The ſecond inſtrument, is the fleſh, in the which be incloſed and faſtened, the ſinewes by the which the vertue of feelyng worketh. For by meane of the ſinewes, the lykeneſſe of the thing that is felt, is brought to the perſeuerance of the ſoule. Alſo the third neceſſarye thing is the vtter workings, ſo that the thing that ſhall be felt, be nigh the lim of feeling, of the which thing the ſpirit animall, that is in the fleſh and in the ſinewes, taketh the lykeneſſe, and being lyke, preſenteth the properties of the thing touched, to the ſoule, and ſo this vertue is complete and perfect in his doing, as ſaith Conſtautius. That when all ye other vertues, haue a proper member & organe ſpecially ſeruing to their working, this vertue of féelyng alone, is generally in all the lims, except ye haire & nailes of feete & handes, in the which is no ſinewe, and ſo conſequently no feeling: but euery of the vertues haue certeine, place, inſtrument, & lym, to his working and mouing, in all & euery vertue. This vertue aboue all other is much earthly and boyſtous, and therefore becauſe of lykenes, it knoweth and perceiueth more perfectly than other vertues, hard and rough, and ſuch other lyke earthly paſſions. Though this vertue by reaſon of the obiects ſéemeth to be more boyſtous in the ſubiect then other powers: yet it is ſuppoſed more profitable then other vertues. For though the other vertues may in ſome manner of wiſe be without féeling: yet they cannot be complete and perfect, without the vertue of féeling, as ſaith the philoſopher: and ſo the touching is more general than the other, both becauſe it is ſhed into all the parts of the body, and alſo becauſe it helpeth all the other vertues, & ſpecially the taſt. Theſe two vertues, that is to ſay, the taſt and féelyng, be more continually with the heart, & therefore they be more of the being of the beaſt, & determine more openly of things that feele and know. Euery lym hath one ſinewe or two, by which the vertue of féeling & ſpéedie mouing is made complete & perfect: as it is found in the Anathomia of Conſtantinus. This vertue of féelyng, is grieued and hurte ſometime, as the other vertues are, and is ſometime all loſt, where feelyng and ſpeedie mouing ſayleth, or is wholly diminiſhed, as it happeneth in the lymmes that haue the Palſie & be benummed. Alſo it is ſometime diminiſhed, as we ſee when a lymme is a ſléepe: when through anye ſtopping or conſtrayning of the lymme, the ſpirite of feelyng may not fréely paſſe by that lymme. Alſo it is hurte by euill complection of the brayne, as in them that haue the fallyng euill, the which, in the houre of the euill, féele not, nor take no héede of touching of fire. Alſo it ſuffereth by chaunge of the aire without, as when the fingers be combered and crooked for great colde: in the which expedient mouing is let, and ſo one finger maye not beclippe another. Alſo by cutting of the parts of the body: For a ioynt cut from the body, féeleth nothing at all, though it be all to torne or burnt. Alſo a lymme that remayneth ſtill in the body, if it by any chance be dead or rotten looſeth all féelyng: ye vertue of féeling is in ſo much the more grieued, in how much it is the déeper wounded in the ſinewes of feelyng. Alſo when the griefe of the vertue vitall is ioyning to the thing hurtfull, by diſcontinuation of the parties, the thing cauſing the griefe of the member, ſpecially hurteth the feeling, and maketh in the body ſore paſſion & changing. For euery thing that is fealt, maketh a chaunge in the lym of ye féelyng. as ſaith the Philoſopher. Alſo things that be felt by féelyng, make mo chaunges, then things felt by other mouings. The vertue of féeling, is more boyſtous and more materiall then other vertues: and therfore it holdeth the more ſtrongly the impreſſions & putting off things, that pleaſe or grieue. Alſo becauſe the touching, is an vniuerſal lyuing vertue, in all the parts of a beaſt: therefore if the power of touching be all loſt, the ſubiect of all the beaſt is deſtroyed. It is not ſo of other powers: For though the ſight be loſt, the other vertues of the beaſt be not therefore deſtroyed. Yea, ſometime they take the better héed to theyr working and dooing. But if the féelyng be loſt, all the powers are
