For this vertue ordeyneth and diſtinguiſheth the forme and ſhape of things, that is gendred couenably in all ye parts. For this vertue pearceth what ſhall be pearced, and holloweth what ſhalbe hollowed, and ſmotheth what is rough, and the ouerſmooth maketh rough, and ſhapeth and maketh perfect the vtmoſt ſide of euerye parte. Theſe two vertues, Immutatiua and Informatiua work no longer then the thing that is ingendred, as beaſt or plant, be fully brought into being of kinde. And therefore it néedeth that the vertue Nutritiua follow anone to the ſame, and kéepe the thing that is engendred. For the vertue Nutritiua, is helper and ſeruaunt to the vertue Generatiua, and maketh the thing that is ingendred, growe and ſtretch in length, bredth and thickneſſe. And the vertue Paſcitiua helpeth and ſerueth to the vertue Nutritiua. For ſhe ſetteleth and maketh lyke in the lims the meale that the beaſts tooke: and repaireth and reſtoreth what that is diſſolued & loſt by ſtrength of heat, or by any paſſion of ye aire. And therefore wonderfull kinde made this vertue of féeding, helper to the vertue of nouriſhing, and made both ſeruaunts to the vertue of gendring.[1] Wherefore to this vertue of féeding, foure particular vertues ſerue, that is to wit, the vertue of appetite, that draweth to the ſynmes kindly foode. And to the food of the fleſh it draweth temperaunce of bloude, to the foode of the braine and of the lunges, temperaunce of ſleame, and ſo of other. Alſo the vertue digeſtiue helpeth therevnto, and departeth in the foode kindlye from vnkindly, and deuideth pure from vnpure. Alſo the vertue holding, which kéepeth the food that is digeſted, & it that is now by worke of kinde concode or ſodde, ſhe ſendeth to all the limmes, and incorporateth and maketh it lyke, & moueth it. Alſo the vertue Expulſiua, putteth off the ſuperfluities, that the lyms draweth to them, and be not worthy to be knit to the lyms. And therefore as the vertue of appetite worketh with hot and drye, and the vertue digeſtiue with heat and wet, and the vertue retentiue with cold and dry: ſo the vertue expulſiue worketh with cold and moyſt.
¶Of the vertue vitall. Cap. 15.
AFter the vertue of kinde followeth the vertue vitall, that giueth lyfe to the bodye, whoſe foundation or proper place is the heart: out of the hart commeth lyfe to quicken all the lyms. The vertue of quick and kindly mouing, helpeth the working of this vertue, whereby the hart and organe, and ſmal wayes be opened and ſpread, and drawen together. And this dilation or ſpreading, is called the mouing of the heart from the middle into all the vtter partes. And ſo contrariwiſe conſtriction or the drawing together, is called, the mouing from the vtter parties towarde the middle of the hart, as it is ſéene in belowes of ſmiths. This vertue of lyfe openeth the heart by working of the lunges, and draweth in aire to the heart, and ſendeth it foorth from the hart to ye other lyms by ſmall wayes. And this vertue by the helpe of the vertue that cloſeth and openeth the heart, worketh and maketh breathing in a beaſt. And by breathing the breaſt moueth continually, but the ſinewes and fleſhly parts be firſt moued. But this blaſt or breath is néedfull to the ſlaking of vnkindly heate, and to the food of the ſpirite of lyfe, and alſo to the gendering of the ſpirit, that is named Animal, that giueth féelyng and moouing. For the kéeping of the kindly heate, is a temperate indrawing of colde ayre, and the kéeping of the ſpirite that is called Spiritus vitalis, of whoſe temperaunce the ſpirite is increaſed that is called Animalis. And therefore nothing is more néedfull to kéepe and to ſaue the lyfe, than breath well diſpoſed and ordeined in all points. All this ſaith Conſtantinus in Pantign. Without meate and drinke a beaſt may liue for a time, but without breth drawing of colde aire, a beaſt maye not endure in good caſe long, but the breath is corrupt and deſtroyed by ſtraightning the pores, through the which the beaſt by a kinde of ſtranglyng, dyeth. The breath is corrupt firſt by euill diſpoſition of the brayne, for if the brayne be
- ↑ Gendring is the begetting cauſe
