Galens bookes of elementes, as they be in the epitome (whiche may very aptly, in my iudgement, be entituled, for the better vnderstanding of the readers, the originall of all thinges naturall in the vvhole vvorlde confuting, as well the errours of all them that went before time, as that hath, or shal folowe hereafter of the Paracelcians : marueilous pleasaunt, and most acceptable for all sharpe wittes, desirous of wisedome) / published foorth of Latine into English, by John Jones ...

❧ GALENS BOOKES of Elementes , as they be in the Epitome ( whiche may very aptly , in my iudgement , be Entituled , for the better vnderstanding of the Readers , The Originall of all thinges naturall in the whole worlde : Confuting , as well the errours of all them that went before time , as that hath , or shal folowe hereafter of the Paracelcians : marueilous pleasaunt , and most acceptable for all sharpe wittes , desirous of wisedome , ) published foorth of Latine into English , By John Jones , Phisition .

¶ Jmprinted at London , by William Iones , dwelling in Paules Churche yarde , at the Southwest doore of Paules , and are there to be solde . 1574.

❧ TO THE RIGHT honourable , and moste trustie Earle , George , Earle of Shrewsbury Earle Marshal of England , Lorde Talbot , Furniuall , Varden , and Straunge of Blacke Mire , Knight of the most honourable order of the Garter , and one of the Lordes of the Queenes Maiesties moste honourable Priuie Counsell , and Justice in Oyer from Trent Northwarde &c. John Jones wisheth al health with daily encrease of honour .

HIppocrates , thauctor and parent preordinated by Goddes diuine prouidence , for the helthe , welthe , and benifite of all mankynd , whose wordes , and aucthorities we admitte , receiue , and allowe , together with Galen , as Oracles from Heauen , seemeth vnto me , most noble Earle , neither to haue written rashely , as diuers did of olde , nor yet vnprobably , as other haue of late , wherof I haue made mention in my discourse of the natural beginning of all growing , and liuing thinges , &c. But rather moste diuinely , and Philosophically in entreating of the Elementes of mans life , Fire , Ayre , Water , Earthe , omitting with Hipp . the moste simple , Libr . de Carnibus . not receiuing these foure qualities , vt Coelum , Spherae , Stellae , Planetae , as Heauen , Spheres , Starres , and Planets , entreateth here of those simple bodies , the Elementes , receiuers of the foure qualities , whiche be the beginners of all thinges vnder the Moone : whether they be Inanimata , without life , and imperfectly mixt , as the Meteors , or pefectly , as the Minerals , or Animata , with life , Vegetat , sensit , & Rational , growing thinges , as Hearbes , Plantes , and Trees , &c. Liuing thinges , as Beastes , Foules , and Fishe , and reasonable , as Mankinde , all hauing their originall of the Elementes , not of things void of sense , and vnsufferable , neither of thinges with sense , and vnsufferable : not of the first Elementes , Suffering , and feeling : neither of thinges suffering without sense , but of the foure Elementes , Fire , Ayre , Water , Earthe , as a Language of an Alphabet , and not of one Element , more then this word ( Iohn ) can consist of one letter ( I. ) alone . The whiche olde Hipp . righte aduisedly dooth approoue , writing after this maner : In Lib . de nat. hominie . Qui obsecro fieri potest , vt ex vno quicquam constituatur , quum ne ex pluribus quidem possit , nisi ea probe fuerint contemperata .

How can it be , I pray you , that any thing may of one thing be compounded , seeing of many thinges it cannot , except they be well tempered : comprising briefely and most pithily the summe of the mater .

The nature , propertie , maner of mingling , and diuisions , as wee haue very briefly handled in our Tables of Bathes aide , to the prudent Earle of Penbrooke , your honours Sonne in Lawe : so be they at large taught of Galen , in both his bookes ( de Elementis . ) And do now dedicate them vnto your Noblenesse , as a perpetuall argument of my faitheful and constant seruice towardes your Lordship , for a presente of this newe yeare : emboldened and animated the rather so to doo , because it is manifeste , as well of Buckstones Bathes benifite , as also by the worthy acceptation of my preseruatiue water , that your honnour doth not a litle esteme : rewarde , and commende them that take any small paine in setting foorth that whiche may profite the posterities , as these workes of the very principles of al Philosophie and Phisicke , and therefore thereunto to be annexed : the argument whereof further to dilate vnto your puissaunce , sholde be insteede of a preamble , ( perhaps ) meere tediousnes , the graue affaires of our weightie and most mightie state , whiche you further so nobly , vigilantly , and faithfully ( according to the Prouerbe , with tooth and nayle ) considered , the whiche state , God , I beseeche , in all maiestie long to continue : Oh ingenious head , fraught full of alveritie : Oh godly breast , preseruer of all tranquilitie : Oh inuincible , and soueraigne harte , Elizabeth , daughter of the victorius , and triumphant Henry the eighte .

Thus , hoping that these workes by vs published should seme any lesse englished ( albeit ) rightly Ad Verbum , & Sensum , then with Sir Andr. Lacunae Knighte , Doctour of Phisicke , ( in Latine abridged forth of the Greeke ) that your Honour of your accustomed lenitie wil enterprete it to the best , equall to whom in liberalitie , I knowe fewe , in fidelitie fewer , in affabilitie none .

Your Lordshippes alwaies to commaunde , John Jones .

❧ Galeni Pergameni , de Elementis Liber primus .

SEing that an Element is the leaste portion of the thing whiche it ordayneth , neyther is that same it which is séene in déede , very small , it manifestlye appeareth , that the sense is not a Iudge of them whiche be the very Elementes , according to the very nature of euery thing . Therefore wée with Hipp . ouerpassing those which be firste in the iudgement of sense , and moste simple , will enquire for those , whiche are in déede Elementes of mans life , and whiche can not bée dissolued into other : and bo no lesse necessarye to cure sicknesses , then those whiche to the sense séeme suche : that is , whether it be one truely in kinde , or els more , and vnlike . If so be , that they be not onely one , but moe , and diuers Elementes , wée muste séeke againe how many they be , as what , and of what sort , and what fellowship they haue together . Therefore , that the first Element , of which both our bodyes , and also the bodies of all other doo consiste , is not one , eyther in fourme or power , Hipp . teacheth by this reason .

If a man were one thing , he shoulde not be gréeued , and if so be he were gréeued , it shoulde require one and onely medicine , comprising wel and briefly the summe of the mater . For if a man were one thing that is framed of one Element , there shoulde be nothing , through whiche he should féele payne .

If so be that he were afflicted with any griefe , there were but one waye , and one medicine to cure him . For when as he coulde not be hurte through any outwarde cause , it ought necessarily to suffer inwardly of his own nature . And when as there is one onely nature of euery one , there shal be one affecte , and the waye to returne to the naturall state , shal be one : whiche is a verye absurditie , seeing there be infinite kindes , as well of sicknesses , as of remedyes . By the same reason also you may reprooue the reasons of them , whiche haue brought in , that ●… tes without all qualitie , and alteration , and also bodyes vnmade , to be the beginning of all generation . For a man shoulde not be gréeued , if his nature were such , séeing that it is necessary , that it which gréeueth , shoulde be a receyuer both of sense and alteration .

If so be , that it be without all alteration , it will alwaye kéepe the same state , whiche it had from the beginning . And nowe if it be chaunged , and yet there be not in it naturall power of féeling , it can nothing more féele the affections ; then stoanes doo féele .

Therefore , séeing that bothe these are required in these chaungings , and in bodyes truely , if wée did grow eyther of them , or any suche like , or vnifourme nature , wée shoulde not be gréeued . Therefore wée truely are not made of any vnifourme , or simple substance . Furthermore , séeing there be two instrumentes , by whiche all opinions be founde out , that is , reason , and experience . Neither of these wil so serue them , that they shal finde any thing made of them , whiche are altogether impatible or vnsufferable , and without sense , whiche after wil be suffering and partaker of feeling . Nay verily , although al those motes had an ingraffed sense , and were impatible , and not able to be pierced , so that of the onely mutuall ioyning of them , the fleshe it selfe should be engendred . Neuerthelesse , wée shoulde not féele a néedle impacte , or pricte any more , then when wee seperate the fingers ioyned therewith . Therfore it resteth , that a féeling bodye shoulde eyther be of those , whiche likewise haue force to féele and suffer , or of those whiche can suffer , but after haue no sense

And wée will weigh anone whether of these is true : If therefore an Elemente cannot be impatible , it also shal not be one in kinde . If so be , that which is one , is alwaye vnsufferable , séeing there is nothing left , into which it may be chaunged , or of which it may suffer , for whatsoeuer is chaunged , is chaunged into an other , and that which suffereth , suffereth through an other . Therfore , séeing it is nowe prooued , that there be many Elementes , let vs enquire for the number of them : yet first let vs distinguish the sectes of them , whiche vniuersally dispute of Elementes : for they are brought into foure . The firste of whiche , is that whiche he pronounceth to consiste of thinges voyde of sense , and also vnsufferable . The other whiche consisteth of thinges indewed with sense , but yet vnsufferable : whiche be subiecte to alteration . Both which in this doe agrée , that they both stande of thinges vnsufferable . Wherfore , séeing they teache them to be vnpossible , let vs let them passe .

There be therefore behinde two : the one , whiche constituteth a féeling bodye , of the firste Elementes , hauing facultie both of suffering and féeling : An other of thinges suffering , but without sense , both agreeing , that they consist of thinges sufferable : betwéene eyther of whiche sectes , what possible thing doth it contayne . For if you wil trye , and examine by reason the partes , those whiche be of bodyes , hauing power of féeling . If so be , that you shall trye the first elementes , it may easily be , that although they be sayd to haue no sense , so that they can mutually , and manyfoldely doe , and suffer vppon them selues , some bodye endewed with sense , maye be engendred thereof , many particular alterations comming betwéene . For as oft as any thing is made of many thinges , if those thinges whiche come into the composition , suche as they be , shall oure such vnto the ende , that shal neuer attayne any new or purchased fourme , whiche was not before in those thinges of which it was made . But if they many wayes be varied , chaunged , and mingled , then there maye something arise in the thing compounded , whiche may be of an other kinde , to those whiche were founde in the firste Elementes of it . Wherefore , they that will haue a body to be engendred of Fire , Ayre . Water , and Earthe mutually chaunged , and altered , and brought to a certaine temperature endewed with a sensitiue facultie , they doe pronounce thinges agréeable vnto truthe .

But they whiche pronounce of them remaining , as they be , and mingled onely , as Wheate , and Barley , and Beanes are in an heape , they truely doe followe those thinges , whiche can not be done .

By these therefore it is shewed , that Elementes are moe then one , and also that they can suffer , which Hipp . confirming , saith : Howe , I pray you , can it be , that any thing , may of one thing be compounded ; séeing of many thinges it can not , except they be well tempered . But whether sensible bodyes doe consiste of the firste Elementes , in all the whiche there is force of féeling , or of those rather whiche doe wante them , it is not yet shewed .

Furthermore , that many doo lacke sense , it is thence euidente , that some of the compounde be suche . This therefore is a foolishe opinion , as well of the naturall Philosophers , as of the Phisitions , whiche doo affirme , that there is one Element of man , or of all thinges vniuersal . For Thales , Anaximenus , Anaximandes , & with them Heraclitus doe endeuour to shewe , because of the mutuall alteration of Elementes , they sée all thinges to growe out of kinde , into other that be néere them , euery one of them to be an vniuersall Elemente : yet so that one appoynteth one thing , an other , an other . All the whiche doe séeme to mée , to haue dreamed of that firste mater subiect to all Elementes , whiche they sawe to be one : so also they suppose an Element to be one . But they whiche pronounce all thinges to be one thing , do● destroye the beginning of natural Philosophie , and also of Phisicke , and therefore against them wée muste not dispute . And this is contrarye to all reason , if because there is seene none of the foure Elementes in the body , pure and sincere , a man woulde denye , that they all are not founde in a man . For why , will you in the bodyes of liuing creatures , finde earth , for example , vnmingled and pure , séeing in the whole , suche cannot be shewed of them : for what soeuer parte of it you shal take , that wil be partaker of suche heate , or humour , and ayre substaunce , yet that earth which wée suppose to be an Element , is moste thicke , heary , and besides that , colde and drye . If so be , that thou shalt in all the world , shewe me a stoane , an earthy body , truely , I will shewe thee in the bodyes of liuing creatures , some thinges like vnto it , that is , the kinde of boanes , the heares , the gristles , and stoanes . Séeke not therefore in the bodyes of liuing creatures , any thing vnmingled , séeing you shall not finde that in the whole worlde , without counterfeiting . But as often as you shall sée any colde parte drye , and thickie , let it he ynough to call into thy memory , earth , and let it be ynough to behold any moyste thing , thinne and flowing , to conceiue in thy minde water . Also the heate of the liuing creature . Let it present vnto thée Fire , and also the nature of the breath , without the whiche a liuing body cannot consist , let it bring to your memory firste Ayre , then Fire .

Neither can you denye , that all fruictes are engendred of the earth , and of the water , séeing of them they may séeme to haue their beginning , & that they be partakers of Fire , and Ayre tempered vniuersally .

Hence you maye gather , that if you macerate , or stéepe earth in water , you shal make it nothing but clay , and fruictes be not claye . If therefore fruictes doo take their beginning of the vniuersalitie of Elementes , there is not , why you shoulde doubt of liuing creatures , but that of them they may be nourished .

Therefore , boldly it is to be professed , that Fire , Water , Ayre , and Earthe , to be the firste , and the common , and moste simple Elementes , and beginniners of all thinges , of whiche verily , both Plantes , and also all liuing creatures , are engendred , nourished , and encreased , for in them alone you shall finde the chiefest qualities , without any mingling , or temperature .

In Earth , especially colde and drithe , in Fire especiall , heate and drithe . In the other , the other qualities , according as euery ones nature dothe require . But to estéeme any Element to be especially moyste , and also to suppose that to be some thing diuers from water , is a pointe of extreme foolishnesse .

Furthermore , that the especiall heate is simpler then Fire , and that by it added to the mater , the Fire is engendred , it is confessed of all Philosophers , whiche truely dooe confesse vniuersally , that a certaine mater without qualitie , ( which is subiecte to all Elementes ) and also an especiall heate , which is produced in it , is to Fire the beginning of generation , and also that the mater it selfe , is frée from all generation , & corruption : and the qualitie to be that , whiche in it is bothe engendred , and perisheth . But an Element in that dothe differ from a beginning , that beginnes , shoulde be in the same kinde with those , whose beginninges they be , and Elementes doo alwayes appertayne to the same kinde , for a simple qualitie , is the Elemente of a compounde qualitie , and a simple bodye , of a compounde bodye . Séeing therefore , hote , moyste , colde , and drye may be thrée wayes saide , that is , either as a qualitie , or els , as an vnmingled bodye , or as that whiche is mingled , and the qualitie not séeme to be an Element , nor yet a mingled or temperate bodye .

It is too common , that wée saye , an Elemente to be that bodye , whiche is without mingling and temperature , and also simple of qualitie . Wherefore , at the length we are come necessarily to Fire , Ayre , Water , Earth , in whom firste there is especiall heate , especiall colde , especiall moysture , especiall drithe . Which Elementes altogether , or some one alone , we doo commonly vse as water , daylye when wée doo drinke , or be washed , Ayre , whiche doth enuiron vs , while wée drawe it in by breathing , Fire also , when wée are colde , wee vse that wée may be hote .

Furthermore , liuing creatures , which eate , eyther sande , earth , stoanes , clay , yea , or boanes , doo plentifully bring earth into their bodyes . Wherfore , I truely doo not sée ; why many men doo saye , that neyther Fire , nor Water , nor Ayre , or Earth be taken away , or added to our bodyes , and therfore that they be not Elementes of our bodyes .

If so be , that any doo therfore thinke , that we do not shewe in our bodyes any Element , because no man is so heated , that he burneth , or drinketh vntil he be burst , they doo not vnderstand , that if one Element doo perishe , the liuing creature likewise perisheth . And the old Element shall perish , if it be turned : the hote , if it be ouer cooled : the moyste , if it greatly waxe drye : the drye , if it more then méete is , be moystened , Whereupon the mater standeth otherwise then they think : for alwaies there is eyther some Element added to the body , or els taken away , that which must be moderately done of them that will the liuing creature to be kept sounde : If so be , that immoderate vse of Elements bréedeth to death . Therfore , séeing no qualitie can be founde aparte from substaunces , wée are compelled to receyue them together with the substaunces , and so to geue them to the bodies , which made them : whiche if they require them especially , wée minister the Elemente it selfe . I saye , Fire , Ayre , Water , Earth . But when a meane qualitie is necessary , we vse a medicine mingled of the Elements , and sometime of a nourishment . Neyther is the Element at any time profitable , as a medicine , but when the body néedeth an especiall qualitye . And that Hipp . by the name of qualitye doeth vnderstande often times a bodye endued with an especiall qualitye : we maye gather by this saying . If so be where be saieth , when a man dyeth , it is necessarye that euerye part returne to his owne nature , the drye to the drye , the moiste to the moiste , the hote to the hote , the coulde to the coulde . He calleth drye moyste , hote and coulde , not onely qualities , but also substaunces , in which those qualityes are founde : for those they be whiche the Creature being deade , doe departe , and are mingled to the Elements of vniuersalitye .

But wee will saye that the qualityes , the Creature being dead , do dye , but not to returne to theyr owne nature . Wherefore there is not why any man any more shoulde goe about to perswade that hée supposeth liuing Creatures to bée begotten of qualities , which can not consist a parte from the bodyes , but of bodies in which those especiall qualityes bée , for they are common Elementes of all . And those which for any excellencye of these are called Whote , Colde , moyste or dry , are proper to euery one .

A man therfore consisteth of most simple and sensible Elementes , which are called similar , or simple , or lyke . And they againe of the sowre humors , which also doe take their beginnings of things to be eaten and dronke . But these are engendred of Fire , Ayre , Water , and Earth , which truely be constituted of no body any more , but of mater and qualities onely , which we graunt to be the beginnings of them , but not at all the Element : neuertheles the Element hath of the qualities that he is an Element .

If so be that especiall heate be added , that whole Elemen wil be Fire , and so we must saye of the other thrée qualityes . And of none other qualitie , but of these fowre an Element is iudged .

But of the proper Elements of Creatures , that is , of humors we must intreate in the next commentaries , for of that the similar parts are engendred . These agayne méeting together , that first most simple instrument is finished , which for the great function or office of one , is by nature prouduced , then when these are framed together another greater instrument is made , & then the perfectnes of the whole body . Therfore that we may repete the whole disputacion , if we be gréeued , our substaunce shal not be one in kinde , nor yet vnsufferable . But wée he gréeued , therefore it shal not be one in kinde , nor sufferable . Againe , if it suffer , it behoued that it heated , cooled , moistened , or dried , should suffer , séeing those which be next cannot by any other meanes be altered . Whole by whole , wherfore it is euident that heate , cold , moisture , & drines , doe constitute or frame the substaunce of euery thing . But how those which are mingled may be mingled , the whole by the whole , whether by the only quality , ( as Arist . supposeth ) or whether the substances , they mutually entering into them selues , it is not néedefull for a Phisition to trye . Yet let this suffice to haue spoken in this present , that if wine ( for example ) be mingled with water , the partes of both these are scattered into the smallest , and by & by , they doe mutually doe and suffer togeather , and so much the easier they do communicate the qualities mutuallye vntill they be brought into lesse through longer mouing and mingling . For in time of necessity the partes of those thinges which are mutually mingled will exactly worke vpon them selues , and exactly suffer , and so all that wilbe one , and on euerye parte like it selfe .

❧ Galeni Pergameni , de Elementis . lib . 2.

THerefore as hote , drye , cold , and moiste are the common Elementes , beginners of all thinges , so Blood , Flegme , & blacke Coler and Yelow are the proper Elements or beginning of thinges endewed with blood . But proper to men be the similar particles , although these be common to many endewed with blood , as Oxe , Dogge , and Horse , yet not like to men . But veryly that the partes of all Creatures hauing blood be engendred of their mother blood , it is euident inough , whiche séeing it is partaker of Flegme , and also of other coler it is shewed , by which reason Hipp . perswaded , hath taught that the foure humors be the matter to engender man . Furthermore , Fleshe and Sinowes bée partes similar or simple , and séeing the Fleshe is Blood , and beside softe and hote , but the Sinowe without blood , hard & cold , and also other parts haue other differences . It séemeth agréeable vnto reason , that wise nature at what time shee framed the issue or infant of the mothers blood to haue drawen that which was thicker to constitute sounder bodies , that which was thinner to the softer , and that which was hotter to the hotter , that which was colder to the colder .

And in the time folowing , that euery one of the parts fourmed had his proper Eliment or nourishment , and encrease , of proper and particuler matter , for euen as in Milke there is founde both milke , and also a certaine chéesie substaunce , so in blood you may finde a certaine thinne liquour much like the whea of blood , and also as it were a certaine mudde and beside , the fibres which being taken from the blood , as the blood shall no more encrease , so also it shall in colour bée varied , wherevppon the blood is not simple . Otherwise it shoulde be alwaies like both in men and beastes . But by experience wée maye knowe the contrarye , bothe of the varietye of colours , and especially of thinges which are euacuated by purging Medicines . Whiche truely if they be well ministred , they wyll drawe vnto them according to the differences of sicknesses iuyces perticular and differing . Against whiche Asclepiades endeuoureth to perswade , that is , that the medicines doe not drawe vnto the familiar iuyces , but to chaunge and to corrupt them , and to alter them into theyr owne nature , which truely as they bée most absurde , so those thinges which daylye we sée done by immoderate purgations , doe shewe most euidentlye howe euery medicine doeth drawe their proper humors . If so be that as often as any man hath receyued a medicine which hath power to clense choler , first it shal expel such humor , by vomitte , after Flegme , then blacke choler , lastly pure blood , which being euacuated , the soule departeth . If you giue a medicine dissoluing Flegme , that shall first bée emptied , then Yelowe coler , because , it is easie to be brought forth , after blacke very stubburne and resistyng . And laste of all blood is alway brought foorth because it is set very néere nature .

Therefore , when that first humor is euacuated , the liuing Creature cannot then bée in health , when it hath loste one of his Elementes , but it is altogeather dissolued and perisheth . And then out of the rest there floweth humor which is more fit to bée clensed , because there is a certaine naturall power to euery thing to draw those thinges which be conuenient for it . As in the Loadestone there is force to drawe vnto it Yron . And through this facultye , both nourishmentes and euacuations are made , it drawing alwayes that which is expedient , yet often with this , something which is not expedient , so that sometime it commeth in vse to haue purging medicines , which truely when they haue drawen that flegme or coler which doeth abounde , they catche vnto them some peculiar humor of the sounde partes , by a certaine force and dissoluing , and melting them , and bringing them to Elements , and committing the creature to death , and another certaine humor followeth the violence of this attraction of affinitye vnto it , which first was drawen by force .

FINIS .