The hauen of pleasure containing a freemans felicitie, and a true direction how to liue well : profitable and del[i]ghtfull to all, hurtfull and displeasing to none, except it bee to such pecuish dames as do either foolishlie reiect, or carelesly neglect the dutie of chast matron[e]s / gathered out of the best approued authors.

What meanes a man may vse to keepe his bodie in perfect health. Chap. 22.

ASpare and temperate diet driueth avvaie all diseases, and keepeth the body in per∣fect health, by taking those thinges that are necessarie to corroborate strength & confirme health. And these by Galen are called causes of conseruation, because they are fit to preserue the state of the bodie, so that vve fitlie and conuenientlie vse them. Our later Physitians terme them vnnaturall causes, not because they are againste nature, but because they are vvithout the bodie, and are not bred in vs as the humors are. In vse and effect if vve take them not orderlie and in good sort, they af∣fect nature and her povvers with sundrie discommo∣dities. And of this sort is the ayre, meate and drink, sleeping and waking, fulnesse and emptinesse, the af∣fections and motions of the minde: all which mans bodie requireth to keepe and defend it. Now because

the most powerfull parte of our health dooth consiste in a good diet: wee are greatlie to regarde what part hurteth and what profiteth the bodie. And because Gluttonie is no lesse loathsome then hurtfull and per∣nitious to health: let vs take no more meate and drink then the necessitie of nature requireth, that y^e strength of the bodie may bee nourished and not oppressed. For a moderation in diet is moste profitable and ne∣cessarie for them that are studious of learning, and matters of great importaunce, for those that watch long and indure labour, and for such as execute pub∣lique offices: for temperaunce bringeth health and strength; it maketh the spirites both animall and vi∣tall (which are ascribed to the hart and braine) to bee cheerefull and liuelie: so that whatsoeuer a man con∣ceiueth in his minde, hee may perfect and execute it speedilie without anie molestation. But common ex∣perience shevveth by dailie examples, that excesse in diet, and intemperancie of life bringes diseases, hin∣dereth good studies, troubleth honest cogitations, breaketh vvatchfulnesse, cloudeth the cheerefulnesse of the minde, quencheth the povver of the soule, ma∣keth menne slothfull, vnmanlie, sluggishe, idle, slee∣py, and to giue themselues vnto no excellent exercise.

Wherefore, vvhosoeuer addicteth himselfe to the studie of learning, and bendeth his minde to learne any matter of moment; must so moderate his affaires that he doe nothing after his owne lust, but that his desire be subiect to reason, applying all thinges to the vse and necessitie of life and Nature. Christ requi∣reth the same of his professors, and reclaimeth them in these words to sobrietie: Take heed least at anie time your harts be ouercom with surfetting & drunkennes, & the cares of this life, & y^e day com sodainly vpō you:

for it shal come as a snare vpon al that dwell on y^e face of the earth. In vvhich wordes hee fasteneth sobrietie in the minds of men, and shaketh off the loue of earth∣lie thinges, and vvill haue them to continue in so doo∣ing till the ende of their liues, least vvorse thinges hap¦pen vnto them. That also is an excellent saying of Cornelius Celsus: When thou commest to meate, too much sacietie is neuer profitable, and too much absti∣nence is also as vnprofitable. For neither hunger after fulnesse, nor fulnes and vnmeasureable gluttonie after hunger, are any vvaie wholsome Wherfore very fond are they and vnaduised, vvho hauing been at a supper, banquet, or feast, doe so pine themselues aftervvarde with hunger, that oftentimes thorough faintnesse and weakenes of spirite, they giue vp the ghost, or at least∣wise vvith sweet sauours must be fetched againe from their swounds. Others againe with ouermuch fasting & pinching their bellies with hunger, when they come to good cheere loade themselues so full of meate and drinke, that vnlesse they be vnbraced, would very neer burst: yet somtimes to sup liberallie, and to satiate him selfe at bankets in season and proportion, can neither be hurtful nor worthy of blame: the rather, if it be don moderatelie and in a mean, as kept within the bounds of temperance. For vvith such refections, sorrovv and sadnesse is expelled, which vvith ouermuch care doe dull and darken the minde, vvhich maketh melancho∣like students (their spirits being weakened and spent) to be froward, silent, churlish, and estranged from all good fellowship, and familiar conuersation, which af∣fections ought to bee most estranged from louers of learning, politicians and schollers.

Notes

• Artis medi. 85
• 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 1