_MADAM,_
Your _Author_, in opposition to the Schools, endeavouring to prove
that there are no humors in an animal body, except blood, proves
many humors in himself. But I can see no reason, why Nature should
not make several humors, as well as several Elements, Vegetables,
Minerals, Animals, and other Creatures; and that in several parts of
the body, and many several ways; for to mention but one sort of other
Creatures, _viz._ Vegetables, they are, as we see, not onely produced
many several ways, but in many several grounds; either by sowing,
setting, or grafting, either in clayie, limy, sandy, chalky, dry, or
wet grounds: And why may not several humors be produced as well of
other Creatures and parts, as others are produced of them? for all
parts of Nature are produced one from another, as being all of one
and the same Matter, onely the variation of corporeal motions makes
all the difference and variety between them, which variety of motions
is impossible to be known by any particular Creature; for Nature can
do more then any Creature can conceive. Truly, _Madam_, I should not
be of such a mind, as to oppose the Schools herein so eagerly as your
_Author_ doth; but artificial actions make men to have erroneous
opinions of the actions of Nature, judging them all according to the
rule and measure of Art, when as Art oft deludes men under the cover
of truth, and makes them many times believe falshood for truth; for
Nature is pleased with variety, and so doth make numerous absurdities,
doubts, opinions, disputations, objections, and the like. Moreover,
your _Author_ is as much against the radical moisture, as he is against
the four humors; saying, that according to this opinion of the Schools,
a fat belly, through much grease affording more fuel to the radical
moisture, must of necessity live longer. But this, in my opinion,
is onely a wilful mistake; for I am confident, that the Schools do
not understand radical moisture to be gross, fat radical oyl, but a
thin oylie substance. Neither do they believe radical heat to be a
burning, fiery and consuming heat, but such a degree of natural heat,
as is comfortable, nourishing, refreshing, and proper for the life
of the animal Creature: Wherefore radical heat and moisture doth not
onely consist in the Grease of the body; for a lean body may have as
much, and some of them more Radical moisture, then fat bodies. But
your _Author_ instead of this radical moisture, makes a nourishable
moisture, onely, as I suppose, out of a mind to contradict the
Schools; when as I do not perceive, that the Schools mean by Radical
moisture, any other then a nourishable moisture, and therefore this
distinction is needless. Lastly, he condemns the Schools, for making
an affinity betwixt the bowels and the brain. But he might as will
condemn Politicians, for saying there is an affinity betwixt Governors
and Subjects, or betwixt command and obedience; but as the actions of
Particulars, even from the meanest in a Commonwealth, may chance to
make a Publick disturbance, so likewise in the Common-wealth of the
body, one single action in a particular part may cause a disturbance
of the whole Body, nay, a total ruine and dissolution of the composed;
which dissolution is called Death; and yet these causes are neither
Light, nor Blas, nor Gas, no more then men are shining Suns, or flaming
Torches, or blazing Meteors, or azure Skies. Wherefore leaving your
_Author_ to his contradicting humor, I rest,
Madam,
_Your faithful Friend_
_and Servant._