[1424]Maron’s old woman to be engraven on their tombs.  So they triumph in villainy, and justify their wickedness; with Rabelais, that French Lucian, drunkenness is better for the body than physic, because there be more old drunkards than old physicians.  Many such frothy arguments they have, [1425]inviting and encouraging others to do as they do, and love them dearly for it (no glue like to that of good fellowship).  So did Alcibiades in Greece; Nero, Bonosus, Heliogabalus in Rome, or Alegabalus rather, as he was styled of old (as [1426]Ignatius proves out of some old coins).  So do many great men still, as [1427]Heresbachius observes.  When a prince drinks till his eyes stare, like Bitias in the Poet,

[1428]  ------("ille impiger hausit
Spumantem vino pateram.”)

------“a thirsty soul;
He took challenge and embrac’d the bowl;
With pleasure swill’d the gold, nor ceased to draw
Till he the bottom of the brimmer saw.”

and comes off clearly, sound trumpets, fife and drums, the spectators will applaud him, “the [1429]bishop himself (if he belie them not) with his chaplain will stand by and do as much,” O dignum principe haustum, ’twas done like a prince.  “Our Dutchmen invite all comers with a pail and a dish,” Velut infundibula integras obbas exhauriunt, et in monstrosis poculis, ipsi monstrosi monstrosius epotant, “making barrels of their bellies.” Incredibile dictu, as [1430]one of their own countrymen complains:  [1431]_Quantum liquoris immodestissima gens capiat_, &c.  “How they love a man that will be drunk, crown him and honour him for it,” hate him that will not pledge him, stab him, kill him:  a most intolerable offence, and not to be forgiven. [1432]"He is a mortal enemy that will not drink with him,” as Munster relates of the Saxons.  So in Poland, he is the best servitor, and the honestest fellow, saith Alexander Gaguinus, [1433] “that drinketh most healths to the honour of his master, he shall be rewarded as a good servant, and held the bravest fellow that carries his liquor best,” when a brewer’s horse will bear much more than any sturdy drinker, yet for his noble exploits in this kind, he shall be accounted a most valiant man, for [1434]_Tam inter epulas fortis vir esse potest ac in bello_, as much valour is to be found in feasting as in fighting, and some of our city captains, and carpet knights will make this good, and prove it.  Thus they many times wilfully pervert the good temperature of their bodies, stifle their wits, strangle nature, and degenerate into beasts.

Some again are in the other extreme, and draw this mischief on their heads by too ceremonious and strict diet, being over-precise, cockney-like, and curious in their observation of meats, times, as that Medicina statica prescribes, just so many ounces at dinner, which Lessius enjoins, so much at supper, not a little more, nor a little less, of such meat, and at such hours, a diet-drink in the morning, cock-broth, China-broth,