Preseruatiues and helpes for the Memorie: with meanes and wayes to remoue and take away all inconueniences, har∣mes and hindraunces thereof. The iiij. Chapter.

FOrasmuch as both y^e distemperature that is Cold & Moyst, and that also which is Colde and Dry, growing into excesse and drawinge into extremitie, oppresseth and deadly woundeth the Memory: I haue thought good into this worke to inserte and enterlace some such notes as maye serue to the furtheraunce thereof and preseruatiō of it from all such myssehappes, harmes and discōmodities as in any wyse threaten thereunto annoyaunce. And howe the same is to be done and brought to passe, I purpose compendiouslye by the way to declare: sythens not to Studentes only, but to al sorts of men in general, it shal be a thing right expedient and profitable. For al the actions and dealinges either publike or priuate, which a man taketh in hand, and enterpryseth: all his affayres, cogitations, deuyses, meditations, cares, purposes and studyes, & all labour and in∣dustry y^e is taken for doing and speaking, wherin is any exercise at all of y^e minde,* cānot be brought aboute and accomplished withoute the helpe of Page  [unnumbered] Memorie. For in this Treasure, the speciallest & chiefest parte of reason, vnderstāding and iudg∣ment resteth: and out of it, as out of a moste rich and plentifull Storehouse is fetched and taken a cōplete furniture of most hiddē and farre fetched matters. Which power and vertue of Memory, if it further & helpe vs not, as a faythfull main∣tener and keeper of the things which wee deuise, ymagine and learne: all (be it neuer so precious & excellent) goeth to wrack and is raked vp in obli∣uion.

The proper and peculiar place, assigned & al∣lotted for Memorie, is the Braine, the mansion & dwelling house of wit and all the Senses: which being affected or by anye distēperature discrased,* all the functions and offices of nature are sem∣blably passioned: insomuch that wit, reason, vn∣derstāding and iudgement being once empayred, aud diminished: there steppeth in place, Sottage, forgetfulnes, amazednesse, dotage, folishnes, lacke of right wits, doltishnes & idiocie. Which affects & imperfections may happen to mē many wayes, as by some blow or wound in the head, by some rupture or cracking of the Skull, by some fall or cōtuston, by pestilent diseases & maladies, which (of the contagion of Ayre on eche syde enclosinge vs) inspyreth infection into our bodyes: and be∣syde externall accidentes, which sometime cannot well be auoyded, there bee some harmes which through our owne wilfulnes and disorder, wee heape vppon our selues, incurring thereby much Page  120 inconuenience: and these be, Surphettes, Drun∣kennes, Gluttonie, vnseasonable watchinge,* meates colde and Phelgmaticke, immoderate vse of Venery, and carnall company wyth Wo∣mē, thereby the quicknes of witte is blunted and waxeth dull,* Reason, Vnderstanding and Iudgement dymmed, and the strength of nature in many, so weakened and enfeebled, that in three dayes space or more after, vneth is it able to reco¦uer y^e vigour & lusty plight wherin it was before.

And not this discommodity alone, but certaine other sicklie and foule affections insurge there∣vpon, no lesse pernicious to the mind, then daun∣gerous to the body, vtterlye ouerthrowinge, op∣pressing and ruinating the power Memoratyue. For euen as toomuch drynes of the brayne (got∣ten through excessiue surphet, lacke of expediente foode,* and Venerie) is very hurtful to Memory, because that quality is nothing apte to take anye impressions, or fourmes of thinges (for drynes & hardnes taketh no printes nor Images) so also toomuch moysture (proceding of ydlenes, slouth, immoderat sleepe & moyst meats) quight destroy & drowne Memory Moysture (in deede) is more* capable, & wil soner take y^e print & formes of thin∣gs, but by reasō of softnes, the same taryeth not, but passeth away agayne: euen as stāpes or Sea∣les, being affixed and imprinted into substance or matter that is toomoyst, liquide and fluible, ma∣keth therin no stampe, forme or print, but such, as presētly fleeteth and immediatly vanisheth awaye agayne.

Page  [unnumbered] Forasmuch therefore as the vertue and power Memoratiue, consisteth in a sure, faythful, and stedfast keeping and conseruation of Images, it foloweth, that the same in Childrē and in as ma∣ny others as haue moyst Braynes, is weak & no∣thing retentiue.* Old folkes also haue the same imbecillity and forgetfulnes, and the reason is, because their braynes be so cold and dry, that no∣thinge is able to enter or fyrmelye to bee impryn∣ted therein: and for these causes, both sortes of them be obliuious and nothinge Memoratyue. For of this (as also of all the inward senses) the power and facultie is according to the tempera∣ture of the Brayne. For oute of the grosse sub∣stance of that part,* or whē the Spyrits and Hu∣mours therein be grosse, thicke and wyth manye vapours pestered, proceedeth Obliuion, slownes to vnderstande, & hardnes to conceyue. Againe, of a moyst Brayne, that is too liquide, commeth forth a dul or blunt sense, and a Memory nothing retentyue but sonne forgetting. And a dry Con∣stitutiō of the Brayne maketh a very weake and ill memory: by reason, that it wil not easely admit anye impression (euen like vnto a piece of Leade, Yron or Steele, which will not easelye suffer the poynte of anye engrauinge Toole to enter and pearce into it.

A good stedfast and fryme Memory therefore is to be referred vnto the disposition and tempe∣rature of the Brayne: & this power of the minde, is ascribed to the benefite of Nature: but yet so, Page  121 that it may be holpē and maynteyned in his per∣fect state by Arte,* and if perhaps it decay or take harme, yet through care & industry, it may againe be restored. And therfore special care must be em¦ployed, and great diligence taken, that the bodye may in perfect health and sound constitution be preserued: that moderatiō both in life and diet be vsed: always within the compasse of temperaūce and frugality: that y^• meate be exactly concocted: that the mynde be in peaceable tranquillitye, and free from troublesome affections: that no mysse∣happe betyde to disturbe and dimme the same: for lustynesse of body & mynde, holesomnes of Ayre, temperature of the Brayne, perfect Constitution of all y^e Sēses, the Spyrits, both Animal & Vi∣tal (which proceede of y^• Humours) being cleare and syncere, bee greate helpers & most auayleable preseruatyues for the maintenaunce of Memory.

For by these it happeneth that all the faculties of the Soule (among which Memory is chiefe) be fresh and perfect, that nothing of al that which we eyther by view of eye, cogitation, witte, lear∣ning or meditation conceyue, slippeth oute of our remembraunce. Yea, many thinges that were thought to be cleane forgottē, and cancelled with obliuion, be reuiued as fresh in Memory & seeme to the eye as plainly, as thinges but newly done: in somuch, that although sometimes wee forgette what we did but yesterday, yet perfectlye can wee remember thinges done many yeares agoe, when we were Children. The reason whereof I take Page  [unnumbered] to be this,* for that, tēder age and Childhode, gre∣dily, attentyuely & wyth great admyration fyxeth things in mynde, and is apt, readye, willinge and ful of courage to cōceyue what is put vnto them. For whyse the mynd is yet free from carking ca∣res of the worlde, and not ouercharged or busyed with waighty matters and dealings, it retayneth suerer and kepeth faster in Memory those things which are instilled into it in childishe yeares, their minds beinge yet free from al other cūber∣some disquietations.

Now, although Memory and Remembraūce of things, be conceyued in the forepart of y^e head, where the common witts or Senses specially re∣steth, yet those thinges y^• are by the benefyte ther∣of attayned, be kept and fostered in the hynder part. And therfore they do very wel, which keepe their Nucha and nape of their necks warme,* and fense themselues safe from the daunger of cold, & iniurye of wyndes: For these partes beinge di∣stempered or affected, bringe a man in daunger of the fallinge Sicknesse, the Drowsye euill, Aston∣ment, Palsey, Crampe, and Oblyuion.

Wherefore it shalbe right good and expedient to remoue and take away all such hindraunce & discommodities as preiudice and hurt Memory. And becaus many and sundry thinges settle in mans mynde and Memory,* euen against his wil: such things (I meane) as he would not gladlye remember, but rather would be willing to forget and commit to oblyuion, as some lewde and loose Page  122 pranckes, dishonestly aforetyme perpetrated, are: and agayne, manye good and holesome thinges, which are expedient and needefull to be remem∣bred, slyppe out of mynde and be forgotten: a mā is in these poynts to take diligente heede and re∣gard that he do not (as y^e Cōmon sort vse) with∣out anye choyse and difference eyther neglect, or retchlessely forslowe the due orders of both these things, indifferently. Those things therefore which a man would gladlye remember, it shal be good for him to thincke vppon, and many times wyth himselfe in mynde to meditate and reuolue: and such as he woulde fayne shake of & forget, as hurtfull and pernicious to his mynde, let him w^t reason and iudgement stoutly resist and striue a∣gainst. For as by the corruption of our nature (which is fallen away,* from his first integritye) we be a great deale readyer and apt to that which is nought, then to that which is good: and farre more proclyue to conceyue and learne the same, then thinges of better importaunce and purpose: so also those that be ill, sticke faster in memory, & not easelye to be shaken of or abolyshed, without greate adoe and difficulty. Which thing cau∣sed Themistocles to demaunde of one which pro∣fessed to teach him the Arte of Memory:* Whe∣ther there were anye Sciēce y^t could rather teach him the Arte of Obliuion: for (sayd hee) I can wel ynough remēber what I lust, but I cānot so easely forget such thīgs as are settled in my mind vnwillingly and otherwise then I would desyre.

Page  [unnumbered] For some things we would be gladder to for∣gette then to remember, for somuch as manye men bee of such nature that they cannot abyde to haue olde soares rypped vp,* and stale grudges (lōg agone stille aud pacifyed) by new rehear∣salls reuyued and brought fresh agayne into que∣stion. To which ende apperteyneth this Pro∣uerbe. A mischiefe vvel quieted and brought a slepe, vvould not be stirred anevv, nor rubbed vp a freshe.

Now, wheras there be many helpes and sun∣drye furtheraunces deuysed by Rhetoricians to preserue & corroborate Memory: I haue thought it good here not to stande tediouslye in particuler recytall thereof: and the rather because manye of them be very curious, and wythout marueylous precyse carefulnes scarcelye able to be obserued: for the sharpenes of witte and vnderstandinge w^t such a rable of preceptes, is ouercloyed, and the natiue vertue of Memory ouerwhelmed. But a∣mong al other helpes and preseruatyues of Me∣mory, this namelye is to be considered, that y^e bo∣dy may in perfect health be maynteyned,* without being endaungered to Sicknesses, specially such as may disturbe and damnifye the head.

Sleepe must be moderatelye vsed, not lyinge vppon the backe, but on the one syde: the mynde quiet and calme, free from all busynes and trou∣blesome garboyles.*

Now, forsomuch as this faculty of the Soule is brittle, tender & delicate, there is nothing that Page  123 woorketh more harme thereunto, then Cruditie, Ryot, Intemperaunce, Surphet and dronken∣nes.

In the meane season, for the preseruinge and cheerishinge of the Memorye, all helpes must be vsed & all furtheraunces, which any way may cō∣duce to y^e mainteynāce & increase of the same must be put in vre & practize: among which, is: con∣tinuall vse and exercyse of wryting and speaking: adhibiting therein order, reason & measure, & not patteringe the same ouer rashlye, confuselye or without aduysement. There is nothing in the world more refreshed, maynteyned and strengthe∣ned, throughe care, study, industry, dilligence, re∣gard and heede, then Memory: Againe, nothing in the world through negligence, slouth, securitye and carefulnes, so soone marred and defaced.

And euen as it is a meere vanity and foolishe braggrie (as one sayth) in this Myraculous gift of Memory,* to boast of Arte rather then of Na∣ture: so againe, I deeme him a righte wyse man, that bestoweth care & diligence to make the gifts of Nature and qualityes of his mynde, floury∣shing, pregnaunt and fruictful: euen as the good and thryftie Husbandman by manuraunce doth vnto his ground, to make it ranke and fertile.

And now,* that I may here set downe precepts of Phisicke, to keepe this fyelde from growing? barreyne, first of all I am to aduyse such as bee desyrous to preserue and keepe this goodlye and necessary Vertue perfect and stedfast, to vse light Page  [unnumbered] Suppers, or if he happē to make full and larger suppers, to walke after it: to be meery and plea∣saūtly conceipted: to lay asyde (for the time) ear∣nest cares: and not to perplexe his brayne wyth troublesome thoughts, nor his mynde with scru∣pulosities. And after he hath in this sort after Supper, spent an houre and a half, let him go to bedde and take his naturall reste, lyinge vpon the right syde: and arysing earely in the morning, let him exonerate nature by all those officiall mem∣bers that serue for euacuation and auoydinge of bodely excrementes: First, let him rubbe his tō∣gue, and combe his heade gently with an Yuorye Combe, let him vse to haue his heade polled, spe∣cially if the season of the yeare, the Countrey and Custome requyre or permitte it: for to vse it in Wynter, or where the weather is extreeme Cold, it is no lesse hurtfull and vnholesome, then foo∣lishe and ridiculous. For they bereeue, take a∣way and disapoynte themselues of those helpes & defences of Nature, which propulse colde and o∣ther outwarde iniuryes, & in steede thereof keepe their heads warme w^t other deuysed couertures.

But when the weather is myelde and calme, and the Countrey temperate, I myslike not (as touchinge healthynesse of bodye) shauinge of the crowne of the head. For thereby grosse vapours which hurt the Memory, haue more scope and li∣berty to euaporate and fume oute. And there∣fore some in my opynion, take a holesome way for Page  124 healthynesse (so they do it without anye maner of superstition otherwyse) which go pollshorne and haue theyr heads shauen to the hard scalpe.* For by this meanes all they that are encombred wyth Rhewmes, Catarrhes, and headach, fynde much ease, and so do all they that haue theyr eyesighte (through abundaunce of Humours) dymme, and theyr hearing thicke, and theyr smelling stopped: insomuch that for the redresse of certayne disea∣ses of the head,* losse of right witts, feeblenes of brayne, dottrye, phrensie, Bedlem madnesse, Me∣lancholicke affections, furie and franticke fitts, Phisitions deeme it the beste waye to haue the hayre cleane shauen of. Which in my iudgemēt is not to be taken as a vayne or absurde fable, for that both experience and reason perswadeth and enforceth some credite thereto: forsomuch as e∣uery man after his beard hath beene trimmed or cleane shauen of, feeleth himselfe a greate deale meryer, and lesse wayward and ouerthwart then he was before.

Furthermore my ordenarye custome is to aduyse them that haue defectyue and dymme eyes, and that be thicke of hearynge, or sub∣iecte to the poze, to haue theyr heades rub∣bed, and theyr Beardes shauen or some such order and fashion, as maye moste commodi∣ouslye serue for those partes: And accor∣dinglye as euerye Countrye hath his peculier guyse, to vse the Barbers helpe in trymmynge Page  [unnumbered] and handling y^e same: for after y^e same, euery man looketh both smugger and fayrer, and is also of mynde more myeld and tractable, so that his out∣ward courage seemeth to reioyce & to be pleasaūt and lustye: his Memory made more perfecte and cleare: his Spirits (which are they y^e moue vs to do this and that) reuyued and styrred vp: and all the Senses (a litle afore dulled and broughte as it were a sleepe) shewe forth themselues in theyr most brauery and perfection.

And if he vse now & thē to rynse and wash his mouth, Iawes and palate: to rubbe his teeth, to wype and cleanse his Nose, to picke his eares & mundify them from al baggage & fylthynesse, stil to dilate & to open his breaste wyth Coughinge, hawking, neesing and popping or smacking with the mouthe, to exonerate his lower partes, as the Ventricle, Mylte, Lyuer, Bowelles, Bealie and Bladder of their ordinary Excrements: not onelye the Memorye, but also all the Organes of the mynde besyde, and euery seuerall faculty of the Soule shalbe well enhabled throughlye and wythout stoppe or let, to discharge and do their proper functions and offices.

And because for the most parte, the Colde and Moyst quality is most hurtfull to Memory and oppresseth it, therfore the same by his contraries is to be subdued & maystered: by such (I meane) as haue vertue, power, and efficacy, to wast and dispatche superfluous Humours, and to streng∣then and comfort the Brayne: of which sort are Page  125 these:* Nuttmigges, speciallye those that are not cleane dry, rotten, and without iuyce, Rosemarye flowers, and the stemmes therof & all confectiōs made w^t the same: sweete Maioram, Baulme, Stychas of both sortes, Pionie rootes, and the yonge bearies thereof, mystleden, Hyssope, and Sauoury,* which being boyled wyth meates, yel∣deth forth a pleasaunte smell and sauour, for it flourisheth greene in Wynter & wythereth not: & in the number of these, adde Betonie, Cowslips, Maron,* or common Organie or welde Maio∣ram, Basil, roots of flower Delyce of both sorts, Enula Cāpana, Radishe which is a roote vsual∣lye echwhere eaten at meales in Sommer to pro∣uoke an appetite: and among forreyne and out∣lādish Spices, Zedoaria, Cloues, Macis, which is the rynde that couereth y^e Nutmigge, Gynger, specially greene & condite in Honie, righte Gla∣dē, Cassia, Cynamome, Cubebes, Myrobalanes condite or preserued in honie.

The more parte of all these may eyther be re∣duced into Syrupes, or stamped into powder or Condiments: or els the decoction or infusion of them may be taken, specially of such as dwel in Cold and Moyste places, and be of nature verye Phlegmaticke.* For they that be stryken in yea∣res and their Humours dryed vp and exhausted, had neede to haue aswell their bodyes as the Instrumentes of theyr Senses moystened, & wyth nourishinge alimentes of sweete and plea∣saunt quality to be humected, as the Ryndes of Page  [unnumbered] Citron, that is, of Pomegranades condite, Ly∣quirice, water Lillie commonlye named Nenu∣phar, Buglosse, Borage, Reysons (the stones be∣ing taken out) Coraunts and all such as do mo∣derately calefie and humecte. Of which sort are these, Honie, Sugar, Wyne that is swetish, But∣ter and new layed Egges, Pyneapplekernelles, sweete Almonds that be not fustie, vinued nor old,* Nutts called Pistacia, Chestnutts meanelye parched, and fylberds: for Walnutts be hurtful to the Memory, and so are Onyons, because they annoy the eyes wyth a dazeling dymnes, through a hoate vapour,* euen as Lactuce doth with cold, through a somniferous vertue and power in it.

But Rapes and Turneppes eyther sodde or boyled, do wonderfully clarefye the eyes, and are very beneficiall for the sight, and they that be dis∣posed to try, shal fynd it by experience very true: by reasō of their great stoare of hoat & moyst fla∣tuousnes, whereby they also encrease generatiue Seede, and stirre vp Venus, specially being cō∣dite with Gynger.

As touching what kinds of smal Braynes be best for this purpose,* this is first to be vnderstā∣ded, that there cannot be any thing of more vertue and strength to comforte Memory and keepe it in a right sound perfection, then y^e Braynes of Par¦tridges, next of Sparrowes, and all such Byrds as be naturally much styrring, & exercise themsel∣ues still in flickering and flying, wherof in an o∣ther place we shal speake more at large.

Page  126 Washing of y^e head, although many greatly mis∣lyke not,* yet do I counsell none to vse it. For it weakeneth the skull and Braine panne, and ma∣keth it at euery small cold and blast of wynd, sub∣iect to distillations & Catarrhes. But to wash y^e feete in a decoction of Baye leaues, Rosemary & Fenel, I greatly disalow not: for it turneth away from the head vapours & fumes dimming and o∣uercasting the minde.

Now the better to represse fumes and propulfe vapours frō the Brain, it shalbe excellēt good af∣ter Supper, to chaw w^t the teeth (y^e mouth being shut) a few graynes of Coriander first stieped in veneiger,* wherin Maiorā hath bin decocted, & thē thinnly crusted or couered ouer w^t Sugar. It is scarce credible what a special cōmodity this brī∣geth to y^e memory. No lesse vertuous & soueraign is the cōfection of Quinces called Diacidonion,* if a prety quantity thereof be likewise takē after meat. For it disperseth fumes, & suffreth not va∣pours to strike vpward, & y^e fame effect also haue certayne graynes of Mastix swalowed.

Also it is right excellent & cōfortable now & then to smell to such things as yelde a sweete & odori∣ferous sauour,* namely such as be of nature pear∣sing & calefactiue, as Lignū Aloes, Clofegelofres Rosemary flowers, Basil, Nigella, Ambregryce, Syuet, redde Roses, Hony suckle flowers, Frēch spyknard, and many other y^• yelde forth a stronge smel, but the seme right pleasaunt, comfortable, & delightfull. All these refresh the Spirits, & wyth Page  [unnumbered] their soote sauours wonderfullye comforte the Brayne.

If a man or woman seeme (to outward iudg∣ment) in a maner past recouery,* and be broughte to extreeme obliuion, as they be y^t haue y^• disease called Lethargus or the drowsye euill: it shalbe right good for them to annoynt y^e outsyde of their Nucha and nape of their necks wyth the Oyle of Castor,* Nigella, Euphorbe, Costus, Rocket, and inwardly to take a litle of the confection of Ana∣cardus, or els therewyth to rubbe the tongue. For is dissolueth Phlegme that is extremelye colde, moyst, and viscous: Insomuch that it restoreth speach to them that be striken wyth y^e Apoplexie, and recureth the staggeringe and stayinge of the tongue, bringinge it againe to his righte vse: Which thinge maye also be done and broughte to passe wyth Oximel Scillit. and Aqua vite, wherein a fewe graynes of Rocket haue beene stieped.

Vnto these helpes,* in daungerous and despe∣rate discrasies (when nothing else will helpe) we flee for refuge and succour: but in distemperaū∣ces and grieues that be myelder, and not of such extremity, others now rehearsed may serue, as Syrupe de Stichade. Dia Anthos dulcis, Aur•a Alexandrina,* Dia castorium, Pliris cum Musco, Triacle and Mythridatum.

By experience and daily proofe it is founde true, that Agalochus (commonly called Lignum Aloes) being eyther vsed in perfume, or smelled Page  127 vnto with the Nose, hath a marueylous vertue to corroborate the Brayne & refresh the Senses: insomuch that beinge stamped,* puluerized, and myngled wyth some Cloues and the boane of a Rauens harte, and then all mixed with Oyle of Nigella, hath such souereigne vertue in streng∣thening & comfortinge y^• Braine, that if the head of a Cocke be therewith annoynted, he wil crowe continually without any ceassing.