at meales , it is for temperate bodies , so as it be a pure and quicke wine , scarsely inferiour to any of the regall wines of france : and for such as are inclined vnto heat , so they are not much subiect vnto rheumes , excelleth both them , and all other : for it notably rectifieth the stomack , and wonderfully comforteth the same , breedeth most healthfull bloud , and acceptable to the heart . it is of all wines the best for cholericke bodies , and the worst for phlegmaticke . sacke is compleatly hot in the third degree , and of thin parts , and therefore it doth vehemently and quickly heat the bodie : wherefore the much and vntimely vse of it , doth ouer-heat the liuer , inflame the bloud , and exciccate the radicall humour in leane and dry bodies : wherefore to them that are young , and all such as are of an hot and dry temperature , it is greatly hurtfull . but if it bee moderately taken of them , for whom it is agreeable , it maketh the stomacke strong to digest , helpeth the distribution of the meats vnto all parts of the body , concocteth crude humours , and consumeth the excrementall ; and to speake all in a word , it mightily strengtheneth all the powers and faculties of the bodie . it is most accommodate for old men , for grosse men , for stomackes that are weake , and full of cold and crude humours , and for all that are of a cold constitution , and also for cold countries , and for the cold and moyst seasons of the yeere . it is cheifely to bee drunken after the eating of meats of grosse substance , and such as consist of an excrementall moysture , as porke , fresh fish , &c. some affect to drinke sacke with sugar , and some with out , and vpon no other ground , as i thinke , but that , as it is best pleasing to their palletes . i will speake what'i deeme thereof , and i thinke i shall well satisfie such as are iudicious . sacke taken by it selfe , is very hot and very penetratiue , being taken with sugar , the heat is both some-what allayed , and the penetratiue quality thereof also retardated . wherefore let this be the conclusion : sacke taken by it selfe , without any mixture of sugar , is best for them that haue cold stomackes , and subiect to the obstructions of it , and of the mesaraicke veines . but for them that are free from such obstructions , and feare lest that the drinking of sacke , by reason of the penetratiue faculty of it , might distemper the liuer , it is best to drink it with sugar , and so i leaue euerie man that vnderstandeth his owne state of bodie , to bee his owne director heerein . malmesey is in operation very hot , and by reason that it is sweet , it nourisheth very much , and therefore the vse of it is exceeding profitable for old , cold , weake , and decayed bodies , for it mightily che●…isheth the naturall heat , and fortifieth all the powers of the bodie . it is conuenient for all cold bodies ; but for such as are hot , it is greatly hurtfull , because it is very easily conuerted into red choler . it killeth wormes in children , by a certaine naturall and hidden property , if they drinke it fasting . muskadell is euen in all respects equall to malmesey , and therefore if that bee wanting , this may well supply the turne : the vse of it is good for old and cold bodies ; but very hurtfull to such as are of an hot temperature . bastard is in vertue somewhat like to muskadell , and may also insteed therof be vsed : it is in goodnesse so much inferiour to muskadell , as the same is to malmesey , the vse thereof is likewise hurtfull to young and hot bodies . canarie-wine , which beareth the name of the ilands from whence it is brought , is of some termed a sacke , with this adiunct sweet , but yet very improperly , for it differeth not onely from sacke , in sweetnesse and pleasantnesse of taste , but also in colour and consistence , for it is not so white in colour as sacke , nor so thin in substance ; wherefore it is more nutritiue then sacke , and lesse penetratiue . it is best agreeable to cold constitutions , & for old bodies , so that they bee not too impensiuely cholericke , for it is a wine that will quickly inflame , and therefore very hurtfull vnto hot and cholerick bodies , especially if they be young . tent is a grosse nutritiue wine , and is very quickly concocted into bloud , but the same is oppilatiue , and therfore it is very hurtfull for such as are subiect to obstructions . it is fit for them that are extenuated and weake , and stand in neede of much nourishment , and the same somewhat astrictiue . greeke wine , which is of a blackish red colour , is of a very temperate nature , hotter then claret , and sweeter , yet with some pleasing sharpnesse adioyning , it breedeth very good bloud , reuiueth the spirits , comforteth the stomack and liuer , and exceedingly cheereth and strengtheneth the heart . for aged people , and all such as are naturally of a weake state of body , it is most profitable . wine of orleance is stronger then any other french wine , and very pleasant withall in taste : it is for goodnesse scarsely , or not at all , inferiour to muskadell : it is hurtfull to the cholericke , and all such as haue hot liuers and weak braines , for it doth quickly ouer heat the liuer , and assault the head . but for other bodies , especially if they encline to a cold constitution , and for cold and weake stomackes , there is not a better wine , if there be so good . for it doth not onely comfort the stomacke , help the concoction , and viuifie the spirits , by reason of a generous heat in it , but also furthereth the distribution of the meats , and consequently a good nutrition through the mediocrity of its substance . it is very hurtfull to them that are young , and that are of an hot and cholericke temperature ; but to the aged and phlegmaticke very profitable . there are also other french wines ( would to god they were so common as claret ) which for pleasantnesse of taste , mediocrity of colour , substance and strength , doe for most bodies , for ordinary vse with meats , far excell other wines : such are cheifly uin de coussy , and d'hai , which to the kings and peeres of france are in very familiar vse . they norably comfort the stomacke , help the concoction and distribution of the meats , and offend not the head with vaporous fumes . they are regall wines indeede , and very conuenient for euery season , age , and constitution , so they might be had . red wine is of an austere sharpe taste , of an astringent faculty , and therefore onely good for physicke vses , to stop cholericke vomitings , and fluxes of the belly . there are also other sorts of wines , altering according to the diuers nature of the vine , soyle and aire , whose differences may by their colour , taste and consistence , easily bee discerned . and heere i would haue you generally to obserue in the vse of wines , that those wines , which are more milde , temperate , and least assaulting the head , are more wholsome for the body : and those more hurtfull , that are strong , acute and vaporous , especially if there bee not a meane in the vse of them , and a respect also of the age , complexion , and time of the yeere . moreouer , it is to be vnderstood , that wines differ very much , according to their age : for wines that are new , are vnwholsome , and the more new , the more vnwholsome , for they haue in them little heat , and consist of a grosse and excrementall substance ; wherefore they doe not help , but much hinder the concoction and distribution , cause fluctuations in the body , and cholick-torments , and abundantly breede obstructions of the liuer , milt and reines . but their superfluous and excrementall moysture is , in processe of time , concocted and ouercome of the heat , and then they become more hot , more pure , and much more wholsome . and heere it is to be obserued , that all wines haue not the same time of continuance ; for there are some , which by reason of the weaknesse of their heat , cannot long bee kept , as whitewine , rhenish wine , and claret ; for these , and such like , doe in six or seuen moneths , or within , according to the smalnesse of them , attaine vnto the height of their goodnesse ; and after a yeere , doe begin to decline , and lose much of their goodnesse , especially the smaller sort of them . but the stronger sorts of wines , as sacke , muskadell , malmesey , &c. are best , when they are two are three yeares old : for these , by reason of their strong heat , doe a long time reserue their perfect vigor . and as these wines , being too new , are vnwholsome , so bee they also , if they be too old , as when they haue passed foure or fiue yeeres , because they heat beyond measure ; for the older they grow , the more heat they acquire , and in processe of time , the siccitie of them is correspondent to their heat . wherefore such wines , are rather meerely to bee reputed among medicaments , then aliments , because they haue a farre greater faculty of altering the bodie vnto heat and siccity , then they haue of nourishing . the vse of them , especially if it be often , is hurtfull to the sinewes , and an enemy to procreation , because they dry vp the geniture , perturbe the vnderstanding , and by reason of their tart and vehement fumes , affect the membranes of the braine with a cruell pungitiue paine . they are only , in the way of physicke , good for weake and moyst bodies , that are decayed of their naturall heat . wherefore wines that are ouer old , or too new , are to bee eschewed ; for those doe too much heat , and these doe nothing at all , so long as they bee new , and are so farre away from helping the concoction , as that euen themselues are with difficulty digested . it remaineth therefore , that neither the wine which is too new , nor that which is too old , but that which is a meane betweene both , to be the most wholsome . but whereas it hath beene sayd before , that new wines breede obstructions , it is not so generally to bee taken , as that all new wines doe breede obstructions ; but that is to be vnderstood of the must of sweeter wines , which haue in them no mixture of nitrous or biting lees , for such verily doe breede grosse , flateous , and obstructiue humors . but those wines , of which sort are white and rhenish wines , that haue in them any mixture of nitrous lees , are so farre off , from breeding obstructions , as that nothing can be more contrary to their nature , because ●…hey prouoke vrine , and strongly moue to stoole , which they performe especially through the acrimonie of the lees , and also through the aboundance of winde , which they breede . wherefore those new wines alone are drunke without hurt , or with least , which consist of a thin substance with nitrous lees , of which sort , as i haue said , are white and rhenish wines , and these by reason of their qualitie of cooling , moistning , and of mouing the belly , may be good for young men that haue hot stomacks , and such as are cholericke by constitution ; but are very hurtfull for olde men , and such as are phlegmaticke , so long as they are new and not perfectly purged from their dregs . very well therefore said galen , that must or new wine hath no other vse , but to moue the belly , which facultie if it want , it is extreamely ill and hurtfull to the bodie . how many precepts ought there to be obserued in the exhibiting of pure wine in respect of the age . fiue : the first is , that it be not giuen vnto children , for this will be as if you should adde fire vnto fire : for they being of hot and moist temperature , would thereby become ouer hot , and their heads also filled with vapors , whereof ensue many euills , and sometimes the falling sicknesse . the second is , that it be not giuen to youths , as from yeares of age vnto ; for wine is vnto them most repugnant ; because it doth aboue measure heate their hastie , hot , and agitating nature , and extimulate them ( like madde men ) vnto enormious and outragious actions . the third is , that it be very moderately giuen , and that not too often vnto young men , as from yeares of age vnto , and that it be also of the smaller sorts of wines , as claret &c : especially if they are of hot constitution : for otherwise it will make them prone vnto wrath and vnlawfull desires , dull the wit , and confound the memorie . the uforth is , that it be more liberally giuen vnto them that are in their manhood and constant age , as from yeares vnto : and let such , when they are past forty yeares of age , begin to make much of the vse of wine ; and yet if they be of hot constitutions , let them abstaine from the stronger sorts of wines , especially from the often vse of them , because they will be offensiue vnto the head and sinewes . the fifth is , that it be giuen with a liberall hand vnto olde men , and that also of the stronger sorts of wines , especially when they are in the latter part of old age , as from yeares vpward vnto the end of their life . for vnto old men there come foure excellent commodities , by the vse of pure wine . the first and greatest commoditie , seeing that they are cold , and for the most part almost without good alimentall bloud , is because it greatly correcteth the coldnes of their age , and bringeth them vnto a better temperature of heat , with increase of bloud . the second , because it expelleth sadnes and melancholy , whereunto that age is most subiect . the third is , because it maketh them to sleepe well , which by reason of the siccitie of the braine , and paucitie of vapors , many olde men oftentimes want . the fourth and last commoditie is , because it remoueth obstructions , whereunto they are very subiect . to conclude , as pure wine is most vnmeete and hurtfull for children and such as are young : so for olde men it is most conuenient and wholesome . whether the vse of wine mixed with water be fit for all times and profitable for all bodies ? it hath beene a very ancient and profitable custome to mixe wine with water in the hot seasons of the yeare ; for the wine by reason of the subtilitie of it , doth facilitate the penetration of the water , and carrieth the same , which otherwise is of an obtuse operation , vnto all the parts , at what time as they shall neede to be cooled and moistned . and from hence it is that wine much alayed with water doth better quench thirst then water alone . but it is not profitable for all times ; for in the winter , by reason of the cold and moist constitution of that season , pure wine is rather to be vsed . neither is it conuenient for all bodies ; for to olde men , to the phlegmaticke , and such as are of a cold temperature , or haue weake stomacks , the vse thereof is hurtfull , as may be gathered , by that which i haue before spoken of the vse of water . but wine diluted is good for young men , for such as are cholericke , and are of an hot constitution , for hot countries , and the hot seasons of the yeare , especially in the summer ; for then by reason of the parching heat , wine alayed , that is to say , thin small waterish , and in no wise strong , is to be drunken . by all which , it is apparant , that foure things are to be considered in the vse of wine mixed with water : the country , the time of the yeare , the temperature of the bodie , and the age : for it is more or lesse to be alayed , according as the country , the season of the yeare , the age , and temperature of the bodie shall be hotter or colder . wherevnto you may also adde , that the nature of the wine is also to be respected , because it is more or lesse to be diluted according to the efficacie & strength of it . but that the vnlearned may not be deceiued in the manner of mixing wine with water , i will set downe some particular formes thereof , which i would haue to be vnderstood of the smaller wines , of wihch sort are the white , the rhenish , and the claret , because they more auaile for quenching the thirst , and cooling of the bodie . for bodies therefore of an hot and dry temperature in cold countries , and in the summer season , let three parts of water be mingled with one of wine ; or if the time be very hot , & the thirst molestious , and the bodie also youthfull , and strong , foure parts of water may be mingled with one of wine . but for such hot and drie bodies in hot countries , and in the hot seasons of the yeare , the wine is so to be diluted , that onely a very litle smacke of the wine be perceiued . for such a mixture taketh away the hurts of the water , and sufficiently helpeth the distribution of it into the bodie , for quenching the thirst and moistning the dryed parts . but verily for them that inhabit cold countries , and are of a meane temperature , it is best in the summer season to mingle an equall portion of water and wine ; or if the time be very hot , and the age youthfull and strong , they may take two parts of water to one of wine : for that which is ouer-much alayed or mixed with water , except it be for necessities sake , as in a feuerous distemperature , is to northerne people hurtfull , because it doth too much diminish their naturall heat , hinder the digestion , and breede inflations , and collicke torments . wherefore wine not much , but meanely diluted , is to our country men , for the most part , in time of health and heat agreable , because it doth best temper their humors , penetrate and coole the parts of the bodie , and assist the naturall heat , against the ambient heat of the aire : i say , in time of health , because the bowels burning with a feuerous distemperature , it is lawfull , yea very expedient , to mingle , , or parts of water with one of wine , especially if the bodie shall bee youthfull , and of an hot temperature , that the vehement heat , which otherwise will quickly subuert the state of the bodie , may be extinguished . but for them that are cold by temperature , or well stricken in yeares , pure wine is in time of health more conuenient , as i haue before shewed . and in any feuerous distemperature , they may not in the mingling togither of water and wine , to alay their thirst , take aboue foure , or at the most fiue parts of water to one of wine , least that the hurts which water is likely to bring to such bodies , should be greater then the commoditie of cooling and quenching the thirst , as may be gathered by that which i haue afore declared of the vse of water . and here vnderstand , that wines of a thicke consistence are not to be diluted , because they are fulsome to the stomacke , and by reason of the subtilitie of the water , become more vaporous , and offensiue to the head . now by that which hath beene said of wines , it may easily be collected , that it is conuenient for temperate bodies , and chiefly for olde men , for the phlegmaticke , and such as are of a cold temperature , and for the cold seasons of the yeare . but to young men , that haue hot constitutions , and aboue all others to the cholericke , in whom the liuer is ouer hot , and in the hot seasons of the yeare , it is very hurtfull , especially if it be strong . and it is also hurtfull to them that haue weake braines , and feeble sinewes ; and therefore all such must either forbeare wine , or vse it very moderately , and well tempered with water in hot seasons . whether it be expedient for health to be drunke with wine once or twise in a moneth ? o how impudently would our drunken potisuges vaunt themselues , if for the health of the bodie , i should approue the cus●…ome of being drunke once or twise in a moneth ! verily , it hath bin written and affirmed by some of the ancient physitions , and approued as a thing wholsome : because drunkennesse obserued in manner aforesaid ( for often drunkennesse they did condemne ) doth ( as they say ) by inducing sleepe , alleuiate and make quiet the animall powers , prouoke vomiting , vrine , and sweat : whereby it commeth to passe , that the weake and troubled spirits , through immoderate cares and perturbations , are reviued , and pacified , and the euill humors not onely eiected from the stomacke , but also expelled from all parts of the bodie . but this their assertion , as it is most vngodly , so it is vnto the health of the bodie most pernicious : for drunkennesse spoyleth the stomacke , maketh the bloud waterish , hurteth the braine , dulleth the senses , destroyeth the vnderstanding , debilitateth the sinewes , and su buerteth the powers of all the bodie . wherefore seeing that all drunkennesse is euill , and hurtfull to the true health of the bodie , and that the disease is pernicious , which doth cheifly distemper the place of vnderstanding ; they erred very grossely , that thought drunkennesse profitable once or twise a moneth . neither are their reasons of such validitie , as that they should perswade any to a custome no lesse hurtfull to the minde then to the bodie . for the animall powers defatigated , or otherwise disturbed , may be holpen with a safer , better , and a more godly remedie , then by an vnquiet and turbulent sleepe , caused by meanes of drunkennesse : for drunkards verily doe not enioy sweet and quiet sleepe , whereby the animall powers are truly refreshed . in like manner , to procure vomiting , vrine , and sweat , by meanes of drunkennesse , as it is wicked , so it is also beastly . moreouer by a remedie of this kinde , the hurt is farre greater then the helpe ; for drunkennesse , besides that it doth extinguish the light of the vnderstanding , causeth the apoplexie , and such other like diseases of the braine , and oftentimes a sudden suffocation . in a word , it doth by much more hurt all the parts and faculties of the bodie , then any way helpe by euacuation of superfluities , as the barbarous authors pretend for their assertion : for infinite are the hurts that drunkennesse bringeth vnto mans bodie . well therefore was androcides wont to say vnto alexander , being about to drinke wine , that he might beware of excesse , o rex memor sis te terrae sanguinem bibere . but here i will not denie , but that it may be very lawfull and expedient , for them that are wont to be wearied with great cares and labours , to drinke sometimes vntill they be merry and pleasant ; but not drunken : for in obseruing such a rule , the aforesaid crapulentall hurts are not induced , but the spirits and the whole bodie , are thereby so recreated , refreshed , and renewed , as that the next day , they doe more ingenuously vndertake , and more readily execute their accustomed businesses . whether beere be more wholesome then ale ? beere that is too bitter of the hop ( as many to saue malt are wont to make it ) is of a fuming nature , and therefore it engendreth rheumes and distillations , hurteth the sinewes , offendeth the sight , and causeth the head-ach , by filling the ventricles of the braine with troublesome vapors : whereof not onely the internall , but also the externall senses , are very much disturbed and hurted : and therefore such beere is worse then ale , notwithstanding the obstructiue facultie of it . but if beere be not made too bitter , but that it haue in the making of it a proportionable quantitie of hops , and that it be not drunke before the bitter force of the hop be throughly spent and consumed , it is farre more wholesome then ale : because the manifold force and efficacie of hops , doe manisestly declare the wholsomnes and excellencie of beere ; for hopps doe not onely remoue obstructions of the liuer , spleene , and kidneies , and cleanseth the bloud from all corrupt humors , causing the same to come forth with the vrine , which it prouoketh ; but also , maketh the bodie soluble , by excreting forth of yellow cholericke humors . wherefore seeing that hops doe as well make beere a kinde of medicinable drinke , to preserue the powers and faculties of the bodie , and to purge and cleanse the bloud , as a common and daily drinke to extinguish thirst , i may very well conclude , that it is much better and wholsomer then ale , especially for such as be cholericke , and haue hot stomacks , and that are subiect to obstructions of the melt , liuer , and kidneies . but ale is in the winter season in greatest vse , because it cooleth lesse then beere , as most men thinke ; but it doth not by any other reason lesse coole , ( there being an equall proportion of malt in them both ) but because it hath not such a penetratiue power as beere hath : i know that many are of opinion , that beere ( in regard of the hot and dry qualitie of the hop ) is in operation hotter then ale : but by their leaue , if the beere be kept vntouched , till the bitternesse thereof be worne out , i suppose it to be in operation colder then ale , both in regard of the penetratiue facultie of it ; as also because it expelleth choler both by stoole and vrine . ale by reason of the grossenes of the substance of it , breedeth grosse humors , and in that respect it is more nourishing then beere , and therefore more profitable for loose and extenuated bodies , and such as desire to grow fat ; but by reason of the obstructiue nature thereof , it is very hurtfull to the phlegmaticke , to such as are grosse , and full of humors . now by that which hath beene said , it may easily be discerned , whether beere more causeth rheumes , & distillations , then ale ? many are of opinion that it doth , which is true , if it be made too bitter of the hop , or drunke while the bitternesse remaineth ; for the more bitter it be drunken , the more it filleth and stuffeth the head , and hurteth the same . but if it be kept till the bitternesse be consumed , it is so farre away from breeding of rheumes , as that it is rather good to preuent them by remouing obstructions , the principall cause of rheumes and distillations . how many properties ought there to be in the best and wholesomest beere ? six : the first is that it be not sowre , or of any other vnpleasant sauour , for such is hurtfull to the stomacke . the second is , that it be cleare and thin : for that which is not cleare and well defecated , aboundantly increaseth grosse , flateous , and pituitous humors , and so consequently impinguateth the bodie to the vtter subuersion of it : for it obstructeth the bowels , causeth the stone and strangurie , by filling the passages of the vrine with grosse , faeculent , & slimie humors , breedeth winde , and maketh the breath short and painefull . the third is , that it be very well boyled : for that which is not well boyled is fulsome to the stomacke , and puffeth vp the bodie with windie humors . the fourth is , that it be olde and purged from his dregs ; for such is of a penetrating nature , of good iuyce , not windie , and acceptable to the stomack , both for concoction and distribution . but that which is new , causeth the same hurts , which the grosse and not well concocted doth . and verily this propertic is in beere much to be regarded ; for if it be not drunke till the bitte●…nesse of the hop be well consumed , it doth nothing lesse then offend the braine and sinewes with vaporous fumes ; but it doth the better penetrate and quench the thirst : and therefore stale beere is chiefly to be desired in the summer , and it is a drinke ( beleeue me ) for all constitutions , but especially for the cholericke and melancholicke most wholsome . but here by the way it is to be considered , that as beere very new is vnwholesome , so is that also which is too olde , as when it is growne soure , for it very much hurteth the stomacke , the liuer , and the braine . therefore they greatly erre , that keepe beere till it be two , three , or foure yeares olde : for it is most hurtfull to the bodie , and pernicious to the vnderstanding . but beere of a middle age , as from one or two moneths olde , vnto fiue or six , according to the strength of it , is the best and wholsomest . and if in that space , it shall onely chance to acquire somewhat a sowre smacke , it is not therefore of all men to be refused : for vnto cholericke bodies because it represseth the acrimonie of choler , and also to all them ( by reason of the penetrating force which it obteyneth ) that are subiect to the obstructions of the stomack , mesaraicke veines , spleene , liuer , lungs and reines it is most profitable . and if such as haue the stone , or are subiect to the obstructions of the reines , doe daily vse such beere , it will be impossible , so that they erre not in other things , that they should euer be vexed with the stone , or any other great and painfull obstruction of the reines . the fift is , that it be of an indifferent strength , not too strong nor too small , because each excesse is hurtfull . for that beere which is of a middle strength , doth heat that state of bodie which is ouer cold , refrigerateth that which is too hot , and preserueth the temperate . but that which is stronger then a meane , is more meete for cold and moist bodies , especially in the cold seasons of the yeare : and that which is weaker , for hot and and drie bodies , especially in the spring and summer : for such bodies require much cooling and moistning , which small beere , because that it litle differeth from the nature of water , doth best effect ; but it is rheumaticke , and impensiuely hurtfull to cold constitutions : for you must vnderstand , that beere by how much the stronger it is , by so much the neerer it commeth vnto the nature of wine , and by how much the smaller , by so much the neerer it approcheth vnto the nature of water . wherefore seeing that there is great difference to be found in beere , according to the strength and smalnes of it , it becommeth euery man to haue speciall respect of his owne state and temper of bodie , that thereby he may make vse of that which shall be best agreeing vnto his nature . and here i aduise all such as respect their owne good , that they drinke not beere that is very strong , but in steed of wine ; ( for if it be stale , well depurated from dregs , and throughly boyled , it is in operation most like vnto wine ) because the often vse of it , is very greatly hurtfull to the integritie both of minde and bodie . and here i admonish our common ale-pot drunkards , that it is worse to be drunke with ale or beere , then with wine ; for the drunkennesse endureth longer , to the vtter ruine of the braine and vnderstanding , by reason that the fumes and vapors of the ale or beere that ascend to the head , are more grosse , and therefore cannot be so soone resolued , as those that rise vp of wine : and by the same reason i conclude , that it is worst of all to be drunke of ale. the sixt and last propertie is , that the malte whereof the beere is made , be full of pure corne , as of barly or oates , for then the drinke made thereof must needs be the better . and here it may be demanded , whether beere made onely of barly malte , be better and wholesomer , then that which is made of barly and oaten malte in equall portions mixed togither , or of two or three parts of barly malte with one of oaten . to which i answer , that whereas the end of the vse of drinkeis fourefold : . to quench the thirst . . to temper the natur●…ll heat . . to moisten the inward parts . . to help the concoction and distribution of the meats , that beere made of barly and oaten maltemixed togither , doth more effectually accomplish the first three without any manner of hinderance vnto the fourth , and is also of a more liuely taste , if it be kept vntouched , till that it hath gotten a sufficient stalenes : whereupon i may well affirme , that beere made of barly and oaten malt mingled togither is better , then that which is made of barly malte alone , especially in the hot seasons of the yeare : and verily for hot and dry bodies , it is at all times much more conuenient , because it receiueth a singular cooling qualitie from the oate . whether cyder and perrie are for common vse wholsome and profitable drinkes ? cyder and perrie are vsuall drinks where fruits doe abound : they are cold in operation , and better or worse , according to the fruits whereof they are made . in respect of the coldnesse of them , they are good for such as haue hot stomacks or hot liuers , and by reason of a very pleasing sharpe taste which they haue , if they be drunke after they be foure or fiue moneths olde , they are of a notable penetrating facultie , and doe greatly helpe the weaknesse of the stomacke , and distemperature of it , proceeding of a hot cause : for they excite the appetite , temper the drinesse of the humors and inward parts , asswage the thirst , and very greatly represse the ebullition of choler . moreouer , by reason of their penetrable power , they prouoke vrine , and open the obstructions of the stomocke , mesaraicke veines , milt , liuer , and reines . they are wholsome for hot and dry bodies , namely , for the cholericke , but especially the atrabilaricke . yet they are not good to be vsed as common drinke with meats except of them that haue very dry stomacks , and subiect to too much astriction of the same , because they cause the mea●…s too speedily to descend from the stomacke ; and besides that , the much and often vse of them is very hur●…full to the liuer , which by ouer-cooling , it doth so enfeeble , and dispoliate of its sanguifying facultie , that the colour of the face becommeth pale and riueled , and the skin oftentimes polluted with a white spottie deformitie , through an ill habit of the parts , acquired by the too often vse of them . moreouer , the much and often vse of these drinks doe exceedingly weaken the braine and reines , whereupon rheumes and seminall fluxions , aches of the joynts , weaknes of the limmes and backe doe very quickly ensue . they are best to be taken for whom they are agreable , in an emptie stomacke , as mornings fasting , and about an houre or two before meale , for then they better remoue the obstructions , and attemper the drynesse of the parts . onely those that are atrabilary , which abound with choler adust , because their stomacks are very dry , where-from , for the most part the meats doe very slowly , and that not without some difficultie descend , may very profitably drinke a draught or two thereof at their meales . but let the phlegmaticke , and such as are of cold constitutions , or subiect vnto the windie collick , altogither eschew the vse of these drinks , because they abundantly opplete their bodies with waterish , crude , and windie humors , with a suddaine labefaction of the liuer . they are meliorated , by putting to them sugar , nutmeg , and especially ginger , which cheifely correcteth their crude and windie qualitie . of these two sorts of drinks , caeteris paribus , perrie for pleasantnes and goodnes hath the precedencie , which in taste is like vnto a small rhenish wine , from which it differeth but litle in operation . but you must vnderstand that these drinks while they be new , are very hurtfull , because they consist of much excrementall moysture , which abundantly filleth the bodie with crude and flateous humours . but after that , the excrementall superfluity of them , by processe of time , is concocted and absumed , which in fower or fiue moneths , will very well come to passe , the vse of them ( as may be very profitable to coole , to moysten , i haue shewed and to open obstructions . whether metheglin and meath are wholsome for euerie age and constitution of bodie ? metheglin is a very strong kinde of drinke , made of two parts of water , and one of hony , boyled together and scummed very cleane , and if rosemary , hyssop , time , orgaine , and sage , be first well boyled in the water , wherof you make the metheglin , it will bee the better . and afterwards , when you boyle the same water with honey , if you also boyle in it a quantity of * ginger , three or foure wambles about , after that it is cleane scummed , or el hang the ginger sliced thin in a linnen bag , by a thred , in the barrell , wherein you put the metheglin , it will be much the better , and a drinke exceeding wholsome in the winter-season , especially for old folkes , and such as bee phlegmaticke , and haue feeble sinewes , cold stomacks and troubled with the cough . for besides the singular facultie that it hath , of heating the bodie , it hath also a very speciall abstersorie propertie , for the remoouing of fleame , residing and sticking in the stomack , braine and sinewie parts : it is best in the mornings fasting . but it is not good for such as are hot by constitution , nor in the hot seasons of the yeere , because it ouermuch heateth the bodie , and is very quickly turned into red choler , and therefore let such as are cholericke , beware how they vse it . if in their old age , cold fleame shall somewhat abound in their stomacks , then sometimes mornings fasting , a small draught thereof may bee profitable for them . it must not bee drunke while it is new , for then , because it is not fined from the dregs , nor the crudities thereof digested , it is very windie and troublesome to the belly . but after that it hath well purged it selfe , and setled in the vessell three or fowre moneths , and made as afore described , there is not for very cold , old and phlegmaticke bodies , especially in the cold seasons of the yeere a better drinke , as by the properties thereof aboue shewed , may be collected . meath or mead , is like to metheglin , the cheefest difference is , that it is not so hot in operation ; for meath is made of one part of hony , and foure times so much of pure water , or more , and boyled till no scum doth remaine . this is a drinke of excellent operation , very profitable to all bodies , from the beginning of april , to the beginning or middle of september , for the preseruing of health , to be taken in an empty stomacke , for it cleanseth the breast and lungs , causeth an easie expectoration , prouoketh and procureth vrine abundantly , and maketh the belly soluble . if hyssop , time , pellitory of the wall , parsley-roots and fennell roots be first well boyled in the water , wherof you make the meath , and ginger also boyled , or hanged in the barrell , as i haue afore shewed in the making of metheglin , it will bee of a more effectuall operation , for the purposes aforesayd , and a drinke beleeue me , beyond all other , profitable for them that are subiect to the obstructions of the breast , and reines of the back . but it must not be drunken vntill the crudities therof be concocted , and the dregs setled in the bottom , which in a moneth will be well effected . thus much concerning the sorts of drinkes , which are in common vse among vs : there are also sundry other sorts made for our necessities , as aqua vi●…ae , rosa solis , cynamon-water , hypocras , &c. of all which , because they are to be vsed as medicines , i will not speake particularly : onely of the first of them , because that vpon any necessity , it is in greatest vse and request among vs , i will for the vse of such , who now and then need such a comfortable drink , breefly intreat . whether aqua vitae be good and agreeable for all bodies . aqua vitae hath his denomination , in that it recouereth and maintaineth life : the common manner of making it , is to distill it out of the lees of wine , or of the lees of strong ale and wine together , by adding thereto licorise , annis-seeds and graines ; but this common vendible aqua vitae , both in regard of the grosse substances , from whence it ariseth , as also of the rude manner of preparing and distilling it , may more rightly bee named aqua mortis , the water of death ; for it causeth more hurt , then commodity to them that vse it : wherefore i will here describe an easie manner for the making of an aqua vitae , yet very effectuall for them that neede such a comfortable drinke . take of the tops of rosemarie , of sage , of marioram , of orgaine , of time , of wormewood , of speremints , of balme , of each one handfull , of ginger scraped cleane one ounce , of nutmegs and cynamon of each halfe an ounce , of cloues , mace , pepper and graines , of each a quarter of an ounce , of galingale roots sliced one ounce , of raisins of the sun cut thorow the middle one pound , of fennell-seedes and annis-seedes of each two ounces , of liquorice scraped clean and cut into thin slices , halfe a pound : bruize the spices and seedes a little , and breake the hearbes betweene your hands , then put all together into a gallon or two of muskadell , sacke , or such like strong wine , and so let them infuse in an lymbeck-pot close stopped , fowre and twenty howres vpon hot embers , and the next morning distill them with a very temperate fire , and take especiall care , that the head of your lymbecke be kept cold continually with fresh water , and that the bottome therof be fast luted , that none of the vapours breath forth . out of a gallon of liquor , you may draw a quart of excellent aqua vitae . and if then to the feces in the pot , you will adde a gallon of strong ale , or lees of wine , or of them both , with halfe a pound of liquorise , foure ounces of anis-seeds , and an ounce of graines , and distill it againe , you shall draw an aqua vitae , good for your families and poore neighbours in their necessities . now to the question i answer , that for the most part there is not any water in vse , which can better fortifie life , and hinder the comming on of old age , then the aforesayd aqua vitae : for it very greatly comforteth a weak stomack , expelleth winde , putteth off all melancholike passions , preserueth the humors from corruption , and excellently preuaileth against swounding ; for by reason of a notable penetrable power that it hath , it quickly goeth vnto the heart , and wonderfully raiseth vp faint and feeble spirits . but the vse thereofis not alike wholsome , and good for all bodies ; for vnto them that are leane , and of a dry nature , and in the summer , it is very pernicious , because it drieth vp , and ( as it were ) scorcheth their inward parts , especially the liuer , and destroyeth the naturall moysture : but to old men , to grosse and moyst bodies , it is very profitable , for it fortifieth their stomacks , concocteth excrementall humours , discusseth winde , and defendeth them from the lethargie , apoplexie , and other cold diseases , vnto which , by reason of their moyst habit of body , they are very subiect . wherefore the moderate vse thereof is to hee permitted vnto cold and phlegmaticke bodies , especially in cold and moyst seasons , to wit , vpon the taking of much meat , or when the stomack shall be vexed and distended with wind , the quantity of a spoonefull or two at a time , well sweetned with sugar , that it may the lesse affect the braine and nostrils , or cause any hurt to the liuer , through its feruent and penetrating heat . if it bee taken with an equall portion of wormewood water , as a spoonfull or two of the one , and so of the other , with sugar also in it , it exceedingly comforteth the stomacke , helpeth the concoction , and discusseth winde , without causing any manner of hurt to the liuer : and being taken in this manner after a great meale , or whensoeuer the stomacke shall be ill-affected , by reason of windinesse of otherwise , it is not onely good for the phlegmaticke , and such as are cold by constitution , but agreeable also and wholsome for all other bodies . but if such as are impensiuely hot and dry in their state of bodie , stand in neede of the helpe thereof in the like cases , i aduise them to take two or three parts of wormewood water , and one of aquavitae , mingled with sugar , and so they may securely and profitably vse it . of the flesh of beasts and fowles . sect . iii. whether all beasts and fowles , are for goodnesse of meat , more wholsome being young , then when they are growen vnto fuller age ? before i answer to the question , you must vnderstand , that wee make foure differences in the age of beasts , that is to say , the time of sucking , of yought , of middle age , of old age . now to the question , i answer negatiuely , for those beasts or fowles , that haue by nature moyst flesh , are for goodnesse of meat more wholsom , when they are growen to fuller age , then when they are sucking , or very young , because that then they are ouer moyst , and of an excrementall , slimie , and phlegmaticke iuyce , which as they encrease in age , is much wasted and dried away : wherfore hoggrels , and young weathers , are for goodnesse of meat better & more wholsome , then sucking lambs : & it is the like also of porke ; notwithstanding , that rosting pigs are of mostmen greatly desired , and for some certaine bodies very profitable . for verily , these kindes of beasts , that are naturally moyst , are when they are young , wholsome enough , yea , very profitable in the summer-season , for cholerick and dry bodies , because they yeeld a moyst nourishment , which doth well temper and amend the dry temperature , or rather , the vntemperate drinesse of such bodies . to all other bodies , especially such as are cold and moyst , they are exceedingly hurtfull , because a very moyst kinde of food , doth in them increase a very moyst distemperature , and quickly maketh the same altogether sickly . but those beasts or fowles , whose flesh is naturally dry , are best when they are young and sucking , for then their drinesse is attempered , with the moysture of their youngnesse . and by how much the younger they are , by so much the moyster they are , and consequently of easier concoction , and also of better iuyce , after that they haue once attained vnto perfection of flesh . wherefore kids and calues are , for goodnesse of meat , better then goats and oxen , and the like is also to be sayd of pigeons , fawnes , &c. and those verily , that are of a meane temper and consistence of flesh , are for good nourishment the best , and not onely in their young , but also in their full and middle age , very wholsome and agreeable for all bodies . such are capons , turkies , phesants , &c. but generally , all beasts and birds , that are of the fourth age before mentioned , whether they bee naturally dry or moyst , are naught and vnwholsome ; for they are tough , of a very hard concoction , and breed an euill and melancholike iuyce ; yet they are good enough for robustious and rusticke bodies . whether flesh that is corned and seasoned with salt , be wholsomer then that which is unsalted ? i answer , that flesh which is poudred , or seasoned with salt , for the space of one , two , three , foure , or fiuedaies , according as the nature of the flesh , the complexion of the eater , and the time of the yeere shall require , is farre more wholsome then that which is fresh and vnsalted : because , the salt doth purifie the flesh , and make it the more sauoury by drying vp and consuming the watery and excrementall moysture of it . and this is not to bee vnderstood of all sorts of flesh , but of the grosser kindes , as of beefe , porke , &c : for such are wont , and onely ought to bee sprinkled , seasoned , and conserued with salt . and i haue , not without good reasen before limited the time for seasoning of flesh with salt , according as the nature of the flesh , the complexion of the eater , and the time of yeare shall require , because the flesh which is very grosse and moist , requireth a longer salting , that the superfluous moisture thereof may be the better exsiccated . a complexion hot and dry doth require moister meats ; but a cold and moist constitution requireth dryer : to the one therefore a shorter , to the other a longer time of salting the meats is best agreable . and in respect of the time of the yeare , it is sufficient in the spring and summer to haue it powdred a day or two ; in the autumne for the space of two or three dayes ; and in the winter foure or fiue dayes at most , because mans bodie at that time , by reason of the cold constitution of the season , doth more abound with superfluities . but the flesh which is longer preserued in salt , or brine , or after that it is salted , hanged vp to dry neere the fire , which we commonly call , martimasse beefe , doth loose his puritie , and is of very hard digestion : it breedeth cholericke and melancholicke humors , very apt for adustion , especially that which is hauged vp to dry , and therefore it is to such as be cholericke and melancholick , though for the most part well pleasing to their pallats , most hurtfull . i leaue it onely as conuenientfor labouring men , and such as haue very strong stomacks , or like to haue their meat commend their drinke . why is that flesh which is meanely or competently fat , more whole some and more nourishing then that which is very fat , or leane ? the reason is , because that flesh which is ouer-fat is hurtfull to the stomacke , by causing a nauseatiue disposition , and yeeldeth litle nourishment , and the same not good but excrementall : for it is quickly conuerted into flegme , choler , and putrid vapors . and flesh that is leane is of a dry substance , hard of concoction , and of litle and ill nourishment . but flesh that is meanely fat , is the best and easiest of concoction ; for it giueth purest nourishment , and is most agreable to the stomacke . and here by the way obserue , that of flesh the whitest is the best ; for by how much it doth in colour degerate from whitenesse , by so much it is of worse iuyce . whether kids flesh be better then lambe ? and whether lambe then mutton ? the arabian physitions preferre kids flesh before all other flesh ; because ( as they say ) it is of a more temperate nature , and breedeth pure bloud , which is in a meane betweene hot and cold , subtile and grosse . ysaac saith , that sucking kids are for taste , nourishment , and digestion better then other ; whose opinion i approue , because the milke giueth and maintaineth in them an excellent moisture : wherefore their flesh is singularly good for hot , dry , and extenuated bodies , and for them that haue weake stomacks , and are from some long sicknes vpon a recouerie to health , so they eat it rosted . but by reason that it somewhat aboundeth with an excrementall moisture , it is hurtfull for the aged , and such as are phlegmaticke , and that haue cold and moist stomacks . for although kids flesh be deemed to be temperately hot and moist in the first degree ; yet it is more moist then hot , and withall somewhat slimie : wherefore to their opinion concerning the goodnes of kids flesh aboue all other , i see no reason why i should yeeld my subscription ; for i thinke veale to be for goodnes and wholsomnes of meat , rather superiour , then ●…ny way inferiour vnto it , as shall be hereafter shewed . but howsoeuer it be to an arabian stomacke , or whether the kids of arabia be in substance lesse moist and slimie , then ours , as it is very likely , i suppose kids flesh to be somewhat better then lambe : for lambe by reason of much viscous humiditie in it , increaseth crude and phlegmaticke humors . wherefore it is not so wholsome in the winter , and former part of the spring , as it is from the latter end of the spring vnto the beginning of autumne , in which space ( by reason that the aire is commonly hot and dry ) such moist flesh is best agreable vnto mans bodie . it is most profitable for them that are by constitution hot and dry , and that abound with adust and cholericke humors ; but it is not conuenient for olde men , or for them that are phlegmaticke , especially the much vse of it ; for by reason of the much moisture which it hath , it repleteth their stomacks with crude and phlegmatick humors . lambe of two or three moneths old is the best ; for the younger it is , the moreit aboundeth with a crude superfluous moisture ; and if it be well rosted , it giueth the better nourishment , because the most part of the crude superfluities in it , are by the force and esficacie of the fire , well wasted and digested . lambes that are weaned , and afterwards fatted , are wholsomer for meat then when they were sucking , because their flesh doth lesse abound with superfluous moisture ; and if they haue their feeding in hilly pastures , they yeeld the purer nourishment , and are a very good meat , for those that haue weake stomacks , or liue a studious kinde of life . the flesh of hogrells and young weathers is a right wholsome and temperate meat , it breedeth very good bloud , and is easily digested : it is better then lambe , for it yeeldeth a more pure and substantiall nourishment , and is conuenient for euery season , age , and temperature . the flesh of elder sheepe is not so wholesome , for it is of a dryer nature , of harder concoction , and of worser iuyce . it is conuenient for labouring men , and such as haue good stomacks to digest . of mutton therefore that is the best , which is of an yeare or two olde , or thereabout ; and if it be of a young weather , it is best of all , for it is of a very temperate nature , of an easie concoction , and of pure , firme , and copious nourishment . whether veale for goodnes of nourishment be better then beefe ? veale , if it be competently fat , is pleasant to the taste , and easily digested ; it is very nutritiue , and the nourishment thereof is exceeding good . for hot and dry bodies , for those that are weake , and giuen to a studious kinde of life , it is farre better then beefe . moreouer veale is a more odo●…iferous flesh then any other , and in this respect it is far before kids flesh , and not behinde it in any other ; but rather ( in my opinion ) it shall as well for pleasantnesse of taste , and goodnesse of iuyce , as for sweetnes of sauour haue the precedencie of kids flesh . and i belecue that if those arabick physitions had euer tasted of our veale , they would without any scruple , haue giuen vnto it the preheminence . but you must not vnderstand this my assertion of all veale indifferently , for it must not be too young , nor leane ; for if it be too young , then it is ouer moist , crude , and excrementitiall ; and if it be leane , then it is not so nutritiue , nor so acceptable to the taste and stomacke . but if it be of the age betweene one and two moneths , and competently fat , then it is of an excellent temperament , and nutriture , and for euery season , age , and temperature exceeding all quadrupedall creatures . and although veale be for all bodies conuenient , yet for those that are hot and dry , by reason of the pure and pleasant moisture thereof , it is most profitable . the flesh of steeres , which we commonly call steere-beefe , and so also of heifers , is of a firmer substance then veale , it giueth to the bodie much good and substantiall nourishment , and therefore for them that are healthy , and of a sound slate of bodie , it is not inferiour vnto veale , though it be not altogither of so pure a temperature , and nourishment . beefe of oxen that are of middle age , is for goodnes of iuyce , and easinesse of concoction next vnto it : it is agreable enough for young men that are of perfect health , and for any that haue good stomacks , and are of a firme habitude of bodie . but beefe of older oxen is of a very hard and gro●…e substance , it is very hardly digested , and breedeth a thick , grosse , and melancholike bloud , which by reason of the difficult distribution of it , causeth obstructions , especially of the spleene , and melancholicke diseases : and therefore to melancholicke bodies it is most hurtfull . but to rusticke men , that labour painfully in the fields , and for those that inhabit cold countries , whose concoctiue facultie is commonly strong , it is very agreable ; for by reason of their great labour , and strong internall heat , they will too soone resolue the iuyce of lighter meats . but to those that liue a delicate or studious kinde of life , it is very hurtfull . now by this that hath bin declared , it may plainely appeare , that those hurts that are of galen in his third booke of the faculties of nourishments attributed vnto beefe , ought to be vnderstood of old beefe , which in truth is vnsauourie , tough , and of very hard concoction . bulls beefe is of a rancke and vnpleasant taste , of a thick grosse and corrupt iuyce , and of a very hard digestion . i commend it vnto poore hard labourers , and to them that desire to looke big , and to liue basely . whether swines flesh be no lesse wholesome , then it was estimated to be , by most of the ancient physitions ? swines flesh , because of the strong and aboundant nourishment that it yeeldeth , as also of the likenes that it hath vnto mans flesh both in fauour and taste , is of galen and other of the ancient physitions , commended aboue all other kinds of flesh in nourishing the bodie . but in my opinion , the choise of flesh , is rather to be taken , from an odoriferous pleasantnes of the same , laudable substance , good temperature , easie concoction , and goodnes of iuyce that it breedeth , then from the strongnes of nourishment that it giueth , or the aforesaid similitude . in respect of all which , veale , mutton , and many other kinds of flesh are to be preferred before porke . i confesse that porke is to most peoples pallats very pleasing , and that it , so it be well digested , yeeldeth vnto the bodie much and firme nourishment ; but it is with difficultie digested , and the nourishment thereof is too moist , grosse , glutinous , and obstructiue . wherefore i will here aduertise all pallat-pleasers , that they shall sooner surfet , and that more dangerously , with porke , then with any other flesh : & that pork is good and wholsome for bodies that be young , strong , and exercised in great labour , and not disposed to oppilations , for the cholericke , and them that desire to be fat . and of such , must galen and other physitions , that haue so greatly written in the commendation of porke be vnderstood . and in very deede , hot , healthy , and strong bodies , that vndergoe great labours , require ( for the conseruation of their strengths ) much firme and durable nourishment , such as porke , in regard of the grosse substance of it , doth very effectually suppeditate . but seeing that porke is of hard digestion , and in substance more grosse then conuenient , it is not good for them that be aged , that are grosse , that haue weake stomacks , or that lead a sitting or studious kinde of life . for in such bodies it causeth obstructions of the mesaraicke veines , liuer , and reines , the gowte and dropsie , especially if they shall be cold and moist by constitution : for vnto such , is porke very greatly hurtfull , because in them it is wholy conuerted into crude and phlegmatick humors . wherefore let such as are phlegmaticke , aged , or subiect vnto obstructions , or haue weake stomacks , altogither absteine from the vse of porke . there is great difference in porke according to the age of it : the best is that which is of the age from six moneths vnto a yeare , and not ouer fat : for then it aboundeth more with superfluous moisture , nourisheth lesse , and is more fulsome to the stomacke . bacon is not good for them that haue weake stomacks : for it is of hard digestion●… , & breedeth dust and cholericke humors . but for strong laboring men , and them that haue good stomacks , it is conuenient enough . a gammond of bacon is of the same nature , but not so good , for it is of harder digestion , and the best vertue that it hath , is to commend a cup of wine vnto the pallat . brawne is in no wise an wholesome meat , for it is of hard digestion , and breedeth grosse and tough humors : if it be young , it is the better , for then it is the more tender and of easier concoction ; yet neuerthelesse in regard of the crude grosenesse of it , it breedeth ill iuyce in the body . it is commonly eaten at dinner before other meats , which custome is very preposterous , for it letteth the good concoction and distribution of other meats . and because it is a meat of grosse iuyce and hard concoction , we commonly vse to drinke a draught of strong wine or ale , presently after the eating of it , to helpe the digestion , but good wine is badly bestowed vpon such a meat , for howsoeuerit may heate and comfort the stomacke , yet it can neuer cause that meat to be conuerted into good nutriment . but it is worthy of enquirie , whether sucking pigs , that are of most men greatly desired , which we commonly call rosting pigs , yeeld good and wholsome nourishment to the bodie ? the flesh of rosting pigs is very moist and excrementitiall ; yet very pleasant to the taste , and easily digested : it is very wholsome for all cholericke and dry bodies , because the iuyce that is bred thereof doth excellently temper the ouer-much heat of cholericke bloud , and very profitably moisten the inward parts . but for the aged , and those that are phlegmaticke , and cold by constitution , it is greatly hurtfull : for by reason of the ouer-much moisture of it , it breedeth in them abundance of crude and phlegmatick humors . and verily for the same cause there is not a better and wholsomer meate for hot and dry bodies ; but in regard of the ouer-moist and slimie nature of it , a cup of good wine will doevery well with it , as claret , for such as are hot and dry by constitution ; but for other , sacke is best agreeing with it . whether venison of fallow deere be wholesomer then that of red deere ? and whether the flesh of conies be better then them both ? venison , whether it be of fallow deere , or of red , is of hard digestion , and of ill iuyce ; for it engendreth grosse melancholicke bloud , which quickly causeth obstructions of the liuer and milt . wherefore let such as haue weake stomacks , and those also that are by constitution melancholicke , or subiect to obstructions eschew the vse of it . it was verily a good inuention for amending of the noisomnesse of venison , to drinke claret wine plentifully with it , because that wine causeth it to be the better digested , and is also of a contrary nature to the humor that venison most of all breedeth . both kindes of flesh are of a dry temperature , and therefore the fatter the flesh is , the better it is ( especially to eat it cold , because that then the fatnes of it , is not so fulsome to the stomacke as when it is hot ) for the siccitie of it being amended by the fat , is reduced vnto a certaine mediocritie in such flesh . and if they be well hunted before they be killed , their flesh is the wholsomer , for by often and long coursing of them , their bloud becommeth more thin and subtill , and the euill humors dissipated , by reason whereof , the flesh is more easily digested , and yeeldeth better nourishment . the younger and the fatter deere are to be chosen , because they are of a moister temperature , and consequently of a softer substance , of easier concoction , and of wholsomer nourishment . for if they be olde , or jeane , they are of a very hard concoction , troublesome to the stomacke , and vnwholesome for the bodie , because they breed an earthie and melancholicke bloud . i iudge the flesh of fallow deere to be wholesomer then of the red , for it is of a better sauour and not of so grosse and hard a substance , and therefore of easier concoction , and of wholsomer iuyce . some doe suppose venison of fallow deere to be of a middle nature betweeene the flesh of red deere and of wethers ; for after their iudgement , it is by so much moyster , softer and easier of concoction then the flesh of stags , as it is drier , harder , and of more difficult concoction , then the flesh of weathers : which opinion , because it hath some probabilitie , i will not much contradict : onely i thinke that there is a neerer paritie of nature betweene the flesh of fallow deere , and of the red , then there is betweene that of fallow deere , and of weathers : for in all respects , caeter is paribus , both for tendernesse of substance , easinesse of concoction , pleasantnesse and goodnesse of iuyce , the flesh of weathers doth farre excell it , although some , by reason of the scarsitie of venison , may otherwise deeme . to the second question i answer , that a little fat cony , is for goodnesse and wholsomnesse of meat , better then a great bucke , for although venison be of some greatly estimated and desired ; yet notwithstanding the raritie and caritie of it , rabbets are of a farre more excellent nourishment , and for goodnesse of meat , but little inferiour to the capon : for they giue vnto the bodie a most wholsome , cleane , firme , and temperate nutriture . they are very easily concocted , and are good for euery age , & temperature of body , especially for the sick , and such as lead a studious , or delicate course of life . whether hares are so profitable for meat , as they are delightfull for hunting ? hares flesh is of a very dry temper , of a hard digestion , and breedeth melancholy more then any other flesh : wherefore it is not for the goodnesse of the flesh , that hares are so often hunted , but for recreation and exercising of the bodie : for it maketh a very dry , thicke , and melancholike bloud . the younger are better then other , by reason that the naturall siccity of the flesh is somwhat attempered , by the moysture of the age . and by the same reason , the fattest are also best . they are scarcely commendable for any age or constitution ; but most offensiue to them that be aged , that are of a melancholike temperature , or that lead a studious kinde of life . why is goats flesh accounted unwholsome , seeing that kid is of a very commendable nourishment , as hath beene shewed ? the wholsomnesse of kids flesh , is in regard of the youngnesse of it ; for as kids grow to be goats , their flesh acquireth a stinking sauour , and is also of a very tough and clammie substance : wherefore it is vnpleasant to the taste , hurtfull to the stomack , and breedeth a clammie , and fleamie nourishment ; yet in the end of the spring , and the beginning of summer , they are better for meat , then at other times : for then , by reason of the great plenty of young sprigs and shoots , which yeeld vnto them fittest nourishment , they are fatter , and consequently of tenderer substance , of easier concoction , and of better nourishment . there are also diuers other kindes of flesh , which poore people in time of scarsitie , are oftentimes constrained to make vse of : but because they are altogether vnwholsome , and alienate from the taste of wholsome meats , i will let them passe ; onely i maruell , why frogs and snailes , are with some people , and in some count●…ies , in great account , and iudged wholsome food , whereas indeed they haue in them nothing else , but a cold , grosse , slimie , and excrementall iuyce : wherfore i conclude , that they are altogether vnwholsome , and that the custome of eating such meat is naught , and that they haue verie corrupt stomacks , that desire such corrupt meats . and thus much of the flesh of beasts . now i will entreat of fowles , and first of such as are tame . whether doth the capon , for goodnesse and wholsomnesse of flesh , excell all other domesticke fowles ? the capon being fat and not old , is generally for all bodies , and in all respects , for wholsomnesse of meat , the best of all fowles : for it is easily digested , and acceptable to the stomacke , and maketh much , good , firme , and temperate nourishment , almost altogether free from excrement . hens , if they be young , and meanely fat , are also of easie concoction , and of very good and excellent nourishment , euen equall to the capon ; but the nourishment which they make , is not altogether so strong . to conclude , hens and capons deserue one and the same praise of breeding good and perfect bloud . they are very agreeable for euery season , age , and constitution . chickens , both for pleasantnesse of iuyce , and easinesse of concoction , are verie gratefull to the stomacke ; for there is not any flesh of lighter digestion , or more agreeable with all natures . they giue a pure and light nourishment , and therefore they are best for them that liue a daintie kinde of life , for weake stomacks , for them that be sick , or weake , and sickly by nature . they are the best , that are growen somewhat great ( especially the pullets ) because they are somewhat of a firmer nourishment ; but the male ones , which are called cockrels , when they are growen big , are not so good , and the greater they are , by reason of their salacitie , the worser they are , because they are of harder concoction , and not of so pleasant and well sauouring iuyce : wherefore their stones are taken from them , and afterwards , as they grow in good plight of bodie , their flesh is of all fowles the best and wholsomest for students , and such as liue delicately , or are by nature weake and sickly : for it is verie easily digested , and yeeldeth much , temperate , and excellent nourishment . the flesh of turkies , is of a temperate nature , of pleasant taste , not of hard concoction , of much , good , and firme nourishment , agreeable to euerie age and constitution . if the legs and hinder parts of them were , for easinesse of concoction , and goodnesse of meat , answerable to the breast and fore part , and the fat also proportionable to the flesh in goodnesse , they were scarsely inferiour to the capon ; but the fat is grosser , and of worser concoction , then of any other fowle , verie offensiue to the stomacke , and hurtfull to such as haue the gout , or subiect vnto a defluxion of humors . but although the sat bee not commendable , yet the flesh of the fat turkie is best , and most wholsome , because it is of easier concoction , and of more pure and temperate nourishment . they are to bee chosen from the age of six moneths , vnto a yeere and halfe , but they of eight , nine , or ten moneths old , are the best ; for it they be vnder the age of six moneths , then their flesh is too crude and excrementitiall ; but most of all hurtfull vnto moyst and full bodies , and such as are subiect vnto the falling downe of humours into the legs and feet . and if they bee aboue a yeere and halfe old , then their flesh is of harder substance , and consequently of more difficult concoction , and of worser nourishment : and therefore most vnfit for weake stomacks and infirme bodies . the flesh of pecocks is of hard substance , of euill temperament and nutriment : for it is hot and drie , digested with difficultie , and breedeth a thicke and drie melancholike bloud : wherfore it is a conuenient meat for them that haue strong stomacks , and that vse great labour , for it yeeldeth vnto such a strong and fit nourishment . they are best to be eaten in the winter , and if after that they bee killed , they be hanged in a cold place , three or foure dayes , or longer , if it be in a cold and dry season , the hardnesse of their flesh , which is more then of any other fowle , will be somewhat amended . those that are very young , and not aboue a yeere old , are the best : for as they are of a more soft and tenderer substance : so also they are of easier concoction , and of wholsomer iuyce . they are verie hurtfull to the melancholike , and to such as liue an easie kinde of life . pigeons are of an hot temperature & of easie concoction : they breed an inflamed bloud , and extimulate carnall lust : wherefore they are not commendable for those that be cholericke , or enclined vnto feuors : they are good for old men , and verie wholsome for them that bee phlegmaticke ; but being boyled , they are wholsome enough for all hot and cholericke bodies , because the heat of them is tempered by the moysture of the water . they are most conuenient for cold seasons . it is verie good , when you eat them rosted , to stuffe them with soure grapes , or vnripe goose-berries , and to eat with them the soure grapes or berries , in manner of a sauce , with butter & a little vineger also , if it shall not be sharp enough of the berries , because the sowre grapes or goose-berries , doe excellently qualifie and temper the heat of them : and being this way vsed , they are also the more agreeable for hot and dry bodies . the eating of pigeons in time of the plague is much commended , because they are thought to make a man safe from infection : which thing verily is not repugnant to reason , for they breed a strong , hot , and somewhat a thicke bloud . they are best to be eaten , when they are almost readie to flie , and before their heads be pulled off , let them bloud with a knife vpon the inner side of the wings , for by that meanes their vehement heat will be somewhat abated . the old doues , both for their very great heat and drinesse , and also for their hardnesse of digestion , are to be eschewed . whether doth the phesant , for sweetnesse and wholsomnesse , excell all other wilde and syluestriall birds ? and whether the teale all other water fowle ? the phesant is in all qualities temperate , of easie concoction , and comfortable to the stomacke , and of much and excellent nourishment , very profitable for euery age and constitution . for sweetnesse and pleasantnesse of taste , it excelleth all other fowle , and for nourishment , is of a meane betweene the capon and the partridge : verily , for goodnesse and pleasantnesse of flesh , it may of all syluestriall fowle , well challenge the first place at tables , for it giueth a most perfect and temperate nourishment to them that be healthy , and to the weake , sickly , or that are vpon a recouery vnto health , there is not so profitable a flesh , for it is very delightsome to a weake stomacke , and quickly , by reason of the pure and restauratiue nourishment , which it giueth , repaireth weake and feeble strengths : wherefore , for bodies that are naturally leane , weake , or extenuated by long sicknesse , it is farre better then the flesh of any other fowle . next to the phesant , for goodnesse of meat , is the partridge , so it bee young : for the flesh of old partridges , is neither to the pallat , nor stomacke , very welcome , especially if they be not fat , for it is of a very dry temperature , of hard concoction , and of a dry and melancholike nourishment : wherefore they are in no wise conuenient for the melancholike , or such as are subiect to costiuenesse . but the flesh of them that be young , is of a laudable temper , of easie concoction , and very acceptable to the stomacke , it yeeldeth verie good nourishment , which impinguateth the bodie , helpeth the memorie encreaseth seede , and exciteth venus : they are conuenient for euery age and constitution ; especially for them that haue moyst stomacks , that are subiect to fluxes , and that are in statu conualescentiae . the young ones , that are taken euen as they are readie to flie , and afterwards fatted , are the best , for they make a pure and excellent nourishment . they are onely hurtfull to country-men , because they breede in them the asthmatick passion , which is a short and painful fetching of breath , by reason whereof they will not be able to vndergoe their vsuall labours . whe●…fore , when they shall chance to meet with a couie of young partridges , they were much better to bestow them vpon such , for whom they are conuenient , then to aduenture ( notwithstanding their strong stomacks ) the eating of them , seeing that there is in their flesh , such an hidden and perilous antipathie vnto their bodies . quailes are not for goodnesse and pleasantnesse of meat , so wholsome as they are accompted , for they haue in their flesh much moyst and excrementall iuyce , by reason wherof they quickly putrifie in the stomacke , and make a bad nourishment . but they are corrected , by baking them well seasoned with pepper , cloues , and salt . some haue iudged them , by reason of their great moysture , to bee onely profitable for melancholike bodies ; but their colour and taste , prooue their nourishment to be rather quickly conuerted into melancholy ; except you wil , that their flesh haue a certain kind of force against melancholy , by reason of a great desire , that these birds haue to feed vpon hellebor , which is a purger of melancholy . but yet for all this , you shall not haue my assent , that they are good for melancholike bodies , because the incommodum will be maius , commodo , as by that which shall be by and by shewed , may be collected . in my opinion , they are best agreeable to them that bee cholericke , and most hurtfull to the aged , and to all cold , moyst , phlegmatick , & paralitick bodies . some there are , that affirme quailes , by reason of some maglignity in their nature , to be worse then any other fowle , and scarcely wholsome for meate , which malignity they acquire by feeding vpon hellebor , which they greatly desire , and other venomous seedes : and plinie writeth , that they alone , of all liuing creatures besides man , suffer the falling sicknesse . wherof they conclude , that the vse of them engendereth the cramp , a trembling of the limbes , and falling sicknesse . to that which others haue studiously obserued concerning the nature of these birds , i may well assent , seeing that euen the verie colour , temperature , and sauor of their flesh doe confirme the same . but there are few ( i think●… ) that would feare to incurre the aforesayd hurts , by eating of them , if they might haue them . indeede the scarsitie of them vpholdeth their reputation , and the hurts that come by the seldome eating of them are not sensible , but to the curious indagator and obseruer of things ; but if they had their fill of them , as they haue of any other common flesh , they would out of their experience esteeme of them , no better then they do deserue . but to preuent and amend , in some measure , the naughty nature of them , it shall bee good to nourish them some time in a conuenient place , with good and wholsome seedes , and afterwards to bake them , as aforesayd . railes are of light digestion , and of wholsome nourishment , they are good for cuery age and constitution , especially for them that be phlegmaticke . the flesh of turtle-doues is of a dry temperature , and therefore if they be old , it is of hard concoction , and breedeth a naughty melancholike bloud . but the flesh of them that be young , and not aboue a yeere old , is acceptable to the taste , of easie concoction , and of very good nourishment , but most profitable for moyst and phlegmatick bodies . it is thought to haue an excellent propertie of comforting the braine , and quickning the wit. the black-bird or owsle that is fat , is greatly commended for pleasantnesse of taste , lightnesse of digestion , and goodnesse of nourishment . the thrush that is of a darke reddish colour , is of the same nature : they are best in the winter , and are conuenient for euery age and constitution of bodie , especially for the phlegmaticke . larkes are of a delicate taste in eating , light of digestion , and of good nourishment , they are good for all constitution●… , but best for the phlegmaticke . woodcocks are of easie concoction , and of indifferent good nourishment . some iudge them to approch somewhat neere vnto the nature of the partridge , and therefore is of them called the rusticke partridge ; but the flesh of the woodcocke is more excrementall then of the partridge , more inclining to melancholy , and of a more ingratefull fauour . the snite , for goodnesse of meat , is inferiour to the woodcocke , for he is of a more vnpleasant sauour , of harder concoction , and giueth to the bodie a more excrementall and melancholicke nourishment . both the snite and woodcocke are least of all profitable for them that be melancholicke . heathcocks are of much , and laudable nourishment , and also of easie concoction : they are conuenient for euery age , and temperature of bodie . feildfares are of a dry and melancholick substance , and therefore neither for concoction , taste or nourishment commendable . sparrowes are of an hot temperature , of hard concoction , and of euill iuyce , especially if they be eaten'rosted , for then they make a dry , cholericke , and melancholicke nourishment . but being boyled in broth , they become wholesome , and the broth restoratiue . linnets are both for lightnes of digestion , and goodnes of meat better then sparrowes . the crane is of an hard and fibrous substance , and of a cold and dry temperature : wherefore the flesh is of very ill and melancholicke iuyce , of very hard concoction , and of much more excrement then nutriment . after that he is killed and exenterated , it is good to hang him vp a day or two before he be eaten , for by that meanes , the flesh will be the moretender , and lesse vnwholesome . the bustard , if he be leane , is in temperament , excrement , and euilnes of iuyce very like vnto the crane . but being fat , and kept without meat a day or two before he be killed to expulse his ordure , and then exenterated , and hanged as the crane , and afterwards baked , well seasoned with pepper , cloues and salte , is for them that haue strong stomacks a good , fit , and well nourishing meat . the heron is of a very hard and fibrous substance , it is hardly digested , and breedeth an ill melancholicke bloud . moreouer the flesh is of a fishie sauour , which in flesh , is a note of greatest prauitie . but the young heronshowes are with some accounted a very dainty dish : indeed they are of a more tender flesh , and consequently of lighter digestion , and better nourishment , if there be any good in them at all ; but i leaue them and commend them vnto such as are delighted with meats of strange and noysome taste . the byttour is also of hard concoction , of euill taste , and also of vnprofitable and excrementall iuyce . the storke is of hard substance , of a wilde sauour , and of very naughty iuyce : for he feedeth vpon venemous wormes &c , which he taketh vp out of the waters : and therefore let him be excluded from tables . the seagull is to be reiected as all other kindes of flesh of a fishie sauour : for he is of a very ill iuyce , and is not onely vnpleasant , but also very offensiue to the stomacke . teale , for pleasantnes and wholesomnes of meat excelleth all other water-fowle : for it is easily digested , acceptable to the stomacke , and the nourishment which it giueth is very commendable and good , lesse excrementall , then of any other water-fowle . it is conuenient for euery age and constitution , and commendable also euen for them , that be weake and sickly , and so is not any other water-fowle . the radge is next vnto teale in goodnes : but yet there is great difference in the nourishment which they make ; for that which commeth of the radge , is much more excrementall then that of the teale . neither is the radge so pleasant to the taste , nor by much , so acceptable to the stomack , as is the teale . plouer is ofsome reputed a dainty meat , and very wholsome ; but they which so iudge , are much deceiued : for it is of slow digestion , increaseth melancholy , and yeeldeth litle good nourishment to the bodie . the like may be said of the lapwincke . but the plouer for goodnes of meat shall haue the precedence , and be next to the radge . wigeon and curlew are of hard digestion , and of a dry and melancholicke nourishment : they are good for them that liue neere to moores , and that haue no better meat . the flesh of the fenducke or moore-hen seemeth for the fatnes of it commendable ; but it is of hard concoction , and of grosse and excrementall iuyce . those that are healthy , and haue strong stomacks , may boldly eat thereof ; but i wish other to beware of it . ducks , whether tame or wilde , are in no wise commendable ; for they chiefely feede vpon the very filth , and excrementall vermine of the earth . the flesh of them is neither for smell or taste commendable : it is fulsome and vnacceptable to the stomacke , and filleth the bodie with obscure and naughty humors . the flesh of domesticke or tame ducks , giueth much , grosse , and somewhat an hot nourishment , but very excrementall . the flesh of the wilde ones is of a colder temper , & not so excrementall : they are onely conuenient for strong and rusticke bodies . but the ducklings that are well fed with wholsome graine , are of lighter digestion , more gratefull to the taste , and of wholesomer nourishment ; yet let olde men , and such as are phlegmaticke , or haue weake stomacks , beware how they vse them . the flesh of stuble geese is of very hard concoction , of an ingratefull sauour , and of grosse , melancholicke , and excrementall iuyce . but the young geese , which are commonly called greene geese , are of lighter concoction , of better taste , and of wholesomer iuyce , especially if they be fatted with wholesome graine . they are best agreable to cholericke bodies ; but they are not good meate for olde men , for them that be cold and moist by constitution , or haue weake stomacks . the swan in digestion and nutriment , is very like vnto the goose ; but as he is greater then the goose , so is he also of a more heauy , grosser , and more difficult substance to be digested . he yeeldeth best nourishment being baked and well seasoned with pepper , cloues , and salt . it is a strong melancholicke meat , and therefore conuenient for them that vse great labours , and haue strong stomacks ; but not for them that be aged , or liue a restfull and delicate course of life . thus much of fowle . other also there are , which ( because they areseldome in vse ) i omit : and for them therefore let this suffice , that there is no small difference betweene those that liue in marish places , lakes , or standing pooles , and them that wander and feede vpon hills , or other dry places : for according to the nature and temperature of the places , the flesh not onely of fowle , but also of beast , is either competently dry , and free of excrements , and easie to be digested ; or moist and excrementitiall , and hard to be digested . whether the parts of beasts and fowles , besides the flesh , as the braine , the liuer , the heart &c. giue good and profitable nourishment to the bodie ? the braine is phlegmatick , and breedeth a cold grosse nourishment : by reason of the fulsomnes of it , it is soone offensiue to the stomacke , causeth lothsomnes , and ouerthroweth the appetite . it is best agreable to those that are cholericke , that are young , and haue hot stomacks ; but to olde men , and such as are phlegmaticke , it is very hurtfull : pepper is the best correctorie for it . the braines of those beasts or fowles that are of a dry temperature , especially if they liue in hilly and dry places , are for nourishment the best , because there is not in them , that plenty of excrementall moisture , as there is in the braines of them that are of moist complexions . the braines of calues , conies , hares , woodcocks , and snites are in greatest vse and account ; but the conies braine is for temperature the wholsomest . the braine of the hare is said to be good against the trembling , and shaking of the limmes : i know not whether by reason of the siccitie of it , or of any hidden proprietie ; but seeing that the hare is of a very melancholicke and timerous nature , i thinke the braine of any beast or fowle of a dry temperature , to be so good , if not better , against any paralytick or trembling infirmitie of the limmes , as the braine of an hare . the eyes are of a cold and moist temperature , of light digestion ; but by reason of the pituitous fatnes of them , they are fulsome and offensiue to the stomacke . they make an ill and excrementall nourishment : they are best agreable to such as haue hot and cholericke stomacks , but but to the phlegmatick , and them that haue cold stomacks , they are very noysome . the eyes of a calfe are the best . the eares are of hard digestion , and of very little nourishment ; for they consist of nothing else but gristle and skin . marrow is much more laudable then the braine ; for it is sweeterand pleasanter , of a firmer substance , and of an hot and moist temperature . it maketh much , good , and pure nourishment : it increaseth the geniture , and excellently sustaineth , and restoreth the vitall moisture . moreouer , it mollifieth the passages of the throat , and lenifieth the asperitie of it , and delighteth the stomacke , so that it be moderately taken ; but if it be immoderately vsed , it mollifieth , and relaxeth the stomacke , taketh away the appetite , and induceth a disposition to vomit . the tongue is of a spongie & temperate substance , of easie concoction , and of good nourishment , especially about the roote : for there the flesh is sweetest . it is an wholesome meat for euery age and constitution . the maw and bellies of beasts are of an hard , skinnie , and tough substance , they are hardly digested , and yeeld a cold and grosse nourishment : yet some are well pleased with a fat tripe , and account it a very good meat : and indeed so it is for them that be giuen to great labours , and that haue hot and strong stomacks ; for in such kinde of men , it is not much to be regarded , how wholsome the meat be , so it fill the belly , and conserue the strength . but to them that lead a studious kinde of life , that are by constitution phlegmaticke , and melancholicke , or haue weake stomacks , a tripe though fat , is very offensiue : for beside that it is of hard digestion , and of ill iuyce , it is of an vnpleasant smell and taste : and therefore noysome to the stomacke . the gysard or maw of fowles , as of the goose , hen , &c. is likewise of hard digestion , and of no commendable nourishment . the winges of fowles that are young and fat , are of easie concoction , and of wholesome iuyce ; but of such as are olde and leane , they are of a hard digestion , and of a dry and melancholicke nourishment . the liuers of beasts , that are full growne , are of ill nourishment , for they are hardly digested , slowly distributed , and breed grosse humors . but the liuers of them that be sucking are better , for they haue a moister temperature : and therefore they are of easier concoction and distribution , of pleasanter taste , and of better iuyce . but they are not good for them that haue weake stomacks , or subiect to the obstructions thereof , or of the liuer , melt , or mesaraick veines . the liuers of fowles , as of a goose , phesant , hen , capon , turkey &c. are of a good temperature , of pleasant taste , of easie concoction , and of much and commendable nourishment , especially the liuers of hens , capons , caponets , and pullets , which if the meat wherewith they be fatted , be tempered with milke , then their liuers are of an excellent temperature and nourishment . they are conuenient for euery age and temperature of bodie . the heart is somewhat of an hard substance , and therefore it is not very easily digested ; but when it is well digested , it maketh a durable and commendable nourishment . the heart of a fat calfe is for pleasantnes of taste , easinesse of concoction , goodnes of temperature , and salubritie of iuyce , the best . the lights are of light digestion , and of litle nourishment , and the same not good but phlegmaticke . the melt is altogither vnwholesome for meat ; for it is hard of digestion , and breedeth a very bad and melancholicke bloud , and therefore to be reiected . the kidneies are in no wise commendable , but for the fat annexed vnto them , for otherwise they are of very ill iuyce , of vnpleasant taste , and of hard concoction . the kidney of veale , by reason of the pleasantnes and tendernesse of it , is farre more nutritiue , and more wholesome then of any other flesh . the kidneies of beasts that are full growne , especially if they be of big stature , are of no good nourishment , for they are of very hard concoction , and of a rancke and naughty iuyce . the vdders of beasts are not easily digested , they make a grosse phlegmatick bloud : wherefore they are not good for them that liue at ease , for the phlegmatick , nor any that haue weake stomacks , or subiect to obstructions . being well digested , they nourish much , and therefore they are a conuenient meat for them that haue good stomacks , and a strong naturall heat to digest . the vdders of cowes are for pleasantnes of taste , and goodnesse of nourishment the best . the feete of beasts doe giue a cold and clammie nourishment , which quickly stoppeth vp the veines . galen commendeth the feete of swine ; but calues feete and the feete of ros●…ing pigs are of easiest concoction , and of purest nourishment : they are very good for dry bodies , because in an hot stomacke they digest well , nourish much , and they moisten the solide parts , not with a light , but a clammie and good nourishment : and for the same cause , the vse of them ( especially of calues feete ) is very profitable in consumptions and rupture of veines ; but there must be good heede taken , that they bee exactly boyled , euen vntill that ( by reason of tendernesse ) one part is dissolued from another : for else they are of harder concoction , and not of so good nourishment . they are very hurtfull vnto moyst and phlegmaticke bodies , and such as are subiect vnto the gout and winde collicke . the feete of a bullocke or heifer , which we commonly call neats feete , tenderly sodden , and layed in souce , and afterwards eaten cold , are accounted very good meat ; and so they are for a cholericke stomacke , because they make a cold and tough nourishment , alwaies foreseene , that they be eaten before other meat . but to them that haue cold stomacks , although they may be well liking vnto them , they are in no wise agreable . of fish . sect . iv. whether the much and often use and eating of fish be unwholesome , and hurtfull to the health of the bodie ? it is , because fish increaseth much grosse slimio and superfluous flegme , which residing and corrupting in the bodie , causeth difficultie of breathing , the goute , the stone , the leprie , the scuruie , and other foule and troublesome affects of the skin . wherefore i aduise those men that are much delighted with the vse of fish , that they be very carefull in the choise of it , as that it be not of a clammie , slimie , neither of a very grosse or hard substance , nor oppleted with much fat ( for all fat is of it selfe ill and noysome to the slomack ; but of fish it is worst ) neither of ill smell , and vnpleasant sauour . wherefore of sea-fish , that is best which swimmeth in a pure sea , and is tossed and hoysed with windes , and surges : for by reason of continuall agitation , it becommeth of a purer , and lesse slimie substance , and consequently of easier concoction , and of purer iuyce . and for the same cause , the fish that is taken neere to a shore that is neither earthy nor slimie , but rockie and stonie , is also best : for the fish that abides in a slimie shore , is of harder digestion , and of a more slimie and excrementall substance . the fish also that betaketh it selfe from the sea into the mouthes or entries of great riuers , and so swimmeth towards the fresh waters , doth quickly become better or worse : for if they be caried in slimie and muddie riuers , they forthwith loose much of their goodnes ; but if in pure , grauely , and stonie riuers , then the farther off they be remoued from the sea , the better they are : for by reason that the water is contrary to their course , they are the better clensed from their slimie superfluities . of fresh water fish also that is best , which is bred in pure , stonie , or grauely riuers running swiftly . for that which is taken in muddie waters , in standing pooles , in fennes , motes and ditches , by reason of the impuritie of the place , and water , is vnwholesome ; for it breedeth a very slimie and excrementall nourishment , very greatly hurtfull vnto them that are subiect to the goute , and stone , and obstructions of the breast . thus much in generall concerning the choise of fish . now i will breifely speake of the particular kindes of fish that are most common and in greatest vse , and first of sea-fish . the sole is somewhat of an hard substance , and yet of easie concoction , and free from excrement , in respect of other fish . for whitenes and puritie of substance , pleasantnes of taste , and goodnes of iuyce , it far excelleth all other sea fish ; and therefore may well be termed the sea-capon . the sole verily is to be reckoned among the meats of primest note ; and for such as are infirme and sicke , non magis expetitus quam salutaris cibus . the plaice is pleasant to the pallate , easily digested , and in the iudgement of some men a good fish ; but in my opinion , it giueth a watrish and excrementall nourishment , especially if it be not well growne to a substantiall thickne●… . it is best agreable to them that are by constitution cholericke ; but to the phlegmaticke it is very hurtfull , because it aboundeth with a phlegmaticke iuyce . the dabbe or little plaice is of the same nature , but more excrementall . the flounder is in taste , digestion , and nourishment like vnto the plaice , especially if he be young . * some deeme this fish not so pleasant in taste , nor so good in nourishment , as the plaise , but by their leaue , if it be growne to a good thicknes ( nam quo grandior eò melior ) by reason of a firmer substance which it acquireth ) i rather thinke that it giueth a better then a worse nourishment , because it lesse aboundeth with a slimie superfluitie . the gurnard is of harder digestion , then any of the former : some are red , and some grey : in respect of the colour , there is litle difference , if there be any , the red is the better : both giue a good nourishment , and nothing slimie : and therefore they are much better for them that are phlegmatick , then the plaice , or flounder . the whiting , notwithstanding that it is vnsauourie , and nourisheth very litle , is of some greatly desired , and commended : verily it is easily digested , and the nourishment which it maketh , although it be litle , yet it is good , and very litle excrementall . the breame is somewhat acceptable to the pallate , of easie digestion , and of meetly good nourishment , somwhat excrementall . it is best agreable for cholericke bodies , and worst for phlegmaticke . some loue to eat the eyes of the breame ; but they are very excrementitiall ; and so also are the eyes of any other fish . shad and mackrell are both sweet in taste , and soft in substance ; yet not very wholsome , for they quickly induce a loathing noy somnes to the stomacke , and breed an excrementall nourishment . they are conuenient for labouring men , and for them that haue strong stomacks . dogge fish and hake are neere of a nature , not of hard concoction ; but yet scarcely of laudable nourishment , for they increase somewhat crude and watrish humors . codfish for whitenes of colour , and moderate hardnes , and friabilitie of substance is commended : it is easily digested , and yeeldeth a meetly strong nourishment , and not very excrementall . the haddocke is pleasant to the taste : it is in nature somewhat like vnto the cod ; but it is of lighter concoction , and not of so firme and durable nourishment . mullet is a fish somewhat of an hard substance ; yet if it be taken in a grauelly and stonie shore , is not of hard digestion , is of pleasant taste , and of meetly nourishment . but if it bee taken in a muddie or slimie water , it is not so easily digested , is hurtfull to the stomacke , and breedeth grosse and excrementall humours . of mullets , the lesser are best , for they are of easier concoction , and of better iuyce . the base is in goodnesse of iuyce inferiour to the mullet , for it is of harder concoction , and breedeth a more grosse and slimie nourishment . both mullet and base are agreeable for them that are of hot temperature , and haue strong stomacks . sammon is ranked with the best sort of fish , it is very pleasant to the taste , and not very hard to bee digested , it maketh a good nourishment , in consistence , neither clammie nor grosse ; but yet it quickly oppresseth a weake stomacke : wherefore let such as are infirme , or haue weake stomacks , so carefully moderate their appetites , as that the iucunditie of it , entice them not to a perilous and nauseatiue fulnesse . the belly is to be chosen before any other part , because it is tenderer , and of a more sweet and pleasanter taste . the eyes of a sammon are farre wholsomer then the eyes of any other fish . the young sammon , or sammon . peale , is farre better then that which is greater , or fuller growen : for it is of a softer and whiter substance , of a pleasanter relish , of easier concoction , more acceptable and agreeable to the stomacke , and of very good and wholsome nourishment . the salted sammon loseth much of his goodnesse and pleasantnesse of taste , and is therefore for wholsomnesse of meat , very much inferiour to the fresh . turbut or birt is meetly pleasant to the taste , and if it be well digested , it maketh a good and firme nourishment : it is somewhat of an hard substance , and therefore not easily digested . it is a verie good meat for such as are healthy and haue strong stomacks ; but for the aged , for them that be phlegmaticke , and that haue weake stomacks , it is verie in conuenient and hurtfull . sturgion is a verie acceptable dish , and best welcome at tables . it may be much doubted , whether it be so greatly esteemed for the rarenesse of it , or for the goodnesse of meat , or for that it is pleasant to the pallat , and induceth withall a smoothing delectation to the gullet . i will plainly deliuer my opinion , whatsoeuer the sensuall pallatist shall deeme . the flesh of the sturgion , is of it selfe , of a whitish , and meetly pure substance , and consequently of laudable nourishment , if it were not intermixed with a grosse and nauseatiue fat , by reason whereof it is not easily digested , and is quickly offensiue to the stomacke , and maketh a grosse and clammie nourishment . wherefore let such as are aged , and that haue cold and weake stomacks , carefully refraine the vse of it . it is most accommodate for the hot season of the yeere . the little or young sturgion , is farre wholsomer then the greater , for he is of tenderer substance , of pleasanter taste , of easier concoction , and of good nourishment , if you separate most of the fat , which subuerteth the stomacke , and breedeth a grosse and clammie humor . the belly of the sturgion is , euen as of the sammon , to be preferred before the other parts . the sturgion , not onely which is great and full growen , but that also which is little , and somewhat tender by age , is verie hurtfull vnto them , that are troubled with rheumes , and articular greefes . the hallibut is a big fish , and of great accompt : it is of a white , and somewhat of an hard substance , and therfore not easily digested ; but it is very pleasant to the taste , and for goodnesse of meat not inferiour to the sturgion . the belly part , euen as of the sturgion , is the best . it is a conuenient meat for young men , and for hot cholericke bodies ; but for old men , for the phlegmatick , and them that haue weake stomacks it is very hurtfull . dorie is for substance of flesh almost of a meane consistence , yet not very delectable to the pallat it giueth a meetly good nourishment ; but it is not good , especially the much eating of it , for them that bee phlegmaticke , or haue weake stomackes , or that are subiect to the gout and stone , because it breedeth somewhat a grosse and plegmaticke iuyce . the allowes is taken in the same places that sammon is , it is meetly pleasant to the taste , yeeldeth much , and somewhat a thicke nourishment , yet not ill , so it bee well concocted in the stomacke ; but it is of hard concoction , wherefore it is hurtfull to them that haue weake stomacks , and that are by constitution phlegmaticke and melancholike . the allowes that tarrieth , and is taken in sweet waters , is wholsomer then that of the sea , for it is fatter , of tenderer substance , of easier concoction , and of better sauour . the guilthead or goldine is whiter , and not altogether of so hard a substance as the allowes , and therefore it is of easier concoction , and also of better nourishment . the guilthead is not in season , but in the winter , for then he is sweeter in taste , then at any other time , and is conuenient for euery age and temperature of body . the calaminarie , the cuttle-fish , and poure-cuttle , are euen of one and the same nature , they are of hard concoction , and fill the bodie with crude and grosse humors . they may in want of better meat , serue for mariners , and rusticall bodies , who through the strength of their stomackes and great labour , are able to conuert any grosse meat into good nourishment . the small ones excell the great , because they are of a more tender flesh , and are with lesse disficulty digested , they are all hurtful to them that haue weake sinewes , and subject to the palsie . the wolfe-fish is of a cold and moyst temperature , of pleasant taste , and of easie concoction . it breedeth a cold , thin , and waterish iuyce , and therefore let such as are phlegmaticke and rheumaticke , perpetually shun the vse of it . the lumpe or lompe , is a fish so named from his shape and likenesse , and is in taste agreeable to the name ; it is of hard concoction , and of grosse and excrementall iuyce . the conger is a long round fish , in shape like vnto a great eele , and is therefore called the conger-eele : it yeeldeth a grosse and excrementall nourishment , as the common eele doth . it is a meat , notwithstanding that it is to most mens pallats well pleasing , conuenient only for such as haue strong stomacks , and that are of a firme state of bodie . to the phlegmaticke , to them that haue weake stomacks , or subiect to the dropsie , gout , and stone , it is verie hurtfull . lampreyes are of some greatly esteemed , but very vnworthily , for they are partly of the nature of eeles ; yet somewhat wholsomer , because they are not of so clammie and so grosse a substance . they are pleasant to the taste , but not easily concocted . they giue much nourishment ; but the same somewhat clammie and tough : wherefore they are not fit for them that haue weake stomackes , or are subiect to obstructions . they also encrease melancholy , and are verie hurtfull to such as are troubled with the gout , and that haue weake sinewes . the small lampreyes are better then the great , for they are not of so tough substance , and therefore of easier concoction , and of wholsomer nourishment . thornbacke is a fish of moyst substance , of grosse , excrementall , and putrid iuyce : whereby it commeth to passe , that it is a meat of ill smell , vnpleasant sauour , vnwholsome nourishment , noysome to the stomacke . the vse thereof breedeth cold diseases , and the epilepsie verie speedily , if it bee eaten hot : which noysome quality doth ( as i thinke ) in cooling , somewhat euaporate , and sooner arise being eaten hot , for that it is so moyst a fish , and full of superfluitie . it is a meat onely fit for hard labouring men . the tuine , porpuise , and such like great and bestiall fishes , are of verie hard digestion , noysome to the stomack , and of a verie grosse , excrementall and naughty iuyce . herrings are somewhat pleasant to the taste , yet not very wholsome , at it is often prooued by them , who through eating offresh herring quickly surfet , and fall into feuers . the salt or pickled herring , is of harder concoction , and giueth a saltish and vnprofitable nourishment . they are good for them that want better meat . the pilchard is of like nature to the herring ; but , as it is of pleasanter taste , so it also sooner cloyeth the stomacke with a nauseatiue fulnesse . red herrings and sprats giue a very bad and adusted nourishment , they are onely good to excite thirst , and to make the drinke very acceptable to the pallat and throat . they are hurtfull to them that are by constitution cholericke and melancholike . anchoua's , the famous meat of drunkards , and of them that desire to haue their drinke oblectate the pallate , doe nourish nothing at all , but a naughtie cholericke bloud : they excite the appetite , and by reason of their saltish acrimonie , are also thought to cleanse phlegme from the stomacke and intestines . wherefore they may be conuenient for the phlegmaticke ; but in my opinion , the speciall good propertie that they haue , if it be good , is to commend a cup of wine to the pallat , and are therefore chiefly profitable for vintners . in shell-fish it is to be obserued , that some are of soft substance , and are easily digested , some of hard substance , and with more difficulty concocted ; but are of firmer and better nourishment . of all shell-fish , oysters are of a very moyst and soft substance , and therefore easily digested , and least offend the stomacke , except they be taken , as wee commonly say , against stomacke : and by reason of the saltnesse of their iuyce , they also make the belly soluble ; but they giue a light , salt , & phlegmatick nourishment : and therfore they are not only very hurtfull vnto them that be phlegmatick , also vnto all such as haue cold and weak stomacks , because in them they abundantly encrease fleame . vnto cholerick bodies , and such as haue strong stomacks , they are agreeable . they must be eaten with pepper and vinegar , and a cup of good claret , or sacke , drunke presently after them : for then they will bee the better digested in the stomacke , and not so soone conuerted into fleame . onions also sliced in the vinegar , and eaten with them , is an excellent correctorie for the same purpose , if they shall not be offensiue vnto the head of him that eateth them . but why are oysters vsually eaten a little before meale , and that with one way bread ? for two respects , as i coniecture : the first is , by reason of their subductorie qualitie concerning the belly , which also is holpen with one-way-bread : the second is , because that through their saltnesse , they excite the appetite . among shell-fish , muskels are of grossest iuyce , and of worst nourishment , and most noysome to the stomacke . they aboundantly breede fleame , and grosse humors , and dispose the bodie vnto feuers : wherefore i aduise all such as are respectiue of their health , vtterly to abandon the vse of them . cockles are not so noysome as muskels , for they are of lighter concoction , and of better nourishment ; yet no laudable meat for such as lead a studious or easie kinde of life , or haue weake stomacks . the crab is not easily digested , it giueth much grosse and phlegmaticke nourishment : it is a meat best agreeing with tho●…e that are of a cholericke temperature , and that haue hot stomacks . but to old men , to them that be phlegmaticke , and all such as haue weake stomacks , & are subiect to oppilations of the breast , distillations from the head , or are otherwise wont to bee affected in the head , it is verie hurtfull . the fresh water crab is wholsomer then the sea-c●…ab , and that also of the sea , is the wholsomer if it bee but taken out of the fresh waters . the lobster is not also easily digested , and therefore i●… quickly offendeth a weake stomacke : but being well digested , it giueth much good and firme nourishment ; but the same is of an hot and ebullient nature : and therfore it maketh a great propensitie vnto venereall embracements . i aduise young men , and such especially as are cholerick , and that are of hot temperature , to refraine the often vse of them : for vnto hot natures they are hurtfull , and greatly offend the head . pranes and shrimps are of one and the same nature : for goodnesse of meat , they excell all other shell-fish : they are of a very good temperature and substance , of a most sweet and pleasant taste , not of hard concoction , and of excellent nourishment . by reason of their moyst and calorificall nature , they proritate venus : they are conuenient for euery age , and constitution of bodie , with this proviso , that the stomacke be not weake . of fresh water fish the trout is most commended ; it is somewhat of a cold and moyst temper , of an indifferent soft and friable substance , of pleasant taste , of easie concoction , and of good and wholsome iuyce . it yeeldeth somewhat a cold nutriment , very profitable for them that haue their liuer and bloud hotter then is conuenient : and therefore it is with good reason permitted vnto them that are sicke of hot feuers . the trout is a commendable meate for euery age , and constitution of bodie ; except for the phlegmaticke that haue very cold and moyst stomacks . the pike is somewhat of firme and hard substance , and therefore a litle harder of concoction then the trout : it is a meat pleasant to the taste , and giueth much and pure ●…ourishment . it is agreable vnto all bodies , especially to them that be young , and such as are by constitution cholericke . the pikrell is the young pike : it is of easier concoction , and for pleasantnes of ●…aste and goodnesse of iuyce , it may ( in my iudgement ) precede the trout , and as well be permitted vnto those that be sicke ; which must onely be vnderstood of the riuer pikrell : for that which is taken out of meeres or other muddie waters , is somewhat excrementall , and of hard concoction . the perch is also somewhat of hard substance , of good nourishment , yet a litle inferiour to that of the pikrell , or pike , by reason of some viscositie in it . and if the perch be taken out of a muddie or foule place , the nourishment which it maketh will bee the more clammie and excrementall . the carpe is of a sweet and exquisite taste ; but the nourishment which it maketh , is not answerable to the taste of it , which if it were , it might well be numbred among the fishes of primest note . it giueth somewhat a slimie , phlegmatick and excrementall nourishment , and quickly satiateth the s●…omacke , especially if it be taken out of impure and muddie waters : wherefore let such as be phlegmatick , vtterly eschew the eating of it . the barbell is of a soft and moyst substance , of easie concoction , not of very pleasant taste , or good nourishment ; but somewhat muddie and excrementall . the greater barbels for goodnes of meat excell the lesser , because their superfluous moy sture is by their age somewhat amended . the bowels or entralls of them are to be abiected , as most offensiue and troublesome to the belly . the tench is vnwholsome , and of hard concoction : it is a muddie and excrementall fish , vnpleasant to the taste , noy some to the stomacke , and filleth the bodie with grosse and slimie humors : notwithstanding it is a meate conuenient enough , for labouring men and them that haue strong stomacks . the gudgion and other such litle fishes are of pleasant taste , of easie concoction , and of good nourishment ; but the same litle , and by reason of the tenuitie of it nothing durable . eeles are very pleasant to the taste ; but they are of hard digestion , of a slimie , grosse , and phlegmatick iuyce , and soone noy some to the stomack . they breed obstructions , because they make a grosse and glutinous nourishment : they are most hurtfull vnto them that are subiect to the stone , and goute , and obstructions of the breast . the eeles that liue and are taken in pure and grauelly waters , are of farre better nourishment then such as liue in meeres , and pooles , or any other impure places : and those i commend vnto them that delight to eat eeles , and that are more addicted to their pallate , then to their health : for although those eeles that liue in purer waters , lose much of their slimiesuperfluitie ; yet they are neuer of pure & good iuyce , or profitable to the stomacke ; much lesse those that liue in muddie and filthy waters . wherefore they are not commendable for any age , or temperature ; but they are most hurtfull to them that be aged , phlegmatick , or subiect to obstructions . the rosted or broyled eele is far wholesomer then the boyled , because the fire exhausteth , and consumeth much of the slimie , and excrementall moysture that is in it . and by the like reason the powdred eele is wholsomer then the fresh , especially for them that be phlegmaticke , although it be not so taken of many , that are sweet and dainty mouthed . to conclude , eeles whether fresh or salt , are onely a conuenient meat for poore hard labourers , for them that haue very strong stomacks , or that haue an indulgent respect to their pallate , and appetite . the puffin is neither fish nor flesh , but a mixt bodie of both : for it liueth altogither in the water , and yet hath feathers , and flyeth as other fowles doe . whether they be eaten fresh or powdred , they are of an odious smell , of a naughty taste , of vnwholesome nourishment , and very noy some to the stomacke . yet great drinkers esteeme well of the powdred puffin , because it prouoketh them to drinke , which is the best facultie it hath : but marke the end of such , and you shall commonly see them , euen in their firme and constant age , to haue turgid , and stroutingout bellies , and a dropsey to be the vpshot of all their outragious drinkings . whether fresh fish be more wholesome , then salt fish ? although some kinde of fish , as eeles , and such like , which quickly induce a nauseatiue fulnesse to the stomacke a litle salted , be better then the same fresh , because the salt taketh away the fulsomenes of it , and so maketh it more acceptable to the stomacke . yet fish of long salting , ( as is our common salt fish ) is vnwholesome , & much inferiour vnto fresh fish . for fresh fish is of farre lighter digestion , and maketh a moist and purer nourishment , and is in some measure , for the most part of it , wholesome for all bodies , especially such as are hot , dry , and cholericke . but salt fish contrariwise is of hard concoction , breedeth adust humors , exiccateth the bodie , and is hurtfull to most bodies , especially to them , that be cholericke and melancholicke . moreouer , if it be much eaten , it hurteth the sight , and causeth itch and scabbinesse by reason of the sharpe biting , and burnt humors which it ingendreth . it doth best agree with the phlegmaticke , so the stomacke be strong . of egges and milke . sect . v. why doe eggs giue a more speedy , more pure , and more plentifull nourishment , then any other kinde of simple meat ? eggs doe not only speedily & purely nourish , by reason of the tenuitie of their substance , and excellent a ëriall temperament , but also , and that very plentifully , because of an aptnes that they haue in their substance to be assimilated , and agglutinated to the parts of the bodie : and that by reason of a certaine analogie or likenes that they haue with mans nature : for their whole substance , by reason of their naturall vicinitie vnto bloud , is easily conuerted into the substance of the bodie . but this must not be vnderstood of all the egge , but of the yolke onely : for the white is of a glutinous , cold and phlegmaticke nature , and consequently altogither of bad and excrementall nourishment . but the yolke is temperately hot and moyst , of good iuyce , without excrement , and the bloud bred thereof is firme , pure , and full of spirit , very greatly corroborating the heart . wherefore eggs are not onely a most accommodate meat in time of health , but also very worthy to be preferred before any other , in the decay of the threefold * substance of the bodie . neither must this be vnderstood of all kinds of eggs , but of hen eggs onely , and the same also new . for the eggs of ducks , geese , turkeys &c. are of grosse substance , of ill smell , of vnpleasant taste , of hard concoction , and fulsome to the stomacke . but eggs receiue great alteration , according to their dressing and preparation : for those that are potched are best and wholsomest , and next vnto them are those that are sodden in the shells ; but those that are rosted , or fryed are not so good , because the heat of the fire consumeth their aeriall moysture . but which way soeuer they be dressed , there must be care taken that they be not made hard : for then they are oppilatiue , of hard digestion , of slow distribution , and of vnwholesome nourishment . neither must they be eaten rere , that is to say , litle more then through hot , named in latine oua sorbilia , ( except in the way of physicke to leuigate and make cleare the throat and breast , and to ease the greifes of the reines and passages of vrine made with grauell ) because through their ouer-much softnes and cruditie , they quickly weaken and subuert the stomacke . but they must be in a meane betweene rere and hard , which are called oua tremula : and they must be eaten before other meat , because they are quickly digested , quickly descend from the stomacke , and speedily nourish , especially if a draught of claret wine betaken after them . and if any man desire a light nourishing , and comfortable breakfast , i know none better then a couple of potched eggs , seasoned with a litle salt , and a few cornes of pepper also , with a drop or two of vinegar , if the stomacke be weake , and supped off warme , eating therewithall a litle bread and butter , and drinking after a good draught of pure . claret wine . this is an excellent breakfast , and very comfortable for them that haue weake stomacks . eggs moderately vsed are accommodate for euery age , and constitution , especially for the elder sort of people , and such as want bloud ; but soonest offensiue to the cholerick and sanguine , for whom in hot seasons they are not conuenient . whether milke doe giue vnto all bodies a good and healthy nourishment . milke is moiste in the second degree , and more enclined vnto cold then vnto heat ; it is of easie digestion , of much and good nourishment : it impinguateth and causeth the bodie to waxe grosse , and for amending of a dry constitution , and for them that are extenuated by long sicknes , or are in a consumption , it is by reason of the excellent moistning , cooling and nourishing facultie of it , of singular efficacie . but notwithstanding that milke is of light digestion , and of much and wholesome nutriture : yet it is not good for all bodies ; not for them that are subiect to windinesse of the stomacke and belly , or that haue impure , weake , and ill-affected stomacks , because it increaseth winde , and is by reason of the differing nature of the parts thereof ( for it consisteth of a threefold substance , as shall be hereafter shewed ) in a weake , or ill-affected stomacke , soone corrupted and coagulated : nor for them that are phlegmatick , grosse , and full of moyst humors , or subiect to obstructions , because it maketh them more to abound with crude , grosse , and phlegmatick humors . but being boyled and eaten with sugar , pepper , and other spice , it is lesse windie and more agreable for such bodies . now by this which i haue breifely shewed , concerning the nature of milke , it may plainely appeare , that the vse of it , is best agreable for the hot seasons of the yeare , for young men , and especially for hot and dry cholericke bodies : because it doth much refresh them with an excellent cooling and moystning nourishment : and that it is most hurtfull to the aged , to them that be phlegmaticke , and that are subiect to cold diseases , by reason of the abundance of grosse and phlegmatick humors , which it breedeth in such bodies . wherefore the vse of milke is very hurtfull vnto them that are subiect to winde , to rheumes , to cold diseases of the head and sinewes , to the gout , and dropsie in generall , the stone or any obstruction of the reines and bladder , obstructions of the breast , liuer , melt , stomacke , and mesaraicke veines . and therefore not so much as the drinking ofa draught of milke in the morning fasting , as it cōmeth warme from the cow is to be approued vnto them that are of acold constitution , or any way subiect to obstructions ; whereas for them that are hot and dry by constitution , a large draught is very good and profitable , for it sweetly cooleth , moystneth , and refresheth the dry and thirstie parts of the bodie , and also expurgeth the sharpe and cholericke humors by stoole . wherefore the drinking of milke not onely in the morning fasting , as it commeth from the cow , but also at any other time of the day , so that it be taken in an empty stomacke , is to hot , leane , and dry bodies greatly profitable . but because that milke is apt to corrupt and coagulate in the stomacke , you must take with it a little sugar ; or if you desire to haue it more soluble , pure honie : but sugar is better for them that are by constitution cholericke ; for by this meanes it will neither corrupt , nor coagulate in the stomacke . and if you also cause a few speremints to be put into the vessell whereinto the cow is milked , or otherwise steeped one houre or two in the milke that you purpose to drinke , the milke will be much the more agreeing with the stomack , and not so apt to coagulate . milke that is kept till it waxe somewhat sowre is not vnto all bodies hurtfull : for the drinking of it is , in the hot seasons of the yeare profitable for them that haue hot , dry and cholerick stomacks , especially if the head thereof be taken away , because it greatly cooleth and extinguisheth the raging heat and acrimonie of choler . but you must absteine after the drinking of milke , from other meats or drinks , or any violent stirring of the bodie ( all which will cause it quickly to corrupt or coagulate in the stomacke ) vntill it shall be digested in the stomacke , which in an houres space may be well effected , neither may you sleep within an houre after the taking of it , because it will make the head heauy by repleating it with vapors . and whosoeuer shall vse to drinke milke , because that it is hurtfull to the gummes and teeth ; for the one it maketh flaccide , and the other subiect to putrefaction ; must haue speciall regard to wash his mouth presently after the drinking of it , with wine , or strong beere , and also to rub the teeth and gums with a dry cloth , for the clensing away the sliminesse of the milke , and for strengthning the gummes and teeth . but of milke , there is great difference according to the kindes of it . cowes milke for sound and healthfull bodies is best , for it is fattest and thickest , and consequently . of most nourishment : next vnto it , for grossenes , is sheeps milke . but for bodies that are with long sicknes extenuated , or are in a consumption , womans milke is best , because it is most familiar vnto mans bodie , and euen of like nature . and next vnto it is goates milke , because it is of meane consistence , for it is not so fat and thicke as cowes milke , and therefore breedeth not obstructions in the entrals as that doth ; nor so thin as asses milke , which also in consumptions is much commended : wherefore the nourishment which it maketh is of a middle nature betweene them both . but asses milke appertaineth rather vnto physicke then vnto meat , for it is of a thin and watrish substance , of a penetrating , cooling and detersiue facultie , by reason whereof , it is of singular efficacie in consumptions . of the lungs . milke , notwithstanding that it seemeth to be wholy of one substance , yet it is compact of three seuerall parts , of creame , curds , and whey , the first is the very head or flower of the milke : it is of a temperate qualitie , hot and moyst in the first degree ; it is pleasant to the pallate , and very good for the asperitie and siccitie of the stomacke ; but it is somewhat of a grosse nourishment , and by reason of the vnctuositie of it , quickly cloyeth the stomacke , relaxeth and weakneth the retentiue facultie thereof , and is easily conuerteted into phlegme , and vaporous fumes . wherefore it is hurtfull to them that be phlegmaticke , that haue weake stomacks , to olde men , and such as are subiect vnto rheumes , especially in the cold and moyst seasons of the yeare ; but vnto hot cholericke bodies , and young men that haue strong stomacks , it is ( especially in the hot seasons of the yeare ) no lesse conuenient then delightsome : and verily with strawberries and sugar , it is for them , for whom it is conuenient , a very delicate and wholesome dish . and whosoeuer he be that delighteth to eat a dish of creame , let him not be parsimonious of sugar , for that is the best correctorie for it . butter that is made thereof is of like temperature , it is of a moystning , mollifying , maturatiue , and resolutiue facultie : if it be fresh and new , and well tasted , it is very wholesome , especially in the mornings fasting , for hot and dry bodies : it giueth a light and dissipable nourishment ; it is good for the asperitie and siccitie of the throat , and for a dry cough . but the too much vse thereof weakneth the stomacke , and causeth the same to abound with a crude phlegmaticall humor . wherefore the much vse of it , is not good for them that be phlegmaticke ; but for such , salt butter is more conuenient , because it is lesse phlegmaticke . the cruddie part of the milke is of an heauy , grosse , and phlegmaticke substance , and of the like nature is cheese ; for it is of hard digestion , and ingendreth ill humors and oppilations . and although it be the propertie of all cheese to breed grosse and oppilating humors ; yet it altereth much according to the newnes or oldnes of it . for that which is new , is of a cold , moyst , grosse , and flateous substance : wherefore for an hot and cholericke stomacke it is somewhat profitable ; but for them that be phlegmatick or haue cold stomacks , it is greatly hurtfull . olde hard cheese is altogither vnwholesome , for it is of very hard digestion , troublesome to the stomacke , breedeth choler adult , maketh the belly costiue , and is infinitely hurtfull vnto hot and dry bodies . both sorts doe very greatly breed the collicke , yliacke , and nephriticke passions . but that which is a meane betwixt both , so that it haue also all the other properties of good cheese , and especially that it be not tart of the rennet , is far wholsomer ; for it is more pleasant to the pallate , more acceptable to the stomack , and maketh a durable and meetly good nourishment ; yet the frequent and too much vse of it , breedeth obstructions , and is offensiue to a weake stomacke . wherefore it behooueth him that loueth cheese and his health too , to be mindfull of that prouerbiall versicle : caseus est sanus , quem dat auara manus . cheese is best for them that lead a studious or generous course of life , to be eaten after other meat , and that in litle quantitie ; for being thus vsed , it bringeth two commodities . first , it taketh away satietie , & strengthneth the stomacke , by shutting vp the orifice thereof . secondly , it preuenteth the floting of the meat , which greatly hindereth and disturbeth the concoction , by depressing it into the bottome of the stomacke , which is the cheife place of digestion . rosted cheese is more meete to entise a mouse , or rat into a trap , then to be receiued into the bodie ; for it corrupteth the meats in the stomack , breedeth adust cholericke humors , and sendeth vp from the stomacke putrid vapors , and noysome fumes , which greatly offend the head and corrupt the breath . to conclude , the much eating of cheese is onely conuenient for rustick people , and such as haue very strong stomacks , and that also vse great exercise . whey is cold & moyst , of an abstersiue & lax●…tiue facultie : wherfore it is of excellent efficacie against adustion of humors , & obstructions of the entrals , it quencheth thirst , and euacuateth choler & melancholie by stoole : & therfore the liberall vse of it , especially well clarified , is very profitable in feuers proceeding of choler . the drinking of a large draught of whey mornings fasting , from the beginning of may vnto the end of august , is for all cholericke and melancholike bodies most wholsome , for it qualifieth the heat of the stomacke and liuer , bringeth the bodie to a good temperature , abstergeth obstructiue humours in the stomacke and mesaraicke veines , mundisieth the bowels , and maketh the belly soluble : white whey , which commeth by pressing of the curds together , is not so thin and waterish as the former , and therefore not so laxatiue : it giueth a cold and moyst nourishment , very profitable vnto cholericke and dry bodies ; but hurtfull to the phlegmaticke . the like may be sayd of the whey that commeth in the making of butter , commonly called butter-milke , which if it bee vsed when itis growen a little sowre , excellently represseth the sharpnesse of choler , and is very good for cholericke fluxes . of milke there are also diuers sorts of meats made , which in a common appellation are termed white-meats : they are all , more or lesse , of a crude , grosse , and obstructiue faculty , breeding winde , fleame , and obstructions , especially of the breast : they are conuenient for young men , for them that are by constitution cholericke , and that haue hot and strong stomacks ; but to old men , to them that be phlegmaticke and subiect vnto rheumes , they are very hurtfull : they are more wholsome and lesse offensiue , if they bee well seasoned with sugar , and spice ; &c. but of all the sorts of white-meats , that which is made of wheat decorticaced , and boyled in milke , commonly called frumentie , giueth the most and strongest nourishment ; but it is somewhat hard of concoction , and of very slow distribution , by reason whereof it causeth windinesse and obstructions . wherefore it is not a conuenient meat for them that haue weake stomacks , and such as liue at rest , or are subiect to obstructions , either of the bowels or reins . but for those that vse great labours , and that haue strong stomacks , it is very profitable . and being strained , and spiced with cynamon , it is a very good medicinable meat , for such as are too laxatiue , and subiect to fluxes and mordications of the bellie , proceeding of choller : for it represseth the acrimonie of the cholericke humour , and through the slow descension of it , abateth the flux . there is also the like kinde of pottage , and much like-likewise of the same nature , made of rice accurately * depilated and boyled in milk ; but it is of easier concoction , lesse obstructiue , and of better nourishment . being well made and spiced with sugar and cynamon , it is a temperate meat , very pleasant , easie of digestion , and restoratiue . there are also other kindes of food made with rice , all which are somewhat of hard concoction , and of an astringent facultie . they are conuenient for them that haue good stomacks , and that vse to labour and exercise their bodies ; but to the aged , and such as are molested with phlegme and obstructions very hurtfull . there are also certaine i●…nckets vsually made of milke , especially in the summer season , as of the best of the milke coagulated , there is made a kinde of iuncket , called in most places a fresh-cheese , which is very pleasant to the pallate , and of easie concoction : it asswageth thirst , mitigateth the ouer-much heat of the stomack , and moy stneth the body , and is therefore in the hot seasons of the yeere very profitable for such as are young , and that are of an hot and dry temperature . but in them that are past their constant age ( except they shall be impensiuely cholericke ) and that haue cold stomacks , it breedeth winde , phlegme , rheumes , and obstructions , especially of the breast : and therefore in no wise to be allowed to the aged or phlegmaticke . this , or other iunckets , or white-meats of like nature , must be alwayes at meales first eaten , or at banquets betweene meales , when the stomacke is emptie : for being eaten after other meats , or in the middle of meales , they doe the sooner corrupt in the stomacke , and breed more plenty of phlegmaticke and excrementall humours . how great therefore is the error of eating custards in the middle , or at the end of meales . to conclude , iunckets , and all sorts of white-meats , are more or lesse , as i haue already sayd of a crude , grosse , and obstructiue faculty , breeding plenty of phlegme : they are onely agreeable for them that haue good stomacks , and that are of an hot and cholericke temperature . of sauces and spices . sect . vi. whether , in the regiment of health , the vse of sauces is to bee allowed , as necessarie and wholsome ? although that hunger be the best sauce for meat , and thirst for drinke , and that the best meanes to get them , is exercise and abstinence for a time ; yet besides these naturall sauces , there be other which be artificiall , and some of them very profitable ( such as are those that are of a delightsome sharp taste , of a cutting , penetrating , attenuating , and digesting faculty ) because they comfort and strengthen the stomack , disperse the crude superfluities of the same , excite the appetite , make the meat pleasant to the pallate , and acceptable to the stomacke , whereupon ensueth the better concoction , and more profitable nutriment . the best and most common of all sauces is salt , which is so necessarie for seasoning and preseruing of meats , that we cannot well liue without it , and therefore it hath beene a good obserued custome , to set it first on the table with bread , and with the same to take it last away . salt is hot in the second degree , and dry in the third : it is of a clensing , digesting , attenuating , drying , consuming , and somewhat also of an astringent faculty . well therefore may salt haue the first and cheefest place among sauces , for beside that , it maketh the meat sauoury and acceptable to the stomacke , and exciteth the appetite , by corrugating the mouth of the stomacke , and titillating the pallate , it also cutteth and attenuateth grosse and clammy humours , preuenteteth and correcteth putrefaction , by drying and consuming all crude and moyst superfluities , confirmeth weake and loose parts , and helpeth the concoction , especially in a cold and moyst stomacke . but the too much vse of salt , by reason that it is hot and dry , of a sharp biting taste , and drieth vp and consumeth all the humours of the bodie , is very hurtfull , especially vnto dry and leane bodies : for it annoyeth the stomacke , exiccateth the liuer , adureth the bloud , dimmeth the sight , diminisheth the geniture and spirits , causeth itch and scabbinesse , and in a word , corrupteth and spoyleth the habit of the whole bodie , making it soone old , riueled , and deformed . vinegar is the second sort of sauce , which is in common vse : it is iudged with a generall consent , to bee dry in the second degree ; but concerning the other qualities , there is great variance : for some attribute vnto it a cold quality , because it cooleth and represseth heat , and some an hot , which may also be easily prooued ; but in my iudgement , it is more cold then hot , and so much the colder , as it is made of the smaller wine . it prouoketh appetite , as salt doth , it vehemently penetrateth , cutteth , and attenuateth grosse humours , by reason of the sharp tenuitie of it , it strongly preserueth the humours from putrefaction , by reason of the cooling and drying qualitie of it , and therefore the vse of it , in time of pestilence , is very profitable . it also helpeth the soft and rheumaticke swellings of the gums . it agreeth best with the cholericke , because it represseth their choler , and worst with the melancholike , because it encreaseth their distemperature . the much vse thereofis , by reason of the cooling , drying , and also mordicant qualitie of it , which it hath , by reason of some heat , which it still reserueth of the wine , very hurtfull to the stomacke , liuer , lungs , intestines , matrice , and sinewes : wherfore i aduise women , and them that are leane , that haue cold stomacks , weake lungs , and feeble sinewes , carefully to eschew the much and often vse of it . and aboue all , i with maydens to forbeare the drinking of vinegar , or eating of sops or tosts dipped therein , to make them leane and low-coloured , lest that by ouer-pearcing , cooling , and drying their liuer , they acquire a big belly ( i meane a dropsie ) with a leane & ill-fauoured face . vinegar that is made of white wine is more opening , and that which is made of claret more binding : wherefore white wine vinegar is generally to be preferred , and it is also much the better for the stomacke and spirits , if it bee rubefied , by maccrating the leaues of red roses in it ; but for them that haue loose stomacks , claret-wine-vinegar is most accommodate . the often or much vse of vinegar is greatly hurtfull to them that are of a melancholike temperature , and to all such as are subiect to the gout , the palsie , or other affects of the sinewes . verjuce which is made of soure or vnripe grapes , or of crabs , or other vnripe soure apples , is like to vinegar in operation , sauing that it is of a more cooling nature , & therfore more agreeable for hot and cholericke bodies . it refresheth an hot stomack and liuer , represseth cholericke fumes , and raiseth vp the appetite , deiected through much heat , labour , or exercise : wherefore it is very profitable for hot and cholericke bodies to be vsed in way of sauce , and for hot and cholericke diseases , in way of medicine ; but it is hurtfull to the aged , and to all cold and phlegmaticke bodies . eisell , or the vinegar which is made of cyder , is also a good sauce : it is of a very penetrating nature , and is like to verjuce in operation ; but it is not so astringent , nor altogether so cold . mustard is a sauce in common vse with sundry meats , both flesh and fish , especially those of the grosser sort . it is hot in the fourth degree , and is of a dissoluing , attracting , extenuating , and dissipating faculty . it very strongly heateth the stomacke , cutteth , extenuateth , and scattereth grosse and phlegmaticke humours , openeth the obstructions of the breast , helpeth the concoction and distribution of meats of grosse substance , comforteth the stomack , and drieth vp and consumeth the superfluous moysture in it . moreouer , it vehemently pearceth the braine , and wonderfully purgeth it from superfluities : and therefore the vse of it is very profitable for them that bee subiect vnto cold diseases of the head and sinewes , as the epilepsie , lethargie and palsie : for it openeth the passages , and dissipateth and consumeth the humours oppilating the nerues : wherefore , as it is a good sauce , so is it also very medicinable . it is a most wholsome sauce for them that bee phlegmaticke , and that haue cold and moyst stomacks , especially in a cold and moyst season ; but the often and much vse thereof is hurtfull vnto cholericke and dry bodies . orenges differ in their temperature , according to the sweetnesse or sourenesse of their iuyce : for the sourer the iuyce is , the colder it is , and the more penetrating ; but yet with the greater astriction following : and the sweeter it is , the more hot and lesse penetrating , without any or little astriction concurring . the sweet orenges are not fit for sauce , because they subuert the appetite , and cause loathsomnesse in the stomacke ; yet to such as are of a melancholike temperature , they are , by reason of their temperate heat and sweetnesse , somewhat profitable . the soure orenges are cold and dry in the second degree : they quench thirst , excite the appetite , and represse cholericke vomitings : they coarctate the breast , and astringe the belly , which are two pernicious properties : wherefore they are greatly hurtfull to the phlegmatick and melancholike , and them that are straight chested . but sugar correcteth their aciditie , and bringeth them to a better temperament . they are conuenient for hot & dry bodies , so they be not affected with coarctation of the breast , or astriction of the belly . those that are of a meanetaste betweene both , that is neither too sowre , nor too sweet , are cold in the first degree , and temperately dry : they are best for sauce , because they are more acceptable to the taste , and more profitable to the stomacke . they are profitable in feuers , to extinguish thirst , and inhibit the putrefaction of the humors . orenges sliced and sopped in rose-water and sugar , are very good to coole and refresh the stomacke in feuers , and so they are also at other times , for an hot and cholericke stomacke ; the pulpe , or medullary substance of the orenge is not good to bee eaten , except of them that haue very hot and cholericke stomacks , but the iuyce onely , because it breedeth a crude and ill iuyce , and is not easily digested . therindes of orenges are hot in the first degree , and dry in the second , being preserued in sugar , and taken in small quantity after meat , they very greatly comfort a weake stomacke . limmons are like in nature vnto orenges , sauing that as they are sourer , so are they colder & ore pearcing : wherfore the iuyce of them hath an admirable force , of cutting , penetrating , extenuating , and cooling : it stirrtth vp the appetite , comforteth the stomacke , restraineth vomiting , and is therefore very good for them that haue nauseatiue stomacks . it mightily cutteth and attenuateth grosse humors , asswageth thirst , mitigateth the sharpnesse of choler , and inhibiteth the encrease of it . it also excellently cooleth and refresheth an hot liuer , corroborateth the heart , and is of singular efficacie against acute and malignant feuers , for it defendeth the humours from putrefaction , and correcteth those that are putrified . there is not so pleasant a sauce to be found as this of the limmon , and it giueth a grace to all other sauces : it is sourer then vinegar , more cooling and more pearcing , free from any acrimonious or mordicant quality , and therefore more delectable , and more wholsome then it . it is for hot and cholerick stomacks , the best sauce , and against the vehemencie of choler there is not a better medicine ; for it mightily represseth , and extinguisheth the feruent heat of it . it is hurtfull to them that be phlegmatick , and also to the aged , except choler shall happen to domineire in their stomacks . the citron is like in nature to the limmon ; but it is thought to haue a more speciall propertie , against malignant , and pestilentiall feuers , and to comfort the heart . the rindes , and also the white pulpe of citrons , and limmons preserued , doe comfort the stomacke , helpe the concoction , corroborate the heart , and are very good against melancholy . oliues , if they be ripe , are temperately hot , they are eaten with salt , of the inhabitants where they grow ; but they are neither good for sawce , nor for meate , for they weaken the stomacke , and breed a putrible and vnwholsome nourishment . but the greene and vnripe oliues are cold and dry , of an astringent facultie , and these are the oliues , which are vsually eaten with meate to excite the appetite . they are gathered while they be greene , preserued in pickle , and so transported . they excite the appetite , clense phlegme from the stomacke , corroborate the mouth of it , and stay vomiting ; but they are hardly digested , excite thirst , breed grosse and melancholicke humors , and being abundantly eaten , they cause headach and make the belly cosliue , especially those that are preserued onely in salt : wherefore they are not so wholsome a sawce as they are esleemed . they are preserued onely in salt or in a pickle of salt and vinegar . those that are preserued in salt , are hotter then the other , for they are hot in the second degree , and of greater force in clensing of phlegme from the stomacke : and therefore they are best for them that be phlegmaticke ; and worst for the cholericke . but those that are preserued in a pickle of vinegar and salt are of a more temperate nature ; they represse choler , and stay vomiting more then the other doe , and are conuenient for euery age and constitution , especially for the cholericke , and therefore they are to be preferred before them . but which way socuer they are preserued , the greene or greenish oliues are to be chosen , and the yellowish or blackish rejected as abhominable for sawce or meate : for the yellow ones were too ripe before they were gathered , and the blackish are putrified . the salt liquor or pickle , wherein they are preserued , is an excellent remedie against sof●… and flagging gummes , and loose teeth , if they be washed and rinsed therewith somewhat hot . capers are very necessarie for the preseruation of health : they are preserued in vinegar , or in salt , or in a pickle or brine made of them both , which is the best way : being thus preserued , they are hot in the first degree , and dry in the second : they are of an abstersiue and opening facultie , they giuevery litle nourishment ; but they excite the appetite , notably clense away phlegme adhering to the stomack and guts , kill wormes of the belly , and open the obstructions of the liuer , but especially of the melt : wherefore the often vse of them with meat is very profitable to phlegmaticke and melancholicke bodies , to such as haue moyst and waterish stomacks , that are short breathed , that haue hard and ill spleenes , and subiect vnto quartaine feuers . before they be vsed , the salt must be washed off cleane from them , and they a litle while steeped in cleane water , and after that eaten ( as other sallads be ) with vinegar , and oyle also if it shall like the eater ; or if they be eaten with oximell , they will not onely be the more acceptable to the taste , but more effectuall also for the purposes aforesaid . the young tender buds of broome are in the spring time gathered and preserued in pickle , in the same manner as capersare : they excite the appetite , and open the obstructions of the melt and liuer no lesse then capers doe , and are also very profitable in obstructions of the kidneys : wherefore they may well be vsed with meate as capers are . sampier is in the like manner preserued in pickle , and eaten with meats : it is a very pleasant and familiar sauce , well agreeing with mans bodie . it is hot and dry , of an abstersiue and diureticke facultie : it exciteth the appetite , comforteth the stomacke , openeth the obstructions of the liuer , melt , and especially of the kidneys and bladder , by prouoking vrine : wherefore it is a necessarie sauce , for them that are subiect to the stone , and conuenient for euery age and constitution of bodie . radish is also vsed as sauce with meats , but it is a very hard one , and vnwholsome : it is hot and dry , and of an extenuating facultie . those that are very tart in taste , are hot in the third degree , and dry in the second . they are accounted the best , that are cleare , tender , and tart in taste , and so they are , because they are of easier concoction , and doe more delight the pallate . some physitions commend the eating of radishes before meat , because they excite the appetite ; and some after meate , because ( as they say ) they helpe the concoction by depressing the meats ; but i constantly affirme , howsoeuer they oblectate the pallate , depresse the meats , or excite the appetite , that they are neither good before meat , nor after meat , nor togither with meat . they are not good to be eaten before meate , for because that they are with much difficultie digested , and make long stay in the stomacke , they hinder both the descension and concoction of the meat that is taken after them , and are also the cause of stinking belchings , which are far greater hurts , then the exciting of the appetite is a commoditie . neither are they good to be eaten after meate , for by reason of the hardnes of their substance , they rather oppresse the stomacke , then any way helpe the digestion , breed windinesse , and cause noysome belchings , yea though they be taken ( euen as we doe cheese ) in small quantitie . but our vsuall manner in england is to eat them togither with meat as a sawce , which is the worst way of all ; for being in such manner taken , they greatly oppresse the stomacke , ingender raw humors , & aboundance of winde , cause loathsomnes , disturbe and hinder the concoction of the meate that is taken with them , raise vp noysome fumes and most offensiue belchings , which are very hurtfull to the eyes and head . wherefore i conclude , that they are vnwholesome any way to be eaten ( especially for them that haue weake stomacks ) except for them that be pallate-pleasers , and that they are onely good to be vsed in the way of physicke : for they heat , cut , and attenuate grosse humors , prouoke vrine , and procure vomiting . and verily this their heating , cutting , attenuating and vomitorie facultie , is the principall cause , by working vpon the humors and meate in the stomacke , that they breake , or rather breed and raise vp so much winde , and auoide it by belchings . oyle oliue , which we commonly call sallet oyle , if it be of the ripe oliues is moderately hot , and maketh the belly soluble ; but by reason of the vnctuous substance and nauseous sweetnesse of it , it deiecteth the appetite , anoyeth the stomacke , impinguateth the liuer , and increaseth the substance of it : wherefore it is in no wise to be vsed as a sauce with meats . but the oyle that is made of the vnripe oliues , which is called oyle omphacine , is not so grosse and fattie , as the other , and inclineth to a greenish colour : it is somewhat of a cooling and astringent facultie , by reason whereof , it strength●…eth the stomacke , and represseth the too-much tenuitie , and fluxibilitie of the bloud in cholericke and sanguine bodies : wherefore the vse of it for them that are healthy is very conuenient . of butter , which is of great vse in sawces , i haue spoken in the precedent section . honie is hot and dry in the second degree , and of an abstersiue and soluble facultie : wherefore it is very wholesome for them that be old , for such as are phlegmaticke , and of a cold and moyst constitution , especially in the cold seasons of the yeare . it is very profitable for such as be asthmaticke or short breathed , and that are subiect vnto rheumes , so that they be not of a cholericke constitution , because it doth notably clense and mundifie the breast , and lungs , of phlegmaticke and rheumaticke humors . wherefore i wish all such as are of a phlegmatick constitution , to accustome the eating of honie mornings fasting , and to walke an houre after it ; but it must not be immoderately taken , for , not withstanding that it is of a clensing and opening facultie ; yet for all that , if it be taken in too large a quantitie , it will obstruct and cloy the stomacke , because it consisteth of a grosse substance . but the vse of honie is hurtfull to them that are of hot complexion , because it inflameth the bloud , and is quickly ( by reason of the acrimonie of it ) conuerted into choler ; it is also hurtfull to such as abound with winde , especially the crude and vnclarified honie , because there is in it a windie and excrementall moysture . the way to clarifie it , is to put vnto it a litle water , and so to boyle it and scum it so long as any froth ariseth : for by this meanes the tartnesse and flatulent moysture of it , is for the most part taken away , and consequently becommeth a more wholesome medicinable nourishment . that is the best honie , which is hard in the vessell and curded like sugar , and which is also of a true and delectable sweetnes , of good smell , and of a cleare yellowish colour ; or if it shall be of a whitish colour , so that none of the said notes of goodnesse be wanting in it , it is neuer the worse . new honie is better then olde , because some of the moysture of it is in continuance consumed , whereupon it becommeth more dry , and tarte in taste . sugar is temperately hot and moyst , of a detersiue facultie , and good for the obstructions of the breast and lungs ; but it is not so strong in operation against phlegme as honie . and here it may be demanded whether sugar or honie be the better ? wherevnto i answer , that sugar is generally more wholsome then honie : for it is of a better temperature , of pleasanter taste , not so fulsome as honie , and therefore more acceptable to the stomack , and consequently farre better for sauce , and nourishment . it may be giuen in feuers , because it doth not inflame the bodie , nor so soone turne into choler as honie doth ; and to conclude all in a word , sugar agreeth with all ages , and all complexions ; but contrariwise honie anoyeth many , especially those that are cholerick , or full of winde in their bodies . onely honie is better for them that haue very cold and moyst stomacks , and that haue their breasts stuffed with phlegme . water and fine sugar onely brewed togither , is very good for hot , cholericke , and dry bodies , that are affected with phlegme in their breast : for through the coldnes and moysture of it , it excellently tempereth the heate and siccitie of the breast and stomack , and cleareth them of phlegme . sugar by how much the whiter it is , by so much the purer and wholsomer it is , which is euident by the making and refining of it . it is made much after the same manner and forme as white salt is . the sugar is nothing else but the iuyce of certaine canes or reedes , which is extracted by boyling them in water , euen after the same manner and fashion as they doe salt. this first extracted sugar is grosse , and of red colour : it is hot and dry , somewhat tart in taste , and of a detersiue facultie : by longer boyling , it becommeth hard , which we call red sugar candie , which is only good in glysters , for to clense and irritate the expulsiue facultie . this grosse reddish sugar is againe mixed with water , and boyled , and commeth to be of an whitish colour , lesse hot , more moyst , and more acceptable to the taste and stomacke . this kinde of second sugar , we call common or kitchin sugar . this being the third time diluted , and decocted , is of an excellent temperament , most white , and of a singular pleasant taste : this is the best , purest , and wholsomest sugar , which giueth a grace vnto whatsoeuer it be mixed . and this by rather boyling becommeth hard , and of a resplendent white colour , which we commonly call white sugar candie : this is the best sugar for diseases of the breast , for it is not altogither so hot as the other sugar , and is also somewhat of a more pure and subtile moysture . wherefore it excellently asswageth and moystneth the asperitie and siccitie of the tongue , mouth , throat , and winde-pipe ; and is very good for a dry cough , and other infirmities of the lungs : it is most accommodate for all hot and dry constitutions . there are diuers kinds of mixt sauces deuised & composed by the skill of cookes , to oblectate the pallate and throat , to excite the appetite , and to adde a grace vnto bad meats , which of ingurgitating belly-gods are greatly esteemed . but i aduise all such as are respectiue of their health , to refraine the vse of all confused saucs ; or to be very circumspect , not onely in the vse of them , because they allure the stomacke to a gluttenous taking of meate ; but also in the choise of them : for they onely are wholsome , that are somewhat of a soure taste , by putting to them a conuenient quantitie of vinegar , veriuce , or of the iuyce of orenges or limmons . but let temperate men , and such as are studious of their health , content themselues with the simpler kinds of sauces , because they are for the stomacke and health of the bodie most conuenient . whether cinnamon be the best and wholesomest of all spices ? cinnamon is hot and dry in the third degree , and of an excellent aromaticall substance : for fragrancie of smell and iucunditie of taste , it excelleth all other spices : it strengthneth the stomacke , preuenteth and correcte●…h putrefaction of humors , resisteth poysons , exceedingly comforteth the principall parts , especially the heart and liuer , and reviueth the spirits . it also openeth obstructions , and strengthneth the retentiue facultie of all the parts , by drying vp and consuming the crude and excrementall moysture . it is conuenient for all bodies , especially for them that are of cold and moyst temperature , and that haue weake stomacks ; but the ouer-much vse of it , is hurtfull to such as are by constitution cholericke . of one pound of cinnamon grossely bearen , a pound of white sugar , a gallon of sacke , and a quart of rosewater , steeped togither houres , is drawne by distillation , a water of singular efficacie against sowning , debilitie of the spirits , and principall parte . wherefore i wish euery man , that is respectiue of his health and life , especially such as are of weake nature , neuer to be without it , and to take now and then a spoonfull or two , especially when occasion shall instant the vse of it . next vnto cinnamon , for goodnes and aromaticall substance , are cloues : they are hot and dry in the third degree , they are not of so penetrating a force as cinnamon , but more drying ; they consume , and dissolue crude and windie humors , comfort , and corroborate all the principall parts of the bodie , especially the stomack , & heart , excite venus , helpe the concoction , discusse winde , make the breath sweet , stay vomiting , and fluxes of the belly proceeding of a cold cause , or weaknes of the retentiue facultie : and as they are very good for a weake , cold , and windie stomacke , so are they also for a liuer collapsed by cold . they are very profitable for the aged , for such as are phlegmaticke , and subiect to rheumes , especially in the winter ; but the often and much vse of them is hurtfull vnto cholericke and dry bodies . nutmeg and mace are of one and the same facultie : they are hot and dry in the second degree , somewhat of an astringent facultie : they strengthen the stomacke , especially the mace : they comfort the braine and animall faculties , especially the nutmeg : they stay seminall fluxes , and are good for cold vterine affects , especially the nutmeg : they discusse winde , and inhibit fluxes of the belly , proceeding from a cold cause or weaknes of the retentiue facultie . they are good for olde , cold , and phlegmaticke bodies ; but the much vse of them , by reason of their dry temperature , and astrictiue facultie , is hurtfull to cholerick and melancholick constitutions , and them that haue costiue bellies . nutmegs preserued in sugar , as soone as they be taken from the tree , are of a very pleasant and delightsome taste , and of most profitable vse , for comforting of the stomack and braine , to be eaten now and then , especially in the mornings fasting , and presently after meales : and because they are of a lesse drying and binding facultie ; they are very good for euery state and constitution of bodie . wherefore i aduise all those that haue weake stomacks , and that liue a studious kinde of life , neuer to be without them , that they may take of them at their pleasure . all the sorts of pepper are hot and dry in the height of the third degree , if not in the beginning of the fourth : they are of an heating , and resoluing facultie : they excite the appetite , comfort the stomacke , helpe the concoction , and all cold diseases of the breast and stomacke , by concocting , dissipating , exiccating , and expelling crude and flatuous humors : they also strongly heat the sinewes and muscles , and all cold parts . the round blacke pepper is in greatest vse for sauce and seasonings of meats . it must be moderately vsed , for otherwise , by reason of the acrimonious heat that it hath , it will quickly inflame the bowels , adure the bloud , and consume the genitall seede . by reason of the tenuitie of its substance , it must be but grossely beaten , that the heat thereof may longer continue and operate in the stomacke : for being smally beaten , it will make lesser stay in the stomacke , and mesaraick veines , and by reason of the penetrating force of it , sooner ouer-heat and dry the liuer , prouoke vrine , in flame the bloud , and the reines . it is a spice , most conuenient for cold , moist , and grosse meats , for cold and moist seasons , for the aged , for the phlegmaticke , for them that haue cold , weake , and windie stomacks , and that are subiect to distillations . but to hot , cholericke , and dry bodies , the much or often vse thereof is very hurtfull , especially in hot and dry seasons . ginger is the roote of a certaine plant growing in barbarie and other hot countries : being greene and newly digged vp , it is hot in the third degree , and moyst in the first ; but when it is growne dry , because that the moysture of it is consumed , it is dry in the second degree , if not in the third : it is of an heating and digesting quality ; but it heateth with a more durable heat then pepper doth , and therefore it is more conuenient for a cold and moyst stomacke , for which it is of singular efficacie , it discusseth winde , helpeth the digestion , and consumeth crude and phlegmaticke humours . it is very profitable for the aged , such as are phlegmaticke , and full of crude , flatulent moysture in their stomacks , especially in cold and moyst seasons ; but the vse of it is not so good in hot seasons , nor for them that are by constitution cholericke , because the often and much vse of it will enflame , and distemper hot and dry bodies . the greene roots preserued , which wee commonly call greene ginger , or ginger condite , are of pleasant taste , very good to be eaten often times , especially mornings fasting , of them that haue weake stomacks , and bad memories , and that are subiect vnto rheumes : for they greatly comfort the stomacke and head , and are also very accommodate for all the purposes aforesayd . wherefore the vse of them is for old men and students most profitable . they also increase the geniture . they are preserued two wayes , either in a syrupe of sugar , or couered ouer and incrustated according to art with sugar , which wee commonly call candied ginger : this is best for them that be very phlegmatick , and rheumatick , and that haue very cold and moyst stomacks , because they are of a more exiccating nature ; but the ginger that is preserued in syrupe , is more conuenient for all other bodies , and for the two purposes last aboue recited , because it drieth not , as the candied ginger doth , but is rather hot and moyst in quality , by reason of a substantiall moysture , that it receiueth from the syrupe , wherein it is preserued . the roots that are preserued in syrupe , while they be fresh , greene , and full of iuyce , are of soft and tender substance , and of a most pleasant taste : whereby you may detect the fraud of them , that boyle the dry ginger , to make it soft , and afterward put it into a syrupe , and sell it for greene condite ginger : for it is somewhat blackish , tough , and hard in biting , and not so delectable in taste . saffron is hot in the second degree , and dry in the first : the moderate vse of it , wonderfully refresheth , comforteth , strengthneth , and exhilarateth the heart , for there is so great societie betwixt it and the heart , that it is without delay carried thither , and for that cause it is mixed with all cardiacall medicines . it expelleth and preserueth from all pestilentiall infections , it openeth the obstructions of the liuer and gall , and is therefore good against the yellow iaundise : it prouoketh the menstruall courses , and birth , and therfore women with childe must carefully shun the vse of it : it also dilateth the breast , openeth the obstruction of the lungs , and is for them that bee short and thicke breathed , the last and greatest remedie . but if it bee not moderately vsed , and that in very small quantity at a time , it is hurtfull and dangerous : for it causeth the head-ach , and offendeth the braine and senses , by sending vp sharpe fumes : it also deiecteth the appetite , and causeth faintnesse , by too much relaxing the hearr , and pouring out the spirits . of frvits , roots , and hearbes , that serue for meat , and are vsually eaten . sect . vii . whether new fruits eaten raw , yeeld any wholsome or prositable nourishment to the bodie ? although all new fruits that abound with moysture , as most doe , may seeme to be iudged vnwhosome to be eaten raw , by reason that they fill the body with crude and waterish humours , that dispose the bloud vnto putrefaction ; yet the moderate and tempestiue vse of them , may be very good and profitable , for such as vse to heat and dry their bodies with great labour and exercise , for all hot constitutions , especially for the cholericke , because they extinguish thirst , coole and moysten the body , and represse the vehement heat and ebullition of choler . but to the phlegmatick , and such as haue crude stomacks , all raw fruits , especially those that abound with moysture , are greatly hurtfull , as heereafter shall bee particularly demonstrated . and here , before i begin to discourse of alimentary simples , i will aduertise the reader somwhat , for his better vnderstanding , concerning the fouredegrees of qualities , that physicians constitute and define to be in simples : as those are sayd to be hot or cold , &c. in the first degree , that alter a temperate bodie ; yet if they be hot or cold , &c. but in the beginning of the degree ( for euery degree hath so ample a latitude , that in euery one we constitute three stations , and therefore of those things that are in the first degree , some are sayd to be in the beginning of the degree , some in the middle , and some in the end ) they doe not so euidently alter , but that some consideratiue examination is needfull for discerning of the alteration . in the second degree are those that doe so manifestly alter , as that there is no more neede of examination , or coniecture , for vnderstanding of the alteration : & of this sort are hony & figs for heat , and lettuce for coldnesse and moystnesse , &c. of the third degree are those that doe strongly alter , as hyssop , time , cloues , sacke , if it bee not new : and in the same degree you shall finde time to exceede hyssop in heat . of the fourth degree are those , that doe very greatly and vehemently alter , such as in heating , are of a burning force , and in cooling of a stupefying . wherefore that may bee sayd to be hot or cold , &c. in the first degree , which is but slenderly perceiued of the gustatiue sense : that in the second , which is very manifestly perceiued : that in the third , which is so strongly perceiued , as that it somewhat offendeth the sense : and that in the fourth , which very greatly affecteth and annoyeth both the sence and bodie . and thus much concerning the vnderstanding of the foure degrees in the primary qualities of simples . and now because that all fruits , roots , and hearbes , haue for the most part some medicinable facultie , and are also oftentimes offensiue vnto man , because they engender crude , grosse , and flatulent humours , i will particularly write of such as be in vse among vs in england , declaring their hurtfull qualities with their good , and how they may be rightly vsed , and of whom , with most profit , and least hurt : and first of all of apples , because of all fruits they are most plentifull among vs. apples are of a cold and moyst temperature , abounding with a superfluous , crude , and windie moysture : yet more , or lesse , according to the different kindes of them : for there are many and sundry sorts of apples , whose diuers natures and faculties , may by the difference of their substance and taste bee best knowne and described . for those apples that are of a solid substance , giue a more plentifull and durable nourishment ; but they are more hardly digested , and more slowly distributed . those that are of a soft substance , are easily digested , and distributed ; but they giue a thin , waterish , and excrementall nourishment . but those that are of a mixt substance , that is , neither too hard , nor too soft , are both for concoction , and also for nutriment the best . now , as concerning the taste : some apples are sweet , some soure , some of a middle taste , both sweet and soure . the sweet apples are not so cold as the other be , but are rather hot in the first degree : wherfore they yeeld more nourishment then other apples doe , and the same not so moyst ; but they are not so pleasant to the taste , nor so acceptable to the stomacke . the soure apples are cooling , and therefore they yeeld little nourishment , and the same cold and crude ; but the raw iuyce of them , by reason that it is of a cooling , cutting , and penetrating faculty , with some small astriction also adioyning , is good for an hot cholericke stomacke , because it mightily represseth the feruent acrimonie of choler . but those apples that bee of a middle taste , that is , such as are both sweet and soure , are for pleasantnesse of taste , acceptablenesse to the stomacke , goodnesse of iuyce , and wholsomnesse of nourishment , beside their medicinable quality against melancholie , and melancholike affects , the best and wholsomest : for they attemper the siccity of that humour , and corroborate the heart by their comfortable sauour , and the stomacke , by their light astrictory faculty . such are our queene-apples and russelings , as the principallest , and next our rosiars , pearemaines and pippins , deusans , &c. there are also some apples that are insipid , or without taste : they are of a waterish substance , altogether vnpleasant to the stomack , and vnprofitable for meat . all apples generally are vnwholsome in the regiment of health , to bee eaten raw , or before they be full ripe , or soone after they be gathered , except of them that haue hot cholericke stomacks , because they engender crude , waterish , and flatulent humors ; but if they bee baked , or rosted , by reason that their flatuous cruditie is by the heat consumed , they become more digestible , more wholsome , more pleasant to the taste , and more acceptable to the stomacke . apples may bee eaten raw with least detriment in the winter , and all the yeere following , according to the durablenesse of them ( for they doe soonest rot , that are of soft substance , by reason that they haue greatest store of moysture , and those are longer kept which are of harder substance , because there is in them lesse store of moysture : for the aboundance of excrementall moysture is the cause why they putrifie ) because by that time they lose much of their waterish and excrementall moysture . and they are best to bee eaten last after meat , because they confirme the stomacke , make good digestion , especially in a cholericke stomacke . and they are also good to bee eaten at going to bed , of them that haue hot and cholericke stomacks , or that are distempered by drinking much wine , or other strong drinke , because they coole the stomacke , and represse the vapours that ascend to the head . wherefore i conclude , that apples are most conuenient for young men , for them that be cholericke , and that haue hot strong stomacks ; but to old men , to them that be phlegmaticke , that haue cold and weake stomacks , and that are subiect to aches of the sinewes and ioynts , they are very hurtfull , especially if they be eaten raw . peares are much of the nature of apples , and of the same temperature ; but they are somewhat of a binding qualitv , especially those that be of an harsh and soure taste . the difference of them must be discerned by their taste and substance , euen as of apples . those are the best , which are of a pleasánt soure sweet taste : for they comfort the heart , the stomacke , and asswage thirst . peares make a waterish and corrupt bloud , and engender the windie collick : wherefore they are very hurtfull to the aged , to them that be phlegmatick , that haue colst stomacks , and that are subiect to the windie collick ; but they are wholsome enough , or at leastwise lesse hurtfull for hot , dry and cholericke bodies , especially if they eat them not immoderately . they are most hurtfull to bee eaten before meat , because they binde the belly , especially those that bee somewhat soure , and fill the stomacke with crude and flatulent humours . they are best to bee eaten after meat , because they fortifie the digestion , represse the ascending of superfluous vapors to the head , by strengthning and shutting vp the mouth of the stomacke , and by reason of their compressiue faculty , being eaten after meat , they make the belly soluble , and helpe the subduction of excrements . baked peares are much wholsomer then raw , and more agreeable to euery age and constitution , especially to the phlegmaticke : they are acceptable to the taste and stomacke , easily digested , and giue a good and wholsome nutriment . peare-wardons , in regard of the solidnesse of their substance , may bee longest kept : they are of all sorts of peares the best and who som●…st . they are not to be eaten raw , because that , in regard of the duritie of their substance , they are very hardly digested , and breede a crude and flatulent humour ; yet they may be to an hot and cholericke stomacke well liking and agreeable , especially after the drinking of much strong wine or beere , because by sigillating the mouth of the stomacke , and also by reason of their cold and crude substance , they represse and infrigidate the hot fumes that vaporate to the head . but being baked or rosted , they are a delicate meat , and not onely good for them that be healthy , but also for such as be sickly , or sicke , because they are very pleasant to the taste , and acceptable to the stomacke , easily digested , greatly comfort and refresh a weake stomacke , and giue vnto the bodie very good and wholsome nutriment . quince-pearea are of a verie hard and wooddish substance : as they are very vnacceptable to the taste and stomacke : so they giue vnto the bodie a verie vnwholsome and earthie nourishment . they are onely good for them that affect strange varieties , and that doe loue with great expence , to metamorphize meats of bad iuyce . quinces are cold and dry , and of a binding faculty , they a●…e good to stay vomitings , and all kindes of fluxes . those that are a little sweet are not so cold , nor so binding , as those that be soure : for the soure ones are cold and dry in the second degree , and of a strong binding facultie . to be eaten raw , they are no better then raw beefe , for they are of verie hard concoction , of vnpleasant taste , and of most vnwholsome nourishment . but the iuyce of raw quinces taken by it selfe , or with a little sugar , especially of the soure ones , may be very good for an hot and cholericke stomacke , for cholericke vomitings and fluxes , and for cardiacall paines of the stomacke , because it quencheth the thirst , and mightily represseth the acrimonie of choler . quinces baked with sugar , cynamon , &c. or preserued , are pleasant , wholsome , and comfortable , especially to bee eaten after meales , because they helpe the digestion , by closing and shutting vp the mouth of the stomacke , and represse the ascending of superfluous vapours to the head . being taken before meales , they binde the bellie , and after meales , if they be taken in too large a quantitie , they loose and mollifie the same , by a forceable depressing of the meats : and therefore some commend the much vse of them after meales , for such as are commonly costiue ; but they greatly erre , because by reason of their compressiue and depressiue force , they protrude and driue downe the meats from the stomack , before they be digested . the cotiniate , or marmalade made of quinces , if it be well and accurately done , is verie delectable to the taste and stomack , it comforteth the heart , and wonderfully refresheth a weake stomacke , and maketh it strong to retaine the meat , vntill it be perfectly digested , and is also verie good and profitable for the staying of all kindes of fluxes , both of the bellie and other parts . quinces baked , or preserued , or the cotiniate made of them , taken in a moderate quantitie , are verie good and wholsome for all ages and bodies , especially by reason of their comfortatiue & astrictiue facultie , for them that haue weake and loose stomacks ; except for such as are wont to be costiue , or affected with too much astriction of the stomacke ; for whom by reason of their astringent facultie they are not conuenient . the iuicie substance of the pomegranet is wholesome and profitable for the stomacke , and therefore good to be eaten , notwithstanding that it yeeldeth a thin and small nourishment . some pomegranets are sweet , some soure , and some of a middle sauour , both sweet and soure . the sweet ones are not cold as the rest , but rather hot in the first degree , and temperately moyst : they clense the mouth of the stomacke , moysten the breast and spirituall parts , and make the belly soluble ; but they breede winde , and in a cholerick stomacke , they are quickly conuerted into choler . in feuers ( by reason of their heat and flateousnes ) they are not to be admitted . they are most conuenient for them that are of a melancholick temperature , & most hurtfull to the cholerick . the soure ones are cold in the second degree , and of a stiptick facultie : they are more medicinable , & more fit for physicke vses , then the other sorts are : they quench thirst , extinguish the burning heat of choler , corroborate the mouth of the stomacke , stay fluxes and cholericke vomitings , inhibit the ascending of vapors to the head , and are very profitable in acute feuers , and the cardiacall passion proceeding of choler . by reason of their acerbitie , they are soone offen siue to the sinewes , teeth , and gummes ; but the sourenes of them is well mitigated with sugar , or the soure may be eaten togither with the sweet , for so the one doth correct the hurts of the other . they are good for an hot stomacke and liuer , and therefore very conuenient for them that are of a cholericke temperature ; but for a cold stomacke , and especially for them that be olde and phlegmatick they are very hurtfull , because they constringe and coarctate the breast . the pomegranets that are of a middle taste are almost of the same force and efficacie : they are not altogither so cold , nor so binding , by reason whereof they are more plersant to the taste , and more acceptable to the stomack , and therefore more fit for vse in time of health . they are best to be taken after meales to strengthen the mouth of the stomacke , and to stop the rising vp of vapors , especially in them that haue hot stomacks . they are also good to be eaten in the way of physick about foure houres after meals , or in the morning fasting , of them that haue hot stomacks , and also weake a●…d subiect to vomiting through the distemperance of choler : for they haue a small abstersion , with some astriction and refrigeration ; by reason whereof they purifie and corroborate the stomacke , preuent the corruption of the meat , quench thirst , and extinguish the heat of choler . wherefore the vse of them is most profitable for them that are cholericke , and that haue hot stomacks and liuers , and most hurtfull to them that be phlegmaticke , or that haue cold stomacks . the rinds , kernels , and flowers of pomegranets are all of a binding nature , and of much vse in physicke . peaches and aprecocks are of one and the same nature : they are cold and moyst in the second degree : they yeeld a cold , crude and vnwholsome nourishment ; they ingender winde , make the bloud waterish , and subiect to putrefaction . they are more hurtfull to be eaten after other meats then before ; for if they be eaten after other meats , they , floting in the higher parts of the stomacke , are both quickly corrupted , and doe also corrupt the other meats ; but being eaten before other meats , they excite the appetite , quench thirst , and by reason of their moyst and slippery substance , easily and quickly descend , and also cause the mea●…s that are taken after them to passe downe the sooner . wherefore it is not good to eat them , but when the stomacke is empty ; and by reason of the corruptiblenes of their substance , a good draught of sacke , or such like strong wine must be sent presently after them to digest and correct their crude and flateous moysture . but i hold it best for such as respect their health , and can subiect their appetite , vtterly to eschew the vse of these and such like horarie and quickly perishing fruits , that fill the bodie with crude , phlegmaticall , and corruptible humors . they are conuenient , or lesse hurtfull for young men that haue hot and strong stomacks , and for such as are of a cholerick and sanguine temperature ; but for olde men , for them that be phlegmaticke , and that haue weake stomacks , and subiect to winde , they are very hurtfull . medlars and seruices are of one and the same nature : they are cold and dry in the second degree , and of an astringent facultie : wherefore they must not be eaten before , but after meats , in like manner as all other things ought that are of a binding facultie to close vp and corroborate the stomacke : and they must be moderately eaten , for otherwise they will oppresse the stomacke , hinder the concoction , and engender a cold , grosse , and melancholicke iuyce . but in case of binding they are best to be eaten before meat , or at any other time when the stomack is empty : they strongly represse choler , and stop cholericke vomitings and egestions . they are not fit for meat , vntill by keeping they become soft and tender ; but the iuyce of them ( being greene and hard ) is very profitable for physicke vses , when as their is much neede of binding . medlars and seruice berries are conuenient for young men that haue strong stomacks , for them that be ouer laxatiue , or subiect to vomiting , and that are by constitution cholericke ; but to olde men , to them that are of a phlegmaticke or melancholicke temperature , and that are commonly costiue , they are very hurtfull . the vnripe mulberies are cold and dry almost in the third degree and doe mightily binde : they are profitable for medicine , but not for meate . the ripe and new gathered mulberries are moyst in the second degree , they are also cooling , notwithstanding the modicum of heate in them , and a litle binding , which is euident by their taste . they are acceptable to the stomacke , but they yeeld litle nourishment ; they excite the appetite , represse choler , and by reason of their much moysture , greatly moysten the inward parts , quench thirst , helpe the asperitie of the throat , quickly descend from the stomacke , and make the belly soluble . they must be taken , by reason of the moysture and slipperinesse of their substance , before meat , or at any other time when the stomacke is empty ; for they are quickly corrupted , and are offensiue to the stomacke , vnlesse they speedily descend : and therefore they are not good to be taken after meat , because the meat will hinder their passage . and for the same cause they are very hurtfull for them that haue impure stomacks , for in such , they greatly engender winde , and increase crude and corruptible humors . they are conuenient for an hot season , for young men , for such as are of a cholericke and sanguine temperature ; but hurtfull for olde men , and them that be phlegmaticke . the greene and ripe figs are hot and moyst in the first degree : the dry or barrell figs are hot and dry in the second degree , and withall somewhat sharpe and biting . they are of an abstersiue and diureticke facultie ; they are easily digested , and do nourish more then other autumne fruits . they are best to be eaten in the morning fasting , and at any other time when the stomacke is empty ; for so they breed the better iuyce , and are the more medicinable for clensing of the breast and lungs , which is a speciall vertue that figs haue : being taken after meate , or before the stomacke be empty , especially the new ripe figs ; they quickly corrupt in the stomacke , and fill the bodie with crude and flatulent humors . the new ripe figs doe giue a more moyst and flateous nourishment , then the dry ones doe , which puffeth vp the ●…esh , and filleth the belly with winde ; and yet by their windinesse they little offend , because they quickly descend and make the belly soluble , by reason wherof the winde that they breed doth soone passe away ; and in this respect , they are lesse hurtfull then other autnmne fruicts . they cheifly annoy their stomacks that are subiect to the winde collicke : and therefore it is good for such to refraine the vse of them . the dry barrell figs are of a stronger clensing , cutting , extenuating , resoluing , and concocting facultie , and therefore more effectuall for clensing of phlegme from the breast and stomacke , and for olde infirmities of the lungs . they engender cholericke and siticulous humors ; and therefore they are very hurtfull to the bowels that are inflamed , or full of choler . the much vse of them , not only because they engender ebullient humors , but also by reason of their propertie of carrying forth corrupt humors , that reside in the bodie , vnto the skin , causeth itching , and scabbinesse , and oftentimes also the lowsie euill . they are conuenient and wholsome for them that be olde , that be phlegmatick , that are subiect to obstructions of the breast , and for cold and moyst seasons ; but to the cholerick , and them that haue hot liuers they are hurtfull , especially the often and immoderate vse of them . the greene and ripe dates are hot and moyst in the first degree ; but if they be olde their heat is increased , and moysture abated . the soft , moyst , and sweet ones are to be chosen , because they giue a more restoratiue and comfortable nourishment . those that are somewhat soure and of an vnpleasant taste are more binding , and altogither vnprofitable for nourishment ; and so are also those that are ouer dry or putrified . all dates are of an astringent facultie , they yeeld a grosse , clammie , and an impinguating nourishment , by reason whereof they are very good for such as are in a consumption , or haue weake liuers , or subiect vnto any fluxe , or waste . but by reason of their grosse and obstructiue iuyce , they are hurtfull to such as are subiect to obstructions , especially of the liuer and spleene . they must be boyled in broths , or added vnto other physicall confections , that are made to strengthen &c : for to be eaten they are not fit for any age or constitution , because they breede winde , offend the head , and corrupt the teeth . moreouer the greene and ripe dates doe fill the bodie with crude humors ; and the dry ones are of hard concoction , cause gnawings in the stomacke , and doe breede a iuyce which is quickly conuerted into choler . there are diuers sorts of plums , both of the garden , and also of the field , and of sundry colours , and of very different faculties . the greene and ripe ones of what sort soeuer they are , doe coole and moysten , and fill the bodie with crude and corruptible humors ; yet some are more wholsome , or at least lesse hurtfull then other : they may best be distinguished by their taste : for some are sweete , some soure , and some of a middle taste , both sweet & soure . the sweet plums doe giue more nourishment then the rest , and doe more loose the belly ; but by reason of their ouer-much moysture ( for they are completely moyst in the third degree ) they relaxe and weaken the stomacke , and for the same reason also the nourishment which they yeeld is nothing good at all , but excrementall . they are most hurtfull to them that be phlegmatick , and are only conuenient for those that would moysten and keepe their bodies soluble ; for by their excessiue moysture and slipperinesse , they doe moysten the bodie , and mollifie the belly . but they must be eaten before meales , or when the stomacke is empty ; for if they be eaten after meales , as our manner is to eat them , or before that the meat is descended from the stomacke , they spoyle the concoction , and fill vp the stomacke with crude and corruptible humors . the soure and harsh plums , as bullasis and other that grow wilde , and also the vnripe plums , of what sort soe-euer , whiles they are sharpe and soure , are cold & binding , and the more harsh they are , the more binding : they quench thirst , excite the appetite , binde the belly , represse choler , and extinguish the burning heat of it ; but they are not meete for meat , esp●…cially those that are harsh , because they yeeld to the bodie litle or no nourishment at all , and are by reason of their astriction , and duritie of substance very hurtfull to the breast and stomacke ; yet neuerthelesse the moderate vse of them may be , as physicke , very profitable to a cholericke stomacke . the iuyce of them , especially of sloes boyled with a small quantitie of sugar , and so kept , is of excellent efficacie for stopping of the laske and bloudy flixe , and all other issues of bloud whatsoeuer . the plums that are of a middle rellish , such as are our damsons &c. are the best and wholsomest : they are cold and moyst in the second degree , they are more acceptable to the taste and stomack , and yeeld ( although little , yet ) better nourishment then the rest : they excite the appetite , quench thirst , represse choler , and somewhat also loose the belly : they must also be eaten before meales , or when the stomacke is empty . these , as also all other sorts of plums , are best for them that are young , that are by constitution cholerick , and that haue hot and strong stomacks ; but to them that are olde , that are phlegmaticke , that haue weake and cold stomacks , and that are subiect to the winde collicke , they are very hurtfull , because they breede waterish and flatulent humors . plums stewed and eaten with sugar are somewhat wholsomer then the raw ones , and more conuenient for the stomacke . dryed plums , which are commonly called prunes , are wholsomer and more pleasant to the stomacke , then the greene and dry plums : they yeeld much better nourishment , and such as cannot easily putrifie , by reason that their crude and superfluous moysture is dryed vp and consumed . the dammaske and spanish prunes are the best , because they are the sweetest : being boyled in broths they loose the belly and excrete out choler : being stewed and eaten betweene or before meales , they are most pleasant to the taste , excellently refresh a weake stomacke , and doe also mollifie the belly . they are most conuenient for them that are of a cholericke and sanguine constitution . french prunes , and all such as are somewhat soure in taste , are also somewhat of a binding , and not of a soluble facultie . grapes , for that they are pleasant to the taste , and also nourish much , may haue the preheminence among the autumne fruicts . as they are diuers in taste , so are they also in qualitie : for sweet grapes are hot in the first degree , and moyst in the second : they nourish most , and most of all make the bodie soluble ; but the nourishment which commeth of them is ouer-moyst and windie , which troubleth the belly , and puffeth vp the whole bodie . soure grapes are cold and moyst , they quench thirst , and mightily extinguish the ouer much heate of the stomacke and liuer , represse the sharpnesse of choler , and cholericke vomitings , excite the appetite , and strengthen the stomacke that is weakned through the distemperance of choler . they are hurtfull to euery age and constitution , except to them that are young , and of an hot and cholericke temperature . the grapes that are harsh in taste , either by nature , or ( as all grapes are of what sort soeuer ) before they be ripe , are very cold and astringent : the iuyce of them is onely profitable in the way of physicke to coole , and to represse cholericke vomitings and egestions . those grapes that are of a soure sweet taste , are for temperature and facultie in a meane betweene the soure and the sweet : they excite the appetite , coole the heat of the stomack and liuer , quench thirst , represse the heat of choler , and excrete it thorow the belly . but all grapes that are newly gathered , and eaten raw , doe yeeld vnto the bodie an ouer-moyst and excrementall nourishment , they trouble the belly , fill the stomacke with winde , and inflate the melt , especially if they be immoderately eaten . but of all the sorts of grapes , the soure and austere in taste are for meat the worst : for such kinde of grapes doe very much hinder the concoction of the stomacke , and engender a cold and raw iuyce , which is seldome or neuer conuerted into good bloud . the sweet grapes , and such also as are a little soure , being thorow ripe , are lesse hurtfull : for their iuyce is hotter , and is easilier dispersed through the liuer , and veines . and if they be kept two or three dayes after they be gathered , and then eaten , they doe nourish the better , and are the lesse windie , and troublesome to the belly , by reason that some part of their superfluous moysture is in that space consumed . but in the eating of grapes this caution must be obserued , that neither the skins , nor the kernels or stones in them be swallowed downe , but onely the succulent pulpe , because they are vnprofitable to the bodie : for by reason of their duritie and siccitie of substance , they offend the stomack , receiue no alteration in the bodie at all , or very litle , and also hinder the concoction and distribution of the medulline part of the grape thorow the bodie , which is only nourishing . it is best earing of them when the stomacke is empty , and not after meat ; for if they be eaten vpon a full stomacke , they spoyle the concoction , abundantly breedewinde , and fill vp the stomacke with crude and corruptible humors . they are , so they be moderately eaten , conuenient for euery constitution and age , except for the phlegmaticke , and them that are olde ; for in these they excessiuely increase cold , crude , and flatulent humors , which vitiate the bloud , cause rheumes , inflate the melt , and disturbe the belly . but grapes boyled in butter , and sops of bread added thereto , and sugar also , if they be somewhat soure , are a very pleasant meat , and agreable for euery age and constitution : for they are lesse windie , more acceptable to the stomacke , and yeeld more and better nourishment to the bodie . of grapes dryed through the heat of the sunne are made raysons : the greatest , sweetest , and fattest are the best and wholsomest , and those we commonly call raisons of the sunne : for they are of the greatest and fairest grapes . they are hot in the first degree , and moyst in the second : they yeeld to the bodie much nourishment , and the same very good , for there is in them no ill iuyce at all . they are passing good for the liuer , and as it were by nature appropriated to that part : they concoct raw humors , and by reason of their lenifying and detersiue facultie , clense phlegme from the stomacke and lungs , leuigate the roughnesse of the winde-pipe ; and are therefore very good for the cough , and other infirmities of the breast : they doe also a little mollifie and loose the belly ; but the stones in them must be taken forth , which by reason of their astringent qualitie , and duritie of substance , are offensiue to the breast and stomack . they are very wholsome and good for euery season , euery age and constitution . the lesser and common sort of raisins are not so sweet in taste , but haue rather a little pleasing sourenesse adioyned to them , by meanes whereof they are more gratefull to the stomacke ; but they yeeld lesse nourishment to the bodie , and by reason of a small astriction that is in them , they are not so profitable for the breast ; but for the same cause , they are more conuenient for them that are too soluble , or subiect to fluxes , through the weaknesse of theretentiue faculty . the small raisins of corinth , which we commonly call currants , are much vsed in meats , and that for good cause : for beside their pleasantnes in taste , they excite the appetite , strengthen the stomack , comfort and refresh weak bodies , and are profitable for the melt . they are verie good and wholsome for euerie season , age , and constitution . all the kindes of cherries are generally of a cold and moyst temperature ; they breede winde in the stomacke , and fill the bodie with crude and putrible humours . but some are farre more wholsome then other : the best principallest are those that are of a red colour , and and of a soure sweet taste , for they delight the pallate , excite the appetite , and are more acceptable to the stomacke : they doe moderately coole , quench thirst , attemper the heat of the stomacke and liuer , represse choler , and giue to the body a more commendable iuyce . being preserued , they are a most choyce medicinable nourishment : and being boyled with butter , slices of bread and sugar betweene two dishes , they delight the pallate , excite the appetite , and yeeld a good and wholsome nourishment , especially for hot and dry bodies . the distilled water of these , and also of the soure ones , is very good in feuers and inward inflammations . the cherries that bee very sweet , doe deiect the appetite , relax the stomacke , and engender grosse and phlegmaticke humours . those that are soure , doe giue vnto the body no nourishment at all ; but they excite the appetite , cut grosse and clammie humours in the stomacke , represse the heat of choler , and are onely good for an hot cholericke stomacke . cherries must bee eaten fresh and newly gathered , because they quickly corrupt , and that not insteed of meat , but for quenching of thirst , and attempering the heat of the stomacke and liuer ; and for the same purposes they must not be eaten after meales , as our common preposterous vse is to eat them ; but when the stomacke is emptie , as an houre or two before meales , because they prowoke appetite , quickly descend from the stomacke , and make the belly soluble . they are conuenient for them that are young , and for such as are of a cholerick temperature ; but hurtfull to the aged , and them that abound with phlegme . the greene and vnripe goose berries are cold and dry in the second degree , and of an astringent faculty : the iuyce of them is vsed in diuers sauces for meat , insteed of verjuce , which maketh them not onely pleasant to the taste , but also very profitable to such as abound with choler , and are afflicted with hot , burning , and malignant feuers : for it extinguisheth the vehement heat of choler , verie greatly resisteth the corruption of humours , and labefaction of the vitall and naturall parts . the goose-berries that are indifferently ripe , are cold in the first degree , and moyst in the second , & are lesse binding , then when they are altogether greene and vnripe . they are of a pleasant soure taste , and therefore being boyled betweene two dishes , with butter , sops of bread and sugar , or as those that are skilfull in cookerie can best tell , they make a most excellent and delightsome sauce for most kindes of meats , which yeeldeth to the bodie somewhat a cold and small nourishment ; but it exciteth the appetite , quencheth thirst , represseth choler , and addeth a singular grace vnto the meats , and a correctorie relish also vnto such as are hot and dry , or fulsome in taste . being eaten raw , they are very hurtfull to a cold and weake stomacke , and for them that are aged , because they encrease cold and crude humours : contrariwise they are profitable to an hot stomacke , because they excite the appetite deiected by ouermuch heat , and greatly coole the inflammations both of the stomacke and liuer : they are also verie good for women with childe , because they helpe their picarie affections , and notably preserue them from abortion . but if they are immoderately eaten , they exasperate and lode the stomacke , binde the belly , and inhibit all fluxes , except they happen to be taken into a cold stomack , for then they oftentimes rather oppresse and trouble the same by some manner of flux . to conclude , they are so much profitable to the cholericke and sanguine , as they are hurtfull to the melancholike and phlegmaticke . the goose-berries that be throughly or ouer-ripe , are not , by reason of their fulsome sweetnesse , vsed in sauces , neither are they any way good to bee eaten , for they fill the stomacke and whole bodie with grosse , crude , and corruptible humours . ribes , which with vs are commonly knowen by the name of red currants , are deemed to bee of the same nature that goose-berries are . indeede there is a great parity of nature betweeene the ripe ribes , and the goose-berries that are a little ripe ; but betweene the ripe goose-berries , and the ripe ribes , there is no comparison to bee made at all : for whereas the ripe goose-berries consist of a very grosse and fulsome substance , the ribes are of a most pleasant and profitable iuyce . they are cold in the first degree , and moyst in the second , with a little siccity also concurring : they delight the pallate , excite the appetite , quench thirst , coole the inflammations of the stomacke and liuer , and wonderfully refresh and strengthen the stomacke , that is debilitated with heat : they also stay cholericke vomitings , helpe the cardialgicke paines of the stomacke , and excellently represse all cholericke excretions and exhalations . wherefore they are very profitable for them that are young , and that are of an hot and cholericke temperature ; but they are greatly hurtfull to the aged , to all cold constitutions , and to such as are subiect to obstructions of the breast . the rob , that is , the iuyce of the berries boyled with a third part , or somewhat more of sugar added vnto it , till it become thicke , and so preserued , is for all the aforesayd purposes preferred before the raw berries themselues , except for such as are of a very cholericke and ardent temperature . barberies are of the same nature and force that the ribes are , and so is also the conserue , or rather the rob that is made of them , which is in very common vse against hot , burning and cholericke distemperatures . raspis or framboise being ripe , are cold in the first degree , and temperately moyst with a small astriction adioyned , especially if they be not ouer-ripe : they are of good and laudable iuyce , they comfort a weake and queasie stomacke ; but not so well as the strawberie doth , for they oftentimes corrupt in the stomacke : they also quench thirst , asswage the inflammations of the throte , stomacke , and liuer , and coole the heat of vrine . they may bee eaten by themselues , or with white-wine , claret , or sacke ; or if there be neede of cooling with rose , or violet-water and sugar . they are good for them that are young , and for hot and dry bodies ; but hurtfull to the phlegmaticke and aged , and all such as haue cold and weake stomacks . stawberies are for pleasantnesse of taste , acceptablenesse to the stomacke , and goodnesse of iuyce , to bee preferred before the framboise : being full ripe , they are cold and moyst in the first degree , with a little siccitie also adioyned . the great red garden strawberies are the best and wholsomest : the nourishment which they yeeld , is little and thin , yet commendable and good . they are very delightsome to the taste , and acceptable to the stomacke : they excite the appetite , quench thirst , represse the ebullient acrimonie and fluxions of bloud and choler , and excellently coole the inflammations of the stomacke and liuer . being eaten before they be full ripe , they are , by reason of their earthie substance , quickly offensiue to the stomacke . in case of cooling , they may be well eaten with rose , violet , or borage-water and sugar : otherwise , with white-wine , claret , or sacke and sugar , as the temperature and disposition of the body shall require . the distilled water of them drunk with sugar , is very good for such as haue cholericke stomacks , or inflamed liuers , to be taken when the stomacke is empty : it is also good against the cardiacall passions , because it reuiueth the spirits , and maketh the heart merry , and likewise against the obstructions of the kidneyes , because it prouoketh vrine , & tempers the heat of the reines . these , as also the framboise , are with vs very vsually eaten , with the fattest and best part of milke , and sugar , which way of eating them , is very fit and commendable for hot and cholericke bodies ; but abundantly hurtfull for such as haue cold stomacks , and all that are by constitution phlegmaticke . there may also be made of strawberies , a conserue , or rather a rob , as i haue aforeshewed of ribes , very profitable to all the purposes aforesayd . the wilde or voluntary srawberies , that i may so terme them , are not so good as those that are manured in gardens , because they consist of a more terrene nature , by reason whereof , as also of their stipticke asperity , they soone offend the stomacke ; yet vnto such as abound with sharpe choler in their stomacks , they are very medicinable and good : for they wonderfully asswage and represse the acrimonious heat of choler . to conclude , strawberies are in all respects conuenient and good for them that are young , that are of a cholericke and sanguine temperature ; but very hurtfull to the phlegmaticke , to them that haue cold stomacks , and that are subiect to the palsey , and other affects of the sinewes . whorts , or whortle-beries , are cold in the latter end of the second degree , and dry also , with a manifest astriction , or binding quality . they may with vs very well supply the vse of myrtils , especially if they bee not too ripe , or when they are but beginning to be ripe : they are conuenient for an hot stomack , they quench thirst , bind the belly , stay vomiting , cure the bloudy flix proceeding of choler , help the cholericke passion , which is a vehement purging of choler vpwards and downewards , and in a word , they are of admirable force against the great heat and feruent ebullition of choler . but they are greatly offensiue to them that haue weake , cold , and phlegmatick stomacks : for in such , they are so farre from binding the belly , or staying of fluxes , as that they rather trouble the same , through their colde and crude quality . in some places , the people vse to eat the wortles in creame and milke , which way of eating them is most hurtfull , except for such as are young , and that haue hot and cholericke stomacks . the iuyce of the berries , boyle●… with a third part of sugar added vnto it , till it become thicke , which the apothecaries call rob , and so kept , is of very good force and efficacie for the purposes aforesayd , and is , by reason that the cold and raw qualitie therof is in the boyling exhausted , to bee preferred in all things , before the raw berries themselues , except for them that haue very hot and burning stomacks . the common hedge , or hasell nut , especially if they be dry , are of an earthy and vnprofitable substance : they are hard of concoction , and because they very slowly passe thorow the belly , they are troublesome , and hurtfull to the stomacke : they also breede the cough , and are very pernicious to the lungs : they are onely conuenient for rusticall bodies . those that are newly gathered , are wholsomer then the dry : for by reason that they are of more moyst and softer substance , they are more easily concocted , & do not altogether so much oppresse the stomack . but i wish such as haue weak stomacks , & that are studious of their health , seldom or neuer to eat them , because they breed phlegme , violate the lungs , and soone offend the stomack and belly , by their windie and cloying substance . filberds are wholsomer then the common hasell nuts , for they consist of a better substance , and although they are also hardly digested , yet they are profitable for the liuer , especially if they be eaten with raysons : the immoderate vse of them induceth the self same hurts , that the common hasell nuts doe . those that haue their skins red , are the right ponticke nuts , and are both for pleasantnesse of iuyce , and facilitie of concoction , the best filberds . the greene ones , that are but lately gathered , are by reason of some moysture in their substance , much wholsomer then the drie : for the drie nuts are hot and drie in the first degree , and in the same , more drie then hot ; and beside that they are with greater digested ; they also breed very much choler . the dry walnuts , or walsh nuts , are hot and dry in the second degree : they are of hard digestion , and of an astringent facultie : they increase choler , offend the stomacke , hurt the breast , and cause the cough . those that in keeping become oylie and rancke in taste , are to be reiected , as vtterly naught and vnwholsome ; for they are of an hot exulcerating facultie : they altogither breed choler , and very greatly anoy the breast , stomacke , head , throat , tongue , and pallate . the dry walnuts are onely good for robustious bodies , and for such as respect not wherewith they fill themselues . those that are newly gathered are farre wholsomer then the dry ; for they are somewhat of a moyst temperature , and of a more commendable substance ; by reason whereof they are more pleasant to the taste , more acceptable to the stomacke , and of wholsomer iuyce . but they are also hurtfull to them that are streit chested , and that are subiect to the cough , or other affects of the lungs . the great royall walnut doth for wholsomnes , in all respects far exceed the rest . chestnuts are hot in the first degree and dry in the second : being well digested , they yeeld a substantiall thicke nourishment ; yet for all that , they are not approued for meat , except in the time of penurie , or for strong rusticall bodies , because they are of hard concoction , and of slow and painfull distribution : they also abundantly ingender winde , binde the belly , and offend the head . being rosted vnder the hot imbers , or boyled , and so eaten with salt and sugar , they are not so hard of digestion , they more easily descend , and are lesse windie ; yet they make the bodie costiue . the kernels of this fruict are hot in the first degree , and moyst in the second : they yeeld to the bodie much good and substantiall nourishment , and are also of a concocting , lenifying , and clensing facultie . they diminish and take away the corruption of humors , and also giue vnto the bodie a good restoratiue iuyce ; but they are not altogither easie of digestion , and they also offend the stomacke through their acrimonie , if they be too plentifully eaten . the newest and the whitest are the best . they must be eaten with honie , or sugar : they are best for the phlegmaticke , and them that be olde , with honie : for them that are young , and that are of a cholericke and hot temperature , with sugar ; but they must first be macerated the space of an houre in warme water , and then eaten ; for by that meanes , they are more easily concocted , and despose all their offensiue acrimonie . they are of much vse in physicall compositions , especially for diseases of the breast ; they are of excellent efficacie against an olde cough , the asthmaticke passion , and consumption of the lungs : for they mundifie the lungs from phlegme , represse the vlcers of them , expectorate the putrilaginous matter , and viscous humors of the same ; and repaire the strengths . they are conuenient in cold seasons of the yeare , for the phlegmaticke , and them that be aged ; and also for such as are young in affects of the breast , being taken with sugar . pistach or fisticke nuts are of an aromaticall sauour , and doe for wholsomnes exceede all other nuts . the kernels of them are much of the same efficacie and vse in physick , as be those of the pine apple ; but they are somewhat of an hotter temperature : the newer they are , the better and wholsomer they are : the best way to eat them is with rose-sugar , their skins being first pilled off , and mace●…ated the space of foure or fiue houres or more in rose-water . they strengthen the stomacke and liuer , yeeld to the bodie a good impinguating nourishment , by reason whereof they are very good for bodies that are consumed , and haue lost their strengths : they excite venus , by increasing the geniture , and fortifying the reines . they also open the oppilations of the liuer , and mesataicke veines , mundifie the reines , and asswage their paine . they are good against the shortnes of breath , for they remoue the obstructions of the breast , by clensing forth superfluous and putrid humors that adhere to the lights & chest : for which cause , as also by reason of their restoratiue force , they are very greatly commended , for those that haue the phthisicke , or consumption of the lungs . they are very wholsome and good for them that be aged , and for such as are of a phlegmaticke temperature ; but not so conuenient , but rather hurtfull to them that be young , and that are of an hot and cholericke temperature , because in such they distemper the bloud , and being much eaten , oftentimes procure the vertiginous euill . sweet almonds haue in them a good medicinable nourishment : they are of an opening , concocting , and clensing facultie , whereby they are very medicinable to the breast and lungs . those are best to be eaten which are somewhat newly gathered , for they are of a good temperature in heat and moysture , and of wholsome and pure iuyce ; and they the worst , which are ouer-much withered ; for the dryer they are , of worse temperature they are , of lesser and worse nourishment , of harder concoction , and more offensiue to the stomacke , through their slower descension . they are als●… eaten in the summer , before they be thorow ripe , when as they abound with a milkie ●…uyce ; at which time they are very pleasant to the taste , but they yeeld a grosse nourishment , & do likewise slowly descend : wherefore it is good to eat not onely these , but also the ripe and dry almonds with sugar and raysous , to cause them more lightly to descend , and with lesse offence to the stomacke . the almonds that are not fully ripe , are onely conuenient , for them that are young , and that are of an hot and cholericke temperature : those that haue their full ripenes , and reserued all the yeare , so that they waxe not too dry , or in their colour and substance vitiated , are conuenient and good for euery season , age , and constitu●…ion . there is drawne out of sweet almonds blanched , and beaten very small , with some conuenient liquor , as barley-water , and a litle rose-water , or such like , a white iuyce-like milke , which with sugar candie also put to it , maketh a most pleasant , delectable and wholsome drinke for weake and sickly persons , especially for such as are extenuated through a seuerous distemperature : for it giueth a pure , thin , and moystning nourishment , which by reason that it is easily distributed , very speedily moystneth , comforteth , and refresheth the whole bodie , mi●…igateth the heate of choler , and procureth sleepe . wherefore it is very profitably giuen in hot feuers to coole and moysten , and to those also that haue the pleuresie , and spet vp filthy matter : for there is in it also a concocting and lenifying facultie , by reason whereof , it is very medicinable to the breast and lungs . it is also good for those that are troubled with a cholericke laske , or bloudy flixe , especially being aromatized with a little cinnamon . to conclude , it is a drinke very profitable , not onely in sicknes , but also in health , for all hot , cholericke and dry bodies , for students , for them that are too vigilant , and all such as are subiect to infirmities of the breast and lungs , to be taken at going to bed , and also at any other time , so the stomacke be empty , especially in hot and drie seasons of the yeare . it is only not conuenient for the phlegmaticke . many phantasticall people doe greatly delight to eat of the earthly excrescences called mushrums ; whereof some are venemous , and the best of them vnwholsome for meat : for they corrupt the humors , and giue to the bodie a phlegmaticke , earthie , and windie nourishment , or rather detriment . wherefore they are conuenient for no season , age , or temperature . all the kinds of melons or pompions are of a cold nature , with plenty of moysture : they haue also a certaine clensing qualitie , by meanes whereof , they are medicinable to the reines ; and that clensing qualitie is more in their seede , then in the pulpe : for which cause the seeds are very profitable for them that are troubled with the stone , or strangurie . they are plesant to the taste , but they giue to the bodie litle nourishment , & the same scarsely good , but rather crude , and putrible . they also breede winde , and gripings of the belly : and therefore those that are subiect to the chollicke , and that haue great spleenes , must carefully eschew them . they are conuenient for hot and strong bodies ; but very hurtfull to the aged , and to them that are of a phlegmaticke and melancholicke temperature . cucumbers are of a very cold and moyst temperature , euen in the third degree , especially their moyst qualitie . they yeeld vnto the bodie a cold , crude , and waterish nourishment : wherefore the vse of them in manner of a sallet with peper and vinegar , notwithstanding that many desire them with a wonderfull delight , is to be reiected , except of them that haue very hot stomacks ; for to such the moderate vse of them , by reason of their cooling & moystning qualitie , may be sometimes very good and profitable : for they quench thirst , greatly coole the burning heat of the stomacke and liuer , and represse choler . those cucumbers must be chosen , which are greene , and not yet ripe ; for when they be ripe and yellow , they are fulsome and vnfit to be eaten . the greene and vnripe cucumbers preserued in a pickle of vinegar and salt , are much better then those that are eaten greene and vnpickled : for they are of far better taste , and not of so crude and waterish substance . they excite the appetite , and are a very profitable sauce for hot and drie bodies . cucumbers are onely conuenient for hot and cholericke bodies , and most hurtfull to the phlegmaticke , and them that haue cold and moist stomacks . the seeds are also very medicinable , as those of the melons : they are cold and also moist , but nothing so much as the fruict : they haue an opening , clensing , and diureticke facultie . wherefore the emulsion of these seeds , that is , the milkie substance of them , as also of those of the melon , extracted with some conuenient liquor , as we doe from almonds , is of singular efficacie against sicknesses proceeding of heat , especially for the breast , lungs , and reines that are inflamed , for the strangurie , sharpnes of vrine and exulceration of the bladder . gourds are cold and moist in the second degree ; they are neuer eaten raw , because that then they greatly offend the stomacke ; but sodden , or baked , and that way neither , but of the poorer sort of people : for they are of a waterish and insipid substance , and doe breed in the bodie naughtie , cold , crude and ●…atulent humors : and therefore they greatly hurt cold and phlegmaticke bodies , and such as are subiect to the collicke and iliacke passions . they are onely conuenient for them that are of an hot and cholericke temperature : for they quench thirst , and coole the immoderate heat of the stomacke and liuer . the seeds of this fruit prouoke vrine , and alay the sharpnes of it : and therefore they may very profitably be vsed with the former seeds in obstructions and distemperatures of the reines and bladder . the greene and vnripe beanes are cold and moist in the first degree : they yeeld to the bodie a crude , grosse , and excrementall nourishment , and fill the stomacke and belly with winde : they cause drowsinesse , and dull the senses , both inward and outward , especially the sight , and make them pursie , that doe often or immoderately eat them . the windie and ill qualitie of them is much remoued , if they be sodden with orgaine and parsely , and afterwards eaten , buttered and seasoned with salt and store of pepper : for pepper is a speciall correctorie for all grosse and windie meats . they are best agreable for them that haue hot and strong stomacks , and most hurtfull to the phlegmaticke , and such as are troubled with the collicke . beanes that are almost or fully ripe , are , both by reason of the hardnes of their skins , as also of the grossenes of their substance , by much , of harder concoction , and worse nourishment , and the drie ones are worst of all . they are meat only for plough-men , and such as are accustomed to an hard and course kinde of foode . pease are in their substance much like vnto beanes , and eaten after the same manner ; but they are far wholsomer then beanes ; for they are lesse windie , and by much , of purer iuyce , not breeding so grosse and excrementall humors . there are three sorts of pease common with vs : the white pease , the gray pease , and the greene pease . the two first are vsually eaten greene before they be ripe , being first boyled , then buttered , salted , and peppered : they are very delightsome to the pallat , easily digested , and yeeld a good nourishment to the bodie . wherefore they are euen at the richest tables , not vnworthily rancked with the best and choisest meats . they are conuenient for all bodies , except for the phlegmaticke , and such as abound with crudities , or are much molested with the winde ; but they are most appropriate for the cholericke , and such as are in their youthly and constant age . the drie pease as they consist of an harder substance , so they are of harder concoction , and of dryer and much worse nourishment ; notwithstanding they are a meat somewhat pleasant to the taste , and conuenient enough for them that haue strong stomacks . there is wont to be made of the white pease boyled a kind of pottage , and also of the greene ; but that is not so good , which we call pease-pottage ; this kinde of meat is most vsed in lent , and in the winter season vpon fasting dayes . that which is made with the husks or skins remayning in it , is not good , but for rusticks , vnto whose stomacks the grossest and hardest kinds of meat are best agreable . but if the pease be streined after that they be boyled , and so the husks which are of harder concoction , and hurtfull to the stomacke kept backe , and then seasoned with salt and pepper , and a litle butter also added thereunto , it is a meate of meetly good nourishment , and the more commendable , because it maketh the belly soluble , and deoppilateth or vnstoppeth the veines . artichocks are hot and drie in the height of the first degree , if not in the beginning of the second , and full of cholericke iuyce . the best are those that are young , and tender : for when their flowers be out , they are lesse pleasant in taste , of harder concoction , and of an ill and melancholicke iuyce , especially when their flowers begin to shed . they are vnwholsome to be eaten raw , though some doe accustome so to eat them , being very young , with pepper and salt , because they offend the stomacke , hinder the concoction , and breed ill iuyce . but being boyled , and eaten with butter , pepper , and a litle vinegar , they are accounted a dainty dish , and restoratiue , being very pleasant to the taste , acceptable to the stomacke , and powerfull for the exciting of venus . but they are somewhat windie , and oftentimes offensiue to the head especially of such as are of a cholericke temperature : wherefore it is not good for such to eat too liberally of them . they are best agreeable to them that are of a cold temperature ; but hurtfull to none , so the vse be moderate . coleworts or cole are much vsed to be eaten , especially the cabbage cole : there is in the iuyce of cole a certaine nitrous or salt qualitie , whereby it mightily clenseth ; but the whole substance or bodie of coleworts or cabbage is of a binding and drying facultie , because it leaueth in the decoction , the salt qualitie , which lyeth in the iuyce and waterie part thereof . cole or cabbage is of hard concoction , and hurtfull to the mouth of the stomacke : it breedeth a grosse and melancholicke bloud , increaseth winde , hurteth the sight , and causeth troublesome dreames . but if it be boyled a while , and that water cast away , and afterwards boyled in the broth of fat flesh , it becommeth more acceptable to the stomacke , and farre lesse hurtfull to the bodie . the top leaues and heads of cole that are but a litle closed , which we commonly call puffe-cole , are the best and wholsomest : for by reason that they are by the heat of the sunne better concocted , they are of tenderer substance , of easier concoction , of pleasanter taste , and of better nourishment . but the great , hard , and compacted heads of cole , commonly called cabbage , which are most desired of the common sort of people , are , by reason of much indigested matter in them , of hardest concoction , and of worser nourishment . they are onely conuenient for such as haue strong stomacks , and that vse great labour : for vnto robustious and rusticke people nothing is hurtfull that filleth the belly . cole or cabbage is best to be eaten in the cold seasons of the yeare ; but the young leaues or buds of cole are also in the spring time commendable . the vse of cole or cabbage is not conuenient for them that are aged , that lead a studious kinde of life , that haue weake stomacks , that are of a melancholicke temperature , or troubled with winde . carrots are moderately hot , and something moyst : parseneps temperately hot , and more drie then moyst : they are vsed to be eaten first sodden , then buttered &c , and the carrots are oftentimes eaten with flesh . they are pleasant to the taste , and somewhat of hard concoction , especially the parsnep . parsneps giue to the bodie much good and substantiall nourishment ; but the nourishment which commeth of the carrot is not much , and the same not so thicke and substantiall : they neither binde nor loose the belly , for they are of an indifferent distribution ; but the carrot is somewhat more easily distributed , then the parsenep : they are both somewhat windie and also venerious , especially the parsenep . their flatulent qualitie , and slownesse of concoction is somewhat remoued , if they be well and exquisitely boyled , and afterwards dressed with butter , vinegar , and pepper . they are conuenient for euery ageand constitution ; except for the phlegmatick , and them that are entred within the limits of old age , or are much subiect to the winde-collicke , or obstructions of the stomack and mesarick veines ; and to such the parsnep is more disagreeing then the carrot . turneps and nauewes are iudged to bee all one in temperature and vertues : thy are moderately hot and moyst ; but i suppose the nauewe to be a little drier then the turnep . being well dressed , they are pleasant to the taste , acceptable to the stomacke , easily concocted , and engender meetly good nourishment , somewhat phlegmaticke ; but very flatulent . the often and much vse of them is hurtfull to the stomacke , filleth and puffeth vp the body with crude , pituitous , and flateous humours , which breedeth obstructions in the veines and pores , and annoyeth the sinewes . but the crude and windie qualitie of them is well corrected , if they be first a while boyled in water , and afterwards in the broth of fat flesh , and then eaten with plenty of pepper , &c. they are conuenient for euery age and temperature , except for them that are very phlegmaticke , or often vexed with the winde . skirret , or skirwort roots , are an excellent medicinable meat , they are vsually eaten boyled with vinegar , salt , and a little oyle , after the manner of a sallad : they are also dressed after other fashions , according to the skill of the cooke , and the desire of the eater . they are moderately hot , and somewhat moyst : they delight the pallate , excite the appetite , and are easily concocted : they comfort the stomacke , and giue , though not much , yet commendable nourishment : they also prouoke vrine , open obstructions , and are with all of a venerous windiefacultie . they are good for euery age and constitution . potato roots are of a temperate qualitie , and of strong nourishing parts : the nutriment which they yeeld is , though somewhat windie , verie substantiall , good and restoratiue , surpassing the nourishment of all other roots or fruits . they are diuersly dressed and prepared , according to euery mans taste and liking : somevse to eat them , being rosted in the embers , sopped in wine , which way is specially good : but in what manner soeuer they be dressed , they are very pleasant to the taste , and doe wonderfully comfort , nourish , and strengthen the bodie , and they are very wholsome and good for euery age and constitution , especially for them that be past their consistent age . iringo-roots are hot and dry in the second degree , with a tenuity of substance : they strengthen the stomacke and liuer , discusse winde , and are of excellent efficacie for all infirmities of the kidneyes , both cleansing and strengthning them . the roots condited , or preserued with sugar , doe exceedingly refresh and comfort the bodie , and restore the naturall moysture . they are very greatly auailable for old and aged people , and for such as are weake by nature , refreshing and restoring the one , and amending the defects of nature in the other . galicke is hot and dry in the fourth degree : it yeeldeth to the bodie no nourishment at all , it engendereth a naughty and sharpe cholericke bloud : and therefore such as are of hot complexion , must carefully abstaine from it , especially in hot seasons . yet it is good for them that are colde and moyst by constitution , and that abound with phlegmaticke , grosse , and clammie humours , for it heateth the bodie exceedingly , helpeth the concoction , digesteth and consumeth crude and raw humours , dissolueth winde , atrenuateth and maketh thin , thicke and grosse humors , cutteth such as are tough and clammie , digesteth and consumeth them . also it killeth wormes , prouokes vrine , excites venus , opens obstructions , helps the cough , & paines of the breast proceeding of colde , and likewise the winde-collicke . it is also an enemy to all cold poysons , and to the bitings of venomous beasts , a remedie to such as are constrained to take naughty corrupt drinkes or meats , and a preseruatiue against contagious and pestilent aire , and therefore not vnfitly termed , the country-mans treacle . but if it be often or immoderately eaten , it causeth head-ach , and hurteth the sight . being moderately taken , it is conuenient for the phlegmaticke , and such as are past their constant age , especially in cold seasons ; but it is altogether hurtfull to young men , and to such as are of hot constitution ; and it is at all times and seasons , hurtfull to women with childe , and to them that giue sucke , onions are in their temperature and faculties much like vnto garlicke , but not so extreme hot , they are also more delightsome to the pallate , and more acceptable to the stomacke . they helpe the appetite , extenuate grosse and viscous humours , prouoke vrine , and remooue loathsomnesse of the stomacke , and other hurts that come by meats or drinks of euill quality . being eaten raw , they nourish not at all , and are very hurtfull to those that are cholericke ; but good for such as are full of raw and phlegmaticke humours . but if they be sliced and macerated a while in water before they be eaten , their acrimonious and hurtfull qualitie is thereby something diminished , and they become more sweet and pleasant to the taste , and are a sauce good , euen for the cholericke , especially if there be any superfluity of moysture in the stomacke : for they notably stirre vp appetite to meat , comfort the slomacke , and cause good concoction . but being too often , or immoderately eaten raw , they engender ill and corruptible humours in the stomacke , inflame the bloud , cause drowsinesse and the head ach , hurt the sight , confound the memorie , disturbe and dull the vnderstanding . being sodden , especially in the broth of good flesh , and so eaten with conuenient sauce , as butter , vinegar , and a little pepper , they depose all their hurt , and become somwhat nutritiue , and are accommodate , not onely for phlegmatick persons , but also for all other , so the vse be moderate . wherefore being vsed in pottage , or othewise boy led for sauces , they are not hurtfull , but wholsome and comfortable to the stomacke . onions are hurtfull to hot temperatures , and to them that be young ; but profitable to such as are of a contrary temperament and age . scallions and chibols are much of the nature of onions : they are delightsome to the pallate , and vsually eaten with vinegar at the beginning of meales , for exciting the appetite , and comforting the stomacke that is deiected by ouer-much heat , they helpe the concoction , correct the euilnesse of bad meats . but the immoderate vse of them is hurtfull , euen as of onions . such as desire to eat them in sallads , i aduise , especially if they be of hot constitutions , that they take with them lettuce , sorrell , and purselane , that the heat of them , may by the colde and moysture of these be attempered . they are not good for young bodies , nor the often or much vse , for any that are of hot temperature : they are best agreeable for cold constitutions , and for such as vndergoe great labour , and exercise of body . leekes are hot in the third degree , and dry in the second , and of an attenuating and abstersiue facultie ; yet very vnwholsome : for they engender a naughty melancholike bloud , breede winde , and replete the head with melancholike fumes , which hurt the sight , and cause troublesome and fearefull dreames : they are also , by reason of their acrimonie , very hurtfull to the stomacke and sinewes , especially being eaten raw . being boyled , they are lesse hurtfull , by reason that they lose much of their sharpnesse , and make the body a little soluble ; and yet being so vsed , they yeeld to the body no good nourishment at all . they are not conuenient for any age , season , or temperature , especially for the cholericke and melancholike ; but are a meat onely allowable for rusticke and robustious persons . ciues , or chiues , are of a mixt nature betweene the onion and the leeke , participating of them both , as may be gathered , both by their smell and taste : they attenuate , or make thin , open , and prouoke vrine ; yet ingender hot and grosse vapours , which are hurtfull to the eyes and braine . they worke all the effects that the leeke doth , but not altogether so hurtfully : wherefore they are lesse offensiue , and more wholsome for the pot , then leekes . lettuce is cold and moyst in the second degree : it is of easie concoction , of meetly good nourishment , and of a soluble faculty , especially if it be boyled . it hath this commendation , that of all hearbs , it breedeth least euill iuyce , and that it is with least offence eaten raw . the nourishment that it yeeldeth , is not much in quantitity ; but it notably cooleth a hot stomacke , and helpeth it when it is troubled with choler : it quencheth thirst , preserueth the bloud from distemperature , causeth sleepe , asswageth paine of the head , proceeding of heat , and is very profitable for nurses that are of an hot and dry temperature : for whereas , through heat and drinesse , they grow barraine and dry of milke , it increaseth milke , by tempering the heat and siccity of their bodies . but in bodies that are naturally cold , it doth not encrease milke at all , but is rather an hinderance thereunto . this hearb is much vsed in sallads in the summer time , with vinegar and sugar , and that not vnworthily , for it procureth appetite to meat , and tempereth the heat of the stomacke and liuer . some vse to eat oyle also with it in their sallads , which is not good , especially if it be not a true oyle omphacine : for lettuces and oyle eaten together , doe very greatly weaken and relax the stomacke ; but for the same reason , it may very profitably be admitted to them , that are affected with ouer-much astriction of the stomacke . it was vsed in ancient times , to be eaten onely at the end of supper , for repressing the vapours that come of intemperate eating and drinking , and for procuring of sleepe : moderata enim veterum erant prandia , coenae verò crapulae & ingluuiei dedicatae . but in these dayes , it is commonly eaten at the beginning of meales : in my iudgement , it may well be eaten at both these times , to the health of the body : for being taken at the beginning of meale , it doth stirre vp the appetite , which oftentimes is deiected by ouermuch heat , and eaten after , or at the end of our meales , it defendeth the head from superfluous and offensiue vapors , by reason that it cooleth and inhibiteth the rising vp of them from the stomacke into the head . but the often and much vse of lettuce , doth weaken the stomacke , and infringe the naturall heat , dimme the sight , by incrassating the animal spirits , and hindreth procreation , semen , e●…sque matoriam , infrigidando , ac extinguendo , and maketh the body lumpish . the vse of lettuce is very hurtfull to phlegmaticke and melancholike bodies ; but it becommeth lesse hurtfull vnto them and all other , that are not by constitution impensiuely hot , if mints be eaten with it ; or if it bee boyled and eaten with vinegar and pepper : for mints doe excellently correct the colde and crude moysture of lettuce , and corroborate the stomacke ; and being boyled , it is more easily concocted , and yeeldeth to the body more , and better nourishment . but whether it bee eaten raw , or boyled , as the constitution of the body shall re-require , this is certaine , that there cannot be found any simple medicinable meat , wherewith sleepe may be procured , and the vnquietnesse of the spirits , and heat of choler appeased , as with it . it is of all hearbes , the best and wholsosomest for hot seasons , for young men , and them that abound with choler , and also for the sanguine , and such as haue hot stomacks . it cannot bee spoken with how great efficacie , it doth , being eaten with vinegar , extinguish the burning heat of the stomacke . purselane is cold in the third degree , and moyst in the second : it is much vsed to bee eaten raw in sallads in the summer-season : it cooleth an hot stomacke , prouoketh appetite , quencheth thirst , helpeth the inflammations of the liuer and kidneyes , and also of the head and eyes , by extinguishing the raging heat of choler , and allaying the distemperature of the bloud . in a word , being eaten with vinegar , it is of admirable force against the burning heat of the stomacke , against cholericke vomitings , and inflammations of all the inward parts . but the often and too much vse of it , weakneth the stomacke , and hurteth the sight . it is also boyled , and eaten with oyle , salt , and vinegar , in manner of a sallad , and then it is of easier concoction ; but the nourishment that commeth of it , being eaten either raw , or boyled , is very little , cold , grosse , and moyst , which vnto the phlegmaticke , to the aged , and to such as haue cold stomacks , is greatly hurtfull ; but very greatly profitable to cholericke , and also to the sanguine , and all such as haue hot stomacks , or any way subiect to inflammations of the inward parts . if it be preserued in a pickle made of vinegar and salt , as is vsually done for sampier , it becommeth a very wholsome sauce for euery season , age , and constitution : for so it rather heateth then cooleth the stomacke , and by reason of an abstersiue faculty , which by that meanes it acquireth , purgeth the stomacke of grosse and putrid humours . sea-purselane is moderately hot , and full of indigested moysture : the leaues thereof are boyled , and preserued in pickle , as capers or sampier are , and eaten in the same manner at tables : they excite the appetite , and are pleasant to the taste . prick-madam is of a watery substance , and colde in the third degree : it is vsed for a pot hearbe , and also in sallads in the summer-season , in which it hath a pleasant taste : it is of singular force against the heart-burne , and all inward inflammations . it is very wholsome for the cholericke , and such as are young , and haue hot stomacks ; but not conuenient for the phlegmaticke , and them that be aged . spinage , or spinach , is colde in the first degree , and euidently moyst almost in the second : it is commonly vsed in brothes or pottage , and in sallads also , when it is young and tender . it is also boyled , and eaten , being prepared with butter , vinegar , &c. but it soone weakneth the stomacke , encreaseth winde , and waterish humours , and yeeldeth to the body little or no nourishment at all : it maketh the belly soluble , moderately cooleth the lungs , represseth choler , lenifieth the asperity of the throte and winde pipe , and is good for the breast that is affected with immoderate heat . it is hurtfull for the phlegmaticke , and such as haue cold stomacks ; but conuenient for the cholericke , and them that haue hot stomacks . blites , or bleets , and orach , are neere of one nature and facultie : the bleete is cold and moyst in the second degree : orach is cold in the first , and moyst in the second : they are reputed among the number of pot-hearbes , and are in some places eaten boyled , as other sallad-hearbes are : the onely good property in them is this , that they make the belly somewhat soluble , for they are of themselues vnsauoury , of a crude and waterish substance , and therefore of little or no nourishment at all . they weaken and annoy the stomacke , especially in such as are phlegmaticke , they are onely allowable for cholericke and dry bodies . there are three sorts of beets , the white , the red , and the darke greene : the last is not to bee reputed among alimentarie simples . the white beete is a common pot-hearbe , it is colde in the first degree , and moyst in the second : the other kinds are somewhat dry , & all of them abstersiue , by reason that they haue a certaine salt & nitrous qualitie ioyned with them ; but the white beete least of all . the white & red beets being eaten , boyled in the same manner , as lettuces are , doe quickly descend , open the obstructions of the liuer and spleene , and make the belly soluble . they yeeld to the body very little nourishment , and being much eaten , they are offensiue to the stomacke ; but the red beete is to bee preferred before the other . the broths or pottage wherein they bee boyled , are good for such as are wont to be costiue , or subiect to obstructions of the liuer and spleene ; but the leaues themselues eaten , are onely conuenient for such as haue strong stomacks . the leaues of the great red beete , or romane beet boyled , and eaten with butter , or oyle , vinegar , and pepper is a most pleasant and delicate sallad , or meat . but what excellent and dainty meat might bee made of the red and beautifull root , which is to bee preferred before the leaues , aswell in beauty , as in goodnesse ; i leaue to such as are expert in cookery , assuring them that they may make therof many and diuers dishes delightfull to the eye , pleasant to the taste , and wholsome to the body . mercurie is much vsed among other pot-hea●…bes : it is moderately hot and drie , and of an abstersiue facultie : it maketh the belly soluble , & euacuateth choler , phlegme , and waterish humors . it is very good to be vsed in broths or pottage , for such as are costiue and subiect to obstructions . mallowes are are also numbred among the pot-herbes : the best and wholsomest of them is the curled mallow , called of the vulgar sort , french mallowes , and next to them the common mallow : they are a litle hot , and of a moist and slimie substance : they are not good to be eaten boyled , as lettuce and some other herbes are , because they engender a grosse and slimie iuyce , which is very offensiue to the stomacke , inducing loathsomnes , by weakning and relaxing the same ; but being vsed in broths or pottage , they make the belly soluble , and are lesse hurtfull to the stomacke . they are profitable for such as are wont to be costiue , and affected with too much astriction of the stomacke . they are for physicke vses of singular efficacie in all obstructions and inflammations of the reines and bladder . sorell is cold and drie in the second degree , and because it is soure , it cutteth and extenuateth tough & grosse humors : it exciteth the appetite , quencheth thirst , cooleth an hot stomacke , mitigateth the inflammations of the liuer , openeth the obstructions thereof , and is very profitable in all hot and pestilentiall feuers ; for it strongly represseth choler , and marueilously preserueth the humors from putrefaction . wherefore in the time of pestilence , or any euill constitution of the aire , to preuent infection , it is good oftentimes , especially mornings fasting , to chew the leaues of sorell , and sucke downe the iuyce . and this proueth that greene-sauce is not onely good to procure appetite , to coole an hot stomacke , and to temper the heat of the liuer , but also wholsome against contagion . the like may be said of the iuyce hereof , which maketh a very profitable and pleasant sauce for many meats , especially in hot seasons . a posset made of the iuyce hereof with some midling ale or beere , is very good for such as are troubled with any hot ague , or inward inflammation , for it exceedingly cooleth the bodie , and quencheth thirst . a syrupe made of the iuyce hereof , is of excellent efficacie in all hot and pestilentiall feuers , and a present remedie in all fluxes , especially of bloud . the leaues sodden and eaten in manner of a spinnach tart , or otherwise , loosneth the belly , and doth attemper and coole the bloud exceedingly . the young and tender leaues are good in sallads with other herbes , especially with * lettuce and mints , the mixture of which three doe make a very wholsome and delicate sallade . sorell is good in hot seasons for such as are young , for the cholericke , and the sanguine ; but hurtfull to the melancholicke . endiue and succorie , because they are much like in operation , i ioyne them togither . succor●…e is completely cold in the first degree , and drie in the second : endiue is cold in the first degree , and whilest it is young , it is rather moist then drie , and is much like to lettuce in taste and efficacie . they are somewhat astringent to the stomacke ; but by reason that they be something bitter , they doe also clense and open , especially the obstructions of the liuer and gall : they represse choler , and are excellent , aswell in meat as medicine , for an hot stomacke and liuer . the young and tender leaues and stems , which are best for meat , because they are in taste more pleasant , and lesse offensiue to a weake stomacke , are eaten either raw in sallads with mints and other like herbes , which way they are wholsome for an hat stomacke ; or boyled and afterwards eaten with oyle and vinegar in manner of a sallade , and so they are lesse offensiue to a cold and weake stomacke : for to be eaten raw , they are very hurtfull to them that haue cold and weake stomacks , and that are subiect to distillations . they are also uery wholsome to be boyled in broths : but what way soeuer they be vsed , they temper the heat of the stomacke and liuer , clense the bloud , singularly open the obstructions of the liuer , and strengthen the same , especially succorie : for among medicinable nourishments there is none that doth so greatly delight the liuer , and profit it being inflamed , and by reason of siccitie obstructed , as succorie doth . they are not good for the aged ; but very profitable for such as are young , for the cholericke , sanguine , and them that haue hot stomacks . dandelion is like in temperature and effect to succorie : it is good to be vsed in pottage , or boyled whole in broths , or eaten in sallads , and is effectuall for those things , for which succorie is . borage and buglosse are hot and moist in the first degree : they purifie the bloud , expell melancholy , and haue a speciall propertie of comforting and exhilarating the heart . whereby it appeareth that the custome of putting or macerating them , especially the flowers and freshest leaues , in wine , is very good , and cheifely to be frequented of students , and such as are subiect to melancholy : they are also good in broths for such as are weake , sad , and melancholicke . the flowers are very good in sallads , and the conserue made of them doth performe all the aforesaid things with greater force and efficacie . the leaues boyled and eaten in manner of a spinnach tart , or otherwise , are very wholsome ; for they engender good humors , and make the bodie soluble . they are good for euery season , age , and temperature . lang de beuf is in all things of like operation with borage and buglosse . burnet is drie in the end of the second degree , if not in the beginning of the third , and hot in the first : it is very astringent , and therefore effectuall to stop the laske , and all fluxes of bloud , and to represse cholericke vomitings , being boyled in broths for the purpose , or vsed any other way . it is also very effectuall against the plague , and other affects of the heart , as sowning , and the trembling thereof , especially being macerated in wine , and the same drunken : for the leaues being put into wine , especially claret , yeeld vnto it not onely an excellent relish in drinking , but also maketh it much more comfortable to the heart and spirits : it notably strengthneth the stomacke , expelleth melancholy , and maketh the heart merry . burnet is good for euery age , season , and temperature , especially for the aged , and such as are subiect to melancholie . cinquefoyle is dry in the second degree , and hot in the beginning of the first : it hath an astringent and consolidating facultie , and therefore very profitable to be vsed when there is neede of binding , as in fluxes &c. it is a very good pot-herbe for such as are too laxatiue , of what age or constitution soeuer they are of ; but if there be no neede of binding , it is not conuenient for the aged , nor for such as are of a melancholicke temperature . strawberrie leaues are in temperature and facultie much like vnto cinquefoyle . violets are temperately cold and moist : they are good for all inflammations , especially of the lungs , for the hoarsenes of the breast , and asperitie of the winde-pipe : they extinguish thirst , temper the sharpnes of choler , mitigate the burning heat of feuers , and coole the inflammations of the liuer , kidneies , and bladder . the greene and freshest leaues of violets boyled in broths or possets with other cooling herbes , as the young and tender buds or leaues of endiue , succorie , lettuce &c. are very good to coole , moisten , and make the bodie soluble , to auoide choler , and to bring the parts inflamed to a good temperature . the flowers are to be preferred before the leaues , for by reason of their sweet and pleasant smell , they are also very comfortable to the spirits . these and also the flowers of borage , and of the rose , are with good auctoritie vsed in sallads ; for they please a weake stomacke , comfort the heart , temper and purifie the bloud , expell sadnes , and are enemies to melancholy . of violet flowers with sugar , there is made a conserue , and also a syrupe , most effectuall for all the purposes aforesaid . there is likewise made of violets and sugar , certaine plates , called , violet tables , which are very pleasant to the taste , and comfortable to the heart and spirits . all the sorts of roses haue in them diuers and sundry faculties , because they doe consist of diuers parts : for there are in them both earthie , waterie , and aerie parts ; which notwithstanding are not in all roses after one sort : for in one kinde these excell , in another those . as in the white , damaske , and muske roses , moyst , aerie , and spirituall parts are predominant , by reason whereof they are more forceable to make the belly soluble ; but this their solutiue facultie lyeth altogither in the iuyce of them , and not in the distilled water . the iuyce of the damaske rose doth moue to stoole , more then of the white ; but most effectually of the muske rose : yet the damaske rose is for goodnes , and pleasantnes of smell fittest for medicine , or meat , and therefore is more commonly vsed . in the red roses , earthie parts are predominant , and by reason that they are of a more earthie substance , they are also of a drying and binding qualitie , yet not without certaine moisture adioyned while they be fresh , which they loose when they be dryed : and for this cause their iuyce is of an abstersiue and solutiue facultie , and their infusion doth also make the bodie soluble , yet not so much as of the others aforesaid . but all the roses haue a predominant cold temperature in the first degree : being dryed and their moisture gone , they doe binde and drie , and likewise coole , but not so much as when they are fresh . the sweet and pleasant smell of roses is very comfortable to all the senses , spirits , and principall parts of the bodie , and so is the distilled water of them , which doth also gently temper and coolethe inward parts . the same being put into iunketting dishes , sauces and such like other things , giueth vnto them a delectable and comfortable taste . the syrupe made of the infusion of roses , called of the apothecaries , syrupe of roses laxatiue , is a most singular and gentle loosening medicine ; for it proiecteth not onely those excrements which sticke to the bowels , but also carrieth downewards out of the stomacke and mesaraicke veines , raw , phlegmatick and cholericke humors , and also alayeth the extremitie of heat in agues and burning feuers . the vse thereof is profitable to make the belly loose and soluble , and may bee taken at all times , and of all sorts of people both old and young , except of such as haue weake and moyst stomacks ; for by reason of the relaxing facultie thereof , it maketh the stomacke more slacke and weake . the conserue of red roses comforteth the heart and liuer , strengthneth a weake stomacke that is moyst and raw , and stayeth all fluxes both in men and women : it is passing good to be vsed of students , especially at their going to bed , who for the most part haue weake stomacks , and subiect vnto rheumes , coughs and consumptions : for it is of a notable abstersiue , consolidatiue , and confortatiue facultie . roses boyled in cleane water vntill they be very tender , and afterwards with a competent quantitie of sugar preserued , are so well for goodnes , as pleasantnes of taste , to be preferred before the crude or raw conserue , especially for such as haue very weake and feeble stomacks . the like may be said of sugar-roset , which is very delightsome to the pallat , and comfortable to the stomacke : it strengthneth the heart , and remoueth the trembling thereof , comforteth the braine , and is , by reason of its clensing and consolidating facultie , of singular efficacie in consumptions of the lungs . the vse of it is most profitable for them that haue weake and crude stomacks , or are affected with superfluous moysture in the lungs , and subiect to consumptions . gillowflowers some are in colour white , some purple , and some yellow . as they are in beauty , and sweetnes , so they are in vertue and wholsomnes ; but the yellow gillowflowers are of greatest efficacie . they are somewhat of an hot and drie temperature : they notably comfort the heart , delight the braine , and senses , and reviue the spirits . they may be preserued in sugar in the same manner as we doe roses , and so they are good against pestilentiall infections , the palsey , crampe , and such like infirmities of the braine and sinewes . the same flowers infused in vinegar , and set in the sunne for certaine dayes , as we do for making of rose-vinegar , doe make a very pleasant and comfortable vinegar , good to be vsed in time of contagious sicknesses , and very profitable at all times for such as haue feeble spirits , and that are subiect vnto sownings , as well smelled vnto , as eaten as a sauce with meats . the flowers of marigold are temperately hot , and somewhat drie with all : they strengthen and comfort the heart , and expell any noysome infection : wherefore the vse of them in pottage or broths is very commendable . they are of no lesse force , being dryed , and so kept all the winter for the same purpose . they are very wholsome for euery season , age , and temperature , sauing for the cholericke , and sanguine , that are much subiect to inflammations . the leaues of marigold are in no respect like to the flowers in vertue and operation : the onely propertie that they haue is to mollifie the belly , and procure solublenes , being vsed as a pot hearbe . asparagus or sperage is hot in the beginning of the first degree , and temperately moist : the first and tender sprouts thereof boyled , and afterwards seasoned with oyle , vinegar , salt and pepper , and eaten in manner of a sallade , are pleasant to the taste , acceptable to the stomacke , easily concocted , and yeeld to the bodie a moist and wholsome nourishment : they also gently loose the belly , open the obstructions of the liuer and melt , clense the breast , excite venus , and are good for obstructions of the kidneys and bladder . they must not be eaten cold , for then they are nauseous to the stomacke : and if the first water wherein they are boyled , be cast away , and they againe sodden in fresh , or rather in the broth of flesh , they depose all their bitternes , and become more pleasant to the taste , and more comfortable to the stomacke . they are good for euery age and temperature , especially for old men , and such as are subiect to obstructions . the buds or first sprouts of the hop which come forth in the spring , are good while they be tender to be boyled and eaten with oyle and vinegar in manner of a sallade , as those of asparagus are : they are hot and moist in the first degree , they are pleasant to the taste , and of very pure and wholsome iuyce : they doe effectually open the obstructions of the bowels , especially of the liuer , and by a certaine singular prerogatiue , mundifie & purge the bloud , both in opening and procuring of vrine , and likewise in making the bodie soluble , auoyding thereby the super fluities of choler , and melancholy . wherefore the vse of them is in the spring time most accommodate for euery age and constitution , especially for the cholericke and melancholicke . parsley is hot and drie in the second degree : it is among the pot-hearbes the cheifest , and in such frequent vse that no meat is thought to be well dressed without it , and no table to be well set forth , if euen the dishes themselues be not adorned therewith . in sauces it is very pleasant to the taste , and comfortable to the stomacke : to broths it likewise giueth a pleasant and delightsome relish : it exciteth the appetite , discusseth winde , mundi●…ieth the stomacke , prouoketh vrine , openeth all obstructions of the inward parts , especially of the liuer , reines , and matrice . the roots haue likewise an opening and dissoluing facultie : wherefore the vse of them in broths is very wholsome and good ; for besides their medicinable qualitie , they make the broth delightfull to the taste , and very agreable to the stomacke . parsley eaten raw is not altogither of laudable nourishment ; for it breedeth a cholericke bloud , and is hardly digested : wherefore it is good to eat it but in small quantitie , and that togither with lettuce , and such other like cooling hearbes . but being boyled , and so any way vsed , it is of better taste , of easier concoction , and of farre more laudable nourishment . raw parsley is hurtfull to the cholericke ; but being boyled , it is wholsome and conuenient for euery age , season , and temperature . women with childe may not be bold in the vse of parsley ; for by reason of its opening and relaxing facultie , it may proue dangerous vnto them . alexanders are of an attenuating , and abstergent facultie , more hot and biting in taste then parsley : they discusse winde , open the obstructions of the liuer and melt , and prouoke vrine more effectually then parsley doth . the young leaues and litle tender stems boyled , and eaten , seasoned with vinegar , in the beginning of the spring , are pleasant to the taste , acceptable to the stomacke , and of wholesome nourishment . the same being also preserued in a pickle of vinegar and salt , are a very wholsome sauce with meats , exciting the appetite , clensing and comforting the stomacke , and remouing oppilations . they are conuenient for euery age and constitution , especially for the phlegmaticke , and such as are subiect to obstructions . penieroyall or organie is hot and driein the third degree , and of an excellent extenuating , dissoluing , mundifying , and corroborating facultie : it is very good for such as haue squamish & waterie stomacks ; for it notably strengthneth the same , helpeth the concoction , and asswageth the paines both of the stomacke , and also of the belly proceeding of crude and flatulent humors : it also prouoketh vrine , clenseth the lungs , and mundifieth the breast from grosse and thicke humors . in a word , it is of all pot herbes the best and wholsomest ; for it is of such an excelient smell , and delectable sauour , that it maketh euery thing wherein , or wherewith it is boyled no lesse wholsome , then sauourie . it is good at all times , and for all sorts of people , especially in the spring , winter , and autumne , and for the phlegmaticke , melancholicke , and such as are aged . hyssop is for smell and taste , but little inferiour vnto organie : it is hot and dry in the third degree , and also of an excellent attenuating and mundifying faculty : it is comfortable to the head and stomacke , and passing good for an old cough , and shortnesse of breath : for it notably purgeth and mundifieth the breast and lungs from grosse and phlegmaticke humours . it is at all times , especially in the spring and winter , most expedient and profitable for the aged , the phlegmaticke , and all such as abound with colde and rheumaticke humours . time is a very aromaticall and comfortable hearbe , hot and dry in the third degree , and of a discussing and mundifying faculty : it is very comfortable to a weake stomacke , and of singular and excellent efficacie against the windinesse of it , the collicke iliacke , and nephriticke passions , the cough , shortnesse of breath , melancholy , and obstructions of the matrice . the hearbe dryed and decocted , or made into powder , and so any way vsed , is of farre greater efficacie , then when it is greene , for all the purposes aforesayd . the vse of time is most appropriate for the phlegmaticke , and the melancholike ; and being timely and moderately vsed , conuenient for euery age and constitution . sauory is hot and dry in the third degree , of an attenuating , discussing , and mundefying facultie : it comforteth and strengthneth the stomacke that is weake , and prone to vomit , helpeth the digcstion , discusseth winde , comforteth the braine , quickneth the sight , clenseth the breast , and passages of vrine . the hearbe dryed and vsed , as i haue sayd of time is of greater efficacie , then when it is greene : in a word , it is altogether of like vertue with time , especially good for all such as abound with colde and phlegmaticke humours . mint is hot and dry in the beginning of the third degree , whereof are diuers kindes , but two onely appertaining to meat , and they also most fragant in sauour , that is the red garden mint , and the speare-mint , and of these two , the speare-mint is the more excellent , both for sauor and vertue . the fragrant smell of them doth very greatly comfort the braine and spirits , stirre vp the senses , especially the memorie , and make the heart cheerefull : wherefore i aduise all such as leade a studious kinde of life , to smell oftentimes vnto them . they doe maruellously corroborate a cooled and weake stomacke , stay the hicket , and vomiting , and loosenesse of the belly , dry vp and consume crude and superfluous humours in the stomacke , excite the appetite , and cause good digestion : in a word , they are of all hearbes , the wholsomest for the stomacke , and to it most acceptable . they are passing good in sallads , for they giue vnto them a very pleasant , odoriferous , and comfortable relish ; but they must be mingled with lettuce , and other cooling hearbes , for otherwise , by reason of their heat , they will quickly offend an hot stomacke and liuer . they inhibit the crudling of milke in the stomacke , and therefore it is good to macerate them a while in milke , that is to be drunken , for feare lest that it should cruddle or wax sou●…e in the stomacke . they notably strengthen the seminall vessels , incrassate and make fruitfull the geniture , especially the red garden mint : wherefore it is of speciall and singular vse in all seminall fluxes . they are also of singular vse in the stone and strangury , being boyled in wine , or possets for the purpose , and also in broths : for besides that , they dissolue and consume the crudities of the stomacke , and strengthen the same , they also purge the reines , and vrinall passages , of grosse and slimie humours . the iuyce of mints , taken with the iuyce of a soure pomegranet , or with some other competent thing for the purpose , effectually stayeth vomiting , and scowring in the cholericke passion , and also the effusion of bloud , from the inward parts . mints boyled in white wine with a little vinegar added thereto , and the mouth washed therwith , helpeth the ill sauour of the mouth , and putrefaction of the gums . the dry powder of mints , taken with warme milk , is a very good medicine for wormes in children , or olde folkes . the powder of mint●… , is also of singular efficacie against cruditie , and rawnesse of the stomacke , and effectuall also for most of the purposes aforesayd . the often vse of mints is hurtfull to hot and dry bodies ; but very profitable to the aged , phlegmaticke , and melancholike . as mints are appropriate to the stomacke : so bawme and basill are to the heart . bawme is hot and dry in the second degree , and basill is likewise hot in the second degree ; but hath a superfluous moysture adioyned with it . they are singular good ( especially baulme ) for the heart and infirmities thereof , for they strengthen the vitall spirits , expell all melancholy and sadnesse , and make the heart merry . bawme is also good for a moyst and colde stomacke , to helpe the concoction , stay vomiting , and to open the obstructions of the braine . it is an hearbe greatly to bee esteemed of students , for by a speciall property , it driueth away heauinesse of minde , sharpneth the vnderstanding , and encreaseth memory . wherefore it is good to be vsed in b●…oths , or eaten by it selfe in manner of a sallad , with oyle and vinegar , and sometimes also with lettuce , purselane , and other hearbes . basill i deeme to bee rather fit for medicine , then for meat , because it is of ill iuyce , of hard concoction , offensiue to the stomack , filling both it and the belly with winde : and being much eaten , it is also very hurtfull to the sight . but yet it is worthy to be esteemed for the sweet sauour thereof , which is very comfortable to the heart , and good also for the head , so the braine be not weake , for it causeth head-ach in such as haue weake braines , by reason of the strong sauour which it hath , especially being often smelled vntc . bawme is good in sallads and broths , for euery age and constitution , especially for the phlegmaticke and melancholike ; but basill not conuenient for any . marjorame is hot and dry in the beginning of the third degree : it is of thin parts , and of a digesting faculty : this hearbe is passing good in broths , or sallads , for it comforteth the stomacke , and helpeth the concoction therof , corroborateth the liuer , and is good for the obstructi●…ns of it : it also comforteth the hea●…t , but especially the brain quickneth the sight , and is of maruellous efficacie against all cold infirmities of the head . moreouer , it prouoketh vrine , and discusseth winde with much efficacie . the hearbe dryed , and made into powder , and any way taken , doth notably comfort a cold and windy stomacke , helpe the digestion , strengthen the braine , preuent convulsions , and all infirmities of the sinewes and braine , proceeding of a cold and moyst cause . in a word , it is an hearbe worthy to be much esteemed of all persons , euen for the pleasant smell of it , which to the heart and head is very comfortable . the vse of marjorame is not good for hot and cholericke bodies ; but for the phlegmaticke , and such as haue cold stomacks , and ouer-moyst and weake braines , it is maruellous good and conuenient . betouie is hot and dry in the second degree : it hath a cutting and attenuating facultie : it taketh away obstructions of all the inward parts : in a word , the vertues of it are innumerable ; but it is cheefly good for the braine and sinewes , and all infirmities proceeding from the imbecility of them . the vse of it , in broths , or otherwise , is good for euery age , season , and temperature , but cheefly for such as haue weake and feeble braines . sage is a most wholsome hearbe , hot and dry in the beginning of the third degree , and of an astrictiue faculty . it helpeth the concoction , and discusseth winde , singularly comforteth the head and braine , quickneth all the senses , especially the memorie , and strengthneth the sinewes . wherefore the vse of it is exceeding good for such , as are subiect to the palsie , or trembling of the hands , and all other affects of the sinewes and braine vpon a moyst cause . it may be eaten in sallads , or any other way vsed ; but in sauces with meats of moyst substance , it is of singular profit , for it exciteth the appetite , and correcteth the superfluous moysture of the meat . the often chewing of it in the mouth , is very profitable to the sinewes and teeth , for it strengthneth the one , and preserueth the other from putrefaction . the vse of sage is very good for women with childe , especially such as are subiect to abortion . and out of it may be extracted &c , for women that are barren , a remedy of excellent efficacie , to make them fruitfull and apt to conceiue ; but yet not conuenient for all that are childlesse . sage , especially the much and frequent vse therof , is hurtfull in hot and dry seasons , and to leane and dry bodies ; but very profitable to the phlegmaticke , to the aged , and to such as haue ouer-moyst and weake braines . rosemary , is in vertue and quality , much like vnto sage , for it is both hot and dry , and also astringent : the vse thereof is very profitable , for it correcteth the superfluous moysture of meats , corroborateth and raiseth vp a cold and weake stomacke , discusseth winde , sweetneth the breath , comforteth the heart , braine , and sinewes , quickneth the senses and memory , and strengthneth the sinewie parts . wherefore it is good against the rheume , and all infirmities of the head , braine , and sinewes , proceeding of a cold and moyst cause . the conferue made of the flowers of rosemarie , and also of sage , which i wish to bee often vsed of students , especially mornings fasting , and sometimes after meale , doth greatly delight the braine , reuiue the spirits , quicken the senses , comfort the heart , and maketh it merry . rosemary is most accommodate for colde and moyst seasons , for the aged , phlegmaticke , and rheumaticke . costmary and maudline are hot and dry in the second degree , they are good for a cold stomacke and liuer , and prouokè vrine : the smell of them is comfortable to the braine . costmary is also called alecoast , and it doth well answer to the name , for if it be ste●…ped a while in ale , or put into a vessell , and ale tunned thereunto , as is vfually done in the making of sage ale , it maketh a pleasant drinke , and very comfortable to the stomacke , braine , and sinewes . they are good for the aged and phlegmaticke ; but hurtfull to such as are young , and of an hot and cholericke temperature . tansie is hot and dry in the beginning of the third degree : it strengthneth the sinewes , and is very profitable to the stomacke , for it concocteth and scowreth downwards crude and phlegmaticke humors , which adhere and cleaue thereunto . from hence may be gathered , that tansies in the spring-time , are very wholsome , and good for the stomacke , for the clean sing away of phlegme bred therein , by the vse of fish in the lent-season . and heere many may see their errour detected , that for the making of tansies , doe confusedly vse to giue onely vnto them a delightfull greene colour , beside the iuyce of tansie , the iuyce of other hearbes , perhaps altogether vnwholsome , or at leastwise vnfit for the purpose . but if any please to adde to the making of tansies , the iuyce of sorrell , they shall willingly haue my assent , especially if they make them for such as are of a cholericke temperature . the seede of tansie is of singular force against wormes , for in what sort soeuer it bee taken , it killeth and expelleth them . tansie is conuenient for the phlegmaticke , and the aged ; but hurtfull to young and cholericke bodies . clarie is hot and dry in the third degree : the onely vse thereof is for the imbecility of the reines , and for stopping of seminall fluxions , for which it is very profitable , being boyled in broths , or any other way vsed . rocket and tarragon are neere of one nature and quality , hot and dry in the third degree ; but tarragon , in regard of the aromaticall and cardiacall sauour of it , is to bee preferred before rocket . among all hearbs of an acrimonious sauour , and that are vsed insallads , they may haue the preheminence , especially tarragon , for by reason of its aromaticall and cardiacall quality , it is much more comfortable to the stomacke , heart and head , then rocket is . they cut and extenuate phlegme in the stomacke , excite the appetite , and helpe the concoction . they are good in sallads , but not alone , but ioyned with lettuce , purselane , and such colde hearbes , for the qualifying of their acrimonious heat : otherwise being eaten alone , they distemper the liuer , and cause head-ach . wherefore the best way to makesallads , is to mingle hot hearbes and colde together , except you will make them of purpose to coole or heat , as the nature of the stomacke , and temperature of body shall require . rocket and tarragon are conuenient for the aged and phlegmaticke , not not for the cholericke , and such as are of hot temperature . towne-cresses , or as the vulgar sott doe pronounce , towne-karse , is more biting in taste then rocket or tarragon , and therefore more hot and drie . it is eaten with other sallade hearbes ; but what way soeuer it be vsed , it notably heateth a cold stomacke and liuer , cutteth and attenuateth grosse humors , mundifieth the lungs , helpeth the asthmaticke , openeth and strengthneth the melt , and is well neere as good , and as effectuall against the scuruie , as scuruie grasse . it may not be eaten in sallads , but in small quantitie , and that with lettuce , and other cold hearbes ; for it will quickly offend the stomacke , distemper the liuer , inflame the bloud , and annoy the head . water cresse or karsse is altogither of like nature and facultie , as towne-karsse is , and is also very effectuall against the stone . they are good for the phlegmaticke , aged , and such as are subiect to obstructions . auens are hot in the end of the first degree , and drie in the end of the second , with a kinde of scowring , or clensing qualitie : they are very wholsome in pottage or physicall broths , though they make them looke blacke : for they clense away such things as adhere to the entrails , and are good against cruditie or rawnesse of the stomacke , windinesse of the belly or sides , stopping of the liuer , and clottered bloud in any inward part of the bodie , especially being decocted in wine . the roots of auens are in the autumne and winter very profitable in physicall broths , or other decoctions , for all the purposes aforesaid . they are good for euery season , age , and temperature , sauing onely for the cholericke which are free from winde , and obstructions of the entrailes . filipendula is hot and drie euen in the third degree , of an opening and clensing qualitie , and yet with some litle astriction adioyned . although this hearbe be in physicall vses cheifely profitable for the stone and strangurie , yet i thought it meete , because it is common in gardens , not here to omit it . wherefore such as are subiect to the stone and strangurie , may to their ease and comfort vse the herbe in their pottage , broths , or possets . cheruill is of a temperate heat , and moderate drinesse : it is an hearbe exceeding good and wholsome , very pleasant to the taste , delightsome to the stomacke , and comfortable to the spirits and senses . it may be vsed in pottage , broths , and sallads &c. in sallads with other hearbs it is most acceptable , by reason that it giueth vnto them a very pleasant and delicate relish ; but for sallads , the seeds while they are greene , or the round tufts ór heads which conteine the seede , doe farre excell the leaues , which for pleasantnes of taste , sweetnes of smell , and wholsomnes for euery age and temperature , do also excell all other sallade hearbes . and to be eaten by themselues as a sallade , with oyle omphacine , vinegar , and pepper , they exceede any other sallade for a cold and feeble stomacke . the roots of cheruill boyled , and after dressed , as the cunning cooke best knoweth , or onely eaten in manner of a sallade with oyle and vinegar , are singularly good and wholsome for weake and aged people , and for such as are dull and without courage : for they delight the stomacke , reioyce and comfort the heart , increase strength , excite venus , and depell old age . wormewood is hot and drie in the end of the second degree : it hath a clensing facultie with some astriction adioyned : it is marueilous profitable to a weake stomacke that is troubled with choler ; for it clenseth it through its bitternesse , and by reason of the binding qualitie , it also strengthneth , and comforteth the stomacke . moreouer it is good against windinesse , and griping paines of the stomacke and belly : it strengthneth the liuer , and riddeth it of obstruction , and the bloud of putrefaction , clensing by vrine , naughtie cholericke and superfluous humors . it also helpeth the spleene when it is ouer-charged or filled with grosse feculent bloud , by causing it to passe downeward by the stoole , togither with the excrements . wherefore in regard of the great commoditie that wormewood bringeth to the stomacke and liuer that are weake and oppressed through the redundancie of choler or melancholy , i aduise all those in whom those humors exceede their limits , to eat oftentimes the young and tender tops , or leaues of wormwood in sallads with other hearbes ; but specially to drinke mornings fasting , and sometimes also before meales a draught of wormewood wine , or beere , or in want of them , of white wine or stale beere , wherein a few branches of wormewood haue for certaine houres bin infused : and i assure them that they shall finde great commoditie thereby ; for it will clense the stomàcke , liuer , gall , and spleene , discusse windinesse , cause them to haue a good appetite to meat , to be free from wormes , the laundice , and other diseases proceeding of choler . hence it may appeare , that those , who , being of a phlegmaticke or moist temperature , doe for the weaknesse and windinesse of their stomacks , make often vse of wormewood beere , or of the hearbe infused therein , as aforesaid , are much deceiued , except that choler or melancholy shall accidentally happen to abound in their stomacks , because wormewood is first and cheifely good for the cholericke , next for the melancholicke , and is now and then also conuenient for the sanguine , because the sanguine constitution is very apt to grow cholericke ; but for the phlegmaticke it is nothing at all auaileable , vnlesse that choler or melancholy shall happen to offend their stomacks through obstructions of the gall or melt : and for such in regard of the weaknesse and windinesse of their stomacks , wormewood wine , or the hearbe infused in wine , as aforesaid , is far more conuenient then any absinthiarie beere . the seedes of fen●…ell are hot in the end of the second degree , and drie in the beginning of the same : the greene branches are lesse hot and drie . the sweet fennell doth so far exceede the common in vertue and goodnes , as it doth in pleasantnes of taste : it comforteth a cold stomacke , discusse●…h winde , prouoketh vrine , and hath a singular propertie , of sharpning the sight . it is also very good to be vsed of nurses , for it increaseth passing good and wholesome milke . the roots are also very good in broths or other decoctions for the same intents , especially for the obstructions and paines of the kidneyes . but the seeds are of greatest force for breaking of winde , for comforting the stomacke , and asswaging the paines of it , for corroborating the braine , and preseruing the sight . to conclude , the branches , seeds , and roots of fennell are very good for the head , the lungs , the liuer , and the kidneyes : for they both open , and corroborate those parts . the young tender branches are very good in sallads , and they are likewise , being preserued in a pickle of vinegar and salt , very wholsome to be eaten as a sauce with meat in the winter season . the round tufts or heads of fennell , which containe the seede , are exceeding wholsome to be eaten ; but there are commonly bred in them litle wormes of a greenish colour , which are very venemous to the braine and senses : wherefore i aduise : that the said tufts or heads be opened , and the wormes carefully shaken off , and afterwards washed cleane and macerated a while in cold water , and so eaten in manner of a sallade , either by it felfe , or with other hearbes : they are of an excellent confortatiue nature , and doe notably discusse winde , and open the obstructions of the liuer , breast , and braine . the greene seeds whilest they be tender , and of a yellowish colour , are also passing pleasant and wholsome to be eaten in manner of a sallade , or otherwise , for all the purposes aforesaid . fennell is very wholsome and agreable for euery season , age , and temperature , especially for the phlegmatiake , and such as are troubled with the winde . anise seeds and careway seeds are answerable to fennell seeds in operation and vertues : they discusse winde , comfort the stomacke , and helpe the concoction . they are very wholsom to be eaten any maner of way , especially for such as haue weake stomacks , and that are much subiect vnto winde . but in meats i prefer the carewaies before either anise or fennell seeds , because they are more acceptable to the stomacke , and more delightsome to the taste . coriander seedes are of many people much vsed for the winde , but with very great error , i doubt not : for the hearbe it selfe , which beareth the seede is of a very noysome and venemous qualitie , whereof the seede in some measure doth participate . for if it be indiscreetly vsed , and not well corrected of that filthy and malignant qualitie , which it receiueth from the hearbe , it hurteth the sight , and peruerteth the vnderstanding . the best way to prepare the seedes for correcting their hurtfull qualitie , and so to make them wholsome and fit both for meat and medicine , is to infuse them houres at the least , in white wine vinegar , then to take them and drie them , and so to keepe them for their vse . being thus prepared , they discusse winde , exiccate crude humors , strengthen the mouth of the stomacke , and represse the ascending of vapor's to the head . they are very conuenient for cold , phlegmaticke and rheumaticke bodies . of the manner and custome of diet. sect . viii . whether a precise and exquisite manner of diet be best for the preseruation of health ? although it be very certaine , that a precise and exquisite manner of diet be of greatest moment , for the preseruation of health , in such as are naturally infirme , & not of a valetudinarie state of bodie ; yet we see by daily experience , that such as are of an healthy and sound constitution , if they alwayes obserue a precise and curious manner of liuing , doe for the most part liue lesse healthily : and the reason is , because they wholy addicting themselues to a curious and accurate kinde of diet , do suddenly vpon euery light cause , and occasion of change , incurre and fall into diuers diseases and distemperatures : wherefore a precise and exquisite custome of diet is not conuenient for any , but for weake and sickly bodies . but that you may know what manner of diet is best for healthy men to obserue , you must vnderstand that there is a threefold diet , accurate or precise , vulgar or common , and subvulgar . an accurate diet is that , when a man taketh his meats in a certaine measure , order , and number , and at fixed times , and they also such as are agreable to his nature and constitution of bodie , nec latum vnguem , as the saying is , ab ea regula discedit . a vulgar diet is opposite to the accurate , it is plaine and rude , of no respect or consideration : for they which obserue this kinde of diet , do make no choise of meats , no set or fixed time of eating : for sometimes they eat liquid meats , sometimes hard , sometimes grosse , sometimes fine , sometimes salt , sometimes fresh , sometimes temperate , sometimes intemperate , sometimes of euill iuyce , and sometimes of good : sometimes they fill and glut themselues , sometimes they rise with an appetite , sometimes they eat twise , sometimes thrise , somtimes foure times or oftner in a day . a subvulgar diet is as it were a meane betweene the accurate , and vulgar : for it is not so rude and plaine , as the vulgar , nor so precise and exact , as the accurate : for they which obserue this diet doe commonly eat at set and appointed times , and that also with some respect and choise had of the meats . from this distinction of diet i answer , that a subvulgar diet is fittest for healthy men to obserue ; for they accustoming themselues to a meane and an indifferent kinde of diet , do far more safely , and with much lesse perill sustaine the varietie and change of aire , meats , drinks &c , which even by an inevitable necessitie are incident vnto vs in this life , then they which obserue a precise and accurate diet. neither doe they with such contrary meats , and peruerse manner of liuing , ouer-charge and oppugne nature , as those doe that vse a vulgar diet , which is only fit for agresticke bodies , for whom i write not these things . whether it be good for the preseruation of health neuer to eat without acertaine appetite and desire ? seeing that there is nothing that doth so greatly obtunde and weaken the natiue heat , and extirpate health , as a fastidious fulnes of the stomacke , and that nothing doth so soone cause the same , as when meats are taken without appetite and desire : i therefore aduise all such as are in health , and that are desirous of the continuance of the same , that they eat not vnlesse the appetite be certaine , and the superiour intestines empty of the meats formerly receiued : for it is most hurtfull to the bodie to ingest nourishment vpon nourishment not digested ; for by such meanes the oeconomie of the stomacke is confounded , and the coucoction , which is the root of life , consequently marred . it is a physicall axiome of perpetuall veritie , that the imperfection or fault of a former concoction , cannot be amended in the next : wherefore if the stomacke performe not his office , there can neuer of crude chyle be made good bloud in the liuer , neither of impure bloud any good assimilation in the parts . and therefore intemperate men , which doe not giue time for the first concoction , doe fill their bodies with vitious humors , and waxe turgide and discoloured , destroying first ( by their intemperancle ) the force and faculties of the stomacke , next of the liuer , and at length of the whole bodie . wherefore it shall nothing profit a man to vse meats of good and wholsome iuyce , except they be digested in the stomacke : for euen as ill humors are bred of these , as of contrarie meats , if they obteine not a good concoction in the stomacke . to conclude therefore , seeing that a good concoction of the meats is a matter of so great moment for the preseruation of health , i counsell all such as are truely respectiue of the same , that they oppressenot their stomacks with vntimely , or immoderate eating , and before all things , that they eschew and abhor a fastidious saturitie , as a thing most iniurious to nature , and pernicious to the health of the bodie . whether it be good to prouoke with sauces an appetite to meats , the stomacke being well and naturally affected ? ianswer , that it is better to fast and expect that hunger may excite an appetite , then to irritate the same with sauces : for to a man liuing wisely and soberly , salt with hunger , is the best and wholsomest sauce . but when hunger in gluttonous persons excite not the appetite , then the cooke is put to his shifts by strange mixtures of things to consect a sauce , which may repaire the pallate , please the throat , and excite the appetite . and from hence not simple diseases doe spring vp , but inexplicable , and multiforme , exceeding oftentimes the art of physitions . for i would haue them to know , that dolorous gouts , grauedinie of the head , caliginousnes of the eyes , tortures and dissolutions of the limmes , trembling of the hands , and many worse miseries then these , are not apt to be bred by parsimonie , and a phylosophicall diet , but by an abundant plenitude , occasioned by luxurious excesse . wherefore my counsell is , that meat expect an appetite , and that the stomacke be by no meanes vntimely alliciated vnto meate ; for , as i haue said in the former question , it is the hurtfullest thing to the bodie , to ingest meat vpon meat vndigested . but if the stomacke be ill affected , as when it is by any distemperature , or debilitie derected , i then aucrre , that it is lawfull , yea very expedient , to excite an appetite with conuenient sauces , so as it be done with this caution , that the stomacke be not by them stirred vp to the taking of more meate , then it can well digest . and here i would haue such also as are healthy to know , that i doe not so straitly restraine them from the vse of sauces , neither that i am against sauces so morose ( for although they allure vs to inordinate and immoderate eating , yet the fault is rather to be attributed to our imprudencie , and intemperancie , then to the sauce ) as that i doe altogither denie them to such as haue sound stomacks , and appetites naturally good , but affirme rather , that some simple sauces ( abandoning all strange and disordered mixtures ) according as the temperature or state of the stomacke , nature of the meate , and time of yeare shall require , so that they be soberly , and not vntimely or gluttonously vsed , may sometimes be allowed , and that profitably , not onely to such as haue weake and foeble stomacks , but also to them that haue both stomacke and appetite healthfull and firme enough : for they cause the meats to be taken with greater delight , and such as are eaten with delight , are commonly best concocted . of which sort are first , as most common , vinegar , verjuce , and mustard , next orenges and limmons , and then capers , and sampier ; for these two last , because they haue greater force to excite the appetite , then to nourish , are also ranked among the sauces . and all these are not only good for exciting the appetite , but oftentimes also very profitable for the stomacke it selfe , and other parts : for vinegar attenuateth and cutteth grosse humours in the stomacke , and represseth choler : mustard , by reason of the heating , extenuating , and resoluing faculty that it hath , is very good for a cold stomacke and bteast , which commonly are stuft with crude and phlegmaticke humours : verjuce , and the iuyce of orenges and limmons are exceeding profitable for an hot stomacke and liuer , and therefore very wholsome for hot and cholericke bodies : capers are very beneficiall to the spleene , and sampire to the kidneyes . at what time therefore it shall please any one , or that it shall seeme good to helpe his appetite , let him then , according as the condition and constitution of his body shall require , make choyce of one or another of the aforesayd sauces . as if the stomacke shall bee affected with grosse and tough humours , then vinegar is a good and profitable sauce : if the stomacke be stuft with cold , crude , and slimie humors , mustard : if the liuer or stomacke be of hot temperature , or disposed to inflammations , verjuce , the iuyce of limmons , citrons , or soure orenges : if the spleene be subiect to obstructions , capers : if the kidneyes , sampire , &c. but all strange and confused sauces , especially such as are not of a comfortable pleasant sharpe relish , which are made to oblectate the pallate , abandon , as hurtfull to the body , and acceptable onely to lurching and deuouring belly-gods . and heere i cannot but againe admonish all such as are studious of their health , that they doe not , by sauces , or delicate and dainty meats , prouoke their stomacks to excesse ; for meat , by copious quantity , oppressing the stomacke , doth greatly weaken the naturall heat , and subuert the digestiue faculty ; and therefore , though it be of good iuyce , because it cannot be concocted , and euinced of nature , filleth the body with crude and flatulent humours . eat yee therefore without saciety , and vse those meats with great sobriety , that besides the satisfying of hunger , doe induce appetite and delight . whether meats much desired , albeit not laudable , are to be preferred and eaten , before such as are better , being not desired ? i answer , that the meats , which are most desired , though lesse good , are to be preferred , and rather eaten : the reason is , because the meat which is desired , and taken with delectation , is more welcome to the stomacke , more firmly detained , and consequently , better digested ; whereas the meat that is not desired , nor taken with delectation , but rather against stomacke , is , though it be of good and wholsome substance , seldome well digested . but this is not so generally to be receiued , as that euery kinde of meat desired , ought to be preferred before better meat not desired : for if the meat desired be of very ill nature , then it is rather to be eschewed . for example sake : if any of a sound and healthy body , shall more desire beefe , porke , or mutton , then capon , veale , or other meats of like goodnesse ; beefe , porke , or mutton , are to be granted vnto him . but if there be very much difference betweene the meat , which is desired , and a better that is not desired , that is , if the meat desired , be of a very naughty and ill property , then it is not to be exhibited , because it may bring much hurt to the body , especially if in such case the appetite bee often yeelded vnto , and the body not rustickly strong . wherefore it must be regarded , whether the appetite be enormous , or too too irregular , as it is , when it desireth meats very hurtfull , and to be rather abhorred , then eaten : for then it is not to bee satisfied , except sometimes in women with childe , for feare of abortion . they therefore that liue licentiously , and doenot onely satisfie their appetite , without any respect had of the meats or drinkes that they desire , but also doe much delight in their dissolute manner of liuing , and doe deride others that obserue better order , are heere to be admonished , that they cease to take pleasure in an euill custome : for although they bee lusty and strong for the present , and can for a time well digest , suffer surfet , and beare immoderate diet , either by reason of their age , or by reason of a firme constitution , or by reason of custome , and are not annoyed with any manifest malady ; yet let them be sure , that time will hasten their punishment , and that a riotous youth breedeth a miserable age , full of paines and ●…oathsome maladies . but it seldom commeth to passe , that those which lead a dissolute and disordered life , all the time of their youth , liue vntill they bee olde : for vnlesse they relinquish their euill manners , and change the course of their life , they are oftentimes vnawares afflicted with some violent disease , and so end their dayes with miserable torture , perhaps in the flower of their age , when they would most gladly liue . wherefore let all lewd and licentious persons know , that it is farre better for them to relinquish their euill manners , and change the course of their life , while they bee young , and by sober and temperate liuing , to preserue their health , then by surfet , and all manner of disorder , to make their bodies weake , sickly , deformed , and odious both to god and man. how manythings ought such as are studious of their health , specially to respect , in electing meats conuenient for their nature and constitution ? three , the complexion of the body , the quality or temperature of the meat , and the substance of it . the complexion or temperature of the body , is either temperate , or intemperate : if it be temperate , then meats of like temperate quality are conuenient , for conseruation of the temperature : if it be lapsed or distempered , then meats of a contrary quality , agreeable to the lapse , that it may bee reduced to a temperature , are to be assumed . if therefore the lapse bee in heat , meats and drinkes of cold quality agreeable to the lapse ; if in colde , other in like manner of hot quality , are to bee vsed . the like also is to bee done in lapses of drought and moysture . and if the lapse shall bee of diuers qualities composed , a compound manner of reduction must also be obserued . but in making this reduction , it is to be obserued , that a colde constitution lapsed , requireth a stronger quality reducing it , then an hot , because it is more remote from the beginnings of life . the like respect also , in reducing a constitution lapsed , is to bee had of the age . and heere it is also to bee noted , that as some bodies are subiect to obstructions , and some to immoderate fluxions : so are there also some meats , that are of an attenuating and soluble faculty , which are good for the former ; and some of an incrassating , and an astringent , conuenient for the latter , so they bee moderately , at times conuenient assumed . but if any shall eat meats , that are not conuenient for his constitution and state of body , by reason of a great desire , that hee hath vnto such , hee ought to take them with their correctories ; as vnto moyst and phlegmatick meats , to adde things of contrary quality and substance : for by this means they will be made more agreeable to the body , and so taken with lesse offence . thirdly , the substance of the meats ought to be considered , for some meats are grosse , and of hard substance , some thin , and of tender substance : these are conuenient for a weake stomacke , those for a strong : for meats that consist of thin parts , are in a strong stomacke , by reason of the great heat of the same , soone corrupted , adusted , and conuerted into choler : as for grosse and hard meats , they doe greatly oppresse a weake stomacke , and infringe the naturall heat . wherefore the meat , as touching the substance of it , ought to bee correspondent to the concocting heat of the stomacke : and therefore to such as haue strong stomacks , meats of strong nourishment , and of slow digestion , are most agreeable ; but to them that haue weake stomacks , that liue at rest , and are subiect to obstructions , meats of lighter substance , and of easier concoction , are more accommodate . besides the complexion of the body , the temperature of the meat , and the substance of it , which are cheefly to be respected in the election of meats , the age of the person , custome of diet , and time of the yeere , ought not to be neglected , in which euery one may easily direct himselfe . whether the ordinary vse of two meales in a day , be best for the preseruation of health ? i answer , omitting the precise obseruation of the time , countrey , and custome , that the vse of two competent meales in a day , viz. of dinner and supper , is generally best for them that are within the limits of , & yeeres , leading a studious , or sedentary kinde of life , if they desire to auoyd crudity , the originall of most diseases . but such as vse much exercise , or are of an hot and cholericke temperature , may eat oftner , as three times in a day , and that more largely at each meale , for the restitution of the substantiall moysture , which by reason of exercise , and a strong naturall heat , is much exhausted . wherefore i aduise them , not to bee altogether fasting till dinner , but to breake their fast with this threefold caution , that they finde their stomacks to be cleane and empty , that the breake-fast be slender , and that of meats of light digestion , and that it be taken about foure houres before dinner . and heere i may not omit to aduertise all such as haue plethoricke and full bodies , especially liuing at rest , and which are of a phlegmaticke temperature , that they not onely eschew the vse of breake-fasts , but also oftentimes content themselues with one meale in a day : for by this meanes , nature being for a time disburthened , as it were , of meats , vseth all her power , in digesting and expelling the reliques , whereby it commeth to passe , that the ouer-plus of bloud is abated , raw humours concocted , all manner of excrements expelled , and the whole body consequently , reduced to a sound and healthy mediocrity . heere it may bee demanded of such , as for the health of their bodies , can oftentimes bee contented with one meale a day , whether it were better to take it at supper , then at dinner . whereunto i answer , that at supper , because in the night season , and in sleep , the spirits are more intense to concoction , being not withdrawne vnto outward and animal actions ; yet with this prouiso , that they sup not late , for great and late suppers are very offensiue to the whole body , especially to the head and eyes , by reason of the multitude of vapours , that ascend from the meats that haue been plentifully receiued . wherfore they must , after supper , refraine from sleepe , or lying downe , three houres at the least , and bee sometimes walking , sometimes standing , and sometimes sitting , that the meats may be the better digested , and passed from the stomacke , the vapours in some measure consumed , the eyes and the whole head consequently lesse annoyed . but if any shall erroniously accustome the vse of one meale in a day , and shall then lurch and deuoure so much , or more , as may well serue for two competent refections , as some , that vsually make but one meale in a day , are wont to doe , i must tell them , that two moderate refections were farre more commendable , and better for their health , then vnreasonable feeding and glutting of themselues at once , whereby all the powers and faculties of the body are oppressed , the stomacke weakned , crudities and obstructions occasioned . heere also may those demand , that vsually make two meales a day , what space of time ought to intercede the refections . our vsuall time for dinner , in all places , is about eleuen of the clocke ; and for supper , in most places , about six , according to which rule , wee commonly sup about six houres after we haue dined , allowing an houres space for a meale . i doe well approoue of the distance betweene the meales , and also of the allowance of an houres space for a meale ; but if students , that may command the time , and others also , that lead a generous kinde of life , shall alter the time for refection , as to dine about ten , and to sup about fiue , or six , according as their appetite , strengths , and disposition of body shall require , they shall haue my better approbation , and that for three reasons . the first is , because it is not good to be so long fasting in the morning , except for moyst and phlegmaticke bodies , as aforesayd : for the stomacke being ouer-long empty , attracteth from the intestines , and other parts , naughty fumes , and putrid humours , which doe not a little hurt both it and the head , especially in such as are of a cholericke temperature . the second is , because a larger time may be allowed , as shall be requisite , for the concoction and distribution of the meats receiued at dinner : for we ought not to cat againe , if wee will be diligent obseruers of our health , vntill the meat eaten before , be first concocted , and well auoyded out of the stomacke , and the appetite thereupon certaine , as it is formerly demonstrated . the third reason is , that they , who being subiect vnto rheumes , hauing supped by six , which order for students is very well obserued in our vniuersities , will be the freer from nocturnall diseases and rheumes , vnto which students , and such as liue a delicious , easie , and sitting kinde of life , are most subiect : and others that are free from rheumes , and nocturnall passions , hauing supped by seuen , will afterwards be the better disposed to rest , for it is not requisite , that they , especially hauing dry braines , should refraine lying downe to rest , aboue an houre or two after supper , which is onely conuenient to preuent obstructions . and this order of supping being obserned , there will remaine a competent time , both for one and the other , before they goe to bed , as the space of three or two houres , for the meats in some measure to concoct , and descend from the stomacke : for there is nothing more hurtfull to such as are subiect to rheumes and obstructions , then to sleepe , or lye downe within two or three houres , euen after an ordinary and frugall meale , because the vapours that then arise from the meats , residing and concocting in the stomacke , beside the inhibiting of the distribution of them , are very offensiue to the head , being not by conuenient watching , and moderate motion of the body , in some measure discussed . thus much concerning the ordinary refections , for such as are within the limits of , & yeeres , wherof euery one may make vse and application agreeable to his state of body , and course of life . now concerning the refections of others , that are not within the aforesayd limits of yeeres , a word or two breefly . they therefore that are past their declining age , and entred within the limit of olde age , as those bee , that are past , or yeeres of age , may not precisely bee tyed to any fixed times for their refections , but may eat three or foure times a day , or oftner , as their stomackes shall require , a little at a time , by reason of the imbecility of their digestiue faculty . neither may children by any meanes bee tyed vnto fixed meales , for they , by reason of their great encrease of body , continuall motions , and dissipable substance through the pores , require much and often nourishment . and those also that are in their youthfull age , as from , to , being of hot and cholericke tempe●…ature , both because they haue not attained vnto the acme , or full height of their growing , as also by reason of their strong naturall heat , require much nourishment , and are not alwayes to be limited to two or three meales in a day . but such as are in their youthfull age , hauing grosse bodies , and of a phlegmaticke temperature , may neuer exceede three meales in a day , but rather oftentimes content themselues with two at the most , that by this meanes , their moyst and crude humours may be concocted and abated , and their bodies kept within a laudable mediocrity . and heere i aduise all such as are solicitous of their health , to obserue at their meales three things , which i adde as an appendix to that which hath beene spoken . the first is , that putting aside all businesses , and shaking off all serious cogitations , they take their repast quietly and merily , and not eat , or come to their meat with a troubled or meditating minde , for that will peruert the concoction , and cause the meats to corrupt in the stomack , by reason of the retracting of the spirits to the head . the second is , that they giue the meat due preparation for the stomacke , which is the exact chewing of it in the mouth : for the well chewing of the meat is a great furtherance to the well digesting of the same : and therefore they greatly erre , that eat ouer greedily , and snatch vp their meat hastily , because it is both hurtfull and indecent . the third is , that they reside not in the chaire of intemperance , that is , prolong not the time in eating and drinking superfluously , but onely sit so long at meale , as that they may giue vnto nature a competent refection : for the ingestion of too much meat is burthensome and iniurious to all the bodie . but if they shall at any time exceed in eating and drinking , they must make amends with a following parcitie ; as if the dinner shall be larger then ordinarie , let the supper be the lesse , or none at all : for there is no man , albeit very carefull of his health , which doth not in this now and then transcend his limits . whether the eating of one or of diuers sorts of meats at a meale are alike profitable for the health of the bodie ? it is a common receiued opinion , that the eating of diuers sorts of meats at a meale , is for such as desire to liue in health vtterly hurtfull , and to be reiected : for by reason of the disparitie of their nature and substance , they are seldome at once well concocted , and distributed . moreouer varietie and change of meats doe greatly please the pallat , and are as it were a spur vnto satietie . the strong and healthy bodies of agresticke men , which at their meales commonly vse but one simple kinde of foode , doe seeme to approue this assertion , and also the weake and valetudinarie state of many others that vse to feede on diuers dishes at one time . contrariwise he that will consider and looke into the diuers constitution and fabricke of the parts of the bodie , shall finde that varietie is much more agreable vnto it , then singlenesse : for which cause doubtles , varietie of meats as it is delightfull , so also naturally to be desired , and therefore more profitable . wherefore he that in this case condemueth varietie , seemeth also to reproue nature ; especially , because it putteth off a fastidious tendernes of the stomacke , and exciteth the appetite , and is also beneficiall for costiue bodies . now from that which hath bin said , it is apparant , that the state of this controuersie consisteth in this , that the vse of one sort of meat at a meale , is in its nature more profitable , and more safe , in so much as concerneth the naturall actions of the stomacke and liuer ; but in regard of the variety of the parts and substance of the bodie , varietie of meats is much more agreable , and so on these grounds standeth the controuersie to be decided . in so much as the reasons of both opinions seeme to be of good force , there must a meane and rule be found out , that may direct when , and how the one , or the other , that is , one or d uers sorts of meats at a time , may be in vse , and necessarie : for neither alwayes , neither to euery one , neither of euery sort , ought variety , or singlenes of meats to be exhibited . for the manifestation therefore and solution of this matter , it must be obserued , that there are some kinds of meats that in nature and concoction differ litle , and some much : such as in nature and concoction differ litle , may at one time be eaten of them that are in health , so they be not immoderately ingested : for too much meat , though it be of like nature , of easie concoction , and of good iuyce , is offensiue to the stomacke , and breedeth crudities . i say of them that are in health ; for to such as are sickly and infirme , sundry meats at one time , though they differ litle in nature and concoction , are oftentimes troublesome and offensiue , because their digestiue facultie is weake , scarcely able to digest one simple kinde of meat . wherefore it cannot be granted , that meats , which in substance and qualities differ much , may at one time be assumed , esp●…cially of them that haue weake stomacks , without hurt , according to the first assertion . but if they shall be neere of one substance , although of differing kinde , nor much disagreeing in qualities , there is no let , but that they may at once be concocted , because the same heat , and same time onely will suffice for the concoction of them . for the reason wherefore varietie in meats is hurtfull , ariseth from the great inequalitie of their substance , or from the contrarietie of qualities , or from the facilitie of corruption of one , with the disficultie of concoction with another , not verily from varietie . as put the case : what doth prohibit , but that veale , mutton , capon &c. may be eaten at one time ? neither the inequalitie of their substance , nor contrarietie of qualities , and therefore they are without any offence , with like labour concocted . the conclusion therefore may be , that it is better to eat onely of one sort of meat at a meale , then of sundry sorts , that in substance and qualities differ much ; but if they shall be neere of a nature and qualitie , or not much differing , then varietie is to be preferred for the reasons before alleaged . here i may not by the way ouer-passe without iust reproofe the eating of flesh and fish at one and the same meale without any respect : for the most part of fish and flesh doe in no wise accord , but are of a very discrepant nature , not able to be well concocted togither in the stomacke , by reason whereof they daunt and ouerthrow the digestiue heat , and fill the stomacke with discordant humors , which oftentimes produce strange and dolorous symptoms . wherefore my counsell is to all such as are studious of their health , especially to them that haue weake stomacks , that they , eschew this euill custome , and relinquish it to belly-gods , and them that haue vnbrideled appetites , who rather choose for a momentarie pleasing of their pallats , to liue fettered with gouts , racked with feuers , and tormented with stones , then by moderate and discreet feeding , to acquire an happy , sound , and healthfull state of bodie . now to that which is vrged against varietie of meats , that it entiseth to repletion , and sacietie , conuinceth not this assertion ; for that is not the fault of nature , which is well pleased with a meane , but of ignorance , and indiscretion . wherefore it was well said of plato , that there is danger in varietie , for no other cause , but for that we easily yeeld to pleasure and sensualitie . the offence therefore , if the matter be rightly weighed , commeth not from the meat , but from our vnbrideled appetite . neither is the example of agresticke people of any force : for the healthinesse and sound state of their bodies is not to be attributed to their plaine and simple foode , but to their great accustomed labour and exercise . varietie therefore of meats may offend with immoderation , neuer with temperancie . wherefore to conclude , i aduise all such as are respectiue of their health , especially that are of tender nature , and state of bodie , not to eat at one time meats greatly differing in nature and concoction ; for euery inequalitie of concoction , is a praeludium of cruditie , and corruption , which the liuer cannot correct . neither at any time sensually to oppresse and labefie the digestiue facultie of the stomack , with too great varietie of meats , although they differ not much in nature and concoction : for to feede vpon more then foure dishes euen at a geniall meale , is somewhat immodest and excessiue . here some may demaund , whether bread , which is the very ground of our nourishment , be , to be alwayes taken in any certaine measure or quantitie ? whereunto i breifly answer , that it is , in regard of the meats that are eaten with it , to be taken in a diuers measure and proportion : for the bread that we eat , ought to be double to the flesh , so much and halfe so much as of eggs , and threefold vnto fish , especially of the moister sort , that the superfluous moisture of it , may by the siccitie of the bread , be attempered . they erre therefore that eat very litle bread with their meats : for you shall finde them to haue tumide bodies , or at least , waterish and impure stomacks , by reason of windie crudities , wherewith they abound . whether it be better to suppe more liberally , then to dine ? it hath bin a great question , whether the supper should be greater then the dinner ; or contrariwise , the dinner greater then the supper . but this doubt with certaine cautions may easily be discussed ; for neither the one , nor the other may without limitation , and distinction be affirmed . wherefore i answer , that it is more expedient for such as are healthy and strong to eat more at supper , then at dinner , and that for two reasons . the first , because the coldnes of the night , and sleepe ensuing doe greatly helpe concoction , through the regression of the spirits and heat into the interiour parts . the second is , because the time from supper to breakfast , or dinner is much longer , then from dinner to supper : and therefore it is very meete , that the supper should in some congruent measure , be greater then the dinner , according as the time following , in both respects , is more fit and commodious for concoction . great and weighty affaires either publicke or priuate , and also serious meditatious may be a third reason in time of such occasions , to eat more freely at supper then at dinner ; because men after a full meale , are commonly very vnapt vnto any labour or exercise , either of minde or bodie . and besides that , if they should eat much at dinner , and afterwards by necessitie of their place and calling , vndergo any great or weighty businesse , they quickly subuert their state of bodie ; and the reason is , because much meat doth first contract to the stomacke the spirits , and almost the whole force of nature , for the concocting of it , which serious meditations , or businesses of importance doe afterwards diuert to the head : whereby it commeth to passe , that the spirits can neither sufficiently assist the braine in contemplation , nor the stomacke in concoction ; but the meats in the stomacke , by reason of this distraction , being destitute of sufficient heat , become raw , and fill the bodie with grosse , putride , and flatulent humors . and here i must aduertise them that they erre not in eating more liberally at supper then at dinner , as to fill themselues till their bellies strout , and that they can scarce breath ; for i minde not , nor in any oase approue such a large supper , but a frugall rather ; yet such in which is eaten more then at dinner , for the reasons before alleaged . but this ( as i haue said ) is not so generally to be receiued , as that it may be expedient for euery man to eat more liberally at supper , then at dinner : for it is not conuenient for grosse and phlegmaticke bodies , for feare of a suddaine suffocation in sleepe , or at least , of troublesome and painefull sleepe , which in them , by reason of the straitnesse of the passages , may through much phlegme , and a large supper , often be occasioned . neither for the same reason is it good for them to sup more liberally , that are very olde , or subiect to obstructions , or nocturnall diseases , for in such the distribution of then nourishment is commonly difficile , which alwayes indicateth a slender supper . neither is it conuenient for them to sup more liberally that are troubled with rheumes , or any infirmitie of the head , except there be a drie distemperature of the braine , because a full supper repleteth the head with vapors . therefore to conclude this question , in making a larger dinner or supper fiue things are remarkeable : the concoction , the space betweene the meales , the businesses , the distribution , and the condition or state of the head . in respect of the concoction , of the space betweene the meales , and of businesses of great weight , it is better to sup more liberally then to dine , for the reasons before alleaged . but in respect of a difficile distribution , it is better to dine more liberally then to sup , because a more easie and better distribution of the nourishment into euery is made by day , when the bodie is in motion , then by night , when it is at rest . in like manner in all infirmities of the head , except there be , as i haue said , a drie distemperature of the braines , it is better to dine more liberally , then to sup , because the head will be lesse anoyed with the vapors that ascend from the stomacke . and here by the way i aduise all such as are subiect to distillations from the head to forbeare liquid meats at supper , and to sup for the most part on rosted meats , because they are lesse vaporous ; but for such as are wont , by reason of a drie braine , to passe the night without sleepe , or competent rest , moist and sorbile meats , because they best refresh the braine , and procure sleepe , are most profitable : and for the same reason , it is best for them to make a larger supper , then dinner , that the braine may more plentifully with vapors in the night season be refreshed . whether it be better to begin , and also to end the meale with meat , then with drinke ? this is a question worthy of consideration , because an orderly manner of eating and drinking at meales doth much concerne the stomacke , and the good concoction of the meats . and forasmuch as it is not good for all men to begin and end their meales alike , i aduise all such as are respectiue of their health , to search out and consider throughly the nature and disposition of their stomacke , for there is in it humor , or siccitie , which will demonstrate in what manner it is best for them to begin and end their meales . wherefore he that is studious of his health , ought to consider , whether his stomacke be moist or drie , or of a meane betwixt both . if there be excesse of moisture in the stomack , like as commonly is in them that be phlegmatick , then to begin the meale with drinke , is very hurtfull , because it weakneth the stomacke and liuer , deiecteth the appetite , breedeth much winde and crudities : and it is also no lesse hurtfull to end with drinke , because it subuerteth the concoction , and abundantly filleth the bodie with crude and flatulent humors . but if there be excesse of drynesse in the stomacke , like as commonly is in such as be cholericke , then it is good to begin the meale with drinke , that the present thirst may be asswaged , the stomack moistned , and the appetite , which ouer-much heat and drynes doth deiect , excited : and it is also no lesse auayleable to end with drinke , both because , that whatsoeuer of the meat shall remaine in the mouth of the stomacke , may therewith be carried toward the bottome of the same , where the concoction is perfected ; and also that thirst , seeing that they are by nature very thirstie , may be preuented . if the stomacke shall be neither too moyst , nor too drie , but of an indifferent temperature , then , i say , it is best to begin the meale with meat , but to end it with drinke , to the end that no part of the meat may sticke , or be at a stay about the mouth of the stomacke , but may of it be carried into the ventricle , which is the bottome of the stomacke , the very promptuarie for the meats , and place of absolute concoction . and here i must aduertise them that shut vp their meale with drinke , that they doe it with a moderate draught , for to end the meale with much drinke doth , by euerting the concoction , cause eructations , and beget much winde and crudities . but those that are subiect vnto rheumes and distillations from the head , ought not in any wise , hauing not drie and thirstie stomacks , to shut vp the meale with drinke , and then also but with a very litle quantitie , because it increaseth rheumaticke humors ; for it is much better for them to take alwayes some stypticke thing after meale ( the which is likewise good , and farre better then beere , for hot and drie bodies , that are rheumaticke ) that may inhibit the ascending of vapors , by closing vp the mouth of the stomack , as are , quince preserued , the iuyce of pomegranet of a middle fauour , which is neither too soure , nor too sweet , and the conserue made of red roses : the vse of these vpon meales is very profitable for all such as are subiect vnto rheumes ; but the pomegranet is most agreable to them that haue hot , cholericke , and thirstie stomacks . now whereas it hath bin shewed , that it is expedient for some constitutions to begin their meales with drinke , i must aduertise the reader , that he take it with some limitation , as that there be no broths or po●…age at table , for if there be , they are to be preferred before drinke , and alwayes taken in steede thereof , at the beginning of meale ( except of them that are molested with rheumes , or affected with crudities of the stomacke ; for vnto such , liquid and potulentall meats are not profitable ) because they are acceptable to the stomacke , and doe as it were , by reason of their liquiditie , very fitly prepare the way for o●…her meats . how many things ought those that are studious of their health , to obserue in the vse of drinke ? the necessitie and vse of drinke is first to preserue naturall moysture : secondly , to make a good mixture , concoction , and distribution of the meats : all which , that they may be effected without inconueniences , three things must be regarded and obserued in the vse of drinke . the first is , that it be taken moderately at meales , and that not at two or three great draughts , but by sundry litle draughts : for abundance of drinke at meales , marreth the concoction , both by causing the meats to fluctuate in the stomack , and also by weakning and relaxing the same : whereupon crude and phlegmaticke humors are abundantly increased , and consequently rheumes , fluxes , and many other inconueniences to the bodie and members . and the drinke must be mixt with the meats , not by great , but by sundry litle draughts : for great draughts , doe weaken the stomacke , infringe the naturall heat , which then is in concoction , driue downe the meat too hastily , and corrupt the whole bodie with ouer much moysture and cruditie . wherefore my counsaile to them is , that are respectiue of their health , that they drinke at their meales often and li●…le at a time , and also that they swallow downe the drinke not hastily , but leasurely : for the drinke being mixt with the meats , by diuers litle draughts leasurely taken , well tempereth them without anoyance , both for concoction , and also for distribution . for examples sake : with vs to whom beere is more agreable for an ordinarie drinke , then wine , let this be a generall rule for taking of drinke at meales . let the first draught be of an ordinarie beere for thirst sake : the second also of beere for mixture of the meats : the third and fourth of wine , or in want thereof , of stronger beere , for the better mixture , concoction , and distribution of the meats ; and if it be a geniall meale , or much larger then ordinarie , another draught of wine is also allowable . afterwards vpon meats taken againe , let there be assumed a draught of ordinarie beere , and therewith , or a litle meat superassumed , according to the nature of the stomacke , as is demonstrated in the precedent question , let the meale be concluded . but to this rule euery one may not exactly betake himselfe ; for of drinking at meales , no certaine prescript can be constituted , because the drinke is to be increased , and diminished , according to the temperature and disposition of the stomack in heat , & coldnes , drinesse , & moysture , loosenes , or stipticknes ; and also according to the temperature and substance of the meats . wherefore you must consider whether the meat be correspondent to the stomacke , or not : as whether a drie meat be taken into a drie stomacke , or a moyst : for if a drie meat be receiued into a drie stomacke , then the drinke is to be increased ; but if it be receiued into a moyst stomacke , then the drinke is to be taken in the same measure , as if both stomack and meat were of an indifferent temperature . in like manner the substance of the meat ought to be considered , whether it be grosse , or thin : if grosse , then a larger quantitie of drinke for the concocting and distributing of it is necessarie : if thin , then a lesse portion will susfice . the like indication may be taken from the disposition of the stomacke , which if it be subiect to laxitie , then a lesse portion of drinke ; if to stypticitie , then a greater is to be assumed . the second thing that is to bee obserued in the vse of drinke is , that the drinke be attempered to the temperature of the aire , of the season , of the countrey , of the meats , and of the person receiuing it : for by this meanes , the natiue heat will bee the better moderated , and the body consequently preserued in a sound and healthy temperature . the third thing which , concerning the vse of drinke , those that are studious of their health ought to obserue , is that they wholly betwixt dinner and supper , abstaine from drinke , excepting onely a dilutiue draught , whereof i will heereafter speake , because it breedeth crudities , except necessity , as sometime in them that bee cholericke , or custome shall require it : the later of which , notwithstanding is vicious , and therefore by little and little to bee relinquished . whether the drinking of wine at meales onely , betweene the eating , and not also before and after meale , bee expedient and profitable for the body ? the wholsomnesse of wine , in helping the concoction , nutrition , and exhilarating the spirits and heart , moderately taken at meale , as the temperature of the body , and time of yeere shall require , is so well and commonly knowen , as that it needeth not any demonstration . but whether it bee expedient to drinke wine presently before , and after meale , it is a matter not so euident . in my iudgement , the whole determination of this doubt , is to bee gathered from the nature of the wine , and from the temperature of the stomacke , and disposition of the body that taketh it . for example sake ; the drinking of wine before meale , is not conuenient for them that are young , or for any that haue hot stomacks , because it will distemper the liuer , cause in flammations , and consequently , marre the concoction of the meats . but for olde men , and all such as haue colde stomacks , a little draught of sacke , or of any other wine of like nature , is very profitable before meales , because it discusseth windy crudities , exciteth the appetite , and fortifieth the naturall heat for concoction ; yet with this prouiso , that they euen forthwith goe to their meale , for otherwise it will by euaporation greatly offend the head . but verily i suppose the drinking of white or rhenish wine , with a limmon sliced and macerated therein , and a little also of the choycest sugar added thereto , especially if the drinker bee of a tender pallate , to bee very wholsome and good , as a preparatiue draught before meales , for all bodies ( except for such as are subiect to a defluxion of humours , or else abound with much moysture and crudity ) especially for such as are subiect to obstructions , because it cleanseth away slimie humours , adhering to the stomacke , openeth the obstructions of the mesaraicke veines , of the milt , of the liuer , and of the reines , exciteth the appetite , and erecteth the digestiue faculty of the stomack . as concerning the drinking of wine immediately after meale , there are some that do altogether prohibit it , and not without good reason , becauseit hurteth the braine and sinewes , by euaporating from the stomacke ; yet by their leaue , a little draught of sacke , or of any other wine of like nature , may not be hurtfull , but rather oftentimes very profitable to them that haue colde and weake stomacks , so they bee not affected with infirmities of the head and sinewes , because it helpeth the concoction , by comforting the stomacke , and repairing the naturall heat . but the drinking of a great draught is in no wise expedient , because it subuerteth the concoction , by causing the meat to passe from the stomacke indigested , and greatly also offendeth the head with acute vapours . whether it be profitable , or in any sort necessary for such as are in health , to drinke betweene meales ? i answer , that it is very hurtfull to drinke betweene meales , so long as the meats that haue beene taken , remaine vndigested in the stomacke , and not past the first concoction ( except great thirst and siccity of the stomacke and throte shall require it , and then onely a little is to bee taken , that the drinesse may bee somewhat mitigated ) because it interrupteth and confoundeth the concoction , by disturbing the naturall heat that is in working , and consequently maketh the body to abound with crudities . but after that the meat is concocted and descended from the stomacke , which will bee in three or foure houres after the meale , it is good to drinke one meetly large draught , of white or rhenish wine , or stale beere , or of sacke , so the person that take it , be of a colde constitution , and so much the rather , if hee bee aged , and the season of the yeere also colde , to wash and cleanse out of the stomacke , the reliques of the meats , and to cause a more facile and speedy distribution , or passage of the meats concocted through the mesaraicke veines vnto the liuer . wherefore , this drinking of wine or beere betweene meales , as the constitution of the body shall require , may well bee termed both dilutiue and dilatiue , and is good for all men , especially for such as are subiect to obstructions of the stomacke , and mesaraicke veines , that conueigh the alimentary chyle or iuyce , which commeth of the meats , concocted in the stomacke to the liuer , to be made bloud . whether the custome of drinking fasting in the mornings , and and like wise evenings , even at the time of going to bed , bee to be approoued and consented vnto ? the custome of drinking in the mornings fasting , a large draught of white wine , of rhenish wine , or of beere , hath almost with all men so farre preuailed , as that they iudge it a principall meanes for the preseruation of their health ; whereas in very deede , it is , being without respect had of the state or constitution of the body , inconsiderately vsed , the occasion of much hurt and discommodity . for conuelling therefore of this vaine custome , i answer , that the drinking of a large draught fasting of the aforesayd wines , or of stale beere , if it shall be more agreeable to the body , is onely good for them that are of an hot and dry constitution , or subiect to obstructions , so they be not of a very cold and moyst temperature , that the siccity of the stomacke , may bee mitigated , and any slimie or obstructiue humour residing in it , in the liuer , veines , or reines remooued , and cleansed away : which the taking of a large draught fasting of stale beere , or of one of the aforesayd wines , especially if a limmon be macerated in it , as aforesayd , doe notably performe . but this may not so generally be taken , as that it is allowable for euery one that hath an hot and dry state of body , to drink a large draught mornings fasting , for it is not conuenient for such as are very rheumaticke , though they are of a dry temperature of body , because it will greatly encreaser heumes ; but to such , a small draught , to temper onely the siccity of the stomacke , is to be exhibited . and heere it may bee demanded , whether or no it bee good to drinke stronger wines fasting , as muskadell , malmsey , or such like : i know that it is vtterly forbidden , as pernicious to the body , which i likewise auerre , in respect of the younger sort of people ; but for the aged , in whom the radicall moysture and heat is decayed , i deeme it to bee very wholsome , especially in colde countries , and in the colde times of the yeere , because they are very comfortable and restoratiue : wherefore to drinke mornings fasting , a draught of muskadell or malmsey , and also to eat tosts of fine manchet-bread sopped therein , is no bad break fast for olde folkes , as i suppose . hence it may appeare , that it is not altogether vnwholsome , to drinke strong winenext the heart , so there bee respect had to the age , to the time , and to the countrey . as concerning the vse of drinking , at the time of going to bed , i affirme that it is in no respect allowable , but for hot and cholericke bodies , who commonly haue dry and thirsty stomacks , to whom a little draught of beere , and that also but of meane strength , for allaying onely the siccity of the stomack , may be admitted . i say a little draught , because a large one may breede crudities in the stomacke , offend the braine , and make it subiect to distillations . the conclusion therefore is , that to drinke mornings fasting , is very hurtfull to the phlegmatick , and at the time of going to bed , for all bodies , except for them that haue dry and thirsty stomacks , because it filleth their stomacks and veines with crudities , and the braine with superfluous vapours . wherefore the custome of drinking , mornings and euenings , is to be refrained , except of them , for whom it is conuenient , as aforesayd , and with great caution to be vsed of such , as are much subiect vnto rheumes , though the temperature of their body shall require it . finis . errata . pag. . lin . . after reason read of . pag. . lin . . for an approperous read a preproperous . pag. . lin . . the full point that is betweene these words , togither with , must be taken away . pag. . lin . . for vrine read wine . pag. lin . . read thus at the imperfect parenthesis ( as i haue shewed ) may be very profitable to coole , to moysten , and to open obstructions . pag. . lin . . for dust read adust . pag. . lin . . after phlegmaticke read but. pag. . lin . . after aged read for . pag. . lin . . for the two purposes , read the purpose . pag. . lin . . after best read and. and leaue out one and in the next line . pag. . lin . . after greater read difficultic . pag. lin . . leaue out not . pag. . lin . . after ought read at least . a table directing to the principall things conteined in this treatise . a aire , the differences and properties thereof . pag. , , , . what things declare the wholsomnes of the aire . the morning aire very hurtfull to them that haue weake braines , and subiect vnto rheumes . ale , for what bodies more profitable then beere , ale very hurtfull to phlegmaticke and grosse bodies , and such as are subiect to obstructions . alexanders . almonds . almond milke . allowes . anehoua's . anise-seeds . apples . aprecocks . appetite to meate , whether good to prouoke with sauces . . and whether it be good for the preseruation of health neuer to eatwith out a certaine appetite . aqua vitae , the vse and properties thereof . , artichocks . asparagus . auens . b bawme . barbaries . basill . barbell . base . bacon . bellies of beasts . beanes . beetes . betonie . beefe . beere , whether more wholsome then ale ? . for what bodies more conuenient then ale. ibid. whether beere breede rheumes more then ale ? how many properties ought to be in the best and wholsomest beere ? stale beere most wholsome in the summer season . whether beere made only of barley malt bee better and wholsomer , then that which is made of barley & oaten malt mingled togither . birt . vide turburt . blites . blacke birds . borage . bread , the diuers sorts thereof . . . . . what bread is the best and wholsomest . . se●…en properties in the best and wholsomest bread . . bisket bread , and the crusts of bread , whether profitable to the bodie . . . bread whether ought to be taken with the meats in a certaine measure and proportion . brawne . braine of beasts and fowles . breame . athreefold caution to be obserued in the vse of breakefasts . bustarde . butter . buds of brcome . burnet . buglosse . byttour . c capon and caponets . calaminarie or sea-cut . carpe . capers . carrots . careway seeds . chickens . cheese . . two commodities by eating of cheese after meat . cherries . chestnuts . chibols . cheruill . citrons . cinnamon . . cinnamon water . ibid. ciues . cinquefoylc . cloues . clarie . cockrels . conger . cockles . codfish . coleworts , or cabbage cole . costmarie . coriander seeds . conie and rabbets . crane . crab. creame . curlew . cuttlefish . currants . red currants . vide ribes . cucumbers . . pickled cucumbers . ibid. cyder and perrie , whether wholsome and profitable drinks ? d dabbe . dates . damsons . dandelion . three sorts of diet , and whether an exquisite diet be best for the preseruation of health ? dinner and supper what space of time ought to intercede ? doggefish . dorie . a fourefold vse of drinke . to drinke ad hilaritatem , whether lawfull and profitable ? in the vse of drinke three things to be obserued . . to drinke litle and often at meales is better then to drinke much at once . ibid. a generall rule for drinking at meales . . drinking between meales whether healthfull for the bodie ? drinking mornings fasting and likewise euening at the time of going to bed , whether healthfull and profitable for the bodie ? ducks and ducklins . e eies of beasts . eares of beasts . ibid. eeles . eggs. eisell . endiue . f fenducke . vide moore-hen . feete of beasts . fennell . feildfares . fish , whether the often vse thereof be wholsome for the health of the bodie ? figgs . filbords . fisticke nuts . filipendula . flesh of beasts & fowles being young , whether more wholsome , then when they are growne to fuller age ? flesh corned or seasoned with salt , whether more wholsome then vnsalted ? flesh that is meanely fat , why more wholsome then that which is very fat or leane ? kids flesh whether wholsomer then lambe ? flounder , or flooke . framboise . fresh fish whether more wholsome then salt fish . frumentie . new fruits whether wholsome to be eaten raw ? g garlicke . ginnies . vide turkies . ginger . . greene ginger and canded ginger . gillowflowers . goates flesh . goose. greene geese . ibid. gooseberries . gourds . grapes . gurnard . guilthead . gudgion . gysards of fowles . h habitation that is somewhat eminent , whether best for health ? hares , whether so profitable for meat , as delightfull for hunting ? hake . . haddocke . ibid. hallibut . . haselnnts . . hens . . heath cocks . . heron and heron-showe . . heart of beasts . . herrings . . honie . . hop-buds . . hysop . . i iringo-roots . . iunkets . . k kids flesh . vide . flesh. kidneies of beasts . . water karse . . l lambe whether wholsomer then mutton ? . larkes . . lapwinke . . lamprey . . lange-de beefe . . leekes . . lettuce . . being eaten with oyle insallades , for what bodies onely conuenient ? . liuers of beasts and fowles . . limmons . . lights of beasts . . linnets . . lobster . . lumpe or lomp-fish . . m mackrell . . marmalade . . mallowes . . marigold . . marrow . . maw . vide . bellies . mace. . maudline . . medlars . . melons . . mercurie . . metheglin & meath , whether wholsome and profitable drinks for euery age and constitution of bodie ? . meats much desired , albeit not laudable , whether they are to be preferred , and eaten before such as are better being not desired ? . how manie things ought to be considered . in electing meats conuenient for the constitution and state of the body ? . the ordinary vse of two meales in a day , whether best for the preseruation of health ? . one meale in a day for what bodies sometimes conuenient ? . whether it be better to begin and also to end the meale with meat then with drinke ? . whether in eating one meale a day , it be better to take it at dinner , then at supper ? . three things to be obserued at meales . . whether the eating of one or of diuers sorts of meat at a meale be alike profitable for the health of the body ? ibid. milke . . it consisteth of a threefold substance . . mints . . mush-roomes . . mustard . . mullet . . muskels . . mutton . . . mulberries . . n nauewes . . nutmegs . . nutmegs condited . ibid. o oile oliue . . oile omphacine . ibid. oliues . . onions . . orenges . . orach . . orgaine . . oysters . . why they are vsually eaten before meales ? . p parseley . . partridge . . parseneps . . perrie . vide cyder . pepper . . peares . . peaches . . pease . . peny royall . , pecock . . perch . . phesant . . pilchard . . pine apple . . pigeons . . pike and pikerel . . pistach . vide fisticknut . plouer . . plaice . . plums . . porke . . . rosting pigs . . potatoe roots . . porpuise . . pomegranet . . pompions , vide melons . pranes . . prunes . . prickmadam . . puffin . . pullets . . purselane . . . q quailes . . quinces . . quince peares . . r railes . . radge . . radish . . ra●…pis . vide . framboise . rabbets , vide conies . raisons , . rice-milke . . ribes . . rosting pigs . . roses . . conserue of red roses . rose sugar . vide sugar roset . rosemarie . . rocket . . s sack whether best to be taken with sugar or without ? . sammon and sammonpeale , . salt. . sauces , and whether the use of them be necessarie in the regiment of health ? . sampier . . saffron . . sanorie . sage . scallions . scruice berries . sea gull . shad. shrimps . skirret roats . snites . sole . sorell . spinage . speragevide asparagiu , sprats . . sparrowes . sturgeon . storke . strawberries . strawberrie leaues . sugar , and whether wholsomer then honie ? red sugar , and white sugar candie . sugar roset . succorie . supper or the dinner whether ought to be the larger ? swan . swines flesh vide porke . t tansie , tarragon . teale . tanch , thrush . thorne backe . time. tongue of beasts . . trout . tripes vide bellies of beasts . turkies . turtle-doue . turbut . tunie . turneps . towne cresses or towne karse . v venison of fallow deere whether wholsomer then of red ? whether veale , for goodnes of nourishment excell all other flesh of quadrupedall creatures . veriuice . violets . vinegar . udders of beasts . w water , whether the drinking thereof be good for northerne people . of the differences of waters . . . . wardons . wallnuts . whiting . white-meats . whey . whorts . wine , the diuersities , commodities , & faculties thereof . , , , , , . white , and rhenish wines , whether good to be taken at meales or after meales ? . for what bothey are most hurtfull . ibid. new wines , why unwholsome . whether all new wines breede obstructions . wines too old very hurtfull . ibid. wine , whether good to be taken at meales onely betweene the eating , and not also before and after meales . foure principall commodities come to to the aged by the use of pure wine . whether the use of wine mixed with water be fit for all times , and profitable for all bodies . how many precepts ought to be obserued in the use of pure wine in respect of the age ? wines of a grosse substance ought not to be diluted . the manner of mixing wine with water for euery temperature of body . fower things ought to be considered in the use of wines diluted . wings of fowles . wigeon . wodcokcs . wolfe-fish . wormewood . the wholsomnesse of wo●…mewoodwine or beere . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e aire vaporous , grosse , or putride , aire too hot . temperate aire . aire intemporately cold . * astl 〈◊〉 is a disease when y e lungs are so stopt & clogd with phlegme , as that they cannot dilate themselues : by reason whereof a man cannot breath but with wheasing , panting , &c. aire meanely cold . aire too moist . aire indifferently moist . a dry aire . what things declare the wholsomnes of the a●…re . what place for habitation is best . * for some haue their natures rectified by education . raine water alt●…reth in goodnesse , according to the times of the yeere . riuer-water . well-water . pump and cisterne waters . waters carried thorow pipes of lead . standing waters . waters neere the sea-shores . hot bathes hurtfull to hot and dry bodies . notes for div a -e bread of beanes and oates . second bread. browne bread. on●… way bread. panis confusaneus . rie bread. messeling bread. barley bread. i. . . . . . . notes for div a -e the discommodities of wine immoderatly taken . whitewine and rhenish wine . * a little sugar may be al●…o added therto , as is hereafter shewed ; but it is more medicinable , in ●…egard of the penetratiue faculty of it , if it bee taken without sugar . white and rhenish wines , whether good to be taken with meat , or after meale ? claret wine . sacke . whether s●…cke be best , to be taken with sugar , or without ? malmesey . muskadell . bastard . canarie wine , tent. greeke wine . wine of orleance . vin de coussy , and d' hai , regall wines . red wine . wines differ in goodnesse according to their age . why all wines ●…aue not the same time of continuance . wines too old are very hurtfull . whether all n●…w wines do breed obstructions ? what new wines not perfectly depurated , may without hurt be drunken , and of what bodies ? foure principall commodities come vnto the aged by the vse of pure wine . wine alayed with water , for whom profitable . foure things to be considered in the vse of wines diluted . the manner of mixing wine with water for euery temperature of body . why wines of a grosse substance ought not to be dilut●…d ? to drinke ad hilaritat●…m , whether lawfull and profitable . for whom beere is better then ale. whether beere be colder in operation then ale ? whether beere breeds rheumes more then ale ? stale beere most wholesome in the summer season . drunkennesse with ale or beere worse then with wine . whether beere made onely of barly malt be better and wholesomer then that which is made of barly and oaten malte mingled togither ? a fourefold end of the vse of drinke . cyder and perie very hurtfull vnto cold bodies , and such as are troubled with y e winde collicke . * as to euery gallon of water , one ounce of ginger , scraped clean and sliced . meath . according to the strength you desire to haue it , or as the temperature of the body shall require . aqua vitae very hu●…tfull vnto dry bodies . notes for div a -e mutton . steere or hei●…er beefe . bulls beefe . bacon . gammond of bacon . brawne . rosting pigs . capon . hens . chickens . pullets . cockrels . caponets . ginnies , or tu●…k . es . pecocks . pigeons . partridge . quailes . railes . turtle-dou●…s . black-birds . thrush . larkes . woodcocks . snites . heath-cocks . feildfares . sparrowes . linnets . crane . bustard . heron. heronshow . byttour . storke . seagull . teale . radge . plouer . lapwincke . wigeen . curlew . fenducke or moore-hen , ducks , ducklings . goose. greene geese . swan . braine . eyes . eares . marrow . tongue . the maw and belli●… of beasts . gysarde of fowles . wings . liuer . heart . lights . melt . kidneies . vdder●… . feete . notes for div a -e the choise of fish . sole . plaice . dabbe . flounder or flooke . * that are very tender mouthed . gurnard . whiting . breame . shad and mackrell . dogge-fish and hake . cod-fish , haddock . mullet . base . sammon . sammon-peale . turbut . sturgion . hallibut . dorie . allowes . guilthead . calaminarie , or sea cut , cuttle-fish , poure-cuttle the wolsefish . lompe-fish . conger . lamprey . thornback , tuine , porpuise , &c. herrings . p●…lchard . red herrings and sprats , anchoua's . shell-fish . oysters . oysters , why ●…sually eaten before meale ? muskels . cockles . crab. lobster . pranes , and shrimps . fresh water fish . trout . pike . pikrell . perch . carpe . barbell . tench . gudgion . eeles . puffin . notes for div a -e * of y e bloud , of the spirits , and of the flesh . claret wine best agreeing with eggs . a light and comfortable breakfast . milke not profitable for all bodies . sugar & mints preuent y e corruption , & coagulation of milke in the stomacke , cautions to be obserued vpon the drinking of milke . the difference of milke according to the kinds of it . milke consisteth of three seuerall parts , creame . butter , cheese , two commodities by eating of cheese after mest . whey . white-meats . frumentie . rice-milke . * for there is in the pill or barke of rice , a causticke or burning qualitie , very pernicious to the body . iunckets . a caution concerning the eating of iunckets . notes for div a -e the commodities of sauce . the discommodities of the too much vse of salt . vinegar . the discommodities of the ouermuch vse of vinegar . rose-vinegar . verjuce . mustard . orenges . limmons . citrons . oliues . capers . buds of broome . sampier . radish . radish neither good before meat , nor after meat , nor togither with meat . why radishes breed much windinesse & belchings . oyle . oyle om●…hacine . honie , the eating of honie mornings fasting very profitable for phlegmatick bodies , honie for whom vnwholsome . clarified honie . notes of the best honie . new honie why better then olde . sugar . whether sugar be wholesomer then honie . red sugar candie . the best sugar . white sugar candie . compound sauces . cinnamon water . cloues . nutmegs and mace. nutmegs condited . pepper . ginger . greene ginger . candied ginger . saffron . notes for div a -e foure degrees in the qualities of simples . apples . why some apples putrifie sooner then other ? peares . wardons . quince-peares . quinces . marmalade . pomegranet . peaches and aprecocks , medlars and se●…uices . mulber●…ies . figgs . dates . plums . wilde plums . damsons . prunes . grapes . a caution concerning the eating of grapes . raysons . currants . cherries . goose-beries . ribes . the rob of ribes . barberies . raspis , or framboise . strawberies . whorts . hasell-nuts . filberds . walnuts . chestnuts . pine-apple or nut. fisticke nuts . almonds . almond milke . mushrums . melons . cucumbers . pickled cucumbers . gourds . beanes . pease . a●…ichocks . coleworts or cabbage cole . carrots and parseneps . turneps , and navewes . skirret-roots . potatoes . iringo-roots , garlicke , onions . scallions and chibols . leekes . ciues . lettuce . lettuces eaten with oyle in sallads , to what bodies onely conuenient . the hurts that come to the body , by the too much vse of l●…ttuce . purselane . purselane preserued in pickle , a very wholsome sau●…e . sea-purselane . prick-madam spinage . blites and orach . beetes . the great red romane beet . mercurie . mallowes . mallowes very hurtfull to the stomacke . sorell . * for the one doth correct the siccitie , the other the frigiditie of the sorell . endiue and succorie . dandelion . borage and buglosse . lang de beuf burnet . the excellent vertues of burnet in wine . cinquefoyle . strawberrie leaues . violets . the flowers of violets , of borage , and of the rose are very wholesome in sallads . roses . sy●…upe of roses laxat●…e not good for such as haue weake and moist stomacks . conserue of red roses . roses preserued . sugar roset . gillowflowers . marigold . asparagus . hop-buds . parsley . alexanders . penie-royall or organie . hyssop . time. sauaury . mints . mints very wholsome in sallads . bawme , and basill , marjorame . betouie . sage . rosemary . costmary & maudline . tansie . clarie , rocket and tarragon . towne cress●… , or towne ka●…se , water karsse . auens . filipendula . cheruill . roots of cheruill exceeding , wholsome . wormewood . the wholesomnesse of wormewood wine or beere , and for whom it is most conuenient . fennell . a caution concerning the eating of the round tufts or heads of fennell . anise seeds , and careway seeds . coriander seeds . notes for div a -e three sorts of diet. an admonition for licentious liuers . a threefold caution to be obserued in the vse of break . fasts . the vse somtimes of one meale in a day , for what bodies conuenient . whether in eating one meale a day , were it better to take it at supper , then at dinner ? what space of time ought to intercede dinner and supper ? three things to be obse●…ued at meales . reasons that make for varietie of meats at meale . the solution of the controuersie . the eating of flesh and fish at one meale not wholsome for the bodie . whether bread ought to be taken with y e meats in any sutable measure and proportion . for whom it is not convenient to sup more liberally , then to dine . wherewith it is best for them that be rheumaticke to finish and shut vp their meales . to drinke litle and often at meales , is better , then to drinke much at once . a generall rule for drinking at meales . prayers for the use of all persons who come to the baths for cure. by the author of the manual of prayers, for the use of the scholars of winchester colledge. ken, thomas, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) prayers for the use of all persons who come to the baths for cure. by the author of the manual of prayers, for the use of the scholars of winchester colledge. ken, thomas, - . , [ ] p., plate: map printed for c. brome, london : . the author of the manual of prayers = thomas ken. with a folding cut of the city of bath. reproduction of the original in the british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng church of england -- prayer-books and devotions -- early works to . bath (england) -- history -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion prayers for the use of all persons who come to the baths for cure . by the author of the manual of prayers , for the use of the scholars of winchester colledge . london , printed for c. brome , . bathe map of the city of bath prayers for the use of all persons who come to the baths for cure . all glory be to god. good christian brother or sister , whatsoever the calamity be , whether sickness , or lameness , or want of children , which brings you to this place , i am sensible how tender a regard i ought to have for you ; since you are come within my fold , in imitation of our most merciful redeemer , who in respect even of our bodily distempers , sympathised with our miseries , bore our griefs , and carried our sorrows isa. liii . . mat. viii . . for this reason i could not satisfie my self , in only praying for you , as i daily do , unless i did also send you these directions and prayers , which are few , and short , and familiar , to comply with the infirmites of your condition , and which i hope by gods blessing , may be words spoken in season ; nor can i doubt , but that all of you who want such helps , will seriously persue them , and observe the advices of your spiritual physitians , as you are wont to do those of your corporal . do not think the baths can do you any good , without gods immediate blessing on them ; for it is god that must first heal the waters , before they can have any virtue to heal you . the river jordan could never have cleansed naaman of his leprosie , king v. . had he washed himself in it , seventy times seven times , had not god blessed it to his clensing . the pool of siloam , joh. ix . ● could never have restored sight to one born blind , had not our lord sent him to it . and the pool of bethesda could never have made sick persons whole , but that an angel was sent by god to trouble the waters joh. v. . i cannot then do better , than to send you to that angel , who according to st. john , flyes in the midst of heaven , having the everlasting gospel to preach to them that dwell on the earth , saying with a loud voice , fear god , and give glory to him , and worship him , that made heaven , and earth , and the sea , and the fountains of waters , rev. xiv . , . this was the angel's sermon ; and i beseech you to become his auditors , and to observe how after the heaven , and the earth , and the sea , he particularly mentions the springs or fountains of waters , as a very wonderful part of the creation : for out of the dark places of the earth , through passages , and from causes , unknown to the search of the wisest of men , god makes sweet , and fresh springs to rise , to water the earth , to give drink to every beast of the field , and to supply all the necessities of human life , and springs of different kinds , some to allay our thirst , some to cure our diseases . look therefore on the bath , as a very admir●●●● and propitious work of divine providence , designed for the good of a great number of infirm persons , as well as for your self . praise and adore god , who has signally manifested his power , and his mercy , in creating so universal a good ; and the first thing you do when you are come to this place , worship god who made the fountain . to this end you may use the following form at your first coming , and all the time of your stay : and be pleased to observe that this , and all the other forms which you find here , are penned in distinct parts , on purpose that you may choose those which are most suitable to your condition , or recite one at a time , if your weakness will not bear any longer intention of your mind . a thanksgiving for the waters , and a prayer for gods blessing on them . with all humility of soul and of body , i praise , and adore , and worship thee , o lord god , allmighty , and all-gracious , who hast mad● t●e fountains of waters ; thou sendest the springs into the vallies which run among the hills : some for our refreshment , some for medicine , and in particular , thou hast sent us this spring , as a general good to infirm persons . and therefore all glory be to thee . thee only , o lord , do i acknowledge the author of the sp●ing , thou only canst make it eff●ctual to my cure in thee only i trust , on th●● only i depend , to thee only , i commit my self , all my hope is only in thee . behold , o merciful lord , i am come to the bath , as naaman to jordan , o may i feel the like happy effect , o may i wash and be healed ! i come lord , like the blind man to the pool of siloam ; i come , for thou thy self hast sent me , as thou didst send him . thy providence by laying on me this distemper , has bid me come hither . o may the bath be as powerful to restore my health , as the pool was to give the blind man his sight . i come lord to the bath , like the infirm man to the pool of bethesda ; o send thy angel to move the waters as i step into them , to move them , not only for me , but for all other infirm persons also , whom thou hast sent hither , that we may be made whole , of whatsoever diseases we have , if it seem good in thy sight . lord be thou pleased to guide and counsel my physitian , that he may throughly discover the cause of my distemper , and prescribe proper means for my recovery , and do thou so bless those means , that in thy good time , they may become successful . o my god , hear me , and help me , for the merits of jesus thy beloved . amen . you have great reason to begin with god , not only because he is the author of the bath , and can only bless it to your health ; but also because he is the author of that very distemper that brings you hither . for affliction cometh not forth of the dust , neither does trouble spring out of the g●ound , job . v. . it is not a thing that happens to us by chance : it does not proceed only from natural causes , which are secundary , and instrumental ; we must look beyond all these , to the permission , and apointment of divine providence , from which it first took its rise , and by which it is wholly conducted . since then it is certain , that your affliction comes from god , and it is as certain that god does not afflict willingly , nor grieve the children of men , lam. iii. . but that he has always a most righteous motive , to incline him to afflict them . it very h●ghly concerns you to examine your self with all the care you can , that you may discover what there is in you , what you have done , to move the god of mercy to grieve you . there is no calamity , whether it be sickness , or pain , or lameness , or the like , that can befall us , but it is the natural consequence of our depraved , frail , mortal condition , and is incident to good men , as well as to bad ; to the former , it is a punishment , to the latter it is a trial . holy scripture teacheth us , that god has threatened very many , and very sore bodily diseases to disobedience , deu. xviii . , , . and that they who are sick , are stricken by god , sam. xii . . the corinthians , who profaned the blessed sacrament , were for that cause , many of them weak , and sickly , chron. xxi . . cor. xi . . and our saviour , in his advice he gives to the man whom he cured of an infirmity of thirty eight years continuance , intimates that sin was the cause of that inveterate disease , jo. v. . but when god is pleased to afflict righteous persons with sickness , as he did king david and hezekiah , then sickness is not an effect of god's anger , but of his paternal disciplin towards them , ps. xxxviii . . isa. xxxviii . . the like may be said of lameness , which happens by the divine direction , to good men , as well as to the wicked : king asa who did that which was good , and right in the eyes of the lord his god , in the time of his old , age , was diseased in his feet king. xv . . mephibosheth was lame from five years old , sam. iv . . and the poor man whom st. peter and st. john miraculously healed , was lame from his mothers womb , acts iii. . since then both sickness and lameness are strokes given us by god , to him we must chiefly , and in the first place , betake our selves for cure ; and the holy ghost has set a mark of spiritual disgrace on asa , who was otherwise a good king , that in his disease he sought not to the lord , but to the physicians , chr. xvi . . not that the scripture does in the least condemn , or discourage our going to the physicians when we are sick , or our use of all due means for our recovery . our saviour himself , when he says , they that are whole need not a physician , but they that are sick , mat. ix . . sufficiently intimates , that they that are sick did need one . the son of sira●h gives excellent advice to both the sick and the physician : honour a physician with the honour due unto him , for the uses which you may have of him , the lord hath created him , the lord hath created medicines out of the earth , and he that is wise will not abhor them , and with such doth he heal men , and taketh away their pains , ecclus. xxxviii . . &c. but then he adds , my son , in thy sickness be not negligent , but pray unto the lord , and he will make thee whole ; leave off from sin , and order thy hands aright , and cleanse thy heart from all wickedness ; give a sweet savour , and a memorial of fine flower ; then give place to the physician . there is a time when in their hands there is good success ; for they also shall pray unto the lord , that he would prosper that which they give for ease and remedy , to prolong life . i earnestly recommend to you this counsel of the son of sirach ; and therefore to you that are sick , or infirm , or lame , i recommend repentance , and prayer , and sacrifice ; the sacrifice of alms , by which you will offer to god a sweet savour . to your physician i also recommend devout prayer to the author of health , and sickness , that his physick may prosper ; and then is physick like to procure a blessing , when both the patient , and the physician joyn in their prayers for it . i exhort you to begin with repentance , and to read devotional books on that subject , of which , blessed be god , there are good store ; for it is repentance that must dispose you for prayer . the prophet complains of the obdurateness of those , who , when god had stricken them , did not grieve , jer. v. . god forbid you should be thus obdurate . god forbid ! but since he has stricken you , you should grieve , and grieve with that godly sorrow which worketh repentance to salvation , not to be repented of . i ●●seech you then to examine your selves very seriously , whether you have ever repented of your sins , so as to bring forth fruits meet for repentance ; for if you are guilty either of total impenitence , or of an universal relapse into your old sins , or if you lie under the dominion of any one wilful sin , look no further for the original cause of your distemper : god has in justice sent it you for your punishment . but the most merciful god , who delights not in the death of a sinner , in his very punishments designs rather to awaken , than to destroy us ; and if this punishment , by which god calls you to repentance , does awaken you out of your former security , it turns to a blessing , to a happy occasion of your eternal bliss ; be of good cheer then , and repent . your very bodily distemper will present you with a lively idea of your sins , and holy scripture makes use of the former , to picture out to us the latter . think then of the weakness , and the pain , and the indisposedness , and the restlessness , and the danger that afflict the sick man , and compare them with that impotence to good , that anguish of a wounded spirit , that universal indisposedness to duty , that restlessness of conscience , those horrors of eternal torment , which attend the sinner , and which without repentance are for ever incurable ; and make this reflection with your self , that if we are so very sollicitous for the cure of our bodies , much more ought we to be sollicitous for the cure of our souls . but if your heart does not condemn you , if you are conscious to your self , you have truly repented , and have never returned to your vomit again , and indulge no one wilful sin , and have nothing to accuse your self of , but your daily failings ; which are the unavoidable infelicities of lapsed nature , and for which you daily beg pardon , then is your distemper a fatherly chastisement only , and you ought to rejoyce in it rather than in the least to regret it . however it is your best way to renew your repentance on this occasion , and to be sure to bear gods rod , and to learn that lesson from it , in which you are sensible you were deficient before , and which god has sent this ●ffliction on purpose to ●each you . true repentance will rightly dispose you for prayer , and you will come with boldness , with an humble , but firm confidence to the throne of grace , when you can look on god as reconciled to you in jesus , and shall be sure to obtain help in time of need . to obtain either the cure of your distemper , or if god sees th● continuance of it to be mor● for your spiritual advantage such grace which is sufficien● for you , such consolation i● your own soul , and satisfaction in god's good pleasure , as shall abundantl● over-balance your calamity● prayer is a duty alway● obliging , and to be practised by all , because all stand alike in need of the divine mercy , and benediction ; but it is more especially the duty proper for the time of affliction , because our needs are then most pressing , and therefore says st. james , is any afflicted , let him pray , jam. v. . nor is it enough for you to pray for your selves , but according to the same apostle's advice , and as soon as you come to this place , whether you are poor , or rich , send for , or if you are able , go your self to the elders of the church , to pray over you as god's ministers , and to give you ghostly counsel , as they are guides of souls ; desire them that you may have the daily prayers of the whole congregation for you , that the waters may be blessed to you , and be sure you daily frequent the publick prayers your self , or as often as your infirmity permits . in all your prayers , for deliverance from your present affliction , you must always remember to pray with resignation of your own will , to the divine will , as our lord hath taught us , father , if thou be willing , remove this cup from me , nevertheless not my will bu● thine be done , luke xxii . . this short affectual heavenly prayer i beseech you to have always in your heart , and in your mouth ; and the oftner you repeat it , endeavour to repeat it with more and more fervency , committing your condition , all your sorrows , and the answer of all your prayers wholly to god , committing your soul entirely to him in well-doing , as into the hands of a faithful creator , pet. iv . . of the two prayers which follow , you may use daily one , or both , in whole , or in part , as they best suit with the temper of your soul , and with your particular condition . a prayer for repentance when god is provoked to punish us . o holy lord god , i wretched sinner , humbly acknowledge , that thou in thy justice hast laid this calamity on me for my sins . glory be to thee , o lord , that thou hast not given me over as incorrigible , that thou hast sent this punishment to awaken , and to humble me . o may it have that blessed effect on me , that from my very misery , i may date my salvation ! thou lord hast stricken me ( with sickness ) ( with lameness ) and it is just i should bear thy indignation , because i have sinned against thee . blessed be thy infinite goodness , that my punishment is not greater , that thou hast not suffered thy whole displeasure to arise . o lord god , in the midst of iudgment remember mercy , that mercy which is over all thy works , that mercy in which thou thy self delightest ; behold , a great , a miserable sinner , a fit object of that mercy here prostrate before thee : lord have mercy on me . ah lord , my spiritual distemper , is infinitely more mortal than my corporal ; o that it might be thy good pleasure to forgive the one , and to remove the other . o thou that art rich in mercy , give the grace of true repentance to all that come to the waters ; and give it to me , the greatest sinner of them all . lord , give me grace to examine all my mis-spent life , in the bitterness of my soul to confess my sins , with a broken and contrite heart , to bewail them with utmost abhorrence to forsake them , and do thou so order my steps in thy word , that for the time to come , no wickedness may have dominion over me , that i may bring forth fruits meet for repentance . i confess , lord , that i have abused my members , and made them instruments of unrighteousness to sin , rom. vi . . and thou hast most justly punished them for it ; o restore them to me again , and i will endeavour all my life , to make them instruments of righteousness to thy glory . ah lord , it is the cure of my soul , for which i pray more earnestly , than for the cure of my body . i go to the bath for my bodily health , and bless it , if it be thy will to my perfect recovery , and to the recovery of all those that come thither with me : but for the health of my soul , i fly to the blood of jesus , to the fountain set open for sin and for uncleanness : i consult my bodily physitian for my distemper , but with much greater concern , i fly to thee , o lord , who art the sovereign physician of souls . heal my soul , o god , for i have sinned , grievously sinned against thee , and by my sins have provoked thee , who art the god of mercy , to anger . o heal my backsliding , and love me freely , and take away mine iniquity , and receive me gratiously , and turn thine anger from me . i humbly pray to thee , o lord , for my bodily cure ; but because i know i may be eternally happy hereafter without health of body here , i pray for it with a resolution , to acquiess in thy good pleasure , shouldst thou think fit to deny it . but , o my god , when i pray for the cure of my soul , i resolve i will not be denyed , i will never give over importuning thee , till thou givest me that godly sorrow , which worketh repentance to salvation , not to be repented of , till thou hast begun to kindle thy love in my heart . turn thou me , o lord , and i shall be turned . i will give thee no rest , till thou hast turned me to thy self . turn me then , o my god , o turn me , o pardon me , o succour me , o heal me , o save me , for thy own infinite mercies sake , and for the merits of jesus thy beloved , in whom thou hast made sinners accepted . amen . amen . a prayer for amendment when god is pleased to try us . i know , lord , that thy iudgments are right , and that thou of very faithfulness hast caused me to be troubled , for before i was afflicted i went astray , but now have i learned to keep thy word , blessed be thy goodness for afflicting me . true it is , o my god , that thou hast most seasonably sent me this affliction , ( this sickness , lameness , ) because thou in thy propitious wisdom didst see that i wanted it . o may it have its most gracious , and full influence on my soul , that i may be bettered by it . i humbly beg of thee , o merciful father , that this affliction may strengthen my faith , which thou sawest was growing weak : fix my hope which was staggering , quicken my devotion which was languishing , unite me to my first love which i was forsaking , rekindle my charity which was cooling , revive my zeal which was dying , confirm my obedience which was wavering , recover my patience which was fainting , mortifie my pride which was presuming , and perfect my repentance which was daily decaying : for all these and the like infirmites , to which my soul is exposed , o make thy affliction my cure. grant , o my god , that this affliction , thou hast in mercy laid on me , may wean all my affections from the world , which i was apt to grow too fond of ; rescue me from those occasions of evil , of which i was in danger ; secure me from those temptations which were ready to assault me ; restrain me from those sins , to which my nature most strongly inclin'd ; preserve me from all those abuses of health , i am apt to incur ; and purifie my soul , from all that dross , and from all those vitious propensions , which either my repentance had left behind , or which i have since contracted . o my god , let thy affliction produce my amendment , and all the happy effects in me , which it is wont to do in thy children , and which thou in mercy doest design it should ; and then continue thy affliction , if it seem good in thy sight : behold , lord , happy is the man whom thou thus correctest , job . v. . what is best for me , o my god , i know not , my flesh desires a deliverance from this distemper , and if it be thy pleasure , o lord deliver me : my spirit desires that thou only wouldst choose for me : do thou then o heavenly father choose for me ; choose for me because thou art my father , and out of thy fatherly tenderness , wilt be sure to choose what is the best for me : i resign up my own will entirely to thine . father if , thou be willing , remove this cup from me , nevertheless not my will but thine be done . o my father , if it be thy blessed will the waters should not be effectual to me , make them effectual to all other infirm persons besides : i will rejoyce in thy goodness for removing their affliction , i will acquiesce in thy goodness for continuing mine . hear , lord , and have compassion on me , for the merits and sufferings of jesus , whose perfect resignation may i always imitate . amen . amen . next to the great duties of repentance , and prayer , i am to exhort you to sacrifice of alms-giving , which is a duty appropriate to the rich , or to those who have a competence of the things of this world , so that as hitherto i have united the rich and poor together , because both are alike obliged to repent and to pray , i must now seperate them , and give distinct exhortations to them both . an exhortation to the rich. if you are rich , or have wherewithal to relieve others , then be sure to be rich in good works , and according to your ability give alms , luke xi . . and give them in this place to those poor christians , who come to the bath for the cure of the like distempers as the rich do , but have nothing to sustain them , or to defray the charges of their cure. from what you feel your self , learn to compassionate the like miseries in others ; that relief you would desire others should shew to you , were you in want , do you shew to the poor ; those blessings , that ease , that health , and that patience , you beg of god for your self , beg of god for all others , which you see are in the like distress , and beg it as you would for your self , and with a like concern . such charity as this will be an unspeakable comfort to you , whatever your distemper is ; there is a present temporal blessing promised to it , and promised to charitable persons in that very time , when they most of all want it , namely in the time of their trouble , and on their sick beds : for blessed is he that considereth the poor and needy , the lord shall deliver him in the time of trouble , the lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing , thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness , psal. xli . , . learn then of our most compassionate saviour to shew mercy to the sick , and the lame , and to contribute all you can to their healing ; lay aside mony for that very use , and pray to god to direct your charity to those who most want it , and who are most worthy to be relieved : by this means you will be able conscientiously to say with job , i was eyes to the blind , and feet was i to the lame , job xxix . . a prayer for the rich. all glory be to thee , o lord god , for that portion of the good things of this life , thou hast been pleased to vouchsafe me ; thou lord hast made me thy steward of them , and at the great day , i must give an account to thee of my stewardship . o make me a faithful steward of them , that i may give an account to thee with joy , and not with grief . thou lord hast made it an argument of my love to thee , to open my bowels to my brother in need . behold , lord , i see many of my brethren and sisters here in need , and destitute of those conveniencies for using the waters , which thou in great goodness hast vouchsafed me , and out of a grateful sense of thy infinite love to me , i desire to shew love to them , and to my power to contribute to their comfort , support , and cure : glory be to thee who hast enabled me to do it . o blessed saviour , i see thee , in every one of thy poor members , here lying at the pool , and thou hast none to help thee in . o give me grace to undertake that merciful office ; to open my bowels , and my purse wide to help thee ; and do thou vouchsafe help to me , in my time of need . o my god , do thou direct me , in the distribution of my alms to those who most want , and who best deserve relief ; that i may dispose of them most agreable to thy will , and to those who shall most glorifie thee for them . o make me ever merciful , as thou , o father in heaven art merciful ; indulge me a share in that mercy , with which thou hast promsed to bless the merciful , and send me deliverance in the time of trouble . hear lord , forgive , and save me , for thy own infinite mercies sake , for thy truth , and promise sake , and for the merits of jesus thy beloved . amen . amen . ejaculations at the giving of alms. blessed be thou , o lord god , for ever and ever ; for all things come of thee , and of thy own do i now give thee , chr. xxix . lord , let these alms be an odour of a sweet smell , a sacrifice acceptable , well peasing to thee , through iesus the son of thy love , phil. iv . . if your own charitable disposition incline you , and your spiritual guide do also advise you , to devote a particular sum to pious uses , you may express your vow , in this or the like manner : o my god , if thou wilt be with me in this place , and keep me in thy way , and deliver me from my ( sickness , lameness ) and bless the waters to me , then shalt thou , o lord , be my god , and of that thou hast given me , i will surely give ( here name the sum ) to thee , and to the poor , that they may be relieved by it , and glorifie thee for it . an exhortation to the poor . you that are poor , though you cannot exercise your charity in giving to others , yet you may , and ought to do it , in praying for them , especially for your benefactours . the greater your temporal wants are , the more they should teach you to depend on god ; and the fewer are your temptations ; and your very poverty , if you make a sanctified use of it , will teach you poverty of spirit , humility , heavenly-mindedness , of lively faith , and a firm confidence in god , who is your only refuge , and help in your greatest need . a prayer for the poor . o lord god , the refuge of all mankind , but especially of the miserable look down with thine eye● of tenderest pity , on my low and destitute condition . thou lord , hast been pleased to deny me the good things , the conveniencies of this life , blessed be thy name for it ; thou sawest i should abuse them , and therefore hast in mercy with-held from me those occasions of sin . but since thou art pleased , beyond my poverty to lay this further calamity , ( this sickness , lameness ) on me , which has brought me hither , o be thou also pleased to succour , and to support me under it . ah , lord , i come to my remedy , but have not wherewithal to apply it : i come to the waters , but have none to assist me , none to help me into the bath ; o let thy infinite love , kindle a compassionate charity in the hearts of the rich , and incline some merciful persons , to relieve me . send seasonable relief , o my god , to all other poor and needy persons , who come hither calamitous like my self ! o bless the waters to our cure , that being restored to our health , and strength , we may return to our labour , and according to thy divine appointment , in the sweat of our brows may eat our bread ; bless the waters , o lord , to all other infirm persons , but especially bless them to my benefactors . lord , sanctifie my poverty to me , that i may be humble and constant under it , and submissive to the disposals of thy most wise and gracious providence . o my god , though i am poor in this world , make me rich in faith ; i will gladly want riches here , so i may have treasure in heaven hereafter , and be an heir of the kingdom , which thou hast promised to those that love thee . lord pity me , lord hear me , lord help me , lord save me , according to the multitude of thy mercies , and the merits of my saviour . amen . amen . the poor man's prayer for those that relieve him . glory be to thee , o lord , for my benefactors ; glory be to thee who hast given them ability , and inlarged their hearts , to relieve the poor and needy ; glory be to thee for directing them in particular to relieve me . o my god , i earnestly beg of thee , to shew mercy to them , who have shewed mercy to me : i have had the comfort of their alms , blessed be thy name : o give them a plentiful recompence for it , reward them sevenfold into their bosom , through jesus thy beloved . amen . amen . ejaculations for the poor . as for me i am poor and needy , but thou lord , carest for me , and on thee , lord , i cast all my cares . glory be to thee , o lord , who deliverest the poor in his affliction : o let it be thy pleasure to deliver me . o lord , the poor committeth himself to thee , for thou art the helper of the friendless ; and to thee , poor as i am , i wholly commit my self . o be thou my helper , o be thou my friend . thou , o god , hast of thy goodness prepared for the poor , and the poor and needy shall give thanks unto thy name . o my soul , put thy trust in the lord , and by doing good dwell in the land , and verily thou shalt be fed . having thus allotted to you that are rich , and to you that are poor , your distinct duties , i must now again joyn you together ; and i most passionately beseech you , if you have a concern for the eternal wellfare of your souls , any honour for that most holy religion you profess , any reverence for the pure all-seeing eyes of god , to take all imaginable care , that you do not abuse the bath , by any lasciviousness , or impurity , which may defile your selves , or others : for this is the way to turn the means of your cure , into an occasion of the more outragious sin ; and to provoke god to send you away with a dreadful curse , instead of a blessing . if after a due use of the baths , you find any benefit by them , and that your distemper is either removed , or abated , as you desired the prayers of the congregation at your first coming , for god's blessing on the waters ; so it is most just you should desire the congregation to give thanks for you , and to render to god a publick acknowledgment for the mercy he has vouchsafed you . be very careful , that when you are well , you do not forget you were sick : but let that advice which our lord gives to the impotent man , be deeply impressed on your mind , say it often to your own soul , sin no more , lest a worse thing come unto thee . renew all those good resolutions you made in the day of your distress ; be very watchful and jealous over your self for fear of backslidings ; avoid all occasions of sin for the future ; and dedicate that health , to which god has in tender mercy restored you , to his glory . a thanksgiving all praise , all glory be to thee , my lord and my god , for hearing my prayers in the time of my trouble , for blessing the waters to my good , ( to my ease ) ( to my cure ; ) o , may i never forget this blessing , o may i ever give thee thanks for it . lord , i am jealous over my own treacherous heart , that now thou hast ( abated ) ( freed me from ) my calamity , i shall grow cold in my devotion , and that the sense of my duty will be apt to wear off with my affliction : but my sure and only trust is in the assistances of thy grace . o , hold up my goings in thy paths , that my foot-steps slip not , o , keep me as the apple of the eye . o , may i sin no more , left a worse thing come unto me . praise the lord , o my soul , while i live will i praise the lord , as long as i have my being , i will sing praises unto my god. i called upon the lord in my trouble , and the lord heard me at large , therefore will i praise him . thou art my god , and i will thank thee ; thou art the lord , and i will praise thee . praised be the lord , who hath not cast out my prayer , nor turned his mercy from me . o give thanks unto the lord , for he is gracious , and his mercy endureth for ever . i will not only praise thee , o lord , in private , but i will tell abroad what thou hast done for my soul. i will give thanks unto thee in the great congregation , i will praise thee amongst much people . accept , o my god , this my sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving ; and since the longer i live , the more i experience thy most adorable , and boundless goodness , the more devoutly may i daily praise thee , the more intensely may i daily love thee , through jesus thy beloved . amen amen . to this you may properly add the hundred and third psalm . if after you have used the waters , you find no relief by them , be not discouraged : it may be god designs to effect your cure some other ways ; it may be he sees it best for your spiritual good , that your distemper should continue , and it is your duty patiently to submit to his good pleasure . if you are conscious to your self , that you have truly repented of all your sins past , and that the desire of your soul is towards god , you may be then assured , that god chastened you because he loves you , that he dealeth with you as with a child , and that his paternal bowels are ever yearning on you . 't is most true in common experience , what the appostle affirms , that no chastning for the present seemeth to be joyous , but grievous , and so will your chastning seem to you ; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceble fruit of righteousness , unto them which are exercised thereby , heb. xii . . and such fruit it will in the end infallibly yield to you . believe me then , that you will at last to your unutterable joy , experimentally find that all things , even the sharpest and the most continued afflictions , work together for good , to those that love god , rom. viii . . ejaculations for the afflicted . deal thou with me , o lord , according to thy name , for sweet is thy mercy . thou hast been my succour , leave me not , neither forsake me , o god of my salvation . i should utterly have faintted , but that i verily believe to see the goodness of the lord , in the land of the living . i will wait on the lord , from whom cometh my salvation . though i am somtime afraid , yet put i my trust in thee . thou shalt keep him in perfect peace , whose mind is staid on thee , because he trusteth in thee . o what great troubles and adversities hast thou shewed me , and yet didst thou turn , and refresh me . as for me , i patiently abide alway , and will praise thee more and more . in the multitude of the sorrows i had in my heart , thy comforts have refreshed my soul. unto thy entire disposal i resign my spirit , for thou hast redeemed me , o lord , thou god of truth . o , may i always do and suffer thy will. my god , though thou slayest me , yet will i put my trust in thee . it is the lord , it is my god , it is my father , it is my friend , it is infinite love that afflicts me : let him do what seemeth him good , he can will nothing but good to me ; his will be ever done , and not my own . to these ejaculations may be added that prayer for amendment when god is pleased to try us , which went before . if want of children good christian , and hopes of benefit from the water , bring you hither , then i beseech you , as i did those who were sick or lame , to begin with god : repentance and prayer , and resignation and charity , are all as proper for your condition , as for them . be assured , that children are the gift of god , and let your first and chief recourse be to him , and from him , only expect a bessing . 't is true , the blessing of the womb are temporal only , yet they are such which all married persons regularly ought to desire , and for which they ought with humility , and submission to pray . though the blessing of children is very often indulged to wicked persons as well as to good , yet we see many times that god denies them to both , though they never so passionately desire them . when god denies children to wicked persons , it is in his anger , and for punishment . thus nadab and abihu for offering strange fire , died before the lord , num. iii. . and as an aggravation of their punishment it is remarked , that they had no children . and the doom that god pronounced against wicked coniah was , thus saith the lord , write this man childless , jer. xxii . . god threatens incestuous persons , that they shall die childless , lev. xx . , . and sometimes when hopes of issue appear , he gives the wife a miscarrying womb , and dry breasts , hos. ix . . it is therefore most needful , that you should ground your hopes of children , on a previous repentance . children are no certain marks of gods favour , and ●herefore the good often want them . never were ●here two better married couples , than abraham the friend of god , and sarah , ●han zechary and elizabeth ; ●ho were both righteous before god , walking in all the commandments of the lord ●lameless , and yet sarah , and elizabeth were both barren , ●nd never had been mothers ●ut by miracle . rebeckah , and rachel , and hannah , had all for a long time their wombs shut up , and by prayer they were all at last opened . however , when god foresees children like to prove either temptations , or calamities , or curses to their good parents , it is a grea● blessing then to deny them which our lord imitates t● the daughters of jerusalem when he told them , th● dayes were coming in which they should say , blessed are th● barren , and the wombs th●● never bare , and the paps th●● never gave suck . luk xxiii . ● but when god denie● children to holy persons he makes up the blessing some other way , and gives them a name better than of sons , and of daughters , an everlasting name , that shall not be cut off , isa. lvi . . so that , which way soever god thinks fit to deal with you , you have all the reason imaginable , to assure your self that what is gods will is best for you , and chearfully to acquiesce in his good pleasure . a prayer for a wife . o lord god almighty , who formest us from the womb , who coverest us there , and seest our substance when imperfect , and all our members , and how they are curiously formed , ps. cxxxix . . all glory be to thee . i know lord that children , and the fruit of the womb , are an heritage and gift that cometh of thee , and therefore of thee only i beg it ; o vouchsafe me that gift in thy good time . glory be to thee o lord , who makest the barren woman to keep house , and to be a joyful mother of children . o that it might please thee , to make me a joyful mother . deliver me , o my god , from either a barren , or from a miscarrying womb , and from dry breasts ; and if it be thy will , bless the waters , that they may dispose me to to be fruitful , and to conceive ; and do thou , o lord , most tenderly preserve the fruit of my womb , that i may at last happily bring forth , and may forget my pangs , and may praise thy name , for joy that a child is born into the world. to thee , o lord god , do i vow this vow , that if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thy handmaid , and remember me , and wilt give unto thy handmaid children , then i will give them unto thee , sam. i. . i will early devote them to thee in holy baptism : i will do my utmost to bring them up in thy nurture and admonition ; in thy filial fear , and reverential love , that they may become instruments of thy glory on earth , and may at last become saints in heaven , to sing eternal praises to thee there . bless me , and my husband , o lord god almighty , bless us with the blessings of heaven above , and with the blessings of the deep that lyeth under , bless us with the blessings of the breasts , and of the womb , if it be thy will. o lord , if thou art pleased , for most wise and gracious purposes , to deny us the blessings of children ; thy most holy will be done : o give us an entire contentedness without them ; and though it is not thy pleasure to make us fruitful in our bodies , yet make us fruitful in our souls , fruitful in all saving graces , which will in the end , prove a much greater joy , and comfort , and blessing to us both , than children . hear me , o lord , and help me , and grant my petition if it be thy will , for thy infinite goodness sake , and the sake of jesus the son of thy love. amen . amen . if it please god to bless the waters to your fruitfulness , then use the forgoing form of thanksgiving . and if you , or any one besides , who have made use of this paper , have received the least good from it , to god be all the glory . amen . finis . the baths of bathe: or, a necessary compendious treatise concerning the nature, vse and efficacie of those famous hot vvaters published for the benefit of all such, as yeerely for their health, resort to those baths: with an aduertisement of the great vtilitie that commeth to mans body, by the taking of physick in the spring, inferred vpon a question mooued, concerning the frequencie of sicknesse, and death of people more in that season, then in any other. whereunto is also annexed a censure, concerning the water of saint vincents rocks neere bristoll, which begins to grow in great request and vse against the stone. by to. venner, doctor in physick in bathe. venner, tobias, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) the baths of bathe: or, a necessary compendious treatise concerning the nature, vse and efficacie of those famous hot vvaters published for the benefit of all such, as yeerely for their health, resort to those baths: with an aduertisement of the great vtilitie that commeth to mans body, by the taking of physick in the spring, inferred vpon a question mooued, concerning the frequencie of sicknesse, and death of people more in that season, then in any other. whereunto is also annexed a censure, concerning the water of saint vincents rocks neere bristoll, which begins to grow in great request and vse against the stone. by to. venner, doctor in physick in bathe. venner, tobias, - . [ ], p. printed by felix kyngston for richard moore, and are to be sold at his shop in saint dunstans churchyard in fleetstreet, london : . engraved portrait of author inserted after a . also issued as part of stc : tobias venner. via ad vitam longam, second edition, enlarged, published in . reproduction of original in the central library (bristol, eng.). created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng mineral waters -- england -- early works to . bath (england) -- description and travel -- early works to . - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - mona logarbo sampled and proofread - mona logarbo text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion the baths of bathe : or , a necessary compendiovs treatise concerning the nature , vse and efficacie of those famous hot waters : pvblished for the benefit of all such , as yeerely for their health , resort to those baths : with an aduertisement of the great vtilitie that commeth to mans body , by the taking of physick in the spring , inferred vpon a question mooued , concerning the frequencie of sicknesse , and death of people more in that season , then in any other . whereunto is also annexed a censure , concerning the water of saint vincents rocks neere bristoll , which begins to grow in great request and vse against the stone . by to. venner , doctor of physick in bathe . london , printed by felix kyngston for richard moore , and are to be sold at his shop in saint dunstans churchyard in fleet-streete . . effigies tobiae venner med. dr. anno dom : . aetatis suae . serenissimae principi mariae , angliae , scotiae , franciae , et hiberniae reginae , hoc de thermis bathoniensibvs opvscvlvm hvmillimè dedicat & consecrat tho. venervs med. dr. to the reader . good reader , seeing in the few yeeres that i haue exercised physicke at the baths , the yeerely concourse in the spring , and fall , of people of all sorts , and from all parts of this kingdome , to those famous waters , and the little benefit that many after great expence and trouble receiue thereby : i was induced to publish this ensuing treatise , wherein i haue very briefely shewed the nature and efficacie of those waters , touched the causes that many finde not comfort , but oftentimes rather hurt , that resort to them ; with such aduertisements concerning the vse of the said waters : which if they be rightly obserued , i am perswaded , few will hereafter complaine that they haue beene at the baths in vaine , and so the waters regaine that esteeme which in respect of their singular vertues they are worthy of . but here you must take from me this one aduertisement , which is , that sickenesse is a symptome of sinne : and therefore first , poenitentiam agendo , before your departure from home , make peace betwixt god and your conscience , and then repaire to the baths , quò te faustum ducat , atque sanum reducat , qui solus id potest . vale. the baths of bathe . bathe , so called from the baths in it , is a little well-compacted cittie , and beautified with very faire and goodly buildings for receit of strangers . although the site thereof , by reason of the vicinity of hills , seeme not pleasant , being almost inuironed with them ; yet for goodnesse of ayre , neerenes of a sweet and delectable riuer , and fertilitie of soyle , it is pleasant and happy enough ; but for the hot waters that boyle vp euen in the middest thereof , it is more delectable and happier , then any other of the kingdome . there are in it foure publike baths , so fairely built , and fitted with such conueniencie for bathing , as the like ( i suppose ) is not else-where to be found ; besides a little bath for lepers , called the lepers bath . they all haue the originall of their heate from one matter , namely , sulphur , burning in the cauities of the earth , thorow which the waters flowing receiue their heate . they partake of no other minerall that i can finde : what may lye hid in visceribus terrae , i know not : of this i am sure , that such diseases as cannot receiue cure else-where , here doe . these baths as they differ in their heate , so in their operations and effects . the kings bath is the hottest , and it is for beautie , largenesse , and efficacy of heate , a kingly bath indeed , being so hot as can be well suffered . this bath is of strong-heating , opening , resoluing , attracting , and exiccating facultie , and therefore onely conuenient for cold and moist bodies , and for cold and moist diseases . next to the kings bath for efficacy of heate , is the hot bath , and the difference in their heate is so little , that it is scarcely to be discerned . this bath is good for the same infirmities that the kings bath is , and for the effects which it worketh , i cannot finde it to be inferiour vnto it . they are two excellent baths for cold and moist diseases , and for very cold and moist bodies . the queenes bath is a member of the kings bath , a wall onely going betweene them , with a passage therein to goe from one to the other . this bath is not altogether so hot as that , and therefore the vse of it is conuenient for them that cannot well endure the heate of the kings bath . the crosse bath is for heate the mildest , being very temperately warme : it is a dainty bath for young , weake , and tender bodies , that cannot endure the heate of the hotter baths , or for whom the hotter baths may not be conuenient . it is an excellent bath for temperate bodies , by way of preseruation , because such the hotter baths may soone distemper , and occasion hurt : neither is this bath good onely for such as are of a temperate state and constitution of body by way of preseruation ; but for them and others also by way of curation , in some cases , where the hotter baths are not fit to bee vsed . this bath , by reason of the mildnesse of its heate , is of a notable mollifying and relaxing facultie : good therefore in contractions of any member , in obstructions of the brest , spleene , liuer , and kidneys ; and effectuall also for aches , when it is in its prime and vigour of heate , especially for such , whose temper or habit of body shall prohibit the vse of the hotter baths . this bath attaines not to its perfection of heate , till the weather grow to be constantly hot , and when the other baths , by reason of the feruor thereof , cannot be vsed , but by such whose diseases , and state of body are impensiuely cold . i cannot , in regard of the diuersity of bodies , insist vpon euery particular in the vse of these baths : wherefore i will onely for your better instruction and direction herein , giue you some speciall aduertisements , and thereupon leaue you to some learned physician , that can accordingly guide you in the vse of them . these famous hot waters are of singular force , not only against diseases gotten by cold , or proceeding from a cold and moist cause , but also bring , in time of health , exceeding comfort and profit to all cold , moist , and corpulent bodies : for they open the pores , resolue , attenuate , digest , consume , and draw forth superfluities , and withall strongly heale and drie the whole habit of the body . they are of excellent efficacy against all diseases of the head and sinewes , proceeding of a cold and moist cause , as rheumes , palsies , epilepsies , lethargies , apoplexies , cramps , deafenesse , forgetfulnesse , trembling , or weakenesse of any member , aches , and swellings of the ioynts , &c. they also greatly profit windie and hydropicke bodies , the paine and swelling of any part of the bodie , so that it proceed not from an hot cause , the sluggish and lumpish heauinesse of the body , numnesse of any member , paine in the loynes , the gout , especially the sciatica , cold tumors of the milt and liuer , the yellow iaundies in a body plethoricke or phlegmaticke . they are also very profitable for them that haue their lungs annoyed with much moisture ; and to make slender such bodies as are too grosse , there is nothing more effectuall , then the often vse of these waters . wherefore let those that feare obesitie , that is , would not waxe grosse ; bee carefull to come often to our baths : for by the vse of them , according as the learned physician shall direct ; they may not onely preserue their health , but also keepe their bodies from being vnseemingly corpulent . they are also singularly profitable to women ; for they helpe them of barrennesse , and of all diseases and imperfections of the matrix , proceeding of a cold and moist they also cure all diseases of the skin , as scabs , itch , old sores , &c. all which to bee true , wee daily find with admiration , to the exceeding great comfort of many , who with deplored diseases , and most miserable bodies , resort to these baths , and are there , by the helpe of wholesome physicke , and vertue of the baths , through the blessing of almighty god , recouered to their former health . but baths naturally hot ( as these our baths are ) to bodies naturally hot and drie , are generally hurtfull ; and so much the more , as the body is drier , and the bath hotter , because it distempereth and consumeth the very habit of the body , and maketh it carrion-like leane . wherfore seeing that these our baths are not indifferently agreeable to euery constitution and state of body , i doe aduise , that not any one goe into them rashly , or vpon a preposterous iudgement ; but that he bee first aduised by some faithfull , iudicious , and expert physician ; and to him expose the state of his body , whereby he may vnderstand , whether or no it may be expedient for him to attempt the same . and whereas there are in bathe diuers baths , as i haue shewed ; and they differing in their heate , and accordingly in their effects , he must also from the learned physician be directed in which to bathe : neither must he only vnderstand which bath to vse , as most conuenient for his state of body ; but also when and how often to vse the same , and how long to abide therein at a time . besides this , he must take speciall care , not to goe into the bath without fit preparation , ( which is a grosse error of many ) but must be first purged , as his state of body shall require ; and be also directed in other things how to order himselfe , before he goe into the bath , while he is in the bath , and after that he is come out of the bath , and when hee leaueth the bath : and must also with his bathings and sweating vse such physick-helpes , as may worke with the baths , according as his disease and present state of body shall require ; not relying wholly vpon the vse of the water for his cure , as many ignorantly , and some basely doe , to saue their purse . the neglect of all these , or of some of them , either through ignorance , or voluntarie wilfulnes , is the cause , that some that take great paines to come to the baths , are not by them healed of their infirmities , but oftentimes neuer returne to their homes againe ; or if they doe , it is most commonly with new diseases , and the old worse then euer they were : whereas of a generous and religious vnderstanding , vsing the true helpes of physick with the baths , are of their diseases perfectly cured . here i may not omit a special reason , why many receiue little benefit by the baths , but oftentimes much hurt ; and that is , because they take not the aide and directions of a physician present , in the vse of the bath ; but bring their physicke and directions with them from some physician in the countrey where they abode ; perhaps , one that well vnderstands not their state of body , much lesse the nature and true vse of the baths . but admit that they haue their directions from an vnderstanding physician , yet i must tell them , that many accidences fall out oftentimes in bathing , that require the helpe of a present physician . another speciall reason why many find little good by the baths , is , because they make not such stay at them , as in regard of their infirmities , or state of body , is meete : for some goe away before the bath ( in regard of a dense habit of body ) hath wrought any manner of effect at all on them : others euen then when the bath begins to shew its force and efficacie on their bodies : and some too soone vpon much benefit receiued : by meanes whereof they easily incurre a relapse . wherefore my counsell herein vnto you is this , that you limit not your stay at the baths , before you depart from your homes ; but in that bee aduised and ruled by your physician , when you are at the baths , according as hee shall find to bee meete for your infirmities , and state of body : and thinke not to receiue in foure , fiue , or sixe weekes an absolute cure for an infirmity , which perhaps you haue borne two or three yeeres , notwithstanding all the helpes and meanes you haue vsed for the same in your owne countrey . wherefore let your abode at the baths bee , as it shall bee requisite for your state of body , and limit not the time , no , not to a spring , or a fall ; for it may bee needfull for you to reside there the whole yeere , it may bee more : for otherwise by your vntimely departure , you may lose the good that you haue gotten by the bath , before the time come that you shall thinke to be fit for the vse of the baths againe . but here i know you will obiect against me , saying , is it good to make vse of your baths in the summer and winter ? are not those times by all learned and iudicious physicians prohibited for bathing in hot baths ? whereupon grew the custome of frequenting them in the temperate seasons of the yeere , namely , in the spring and fall ? whereunto i answer , and first , that bathing in our baths in summer ▪ taking the coole of the morning for it , if the season shall bee hot and summer-like , brings much more benefit to the body , the disease being of a cold nature , and proceeding from a cold and moist cause ( for so you must conceiue me ) then in the spring or fall , when oftentimes the coldnesse and variablenes of the aire takes away the benefit of your bathing : for cold , or vaporous aire entring into your body after bathing , the pores being open , doth not onely very greatly annoy the spirits , and principall parts , occasion winde and tortures in the bowels , but also induce oftentimes irrecouerable effects to the sinewes and ioynts . but if seasons that are constantly warme , be best for bathing in our baths , and cold times hurtfull , why should any reside at them in the winter ? i answer , that it is good for thē that are in the way of cure , by reason of their former bathings ; and that the waters are in their nature as effectually hot in the winter , as in any other time of the yeere ; onely the superficies , or vpper part of the bath is cooled by the windes . but in the winter there are some calme dayes , in which the diseased body lying neere to the baths , may well and safely bathe , without any offence or danger in taking of cold after : for hee may keepe himselfe in a warme chamber , hauing nothing else to doe , or take care for , but for his health . and heere i cannot but reprehend the error of most people , that at the end of may depart from our baths , and after that moneth , i know not out of what preiudicate opinion , altogether refraine to come to them , till the fall : perhaps they doe this , supposing , that after the spring , till the fall come againe , the baths lose their vertue . i must tell them , if this bee their conceit , that they are in a great error ; for the waters lose not their vertue at any time , only the disposition of the ambientaire may make them lesse fit to be vsed at one time then at another . but i would haue you to know , and as i haue afore-shewed , that our baths , may as profitably be vsed in summer , as in the spring , and most commonly with farre better successe in the whole moneth of iune , then in any of the former moneths , and that in regard of the constant temperature of this moneth , and the variable disposition of the moneths preceding . i am perswaded , that this vntimely going from the baths at the very approach of summer , hurts many , and ouerthrowes the good they haue receiued by them . wherefore my aduertisement herein is this , that they which resort to the baths for preuention of sicknesse , or such hereditarie diseases , as they feare will befall them , depart from the baths about the end of the spring : but such as goe to them for diseases already fixed , abide there the whole summer , and longer too , if there shall be occasion . and admit that after the moneth of iune the weather be too feruently hot to bathe in the hotter baths ; yet the crosse bath , which for heat is the mildest , being , as i haue said , in its nature temperately hot , attaines not to its efficacie and perfection , till the weather be constantly warme , which for the most part happens not till towards the end of may , or the beginning of iune . the vse of which bath is of excellent efficacie , not onely in the moneth of iune , but after also , yea , all the summer , according as the state of the body , and disposition of the season shal permit : wherein i leaue you to the counsell and direction of some learned physician resident at the baths . and now also i must aduertise such , as in the declining , or fall of the yeere , which we call the autumne , shall for the health of their bodies repaire to our baths , that they deferre not their comming till the middle of september , or after , as many ignorantly doe ; but that they rather bee there shortly after the middle of august , that they may haue time sufficient for bathing , before the aire grow to be too cold , as commonly it is in october , especially towards the end thereof . but , perhaps , some out of an ignorant timorousnes will obiect ; that to come to the baths before the dogge-dayes are gone , or too soone vpon them , is hurtfull ? herein they are more scrupulous , then iudicious : but to yeeld them some satisfaction , i answer ; besides the alteration of seasons from their ancient temperature , in this decrepit age of the world , that though the middle part of the day in the latter part of august shall be hot , yet the mornings and euenings ( which are the times for bathing ) begin then to be cold , and decline to a temperature ; and the heate of the day growing on vpon the bathing , is that which we specially respect for the health of our patients , for whom we approue the vse of the baths . wherefore such as for the health of their bodies repaire to our baths , shall ( if they be there in the latter part of august ) receiue a double commodity : for first , they shall haue the whole moneth of september very conuenient for bathing , and physicke also , as shall bee occasion ; yea , and part of october , as the disposition of the season shall permit : next , sufficient time for their returne to their homes , before the aire grow too cold , or the weather distempered : for to take cold betwixt the bathings , or to expose the body to trauell in foule and intemperate weather , vpon the vse of the baths , induceth ( the pores being open ) besides feuerous distemperatures and ventosities , oftentimes very great and dolorous affects of the braine , brest , sinewes and ioynts . i may not let passe how certaine accidences now and then befall some in their bathing ; as weakenes and subuersion of the stomake , faintnes , and sometimes swounings ; and these the physician must take speciall care to preuent , which maybe occasioned by meanes of the sulphurous vapours of the bath : yet i must tell you , that these , or the like accidences our baths doe seldome occasion , especially the crosse bath , but in them that are weake by nature , that are subiect to swouning , or goe into thē preposterously , without fit preparation and direction . and the reason is , because our baths being large , & hauing not sulphur in them , not in the cauities neere adioyning , the vapours are the lesse noysome , not so grosse and adusted ; and therefore not quickly offensiue , but to them that are very weake by nature , or as i haue said , goe into them without fit preparation , or make longer stay in them then is meete . and heere i cannot but lay open baths technologie , with such as for the health of their bodies resort to those baths , wherein i am sure to gaine little thanke . but i passe not for it , my purpose being to discharge a good conscience , and to doe my countrie good . the thing therefore that i would haue you to take notice of , is , how the people of that place that keep houses of receit , and their agents ( for such they haue in euery corner of the streets , and also before you come to the gates ) presse vpon you , importuning you to take your lodging at such & such an house , neere to such and such a bath , extolling the baths neere which they dwell , aboue the rest , respecting altogether their owne gaine , not your good or welfare . and when they haue gotten you into their houses , they will be ready to fit you with a physician ( perhaps an emprick or vpstart apothecary , magnifying him for the best physician in the towne ) that wil not crosse them in remouing you to another bath , though the bath neere which you are placed , be altogether contrary to your infirmities and state of body , or at least , not so conuenient as some other . and this is also a special reason , why many oftentimes receiue rather hurt then good by the vse of the baths . my counsell therefore to the learned physicians shall be this , that they so tender the good of their patients , and their owne worth and reputation , as that for base gaine they subiect not themselues to these kind of people , in hope to get patients by their means ; and to the patients , that they fall not by any meanes into the hands of empericks , who , by their ill qualified physicke , will spoile their bodies , and by reason of their pragmaticall nature , perswade and put them to vnnecessary and preposterous courses , which cannot but produce disastrous effects . but seeing that no calling is more disgraced , then by the men of the same calling , i wish all professors of physicke to carrie themselues worthy of their calling , to be faithfull and honest in their courses , not to insinuate with any , or after the manner of our bath-guides , presse vpon them to be retained . if an empericke or mountibanke seeke about for work , i blame them not ; let them deceiue those who wil be deceiued ; but for such as are graduated in the noble faculty of physicke to doe so , it is fiddler-like : a note , if not of some vnworthines in them , i am sure , of a base mind . let those therefore that are physicians indeed , striue to maintaine the reputation of their art , and not by a base insinuating carriage , or mountibank-like tricks , to get a note and repute , vilifie their owne worth , or disgrace so noble a facultie . but to draw to an end , when you shal for your health repaire to the baths , be cautelous , and suffer not your selfe to be taken vp by such as will presse vpon you ; but rest your selfe at your inne , and be well aduised by a physician that knowes the nature and vse of the baths , and can well iudge of your infirmities and state of body , what bath shall be fitting for your vse , and then vp your lodging accordingly : which course if it were obserued , and the physician carefully and learnedly performe his part , i am perswaded that many mo then now doe , would , for their infirmities , finde remedie at the baths , to the great honour of the place , and that scarcely any would depart thence , but much eased and bettered in their state of body . thus much i thought fitting to aduise and publish , concerning the nature and vse of our baths , and the rather , that such as preposterously vse them , as the greater part , i suppose , doe , that resort vnto them , may not erroniously detract from the admirable vertues of them : for vnto vs it doth yeerely appeare , by the miraculous effects they worke , of what excellent efficacie they are , if they be rightly and iudiciously vsed . and seeing that in the true vse of them , there are many things to be considered ; i doe therefore againe aduise all such as are respectiue of their health , that they enterprize not the vse of them , without the counsell and direction of some honest and learned physician resident at the baths : which if they doe , the incommodum may be maius commodo . and so i conclude this treatise . an advertisement of the great vtilitie that commeth to mans body , by the taking of physick in the spring , inferred vpon the insuing question . the spring being the most reuiuing , flourishing , and temperate season of the yeere ; whence is it , that sicknesses are more frequent in the same , and people sooner dye therein , then in any other season ? there may bee two reasons yeelded for the same : the one taken from the winter preceding , which , by reason of its moisture , filleth the body with crude and excrementall humors , and by its coldnesse , thickning , and compacting the same , quieteth them from fluxion . but the heate of the spring approaching , and working on those humors , rarifieth and dissolueth them ; which thereupon fluctuating and putrifying in the body , are the cause of sicknesse , vnlesse they are expulsed by the force of nature , or timely helpe of physicke . the other reason may be taken from the inconstancie of the spring it selfe , which sometimes is cold , sometimes hot , sometimes moist , and sometimes drie : which sudden alterations cannot but produce feuerous distemperatures , and other infirmities , according to the disposition of the matter congested in the body , the winter preceding . from which it may be concluded , that the sicknesses and death of people , which happen more frequently in the spring , then in any other season of the yeere , are not so much to be attributed to the spring , as to the winter which hath filled the body with superfluities , and prepared it for sicknesse . wherefore whosoeuer will bee so prouident , as by the timely helpe of physicke , to free his body , as his state and constitution shall require , of the superfluities congested in it by meanes of the winter going before , he shall be sure to be farre more liuely , healthy , and free from sicknesse in the spring , then in any other season of the yeere , so as he erre not ouermuch in other things . and this purging of the body , and purifying of the bloud in the spring , will not onely preserue from sicknesses that commonly raigne in the spring ; but also be a meanes to keepe the body in a perfect integrity the whole yeere after : and therefore i commend the taking of physicke in the spring to all generous people , to them that leade a geniall sedentary kinde of life , especially to such as are subiect to obstructions or any yeerely disease . you may here demand of me , what time of the spring is fittest for physicke by way of preuention ? i answer , that for them that are wont to bee affected with sickenesse in the spring , and whose humors are too cholericke and thinne , and consequently subiect to fluxion , it is best to take physicke at the very beginning thereof ; but for others , about the middle , or after , especially if the precedent time shall be cold , and not spring-like . you may also here demand of me , whether it be not so necessary to take physick in the autumne , which we commonly call the fall , as in the spring ? whereunto , in regard of a generality , i must answer no : because the summer prepareth not the body for sicknesse , filling it with superfluities , as doth the winter ; yet for some bodies it is , as for them that naturally abound with crude and phlegmaticke humors , that are subiect to obstructions , to cold winterly diseases , or any melancholicke affects , as necessary to take physicke by way of preuention in the fall , as in the spring ; and that for auoiding the superfluities before the winter , for opening the obstructions , and freeing the body of superfluous melancholy , which then , by reason of the season encreaseth . and the fittest time for the doing thereof , for such as are subiect to melancholy and autumnall diseases , is soone after the beginning of the fall ; but for others , towards the middle thereof . but here i must aduertise you that you expose not your body to the vnlearned empericke , that can neither finde out the peccant humors , nor parts affected ; but to such as are learned in that art , that can well iudge of your state of body , and accordingly prescribe you remedies , as your constitution and affected parts shall require . many men thinke , yea some of a generous note , wherein they bewray their carelesnesse , if not their stupiditie to , that whilst they are in health , they may for preuention , take physicke from any one , it matters not from whom it bee , nor what physicke it bee , so it worke with them . i must tell you that many ouerthrow their bodies hereby , and that there is no lesse art and iudgement required for preseruing the body in health , then for curing of it being sicke , if they did but know how the foure humors are or ought to be proportioned in their bodies , for enioying according to their constitutions a sound and healthy state , they would , i am perswaded , be more cautelous then to commit themselues into the hands of the vnlearned , who , by their inconsiderate courses , take humors from them at an aduenture , so well those which are not offensiue , as those which are , to the vtter subuersion of the oeconomie of the body : whereof though , perhaps , in regard of their strengths , they are not by and by sensible , which is that which onely cloaketh the errors of empericks , and as a vaile , masketh many mens eies and vnderstanding herein : yet they will , as i haue in diuers obserued to their perill , by little and little incurre a lapsed state of body . it is strange to see the ignorance of most people , how backward they are to giue to the learned professors of physicke their due , ready to lay scandals vpon them ; but forward to magnifie empericks , their physicke , their honesty , their care , willing to excuse and passe ouer their grosse slips and absurdities . o mira hominum stupiditas ! but proceeds this altogether out of ignorance ? i suppose no : for doubtlesse many seeke vnto them , and magnifie their physicke , because it is cheape : but such are fooles and gulles indeed , for they wrong , and euen poyson their bodies with grosse and ill-qualified physicke , to saue their purse . but to answer the reasons , or rather the words which they produce and alledge in the fauour and behalfe of empericks : to what purpose is the working of that physicke which respecteth not the peccant humors nor parts affected , but to the ouerthrow of the body ? what is a supposed honesty in a physicion without learning , but a snare wherein the ignorant doe voluntarily entrap themselues ? i say supposed : for i cannot thinke that man to be honest , that vsurps a calling , which with a good conscience he is not able to discharge . or to what purpose is the care that empericks take about their preposterous and ill-composed medicines , but to the vtter ruine of the patients body , as it too too vnluckely happened of late to a gentleman of good worth and note , who taking physicke by way of preuention of a pil-boasting surgeon , in a short space , by his ill-qualified and preposterous physicke , incurred an incureable and mortall lapse of his stomacke and liuer , being in his constant age and perfect strength of body . vaine therefore and very absurd is that conceit , which many haue in fauour of empericks , viz. if they doe no good , they will doe no harme . admit that sometimes by their triuiall pettie medicines , they doe no harme ; yet neuerthelesse for that , i must tell you that they doe much harme : for the sicke body relying vpon their skill , and they being not able to direct and execute such courses as shall be fitting and effectuall to impugne the disease , while there is time fitting for the same , the sicknesse gets the masterie , and then ( perhaps ) when the strengths are too much weakened , and the disease become incureable , they seeke helpe of the learned physician . so basely verily are most of our people affected to their health , that vntill some practicall minister , parish clarke , apothecary , chirurgeon or the like , haue done their vtmost hurt , they seeke not to the physician . and here to vindicate our art from calumnie , i cannot but taxe the most sort of people , that being affected with any great or difficult disease , which by reason of the nature thereof , or contumacy of the peccant humors , will haue such progresse , as that it cannot in a short time , by the medicines and best endeuors of the learned physician , how forceable so euer , be euicted , will reiect their physician , and betake themselues , which is an absurdity , super omnem absurditatem , to some ignorant sottish empericke , and euery good wiues medicine , to their great hurt , and oftentimes vtter ouerthrow . but if it happen , that they recouer thereupon , they lay an imputation vpon the physician , and grace their emperick with the cure ; whereas in very deede the matter of their disease was wholy , or at least the greatest part therof , eradicated by such fit and powerful remedies , as the learned physician had formerly administred vnto them : wherevpon the residue of the cure was effected by the force of nature , not by the weake endeuors of the empericke , or triuiall medicines of any other whatsoeuer . i haue of purpose enlarged this aduertisement , and doe leaue it for a memoriall and caueat to all posteritie , especially to the gentlemen of this our age , who , for the most part of them , very greatly wrong their iudgements and vnderstanding , in taking physicke of the vnlearned ; and wherein they doe not only wrong themselues , but also giue occasion of hurt vnto others : for the meaner sort of people following their example , do the like , whereby it comes to passe , that in all likely-hood , more vntimely perish ( which i beleeue to be true in the westerne parts of this kingdome ) vnder the hands of empericks , then die otherwise ▪ such as will not take notice hereof , in empericorum manus incidant . and if any asinus cumanus , or terra filius shall obiect , that diuers recouer vnder the hands of empericks ; i answer in a word , that the recouery is not to be attributed to their physick , but to the strengths of nature , that beares vp , both against the disease , and their preposterous courses . a censvre concerning the water of saint vincents rocks neere bristoll , * which begins to grow in great request and vse against the stone . this water of saint vincents rocke , is of a very pure , cleare cristalline substance , answering to those cristalline diamonds and transparent stones that are plentifully found in those clifts . it is no lesse commendable for smell and taste , then delectable for colour and substance , and for its temperature , excels any other of this kingdom , being almost of a meane betweene heate and cold : i say almost , because it is a little more inclined to cold , then to hear , which maketh it the more effectuall for allaying the burning heat of the bowels , and yet by reason of its good temperature , not quickly offensiue to the stomacke , if it be not lapsed by cold . but before i deliuer my censure and opinion concerning the nature and vse of this water , it is fitting that i declare vnto you the matter frō whence it receiues its medicinable faculties , and that is ( for i haue twice made probation therof ) from sulphur and niter , and from both but in a small measure : for the water at its issuing forth , carrieth with it but an obscure heat , being scarcely lukewarme , and the reason thereof is , because the heat of the water , & strength of the sulphurous vapors are qualified and abated in the passages thorow the earth ; or else it is , because this water issueth but from a small veine of sulphur . and the note that it hath but little niter in it , besides the probation therof , is , because it can hardly , or not at all in the taste bee discerned , but by a curious and skilfull pallate for the purpose , i suppose that this water partakes of other good minerals : but i leaue that for a farther search , or to such , as shall hereafter liue more conueniently for that purpose , then i doe . but whatsoeuer minerals shall lie hid in the passages of this water , it is sufficient , that it partakes of two so good as sulphur and niter , and that in such a mixture , as it makes it to be of an excellent temper , and medicinable faculty in potable vses for diuers cases , as shall be hereafter shewed . it were to be wished , that the water issued forth in a more conuenient place , aswell for accesse vnto it , as for conseruing the heate thereof . this water is frequented for no other vse , but for the drinking of it against the stone : it hath also other excellent faculties ; but i suppose ( such is the vanity of our time ) that the fame thereof wil not long hold , but wil in a short time haue an end , as some other waters of good force and efficacy against sundry infirmities , in diuers places of this kingdome haue had , and that by reason of the absurdand preposterous vse of it : for vpon notice and experience that this water hath done some good against the stone , people of all sorts repaire vnto it , so wel such as haue not the stone , as those that haue , or stand in feare thereof , and abundantly glut and fill themselues therewith , till they vomit and strout againe , scarcely one of fifty , i dare say , hauing the opinion of a iudicious physician for the taking of the same , or preparing their bodies for it as is meete ; which cannot but bring a disgrace to the water : for admit that a few chance to receiue benefit thereby , some will not , but many much hurt . neither can the water be good for all bodies that are troubled with the stone , or subiect thereunto : and therefore i would haue you to know , that the ill and preposterous vse thereof will weaken the stomacke , subuert the liuer , annoy the head and brest , occasion cramps , paine in the ioynts , breed crudities , rheumes , coughs , cachexies , the dropsie it selfe and consumption . but i will proceed to shew you the faculties and true vse of the water . it notably cooleth the inflammations of all the inward parts , and yet , as i haue said , not quickly offending the stomacke , as other waters doe ; and it is withall of a gentle mundifying facultie . it is therefore very effectuall against the burning heate of the stomacke , inflammations of the liuer and reines , and adustion of the humors , being taken with fine sugar in this proportion , as halfe an ounce of sugar or thereabout to a pinte of the water . in such as haue had hot liuers , red pimpling faces , and adusted humors , i haue caused a tincture of roses and violets to be taken therewith , and that with singular successe . it may be giuen with other good conuenient adiuncts , which will not onely make it the more gratefull to the stomacke , but also more effectuall for the cases aforesaid , which i leaue to the physician to finde out , and direct as shall be best fitting for his patients body . in inflammation and siccity of the intestines , it is good to giue with this water , syrrup or mel viol. sol. in inflammation of the kidneys with obstruction also in them , i haue giuen it to such as had withall hot liuers , with chrystallo minerali , with wished effect : for the distemper of the kidneys was not onely quickly allayed therewith , but also abundance of sand and other drossie matter stopping in them purged forth . that this water is good against the stone , strangury , and purulent vlcers of the kidneys and bladder , it is euident , by reason of its mundifying and clensing faculty , to be taken with sugar as aforesaid , or with some good and effectuall adiunct , for the speedier carriage of it to the affected places , &c. which by reason of the diuersity of bodies , i cannot here describe , but must leaue you therein to the aduice and counsell , not of a vulgar , but of some learned iudicious expert physician , and that with this caution , that if you bee not sure of the accurate iudgement and skill of your physician , that you take the water onely with sugar , without any other mixture with it . this water is also good in the vlcerations of the intestines , with this prouiso , that it be taken with some conuenient adiunct , as mel rosat . &c. to occasion the passage thereof thorow the belly , diuerting it from the veines . as concerning the vse of this water , and first , for inward inflamations : the time of the yeere best for taking thereof by way of cure or preuention , is in the moneths of april , may , and iune , and that in the morning fasting , the body being first prepared thereunto , that is , gently purged , according as the constitution thereof shall require ; but in case of necessity , it may be taken at any other time , respect being had of the season , age , and present state of the body . as for the quantity that is to be taken euery morning , and how long to be continued , in that , because of the diuersity of bodies , i must leaue you to the discretion and iudgement of your physician . as for the taking of this water against the stone , tenne rules are to be obserued in the vse thereof . the first is the preparation of the body , that is , that it be exquisitely purged , before you attempt the vse thereof : for the passages being cleared , and the ill matter diuerted by stoole , the water will the more freely , and with greater force penetrate vnto the reines . the second is , that it be taken in the morning fasting , the excrements of the belly being first deposed , and that at diuers draughts , allowing betwixt euery draught or two draughts taken the one after the other , the space of a quarter of an houre , or some what more , till you haue taken the whole portion of water that is intended to be taken each morning , walking and stirring gently your body betweene euery taking : for that will cause the water to be the sooner distributed thorow your body , refraining to goe abroad in the aire betweene and vpon the takings thereof , if the weather shall be any thing cold ; for cold will hinder the distribution of the water . the third is , the quantity of the water that is to be taken euery morning , which must be directed by your physician that knowes your age and state of body . the fourth is , how many mornings together it is to be taken , as eight or tenne more or lesse , according to the abilitie of the stomacke , strenghts and state of body , wherein you must likewise be directed by your physician . the fift thing to be obserued in the taking of the water , is , to take it so neere as you can , in the same temper of heate as it issueth forth , or else so hot as you shall be well able to drinke it : and herein euery one may gratifie his owne stomacke . but seeing that the place is vnfit for the taking of it , and that the water seems , by reason of the rawishnesse of the place , to be colder at its issuing forth then it is otherwise : for being taken into a stone iugge , it warmeth the same ; i aduise that the water bee taken into stone iugges , or other conuenient bottles , and the iugges or bottles to bee immediately stopped , to keepe in the vapours , and so the water to be taken while it reserueth its heate ; but if the water shall waxe cold before you take it , you may heate the iugge in a kettle of hot water , till it shall bee so hot as you shall like to take it , keeping the iugge close stopped all the while : and so you may doe such mornings when you cannot haue the water , it being all ouercouered by that part of the seuerne that floweth to the cittie . if you demand of me , whether the water loseth any thing of its vertue , being so kept ? i must answer you , that it is likely that it loseth somewhat , of its sulphurous , but not any thing of its introus qualitie , and therefore it may be well referued , and vsed in manner as aforesaid . the sixth is the time of the yeere that is best for the taking of this water , and that is , in a season that is not cold , or rainy ; but hot , or inclining therevnto , as from the beginning of may , to the middle of september ; but after that , in regard of the alterations of the aire , and winter approaching , this water is not good to be taken , because it will weaken the stomacke and liuer , annoy the brest , breede crudities , coughs , &c , as i haue already shewed . the seuenth is the diet , that is to be obserued all the time of the taking of the water , which is , that it must bee but slender , and that of meats of good iuice , and easie digestion , the dinner not to be taken , till the greater part of the water be auoided , and the supper must be alwaies lesse then the dinner , that the stomacke may be the next morning emptie for receiuing of the water againe . the eight is , that the body be purged immediately after the taking of the water , that is , when an end is made of taking it , for auoiding some reliques thereof , which perhaps may abide in the body after the vse of it , which the physician must be carefull to do with a fit medicine . afterwards a moderation in diet and all other things is to be obserued . the ninth is , that it be not giuen to children that are subiect to the stone , vnder twelue yeeres of age , vnlesse they shall be naturally of a very hot constitution , and that , to them in quantities proportionable to their age . neither is it to be admitted to them , that are entered within the limits of old age , because it will abbreuiate their life , calorem innatum extinguendo . the tenth and last thing to be considered in the vse of this water , is , that it be not giuen to such , as by reason of the smalnesse and streightnesse of their veines , cannot extreate and passe it away by vrine , though the infirmities of the stone , stranguries , &c. may otherwise require the vse thereof . neither is to be giuen to such , as haue cold stomackes , weake liuers , feeble braines , and subiect vnto rheumes ; in a word , not to phlegmaticke , not to any that abound with crudities , or haue a cold and moist habit of body : for in all such it will soone infringe the naturall heate , breed rheumes , annoy the brest , occasion cramps , and diuers other infirmities , as i haue afore shewed . the same obseruations must be kept in taking of this water against the strangurie and vlcerations of the bladder and kidneys , as is directed in taking thereof against the stone . in which affects it is good to giue therewith some lubrifying , cleansing extract , or the like . and heere note , that if the water in all the aforesaid cases be giuen with a fit and conuenient adiunct , it will not onely be the more effectuall , and sooner conueied to the affected parts , but lesse quantities also may serue to be taken ; and then the stomacke will not be so ouerprest and charged therewith , as it is in the common manner of taking it . but if it bee at any time fit to ouercharge and presse the stomacke therewith , it is in cases of the strangurie and purulent-vlcers of the bladder and kidneys . i may not omit to giue you notice , that diuers symptomes or perillous accidences may happen oftentimes in the vse of this water , which , because they cannot be well rectified or preuented without the presence of a physician , i here omit to nominate or treat of , and in stead thereof , as also for diuers reasons afore nominated , doe aduise you not to aduenture the drinking thereof , without the aduice and presence of a iudicious physician ; which if you doe , you may haply in stead of the good you expect thereby , receiue much hurt . as for outward vses , this water may sometime asswage the itch , mundifie and palliat old sores ; but no matter of moment is to be expected from it this way . and thus much concerning the nature and vse of this water , whose vertues will be better knowne , if people make a right and good vse thereof . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e kings bath . hot bath . queenes bath . crosse bath . the vertue of the baths in generall . hot baths hurtfull to hot and drie bodies . as not to goe thereinto vpon a full stomake , &c. baths technologie with them that resort to those baths . bathe being a place , in regard of the baths , that many resort vnto for cure of infirmities , that cannot receiue helpe elsewhere ; it were to bee wished , that empericks , and all other whatsoeuer they be , being not graduates in the faculty of physick , were vtterly prohibited to practise in the city , or neere to the consines thereof , idque sub poena grauissima . notes for div a -e the vtilitie of physick taken in the spring . what time of the springbest for physicke . whether it be so requisit to take physicke in the fall , as in the spring . aduertisement to beware of empericks . notes for div a -e * vrbs pulchra , & emporium celebre . the substance and temperature of the water . from what minerals it receiues its medicinable faculties . the hurst that are occasioned by the vnaduised vse of the water . the vertue and faculties of the water . the vse of the water for inward inflammations . tenne rules to be obserued in taking of the water against the stone . for what bodies the vse of the water not conuenient , but hurtfull . a letter concerning some observations lately made at bathe written to his much honoured friend sir e.g., knight and baronet, m.d. in london / by thomas guidott ... guidott, thomas, fl. . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; 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(eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a letter concerning some observations lately made at bathe written to his much honoured friend sir e.g., knight and baronet, m.d. in london / by thomas guidott ... guidott, thomas, fl. . greaves, edward, sir, - . [ ], p. printed by a.c. for henry brome ..., london : . reproduction of original in british library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng mineral waters -- england -- bath. bath (england) - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - david karczynski sampled and proofread - david karczynski text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a letter concerning some observations lately made at bathe . written to his much honoured friend sir e. g. knight and baronet , m. d. in london . by thomas guidott , m. b. facilius ducimur , quàm trahimur . senec. london , printed by a. c. for henry . brome at the sign of the gun at the west end of saint pauls . . a letter concerning some observations lately made at bathe . honoured sir , i know you ( as well as other ingenious and inquisitive persons ) are somewhat concern'd , and desirous to understand what success my late enquiries have had into one of the grand mysteries of nature , i mean the bathes of this city : considering especially that you were pleased the last summer to afford me the honour of your company and particular acquaintance , and to express a more than ordinary desire of my proceeding in this thing . concerning which i must tell you , that as i have not been wanting , either to pains or pay , in my proceedings hitherto ; so i have had the good hap ( which hath been my encouragement ) to meet with many considerable discoveries . and though the main body of the matter , collected touching this affair , be not yet ripe for the launcet , but will require a longer time to digest ; yet some observations i shall now communicate which will give a little satisfaction to an earnest desire , and make , in some measure , appear that we have been lame and defective hitherto in a rational account and true understanding of the nature of these waters . it hath been indeed the ill fortune of these bathes ( which i may truly say are as good if not better than any bathes in the world ) to lie a long time in obscurity , and not so much as to be mentioned among the bathes of europe by any forreign writer , till about the year . when that excellent person sir edward carne , sent ambassadour by queen elizabeth to pope julius the third , and paul the fourth , made some relation of them to that famous writer andreas baccius , then at rome ; and writing his elaborate book de thermis , into which he hath inserted them , upon his relation , lib. . cap. . though somewhat improperly ; among sulphurous bathes . about the same time also one john jones , an honest cambro-britain , frequenting the bathes for practise , composed a little treatise of them , which he calls bathes aid , in which are some things not contemptible , though in a plain countrey dress , and which might satisfie and gratifie the appetite of those times , which fed more heartily and healthily too then , upon parsons fare , good beef and bag-pudding , than we do now upon kickshaws and haut-gusts ; yet nothing of the true nature is there discovered , only , as almost in all former writers of bathes , chiefly catholick , a strong stanch of sulphur , and a great ado about a subterranean fire , a fit resemblance of hell , at least of purgatory . our countrey-man doctor william turner i confess was more particularly concern'd to give a better account , then i find is done in his discourse of english , german , and italian bathes . but whether want of opportunity , or any other impediment was in cause , i know not ; but i find that at this stay they stood till the famous doctor jorden took pen in hand , about the year . to whom i thought fit to make some additions , at my first entrance on this place , some five years since , and although that learned and candid physitian had chiefly and more especially an intent to enlarge the knowledge of our bathes in somerset-shire , as he declares to my lord cottington , in his dedicatory epistle ; and hath performed more then any man before him ; yet what was first in intention , was last in execution , and how small a part of that treatise is spent upon this subject , how short he is in some material points , and what objections may be framed against his opinion , i may sometime or other , with due respect , more largely treat off , and for the present shall here , with good sem and japhet cast a garment over the nakedness of this my father . what hath been done since ( except in some particular pieces of other tracts , to the authors of which the bathes are also indebted for their kindness and good will ) is not worth the mentioning . the old saying's true , little dogs must piss , and what is writ upon an ale-bench claims the greater affinity to the pipe and the candle ; especially if the best wine at the feast ( which is usually kept till last ) be but a silly story of tom coriat , and an old taunton ballad new vampt ( the creatur's parts lying that way ) abusing the dead ghosts of ludhudibras and bladud , with a nonsensico-pragmatical , anticruzado-orientado-rhodomontado . untruth-le grand , which we westerly moderns , call a grote lye , in to the bargain . a pretty artifice in rhetorick , to cry a thing up , and besmere , and shed plentifully on the founder ordure , both humane and belluine . rode caper , vitem , tamen hic cúm stabis ad aras in tua quod fundi cornua possit , erit . goat , barke the vine ; yet juice enough will rise to dreanch thy head , when made a sacrifice . i have industriously omitted doctor johnson , doctor venner and some others , in regard it would be improper here to write more historically which i resolve to do if my leisure permit , on another occasion . i shall therefore now let you know not so much what hath been done by others , as what further discoveries have been made by my endeavours , assisted by the careful pains of mr. henry moor an expert apothecary and chymist of this city . and here at first i cannot but take notice how that opinion hath so much prevailed as to be accounted orthodox , and not only received by tradition as certain but printed as such , that the body of the waters is so jejune and empty , as to afford little or nothing at all whereby to make a discovery of its nature , and that what impregnates the bathes is not substantially , materially or corporally there , but potentially , virtually and formally , or to use the authors own words , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with much more canting after this manner in a small discourse in latin written by an itinerant exotick ; when as a slight operation will soon evince it , though white and transparent of it self , being taken immediately from the pump , to contain a considerable quantity of a dusky , gritty , and saline matter , with many transparent particles intermixed with it , to the proportion , ( as near as i can calculate , sometimes more and sometimes less ) of two drams to a gallon of the water . and this i can ascertain , having had several ounces of it done in earth , iron , bell-mettle , and glass , and have at this time three or four ounces by me , untoucht , beside what i have made use of in other experiments . but the thing i shall more peculiarly insist on , at this present , is , that by gods blessing , on my industrious search , i suppose i have lighted on the main constituent , of the vertues of the bath , in which alone resides what benefit can be expected from the use of these waters , and lodgeth in a saline substance , in a very small proportion to the body of the waters , so that as they are now , not much more then fourty grains is contained in a gallon , in so much that this little soul , as i may so term it , is almost lost in so gigantick a body , and cannot animate it with that vigour , and activity as may be rationally expected , were a greater quantity of the salt contained in a less proportion of the water . the remainder , which is not saline , being as i judg , two parts of three of the bulk of the contents , is partly whitish , gritty , and of a lapideous nature , concreting of it self , into a stony consistence not easily dissolvable ; partly more light , and dirty , resembling clay , or marle , and discovers it self by an apparent separation from the saline and gritty part mentioned before . now the chief vertue of the bath as i conceive consisting in the salts , which appear by undeniable experiments , to be nitrous , and i believe vitrioline ( bitumen and sulphur being not primarily , as these salts , but secondarily concern'd , which consisting of unctuous particles , cannot be supposed capable of mixing with the body of the waters , and therefore no way observable in the contents ) and no small proportion of other things blended with it , the best way to make it most serviceable i conceived to be ; to free it from those incumbrances and allays it hath from the other ingredients , and prepare it as exactly as may be performed by art , for the benefit of those especially who are willing to drink the waters with greater success in a lesser quantity ; which they may now do , and have more of the vertue of the waters , in a quart , three pints , or a pottle , then they formerly had in two or three gallons , did they drink as much ; which will be besides other conveniencies , a great relief to the stomach , which certainly must be relaxed , and the tone of it injured by that vast quantity of water which is usually taken diluting its ferment overmuch , and distending its membranes beyond all the bounds of a reasonable capacity . besides , what is separated only by an artificial extraction will better unite again , and mix with the waters , as much more familiar , than the extraneous salts of sal prunella , cream of tartar , &c. which are usually dissolved and drunk with the waters ; so that a great part of the operation may be ascribed to that ; and the waters being , as we say , between two stools , that of it self , and the dissolvent in it , hath not attained to that degree of reputation as they have deserved , and may be procured with much more advantage , if nothing but the same be spent upon the same , a way of improvement altogether equally beneficial to fluids and solids , to the wet as to the dry . again , whereas it is a custom here as in all other places of the like nature , when persons are not willing , or have not conveniences to come to the fountain head , to send for the waters to the places of their residence , not thinking much material whether mahomet go to the mountain , or the mountain come to him , whereby the virtue of the waters is much impaired , though stopped and sealed up with never so much care ; this defect may be supplyed by the addition of a quantity of the same ingredients , which may repair the loss that hath been sustained by evaporation in the carriage , or other way of dammage , and restore it again , as near as may be , to its pristine virtue , and genuine advantage . not to mention that if need require , and the poorer sort cannot procure or pay the fraight for the waters , they may take a shorter course , by mixing the salt , which they may have at reasonable rates , with spring water , brought to a proportionable degree of heat at home , and expect more advantage , for ought i know , than those that drink the waters themselves at so great a distance ; i have therefore ordered convenient doses of the salt to be prepared and kept , by mr. william child alderman , and mr. henry moore , two apothecaries in bathe , to whom any one may resort that shall have occasion . and because i am now fallen on this subject i shall crave leave to remind you of what you well enough understand already , that not only dulcius but vtilius ex ipso fonte , &c. and waters especially impregnated with volatile spirits , such as most acid are , and peculiarly vitrioline , to avoid the inconvenience and expence , not so much of money as virtue , in the carriage , must be drunk on the place where they are , which in some kind resembling children , that must live by sucking , if once removed from their mother , or nurse , by degrees dwindle away , and at last die . it is observable in these vvaters , that with four grains of galls injected into a pint glass of vvater , or the vvater poured on it , immediately turns of a purple colour , which in short time after , as the vvater cools , abates much of its vividity , and becomes more faint : if the vvaters be suffered to cool , and be quite cold before the galls are injected , no alteration happens upon a much greater proportion of galls superadded , and what is more remarkable : if the vvater , which is permitted to cool , be recruited by the fire , and the same tryal reiterated , it offers no greater satisfaction in change of colour , than the second experiment . consonant to what andreas baccius , a veterane and experienced souldier in this militia , hath formerly observ'd , who in his second book de thermis , cap. . pag. , hath these words , nulla balnei aqua , eodem cum successu , ac laude bibitur , longe exportata , quod ad fontem proprium maxima enim pars ex ipso fonte haustae ac delatae , amittunt omnem virtutem , multae non servantur per hyemem : dilutae pluviis , & quae utcunque servantur delatae a propriis fonticulis , fieri non potest , quin amittunt , cum calore suo minerali , vivificos illos spiritus , in quibus omnis juramenti vis consistit , quae semel amissa , nullo postea extrinseco calore restituitur . quod est valde notandum . i have been the more particular in this , in regard it is a very useful and practical discovery , and may procure more real advantage to mankind , than the vain and unattainable attempts of the philosophers stone , making glass malleable , and the quadrature of a circle . some other observations i shall also mention , of a less magnitude , and more contracted circumference , as the dying of the bath-guides skins , the bathers linnen , and the stones in the bottom of the bath , of a yellow colour , and the eating out of the iron rings of the bath , the iron bars of the windows about the bath , and any iron infused in it ; in so much as i have now by me a gad of iron by accident taken up among the stones of the kings bath , so much eaten out , and digested by the ostrich stomach of these waters , that the sweetness extracted what remains resembles very much a honey-comb , a deep perforation in many places being attempted , and the whole gad it self reduced to a thing very much like a sponge . the first , viz. the tincture i have discovered to arise from an ochre , with which the bath abounds , and hath aforded me a considerable quantity , so that now i have near a pound by me , and with an infusion of that in warm water , tinge stones as exactly of the bathe colour , that they are not discernable one from another . it is further observable that the nearer the place of ebullition , where the springs arise , the deeper and finer is the yellow colour , so that in some places , about the cross in the kings bath , and at the head of the great spring , at the southwest corner thereof , it is almost made a natural paint , being laboured together by the working of the springs , and a continual succession of new matter coming on , free from those impurities it contracts in other places , which makes it distinguishable into two or three sorts according to its mixture with , or freedom from , more adulterating matter . the clouts also and woollen rags , which the guides use to stop the gouts withal , besides the walls , slip-doors and posts , when the bath is kept in a considerable time , as in the winter season it useth to be , are all very much tinged with this yellow substance , and if at any time they chance to lye unwash'd or not thrown away , they send out so ungrateful a sent , that a man had rather smell to a carnation , rose , violet , or a pomander , then be within the wind of so unwelcome a smell , it being the greatest policy to get the weather-gage in this encounter . the same thing i have experienced in vessels at home , where after it had stood some time , in a common infusion of warm water , i have the same reverence for that as pictures , and do aver it to be true , e longinquo reverentia major . one thing more is to be noted before i leave this particular , that although so much of this yellow matter is continually bred , with which the neighbouring ground is sufficiently replenisht , as i have found by digging in some places not far distant , yet nothing of that colour is discovered in the contents , a probable argument it either evaporates , to which i am more inclin'd , in regard i find it much more copious where the steam of the bath meets with any resistance , or else perhaps which is less probable , turns colour by the fire in evaporation that way ; less probable , i say , because for further satisfaction , i have decocted the ochre more then once , and find that it rather gets then loses in its colour . the greenish colour ariseth from another cause . the eating out of the iron i conceive must proceed from something corrosive , and till any one can assure me t is something else , i shall judge it to be vitriol , and that it may appear not to be caused by the bare steam , as rust is bred upon pot-hooks and cotterels ( as some imagine ) besides the difficulty to conceive how the steam should operate under water , as in the case of the gad before mentioned , i made a lixivium of the contents of the water , and in it infused iron , but a very small time , and found it do the same as in the bath it self , considering the time of infusion ; and the very knives , and spatules , i put in to stir some residence in the bottom , were almost as soon as dry , crusted over and defended with a rusty coat . i have other arguments i suppose will contribute something more to the confirmation of this opinion ; as that with the help of the sand of the bath with water , and galls , i make good writing ink , which in a short time comes to be very legible ; but the infusion of the contents in common water , or the lexivium thereof ; with an addition of an inconsiderable proportion of the decoction of galls makes it tolerably legible , on the first commixture , only the first viz. that made with sand , casting an eye of decayed red from a mixture of ochre conteined in the same . neither is it altogether to be slighted , that the water it self hath been heretofore used by the best writing masters for the making of ink , who observing by their experience , that ink made with bath water , and the other usual ingredients had a better colour , and was more lasting then any other , preferred this water before any other for this use , as i have been informed by some credible persons . also having not long since occasion to pour warm water on the contents of the bath , in order to the making a lixivium , some of the water happened by an accident , to fall on a bazil skin i sometimes use , and immediately turned the red into black more then the bredth of an ordinary hand , with as much facility as any curriers liquor , allum i know will do the like , but i find no necessity to assert , that , which had it any thing to do here , must make the water much rougher , whiter and sourer , then i find it to be . to which i may add that many judicious persons , my patients , and some intelligent and eminent physicians also have assured me that they have perfectly discerned by the tast a mixture of vitriol , and that i need not doubt , but that was one principal ingredient . 't is also not very inconsiderable , that the bath water alone will coagulate milk , though not after the usual way of making a posset ; for after the milk and water are put together , it must boil pretty smartly , else the curd will not rise . i may likewise subjoyn as a further probability , that on the relenting of the salt extracted into an oyl per deliquium , there is a very sharp stiptick and vitrioline tast perceived in the gross deliquium , as also in the cleer oyl , and the salt it self ; not to mention its shooting into glebes , of which i have some small assurances by some tryals i have made , not yet sufficiently satisfactory , and therefore i dismiss this part for the present , with the greatest probability , till a further inquiry shall make me positive . but as to nitre , there can be no question made about that i suppose ; for besides the quick acrimonious cooling , and nauseous tast , most apparently discoverable both in the infused contents , the salt and the oil ( the latter of which , viz. the nauseous tast , i take more particular notice of , in regard it is most predominant , and assigned by fallopius to nitre , and the waters impregnated with it , which , he says , sometimes do subvertere stomachum , & facere nauseam , de therm . aq. & met. cap. . besides , i say , these probable conjectures ) what will set it beyond all contradiction is that it hath the true characteristick of nitre , and shoots in needles , as long and firm , to the quantity i have , as any i have seen in the shops , of which i have now lately shot above twenty stiriae , some near an inch in length , which i keep in a glass ready by me to give any one satisfaction that desires to see it , besides what i have parted with to some friends abroad . i the rather mention this , in regard it hath been my good hap to bring this thing to perfection and autoptical demonstration which hath been in vain attempted by some industrious persons ; not that i am , in the least , willing to arrogate to my self , or derogate from them , more than what is fitting , but to confirm this truth , that there are some mollia tempora fandi ; some opportunities , when nature will give willing audience , without much ceremony or ado , confessing more by fair perswasions , than racks and torments , and greater importunity . and that we ought to be very cautious how we affirm a thing not to be upon the failure of a single or some repeated experiments . in fine , lest i should too much exceed the bounds of a letter , what concerns the cause of the heat of the waters , i say little of here , only tell you that when i shall come to discourse of that subject , of which i intend , god willing , a large disquisition in another language , i believe i shall find my self obliged not so much to depend on a subterrean fire , as to expect greater satisfaction from another hypothesis . many more experiments i have made upon the sand , scum and mud of the bath , with some observations drawn from the natura loci , or ground hereabouts ; but , i fear , i have been too tedious already , and therefore , without further ceremony , shall release you out of this purgatory , with the subscription of , sir , your most faithful and much obliged servant tho. gvidott . finis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e n. b. car. claromont . de aer . aq : & loc : t. a. pag. . a discourse of natural bathes, and mineral waters wherein, the original of fountains in general is declared, the nature and difference of minerals with examples of particular bathes, the generation of minerals in the earth, from whence both the actual heat of bathes, and their virtues proceed, by what means mineral waters are to be discover'd, and lastly, of the nature and uses of bathes, but especially of our bathes at bathe, in someerset-shire / by edw. jorden, doctor in physick. jorden, edward, - . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, ann arbor, mi ; oxford (uk) : - (eebo-tcp phase ). a wing j estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) a discourse of natural bathes, and mineral waters wherein, the original of fountains in general is declared, the nature and difference of minerals with examples of particular bathes, the generation of minerals in the earth, from whence both the actual heat of bathes, and their virtues proceed, by what means mineral waters are to be discover'd, and lastly, of the nature and uses of bathes, but especially of our bathes at bathe, in someerset-shire / by edw. jorden, doctor in physick. jorden, edward, - . guidott, thomas, fl. . appendix concerning bathe. the third edition, revised and enlarged, with some particulars of the authors life ; to which is added, an appendix concerning bathe wherein the antiquity, both of the bathes and city, is more fully discours'd with a brief account of the nature, and the virtues of the hot waters there by thomas guidott, m.b. [ ], , [ ], , [ ] p., folded leaf. and are to be sold by thomas salmon, bookseller in bathe, imprinted at london : . errata: [ ] p. at end. "an appendix concerning bathe" has special t.p. and separate paging. reproduction of original in huntington library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng health resorts -- england. mineral waters -- early works to . bath (england) - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - judith siefring sampled and proofread - judith siefring text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion a discourse of natural bathes , and mineral waters . wherein , the original of fountains in general is declared . the nature and difference of minerals , with examples of particular bathes . the generation of minerals in the earth , from whence both the actual heat of bathes , and their virtues proceed . by what means mineral waters are to be discover'd . and lastly , of the nature , and uses of bathes , but especially , of our bathes at bathe , in somerset-shire . by edw. jorden , doctor in physick . the third edition , revised and enlarged ; with some particulars of the authors life . to which is added , an appendix concerning bathe , wherein the antiquity , both of the bathes and city , is more fully discours'd ; with a brief account of the nature , and the virtues of the hot waters there . by thomas guidott , m , b. imprinted at london , and are to be sold by thomas salmon , bookseller in bathe . . imprimatur sam. parker rrmo domino , ac d no gilberto archi-ep . cantuar. a sacris domesticis . ex aedib . lambeth . novemb. . . to the right honourable , francis lord cottington , baron of hanworth , chancellour of the exchequer , and one of his majesties most honourable privy council . the profitable use of bathes , both for necessity and comfort , is such , and so well confirmed from all antiquity , as i need not labour to illustrate it more ; only it hath been the ill hap of our countrey bathes to lie more obscure then any other throughout christendome , although they deserve as well as the best , because very few have written any thing of them , and they either have not mentioned , or but slightly passed over the main points concerning their causes and originals ; contenting themselves with an emperical use of them . this hath made me , through the instigation also of some of my worthy friends , to attempt somewhat of this kind : which if it give not satisfaction according to my desire , yet may be a provocation to some others , to perfect that which i have begun . and seeing i do it for the use of my country , i have neglected curious ornaments to garnish it withall , but have clad it in a plain sute of our country cloath ; without welt or gard : not desiring it should shew it self in forain parts : mea cymba legat littus . but in this mine undertaking , i find my self exposed to many censures , both concerning some paradoxical opinions in philosophy , which notwithstanding i deliver not gratis , but confirmed with good grounds of reason , and authorities : as also concerning the reformation of our bathes , which do daily suffer many indignities more wayes then i have mentioned , under the tyranny of ignorance , imposture , private respects , wants , factions , disorder , &c. so as they are not able to display their virtues , and do that good for which god hath sent them to us ; and all for want of such good government as other bathes do enjoy . i blame not our city herein , unto whose care the ordering of these bathes is committed , the disorders and effects being such as are out of their verge , and neither in their power , nor in their knowledge to redress . for they have sufficiently testified their desire of reforming all such abuses , when they voluntarily did joyn in petitioning the late king james of blessed memory , to that end : by whose death this petition also died . and they knew well that it must be a superior power that must effect it . in these respects i have need of some noble and eminent patron to protect both me and my bathes , whose cause i take upon we to plead , and to advance , according to their due desert : but especially for the bathes sake , which i desire may flourish to the utmost extent of benefit to the people ; and to have all impediments removed out of their way , which may hinder them in the progress of their virtues . this is the cause sir , why i presume to dedicate these my labours to your honour , who having observed in forrain parts , the uses and governments of all sorts , and being both by the favour of his majesty well able , and by your noble disposition well inclined and willing to maintain good order and discipline , will , i doubt not , excuse this boldness , and pardon my presumption . consider sir , that this is your native countrey , which naturally every man doth affect to advance , and these bathes are the principal jewels of your countrey , and able to make it more famous then any other parts of this kingdom , and in advancing them , to advance your name to all posterity . wherefore howsoever my self deserve but small respect from you , yet i beseech you respect the bathes of your countrey , and me as a wellwisher unto them . and as the common opinion of your great worth and abilities , have moved me to this boldness , so the particular favours of your noble lady , and the encouragement of your learned physitian , doctor baskervill , mine especial friend , who hath spurred me on to this work , have removed out of my mind all suspition of misconstruction . but that as mine intent hath been meerly the enlarging of the knowledge of those points concerning bathes , and more especially of our bathes in somerset-shire ; so you will be pleased to accept of this publick invitation by me to do your countrey good , and your self honour , which i wish may never be disjoyned . and to me it will be no small encouragement to devote my self and my best endeavours to your service . so i humbly take my leave this . aprilis , . your lordships most humble servant , ed. jorden . a preface to the reader . the ensuing discourse of natural bathes , and mineral waters , of the learned author , dr. jorden , having found so kind an entertainment in the world , as to have passed the press twice in a year ; and the copies of both impressions at this time so few , as not to answer the enquiries of persons desirous to peruse them , a third edition was necessary , the care of which , together with some additional enlargements , being requested of me , i thought it might be a thing acceptable to many , to view the work , and revive the memory of so worthy a person . especially in this loose , and quaking age of ours , in which empericks , and juggling medicasters do so much abound , that t is almost as hard a matter to meet with a regular and well accomplish'd physitian now , as it was in former times for diogenes to find an honest man. the great occasion of this general abuse of physick i observe to be , mens beginning usually at the wrong end . for the most supposing the practice of physick to be a mere trade , and medicines the ware to furnish themselves withall , make what haste they can to get , though upon credit , a pack of receits , which they cry up as the most effectual , and triarian remedies ; and having made a shift to truss up , with the former fardle of common receits , some few specificks , presently set up for eminent physitians , when , to give them their due , they deserve nothing less then that honourable name , being indeed but pedlers in the faculty . for there are , besides the use of medicines , which in its proper place is not to be neglected ; many very significant things to be known and studied by a physitian ; as , after the praeliminary helps of the tongues , and natural philosophy , the structure and uses of the parts of the body ; the virtues of plants ; the compositions of medicines ; the nature , causes , and signs of diseases ; not to mention the knowledge , at least , if not the practice of manual operations , with some pyrotechnical endeavours . all these , vast dominions in themselves , a son of art ( to make bold with one of their expressions ) should in some measure command . so that i have in my thoughts sometimes resembled a compleat physitian to the draught of a man , standing on the two legs of anatomy & herbary , operating ( if need be ) with the hands of chyrurgery , and pharmacy , having a chymical head , and the bulk of his body made up of the nature , kind , and cures of diseases , which we may not improperly , term a body of physick . but these agytrae , and quacksalvers , are as far from these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . they for the most part , know no other tongue then their mothers , and are as destitute of philosophy , as a rational method . every plant to them is all-heal , and every trite medicine a panpharmacon . the body of man , they think contains no other parts then what they see in a harselet , and the fire is as dreadfull to them , as to the burnt child . yet they will sometimes make bold to use the lancet , and dextrously wound the heart through the arm. in brief , they meddle with what they do not understand , and are the spots , and stains of the faculty to which they most injuriously pretend . but to resign those juglers to their ignorance and self-conceit , and those that are willing to die at a cheaper rate to their cruel mercies , and confident undertakings , i shall give what account i can of the author of this book ( a man of a temper quite different from the former ) & what alterations have been made in it . as to the author ( whom i had not the happiness to know otherwise then by this his picture , being at the time of his death , and some years after in an incapacity of knowing any thing unless only a knowledge of praexistence ; yet ) i understand he was a gentleman of a good family● and being a younger brother , was by his father designed for a profession , for which when he had accomplish'd himself by a convenient course of studies in his own country ( i think at oxford ) travelled abroad to see the manners and customs of the universities beyond sea ; and having spent some time there , especially at padua ( where he took his degree of doctor in physick ) returned home , became an eminently solid and rational philosopher and physitian , and one of that famous and learned society , the kings colledge of physitians there . in his travels , undertaking in the company of some zealous jesuites , the defence of the protestant religion , he so much troubled their patience , that they resolved to terminate that dispute of his in a perpetual silence , which they had effected , had not his countryman , one of the number , but more mercifull then the rest , ( by awaking him out of his natural sleep , preventing the sleep of death ) informed him of their design , to be put in execution that night ; whereupon he presently withdrew , and left not only the house , but the place , and escaped the cruelty of these blood-thirsty religioso's ; who shortly after his departure , brake open his door , entred his chamber , and approached his bed , with a full resolution to have acted their execrable tragedy . he had a great natural inclination to mineral works , and was at very great charges about the ordering of allum , which succeeding not according to expectation , he was thereby much prejudiced in his estate ; of which he complains in the ● page of the following discourse . he was much respected by king james , who committed the queen to his care , when she used to bathe , and gave him a grant of the profit of his allum works , but upon the importunity of a courtier , as i am informed , afterwards revoked it ; whereupon the doctor made his application to the king , but could not prevail , though the king séemed to be more then ordinarily sensible of his condition . whilst he practised in london there was one anne gunter , troubled with such strange and unusual symptomes , that she was generally thought and reported by all that saw her to be bewitch'd . king james hearing of it sent for her to london , and pretending great pitty to her , told her , he would take care for her relief , in which thing he employed doctor jorden , who , upon examination , reported to the king , that he thought it was a cheat ; and tincturing all she took with harmless things , made her believe that she had taken physick , by the use of which , she said , she had found great benefit . the doctor acquainting his majesty that he had given her nothing of a medicinal nature , but only what did so appear to the maid , and also , that though when he repeated the lords prayer , and creed in english , she was much out of order , yet at the rehearsal of the same in latine she was not concern'd , the king was confirmed in what he had suspected before , and the doctor had suggested . whereupon the king dealing very plainly with her , and commanding her to discover the truth unto him , the maid , though at first very unwilling to disclose the juggle , yet , upon the kings importunity , and promise to her of making up what damage should accrue from the discovery , confessed all , and his majesty received from her own mouth this account . that sometime before there happened a difference between a female neighbour of her fathers and himself , and having in his own apprehension , no better way to be avenged of her then this , impiously caused his daughter , on the receiving of the sacrament , to engage to imitate one bewitch'd , and ascribe it to that woman , which she did , and acted this part in so exact and wonderfull a manner , that she deceived all the countrey where she lived , who thought it to be a truth . after which confession she was very quiet , & the king giving her a portion , she was afterwards married , being by this subtle artifice perfectly cured of her mimical witchery . his wife was a gentlewoman of a name differing but in one letter from his own , daughter to one mr. jordan , a wiltshire gentleman ; which came to pass after this manner . the doctor being on a journey , benighted on salisbury plain , and knowing not which way to ride , happened to meet a shepherd , of whom he made enquiry what places were near , where he might have entertainment for that night ; the shepherd telling him there was no place near enough for him conveniently to reach in any seasonable time , the doctor asked , what gentleman lived thereabouts ; the shepherd replyed , there was one mr. jordan , not far off , a man of good quality , and a great estate . presently the doctor ( looking on this as a good omen ) resolved on his house , where he was so kindly entertained , and so well accepted , that mr. jordan understanding him to be a batchelour , bestowed hi● daughter on him , with a considerable fortune . after he had practised some time in london , he came hither , and setled a● bathe , where living many years , his conversation was so sweet , his carriage so obliging , & his life so answerable to the port & dignity of the faculty he professed , that he had the applause of the learned , the respect of the rich , the prayers of the poor , and the love of all . i hear but of four children he had that attained to any maturity of age ( besides one who perished by that , which by the blessing of god , and the assisting help of proper remedies , hath prolonged the life of many , the bath . ) two sons , and as many daughters . edward the elder , being an officer in the unhappy design of the lsle of rhee , was there unfortunately slain , making his colours , he managed , his winding sheet . the younger , benjamin , or rather benoni , the son of his affliction , a man more profuse and extravagant , desiring to try his fortunes in the world , died in obscurity . elizabeth his eldest daughter was married to mr. thomas burford , an apothecary in bath , and mayor of the city ; and mary his youngest daughter died in her virginity , before her father . the doctor also living a studious and sedentary life , which might encourage his two grand distempers he laboured under , the stone and the gout , in the same year in which this treatise was printed , to which he imparted his last breath , departed this life , in the great climacterical year of his age . and of our saviours nativity , . leaving behind him the name of a judicious , honest , and sober physitian , and the excellent example of a pious christian ; on whom i should have thought it no trouble to have spent more ink , could my diligence which was not wanting in this thing , have procured me sufficient information . but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the doctor is dead , and this child of his survives the rest , which happening to fall into my hands for a review , i could not but use it with all the tenderness and respect , confessedly due to the justly celebrated off-spring of so deserving a parent , whom it so very much resembles . and , i hope , as i have here done the doctor right , so i have not elsewhere done his discourse any wrong , which i had some intentions at first to enlarge much more , but on second thoughts i judged it more convenient , only to draw up a table of the minerals he mentions , with the addition of some few marginal annotations , and to subjoyn the greatest part of what i had to adde of mine own , by way of appendix ( though some things there are of a different nature from his design ) which i intend hereafter , as opportunity shall serve , to augment and amplifie into an history of bathe . by the performance of which , though i shall not be so bold with some , on a more trivial account , to say , i shall oblige mankind ; yet i think i may this , that i shall then , in any mans judgement , have done enough , to deserve a civil respect , from that is concern'd , supposing it now a sufficient honour to bear up the train of my learned predecessor . t. g. libellum istum de aquis medicatis a doctissimo jordano antiquissimo collega● nostro scriptum multiplic● eruditione & novarum subtilitatum varia supellectile refertissimum , legimus , & qui ab omnibus tam philosophis quam medicis legatur dignissimum judicavimus . johannes argent collegii medicorum londinensium praesidem johannes gifford . simon bas kerville . thomas ridgeley . in laudem operis . parve alacri passu liber , liber , ibis in orbem ; dentesque spernes lividos . authores pandit , sua dat jordanus , & usu quaesita multo protulit . aera qui totus , flammas msditatur , & undas , terram , metalla discuit . quicquid in his veteres , docuit quicquid noviu author , celeri notavit pollice . at sua dum exponit , lucem dat , operta recludit , pennaque fertur libera . perge liber ; gratus gratum volveris in avum , lymphae calentes dum fluent . ed. lapworth , m.d. in laudem authoris . numine divino jordan medicalile flumen dicitur , è gelido licet illud frtgore constet : tu jordane decus medicorum , candide doctor , lumine divino gnarus discernere causas aegris corporibus nosti depellere morbos ; intima seclusae ●enetrasti viscera terrae , thermarum vires aperis , reserasque metalia : de gremio telluris aquas manare calentes qua ratione doces , nobis prius abdita pandis strutando physices arcana indagine mira , nio caperis fama , nec inane laudis amore , ut patriae prosis , dignaris promere lucem : qui memoraverunt , vel qui modo balnea tractant , non sunt te melius meriti , vel j●dice momo . jo. dauntsey . ad authorem . si foelix , rerum potuit qui noscere causas , inter foelices tu prope primus eris . sunt , quaecunque tulit vel terra , vel unda , vel aer , singula nota tibi , singula certatibi . omnigenae tibi vena reperta , resecta metalli , nullaque te in quovis corpore vena latet . non tu no●●inibus veterum terreris , ut umbris , nec tibi , ce● multis , quae nova sola placent . et docta & just a ratione singula lance libras● , quae veteres , quaeque tulere novi . nec causas tantum scrutans tu negligis usum : utilis est liberi pagina quaeque tui . hoc unum doleo , quod non sint anglica nostra balnea , per calamum facta latina tuum : cresceret ut gentis per te si● gloria nostrae in lengos celebris per locae cuncta dies . come hither reader , bathe thy tender eye● in jordans streams which out of bath do rist they 'l clear thy sight , and make thee clearly se● choice secrets , which in earths deep bosom be closely laid up , and choicely secret kept , where unobserv'd they many ages slept . here come & bathe in jordans streams thy mind thou there a strange yet certain cure shalt find , of old ore-spreading errors leprosie , which these clear streams do sweetly mundifie . here are two miracles of nature met , here are two miracles of england set ; our english bathes , our english jordans streams are gathered here as natures choicest creams , produc'd by her , by learned art refin'd for th● universal good of humane kind . may much good hence be rais'd , & may it raise as well first authors as inventors praise . nicol. stoughton , of stoughton , esq bis duas gaudes numerare causas ( nam tot authores varii dederunt ) unde thermarum calor ortum haberet ( candide doctor ) tu tenax , nulla , tamen acquiescis ex iis ●ausis : mihi dic ( amice ) cur tibi soli via singularis perplacet ista ? arrogans forsan nimis ipse multis qui viam linguis , videare , tritam : zoili & nigro vocitere vanus ore philautus . sed cul candor tuus innotescit , qui tuos mores bene novit ; is t● litis osorem vocet , & serenae pacis amantem . sint licer plato socratesque amici , tu licet doctos verearis omnes , veritas major tamen est amica , quae tibi cordi est . rob. pierce bach. in theologia . to the author . shall i presume to write in praise of him whose work hath taught the world more wit and art , and shall i not mine own dispraise begin , to undertake and cannot reach in part his worth , his wit , his learning which confounds grave antients in their long tradition grounds ? celsus could brag homunculos to make man to preserve a thousand years or more , yet on himself he did so much mistake , he could not hold his life till full threescore : before he made , his maker him did mar , in this his words and works came short by far . but modest jorden void of these conceits . hath clear'd obscurest points from darkness soul , his learning , judgement , body , soul all waits . life to preserve in all ; his life 's chief soul being learning , knowledge , and the love of truth , he hath made men himself perpetual youth . i. st . ages in former doubtfull errors night from many worthy stars have borrowed light . our sun adorns our daies , whose radiant beams no heat , but truth add to our bathing streams . a fit work for an artist , whose pen bleeds to death-receiv'd opinions : shews the seeds of earth-intombed minerals , which lend heat by their birth to fountain nymphs , who spend their pious tears in pity to regain strength to the frozen nerves , sweet case from pain . who would not strive to celebrate that quill , which doth no fretting gall , but milk distill to foster truth ; being so concise and terse . for to comprise the protean universe . in this small volume : which who disapprove , snarling express neglect of lending love to learning , tenant in this worthy pile , where natures works are polish'd by arts file . 't is strange in dayes of ruffling impudence , which pamphlets spue of faction fearing sense , art should be bashfull ; if you search , you 'l meet it valid in each page , shrouded in each sheet ; asham'd of their rude folly , whose mouths swell to slander worth they nere shall parallel . i 'le venture natures tell-tale him to call , and judge my verdict's not apocryphall . heaven and earth seldom such conceal'd births steal , but he the cause can publish , means reveal . take then a true survey , his lines descry , more trusted fables , then the truth did try ; and pay machaon as a friendly fee for purging of diseas'd philosophy , the tribute of thy praise , though folly fret , such as it made wise will repay the debt . purge foul mouths ( bathe ) that all applaud his pains , who purgeth bodies , and refines the brains . bartholomew man. on the sight of dr. jorden's picture . this faint resemblance shews the seat where once dwelt art and learning great ; but vail'd with such a modest meen , that 't was not easie to be seen . 't is skill in artists to conceal ; the load-stone's strongest cap'd with ste● thrice happy painter , and more , if thine art could lend him breath , as life . that balks with thine , all humane power if but requested for an hour . 't is he that adam made of dust , and eve out of his rib , he must inspire atomes , by his might , mans breath would scatter , not unite . yet a thing like him thou hast made , and we as well as it , are shade . t. guidot● of natural bathes , and mineral waters . chap. i. explication of the word bathe . the scope and argument of this book . the ancient use and esteem of bathes among the romans . the modern use of them among the turks . of medicinal bathes , and mineral waters . hom esteemed by the greeks , latines , arabians , and other nations . the word bathe or balneum is of larger extent then i purpose to discourse of : for it being the name of a form of remedy applyed to the body , it may be framed either out of liquid things , or solid substances , or vapours . liquid substances are water , milk , must , wine , oyle : solid substances are sand , salt , pressed grapes , corn , &c. vapours are stuphs and hot houses . my intent is only to treat of waters , and principally of those which be called mineral , whether they be used in bath or in potion , &c. these kind of watry and vaporous bathes have been in use from all antiquity , and held in great esteem , both for pleasure , and for preservation of health . for there is no form of remedy more comfortable to mans body , or which easeth pain and weariness more speedily , and more effectually . and whereas hypocrates commends those remedies which do cure cito , tuto , & jucunde , speedily , safely , and with comfort ; these bathes perform all these intentions : and besides , may be used to all sexes and ages , and temperatures , without hurt or inconvenience , insomuch as the antient romans had them in very frequent use : their diet being liberal , and upon variety of meats , especially upon lettuce , coleworts , asparagus , raw fruits , and such like , which bred crude humours in their bodies , and had need of some such help to digest them : as columella faith , quotidianam cruditatem laconicis excoquimus : we concoct our crudities by the useof bathes . we read in plinie , that agrippa built in rome publick bathes for common use , and pancirollus tells us of in rome at one time , and all of them most sumptuous and magnificent buildings , especially the anthonin and dioclesian bathes : the walls whereof were of admirable height , with an infinite number of marble pillars , erected for ostentation , and not to support any thing , seats to sit in ; their caldaria , tepidaria , frigidaria , most sumptuous and stately : the whole fabrick so large and spacious , as they resembled rather cities than houses : and so it might well be , when as there were imployed for the building of the dioclesian bathes , as baccius faith . men , but salmuth faith , for some years together . they were placed where now the church of saint angelo stands . the turks at this day retain that antient custome of the romans , and are in nothing more profuse , then in their temples and bathes , which are like unto great pallaces , and in every city very frequent . and yet both the romans and the turks used those bathes chiefly for pleasure and delicacy , and cleanliness : the romans going bare-legged , and their wayes dusty , had need of often washing ; and the turks lying in their cloaths , subject to lice and worms , if it were not for their often bathing . moreover , the diet of the turks , though it be more sparing then that of the romans , yet it is little better : namely , upon herbs , roots , raw fruit , &c. and their drink , for the most part water , being prohibited the use of wine by their religion , must needs breed many crudities in their bodies , yet by their often bathings , they do not only overcome them , but get a good habit of body , their women being accounted as delicate creatures as any in the world , who duly twice a week resort to the bathes . now if those nations would bestow so much upon their bathes of delicacy and pleasure , which were only of pure water ; we have much more reason to adorn our mineral bathes ; which ( besides the former uses ) are also medicinal and very soveraign for many diseases , consisting of wholsome minerals , and approved for many hundred years , of many who could not otherwise be recovered . at the least wise if we do not beautifie and adorn them , yet we should so accommodate them , as they might serve for the utmost extent of benefit to such as need them . for there is nothing in our profession of physick more useful , nor in the works of nature more admirable , ( man only excepted , which plato calls the great miracle ) then natural bathes , and mineral waters . the nature and causes whereof have been so hard to discover , as our antient authors have written little of them , holding them to be sacred or holy , either for that they judged them to have their virtue immediately from god , or at least from the celestial bodies ; from whence , both their actual heat was thought to be kindled , by lightnings or such like impressions , and other admirable virtues , and sometimes contrary effects derived , which appear in them . also divers miracles have been ascribed unto those natural bathes , to confirm the opinion of a supernatural power in them , as guaynerius reports of the bathes of aque in italy : and langius out of athenoeus , concerning the bathes of edepsus , which both lost their vertue for a time . the one by the magistrates prohibiting poor diseased people to use them , the other by imposing a taxation upon them : but upon the reformation , of those abuses were restored to their former virtues again , i need not herein averring the opinion of divinity which was held to be in bathes , make any mention of the pool of bethesda , written of by saint john , and nonnus the poet : nor of the river jordan , which cured naaman the syrian of his leprosie , being indeed true miracles , and done by a supernatural power ● yet it is likely that those and such like examples bred in the minds of men a reverend and divine opinion of all bathes : especially where they saw such strange effects as they could not well reduce to natural causes . and this hath been the cause that in old time these mineral fountains have been consecrated unto certain deities : as hamon in lybia , unto jupiter : thermopilae , unto hercules , by pallas : among the troglodites , another to the sun , &c. and at this day we have divers bathes which carry the names of the sun , moon , and saints : and many towns and cities named from the bathes in them : as thermae in macedonia and sicily , thermidea in rhodes , aquae in italy , aquisgraue in germany , baden in helvetia : and our antient city of bathe in somerset-shire , in honor whereof i have especially undertaken this labour , and i perswade my self , that among the infinite number of bathes and mineral waters which are in europe , there are none of more universal use for curing of diseases , nor any more commodious for entertainment of sick persons , then these are . besides this sacred conceit of bathes , wherewith in antient times , the minds of men were possest , we may adde this , that the nature of minerals was not so well discovered by them , as it hath been since : and therefore we finde very little written of this argument , either in aristotle or hypocrates , or in galen , who wrote most copiously in all other points of physick , yet concerning this hath little ; * and never gave any of these waters to drink inwardly , although he acknowledgeth that they were in use : and for outward uses , held them all to be potentially hot . after these grecians , the antient latines and arabians succeeded plinie , celsus , seneca , lucretius , avicen , rhasis , seraphio , averrhoes , it whom we finde some small mention of natural bathes , and some use of salt and nitrous , and aluminous waters , but nothing of worth toward● the discoverie of the natural causes of them . i● is likely they did pass it over slightly , either by reason of the difficulty in searching out the cause of them , or that they judged them meerly metaphysical . but in later times the nature and generation of minerals ( from whence the baths proceed and from whence the whole doctrin of them both for their qualities and differences , originals and use , must be derived ) being better looked into and observations taken from such as daily labour in the bowels of the earth , for the search o● mines , or such as afterwards prepare them for ou● necessary uses ; we have attained to better knowledge in this kinde , than the antients could have , although in all new discoveries there wil● be defects for succeeding ages to supply , so falls out in this : dies diem docet : aipham b●ta corrigit . and although agricola , pallopius , baccius , mathetsious solinander , libavius , &c. have added much unto that which was formerly known in this point , and reformed many errors and mistakings in former writers : yet they have left many things imperfect , doubtful , obscure , controverted , and perhaps false , as may appear in the discourse following . i do reverence all their worths , as from whom i have learned many things , which else i could hardly have attained unto ; and i acknowledg them to have been excellent instruments for the advancement of learning : yet i hope it may be as free for me without imputation of arrogancie to publish my conceits herein , as it hath been for them , or may be for any other : hanc veniam petimusque damusque vicissim . we both this leave , give and receive . my end and studie is the common good , and the bettering of this knowledge : and if i shall bring any further light to increase that , i shall be glad : otherwise my intent being to search out the truth , and not to contradict others , it will or ought to be a sufficient protection for me , wherefore i come to discourse of mineral waters . chap. ii. definition of mineral waters . the nature where of cannot be understood , except first consideration be had concerning simple water . of which in this chapter are shewed the qualities and use . mineral waters are such , as besides their own simple nature , have received and imbibed some other qualitie or substance from subterran●an mynes . i say , besides their own nature , because they retain still their liquidness and cold , and moysture , although for a time they may be actually hot from an external impression of heat , which being gone , they return to their former cold again . i say , imbibed , to distinguish them from confused waters : as earth may be confused with water , but not imbibed , and will sink to the bottom again : whereas such things as are imbibed , are so mixed with the water , as it retains them , and is united with it : being either spirits , or dissoluble juyces or tinctures ; i say from subterranean mynes , to distinguish them from animal or vegetable substances , as infusions or decoctions of herbs , flesh , &c. seeing then that the basis of these bathes or mineral fountains , is water , we must first consider the nature of simple water , and from thence we shall better judge of mineral waters , and their differences . by simple water i do not mean the element of water , for that is no where to be found among mixt bodies , but i mean such water as is free from any heterogeneal admixture , which may alter either the touch or taste , or colour , or smell , or weight , or consistence , or any other qualitie , which may be discerned either by the senses , or by the effects . this water therefore must have his proper colour and taste , without savour or smell , thin , light , cold and moist ; if any of these properties be wanting , or any redound , it is mixed and infected . cold and moisture do abound in water . for cold appears by this , that being heated by any external cause , it soon returns to his cold nature again , when the cause of the heat is removed . and whereas air is held by the stoicks to be most cold ; and confirmed by sene●a and libavius , yet the reason they give for it , doth seem to prove water to be more cold , because they make the matter of air to be water , and to have his coldness from thence . but aristotle holds the air to be hot from the efficient cause which ●rarified ●it , being of more validity to make it hot , than water ( the material cause ) to make it cold . galen is of neither side , for he doth not judge it to be hot , neither doth he ever pronounce it to be cold : but by reason of his tenuity , apt to be altered either by heat or cold . i will not here undertake to determine whether all be bred of water , or whether it be not a distinct substance of it self , and only receiveth watry vapours into it , being agreeable in cold , moisture , tenuity , &c. with it , and so lets them separate in rain : and so exonerate it self of these vapours , as also of dry exhalations by winds , thunder , &c. or whether air be only the efflu●●um of the inferiour globe , being within the orbe of his virtue : as all dominion hath not only a place of residence and mansion , but also a verg● and territory where it exercifeth his authority and government ; so the inferior globe of the earth , and water hath his dominion beyond his own globe , as likewise may be thought of all other globes of the planets , &c. but these points are impertinent to my purpose . it is enough for me to shew what i judge of the temperature of the air concerning heat or cold . and to me it seem● most probable , that the air of it self should be cold , as may appear by this , that it is only heated by external causes , which being removed , the , a● returns to his former coldness again . so we se● that within the tropicks in zona torrida , as long as the sun is within their horizon , and beats th● air with his perpendicular beams , it is exceeding hot , especially in the vallies , where the reflection is most ; insomuch as aristotle held those parts of the world to be inhabitable , in regar● of the extremity of heat . but after the sun is set● the air returns to his natural coldness , until the sun arise and heat it again . josephus acosta ur● geth this argument against aristotle , about the habitableness of the torrid zone , that the daie● and nights being there equal , the presence of the sun in the day-time may well heat the air , b●● his absence for twelve hours more in the night reduceth the air to a better temper : and upon this and divers other arguments and experiences , which cannot be denied , concludes , that if there be any paradise upon earth , it is under or near the equinoctial . the like reason may be drawn from the coldness of mountains , which being near to the middle region of the air , and wanting that reflection of the beams of the sun , which is in the valleys , are continually cold , and often covered with snow , which would not be if the air were hot . as for the conceit that the middle region is made cold by an antiperistasis , the element of fire being above it , and the reflection of the beams of the sun beneath it , it is an idle conceit . for these heats on both sides would rather heat than cool the middle region by their working upon it . also take away the element of fire from under the moon , which is an opinion now exploded by the best philosophers , and then what becomes of your antiperistasis ? but i shall speak more of this antiperistasis , cap. . and as for the reflection beneath , it is a weak thing , and will hardly extend to the top of a steeple : wherefore this coldness of the middle region is not from any antiperistasis , but from the nature of the air , which there is not altered either by any influence from above , or by any vapours or reflection from beneath . neither would it be so cold neer the poles , if the air of it self were hot . but the long absence of the sun in those parts , and the oblique beams when it is present , do permit the air to enjoy his natural coldness . and as the airis of it self , and in his own nature cold , so is it probable that it is more cold than water , seeing it hath a greater power of condensation , than water , as we see it congeals water into ice , snow , hail , &c. which the water cannot do of it self . for in the bowels of the earth , where the air cannot freely , pass , water is never found to be congealed , unless it b● compasled by some other substance equivalent to air in coldness , as quick-silver , nitre , &c. where cold is drawn into a greater compendium , than in water , by reason of the density of their substances : and in ice and snow , the cold ma● be greater , by reason of the admixture of air , i● is likewise probable that earth is more cold that water , if we consider it as it is in it self , and no● mixed with other heterogenities . for as motio● causeth heat , and levity , and rarity , so want o● motion , which is in earth , causeth coldness , density , and ponderosity . but it is enough for o● purpose to prove both air and water to be cold . as for moisture , aristotle holds the air to be mos● moist , and water most cold . galen holds wate● to be most moist . aristotles reason for the predominance of moisture in air is , because it is mo● hardly contained within his bounds : but the termination of things proceeds from their opposite qualities , as moisture is terminated by dryness and dryness by moisture : and dryness doth a● easily terminate moisture , as moisture doth terminate dryness . and this difficulty of termination in air , may more properly be ascribed to hi● thinness and tenuity of parts , than to his moisture . for dry exhalations will extend themselves a● well as moist vapours ; and as it is density that compacts , so it is rarity that extends . fire it self is more hardly bounded than air , and yet not moist . those that would reconcile these differences , do alledge that galen speaks as a physitian , and meant that water was bumidissimum medicamentum : aristotle as a philosopher meant it to be humidissimum elementum . but this reconciliation gives little satisfaction . for how the could water be humidissimum medicamentum , if it were not humidissimum elementum ? for the simple qualities are more intense in the elements , then in mixt bodies , caeteris paribus . we speake of the proper operation of water according to his natural quality , and not as it may work by accident . thinness and levity are two other qualities of simple water , which hypocrates commends , and adds this experiment in another place , that it is quickly hot and quickly cold . galen adds another experiment in the quick boyling of peason and beans . and whereas galen produceth the boyling of beans as a familiar example to shew the tenuity of water , we may gather that the use of beans was common in those dayes , although the py●hagorean sect did then much flourish , which were thought to forbid the use of them . but i find that here hath been a great mistake , for aristoxenus who wrote of the life and doctrine of pythagoras , affirms that he did delight much in that kind of food : and our physitians commend them for loosing the belly , and drying of rheums . but it seems the cause of this mistake was a verse of empedocles , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 o miseri a fabulo miseri subducite dextras . thrice wretched men , from cyams keep your hands . as if he had forbidden the use of beans , poor occasion to pronounce them miserable which used them . but he meant it of continency and abstinence from venery , as aulus gellius doth intérpret it : where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are understood to be testiculi . cicero mentioneth the the same of the pythagoreans , but in another sense , because beans were thought by their flatulency , to disturb our dreams , and so to hinder the divination which might be gathered from them , as also middendorpius judgeth : but t● return to water : and it is requisite that wa●e should have these qualities , in regard of the manifold and necessary uses of it , both for m●● and beast , and plants : insomuch , as there is n● living for any creature , where there is no wate● it was our first drink to quench our thirst , an● to distribute our nourishment as a vehiculu● which it doth by his tenuitie ; and after the invention of wine , it was mixed therewith , ● virgil saith of bacchus , poc●laque inventis acheloia miscuit ●vis , and he that first found out the vine , mix'd some water with his wine . where , by acheloia , he means not only t● water of the river achelous in etolia , but● other waters , as macrobius proves out of a●● stophanes and ephorus : and scaliger saith th● the greeks called all waters by that name , fro● the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . and since the planting of vine yards seeing all countries could not be● grapes , bacchus also taught the world to make vinum è frugibus with water , as diodorus siculus reports , from whence the egyptians had their zithum and curmi , the spaniards their cerea , the turks their cowset , and we our ale and beer ; all which are extracted out of corn , by the pureness of and tenuitie of water . by means whereof we have our broths , syrups , apozemes , &c. extracted with it , as a fit menstruum to receive the faculties of all medicaments and nourishments , especially the second qualities , and therefore it was antiently called panspermia : besides the manifold uses in washing , dying , &c. where that water is accounted hest , which lathers most , being mix'd with soap , of which i will not discourse farther . levity is another note of pure water , alledged by many , and serves well to distinguish it from many mixed waters , whether we respect the weight of it , or the molestation which it breeds in the bowels . this difference of weight is hardly discerned by ballance , both because simple waters do very little differ in this point , and also many mixt waters , if they be only infected with spirits , and not corporal substances , retain the same proportion of heaviness with simple water : and also because it is hard to have great ballances so exact , as a small difference may be discerned by them , yet agricola reports that a cotyle of the water of pyrene and euleus , did weigh a dram less then the water of euphrates , or tigris , and therefore the kings of persia used ●o drink of it , and held it in great account , as also the water of the river coaspis . thus much for the qualities which simple water should have ; for such as it should not have , i shall not need to spend time in discourse , being either such as the senses will discover , if it be in taste , colour , smell , or touch ; or the effects , if it be purgative , vomitory , venomous , &c. chap. iii. of the three originals of simple waters . now it followeth that we shew from whence these waters have their original , which is no other then of the mixt waters , saving that the mixt waters do participate with some minerals which are imbibed in them . they haue three several originals : the one from moist vapours congealed by cold in the air the second from the earth ; the third by percolation from the sea. for the first , it is certain that our springs and rivers do receive great supply of waters from the air , where vapours being congealed by cold , do fall down upon the earth , in rain , or snow , or hail , whereby the ground is not only made fertile , but our springs are revived , and our rivers increased . as we see the rhine and danubius to swell more in summer than in winter , because then the snow which continually lyeth upon the alpes , doth melt by the heat of the sun , and fills those rivers , which have their originals from thence up to the brinks . also we see daily after much rain , our small lakes and rivers to be very high . also upon much dryth our springs fail us in many places , which upon store of rain do supply us again with water . and this is the cause that in most parts of africa , near the equinoctial , where it rains little , they have little water ; and many times in two or three dayes journey , can hardly find to quench their thirsts and their camels . leo africanus speaks of an army wherein were many camels , which in their marching , coming to a river , ( perhaps it was but a brook ) did drink it dry . so that we must acknowledge that the earth receives much water this way . but how this should serve the bowels of the earth with sufficient for the generations there , and for perpetual springs , is very doubtfull ; whereas seneca faith that these waters do not pierce above ten foot into the earth : neither if there were passages for it into the bowels of the earth , can the hundred part of it be imployed this way , but is readily conveyed by rivers into the sea. wherefore although much water be yielded to the superficies of the earth by rain and snow , and hail from the air , yet not sufficient to maintain perpetual springs ; seeing many times , and in many countries these aerial supplies are wanting , or very spare , and yet the springs the same . wherefore aristotle his opinion , which attributes all to aerial water and vapours from thence , is justly rejected by agricola , and by our countrey-man mr. lydiat . so that we must find out some other originals , or else we shall want water for the manifold uses the earth hath of it . from the earth they make another original of perpetual springs and rivers , seeing the first seems to be ordained by nature only for the irrigation of the superficies of the earth , which else would be in most places destitute of water , where springs are not , and so would be barren , plants and trees wanting due moisture for their nourishment . wherefore for the perpetuity of fountains , and for subterranean generations , which cannot proceed without water , they have imagined a generation of water within the earth ; some holding that the earth it self is converted into water , as elements are held to b● mutable and convertible , the one in the other , as ovid faith of the conversion of elements : resolutaque tellus , in liquidas rarescit aquas , &c. the earth likewise , when once unty'd is into water rarify'd . but we must grant ovid his poetical liberty and not tye his words to such a strict sense , although scaliger in his criticks would not pardon a philosophical errour in the first verse of his metamorphosis , for saying that forms are changed into new bodies . but unless there be some reciprocation between water and air , the other elements are not convertible the one into the other . for neither fire will be converted into any other element being superiour to the rest , and not to be mastered by cold , which only must be the agent of the conversion of it by condensation : neither will the earth be converted into water , or any other element , as pla●● thinks in timoeo and aristotle . de coelo cap. . for either heat or cold must convert it . heat cannot do it , although it rarifie and attenuate , both for that it consumes moysture , and also because water is cold , which it should not be , if it were made by heat ; for every natural agent works to that end that it may make the patient like it self : and heat may convert earth into sume and dry exhalations , but not into water , for all water which is not eternal , is from cold ; likewise cold cannot convert earth into water , because cold doth congeal , condense , and congregate , and indurate , and not dissolve and attenuate , &c. as we see in amber and gumms . neither will water be converted into earth . for by heat it turns to vapour and air , by cold into ice and stone ; wherefore the elements are not changed the one into the other , unless it be water and air , which have more affinity and more neighborhood than the rest . and yet it is doubtfull , as i have said in the former chapter : but this generation of water from the earth is impossible . others will have great receptacles of air within the earth , which flying up and down , is congealed by the coldness of rocks into water , to supply all wants . others imagine huge lakes and cisterns , primarily framed in the earth , and supplyed with water , either from vapour or air , or from the sea ; which water either by agitation , by winds , or by impulsion from the sea , or by compression of rocks , is elevated to the superficies of the earth : or else vapours from thence , made by attenuation , either from the sumand starrs , or from subterranean fire kindled upon sulphur and bitumen ; which was pours ascending to the tops of mountains , are there congealed into water by the coldness of the rocks ; where there must be other cisterns or castles in the air to feed the inferiour springs . others will make the earth to be an animal , and to suck water by veins , to serve his turn for generations and nutritions . but why should it suck more than it hath need of ? and how shall it cast it forth beyond the place of use to the superficies of the earth ? unless they will say that the mynes which suck it , do puke it up as infants do when their stomachs are full , which is absurd to say . these and such like devices are produced for the maintaining of their original ; which as they are all insufficient to afford such a proportion of water as is requisite , so most of them are so improbable , and full of desperate difficulties , as i am unwilling to spend time in the rehearsing of them , or their authors , much more unwilling in the confuting of them , to trouble my self , and offend my reader , only the point of subterranean fire which hath taken deepest impression in most mens minds , i shall speak of hereafter , when i come to shew the causes of the actual heat of springs . the third original is from the sea , a sufficient storehouse for all uses , and whereunto the other two may be referred . for that which falls from the air , and that which is bred in the earth , do proceed principally from the sea. agricola for fear of wanting water for his springs , is contented to admit of all these originals , although he relyeth least upon the sea , because he knows not how to bring it up to the heads of his fountains , but is contented it should serve for lower places near the sea-cos● . as i remember i have seen in zeland at westcapell , fresh springs colated from the sea , through banks of sand . but i make no doubt but that the sea-water may serve all other springs and rivers whatsoever , although both far remote from the sea , and high in situation . neither shall we need to flye for help to those monstrous conceits of agitation , compulsion , compression , suction , attraction by the sun , &c. but holding the sacred canon of the scriptures , that all rivers are from the sea , &c. i perswade my self , that there is a natural reason for the elevating of these waters unto the heads of fountains and rivers , although it hath not yet been discovered . for those opinions formerly mentioned , will not hold water . my conceit therefore is this , that as we see in siphunculis , that water being put in at one end , will rise up in the other pipe , as high as the level of the water ( whether by his weight , or by the correspondence with his level , i will not dispute ) so it may be in the bowels of the earth ; considering that the passages there are more firm to maintain the continuitie of the water with the sea , than any leaden pipes can be , being compassed on every side with many rocks : as we see in venis , fibris & commissuris saxorum . now although perhaps this water enters into the earth very deep , yet the level of it must answer to the superficies of the sea , which is likely to be as high as the superficies of the land , seeing the natural place of waters is above the earth . and although neer the coasts it be depressed and lower than the shore , yet there is reason for that , because it is terminated by the dry and solid body of the earth : as we see in a cup or bowl of water filled to the top , we may put in a great bulk of silver in pieces , and yet it will not run over , but be heightened above the brims of the bowl . the like we see ín a drop of water put upon a table , where the edges or extremities of the water being terminated by the dry substance of the table , are depressed , and lower than the middle , like● half globe : but take away the termination by moistening the table , and the drop sinks . * 〈◊〉 this be evident in so small a proportion , we may imagine it to be much more in the vast ocean and our springs being commonly at the foot o● hills , may well be inferior to the globe of th● sea , if any be higher , they may perhaps be fe● from rain and snow falling upon the mountains but if josephus acosta , his assertion be true , th● the sea towards the equinoctial , is higher tha● towards the poles , then the level of the sea m●●● be much higher than the top of our highest hill● but this is a doubtful assertion : yet i dare believe that if it were possible to immure a sprin● without admission of air , which might break th● continuitie with the sea , our springs might b● raised much higher . at saint winifrids well i● flint-shire , though there be no high land neer i● yet the springs rise with such a violence , and i● plentifully , that within a stones cast , it drives ●● mill. it is likely that this spring might be raised much higher . and whereas we see that river● do run downwards to the sea per decline , it doth not prove the sea to be lower than the land , but only near the shore where it is terminated , and in lieu of this it hath scope assigned it to fill up the globe , and so to be as high as the land , if not higher . for if a measure should be taken of the globe of the earth , it must be taken from the tops of the mountains , and from the highest of the sea , and not from the valleys , nor from the sea-coasts . this conceit of mine i was fearful to publis ; h , and therefore had written unto master brigges , mine antient friend , for his advice in it , being a point wherein he was well studied : but before my letter came to oxford , he was dead . but now i have adventured to publish it , to stir up others to search out the causes hereof , better than hath yet been discovered . exorsipse secandi , fungor vice cotis . anothers edge , though blunt , i set , and with the stone that 's dull , i whet . chap. iv. division of mineral waters . minerals descr●bed . their kinds recited . of earth , simpl● and mixed . whether it give any medicinabl● qualitie to water . and so of the rest in th● following chapters . thus much of simple waters , and their originals , which may serve as polycletus hi● rule to judge mixed and infected waters by : galen in many places speaks of an exact and sound constitution of body , as a rule to disce●● distempered and disproportionated bodies . an● thus much in explication of the gen●s , in the definition of mineral waters . now i come to mineral waters , and to the other part of the definition which we call difference , &c. from subterranean mynes by imbibition . these mineral waters are either simple o● compound ; simple , which partake but with some one subterranean mineral ; compound which partake with more than one . and the●● waters partake with minerals , either as they a● confused with them , or as they are perfectly mixed . also these mineral waters , whether simple or compound , are actually either hot or cold the reason whereof must proceed from some subterranean cause , as shall be shewed hereafter . wherefore we must first know the nature o● these subterranean minerals , and their generation a table of minerals with their qvalities . . earthly . simple , dry , cold , astringent or mixed with nitre fullers earth marle abstergent . allum coperas all sorts of boles , astringent and desiccative . turfe bitumen , pex , &c. fat , and unctuous . vid. p. , , . stone , vid. p. . . bitumina . solid terra ●mpelis . succnum . ga●a●es . am●a canphora . boneo . ch●a . titantrax , five carbo fosslis . liquid petroleum . naphtha . potentially hot and dry , in the . or . degree ; except camphir , concerning the nature and qualities of which autho●sdisagree , vid. pag. . . concrete juyces . salt , astringent , detergent , purging , &c. vid. pag. . nitre . sal amnoniacum . borax . altincar . vid. pag. . . allum . vitriol . very astringent , and cold , vid.p. , . . spirits . quicksilver ; various in it qualities , vid.p. , . sulphur ; moderately hot and dry , and somewhat cooling , vid. p. . arsenick auripigmentum risagalum , sandaracha , rusma , &c. venomous , vid. p. . extreme hot and putrifying , p. . cadmia natural , liquid dangerous , and a strong corrosive , factitious , moderately , hot and cleansing , vid. p. . . mean , or half metals ; as bismutum , or tin-glas ; qualities not mentioned , vid. p. . antimony , purgeth vidently upward and downward , ib. bell-metall , not used n physick , vid. p. . . metals perfect gold , qualities un●ertain , vid. p. . & . silver , esteemed cold , dry , astringent , emollient , vid p. . & . imperfect hard iron , opening and astringent , vid. p. . , , . copper , temperate in heat , less astringent , and morecleansing than iron , vid. p. . . soft tinn , cold and dry , yet moving sweat , p. . . . lead , cold and dry , vid. p. . . & . place this between page and , where the th . chapter of minerals begins . ●●●om whence mineral waters receive their ●●●rence , from common simple water , before ●●●n judge of the nature and quality of them , ●er actual or potential . ●●●y minerals , we understand all inanimate ●●●ect bodies bred in mines within the bowels ●●●e earth . i dare not undertake to muster these ●●●ue order by dichotomies , seeing neither ●icola nor fallopins , nor libavim , nor , any ●●●r that i know , have exactly done it , nor satisfied either others or themselves in it : and seeing there are divers minerals lately discovered , perhaps more may be hereafter , which have ●een known in former times , and therefore mentioned ; as calaem in the east-indies , ●●●ma and terra ghetta in turkey , &c. where●●● i will make bold to reckon them up as they ●●●e to hand in seven ranks . the first shall be earth . earth , whether it be bred ab exbalatione sicca earth . ●●●igerata , or ex mistis per putredinem in fimum ●●●versis , or ex lapidibus sole aut ●alore cockis & ●●●de aqua solutis , &c. it is all inconcrete . as ●●●tle water gleweth it together in lutum , so a ●●●t deal dissolves it . but this is no proper dis●●●tion , but only a disjoyning of parts by im●●●ng the moisture which conjoyned them into greater proportion of water ; for waters do ●●●urally run together , like drops of quick-silver , melted metal . wherefore seeing the moisture ●●ch is in the earth , is not natural , but adven●●●ous , not united essentially , but only mixed ●●●identally , it may well be called an inconcrete●●●stance ●●●stance , whose moisture is easily drawn from it , being ready to unite it self with other moisture and leave his old body as it found it , that is dust : yet so as that water retains with it soo● taste or qualitie which it received from the ear●● agric●de nat , fossil . lib. . cap. . this dust is neither a simple body , as elements are , nor permanent in one and the sam● kind : but as it is thought to participate with an●mates vegetables , and minerals , so to be tran●muted into any of them , being both mother and nurse to all terrestrial bodies . simple earth , if it be not mixed with other substances , is dry and cold , and astringent . b●● if it be mixed , as commonly it is , it altereth h●● qualitie according to the mixture . mine inte● is to write of it as it is simple , and so of the rest . simple earth yields but a muddie water of self , and of no use in physick , but if it be mixed with other minerals , it makes , the water to participate with the qualitie of those minerals also as if it be mixed with nitre , as in fullers eart● and marle , it makes the water abstergent like soap . if with allum or copperass , astringer and more desiccative , as in all sorts of boles . with bitumen , fattie and unctuous , as in tu● and peate , &c. we have divers examples all sorts . the bath of mount otbon in italy full of clay , which is a kind of bole. the ba● caldaria , full of ocre . the bath of saint pet● full of a yellow earth , tincted belike with som other minerals . wherefore these are to be judge of according to the several minerals which the contain . but seeing earth it self makes little impression into water , neither do we make any physical use of waters , which contain nothing but earth , i need not spend any time about them . chap. v. of stone . the second shall be stone . stone is another mineral substance , concrete and more heavy than earth , and our mineral men confound themselves much in the definition of it . wherefore fallopius implores the help of marcus antonius janna about it , as one of the most difficult points in philosophie : but in the end , defines it by his want of dissolution , either by heat or moysture . and whereas it is manifest that some stones will melt , he imputes it to the admixture of some metal , among which he reckoneth glass . others define it by his hardness , wherein commonly it goeth beyond others minerals . but you shall have some stones softer than some of those , and therefore the definition is not good . others by this , that being broken or calcin'd , they will not be consolidated again into their former consistence or shape . but for breaking , the reason of that , is want of fusion ; for without fusion or ignition , which is a kind or degree of fusion , metals also being broken , will not be consolidated into the same masse again . and there is no more difference in nature or essence , between a whole stone and a broken , than there is between a mass of metal , and the powder or filings of the same . as for calcination , other minerals may be so far calcin'd , and brought to a crocus by fire , as they will be irreducible , therefore this is not proper to stone . wherefore i am of fallopius his opinion in this point , and the rather because otherwise there would seem to be a species in nature wanting , if there were not mineral species wanting , dissolution by heat or moysture , as well as there are , having such dissolution . and this vacuum which nature abhors , is not only to be understood of a local vacuity , but also of a want b● such species as are in natures power to produce , for the ornament of the world. for if it be a natural passion to be dissolved , it is likewise a natural passion not to be dissolved : and if some things will be dissolved both by heat and moysture , as salts , why should there not be other substances which will be dissolved by neither of them . and this must be stone , for nature affords none other . moreover , according to aristotle 〈◊〉 quoe concreverunt a frigido & a calido , a null●●storum dissolvuntar ; those things which come together by heat or cold , are dissolved by neither of them : of this kind are stones which could never attain to such purity as many of them have , if they were not congealed by heat as well as by cold . also under what species shall we comprehend diamonds , talcum , black-lead , which some think to be pnigitis , magnetis , glymmer , katzensilber , pyrimachus , amiantus , alumen plumosum , saxum arenarium mortnum , &c. if not among stones ? yet these are confessed to be invincible by fire or water . also all pretious stones , the more noble and pretious they are , the more they resist dissolution either by fire water : for this quality sheweth the perfection of their mixture . true it is that some stones will be dissolved by fire or water , and therefore pliny and agricola divide stones into fusible and infusible : but this is in regard of other substances bred in the stone ; which if it be metal , the fusion will be metalline : if nitre or mean minerals , it will be vitrificatory . as pliny reports of the invention of glass by certain merchants , who melting nitre upon the sand in syria , where with clods of nitre they had made a furnace for their necessary use ; found that clear metal which we call glass , ecce liquato nitro oum arenis visi sunt rivi fluxisse nobilis liquoris . behold , with the sand , when the nitre was melted , ran streams of a noble liquor . if sulphur , as in pyrite , it will likewise melt and strike fire . and whereas the striking of fire out of a flint or pyrites , or any other thing that will strike fire , is held by all men to proceed from the kindling of air , by the collision of two hard substances together , they are mistaken . for then diamonds , chrystal glass , &c. should strike fire as well as flints ; but it is the sulphur contained in them : and g. fabricius in his observations , although he observes not the reason of this fire , yet he confesseth that out of any pyrites è quo excutitur ignis , etiam ●xcoquitur sulphur ; out of which fire is struck , sulphur also is to be had . pliny gives the reason of the name , quia inest illi ignis ; because fire is in it . the like we observe in indian canes , and some woods that are unctuous , and ●ull of oyle , which yield fire by frication , or collision , not by kindling the air thereby , but inflamable oyle in them . for air being cold and moist , as hath been proved before , hath no agreement with fire , no more then oyle hath with water . and therefore flame is not the kindling of air ( ' slamma non est aer accensus ) but of fub ginous vapours , which have some unctuousness 〈◊〉 them , and arise from the mater of fewel , and ha● some inflamable parts remaining in them : whi●● neer unto the matter of fuel , do cause a manife● flame : but farther off , no flame doth appear : y● so as if you hold flax near unto the flame , thou● it touch it not , yet it will kindle , by reason t● fire extends further then it is visible , being a p● lucide and transparent body , and thinner then 〈◊〉 air it self . and this is held to be the cause w● it is not visible under the moon . and where without air fire goes out , and is extinguished , 〈◊〉 reason is , because the fuliginous vapours want● evaporation , do recoyle upon the fireand cho● it . this is evident in cupping-glasses , and making of char-coal : where if the air be altog ther excluded , the fire goes out ; if but in p● then although the flaming be hindred , yet 〈◊〉 fire doth penetrate the fewel , and so conver● to coals : which by reason of the fuliginous pours , are commonly black . bellonius s● that char-coals made of the wood of the o● cedar tree , are white ; which must be ascrib as i think , to the small quantity of fuligin● vapours which that wood doth yield : or 〈◊〉 that those vapours are rather sulphurous , then any other combustible substance . as wee that tinby coals will not black linnen , be hanged in the smoak of them , but rather whiten it , by reason of the drying and penetrating quality of sulphur , which will make red roses white . but what shall we judge of those lamps , which have been found burning in old sepulchres ? some of them ( if we may believe histories ) having continued years together , as that which was found in paulus the third his time , of tullia , ciceroes daughter : and another of maximus olibius , near unto padua , as bernardinus scardco reports . it seems here was no air to maintain the lamps , being closely shut up in glasses , and therefore they burnt without air , and were not extinguished , by reason they bred no fuliginous vapours to choak them . now whether these oyles which fed the lamps were made by art out of gold , as some think , and i hardly believe , or rather out of some pure kind of naphtha , which is most probable , i leave to others to judge : only i judge it to be the purity of that oyle , which yielded no fuliginous vapours to choak the fire . if air had maintained the flame , it had not continued two minutes , for it would have been spent and wasted by the fire . wheresore ignis non est aer accensus . if other concrete juice be mixed with stone , as salt , allum , vitriol , &c. it makes them to relent in water or moist air ; and these stones are never good to build withal . but let us take stone as it is in it self , without the admixture of other minerals , and we shall find it to be indissoluble and invincible , either by fire or water . metallurgians , refiners , and assay masters , may make use of this for their shribs , tiegles , muffels , copels , tests , hearths , crucibles , furnaces , &c. where they desire a defensible substance against fire . but it requires a preparation to cleer it from all combustible and dissoluble admixture : as they may easily do , after they have powdred their stone , to calcyne 〈◊〉 and wash it well . this work being often repeated , will make it fit for their purpose : an● they may use it either alone in the same manne● as they do bone-ashes , or they may mix it with their lome , brick-dust , gestube , &c. also the● may make bricks of it for their furnaces , which will hardly receive any injury from fire . talcu● also is a stone invincible of it self by fire : and● bricks made of clay that is full of it , as th● guendern clay in cornwall , will hardly mel● with any heat . stones are naturally dry an● cold , and astringent like a concrete earth . simple stones which have no other mineral mixed with them , and are come to their perfection , being indissoluble , either by fire or water : can yield no quality or virtue to bathes , an● therefore he that seeks to draw any virtue fro● stone into water , doth lapidem lavare , that is labour in vain . but by reason of admixtures they may , or whilest they are in succo lapidescerte , before they are concreted . for if it be certain that metals may yield virtue to bathes , being alike indissoluble by water , there is no reason but stones also may . fallopius is again● it in both , but contradicted by julius caesar clandinus , and divers others ; yet he confesse● that balncum montis grotti , hath gyps 〈◊〉 and gesner affirms the same of the bathes of eugesta . also he finds ramentd●mdrmoris in balneo corsenae & agnatio blit he judgeth that they receive no quality but from the juice , and i doubt not but he is in the right . and for succus lapidescens , we have many examples in agro pisano & lucensi in italy , in avernia in france , where this juice is so plentifully brought by a clear spring , that after it is congealed , the people dig the stones , and have made a great bridge of them . also neer vienna in savoy , in a village called giret , is a clear fountain which turns to stones as hard as flints : pliny makes tnention of the like springs in eubea , which are hot : and vitruvius of the like at hieropolis in phrygia : also josophus acosta of the like hot springs in guaniavilica in pern , which turns to stone , whereof they build their houses . anthonio de herreza , cap. . tells of the same spring at guainia at velica , which turns to stone as it riseth , and kills those that drink of it . also this succus lapidescens is observed in the bathes of apono , where it is converted into stone upon the sides of the bath . also in the bath of rancolani , where this juice is not confused , but perfectly mixed with the water , and being imbybed by plants , it hardens them like stone . baccius tells us of a cave by fileg in transilvania , which turns water into stone . the like is found at glainstayns in scotland , as hector boetius reports . in england also we have many fountains which turn wood into stone ; which must be by reason of this succus lapidescens mixed with the water . coral also being a plant , and nourished with this juice , turns to stone : so doth the seed of lithospermon or gromel . thus much of stone . chap. vi of bitumen . his kinds , qualities . of campli● in particular . that bitumen is predominan● in the waters of bathe . next i come to those minerals which we cal bitumina , which are mineral substance that burn and waste in the fire without metallin● fusion , or ingression . the greatest affinity they have , is with sulphur : but this hath ingression into metal , and therefore i rank it among the spirits , and bitumen hath none . of this kind some are solid , and some liquid . solid , as succinum gagates , ambra , camphora , terra ampell● lithanthrax , sive carbofossilis , &c. liquid , 〈◊〉 petroleum and naphta . all these are great fuel to fire , especially those that are liquid , which are thought to draw fire unto them , if it be within their effluvium : so pliny reports that medl● burnt creusa by anointing her garland with naphtha : and strabo tells how alexander bath-master athenophanes , had almost burn● stephanus , a boy in the bath , by sprinkling naptha upon him , if it had not been suddenly quenched . and this is that juice or thick water which plato in times reckons among fires and which the egyptians used in their sacrifices , and was hidden by the jewish priests in a dty● pit for years , and afterwards found by nebemi●h . but whereas it is a common received opinion , that some of these bitumina will burn in water , i cannot believe it ; although . pliny and agricola , and most that have written since , out of them do averr it , and bring arguments and examples to prove it . for although water were a fewel to fire , as oyle is , yet there can be no fire without air , and water excludes air ; and so doth oyle , if the fire be beneath it , and covered with it : as for their arguments , they say that bitumen being sprinkled with water , burns more , and therefore water is a fewel to it : as wee see that smiths cast water upon their sea-cole in their forges : but the reason of this is , because their coal being small like dust , the water makes it to cake and bake together , where otherwise the blast would blow it way : also it hinders the quick burning of it , and so makes it continue the longer : so in a vulcano after rain , they find the fire to burn more , when the bitumen is smal , and in dust . although this may be a reason of it , that the lyme which hath there been calcined , being by rain dissolved , increaseth the fire . and whereas they say that water will kindle bitumen , and quench sulphur it is not so : neither doth their example of wild-fire prove it . for in wild-fire , besides bitumen and camphir , there is a double proportion of quick lymes , which by reason of the sudden dissolution of his salt , by the effusion of water , is apt to kindle any combustible matter ; not by reason of any bitumen in the lyme , as some imagine , nor of any empyreuma which the fire hath left in it , a● fracasturius thinks : for , how can there be any bitumen left in the lyme ( if there were any 〈…〉 first , ) after calcination : the fire would have consumed that before any thing else . and as fo● any empyreums , it is certain that the more any thing is burnt , although the fire leave an adustio● in it , the less apt it is to burn again , especially being burnt and calcin'd ad calcem aut cinere● where all the combustible matter is spe●● wherefore it must needs be by the violent motion which is in the sudden dissolution of the s● in it , as appears by the crackling it makes : 〈…〉 ex motu fit calor ; and motion causeth heat the like we observe in pyrite sterili , where● they make vitriol , which being broken an● laid up in heaps , and moistned with water , w● gather heat , & kindle any combustible matter p● to it . the like we find also in allum mines , &c where those mineral juices being concrete in th● mine , when they come to sudden dissolution d 〈…〉 grow hot , and will kindle fuel . and as for th● example of the salt lake whereof agrico● writes , between strapel● and seburgh , which burns the fishermens nets if they be put near th● bottome : and of the lake sputa , in medi● mentioned by strabo , which burns cloths put into it : i take that to be by reason of th● corr●sive quality of the salt which frets them being stronger near the bottome ; and not fro● bitumen , as agricola thinks . the like i judg of the lake by denstadt in turingia . and is very probable that salt being heavier the water , will be most towards the bottome : as is reported of the fountain achilleus in mileto , whose water is very sweet and fresh above , and very salt towards the bottom . so is the water of agnano in italy , as m. sandys reports in his travels . and the more heavy and terrestrial any sait is , the more corrosive it is : and so contratywise , the more corrosive , the more heavy . aristotle asfirms the sea-water to be more salt at the bottom than above : and so doth pliny , who likewise makes mention of the lake ascanius in chalcide , whose top is sweet , and bottom nitrous . baccius writes the like of a well near toletum in spain , the water whereof is sweet above , and corrosive beneath ; which he judgeth to be from quick-silver . fallopius is also of opinion , that bitumen doth not only burn in water , but is nourished by water , because it makes the fire to last longer . but i have shewed the reason of that before . and for the burning in water , he should have said upon the water ; for there it will burn as long as it swimmeth ; but dip it under the water , and it is presently extinguished . and whereas some report that queen ann of blessed memory , being in our kings bath , there arose a flame of fire like a candle from the bottom of the bath to the top near unto her , they must give me leave not to believe it , but rather to think they were mistaken : for , i am not bound to believe any thing against reason , which god hath given me to be my guide . it might have been some bubble of wind which is frequent in our baths , or some bituminous matter not dissolved in the water , did arise , and being at the top , dissolve it self upon the surface in the form of a circle ; but it could not be kindled . and if it might be kindled in the water ( which were impossible ) yet in all likelyhood it would have burnt better above the water than within it , and not be presently extinct , as they report . these bitumina ( excepting camphir ) are potentially hot and dry in the second or third degree ; but concerning camphir there are two doubts . first , whether it be a bitumen or a gum. secondly , whether it be hot or cold . the arabians aff●● it to be the gum of a huge tree with white leaves , under whose shadow many wild beasts may lye and that after earth-quakes there is great plenty found ; that it is in quality cold and dry in th● third degree ; some late writers follow them i● their opinion of a gum , as mathiolus , amat● lusitanus , garcias ab borto , &c. plateareus hold it to be the juyce of an herb . but we must consider that they make two sorts of camphir , th● one of borneo , the other of chyna . for that 〈…〉 chyna they confess it is adulterated with bitumen : and that is the only camphir in use with us . but that of borneo to be a simple gum , and that a pound of this is valued as dear as an hundred pound weight of the other . so that all th● doubt lieth in this camphir of borneo ; which whether it be a gum or no , is still in controversie . for the arabians not trading into those parts had the notice hereof only from others , as serapio and avicen do confess : and amatus lusitanus faith the inhabitants will not suffer stranger to come ashore to see it . so as we have been kept in ignorance a long time from the true knowledge of it . and garcias ab horto tells us that all his knowledge of it , is but by relation ; himself not being able ●●trável to see it , partly by reason of his age , and partly for his continual imployment about the viceroy , yet be faith , that that he had a piece of the wood given him : on●ly edvardus barbosa reports that he did see the place in borneo , and found it to be of a mineral nature . but barbosa his testimony is not authentical , having failed much in other of his relations : as where he reports that the purcelan of china is made of oyster-shells , &c. he is contradicted by consalvus mendosa a man employed in those parts by the king of spain , for such discoveries , and also by hugo a linschoten , a man of great observation , and both of them of far better credit than he . i procured some of that camphir to be brought from thence by my worthy friend captain best , but whether it be a gum or a bitumen , by the view i cannot discern . but if it be a gum , faith solinander , why should it abound more after earth-quakes ? and why should it burn and not dissolve in water ? no gums will burn , and all gums will dissolve in water : and earth-quakes make no trees fruitful , but may cast forth minerals . that there is a natural bituminous camphir , i make no doubt : and agricola proves it sufficiently : and the bath in remandiola near rhegium shews it . also the well by muntzbach , where tabernomontanus faith there is mineral camphir , averroes faith , it is affinis bitumini . i confess that when i published my first edition , i was perswaded by solinanders judgement , to think all camphir to be a bitumen , and namely that of borneo , but since upon better enquiry , i find it otherwise . for● captain best , beside● the relations made unto him in the indies , concerning this camphir , that it was from a tree , hath also procured me the testimony of master andrew gogganel , under his own hand , that both the camphir of borneo and sumatra , are gum● of a tree , and no bituminous matter , himself having been at the gathering of it , and at the cutting down of some of the trees . he hath also traded much in that commodity , and vented it a● japan ; where it seems , as also at chyna , they mix and adulterate it with some other matter , to increase the substance , and abate the price ; which mixture perhaps may be some bituminou● substance . this master cogganell hath lived ● years in those parts , and speaks the usual language , and hath been often upon that island o● borneo . now for solinanders reasons , they are easily answered : no gums , faith he , will burn , and all gums will dissolve in water . i grant it , if you take the word gum in a strict sense , for wa●ry gums , as tragacanth , arabick , &c. but we use the word gum in a more general sense , comprehending under it all rosins , turpentines , pitches , &c. which being unctuous and oily , will readily burn , and will not dissolve in water . among these gums or rosins , we reckon camphir , and so that argument is answered . as for his other argument drawn from earth-quakes , mentioned by the arabians , after which there is commonly more plenty of camphir : this doth not prove it to be a mineral ; for earth-quakes are as apt to cast up fresh mould , whereby trees are made fruitful , as minerals . wherefore let us subscribe to the antient arabians , although they were not eye-witnesses hereof , and to the later observations of spaniards and others ; especially now that we have a countrey-man of our own , who hath had as good means to learn the truth of this , as any european ever had ; who is yet living , and able to give satisfaction to any that are curious in these points . now for the qualities of it , the most general and truest opinion is , that it is cold and dry . matthiolus judgeth it to be hot for three special reasons . first , because it burns , and is a great fuel to fire . if this argument be good , then flax , and straw , and paper , and touch-wood , and spunck should be hot ; for they are apt fuels to fire . secondly , because it is , odorata , and he holds all odorata , to be calida : galen is of another opinion , and holds the judgement of simples by favour to be uncertain . and as for camphir , galen knew it not . avicen faith expresly of camphir , that although it be o●●●ata , yet it is frigida . and if mattbiolus his rea 〈…〉 were good , then roses and violets , and vinega● should be hot ; for they are odorata . it is true that all favours arise from heat , as gal●n faith , and all compounded bodies have some hot parts : but we speak of the predominancy in the subject , and of the operation it hath upon mans body . thirdly , because it bites the tong●e . so doth juice of lemons , and barberies , and vinegar , &c. and yet they are cold . wherefore i conclude our camphir to be in quality cold and dry , and of very subtil parts . these bitumina being unctuous and oily , dissolve not of themselves in water , without the help of some mineral juice , but may be confused with it . and we have many fountains and lakes which participate with them . in shro● shire at pitchford , is a spring that casteth for● bitumen swimming upon the water . the like w● read of in avernia in france , between clartmond and monferan , where the people gather 〈…〉 for their uses . in italy there are many fountains yielding bitumen ; at maianum , and sasso●● and salsa , and herculanum at the foot of the mountain vesuvium , at baia , and also at the cape of s. helena , and in the isle of woolfs there are fountains of pitchie bitumen , which are used to pitch ropes and tackling , as josepbus acost● reports . and we have that famous lake aspha 〈…〉 tites in jud●ea , so full of bitumen , that it hardly suffers any thing to sink in it . the river lipari● in cilicia , by reason of a spring near solos , is 〈…〉 full of liquid bitumen , as they which swim or wast in it , seem to be anointed with oyle . also there are bituminous springs in saxony at bruno , i● swevia the lake tegera , at gersedorf under the mount jurat , in asia by tralleis and nissa . also in the west-indies there are many found which they put to use for shipping . and this bitume● is the chief ingredient in our baths at bathe i● somerset-shire , although diluted with much nitre , which makes the solution the better , and the water more clear . that bitumen is predominan● in these our baths , may be proved by the effects , because we finde them exceedingly to comfort the nerves , supple the joynts , dry up theumes , cure palsies , and contractions , being distinctly used , tinct silver into the colour of gold , &c. also by the bituminous favour of them , and by the neighbourhood of cole-mines in those parts . all which do argue bitumen to abound in them . and whereas doctor william turner in his treatise of these baths , thinketh brimstone to be the chief mineral , and copper next ; i am not of his opinion . the actual heat is no argument of brimstone , as shall be shewed when i come to that point : neither doth the favour bewray it . but his reason for copper is very weak . he found a marchesit upon one of the hills , which he thought to hold copper : but marchesits although they shew yellow , yet they seldom hold copper , or any other metal . but his discourse hath perswaded john bauhinus to publish it confidently to the world. i shall have occasion to speak more of this hereafter . and thus much of bitumina . chap. vii . of mineral juyces concrete : called by the alchymists , salts . the four principal sorts of them ; salt , nitre , allum , vitriol . a fourth sort of minerals are concrete juyce● which are mineral substances dissoluble in water . these the alchymists call salts , and are the means of communicating all other minerals with water . for as water is apt to dissolve and extract vegetables , so are these concrete juyce● apt to dissolve and extract mineral substances . and although they are found sometimes liquid being dissolved by moysture ; yet we call the● concrete , because they will be concrete whe●● the adventitious moysture is removed . our mineral authors do make many sorts of these according to the several minerals which they imbibe : but in truth they may be all reduced to four heads ; salt , nitre , allum , and vitriol . and each of these hath divers species , as gebe● and casalpinus say of salt , quot genera calcium , tot genera salium . concerning vitriol there may be some doubt whether it be a distinct specie● from allum , and have received only some tincture from copper or iron , or from some of their brood , which are called excrements . for in distilling oyle of vitriol , the lute wherewith the glasses are joyned , will yield perfect allum . and vitriol being boyl'd , ariseth in bullas as allum doth , and shoots like allum in glebas ; as salt doth in tesseras , and nitre in stirias . the shooting or roching of concrete juyces , is worthy to be observed , seeing every kind hath his several manner or fashion of shooting , whereby a man may see the perfection of each kind . for example , if salt-peeter be brought you to examine whether it be perfect good or not , dissolve it in water , and set it to shoot in a wooden-dish , or with sticks of ash , or other porons wood : and if it shoot in needles , ( in stirias ) it is right . but if any of it shoot in squares or angles , or lumps , it is mixt , and unfit either for medicine or gunpowder . the common salt-peeter being prepared and cleansed with ashes , hath commonly much of the salt of the ashes mixt with it in the liquors , which being brought to shoot , will settle first upon the wood in squares , ( in tesseras ) and then the salt-peeter will shoot upon it in needles . these needles are good salt-peeter , but the squares are other salt , and weaken the saltpeeter in his operation ; the like you may judge of other concrete juyces . there are also certain stones which we call fluores , which do naturally shoot in divers forms : as christal into fix squares ( in sexagulos . ) sparr , which the dutch call sput or querts , shoots into points like diamonds , as we see in those cornish or bristol-stones : osteocolla found by darmstadt , in the palatinat , like bones : others like oyster or muscle-shells , &c. the reason of this several shooting in concrete juyces and other minerals , is hard to give . for if it did lye in the thinness or thickness , or clamminess of the matter whereof they were made , that difference were taken away when divers sorts are dissolved together in the same water , for one would qualifie the other . but we find that this mixt water will yield his several salts distinctly , and all at once . so that it seems , for the ornament of the universe , that nature hath so distinguished these species , as it doth plants ; among which some have thick leaves , some thin , some long , round , jagged , &c. some have bulbous-root● , some long , stringy , &c. so in their flowers , fruits , colours , smells , &c. every kind hath his own fashion . the reason hereof scaliger saith cannot be drawn from the elements , nor from the thinness , thickness , clammíness , heat , cold , dryness , moysture , plenty , scarsity , &c. of the matter but only from the form , anima , seed , &c. which frames every species to his own figure , order number , quantity , colour , taste , smell , &c. according to the science , as severinus terms it which every seed hath of his own form . so als● it is in minerals , which have their several and di●stinct species in nature , and their seeds to maintain and perpetuate the species . now that thes● concrete juyces are not bred commonly in thes● forms in the earth , the reason may be , either because they are often intermixt with other minerals in their generation , or that their matter being plentiful , and room scanty , they have n● scope to display themselves in their proper forms or perhaps they want water to dissolve then . but by artificial preparations , we find these d●stinctions : in which it is doubtful whether hot or cold , or dryness , do procure this shooting ● roching in concrete juyces , and whether the sam● causes procure it in all . for dryness it is certain that as moysture dissolves them , so dryness co●geals them ; but dryness being a passive quality , is , not sufficient ; it must be the action either of heat or cold , or both ; and the right ordering of these will open a door to the artifice of bay-salt , here in england , as well as in france or spain , or the isle of mayo . among these concrete juices , agricola reckons sulphur , bitumen , auripigmentum , sandaracha , chusocola , aerugo , myfi , sori , melanteria , &c. but if we examine , them aright , we shall find , that either they are not dissoluble in water as concrete juices should be , or they are some of those juices tincted or incorporated with other minerals . all these mineral juices are accounted hot and dry , and astringent , and detergent , some more , some less ; and we take it so upon trust . but this point requires further consideration and distinction . salt is a fixed substance , not volatile in the fire , astringent , detergent , purging , dispersing , repelling , attenuating , makes an escar , and preserves from putrifaction , as dioscorides informs us , and galen confirms the same , adding that it is hot . but we must understand galen with his limitation , lib. . cap. . that the more it is detersory , the less it is astringent . and all astringent things are cold , as he avoucheth , lib. . cap. . acida , acerba , & astringen●ia omnia frigida . now if salt be astringent , it must be cold by galens own rule , and it is not enough to say it hath warm parts in it , but being an uniform substance , we must determine of it expredominio . also galen lib. . sympt . cap. . comparing pure water with sea water , seems to affirm that sea waters , before it have received any great adventitious cold , may cool our bodies . and so this place is understood by anthonius maria venustus in consilio pro petro picardo . the repelling quality , and the making an escar , and the preserving from putrifaction , are arguments of driness , and not of heat . for as heat and moisture are principal agents in generation and corruption ; so cold and driness in preservation . also i should impute the purgative and detersory qualities in salt rather to the tenuity of parts , and the stimulation which i● hath from thence , then to any heat ; for then 〈◊〉 sennertus faith , all hot things should purge ; instit . lil . . part . . cap. . vuleriala in g●● de constit , artis pag. . and mesne can● universal . cap. . rejects all elementary qualities , temperaments , similitudes , or contrarietio● of substances , &c. in purging thedicines . all tamarinds , myrabolans , and antimony 〈◊〉 purge , and yet are cold , venustus , pag. ● but the purgative faculty of medicines is fro● stimulation of the expulsive faculty of the stomach and guts , and not from attraction b● heat of peculiar humours , as hath been imagined . heat may serve as an instrument to actu● stimulation , as cold doth dull and benumb 〈◊〉 faculties , but neither heat nor cold are principal agents in this work . and whereas rhub● is thought to purge choller only , sena and polipody melancholy , agarick flegme , &c. because we see the excrements tincted with the same colours , it is a deceit ; for these purgation do colour humours in that manner . yet i do not deny a distinction to be made of purgations in other respects . and our antient physitians through long experience have found out the right use of purging medicines , and their true distinctions for several uses for mens bodies : as that some do purge gross humours , and some thin , some are strong , and some weak : some are comfortable to the stomach , or liver , or spleen , &c. and some hurtfull to some of those parts : some are too hot in some cases , and some temperate , &c. but they have not discovered the true cause of this purging quality : some attributing it to a celestial influence , some to a hidden quality , which is as much as if they bad said nothing : some to a sympathy , antipathy , &c. for my part i hold the purgative quality of mixt bodies to lie principally in the terrestrial part of them , which is their salt : and therefore the chymists use to acuate their purging extracts with their proper salts . it were much better if they could make their salts without calcination ; for then they should retain the taste of the simples , which lyeth in the salt , and much other virtue which the fire consumes in calcination . it were a delicate thing to have all our vegetable salts to retain the taste of the herbs and simples , from whence they are drawn : as of wormwood , bitter ; of sorel , sour ; of licoris , sweet , &c. there are in mine opinion , three several wayes for it , although they be laborious . the one is by precipitation , when the juice or strong decoction of any simple is precipitated by the addition of some appropriate liquor which will strike down all other parts in the juice or decoction ; but the salt which is in it will not easily precipitate , but will remain in the liquor , and must be severed either by evaporation , or by roching . but in this work we must make choice of such a precipitator , as may not infect our salt with any strange quality . another way it to make an extract of the simple which we desire to work upon , and when we have made it so dry as it will be powdred , then pour upon it pure spirit of wine , which will dissolve no salt , if it be without flegme . by this means throngh often repetitions of new infusions , untill the extract will yield no more tincture unto the spirit of wine , you shall find the salt in the bottome , as a substance which the spirit of wine will not work upon , nor dissolve . a third way , as i conceive , may be in manner of the working of salt-peeter , by putrifying great quantities o● the herbs , untill they become earth : and the● by infusions with water , to extract the salt , which will not putrifie with the herb , but will remain in the earth . the second course i have tryed , the other wayes are very probable . in these salts do lie the chief virtues of many simples either for purging by stool , or urine , or for cleansing , cooling , drying , stimulating , opening o● obstructions , attenuating of gross humours , astriction , corroboration , &c. according to the nature of the simples : whereas the other salt which are made by calcination , have lost these virtues by the violence of fire , and cannot be distinguished the one from the other . nitre is a volatile substance which doth dry and attenuate more then salt , and although it hath not so much astriction as salt is said to have , yet it seems to cool more then salt , perhaps because it is of thinner parts , and penetrates more , and that is the reason that it serves better for the dissolution of metals . in physick we find our sal nitrum ( which is a kind of it ) to cool the body mightily , and therefore used in juleps . these nitres also are apt to move sweat , especially those that are drawn artificially from mixed bodies , as from boles , cordial herbs , bones , horns , teeth , claws , hoofs , &c. which are drawn by sublimation . and these parts of animals are found to be very soveraign against venome and maligne humours . the reason of it i take to be , not only the drying quality they have , whereby they resist corruption of humours , but also & principally by reason of their volatile salt or nitre , whereby they move sweat , and expell from the center of the body . for all their salt is volatile , as may appear by this , that you can never make any lixivium , out of any of these animal medicines , by calcination , as you do out of vegetables ; their salt being altogether evaporated by the fire . this volatile salt being taken into our bodies , and actuated by our natural heat , is commonly very diaphoretick : and this is it which makes our bezoar stones , contrae-yerva , ungula del bado , and supposed unicorns horn to be in such esteem . sal ammoniacum , is also a kind of nitre , and volatile , and so is borax and altincar : but these are commonly mixed with sal alcali , and urin or vinegar , and so made more fix . there is also a natural fix borax found in the isle of lamlay neer dublin in ireland , which perhaps the sea water hath fixt . allum and vitriol are much alike , but that vitriol hath a garb from copper or iron . these are very astringent , and without doubt cold , whatsoever hath been held of them . the waters or slegms distilled from them , do exceedingly cool in juleps , as quercitan and claudius dariot , have observed , and we also by daily experience do find true ; by reason of the intense acidity they have , being distilled from their terrestrial parts . also those acidula which the germans call saurbrun , proceeding from these juices , are much used to quench the heat of fevers . it may be objected , that they are corrosives , and will eat into metal , and therefore must be hot . but by the same reason , the juices of lemons , barberries , howsleek , &c. should be hot , for they will carve iron . to bite and eat as a corrosive , are not arguments of heat , but of piercing . wherefore hypocrates saith , frigus ulceribus mordax , cold bites ulcers ; and frigus est principium destructivum , ut calor generativum ; cold is a destructive principle , and heat a generative . and therefore it is more probable that these corrosives are more cold then hot . these two mineral juices are not so readily dissolved in water , as the other two , and wil be more easily precipitated by any opposite substance that is more familiar to water . i omit the several sorts or these concrete juices and their admixtures with other minerals , as impertinent to my purpose : wherefore i will shew some examples of each of them in natural springs . for salt springs , josephus acosta tells us of a rare spring at a farm neer cusco in peru , which as it runs , turns into very white salt , without any fire or art , in great abundance . in germany are many salt fountains , at luneburg , stafford , salt ●burgh , aldondorf , halstat , &c. in italy , in agro volaterano , &c. in sicily , at solinantia , is a salt well which is hot ; and so are the pegasaei fontes in caria . also the fountain by medon in traesen is both salt and hot . our wiches in cheshire are well known . there are also rivers of salt water by the caspian streights , and in spain , and caria , and in bactria , ochus and oxus . also there are salt lakes , as the terentine lake in italy ? the lake between strapela and seburgh ( mentioned before ) in germany , three lakes in sicily , and besides an infinite number in other countreys , the lake of lakes , the sea. all which receive their saltness from mines of salt in the earth , which are very frequent and huge in bigness , as may appear by the rocks of salt in bohemi● , in monte carpato , in polonia , within two miles of cracovia , in helvetia , and rhetia , where they have no other salt but from the rock . as also by the caspian streights , are great rocks of salt. but marous paulus venetus , tells us of a rock or mountain of salt in thaican , able to furnish all the world with salt. so that it is no marvail that the sea is salt , seeing it pierceth into the bowels of the earth , and discovereth many great rocks of salt which dissolve in it . and this is the true cause of the saltness of the sea. the other causes alledged for it , are very improbable . for whereas aristotle and his followers attribute the saltness of the sea , to the evaporation of the fresh and sweet parts of the water , by the sun , and to an adustion procured also thereby : i answer , that neither the one nor the other can breed a substance in the water , which was not there before . for qualities can breed no substance , and adustion is but a quality imprinted , and no substance . neither can evaporation breed any , but only discover that which was in it before , by taking away the thin parts , and leaving the terrestrial behind . but we see the sea water to contain in it the substance of salt , and most of the salt which we use is made of sea water and no man will deny that this salt is differing from water in his substance and generation , being a distinct species in it self . and whereas they alledge for confirmation of their opinion , that under the torrid zone , the sea is more salt then in other parts , the sun exhaling more there , and making a greater adustion ; i doubt it , both for the large & plentiful rivers which those parts afford , beyond any other parts of the world , and also for that the sea water there is not hot , neither are the beams of the sun so hot , but that men do endure them : and therefore not likely to breed an adustion in the sea water , which must first be hot , before it be adusted . also it may be that those parts do abound in rocks of salt , as we read of people in africa , called ammantes , who make them houses of rock-salt , and castles , as that in sin● geraico , which is five miles in compass , and all of salt : also the mountain oromenus in india is all of salt. moreover if the sun be able to do this in the sea , which is alwayes in motion , whereby it eludes the force of the beams ; why should it not do the like , and much more in standing lakes , as the lemanus and such like ? they answer that lakes are continually supplyed and fed with fresh water from springs . but so is the sea continually fed with fresh water , and in as large a proportion , caeteris paribus , as lakes are . for as the sea is not increased by the influx of fresh waters , no more are divers lakes , but keep the same fulness , and sometimes are lessened . and whereas they say that the upper part of the sea is more salt then the botome , they speak against all reason , salt being heavier then water , and against experience , as i have shewed in the former chapter . also aristotle in some places confesseth it . but if any man will take the pains to vapour away . tun if he will of fresh water , i do assure my self he will not find one grain of salt at the bottome , if it were not in the water before . this may be tryed also in any distilled water , which we are sure can have no salt in it , ( for salt will not arise in distillation ) and is as apt to yield salt as any other water , if adustion or evaporation would breed it . wherefore the saltness of the sea is not from evaporation or adustion , but must needs proceed from rocks of salt in the earth , which the sea doth , wash , and dissolve much of it . and considering the great use of salt , both for other uses , and for generations , nature hath provided enough of it , especially in the sea , which is more fruitful in that respect , the land. wherefore venus was called a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : est venus orta mari. nitre is seldome found in bathes alone , but mixt with other minerals , which it dissolves , and infects the water withall . yet we read of a nitrous lake called letis , neer cālestria in macedonia , where they use to make nitre , and vent it to all parts . so they do at the nitrarit in egypt . also the lake arethus● in armeniae , is full of nitre . at menis in phrygia is a spring of nitrous water which is hot : also in leonte is a hot nitrous spring . bellonius makes mention of a nitrous fountain neer belba , and of abundance of nitre upon a plain neer thereunto , which seems to be that which pliny calls halmariga . but he denieth that there is any mine of nitre under the earth , but that all i● bred out of the soyle as an efftorescens of the earth : baccius saith the same of salt-peeter . agricola saith , that as the true nitre is gathered upon the plains of media above the earth , so is salt-peeter found above the earth in many places of saxony : that nitre is gathered upon the plains of media , are plinies own words . exiguum fit apud medos canescentibus s●scitate convallibus ; there is a little to be found among the medes , where the valleys are white with drought . so that it seemeth , his opinion was , that nitre is not bred in a mine under the earth , as gesner also saith , epist . lib. . pag. . but in the earth it self , as the chief fatness it hath to further generations . and seeing earth is the mother of all terrestrial bodies , it is not left unfurnished with those mineral juices , nor ought else that is requisite for the production of species : it hath been observed by some , that nitrous water is the best soyle for ground , and brings all plants to perfection far sooner then any other dung , and therefore the egyptians water their coleworts with nitrous water , nitrosa viridis brassica fiet aqua . if you a colewort green would see , then let your water nitrous be . our salt-peeter men do find , that ●any fat earth be covered from rain and sun , so as it spendeth not his strength in producing of herbs or grass , it will breed plenty of salt-peeter , otherwise it will yield none . the difference between salt-peeter , and the antient nitre , appears in this , that a pound of nitre being burnt , will leave four ounces of ashes ; salt-peeter will leave none . salt-peeter is actually so cold , as being dissolved in water , it is used in rome and naples to cool their wine , and doth it as well as ice or snow . also we use it inwardly in cooling juleps , and therefore it seems also to be potentially cold , as bellonius judgeth . now i come to allum ( indignum vix ipsa jubet renovare dolorem ) the greatest debtor i have , and i the best benefactor to it , as shall appear when i shall think fit to publish the artifice thereof . in illua , a mile from rio , is an allum fountain : also there are divers in agro senensi , volaterano , lucensi , in italy : balneum de villa is full of allum ; and with us in shropshire at ●●kenyate , are allun springs , whereof the dyers of shrewsbury make use instead of allum . as for allum mines , they are frequent almost in all countreys , but the chiefest that are wrought , are at capsylar in thracia , at telpha neer civita vecchia in italy , at commato● by aussig in germany , and with us in york-shire . in ireland there have been allum works neer to armagh , as thurneiser reports : also at metelia in spain , at mazaron neer carthage , at hellespont , massa , montrond , piambin , volterra , campi●lia , &c. as beringaccio sienese reports . also there are divers earths yielding allum , as at guyder in carnarvan-shire , at camfurt in dorset-shire , and in the isle of wight . but i will contract my self for allum , and come to vitriol . vitriol , as i have said before , doth participate much with allum in the manner of shooting ●● roching , which is in glebas , in the hard dissolution and easie congelation , in their arising in bullas being burnt , and in their precipitation : insomuch as it is probable that the basis of vitriol is nothing but allum . it is found in mineral waters of two sorts . the one where the very bod● and substance is dissolved ; as in cyprus , which galen describes , where the water is green : also at smolnicium in hungary , in transilvania al● carpatum montem , at nensola , & c. in which places copper is ordinarily made out of iron by infusing it in these waters . i will not determine whether this be transmutation of one species into another , as some do hold , or rather a precipitation of the copper which was formerly dissolved in the water by means of the sharp vitriol which meeting with iron , corrodes it , and imbibeth it , rather than the copper , and so lets the copper fall , and imbraceth the iron in place of it . we daily see the like in aqua-sortis , which having imbibed one metal , will readily embrace another that is more familiar to it , and let fall the first . so allum or copperass-water having some strong lixivium of tartar or other calcin'd salt put to it , the allum or copperass will presently salt to the bottom , and precipitate and give place to the lixivium , as a thing more familiar to water , and of more easie dissolution . but as i said , i will not determine this question , because it is not much pertinent to our business . yet i will not omit the judgement of lazarus ercker the emperors chief mine-master in the kingdom of behemia who professeth that he was long of this opinion , but altered it upon this reason ; that by exact proof he found more copper stricken down this way by iron , than the water before did contain , and with the copper some silver . the other kind of vitriol water is , where not the body and substance of vitriol is dissolved , but the spirit or vapour , or quality communicated to the water : of this sort are our vitriol baths for the most part , and these are in themselves wholsome , and are sour , if the vitriol be predominant . such are most of our acidulae ; whereof we have many in viterbio & volaterano , balneum ad mor●um dictum , saurbrun by franckford ad oderam , &c. there are sour waters also from allum , but milder : also from sulphur , whose spirit or vapour being burnt , is little differing from the spirit of vitriol , but somewhat fatter . but the most part of our acidulae are from vitriol . this sour spirit of allum , vitriol or sulphur , libavius judgeth with thomas jordanus to be , in the terrestrial parts of these minerals , because it goeth not away by boyling or distillation , and therefore to be communicated with water by the corporal substance or juyce of them . but that holds not in mineral spirits which are heavier than water , as may appear by evaporation of any water made sour with spirit of vitriol or sulphur , where after long evaporation , that which remains will be more sour than before evaporation . so it is also in vinegar , being a vegetable juyce . the spirit of wine doth certainly arise first in distillation , and the first is the best , being more volatil than the vapour of water . but this spiritus acetosus which is in sulphur , allum , vitriol and vinegar , ariseth last ; and the more you distill away from it , the sharper it ariseth , and the sourer is that which remaineth . thus much for vitriol and concrete juyces . chap. viii . of mineral spirits ; quick-silver , salphur or brinsstone , arsenick , with his kinds , cadmia . afist kind of minerals are called spirits ; these are volatil in the fire , and have ingression into metals , but no metalline fusion . these are quick-silver , sulphur , arsenick , cadmia , rusma , &c. all which being volatil , will easily sublime , and being mixed with metals , as cadmia's ordinarily to make brass , will alter the colour of the metal , and make it less fusible , and less malleable . i will briefly run over the examples of these and their virtues or qualities , being more obscure , and in our baths less useful than the former , and more rare . qnick silver was not well known to galen , for he confesseth that he had no experience of it , and did think it to be meerly artificial , and not naturally bred in the earth . dioscorides makes no mention of the temperature of it , but holds it to be a pernitious venome , and to fret the entrails ; although matthiolus affirms that it is safely given to women to further their deliverance , and we find it so by often expcrience , both in that cause , and in worms , and in the french disease and leprosies , if it be skilfully prepared , and with judgement administred . fallopius holds it to be one of the miracles of nature . those that take upon them to determine of the qualities of it , are much distracted ; fome reckoning it to be hot and dry , and some cold and moist ; and both in a high degree . but in this account they consider not the qualities of the ingredients in the preparation ; whether it be sublim'd or precipitated . for my part i know not how to reduce 〈◊〉 to the elementary qualities : neither am i ashtmed of mine ignorance in it , seeing no man hitherto hath given true satisfaction herein . and if it be true that the elements do not concur to the generation of mixt bodies , ( as i shall shew , cap. . ) we need not marvail if we find the● not where they be not . but for our own use , where reason fails us , let us be guided by experience . we find by experience , that it cuts , attenuates , penetrates , melts , resolves , purges both ad centrum & a centro , heats , cools , &c. and is a transcendent beyond our rules of philosophy , and 〈◊〉 monster in nature , as renodaus faith . for our purpose it is enough to know whether it will impr● any quality to water ; which fallopius , bacei●● solinander , banbinus , and felix platerus do acknowledge . but it gives no taste to it , neither have we many examples of baths which contin●● it . in serra morena in spain , near the village almedien , is a cave where are many wells i●fected ( as is thought ) with quick-silver , because much of that mineral is extracted from thence out of a red stone called minium nativum . about fifty miles from thence in v alentiola , then is another fountain called la nava , of a sha● taste , and held to proceed from quick-silver and these waters are found wholsome . so are 〈◊〉 waters at almagra and toletum , and others by the river minius , which are hot . there are man venomous springs attributed to quick-silver , 〈◊〉 the red fountain in a●thiopia , others in boetia , caa in trigloditis , stix in arcadia , stix in thessalia , licus in sicilia , &c. which perhaps are from other minerals , feeing we find some from quick-silver to be wholsome . for mines of quick-silver , we read of many in baetica , attica , ionia , out of a stone which pliny calls vomica liquoris aterni . in germany at landsberg , at creucenacbum , schenbach , baraum above prage , kunningstien , &c. in scotland three miles beyond barwick , i found a red stone , which i took to be minium nativum , seeing agricola makes mention of it in scotland , but by a mischance could not try it . sulphur attracts , contracts , resolves , mollifies , discusses , whereby it shews a manifest heat , though not intense , yet the sume of it is very sour , and therefore must cool and dry : and i perswade my self that there is no better sume to correct venomous and infectious air , than this of sulphur , or to remove infections out of rooms , clothes , bedding , vessels , &c. we must acknowledge differing parts in all compounded bodies ; as rhubarb hath a purgative quality in the infusion , and an astrictive in the terrestrial substance , where the salt hath been by infusion extracted . the substance of sulphur is very fat ( sulphure nihil pinguius ) faith felix platerus , and this is the cause of his easie taking of fire , and nor any propinquity it hath with fire in the quality of heat : for if it were very hot , dioscorides would not comment it purulenta extussientibus , the next door to a hectick . also galen faith , that fat things are moderately hot , and are rather nutriments than medicaments . now for sulphurous baths , they are very frequent , and if we should believe some , there are no hot baths but participate with sulphur , but they are deceived , as shall appear hereafter , when we come to shew the true causes of the heat of baths . neither are all sulphurous baths hot . gesner reports of a bath by zurich very cold , and yet sulphurous , agricola of another by buda in pannonia . in campania by the leucogaean hills , are cold springs full of brimstone . also there are hot baths without any shew of sulphur that can be discerned , as the baths of petriolum in italy , the baths caldanelloe and de avinione in agro senensi , de gratta in viterbiensi , de aquis in pisanis collibus . divi johannis in agro lucensi , in alsatia another not far from gebersallerum , &c. all which are very hot , and yet give no sign of sulphur either by taste or smell , or effects . and yet no doubt there are many baths having a sulphurous smell from other minerals ; as from bitumen , vitriol , sandaracha , allum , &c. which are hardly to be discerned ( if at all ) from sulphur . so we commonly say , if a house or a tree be fet on fire by lightning , that it smells of brimstone when there was no brimstone there . mans things combusted , will yield a nidorous smell , not discernable after burning what the things were . but there are divers truly sulphurous baths which contain sulphur , although not perfectly mixt with the water without some medium , but only confused : for perfect sulphur will not dissolve in water no more than bitumen , the spirit of sulphur may be communicated to water , and so may the matter of sulphur before it hath attained his perfect form and consistente : otherwise it is only confufed with water , and alters it into a milky colour . sulphurca nar albus aqua , nar with sulphurous water white . at baia are divers hot fulphurous baths , and every where in hetrnria , in sicily , in diocesi panormitana ; the baths of apono , as savanarola muntagna , and fallopius avevs , although john de dondis denieth it ; the bath of astrunum , of callatura , s. euphemie , aquisgran , brigenses thernmae in v alesiis helvetiorum , aqua sancta in picenis , and an infinite number every where . baccius reckons our baths of bath among fulphurous baths , from the relation of edward carne when he was embassador to jnlius tertius , and panlus quartus . i will not deny some touch of sulphur in them , seeing we sind among bituminous coals , some which are called metal coals , with certain yellow vains which are sulphur . but the proportion of sulphur to bitumen , is very little , and therefore i do not hold them sul-phurous & pradominio . this is enough for sulphur . concerning arsenick , it is a venomous mineral , and therefore i need speak noth ng of the baths which proceed from it , but that we take heed of them ; it is likely that those venomous waters and vapours which kill suddenly , do proceed from arsenick , as at cicrum in thracia , font neptunius in terracina , at peraut by mompelier , the lake avernus . the cave of charon by naples . under arsenick we may comprehe . d auripigmentum , risagalum , sandaracha , rusma , &c. i hear of but one mine of rrsma in ciprus , from whence the turks have it to take off hair , and it doth it best of any thing known , as bellonius and platerus report , and i have made tryal of it oftentimes : the former sorts of arsenick are found in misia helltspontia in ponu , by the river hippanis , which is made bitter by it . in the lesser afta , between magncsia and euphesus in carmania , &c. it is accounted to be extreme hot and putrifying . cadmia is either natural or fictitious : th● natural is often dangerous in germany , as agricola saith , especially that which is liquid , whic● is a strong corrosive : the other is of the natu● of copper , moderately hot and cleansing . as especially good to clear the eyes , as calamina● and tntia . it is found in copper mines , and ● it self in ciprus , as galen saith by the city sol● also in agro senensi , vicentino , bergomensi , no● como , where they make brass with it . unde meadip hills there is much of it . the baths ● saint cnssian do participate with it , and cicp his baths neer baia. also the bath at zurich● helvetia , and grotta in viterbio . thus much for spirits . chap. ix . of mean metals , or half metals . bismutuin or tin-glass , antimony , bell-metal . asixt sort i make to be mean metals , or half metals , which are mineral substances , having metalline susion , but are not malleable , as metals are : and therefore being mixt with metals , do make them brittle . these are bismutum , or plumbum cinereum , antimony , bell-metal , which geber calls magnesta , in dutch speisscalaem also may be reckoned among those , which is a kind of white metalline cadmia , brought out of the east-indies , which hath both metalline ingression , and metalline fusion , but not perfectly malleable . these although they are more volatil than metal , yet by reason of their fusion into a king , are not so easily sublim'd as the spirits . bismutum is tnat we call tin-glass , differing both from tin and lead . candidins nigro , sed plumbo nigrins albo , whiter than black , but blacker than white lead . it was not known to the antients , and therefore we can say little of the qualities of it . it is found in england , and in misnia , and at sneberg in germany , and in very few places else . i read not of any waters that participate with it : neither can i say much of antimony , but that dioscorides saith it cools , binds , opens obstructions , &c. and galen , that it dryeth and bindeth , and is good for the eyes , &c. but of the purging quality they write nothing , although we find it to purge violently , both upwards and downwards : whereupon we may g● ther that all purging medicines are not hot , as ● have touched before . cambden faith there is ● mine of it in cumberland : it is found in italy in thinni montibus , in senensi agro in the county of s. flora , and in germany in many place but i read of no waters that participate with ● unless we should judge all purgative waters to be infected with it , as neer ormus , purchas write of such a spring which purgeth . sawanarola● balneis romandiolae , mentions a. spring at m● dula , which purgeth . also balneum tertutii ● agro pistoriensh , fallopio ; also the sour wat● of mendich and ponterbon do purge choler , rulandus saith . at none-such we have also a p● gative spring , which may participate with a● timony or nitre , or both : but purgative wa● are rare , unless it be ratione ponderis , by the we● and quantity , and so any water may purge , ● our bath-waters do purge in that manner , and the addition of salt , which gives stimulation ● it . this our bath-guides do ordinarily presc● to such as will be perswaded by them , not kno●ing how it agreeth with their griefs , nor ho● may do hurt in many respects , as oftentime● doth . bell-metal is thought to be a mixture of ●ward● and copper-oars , as kentman judgeth , an● found in our tin and copper-mines in c● wall . i read of no waters infected with it , no● any use it hath in physick . chap. x. of metals ; gold , silver , iron , copper , ti● lead . the seventh and last sort are metals , mineral substances , fusible and malleablé . these are commonly distinguished into perfect and imperfect ; perfect , because they have less impurity or heterogenity in them , as gold and silver . the rest are called imperfect , because they are full of impurities , and they are either hard or soft . hard , as those which will indure ignition before they melt , as iron and copper : soft , which will not , but melt at the first , as tin and lead . all these metals are found in his majesties dominions , and many of them i perswade my self , might be wrought to better profit , if our smelters were skilful , or were not hindred by si●ister respects . but especially we abound in the imperfect metals more than enough to serve our own use . and for the perfect metals , i have seen both in cornewall and at crayfordmuir in scotland , perfect gold ( which the dutch call gedigen ) in grains among sparr . also among other metals , it is ordinarily bred , as iron and copper , and tin. but from tin it is hardly separated without more waste of tin than the gold is worth . from iron and copper i see no reason but it might be separated with advantage . for silver , there is much lost for want of taking ●t forth of lead-oars : for whereas those oars which are rich in silver , are commonly hard of fusion ; our mineral men either neglect those oars , and work them not , or else they mix some s●●●ll proportion of them with their poor oars , which are easie of fusion , and so make the metal so poor , as it is not worth the refining . whereas if they were wrought by themselves , they would yield in silver upon every tun , some ounces , some , some , some , more o● less . for copper , whereas we fetch our pins an● tags of points from other countreys , yet n● doubt we might be furnished of our own , bo● for these and other uses . we have but one copper work that i hear of in all his majesties dominions , and that is at kesnick in gumberland but copper mines are found in divers other pa 〈…〉 as in cornwall at trevascus , and other places 〈◊〉 york-shire , scotland , ireland , &c. and no dou 〈…〉 many are concealed , by reason they are min 〈…〉 royal. if these were wrought , and wrought 〈◊〉 ter a good manner , it is likely they would bri 〈…〉 a good advantage to his majesty , and to 〈◊〉 kingdom . for iron , we have the oar in abundance , 〈…〉 it is pity that so much good wood should be w 〈…〉 sted upon it for so bad iron ; and yet the g 〈…〉 which it holds , is lost . many have propound 〈…〉 the melting of it with stone-coal , but perh 〈…〉 they have failed in their projects : yet this do not prove the impossibility of it . and for 〈◊〉 goodness of this metal , if it were rightly made , would melt as readily as other metal , and wo 〈…〉 be tough , and not so brittle as it is , and wo 〈…〉 not be so apt to rust . for these inconvenience happen to it for want of separation of the impurities which are bred with it . for tin , we have as good as any in the world , although it is not wrought to the best advantage . the countreys where it grows , are barren of wood , and they are fain to fetch it far off . now if it were wrought , as i know it may , by many experiments which i have made upon it , with stone-coal , there would be much saved , and the wood might be otherwise employed . the tin also would be as good as now it is , and the product not diminished . for lead , although for soft oars the ordinary course of melting at mondip and the peak , may serve well , and much better than their baling at alendale in hexamshire and at grass in the bishoprick of duresme : yet for hard oars ( which are commonly rich in silver ) there might be better courses taken , by common or proper agents . common agents are fire and water ; proper are dissolvents or additaments . by fire they might amend their working , if they did roast their oars well before melting , to breath away volatil and combustible substances which are mixed with their oars . by water , after calcination or roasting , they may separate all dissoluble juyces , &c. dissolvents do chiefly serve to separate the silver or gold out of the oars : as in the quick-silver work , or by lyes of nitre , allum , salts , &c. additaments are also of great use , whether they be segregatory for separation of spirits , or mean metals from our oars , and so to facilitate their fusion : or propugnatory to defend the oares from consuming or vitrifying . segregatory additaments are either such as are more easie of fusion than the oare , and so draw the oare into fusion with them , or such as will not melt at all , as geber saith , cujus intentio non sit fundi : which keeps the oar asunder from clodding , and giyes it a greater heat , like fire in his bosom . by these means well applyed and used , all lead oares might be wrought , be they never so stubborn , and none need to be neglected . hitherto i have digressed out of mine intended course , through the desire i have to advance mineral works . now i will return to shew the nature and qualities of these metals , as i have done of other minerals . gold of all metals is the most solid , and therefore the most heavy , as having few impurities or heterogeneal substances mixed with it . and therefore it is not subject to corruption , as other metals are , neither will it lose any of his substance , either by fire or water , although it should be held in them a long time : so as it is an idle and vain perswasion that many have , who think by boyling gold in broth , to get some strength from thence , and so to make the broths more cordial . the like i may say of putting gold into electuaries or pills , unless it be in case of quicksilver taken into the body , which the gold by touch may gather to it , otherwise it goes out of the body as it came in , without any concoction or alteration , or diminution . and if it be dissolved in strong water , it will be reduced again to his metalline substance , without diminution , much less will it be dissolved without corrosive spirits , to make aurum potabile , as some do undertake . crollius doth acknowledge , that there is but one menstruum in the world that may do it , and that he knows not . but if we had it dissolved , we are yet uncertain what the quality of it would be , or what use to make of it in physick ; only because it loseth none of his substance , we know it can do no hurt , and therefore we use it for cauteries , & to quench in beer or wine , &c. to warm it , or to give it some astriction from the fire . fallopius in these regards disclaims it in all mineral waters , as he doth all other metals : and will not believe that any metal doth impart any quality unto water . claudinus holds otherwise , and so doth baccius , savanarola , montagnana , venustus , solinander , and almost all that have written of bathes . for if we should exclude metals , we must likewise exclude stones , and bitumina and sulphur , and almost all minerals , except concrete juices . for none of these , after they have attained to their full consistence , will of themselves dissolve in water , without the help of some concrete juice , as a medium to unite them with the water . but before they have their full consistence , whilst they are in solutis principiis , as earth , juice , or vapour , they may be communicated with water . gold is so sparingly bred in the bowels of the earth , as in that respect it can hardly furnish a perpetual spring with any quality from it : yet some bathes are held to participate with gold , as ficuncellenses , fabariae , piperinae , de grottae in viterbio : sancti cassiani de buxo , &c. silver comes next in purity to gold , but is inferiour unto it , as appears by the dissolution of it , and by the blew tincture which it yields , and by the fouling of the fingers , &c. for the qualities of it , there is not much discovered . but as all other things of price are superssitiously accounted cordia● , so is this , especially in hot and moist distempers of the heart : for it is esteemed to be cold , and dry , and astringent , and yet emollient . we have no bathes which do manifestly participate with it : perhaps , by reason , nature doth hot produce it in sufficient quantity to infect waters . john baubinus thinks there may be silver in the bathes at boll : because he faith there was a pyritis or marchesit examined by doctor cadner , and out of fifty pound weight of it , he drew two drams of silver : a very small proportion to ground his opinion upon . iron is the most impure of all metals , as we have it wrought , and will hardly melt as metals should do , but with additaments and flusses . neither is it so malleable , and ductible as other metals are , by reason of his many impurities . yet we see that at damasco they work and refine it in such sort , as it will melt at a lamp , and is so tough , as it will hardly break . and this is not by reason of any special mine differing from other iron mines , for they have no mines of iron near to damascus , as bell●nius reports , but have it brought thither from divers other places , only their art in working and purifying it is beyond ours . so the spanish steel and iron is purer then ours , and we do esteem of bilbo-blades beyond others , which are quenched in the river bilbilis : as turnus his sword in virgil was quenched in the river styx . ensem quem dauno ignipotens deus ipse parenti fecerat , & stygia candentem extinxerat at unda . a sword the god of fire , of his own make , gave daune , turn's father , quench'd in stygian lake . but the hardning of steel lyeth not in this point : other waters no doubt may serve as well . but i perswade my self that our iron may be made much purer , and perhaps some gold extracted from it which it holds . concerning the temperature of iron and steel , galen reckons it among earth , and therefore it must be cold . manardus is absolutely of that opinion , and so are most of our physitians . only fallopius holds it to be hot , because scribonius largus prescribes it in ulcers of the bladder , which it doth cure , not in regard of heating , but drying ; for it dryeth and bindeth much , and therefore by galens rule it must be cold . astringentia omnia frigida ; all binding things are cold . i have observed in iron and steel two distinct qualities , the one opening , or deopilative ; the other astringent . the opening quality lyeth in a volatile salt or nitre , which it is full of , the astringent quality in the crocus , or terrestrial part . these two substances are thus discerned and severed . take of the fylings of steel or iron , and cast it into the flame of a candle , and you shall see it to burn like saltpeeter or rosin . take these fylings , and infuse them three or four times in water or wine , as we use to make our chalibeat wines , till the water or wine have dissolved all this salt , and then dry it and cast it into the flame , and it shall not burn , but the liquor will have a strong taste from this salt. and this is it which opens obstructions . the astringent quality lyeth in the terrestrial substance , as is evident , after either , by infusions , or by calcination , the volatile salt is departed from it , that which remains , is very astringent , and stayeth all manner of fluxes , &c. concerning bathes participating with iron , we have too many examples of them for fallopius to contradict . we may let him injoy his opinion of the calderiana , veronensia & villensia , lucensia ; although it be against the judgement of all other who have written of them , and it is hard for him to be confident in a negative . we have examples more then enough to prove the quality of iron in our mineral waters . balneum reginae in agro pisano is actually hot , and from iron . so is balneum sancti cassiani in agro senensi : so is balneum ficuncellae , de russellis , bora in agro florent . brandulae in agro regiensi , visicatoriae in tuscia , isenbrun by liege , forgense in normandy : the spaw-water , tunbridge-water , bristol-water by s. vincents rock : all which , some being hot , and some cold , participate with iron , as may be proved , not only by the consent of all writers , which have made mention of them , but by the mines from whence they come , or by their taste , or by their virtues . copper comes nearest to the nature of iron , but is more pure , and more easie of fusion , and will be almost all converted into vitriol . they are convertible the one into the other , as i have shewed out of erker , in vitriol . and by the practice at commataw and smolnicium : the like also hath been shewed in cornwall , at the confluence by master russel . aristotle also tells of a copper mine in thalia , an island of the tyrrhen sea , which being wrought out , turned into an iron mine : in this similitude of nature , we cannot but judge that there is a similitude in qualities , and that iron being cold , copper cannot be hot . temperate it may be , because less astringent then iron , and more cleansing : rhasis saith that it purgeth like a catharticum , and in his continent , prescibes it to purge water in dropsies . another argument that all purgatives are not hot : it dryeth exceedingly , and attenuates and digests . we have divers waters which participate with it , which if they be pure from copper it self , are very safe and wholsome : but if they be foul , and proceed from the excrements of copper , they are not wholsome to drink . balnea collensia sen ferina in martiana silva , do consist in copper and allum . the bath of faberia in rhetia , of copper and gold. aqua de grotta in agro viterbiensi , is full of copper ; so is aqua jasielli , balneum lucense in valesiis : marcus paulus venetus , tells us of a greenish fountain in persia , which purgeth exceedingly , and is held to come from copper . tin and lead are two of our staple commodities which our countrey yields plentifully , not only for our own use , but to supply other nations . tin is bred in cornwall , and part of devonshire , and in the isles of scilly , which from thence were called cassiterides . it is melted out of little black stones , which the dutch call zwitter , with great charge , because they cannot melt it , but with wood coals , which is brought them far off , and they are fain to run it over two or three times , before they can get out all the tin , and yet much of it is wasted in the blast . i doubt not but it might be done with sea-coal , if they knew the artifice , and with as great a product of tin. there is both silver and gold found in it , but without wasting of the tin , we know no means to sever it . it is in quality cold and dry , and yet moves sweat abuadantly , as i have proved . lead is melted commonly out of an oar common to silver and lead , as pliny saith called galena . and although agricola saith of the villachar lead , that it holds no silver , and therefore fittest for assayes ; yet lazarus erker contradicts it out of his own experience . our countrey abounds with it every where , especially at the peak in darbishire , and at mendip in somersetshire ; wales also and cornwall , and devon , are full of it , and so is yorkshire and cumberland . the qualities of it are cold and dry . but for these two metals , we find no waters which are infected with them . in lorain , they have bathes called plumbaria , which some think by reason of the name , to proceed from lead : but john bauhinus thinks they should be called plumiers , as pictorius writes it from the french word plumer , a deplumando , because they are so hot as they use to scald fowls in them , to take off their feathers . thus much for metals , and all other sorts of minerals , with their several natures and baths infected with any of them . as for mixed bodies , and flores , and recrements , &c. they are to be referred to the simple bodies from whence they proceed : as tutia , pompholix , minium , cerussa , sublimatum , praecipitatum , &c. chap. xi . of the generation of metals in the earth ; their seminary spirit , that it is not from the elements . now i must shew the generation of these minerals in the bowels of the earth , which of necessity we must understand , before we can shew the reasons how mineral waters receive either their actual heat , or their virtues . some have imagined that metals and minerals were created perfect at the first , seeing there appears not any seed of them manifestly , as doth of animals and vegetables ; and seeing their substances are not so fluxible , but more firm and permanent . but as they are subject to corruption in time , by reason of many impurities , and differing parts in them , so they had need to be repaired by generation . it appears in genesis , that plants were not created perfect at first , but only in their seminaries : for moses cap. . gives a reason why plants were not come forth of the earth , scil . because ( as tremelius translates it ) there had as yet neither any rain fallen , nor any dew ascended from the earth , whereby they might be produced and nourished : the like we may judge of minerals , that they were not at first created perfect , but disposed of in such sort , as they should perpetuate themselves in their several kinds . wherefore it hath ever been a received axiome among the best philosophers , that minerals are generated , and experience hath confirmed it in all kinds . our salt-peeter men find that when they have extracted salt-peeter out of a floor of earth one year , within three or four years after , they find more salt-peeter generated there , and do work it over again . the like is observed in allum and copperass . as for metals , our tinners in cornewall have experience of pits which have been filled up with earth after they have wrought out all the tin they could find in them ; and within thirty years they have opened them again , and found more tin generated . the like hath been observed in iron , as gaudentius merula reports of ilva , an island in the adriatick sea , under the venetians , where the iron breeds continually as fast as they can work it , which is confirmed also by agricola and baccius ; and by virgil who saith 〈◊〉 it , insula inexhaustis chalybum generos a matallis ; brave ilva isle , whose teeming womb , breeds iron till the day of doom . the like we read of at saga in lygiis , where they dig over their iron-mines every tenth year . john mathesius gives us examples almost of all sorts of minerals and metals which he hath observed to grow and regenerate . the like examples you may find in leonardus thurneiserus . erastus affirms that he did see in s. joachims dale , silver grown upon a beam of wood , which was placed in the pit to support the works : and when it was rotten , the workmen coming to set new timber in the place , sound the silver sticking to the old beam . also he reports that in germany , there hath been unripe and unconcocted silver found in mines , which the best workmen affirmed , would become perfect silver in thirty years . the like modestinus fachius , and mathesius affirm of unripe and liquid silver ; which when the workmen find , they use to say , we are come too soon . but i need not produce any more proofs for this purpose , as i could out of agricola and libavins , and others , seeing our best philosophers , both antient and modern , do acknowledge that all minerals are generated . the manner of generation of minerals and metals , is the same in all , as is agreed upon both by plato and aristotle , and ●heophrastus . and as the manner of generation of minerals is alike in all , so it differs from the generation of animate bodies , whether animals or vegetables , in this , that having no seed , they have no power or instinct of producing other individuals , but have their species perpetuated per virtutem seu spiritum semini analogum , by a spiritual substance proportionable to seed , which is not resident in every individual , as it is in aimals and plants , which moses saith have their seeds in themselves , but in their proper wombs . this is the judgement of petrus severinus , howsoever he doth obscure it by his platonical grandiloquence . and as there is not vacuum in corporibus , so much less in speciebus : for that the species are perpetuated by new generations , is most certain , and proved bofore : that it is not out of the seeds of individuals , is evident by this , that if minerals do not assimulate nourishment by attraction , retention , concoction , expulsion , &c. for the maintenance of their own individual bodies , much less are they able to breed a superfluity of nourishment for seed . and how can they attract and concoct nourishment , and expel excrements , which have no veins nor fibres , nor any distinct parts to perform these offices withal ? moreover they are not increased as plants are , by nourishment , whereas the parts already generated , are extended in all proportions by the ingression of nutriment , which sills and enlarges them : but only are augmented externally upon the superficies , by super-addition of new matter concocted by the same virtue and spirit , into the same species . thus much for the manner of all mineral generations , which is not much controverted : the chief difference is about the efficient and the matter . about the efficient cause of generations ( for we must handle them all together ) there are divers opinions , as there are divers causes which concur to all generations of animals , vegetables or minerals . but there must be one principal efficient cause , to give the form to all species , as thee are other adjuvant and attending causes : the principal cause and agent in this work , is by most attributed to the influence of the planets , especially to the sun , who either by his light , or by his heat , doth frame the species of all things , and so of minerals , but chiefly in regard of his heat . this heat working upon apt matter , is thought to produce the several species which we see . as for the motion of the planets , it is certain that they move continually in a constant order , and the world could not subsist as it doth without it so as it may be cans a sine qua non ; a very remote cause , as there may be a hundred more causes of that nature . so likewise the light , which the peripateticks make the instrument of coelestial effects , can do as little to the furtherance of generations , seeing they proceed as well by night as by day : and for minerals , it is perpetual night with them , the density of the earth and rocks not suffering the light to pass . wherefore they insist chiefly upon the heat of the sun : but moses tells us that plants were created with their seeds in themselves upon the third day , before the planets , which were not created till the fourth day ; the shew us that plants and terrestrial substances depend not upon planets for their generations , nor for their virtues , but have the prin cipal causes of them in themselves . the same we may judge of minerals , being terrestrial substances , and propagated by seeds , as plants are , and likely to be created upon the same day with plants , seeing there is no other mention of their creation in moses . now for the heat of the sun , no doubt it is an universal fosterer of all inferior substances : but that it should beget particular species , is very improbable . the heat of the sun is no more apt to breed a nettle than a dock , brimstone than salt , &c. for it cannot give the essence to any thing : heat being only a quality which can breed no substance , and such a quality as can only segregate heterogeneral substances ; and thereby congregate homogeneal . whereas in all generations there must be a further power and virtue , to proportion the elements fit for every species ( if they will have all things made of the elements ) and to bring the species form a potential being to an actual , giving to every thing his proper shape , quantity , colour , smell , taste , &c. and to unite them , which before were of different natures : it must be an internal and domestical agent , and efficient cause which must perform this : and such a one as is not common to all species alike , but proper to that which it produceth : otherwise there would be no distinction , of species . and therefore moses saith of plants , that they have their seeds in themselves , according to their seyeral kinds . neither can any external cause give an essential form to any thing , which form must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , inbred in the thing it self , and not adventitious . and therefore scaliger saith , formae , non solis est quantitatem terminare , and aristotle , calore natura utitur tanquam ministro aut instrumento , non tanquam opifice aut legislatore . wherefore we will grant the sun to be an adjuvant cause , and by his heat to foster and cherish inferiour generations : but not to be a principal and begetting cause . and so zabarella doth mollisie the harshness of the former opinion : and doth acknowledge that the sun doth further generations only as an instrument of another superiour power , whereby in minerals it may make the matter more apt to receive the form , but it makes no minerals , no more then it makes blood in our bodies . others make the elements to be the principal causes of all species by their qualities . for the matter of the elements , being a passive matter , cannot be an efficient cause of generations . these qualities must be heat or cold : for the other two are passive , and attend rather upon the matter of generations , then upon the efficient . fire therefore by his heat is thought of all the elements to have the greatest hand in all generations , being most active and superiour to all the rest of the elements together , for the generation of every species , and rank them in due order , proportion , weight , measure , &c. this is he than must reconcile the differences which are in their natures , and bring them to union . this must attract nourishment , and prescribe the quantities , dimensions , parts , figures , colours , tastes , savours , &c. of every thing . a large province he hath to govern , with one naked and simple quality , which can have but one simple motion . simplicibus corporibus simplices tantum motus congruunt . heat can but heat , and the effects of this heat are by separation of different substances , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to congregate those that are alike , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 : but in this work we make heat to unite differing substances : for all generation is of differing substances united into one . again , fire having but one quality to work withall , whereby he must unite the other three elements , what shall bring and unite fire unto them ? this must be another power superiour to them all , for we must not imagine that they meet by chance as travellers do . and therefore aristotle explodes this efficient of fire , and attributes it to the forms of natural things . as for cold in the other elements , it is far more unlikely then heat , to perform these offices , being rather a distructive , then a generative quality , and is not called in by any author to this work , before the species have received his form by heat : and then it is admitted only for consolidation , but how justly , it is doubtfull : for heat doth consolidate as well as cold , by drying up moisture . but we will not grant this to either of them , as principal agents , but as they are instruments attending the forms of natural things . the alchymists make sulphur to be the principal efficient of all minerals , especially of metals , and mercury the matter . if they mean common sulphur and mercury , which are perfect species in their kinds , they are much deceived , and this opinion is sufficiently confuted by all that oppugne them . but it seems they understand some parts in the seminary of metals which have some analogy with these : and so their opinion may be allowed . for the spirit , which is the efficient in these generations , doth reside in a material substance , which may be resembled to sulphur or oyle , as some other part may be resembled to mercury . for all generations are framed of different parts united by this spirit . thus much of the different opinions concerning the efficient of all generations , and in particular of minerals . the matter whereof minerals are bred , is attributed chiefly to the elements , as the general matter of all animate and inanimate bodies : insomuch as both the heavens , and the very souls of men are made to proceed from the elements . concerning the heavens , it hath been the ancient opinion of the platonicks , pythagoreans , and epicureans , that not only these inferiour bodies , but also the coelestial , have been framed out of the elements . plato speaking of the heavens , saith , divini decoris ratio postulabat talem fieri mundum , qui & visum pateretur & tactum . sine igne videri nil potest , fine sulido nil tangi : solidum sine terra nibil . wherefore holding the heavees to be visible and solid , they must be made of the elements . the pythagoreans , and the brachmanni of india held the same opinion of the heavens : where apollonius tyanaeus was instructed in all the pythagorean doctrine , as philostratus reports . the epicureans also were of the same opinion , as appears in virgil , where he brings in sil●nus , one of the sect , and one of bacchus his crew , singing in this manner , namque canebat , uti magnum perinane coacta semina , terrarumque , animaeque marisque fuissent , et liquidi simul ignis : ut his exordia primis omnia , & ipse tener mundi concreverit orbis . silenus sung , how through the chaos vast , the seeds were set of earth , of air , of seas , of purest fire : how out of these at last , all things have sprung , and also out of these the infant world was moulded . of this opinion also was lucretius , philo jidoens , valesius , &c. although valesius doth make more pure elements for the heavens then ours . aristotle forsook his master plato in this point , and frames the heavens of a quintessential substance . but howsoever the heavens may participate with elementary qualities , and be subject to generation and corruption in their parts ; yet me thinks they should exempt our soals from this original , and not make them out of the fragment of the elements . scaliger inveys against alexander aphr●disiensis , for this opinion , and saith that he had poysoned our philosophy herein : venenav●●hanc philosophiae partem . so both he and others derive the sense , motion , understanding , growth , and the natural faculties of our souls , and the peculiar properties of every thing , from this original , turpissimo errore , as severinus saith . and scaliger in another place concerning this : d● intelleclu & ratione ipsaque anima quae ●ontaminarunt istoe nebuloe aphrodisienses , & pudet dicere & piget meminisse . i am ashamed to speak , and grieved to think how this aphrodisiensis hath polluted our reason and understanding , and our very souls with his foggy doctrine , in ascribing all these unto the elements . by the same reason they may ascribe the barking of doggs , the singing of birds , the laughing and speech of men , to the elements . their opinion is more probable , which hold , animam ex traduce , and to be communicated as one light to another : as timoth. bright proves in physicam scribonii , and not to ascribe it to the elements . nor to miracles , or new creations . but there is far more reason to derive from the elements , the tastes , colours , smells , sigures , numbers , quantities , orders , dimensions , &c. which appear more in corporal substances , and yet these are not from the elements . for how can they give these affections to other things , when they have them not themselves ? si non est ab elementis gustare , quare sit gustari ? what taste have any of these elements ? fire or heat which is the most active element , hath none . and whereas it is thought , that bittterness proceeds from heat , we find that many sharp and tar●fruits , being also very bitter before they are ripe , ( as olives for example ) yet let them hang upon the tree till they be ripe , and they lose their bitterness , and also their sharpness , by reason of their better concoction by heat . the like difference wefind between our oleum omphacinum , and therpe oyle . so likewise opium , which is held to be very cold , yet it is extream bitter , so as the cold parts in it are not able to master the bitterness , but this is still predominant : wherefore heat can be no cause of bitterness , unless it be in excess or defect , as scaliger confesseth . wormwood is very bitter , being hot and dry in the second or third degree : if heat were the cause of it , then all other simples which are hot and dry in the same degree , should be also bitter . as i have said of tastes , so i may say of all the other affections of natural things , that they proceed not form the elements , but from the seeds and forms of every thing . so for fat and unctuous substances , as sulphur , bitumen , oyle , grease , &c. unto what element shall we ascribe them ? not unto fire , because this is extream hot and dry , that is temperate in heat , and very moist . moreover , fire would rather consume it , then generate it : and physitians judge the generation of fat in our bodies to proceed rather from cold , then from heat . air , if it have any ingenerate quality , as some do make doubt out of aristotle it is cold and moist , as i have shewed before , cap. & . and therefore as it cannot agree with fire , nor be a fuel to it , so it cannot be any material cause of fat , or oylie substance : being more agreeable to water , from whence it is thought to be made by rarifaction , and into which it is thought to be reduced by condensation . wherefore being of a watry nature , it cannot agree with oyle or fatness , nor be the matter of it . the like we may judge of water , which doth terminate both water and air , and therefore must be opposite to them both . as for earth , being cold and dry , and solid , it cannot be the matter of this which is temperate , and moist , and liquid ; neither can all the elements together make this substance , seeing there is no unctuousness in any of them , and they can give no more then they have . so as i cannot see how this oylie substance , which is very common in all natural things , and wherein the chief faculties of every thing doth reside , as their humidum radicale , should be from the elements . so likewise for the substance wherewith every thing is nourished and increased , and into which every thing is resolved , it appears not how it should be from the elements . hypocrates , of whom macrobius saith , nec fallere nec falli p●tuit , hath two notable axioms for the clearing of this point . the one is vnumquong ; in id dissolvitur unde compactum est . every thing is dissolved into that whereof it was made . the other . iisdem untrimur ex quibus constamus , we are nourished by such things as we consist of . aristotle also hath the same . if this axiom be true , as i hold it to be , and i know none that contradict it , then we must consist of such things as we are nourished withall . but we are not nourished by the elements , and therefore we consist not of them . fire nourisheth nothing , water nourisheth not , as physicians conse●s : air is too thin a substance , and earth to thick . and as they do not nourish them when they are single , so being compounded , they can do as little . aristotle saith that some plants are nourished with water alone , some with earth alone , and some with both together . but if earth and water be mixed for our nourishment , they making but mud , would make us have muddy brains . we will grant the elements to be matrices rerum naturalium , the wombs and nurses of natural things , but we will not grant them to be material causes . neither can we attribute more dignity unto them , then we do to our mothers , who depart from their substance whereof they consist , as flesh , bones , sinews , veins , arteries , &c. to the nourishment of their infants , but only prepare blood for them , from the nutriments which they receive . and all the elements in the world cannot make this blood , neither as the matter nor as the efficient . but as the mother is furnished with blood to nourish the infant , and with convenient heat to foster it withall , so are the elements stored with all manner of matter sit for all generations : so as the seeds or forms of natural things , will never want matter to nourish them , nor will ever want forms . so that it is manifest that if natural bodies be not nourished by the elements , they are not compounded of them : but being nourished by other substances then the elements , they must be compounded of the like ; simile simili nutritur : composit a compos●● constant & nutriuntur . thus much for the genesis or generation and naration of natural things , that thereby we cannot gather that they are either mad or nourished by the elements . now let us examine whether by the analysis or dissolution of them , we may find the four elements , according to the former axiome , that every thing is dissolved into that whereof it was made , and is made of than whereinto it is dissolved , as aristotle , hypocrates , and galen do affirm . so that if the elements enter into the composition of natural things , especially as the principal materials whereof they consist , they must needs appear in the dissolution of them . this dissolution is either natural or artificial . in the natural dissolution of all things , hypocrates observes three distinct substances , calidum , humidum sive fluidum , & siccum five solidum , according to the three elements or principles where of they are framed . his instance is principally man , but he ●ffirms it to hold in other animate and inanimate bodies . these elements he termeth continen●●a , contenta & impetum facientia , as galen exbounds it . those which he calls continentia , 〈◊〉 bones , nerves , veins , arteries , and from ●hence , muscles , &c. contenta are humida , or humores , blood ; flegme , choller , melancholy , which after death , are cold , and congeal , being beated as galen saith , from the heart , in living bodies : impetum facientia , are spirits animal , vital and natural . these three elements , galen acknowledgeth to be the nearest , but the other which are more remote , to be most universal . bat hypocrates●aith ●aith that heat and cold , &c. are very powerless elements , and that sharp , bitter , sweet , &c. are more powerfull , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . so that these are the three elements whereof ●ll things do consist , and into which they are ●aturally resolved : and these do seem to re●emble the four elements , but are not the same . for heat may resemble fire , although this heat be ●●ocured by motion in every thing whilest it liveth , and not extrinsecally . moisture may resemble water and air . driness may resemble earth ; cold appears in them all after the heat or spirit is departed . in the artificial analysis of natural bodies , the alchymists tells us that they find three elements , and no more , whereof every thing doth consist , and whereinto it is resolved : namely , vaporosum , inflammabile , fixum : which they call mercury , sulphur and salt , and they seem to agree with hypocrates . for their mercury may well resemble hypocrates his spirits , or impet●● facientia : sulphur his humour or flu dum or ●●tenta : and salt , his siccum or densum , or coninentia . these they say are found in every thing , animal , vegetable , or mineral , and no other . and as for the four common elements , seeing they are distinct in place and scituation , and therefore cannot concurre and meet to the generation of every animal , plant and mineral , &c but by violence , the earth being someti●● carried upwards , and the fire downwards , co●trary to their natural motions : and this , not one for all , but daily and hourly : it is not likely t●● these substances can be bred of the elements , 〈◊〉 be maintained in a perpetual succession by a vi●lent cause . and therefore it is no marvel these elements be not found in the dissolutions natural bodies . thus much in general conceting all generations , that hereby we may the ●●ter judge of the particular generations of mnerals , which differ not from the rest , but 〈◊〉 in this , that their seeds are not in every indi●●dual , as the others are , but are contained ●● matricibus , in their wombs , and there they are furnished with matter to produce their species : not out of the elements , no otherwise than ex matricibus , as the child in the mothers womb , but have their matter and nourishment from the seeds of things which are agreeable to their species : which seeds wanting means to produce their own species , do serve others , and yield matter and substance unto them . now let us come more particularly to the generation of minerals , wherein we will first examine aristotles opinion , as most generally received , then i will presume to set down mine own . chap. xii . the generation of minerals examined , the authors opinion herein . a ristotle makes the humidity of water , and the dryness of earth , to be the matter of all minerals : the dryness of earth to participate with fire , and the humidity of water with air , as zabareila interprets it ; so that to make a perfect mixt body , the four elements do concur ; and to make the mixture more perfect , these must be resolved into vapour or exhalation by the heat of fire , or influence from the sun and other planets , as the efficient cause of their generation : but the cause of their congelation to be cold in such bodies as heat will resolve . this vapour consisting partly of moysture , and partly of dryness , if all the moysture be spent , turns to earth or salt , or concrete juyces , which dissolve in moysture : if some moysture remain before congelation , then it turns to stone : if this dry exhalation be unctuous and fat , and combustible , then bitumen and sulphur , and orpiment , are bred of it : if it be dry and incombustible , then concrete juyces , &c. but if moysture do abound in this vapour then metals are generated which are fusible and malleable . and for the perfecting of these generations , this exhalation is not sufficient , but to give them their due consistence , there must be the help of cold from rocks in the earth to congeal this exhalation . so that here must be two efficients , heat and cold . and for the better effecting of this , these exhalations do insinuate themselves into stones , in the form of dew o● frost , that is , in little grains ; but differing from dew and frost in this , that these are generated after that the vapour is converted to water ; whereas minerals are generated before this conversi●● into water . but there is doubt to be made of frost , because that is bred before the conversio● of the exhalation into water , as may appear , m●teor . . according to this assertion there must be two places for the generation of minerals ; the one a matrix , where they receive their effence by heat in form of an exhalation , and from thence they are sent to a second place to receive the● congelation by the coldness of rocks : and fro● this matrix come our mineral waters , and no● from the place of congelation . this is the generation of minerals , according to aristotle ; but it is not so clear , but that leaves many scruples , both concerning the matter , and the efficients . for the matter , it seems not probable , that water and earth should make any thing but mud and dirt ; for you can expect no more from any thing than is in it , the one is cold and dry , the other cold and moyst ; and therefore as fit to be the matter of any other thing , as of particular minerals . and water , whereof principally metals are made to consist , is very unfit to make a malleable and extensible substance , especially being congealed by cold , as we may see in ice . but some do add a mineral quality to these materials , and that simple water is not the chief matter of metals , but such as hath imbibed some mineral quality , and so is altered from the nature of pure water . this assertion doth presuppose minerals in the earth before they were bred ; otherwise what should breed them at the first , when there was no mineral quality to be imparted to water ? again , this mineral quality either gives the water or the vapour of it the effence of the mineral , and then it is not the effect of water , but of the mineral quality , or the potential fac●●lty to breed it . if the effence , then this metall 〈◊〉 water , or vapour , must have the form of the metal , and so be fusible and malleable . if it have only the power and potential faculty , then the generation is not perfected , but must expect further concoction . this concoction is said to be partly by heat , and partly by cold ; if by heat , it must be in the passages of the exhalation as it is carried in the bowels of the earth : for afterwards , when the exhalation is setled in the stones , the heat is gone . now if the concoction be perfected before the exhalation be insinuated into the stones , as it must be , if it be like dew , then it is perfect metal , and neither is able to penetrate the stones , nor hath any need of the cold of them to perfect the generation . if by cold , it is strange that cold should be made the principal agent in the generation of metals , which generates nothing ; neither can heat be the efficient of these generations . simple qualities can have but simple effects , as heat can but make hot , cold can but cool , &c. but they say cold doth congeal metals , because heat doth dissolve them ; i answer , that the rule is true , if it be rightly applyed : as we see ice which is congealed by cold , is readily dissolved by heat . but the fusion of metals cannot properly be called a dissolution by heat , because it is neither reduced to water or vapour , as it was before the congelation by cold , nor is it permanent in that kind of dissolution , although after fusion it should be kept in a greater heat than the cold could be which congealed it . for the cold in the bowels of the earth cannot be so great , as it is upon the superficies of the earth , seeing it was never observed that 〈◊〉 was any ice bred there . also this dissolution which is by fusion , tends not to the destruction of the metal ( but doth rather make it more perfect ) as it should do according to the former rule rightly applyed . and therefore this dissolution by fusion , doth not argue a congelation by cold ; which being in the passive elements , doth rather attend the matter than the efficient of generations : for it is apt to dull and hebetate all faculties and motions in nature , and so to hinder generations , rather than to further any . it is heat and moysture that further generations , as ovid faith ; quippe ubi temperie●● sumpsere humorque calorque , concipiunt : when heat with moysture's temper'd well , then 't is their bellies 'gin to swell . and thus much for aristotles generation of minerals , where his vapours or exhalations do rather serve for the collection or congregation of matter in the mines , than for the generation of them ; as libavius doth rightly judge . agricola makes the matter of minerals to be succus lapidescens metallificus &c. and with more reason , because they are found liquid in the earth : gilgill would have it ashes ; democritus lime : but these two being artificial matters , are no where found in the earth . the alchymists make sulphur and mercurie the matter of metals : libavius , sulphur and vitriol . but i will not stand upon discoursing of these materials , because it makes little to my purpose .. it is enough for my purpose to shew the manner of these generations , which i take to be this . there is a seminarie spirit of all minerals in the bowels of the earth , which meeting with convenient matter , and adjuvant causes , is not idle , but doth proceed to produce minerals , according to the nature of it , and the matter which it meets withal ; which matter it works upon like a ferment , and by his motion procures an actual heat , as an instrument to further his work ; which actual heat is increased by the fermentation of the matter . the like we see in making of malt , where the grains of barley being moistned with water , the generative spirit in them is dilated , and put in action ; and the superfluity of water being removed , which might choak it , and the barley laid up in heaps ; the seeds gather heat , which is increased by the contiguity of many grains lying one upon another . in this work natures intent is to produce more individuals , according to the nature of the seed , and therefore it shoots forth in spires : but the artist abuses the intention of nature , and converts it to his end , that is , to increase the spirits of his malt. the like we find in mineral substances , where this spirit or ferment is resident , as in allum and copperas mines , which being broken , exposed and moistened , will gather an actual heat , and produce much more of those minerals , then else the mine would yield ; as agricola and thurneiser do affirm , and is proved by common experience . the like is generally observed in mines , as agricola , erastus , libavius , &c. do avouch out of the daily experience of mineral men , who affirm , that in many places , they find their mines so hot , as they can hardly touch them ; although it is likely that where they work for perfect minerals , the heat which was in fermentation , whilst they were yet breeding , is now much abated : the minerals being now grown to their perfection . and for this heat we need not call for the help of the sun , which a little could will take away from us , much more the body of the earth , and rocks ; not for subterranean fire : this inbred heat is sufficient , as may appear also by the mines of tinglass , which being digged , and laid in the moist air , will become very hot . so antimony and sublimat being mixed together , will grow so hot as they are not able to be touched : if this be so in little quantities , it is likely to be much more in great quantities and huge rocks . heat of it self differs not in kind , but only in degree , and therefore is inclined no more to one species , then to another , but as it doth attend and serve a more worthy and superiour power , such as this generative spirit is . and this spirit doth convert any apt matter it meets withall to his own species by the help of heat ; and the earth is full of such matter which attends upon the species of things : and oftentimes for want of fit opportunity and adiuvant causes , lies idle , without producing any species : but is apt to be transmuted by any mechanical and generative spirit into them . and this matter is not the elements themselves , but subterranean seeds placed in the elements , which not being able to live to themselves , do live to others . sic roma crescit albae ruinis ; the death of one is the life of another . from this confluence of seeds arise all the varieties and differences , and alterations which are observed in the generation or nutrition of natural things : as in their colours , tastes , numbers , proportions , distempers , &c. also from hence proceed the transplantations which we find in animals , vegetables , and minerals . in animils these transplantations are not very frequent ; yet all our monsters may be referred hereunto , as also the issue which comes from dogs and wolves , horses and asses , partriges and hens , &c. some do think that the destruction of sexes is a transplantation , and that all seeds in themselves are hermophroditical , and neither masculine nor feminine , but as they meet with strong and weak impressions from supervenient causes ; from hence come our androgyni , or masculine women , such as horace speaks of , sabellis docta ligonibus versare glebas . that dig the ground themselves ( stout jades ! ) managing well sabean spades . among those animals which we call insecta , these transplantations are more frequent , because their seeds are more equivocal , and easily transmuted from one species to another : as we may see in worms and flies , and most evidently in silk-worms called cavallieri . in vegetables these transplantations are very frequent when one species is grafted upon another , as virgil faith , et steriles platani malos gessere valentes castaneae fagos : ornusque incanuit albo flore pyri , glandemque sues fregere sub ulmis . the barren planes did apples bear ; the beeches chesnuts ; th' ash a pear ; and hogs did under elm-trees acorns tear . thus by commixtion of several species , the first seeds do oftentimes being forth other fruits then their own . miranturque novas frondes & non sua poma . and stand admiring , double mute , to see new leaves , and stranger fruit . but all , as hypocrates saith , by divine necessity , both that which they would , and that which they would not . so likewise wheat is changed into lolium , basil into thyme , masterwort into angelica , &c. in minerals we find the like transplantations : as salt into nitre , copperass into allum , lead into tin , iron into copper , copper into iron , &c. and this is the transplantation whereupon the alchymists ground their philosophers stone . this seminary spirit is acknowledged by aristotle : continent ( inquit ) semen in se cujusque faecundit atis suae causam : and by most of his interpreters : and morisinus calls it elphesteria , not knowing how to attribute these generations to the elements . and this is the cause why some places yield some one vegetable or mineral species above another , quippe solo natura subest . non owsnis fert omnia tellus . it is the nature of the ground . not in all soils are all things found . this seminary spirit of minerals hath its proper wombs where it resides , and is like a prince or emperour , whose prescripts both the elements and matter must obey ; and it is never idle , but alwayes in action , producing and maintaining natural substances , untill they have fulfilled their destiny , donec fatum expleverint , as hypocrates saith . so as there is a necessity in this , depending upon the first benediction ( crescite & multiplicamini : ) and this necessity or fatum is inherent in the seeds , and not adventitious from the planets , or any other natural cause . and this is the cause of uniformity in every species , that they have all their proper figures , dimensions , numbers of parts , colours , tastes , &c. most convenient and agreeable to each nature ; as moses saith , that god saw that every thing was very good : and galen saith , deus in omnibus optimum eligit . and this i take to be the meaning of his lex adrastia , which he alledgeth against asclepiades . for it he should mean it as commonly it is understood , of punishment which alwayes follows sin , nem● crimen in pectore gestaet , qui non idem nemesi● in tergo ; no man , though privately , commits a fault , but is degg'd by revenge : in this sense he could not apply it to the confuting of asciepiades . there are also other laws in nature which cannot be altered , both mathematical , in arithmetick and geometry ; and logical , in the consecuting of arguments , &c. but these serve not for galens purpose in this place . he must mean it of a natural necessity or fatum , or predestination , that frames every member & part of the body to the best use for the creature . and therefore where asclepiades propounds an inconvenient frame of parts , he confutes him by this inbred law of nature , which he saith , no man can alter or avoid , nor any subtility elude , as also aristotle saith . thus much for the generation of minerals and other natural substances . chap. xiii . of the causes of actual heat , and medicinal virtue in mineral waters , divers opinions of others rejected . now i come to shew how our mineral waters receive both their actual heat , and their virtues . i joyn them together , because they depend upon one and the same cause , unless they be juices which will readily dissolve in water , without the help of heat : other minerals will not , or very hardly . this actual heat of waters hath troubled all those that have written of them , and many opinions have been held of the causes of them . some attribute it to wind or air , or exhalations included in the bowels of the earth , which either by their own nature , or by their violent motion , and agitation , and attrition upon rocks and narrow passages , do gather heat , and impart it to our waters . of their own nature these exhalations cannot be so hot , as to make our water hot , especially seeing in their passage among cold rocks , it would be much allaied , having no supply of heat to maintain it . moreover , where water hath passage to get forth to the superficies of the earth , there these exhalations and winds will easily pass , and so their heat gone withall , and so our waters left to their natural coldness : whereas we see they do continue in the same degree and tenor , many generations together . if by their agitation and violent motion they get this heat , because no violent thing is perpetual or constant , this cannot be the cause of the perpetual and constant heat of water . besides , this would rather cause earthquakes and storms , and noyses in the earth , then heat our springs . moreover , we daily observe , that exhalations and water are never heated by motion , or agitation ; as in the cataracts of the rhine by splug ; the agitation and fall of water upon rocks is most violent , and makes a hideous noyse ; yet it heats not the water , though it be very deep in the earth . neither can any attrition heat either air or water , or any soft and liquid thing , but rather make it more cold . others attribute this actual heat of bathes unto the sun , whose beams piercing thorow the pores of the earth , do heat our waters . if this heat which heats our bathes be caused by the beams of the sun , then either they bring it intirely from the sun , as a quality proceeding from thence , or they make it by their own motion . if it come from the nature of the sun , the sun must be extream hot that can heat these inferiour parts at such a distance ; especially the beams which must carry it , passing thorow the middle region of the air , which is alwayes extream cold , and cannot but cool those beams before they come to us . and if they were able to pass that region without losing their heat , yet they cannot but warm that region , being nearer to their fountain of heat , as well or better then they can warm our waters , in despite of any antiperistasis . but it is doubtfull whether the sun be hot of his own nature or no. † the peripateticks hold it to be hot and dry moderately ; yet it must be extream hot , if in this manner it do heat our bathes . and if the sun be capable of heat , they must also make it capable of cold ( elementary qualities ) and then they make celestial bodies obnoxious to generation and corruption ; which they are not willing to grant . although in this respect they need not fear the decay of the sun , no more then of the globe of the earth : which though it suffer in his parts many alterations , yet the whole remains firm and perpetual , as mr. doctor hakwell proves in his learned work upon that argument ; and will so do untill it be dissolved by that omnipotent power which framed it . if they make this heat to come from the motion of the sun , we must consider how the sun by motion may get such a heat . the sun is either moved by his own motion , or as he is carried in his sphear wherein he is fixed . if by his own motion , it must be either by volutation upon his axis , which is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or by circumgyration , which is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , round about the globe of the earth : and this is the common opinion ; which if it be so , he must be carried more swiftly then a bullet out of a peece of ordnance . i read in the turkish history at the siege of scodra , of a bullet of twelve hundred weight called the prince , and it seems a great matter . but to have such a bullet as the globe of the sun , which is held to be times bigger then the globe of the earth , to be carried in a swifter course , and that perpetually , is a monstrous , furious , and mad agitation , insa●●motus , as one termeth it . the like may be said of the motion of the sphears : but i will leave the confutation of this to others . but admit it to be so ; and that this violent agitation is not repugnant to the perpetuity of the heavens ; and that it is able to breed an extream heat in the sun and celestial spheres , notwithstanding their tenuity , &c. which is unapt to breed heat by motion or collision , for that is proper to solid substances : yet this heat must be conveyed to us by the same beams of the sun , and must be subject to the former impediments . wherefore the beams of the sun by their motion must make this heat , by the collection a many beams together . for if they be dispersed , no fire will be kindled , but only some moderate heat : as we see in a burning-glass , which will heat a white paper or cloth , but not burn it . other things it will burn , which are apt fewels ; but the whiteness of the paper or cloth it seem disperseth the beams . but no doubt the sun by his light and beams do warm these inferiour parts , especially where they have free passage , and reflection withall , and it is to be judged , that the heat not being essentially in the sun , is an effect of the light by whose beams it is imparted to us : so that where light is excluded , heat is also excluded . and if we can exclude the heat of the beams of the sun by the in●rposition of a mud wall , or by making a cel●r fix foot under the ground ; how is it likely that these beams can pierce so deep into the earth , as to heat the water there , as lucretius●aith ●aith , qui queat hic subter tam crass corpore terram percoquere humorem , & calido sociare vapori ? prasertim cum vix possit per septa domorum l●sinuare suum radi●s ardentibus aestum . under this massie bulk of earth how shall the sun boil water , and there raise a steam whereas we see it scarce can pierce a wall , and through't into a chamber dart a beam . and if the beams of the sun be not able to heat a standing pool in the midst of summer , how should they heat a subterranean water , which is alwaies in motion , especially in the winter time ? again , if this heat come from the sun , then in the summer , when the sun is hottest , the waters should be so also , and in winter cold , because of the absence of the sun ; but we find them always alike . also , why should the sun heat some few fountains and pass over an infinite number of others , which are left cold ? and why should there be hot fountains in cold climates , where the sun hath little power to heat , either by reason of his oblique beams , or by reason of his long absence ; and yet in hot climats they should be so ●re ? wherefore it is very improbable that our springs are heated by the sun. others have devised another cause of this actual heat of bathes , more vain then the former , which they call antiperistasis : where by reciprocation or compression , any quality is intended and exalted to a higher degree . as where heat or cold are compassed by their contrary quality , so as the vapours or effluvium of it is reflected back again , the quality thereof is increased . hypocrates gives us an example of it in our own bodies , where he saith , ventres hi●calidiores ; our stomachs are hotter in winter then in summer , by reason the ambient air being then cold , doth stop the pores of the skin , and repell those fuliginous vapours which nature would breathe forth , and so our inward heat is increased : whereas in the summer , by reasoned too much eventilation , our natural heat is diminished ; and therefore we concoct better i● winter then in summer . and although it be not simple heat which concocts , and makes ebylus in the stomach , blood in the liver , seed is the spermatick vessels , or milk in the breast &c. as joubertus saith : yet heat attending upon the faculties of those parts , doth quicken them as cold doth benumb them . but if we examine this example aright , we shall find a great difference between this and our hot bathes . for the heat in our bodies is continually fed and maintained from the heart by his motion : that a bathes hath no such supply according to their doctrine , from any cause to make or continue this heat . and therefore the repelling of vapours cannot make water hotter then it is : and being naturally cold , and without any heat where heat is not , how can it be pend in or repelled ? again , in hypocrates his example there is an interstitium ( our skin ) between the fuliginous vapours and the external air , which keep them from uniting : but in our bathes there is nothing to hinder the meeting and conjunction of these qualities , and then the one must dull the other . moreover , we see that any thing that is naturally cold , as iron or a stone , if it be made hot accidentally by fire or otherwise , it is sooner cold in cold air , then in a warm place . so that the antiperistasis doth rather diminish then increase the heat of it . wherefore unless water were naturally hot , or the heat maintained by some continual cause , this antiperistasis can do no good , but by his opposite quality would rather cool it . nay heat it self cannot make any thing more hot , unless it be greater then the heat of the thing it self . but to ascribe the generation of heat to cold , and so to make it the cause of his contrary , is against the law of nature . no quality of it self is increased by his contrary . it is true , that a pot of water set over the fire , will be sooner hot , being covered , or otherwise the vapours kept in , then being open : but there must be fire then to heat it , and to continue the heat : otherwise the antiperistasis will do nothing , unless it make it more cold , and congeal it into ice , if the air ambient be more cold then the water . some may object , that they find some fountains warmer in winter then in summer , and to reak when they break forth into the air ; as i have seen at wercksworth and bakewell in darbyshire : and therefore this doth argue an antiperistasis . galen thinks that these waters do but seem so to our sense : our hands being hot in summer , and cold in winter , as our urins seem cold in a hot bath . but i will grant with valesius that many deep fountains may be so indeed , and not in appearance only , as partaking with some warm exhalations , especially in mineral countreys , as darbyshire is . moreover , if our bathes were heated by a● antiperistasis , then they should be hotter in winter then in summer ; but we find them alwayes alike . also if a cold ambient be able to make cold water hot , why should not a hot ambient make it more cold ? especially seeing the vapours are cold , which being repelled by heat , which doth terminate cold , should increase the coldness of the water . also if we should grant this antiperistasis , we must deny the reaction and resistance between the qualities of the elements : and so overthrow all temperaments which arise from thence : and also our composition of medicines were in vain . wherefore this antiperistasis is an idle invention to maintain this purpose . others attribute this actual heat to quick lyme , which doth readily heat any water call upon it , and also kindle any combustible substance put into it ; this is democritus his opinion . to this i answer , that lyme is an artificial thing , not natural , and is never found in the bowels of the earth . besides , if it were found , one fusion of water extinguisheth the heat of it , and then it lyeth like a dead earth , and will yield nor more heat , so as this cannot procure a perpetual heat to bathes : neither can the lymestones without calcination , yield any heat to water , nor will break and crackle upon the affusion on water , as lyme doth . wherefore this opinion is altogether improbable . others attribute this actual heat to a subterranean fire kindled in the bowels of the earth . let us consider how this may be . fire is a quality and the highest degree of heat , which cannot subsist without a subject ; for i define it to be intensissimus color in corpore cremabili : the highest degree of heat in a combustible body : and it is received into his subject either by propagation or coition , as when one candle lights another , or by motion , as collision , concussion , dilatation , comprission , putrefaction , fermentalion , reflection , &c. yet all motion doth not kindle fire although it heat ; neither are all substances apt to be heated by motion . air and water are rather colder by motion : but this rule holds in such things as are apt to receive heat by motion , as solid substances , combustible substances , &c. and the heat of animals , vegetables , and minerals , which they have for their generation and nutrition , is from motion : although this heat is not in so high a degree as fire is , for then it would consume them ; but as the motion is moderate , and agreeable to each nature , so is the heat . this motion in natural things proceeds from their seeds , or forms , and may be called internal or natural . external motions are violent agitations , concussions , &c. which commonly kindle fire in apt matter . as for the element of fire , which should be pure , not shining , and therefore invisible , and subsisting without a subject or fewel : let them find it who know where to seek for it . for my part i know no element of fire , unless we should make it to be that which is natural to all creatures and their seeds , causing their fermenting heat , whereof i shall speak anon . and this interpretation we may well make of hypocrates , where he faith , that all things are made of fire and water ; and that these two are sufficient for all generations ; fire giving motion , and water nutrition . and it is not likely that this fire should be fetched from : a remote place , and downwards , against the nature of fire , for every generation : but that it be near hand , and inbred in the seeds themselves , as the principal ingredient into every natural thing ; whereas if it were remote , what should bring it continually , and unite it with the other elements in these generations ? wherefore this is most likely to be the element of fire , our burning fire is all of one nature , not differing in kind , but only in degree according to the quality of the fewel . some fewels will make a manifest flame , as all thin and light substances , sulphur , liquid bitumen , oyle , fat , &c. some only a glowing coal , with little or no flame , as some forts of stone-coal . yet all fire doth send forth fuliginous vapours , which would choak it if there were not vent for them into the air : as we see in the making of char-coal , although they cover their fire with lome , yet they must leave some vent for the smoke ; though not so much as may make it to flame , yet enough to maintain the fire . of the first flaming fort there are divers degrees , as that of straw , brimstone , spirit of wine , naphtha , petroleum , &c. some of which will scarcely take hold upon other fewel : as one may wet a linnen cloath in spirit of wine , and being kindled , he shall hardly find the cloath scorched . the like hath been observed in that exhalation which is called ignis satuus , being of a very thin substance , for bitumen or naphtha . some reckon comets among these fiery exhalations : but i can hardly believe that they are any kindled substances . first because their flame is not pyramidal , as it is in all kindled substances . secondly , because if they be of a thin substance from sulphur and bitumen , the flame would be greater , seeing it must be plentiful , if it continue so long in burning , as we find them to do . or admit that this matter be kindled by succession , yet it is incredible that it should continue burning above a year together ; as that comet xiphian , which lasted a whole year : another , anno . under the constellation of cassiopaea , lasted a year and a half , others six months , others three , &c. if the sulphurous or bituminous matter be thick , it will melt in burning , and rain down brimstone and bitumen upon us . thirdly , if comets were kindled substances , what entertainment could they find above the moon , and among the spheres , where they say no corruptible or elementary substance can be indured . but many of our comets have been observed to have been above the moon , and some among the fixed starrs , as hath been observed by tycho brahe , and clavius : and upon due observation they could find some of them to admit no paralaxis , or diversity of aspect to any star in different climats . this argumnnt may be good against a peripatetick ; but a platonist , or a pytnagorean , who hold the heavens to be made of elementary matter , and subject to generation and corruption , will not allow it , no more will many of our divines . for glowing fires , we have none but they must be kindled , and then they must have vent for their fuliginous vapours , and they must be kindled either by propagation or coition from some other fire , or by violent motion able to kindle them , which we shall hardly find in the bowels of the earth , where all is quiet , and no space for any such perturbation . but they say there is an ignis subterraneus , which being kindled upon sulphur and bitumen , disperseth it self among other mines of the like nature , and sets them on fire . now we are come from heaven to hell , or to purgatory at the least , which pyhagoras calls materiam vatum falsique pericula mundi ; the dream of poets , and a forged fear . the largest description of it is in virgil : from whence both divines and philosophers derive much matter : and beccius doth believe that there is such a thing in the center of the earth . but if we observe virgil well , we shall find that he propounds it but as a dream : for in the end of that book he saith , sunt gemina somni portae ; quarum altera fortur cornea , qua veris facilis datur exitus umbris : altera candenti perfecta nitens elephauto , sed falsa ad coelum mittunt insomnia manes . dreams have two gates , the one is said to be of horn , through which all true conceits de flee ; the other framed all of ivory rare , but le ts out none but such as forged are . now saith he , when anchyses had led aeneas and sibilla through hell , he lets them forth at the ivory gate ( portaque emittit eburna : ) as if he should say ; all that i have related of hell , is but a fiction ; and thus ludovicus vives interprets it in his comment upon this place . i hope none will think that i deny a hell , but i approve not of the assignment of it to the center of the earth , or that that fire should serve as baccius would have it , to further all generations in the earth : and as others , to be the cause of fountains , winds , earth-quakes , vulcanoes , storms , saltness of the sea , &c. nor of the actual heat of our bathes , although it be the most common received opinion . first for the place , it is not likely that the center of the earth , whither all heavy things do tend , should be hollow , but rather more compact then any other part of the earth , as likewise valesius thinks ; but if there be any concavities , they are between the center and the superficies ; and these concavities being receptacles of water from the sea , cannot also receive fire . these two will not agree together in one place , but the one will expel the other : for whereas some hold that bitumen will burn in water , and is nourished by it , it is absolutely false , as experience shews ; and i have touched it among the bitumina . moreover , if the heat which warms our bathes did proceed from hence , there must be huge vessels above the fire to contain water , whereby the fire might heat it , and not be quenched by it . also the vapours arising from hence , must be hotter then water can endure , or be capable of ; for as they ascend towards the superficies of the earth , they must needs be cooled as they pass by rocks , or else they could not be congealed into water again : and after this congelation , the water hath lost most of his heat , as we find in our ordinary distillations of rose-water , &c. where we see our water to descend into the receive ; almost cold ; so that they cannot derive our hot bathes from hence . secondly , for the fire it self , although water and air may be received into the bowels of the earth , yet there is great difficulty for fire . for the other two need no nourishment to support them , as fire doth . if there be not competency of air to nourish the fire by venting his fuligious vapours , howsoever there be fewel enough , it is suddenly quenched , and such huge and flaming fire as this must be , will require more air then can there be yielded : a great part thereof passing away through the secret creeks of rocks , and little or none entring through the sea. and therefore daily experience shews , that our mineral men are fain to sink new shafts ( as they call them ) to admit air to their works , otherwise their lights would go out . although one would think , that where many men may have room enough to work , there would be space enough for air to maintain a few lights . the like we see in cupping-glasses , where the light goes out as soon as they are applied . also there are no fires perpetual , as hot bathes are , but are either extinct , or keep not the same tenor . wherefore fire cannot be the cause of this constant heat of bathes . it must be a continual cause that can make a continual hea● . also where fire is , there will be smoak , for as it breeds exhalations , so it sends them forth . but in most of our hot bathes we find none of these dry exhalations . moreover , fire is more hardly pend in then air ; yet we see that air doth break forth : wherefore fire should also make his way , having fuel enough to maintain it . so they say it doth in our vulcanoes at hecla in iseland , aetna in sicicy , vesuvio in campania , in enaria , aeolia , lipara , &c. but it is yet unproved that these eruptions of fire do proceed from any deep cause , but only are kindled upon or neer the superficies of the earth , where there is air enough to feed it , and means enough to kindle it by lightnings , or other casual means . whereas in the bowels of the earth , there is neither air to nourish it , nor any means to kindle it ; seeing neither the beams of the sun , nor wind , or other exhalations , nor any antiperistasis , nor lyme , nor lightnings can do it . for the same reasons that exclude the beams of the sun and exhalations , will likewise exclude lightnings . thirdly , for the fuel , there are only two substances in the bowels of the earth , which are apt fuels for fire , bitumen and sulphur . sulphur is in such request with all men , as they think there can be no not bath without it : nay many hold , that if water do but pass thorow a mine of brimstone , although it be not kindled , but actually cold , yet it will contract from thence , not only a potential , but an actual heat . but we do manifestly find , that neither all hot waters are sulphurous , nor all sulphurous waters hot ( as is said before in sulphur . ) the bathes of caldaneila and avinian in agro senensi , de grotta in viterbio , de aquis in pisano , divi johannis in agro lacenss , balneum geber suilleri in halsatia , &c. are all hot , and yet give no signe of sulphur , either by smell , or taste , or quality , or effect . contrariwise that all sulphurous waters are not hot , may appear by the bathes in zurich in helvetia , of buda in pannonia , at cure in rhetia , celenses in germany . in campania between naples and pateolum , are many cold sulphurous springs . at brandula in agro carpensi , &c. all which bathes shew much sulphur to be in them , and yet are cold . and no marvel , for if we insuse any simple , be it never so hot potentially , yet it will not make the liquor actually hot . wherefore this sulphur must burn before it can give any actual heat to our bathes ; and then it must needs be subject to the former difficulties , and also must be continually repaired by new generations of matter , which actual fire cannot further , but rather hinder . the fire generates nothing , but consumes all things . the like we may judge of bitumen , that unless it be kindled , it can yield no heat to our bathes ; as solinander reports of a bituminous mine in westfalia , in agro tremonensi , where going down into the grove , he found much water , having the smell , taste , and colour of bitumen , and yet cold . agricola imputes the chief cause of the heating of bathes , unto the fuel of bitumen ; baccius on the other side to sulphur . but in my opinion , they need not contend about it . for , as i have shewed before in the examples of mineral waters , there are many hot springs from other minerals , where neither sulphur nor bitomen have been observed to be . john de dondis , and julius alexandrinus were much unsatisfied in these opinions , and did rather acknowledge their ignorance , then that they would subscribe unto them . i need not dispute whether this fire be in alveis , or in canalibus , or in vicinis partibus , &c. because i think it is in neither of them . chap. xiv . the authors opinion concerning the cause of actual heat , and medicinal virtue in mineral waters . vvherefore finding all the former opinions to be doubtfull and weakly grounded concerning the causes of the actual heat of bathes ; let me presume to propound another , which i perswade my self to be more true and certain . but because it hath not been mentioned by any author that i know , i have no mans steps to follow in it . avia doctorum peragro loca , nullius ante trita solo . i travel where no path is to be seen of any learned foot that here hath been . which makes me fearfull in the delivery of it . but if i do err in it , i hope i shall not be blamed ; seeing i do it in disquisition of the truth . i have in the former chapters set down mine opinion concerning the generation of minerals , that they have their seminaries in the earth replenished with spirits , and faculties attending them ; which meeting with convenient matter and adiuvant causes , do proceed to the generation of several species , according to the nature of the efficient , and aptnes of the matter . in this work of generation , as there is generatio unius , so there must be corruptio alterius . and this cannot be done without a superiour power , which by moisture , dilating it self , worketh upon the matter , like a ferment to bring it to his own purpose . this motion between the agent spirit , and the patient matter , proceedeth from an actual heat ( ex motu fit calor ) which serves as an instrument to further this work . * and this motion being natural and not violent produceth a natural heat which furthers generations ; not a destructive heat . for as cold dulls and benumbs all faculties , so heat doth quicken them , this i shewed in the example of malt. it is likewise true in every particular grain of corn sown in the ground , although by reason they lie single , their actual heat is not discernable by touch , yet we find that external heat and moisture do further their spiring , as adiuvant causes ; where the chief agent is the generative spirit in the seed . so i take it to be in minerals , with those distinctions before mentioned . and in this all generations agree , that an actual heat , together with moisture , is requisite : otherwise there can neither be the corruption of the one , nor the generation of the other . this actual heat is less sensible in small seeds and tender bodies , then it is in the great and plentifull generations , and in hard and compact matter : for hard bodies are not so easily reduced to a new form , as tender bodies are ; but require both more spirit and longer time to be wrought upon . and therefore whereas vegetable generations are brought to perfection in a few months , these mineral generations do require many years , as hath been observed by mineral men . moreover , these generations are not terminated with one production , but as the seed gathereth strength by enlarging it self , so it continually proceeds to subdue more matter under his government : so as , where once any generation is begu● , it continues many ages , and seldome gives over . as we see in the iron mines of illua , the tin mines in cornwall , the lead mines at mendip , and the peak , &c. which do not only stretch further in extent of ground , than hath been observed heretofore ; but also are renewed in the same groves which have been formerly wrought , as our tinners in cornwall do acknowledge ; and the examples of illua and saga before mentioned , do confirm . this is a sufficient means for the perpetuity of our hot springs ; that if the actual heat proceed from hence , there need be no doubt of the continuance of them , nor of their equal tenor or degree of heat . now for the nature of this heat , it is not a destructive heat , as that of fire is , but a generative heat joyned with moysture . it needs no air for eventilation , as the other doth . it is in degree hot enough for the hottest baths that are , if it be not too remote from the place where the water issueth forth . it is a means to impart the qualities of minerals to our waters , as well as heat , by reason the minerals are then in solutis principiis , in their liquid forms , and not consolidated into hard bodies . for when they are consolidated , there are few of them that will yield any quality to water , unless they be the concrete juyces , or any actual heat , because that is procured by the contiguity of bodies , when one part lyeth upon another , and not when they are grown in corpus continuum ; as we see in malt , where by turning and changing the contiguity , the heat is increased , but by suffering it to unite , is quenched : but before consolidation , any of them may yield either spirit or juyce , or tincture to the waters , which by reason of their tenuity ( as is said before ) are apt to imbibe them . now if actual fire kindled in the earth , should meet with these minerals whilst they are in generation , it would dissipate the spirits , and destroy the minerals . if it meet with them after consolidation , it will never be able to attenuate them so , as to make them yield their qualities to water . for we never find any metals or minerals melted in the earth , which must be , if the heat of actual fire were such as is imagined : neither do we ever find any flores of metal sublimed in the earth . this natural heat is daily found by our mineral men in the mines , so as oftentimes they are not able to touch them , as agricola testifieth ; although by opening their groves and admission of air , it should be well qualified . whereas on the other side , it was never observed , that any actual kindled fire was ever seen by workmen in the earth , which were likely to be , if these fires were so frequent . wherefore seeing we see that mineral waters do participate with all sorts of minerals , as well metals as other , as hath been shewed in the particular examples of all of them : seeing also that few of them , unless mineral juyces , are able to impart their quality to water , as they are consolidated , but only as they are in solutis principiis , and whilst they are in generation , as is agreed upon by all authors : seeing also this natural heat of fermentation must necessarily be present for the perfecting of their generation , and is sufficient , in regard of the degree of heat to make our baths as hot as they are : seeing also that the other adventitious fire would rather destroy these minerals , than further them : seeing also we cannot imagine it either likely , or possible , without manifold difficulties and absurdities : i do conclude that both the actual heat of baths , and the mineral qualities which they have , are derived unto them by means of this fermenting heat : * which is still in fieri , not in facto esse , as the schoolmen term it : and therefore makes the heat continual . examples might be brought from all kind of generations , and from some artificial works , of this sermenting heat proceeding from the seeds of natural things . these seeds containing the species and kinds of natural bodies , are not from the elements , but are placed in the elements , where they propagate their species and individuals , according to their nature , and have their due times and seasons of appearing upon the stage of the world. animals have their set times when their spermatick spirits are in turgescence , some once , some twice a year , and some oftner : especially in the spring ; vere magis , quia vere calor redit ossibus ; as virgil speaks of mares : only man in regard of his excellency above other creatures , is not so confinde . vegetables have likewise their seasons of setting and planting , as they may have the earth and the season most convenient : yet at any time , if their seeds get moysture and heat to dilate them , they will ferment and attempt the production of more individuals : but oftentimes the artist doth abuse this intention of nature , and converts it to his ends : and oftentimes nature being set in action to proceed a potentia in actum , doth want convenient means to maintain her work : as when we see a rick of hay or corn which hath received moysture , burnt to ashes . so in the making of malt , or woad , or bread , or beer , or wine , &c. we make use of this generative spirit for our ends : that we may stir up , and quicken it . otherwise our bread would not be so favou●y , our beer would be but wort , our wine would be but must or plum-pottage , and want those spirits which we desire ; and which lie dead and benummed in the seeds , untill they come to fermentation . and in all these there is an actual heat , although it appear not in liquid things , so well as in dry : because it is there quenched by the abundance of moysture ; yet we may observe active spirits in it , by the bubling and hissing , and working of it . this is evident in artificial wines , which may be made of figs , da●es , dryed raysing , currants , slows , strawberries , bramble-berries , and such like , when they are infused in water . they will ferment of their own accord , by virtue of the seeds which are in them , and make as good and as natural wine as the juice of the green fruit , as i have often proved . the turks have a drink which they call couset or posset , which is made of barly after such a manner , as bellonius reports in his observations . it seems also that the scythians drink was made in this manner , which virgil speaks of . hic noctem ludo ducunt , & pocula laeti fermento atque acidis imitantur vitea sorbis . they dance and quaff , by the moon-shine , fermented juice of slows , like wine . and i perswade my self that we have not yet attained to a perfect artifice of our beer and ale , which stands upon the same grounds , and may be wrought in such a manner , if they would take the pains to try some conclusions upon it . it might save much fuel , and vessel , and labour , and perhaps with advantage in the product . for i see but two points to be observed in the working of it : the one is to extract the substance of the malt into water : the other to give it his due fermentation . and both of these may be done without boyling . but the artifice will differ somewhat from wine , and will require many conclusions to be tryed upon it , before it be brought to perfection . i do mention these artifices only to shew the power of this seminary and fermenting spirit , and how it may be drawn to other uses for our benefit . as this is found in vegetables , so likewise in minerals ; which as they have this generative spirit for the propagation of their species , as hath been shewed before , so they have this means of fermentation , to bring them from a potential quality , to an actual existence . and as their matter is more plentifull , and in consistence more hard and compact ; so these spirits must be more vigorous and powerfull to subdue it : and consequently the heat of their fermentation must be in a higher degree , then it is in other generations . now having shewed the erroneous opinions of others concerning this actual heat of bathes , and explain'd our own conceit of the true cause of it ; let us collect our arguments together , the principal whereof are here and there dispersed in this treatise , quem nos stramineum pro tempore fecimus , which for the present i have made of straw . hoping that hereafter some worthy pen may handle this argument more accurately , and give it a better flourish , et dare perpetuo caelestia fila metallo . and on firm metal lasting threads bestow . we must not imagine that the government and ordering of the world and nature in a constant course , is performed by miracle , but that natural effects have natural causes , and must be both under the same genus . wherefore following the ordinary distribution , seeing it comprehends all , and not questioning the celestial bodies , whether they be elementary or no , that is , subject to alterations , as intention and remission , generation and corruption , &c. we say that this heat must proceed either from the superiour and celestial bodies , as the spheres and starrs , or from the inferiour or sublunary . from the superiour spheres or globes it cannot proceed , seeing ( as is shewed before ) they are neither indowed with such a degree of native heat , nor can acquire it accidentally by their motion , being thin and liquid bodies ; neither , if they had it , can they convey it unto the earth , but by their beams , which are not able to retain it as they pass thorow the cold region of the air , nor able to warm that , although it be nearer to their fountain of heat . wherefore if these beams can any way do it , it must be by their motion and reflection upon the earth : and this is no constant heat , but varieth according as the beams are perpendicular or oblique , and according as the air is cleer or cloudy , & c.. and as they are not able to give this constant heat , so the earth in her bowels is not capable to receive it , being hindered by the density of the earth and rocks , and the heat of reflection taken away before it can come three foot deep . from the inferiour parts of the world if it proceed , it must be either from the elements , or from mixt bodies . from the elements it cannot come , but from fire ; for all the other elements are cold , as i have shewed , especially the earth where this heat is ingendred . and as for the element of fire , seeing we know not where to find it , neither , if it be any where , doth it perform the office of an element in production and nutrition of creatures ; as aristotle faith , ignis nil generat , and therefore nil nutrit ; nam nutritio fit ex iisdem ex quibus constat : therefore as it begets nothing , so it nourisheth nothing ; and so cannot be an element , nor as an element maintain this heat of bathes . but contrariwise if it have no power of begetting or nourishing any thing , it must have a power of destroying or hindering nature in her proceedings ; for nature will admit of no vacuum or idle thing . also seeing nature useth no violent means to maintain her self , this elementary fire cannot be pen'd in the center of the earth , being of a thin subtilnature , and naturally aspiring upwards : and if it have any place assigned unto it , it must be above the other elements , and then it cannot be drawn downwards against his nature , and that continually , without breach of the order and course of nature . and whereas they place the element of fire under the concave of the moon , being in it self lucid and resplendent , it is strange that it is not seen by us , neither makes our nights light . for although by reason of his transparency it doth not terminate our sight , yet it should remove the obscurity of our nights much better then the via lactea . moreover , if it were there , we must see the starrs through a double diaphanum , one of air , and another of fire , and so would make a double refraction : which is elegantly confuted by john pena and conr●dus aslacus . but there is another thing substituted in the place of this element of fire , and maintained by air , and by mineral substances in the earth ; which is neither an element , nor a mixt body , nor any substance at all , but a meer quality : and this is preferred by most to be the cause of the heat of our bathes . and this is our common kitchin-fire , which is kindled by violent motion , maintained by servel , without which it cannot subsist , and extinguished by his contrary . and although it may be derived by communication or coition , as one candle lights another , yet originally it is kindled by violent motion , and what violent motion can there be in the bowels of the earth to strike fire , or who shall be the fueller ? exhalations and lightnings cannot do it , being aereal meteors , and no more penetrable then the beams of the sun. and therefore although they may kindle a vulcano upon the surface of the earth , yet they cannot pierce deep , and their very reflection upon the superficies of the earth takes away their strength : so as they can neither kindle new fire , nor commucate that which is kindled to any other fuel . for if it be by communication or coition , that must be by touch , per contactum , and then in the earth it can make but one fire , and not many , being not distinct in place , and must increase in heat : and then it will not keep a constant tenor , as our bathes do . secondly for the nourishment of it , being a quality , it must have a subject , that is fuel , and it must have means to vent the fuliginous vapours which it breeds in the dissolution of the fuel , lest they recoyle and quench the fire ; as also there must be conveyance for the ashes which will fall down continually upon the fire , and quench it . moreover , by consuming such great quantities of sulphur and bitumen , and by mollifying and breaking of rocks , it would cause a great sinking of the earth in those places ; as we see in our vulcanoes , where whole mountains have been consumed and brought to even ground . thirdly , this fire being a quality , is subject to intention and remission , and to utter extinguishment , not only by want of fuel , which cannot be regenerated where this actual fire is , nor for want of vent , or choaking of ashes , &c. but also by reason of the abundance of water which the earth receiveth for the generations of minerals , which being opposite to fire , would quench it . wherefore we cannot rely upon any subterranean fire for the maintenance of our hot bathes . from the air this heat of bathes cannot proceed , seeing it is neither hot in it self , as hath been proved , nor can get any heat by motion , being of a thin liquid substance , which no attrition or collision can make hot . and as for aereal meteors , bred from exhalations , and kindled , as is imagined , by an antiperistasis : if they be bred in the air , they are not able to penetrate into the bowels of the earth , as hath been said before : if in the earth , besides the difficulty of finding room enough for such plentiful exhalations as those must be which procure lightning and thunder , and the vanity of their antiperistasis to kindle these exhalations , as hath been she wed before ; it is a sufficient refutation to take away the subject of the question , that is , all subterranean fire , as i hope i have done ; and then we need not dispute about the means of kindling it , &c. these momentary meteors being produced only to kindle , and not to maintain this fire . from the water no man will derive this fire , being a cold and moist element , and apt to quench it ; unless it be by dilating the seminary spirits of natural species ; and then they concur with us , and renouncing the actual fire , do confirm our heat of fermentation . from the earth some have imagined an inbred heat , ingenitum terrae calorem , whereby it seems they had some glimmering of this light which we have given , but have left it in as great obscurity as the antipenstasis or antipathy ; and earth being a cold and dry element , cannot be the cause of this heat , as it is earth . so as it is manifest that naturally the elements cannot procure this heat of bathes ; and by violent motion they can do as little . for the earth being immovable , cannot be stirred by any violent motion ; and the other three elements , as fire , air , and water , being thin and liquid substances , can procure no heat by any motion or collision either upon themselves , or upon the earth ; especially in the bowels of the earth , where all is quiet , and no room or scope for any such motion as this must be . so that neither the other three elements , nor the earth , either in the whole , or in the parts , can be the cause hereof by any violent motion . from mixt bodies if this heat come , it must be from animals , vegetables , or minerals . animals are not so plentiful in the earth as to cause this heat of bathes , either alive or dead . we read of subterranean animals which have both motion , and sense , and understanding , in vincentius in speculo naturali ; in lactantius ; in agricola , de animantibus subterraneis ; in bellonius , ortelius , paracelsus , &c. who calls them gnomi , the germanes bergmaenlin , the french rabat , the cornish-men fairies . the danes are generally perswaded that there are such creatures . but if any such living creatures be able to procure this heat , it cannot be by their hot complexions , but it must be by violence and striking of fire . perhaps democritus hath hired them to make his lyme there , or some other to erect forges for thunder , lightning , and such like fire-works . brontesque steropesque & nudus membra pyracmon . but these opinions deserve no confutation . from dead animals in their putrefaction some heat may appear , but such as neither for the degree , nor for the continuance , can be answerable to our bathes . for vegetables there is the same reason as for dead animals ; neither doth the earth breed such plenty of these in her bowels , as to procure a months heat to a tun of water , in one place . wherefore we have nothing to ground upon but mineral substances , whereof the earth affords enough . for there is no part of the earth but is replenished with mineral seeds . and although some may think that because minerals are not found , or not wrought in all places : and that some waters are also found which do not participate of the virtues of minerals , that therefore our hot bathes proceed not from the fermentation of minerals , but from some other cause ; they are mistaken . for although metals are not frequent in some places , or at the least not discovered ; yet a man shall hardly dig ten foot deep in any place , but he shall find rocks of stone , which have their generation as well as other minerals , or some of the salts , or bitumina , or spirits , or mean metals , &c. and how can bathes receive mineral qualities , but from minerals ? therefore where bathes are , there must be minerals , although where minerals are , there are not always bathes , but perhaps they are not so accumulated , as by their contiguity they are able to yield any manifest heat ; their matter being dispersed as grains of corn sown in a field , which by reason of their lying single , do not shew a sensible heat in their fermentation ; or most metals breeding between a hanger and a lieger , which agricola calls pendens and jacens , are seldome above a foot thick , and therefore cannot yield much heat to our waters . and this is the cause why we have so few bathes from gold , silver , tin , lead , &c. but where much matter is accumulated together , the very contiguity ( one part lying upon another ) will make a manifest heat , untill it grow to a corpus continuum , when the generation is perfected , and then the heat is extinguished , or perhaps they have not water so plentifull as may yield a living spring , although they may have sufficient for the use of their generation . or perhaps where they break forth , they meet with desart sands , as in arabia , china , africa , &c. which drink up the water , and hinder the eruption of it . and whereas there are some hot springs found which do not shew any mineral quality in them , the reason of this may be the want of concrete juice , which , as i have said before , is the medium of communicating mineral qualities and substances with water . for without them , water is as unapt to imbibe minerals , as it is to unite with oyle . so as water may of it self receive actual heat from the fermentation of minerals , but not their qualities , without the mediation of some of the concrete juices : as contrariwise we find some fouutains that receive mineral qualities , and yet are cold : whereof i have given many examples . the reason whereof is either for that they have passed a long way , and by many meanders from the place of generation to the place of their eruption , and so have lost their heat ; or else the concrete juices , which will dissolve in water without any heat , being impregnated with other minerals , do impart them to water , and yet without heat . but to say that there is any earth without mineral seeds , is to make a vacuum in rerum natura , and to destroy the use of the elements . it is true that the seeds do do not alwaies meet with opportunity to display themselves , and sometimes they are fain to serve under other colours , which are more predominant : but there is no part of the earth without some seeds or other . and from hence we must derive the original of the actual heat of bathes : for nothing else in the world will serve our turn to procure so lasting and so uniform a heat unto them ; and that not by kindling any actual fire about them , for most of our minerals whereof our bathes consist , and from whence they receive both their actual heat and virtues , will not burn , neither have any actual heat in themselves , being all cold to the touch , but receive it by a fermenting heat which they have in their generation : without which there is no generation for any thing . and this heat continues so long as the work of generation continues : which being once begun , doth not cease in many ages , by reason of the plenty of matter which the earth yields , and the firmness and solidity thereof . and although after that the minerals have attained to their perfection , this heat ceaseth , yet the generation extends further then where it first began , and enlargeth it self every way , the works of nature being circular : so as the water which was heated by the first generation , cannot avoid the other succeeding generations , but must meet with them either behind or before , beneath or above , on the one side , or on the other ( especially seeing no generation can proceed without water : ) and yet keeps the same tenor and degree of heat , according to the nature of the minerals fermenting , and to the distance from the place of eruption . and this is a far more probable cause of the continuance of our bathes , then any subterranean destructive fire can be , or any other of the supposed causes can yield . i do not deny but that hot bathes may cease and become cold ; as aristotle saith of salt fountains which are cold , that they were once hot , before the original of their heat was extinct : which i interpret to be when the work of generation ceased , and the salt brought to his perfection . but i do not read of any hot bathes that have ceased : unless near onto some vulcano , where either the sinking of rocks hath altered the course of them , as at tripergula and baia , or the flaming fire which heated them at their eruption being extinguished , as in the aeolian islands . these vulcanoes are far more subject to decay then our generative heat , because they consume their fuel ; this doth not , but increaseth it daily , viresque acquirit eundo . of the other ovid saith , nee quae sulphureis ardet fornacibus aetna ignea semper erit ; neque enim fuit ignea semper . aetna with its sulphureous flames will dy , and as a kindling had , will want supply . but of this we can hardly bring an instance of any that have decayed ; because where a generation is begun , there seldome or never wants matter to propagate and enlarge it . and seeing minerals have not their seeds in their individuals , as animals & vegetables have , but in their wombs , as hath been shewed before ; it were to be feared that there would be a decay of mineral species , and so a vacuum left in nature , if these generations should be no more durable then the other . animals are propagated by begetting of their species , the power whereof is in every individual , which , no doubt , will not give over this trade as long as the world lasteth . vegetables are also fruitfull in their kinds , every one producing , or perhaps seeds of individuals yearly , to perpetuate their species . minerals have no such means , but only have their seeds in their wombs , whereby they are propagated : and if these generations , being longer in perfecting of their species , were not supplyed with a larger extent for their productions ; nature had been defective in not providing sufficient means for their perpetuity , as well as for others , and might easily suffer a decay , and a vacuity of mineral species ; which agrees not with the providence of nature , and the ornament of the world . the necessity hereof depends upon the first benediction , ( crescite & multiylicamini ) which , no doubt belongs as well to minerals in their kinds , as it doth to animals and vegetables , and by vertue hereof we see that they are propagated daily , as i have proved before , cap. . and this is that necessity whereof hypocrates speaks , and that fatum naturale inharens rebus ipsis , natural fate inherent in things themselves , as lipsius faith ; and that lex adrastiae mentioned by aristotle and gal●● , locis aute citatis , so firmly established , as nothing can contradict it . arithmetick , geometry , and logick , which are but attendants upon nature , have their principles so firmly grounded , as nothing can shake them ; and shall we think that nature it self is grounded upon weaker foundations ? wherefore we need not doubt of the perpetuity of these generations , but that as some parts attain to their perfection , so other puts will be alwayes in fieri or in via ad generationem : whereby our bathes will never fail of their heat or their virtues . this i hope is susficient for the confuting of other opinions , and the clearing of mine own from all absurdities concerning the degree of heat , which is as much as the nature of water can endure without utter dissipation : concerning the equal tenor of the heat , the duration of 〈◊〉 , the participation of mineral qualities , &c. the other kind of confirmation which we call apodeictical , is also here and there dispersed in this discourse : as that all minerals have their continual generation : that this generation is not without heat and moysture , which do necessarily attend all generations : that few mineral substances or qualities can be imparted to water , but whilst they are in generation , and yet we find them much impregnated with them : that our miners do find an actual heat , and in a high degree , in the digging of minerals , where the fermentation is not throughly extinct : that we observe the like course of nature in the generations of animals and vegetables : that we are led to the acknowledgement hereof by many artificial conclusions and artifices , &c. wherefore i forbear to make any larger repetition hereof . and this is in brief ( though plainly delivered ) my opinion concerning the actual heat of baths , and of the mineral qualities which we find in them ; which i refer to the censures of those that be learned . there are two other motions which resemble this fermentation : the one is motus dilatationis , the other antipatheticus . motus dilatationis is evident in lime , in allum , in copperass , and other concrete juyces , whereby the affusion of water , the salt in the lime , or the concrete juyces being suddenly dissolved , there is by this motion , an actual heat procured for a time , able to kindle any combustible matter put to it . the like we observe in those stone coals , called metal coals , which are mixed with a marchesit containing some mineral juyce , which receiving moysture , doth dilate it self , and grows so hot , as oftentimes great heaps of those coals are kindled thereby , and burnt before their time ; as hath been seen at puddle-wharf in london , and at newcastle . but this is much different from out fermentation . another motus resembling this fermentation , is that which is attributed to antipathy , when disagreeing substances being put together , do fight , and make a manifest actual heat ; as antimony and sublimat , oyle of vitriol and oyle of tartar , allum liquor and urine , lees , chalk , &c. but the reason of this disagreement is in their salts , whereof one is astringent , the other relaxing ; the one of easie dissolution in water , the other of hard dissolution , &c. where one mineral hinders the dissolution or congelation of another ; and not by reason of any antipathy : for it is not likely that nature would produce two contrary substances mixed like atomes in o● subject , but that in their very generations the o● would be an impediment to the other . so in vegetables where one plant sucks away the nourishment from another , we call it antipathy . b●● if we examine aright what this sympathy and antipathy is , we shall find it to be nothing but a refuge of ignorance , when not being able to conceive the true reasons of such actions & passions in natural things , we fly sometimes to indefinite generalities , and sometimes to this inexplicable sympathy and antipathy ; attributing voluntary , and sensitive actions and passions to insensible substances . this motus also is much different from fermentation , as may easily appear by the former description . and thus much for this point of fermentation , which i hope will give better satisfaction then any of the former opinions . chap. xv. by what means it may be discovered what minerals any water containeth . the nature of minerals and their generations being handled , and from thence the reasons drawn , both of the actual heat of bathes , and of their qualities : now it is fit we should seek out some means how to discover what minerals are in any bath , that thereby we may the better know their qualities , and what use to make of them for our benefit . many have attempted this discovery , but by such weak means , and upon such poor grounds , as it is no marvail if they have failed of their purpose : for they have contented themselves with a bare distillation or evaporation of the water , and observing the sediment , have thereby judged of the minerals , unless perhaps they find some manifest taste , or smell , or colour in the water , or some unctuous matter swimming above it . some desire no other argument of sulphur and bitumen , but the actual heat : as though no other minerals could yield an actual heat , but those two : but this point requires better consideration ; and i have been so large in describing the natures and generations of minerals , because without it , we cannot discern what minerals we have in our waters , nor judge of the qualities and use of them . our minerals therefore , are either confused or mixed with the water . if they be confused they are easily discerned : for they make the water thick and pudly , and will either swim above , as bitumen will do , or sink to the bottom , as earth , sulphur , and some terrestrial juices ; for no confused water will remain long unseparated . if they are perfectly mixed with the water , then their mixture is either corporal , where the very body of the mineral is imbibed in the water , or spiritual , where either some exhalation , or spirit , or tincture is imparted to the water . corporally there are no minerals mixed with water , but juices , either liquid , as succus la●idescens , metallificus , &c. before they are perfectly congealed into their natural consistence , or concrete , as salt , nitre , vitriol , and allum , these concrete juices do not dissolve themselves in water , but oftentimes bring with them some tincture or spirit from other minerals . for as water is apt to recive juices , and tinctures , and spirits from animals , and vegetables ; so are concrete juices , being dissolved , apt to extract tinctures and spirits from minerals , and to communicate them with water . and there are no mines , but have some of these concrete juices in them , to dissolve the materials of them , for their better union and mixture : and there are few minerals or metals , but have some of them incorporated with them ; as we see in iron , and copper , and tin , and lead , &c. and this is the reason that water being long kept in vessels of any of these metals , will receive a taste or smell from them , especially if it be attenuated , either by heat , or by addition of some sour juice ; and yet more , if the metals be fyled into powder as we see in making chalibeat wine , or sugar of lead , or puttie from tin , or verdegrease from copper . there may be also a mixture of spiritual substance from minerals , whilst they are in generation , and in solutis principiis : the water passing through them , and the rather if it be actually hot , for then it is more apt to imbibe it , and will contain more in it , being attenuated by heat , then being cold ; as we see in urins , which though they be full of humours , yet make no great shew of them so long as they are warm , but being cold , do settle then to the bottom . these spiritual substances are hardly discerned in our bathes , but by the effects ; for they leave no residence after evaporation ; and are commonly as volatile in sublimation as the water it self : neither do they increase the weight of the water , nor much alter the taste or smell of them , unless they be very plentiful . wherefore we have no certain way to discover them , but by the effects . we may conjecture somewhat of them by the mines which are found near unto the bathes , and by the mud which is brought with the water . but that may deceive , as coming from the passages through which the water is conveyed , or , perhaps , from the sweat and strigments of mens bodies which bathe in them . the corporal substances are found , either by sublimation or by precipitation , by sublimation , when being brought to the state of congelation , and sticks of wood put into it , within a few dayes , the concrete juices will shoot upon the wood ; in needles , if it be nitre ; in squares , if be salt ; and in clods and lumps , if it be allum or coperass , and the other mineral substances which the waters have received , will either incorporate a tincture with them , or if it be more terr●strial , will settle and separate from it , and by drying it at a gentle fire , will shew from what house it comes , either by colour , taste , smell , or vertue : there is another way by precipitation , whereby those mineral substances are stricken down from their concrete juices which held them , by addition of some opposite substance . and this is of two sorts : either salts , as tartar , soap-ashes , kelps , urine , &c. or four juices as vinegar , lemons , oyle of vitriol , sulphur , &c. in which i have observed that the salts are proper to blew colours , and the other to red ; for example , take a piece of scarlet cloath , and wet it in oyle of tartar ( the strongest of that kind ) and it presently becomes blew : dip it again in oyle of vitriol , and it becomes red again . p●notus hath a strange precipitating water from tin , mercury alkali , &c. which separate any minerals pidr●●it p●●es authorem . these are the chief grounds of discovering mineral waters , according to which any man may make tryal of what waters he pleaseth . i have been desirous heretofore to have attempted some discovery of our bathes , according to these principles : but being thought ( by some ) either not convenient , or not usefull , i was willing to save my labour , which perhaps might have seemed not to be worth thanks ; and in these respects am willing now also to make but a bare mention of them . chap. xvi . of the use of mineral waters , inwardly , outwardly . in this chapter is shewed the inward use of them , first general ; then particuly of the hot waters of bathe . the nature and generations of minerals being handled , and how our mineral waters receive their impressions , and actual heat from thence ; and by what means they are to be tried , what minerals are in each of them . now we are to shew the uses of them ; which must be drawn from the qualities of the minerals whereof they consist ; which are seldome one or two , but commonly more . these qualities are either the first , as hot , cold , moyst , and dry : or the second , as penetrating , astringent , opening , resolving , attracting , cleansing , mollifying , &c. for the first qualities , it is certain and agreed upon by all authors , that all mineral waters do dry exceedingly , as proceeding from earth ; but some of those do cool withall , and some do heat . cooling waters are good for hot distempers of the liver , stomach , kidneys , bladder , womb , &c. also for salt distillations , sharp humours , light obstructions of the meseraicks , &c. heating waters are good for cold affects of the stomach , bowels , womb , seminary vessels , cold distillations , palsies , &c. for the second qualities , cleansing waters are good in all ulcers , especially of the guts . mollifying waters , for all hard and schirrous tumors . astringent waters , for all fluxes , &c. and so of the rest . now these waters are used either inwardly or outwardly . inwardly , either by mouth , or by injection . by mouth , either in potion , or in broths , juleps , &c. galen never used them imwardly , because he judged their qualities to be discovered by experience , rather then by reason . and seeing we find many of them to be venomous , and deadly , as proceeding from arsenick , sandaracha , cadmia , &c. we had need be very wary in the inward use of them . neptunes well in tarracina was found to be so deadly , as it was therefore stopped up . by monpellier at perant is a well which kills all the fowls that drink of it ; the lake avernus kills the fowls that fly over it ; so doth the vapour arising from charons den between naples and puteolum . so there are divers waters in savoy and rhetia , which breed swellings in the thro●● . others proceeding from gipsum do strang 〈◊〉 but where we find waters to proceed from wholsome minerals , and such as are convenient , and proper for our intents , there we may be bold to use them as well inwardly as outwardly : yet so as we do not imagine them to be such absolute remedies , as that they are of themselves able to cure diseases without either rules for the use of them , or without other helps adjoyned to them . for as it is not enough for a man to get a good damasco or bilbo-blade to defend himself withall , unless he learn the right use of it from a fencer ; so it is not enough to get a medicine and remedy for any disease , unless it be rightly used , and this right use must come from the physitian , who knows how to apply it , and how to prepare the body for it , what to add and joyn with it , how to govern and order the use of it , how to prevent such inconveniences as may happen by it , &c. wherefore , where we speak of any mineral water , or of any other medicine that is proper for such and such a grief , we must be so understood , that the medicine is not wise enough to cure the disease of it self , no more than a sword is able of it self to defend a man , or to offend his enemie , but according to the right and skilfull use of it . and as it is not possible for a fencer to set down absolute rules in writing for h●● art , whereby a man may be able in reading them to defend himself ; no more is the physitian possibly able to direct the particular uses of his remedy , whereby a patient may cure himself without demonstration and the particular direction of the physitian . it is true , that we have general rules to guide us in the cure of diseases , which are very true and certain ; yet when we come to apply them to particular persons , and several constitutions , these general rules are not sufficient to make a cure , but it must be varied according to substance . hereupon we daily find , that those patients which think to cure themselves , out of a little reading of some rules or remedies , are oftentimes dangerously deceived . and this is enough to intimate generally concerning the uses of our mineral waters . inwardly we find great and profitable use of such waters as proceed from nitre , allum , vitriol , sulphur , bitumen , iron , copper , &c. examples whereof i have set down before in the several minerals , referring the particular uses of each to such authors as have purposely described them . my intent is chiefly to apply my self to those baths of bath in summerset-shire ; which consisting , as i judge , principally of bitumen , with nitre , and some sulphur , i hold to be of great use both inwardly and outwardly . and i am sorry that i dare not commend the inward use of them as they deserve , in regard i can hardly be perswaded that we have the water pure , as the springs yield them , but do fear , lest where we take them , they may be mixt with the water of the bath . if this doubt were cleared , i should not doubt to commend them inwardly , to hear , dry , mollifie , discuss , glutinate , dissolve , open obstractions , cleanse the kidneys and bladder , ease cholicks , comfort the matrix , mitigate fits of the mother , help barrenness proceeding from cold humors , &c. as tabernomoutanus affirms of other bituminous baths . also in regard of the nitre , they cut and dissolve gross humors , and cleanse by urine . in regard of the sulphur , they dry and resolve , and mollifie , and attract , and are especially good for uterine affects proceeding from cold and windy humours . and i would wish these waters to be drunk hot as they are , for better penetration , and less offence to the stomach . the antient grecians and romans did drink most of their water and wine hot , as we find in many authors , which salmuth hath diligently collected : and anthonius percius hath purposely written a book of it , entitaled dei bever caldo castumato da gli antichi . we find also that it is in use at this day , both in the east-indies and in turkey , where they have a drink called capha , sold ordinarily in taverns , and drunk hot , although in the summer . verulamius doth marvel that it is so much grown out of use , and adviseth to drink our first draught at our meals , hot . there is great reason for it , both for preservation of health , and for cure of many diseases . the stomach being a nervous part , must needs be offended by that which is actually cold : and being the seat of natural appetite , and of the first concoction ( whose errors and defects are not amended in the other concoctions ) had need to be preserved in his native vigour and strength , that it may breed good nourishment for the whole body . but the much use of cold drink , although it seem to refresh us for the present , by dulling the appetite and the sense of thirst and hunger , as a stupefictive narcotick will do : yet it destroys the faculties of the stomach , which are maintained and quickned by heat : and thereby breeds crudities in our bodies , from whence many diseases proceed . the east-indans are seldome troubled with the stone or the gout , and it is imputed to their warm drink : the like we may judge of obstructions , cholicks , dropsies , rheumes , coughs , hoarsness , diseases in the throat and lungs , &c. in which cases , and many more which proceed from ill concoction and crudity of humors , no doubt it is an excellent preservative to drink our drink warm . i know a worthy gentleman of excellent parts , who in his travels observed the benefit hereof , and for many years hath used to take his drink hot : and being now above years old , enjoyeth his health of body , and vigour of spirits , beyond the ordinary course of men of his age . likewise in the cure of diseases , i perswade my self it would prove very profitable , if it were in use . for example in feavers , i see no reason but it would do more good than our cold waters , juleps , posset-drinks , &c. which i approve well of , but if the patient did drink them hot , the stomach would be less offended thereby , the moysture ( which we chiefly desire in them ) would penetrate more , and the eventilation by sweat or insensible transpiration , would not be hindred . hypocrates is very plain in this point , and reckons many inconveniences of cold drinks , to the teeth , bones , nerves , brest , back , lungs , stomach , &c. i will not insilt longer hereupon , being a practical point of physick : only i thought good to intimate it to our learned physitians to contemplate upon , for the benefit of our patients . our bath guides do usually command the drinking of this water with salt to purge the body , perswading the people that the bath-water hath a purging quality in it , when as the same proportion of spring-water , with the like quantity of salt will do the like . our baths have true virtues to commend them , so as we need not seek to get credit or grace unto them by false suggestions . the bitumen and nitre which is in them , although it serves well for an alterative remedy , yet it is not sufficient for an evacuative : and therefore we must attribute this purgative quality , either to the great quantity of water which they drink ( and so it works ) ratione ponderis ) or unto the stimulation of salt which is dissolved in it , or unto both together . our common salt hath a stimulating quality , as is shewed before , chap. . and erastus saith that it purgeth much . bulcasis gives it to that purpose from ij to iiij . mesue also prescribes it to purge gross humors , and so doth avicen . wherefore there is no doubt but salt will purge of it self , being dissolved in our bath-water . but i should like much better to dissolve in it some appropriate syrup or other purgative , for this purpose , as manna , tartar , elaterium , syrups of roses , of cichory , with rhubarb , augustanus ; or to move urine , syr , de . rad . bizantinus de limonibus , sambuclnas , de altzhca , &c. and this course is usual in italy , according as the physitian sees most convenient , but with this caution , that when they take it in potion , they must not use the bath , because of contrary motions . inwardly also bath-waters are used , for broths , beer , juleps , &c. although some do mislike it , because they will not mix medicaments with aliments : wresting a text in hypocr . to that purpose . but if we may mix diureticks , deoppilatives , purgatives , &c. with aliments , as usually we do : i see no reason but we may as well use mineral waters , where we desire to make our aliments more alterative by a medicinal quality , alwaies provided that there be no malignity in them , nor any ill quality which may offend any principal part . and thus much for the use of them by mouth . by injection they are used also into the womb , to warm , and dry , and cleanse those parts ; into the passages of urine , to dry and heal excoriations there ; into the fundament for like causes , as also for resolutions of the sphincter , and bearing down of the fundament , &c. and thus they are used either alone , or mixed with other medicines , according as the physitian thinks most sit , and we daily find very good success thereby in uterine affects , depending upon cold causes . thus much for the inward use of our bath-waters . chap. xvii . of the outward use of the the hot waters of bathe ; first , the general use of them to the whole body in bathing : secondly , the particular use of them by pumping , bucketing , or applying the mud . outwardly our bath-waters are principally used , because they are most properly for such affects as are in the habit of the body , and out of the veins : as palsies , contractions , rheums , cold tumors , affects of the skin , aches , &c. and in these cases , we use not only the water , but also the mud , and in some places the upour . the water is used both for his actual and potential heat , as also for the second qualities of mollifying , discussing , cleansing , resolving , &c. which the minerals give unto it . the use hereof is either general to the whole body , as in bathing ; or some particular to some one part , as in bucketing or pumping , which antiently was called stillicidium . the italians call it duccia . the general use in bathing , is most antient : for our bathes were first discovered thereby to be wholsome and soveraign in many diseases . nechams verses concerning the use of these bathes , are four hundred years old . bathoniae thermas vix praefero virgilianas confecto prosunt balnea nostra seni : prosunt attritis , collisis invalidisque , et quorum morbis frigida causa subest . which i will english out of dr. hackwels learned work of the perpetuity of the world . our bains at bathe with virgils to compare ; for their effects , i dare almost be bold , for feeble folk , and crazie good they are , for bruiz'd , consum'd , far spent , and very old , for those likewise whose sickness comes of cold . we have antient traditions ( famae est obscurior annis ) that king bladud who is said to have lived in the time of elias , did first discover these bathes , and made tryal of them upon his own son , and thereupon built this city , and distinguished the bathes , &c. but we have no certain record hereof . it is enough that we can shew the use of them for years , and that at this day they are as powerful as ever they were : cambden gives them a more antient date from ptolomy and antonine , and the saxons : and saith they were called aquae solis , and by the saxons , akmanchester , that is , the town of sick people , and dedicated to minerva , as solinus faith . the opinion that the bathes were made by art , is too simple for any wise man to believe , or for me to confute : and necham in his verses which follow after those i have mentioned , doth hold it a sigment : you may see them in cambden . we have them for their use in bathing , distinguished into four several bathes , whereof three have been antiently ; namely the kingsbath , the hot bath and the cross bath . the queens bath was taken from the springs of the kings bath , that being farther off , from the hot springs , it might serve for such as could not endure the heat of the other . we have likewise an appendix to the hot bath ; called the leapers bath , for unclean persons . we find little difference in the nature of these bathes , but in the degree of heat , proceeding no doubt , from one and the same mine . yet as the mine may be hotter in one p●●tthen in another , or the passages more direct from it , so the heat of them may vary . some little difference also we find among them , that one is more cleansing then another , by reason ( is i take it ) of more nitre . for in the cross bath we find that our fingers ends will shrink and shrivel , as if we had washed in soap-water , more then in the other bathes . the kings bath , as it is the hottest of all the bathes , so it is the fittest for very cold diseases , and cold and phleg●●●ck constitutions : and we have daily expe●●ence of the good effects it worketh upon pal●es , aches , sciatica's , cold tumors , &c. both by ●scuation , by sweat , and by warming the parts facted , attenuating , discussing , and resolving the mors . also in epilepsies and uterin affects in ●e scorbute , and in that kind of dropsie which ●t call anasarca . the hot bath is little infe●●r unto it , as next in degree of heat , and ●full in the same cases . the queens bath , ●d cross bath are more temperate in their heat , ●d therefore fittest for tender bodies , which are ●t to be inflamed by the other , and where ●●e is more need of mollifying and gentle ●ming , then of violent heat and much evacuam by sweat . and in these bathes they may dare longer without dissipation of spirits , then in the other : the queens bath is the hotter of the two , but temperate enough for most bodies . the cross bath is the coldest of all , as having but few springs to feed it : yet we observe it to supple , and mollifie more then the rest , both because they are able to stay longer in it , and because ( as i said before ) it seems to participate more with nitre , then the rest , which doth cleanse better , and gives more penetration to the other minerals . wherefore in contractions , epilepsies , uterin affects , convulsions , cramps , &c. this bath is very useful , as also in cutaneal diseases , as morphews , itch , &c. thus much for the nature and difference of our bathes , and the general use in bathing . they are used also to particular parts by pumping or bucketing , or applying the mud . pumping or bucketing are not used in that fashion , as we use them in any other bathes that i can learn , but only the duccia or stillicidium but i hold our fashion as good as that . the water comes more plentifully upon the part , and may be directed as the patient hath occasion . o●● bucketing hath been longest in use : but finding that it did not heat some sufficiently , being take● from the surface of the bath , we have of lat● erected pumps , which draw the water from th● springs or near unto them , so as we have it muc● hotter from thence , then we can have it by buc●keting . a worthy merchant and citizen 〈…〉 london , mr. humphrey brown , was perswade by me to bestow two of these pumps upon the kings and queens bath , whereby he hath do● much good to many , and deserves a thankfu● remembrance . the like also i procured to be done at the other bathes , although that of the crossbath is not so useful , by reason it wants heat , unless for yong children . also we have a pump out of the hot bath , which we call the dry pump , where one may sit in a chair in his cloaths , and have his head , or foot , or knee pumped without heating the rest of the body in the bath ; and devised chiefly for such as have hot kidneys , or some other infirmities which the bath might hurt . this we find very usefull in rheums , and cold brains , and in aches and tumors in the feet . for these pumps we are beholding unto the late lord archbishop of york , and to mr. hugh may , who upon my perswasions were contented to be at the charge of them . it were to be wished that some well disposed to the publick good , would erect the like at the kings bath ; † where , perhaps , it might be more usefull for many , in regard of the greater heat which those springs have . the lute of bathes is in much use in some places , where it may be had pure , both to mollifie , and to resolve , and to strengthen weak parts . but we make little use of it in our bathes , because we cannot have it pure , but mixed with strigments . in divers other places either the springs arise a good distance from the bathing places , or else there be other eruptions from whence it may be taken . but our springs arising in the bathes themselves , it cannot well be saved pure . besides , we have not those means of the heat of the sun , to keep it warm to the parts where it is applyed : so as growing cold , it rather does hurt then good . wherefore it were better for us , to use artificial lutes , as the antients did , of clay , sulphur , bitumen , nitre , salt , &c. or unguents of the same nature , as that which they call ceroma . but the best way is to referr the election of these remedies to the present physitian , who will fit them according to the nature of the grief . chap. xviii . in what particular infirmities of the body , bathing in the hot waters of bathe is profitable . to come more particularly to the use of bathing , we must understand , that there are many mineral waters fit for bathing , which are not fit to drink : as those which participate with lead , quicksilver , gypsum , cadmia , arsenick , &c. also those that contain liquid bitumen , are thought to relax too much : but those that proceed from dry bitumen are permitted , and prescribed in potion by paulus aegineta , and trallian : sulphur also is questioned , whether it be fit to be taken inwardly by potion , because it relaxeth the stomach , and therefore aetius forbids it : yet trallian allows it , and so do others , if the sulphur be not predominant . but for outward bathing there is no question to be made of these minerals , nor of any other which are not in themselves venomous . and whereas oribasius , aegineta , actuarius , &c. are suspitious of sulphur and bitumen for the head : they must be understood of hot distempers there , and not of cold rheumatick brains ; where by daily experience we find the profitable use of them , both by evacuation in bucketing , and by warming and comforting the cold part . and oribasius doth ingeniously confess , that the nature of these baths was not then perfectly discovered ; and therefore they were all held to be , not only dry , but very hot ; although we find them not all so : for iron waters do cool , and so do those of camphir , and alluminous , and nitrous waters also . but for our bituminous and sulphurous waters which galen forbids in hot brains , there is no reason to suspect them in cold affects of the brain and nerves , in which cases we make especial choice of all things , which either in tast or smell do resemble bitumen : as rue , castorium , valeriana , herba paralyseos , trifolium , asphaltitis , &c. which both by his warming quality , and by his suppling and mollifying substance , is most proper and convenient for those parts . the like i may say of sulphur , in which nothing can be excepted against , but his sharp spirit , which is made by burning : and we have none of that in our waters , nor i hope any fire to make it withal . the other parts of sulphur are hot and dry , and very unctuous . as for nitre , it cleanseth , purgeth both by stool and urine , and helpeth the incorporation of the other minerals with the water , and qualifies the heat of them , and gives them better penetration into our bodies . in regard of these minerals , together with the actual heat , we find that the bathing in our baths doth warm the whole habit of the body , attenuate humors , open the pores , procure sweat , move urine , cleanse the matrix , provoke womens evacuations , dry up unnatural humors , strengthen parts weakned , comfort the nerves , and all neutrous parts , cleanse the skin , and suck out all salt humours from thence , open obstructions , if they be not too much impacted , case pains of the joynts and nerves and muscles , mollifie and discuss hard tumors , &c. wherefore this bathing is profitable for all palsies , apoplexies , caros , epilepsies , stupidity , destuctions , gouts , sciaticaes , contractions , cramps , aches , tumors , itches , scabs , leprosies , cholicks , windyness , whites in women , stopping of their courser , barrenness , abortions , scorbuts , anasarcaes , and generally all cold and phlegmatick diseases , which are needless to reckon up . in all which cure● our baths have a great hand , being skilfully directed by the physitian , with preparation of the body before , and addition of such other helps as are needfull . and whereas without the help of such baths , these diseases could not be cured without tormenting the body , either by fire , of lancing , or causticks , or long dyets , or bitter and ungrateful medicines , &c. in this course of bathing , all is pleasant and comfortable , and more effectual than the other courses , and therefore it is commonly the last refuge in these cases , when all other means fail . i will not undertake to reckon up all the benefits which our baths do promise ; but if we had a register kept of the manifold cures which have been done by the use of our baths principally , it would appear of what great use they are . but as there is a defect in not keeping a catalogue of rare cures , so many persons of the better sort would be offended , if a physitian should make any mention of their cures or griefs : wherefore i must speak but generally . chap. xix . the manner of bathing , chiefly referred to the inspection and ordering of a physitian . yet some particulars touched concerning the government of the patient in and after bathing ; the time of day , of staying in the bath , of continuing the use of it , the time of the year . of covering the baths . now for the manner of bathing , i will not set down what the physitian is to do , but leave that to his judgement and discretion : but what is fit for the patient to know : for there are many cautions and observations in the use of bathing , drawn from the particular constitutions of bodies ; from the complication of diseases , and from many other circumstances which cannot be comprehended in general rules , or applyed to all bodies alike : but many times upon the success , and the appearing of accidents , the physitian must exre nat a capere consilium , and perhaps alter his intended course , and perhaps change the bath either to a hotter or cooler , &c. in which respect , those patients are ill advised which will venture without their physitian upon any particular bath , or to direct themselves in the use of it : and this is a great cause that many go away from hence without benefit , and then they are apt to complain of our baths , and blaspheme this great blessing of god bestowed upon us . it is fit for the patient when he goeth into the bath , to defend those parts which are apt to be offended by the bath : as to have his head well covered from the air and wind , and from the vapours arising from the bath : also his kidneys ( if they be subject to the stone ) anointed with some cooling unguents ; as rosatum comitissae , infrigidans galeni , santolinum , &c. also to begin gently with the bath , till his body be inured to it , and to be quiet from swimming , or much motion , which may offend the head by sending up vapours thither : at his coming forth , to have his body well dryed , and to rest in his bed an hour , and sweat , &c. a morning , hour is fittest for bathing , after the sun hath been up an hour or two ; and if it be thought fit to use it again in the afternoon , it is best four or five hours after a light dinner . for the time of staying in the bath , it must be according to the quality of the bath , and the toleration of the patient . in a hot bath , an hour or less may be sufficient : in a temperate bath , two hours . for the time of continuing the bath , there can be no certain time set down , but it must be according as the patient finds amendment , sometimes twenty daies , sometimes thirty , and in difficult cases much longer . and therefore they reckon without their host , which assign themselves a certain time , as perhaps their occasions of business will best afford . for the time of the year , our italian and spanish authors prefer the spring and fall ; and so they may well do in their hot countreys ; but with us , considering our climate is colder , and our baths are for cold diseases ; i hold the warmest moneths in the year to be best ; as may , june , july , and august , and i have persivaded many , hereunto who have found the benefit of it ; for both in our springs , and after september our weather is commonly variable , and apt to offend weak persons , who finding it temperate at noon , do not susp ct the coolness of the mornings and evenings . likewise in the bath it self , although the springs arise as hot as at other times , yet the wind and air beating upon them , doth do them much harm , and also make the surface of the water much cooler than the bottom : and therefore clauidinus wisheth all baths to be covered , and fall●pius finds great fault with the lords of venice , that they do not cover their bath at apono . we see also that most of the baths in europe are covered , whereby they retain the same temperature at all times . and it were to be wished that our queens bath , and cross-bath , being small baths , were covered , and their slips made close and warm . by this means our baths would be useful all the year , wh●● neither wind and cold air in winter , nor the sun in summer should hinder our bathing . moreover , for want of this benefit , many who have indifferently well recovered in the fall , do fall back again in the winter before the cure be perfectly finished : and as this would be a great benefit to many weak persons , so it would be no harm to this city , if it may be a means of procuring more resort hither in the winter time , or more early in the spring , or more late at the fall. i desire not novelties , or to bring in innovations , but i propound these things upon good grounds and examples of the best baths in europe , and so i desire to have them considered of , referring both this point , and whatsoever else i have said in this discourse , to the censure of those who are able to judge . i do purposely omit many things about the virtues and uses of our baths , which belong properly to the physitian , and cannot well be intimated to the patient without dangerous mistaking . for as galen faith , our art of physick goes upon two legs , reason and experience ; and if either of these be defective , our physick must needs be lame . experience was first in order : per varios usus artem experientia socit , exemplo monstrante viam . from much experience , th' art of physick ●●●e , directed by example to the same . reason followed , which without experience , makes a meer contemplative and theorical physitian . experience without reason , makes a meer emperick , no better than a nurse or an attendant upon sick persons , who is not able out of all the experience he hath , to gather rules for the cure of others . wherefore they must be both joyned together : and therefore i refer physitians works unto physitians themselves . finis . an appendix concerning bathe : wherein the antiquity both of the bathes and city is more fully discours'd ; with a brief account of the nature and vertues of the hot waters there . by tho. guidott , m. b. practising at bath . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pythag. apud stob. serm. . nunc te marmoreum protempore fecimus : at tu , si fatura gregem suppleverit , aureus esto : virg. ecl. london ; printed for thomas salmon book-seller , living in bath . . to my honoured and learned friend , john maplett , doctor in physick . sir , having bad the happiness in a strange place to light on so good an acquainance as your self ( whose sober , candid , and ●npassionate temper receives an additional ● its native lustre from the perfunctory , disbliging , and illiterate genius of others : ) i ●ould not but take the first opportunity to te●ifie my respects ; and the rather , because having fallen on a subject in which you may claim some right ; i thought it not safe to enter your ground without your leave . besides , we are told by solinus ( whose assertion admits a further probability from the epithetes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 &c. given her by pausanias , plutarch , aristides , mentioned also in hesychius , suidas , harpocration , and others , of which i have * elsewhere more largely treated in another language , that minerva was formerly the patroness of these baths ; and what fitter person could i find out to address this brief discourse of baths unto , than him . — tritonia pallas , quem docuit , multaque insignem reddidit arte . i have joyntly discours'd of the baths and city , which seem to me to resemble the two parts of a compositum , body and soul : and as there is a more than ordinary respect due to the body , on the account of its being the case and cabinet of that pearl of great price , out more noble and diviner part , the soul ; so i thought it my concern to make some reflections on the city also , as well as the waters , by which i think it doth in some measure appear , that it cannot justly be said of the baths , what was once of the wit of galba the roman emperour lodg'd in a deformd body , that they have a bad habitation . if i have not here drawn the baths to the life , it may be considered that it was intended only for a rough draught , and ( what is more ) that i had not your pensil . the thing it self , as to the composure of it , is the hasty product of less than daies , and those too in the middest of , and stollen from my other employments ; what therefore is wanting now , i hope hereafter to supply . in the mean time , sir , i humbly offer to your kind acceptance this small acknowledgement of my real respects , as to one whose higher se●so● with academical studies , together with the helps and advantages of travel , hath made a pillar of your faculty , which your courteous dispos●ion and civil deportment , hath so nearly polish'd that you seem to have attain'd , if we believe the poet , the utmost perfection , having in you that which doth at once , both delight and profit . as for those that are meer husks and outsides of physitians , that desire to be thought to be what they are not , and are nothing less than what they seem to be ; whose empty heads serve for no other use than rattles , only to make a pretty noise to please children , whose mouths also are open sepulchres , and they themselves little better than painted ones . non tali auxilio , nec defensoribus istis , &c. we may well spare , or rather not spare them , as being not the true sons , but the by-blows of aesculapius . sir , i beg your pardon for giving you this trouble , and assure you , that i am your very affectionate friend , and humble servant , thomas guidott . bath , oct. . . the contents . chap. i. of the antiquity of the bathes of bath● genealogie of bladud , and time when he liv'd , contemporary to the prophet elias . these baths not discovered by julius caesar . names of bath , bathancester , hat bathan , akmanchester , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aquae solis , badiza examind . brittish names , yr ennaint , caer badon , caer palladdur , minerva patroness of bath , nechams verses . chap. ii. of the antiquity of the city of bath , and things relating thereunto . bath called first caer blaeidin , afterwards caer bath , and badon : when inhabited . coill and edgar , ( whose statues stand at the end of the council house ; ) who , and when they flourish'd . bath besieged by the saxons ; relieved by king arthur . offa's church , hospitals , free-school . the author of the history of the worthies of england censured , and some of his mistakes discovered . chap. iii. of the church of saint peter and paul. an account of the church of saint peter and paul in bath , from its first foundation to the time it was finish'd : a latin poem on the same subject , written to bishop mountague , with the answer of the bishop . chap. iv. of the roman antiquity of bath . roman antiquities of bath divided into three sorts : an enumeration and explication of them . many read , and understood otherwise than by mr. cambden . some additions . roman coins . chap. v. of the nature and virtues of the baths . bathes of bath much of the nature of the thermae aquenses in germany : certain parallels between bath and akin . bladud , and the baths vindicated . chap. vi. of the baths in particular here. of the three hotter baths ; namely , the kings , queens , and hot bath ; but chiefly of the kings , and in what distempers bathing therein is profitable . chap. vii . of the cross-bath , and its virtues . a brief discourse of bath . chap. i. of the antiquity of the baths of bath . genealogie of bladud , and time when he lived . contemporary to the próphet elias . these baths not discovered by julius caesar . names of bath ; bathancester , hat bathan , akmanchester , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . aquae solis ; badiza examin'd . brittish names , yr ennaint ; caer badon , caet palladdur . minerva , patroness of the baths . minerva's temple in bath . nechams verses . i shall not here treat of the antiquity and nature of baths in general , nor put you in mind of the pool of bethesda , or river of jordan , but intending a brief discourse concerning bath , both as to the city , and hot waters there , shall , without any further preface , begin with the waters , afterwards proceed to the antiquities of the city ; and last of all , give a taste of the nature and virtues of the baths . that the baths , or hot waters of bath in somerset-shire , are of great antiquity , cannot be doubted by any one who hath in the least cast an eye on antient records . many are the opinions and conjectures about the time of their discovery , which i shall as briefly as i may examine . and because there is very frequent mention made of king bladud , and the prophet elias , the one as the founder , the other as being discovered in his time : i think it may be for the satisfaction of some , if i give a particular account who this bladud was , and upon what score the prophet came to be concern'd in this business . the substance of which i take out of a latine manuscript intituled brutus abbreviatus , being an epitome of a larger history , not concerning my self much in the truth of the relation , but leaving it to the judgements of those that shall peruse it , to determine of it as they shall think fit . my rise i must take from brutus , who after the destruction of troy , is said to have come into this island , then called albion , about the year before our saviours nativity . where finding none but gigantick inhabitants possessing the hills , and seeing a fruitful soil , and full of delights , was pleased one day to call his company together to offer a solemn sacrifice to diana , by whose guidance and direction he had lighted on so pleasant an island . but as they were all at meat , thirty mighty giants came down upon them , and in a short time slew as many of brutus his men , yet were all afterwards quell'd by brutus and the surviving company , except one that was greater than the rest , whose name was gogmagog . now brutus had a companion related to him called corineus , who being not only like saul from the shoulders upwards , but from the waste higher than his brethren , was designed to undertake gogmagog , in which combat gogmagog brake two of corineus his ribs , who notwithstanding grasping the giant in his arms , wasted him along the sea-side , and threw him down a precipice , where he was dashed in pieces , whence that place now bears the name of gogmagog's leap . on this corineus , brutus bestowed the adjacent countrey , which he after his own name , called cornwall . for the first arrival of brute was at totness in devonshire , so named quasi tout en ease , i. e. totus in quiete , from the great delight and recreations that place afforded . afterwards , finding a more fruitful and noble place on the thames , built there a city years before that of rome , which he called the city of new troy , in memory of that troy whence he and his progeny came : and having reigned here years , he dyed , and was honourably buried at new troy , or troia nova , now london . brutus had three sons , loegrius or lo●rinus , albanactus , and camber , between whom he parted this island , viz. the northern part , to wit , scotland , he gave to albanactus ; the southern part wales , to camber ; and england to loegrius . after some time , humbardus king of humlandia , came into scotland with a great army , and slew albanactus ; which his two brethren , locrinus and camber hearing of , came with a considerable force to find him out , and coming upon him whilst he was making merry , put him so to it , that having no way to escape , he drowned himself in the river humler , to which he gave name . humbardus had a daughter called estrilda , whom locrinus having taken captive in a ship , had a mind to make his wife , although he was before married to gwenthlea daughter to corineus , which accordingly he did , and left gwenthlea . gwenthlea being thus repudiated , returned into cornwall , and as heiress to her fathers right , took possession of all the places there , and received homage from the inhabitants ; and raising an army in her own defence , made war upon her husband locrinus , cut off him with his army , and took prisoners estrilda and her daughter avana ; and drowning them in the river severn , caused her self to be crowned queen . she had one son by locrinus , named mahan , whom when he was of age , she made king , her self retiring into cornwall , died there , and was interred with great pomp and magnificence . mahan , the son of locrinus and gwenthlea , had two sons , memprice and manlinus , who fell out about the crown . manlinus treacherously slaying his elder brother memprice , aspired to the throne , a wicked and lewd man , who sharing with cain in the sin of murdering his brother , partook also with him in his punishment , in being a vagabond , dying wandring too and fro in the woods and deserts . ebranc the son of manlinus succeeded his father , and with great rejoycings was crowned king , a prudent and valiant man , who conquered france , and with treasure brought thence , built the city , eboracus or york , bearing his own name : he built also the castle called maiden-castle , now edenburgh . by several wives he had sons , all slout and war-like lords , and his daughters stately ladies . he reigned years . after the death of ebranc , the government of the kingdom was devolved on his son bentgrevestheld , a wife man and good souldier , who built the town carlyle , where after he had reigned years , he was buried . in his time solomon governed in jerusalem , to whom came the queen of sheba , sibilla by name , to understand his wisdome , and those things that were spoken of him . ludhudebras after the decease of his father bentgrevestheld , built the city of canterbury and winchester , and was buried at winton . bladut the son of ludhudebras was next in succession , a great necromancer , who as 't is said in his acts , made the hot waters in bath by the art of magick . but this is rather to be ascrib'd to nature , since there are baths in other places hotter than these : but i have read , that when the prophet elias desired it mignt rain , then three springs of hot water arose in that city , useful for the cure of diseases of men . he had a son named leir , who built leycester . thus far the author of the manuscript , whose rougher latine phrase , i have smoothed what i could , by a paraphrastical version . from what hath been delivered may be collected that bladut ( or bladud as he is commonly called ) was the eighth king of the britains from brute , and that his line was thus . brute , locrinus , mahan , manlinus , ebranc , bentgrevesheld , ludhudebras , bladut . now brute being said to have come hither years before christ , allowing to the seven preceding kings ( of which some reigned more , some less ) thirty years a piece for their reign , one with another , it follows that bladud lived near years before christ was born . he is sometimes called blaeydin cloyth , that is blaeydin the magician . as to the prophet elias , the time when he desired rain , falls out to be according to computation , in the year of the world . nine hundred , and some odd years before christ ; so that this prophet and king bladud were contemporaries , and the antiquity reaches no higher on the account of the later opinion then the first . and this is the highest pitch of antiquity i find assigned to the bathes ; as for the periods asserted by others , they come much short of both the former ; some ascribing their inventions to julius caesar , fifty years , or thereabouts , before christ , which the learned antiquarian , † mr. 〈◊〉 , thinks not so probable , because solinus , who lived in the time of titus vespasian , years after , or years after christ , was the first of the romans that made mention of them . to which may be added , that perhaps julius caesar came not so far up in the land. for whatever some flattering poets and historians may faconiously deliver ; certain it is that julius caesar made not so great a conquest here , as some do imagine . whence tacitus writes , that he discovered only , not delivered unto the romans , britain . his words in the life of julius agricola , are these : primus omnium d. julius cum exercitu britanniam ingressus , quanquam prospera pugna terruerit incolas , ac littore potitus sit , potest videri ostendisse posteris , non tradidisse , horace also calls the britan before augustus , untouch't . and mr. cambden faith , that it is so far off from being true , which patereulus reports , bis penetrata britannia à caesare , that caesar passed twice through britain , that he scarce made entry into it . for many years after this entrance of caesar , this island was left to the free government of their own kings , and used their own laws . the saxon names of bathancester , hat bathan , and akmanchester , are of later date , the saxons not arriving here till the time of theodosius the younger , about the year of christ , according to the most probable computation of venerable bede , . nay , the later name of akmanchester was not given till some few years after the year of christ , when from a mean condition , to which this city was then reduc'd by war , it again recovered strength and great dignity , and from the great concourse of diseased people , that came for cure , was called akmanchester , that is , the city of sickly folks . neither can their antiquity be much advanced by the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , or hot waters , in ptolomy ; aquae solis , or waters of the sun of antonine ; or badiza of stephanus , ( more recent then the former ) but that which seems to come the nearest to the forementioned opinion of bladud and elias , is the british names of y● ennaint , caer badon , and above all caer paladdur , that is the city of pallas , or minerva's water ; especially since solinus affirms minerva to have been the patroness of these bathes , of which no doubt , he writes in these words , in britain there are hot springs very curiously adorned , and kept for mens use , the † patroness of which is the goddess minerva : there being also a tradition that there was formerly a temple dedicated to minerva , where now the church of st. peter and paul , commonly called the abbey church , stands . i have read also in an author that wrote of these bathes almost years ago ; and the first that wrote any thing considerable concerning them ( dr. turner , in his discourse of the english , german , and italian bathes , making little better then a bare mention of them ) that the chief spring of bathe was in the church-yard then dedicated to minerva , and after constituted to the abbey of the monks of the order of st. benedict . erected first by blaeidin cloyeth , or bladudus magus that wife magician , a britain , the ninth king after brute , about the year of the world , according to the scripture account before the incarnation of christ † . helisaeus prophet then in israel , but although i have some reason to distrust this genealogie of bladud , which he , acccording to the custome of his countrey , drives as high as may be , even unto adam , making bladud the thirtieth man , in a direct line from him ; yet i cannot but in some measure , commend his chronologie , as being not much different from the account given before . and whereas he affirms bladud to have been the nineth king from brute ; i find , by comparing other histories , that leill ( if the same with him whom the author of brutus abr●viatus calleth leyr ) was not son to bentgrevesheld , but great grand-child , being son to bladud , his , that is bentgrevesheld , grand-childs son : and so leill , whom he maketh father to ludhudebras , not to come in before , but after bladud , as being his son , and he the ninth king from brute , and not his father . yet on the other hand , i must say thus much , that the name carlyle , a city said by the author i fellow , to be built by bentgrevesheld , dissonant from the custome of those times , wherein the founders usually called places after their own names , and many of those especially to which they added caer , doth somewhat incline me think there might have been one leill , son to bentgrevesheld , as some historians mention , and founder of that place ascribed to his father . however , the matter is not great whether bladud was the eighth king from brute , as my author supposes , or the ninth , or tenth , as others ; i inferring no more from the preceding history then this , that bladud lived near years before christ ; since of the exact time of his flourishing , more then by conjecture , by reason of the confusion and disagreement among historians touching the number , and succession of the kings , and time of their reign , we have no certain account . but to be as particular as i may , because some years passed between the birth of those seven kings mentioned before , and the begining of their reigns , and also because gwenthlea , or guendoloena , and leill , are said by other historians to have reigned years ( viz. the former , the later ) which are not there accounted for , the surer way will be to take our account from the year of the world. now brute being reported to have entred albion a.m. , and bladud to have begun his reign a.m. , the difference between these two numbers is which being taken out of ( the year before christ , in which brute came hither , answering to the year of the world ) the remainder will be ( the year before christ , answering to the year of the world ) so that according to this computation , bladud began his reign over the britains , just years before christ was born , and reigning years , died in the year ante christum , i know fabian the author of polychronicon , and others , differ somewhat in their chronologie concerning bladud from that i have given , but i look on this to be as probable as any . alexander necham a poet of our own , somewhat above years ago ( with whom , as to the antiquity of the bathes , dr. jorden contents himself ) wrote these verses on the bathes . bathoniae thermis vix praefero virgillanas , confecto prosunt balnea nostra seni , prosunt attritis , collisis , invalidisque , et quorum morbis frigida causa subest . praevenit humanum stabilis natura laborem , servit naturae legibus artis opus . igne suo succensa quibus data balnea fervent aenea subter aquas vasa latere putant . errorem figmenta solent inducere passim . sed quid ? sulphureum novimus esse locum . which i thus made english ; bathes bains with virgils i compare , usefull for antient folk they are ; bruis'd , weak , consum'd , as well as old . and in al griefs whose source is cold . nature mans labour doth prevent and art again serves her intent . there 's fire under-ground , some say , that thus makes bathes great pots to play . fancy doth often error breed . but what ? from brimstone these proceed . chap. ii. of the antiquity of the city of bath , and things relating thereunto . bathe called first caer blaeidin , afterwards caer bathe . when inhabited . coill and edgar ( whose statues stand at the end of the council-house ) who , and when they flourished . bathe besieged by the saxons ; relieved by king arthar . offa's church . difference between the mayor and covent . hospitals . free-school . the author of the history of the worthies of england censured , and some of his mistakes discovered . it is not i think , to be doubted , but that the bathes were before the city , and gave name to it : sick people , in all probability that came hither for relief , first making small cottages for their conveniences , which were afterwards improved into fairer buildings . so that now in this particular , there are few places in england that exceed it . that this place was built , or rather begun , by king bladud , is the opinion of some , and that he called it by his own name caer blaeidin , which sometime after came to be caer bathe . that it was inhabited in the time of the britains , at least years before christ , appears from the names they gave it of caer badon , and caer palladdur ( of which before ) unless it be said that these names might be given by some britains , in the romans or saxons time , which seems not to carry any great probability . nay , i find it recorded , that in the year ante christum . sisillus , or , after some . writers , sylvius brother of gurgustus , was made ruler over britain , and reigning years , was buried at caer badon , or bath . however , many roman monuments there are , inscriptions and images in the city walls , and elsewhere , ( of which chap. . gives a particular account ) which evidently prove its being frequented before the year of christs incarnation , about which time ( or as others account , ) the roman jurisdiction ceased in this island . the statues also of coill a british king , and edgar a saxon ( who are said to have given charters to this city ) placed at the end of the town-hall , or council-house , are arguments of its antiquity . coill ( that i may speak somewhat briefly of him ) was an earl in the time of asclepiades ( whom the britains after the death of lucius , being wearied out with a bloody intestine war , which lasted more than years , were at last conftrained to elect their king , ) about the year of our lord . afterwards aspiring to be greater , and building a town which from himself he called colchester ; asclepiades began to fear him , and raising an army , met him in the field , in which battle , aselepiades was slain , and shortly after coill chosen king , who governed the britains with a great deal of honour ; and having married his daughter helena to constantius , sent from rome into britain to demand tribute , not long after dyed , and was buried at colchester : yet some there are who ascribe the building of this town to coilus , son of marucis , and father of lucius , king of the britains , a. d. . edgar , one of the later kings of the saxons , bestowed on this city ( as mr. cambden reports ) very many immunities , the memory of which thing , even in his time , the citizens yearly with solemn playes , did celebrate . he was a stout man , and is said to have had none like him on this side arthur , bearing this stile about the year . the monarch of all albion ; or , as it is elsewhere more largely express'd , king of english-men , and of all the kings of the islands of the british ocean , and all the nations contained in britain , emperour and lord. a souldier he was in the camp of cupid as well as mars and is noted for this , that having a mind to estrilda the wife of athelwold , he placed him ( as david did uriah ) in the front of a battel against the danes , in the defence of york ; where athelwold being slain , edgar married his widdow , but was so severely check'd by saint dunstant , that he ever after lived a religions life ; and having reigned years , bid adieu to the world , and was buried at glastonbury . edgar began his reign about the year of christ . but was not crowned till years after , a.d. . which was done , according to some writers , at bath , to others at kingston by dunstan arch-bishop of canterbury ( who , some say , was banished at that time ) and oswald arch-bishou of york : his coronation was deferred , because of his impetuous inclinations to the female sex , and especially to one wilfride , who to avoid the kings caresses , took on her the habit of a nun , but in vain ; for he had his pleasure , and got on her a daughter named edith ; for which offence he was enjoyned seven years penance , and lived not long after his coronation . about the year , or years after their arrival here out of germany , the english saxons besieged this city , with whom king arthur fought a great battel on mons badonicus , now called bannesdowne , and slew so many of them , that they had little heart to make any further attempt for a considerable time , but left it to the quiet possession of the britains . ninnius writeth , that the of king arthur's battels against the saxons , was at the hill or town of bath , where many a one was slain by his force and might . bath was also in the time of king arthur , by whom it was relieved , besieged by cheldericus king of almain . the story as mine author relates it , was thus ; eodem rempore venit cheldericus , &c. at the same time ( speaking of the reign of king arthur ) came cheldericus a valiant king out of almaine , and landed in scotland with ships : arthur hearing of this at the siege of colegrin near york , left the siege , and coming to london , sent letters into britain the less , to king hoel his sisters son ; who in a short time came into england with a great army , and was met by arthur at winchester with great rejoycings . these two going both to nottingham ( which cheldericus had besieged , but not taken ) arthur came upon him unawares , and made a great slaughter among his men ; cheldericus himself fied into a wood , where arthux finding him , he swore , that if he and his souldiers were permitted to depart , he would never more for the future trouble his kingdom : arthur condescended hereto , but the wind proving cross when they were on the sea , they came back again , and landing at totness , did a great deal of mischief , destroying the countrey as far as bath . they of bath shutting their gates , made a stout resistance : but when this was known to arthur then in the marches of scotland he came to the relief of bath , fought with cheldericus , and discomfited his army , &c. yet in the year . on a strong siege , and strong battery by the saxons , it yielded , but afterwards grew into great repute , and got a new name , viz. akmanchester . not long after the year . ceaulmus king of the west saxons fought with the britains , and took from them the cities of bath , gloucester and worcester . a. d. . osbrich founded here a nunnery , and not long after , off a king of mercia built a church , both which in the time of the danish wars were demolish'd ; out of the ruines of those two arose the church of saint peter , in which edgar was crowned ( as is mentioned before ) but of the church , more in its place . this offa was brother to oswald , surnamed christianissimus , and is said to have spent much of his time at bath . offa ( saith the author of brutus abbreviatus ) frater oswaldi ; iste offa , multum morabatur bathoniae . in the time of edward the confessor , bath flourished exceedingly , the king having there burgers , and burgers of others ; the city paying tribute according to hides , which amounts to about yard land . in the reign of william rufus , robert mow-cambden . bray , nephew to the bishop of constance , sack'd br. p. . and burnt it . the industrious mr. prynne ( to whom i am obliged for some marginal remarks ) in his brevia parliamentaria rediviva , and fourth part of a brief register of parliamentary writs , hath given an account of citizens returned to serve in parliament for this city , ever since the th . year , of king ed. . about a. d. . it is also recorded , that in the year , in the time of h. . there arose a contest between the religious persons , john telyford prior , with his covent , and the mayor about ringing of the bells , which lasted some , years , but was aftewards composed , and brought to a good issue . in bath are three hospitals ( it self , indeed , being but one great one ) st. johns , bellots , and the bimburies , sometimes called st. katherines ; besides a free-school erected , ( as by the inscription over the door it appears ) in the time of king ed. . the hospital of st. johns was founded a. d. . by . reginald fitz joceline , a lumbard , bishop of bath and wells , and afterwards translated to canterbury , but before he was possessed of his new honour died , and was buried at bath . it was valued at the yearly rent of l. s . d . since which time its revenues are much encreased ; he gave it this name , as i suppose , from st. johns in the savoy , where he was consecrated bishop after his return from beyond sea , by richard arch-bishop of canterbury . where , by the way , i cannot but take notice that this hospital is said to be built by joceline of wells , and hugo bishop of lincolne in the late account of the worthies of england . in which history ( besides the confusion of joceline de wells , with reginald fitz , joceline ) the author is guilty ( that i may say no worse ) of many mistakes ; to give an instance or two instead of a larger catalogue that might be produc'd ; he affirms , that joceline of wells was the first man that fixed on the title of bishop of bath and wells , and transmitted it to all his successors , when 't is manifest out of bishop godwins catalogue of bishops , that robert bishop of wells was the man , the th . bishop of that see , and not joceline who was the . he writes also , ( which is a thing i confess of no great moment , but yet a mistake ) that the famous dr. harvey was never married , when his wife is mentioned by himself . and to instance in no more now ( because i would not digress too far ) he avers the same person , though living a batchellor , to have left behind him three children , which he calls his three books , viz. de sanguinis circuitu , de generatione , & de ovo ; whereas the doctor that ever i could find ( who possibly have made as diligent a search after the writings of that modest , ingenious , and ( however the ignorance and envy of some have endeavoured to traduce him ) learned physitian , ( whose memory i deservedly respect and honour ) as any other can , i say dr. harvey ( that ever i could understand ) never printed any thing besides his treatise of the circulation of the blood , and his exercitations concerning the generation of animals , the historian making two books of de generatione , & de ove , when indeed they are but one . i acknowledge he mentions many things intended for the publick ; as . exercitations about respiration of animals . . a treatise of the love , lust , and gendring of living creatures . . of nutrition . . medicinal observations . . physiologia , with some others , wherein no doubt that excellent person had made many rare and considerable discoveries , which we are so happy now to enjoy ; but that any thing else , save the two forementioned treatises , was permitted , or any other book de ovo , composed by dr. harvey , besides that de generations animalium ( wherein he ingeniously observes the primordium , or first beginning of all living creatures to be either an egg , or something analogical to it . ) i should be very glad to be informed . bellots hospital was built by thomas bellot esquire , one of the executors of the lord cecill , in the time of king james , of whom we shall speak more largely in the next chapter of the church , to which he was a great benefactor . as for the bimburies , i can learn no more concerning it , than this , that it was built by seven sisters , who left this hospital behind them , as a monument to posterity , both of their charity and name . chap. iii. of the church of saint peter and paul. an account of the church of st. peter and paul , in bathe , from the first foundation to the time it was finished . a latin poem on the same subject , written to bishop mountague , with the answer of the bishop . the church of st. peter and paul , commonly called the abbey church , as now it is , is a neat , and curious fabrick ; of which , that i may give some account , from its original , many periods , and great alterations it hath undergone , as far forth as my observation , information , and what records i have seen will reach . the first church i find mentioned since the temple of minerva , ( which some place here ) was that built by off a king of mercia , and brother to oswald ( of which before ) in the year after christ . which was afterwards destroyed by the danes , and in the year , re-edified by elphegus , who being a man of great parentage , and prior of glastonbury , left that place , and betook himself to bathe , where living a very strict and exemplary life , even to admiration , he was chosen abbot , and in the year bishop of winchester , and a. promoted to the arch-bishoprick of canterbury , in which time he new built this church , four years after his coming to that see. but the fabrick he erected stood not long ; for years after , or a.d. . both it , and almost the whole city , was consumed by fire , by robert mowbray , nephew to the bishop of constance , in the first year of william rufus . the next year following , viz. a.d. . appeared john de villula , a french-man , born at tours , and sometime practitioner in physick , or to speak more plain , an empirick ( such as now almost every place doth abound withall , we having just cause to renew the complaint made by hypocrates in his time , that there are now adays , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . many , by a sort of people , their own creatures , much admir'd , but what artists they are is easily to be said ) for the historian brands him with this character , that he was usu , non literis , medicus probatus , a man practised more by rote , then any great cunning , and if he chanced at any time to do any good , it was more to be attributed to the strength of nature , and his good hap , then to any art in the man , or accountable virtues in his medicines . this man however , although not for his reach in physick , was to be commended in this that he had a good liking to the abbey , and though a poor physitian , was a rich man , and a great benefactor to the church , which he building from the ground , and augmenting the revenues from a small mater to a considerable proportion , may seem to deserve the name of the first author , and founder of it . he lived not to see it finish'd , being prevented by death , which happened the th . of december , , and was buried at bathe , in the church he built . this john was bishop of wells , but upon some dislike † removed his episcopal chair to bathe , and was known by the title of bishop of bathe , renouncing that of wells , and bought this city of william rufus , ( or , as some say , h. . ) for marks , which continued in the bishops hands till the th . year of rich. . about a.d. . at which time saverick , first arch-deacon of northampton , afterwards bishop of bathe and wells , a german , and kinsman to the emperour , in order to the more speedy effecting his design of being bishop , to the performance of which , among other things , as conditions of the kings release , ( being taken prisoner by leopold arch-duke of austria ) the emperour had engaged him ) returned the possession of the city to king richard the first . in the year july , years after the death of john de villula , the church he lately built was consumed by fire , and re-edified by robert , a monk of lewes , born in normandy , but by parentage a flemming , then bishop of that see. he not only made good what the fire had destroyed , but carried on the work to a greater perfection . in the troubles between maud the l●mpress , and king stephen , he suffered a long and a close restraint at bathe , from the king , and after his enlargement , endeavoured an accommodation between the two churches of bath and wells , which had differed many years about the episcopal see , and at last , with consent of both parties , made this agreement , that the bishops hereafter should be called bishops of bathe and wells ; that each of them should by commission appoint electors , the see being void , by whose voices the bishop should be chosen ; and that he should be installed with both of these churches . the second of which articles was not long observed , for a.d. . in the th year of hen. . the monks of bathe , refusing to joyn with the chapter of wells , chose of themselves one † roger for bishop , which occasioned a long suit in law between the two churches , composed afterwards by the bishop , who died not long after , and was buried at bathe . the condition of which compos ; ition was this ; that they of wells must be satisfied for the present , and they of bathe promise performance of the agreement made by robert , for the future , which was done accordingly . this structure erected by robert , continued till the time of henry the th ; when oliver king , the d bishop after the union of bathe and wells , pulling down the old church built by robert , not john de villula ( which was burnt , as mr. cambden affirms ) began the foundation of a fair and sumptuous building , but left it , by reason of his death , whatever the lately mentioned historian relates , very imperfect . for besides the cost bestowed on it by cardinal hadrian de castallo , chosen bishop a. d , . which i think , was not great ; william bird , the last prior of the abbey , undertook it , and partly of himself , and partly by the help of others , almost brought it to perfection , when in a short time after the dissolution of religious houses ensuing in the time of henry the eighth , it was again demollish'd . in memory of this prior bird , there is in the chappel , on the south side of the quire , at the east end , a coat of armes in stone , a cheveron between three falcons , their wings and members-displai'd ; on a chief , a rose between two pretious stones , and for a crest a miter and crozier . and in the out-side of the chappel wall , southward , a w. and a bird. neither are there wanting memorials of the name of the foresaid oliver . for in the front of the church , on both sides , on a pillar , are placed two elephants about an olive tree , and an inscription engraven in stone under it , in allusion to the parable of jotham , of which this is part , trees going to chuse their king said , be to us the oliver king ( which in the late times caused some to suspect it for a prophesie ) with a miter over all . this oliver king was doctor of laws , of kings colledge in cambridge , principal secretary to three monarchs of this land , edward the th , edward the th , and henry the th . register of the knights of the garter , bishop of exeter , and thence translated hither , novemb. . . died jan. . . and is thought to lie buried at windsor , where he was sometime canon . the death of bishop king obstructed this structure ( as a reverend doctor is pleased to quibble ) so that it stood a long time neglected , which gave occasion to one to write on the church wall with a char-coal . o church i wail thy woful plight whom king , nor card'nal , clark , nor knight have yet restor'd to antient right . alluding herein to bishop king , who began it , and his four successors in years , viz. cardinal hadrian mentioned before , who sat bishop years , and was afterwards deprived of this , and all other promotions , for conspiring with some other cardinals , the death of pope leo the th . cardinal wolsey , who held the bishoprick in commandam four years , and was then translated to durham . bishop clark , who sate years , and died in the end of the year , being poysoned , as was supposed , in germany , when he went ambassadour to the duke of cleve , to give a reason of the kings divorce from the lady anne of cleve , his sister ; and bishop knight . these four contributing nothing considerable to the finishing thereof . also one cassadore , a popishly affected person , wrote a prophesie of this church , to be seen in fullers worthies , with what he thinks is the meaning of it . upon the dissolution of the abbey , the church was uncovered , the lead taken away , and the walls much ruin'd , and so continued for some time . but since its last demolition , in the reign of king henry the th , it hath thrice been attempted to be re-edified ; first in the time of queen elizabeth , by a general collection , by which the work was not much advanc'd . the second , in the beginning of the reign of king james , a. d. . in whose time it met with many benefactors ; the principal whereof to this second work was thomas bellot esquire , steward of the house , and one of the executors of the right honourable , william lord barkley , sometime lord treasurer of england , who made some entrance on this work in the reign of queen elizabeth , and last of all , about the middle of king james's reign it was finish'd and brought to perfection , as by the munificence of noble men , knights , gentlemen , and others , whose names are on record , so especially by the liberal hand of dr. james mountague , sometime bishop of this diocese , who at one time gave pounds toward its reparation , and lies buried in the body of the church , deceased july . . it appears also from the memorials of the church , that before the first of these three last attempts to repair it , there was little of the church standing , save the bare walls , and those too , in many places , much impaired , which being then , as it was , decayed in the hands of edmund colethurst esquire , was by him bestowed on the city , though uncovered , and much ruin'd , as it had long stood after the dissolution ; and therefore he bears the name of the principal benefactor to the first work . the particulars of the reparations , with the names , and sums of the benefactors from the time of queen elizabeth downwards ( which are not for me here distinctly to mention ) are recorded in a book kept for that purpose in the library belonging to the church , begun by bishop lake , and augmented by some others , but yet stands in need of the helping hands of more benefactors . and although i have said so much concerning this church already , yet i shall crave leave to add as a conclusion to this matter a poem , which accidentally came to my hands by the means of mr. john parker , citizen of bathe , a lover of antiquity , and my good friend ( to whom i acknowledge my self engag'd for the assistance he afforded me in my search after the antiquities of the the city ) found in the study among other papers , of that learned knight , sir john harrington , whether made by himself , as some imagine ( who well might do it , having a great genius to poetry , and called by dr. fuller , one of the most ingenious poets of our nation ) or some other , i know not ; written , and as it seems , spoken to bishop mountague , at his first coming to bathe , and sight of the church ; which i should have translated , but that the substance of it , as much as is necessary to be known for history , is contained in the foregoing account . however , to preserve it from perishing , and to gratifie the lover of antiquity , ( to whom i chuse rather to incur the censure of being prodigal , then any way nice , in with-holding any thing i think may deserve their acceptance ) i shall insert it here , in latin , as i found it . the title thus , conditionis variae ecclesiae sancti petri & pauli bathoniensis , a primis fundamentis , actis an . . ad annum decurrentem , . historico-poetica 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deque faelicissima ejusdem ecclesiae restauratione vaticinium . ad reverendissimum in christo patrem , jacob . providentia divina , dignissimum ecclesiae bathoniensis & wellensis episcopum , bathoniam primo faeliciter invisentem , & visitantem . macte , bonis avibus ; recidivi limino templi ( in christo reverende pater ) gratissimus intras . macte , sed haud pigeat prius aequa mente parumper pristina delubri perpendere fata miselli . temporis elapsi studio monumenta revolvens attento , invenies hujus fundamina templi , prima off am , priscum regem , jecisse ; secunda ephegum , regni primatem ; tertia tandem ( cum duo danorum rabies , ignisque priora vastasset ) sumptu posuit majore johannes de villa , natu gallus , non infimus artis professor medicae , wellensi ingratior aedi ; qui , postquam variis viguisset episcopus annis , sedem thermopolin cathedralem transtulit illinc . urbe hac , quingentis marcis , a rege coempta , pulchrius antiquis fanum construxit : at ipsum aevo combussit pariter jovis ira sequenti . structorem celebris misit normannia quartum , officio monachum , roberlum nomine , molem subversum toties qui restauravit ; & inter presbyteros , litem , de sedis honore , diremit , exornans titulis utramque aequalibus orbem . tandem post seriem numerosam , munificamque , infignis praesul pietate , vicesimus atque tertius , hunc sequitur ; qui faustum nominis omen , expressit factis , oliver king dictus , olivam et regem vere referebat , ad instar olivam pacis erat populo , simul ubertatis & author . at magis hoc retulit regalis munere regem , quippe opus incultum rodberti sustulit , atque illius , extemplo vice , fundamenta locavit , ista ; dedit solidis speciosa pleromata muris . tecta superstruxit sublimibus alta columnis , areolas soleis tongas substravit & amplas , omnia ad hanc pulchram structuras caetera formam , et fundis , dubio procul , instructurus opimus , morte immortales subito est arreptus ad arces . tantae molis erat tam clarum condere templum ! ne tamen his tantis perfectio debita caeptis deforet , huic operi colophonem attexuir , almus abbatiae rector gulielmus birdus , at eheu ! sanctis stare diu fatis ( proh fata ! ) negatum est . horrida de innocuis fertur sententia famis ; abbatiae pereunt , fpoliantur templa , rapinis tecta patent , reditus , fundi , sacraria ; quid non ? ( unde nefas tantum zeli fautoribus ? ) una iste , vel in cunis , insons discerpitur infans . impete diripitur violento haec fabrica ; praestant saxa , vitrum , plumbum , campanae , ac omnia praeter hoc miserum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 tantae at quae causa ruinae ? num pietatis amor an amor sceleratus habendi ? hic amor exitio est templis , templique ministris , hic amor extinxit clarissima lumina regni . nec sinit hic amor haec extincta resumere lucem , nemo bonum templi , templi bona quisque requirit . hinc haec cimmeriis , per tot , tam turpiter , annos , maxima lux urbis , latuit suppressa tenebris , sed pater omnibonus , cui provida cura suarum est , hanc piceam nuper , caelesti campade , noctem dispulit e multis sanctorum cordibus , unde accendere suo nostrum de lumine lumen . sic tamen , ut quivis magis hinc sibi luceat ipsi , ut tanto ad praesens reliquos veneremur honore , vivida quos totum celebravit fama per orbem , nobile bellotti sidus , sic emicat , omnes inter nutritios templorum jure colendos , plena velut stellis praefulget luna minutis . singula quae cernis pulchrae ornamenta capellae , area , porta , solum , subsellia , rostra , fenestrae , bellottum unanimi compellant ore parentem . bellottum sonitu reboat campana canoro , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sonant bellottum , balnea , vici , compita , bellotti jactant ad sidera noman , quod christi est cultor simul excultorque sacrorum . vaticinium . desine plura : sat est veterom , peragenda peractis succedant ; meliora bonis , majora minutis . auspiciis huc misse sacris ( sanctissime praesull ) sensibus hoec imis superum consulta repone , quae tibi fatidico dispandit carmine vates , laeta ruinoso proclamans omnia templo . quo decet , haenc specta , vultu , sine nube , sereno , faecundam laudum segetem sine fine tuarum . molliter ossa cubant offae , ac elphegl , oliveri rodberti , ac birdi , merito celebrentur honore ; debita bellotto reddatur palma benigno . pet-pius extento bellottus floreat aevo . non equidem invideo , laetormage , gratulor illi . quod si tam celebrem mereatur guttula laudem , praemia quae referet largos qui funditat imbres ? tantum at honorisico cedes , bellotte , jacobi , effuso tenuis quantum imbris guttula cedit . bellotti guttis rorata capella virescit , imbribus assiduis divi madefacta jacobi integra quam laetos diffundent templa racemos . nec tamen haec aqueo vitis cupit imbre rigari : aureolo hanc danaem saturabis , jupiter , imbre , hinc quae spreta diu languenti ecclesia morbo intabuit ; vitam , te te medicante resumit , ut redit infuso flaccescens vena lyaeo , hujus sint alii fautores , sydera , fani ; cynthia bellottus ; solus tu 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , apollo . haec tu vivifico reparabis membra calore ; haec tu magnifico decorabis tecta nitore . aspice surgenti laetentur ut omnia templo . grandaevum videor mihi prospectare jacobum , aspectus virtute tui , torpore solutum , atque reornato scandentem climate caelos . ut renovat vires , ut concipit aethera mente ; insuper alatos , ultroque citroque meantes coelicolas video , bona climacteribus illis nuncia portantes superis : ac gaudia divum inde renarrantes terris de praesule tanto ; teque cohortantes ( propria sat sponte citatum ) euge ! opus hoc mirae pietatis perfice praesul . te nempe ad decus hoc peperit natura , replevit dotibus eximii sdeus , ars perfecta polivit , in gremio reforet ter magni gratia regis : ditavitque bonis tanta ad molimina natis . huc opulenta tibi sua fundit viscera tellus , huc tua te virtus , sorte ancillante , propellit . euge l opus hoc mira pietatis perfice praesul● aggredere aeternos , servit tibi tempus , honores his petitur caelum scalis , hac itur ad astra . nec mora , fervet opus , structor , lapicida , peritus gypsator , sculptor , fustor , vitrarius : omnes artifices instant ardentes . moenia surgunt , dissita quae fuerant loca concamerantur erismis , extima plumboso velantur tegmine , pulchris intima caelantur laquearibus : omnia miris sunt decorata modis : respondent omnia vatis . nec deerunt mystae , celebrent qui sacra , frequentes . sed numerosa brevi totam quae compleat aedem . pompa sacerdotum , psalmodorumque decano producente chorum , cantabit grata jehovae cantia , tantorum fonti , authorique bonorum . haec mihi praesagit meus non ignara futuri . corpore ( quis neget hoc ? ) specioso haec templa jacobus donavit praesul ( pia nam decreta bonorum aequivalent factis ) animam rex ipse jacobus ( hoc quoque quis dubitat ? ) tribuet . deus alme jacobi , decretis benedic factisque utriusque jacobi : o fortunatam nimium , bona si tua noris , thermopolin , tali fruenis quae praesule , rege l funde deo summas ex imo pectore grates , et cola , perpetuo pietatis honore , jacobos . quo pede caepisti , praesul dignissime , pergas . episcopi responsio . cupivi dilu has ruinas , & haec rudera videre , & contemplari , has vero ruinas , & haecrudera videre , & contemplari jam dolet . ingrediar tamen , sed hoc animo , ut nunquam hoc more sim reingressurus , priusquam isthaec melius tecta videro . the bishops answer . i have long desired to see and contemplate these ruines and rubbish , and now it grieves me to behold them . however , i will enter , but with this intent , never to re-enter , till i see them better cover'd . chap. iv of the roman antiquities of bathe . roman antiqulties of bathe divided into three sorts . an enumeration and explication of them many read , and understood otherwise , then by mr. cambden . some additions . roman coins . the roman antiquities , inscriptions and images , in the walls and elsewhere of this city , were taken notice of by mr. cambden at his being here , and inserted into his britannia : yet because some alterations have hapened to some of them since his time , and others seem to me to be read and understood otherwise , then he hath there represented them ( not to mention what i have added , not to be found in him ) i shall give a brief account , and what explication i can , of them all , in order as they stand . i shall distribute them into three sorts . tbo●● that are between the south and west gates , those that are between the west and north gates ; and those in the garden , formerly robert chambers's , now belonging to william burvurd . the first , of the first fort we meet withall , ( not taken notice of by mr. cambden ) is the draught of a great face , ( which yet i cannot affirm to be truly roman ) about a foot in bredth , and near as much in length , much resembling the moon , as it is usually drawn . whether this was a memorial of the idoll of some pagan ( which it not very likely ) or rather set up in memory of some gyagntick person , whose parts were proportionable to this face ( which is more probable ) i know not . sure i am that england hath had those sons of anack as well as other countries , as , besides histories , the prodigious bones digged up in several places thereof , do witness ; and particularly ( seeing we are apt to suspect things done many years ago , relations of this nature being not like pictures , quibwè longinquo reverentia major ) the entire bones of a man of unusual dimensions , found not years since , in glocester-shire , in a field , between over , and thornbury , do sufficiently evince . this sceleton ( as i heard it related by a credible author , who had it from an eye-witness ) was inclosed within the body of a massie stone , so artificially cemented together , that the joynts were indiscoverable . in the middle thereof ( as it were in a vault ) sate the bones of two persons , one very great , and the other less . the scull of the greater was half an inch thick , and the ulna , as big as the gentlemans wrist , who saw it ( who yet is a corpulent man , and hath none of the least ) and as long as from his shoulder to his fingers ends . there were inscriptions also , and some coins , both silver and brass , about , and in it , but what they were , i cannot yet learn , having not hitherto had the opportunity to see either the one , or the other . since the relation of the former person , having occasion lately to ride into that part of gloucester-shire , where the bones were found , i received a confirmation of it from two of the sons of the gentleman , in whose ground , and at whose great charges , they were discoverd , the father being dead some fout years since ; only with this difference , that whereas the former relator intimated the bone , mentioned before , to be the ulna , or the radius , they apprehend it rather to be to the os humeri , or bone from the soulder to the elbow , which they affirmed to have been as long as from the elbow of any ordinary man to his fingers ends , or the length of that bone usually and half the ulna or radius . also , that both the sceletons were of extraordinary dimensions but one bigger then the other , & not both in one sepulch●e or vault , but two distinct ones , distant about yard each from other . the vault of the greater was not above five foot long , in the form , ( according to their resemblance ) of a jews-harp , narrow at the feet , and broader about the seat : so that this body must sit , being judged by some intelligent persons that saw it , to have been a man of nine foot in heighth . the other was longer , and the bones supposed to lie at length , yet very little within the ground ; having both great stones about and over them , in the manner of a tomb. after i had received their information , they were pleas'd for my further satisfaction , to accompany me to the place , about a quarter of a mile from their house , in an inclosure , hard by the high-way side , now made meadow ground , where i saw one stone , which was at the entrance of the vault of the greater sceleton , standing in the same place it was first set , about foot above the ground ; to which the other stones did answer : so that the length being five foot , and the heighth four , confirms the conjecture of the stature of the body mentioned before . the tomb-stone that lay over the greater person , of an uneven , and ( as i may term it ) mazzardy surface , was so vast and weighty , that it was a business of great difficulty and labour to remove it ; of a grayish colour without , but reddish within , and in many places studded with a bright shining stone , somewhat resembling the stones ot st. vincents rock near bristow . i cannot understand by them there were any inscriptions , and but two or three coins , one having a falcon ( as they called it ) which might be a roman eagle ; another a caesars head , with a wreath of lawrel about it , supposed to be the head of claudius the emperour . the common report there is , that it was the tomb of off a , king of mercia , who yet was one of the middle kings of the saxons , and lived neer years alter the romans departed out of britain , of whose extraordinary stature , i know no historian that takes any notice . it seems to have been a golgotha , or common place of burial , in those times , the ground thereabouts , in a round , or rather an oval figure , for neer half an acre , affording great plenty of other bones , and the place bearing the name of bone-hill . the time of it's discovery was about the year . whether this great person were a roman , or a saxon , is not very easie to determine ; if a roman , 't is much they should here , contrary to their common custom , both preserve the bones , and leave no inscription , and if saxon , 't is as different to solve the phaenomenon of the roman coins , being hot accidentally found among other rubbish , but in the sepulchre it self . however , whether roman , saxon , or other , which i shall not at this time any further dispute , it is enough for my present purpose that it was a body of more then ordinary dimensions , and exceeding the heigth of an ordinary man in those times by foot , that is higher by the half then most men now . . a foot-man with a spear . . a foot-soldier brandishing his sword , and bearing out his shield . . two kissing and clipping one another , which by the crook in the right hand of one , seems to be the remembrance of the kindness of a shepherd to his mistris . . a naked man laying hold of a soldier , which may represent an insulting roman , apprehending a poor , distressed , and captivated britain . . upon a stone , with letters standing overthwart , this inscription : ilia ilia this seems to have been part of the monument of some strumpet , ilia , if i erre not in my conjecture , being the relict of ivlia , wife to sèptimus severus , of whose lewdnes aelius spartianus gives an account in the life of that emperour ; and ilia to be understood of ilia the mother of romulus , concerning whom ( omitting ovid , juvenal , and others ) that make mention of her chastity ) i shall content my self with the single testimony of horace , who brings in lydia , his courtezan , making him this reply ; dones non aliae magis arsisti , neque er at lydia post chloen , multi lydia nominis romana vigni clarior ilia , id est , whil'st to thee none else was dear and thou to me didst not prefer , cloe , then i great of name did outstrip the roman dame. vibia ivcvnda h. s. e. it being by them accounted somewhat absurd , that those who had so great a name whil'st they liv'd , should be destitute of one , when dead . another thing that inclines me to this opininion also , is , a hare , a venereous creature , and embleme of lust : witness that question in the comaedian , tute lepus & : pulpamentum quaeris ? unto which these letters were formerly annexed ; for in mr. cambdens time it was here running , but since this light-foot is run quite away . . two roman heads , one within the cope of the wall , and another in the outside thereof , hard by , whereof that within the cope of the wall , hath an ear standing up , somewhat like the ear of horse . iii. vs . isa. is . vxsc. . as for medusa's head , with hair all snakes , i cannot upon the best , enquiry i can make , find it out , unless mr. cambden meant that little image close by the west-gate , which seems now rather to be one , with hands listed up , and meeting above the head , as it were rejoycing . . neither doth ophiucus occur to me , which i am apt to think that learned antiquarian , in haste , might mistake , for something between the loving couple and the naked man , like a rose , with a branch about it , resembling a serpent . vrn iop . . the next is a monument of one of the children of two romans , mulus & victisarina , with a longer , and exactly roman inscription , in a sepulchre table , between two little images , whereof the one holds the horn of amalihaa , the other flourisheth a banner . the inscription which i read somewhat different from mr. cambden , is this : d m svcc : petroniaevix ann. iii.m.iii.d.ixv.to mvlvs·etvictisarina : fil. kar·fec : i.e. to the dead ghost of succ. petronia , who lived years moneths , and daies , mulus & victisarina , in memory of their dear child , made this . what that eo at the end of the second line is , unless put for et mo , and signifies et moritur , i cannot at the present conjecture . . hercules bearing his left hand aloft , with a club in his right hand . yet i leave it to others to judge , whether it may not something resemble one of those little images mentioned but now . . the last i observe , and neerest to the north-gate , is a memorial of a roman senator of the colony of glocester , a city built by the romans , who also placed there a colony called colonia glevum . the inscription after this manner . dec . coloniae glev. vixit an. lxxxvi i.e. decurioni coloniae glevi , vixit an. . yet in the stone , after the figures lxxx . i observe a q , in this sort , lxxx●vi . which seems to be without some signification . if i may be allowed the liberty of a conjecture , i suppose it might be put for quluque , and ought to be read lxxx●vinq . there being room enough for , and as it were the marks of two other letters , n and q , and the party aged , not . and whereas i render decurio a senator , i pitch on this signification of the word , as most proper here , of which rosenus gives the reason ; senatores in coloniis , ut etiam in municipiis , decurionos vocabantur , eam ob causam , quod pomponio ●c . auctore , decima pars corum qui deduocrentur , publici consilii gratia , sit solita conseribi . i know festus mentions another , and more usual signification of the word , to wit , an officer over ten horse-men . decuriones , inquit , appellantur , quis denis equitibus praesunt ; of which , if any one please to understand it , he shall have my leave . . as for leaves folded in , and hercules streining two snakes , i cannot be so fortunate yet , ( though my search hath been particular ) to light upon it . the antiquities in the garden are only two inscriptions in two grave-stones , with their urns : the one an epitaph of cains murrius , of the tribe called arniensis , ( the tribe among the romans , so called from arnus , a river in tuscany , as car. sigonius , and on. panvinius relate ; a modest pleader in the julian court , a souldier of the second legion , and continuing in pay years . the inscription as follows . c. murrivs c. f. arniensis foro . ivli. mo destvs . mil leg . ii. ad. p. f. ivli. secvndi . an. xxv . st●● h ● . the other , an epitaph of marcus valerius , a latin , ( for so i read , and not eatinus , as mr. c. a souldier of augustus his legion ( if not the xx ) years of age , and years in pay . the true copy thus : dis . manibvs mvalerivs . m. sol. latinvs . c. eq miies . leg . monogram resembling v imposed on inverted v an. xxxv . stipen . xx. h· s· e· where it may be noted by the way , that this man had some favour to be admitted at years of age , when as the usual time of listing souldiers was not till . also , whether c. eq . be to be read , as some would have it , cohortis equitum , i somewhat doubt , the copia pedestres , or foot , commonly among the romans , being divided in cohortes , manipulos & centurias , the equestres , or horse , in turmas & decurias . many roman coins are also found in these parts two of which i have by me , digged up at walcott ( whence the two last inscriptions came ) in the same house with the inscription of vibia before-mentioned . the one neer years old , being a brass-piece of vespasians , in which all the letters on the face side are decayed , except aes . ves , and some marks of pas . on the reverse , pietas augusti ( as i think ) the three former letters of pietas being very obscure ) with an image between s c. signifying senatus consultum . the second , some years after , bearing the name of carausius , who in the time of dioclesian and maximian emperors , took upon him the imperial ensigns , and seized britian . the circumscription thus : c. caravsivs p.f. avg. on the other side , pax avg. and under an image , mlxx. which i suppose to be the year ab hrbe condita . chap. v. of the nature , use , and virtues of the baths . baths of bath much of the nature of the thermae aquenses in germany . certain parallels between . bath and akin bladud in some measure vindicated . i come now to speak something of the nature , use , and vertues of the baths . and here it cannot be expected i should say much , because my experience of them as yet hath been but little , and the observations i have made seem fitter , ( as they are intended ) for a foundation to a greater work , ( which time , and variety of experiments must compleat ) then , at the present to be communicated to the publick . and to make some compensation for my brevity in this thing ( which is justly deemed the most material of all other ) i shall take the boldness to engage , as soon as time and opportunity shall permit , to make a through search into the cause of the heat , nature , and efficacious operations of the baths , and perhaps give a more satisfactory account of the former , than yet hath been given by any ; and for the later , i shall not build on the hay and stubble of the talk and relations of persons byass'd and concern'd , but on the solid basis of reason , observation and experience . in the mean time , as i would not seem ridiculous to some , treating too largely of what i have not yet made a clear inspection into , so i would not be accounted absurd by others , in wholly waving the principal part of my subject . to offer then a course bit to the eager appetite , till time shall favour us with a better treat ; i conceive that the baths of bath come very neer the nature of the aqueuses in germany , the knowledge of which may be a great help to the better understanding of our own . i shall therefore , out of the succinct , but pithy discourse of these waters , composed by the learned and judicious physitian fran. fabritius ruremundanus , sometime physitian there , take notice of some parallels between that place and bath , in which , besides many pretty remarkable coincidences , the nature of the countrey , and parts adjacent , is in some measure discovered . the first is , that histories relate , that the hot waters there were found out by a prince , one granus , brother , as t is said , to nero the roman emperor ; who first discovering these baths , among the mountains and woods , built a castle , and dwelt there , of which , in the authors time , there was a monument standing , called turris grani. secondly , that the city was called by the name of the waters , to wit , aquae granis , which some improperly call aquisgranum . ab incolis aquoe grani appellatae sunt , cum thermae , tum locus ipse , deducto scil . nomine ab aquis calidis , & grano repertore , mansitque appellatio postea & urbi , nisi quod quidam non satis apte immuta inflexione , aquisgranum appellent . the inhabitants saith ruremundanus , call the place , as well as the waters , aquae grani , by a name drawn from the hot waters , and granus the founder , which name afterwards the city had , but that some , not so properly , changing the termination , call it aquisgran . thirdly , that the city is sita in valle , & monlibus circumquaque cincta , seated in a bottom , and encompassed about with hills . that the hills ( besides wood for fire and timber ) contain quarries of stone for building . that cold springs arise within & without the city in great abundance . that at some distance off is found lead , and a bituminous earth , which mine author calls terra nigra , foco culinaria aptissima . that in the city are two chief bathes , the one called the kings , the other the cornelian . in the suburbs , not far from the south gate , are more hot springs , called , from the abundance of hogs that are there about , the porcetan bathes , which being not so powerfull as the rest , are less used . and lastly , that i may mention something that would be advantageous to both , and both do want , viz. a navigable river , which saies rurem . would compleat its happiness . nibil , inquit , ad faelicitatem deesse videtur , quam navigabilis fluvius . now to give you the counter-part of the parallel : 't is obvious to observe , that to the first corresponds the history of king bladud , which seems not to be so fabulous , as many men imagine . for , probably , many relations we have of persons , and things , and of those elder times , when ignorance so much prevail'd , and men had little subtilty in their actions , and less politeness in their speech , may have much of truth in them , though they now seem odd , and rediculous to us . and i am apt to think , that many old realities do suffer much , on no other account then to the temper , and genius of those times . just as 't is reported of some old women in lancashire , that they go for witches , meerly because they look like such . not considering , that a great deal less time then years , hath made considerable alterations , in the manners , lives , and customs of men . and whereas king bladud had the name of a magitian , i look upon it as a greater argument of his more then ordinary learning , then note of reproach , the wisest men in those times , and long after to , being reputed such , and he recorded a wife and eloquent philosopher , and mathematian , accomplish't ( as the times then would bear ) with treasures of forrein , and domestick knowledge , having spent in study , ( as is reported ) besides many , doubtless , afterwards , in his own countrey , eleven years in his minority , at athens , of whom that you may receive a more particular account , i shall not think much to give you the english of what j. bate in his book de scriptoribus anglicis , writeth of him . bladud surnamed the magician , the th king of the britains , was sent in his youth , to the famous city of athens in greece , there to be instructed in philosophy , and the liberal sciences . and when he had there studied a certain time , hearing of the death of ludhudebras his father , he returned home again , bringing with him four expert masters in many sciences , not thinking it meet that his countrey should lack any longer such singular ornaments of learning as they were . these philosophers , as merlin writeth , he placed at stamford , in a very pleasant soyl , and made schools for them , to the intent they should there read the liberal sciences , where they had many times a great audiences . he was a man very cunning and skilfull , as well in prophane sciences of the gentiles , as in all wisdom and knowledge that the graecians excelled in ; but especially studious and very well seen in the mathematical arts and sciences , whereupon one of the sybils , that lived in his time , wrote and dedicated unto him a book of prophesies . some affirmed that the same bladud built the city of bathe , and therein made by a wonderfull art , certain hot bathes , for the use and commodity of the people , which do yet remain to this day , committing the conservation thereof to the goddess minerva , in whose honour be caused a temple to be there erected , to the intent , that being preferred by so mighty a goddess , they should never fail , but continue for ever , they write also , how that he read and taught necromancy throughout all his realm . but these things i suppose are seigned matters . to the second particular answers the name of bathe , taken from the waters . for this name , as is noted before , was given to the city , some time after its foundation , when the hot waters came into greater request , being called first , after the name of the founder , caer blaeidin . to the third , agrees the situation of bathe , being exactly the same . to the fourth , the quarries of stone , upon claverton down , horse-comb , &c. to the fifth , the springs of cornwall in wallcot-fields , beechenclift , &c. to the sixth , timsbury , burnet , ( and though the distance be somewhat greater ) mendip-hills . to the seventh , the kings bathe , with its apperdage , the queens and cross-bath . to the last , the horse-bath , without the south-gate , doth in some measure , answer , though it hath no hot springs of its own , but is supplyed by the overplus of water coming from the kings bath . and whereas it is recorded , that these bathes are not wholsome at all hours , being from of the clock in the morning , to three in the afternoon , scalding hot. it is clear , that the inequality of the heat proceeds not so much from the waters ( which in themselves , are observed to vary very little from a constant , and equal degree of heat , both winter , and summer ) as from the beating of the beams of the sun in hot weather on the surface of them , which being more troublesom to the bathes , and mornings and evenings more convenient for bathing , the middle part of the day is not made use of , though the waters then are as wholsome as ever . but we may well pardon this learned and industrious person , if he hath not in this , and some other particulars , done the bathes right , in regard the vastness of his designe , and urgency of his occasions , might hasten him hence , so that , haply , he could not throughly inform himself in things of this nature . to conclude this chapter , i shall mention some parts of the description of that city , mentioned before , in the authors own words , and compare them with what description dr. venner hath given of this of bathe . aquae grani appellatae sunt ab incolis , cum thermae , tum locus ipse , deducto scilicet nomine ab aquis calidis &c. haec urbs tametsi in valle sita , & montibus circumquaque septa sit , incredibili tamen gaudet aeris salubritate . in proximo urbis ambitu lata fere planities est , in qua & pascua sunt , alendo pecori commodissima , & agri pingues . nec desunt funtes , tam feris pascua irrigantes , quam intus diversis urbis locis , publice in plateis scaturientes . ad orientem rhenum , ad occidentem habet mosam . sed alias dotes ●mnes , meo quidem judicio , vincunt aquarum calidarum uterrimi simul ac saiuberrimi fontes . the words of dr. venner , as neer the english of the former as may be , are these . bathe , so called from the bathes in it , is a little , well compacted city , &c. although the site thereof , by reason of the vici●ity of hills , may to some seem not pleasant , being almost environed with them , yet for goodness of air , neerness of great and delectable rivers , pleasant meadows , and plenty of excellent water , brought down from the adjacent hills into the streets , it is pleasant , and happy enough ; but for the hot waters , that boyl up even in the midst thereof , is more delectable , and happier then any other of the kingdom . chap. iv of the bathes in particular here . of the three hotter bathes , viz. the kings , queens , and hot bathe . but chiefly of the kings , and in what distempers bathing therein is profitable . having thus far drawn the parallel between bathe and akin which , as they cannot be conceived to agree in every punctilio , ( no comparison , as they say , running on four feet ) so it seems they cannot correspond in some of those particulars before recited , without a communication also in the waters of many of the same medicinal vertues . having done this , i proceed to a light gast and relish , of the vertues , and usefulness of every bath in particular . and here taking it for granted , till better information , what the very learned and incomparable doctor jorden hath observed , that there is very little difference in the nature of the bathes of bathe , but in the degree of heat , they all proceeding from the same mine , which according to the intenseness or remissness of its heat in divers parts , and the directness or indirectness of the passages from it , may cause this variation ; and also , that the minerals impregnating the bathes in general , are bitumen , nitre , and sulphur , i shall run the parallel a little further , and speak something in particular of all the bathes ; and first of the kings . the kings bathe exceeds the rest in heat and dimensions , being the hottest , and largest of all . and whereas there is another that for some time hath , i know not how , apprepriated the name that is common to them all , and therefore gives most people occasionto imagine the heat to be more intense there then any where else , i conceive , at present , the heat of that bath , to come as much short of that of the kings , as the cross bath , in that instance , yields to the queens . this bath , as to its vertues , much resembles the kings bath at akin , that is , consists of the same minerals , though probably , not in the same proportion ; the german kings bath being accounted chiefly sulphurous ; this of bath , bituminous . which , yet notwithstanding considering the great affinity bitumen hath with sulphur , and the slender difference in their qualities , being bothsupposed moderately hot and dry , and therefore must both ( according to the common notion ) attract , resolve , mollisie , and discuss , will not alter much the case , not to mention that baccius and bauhinus , and ( what is more natural ) two of our own countreymen , doctor turner , and doctor venner , do all agree , that they are chiefly sulphurous . and whereas rurem . faith of the kings bath at akin ; refert haec aqua modis omnibus naturam sulphuris , cum admissione nitri modici ; making mention of sulphur and nitre , but omitting bitumen , i question not , but upon examination , it would be found that bitumen also was concern'd in that bath , as well as the cornelian in the same city . and the catalogue of diseases , for which this bath is profitable , suggests as much : bituminous waters being of a heating , drying nature , and suppling the nerves . the encomium he gives of this bath , and the diseases he affirms it to do good in , ( which for the most part agree to this of bath also ) are as fellows . this bath is profitable for many distempers , especially cold and moist : for it heats powerfully , dries , drives the humors from the inward parts to the outward , discusses , attenuates , abstergeth , and that i may speak more particularly , good chiefly in affections of the nerves , as convulsions , palsies , as well alone , as accompanying an apoplexie , in defect of sense or motion , or both . it helps stiff , benumm'd , and trembling limbs , does good in the several sorts of gouts , especially hip and hand-gout . discusseth tumors : relieveth those that are streightened about the midriff : those that have a cachexy , or ill habit of body : the dropsie ( especially the anasarca ) and jaundice . those that are troubled with a cold distemper of the stomach , liver or spleen . excites and restores appetite . easeth pains in the sides ( without a favour ) bowess or loins . helps cold and moist distempers of the womb ; furthers conception , provokes the terms , giveth ease in uterine pains ; takes off weariness as well spontaneous , as by excessive labour and travel , &c. most proper for those of a cold constitution , and somewhat corpulent , and not so convenient for dry and entenuated persons . to which may be added lethargies , epilepfies , cramps , deafness , forgetfulness , aches , and many others of the like nature , with the scorbute , ( provided the body be duly prepar'd before , and the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in that distemper well corrected ) and the extremity of the pains of the spleen . the hot bath is somewhat cooler , and profitable in the like cases ; and dr. venner hath observed most essicacious for any weakned and relaxed limb . the queens bath is the next for heat , and hath the same virtues with the kings , out of which it was taken , having no hot springs of its own , but is supplyed out of the kings , where the water standing as it were in a cooler , is made more temperate , and fitter for tender bodies , that cannot well endure such a degree of heat , as in the kings bath . chap. vii of the cross bath , and its virtues . the cross bath , as to its degree of heat , abating somewhat of the queens , is the coolest of all , of which i may say , as a stranger sometime did of this city , that it is e minimis pulcherrimum , and though it be little , is not on that , nor any other account despicable ; inest sua gratia parvis . this bath is thought by dr. jorden to participate more of nitre than the rest , and therefore is observed to supple & mollifie somewhat more , receiving a greater degree of cleansing and penetrating from the nitre ; consonant to which 't is said of the cornelian bath in akin . aqua hujus balnei sulphurea quidem est , sed salis non paruns habet admistum , quin & bitaminis nonnihil in esse certis indiciis deprehenditur ; quo fit ut haec aliquanto valentiore sit exiccandi , extennandique potissimum facultate , quam aliae , discut it , abstergit , ac mollit , i.e. the water of this bath is indeed sulphurous , but hath a considerable quantity of salt mixed with it , and some bitumen ; wherefore this hath a more powerful drying , and attenuating faculty than the rest , discusses , cleanses , and mollifies . and whereas instead of nitre , he mentions salt , the difference , though something i confess , cannot be great , since many of the same vertues are both by him and others attributed to saline waters , as nitrous ; nitre it self being a kind of salt. from the mixture of the sulphur and bitumen , it heats , discusses , and supples ; from the nitre , it receives an addition of cleansing , and penetrating . this bath then must be of excellent use in all contractions , indurations , and resolutions of nervous parts , disperse , and dissipate cold tumors ; relieve cachectick , hydropick , and corpulent persons ; oppose the sciatica , cramps , convulsions , defluxions , barrenness , and the whites in women ; usefull in cutaneous distempers ; as the itch , scabs , morphew , and leprosie . good for fleshy , cold , moist bodies ; and not so proper for hot , and dry constitutions . and here i must crave leave to add , that the reason i conceive why the cross bath comes not up to the heat of the rest , is partly on the account of its being served by four springs , but chiefly proceeds from the greater proportion of nitre it contains , which being of a cooling nature , may more allay the heat arising from the sulphur and bitumen there , then in the other bathes . and that nitre doth more abound in that bath , then in the rest , may probably be collected , as from other reasons , which i here forbear to mention , so partly from this , that it sooner penetrates the body , and hath an easier , and quicker ingress into its passages and pores , to the great relief of some , though it seems paradoxical , in nephritick distempers . but i hope i may be excused on the score of my former engagement , if i am not more particular at this time , in things of this nature , till a just amassment of observations and experiments , and a rational deduction of conclusions from them , ( which i hope in some time to accomplish ) shall either confirm me in the opinion i now have of the nature and vertues of the baths of bathe , or supply me with a better . atque haec hactenus . finis . sphalmata typographica . pref . page . line . read review . l. . r. quacking . p. . l. . for only , r. with . p. . l. . for the fig , . r. . p. . l. . r. from the place . epist . ded. page . in the marg . against galba , insert ingenium galbae male habitat . appendix . page in margent , for hunesey , r. hunes . p. . in marg . r. manlius . p. .l. . r. fawningly . p. . l. .r. names in l. . for is , r. are . l. . blot out to . p. . l. . r. me to th . p. .r . marius . p. . l. r. along siege . p. .l. . r. printed . p. . l. . for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . l. r.a man that pr. p. .l. . for burkeley , r. burghley . p. .l. . r. jactis , l. . r. limina . p. . l. . r. rodb . l. .r . urbem . l. .r regalis . l. ult.r . pteromata . p. . l. . r. longas . l. . r. fanis . l. . r. prostant . p. .l. .r . suorum . l. .r . lampade . p. .l. .r . mi●ae . l. .r. fusor . l. . r. votis . l. .r . praeducente . l. .r . cantica . p. . l. . r. diu . p. . l. . r. septimius . p. . in marg . r. merry vib. p. . l. . r. qui. for rose , rosin . p. . l. . r. grani. l. . r. immutat ● . p. .l. .r . preserved . p. .l. .r . material . p. .l. .r . fevour . l. .r . exten . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e de deper litis pag. de deper litis pag. . bellonius observat . lib . . . prosper alpinas de medicina aegyptiorum . cap. ● epist . . lib. . de tuenda sauit . lib. . cap. . * see the reason of this in iones his bathes aid , fol. . b. where also he proves the inward use of mineral waters among physicians , as well before , as since the time of galen . notes for div a -e libavius de judicio aquarum ●●i●er . cap. . ●●accius ●i● . . cap. . solinander lib. . cap. . solinander lib. . cap. . quaest . nat . . libav . pyrotceh . cap. . meteor . de usu partium lib. . cap. . daneus phis . christ part . cap. . aristol . . meteor cap. : davaeus philos . christ . p. .c. . cardan . de subtil . lib. . valesius contr . lib. . cap. . conradus assachus de triplici coelo lib. .cap. . laurent . valla , &c. arist . . meteor . cap. . de ortu & inter , lib. .& moteor . .cap. . & . gal. de simpl . med . sac . lib. . cap. . item de elementis . valesi●s co●t . lib. . cap. . de aere , aquis & locis . de morbis pop●lar . lib. .sect. . bruerinus de re cibaria . platerus in praxi . n●●t . attic. lib. . cap. . de divinat . . in aristaeum quaestione . brerinus de re cibaria lib. . cap. . saturnal . lib. . cap. . rerum antiquar . lib. . c. . bacciusl . ● . c . ● . de nat . eo● . que cffl . è terra li. . cap. . langius epist . lib. . epist . . notes for div a -e baccius lib. cap. . . agric. de ortu & causis subter . lib. . cap. , , , , , , , , . solinander l. . cap. . & lib. . cap. . from the air. quoest . natur● lib. . cap. . meteorol . & . . deortu & causissubt . l. . ● . . de orig . font . cap. . a. from the earth . metam . . aristotel . . meteor . cap. . & ultimo . valesius de sacra philosoph . passim . from the sea. 〈…〉 ortu & causiss●●ter . lib. . cap. ● & . ecclesiastes . arist . metroyol . cap. ultimo lib. * this way of arguing is questioned by dr. french , who supposeth the many great rivers terminated in the sea to be a sufficient moisture for the taking away the termination of the water made by the dryness of the earth , and so to make the globous sea sink to an evenness . vid. french yorksh . spaw . p. , , . notes for div a -e minerals reduced to seven heads : earth . agric. de nat . fossil . lib. . cap. . baccius lib. . cap. . notes for div a -e de metallis cap. . verulamius de vita & morte , pag. . & . do neglecta stirpium culturâ problem . . erastus disput . part . . p. . in ingressu ad infirmos p. . venustus in consilio pro petro picardo . baccius ●tym . lib. . ● . . notes for div a -e machab. . . de sympath . & antipath . c●. . de nat ●●y . q. efslu . è te●●a . l. . ● . . metcor . . lib. . ● . ii. de thermis . c. of camphir . seyaphio de ●imp . m. d.c. . avicen . lib . i. tract . . c.z. item . l. . tract . . cap . . item . de med . cordial , tract . z. cap. . in dioscoridem cap. de mastich . lib. i. cap. . de nat . fossil . lib. . cap. . thesaur . aqu lib. i. cap. z. co 〈…〉 divs . . . tha. nemico . de simpl . med . facult . l. .c. . lib. i. tract c. . bellonius de naphtha c. . agric. de nat . cor . quoe cfflu . è terra l. .c. . bitumen predominant in the bathes of bath . de thermis boll . l. .c. . notes for div a -e libavius in syntagm . p. in lib. de plantis aristoteli ascriptum lib. . passim . caesalpinus de metallisc . .l. . salt. diosc . l. .c. . de simpl . med . sa●ult . l. .c. . & l. .c. . three wayes to make vegetable salts to retain the taste of the herbs from whence they are drawn . . three wayes to make vegetable salts to retain the taste of the herbs from whence they are drawn . . three wayes to make vegetable salts to retain the taste of the herbs from whence they are drawn . . nitre . sal ammoniack . in pestis alexic . dariot de praparat . med . tract . . cap. , . lib. de humi●orum usu . salt springs . lib. . the true cause of the saltness of the sea. aliquid aquae admixtum arist . . meteorol . cap. . meteor . . c. . nitrous wateys . observat . l. . c. , . lib. . c. lib. . c. . martial . allum spring● pyrotech . l. . c. . vitrioline waters . simp. med.facul . l. . c. . libav . in symag . . part . l. . item singularium part . . lib. . von . kupffer ertz . . baubinus de th●r . nis l. .c. . de judicio aqu . niner . p. . . notes for div a -e simpl. med . facult . . . . . vidus vidius turat . generat . p. . sect . . . . c. . fallopius de petallis . . quick-silver not reducible to the elementary qualities sulphur . arsenick . cadmia . notes for div a -e bismutum , or tin-glass . part , . pag. . notes for div a -e fallop . de metallis cap. . libav . de nat . metall . part . . cap. . gold. silver . copper . iron . tin. lead . nature and qualities of gold. bascius lib. . cap. . basilica chimia pag. . de thermis cap. . in ingressu ad infermo , pap . . of silver . theod tabernomonta●us , p. . cap. . of iron and steel . aenead . simpl. lib. . libs . epist . . de motallis cap. . simpl. l. .c. . two distinct qualities in steel . solinander , pag. . ve●ustus , pag. . b●●cius lib. . cap. . s 〈…〉 rola . rea 〈…〉 eus pag. . quality of copper . libav . de nat . metall . c. . of tin. of lead . pag. . notes for div a -e fallop . de metallis cap. . libav . de nat . metal . cap. . agricola de ortu & causis sub● . lib . . c. . lib. . c. . 〈◊〉 : lib . in sarept . co●●● . . ii. &c. in alchimia magna . de metallis pag. . & . von probier●ng der crtze . in sarept●● . sebast . for●●● l. .c. . scverinus c. . p. . caesalpinus de metal . lib. . c. . cap. . erast . disput . part . . p. . the principal efficient cause of the generation of minerals , not the sun. dorn . phisica geresis . gal. de maraes . de catore . neither the elements . de anima item . cap. . trismegistus in asclepio cap. . plato . in timco in dialogo de natura . in vita apollo●ci . elcoga . desacra philosoph . cap. . cap. de mixtie●● . m●teo●ol . . item de mundo ubi dicit aerens comparatum esse ad aliam & aliam ●●turam inducedam . in som . scipionis cap. . de nat hominis . de gen . cap. . item libde s●●su & sensibile . de gen . animal . cap. ultimo . ifagoge cap. . de elementis cap. . de veteri medi●ina . notes for div a -e erastus , carerius , casal●inus , marti●u● , mo●ista● , foxias , magyrus , liba●ius . met●or . c.ult. caesalp . l. . . . libav . de nat . metall . c . . carerius . septal. in hipp. de aëre , aqu . &c. valcsius sacra philosoph●● . . singularium lib. . part . . de nat . metall . cap. . the authors opinion concerning the manner of the generation of minerals . mussetus in dialogo apologetics . carm. lib. . od . . georg. . de dieta . de gen . animal . lib. . foxius , m●rtinus , moris●aus , magyrus , libavius , vel●uri● , valesius , carerists , erastus , &c. de dieta lib. . de usu partium ● . . & . erasmus in adagi●s . de mund● . c. ult . notes for div a -e causes of heat in mineral waters not . wind , air , exhalations in the earth . agitation and violent motion . valeseus centre . lib. . cap. . solinand . l. . cap. . the sun. † it may be so in former times , but few , i think , do doubt it now ; i am sure not those who hold the sun to be a flame . his apology . gilbertus de magnete lib. . taurellus de primis rerum principiis . conrad . aslacus de triplici coelo . lib. . antiperistasis . in paradoxis . simpl. medic . facult . cap. . valesius contro . lib. . cap. . magyrus lib. . cap. . quick lyme . subterranea● fire . d : ditca lib. . comets , probably not k●ndled substances . metamorph. . aenta● . . agricola . bacciusl . . cap. . douatus de aquis lucensibus lib. . cap. . gesaer . epist . lib. . pag. . lib. . cap. ult . notes for div a -e * what dr. french hath said against this opinion , may be seen if the , , & . pages of his yorkshire spaw . thurneiser alchimia magna lib. . c. . * the cause of the heat in bath , assigned by dr. rouzee , is their motion and agitation in the bowels of the earth , falling from cataracts and broken concavities in the same . but afterwards , lighting on this opinion of dr. jordens , he is so far from disliking , that he apdeservedly plauds it , and callls this work learned and elaborate . vid. lud. rouz . tr. of tunbr . water , p. , . & . in margine . martin . de prima generations . lib. : cap. . georg. . a brief collection of the the authors arguments against the opinions of others touching the actual heat of bathes . . de gen . animal . . de gen . animal , cap. . in praefat . in opticum euclidis . de triplici caelo lib. ● . c. . meteorol . c. ; trism●gistus in asclepio . c. . in pimandro cap. . lib. de constat . notes for div a -e de tuenda sanitat . cap. . baths of bath consist principally of bitumen with nitre , and some sulphur . thesauri aquarii pag. cap . . is pancirollum de deperditis pag. . prosper . alpinus de medic . agyptioiuml . . c. . de vita & marte pag. . warm drink commended . i.w. lib. ae humi●o●um usu . simpl. cap . . lib. . sum . tract . . s lib. . tract . . cap. . baccius lib. . claudiaus p. . de aere , aquis & locis . notes for div a -e † this is now done , and a dry pump there erected in the year . at the city charge , by the procurement of mr. iohn ford , apothecary , then mayor of the city . notes for div a -e tetrah . serm . cap. . trallian . l. . cap. . orib . l. . c. . aegin . l. .c. . actu . l. .c . . cap. . hypoc . de aere ; aquis , & locis . ● . de tuenda sanitate cap. . notes for div a -e do compos . med . s . locos . . c. . notes for div a -e * in historia aesc la●ii , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . omne tulit punctum , qui miscuit utile dulci. her. de art. poet. notes for div a -e g. m. nephew , as some write . supposed to be the fall of dover by some ; by others , the haw at plimmouth . called therefore by the w●lch , loygar , & ●●g●ors . called by other writers , hu●ys or hunnys , king of hunesy or scythia , receiving the name of humber or humbardus , after his comeing into scotland . others write she was daughter to a king of almaine , and brought with two others thence by humbardus . alias 〈◊〉 . otherwise called habre● . alias madan , & madian . some make mempricc to have slain his younger brother manlinus ( as he is sometimes called ) and ebranc to be the son of memprice . or part of germany , as others . caer ebranc . others write he had wives , of which he begat sons , and daughters . alias brut. -greveshield , and brut●grenshield . alias lud , ludhurdebras , rudibras : he is said by others to be the son of leill . called sometimes bladud and baldud . † 〈◊〉 malmsb . 〈…〉 epod. . by. p. . cambden by. p. . † this is also mentioned by bale , de script . aug. in his account of bladud . vid. insra cap. . io●cs bathes aide p. . b. bede . basil . bale . † others , . by bale he is said to be the tenth king of the britains . cap. . notes for div a -e mat. westm . engl. chron. lanquet . ant. br. ab. ms. alias aselepiodatus . others . britannice caercolyn . br. p. . anglorum basilcus omniumque regum irsularum oceani quae britanniam circumjacent cunctarumque nationum quae infraeam includuntur impeytor & dominus . henr. spelm. co●c . tom. . p. . & seldenus in mar. clans . militat omnis amans , & habet sua castra cupido . ovid. an. . mat. westm . cambden ubi supra . yet n. aut. br. abb. ms. cambden . br. p. . concerning his supposed tomb , and place of bursal , see chap. . domesday-book . cambden , br. p. . p. . p. . libell . rub. de bath . ms. god● . cat. p. . p. . de gen. an. exer● . . p.m. . notes for div a -e l. de leg . gul. mal asb . † the charters of william rufus and h. . for translating his see to bathe , and the manner thereof , may be seen in mr. dugdales monast . augl . pp. , . † he was confirmed bishop ● by king hen. . his patent , ad instantiam demini papae , de gratia regis speciali , salve jure regis , & ecclefiae wellensis . p. . h. . m. . intus . br. p. : judges . d.f. so●●ers . p. . historia . . . . agyrta . . . notes for div a -e ad . lib. . here lies mary vibia . 〈◊〉 b● . ● p. . ant. rom. l. . c. ● . al. ab . alex. gen. dier . l. . c. . cat. si●on . de jur. rom. l. . c. . rosc . ant. rom. . x. c. . ca●bden . br. p. . caius . carausius . pius . falix . augustus . notes for div a -e p. carbl●us br. pag. . ru●ewuad . de baln . aq. p. . . &c. 〈◊〉 bath●●● . notes for div a -e de baln . aq. p. . notes for div a -e cap. . rurem . de bal. aq. p. . therme nitrosae omnino easdem facultates habent , quas salsae , &c. fuch . inst . med. lib. ● s. . c. . thermæ redivivæ, the city of bath described with some observations on those soveraign waters, both as to the bathing in, and drinking of them, now so much in use / by henry chapman ... chapman, henry, fl. . approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page images. text creation partnership, 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[ ], p. printed for the author, and are to be sold by jonathan edwin ..., london : . reproduction of original in cambridge university library. created by converting tcp files to tei p using tcp tei.xsl, tei @ oxford. re-processed by university of nebraska-lincoln and northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. eebo-tcp is a partnership between the universities of michigan and oxford and the publisher proquest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by proquest via their early english books online (eebo) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). the general aim of eebo-tcp is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic english-language title published between and available in eebo. eebo-tcp aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the text encoding initiative (http://www.tei-c.org). the eebo-tcp project was divided into two phases. the , texts created during phase of the project have been released into the public domain as of january . anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source. users should be aware of the process of creating the tcp texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data. text selection was based on the new cambridge bibliography of english literature (ncbel). if an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in ncbel, then their works are eligible for inclusion. selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. in general, first editions of a works in english were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably latin and welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so. image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in oxford and michigan. % (or pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet qa standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. after proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of instances per text. any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of tcp data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a tcp editor. the texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level of the tei in libraries guidelines. copies of the texts have been issued variously as sgml (tcp schema; ascii text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable xml (tcp schema; characters represented either as utf- unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless xml (tei p , characters represented either as utf- unicode or tei g elements). keying and markup guidelines are available at the text creation partnership web site . eng mineral waters -- england -- bath -- early works to . bath (england) -- description and travel. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - apex covantage keyed and coded from proquest page images - celeste ng sampled and proofread - celeste ng text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion thermae redivivae : the city of bath described : with some observations on those soveraign waters , both as to the bathing in , and drinking of them , now so much in use . by henry chapman , gent. london , printed for the author , and are to be sold by jonathan edwin at the three roses in ludgate-street , . to the most august and serene prince charles ii. of great britain , france , and ireland , king , &c. dread and royal sir and soveraign , it hath been all along ( i praise my god ) my inclination as well as my duty , to serve my prince and countrey the wars in your ever renowned fathers time ( wherein i had the honour as well as the misfortune ( as carrying with it the sacrifice of a competent estate ) to be , shall testifie for the one , as this small tract for the other ; as i am a native of this place ; so also for the better part of twenty years , i was not a stranger to many near and remote regions , but never could i meet with , or hear of any such waters as this your city yields , in reference to the perpetual constancy of their quantity and quality ; on which reason , i have an ambition and desire to publish this to the world , what continual and inexhaustible treasures , are stored up here in the bowels of the earth , scarce ever made known ( at leastwise made use of ) till these very late years , the publication whereof , will sans-peradventure , advance your majesties kingdoms interest , as conducing so much , to the longaevity and health of the nations : rendring them more numerous and hardy , ( our air will make them valiant ) and this being granted , as being an indisputable maxim the consequence is , cum multis manibus grande levatur opus . may the good god , keep your majesty , here ( long after our age ) in the highest degree of honour and health , and when you change , give you an incorruptible for a corruptible crown , which hath , is , and shall be the daily and incessant prayers of your majesties , most humble , loyal , and obedient subject and servant hen. chapman . bath , . novemb . . to the ever renowned nations of , and in great britain and ireland . i am not ignorant , that there are many ( and that learned too ) treatises abroad , concerning something i am now in hand with . dr. jordan is extant , and so is an appendix to it , discoursing profoundly , from what minerals these waters may proceed with the nature of bitumen sulphur , and the like ; yet all this while , there wants a plain , and cheap ( not scholastique ) divulgation to the world , of the present use of these waters , both as to the bathing in , and drinking of them , the latter of which having not been much in use till within this two or three years , is not ( i conceive ) sufficiently made known to the world , wherefore that these soveraign waters which are so much approved of , by those many , that have made use of them , as having wrought so many and so admirable cures ; may lye no longer in obscurity ( in default of an abler pen ) i have in this small treatise adventur'd it my self , in which the reader cannot ( considerato authore ) reasonably expect , any other then plain ordinary english , the whole aim and scope being to report them to the world , and ( because of their singular virtues . ) to encourage the use of them . h. c. sun in bath , nov. . regi gregi victoria copia . the city of bath described . the city of bath is seated in the north north-east part of somersetshire , environ'd ( almost ) all ) round with pleasant and fruitful hills full of excellent springs of waters , in so much as 't is observed that on many of their sumits , there are rare christal waters , gushing out especially in one village adjoyning to the southwards of it , there are near fifty ( if not more ) habitations , where scarce one house makes use of that water that served another , each one enjoying a particular to its self . the valley in which it stands , in any place extends ( hardly ) it self to half a mile in bredth , in most places less ; it is very pleasant and fruitful , and therein hardly ever seen any pools , loughs , or meery places ; for as soon as any inundation is over , the waters totally drein away with it , which doubtless contributes much to the salubrity of the air. from two of these hills , the city ( by pipes of lead ) is not only plentifully served into the common conduits , but also not few of the private houses are supplyed with it within their own doors , such a convenience , and at such easie rates , that few places enjoy the like ; and this being carried through most streets , lanes , and by-wayes , is not only for within-door occasions , but in case of fire , is very ready to be made use of . the streets , most of the narrowest size , especially that near the center called cheap-street , the greatest eye-sore of its beauty and cumber to its accommodation , it is walled all round , with a time-defying stone , the buildings ( by strong supposition ) mounted much higher then in former ages ; for walking round the walls , it is perceivable , the city stands on a batch ( as we call it ) in a bottom , from fifteen to twenty foot higher then the surface without ; neither is it without suburbs , the fourth part supposed to be so , and all together , computed by some that pretend to have calculated its dimensions , takes not up much more then fifty acres , in such a narrow compass is this ancient , famous , little pretty city contained ; which being in such a bottom , hath such a variety of prospects , and landskips , that few places parallel it , whereas places scited on levels , seldom please the eye far , deprived by the interposition of the next pale , wall , or hedge , whereas , this raising it self higher then the adjoyning gardens and meadows , hath full and free passage , nor do the hills so strengthen the prospect , but that the eye may even surfeit its self with variety of objects ( in some places ) for at least three miles , at once beholding the meander-aven semi-circling the city , then the low meadows , in several small and great partitions , the pasture grounds above them , then the corn fields , so gradually ye come up to the downs , on which particularly launsdown is an excellent coarse of above two miles , at the end whereof may be seen the city of bristol , with the counties of somerset , wilts , glocester , worcester , hereford , and menmouth ; but this has made me endanger the out-running my intended discourse , seldom farther then the little city or its prospect , but this digression ( i suppose ) may not be much out of order , when the gallantry and youth of the nation , may be made acquainted , what recreation the vicinity of the place affords , especially when it is accompanied with hunting , setting , &c. the wall is in compass not a full english mile , and were the city not in such a bottom , and so over topped by neighbouring hills , by the opinion of col. b. ( once governor thereof ) and some others , that may understand fortifications ) might be made tenable , for indeed the whole , is but one entire rampart , a coffin fill'd with earth , on which the buildings are ; then the springs so near the superficies , that no approaches can be made but with great difficulty , there are large discourses already extant of several statues , figures , as gorgons serpents , &c. in it , in which i shall not meddle , but leave every man to his view , and belief , but certainly this , it is a noble ancient wall therein appearing many antiquities , as also four gates , having their several denominations from the four cardinal winds , which every night are order'd to be lock'd up , and a watch itinerant , sworn not to enter any house till four in the morn , which how duely observed , some of them who have been caught tardy , and put into wooden bastile , for their pains can satisfie you . the government is by a mayor , aldermen , and twenty councellors or citizens . the mayor and aldermen ( on solemn dayes ) are in scarlet , the number ( by charter ) may not exceed eleven , nor under five ; to these is added a recorder , who there with the mayor is justice of the peace and quorum , having the precedence of the two other justices ; also a town clark , who every leet-day ( twice in the year ) calls the court , and it is kept in his name , although mayor , aldermen , &c. present . and here ( i conceive it will not be improper , no sally from the purpose , to observe the care here taken for the poor , of which quality ( i suppose ) there are fewer then in any place ( for its bigness ) in the kingdom , the yearly rate for the three parishes , being under l. per ann . which to some strangers , hath , not being acquainted with the custom and method here taken ) seem'd wonderful , most people conjecturing the city to be poor , ( as indeed it cannot vaunt of many notoriously rich ) yet providence , with the beneficent munificence of some of our english monarques hath sufficiently provided for it , thereby they owing as little to their backs and bellies as any place i know of , yet no stupid gormandizers neither ; for such care is taken that the wealthier sort eat their own morsels , free from such importunate clamours and outcries as are too frequently seen in other places , that have a higher celebration for riches , this principally arising ( without doubt ) from magistratical care , at every quarter-sale day wherein the poorer sort are not only kindly used ( beyond comparison ) but are also so tyed up , that they cannot squander away their good bargains , but are reserved in case of necessity to their needy families . it is supplied and adorned for the service of god with three churches , dedicated to st. james , st. michael , and st. peter and paul , the later justly challenging to its self the preheminence , for lightsomness , stateliness , and elegance of structure , of all the parochial churches in the kingdom , the tower whereof is foot high , in the upper loft whereof , is a noble taunting , and musical ring of bells , whose loud peals have been distinctly heard five , six , nay sometimes seven miles distant . the tenor is called hopton ; mostly the gift of that honorable family , what wanted in their bounty , was supplyed by the city ; to this tower are four several stair-cases , at each distinct corner one . this stately pile was begun in henry the sevenths time by one oliver king , the then bishop of the diocess , but never ( by the iniquity of the times partly arising by the several changes ) could it arise to any perfection , till about the year . god raised up bishop montague , mr. thomas bellot , and other pious and generous benefactors , by whose great bounty and good example it now enjoys its present splendor and glory . in the body whereof one thing is most remarkable , that although it be of a vast dimension taking its height , bredth , and length , and lying uncovered for above years , the windows so large , the walls so thin , ( that i presume many mansion-houses equal it ) yet this noble pile , notwithstanding it hath no sloaping buttresses , on the outside to support and strengthen it , which the great churches usually have , shews no flaw , crack , not settling , but stands firm and entire , evidencing thereby , not only the profound skill of the architect , but the goodness of the stone , whose quality is , when taken up green out of the quarry , of such a softness , that a pen-knife ( comparatively ) may work it , without turning its edge , but when exposed to any building in the open air , nothing more lasting , nothing more permanent , for neither age nor time can deface it , witness the whole pile , which notwithstanding it hath stood near two centuries , yet to this day , remains as firm and beautiful as at first , near the midst whereof , under an arch to the northward , lyes interred the noble and charitable benefactor bishop montague , on whom his executors ( his brothers ) men of great honor and places , rear'd a stately monument , answerable to the dignity of that honourable and religious prelate , over against this noble monument , the city in testimony of the respects they owed to the then rector mr. john pelling erected another to him , this reverend divine , notwithstanding he had a numerous issue ; yet was so indefatigably zealous in forwarding the reparation of this fabrick , that when at any time ( and that was not seldom in that generous and benefactory age ) any persons of honour offer'd to him , as to his private , refused it with his , non mihi sed ecclesiae , which occasion'd that motto over his tomb , which self-denyal ( its possible ) the good god hath ( secondarily paid into his own bosom , by a blessing on his posterity , who ( some of them especially ) notwithstanding the few mites they had to begin the world , have now the value of talents in their possession ; but this i take notice of , only for the readers satisfaction , not for other ministers imitation . in the south-east isle , is a pretty , somewhat stately , and doubt less conceited monument , all of free-stone , having originally no inscription , as to time , person , or quality , therefore vulgarly called the speechless monument , but now not so , for although the tenant was ( possibly ) not willing to have any , yet the will of the dead , as to that particular is sufficiently broken , for on the ground are many stones , curiously and artificially joyned together , these make the resemblance of a copped chest , and is in length , bredth , and height , sufficient to receive an ordinary corps ; but it seems it was not the receptacle , if you believe the scribled inscription . fancy may think one hid within this tomb , but reason sayes his grave was mothers womb. another . nameless not fameless , here one lyes , believe not me , believe thine eyes . that was answered thus , nameless then fameless , for how can fame attend that man that wants a known-by name ? anonymus here might very well share fame with alexander , bating but his name . harry spicer like to caesar and 't had nt spread , but caesar's living , and harry spicer's dead . then name makes fame , and nothing else for fame 's no more in sense then a recorded name . but to prevent all future defacings by such scribling and scratching , one ( it seems ) had been so far acquainted with the name and quality of the there interred , that for these many years he hath silenc'd such enormities by this divulgation to the world. if any man my name and life enquire , lichfield my name , my life was musicks hire . near over against this monument is a neat little chappel , under an arch between the isle and the chancel , ( where formerly sate persons of the greater quality ) some of which ( i suppose ) though much of it is not so ; for curiosity in stonework , is hardly to be match'd in england , 〈…〉 the last prior here , and left his fancy here in this chappel , in the abby-house , and in many other places in the city , being a bird in a w. if any man my name and life enquire , lichfield my name , my life was musicks hire . but since i am on fancies , i must not leave this church without a recital of some others in the windows , numbred in all to . most given by strangers benefactors ( of which and all other charitable donations there is a vellum-record on purpose kept in the library ) the great window in the chancel ( where there is a greater in all dimensions i am yet to seek ) was totally the gift of that worthy forenamed gentleman mr. thomas bellot fancying his name , being party-colour'd quarrels of glass laid bellot-wise one over and cross the other . there are three others ( though of smaller value ) one given by mr. malet of enmore , with his coat of arms and motto , malet meliora . another by mr. biss of spargrove , with his coat and motto , bis fee lt sis foelix bis : the third a citizen of london who although ( peradventure ) he was not so accoutred from his ancestors ; yet his generous liberality was equal in the charge to the others ( unless the coat made a difference ) for a window he gave of the same magnitude , with his fancy of william plumby , here i was , this i did . i must not omit speaking somewhat of the revenue of this church , which indeed is but small , and that which is and hath been the gifts of protestant benefactors , among whom , dame elizabeth booth the ancestors of that noble and fully accomplish'd gentleman the lord de la ▪ mere , exceeded all the sons and daughters of our israel , by whose pious bounty ( with some additions the city made ) there is purchased in land , to the yearly value of near l. per annum , this seems but a small maintenance for so great a building , yet with this , and with what else doth arise by breaking ground for burial places , and for monuments , it is as well kept in repair as any church i know of . but before i leave this church , i shall leave with you these few observations ; first , that not any one ( that i know of ) not of the religion professed and establish'd , gave one peny towards its reparation ; next for the honour of our fathers , they were the repairers , and that in the last place we their survivours may not be branded of having so much faith , that we have lost all good works , continue the reparation , and that not niggardly neither ; of which those famous battlements and pinacles , almost round , gives sufficient and pregnant evidence . and now having done your devotions , it is time i lead you to the kings bath , where as soon as you come down the great stairs , you may behold the stone-pavement and battlements quite round it , the bounty of sir francis stonor of stonor ; and for that i have had some reflections on protestant benefactors on the church to give each perswasion its due , this gentleman was a romanist , may not this therefore argue for them , that although they may be no friends to the church , yet they may be to the state ▪ and now behold one of the greatest miracles in nature : the universe ( by travellers general report ) not affording the like , whose waters , ( granted by all hands to be as old as the creation , keeping constantly one quantity and quality in the greatest drought , not one drop less in appearance , nor in the greatest flouds or innundation any the more , experimentally made true by this unquestionable evidence , the waters filling it up to the usual height , which when the sluces are carefully and exactly stopped , whether summer or winter , drought or floud , makes not one minutes difference ; so that dame luna , that puling piss-kitchin planet with her ebbings and flowings , her nepes and spring-tides , hath no influence at all here , and no more then reason , for these waters all along have been and are * aquae solis , so sol is solely predominant here , and lord paramount , whereby we are assured they partake of no other accidental increase , by any spring or soaking to contaminate , defile or dis-vertue it , which the cold waters of tunbridge , epsom , barnet , &c. cannot appropriate to themselves , if general report be true , they increasing and decreasing , according to accident and season ; but of this no more till i come to hint , and but to hint of them in another place . now the quantity of these waters arising in the kings bath ( there are none in the queens although they are contiguous ) may ( as is supposed ) very well drive an over-shot mill , and the quality is as constant as the quantity , the springs at their ebullitions , as hot in december as in june , and therefore may ( with some more care for prevention of taking cold ) be with much efficacy used in all seasons of the year , which is very fit should be taken notice of , to remove a vulgar error , that these waters are never useful nor seasonable but in the summer . among the many springs in the kings bath , there is a principal one called the hot-spring , which is received by its self ( without communication into a lead cistern , and that so close , that it is impossible any drop of the other waters can intermingle , over this spring and cistern , is ( by the order and direction of an honorable and famous physitian , a pump erecting , so that the waters from its single effluence shall by three several conveyances , be distributed abroad in wonderful quantities , insomuch , that although the three pumps should be in perpetual agitation , yet this noble , and exuberant spring will remain inexhaustible , the vertues whereof fame ( warranted by experience ) hath justly trumpetted forth to the world , insomuch , that they are not only made use of in the bath , the several places of the city , and neighborhood , but also in bottles and runlets at bristol , glocester , worcester , nay , london it self . among many its vertues , i shall give you an accompt of but a few , take your proportion in the morn , whether two , three , or more quarts , as may be prescribed you , for four , five , or six hours after you have drank them , you have no thirst , whereas formerly , when they were not taken inwardly , the bathers were so greatly afflicted with it , that many times weak heads have been near an intoxication in only endeavouring by taking in other potable liquor ( moderately ) to quench it , and all the times these soveraign waters are in your body , although they may give you several stools , yet it is without any rumbling in your body , or laceration of your guts , having a gentle and painless operation , both by urine and siege ; the concomitant whereof is an excellent stomach , much better'd by walking and stirring your body after the drinking them , and still as your body empties , you may continue drinking more , the waters being so innocent , that it is seldom or never heard , any complaint that a great quantity injured any one , and now ( as i said before ) they are never out of season , for that stately new erected cross in the kings bath is a defence and shelter as well from winters blasts as summers sun , and there are many convenient rooms for drinking of , and bathing in them , which may invite those that have occasion to make use of them at any season , especially since i shall give them this assurance , that although there may be to winter-bathers more expence in fuel , yet to recompence that , their lodgings will be cheaper , and the inhabitants are observed to be as active in their attendance , and as ready to take your money , in hoary december , as in fragrant june . this being granted , i have often wonder'd so much people have neglected a suddain repair hither , but to the loss of many of their lives , limbs , or both ; have delayed so long , and tamper'd so much , by taking undue courses in other places , that many times , when they come hither , they are so far past all hopes , that nothing but a miracle can cure them , whereas seldom or never , any part hence ( that make early application ) without some comfort , if not perfect cure or recovery . i cannot play the emperick to tell you all the maladies , and diseases by potion and lotion they are effectually good for , only this ( to my own knowledge ) they are ( in some constitutions ) good against , and for avoiding the very stone , of which there are proofs sufficient , among the many this one , the dearest relation of the author of these papers , was extreamly tormented with it for some years , never could she find any ease or comfort by any skill or direction of the ablest physitian , till the great physitian was pleased to put it into her head to make use of the bath ; which in three or four times using , by bathing and drinking , divers stones came from her , and that only in the time of her bathing , and drinking , some whereof as big as olive-stones are yet in my custody , and from that time to her dying day , ( which was some years ) was never troubled with it afterwards . for other ordinary diseases , as palsie , dropsie , sciatica , rickets , and the like , the numberless number of crutches that have from time to time been left behind , is a sufficient testimony , some whereof yet hung up , remain as trophies of gods mercies in their several cures . and now in this place ( according to my promise ) and purpose ) i shall speak somewhat of the cold waters of tunbridge , epsom , &c. so much celebrated and drank of in and about london , wherein because i may be thought partial , i shall speak the less , in which let me desire an observation whether or no since the drinking those waters have been so much in use . the griping of the guts , a not only painful torturing , but mortal malady , hath not been more frequent now then in former times , it is easily found to be so by examination of the weekly bills , which plainly evidences , that of late more have been cast over the perch , by this doleful disease in one year , then ( giving allowance also for the growth of the city too proportionably ) in former ages in seven , and those that will not appropriate that single disease , besides some others that may be attributed to those waters , are in their understandings ( i humbly conceive ) blind or wilfully obstinate , indeed how can it be otherwise but those cold and crude springs , with their nauseous soakings ( so averse to our english , and all northern constitutions ) lying so long in the stomach , but must oppress , chill it , and destroy the appetite , especially since it is granted there is many times a mixture of rain waters , soaking through the several crannies of the earth into them , adding an increase by urine and ordure , humane and belluine , plentifully shed thereabouts ; so that the physick makes the excrement , and ( vicissim ) the excrement the physick , certainly it is so , those springs being observed to be far more fluent in wet and cold summers , then in the hot and dry , then if compounded rain-waters , and such soakings are of such vertues i suppose they may be had nearer home , but it can never win belief with me , that the drinking them is the sole reason and occasion of the great resort thither ; no , doubtless there is something else in it meetings ; which if so , they that go thither on that errand , do not amiss , let them enjoy and solace themselves there , no hurt , but when they are there , to drink the waters in such a prodigious manner and measure through wantonness , custom , or example , can by no man wishing well to the nation be approved of . but si populus vult perire , quis vetet ? sure this i am , that not above two or three years since , some sixteen miles distant from this city at a place called alford , there was such another spring found out , as i now am discoursing of ; never was there a greater resort to any place ( considering the small quantities of waters it produced ) then thither so much reputation it had gained that much people had the patience to stay their turns ( for gods mercies were much seen in that it was a ( pitifully ) barren spring ) till they could be supplyed from the well . this was then ( for that year only , for never before , nor never after , that i ever could here of ( it having ( paid the drinkers off , sufficiently ) was it made use of ) the english bethesda , but it was not the angel of the lord that stirred those waters , but an evil one ; found so , by the diseases and mortality that seized on abundance of people , in a very short time after they had drank them ; insomuch , that ever since there is a lord have mercy written on the door of him that made merchandize of them . hinc subitae mortes atque intestatus senectus . and now i have done with the cold waters , when i have given you a sight of a valedictory bequest which a ( waggishly ) witty gentleman ( who in the time of the late wars , was with others rinsing his hypochondriacks ) bestowed on epsom . may all carouses on this green be health and more to th' king and queen ; but the squirt , and scent in field and city an oblation to the close committee . to conclude , what i have said of the king and queens baths , i would be understood as to their vertues ( conjunctim aut divisim ) to be said of all . only this , the springs of the cross bath are not so hot as the kings , nor so fluent ; neither those in the hot bath , the distinction being given it , in reference ( only ) that it is hotter the adjoyning cross bath ; all which baths are so surrounded with such noble buildings for reception , that they appear ( in respect of other places so remote from the metropolis ) rather petty palaces , then common lodgings , summ'd up in a pair of heroicks by the author hereof near an age since , and may now with candour seem no vain glory , or impertinence , to be inserted here , since they no wayes hyperbolize the convenience , gallantry , nor vertues of the baths , nor city ; and being both made on accident not design , vindicates the honour of our english tongue , having fewer letters in our own then the latine , and yet as full significant and expressive as that . balnea lympha forum sic templum maenia rivus talia tam parva , nusquam sunt urbe reperta . baths , church , rock-water , river , hall wall-round , such in so little a city , no where found . go and wash in jordan seven times , and thy flesh shall come again to thee , and thou shalt be clean . are not abana and pharphar rivers of damascus , better then all the waters of israel ? then went he down , and dipped himself seven times in jordan . and his flesh came again , like unto the flesh of a little child , and he was clean , kings cap. the appendix , without which a pamphlet now a dayes , finds as as small acceptance as a comedy did formerly , at the fortune play-house , without a jig of andrew kein's into the bargain , therefore to temporize ( i pray take that word in the best sense ) i here present you with a legendary one , and for caution , would not have you tye your faith too much on it , although ( i assure you ) it is parti-par-pale , as our west-countrey house-wives orders their puddings , with vatt and lean , this my countrey-man ( to my knowledge ) dyed in east-india , on whom padree hatch bestowed this epitaph , here lyes tom coriat , odcombe's pride , who came to surat , and here he dy'd . this famous person was not only a well-wisher to the mathematicks , but also a great aristotelian peripatetick , and co-temporary with the great gamaliel signieur crusado of chu le grande , in or before travails , having read much of * jeoffrey monmouth , especially in that which had reference to what was concern'd in the great table hung up against the wall in the kings bath ; dedicating it to old jeoffreys ghost , he bolts out in this poetical rapture , — ludhudibras a meazel voule , did zend his zun a graezing , who vortuend hither vor to cum , and geed his pigs sum peazun ; poor bladud he was manger grown , his dad , which zum call vaether , zet bladud pig , and pig bladud , and zo they ved together then bladud did the pigs invect , who grunting ran away and vound whot waters prezently , which made um vresh and gay . bladud was not so grote a vool , but zeeing what pig nid doe , he beath'd and wash'd and rins'd and beath'd from noddle down to toe . bladud was now ( gramercy pig ) a delicate vine boy , so whome he trudges to his dad , to be his only joy. and then he bilt this gawdy town , and sheer'd his beard spade-wayes , which voke accounted then a grace , though not so , now a days . two thowsand and vive hundred years , and thirty vive to that , zince bladud's zwine did looze their greaze , which we moderns cal vat : about that time it was alzo , that ahob's zuns were hanged , and jezabel their mam ( curz'd deel ) caus'd naboth be stone-banged . chee cud zay more , but c ham a veard , voke will account this vable , o invidels if yee woon not me , yet chee pray believe the table . miscenter saeria nugis . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a -e * anciently the cities name . notes for div a -e * the single author that bladud found out these waters and bath the city . bathonia rediviva to the kings most excellent majesty, the humble address of the mayor, aldermen, and citizens of your majesties city of bath in the county of somersett. bath (england) this text is an enriched version of the tcp digital transcription a of text r in the english short title catalog (wing p ). textual changes and metadata enrichments aim at making the text more computationally tractable, easier to read, and suitable for network-based collaborative curation by amateur and professional end users from many walks of life. the text has been tokenized and linguistically annotated with morphadorner. the annotation includes standard spellings that support the display of a text in a standardized format that preserves archaic forms ('loveth', 'seekest'). textual changes aim at restoring the text the author or stationer meant to publish. this text has not been fully proofread approx. kb of xml-encoded text transcribed from -bit group-iv tiff page image. earlyprint project evanston,il, notre dame, in, st. louis, mo a wing p estc r ocm this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the early english books online text creation partnership. this phase i text is available for reuse, according to the terms of creative commons . universal . the text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. early english books online. (eebo-tcp ; phase , no. a ) transcribed from: (early english books online ; image set ) images scanned from microfilm: (early english books, - ; : ) bathonia rediviva to the kings most excellent majesty, the humble address of the mayor, aldermen, and citizens of your majesties city of bath in the county of somersett. bath (england) prynne, william, - . sheet ([ ] p.) printed for edward thomas ..., london : . "presented to the king ... by william prynne, esq." eng bath (england) -- history -- th century -- sources. broadsides -- england -- th century. rbgenr a r (wing p ). civilwar no bathonia rediviva. to the kings most excellent majesty. the humble address of the mayor, aldermen, and citizens of your majesties city of ba bath f the rate of defects per , words puts this text in the f category of texts with or more defects per , words. - tcp assigned for keying and markup - spi global keyed and coded from proquest page images - emma (leeson) huber sampled and proofread - emma (leeson) huber text and markup reviewed and edited - pfs batch review (qc) and xml conversion bathonia rediviva . to the kings most excellent majesty . the humble address of the mayor , aldermen , and citizens of your majesties city of bath in the county of somersett . we your majesties loyal subjects the mayor , aldermen , common counsel , and other citizens of your majesties antient city of bath , originally * foun●ed , enlarged and indowed with sundry privileges by your majesties royal progenito●s , kings of this realm , doe with all thankfulness of heart and tongue to almighty god , and demonstrations of our publick ioy , and loyalty to your majesty , congratulate your most h●ppy and longed-for return to the actual possession of your majesties hereditary kingdoms and roya● authority over them and this your city , with safety , honor , and triumph ( after many years deplorable exile ) without the least opposition or bloudshed . which miraculous restauration of your majesty , ( begun and compleated within the circle of one month ) as we cannot contemplate without admiration , and acknowledge it an unparalled wonder wrought by god himself without human contributions soon after your majesty was proclaimed king of england , scotland , france and ireland by hereditary and undoubted birthright , by order of both your houses of parl●ament ; which solemnity as we most chearfully performed with all possible expressions of our publike ioy , by reiterated acclamations of god save king charles the second , vollies of shot , ringing of bells , conduits streaming forth wine , bonfires , and other festivities : so we think it our bounden duties by this our unanimous publick address , humbly to prostrate our selves at your majesties feet , assuring your majesty , that we all are your loyal and dutifull subjects 〈…〉 assistance , according to our bounden duties , bear faith and true allegiance to your majesty , your heirs and lawfull successors for ever : and shall with the last drop of our blouds and fortunes , upon all occasions , evidence our selves to be , your majesties dutifull and obedient subjects . in testimony whereof , we have hereunto subscribed our hands , together with our hearts , and affixed our corporation seal the fourth day of iune , in the twelf year of your majesties reign ; and shall ever pray for your majesties long life , prosperity , increase of glory , and temporal and eternal felicity . william prynne , one of the citizens serving in parliament george long , minister of gods word . william green minister . samuel bave iohn maplet thomas bruer robert p●irce william smith , berkeley carne thomas cilbs walter baylie iohn chapman walter gibbes robert penny anthony colleby edward white henry moore senior thomas skrine ed. p●rker iohn fisher william childe richard biggs iohn b●sh iohn reed wi●●iam bush george ●eeve benjamin baber hen. m●ore junior robert sheppard samuel wintle iames parker i●hn faire richard carwardine william ho●bus iohn harford richard price iohn biggs mayor iohn pearce matthew clift io. parker io. atwood , io. boyes richard druce iohn masters iohn ford robert childe richard wakeman william ireland robert chapman henry parker . this humble addresse , was presented to the kings most excellent majestie , in his bedchamber at whitehall , saturday morning ( the . of june . ) by william prynne esq ( one of the citizens now serving in parliament for the city of bath ) whom they desired by letter to present it to his majesty , his fellow-citizen being absent . who after a short speech ( comprising the substance of this addresse ) read it distincktly to his majestie , and then delivered it into his royal hand . his majestie most joyfully and gratiously receiving it in his hand , commanded mr. prynne , to return his majesties most hearty thanks to his citie and citizens of bath , for this their loyal addresse ; which he took very kindly and gratefully from them ; and to assure them , in his majesties behalf , that he would upon all occasions most readily extend his royal favours towards them , the rather , for that they had freely chosen mr. prynne for one of their citizens in this parliament , who was so good a friend to him , and had done him and his whole kingdome such good service . london , printed for edward thomas at the adam and eve in little britain , . notes, typically marginal, from the original text notes for div a e- * by king bladud in the daies of the prophet elias as mat westm. flores hist. p. . and others record , being years before our saviours nativity .