of the spermatick preparing vessels. The flesh of the Testicles is as it were a certaine effusion of matter about the vessels, as we said of other entrailes. But you must ob∣serve that the Erythrois encompasses the whole stone, except its head, in which place it sticks to the Epididymis which is continued through the whole substance of the Testi∣cle. This Epididymis or Dartos was therefore put about the stones, because the Testi∣cles of themselves, are loose, spongeous, cavernous and soft, so that they cannot safe∣ly be joyned to the spermaticke vessels which are hard and strong. Wherefore Na∣ture that it might joyne extremes by a fit Medium, or meane, formed this coate Epidi∣dymis. This is scarse apparent in weomen by reason of its smallnesse. The two fore-mentioned common coats, adhere or sticke together by their vessels not only amongst themselves, but also with the Erythrois. You must besides observe the Cremaster muscles are of the said substance with other muscles, small and thin, of an oblique and broad figure, arising from the membrane of the Peritonaeum, which (as wee said before) assumes flesh from the flanks. Their composition is like that of other muscles. They are two, one each side on. They are situate from the ends of the flanks, even to the stones. They have connexion with the processe of the Peritonaeum and Testicles. Their temper is like that of other muscles. Their action is to hang and draw up the Testicles towards the belly, whence they are called, hanging muscles. The Testicles are most commonly two in number, on each side one, sometimes there be three, sometimes one alone, as it happens also in the Kidneies; for some have but one Kidney. They lye hid in the Serotum at the very roots of the share bone, connexed to the princi∣pall parts of their vessels, with the necke of the bladder and yard; but by their coats they adhere to the parts from whence they have them. They are of a cold and moist temper, because they are glandulous; although they may be hot by accident by reason of the multitude of the vessels flowing thither. Those whose testicles are more hot are prompt to venery, and have their privities and the adjacent parts very hairy, and besides their testicles are more large and compact. Those on the con∣trary that have them cold are slow to venery, neither doe they beget many children, and those they get are rather female than male, their priuities have litle haire upon them, and their testicles are small, soft and flat.
The action of the testicles is to generate seed, to corroborate all the parts of the body, and by a certaine manly irradiation to breed or encrease a true masculine cou∣rage. This you may know by Eunuches or such as are Gelt, who are of a womanish nature, and are oftentimes more tender and weake than weomen. As Hippocrates, teaches by the example of the Scythians, lib. de Aëre, locis et aquis.