INTERESTING BOOK FROM THE REIGN OF CHARLES II

This curious little book is an odd survivor of the reign of Charles II and clearly demonstrates how keen the subjects of the Merry Monarch were to preserve their health – then as now – anything to do with health matters found avid readership.

Not that King Charles had much to complain about health-wise, he walked, he rowed, played real tennis, made love to many willing women and occasionally – despite being six feet two inches in height – rode as a jockey. Until that fatal morning, early in 1685 he enjoyed life. The King put up his feet awaiting the royal barber, his feet touched the frozen panes of the window. He had a mild stroke. He should have survived he was only in his early fifties. But for the next three days he suffered to unremitting attentions of his doctors, who shaved his head, took pints of blood from his body, was made to vomit continually and given various nauseating treatments.
He died.

However, that was in the future when this little booklet was printed in the great centre of the Stuart period publishing trade at St Paul’s Churchyard, London. Quite frankly, it is a hack work and its title was the only inducement for anyone to buy it. It purports to be by the medieval writer Francis Bacon, a translation of his work. Therefore quite conveniently it can ignore the achievements of the medical writers of a more recent age. Versalius, Boerhave and the Englishman, William Harvey, discoverer of how blood circulates in the human body are not mentioned. It is a discourse on theories such as the medieval mind absorbed, like how many angels could sit on the head of a needle. It is not without humour however ….. ‘And he that desires to avoid Grey – headedness let him shun moist meats let him often provoke vomit when he is full’ …. ‘Frequent washing hurts. Now and then it does no harm if the face is wiped with a Cloth.’ And of ladies making up their faces ...’It would make a man laugh to see some ladies while their camphorate and (as they think) youthful washes, they hasten that deformity they would thereby prevent’!

Thomas Young an early owner has placed his autograph on the title page. He had an appropriate name perhaps his reading was of advantage to him.

The book is to be offered in the forthcoming Fine Art Sale on 12th April and estimated to fetch £200-300.

Phone 01283 511224 or 01543 251081 for directions and valuation day times at your nearest saleroom/valuation office.