Approved directions for health, both naturall and artificiall deriued from the best physitians as well moderne as auncient. Teaching how euery man should keepe his body and mind in health: and sicke, how hee may safely restore it himselfe. Diuided into 6. sections 1. Ayre, fire and water. 2. Meate, drinke with nourishment. 3. Sleepe, earely rising and dreames. 4. Auoidance of excrements, by purga. 5. The soules qualities and affections. 6. Quarterly, monethly, and daily diet. Newly corrected and augmented by the authour.

Shew me how to order my body in euery par∣ticular Moneth.

In Ianuary.

IN this Moneth, mans inward parts, become replenished with more heate, then at any o∣ther time. The reason is, because our bodies being in health, receiue into them more a∣boundance of food, whereby they are streng∣thened and comforted in their constitutions and principall powers. So that wee may ad∣uenture to eate grosser meats as baked Veni∣son of barren Does, gelt Buckes, gelt Goats, Brawne, Beefe, and such like, in this moneth then in any other Moneth, for that our natu∣rall heare in warmer weather is dispersed, and so digestion hindered: now fasting is very hurtfull. But spiced drinkes and wines are highly commended. Beware of Physicke, and chiefly of bloudletting.

In February.

Because this season is very raw and watrish, keepe your neck and feet warme, and imitate

the Dutch, who vse to weare furred collers as a soueraigne remedie against the colde Ayre. Towards the latter end of this moneth, it will not be amisse to eate now and then, I meane in the beginning of meales, those meates which are of a laxatiue substance, as a pared pippin, or a few stewed prunes, and raisins. It is good now and then to drinke a a cup of good Meath, or white wine: some vse to breake their fast with the pith of white bread, bespread with honey, for the purifying of their breast and bladder. All kinde of Phy∣sicke is dangerous in this Moneth, excepting pilles to purge the head, which now seemes more heauy then at other seasons.

In March.

In this moneth it is good to eate cleansing things, for our bodyes hauing beene glutted with diuersities of meats in the winter, cannot but breake out into some outward part by itch, biles, pockes, issues, plagues, morphew, iaundise, greene sicknesse, or such like: or else inwardly by impostumes, feuers, catarres, &c. Wherefore let vs vse pottage made of leekes, Alisander, Peniroyall and Betony, and aboue all things let vs beware of salt fish. And for

our Physicke let vs content our selues with bathes, eyther naturall or artificiall: or with sweat naturall or artificiall The naturall sweat if it be not excessiue or violent in the open∣ing of the pores, will cleanse the bloud, make light the spirits, dissolue thicke and raw hu∣mours, and asswage the dropsie, the Scuruy, and all such sicknesses as proceed of lazinesse. The artificiall sweat will cure the itch, and mundifie the skinne. In a word, now is the best time to remoue the rootes of diseases, and to preuent their further stealth.

In Aprill.

Now with the warme weather, our bloud beginnes to heat and waxe rancke. And ther∣fore it is expedient to eate meat of a light di∣gestion, and sallets to coole our bloud. Salt meates are very hurtfull, specially for them which doe not trauell, by reason that the bloud becomes tainted with them, and will quickly engender the itch. If there be vrgent need, a man may in this Moneth purge, or be let bloud. But for bloud letting I could wish these rules to be first practised: first, that the body be made soluble: secondly, that it be done in the morning before any exercise

or commotion of the humours: thirdly, that the certainty of the veine be regarded: fourth∣ly, that the quantity be considered according to the Patients complexion and age, not vn∣der fourteene, nor aboue fiue and fiftie: fiftly, that he obserue a very sparing vary dyet for three dayes after, whereby pure and good bloud may succeed in the corrupteds place.

In May.

As this Moneth is the most moderate sea∣son of the yeare, free from extremities, hot or cold, so that we seeme to liue in terâ floridâ: so ought we chiefly now to obserue measure and moderation in our dyet, for our bloud being luke-warme may easily be ouertaken with any excesse, through that sodaine alte∣ration, which Philosophers terme 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Before meat Exercise is most expedient. To drinke Wormewood wine is accounted very healthfull: and so to drinke soure whay clari∣fied with Sage and Parsley is an excellent dyet drinke for hot Cholericke stomackes. Some vse in this Moneth to breake their fast with old Cheese or Parmizan grated with Suger and Sage, as a restoratiue for weake spirits. Now Horse-leaches may be applyed

to our feet, or to such parts of the body, where we suspect the concourse of moist humors.

In Iune.

Early rising profiteth much in this warme time, for which cause good husbands doe fetch a long vagari through the pleasant fields to prouoke appetite, which otherwise with la∣zinesse would be corrupted with satietie and sultry loathsomnesse. A little meat will serue; but we may drinke the more freely (so that it be not strong) and recompence nature this way, for the easier digestion of our meates. For euen as the heate of the Sunne breedes chaps, clefts, and dust in the ground: so like∣wise would it ingender burnt choler (as dry soot in a chimney) in our sparing bodies. Cheries by reason of their piercing vertue are thought commodious to appease thirst. Sal∣lets performe the very same. To bath in cold water is esteemed a soueraine remedy against all outward griefes or tumours proceeding from heat.

In Iuly.

Now arriues the Sommers Solstice, which with the fiery Dogge turnes the moisture of our bodies into parched exhalations, which

we commonly call cholerick symptomes. And therefore shunne roast or broyled meates. Shunne salt meates, Bacon, and strong Beefe. Spare not to drinke Ptizans, Endiue, or Suc∣cory waters, which coole the liuer. Now you may boldly sleepe in the after noone, so that it be not presently after dinner, and not aboue an houre. Beware of bloud-letting, Physick, and venerous acts. When you are emptie, bath your selfe in colde water, for that recre∣ates the animall powers.

In August.

In this moneth begin to withdraw your custome from drinking by little and little, conuerting the same to a temperate, least the vnseasonable Accidents, which awayte vpon this moneth, doe seaze on thy moist body, and so bestow a gift, which will not easily be clawed off, a tyrannous ague tertian or quar∣tane. Beware of fruit, specially Apples or Peares, which now are wont to tempt want on bodies. Beware of them, yee nice Maydes, whose God is your longing will, least yee meet with the greene sicknesse by eating such greene fruit. Beware of Eeles and of all fish that are taken in Ponds or in muddy places

Some vse to annoint their bodies with this precious oyle, to preuent the theeuish intru∣sion of diseases in this threatning season. Take oyle Oliue, and incorporate it with the iuyce of Sage, Smallage, Angelica, Rose-water, and Rue.

In September.

Some accustome themselues to drinke a draught of Goates milke luke-warme in the morning, to encrease radicall moisture, while this moneth continueth. But in any case take heed of excesse, least the fruit and drinke, which thou tookest so liberally in the Som∣mer doe worke some treason against thy care∣lesse body in the Autumne. In any case be∣ware of the nights colde. Walke as little as thou canst after Sunne set. Now is the proper time to take Physick either by Pilles or Gar∣garismes for the head, by vomites, purgati∣ons, or electuaries for the stomack, or by gli∣sters for the bowels, or by bloud-letting for the Pleurisie, or by sweats for the itch.

In October.

This moneth hath great affinitie with March, so that whatsoeuer is good in the one, is good in the other. Arme your body soundly

with pleasant wines or spiced drinks against the ensuing Winter. Arme your minde with study, for now this temperate time inuites thee to read without impediments either of vio∣lent colde or of violent heat.

In Nouember.

In this season the humor of Bloud decrea∣seth, and black melancholy endeuours to do∣mineere in our bodies, which varies like the time. Let thy body be well cloathed for feare of the nipping weather. Now you may ad∣uenture to eate salt meates, powdred Beefe, and Mustard. In the morning it auailes much to eate a hote loafe buttred and seasoned with Suger and Cinamon; which also serues as an excellent receipt to preuent the cough. Now you may safely drinke a pipe of Tobacco fa∣sting, if you feare theumes.

In December.

In this colde Moneth imitate the Spanish Diet. In the morning breake your fast with a bit of Marnelad. or Sucket, with a draught of Aqua vitae. Vse Pepper in your meats; And what other spice you please for the seasoning of your Cates. Now you must eate more and drinke the lesse. Eate roasted Apples or War∣dens

to close vp the mouth of your stomack after meales. Or else now and then drinke off a Cup of good Claret wine with a roasted Apple in it. For the body being benummed and as it were made senselesse with frost and shauing windes, had need to be refreshed and cherished with such comfortable allurements. For this cause it fell out by discreet tradition, that the twelue dayes were allowed vs to feast in, that our bodies might enioy the fruit of our trauaile, that a forced sanguine com∣plexion by reason of such cheerefull prouo∣cations might downe waigh the naturall me∣lancholick power. But for all this, let vs not forget our Christian duties, in spending wast∣fully that which might benefit vs a farre lon∣ger terme, like vnto swinish Epicures, whose thoughts intend on their present prouender, of whom Saint Paul wrote: Edamus, Bibamus, ludamus, cras moriemur. Let vs eate, drinke, and play, for to morrow we shall die. And as another of late verified:

Dulcia, dum fas est, fugitiuae gaudia vitae Carpe, volubilibus labitur annus equis.