A short discouerie of the vnobserued dangers of seuerall sorts of ignorant and vnconsiderate practisers of physicke in England profitable not onely for the deceiued multitude, and easie for their meane capacities, but raising reformed and more aduised thoughts in the best vnderstandings: with direction for the safest election of a physition in necessitie: by Iohn Cotta of Northampton Doctor in Physicke.

CHAP. II.

AS all ages haue deriued and acknowledg∣ed the foundation of Arts from the prin∣ciples of nature,a 1.1 reason, prudence, and knowledge or science; and experience hath euer confirmed their profite and ne∣cessarie vse vnto constitutionb 1.2 of Arts by daily proofe: so vnto the complement and atchieuing first of knowledge, and after of the right composing of Art, fromd 1.3 thence all times and men haue with one generall decree and consent determined a necessitie of seuen euer presupposed conductiue helpes thereto, without which neither knowledge nor science can preexist, nor art from thencee 1.4 exist or haue firme being. These seuen Hippocra∣tes with consent of his owne time, and assent of since suc∣ceeding

times, hath in this order numbred.f 1.5 Nature,g 1.6 pre∣cept, fith 1.7 place for studie,i 1.8 studie,k 1.9 institution,l 1.10 industry, m 1.11 time. Aristotle with some others haue named only three, nature, precept, industrie; but in these three by conse∣quent hath included all the rest. For studie and contem∣plation must necessarily attend precept and industry both. Studie without fit place and some certaine seate, can neuer deepely settle, vncertaine motion distracting and inter∣rupting serious cogitation and assiduitie; and time is ne∣cessarie to be supposed in all. By nature we must not ge∣nerally vnderstand the first mouing and being power which is in alla 1.12 things in vniuersall, but more specially for this subiect, procliuity, naturall aptnes or fitnesse, peculiar b 1.13 disposition in the helpes and gifts of nature, ripenesse of wit, capacitie, reason and docilitie. By precept are vn∣derstood the maximes, axiomes, andc 1.14 ancient golden rules of truth, which many ages and aged obseruation from time to time for common good and case haue commended, compiled and summed methodically into generall orders heads and numbers. By place fit for studie, are not onely vnderstood the narrow inclosures of retired silence, and abdication vnto priuate contemplation, but also the pla∣ces of the societies and common assemblies of the learned, where both by priuated 1.15 conference, and also by publike e 1.16 hearing the daily readings, teachings, and exercises of logicallf 1.17 disceptations of schooles allotted euerie facultie by it selfe,f 1.18 the mind may vsually receiue redoubled me∣morie of the maximes, axiomes and rules of euery art and science, whereby continuallg 1.19 inculcation may both more firmely settle them, and occasion their more frequent and better laboured examination and rumination. That in

whose admission two senses beare testimonie, and by two waies doth enter, hath firmer possession. The weaknesse or wearinesse of the sight or eye in priuate reading some∣times mistaketh, oft omitteth, and not seldome ouer∣slippeth; but the vnderstanding standeth readie at the h 1.20 gates of the eares, euer giuing easie entrance, and with readie attention more duei 1.21 perpension, the most faithfull remembrance by the eare conducted vnto the inward seats and selles of the soule and contemplation. By studie is ge∣nerally conceiued the continuall occupation and imploy∣ment of alla 1.22 the faculties of the mind in serious disquisi∣tion, prompt apprehension and reception of generall rules and precept, and frequent oft after reuiew of their former seuerall notions, reflecting the vnderstanding vpon it selfe in the recognition of his passed intellection, and in due ru∣mination vnto right digestion; from whence by long exer∣cise and vse therein gaining an habite and true methode thereof, the firme knowledge and science of assured infal∣lible rule and principle, doth beget art, and art bring forth the end and perfection of art, which is the honour of the Artificer, the euer-reasonable satisfaction of need∣full vse and necessitie, and for thee 1.23 most part desired issue. By institution is conceiued education, early beginning, & inchoation fromd 1.24 young and tender yeares, whereby the grounds and rules of knowledg growing vp with age, become in shorter time more naturall, permanent, fami∣liar, easie, more cleare and free of difficulties, which vnto sodaine apprehension bring confusion and impediment. By industrie is vnderstoodf 1.25 continuall care, exercise, and paines to make euerie benefite and vtmost vse of natures bountie, of precepts worthie of place and euerie other be∣hoofefull circumstance, to perfect institution, to saue, pre∣uent, and redeeme time and opportunitie, with serious af∣fection and desire to whet, vphold, and maintaine alacri∣tie, constancie, and perseuerance through labour and di∣ligence vnto perfection. By time is vnderstood the seue∣rall

competence of yeares to euerie single vse, and due in all. The necessitie of the helpefull concurrence of all these vnto any one perfection is easily manifest. The want of na∣turall helps of wit and other reasonable parts of man, must needs bea 1.26 vncapable of precept. Without precept (being the rich compiled treasure of the excellent knowledges of many ages and generations) how shall any single liues sufficiencie otherwise truly attaine the precious worth and benefite of due perfection in any art? Without studie also precept is neuer daigned, because not deserued, God and nature perpetually blessing and proportioning seuerall measures of knowledge and vnderstanding, to some equa∣litie of thoughtfulld 1.27 search and assiduitie. Where is not place fitting studie, and allowing the prompt concourse e 1.28 of learned conference, studie must needs want those rea∣die helpes which mutuall speech,f 1.29 speciall example, and many common reciprocall auxiliarie assistances in learned societie, do manifestly, profitably, and continually supply. Where wantethf 1.30 timely institution, either later springs bring slower growth, or too sodaine sproutes soone wa∣sted springs. Where industrious affection and exercise ei∣ther fainting waneth, or is not euer in the full, eclipsed care must needs proue dull, and paines slow, and without pains shall euer succeed but meane profite. Lastly, where full time is scant,h 1.31 defect is large, and where seasoni 1.32 short, no good* 1.33 proofe long. And thus it is apparent, that none, and no one of these may be wanting, where is desired a¦ny reasonable perfection; and this is the same infallible truth in all faculties and professions. For many instances, behold but one, and see by common consent of all lear∣ned, by testimonie of reason and experience, how pro∣gresse of knowledge doth in euery part answer the nature and custome of husbanding seed. Comparek 1.34 the fecilitie

of soyle with capacitie in nature, the seed with wholesome precept, the countrey neighbourhood of readinesse and plentie (whereby need with common benefite may mutually both lend and borrow) vnto the like helpes of learning in learned societie. Compare carefull gathering together and storing of good seed, vnto daily study; indu∣strie and paines to toyle and labour; vsuall early bringing vp, and prudent timely countrie education, to necessitie of institution, and the yearely seasons to studious times. Are not all in both, and both in all alike? The seeds of vertue and knowledge are euer fitly sowed in childhoode 1.35 the age of institutiond 1.36, in whose vniudging youth their hidden vertue stealeth roote, in yearesf 1.37 of discretion growth, in g 1.38 confirmed age gathereth ripenesse, and in consistingh 1.39 age bringeth forth ripei 1.40 frui••e in practise and proofe, therein continuing euer vntill declining autumne, the fall of age, and the winter of this mortall life. And this is that span of mans life, and ought be his reckoning of his dayes well di∣spent in any vertuous or noble facultie. These things are manifest vnto all, and need not so much proofe as better consideration. And thus the necessary concurrence of the knowledge of nature vnto perfection in any worthie fa∣culty, hath briefly and sufficiently appeared, and more spe∣cially the vse thereof vnto a Physition hath bene plainly instanced and manifest, and his primacie in the counsell and consultation of nature, the necessities of life haue am∣ply proued. It hath bene likewise farther considered, that as in all other arts and sciences, so especially in Physicke, no man euer attained the meanest satisfying worth, with∣out the assistance of a seuenfold furtherance, without na∣ture eithera 1.41 disposing or fauouring, hath bene declared the vanitie of vtmost endeauour. Withoutb 1.42 precept where

hath euer bene any right subiect, rule, or measure vnto wandring confused thought and contemplation? Without studie andc 1.43 industrie was neuer gained worth, nor with∣out institution euer purchased assurance of any perpetui∣tie. In want of fit and setled place, the most desirous in∣deauour doth find wearisome losse of so faire and helpe∣full opportunitie, and there is no goodnesse byc 1.44 time vn∣setled hath euer bene after wellf 1.45 confirmed. From hence it must necessarily follow as a certaine conclusion, that according as mē are more or lesse wanting in any of these, so do the number of the wants truly measure the quantity of their defects. And since these are seuen so inseparable companions & guides vnto sufficiencie in those by whom it is truly acquired, they must needs therefore by necessa∣rie consequent be therein faire likelihoods and proofes of that sufficiencie vnto others also whom it shall concerne to know and enquire it for their owne direction and satis∣faction. And as these are thus necessarie to be enquired, so is it as easie for the meanest to trace and discouer them in any particular knowledge.f 1.46 Nature doth expresse her selfe in her owne indowments open to euery eye in common conuersation. The hope and opinion of good precept, doth vnto the most ignorant giue prudent guesse, either by the particular knowledge, or at least in∣quisition of precedent timely institution and likely insti∣tutors. Good and pertinent institution, deriueth probabi∣litie of it selfe, from the testimonie of conuenient time and fit place of institution. Industrie cannot be hid, and studie by hisa 1.47 assiduitie doth euer proue it selfe, and by conti∣nuall exercise of it selfe, as it first giueth, so it after perpe∣tually b 1.48 holdeth sufficiencie, and manifesteth it selfe there∣by, both past and present, vnto any one. And as education it selfe is of all learned esteemed and iudged absolutely be∣yond c 1.49 exception or dispensation necessarie, so are his places common, and therefore not obscure. Lastly time well dispent doth point his proofe vnto examination of

his seuerall degrees of groweth, both how ind 1.50 childhood and youth, vnto the yeares of discretion, disposed, and how also after that time in manhood and confirmed age vnto consistence, disposing himselfe. These are those easie notes, whereby from the necessitie, partly of their continu∣all presence, and partly precedence in euerie facultie, the meanest capacitie together with the best may con∣firme and better satisfie their prudent hope or feare in choyce. These markes though common and indifferent vnto all, yet do they bring more or lesse different behoof∣full vse, according to different iudgings andf 1.51 vnderstan∣dings. Such as are learned in the same facultie, beside these outward and common informations are farther enabled to assure this inquisition by the presence and knowledge of the same sufficience in themselues, when they find it re∣presented vnto them in another, Such as are learned in dif∣ferent faculties, or are generall readers or schollers onely, by the signes cōmon vnto all kinds of learning may better iudge of a common facultie in generall knowledge, but vnproperly determine of ag 1.52 speciall worth. The first haue therefore more certaine vnderstanding, the second some∣what more aduantaged coniecture. He onely that is al∣together vnlettered and vnlearned, for that he cannot help his iudgement frō any of these two former inward lights, or intelligence of his owne vnderstanding, must therefore chiefly deriue his information frō without, and from these outward signes, from whence it is also better to raiseb 1.53 pro∣bable reason and coniecture to resolue himselfe, then alto∣gether to trust report and others faith. For that which is probable comethc 1.54 neare vnto truth, and he that industri∣ously exerciseth himselfe in discerning rightly true proba∣bilitie, shall alway more wisely walke, and most seldome erre or be deceiued.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Artes omnes ratione & me∣thodo acqui∣tuntur. Aristot. metaph. 7.
• b 1.2

  Sine generali methodo nulla ars discitur, ne∣que disci potest. Galen. de meth. Med.
• d 1.3

  Artes institu∣untur & accipi∣unt principia ex scientijs. Scalig. de Subt.
• e 1.4

  Intellectus speculatiuus, actiuus, factiuus, habent principia vniuersalia commun••••. Scalig. de Subt.
• f 1.5

  Naturam.
• g 1.6

  Praeceptionē.
• h 1.7

  Locum stu∣dijs aptum.
• i 1.8

  Studium.
• k 1.9

  Institutionem à puero.
• l 1.10

  Industriam.
• m 1.11

  Tempus.
• a 1.12

  Omnis sub∣stantia Natura dicitur. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Aristot. in Metaph.
• b 1.13

  Natura etiam pro peculiari in∣dole, ingenio, more accipitur. Sic apud Virgi∣lium. Nunc age, natu∣ras apibus quas Iuppiter ipse Addidit, expe∣diam.
• c 1.14

  Axiō. proposi∣tiones sunt per se fidem facien∣tes, omnibus do∣ctis in confesso & perpetuae. Gal de Meth. Med.
• d 1.15

  Grata collo∣quia & iucundi dialogi opulen∣tiora quàm per∣petui libri. Scal.
• e 1.16

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Conuersatio artes peperit. Eurip
• f 1.17

  Etenim ficuti lapidum collisi∣one ignis: ita ex disceptationibus elicitur veritas. Scalig. de Subt.
• f 1.18

  Optima illa est do∣cendi ratio quae viua voce traditur. Neque enim quenquam ex libro nauclerum vel alterius artis artificem euadere licet. Libri enim sunt ijs qui antea eruditi fuerunt monimenta, non rudium & indoctorum doctrina perfecta. Galen. de Alim. fac▪ lib. 1.
• g 1.19

  Qui sapiens & doctus euadere cupit, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 oportet, Plato. de Rep.
• h 1.20

  Animus habi∣tat in auribus. Herod.
• i 1.21

  Vox scripturâ ad audiendum longe praestan∣tior & disertior, aurium{que} sensus potior magi∣ster. Plato.
• a 1.22

  Studium est vehemens ani∣mi applicatio ad aliquid. Pe∣rot. in Epigr. Martial.
• e 1.23

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Infirmos om∣nes sanos facere est impossibile. Hippocrat.
• d 1.24

  Educatio est nutritio & pro∣uectio à tene∣rioribus annis. Sic Terent. Eduxi è paruu∣lo, &c. Et Virgil. Nascentes edu∣cat vuas. Nonius Mar∣cellus de pro∣prietat. Serm. sic habet: Alere est vitam victu temporali su∣stentare, educa∣re autem ad sa∣tietatem perpe∣tuam educere.
• f 1.25

  Industrij homines ijdem qui laboriosi, amantes laboris, agendi pulchra studiosi. Cicer. Tusc. Quaest. 2.
• a 1.26

  Quod natu∣ra negat redde∣re nemo potest.
• d 1.27

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Dij labore ven∣dunt bona mor∣talibus.
• e 1.28

  Scholae 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Basil
• f 1.29

  Tantam enim vim habet pue∣rilis institutio, vt sine ill•• nemo ad vllum decus eniti possit. O∣sorius.
• f 1.30

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Non parum igitur sed plurimum quin potius to∣tum refert, sic vel non sic ho∣mines ab ado∣lescentia assue∣factos esse. A∣ristot. Eth. 2.
• h 1.31

  Veritas filia temporis: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• i 1.32

  Emuntur artes tempore & dili∣gentia. Lac••t.
• * 1.33

  Non potest in eo succus esse diuturnus, quod nimis celeriter est maturitatem assequutum Cicer.
• k 1.34

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Analogiam habet na∣tura cum tellure, agricola cum eo qui praeceptis instituit & instruit, semen cum salubribus praeceptis▪ Plutarchus. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• e 1.35

  Pueritia ad 14 annum nume∣ratur.
• d 1.36

  Venaticus ex quo Tempore ce••••inam pel∣lem latrauit in aula, Militat in syluis catulus. Nunc adbibe puro Pectore verba puer, nunc te melioribus of∣fer. Horat.
• f 1.37

  Adolescentia haec est, ab an∣nis pueritiae du∣rans ad 20. & 25. annum, huic succedit iuuen∣tus & progre∣ditur ad 35.
• g 1.38

  Iuuenilis haec est aetas.
• h 1.39

  Consistit aetas à 35. ad 50. aut circiter, & vel paulo magis vel minus pro temperaturarū differentijs.
• i 1.40

  Studia in Ado∣lescentia sunt tanquam in her∣bis, quae annis post maturiori∣bus pulchrae fruges sunt futurae, nam quae seminauerit in iuuentute metet cum senuerit. Plutarch. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• a 1.41

  Tu nihil inuita dices faciesue Minerua.
• b 1.42

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Innatam virtutem ignauia & desidia destruit, & cor∣rumpit, naturalem ineptitudinem rusticitatemuc corrigit & emendat doctrina. Plutarch•• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• c 1.43

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. Quae facilia sunt cognitu fu∣giunt incuriam, quae verò diffi∣cilima elegan∣tia concinna ca∣piuntur. Plutarc.
• c 1.44

  Annus in a∣pricis maturat collibus vuas. Ouid.
• f 1.45

  Illud ingenio∣rum velut prae∣cox genus, non temerè vnquam peruenit ad fru∣gem. Quintil.
• f 1.46

  Festinata ma∣turitas occidit celeriùs. Idem.
• a 1.47

  In omni lite∣rarum profectu stylo, libello 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 perpetuo est opus. Isocrat.
• b 1.48

  Literae mar∣supium non se∣quuntur: sudo∣ris comites sunt & laboris, sociae ieiuniorum, non satietatis, conti∣nentiae, non luxuriae. Hieronym.
• c 1.49

  Recta institutio caput omnis virtutis. Plat. de Leg.
• d 1.50

  Eradenda cu∣pidinis praui ••unt elementa, & tene••ae nimis mentes asperio ribus formandae studijs. Horat.
• f 1.51

  Foelices essent artes si de ijs so∣l••••udicarent ar∣tifices. Aristot.
• g 1.52

  Artis cuiusti∣bet iudicatio∣nes primae om∣nibus homini∣bus sunt notae, sequentes soli arti••ici. Gal. lib. 6. de Meth. Med.
• b 1.53

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Eurip. Bene qui con∣jiciet vatem hunc perhibe∣bo optimum. Cicero de Di∣uin.
• c 1.54

  Artificialis coniectura è probabili erui∣tur ratione & proximè ••ēper accedit ad veri∣tatem. Galen.