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.

CHAP. I. Of the Necessitie of the parts of Generation.

IT is a ruled case in Hippocrates his Bookes de dieta, Aristotle in his Booke of the length and shortnes of Life, Galen in his first Booke * 1.1 de sanitate tuenda, and at a word amongst all Philosophers & Phy∣sitians: That all things vnder the Moone which is (sayth Cicero in Scipio his dreame) vltima Coelo citima terris, the last in the Heauen and the nearest to the Earth; all thinges I say contayned within the Elements are subiect to corruption and dissolution. For eue∣ry singular and particular thing either hath life or is without it: if it be without life it is obnoxious to diuers alterations, in regard both of the first and second matter whereof it consisteth. For the first matter, it is alwayes in loue with new formes, and therefore most subiect to mutation, which the French Poet Sa∣lust * 1.2 expresseth vnder the comparison of a notorious Strumpet, on this manner.

Or like a Lais, whose vnconstant loue Doth euery day a thousand times remoue: * 1.3 Who's scarce vnfoulded from one youths imbraces, Yer in her thought another she imbraces: And the new pleasure of her wanton fire, Stirs in her still another new desire.

The second matter which consisteth of the Elements, because of their intestine discord (for they are contraries, and from contrariety comes all corruption) vrgeth continually the dissolution of the mixed body.

The Elements themselues whilst they are out of their proper places, although they bee naturally linked together, yet it is not without a kinde of violence and constraint, and ther∣fore doe instantly long to returne into their proper seates.

But if the body be animated and haue life, beside those already named, it hath also other * 1.4 causes of dissolution bred with it; which no art, no industry of man can auoyde, no not so much as represse: so all things which haue any kinde of life, especially liuing and mouing creatures are destined to corruption, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, by Nature & necessity. By Nature * 1.5 because of the exhaustion or expence of the Primigenie moysture by the Elementary heat and the continuall effluxion of the threefold substance. By Necessity because of the per∣mixtion * 1.6 of the Aliments and the increase of excrements, the suppression whereof maketh an oppression of the partes, stableth vp a fruitfull nursery of diseases, and finally induceth death it selfe.

Wherefore Nature whome Hippocrates calleth 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Recta facientem and the * 1.7 ordinary power of God, being a diligent and carefull prouider for her selfe, hath giuen to euery thing a certaine appetite of eternity, which because shee could not performe in the Indiuiduum or particular Creature, because of the mortality of their Nature, she indeuou∣red to accomplish by propagation of formes and the species or kinds of things; as in the E∣lements by transmutation of one into another, in Minerals by apposition, & in Creatures

by Generation. For so euery indiuiduum extending it selfe as it were, in the procreation of another like vnto it selfe, groweth young againe and becommeth after a sort eternall. The father liueth in the sonne, and dyeth not as long as his expresse and liuing Image stands vp∣on the earth.

To passe by the production of other things, the generation of perfect creatures is ac∣complished * 1.8 when the male soweth his seede, and the female receyueth and conceyueth it. For this purpose Nature hath framed in both sexes parts and places fit for generation; be∣side an instinct of lust or desire, not inordinate such as by sinne is super-induced in man, but natural residing in the exquisite sense of the obscoene parts. For were it not that the God of Nature hath placed heerein so incredible a sting or rage of pleasure, as whereby wee are * 1.9 transported for a time as it were out of our selues, what man is there almost who hath anie sense of his own diuine nature, that would defile himselfe in such impurities? what woman would admit the embracements of a man, remembring her nine moneths burthen, her painefull and dangerous deliuerance, her care, disquiet and anxiety in the nursing and e∣ducation of the infant. But all these thinges are forgotten, and wee ouertaken with an ex∣tasie, which Hippocrates calleth a little Epilepsie or falling sicknesse: and the holy Scripture veileth vnder the name of a senselesnesse in Lot, who neyther perceiued when his daugh∣ters lay downe, nor when they rose vp.

Well, the History of these parts of generation it is our taske in this Booke to describe, ouer which also we could wish we were able to cast a veile, which it should bee impiety for any man to remooue, who came not with as chaste a heart to reade as wee did to vvrite. Howsoeuer that which must needs be done, shall be done with as little offence as possible we may.

The parts therefore of Generation are of two sorts, some belong to men, some to wo∣men. The parts of Generation belonging to men (for of the other we shall see afterwards) are verie many, but all conspiring vnto one end, which is to exhibite something out of * 1.10 themselues which may haue the nature of a Principle; by which, and out of which a newe man may be generated. The Principle exhibited is seed, which because it containeth in it selfe the forme and Idea of all the parts (for it falleth from them all) and beside 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, the fatal necessity of life and death; stoode in neede of manifold preparation, coction and elaboration, and therefore the structure of the parts fit for so great and curi∣ous a worke is no doubt very exquisite. For some of them do onely prepare the seede, or as it were rough hew it, as putting thereon a rudiment of seed, which before was nothing else but an ouerplus of the purer part of blood remaining after assimulation in the particu∣lar parts of the bodie.

This preparation is made in thes permaticall Veines and Arteries, whose admirable im∣plications and complications like the wrethed or wormie tendrils of veines, do forme as it were a twisted or bedded net, wherein the matter is so long retained, till it acquire some beginning of alteration from that it was before. Other parts there are which boyle it anew, as that we call Epididymis or Parastatae, others affoord vnto it prolificall vertue, whereby it is enabled to produce and generate a thing like vnto it selfe, & those are the testicles which giue it the true forme of seede; others, when it is thus perfected, leade it downe toward the place of receipt which are called Deferentia or Eiaculatoria vasa, albeit I see no great rea∣son for the second name, we call them the Leading vessels. Others receiue, containe, and store it vp for necessary vse, as the many vesicles or bladderets, and those Kernels or Glan∣dules which are called Prostatae scituated at the necke of the bladder of vrine. Finallie, o∣thers deliuer it out, and strew it in the seede plat, sowe it in the fertile fielde of Nature the wombe of the woman, which is called penis the yard or virile member. Of all vvhich, if but one bee wanting, yea defectiue, the worke of generation goeth not at all or but lamely for∣ward, wherefore we will endeuour to shew you the naturall both position, disposition, and vse of euerie one in their proper places.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Al Elementa∣ry things mor¦tal, and how.
• * 1.2

  Salust. du Bart.
• * 1.3

  The general matter of things like a strumpet.
• * 1.4

  A double de∣stiny.
• * 1.5

  By Nat
• * 1.6

  By Necessity.
• * 1.7

  Lib. Epidem. The proui∣dence of Na∣ture, or rather of the God of Nature. An image of immortality.
• * 1.8

  The generati∣on of perfect Creatures.
• * 1.9

  Natural plea∣sure in gene∣ration.
• * 1.10

  The parts of generation in men.