Hygiasticon: Or, The right course of preserving life and health unto extream old age together with soundnesse and integritie of the senses, judgement, and memorie. Written in Latine by Leonardus Lessius, and now done into English.

TO THE RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN CHRIST, D. RUMOLD COLIBRANT, President of Postell. health and salvation.

YOu will marvell per∣haps (Reverend Lord President) what hath moved me being a Divine by professi∣on, and a Religious, to write concerning Health, a subject proper to Physicians. But con∣cerning this matter, I doubt not to have given so just reasons in

the preface of this work (where I have set down the aim of my undertakings in this kinde) as will take away all ground of wonderment. Inas∣much as it is not my purpose to write like a Physician concern∣ing the preservation of health; that is, setting down a thousand observations & cautions touch∣ing the qualitie of meats and drinks, and of their proper use according to the severall sea∣sons of the yeare, and of timely purgation of humours, and of sleep and watching, bodily exercises, and medicines whereby the severall humours are to be corrected, and whereby the Head, Stomack, and Bow∣ells are to be comforted and strengthened: I say, it was no

part of my intent to enter upon the handling of any of these matters. For how ever it would have been no great difficultie perhaps to have gathered these things out of sundrie Authours, and afterwards to have with judgement digested them ac∣cording to order and method: yet, that I might not seem to act the part of a Physician rather then of a Divine, I have thought fit altogether to omit the mention of them. There was a higher matter in my designes, and that which is proper to Di∣vines: that is, to recommend to all (and in particular to the Religious, and those who are studiously addicted to the em∣ployments of the mind) that Ho∣ly Sobrietie, which is the pro∣curer

of so many singular bene∣fits both to the mindes & bodies of men. For besides that it brings Health and long life, it doth wonderfully conduce to the attainment of Wisdome, to the exercises of Contemplati∣on, Prayer, and Devotion, and to the preservation of Chasti∣tie, and other vertues; and withall causeth all these em∣ployments and functions to be performed with marvellous ••ase, and exceeding great con∣s••lation. It befits not a Divine to busie himself in trifles, which appertain to the bodie, and to engage delicate persons to the further pursuit of such mat∣ters; especially considering that bodily health may very well be preserved without them: but a

Divine ought principally to have an eye to those good things whereby we may become acce∣ptable to God, and promote our own salvation. Inasmuch then as Holy Sobrietie doth bring with it the good things belong∣ing to both parts of a man, I did not think it mis••eseeming my profession, to write this short Treatise in the commendation thereof, and withall to shew and declare, by what way and means we might come to the just scantling and measure there∣of.

I have annexed a Treatise tending to the same purpose, of a Venetian Gentleman Lodo∣wick Cornaro, a man of great eminencie, and of a sharp judge∣ment: who having learned by

experience of many yeares the great vertue and power that is in Sobrietie, did at last by wri∣ting notably make declaration thereof.

Both these Treatises (my Reverend L.) I have thought fit to dedicate unto your name. and to send fo••th into the world under your patronage. For to whom can a Treatise of Sobrie∣tie be more fitly dedicated, then to such a one as hath so stoutly and constantly followed Sobri∣etie, as by the help thereof to preserve himself vigorous and cheerfull unto neare upon seven∣tie yeares of his age? You are he that can sit a hūgry in the midst of daily feasts, enjoyned to be made unto the Gentrie that passe by solitarie Campinia:

and whilest others fill their bel∣lies and satisfie their appetites, you contract both into narrow bounds and limits. Besides this, there are sundrie other causes, which deserve this testimonie of my venerable respect towards your Lordship; to wit, that zeal wherewith you do so indu∣striously promote the cause of your Religion, which is so exceedingly beneficiall to the whole Church, and to our Bel∣gia: and together herewith that singular wisdome of yours in Government, through means whereof you have for so many yeares space safely conserved your noble Hospitall in that desert where it stands, in the midst of many tumults of wars, and shocks of armies, in great

licencio••snesse of militarie di∣scipline, and almost daily in∣rodes of both sides unto it: by means whereof you have fur∣ther not onely recovered it out of those great debts, wherewith it was formerly burthened, but have moreover adorned it with beautifull structures, and a high Tower for the settling of a Monasterie therein. And that I may passe over your other vertues, whereof Sobrietie, the mother of all vertues, is the true cause in you, this de∣dication seems due to you in particular, in regard of that ancient friendship which for a∣bove fourtie yeares space I have had with your brother, Father George Colibrant, a learned man, and of noted holinesse,

exceedingly addicted to sobrietie, prayer, mortification of the flesh, and zeal touching the soul: by whose example & wholesome admonitions, many Centuries of excellent young men have in sundrie places given themselves unto holy Religion. The con∣junction that we likewise have with your other brother, John Colibrant, a man of great up∣rightnesse, whose every where approved integritie farre ex∣cells rich patrimonies, makes this work belong to you. I could relate many other things appertaining to your own and your friends commendation: but I make spare of them, that I may not offend your modestie, which doth not willingly heare such matters.

Receive therefore (Right Reverend Lord) this small gift, a testimonie of our affec••i∣on towards you and yours: and be not wanting to the recom∣mendation of that excellencie of holy Sobrietie which you have made proof of in your self, and we make declaration of in this Treatise, to all men, but espe∣cially to Gods servants, that they may by this means come to serve God more perfectly and sweetly in this life, and obtain greater glory in heaven.

Now I beseech the Divine Goodnesse to prosper all your holy designes to its own glorie, & the salvation of men; and af∣ter that you shall have been adorned with all manner of

vertue, to renew your long and happie Old age with the blessed youth of Eternitie.

From Lovain, Cal. Iul. 1613.

Your Reverend Fatherships servant in Christ, LEONARD LESSIUS.