Monthly Observations, For the preserving of HEALTH, &c.
1. OBserving the multitudes of Distempers and Tor∣turing Diseases People bring upon themselves for want of a due regard to proper Foods and Drinks, hastning Death by the Errors of their Lives, and digging their Graves with their own Teeth; I thought it might be no worthless Service to present the Publick with a few homely Notes and Directi∣ons.
2. Not that I would invade the Learned Physicians Province, to Page 4 whom it appertains to prescribe Di∣et for particular Persons according to each ones Constitution, Exercise and Disease, that he may happen to labour under, or be inclinable unto; but that which I aim at is, only to lay down some General Rules and Animadversions, which well practi∣sed would render most Persons Lives abundantly more Comfortable then now they are, and conduce not a little to the prolonging of their Days.
3. 'Tis strange that any that boast themselves Rational Creatures, and pretend to wear Brains in their Skulls, should be so inquisitive after, and affected with remote matters, that nothing concerns them, spend∣ing precious time in Tales and Sto∣ries, Smoaking Tobaco, Drinking and finding their Neighbours Faults out, and a Thousand other Impertinan∣ces; whilst' at the same time they neglect matters that highly imports Page 5 their own Lives and Healths, the nearest Concern (next that of their Soul) which all wise People will, and those that are otherwise ought to regard.
4. 'Tis evident that as States sub∣sist by Importation and Exportati∣on, so our Bodies by Aliment or Food received, and gross Evacuati∣ons▪ or insenciable Transpirations, which carry off those Drugs and Fumes that remain after Nature (the best Chymist) has separated the pure nourishing Particles of what was Eat or Drunk, from what therein is Impure, Useless, and consequently Prejudicial.
5. Hence it follows, that as the only end of Eating and Drinking is but to furnish or Replenish Nature, under her continual Expences, with apt materials to suport our Bodies, in a due healthful Posture, such as may render them fitest Instruments for our Souls to exert their noble Page 6 Functions by; so if we ingurge too much Food or Liquor in quantity, more then can be regularly di∣gested, or such as is Inimical to our Natures or particular Constitutions in quallity, either of th•se must needs disturb the Harmony and mutual Traffick which ought to be in the Microcosm (or Little World, the Humane Body) whence will follow Crudities, Obstructions, dark ••ne∣mous Vapours, and a whole Troop of cruel Diseases, brought up in the Rear by that Meager, but resistless King of Terrors, Death.
6. This being obvious to every Bodies Reason and Sences, one would think there should need no great pains be taken to perswade People to be kind to themselves and not violate their Healths; and accele∣rate their Deaths by immoderate feeding, especially on Meats Improper or Pernicious; but such is the Ty∣rany of Custom; such the Contagi∣on Page 7 of ill Examples; so powerful the Thorns of a debauched Pallet; and so gross the Ignorance, or obstinate Folly of the greater part of Man∣kind, that no Remonstrances of Reason, no Tortures of Diseases, neither the Fear of God, who injoyns us Temperance, and to subdue or keep under (not pamper) our Bo∣dies▪ nor respect to our own wel∣being, nor the Terrors of Death it self, can restrain them from their dear Excess; so that if things were rigorously Examined, unless the plea of non compas mentis shall satis∣fie the Inquest, most of our Graves might have Stakes drove into them.
7. And tho the Beastly (and yet why Beastly, some Beasts are not naturally inclinable to it, but by Ac∣cident, rather therefore the Odious) Sin Drunkenness be deplorable, rife & frequent amongst us, yet I dare say her demurer Sister Gluttony destroys an Hundred Persons to her One, and Page 8 therefore ought the more strictly to be watch against. But my Busi∣ness is not Satyre, yet I thought ne∣cessary to premise thus much to Rouz People, if possible, out of their Stupidity, that they may hearken to the Voice of Wisdom, and not de∣vinate from the paths of Sobriety and Moderation, which is the first Pre∣cept towards the attaining Health both of Body and Mind.
8. Such therefore as would be Wise, ought to beware of all those things which their irregular Appe∣tites too earnestly desire and pursue, and upon which they cannot Feed without being afterwards convinced that they were grateful to them on∣ly for their Hurt, of this sort are all Costly, Compounded, Luscious, Meats and Strong Drinks; therefore frequent use of Flesh, and such Li∣quors, must be Hurtful rather then Beneficial to Health; of which this may be a very good Argument, viz. Page 9 Since Health is undoubtedly best preserved by those means which must naturally restore it when Lost; therefore since Abstinance from Flesh and strong Liquors, is gene∣rally prescribed by the Learned in most Diseases, the Consequence then to conserve Health must be a spare, thin, clean Diet, and no Flesh, for Temperance and Cleanness in quantity and quality of Meats and Drinks not only make People Health∣ful, but Ready, Vivacious and Quick in the discharge of all the Actions necessary to Life, and conserves the Mind in Serenity, Accuteness and Vigour, and all the Offices of the Body in a due Tone, Strength and Agillity. But on the contrary, In∣temperance and Superfluity beclouds the Mind, dulls the edge of the Apprehension, and brings upon it an unmanly Languor, bearing down all the noble Faculties of the Soul in∣to Ignorance and Stupidity, and the Page 10 Body it renders Diseased, Feeble, Unactive and Burdensome, and what great matters can be expected from the Imtemperate; whose Members are Oppressed, Joynts In∣feebled, Sinews Relaxed, and Brains Beclouded with Fumes and Vapors, and all by reason of their Eating and Drinking strong Drinks and rich compounded Foods to Excess.
9. But to approach somewhat nearer our present Subject▪ In those Months of March, April and May, all People, both Young and Old ought in a especial manner to consider the Crudities, Obstructions, Coughs and Stopages the Winter, and the disor∣ders in Foods and Drinks then used, may have caused by the Humidity of the Air, Closeness of the Season, want of the warming and sweet In∣fluences of the Sun; and especially the free and frequent feeding on Fat Gross Succulent Foods and Strong Drinks, that have Wounded so deep, Page 11 that the best of Medicines prove in∣effectual, and the rather, because the same course of Life & Intempe∣rance is continued, as was the Origi∣nal of the Disease; therefore these following Rules will be of great use, not only to prevent Diseases, but also to make those Distempers more tollerable and easie to be cured that have invaded Nature already.
1. Of the Opperation of strong Drink, Wine and Spirits on such People as are Naturally apt to be Fat, and subject to Stoppages and Coughs, and how pernicious such Drinks will prove to most People.
All that find themselves naturally subject to Diseases of the Breast, pro∣ceeding from Fatness or Flegmatick Gross Humors, as Coughs, Stoppa∣ges and Narrowness of the Passages, whose Bodies are apt to be Swell'd, and puffed up with Phlegm and evil Iuces; all such People, I say, ought to be very moderate in the quantity Page 12 they take of strong spirituous Drinks; for the frequent use there∣of does mightily increase the fore∣mention Diseases, and indeed that Constitution is rare, that it does not hurt, for these Liquors so highly prepared by Art, not by Nature, and by the several Artificial Operations, the spirituous parts are made Vola∣tile, by which means the Stomach and natural Heat or separative Qua∣lity hath nothing to do when such Drinks are poured into the Vessels, the Work being done to their Hand, so that the spirituous parts do with a quick & powerful motion penetrate, and force their way through all parts of the Body, and dry up that fine, sweetning, cooling, moist Li∣quor, or Radical Humidity; by which means the pure Spirits become thick, and as it were suffocated, and hindered in their free Egress and Regress, as is also the Circulation of the Blood, that Chariot wherein Page 13 the Life of Nature Rides, and if once stopt, the whole must needs fall into great Disorders; and on the other side, the Gross, Sharp, Keen, Astringent Juces and Particles of such strong Drinks do by their weight force their way downwards into the Passages, as into Uiriters and Bowels; but before they pass away they do for the most part occasion some signal Evil in the Body, if they find any matter or quality there capable to be wrought on, whence many times proceed Fluxes, Griping Pains, Gravel Stone, and many o∣ther Inconveniences, according to each Mans Constitution; so that it does not only weaken all the Facul∣ties of the Stomach; but (which is worst of all) the common drinking thereof does powerfully contract the Breast and Vessels thereof, because they separate so soon, and pass away, whereby it makes Nature Idle, which is an Infirmity not to be removed by Page 14 Medicines, but only by regular Or∣der, and proper Meats, Drinks and Exercise, which are great supports to the Health and good Condition of Nature.
2. All gross succulent Foods do deprave Nature, and increase Cru∣dities and Obstructions. For Flesh and Fish are Foods not only Gross, and liable to Corruption, but in their own Natures are Moist, Cold and Flegmatick, and therefore they generate in the Body, not only the Diseases, and promote the Passions the Creature was sub•ect unto in its Life, but fill the Body with Vene∣mous Juces, to the great prejudice of Nature; and they do require a stronger, sharper and brisker natu∣ral Heat, to separate and digest them, then is necessary for Vegitations; for all fat Foods that proceed from Flesh, are not only harder of Concoction, but they Fur and Obstruct the Passages; for Oyly Bodies are not Page 15 so easily dissolvable as the Bodies of vegitations, neither do they afford such a brisk Cordial Spirit, as all Skill'd in Chymistry, can tell you▪ do not all the Noble Liquors and Exce∣lerating Cordial Juces proceed from Vegitations, or from Fruits, Corn and Seeds? not from the Fat of Flesh or Fish, for their juces presently Corrupt, Putrifie and Stink, nor can Art long preserve them; there∣fore such food does by degrees ge∣nerate Obstructions, dull the edge of the Appetite, and help to contract the Vessels: For this cause those that make Flesh and Fish their com∣mon Food, are for the most part dull, and of heavy lumpish Disposi∣tions, Especially when they grow in Years; and are apt to be short Winded, or on any little accasion or exercise, to fetch their Breath with difficulty.
Now this Fouling and Contract∣ing the Passages of the Stomach, Page 16 which too high & Unnatural Food▪ and Drinks 〈◊〉 the occasion of, are far greater Evils then most imagine, being the true original of most Gri∣ping Windy Distempers, both in the Bowels and Stomach▪ for all sorts of Natures and Constitutions do conti∣nually generate Airy Windy matter, without which Nature cannot sub∣sist nor continue in Health▪ being as necessary as Food▪ and these win∣dy Dispositions of Nature do never injure or distemper any, except the Passages are obstructed and contrac∣ted which hinders their Circulating, and free Egress and Regress, not on∣ly downwards and upwards; but through the whole Body, and all parts thereof.
'Tis also to be noted that Rich Compounded Foods, and the com∣mon use of strong Drink do not only Generate Compounded. Diseases, but put nature as it were on a fir∣ment, as if it were in a Feavor; Page 17 which does mightily Burn up and Consume the sweet moistening Dews, which are Natures Balsamick Oyle of Life; and this does not only thicken and stagnate the Humours, but dull and render the Spirits Hea∣vy and Impure, which is the origi∣nal cause of the generation of Gross, Fat, Flegmatick Juces and Matter; for those Gross Fat Paunches are seldom caused from the quantity of Foods, but cheifly from the Quali∣ty, and the frepuent use of Exhile∣rating Drinks, and want of proper Exercise in agreeable Airs, for the narrow Vessels and Passages in a little time do weaken the natural Heat, and then a great part of the Food turns to Gross Juces, for want of a quick Fire to separate them: Hence it is that most Fat People are subject to go to Stool often, which is a sign of a weak Heat, and if such happen to be bound in their Bodics, then their Heads are frequently Page 18 troubled with Fumes and other Dis∣orders, which do also show that the Passages and Vessels of the Stomach, are not only narrow, but many Cru∣dities and Obstructions, that the windy substance, that is continual∣ly generated, are occasioned; which does rarely happen to Persons that have strong natural Heats, in whom the Passages and Vessels of the Sto∣mach are large enough for all sorts of Humours, both Good and Bad, to pass in and out, and circulate free∣ly from one part to another, which renders all such Persons Healthful, Active and Lively.
'Tis also to be known that the Radix, or true cause of the Diseases, called Vapours, and Fainting or Trem∣bling Fits, is the forementioned Dis∣orders in Meats, Drinks and Exer∣cises, which will better appear if we consider what sort of People, viz. Women are most subject to such Diseases; for we generally find Page 19 them to be not only naturally of tender weak Spirits, small Vessels, narrow Passages, and but weak Con∣stitutions; but such whose Educa∣tion and bringing up has been Fool∣ishly Nice, and Irregular; such as Live Easily, Fare Deliciously, with∣out Labour or proper Exercise; such as scarce can get themselves Drest before Dinner, and snort out more then half their Life in soft and over∣warm Beds, which course cannot but contract the Vessels, and mighti∣ly infeeble all parts of the Body; so that then the Blood (Natures Bal∣samick Fountain) is thickened, their Spirits dull and impure, and each part sympathizing in the Mis∣chief on every petty Accident, as Love, Hate, Fear, Anger, Grief, &c. the Spirits being so debilitated are I resently Wounded, and all the Sal∣liports of Nature Swells, or seems to be Closed, which hinders Trans∣piration and Breathing, and then Page 20 in a moments time they fall into wild agonous Fits, and all the parts tremble and are disordered; which Diseases Country Women of Ex∣ercise, that live on mean simple Foods and small Drink, are very rarely afflicted with; but when I consider how Impurdently most People Live, what Disorders they commit, how Hetrogenious their Foods and Drinks are, together with the many other idle Habits and secret Wounds they give Inno∣cent Nature, by visiting too fre∣quently the Shades of Venus, which quickly makes the strongest Nerves to Bow, and is the chief Cause and Original of most Consumptions, especially in the Males. I say, when we consider all this we need not wonder at the multitude of Tortu∣ring Diseases abroad in the World; but rather admire People are so Well and Healthful as they appear to be. What an Hodg-potch do most that Page 21 have Abilities make in their Sto∣machs, which must wonderfully oppress and distract Nature: For if you should take Flesh of various sorts, Fish of as many, Cabbages, Parsnops, Turnops, Potatoes, Must∣ard, Butter, Cheese, a Pudden that contains more then ten several In∣gredents, Tarts, Sweet-meats, Cust∣ards, and add to these Churries, Plums, Currans, Apples, Capers, Olives, Anchovies, Mangoes, Cave∣are, &c. and jumble them altoge∣ther into one Mass, what Eye would not loath, what Stomach not abhor such a Gallemaufry? yet this is done every Day, and counted Gallent En∣tertainment. To teach this mischie∣vous Art Books are Written, and to practise it French Cooks are Imploy∣ed, as if we had not natural Folly and Vanity enough at home, but must learn it by Art, and from for∣reign Nations; in the mean time how is poor Nature Captivated? Page 22 how doth she Groan in a Language, severely to be felt, tho not heard? Therefore if you would avoid those Torturing Diseases and Inconveni∣ences, observe the following Rules; always remember, that most Distem∣pers are contracted through Excess and inordinate Living, nor does any thing preserve the Body in Health, or the Mind in perfect Freedom, so much as Sobriety and Temperance.
1. Let not a little Trouble, thwarting your unruly Appetites, or fond Humours, depraved with ill Customs and Wantonness, divert you from getting your selves possest of this Jewel Temperance, that true Phylosophers-Stone, which turns all into the Golden Elixir of Health, Content and Serenity; since we see none of the little perishing Goods of this World are to be had or ob∣tained without Trouble and Diffi∣culty.
Page 23 2. Neither Meats nor Drinks are to be taken that are too strong for each Mans particular Nature or Constitution, which for the most part are such as are compounded of many Ingredients of contrary qua∣lities; but let Nature always be stronger then the Food, which will be sure to prevent Surfeits, and a Thousand other Inconveniences.
3. As you are not to accustom your selves to the frequent eating of Foods that are over Fat, for the Reasons aforesaid; so neither ought you at any time to Eat or Drink of any thing whatsoever to Dulness, especially if compounded with rich Ingredients; for the same will cer∣tainly sow the Seeds of Grievous Diseases: Therefore if any healthy Person feel himself oppressed after Meat, he ought to consider the rea∣son thereof, and thenceforth make abatement in the quantity, or alter the quality; do not most People Page 24 find themselves before Eating and Drinking Quick, Lightsome and full of Spirits, provided they have not fasted too long? but after their Meales (because they make them Immoderate) they are generally sensible of a cloging Heaviness and dull Indisposition, which is a certain Index, that the necessity and conve∣niency of Nature is exceeded either in quantity or quality, since the true intention of Food is to Refresh and Support Nature, and not to Op∣press and Incommode her.
4. But the greatest Snare in Eat∣ing and Drinking (and therefore the Psalmist teaches us to pray, That our Tables may not be our Snare) is when Meats and Drinks are not Simple but Compounded, whereby the liquorish pleasures of the Pal∣late is prolonged many degrees be∣yond the necessities of Nature, and indeed beyond the concoctive abili∣ty of the Stomach, whence many Page 25 People over-charge This, whilst wantonly they gratifie That, and so heap up Crudities, Noxious Juces, Torturing Diseases, and in the end Death it self.
5. Moderate Fasting is an excel∣lent means to preserve both the Body and Mind in Health and Sere∣nity, for it cleanseth the Stomach by digesting and removing the Ob∣structions that lie in the Passages, and also purifie the Blood; and then how sweet, how agreeable is every mean wholsome thing to the well prepared Stomach? such sober Persons feel and taste the most plea∣sant opperation of the divine hand in all things, their Bodies are delight ed with that which is Natural, Clean and Innocent, their Minds satisfied, their Beds easie, their Sleep Sound; they are not subject to dull Indis∣positions, nor molested with Fea∣vours, nor are their Stomachs or Bowels oppressed with Fainting Page 26 Fits, or Windy Griping Humours; they rise as Early, and no less Fresh then the Morning Sun, Blyth and Merry as the Lark, and are fit for all Exercise, either of the Body or the Mind; their radical moysture flowes freely through every part, like a pleasant gale of Wind over the Sun-parcht Mountains, which moderate the central Fires, that they burn not violently: In a word, proper Fasting is the best Physician, & preserves Health far beyond their Evacuations, it has an accult quali∣ty, for the digestive faculty and na∣tural heat is never Idle; therefore when the Stomach and Vessels there∣of are not filled with superfluity of Food, and often Eatings and Drink∣ings, it draws away all the super∣fluous matter that furs and stops the Passages, and which otherwise is apt to cause Coughs and shortness of Breathing, and sends troublesome Fumes and Vapours into the Crown.
Page 27 6. Therefore be careful that you do not Eat or Drink between Meals; or before the former Foods and Drinks be perfectly Concocted; nothing more obstructs Nature and hurts the Blood, keeping the Body as it were in a continual Feavour, for the fresh Juces of those too fre∣quent supplies of Foods and Drink do obstruct the Passages and dulls the Spirits, that they cannot pass freely in their due order and circula∣tion, whence Windiness and Cru∣dities are generated, which is the principal cause of the common In∣dispositions many People are trou∣bled with.
7. Foods ill dressed destroys Health, especially Flesh, whilst some will wantonly eat it half Raw, and all Bloody, which looks Inhu∣mane; and others will have it so over-prepared that no good Nourish∣ment can be drawn from it, both which doth generate bad Blood, and Page 28 cause a lumpish heaviness to possess the whole Body, because the lively, brisk, aiery, fine Spirit in such Foods is destroyed in the Preparation.
8. Meats and Drinks ought not to be taken together, that are of a contrary Nature in themselves, or disagreeable to any Mans particular Constitution, because such Foods do secretly, yet powerfully, wound simple Nature with many Diseases and Infirmities before she is aware, or can arm her self against their Assaults; but let them be simple in their kind, agreeable to the Comple∣ction, and as near as may be equal in their parts, which will breed good Blood, and pure brisk Spirits, and they always make the Body Light∣some and Agile.
9. Forbear the frequent eating of Flesh and Fish without distincti∣on, and regard had to the Season, and to their Cleanness or Unclaen∣ness at that time, and to the manner Page 29 of their being killed after they are taken, whether it be a Wound which may cause the free Evacua∣tion of the original Properties of Saturn and Mars, which is seldom done, especially in Fish and Fowles, but the same are for the most part Suffocated or Strangled, or Die them∣selves, whereby the pure Spirits and sweet Vertues (by the Agony the poor Creatures are at the departure of their dear Lives) are fixt or over∣come; for the orginal Venoms in which al Life consists, are then so ter∣ribly agitated that they immediately suffocate and swallow up the pure Spirits and sweet Oyle, if there be not a Wound made whereby those raging Poysons may freely pass a∣way in the vehicle of the Blood; for this reason, experience shews that all Flesh, as of Fowles or Fish, or the like, that are Strangled will not eat so Sweet and Pleasent as others that have a Wound made Page 30 and Bleed plentifully, but will have a stronger and grosser Taste and Smell, nor will it breed so good Blood or Nourishment as the other, but the best of them is much in∣ferior to that of Vegatations, which are more easily and more friendly obtained.
10. Let your ordinary Drinks be mild and friendly to Nature, neither Strong, Stale, Hard, or Sour, nor yet too new, nor such as most of the small or nine Shilling Beer is, that is Brewed in London, viz. that runs off those Grains that the strong Ale and Beer has drawn forth all the sweet Qualities and good Vertues, and there remains only a Sharp, Sour, Astringent, Stinking Quality behind, which the hot Water or Liquour extracts; and then to give it a Taste, they Boyle it Lustily with the Hops that have been boyl∣ed several hours in the strong Beer, which have drawn forth all whol∣some Page 31 qualities, and there are no better Vertues Extracted from them then the Water or Liquor did from the Graines, and tho they do put some Ale amongst this small Beer, to help it, or to hide the ill Taste or Qualities; but when such Drinks come into the Stomach those Sharp Sour, Stinking Properties cannot be hid from Nature, nor their pernicious opperations, the frequent use of such Drinks do hurt the Blood, and Generate the Scurvy, and many other Diseases that are breed by im∣proper and unnatural Drinks, espe∣cially taken in too great quanties; for it not only heats the Blood, when strong; but it keeps it as it were in a continual firment, precipitating People into Feavors, Dropsies, Gri∣ping pangs of the Bowels; and it also contracts the Vessels of the Stomach and Passages, dulling the Appetite, by weakening the Natural heat, as woofull experience doth daily Page 32 testifie to the great ruin of the Body, Soul, Estate, and Reputation, and many times Starving a Wife and poor innocent Children.
Of all Drinks, Water hath the first place, even as Bread of Foods, the Creator of all beeings having endu∣ed this Element with many secret and admirable Vertues, it being pure and clean in its own Nature, and the chiefe thing by which all Exterial things are Purified, Purg∣ed and Cleansed; and tho Weak as Water be a vulgar Proverb, yet I must tell you, that Water is more strong & sublime then most imagin, for it contains a most Ravishing and Excellent Spirituous Balsamick Ver∣tue, whence proceeds that pure, sweet refreshing quality, whereby it hath power by its innate Vertue to digest and purifie all sorts of Foods. Likewise in Preparations it is so innocent and friendly that it dissipates the gross flegmatick Bodies, Page 33 and preserves and keeps living the more essential spiritous parts, it is not only the most plentiful and truly pleasant of all Drinks, but supplies with its friendly Moysture, and re∣lieves Thirst beyond all other Liquors or Juces; it is simple and endued with such equallity, that it insinu∣ates its Virtues into all parts of the Body in an insensible way, it makes no noise, nor causes any Tumults in the Brain, nor awakens any In∣equallity in the Body, but imparts its meek Life as it were in Silence, and may deserve the Name of Con∣cord, a thing that God and his Hand-Maid Nature have befriended with all the united Vertues both in the Vegitable and Animal King∣doms, it being the Radix of all moist Nourishment, which mixt or incor∣porated with any kind of Juces ren∣ders them fit and profitable for Man∣kind.
The best and most agreeable sorts Page 34 of Water for common use and Drinking are Rain, River and Spring, but especially the two first, because they are not only impregna∣ted with the sweet Influences of the Celestials and airry motions of the Elements; but their running through and upon the Surface of the Earth, does thereby draw forth a saline Ver∣tue of a mild opening Quality, which renders it more Homogenial then Pump-Water, or such as stand without motion; and altho it be our custom to drink Beer, Ale, Wine, and other strong Liquors, yet it would be very beneficial and Profi∣table to most People to accustom themselves to the drinking of a Pint, or half a Pint at Night, a little be∣fore going to Bed, and likewise in the Morning; it is good to cool, wash and refresh Nature; it is also good for some Complexions to drink after Meals, especially for those that are subject to Fumes and Vapours, Page 35 if Bread be tosted hard and put into it, letting it stand a quarter of an hour, and then drunk off, there being no sort of Drink made by Art so friendly and capable to digest and cleanse the Passages from Obstructi∣ons as Water, and I am confident, if People use themselves every Morn∣ing to drink half a Pint, a Pint, or a Quart of good Water (such as each Person shall find most agreeable, be∣cause Waters have various oppera∣tions on several Constitutions) they would find as much Benefit, if not more, then by going to the various Wells so much cried up for their Vertues.
11. Bad Air does further and increase all Distempers, for that being an Element, which we con∣tinually Suck and Feed on, when it is corrupt conveys unwho some fumes into the Body impairs the Longs, those Bellows of Life; and infects the whole Mass of Blood; Page 36 therefore proper and good Airs are of great benefit to Health; I say Proper as well as Good; for every sort of Air, tho in its self good, is not healthfull, for some People; because there is as great a variety Air, as there is in Complexions, and what is profitable for one, is not so for an other, and to find out this Secret, there is no better way then for such as want agreable Air to Travel out of one place into an other, by which they may be capable to find out that which is most sutable for them, for as in the best Airs some Peo∣ple Languish under various Diseases, for want of a change, so in the worst of Airs many are very Health∣ful, and perhaps better then they would be in finer or thinner Airs, as many that Live in the thick Sul∣pherous steems of London, are very Healthy; and Live to great Ages: And as every bad Air is not preju∣dicial to all Persons, so on the other Page 37 side all good Airs are not profitable to some sorts of Constitutions; but change of Airs to most People proves beneficial. And therefore Travelling is very Healthful and good, especially for some People, whose qualifying Properties and Spirits of Nature are unequal; but this not being known, many remove out of one Air into an other in vain, or to their Prejudice.
12. Forget not to use proper Exercises in open Airy places which will prevent many Diseases and Weaknesses, especially in Fat, Corpulent, Phlegmatick Persons, that are for the most part troubled with Coughs, and Stoppages of their Breasts and Lungs. Let such walk as much as they can by running Ri∣vers two or three hours Morning and Night, for the Air by such run∣ning Water is more penetrating, dis∣cipating and digesting all superflui∣ties then elsewhere; nor are there Page 38 any Persons more Strong, Healthly or of better Stomachs then those whose Imployments are near Flow∣ing Streams, especially if the Banks and Ground adjacent be dry and somewhat elevated, as in many places it is. Let the fattest Punchenelloes but use to exercise themselves as aforesaid, and eat clean Foods, with middle Ale or Bear, and once or twice a day drink a good draft of Water, especially Morning and Night, and it will in a little time level their Mountainous Paunches, and waste all superfluous offending matter, so great is the power of clean, simple, natural Meats, Drinks, Exercises and Airs.
13. When you eat any sorts of strong Fat Foods, as Bread and Cheese, Bread and Butter; Pudden, Pancake, or any solid Foods, especi∣ally Flesh, remember that you eat Herbs with them, simply without either Salt, Vinegar or Oyl, only Page 39 wash them, viz. Parsly, Sorrel, Spinage, Sage, Corn-Salet, the Leaves of young Colworts, you may mix two or three sorts together, or any one of them, they mightily cleanse and help Concoction, warm the Stomach, and cheer the Spirits much better then if you put Oyl, Salt and Vineger to them, a little custom will render them pleasant and delightful.
Of which clean simple Foods we come now to Discourse of more par∣ticularly, and since those that are Liquid, commonly call'd Spoon-meats, are chiefly to be regarded, I shall here set down such of them as are most proper for the Spring-Season, viz. in the Months March, April, and May, of all Liquid Clensing Foods or Spoon-meats Water-Gruel deservedly claims the first place, and is without doubt the best of all others, either simple or compound∣ed with any particular Herb or Page 40 Herbs; at this time or season it hath the most powerful Opperation, because the Sun now increases in Strength and Power, and endues all things not only with a brisk lively Motion, but great Vertue and Life.
The Winter is the Rest or Sab∣bath of the Earth, in which time she recovers Strenght and Vertue, because she does then as it were cease from all her Labours, and the Ve∣getative Quality stands as it were still. This is manifested by the goodness and great increase of all Herbs, Fruits and Grains, being all filled with a brisk lively Spirit and Vertue; therefore in the first Spring and Rising of the Sun every thing rejoyceth and becomes very Fra∣grant, by Vertue of the sweet In∣fluences of this Celestial Body, and the Power of the Earth, so that at this time all things seems to strive with a most lively motion to mani∣fest Page 41 its most inward Vertue; this is the time for most People to eat Herbs both Boyl'd and Raw, Salats and Pottages made thereof, such Food at the rising of the Sun are endued with a brisk lively Ver∣tue and Strength, and of an open∣ing and clensing Nature, Purging the Blood, and are good against all the Obstructions which the Intempe∣rances of the Winter have occasion∣ed, Diseases being easier cured at this time then any other, especially if Temperance and Sobriety be observed.
Of plain Water-Gruel.
PLain Water-Gruel is in its own Nature of a sweet, mild and friendly Opperation, and as Bread hath the first place of all dry Food, and may justly be called Concord, be∣ing befriended with all the good Vertues of the Vegetable Kingdom, Page 42 so this fine thin Gruel is the King of all Spoon-meats, and the Queen of Pottages, for it gratifies Nature be∣yond all others, being most equal in its parts, it stands nearest the U∣nity, for this cause the frequent, or daily Eating or Drinking of it will not weary nor tire Nature; 'tis both Food and Physick, Nourishes, and withal opens and cleanseth, and serves both for Victuals and Li∣quor, for you may either Eat or Drink it, and at the same time that it satisfies your Hunger, it allays your Thirst; you may for need, with Bread make a good Meal of it, or you may Drink it before or after Meals without Bread, or with, after or before any sort of Foods whatso∣ever, it has a universal tendency; for let your Food be Sweet or Sour, or Salt or Bitter, Plain Gruel shall be agreeable to each of them, being of an allaying, softning, dissolving and digesting Quality; and that Page 43 Complection is rare, either in Young or Old, that it does not agree with, and tho it be of a moyst Na∣ture, yet it is not at all Phlegmatick, but the contrary, it being easie of Digestion, opens Obstructions, ex∣pells and hinders Fumes from flying into the Head; it powerfully begets Appetite, makes the Blood thin, causing a free Circulation, and there∣by Cheers and Comforts the Spirits. 'Tis the best Spoon-Meat Women can Drink when they Ly-in, for it breeds curious Milk, keeps the Bo∣dy Cold, and free from Feavors and Vapours, which other compounded Hetrogeneous Spoon-meats do occa∣sion; it is likewise admirable for Young Sucking Children, for it Washes and Cleanseth the Passages, which many sorts of Milk and sweet Spoon-meats do Fur and Obstruct, and prevents Windiness (the great Torture of the tender Age) by open∣ing the all Salliports of Nature, that Page 44 the airy matter may pass away free∣ly in their right Channels: In a Word nothing can be more friendly, if it be made as followeth.
Take Water, as you please for quantity, make it boiling hot, then have ready some ground Oatmeal, which first temper with a little cold Water, and then put it into your Vessel, stir it about, and let it stand on the Fire till it rises up, or begins to boyl, then keep stiring or lading it on the Fire half a quar∣ter of an hour, and so it is done, on∣ly season it with Salt, and let it stand till it be cool, and by that time the Oatmeal, viz. the bigger parts thereof will be settled to the bot∣tom, then drink a pint or a quart, as you think convenient, either before or after your Food, or in a Morning, and in such case Fast till Dinner. It is also very good to be Drank af∣ter Labour, Travel, Sweating, or the like, to prevent Surfeits, no Page 45 sort of strong Drink being compara∣ble to it in that respect, for whilest People do endeavour by drinking Wine and strong Drink to allay Heat and Drought, or Extinguish it, fre∣quently encrease it, but this Gruel by its friendly Nature, quallifies all such disorders, and presently brings Nature into a state of Harmony; and as it is commendable and benefi∣cial at all seasons of the Year, so more especially in Spring and Sum∣mer, for it allays Heat and Drought far beyond any Beer or Ale; and performs it in Natures own way.
Another very commendable way of making Water Gruel.
TAke what quantity of Water you please, make it just Boyle up, then put in your Herbs, and let it stand till it begins to boyle again, then take it off and let it stand two or three minuits with the Page 46 Herbs in it, then take the Herbs out, and having some Oatmeal ready tempered with cold Water, put that into it, and so brew it too and fro out of one Pot into another, as you do Buttered-Ale, a dozen or twenty times without putting it any more on the Fire, but if you desire to eat Butter in it, then let the Butter and Salt be brewed too and fro in the Gruel, and the Oatmeal will give forth its vertue and incorporate with the water so as to make it the sweet∣est, best colour, and wholsomest of all other Gruels; if you would have it plain without Herbs, brew only the boyling Water and Oatmeal to∣gather, and it is done, adding a little Salt, thus likewise you may make Milk Pottage, by putting your Milk and Water on your fire together and when it boyles up, take it off, and brew that and your tempered Oatmeal as aforesaid; and the like of Flowered-milk.
Of the best and most Natural way of making Water-Gruel compound∣ed of Various Ingrediences.
TAke a Quart of good Water, into which put half a quarter of a Pound of Currans washed, ser it on the Fire till it be ready to boyl, then move it to a more moderate heat for three or four Minuits, then in another Vessel have a Quart of the like Water, made to a boyl∣ing, then have your tempered Spoon∣ful of Oatmeal ready, brew your Oatmeal and Water together, as you were taught before, very well, then take your infused Currans out of the hot Water and put them into your brewed Gruel, with some Su∣gar, Butter and Salt, throwing your Water the Currans was infused in away, then brew it again as you did before, the Butter, Salt, Currans and Crums of Bread altogether very Page 48 well, and if you think convenient to add Spice to it, then put it into the water you make your Gruel off when you set it on the fire, for it is best to put both the Currans and Spice into the water when cold, the water does then draw out the vertue of them best, this way of making of it is far before any others that is in practice amongst the Houswives; the Currans will be soft, and eat much more pleasent then when boyl∣ed, this Gruel will have a curious white brisk, lively colour, Fra∣grant smell, and curious Cordial Taste, affords a better Nourishment and easier of Concoction then any made the common way, for this way is far more Natural, and does draw forth the fine spirituous friend∣ly quallity of the Ingrediences; and the brewing of it does keep and pre∣serve the brisk, lively spirits of the Butter which gives a curious flaver to the whole, and makes all incor∣porate Page 49 as one Body, also the Infu∣sing of the Currans in the water does wash away a foul gross quality, which cold water cannot do, which renders them more Homogenial, and easier of Digestion; you are al∣so to take notice by the way; that your brewing or mixing of it off the fire, in the pleasant sweet Air, does not only give Life, and a curi∣ous Colour, but of better Taste and Smell, more agreeable to the sto∣mach, and easier of digestion; not so apt to obstruct the Vessels of the Stomach, as that which is done o∣therwise; for the boyling and stir∣ing those fine thin Gruels or Pottages on the fire, does give great advan∣tage ro the thick, gross, smooky, poysonous Vapours, which the Coles or Wood, when stired, sends forth, which fulsome Vapours are by the Air drawn forth up the Chimny, which are so very perni∣cious, that if any Persons should hold Page 50 their Heads over them, it would stifle or destroy them in a lit∣tle time, for the fire is not only the opener of all Bodies, but the sepa∣rating power of Nature, and pene∣trates to the very Root of each thing, and manifests the vertues and vices of each thing; therefore forthese, and many other reasons, too tedious for this place, the mixing or brew∣ing these Gruels and Pottages off the fire, are highly commendable, and they do as far exceed the common Preparation as Light does Darkness, but Practice is the best Master, and Experience the best Doctor.
Of purging Gruel.
TAke Water, what quantity you please, make it boyling hot, then put into it a good quantity of any of these Herbs following, or others that you shall best like, viz. Scurvy-Grass Spinnage Corn-Sallet, Page 51 Parsly, Smalage Elder-Buds. Take your Water off your Fire, cover it, and let them infuse one hour, then take your Liquor from your Herbs, and brew it with some tempered Oatmeal, you may drink it with Salt, or without, from a Quart to three Quarts in a Morning, and fast till Dinner, this is a brave Cordial Gruel, it will move gentily to stool, more natural then most sorts of Physick; and wash and cleanse the Stomach from all superfluous matter, thins the Blood, and open all the Passa∣ges, by which the Humours will freely circulate, carrying away all Windy, Watery, or Flatulent Juces; this sort of Gruel is not only good in the Spring, but at all Seasons of the Year, when the Herbs can be procured; if the natural and pro∣per use of Herbs were known and practised, there would be but little need of Physick, especially if Order and Temperance were observed.
How Herb-Gruels, for the Spring, ought to be made, and their Re∣spective Vertues, and first of Elder-buds in Gruel.
TAke Water what quantity you have occasion for, make it boyling hot, then have your Oatmeal ready tempered with cold Watter, and your Elder-buds, and put both into your boyling Water, and keep it stirring, letting it be as it were on the boyl, but not boyl up, a little while, then take it off the fire, and let it stand two or three minuits more, then take the Herbs out, or strain it, and add only a little salt, and when cold drink a Pint, or a Quart, as your Stomach serves, a little use will make it familiar, this Gruel is a great cleanser and opener of all sorts of ob∣structions that offends the Breast and Passages, and moves gentlel to Stole; 'tis very good for Fat Pussy People, Page 53 especially, if they joyn Exercise therewith.
But probably some may object—What good can there be in such poor Watery slip-slop; give me Pottage made of Cocks-Combs, and Knucles of Veal, and Necks of Mutton, and Shins of Beef, Boyled three or four hours, till it becomes thick as a Ielly; and then put in Plums, Su∣ger, Spice and twenty other good things, and this is like to be somewhat Nourishing and Comfortable indeed.
Well, let the Objector enjoy his fancy, and his Rich chargeable Slop, still I will not change my Plain Water Gruel with him; for I must tell him (were he capable of hearing Reason) all such mighty compound∣ed Pottages, how much soever they may be cry'd up as Nutritive and Restorative, and indeed Destructive, for they obstruct Nature, stagnate the Blood, becloud the Spirits, and ruin the Appetite: Moreover the Page 54 much Boyling of Pottages, and espe∣cially Gruels made of Flowre, does in a manner destroy all the wholsome, cleansing, opening, cooling, exhi∣lerating Vertues; because it too vi∣olently opens the Body of the water, and sends the fine spirits flying to Iapan, or else suffocates them, for this Reason, Water once boyled, and then put into a Vessel, and kept, will Stink, and never be sweet nor good for any use afterwards, where∣as Water that has never been at the fire, being put into a like Vessel, will indeed stink, as well as the other, but then it will recover its self, and be sweet again afterwards, and as good as ever; this shews, that in boyling, Water loses its fine Spirituous pre∣servative quality, nor does the boyl∣ing less impair the lively vertues of the Flowre; therefore we conclude it not fit nor convenient to boyl Pot∣tages or Gruels after the common manner such being good neither for Page 55 Food nor Physick; whereas one main end of Gruels is to fit and prepare Nature for Food, that is to wassi, cleanse and free the Passages of gross obstructive matter.
Others may say, How is it possiblh that this infusion, or small boyling, can draw forth, or endue the Gruel with the Vertues of such Herbs as shall be put into it; for we (they will say) have been taught otherwise, viz. to boyl them an hour or two at least—Now this is as great an error as the former, for boyling of Herbs, especially in this particular case, does as it were totally extinguish and destroy those fine, pleasant, opening, Cordial Vertues, which all Men seek to obtain in all preparations either of Food or Physick; if your Reason be too weak to apprehend this, yet you cannot blind your Nature, viz. your Palate and Stomach, for will not all Pottages and Gruels, wherein various sorts of Herbs are long boyl∣ed, Page 56 taste strong and fulsome, and do not they lie gross and heavy on the stomach? and do not you find that they are hard of Concoction? be∣sides, you are to know that in all hot infusions, the hot or boyling Water does first seize, or draw forth the milde, sweet, cleansing, pleasant Vertues; and if such Liquors are drawn off from the ingredients, in a convenient time, they shall be en∣dued with all the good pleasant Ver∣tues of the Vegetation infused; but if they lie too long in the hot Liquor, then those good properties first ex∣tracted becomes suffocated; for the boyling Liquor continuing still its opperation on the things Infused, after it has suckt out the sweet friendly Properties, does awaken the Harsh, Bitter, Stinking, Poysonous, Sharp, Astingent, Qualities, and draws forth that too, whereby the former becomes spoyled or turned into the foremention'd evil qualities; Page 57 thus Brewers, or any good Hous∣wives will tell you, that the best ver∣tues of the Mault is first drawn forth by the hot Liquor, and the oftner they put up, the meaner is their Wort, and if they let their first infusi∣on stand too long before they draw it off, it will become of a strong, sharp, keen, sowre, quality, not fit to make either Beer or Ale of; for by long standing, the hot Liquor continuing its opperation, does pene∣trate even to the Center, and stirs up the harsh, bitter, sowre, proper∣ties of the Mault, which evil Juces does in a moments time swallow up, or turn all the sweet, pleasant, mild, friendly, Vertues into its own Nature, for which Evils there is no cure or bringing of it back again; but it will still continue its progress into the harsh, bitter Astingency, or its original Properties.
Note also, that the better, or more Skilful Brewers will not boyl their Page 58 Liquor or Water at all (whatever Custom, and Vulgar noise may cla∣mour to the contrary) but only heat it to a convenient degree, because they are taught by Doctor Experi∣ence, that boyling does not only fix or harden the Liquor, but causeth it to lose its opening soft quality, so that it will not so kindly draw forth the good vertues of the Mault; but if these Reasons, backt by Experience, which are truly Natural, will not satisfie you, you have Liberty to fol∣low your old blind Guide Ignorance and Tradition.
There still remains an other Ob∣jection, viz. What Vertue can there be in one simple herb alone, we are advised by the Learned, that for Spin∣nage Gruel or Pottages we must put into the same Mess Elder-buds, Nettle-tops, Clivers, Brook-lime Water-cresses, and as many more as we can think off that it may cleanse us bravely—But let me tell you Page 59 (and I will tell you nothing but na∣ked natural Truths) that wherever such a multiplicity of Ingredients are jumbled together, you may be sure there are as many various Na∣tures and Qualities, and 'tis more then probable that some of them at least are contrary to each other, so that their distinct Vertues are there∣by confounded, and you have nei∣ther the true Vertue of one nor the other, but a meer Gallimaufry, which will be irksome for nature to receive, and burdensome unto the Stomach to digest, being both of an ill Taste and Savour; there∣fore the surest, and most natural way is to take such a simple Herb as you conceive most proper for that infirmity you are subject unto; and such simple Gruels will prove more pleasant to the pallate; Secondly, more agreeable to the Stomach; Thirdly, they do to a better degree, Answer the end for which they are taken.
Of Gruel, with that gallant Herb, Balm.
The making of this Gruel, as to the manner of preparation is exact∣ly the same, with what we taught you of Elder-buds, and so it is of all the other Herbs herein after menti∣oned, or any other that you please to make use of; and therefore we re∣fer you back thereunto, being as unwilling to write unnecessary re∣petitions as you can be to Read them. The Vertues of Balm-Gruel, are that it cleanses bravely, and is very profitable for all People both Young and Old; but especially for those that have but weak heats and tender Spirits, or are subject to Wind and Vapours, as also for Fat, Gross, Dropsical People, it mightily removes Obstructions that lies in the Passages, and cheers the Natural Spi∣rits, making them fine, which all Page 61 such People want; I recommend it therefore to be drank every Morn∣ing during the Spring, viz. in March, April and May.
The Vertues of Scurvy Grass Gruel.
This being made as before di∣rected, I may safely Affirm is more Effectual against all the Distempers which this universal Herb is appro∣priated unto, then either the Spirits of it, which are so much cry'd up for their manifold vertues, or the Gross Juces of it, which some force forth of the Herb, and put into Ale, which way is not at all to be approved of, because the terrene, Gross, fulsome, quality comes out with the more fine, it will gallantly correct and re∣fines the Blood, begets Appetite, purge by Urin, and sometimes by Stool, being a great Evacuator of those gross, heavy, dull Humours Page 62 which indispose both Body and Mind.
Gruel made of Alehoof or Ground Ivy.
This is a great Cleanser of the Stomach and Bowels, wholsom for all Ages, and for those that are Healthy, as well as those that are Infirm.
Smallage Gruel.
Purifies the Blood, and powerfully opens Obstructions, begets Appetite, and is profitable against Shortness of Breath.
Sage Gruel.
Is a Noble useful preparation and good against the infirmity which the Antients have appropriated that Herb unto.
Page 63 So is Gruel made of Penny-Royal or Spinage, respectively each in its kind; & after the same manner you may use what other Herbs you have occasion for; this being one of the best and most natural ways to draw forth the fine spirituous ver∣tues of any Herbs.—Only remem∣ber to make your Gruel of any sort thin, and let your fire be clear and brisk, else you will fail of your ends.
There are many other Pottages proper to be Eaten in the Spring, as Milk-Pottage, Milk and Flowre, Milk and Rice, and the like; but remember that Milk-Pottage ought to be made after the same manner with small ground Oatmeal, viz. put in your Water and Milk toge∣ther, make it almost boyling hot, on a clear brisk fire, then temper your Oatmeal with a little cold Milk or Water, and add that, and stir it about, and let it stand till it Page 64 begins to boyle up, but then stir or lade it to keep it from boyling half a quarter of an hour, and then take it of the fire, and when it is cool eat it with Bread or without as you like best; the like is to be observed in making flowred milk.
There are many other brave wholsome foods (far better then ei∣ther Flesh or Fish) to be eat in the Spring, as Sallads, both Boyled and Raw; this being the principal time of the Year for the eating of Herbs, viz. in the Month of March April and May, for by the Approach of the Sun, and the sweet Influences he now scatters through our He∣misphere, all the vegitations are en∣dued with lively and powerful ver∣tues, more then at any other time of the Year, and it would be the hap∣piness of English people, if they did eat more of them, and less Flesh and Fish, nor is it to be doubted, but the first Instituters of Lent might proba∣bly Page 65 (amongst other things) have this in their eye, to appoint a time of Abstenance and Temperance from gross succulent Foods in the Spring, to remove and Remedy the mis∣chiefs that might arise to their Healths from the too large Feeding on such Victuals all the fore-going Winter, during which time what through their gross Foods, strong Drinks, and the uncertain Weather, viz. sometimes close, rainy, and cold, and then presently warm again, together with their broyling themselves by Cole or Turf-fires, whence arises thick sulpherous Airs, and smoky Vapours, their lying over∣long in Bed, & neglecting due & pro∣per exercises, they cannot but have Treasured up a vast fund for future Diseases and Calamities, no way to be so happily prevented, as by a strait and spare Diet, in the beginning of the returning Year, for in these Three Months the Sun (which is the Page 66 Fountain of central heat in all things) has a powerful Influence, and gives a lively motion to all be∣ing capable thereof, so that if we will but put to our helping Hand, and observe the good Rules of Tem∣perance, Cleanness and Order in Meats, Drinks and Exercises, ma∣ny great Evils and Diseases may by the blessing of the Lord be avoided.
The Foods most proper for this season are the Gruels and spoon∣meats before mentioned, with Bread Butter and Cheese, but the two fast ought to be eaten sparingly, be∣cause they are Fat Strong Bodies, too great quantities thereof may do injury to many Constitutions.
I have as little occasion as incli∣nation to advise English People to the eating of Flesh and Fish, for that they are already too apt to in∣dulge themselves therein, but this I must say, that this is the best Page 67 Season, because the Food of most sorts of Cattel, that are now kil∣led by the Butchers, having been for some time past either Hay or Corn, which does generate better Blood in the Creatures, and firmer Flesh, besides the Season is brisk and cool which drives the natural heat more central, and gives great strength to the digestive faculty, whereby their Foods is better separated and the Creatures becomes stronger, of good Heart, and full of brisk airy Spirits; add to this that they are not so subject to be surfeited by over driving, which renders their Flesh better in all respects, and more healthful.
An other way of making water Gruel, without being put on the Fire, which is a Summer Gruel.
Take one spoonful of good Oat∣meal, temper it with a little Watter, Page 71 then take a quart more of Water, put the Oatmeal into the other quart, and brew it very well together in too Pots, that are fit for that purpose, and then it is done; the Oatmeal will mixt or incorporate with the Water; of this sort you may drink a pint or a quart at a time, it is very good at all times of the Year, but more especi∣ally in Summer and hot weather; it is so friendly and Homogenial, that it allays Thurst the best of any others, by refreshing the Spirits bedewing the Body with a most pleasant and more natural moysture then either Beer or Ale, or any fermented drinks, the common use thereof in hot Seasons does strengthen the Body, and all the Members thereof, begets a natural Cheerfulness, extinguisheth all kinds of inward flushings and vapours that comes for want of a strong natural Heat, and large pas∣sages; it opens and frees the Stomach from gross matter that obstruct the Page 66 digestive Faculty, purges by Urine, as all sorts of Gruel do, if made as we have Taught; the frequent eating of this, and other sorts before-menti∣oned do mightly assist Nature in all her opperations; in particular, it is profitable against griping pains of the Bowels helps Concoction, disbur∣thening the Stomoch of superfluous Juces, and cleanseth the vessels which are generally stopt and furred by Intemperance, either in Meats or Drinks; for all Gruels and Pottages do naturally prevent fumes and va∣pours; by carrying the offending windy matter into the Bowels, cau∣sing it to pass away with case its pro∣per way, neither shall those whether Young or Old, that often eat this Gruel, be subject to shortness of Breath, or other ill habits of the Stomach and Breast, and if Children do eat frequently of it in quantities, it will prevent those evil sharp win∣dy Juces that falls into their Joynts, Page 70 which do cause the Disease called the Rickets; it hath also a powerful opperation against the Scurvy and Dropsie, by opening the obstructi∣ons of the Liver and Spleen, begets appetite; it cheers and comforts the Spirits, it is in every respect friendly to Nature, and assists her in all her Opperations; for as most distempers are contracted by excess and Inor∣dinate living; so on the other side, nothing hath so much power, not only to prevent. Diseases, but also to throw them off when they have in∣vaded Nature, neither can the best of of Medicines prove Effectual, when disorders, and the same intemperance, in Meats, Drinks, Beds and Exer∣cises are continued, that was the ori∣ginal of the Diseases; it is also very profitable to Woman in Child-Bed, the frequent use thereof would pre∣vent those feavorish indispositions, vapours, windy fuming Humors, that most are subject to in that con∣ditions, Page 71 which is for the most part occasioned by their ill conduct, and by their hot thick compounded Spoon-Meats; but I do not call them h•• from the firy heat they are ten∣ged, with in their preparation; which also is injurious to Nature, if not cool before it be taken into the Body; it being a contrary heat both to the natural heat of the food, and Stomach too; but from the in∣nate heat the ingrediences of those Spoon-meats are endued with; also those Gruels are very profitable for all Children, especially those that suck; for many Womens Milk is defective, besides Milk naturally furs the pas∣sages and stomach, and often heats the Blood, whence Feavers and indis∣positions proceeds, which generally is attributed to the breeding of Teeth, but many are mistaken; now this Gruel does cool and cleanse all the passages, and refresh the Spirit, and thin the Blood.
Of moyst Airs.
WHen the Fountains of water in the upper Chambers of Nature are stirred or awakened by the motions of the Elements and Celestial Configurations, all things, presently become dewy, or fill'd with humidity, for heat and moisture na∣turally opens all Bodies, exerting their inward qualities, and makes them defusive, whether they be Good or Evil, and renders them capable to mixt or incorporate with the Air, for so great is the power and efficacy of this Element of Water, that all or most productions are attributed thereunto, as that whereby they are Generated, Nourished and increa∣sed, so that it seems a prime natural cause of all things that grow in the Earth, and when it obtains the Go∣verment, or Dominion over the other Elements, it opens the Gates of na∣ture, Page [unnumbered] & then all properties do breathe or send forth their innate qualities, in∣termingling with the Air of that place; which if it happens to be low, morish fenny Ground, near Lakes Ponds, Jakes, Close Towns, or great Citties, as London, where vari∣ous sorts of Filth and Uncleanness are heaped up, then the Air is fill'd with foul fulsome vapours of perni∣cious qualities; but on the other side, when the Air is humid, if the Ground be dry, or amongst Gardens, Corn Fields, open Heaths, Running Rivers, or where Springs trickle down from the Breasts of a rising Plain or Hills, where Hedges and Trees do not stand too thick, all such places do naturally exhale pleasant, and fragrant Smells which Impreg∣nating the Air, renders it both de∣lightful and wholsome.
Hence it appears that Water is the great Menstrum of the World, the opener of all bodies, and the a∣awakener Page [unnumbered] of Qualities, making all things penetrable, whence Motion & vegetation doth arise; so that when Water and Air are incorporated, the latter is rarified, and it becomes more penetrating, moystening, digest∣ing and cooling; for when the sweet dews of Heaven are withheld, all things are lockt up in the hot, harsh, astringent Chamber, which threatens all things with death, the Air becoming Sultry and Sulpherous, which consumes the radical moisture in all Creatures, and so renders them not only more unfit for Labour or Exercise, but also more subject to Diseases, then in moyst Seasons, making them droughty hot and fea∣vorish by stopping up the pores, which frets all the inwards parts both of Men and Beasts, and parches up the Earth, but where Water and Air do kindly embrace or inbibe each other, that place or Climate gains a brisk, spiritous refreshing proper∣ty, Page 75 that it sucks in on all parts of the Body; for the pure natural and Animal Spirits in man are not alto∣gether a terrene thing, or Body nour∣rished only by gross Alement recei∣ved through the Organs, by the Con∣coction of Meats and Drinks only, but draw in a more refined nourishment, like spunges at every pore of the Bo∣dy, from the thin vapours that en∣compass, and penetrate it on all sides; for the Air being plentifully; endued with a salnitral vertue, does furnish and refresh Nature with a curious, brisk Airy Spirit; and for that reason Rain Water being Impregnated with a greater quan∣tity of that Good vertue, does natu∣rally advance Vegetations beyond all other sorts enriching the Earth, and making it hollow or Plump∣like, a ferment or leven, whereas other Waters; bind and close-up the Pores thereof, but still the moyst Air of Woods are not commendable Page 79 as to health, because such places do naturally attract Humidity and re∣tain it; so as it became thick, hot and sulpherous, because the Sun, Wind &c. has not free passage to refine it; but all Airs by, or near Springs or running-Water are more commend∣able in the Summer then in the Win∣ter, and wonderfully refreshes the na∣tural Spirits; and therefore Imploy∣ments or Exercises near unto, or on the Waters are both pleasant and healthful, so that its a very vain Ap∣prehension in many People so much to fear the dwelling near Rivers, tho possibly the same may not agree with all Constitutions.
And as moyst Airs are most whol∣some and healthful in hot Seasons of the Year: The like is to be under∣stood of our Homogenial Water-Gruel, and other Pottages, tho the contrary is practised by most. Gruels and Pottages, being mostly eaten in Winter; but they are far more a∣greeable Page 74 in Summer or hot Seasons, for our Winters are for the most part cold and moyst, which does naturally drive the heat more cen∣tral, which does strengthen the Sto∣mach, and digestive faculty, that Nature can the better dispose and digest, stronger, fatter, harder, dri∣er Foods and Drinks, then in Sum∣mer or hot Weather; besides, Airs then are cold, humid and dewy, which do powerfully penetrate the Body, and the thin spiritous parts thereof are drawn or sucked in on all sides as by Spunges which do not only quicken, and make the natural Spirits brisk and lively, but it helps to dissolve and digest the Meats and Drinks, and makes that Food easily digested that would prove burden∣some in Summer; besides tho spoon∣meats, viz. Gruels & Pottages, are not hot in their natures and innate quali∣ties: Their heats are accidental, viz. received from the fire, the Page 78 continuation thereof, is no longer then they become cold; for no Foods nor Drinks can be counted hot, but what have an innate natural heat, the heat received from the fire in pre∣parations is Accidental, and forc'd, and not natural, it being contrary both to the natural heat of the Food and Stomach too, and tho these Pot∣tages and Gruels are good in all sea∣sons, yet they are most beneficial to Health and Pleasure in Summer, for in hot weather most People are apt to Sweat, also the Sun which is the Central heat, does then by its Influ∣ences powerfully attracts and draws forth the natural heat, opening the pores, by which the Spirits are on all occasions or exercises apt to eva∣porate, from whence proceeds hot, droughty, fainty, Indispositions, Small and imperfect Appetites, and weak Digestions, which evils are very much increased by unproper Meats and Drinks, viz. Salt Flesh, Page 79 or Fish, much Cheese and too strong Drinks; and also by all other Foods that are Fat Succulent or hard of con∣coction, or that which lies long in the Stomach before they digest, therefore our sweet, moystening, mild, clean, easie simple Gruels and Pottages, if frequently eaten, will prevent many inconveniences, and supply nature with its dewy moystening vertues, which will not only dilate the vessels of the Stomach, but they will beget Appetite, and mightily help concocti∣on, moderately cool the Body and gentlely move to Stool, open all sorts of Obstructions that lie in the passages, and prevent the Generati∣on of Wind in the Stomach; besides those that daily accustom themselves to the eating of those Gruels and Pottages, will rarely be afflicted ei∣ther with the Griping Pains of the Bowels, or Wind-Collick, for those simple Spoon-Meats do not generate any Crudities, nor sowr short saltis Page 44 matter, as grosser Foods do, especial∣ly compounded foods and strong stale sharp, drinks; but they sweeten the Blood thin the Humours of the Body by which means the Blood and the natural Spirits circulates freely, whence proceeds a lively; brisk, pleasant, Harmonious Tempera∣ment of Body and Mind, a little Physick will serve your turn, and as few Guineys, for Mr Doctor; for the true happiness of Mankind consist chiefly in this, that he keeps his Body and Mind as neer the Tempe∣ature as is possible, which cannot be done, except he make a due choise in the qualities and quantities of his Meats, Drinks, Imployments, Airs, and Communications, and apply himself to those that are the most simple and Innocent, viz. that stands neerest equality, because each things do imposs its own property both on the Body and Mind; and the Blood and natural Spirits, inclinations and Page 81 dispositions are not only supported by these things we Eat and Drink, but also continually made as it were new. And if such Meats and Drinks be too highly graduated in any parti∣cular property as in Sweetness, Bit∣terness Sourness or Astringency, then they do awaken, stir up, and streng∣then their like quality by Simule, but if the foods be Flesh or Fish, then remember that all Beasts are not on∣ly endued with sences equal with Man, but also with all kinds of Passi∣ons as Love, Hate, Wrath, and the like, which their Flesh and Blood is not freed from, for in the Blood consists the high Life of every Creature, therefore the Illuminated Prophet Moses Commanded that it should not be eaten, because the more noble human Nature should not pertake, nor be infected with the Beastiality, for Killing and Eating the Flesh and Blood of Beasts, cannot be ac∣counted human, for men have no Page 82 Example in all the Creation, but only the cruel, fierce, Savage Beast of the Desart, in which Creatures fierceness and wrath have the Ascendent.
Of the Seasons of the Year, in which all sorts of Flesh are most Unclean, and aptest to contract and breed Diseases, as also the danger of Eating much Green-Fruits.
THe season which most People are most apt to contract Di∣seases, by the frequent Eating of Flesh, is from the middle of Iune to the last of October, for 1st this sea∣son is hot, which openeth the Pores causeth Sweating, and as it were a continual Evaporation of the Spirits, which causeth Fainty Indispositions to possess the whole Body, for all heat that exceeds the medium, whether it proceeds from Meats, Drinks or Exercises, doth gradually waste and consume the Spirits and natural heat, which does dull Page 83 the edge of the attractive, digestive and retentive faculties of the Sto∣mach, for this reason all superflu∣ity and intemperances, are ten∣fold more dangerous, and Men are apter to contract Distempers in the one then in the other, as experi∣ence manifests; we see that the Na∣tives in all hot Climates are natu∣rally more temperate in Meats, Drinks and Exercises, then they are in cold, which is one cause why English People, and others, that Tra∣vel into the East and West Indies are so Unhealthy.
2dly. In this Season most People eat great store of Green Foods, as Beans, Peases, Cabbages, Colliflowers, and the like, all which things do contain great store of gross phlegmy matter, especially in cold Countries, where the Sun (which is the central heat in all things) has not the power to prepare such Foods as in hot.
3dly. It is likewise to be observed Page 84 that a great part of that Green Food before mentioned, does often lie a considerable time before they are eaten, especially in great Cities and Townes, by which means they lose their pure brisk lively Taste, & Smell, which renders them nothing so quick of Concoction; as those that are boy∣led fresh, for they presently lose their fresh lively Spirits and Tinctures whence do proceed the pleasant taste with the most fragrant Smell and natural Colour.
4thly, All this time of the Year, the Air (which is the Life of the Spirit in all Cities and great Towns) is thick and sulpherous, full of gross Humidity, which has its source from many uncleannesses, such places do plentifully afford, more especially in this season, which is Inamicable to the pure spirituous vertues of all such Foods, for all green food is naturally subject to Putrifaction by reason of their Phlegmatick Body; this makes Page 85 them more unhealthy and dange∣rous then otherwise they would be if fresh and lively.
5thly. In this season the Sun also declines in strength and vigour which being the central Power and Life of all things, they do proportionably de∣cline as appeares in Herbage (also the Earth, which is the Mother of all things, in this Season) is weakand im∣potent because she hath already put forth her strength and manifested her lively vertues in the first spring or rising of the Sun; therefore in the first spring and rising of the Sun every thing rejoyeth, and becomes very flagrant, by vertue of the sweet influences of their celestial Body, and the power of the Earth.
6thly. In this Season, viz. from Iune to the last of October, most sorts of Cattel breed many Diseases, first from the heat and gross humid Air which in this Season is more thick & sulpherous, the pleasant Influences Page 86 and Spirits of the Air are dull and thick, which causes a fainty Indisposi∣tion to possess the Bodies and Spirits of most Creatures; Men themselves can witness the Truth of this; like∣wise the foods of most Creatures is Grass, which is of a phlegmatick Nature, & generates not only an un∣firm Nourishment, but fills the Bo∣dy full of evil Juces, for this cause it will not take Salt as at other times of the Year.
In this Season the weather being hot the Spirits of most Creatures are quickly evaporated by driving, and other accidents, which most Beasts are subject to, especially such as come from remote Parts to great Cities; besides it is the time of their unclean∣ness, therefore it was not without great reason and Wisdom, that the Antients commanded, that Flesh should be eaten sparingly, and that there should be a particular care taken about the good state of the Bodies of Page 87 such Cattel, viz. that they were Sound Healthy, free from Uncleannesses▪ and Surfits, for whatsoever inconvenien∣ces attend the Creature before killed, the Flesh does still retain; and there∣fore the Eaters thereof cannot but pertake of the evils; for the causes before mentioned, Flesh in these Months ought to be eaten sparing∣ly, is any at all, there being many other sorts of Food that do far exceed Flesh and Fish, more especi∣ally in this Season, as Bread, But∣ter, Cheese, Gruels, Pottages of various sorts, Eggs, Herbs, and many others that are after a little use more pleasant, healthier, & generate firmer Nourishment, and greater Strength, if Sobriety and Temperance were ob∣served; and other Circumstances be∣longing to Health, a little Flesh would serve; in this Age a man may speak and write of Temperance, and an orderly choise of Food, which can ne∣ver be understood nor believed with∣out Page 88 practising, which makes all no∣tions essential, few do or can imma∣gine, how little and mean things will every way fully contribute to all Na∣tures wants and necessities.
There are two or three other things, which (having the oppertu∣nity, tho they may seem not so per∣tinent to the present Subject) I would advertise my Country Men of.
1. That Diseases are transferred from one to another several ways, but especially, by lying in Beds with, or after Diseased People; which all Persons ought to take notice of, there being scarce any sort of Learning more necessary, and yet none more neglected; for these secret convey∣ances of Vertue and Venome, or the transfering of Distempers from one to another is done after an hid∣den inpreceptible manner, by way of Spirits, Gleams, Rays and Glan∣ces, the natural Spirits being so sub∣tle Page 89 and penetrating as they power∣fully search into all things, so that a Man cannot touch any thing tho it seem never so impassible or hard, as Iron, Stone, or the like, but those nimble Scouts, do not only penetrate it, but are more or less retained in it; if this were not so, the Dog could not find the Individual Stone his Ma∣ster throws amongst a Thousand o∣thers; nor could he follow him un∣seen by his Foot-stops; nor could the deep mouth'd Hounds trace the light heel'd Hare in all her doubles and winding, and tho she runs so fast and swift, as she scarce seems to touch the surface of the Earth, or bend the topes of the Grass, over which she mounts; yet she leaves such real Ef∣fluviums and impressions, enough to betray her to those pursuing Enemies. Indeed nothing can hold or with∣stand the natural Spirits, they are so thin, quick and piercing, no Iron Stone or Wood can resist them, and Page 90 if they will incorporate with those hard substances as is most manifest, how much more must they be imbib'd by soft Beds, where People lye long, Warm and Sweating, and where the Air cannot come with its refreshing Influences, to cleanse & purifie those grosser Excrements, the Vehicles (or Lodging) of malignant Spirits, that are continually breathed forth by infirm Persons, and of all others Feather-Beds are more dispossed to entertain and welcome such unclean fulsome Vapours; therefore it con∣cerns all People, especially such as are Young, to be careful who they lye with, or after, all Diseases being catching at one time or other; more∣over hot, soft Feather Beds are for the most part in themselves. Unwhol∣some, because they keep the Body too hot, and infeeble the Loyns; whereas hard clean Beds, viz. Quilts, or Straw, or Flock-Beds (but especi∣ally Straw) are much more commen∣dable as to Health.
Page 91 2. The principal Cause that so many Children, especially Young Vir∣gins in London, and other parts of this Nation, are deformed by crooked and disorderly growing, is, 1st, By reason of their hard Swathing in their Infancy, for who ever saw a Black (who use no such binding) Crooked. 2dly, This is encreased when they grow up by the tyrany of foolish pernicious Fashons, over strait Lacings, hard Bodies and stiff Stays (invented only for Mischief, and the consumption of Whale-Bone) all which their weak Bones and tender Nerves cannot endure without great prejudice; besides it straitens the Breast and the Vessels of the Sto∣mach, and lays Foundations for Asthmas, Phtysicks, shortness of Breath, Green sickness, and forty other Malla∣dies. 3dly, When they come to be about six or seven Years old, they are generally put to sowing or working of Samplers, as they call it, where Page 92 most of them are kept by an Igno∣rant Impertinent Mistriss, as hard to it, as if they were to get their Bread before they eat it, five, six, seven or eight hours in a Day, are they there keep sitting in a mopish still Posture, with their Heads downwards, leaning on their Breasts, and all their Limbs crumpled up al∣most like a Hedge-Hoggs. This makes many of them dull, Sleepy and Heavy all their Life after, by that base, early contracted Habit; others to ease themselves lolling or leaning on one side, hold their Necks awry, get a trick of lifting up one Shoulder half a Story higher then the other, and a Thousand o∣ther ridiculous Postures, which by time becomes natural, and then the Swing is thought of, and the Steel-Bodices sent for, which certainly concludes the Work, & renders their Crookedness yet worse, and indeed altogether incurable; whereas, had Page 93 these Children been Educated with change of Imployments or Learning, viz. one hour, or an hour and an half to Sew, the next to Read, or Write, or learn Languages; after that to play on the Musick, Sing or Paint, to go in a handsom Posture, their Schooling would not only be much more plea∣sant and delightsome to them, but they would be more Airy, Brisk and Healthy, and learn more in one hour, then they do in several Days by be∣ing kept thus dully to one thing so long day after day, as it were stupifi∣ing there Sences, procuring many other Diseases, besides Crookedness which is always accompanied with many other inconveniences, which all careful prudent Mothers ought to consider, and study to prevent.
3. The best Exercises that I have observed against Consumptions, short∣ness of Breath, and all kind of Ob∣structions of the Stomach and Breast are those that most Imploy the Page 94 Arms, and open the Chest; therefore for Women to rub Tables for one hour every Morning tell they sweat would not be amiss; for Men any sort of Labour on the Water, but e∣specially Rowing in Boats with Wa∣ter men, does effectually open and remove all Impediments & Diseases of the Brest and Stomach, at once it strengthens the Muscles, and o∣pens the Passages, or if any find them∣selves inclinable to it, the Exercise of Shooting at Butts, in a long Bow is very commendable, such Exercises have cured many Consumptive Asth∣matical People, when they have been given over by the Doctors, for as the walking in proper Airs gets a good Appetite so the drawing the Bow di∣lates the Breast and removes Ob∣structions.
But I have already exceeded the li∣mits I proposed to my self in this Pa∣per: Those that shall observe the Rules herein laid down of Tempe∣rance, Page 95 choice of Diet & due prepara∣tion, will, I am more then confident, find great benefit thereby; therefore I shall not Trouble my self to make any Apology to any, who having their Eyes blinded by the Dust of Custom, and Tradition, may be apt to condemn or flight these Advices as useless Chymeras; sure I am what I have deliver'd is agreeable to undis∣guised Nature, and whosoever shall Act accordingly will find the benefit, but without practice all precepts are vain, or at least fruitless; unless it be to remain as Monuments to reproach those conceited Fools that dispise and neglect them. What I have here candidly, and in a simple plain fami∣liar manner delivered, I leave to Gods Blessing and the practice of all prudent Lovers of their Health, and humble Followers of Nature in her easie and Innocent Methods.
