CHAP. I. Of what kind the Pest or Plague is.
AFTER a pensive lodging out all night, a dream befell me: and since night unto night sheweth knowledge, I have thought that a dream doth contein knowledge: Therefore I willingly submit my dreams unto the judgment of the Reader.
For I beheld my self to be in the vaults without the city (they call them Grotts) I saw Daedalian Labarinths; in some place, Arches threatning a cleft and ruine. I had called them the porches or galle∣ries of Pluto, wherein inveterate or long accustomed darknesse, and a thick aire, wearied with long rest, suffers not the light of a candle to shine a-far of: For the thicknesse of the air did so meet with the Gas of the earth, that the flame of a wax-candle would scarce shine but a few paces from thence: For the voice becomes so dumb with a duskish sound, that not far of from thence, an out-cry cannot be heard, and the more dull sound seemes to resemble, not a voic, but the shadow of a voyce. For nothing is there which is vital, except a company of Bats, their nests being adjoyned or knit fast in the Arches of the co-heaped rubbishes.
Alas! a sad spectacle, the Image of eternal death, where the seat of night-thieves is: Wherein, if thou shalt chance to hurt one of its cruel inhabitants, thou art depri∣ved of candles, and presently of life, unlesse, thy light being extinguished, thou pro∣stratest thy self as humble, and feign thy self as dead. For those lurkers, being the na∣tives of obscurities, do not endure to be obtained, or corrected by any; and much lesse, to be driven away from their seat: They call it an injury, to have the light brought against them; because with them, they neither have light, neither do they love it: under doctrine and correction, not issuing out of their nests, they cry out for revenge, and they gape for it with conjoyned votes.
Page 1074 For how strong are they because and when they are very many? How bold are they in the Age and Kingdome of darkness? and how unmild, where all things favour their own wishes and flyings? For our breath there smells of so great an hoary putrefaction, that de∣lay presently tingeth us with paleness. And indeed, it is familiar to the Mines of Me∣tals, that except the soil be frequently pounced, and new air do breath on it from the Sky, mountainous Inhabitants do certainly perish with a blind Gas: but if they shall not lodge out of their house all night, they at least, do contract a disease deplorable even for their life time: For therefore, they are wont, that they may preserve the life of moun∣tainous Inhabitants, to blow in new ayr, and to blow out the hurtful by Engines. But in the Roman Vaults they seek not for Minerals; therefore also, they want an Arsenical Gas: For there, frequent Sepulchres are found, which are thought to be those of Martyrs who glo∣riously died: Therefore, I dreaming, began to doubt, whether fled Truth, and not to be found at this day, had made its grave with the Martyrs in the same place? the question smiled on me sleeping; for the most High created the Physitian, as also, medicine out of the earth. I have therefore deemed the truth of medicine, and knowledge of a Physitian, to have hid it self in the stable Foundation of Nature, and the more hidden Sepulchre, from the unworthy and defiled beholding of Mortals, and to have forsaken our commer∣ces, and to have overwhelmed it self in many labyrinths and perplexities; so that, by reason of the smallness of light which is social unto us by nature, truth remains covered over with darkness, and hedged about with difficulties. And the worst thing which here at length offers it self, is, that this Grave of Truth is kept not by a good Genius, or Spirit, but by the unhappy Birds of the Night: therefore the spirits of darkness are to be sup∣planted: But whosoever he be, who strives the less to applaud those keepers, he presently experienceth the violent power or tyrannical rule of those, who under the shew of piety and quietness, keep these Kingdomes of Pluto as their own. But seeing they themselves come not into the light of truth, they also suffer not others to enter, unless they prostrate themselves as humble unto them. For any other person is straightway encompassed by the powers of darkness, the Enemies of the first Truth, who under the pretence of godliness; challenge the Legacies of their own Sepulchres to themselves; because they boast, that the Kingdome of Truth is in their possession: And therefore, that the command of Learning, Sciences, and the powers of great men, are assigned to them. For these, being neither Birds, nor Mice, have obtained a middle and hermaphroditical kind, and they go, as it is in the 20th of Luke, They pierce the houses and possessions of Widows; they lead away af∣ter them, poor silly women laden with sins, &c. Surely, every such business walketh in dark∣ness, and all their endeavour is with a Noon-day Devil.
Truly, I saw not a means of opening the Sepulchre of Truth, but with long leisure: but this thing, hateful spirits, even since the daies of Arias Montanus, have not permitted to good men: Wherefore, that I might seasonably, and with the profit of my Neigh∣bour, put that in frequent practise, I decreed to withdraw my self from the vulgar sort, and under the light, throughly to knock the Vaults of Nature full of holes: And least I should labour in vain, I disposed of my glassen basins under the light, that by a dumb sound, I might discern the Vault of Nature underneath. I endeavoured by the unweari∣ed pains and charges of forty years, to break the rocky stones asunder with the Axe, Crook, Fire, and sharp liquor, that light may flow in from heaven, and that the Night∣birds which presume to keep the Keys of Sciences, and the narrow passage of Truth, may vanish away, or betake themselves unto a corner, out of a Court-like conversation, and the pursuances of courtesies: or at least, that they may no longer hereafter hinder mor∣tals who are diligent searchers after truth. For this mixt kind of Monster noyseth a∣broad, that it is more excellent than all Birds; because they begin not from an Egge, af∣ter the custom of other Birds; but do nurse up their Young with a longer sucking at the Breast; and do cast those out of the Nest which they think are not sufficiently profitable unto them.
They boast, I say, that they are therefore the most quick-sighted of Birds; in this re∣spect, because they also see most clearly under darkness. Alas, thus is our Age deceived by darkness! But they feign, and perswade the vulgar, that Truth is in the shade, within their own vaults; who in the mean time, being alwayes learning, do never come unto the knowledge of Charity; because they endure not the light that is perfectly learned by alone and naked Charity; and therefore, they alwayes weave to themselves the Wiles and webs of darkness. Truly, it was necessary for me to rent the bowels of the Earth, and to break its Crown: For truly, Galen hath seemed to me, to have entred into the Vaults with a slender Lamp; who being presently affrighted, stumbled in the entry, and Page 1075 at first almost fell over the Threshold: Therefore, his Oyl being lavishly spent, he re∣turned to his own, and told many things confusedly, concerning the Sepulchres, which he had not perceived, nor known, nor believed, although he had seen them. All from thence∣forth, boast rashly among their own people, that they know many things, who saluted not so much as the Threshold of Nature, except at a far distance, from the relation of Galen. In the next place, Avicen with his company, although he became more cautious by the viewing of Galen; yet he entred not much deeper, but looking behind, about, and above him, and being taken with giddiness, his foot being dashed against a stone, fell headlong down: but returning, he boasts in a Forraign Dialect, that he had seen far more than his Predecessors: The which, when his followers understood, and stuck to, they chose a certain one of them for a Standard-Defender; they all of them had rather fight for the glory of their sworn Prince, than that they would themselves enter the passages: as if the mind of man, that is free, being readily inclined like unto Clients, had forsworn liberty: Therefore none having afterwards endeavoured to enter, and being content with the first Boasters, they prefixed on their Centuries, that themselves were to fight for the glory and Trophy of a matter not yet known; but as many as came unto the entry, being as it were factiously addicted unto the first Patron, and insisting in the steps of Predecessors, presently fell down together.
They dreamed that they were entred; at leastwise, they were deprived of light and help for removing the darkness of so great an heap. Others also, afterwards hastened toward the Vaults, but they brought not the light with them, they perceived their Oyl to be extinguished, and snatcht away by the Enemies of the first Truth, and humane health, and Inhabitants of darkness. At length, Paracelsus having entred with a great Torch, fastened a small cord to the wall, about his first paces, which he might follow as a Compa∣nion, and Reducer of the wayes; he aspiring to pierce whither the footsteps of mortals had not yet taken their journey. The rout of Birds is presently amazed at so great a sight, it thinks that Prometheus had entred; it dares not, nor was able to extinguish the Torch, yet it secretly attempts to do it. This man seeth very many Monuments, he is long and freely enlarged, he fills the entries with smoak, and while he is intentive, as a greedy devourer of truth, his strength fails, his Torch falls, his light is extinguished in the middle of his course, and he is as it were choaked with fumes. I a poor miserable man, have at length entred with the least light of a Lanthorn; and that nothing might hinder, and that nothing might detain my hand from the work, I indeed refused a Rope, and hung my Lanthorn at my girdle, but a Crook followed at my back, making a path the rule of my return: Therefore I insisting only in my own footsteps, I there saw far other things than the foregoing company of Ancestors had described.
But because I was alone, strength was wanting for so difficult weights, and I having en∣deavoured many things, the rout of Bats being against me; at length, after the manner of the former, I departed without fruit; yea, far worse; because through long delay, the light was darkned unto me, and my eyes afterwards refused to bear any further light; for why, because they had now too much accustomed themselves to darkness: Even so, that unless I had wholly abstained from my stubborn intent, the heavenly light of the day had profited me nothing: at leastwise, this one only and most true thing I had learned; that we all having trusted only unto humane aids, did walk in thick darkness, through unknown ways, most difficult windings, and paths of the night, imitating the industry of a few, and those badly to be trusted in: neither that at length we did bring any fruits from thence, except the light badly consumed, be-darkned eyes cheeks looking pale with greyness, confu∣sions of mind, presumptions of vanity, and the image of the night at hand, full of terrour and despair.
Moreover, I discerned, that all sorts of Knaves and Harlots, Deceivers, Jews, and Tor∣menters, when as they had once intruded themselves by their own rashness, they were soon, by boldness, raised to a degree: For I have not found in any a greater liberty, more ample rashness, more cruel credulities, more thick darknesses, and more frequent confusi∣ons, than in the most noble of gifts; wherein, it is free for any one to kill, if the murder be involved in the Cloak of a succour, and the party slain be covered with earth. There∣fore I begged of God, that he would vouchsafe to set a bound in so wicked naughtinesses, which they committed against the Divine Image of his Majesty: But soon after, I dis∣cerned the vanity of my desire: For truly, as long as mens own profit holds the superiori∣ty, and medicine is exercised as a Plow, they contend in vain, who endeavour to compose my Christ the Father of the poor, with Mammon.
I praised those Cities in times past, wherein it was not lawful for an undiscreet Col∣ledge Page 1076 of Physitians, to rage in a drunken manner, on the health of their Neighbour: But afterwards, I laughed at my own blockishness, because they were excepted who cured freely: Whence I learned, that the gain of Physitians had provided that Law for them∣selves, and that mans own gain would every where vitiate the Laws of Charity, that none would from a certain hope, be found for the future, unto whom that exception might square.
I saw therefore, that in the custome of Laws, defects grew over, and that Laws were rendred barren of juice or virtue: and surely my stupidity was by so much the greater in this, because more gross errours in curing are no where committed; than those which even Chair-Physitians do through a punishable ignorance commit; even as in my whole work I have endeavoured, and been ready to shew mechannically by the fire, practically, and by all kind of demonstrations. And indeed, but a few ages ago, arrogancy, sloath, and the extinguishment of Charity sequestred a Chyrurgion from a Physitian: where∣fore afterwards, servants handled manual instruments and operations; as if it unbeseem∣ed a Christian to help his Neighbour with his hands. In the mean time, some Noble Matrons healed many defects with their own hands, that were despaired of by Physi∣tians.
Truly, after that the Studies of ambition and gain were practised, Charity grew cold, Mercy was extinguished, Art perished, and the Giver of lights withdrew his gifts, the num∣ber of our calamities increased, and Physitians were made the Fable of the vulgar; Truth remained buried in the grave of Science, and instead thereof, a confused kind of brawl∣ings arose, being discursive, which was accounted for doctrine. For Physitians described, and drew to themselves the whole Army of Diseases, almost grieving, that the Catalogue of them was as yet so small: For they being allured with the facility of the Art of Ga∣len, promised to measure all diseases by the Geometrical demonstrations of degrees of heat, and cold, and to heal them all thereby. Chyrurgions also, as well the Modern as An∣tient, from an imitation and emulation of these, largely and widely treated promiscuously of all diseases, snatching the cures of them all under themselves, in the sight and de∣spight of their former Masters: Because, at first, and from the root of Medicinal Ordina∣tion, all things belonged to be cured only and alone by Physitians; but unto Chyrurgions afterwards, only by permission, and from favor. Both of them have remained under a confu∣sed strife, the which I cannot, nor do I intend to put an end unto, as being assured, * That a Physitian chosen by God, his own signs shall follow, and wonders for the Schools: For he shall prepare, to the honour of God, his free gifts, to the comfort of his Neighbour; and therefore compassion shall be his Leader: For he shall possess truth in his heart, and knowledge in his understanding; Charity shall be his Sister, and the mercy of the Lord shall enlighten his ways: For he shall employ or bestow the grace or favour of the Lord, and the hope of gain shall not be in his thoughts: for the Lord is rich and liberal, and will give him an hundred∣fold, in an heaped up measure. He will fructifie his works, and anoint his hands with blessing: He will fill his mouth with consolations, and with the Trumpet his word, from which diseases shall flee: He will fill his life with length of daies, his house with riches, and his Children with the fear of the Lord: His footsteps shall bring felicity, and diseases shall be in his sight, as Snow in the Noon day of Summer, in an open Valley: Curse and punishment shall flee a∣way, and health shall follow him behind. These are the promises of the Lord, unto Physitians whom he hath chosen: These are the blessings of those, who walk in the path of mercy: Because the Lord loveth those that work mercy; and therefore will he enlighten them by his Spirit, the Comforter. For who is liberal as the Lord, who gives many things freely, and for some small matter, bestoweth all things. Blessed is the Lord, who saves only the merciful man, and who saves him that is to be saved, freely. But consolation shall meet the merciful man, in the way of hope; because he hath chosen a faithful Master. But indeed the Greeks, and soon after, the Arabians, instituted the cures of infirmities, without the distinction of the person of a Chyrurgion from a Physitian: And those Heathens rising again from the dead, shall at some time, confound Christian Physitians, for their sloath, covetousness, and pride: For God reserveth the choice of a Physitian to himself. But the Schools being willing to ease God of this work, have taken on themselves to instruct Schollars, any, and without difference, and have proposed unto them an Art placed in the daily reading of books, and in disputations: wherefore they have read the books of Galen, Avicen, and their Interprerers; and then they have rowled over Herbarists, the images of Herbs be∣ing deciphered to the life: And the which, if they have not yet therefore known from thence, the studious are dismissed to the shops, and to the gatherers of Simples, with a Page 1077 command, that when they have well known the Effigies of Simples, they return unto their Lectures, which they by much and long study have collected out of divers Authors, that they may learn the powers or virtues of Simples and Compositions, and also their applications. In the mean time, perhaps ye shall see the dissections of dead carkasses, and ye shall hear (as they say) Galen's method of Healing, his use of the parts, and differences of the Pulses: Likewise out Commentaries on the ninth Book of Almanzor, accord∣ing to the common rule of Practitioners.
In the mean time, learn ye problematically to dispute subtilly upon any proposition; and so, within three years space, ye shall be transchanged into learned men. The Schools, in the mean time, being as it were ashamed, laying aside the name of Physitian, promise some higher thing unto their young beginners, when the three years are finished; which is that of a Doctor.
Therefore, after that Art was raised up into a Faculty, Religion, and Profession; pride crept in, covetousness intruded gain; whence also there was a mutual hatred betwixt Physitians; which things brought with them all inclemency on the sick. Moreover, at length, pride, for the most part, super-excelled covetousness in those that were blown up with the letter, and lucre: wherefore a Physitian, promoted his houshold servant, who had known how to comb and shave a Beard, into a Chyrurgion; accounting it a shameful thing for him who had rowled over so many books, to bind up an Ulcer, or repose a broken bone: For all vices have that, that they associate themselves with shame and fear, and cover the fault with the shadow of decency: And therefore also, pride hath by de∣grees chosen sloath for its companion, the coupling whereof hath soon bred ignorance: So that indeed, a Doctor being called unto the outward deformities of an Erisipelas, hath been ignorant of the kind and name of that affect; the which, when he had warily under∣stood by the Chyrurgion, he late at night rowls over some books, that on the morning following, he may declame many things concerning the affect: therefore, he bids a vein to be opened; he commands Whey, with Rose-Vinegar, or Soap, to be applyed, for mi∣tigating of the burning heats, and describeth a potion against the day following, for the drawing out of Choler. The Chyrurgion smiles as oft as the event answereth not his promises; and the Doctor, by degrees, shifting of external diseases (because he is igno∣rant thereof) as being content with his Super-eminent Title, that he had read most things in Chyrurgical writings, and could declame most exceeding ample things among the common people, the Chyrurgion conniving thereat. He in the mean time, who with∣out the advice of the Physitian, takes to him his own Disciples, who can sometimes pull out a Tooth, who have known how to open a Vein, to spread Basilicon and Diapalma, and have learned in three years time to bind up a wound, they are reckoned the Free-ma∣sters of Chyrurgery, against the will of the Schools. But the Doctors have too late learn∣ed the Fable of him who had endowed a Serpent, frozen with cold, with his own hosom, and being pierced thorow by the same, miserably perished: And that thing at this day is so far extended, that Chyrurgions henceforward, have their own Doctors or Teachers, Professors, and Writers, in their Mother Tongue, amongst themselves. Then I say the Schools, and that too late re-considered; so that they, who at first blushed to repose a broken or displaced bone, and afterwards knew not how to do it, are now glad to poure back the Urine, and to stir stinking dung with a stick, that they may divine their humours to have been chased thither: And that unless they shall do that, verily they know, that as idle at home, they ought to grow mouldy beside their books: For in the mean time, the ignorance of Chyrurgery is encreased among Physitians. Truly, God hath every where punished pride, by ignorance, or madness.
Galen indeed wrote books of the Therapeutick or practical part of heal∣ing, which they interpret to be a method of healing: But who is he that knows not that Therapeuta sounds as an houshold servant? and so, that they should serve Nature and the sick, with the humble Title of Family-service: and we will glory in the Lord, who ta∣king on him the nature of a servant, would that his own Physitians, should in this humble vocation, be made partakers of the most Noble Science of the whole Universe. And in∣deed I at sometime asked a Canonical man, why he would not sing together with the rest at the hours of singing, who from their Institution were the Singers of Divine Praises, the imitators of Angels, but not the Heads or Directors of Ecclesiastical Hierarchy? He answered, that would be an unbeseeming thing for great Canonists to sing; that they had their lesser Beneficiated ones, and Chaplains: For the one, through a possession of a lar∣ger alms, denieth unto God his praises, as a thing disgraceful unto him; but the other ac∣counts, that it would be uncomely for him to handle, cleanse, and bind up the torn Mem∣bers Page 1078 of Christ. But I am assured, that within a few transitory daies, the Lord will say; Un∣less ye become as one of these little ones, I know not you Lamp-bearers without Oyl. Wherefore, I exhort you my Brethren, take away gain, and in the room thereof drink in charity; and ye shall feel, that every good work, which now seems to be base unto you, is not only laudable, honest, and Noble; but also, that it sanctifies and ennobles its Opera∣ter. Was not the great High-Priest of the Jews a Prince, a Butcher of Herds, a Killer of a Flock of Cattel, having bloudy hands? But it is far more decent to bind up the Ul∣cers of the poor, than it was in times past to offer Sacrifices: For no good work in chari∣ty, shall ever be able to detract any thing from the Reputation. Gain therefore and Pride, were introduced by Satan.
But thou wilt say, the Labourer is worthy of his reward: If thou art a Labourer, let it not therefore shame thee of thy work: The wise man saith, a Physitian shall receive a gift (not a stipend or reward) from a King, not from a poor man: Therefore, if the in∣tention of the Operater be pure, God shall provide according to his promise, who de∣ceiveth none, promising an hundred-fold in this time, and the life of another. Where∣fore I will describe by the way, an history of my own life, and the magnificences or sump∣tuous provisions of the Lord: imitate ye the same, if happily any good thing shall there∣in offer it self.
Truly, I was a Glutton of Books; I had collected all remarkable things into common places, so as that few exceeded me in diligence, but most in judgement. In the seventeenth year of my youth, I read Lectures of Chyrurgery before the Stu∣dents, in the Colledge of the Physitians of Lovain, being appointed thereunto by the Professors, Thomas Fienus, Gerardus de Villeers, and Stornius: Alas, I presumed to teach those things which I my self was ignorant of: I fitted together Holerius, Tagautius, Gui∣do, Vigo, Aegineta, and the whole Troop of Arabians; the which surely all together, un∣derstood not the perfection of Chyrurgery. Afterwards I desisted, having admired at my own rashnesses and inconsideratenesses, that I should presume, only by the reading of books, to teach those things which are not well learned but by sight, and the handling of the hands, by long use, and a sharp judgement: For an unconsiderate presumption blew me up, because I had been voluntarily by them chosen hereunto, and had my Professors, both my Auditors, and the Censurers of my readings: For I trusted to writings, as it hap∣pens to children reading from Baiardus and Malegigius. At length, being amazed with my self, I certainly found, that the event answered not the Doctrine, and that Professors gave me not more light in practising, than the writings of the Antients. In the mean time, it often came into my mind, what the Schools thunder forth out of Avicen; to wit, that confidence on the Physitian is of greater weight to the sick, than the Physitian is with all his instruments: I therefore suspected, that it was a feeble succour of the Physiti∣an, before which, an imaginary aid of confidence should be preferred: For if any one being glad or joyful, be cured by laughter; at leastwise, let the medicine be ridiculous, where the Physitian shall cure the sick party by laughing and confiding; for that is not the medicine which the Almighty hath created from the earth. Then also, that Maxim of the Schools appeared ridiculous, affirming, that the capital betokening of curing, is drawn from things helpful and hurtful; because that Maxim ordinarily presupposeth, that uncer∣tain, and hurtful medicines are wont for the most part to be sent afore: Helpful ones also, if any shall be given, that they are administred by chance, and without knowledge: which things surely do define medicine, against the will of the Schools, to be a conje∣ctural Art, and that the knowledges and cures of diseases, do begin a posteriori or from the effect, from errours, from the tryal and conjecture of that which is uncertain: yea, that that which should afterwards be searched out, should be alike uncertain. The Poet hath deservedly cursed that medicinal Maxim.
I therefore grieved that I had learned that Art; and being angry with my self, grieved, who was Noble, that against the will of my Mother, and my Kindred on the Fathers side being ignorant thereof, I as the first in our Family, had dedicated my self to medicine: I long bewailed the sin of disobedience, and it grieued me of the years and pains bestowed Page 1079 in a choise profession: And I ost-times humbly intreated the Lord with a sorrowful heare that he would vouchsafe to lead me unto a calling, not whither I was carried of my own free accord; but wherein I might well please him most: And I made a vow, that I would follow and obey him to the utmost of my power, whithersoever he should call me.
Then first, as having been fed with the forbidden fruit, I acknowledged my own nakednesse: Because I found neither truth, nor knowledge in my suppositional doct¦trine, supposing it especially, to be a cruel thing to heap up moneys by others mise∣ries: Also, that it was an unseemely thing, to translate an art founded in charity, and be∣stowed under the condition of exercising mercy, into gain; since the Noblenesse of charry is estranged by a stipend, which wants a price out of it self, because it is great∣er than all price: Wherefore, I presently entitled my inheritance on my sister a widow, and transferred it by a gift among the living; because she could scarce conveniently want it.
I therefore being a young man, altogether unprofitable in all things, an unthrifty man, and who had rashly applyed my self to studies, commended my self to God, with an intention of going far from home, of forsaking medicine, and of never returning into my Country: Because I cleerly then beheld my own innermost parts; I discovered, and divorced the vanities of my former presumption, and literal Learning; I therefore proceed on as uncertain, unto strangers, under hope, that the Lord would clemen∣tiously direct my course unto the end of his own good pleasure: But by how much the more I detested medicine, and cast it far from me as a juggling deciet, indeed, by so much the greater occasion of healing invaded me.
For an Idiot associated himself with me, who had known at least, the manual in∣struments of the art of the fire: I presently as soon as I beheld the inward part of some bodies, by the fire, percieved the seperations of many bodies, then not yet delivered in books, and at this day, some being unknown: Afterwards, an earnest desire of know∣ing and operating, dayly increased in me: For not much above two years after, I had gotten such houshould-stuffe to my self, whereby I was, though absent, in great esteem among the sick; also with Ernestus Bavarus the Electour of Collen, and he called me unto himself for help: But then it as yet more shamed me of my late, and learned igno∣rance: Wherefore I presently resigned up all books, and I percieved my self more to profit by the fire, in conceptions attained by praying, than in any kind of books, which sing always the same Cuckows note: And then I cleerly knew that I had vitiated the passage of true Phylosophy: Obstacles and dificulties of obscurities on every side appeared; the which, not labour, not time, not watching, lastly, nor the lavishments of moneys could from any worthinesse disperse: but the one only and meer goodnesse of God alone. For neither did carnal lust, nor drinking bouts withdraw even one only houre from me; but continual paines, and watching were the thieves of my time: For I willingly cured the poor, and those of a mean fortune, being more stirred up by humane compassion, and a moral affection of bestowing, than from a pure and universal charity or dear love reflexed on the Fountain of Life.
For it happened, that a Consul or Senatour being at somtime willingly about to make use of my endeavour, I denied to giue it him presentially, as being unwilling to for∣sake many that were poorer, least I should be accounted to have neglected many for one: Notwithstanding, God from the free grace of his own good pleasure, turned this pride into good: For it shamed me to receive moneys, but of the richer sort: So that a Confes∣sour constrained me to admit of the mony of a certain man that offered it, least by doing otherwise, I should bar up the dores against those, who being fore-stalled with shame, would not dare to aske further succours from my hands: For he said, The gifts which thou refusest, give to him that is in need: and the which, if thou shalt not receive, thou by thy pride, withdrawest from the poor that which was to be his own. I also gave willingly, the medicines prepared by me: but because I felt the greater joy while I was called by a Primate or rich man, I being angry with my self, and confounded, refisted long, and be∣stowed very much pains, that I might pluck up the growing branch of covetousnesse bred in me: Therefore I every where searcht out more of arrogancy and haughtinesse in my self, than of a Godly affection.
Finally, God cut of the means from me, as well in the Church as among civil Poten∣tates; and so also, ample fortunes seemed to be promised me by Radolph the Emperour but I had incurred the danger of my foul: In exchange whereof, he gave me a godly and Noble wife, with whom I withdrew my self to Vilvord; for seven years space, I of∣ferd up my self to the art of the fire, and succoured the calamities of the poor. I found, Page 1080 and indeed I sound for certainty, that none should be forsaken of God, who with a pious affection, and fitme faith, performes the office of Physitian: For although I was the silliest of all, I seeingly discerned, that God is Charity it self towards the miserable, and therefore that from his own effluxing goodnesse of charity, he alwayes bore a care over me: For the inheritances of my wise were increased, and ample partimonies of my family befel me: for although I was subdued in suites of law, by the malice of men; yet I became a conquerer by some revisals; so as that the mercies of God openly appeared toward an unworthy person.
And moreover, he pressed down those that excelled in might, who persecuted me unto disgrace, and hidden death, under the cloak of piety: And the darts were reflect∣ed on their own strikers; so that now it more shameth, than repenteth them of their manifested crimes.
In the mean time, I desist not to cure some ten thousands of sick persons every year, by my remedies, neither are my medicines therefore diminished. I have learned there∣fore, that the treasure of wisdome is not to be exhausted, and I daily experience my yesterdays ignorance to be to day illustrated. But in returning from whence I have di∣gressed: I find that they have not yet been able to discerne what defects respect a Phy∣sitian, and what a Chyrurgion: Which things if I may determine of, I declare, that onely things suscepted or undergone do touch at Chyrurgery: The which in a section concerning a new rise of healing, I have sufficiently explained: But things suscepted, are a wound made by piercing, a cut or incision made by a fall, biting, bruise, burning or scorching, or congealing: Likewise, every swelling proceeding from a fall, stroak, &c. Also a rent, pulling asunder, burstnesse, breaking of a bone, and displacing there∣of: As also, contagions externally drawn, being those of scabbednesse, the kind of Anthonies fire called Herpes, &c. and no more: But unto Physitians, besides the in∣ternal defects of things retained, it belongs to cure any Ulcers, Apostemes, and whatsoever external affects do proceed from an internal Beginning; such as are the Can∣cer, Wolf, Leprousy, Gout, the disease Paneritium, the Sciatica; &c. But at this day, there is the more mild brawling between both Professions, because most Physitians are ignorant of a method, medicine, and succours, no otherwise than as Chyrurgions are: And therefore although they joyn hands, and so exhaust the purses of the sick party; yet at length they hasten to the bound of despair.
And in the proposed question concerning the Plague, they are unanimous enough: For the Physitian refuseth the Plague to be of the diseases placed under him, because it beares before it a Carbuncle, Kernelly Glandules, Sores about the groyne called Bubo's, an Escharre, bubbly Tumours, and Tokens: And at leastwise, he condescendeth with the Chyrurgion, because he promiseth that he will scrape together out of renowned and standard-defending Authours, any the best Antidotes, if not the curative medicines of external affects; at least, preservatives against the cruel poyson: Yea if the Triacle of Galen doth not suffice, which according to Andromachus, conteineth only 66. Simples, (that is the last part of the name of Antichrist) he promiseth to his herbarists, that he will super-add very many more, which are sufficient for the putting of the Plague to flight: and that if they are not prevalent in a sufficient power of faculty, they may at leastwise, be able to strive with the Plague, in multitude, by their number: But if the Doctour shall be hired from the City, with a stipend, least he should hurt or be wanting to his other sick patients, by causing a fear (thus he over-covers his own fear with anothers dread) he ingeniously promiseth, that he will shew by his pen, that the af∣fairs of the sick are cordial unto him: So that, he will also frame a book out of the most Fa∣mous Authors on every side, which he promiseth to dedicate to community, indeed under the hope of repaying a reward of his vain-spent labour, unto the writer: For in that trea∣tise, he promiseth, that he will so distinguish of diet, exercises to be performed, a∣voyded, and of meanes to be curiously examined, besides remedies and preservatives, out of all Authours, that the very Plague it self, shall upon the sight of that book, of ne∣cessity become diseasy.
In the next place, the Chyrurgion saith, that the Plague, as it is joyned with a Fe∣ver, stands not to be ruled by his will or judgment: But however successfully the matter shall sometimes prove unto him; at least wise, that for six weekes after, he should be profitable to none, with his sissers, file, knife, or rasour or launcet. What therefore shall he that is suddenly taken with the Plague, do, being left destitute by both forsakers? Or what will the Magistrate do, being deluded by his own stipendiaties? Because they are they which respect nothing but gain, the one only scope of their whole life.
Page 1081 The Physitian therefore will dismisse the sick unto the non-feared Pest-houses, wherein there is as unlawfull a pleasure for a Physitian to kill, as for a tormentor, and souldier. The Chyrurgion answers, That there is a Mate known unto him, who is without fear, af∣ter that he hath notably drunk; who although he hath not known how to open a vein, (for this is estemed the top among them) neither is worthy of his family-service; yet he hath of∣tentimes brought Simples out of a wood, or mountaines, and therefore that he is skillfull in some Simple, which whether it be an Herb, Shrub, or tree, or living Creature, he hath hitherto refused to declare; Yet he undoubtedly affirmeth, that it privailes against the Plague, and he willingly perswadeth him to commit the buisinesse of the infected unto him.
Master Doctour skipping for joy consenteth, and praiseth the subtile invention of the Barber, and his care for the Common-wealth: And so that companion being called unto them, a Lixivial medicine for an Eschare, Basilicon oyntment, and Diachyson gummed is given unto him, and also a magistral preservative confection described by the Physitian: Wherewith he being now furnished, becomes a stipendiary of the City, and the life of the common-people in misery, and the fail-yard of the Common-weath is committed unto him: yet under this condition, that if he suffer himself to be governed by Tenders, and under-Sisters, as super-intendents, who by a long possession, rage on the sick, he is to receive a yeerly reward. Surely miserable are the sick, more miserable the Magistrate, and most exceeding miserable the Doctour, unto whom the Magistrate hath committed his sheep, which they deliver to wolves: Because in this respect, man is truly a wolf to the poor, and infected man. But the strict judge, will at sometime, require at their hands, the lives, souls, and forsaken orphans.
For what would a King do, if a cowardly Captaine shall wipe away much money from himself and the people, and muster a great band of country-men in his enrowling book, but shall betake himself, with his Ensign-bearer, into a most fenced Tower or Castle: but shall write unto the Drummer, and some women-sellers of provision, that they cheerfully assault the Enemy with those fresh-water Souldiers? For will not the King re∣quire of his Captains, the Souldier that was rashly slain? And the town destroyed by the Enemy? Have regard therefore, ye Senatours, and Physitians, what cruel thing doth not hang over your heads? Because nothing is more certain than death and judgment. For I have written these things from a compassion on you, and the sick: I divine of you, let God be favourable unto me! At leastwise the Magistrate hath not hitherto known, of what kind the Plague should be.
