A09431:217
Four great liars, striving who shall win the silver whetstone Also, a resolution to…Foure great lyers, striuing who shall win the siluer whetstone Also, a resolution to…
Four great liars, striving who shall win the silver whetstone Also, a resolution to the country-man, proving is utterly unlawful to buy or use our yearly prognostications. Written by W.P.Foure great lyers, striuing who shall win the siluer whetstone Also, a resolution to the countri-man, prouing is vtterly vnlawfull to buye or vse our yeerly prognostications. Written by W.P.
London: printed by Robert Walde-grave, 1585London: printed by Robert Walde-graue, 1585
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. The stars work upon mens bodies, yet so that the nature of the Country and soil, the meats and drinks have most commonly greater force. Why are the bodies of Gentlemen of England and poor labouring men of divers dispositions? are they not both in one country? do not the stars show their force in them alike? yes truly, but the kind of life and diet prevaileth. In the same region, why are they, which dwell upon hills, of other temperatures then they, which dwell upon plain & champion ground? Why? do not the same influences of Stars make them of like natures? is it not because the nature of the soil prevaileth? So then, ⟨image 43⟩when as there be many causes effectual, and differing in altering mens bodies, to build an argument upon one cause is most unreasonable.
1. The starres worke vpon mens bodies, yet so yt the nature of the Country and soyle, the meates and drinkes haue most commonly greater force. Why are the bodies of Gentlemen of England and poore labouring mē of diuers dispositions? are they not both in one countrey? do not the starres shew their force in them alike? yes truely, but the kinde of life and diet preuaileth. In the same region, why are they, which dwel vpon hills, of other temperatures then they, which dwell vpon playne & champion grounde? Why? doe not the same influences of Starres make them of like natures? is it not because the nature of the soyle preuayleth? So then, ⟨image 43⟩when as there be many causes effectuall, and differing in altering mens bodies, to builde an argument vpon one cause is most vnreasonable.
2. The stars work upon the Elements earth, water, air, by making heat, cold, moisture, dryness. The elements, how work they on mens bodies? They will also say by making heat, cold, moisture, dryness: which is most untrue: for the hotter and dryer the Elements be, the colder and moister by nature are mens bodies. According to that saying of Empedocles: Nature placed a hot body in a cold country, and a cold body in a hot country.