The castel of helth gathered and made by Syr Thomas Elyot knyghte, out of the chiefe authors of physyke, wherby euery manne may knowe the state of his owne body, the preseruatio[n] of helthe, and how to instructe welle his physytion in syckenes that he be not deceyued

¶ Dyete of them that are redy to fall into syckenesse. Cap. 5.

NOwe retourne eftesones to speake of di∣ete, it is to be remembred, that they, whi∣che are redy to fall into diseases, they are prepared thervnto, eyther by replecyon of superfluous humours, or els by eruditie or malyce of humours, which are in them. As tou∣chyng the fyrst, the generall dyete must be such,

as therby the humours maye be attenuate, and by conuenient euacuatiō, brought to a moderate quantitie. As for the seconde muste be corrected with meates and drynkes of contrary qualities, hauyng alway respecte to the age of the person, tyme of the yere, place of habitation, and moste specially the vniuersal complexion, for choler of∣fendyng in an old man, in winter tyme, in a cold countrey, or the person beynge of his naturall complexion fleumatike or melancoly, wolde not be so habundantly expulsed or subdued, as yf it be in one yonge and lusty, in the hote sommer, in the coūtrais, where the sonne feruently burneth or the persone of his proper nature is very cole∣ryke. And in lyke wyse contrary. wherfore euery man, knowynge his owne naturall complexion, with the qualitie of the humour that offendeth, let hym make temperan̄ce his chiefe coke, and re¦membrynge that which I haue before declared, ordeyne to hym selfe such diete, as may reforme the offence with none or lyttell annoyance, to his vniuersall complexion. And yf he can so do, he shal happily escape, not only dyuers syckenesses but also the most pernitious daūger, procedyng of corrupted drowges or spices, wherof some co¦uetous poticaries do make medicines, maugre the heedes of good and well lerned physicyons.