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THe quantitie of meate must bee portioned after the substance and qualitie thereof, and according to the complexion of him that eateth.
First it ought to bee remembred, that meates hot and moyst which are qualities of the bloud, are soone turned into bloud, and therefore much nourisheth the bodie.
Some meates doe nourish but little, hauing little con∣formitie with bloud in their qualities. Of them which doe nourish: some are more grosse, some lighter in dige∣stion. The grosse meate ingendreth grosse bloud, but where it is well concoct in the stomacke and well dige∣sted, it maketh the flesh more firme, and the officiall mē∣bers more strong then fine meates. Wherefore of men which vse much labour or exercise, also of them which haue very cholerike stomackes here in England, grosse meates may be eaten in a great quantitie: and in a cho∣lerike stomacke, béefe is better digested then a chickens legge, for as much as in a hot stomacke fine meates bee shortly adust and corrupted. Contrariwise, in a cold or fleumatike stomacke grosse meate abideth long vudige∣sted, and maketh putrified matter: light meates there∣fore to such a stomacke be more apt and conuenient.
The temperate bodie is best nourished with a little quantitie of grosse meates, but of temperate meates in substance and qualitie they may safely eate a good quan∣titie: foreseene alway that they eate without gourman∣dise, or leaue without appetite. And here it would be re∣membred, that the cholerike stomacke doth not desire so much as he may digest: the melancholy stomacke may not digest so much as he desireth: for cold maketh appe∣tite, but naturall heate concocteth or boyleth. Notwith∣standing, vnnaturall or supernaturall heate destroyeth appetite and corrupteth digestion, as it appeareth in fe∣uers. Moreouer, fruites and hearbes, specially rawe, would bee eaten in a small quantitie, although the per∣son be very cholerike, for as much as they doe ingender thin watrie bloud apt to receiue putrification, which al∣though it bée not shortly perceiued of him that vseth it, at length they feele it by sundrie diseases which are long in comming, and shortly sleieth, or bee hardly esca∣ped. Finally, excesse of meates is to bée abhorred. For as it is sayd in the booke called Ecclesiasticus: In
much meate shall be sicknes, & inordinate appetite shall approch vnto choler. Semblably the quantity of drinke would bee moderated, that it exceede not, nor bee equall vnto the quantity of meate, specially wine which mode∣ratly taken, aydeth nature, and comforteth her: and as the sayd author of Ecclesiasticus sayth: Wine is a reioy∣sing to the soule and bodie. And Theogines sayth, in Ga∣lens worke: A large draught of wine is ill, a moderate draught is not euill, but commodious and profitable.
QUalitie is the complexiō, that is to say, it is the state thereof, as hot, cold, moyst, or drie. And some meates be in winter cold in act, and in vertue hot.
And it would be considered, that euery complexion tē∣perate and vntemperate, is cōserued in his state, by that which is like thereto in forme & degrée. But that which excéedeth much in distemperance, must be reduced to his temperance, by that which is contrarie to him in forme or qualitie, but like in degree moderatly vsed. By forme is vnderstood grossenes, finenes, thicknes, or thinnes, by degrée, as the first, the second, the third, the fourth in heate, cold, moysture, or drith.
CUstome in féeding is not to bee contemned, or little regarded: for those meates, to the which a man hath béen of long time accustomed, though they be not of sub∣stance commendable, yet doe they sometime lesse harme then better meates, whereunto a man is not vsed. Also the meates and drinkes, which do much delight him that eateth, are to bee preferred before that which is better, but more vnsauorie. But if ye custome be so pernicious, that it néedes must be left, then would it be withdrawne
by little and little in time of health, and not of sicknesse. For if it should bée withdrawne in time of sicknesse, na∣ture should sustaine treble detriment, first by the griefe induced by sicknesse: secondly, by receiuing of medi∣cines: thirdly, by forbearing the thing wherein she de∣lighteth.
TO keepe the bodie in good temper, to them whose naturall complexion is moyst, ought to bee giuen meates that bée moist in vertue, or power: contrariwise to them, whose naturall complexion is drie, ought to be giuen meates drie in vertue, or power. To bodies vn∣temperate, such meates or drinkes, which bee in power contrarie to the distemperance, but the degrées are al∣way to bée considered as well of the temperance of the bodie, as of the meates. For where the meates doe much excéede in degree the temperature of the bodie, they an∣noy the bodie in causing distemperance. As hot wines, pepper, garlike, onyons, and Salt, bée noyfall to them which bée cholerike, because they bée in the highest de∣grée of heate and drith aboue the iust temperance of mans bodie in that complexion. And yet bée they often∣times wholesome to them which bee fleumatike. Con∣trariwise, cold water, cold hearbes, and cold fruits mo∣deratly vsed, bée wholesome to cholerike bodies, by putting away the heate, excéeding the naturall tempe∣rature, and to them which bee fleumatike they bée vn∣wholesome, and doe bring into them distemperance of cold and moyst.
FOrasmuch as before that tillagē of corne was inuen∣ted, and that deuouring of flesh and fish was of man∣kind vsed, men vndoubtedly liued by fruites, and nature was ther with contented and satisfied, but by chaunge of the diet of our progenitors, there is caused to bee in our bodies such alteration, from the nature which was in man at the beginning, that now all fruits generally are noyfull to man, and doe ingender ill humours, and bée oft times the cause of putrified feuers, if they bée much and continually eaten. Notwithstanding, vnto them which haue abundance of choler, they bee sometime con∣uenient to represse the fieume which procéedeth of cho∣ler. And some fruites which bee stiptike or binding in taste, eaten before meales, doe bind the belly, but eaten after meales, they be rather laxatiue. Now shall it bee expedient to write of some fruites particularly, decla∣ring their noyfull qualities in appearing of nature, and how they may be vsed with least detriment.
GOurds rawe be vnpleasant in eating, ill for the sto∣macke, * 1.1 and almost neuer digested, therefore he that must needes eate them, must boyle them, rost them, or frie them, euery way they bee without sauour or taste, and of their proper nature they giue to the bodie colde and moyst nourishment, and that very little: but by rea∣son of the slipperines of their substance, and because al meates which be moyst of their nature, bee not binding, they lightly passe foorth by the belly. And being well or∣dered, they will be méetly concoct, if corruption in ye sto∣macke doe not preuent them: they be cold and moyst in the second degrée.
MElons and Pepons bée almost of one kinde, but that the Melon is round like an Apple, and the
innermost part thereof, where the seedes are contained, is vsed to be eaten. The Pepon is much greater, & some∣what long, and the inner part thereof is not to be eaten. They both are very cold & moyst, and do make ill iuyce in the bodie, if they be not well digested, but the Pepon much more then the Melon, they doe least hurt, if they bee eaten afore meales. Albeit if they doe finde in the stomack fleume, they be turned into fleume: if they find choler, they bee turned into choler. Not withstanding, there is in them the vertue to clense and to prouoke v∣rine: they be cold and moyst in the second degree.
CUcumbers doe not excéede so much in moysture as * 1.2 Melons, and therefore they be not so soone corrupted in the stomacke. But in some stomackes, being mode∣ratly vsed, they doe digest well: but if they be abundant∣ly eaten, or much vsed, they ingender cold and thick hu∣mours in the veines, which neuer or seldome is turned into good bloud, and sometime bringeth in feuers. Also they abate carnall lust. The séedes as well thereof, as of Melons and Gourds, being dried and made cleane from the huskes, are very medicinable against sicknesses pro∣céeding of heate, also the difficultie or let in pissing: they be cold and moyst in the second degrée.
BE hard to digest, therefore being much eaten and not well digested, they annoy the head, and cause gnaw∣ing in the stomacke, and maketh grosse iuyce, and some∣time cause obstructions, or stoppings in the liuer and spléene. And where there is inflāmation or hardnes in the bodie they are vnwholsome, but being well digested and temperatly vsed, they nourish & make the flesh firme, and also bindeth the belly: old Dates bee hot and drie in the first degrée: new gathered are hot and moyst in the first degree.
FIgges eaten doe shortly passe out of the stomacke, and are soone distributed into all the partes of the bo∣die, and haue the power to cleanse specially grauell, be∣ing in the raines of the back: but they make no substanti∣all nourishment, but rather somewhat loose and windie, but by their quicke passage, the winde is soone dissolued. Therefore if they bee ripe, they doe least harme of anie fruites, or almost none. Drie figs and old, are more hotte and moist than new gathered, but being much eatē they make ill blood and iuyce, and as some doe suppose, doe in∣gender Lice: & also annoyeth the liuer and the spléene, if they bée inflamed: but hauing the power to attenuate or make humors currant, they make the bodie soluble, and doe clense the raines. Also being eaten before dinner with ginger or pepper, or powder of Time, or Peniryall: they profit much to them which haue opilations or hard con∣gealed matter in the inner parts of the bodie, or haue di∣stillations or rewmes falling into the breast & stomack. New figges are hot and moyst, olde figges are hot in the first degrée, and drie in the second.
GRapes doe not nourish so much as figges, but being ripe, they make not much ill iuyce in the bodie: albeit newly gathered they trouble the bellie, and filleth the stomacke with winde, therefore if they bee hanged vp a while, ere they be eaten they are the lesse noyfull. Swéet grapes, are hottest, and doe loose somewhat, and make a man thirstie. Sowre grapes are cold, and doe also loose, but they are hard of digestion; and yet they doe not nou∣rish. They which are in taste bitter or harrish, be like to them that are sowre. Raysons doe make the stomacke firme and strong, and doe prouoke appetite, and do com∣fort weake bodies: being eaten afore meales, they be hot
in the first degrée, and moist in the second.
CHeries if they be swéete, the do soone slip downe into the stomacke, but if they be sowre or sharpe, they bée more holesome, and do loose: if they be eaten fresh & new∣ly gathered, they be cold and moist in the first degrée.
PEaches doe lesse harme, and doe make better iuyce in the bodie, for they are not so soone corrupted being ea∣ten: of the iuyce of them may be made a syrupe very hole∣some against the distemperance of choler, whereof pro∣céedeth a stinking breath, they be cold in the first degrée, and moyst in the second.
AL apples eaten soon after yt they be gathered, are cold, hard to digest, and doe make ill and corrupted bloud, but being well kept vntill the next winter, or the yeare following, eaten after meales, they are right holesome, & doe con••rme the stomacke, & make good digestion, speci∣ally if they bee rosted or baked, most properly in a chole∣ricke stomack: they are best preserued in hony, so the one touch not an other. The rough tasted apples are hole∣some, where the stomacke is weake by distemperance of heate or much moysture. The bitter apples, where the griefe is increased. The sowre apples, where the matter is congealed or made thick with heate: in distemperature of heate and dryeth by drinking much wine, they haue béene found commodious being eaten at night going to bed, without drinking to them: they be cold and moist in the first degrée.
QUinces bee colde and drie: eaten afore meales they bind and restraine the stomacke, that it may not di∣gest
well the meate, except that they be rosted or sodden, the core taken out and mixed with hony clarified, or su∣gar, then they cause good appetite, and preserueth the head from drunkennes: taken after meate, it closeth and draweth the stomacke together, and helpeth il digestion, and mollifieth the belly, if it be aboundantlytaken, they be cold in the first degrée, and dry in the beginning of the second.
POmegranates be of good iuyce, and profitable to the stomacke, specially they which are swéete: but in a hotte feuer, they that are sowre bée more expedient and holesome, for than the swéete doth incende heate, and puffe vp the stomacke.
PEares are much of the nature of apples, but they are heauier: but taken after meales rosted or baken, they are not vnholesome, and doe restrayne and knit the sto∣macke being ripe: they bée colde and moyst in the first degree.
MEdlars are colde and drie, and constrictiue or strai∣ning the stomacke, and therefore they may bée eaten after meales, as a medicine, but not vsed as meate, for they ingender melancholie: they bee cold and dry in the second degrée.
WAlnuttes, if they be blaunched, are supposed to be good for the stomacke, and somewhat loosing the belly: mixte with Sugar, they doo nourish temperate∣ly. Of two dry nuts, as many figs, and xx. leaues of rew, with a grain of salt, is made a medicine whereof if one doo eate fasting, nothing which is venemous may that day
hurt him, and it also preserueth against the 〈…〉〈…〉, and this is the very right Mithridate, they 〈…〉〈…〉 in the second degree, after some opinion•• hot〈…〉〈…〉 degrée, dry in the second.
THey bee more strong in substance, the〈…〉〈…〉, whereof they are not so easily or soone dig〈…〉〈…〉so they doe inflate the stomacke, and cause headache, but they ingender fatte. And if they be rosted, the〈…〉〈…〉 to restraine rewmes. Also eaten with pepper, the•• 〈…〉〈…〉 against torments of the belly, and the stopping of 〈…〉〈…〉 They be hot and dry in the first degrée.
THey doe extenuate and cleanse without any binding, wherefore they purge the breast and lungs, specially bitter Almondes, also they do mollifie the bellie, prouoke sléepe, and causeth to pisse well, 5, or 6. of them eaten a∣fore meate kéepe a man from being drunke: they bee hot and moist in the first degrée.
THey being rosted vnder the embers, or hot ashes, doe nourish the body strongly, and eaten with honie fa∣sting, do helpe a man of the cough.
OF the garden and ripe, doe dispose a man to the stoole, but they doe bring no manner of nourishment. To this fruit like as to figges this propertie remaineth, that being dried they doe profite: the Damaske prune rather bindeth then looseth, and is more commodious vnto the stomacke, they be cold and moist in the third degrée.
COndite in salt licoure, taken at the beginning of a meale, doth corroborate the stomacke, stirreth appe∣tite
and looseth the belly being eaten with vineger. They which be ripe are temperately hot, they which be gréene are cold and drie.
THey nourish nothing after that they be salted: but yet they make the belly loose, and purgeth fleume, which is therein contained. Also stirreth appetite to meate and openeth the obstructions, or stopping of the liuer and spléene, being eaten with oximel, before any other meat: they be hot and drie in the second degrée.
THe rindes taken in a little quantitie doe comforte the stomacke wherin it digesteth, specially condite with sugar, and taken fasting in small quantitie. The iuyce of Orenges hauing a tost of bread put into it, with a little pouder of mints, sugar, and a little cinamome maketh a very good sauce to prouoke appetite. The iuyce eaten with sugar in a hotte feuer, is not to bee discommended. The rynde is hotte in the first degrée, and drie in the se∣cond, the iuyce of them is colde in the second degrée, and drie in the first.
GEnerally all hearbes raw, and not s••dden, d••••ingen∣der cold and watry iuyce, if they be eaten customably or in abundance, albeit some hearbes are more comesti∣ble, and lesse harme vnto nature, and moderarely vsed, maketh méerely good blood.
AMong al hear bs none hath so good iuice as lettice, for some men doe suppose that it maketh abundance of bloud, albeit not very pure or perfect: it doth set a hot ap∣petite: and eaten in the euening it prouoketh sléepe: albe∣it, it neither doth loose, nor binde the belly of his owne propertie. It increaseth milke in a womans breast, but it abateth carnal appetite, and much vsing thereof hur∣teth
the eyesight. It is cold and moi•••• temperately.
BEfore that auarice caused Marchauntes to fetch out of the East and South partes of the worlde, the traf∣fique of spice, and sundrie drugges to content the vnsa∣ciable nesse of wanton appetites: Colewortes for the vertues supposed to bee in them were of such estimation, that they were iudged to be a sufficient medicine against all diseases, as it may appeare in the booke of wise Ca∣ro wherein hee writeth of husbandrie. But now I will no modre remember, than shall be required, in that which shalle vsed as meat, and not pure Medicine. The iuyce thereof hath vertue to purge: The whole leaues being halfe sodden, and the water powred out, and they being put e••••soones into hot water, & sodden vntil they be ten∣der, so eaten they doe bind the belly. Some do suppose if they be eaten raw with vineger before meat, it shall pre∣serue the stomacke from surfetting, and the head from drunkennes ••albeit, much vsing of them dulleth the sight, except the eyes be verie moist. Finally, the iuyce that it maketh in the body, is not so commēdable, as that which is ingendred of lettice. It is hotte in the first degree, and drie in the second.
IT is like in operation to Lettise, and tempereth cho∣ler wonderfully, and therefore in all cholericke feuers, the decoction of this hearbe, or the water thereof stilled, is right expedient. Semblably the hearbe and roote boy∣led with flesh that is fresh, being eaten, kéepeth the sto∣macke & head in very good temper. I suppose that Sou∣thistle and Denidelion be of like qualities, but not so cō∣uenient to bee vsed of them which are hole, because they are wilde of nature and more bitter, and therefore cau∣seth fastidiousnesse or lothsomenesse of the stomacke. It
is cold and dry in the second degrée.
BEe much like in their operations to Cicory, but they are more conuenient to medicine then to meat. Albe∣it Scariole called white Endiue, hauing the toppes of the leaues turned in, and laide in the earth, at the lat∣ter ende of sommer, and couered, becommeth white and cryspe, like to the great stalkes of Cabage lettice, which are in winter taken vp and eaten. And to them that haue hot stomackes and dry, they be right holesome, but being too much vsed or in very great quantitie, they ingender the humour which maketh the collicke: they bee colde and moyst in the first degrée.
ARe not cold in operation, but rather somwhat warm, * 1.3 and haue in them a slipperines. Wherfore being boy∣led and moderatly eatē with oyle and vineger, they make ••éetly good concoction in the stomacke, and causeth the superfluous matter therein easily to passe, and clenseth the belly. It is hot and moist in the first degrée.
ARe also abstersiue and looseth the belly, but much ea∣ten annoieth the stomacke, but they are right good a∣gainst obstructions or stopping of the liuer, if they be ea∣ten with vineger or mustard, like wise it helpeth ye spléen. It is cold in the first degrée, and moist in the second.
Doth mitigate the great heate in all the in ward parts of the bodie, semblably of the head and eyes, also it repres∣seth the rage of Uenus, but if it bee preserued in salt or brine, it heateth and purgeth the stomacke. It is cold in the third degrée, and moist in the second.
It is very profitable vnto the stomacke, but it may not
susteyne very much boyling, eaten wt vineger, it prouo∣keth appetite, & also vrine. The decoction thereof drunke with wine cleanseth the bladder.
Being sodden it looseth the belly. In a time of pesti∣lence, if one being fasting, doe chewe some of the leaues, and sucke downe the iuyce, it meruallously preserueth from infections, as a new practiser called Gualnerius doth write. And I my selfe haue proued it in my houshould.
The séedes thereof brayed and drunke with wine and water, is the collicke and fretting of the guttes: it stoppeth 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and helpeth the stomack annoyed with rep〈…〉〈…〉. It is told in the third degrée and drie in the second.
Is very conuenient to the stomacke, and comforteth appetite, and 〈…〉〈…〉 the breath swéet, the séedes and root maketh vr〈…〉〈…〉 well, and breaketh the stone, dis∣solueth windes: the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 boyled in water, and thereof 〈…〉〈…〉ell being made, it dissolueth fleume, & maketh good digestion. It is hot and dry in the third degrée.
Being eaten the séede or roote maketh abundance of milke, likewise drunke with P••••sane or ale. The séede some what restrayneth fluxe, prouoketh to pisse, and mi∣tigateth frettings of the stomacke and guttes, specially * 1.4 the decoction of the roote, if the matter, causing fretting, bée colde, but if it bée of a hotte cause, the vse thereof is dangerous for inflāmation or exulceration of the raines or bladder. It is hotte in the third degrée, and dry in the first.
Maketh swéete breath, prouoketh vrine, and driueth downe things cleaning to the raynes or bladder, stirreth vp courage, and causeth abundance of milke. It is hotte and dry in the third degrée.
They make winde, howsoeuer they bee ordered: the substance which they do make is spungie, and not firme, albeit they be abstersiue, or cleansing the bodie, they ta∣rie long ere they bee digested, and make grosse iuyce in the bodie: but if onyons bee sodden with them, they be lesse noyfull.
Are much of the nature of Beanes, but they bée lesse windie, and passeth faster out of the bodie: they bee also abstersiue, or cleansing, specially white peason, and they also cause m••••tly good nourishing, the huskes taken a∣way. And the broth wherein they bee sodden, clenseth right well the raines and bladder.
THe iuyce made by them is very grosse, and therefore being much eaten, if they bee not perfectly 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the stomacke, they doe make crude or raw 〈…〉〈…〉 in the ••eines. Also if they be not wel boyled, they cause winds, and annoy the stomacke, and make sometime 〈…〉〈…〉gs: if they be well boyled first in cleane water▪ and that be∣ing cast away, the second time with fat flesh, they 〈◊〉〈◊〉∣rish much, and doe neither loose nor binde the bellie. But Nauewes do not nourish so much as Rapes, but they be euen as windie.
Being well boyled in water, and after with fat flesh, nourisheth much, augmenteth the séede of man, prouo∣keth carnall lust. Eaten raw, they stirre vp appetite to eate, being temperatly vsed, and be conuenient vnto thē which haue putrified matter in their breasts or lungs, causing them to ••astly: but being much and often ea∣ten, they make raw iuyce and windsnes.
They do nourish with better iuice then ye other rootes, * 1.5 specially Carrets, which are hot and dry, and expelleth winde. Notwithstanding, much vsed they ingender ill iuyce, but Carrets lesse then Parsneps, the one and the other expelleth vrine.
Haue the vertue to extenuate or make thinne and al∣so to warme. Also they cause to breake wind, & to pisse. Being eaten afore meales, they let the meate that it may not descend: but being eaten last, they make good dige∣stion and looseth the belly, though Galenus write contra∣rie. For I among diuers other, by experience haue pro∣ued it. Notwithstanding, they be vn wholsome for them that haue continually the gowt or paine in the ioynts.
It doth extenuate and cut-grosse humours, and slimie, dissolueth grosse windes, and heateth all the bodie: also openeth the places which are stopped generally where it is well digested in the stomacke: it is wholesome to diuers purposes, specially in the bodie, wherein is grosse matter, or much cold enclosed, if it be sodden vntill it loo∣seth his 〈…〉〈…〉esse, it some what nourisheth, and yet loo∣seth his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 〈…〉〈…〉te grosse humours▪ being sodde〈…〉〈…〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉, it profiteth much against distillations from the head into the stomacke.
Doe also extenuate, but the long onyons more then the round, the red more then the white, the dry more thē they which be 〈◊〉〈◊〉 also raw more then sodden, they stirre appetite to meate, and put away lothsomnes, and loose the belly, they quicken sight, & being eaten in great abundance with meate, they cause one to sléepe soundly.
Be of ill iuyce, and doe make 〈…〉〈…〉us dreames, but they doe extenuate and clensethe bodie, and also make it
soluble, and prouoketh vrine. Moreouer, it causeth one to spit out easily the fleume which is in the breast.
It heateth, and some what bindeth, and therwith pro∣uoketh vrine, the decoction of the leaues and braunches being dronke. Also it stoppeth bléeding of wounds, be∣ing layd vnto them. Moreouer, it hath béen proued that women, which haue béen long time without children, and haue dronke ten ounces of the iuyce of Sage, with a grain of salt, a quarter of an houre before that they haue companied with their husbands, haue conceiued at that time. It is hot and dry in the third degrée, the vsing ther∣of is good against palsies.
Doth heate and extenuate, whereby it digesteth slimie fleume: being prepared with figges, it purgeth fleume downward, with honey and water, vpward: boyled in vineger it helpeth the toothach, if the téeth bee washed there with. It is hot and drie in the third degrée.
Comforteth the heart and maketh one merrie, eaten raw before meales, or layd in wine that is dronke. Also it mollifieth the bellie and prepareth to the stoole. It is hot and moyst in the middle of the first degrée.
Purgeth fleume, helpeth digestiō, maketh quick fight, prouoketh vrine, and stirreth carnall appetite. It is hot and dry in the third degrée.
Heateth much, and increaseth the seede of man, prouo∣keth courage, helpeth digestion, and somewhat looseth. It is hot and moyst in the second degrée.
Dissolueth windes, breaketh the stone, expelleth v∣rine, and ceaseth frettings. It is hot and drie in the third degrée.
Doth extenuate, heat, and deroit, it reformeth the sto∣macke oppressed with steume, it doth recomfort the faint spirit, it expelleth melancholy by siege, & is medicinable against many diseases. It is hot and drie in the third de∣gree.
Paulus discommendeth, saying, that it resisteth concec∣sion, and hurteth the stomacke, and maketh it iuyce in the bodie: taken as medicine, it helpeth many diseases. It is hot and drie in the third degrée.
Hath the vertue to heate, and therefore it insolueth humours congealed with colde: it helpeth against pal∣sres, falling sicknes, old diseases of the breast, torments or fretting, it prouoketh brine and sweat: it helpeth the cough, taken with pepper and honey: it putteth away tootach, the roote being chewed, or the iuyce thereof put into the tooth being burned, the fume thereof resisteth the pestilence: the rinde thereof sodden or burned, the fume receiued at the mouth, stoppeth the re••••e which falleth out of the head into the chéekes or throate, which I my selfe haue proued the gréene leaues ••rused, do stop the Hemer••oides, if they be laid vnto them. That hear•• is hot and drie in the third degree.
BLackepepper is hottest, and most drie, whitepepper is next, long pepper is most temperate. The generall propertie of all kinds of pepper is to heate the bodie, but as Galen sayth, it pe••reeth downward, and doth not spred into the veines, it helpeth dige••sSpan••pulseth vrine, and it helpeth against the diseases of the breast, procée∣ding
of colde. It is hot in the first degrée, and drie in the second.
Heateth the stomack, and helpeth digestion, but it hea∣teth not so soone as pepper: but afterward the heate re∣maineth longer, and causeth the mouth to be moyst. Be∣ing gréene or well confectioned in sirupe, it comforteth much the stomacke and head, and quickeneth remem∣brance, if it be taken in the morning fasting. It is hot in the second degrée, and drie in the first.
Somewhat bindeth, heateth and comforteth the sto∣macke, and the heart specially, and maketh good dige∣stion, being eaten or dronken in a small quantitie. It is hot in the second degrée, and drie in the first.
Haue vertue to comfort the sinewes, also to consume and dissolue superfluous humours. They be hot and drie in the third degrée: sodden with milke, it comforteth the debilitie of nature.
Dioscorides commēdeth to be dronk against spitting of bloud, and bloudie fluxes, & excessiue laxes. Paulus Aegi∣neta addeth to it, that it helpeth ye col••ke. They be hot in the 2. degrée, and dry in the 3. degrée. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the sto∣macke very commodious, taken in a little quantitie.
With their swéet odour comfort & dissolue, & sometime comforteth the power of the sight, and also the braine in cold diseases, and is hot and drie in the second degrée.
BRead of fine flower of wheate, hauing no leauen, is slow of digestion, and maketh flimie humours, but it nourisheth much: if it be leauened, it digesteth sooner.
Bread hauing much branne, filleth the bellie with ex∣crements,
and nourisheth little or nothing, but shortly descendeth from the stomacke. The meane betwéene both, sufficiently leauened, well moulded, and moderat∣ly baked, is the most holesome to euery age. The grea∣test loaues doe nourish most fast, for as much as the fire hath not exhausted the moysture of them. Hot bread slowly passeth. Barley bread clenseth the bodie, & doth not nourish so much as wheat, and maketh cold iuyce in the bodie.
BEefe of England to Englishmen, which are in health, bringeth strong nourishing: but it maketh grosse bloud, and ingendreth melancholy: but being of young Oxen, not exceeding the age of foure yeare, to them which haue cholerike stomackes, it is more conuenient then chickens, and other like fine meates.
Aboue all kinds of flesh in nourishing the body, Galen most commendeth Porke, not being of an olde Swine, and that it be well digested of him that eateth it. For it maketh best iuyce, it is most conuenient for young per∣sons, and them which haue sustained much labour, and there with are fatigate, and become weake. Young pigs are not co〈…〉〈…〉fiended, before that they be one moneth old, for they doe bréed much superfluous humours.
Is very moyst and fle••••atike, wherefore it is not conuenient for aged men, except that it be very dry ro∣sted, nor yet for them which haue in their stomackes much fleume.
Galen doth not commend it, notwithstanding expe∣rience * 1.6 proueth here in this Realme, that if it be young, it is a right temperate meate, and maketh good iuyce: and therefore it is vsed more then any other meate in all
diseases. And yet it is not like good in all places, nor the shéepe which beareth finest wooll, is not the swéetest in eating, nor the most tender. But I haue found in some countries Mutton, which in whitenes, tendernes, and swéetnes of the flesh, might bee well nigh compared to Kid, and in digestion haue proued as holesome.
Of Galen is commended next vnto Porke: but some men doe suppose, that in health & sicknesse they be much better then porke, the iuyce of thē both being more pure. And here it is to be noted, that of all beasts, which be dry * 1.7 of their nature, the youngest be most holesome: of them that are moyst, the eldest are least hurtfull.
Maketh grosse bloud, it drieth and stoppeth, but yet it prouoketh a man to pisse. Cony maketh better and more pure nourishment, and is sooner digested then Hare. It is well proued, that there is no meate more holesome, or that more cleane firmly, and temperatly nourisheth then Rabbets.
Hypocrates affirmeth, that the flesh of Harts & Hinds to be ill iuyce, hard of digestion and dry, but yet moueth vrine. Of fallow déere, he nor any other old writer doth speake of, as I remember. I suppose, because there be not in all the world, so many as bee in England, where they consume a good part of the best pasture in the Realme, and are in nothing profitable, sauing that of the skinnes of them is made better leather then is of Calues, the hū∣ting of them being not so pleasant, as the hūting of other venery or vermine, the flesh much more vnholesome and vnpleasant then of a red Déere, ingendring melancholy, and making many fearefull dreames, and disposeth the bodie to a feuer, if it bee much eaten: notwithstanding the fat thereof (as some learned men haue supposed) is better to be digested then the leane.
The flesh of all birds is much lighter, than the flesh of beasts, in cōparison most especially of those foules which trust most to their woings, & do breed in high countries.
The Capon is aboue all other fowles praised: for as much as it is easily digested, and maketh little ordure, and much good nourishment. It is commodious to the breast and stomack. Hennes in winter are almost equal vnto the Capon, but they do not make so strōg nourish∣ment. Auicen sayth, if they be rosted in the belly of a Kid or Lambe, they will be the better. Chickens in summer, specially if they bee cockrels, are very conuenient for a weake stomacke, and nourisheth a little. The flesh of a Cocke is hard of digestion, but the broth wherein it is boyled, looseth the belly: & hauing soddē in it Coleworts, Polipodium, or Cartamus, it purgeth ill humours, and is medicinable against gowtes, ioynt-ach, and feuers, which come by courses.
Excéedeth all fowles in swéetnessed and wholesomnes, and is equall to a Capon in nourishing: but he is some∣what drier, and is of some men put in comparison, meane betweene a Henne and a Partrich.
Of all fowles is most soonest digested, and hath in him much nutriment, comforteth the braine, and maketh seede of generation, and reuiueth lust, which is abated.
Although they bee of some men commended, yet expe∣rience proueth them to encrease melancholie, and are of small nourishing.
Be as well the flesh as the broth very wholesome: ea∣ten rosted, they doe much helpe against the colicke, as Dioscorides sayth.
Is slow of digestion, nourisheth little, increaseth me∣lancholy.
Among wildfoule haue the chiefe praise, for lightnes of digestion, and that they make good nourishment, and lit∣tle ordure.
Be hard to digest, and are very hot, and stirreth vp Ve∣nus, and specially the braines of them.
Are of a good tēperance, and méetly light in digestion.
Be easily digested, and are very holsome to them, which are fleumaticke, and pure melancholy.
Is hard of digestion, but being yong and fat, the wings bee easie to digest in a whole stomacke, and nourisheth competently.
Is hotter then goose, and hard to digest, and maketh worse iuyce, sauing the brawnes on the breast bone, and the necke, is better then the remnant.
Crane is harde of digestion, and maketh ill iuyce, but being hanged vp long in the ayre hee is the lesse vnhole∣some. Bustard being fat, and kept without meate a day or two afore yt he be killed, to expulse his ordure, and then drawen and hanged as the Crane is, being rosted or ba∣kē, is a good meat, & nourisheth wel, if he be wel digested.
Being young and fatte, bee lightlier digested then the Crane, and the Bittour sooner then the Hearon. And the Shouelar sooner then any of them, but all those fowles must bee eaten with much Ginger or Pepper, and haue good old wine drunk after them, and so shall they be more
easily digested, & the iuice cōming of them be ye lesse noiful.
THe wings, brawnes, and neck of géese, capons, hens, fesant, partrich, and small birdes being fat, are better then the legs in digestion, & lighter in nourishment. Of wildfoule & pigeons, being fatte, the legs are better then the winges, the brawnes of ducke, teale and wigeon ex∣cept, which is better to digest then the residue.
Of a goose or hen, being fat with bran and milke, being well sodden or made in powder, is good for the stomack, in makingit strong to digest, and nourisheth competētly.
Of a capon, hen, fesaunt, or goose being made fat with milke mixt with their meate is not onely easie to digest, but also maketh good iuyce, and nourisheth excellently. But the liuers of beastes bee ill to digest, passeth slowly and maketh grosse bloud, but it is strong in nourishing.
The flesh of them is more hard to digest: and therefore although they bee well digested, yet make they not iuyce naturally sanguine or cleane, but rawe iuyce, and colde, and it requireth a long time to be conuerted into bloud.
Are more easie to digest then the liuer, and lesse nou∣risheth, but the nourishment that it maketh, is fleuma∣ticke. Albeit the lunges of a foxe, is medicinable for them, which haue sickenes of the lunges.
Is of ill iuyce, for it is the chamber of melancholy.
Is of hard flesh, and therfore is not soone digested, nor passeth shortly, but where it is well digested, the iuyce that it maketh is not to be dispraysed.
Is fleumaticke, of grosse iuyce, slow in digesting, noy∣ous to the stomacke, but where it is wel digested, it nou∣risheth much.
Is more delectable then the braine, it is ill for the sto∣macke, but where it is well digested, it nourisheth much.
Being wel digested, do nourish much, but ye stones are hotter with their moistnes, the vdders cold & fleumatick: they both doe increase séede of generation, but the bloud made of the vdder, is better then that which commeth of the stones, except it be of calues & lambs. Also the stones of cockes, maketh commendable nourishment.
The flesh therof nourisheth much, & augmenteth séede, but it is slow of digestion, & noyeth the stomacke, but to them which vse much exercise, it is commendable.
Is of a spungy and sanguine substance, but the kernels and gristle which are in the rootes, if they bee well dige∣sted they make good nourishment, if they bee not well di∣gested they make fleume.
Being well boyled and tender, in a hole stomacke di∣gesteth well and maketh good iuyce and passeth forth ea∣sily. Galen commendeth the féete of swine, but I haue proued, that the féete of a yong bullocke tenderly sodden and laid in sowse two dayes or thrée, and eaten cold in the euening, haue brought a cholericke stomacke into a good digestion and sléepe: and therewith hath also expulsed salt fleume and choler: and this haue I found in my selfe by often experience, alway foreséene that it may be eaten before anie other meate without drinking immediatelie after it.
THe best fish after the opinion of Galen, is that which swimmeth in a pure sea, and is tossed and lift vp with windes and sourges. The more calme that the water is, the worse is the fish.
They which are in muddie waters, doe make much fleume and ordure, taken in fennes and ditches be worst, being in riuers and swift, bee sometime commendable: Albeit generally all kinds of fishe maketh more thinner bloud than flesh, so that it doth much nourish, and it doth the sooner passe ouer by vapours: to a hot cholericke sto∣macke, or in feuers, sometime they bee holesome, being new, fresh, and not very hard in substance or slimy, hard fish is hard of digestion: but the nourishment thereof is more firme, then that which is soft: those which haue much grosse humors in them, are best powdred.
BUtter is also nourishing, and profiteth in them which haue humors superfluous, in the breast or lunges, and lacketh riping and clensing of them, specially if it bee ea∣ten with sugar or hony. If it bee well salted, it heateth and clenseth the more.
CHeese by the whole sentence of al auncient writers, letteth digestion, and is an enemie vnto the stomack. Also it ingendreth ill humors, and breedeth the stone: the theese which doth least harme is soft cheese reasonablie salted, which some men doe suppose, nourisheth much.
EGges of Fesants, hennes, and partriches, he of all o∣ther meates most agreeable vnto nature, specially if they bee new laide: if they bee reere, they doe clense the
throate and the breast. If they bée harde, they be slow in digestion: but being once digested, they do nourish much. Meane betweene reere and hard, they digest conuenient∣ly, and nourish quickly. Egges well poched, are better then rosted. If they be fryed hard, they be of ill nourish∣ment, and doe make stinking fumes in the stomacke, and do corrupt other meates, with whom they be mingled.
They be most holsome, when they be poched, and most vnholesome, when they be fryed. Dioscorides sayth. If they besu〈…〉〈…〉d warme, before any other meate, they doo heale the grietes of the bladder & raynes made with gra∣uell. Also sorenes of the chéekes and throate, and spitting of bloud: and they bee good against catarres or stilling out of the head into the stomacke.
VNdoubtedly water hath preheminence aboue all o∣ther licours, not only because it is an element, that is to say, a pure matter, whereof al other licours haue their original substance, but also for as much as it was the ve∣ry naturall and first drinke to all manner of creatures.
Wherefore the saying of Pindarus the Poet was euer well allowed, which sayth, water is best. And one thing is to bee well considered, that from the creation of the world, vntill the vniuersal deluge or floud, during which time men liued 8. or 9. hundred yeares, there was none other drink vsed nor knowē, but water. Also the true fol∣lowers of Pythagoras doctrine, dranke onley water, and yet liued, as Appollonius, & other: and in the searching out of secret and misticall things, their wits excelled. More∣ouer wee haue séene men and women of great age, and strong of bodie, which neuer or very seldome dranke o∣ther drinke then pure water. As by example in Corne∣wall, although that the countrey be in a very cold quar∣ter, which proueth that if men from their infancie were accustomed to none other drink but to water only mode∣ratly vsed, it shuld be sufficient to kéep natural moisture,
& to cause the meat that is eaten, to pierce and descend in∣to the places of digestion, which are the purposes that drinke serueth for.
But now to the qualities of water after the sētence of ancient philosophers and phisitions. The rain water af∣ter the opinion of most men, if it bee receiued pure and cleane, is most subtill and penetratiue, of any other wa∣ters: the next is that, which issueth out of a spring in the east, and passeth swiftly amōg great stones or rocks: the third is of a cleane riuer, which runneth on great harde stones or peples. There hee diuers meanes to trye out which is the best water▪ for yt which is lightest in poise or weight, is best. Also that whereof commeth least skim or froth when it doth boyle, also that which will soonest bee hot: Moreouer dip linnen clothes into sundry waters and after lay them to drie, and that which is soonest drie, the water wherein it was dipped is most subtill. After a great surfet, specially taken with superfluous eating of banquetting meats, cold water dronken is a generall re∣medy. Hyppo. affirmeth yt in sharpe and feruent diseases, none other remedy is to be required then water. And Ga∣len will not that children should bee let from drinking of * 1.8 water, but that when they séele themselues very hot af∣ter meales, and doe desire to drinke water, specially of a cleane fountain they should be suffered, also Hippo saith: in such sicknes whereas thou fearest, lest the head should be vehemently grieued, or the mind perished, there must thou giue either water or white wine allaied with much water. Not withstanding there be in water causes of di∣uers diseases, as of swelling of the spléene and the liuer, it also flitteth and swimmeth, and it is long or it pierceth, in as much as it is cold and slowe in decoction, it looseth not the belly nor prouoketh vrine. Also in this it is vicious, that of his proper nature it maketh no ordure. Finally alway respect must be had to the person that drinketh it, for to yongmen and them that bee hot of complexion, it
doth lesse harme, and sometime it profiteth, but to them that are féeble, olde, fleumaticke, melancholie, it is not conuenient.
PLato the wisest of all Philosophers, doth affirme, that wine moderately drunke, nourisheth and comforteth as wel al the bodie as the spirites of man. And therefore God did ordaine it for mankind, as a remedie against the incommodities of age, that thereby they should seeme to returne vnto youth and forget heauinesse. Undoubted∣ly wine heateth, and moysteth the bodie, which qualities chiefly conserueth nature. And Galen of all wines com∣mendeth that which is yellow and cleere, saying: that it is the hottest, and white wine least hot.
And the colour meane betwéen both, of semblable tem∣perature. The yellow wine which is the proper colour of very hot wines, to old men doth bring these commodi∣ties. First it heateth all their members, also it purgeth by vrine the watrie substance of the bloud. Moreouer, the wines which be pale or yellow, and full of substance doe increase bloud, and nourishe the bodie, but for the more parte, olde men haue néede of such wines which doe prouoke vrine: for as much as in them doe abound watrie excrementes, or superfluities, and they which do tarry long in the belly be not apt for aged men. Black or déepe red wines and thicke, do bind and congeale that which they doe finde in the bodie, and although some of them doe not long abide in the belly, yet they moue not vrine, but rather withdraweth: but yet they do harme to old men, for as much as they do stop the conduites of the spléene, the liuer and the raines: also grosse wines be best for them which desire to be fat, but it maketh opilations: old wine and cléere is better for them that be fleumatick. Galen also prohibiteth children to drink any wine, for as * 1.9 much as they be of a hot and moist tēperature, and so is
wine: and therfore it heateth and moisteth too much their bodies, and filleth their heads with vapours. Moreouer he would, that yong men should drinke little wine, for it shall make them prone to furie, and leachery, & that part of the soule which is called rationable, it shal make trou∣blous and dull: not withstanding yet it is sometime pro∣fitable to mitigate or expell ordure made of choler or me∣lācholy. Also it profiteth against drith, which happeneth in the substance of the bodie, either by too much labor, or by ye proper temperature of age: for wine moisteth & nou∣risheth that, which is too drye, also mitigateth and dissol∣ueth the sharpnes of choler, and purgeth it also by vrine & sweate. Finally as Theognes sayth, much drinking of wineis ill, but moderate drinking of wine is not onely not ill, but also commodious and profitable, which sen∣tence is confirmed by Iesus Syrac, in the booke named Ec∣clesiasticus, saying: Wine moderately drunke reioyceth both the body & soule. Wherefore to conclude this chap∣ter, there is neither meate nor drinke, in the vse whereof ought to bee a more discreete moderation, then in wine, considering that being good and dronke in due time and measure, it not only conserueth naturall & radicall moys∣ture, whereby life indureth, but also it helpeth the princi∣pal members which belong to digestion, to do their office: on the other part being ill or corrupt, or taken out of or∣der and measure, it doth contrary to all the premisses, be∣sides that it transformeth a man or woman, making thē beastly. More of the qualittes of wine shall bee touched hereafter in the order of dyet.
MIlke is compact of thrée substances, creame, whay, and cruddes. The most excellent milke is of a wo∣man, the milke of a cow is thickest, the milke of a camell is most subtil, the milke of a goate is betwéene cow milk & camel milke. Ewes milke is betwéen cow milk & asses
milke. Also the milke of beasts féeding in large pastures, and out of Fennes and Marishes, is better then of them which bee fed in little closes or in watrie grounds. In spring time milke is most subtile, and milke of young beasts is bolsomer then of olde. To children, olde men, and to them which be oppressed with melācholy, or haue the flesh cōsumed with a feuer, thick milke is conueniēt. And generally to al them which do not féele the milk rise in their stomackes after that they haue eaten it, and in those persons it doth easily purge that, which is in ye belly superfluous. And afterward it entreth into the veines & bringeth good nourishment: whosoeuer hath an appetite to eate or drink milke, to the intent that it shall not arise or obrayd in the stomacke, let him put into a vessell, out of the which he will receiue it, a fewe leaues of mint, su∣gar, or pure honey, and into the vessell cause the beast to be milked, and so drinke it warme from the vdder, or els let him doe as Paulus Aegineta teacheth, that is to say, boyle first the milke with an easte fire, and seeth it after in hotter fire, and skim it cleane, and with a spunge dip∣ped in cold water, take the cleane away, which would be burned to the vessell, then put into the milke salt and su∣gar, * 1.10 and stirre it often. Moreouer, milke taken to purge melonchaly, would be drunke in the morning abundant∣ly, new milked, as is before written. And he that drin∣keth, should abstaine from meate and exercise vntill the milke be digested, and haue some what purged the bellie. For which labour it becommeth sowre: and therefore it requireth rest and watch, or to walk very softly. Final∣ly, where men and women be vsed from their childhood, for the more part, to milke, and to eate none or little o∣ther meate but milke and butter, they appeare to bee of good complexion and fashion of body, and not so much vexed with sicknesse as they which drinke wine or ale: not withstanding, much vse of milke in men sanguine or cholerike, doth ingender the stone.
I Can neither heare nor reade, that Ale is made and vsed for a common drinke in any other countrie then Eng∣land, Scotland, Ireland, and Pole. The Latine word Ceruisia is indifferent as well to Ale as to Béere. If the corne be good, the water holesome and cleane, and the Ale or Béere well & perfectly brewed and clensed, and by the space of sixe daies and more, setled and defecate, it must néeds be a necessary & conuenient drinke as well in sick∣nes as in health: considering the barly corne, whereof it is made, is commended & vsed in medicine in all parts of the world, & accounted to bee of a singular efficacie in reducing the bodie into good temper, specially which is in distemperature of heate. For what ancient Phisition is there that in his workes cōmendeth not Ptisane? which is none other but pure barly brayd in a morter, & sodden in water, the same thing is small and cleane ale or béere, sauing that perchaunce the drying of the malt is cause of more drith to be in the ale then in Ptisane. And the hops in Béere maketh it colder in operation. But to say as I thinke, I suppose that neither Ale nor Béere is to be cō∣pared to Wine, considering that in them doe lacke the heate and moysture which is in Wine. For that being moderately vsed, is most like to the naturall heat & moy∣sture of mans bodie. And also the licour of Ale or Béere being more grosse, do ingender more grosse vapours and corrupt humours then Wine doth, being dronk in like excesse of quantitie.
As for Cider may not bee good in any condition, consi∣dering as I sayd, that al fruits do ingender ill humours, and doe coole too much naturall heate: but to them which haue abundance of red choler, moderately vsed, it some∣what profiteth in mitigation of excessiue heat. But who that will diligently marke in the countries where Cider is vsed for a common drinke, the men and women haue
the colour of their visage palled, and the skinne of the vi∣sage riueled, although that they be young.
Whay, if it bee left of the butter, being well ordered, and not dronke vntill it haue a thicke curd of milke ouer it, like to a hat, is a right temperate drinke, for as much as by the vnctuositie of the butter, whereof the whay re∣taineth some portion, it is both moyst & nourishing, and clenseth the breast, & by the subtilnes of it selfe, it descen∣deth soone from the stomack, and is shortly digested. Also by reason of the affinitie which it hath with milke, it is cōuertible into bloud and flesh, specially in those persons which doe inhabit in the North parts, in whom naturall heat is conglutinate, and therefore is of more puissance and vertue in the office of concoction. Also custome from childhood, doth eleuate the power of meates & drinkes in their disposition, notwithstanding that the 4. humours, sanguine, choler, fleume, & melancholy, must also be con∣sidered, as it shall appeare in diuers places hereafter.
HOny as well in meat as in drink, is of incomparable efficacie: for it not only clenseth, altereth, and nouri∣sheth, but also it long time preserueth that vncorrupted, which is put into it, in so much, as Pliny saith: such is the * 1.11 nature of hony, yt it suffereth not the bodies to putrifie: and he affirmeth that he did see an Hippocentaure, which is a beast halfe a man & halfe a horse, brought in hony to Claudius the Emperour, out of Egypt to Rome. And he telleth also of Pollio Romulus, who was aboue a hundred yeares old, of whom Augustus the Emperour demanded by what meanes he liued so long, and retained still the vigour or liuelines of bodie and minde. Pollio answered, that he did it inward with Meade, which is drinke made with honey and water: outward, with oyle. Which saying agréeth with the sentence of Democritus the great Philosopher, who being demaunded, how a man
might liue long in health: he answered. If he wet him within with honey, without with oyle. The same Phi∣losopher when he was an hundred yeares old and nine, prolonged his life certaine daies with the euaporation of hony, as Aristoxinus writeth. Of this excellent mat∣ter, most wonderfully wrought and gathered by a little Bée, as well of the pure dewe of heauen as of the most subtile humour of swéet and vertuous herbes & flowers, bee made licours commodious to mankinde, as Meade, Metheglin, and Oximel. Meade which is made with one part of honey, and foure times so much of pure water, & boyled vntill no skim doe remaine, is much commended of Galen, drunke in summer for preseruing of health. * 1.12
The same author alway commendeth the vsing of ho∣ny, either rawe eaten with fine bread somewhat leaue∣ned, or sodden, and receiued as drinke. Also Meade per∣fectly made, clenseth the breast and lungs, causeth a mā to spit easily and pisse abundantly, and purgeth the belly moderatly. Metheglin, which is most vsed in Wales, by reason of hot hearbs boyled with honey, is hotter then Meade, and more comforteth a cold stomack, if it be per∣fectly made, and not new or very ••••ale. Oximel, is where to one part of vineger is put double so much of honey, foure times as much of water, and thē being boyled vn∣to the thirdpart, and cleane skimmed with a feather, is vsed to be takē where in the stomack is much fleume or matter vndigested, so that it be not red choler. Looke the vse thereof in Alexandro Tralliano. Many other good qualities of honey I omit to write of, vntill some other occasion shall happen to remember them particularly, where they shall seeme to be profitable.
OF Sugar I do finde none ancient author of Gréekes and Latines to write by name, but onely Paulus Ae∣gineta, who sayth in this wise, after that he hath treated
of hony. Moreouer, sugar which they call hony, that is brought to vs from Arabia, called Felix, is not so swéete as our hony, but is equall in vertue, and doth not annoy the stomacke, nor causeth thirst. These be the words of Paulus. It is now in daily experiēce, that sugar is a thing very temperat and nourishing, and where there is cho∣ler in the stomacke, or that the stomack abhorreth hony, it may be vsed for hony in all things, wherein honey is required to be. With sugar and vineger is made syrupe acetose.
IN the consideration of time, for taking of meates and * 1.13 drinkes, it is to be remembred, that in Winter meates ought to be taken in great abundance, & of a more grosse substance then in Summer, for as much as the exteriour ayre which compasseth the bodie being colde, causeth the heate to withdraw into the inner parts, where being in∣closed and gathered nigh together in the stomack and in∣trailes, it is of more force to boyle and digest that which is receiued into it. Also meates rosted are then better then sodden, and flesh & fish powdred, is then better then in Summer: herbes be not then commendable, specially raw, neither fruites, except Quinces rosted or baked: drink should be then taken in little quantitie. Moreouer, wines shal néede no water or very little, & that to chole∣rike persons: red wines, & they which be thick and swéet, may be then most surely taken of thē which haue no opi∣lations or ye stone: alway remēber that in winter ••••eume increaseth by reason of raine and moystures of the sea∣son, also the length of nights and much rest. And there∣fore * 1.14 in that time cholerike persons are best at ease, sem∣blably are yong mē, but to old men winter is an enemy. It beginneth the 8. day of Nouember, and endureth vn∣till the 8. day of February.
The Spring time doth participate the first part with * 1.15 Winter, the latter part with Summer. Wherefore if
the first part be cold, then shall the diet bee according to * 1.16 Winter. If the end be hot, then shall the diet be of Sum∣mer. If both parts be temperate, then should there bee also a temperance in diet: alway considering that fleume yet remaineth, and bloud then increaseth. And meate would bée lesse in quantitie then in Winter, and drinke * 1.17 somewhat more.
Spring time beginneth the 8. of February, & continu∣eth * 1.18 vnto the 8. day of May. In Summer the inward heat is but little, and the stomack doth not digest so strongly nor quickly, as in winter: wherefore in ye season, eating often, and a little at once, is most conuenient. And Da∣mascenus sayth, that fasting in summer drieth the bodie, maketh the colour salow, ingendreth melancholy, & hur∣teth the sight: also boyled meate, bread stéeped in white broth, with sodden lettise or cicorie, are then good to bée * 1.19 vsed: also varietie in meates, but not at one meale: pota∣ges made with cold hearbes, drinke in more abundance, wine alaid with water to hot complexions much, to cold natures lesse. In this season bloud increaseth, & toward the end thereof, choler. And therefore they which be cold of nature and moyst, are then best at ease, hot natures & dry worst. Moreouer▪ children and very young men in * 1.20 the beginning of summer, are holest, old folke in ye latter end, and in Haruest. Summer beginneth the 8. day of May, & continueth vntill the 8. day of August. Autumne beginneth the 8. day of August, and endeth the 8. day of Nouember, that season of the yere is variable, & the ayre changeable, by occasiō wherof happen sundry sicknesses, bloud decreaseth, & melancholy aboundeth: wherfore all summer fruites would then be eschewed, for as much as they make ill iuyce & winds in ye body. In this time meat would be more abundant the in summer, but somewhat drier: drink must be lesse in quantitie: but lesse mixt with water. This time is dāgerous to al ages, al natures, & al countries, but ye natures hot & moist be least in damage.
FRom the 12. day of December, at the which time the day is at the shortest vntil the 9. day of March, which doe continue 90. dayes, rheumes and moystures doe en∣crease, then meates and drinkes naturally very hot, would bee moderatly vsed. Also to drinke abundantly Wine without alay, or with little water, and to vse hi∣laritie: the companie of a woman is not vnholesome to the bodie.
From the ninth day of March, at which time in Equi∣noctium vexnum vnto the 25. day of Aprill, swéet fleume and bloud doe increase: therefore vse thou things hauing much iuyce and sharpe, exercise the body diligently, then may ye vse safely the companie of a woman.
From the 20. day of Aprill, to the 14. day of June, choler increaseth, then vse all things that are swéete, and doe make the belly soluble, forbeare carnall companie with women.
From the 14. day of June, at which time ye day is at ye longest, vnto the 12. day of September, doth melancholy raine, forbeare carnal company, or vse it moderatly.
From the 12. day of September, vnto the 17. day of Oc∣tober, do abound fleume & thin humours, then would all fluxes and distillations bee prohibited, then all sharpe meates and drinkes and of good iuyce, are to be vsed, and carnall occupations should then be eschewed.
From the 17. day of October, to the 12. day of Decem∣ber, increaseth grosse fleume, vse therefore all bitter meates, swéet wines, fat meate, and much exercise.
CHildren would be nourished with meats and drinks, * 1.21 which are moderatly hot and moyst, notwithstan∣ding
Galen doth prohibite them vse of Wine, because it * 1.22 moystneth and heateth too much the body, and filleth the heads of them, which are hot and moyst, with vapours. Also he permitteth them in hot weather to drinke cléere water of the fountaine. A child growing fast in his mē∣bers toward a man, so that he séemeth well fed in the bo∣die, is then to be feared of fulnes of humours, and if it be * 1.23 perceiued that he is replete, then must be withdrawne & minished some part of that nutrimēt, and according vn∣to his age, some euacuation would be deuised, otherwhile by exercise, walking vp and downe fasting, and before that they eate any meate, let them exercise themselues with their owne labours, & doe their owne accustomed businesse, and eate the meates whereunto they bée most vsed, so that it be such that may not hurt them. And thus néed they not to know of Phisitions, but by experience and diligent search by their stoole, their nurses shall per∣ceiue what digesteth well, and what doth not. But if it appeare that by excessiue féeding, the belly of the child is fuller and greater thē it was wont to be, and that which passeth by the belly is corrupted, or his sweate stinketh, these things knowne, if they eate strong meates, giue them not one kind of meate, but diuers, that the noueltie of the meate may helpe, that they may goe the more ea∣sily to the stoole. For if any haue an vnreasonable appe∣tite, he is sooner recouered, if he bee purged by a boyle or impostume, comen foorth & broken, before that the meat be corrupted, & after that let him eate fine meats, & being once whole, returne by little & little to his old custome.
Young men, excéeding the age of 14. yeares, shall eate meate more grosse of substance, colder and moyster, also * 1.24 Salades of cold hearbes, and to drinke seldome Wine, except it be alayd with water. Albeit, all these things must be tempered according to their complexions, exer∣cise, and quietnes in liuing, wherof ye shal reade in their proper places hereafter.
Olde men, in whome naturall heate and strength sée∣meth * 1.25 to decaye, should vse alwaye meates, which are of qualitie hot and moyst, and there withall easie to bee di∣gested, and abstaine vtterly from all meates and drinks which will ingender thicke iuyce and slymy, semblablie from wine, which is thicke, swéete, and darke red wines, and rather vse them which will make thinne humours, and will purge well the bloud by vrine, therefore white or yellowe wines, and perchance french claret wines, are for them very cōmendable. Also wine prepared with * 1.26 pure hony clarified, wherein rootes of parsley, or fenell be stéeped, specially if they suspect any thing of the stone, or gout. And if they more desire to clense their raines and bladder, then it is good to vse small white wine, as racked renish wine, or other like to it. And sometime to stéepe ouer night therein a parsley root flit and somwhat brused, and a little licorice. Finally, let them beware of all meates that will stop the pores, and make obstructi∣ons * 1.27 or opilations, that is to saye, with clammy matter stop the places where the naturall humors are wrought and digested, the which meates I haue before set in a ta∣ble. But if it chaunce then to eate any such meate in a∣boundance, let them take shortly such things, as do resist Opilations, or resolue them. As white pepper, brused and mixt with their meates or drinks, garlike also or o∣nyons, if they abhorre them not. Alway remember that aged men should eate often, and but little at euery time, for it fareth by them, as it doth by a lamp, the light wher∣of is almost extinct, which by pouring in of oyle little and little is long kept burning: and with much oyle poured in at once, it is cleane put out. Also they must forbeare all things which doe ingender melancholy, whereof yée shall reade in the table before: and bread cleane without eauen, is not then vnholesome.
NOw here it must be cōsidered, that although I haue written a generall dyet for euery age, yet neuerthe∣lesse it must be remembred, that some children and young men, either by debilitie of nature, or by some accidentall cause, as sickenes or much study, happen to gather hu∣mours fleumaticke or melancholy in the places of dige∣stion, so that concoction or digestion is as weak in them, as in those which are aged.
Semblably some old men find nature so beneficial vn∣to them, that their stomackes and liuers are more strong to digest then the saide young men: some perchance haue much choler remayning in them. In these cases the saide young men must vse the dyet of olde men, or nigh vnto it, vntill the discrasie bée remooued, hauing alway respect to their vniuersal complexions, as they which are naturally cholericke to vse hot things in a more tempe∣rance, then they which be fleumaticke or melanch••licke by nature. The same obseruation shall bee to olde men, sauing that age of his owne propertie is colde and drie, therefore the old man that is cholericke, shall haue more regard to moisture in meates then the young man being of the same complexion. Foreséene alway that where na∣ture is offended or grieued, she is cured by that, which is * 1.28 contrarie to that, which offendeth or grieueth, as colde by heate, heate by colde, drith by moisture, moisture by drith. In that whereby nature should bee nourished in a whole and temperate body, things must be taken which are like to the mans nature in qualitie and degrée. As where one hath his bodie in a good temper, things of the same temperance doth nourish him: but where he is out of temper, in heate, cold, moysture or dryth, temperate meates or drinkes nothing doe profite him. For being out of the meane and perfect temperature, nature requi∣reth
to bée thereto reduced by contraries, remembring not only, that contraries are remedie vnto their contra∣ries, but also in euery contrarie, consideration must bée had of the proportion in quantitie.
BEsides the times of the yeare, and ages, there bée al∣so other times of eating and drinking to bée remem∣bred, as the sundrye times in the daye, which wee call meales, which are in number and distance, according to the temperature of the countrey and person. As where the countrey is cold, and the person lustie, and of a strong nature, there maye more meales bee vsed, or the lesse distance of time between them. Contrariwise in contra∣rie countries and personages, the cause is afore rehear∣sed, where I haue spoken of the dyet of the times of the yeare, notwithstanding, here must bee also considera∣tion of exercise and rest, which do augment or aspyre the naturall disposition of bodies, as shall bee more declared hereafter in the chapter of exercise. But concerning the generall vsage of countries, and admitting the bodies to the perfect state of health, I suppose that in Eng∣lande young men, vntil they come to the age of xl. yeres, may well eate three meales in one day, as at breakefast, dinner, and supper, so that betwéene breakefast and din∣ner, bée the space of 4. houres, at the least betwéene din∣ner and supper 6. houres, and the breakfast lesse then the dinner, & the dinner moderate, that is to say, lesse then sa∣cietie of fulnes of bellie, and the drinke thereunto measu∣rable, according to the drines or moistnes of the meate. For much aboundance of drinke at meale, drowneth the meate eaten, and not only letteth conuenient concoction in the stomacke, but also causeth it to passe farther then nature requireth, and therfore ingendreth much fleum, & consequently rewmes, & crudenes in the veines, debility and slippernes of the stomacke continue fluxe, and manie
other inconueniences to the body and members. But to returne to meales, I thinke breakfasts necessary in this realme, aswell for the causes before rehearsed, as also for * 1.29 as much as choler being feruent in the stomacke, sendeth vp fumosities into the braine, and causeth headache, and sometime becommeth adult, and smauldreth in the sto∣macke, whereby hapneth perilous sicknes, and somtime sodaine death, if the heate inclosed in the stomacke haue not other conuenient matter to worke on: this dayly ex∣perience proueth, and naturall reason confirmeth, there∣fore men and women not aged, hauing their stomackes cleane without putrified matter, sléeping moderatly and soundly in the night, and féeling themselues light in the morning and swéete breathed, let them on Gods name breake their fast, cholericke men with grosse meat, men of other complexion with lighter meate, foreséene that they labour some what before, semblably their dinner and supper, as I haue before written, so that they sléepe not incontinent after their meales: and here I will not recite the sentences of authors, which had neuer experience of English mens natures, or of the iust temperature of this realme of England, onely this connsaile of Hippocrates shall be sufficient. We ought to grant somwhat to time, * 1.30 to age, and to custome: notwithstanding where great warmenes or dryth greeueth the bodie, there ought the dinner to be lesse, and the longer distance betwéene din∣ner, and supper. Also much rest, except a little soft wal∣king, that by an vpright mouing, the meat being stirred may descend. This is alway to be remēbred, that where one feeleth himselfe full and grieued with his dinner, or the sauour of his meate by eructation ascendeth, or that his stomack is weak by late sicknes or much study, then it is most conuenient to abstain from supper, and rather prouoke himselfe to sleepe much, then to eate or drinke any thing. Also to drinke betweene meales is not lauda∣ble, except very great thirst constraineth: for it interrup∣teth
the office of the stomacke in concoction, and causeth the meate to passe faster then it should doe, and the drink being colde, it rebuketh naturall heate that is working, and the meate remayning rawe, it corrupteth digestion and maketh crudenesse in the veines. Wherefore he that is thirstie, let him consider the occasion. If it bee of salt fleume, let him walke fayre and softly and onely washe his mouth and his throate with barly water, or smal ale, or lye downe and sleepe a little, and so the thirst wil passe away or at the least be well asswaged.
If it happen by extreame heate of the aire, or by a pure choler, or eating of hot Spices, let him drink a little Ju∣lep made with cleane water and sugar, or a little small béere or ale, so that he drinke not a great glut, but in a little quantity, let it stil down softly into his stomack as he sitteth, & then let him moue sodainly. If ye thirst be in yt euening by eating too much, and drinking of wine, then after the opinion of the most learned phisitions, and as I my selfe haue oftē experienced the best remedy is, if there be no feuer, to drinke a good draught of colde water im∣mediately, or els if it be not painfull for him to vomit, to prouoke him thereto with a little warme water, and af∣ter to wash his mouth with vineger and water, and sléep long and soundly if he can.
And if in the morning hee féele any fumosities rising, then to drinke Julep of violets, or for lacke therof a good draught of very small ale, or béere somewhat warmed, without eating any thing after it.
NOw let this bee a generall rule, that sundry meates, being diuers in substance and qualitie, eaten all at one meale, is the greatest enemie to health that may be, and that ingendreth most sicknesses, for some meates be∣ing grosse and harde to digest, some fine and easie to di∣gest,
doe require diuers operations of nature, and diuers temperatures of the stomacke, that is to say, much heate and temperate heate, which maye not be together at one time.
Therefore when the fine meate is sufficiently boyled in the stomacke, the grosse meate is raw, so both iuyces, the one good and perfect, the other grosse and crude, at one time digested, and sent into the veynes and bodie, needes must health decay, and sicknesses bee ingendred. Likewise in diuers meates being of diuers qualities, as where some are hot and moist, some cold and moist, some hot and dry, some cold and drie, according thereunto shal the iuyce bee diuers which they make in the body. And like as betwéen the said qualities is contrariety, so ther∣by shall bee in the bodie an vnequall temperature, for as much as it is not possible for a man to estéem so iust a pro∣portion, of the qualities of that which he receiueth, that the one shall not exceede the other in quantitie.
Wherefore of the said vnequall mixture, needes must ensue corruption and consequently sicknes, and therfore to a hole man, it were better to féed at one meale compe∣tently on very grosse meat only, so that it be swéete, and his nature doe not abhor it, then on diuers fine meates of sundry substance and qualities. I haue known and séene olde men and olde women which eating onelie béefe, ba∣ken, chéese, and curdes, haue continued in good healthe, whome I haue proued, that when they haue eaten sun∣drie fine meates at one meale, haue soone after felt them∣selues greeued with frettings, and headache, and after that they haue béene hole againe, there hath béene giuen to them one kinde of light meate, they haue done as well therwith as they were wont to do wt grosse meats, whē they eate it alone, which proueth to be true that which I haue rehearsed. And it is good reason, for after the ge∣nerall opinion of Philosophers and Phisitions, the na∣ture of mankind is best content with things most simple
and vnmixte, all thinges tending to vnitie, wherein is the onely perfection. Also it is a generall rule of phisick, that where a sicknesse may bee cured with simples, that is to say, with one onely thing that is medicinable, there should the Phisition giue no compound medicine mixte with many things.
These things considered, it may seeme to all men that haue reason, what abuse is heere in this realme in the continuall gourmandise and dailye féeding on sundrie meats at one meale, the spirit of gluttony triumphing a∣mong vs, in his glorious chariot called welfare, driuing vs from him, as his prisoners into his dungeon of surfet, where we are tormented with catars, feuers, gouts, plu∣resies, fretting of the guttes, and many other sicknesses, and finally put to death by them, oftentimes in youth, or in the most pleasant time of our life, when we would most gladlie liue, for the remedie whereof howe ma∣ny times haue there beene deuised ordinances, and actes of counsaile, although perchaunce bodily health was not the chiefe occasion thereof, but rather prouision a∣gainst vaine and sumptuous expenses of the meane peo∣ple. For the nobilitie was exempted and had libertie to a∣bide still in the dungeon if they woulde, and to liue lesse while then other men. But when, where, and how long were the saide good deuises put in due execution, for all that, that thereof should succéede double profite, that is to say, health of body, and increase of substance, by esche∣wing of superfluous expēces in sundry dishes. Alas how long will men fantasie lawes and good ordinances, and neuer determine them. Fantasie proceedeth of wit, de∣termination of wisedome, witte is in the deuising and speaking, but wisedome is in the perfourmance, which resteth onely in execution. Héere haue I almost for∣gotten, that my purpose was to write of the order of dy∣et, and not of lawes: but the feruent loue that I haue to the publike weale of my countrie, constrained mee to
digresse some what from my matter, but now will I pro∣ceede forth to write of order which in taking of meates and drinkes is not the least part of dyet.
HEarbs as well sodden as vnsodden, also fruits which doe mollifie and loose the bellie, ought to be eaten be∣fore any other meate, except that somtime for the repres∣sing of fumosities rising in the head by much drinking of wine, rawe lettice, or a cold apple, or the iuyce of Oren∣ges or Lymons, may bée taken after meales in a little quantitie.
Moreouer all breathes, milke, réere egges and meates which are purposely taken to make the bellie soluble, would first be eaten. Al fruits and other meates that are stiptike or binding, would bee eaten last after all other. Fruites confectionate speciallie with honie, are not to bee eaten with other meates. But here is to bée diligent∣ly noted, that where the stomack is cholerick and strong, grosse meates would be first eaten, where the stomacke is colde or weake, there would fine meates be first eaten: for in a hot stomacke fine meates are burned, while the grosse meate is digesting. Contrariwise in a colde sto∣macke, the little heate is suffocate with grosse meate, and the fine meates left rawe, for lacke of concoction, where if the fine meate be first taken moderately, it stir∣reth vp and comforteth naturall heate, and maketh it more able to concoct grosse meates, if they bee eaten af∣terward, so that it be but in smal quantitie, notwithstan∣ding, as I lately affirmed one manner of meate is most sure to euery complexion, foreséene that it be alway most commonly in conformity of qualities with the person ye eateth. Moreouer take héede that slipper meates bee not first eaten, least it draw with it too hastily other meates, ere they be digested, nor yt stiptike or restraining meates,
be taken at the beginning, as Quinces, Peares, & Med∣lers, lest they may let other meats that they descend not into the bottome of the stomacke where they should bée digested, notwithstanding the confection made with the iuyce of Quinces, called Diacitonites, taken two houres afore dinner or supper, is commended of Galen and other for restoring appetite and making good concoction. Also concerning drinke at meales, it would not be afore that * 1.31 somewhat were eaten, and at the beginning the drinke would be strongest, and so toward the end more small, if it be ale or béere, and if it be wine more and more alayd with water: and after the better opinion of Phisitions, the drinke would rather be mixt with the meate by sun∣drie little draughts, thē with one great draught at the ende of the meale: for the mixture tempereth well the meate without annoyance, a great draught with much drinke drowneth the meate, rebuketh natural heat that then worketh in cōcoction, and with his waight driueth downe the meate too hastily. Hot wines and swéete, or confectioned with spices, or very strong ale, or béere, are not conuenient at meales: for the meate is by them ra∣ther corrupted then digested, and they make hot & stin∣king vapours ascend vp to the braines. Albeit if the sto∣macke be very windie, or so cold and féeble, that it cannot concoct such a quantitie of meate as is required to the sufficient nourishment of the bodie of him that eateth, or hath eaten rawe hearbes or fruites, whereby he féeleth some annoyance, then may he drinke incontinent after his meale, a little quantitie of secke, or good Aqua vitae, in small ale: but if he haue much choler in his stomacke, or a head full of vapours, it were much better that he did neither drinke the one nor the other, but rather eate a little coliander séede prepared, or a péece of a Quince ro∣sted, or in Marmelade, and after rest to amend the lacke of nature with sléepe, moderate exercise, & plaisters pro∣uiding for comforting of the stomacke. And here will I
leaue to write any more of the diet of eating & drinking, sauing that I would, that the readers should haue in re∣membrance these two counsailes. First, that to an hole man, to practise a rule is not conuenient in diet, and that the diseases which doe happen by too much abstinence, are worse to be cured, then they which come by repletiō. And Cornelius Celsus sayth, a man that is hole and well at ease, and at his libertie, ought not to binde himselfe to rules or néed a Phisition: but yet where the stomacke is féeble, as is of more part of the citizens, and welnigh all they that bee studious in learning or waightie affayres, there ought to bee more circumspection, that the meate may bee such as yt either in qualitie or quantitie, nature being but féeble, be not rebuked or too much oppressed.
THe commoditie of moderate sléepe appeareth by this, that naturall heat which is occupied about that mat∣ter, wherof proceedeth nourishment, is comforted in the places of digestion, and so digestion is made better or more perfect by sléepe, the body fatter, the minde more quiet and cléere, the humours temperate, and by much watch all things happen contrary.
The moderation of sléepe must be measured by health and sicknesse, by age, by time, by emptines or fulnes of the bodie, and by naturall complexions. First to a hole man, hauing no debilitie of nature, and digesting per∣fectly the meat that he eateth, a little sléepe is sufficient: but to them which haue weake stomackes, and do digest slowly, it requireth that sleepe bee much longer, sembla∣bly temperance is required in youth and age: winter and summer, ye body being ful of ill humours, very little sléep is sufficient, except the humours be crude or raw, for thē is sléepe necessarie, which digesteth them better then la∣bour, semblably where the body is long empty, by long sicknesse, or abstinence, sléepe comforteth nature as wel
in the principal members, as in all the other. Also regard must be had to the complexion, for they that are hot and doe eate little and digest quickly, a little sléepe serueth, specially to cholerike persons, for in them much sléepe augmenteth heate, more then is necessarie, whereby hot fumes & inflammations are often ingendred, & sometime the naturall choler is adust or putrified, as experience teacheth. Fleumatike persons are naturally inclined to sléepe: & because they ingender much humours, they re∣quire more sléepe then sanguine or cholerike. Persons hauing natural melancholy, not procéeding of choler ad∣ust, do require very much sléepe, which in them cōforteth the powers animal, vital & naturall, which ye may finde written in the tables preceding. Sléepe would be taken not immediatly after meales, & before that yt meat is de∣scended frō the mouth of the stomack. For thereby is in∣gendred paines & noise in the belly, and digestion corrup∣ted, & the sléepe by ill vapours ascending, made vnquiet & troublous. Moreouer, immoderate sléepe maketh the bo∣die apt vnto palsies, apoplexies, falling sicknes, rheumes and impostumes. Also it maketh the wits dull, & the bo∣die flow and vnapt to honest exercise. Semblably im∣moderate watch drieth too much the body, and doth debi∣litate the powers animall, letteth digestion, and maketh the body apt to consumption. Wherefore in these two things, as well as all other, a diligent temperance is to bee vsed, the moderation is best coniected (for it is hard perfectly to know it) by the sensible lightnes of the bo∣die, specially of the braine, the browes, and the eyes, the passage downe of the meate from the stomacke, the will to make vrine, and to go to the stoole: contrariwise, hea∣uines in the body & eyes, and sauour of the meate before eaten, signifieth that the sléepe was not sufficient. They that are hole, must sléepe first on the right side, because the meate may approch to the liuer, which is in the sto∣mack as fire vnder the pot, and by him is digested.
To them which haue féeble digestion, it is good to sléepe prostrate on their bellies, or to haue their bare hand on their stomackes. Lying vpright on the backe it is to be vtterly abhorred.
EUery mouing is not an exercise but onely that which is vehement, the end wherof is alteration of ye breath or winde of a man. Of exercise doe procéede two com∣modities, euacuation of excrements, and also good habite of the bodie: for exercise being a véhement motion, ther∣of néedes must ensue hardnes of the members, whereby labour shall the lesse grieue, and the bodie bee the more strong to labour. Also thereof commeth augmentation of heat, wherby happeneth the more attraction of things to be digested, also more quicke alteration & better nou∣rishing. Moreouer, that al and singuler parts of the bo∣die, be therewith somewhat humected. Whereby it hap∣peneth, that things hard bee mollified, moyst things are extenuate, and the pores of the bodie are more opened. And by the violence of the breath or wind, the pores are clensed, and the filth in ye bodie naturally expelled. This thing is so necessarie to the preseruation of health, that without it, no man may be long without sicknes: which is affirmed by Cornelius Celsus, saying, that sluggishnes dulleth the bodie, labour doth strengthen it: the first bringeth the incommodities of age shortly, the last ma∣keth a man long time lustie. Notwithstanding, in exer∣cise ought to be foure things diligently considered, that is to say: the time, the things preceding, the qualitie, and quantitie of exercise. First, as concerning the time conuenient for exercise, that it be, not when there is in the stomacke or bowels great quantitie of meate, not sufficiently digested, or of humours, crude, or raw, least
thereby perill might insue by conueiance of them into al the members, before those meates or humours be concoct or boyled sufficiently. Galen sayth, that the time most conuenient for exercise is, when both the first & second digestion is complete, as well in the stomacke, as in the veines, & that the time approcheth to eate eftsoones. For if ye do exercise sooner or later, ye shal either fill the body with crude humours, or els augment yellowe choler. The knowledge of this time is perceiued by the colour of the vrine: for that which resembleth vnto cléere wa∣ter, betokeneth that the iuyce which commeth from the stomacke, is crude in the veines: that which is well co∣loured, not too high or bace, betokeneth that the second digestion is now perfect: where the colour is very high or red, it signifieth that the concoction is more then suf∣ficient. Wherefore when the vrine appeareth in a tem∣perate colour, not red nor pale, but as it were gilt, then should exercise haue his beginning.
AS touching things preceding exercise, as much as it is to be feared, least by vehement exercise any of the excrements of the belly or bladder, should hastily be re∣ceiued into the habite of the body, by the violence of heat kindled by exercise, also least some thing which is hole, be by heauines of excrements or violent motion, broken or pulled out of his place, or that the excrements by vio∣lence of the breath, should stop the pores or conduites of the body, it shall be necessary little and little, by chasing the body, first to mollifie the parts consolidate, and to ex∣tenuate or make thin humours, and to loose and open the pores, and then shall insue to him that exerciseth no pe∣rill of obstruction or rupture. And to bring that to passe, it shall be expedient, after that the body is clensed, to rub the body with a course linnen cloth, first softly and easi∣ly,
and after to increase more and more to a hard & swift rubbing, vntill the flesh doe swell, and be somewhat rud∣die, and that not only downe right, but also ouerthwart and round. Some doe vse fricasies in this forme, in the morning after that they haue bin at the stoole, with their shirt sléeues or bare hand, if their flesh be tender, they deo first softly, and afterward faster rub their breast & sides downward, & ouerthwart, not touching their stomacke or belly, and after cause their seruant semblably to rub ouerthwart their shoulders and backe, and beginning at their necke bone, and not touching the raines of their backe, except they doe féele there much colde and winde, and afterward their legges from the knées to the ankle: last, their armes from the elbow, to the hand-wrest. And in this forme of fricasie, I my selfe haue found an excel∣lent commoditie. Old men, or they which bee very drie in their bodies, if they put to some swéete oyles, as Yri∣num, Nardinum, Chamelinum, or other like mixt with a little swéete oyle of Roses, I suppose they doe well. I will not here speake of oyntments, vsed in olde time a∣mong the Romanes and Gréekes, in fricasies or rub∣bings. For I suppose, that they were neuer here vsed, and in the sayd places, they bee also left, vnlesse it bee in palsies, or apoplexies, or agaynst the rigour which hap∣peneth in feuers onely. I will remember the saying of Hippocrates: Fricasie hath power to loose, to binde, to in∣crease flesh, and to minish it. For hard fricasies do binde or consolidate: soft rubbing doth loose or mollifie, much doe minish flesh, meane rubbing doth augment or in∣crease it. He that will knowe more abundantly hereof, let him reade the booke of Galen, of the preseruation of health, called in latin, Detuenda sanitate, translated most truely and eloquently out of Gréeke into Latin, by Do∣ctor Linac••e, late Phisition of most worthie memorie, to our soueraigne Lord King Henry the eight. The same matter is written more briefly of Paulus Aegineta, Oriba∣sius,
Aetius, and some other late writers, but vnto Galen not to be compared.
THe qualitie of exercise, is the diuersitie thereof, for as much as therein be many differences in mouing, and also some exercise moueth more one part of ye body, some an other. In difference of mouing some is slowe, or soft, some is swift or fast, some is strong or violent, some bée mixt with strength or swiftnes. Strong or violent ex∣ercises be these, deluing, specially in tough clay, and hea∣uie, bearing or sustaining of heauie burthens, climbing or walking against a stéepe vpright hill, holding a rope, and climbing vp thereby, hanging by the hands on any thing aboue a mans reach, that his féete touch not the ground, standing and holding vp, & spreading the armes, with the hands fast closed, and abiding so a long time. Also to holde the armes stedfast, causing an other man to assay to pull them out, and notwithstanding hée kée∣peth his arme stedfast, inforcing thereunto the sine wes and muscules. Wrastling also with the armes and legs: if the persons bee equall in strength, it doth exercise the one and the other: if the one be stronger, then is it to the weaker a more violent exercise. All these kinds of exer∣cises, and other like them, do augment strength, & there∣fore they serue onely for young men, which bee inclined, or be apt to the warres. Swift exercise without violēce is running, playing with weapons, tenise, or throwing of the ball, trotting a space of ground forward, & back∣ward, going on the toes, and holding vp the hands. Also stirring vp and downe his armes, without plummets. Uehement exercise is compound of violent exercise, and swift, when they are ioyned together at one time, as daunsing of Galiardes, throwing of the ball, and running after it. Football play maye bee in the number thereof, throwing of the long Dart, and
continuing it many times, running in harnesse, and o∣ther like: the moderate exercise is long walking, or go∣ing a iourney.
The parts of the body haue sundrie exercises appro∣pried vnto them, as running and going is most proper for the legges: mouing of the armes vp and downe, of stretching them out, and playing with weapōs, serueth most for the armes and shoulders, stooping and rising of∣tentimes, as lifting great waights, taking vp plum∣mets, or other like poyses on the endes of the staues, and in likewise lifting vp in euery hand a speare or mo∣respike by the ends, specially crossing the hands, and to lay them downe againe in their places: these doe exercise the backe and loynes. Of the bulke and lungs, the pro∣per exercise is mouing of the breath in singing and cry∣ing. The entrailes which be vnderneath the middreffe, be exercised by blowing either by constraint, or playing on shaulmes or sackbots, or other like instrumēts which doe require much winde.
The muscules are best exercised with holding ye breath in a long time, so that he which doth exercise, hath well digested his meate, and is not troubled with much wind in his bodie. Finally, lowd reading, counterfaite bat∣taile, * 1.32 tenise, or throwing the ball, running, walking, and to shooting, which in mine opinion excéede all the other, doe exercise the body commodiously. Alway remember, that the ende of violent exercise is, difficultie in fetching of breath. Of moderate exercise, alteration of breath on∣ly, or the beginning of sweat.
Moreouer in Winter, running and wrastling is con∣uenient. In Summer, wrastling a little, but not run∣ning. In very cold weather, much walking, in hot wea∣ther, rest is more expedient. They which seeme to haue moyst bodies, and liue in idlenes, they haue néede of vio∣lent exercise. They which are leane and cholerike must walke softly, and exercise themselues very temperatly.
The Plummets called of Galen Alteres, which are now much vsed with great men, being of equall weight, and according to the strength of him that exerciseth, are very good to be vsed fasting, a little before breakfast or dinner, holding in euery hand a plummet, and lifting them down with much violence, and so he may make the exercise vi∣olent or moderate, after the poise of the plummets, hea∣uier or lighter, & with much or little labouring with thē.
THere is also an other kind of exercise, which is called Gestation, and is mixt with mouing and rest. For as much as the body sitting or lying séemeth to rest, and not∣withstanding it is moued by that which beareth it, as ly∣ing in a bed, hanging by cordes or chaines, or in a cradle, sitting in a chayre which is caryed on mens shoulders with staues, as was the vse of the ancient Romains, or sitting in a boate or barge, which is rowed, ryding on a horse which aumbleth very easily, or goeth a very softe pace. The bed, cradle, and chayre caryed, serueth for thē that are in long and continuall sicknes, or be lately reco∣uered of a feuer. Also them which haue the frensie or li∣••harge, or haue a light tertiane feuer, or a quotidiane. This exercise swéetely asswageth troubles of the minde, and prouoketh sléepe, as it appeareth in children, which are rocked. Also it is conuenient for them, which haue the palsey, the stone, or the gout. Gestation in a chariot or wagon, hath in it a shaking of the body, but some ve∣hement, and some more sost, the softe serueth in diseases of the head, and where any matter runneth downe into the stomacke and intrailes. But the vehement shaking is to be vsed in the griefes of the breast and the stomacke.
Also in swelling of the body and legges, in dropsies, palsies, migrimes, and scoto〈…〉〈…〉ies, which is an imagina∣tion
of darkenes: being returned at the ende of his iour∣ney, he must sit vp, and be easily moued. I haue known saith Aetius, many persons in such wise cured, we out anie other helpe. Nauigation or rowing nigh to the land in a calm water, is expedient for them that haue dropsies, le∣pries, palsies, called of the vulgar people takings & fran∣sies: to be caried on a rough water it is a violent exercise, & induceth sundry affections of the mind, somtime feare, sometime hope, now cowarde heart, now hardines, one while pleasure, an other while displeasure. These exerci∣ses, if they be wel tēpered, they may put out of ye the body al long during sicknesses: for yt which is mixt with rest & moouing, if any thing els may, it most excellently causeth the body to be well nourished. Celsus doth prohibite Ge∣station, * 1.33 where the body féeleth paine, & in the beginning of feuers, but whē they cease, he alloweth it. Riding mo∣deratly and without griefe, doth corroborate the spirit & body aboue other exercises, specially the stomack, it clen∣seth the senses and maketh them more quicke. Albeit to the breast it is very noyful, it ought to be remēbred, that as wel this, as all other kinds of exercise, would bee vsed in a whole countrie, and where the ayre is pure and vn∣corrupted. Foreséen that he that will exercise, do go first to the stoole, for the causes rehearsed in the last chapter.
THe chiefe exercise of the breast and instrumentes of the voyce, is vociferation, which is singing, rea∣ding or crying, whereof is the propertie that it purgeth natural heate, and maketh it also subtill and stable, and maketh the members of the body substantiall and strong, resisting diseases. This exercise woulde bée vsed of per∣sons shorte winded, and them which cannot fetch their breath, but holding their necke straight vpright. Also of them whose flesh is consumed, specially about the breast and shoulders. Also which haue had aposthumes broken
in their breastes. Moreouer of them that are hoarse by the much moysture, and to them which haue quartayn fe∣uers, it is conuenient: It looseth the humor that sticketh in the breast, and drieth vp the moistnes of the stomack, which properly the course of the quartaine is wont to bring with them, it also profiteth them which haue féeble stomackes, or doe vomite continually, or doe breake vp sowrenes out of the stomack. It is good also for griefs of the head. He that intendeth to attempt this exercise, af∣ter that he hath beene at the stoole, and softly rubbed the lower partes, and washed his hands, let him speak with as bace a voyce as he can, and walking, beginne to sing lowder and lowder, but still in a bace voyce, and to take no heede of swéete tunes or harmonie. For that nothing doth profite vnto health of body, but to inforce himselfe to sing great, for thereby much ayre drawen in by fetch∣ing of breath, thrusteth forth the breast and stomack, and openeth and inlargeth the pores. By high crying and lowde reading, are expelled superfluous humors. Ther∣fore men and women hauing their bodies feeble, & their fleshe loose, and not firme, must read oftentimes lowde, and in a bace voyce, extending out the windpipe, and o∣ther passages of the breath. But notwithstanding this exercise is not vsed alway and of all persons. For they in whome is aboundant of humours corrupted, or be much diseased with cruditie in the stomacke and veines, those doe I counsaile to abstaine from the exercise of the voice, least much corrupted iuyce or vapours, may thereby bée into all the body distributed.
And here I conclude to speake of exercises, which of them that desire to remaine long in health is most dili∣gently, and as I might say, most scrupulouslie to bee ob∣serued.
Galen de ••i∣men. 2.
Galen de ali∣men. 2.
Galen de ali∣men. 2.
Galen simplici. de medica∣men. lib. aca. 7.
Ga••. simp. me∣dica. lib. 7.
Galen de ali. men. 2.
Hippo. de ra∣tione victus. lib. 2. cap. 19. Plin. 28.
De ratione vi∣ctus in morb. acutis. lib. 3.
Galen de tuen▪ sani. lib. 1.
Orbasitus, de conuictione cibornm lib. 3.
Plin. lib. 22.
Lib. 4. de tuen∣da sanitate.
Wint••r.
Gal in com∣ment. in apho. z. lib. 3.
Spring time.
Hippocra. de natura huma∣na.
Galen com. aph. 18. lib. 1.
Summer.
Hippo. de hu∣moribus.
Galen in com∣ment in apho.
Children.
Galen de tuen. ••anit. lib. 1.
Orba••itus, de ••ute simp. lib. 1
Young men.
Olde men.
Paul. A Eginer. lib. 1. cap. 23.
Opilations, what they are.
Hippoc. aphor. Galen in com∣ment.
Breakefast.
Hippo. hor. 18. lib. 1 Gal. de tuenda sani∣tate.
Drinke at meales.
Cel. 2.
Celsus. 2.