A Regiment for the Wynter .

BECAVSE I finde the constitucion of the aire ( from the .xii. of December .1558 . vntil the .xi. daye of March so lowing .1559 ) to bring forth muche colde , rayning weather , pestilentiall and stinking mystes , by reason of Saturne in the East , as I haue saide in my Prognostication : causing Flegmatick humors to abound of whiche shall spring Catarrhus , Reumes , Head ache , Pestilentiall sicknes , and Sciatica , with Coughinges , and suche like , so that many shall die therof , as well yonge as olde . Mors etiam saxis , marmoribusque venit . In so muche that fewe shal be free from this calamitie , wherfore to keepe the body in health it shal be expedient to eschew bathinge , sluggishnes , long sleepe , vsing euer before meate some kinde of exercise . And at time of dinner or supper , vse more quantitie of meate then any other season , and in meat vse hot spicis , wine & mustard , for theis make the body hoate , strengthen the principall partes of the body , and concocte the could fleame ingendrid by this perilous and intemperate season of the yeare .

¶ A Regiment for spring tyme .

SPring tyme beginne the .xi. day of March and ende the .xii. of Iune . During which tyme the blud in the body shal be corruptid , and ingender Feuers , both tertians intermittent , and continuall , with Carbuncles , Botches , Dysenterie , Squinancy , Inflammations . etc. It shal be very necessary therfore for all men ( but especially from .xvii. to .xl. yeres in age ) to open a vaine , vomyt , or take purgation , whiche their myndes stande moste vnto : otherways they shal be in marueilous perill and daunger of death ▪ ô dira caeli fata . Vse exercise , but not so much as in the winter be not long fasting . Vse thinges to make the body loose , also suche as be sower , drye , and colde .

¶ A Regiment for the Sommer .

SOmmer begin the xii . of Iune and continue vntill the .xiii of September , in whiche space of time the body of man shal be molestid greuously with red coller ingenderid of the intollerable heate , causing Phrensie , Sinochus , and causon agues , which shal greuously torment many young persons , also morbos epidimiales , pestilens , pthisis , and other whiche I will not name . Therfore absteine from vehement labor , vse thinges that be cold , sweet , and pleasaunt , and well smelling , of easy digestion and eate litle meate . Yea to drinke cold water , vsing boyld meates altogether , with bathing , washing and keping the bodye cleane from filthe both in the head , arme holes , feate , and hole body , and vse al meanes whiche do coole and make the body moyste .

¶ A Regiment for Autumne .

AVtumne begine the xiii . of September and ende the .xii. of December , and bycause the nature of the tyme shal be inaequalis ac inordinata ac diuersas infert passiones . Therfor chiefly in this tyme ther must be muche diligence vsid , for there can be no perfit order appointyd as is the other before because that nowe it shal be hoat , now cold , now moyst , now drye , yea and in some daye al thies shal happen . ô quanta inclementia caeli . They that shall haue learning in physicke , now let them haue compassion on the miseries that is lyke to fall by sicknes . Notwithstanding it is necessary to absteine from excesse of meates and drinkes , banketing , watching , lasciuious chambering , whiche breede rawe and colde humors , and indigestid in the veines & hoole body , abstain , or at the least , vse moderate eating of the frutes of this season as apples , pears plumbes , cheries , for they make cacochymie and il iuyse in the body , and wyndines with colicke , and corrupte the meates if they be not eate first at meate . It is good in the beginning of this quarter to purge , vomit , or let bloud , by th aduise of some learned Physition . Nowe I will beginne briefly to touche the infirmities whiche shall reigne this yeare , beginning first with the contagius sicknes of pestilence .

¶ Of the Pestilence , with the cause werof it spring , and the order in this disease .

COnsidering that many as well in times paste as in oure late dayes , haue aboundantly wryten of this dreadful and perelous sicknes : I nede to speake litle of it . Yet seing al men ether can not reade them , or els vnderstand them , I thought it mete to set it forth for all mens health : in so muche as all men shal be in daunger of so cruell an enemy . And firste , as touching the cause of it , there are diuers , one is the sinnes and wickednes of the people for which God haue and do sende the pestilence for the reward of synne . An other is taken of the sterres and constellation . Nam ortus & occasus syderum , magnae coniunctiones , luminum eclipses , mutationes magnas in corporib . nostris faciunt . The last is taken of the phylosophers and phisicians , which is the inspiration and drawing in of the pestilentiall and corrupte aire , into the body ful of rawe humors , and suche as are apte to receiue corruption . The next way to preserue the body from this infirmitie is to open a vayne or purge , to flee from the corrupt aire , to vse abstinence , moderat diet , exercise , also fleeng long sleepe , of often eating and drinking whan as nature require it not this make the body preparid to the pestilence . Also not to go abrode in the aire before the sunne haue shewid , & whan you go abrode in the aire , eate some electuary , or other alexipharmacum fastingas , Methridatum , treacle , bole armenius , and such like ▪ wering also some pomeābers , well made to smell on , and not to eate meate and drinke in the morning , as som do , thinking therby to resist the corrupt aire , but how ignorantly they do , I referre that to the iudgementes of such as are lernyd in phisicke . The signes howe to knowe if thou art infecte with this sicknes , is not to be taken of the vrine , for that do often deceiue the most expt therin , but thou shalt fele thy self prone other vnto much slepe , or els that thou canst eat in any case slepe with found imaginations also pricking and tingling in the fleshe , cold without , but inwardly extreme hoat with drines , hedach , often vomiting , and heauy cheare with out a manifest cause ▪ the cure of this sicknes is to open a vayne if the age of the pacient , strength , and time of the yeare agree hereto , nere to the place where the swelling apere ( if ther be any ) els in the part wher he felith most grief , this ons being endid , geue them this potion to drinke . ℞ . Of the rootes of tormentill , ditanie , gentian , betony , set wal , of euery one .3 . dragmes , of Bole armenius , and terra sigillata , eche twoo dragmes , of myrrhe and aloes hepaticke one ounce , of saffron halfe a dragme , beate theis & make of them a fine and subtil pouder , of whiche let the sicke take in Scabies or Turmentill water , halfe a dragme , and so being in bedde , he must be made to sweet .v. or .vi. houres according to the strength of the pacient . And in all the time of his sweet , let him nether sleepe , eate , nor drinke . After the swet endyd , let him be dried with warme , and clene clothes . And if he desire to eate , giue him a litle broth made of a chickin , or suche like , but no great quantitie Let him keepe his chamber for certain daies after , and haue mery company , and musicke , vsing perfumes in his chamber witth Masticke , Myrrhe , Olibanus , Frankensence . etc.

If he haue any carbuncles , or sores , because the Surgians haue the dailie practise of it , I wil omit it .

¶ Of the burning Feuer .

OMytting all other kynde of Feuers , I will speake of the causon or burnyng Feuer , because there is as great feare of it this year , as euer was the last two yeares past : as well in Englande , as in our clymate , by certaine and son dry constellations , in the Sommer season . Therfore suche as are vexid with this burning feuer , before althinges let them be let bloud , yea ad animi ferè deliquium . Otherwise the great heate will not be aswagid . Let them drinke ptisanes , and could water , strowing their chambers with vine leaues , bowes of willowe , colde herbes , and suche lyke . And giue them to drinke sirope of Violets , Roses , Nenuphar , yea and if you wil , bathing shall be very profitable . So that all the cure of this disease , dooe consist in theis two pointes , that is , in expelling the humor collerick abunding in the body , whiche is by lettinge bloud , vomyte , and sweating : and by extinguishing the great inflamation of the liuer , vaines , arteries . etc. whiche is done by drinking colde water , ptisanes , colde siropes , and Iulepes , before mensionid . This done being ware of sodain altering the body , thou shalt by gods helpe come to thy perfit health .

¶ Of the Quartayne .

YF the enemies of Astronomy wil maintain their folish , and arrogant opinions against hir , this ware sufficient argument to ouerthrowe them , in that they do manifestly , se how the body of man is alterid , and troublid diuers wayes , by the influence of the heauenly creatures ( I meane the planets , and fixid sterres , ) as among other the quartaine is one , whose forse I suppose , was not of longe time so generally knowen . Yea & the heauens shall giue suche vnsesonable wether , that the humors rather shal be more , and more subiect , to corruption : then to be alterid to the health of the body , so that the quartaine shall not away at the spring ( as many suppose ) but driue vntyl Sommer , et vix tunc finietur . therfor in the spring it shal be good to purge melancholicke , and phlegmatick humors , yea and vnto strong natures , to open a vaine . They must absteyne from porke , biefe , salte meates , rawe frutes , gose , swanne , crane , ducke , and all foules liuinge in maryshe placis . And vse meates light of concoction , with good wine whight and pleasaunt , and finally all his diet must be , how to make his body , hoat and moyst . And to flee thinges that are colde and drie , aswel outwardly as to be inwardly receiued .

¶ Of the quotidian Ague .

MY mynde is rather to prescribe a good order of diet then a way of curation , in this and other agues which do long moleste the body , because where time do serue , there may be remedy and counsell sought at the learned , but for their cause I write , whiche dwell farre from the maisters of Physick in cuntrey townes , and villages . The quotidian do inuade such , as be grosse , cold , and slugishe . And the fitte continew from the beginning to th ende .xviii. houres . The diet must be extenuans , et incisoria . Vsing at the beginning , clysters , after whan the disease doe more increase , vse Oximell , and thinges to prouoke vrine : as the roote of smalage , persely , fenell , flowerdeluce , and the .iiii. great seades which are cold . &c. Also in this case it is good to vomite , and anointe the stomack fasting , with the oyle of wormewoode , mastick , or petroleum .

¶ Of dysenteria or bloudy Flixe .

DYsenterie in Greke , may be namid in Lattine tormina , but with vs an exulceration of the bowels . Of this disease there be foure sondry kindes , as Galene writeth ▪ but I wrighting to the vnlearned , wil omitte them , mynding rather to make them vnderstande both it , and the remedies : then to make them conning in Galens doctrine , although ther is nothing more better , or more nere in this case . The disease is manifest of it selfe for whan in the stole you perceiue yelowishe , or saffron color , oylishe , and fatte , or blody with fylmes ( as it war perchement wete : they cal it excoriation of the guttes ) with inwarde griping , pricking , and extreme pain so that they cum , ad animi deliquium great heat , and maruelous drines . The waye to cure this sicknes , is first to giue him mylke hoat from the cow , or els boilid , for to drink , if so be he haue no ague . ( But if he haue an ague , then it will corrupte in the stomacke , and make his ague the more vehement . ) Also you may giue him to eate boylid tenderlye , colewortes , also plantayne , sorell , &c. with the yolkes of egges . Let his drinke be rayne water but not ronning out of leaden spoutes : and if you can not haue pure rayne water , and holsome , then take of fountayne water of the rock , and dippe in it a gadde of stele red hoote , and let him drinke it : for it is meruailously comfortable vnto the stopping of the fluxe . Or if his stomack can not suffer water , you may giue him wine vsid as you do the water aforesaid . So that al the scope of curing this malady is , per adstringentia , resiccātia , vrinam mouentia . etc. medicines whiche in this case we vse , are thies . The rootes of rosecampine , holyoke , the leues of willow rewpontick , sanguis draconis , terra sigillata , bolus armenius , mulberies , raysine curnelles , the huske of a pomegranate , the shels of sea crabbes , beaten in pouder . etc. But if light thinges helpe not , then with all spede seke the helpe of the learnyd maisters , of phisick . For I can not , nor any man , set forth all the particuler accidentes , that come in this sickenes , they be so variable , and therfore cannot appointe any sure , and perfit remedie .

¶ Of the pluresy and the curation therof .

PLuresie , being Morbus per peracutus ( and therfore moste daungerous of any other before rehearsid except the pestilence , ) I thinke it mete , not litly to ouerpasse it , but also for thy welth sumwhat to make mention of it . This infirmitie spring of muche and aboundant bloud , flowyng to the ribbes , and ther inflammed . The signes of it are shortnes of breath , a sharpe , and hard pulse , a great pricking vnder the ribbes , vehement payne , with a continual ague : whiche although at the first he feele not , yet in the processe he shall ( if the vehemy of the other , dooe not make it the more sufferable . ) He must for the first .iii. daies vse only a ptisane , afterwarde milke of almondes , or fine bread with the broth of a cock , or in the end of the sicknes , to drink water , in which cinamome is boillyd . And also eate skaled fyshes of cleane , and pure waters . The chefe practised remedy in this our time , is presently to let bloud , on that parte the payne is . Nam natura ibi molitur euacuationem . The vaines in this case , is the lyuer vayne , or vayne of the splene called lienaria , if at the seuenth daye he feale great anguyshe , and griefe , you must vse boxing with scarification , to sucke sanious bloud and matter . Also emplasters made of dill , camomylle , rosecampine . &c. boylid : not neglecting oyntmentes to rype the thing , with medicines to cause him voyde by spitting , the aforsaid corruption . Such is diadragacanthes , diapenideon , pastilli pectorales , ecligma de pulmone vulpis , glicirrhize , saccharum violatium , &c.

Whiche diuers make mention of , in the cure of this disease .

¶ Of the Rewmes and Catarrhus .

CAtarrhus cum whan as the humour fall from the brayne , in to the mouthe , and iawes . This maye spryng of two causis : ether by heat , dissoling the humors conteinid in the head : or els by coldenes , of which at this time I will touche the curation . Therfor it is very expedient , to auoyde all thinges whiche fill the head with vapours , as to muche drynking of wyne , bathing , and washinge the head , with slepyng after meate , & kembing the head also after meate , with great suppers , and late . Also onyons , garlycke , mustard , radishe rotes : and al rawe herbes , and frutes , be augmenters of this mischief . Therfor ( abstaining the thinges aboue mentionid ) it shal be profitable to anoynte the head with oyle of lylies , rewe , dill , and almondes . Also you may by the aduise of som learnyd man , take some clyster , or other potion , whiche do expel the hurtfull humor . You may moreouer , make a twilte , and applie it to your head , with theis thinges folowing , made in pouder ℞ . of the floures of betony , melilote , , and camomyll , the leaues of roses dried , laurel , penereal , and orage , of euery one halfe an handful , of cinamome , and cloues , one dragme : of nutmegs a dragme , and an halfe : of macis half a dragme : bring all thies in to pouder , and make of them a twilte , according to vse and art . It is also very good to purge the head by sternutation , and nesing , with the iuse of of beetes , or colewortes , loking toward the sonne , or such like thing ▪ moreouer it is very profitable to dry the brayne , with odoriferous bals , and pomeambres : and also with fumes made on the coles , holding his head ouer it fasting in the morning . You may in this case , vse mastick , lignum aloes , gallamoscata , frankensence , baye beries , amber , muske , rosemary , cloues , cinamome , &c. which be very medicinable in this behalfe .

FINIS . ANNO CHRISTI . 1559. Mense Martij .