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THE SECOND BOOKS 583
magike spells or charmes than effects of any solide
science. I omit to speake of the odde number of their
pilles, the destination of certaine dayes and feastes of
the yeare, the distinction of houres to gather the
simples of their ingredients, and the same rewbarbativc
and severely-grave looke of theirs, and of their port
and countenance, which Plinie himselfe mocketh at.
But, as I was about to say, they have failed, forsomuch
as they have not added this to their faire beginning,
to make their assemblies more religious, and their
consultations more secret. No profane man should
have access unto them, no more than to the secret ceremonies
of AEsculapius. By which meanes it commeth
to passe that their irresolution ; the weaknesse of their
arguments, divinations and grounds ; the sharpenesse
of their contestations, full of hatred, of jealousie and
particular considerations, being apparant to all men;
a man must needes be starke blinde if he who falleth
into their hands see not himselfe greatly endangered.
Who ever saw physitian use his fellowes receipt without
diminishing or adding somewhat unto it; whereby
they greatly betraie their arte and make us perceive
they rather respect their reputation, and consequently
their profit, than the well-fare or interests of their
patients. He is the wisest amongst their doctors who
hath long since prescribed them that one alone should
meddle to cure a sicke man; for, if it prosper not with
him, and he do no good, the reproach will not be great
to the arte of physicke through the fault of one man
alone; and on the other side, if it thrive well with
him, the glorie shall be the greater; whereas if they
be many, on every hand will they discredit their
mysterie, because they oftner happen to doe ill than
well. They should have been content with the perpetuall
disagreeing which is ever found in the opinions
of the principall masters and chiefe authors of their
science, knowne but by such as are conversant in
bookes, without making apparent shew of the controversies,
and inconstancies of their judgement, which
they foster and continue amongst themselves. Will