2 JO

In Phihpoem*

Plutarch.

Os Diet.
Seneca.Rhet.s.
Cicero pro C«-
lio.

Tluturch de
Sanitate tuen
da.

Os Reputation? and Carriage.
entertainment toPrincesor Noble Personages atyour
houses, as did Cosmo de Medici; or haply ye Command
in the Wars, spare not to be brave with the bravest.
Yhilopccmen caused his souldieis to be {pare in Apparel
and Diet (saith Plutarch) and to come honourably ar-
med into the Field : wherefore he commanded in
Goldsmiths (hops, to break in pieces pots of Gold and
Silver* and to be imployed in the silvering of Bits, gil-
ding of Armours, inlaying of Saddles, &c. For the
sumptueus cojl upon warlike surniture? doth encourage and
mak^e great a Noble heart: but in other sights, it carrietb
away mens minds to a womanisn vanity •> and meltingthe
courage os the mind", (as Hewer saith it did Achilles?
when his m&ther laid new Armes and Weapons at his
feet,) The Spaniard when he is in the Field, is glo-
rious in his GasFock, and affefteth the wearing of the
riehest Jewels; the French huge Feathers,Scar!er,and
Gold-lace; the English, his Arms rich, and a good
Sword ; the Italians pride is in his NeapolitanCouvfar-,
the Germans and low Dutch, to be dawbed with Gold
and Pearle, wherein (say they) there is no Iosse excepc
they be lost: but herein I give no preseription.
I now come to your Diet, wherein be not only fru-
gal for thesaving of your purse, but moderate in re-
gard of your health,which is impaired by nothing more
than excesse in eating and drinking, (let me alsoadde
'tobacco taking, ) Many dishes, breed many diseases,
dulleth the mind and understanding, and not onely
stiorten, but take away life. We read of Augusius that
he was never curiousin his Diet, but content with or-
dinary and common viands. And Cato the Censor?sail-
ing into Spain, drank of no other drink,then the row-
ers or (laves of his own Galley. And Timotheus Duke
of Athens, was wont to say ( whom Plato invited home
to him to supper) they found themselves never distem-
pered. Contrary to our Feast*makers, whosuppose
the glory of entertainment, and giving the beft wel-
eome,to consist in needlesse superssuities? and profuse
waste