asleep, to
have a basin of water still dropping by his bedside," or to lie near that
pleasant murmur, _lene sonantis aquae_. Some floodgates, arches, falls of
water, like London Bridge, or some continuate noise which may benumb the
senses, _lenis motus, silentium et tenebra, tum et ipsa voluntas somnos
faciunt_; as a gentle noise to some procures sleep, so, which Bernardinus
Tilesius, _lib. de somno_, well observes, silence, in a dark room, and the
will itself, is most available to others. Piso commends frications, Andrew
Borde a good draught of strong drink before one goes to bed; I say, a
nutmeg and ale, or a good draught of Muscadine, with a toast and nutmeg, or
a posset of the same, which many use in a morning, but methinks, for such
as have dry brains, are much more proper at night; some prescribe a [3388]
sup of vinegar as they go to bed, a spoonful, saith Aetius _Tetrabib. lib.
2. ser. 2. cap. 10. lib. 6. cap. 10._ Aegineta, _lib. 3. cap. 14._ Piso, "a
little after meat," [3389]"because it rarefies melancholy, and procures an
appetite to sleep." _Donat. ab Altomar. cap. 7._ and Mercurialis approve of
it, if the malady proceed from the [3390]spleen. Salust. Salvian. _lib. 2.
cap. 1. de remed._ Hercules de Saxonia _in Pan. Aelinus_, Montaltus _de
morb. capitis, cap. 28. de Melan._ are altogether against it. Lod.
Mercatus, _de inter. Morb. cau. lib. 1. cap. 17._ in some cases doth allow
it. [3391]Rhasis seems to deliberate of it, though Simeon commend it (in
sauce peradventure) he makes a question of it: as for baths, fomentations,
oils, potions, simples or compounds, inwardly taken to this purpose, [3392]
I shall speak of them elsewhere. If, in the midst of the night, when they
lie awake, which is usual to toss and tumble, and not sleep, [3393]
Ranzovius would have them, if it be in warm weather, to rise and walk three
or four turns (till they be cold) about the chamber, and then go to bed
again.

Against fearful and troublesome dreams, Incubus and such inconveniences,
wherewith melancholy men are molested, the best remedy is to eat a light
supper, and of such meats as are easy of digestion, no hare, venison, beef,
&c., not to lie on his back, not to meditate or think in the daytime of any
terrible objects, or especially talk of them before he goes to bed. For, as
he said in Lucian after such conference, _Hecates somniare mihi videor_, I
can think of nothing but hobgoblins: and as Tully notes, [3394] "for the
most p