kinde, and vertue of waring and growing, to the perfection thereof. Alſo to this vertue Vegetabilis: that giueth life, ſerue foure vertues, that is to be vnderſtoode.
The vertue of appetite, that taketh what is néedfull to foode: the vertue of Digeſtion, that parteth the thing that is couenable, from a thing that is not couenable in foode: retentiue, which tranſmitteth or conueieth it, that is conuenient in foode, to all the partes in beaſts, and to all the boughes, twigges, ſprings, and plants, and faſtned to them, to reſtore the luſt or liking ſap or iuyce as well in plants, as in beaſts: The vertue Expulſiue is, which expelleth and putteth awaye that that is vnconuenient and hurtfull to kinde. Alſo there bée other vertues that ſerue and miniſter to the vertue Vegetabilis, Immutatiue, Informatiue, Aſsimulatiue, Perforabilis, Aſpera, Leuis: the differences of which is not our intent to purſue: For they be openly knowen in Liber Iohannicij. Chap. 2.
Therefore gather you ſhortlye of this that is ſayde, that the ſoule by the vertue Vegetable in plantes, bringeth forth other of the ſame kinde, and multiplieth and kéepeth that that is brought foorth in kinde. And whatſoeuer is néedfull to foode, it deſireth, receiueth, incorporateth, and inioyeth. And it putteth and excludeth awaye that that is not according. Alſo by the vertue Generatiue, to whome ſerueth Paseitiue, it multiplyeth and bringeth forth things of kinde. And by the vertue Nutritiue, it comforteth and féedeth kindes that bée multiplied. Alſo by the vertue that is called Augmentatiua, it maketh the bodie increaſe and growe, and bringeth it to a due ſtatute and quantitie, and maketh it perfect.
Alſo by age and paſſing of time this manner ſoule faileth, & at the laſt when the bodie dieth, it conſumeth. And theſe things that be ſayd héere of the ſoule, called Anima Vegetatiua, ſhall ſuffice.
¶Of the ſoule ſenſible. Chap. 9.
DE Anima ſenſibili. of the Soule that giueth féeling, ſomewhat ſhall ſhortlye be ſayde, touching the diuerſitie of the might and vertues thereof. For the vertue of féeling hath place in the moſt ſubtile Chambers of the braine, and giueth quicke moouing and féeling in all the limmes, and that by ſinewes and ſmall vaines that ſpring out of the braine, and ſpreadeth into all the partes of the beaſt. The Soule ſenſible, that giueth féeling, hath double might and vertue, that is to wit, of apprehending and of mouing. The vertue of apprehending, that is a manner knowing, is departed in twaine: into common or innerwitte, and into perticular or vtter wit. The vtter wit conteineth the ſight, hearing, ſmelling, taſting, and touching. And this wit in his Organes is brought to effect in this manner. There is a ſinew that in the crafte of Anathomia, is called Obticus,[1] and is an hollowe ſinewe, and commeth from the braine to the eyes, or to the blacke of the eien, parting.
And an other commeth to the eares: and the thirde to the noſethrilles: the fourth to the tongue, and to the roofe of the mouth, and the fifte brauncheth and commeth in cordes to the inſtrumentes of touching, and ſpreadeth through all the bodye. By theſe ſinewes the ſpirite of féeling is diſpearſed into all the bodye: and by vertue thereof all the bodye is able to féele and to moue. And ſo by vertue of ſpreading and of ſhedding of that ſpirite into all the ſinewes, arterye vaines or Muſcles, all the matching or making of the bodye, is founde able to moue.
¶Of the inner Senſe. Chap. 10.
THE inner vertue is parted in thrée, by thrée diuiſions in the braine. For in the braine bée thrée ſmall celles,
- ↑ Neruis Obticus
