Those things (sayth he) that arise of others do sauor of the principles from whence they arise; but the seede from which the spermatical parts do proceed, is hotter then bloud; and therfore the spermatical parts are hotter then the sanguine or bloudy. Now that the seed is hotter then the bloud, may thus bee demonstrated. Hippocrates calleth seede fiery & ayrie; bloud cold and waterish. Beside, bloud is contayned in a trough or channell, but the seed passeth through vessels which haue no sensible cauities, which are certaine signes of the te∣nuity and heat thereof. But this reason seemeth to be more washy and loose, then may an∣swere the strength and vigor of so great a Clarks wit. For there are two things to be con∣sidered in seed (as sayth Galen in many places) the crassament, corpulencie as I may say, or body of it, and the spirites wherewith it is aboundantly stored: in reference to the former the seed is sayd to be watery and earthy; in reference to the spirits, fierie. The spirits are the instruments of the soule, by which that noble architect formeth her mansion or habi∣tation out of the seede, working and forming it into parts conuenient. These are called for∣ming spirits, and in respect of these, the seed is sayd to be artifex, a workman, and carrieth the nature of an Efficient cause. The watrish and cold body of the seede, is the matter of the spermaticall parts. I conclude therefore that the whole seede considered with all his parts is hotter then the bloud, because it is fuller of spirits; but if the seede be robbed of his spirits, then is it colder then the bloud; and therefore being auoyded, the heate of it pre∣sently vanisheth, and by the coldnesse of the ayre it becommeth libuid and black: and such did Galen acknowledge the matter of the spermaticall parts to be.
This first argument Iobertus strengthneth with another, thus. The conformation or structure, and scite or position of the spermaticall parts doe manifestly proue their heate: for the bones occupy the in-most place, and are couered on euery side with flesh, as are also the nerues, least their ingenit or in-bredde heate should vanish or bee offended by the coldnes of the ambient ayre; but the flesh is placed about the vtmost parts. By which ar∣gument I cannot see what he wold conclude, for all these things do rather argue the cold∣nesse, then the heat of the spermaticall parts; for because cold was their greatest enemy, that their weake and languishing heate might not bee extinguished, Nature did on euery side cherish them with flesh, and inuest them with membranes for their defence. Moreo∣uer, the bones are not feated so farre within for the preseruation of their heat, but because they should serue as a stay and prop to vphold all the rest of the frame. But if he will con∣clude that the externall parts are colder then the internal, it will follow that the skin (which all men acknowledge to be temperate) is colder then either nerues or bones.
His third argument is yet more absurd. The spermaticall parts (sayth he) are easily of∣fended with the cold, therefore they are hot, for alteration is made by contraries, conser∣uation by things that are alike. But this is vtterly opposite to Galens Philosophy, who in his booke de arte parita, giueth this as a generall rule, whereby we may distinguish the tem∣pers of the parts that those which are easily offended with cold, are cold, and the hot with heate. So sayth Hippocrates, cold is the greatest enemy to the bones, nerues, teeth & mar∣row of the backe, because these parts are cold. Galen hath these expresse words in the 59. chapter of his booke de arte parua. In all parts this is a common marke of the temperature, if the member doe easily grow cold, it is a signe of frigidity or rarity; if hardly, of heat or of density; if drying things offend it, then is it dry and rashy, if moyst things then it is moyst.
Finally, Iobert addeth this last argument. For that many actions of the spermatical parts doe testifie that there is in them a vehement and high degree of heate; so the stomacke which is membranous, attenuateth and boyleth the meat though it be very hard; yea, the Estrich softneth yron in her maw. The bladder which is likewise membranous, baketh the stone harder then the kidneyes, which are fleshy parts. These obiections may at first sight seeme of some moment to those that are not sufficiently ground•• in our Art, but we will labour to shew their weakenes and insufficiency. First therefore that obiection concer∣ning the stomacke is full of errour: for those creatures in whome the innermost coate or membrane of the stomacke is more fleshy, doe boyle their meat more strongly: and those creatures which haue no teeth, as birds, haue a solid flesh, and very full of warmth annexed to their crops, and as for men, the inward coat of their stomacks is lined ouer with a fleshy crust, which Fallopius first of all men obserued. But go too, let vs yeild this vnto him, that the membranous stomacke doth more perfectly boile, the membranous bladder bakes the stone harder, yet it will not thereupon follow that the spermaticall parts are the hotter, but that the heat when it is retained in a more solid and fast matter, burneth more powerfully.