In the Cure we must respect the Cause and the Symptome, * 1.1 but we have said the Cause of watchings and Dreams was from God, the Devil, Custome, an Agitation and Perturbation of the Spirits and heat of the Brain.
The Dreams sent by God because they are good, and nothing proceeds from God but what is good, or tends to a good end, we cannot, nor onght not to change; the tricks of the Devil are turnd away by Pra∣yers, Fasting, amendment of life and a stedfast Faith. Custome as a second Nature is not easily changed, * 1.2 but by a contrary Custome; wherefore they that are wont to be raised at a certain hour of night; let them go to bed later or some other way let them change this Custome, and in time of sleep, as much as they can let them abstain from deep thoughts, also if Dreams do so accustomarily vex men, that they are unquiet, Skip, Talk, Walk, then they are somtimes to be wakened by frighting, for hence it comes to pass, that that fear repeated, at length of∣fering it self to them in their Dreams, doth rouse them up of their own accord, and by degrees turnes them from this evil Custome. As one that was wont to walk in the night, being somtimes beaten with rods at length left off this Custome; and that Cobler who be∣cause he thought in his Dreams that he was sowing, and with opening his Arms, as they are wont to do drawing their thred, he smote his companion by him, being oftentimes soundly kickt again by the same man feigning himself to Dream that he was riding, at last he was freed from this Error.
But if they be compeld to watch, or grieved with Dreams from the too great plenty of Spirits, the Causes which exagitate them, must first be turned away as if sleep be hindered by too much light or noise, or they sleep unquietly, these things must be declined, by in∣ducing of darkness and rest: if affects of the Minde do cause it, as hath been said in that Species of Alienation of Minde, they must be corrected, and those things be given, which can bring gladness, and also procure rest, as Wine; but especially if too great an intention upon some thing and Ratiocination made on it, do hinder sleep, and the minde cannot be drawn from it to take rest, sleep is the easier procured after this man∣ner. The minde being called away from the former by the Meditation of another thing, as we do observe those that watch a nights, if they be devoutly very in∣tent on their Prayers to God, forgetting other cares, they do sooner fall a sleep: but if some trouble make men watchful or disturbe them in their sleep, as thirst, then salt things which do cause that, must be omitted especially at Supper, and Sleep must be expected, which supervenient is wont to quench thirst, if it per∣severe, it must be amended as shall be said in its place so also if they sleep unquietly by reason of fulness, a spa∣ring and sober Supper is wont to correct this fault, and that chiefly if they sleep not presently after the taking of meat; if a difficulty of breathing contracted by their lying down do so vex them that they cannot sleep, they must be so placed upright that they may breath free. And yet the Body may rest, at shall be ex∣plained in a Dyspnaea as also if by lying on the Back they are troubled with grievous Dreams if they sleep on their side with their Head more lift up, they shall be less oppressed. If also a great pain in some Disease do hinder sleep, as this is most frequent, and that cannot be mitigated by any other means, by soporiferous me∣dicines we shall with the same labor procure sleep and mitigate pain, because they induce a Stupidity: rather giving them inwardly, if great necessity do urge, be∣cause so they do work more powerfully; as with Wine, or if we must use stronger, Syrup of Poppy and other Opi∣ates, or we must use Vnguents applied to the Temples and Forehead such as Populeum, and Lotions of the Feet which for the procuring of sleep also can do much, as in Hypnoticks divers of that sort shall be explained. If watchings or Dreams proceed from a perturbation of the Spirits, * 1.3 the Cause also must be taken away, which if it pro∣ceed from Meat or Medicine, we must have a care of making use of any Pulse, and other things that Evaporate up∣wards; if this happen from Vapors or Humors by diligently searching out, what Excrement