me” 
+ 
J 
> of Plinies Naturall Hittorie. 34.9 
A> himfelfe fecblerthanbefore he went in: and as for thofe who have been more obfervant of theic 
 rulesthan thereft;and wholly governed by them,| haveknown many fuch carried out for dead, . 
orelsextreame ficke, To fay nothing moreover ofthe potionsauddrinks ordained by them, to 
be taken ina morning fafting, forto vomnit and{coure the {tomack thereby; and all to make way 
for to quaffe and caroufe againeupon it more luftily. Iforbearealloto write of their rofins and 
pitch-plaftres devifed by them for toplucke away:and fetch off the haire where Nature harh or 
dained.itto grow, wherby they would feeme to cffeminat our men, 1 bafhalfotodpeak heweven 
our women have proftituted their nakednefie and privities unto them by occafion of thele their 
“wanton devifes. In famme,concludewe may, that confidering thefe en ormities and corniptions 
which have creptinto out life,bynothing more than by the meansof phyficke; Caro was.a trne 
‘B prophet indeed, and his oracleis verefied and fulilledevery day,when he faid, That it was fuffici- 
entto looke curforily intothe writings and wittie devifes of the Grecks, without farther ftudying 
thereupon and learning them throughly. Thusmuch I thought good to {peake, in juftification 
of that Senat and people of Rome, who not without great reafowcontinued 600 yecres without 
the entertainment of Phyficians; and againft that Art which of all others is- moft daungerous 
and fulleft of deceitsinregard whereof, it hath bleered the cies of good men, and they be'thofe 
who have given creditand authoritie cherunto.And withall,thusmuch may faffice to meet with 
the fond opinion and foolith perfuafion of thofe, who are ravilhed and caried away withacon- 
ceit,efteeming nothing good for thehealth of man,burthat which is cotily andpretious. For 
certes I doubt nor, but fome there be who will oath thefe receits taken from divers beafts,wher- 
C of I thall have occafion to fpeake hereafter. Butl comfort my felfe againe herein, That Hire. dif 
dainednotto namethe verie pifmires and the weevils; * blind beetles alfo delighting in darke- * zcifigis con 
neffe,and their nefts wherein they keepe ; of which he wrote, notwithftanding hee was noturged s/w 
thereto upon neceflitie, Neither did Aomer thinke it improper;to* mingle the defcription of a + Fliads: 94 
fhrewd and unhappie flie, even wich the heroicke battails of the gods :ne yetdame Nature, who 
hath brought forth and made man, thought it any difparagement to her majeftie for to engen= 
der alfo thefe illic and {mall creatures. And therefore let everyman confider their vertves,pro- 
pertics,and effects, and not regard fomuch themfelves. To come then unto thofe things that 
are moft common and knowne,begin I will anfheeps wooll,and birds egs,to the end thar by that 
means due honour may be yeelded to the chiefe and principall of all others,as it doth appertain. 
D Howbeit,I muft ofneceffitie fpeake offome other things by the way as occafion {hall be offered, 
norwithftanding the place be notfo proper and fit for them, Neither wanted I meansfufficientro 
furnifh this worke of mine with many gallantmatters and pleafant ditcourfes, if my delight and 
mind had been to looke after any thing els buta plaine and true narration, according to my firft 
deffeine and intention: For well 1 wot,that I might have inferted here and there, the rare receits 
which are reported to be made oftheathes of the bird Phoenix, and her neft;bucthat 1 know all 
tobe meere fabulous, howfoever they carrie a pretence of truth Befides,I count it a verie mockes 
rie andno better,to deliver unto the world thofe medicines which are norto be made but once in 
‘the revolution of athoufand yeers, | 
E Cuap. it, > p& Thevertues and properties of Wooll, 
He auncient Romans attributed unto Wool] great authoritie,& had thereina certain reli- 
gious and reverent opinion of holineffe: in fo much as new wedded wives by an old cuftom ' 
and ordinance at Rome, were wont with great ceremonie to adorne and bedeck with wooll 
the fide-pofts ofthe dore or entrieinto theit husbandshoufe,upon the mariage day.Now befides 
theufe of wooll for decent apparell,&z defence againft cold weather;that which is unwafhed and 
full of the fheeps {wet ferveth in phyfick,and is a foveraigne remedie for fundrie accidents,being 
applied with oile, wine,or vinegre, according as need requireth, either in mitigation of pain,or 
mordication andcoriofion;and according as our purpole is,to bind, or toenlarge and open any 
part: and namely, itisemploied in diflocations of members,and griefe of finews, fit be laid unta 
F the affected place, well fprinkled and wet eftfoons with the faid liquors, thatitmightbe alwayes | 
moift.But more particularly, for disjointed members, fome put thereto a little falt: others take 
rue,and when they have {tampedit,incorporacthe fame with fome convenient greafe, & fo apply 
it in maner of a cataplafine upon {weati¢e wooll: after which manner,it is good for contufions ot 
brufes and {wellings,Alfo is is faid,char if the teeth & gumbs be well rubbed with fuch wooll and 
Bh honey 
