eache halfe an ounce let all these 〈◊〉 beaten to a fine powder and searsed and then incorporate the whole with liquide Storax adding therevnto of Muske â—nd Amber of each a dramme of Ciuet two drammes make â—â—aste hereof with the infection of Gumme Tragacents in â—ose water â— prettie preseruatiue to be carried in a mans mouth during the time of infection which procureth a sauoury and sweete breath TAke of fine Sugar one ounce of Orace halfe an ounce of the shell of an Egge the inward skin being taken away halfe an ounce put the shell of the Egge into Muske Rose water till it be mollified for the space of eight dayes beat 〈◊〉 these to a fine powder and with Rose water wherin Gum Tracagant hath bene infused make prettie Pellets according so what bignesse you please These are very wholesome and make the breath swéete and comfort the heart inwardly and are of a temperat qualitie which you may kéep in your mouth some thrée houres An admirable and excellent defensatiue in forme of an oyntment to defend the heart in time of infection profitable both for the healthy and diseased and of admirable effects TAke of the best Treacle you can get or in stead thereof Methridate but Treacle is the better take I say two ounces The iuice of sixe Limons mixed together and put them into a litle glassed pipkin and let them boyle therein till halfe the iuice be consumed Then suffer it to coole and afterwards take two drams of beaten Saffron of Caroline and white Diptamy of each two drammes incorporate all these things together after they are well pounded and bring them to the forme of an ointment wherwith euery day annoint the region of the heart vnder the left pappe making a circle with the same round about the pap Afterward take an ounce of Christaline pure Arsenick and wrap it in Gossapine Cotton and red Taffata after the forme of a litle bag carry the same about you being bounde vnderneath or hard vpon your left pap by this meanes each man may be assured that he shall not be infected if so be he vse those interior remedies which I shal set downe and haue heretofore declared for the good of my Country An other excellent preseruatiue against the Plague TAke of the leaues of Mary-golds which the Latines call Calendula of Uerveine Scabious and Sorrell of each a handfull of the rootes of Gentian Zedoary and white Diptamy of each two drams boyle them all together for two houres space in good and pure fountain-fountaine-water from the value of a quart to a pinte adde thervnto the iuice of sixe Limons and as much Sugar as shal be sufficient make a sirope hereof and aromatise it with Cinamom and take thereof euery morning foure or fiue spoonefulls A singular water both for the healthy and diseased in the time of the sicknesse whereof they may take an ounce euery morning with much comfort TAke Ualerian Carline Zedoary good Mirrhe Bole Armenus Gentian of round Birtwoort of Aristolochia of Calamus Aromaticus of white Diptamy Imperatoria of each one ounce and a halfe of fiue Aloes two drams of Saffron a scruple beate all these to a fine powder and afterwards stéepe them in fiue pintes of excellently wel râ—ctified spirit of Wine and let them inâ—use therein sixe houres and sée the body wherein you put them be well luted After the sixe houres be past adde thervnto fiue pintes of good Malmessie and straine the same or rather you may leaue the simples in the bottome and dreine it clearly and gently Of this water euery morning fasting take two or thrée spoonefulls for it is an excellent and well approued remedy Excellent Pilles against the Plague TAke of Aloes one ounce of Mirrh and Saffron of each thrée drammes of Bole Armenus Terra Sigillata Zodoarie white Diptamus the rootes of Tormentil of each a dramme make Pilles of these being all of them well poudered and mixed with the iuice of Mary-goldes or redde Coleworts of which euery day take one and once euery moneth a dramme An excellent and approued remedie allowed by diuers learned mens experience TAke the rootes of Tormentil and of white Diptamus the rootes of Ualerian and white Daises and if it be possible to get them gréene it shal be the better Take these aboue named rootes as much of the one as of the other pound them and make a fine pouder of them Then take the decoction of Sorrel and let the aboue named pouder be infused in the same then let it be taken out and dried in the Sunne Afterwards beate it to pouder againe and infuse it anew and afterwards dry it in the Sunne as before which when you haue done thrée or foure times reserue the same pouder clearly in some conuenient vessell and when as any one feeleth himselfe strooken with the Plague giue him presently halfe an ounce of this pouder in Rose water or Scabious water or in nine houres after he shall séele himselfe infected This remedy in diuers persons and very oftentimes hath bene experimented and hath wrought wonderfull effects if it were giuen within the time prescribed A singular and secret Remedie the which I receiued from a worthy man of Venice admirable for his learning in all Sciences who of curtesie imparted the same vnto me with protestation that he had seene wonderfull effects of the same TAke of the Rootes of Tormentil and white Diptamy as much of the one as of the other of Bole Armenus washt in Rose water the quantitie of a great Chestnut of orientall Pearles one dramme of the sharings of Iuory one dramme and a halfe beate all these into a fine powder and incorporate them with conserue of Roses in a marble Morter reserue this confection in a vessell of glasse well couered Take hereof the quantitie of a great Nut in the Morning and drinke a spoonefull of the Iuice of Mary-golds or Lemons with Sugar after it The Gentleman that gaue me this assured mée that hée had giuen it to many in the time of the great Plague in Venice who though continually conuersant in the houses of those that were infected receiued no infection or preiudice by them A Remedie worthy the vse and noting An Opiate against the Plague extracted partly out of Galen partly out of Dioscorides and others of excellent effect TAke twentie common Nuttes of dried Figges to the number of 15. and of Rue and Scabious of each twentie leaues Of the rootes of both sorts of Aristolochia the round and long of each halfe an ounce of Tormentil white Diptamy Pimpernell Bay Berries Borage flowers the Kinde of the roote of Capres of each two drammes a halfe of Galingale Harts horne Mace and Mirrhe of eache two drammes of Bole Armenus Terra Sigillata common Salt of each two scruples beat all these to fine pouder and incorporate them with two pound of pure clarified Hony and make an Opiate therof wherof in the morning take the quantitie of a Nut
stench corruption putrifaction and euill qualitie For which cause it is necessary to make good fumes in our houses of swéet and wholesome wood as Rosemarie Iuniper and Lawrell or Bayes and to perfume the whole house and chambers with the fume of Rosemary Iuniper the parings of Apples Storax Beniamin Incence dried Roses Lauender and such like both Euening and Morning It is not amisse likewise at euery corner of the stréet at least twise in the wéek to make cleare and quicke Bonefires to consume the malignant vapours of the ayre according as Acron the great Phisitian commaunded to be done during the mortall plague in Greece As Paulus Aegineta testifieth in his second Booke Chap. 35. It is good also to weare swéet sauors and perfumes about vs such as in Winter time are Marcorame Rosemarie Storax Beniamin or to make a Pomander after this sort that ensueth and to weare it about vs to smell too vpon all opertunities Take of the flowers of red Roses of Violets of Buglos of each halfe a little handfull of the thrée Sanders of each a Dramme of the rootes of Angelica Gentian and Zedoary of each foure scruples of white Encens Cloues Nutmegs Calamus Aromaticus of each a dram of Storax Calumit and red Beniamin of each a dramme and a halfe of orientall Muske a scruple of Amber-greece halfe a scruple of Ladaum infused in rose-Rose-water one ounce mixe all these together in rose-Rose-water where in the Gum Dragacanth hath béene infused and with a little of Rose-vinegar make a paste of which you may forme certaine rounde Pomanders to weare about your necke and smell vnto continually Or take of rose-Rose-water thrée ounces of white Vinegar of Roses ij ounces of white Wine or pure Malmosie two spoonfuls of the powder of Cloues of the roote of Angelica and Storax of each halfe a dramme mixe them all together and with this liquor it shall not be amisse to wash your hands bedeaw your forehead nostrils and the pulces of your armes for such an odour and of so wholesome a qualitie vehemently repulceth the venome that assaileth the heart and altereth the pestilence of the ayre It shall not be amisse likewise to carrie an Angelica roote in your mouth or a Gentian or Zedoary roote or else the rine of an Orange Lemon or Pomecitron which as Auicen testifieth haue soueraine effects in this case The continual vses of these good odors comforteth the heart and vitall spirites driueth away all venemous vapours and rectifieth the ayre that whirleth about vs as Auicen testifieth in his Booke Of the Forces of the Heart For which cause they which desire the continuance of their health ought neuer to be vnprouided of these things Amongst all other medicines that haue the propertie to comfort and reioyce the heart the Easterne Hyacinth béeing worne about the brest and next vnto the naked skin or else held in the mouth is very effectuall as Auicen testifieth in his Booke Of the Forces of the Heart in that Chapter wherein hée entreateth of the Hyacinth where hée saith that the sayd Stone hath not only a propertie to fortifie the heart and quicken the vitall spirites but also to resist all venomes For which I aduise all such as haue both meanes and maintenance to get such a iewel to carrie the same either in their mouthes or continually about their neckes neare vnto the region of their hearts by reason of that excellent propertie which all Authors by vniforme consent attribute vnto the same CHAP. V. The meanes and preseruatiues which are to be ministred inwardly against the Plague GAlen in his first booke of the differences of Feuers and in that Chapter wherein he intreateth of the pestilent Feuer saith That to preserue the body from infection it shall be very necessarie to clense and purifie the same from al corruptions and superfluities by sit purgations and to take away these oppilations and stoppings which are the meanes that naturall heat cannot bee dispersed to dry the body from humidities and to maintaine such bodyes as are drie in their Estates In imitation of whose opinion and direction it shall be good to euacuat and expell those superfluities of humours which abound according to there natures age complexion vertue quantitie and qualitie who are forced with the same superfluous humours It is therefore note worthy in suspected and dangerous times that no accustomed euacuations either by fluxe of Hemeroides or of the belly old vlcers menstruall blood itches or such like should be restrained For those purgations which are of this kinde doo clense the vnnecessary humours and by this meanes maketh the body healthfull whereas such humours being either repressed by astringent medecines or such like ointments might greatly hurt the principall members and produce strange sicknesses in the same And for this cause Galen and Hipocrates write That it is a good signe when as any defluxion is expelled from the inward and principall parts of the body where contrariwise if the same be transported from the outward to the inward parts it is a most euil and sinister signe For which cause in the Plague time it is the surest way rather to suffer those superfluities to haue their course then to stop or stay them by any medecine because by the voydance thereof the body is purged from the same superfluities which being retained might wonderful annoy it Which counsaile of theirs may serue for an aduertisement to all those that shall be so disposed and affected in the time of the Plague It behooueth therefore such as be Sanguine full in loue and youthfull in yeares to be let blood after a competent manner thereby to diminish their replexion and aboundance of blood Those that are chollerique ought to be purged with an infusion of Rubarb if they be wealthy and if poore with the Electuary of the iuice or Roses by taking thrée Drammes or halfe an ounce thereof in Sorrell Endiue or Purslane water or else by Diacatholium Diaprunis Laxatiue the sirope of Roses Cassia or the pilles of Rubarb Femetorie or those that for their gentle working are called by the Phisitians Aureae The Flegmatique ought to be purged with Agaric Diaphenicon Diacarthami the pils Aggregatine Cochiae according to the strength of their bodyes the qualitie of the humor which are offensiue at the discreton of the learned experienced Phisitians by whose directions and prescriptions such medecines are to be ministred not according to the custome of this time by foolish Idiotes and ignorant Emperiques Such as are melancholy should be purged with the infusion of Sena and Epithemum with a little Anice seede and Diacathelicon with the Confection Hamech Diasene Solutiue the pilles of Femitory and Aureae I forbeare to call the pils De lape Armeno and Lasuli into vse because they are too violent and scarcely well prepared Such as are weake and delicate persons As woman with childe children and aged people it shall suffice to purge them with an ounce of
Cassia extracted with halfe or a whole dramme of Rubarb or two ounces of Manna or thrée ounces of sirope of Roses or with the sirope of Sucery with Rubarb but with this Prouiso alwayes that the direction be taken from a learned and diligent Phisitian and not according to the fancie of foolish chare women and ignorant practizers To those litle children that are subiect to the wormes you shal giue this pouder in the Plague time which is both fit to correct the one and expell the other the vse thereof is in Purslane or Sorrel water with one ounce of sirope of Limons Take Worme-seed Citron or Pomecitron-seed of the séeds of Sorrell and Purslane of each halfe a dram of the hearbe called Scordion one scruple of Rubarb a dram of bole Armenus one scruple make a small powder of all these whereof in the aforesaid waters giue halfe a dram or a scruple to the child acording to former direction CHAP. VI. A Rule and direction whereby by Potions Pils Powders Opiates and Losenges which are most fit apt and conuenient to preserue the body from Contagion the Plague may be preuented THe Diuine prouidence of God being carefull for his creatures and the preseruation of mankind hath produced many remedies to represse and preuent the daungerous insultes and assaults of the Plague or any other venemous contagion whatsoeuer which remedies our ancient Phisitians haue called Antidotes that is to say certaine medecines which in their nature and hidden property inclosed in them are contrary vnto them as Galen in ij books of Antidotes hath learnedly declared Of these remedies I wil set down some and those the most effectuall in this Chapter as well for the rich as for the poore whose miserie and distresse we ought more inwardly to releiue then the rest partly because God hath especially enioyned vs no lesse partly because they of theÌ„selues haue no meanes to succour themselues for which cause we are in charitie bound to relieue theÌ„ as herafter shal be proued And of these remedies we ought to vse some change to the ende that nature making vse of one of them do â—ot dispise the vertue thereof as Galen writeth in his fift booke de Sanitate Tuenda The body therefore being first of all well purged it is good to make vse of Guidos Electuarie Theriacal especiall in Winter or Autumne namely in those who are of a colde and moyst complection especially where it may euery waies be commodiously applyed The Apothecaries either haue or may conueniently haue the Species therof ready prepared of which a man may take a draÌ„ at once in Buglos or Sorrel-water or in good White wine or in the winter time with Claret wine This powder is very effectuall in this case if it be wel and faithfully dispensed neither is the price ouer valued for the poore of this powder may you make vse two or thrée dayes either with some fit water or else in the forme of Losings This powder also which ensueth is a very singular remedie which in stead of the former and in way of chaunge you may vse for two or three dayes space Take the rootes of Tormentill the rootes of Zedoary and Angelica of each a Dramme Fine Cinamon yellow Sanders of the séedes of Citrons and Sorrell of each a Dramme and a halfe of the shauings of Iuorie of Cardus benedictus the rindes of Citron of each foure scruples of bole Armenus prepared two Drammes of fine Sugar as much as shall suffice make thereof a a very fine powder of which those that are strong and in yeares may take a dram the yonger sort half a dram in Scabious water and Sorrell water or in three good spoonefuls of good White wine Galen in his second booke of Antidotes setteth downe this singular remedie for the poore which was made and composed by Apollonius Take twentie leaues of Rew two common Nuttes two dried and fatte Figges a little Salt mixe all together and take euery Morning a morsell and drinke a little pure White wine after If any one fasting taketh this medecine no venome may hurt him that day as Galen according to Appolonius opinion testifieth in the place afore alleaged There is an other easie and excellent medecine which followeth the which King Nicomedes vsed against all venome and poyson Take of Iuniper berryes two Drams of Terra Sigillata as much make hereof a powder incorporate the same with good Honie and reduce it to the forme of an Opiate of which a man may take a bole or bit to the valew of ij drams for the rich for the poore in stead of Terra Sigillata you may vse as much bole Armenus prepared This remedy is set down by Galen in the foresaid place is of great efficacy The Electuary de bolo Armeno also is commonly vsed hath no vnpleasant taste therwith The Pilles of Rufus also are an excellent preseruatiue against the Plague which are made after this manner following Take Aloes and Armoniack of each two drammes and make a composition thereof with white Wine and vse the same for they are of Paulus Aeginetas description but if you wil more properly dispence the same leaue out the Armoniac and in stead thereof put therto a litle Saffron according to the forme which ensueth and you shall make a most excellent medicine to this effect Take of Aloes washed in Rose water one ounce of Mirrh and Saffron of each two drammes of Bole Armenus two drammes make Pilles thereof with white Wine or the iuice of Limons in Sommer Of this composition you may forme fiue Pilles for a dramme and take them euery morning An other preseruatiue and very profitable for the poore is this that followeth Take one or two handfuls of Sorrell stéepe them in a Uioll in good Rose-Wine Uinegar and kéepe it close stopped and in the morning when you rise take thrée of foure leaues of the Sorrell thus stéeped and eate the same for it is a profitable medicine the reason is because Sorrell by his vertue represseth the heate of the blood and resisteth against all putrifaction And if you drinke a spoonefull or two of the saide Uineger in the morning Or stéepe a toste of white bread in the same and ouerspread it with Sugar it is both comfortable and wholesome at all times Some there are that vse the leaues of Rew after the same sort but this memedicine is not allowable but in the cold time of the yeare and in such bodies as are cold and phlegmatique by reason of the heate thereof Iuniper berries also being stéeped in Rose Uineger and taken in the morning as wonderfully profitable to that efâ—â—ct These remedies which ensue are very excellent and appropriate for the Plague A Pomander of excellent sent and sauour good against Pestilent aires TAke pure and swéete Ladanum Beniamin Storax Calamite of the Trocisques of Gallia Moscata of Cloues Mace Spikenard the wood of Aloes the thrée Saunâ—â—rs the rootes of Orace of
and drinke thereafter a litle white Rose Uinegre and Rose water and you shall find this medicine very effectuall A perfume for to aire the Chamber of him that is infected correcting the venemous aire TAke blacke Pitch Rosin white Frankincence of each sixe ounces of Mirrhe foure ounces of the wood of Aloes halfe a dramme of Storax and Beniamin of eache a dramme of Iuniper berries and the leaues of Rosemary of each two drammes make a grosse powder of these and in a Chafingdish and coales cast of the same perfume the Chamber A powder of great vertue against the Plague which was sent by Philip King of Spaine to Charles the ninth King of France in the yeare 1564. when as almost the whole kingdome of France was infected with the Plague TAke chosen and perfect Mirrhe the wood of Aloes Terra Sigillata of Bole of Armenia prepared of Mace Cloues and Saffron of each an ounce beat them to a fine powder of which you may take a dramme in Rose water or the iuice of Limons in sommer and in winter with good wine This powder was sent to the King and Quéenes Maiestie for a soueraine remedy Valleriola in his third booke of his Phisicall obseruations the first Enarration setteth downe a composition to this effect taken out of the best Authors in Phisicke especially out of Galen Paulus Aegineta Diascorides and Auicen according to this forme following Take of the best Bole of Armenia one ounce of perfect Cinamom halfe an ounce of the rootes of the hearbe called in Latin and Gréeke Pentaphillon or else Tormentil of each halfe an ounce of the roote of Gentian thrée drammes of the rootes of both the sorts of Aristolochia the round and long of the rootes of Florentine Lillies of each two drammes of the rootes of Enula Campana thrée drammes of the dried rinde of Oranges or Pomecytrons which is farre better and more effectual thrée drammes of Pomecytron séeds or in stead therof Orange or Limon of Tornep séede and Sorrel séede of each two drammes Of Iuniper berries Cloues Mace Nutmegs Zedoary and Angelica of each two drammes of the leaues of Rosemary Sage Rew Bittony and Chama Pilis of each a dramme of Bay-berries Saffron Masticke Frankinsence the shauings of Iuory orient Pearles white red and yealow Saunders of each a dramme of the flowers of red Roses of Uiolets of water Lillies and Buglosse of each two drammes let all these be beaten to a fine powder and with clarified Hony or the iuice of Limons make an Opiate thereof The dose of the powder to those that are in health is a dramme for preseruation and in those that are sick two drammes with Scabious or Rose water in sommer and with good wine in winter and if a man desire to haue it in an Opiate he may well take halfe an ounce A soueraine and excellent Remedie taken out of Alexis TAke Iuie berries of the oake in their full maturitie gathered if it be possible in such places as are Northward dry them in the shadow and afterwards kéepe them in a boxe or leather Sachell and reserue them for an especiall Remedy and when you would make vse thereof you shall giue of this pouder to those that are infected to the value of a dram as much as will couer a French Crowne mixe this powder with good white wine and let the Patient drinke thereof and couer him wel in his bed that he may sweat so long as he may endure and afterwards cause him to change his shirt shéetes and bed if it be possible And by experience it will profite for proofe wherof the Author produceth maruellous effects of this medicine especially of a Millanors being at Allep in Siria who witnesseth that he tooke this medicine and that sodainly the Carbuncle or Botch brake And this was in the yeare 1523. The Almaines and Flemmings in the time of the Plague vse this Remedie that ensueth TAke one part of Aqua Uita of the best thrée partes of Malmesie or other pure wine of Iuniper Berries halfe a handfull or of common Nuttes thrée or foure these doo they stéepe in the abouesaid Liquor thrée houres and afterwards eate them morning and euening This Remedie in old folkes in the winter time is not to be misliked Treacle and Methridate are excellent remedies in the Plague time if you take a dramme in sommer time in Rose water or Sorrell water and in winter with good Wine But those that take the same ought to abstaine from meate for the space of sixe houres after and to suppe little or nothing at all the day before for otherwise the saide medicines takes no effect See here the most soueraigne and exquisite remedies that may be found to preserue those that are in health as well the rich as the poore in this contagious time which interchangeably vpon all opportunities a man may vse But aboue all things it is behoueful to kéepe a good diet order euery waies and to sée the body be soluble for that it is one of the most principall points to preserue continue the body in health But amōgst those things that are most necessary requisit towards the continuance and preseruation of health and auoydance of contagion nothing is more to be respected then sobrietie and an orderly course of life for continence is the mother fostresse of all good disposition in mans body by reason that by sobrietie the health is confirmed and continued in his estate the humors are well tempered and naturall heate fortified the naturall passages of the body entertained in their due harmony the operations of nature euery one in themselues well and duly accomplished and by these reasons sobrietie is the foundation to warrantise the body from all euils as contrariwise intemperance is the source and and originall of all mishap and fatall infirmitie All which is confirmed by Hypocrates and Galen in the second booke Of the Aphorismes Aphorisme 17. and Hipocrates himselfe in the sixt of his Epidemies where he saith That the chiefest care that is to be had for to continue health consisteth principally in this to liue soberly to vse conuenient exercise and not to gorge a mans self with surfets The like also is confirmed by Galen and Plutarch in their writings and Bookes De Sanitate Tuenda wherein the error folly of the common sort appeareth most manifestly who dare in the time of infection and pestilence to ouercharge themselues with wine and fill their stomackes in the morning before they goe out of doores thinking by this time to coniure the time according to their lewd discourse and abate the euill vapour of the ayre whereas in effect they effect nothing but the contrarie For wine being taken fasting maketh the body more apt to conceiue infection through the heate thereof and the piercing qualitie and opening it causeth in the parts vessels of the body namely the vaines and arteries making thē by these meanes more capable to receiue the euill
sicke in time of visitation This water that enseweth is likewise of great vertue and allowed by many experiences TAke two pound of the iuyce of limons of rose vineger as much of Bole Armenus prepared two ounces of the dried rinde of orenges one ounce infuse them a day naturall or xxiiii houres in the saide vineger and afterwardes distill them in Balneo Mariae giue of this water foure ounces with sirrope of limons or sirrope of sowre grapes for it is an excellent medicine as Fracastorius in his third Booke de morbis Contagiosis chap. 7. whose name I héere set downe to the end I may no waies seeme to defraude any one of the praise due vnto them or challenge to my selfe other mens inuentions Hitherto haue we sufficiently spoken of those medicines which are to bée taken inwardly it remaineth that we speake of those that are to be applied outwardly But before that I intreate of them I will describe in this place a confection or restoratiue to be ministred vnto him that is infected with the plague Take conserue of roses conserue of water lillies conserues of sowre grapes and buglosse of each an ounce of pouldered pearles one drachme of Bole Armenus prepared foure scruples of fine suger as much as sufficeth reduce all these into the forme of a Conduite with leaues of golde for the rich As for the poore it shall suffice to giue them the foresaide conserues with a little of the poulder of Bole Armenus or Triasantali or the séeds of sowre grapes or citrons or the barke thereof It is good also to giue them oft times a tablet of losenge of Diamargariton when they haue the fainting of the heart with a little buglosse water or white wine and if they fall into soundings giue them confection Alchermes after the same maner for it is a miraculous medcine in strengthening the heart and reuiuing the spirites And in this case it is good to restore them with good broaths wine caudles and egges as wée haue héeretofore aduised Manus Christi perlata also is good in this case and pleasant to the eater which you may giue in brothes in buglosse water or in the forme of a tablet To comfort the heart outwardly vse this Epitheme that followeth For the rich take rose water sorrell water buglosse and balme water of each foure ounces of good white wine or malmsey thrée ounces of the powlder of Diamargariton and de Gemmis of each one drachme of powlder of scarlet which we call vermilion of cloues of each halfe a drachme of powlder of zedoary and Bole Armenus of ech a scruple of the trochisques of camphre halfe a scruple make an Epitheme for the heart the which you shall apply with a péece of fine scarlet vppon the region of the heart morning and euening For the poore it sufficeth to make an Epitheme of sowre grape-water or sorrel water of balme-water and rose water with alittle white wine and the powlder of sanders and alittle powlder of Iuniper-berries Instéed of the said Epithemes you may make certaine bagges of silke for the hart after this fashion Take dryed red roses flowers of violets water-lilies and buglosse of each a little handful of rosemary flowers as much of the powlder of scarlet cloues sāders the powlder of Diamargariton of each a drachme of Citron séede Bole Armenus of each foure scruples of muske and amber of each fiue graines beate all these to powlder and baste them with cotton in red taffatie and make a bag thereof which you may easily besprinckle with rose water and a little white wine and apply to the hart An Epitheme for the liuer TAKE of the distilled water of endiue succory sorrel rose and wormewood water of each thrée ounces of good white rose wine vineger thrée siluer spoonfuls of the powlder of sanders one drachme of the séeds of sower grapes two scruples of spicknard a scruple make an Epitheme hereof for the poore and for the rich you may adde powlder of Diamargariton pearles corall and Zedoary of each halfe a drachme Mathiolus of Siena a notable Phision of our age principally in matter of simples in his sixt booke of his Commentaries vpon Dioscorides writing vpon the preface sets down an excellent ointment of great virtu to withstand the operation of venim in those that are sicke of the plague the description whereof is long and difficult to be made and serueth but for Princes and great Lords in that it is very chargeable Therefore to auoyde prolixitie we haue thought good to referre the Reader to that place if he thinke good to cause it to be dispensed The name thereof is the oile of scorpions which in trueth is of maruelous vertue to expel poison and venime as by the maruellous composition and art in making that oile may be séene But instead thereof we will set downe an other oyle of scorpions of a more easie composition set downe by Alexander Benedictus in the xx chapter of his booke of the plague the description whereof hereafter ensueth Take of oile oliue the oldest that may be gotten one pound then take thréescore liue scorpions and put them in a violl of glasse in the said oyle and boyle them ouer a soft fire nine houres or set the said oyle in our Ladies baine and when they haue thus boyled in the oyle thou shalt adde vnto them of treacle two ounces and let it boyle in the said oyle a quarter of an houre then straine all of it and kéepe the said oyle in a violl well closed and stopped with waxe and parchment and with it annoynt the sicke vnder the armepittes behinde the eares on the breast the pulses of the armes the temples and nosthrilles twice or thrice a day This is a most excellent remedy and of great force as the aforesaid Authors testifie who writes that if this vnction be applied sodainly to him that is sicke of the plague before 24. houres be past he shal be deliuered vsing the remedies aforesaide The same Author likewise reporteth that this oyntment is of great effect Take a glasse that containeth a pint and a halfe and more fil it with oile that is old in which oile you shal infuse of elder floures six litle handfuls of the floures of walworth two handfuls of the leaues and floures of Hipericon or S. Iohns wort a handful but let the oile couer the hearbs and be more in quantitie set this vessel closely luted in the sunne for the space of fortie dayes or a whole summer and reserue it to the abouenamed vses to annoynt the sicke as hath béen saide But after you haue annoynted him you must couer him close for the oyle procureth sweate and by such euacuation causeth the venime to vapor outwardly and if to the said oyle you shal annex twenty or thirty scorpions it wil be farre more excellent if besides you adde two or thrée ounces of good treacle and boyle them in our Ladies bayne it will haue more force Sée here the best
feuer without any other appearance so that nature desisteth not to performe hir functions being as yet vnassailed by the venime For which cause the patient will haue a good pulse and healthful vrine almost as perfect as when they were in health when as sodainly they are séene to die without any manifest occasion which bréedes doubt and trouble in the Phisition as Galen and Auicen do testifie For this cause men ought not to maruell though the Phisitions in this case are pusseld and doubtful since this sicknes in his nature is so doubtfull fraudulent and deceiuable This notwithstanding whenas with the feuer the tokens tumor or carbuncle do appeare there is no cause of suspition or doubt of the disease Then ought they readily to withstand the same by a fit and conuenient diet and by exquisit and proper medicines sodainly and exquisitely ordained for a sickenes of that nature admits no delay without certaine danger of death And therefore Hipocrates saith that it is expedient in such sickenesses to minister euacuations and other meanes the very same day Now for that it is one of the principall intentions of a Phisition in this case to correct the aire and prohibite the venime that it may haue no operation in the body we will beginne with the same and so consequently discourse vpon the rest The preparation of a Chamber FIrst therefore men ought to make choice of a chamber for the patient that is wel aired if it be possible hauing the windowes towards the North or East And if it be in summer time it is good to kéep those windows that regard the North opened to the end that the ayre of the chamber may be purified and cleansed Care likewise must be had to haue the Chamber cleansed twoo or thrée times a day and that the floore be sprinckled the wals bedewed with good Rose-vineger mixed with common-water or with Rose-water if the patient be rich The said chamber likewise must be strewed with odoriferous flowres and swéete smelling hearbs namely in Summer time with roses violets and pinkes with the leaues of willow and the vine It is good also to haue quinces citrons to smell to to the end that the ayre may be more odoriferous Neyther is it amisse at what time soeuer it be to make a light fire in the Chamber in Summer time for it purgeth the infected ayre very much And if it be in Winter it is not amisse to make a great fire in the Chamber of Rosemary bayes Iuniper and such like perfuming the Roome with Beniamin Storax Frankinscence Cloues Iuniper-berries or such like And if the patient be of abilitie so as he may change chambers it shal not be amisse to do it oftentimes so as it be prepared as we haue aduised The bed of the patient ought to be large cleane and perfumed with good odors according to the season of the yeare as is aforesaide He ought also oftentimes to change his shéets and his shirt if he haue meanes twise or at leastwise once in the day Round about his bed if it be summer time and on the top of his couerlets you shal strew floures and odoriferous fruit and boughs and the sicke party shal haue by him diuerse orenges quinces limons or citrons to smell to And if he be rich he shall cause certaine shéets to be stéeped in vineger and water and hung round about his bed not onely to refresh the place but to repulse the euill vapour of the chamber He shall likewise oftentimes wash his hands his pulses and his face and forhead with this mixture Take of white rose vineger foure ounces or halfe a pinte of rose water a pinte of good malmsey claret or white wine foure ounces of the powlder of zodoarie cloues dried roses and muske of each two graines let al these be beaten and mixed together and let him rubbe his nose his eares handes and face therewith for it will comforte and quicken the heart and vitall spirites and driue away all euill vapours Lo here the preparation of the chamber and bed of him that is diseased and sick of the plague Hereafter insueth the maner of his diet Chap. XI The Diet of him that is strucken with the Plague BEcause in this sickenesse the appetite is deiected and the vertue of the stomacke and all other members is much enféebled it behooueth those that are sicke to enforce themselues to eate to the end they may resist the sickenes and strengthen nature as Auicene commaundeth where he saieth that they who manfully enforce themselues in this disease and eate couragiously are they who escape The Diet therefore of the patient ought to be in quantitie moderate taken by little and little and often and in qualitie substantiall and nourishing and tempered with such things as resist venome Let his meate be of good nourishment of easie digestion and pleasant to the taste as shall be hereafter declared His meate shall be caponets chickins and pullets yong kidde veale and mutton partridge plouer turtle fesant and quaile and the pottage made of them very nourishing shall be altered with sorrell lettuce borage pimpernell and the leaues of mariegoldes for in this sickenesse they haue great vertue as Alexander Benedictus testifieth in his 23. chap. de peste yet must you not mixe them all together but it shall suffice to vse one or other and in the saide broathes it shall not bée amisse to mixe some little quantitie of the iuyce of limons orenges or sowre grapes in their seasons The bread and meate which they eate should be taken with the Iuyce of lemmons citrons oringes pomegranats rose vineger veriuyce the Iuyce of sorrel vsing one or the other at seuerall repasts And if sharpenesse be displeasant to his stomacke you may vse a little of the Iuice of mintes with suger and alittle sinimon Barly creame Almond milke and panatels are fit meates in this cause as also fresh and new egges poched in water and taken with the Iuice of sorrel and alittle suger And among other restoratiues our ordinary candles of white wine rose water yelks of Egs sugar and cinamon is much commended A coulis also is of very good nourishment whenas the sick man cannot eate for then must we restore him with cordiall strong broths His drink shal be good white or claret wine such as fumes not but is wel qualified with pure fountaine water for by reason of the weaknes of the vertue in this cruell sicknes to resist the operation of the venome it is not necessary to take from them the vse of wine except the sick be very sanguin yong ful and of an able body In which case it shal be better to forbid than to licence them to vse it Betwéene meales they may drink barly water in which they may stéep and infuse some leaues of sorrel and with their barly water they may mix sirrop of limons sirrop of sowre grapes sirrop of the Iuice of Citrons sirrop Alexandrine or
taken away mixe the same with oyle of roses in a leaden morter and stirre it well and you shall haue a good oyntment to repaire the deformed cicatrises which are left after carbuncles This is the whole forme of the cure of a pestilent carbuncle Chap. XV. The maner how to withstand the most vrgent accidents that happen in the pestilent feuer the Botch and Carbuncle THE most troublesome and dangerous accidents in this sickenesse are weakenesse of vertue faintings of the heart soundings rauing or frensie extreame drith profound sléepe or continuall waking crampes coldnesse of the extreame parts which we ought diuersly to correct according as the nature of each of them requireth The féeblenesse of vertue which may be knowne by the weaknesse of the pulse palenesse of the face and dulnesse of the patient may be preuented or corrected by comforting the sicke by good and cordiall broths and colices cawdles or such like with good wine also as Galen commandeth in the twelfth booke of his Methode ministring it but little in quantitie and alayed with water or to make him take a toste of bread with sugar cinamon stéeped in good white or claret wine you shall giue him Diamargariton Manus Christi with pearles and amongest al the medicines that are proper to comfort the vertue the confection Alchermes described by Mesue in his Antidotary is allowed which hath maruelous force and efficacie to restore vertue almost extinct in the sicke as by diuerse experiments I am able to auow to the valew of a drachme in buglosse water or white wine It shal be good also to comfort the patient to incourage him with friendly words to embolden him extinguish his feare for these meanes both quicken and strengthen vertue The faintings of the heart which the Gréekes call Lipothimiae may be eased by the Electuary of Diamargariton or the powlder thereof annexing vnto it the powlder of Electuarium de gemmis or a little of the powlder of Diamosci dulcis giuen in white wine or buglosse or scabious water to the valew of a drachme And in this accident you must comfort the sick with good odors and rubbe the pulses of his armes and his temples with rose water and rose vineger or with the mixture of rose water rose vineger the powlder of cloues and cinamon and if the patient be bound it wil be good to giue him a clister of the decoction of mallowes béetes borage mercury mellon séedes and a little annice séede and branne and dissolue therein an ounce of Catholicon or Cassia oyle of violettes and grosse sugar If the sicke fall into a sound giue him sodainely two or thrée spoonefuls of pure wine as Galen commaundeth in the twelfth of his Methode and in such a case it is good to giue him foure graines of muske dissolued in good wine and buglosse water if the Feuer be not ouer vehement or instéede of this remedie giue him this drinke folowing Take of powlder of cloues halfe a drachme of the powlder of pearles and corrall of each halfe a drachme make a drinke with buglosse water and a little good white wine or claret wine And in such an accident you must crie vpon the sicke rubbe him violently make him smel rose water and muske or giue him a drachme of the confection Alchermes with buglosse water and a little wine and halfe a drachme of pearles for the rich and for the poore the powlder of cloues And if he abound in cholerike humors purge him with a little rubarbe or the Electuary of the Iuyce of roses or the sirrope of roses It is good also to cast fresh water very oftentimes in his face for it quickeneth the decayed spirites These are the remedies for soundings If the patient fall a rauing you must giue him some spéedy euacuation to diuert the humors lest they mount to the braine you must therefore rubbe the lower partes very often and apply ligatures to the extremities and make him take sirrope of poppy with water of the decoction of lettuce purselane or sorrell and wash his féete and armes with the warme decoction of the leaues of willow vine leaues lettice floures of roses and lillies camomile and the tops of white poppy boyled in water and kéepe the patient in silence and in a secret place and to beware that he speak not as much as is possible and if the raging be ouerfurious you ought to binde him and to take all thinges from him that may hurt him as all sorts of armor and other offensible things finally to procure him to sléepe The extreame thirst that presseth the patient must be eased by drincking fréely as Paulus Aegineta and Auicen commaund and his drinke shall be fresh water in great quantitie if the patient be yoong and strong or mixed with sirope of limons or sower grapes or sirop of violets And note that he must drink largely and aboundantly to extinguish the heate of the feuer that burneth him inwardly for to drincke in little quantitie rather inflameth then cooleth the same And therefore the aboue named Authors will that in the pestilent feuer we should allow aboundance of drinke for it either prouoketh vomite or sweate or extinguisheth the feuer heauinesse of sléep must be remedied by strong rubbings of the féete and handes by often calling on the sicke by kéeping him in a lightsome chamber by clapping cupping glasses with scarification to the nape of his necke by sharpe clisters made with the decoction of mallowes holihockes béetes hisope bitony rew sage and the lesser centory of each a handfull agaric two drachmes polipody an ounce coloquintida a drachme branne a handfull let all be boyled in water and strayned to which you may adde of catholicon one ounce of the electuary of Indie or Hiera piera composita halfe an ounce of salt a drachme of common hony halfe an ounce make hereof a clister which he may take in the morning or after supper during his heauines Subeth and déepe sléepe It is good also to make him smel to the powlder of burnt haire mixed with vineger for it awaketh him much And if contrariwise the patient cannot sléepe you shall giue him two ounces of the sirope of poppy or one ounce an houre before he take rest with the decoction of lettuce and poppy séede and you shal annoynt his forehead with vnguentum populeonis or alittle of the séedes of white poppy and annice you may annoynt his nosthrills also with the oyles of poppy and violets with a graine of Opium and saffron incorporated together if necessity require it and not otherwise If the patient be seazed with the cramp which is a mortal signe and after which few escape as Hippocrates testifieth in his second booke 2◠Aphorisme yet must we notwithstanding assist all that wée may and annoynt the nape of his necke with oyles of white lillies and violets and make him holde in his mouth a péece of nutmeg and chew it often you shall likewise giue him