To the extent possible under law, the Text Creation Partnership has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above, according to the terms of the CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/). This waiver does not extend to any page images or other supplementary files associated with this work, which may be protected by copyright or other license restrictions. Please go to http://www.textcreationpartnership.org/ for more information.
THe causes of hot infirmities be sixe; The first are the motions of the minde: as loue, anger, feare, and such like. The se∣cond, the motions of the body: as, im∣moderate carnall copulation, vehement la∣bours,
strayning, hard riding. The third, long standing, or sitting in the sunne, or by the fire. The fourth cause of infirmities is the vse of hot things, as, meates, drinks, and medicines vn∣timely vsed. The fift, closing or stopping of the pores: which hapneth by immoderat a∣noynting, bathing, or otherwise thickning the skinne; so that the holes, whereby the sweat & fumes doe passe out, be stopped. The sixt, pu∣trefaction of humoures by distemperature of meats, and long watchings.
The causes of cold infirmities be eight. The first is the cold aire. The second is too much repletion. The third is want of good meate. The fourth is the vse of cold things. The fift is too much quietnesse. The sixt is opening of the pores. The seauenth is op∣pilation in the veines or arteries. The eight is vnseasonable exercise.
The chiefest and vnauoydable cause of our deathes is the contrarietie of the elements, where of our bodies be compounded. For the qualitie, which is predominant ouer the tem∣perature (or mediocritie) beginneth to im∣pugne
and fight with his contrarie, which is more weake, vntill it see the vtter dissolution of the same.
Loue is an affection, whereby the minde lusteth after that, which is either good indeed, or else that, which seemeth vnto it, to be so.
The cause of loue among fooles is beau∣tie; but among good men the vertues of the minde are the principles of loue, for they are euerlasting; and when all other things, as beautie and riches do decay, yet they become more fresh, more sweet, and inestimable then before. Hence is it that wee are counselled to chuse wiues, not by our eies, but by our eares; that is, not by prying into their faire∣nesse of bodies, but by inward contemplating of their honest deedes, and good huswiueries. Ordinarilie the most beautifull and goodlie sort of men, and such as are decked with bodi∣lie giftes, are most deformed and vicious in their soules. There is alwaies a great combat betwixt chastitie and beautie, so that wee sel∣dome
see faire women to be honest matrons: the reason is, because they preferre the phan∣tasticall pleasures of their bodily senses be∣fore the true and right noble vertues of the minde.
Anger is a vehement affection, because it seeth things fall out contrarie and crosse-like to reason.
Some, when they are angry, become red, be∣cause their bloud ascendeth vp into the head: and these are not so much to be doubted.
Men waxe pale, when they are angrie, be∣cause the bloud is retired vnto the hart: wher∣by they become full of heart, and verie daun∣gerous.
Sorrow is an affection of the minde, where∣by it is oppressed with some present euill, and languisheth by little and little, except it finde some hope, or other, to remedie the griefe thereof.
Sorrow stifleth vp the purer faculties of the soule, causeth a man to fall into a consumpti∣on, and to be weary of the world, yea and of himselfe.
Feare is a griefe, which the minde coceiueth of some euill, that may chaunce vnto it.
The reason, why fearefull men looke pale and wanne is, because nature draweth away that heate, which is in the face and outward partes, to relieue and comfort the hart, which is welnigh stifled and stopped vp.
Enuie is a griefe arising of other mens felicitie. It maketh a mā to looke leane, swart, hollow eyed, and sicklie.
Yea doubtlesse. For if the bodie be repleni∣shed with these diseases, the soule can not be whole, nor sound. And euen as vices cause disorders and diseases both in the bodie and soules so likewise they cause the one to de∣stroy the other; whereas there should bee an vnitie and harmonie not onely of the
corporall qualities among themselues, and so of the spirituall among themselues, but also of their ioint qualities one with another, And no maruell; seeing that God hath sowed and planted the seeds and sparkes of affections (to moue vs) not onelie into our soules, but also into our bodies.
There is great concord betwixt the bodies qualities, and the soules affections: insomuch that as our bodies are compacted of the ele∣mentall qualities, namelie, of moisture and drinesse, heate and cold: so among the soules affections some are moist, some drie, some hot and some are cold. This we might see by in∣stance made. The affection of mirth is hot and moist, whereas sorrow is cold and drie. The one is proper to young men, and the other to old men, who are cold and drie.
Mans life by the computation of Astrolo∣gers is dinided into seauen ages: ouer euerie
one of which, one of the seuen planets is pre∣dominant. The first age is called infancie, which continueth the space of seauen yeares. And then the Moone raigneth, as appeareth by the moist cōstitutiōs of children, agreeing well with the influence of that planet.
The second age, named childhood, lasteth seauen yeares more, and endeth in the four∣teenth of our life. Ouer this age, Mercurie (which is the second sphere) ruleth; for then children are vnconstant, tractable, and soone inclined to learne.
The third age endureth eight yeares, and is termed the strippling age: It beginneth at the fourteenth yeare, and continueth vntill the ende of the two and twentieth. During which time, gouerneth the planet Venus: For then we are prone to prodigalitie, gluttonie, drun∣kennesse, lecherie, and sundrie kindes of vices. The fourth age containeth twelue yeeres, till a man be foure and thirtie, and then is hee named a young man. Of this age, the sunne is chiefe Lord. Now a man is wittie, well adiu∣sed, magnanimous, and come to know him∣selfe.
The fist age is called mans age; and hath
sixteene yeares for the continuance thereof subiect to Mars; for now a man is cholerick and couetous.
The sixt age hath twelue yeares, that is, from fiftie till threescore and two. This age is termed (although improperly) old age of which Iupiter is maister, a planet significant of equitie, temperance, and religion.
The seauenth and last (by order) of these ages continueth full eighteene yeares, ending at fourescore: to which few attaine. This age, by the meanes of the planet Saturne, which is melancholick & most slow of al other, causeth man to be drooping, decrepite, froward, cold, and melancholick.
The principall reason, why men in those dayes liued longer, then wee doe, is, be∣cause they had not then any of the causes, which ingēder in vs so many maladies, whēce consequently ensueth death. Their liues were vpholden by the course of the heauens with the qualities of the planets andistarres, being at that time farre more glorious and grati∣ous then now, There were not so many me∣teors,
comets, and eclipses past, from whence now diuerse & innumerable circumuolutions proceede.
Wee must also vnderstand, that our first parents were created of God himselfe with∣out any other instrumentall meanes. And a∣gaine the earth in those dayes was of greater efficacie to bring foorth necessaries for mans vse, then it is in this crooked and outworne age. The soile was then gay, trimme, and fresh: whereas now by reason of the inundation (which tooke away the fatnesse thereof) it is barren, saltish, and vnsauourie.
To conclude, they knew the hidden vertues of hearbs and stones, vsing great continence in their dyets and behauiours. They were ignorant of our delicate inuentions and mul∣tiplied compounds. They knew not our dam∣tie cates, our marchpanes, nor our superflu∣ous slibber sauces. They were no quaffers, nor were they troubled with so many cares, and vaineglorious pompes.
To die once, is a common thing to all men. For that was ordained as a punishment of God for our foreparents, whē they transgres∣sed his commaundement, touching the fruit in paradise: but to tel how, and at what time, that is a secrecie neuer disclosed to any crea∣ture. Such as the mans life is, such is his death. A righteous man dieth righteouslie. But a wicked man hath a wicked ende. Death is a suddeine & a sullen guest, neuer thought on, before he apprehendeth vs as his slaues. Whē we think our selues safely mounted on the pi∣nacle of worldly felicity, he vnawares (hidden in the darkesome corners of our houses) sup∣presseth vs rudely, and smiteth vs deadly.
For which consideration, O mortall men, lead your liues vprightlie, hearken not vnto the counsells of the vngodly, nor like greedie Cormoraunts snatch vp other mens tightes. Rather know your selues: which done, be vi∣gilant, well armed in Christ Iesus, and alvvaies meditating on your deathes.
The auncient Sages by curious notes haue found out, that certaine yeeres in mans
life he very perilous. These they name climac∣tericall or stayrie yeares, for then they saw great alterations. Now a climactericall yeare is euerie seauenth yeare. The reason is, because then the course of the planets returne to Sa∣turne, who most commonlie is cruel and noi∣some vnto vs. And euen as the Moone, which is the next planet vnto vs, & swiftest of course, passeth almost euerie seauenth daie into the contrarie signe of the same qualitie, from whence she came forth, and therehence brin∣geth the criticall daies: so Saturne, which is the planet furthest from vs and slowest of course (for he resteth in one signe so manie yeares, as the Moone doth daies) bringeth these climactericall yeares, & causeth sundrie mutations to follow. Hence is it, that in the seauenth yeere children doe cast and re∣new their teeth. In the fourteenth yeere proceedeth the strippling age. In the one and twentieth, youth. And when a man hath past seauen times seauen yeares, to weet, nine and fortie yeares, hee is a ripe and perfect man. Also, when he attaineth to ten times seauen yeares, that is to the age of threescore and ten, his strength & chiefest vertue beginnes
to fall away. And againe euery seauenth yeere was by Gods owne institution pronounced hallowed. And in it the Israelites were prohi∣bited to manure their grounds, or to plant vineyardes.
Aulus Gellius mentioneth, that the Em∣perour Octanian sent a Letter vnto his step∣sonne to this effect: Reioyce with mee, my sonne, for I haue past ouer that deadly yeare, and enemie to old age, threescore & three. In which number the seauenthes and ninthes doe concurre.
The sixe and fiftieth yeare is verie daun∣gerous to men borne in the night season, by reason of the doubled coldnesse of Sa∣turne. And the threescore and third yeare is very perilous to them, that be borne in the day time, by reason of the drinesse of Mer∣curie and Venus.
Finally, whensoeuer any man entreth into these climactericall yeares (if certaine tokens of imminent sicknesse doe appeare, as weari∣somenesse of the members, griefe of the knees, dimnesse of sight, buzzing of the eares, loathsomnesse of meate, sweating in sleepe, yawning, or such like) then let him
incessantly pray, and beseeth God to protect and guide his heart; let him be circumspect and curious to preserue his health, and lyfe, by art, nature, policie, and experiments.
The Criticall daies are the first and seauenth of Ianuarie. The third and fourth of February. The first and fourth of March. The eighth and tenth of Aprill. The third and seuenth of May. The tenth and fifteenth of Iune. The tenth and thirteenth of Iuly. The first and se∣cond of August. The third and tenth of Sep∣tember. The third and tenth of October. The third and fift of Nouember. The seuenth and tenth of December.
Euery one humour reigneth sixe houres. Bloud is predominant from nine a clock in the night, vntill three a clock in the mor∣ning. Choler from three a clock in the morning, till nyne. Melancholye ruleth from nine a clock in the morning, till three in the euening. Lykewyse fleagme
gouerneth, from three in the euening, vntill nine a clock at night. So that fleagme and me∣lancholie doe raigne at night: and bloud and cholér in the daie time. Also bloud hath his dominion in the spring time; choler in the summer; melancholy in Autumne; & fleagme in winter. For which respectes, I aduise you (if perchaunce you fall into a disease) to mark well, in the beginning of your sicknesse, the houre and humour then raigning that there∣by you may the sooner finde out remedie. In conclusion, you must consider of the criticall daies: in which, great alteratiōs either towards your recouerie, or towards your further sick∣nesse, will ensue. Most commonly the criticall daie happneth the seauenth the fourteenth, the one and twentieth, or the eight and twen∣tieth daie frō the beginnnig of your sicknesse. Notwithstanding according to the course of the Moone, the fourth daie, the eleauenth, the seauenteenth, and the foure and twen∣tieth daie from the beginning of your sick∣nesse will foretell you, whether you shall a∣mende or waxe worse.