The haven of health Chiefly gathered for the comfort of students, and consequently of all those that have a care of their health, amplified upon five words of Hippocrates, written Epid. 6. Labour, cibus, potio, somnus, Venus. Hereunto is added a preservation from the pestilence, with a short censure of the late sicknes at Oxford. By Thomas Coghan Master of Arts, and Batcheler of Physicke.

To the Reader.

BEcause this Treatise chiefly concerneth the dyet of our English nation, I have thought good, (most gentle Reader) first to declare the situation and temperature of this our coun∣trey of England, and next to set downe the reason and order of the whole booke. Touching the situa∣tion, if we consider the division of the whole earth habita∣ble into foure parts, that is, Europe, Africke, Asia, and Ame∣rica, then is England a parcell of Europe, and situated on the West side thereof, yea, so farre West, as of old time it hath beene thought, (Cornelius Tacitus witnessing the same in the life of Iulius Agricola) that beyond England dwelled no Nation, Nihil nisi fluctus & saxa. And as the Poet Horace speaketh, ultimos orbis Britannos. Whereas now through the providence of God, and travaile of men there is found further in the West, as it were a new world, a goodly countrey named America, or new India, for largenesse, plenty, wholesome and temperate ayer, comparable with Affrike, Europe, or Asia. Againe, if we respect the division of all the earth into five parts called in Latine Zonae, corres∣pondent to the division of the heavens by five circles, that is to say, the Equinoctiall circle, the two Tropickes, the one of Cancer, the other of Capricornus, the circle Articke, and the contrary Antarticke, which are briefely and plainely set forth by the Poet Ovid in the first booke of his Metamor∣phosis, in this manner:

Vt{que} duae dextra coelum, totidem{que} sinistra Parte secant Zona: quinta est ardentior illis: Sic onus inclusum numero distinxit eodem Cura Dei, totidem{que} plagae tellure premuntur. Quarum qua media est non est habitabilis aestu. N••x tegit alta duas, totidem inter utram{que} locavit Temperi••m{que} dedit mixta cum frigore flamina.

Then I say of five parts of the earth, those two which lye about the Poles, within the circle Articus and Antar∣ticus, through extremity of cold, are inhabitable: (as of old time hath beene thought,) howbeit now certaine Ilands are discovered within the circle Articke, and found

to be inhabited. The third and greatest part which lyeth in the middes betweene the two Tropickes, by reason of the continuall course of the Sunne over it, and the direct casting of the Sunne beames upon it, named Torrida Zona, as burned or parched with overmuch heat, hath likewise beene thought inhabitable, yet now found otherwise: con∣sidering the greatest part of Africk well inhabited, and no small portion of Asia, with sundry Ilands adjoyning doe lye within this compasse, yet by the judgement of Oron∣tius a man very expert in Cosmography, right under the Equinoctiall is most temperate and pleasant habitation: for so he sayth: Torrida inprimis quanquam assidua Solis irra∣diatione arescere videatur,* 1.1 sub ipso tamen aequatore, faelicissima a••ris temperatura c••teras omnes antecellit. The other two parts onely, of which the one lyeth Northward, betweene the circle Articke and the Tropicke of Can••er, the other Southward betweene the circle Antartick and the Tropicke of Cap••icorne, are counted temperate and habitable regi∣ons, because they are tempered with heate on the South∣side, and cold on the Northside. Howbeit these parts also about the middest of them are most temperate. For toward their utmost bounds they are distempered with heate or cold according to the Zones next adjoyned. Now in the temperate Zone Northward lyeth our countrey of Brittaine. After Appianus, England within the eight Clime called Dia Ripheon, and Scotland in the ninth called Dia Darvas, or after Orontius, whose judgement I rather al∣low, England in the ninth Clyme, and Scotland in the ele∣venth: for the old division of the earth, according to the latitude into seven Climates, Orontius utterly rejecteth, and thinketh the famous universitie and City of Paris in France, to be placed about the end of the eight Clime, be∣cause the latitude of the earth, or elevation of the pole Ar∣ticke (for both are one in effect) is there 48 degrees; and 40 minutes. The same reason doe I make for England, because the pole Articke is exalted at London 51 degrees and 46 minutes, and at Oxford 51 degrees and 50 minutes, that therefore England should bee the ninth Clime, because the distance of parallels from the Equator is after Orontius

in the ninth Clinie, all one with our elevation. England then lyeth in the temperate Zone Northward, and the ninth Cli∣mate, having on the South-East side France, on the North-East, Norwey, on the South-West Spaine, on the West Ire∣land, on the North Scotland. Now concerning the tempera∣ture of the ayre in England, whether it bee in a meane, or doe exceed the meane, in heat, cold, dryth or moysture, shall best bee perceived by comparison of other countries. Hip∣pocrates in the end of his third booke of Prenotions, setteth downe three Countries for example of temperate or un∣temperate aire in heate or cold, that is Libya, Delos and Scythia, Libya or Affricke▪ as over hot, Scythia or Tartaria as over cold, and the Iland Delos of Greece as meane & tem∣perate betwixt both. The like comparison is made of Aristo∣tle in the 7. booke and 7. Chapter of his Politikes. Those na∣tions (saith he) which inhabite cold countries, are cou∣ragious, but they have little wit and cunning. Wherefore they live in more libertie, and hardly receive good go∣vernance of the weale publike, neither can they well rule their borderers. And such as dwell in Asia, excell in wit and art, but they want audacitie, for which cause they live in subjection to others. But the Graecians as they have a Countrey in a meane betweene both, so have they both qualities. For they are both valiant and witty. Whereby it commeth to passe that they live at liberty, and have good government, and such a state as may rule all other. Hereunto I will adde the judgement of Galen that famous Physitian, written in the second booke de San. tu. and 7. Chapter, which may be as an interpretation of Hippocrates and Aristotle. The best temperature of body (saith hee) is as a rule of Polycletus, such as in our situation being very temperate, you may see many. But in France, Scythia, Egypt or Arabia, a man may not so much as dreame of any like. And of our Countrey which hath no small la∣titude, that part which lieth in the middest is most tempe∣rate, as the Countrey of Hippocrates: for that there VVin∣ter & Summer hath a meane temperature, and at the Spring and fall of the leafe much better. So that Greece by the judg∣ment of these men is most temperate, and France distem∣pered

with cold by the opinion of Galen. And if France ex∣ceed the meane in cold, then is not England in a perfect temperature, but more declining to cold, because it is three degrees and ten minutes farther North, comparing Oxford and Paris together in the elevation of the Pole Ar∣tick. Howbeit Iulius Caesar in the fift book of his commen∣taries, thinketh the ayre to bee more temperate in Britaine, (in those places where he was) than in France, and the cold lesser. And Polidorus Virgilius in his Chronicle of England seemeth to bee of the same minde. The countrey (saith he) is at all times of the yeare most temperate, and no extremitie of weather, so that diseases be rare, and therefore lesse use of Physick than elsewhere. And many men all abroad doe live a hundred and ten years, and some a hundred and twenty, yet he thinketh the aire for the most part to be cloudy and rai∣ny, which also is confirmed by Cornelius Tacitus in the life of Iulius Agricola, saying: The ayre of Brittain is foule with often stormes and clouds, without extremitie of cold. But to reconcile these sayings of ancient authors, I thinke that England may bee called temperate in heate in respect of Spaine, and temperate in cold in respect of Norwey, yet to be reckoned cold notwithstanding & moist, because it declineth from the mids of the temperate Zone Northward. And this is the cause why Englishmen doe eate more, and digest faster than the inhabitants of hotter countries (videlicet) the cold∣nesse of aire enclosing our bodies about. And therefore wee provide that our tables may be more plentifully furnished oftentimes, than theirs of other nations. Which provision, though it proceed chiefly of that plenty which our country yeeldeth, is yet notwithstanding noted by forraine nations, as of Hadrianus Barlandus in a dialogue between the Inhol∣der and the traveller, saying in this manner: Ego curavero ut Anglice, hoc est opulentissime pariter ac lautissime discumbant. Thus much touching the situation & temperature of Englād.

Now concerning the order of the booke: Hippocrates in the sixt booke of his Epidemies setteth downe this sen∣tence, Labor, Cibus, Potio, Somnus, Venus, omnia mediocri••: as a short summe or forme of a mans whole life touching diet. By the which words (if we marke them well as they

be placed in order) not onely the time most convenient for every thing to bee used, but also the measure in using is plainely signified in the word (Mediocri••) according to that saying of Terence, Id apprime in vita esse vtile, ut ni quid nimis. Every man therefore that hath a care of his health as much as hee may, must not onely use a measure in those five things, that is to say, in labour, meate, drinke, sleepe, and venus, but also must use them in such order as Hippocrates hath proposed them, that is, to beginne the preservation of health with labour, after labour to take meat, after meat, drinke: after both sleepe: and venus last of all. And not contrariwise, using Hysteron Proteron, to begin with venus, and to end in labour, like as I have heard say of a gentleman who had beene a traveller in forraine countryes, and at his returne, that he might seeme singular, as it were despising the old order of England, would not begin his meale with pottage, but instead of cheese would eate pottage last. But wise English men I trust will use the old English fashion still: and follow the r••le of Hippo∣crates approved by Galen, and by common experience in mens bodies found most wholesome. Such as have written of the preservation of health before mee, for the most part have followed the division of Galen of things not naturall, which be six in number: Ayre, Meat, and Drinke, Sleepe and watch, Labour and rest, Emptinesse and reple∣tion, and affections of the minde. Which bee called things not naturall, because they bee no portion of a naturall body, as they bee which bee called naturall things, but yet by the temperance of them the body being in health, so continueth by the distemperance of them, sickenesse is induced, and the body dissolved. This division Sir Tho∣mas Eliot knight, no lesse learned than worshipfull, in his Castle of Health hath precisely followed, and hath set forth every part right according to Galen, as plaine as may bee, in the English tongue. Yet (in my iudgement) this Aphorisme of Hippocrates, which I purpose (God wil∣ling) to declare, is more evident for the common capaci∣ty of men, and more convenient for the dyet of our En∣glish Nation. For who is so dull of understanding that can∣not

remember these five words, Labor, Cibus, Potio, Somnus, Venus, and in using them apply Omnia Mediocria. Yet I know that the division aforesaid being well scanned may be found in a manner wholly comprehended in this short sentence. For exercise is to be used in an wholesome ayre, and affections of the mind do commonly follow the temperature of the bo∣dy which is chiefely preserved by the moderate use of those five things. Then whether we follow in dyet Galens divisi∣on into six things not naturall, or this rule of Hippocrates comprehended in five words, there is no great difference, saving that in writing for the instruction of others, that Me∣thode is to used which is most briefe and manifest. And this is the cause gentle Reader, why I have taken another order than such as have written of this matter before me, even that order (as I thinke) which of all other is the best: Herein to give a watch word as it were, or occasion to others that be better learned and more at leasure to handle these points more perfectly. And in the meane time I trust every well disposed person will thankfully accept this my good intent, considering that none other cause hath moved mee hereto but onely the good will I beare first to the learned sort, who have most need of wholesome counsayles, and consequently to all those that loue to live in health. And as the words are placed in order, so shall in order prosecute them. Yet one thing I desire of all them that shall reade this booke: If they finde whole sentences taken out of Master Eliot his Castle of Health, or out of Schola Salerni, or any other author what∣soever, that they will not condemne me of vaine glory, by the old Proverbe (Calvus Comatus) as if I meant to set forth for mine owne workes that which other men have devised: for I confesse that I have taken Verbatim out of others wher it served for my purpose, and especially out of Schola Salerni: but I have so enterlaced it with mine owne, that (as I think) it may be the better perceived. And therefore seeing all my travaile tendeth to common commodity, I trust every man man will interpret all to the best. Candide lector, etiam atque etiam vale.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lib· 2. sph. ca. 8.