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THe commoditie of moderate slepe, appe∣reth by this, that naturall heate, whiche is occupied about the matter, wherof pro∣cedeth nouryshement, is comforted in the places of dygestion, and so digestion is made better, or more perfite by slepe, the body fatter, the mynde more quiete and clere. the humours temperate: and by moche watche all thynges happen cōtra∣rye. The moderacyon of sleape muste be measu∣red
by helthe and syckenesse, by age, by tyme, by emptynesse or fulnesse of the body, and by natu∣rall complexions. Fyrste to a hole man, hauynge no devilitie of nature, and digestynge perfytely the meate that eateth, a lyttell sleape is suffi∣cient: but to them, which haue weake stomakes, and do digeste slowely, it requireth, that sleape be moche lengar. semblable temperance is requi∣red in youth and age, wynter and sommer. The body beinge full of yll humours, very lytel slepe is sufficient, except the humors be crude or raw, for than is slepe necessary, which digesteth them better, than labour. Semblably, where the body is longe empty, by longe sycknesse or abstinence, slepe comforteth nature, as well in the principal membres, as in all the other. Also regarde muste be hadde to the complexion, for they that ar hot and do eate lyttell, and digeste quickely, a lyttell sleape serueth, specyally to choleryke persones, for in them moche slepe augmenteth heate, more than is necessary, whereby hote fumes and infla∣mations are often ingendred, and somtyme the naturall choler is aduste or putryfied, as experi∣ence teacheth. Fleumatike persons at naturallly inclyned to sleape: and bycause they ingender moche humours, they requyre more sleape than sanguine or cholerike. Persons hauyng naturall melancoly, not procedynge of choler aduste, do requyre very moche sleape, whiche in them com∣forteth the powers animal, vitall, and naturall, which ye may find writē in the tables preceding Sleape wolde be taken not immediatelye after meales, and before that the meate is dyscended from the mouthe of the stomake. For thereby is
ingendred paynes and noyse in the bely, and di∣gestion corrupted, and the slepe by yll vapours, ascendyng, made vnquiete and troublous. More ouer immoderate slepe maketh the body apt vn∣to palseys, apoplexis, fallynge sycknes, reumes, & impostumes. Also it maketh the wyttes dull, and the body slowe and vnapte to honeste exer∣cise. Scmblably immoderate watche drieth to moch the body, and doth debilytate the powers animall, letteth digestion, and maketh the bodye apte to consumptions. Wherfore in these two thynges, as well as all other, a diligent tempe∣rance is to be vsed the moderation is best conie∣cted for it is harde perfytely to knowe it) by the sensible lyghtnes of all the body, specially of the brayne, the browes, and the eyes, the passage downe of the meate from the stomake, the wyll to make vrine, and to go to the stoole. Contrary wise, heuines in the body and eyes, and sauor of the mete before eaten, signifieth that the slepe was not sufficient. They that ar hole must slepe first on the right side, bycause the meate may ap¦proche to the lyuer, whiche is to the stomake, as fyre vnder the potte, and by hym is digested. To them, whiche haue feble digestion, it is good to slepe prostrate on their bealyes, or to haue theyr bare hand on theyr stomakes. Lyeng vpright on the backe, is to be vtterly abhorred.