CHAP. I. Of the Matter Origine of Fountains in General.

AND here I shall be brief; in­tending not a speculative Phi­losophical, but a Medico-practical Dis­course, for information and instructi­of the unlearn'd, and not for Learned Philosophers and Physitians.

Now 'tis clearly my Opinion, with the Divine Plato, Aristotle's Master, and be­fore him Thales Milesius, as also Philo, lib. de mundi opificio; the great Seneca, l. 3. c. 1. quest. natural. and others; that the Original of Fountains is from the [Page 2]Sea; from whence, through Sinuosi­ties, Veins and Meanders of the Earth, water is carried to certain places, where it breaks forth and continually flows; it may very probably be con­jectur'd they had this from the greatest of Philosophers Salomon, who in Eccles. 1.7. says, all Rivers run into the Sea, and it overflows not; unto the place from whence they came thither they flow again, and indeed scaree can there be assign'd any other reason why the Sea doth not redound by such a dayly con­course and afflux of Rivers; unless be­cause the Rivers do again flow out of the Sea, and return and pay only so much to the Sea, as they borrowed therefrom. Although the Evapora­tion and Extraction of watry Clouds by the Attractive force of the Sun, is no small help: and other material helping causes are Rains and Snows which augment (though they do not generate) the Rivers; for these help being withdrawn, heat of the Sun approaching they become Rarefied and the neighbour parts of the dry'd [Page 3]Earth drink them off. Whence Kings 17.7. the River Careth is said to wax dry by reason of the Sun's too great heat.

But we have one Cardanus impiously and Atheistically disputing against Sa­lomon, subtil. c. 2. de Elementis, whom we shall endeavour to satisfactorily answer and enervate; though God Almighty's Power and Wisdom, might be oppos'd as answer enough, and Sacred Scripture ought to be of more Authority than all humane saga­city.

First then he says the Sea-water, because 'tis heavy, cannot ascend to such an height, as the tops of Moun­tains; but to this have been several refutations; some ascribing this mo­tion to the operations of the Celestial bodies; and they say this motion is not violent, (though it be contrary to the private inclination of its proper form) if the Potentia obedientialis be consider­ed; whereby inferior Bodies are made to obey their Superiors, &c. Others say there is a certain insite, [Page 4]attractive faculty in the Veins of the Earth, whereby it sucks Water out of the Sea, as the Veins of Animals suck Blood: others there are but too long for this place, and wholly Philo­sophical and so not easily to be under­stood by ordinary capacities and so I omit them.

Then Secondly, he says before the Water could reach the Mountains out of the Sea, there's no reason to be gi­ven but it would break forth: But the Earth hath passages in some places and in some none. Then whatsoever he assigns to be the original of Fountains, it may be queried why in some places and Mountains there are Fountains and Rivers, and in some none?

Then Thirdly, he says, if it were so, Rivers would never be less; but it may be answered Rivers sometimes grow less from what portion is lost which comes from falls of Showers and Snows; and when part is suckt up by the dryness of the Earth, and heat of the Sun, &c.

Fourthly, he says the Sea would [Page 5]not satisfy so many Rivers, when the greatest part of Waters vanish by the heat of the Sun; But it may be an­swered that the Sea receives only as much as it gives forth; as Salomon says, Rivers flow to the Sea, that they may flow out again; then if the greatest part of Water should vanish, the Sea would long agone have been wasted; but the extracted vapors are recondens'd into Water which either flows into the Sea, or falls upon the Earth, to augment the Rivers, which at length unburthen themselves into the Sea.

Fifthly, He says, there can be no reason given why it should flow from one Mountain and not from another; But the answer to his second Ob­jection solves this.

Lastly, He says, Fountains and Ri­vers would tast saltish and brackish. But to this is answer'd that Sea-wa­ter, whilst it passes through various Veins, Sinews and Meanders of the Earth, and so being as it were strein'd it sensibly deposes its saltness and bit­terness. Hence the more remote [Page 6]Fountains are from the Sea, the sweeter they are. If any shall say, that the Water was more likely to contract a bitterness by reason of the Exhalations it receives from the Earth: it may be answered, that they are not any sort of Exhalations that produce bitterness, but only adust ones; and all are not such in the intrals the Earth. Therefore now Cardan, we may conclude, I hope, hath not got any thing by contradicting Solo­mon.

CHAP. II. Of the Division of Fountains and of Mineral and Metal Waters.

HAving in the former Chapter given the Reader a plain ac­count of the Matter and Origine of Fountains, we should in the next place, see how many sorts of Fountains there are, but because 'tis the work of Na­tural Philosophers and Hydrogra­phers; [Page 7]and nothing of an advantage to our present purpose we shall whol­ly omit it, and only speak of Mineral and Metallic Fountains, as being the subject of our present Discourse. Now those I call Mineral and Metallic Waters, which participate of the na­ture and faculty of that Metall or Mine­ral through which they pass in the Ca­verns and Veins of the Earth. The which are either 1 Salt, 2 Vitriol, 3 Allumn, 4 Bitumen, 5 Naptha, 6 Ni­tre, 7 Gypsum, 8 Arsenic, 9 Cadmia, 10 Antimony, 11 Chrysocolla, 12 Ochre, 13 Lime, 14 Ashes, 15 Pummice-stones, 16 Gold, 17 Iron, 18 Brass, 19 Lead, 20 Brimstone, and 21 Quicksilver. Now as I said the Minerals through which Waters pass, bestowing upon them in their journey a considerable part and portion of their good and bad qualities; I thought it very requisite, before I discours'd of the use of the Waters themselves, to say somthing of the Natures and Properties of the Metals and Minerals they are mixt with; that thereby you may be the bet­ter [Page 8]able to judge of the nature of the Waters proceeding from them; then we will begin with Salt.

The faculties of Salt are great, ma­ny and very useful to man; but not so necessary in Physick, as many think; such as your Quacking Chymists, who predicate many wonderful and vain stories of Salt reduced by their Chy­mical Art; for they audaciously assert that their is a Purgative faculty in Medicaments because of Salt; and when they have got some Extract from any Medicament, then they pre­sently aver that they have got its Salt forsooth; but these being things above the vulgar capacity; I shall say Salt is very Conservative, of an Astringing, Absterging, Purging, Discussing, Re­pressing, Extenuating quality, and vindicates the Body from Putrefaction; yet some Salt is better then others; but us'd immoderately produces very bad effects, as sharp, salt corroding hu­mors all over the Body, Scabs, Le­prosie, the Stone, and other dire Disea­ses; as Dulness of sight, disorderly [Page 9]Fermentations in the Blood, rendring it thick and earthy by burning it; Schroder thinks thus of the Original of Salts; the Macrocosm he says, as the other two Kingdoms, i. e. the Ve­getable and Animal, is susteined and lives by its food; in this abounds a salt, answering to the salt Excrements in the Sweat, Urine, and Dejections in Animals; now the Salt of the greater World congregated into the inferior Glob, is of a dverse kind, according to the variety of its Matrix, even as the salt Excrement in Animals is different; hence, Common Salt, Salt Gem, Salt Nitre, Alum, &c.

The Greeks call that Calcanthum, which the Latines from its blackness, call Attramentum Sutorium, or Shooe­makers Ink; and from its spendent vitreous Nitre, Vitriol; Dioscorides a man of profound Judgment in the Materia Medica, reckons three sorts thereof, two Native, and one facti­tious; one sort of the Native is found concreted in the bowels of the Earth; another is collected in form of a Wa­ter, [Page 10]out of some Mine, which put in­to a Vessel soon coagulates into Vitriol; as for the factitious we have nothing to say to that here: the Native or Fossile Vitriol participates of Calcitis, Misy, and Sory; the Native and White is prefer'd in the Medicinal uses; which the Metallicolous Alchymists say is produc'd by their Sulphur and Mer­cury; as of Sperm; which they indis­criminately exhibit to all affections, out of which they draw a certain acid Liquor, a few drops whereof mix'd with Syrup of Violets, acquire a most elegant colour and taste: But Oyl of Sulphur will do the same, and a few drops of one or both of them insused in the Syrup of Roses, will make the whole Liquor red; which they call, forsooth, Tincture of Roses.

Now Nature 'tis true hath enrich'd Vitriol with eximious faculties, which skilful Physitians have both experi­enc'd and left describ'd; as Galen, Dio­scorides, Paulus Aegineta, Aetius, Oriba­sius, &c. who have very much nobi­litated it: it heats, binds, drys, kills [Page 11]broad Worms, helps against Toad poy­son, preserves moist flesh, and drys up humors, drives away Putrifaction, robo­rates the inward parts: outwardly it binds, purges Ulcers, causes Wrincles like Alum, with whom it hath relation; But besides these excellent qualities Vi­triol hath also its bad ones: for it is ill for the Stomach, acrimonious, corrosive and vomitous, and therefore ignorant Quacksalvers and Women give it some­times in Wine, and sometimes in Rose­water in uncertain weight, against Quotidian and Quartane Agues, and ma­ny other Diseases, and indeed the Fe­ver is often resolv'd by vehement Vo­miting, but this Medicine being un­skilfully Administred proves most of­ten more formidable than the Disease.

Alum is, as it were, the Brine of the Earth; whereof Dioscorides makes three sorts; the Round, the Liquid, and the Jagged, or Scissile, the last is often call'd Plumeous, for they are so like in form that they can scarse be distinguish'd, yet they differ both in nature and qualities, for the Scissile is [Page 12]manifestly binding, and may be burnt, but the other is Acrimonious, and suf­fers not by fire. Mathiolus, says he saw and tasted a Liquid Alum; of which he asserts, that he never found any thing more Astrictive. Now when Alum is simply mention'd, we mean Roch-Alum, which is a saltness of a Mineral Earth, of a Leadish nature, consisting of an acid spirit, and a caustick Earthy salt; and all Alum is of Crass parts, binds much; whence 'tis call'd Stypterion in Greek, because it is Styp­tical, it heats, cleanses, amends putrid Ulcers, dryes humid ones, absumes superfluous flesh, takes away itching, cures the Scab, and very useful in many Medicaments made for the Cure of Ulcers.

Bitumen, which the Greeks call As­phaltes, is as it were the fatness of the Earth swiming above the Waters, which being cast upon the shoar, thickens and becomes hard, tenacious and inflamable: As long as it swims on the water 'tis soft, but when 'tis off it becomes thicker and harder, and [Page 13]resembles dry Pitch; yet easily mel­ted at the fire. Many Lakes are bitumi­nous, but especially one in India, thence call'd Asphalites, and the dead Sea, because of its vastness, and because its Water remains almost immove­able; not stormy, but heavy, salt, thick, and stinking; wherein neither Plants nor Animals breed; neither doth it nou­rish such as are put into it, or admit them into its bowels.

All Bitumen is not solid and hard; but some is perpetually fluid and li­quid, call'd Naptha; which is the streining of Babylonian Bitumen, white of colour, and most capacious of Fire; for Fire and this are so near a kin, that it will presently leap into it, when near it. There is also black Bitumen. For its Virtues all Bitumen discusses, mollifies, glutinates, defends from inflammation, by olfaction, suffu­migation, or imposition; mends the strangling of the Womb. Naptha ex­tenuates, incides, digests, penetrates, absumes frigid and thick humors in all, parts of the Body, and cures the [Page 14]Resolution of the Norues, Palsies, and diseases in the Veins and Arteries from cold cause.

Nitre of the same nature with the Salts.

Gypsum, is a kind of Talk, of the nature of Lime, whose hot, fiery, cau­stic quality every one knows.

Ratsbane, or Arsenic, is between a Salt and a Sulphur, 'tis of such an a­crimonious, corroding, hot quality, that it will burn to a crust; dissolving, destroying and preying upon the Prin­ciples of Life; malignant, and an Enemy to all Natural parts; and to the Radidical moisture, and innate heat; and therefore was very ill ad­vis'd of Nich. Alexanarinus to pre­scribe it for an Ingredient in the great Athanasia, says the great man of skill in the Materia Medica, Johannes Reno­deus; for by permixtion with other Medicaments it doth not depose its malignity. The Learned Schroder says 'tis one of the highest Poysons; for be­sides its acrimony, it is an Enemy to our Natural Balsam of Life, so that it [Page 15]brings strange symptoms, not only ta­taken inwardly, but apply'd outward­ly; as Convulsions, numness of Hands and Feet, cold Sweats, Palpitations, Faintings, Vomitings, Corrosions and Torments, Thirst, &c.

Cadmia, Metallic, 'tis the Stone out of which Brass is drawn, and is call'd Brass-Ore, which Artificers use in ma­king Yellow Brass, which the Shop­men call Aurichalcum, or Orichalcum, and 'tis probable this is the Stone which Albertus Magnus calls, Didachos, or the Devils-stone: Cadmia disiccates gently, absterges and helps humid and putrid Ulcers, and draws them to scars; Schroder says 'tis Caustic, and that it ulcerates the Hands and Feet of the Miners, and taken inward­ly kills all Creatures.

Antimony, or Stibium, or the seventh Metall, which some say is Mercury, others Ambar, but neither of these are more than in a potency to be Me­talls; a grand Alchymistical Quacksal­ving Idol; the sole Empyrical, Chymi­cal Cathartic; whereby they boast to [Page 16]cure all Diseases; but it most devilsh­ly disturbs mens Ventricles by moving upwards and downwards; others it miserably torments by vigorous Purg­ing; some it kills and restores very few to perfect health. One Cornelius Gemma, a Physitian of Lovain, relates, how a Paracelsian English Quacksalver, being himself and his Wife sick of a Fever, took himself and gave to his Wife, that which they call prepa­red Antimony, whereupon she fell quickly distracted, and changed her Life, yet valid, with death; and he complaining of Dreams and con­tinual Watchings, seven days after his Dejection, began to Rave; from that he became Epileptical; from his Epilepsie he fell into a Lethargy, being therewithal somewhat Apople­ctical: when he had been three days in that sopor, he fell again to his raving, and was so agitated with fury, that not long after he expir'd and pass'd from his conjugal Bed to his conjugal Tomb: and howsoever the Chymists cry up their Preparations of Antimony, [Page 17]yet as able Physitians as any in the World forbear to exhibit them because they have much better Medicaments wherewith they may more securely cure any Disease. And I could give a large account of the dismal Accidents that I have known happen by the administring of Antimony: and my ever honoured Master Dr. Patin, Regins Professor in Physick in the Famous University of Paris, wrote a Book which he call'd the Martyrology of Antimony.

Chrysocolle, which the Shopmen, following the Barbarous Mauritanian Idiome call it Borax, is found in the Golden, Silver, and sometimes Bra­zen Mines in Armenia, Macedonia, and Cyprus; it heats, checks supersluous flesh, and is mordacious; it produ­ces Ulcers to sanity, but taken at the Mouth 'tis perillous, says Renodeus.

Ochre. is a kind of Yellow Earth much commended in Affrica, not lapi­deous, but friable, clayey and sinooth, it binds, corrodes, discusses Tumors, and represses Excrescences.

Gold, is the greatest Cordial in the Pocket; most certainly; for omne cor­diacum debet esse Bumidum & Calidum: au­rum autem est frigidum & sicum, i.e. every Cordial ought to be moist and hot, but Gold is cold and dry, Ergo Gold is no Cordial at all; and nothing indeed is Cordial but what nourishes; a Glass of generous Wine, and nourishing Broaths, and such Diet are the greatest Cordials under the Sun.

Iron is an ignoble Metal, consisting of Mercury and Sulphur, not so meltable, cruder, or rather of Sulphur and Salt; mixed with the Cruder parts of the Earth: it binds and opens, as the Chy­mists says; the opening Virtue is chief­ly in its more Volatile part, and so in the Salt; the Astringent virtue lyes in the more fixed part, and so in the Earthy.

Brass, was formerly dedicated to Ve­nus, from her Island Cyprus where great plenty was dug; 'tis either of a Gol­den color call'd Aurichalcum; or red­der, and then call'd Brass absolutely. Brass was of more use among the [Page 19]Antients, than either Gold, Silver or Iron; for the first money was Brass; and hence we meet with Aerarium, publicum, Aes ali num, Questor aerarius, their Warlike Arms also were not of Iron or Steel, but Brass as also their Statues and Temple doors.

Load, according to the Alchymists, is both dedicated to Saturn and called Saturn, and in their opinion 'tis ge­nerated of impure Quicksilver, and a little impure Sulphur, and 'tis thought that not only under the Earth, but in the open Air also it angments, and therefore Cardanus, thinks it endamages houses by its weight: for its Virtues, it refrigerates, binds, and thickens, &c.

Fossile or Native Sulphur is natural­ly generated out of a certain fat por­tion of Earth; much whereof is in Lipara, Melos, and such like places, it is much in quality a kin to fire, for if be cast upon Coals it will burn, and not be extinguished, till all its oleous and fat substance be wasted; that Sulphur whereof your Quacking Chymists [Page 20]tell many vain and ridiculous stories, is not common Sulphur; yet 'tis mix­ed, though they assert it to be a prin­ciple of mixture. But no more of that here. It heats, cooles, resolves, cures Coughs, and difficulty of breathing, taken in an Egg, or burnt and its smoak catch'd, moves Spittle: mixed with But­ter or Swines grease, it mittigates and kills the Itch over the whole Body; and mixed with Turpentine it cures Tetters.

Mercury or Quicksilver is the prime Idol of the Alchymists, which they pronounce to be the principle of things and Sperm of Metals; and indeed so true each, that nothing more false; for if Metalls have any Sperm, 'tis within themselves, not else where to be sought; nor will ever mixt bodies naturally resolve themselves in­to Salt, Sulphur and Mercury, though these Chymical Vulcans will be ham­mering them out, as the Learned Philosopher and Physitian Riolanus hath proved against them. This Quick­silver its as it were, the Monster of Nature, which will not be subject to [Page 21]Natures Laws; 'tis more fluxible than Water, more permeable than Vinegar; tho it moistens not; sometimes cures cold diseases; sometimes hot: when it seems cold it induces hot effects; when hot then cold ones; it sometimes hurts in small quantities, always in great; it easily loses it proper form, and easily reassumes it; and in this 'tis miraculous, that it often profits being taken inwardly; and often causes Pal­sie, trembling and other sad effects when apply'd outwardly; Falop. de Lue Vener. 'tis such a Beast that can scarce be tam'd by any Art; So that Galen the Prince of Physitians, next Hippo­crates, durst not use it; having learn'd of Dioscorides that it was Poysonous. Its qualities are yet under debate; for some, from its effects, say 'tis cold; o­thers as Avicen whom Palmarius and o­thers follow, say 'tis cold and moist; Fracastorius, Tomitanus and others, who attribute a corroding faculty to it, contend for its heat. But Renodeus, with Trajanus, thinks it to be of a mixt quality, participating of many other [Page 22]faculties, but consisting chiefly of sub­tile parts; for it incides, attenuates, penetrates, melts, resolves, loosens the belly; and what is most to be admi­red, partly by an attractive quality at­tracts humors from the superficies to the Centre; and excludes them by stool; and partly by an impulsive faculty, them from the Centre to the habit, and ejects them by salivation; and it often works by feige when it should salivate; and ofetn salivates when it should move downward. Thus much of the nature of all the Metalls and Mi­nerals from whence the Waters pro­ceed, now a few words concerning the manner have the Waters acquire their virtues from them.

Now all these Waters are of a mixt, not simple nature, for they proceed and pass not from and through one Quarry or Vein of the Earth only but from divers; and therefore acquire diverse faculties according to the di­vers substances which they draw along with them: as for Example, if a Water arises where is generated a Quarry or [Page 23]Vein of Sulphur, from whence it passes where Iron's generated, or Lead; this Water more certainly shall acquire mixt faculties to it self; and yet it shall attract more of the substance of the one than the other, according as any one quality makes more im­pression than another: and many times so comes to pass that the Water pro­ceeds from and passages through passa­ges where the Metall or Mineral is not yet perfectly generated, then you must expect it to be of an hot Nature, but not so much participating of the Me­tal or Mineral; the reason is because all Metalls and Minerals have heat for their efficient cause, and therefore if the Waters pass by while the Metall or Mineral is in generating, and where there is the cause of their generation, which is heat, they will consequently become hot; whence they will prove to be actually hot, and of a firery qua­lity; and this shall be more or less ac­cording the more or lesser acting of of the Heat; or by reason of the lon­ger or shorter stay of the Water, or [Page 24]by reason of the nature, quality and substance of the Matter which is more or less permiscible. For that the Waters do effectually attract the Vir­tue of the Quarry or Vein, there are three things requisite (viz.) that heat perfom it parts well; that it acts op­portunely, and those things which ought to be mixt, be fit to be mixt. So that since these three conditions are required to the compleating the work; it comes so to pass that although Wa­ter do sometimes participate of more Quarries or Veins; yet it shall retain the faculties of one more than ano­ther; either by reason of one of these causes, (viz.) either because heat was more active, or from its longer stay, or from the Matters being more apt, or lastly from all these causes con­junct. Now a Quarry or Vein doth not impart its substance or faculties to the Water one manner of way only; but either it so imparts it, as its substance, is truly and really mixt, with its and those Waters and reteins their facul­ties for a long time and to some pur­pose: [Page 25]or else they are mixt not with a true and real mixture, but are only confounded; and when they are mixt by such a kind of confusion, the Waters of the Quarry are not all one, neither are they truly mixt, for one may separate one from another: some­times lastly they are mixt, not because of the substance of the Quarry is mixt with Water; but only vapors elevated from the matter are permixt; And since it happens as you may understand that mixtion is perform'd by these three manner of ways, 'tis no won­der if Water mixing it self in several Veins, shall attract and contract to it self the faculty of one more than ano­ther. As for example; if Water that shall be perfectly mixt in one Quarry, with another confusedly only, and with a­nother, with the vapors only, and not with the substance, it shall retein much more of the nature of that wherewith it is perfectly mixt, than the other.

CHAP. III. Of the Waters of Bath, and their Causes.

COncerning which there are like­wise divers opinions: Now these Waters being of so hot a Nature, that throw but a Fowl therein and it shall immediately deplume it; put Fish and Eggs therein and it will presently con­coct them; that these Waters are so hot of their own nature, I cannot believe; for all Water is always, and of its own Nature cold in quality; and if it become hot by accident take but away the heating cause thereof, and it shall return to its prestine cold temper of its own accord, without any thing of an altering nature being adhibited: For there are Rivers in hot Countries that are not very hot from the heat of the Sun: So that I con­clude these Waters to be hot in the Caverns of the Earth from an out­ward [Page 27]cause: which that it may be made more plainly manifest, we shall briefly inspect into the causes of Baths.

Concerning their efficient Causes their are likewise various opinions; omitting the whimsical frothy con­ceits of the Chymists; let us see what the more sound and solid sort of Learned Philosophers say to the busi­ness; some ascribe this virtue to the Rays of the Sun with Thermophilus, who held that the Sun penetrating the pores of the Earth (for certainly the Earth is porous and Spungy,) was in its bowels there fortified, and made more active in heat; so that like Fire it heats Water, and what ever it meets with, and even burns what it meets with combustible; but if this were so, these Baths would be so hot in Summer only, not in Winter; or at least it would follow that these Springs would be less hot in Win­ter than in Summer, contrary to all experience; for every Idiot can tell you the Springs, &c. are hotter in Winter than Summer, the cause where­of [Page 28]of the Learned Philosophers ascribe to that they call Antiperistasis, that is, in plain English; the Earth is hotter within in Winter when the Sun's absent, than in Summer; and so they'll tell you that their Sellars are hot in Winter and cold in Summer. Secondly, I cannot conceive how the Sun should penetrate into such deep Caverns of the Earth as, by force of its heat, to make the Wa­ters therein to become so hot; where we see, it cannot effect the same on Lakes in any hot Region: Then 3ly, We know that there are Baths found in the most cold Countrys, as Islind, &c-Some with Mileus will have a Wind or a Spirit vehemently toss'd and mov'd up and down, and so penn'd up grows hot, and so coming to fall upon the Waters overheats them. Democritus says, they receive their heat from Ashes and Lime: others think these Waters grow hot by reason of vehement mo­tion and beating against the Rocks; and not a few there are which say that the matter through which they pass heats them, which they say is the rea­son [Page 29]that some smell so strongly of Sul­phur, because they flow from Sul­phury Veins. Others, o'th other side, will have the cause to be an extream heat within the Earth in those places, which overflow with hot Waters; and Learned Dr. Jordan our Countryman if I mistake not, thinks they derive their heat from the sermentation of Metals in their Generation; to which is required an actual heat with a cer­tain humidity; and some affirm that Thunder heats the Waters, as may be seen from Manlius;

Lastly, the Chymists will have the Wa­ters to wax hot from a mutual combat and conflict of divers Salts or Mineral bodies; after the same manner, as we [Page 30]see in the conjunction of Spirit of Vi­triol or Salt of Tartar, as from the two fires the Glass becomes so hot, ‘Ʋt multo accensis, fervore exuberat undis, Clausus ubi exusto liquor indignatur abeno.’

Now among so many disagreeing opi­nions, when there can be but one ith' right on't; Aristotle the great searcher into the Secrets of Na­ture, in my opinion hit the Nail o'th head, who following Empedoeles, the Disciple of Pythagoras when he saw these Therm or Baths, so call'd from [...], Calidus, to be so hot, thought they could become so no other way, than from a most fervent cause, because all Waters of their own Na­ture are cold, and could think the efficient cause to be no other then Fire included in the inmost parts of the Earth, and there, as it were, primoge­neally residing; of which the Epicure­an Poet and Philosopher, [Page 31]

Now that there is Fire under the Earth, besides the hot fiery water Springs; the Lime, Ashes, &c. which are vomited and dug out of the Earth, may confirme and persuade us; as being the genuine effects of fire; to say nothing of Smoak and Soot, breaking out of the Earth; and in some places fire it self; therefore Subterranean fire, which Kirkerus calls pyrophylacia, i. e. a Prison for Fire, is the most certain cause of the heat of the Waters, For while those Springs of Waters upon the Moun­tains, are carryed by the Veins and Sinewy bendings of Metalls, in man­ner of Dragons and Chaldrons in the Baths of the Antients, writhed and [Page 32]twisted with circles of Brass; like a Meander; and from thence artract the Virtues and Vices, as I may so say, of Metalls, wherewith the Water is tin­ctur'd, they wax hot from the natu­ral fire Subterraneous to those wind­ings, even just as Water in a Pot is heat by Fire; and Bartholine says expresly, that Fire doth not heat the Water af­ter the manner above related from Aristotle and Empedocles; but that the Pipes or Veins of the Earth contein Fire it self within them,

Now the VVater becomes more or less hot, here and there, First, as the matter is found more or less apt for heat; Secondly, as that Fire is nigher or farther off the VVater; whence in some places Fire breaks out together with VVaters, in some places VVater without Fire to be seen. Thirdly, as there is a present quantity and pro­portion of matter, as for example, a great quantity of VVater would extin­guish a little Fire, so that we see no Ri­ver to be so hot, much less a Lake, least of all the Sea.

But since so much and lasting a Fire cannot continue without some food, or maintenance, therefore it must neces­sarily have some Matter to nourish and renew it. Now this matter must be something that will burn, either dry, or oleagenous. Lands taken from the Fens and dryed, they call it roast­ed, cannot be the fires continual mat­ter; for it is soon consum'd by the Fire, and it burns only by reason of the Roots and Herbs and Grass which it contains; wherefore it must be oyly, fat matter; Now the fatty things which are begot in the Bowels of the Earth, are chiefly Marle, Bitumen and Brimstone; now Marle burns not, nor any Earth, unless it be Sulphurous, or Bituminous; so that we may certain­ly conclude that Bitumen and Brimstone and Oyls are the material cause of the hot Baths: hence Baths are call'd Sa­cred, because they abound with Sul­phur, with which the Ancients us'd to exprate their offences, whence the Gre­cians call it Theion, i. e., Divine; For whatsoever is annointed with Oyl or [Page 34] Bitumen and Brimstone, it presently takes fire: For moist and fatty, by consent of the Philosophers, is the ge­nuine food of Fire;

As for the nature of our Baths in Somersetshire, Physitians are divided among themselves, some saying one thing and some another: Dr. Turner, who hath wrote concerning them, says they consist of Sulphur and Copper mixt together: Dr. Joràan and Dr. Venner, Practitioners at the Bath, will have them impregnated with Sulphur, Nitre, and Bitumen, Dr. Venner because he judges Sulphur to have the domi­nion; but Dr. Jordan is for Bitumen. Others will have them consist of nei­ther; as Lossius, who in his counsel concerning these Baths, when he had given his opinion, that the material cause of Baths in general was Sulphur, Oyl and Bitumen; tells you afterwards that the Baths in Somersetshire contein neither Brimstone, nor Bitumen; as ha­ving neither taste nor smell of either, and says if you distill them in a Glass Alembec, you will not find the least sign [Page 35]of either, but a certain substance like Salt, such as is found in Pipes, through which Water runs into Cysterns; and this he takes to he a kind of Nitre, wherewith that ground be says doth much abound; mixt with a portion of Vitriol: and the Learned Dr. Meara, in a Letter to Dr. Prujean, (before Lossius wrote) concerning the cause of the Heat in these Waters, tells him; as a certain person of Quality was riding out of the City one day to take the Air; he by chance espies a certain kind of Chalk, or Marie as white as Snow springing out of the Earth like Mole-hills, brings some of it home and shews it to him and Dr. Maplet; which he says, was of a crumbling nature, and almost turning to Powder of its own accord; affording a mani­fest sharp, sowr taste without astriction; but biting; and begetting an inflamma­tory choking or stopping in the Throat; that he did not doubt, but that it a­bounded with much Vitriol, and that it was not altogether void of Arsnic: put into cold water, it presently pro­duc'd [Page 36]an ebullition, as if it had been Quicks Lime, and the water by degrees grew vehemently hot; and since this Marle or Chalk was found in the neigh­bouring parts of Bath, he very pro­bably was induc'd to believe that the Bath water grew hot from this Fire. And he says, though he is not igno­rant that Authors every where ascribe the heat of the Bath waters to Brim­stone and Bitumen; and though it can­not be deny'd but that there is great plenty of Bitumen in those Springs, and that they are abundantly impregnated therewith, as the Cure of Scabs, Lepro­sy, Ulcers, &c. may convince, yet he doubts whether either of them has the nature of a Ferment apt to heat the Waters; since both are destitute of Acidity, the chief promoter of Fermen­tation; neither can either of them, cast into water, produce Fermentation or Heat, and whenas they are of a clammy consistence, and especially the Bitumen, so that the Water cannot insinuate or penetrate it self into their particles, it must be concluded that [Page 37]they are unapt for such a Fermentati­on; whenas the contrary is seen in that crumbly, powdry and not gummy con­sistence of the Marle: and so con­cludes leaving it wholly to Dr. Prujean to be judge, in so obscure a case. And I likewise shall not trouble the Reader, with tedious Philosophical disputes upon this subject; being as I told thee at first, I intended a plain and practical, and not an hard, difficult contempla­tive discourse, and so shall pass on in the next Chapter to shew you the use of these and other Waters, or as I may say, their Virtues and Vices. But something first of the preparing the Body.

CHAP. IV. Of the manner of preparing the Body of such as intend to drink the Waters.

BUt most Peoples intention of going to the Waters being as I suppose to cleanse their Bodies, and free them [Page 38]from Obstructions, Stone and Gravel, &c. and put their Bodies in good tem­per and order; I would advise them by all means to Prepare and Purge their Bodies before they take any of these Waters, either Tunbridge, Empsom, Dul­lege, or any other hereabouts, or at other places, as likewise at the Bath, &c. for if they go thither with gross, foul Bodies, and gorge themselves with the VVaters before they have unload­en themselves, of their overfulness of Blood, or bad humours, they had better stay at home, than to make work for the Physitian and damnifie themselves in Body and Purse.

Now if thou art troubled with too much blood, which thou mayst know by the fulness of the Veins, and heavi­ness and dulness of thy Body, thou hadst best take away some blood, to the quantity of 6, 9, 12, ounces according to the strengh of thy body, age, sex, &c. or thou mayst do it at twice; then Purge with this or the like. Take from half an ounce to an ounce of the best Sena, and from a Scruple to a dram of [Page 39] Cream of Tartar, & infuse them all night in some White-wine or Ale Posset-drink strein it & drink it off early in the morn­ing or thou mayst have Electuaries or Pills at the Apothecaries; if thou hadst rather; a Scruple of Stomach Pills ta­ken at night going to bed, or after thy first sleep will work finely the next morning, made into three or four Pills, and you may go about your lawful occasions: or Lenitive Electua­ry, Catholicon, and Diaprunes of each two drams taken after the same manner, then you may venture to drink the VVaters, any of these taken twice first.

If thou beest of a Choleric nature pre­pare thy body, by boyling some Sorrel, Borage, Bugloss, Chichory, Dandelion, Endive, Strawberry-leaves, Spinach, and such like in Fountain water or River water, with a little French, Bar­ley and Liquorice, and strein it and drink thereof for a day or two; if thou wouldst have it pleasant, add some Syrup of Violets or Lemons, and then Purge with Sena and Cream or Christal of [Page 40] Tartar the quantity as before, infus'd in some of the Liquor you prepared your body with, or the Electuary a­bove, not Pills.

If Melancholly abound, prepare thy body, by boyling Fumitory, Balm, Mai­den-hair, Dodder of Time, Ceterach, Hyssop, Scabious, Agrimony, some of these, or such like, as before with the Roots of Smallage, Fennel, Parsley, Polypody, Butchers-Broome, Enulacam­pane, Orice, and the like, and Syrup of Maiden-hair, Apples, five opening Roots, or such like: then Purge with the Decoction of Epithymum, at the Apo­thecaries, or with Sena infus'd as be­fore, or the Electuaries, not Pills.

If Phlegm abound, Prepare thy bo­dy with Wormwood, Southernwood, Mugwort, Agrimony, Betony, Centaury, Calamint, Majoram, Motherwort, Peny­royal, Horehounà, Sage, Savory, and such like, in whose Decoction you may infuse Sena as before with Cream or Christal of Tartar; and in lieu of the Electuaries use the Pills. Now for the manner of using the VVaters.

CHAP. V. Of the time, manner and order of taking the Metallic and Mineral and Bath Waters, and other such like.

AS for the Time then, that is two­fold here; of the Year, and of the day: (prosint; Temporibus Medicina valet data tempore Et data non apto tempore vina nocent. for the Season of the Year, Sum­mer is the best, when the weather is commonly settled, warm and dry, and so they are commonly ordered to be taken in the Dog days; ‘Cum canis arentes findit hiulcus agros.’ but there are other times in Summer certainly as fit as that (for the Dog-days keep not always to one temper) as June and beginning of July, and after the Dog-days, many years are seasonable, as the Season falls out; and [Page 42]in general when the weather is clear, hot and dry, the Water is best; as well in Winter as in Summer; nay the VVa­ter is the stronger in hard, frosty wea­ther; the cold hindring the Spirits from evaporating; for in Rainy or Misty weather, when Jupiter doth, per cribrum mingere, piss through a Sieve, as Aristophanes merrily speaks, the Waters must certainly lose much of their Virtue.

Then as to the time of the day, the Morning about an hour after Sun-ri­sing is the fittest; for when the Sun begins to get power, it certainly at­tracts some of the Spirits of the Wa­ters, and so consequently not so strong; and then is the best walking.

Now as to the manner and order; 'tis best taking the quantity you are to take that day, within as small a space of time, as conveniently you can, with­out oppressing the Stomach; then you shall take a gentle walk before you Drink, so as to warm your blood a little, not to sweat or be ready to sweat, and so between every Glass.

Next as to the Quantity of Water to be taken every Morning, it cannot be justly defin'd or prescrib'd; in re­gard of the difference of bodies as to their Age, Sex, Strength, and other circumstances; in which you are wholly to be ordered by your Physiti­an; for though the drinking of the Waters be a Quacksalving, Empyrical Remedy, yet it ought not so to be used or administred; and every one ought to remember, that the best direction is from those things that help and hurt: some may begin the first Morning with three pints, or two quarts, or five pints, and so augment a pint, till they come to four Quarts, more or less as they find agree with their body and so decrease a pint by degrees. 'Tis not good to drink like some, ‘Invenies illic qui Nestoris ebibit annos.’ three hundred ounces, according to Nestor's years: Some between every glass eat a few Carraway, or Corriander Seed Comfeits, or Candid Elecampane, [Page 44]or Angelica, or Orange, Lemon, or Citron pills, &c. And certainly 'tis very ne­cessary that they should have some Electuary, Powder or Lozenge, or such like, (appropriated to the grief for which they take the Waters) appoint­ed them by their Physitian.

Having drank your dayly quantity of Water, you will do well to walk, or stir up and down, and compose your self to Mirth with some of the Company; for all cares and contrary passions of the Mind and Melancholly must be left behind: this done, in the Name of God go to your Dinner; if you perceive the Waters to be con­cocted and past through. Now the sign of their concoction is, that your Urine begins to be colour'd; which if you perceive not you may abstein a­while longer. If you drink the Wa­ter cold, take not any more after the first draught till that be warmed in your Stomach, and no heaviness be perceiv'd.

Now the Waters taken in so great a a quantity will force themselves a way [Page 45]either by Seige or Urine, yet some add opening Syrups as of Maidenhair, &c. or of Limons, or loosening ones; or Salt, or Manna, and Purging Powders; 'tis better to drink them at the Foun­tains, than some miles off; Then as for the time of staying to drink the Wa­ters, if you ask me how long it must be? Truly I must answer it cannot be exactly defin'd or order'd; some stay longer, some shorter time, some a fortnight, &c. some a month, some more.

CHAP. VI. Of the Dyet to be observ'd by those that drink the Metallic and Mineral Wa­ters, and for all other persons whatsoe­ver.

BY Dyet here I do not mean only Meat and Drink, as it is com­monly so taken by the vulgar; for with Physitians it hath a larger accep­tation; as comprehending, Air, Mo­tion, [Page 46]and Rest, things reteined and avoid­ed, Sleeping and Waking, and the Passions of the Mind: all these are to be duly and rightly order'd and observ'd, as most considerably conducing both to the preserving and restoring of health.

To begin then with the Air; now whereever you drink the Waters you must take the Air as it is, and be con­tented with it; otherwise if you will chuse for the best, you are to consider two things chiefly, its substance and its quality: its substance must be con­spicuous, pure and not corrupted, not putrify'd. A serene, pure, perspicuous and temper'd Air, that exhilerates the heart, illustrates the Spirits, and makes the blood apt to be distributed through the whole Body; so that there is nothing almost more healthful for the Body of man than to live in such an Air.

Next the Quality of the Air, that's from the Sun and Moon, &c. in the Spring, especially in the midst of its extreams, the Air is hot and moist; [Page 47] [...]n Summer, hot and dry; in Autumn, cold and dry; and in Winter, cold and moist; and the same may almost be said of the several parts of the day; for the Morning answers to the Spring &c.

The Moon changes the Air with its quarters; for the first quarter is like the Spring; the second Summer; the third Autumn, and the last quarter like Winter.

What is said concerning Air, I hope will not displease; for Air is of great concern in most diseases; thousands have been freed from deplorable disea­ses by change of Air only; yet change of Air may do harm, as if one goes out of a good Air into a bad one.

Next is Meat and Drink, whose sub­stance affords good or bad juice; is of good or bad Concoction, little or much nourishment: to preserve or recover health, Meat of good juice is very ne­cessary; for Diseases are produced from Meats of bad juice: light food and Spices beget thin Blood, which weakens and exhausts the substance of the Spi­rits; gross begets clammy blood, op­presses [Page 48]our natural heat and begets fulness, and bad humours.

For Quality hot, cold, moist, dry meats, do affect us with their qua­lities; the quality of Food when in health must be correspondent to the temper and age of the body; the Re­gion and time of the Year; but in sickness contrary, to reduce it.

For Quantity, we ought never to eat more than nature requires; fulness is the Parent of all bad humours; and fasting or a spae Dyet wasts the hu­mours and innate heat: and all manner of Dyet is either thin or sparing, or gross, or a mean; the first diminishes our faculties, the second augments, the last preserves them.

Custome is to be kept, for 'tis a second nature. For Rusties who are us'd to gross meat, as strong Beef and Bacon; better concoct it than tenderer meats, which are rather apt to corrupt in their Stomach: therefore things we are accustomed to, though worse, are better than what we are not.

A regard should be had to the Order [Page 49]of Dyet; so that Meats that are easie, are to be eaten before those of hard Concoction, so moist Meats are to be taken before dry.

Meats are not to be taken out of Time; those in health are to eat after exercise, and when their former meat is concocted; and generally at an ac­customed hour: to stay longer fills the Stomach with sharp, bad humors, and to eat before creates crudities. Nei­ther neglect the Time of the Year, in Winter 'tis best to eat more and drink less; let your meat and drink be hot and drying; as Roast-meat, and stron­ger drings; in the Spring eat less, but drink more and smaller drinks; and eat Boyl'd meats rather then Roast; and hotter than in Summer: in Sum­mer eat little and often; in Winter otherwise: let the sickly feed sparing­ly, for cold dulls weak Stomachs: the same is to be said of the Regi­on and Age; for we must eat more sparingly in an hot, then in a cold Country; so Young men require more Meat than Old; so Childrens Dyet [Page 50]must be moist, lest their growth be hindred by a dry one: to Boys hot and dry, a cold Dyet will be best; Boyl'd meat rather then Roast, much drink, but not strong; Young men from 14 to 25 of a temperate Constitution, require a temperate Dyet.

But here comes a question, How oft we are to eat in a day? which I think in general cannot be decided, because of so numerous variety of tempers; for Phlegmatic people, who are best able to fast, once a day may be enough; the Coleric, who easily is hurt by fasting, he may eat oftner but lit­tle; they may Breakfast, Dine and Sup, but soberly: let the Sanguine keep a mean in all things: let the Melancholic may take something thrice a day, whereby they may moisten their dry­ness. Most certain our fore-fathers were far more sparing than us; and so prolong'd their lives, and were active, strong, beautiful, tall: But yet we must not believe they fed only on A­corns, as Poetical Fables relate: but [Page 57]all manner of Fruits, Pulles and flesh: for Holy Writ tells us, after our first Parents were cast out of Paradise, they tilled the Earth, and sacrific'd Vi­ctims, whose flesh and intrails they probably fed upon. And 'tis most certain that Intemperance is the Nurse of Physitians; and that more perish by Gluttouy than the Sword. Our Ance­stors says Galen more rarely were sick, because they liv'd more temperately. Hippocrates, says, Women, and Eunuchs were not troubled with the Gout; but neither are free from it now; because of their Gluttony. Wherefore 'tis best to observe that Golden precept of Socrates, we ought to eat to live, and not to live to eat.

Again, At which repast is most to be eaten, Dinner or Supper? This questi­on hath been formerly so much con­tended for, that some of the Italian Physicians have written whole books, thereon. I am of opinion that it is more healthful to sup sparingly. First be­cause of the frequent experience of al­most an infinite of men, who have [Page 52]receiv'd the greatest benefits from a light Supper; the Stomach is least bur­den'd, and so sleep must be more plea­sant; Secondly, the matter is preven­ted, whereby they are obnoxous to De­fluxions, Rheumatisms, Gouts, Dropsies, Vertigoes, &c. that eat large Suppers. Thirdly, from a sparing Supper fol­lows more alacrity the next day; and concoction is better perfected, and so grevious obstructions are prevented, with many more diseases.

Another question may be, Whether Meals are to begun with Meat or Drink? Liquids or Solids? And here I am of opi­nion that we should begin with Li­quids; because they are soonest con­cocted; and then the concoction of Meat in the Stomach is performed after the manner that crude Flesh is in the pot; whece, the Prince of Philoso­phers, Aristotle, compares this first coction to the boyling of Meat in the Pot; but we first put water into the Pot, then flesh: which is to be under­stood of Broths and such liquid things, not Wine, or strong Ale or Beer, for [Page 53]they offend the Nervous parts of our bodies, and so cause Gouts and Scurvey humours; and fluctuations in the Sto­mach, whence is all coction disturb'd: (for this it was that Galen would have meat precede;) drink Broths first then some solid substance, then to drink, that all may be equally mixt in the Sto­mach, remembring what Schola Salerni, says, Inter prandendum sit saepe parumque bibendum. But not to eat any crude Fruit after Meals, as 'tis too common, but either boyl'd, roasted, bak'd or pre­serv'd may be moderately taken.

As for Drink, that appeases Thirst, and is the Vehicle of Food, if it be purely drink, as Water; it may be liberally drank, if the bodies be strong and firm; but if weak, sparingly, and the oftner. We here in England drink small Beer generally, and the poor fort ith' Country drink Whey and But­ter-milk, &c. of which hereafter.

Thus far of Dyet in General; now in particular, the first thing that occurs s Bread, the best is made of Wheat, leven'd better then unleaven'd. Now [Page 54]as there are several sorts of Wheat; so the Bread is of different nature where­of it is made; that which is made of the pure meal is best; the next is that with Meal and Bran; that made of all Bran is for Dogs; always remem­ber to put a convenient quantity of Salt into your Bread, against obstructi­ons.

Bread made of Rye nourishes less, and is not so easily concocted; but mixt with Wheat 'tis better, and af­fords a moderate nourishment. Barley bread, nourishes least of all; yet it drys and cleanses, and is the same with Oats, by all which you may easily conjecture at the nature of Miscelane. The old Proverb is, An Egg of an hour, bread of a day, and Wine of a year. The Crumb affords the best juice, and is of easier concoction than the Curst, which is dryer, and Schola Salerni says, Ne c medes crustam coleram quia gignit adustam, then cut away the burnt Crust: yet the Crust is not so much to be dis­approv'd as some suppose; for its a very convenient Food for those of a strong Stomach.

Hither are to be referr'd all kind of sweet-Breads, which in general are but bad Food, except Biscockt; for none of them are without their fault; among which are also Puddings, Pasties, Pan-cakes, Cheese-cakes, Cu­stards, and many such like, Quelque­chose, hony'd, sugar'd, milky'd, egg'd: all bak'd Meats are hurtful to the Stomach and Liver, seeing they most manifestly heat, obstruct and of­fend the inward parts.

The next are Fruits; of which this may be affirm'd in general, that they moisten and cool much; nourish little, yet some more, some less. All Fruits almost are endued with some bad qua­lities, and beget winds and serous, thin humours, and are very hurtful to distempers proceeding from obstru­ction, and putrid Fevers: of Fruits that will not keep long, and are soon rotten, the moister are to be chosen, and eaten in the first course; such are Prunes, Cherries, Grapes, but the more solid and such as bind more, and will not be rotten so soon, are to be eaten at [Page 56]the second course; among which are Quinces, Pears, Apples, Nuts, &c.

It is a most certain rule, that all Fruits that may be boyl'd, bak'd, or roasted, beget bad juice, if eaten crude.

As for Melons, Corcumbers, Pompions, they may in some measure conduce to hot Stomachs and Choleric persons, for they refresh and moisten much; but they beget thick, cold juice, and of hard concoction; Historians make mention of persons of great renown that dyed by eating Melons: and Pears, Quinces, Medlars, Services, &c. ought not to be eaten by healthful people, but after meals; and then but in small quantity, to strengthen the Stomach; Filbirds may be allow'd, as being of a temperate nature; Chesnuts beget thick Blood, Wind, and not easily con­cocted.

No Pulses are much to be commended; for Beans green are windy, disturb the senses, cause Dreams, and are of a a thick juice, hard of concoction and not much nourishing; Primrose says, [Page 57]they beget serous blood; &c. but dry'd they refrigrate, dry, and deterge also, apply'd in Pultises: Pease are of the same nature. Rice and French-Barly are the most excellent of all Pulses, be­cause they nourish most, and breed sewest Excrements: both moderately strengthen the Stomach, and are not of bad concoction: Ciches or Vitches, nourish more than Pease, and discharge the reins, by their Diuretic faculty, and therefore are thought to be profitable to those that are obnoxious to the Stone in the Kidnies: But it is best to use them sparingly, nor without the Physician's advice; for by the undi­screet using of them, neither few nor light symptoms may ensue; as also from the untimely use of any other Diuretics.

Herbs come next to be handled; In general all Herbs nourish little and are rather endued with altering quali­ties; for they heat, cool, dry, and moisten what way soever us'd. Galen extolls Letuce above all herbs; as endued with nourishing juice, but very [Page 58]cooling; and causing sleepiness: Next in coolness are Sorrel, Cichory, Porce­lan, &c. which may be profitably us'd dayly; Among hot Herbs are Sage, Thyme, Savory, Penyroal, Majoram, Rosemary.

Lastly, Roots are by all esteem'd windy Food, some nourish more than others.

Now the Food we receive from Ani­mals may be reduced to Flesh and Eggs in general: and Flesh to Fish, Birds, or four footed Beasts. Of Fish those that live about the Rocks, &c. are most commended; Sea-fish are better than River-Fish; standing Pools worst. All Fresh-fish beget Phlegm; are easily corrupted; dry'd and salt are of hard digestion, and burn the blood. The best are Trouts, Pike, Sole, Roach, Carp, Tur­bot; then Mackrel Perch, Skait, Eeles: for Tench, Crab fish, Lobsters, are of difficult coction; so last in goodness; Salmon is to be eaten with moderati­on. Fish, boil'd less good, fry'd bet­ter, roasted best because dryest. In general the Male better then the Fe­male, [Page 59]young (but not the very least) better then old; notwithstanding the old Proverb, Young Flesh, and old Fish.

As for Birds, &c. young better then old, those that feed upon Mountains and high grounds, are of easier digesti­on than others; Tame have tenderer and moist Flesh; wild harder and dry­er: those that are castrated are of a more pleasant taste than others: Birds nourish less, though sooner concocted than four footed Beasts. The best are Patriges and Mountain Birds, Cardan a a Physitian so highly extolls Patriges, if you'll believe him, that of them­selves he says they are able to cure the Pox, which he found by experience upon his own body, having, as he in­geniously confesses of himself, being infected therewith no less than seven times; next Woodcocks, Blackbirds, Doves, Pheasants, then Chickens, Pul­lets and Capons.

For Four-footed Animals, Fauns, Lambs, Pig, Weather, Veal, are best for taste and nourishment; Porks-flesh [Page 60]nourishes very much, but requires a stronger Stomach; Galen prefers it before all; Beef is grosser, and so be­gets more Melancholic juice then Mut­ton. Now there are several sorts of ways of Cooking this Flesh; roasting, boyling, frying, baking, &c. for dry bo­dies boil'd is best, for moist others; Broaths are of easie nourishment being soon distributed.

To this belongs Sauces and such things as are used in preserving of Food. As first Hony; hot and sharp; Sugar comes nighest to it not so hot; more pleasant and familiar to the Sto­mach. Salt is hot and dry; and so are all Spices. Mustard-seed is most hot and dry; Oyl is temperate: Vine­gar's temper is not decided; as Vine­gar 'tis cold; as made of Corrupt Wine, it retains somewhat of heat, but 'tis more cold than hot; it drys, provoks an Appetite, and strengthens the Stomach.

Hens, Phesants, Patriges, Turkys-Eggs are the best, Duck and Goose the worst: besides Eggs, we have Milk, [Page 61]Butter, Cheese, Blood from four-footed Beasts.

Milk is of a diverse temper, accord­ing to the Animal 'tis milk'd from. It consists of a threefold substance, wa­terish, whence Whey; thick whence Cheese; fatty and oily, whence Butter, Cows Milk hath most Butter, so it nou­rishes most, and cools less. Sheeps more Cheese so worse; Asses most Whey, so fittest to cool and moisten; Goats of a middle temper, Butter heats somewhat, nourishes little, losens and and softens: Cheese of thick bad juice so stopping, an Enemy to those sub­ject to the Stone ith' Kidneys: so the Proverb is very true.