314 HISTORY OF 



them when we come to the inquisition itself. The three 

 general intentions are the forbidding of waste and con 

 sumption, the perfecting of reparation, and the renewing of 

 oldness. 



12. Inquire touching those things which conserve and 

 exempt the body of man from arefaction and consumption, 

 at least which put off and protract the inclination there 

 unto. 



13. Inquire touching those things which pertain to the 

 whole process of alimentation (by which the body of man 

 is repaired), that it may be good, and with the best improve 

 ment. 



14. Inquire touching those things which purge out the 

 old matter, and supply with new ; as also which do intene- 

 rate and moisten those parts which are already dried and 

 hardened. 



But because it will be hard to know the ways of death, 

 unless we search out and discover the seat or house or 

 rather den of death, it will be convenient to make inquisi 

 tion of this thing ; yet not of every kind of death, but of 

 those deaths which are caused by want and indigence of 

 nourishment, not by violence, for they are those deaths 

 only which pertain to a decay of nature, and mere old age. 



15. Inquire touching the point of death, and the porches 

 of death leading thereunto from all parts, so as that death 

 be caused by a decay of nature, and not by violence. 



16. Lastly, because it is behoveful to know the character 

 and form of old age, which will then best be done if you 

 make a collection of all the differences both in the state and 

 functions of the body, betwixt youth and old age, that by 

 them you may observe what it is that produceth such ma 

 nifold effects ; let not this inquisition be omitted. 



17. Inquire diligently touching the differences in the 

 state of the body, and faculties of the mind in youth and 

 old age ; and whether there be any that remain the same 

 without alteration or abatement in old age. 



Nature durable, and not durable. 



To the first article. The History. 



1. Metals are of that long lasting, that men cannot trace 

 the beginnings of them ; and when they do decay, they 

 decay through rust, not through perspiration into air ; yet 

 gold decays neither way. 



2. Quicksilver, though it be a humid and fluid body, and 

 easily made volatile by fire, yet (as far as we have observed) 



