Why are those that inhabit eminent places in a free and open aire, of a more long and healthy life, and also of a more acute, ge∣nerous, and magnificent minde, then those that inhabit croo∣ked, low, and marish places?

THis question consisteth of two parts: the reason of the first is, because the aire in eminent and open places, both by reason of the continuall motion of it, as also of the firme solidity of the earth, is more subtill and pure, whereby it commeth to passe, that the inhabitants, are euen to extreme old age, seene to enioy very good and perfect health.

But in crooked, low, and marish places, for such verily are the spirits, as is the aire which is inspirated: the Inhabi∣tants are sickly, and haue turbid and obfuscated spirits, by reason of the grosnesse and impurity of the aire. For, im∣pure, grosse, and intemperate aire doth corrupt the spirits Page  7 and humours: from whence proceede infinite diseases, and vntimely old age. Therefore eminent Regions, be∣cause they are with pure windes freely perflated, are more healthy, then low and marish places, and in them men liue not onely more healthfully, but also longer, and from hence it was, that Plato wrote, that hee euer found the lon∣gest liuers in high and temperate Regions.

Therefore hee that desireth to liue a long and healthy life, must dwell in an eminent and champion countrey, or at least, in a place that is free from muddie and waterish impurities: for it is impossible, that a man should liue long and healthily in a place, where the spirits are with impure aire daily affected. Wherefore I counsell them, that wish to enjoy true health, and a firme state of body, to take spe∣ciall care that they liue not in waterish places, or in a grosse, corrupt, and filthy aire, or otherwise subiect to vaporous blasts, which annoy the spirits, breede rheumes, and are very pernicious to the lungs.

Now the reason of the second is euident, by that which hath beene shewed concerning the former: for those that liue in eminent and champion countries, by reason of the tenuitie, puritie, and wholsomnesse of the aire in such pla∣ces, haue cleare, pure, and subtill spirits, from whence it commeth, that they are witty, nimble, magnanimous, & alta petentes. But the contrary is seene in low and marish places, for there, the Inhabitants, by reason of the euilnesse of the aire, haue grosse and earthy spirits, whereof it is, that they are for the most * part men, humum tantum sapientes, dull, sluggish, sordid, sensuall, plainely irreligious, or per∣haps some of them, which is a little worse, religious in shew, externall honest men, deceiptfull, malicious, disdainefull. Wherefore, seeing that the diuersity of spirits, and diffe∣rences of wits and manners, doe so much proceede from the condition and nature of the aire, I doe here againe ad∣uertise all such as are ingenious, generous, and desirous of perfection, both in minde and body, that they endeauour by all meanes, to liue in a pure and healthy aire, and so sel∣domly Page  8 as may bee, frequent places, where the aire is wont to be infected with vaporous impurities.