“THE BREVIARIE OF HEALTH” BY ANDREW BOORDE By W. G. AITCHISON ROBERTSON, M.D. EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND

T is not difficult to discover in reading To his patron, Cromwell, he sent from this early medical work that we have in Spain “the seedes off reuberbe, the whiche it an example of the priest-physician, a come owtt off Barbary. In thes partes very usual combination in the early ytt ys had for a grett tresure.” In April, days of medical practice. 1536, he wrote to Cromwell: IAndrew Boorde or Borde was born at I am now in Skotland, in a lytle unyversyte Boords Hill, near Cuckfield, in Sussex, of study named Glasco, where I study and England, about 1490, and thirty years later practyce physyk . . . for the sustentacyon off he was appointed suffragan bishop of my lyuyng . . . trust yow no Skott, for they Chichester. He belonged to the Carthusian wyll yowse flatteryng wordes; and all ys order of monks and for many years lived falshode ... it is naturelly geuen, or els it is an austere life of fasting, abstaining from of a deuellyshe dysposicion of a Scottysh man, all animal food. At length, however, in the not to love nor favour an Englishe man. year 1528, we find him writing to the prior A year later he returned south but the of Hinton Charterhouse “I am nott able to inhabitants of London seem to have treated byd the rugorositie off your relygyon.” him as badly as the Scotch, calling him an This brought him a dispensation, and sub­ apostate and a good-for-nothing, and other­ sequently he traveled abroad “for to have wise slandering him. the notycyon and practes of Physyche in After the dissolution of the monasteries by divers regyons and countres.” He returned Henry viii, in 1538, Boorde set out on a to England in 1530. prolonged tour through Europe, traveling Having ^tended the Duke of Norfolk in a as far as Jerusalem. He remained at Mont­ dangerous illness and having thus secured pellier for some time “the most nobilis his favor, Boorde was “convocated to universite of the world for phisicions and wayte on his prepotent mageste,” Henry surgions; the hed universite in all Europe VIII. Not satisfied with his medical education for the practes of physyche.” and desirous to “have a trewe cognyscyon If he had not already written, it was at of the practes of Physyche” he visited “uny- Montpellier he completed his “Fyrst Boke versities and scoles approbated” including of the Introduction of knowledge,” his Orleans, Poictiers, Toulouse and Mont­ “Dyetary,” his “Breuyary of Health”^ and pellier, in France, Wittenberg in Germany his (now lost) “Boke of Berdes” (beards). and, in company with nine Englishmen and The latter is known only through the publi­ Scotchmen, he went on a pilgrimage to cation, “Barnes in the defence of the Rome and Compostella. On returning to Berde,” or “The Treatise answeryinge the England in 1534 he again submitted to the boke of Berdes, compyled by Colleyn discipline of Charterhouse where he was Clowte, dedycated to Barnarde barber “keppt in thrawldome” until liberated by dwelling in Banbery, 1543.” Boorde had his friend Cromwell. The latter sent him evidently written in condemnation of the abroad on a political mission. In a letter to wearing of beards, but here he is accused of Cromwell, dated June 20, 1535, from Bor­ having become drunk in the house of a deaux he writes, “few frendys Ynglond Dutchman, and of having vomited over his hath in theys partes of Europe (Normandy, long beard so that he had to shave it off France, Gascony, Bayonne, Castille, Spain, next morning because of its vile odor. Portugal, etc.) as Jesus, your louer knowth.” 1 Published in 1547. Boorde was again in London in 1542 and of our Soverayne Lorde Kyng Henry the from here he removed to Winehester. A Eyght. companion book to the Breviaric, his This black letter work has been reprinted “Astronamye,” he “dyd wrctt and make in the early English Text Society’s scries, this boke in iiii daycs, and wrcttcn with edited by F. J. Furnivall, m.a. and published one old pen with out mcndyng.” His later in 1870. days, however, were passed under a cloud, The “Breviaric of Health” consists of a for Dr. John Poynet, bishop of Winchester, compendium of diseases arranged without records in 1556 that “within this right method, though nominally the subjects arc yere” it was proved before the justices grouped under their Greek or Arabic names. that Boorde had kept three loose women in Each subject begins with a short descrip­ his chamber at Winchester “and the harlots tion of the meaning and derivation of the openly in the stretes and great churchc of title. This is followed by a brief account of Winchester were punished.” On April 9, the causes of the disease, succeeded by 1549, Boorde made his will in the Fleet “a remedy” which consists mainly of an prison in London to which he had been re­ enumeration of the various drugs which may moved “on its being discovered that he had be administered. A better conception of the kept a brothel for his brother-bachelors” work may be arrived at by citing passages and where he died (it is said from poison in it, then by endeavoring to summarize which he had taken) on the 25th of the the treatise as a whole. same month. It is stated that Boorde was the author of The Breviarie of Health; wherein doth follows several other books, but as they are no longer Remedies, for all maner of sicknesses and diseases, the which may be a man or woman, in existence, it is impossible to determine expressing the obscure terms of Greeke, Araby, their authorship. In his Introduction to the Latin, Barbary and English, concerning Physick “Fyrst Boke of the Introduction of Knowl­ and Chirurgerie. edge,” the first printed specimen of the Compiled by Andrew Boord, Doctor of Gypsy language is found in his description Phisicke; an Englishman: now newly corrected of Egypt. He alludes to the Englishman’s and amended, with some approved medicines whimsicality in dress in these lines printed that never were in print before this impression below a rude woodcut of an Englishman and are aptly placed in their proper chapters by standing naked with a pair of scissors in one men skilfull in Physicke and Chirurgerie. hand and a piece of cloth in the other: Imprinted at London by Thomas Este, 1598. The book ends: I am an Englishman, and naked I stand here, Musyng in my mynd what rayment I shal were; Here endeth the first booke examined in For now I wyll were this, and now I wyll were that; Seforde in June the yere of our Lord 1546 and Now I wyl were I cannot tel what. in the raigne of our Soverayne Lord King Henry the Eyght, King of England, Frauixce and The full title of “The Fyrst Boke of Ireland the xxxviii yere. Knowledge” runs: A part of the prologue is as follows: The fyrst Boke of the Introduction of A Prologue to Phisitions egregious doctours knowledge. The whyche dothe teache a man to and maisters of the Eximious and Archane speake parte of all maner of languages, and to Science of physick, of your Urbanitie exasperate know the usage and fashion of all maner of not your selves against mee, for making of this countreys. And for to know the moste parte of little volume of phisicke. Considering that my all maner of coynes of money, the whych is pretence is for an utilitie and a common wealth. currant in every region. Made by Andrew Borde, You to be extolled and highlie to bee preferred of Physicke Doctor; Dedycated to the Right that hath, and doth studie, practise and labour Honourable and gracious lady Mary, daughter this sayde Archane Science, to the which none inarcious persons can nor shall attaine to the fast to the Crosse for our sinnes and redemption. knowledge; yet fooles and incipient persons will Then first let him call to him his spirituall enterprise to smatter and to meddle to minister phisitian, which is his ghostlie father, and let medicines; a fie on such a one now a days will him make his conscience cleane and that he bee practise either by a bluide booke. O Lord what in perfect love and charity and if he have done a great detriment is this to the noble science of any wrong let him make restitution if he can physicke that ignorant persons will enterprise and let him make a formall will or testament to meddle with the ministration of phisicke . . . settling everything in a dew order for the wealth A phisition must have surely his astronimy to of his soule. Then let the pacient provide for know how, when and at what tyme everye his body and take counsell of some expert medicine ought to bee ministered. I have now phisitian. He must take care not to displease discharged my conscience in showing the truth the phisitian or chirurgion, for if so ther is as God knoweth, who send all manner of neither Lord nor Ladye can have any service or phisitions a true knowledge in phisicke, that pleasure of them. they the which be sick and diseased may have The Preface to the Readers of this booke: a remedie. Gentle Readers, I have taken some paine in A Propheme to Chirurgions (abbreviated). making this booke to doe sicke men pleasure Masters of Chirurgerie ought to bee experte in and whole men profit. But for as much as old their facultie, having good wittes and memorie, auncient autentike autours or doctours of evermore to bee diligent and attendable about Phisicke in their bookes doth write many their cures and able to minister such salves and obscure termes, giving also to many and divers medicines as is according to the infirmity. They infirmities, darke and hard names, difficult to ought also to be wise, gentill, sober, circumspect understand. I have translated all such into and learned and not dronken and to promise no English. There is no sicknes in man or woman more than they are able to perfourme with from the crowne of the head to the soale of the God’s helpe and not to be boisterous about his foote but you shall finde it in this booke. As pacients but lovingly to comfort them. Also everie man now a dales is desirous to reede briefe every Chirurgion ought to know the complexion matters, I name this booke “ The Breviarie of of his pacient and that they be circumspect in Health.” If I should write all my mynde, everie incisions and scarifications and Flebothomy and bongler would practise phisicke uppon my booke. sure in Anathomy and in no wise to let blood in In writing this and all the other bookes, I did any perticular place, there where the signs hath never looke for no reward, neyther of Lord nor of any dominion. Chirurgions must know the Printer, nor of no man living, nor I had never operation and the conjunction of the moone no reward, nor I will never have none as long as and in what signe the moone is in every day and I doe live, God helping me, whose perpetuall and to know what signes be attractive, what signes fatherly blessing lyght on us all . . .We doe be recentive, or expulsive or digestive. They kill our soules as much as doth lye in us when must also know the operacion of all manner of that wee doe breake any of his commandements breades, of drinckes and of meates, and to have or doe sin deadly, for that matter he hath ever in a redines their instruments and their provided a spiritual medicine, which is repen­ salves. In perillous causes one Chirurgion ought tance and amendment of lyfe. Also wee doe kill to consult with another and to have the counsell our bodies when a man doth abreviate his lyfe of a Doctour of Phisick, for ther is no man can by sorfeting, by dronkennesse, by peneifulnesse, be to sure to help a man, as God knoweth, who by taking the pocks with women, or leprous- keepe us all. Amen. nesse beside robbing, killing which is not Gods A preamble to sicke men and to those that bee will that such thiriges should bee done. God wounded, in which he inculcates patience and therefore made pension that man might bee peace of mind and the fixing of the heart and holpen by the vertue which he did give to mind in Christ’s death and passion and the herbs, weedes, trees, rootes, fruites and stones. sufferings he endured for our sakes “And there­ The properties of which, few men or none doth fore let every sicke person stick as fast to Christ know them except Doctors of phisicke. There­ in his paynes and sicknes, as Christ did sticke fore let all men beeware of vacabounds and runnagates, that will smatter with phisicke, perfect man, may enter into everlasting joy for by such persons many sicke men have beene and glory, to be in heaven to God. The electuary deceived, the more pitie, God knoweth, who of Gems and the confection named Alchernies helpe us all now’ and ever. Amen. be good to comfort ye soule or the spirits of man, soule and body beelng together hccre in The following extracts will serve to earth. demonstrate the style and character of the Chapter 55 doth shew of a canine or a dogges work: appetite after the stoma ke is evacuated or The first chapter doth treate upon abstinence. empty, then the paclent doth fall to eating The second doth show’ of the abhoring of a againe. mans stomach against meate or drinke and is For the melancholy form, he advises one cured by taking all odoriferous and redolent “to eat fat meats, as goose, pig and to savours. drinke good drinkes.” For impotcncy he In speaking of abortion he says: recommends an aromatic electuary or a It may come by a great frare or by extreame confection made of the stones of a fox, and thought or by extreame sicknesse or death, in chapter 213 he advises the use of “nctics it cometh also by a stripe or stroke or a fall. in the codpiece about the yerde and stones.” Also it may come by recepts of medicines, For sterility: extreame purgacians, pocions and other laxative Let barren women use to eate in powder the drinkes, of the w’hich I dare not to speake of at matrixe of an Hare or drincke the powder of the this time, least any light woman shuld have stones of a Bore with wine and let her keepe an know’Iedge by the which wilfull abborsion may order in her meates and drinks and use no come of the multitudinesse of the flowers of a venerious actes after a full stomake . . . woman. The remedies to be taken extend from There is nothing that doth comfort the heart St. John’s wart to aniseed. so much beside God, as honest myrth and good He treats a “wylde or running skabbe companye. And*wine moderatelye taken, doeth with mercury morified w ith fasting spettil.” letlficate and doth comfort the hart. All sweet A “carbocle” more commonly comes “when and dulcet thinges doeth comfort the hart as the pestilence doth raine and is to be maces and ginger, rere egges. treated by applying doves dung and For toothache he recommends: cantharides” . . . If it come by wormes; make a candell of waxe The 19 chapiter doth shew of burning of an with Henbane seedes and light it, and let the harlot or of an hoare. This impediment doth perfume of the candle enter into the tooth and come when an harlot doth hold in his breth and gape over a dish of colde water and then may clasp her handes hard together and toes in lyke you take the wormes out of the water, and kill manner. And some harlot doth stand over a them on your nayle and beware of pulling out chafing dysh of coles into the which shee doth any tooth for pull out one and pull out more. put brimstone and there shee doth perfume Chapter 109 treats of Knobbes and Burrs in hirselfe. If a man be burnt with a harlot and the flesh—the one is hard the other is soft. It doe meddel with another woman within a day, comes of corrupt fleumatike humours the which he shall burne the woman that hee doth meddel be putrified. They must be abstracted out with with all. If one bee burnt, let them wash their the instruments of" Surgery and after that secrets two or three times with white wine or incarnate the place. else with sack and water. And if the matter have He discusses much more fully various continued long go to some expert Chirurgion fevers—ephimer, cotidian, interpolate, ter­ to have helpe or else the guts will burne and fall out of the belley. tian, quartayne, sinochos, sinocha homo- thena, augmastica, epamastica, causon, put­ In speaking of the“SouIe” of man heurges: rified emphisode, hcrmitrick, epiall, lipery, Every man in this life so provide by the merit tetrach, crratickc etickc, pestilence, lurden, of Christes passion that soule and body being and so forth. Ficus in ano, or a figge because it is a postum- foolish feare when a man is by himselfe alone acion like a figge and comes of a melancholy and is afraid of a spirit of the buttry which bee humour the which doth discend to the longacion perillous beastes. Let every man trust in God or fundement. It is to be cured by taking of the and what can any evill spirit or divell doe any powder of a dog’s head burnt and mixe it with man harme with out his will. And if it bee my ye juice of Punpernell and make tentes and Lord Gods will, I would all the divels of hell put into the foundement. did teare my flesh all to peeces, for Gods will is my will in all thinges. Speaking of Joy or Mirth, he says: He notes that the “French pockes did It may be in musicall instruments and ghostly come but lately into Spain and Fraunce and and godly singing but now a dayes he is mery so to us about the yeere of our Lord 1470.” that hath golde and silver and ritches with For madness or mania he advises: lechery and all is not worth a blew poynt. The patient be kept in a chamber void of all A “Gomory passion” is the name for pictures but redolent of sweet savours and that gonorrhoea and comes “from Gomer and he bee kept from musing and studiing and use Sodome which cities did sink to hell sodenly myrth and mery communication and use the for their sins.” patient so that he doe not hurt himself nor no other man and he must bee kept in feare of one Chapter 174 doth shew of an Infirmitie named man or an other and if neede require he must be Hereos, or love-sickenes. Young persons bee punished and beaten. much troubled with this impediment. It doth A person who is “gogill-eied” [who squints] come of amours which is a fervent love for to must beware what is put into the eye except it have carnal copulacion with the party that is bee cold unlesse it bee womans milke and the loved and it cannot be obtayned; some bee so blood of a Dove. foolish that they bee vanished of their wits and “Piping in the eare” comes of ventositie or women may have this sicknesse as well as men. winde which is in the head and in the eares and I do advertise every person not to set to the cannot get out. hart that another doth set at the heele and muse not but use myrth and mery company and bee For satyriasis he recommends leaping into wise and not foolish. a great vessel full of cold water, and the application of nettles to the offending part. For shingles he recommends a plaster Heere endeth the^first booke, examined in “made of the red wormes the which doe Oxforde in June the yere of our Lord 1546 and come out of the earth.” in the raigne of our soveraijne Lord Henry the Chapter 183 doth shew of standing up of a Eyght, King of England, Fraunce and Ireland mans hayre or horripilacio. It may come of the XXXVIII yeare.