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 a colde and moyst Complexion: which setteth out and declareth the conditi∣on, state and nature of persons Phlegmaticke. The iij. Chapter.

NExt after the Hoate & moyst Constitution, order requyreth to describe and set oute the Cold & moyst Temperature, wherein reigneth & aboundeth Phlegme: whereof (after bloude) no small porcion is diffused into euery part of the body. And this Humour draweth somewhat neere to the nature of Bloude, and is in affinitye with it, both in respecte of essence, and society of their conceptoryes. For it is (as it were) a cer∣tayne Bloud vnconcoct,* 1.1 or a rudimente and first beginning of Bloud yet vnperfect, & not exactly laboured: a resēblaunce, shew, or paterne where∣of, we may well behold in Muste or new Wyne, whyle it is yet hoate, and newly taken & wrin∣ged out of the Presse.* 1.2 For (as Galene righte learnedly noteth) the subtyle and ayrte part of the Wyne (which is y^e some or spurging therof) boy¦leth vp to the toppe, and vnderneath, is an vnsa∣uery Humour, in relyce like to y^e nature of swee∣tishe water, which being excocte, settled, cleansed and fyned from the dregges, obteyneth and is broughte to the nature of pure and good Wyne.

And albeit Phlegme be whytishe, and haue no rednesse in it at all, yet being excoct, and the cold∣nes thereof taken away and subdued by the force and efficacie of heate, it is reduced and broughte into a ruddie & fresh coloured licour. And euē as naturall Phlegme (which participateth w^t a cer∣taine sweetenes) is through heate conuerted and wrought into Bloud and redde colour: so like∣wyse Bloud in the Dugges or Teates,* 1.3 partly of the nature of the place where it resteth, and part∣ly of the heate of the heart (neere vnto whom the Pappes are placed) is broughte and turned into Mylke, whyte and gaye coloured. For this cause, some (as superstitious & Phylosophicall as Pythagoras) abstayned, not onely from eating of flesh,* 1.4 but also from Egges and Mylk, because they reckened and accompted the same no other then liquide flesh, because the on•• being a certaine space couered and kepte warme by the naturall heate of the Henne sitting thereuppon, wil wyth∣in fewe dayes bring forth a Chicken: & the other (if the colour were chaunged) they accompted euen very bloud.

But this seemeth to many a thing very straūg and prodigious,* 1.5 that yonge: Children newlye borne (yea of the Male kinde) haue Mylke in the Nypples of theyr Dugges, runninge out eyther of it owne accord, or easely with the fingers 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sed & pressed out: which thing I my selfe vpon a certaine time fynding by experience & tryall true, aduysed the partyes at certayne times to 〈◊〉〈◊〉

and force it out, least otherwyse it should clotter, congele and curd together into an hard substāce. For this Mylkie licour in children, is engendred of the great and abundaunte alimente, which at those ••ssues, nypples and spoutes, by nature of the place, and helpe of the Heart (which is the founteyne and Welspryng of heate) is conuerted into Mylke. Now, the Mammiles or dugges (which be the Receptacles of Mylke) beinge spongie and hollow, and the glandulous or ker∣nellie flesh wythin them,* 1.6 bloudlesse and whyte, do transmute and alter y^t bloud which they receyue, into Mylke: for euery part of the body, altereth and chaungeth his nourishment, makynge it in colour, similare, lyke, and familiar to it selfe.

And thus, the generatiō of Mylk & Sperme is made of bloud throughlye and exactly concoc∣ted:* 1.7 and of the nature of those parts wherin they be laboured, become in colour (as wee see) white and mylkie.

Thus also the Lyeuer being of substaūce (as it were) coagulate bloud, engendreth a raddy li∣quide substaunce: the Lunges causeth a fomie & froathie licour: the commissures or setting toge∣ther of the Ioyntes, a glewish humour: y^e tōgue, spettle: the holow bones produce and bring forth white marowe, as the Ridge bone of the backe & the brayne do, where als thinges are exactlye la∣boured. For in Lambes and other yong cattel, the marow is not white but bloudy. Euery part therefore of the body worketh his humour like to

it selfe, and transmuteth it into the nature, wher∣of it selfe is.

No man therfore ought to thincke it absurd∣ly spoken in sayinge and affyrminge Phlegme by the force and facultie of the Lyeuer to be altered and chaunged into Bloud. And this liquide & thinne humour in the bodyes of all Creatures is to purpose and vse, no lesse profitable then neces∣sary. For being conueighed euery way into the Veynes,* 1.8 it qualefyeth and alayeth the heate of Bloud & Choler: finally it maketh the Ioyntes nymble and styrringe, kepinge them from beinge stiffe and lumpish through drynesse: and last of al it nourisheth all Phlegmaticke members, and them continueth in lusty state.

And although there be commonly no certaine place assigned where Phlegne resteth,* 1.9 yet the greatest part is still in the Stomack or ventricle, wherin the meate is first boyled and altered into a thinne iuyce or liquide substaunce. For we see men that haue surcharged theyr Stomackes, in vomyting and perbraking, sometimes to cast vp great abundance of loathsome, clammie & tough Phlegme, or to scowre and euacuate the same through the guttes: those I meane that haue ex∣cessiuelye and ingluuiouslye surphetted eyther in eating or drinking. Whose heades (consequent∣ly) being filled wyth moystysh vapours, those fu∣mosities strykinge vpwarde as in a Stillatorie, grow into a thicke, fylthy, and sneuillie phlegme, whereby through•• coldnes of the brayne, the par∣ties

becommeth subiect and open to sundrye dis∣eases, as the Poze,* 1.10 Murre, Hoarsenes, Coughe, and many others, of which sort is the Rheume or distillation of humours from the heade, where∣with in the Lowe Countryes of Belgia both rich and poore, highe and low, in Wynter season are much troubled & fynde by experience to bee true, and yet they be people commonly healthy, and as sounde as a Bell.

In perfect Health, and throughly sound,* 1.11 But vvhen that Phlegme doth much abound.

Insomuch that I sometimes am dryuen into a wonder, to consyder how such abundance of fil∣thie humours shoulde rest in the head, which na∣ture one whyle at the mouth, an other whyle at y^e Nose and Throte expelleth and purgeth.

The head therfore and the Stomacke (name∣ly and much more then any of the other parts) are pestered with the excrement of Phlegme,* 1.12 special∣ly if a man vse to eate such meates as be cold and moyst, and discontinue exercyse, whereby it hap∣peneth that this humour being too crude is very hardly to be concocted, and brought into an hole∣some iuyce, profitable & auayleable for the body.

For it is a certayne vliginous moystishnes and superfluous excrement, which ought rather to be sent out and purged that waye which nature spe∣ciallye alloweth, and whereby most conuenientlye

she is wonte to exonerate herselfe. For as the o∣riginall of this inconuenience beginneth first at the Stomacke and afterward infesteth the heade (as we may plainly perceiue & obserue by Wyne copiouslye quaffed and swilled, which althoughe it descende downe into the Stomacke, yet doth it assayle and distemper the heade) it standeth vs therfore vpō, carefully to foresee y^• in those parts, as litle of this Phlegmaticke excrement as may bee, bee engendred: because the harme and incon∣uenience redoundeth to the generall harme and detrimente of the whole body.

And as it fareth in a Realme or Kingdome,* 1.13 in a Common wealth, in a Cruile Pollicie or Corporation, in anye Honourable householde or worshipfull Famylie: so likewyse in the Body of man, that disease of all others is moste daun∣gerous & ill, which taketh his oryginall begin∣ning at the heade and principall members. For the harme diffuseth and spreadeth it selfe into all the inferiour partes of the body, and them great∣ly damnifyeth. As (for more plainnesse) let e∣uery man take an example at any house which he enioyeth & hath in occupation. For euen as those houses that wil hold out neither wynde nor wea∣ther, be very vnholesome to dwell in, and a greate backfrend to health: or when the Ridges or Roo∣fes thereof bee ill tymbred and (for wante of good lookinge too) runneth in ruine, and taketh water as often as anye rayne falleth: So

lykewyse, as longe as the heade is distempered and affected wyth this baggage Phlegme, and distilling Humour, both it and the rest of the bo∣dy can neuer be in perfect health. For beinge it selfe of a cold and moyste nature, it quickly drin∣keth vp vapours out of a watrish stomack, & be∣yng thereby replete wyth humiditye, moysteneth likewyse,* 1.14 those partes that be vnder it: yea this distilling Phlegme is as noysome and greeuous to it as a brawling and scoulding wyfe is to a quiet man.* 1.15

For out of the heade continually do Humours distill and (lyke soote oute of a Chymney) fall downe into the Throate, Eares, Nose, Eyes, Breast and Lunges: wherupon happen tumors & swelling of the eyes, Bleyreyednesse, drynesse of sight, whyzzing and running in the eares, hard∣nesse of hearing, and sometime behinde the eares Impostumes,* 1.16 botches and wexekernelles, be∣syde many sortes moe: for the Instrumentes of the tongue be affected, the voyce hindered, yea sometime stopped that a man is not able to vtter out a plaine worde. The Syn••wes, Pellicles, Muscles, Wesantpype, and Veynes of y^e throte, called Iugulares, and the partes that serue to frame y^• voyce, beyng surcharged wyth toomuch Humour (as in dronkē persōsis manifestly to be seene) make the tongue vnperfecte, foltering and stammering, and all the members to reele and staggar, their words double and not intelligible, insomuch that at sometimes they bee not able to

speake one plaine word, nor in sēsible tearmes to declare their owne meaning.* 1.17 And thereby being by nature otherwise vnreadye and in vtteraunce staggering, and now also throughly whitteled & soaked in Wyne, theyr tongue doubleth, slamme∣reth and foltereth a great deale more: insomuche that they bring oute their wordes by stoppes and pauses, like thē that haue the hicket: & such per∣sons cannot speake softly and stillie, because their voyce commonly is stopped and kept back, which maketh them to force out their words y^e lowder. They must therefore earnestlye striue and accu∣stome themselues roundly and distinctly to deli∣uer out theyr wordes,* 1.18 for otherwyse their tongue through defaulte and imbecillitye, and lackynge stablenesse fayleth them, and furthereth them no∣thing in theyr pronunciation: but chatter & bab∣ble so obscurely, that no man can vnderstand any thynge of that they saye: For we see them to be scarce able to vtter euen a few woords wyth one streynable tenor and treatable vniformitie, but sometime slowly and dreamingly drawyng them oute: and sometime powryng oute by lumpes the same, as fast as the tongue can rolle.

The selfe same thinge which superfluitye and distemperaunce of drincke, bringeth vnto the haunters thereof, doth the dystillation of Hu∣mours and defluxion of Phlegme, bryng to them that be troubled with y^e Catarrhe, which (beside these) is accōpanyed also wyth sūdry other incō∣ueniences, to euery one of sharpe iudgement wel

knowen and easelye perceyued. For who so is disposed exactlye to syfte and searche oute the verye markes and tokens of a Cold and moyste Complexion,* 1.19 shall finde them (throughe abun∣daunce of that Humour and qualitye) to bee sleepie, lazye, slouthful, drowsie, heauie, lumpish and nothinge quicke at their busynesse: as they commonlye bee, which mynde nothinge else then gurmandyze and bellycheere, and vse seldome ex∣ercise.

Wee see also amonge Beastes, Fowles, and other Creatures both wyeld & tame,* 1.20 that such as vse litle or no exercise, but lurke still in hoales and Caues, and be pēt vp, and franked cowpes, are neither so holesome, neyther so sit for man to eate, as others, that are greatly exercysed and vse much styrryng. Such waxe (in deede) very fat, and grow bigger bodyed (I cannot deny) but the nourishmente which they geeue to the bodye, is somewhat vnholesome and excrementall: as a∣monge fyshes, Ecles and other slippery fyshes that lye stil myeringe themselues in mudde, v∣sing no exercise, styring or agitation of body.

And this is the cause why Eeeles being deade (contrary to the nature of all other fyshes) floate not aboue water,* 1.21 by reason that they feede vp∣pon muddie and standing water.

But that euery man maye throughly and per∣fectly know the state and cōdition of this Body, it must be painted oute in his righte colours, and

is to be descrybed by his owne proper indicati∣ons, markes,* 1.22 and tokens. All they therefore that are of this habite (if their Constitution be naturall and not accidentallye happeninge) are grosse, pursie and fatte bodyed: their stature not so tall as bigge set, and stronglye pitched, their skinne soft, white, and vnhayrie, their Muscles and Ueynes not appearing but lying inwardlye, insomuch that when occasion serueth to bee lette Bloud, the same Ueynes do not apparauntlye shewe oute themselues. The hayres of theyr head be eyther whyte or duskie blacke, or els of the colour of Barley strawe, which will not fall of, nor become balde, till after a longe time, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 but they soone waxe hoarye for wante of heate, and imbecillity of the member, which is not of ability to excoct the nutriment, into the vse and comely∣nes of Hayres.

For hoarynesse is (as it were) a certayne refuse vinewed baggage, of Phlegme putrefyed,* 1.23 or a fustie dank••shnesse vnder the skinne, wher∣of (throughe w••nte of heate) proceedeth hoa∣rynesse and whytenesse of the H••yres. Such a lyke hoarie Downe, or vinewed mouldynesse, wee see to bee in Loaues of Breade and Pyes, that bee somewhat longe kepte vnspente, and also in Vaultes,* 1.24 Arche Roofes, Syelynges, hoales and Cellers vnder the grounde, and other musty, fulsome, dark, fylthy, and stinking places. Their Pysse and Uryne whyte and verye little

or rather nothinge at all ruddie. Theyr Excre∣mentes; and Ordure, thinne and liquide: theyr Sleepe verye sounde, and longer then health re∣quireth, not without stoare of sundry Dreames, whereby (and not vainly or deceitfully) maye bee neerely coniectured and founde oute,* 1.25 of what dis∣position the body is, and what Humours there∣in chiefely reigne. For the causes and original beginninges of these thinges proceede oute of the body: which althoughe they be referrible to out∣ward causes, or to the actiōs and deuyses, which the mynde earnestly conceyueth, deliberateth and forecasteth in the daye time: yet is it easye y∣noughe for the learned and skilfull Physition to discusse the meaninges, and expounde the euen∣tes thereunto incident.

For, as concerning Dreames by Diuine mo∣tion sent into the mynde of man,* 1.26 & not depending vppon naturall causes) none is able to yeld anye certaine interpretation, wythout a speciall pryui∣ledge of Heauenlye inspyration. Thus,* 1.27 they that be of Cold and moyst Complexiō, in Drea∣mes imagine and thincke themselues dyuinge o∣uer head and eares in Water,* 1.28 or to be in Bathes & Baynes: which strayght wayes argueth great stoare of Phl••gme to fall out of the head, into the nape of their necke, Iawes, vocall Arterye and Lunges. Semblably, if they dreame of Hayle, Snow, Yse, storme & Rayne, it betokeneth abun∣dance of Phlegme, sometime thicke and grosse, sometime thinne and liquide.

If a man in his Dreame thincke himselfe to be styfeled and strangled, or his voyce stopped & taken from him, it argueth him to be subiecte and like ynough shortly to be troubled wyth y^e Squī∣zie, priuation of speach, murre, or finallye eyther the Drowsye sicknesse, or the Apoplexie.

In this sort (as Galene wytnesseth) there was a certayne man, which dreamed that one of his Legges was turned into a Stone: which man within a whyle after, throughe a colde Humoure that fell downe into it, was taken wyth the Pal∣sey.

Now, althoughe too scrupulous and curious obseruation of Dreames bee prohibited, yet is there no charge geeuen to the contrary, but that wee maye lawfullye search out the meaninges of all such as consiste wythin the compasse and rea∣son of thinges naturall, the Authour and con∣seruer whereof is God himselfe:* 1.29 so that wee do y^e same without anye superstitious vanity of Di∣uination, neyther therin fixinge any assured hope and trust, neyther terrifyed wyth any feare of the euentes thereof.

Whensoeuer therefore naturall Dreames do happen wherein be neyther mockeryes nor illu∣sions of mynde (for all these are banished & put to flight by reposing a firme and constant trust in God) they admonishe and put euerye man in re∣membraunce to looke wel to his health, and to a∣mooue and decline all such occasions and incon∣ueniences, as may eyther empayre and damnifye

health,* 1.30 or enforce any perturbatiōs of Dreames. For the Imaginations and phantasyes which in Sleepe be offered, and seene apparātly in Drea∣mes by night when a man is at rest to occurre & busye his mynde, are caused and styrred by va∣pours & fumes proceeding out of the humours & agitation of the Spyrite Animall: in some of which Dreames and Imaginations, the mynde renueth the memorie and thinketh vppon some busynesse and actions that fall for the daye, some plainly signifye the abundaunce of Humours, or els some earnest & greedy desyre to cōpasse some∣what, which we would very fayne bring to passe.

Hereupon they that are thyrstie, glut themsel∣ues and swill vp drincke abundantly, they that be hungry deuoure meate greedily and insaciablye. Thus lykewise, they whose Genitoryes and pri∣uie partes be swelled with stoare of excrementall Seede and spermatike Humour, or in the daye tyme did earnestly fixe their eyes and mynde vp∣pon anye beautifull and fayre yonge Woman,* 1.31 do in their Sleepe thinck themselues to enioy their desyred purpose, and throughe imaginatiue dea∣linge wyth her, defyle themselues wyth nightlye pollutions. For the Soule (when the body is in sounde Sleepe, and al the outwarde senses at rest) wythdrawinge it selfe into the innermoste partes of the body, perceyueth, vnderstandeth, & beholdeth those actiōs which y^• body is to do by day, and loke what things the body desyreth and longeth after, the same doth the Soule enioye as

presente by Imagination. Hereupon, I thincke were these Prouerbes first deuysed:* 1.32 The Dogge dreameth of bread, of raūging in the Fields, & of hunting. For what things soeuer, a man earnestly and exceedingly desyreth, or hath his mynde still running on, y^e same (being a Sleepe) hee thinketh and dreameth vpon in the night.

Whereunto it is like ynoughe that Esay the Prophete alluded, where hee sheweth that the counsayles and deuyses of the wicked shall come to noughte, and vanishe awaye like smoake & as Dreames seene by nighte:* 1.33 Euen as (sayth hee) a hungrye man Dreameth that hee is eatinge, and vvhen hee avvaketh is yet hungrye and emptie: And as a thristy man Dreameth that hee is drin∣kinge, and vvhen hee avvaketh, is yet faynte and thirstie: Euen so fareth it vvith them that gape and seeke after innocente Bloude to glutte their crueltie therevvith,* 1.34 for they shall misse theyr purpose like them that Dreame, and not ob∣teyne the thinges vvhich they earnestly desyre or thincke themselues sure to compasse & bring about.

Nowe,* 1.35 to satisfye them that are desyrous to knowe the inwarde notes and tokens of a Colde and moyste Complexion, and Phlegmaticke persons: I wyll heere by the waye set downe the same, & declare of what Nature, condition, ma∣ners, conuersation and order of lyfe they bee:

howe beit, there is no cause, whye anye man should hope to fynde in them of this constitution and plight, any stoare of excellēt, singuler, & rare gyftes, syth in them appeareth small quicknes of wit, smal worthynesse or excellency of mynd, smal sharpenes of iudgement & learning, small know∣ledge or skill in atchieuing and compassing mat∣ters: for that, the same with prudence and wyse∣dome cannot conueniently be brought about. For those that are numbred and referred into the or∣der of this Complexion, are persons of no verye sharpe and exact iudgement or (as the Prouerbe by interpretatiō soūdeth) Emūctae naris,* 1.36 fine wit∣ted: as (cōtrariwyse) they whose noses be stuffed with Phlegme & sneuil, are likewyse by y^e Pro∣uerbe tearmed Obesae naris, grosse witted, ap∣plying by Translation, the faulte from the bodye to the mynde. For as both theyr tallage, taste, smelling, and other obiectes of their Senses, bee blunte & grosse: so are they likewyse in mynde & witte dol••ish and dull, slouthfull and lumpish: fi∣nally neyther by nature neyther by vse, forecaste∣ful, sharp witted, nor craftie: by reason theyr na∣turall heate is languishyng and feeble, and drow∣ned in moyst quality and cold Humour: & there∣fore also their memory is very fayleable, oblyui∣ous, and nothing at all (in a manner) retentiue: Theyr speach (as likewyse their pulses & maner of gate) slow and soft.

But this in them specially deserueth commē∣dation, that they be gentle and quiet of nature,

not greatlye addicted to venerous daliaunce,* 1.37 not fumishe, testy or soone angred, being such as (al∣though they be thereto prouoked) wil not lightly chafe and fret: & to be short, not geeuen to fraude and subtilty, cogging and foysting, craft and cou∣sonage, wrangling and quarelling, as the Chole∣ricke are. And because commonlye they be as∣sayled with many and sundry diseases, for that they be geeuen to sit still, louing their ease and y∣dlenes, first they are to be enioyned and prescri∣bed a Diet that is hoat,* 1.38 wherof in the Discourse of the Cold Complexion and also of the Moyste, hath beene spoken abundantly: and next, they are to be perswaded & pricked forward to vse them∣selues to exercise.* 1.39 For sluggishnes and slouth (as witnesseth Celsus) dulleth the body, but la∣bour and exercise maketh it firme and lustye: the one bringeth Oldage before the time, the other maketh Adolescencie and youth to last long. And therefore stronger motions and exercyses are for these persons more requisite, least (otherwyse) the humour toomuch encrease, and heat quayle & be enfeebled.

Let them therfore vse in y^e mornyngs to walke abroade, and namely vp hilles and s••••epe places, when they be yet fasting & their stomacks empty: yea it shall not bee amysse to vse the same after meate, but these stirrings and bodely agitations must be done with a very soft pace: and those y^e be about mydday, swyfter and faster, (which pre∣cept

is expediēt for them that be hoate and moyst to obserue) but yet (as Galene sayth) not so faste and vehemente as they vse,* 1.40 when by occasion of some earneste busynesse they bee dryuen to make speede and hast. It shall be good also for them, to continue long fasting, and to vse sparing sup∣pers. For as all they y^t be in perfect health, may and ought at Supper to feede somewhat largely and (excepte custome be to the contrary) be allo∣wed to eate more fully and liberally: so againe, to them that be of this Complexion,* 1.41 a spareful and light supper is most fit and agreeable: because y^e brayne shall thereby be the lesse encumbred & dis∣quieted wyth fumes and exhalaciōs, in the night ascending and proceedinge out of the Stomacke. For these be they, that engender distillations and Catarrhes, out of whome spryngeth swarmes of many diseases. And that the same may the bet∣ter be auoyded and declyned, I will breefely set downe the differēces of this Phlegmatique Hu∣mour, what effect is thereby wroughte, and what diseases ensue aud grow thereuppon.

OF Phlegme there be foure sorts of differē∣ces or kinds:* 1.42 Sweete, or (if it be crude) vn∣sauoury, making mē drowsy and heauy, desyring to Sleepe more then nature requyreth: by reason that the Brayne which is a principall member, and the oryginal of all Senses, is moystned and made cold.

Sower, maketh hungry: For the mouth of the Ventricle or Stomake,* 1.43 endued wyth this Hu∣mour, is styrred vp to an appetite and desyre of meate: Saltish, maketh thyrstye and nippeth the Stomacke. Glassie, in toughnes and cold∣nesse passinge all the others, bryngeth loathsom∣nes and abhorryng of meate.

The myeldest and leaste hurtfull of all these,* 1.44 is the Sweete: which (after that concoction is once dispatched) is bettered and turned into the nature of Bloude: which yet (notwithstandinge) wanteth not his poyson and malignaunt nature, except all the inconuenience thereof be through∣ly by heate excocted. For it maketh loose, softe, and rysing tumours or blysters, whyte whythoute any rednesse, and other whealie breakinge out of Phlegme besyde, in the vtter parte of the skinne, as mattrye, skabbes, wheales, pushes, and pym∣ples in Women and yonge folkes, which some∣time breake out and are full of matter and fylthy corruption: but it causeth not great ytch nor heat, as the skabbednes which commeth of salte Phlegme or abundaunce of Choler doth, which is endued wyth a sharpe byting & brynyshe salt∣nes.

Sower Phlegme (in quality and effect resem∣bling & like vnto Melancholyke iuyce in cōtinu∣āce of time gathered into y^e stomack)* 1.45 is lesse cold then the Glassye, and more cold then the Sweete Phlegme. This doth pricke and byte the Sto∣macke, & wyth mordication annoyeth it: for being

endued with a sense most exquisite, it is offended wyth that Humour which is of sharpest quality: For the sauoure and relyce thereof is so tarte, ei∣gre and bytter, that if it chaunce to be perbraked and caste vp by vomite (as in Wynter and Au∣tumne seasons happeneth) it astonneth and brin∣geth out of tast, y^e tongue, the roofe of the mouth, y^e Chawes, and setteth the teeth on edge, no lesse then Veriuyce, or the iuyce of vnrype and sharpe grapes, called of the fyner sort of Physitiōs Om¦phacion, and of the common sorte Agresta: in so∣much that the relyce and tallage thereof will re∣mayne and be hardlye qualefyed, alayed or taken awaye. This kinde of Phlegme settled in the mouth of the Stomack or ventricle, and imper∣tinge vnto it, some porcion of his sowrnes and sharpenes, engendreth an insaciable lustinge to meate and (as wee saye) a doggish appetite, inci∣dent commonly to women wyth chyeld,* 1.46 about iii. monthes after their conception, speciallye if they be with child with a gyrle: who being in heat fee∣ble, and of strength faint and quaisie, it chaunceth that their natures be not wel able to cōcocte those Phlegmaticke humours: and thereuppon it is, that they haue such puelinge and squemishe sto∣macks, and be so much troubled wyth wambling and belching. For theyr chiefe desyre and special longing, being for sharpe and sower things: they greatly therby annoy their ventricle, & gather to∣gether many ill humours.

Not women onelye, but men also be subiecte

hereunto: for whom the best way is, to vse to eate meates of heating nature, and to drincke wyne of the purest and best sort. For if this Humoure should chaunce to putrefie within the bodye, it then engendreth the Ague Epiala (so called,* 1.47 be∣cause they that haue the same, be in body inward∣lye of greate heate and outwardlye stiffe with extreeme Colde:) for this Humour beinge en∣kindled and sette on heate, maye wel bee lyke∣ned to greene flame or as wet woode, which sen∣deth out nothīg but stoare of thick moyst smoak, by reason y^t moystnes letteth & hindereth the heat, y^t it cannot breake out: & they that haue this im∣pediment for the most part haue not onely altera∣tion and chaunge in their Complexion and co∣loure, but annoyaunce and inconueniēce also in their mynds.

Salte Phlegme (which hath some affynitie with Choler) is engendred of the commixtion of Choler,* 1.48 or of a saltishe or Whayie humiditye: or els of Phlegme putrefyed: the sharpenes where∣of beinge once enkindled, bryngeth not styffenes and colde, but a shyueringe and shakinge to the whole body. And among all y^e kinds of Phlegme none is worse nor more hurtful then is this.* 1.49 For in what part of the body soeuer it settleth, it bree∣deth and engendreth great dolours and painfull gryeues, and through the byting force that is in it, affecteth the members of the body with vlce∣rous lassitudes, it defourmeth and vglyfyeth the skinne wyth dry, skuruye, skalie, mangie, and fyl∣thye

eruptions or breaking oute, as Tettars, & Ringwormes, Leprosie, skurfe, ytche, skabbed∣nes &c. But if it be myxed wyth Melancholie & other naughty Humours, it bryngeth the skur∣uie Elephantiasis (which is the Hebrevves Le∣pry) y^e vlcerous Herpes, rūning Cankers, Frēch Pockes & manye diseases moe, which pitifully pearce & eate the flesh, euen vnto the hard boane.

Glassie Phlegme (so called,* 1.50 for that it resemb∣bleth and is like to moltē Glasse) is of al others the coldest, wherefore it is very hardly to be con∣cocted or brought into any holesom, familier and domesticall humour. It occupyeth and besiegeth for the most part, the Heade, stomack, & Entrai∣les, payning them with very greeuous and trou∣blesome discrasyes. For it pricketh, woundeth, teareth a pieces & tormēteth:* 1.51 And this Phlegme beynge glewyshe and clammye like Byrdlyme, or such as the stuffe is, whereof drinkinge Glasses be made, is so tough and lymie, that skantly will it be parted asūder: yea it cleaueth so fast to those narow conceptacles where it resteth, that nature stryuing and bickering wyth such a straunge and vncouth Humour, is dryuen to suffer greeuous payne and tormente, before she can be able cleane to banish away and ridde herselfe from it. Great is the inconueniēce, and sundrye and intollerable be the diseases & greeues caused therby: as name∣ly y^e Cholicke, wrynging of the Guttes, payne & gryeping of the Bowelles: difficultie and exco∣riation in auoyding naturall ordure: great lust & desire often to go to the stoole, wythout beinge a∣ble

to euacuate or auoyde any thinge at al, vnlesse peraduenture a smal quātity of glassy Phlegme, and fylthy baggage, and that not without greate labour and enforcement of nature.

For remedy and ease of which affects and all other greeues and gryepinge of like sort, my cu∣stome and vse is to amende and recure with no¦thing better then outwardly wyth fomentes, and inwardly by inections and Clysters,* 1.52 which skow¦reth and cleane washeth away al Phlegme before engrossed, clamped and gathered together. Here∣wyth are all those distemperaunces and annoy∣aunces of health in the lowest partes, withoute daunger of any Agew, qualifyed and holpen: vn∣lesse the payne be too outragious and vehement: for that, therein is neither putrefaction nor inflā∣matiō, and also for the ignobility of the member. But if this kind of Phlegme should assault any chiefe and pryncipall member, and besyde putre∣faction, grow into inflammation, it bringeth the Agues called Lipyrias: and in this case the Pa∣tiente feeleth in the innermost partes of his Bo∣welles, Cold,* 1.53 & in his vtter parts, Heate. For e∣uen as y^e heat of the Sunne melteth & dissolueth yse, snow and hayle, & turneth the same into flui∣ble & liquide water: so likewise doth the fits of an Agew cut asunder and liqueste grosse & clottered Phlegme: & thus it is seene, y^t in one and y^e same body there is both heat & cold felt & perceyued, at one & the selfe same time: like as appeareth in thē y^t sit by a fyer, hauīg wet & moyst cloths vpō their

backes, or in them that handle snowe or yce with their hands, whose members at one selfe same time and instant, feele both heat and cold.

But for that,* 1.54 the most part of mē be in Wyn∣ter, specially troubled wyth one kynde or other of Phlegme, it standeth them vppon diligentlye and by all meanes they can, to accustome themselues to hoate meates, and of the same to make exacte & perfecte digestion. For throughe cruditye and lacke of perfect concoction in the Stomacke, is engendred great abūdaunce of naughty baggage and hurtufll Phlegme,* 1.55 endaungeringe and eui∣dently damnifying (as much as any thing in the world els) health and welfare. Therefore all such thinges as be very Cold and Moyste, must in any wise bee eschued, as Sothernely wyndes, plaine and smooth fyshes, Wyeldings, Crabbs: and of herbs, Lactuce, Purselaine, Cucumbers, Melons, Gourds, Mushromes: or if any of these come in place to be eaten, let them be vsed wyth hoate sauces and condiments, and conuenient ex∣ercise, and such also as be of nature able to cutte and attenuate grosse and clammie Humours, to dispell wyndinesse, and suffer little or no Phleg∣maticke excrementall Humour at all to rest w^tin the body: for by these not onely the bodye, but the mynde also is caryed away, and by affections shrewdlye mysseledde.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Phlegm the matter of Bloud.
• * 1.2

  The myx∣ture of the Humours compared to wyne.
• * 1.3

  Mylke of Bloud.
• * 1.4

  The cause why Pytha goras Scho∣lers woulde eate no Mylke.
• * 1.5

  Mylke in the breastes of yonge Children.
• * 1.6

  Kernellie fleshe as in the dugges.
• * 1.7

  Euery parte of the body hath his se∣ueral vertue
• * 1.8

  The vse and effect of Phlegme.
• * 1.9

  The place where Phle¦gme, is.
• * 1.10

  Diseases {pro}∣ocedinge of Phlegme.
• * 1.11

  Hora. lib. 1. Epist. 1.
• * 1.12

  The he••d & Stomacke, the engen∣drers & cō∣ceptacles of Phlegme.
• * 1.13

  The harmes of a bodye, and of a Realm first beginne at the head.
• * 1.14

  Prou. 19. & 17.
• * 1.15

  A brawling wife is lyke the top of a house wher throughe it is euer drop¦ping.
• * 1.16

  Diseases {pro}∣ceedinge of Rewmes & Catarthes.
• * 1.17

  Drōken mē stammer & double in their speach
• * 1.18

  Stammere•••• cannot speake soft∣ly.
• * 1.19

  Nature of persōs Phle¦gmatike.
• * 1.20

  What Bea∣stes, fowles, & fishes be holesomest to eate.
• * 1.21

  A dead E••le floateth not aboue wa∣ter, & why.
• * 1.22

  Notes of a cold and moyst body
• * 1.23

  Whereof hoarie hay∣res come.
• * 1.24

  Hoaryne••••e in meates.
• * 1.25

  Dreames shewe and bewray the disposition, state & Cō∣plexion of the bodye.
• * 1.26

  Naturall Dreams in∣terpretable.
• * 1.27

  Diuine Dreames.
• * 1.28

  Dreames of the Phleg∣matick.
• * 1.29

  Leuit. 19. Deut. 13.
• * 1.30

  Wee maye not rashlye credite all Dreames.
• * 1.31

  Pollution & effluxion of Seede, howe it hapneth.
• * 1.32

  Canis panē somnians.
• * 1.33

  Cap. 29.
• * 1.34

  A place of Esay expo••¦ded.
• * 1.35

  Tokens of a colde and moyst com∣plexion.
• * 1.36

  Reason yel∣ded howe these Pro∣uerbes, Emū¦cte naris, & Obesae naris first began.
• * 1.37

  Prayse of a Phlegma∣tike person.
• * 1.38

  Phlegmatik persōs must vse exercyse
• * 1.39

  Lib. 1.
• * 1.40

  Tuend. Val. lib. 5.
• * 1.41

  The Phleg∣matik must vse light sup¦pers.
• * 1.42

  Foure kinds and effectes of Phlegme
• * 1.43

  Gal. de. Plenit.
• * 1.44

  Sweete Phlegme.
• * 1.45

  Sower Phle¦gme.
• * 1.46

  Doggishe appetite.
• * 1.47

  Epiala.
• * 1.48

  Salte Phle∣gme.
• * 1.49

  Harmes of salt Phlegm
• * 1.50

  Glassie or clammie Phlegme.
• * 1.51

  What parts of the body be subiect to Phlegme
• * 1.52

  Vse of Cly∣sters.
• * 1.53

  Heate dis∣solueth moy¦sture, euen as the Sūne doth yse.
• * 1.54

  All men in daunger to phlegme.
• * 1.55

  Crudlty en∣gendreth Phlegme.