CHAP. I. Of Air.

THE Air above all things is neceſſary for the preſervation of Health, and for the prolonging of our Life; for all Animals live, and ſtand in need of a continual refreſhment of the•eart, the which is performed by the perpetual•rawing in the Air, whereby the Lungs are in a•ontinual motion, from the hour of our Birth, to•e hour of Death: All things elſe may be avoided•r ſome time except the Air, which no man can2 want one hour. Now Air compa••es us about on every ſide, and changes our Bodies more than any thing beſides, becauſe we dwell continually in it, and feed upon this diſh every moment: And it may juſtly be affirmed, that the Air may be more beneficial and more hurtful, than eating and drink­ing. The chiefeſt way of preſerving the Health, conſiſting therefore in the election of a good Air we ought to chooſe that which is moſt clear an•ſerene towards the Eaſt, not ſubject to dar•Clouds, nor corrupted with the ſtinking Vapour of Lakes, ſtanding Pools, Marſhes, Dunghils, Privies, Caverns, Quagmires, or where much Duſt is for by reaſon of the duſty Air about the Garaman­tes, (now called Guanguara, a Countrey in Africa the Men can ſcarce arrive to the Age of forty year•And where the Air is naught, it conſequently hap­pens that the Water is not good, the which nex•to the Air helps to corrupt our Bodies, togethe•with the Food, which in a thick and groſs A•ought to be thin and ſubtil, as in a thin Air ought to be groſs. That Air therefore is requiſit•in the conſervation of Health, which renders th•Days light and ſerene, pure and temperate•whereas on the contrary, the groſs, thick, turb•­lent, and infected, does deſtroy the Health. Th•naughty and unwholſom Air, is the cold and Nor­thern; as alſo the Southern; likewiſe the noctu•­nal Air, eſpecially under the Rays of the Moo•and in the open Air: And no leſs pernicious is th•windy, and tempeſtuous, corrupted with unwho•­ſom Vapours, ſuch as is the ſtinking Putrefactio•of dead Animals, and other naſty Smells; f••ſuch Air hurts the Head, and offends the vital Sp•­rits, and with its overmuch moiſture and humid•ty3 it looſens the Joynts, and diſpoſes them very much to receive all ſort of Superfluities, as does the Air, which fetches a Vapour out of the Duſt, and is infectious: Againſt which there is great need that we carefully defend our ſelves; for that en­tring into the Body, and obſtructing the Paſſages, hinders the circulating of the animal Spirits. Chooſe therefore the temperate Air, which is the lucid, clear, and pureſt; for that does not only cauſe Health, but which is more, preſerves it a long while, by purifying all the Spirits, and the Blood, chearing the Heart, and the Mind, ſtrength­ens all the Actions, eaſeth Digeſtion, preſerves•he Temperament, prolongs Life, retarding and•eeping off old Age. And on the contrary, the•ark and thick Air clouds the Heart, troubles the Mind, renders the Body heavy and unactive, hin­•ers the Concoction, and haſtens old Age. The•emperate Air is eaſily known, if preſently after•un-ſet it grows cool, and if at Sun-riſing it ſoon•rows hot: This Air agrees with all Ages, all Com­•lexions, with all times, and all ſeaſons; and not•nly the turbulent and windy Air is unwholſom,•ut that likewiſe which is always ſtill and quiet. •herefore when the Air exceeds in any quality, it•ught to be allayed and corrected with its contra­•y: And if that cannot be done by natural ways,•ought to be prepared artificially; ſo that if the•ir ſhould be too hot and ſultry, as it is in Sum­•er, you ſhould ſprinkle the Houſe with freſh•ater, or Vinegar; for the Vinegar with its cold­•eſs and dryneſs, qualifies the unwholſom Vapours〈◊〉the Air, and hinders Putrefaction: And if they•row the Floor with Flowers and odoriferous•erbs, which have a moiſt and humid quality, as4 Violets, Roſes, tops of young Oa•s, leaves of th•Vine, of Lettices, or Willows, Nenufars, or Wa­ter-Lillies, boughs of the Maſtick tree, and othe•cool Leaves; and in the mean time you ſhoul•take care that none come into the Chambers th•ſtrewed, for if there be a great many, with the•Breath they re-heat the Room: Beſides this, l•the Chamber be full of odoriferous Fruits, as ſwe••ſmelling Apples, Pears, Quinces, Citrons and Li•­mons. But if the Air ſhould be too cold, yo•muſt avoid the Wind, chiefly the Northern, a•not go out of the Houſe before Sun-riſing; a•ſtrew your Chamber with hot Herbs, as Mint, Pe­niroyal, Sage, Hyſop, Laurel, Roſemary, Marjora••or elſe make a decoction of theſe Herbs with Clove•Cinamon, Mace, and ſuch like, and ſprinkle t•Chamber therewith; and perfume it alſo wi••ſome aromatical Smells, as Incenſe, Maſtick,••­namon, Ladanum, (a Gum made of the fat D••that is gathered from the Leaves of Lada) N••­megs, rine of Citrons, Myrrh, Amber, Lignum•­loes, Musk, and the ſweet ſmelling Gum call'd St•­rax; putting theſe things on lighted Charcoal;〈◊〉elſe mix theſe Perfumes with liquid Storax, ſetti••it a little while over the Coals. Theſe aromati••Odours have the vertue to open the Pores, wh••they are ſtopt, attenuate the groſs Humours, a••is good againſt the cold and moiſt Vapours of t••Body. This Perfume may be made another w••if you take of all theſe things; to wit, Half ounce, or ſix drams of Roſes, one dram of A•­ber, of Musk half a ſcruple, of Behen Album, Sparling Poppy, or red Behen, ana two ſcrupl•of the Flowers of Nymphea, or River-Lillies, thr•drams of Ladanum, one dram of Maſtick, Incen••5ana two Drams; pound theſe, not too ſmall, and ſet them over t••Coals. Beſides this, to correct the bad quality of the Air, and to attenuate and diſſolve the groſs and ſlimy Humours of the Body, let there be always burning in the Chamber a good Fire of ſome Odoriferous Wood, as Lawrel, Roſe­mary, Cypreſs, Juniper, Oak, Pine, Firr, the Latrix or Larch-Tree, Turpentine, and Tamarisk. Moreover, Night and Day ſmell to a Ball of Po­mander, compoſed of theſe following ſeveral In­gredients. Take of Saffron one Dram and a half, of the Oriental Amber half a Scruple, of Musk half a Dram, of Storax Calamita, (the Gum which proceeds from a ſweet Cane in the Indies) and of Lawrel, ana one Scruple; theſe are alto­gether diſſolved in Malmſey, and thereof is made a round Ball. One thing is worthy your Obſerva­tion and Remembrance, that is, that the Air in hot and moiſt Countries (as for Example, in Rome, &c.) is very deſtructive to the Health; the Air of the Vineyards is alſo little wholeſom, unleſs when the Northern or Weſtern Wind blows. Of Seaſons, thoſe are the beſt, which keeping their proper temperature, are equally either cold or hot; but the changeable and incertain Wea­ther is the worſt of all. I muſt not likewiſe omit to tell you, that in the Summer, when the South Wind blows, as in thoſe places which ſtand to­wards the North, are the leaſt wholſome; as in the Winter, the Northern Wind blowing, thoſe which look towards the South. If you deſire to know the quality of the Air, and diſpoſition of the Weather, at Night in the open Air put a dry Sponge, and if in the Morning you find it dry, you may aſſure your ſelf the Air is dry; if wet,6 then conclude the Air is moiſt and damp. The like Experiment may be tryed•ith new Bread which being expoſed to the Nocturnal Air as the former, if in the Morning you find it mouldy the Air is corrupted and putrefied; but if the Air be hot and dry, the Bread will remain withou•any change. The malignity of the Cold may b•corrected, by artificially cauſing a good and ſwee•Breath, viz. by keeping in your Mouth Treacle ▪ Mithridate, alſo the Confection called Alcarmes, (a term of the Arabian Phyſicians, whereby they meant a Cordial made of certain little Scarle•Worms, of which alſo is Crimſon made) rubbing the Teeth with this Antidote, which yet be­comes better by the addition of Zedoary, (a Roo•like Ginger growing in the Eaſt-Indies) an•chewing therewith Angelica; and this Dentifrice or Medicine to cleanſe the Teeth, may be made if you take of Roſemary one Dram, of Myrrh Maſtick, Bole-armoniack, Dragons-Blood, Burnt-Allom, ana half a Dram; of Cinnamon one Dram and a half, Roſe Vinegar, Maſtick-water, ana three Ounces, half a pound of Rain-water, of Honey three Ounces; boyl theſe together over a gentle fire, to the end that they may be well ſcummed; afterwards add thereto Bezoar (a kind of Pre­cious Stone very Cordial, being an excellent An­tidote to expel Poyſon; by the Arabick Doctors it is called Badzahar, i. e. Alexipharmacon, a Re­medy for Poiſon) and as a•Unguent keep it in a glaſs Bottle. Of this take a ſpoonful every Morning faſting, holding it in your Mouth, and rubbing your Gums therewith, the which muſt b•afterwards w•ll waſhed and cleanſed with Wa­•••diſtilled in a hot Bath, of white Salt, and Roch-Allom,7 ana three Ounces, and thereto may be added a little••ſtick-water: With this waſh the Teeth, for theſe things cleanſe the Mouth, cauſe good Breath, f•ſten looſe Teeth, fleſh the Gums, heal the putrefied Fleſh, and make the Teeth white. Beſides all this, there is great heed to be taken in the choice of a Houſe; ſee whether the Place and the Air be good or bad, wholeſom or unwholſom to dwell in. The Houſe therefore which you take, let it be ſeated in the higheſt place of the City; therein chuſe your Apartment at leaſt one pair of ſtairs high, and let it be very light, and ſo placed that it may always receive the Wind in the Summer, and the Sun in the Winter; and have Windows on all ſides; that is, Eaſt, Weſt, North, and South, if it may be, to the end, that no one Air may remain there long, which otherwiſe would putrefie and corrupt; and furthermore you ought to avoid not only lying in a Ground-Chamber, but alſo tarrying there long, for the higheſt are the moſt wholſom, where you breath the thinneſt and pureſt Air; then you re­ceive this benefit, that dwelling in the higheſt and moſt open place of the Houſe, preſerves, and re­pairs the radical Moiſture of the Body, and hin­ders Old Age; but to be in a dark, lower Room, or under the Ground, is very naught; for Life is maintained by the open Air and by Light, but in the ſhade a Man grows mouldy and corrupted. I muſt furthermore advertiſe you, that of Animals, Herbs, Fruit, Corn, and Wine, thoſe are to be choſen that grow in high Ground, free from ill ſmells, putrefied by the Wind, and receive a tem­perate and ſufficient warm•h of the Sun, where there be no ſtinking Lakes and Dung-hills to mo­leſt8 them, for there the Fruits remain a long while uncorrupted; and this is•he only place whereon a man may ſecurely fix to dwell in. 'Tis alſo commodious to have a Country Houſe, where­to you may ſometimes repair; for as the Country provides Food and Victuals for the City, and the City conſumes it, ſo humane Life, by ſometimes dwelling in the Country is prolonged, but by the Idleneſs of the City it is ſhortned: Likewiſe change of Air is ſometimes very requiſite and ne­ceſſary, though that change ſhould not be made ſuddenly, but deliberately, and by little and little. And becauſe to the rectifying the Air, the Clothes do in ſome meaſure contribute, defending the Body from it; for this purpoſe wear thoſe Clothes that be warm and dry; in the Winter get a Suit of Lamb-skin, Fox-skin, of a Marten, or Ermin; and for a good warm pair of Shoes, take the skin of an Hare, which is very good againſt the weak­neſs and infirmneſs of the Hams; or elſe that of a Fox, which ſtrengthens all the Members: Some make their Clothes of Wool, Cotton, or Silk, for thoſe that are made of Linnen are leaſt of all warm. Cover well the Body by Night, eſpeci­ally the Head, which is the Cell or Domicile of the rational Soul, from which are derived many indiſpoſitions, wherefore one muſt take great care, that the Head be neither too hot, nor too cold; and there be many that in the Night-time cover their Head cloſe with warm Clothes; for whileſt a Man ſleeps, the natural heat retires to the in­ward parts, and the outward parts are deprived of their heat, whence they are eaſily offended by the external Cold; a•d likewiſe whileſt a Man is awake, much heat, and many Spirits by the Ope­ration9 of the interiour and exteriour Faculties aſ­cend into th•Head, and by that means render it more hot: Therefore there is moſt need in the Day to keep it cool, but in the Night warm. One muſt alſo beware of being too much in the Sun, or near the Fire, and not to waſh the Head too often, for theſe hot things open, dilate, and rarifie the parts of the Head, and more readily diſpoſe it to receive a ſuperfluous humidity. In the Winter 'twill not be unuſeful to ſprinkle your Clothes with this ſort of Water: Take of Iris Florentina, or Flower-de-luce, Zedoary, Spikenard, ana one Ounce, Storax, Maſtick, Cinnamon, Nutmegs, Cloves, ana half an Ounce, Juniper-berries three Drams, Behen, Amber, Musk, ana one Scruple: Diſtill all theſe things with Wine. In the Summer take of Roſe-water four pounds, of the beſt Vi­negar one pound, of Red Roſes one handful and a half, Camphire half a Dram, Musk ſeven Grains, Spice of Diambra, Flower-de-luce, ana one Ounce; pound all theſe, except the Spice, the Musk, and the Camphire, and diſſolve them all in Roſe-water, which being put into a Limbeck, cover it nine days under Horſe-dung. You may alſo make uſe of this Powder to ſprinkle on your Clothes, adding Roſe-water. Take Red Roſes, Violets, ana one Ounce, Peel or Rind of Citron, Solanum, or Night-ſhade, of Myrtle, Lignum-Aloes, ana one Ounce, Camphire, Amber, ana half a Scruple, Musk, Behen, ana five Grains, and make of this a thin Powder. 'Tis alſo good to carry Odori­ferous things in your Hand, in the Summer-time, a Sponge dipt in Roſe-water, or Roſe-vinegar, and ſmell to it often; or carry with you this Odo­riferous Ball: Take of Roſes one Dram, Red Co­ral10 four Scruples, Water-Lillies one Dram and a half, Bole-armoniack one Dram,••orax Calamita one Dram and a half, Lignum-Aloes two Scruples, Maſtick one Dram, L•danum two Drams, Amber, Musk, ana two Grains; theſe are pounded, and ſo made into a Ball. In the Winter carry a Sponge infuſ•d into Vinegar, wher•in ſteep Cloves and Ze­doary: Or elſe carry in your Hand this Ball of Amber. Take of Ladanum half an Ounce, Sto­rax Calamita two Drams, Bezoar, Maſtick, ana one Dram, Cloves, Nutmegs, Crocus, Dyers-Grains, white Wax, Lignum-Aloes, ana one Scru­ple, Amber half a Scruple, Musk diſſolved in Malmſey five Grains; make it into a Ball. Be­ſides this, there is need of defending the Breaſt and Stom••k with Lamb-skin, or Hares, or with a Pillow of Feathers, ſeeing that the Stomack indiſ­poſed, is the Mother of the Diſtemper: Beſides the Clothes which are uſed for the Head and Stomack make an Odour of Saffron, Lignum-Aloes, an•Amber, for theſe things ſtrengthen the Brain; bu•the Musk is to be left out, by reaſon of its to•great Evaporation, the hands are to be often covered with Gloves, in the Winter made of Fox-skin, in the Summer of Hares-skin, Kids, o•Lambs. The laſt thing, though not the leaſt to b•obſerved, is, That with the greateſt diligence an•care you avoid coldneſs of Hands or Feet, ſince that infinite Diſtempers are wont to proceed and flow from thence.

CHAP. II. Of Motion.

BEcauſe Motion is not only requiſite to the pre­ſervation of the Health, but alſo very need­ful, towards a good habit of the Body; therefore after the Air, it remains to treat of Exerciſe, the which is a moſt powerful and prevalent thing to keep us in health, being that which purges and drives away the ſuperfluous Humours of the Body, which are in ſuch ſort diſſipated and diſſolved, that there is no longer need of Phyſick, where this is not wanting. There be many ſorts of Moti­on, and that is the beſt which is not violent, as Walking, but is a regular motion of the Body, as being moſt kindly, and moſt agreeable to the Members; but that Motion which is cauſed in a Coach, in a Ship, on Horſe-back, or the like, is the leaſt wholſom. Some Exerciſes are ſtrong and weariſom, and others moderate, light and weak: The temperate Exerciſe is that which contributes much to the Health; for it corroborates the natu­ral Health, waſts the Superfluities, enlivens Youth, chears old Age, and hinders Fulneſs, fortifies the Senſes, renders the Body light and agile, ſtrength­ens the Nerves, and all the Joynts, for the exerci­ſed Parts become more robuſt. This alſo conſoli­dates the Members, aids Digeſtion, keeps the Paſ­ſages of the Body clear and open, ſo that the ſmoa­ky Vapours of the Spirits may find a better and more free iſſue, the which are the chiefeſt inſtru­ments12 in the conſervation of hum•ne Life, being the reaſon that the Food finds an ea•••concoction, digeſtion, and aſſimulation of Parts, and finally a cauſe of the evacuation and expurgation of all the Superfluities. The light Exerciſes are Fiſhing, Fowling, and ſuch like Divertiſements, which chear the Mind; and as moderate and temperate Exerciſe does wonderfully contribute to the Health, ſo overmuch Idleneſs is very pernicious. Rubbings are alſo exceeding uſeful, for they hin­der the Humours from falling into the Joynts; and doing it in the right time, that is, when the Super­fluities ſhall be evaporated from the inward Parts, it helps Digeſtion, recreates the Body, and opens the Pores, whereby the moiſt Humours, and Va­pours of the Body, obtain an eaſier paſſage: It al­ſo ſwiftly draws the Blood to the outward Parts; it thickens the ſubtil Bodies, and attenuates the groſs, hardens the ſoft, and mollifies the hard, and fi•ally confirms the natural heat. The quan­tity of the Exerciſe reaches ſo far, as the Body can bear without growing too weary, that is, till you wax hot, having a freſh colour, and begin to ſweat; which ſo ſoon as you perceive, change your Cloaths, and dry well all the Members, and put on other Cloaths, and if there be any need, lye a little in Bed, and reſt your ſelf, till you ſhall be refreſhed, and recover new ſtrength.

Now the time for Exerciſe is before Meals, ha­ving firſt evacuated the Excrements of the Belly, and of the Bladder; for it is uſually very bad, and deſtructive to thoſe who being but juſt riſen from Table, with their Stomach charged, venture on any Exerciſe. And as Motion and Exerciſe per­formed before Meals, is a great preſerver of13 Health, ſo if preſently after Meals, 'tis the ſource and original〈◊〉divers Infirmities: Therefore let all Exerciſe be afore Meat, to which there ought at leaſt for ſome ſmall time to ſucceed a profound and quiet reſt, and remiſneſs of the Body; though from this Rule are excepted the Ruſticks and Huſ­bandmen, who by a continual cuſtom go to their Exerciſe, (and that without any hurt) as ſoon as the meat is out of their mouths; and herein is ve­rified the ſaying, That it is better to exerciſe the Body full than empty. After a violent Exerciſe, one ought to beware of catching cold; for the Mo­tion and Exerciſe having opened the Pores of the Body, the cold eaſily enters therein, bringing along with it Catarrhs, and divers other Infirmi­ties. Then in the morning having firſt gone to ſtool, the Friction or Rubbing is to follow, which muſt be performed on the extreameſt or fartheſt Parts of the Body, beginning at the Knees, and proceed down to the ends of the Feet; then from the Thighs, bending at the Knees; then from the upper Ribs to the lower; then from the Shoulders down the Back; and laſtly, from the Arms to the Hands: And this to be done with a Napkin or Towel, lightly rubbing your Body, till the skin wax ſomething red. In old Men the motion of their ſuperiour Members, as the Arms and the Shoulders, is moſt neceſſary, becauſe it diverts and prohibits the Humours from falling into the lower Parts. And on the contrary, the rubbing Exerciſe of the Feet, or the waſhing them with Water alone, does accelerate and haſten the Gout in old Men: When it being requiſite that they ſhould ſometimes waſh their Feet, let them take weak Lye, wherein let there be boyled red Roſes14 and a little Salt; in this let them waſh their Feet, at ſuch time as the Fits of the G••t be not upon them. Likewiſe it would be good for them to pull off their Shoos and Stockings themſelves, with­out the help of their Servants, which things mo­derately exerciſe the Body, and ſtir up the Heat and Spirits. And by the way, I cannot but diſ­approve of the binding the Stockings with the Garters; 'tis rather far more commodious and wholſom, to wear Drawers and Stockings of one entire piece; for binding the Legs hard, cauſes ſeveral pains, and hinders the Heat, Blood and Spirits, from circulating and deſcending into the Joynts, whence they are weakned, and apt to re­ceive divers Diſtempers. Furthermore, it is very profitable in Coughing, to ſpit, and caſt out the Excrements of the Body: Beſides this, before any Exerciſe, in the Morning as ſoon as you are up, rub well your Head, and comb it with an ivory Comb, from the Forehead upwards to the Crown, giving it at leaſt forty Combs; then with a rough Cloath, or a Sponge, rubbing your Head, it diſ­pels all the Superfluities which are there lodged; for thereby the Spirits are rarified, and the paſſages of the Head opened, and the ſmoaky Vapours are more freely evacuated: Which thing corroborates all the interior Faculties, that is, the thinking, the imaginative Vertues, and the Memory; and the uſe of a Comb does wonderfully reſtore the Sight, eſpecially in the mean time looking in a Glaſs, the which excites all the animal Vertues, chiefly the Sight; and the combing the Head oftentimes a day, draws the Vapours to the upper Parts, and eaſily removes them from the Eyes; but in comb­ing, do not keep the Head too open. Then with15 another Comb, comb the Beard, the which cut often, becauſe〈◊〉chears, and cauſes a readineſs of Mind. It is expedient likewiſe to ſneeze, after this univerſal Evacuation, ſnuffing up into the Noſe a little powder of Pepper, or other Snuff. Laſtly, 'tis a neceſſary thing to waſh the Face and Hands, according to this rhiming or Leonine Verſe,Si fore vis ſanus, ablue ſaepe manus.

The waſhing the Face refreſhes a Man, and makes the Heat to retire by Antipariſtaſin, and then uniting it ſelf, it becomes more ſtrong. In the Winter waſh with the decoction of Sage, or Roſemary, ſometime ſteeped in Wine; in the Summer freſh Water is moſt agreeable, whereto add a little Roſe water, with a little Soap, or ra­ther a perfumed Waſh-ball. The Hands ought to be often waſhed, for they are the Inſtruments which keep clean the Organs, whereby the Super­fluities of the Brain iſſue forth, as are the Ears, the Eyes, and the Noſtrils; and therefore is ſaid,

But after Meals you ſhould not waſh the Hands with hot Water, for it breeds Worms in the Bel­ly; and the reaſon is this, becauſe the hot Water does extract and draw forth the natural Heat, whence it happens, that digeſtion and concoction of the Food becomes imperfect, the which is a powerful occaſion of the Worms. The Eyes alſo are to be waſhed with freſh Water, which cleanſes them from all Gum and Filth; and putting the16 Eyes into cool freſh Water open, does wonder­fully clear and purifie the Eye -•••ht, afterwards drying them with a very clean and perfum'd Tow­el. Take care alſo that your Teeth be very clean, which for want of well rubbing and cleanſing, cauſe a naughty and ſtinking Breath, and the ſu­perfluities of the Teeth being mixed with the Food, does breed corruption, and renders it putri­fied: Beſides which, the rotten Teeth do ſend to the Brain an infectious Vapour; and nothing is better to keep the Teeth white and clean, than to waſh them twice a Month with Wine, wherein let there be boyled a Root of Tithymalus, or Spurge. And now to waſh the Head ſometimes, we ought not to take that old Italian Proverb or Sentence for our Guide, viz. Si lavano ſpeſſo le mani, raro i pie­di, et non mai il capo: That is, we muſt often waſh our Hands, ſeldom our Feet, and never our Head. But that Maxim is not good; for waſhing the Head ſometimes does greatly ſtrengthen the Brain, eſpecially if in the Winter-time you waſh it with ſweet Lye, wherein let there be boyled ſome Sage, Bettony, Staechas, or French-Lavender, Camomil, Myrrh, and a little odoriferous Wine; and uſe al­ſo Waſh-balls made of the Soap of Venice, or Da­maſcus, about two ounces of the Larch-tree, or Agaricon, (a kind of Muſhroom growing upon high Teees of a white colour, very good for the Head) one ounce; of Ladanum, three drams, of Cloves and Spikenard, ana two ſcruples, with oyl of Myrtles, and with theſe Ingredients make a little Ball for your uſe. In the Summer boyl with your Lye dry Roſes, and inſtead of the Soap, take the yelk of an Egg freſh and lukewarm. Having waſhed the Head, your next care muſt be to dry17 it as ſoon as you can with warm Cloaths, ſo that there remain〈◊〉wetneſs or moiſture, for the Brain is naturally moſt humid, and therefore Nature has given it ſo many vents and paſſages, whereby it may evacuate all the moiſt ſuperfluities. More­over, when you have waſhed your Head, you ſhould beware of expoſing it too ſoon to the open Air, and therefore 'tis better to waſh it in the Evening before Supper; but firſt of all you ought to ſeek God's aſſiſtance by Prayer, who is the moſt skilful Phyſician both of Body and Soul, and with­out his gracious and benign influence all Medi­cines are vain and uſeleſs. Then going abroad, begin ſome eaſie, pleaſant Exerciſe, till you per­ceive a moderate ſweat ſpread it ſelf over all your Body; the moſt robuſt Exerciſe is rather to be performed in the Morning, than After-noon: And here it is worth your Obſervation, that as a temperate uſe of Exerciſe does mightily aid and contribute to the preſervation of the Health, ſo over-much is very deſtructive to the Health; and ſo as Motion before Meals is very neceſſary and wholſom, ſo if done immediately after Meals, draws the Humours through all the parts of the Body, and the juice which remains as yet raw in the Stomack; whence proceed divers and ſun­dry Infirmities.

After Dinner therefore no Exerciſe is conve­nient, but a quiet compoſure and ſtilneſs of the Body is moſt requiſite, eſpecially for one hour after Dinner, after which a little walking is not amiſs, for the better digeſting and jogging down the Victuals to the bottom of the Stomack. Laſtly, thoſe Exerciſes are beſt which are performed in the open Air, rather than in Houſes; in the Sun,18 than in the Shade; and in the ſhade, either of a Wall, or of ſweet ſmelling Arb••rs, are more beneficial, than under any roofed place. Thoſe that by ſome Accident or other cannot walk, let them ride in a Horſe-Litter, in a Coach, or Sedan, ſo that they may in ſome manner have exerciſed themſelves before Meals; for by Idleneſs the Sto­mack is dulled and blunted, but by Motion it is enlivened, and receives a better Appetite to its Victuals. Therefore the Body being ſufficiently exerciſed, repoſe your ſelf, to the end that the perturbation ceaſing, the Heat and the Blood are recreated (then you may venture to eat) which whileſt they are in revolution, draw the crude Humours to the Bowels, which do thereby remain very much obſtructed. Beſides this, we ought not to neglect the Exerciſe of the Mind; for a•the Body with Exerciſe is rendred ſtrong and ro­buſt, ſo the Mind is nouriſhed by Studies, and ac­quires freſh vigour, and many by a continual Ex­erciſe of the Mind, have freed their Bodies from the greateſt Diſtempers. The Exerciſes of the Mind are Speculation, Singing with Muſical Inſtru­ments, applying your ſelf to ſome Study, as Hi­ſtory, Theology, &c. for theſe things delighting the Mind, feed it in ſuch ſort, that all the Virtues become more ſtrong, and better enabled to reſiſt and overcome Infirmities: And theſe Exerciſes performed at due times, that is, after a perfec•Concoction of your Victuals, both nouriſh and corroborate the Mind, and render the Memory quick and laſting; and hence proceeds that the Learned Men are moſt fit and apt to Govern in the Common-wealth. But if out of Seaſon, it hinder•Digeſtion, heaping up and contracting many Su­perfluities,19 occaſioning various Opilations, and oftentimes beg••ting putrid Fevers. And further­more, if Ol•Men ſhould be continually-idle, with­out any Exerciſe, Old Age being it ſelf a putre­faction, by adding putrefaction thereto, they be­come ſo much the more putrefied, withered, and dry; but by Exerciſe they may live a long time, whence it happens that we hear this grave Sentence in every ones mouth, That the ſtudy of Health con­ſiſts in theſe things chiefly, viz. in not ſatiating or cloying ones ſelf with Food, and in not being averſe from Labour, and that Exerciſe, Food, Drink, Sleep, &c. ought all to be moderate.

CHAP. III. Of Reſt.

AS an immoderate Exetciſe does very much endamage the Health, ſo on the other ſide does Idleneſs and over-much Reſt, which does not only offend the Body, but alſo weakens the Underſtanding; for whileſt the Body is in Idleneſs and without Action, it collects many ſuperfluities, whence afterwards infinite Diſtempers ariſe by Crudities, Obſtructions, &c. Idleneſs conſumes and corrupts the Strength, extinguiſhes the Na­tural Heat, and increaſes the Flegm in the Veins, fattens the Body, and weakens it. Alſo as by Exerciſe the Natural heat is increaſed, and the Concoction of the Food is facilitated, ſo by Idle­neſs 'tis hindred and extinguiſhed; and for this20 reaſon Idleneſs is numbred amongſt the chief cauſes of cold Diſeaſes; and the Poet knowing how hurtful to the Health is Idleneſs, ſays,

And Idleneſs not only corrupts the Body, but is alſo a great cauſe of pernicious Thoughts, as the ſame Poet ſays:

However by moderate ſeaſonable Repoſe the Body and Mind are recreated and refreſhed; for,

And Reſt not only to the Body, but alſo to the Mind, is ſometimes abſolutely neceſſary, when they are tyred with Studies, Thoughts, or Actions; according to another Poet,Otia Corpus alunt animus quoque paſcitur illis.In brief, without Reſt, the ſtrength and vigour of the Mind, cannot long endure; whereas on the contrary, Reſt and Repoſe does in a great mea­ſure aid and contribute to the Speculation, and the profound Invention of Occult things. Reſt is good after Meals, becauſe the Victuals reſide in the bottom of the Stomack well united and21 coagulated,••ich always happens after a good Digeſtion. And as to the Flegmatick, and thoſe of a cold and moiſt Complexion, Motion is pro­fitable; ſo to the hot and cholerick, Reſt is moſt neceſſary. Though it is true, that too much Reſt, called Idleneſs, as is ſaid before, is exceedingly deſtructive, both to the Body and Mind, but eſpecially to the Mind; for it makes Men negli­gent, ſlothful, ignorant, oblivious, and forgetful, and renders them unfit for any Counſel, Office, or Charge in the Republick. Then the Idleneſs alſo of the Body makes Men fat, lazy, ſluggards, weak, and of a pale Complexion, cools and ex­tinguiſhes their Natural Heat, increaſes Phlegm, and fills the Body with ſuperfluities, begetting cold Infirmities, as the Gout both in the Hands and Feet, Catarrhs, Obſtructions of the Bowels, Epilepſie, or Falling-Sickneſs, and pains of the Arteries; therefore when at any time you are neceſſitated to be in Idleneſs, and by ſome buſi­neſs or incumbrance you are forced to abſtain from all manner of Exerciſe, you muſt inſtead thereof obſerve a ſlender Diet, and that Food which is moſt eaſie of Digeſtion, and Broths, which without any trouble or difficulty are di­geſted, and diſtributed through all the Body, and cauſe a lubricity, or ſlipperineſs in the Belly: And thoſe that make uſe of this Method, are to be ad­viſed, that they do not lye along, or lean on one ſide, but for the moſt part to ſit upright, where­by their Victu•ls may better deſcend, and more eaſily be concocted: And to the end that they may the better preſerve their Health, let them regu­late and conform their Diet to theſe Rules.

Now, the ſuperfluous Reſt is no ſmall hurt to the Body, therefore I adviſe you, that this Reſt be temperate, and not degenerate into a baſe ſloath and lazineſs, to which in a ſmall time ſome grie­vous Infirmity will ſucceed; whence we ſee thoſe that are in Priſon, loaded with Chains and Irons, ſo that they cannot move, always incur ſome Di­ſtemper; for their Body grows cold, whileſt by the ſuperfluous moiſture the heat is ſuppreſſed, not being able freely to diſperſe it ſelf through the Body, the paſſages not only for the heat being ſtopped and hindred, but alſo for the Victuals; whence proceeds the diminution of the ſtrength, and the Members become leſſened, and almoſt dryed up. And on the contrary, a temperate and moderate Exerciſe diſſolves all the ſuper­fluities, and opens the ways and paſſages, where­by the Natural heat may without intterruption diffuſe and ſpread abroad it ſelf. And therefore Hippocrates affirms, that a moderate Exerciſe is above all things moſt neceſſary to Phlegmaticks, and to thoſe whoſe Conſtitution or Temper is cold and moiſt; but to hot and cholerick Per­ſons, Reſt (though not Idleneſs) is very fit and commodious: But beſides this, all Learned Phy­ſicians agree, that both Exerciſe and Reſt, if mo­derate, is a ſpecial means to preſerve the Health, and prolong the Life.

CHAP. IV. Of Sleep.

ALL Creatures by long fatigues and watch­ing do waſte and conſume themſelves, and therefore ſtand in need of an alternate radical moiſtneſs, to ſupply the place of that which is ſpent, and to renew the weakned Spirits: Now, this is brought to paſs by moderate ſleeping, the commodity and good whereof is, that it re-heats and corroborates the Members, concocts the Hu­mours, augments the Natural Heat, fattens the Body, heals the Infirmities of the Mind, and mi­tigates and allays the troubles and ſorrows of the Heart; for whileſt we ſleep, the faculties of the Mind reſt and repoſe themſelves, and Nature ope­rates more ſtrongly. Sleep alſo facilitates the di­geſtion of the Food, which lies in the Stomack, and not only concocts it there, but alſo diſtributes it through the parts of the Body; for the Natural heat concenters in the inward parts, whereby the Food is the better concocted. Laſtly, ſleep re­moves all laſſitude and wearineſs, cauſed by over-much Watching, and therefore 'tis called a Reſt from all Labour, and the peace of the Mind, as is manifeſted in theſe Verſes: