The touchstone of complexions generallye appliable, expedient and profitable for all such, as be desirous & carefull of their bodylye health : contayning most easie rules & ready tokens, whereby euery one may perfectly try, and throughly know, as well the exacte state, habite, disposition, and constitution, of his owne body outwardly : as also the inclinations, affections, motions, & desires of his mynd inwardly / first written in Latine, by Leuine Lemnie ; and now Englished by Thomas Newton.

¶Of the state and disposition of a hoate and dry body: with a Discourse of the nature, condition, maners, and inclination of a Cholericke person. The v. Chapter.

FOrsomuch as among the outward things of Nature, there is nothing of any longe conti∣nuaunce and stability, neither that long keepeth it selfe at any certayne state and vigour, but all subiect to decay, alteration, and case worse and worse: truly the state of mankinde doth specially and more then anye other, suffer sundry alterati∣ons, and is subiecte to great chaunge and muta∣bility. Thus, is a Hoate and Moyst Complexi∣on, in processe and tract of time, brought into a state Hoat and Drye, For, Heate by litle and litle

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both slyly and closely wast and consume naturall Humour, and bringeth all the body into drynesse: which quality for prolongation and lengtheninge of lyfe, is the greatest ennemy that can bee. For as the flame in a Torche or Taper feedeth vpon the combustible matter thereof, and is therewith nourished, which being all wasted and consumed, the same flame also quencheth and no longer bur∣neth: so likewyse natiue heate by little and little weareth away, and diminisheth the iuyce & moy∣sture, wherewith it is nourished, and finally brin∣geth the cause of destruction both to it self, and to the whole body beside.

Nowe, that constitution of body, which consi∣steth of a hoate and dry qualitye and thereof hath his name, hauinge warme Humour throughe these qualities encreased, maketh and consti∣tuteth a Cholericke man, by reason of the greate stoare of Choler which is in him: of which Hu∣mour there be two sortes and differences: the one natural, the other besyde nature. Natural Cho∣ler is the excrement of bloud concoct, bitter in sa∣uour, and in colour and effect fyerie. When the heate of the Lyuer is moderate, then is it yealow and shyninge: but when this viscositye is ouer∣much enkindled, then doth Choler also boyle w^t heate, and is of colour darcke, Yelowish, like vn∣to Pruse Bier, called in Dutche Iopen Bier, or like vnto Oyle or melted Butter, when it is bur∣ned, and with much frying becommeth blackishe of colour: whereby it commeth to passe that the

colour before Yelowe, chaungeth and is turned into a sadde blacke: which sometime apparaunt∣ly vttereth and sheweth it selfe in the vtter parte of the skinne, whensoeuer this Cholerique Hu∣mour diffuseth and disperseth it selfe into the same skinne.

Choler hath in the body two offices: for parte of it being mixed wyth the bloud, passeth into the Veynes, to make the same more conuenientlye to penetrate into euery one of the narow passages, & to bee conueighed to such members as requyre & haue neede of the nourishment of Choler. The other part, is sente to the bladder of the Gall, an∣nexed and tyed to the nether ende of the Lyuer, wherein the wonderfull prouidence of Gods Al∣mighty handyworke wel appeareth, in y^•, he hath appointed the same Entraile, whereunto he hath geeuen an admyrable vertue to attract and helpe digestion, to be also a receyuer and Receptorye of superfluous and vnprofitable Humour: to then∣tent no harme or inconuenience should thereby in any wise happen to the other members.

For Choler is of that nature y^• yeldeth out a fie∣ry force, whose motion (as it were a fier brande) stirreth vp and incēseth our minds to hasty moo∣des and furious rages. And for this cause An∣gre is defined to be a heate and certaine boylinge of the Bloud aboute the Heart, wherewith the Braine also beinge excyted by Choler, is set in a heate and testines, desyrous of reueng, whensoe∣uer any iniury is offered. And to the lower parts

prouoke and irrite the Guttes and Bowelles to auoyde superfluous excrementes: For which purpose, Natures prouidence hath deuised and framed sundry passages needeful for y^• purginge, conueighaunce and euacuation of all such super∣fluous Humours: to witte, the Kidneyes and the Vryne Pypes, the empty or fasting Gutte called Intestinum Ieiunum (which through y^e sowrenes of Choler flowinge into it, continuallye dryueth out the Excrements,) the Bladder, Eares, and Pores, appointed for the auoydaunce and expul∣sion of sweate. And in the most parte of these, if obstructions shoulde happen, all the whole fylthy masse of noysome Humour, is thereby kept with∣in the body, and then geeueth violente assaulte to some of the principall partes. So when the bagge or Bladder of the Gall or Receptacle of Choler, is not able to exonerate it selfe of that baggage, drosse and superfluity, which it drewe from the Lyuer: it emptyeth and casteth it eyther into the Uentricle, or els into the holownesse of the Lyuer. And thus it commeth to passe, that Choler being diffused and spred ouer all the bo∣dy, imperteth both his qualitye and colour to the Bloud.

Hereof commeth the Iaundice (named Mor∣bus Regius, for y^•, it requyreth a moste exquisite dict, and Princelike fare) which maketh all the body Yelowe as a Kytes foote, and coloured like Saffron or as Syluer, that is stroaked ouer w^t Gold.

And if the small and slender Gutts be therewith teinted, it putteth a man to intollerable torment & payne. This passion is called Iliaca Passio, the wrynginge of the Gutts, and also Conuoluulum, for that, the Guttes do seeme to puckar and crū∣ple together like the string of an Harpe, or any o∣ther Instrument.

This disease commeth either of an inflamma∣tion, or of costyuenes, when the ordure is drye & hard parched, and no sufficiente stoare of Chole∣rique Humour to expel & scowre awaye the Ex∣crements. So if the vpper part of the Gutt be affected, the meate is caste vp: if the neither, or∣dure auoydeth at the mouthe: by reason that the Tuell or foundment is so closely shut, that not so much as a poore fyest can passe or get out thence. Manye affects besyde, doth Choler engender, as Tertian and burning Agues, when as it putre∣fyeth without the Veynes, which because they be largely and diligently set out in sundry Boo∣kes of Phisicke, by many & sundry learned Phi∣sitians published, I thincke it best here to sur∣ceasse from anye further recitall and declaration thereof.

But I purpose now briefly by the way to shew the nature and cōditions of a Hoat and dry Cō∣plexion, & then of a Cholericke person, & finallye by what markes and tokens they are to be per∣ceyued, discerned, found out and knowen. And first to speake of the outwarde signes: A body of this Constitution is hoat, slender, leane muscu∣lous,

of decēt bignesse and meane stature: and al∣though some be of growth and talnes but smal & litle: yet are they liuely, daper, quicke, ••ymble, and as litle Bees, euer stirrynge and whyskinge about, And

VVithin that litle Corps of theirs, right noble Stomackes haue.

Of colour they be brownish, aburne or somewhat ruddie, specially whē their angry moode is vp, or their bodyes chaufed and set in heate wyth exer∣cyse: & some be pale or yelowish. Their skinne rough: their arteries and Veynes bigge and ap∣paraunt, & not lying hidden vnder the flesh: theyr Vryne redde, saffron coloured, or bright yelowe according to the proportion of Choler and heate: Their Pulse quicke and swyft, as also their gate and maner of going is. Their tongue rolling at pleasure, ready and flowing in vtteraunce: theyr haire blacke: and in some, curled and naturallye fryzeled: when as the heate and drynesse is verye great and vehement: Neyther will the same tyll after long time waxe hoarie and gray, but yet by reason of drynesse soone waxe bald. Their Nose crooked like a Hawkes bill: and in manye, espe∣cially Germaynes, Polonians, Hungarians and Dutchmen, redde beardes, and bright yealowye hayre, which commeth of glitteringe cleare shy∣nynge Choler, that is not adusted wyth feruente heate. In the Lowe Countryes, those that be

redde hayred (are of the vulgar sorte) noted, as men subiecte to some naughtye disposition and lewd conditions, secretely harboroughing within their minds.

For as Themistocles his Tutour gaue iudg∣mente of no meane thinge, like to proue & come to passe in his sayd Scholer, but that hee woulde be eyther a singuler staye and ornamente to hys Countrye, or els some notable plague and de∣trimente to the same: so also the Belgiana, by a common and vsuall by worde among them, saye, that at the hands of such persons, eyther thinges most excellent, or els most villanous, are to bee expected and hoped for. Furthermore in their daylye speache they vse this as a common Pro∣uerbe amonge them, Rooden baert selden goedt oft van goeden aerdt, Which is as much to say, y^• Redde bearded men are seldome of anye good disposition: for that, in the whole course of theyr lyfe, maners, conuersation, dealinges, byinge, sel∣ling, & bartering, they seeke to vndermyne and o∣uereach others w^t slye shifts and craftye bargay∣nes, euidētly arguyng, what cūning dealing lur∣keth w^tin them to entrappe and deceiue other mē.

Which disposition and inclination, as I can not deny but is found true in verye many of that Constitution, for wante of vertuous bringinge vp, and laudable institution: So againe, do I know many, hauing such coloured Beards, whose commendable qualities, and rare ver∣tues haue aduaunced them to Honourable

roumes and dignityes. For euen in Princes Courts, in Assēblies of Nobles, Peeres, & Ma∣gistrats, amonge honest substantial Trafiquers, and namely of those that dwell Northernely, wee see very manye of tryed Vertue, & singuler wise∣dome, right worthely wyth integritye & vpright∣nes admynistringe their Publique charges and functions wherein they be placed.

Now, whereas some haskerdly Peizaunts, & rascall persons, hauinge such coloured beards, be pratlers and praters, in keeping counsell, as close as a Syeue, settinge all vppon sixe and se∣uen, without any regard or consideration of anye thinge, Dingthryftes and Spendalles, the same do I impute to lewde education, which draweth the procliuity of their Nature to vntoward and pieuish maners. For hereof it cōmeth, that such persons be found to be vnconstant, crafty, deceit∣full, suttle, wylie, cogginge, turning the cat in the panne, full of leigier de mayne, & so fickle of word and deede, that a man may not wel & safely deale wyth them nor truste them, as persons in whom there is no more holde then is of a wet Eele by y^• ••ayle, and in anye bargayne or dealing be it neuer so intricate and cumbersome, can fynde meanes to slyp the coller and wyende themselues oute of daunger. Wherevnto if other imperfections & defectes of the bodye be added, they argue yet a worse Nature & more geeuen to mischiefe: wher∣vppon the Poet Martiall very aptly sayth:

Blacke hayrde, short footed, purblynde eke and Beard all ouer redde: Take such a one in doing good, and strike me of his heede.

Which disposition is rooted in them, partlye throughe the influence of the Planetes, viz. of the Sunne and Mercury, & partly (which I rather take to be the chiefe and speciall cause) throughe thynnes of Cholerique Humour and of vncleane Spyrits, which being enduedwith a subtile heat, pricketh a styrreth them forwarde to put in prac∣tyse such kinde of pranckes and Pageauntes. Furthermore amōg these kinde of persons, there be some diuersly disposed, and of sundry conditi∣ons, wranglers, busye medlers in other mens matters, yallers, hoat as a toast, Choplogicks, & pratlers, wyth tongue at wil, and are as Iuue∣nall fotlie sayth:

Of dapper vvit and desperate bolde, fyne phrasde vvith galant grace, More eloquent then Isaeus, for euery time and cace. Eche person can they aptly play, at ech Art can they ame, At Grammer, Rhetricke Geometry, Paynting, and for the game. At soothsaying, and cunningly vppon a Roape to daunce,

At Phisicke, Magicke, rype are they, and free of euery Haunce,

Such commonlye are Dizardes, Gesturers, Stage players, Iugglers, Tumblers and Ro∣gish pedlers, ydly raunging about the Country, Iangling pratlers, Fortuile tellers, mynstreis & such other lyke busye bragginge Counterfeictes, looking bigge vpon the matter, and in theyr ma∣ner of gate, hands, coūtenaunce, eyes and speach, ful of gestures, impudently presumyng to shuffle themselues into euery companye and place of as∣sembly, hauing an Oare in euery mans Boate, and entermedling in other mens matters, wher∣in they haue nothing to deale. In Sleepe, ve∣ry vnquiet, leaping sometime out of their bedds, because their Spyrits be very hoat, which incyte & awake thē vp (euen beyng a sleepe) to motion & walking about. For Choler frameth and fashi∣oneth the mynds of men many wayes, producing and causynge in them diuers maners, phansyes, delightes and inclynations. And hereuppon it happeneth that whosoeuer is of a hoate and drye Constitution, & reckened in the number of Cho∣lericke men, is naturally fierce, arrogante, impe∣rious, stately vntractable and vnruly:

Quicke, testy, not entreatable. of stomacke very stoute:

Not thinking Lavves vvere for them made, but fight and blade it out. This is my vvill, this is my hest, thus shall it be, I say, Thus I commaunde, my vvill in steede of reason beareth svvay.

But as hee is by Nature verye testye and soone angry, so is his Cholerique moode soone alayed and pacifyed.

Nowe, sythens besyde yealowe Choler which onely is called Naturall, there be dyuers other differences thereof also, wee muste orderlye en∣treate as occasion falleth out, of euery one parti∣culerly.

First of Yelowe Choler is engendred Pale, or of the colour of a Pomecytron, meane betwene greene and yelowyshe. It beareth chiefe swaye at the beginninge of the Sprynge, in yonge men and bodyes not yet come to their full growth, when as freshe Bloude newlye sprowteth in theyr Bodyes. Whereuppon, that Age speci∣allye at this tyme of the yeare is muche subiecte to Tertian Agewes, namelye if this Humoure throughe obstruction do putrefye, and beynge scattered withoute the Veynes, happen to bee enflamed. Muche lyke whereunto is the

Bastard Tertian: so called, for that, it is engen∣dred not altogether of Yelowe Choler, but hath some part of Phlegme also ioyned wyth it. For Burning Agewes do proceede and be enkindled of redde Choler, putrefyinge and rotting within the Veynes, which bringe a man into ydle talke, Phrenste and rauing. For they that be herewith affected conceyue in theyr myndes certayne fonde and absurde imaginations, thinking themselues to see some tertible apparitiōs and sights, wher∣by in the nights they be greatly troubled in their sleepes and sore affrighted.

Tost and turmoylde vvith dreadfull dreames, and grysly griepes by night, Vext vvith vaine terrours in their Sleepe, appearing to their sight.

They dreame of fyer and burning of houses & Townes, and thincke all the worlde to be in an vprore and hurly burlye, killinge and sleying one an other: and some of these phantasticall imagi∣nations sometime happen to a man wythout any Agewe, when as the fumosity of Choler stryketh vp into the Brayne. Which if they happen of a∣ny longe continuaunce to disturbe the bodye and mynde, it shalbe most expedient to take an other order of diet, and foorthwyth to purge Choler by vomyte, sweate, and euacuation by Siege, which may be conueniently done wyth Radix Pontica, and such things as prouoke Vryne, as these

Herbes: Alkakengie, Sperage, Gardeyne Pars∣lye, Anyse seede, and Fenell seede: forbearyng all hoate, fat and sweete meates, which are very apte to be turned into Choler, excepting onelye Rey∣sons & Liquirice: and onely to eate such thinges as are of vertue to qualefye and alay the heate of Bloud.

And specially Sleepe must be prouoked with Lactuce and other salet herbes, that do humecte and refresh the Brayne and all other parts of the body. For albeit to hoat and dry complexions, and all Cholericke persons many things be both hurtful and pernicious, yet is nothing more noy∣some and preiudiciall then vnseasonable labour, watch, long forbearing of victuals, fumish anger and testynesse, Venus and immoderate company of Women. For euery of these doth waste and consume the strength and powers of Nature: neyther may any thing be conueniently taken frō them that be drye and leane maye marye, they had rather neede to be franked and tenderlye fedde w^t delicate fare and deinty cheere, to restoare and mayneteyne them: then eyther to be skanted, or to take that which wasteth nature. For es Cattle best lyketh in rāke pasture wherin is good grasse and water ynough: so do they of this Complexi∣on require exquisite fare. And euen as those Trees and Sprayes that do not burgen and ra∣mifye, would not be lopped nor cutte: so likewise wearish weakened bodyes (lacking many things in respect of a firme habite of bodely constitutiō)

oughte not in any parte to be weakened, neyther can well spare any thinge to be taken away from them.

But there is an other kinde of Choler, swar∣uing and degenerating from Natural order and meane, called of Phisitions Yolkie Choler, bo∣rowing his name of the yolke of an Egge, whose colour and consistencie, it doth neerelye resem∣ble. For by meanes of his excessiue heate it is thickishe, and of colour f••ery, and verye yelowe: which if it should happen to putrefye and bee en∣flamed, it breedeth Agues most ardente and bur∣ning. Therefore forsomuch as this kinde of Choler is shrunke and gone from mediocritye, it shalbe expedient to frame a cleane contrary diet, and to ensue an other maner of order, for the sub∣duing and dryuing away of this straung quality. For if a man should still cheerish and tender it w^t his like nourishmentes, he should do nothing else but exasperate the distemperaunce, & encrease the tyranny therof, and make it more vehement.

There is also an other kinde of Choler, cal∣led Leekish, so named because it is as grene as a Leeke, which is bred and engendred in the Sto∣macke, through naughty and corrupte iuyce, & of certain grosse potherbes: of which sort, are Gar∣licke, Leekes, Onyons, Cresses, Rocket, Cole∣wortes, Betes, Cheruyle. For when as Nature is not able to subdue and mayster these and suche like nourishmēts, they be tourned into a Leekish or greene Choler, which being sometime parbra∣ked

and cast vp by vomyte, leaue in the tongue & Chawes, a certayne bitter relice and sharpe sa∣uour, insomuch that w^t other sweete licour it is hard to be gotten away and abolished. Also this noysome Humour sometime is engendred in the Lyuer and Veynes, by meanes of some greeuous sicknes, whē as yolkie coloured Choler is adust with vehement inflammation of straunge heate, which to vomyte vp by perbraking, Hippocrates affirmeth to be most daungerous.

Out of this proceedeth yet an other excremēt, worse then any of the rest, called (of a likenes that it hath with rusty brasse) Rusty or Brassie Cho∣ler, which is engēdred of Leekish or greene Cho∣ler vehemently adust. For when the humidity is with intensed heate excocted, it becommeth dry & resembleth the rust of Brasse: which thinge wee may plainly perceiue by hoat glowing things, ex∣tremely burnt in the fyer, whereunto the nature of Choler maye verye aptly be compared. For the force and vertue of fier, chaungeth the wood, first into burning coales, then into blacke coales, and last of all, when the fyer hath quite consumed all, and heate is slaked, into Ashes. So likewyse in the body of mankinde, Choler is first of saffrō colour, then (as heat encreaseth) Leekishe, some∣what contrary to nature: next Brassie or rustie, & last of al, blewish or skie colour, like vnto Wadde an Herbe that Fullers and Dyers vse in colou∣ring and dying their clothes, which last of all is tourned into perfect black Choler or Melācholy.

All these sortes of Choler, endued wyth viru∣lent and poysonous qualityes, infecte the mynde wyth lewde conditions, and the body wyth loath∣some diseases, whereof many be of such malig∣naunt nature, that hardly wil be cured: as eating Cankers, corrodinge vlcers, runninge pockes, loathsome tettars or ryngwormes in the face, Morphew, the Carbuncle, wyeld fier or S. An∣tonies fier, Herpes, the eating & deuouring Vl∣cer called Estiomenus, and of Courtiers (who commonly more then others are thereto subiect) named the Wolfe: for it exulcerateth the skinne, and eateth the fleshe to the very boanes, rottinge and putrefyinge the same, depryuing the member of lyfe, and from feeling of any paine, besyde ma∣ny other loathsome and cōtagious diseases, pro∣ceeding and sprynging out of the common syncke and concurrencye of these Humours, in somuch that a man in this case caryeth about wyth hym nothing els, but a stinkinge rotten and corrupte Carkasse:

And loathsom lymms, replete vvith mattry fylth.

Notes

• All thinges subiect to chaunge.
• A Chole∣rick man.
• Choler na∣tural and be¦syde nature.
• The office of Choler.
• Anger what it is.
• By what par¦tes of the body Cho∣ler is pur∣ged.
• Iaundice.
• Wringynge of the small Gutts.
• Notes wher¦by to know a hoate and dry Cōplex∣ion.
• Virg. li. 4 Georg.
• Yealow hayre.
• Redde beards.
• Nature of Themistos cles.
• Red beard•• argueth not alwayes an ill disposed person.
• Wylie Fox∣es.
• Lib. 6.
• Sat. 3.
• Horat. in Art. Poet.
• Iuuen. Sat. 6.
• Pale or Ci∣trine Choler
• Tertian Agues.
• Bur••ing A∣ge••es.
• Lucan. lib. 7.
• Cholericke folkes haue many dread full and ter∣rible Drea∣mes.
• Howe to purge Cho∣ler.
• Slepe whole som & good for Chole∣ricke folke.
• Yolkie Cho¦ler.
• Leekish or greeue Cho¦ler.
• Lib. 2. prae¦dict. ca. 39
• Rustie or Brassie Cho¦ler.
• The Wolfe 〈◊〉〈◊〉, disease.
• Virg. AE∣neid. 1.