A diuision of Parts into Principall, and not principall. CHAP. XIX.
THE diuision of parts into principall, and lesse principall, is verie famous, and hath helde the Stage now a long time. We define, that to be a Prin∣cipall * 1.1 part, which is absolutely necessary for the preseruation of the Indi∣uiduum or particular creature. Or, which affoordeth to the whole bodie, a faculty, or at least a common matter. In both senses, there are only three principall parts, the Braine, the Heart, and the Liuer; the Braine sitteth aloft in the high∣est * 1.2 place, as in the Tribunall or Iudgement seate, distributing to euery one of the Instru∣ments of the sences, their offices of dignity. The Heart (like a King) is placed in the midst of the Chest, and with his vitall heate, doth cherish, maintaine, and conserue the life and safety of all the parts. The Liuer, the fountaine of beneficall humor, like a bountifull and liberall Prince at his proper charges, nourisheth the whole family of the bodie. From the Braine, the Animall Faculty by the Nerues as it were, along certaine Chords, glideth in∣to the whole frame of Nature. From the Heart, the Vitall spirits are conneyed through the Arteries, as through Pipes and Watercourses into euery part. From the Liuer, if not a Faculty, yet a Spirit; if not a Spirit, yet at least a common matter, to wit; the blood is diffused by the veynes into euery corner. So that onely three are absolutely necessary for the conseruation of the whole Indiuiduum, the Braine, the Heart, and the Liuer, all which are fitted and tyed together in so straite a conspiracy, that each needeth the helpe of the o∣ther; and if one of them faile, the rest perish together with it. Not that I thinke these * 1.3 parts are of equall dignity; for the Heart is more noble then the Liuer, & the Braine more excellent then the Heart, aswell because his actions are more diuine, beeing the seate and Pallace of Reason, which is the Soule; as also, because all other parts are but handmaides vnto it: and besides, Hippocrates saith, it giueth the forme to the whole body, For (saith he) * 1.4 the figure of the rest of the Bones, dependeth vpon the magnitude of the Braine, and the Scull.
Galen addeth to the Principall parts the Testicles, because they are the chiefe Organs of procreation, by which alone, the species or kinde is preserued. But we thinke that they * 1.5 confer nothing to the conseruation of the Indiuiduum or particular creature, because they neuer affoord any matter to the whole body, neyther faculty or spirit, but onely a qualitie, with a subtile and thin breath, from whence the flesh hath a seedy rammishnesse, a harsh taste, and strong sauour, and the actions of strength and validity. All the rest of the parts may be called ignoble compared to these, aswell because from them proceedeth no facul∣ty, spirit, or common matter, as also because euery one of them, do minister to some one or other of the principall parts. So the Organes of the senses serue the Braine, and were created for his vse & behoofe: so the Lungs, the Midriffe, & the Arteries as swel smooth as rough, were ordained only for the tempering and repurgation of the hart. so the Stomack, the Guts, the Spleen, both the bladders of Vrine and of Gall, were made for the Liuer: and in a word, none of these ignoble parts are of necessity for the conseruation of the creature, or if they be necessary, it is not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, simply and absolutely, but secundum quid, that is, as they are necessary to serue the turne of the Principall. For I pray you what vse hath the arme, the legge, or the stomacke of the Lungs, the Spleene, and the Kidneys? Again, what necessary vse haue the Lungs, the Spleene, and the Kidneyes of the Legs or Armes? But to all these the heart giueth life, the Liuer nourishment, and the Braine sense and mo∣tion, so that the Braine, the heart, and the Liuer, are in all the parts of the bodye, by the mediation of their vessels.
Now, as there is not an equality of dignity among the principall parts, so the ignoble parts are not all of one and the same degree. For some of them serue the principall, by pre∣paring somwhat for them, others by carrying or leading somewhat vnto them. There are * 1.6 also some sorts ordained onely for the expurgation or cleansing of the principall, which are the most ignoble of all the rest, and are commonly called Emunctories or Drayners. So for the Liuer the Stomacke boyleth the Meate, the Veynes of the Mesentary giue the * 1.7 blood a kinde of rudiment or initiation; the Caue or hollow veyne disperseth the bloode