In sléepe the inner partes heate, and the vtter partes coole: and so when the heat is déepe within, the lymme of the com∣mon wit is bounden, the which lymme is Centrum and middle of all the parts, and all the particular wits spring out therof, and stretch as lynes drawen from the middle poynt of a circle to the round∣nesse thereof. Then if that lym be stop∣ped, ye particular vertues may not stretch to the vtter parts of the lymmes of wit and of féelyng. And that maketh kinde, because a beast should rest of wilfull mo∣uing: for it is impossible to moue vo∣luntarily away. Constantine in Panteg. sayth, that some sléepe is kindly, & some vnkindly: but thereof we shal speak no∣thing at this time. Kindly sléep commeth of temperate moysture of the braine, as of smoake that is moyst and cléere, that commeth from all the bodye vp to the brayne, and that smoake thicketh the spi∣rites, and ••lleth the sinewes, and so bin∣deth the wits. Austen saith In predic∣to li. That sléepe commeth either of the meats that come in from without, or els of a temperate humour within, ye which when it is resolued, coueteth to come to the braine, and there being resolued, the colde parte droppeth downewarde, and the heate passeth vpwarde. And the colde dropping downward swageth the heate of the heart, and letteth the proces of workings. And Austen sayth, and A∣ristotle also, that the heart is the well of workings, and all good and euil sprin∣geth out of the heart. In sléepe the ver∣tues of féelyng and of mouing, rest, and the vertues spirituall and naturall be as they were before hande, as it is séene & knowen by pulse, breathing, and digesti∣on: for in sléepe is best digestion. And Auicen describeth sléepe, and sayth, that for to speake naturally, sléepe is the tur∣ning againe of the spirite from the lims of féeling and mouing to the well, with which well the instrumentes of the spi∣rites haue spring and beginning. And kinde sléepe is againe tourning of the spirites from deepenesse and fastnesse, that meate and drinke may be defied, as it fareth in sleepe of trauayling men: in them sleepe is dead and fast, for the su∣perfluitie of resolution of spirites.
Kinde desiring addition in substaunce of spirites, fasteneth the spirites deepe in the inner parts, and hideth him therein: and so in them, the sleepe is more fast & long. And in that manner slept Ezechi∣as, and so they sleepe that be voyded with laxatiues and medicines: For much of the substaunce of the spirites, is resolued with the superfluities. This sleep is pro∣fitable, and restoreth them to their might and vertues as Auicen sayth. Also Ari∣stotle sayth lib.3. Sleepe accordeth to euery beast, though it be in some beasts full little and prime. Heerby it is know∣en, that the material cause of sleepe, is a smoake of indigestion, resolued of the bo∣die. The cause formal in the head, is the common wit, that is the well of sinews of feeling, that be stopped and bounde, and the beast resteth, and all the mem∣bers are recreated. Constantine sayth, that the working and dooing of sleepe, varieth in double manner, touching quantitie & great matter, that is founde, in the bodie. Touching quantitie of the matter, if the matter be too much, the vertue of digestion fayleth, and the body is made moyst & colde, for humour is de∣parted and dissolued, and so kinde heate is quenched, and fleame is made more, & kinde heate lesse. And if the matier be too little, the vertue of digestion fayleth, and the bodye is dryed, and if the mat∣ter and meate be moderate, the meats is well digested, and the bodye fattened, the heart comforted, kinde heate made more, the humors made temperate, & wit made cleere: also working of sleep varieth by matter yt it findeth: for if the matter be much, and kinde heate feeble, by sleepe is caused resolution of more humors, in∣to which kinde heate entering is ouer∣come and quenched. Therefore it is hid∣den, that they that take drinkes & be let bloud should not sleepe, least there be so great resolution of humors in the sleepe, that kind may not rule them. But if the meat be temperate and also the humors, kinde heate is gathered inward by sleep, and defieth meat and drink, and maketh the humours temporate and the bodye moyst, hot, and fat.