AN ANTIDOTE AGAINST MELANCHOLY OR A Treasury of 53. Rare Secrets Arts Discovered by an Expert Artist RICHARD AMYAS Licensed and Entred according to Order Tooth or Stump without pain London Printed for the Authour 1659. I Have often heard a Bowe still bent growes weak And too much Worldly Care the Heart doth break Pleasure with Profit any one can brook Which you may find both in this little Book And if it may but kind acceptance find These harmless Lines will recreate your Mind THE TABLE 1. A Most Excellent Receipt against Melancholy Comforts the Stomach openeth the Liver helps head-ache breeds good blood takes away faintness of the Heart Swoonings expells Melancholy prevents Madness makes a man merry and a chearful countenance and taken at night takes away all Fancies Melancholy Dreams 2. A most rare Powder to keep teeth from perishing to fasten loose teeth to restore the Gums wasted to keep teeth white or prevent tooth-ach and make a sweet breath It is the same I sell and use 3. For the Tooth-Ache 4. Tooth-ache of a hot Cause 5. A Remedy to take away Corns 6. Another absolutely for Corns 7. How to take away Warts 8. An easie way to take away Hair from any place without cutting 9. How to make Hair to grow 10. How to clear your feet from sweating 11. How to take spots of Oyl or Grease out of Cloaths 12. For to make a red Face fair and clear 13. For to make a most excellent â—all to take away the Spots Freckles Red-Pimples and heats out of the Face and Hands It also takes spots out of Linnen or Wollen It is the same I make sell Prob. 14. A good way to make your Hands faâ—r and smooth 15. A Receipt to make a Horse have a good hoof 16. How to make a Pouder that will make good Ink in an instant and holden between the Teeth will ease the Tooth ache 17. A Receipt how to write your name on a piece of Paper and to burn that piece of Paper the same letters to appear on the back of your hand 18. How to make Rats forsake a House 19. A Receipt to make Pigeon come to your Pigeon-house 20. A good powder to lay among cloaths to make them have a gallant scent 21. A Remedy for any that are troubled with Lice or Nits or Itch. 22. To make a Light that will continue always 23. How to roast a Capon carried in a Budget at a saddle bow in the space of riding 5 or 6 miles 24. A Receipt for a Cook with one spit and one fire to keep one Capon raw the second boil'd the third roasted 25. To make Pease leap out of the pot as if they were mad 26. A device to make a Chamber to appear full of Adders and Snakes 27. A notable way to catch Fleas in a trap 28. How to make one that he shall not sleep but tumble toss all night 29. How to make yellow Ink 30. How to make green Ink 31. An excellent Receipt for an ache or strain in Horse or Man 32. A good Drink for a Cough or Cold 33. To purge the Breast from Rheum 34. An approved Medicine for the biting of a mad Dog 35. A very good Ointment for Ache or Pain 36. A very good Plaister for an Ache Bruise or Strain 37. A Salve to heal a cut or broken Head 38. To make Fish drunk so that they will tumble to the side of the water so that you may take them if you be but nimble enough else not 39. How to catch Crows Kites Magpies Jackdaws alive with your hands 40. To make a blown Bladder dance and skip about the Room 41. To make a Penny-loaf tumble and skip up and down of it self 42. To make a Ring dance on a Table of it self 43. How to make an Apple to move on a Table of it self A fine secret 44. A fine Conceit to clear a Room of drunken or rude company 45. An excellent Receipt for clearing and preserving and also to cure the Pin Web or Pearl in the Eye 46. To clear the Eyes of Pin Web or Blood-shotten and to clear the Eyes 47. A fine Receipt to make Gentlewomens Faces fair smooth and youthfull 48. A speciall Receipt to make Hens lay Eggs all Winter long 49. A notable Receipt to make a Tell-tale or Gossip to trump about the house an hour or two shooting off the great Guns 50. A pretty Conceipt to fright the people of a house and make them believe there are Spirits walking in a Room 51. An excellent approved Rece to make a lean Horse fat quickly 52. For to make an admirable good Balsome for green Wounds Aches Bruses or Straynes 53. To make the Oyntment for Burnes and Scalds and for all inflamations coming of hot Causes An Antidote against Melancholy 1. A most Excellent Receipt against Melancholy Comforts the Stomach openeth the Liver helps head-ache breeds good blood takes away faintness of the Heart Swoonings expells Melancholy prevents Madness makes a man merry and a chearful countenance and taken at night takes away all Fancies and Melancholy Dreams R. Purging syrup of Apples 3. ounces Syrup of Bawme 2. ounces Syrup of Epithimum 2. ounces Syrup of Harts-Tongue 1. ounce Syrup of Rheubarb 1. ounce Venice-Treacle half an ounce Oyl of Nutrugs 1. dram Gold 8. grains borage-Borage-water 2. ounces beazer-Beazer-water 1. ounce Mix all together and take half a dram of Saffron and Seena and 2. or 3. grains of Amber-greece and lay it in a little clean linnen Cloath and let it lye in the bottom of the glasse and slop it close you may take a spoonfull at Night or more and 2. or 3. spoonfulls in the Morning in a glass of white-Wine warm and walk an hour after it 2. A most rare Powder to keep teeth from perishing to fasten loose teeth to restore the Gums wasted to keep teeth white or prevent tooth-ach and make a sweet breath It is the same I sell and use Take Pomistone 1. ounce red Coral half an ounce Mastich a quarter of an ounce Cortix Granitorum a quarter of an ounce Harts-horn burnt half an ounce Pearls a quarter of an ounce Cynamon half an ounce 6. Cloves Cuttle-bone half an ounce Benjamin a quarter of an ounce Crystal a dram Myrrhe a dram Amber-greece grains make this into fine powder and keep it close stopt in a box and when you use it wet a cloath in white Wine or Vinegar of Squills or in rose-Rose-water dip it into the powder and rub the teeth morning and evening and after meat wash your mouth with white Wine or Rofe-water after it or for lack of either Spring-water it preserves the teeth from perishing causeth a sweet breath hardens the Gums fastneth the teeth and keeps them alwayes white and sound Probatum 3. For the Tooth-Ache If the Tooth be hollow wet a little Cotton in the essence of Cloves or in the Oyl of Sulphur or Originum and put it into the hollow tooth it
easeth 4. Tooth-ache of a hot Cause Boyl the root of Henbane in white-Wine Vinegar bruise the root and hold it between the Teeth as hot as the party can suffer it and hold your head over the fume of it and keep your head warm it wonderfully easeth 5. A Remedy to take away Corns Take black Soap and Snail of each a like quantity stamp them together spread it on Leather and renew it every fourth day for a fortnight it cureth 6. Another absolutely for Corns Pare the Corn very near but fetch no bloud then drop a drop of Oyl of Sulphur upon the head of it then dress it with the Oyl of Balsom bind it close with a piece of thin Leather Dress it often till it be whole 7. How to take away Warts Take Orpiment Quick-Lime and Vinegar make a Plaister and lay it on the Wait but make a defensative about the Wart that it touch not the skin 8. An easie way to take away Hair from any place without cutting Take unslaked Lime sleep it in a little water then take two parts of the said Lime and one part of Opimentuâ— make them together in form of a Paste apply it to the place till it be somewhat dry then take it off and the Hair will come away with them very easily then wash the place with Rose water and anoint it with Oyl of Roses or Unguentum Album 9. How to make Hair to grow Take half a pound of Aqua-Mellis in the Spring time of the year warm a little of it every morning when you rise in a Sawcer and tye a little Spunge to a fine Box-comb and dip it in the said water and therewith moysten the Roots of your Hair in combing it it will grow thick and curled shortly 10. How to clear your feet from sweating Take Pin-dust and the Moss of an Oak dryed made into fine Powder of each like quantity a fourth part of Sanguis Dragonis a little burnt-Allum a little Bolarmoniack make it into Bals with the White of an Egg and Rose water and when you have occasion grate a little of it and strew it in the bottom of your Socks it dries the sweat up presently 'T is the same I sell for that purpose 11. How to take spots of Oyl or Grease out of Cloaths Take the bones of Sheeps-feet burn them almost to ashes and bruise them to Powder and put it upon your spots and lay all before the Sun when it shines hottest when the Powder becomes black lay on fresh in the place till it suck out the spots which is done in very short time 12. For to make a red Face fair and clear Distill the Spawn of Frogs in March in a common Still wash the Face often with the water it cureth the same 13. For to make a most excellent Ball to take away the Spots Freckles Red-Pimples and heats out of the Face and Hands It ' also takes spots out of Linnen or Woollen It is the same I make sell Prob. Take a pound of Castle-soap scrape it thin Camphire 3 Ounces 4 Ounces of Fullers-Earth Bitter-Almonds 2 Ounces clean pilled and beaten 6 yolks of Eggs balf an ounce of Mercury-water the juyce of a Lemmon or two Damask-Rosewater as much as sufficeth work it well into Paste and roul it up recording to Art and put them to dry in the shade 14. A good way to make your Hands fair and smooth Steep bitter-Almonds a Night in Rosewater and Vineger and peel them and heat them very well in a Morter with 3 or 4 yolks of Egs use this Paste to wash your face and hands often it will make your skin smooth and fair Also to wear Dogs-Leather Gloves fine and thin rubbed well before a fire with some sweet Oyls as Oyl of Herodium Oyl of Roses Oyl of Almonds is very good to keep your hands white and smooth 15. A Receipt to make a Horse have a good hoof Take Cow-dung Dogs-grease and Chimay-foot mingle them and beat them anoint bind them on to the Horse hoof and stop the Foot with the same cold it will both cause the Hoof to grow and also make it tough 16. How to make a Pouder that will make good Ink in an instant and holden between the Teeth will ease the Tooth-ache Take Galls and Copporas as much of one as the other beat it into Powder put into water and on the suddain it will be very good Ink Likewise if you strew of the same Pouder upon the white Paper and write thereon with fair water the Letters will appear presently black 17. A Receipt how to write your name on a piece of Paper and to burn that piece of Paper the same letters to appear on the back of your hand To do this first write the Name on a small piece of Paper then privately write the same Letters on the back of your hand with a Pen-ful of your own Urine which none can perceive then burn that Paper and as it is almost burnt clap it upon the back of your hand and rub it there will strangely appear the same letters on the back of your hand with admiration to the Beholders 18. How to make Rats forsake a House Burn Assafettida in the Roof of the House often and the Rats will forsake and fly from the House in a short time 19. A Receipt to make Pigeons come to your Pigeon house Roast a salt Bitch her belly being stuffed with Cummin-seed Bay-salt Assafettida put in a Pan in your Pigeon-house 20. A good Pouder to lay amongst Cloaths to make them have a gallant scent Take an handful of dryed Roses an Ounce of Cypress an Ounce of Beng-wine and Storax Cinamon and Cloves an Ounce Lignum Aloes half an Ounce Lignum Rodium half an Ounce Flowers of Lavender half an Ounce Musk three grains Sivet two grains 21. A Remedy for any that are troubled with Lice or Nits or Itch. Take Lawrel Oyl or Oyl De-bay an Ounce half an Ounce of Quick-silver well killed mix it together and anoint where the Vermin is and you shall be suddainly cleared from all such things 22. To make a Light that will continue always Take the Liquor of Glow-worms mix it with a quarter of the quantity of quick-silver and put it into a Viâ—l hang it up in the Room and you may see all night long by the light 23. How to roast a Capon carried in a Budget at a saddle bow in the space of riding 5 or 6 miles Having made it ready and larded it stuff it with butter then heat a piece of steel which may be formed round according to the length of a Capon and big enoâ—gh to fill the belly of it then step it with butter and wrap it up well and enclose it in a budget and you shall have your desire I have heard that Count Manâ—field was served most times with such made ready in this manner for that it loseth none of its substance and is dressed very
neatly 24. A Receipt for a Cook with one spit and one fire to keep one Capon raw the second boil'd the third roasted Provide a long Spit and put thereon 3. Capons or 3. Fowls then make a long fire and lay them thereto and let one turn the Spit then on that you would keep raw put continually cold waters and on that which you would boyl pour scalding water and that you would roast baste it with butter and so bread it 25. To make Pease leap out of the pot as if they were mad Put a Quill or two of Quick-Silver into the pot and all the Pease shall leap out of the pot 26. A device to make a Chamber to appear full of Addors and Snakes Kill a dozen Adders and Snakes and take the oyl of them and mix it with wax and make a Candle light it in a Chamber where rushes are and the rushes will appear to be Adders and Snakes about the Room 27. A notable way to catch Fleas in a trap Take a piece of Tin made like a dripping-pan the length and bigness of a small trencher then put over it 5 or 6 small wires made fast to the Tin bowed like the hoops over a waggon then fill the Tin with Venice Turpentine mixt with a little honey then put this Trap in the Bed in the morning when you rise between the sheets and there you shall find the Fleas stick in the Turpentine as thick as Wasps in a Honey-pot 28. How to make one that he shall not sleep but tumble toss all night Pound Roch-Allome very small and cast it into the Bed or else take a little Cowitch and rub the Coller of the shirt Or cut Horse-hair very short cast it into the Bed white hairs will not be seen 29. How to make yellow Ink Take Saffron and Argil and temper it with Gum-water and it will appear perfect yellow 30. How to make green Ink Take Verdigrease and Argile grind them together on a Marble stone with a Moldor temper it together with Gum-water and it will be a perfect green 31. An excellent Receipt for an ache or strain in Horse or Man Take a Bullocks Gall black Soap Aqua-vitae oyl of Spike boyl it together and rub it in warm Probatum 32. A good Drink for a Cough or Cold Take a quart of Ale and put thereto a good sprig of Rosemary another of Hyssop a little Liquorice and whole Ginger boyl it and put to it half a quarter of Sugar as much butter as an egg and brew it together and let the party drink thereof going to bed-ward and keep warm 33. To purge the Breast from Rheum Take Hyssop Figs and Honey boyl them in white-Wine from a pottle to a quart Drink it in the Evening hot in the Morning cold 34. An approved Medicine for the biting of a mad Dog Take Garlick Salt and Rue stamp it together and in manner of a Plaister lay it to the Sore Give the Party the Powder of Crabs claws mixt with Treacle in manner of Pills often wash the Wound with Plantain water and the Powder 35. A very good Ointment for Ache or Pain Take Rosa-Solis Sallet-Oyl and Neats-foot-Oyl a little Oyl of Spike boyl it 36. A very good Plaister for an Ache Bruise or Strain Take an ounce of Oxycrotia half an ounce of Burgandy-pitch half an ounce of stone-pitch a dram of Galbanum a quarter of an ounce of Deer-suet a quarter of an ounce of Wax a dram of Euforbium half an ounce of Neats-font Oyl melt it gently together and make a Sear cloath 37. A Salve to heal a cut or broken Head Take a handfull of Valerian a handfull of Plantain a handfull of Mouse-ear a handfull of Comfry a handful of Hyssop a handful of Bettony and Clowns Ale-heal stamp it small boyl it in a pint of Oyl and strain it and adde to it Frankincense Deer-suet and Turpentine Bees-Wax and Colophony 1. ounce make it up according to art it cures almost any green wound Prob. 38. To make Fish drunk so that they will tumble to the side of the water so that you may take them if you be but nimble enough else not Take Occulus Inde make it into paste with Wheat slower Suet Honey and the juyce of Henbane a little red-lead to colour it throw it into the water and as many as take it tumble up so you may have dainty sport 39. How to catch Crows Kites Magpies Jackdaws alive with your hands Take a piece of raw-flesh or Liver make it in small pieces that they may swallow it then take the Powder of Nux Vomica make holes in the flesh put in the same and lay it where they haunt and presently after they have eaten of it they will take to a Tree as soon as they can suddenly totter and fall down where you may with your hands easily take them but they will quickly recover again 40. To make a blown Bladder dance and skip about the Room Take Quick-silver in a Bladder and lay the Bladder in a hot place and it will afterwards skip from place to place 41. To make a Penny-loaf tumble and skip up and down of it self Take a Quill of Quicksilver and put into a very hot loaf and it will tumble and skip about the Table of itself 42. To make a Ring dance on a Table of it self Fill a hollow Ring with Quick-silver and heat it in the fire and throw it on a Table and it will dance and skip about the Table without touching 43. How to make an Apple to move on a Table of it self A fine secret Cut an Apple in the midst and in the one half make a round hole putting therein a black Beetle and so lay the half on the table and it will move about the table 44. A fine Conceit to clear a Room of drunken or rude company Take a Chafingdish of clear Charcoals or live Wood-coals throw Giney Pepper on it and put it under the table and they will both cough sneez fart and spew if they have drunk hard You may do the like with Assa-foetida and Euforbium The same put into a hollow Tooth easeth the pain 45. An excellent Receipt for clearing and preserving and also to cure the Pin Web or Pearl in the Eye Take the Juyce of Rue the juyce of Pearl-wort the juyce of Eye-bright the juyce of Fenel and drink this first in the morning and last at night it cleareth the fight mightily 46. To clear the Eyes of Pin Web or Blood-shotten and to clear the Eyes Take the Gaul of a Cock and the Gaul of a Hare a little clarified or Maiden-honey 3 or 4 drops of the juyce Sullendine Dasies and Housleck mix as much white Sugar-candy as a great Pease white Copâ—as as much and Allom as much in fine Powder mix these with a spoonfull of white Rose-water put it into the Eyes with a feather it cureth the Pin and Web Pearl or Inflammation in the Eyes and mightily cleareth the sight