OF al pleasures and pastimes mee thinke there is none like vnto good cheere , The Epicure desireth to liue altogither in bellie cheere . what shoulde a man doe but passe away the time with good fellowes , and make merrie , seeing we haue but a time to liue , cast away care , wherefore is meate and bellies ordained , but the one to serue the other ? The flesh that we dayly enc●●●se is our owne . Abstinence and fasting , is a mightie enemie and nothing pleasant to mee , and bee vsed of very fewe that loue themselues , but onely of beggers , and couetous sparers , which doe spare much , and spend little .

I know well your goodly expence of time , I wis it is no maruell , although you make your bellie your god , and boast of it . You sée that all lustie reuellers , and continual banket makers , come to great estimation , as for example , Varius Haelyogabalus , which was dayly fedde with many hundred fishes and foules , and was accompanied with manie brothels , baudes , harlots and gluttons , and thus it doeth appeare by your abhorring vertue , that of right you might haue claimed a great office in Haeliogabalus court , Haeliogabalus . court fit for belly gods . if you had beene in those daies , but you haue an infinite number of your conuersation in these dayes , the more pitie .

What ? good sir , I require not your counsell , I pray you bee your owne caruer , and giue mee leaue to serue my fantasie . I will not charge you , you are verie auncient and graue , and I am but young , wee be no matches .

Good counsell is a treasure to wise men , but a verie trifle to a foole , if thou haddest seene those things which I haue séene , I knowe thou wouldest not be such a man , nor thus spend thy time .

What hast thou seene , that I haue not seene ?

I haue séene many notable and grieuous plagues , which haue fallen vpon gréedie gluttons , as wasting their substance , disforming their bodies , shortning their pleasant daies : The iust ceward of belly gods . and in this poynt to conclude with thée , whereas gluttonie remaineth , from thence is moderate diet banished : and those bellies that follow the lust of the eyes ( in meates ) in youth , shall lacke the health of all their bodies , in age if they liue so long .

Mee thinke thou canst giue good counsell , thou seemest to be seene in phisicke . I pray thee , is it so great hurt to delight in plenti● of banquets ?

Sir , The fruites of inordinate banquets . if it will please you to bee somewhat attentiue , I will tell you . It is the verie graine whereof commeth stinking vomits , sausy faces , dropsies , vertigo , palsies , obstructions , blindnes , flixes , apoplexis , caters , and rheumes , &c.

Is it true that you haue said to mee ?

Would to God dayly experience did not trie it , I doe perfectly know it . And once thou shalt be a witnesse thereof , if thou come to age .

Thou seest among the Theologians there is much varietie , and yet but one truth . Uarietie of opinions among men . Discords bee soone knowne of Musitions , and the Physitions be not ignorant of the generall natures of things . No diuision is although it doe so appeare : for regents , place , age , time , and the present state of mans nature must bée obserued , and not the olde rules in all poynts . For mans nature is sore altered and changed , into a viler sort than it was woont to bee .

Some doe report that men of great estimation say : what needeth phisicke , An obiection against physicke . it is but an inuention only for money , we see ( say they ) who liueth so wel , as they which neuer knewe phisicke , and so euill as these pothicarie men ?

Many men be more rich than wise , and more estéemed for titles of their honours and worships , than for any other vertue or cunning , such men in some pointes , be more ingratefull to naturall remedies than dogges : which can elect or choose their vomitting grasse , or birdes which can choose grauell or stones for their casting . But to conclude with thée in this matter , Plinie the great clearke , hath a thousand reasons , God the authour of physicke . to proue them foolish that will obiect agaynst physicke . And the authour of all things did well foresée and knowe , The inestimable goodnes of God ordained hearbes for the health of man . what was good for mans nature , when hee stretched out so large a compasse round about the earth , with the noble Planets and signes , and their courses , influences and heauenly qualities , and garnished the earth with fruits , hearbs , flowers , leaues , graines , oyles , gums , stones , for mans comfort and helpe , and ordained the Physition for to helpe man . Thus the Almightie hath done ( sayeth Salomon . ) And in recompence , Salomon . God hath not appointed the Phisitions to be rayled vpon , or despised , Eccle. 36. but honoured and rewarded : yea , estéemed of princes . And seeing good nature and wise men bee on my side : I force not of other mens phantasies , with whom neither good wisedome , nor good nature is guide .

Yea that I can .

If thou canst bring in any reuerent fathers that loued phisick , I will not despise , but greatly esteme it , and desire counsell in demaunding of a fewe questions .

The praise and excellencie of phisicke . Phisicke hath beene in so hie an estimation , that the Gentiles did al consent , it came from the immortall gods . The Hebrues did well knowe it , as Moises in the most auncient booke , Moises . called Genesis primo , doth describe the worke of the almightie God : of herbs , fruites , Adam . and plantes , that Adam might teach the vertues of them to his children . Iesus Sirack . cap. 38. Iesus Sirack which was endued with the spirit of God hath lefte a laude behinde him greatlie commending Phisicke amongest the diuines of the Hebrues , Mercurie amongest the Egiptians , Diodoro . Test. Ouid. Meramor . Ouid doeth greatly commende Apollo , the inuenter of herbes , when they were almost out of memorie , he reuiued their vertues , and taught their nature to others that followed him . After that came in Aesculapius , which did many most excellent cures . And Chiron , the instructer of Achilles , Chiron centaurus . whose name can neuer die as long as the herbe Centauri , groweth vpon the earth , which is called after his name . Podalirius , & Mechaon , Podalirius . Machaon . were two brethren , in the time of the battel of Troy which were excellent Phisitions , and be greatly commended of Homer , who was more excellent than Hippocrates , in the Ile of Coose : Hippocrates . whose works will neuer die , for he brought in Phisicke , and digested it into faire bookes , for mans great health . Then came Galen , Gallenu● ▪ not vnknowne to all wise and learned Phisitions . I coulde rehearse manie moe , but this shall suffise to prooue Phisicke to bée of greate authoritie amongst the olde fathers .

I pray thee friend Humfrey , what is phisicke ? I would bee glad to learne some of thy knowledge , for thou hast a good order in talking ▪ and seeme to be grounded of authority . Therfore I am sory that I haue contended with thee : I pray thee be not angry with my former talke .

Hippocrates in lib. de fla . Hippocrates in his booke of windes or blastes , saith that phisicke or medecine is but a putting to the body which it lacketh , or taking from the bodie things superfluous . And although our life be short , A definicion of physicke . yet the art of phisick is long , because great numbers of things be in it , and requireth much study , labour and practise , and first of all , it requireth much contemplacion or knowledge , Hippocrates in primo in studying good bookes , which is called Theoricha . Secondly the very effect of contemplation or study , Aphoris . Theoricha . is practica or actiua , which is doing of the things , that learning hath taught , as reparing , amending , or preseruing the bodies of men , women and children , &c.

It seemeth to be a goodly science .

Herodot . Herodotus sayeth : they greatly erre that call it a Science , for it is an excellent Art in doing of notable things . And science is but to know thinges . There is also in this excellent art sundry sectes of phisicions , some be called Emperici , who suppose that only experience doeth suffise , Emperic . and so by vse and experience dooe take in hande to heale diseases , not knowing the cause of the said disease or sickenes . Philinus . Philinus was one of that secte at the first beginning . Then folowed Serapion , Serapion . and after that the Apolonis . Apolonii . And then came Glaucius , Menadotus , Sextus , &c. Another kinde of phisicions , be called Methodici , Methodici . which neither obserue tyme , place , age , state , nor condition : & think them things of smal profit , but onely their respect is to their disease : they loue not long study in phisick , & are greatly deceyued , because they would build without foundation : and haue the fruits before they haue planted the trées . These mens cures bee but by chaunce medly . One Sirus began this , which receyued certaine rules of Asclepiades . Asclepiades . The chiefe and best sect of Phisitions called Dogmatici . Dogmatici . These be the wise men which set not the cart before the horse , nor the rootes of the trées vpward . They doe prudently consider the chaunge of mans nature , the dwelling place , the alteration of the aire , the time of the yeare , the custome of people , the maners of diseases , the fashions of mens diet . And this they will proue by true arguments and reasons , and will bee verie carefull for their patientes· The disciples of those men , be the best scholers , therefore I counsell thee Iohn to loue wel Hippocrates the prince of Phisicions , Hippocrates . which began the best maner to giue rules to al the louers of phisicke . Of this writeth Galen , much lauding Hippocrates and his followers , and in these daies Leonhardus Futchius , Matheolus , &c.

Seeing thou hast spoken of sundrie partes of Phisitions , I pray thee what partes be there of phisicke ?

Truly there be fiue thinges to be noted in phisicke , Galen de elemen . de temp. de facul ▪ as fiue principall parts , as Galen saith : in lib. de Elementis . Phisicke deuided into fiue partes . The first is , to consider the nature of mans bodie . The second is , to kéepe the bodie in health , and to defend it from sickenes and infirmities . The third is , to know all the causes , rules , and seedes , whereof the sicknes doth grow . The .iiii is Crises or iudgement of the disease of thinges present , past , and to come . The fifth is the best and most excellent , for it sheweth the maner of healing , dieting , fashion , order , and way to helpe the sicke bodie , and preserue the same , as long as man doth remaine in the state of life .

Thou hast spoken of the partes of phisicke , what is the forme maner or distribution thereof ?

It is distributed in 3. formes , one is natural , another vnnatural , the iii. against nature . The first is , Gal. lib ● de . temp. cap 4. by those things whereof the body is compact , constituted or made , as Galen saith : in his .iii. booke of his Temperamentis . Cap. 4. The second is called not natural , as meates or things to preserue the bodie 〈◊〉 health they be not called vnnaturall , because they be against the bodie , but because the 〈◊〉 taking , or glotonous vsing of them , may bring many thinges to the vtter destruction of the bodie . The third , bee things against nature , which doth corrupt the bodie or po●●on nature wherof Galen writeth . Gal. in lib. 2 The 〈◊〉 . meth● .

Upon my Lute some time , to recreate my selfe , I ioine with my simple harmonie , many plaine verses . Among all other one small song of the foure complections : wilt thou heare it ? take that chaire and sit downe , and I I will teach thee my song .

I thanke thee .

This is a good song , and I will learne it , for though it seeme not verie pleasant , yet I perceiue it is profitable . Now thou hast spoken of the signes of the .4 . complections , I praie thee teach mee shortly , howe to knowe the elements .

Hippocrates de Element . Auic . in cauteca . They be the foure beginners vnmingled and vntempered , from whose mixtures euerie corporall thing hath his substance .

What be the partes ? I pray thee tel me .

Foure , the one is earth the heauiest matter and grossest , which is colde & drie , and melancholy . And the other is water , which is lighter and more subtil then the earth , The description of the .iiii. Elements . and of nature is cold , moist , and fleugmeticke . Then is ayre more purer and lighter then water , and if it bée not altered with any other straunge cause , Galen . in li. 8. 〈◊〉 . it is hot and moist and sanguine : Then fier is most light , pure and cleare , a clarifier and a clenser of al the other elementes , when they are corrupted , and is of his owne nature hote , drie , and cholericke .

And of these foure Elements , both man , beast , fishes , foule , hearbe , stone , mettall , haue their proper working , not of one of the Elementes alone , but of all : some more and some lesse , according to their natures .

Hippocrates saieth : Hippocrates in lib. de na. after the soule is gone from the bodie , the body doeth returne to the first matter whereof it was made ▪ And to conclude , all things that be made vpon earth , shall returne vnto the earth againe in tyme .

What , might not men , beasts , fish or foule , hearbe or tree , bee of one element aswell as of foure ? I pray you tell me .

No , for Aristotle saith : Deus & natura nihil agunt frustra , God and nature hath doone nothing in vaine . And if any thing vpon the earth sencible were of one element , Ereaturs are compounded of more elements then one . no sicknesse could hurte it , nor disease corrupt it , but euerie thing liuing vppon the earth , seeing it hath had beginning , it must néedes haue ending , to whom these foure complexions doeth belong if they do greatly abound or diminish or withdraw their vertues with quantities or qualities .

May a man see any of the Elements ?

The thing which men do see be none of the foure Elements : not earth , but earthie , not water , but watrie , not ayre , but airie , not fier , but firie . But the things which man doth féele , Elements felt and not seene . be the foure Elements , as earth , aire , fier , and water . And these be the vttermost simples of complexions , diuersly and specially , alone of them selues , or mingled with other , taking sundrie and diuers effectes , maners , condidions , formes and qualities , both in man and beast , and euery liuing thing , sensible and insensible .

What is the complexion of the quarters of the yeare , and names of the signes ?

The spryng time when bloud doeth increase : Hippocrat . in lib. de Natura humana . Summer when red colour doeth rule : Haruest when colour aduste , or melancholy doth reigne . Wynter when fleugme doeth abound in full strength . Winter , Spring . Summer . Haruest . It is called wynter from the twelfth day of December , vnto the tenth daie of March : This season is colde and moiste , it is called spring time , from the .xii. day of March , and endeth about the .xii. day of Iune . Summer begins about the xii . day of Iune , and endeth about the .xii. day of September . Autumne or Haruest , beginneth about the .xiii. daie of September , and endeth about the .xi. daie of December . Capricornus , Aquarius , & Pisces , be winter signes , Aries , Taurus , & Gemini , be signes for the spring . Cancer , leo , and Virgo be the signs for Summer . Libra , Scorpio , and Sagitari , be the signes for haruest . And the sun goeth through al these xii . signs in xii . months . And the Moone goeth xii . times through each of the foresaid signs once in the yeere , and do take sundry effects in man , beastes , and fruits , in the said signes : hote or cold , moist or drie .

What be the complexions of medicines ?

Those things that ouercome and gouerne the body , as purgations , expulsiues , &c. These be called medicins , Auic . in . p●● . can . and those things that nourisheth and augmenteth the bodie , bee called meates . For the complexions of meats and medicines bee knowne by their tastes , as coldnes , hotnes , moistnesse , drines , Meates and medicine be knowne b●●asting . bitternes , saltnes , swéetnes , fatnes , sharpnes , stipticke , and clammie . And because thy request is to haue prescribed vnto thée , but onely a little gouernment of health : I will shewe vnto thée another of my little songs , in plaine méetre , how thou shalt know meates and medicines by their tastes .

That is my chiefe desire , I will heare thee , say on .

In good faith , me thinks thou sayest well , for there apeare perfite reasons in these thy prety rules . Now thou hast declared vnto mee , the signes of complexions of men : with the way and apt knowledge of meates by their tastes , I would faine learne , shortlie the temperaments and complections of mankinde .

There was neuer so discreet nor wise phisition , that either feared God , or pitied mankind , or loued his owne honestie , would take in hand either to prescribe diet , or to minister medicin to any body , before he wel did consider , and wisely wey with himself , the temperament , mixture or complexion of mankind : first , whether he were hot or colde , moist or drie , fat or leane , or indifferent betwene them both : Auic . in pri. ●ract . ●antico . Gal. lib. 1. cap. 2. lib. 2. cap. 3. lib. 4. cap. vlt. Sim. Med. tempered by health , or distempered by sicknesse , as the extremities of hotenesse , coldnesse , moistnesse , and drynesse . Therefore Iohn , these things may not bée forgotten : you must note also the foure ages of mankinde , & first the tender state of children , which beginneth at the birth , & so continueth vntill xv . yeres next after their said birth : Their temperaments or complections , be hot and moist , very like vnto the seed wherof they bee procreated , then next vnto childhood or innocent age . Youth which is the second part of life , beginneth to reigne , his temperament or complection hath rather more firy heat , than perfite naturall heat , and this second age , continueth for ten yeares , as Galen sayth . Gal. lib. 5. Aphor. commen . 9. Well , in these two first states of life , let all naturall fathers & mothers bring vp their youth , set God before their eyes , An earnest briefe exhortation for the bringing vp of youth . for they haue no smal charge committed vnto them , that must giue account to God , how they haue brought vp their children : and they that in these yeres do space correction , truly be grieuous enemies vnto their children , and at last shal be recompensed with shame , when they shall sée misfortune & wretchednesse fall vpon the fruites of their owne séeds . For men haue smal profite of their corne , which be choked and ouercome with Thistles , Bryers , and Brakes which were not weeded in time , much lesse of their children , which haue receyued neyther correction nor honest learning in due season . If the kéepers of gardens be carefull ouer their late sowne séedes , and tender hearbes , which are in daunger to bee destroyed of euerie frost : What shoulde good fathers and mothers doe for their children , whose tender and youthfull yeares bee caryed away , and ouercommed of euerie foolish fantasie , and it is no maruaile . But this shall suffice for the wise , and smally profite the fooles : but to my matter which I tooke in hande , I will returne vnto the thirde age of mankinde , which is called the lustie state of life , and beginneth at xxv . yeares , and continueth vnto xxxv , This age is hote and drie , and verie cholericke , as Galen sayth : Galen . in lib. Simp. This part of life is subiect , to manie burning and extreeme feuers , and hote vlcers : therefore it is necessarie to knowe this temperament of complection , which is called cholericke , as plainely may appeare by age , strength , diet , vrine , &c.