Early English Meals and Manners Part 55

Wilyam Bulleyn on

Boxyng & Neckeweede.

(From _The Booke of Compoundes_, fol. lxviii.)

_Sicknes._

Will boxyng doe any pleasure?

_Health._

Yea forsothe, verie moche: As example, if you haue any [a]sausie loughte, or loitryng lubber within your house, that is either to busy of his hand or tongue: and can do nothing but plaie one of the partes of the .24. orders of knaues. [b]There is no pretier medicen for this, nor soner prepared, then boxyng is: iii. or .iiii. tymes well set on, a span long on bothe the chekes. And although perhaps this will not alter his lubberly condicio{n}s, yet I a.s.sure you, it wil for a time chau{n}ge his knauishe complexio{n}, and helpe him of the grene sicknes: and euery man maie practise this, as occasion shall serue hym in his familie, to reforme them. _Bulleins Bulwarke of Defence_, 1562.

[Sidenote: [a] For saucy louts, [b] the best cure is Boxing.]

(From _The booke of Simples_, fol. xxvii. back.)

_Marcellus._

There is an herbe whiche light fellowes merily will call [a]

Gallowgra.s.se, Neckeweede, or the Tristrams knot, or Saynt Audres lace, or a b.a.s.t.a.r.de brothers badge, with a difference on the left side, &c. you know my meaning.

_Hillarius._

What, you speake of Hempe? mary, you t{e}rme it with manie pretie names.

I neuer heard the like termes giuen to any simple, as you giue to this; you cal it neckwede. A, well, I pray you, woulde you know the propertie of this [b] Neckeweede in this kinde? beinge chaunged into such a lace, this is his vertue. Syr, if there be any yonkers troubled with idelnesse and loytryng, hauyng neither learnyng, nor w.i.l.l.yng handes to labour: or that haue studied Phisicke so longe that [c] he or they can giue his Masters purse a Purgacion, or his Chist, shoppe, and Countinghouse, a strong vomit; yea, if he bee a very cunning practicioner in false accomptes, he may so suddenly and rashely minister, that he may smite his Father, his Maister, or his friende &c. into a sudden incurable consumption, that he or they shall neuer recouer it againe, but be vtterly vndone, and cast either into miserable pouertie, prisonment, bankeroute &c. If this come to pa.s.se, then the [1: Fol. xxviii.] best rewarde for this practicioner, is this Neckeweede: [d] if there be any swashbuckler, common theefe, ruffen, or murtherer past grace, y^e nexte remedie is this Lace or Corde. For them which neuer loued concored, peace nor honestie, this wil ende all the mischief; this is a purger, not of Melancholy, but a finall banisher of [e] all them that be not fit to liue in a common wealth, no more then Foxes amonge sheepe, or Thistles amonge good Corne, hurters of trew people. This Hempe, I say, pa.s.seth the new Diat, bothe in force and antiquitee. [f] If yonge wantons, whose parentes haue left them fayre houses, goods and landes, whiche be visciously, idle, vnlearnedly, yea or rather beastly brought vp: [g] after the death of their saied parentes, their fruites wil spryng foorth which they haue learned in their wicked youthe: then bankets and brothels will approche, [h] the Harlots will be at hande, with dilightes and intis.e.m.e.ntes, the Baude will doe hir diligence, robbyng not onlie the pursses, but also the hartes of suche yongemen, whiche when they be trapped, can neuer skape, one amonge an hundredth, vntill Hempe breaketh the bande amonge these loytring louers. [i] The Dice whiche be bothe smalle and light, in respecte vnto the Coluering, or double Cannon shotte or Bollet, yet with small force and noyse can mine, break downe, and destroy, and caste away their one Maisters houses, faire feldes, pleasaunt Woddes, and al their money, yea frendes and al together, this can the Dice do. And moreouer, [k] can make of wors.h.i.+pfull borne Gentilmen, miserable beggars, or theefes, yet for the time "a-loft syrs, hoyghe childe and tourne thee, what should youth do els: [l] I-wisse, not liue like slaues or pesantes, but all golden, glorious, may with dame Venus, my hartes delight" say they. "What a sweete heauen is this: Haue at all, k.o.c.kes woundes, bloud and nayles, caste the house out at the window, and let the Diuell pay the Malte man: a Dogge hath but a day, a good mariage will recouer all together:" or els with a Barnards blowe, [m] lurkyng in some lane, wodde, or hill top, to get that with falshead in an hower, whiche with trueth, labour, & paine, hath bene gathered for perhappes .xx. yeares, to the vtter vndoyng of some honest familie. Here thou seest, gentle Marcellus, a miserable Tragedie of a wicked shamelesse life. I nede not bring forth the example of the Prodigall childe. Luke .xvi. Chapter, whiche at length came to grace: It is, I feare me, in vaine to talke of him, [n]

whose ende was good; but a greate nomber of these flee from grace, and come to endes moste vngracious, finished only life by this [o] Hempe.

Although sometime the innocente man dieth that way, through periurie for their one propper gooddes, as Naboth died for his owne Vineyarde, miserable in the eies of the worlde, but precious in the sight of G.o.d.

This is one seruice whiche Hempe doeth.

[Sidenotes: [a] The names of Hemp.

[b] Neckweed (a halter) [c] is good for thievish apprentices, [d] for swashbucklers past grace, [e] and all scamps.

[f] Also for young spendthrifts [g] who after their parents' death [h] waste their all with harlots [i] and in gambling [k] which makes men beggars, or thieves.

[l] A life of reckless debauchery [m] and robbery [n] ends with [o] Hemp.]

[a] Also this worthy n.o.ble herbe Hempe, called _Cannabis_ in Latten, can not bee wanted in a common wealth, [b] no s.h.i.+ppe can sayle without Hempe, y^e sayle clothes, the shroudes, staies, tacles, yarde lines, warps & Cables can not be made. [c] No Plowe, or Carte can be without ropes [1: Fol. xxviii.b.] halters, trace &c. [d] The Fisher and Fouler muste haue Hempe, to make their nettes. [e] And no Archer can wante his bowe string: and the Malt man for his sackes. With it the belle is rong, to seruice in the Church, with many mo thynges profitable whiche are commonly knowen of euery man, be made of Hempe.

[Sidenotes: [a] The use of Hemp [b] to the Sailor, [c] Plowman, [d] Fisher and [e] Archer.]

Andrew Borde on

Sleep, Rising, and Dress.

[From his +Regyment+, ? 1557.]

[Fol. E.i.] Whole men of what age or complexion so euer they be of, shulde take theyr naturall rest and slepe in the nyght: and to eschewe merydyall sleep. But and nede shall compell a man to slepe [a] after his meate: let hym make a pause, and than let hym stande & lene and [b]

slepe agaynst a cupborde, or els let hym sytte upryght in a chayre and slepe. Slepynge after a full stomacke doth ingendre dyuers infyrmyties, it doth hurte the splene, it relaxeth the synewes, it doth ingendre the dropses and the gowte, and doth make a man looke euyll colored. [Fol.

E.i.b.] Beware of veneryous actes before the fyrste slepe, and specyally beware of suche thynges after dyner or after a full stomacke, for it doth ingendre the crampe and the gowte and other displeasures. [c] To bedwarde be you mery, or haue mery company ahoute you, so that to bedwarde no angre, nor heuynes, sorowe, nor pensyfulnes, do trouble or dysquyet you. [d] To bedwarde, and also in the mornynge, vse to haue a fyre in your chambre, to wast and consume the euyl vapowres within the chambre, for the breath of man may putryfye the ayre within the cha{m}bre: I do advertyse you not to stande nor to sytte by the fyre, [e] but stande or syt a good way of from the fyre, takynge the flauour of it, for fyre doth aryfie and doth drye vp a mannes blode, and doth make sterke the synewes and ioyntes of man. [f] In the nyght let the wyndowes of your howse, specyallye of your cha{m}bre, be closed. Whan you [Fol. E.ii.] be in your bedde,[1] [f] lye a lytle whyle on your lefte syde, and slepe on your ryght syde. And whan you do wake of your fyrste slepe, make water yf you feel your bladder charged, & than slepe on the lefte side; and looke as ofte as you do wake, so oft turne your selfe in the bedde from one syde to theother. [g] To slepe grouellynge vpon the stomacke and bely is not good, oneles the stomacke be slowe and tarde of dygestion; but better it is to laye your hande, or your bedfelowes hande, ouer your stomacke, than to lye grouellynge. [h] To slepe on the backe vpryght[2] is vtterly to be abhorred[1]: whan that you do slepe, let not your necke, nother your sholders, nother your ha{n}ds, nor feete, nor no other place of your bodye, lye bare vndiscouered. Slepe not with an emptye stomacke, nor slepe not after that you haue eaten meate one howre or two after. In your bed lye with your head somwhat hyghe, leaste that the [* Fol. E. ii.b.] meate whiche is in your stomacke, thorowe eructuacions or some other cause, ascende to the oryfe (_sic_) of the stomacke. [i] Letyour nyght cap be of scarlet: and this I do aduertyse you, to cause to be made a good thycke quylte of cotton, or els of [k] pure flockes or of cleane wolle, and let the couerynge of it be of whyte fustyan, and laye it on the fetherbed that you do lye on; and in your bed lye not to hote nor to colde, but in a temporaunce. Olde auncyent Doctors of physicke sayth .viii. howres of slepe in so{m}mer, and ix. in wynter, is suffycent for any man: but I do thynke that slepe oughte to be taken as the complexion of man is. [l]

Whan you doryse in the mornynge, ryse with myrth and remembre G.o.d. Let your hosen be brusshed within & without, and flauer the insyde of them agaynst the fyre; vse lynnen sockes, [m] or lynnen hosen nexte your legges: whan you be out of your bedde, [n] stretche forth your [Fol.

E. iii.] legges & armes, & your body; cough, and spytte, and than [o] go to your stoole to make your egestyon, and exonerate youre selfe at all tymes, that nature wolde expell. For yf you do make any restryction in kepynge your egestyon or your vryne, or ventosyte, it maye put you to dyspleasure in breadynge dyuers infyrmyties.After you haue euacuated your bodye, & [p] trussed your poyntes,[3] kayme your heade oft, and so do dyuers tymes in the day. [q] And wa.s.she your ha{n}des & wrestes, your face, & eyes, and your teeth, with colde water; and after y^t you be apparayled, [r] walke in your gardyn or parke, a thousande pase or two.

And than great and n.o.ble men doth vse to here ma.s.se, & other men that can not do so, but muste applye theyr busynes, doth [s] serue G.o.d w{i}t{h} some prayers, surrendrynge thankes to hym for hys manyfolde goodnes, with askynge mercye for theyr offences. And before you go to your refecti[Fol. E. iii.b.]on, moderatly exercise your body with some labour, or [t] playeng at the tennys, or castyng a bowle, or paysyng weyghtes or plo{m}mettes of leede in your handes, or some other thyng, to open your poores, & to augment naturall heate. [v] At dyner and supper[4] vse not to drynke sundry drynkes, and eate not of dyuers meates: but [x] feede of .ii. or .iii. dysshes at the moste. After that you haue dyned and supte, laboure not by and by after, but make a pause, syttynge or standynge vpryght the s.p.a.ce of an howre or more with some pastyme: drynke not moch after dyner. [y] At your supper, vse lyght meates of dygestyon, and refrayne from grose meates; go not to bed with a full nor an emptye stomacke. And after your supper make a pause or you go to bed; and go to bed, as I sayde, with myrth.

[Sidenotes: [a] After Dinner, sleep standing [b] against a cupboard.

[c] Before bedtime be merry.

[d] Have a fire in your bedroom, [e] but stand a good way off it.

[f] Shut your windows.

[f] Lie first on your left side.

[g] To sleep groveling on the belly, is bad; [h] on the back upright, is worse.

[i] Wear a scarlet nightcap.

[k] Have a flock bed over your featherbed.

[l] On rising, remember G.o.d, brush your breeches, put on [m] your hose, [n] stretch, [o] go to stool.

[p] Truss your points, comb your head, [q] wash your hands and face, [r] take a stroll, [s] pray to G.o.d.

[t] Play at tennis, or wield weights.

[v] At meals, [x] eat only of 2 or 3 dishes; [y] let supper-dishes be light.]

Furthermore as concernynge your apparell. In wynter, next your shert vse you to [a] weare a petycote of scarlet: your dowb[Fol. E.iv.]let vse at plesure: But I do aduertyse you to [b] lyne your Iacket vnder this fa.s.shyon or maner. Bye you fyne skynnes of whyte lambe & blacke lambe.

And let your skyn{n}er cut both y^e sortes of the skynnes in smale peces triangle wyse, lyke halfe a quarell of a gla.s.se wyndowe. And than sewe togyther a [* MS. _a a_] whyte pece and a blacke, lyke a whole quarell of a gla.s.se wyndowe: and so sewe vp togyther quarell wyse as moche as wyll lyne your Iacket: this furre, for holsommes, is praysed aboue sables, or any other fur. Your exteryall aparel vse accordyng to your honour. In som{m}er vse to were a scarlet petycote made of stamell or lynse wolse. In wynter and so{m}mer kepe not your bed to hote, nor bynde it to strayte; [c] kepe euer your necke warme. In somer kepe your necke and face from the sonne; vse to [d] wear gloues made of goote skyn, perfumed with Amber degrece. And beware in sta{n}dyng or lyeng on the [Fol. E.iv.b.] grounde in the reflection of the son{n}e, but be mouable. If thou shalt com{m}on or talke w{i}t{h} any man: [e] stande not styll in one place yf it be vpon y^e bare grou{n}de, or gra.s.se, or stones: but be mouable in suche places. Stande nor syt vpon no stone or stones: Stande nor syt longe barehed vnder a vawte of stone. Also beware that you do not lye in olde cha{m}bres which be not occupyed, [f]

specyally suche chambres as myse and rattes and snayles resorteth vnto: lye not in suche chambres, the whiche be depreued cleane from the sonne and open ayre; nor lye in no lowe Chambre, excepte it be boorded. Beware that you [g] take no colde on your feete and legges. And of all weather beware that you do not ryde nor go in great and Impytous wyndes. (_A Compe{n}dyous Regyment or a Dyetary of helth, made in Mou{n}tpylior: Compyled by Andrewe Boorde, of Physicke Doctor._ (Colophon.) Imprinted by me Robert Wyer: Dwellynge at the sygne of seynt John Euangelyst, in S. Martyns Parysshe, besyde Charynge Crosse.)

[Sidenotes: [a] Wear a scarlet petycote.

[b] Line a jacket with white and black lambskin sewn diamond-wise.

[c] Keep your neck warm.

[d] Wear goatskin gloves.

[e] Don't stand long on gra.s.s or stones.

[f] Don't sleep in ratty rooms.

[g] Don't take cold in your feet.]

[Footnote 1-1: Compare what Bulleyn says: --slepe. The night is the best time: the daie is euill: to slepe in the fielde is perilous. But vpon, or in the bedde, liyng firste vpon the right side, untill you make water: then vpon the lefte side, is good. [a]But to lye vpon the backe, with a gaping mouth, is daungerous: and many thereby are made starke ded in their slepe: through apoplexia, and obstruccion of the sinewes, of the places vitalle, animall, and nutrimentalle. _Bullein's Bulwarke, The booke of the vse of sicke men and medicenes_, fol. lxx. See also Sir John Harrington's directions from Ronsovius: "They that are in health, must first sleepe on the right side, because the meate may come to the liuer, which is to the stomack as a fire vnder the pot, and thereby is digested. To them which haue but weake digestion, it is good to sleepe prostrate on their bellies, or to [b] haue their bare hands on their stomackes: and to lye vpright on the backe, is to bee vtterly abhorred."

p. 19.

[Sidenotes to Footnote: [a] How to lie in bed.

[b] Who should put their hands on their stomachs.]]

[Footnote 2: This wenche lay _upright_, and faste slepte. Chaucer. _The Reeves Tale_, l. 4192, ed. Wright.]

[Footnote 3: [a] Fricacion is one of the euacuacions, yea, or clensynges of mankinde, as all the learned affirmeth: that mankinde should rise in the mornyng, and haue his apparell warme, stretchyng foorthe his handes and legges. Preparyng the bodie to the stoole, and then [b] begin with a fine Combe, to kembe the heere vp and down: then with a course warme clothe, to chafe or rubbe the hedde, necke, breast, armeholes, bellie, thighes, &c., and this is good to open the pores.

1562 _Bullein's Bulwarke_, The booke of the vse of sicke men and medicenes, fol. lxvij. See Vaughan below, No. 2, p. 133.