THe conseruacion of youth and withstandyng of age , consysteth in the mayntenynge of the powres , the spyrites , & the naturall heate of the body in theyr state and temperancy : & in the comfortyng and repayrynge of theym beynge defertyue . For so longe as the powres , the spyrytes and the naturall heate of mannes body are not debylitate nor wekened , so longe ( I saye ) neyther shall the skynne wrynkle , for the debylyte of the natural heate de●lynynge to coldenes and drynes throughe the which the fode & norisshement of the body is corrupted & hyndered : is cause of rorrugacyon or wrynklyng of the skynne . For the meate beynge fyrste dygested in the stomacke , and then shortly after sent in to euery parte of the body , is dygested agayne of the naturall heate of the same parte , where it is receyued : than yf that this naturall heate be by any occasyon corrupted or destroyed : the foode also is sent to the same place , shall be lykewyse corrupted , & then so ensueth corrugacyon of the skynne , & hore heares , as ye maye se in the auncyent & aged men , when they be colde & drye , for horenes commeth of the defecte of naturall heate , the which defendeth the body from age , age properly doth make man colde & drye , & therfore they be of ly●el blode , and the powres & natural heate in them very weke , & vnable to concoctyng & dygestyng of meate , wherfore there increace great plenty of humidites and crude rawe humours , & therfore the thre sprytes & the thre digestions in age be decayde , & in thē rayneth the debilite of heate , & this foloweth with the course of tyme , the whiche course may be somwhat let & defended by Phisicke , & by auoyding of suche accidentall causes as do induce age , as sorowe , study , heuynes , desperacion , ouer moch venery , labour , traueyl , or rest , & when age by any of these causes is come , then to amputat or cut awaye the cause by thynges apropriat . And for the preseruacyon of the powres , is no better thynge then a syrupe made of wyne and suger , myxte togyther . iii . partes of wyne , & . ii . partes of suger dronke with fayre water , or borage water . This syrupe is both meate and drynke , and in it be two thynges confycte togyther , whiche are moste frendly to nature , & when the powres be weke they nede such thynges as may conforte them , both meates , drynkes , and other spyces , and moystynge medycynes , and this is a very secrete thynge . Corrugacyon and reuelynge of the skynne requyre suche thynges , as do clense & make playne & smoth skynne , with certayne oyles , waters , & oyntementes . Goodlynes and fresshenes of coloure , is by fedinge vpon such meates & drynkes , as do engender good & laudable blode , & are lyght of dygestyon , and by such thynges , as do clense the blode corrupted , and the other powres is , ouermoch euacuacyon , or to often lettynge of blode , or suche other lyke thynges . These thynges may be amended with thus , earynge of chekyns , and chekyn broth , with due rest and slepe , and also with swete and odoryferous thynges , and suche other lyke .

¶ Thynges engenderynge euyl and rotten flume , be fruytes , fysshe , all thynges made of mylke , & such other , of the whiche be engendred watery humours , not dygestyble in the membres , & then in the same membres it causeth horenesse , and wryncles . But amonge all other thyng{is} there is nothynge , the which so strongly doth cause a man to loke oldely , as feare and desperacion . For because in that passyon and effectyon , all the naturall hete of the body doth resort inwarde , and forsaketh the outwarde partes , and that most chefely , when the mannes complexyon is disposed to the same , and that is the cause that many beynge ●os●e , turmoyled , and vexed , with this worldly stormes so day●ly theyr heer waxe hore , or whyte .

¶ Nowe thynges that do resyste or put away these causes , are chosen the ioyce of Pomegranate , & chefely golde , & the ioyce of Borage , & of fumytorye , & specyally grene and puryfyed , and the vertue of the rote of Playntayne and suche other .

¶ The rotten fleume is destroyed with the vse of Myrabolaues composed , and Aloe rosatum , and Agaryke , thynges to be had at the Apothecaries . And th● wher with properly both melancolye & fleume be expelled out of the body , is Eleborus niger , called in Englysshe Beares foote , prepared by a certayne maner vnto few knowen . For in the rectifying of the maly cyousnesse of this herbe , standeth all the secrete of his operacyon , for by hym a man shal be altered from euyl complexion to good , and it restoreth youth agayne , but it is not conuenyent for delycate bodyes and noble complexyous , & therfore I wyl say lytel of hym . Beware ye neuer entermedle with this herbe , without the aduysement and counceyll of some experte and well learned Physycyon .

¶ Also ●●anthos composed with suger , the whiche properly doth consume the fleume and melaneoly being in the heed , and it tarieth and letteth the hore heres coroborateth and strengneth the censes , and prolongeth the lyfe , & chefely when a quantite of it is disolued in aqua vita wel and craftely made , & somtyme it is disolued in wyne , & lyeth in it . ii . or . iii . dayes , & then strayned , & so vsed conueniently , accordyng to the counceyll of a Physycyon .

¶ Other thynges also there be , whiche quycken & maketh lusty the body , as Diacameron , Mirabolany , Chebuly composed , which by theyr property do consume and waste the flematycke super fluytyes of the stomacke & do comforte hym , and do clarify the blode and be of great force agaynst melancoly , and th use of those do comforte youth , and causeth a man to waxe yonge agayne , & defendeth a man from hore heares , also the decoction of sene with Diaboraginatum , & the whey of gotes mylke and such other . And one of the chefe thyng{is} , wherby age is defended and youth prolonged , is once in a moneth to haue a vomyte , to expel the fleumatyke humour , and once in a weke to receyue aclyster , and specyally that composed of the ioyce of Mercury , walwort elder , and bete with halfe an ounce of yeropegara , the whiche is a great secrete .

¶ And also subiction made with yeropigra , or Cassia fistula , and the ioyce of fresshe Roses , preparate with sugre , is a goodly easer of nature , mynystred wysely , and it is a blessyd medycyne to make a ▪ man soluble , and therwith also it comforteth the pryncypal membres in man , and altereth the euyll dysposicion of man to good , it openeth opilations or stoppynges . It comforteth the herte , and clenseth it , and to speke of the prayse of this medycyne wolde requyre a longe processe .

Other thyng{is} also destroyinge and consumyng the humours , which cause age are those temperate Spyces knowen to euery body , Cloues , Cinam●me , Liquiryce , and such other , but most pryncypally , when they are conficte & incorporate with good wyne , and so ( beyng fyrst somwhat watered ) receyued and dronken .

¶ Also it is not vnknowen , howe that pylles made of myrtha , be of an excellent goodnesse in the conseruacyon of helth & lyfe , for it withstandeth putrefaction rectifieth and sincereth that which is redy to putrefaction , wherfore this Myrtha is confycte with suche thynges as deade bodyes are incered with all , to defende the corse from putrefaction . And the fore sayd spyced wyne , when it is receyued of man , it spredeth it selfe abrode in the partes of the body and comforteth all the partes of the body , and dryeth vp the superfluous humydyties of the body , also the powder of the same spyces vsed with meate , profyteth wonderfully .

¶ Howebeit , yf the man be of a dry dysposycyon , then shall it be nedefull to adioyne to these spyces , some more temperate thynge , as the ioyce of Pomegranates , Rose water , Sugre , Lyckeryce , Resyus , and such lyke . Diacameron restoreth dygestyon , los●e and comforteth it , and Trifera passeth all declynynge , somwhat more to calidite . The naturall hete then & the meate commyng to the membres beyng decayed or corrupted , which commeth of putryfyed colour , furthwith ensueth corrugacyon , and olde lokynge as ye may se in such as are scaby , in any parte of theyr body , for that parte beynge enfected , it semeth ryuyled and olde skynne . The infection beyng once departed agayne , the skynne sheweth it selfe fayre , smothe , and yongly , and to those golde preparate is s●uerayne , & the wyne of Pomegranate , and this is specyal good for the lepry . And this wyne of granates taken and receyued howe ye lyst , hath properte to extenate the humours , and to alaye the hete of the lyuer , and to comforte all partes of mans body offended with heate , and it is good agaynst wekenes of herte , fortyfyeth the mouth of the stomacke , & comforteth the herte . Also Mirabolani Rebul● conditi be very good both in hote and colde dyseases they comforte the stomacke , and dryeth vp the superfluous moystenes of the same , and be sydes this they helpe the melancolicke people , they clarefy and make clere the blode , and the spyrytes , neyther is there any thynge more excellent for that purpose then these .

¶ Also borage wyne made ( in tyme that grapes be gathered & pressed ) with must is pryncipally good for melancoly , faynte herted , and mad people , for it clenseth the blode , & taketh away euyl fantasies , and comforteth all the regetyue power , and encountreth all corrupcion . The electuarye also of the Myrabolans vsed , is a thynge ryght often proued and alowed , to the conseruacion of helth , and prolongynge of the lyfe , and to waxe yonge agayne , for it comforteth the stomacke , & maketh it apte & lusty , & comsumeth the wa trynesse lefte of the fore fode , & the vse of this electuarye withstandeth age , & causeth man to lyue longe by the help of god .