The Composition of the pill.

R. Good Rubarbe one dramme and a halfe, Saffron two scruples, Trochis of Agarick one dram; of cho­sen Myrrhe one dram, Aloes the best two drams, syrrup of Roses solutiue as much as will suffice to make them in pilles.

Take a dram of these pils early euery morning, for fiue or six dayes together, taking two or thrée houres after them a little thin broth, and vse a sparing diet for these fiue or six dayes, and let your meat bée light and easie of digestion: you shall haue two or thrée stooels daily or foure in some bodies. Notwith­standing you may safely goe abroad about your bu­sinesse, without any inconuenience at all.

And hauing now shewed how the euill disposition of the body may be amended, and taken away by gentle purging and euacuating of the peccant humors, bred by euill diet, and the abuse of the six things called, Res non naturales, whereof I will briefly speake, teaching what ought to be auoided, as hurtfull and preiudiciall vnto your health.

In receiuing of the aire.

The aire is one of the Elements wherof our bodies are composed; and without the inspiration, and re­spiration thereof we cannot liue: and therefore it stan­deth much with our health, that the aire which we re­ceiue into our bodies, bée swéete, holesome and vncor­rupt. And I counsell al men that they auoide all pla­ces of infection, all stinking and noisome smels; and when they are disposed to walke, that they walke in gardens, or swéete and pleasant fieldes: but neither [Page 15] early nor late at night. I haue set downe the making of a good pomander, the which I would wish to bee worne not only of Gentlemen, but of others also for the good property it hath both in resisting a corrupt, noysom, and stinking aire, and in comforting the sen­ses. I doe not intend in this place to write of the na­ture of aires and the election thereof; it would be ouer tedious, who so desireth it, let him reade Hippocrates de flatibus: also Auicen, and Rasis haue written copi­ouslie thereof. And you ought to obserue aire as meate, cold sicknesses require warme aire, drie sick­nesses moist aire: & so in the contraries, to them that be long sicke, change of aire is very commodious; & to Both in feuers dropsies, rhumes falling sicknesse. such as be in health, a temperate aire is most holesom. And where the aire is infected and corrupted, I haue set downe most excellent perfumes, for the correcting and purging thereof both for the stréets, houses and chambers, and by the vse thereof the euill quali­tie of the aire shalbe taken away.

In eating and drinking.

In eating and drinking, we ought to consider that the meates that we eate and receiue for the nourish­ment of our bodies be swéete and holsome, yéelding Galen de hu­moribus. good iuyce: for such as the meat is, such humors it bréedeth in the body: if it be harde of digestion it dooth debilitate and weaken nature, and ouer­charge the alteratiue vertue of the stomacke: if swéet, it bréedeth oppilations, whereof dangerous feuers arise; sower cooleth nature and hasteneth age: moist dooth putrifie and hasten age, drie sucketh vp naturall moisture, salt dooth fret, bitter dooth not nourish, so that in diuersitie of meates is great diuer­sitie of qualitie. A man that is in health ought to vse Qualitie. a temperate diet, and féeding sparingly vpon one, [Page 16] two or thrée dishes at the most, and if we meane to liue in anie health of bodie all superfluitie, & repletion of meates is to be abhorred. Consider with thy selfe, thou art a man indued with reason, and therefore in thy diet and all other thy actions let reason and tem­perance Quantity. gouerne thine appetite & affections: through surfetting manie one hath perished, but he that die­teth Eccl. 7. himselfe, prolongeth his life. The varietie of meates at one meale bringeth paine vnto the sto­macke, offendeth nature, and doth ingender and be­get many diseases, as Galen witnesseth, reason tea­cheth, Galen iuuent. nēbrorum lib. 1. cap. 4. and experience approueth. Therefore whoso is in health, and desireth to continue therein, let him ob­serue this rule. Let his meate that he vseth be whol­some & nourishing, such as best agréeth with his na­ture and complexion: for vnto some men béese is more holesome and better then chickens, or such like fine meates: the reason is, digestion is strong through heate, as in cholerike persons, in whom light and fine meates are rather burnt then digested: there­fore grosser meates are for them more holesome and better. And let him also note what meates doe offend, or disagree with him, and let him refuse it as hurtfull: and in so doing he shall be a Physition vnto himselfe. Note also that thou maist eate more meate Heate is the cause, of dige­stion. in winter then in sommer, because digestion is more strong, by reason that naturall heat is inclosed in the stomacke, but in summer vniuersally spread abroad into the whole body: so the stomacke wanting this naturall heate, digestion is thereby more weake. Cholerike persons and children may eate oftner then anie other, by reason of their heate and quicke digestion. Time and place will not permit mee to write what I would concerning diet, the obseruati­on whereof is a verie speciall meanes for the preser­uation of health: & many times sicknesses are cured by [Page 17] the benefit of diet. In hote sicknesse vse a cold diet: in a moist sicknesse vse a drying diet, Contraria con­trariis curantur: all distemperatures are cured by Auicen. Hippocrat. in Aphoris. their contraries. I will here end of diet: wishing thée to remember this saying of Hippocrates, Studi­um sanitatis est non satiari cibis, the means or studie to preserue health, is to eschue fulnesse or superfluitie of meates and drinkes. So is it indéede, and especially in a time of sicknes, as this is. And it is now excée­ding good with all your meates to vse sharpe sauces made with vinegar, or rose vinegar, Orenges, Li­mons, Pomegranates, and a little Cinnamon and Maces. But forbeare and refuse all hot spices, and strong wines, Onions, Garlicke, Léekes, Cabage, Radish, Rocket, and such like: the vse of them is ve­rie Except one draught for a cold and weake stomacke. hurtfull and dangerous. But these are good and holesome: Borage, buglosse, sorrell, endiue, cicho­rie, violets, spinage, betonie, egrimonie, they are good both in salades, sauces, and broth: and your diet ought in this time of infection to bee cooling and drying.

Of sleeping and waking.

God hath created the day for man to labour in his Arist. de som. Somnus causatur ex vapore cibi, qui vadit ad ce­rebrum. vocation and calling, and the night to rest and sléepe, which is so naturall and néedfull, that without it wée cannot liue. In sléepe our senses haue their rest, the powers animall are therewith comforted & streng­thened, the mind quieted, digestion furthered, and finally the strength of the body maintained: and without sléepe wise men should be soone chaunged Moderate sleep is good, and greatly com­forts nature. into idiote fooles. And sléep is no lesse needfull for the preseruation of our liues then foode. These are of themselues good, but we, through the abuse of them, change their natures, and make them hurtfull vnto [Page 18] vs. Immoderate sléepe, and sléeping in the day is ve­ry euill: it dulleth the wit, it repleats and fils the bo­die with euil humours, it ingendreth rheume, and maketh the body apt vnto palsies, apoplexies, falling sicknesse, impostumes; and finally, slow and vnapt vnto any honest exercise.

Note also that we ought not to sléepe immediate­ly after meat before it be descended from the mouth of the stomacke, for thereby digestion is corrupted, and paines, and noise in the belly ingendred: Also our sleepe is made vnquiet and troubled by euill va­pours ascending: therefore I counsell all men that are in health, and desire the continuance thereof, that they auoid sléeping in the day time, especially [...]eepe in the [...]y makes the [...]dy apt to in­ [...]ction in this [...]e of sicknes. lying vpon a bed: and if they must néeds sléepe, be­ing accustomed so to do, let them take a nap sitting in a chaire. And in manie sicknesses sléepe is dan­gerous: so is it after the receiuing of anie poison, or vnto a person infected with the pestilence: the reason is, sléep draweth the blood and spirits inward, & there­withall attracteth the venome vnto the nutrimentall or vitall partes: therefore if a person doubt that he is infected, let him refraine from sléepe, and let him take without delay some good medicine set downe a­gainst the sicknesse, and sweate therewithall.

And as I haue shewed the inconuenience of too much, or immoderate sléepe: so I say ouer-much watching is no lesse hurtfull vnto nature. It doth debilitate the powers animall: it weakeneth the na­turall [...]ne nimium [...]turae inimicū. strength of the bodie, bringeth consumptions, bréedeth melancholie, and oftentimes the frensie. Therefore both in this and all other things, we must vse temperance, sobrietie and moderation.

Of exercise and rest.

Galen counselleth vs, if we desire to preserue health, that we vse exercise of bodie: it makes dige­stion Galen. in regim. sanitat. strong, and more quicke alteration, and also better nourishing: it strengtheneth the bodie, it in­creaseth heat, drieth rheumes, it openeth the pores of the bodie, whereby humours offending nature are expulsed: it is indéede the preseruer and maintainer of health, as Galen, Auicen, and Corn. Celsus teach, and experience approueth.

Idlenesse and rest is a contrarie vnto exercise: it is the mother of ignorance, the nurse of diseases, it corrupteth the mind, it dulleth the bodie, filling and repleating it with superfluous and euill humours, which breede manie sicknesses. And as exercise and labour is a preseruer of health, so idlenes is the short­ner of life, enemy vnto the soule and body, and very vnprofitable in a Cōmon-wealth, and also hurtful in a priuate house. And remember this, that vehement exercise be not vsed presently after meate, for it wil conueigh crude and vndigested iuyce vnto each part, which is very euil & hurtfull. But exercise is good be­fore meate, and two or thrée howers after meate, being moderately vsed. Exercise is best and most conuenient, when the first and second digestion is complete, as well in the stomacke, as in the vaines. But in such a time of infection as this is, I cannot commend exercise, because it will too much open the pores, and the pores being opened, the bodie is apt to receiue the infectious aire. Much more would I say of the benefit of exercise, and the inconuenience of idlenesse, but that I should be ouer-tedious in this place.

Of fulnesse and emptinesse.

All fulnesse and superfluitie of meates are to be eschued, for as much as they make repletion: And all bodies in whom there is repletion, are apt to bee in­fected. And such bodies must endeuour to kéepe them­selues soluble: All euacuations are good for them, as purging and bléeding, except some speciall cause doth forbid it: And let them vse a sparing and frugall diet. And they may safely, and with great profit vse the pill I haue set downe before in my booke. And as I haue said, repletion is an enemie vnto health, bring­ing and begetting sicknesse, and sometime sodaine death: so is too much fasting and emptinesse, no lesse hurtfull: it weakeneth the braine, and drieth the whole bodie, consuming the radicall moisture in man, and shorteneth life.

And as repletion is to be abhorred and auoided, so also increa­ [...]h wind, [...]oler, & me­ [...]choly. is too much emptinesse to be eschewed: and as I haue said, we must vse a mediocritie in all things.

Of affections of the mind.

Affections of the mind are called by M. Cicero, Per­turbations. Galen calleth them Pathemata vel affectus anims, and nothing is more hurtfull in this time of sicknesse, nor greater enemie vnto life, then feare, sorrow, anger, heauinesse and griefe of mind. Anger is a dangerous passion: it chafeth the bloud, and dis­quieteth the heart: it inflameth the spirits: which a­scending vp into the head, annoieth the animall pow­ers [...]hese passions the mind are [...]angerous. or faculties. This passion cholericke persons, ty­rants and fooles are much troubled withall, and of­tentimes in their wrath perform wicked and vnlaw­full actions, Feare, sorrow, and griefe of mind are no [Page 21] lesse hurtfull vnto the body: for they waste the natu­rall heat and moisture, wherein life consisteth; ma­king the bodie leane and drie, whereupon con­sumption followesh: it dulleth the wit and vnderstan­ding, and draweth the spirits and bloud inward to the heart: and withall attracteth the venemous and infectious aire, if we liue within the compasse there­of. If I should here stand to write of all the pertur­bations for the mind, defining and distinguishing them one from another, shewing the wonderfull ef­fects of them, and the inconuenience therof, I should be ouer tedious in this short Treatise, and it might seeme impertinent in this worke: onely this I wish thée to remember, Sub te erit appetitus tuus, & tudomi­naberis illi: Vnder thée shall be thine appetite, and thou shalt beare rule ouer it, saith the Lord. We must therefore maister our affections: for if they be not o­uer-ruled and gouerned by wisedome, they will ex­céede, and proue daungerous enimies both vnto soule and bodie. And in this time of sicknes we ought specially to auoid these perturbations of the mind, and to vse all vertuous and commendable mirth, swéete musicke, good companie, and all laudable recreation that may delight you, and vse the per­fumes in your chambers, and in other roomes of your houses that I haue set downe, being cast into a fuming pot or chafing dish vpon a few coales. Do this euening and morning: the charge thereof is small, but the vtilitie is great. It purgeth the aire, and ta­keth away the euill qualitie thereof.

Now hauing shewed what ought to be auoided, it followeth, that I set downe preseruatiues that may resist all infection: which God assisting me, I will do.

First of all, I counsell all men in whom bloud doth abound, the which they may easily know them­selues, by the heate of their bodies, colour, largenesse [Page 22] and fulnesse of their vaines, that they be let bloud in the liuer vaine in the right arme: and let the quanti­tie be according vnto the strength of the person.

Also that all men in generall auoid all bathes and hote-houses, and all vehement exercise, that may o­uerheate the body, and inflame the bloud.

Also the companie of women this hote and conta­gious time is verie hurtfull, and therefore ought to be vsed with great moderation.

Also walking verie early in a morning, and verie late in the euening, is hurtfull and dangerous. Also auoide all prease and throng of people where a multi­tude are assembled, & al noisome & vnsauourie places.

Now hauing shewed all the causes of the pesti­lence, and set downe the cure and remedie for euerie cause: I will by Gods assistance, for the care I haue of the preseruation of the inhabitants of this honora­ble citie, and for the loue I beare vnto them and my countrie, communicate vnto them most excellent and approued preseruatiues and of singular vertue: which whose vseth them, shall not néed to feare the infection of this contagious sicknes. First, with an humble and contrite heart desire mercie of the Lord: and then commend thy selfe vnto his protection: which be­ing done, vse the good meanes he hath ordained for thy health.

Pilles of especiall vertue in preseruing all that vse them.

R. Good Aloes half an ounce washed in rosewater: of good myrrhe, of saffron, of each two drams: bole­armoniac. praep. one scruple: seed pearle one scru­ple: sir. of limons as much as wil suffice to make them in pilles, or in a masse.

[Page 23] Take halfe a dramme hereof made in pilles eue­rie second or third day in the morning; faste after it thrée or foure houres: but it shall be good for you to take a little thinne broth, or a little alebrue, or sixe or eight spoonefuls of wine within an houre after, and vse your accustomed diet, as before.

Another pill that doth more moue the bodie, and giueth two stooles, or three in some bodies, and this is good for such as are costiue, and in whom hu­mours abound.

R. Good Rubarbe, chosen myrrhe, of each one dram; chosen aloes two drams: zedoarie roote one scru­ple: saffron one scruple: sirrup of Roses solutiue as much as will suffice to make the masse.

This pill purgeth gently, and preserueth the bodie from all infection.

Such bodies in whom humours doe abound, and are most commonly costiue, may vse these pilles, ta­king half a dram euerie morning, for thrée, foure, fiue, or sixe dayes together, as they please. Take after it either a little thin broth, or of an alebrue, or a draught of wine, if it bée not too hote for your complexion, and vse your ordinarie diet as accustomed, if it be good.

Another very good Preseruatiue, and worthy of much commendations.

R. Of good Mithridatum halfe an ounce, Angelica root in powder two drams, of Theriaca andro, half Take a little o [...] this euery morning. an ounce, Bolearmoniac. praep. two drams, con­serues of Roses and Borage halfe an ounce, seede [Page 24] of Citrons two scruples, sirup of Limons one ounce, mix them, make halfe this receite.

Or this which is very good.

R. Good Mithridatum halfe an ounce, Conserues of Roses halfe an ounce, Bolearmoniack praep. two drams, mix them.

Take as much of this euery morning as a nut, and fast after it two or thrée howers.

A good pill and an assured preseruatiue.

R. Aloes optima foure drams, lota in aqua Rosarum; [...]ld wish to vse dai­ [...]me one of [...] preserua­ [...] and when [...]ake no [...]se some o­ [...] preserua­ [...] Myrrh elect. two drams, Croci two drams, rad. Ze­doariae one scruple, Boli armeni one scruple, sir. li­monum Q. S. fiat massa.

Take halfe a dram of these pilles in the morning, you may mix it if you wil with a little white wine this sommer, and drinke it, and be frée from infection. [...]t com­mons with [...]e and [...] water.

Another of most excellent vertue, and an assured preseruatiue.

R. Boli armeni praep. halfe an ounce, Dictamni albi two drams, Cinamoni three drams, Rosarum one dram, rad. Angelicae two drams, rad Turmentil­lae, [...]ncely pre­ [...]tiue. rad. Gentianae of each two drams, sem. Limo­num one dram, Santalorum omnium ana one dram, Cornu cerui rasurae, flo. Buglossae. fol. scabi, rad. turmentillae, rad. Zedoariae ana one dram, oxyaloes, nucis muscatae, Granatum Iuniperi, ossis de corde. [...]he Apo­ [...]rie make for you. cerui ana halfe a dram, Saphiri, hyacinthi, smarag­di, rubini, Granati praep. ana one scruple, Margari­tarum two scruples, foliorum Auri one scruple, [Page 25] puluerizantar & cum sir. exacetosa Q. S. fiatele­ctuarium.

This is to be taken euery morning, a scruple or two scruples daily, and is a most excellent and an assu­red preseruatiue against al infection.

Another that defendeth all men that vse it, from the infection of this contagious sicknesse.

R. Theriaca Andromachi, mithridatum optimum ana two drams, conser Rosarum three drās, Boli arme­ni A good preser­uatiue. praep. two scruples, sem. vel rad. Angelicae two scruples, sem. citri halfe a dram, sir. Limonum halfe an ounce, misce.

Take of this euery morning, the quantitie of a hasel nut, or any other time of the day if you goe among a­ny throng of people, or where the sicknesse is, but you ought to faste after it a while.

The common pils against the pestilence, that defend al them that vse them from infection.

R. Good Aloes halfe an ounce, Myrrhe, saffron of ei­ther of them two drams, let them be beaten in a morter, and put to them a little white Wine or sweet wine, & incorporate it together, make them Rufi cont. pest. Auicen in lib. 4. Take these pils euery second day. in pils, & so take them if you will, half a dram in the morning, and drink after them an hower a draught of white wine: these although plaine, are very good: & I would they were more vsed for their vertue. But women great with child may not take of these pils, neither of the other pils set down before: let them content themselues to eate in a morning, some conserues of sorrell, roses, or borrage, where­with [Page 26] they may mix some sirrup of Limons, and let them be mery and vse a good diet, and good com­pany to passe the time away, and this is the best medicine I can aduise them.

The vse of Orenges, Limons, and Pomgranats, is very good; so is Vinegar, cloues, maces, saffron, so­rel with your meat, or [...]hat is, O­ [...]ges, Limōs, [...]mgranats. either of them in a morning with sugar is good. Let all your meates be drest and saused with vinegar, Orenges, and Limons, maces and saffron, and a little cinamon, and auoide al strong wines, and hot spices.

Now hauing set downe most excellent preserua­tiues for the Gentilite, Citizens and better sorte, it followeth, that I likewise teach the commons how they may preserue themselues in this time of infectiō: but first of the Pomanders, which are apreseruatiue against this infection for the Gentlewomen and Citi­zens of this place.

A very good Pomander to be worne of all the better sort against this infection, and stinking and noisome smels when they go abroade.

R. Labdanum, of the rinds of Citrons ana one dram; of the three kinds of Sanders ana half a dram; wood of Aloes, flowers of Buglosse, and Nenuphar, Rose leaues ana two scruples, alipta muscatae half a [...] good Po­ [...]ander. scruple; Cloues, Marierō ana one scruple; Zedoary roote one scruple, Beniamin one dram, Storax Ca­lamita one dram and a half, Campher half a dram; Muske, Amber greece ana foure graines; make your simples in fine powder and mix them with Rose water, wherein gum dragagant hath bin dis­solued [Page 27] as much as will suffice to make your poman­der.

This is a singular good pomander, swéet and com­fortable, to be worne in this time of sicknesse against corrupt aires, stinking and noisom smels.

An other good Pomander, though not all thing so costly, to be worne against the infecti­on of the aire.

R. Of the rinds of Citrons one dram; Storax, Cala­mint two drams, Labdanum one dramme, of all three kinds of Sanders, ana two scruples; flowers of Roses, Violets, and Nenuphar ana half a dram; li­quid Storax, Beniamin, ana one dram; Campher one scruple, Musk and Ambergreece ana three graines, with Rose water, & gum Dragagant a lit­tle quantitie make your Pomander.

But here I had almost forgotten one preser­uatiue which many men commend, and is good in­déede, but especially for fearefull persons, such I mean as liue in feare of this sicknesse, and although I haue placed it last, yet not the least to be regarded: Citò, longe & tarde, we must flie away spéedily, and we must go far off, and returne againe slowly, it is good for those that can cōueniently so do. Let vs put our whole trust in the Lord, from whom commeth all helpe, and with contrite hearts for our iniquitie vse the good meanes that the Lord hath ordeined and created for vs, and cast away all feare, & I doubt not, but by Gods assistance this sicknes shall be taken away.

To eate euery morning as much as the kernell of A preseruatiue. a nut of Electuarium de ouo, is a good preseruatiue.

[Page 28] So is treacle of Andromachus description, which you shal haue at the Apothecaries, mix with it as much Conserues of Roses.

Thrée or foure graines of Bezoar stone taken in the morning in a spoonefull of scabious, or sorrell wa­ter, is a good preseruatiue.

So is a little Diascordium taken in the morning the quantitie of two white peason.

Also to vse the roote of Angelica, stieped in vinegar to chew in your mouth as you go in the stréet is good, and to eate a little thereof.

Gentian, Zedoarie, Turmentill, chewed and kept in your mouth are good.

Sorrell eaten in the morning with a little good Vi­negar like a sallet, is very good: the vse of Orenges and Limons is very good, Pomegranates and Vinegar.

It is good euery morning betime, to take some good preseruatiue, and before you goe abroade, it shall not be amisse to eate something to your breakfast that is holesome, as bred, and swéet-butter, a potcht egge with vinegar, or some other thing as you are prouided, & vse alway in going into any infected place a roote of Angelica to chew vpon in your mouth, a little spunge dipt in Rose-vinegar to smel vnto often times is good, put into a pomander box of iuorie.

Also to weare a Pomander about your necke and smell to it oftentimes, is very good.

Let your chāber be drest with swéet flowers as these, swéet mints, time, penerial, carnatiōs, roseleaues: and let your chamber bee strued with gréene rushes, Vine leaues, Oken leaues, and Willow leaues & Mintes.

If you haue any windowes towards the North or northeast kéep them open in cléere daies; your cham­ber ought also to bee persumed oftentimes, with the perfumes taught in this book; you may vse Iuniper Beniamin, Storax and wood of Aloes.

For your diet.

Yong Mutton, Veale, Kid, Capors, Hennes, Chickens, Rabbets, Partridge, Fesant, Quaile, Plouers, small birdes of the fields, Pigeons, swéete butter, potched egges with vinegar, but not in hot complexions.

Water-fowles are not good, neither is Porke, or olde powdred Béefe.

But Fishes from fresh riuers is very good eaten with vinegar, and good sauce, they coole the bloud well.

Let your drinke bée small béere, and well brued, and sometimes a cup of white wine mixed with water for hot complexions, with Borrage, and Buglosse, but es­chew all hot and swéet wines.

Herbes that be good to bée vsed, Sorrel, Endiue, Succorie, Borage, Buglosse, Parsely, Marigoldes, Time, Marierom, Betonie, Scabious, Isope, Mints, Purslane, Pimpernell, Rue, Angelica, Cardus Benedictus, Lettuce.

Make your sauce with Cytrin, Limons, Oreng, Sorrell, Vinegar, Maces, Saffron, Barberies, and such like.

Raw, & yong fruit is hurtful, so is Garlick, Onions, Léekes, Radish, Rocket, Mustarde, Pepper, and hot spices, and al hot wines, and all these are hurtfull, & so are al swéet meates: let your diet be cooling & drying.

Preseruatiues for the Commons and Contry­men, who haue not an Apothecarie at hand.

Take of Rue or Herbe grace two ounces, of the yong buds of Angelica, two ounces; or for want ther­of, [Page 30] of the roote or séede one ounce, Bolearmoniacke prepared one ounce, of Iuniper berries one ounce, of walnuts cleane picked from their skins two ounces, Good figges in number sixe or seuen, of Saffron sixe peniworth, of good wine vinegar that is sharpe foure ounces. Let these be well beaten together in a mor­ter the space of one houre, and then put in your vine­gar, and incorporate them together. Which being done, put it into some swéete gallie pot or glasse, and couer it close: and take thereof daily in the morning the quantitie of a nutineg. Or you may eate thereof at anie time going néere, or in any infectious place.

Another good preseruatiue of no lesse vertue in resisting all infection.

R. Of holy Thistle, or for want thereof, our Ladies Thistle so called, Betonie, Angelica, Scabious, Sor­rell, Pimpernell, Turmentill, of either of these a handfull, Gentian roots also, if they may be had.

Bruise all these in a stone morter a little, and put thereto a pinte of good vinegar, and halfe a pinte of white wine, and put them into a still, and draw forth the water, and take two or thrée spoonfuls thereof eue­rie morning fasting, and be frée from all infection.

The roote of Angelica laid or stieped in good vine­gar all night, and a little thereof taken in the mor­ning is a good preseruatiue. The séedes are of the like vertue.

Another good preseruatiue that defen­deth all from infection.

Take of the kernels of walnuts three ounces, rue one [...]he com­ [...]s. ounce and a halfe, fine bole armoniack one ounce, [Page 31] root of Angelica & Turmentill of either an ounce, good figs three ounces, Myrrhe three drams, Saf­fron foure peniworth.

Let these be beaten a good space in a morter, then put thereto two or thrée spoonefuls of good vnegar, and as much Rosewater, and incorporate them well together, eate hereof as much as a hazell nut in the morning, and at anie other time of the day go­ing where the infection is, and bee frée from all infe­ction.

Now such as desire to liue in safety, and yet would bestow no cost for their preseruatiō, let them vse this.

R. Figges seuen or eight in number Rue one hand­full, For the Com­mons. the kernels of ten or twelue walnuts cleane picked from their skinnes, foure or sixe spoonfuls of good vinegar, beat these together in a morter, and keepe it close in a boxe, and eate thereof euery morning, and it is good to defend thee from the infection.

Galen commendeth Garlicke, calling it the poore mans treacle, but vndoubtedly it is too hote to be ea­ten of cholericke persons, or sanguine, or in a hote season, and therefore I cannot commend it, except in cold, moist and rheumaticke bodies, for whom it may be good.

I haue set downe, curteous Reader, diuers and sundry preseruatiues that you may take your choise: vse them in the name of God. And this I dare bold­ly affirme, there are in my book as good as are known and sufficient for thy preseruation by Gods grace.

Now it followeth, that I write of confections, ele­ctuaries, and potions, required in the cure of the pe­stilence.

An Electuarie of great and singular vertue in cu­ring of the pestilence, being taken in time before it be setled at the heart, and nature vtterly ouer come.

R. Bolearmoniack prepared two ounces, terra sigillata one ounce, Myrrhe sixe drams, rootes of Gentian, Zedoary, Angelica and Dictamni, of each three drams red corrall, red saunders of each a dram and a half, saffron one dram & a half, yellow saunders one dram, turmētil, scabious, leaues of Cardus be­nedictus or holy thistle of each a dram & a halfe, flowers of marigolds one dramme, the bones of a Harts heart halfe a dramme or two scruples, Basill seede halfe a dram, good seed pearle two scruples, vnicornes horne two scruples, leafe gold two scru­ples, harts horne one dram. Let all these be made in fine powder euery one by itself. Thē take sirrup of Limons and sorrell, as much as will be sufficient to make it in an electuarie. Adde hereunto good Mithridatum one ounce.

He that is infected with the pestilence, let him take one dram or one dram and a halfe of this medicine, according to his strength with water of Scabious, Angelica, or Cardus benedictus the quantitie of nine or ten spoonefuls, it must be taken warme, and pro­cure the patient to sweate after two, thrée or foure houres: which if he cannot easily doe, then vse the meanes, as I haue taught in this booke, by putting in [...]or want of [...]ese waters [...]ke posset [...]ink made white wine. of bottles fild with hot water, & if it should so chance the patient should vomit, then giue him as much more; and if he vomit againe, let him wash his mouth with Rose water and vinegar, and receiue his medi­cine againe, the quantitie before taught, and vndoub­tedly by this meanes the venemous infection shal be [Page 33] expulsed, the heart comforted, and the life preserued through Gods mercie and goodnes.

Another Electuary curing the pestilence, being ta­ken within twelue, sixteene or eighteene houres, after the person is in­fected.

Electuarium de ouo.

R. Ouum gallinae recens, & educto per apicem albu­mine, id quod vacuum est, croco orientali imple, A medicine of singular vertue in curing this sicknesse. vitellum non auferendo: postea cum alio putamine iterum occlude, ne quid transpiret, & lento igne tamdiu assa in ollula, donec tota oui testa ad nigre­dinem deueniat, exempta è testa materia exsic­cetur vt in mortario exquitissimè contundi & in puluerem redigi queat, addendo pulueris sinapis albi quantum praedicta omnia ponderant, postea,

R. Fol. Dictamni albi, rad. turmentillae, Zedoariae ana ʒ ij. rad. gentianae, angelicae, granatorum iuni­peri ana ʒ iij. fol. Card. benedict. rad. doronici. ana ʒ j. Cardamomi, cornu cerui rasurae ana ʒ ss. myrrhae ʒ ij. ossis de corde cerui scrup. ij. Margaritarum ʒ i. camphurae ʒ ij. santalorum omnium ana ʒ i. pulueri­zētur omnia sing. per se, misc. omnia simul in mor­tario, & tandem appone Theriaca Andromachi ad pondus omnium, & iterum pistillo fortiter con­tunde & commisce per tres quasi integras horas, agitando fiat electuarium.

When any person is infected, let him take a dram A dram and a scruple is suffi­cient for a any man. or somewhat more, according vnto his strength, mixe and dissolue it in water of Scabious, Roses, or En­diue, as you can haue, or in them altogether the quā ­titie [Page 34] or measure of eight spoonefuls, & make it warme, and drinke it in Gods name, sweate well thereupon, and thou shalt be deliuered from danger of the sick­nesse, and is a most approued medicine and spéedie re­medie, if it be taken in time: for herein censisteth the danger, namely delay, in which time the venome pierceth vnto the heart, and there setleth, and vanqui­sheth the vitall spirits. For this is most certaine, as I haue often séene and approoued, that those that take and vse in the very beginning of their sicknesse, some good meanes, scarce two in tenne die, but very spée­dily recouer their former health.

And truly I cannot but lament the folly of many people, who féeling themselues sicke, driue forth and delay the time, some trusting to their strength and [...]elay in this [...]knes is verie [...]angerous, and [...]mmonly [...]ngeth death youth: other some take some light and trifling medi­cine to no purpose, and manie other blinded with a foolish opinion, that physicke can doe them no good: and this is the cause whie so manie die of this sicknes, as they now do.

Note this, that if a person doe vomite vp his medi­cine, that then you cause him to wash his mouth with rosewater and vinegar, and giue him as much more, if he cast it vp againe, do as before vntill he kéepe it.

A singular confection for the cure of the Pestilence.

R. Rad. Angelicae, rad. Gentianae, rad. Zedoariae, rad. Turmentillae, rad. Dictamni, rad. Valerianae, rad. 3 good confe­ [...]on for cu [...]g the pesti­ [...]ce. morsus diaboli, rad. Aristo. rotundae, rad. asari, rad. serpentariae, herb. scordit, card. benedicti, rut [...], ga­lang [...], flor. calendulae, sem. citri, sem. acetosae, bac­carum lauri, ossis de corde cerui, cornu cerui prae­parati, ana ʒ ij. Croci, thuris, santalorum omniū, ana ʒ [...]j. Cinamomi, myrrhae, boli armeni praeparati, ter­rae [Page 35] sigillatae, camphurae, ana ʒ iiij. spec. diagem. cal. & frig. spec. diamarg. cal. & frig. spec. diambrae ana ʒj. succi scordii, succi calendulae ana vnc. 1. Com­misceātur omnia cum syrupo acctositatis citri q. s. incorporentur ad formam opitatae, adde mithri­datum Andromachi vnc. iii. & theriacae opti. vnc. i. & semis. aqua angelicae vnc. ii. misc.

Take one dram and a halfe, or two drammes of this confection, or two drammes and a half, according to the age and strength of the patient, with water of Scabious, Cardus benedictus, or Angelica nine or ten spoonefuls, made warme and mixed wel together, let him drinke it and sweate well thereupon.

Another that cureth the Pestilence, and expulseth al venemous infection.

R. Bolearmoniack prepared halfe an ounce, Cinamon two drams, roote of gentian, angelica, Zedoarie, 4 Electuarium contra pestem cum gemmis. turmentil ana two drams; seed of citrons, red rose leaues, harts horne rased, of the three kinds of Saunders of each one dram; iuniper berries, halfe a dram; nutmegge, the bone of the deares heart, ii. scrup. seede pearle and orient one dramme; saf­fron one dram, red corall two scruples, rinds of ci­trons two scruples, fragments or peeces of the fiue precious stones, Saphiri, Hyacinthi, Smaragdi, Ru­bini, granati praep. ana one scruple, leafe gold one scruple, bezoar stone one scruple.

Make these into most fine powder seuerally, which being done, put thereto as much sirrup of limons as will make it in forme of an electuarie, making it som­thing thick, & putting thereto of good Mithridatum thrée ounces, mixe them. This being taken y ^e weight of one dram or a dram and a halfe, or two drams for a [Page 36] strōg person in water of Scabious, Angelica, or Car­dus benedictus, sweating therwithal, cureth y ^e person spéedily of y ^e pestilence, expulsing it by sweat & vrine.

Another for the commons and countrimen, where these aforesaid set downe cannot be had.

R. Good Mithridatum Andromachus a dram & a half, good Treacle, I meane not the cōmon treacle sold at the Mercers, but at the Apothecaries, called the­riaca Andromach. one dram. Mixe these together, and take it in a little posset drink made with white wine, and sweate well therewith, and this cureth the pestilence. If any sore doe arise, then vse the meanes, as I haue taught in this booke, to ripen or suppurate the sore: which being done, let it be o­pened and drawne forth.

Another medicine or remedie for the Com­mons and Contriemen, very good and effectuall.

Take a great white Onion, cut off the top, and with your knife pike forth the core, and make a wide hollownesse in the middle, which you must fill vp with good treacle, from the Apothecaries called The­riaca Andromachi, or Andromachs treacle, let it bée in weight one dram and a halfe: this béeing put in­to the Onion, couer it with that you cut off before, and paaste it ouer and rost it in the imbers, and béeing soft stampe it in a morter, and straine it through a cloth, and with two or thrée spoonfuls of posset drinke mixed with it, take it and sweate thereupon as long as you can, and this wil expulse it from the hart.

Or this which is very good.

R. Mithridatum two drams, Venice treacle one dram, mix them with water of Angelica, Cardus Bene­dictus, or Scabious, or for want therof posset drink made with white wine, and sweate well.

[Page 37] These thrée last medicines I haue set downe for them that cannot haue spéedily the other aforesaid; and although they séeme meane, yet are they of great ver­tue in this sicknesse, and cure them that take it in time in the beginning of their sicknesse, obseruing the order of this book therewithall.

The signes that signifie and declare a person to be in­fected with the pestilence.

The first is, a great paine and heauinesse in the head. 1.

The second is, hée féeleth great heat within his bodie, and the outward partes cold and readie to 2. shake, and is thirstie and drie therewithal.

The third signe is, he cannot draw his breath easily, 3. but with some paine and difficultie.

The fourth signe is, he hath a great desire to sléepe, 4. and can very hardly refraine from sléeping, but be­ware hée sléepe not. And sometimes watching dooth vex and trouble him as much and cannot sléepe.

The fift signe is, swelling in the stomacke with 5. much paine, breaking forth with stinking sweat.

The sixt signe is, diuers & heauie lookes of the eies, 6. séeing all things of one colour, as gréene or yellow, and the eies are changed in their colour.

The seuenth signe is, losse of appetite, vnsauourie taste, bitternesse of the mouth sowre and stinking. 7.

The eight signe is, wambling of the stomacke, and a desire to vomite, and sometime vomiting humors 8. bitter and of diuers colours.

The ninth signe is, the pulse beateth swift and déepe.

The tenth signe is, a heauinesse, and dulnesse in 9. all the body, and a faintnes and a weakenesse of the 10. limmes.

[Page 38] The eleuenth signe is, the vrine most commonly is 11. troubled, thick & like beastes water, & stinking, but [...]se are ma­ [...]est signes [...] the heart [...] drawne [...]venim vnto [...]y attraction [...]he aire by inspiration [...]he arteries the heart. smel to it not if you loue your health: but oftentimes the water dooth not shew at all, especially in the begin­ning of the sicknesse, therefore trust not vnto the wa­ter, but looke vnto the other signes héere aboue set downe.

The twelfth and last signe, and surest of all other, is, there ariseth in the necke, vnder the arme, or in the flanke, a tumor or swelling, or in some other part of the 12. bodie there appeareth any red, gréenish, or blackish coloured sore, these are most apparant signes to the eye, that this person is infected with the pestilence.

But take héede, bée not deceiued: for oftentimes a person is strongly infected with the Pestilence, and hath neither Apostume, Carbuncle, nor botch appea­ring, in two or thrée dayes, by which time hée is néere his death: therefore when a botch dooth not appeare spéedily, it is alwaies an euill signe and dangerous. The reason hereof is, nature is weake, and the infe­ction and poison is strong and furious: and nature be­ing weake as in children, and in aged persons, and in others also, through the euill disposition of the body, is not able to make resistance against so furious, and puissant an enemie, and to expulse the infection or poison. And this is the verie reason and cause, why [...]e reason [...]y no sore ap [...]reth in som [...]sons. in some persons there appeareth no botch, or sore, but other certaine markes, or spots, as I may call them.

Now contrariwise, when the infection or poison is more milde and weake, and nature strong, then she gathering hir power and force together strineth and resisteth the infection, and expulseth the poison from the heart, and other the principall members vnto some emunctorie or clensing place, where it may be best purged & auoided. Now this is a good signe, that [...]e reason of appearing sore or [...]ch. nature is strong, and hath preuailed against the infe­ctious [Page 39] poison; so is it indéede, if the sore arise not néere about the heart, or throat, or som such dangerous place. And againe nature must now forth with bee The heart ought with all speed to bee comforted. aided; least the venom gathering strength, by the pu­trefaction of the humors within the body, returne a­gaine vnto the heart. Therefore I say the heart must be strengthened with cordialles, and also spéedily comforted: and the other principal members likewise. For we commonly sée notwithstanding the botch be thrust forth by nature, yet the person often and most commonlie dyeth, whereof the greatest and most part might liue, if helpe in due time were admi­nistred. And sometimes the infection is so strong, and No helpe in some persons but death fol­loweth. the Body so weake through corrupt and vitious hu­mors, that nature is sodainly ouercome, and the spi­rits of life expulsed. And this infection naturallie fli­eth with all possible spéed to the heart, as the princi­pal member of life, to surprize it, & pierceth sooner vn­to Venena Princi­pes partes petunt. Gal. What bodies soonest infected I shewed your before. the heart of cholerick persons then any other com­plexion; although the sanguine be more apt to be in­fected by reason of their heat and moisture, and phleg­matick are also apt through humiditie, that is in them: the melancholie are not apt to be infected, but hardlie cured béeing infected

Now forasmuch as this sicknesse is swift, fierce, and dangerous, and spéedily expulseth life, if it be not preuented in time by good medicine: Let vs I say leaue our follie, in delaying to vse the meanes for our helpe, remembring this good counsell

Principijs obsta, sero medicina paratur &c.

We must stop the beginninges, medecines come too late, nature béeing ouercome through the long suffe­ring of the euil. And what is the reasō that so many dy ofthis sicknesse as they doe, I think you wil answere me it is Gods hand and visitation, & contra mortem non est remedium: I grant indéede it is Gods visitati­on, [Page 40] and so is all other sicknesses. And this is the diffe­rence, this sicknesse is strong, swift, and dangerous, and killeth many through his violence, and vene­mous quality: some other more mild, yet killeth also in some short time, if it be not preuented: and some other so mild & weake, that nature being strong doth hote feuers ouercome hir selfe with good diet without the benefit of medicines. The verie causes indeed that so many die of this sicknesse are two. The first is the strength, power, and venemous qualitie of this sicknes, spée­dily surprizing the vitall spirits.

The second cause is, our delay to vse medicine in time, and not vsing good and effectuall medicines, such as haue vertue by Gods grace giuen vnto them [...]he cause so [...]any die of [...]s sicknes. for the curing and withstanding of this violent sicke­nes. We must relie vpon God, fixing our whole trust in him, and thankfully and diligently vse the good meanes that hee hath ordained and created, for our health and helpe in time of sicknes.

And against this contagious sicknesse, I haue set downe good preseruatiues, which being vsed, will by Gods grace preuent the danger. And also most excel­lent and approued remedies for this sicknesse, that whoso vseth them in time, shal vndoubtedly by Gods grace and mercie be spéedily cured. Now it followeth, that I teach the vse of them, and the true and perfect cure of the pestilence, and what is to be obserued in the cure thereof.

And first, I will teach the cure of the pestilence when no botch or sore appeareth, and how to preuent the rising of any botch or sore most commonly in all persons.

The cure of the Pestilence, when no botch, or sore appeareth, and how to preuent the rising of any botch or sores most commonly in all persons.

In the cure of this sicknes there are thrée intenti­ons especially required. The first is to aide and helpe nature, to expell the infection and venemous poison. 3. Intentions required in the cure of this sicknes. The second is to comfort the heart, and other the principall members of the body. The third is a good obseruation in diet, afterward to be vsed. And at the first when any person féeleth himselfe sicke, let him well consider, whether any of the signes before set downe, that signifie a person infected, be in him or no: & if he find any of them at al in himselfe, then let him be assured it is the sicknesse. But héere hée must not deferre the time, doubting, and making farther trial, whether it bée or no: For in this time when the pesti­lence Beware you sleepe not vntil you haue ta­ken your me­dicine, & eight houres after. reigneth, there are few other sicknesses. The na­ture of this venemous and corrupt aire is to alter and conuert other sicknesses into the pestilence, as we find most true by experience. And againe, the nature and qualitie of this dangerous sicknesse, is, euer with all swiftnesse to approch and assaile the heart the princi­pall member and fountaine of life. Héere may it ap­peare, how dangerous delay is in this sicknesse, in not vsing some good and approued medicine, that hath vertue through Gods gift to withstand the force thereof, and power to expell the venemous in­fection Vse help in the first beginning of this contagious sickenes. Now to preuent this lyon of his pray, note what is to be done.

First, when any féeleth himselfe sicke or euill at ease, if the sicknes begin hote with paine in his head, Who ought to bleede. if he be of a sanguine or cholericke complexion, or hath a plethoricke bodie, that is, a bodie full of hu­mors, [Page 42] large veines and full: let euery such person in anie wife be let bloud in the liuer vaine & right arme. And if there should be felt anie forenesse in any side of the body more then the other; then let him bléede in that arme on the side grieued; which being done, let the chirurgion decently bind vp his arme: and if the person be weake, then let this be done in his bed, and with spéede let him take one of the foure medicines set downe before in this booke for the cure of the pesti­lencé, the quantitie and the maner is there set downe. Let him receiue his medicine warme, and procure him to sweat: which if he cannot easily doe, then must you fill some bottles with hot water, and set them in the bed about him, by which meanes you shall cause him to sweate spéedily. Let him continue sweating thrée, foure, or 5. houres, or according to his strength, as he can endure it, giuing him, if he be verie drie in [...]e him in [...] sweating, if be very drie, [...]n of the cor­ [...]ll sirrup set [...]wne in this [...]oke halfe a [...]onefull, or a [...]onefull at a [...]e. his sweate, a little of one of the cordiall confections set downe in this booke, to be vsed to a person after his sweat. And the kéeper must take great héede that the sicke person sléepe not: For whosoeuer is infected with the sicknes, must carefully be kept from sléepe, vntill they haue bled, if they may bleede, and taken their medicine, and sweate fiue or sixe houres after, and in so doing all for the most part shall bee spéedily cured of this sicknes. The patient hauing sweat well, drie his bodie with warme and soft clothes, and if the shéetes be wet with sweat, then pul them away, and let him rest in Gods name, so hee sléepe not. And giue him to eate sometimes of one of the confections, that comforteth the heart, that giueth great comfort and strength vnto the body and principall members thereof, and therefore not to be omitted. Two houres after his sweate giue him to eate some broth made with a chicken or a capon. In which broth boile En­diue, Borage, Buglosse, and a little parsly, raisins of [Page 43] the sunne, and two or thrée dates, and a little whole mace. Let his drinke be good, stale, and middle ale, wherein you must boile whole mace and some sugar. What drinke the patient ought to vse. To mitigate and take away his drinesse and thirst. And if he be very drie, as commonly in this sicknesse they are, then giue him a spoonefull of one of the sir­rups set downe in this booke for that purpose, which doth both assooage thirst and drinesse, and comforts the heart withall, he may vse to take a spoonefull when he is drie.

His diet must be chickens, capon, rabbet, partridge or such like: but for want thereof young mutton or veale: and let him vse with his meate limons, oren­ges, pomegranats, good vinegar, graines of paradise, mace, a little saffron. Let his chamber be perfumed with the balles or trochises set downe in this booke before for the purging and amending of the aire. Vse them thrée or foure times in the day, and for want thereof take Beniamin, Storax calamita & liquid, But my per­fumes set down are far better to be vsed. wood of Aloes, and burne it in some chafingdish or fu­ming pot for the purging of the aire in the chamber. And diuers times sprinkle his chamber with vinegar, or water and vinegar together. Now within fiue or Let him sleepe one or two howers to pre­uent paine and lightnes of the head. sixe houres after his sweate, or if it be longer it is the better, let him sléepe in Gods name, and remember that you giue the patient oftentimes in the day one of the confections set downe in this booke, to comfort the heart, & giue him his broth and meat a little at a time, and the oftener, and giue him sometimes a cake of Manus Christito cate. And aboue all things, let him be of good comfort, fixing his hope aboue in the Almightie, from whom commeth all help, health, and God is the au­thor of health. comfort: for obseruing what I haue taught, there is no danger of death: and for the most part all they that vse this order and direction, recouer and be frée from all danger within two or thrée dayes, except some verie few, that haue vnsound and very corrupt [Page 44] bodies before the infection. And this will I vndertake by Gods leaue and his holy assistance to performe, and that not one in sixe persons shall die that taketh a good medicine, and that vseth this order and follo­weth my direction: for by this meanes of taking away of bloud, euacuation by sweate and purging the bo­die, the infection and poisoned matter is expelled: in­somuch that seldome riseth anie botch or sore, because the matter whereof the botch ariseth is otherwise cast forth. And if any doe arise, as sometimes there doth, by diligent foresight and good application it may spéedily be brought to suppuration, and drawne forth. But if no botch do arise within two dayes after his sweate, then doth none arise at all, doing as I shall [...]e purging is [...]od, & ought be vsed. shew you. The third or rather the second day, if he be any thing strong, and no botch appearing, giue the patient this potion vnderwritten, which will purge forth the rest or remnant of the venemous infection.

A purging potion of great vertue, that expulseth all venemous and corrupt humours from the body.

Here I warne all men that they meddle with no purging medicine when the botch or carbuncle ap­peareth, and groweth towards ripenesse: for so shall they draw the venome in againe, which nature hath put forth before.

R. Leaues and flowers of holy Thistle, Scabious, Tur­mentill, three leaued grasse, of each a little hand­ful, purging po­ [...]n to be ta­ [...]n the second [...]y after sweat no botch or [...]e appeare. Gentian, Tamarims, of each two scruples: good Rubarbe one dram: water of Bugloffe and endiue, of each an ounce and a halfe, Sene three drams: wa­ter of Scabious one ounce, flowers of Borage a little handfull: make your infusion, which being [Page 45] done, put thereto diacatholicon halfe an ounce, Manna halfe an ounce, sir. Ros. solutiue one ounce.

This potion hath a most excellent propertie in purging the bodie from venemous and corrupt hu­mours, as the learned may iudge at the sight thereof. If it be not on the change or full of the Moone. This potion must be taken of the patient the secōd or third day at the furthest after his sweating, when no botch appeareth. And let him forbeare to eate, drink, or sléep, vntil it hath wrought his effect, which is in gi­uing fiue, sixe, or seuen stooles. Afterward let him re­ceiue some broth, and vse a good diet, and also vse his cordiall confection for thrée, foure or fiue dayes, and rest in health in Gods name, for he shall néede no fur­ther physicke: if he be disposed he may take the poti­on aboue written another day, for y ^e thorow-purging of his body, and it shall be good so to do.

This is the true and perfect cure of the pestilence, being vsed in time, I meane in the beginning of the sickenes, within foure, or six, or in some within twelue houres: the sooner the better, for in a little time this venemous infection gathereth strength, by the e­uill humours which it turneth into putrifaction, and swiftly assaulteth the heart, and without spéedy and good remedie, as we see dayly, death followeth.

Now it followeth that I teach the way or meanes to cure such in whom the botch appeareth, which (God assisting me) I will doe.

The way or meanes to cure such in whom the botch appeareth.

This sicknesse (the pestilence) is a fierce, swift, and dangerous disease, and verie quickly destroyeth na­ture: therefore I counsell all men againe, to vse at the first some spéedie helpe: for giuing it sufferance but a [Page 46] little time it resisteth all cure, neither is it in humaine power to helpe it, as we dayly see. Héere I cannot but lament the follie of manie people, who neglect Great folly in many men, to [...]suse the means of their [...]ealth. the vse of good means in time: Some foolishly concei­ted, that physicke can do them no good: Some other vsing some light and trifling medicine to no purpose: some other vsing none at all, standing vnto the mercy of the sicknesse, which is mercilesse, and thus manie perish daily: not perish neither, therein I saide not well: Beati mortui qui in domino moriuntur, Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. God giue vnto vs his grace, that wee may learne to contemne this vaine world, and be ready when he doth call, and while we liue here, to vse thankfully his good creatures vnto his glory and our comfort. Now vnto the cure of the pestilence, which is my purpose.

When any person féeleth himself infected, and that Whē the botch sore grow­ [...]h toward benesse, be­are ye neither [...]rge nor [...]eede, but vse [...]rdials, and [...]utward medi­ [...]nes to ripē it. the sore beginneth to arise or appeare, if the sicknesse begin hote, and that he feeleth in himselfe anie great heate aboue nature, being of a sanguine or cholericke complexion, strong, and bloud any thing abounding, then would I haue that person with spéede let bloud, if it be within twentie foure houres of his sickening, and that the sore or botch be not yet in way of ripe­ning, but newly risen. For you must note that blood is to be taken at the beginning of the sicknesse, and before the botch be growing to suppuration, or not at all: For at this time the botch hauing béene forth, and growing to suppuration, you should greatly hinder nature, and weaken the person, and indanger his life.

But in the beginning of the sicknesse, it is a speci­all good thing in all persons, in whom bloud doth a­bound. But these persons I doe except, women with child, or lately deliuered; old men that grow towards Who may not [...]eed. thréescore, and children, also weake & féeble persons, [Page 47] wherin is Cacochymia and little bloud: these persons may not bléed, but must receiue some medicine before set downe for the cure of the pestilence, and sweate therwith, and take cordials as I will shew them. But such as may bléede must obserue this rule in bléeding, according vnto the place where the sore or botch is pla­ced or appearing.

If the sore or botch appeare in the throate, necke, or vnder the eares, then open the head vaine Cephalica Where to bleed, in what place or vaine. in the arme, on that side, whereon the sore or botch is. And if the sore or botch arise in the armepit, then open the vaine mediana, which is betwéene the head vaine and the vaine comming from the liuer. If the sore or botch arise in the flancke, then open the vaine Saphe­na in the inner side of the foote: alway remembring this note, that you let blood on that side whereon the botch appeareth: For on the contrary side it is dange­rous and euill, drawing the venome ouerthwart the spiritual members, to the great danger of the patient. The quantity must be according vnto the strength of The quantity. the patient, in those that be young, strong, and full of bloud, it is good to take much away, and in others according vnto their abilitie of body. And in this time of necessitie, when it may not be deferd, you must nei­ther regard time, neither signe nor aspect or coniun­ction of Planets, but in the name of God do it.

Quouis tempore & hora mittere sanguinem neces­sitas Any time or houre in neces­sitie let bloud. concedit & iubet: two houres delay in bléeding may be the cause of death. This being done, or not done, in those persons aboue named, who may not bléede: let there be giuen vnto the sicke per­son, of one of the medicines set downe for the cure of the plague before in this booke, and procure the sicke to sweate well: which if they cannot spéedily do, then you may vse the meanes before taught with bottles, whereby a sweate shall spéedily be brought forth: and [Page 48] let the patient endure it as long as he is able. And re­member that you kéepe the sicke from sléepe in his sweat, and fiue or sixe houres after, if he be very faint, giue him of one of the cordiall confections to eate of sometime: and if he be so thirstie that hee must néedes drinke, then giue him of the sirrup set downe in this booke for that purpose. But you ought not in any wise to giue him drinke after his medicine, vntill he hath sweat well: and that which you giue him, must bee warme and comfortable. And hauing sweat well, dry his body with warme and soft clothes: and so let him rest, kéeping him from sléepe. Within two houres giue him some good broth to eat made with a chicken, in which broth boile a little whole mace, dates, rai­sins of the sunne, Endiue, Borage, Buglosse, & rings or some péeces of gold. Let him haue oftentimes to eate of one of the cordiall confections, set down in this booke: and let his drinke be the first day Betonie water, Scabious and Borage water, of each of them halfe a pinte, boiled a little with sugar and whole mace. After you may giue him ale, if not strong, boi­led with Mace and sugar. Let his meate be chickens, capon, rabbet, yong mutton, or veale, and let him vse orenges, limons, pomegranets, graines of paradise, The diet the [...]cke ought to [...]eepe. and all thing that doth comfort the heart and coole. You must perfume the chamber oftentimes in the day with the perfumes set downe in this booke, which will purge the aire of the chamber; and sprinkle the floore of the chamber with good vinegar, and giue Or rosewater [...] vinegar to­gether. him to smell vnto oftentimes a cloth wet in rose vi­negar. Now must the sore or botch be looked vnto. And to ripen and bring it to suppuration, you shall find medicines set downe in this booke. If the sore do arise néere the heart, I haue set downe meanes to de­fend the heart, and to drawe the sore or botch further off: or if the botch appeare in the throte, then likwise [Page 49] draw it further for feare of suffocation, or choking the patient. If watching or rauing trouble him, I haue set downe meanes to helpe it. If thirst and drinesse vexe him, I haue set downe comfortable sirrupes to remedie it, or whatsoeuer he shall néed in this cure, if aduisedly you follow my direction.

The patient ought to change his chamber some­times, Change of chambers is good. and to vse often the perfumes before set down: and to kéepe the house all the time of his sicknes vntill his sore be well, changing himselfe in fresh apparell well aired, and persumed before.

And those that are about him must haue care of themselues, and eate daily euery morning some good preseruatiue. And aboue all, let them take héede of the aire or breath of the sore when it is opened: alway holding some roote of Angelica stieped in vinegar in their mouth, or some other strong and good preserua­tiue, and let them eate sometimes a little good mithri­datum, or anie one of the confections preseruatiue set downe in this booke against the pestilence: and also let the kéeper take héede how to bestowe the plaisters that come from the sore.

Well now remember what I haue said ought to be done in this cure of the pestilence.

First, that with all spéede you vse remedy without delaying the time, for therein chiefly consisteth the danger.

Secondly, that you bléed, if no cause forbid it, as a­fore is taught.

Thirdly, that you take one of the medicines before set downe in this booke, and sweate therewithall, and refraine from sléepe.

Fourthly, that you vse the cordials to comfort the heart set downe, and that you eat of them oftentimes in the day.

Fiftly, that if the patient be faint, you must vse the [Page 50] Epithymum, and cpithymate the heart therewith. [...]nd apply an [...]pithymum [...]nto the heart.

Sixtly, that if the sore or botch appeare, and rise néere vnto the heart, that then you vse vpon the heart a defensitiue, and with spéede drawe the botch fur­ther off.

The seuenth obseruation is, that with spéede you apply medicines to suppurate the sore, and drawe it forth.

The eight is, that the chamber be oftentimes per­fumed, [...]nd it were [...]ry good that [...]es were [...]ade through [...]ut the citie, & you think the [...]erfumes too [...]ere, then [...]e frankin­ [...]nse, rosin, and [...]urpentine. [...]y sleepe the [...]oud and [...]rits vitall are [...]awne inward [...]d attracteth [...]th it selfe the [...]nome vnto [...]e heart, and [...]taineth it in. that the aire thereof may be purged, and made holsome: and that the patient change his chamber of­tentimes.

The ninth is, that he vse the diet before taught, ea­ting a little at a time, and the oftner. And to vse the sirrups and consections to coole and comfort.

The tenth, which should haue béene the first, is, that the patient in anie case be kept from sléepe, from his first sickening vntill he haue taken his medicine, and sweat, and sire or eight houres after, and then to sléepe but one houre, and the next day let him sléepe thrée houres at times, but not aboue one houre at a time: and after the third day you may giue him more sléepe. But in the beginning of his sicknes, it is most dangerous: for by sléepe the spirits are drawne in­ward, and therewithall the venome is attracted vnto the heart, and also the feuer made more vehement and sharpe. And this is the cause that many die, that might liue if they were kept from sléepe, and there­withall take some good medicine.

The eleuenth is, that the patient kéepe his cham­ber during the time of his sicknes, and refraine all companie, that he hurt not others.

The twelfth is, that being well, he giue humble thanks to God, and then let him change his apparell, being well perfumed, and in the name of God goe a­broade.

[Page 51] And if the botch arise néere vnto the heart, then be­fore you sweate, it were good to apply this defensi­tiue vnto the heart, being thinne spread vpon a fine cloth, as broad as wil couer the heart.

R. Good Mithridatum one dram, Andromachus tre­acle A defensitiue for the heart, in sweating to be vsed. halfe a dram, red saunders, terra lemna halfe a scruple, with water of Roses and vinegar, as much as will suffice, make it in forme of an vnguent in a morter.

A good Cordial comforting the heart and cooling, to be vsed after the patient hath sweat or purged, and oftentimes in the day to take of it as much as a good hazell nut at a time.

R. Conserues of Roses, Borage, and Buglosse, of each one ounce: Diamargariton frigidum, Diarrhodon A very good cordial confe­ction to be ea­ten oftentimes in the day of the sick patiēt. abbatis, of each halfe an ounce: seedes of Citrons two scruples or a dram: Manus christi three drams: fol. auri number 6. bolearmoniack prepared two scruples. Mixe them, and let the sicke eate hereof many times in the day.

A good potion giuing fiue or sixe stooles gently, which purgeth venemous filthy humours from the bodie, to be taken the third day after sweat, if no sore or botch appeare, or when a sore or botch hath runne, and is growing well, then is it good to vse this.

R. Flo. & fol. Card. benedict. one handfull: fol. Scabi, A purging po­tion to be vsed the second day after sweat, if no sore appeare Betonicae one handful: root of Gentian one dram: good Rubarb one dram; water of Buglosse, Sca­bious [Page 52] & Borage, of ech an ounce: let there be made an infusion therof. Then adde vnto it Diacatholicō halfe an ounce, Cassia with Manna halfe an ounce: sirrupe of Roses solutiue one ounce, misce.

This ought to be taken in the morning, and nei­ther [...]t worke not thin two [...]ures take a [...]tle broth fiue [...] sixe spoone­ [...]s. eate, drinke, nor sléepe vntill it hath wrought his effect, in giuing fiue, sixe, or seuen stooles, and vse your selfe as is before taught in purging.

Another good Cordiall greatly comforting the pati­ent after his sweate to be eaten oftentimes, a lit­tle at a time, and to continue the vse thereof three or foure dayes, vntill he be strong, and all danger past, or in his sweate a little, if he be weake, faint, and apt to swoune.

R. Conserues of Roses, Borage and Buglosse of each half an ounce: spe. Diagem. cal. & frig. of each one This Cordiall [...]onfection [...]oth greatly [...]omfort the [...]eart. scrup. bolearmoniack prepared two scruples: spe. diamargarit. cal. & frig. of each one scruple: di­arrhodon abba. halfe an ounce: sirrupe of limons and sorrell, of ech halfe an ounce, misce.

Within two howers after the patient hath sweat, giue him a little good broth, made of a chicken or ca­pon, and let him eate a little at a time, and the oftner, according vnto his strength and stomacke: and let him be of good comfort, and eschew all feare & doubt, fixing his hope aboue in the Almightie, from whom commeth all helpe and comfort. Let his meat be chic­kens, or some light and good nourishing meate, as The diet that [...]ust be vsed. young pullets, capons, partridge, rabbets, or such like: but for want of these, young mutton, or veale, and let it be giuen him with sauce made with an [Page 53] orenge, a limon, and a little good vinegre with mace and Saffron: and make vnto all his meate these coole and sharpe sauces: and vse no hote spices, neither strong wines in anie wise. Let his drinke be middle ale, cleane brewed and well boyled with maces and sugar: also you ought to keepe him from sléepe the His drinke. first day vntill it be toward night, & then let him rest in Gods name one houre. And if the patient be verie drie and thirsty, as most commonly they are, then giue him of this Iulep thrée or foure spoonefuls at a time to drinke.

R. Water of Roses, Endiue and Buglosse of each three ounces, sorrell water foure ounces, good vinegar A Iulep to help drinesse and thirst. foure ounces: iuice of limons foure ounces: sugar one pound, boyle them a little ouer a soft fire: which done, and cooled againe, giue him a little thereof to drinke, the quantity of two or three spoonefuls at a time.

Also a ptisan made with barley, liquorice, and coole hearbes, is good to asswage his thirst. But vse this, which I do most commend for the asswaging of thirst and drinesse.

R. Sirrupe of Endiue comp. sir. of sorrell of ech three ounces: Water of Roses, and Buglosse, of ech one Against thir­stinesse a sirrup. ounce: sirrup of limons two ounces, mixe them.

Let the patient haue sometimes, or as often as hée is drie, one spoonefull of this sirrupe, which is verie good: and this shall suffice, for the amending of his heate and drinesse. Giue him to eate sometimes of a limon with sugar, or of a Pomgranate, which are both verie good.

Or this asswageth and taketh away all thirst, and drinesse in this case.

R. Water of Roses, and buglosse of ech three ounces: sirrupe of Endiue and limons, of each two ounces, Iulep against [...]st & dri­ [...]e. oile of Vitrioll one scruple. Mixc them.

The taking of this one spoonefull at a time, taketh away drinesse and thirst.

And if the patient be verie faint and weake after his sweating, or before his sweating, then apply this quilt vpon the region of the heart: and let him weare it continually for a while.

A Quilt for comforting and strengthening the heart, when the patient is weake, to be worne after his sweating.

R. Flowers of water lillies, borage and buglosse, of each halfe a dramme: red Rose leaues one dram: [...]uilt com­ [...]ing the [...]. flowers of balme & rosemaric, of each two drams: maces one dram: ofred and yellowe saunders, of each one dramme: wood of aloes, cloues, of each one dram: seeds of citrons, iuniper berries, of each one dram: saffron sixe graines: of the bone of the Deeres heart one scruple. Let them bee made in grosse powder, & quilt it in crimson or scarlet co­loured taffeta, or fine cloth.

This quilt being made by the Apothecarie, vse it ouer, or vpon the heart of the sicke, in such manner as it may avide without falling away.

An Epithymum that doth much comfort the heart, when a person is weake.

R. Water of Roses, borage, and buglosse of either three ounces: vinegar one ounce: forrell water An Epithymū for the heart to be vsed to a weak and fain­ting person. two ounces: wood of aloes, red saunders, barkes of citrons, of euery one of them two drams: saffron sixe graines: Electuarium de gemmis one dram: Diamargariton two scruples. Mixe them to­gether, and make an Epithymum.

A little of this must bee made warme in some pewter dish, and then take little clothes of fine lin­nen, which fold vp two or thrée double. Then moisten one of your clothes and wring it forth lightly, & apply it vnto the heart, kéeping it there a while, vntill it be­gin to be cold: then take another, and so a quarter of an houre together, and this you may doe two or thrée times in the day, applying afterward the quilt afore­taught. This is to be done when a person is weake and faint.

A Potion purging gently all venemous and corrupt humours from the body.

R. Scabi. Card. benedict. Mors. diaboli ana pu. i. be­tonicae pu. i. trifolii pu. i. rad. gentianae scrup. i. flo. boraginis, buglossae ana pu. i. sem. citrini scru. i. rhubarb. clectae ʒ j. Sene ʒ iij. aqua scab. endiniae & buglossae ana vnc. j. & semis. fiat infusio. Deinde adde Diacatholicon vnc. j. manna calab. vnc. semis. sir. Rosarum solutiu. vnc. i. misce & fiat potio.

Take this potion the second or third day after your sweating, so it be not on the changing or full of the [Page 56] moone, and the sooner the better, no botch or sore ap­pearing. This will worke gently in all bodies, and purge strongly and effectually, and cleanseth and purgeth the bodie of the remnant of the venemous infection, and corrupt humours. Take the other part the second day after early in the morning, you must [...]xing it with infusion [...]t was left. neither eate, drinke, nor sléepe vntill it hath wrought his effect, which is in giuing you seuen or eight stooles. Within an houre after the taking of it, or thereabout it will worke: Haue therefore in readines your stoole with warme water. If after the taking of it you feare casting it vp, then vse abrowne toste and vinegar to your nose, and smell thereto oftentimes. Within foure or fiue houres you may take a little good broth made with a chicken, veale, or mutton, with hearbes as afore taught. And when it hath wrought his effect, which will be within fiue houres, or thereabout, then may you eate some of your meat, and take your rest [...]member to often in [...]ur chamber [...]t perfumes downe be­ [...]e. a while after, if you haue any disposition to sléep. Make a light supper, and kéepe and obserue a good diet, kée­ping your selfe within your chamber or house ten or twelue dayes.

They that would haue it lesse purging, may take the third part before set downe. And although it work strongly, yet is it gentle, easie and hurtlesse. It pur­geth choler, flegme, and all corrupt and superfluous humours. I could set downe many for the purging of the bodie, but none better, or to be preferred before it in this case: and this will suffice. At other times, we commonly giue sirrupes bnfore, opening, extenua­ting [...]ppocrat. cum [...]isque purgare. and preparing the bodie, but in this case, where the matter aboundeth, and requireth spéedie euacua­tion, we stand not vpon it.

Oftentimes and most commonly in this conta­gious sicknes the patient is troubled with lightnesse in his head, and cannot sléepe: the reason hereof is, Note [Page 58] the braine is distempered by heate: Hote vapours ascending and flying vp from the stomacke. And this is the reason they sléepe not: and the cause of their ra­ging is want of sléepe, and a distemperature of the braine. When a person is so troubled, then vse this vnderwritten.

An vnguent to annoint the temples and browes of him that cannot sleepe through heat, and distem­perature of the braine.

R. Vnguentum popillion vnc. semiss. vnguentum rosarum vnc. semiss. Vnguentum alabastra vnc. An vnguent to cause sleepe in watching and rauing. semiss. olcum violarum, oleum nenupharum ana ʒ ij. opium scrup. j. or scrup. ij. in aqua rosarum dis­sol. misce.

With this annoint his temples, and the for part of his head sometimes, when you would haue him to sléepe. And giue him to eat this, which is excéeding good to cause sléepe, and stay raging.

R. Conserue of Roses halfe an ounce: Diascordium two drams: sirrupe of popie halfe an ounce: sir­rupe A confection causing sleepe. of limons two drams: mixe them.

Giue him the halfe of this to eate, which will great­ly further and prouoke sléepe. Or this will also greatly prouoke sléepe.

R. Sirrupe of violets, sirrupe of limons, sirrupe of pop­pie of each one ounce: diascordium three drams: mixe them.

Giue the patient sometime of this in a spoone to drink, for it is good to prouoke sléepe and stay raging.

A Frontall to be applyed vnto the fore part of the head, to cause sleep.

R. Flowers of Roses, violets, and water Lillies, of each a little handfull: of the seeds and heads of poppie, [...]eause sleep [...]ntlet to be [...]ied vnto [...]rowes. one dram: of the three kinds of Saunders, of each one dram: Flowers of Camomill, betonie, & me­lilote, ana pu. ss. beate them into grosse powder, and let a frontall be made thereof.

Apply this frontall vnto his head, as afore taught. I haue set downe these meanes to cause and prouoke sléepe, and stay the raging that is oftentimes in this sicknesse. But you must note, that this is not to be vsed in the beginning of his sicknesse: For in the be­ginning of the sicknesse the person ought in anie wise to be kept from sléepe. For as through sléepe the spi­rits are drawne inward, and the venome therewith attracted vnto the heart: so the heat is also excéedingly increased through sléepe.

Therefore this meanes that I haue set downe for causing of sléepe or anie other to sléepe, may not bée [...]ote this. vsed vntill the Patient hath sweat, and two or thrée dayes after his sickening. And the sore forth, then may you safely vse them to his great comfort & ease.

Through the great interior heat, the patient his tongue, throte and mouth will be sore, as I haue often séene, then make this gargarisme.

A Gargarisme to heale the mouth, throat & tongue in this sicknesse, if it be sore through the heat of the stomacke.

R. Barley excoricated or common barley a handfull, [...] gargarisme. Plantain leaues, strawberry leaues, violet leaues, sinckfoile leaues, of either of these a handful: bryer [Page 58] tops halfe a handfull: woodbine leaues and col­lumbine leaues, halfe a handfull: shred and bruise these hearbes a little, and then boyle them in a quarte of faire water, which beeing well boy­led, straine it forth, and put thereto Diamoron two ounces, sirrupe of Roses two ounces, mel Rosarum or honey of Roses two ounces: mixe these, and let the patient vse it often to wash and gargarize his mouth.

The vse of a little white wine sometimes is good with Rose-water, and a little vinegar to wash his moth withal.

To vomit at the beginning of the sicknesse is good: Note this, whē vomit is good. for if a person fall sicke at his meate, or with­in a while after his meate; then ought hee to prouoke vomite, and when he hath vomited, then to take a medicine set downe for the cure of the pesti­lence, and sweat therewithall, and do as I haue taught Cordials and sweat will stay vomiting. in this booke before: but if he bée much troubled with vomiting in his sicknesse, then let him vse this that I shall teach him.

R. Aromaticum Rosarum vnc. semis. Aromaticum ga­riphilarum ʒ ij. syr. limonum vnc. semis. diamarga­riton To stay vomi­ting. frid. ʒ ij. misc.

And if his vomiting should not stay, then were it good for him to take some gentle purging potion to expulse these corrupt humours that sucketh vp that disposition to vomite.

I doubt not but what I haue written is suffici­ent for the interiour part. Now will I come to the externall and outward application, and shew what is to bee done in suppurating and opening the sore.

[Page 61] Hauing taken one of the medicines afore taught, and sweat, vsing the cordiall appointed, apply vnto the sore this vnderwritten, which will drawe it forth, and ripen it: and you must haue special care that with spéede you draw forth the sore, apostume or car­buncle, least it returne againe into the bodie.

A plaister to suppurate, drawe forth, and ripen the sore or botch, although common, yet very good and commended of al that vse it.

Take a great white Onion, & cut off the head of it, & with your knife picke out the coare or middle part, and fill that hollow place full of good treacle, not com­mon treacle, but Theriaca Andromachi, which you shall haue at the Apothecaries. Put on the head of the Onion, and paast it with a little dow or leuen, and set it to roste in the imbers, and being soft rosted, take it forth and pill it, and stampe it in a morter, and lay it hote vnto the sore vpon some double cloth, and rowle it softly that it fal not off, & renew it and lay on fresh, euery sixe houres.

And here I must néeds commend the vse of a yong cocke to be vsed in this maner vnto the sore. Pull a­way the feathers from about the fundament of the cocke, and place the fundament vpon the sore, and hold his bill sometime to kéepe in his breath, he shall the better draw the venome: & if he die, then take ano­ther, and do so againe. Then lay on this Cataplasma, which I haue often vsed, and approued to bee verie good to draw forth and suppurate the sore.

R. One Lilly roote, young mallowes, one handful, let them be bruised in a morter: Lineseede two or three [Page 62] sponefuls beaten grossely, boyle them together in sufficient water, or as much as will couer them, boyle them vntill they be very soft and thick, then put thereunto Figges six or seuen: halfe a good handfull of raisins stoned, mix these together, and put vnto it oyle of Camomil two spoonefuls, and being very warme lay it to the sore, and binde it softly that it may abide on, change it euery twen­houres.

Another that ripeneth the botch and bringeth it speedely vnto suppuration.

R. Onions and Garlicke heads, of each of them in number foure: rost them in the imbers, then stampe them in a morter, and put thereto of fene­greeck and line seede of each a good spoone­full, snayles with their shelles foure or fiue, figs in number foure: leauen as much as a Walnut, bar­rowes liquor as much as two walnuts, mix them in a morter, and warme it & apply it vnto the sore.

An Implaister that ripeneth the sore or botch.

R. Galbanum Ammoniacum, Bedelium ana j ounce, dissolue them in vinegar at the fire and strain them and put thereto diachilon magnum ij. ounces, mix them and spread it vpon a thick cloth, and lay it to the sore and change it euery xvi. houres.

Another plaister that draweth forth the sore and ripeneth it speedily.

Take a white Lillie roote, yong mallowes two handfull, scabious one handfull: shred them and bruse [Page 63] them, and boile them in a sufficient quantitie of ale grounds, and put thereto of line-séede two or thrée spoonefuls beaten, and as much fenegréek beaten like­wise, sower leauen as much as two walenuts, mixe them, and lay it warme vnto the sore, changing it e­uery sixtéene houres, two or thrée times vsing it, ripens the botch.

By vsing any of these pultesses, or cataplasmes, you may spéedilie ripen the botch or sore, and béeing breake not selfe by meanes dily. ripe, it ought to bée opened by the Chirurgion in the lower part thereof, that the matter may be the better auoided. And remēber this note, that whatsoeuer you apply or lay vnto the botch must not be cold, I meane cold in qualitie and operation. For cold medicines would driue backe againe that venemous matter true hath expelled, to the great daunger of the that napatient.

And if you feare the opening of it, which is indéeds nothing to suffer, then let the Chirurgion vse a po­tentiall instrument, I meane a causticke, and béeing done vse this digestion.

R. Cleare Turpentine washed one ounce, a yolke of a newe laide egge, as much: oyle of Saint Iohns worte halfe a dram, of good Mithridatum halfe a dram.

Mixe all these together and vse it vnto the wounde vntill it be wel digested, which you may know by the whitenesse, thicknesse, and great quantity of the mat­ter. And notwithstanding it is now running, yet shall it bée good for you to vse one of the pultise afore taught, it will ripen and bring forth the rest. This is dangerous for those that are about you, therefore bée carefull to kéepe your chamber, and also how you be­stow the plasters that you vse vnto your sore, that o­thers [Page 62] be not infected thereby. You ought to vse dayly in your chamber the perfumes before set downe thrée or foure times a day, to vse a good diet, and to eate of some of the cordials before set downe, and your sore béeing néere well, then ought you to purge with one of the potions before set downe.

What is to be done when a sore or botch lieth deepe and commes not forth.

You must take one of the medicines afore set down for the cure of the plague, and sweat therewithall: but Vse cordials to comfort the heart. The cause why the sore coms not forth, is weaknesse of nature. if the Apostume or sorely déep, notwithstanding your sweat, then must you fasten cupping glasses ouer or vpon the sore, first scarifing the place, and when you haue vsed your cupping glasses, then vse a yong cock or pullet, as before is taught, pulling the fethers from about the rumpe and taile, putting a little salt into the fundament of the cocke or pullet, set it vnto your sore houlding the bil of him sometime to retaine his breath: and if he die take one more, and do as before, and then apply the plaister of onions and treacle setdown before: and then applie some one of the other which will bring it to suppuration, then let it be opened as before taught.

What is to be done when the botch wil not come to suppuration, but continues hard.

If a botch come not to suppuration within thrée or foure daies, as most commonly it dooth, but resisteth your application continuing hard, then must you vse some caustick or strong vessicatorie, or insitiō which I like not of, the matter béeing vnripe or not altered into corruption: the continuance of a botch vnsuppura­ted and not drawn forth is very dangerous: the reason is, the venome gathereth strength by putrifaction within [Page 65] the body and returnes vnto the heart againe. Then farewell life. This I haue knowne, and I am per­swaded may die that might liue, if this were séene vnto. Therefore to preuent danger, rather open the botch before it be full turned vnto suppuration, and vse cataplasmes and pultesses to ripen the rest that remaines. But being still hard, then I say you must vse the counsell of a chirurgion, and open it with a causticke, as I before sayd, how and wherewith I [...] with a [...]. woulde teach, but it would bee too long in this place.

First, before it bée opened, let it be well epithy­mated: and vse some cordiall set downe in this book, two or thrée times a day. And then vse digestions and salue to heales.

What is to bee done when a botch strikes. in againe.

Sometimes I haue knowne the botch to ap­peare, and yet sodainlie to fall in againe, and this is euer a dangerous and deadly signe. But I will shewe you all that may bee done: and manie haue by this meanes béene relieued from death.

First, with all spéede giue him some one of the foure Electuaries set downe in this booke for the cure of the plague, the quantitie is there set downe: and procure him to sweate as long as he can endure it. Then drie him with warme clothes. And giue him cordials to eate of, set downe in this booke. Then ought hee to haue a glister, the which I will set downe, and the next day early giue him my purging potion set downe before: the which is good in this case: and giue him often cordials to eate. And by [Page 65] this meanes (by Gods grace) the patient shall be de­liuered from death.

The Clister.

R. Maluae, Althaeae ambarum cum radicibus ana m. ss. Mercurialis, Hipericonis, Meliloti ana m. ss. Scabi m. ss. sem. lim, & fenigraeci vnc. j. fiat deco­ctio, m huius libra dissolue butyri vnc. i. mellis rosarum vnc. ii. olei violacei vnc. ii. Catholici vnc. semiss. Succhari rub. vnc. j. Misce & fiat cli­ster.

Take foure ounces lesse of the decoction, for that it will be too much in quantitie. Let this glister bée giuen to the patient: And then the next morning re­ceiue the potion set downe before, that purgeth vene­mous matter from the bodie, and obserue what I haue written.

When a botch ariseth neare vnto the heart, or in the throte: then must you desire helpe of the Chirur­gion, When a botch ariseth in a dā ­gerous place what we must doe. who with cupping glasses may drawe the sore or botch farther off. To set downe the maner héere it were néedlesse, euery chirurgion that hath anie iudgement and practise knowes how to do it. I will here end, beséeching God to bee mercifull vnto vs, forgiue our sins, and make vs thankful for his great blessings bestowed vpon vs, blesse our labours, and cease this sicknesse. Amen.