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

Galene and all other, do agree in this case, Pep¦per bruysed and eaten with meate, is very expe∣dient: And where there is moch wynde in the sto¦make, than to eate all tymes of the daye of the medicyne made of the three kyndes of pepper, tyme, anyse sede, and honye clarified, whiche is callyd Diatrion piperion, or that whiche is cal∣lyd Diaspoliticō, or Diapiganon, which is made * 1.1 of cumyne stieped one day and a nyght, or lenger in tarte vyneger, and after fryed or layde on a bournyng hot stone, and made in powlder. Also pepper and rewe dried somwhat, and made into powder, all in equall porcyons, and myxte with claryfied hony. Galene addeth therto salt peter, called in latyn Nitrum. The confection made with the iuyce of quynces, and is callyd Diacy∣coniten, is very excellent. but it is to be dylygent¦ly noted, that where crudytie is in a choleryke persone, there wold the sayd medicynes be tem∣peratly vsed, and the sayd Diacytonitē, to haue lyttell or no spices in it. And for my parte, beyng the space of foure yeres contynually in this cru∣dytie, I neuer founde any thynge to be compa∣red to fyne R••ubarbe, chewed with raysons of corens, which I toke by the coūsayle of the wor¦shypfull & well lerned physitiō, mayster doctour Augustyne, who in his maners declarethe the auneyent gentylnesse of his blode: which medy∣cyne I do not leaue to vse dayly fastynge, whan I fele suche crudytie to begyn. Also syrope ace∣tose, that is to say, sugar sodden in pure vyne∣ger, and lyttell water, vntyl it be thycke as a sy∣rope, is somtyme conuenient, and that as well to choleryke persones, as vnto fleumatyke, and yf

fleume be abundant, than with rootes & seedes of fenell and persely sodden with it. Also in that case Oxymel, that is to say, honye & water sod∣den togyther, with the sayd rotes and sedes, and a quantitie of vyneger put therto in the boyling is very commendable: yf the pacient be very co∣styue, than the medycyne of Galene, callyd Hie∣rapicra, from halfe an ounce to an ounce, taken in water of honye or ale, or taken in pylles the weight of a grote and a halfe, or two grotes, yf the stuffe be good, wyll pourge the bodye suffy∣cyently, without makyng the body weaker. Also that medycine by clensyng the stomake & body, delyuereth a man and woman, from many pe∣ryllous sycknesses. If the humours in the sto∣macke be not putryfyed, but that it is greued with abundance of salte fleume, I haue founde that mylke newe mylked, wherin is put a quan∣titie of good honye or sugar, and thre leaues of good speare myntes, and a lyttell boyled, so be∣ynge drunke warme fastyng, the quantitie of a pynte, and restynge on it, without eatynge or drynkynge any other thynge the space of three houres after, haue abundantly pourged and cō∣forted the stomak: but where there is no fleume but onely choler, it is not so holsome, but rather hurteth, makynge fumosyties in the heed, wher∣of commeth heed ache.

☞ Of lassitude. Cap. 2.

LAssitude is a disposition toward sycknes, wherin a man feleth a soorenesse, a swel∣lynge, or an inflammation. Sorenesse hap∣neth of humours sharpe and gnawyng, as

after great exercise and labours which lassitude hapneth to them, whose bodyes are fulle of ylle iuyce, & excrementes. Also after cruditie in them which ar not exercised, or do abyde longe in the * 1.2 heate of the sonne. It may also be in the bodye, wherin is good wyce, yf he be fatigate with im∣moderate exercise. In them, whiche do feele this lassitude, the skyn appereth thycke and rough, & there is felte a griefe somtyme in the skyn onely, * 1.3 〈…〉〈…〉tyme also in the fleshe, as it were of a soore. The cure therof, is by moch and pleasaunt rub∣bynge, with sweete oyles, whiche haue not the vertue to restrayne or close, and that with many handes, and afterwarde to exercyse moderately, and to be bayned in water swete and temperate in heate. also thā must be gyuen meates of good iuyce, potage but seld, wyne is not to be forbod¦den: for vnto wyne, vneth any thyng may be cō∣pared, that so ••ell dygesteth crude humours: It also prouoketh sweate & vrine, and maketh one to slepe sundly. But yf this lassitude do abyde the nyght and day folowyng, or waxeth more & more, than yf the pacyent be of good strengthe and yonge, and hath abundaūce of bloude, lette hym be lette bloude, or prouoke the hemoroides or piles to blede, yf they do appere. But yf it pro¦cede of the malyce of any humour, without abū¦dance of bloude, than resorte to purgations apte for the humour that greueth. The tokens wher∣of, shall appere as well by the colour of the skyn and diete precedyng, as by vrine, ordure, sweate, thyrste, and appetyte, as it is rehersed before in the complexions. If the yll bloudde be lyttell in quantitie, and the crude humours aboundant,

than shall he not be lette bloude, nor vehemently pourged, neyther, shal exercyse or moue hymselfe nor be bayned, for all exercyse caryeth humours throughout all the body, & stoppeth the powers. Wherfore these maner of persons shuld be kept in reste, and such meates drynkes and medicyns shuld be gyuen to them, which should attenuate or dissolue the grossenes of the humours, with∣out notable heate, as oximell, barley water, and mulse, yf the pacyent abhorre not hony. And for as, moch as in the sayd persons, comonly there is abundance of wynde about theyr stomakes, therfore pepper specially longe pepper or whyte is very conuenient to be vsed, and the medicine before wrytten, callyd Diaspoliticum, whan the humours are dissolued, than it is good to drinke whyte wyne, or small clarette wyne moderately.

Lassitude extensiue. Ca. 3.

VVan one thynketh, that he dothe feele a swellyng or bollynge of the body, where in dede there doth not appere in syght or touchynge any swellynge, that is callyd Lassi∣tude extensiue, yf it hapneth without exercise or vehement mouyng. This doth happen of exces∣siue multitude of humours, which do extend the muscules or fyllettes. In this no sorenesse is felt but only an heuynes with extension or thrustyng out of the body. And bycause that there is abun∣dance of bloude in the body, beste remedye is to be letten bloude about the elbowe or ancle, after to be pourged, than to vse softe frycasyes with oyles afore rehersed, afterward moche reste and temperate bathes, and meates lackynge sharpe∣nes, and beynge abstersyue.

¶ Lassytude with the feelynge of infa∣mation. Cap. 4.

IF without any mouynge, the muscles and flesh ryse vp in the body, as it swelled with great paynes & excedynge heate, than sone after foloweth most hotest feuers, except it be preuented by lettynge of bloud, and that in a∣bundance, and almoste to sownynge, but it were * 1.4 more sure to be lette bloud twyse in one day, the fyrst tyme without sownynge, at the nexte tyme sownynge is not to be feared. If the grefe be in t•••• necke or heed, the bloud muste be lette of the bayne called Cephalea, or the shulder vayne. If it be in the bulke or vppermost part of the body than must the vayne be cut, which is callyd Ba∣silica, or the innermost vayne. If all the body be greued thā cut the veyn, which is named Medi∣ana, or the myddel veyn. If a feuer remayne af∣ter bloud lettyng, than order hym, with the dicte of them that haue feuers, whiche ye shall fynde wryten hereafter. If no feuer remayne, thanne vse moderate fricasies, and lyttell eatynge, and that of meates hauynge good iuce, increasynge by lyttell and lyttell to the naturall dyet.

¶ 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.

¶ Syckenes moste commune to particular tymes of the yere and ages. Ca. 6.

ALthough I do not intēde to write of the cure of egritudes or syckenesses confyr∣med, as well bycause it moughte be re∣puted in me a great presumption, as also foras∣moche

as it were very peryllous to dinulgate that noble science, to cōmune people, not lerned in lyberall sciences and philosophie, whiche be requyred to be suffyciently in a phisition. And more ouer, many bokes of Hipocrates and Ga∣lene ought to be radde, before that one do take vpon hym the generall cure of mens bodies: yet not withstandyng, I truste I may without any note of arrogance write, what diseases do most commonly happen in sondry tymes of the yere & ages of men and women, with some signifyca∣tions, wherby the discrasie or distemperature of the body is perceyued, to the intent that the phi∣sition beinge farre of, maye be truely informed / consideryng that vrines farre caryed, doo often deceyue them / and lyke wyse lacke of the syghte of the pacyent / and inquisition of thinges which do precede or folowe the syckenesse. And with this I truste none honest and charytable phisi∣tion wylle be offended / but rather gyue to me thankes for my dyligence / in the aduaunrynge of theyr estimation, which by lacke of perfite in∣struction hath ben appayred.

¶ Syckenesses of sprynge tyme.

¶ Diseases procedynge of melancoly / as mad∣nesse / fallynge syckenesse / bleedynges / auynses / poses / hoorsenesse / coughes / lepries / scabbes / ache in the ioyntes.

¶ Syckenesses of sommer.

¶ Many of the sayd diseases / also feuers con∣cynuall / hotte feuers / feuers tertiane / quartay∣nes / vomites / flyres / watryng of eies / peynes of the eares / blysters and soores of the mouth / and sweattynges.

¶ Syckenesses of Autumne.

¶ Dyuers of sommer syckenesses / also oppila∣tions of the spleene / dropsies / consumptiōs / strā∣gulyons / costyuenesse / ache in the huckle boones / shortnesse of wynde / frettynge of the bowelles / fallynge syckenesse / and melancoly dyseases.

¶ Syckenesse of wynter.

¶ Stitches and griefes in the sides / inflamatiō of the lunges / reumes / coughes / paynes in the bresle / sydes / and loynes / heed ache / & palseyes.

¶ Sycknesses happenyng to chyldern.

¶ Whan they be newe borne / there do happen to them soores of the mouth called Aphte / vomi∣tynge / coughes / watchyng / fearefulnesse / infla∣mations of the nauyll / moystures of the eares.

Wwhan they breede tethe / ytchynge of the gummes / feuers / crampes / and laskes.

Whan they ware elder / than be they greeued with kernelles / oppennesse of the moulde of the heed / shortnesse of wynde / the stone of the blad∣der / wourmes of the bealy / wartes / swellynges vnder the chynne / and in Englande commonlye purpyls / measels / and smalle pockes.

¶ Syckenesse happenyng to yonge men from .xiiii. yeres of age.

¶ Feuers cotydiane / tereyane / quarteyne / hotte feuers / spyttynge or vomitynge of bloude / pleu∣resies / diseases of the sydes / inflammation of the lunges / lethargies / fransye / hote syckenesses / cholerik passiōs / costiuenes or vehement laskes.

¶ Syckenesse of age.

¶ Difficultie of breathe / reumes with coughes / strangulyon / and dyfficultie in pyssynge / ache in

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the ioyntes, diseases of the raynes, ••wymmyn∣ges in the heed, palseyes, ytchynge of all the bo∣dy, lacke of slepe, moysture in the eyes and eares dulnesse of syght, hardnes of herynge, tisiknesse or shortnesse of breth.

¶ Although many of the sayd syckenesses doo happen in euery tyme and age, yet bycause they be moste frequent in the sayde tymes and ages, I haue wryten them, to the intent, that in the a∣ges and tymes moste inclyned vnto them, suche thynges mought be than eschewed, whiche are apte to ingendre the sayde diseases.

¶ The generall sygnifications and tokens of syckenes. Cap. 7.

IF the bodye be hotter, colder, moyster, drier, leaner, fuller, the colour more pale, or swarte, the eyes more holowe, than is accustomed to be it sygnifieth that the body is disposed to syk∣nes, or alredy sycke.

The brayne sycke.

• Rauynge.
• Forgetfulnesse.
• Fantasye.
• Humours commyng from the roufe of the mouth, the eyes, the nose, or the eares.
• Watche.
• Sleape.

The harte sycke.

• Difficultie of breathe.
• Tremblynge of the harte.
• Beatynge of the pulse.
• Feuers. Colde.
• Diutrsite of colours.
• Griefe about the harte.

The lyuer sycke.

• Lacke or abūdaūce of humours.
• The fourme of the body alteted.
• Palenes.
• Concoction.
• Digestion.
• Alteration of excrementes accu∣stomed.
• Peyne in the place of the lyuer.
• Swellynge.
• Difficultie of breath.

The stomacke sycke.

• Concoction, slowe or quycke.
• Appetite of moyste or drye, dull or quycke.
• Separatiō of excremētes moist or harde with theyr colours.
• Yexynge.
• Belkynge.
• Vometynge with peyne and difficultie of brethe.
• Vryne moche or lyttel with the colour and substaunce to redde or to pale, to thicke or to thynne

The breaste.

• Difficultie of breathe.
• Cowgh.
• Spyttynge.
• Peyne in the breaste.

¶ This haue I writen, not to gyue iudgemen•• thereby, but onely for the pacyent to haue in a redynesse, to the intent, that what so euer he fe∣leth or perceyueth in euery of the sayde thynges thereof to instructe his phisition, whervnto he maye adapt his counsayle and remedyes.

¶ Of vrynes. Cap. viii.

FOrasmoch as nowe a dayes the most com∣mune iudgement in syckenesse is by vrines, whiche being farre caried or moche meued, or standyng longe after that it is made, the fourme thereof is so altered, that the phisytion shall not perfytely perceyue the naturall colour, nor contentes, although it be neuer so wel chau∣fed at the fyre, as Actuarius and other greatte lerned men do affirme. I wyll therfore somwhat speake of vrines, not soo moche as a physition knoweth, but as moche as is necessarieto euery man for to perceyue the place and cause of his griefe, whereby he maye the better instructe the Physition.

¶ Fyrste in vrine, foure thynges are to be con∣sydered, that is to say, the substance, the colour, the regions or partes of the vrine, and the con∣tentes or thynges therin conteined.

Also forasmoch as in the body of man be foure qualities, heate, colde, moysture, and dryth, two of them heat and cold, are causes of the colour, dryth and moysture are causes of the substance.

Moreouer in vryne, beinge in a vessell apt ther vnto be sene, are thre regiōs. The lowest region in the bottome of the vrynall, conteynynge the space of two fyngers or lytell more. The myddel region, from whens the lowest ended vnto the cerkele. The hyghest region is the cerkle.

The hyghnesse of the colour sygnifyeth heate, the place, blacke, or grene, sygnifyeth coulde.

Also the grossenes or thyckenesse of the vryne sygnifieth moysture, the clerenes or thynnes, sy∣gnifieth drithe.

¶ The colours of vrynes.

• ¶ Colour of bryght goulde.
• Colour of gylte.

Perfyte dy∣gestyon.

• Red as a red apple or chery.
• Base redde, lyke to bole ar∣••enake, or saffron dry
• Redde glowynge lyke fyre.

Excesse of dygestion.

• Colour of a beastes lyuer.
• Colour of darke red wyne.
• Grene lyke to colewortes.

Adustion of humours.

• Leaddy colour.
• Blacke as ynke.
• Blacke as horne.

Feblenes or mortifycation of nature, excepte it be in purginge of melancoly.

• Whyte clere as water.
• Gray as a horne.
• Whyte as whay.
• Colour of a camels heare.

Lacke of dy∣gestyon.

Pale lyke to brothe of fleshe sodden.

The beginnynge of digestyon.

• Citrine Colour or yelowe.
• Subcitrine or paler.

The myddell of dygestyon.

• Whyte and thinne betokeneth melancolye to haue domynyon.
• Whyte and thycke, sygnifieth fleume.
• Redde and thycke betokeneth sangnuine.
• Redde and thinne betokenethe choler to haue the souerayntie.

The substance of the vrine. Cap. ix.

AT the first pissyng, all vrines well nigh do appere thyn, as longe as they abide warme, for naturall heate, duryng the tyme that it preuaileth, suffreth not that the ly∣cour, which is the substance of the vrine, to con∣••••le or be thycke for any occasion: but after that heate is gone, some vrines shortly, some a lōger time after, waxe thyck, lyke wise somtime, some a〈…〉〈…〉pissed thicker, & after waxe clere, some remain stylle as they were made, some be metely thycke, as they were troubled, some very thick & grosse. Thoi that waxe clere, sone do gather that, which is thick into the bottome of the vrinal, some re∣mayn troubled, the grossenes not withstandynge gathered in the bottome. Sēblably the diuersitie of thyn or subtyl vrines, must be perceiued, that is to saye, that some are very subtyll, as water, some lasse subtyll, some in a meane betwene thycke and thynne.

¶ Of thynges conteyned in the vrine, some doo discende downe to the bottome, & be callyd in a greke worde Hypostasis, in englysshe some calle it the groūdes, some the resydēce, which yf it be whyte, lyght, risynge vp frō the bottome of the vrinall, lyke a peare, it signifieth helth, if it be of any other fygure or colour, it betokeneth some a noyance. If lyke thynges be sene in the myddell of the vrynall, they be called sublations, if they approche vnto the hyghest region of the vrine, they be named cloudes, in latin Nebule. The groūdes or residēces not perfite, some is lyke lit ••e••le redde vetches, & is callyd in latyn Orobea, some is like to brāne of wheat gron̄de, & seuered

from the meale, and is callyd branny residēce, in latin Furfurea, some be like vnto plates, hauing bredth and length wythout thycknes, & may be named platy residēce, in latine Laminea, some is lyke to meale, wheate, or barley, and may be na∣med mealy residence, in latyn Sunilacea.

¶ There is also seene in the vrine like to white heares, some lengar, some shorter, sōtune lyke to ragges somwhat red, there is also sene in the vp permoste parte of the vrine, sometime a fome or froth somtyme belles or bobles. sometyme there swymmeth in the vrine a thing like a copwebbe otherwhile ther is about the cerkle, as it were the rētyng of clothe, sōtyme there is in the vrine lyke motes of the sonne, sōtyme lyke the matter of a sore, otherwhyle lyke the sede of a man also grauelle or sande. And in these thynges maye be dyuers colours, some whyte, some red, some be∣twene bothe, some yelow, some graye, and some blacke. All this muste be diligently marked, and therof separatly to aduertise the Phisitiō, vnto whome I referre the iudgement of the syckenes, for the cause afore rehersed, and for as moche as the iudgement of them is very subtyll.

Sēblably of ordure, whyther it be very thyn or very thicke: what other matter yssueth out with it, what colour it is of the sauour very great, litell or none, yf it were easyly expulsed, or peynefully, how oft or how seldom. Moreouer of sweat, what colour it is of, & of what sauour yf in tasting it be salt, sowre, bitter, or vnsauery.

Also the vomite, yf it be of one colour or ma∣ny, yf it do smell horrybly, of what humour it had most habundaunce, yf it were fastynge, or

after meales, yf it were peynefull or easy.

Likewise spettil, whether it be thicke or thin or mixt with bloude or matter corrupt, accordin∣gly of the humour issuinge out at the nose, & yf that be bloude, than whyther it be red, watrye or blacke.

Moreouer, it may not be forgotten, to aduer∣tyse the Phisition of the dyet vsed by the paci∣ent, aswell afore the syckenesse, as in the tyme of the sychenesse, his age, the strength of his body, his exercyse, and place, where he lengest abode in his youth, whether it were hye or lowe, watry or dry, hotte or colde.

This I trust shall be suffycient, to instruct a physition, he that desyreth to knowe more parti∣cularly hereof, let hym rede the bokes of Hypo∣crates, Galene, Cornelyus Celsus, Actuarius, Paulus, and dyuers other late wrytters, for this lytell treatyse may not receyue it.

¶ The preceptis of the auncient physition Dyocles vnto kynge Antigonus. Cap. 10.

VVe will nowe diuide the bodye of man into foure partes, the heed, boulke, cal∣led in latin thorax, which conteyneth the brest, the sydes, the stomake, and entray∣les. The bely, called in latyn venter, conteyneth the panche & the bowels. Also the bladder, called in latin vesica, in the whiche name is also con∣teyned the cundites, by the which vryne passeth. Whan any disease approcheth to the heed, these tokens do commonly precede, swymmyng in the hced, heed ache, heuines of the browes, sounding in the eares, pryckynges in the temple, the eyes

in the mornynge do water, or waxe dymme, the smellynge is dulle, the gummes do smelle. Whā thou felest suche tokens forthwith pourge the heed with somwath, not with vehement medeci∣nes, but takinge I sope or Organum, & the crop∣pes of them boyle with whyte or claret wyne half a pynte, & therwith gargarise your mouth fastyng, vntil the fleume be purged oute of your heed, this is the easyest medicine in discrasies of the heed. It is also very holsome to gargaryse the mouth and brest with hony water, wherinto mustarde is put & myngled, but fyrste the heed must be rubbed with a warme clothe, that the fleum maye easyly come out of the heed. And yf these tokens be neglected, these maner of sycke∣nesses do folowe sone after, blared eyes, and hu∣mour lettinge the sight, cleftes in the eares, swel lynges in the necke full of matter, called the kin∣ges euyll, corruption of the brayne, poses, or reu∣mes, heuynesse of the heed, and tooth ache.

Whā the boulke is like to suffer any sickenes it is perceiued by these tokens, all the body is in a sweatte, the bulke most specially, the tonge wa xeth thicke, the spettyll is eyther salt or bitter, or cholerycke, the sides and shoulders do ake with∣out any occasyon, the pacient gapeth often, also there dothe happen moche wakynge, suffocati∣ons or lacke of breth, thirst after slepe, the mynd is vexed with heuinesse, also the brest and armes are verye coulde, and the handes do trembele.

Against these thyges this remedy may be proui∣ded. After a moderate soupper, assaye to vo∣mite without any medycine, vomyte is also pro∣fytable, whiche meate dothe folowe: He that in

such wyse wyll vomite, let hym eat hastyly small radysshe rootes, townkersis, rokat, synuy, or purslane, and drynke after it a greate quantitie of warme water, and prouoke hym sesfe to vo∣myte. He that setteth lyttell by the sayde to∣kēs, let hym feare these sycknesses folowing, the pleuresie, the syckenes of the lunges, melancolye or madnes, sharpe feuers, the fransye, the letar∣gie, inflamation with yexinge.

If any syckenesse be towarde the bealy, they maye be espied by these tokens, the bealye is fyrste wrapped together, and in it selfe is trou∣bled, all meates and drinkes do seeme bytter in tast, he feleth heuynesse in hys knees, a styffenes in hys loynes, a wearynesse in all hys body wit∣hout any occasiō, a slepynesse in his legges, with a lyttell feuer, whan thou feleste these tokens, mollyfie the bealy, not wyth medicyne, but wyth good order of diete, for it is best and most sure, to vse those thynges, wherof lyghtly may ensue none annoyāce, in the number of them are betes boyled in water of hony garlike sodden, ma∣lowes, sorel, mercury, and all thynges condite in hony. Al these do erpel the ordure of the bely: but if any of the sayd signes dothe more and more increase, the lyquour, wherein the sede of Car∣thamus, callid also Cnicus, is boyled, is a plesāt and sure medicine, small colewortes boyled in a good quātitie of water, the licour therof in mea∣sure▪ ii pintes, sauyng the thirde parte of a pint, wyth hon•• and salt beyng drunken, shall profite moch. Cicer, and the pulse called in la••••o ernum, in englishe I suppose chittes▪ in water drunk fasting, hath the same essect. To them, which set

littel by the said tokens, these diseases do sodēly happen, Fluxe of the bealy, bluddy fluxe, slyp∣pernes of the bowels, peynes in the guttes, ach in huckle bones the feuer terciane, the gowte, the apoplexie or palsey in the lymmes, hemoroides, aking of ioyntes.

Whan the bladder is towarde any sickenes, it is perceyued by these tokēs, fulnesse felt after lytel meat, brekyng winde downwarde and vp∣warde, palenesse of colour in al the body, heuy or troublous sleapes, the vrine pale, and passynge forth peynefully, swellynges about the coddes & priuy members. Whā these tokens appeare, thā is it expedient to hauy remedy of odoriferous thinges, whyche do expell vrine, whyche shall be done without any peryll with the rotes of fenell and persely stieped one or two dayes in good whyte wyne and to drinke therof fastinge euery mornyng thre ounces and two drāmes, wyth the water of wylde carettes, or clycampane, whyche of these is next at hande, euery of thē haue lyke effect. Also water, wherin the peasyn called in latyne Ciceres, are stieped, beynge drunke wyth wyne, is lyke cōmodiouse: he that neglecteth the sayde tokēs, let him loke for these syckenesses fo lowynge, the dropsy, the greatnes of the splene, griefe in the lyuer, the stone, ache of the backe, or peynes in the raynes, the difficultie of vrine, ful∣nes of the bely. In al these thinges that we haue spokē of, we shal gyue to child••ē most easy medi cines, to mē those, which be strōger in workyng.

This diete of Diocles, althought at this time it semeth not moste pleasaunt, nor accordynge to the practise nowe vsed, yet beynge tempred with

that, which I haue before remēbred, some thyng maye be founde in it, which beinge experienced, maye be as commodious for the helth of mans body, as that diete, which is more curyous or pleasaunt.

¶ Of them in wose stomakes meat is corrupted. Cap. 11.

THey in whom customably meat is corrup¦ted, let them afore that they eat any meat assaye to vomite, drynkynge swete wine, absteine from meat, that ingender botches inflāmations, fumous ructuations or vapours, and take suche as noryshe good iuyce, & chose them out, which do molyfy the bely, & at sondry tymes take them. It is also good to take tem∣peratly that which lowseth the bely, as the me∣dicyne called picra, and to absteyne from suche thinges, wherby yll iuyre is gathered, & do in∣gender syckenesses, harde to be cured or neuer, as goutes, boneache, peynes of the raynes &c.

¶ Of the vertue of meates. Cap. 12.

HE that is studious about the cōseruation of healthe, he nedeth to knowe the vertue * 1.5 of meates. The meat whiche hath vertue to extenuate, or make humours subtylle, it openeth the poores, and bryngeth forthe that whych is faste in the fleshe, it maketh that whi∣che is clammye, subtylle, & doeth extenuate, or relent that which is fatte, it bringeth forthe that which abideth long in the bealy, but that which is eaten, is a superfluitie watry & coleryke, and at length maketh melancolike bloud. Wherfore

moche vsinge of them is prohibited, specially to them, that are colerike, & only serueth for them that ar replete with fleume, crude or vndigested humours, clammi or fatte. The diete of fattinge thinges, dothe nourish aboundantly, so that the stomake & lyuer do digest well: meate of good iuice, maketh good bloud, but yet it stoppeth the lyuer & splene. These do they, whiche make fat humours onely, as the poulse callid Lenticula, & they that are slimy like malowes, some do make fat humors, & be also slimy, as fishes with hard shelles. Finally the diete, whiche doth extenuate & make leane, is more sure for kepyng of helth, than that, whiche fatteth moch. Norishing mea∣tes wold be therfor moderateli vsed, whan a mā perceyueth hym selfe to haue nede therof, it may be most sureli vsed of them that be exercised tem¦porately, & can slepe whan they lust. They that can not slepe by reasō of exercise, lette theim es∣chewe fattinge meates, lette none ydelle persone attempte to vse theim. In the preseruation of helth, sluggardy is the greattest mischiefe. Lyke as the temperate mouing is good, so is the meat which betwene thycke & thynne, is to mannes helth most cōuenient, which ingendreth bloude, according to the competent cōstitution of mans body, & therfore is it to be chifly vsed. Meate of yll iuyce is alway noiful, wherfor it ought to be eschewed. Likewise the varietie of meates is to be obserued diligently, for it is a great thinge to couple wel togither thinges of cōtrarie vertues. for yf they be not well digested, that whiche is receyued, may brynge displeasure.

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¶ A diete preseruatiue in the tyme of pestilenee. Capitulo. xiii.

THe bodies most apte to be infected, are spe¦cially sanguine, next colerike than fleuma∣tike laste melancolyke, for in them the hu∣mour beyng colde and drie. is moste vnapt to receyue putrifaction, hauynge also strayte passages, by the whyche venim must passe. The * 1.6 diete cōuenient for that tyme is to abstein from meres inflaming and opening the pores also frō the heat of the sōne, from to moch heate of fire, or garmenus, from very hot herbes, and moche vse of tart thinges, except onions and cikory, or radishe with vineger for they do resist agaynste venim, from wine very furnishe, exercise inconti∣nent after meales, frō swetting, from all thing is that wyll cause oppilations and putrifaction, frō thinges hot and moist, where moisture hath the dominion in degree, specially being not suffi∣ciently boiled: also from milke, except it be in a littel quātite, and that with a litel sugar. Frutis and herbes cold and dry, and ther wyth soure or somwhat bitter, are not prohibited. If ye eate figges, grapes, or swete cheries, eate after them of an orenge wyth salt. If ye eate thinges colde and moyst, as cucūbers, melones, fyshe soft and freshe, or damsyns, eate by and by after some fe∣nell, and orenge wyth salt, drinkinge therwyth a draughte of good wyne. Beware of musherons, moch purslane, gourdis, and all other thynges, whych wyll sone putrifie: not wythstandynge, I wyll not forbyd eatynge of lettyse, wyth a fewe myntes, or myxt wyth cynamom. All thynges sowre ar cōmended, as wel in diete cōseruatiue,

as in that whyche is curatiue or healeth, excepte where there is straytnesse of the breste, or weake¦nes of the stomack, than oughte they to be tem, pred wyth sugar salt, almond milke, cynamom, pepper, fenell, saffron, egges / and some thynge that is fatte or vnctuous. Capers ar good to be vsed wyth vineger. Chese very fatte and salt / is not commended / no more is colewortes / or any kynde of pulse / excepte chittes: greate peason / rapes / nor spynache is good. Also there be for∣boden rokat and mustard / moche wyne and eg∣ges / excepte they be eaten wyth sorell sauce / vy∣neger / or iuyce of orenges: persely and also par∣snepes be good. newe wynes be noyfull / let the meate be somewhat more than drinke. but yet susteyn not to moche hunger nor thyrst. beware of lechery / of a clowdy wether and close / eschew moche resorte or thronge of people / wyndes com mynge from fēnes or mores / from slepe at none: vse with your meate this poulder / sāders redde / halfe an ounce / cynamom thre drammes and a halfe / saffron halfe a dramme. After your meate / eate a lyttell of coriander sede / welle prepared. In the mornynge / at a temperate fyre kembe your herd backwarde / clense your body and heed of all superfluities: vse also moderate fri∣casies / wyth swete perfumes / and odours / washe oftentimes your face and handes with pure vy∣neger mixt with rosewater. In cold wether mixt it with myntes / baulme / rue / or myrtes / and some tyme cloues. In hotte sommer wyth roses or vio lettes. Aboue all thynges vse to take white wine good / white vyneger rosette / water of roses / in e∣qual porciōs / put ther vnto a littell seruale / or of

the rynde of a citron, and drynke therof a lyttell and oftentymes washe therwith your handes and visage.

Medicynes preseruatyue agaynste the pesti∣lence, whiche be alwaye most ready, are these, a fygge with rue, and a wall nutte eaten fastyng, also triakle, or mithridate, to old men a dramme weyghte, to yonge men halfe a dramme, or a scruple dissolued in vineger and rose water, or in water of tormentyll, seabiose or balme, yf the plage be in sommer: yf it be in wynter, put to the waters some whyte wyne. Also the pylles called comonly. Pillule Rasis, but in dede they were inuented by Rufus are very excellent, specially yf the al••••, whiche i•• it, be washed, and thervn∣to added a lyttell Bolus armenus, & terra sigil∣lata. And yf the person be of hotte completion, a quantitie of sorell sede, and red corall, this con¦fectioned with syrope of citrons, in colde com∣plexions or to old men with wine, vse them eue∣ry thyrde daye one pille at a tyme, thre houres or foure afore dyner or supper. If ye take triakle or Mithridate, absteyne from meate at the leaste syx houres after. A pece of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of setuall, borne in the mouth preserueth, from infection. In lykewyse doth sorell chewed fastyng, and the iuyce sucked downe. To poore men, Marsilius was wont to grue a toste of bread steped in vi∣neger, with a piece of an onyon or rewe. Al thyn∣ges whiche be cordiall, that is to saye, which do in any wyse comforte the barte, do resyste pesti∣lence, vehement anger, or heuinesse, be very per∣niciouse. Other more exquisite and costly preser∣uatyues, I purposely passe ouer, whiche Mar∣silius,

and othre phisitions, do wryte of abun∣dantly, for as moche as I desyre to be in this warke compendiouse. One thynge I hadde al∣moste forgotten, that there is no better preserua∣tyue, than to flee frome the place corrupted, be∣tyme and farre of, and to let none approche you, that hath made theyr abode, where the plage is feruent. More ouer receyue not into your house any stuffe, that commeth out of a house, wherin any person hath ben infected. For it hath bene sene, that such stuffe lyenge in a cofer shutte by the space of two yeres, after that the coffer hath ben opened, they whiche haue stande nygh to it, haue ben infected, and sone after haue died. But there I alwaye excepte the powre of god, which is wonderfull, and also mercifull, aboue mans reason or coūsell, preseruyng or strykyng whom, whan, and where it shall lyke his maiestie, to whom be glorye and prayse euerlastynge. Amen.

¶ Thus make I an ende of this treatise, de∣syrynge them that shall take profyte therby, to defende it agaynste enuyous dysdayn, on whom I haue set the aduēture for the loue that I bare to my countrey: requyrynge all honest phisitions to remember, that the intent to my labour was that men and women redynge this warke, and obseruynge the counsayles therin, shulde adapte therby their bodyes, to receyue more sure reme∣dye by the medicines prepared by good phisiti∣ons in daūgerous sykenesses, they kepyng good dyet, and infourmynge dilygently the same phi∣sitions, of the maner of theyr affectes, passyōs, and sensyble tokens. And so shall the noble and most necessarye science of phisicke, with the mi∣nisters

therof / escape the sclaunder / whyche they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of longe tyme susteyned / and accordynge to the precepte of the wyse man / be worthely ho∣noured / for asmoche as the hyghest god dyd crea¦te the phisition / for mans necessitie. And of the earth created medicine / and the wyse man shall not abhorre it. Thus fare ye well gentyl reders / and forget me not wyth your good reporte / and praye to God that I be neuer wars occupyed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Galen. de ••enda sa. ••b. 5.
• * 1.2

  A〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.3

  〈1 line〉〈1 line〉.
• * 1.4

  Actius.
• * 1.5

  ribasius 〈…〉〈…〉 medici 〈…〉〈…〉 fimp. 1.
• * 1.6

  lar••inus cinus.