THe ofter the science of phisyke with curious and laboured orations hath bene here in this place before the more ꝑt of you comended , Attencion & that of men of singuler eloquence ( moste noble audience ) so moche surely the lesse truste and confidence haue I , that I shal eyther satisfie so great a thynge , or answere to the expectacion of your delicious eares . For neyther a thynge in maner diuine , our rude infancy shall easely attayne , nor a vulgare and commen oration of a thynge so oftentymes herde may in any wyse escape paynful tediousnes to the hearers . But yet , leste I shulde seme to be defectyfe , & disobedient to the ryght holsome ordinaunce of our fathers , whiche haue iudged it mete and expedient with solempne orations the hertes and courages of youth to be awakened , kyndeled , and enflamed to the studie , admiration and loue of this noble science / my selfe also purpose to assay , to my power ( if so be your attētifnes and gentlenes wyll vouchesaue to helpe me in my speakynge , tenderly fauorynge whom your authoritie hathe dryuen to take this office vpon me ) of the right excellent science of phisike the dignitie , the authoritie , The proposition , profite and necessitie , I wyl nat say to open and expounde , whiche were vtterly an infinite busines , but in a brefe summe onely to knyt vp , and as it were to shewe to the sytes of the studious youthe a glymmeryng ( as a man myght say ) through a lattes●e wyndowe of the moste copious and plenteful treasours of a ryche quene . Per transennam . Of whome truely this ( if there were nothyng els ) is a soueraigne and excellent prayse , first that she neadeth nat at al that any man shuld her commende or set forthe , beyng set forthe sufficiently of her owne selfe with the vtilitie , The excedynge prayse of this science . and profite , which mankynde taketh by her , and also by the necessitie and nede that we haue of her . Secondarely that where as she hath ben alredy so oftymes of excellent wytte● commended , yet she fyndeth of her selfe alwayes to wyttes also that be nat very pregnauut newe mater to prayse her , so that it neadeth nothyng to prayse here ( after the commen vsage ) with enuious and hatefull comparisons nat without the preiudice and slaunder of other lernynges and craftes . Nay rather this thynge is more to be feared , leste her owne propre and domesticall gyftes and qualities , leste her naturall and germane amplitude , lefte her maiestie greater than is mannes estate and capacitie , no mortall mannes speache of tonge can compasse or attayne . So that she neadeth nothynge at all to be auansed and lyfted vp , other with any despitefull rebukes of other craftes , other with some borowed and paynted colours of the rhetoricians , or with the iugglynge castes of amplificacions . It apperteyneth to meane beauties , A sentenc● by comparyson of the fowler , or by gorgeous deckynge and payntynge , to be sette forthe and commended . But thynges truely and of them selfes excedyngly and passynge beawtifull , it is ynough to haue shewed them ye naked to the eye .

☞ For nowe first of al ( to haste vs to The dignitie and the auctoritie of phisike . our mater ) the other sciences I can nat denie because there is none of them but hath brought some great commoditie and profyte to the lyfe of man , haue ben in hyghe pryse and reputacion . But of phisike in tymes passed so wonderful to mankynde hath ben the inuencion , The inuencion of phisike . so swete the experience that the authours and fyrst inuentours therof , haue other ben taken playnly for goddes ( as Apollo , Apollo . and his sonne Aesculapius ) ye rather , Aesculapius . as Plinie witnesseth , euery thing inuented in this facultie and science was a cause sufficient to deifie and make goddes those that ware the inuentours , or at leste , they were estemed worthy of heuenly and diuine honours , as Asclepiades , Asclepiades . whom the I●●iricans receyuyng in maner as a god , gaue hym egall honour with Hercules . Surely I do nat allowe that the antiquitie dyd in this thinge , The zele of the old fat●er towarde phisicians but yet I can nat but prayse and commende theyr affection , zele and iudgement , whiche ryghtly both thought and declared that to a konnyng and faythfull phisicion no sufficient nor worthy rewarde can be yelded . For , if a man rec●unteth with hym selfe , howe many-fold diuersite there is in the bodies of man , how great varietie of ages , The difficulte of phisike . of male and female , of regions , of ayers , of educacion , of studies , of customes , howe infinite difference in so many thousandes of herbes● ( though I speake nothyng at this tyme of the other remedies ) whiche growe in sondry countrees , some in one place and some in an other , Than how many kyndes of diseases , whiche Plinie writteth were rekened vp in olde tyme iii. hondreth by their names , beside the membres and partes of euery kinde , of whiche al , howe innumerable a multitude there is , he shal easely gesse whiche onely knoweth howe many formes and fashons the feuers or ague hath ( so that of one the residue may be estemed ) beside those whiche dayly encrease newe and new , nor none otherwyse encrease , than if of purpose they semed to haue taken vpon them open warres with our crafte . Besyde , more than a thousande peryls of poysoninges of which howe many sortes ther be euen so many kyndes of dethes ther be , requiring as many differentes of remedies , Besyde the dayly casualties of falles , Casualties . of ruynes , of bra●tynges , of brennynges , of wrestynges out of ioynt , of woundes and such lyke whiche in maner do compare in numbre with the very rought of diseases , finally he that pondereth with him self , The knowlege of Astronomy is requisite to a phisician how great difficultie is in the obseruyng the heuenly Planetes which , oneles the phisician knoweth , aftentymes that shal be a poynson whiche is gyuen for remedie . I wyll nat here reherse the ofte desceyuable tokens of diseases , other whether ye beholde the hauour of the colour , or enserche the signes of the vrine or obserue the harmonie of the pulse , eue● as who shulde saye the euyls of mankynde were all to gether bent and sette to deceyue and mocke theyr ennemie the phisician . So greate a quantitie of difficulties and hardenesses on euery side come about and ouersprede them selues that it is harde for me them all with my wordes to compasse . But , as I began to saye , al these varieties of thynges with studie to attayne , these obscur●ties with wytte to comprehende● these difficulties with labour to ouercome , and persyng through the bowels of the erthe , bultynge out euery where the preuities of al the hole nature , out of all herbes , shrubbes , trees , beastes● precious stones ye finally out of euen the very venyms & poysons , to al the euyls of mans lyfe , liuely & effectual remedies to s●ke , & of these the ryght & due vs● out of so many authors , so many sciēties ye euen out of the very sterres & planettes to fetche , These I say so hydde , with care to rote out , so harde , with the powers of the mynde to wynne , so many , with memorie to compasse , so necessarie to the preseruacion of al mankynde to bryng forth abrode , do it nat seme vtterly beyond mans compasse , & playnly a certein diuine thyng ? Phisike is a certayne diuyn thing . Let no man haue enuye at my saynges . Suffre me boldly to speke that which is true as the euangel , I do nat boste my selfe , but I extolle & magnifie the very science . The effecte of physike . For if to gyue lyfe is the propre & peculiare benefite of god , surely to kepe & preserue it whan it is ones gyuen , and to retayne it styl whan it is euen now fleyng away , we muste of necessitie confesse to be a gyfte and benifite next vnto goddes , howe be it nat so moch as that former benefite which we wyl haue appropriate only to god , the plucked nat awaye from the phisiciens cra●te , whiche antiquitie although they were lyght of credence geuyng , yet vndowtedly they were full of gratitude and kyndnes . For by the helpe of that worthy phisicion Esculapius , It was thought in old tyme that the cra●t of phisicians raysed the deed agayne to lyfe . it was thought in olde tyme that Tyndarides and after hym many mo returned forth out of hell into lyfe and lyght agayne . Xanthus an historiographer leuyth to vs in w●ittyng that a yonge Lyon which was slayne , and also a man whom a dragon had kylled were restored agayne to lyfe by the vertue of a certayn herbe whiche they called Ha●in . More ouer one Iuba witnesseth that in A●rike a certayne persone was called agayne to lyfe by an herbe . Iuba . Nor I do nat greatly passe althoughe some persones perauenture wyll gyue litle credence to these . Surely ( the thynge that we go aboute ) these wonder●ull effectes of phisike do so moche the rather augment and encrease the admiration of the science , the more that they appere to be beyonde the credens of the trouthe and they constraine men to graunt that thynge to be of an incomparable excellencie , which in maner seme to surmont the truthe . Howe be it concernyng hym which is restored to lyfe , what recketh it , whether the soule be put agayne by goddes handworke into the forsaken lymmes , or by the crafte a●d cure of the phisicion , the lyfe or soule of man vtterly buried as it were in the bodie and oppressed with the powers of the disease which lyke a conquerour hathe gotten the vpper hande , be raysed and subtylly fetched out & hold styl , which els shuld without fayle forth with haue departed away ? be nat these two thinges in maner of lyke vertue and egal power , to restore the deed , and to saue hym whiche by and by shuld haue dyed ●But Plinie reherseth very many and that by name in the seuenth boke of the historie of the worlde , Plinie . whiche after ●hey were deed and borne out on the beare reuiued agayne partly in the very pytte where as they shuld be buryed or ( accordyng to the vsage of the countre in the pyle of wode wherin they shulde haue bene burned , whiche pyle was called of them Rogus ) & partely they reuiued many dayes after they were deed and before any burial . This we take for a miracle and a wonderful thynge / which a chaunce and a casualtie hath gyuen to a fewe . And is nat it than moche more to be wondered of / whiche dayly our science gyueth to many ? howe be it I can nat denye but the goodnes of god is to be thanked for this our science , to god we owe it / to whome , there is nothyng but that we owe● leste perchaunce a man wolde thynke these to be spoken more presumptuously and arrogantly than truely . Of many diseases suche is the violence and strenght , that death is certayne oneles the present helpe of the phisician be at hande , as that kynde of traunce whiche is wont to chaunc● moste to women , and as a depe and profounde syncopis , the palsay , with such● lyke . Nor there is commonly none but that ones in his tyme other seeth or hereth of suche examples of what nation so euer he be . He than which in this case dryueth awaye death whiche euen nowe hangeth ouer the pacientes heed and redy to stryke with his dart , he ( I saye ) that thus calleth agayne lyfe sodeynly oppressed / is nat he alwayes to be had and reputed in a maner as a certayne mercyfull god ? yes vndoutedly . Howe many men , thynke ye , were buried before their daye in olde tyme before or the witty inuencion of phisicians hadde founde out the strengthes of diseases & the natures of remedies ? howe many thousandes of men at this daye do lyue and farewell whiche shulde neuer haue ben borne oneles the same our crafte had inuented aswel remedies for so many daungers of chyldbaryng , as the feat & polecie of mydwyuyng ? So euen forth with in the very entrie into lyfe aswell the woman that lyeth in and laboureth● as the chylde that is in bearyng with lamentable voyce crye for the holsome ayde of phisicians . To the phisicians craft he oweth his lyfe , ye whiche as yet hath nat receiued life , whyle thrugh it abortions be prohibeted , whyl power is geuen to the woman of receiuyng & reteinyng mans sede , finally while the power also of deleuering and brynging forthe the chyld into this world is geuen . That if it be truely spoken of them in olde tyme . Deus est iuuare mortalem , that is to saye . A Latyn prouerbe . To helpe mortal men , is to be a god or the proꝑte & worke of a god , truly in my minde that noble prouerbe of the Grekes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whiche is , A Greak prouerbe . that man is a god to man , other hath no where his place , or vpon a faythfull and good phisician it shal be principally verified and haue place , which nat only helpeth , but also saueth And is nat he than an excedyng vnkynd person and in maner vnworthy to lyue whiche phisike the seconde ( next god ) parent of lyfe , the defendresse , the saueresse , the protectresse can nat fynde in his hart to loue , to honour , to magnifie , to worshipe ? Of whose ayde and socours there is no person but nedeth continually , for o● the reste of craftes neyther we all , nor yet alwayes haue nede● but in the profyte and vtilite of this , al the hole lyfe of man standeth , for ymagyne diseases were gone , ymagine prosperous helth to be with euery one , yet how shal we kepe it , oneles the physicyon taught vs the diuersite of holsome and vnholsome meates , oneles he taught a waye and a forme to diete our selues ? Age is a greuous and paynful burden to mortal creatures , which to escape is no more lawful for vs than deth it selfe . Phisiciā● craft kepeth backe age . But yet this age through the helpe and payne of the phisicion chaunseth to many men , both later than it shulde els haue done● and also moch more easelier and lyghter . For it is no fable , that by the quinte essentie ( as they call it ) agednes dryuen awaye , man doth floryshe and waxe a yonge man agayne by castyng a way ( as it were ) his olde skynne , sythe ther be bothe in writtynges and other wyses , many recordes of the same . Nor agayne nat onely of the body whiche is the vyler parte of man this our craft taketh cure , nay rather it taketh the cure of the hole man● althoughe that the diuine and professour of Theologie shall take his begynnyng of the mynde , and the phisicion of the body . For truely , The phisician cureth the hole man . because of the most streyght allyance and knotte of familiaritie of them twayne to gether , lyke as the vyces of the mynd do redownde into the bodie , so agayne on the other halfe the diseases of the bodie other do let , or els do vtterly quenche the strenght and power of the soule . who is so styffe and stronge an entyser and mouer of abstinence● of sobrenes● of mesuryng yre , of fleyng heuynes , of eschuyng surfete , of castyng away loue , of refrainyng the luste of body , as is the phisician ? who more lyueshely and effectually counselleth the syckman that if he wyl lyue and fele the holsome helpe and aide of the phisician that first he repurgeth his minde from the filthynes of vices ? The same phisician so ofte as he by geuing and prescribing a forme and maner o● diete , or by ministryng of medicines do minishe the colar or blacke Iaundies , refreshe the feble powers of the herte , vnderset the spirites of the brayne● pourge the instrumentes of the mynde , mende the wyt , repayre the habitacion of the memorie , and chaunge the hole ha●●our of the mynde into better , do he nat by the outwarde man ( as they cal it ) saue also the inwarde ? He that restoreth the frantyke , the madde man● the lethargike , the siderate , the lymphat do he nat restore the hole man ? The diuins effecte and worke is , that men conuert them selues from vices , but the phisician bringeth to effecte that there may be one that may conuert hym selfe and forsake his euyl lyuyng . In vayne were he a phisician for the soule , if the soule alredy be fledde , for whome the salue was prepared● whan the palsay , the apoplexia , or any other sodayne scorge do take a wycked man whiche disease wyl soner take lyfe away than suffre hym to thynke of the amendement of his lyfe he that restoreth this persone which els shulde haue ben miserably buried in his synfulnes , doth he nat in maner cal back agayne from hel both body and soule ? Surely he setteth agayne the man in that plyght & state , that now it may be in his election wheter he wyl flee or nat eternal damnation , what shall the diuine perswade the person that raueth , or is in such takyng that his wittis & sences be clene taken from hym , if he can nat heare hym that goeth about to perswade and counsel hym ? what shall the preacher or the curate moue the frantyke , if the phisician do nat first of al repurge the colour ? Charitie and the other vertues wherin the felicitie of a christian mans lyfe doth stande & henge chefely and principally of the mynde I denye nat , but hycause this mynde beyng so knytte and copeled with the body must of necessite ( wyl he or wyl he nat ) vse the instrumentes corporal , it cometh to passe that a good ꝑt of a good mynde doth depende vpon the nauour & temperature of the body . An vnhappy temperature of the bodye which we cal commonly a complexion ( the Greakes cal it crasis or sistema ) draweth many men to synfulnes yea in maner agaynst their wylles & stroggelyng & wra●tyng agaynst it , The phis●cian doth amende an euyl complexion . whyle the mynd● whiche ●ytteth on the horse backe gydeth the brydel in vayne , digge the spurres in vayne but maugre his wyl is constreyned to folowe heedlong the wyld and furious horse . I graunt it is the power of the mynde whiche seeth , it is the power of the mynde which heareth , but yet if any infirmitie take the eyes , if th● poores and is●ues of the eares be stopped & beseged with any grosse humour , in vayne & al for nought hathe the mynde his power . The mynde hateth , the minde is angry I agre wel / but yet the vitious & corrupte humour beseging the organs or instrumentes of the mynde is the very cause why thou hatest him whom thou iugest worthy to be beloued and arte angrye with hym with whome thou woldest nat . Plato confesseth the summe & chiefe of philosophie to consist and lye here in , Plato . if the affections obey the reason , but to bryng this mater about the phisician is the chiefe helper whose worke and labour it is that that parte of man shulde haue his strengthe and sauour by whose arbitrement and guidyng al thynges be done , whice be done wel and laudable If they be iudged vnworthy to bere the name of man whiche after the fashon of brute beastes be drawen and caried with lustes and sensualities , surely than we owe to the phisicians a great parte of the worthynes of this name● whiche beynge an hyghe and great thynge in priuate and common persons , howe moche more greater and nobler benefite is it beynge wrought in a prince . A phisician moste necessary to prince● None estate is more encombered with suche euyls than the estate of moste fortunate and blessed kynges . what araye what busynes and mischife shal the corrupt● brayne of one persone styer ? In vayne maye they that be of his counsell crye oute agaynste hym , thou arte madde syr ●ynge , come to thy selfe agayne , yf so be that the physician with his c●afte restore nat his mynde and wittes agayn vnto him , nether it wyllyng nor felyng . I● the Emperour Caligula had had a trusty and fayth●ul phisician , Caligula he shulde nat so with poysonynges & pryue morders haue raged to the great destruction of mankynde . And for this very cause it is comenly vsed through out al the uacions of the world that the prince kepe nor abyde in no place without his phesicians wherfore the wyse princes in tymes past haue gyuen to no science more honour or reuereuce than vnto phisike . The honour had in tymes pa●t vnto physike . For Erasistratus ( to passe ouer with silence the residue ) neuewe by the doughters syde to Aristotle for the helyng o● kyng Ant●ochus was rewarded with an hundreth talentes of Ptolomeo his sonne . More ouer also the holy escripture of god commaundeth due honour to be had to the phisician nat onely for the profite and vtilite which therby aryseth but also for the necessitie so that the ingratitude and vnkyndnes which is towarde other wel doers and welde seruers , Honora medicum is agaynst the phisician an impietie or vngodlynes , sith that the phisician as it were the helper of diuine benefite saue vp and defend that with his arte and science which god hath gyuen to man moste deare and beste , that is to saye lyfe . we haue nothynge but we may thanke our father and mother for it● bycause by them we seme in maner to haue receyued the benefite of lyfe . But we owe more in my mynde to the phisician to whom we owe oftymes the thynge whiche we owe onely but ones to our parentes , if yet we owe any thyng at al vnto them . we owe charitie and a certeyne natural zele to them which dryue awaye the ennemie from our necke , and do we nat owe moche more to the phisician whiche for our helth and preseruation fyghteth dayly with so many mortal & capital ennemies of our lyfe ? we adore & worship kynges euen lyke goddes , bycause it is thought that they haue power of lyfe and deth , which yet although they may kyll yet surely they can none otherwyse gyue lyfe but in as moche as they bereue and take it nat away , ●uen as we say that theues do saue those mens lyues whome they murder nat , nor these princes can geue none other lyfe , but the lyfe of the body . But howe moche nerer doth the benefite of the phisician approche to the benignite and goodnes of god , whiche draweth euen out of the mouthes of death with his crafte , wytte , cure , and faythfulnes the man which was euen now destinat & appoynted to the fyar of hell . In other thynges to profite man , we call it an humanite or a gentylnes● but to saue a man euen in the very daungeer of body and soule is more than a pietie or godlynes . Put here vnto , that what so euer is great and excellent in man , as lernyng , vertue the giftes of nature or what other thing so euer it be , of altogether we thanke the arte of phisike , in so moche as it saueth and mayntayne that thyng without whiche we coulde nat kepe vp the residue . If al thynges be for man , Argumē●ations . and the phisician preserueth man vndoubtedly we may thanke the phisician for all . If he lyueth nat , which lyueth accombred with diseases , and the phisician is he whiche restoreth & preserueth the prosperous helth is it nat conuenient to recognise him as the parent of lyfe ? If immorta●●te be a thing greatly to be desyred & wyshed for , the industrie of the phisicians doth ( asmoch as may be ) counterfayt it , whiche with theyr diligence attempt to prolonge i● so farre as is possible , for what shall I here recount vnto yo● t●e comen●y knowen examples , Pythagoras / Ch●●●pp●s / Plato / Cato sensorius / Antonius / ●astor● & besyde these innu●erab●e other of whome the moste parte by the obseruation and marking of phisike dyd prolonge theyr lyfe beyonde an hundred yeres without sycknes , neyther the freshnes of wyt endulled nor abated , nor the surenes and styfnes of memorie nat shaken , nor yet the senses brosed or enfeabled . I praye you is nat this to shewe as it were euen nowe here in this present lyfe a certeyne spyse , representacion , or ymage of immortalitie ? Also Christe selue hym the onely author redeamer and conquerour of immortalitie toke a body vpon hym whiche thoughe it was mortal , Christe was neuer sycke yet it was combered with no disease he abhorred nat the crosse but he abhorred diseases . And were it nat a fayre & a godly thynge for vs , also in this parte to folowe to our power our prince & lorde ? The apostles lyued in maner al a long lyfe , The apostles . we reade them beten , we reade them slayne , but we reade nat they were sycke . By what meanes so euer this thyng chaunsed vnto them , surely the phisicians craft parforme the same to vs , whiche their felicitie performed vnto them For I count nat them worthy to be herde which no lesse vnlernedly than vnshamefastly ar wont to caste this in our tethes , A confutacion . Virtus in infirmitate perficitur . That is to say , vertue is perfited in infirmitie , dreaming that Paule was combered with greuous heedage , where as he calleth the infirmitie , eyther the temptation of the mynde , or whiche is nygher to the truthe the bacbytyng & persecution of wycked persons . But the same selfe Paule , amonge the apostolical gyftes reherseth also the gyft of curyng or healyng . Donum curationis . More ouer this also augmenteth the glorye of phisike nat a lytle , that aswell the maiestie of the emperours lawes , as the aucthoritie of poPes lawes do frely submit them selues to the iudgement of phisicians as in cases of nonage whiche they cal pubertie , in cases of chyldbyrthes , and poisonynges , also in certayne questions touching matrimonie . O a newe and straunge dignitie of phisike . They go vpon lyfe and deth of a man , and the sentence of the iudge hengeth vpon the foreiudgement of the phisician . The charitie of the pope whan he pardoneth any thyng● he pardoneth or lycense the none otherwyse oneles the phesician alloweth and counselleth the same . Also the pope in his decrees , that bysshop whiche is complayned vpon to haue any foule or horrible disease by the iudgement of phisike iugeth hym other to be put out of his byshopryche or els to be restored agayne to his place . Also saynt Augustin commendeth al thinges to be done by the aduise of the phisicians althoughe the pacient wolde nat . Augustin Also the honour whiche is due to the phisician that is the rewarde of his craft and labour the same saynt Augustin writteth very wel that it is wrongfully taken away of hym that with olde it , as of an iniuste possessour and occupeyng with an euyl conscience that which is an others and nat his , ye more ouer these persones which with certeyne orisons and prayers made to the same purpose dryue out of mens bodies wycked spirites and deuyls , oftentymes take phisicians with them to haue aduise , as in those diseases whiche by pryuy and secrete meanes do marre and corrupt certeyne organs & instrumentes of the ●enses and spirite and do so counterfait a demoniacal spice , that they can nat be discerned but of very connyng phisicians , other whether they be certayn grosser deuyls ( as it is sayd ●heyr natures to be diuines and sundry ) whiche can fel● the cure of the phisician , or whether th● sycknes remaineth so deaply in the most inwarde parties of the mynde that it semeth to be clene straunge and of an other nature● than the body is . An example . In proue and witnes of which thynge , whyle that I repor● vnto you of innumerable examples one which I sawe & herde my selfe I pray you to heare me paciently . Panacens a phisician of an excellent and renowned fame floryshed whan I was a yonge man and was of my singular acquayntance . He ( I present & beyng witnes ) re●tored to helth a certayne person called Phlyari●s a spoletan borne whiche by reason of vermyn was fallen into a newe kynde of madnes in so moch that in his sycknes he dyd speake very well Dut●he which thyng before whan he was hole ( it was manifestly knowen ) that he coulde neuer do . who nat connyng nor sene in phisike wolde nat styflye haue sworne that this man was possessed with some spirite ? But this phisician with an easy and redy remedie dyd restore him , to his ryght mynde agayne . And whan he was ones restored agayne to hym selfe , he neyther coulde speke nor yet vnderstande the Dutche tongue . That if perchaunce some men wolde contend with me and saye that this man was in dede possessed with a deuyl , surely this thyng do moste of al auance and set forth the noble science of the phisicians to which ( it is manifestly proued ) that the wycked spirites do also obey , which our noble science is not onely the ministre but also the counterfettour and folower of the diuine vertue and myght aswell in the restorynge of lyfe , as in castynge forthe spirites . Nor there lacked none whiche slaunderously reported that this thyng was wrought by arte magyke or wytchecraft , whose slaunder I do turne to the great glorie & prayse of our arte wherby those thynges are brought to passe which the vulgare and lay people beleueth to passe mans powers . wherefore nat without great & iuste ●auses in the olde worlde whan vyle gaynes and foule pleasures had nat as yet vitiate nor corrupted al to gethers , The regarde of phisike in old tyme among all other sciences the onely art of phisike was chiefly regarded of the diuyne and moste noble men , of moste happy and ryche prynces , of moste renowmed senatours , nor there was no crafte more acceptable to mankynde , for that great man Moses Moses . ( as it is thought ) dyd in his lawes make distinction of his meates by none other wysdome or pollecie than by the reason of phisike . Orpheus Orpheus the most oldest of the Grekes dyd bryng to lyght many thynges● ( as it is read o● hym ) of the natures and powers of herbes . Homere . Homere hym selfe which was without question the onely fountayne of wittes is moche busied both in the rehersal of herbes and in the prayse of phisicians . He also paynted & describeth vnto vs Moly , The herbe called Moly . of all herbes ( as Plinie witnesseth ) moste comendable whiche is good and effectual agaynst poysonynges , the inuention of whiche herbe he assigne and attribute vnto Mercurie , with this herbe he armeth his wyse man vlysses agaynst the drynkes of the voytche Circe . Nepenthes . The seluesame Homer sheweth that Nepenthes an herbe ought to be had in feastes , by cause it dryueth away care and heuynes Moreouer he reherseth and rekeneth vp oftymes with great honoure Machaon , Machaon , Peon , Peon . Chiron , Chiron . Podalirius as excellent men in this faculty , Podalirius . by whose cure and handewerke he fayneth that nat onely the noble the dukes and princes were holpen , but also the goddes them selues meanyng without doubt and signifieng vnto vs that the moste hyghe princes haue nede of the helpe and socours of the phisicians , and that the lyfe of them is in the phisicians hande , which in al other seme to haue iurisdiction & power both of lyfe & deth● ye what wyl ye say yf the seluesame poet in the .xi. boke of his Ilias hathe renowmed and nobilitat the profession of this science withe the most hyghe and singuler commendation that can be gyuen , sayng . The onely phisician is to be had in greater pryse and reputacion than a great nombre of the reste of men , Agayne in an other place he noteth and marketh the phisician that h● called him lerned in al thynges , openly testifienge that whiche is mater in dede that this science do nat stande in one or two lernynges but in the knowlege and circuit of al artes , and more ouer ( besyde the exacte witte ) in the moche vre and experience of thynges . pythogoras wrot of phisik The great clerke pythagoras of the yle of Samos to whome the people of auncient tyme dyd attribute a certayn diuinitie left behynd him ( as we reade ) a noble volume of the natures of herbes . what great philosophers dyd study phisik Mithridates kyng of Pontus And to passe ouer with silence Plato , Aristotle , Theophrast , Chrisippe , Cato Censorius , and Varro , whose studie it was to intermeddel this science other with theyr gr●●t studies or els with theyr great payne & businesses , surly Mithridates king of Ponthus was nat so greatly renowmed neyther by his realme thoughe it were neuer so ryche , nor by the wonderful knowlege of the .xxi. straunge languages whiche he both vnderstode & coulde speke as he was by the knowlege and experience of phisike , which thynge declared hym a great man in dede , whiche noble kynge ( Plinie beynge myn authour ) lef● in writtynge commentaries , exampl●●● and experiences or effectes of this science . By whose name yea euen nowe at this daye there is a soueraygne kynde of triacle named . Now comenly it i● counted a princely pastime and mete for a noble kynge to playe at dyse , The 〈◊〉 of olde princes & lordes to hunt , to do trifels . But in tymes passed to the princes and rulers of the people of ●ome nothynge was regarded & more theyr care than to further the arte and science of phisike with bryngyng home newe and straunge herbes out of farre countrees , nor to that people whiche at that tyme hadde the dominion of al th● worlde there was no maner of gyft , no maner reward is more welcome and more acceptable , Christe called him selfe a phisicia● yea what that Christe hym selue the authour and prince of al disciplines and teachynges professeth hym selfe to be nat a great doctour or a great counsellour of the lawe , nat a great Rhetorician● nat a great Philosopher , but a great phisician , whyles whan he speaketh of him selfe sayth that they haue no neade of a phisici●n whiche be in helthe , and whyles he resemblynge hym selfe vnto a Samaritan poureth oyle and wyne into the woundes , and whyles he temperyng the erth with his spytel , sprede it on the eyes of the blind man , Christe gate the loue o● the people by hel●g theyr infirmities . what that the selfe same Christe chiefly by this commendation what tyme he was as yet vnknowen to the world dyd by lytle and lytle wynde him selfe into the myndes and affections of men , nat with gold , nat with empyrs , but with the remedies of sycknesses . The thynge that he dyd with a beck , or with a word of his mouth , the same the phisician doth to his power counterfait and foloweth Nor there lacketh neyther to those remedies and medicines a diuyne power and vertue , for the operations & strenghtes of healyng is euen from god to this very purpos and intent geuen to thynges . Nor he hath instructed the apostles with none other viauger more than with the gyft of healyng , comaundyng them that forthwith with this deserte and benefite they shulde wynne the fauoure of theyr ost that logeth them , healyng ( que he ) theyr infirmities and diseases and anoyntyng the sycke with oyle . S. paule plaith the phisician That great man Paule whan he counselleth his disciple Timothie to take a lytle quantite of wyne to stablyshe his stomake & the feblenes of his braynes , doth he nat openly take vpon hym the partes of ● phisician ? But what wonderful thyng is this in the apostle , The angel Raphael . syth the aungell Raphael healynge the blyndnes of Tobie gote hereby also his name amonge the writters and studentes of diuine thynges ? O howe heuenly and ryght holy is this science , Raphael is interpreted medicina de●. i. the phisik of god . of whiche the heuenly myndes haue their domination ? Among mortall people some studie & professe one science , some an other , but only this science ought to be studied of al , syth it is necessarie to al. But alas alas the croked and peruerse iugementes of men . No man can abyde to be ignorant of coyne , whiche is currant and lawful and whiche is vnlawful or counterfait , lest they myght perchaunce be deceyued in a thyng most vyle and of lytle importaunce , but they wyl nat study to knowe by what skylles and meanes they may preserue that whiche is the best thyng that they haue . In money they beleue nat other mens eyes . in the mater of lyfe and helthe do they blynfelde ( as they cal it ) folowe other mens iudgementes ? That if the absolute and parfite knowlege of the hole sciēc● can nat chaunce but vnto a fewe whiche haue appoynted and as I myght say dedicate theyr hole lyfe to this onely studie , It is very expediet for euery man to lerne so moche phisike that he may preserue his owne he●the . at lest it were mete and conuenient that of that parte of phisike whiche apperteyneth to the gouernaunce and preseruation of h●lth no persone shuld be ignoraunt . Although to say the trouthe a great part o● the difficultie & hardnes cometh nat of the very science but other of the bungerlynes and blynde ignorance , ●r els of the vayne glorie & ambition of leude phis●●iās . Alwayes ye amonge the wylde and barbarous nations the name of amitie hath ben counted holy and honorable , and he is taken for a singuler and ●ure frende which is a compaignon and a felowe both in prosperite and in aduersitie because that the commune sort of fren●es , lyke as swalowes in somer , Swalowes . so they in welth & prosperite be present and at hande , but in aduersitie , lyke as the sayd swalowes agaynste the commyng of wynter● flye away . Byrdes called Se●eucides . But howe moche more sure & substanciall a frende is the phisician whiche ( after the example o● certeyne byrdes whiche be called Seleucides which as they say ca● ●o where be espi●d of the inhabitantes of the mountayne of Casius but whan they nede theyr socure & helpe agaynst the violence and power of great butterflyes destroyng theyr corues / whan all thynges be wel and saufe he neuer putteth hym selfe in peryl , but in suche casualties in whiche both the wy●e & the ●hildren oftentymes forsaketh the man as in the fransie , the lowsy euyl ( whiche is called Phthiriasis ) and the pestilence the phisician onely is constantly presē●●nd he is present nat with an vnprofitable seruice , as the moste part of the rest● but he is present to helpe , he is present to fyght with the sycknes for lyfe & deth of his patient , & that many times putting his owne lyfe in ieopardy . And O more than vnkynde persons which preserued by the seruice of such a frend can fynd in their hertes whan the ieopardy is now driuen a way to hate the phisician & do nat rather r●uerence & worship him in stede of a parenteA commen frend that bideth them good morow , or good euen so oft as they mete him , i● for his kynd salutation called to super , he that taketh them curtesly by the arm● hym they recompence with lyke kyndnes , and wyl they shake of suche frende whan they leue neadyng of hym ? and for this very cause shake hym of , bycause they perceyue that they be nat able ( were they neuer so ryche ) to yelde due thankes vnto his kynde deseruynges ? That if he is the beste man which moste profite the commen weale , than surely he that coueteth to be best ought principaly to study this facultie . A commendation of the gaynes and lucre . But nowe if ther be any of thi● appetite which had rather measure the prisel of thynges with profite & gaynage ( albe it this arte is more hyghe & more diuine , than that it shuld be estemed by suche reasons ) yet I say if ther be any of that apetite whiche regarde lucre & gaines , this art wyl gyue place to none other science neyther in this behalfe , for ther was neuer none more fruteful , and auaylable , and so redy a craft to get ryches sodenly as this . Erasistratus . Erasistratus of whom I made mencion before was as we rede in Cronicles rewarded of kynge Ptolome and also Critobulus an other phisician was rewarded of Alexander the great● with ryche and in maner incredible gyftes , Critobulus . howe be it what rewarde can nat but seme to lytle whiceh is gyuen to the sauiour of the lyfe of him for whose onely lyfe so many thousandes of men dyd put theyr bodies and lyfes in ●eopardie ? what shulde I nowe make reher●al of other noble phisicians , as of the Cassians , the Caipitans , the Arunkes , the Albutis , of whome Plinie writteth that they had vnmeasurable gaynes in Rhome aswel with the prince and emperour as with the people . How be it what serch we these histories out of olde tymes , as thoughe at this day euery man can nat remembre ynoughe whom this science hath brought vp to ryches ahoue the ryches of Cresus ? Rhetorike , or poetrie , fynde none oneles he be excellent . The musician excepte he be passyng connyng he hath but a cold supper . The man of lawe hath thyne gaynes if he be nat depely and profundly studied . Onely phisike fyndeth and supporteth hym whiche is but so so lerned . A meane syght in phisike getteth a lyuyng . Phisike consist in innumerable disciplins , and in infinite knowlege of thynges , and yet it is often sene that one or two medicines or remedies shal fynde a fole that haue no lernyng at al. So that in no wyse this art can be condempned of barennes . Put this ●o , that of other crafts ther is no redy gaynes in euery place . The phisician where so euer he goth getteth his lyuyng . The Khetoritiā may blowe his nayles among the Sermates . The Ciuil law is nat so hyghly estemed in England . But the phisician whether so euer he goeth , in what partes of the worlde so euer he kepeth hath his honour & worship , his viauger foloweth hym . So that also the comune prouerbe of the Grekes can be applied better vp on no science than it is vpon this , A prouerb● . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●he craftesman getteth his lyuyng where euer he goeth . A confutation . But plinie or surly other that Plinie speketh of , take great indignation and be hyghly discontented that the profession of phisike shuld be a gayne● & a lucre . I graunt , this facultie is greater than that it shuld be subiecte & seruiable to lucre & gaynes . I graunt it is for vyle occupations to serue for gaynes . ●ut agayne on the other syde how g●eat an ingratitude , what an vnkyndnes wer it to do fraude and depriue this science onely of his mede to whiche no due no● sufficient mede can be requited ? A noble phisician euen lyke a certeyn god wyll saue frely without rewarde , he wyl saue yea them that be vnwillyng to be saued but agayne it is an impieti● and an vngodlynes nat to considre and acknowlege the benifite of the godly person . He lytle passe on thy rewarde , but yet thou art worthy to be punyshed by the lawes for thy notable ingratitude . But yet this natwithstandyng I knowe ryght wel that this noble sciece hath ben euyl spoken of both in tymes passed among the olde fathers , and also nowe at this day is euyl defamed among certeyn vnlerned persons . This art plesed nat Cato nat because he damned the very thyng , Cato dipraysed this science . but that he coulde nat abyde ●he vayne glorious profession of the Greakes , beyng hym selfe a mere Rhomane . And he gaue so moche to experience , that he wold nat haue it a science . But the selfe same Cato iudged it expedient that all the philosophie of the Crekes were vtterly expelled and banyshed the citie , for the grosse and hard man thought that brassica and ofte vomites dyd suffice to purge mans body , and yet he hym selfe so styffe an ennemy of phisicians by the obseruation & kepyng of phisike dyd ( as it is written of him ) preserue his myght and strengthe hole and sounde euen vnto his very extreme age . Also the rude & vnlerned people cast in our tethe , that the phisicians ar licensed with out punishementes to kyl men . Mary for this cause the rather good phisicians ar to be magnified and hyghly commended which wher as it is in their hande nat onely without punishment but also with mede to kyl , An obiection . yet they had rather saue . That they may , i● is a power , that they wyl nat , it is theyr goodnes . It is recited now in euery place at ale houses & tauernes among dronkardes this prouerbe . A prouerbe of ●oles . Qui medice viuit misere●● viuit . He that lyueth after the rules of phisike lyueth wretchedly . As thoughe it were an happynes and felicitie , the body to be swolen and stretched out with surfettyng , to be brasted wit● the pleasu●e of the body , to waxe foggyshe with drinkyng of good ale , & to be sepulte and drowned in slepe . But these Sycophantes and bakbyters what nedeth it to refel with my oration , syth they them selues paye sufficient penalties to our art for their skoldyng , beyng ●one after wrested with the g●ut , amased with the palsay , dotynge and lackynge theyr wittes before the due tyme , waxyng blynde and blereyed before age , and than at last beyng in this wretchednes they rechaunt and synge a newe songe praysing ( as Stesichorus dyd ) but al to late phisyke whiche before they dyspraysed . And yet to these persones though they be most vnworthy , the goodnes of the art dysdayneth not to lay to , her helpyng hande , and to socour them as moch as in her is . Out of Aristophanes . There be som maligners also whiche borowyng a tawnt out of that old comedie called phisicians , scatophagos , that is to say , deuowrers of turdes . As though for this very cause they deserued not chyefly to be praysed which to the entente they wolde secoure and helpe the miseries and calamitie● of men , are contented from theyr hyghnes and sublimitie to humble themselfes vnto these so vyle seruices , but if the phisicians were as scornfull and dysdaynfull as these be ful of skoldyng & raylyng , they myght on euery syde dye a pace without controllyng . But our art hathe this one thyng commune with good kynges , that it doth good and hathe an euyl name . And though there were most of al ( as there be ) in this sort and kynd of men , The leudnes of certeyne euyl phisicians maketh nat phisike to be e●yl . whiche beare them selues for phisicians whiche be nothynge lesse than phisicians , if there be whiche for remedies ministre poysons , if ther be whiche for gaynes or vayne glorie do counsell theyr syck patientes amisse , what is more agayn●t al reason & ●quitie than to wre●t and detort the vices of men to the slaunder of the science ? Ther be also among prestes auowterers and euyl lyuers , ther be among fryers , monkes , and other religious persons murderers , manquellers and pyrates● but what is this to the religion whiche is of it selfe the best thynge that can be deuised of man ? There is no profession so holy but that nourysheth a sort of naughty packes and vngracious felowes . It is a thynge with all vowes to be wyshed● that al rulers & princes were suche as becometh , them to be whiche be thought worthy of this name but yet nat because of this is the office of a prince to be damned , that some vnder that tytle playe the pyllers , tyrantes , an ennemies of the commune welthe . I wolde wyshe also my selfe that al the phisicians were , truely phisicians and that the greake prouerbe had no place in them . A prouerbe . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Many dryuers of the oxe , but fewe plowers of the erthe . I wold wyshe y● that holynes and purenes were perfourmed of al phisicians which the moste worthy phisician Hippocrates requireth o● his scolers whome he sware with a solempne othe . S●●●●●● tum Hippocrati● But yet we ought to endeuour our selues vnto it , althoughe we se it nat perfourmed of the moste part of them that professe this science . The epiloge or perclos● of this oration . But because ( O ryght worthy audience ) the cause which I nowe plede hath so great plentie and copie of mater in it , that it is very hard to fynde an ende of speakynge , leste I shulde nat perfourme that I promised in the begynnyng I thynke it nowe due tyme to gather to gether in a grosse summe all the prayses of it . For if so be many thynges are commendable onely by reason of antiquitie , than surely this arte or science was founde , fyrste of al other , euen for very necessitie . If the science be made the noblear by reason of the first authours and inuentours and inuentours of it , this science was euer thought to be inuented of goddes . If honour addeth any authoritie , no other science hath deserued diuine honours so vniuersally and so longe tyme . If those thynges be of great reputacion whiche be regarded and allowed of most hygh men / this studie hath nat onely delyted but also renowmed and auanced moste hygh kynges & potestates . Di●sicilia quae pulchra . If those thinges that be herde , be also fayre and godly / there is nothing more buysy more laborious than this , whiche rested in so many disciplines and in the serchyng out and the experience of so many thynges If we estyme the thynge by the worthynes and dignitie therof / what thynge is more excellent than that , whiche goeth more nyghe to the bounty of god ? If by the faculty and power , what thyng is of more myght and strength / than to haue the power restore agayne the hole man to hym selfe whiche els shulde certenly haue dyed ? If we mesure the thynge by necessitie / what is so necessarie as that , with out whiche we can nother lyue nor be borne ? ●f by the vertue , what is more honeste , than to saue mankynde ? If by the vtilite & profite , the v●e of nothyng is neyther greater nor whyther . If by the gaynes and auauntage , other this science muste nedes brynge in great lucre and ryches , or els men be very vnkynde● wherfore for your causes I greately reioyse ( o moste excellent and famous in this science ? A gra●●lation . whome it hath chaunced to excel in this moste goodly kynde of profession . An exhortation . And you ( yonge men ) I exhorte this science to loue & embrace with al your brestes , ●pon this set your studies with all the veynes of your bodies , whiche shal bryng vnto you renowme , glo●rie , authoritie , ryches / by whiche ye agayne on your parte shal bryng to your frendes , to your natiue contre , ye and ta al mankynde no smal profite and vtilite , I haue spoken .