Mikrokosmographia a description of the body of man. Together vvith the controuersies thereto belonging. Collected and translated out of all the best authors of anatomy, especially out of Gasper Bauhinus and Andreas Laurentius. By Helkiah Crooke Doctor of Physicke, physitian to His Maiestie, and his Highnesse professor in anatomy and chyrurgerie. Published by the Kings Maiesties especiall direction and warrant according to the first integrity, as it was originally written by the author.

The Praeface.

BEing ariued at this place in the tract of my Anatomicall Perigri∣nation, I entred into deliberation with my selfe, whether I were best silently to passe it by, or to insist vppon it as I had done in the former. On the one side I conceiued my labour would be but lame * 1.1 if it wanted this limbe, and a great part of my end and ayme frustra∣ted, it being to exhibite the wonderfull wisedome and goodnesse of our Creator, which as in all the parts it is most admirable, so in this (if perfection will admit any degrees) it is transcendent. The whole body is the Epitomie of the world, containing therein whatsoeuer is in the large v∣niuerse; Seede is the Epitomy of the body, hauing in it the power and immediate possibi∣lity of all the parts. Moreouer, the knowledge of these principles of generation is so much more necessary toward the accomplishment of our Art, by how much it is more expedient that the whole kinde should be preserued then any particular. Adde hereto, first that the diseases hence arising, as they bee most fearefull and fullest of anxiety especially in the Fe∣male sexe, so are they hardest to be cured: the reason I conceiue to be, because the partes are least knowne as being veyled by Nature, and through our vnseasonable modesty not sufficiently vncouered. Againe, the examples of all men who haue vndertaken this taske euen in their mother tongues as we say, did sway much with me whose writings haue recei∣ued allowance in all ages and Common-wealths. On the contrary there was onely one obstacle; to reueyle the veyle of Nature, to prophane her mysteries for a little curious skil∣pride, * 1.2 to ensnare mens mindes by sensuall demonstrations, seemeth a thing liable to heuy construction. But what is this I pray you else but to araigne vertue at the barre of vice? Hath the holy Scripture it selfe (the wisedome of God) as well in the old Law particularly, as also in many passages of the new, balked this argument? God that Created them, did he not intend their preseruation, or can they bee preserued and not knowne? or knowne and not discoured? Indeede it were to be wished that all men would come to the knowledge of these secrets with pure eyes and eares, such as they were matched with in their Creati∣on: but shall we therefore forfet our knowledge because some men cannot conteine their lewd and inordinate affections? Our intention is first and principally to instruct an Ar∣tist: secondarily that those who are sober minded might knowe themselues, that is, their * 1.3 owne bodies, as well to giue glory to him who hath so wonderfully Created them; as also to preuent those imminent mischiefes to which amongst and aboue the rest these parts are subiect. As much as was possible we haue endeuoured (not frustrating our lawfull scope) by honest wordes and circumlocutions to molifie the harshnesse of the Argument; beside we haue so plotted our busines, that he that listeth may separate this Booke from the rest and reserue it priuately vnto himselfe. Finally, I haue not herein relyed vppon my owne iudgement, but haue had the opinon of graue and reuerent Diuines, by whome I haue bin

perswaded not to intermit this part of my labour. My hope therefore is that my paynes in this part shall receiue not onely a good construction, but also approbation and allowance of all those that are indeed wise. As for such as thinke there is no other principle of good∣nesse then not to know euil, I would wish them to learne of their horses, that it is no good mannage to stand stocke still but to moue in order. We will apply our selues to our bu∣sinesse.

The greatest argument of diuinity, or of a nature relishing thereof is perpetuitie and im∣mutability, the perfection whereof as it is incompetent to any compound creature (for the * 1.4 soule is therefore immortall because it hath no parts) so it is most resembled in that we cal Life; wherein there is a perpetuity though not of all the parts of time Past, Present, and to Come; (for Time is the measure thereof) yet of that which in time is subsistent, that is the * 1.5 Present. For as the production of poynts perpetuateth a line, so the coherence of present times make a kinde of eternity. Life therefore so long as it is prolonged hath no end, and * 1.6 may be compared to a clew of yarne, such as the Poets faigned the Destinies to spin, which so long as there is flaxe to supply, may be drawne into an endlesse length. Now wee must know that the matter of all things is eternall for it neuer perisheth, else had the world long agoe beene anihilated. The dissolution of created things is but a resolution of one thing into another; hence comes the perpetuity of all things though subiect to alteration, a per∣petuity I say, not of the same particular thing distinguished by one and the same forme, but of the Elementary parts whereof it was compounded.

But some will say, this is but a speculatiue & imaginary perpetuity, shew it vs more real∣ly that we may see it with our eies, & feel it with our hands. I shew it thus. The body of man * 1.7 consisteth of matter and forme; by forme I mean, not the soule, but the forme subsisting in the matter, and arising out of the power of the same, which though it be not diuine nor ae∣theriall as some imagine, but meerely materiall, yet so neere it approacheth to the puritie & nature of the first matter wherout it resulteth, that it easily vanisheth into an incompoun∣ded principle, subsisting afterwards in Nature, not as a forme being forsaken by the spirite wherein it had his residence and whereby it was nourished, but as a part of the vniuersall Nature.

This forme we call Life, which as it is raised out of the matter of the body, so it conti∣nueth * 1.8 so long therein, as it is supplied with nourishment, which nourishment is the radi∣call moysture of the spermaticall parts. Nature therefore being not able to generate anie part of seede whose moysture shoulde not in time bee exhausted, could not produce any particular creature eternall or immutable: notwithstanding she deuised a way by framing parts fit for multiplication of seede, to raise a perpetuity, though not of any particular indi∣uiduum yet of the kinds of all creatures. Those partes are the subiect of our present Dis∣course.

So then first of all she prepareth a matter euen the ouer-plus of the nourishment of the particular parts of our bodie. For the nourishment hauing ariued at the parts, and recei∣ued an impression or stampe of their nature, is partly assimulated into their substance, part∣ly * 1.9 (at least if there be any ouer-plus when the part is satisfied) falleth backe by the Vesselles vnto the spermaticall Veines and Arteries, which receiuing an irradiation from the Testi∣cles to which they are continued, do giue that matter a kinde of rudiment of seede. The lower it fals and the nearer it approacheth to these Testicles, the better is it still laboured, till in the end it receyue from them his vtmost perfection both in the colour, consistence, and prolificall vertue; being so accomplished, it is conueyed by the leading vessels into the Store-house called Prostatae, where it is tunned vp and reserued for the generation of a new creature, which new creature when it is made, is also able to affoorde matter for the gene∣ration of another, & so nature obtained a perpetuity and eternity euen out of mutable and temporary principles.

The like administration of Nature (though the processe of her worke bee not so long) we see in fruites, and trees, and plants, all of them being able to bring foorth seede, * 1.10 which shall perpetuate their kindes, a seede (I say) which though it bee but small, shall conteine in it a power to frame a new all the parts of the bodie from whence it yssued. So an Acorne hath in it the power of a mighty Oake. The quantity of an Emmet of seede, the power to grow into a vast Elephant. But because whatsoeuer is ordained to bee made a liuing creature, must haue not onely one principle whereof it should bee formed, but also another whereby it might bee sustained and nourished, as also a conuenient place for the

growth and extension thereof: Nature therefore (vnder which name I alwayes vnderstand the wise administration of Almighty God) made another sexe of mankinde, not altogether of so hot a temper or constitution, because she should haue a superfluity of bloode for the nourishment of the infant, as also that the partes of generation for want of heate to thrust * 1.11 them foorth remaining within, might make a fit place wherein to conceiue, breede, and perfect the same.

Againe, that there might bee a mutuall longing desire betweene the sexes to communi∣cate one with another, and to conferre their stockes together for the propagation of man∣kinde, * 1.12 beside the ardor and heate of the spirits conteyned in their seeds, the parts of genera∣tion are so formed, that there is not onely a naturall instinct of copulation, but an appetite and earnest desire thereunto, and therefore the obscoene parts are compounded of parti∣cles of exquisite sense, that passion being added vnto the will, their embracements might be to better purpose. As for the particulars it shall be in vaine in this place to make men∣tion of them, because the following discourse shall at large discipher them vnto you. In which we will first describe the parts of generation belonging to men, and then proceede to those of Women also; of which wee would aduise no man to take further knowledge then shall serue for his good instruction. And so we descend vnto our history.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Arguments perswading vs to prosecute the history of these parts.
• * 1.2

  Obiection an∣swered.
• * 1.3

  How caute∣lous we haue been herein.
• * 1.4

  The perfecti∣on of euerie thing is per∣petuity.
• * 1.5

  What life is.
• * 1.6

  Comparison.
• * 1.7

  The Elemen∣tary forme of man.
• * 1.8

  How a man is perpetuall.
• * 1.9

  The processe of Nature in the Frame of Man.
• * 1.10

  Comparison.
• * 1.11

  Why woman was made.
• * 1.12

  The nature of the obscaen parts.