The castell of health, corrected, and in some places augmented by the first author thereof, Sir Thomas Elyot Knight

Of Ire. CAP. 11.

IRe is kindled in the heart, inordinately chasing the spi∣rites there, and then is sent foorth vnto the members, and dooth superfluously heate them, and disturbeth rea∣son where the bodies be hot afore, where naturall heate is feeble, the heate may not be dispersed vnto the extreme parts, and then doth the extreme members, that is to say, which is farre from the heart, remaine cold and tremb∣ling. Of this affect on commeth sometime feuers, some∣time apoplexis, or priuation of senses, trembling palseis, madnes, frensies, deformitie of visage: and that worse is, outragious swearing, blasphemie, desire of vengeance, losse of charitie, amitie, credence, also forgetfulnes of be∣nefite proceeding, and of obedience, dutie and reuerence. These also doe succeed, contention, chargeable suite, vn∣quietnes of mind, lacke of appetite, lacke of sléepe, féeble digestion, scorire, disdaine, and hatred of other, with pe∣rill of losing of all good reputation. These incommodi∣ties of Ire, perfectly had in remembrance, and at the first motion thereof on them thought on, may happen to bring in his fellowes, and thereby the flame may be quenched, or let him that is angrie, euen at the first, consider one of these things, that like as he is a man, so is also the other, with whom hee is angrie, and therefore it is as lawfull for the other to bee angrie, as vnto him, and if hee so bee, then shall the anger bee to him displeasant, and stirre him more to be angrie. Wherefore it appeareth that yre is to

him lothsome. If the other be patient, then let him abhorre that thing in himselfe, the lacke whereof in the other con∣tenteth him, and asswageth his malice. Moreouer let him before that occasion of yre doth happen, accustome himself to beholde and marke well them that beeangrie, with the successe of that anger, and ruminate it in his minde a good space after. And in that time, let him remember, howe Christ, the sonne of God, and God, who (as hee himselfe sayd) might haue had of God his father, if hee would haue asked thē, legiōs of Angels, to haue defended him, yea with lesse then a winke, might haue slayne all his aduersaries, yet hee notwithstanding rebuked, scorned, falsely accused, plucked hither, & thither, stripped, bounden with halters, whipped, spitte on, buffeted, crowned with sharpe thorne, laded with a heauie piece of timber, his owne proper tour∣nement, halen and driuen forth like a calfe to the slaughter house, eftsoones beaten, and ouerthrowen, retched forth with ropes, armes and legs laid on the Crosse, and there∣unto with long yron nayles through the handes and feete nailed, with many stroks of hāmers, with many prickings, or euer the nayles might pierce by his tēder and most bles∣sed flesh and sinewes, quite through the harde tymber, vp to the heads of the nayles: and all this being done for the offence of mankind, & not his: yet with the men which did it, his most vnkind countrimen, his most vnnaturall kins∣men, whome hee first made of nothing preserued by mira∣cles, deliuered from perils, and cured of diseases, in all his vexation and trouble, he was neuer séene or perceiued an∣grie. If one will say, that anger is natural, let him also cō∣sider that in Christes manhood were all naturall powers. If he wil say, that yre is taken of courage, and in Christ it lacked not, whom both angels and deuilles trembled and feared. The premisses often reuolued, and born in y^e mind, I will not say, shall vtterlie extinct all motions of wrath which is not possible, but it shall when it kindleth lightly represse it, & let that it shall not grow into flame. And in speaking here of wrath, I doe not meane that which good

men haue against vices: or wise and discreet gouernours & masters, against the defaults or negligences of their sub∣iects or seruants, vsed in rebuking them, or moderatly pu∣nishing them. For that is not properly yre, but rather to be called displeasure, and is that whereof God speaketh by his Prophet Dauid, saying, Be you angrie and do not sin. And of that maner of anger hath bin diuers holy men, pro∣phets and other. And it appeared in Christ, when he draue out them which made their market in the holy temple of God, where there ought to be nothing but prayer. And in likewise when he rebuked the hypocrites. But if none of these things may come so shortly to his remembrance, that is moued with anger, at the least, let him thinke on the les∣son that Appollodorus the Philosopher, taught to the Em∣perour Octanian, that before he speake or doe any thing in anger, he doe recite in order, all the letters of the A. B. C, and remoue somewhat out of the place that he is in, & séeke occasion to be otherwise occupied. This shall for this time suffice, for the remedies of yre: And hee that will knowe more of this matter, let him reade in my worke called the Gouernour, where I thereof do write more aboundantly.