Naturall and artificial directions for health deriued from the best philosophers, as well moderne, as auncient. By William Vaughan, Master of Artes, and student in the ciuill law.

Chap. 3. Of medicines, to-prolong life.

Shew me certaine remedies to preserue health, and to prolong life.

To liue for euer, and to become immor∣tall

here in earth, is a thing impossible: but to prolong a mans life voyde and free from all sicknesse, to cause the humours in the bodie by no meanes to predominate one ouer an o∣ther, & to preserue a man in a temperate state, I verely beleeue it may be done; first by Gods permission, and then by vsing weekely either the weight of one scruple of the spirite of the herbe called Rosa solis, or the essence of Celandine, or the quintessence of potable gold, wherein pearles are dissolued. Also, who someuer hath any of these well prepared may helpe all the diseases of mans body, whether they be curable or vncurable. Reasons I neede not alledge, for that which is openly seene with eyes, need no proofes. It is an absurd thing, to be ignorant in that which euerie man knoweth. Is not the falling sicknesse one∣ly cured by the spirit of vitrioll? doth not mer∣curie heale the French poxe and the filthie scabbe? doeth not oile of antimonie plucke vp at once the impurities of the feuer? They doe, none can denie the same. Mineralls are of most efficacie, if they be rightly prepared and purged from their poyson and superflui∣ties. Truely, it is a wonderful thing in this life,

that mans vnderstāding can bring these inferi∣our works to so great perfectiō: without doubt it is the prouidēce of god, that learning in this latter & rotten age should wax lightsom: ther∣by to defēd life (which otherwise through the cōtagion of the world would soone decay) frō these new & strange maladies, which are in all places very rife & cōmon: so that the saying of that great prophet is now verified & come to passe; my age shal renew it selfe like an Eagle. O rare gift of the mighty God! who made Mo∣ses liue 120. years without dimnesse of sight, without griefs & not loosing any of his teeth, who prolonged Hezechias life by 15. yeares, & hath inspired into mens hearts such excellent knowledge.

These quintessences which you speake of, may not be gotten without great difficultie: wherefore re∣ueale those preseruatiues, which I may easily get.

Doctor Steuens water is an excellēt preser∣uatiue to prolong life, & is made after this mā∣ner: take a gallō of gascoigne wine: thē take gin ger, gallingal, cāmomill, cinnamon, nutmegs, grains, cloues, mace, aniseed, carrawayseed, of each of thē a drachme; thē take sage, mints, red roses, time, pellitorie of the wal, wild mariorā,

pennymountayne, otherwise wilde time, cam∣momille, lauender, of euerie of them one handfull, then bruse the spices small, bruse the herbes, & put all into the wine, and let it stand twelue houres, stirring it diuers times, then distill it in a limbeck, and keepe the first pinte of the water, for that is the best: and then will come a second water, which is not so good as the first. The vertues of this water are these; it comforteth the spirites, it pre∣serueth the youth of man, it helpeth old goutes, the tooth-ache, the palfie, and all di∣seases proceeding of cold: it causeth barren women to cōceiue, it cureth the cold dropsie, the stone in the bladder & in the reines of the backe, it healeth the canker, comforteth the stomacke, & prolongeth a mans life. Take but a spoonefull of it once in seauen dayes; for it is very hot in operatiō. Doctor Steuens, that vsed this water, liued one hundred yeares wanting two.

The sublimated wine of M. Gallus phy∣sition to the Emperour Charles the fift of that name, is most admirable. For the vse thereof caused him to liue sixescore and nine yeares without any disease: which I thinke to

be better then Doctor Steuens water: it is made in this sort: take of Cubebs, cinnamon, cloues, mace, ginger, nutmegges, and galin∣gall three ounces, of rheubarbe, halfe an∣ounce, of Angelica two drachmes, of ma∣sticke foure drachmes, and of Sage one pound and two ounces: steepe these in two poundes and sixe ounces of Aqua vitae, which was sixe times distilled: then distill them altogither. This wine comforteth the braine and memo∣rie, expelleth melancholy, breaketh the stone, prouoketh appetite, reuiueth weake spirites; and causeth a man to wax younge and lustie. It may be taken twise euery weeke, and not a∣boue one spoonefull at each time. To con∣clude, there is a iuleppe made only of white wine and sugar, which comforteth and re∣fresheth the body much, causing the spirites to waxe liuely: it is made thus; put two pound of sugar in three pound of wine, and one pound of rosewater; seeth it till it come almost to a syrupe. This iuleppe is so accep∣table to nature that it supplies the vse of meat and drinke.

Declare vnto me a dayly dyet, whereby I may liue in health & not trouble my selfe in Physicke.

I will: first of all in the morning when you are about to rise vp, stretch your self strongly: for thereby the animall heate is somewhat forced into the outward partes, the memorie is quickned, and the bodie strengthned. 2. Se∣condarily, rub and chafe your body with the palmes of your handes, or with a course lin∣nen clothe: the breast, backe, and bellie, gently: but the armes, thighes, and legges roughly, till they seeme ruddy and warme. 3. Euacuate your selfe. 4. Put on your apparel, which in the summer time must be for the most part silke, or buffe, made of buckes skinne, for it resisteth venime and contagions ayres: in winter your vpper garment must be of cottō or friezeadow. 5. Whē you haue ap∣parelled your selfe handsomely, combe your head softly and easilie with an Iuorie combe: for nothing recreateth the memorie more. 6. Picke and rub your teeth; and because I would not haue you to bestow much cost in making dentifrices for thē: I will aduertise you by foure rules of importāce how to keep your teeth white and vncorrupt, and also to haue a sweete breath. First wash well your mouth when you haue eaten your meate: se∣condly, sleepe with your mouth somewhat

open. Thirdlie, spit out in the morning tha•• which is gathered together that night in the throate: then take a linnen cloth and rub your teeth well within & without, to take away the fumositie of the meat and the yellownesse of the teeth. For it is that which putrifieth them and infecteth the breath. But least peraduen∣ture your teeth become loose & filthy, I will shew you a water farre better then pouders, which shall fasten them, scoure the mouth, make sound the gums, and cause the flesh to growe againe, if it were fallen away. Take halfe a glassefull of vineger, & as much of the water of the masticke tree (if it may easilie be gotten) of rosemarie, mirrhe, masticke, bole Armoniake, Dragons herbe, roche allome, of each of them an ounce: of fine cinnamon halfe an ounce, and of fountaine water three glassefulles; mingle all well together, and let it boile with a smal fire, adding to it halfe a pound of honie, and taking away the scum of it, then put in a little bengwine, and when it it hath sodden a quarter of an houre, take it frō the fire, and keepe it in a cleane bottle & wash your teeth therewithall as well before meate as after; if you hould some of it in your mouth a little while, it doth much good

to the head, and sweeteneth the breath. I take this water to be better worth then a thousand of their dentifrices. 7. Wash your face, eyes, eares & handes, with fountaine water. I haue knowne diuers students which vsed to bathe their eyes only in well water twise a day, whereby they preserued their eyesight free from al passions and bloudsheds, and sharpe∣ned their memories maruaylously. You may sometimes bathe your eyes in rosewater, fen∣nell water or eyebright water, if you please: but I know for certaintie, that you need them not as long as you vse good fountaine water. Moreouer, least you by old age or some other meanes doe waxe dimme of sight, I will de∣clare vnto you, the best and safest remedie which I knowe, and this it is: take of the distil∣led waters of verueine, bettonie, and fennell one ounce and a halfe, then take one ounce of white wine, one drachme of Tutia (if you may easily come by it) two drachmes of su∣garcandy, one drachme of Aloes Epatick, two drachmes of womans milke, and one scruple of Camphire; beat those into pouder, which are to be beaten, and infuse them together for foure & twēty houres space, & thē straine

them, and so vse it when you list.

8 When you haue finished these, say your morning prayers, and desire God to blesse you, to preserue you from all daungers, and to direct you in all your actions. For the feare of God (as it is written) is the begin∣ning of wisedome: and without his pro∣tection whatsoeuer you take in hand, shall fall to ruine. Therefore see, that you be mindfull of him, and remember that to that intent you were borne, to weet, to set forth his glorie and most holy name.

9 Goe about your businesse circumspectly, and endeauour to bannish all cares and cogi∣tations, which are the only baites of wicked∣nesse. Defraud no man of his right: for what measure you giue vnto your neighbour, that measure shall you receiue. And finally, im∣print this saying deepely in your mind: A man is but a steward of his owne goodes; whereof God one day will demaund an account.

10 Eate three meales a day vntill you come to the age of fourtie yeares: as, your breake∣fast, dinner, and supper; yet, that betweene breakefast and dinner there be the space of foure houres, and betwixt dinner and supper

seauē hours: the breakfast must be lesse thē the dinner, & the dinner somwhatlesse thē supper. In the beginning of meales, eat such meats as will make the belly soluble, & let grosse meats be the last. Content your selfe with one kinde of meate, for diuersities hurt the body, by rea∣son that meates are not al of one qualitie: some are easily digested, others againe are heauie, & wil lie a long time vpō the stomack: also, the eating of sundrie sorts of meate re∣quire oftē pottes of drinke, which hinder con∣coction; like as we see often putting of water into the meat-potte to hinder it frō seething. Our stomack is our bodies kitchin, which be∣ing distepered, how cā we liue in tēperat or∣der? drink not aboue foure times, & that mo∣deratly, at each meal: least the belly-God hale you at length captiue into his prison house of gurmādise, where you shalbe afflicted with as many diseases as you haue deuoured dishes of sundrie sorts. The cups, whereof you drinke, should be of siluer, or siluer and gilt. 11. La∣bour not either your mind or body present∣ly after meales: rather sit a while & discourse of some pleasant matters: when you haue ended your cōfabulations, wash your face & mouth

with cold waters, then go to your chāber, and make cleāe your teeth with your toothpicker, which shuld be either of iuorie, siluer, or gold. Watch not too long after supper, but depart within two hours to bed. But if necessitie cō∣pell you to watch longer thē ordinarie, thē be sure to augmēt your sleepe the next morning; that you may recōpēce nature, which other∣wise through your watching would not a litle be empaired. 12. Put of your clothes in winter by the fire side: & cause your bed to be hea∣ted with a warming pan: vnlesse your pretēce be to hardē your mēbers, & to apply your self vnto militarie discipline. This outward hea∣ting doth wōderfully cōfort the inward heat, it helpeth cōcoctiō, & cōsumeth moisture.

13. Remēber before you rest, to chew downe two or three drachmes of mastick, for it will preserue your body from bad humours.

14. Pray feruently to God, before you sleep, to inspire you with his grace, to defend you from al perilles & subtelties of wicked fiends, & to prosper you in all your affaires: & then lay aside your cares & busines as wel publicke as priuate, for that nightin so doing you shal sleep more quietly. Make water at least once,

and cast it, out: but in the morning, make water in an vrinall, that by looking on it, you may gesse somewhat of the state of your body; sleep first on your right side with your mouth open, and let your nightcappe haue a hole in the toppe, through which the vapour may goe out.

15 In the morning remember your affayres; and if you be troubled with rheumes as soone as you haue risen, vse diatriō piperion, or eate white pepper now and then, and you shall be holpen.