deliueraunce of the same / it shal be fyrst verye necessary to shewe after what maner and fasshyon the infant lyeth in the mothers wombe / and in howe many caules the same is lapped and wrapped to the farther knowlege and perceuerance of suche thynges the whiche we shall entreate of hereafter ¶ wherfore ye shall vnderstande that the byrth lyeth in the mother after this maner Fyrste it lyeth rownde in maner as a bowle the handes beynge betwene the knees / and the hedde lenyng on the knees eyther of the eyes ioynynge vppon eyther of the knees the ryghte eye vppon the ryghte knee and the lefte vpon the lefte / the noose dependyng betwene the knees / so that the face and foreparte of the infante is towarde the inwarde partes of the woman / lyenge in maner vpryght in the mothers matryce ¶ Farther ye muste vnderstande that there be thre coueres or caules in the whiche the byrthe is contayned and lapped of the whiche the one compassyth embrasyth rownd aboute the byrthe / and the other two caules also and it is called the secondyne seconde byrth or the after byrthe the whiche defendeth the byrthe frome noysum and yll humours encreasynge in the matryce after conception by retensyon of the flowres otherwyse wonte to passe and yssue furthe ones in the monethe / the whiche yll humours yf they sholde touche or come nere to the byrth wolde greatlye peryshe and hurte the same But after the deliueraunce of the pryncipall byrth these humours also with the foresayd caule or secondyne yssue furthe / and is called the after byrthe ¶ The seconde caule with the whiche the byrth is coueryd / compasseth the same byrth frome the nauyll downe warde / couerynge all the inferyour partes of the infant / and this skynne or caule is as it were fulle of plyghtes and wrynkles and through this caule the byrthe is defended and kepte from yll and sharpe humours as vryne or pysse yssuynge frome the infante and swette c. for so longe as the chylde is in the mothers wombe it sendeth furthe vrine / not by the due membres but by the vayne whiche procedeth out of the nauell ¶ The thyrde shynne or caule lykewyse contayneth all the byrthe in it defendynge also the same frome humours vryne and from the boystesnes of the secondyne or fyrst caule and this is called the armoure or defence of the byrthe ¶ This is the maner of the sytuation and lodgyng of the infante in the mothers bellye and these be the thre caules contaynynge and enclosyng in the byrth Nowe wyll we speake of the tyme of byrthe ¶ Of the tyme of byrthe and whiche is called naturall or vnnaturall ¶ Cap .ii. ANd when the tyme of byrthe approchyth nere / moste commenly these sygnes folowyng come before by the which the tyme of labor is knowen to be at hande ¶ Fyrste certayne dolours and paynes begynne to growe about the guttes / the nauell / and in the raynes of the backe / and lykewyse aboute the thyghes the other places beinge nere to the priuy partes / which lykewyse then beginneth to swell and to burne and to expell humours / so that it gyueth playne and euident token that the labor is nere ¶ But ye shall note that there is two manner of byrthes / the one called naturall / the other contrarye to nature Naturall byrthe is when the chylde is borne bothe in due season also in due fashion The due season is most commenlye after the .ix. moneth or aboute .xl. wekes after the conception / althoughe some be delyuered sometymes in the seuenthe moneth / and the chylde proueth verye well But such as are borne in the eyght moneth / other they be dead before the byrth / or els lyue not longe after / as the noble medicine Auicenna doth testifye ¶ The due fashion of byrthe is this / accordynge as wytnesseth Albert the greate / fyrste the head commeth forwarde / then foloweth the necke and shouldes / the armes with the handes lyenge close to the bodye towarde the fete / the face and forepart of the chylde beyng towardes the face and foreparte of the mother / as it appeareth in the fyrste of the byrthe fygures For as Albertus writeth / and as we haue rehersed before also / before the tyme of delyueraunce the chylde lyeth in the mothers wombe the face and breste beynge towardes the backe of the mother / but when it sholde be delyuered / it is torned clene contrary / the head downewarde / the fete vpwarde / and the face towarde the mothers bellye / and that yf the byrth be natural Another thyng also is this / that yf the byrthe be naturall / the delyuerance is easye withoute longe taryenge or lokynge for it ¶ The byrth contrarye to nature is / when the mother is delyuered before her tyme / or oute of due season / or after any other fashion then is here specyfyed before / as when bothe legges procede fyrste / or one alone / with both the handes vp / or both downe / other elles the one vp the other downe / and diuers otherwise as shal be hereafter more clerely declared ¶ Of easye and vneasye difficull or dolorous delyueraunce and the causes of it with the sygues howe to knowe and forese the same ¶ Cap .iii. VEry many be the parelles / dangerous stronges which chanse to women in theyr labor / whiche ensue come in dyuers wayes / for dyuers causes / such as I shal here declare ¶ Fyrst when the woman that laboreth is conceyued ouer yonge / as before .xii. yee or .xv. yere of aege / which chāseth somtyme / though not verye often / and that the passage be ouer angust streate or naro we / other naturally / or els for some disease and infirmite / which may happen about that parte / as apostumes / pusshes / pyles / or blysterres / and such other / thorowe the whiche causes nature can not but with great dolor and payne open and dilate it selfe to the expellynge delyuerance of the chylde And sometyme the vesyke or bladder / or other intralles beyng about the matrice or wombe be also apostumat blystered / whiche beynge greaued / the matrice or wombe lykewyse is greaued with them / and that hyndereth greatly the deliueraunce Also sometyme in the fundament are emerrodes or pyles and other pusshes / chappynges or chynnes which cause greate payne / also hardnes and difficulte or byndynge of the belly / which thinges for the grefe and payne that ensueth of them causeth the woman to haue lyttell power to help herselfe in her labor ¶ Farthermore if the partie be weke and of feble complexion / or of nature very colde / or to yonge / or very aged / or to grosse and fatte / or contrarye wyse to spare and leane / or that she neuer had chylde before / or that she be ouer timorous and fearefull / dyuers waywarde / or suche one
¶ The byrth of Mankynde / newly translated out of Laten into Englysshe In the which is entreated of all suche thynges the which chaunce to women in theyr labor and all suche infyrmitees whiche happen vnto the Infantes after they be delyuered And also at the latter ende or in the thyrde or last boke is entreated of the Conception of mankynde and howe manye wayes it may be letted or furtheryd with diuers other fruytefull thynges as doth appere in the table before the booke ¶ Cum priuilegio Regali ad imprimendum solum ¶ An admonicion to the reader FOr so muche as we haue enterprysed the interpretation of this present boke offerynge and dedicatyng it vnto our moste gracyous and vertuous Quene Kateryn onely by it myndyng and tenderyng the vtilite and wealthe of all women as touchynge the greate parell dangeours which moste commenly oppresseth them in theyr paynefull labours I requyre all suche men in the name of God whiche at any tyme shall chaunse to haue this boke that they vse it godlye and onely to the profet of theyr neyghbours vtterly eschuynge all rebawde and vnsemely communicacion of any thynges contayned in the same as they wyll answere before God whiche as wytnesseth Christ wyll requyre a counte of all ydell wordes and muche more then of all rebawde and vncharitable wordes Euery thynge as sayth Salomon hath his tyme and truely that is farre oute of tyme yea and farre from all good honestie that some vse at the commune tables and without any difference before all companyes rudelye and leudelye to talke of suche thynges in the which they ought rather to knowe muche and to saye lyttell but only where it maye do good magnifyeng the myghtye God of nature in all his workes compassionatynge and pytyenge oure euen Christians the women whiche sustayne and endure for the tyme so greate dolor and payne for the byrth of mankynde and delyueraunce of the same in to the worlde Prayse God in all his workes ¶ Vnto the most gracious / and in all goodnesse most excellent vertuous Lady Quene Katheryne / wyfe and most derely belouyd spouse vnto the moste myghty sapient Christen prynce / Kynge Henry the .viii. Richard Ionas wyssheth perpetuall ioye and felicyte WHere as of late moste excellent vertuous Quene many goodly and proper treatyse / as well concernynge holye scripture / wherein is conteyned the onely comforte and consolaciō of all godlye people as other prophane artes and sciences ryght necessary to be knowen had in vse / haue ben by the paynefull dyligence of suche clarkes which haue embusyed them in the same very earnestlye and circumspectlye set forth in this oure wulgare Englysshe tunge / to the greate enrytchynge of our mother langage / and also the greate vtilite and profet of all people vsynge the same / and amonge all other thynges / oute of the noble scyence of Phisyke haue ben dyuers / proper / and profitable matters compyled and translated from the Laten tunge in to Englyshe / by the readynge of the whiche ryght manye haue confessed them selfes to haue receaued greate lyght and knowlege of such thynges in the which they haue founde no smal comforte and profet And in this behalfe there is in the Laten speche a boke entytled / departu hominis that is to saye / of the byrthe of mankynde / compyled by a famous doctor in Physycke / called Eucharius / the whiche he wrote in his owne mother tunge / that is beynge a Germayn / in the Germayne speche / afterwarde by an other honest clarke / at the requeste and desyre of his frende transposed in to Laten the whiche boke for the syngular vtilite and profete that ensueth vnto all such as rede it / and moste spetiallye vnto all women for whose onely cause it was wrytten hathe bene sythe in the Doutche and Frenche speche set forthe and emprynted in greate nomber / so that there be fewe matrones and women in that partes / but yf they can rede wyll haue this booke alwayes in readynesse consyderynge then that the same commodite and profet whiche they in theyr regyons do obtayne by enioyng of this lytle boke in theyr maternall langage / myght also ensue vnto all womē in this noble realme of England / if it be set forth in the Englyshe speche / as concernynge this / I haue done my symple endeuoure for the loue of all womanhode / and chieflye for the moste bounde seruyce / the whiche I owe vnto youre moste gracyous hyghnes to translate the same into oure tunge Moste humbly desyryng fyrst your graces hyghnes / and then consequentlye all noble ladyes and gentylwomen with other honeste matrones to accepte my paynes and good wyll employd in the same the whiche thynge as I doo not doubte for the woonte and incomperable benignite / goodnes / and gentylnes inset planted in youre graces nature / so shall it be no lyttell encourragynge vnto me hereafter with farther deliberation and paynes to reuyse and ouerse the same agayne / and with much more diligence / to set it forthe For consyderynge the manyfolde / daylye / and imminente daungeorus and parelles / the which all maner of women of what estate or degre so euer they be in theyr labor do sustayne and abyde yea many tymes with parell of theyr lyfe / of the whiche there be to many examples nedelesse here to be rehersed I thought it shulde be a very charytable and laudable dede yea and thankefullye to be accepted of all honorable other honest matrons / yf this lyttell treatyse so frutefull and profytable for the same purpose were made Englysh / so that by that meanes it myght be redde and vnderstande of them all / for as touchynge mydwyfes / as there be many of them ryght expert / diligēt / wyse / circumspecte / and tender aboute suche busynesse so be there agayne manye mo full vndyscreate / vnreasonable / chorleshe / farre to seke in suche thynges / the whiche sholde chieflye helpe and socoure the good women in theyr most paynefull labor and thronges Throughe whose rudenesse and rasshenesse onely I doubte not / but that a greate nomber are caste awaye and destroyed the more petye For this cause and for the honor of almyghty god / and for the moste bounde seruyce / the which I owe vnto your grace / most gracyous and vertuous Quene / I haue iudged my labor paynes in this behalfe ryght well bestowed / requyrynge all other women of what estate so euer they be / whiche shall by readynge of the same fynde lyght and cōforte to yelde and render thankes vnto your moste gracyous hyghnes / wysshyng greately that it myght please all honeste motherlye mydwyfes dylygently to reade and ouerse the same / of the which althoughe there be many / which do knowe muche more peraduenture / then is here expressed / yet am I sure in the readynge of it / theyr vnderstandynge shall be muche cleared and haue some
what farther perceueraunce in the same It is no small charge the which they take vpō them / for yf when anye straunge or peryllous case doth chanse / the mydwyfe be ignorant / or to seke in suche thynges which are to be had in remembraunce in that case / then is the partie loste and vtterlye doth perysshe / for lacke of due knowledge requysite to be had in the mydwyfe Wherfore I beseche almyghtye God / that this my symple industrye and labor maye be throughe youre grace vnto the vtilite / wealth / and profet / of all Englysshe women / accordynge to my vtter and hartye desyre and entente / to whome also I daylye praye longe to preserue and prospere youre moste gracyous hyghnes bothe to the contynuall comforte consolacion of our moste redoubted withoute cōparyson moste excellent Christen Prynce / and also the ioye and gladnesse of all his louynge subiectes Amen ¶ Here after begynneth the table of this presente boke ¶ After what maner and fasshyon the byrthe lyeth in the mothers wombe howe many caules it is cōpassed and wrapped in Cap .i. fol .xi. ¶ Of the tyme of byrth which is called naturall or vnnaturall Ca .ii. fol .xiii. ¶ Of easye and vneasye difficull or dolorous delyueraūce and the causes of it with the sygnes howe to knowe and forese the same Cap .iii. fol xiui ¶ Howe a woman with chylde shall vse her selfe what remedies be for them that haue harde labour Cap .iiii. fol .xvii. ¶ Remedyes and medicines by the which the labor maye be made more tollerable ▪ easye and without great payne Ca .v. fo .xxv. ¶ Certayne pylles the whiche make the labor easye without payne fol .xxvii. ¶ Howe the secondyne or seconde byrth shall be sorsed to yssue forth if it come not frely of his owne kynd Cap .vi. fol .xxviii. ¶ Howe that many thynges chaunse to the women after theyr labor and howe to auoyde defende or to remedye the same Cap .vii. fol .xxxii. ¶ Of aborcementes or vntymelye byrthes and the causes of it and by what remedyes it maye be defended holpen and eased Cap .viii. fol .xli. ¶ Of deade byrthes and by what sygnes or tokens it maye be knowen and by what meanes it maye also be expelled Ca .ix. fo .xlvii. ¶ Howe the infant newly borne muste be handled nouryshed and loked to Cap .x. fol .liii. ¶ Of the nourse and her mylke and howe longe the chyld shold soucke fo .lv. ¶ The Table of the seconde boke ¶ Of diuers diseases and infirmities which chaunse to chyldren lately borne the remedyes therfore fo .lix. ¶ Of the flyx or ouermoche loosenesse of the bely fo .lx. ¶ To vnloose the chylde beyng boudnen fo .lxii. ¶ Remedye for the crāpe or distention of the membres fol .lxiii. ¶ Remedie for the cough and dystyllatyon of the heade fol .lxiii. ¶ Remedye for shorte wynde fol .lxv. ¶ Agaynste wheles or bladders on the tounge fol .lxv. ¶ Of exulceration or clefture chappynge or chynnyng of the mouth fol .lxvi. ¶ Of Apostumation and runnyng of the eares .lxvii. ¶ Of Appostumation in the heade fol .lxvii. ¶ Of the swellyng or bolnyng of the eyes fol .lxvii. ¶ Of the scum or whyte of the eye fol .lxvii. ¶ Agaynste immoderate heate or the feuer fo .lxvii. ¶ Agaynste frettynge or knawynge in the bellye fol .lxviii. ¶ Agaynste swellynge of the body fol .lxviii. ¶ Agaynste often sneesynge fol .lxviii. ¶ Of whelkes in the body and the cure fol .lxix. ¶ Agaynste swellynge of the coddes fol .lxix. ¶ Agaynste swellynge of the nauyll fol .lxx. ¶ Agaynste vnslewynesse fol .lxx. ¶ Agaynst yeryng fo .lxxi ¶ Of yerkenesse or appetyte to vomyte fol .lxxi. ¶ Agaynst fearful and terrible dreames fol .lxxii. ¶ Agaynste the mother fol .lxxiii. ¶ Of shorte brethe horsenesse or whystelynge in the throte fol .lxxiii. ¶ Agaynste tenasmus fol .lxxiiii. ¶ Agaynst wormes in the belly fol .lxxiiii. ¶ Of chawfynge or gallynge in any place of the body fol .lxxv. ¶ Of the fallynge syckenesse fol .lxxvi. ¶ Consumptyon or pynynge awaye of the bodye fol .lxxvii. ¶ Of lassytude werynesse or heuynesse of the chyldes bodye fol .lxxvii. ¶ Of trymblynge of the body and the membres of the bodye fol .lxxviii. ¶ Of the stone fo .lxxviii. ¶ Of google eyes or lokynge a squynt fo .lxxviii. ¶ The Table of the thyrde booke ¶ Of suche thynges the whiche shal be entreated of in this thyrde booke Cap .i. fol .lxxix. ¶ Of conceptiō and how many wayes it maye be hyndered or letted Ca .ii. fol .lxxx. ¶ Howe many wayes concepcyon maye be letted howe the causes maye be knowen Cap .iii. fol .lxxxi. ¶ Howe to know whether lacke of conception be of the woman or of the man and howe it maye be perceaued whether she be conceaued or no. Cap .iiii. fol .lxxxiii. ¶ Of certayne remedyes and medycynes whiche shall cause the woman to conceaue Cap .v. fol .lxxxv ¶ Here endeth the table of this booke ¶ For bycause that in this booke many tymes be founde certayne measure wayghtes of physyke not knowen peraduenture to all suche as shal chaunce to reade it / therfore here brefly I haue set them furthe / showyng the value and estimation of them so far as shall be requysite to the better vnderstandynge of suche thynges the whiche ye shall reade in the same treatyse The pownde wayght xii ownces The ownce contayneth viii drammes The dramme iii. scruples The scruple xx graynes ¶ Where as is written that the scruple contayneth .xx. graynes / ye muste note that by these graynes be vnderstande graynes of barley taken out of the myddell of the eare / of the whiche .xx. maketh a scruple so that the pownde contayneth .v. M .vii. C .lxii. graynes c. as folowyth The pownde v. M .vii. C .lxii. graynes The ounce contayneth iiii C .lxxx. graynes The dramme lx graynes The scruple xx graynes ¶ ye shall also note here that many tymes ye shall happen vppon straunge names of suche thynges the whiche are occupyed aboute infyrmytees spoken of in this booke / for the whiche there is no englyshe but are vsyd in there owne proper names of greke or laten and they are suche for the mooste parte whiche are to be had onely at the Apothecaries / beyng of them ryght wel knowen wherfore when ye shal nede any such thyng yf ye sende the same names in your byll to the apothecaries they wyll soone spede your purpose neyther do this yf ye maye without the aduise of some experte and well lerned physytiane ¶ Here after begynneth the fyrste booke THE FYRSTE BOKE THE FYRSTE ¶ After what maner and fasshyon the byrthe lyethe in the mothers wombe and howe many caules it is compassed and wrapped in ¶ Cap .i. IN so muche as oure entent is in this boke folowynge to entreate and speake of the byrthe of mankynde / and of suche thynges whiche happen and chaunse to the mother in her labor and trauayle / in the
the heade / in the harte / the stomacke / as we touthed before ¶ Howe that many thynges chaunse to the women after theyr labor and howe to auoyde defende or to remedye the same ¶ Cap .vii. IT is also to be vnderstanded / that many tymes after the delyueraunce happeneth to women other the feuer or ague / or swellyng or inflation of the bodye / other tumblynge in the belly / or els commotion or settelynge out of order of the mother or matrice Cause of the which thynges is somtymes lacke of due and sufficient purgation and clensyng of the flowres after the byrthe / or elles contrarye wyse ouer muche flowinge of the same / whiche sore doth weaken the woman Also the greate labor and stearynge of the matrice in the byrth ¶ Then as ofte as it commeth for lacke of due purgation of the flowres / then muste be ministred such thinges / the which maye prouoke the same / whether it be by medicines taken at the mouth / or by lotyon washyng of the fete / or by fumes or odours or emplastration / or by decoction of herbes seruynge to that purpose / other els by oyntmentes / suche other thynges / accordynge as the persone or the parell doth requyre / of the which thynges fewe or no wemen be ignoraunt And ye muste take diligent hede that she be exactly and vtterly purged to this be agreable all suche thynges / the whyche prouoke vryne open the vaynes / making free waye for the bloude to passe / sende the humours and matter downewarde / as motherworte / azure / sauyne / penyryall / parcelye / cheruyll / anyse sede / fenel sede / iumper byries / rue / baybyries / germaunder / valeriane / tyme / cinomome / spykenarde / suche other All those thynges as they do prouoke and cause vrine so do they also prouoke and cause the flowres to depart Howbeit as nere as ye can vse none of these thynges without the counsell of an expert physisyon / leste whylest ye helpe one place ye hurt another / also to sneese helpeth muche in this matter / to holde in the brethe enclosynge the noose and the mouth Also fumigation made of the yes of salt fysshes / or of the houe of a horse vnderneth / prouoketh the flowres Yf ye profet not by this meanes then yf she be able to bare it / let her bloude in the vayne / called Saphena / vnder the ancles of the fete / for this ê“uoketh flowres chieflye of all other thynges ¶ Lykewyse doo / yf the woman haue the ague after her labor / for that coÌ„meth of lyke cause by retention of the flowres / and in the feuer let her vse to drynke water / in the whiche is decocte barlye beaten / or cicer and barlye to gether / or water in whiche be soden Tamaryndi / or waye of mylke / and lette her eate cullys made of a cocke / and swete pome Granates for these thynges do prouoke the flowres / mitigateth the immoderat heate / refresshynge greatelye the bodye / loosynge and openynge suche thinges / the whiche before ware constricte and cluddered to gether ¶ Yf the body after labor do swel inflate then let her drynke water in the which is soden cicer and cummyn beaten to gether Item good olde wyne with the electuarium called diamarte / or the whiche is called alcakengi of the whiche Auicenna speaketh in his .v. boke Item gumme serapine / organnie / and masticke Also in this case a glyster made of suche thynges / the which do vaynqueshe and expelle ventositees and wyndenesse / also a pessarie or suppositar made for that parte of Aristolochia rotunda / squinan tum / storax liquida / doronicum / zeduaria ¶ Agayne yf the woman after her labor haue frettynge and knawyng of the guttes / and payne of the matrice and other secreate partes there aboute / then let her vse the vapour and fume of suche thynges the whiche haue vertue to mitigate swage and alay the payn / as mallowes / holyoke / fenegreke / cummyn / camomell / sauyne / and hemlocke ¶ Also to annoynt the places with oleum sesaminum / or with oyle of swete almondes And yf no greate heate do abouÌ„de in the woman / she maye drynke tryacle or trifera magna with wyne in whiche is decoct motherwort or muggeworke ¶ Also agaynste paynes in the preuy partes / take penyriall / policaria / syx leues of bay tree sethe them to gether / and receaue the vapour vndernethe closely Item take rue / red motherworte / sothernwood / bete them to gether / and temper them with the oyle of peny ryall / and put all to gether into a pot / and set it ouer the fyre a whyle / tyll it be somewhat soden to gether / and then take it of agayne / put it all in to a lyttell rounde lynnen bagge made for the purpose / the whiche with this herbes in it ye shall coÌ„uaye into the secretes ¶ Item take camomell lyne of eche lyke much .iiij. handefulles braye them to gether sethe them with whyte wyne / then put it in a rounde bagge of lynnen / as before was done / conuey it into the womaÌ„s preuy partes IteÌ„ let her drynke for the same purpose ij graynes of muske with wyne ¶ IteÌ„ take white onyons couer theÌ„ vnder the hote asshes the which wheÌ„ they be wel rosted / beate theÌ„ to gether with freshe butter vnsalted / make it in maner of a plaster / then put it in a lynneÌ„ bag / coÌ„uey itin to the places / as before / in the meane whyle perfumyng the preuy partes with whyte fraÌ„kencense storax ¶ Yf it be so that the womaÌ„ be vexed about the backe and loynes after her labor / take camomell / and muggewoort / of eche .ij. handfulles of woorwode / sothernewood of eche one handefull / of motherwort .iij. handefulles / of cinamome and nutmegges beteÌ„ small halfe an ounce / decocte all these thynges together / and in the water of this decoction beynge warme / dyp a spunge or other lynnen clothes fomentynge / sokynge / and strekynge the backe with the same / and so do often tymes / or els put all these foresayde herbes to gether soden in a bagge / and laye it plasterwyse to the backe ¶ Yf this profette not take oyle nardine / oyle of whyte lyllies / of ech an ounce and an halfe / to the whiche put a dramÌ„ of nutmegges beaten to small powder / with this annoynte the backe Item take oyle of anys / oyle of camomell / of eche an ounce / oyle of whyte lyllies .ij. ounces / of waxe .ij. dramÌ„s dissolue all these to gether ouer the fyre / and there with annoynt the backe ¶ But yf after the labor the flowres yssue more vehementlye in greater aboundance then they sholde / to the great effeablysshyng of the woman and inducynge of
muche langor and paynefulnes then syrst shall ye note where vpon it coÌ„meth for the cause knowen the dysease maye the more readelye be recured and causes of it be dyuers but moste espetiall those that folowe / that is to saye Of muche aboundant superfluous bloude contayned in the hole body or of muche commistion of the melancholy humor the bloude to gether / by the which the bloude is eâ—fyred and chawfed and so distendeth openeth and setteth abroade the vaynes whiche descende to the matrice Also the bloude beynge very thynne and wateryshe for so it penetrateth / thrylleth / and yssueth forthe the soner Also yf the vaynes be very large / receaue much bloude for in that case they sende forthe the more agayn Also yf the matrice be vnmyghty weakened / the vaynes lykewyse weake and large so that they can not retayne nor witholde the bloude Also yf the body of the womaÌ„ or the outward partes be very dense / cloose / and compacte to gether so that the outwarde powres be contracte and shut in such wyse that no vapours or swette can yssue out at them then this shall cause the yll humoures whiche otherwyse wolde passe thorough the powres in swette to remayne within the body / and there to engender and encreace greater fluxe and abouÌ„daÌ„ce of matter / which procedeth with the flowres augmenteth the quantite of them Also yf the vaynes / whiche be named hemorroides / in the matrice be open and flowe forth Also yf the matrice be peryshed or otherwyse viciat Also yf it chanse that the woman haue had a fall / or hath ben thrust or beaten / by all and any of this meanes maye come this inordinat fluxe of flowres ¶ Nowe stynge then that it ensueth by so manyfolde occasions causes it shal be mete that womeÌ„ in this case be nothing ashamed ne abashed to disclose theyr mynde vnto expert phisitians / showyng them euery thyng in it / as they knowe where vppon it sholde come so that the phisition vnderstandynge the womans mynde / maye the soner by his learnynge and experience consyder the true cause of it / and the very remedy to amend it And many thinges there be which sease and restrayne this ouer much flowynge of flowres bothe electuaries / confections / trochiskes pouders / clisteres / odoures / suffumigations bathes / plasters and oyntementes / of whiche for the loue of women I wyll here set forthe the moste principall and best ¶ Fyrste then to stynte and restrayne the owtragius fluxe of flowres it shal be verye good to bynde the armes very strayght and strongely not the fete or handes as some vnwyse men do teache / and then to set a ventose or boxe or cup of glasse with fyre which is called boxynge vnder the brestes / but cuttynge no part of the skynne / layeng also lynnen clothes dypped in vynâ—gâ—e on the bellye betwene the nauell and the secreates conueyenge also into the places suche thynges / whiche haue vertue to restrayne bloude / as balaustium / the ryne of pome granate / carabe / terra sigillata / bole armenyacke / sanguis draconis / hematites / the red rose / whyte frankencense / and galles all those thynges or as manye of them as ye can conuenientlye get / beate them to powder in lyke portion / and temper them with thycke and grosse wyne / making of it a plaster / the whiche so teÌ„pered put it in to a lyttell rounde bagge the quantite of a mannes thombe the which she shall put in to the preuye places ¶ Item an other plaster to be ministred lykewyse Take of the bloudestone / called Emathites / bole armenyacke of eche halfe an ounce sanguis draconis / licium / of ech .ij. dramÌ„s Karabe the cuppes of Acornes / Cipresse nuttes / Balaustium or psidiuÌ„ / of eche one dramÌ„ of the scales of yron one dramÌ„ and an halfe Turbyntyne and pyche lyke quantite / or so muche as shal be sufficient to make a plaster beate and braye all these to gether / temperinge it to a plaster and then do with it as ye dyd with the other before ¶ An oyntemente for the same purpose Take oyle Myrtine / oyle of rooses / of eche halfe a pounde Carabe / the scraping of yuerye / the scrapynge of a gootes horne / redde corall terra sigillata / whyte frankencense / of eche one ounce / of white waxe .iij. ounces / all those tempered to gether / make them in an oyntment / therewith annoynt the wombe and the secreates ¶ A batthe concernynge the same Take wurmewud / plantayne the more the lesse the toppes of vynes / fresshe braÌ„ches of wyld mulberyes / vnrype damsenes slowes / or boloes / wylde peres / medlers or myspylles / of eche .iij. handefulles / of red roose leues thre handefulles / of oke barke .iiij. handfulles / of dayses / of all sortes of thystles / of eche .ij. handfulles of cinkefoyle / the leues rotes / tormentyll the rootes / colubrine / of eche an handefull also of acorne cuppes a saw ser full / of gawlles / of acorns pylled / of bursa pastoris / of eche .ij. handefulles beate all these to powder / cuttynge and brosynge that / that wyll not be beaten to powder / sethe them to gether in rayne water / or els in water / in the which .x. or .xij. burnte sâ—ones haue bene quenchyd this done / let the woman bathe herselfe in this water vp to the nauell / and wheÌ„ she cometh forth of the bathe / geue her to drynke .ij. dramÌ„s of electuarium athanasie / or miclete / wich plantayne water / or yf she be sore thurstye with red wyne ¶ And lykewyse ye maye geue vnto her of these electuaries that folow take good olde roose sugre .ij. ounces / of red corall / burnte yuery / bole armenyacke / of eche two dramÌ„s / of hematites thre dramÌ„s / beate all these thinges to gether / temperynge it with the roose sugre / let her receaue of it in the mornynge and euenynge with two dramÌ„s of plantane water / or els the water of bursa pastoris ¶ Item take the stone Emathites / rubbe it on a whetstone / tyll the whetstone seme redde / then washe it of agayne froÌ„ the whetstone with plantaynewater / and so do oftentymes / vntyll suche tyme that thou haue a good quantite of it / and euery mornyng and euenynge let the woman drynke two or thre sponefulles of the same ¶ Farthermore there be at the apothecaries trochiskes which helpe greately in this case / as the trochiskes of karabe / and the trochiskes of bole armoniacke whiche muste be ministred a dramÌ„ or more of ether of them / with .iiij. or .v. sponeful of plantayne water Who that requyreth farther in this matter let them aske counseill of the phisytions / for we haue set here but suche thynges whiche may seme most necessarye ¶ Nowe yf it so be that there
syde / so that nothyng appeare betwene the peces of lynnen in the myddes of them / but onely the clefte and ryfte of the wounde in the breadthe of a strawe / then this done / sowe these sydes of lynnen to gether close as before I bed you to sowe the skynne when they be thus stytched to gether / laye a lyttell lyquyd pytche vpon the seme and this done the lappes and sydes of the wond vnder the lynnen plaster wyll growe to gether agayne heale / theÌ„ may ye remoue your plasters ¶ Iâ—eÌ„ another way take camfely dryed / beate it to powder / also cummyn and cynamome both beaten to powder / ioyne all thre to gether / and strew of this powder into the wounde / and without faute it shall heale ¶ Of aborcementes or vntymelye byrthes and the causes of it and by what remedyes it maye be defended holpen eased ¶ Cap .viii. ABorcement or vntymely byrth is / when the woman is delyuered before due season before the frute be rype as in the iij.iiij or .v. monethe before the byrth haue lyfe and sometymes after it hath lyfe it is delyuered before it steare beynge by some chaunse dead in the mothers wombe Of the which thynge there be many and dyuers causes ¶ Fyrste sometymes the mouth of the matrice is so large and ample / that it can not coÌ„ueniently shytte it selfe to gether / nether contayne the feture or conceptioÌ„ / or it is corrupt and infect with such vicyous yll humours that it is so slyppery that the feture slyppeth and slydeth forth Also sometymes the matrice is apostumated sore / so that for payne it can not contayne the conception ¶ Item sometyme the cotilydons / that is the vaynes and synnues by the which the coÌ„ception and feature is tyed and fastened in the matrice through the which also the feature receaueth noryshment and fode be stopped with vyscous and yll humours / or elles swollen by inflation / so that they breake / by the whiche meanes the feature destitute of his wont noryshment peryssheth and dyeth / and that moste commonlye in the seconde or thyrde monethe after conception wherfore Hypocrates sayth All suche women whiche be impregnat or conceaued being of a meane state in her bodye / that is to saye / neyther to fat or grosse / ne to spare or leane yf it chanse anye suche to aborce in the seconde or thyrde moneth no other euident cause appearyng knowe ye for certayne that it ensueth for because the cotilydons be opplete / stopped / and stuffed with yll humours / be swollen and puffed therewith / that they breake / and so coÌ„sequeÌ„tly the feature dryeth for faute of fode ¶ Item aborcemente sometyme commeth by reason that some of the places about the matrice be deseased and greaued as yf intestinum rectum / whiche is called the fundament gutte be exulcerat / hauynge the pyles or hemorroides / or the vysyke or bladder be swollen or encombred with the stone / the strangurye / or other yll / in these cases thorough the greate labor and payne the which the partie hathe in endeuourynge and enforsynge her selfe other to stole or to make water / be engendred greate motions downewarde / by the whiche meanes manye tymes the cotylydons be enfringed and broken ¶ Also aborcement maye come of a disease called Tenasmus / the whiche is when one hath euer greate desyre and luste to the stole and yet can do nothynge / neuer the lesse the parties greately do enforce and payne them selfe to it / as Hypocrates sayth The pregnant woman which hath tenasmum / for the moste parte aborteth ¶ Item the coughe / yf it be greuous / causeth the same / and as the forenamed excelleÌ„t phisytiane sayth / such as are very spare and leane and brought lowe euermore lyghtlye dothe aborte / for because that as Auicenna wryteth all the meate and fode the whiche they receaue / turneth to the fode / noryshmeÌ„t / and restauration of theyr owne bodyes / and so is the conception destitute of fode / wherfore necessarily it dyeth ¶ Item this chanse also commeth by ouer muche bleadynge or yssuyng of the flowres / when they yssue immoderatly And so sayth Hypocrates Yf the woman yelde flowres after her conception / it can not be that the feature do longe proue / the which saying muste be vnderstande / yf they flowe vehementlye / or that the partie be weake and verye spare / or yf it be after the thyrde moneth / for it may be well that in the fyrst and seconde moneth flowres maye yssue / and yet no daunger / for as yet lyttell fode and noryshment satisfieth the conception ¶ Item to be let bloude / maye be the cause of aborcement as Hypocrates sayth whiche muste be vnderstande in suche as haue but lyttell store of bloud but such as haue great copie plentie of bloude maye without any parell yf any cause requyre it be let bloude / so that it be after the .iiij. moneth and before the .vii. Howe be it I wolde that none shold be let bloude / except some greate and vrgent cause dyd requyre it ¶ Item it maye come by takynge of some stronge purgation before the .iiij. monethe after the vii moneth / and yf it be so that any necessitie do so requyre that she muste nedes receaue a purgation / let it be done betwent the .iiij. and the .vij. moneth after the conception for then maye it be with lest parell / and se that the purgation be very gentell easy ¶ Also this maye come by reason of a continuall fluxe / be it bloudy or otherwyse / and spetially yf the woman be weake and spare / for by that meanes the conception is greately weakened and peryshed Item ouer much vomytynge may be cause of aborcement / for by ouer muche galpynge and reachynge vpwardes the cotilydons maye be broken / and so the feature to perysshe ¶ Item ouer muche famyne or hunger also sharpe and faruent syckenesse maye be the cause hereof / as the pestelence / apostume in the breste / the soden palsie / the fallynge syckenes c. Also ouer much dronkenesse excesse fedynge and surfetynge / by the which the byrthe is suffocat and strangeled in the bellye and the fode corrupte for lacke of due digestion IteÌ„ yf the byrthe be sycke by anye outwarde or inwarde cause / or yf the secondyne in the which the feature is contayned / do breake before his tyme and the humours and waterres of the same flowe and yssue forth / causeth the place to be slyppery / and so the byrth to slyde awaye vntymely / or yf the mother haue taken very greate colde / which maye sone chanse in the farre northe partes / or ouer greate heate / which weakeneth both mother and chylde And therfore ought women with chylde to eschue muche bathynge or goyng to the hote houses in theyr temyng for that maye do hurte
thre wayes / fyrst that it kenleth enflameth the ayre or brethe contayned in the body / and so styfleth the chylde and sometymes the mother to / secondly that it relaxeth / dissolueth / and loseth the cotylydōs / and so maketh the byrth to yssue forth / thyrdlye that the vtter hette of the bathe encreaseth the inwarde heate of the body / in so muche that the byrthe not beynge able to sustayne and abyde the heate naturallye procedeth for refrigeration colynge / but in the tyme or about the tyme of labor she may vse bathes / as I declared before for the redyar and more expedite delyueraunce ¶ Item the intemperancie and mutation of the ayre / and whether maye be cause of aborcemente / for as Hypocrates wrytteth / when so euer the wynter is hote moyst / the sprynge tyde after colde and drye / suche women in that sprynge tyde maye sone and of a lyghte cause haue aborcement / or yf they aborce not / yet they shall be delyuered with greate payne / and the byrthe shall be verye weake and syckelye / soo that it shall dye strayght / or yf it dye not by and by / it shall proue but verye slenderlye / the cause of the whiche thynge is this for when that suche wynterynge chaunseth / the hote and moyste whether heateth and moisteth the womans bodye / and by that the bodye is opened / vnloosed / and resolued / no lesse then thought she ware euery daye bathed / and vpon this when the sprynge tyde cometh / yf it be colde and drye fyndynge the body open and vnlosed after suche sorte / the colde entryth and percethe the bodye the soner and the more vehementlye / and the byrthe fealynge the soden colde and change of whether / pyneth awaye and dyethe in the mothers bellye / or anone after it is delyuered / or yf it lyue / it lykethe not / nor prouethe not / and greate payne shall it be to kepe lyfe in it ¶ Item aborcement maye happen by ouer muche stearynge of the bodye in laborynge / daunsynge / or leapynge or by some fall or thrust agaynst some wall / or beatynge / or by some sodayne anger / feare / dredde / sorowe / or some soden vnloked for ioye Thus haue I rehersed all the causes of the whiche most commonlye maye ensue aborcemente or vntymely byrth the which no doubte is muche more grefe and vayne to the womā then the verye naturall labor / for suche thynges as chaunse to man or woman contrarye to nature / or before nature doth require it / is farre greater grefe then the same happenyng and commynge in his due season Sygnes wherby ye may forsee aborcemēt When the woman shall labor before her tyme / these sygnes are wonte to go before Fyrste her brestes which before were hoole / sounde / and full / shall begyn to were lesse / to fall / and to flagge then euer for the moste parte aborcement foloweth But yf it be so that she go with two chyldrē at once / yf one of the brestes swage / whiche before was in good lykynge / the other remaynyng sounde and safe / then loke of what syde the brest is of / and the chylde of that syde is in parell / wherfore Hypocrates wryteth Yf the ryght breste slake or flagge / the masculyne or male byrth is in parel yf the left / the female byrth for because that for the most part whē there be two at once / the one is masculyne and the other femenyne / the man lyeth in the ryght syde / and the woman in the lefte ¶ Also an other sygne of aborcemente is / when the woman hath greate paynes dolours of the matrice / and that she begyn to wexe redde in the face / and all partes of her bodye to shake and tremble / as thoughe it ware in a feuer / or the palsye in the heade Item when she feleth greate ache in the ynner parte of the eyes towarde the braynes / the reste of the bodye taken as it were with a werynesse and languesshynge / these thynges portende and sygnifye aborcement to be at hande / spetiallye yf at the same tyme the flowres yssue also ¶ Item yf the womans body do swell and inflate with a certayne hardnesse or styfnesse and that she fele stytches and as it were ven tosyte or wynde runnynge frome one syde of the bodye to the other / and yet the belly not withstandynge / beynge nothynge the more ponderous or wayghtye / and that the same inflacion do persyst and continue any whyle the woman takynge and eatynge such thynges which haue vertue to discusse and vanqueshe ventosite wyndénesse this thynge I saye dothe betoken parell of aborcemente throughe ventosite and inflacion / and that chieflye aboute the thyrde or fourth moneth after the conception Now haue I sufficiently declared euident sufficient signes where by maye be prouyded and forsene the aborcement before it come / nowe wyll I shewe you the remedyes / whereby it maye be auerted and let ¶ The chiefe remedy to auoyde aborcemēt is to auoyde shun all such thynges which maye be cause of it / the whiche I haue competentlye entreated of alreadye but yf ye feare aborcement because that the mouth of the matrice be ouer ample and large / then muste ye vse such thynges / whose operation is to contrahe / constrayne / and brynge to gether as bathes / fumigations / oyntementes / plasters / odours / and suche lyke / of the whithe I spake before in the seuenthe chapter / and suche thynges the whyche represse and stynte the flowres flowynge ouer muche after the byrthe ¶ Agayne yf ye feare this parell / because the mouthe of the matrice is moist and flypperye / other because that the cotylydons be repleate and fulfylled with vyscous humours / and with inflations or ventosytees then maye ye defende it by vsynge of suche thynges / whose qualitees be to purifye / clense / exiccat / or drye / and to represse ventosytees ¶ Howe be it / in all this matter lette not to make some experte physytyan of youre counseill / yf ye maye haue suche one / for because that manye suche thynges come / and not all by one waye or meane ¶ And yf ye doubte parell / for because that the matrice or other places aboute be infected / exulcerated / or appostumat / or hauynge the stone or strangurye / and such other thynges / then aske / and vse the aduyse of some well learned medycyne / and he shall shewe you howe all thynges shall be recured ¶ Yf agayne ye feare aborcement / because the partye is very weake and lowe brought / then let her feade on such thinges the which moysten and norysshe well or fatten the bodye / as capon flesshe / kydde / lamme / younge veale / partrige / and suche other ¶ Agayne yf the womā be taken with any sharpe and fell decease / then let her
also after theyr labor / and farther of such infirmities and deseases / which are wont to vexe the infant after it is delyuered into this wordle / with competent remedyes for the same ¶ And here in this thyrde boke by the leaue of god shall brefelye be declared suche thynges whiche maye farther or hynder the conception of man / whiche as it maye be by dyuers meanes letted and hyndered / so also by many other wayes it maye be farthered and amended Also to knowe by certayne sygnes and tokens whether the woman be conceaued or no / whether the conception be male or female / and finally certayne remedies and medycynes to farther and helpe conceptiō / so to conclude this small tracte or treatyce ¶ Of conception howe many wayes it maye be hyndered or letted ¶ Cap .ii. THere is nothyng vnder heauen which so manifestly playnlye doth declare shewe the magnificēt myghtynesse of that omnipotēt lyuing god / as doth the perpetuall and continuall generation conception of lyuynge thynges here in earth / by the whiche is saued / proroged / augmented the kynd of al thinges And where that this almyghty lorde creator hath so institute ordeyned / that no syngular thynge in it selfe here vpon the earth sholde contynually remayne abyde / yet hath he geuen from the begynnyng and instincted such a power and vertue vnto these mortall creatures / that they maye engender and produce other lyke thinges vnto them selfe / vnto theyr owne sunilitude / in the which alway is saued the sede of posterite / were not this prouisiō had by almyghtye god / the nature kynde of all maner of thinges wold sone perysh com to an ende / the which vertue power of generatiō many times doth halt misse / by defect the cōtrary dispositiō in the partes generāt As ye maye euidentlye see in the sowynge of corne and all other maner of seade / so that there be in all maner of generation thre principal partes cōcurrēt to the same the sower / the scade sowen / and the receptacle or place receauynge and contaynynge the seade Yf there be faute in any of these thre / then shall there neuer be due generation / vnto suche tyme as the faute be remoued or amended The earth vnto all seades is as a mother nource contaynynge / clyppynge and enbrasynge them in her wombe / feadynge and fosterynge them as the mother doth the chyld in her belly ormatrice / vntyll suche tyme as they come vnto the growyth / quantite / per fection due vnto theyr nature and kynd but yf this seade cōceaued in the bowelles of the earth do not proue or fructifye / then be thou sure that other there is lette in the sower / in the seade / or elles in the earthe The earthe maye be ouer waterysshe / dankesshe / or ouer hote and drye / or elles full of stones / grauell / or other rubryshe / or ful of yll weedes / which maye strangle and choke the good corne in his growynge / also the sede maye be putrifyed / or otherwyse viciat and corrupted / and so the lyfe sprete of it vanyshed awaye and destroyed The sowar maye vnordynatlye strewe and caste the seade on the earthe c. So that yf there be let in none of these thre partes concurrent to generation / or that the lettes be remoued done away / then doubte lesse will ensue multiplicacion and encreasemēt of that kynde / of the which the seade cōmeth / accordyng to the naturall enclination the whiche almyghtye god hathe enplanted and set in the kynde of all thynges ¶ Howe many wayes conception maye be letted and howe the causes maye be knowen ¶ Cap .iii. EVerye thynge then the whiche doth encrease in his kynd must fyrst be cōceaued in the wombe matrice of the mother / which is apte and conueniente for the receate of such seade And as I sayde before / as there maye be defecte and lacke in the mother receauynge the seade / soo maye there be faute and defecte in the sower / in the seade it selfe also ¶ And in woman there maye be foure generall causes / by the whiche the conception may be impedyte and let ouer much calidite or heate of the matrice / ouer much coldnesse / ouer muche humidite or moystenesse / ouer much dryenesse Any of these foure qualitees exceadynge temperancye / maye be sufficient causes to lette due conception ¶ Wherfore the ryght excellent physitian Hypocrātes in the .v. boke of his Amphorysmes sayth All such women the which haue colde and dense matrices / can not conceaue / nor such as haue moyste and waterysshe matrices can cōceaue / for the powre of the seade is extynguyshed in it Also hauyng drye matryces / conceaue not / for the seade peryssheth for lacke of due nutriment and fode / but that matrice the whiche hath all these qualities in temperancye / that is fruytfull / this is Hypocrates sayenge / the which thing also may be well perceaued by a famylyer example of the sowynge of corne ¶ For yf it be sowen in ouer colde places / such as be in the partes of a countrye / called Sithia / and in certayne places of Almayne / or in such places where is contynuall snowe or froste / or where the sonne doth not shyne / in this places the seade or grayne sowen / wyll neuer come to profe / nor fructyfye / but throughe the vehemente coldenesse of the place in the whiche it is conceaued / the lyfe and quyckenesse of the grayne is vtterlye destroyed and adnyhilat ¶ And farther as concernyng ouer muche humidite Yf ye sowe your grayne in a fen or marysse and watery grounde / the seade wyll perysshe through the ouer much aboundāce of water whiche extynguyssheth the lyuelynesse and the naturall power of the grayne and sede ¶ Lykewyse yf it be sowen in such a countrye or place where is ouer greate heate / not tēpered with water rayne / or yf the yere be so drye / that there cam no rayne at al to alay the extreme faruēt heate of the sonne / then shall the seade sowen whyther drye away / and the power of it be consumed burnt ¶ Also yf it be sowen in drye places / where neuer commeth rayne / or on the sande / and grauelye places / in suche a place the grayne can neuer take / ne proue / ne be conceaued in it to come to any fruyte or profet ¶ Wherefore yf the matrice be distempered by the excesse of any of these foure qualities / then must ye reduce it agayne to temperancie by suche remedyes / as I shall shewe you hereafter Lykewyse maye there be defecte and lacke in the man / as yf the seade be ouer hote / the which the woman shall feale / as it were burning hote / or to cold the which he shall feale / as it were
in maner colde as yise / or to fluye or thynne c. dyuers other other wayes also it maye be letted / whyche shall not nede here to be rehersed ¶ Nowe yf the woman can not conceaue / the cause commynge of ouer muche frigidite and coldenesse in the matrice / that shall she knowe by these tokens she shal feale greate cold about the sydes / the raynes of the backe and the matrice / her vryne shall appeare whyte and thynnysshe / and sometymes also somewhat spysse and thycke / and all maner of colde thynges shall noye her / hote thynges shall greately comfort her ¶ But yf it come by ouer muche humidite of the matrice / that shall she knowe by these sygnes Yf the bodye of her be of a fatte and grosse disposition / yf with her flowres yssue forth at the begynnynge and the latterende of them certayne vyscous and waterye substaunce / and that her vrine be whyte / thycke / and sometyme as it were mylke Alsoo that she feale greate colde and payne aboute the matrice pryuie partes / muche dolour in her sydes and in the raynes of her backe ¶ And when ouer much heate or dryeth in the matrice / is cause of the hynderaunce of conception / then is the vryne hye coldred / red or yelowe / beynge thynne with certayne motes appearyng in the water / the womā hath greate thyrste / and bytter rysynge or belking oute of the stomacke in to the mouthe And manye tymes they that are in this case / are verye spare and leane in all theyr bodye / hauyng also but small quantite of flowres / the whiche thynge maye happen other by ouer muche watche / or ouer much fastynge / labor / trauell / sorowe / syckenesse c. But suche women which naturally are thus spare lene / maye verye hardely be brought to a temperancye agayne be made apte to conceaue And this shal be sufficiente for this tyme to knowe whiche qualite by his excesse causeth sterilite / nowe wyll we shewe howe it shal be knowen whether lacke of conception be in the woman or elles in the man / and howe to knowe whether the woman be conceaued or no / accordynge to the mynde of ryght expert doctors of physycke ¶ Howe to knowe whether lacke of conception be of the woman or of the man and howe it maye be perceaued whether she be conceaued or no. ¶ Cap .iiii. IF ye be desyrous to know whether the man or the woman be hynderance in conception lette eche of them take of whete and barlye cornes / and of beenes of eche .vii. the which they shall suffer to be steped in theyr seueral vryne / the space of .xxiiij. houres / then take .ij. pottes / suche as they set gylyflowres in / fyll them with good earth / in the one let be set the whete / barlye / beanes / styped in the mans water / in the other the whete / barlye / and beanes / styped in the womans water / and euerye mornynge the space of eight or ten dayes / lette eche of them with theyr proper vryne / water the sayd seades sowen in the forenamed pottes / marke whose potte dothe proue / the seades therin contained dothe growe / in that partie is not the lacke of conception / but see that there come no other water or rayne on the pottes ¶ Itē accordynge to Hypocrates wrytyng yf ye wyl knowe whether the faute be in the woman or no / then lette the woman receaue in to her body vndernethe / beynge well and closely closed round about the fume of some odoriferous perfume / as laudanum / storax / calamyte / lignum aloes / muske / ambre / and suche other / and yf the odour and sauour of suche thynges assende thorowe her body vp vnto her nose / ye shall vnderstande / that sterilite commeth not of the womans parte / yf not then is the defecte in her ¶ Item yf she take garlycke beynge pylled out of the huskes / and conueye of it into the pryuie partes / and yf the sente of it assende vp through the bodye vnto the nose / the woman is fautelesse / yf not then is there lacke in her These are sygnes to knowe whether the lacke be in the man or the woman ¶ Whether she be conceaued alreadye or no / ye shall knowe by these sygnes Fyrste the flowres yssue not in so great quantite as they are wōt / but wexe lesse and lesse / and in maner nothinge at all commeth from them Also the brestes begyn to waxe rounder / harder / and styffar then they were wonte to be / the woman shall longe after certayne thynges otherwyse thē she was vsed to do before that tyme. Also her vryne waxeth spysse and thyckysshe / by retension of the superfluyties Also the woman fealeth her matrice verye fastelye enclosed and shytte / in so muche that as Hypocrates saythe / the poynte of a nedle maye scace enter ¶ Item to knowe whether she be conceaned or no / accordynge to Hypocrates mynde / in the .v. of his Ampho geue vnto the woman when she is goyng to bedde a quantite of mellicratum to drynke / and yf after that drynke she feale greate payne / gnawing / and tumblynge in her belly / then be ye sure / that she is conceaued yf not / she is not cōceaued / this mellicratum is a drynke made of one parte wyne / an other parte water soden together / with a quantite of hony ¶ But if ye be desyrous to knowe whether the conception be man or woman then lette a droppe of her mylke or twayne be mylked on a smothe glasse / or a bryght knyfe / other elles on the nayle of one of her fyngers / and yf the mylke flewe and spredde abrode vpon it / by and by then is it a woman chylde but yf the droppe of mylke contynue and stande styll vppon that / the whiche it is mylked on / then is it sygne of a man chylde Item yf it be a male / then shall the woman with childe be well coloured / and lyghte in goynge / her belly rounde / bygger towarde the right syde then the lefte / for alwayes the man chylde lyeth in the ryghte syde / the woman in the lefte syde ¶ Of certayne remedyes and medycynes which shall cause the woman to conceaue ¶ Cap .v. ALl sterilite then for the moste parte ensueth and commeth of the dystemperancye of one of these .iiij. forenamed qualities / wherfore the remedye and cure of the same when it chaunseth / must be done by such thynges / the whiche haue contracye power operation to the excessyue qualities for by that shall it be reduced to his temperancye agayne ¶ As yf that coldenesse and moystenesse exceadynge temperancye in the matrice be occasion of sterilite / then muste she applie such thynges to that place / the whiche be of nature hote drye / the whiche maye calify and
warme the place / and alsoo drye vp the yll moystenes and humoures contayned in the same / hynderynge conception ¶ Wherfore take of sauyne / baytreleues / the flowres of camomell / melylote / maioraÌ„ / caprifolium / herba paralysis / cytron leues / and such other thynges of aromatycall and hote nature and sethe these in water to gether / and let the woman receaue the vapour and fume hereof vndernethe in to her bodye through some coÌ„duite or pype made for that purpose her clothes beynge close about her / that none of the vapour or ayre yssue oute / ouer this let her syt all a nyght / yf she may / receauyng euer the fume hereof in to her bodye / and in the mornynge let her accompany with her husbande / and she shall conceaue ¶ A bathe also for the same purpose when the tyme of her flowres aboute the ende of the laste quartar of the moone is almoste fynyshed let her bathe herself in a bathe / wher in is decocte soden caprifolium / malowes / frenche malowes / holyoke / rooses / iunyper beryes / parytarye / wylde myntes / bay leues / myrtylles / sauyne / camomell / pynpernell / myntes / maioram / cytron leues / basyll / penyryall / and suche other But before that she bathe her in this water / it shal be best for her to be purged and clensed from the colde humours with theodoricon / or with benedicta / or with the pylles which be called sinequibê° esse nolo / to be had at the apothecaryes / and then let her enter in to this foresayde bathe / and when she commeth forthe of the bathe agayne / then let her take of diamargariton / or of muscata / to the quaÌ„tite of a nutte / drynkynge it with good and odoriferous or well sinellynge wyne / other elles let her take of this electuarye folowynge / whiche is verye excellent for that purpose ¶ Take of spyke / nuttemegges / cloues / zedoarium / galyngale / longe peper / drye rosesstorax / alipta muscata / of eche of these lyke muche / then take of the roote of tormentyll as muche as of all the other forenamed thinges to gether / and beate all these to pouder / temperynge them with a sufficiente quaÌ„tite of clarifyed honye / to the whiche also adde a lyttell of pure muske Of this electuarium bothe euenynge and mornynge the space of ten dayes let the woman take to the mountenaunce of a nutte with good odoryferous wyne bathynge her selfe also euery daye the space of the sayde ten dayes at her comynge forthe of the bathe / receauyng of the foresaid electuarye / then also let her perfume her pryuities with the sauoure and fume of laudanum / frankencense / xiloaloes / storax / ambre / alipta / xilobalsamum / and suche other thinges And after this let her make a supposytarye annoynted with magna trifera / or esdra / with the pouder of olibanum / and the dyle of bays myxte and tempered to gether / and let her retayne this supposytarye in her pryuities all the day tyme the foresayd space of ten dayes / and then at the ten dayes ende the man and woman accompanynge together god wyllynge / she shal be conceaued / these be the remedyes yf the defecte lacke of conception come by reason of coldenesse and moystenesse ¶ But yf it come by distemperaunce of the matrice in hote and drye / fyrste lette the humour which is cause of it / be purged by conneniente medycynes / then euery nyght the space of ten dayes let her bathe herselfe in warme water / nothing elles beyng put vnto it / in this batthe let her remayne not long / and at her coÌ„minge forth geue her to drynke of trifera magna / with watered wyne / and after this receaue she the vapoure fume of the decoction of these herbes vnderneth into her priuy partes take violettes / beerefote / parytarye / and penyryall / sethe them in water and then conuaye in to the same place a supposytary of trifera magna with the pouder of olibanum ¶ Item a suppositarye whiche is wonderfull good in expellynge and dowyng awaye suche thynges whiche let conception take of siler montanum beaten to pouder .ij. dramÌ„s / of the renatte of an hare the .iiij. parte of a dramÌ„ / and temper these to gether with clarifyed honye and the oyle of bayes / annoynt here with a supposytarye / the whiche let the woman retayne in her secreates the space of a daye and a nyght ¶ IteÌ„ a supposytary made of hares dunge and hony tempered to gether / is verye excellent for the same purpose / but let the womaÌ„ abstayne from all maner of salte and sharpe meates / and vse to drynke good odoriferous and pleasaunt wynes alayd with water ¶ Also to drynke of the wyne in whiche is dissolued muske / or elles viscus quercinus / is good to helpe to conception / also the herte bone of an herte / and the scrapynge of yuery is very good for the same ¶ Item a supposytary for the same / which hathe ben many tymes well proued for that purpose Take garlycke pylled and clensed frome the huskes / and sethe it in the oyle of rooses / or elles the oyle of maioram vnto the tyme that it be dyssolued / and that all the moystenes be departed from it / then take it out of the oyle agayne / and stampe it / then wrappe it in wooll / and conuaye it supposytarywyse in to the pryuie partes / and there keape it the space of a daye this thynge is maruelous good for conception / and hathe ben well proued ¶ Dyuers other lettes of conception and remedyes for the same myght here haue ben declared / whiche for breuite and shortenesse we for this tyme do let passe / makynge here an ende of this treatyse / the whiche we haue composed and translated oute of Laten / to the honour of God / the vtilite and profette of all honeste matrones Deo gratias ¶ Imprynted at London / by T. R. Anno Domini M. CCCCC.XL