Panala medica vel sanitatis et longævitatis alumna catholica: = The fruitfull and frugall nourse of sound health and long life. Per Guil: Folkingham Gen: Math. & Med. studiosum.

CHAP. I.

Of the Quality and Nature of Ale, the most accustomed and most accommodate Body for the Base of this Composition.

I Know it is almost a com∣mon receiued opinion, that Ale is a foggy ful∣some stuffe, clogging the stomacke, stuffing the Lungs and puffing vp the body with loose fat, and flashie vnsound flesh; Nor am I ig∣norant of the Record of the ancient Poet (Henrieus Abrincensis) who, in displeasure to a Pot of Ale that perhaps pleased not his pa∣late, to cast a foule aspersion vpon this out more ancient drinke, falls into this furious rapture.

Nescio quod Stygiae Monstrum conforme paludi, Ceruisiam plerique vocant; nil spissius illa Dum bibuur, nil clarius est dum mingitur: vndè Constat, quòd multas faeces in ventre reliquit.

I know not I, what Monster's this to th'eye, This Ale, Mud-Mix, like Stoepe of fenny Styx, More thicke no potion, more cleere's no Lotium: Much dregs remaine i'th Body then 'tis plaine.

Nor (to speake the truth) is it altogether improbable, but there might in those ruder Times, be found many Tunnes of ill condi∣tioned Ale, not vnworthy such splenique Dictoes, before one Stand or Rundlet of pure stuffe worthy the Encomion of a Pot Poet. Haue we not yet euen in these daies many Mother-Foulsums, scarce worthie the bearing of Bourne, much lesse the admittance for Brewing either Ale or Beere, which wan∣ting both Art and industry requisite for the Mystery, marre no more Malt then they meddle with, and mash Ale, more like a mash or a medicine for a sicke horse then a potable liquor fit for a mans palate, stomacke or health? And surely, it was the Normans ill hap to haue his Cap fitted with a feculent cup of crude muddy Ale, to his morning Draught; and were not this able to moue the patience

of a temperate man (much more the fiery choller of an Old Elderton, or a new Ale-Knight) any way regardfull of health, and cause him burst into as boysterous a Peece of Poetry, or other more vnmeasurable passion? Howsoeuer, were this Cynicke Passage of the Poet, an earnest Quarrell to a Pot of Ale, (vncouth, because vnaccustom'd, to his wine washt Palate,) or the Ʋent of a iesting vaine of Wit, sluced by some Slashes of the same Ele∣ment, 'tis manifest to most Obseruers, that ill brew'd Ale is commonly of a puddle sub∣stance, abounds with grosse Phlegmaticke & flatulent Humors, is heauie, and hurtfull to the Stomacke, stuffes the Ventricle, obstructs the Mesaraick veines, the Liver, Lungs▪ spleen, Reines, Ʋreters, and other inward vessells and passages of the Body, and by conse∣quence puffes & blowes-vp the whole bulke thereof with slimie, flashie and faeculent Bal∣lasts, shortens the Breath, breedes the Stone, Strangury, Gouts, and sends vp to the Braine grosse fumie Vapours, which offend the Nerues, & distemper & obsuscate the Spirits, (the Mechanique Operators of and in all the Faculties of Man) with much detriment and dammage to all the Senses both Internall and Externall.

But let a neat hous-wife, or cannie Ale wright, haue the handling of wholesome Bourne, and sound and mellow sweet Malt, and you shall find, and will confesse, there is Art and Dexterity in this cōmon businesse of Brewing: and that amongst those that as∣sume vnto themselues the Name of skilfull Ale-Brewers, there are more that misse the marke, for all their supposed Artifice, than with constant Mastery make vp the true Mechanique of the Mystery. For you shall then haue a neat Cup of rich nappy Ale, wel boyled, defecated & cleared, that shall equall the best brewed Beere in transparence, please the most curious Palate with milde quicknesse of relish, quench the Thirst, hu∣mect all the Inwards with rorid Iuice, helpe Concoction and distribution of Meat by 'its moderate Penetraction (especially promoted with the Additament of the Vehiculum which best Alistraes boil with the woort, to wit, such a proportion of Hop as giues no tact of bitternesse to the Taste after the Ale growes drinkable) much furthering the At∣traction of the Parts, and by its substantiall succulence much nourish and corroborate the Corporall, and with spirituall vigour comfort the Animall Powers. This Ale will be better

than beere for extenuated spare textures of bo∣dy, by reason of its more nutritiue Qualitie, and that without inconuenience to the Cho∣lericke, for that it excretes and voides the Bi∣lous humor by vrine and by Stoale; or to the Phlegmatique, because it is not Obstructiue. And for the Sanguine; it may well suite with such Complexions, by reason of its moderate Heat and Moisture; nor can it be incongruent to the Melancholike, in regard it dissipates and spends fuliginous fumosities and exhile∣rates the Spirits.

Such a Cup of pure Comfort, rich anima∣ting Ale (neither Lanted, Gummed, nor o∣therwise sophisticated) finde many good fel∣lowes which walke ere they wash, for their Morning-Draught of true Darby, which, I dare be bold to say, had beene all sufficient to haue induced the famous Basilian, Foelix Pla∣terus (had he happily euer plyed that Pot) to recant and retract his vnkinde censuring our Ceruisia, for faetid smell, fastidious Tast, & languid Strength, and to be as forward in af∣fording such Noble Ale the Prize and praise of a Basilique Beverage, as we are in giuing it the Attributes of Meat, Drinke and Cloth.