This Boke doth treate all of the beste waters Artyfycialles and the vertues and properties of the same moche profytable for the poore sycke set forth by syr Roger Becon Freere THe whiche treatyse I haue wylled to wryte or a good a louyng zele pytie and compassyon of godly dysposicion wolde that euery persone beynge dyseased by the grace of god and of suche medicines as herafter in this lytell treatyse more playnely shalbe declared may the soner fynde remedy to be cured and heled of all bodely infyrmityes and syckenesses trustynge than that al those ī this wyse recoueryng theyr helth shall purchase such force and strength spiritual that they shal daylye augmente theyr meryte and vertue to the laude prayse of God where thorowe at theyr departynge theyr soules may be excepte to be of the nombre of those y t shalbe saued nowe praye I vnto almyghtie God that he gyue me grace well to wryte and to compyle this lytell treatise that it may be executed after a good purpose and so may appere And for asmoche that Golde is the most noble metall that is I shall begyn fyrst to aduyse vnto y e water of Golde the which is made after the maner that hereafter foloweth ¶ In nomine dei Amen TAke wedges of fyne golde well warmed in the Fyre and quenche it .xlii. tymes within the water of a good welle or Fountayne And the water strayned and kepte clenly in a vyoll of glasse let the dyseased person drynke it with wyne or good ale after as the pacient it requyreth the vertue propertie of that water of golde is suche that it is good vnto y e people that be hoole and also for thē that be sycke of the syckenes that mē called cardia pastio for it exalteth comforteth the herte merueylously it illumineth the spirites and consumeth y e superfluyte and comforteth the vertue conteyned in all the membres within forth moche it auayleth vnto the fluxe of the wōbe more than the water wherin yron is put it auaileth moch vnto the leprous vnto them the whiche ben yll dysposed Men make this water of golde by science of Arquimie But I put it not here for that but that maner of makyng is moche harder but I wyl speake nomore of it at this tyme. ¶ The water of the Floures of Rosemarye This water is of great merueylouse vertue and hath many greate properties in bodyes humaines and sycknesses colde it ratifieth the appetite and recomforteth the spirite and the hete natural bycause of her good odour wherin the soule taketh pleasure and gathereth the vertue of the membres togither it comforteth specially the brayne and all the membres synewed and yf a man wasshe his face with it it maketh it fayre yf a mā washe his heres it reteyneth them and kepeth them from fallyng and multiplyeth them and the continuaunce and vse of this water preserueth a man from the botche and from all yll syckenesse it comforteth the substaunce of the herte and also consumeth the fleume melancoly maketh youth to pourge who so shal continue this water w tinforth w toutforth he shalbe preserued long withoute corrupcyon and to wasshe his mouth oftē with water ratifyeth the teth and the gūmes it heleth the Cāker and of the fystures and ratifyeth the yll woundes and dryeth thē it vaileth vnto the Cardiacle passion that is to say tremblyng of the hert and prohibiteth the vomytynge it is good vnto the fluxe of the wombe vnto those y t be benōmed as vnto people the whiche tremble in theyr body vnto relexacion of wormes dryueth away all venom as tryacle and also aydeth vnto the mother of the belly of women and them preserueth of their Floures and the bayne aydeth moche to consceyue and who so baineth him ryght often in the decocktion of this floure he reneweth his youth as an aygler y t is a thyng ryght secrete ryght meruaylous who so shall make it in the maner and fasshyon the whiche foloweth Fyll ye a great vyoll or glasse of the Floures of Rosemarye and stop it aboue afterwarde bery it depe with in the banke of the see and let it lye therby halfe a yere in the season tyme the whether is most hotest and abyde there the space of a month and afterwarde it shall be tourned in to water the which water must be strōgly strayned put in to another vyoll in the sonne by the tyme or space of xl daies this water shall sprinkle haue the scence as baulme it auaylleth moche to comfort the herte and the brayne and all the body vayleth agayne the dibilyte and wekenes of the synewes taketh away the spottes of the vysage and kepeth the mā in good state of youth and auayleth agaynst the syckenes teares of the eyes to put within them .ii. droppes at a tyme it ratyfyeth the membre slepy benommed and also it heleth of the Fystula also of the Canker where the other remedyes profyteth nothynge and who so shuld make of the water brennynge of wyne of the decocktion with these floures y t shuld be a ryght excellente thynge for the syckenesses abouesayde ¶ The water of red Roses This water comforteth the hert and all the membres to dyssolue and they well dyssolued it restoreth them and bycause of her good odoure aromatyque specially it cōforteth the spirites the hete naturall it prohybyteth the putrifaction in dyssentery and lyentery the which ben fluxes of the wombe bledyng it comforteth y e vertue retentyue and it is good vnto the feblenesse of the herte and vometynge and agayne the swete dyafortique it maketh swete and comforteth the gōmes and maketh to haue good odour in the mouthe and maketh to haue ferme Flesshe who so wassheth hym often with it and putteth it w t in his eyes with a lytell wyne for y e mondyfyeth and dryeth it comforteth the humodyte and moystnes superflue of the eyes and in especyall whan a man putteth therin a lytell of thuthie p̄pared or a lytell of aloes and fyne suger yet the sayde water with Suger Candye put within the eyes clenseth and mondifieth the substaunce without payne ¶ The water of Betayne This hath many great properties for it breketh the stone in the bledder and in the raynes it mondifyeth the breste and the lyghtes and heleth of the Epylence and dryueth away the venom auayleth vnto the bytynge of a beast venemous it auayleth vnto the strangulyon and purgeth the fleume of the stomacke downewarde or by vometynge and it auayleth to the eructacyon ayger it prouoketh y e vryne and looseth the wombe it helpeth moche the payne of the mylte it comforteth the stomacke and aydeth vnto y e dysgestion vayleth agaynst the encreasynge of the blode and agaynste the payne of the Chynke and of the raines and also of the bledder agaynst the cold dropsye it is good to clense the woundes of
the hede to drawe the bones broken out of the woundes it is good for the payne of the teeth and for the darknes of the eyes corcosyue and vnto the difficult of chyldren it kepeth froÌ„ dronkenes and taketh away the faÌ„tasyes of the people the whiche sourdeth of syckenes it is good for the payne of the wombe and for the payne podagre taketh awaye the venom of Dogges enraged it is good for the payne of the eares for people that be deafe in what maner so euer it be and for ronning eyes for the fluxe of blode of vaines and vnto people the which sytheÌ„ for the sycknes of the stomacke for vometynge for the payne of the stomacke and bytyngê and auayleth to drynke vnto people wery of the feuer quarteine it is good for the paralysye sownynge and tremblynge of the membres and auayleth moche vnto the paine of the wombe and for the swellynge ¶ The water of plantayne This water is moche abster drye and incarnatyue and it is very good for woundes corrosyues it is good for the stoppynge it is good for the ronnynge out of the belly and fleyng of the guttes in drynkynge it worketh the opylacions of the lyuer of the mylt makynge clene and kylleth the inflamacion of the blode and incarneth the Fistules the other wouÌ„des and preserueth from emoroides and it is good vnto the vlceracion of the mouth and vnto the payne of the teeth vnto the bytynge of a dogge vnto the brennynge of the Fyre and of hote water for the vlceratioÌ„ of the lyghtes and vnto the spyttynge and vnto the feuer tarcian ¶ The water of lettys and of Endyue This water is aparatiue of vaynes and comforteth the lyuer and maketh warme and in especiall it is good for the hote Apostumes and vnto flumes maketh a man to slepe it is good for y e pollucion iÌ„ the nyght it is good for the Iaundes and vnto the opelacion of the lunges and the mylke of Endyue maketh cleane the wouÌ„des that ben in the raines of the backe it auayleth moche agaynst the colere y e which is within y e stomacke ¶ The water of Fumetory This water fortifieth the stomacke and it mondifieth and prouoketh the vrine and auayleth agaynst the scab and infection it pourgeth the colere and mondyfyeth the blode of the humours adustes ¶ The water of balme This water is verye good for the sâ—omake colde and moyst and aydeth vnto the digestion and disgesteth the mete it comforteth the herte and the braine taketh away the yll thoughtes and pouxes the which procedeth of melancolie and humours adustes and auayleth against the bytynge of a dogge and Scorpion and is good for the ache of the teeth and suffocacion in dreames and vnto extorcion of the belly resolueth the lunges ¶ The water of Elder The water of the leues floures and rotes of elder altogither comforteth the herte of the man and merueylouslye it mondifieth maketh clene the blode and taketh away the melancoly and it heleth the braine the which is infect of humours melancolyes it endureth and heleth the foles enraged in the contynuaunce it is good to hele the scab and of the lepre ¶ The water of Elder and of Buglose The water of Elder and of buglose made by egall parties is moche merueylouse vnto people melancolyous and vnto people the whiche hath treÌ„blynge of the hert and the brennyng of the geder it taketh awaye the heuynes and gyueth gladnes and maketh the man to be of good reason of good vnderstandyng but in this cause he shulde put the floures of buglose and of elder and red roses myngled togyther asmoch of the one as of the other ¶ The water of Garlyke This water openeth the opelacyons of the lyuer and of the mylt and of the raines and preserueth the maÌ„ from the passyon colleryke and ventouse it taketh awaye the blakynge of the stomacke and ratifyeth the disgestion it encreseth the dede vnto norysshes and taketh awaye the payne of the raynes caused of Uentosytie and purgeth the grauel and maketh the payne sodenly to cease and it maketh good coloure vnto those that doeth vse it ¶ The water of red soddes called Archangell mountayne This water hath many great properties to prouoke the man and to mondifie and make clene the raynes and the bledder of the grauel and it auaileth vnto the vlceracions of the raynes vnto people the whiche pysse blode ¶ The water of hertes tonge cycore endyue all togyther by egall porcions with the roote of peccylle This water is moche marueylous vnto the opelacion of the lyuer and of the mylt and heleth the iaunders whan a man wyll dryncke of it hym behoueth to put therto of fyne suger and it may be droncke with wyne at his repastes and it is proued ¶ The water of Fenell The water of Fenell is gyuen vnto the obscurite and darknes of the eyes vnto the dropsye and vnto the lytarge and it auayleth against venom purgeth the raynes and the bledder of grauell it prouoketh the man and maketh the flourê come vnto the woman it subtilieth the fat humors prouoketh the dede vnto women and vnto man the sperme and also it taketh awaye the wyll to vomete and helpeth the stomacke ¶ The water of Cuffrurie montayne This water is meruaylouse good to comforte the syght and to recouer it yf it be possyble and in especiall vnto people flumatyques vnto aged people the which it shall compose togither with Ueruene Rewe Roses and Celydoyne This shalbe a ryght merueilouse good water to conserue to comfort and to repaire the syght ¶ The water of Ysop drye The water of Ysop drye maketh cleane the raynes and the breaste and the longes of the matter grosse Fleumatyque and vystose is moche good vnto the coughe the which procedeth of the coldenes and of moystnes it clarifieth the voyce and auayleth moche vnto those the which falleth of the fallyng euyl and it is called in latyn aperylentia ¶ The water of horuid This water heleth of the strangurye and profyteth moche for to gendre and multyplye the people ¶ The water of sauge This water is good vnto all syckenesses colde of the synewes as ben the Palsey the tremblyng of the meÌ„bres swolunynge epilensye and such lyke sycknesses it is good vnto the Reuolucion of the gommes and of the paine of the teth and whan they chellen and it is good vnto the sycknes of the stomacke colde and vnto the mother of y e wombe as is suffocacion of the mother and also this water maye be vsed within forth in drinking without forth iÌ„ washyng by other maners the which ben after the dyscrecion of hym or of her the whiche doth vse it ¶ The water of the rootes and leues of Bresyll and of fyre This water lowseth the wombe and openeth the opylacions of the mylte and heleth the dropsye yposarque and taketh away the swellynge of the
feete ¶ The water stronge is in laten inchium This water stronge is of ryghte greate and meruaylous vertue excellentlye aboue all the other For it kylleth the wormes dyssolueth the worke coÌ„sumeth the rotten humors within the body in the places and coÌ„duites secretes and bicause of some vertue wrytten it comforteth where ben the rotonesses and it is openyng and comfortynge the stomacke and it clenseth the ordures and openeth the opylacions of the mylte and of the lyuer and it auayleth to recouer the speche and agaynst the venom it comforteth the syghte warmeth the stomacke and refresheth the lyuer it prouoketh the vryne and the floures vnto women and resysteth vnto the venym of oputhe bayci and of iusquiauim and of all other of this nature and it is good vnto people deth wouÌ„â—ed whaÌ„ the surgiens wassheth theyr woundes they kepe it for enfestrynge and engendring of yll flesshe it auayleth agaynst the epydymye agaynst eyres pestilencial it taketh awaye the wyll to vomet and auayleth vnto swellynges and paynes of the membres and vnto the palsye taketh away the fleellynge from the tonge and delyuereth in makynge gargarisme ¶ The water of Quyns Appels and of red Roses This water dronke with good red wyne comforteth the stomacke affirmeth the wombe ¶ The water of Malous This water of colde and moyste maketh soft the wombe and is alteratyue of these opostumes hote and it maketh softe the durter it prouoketh the fluxe vnto women ¶ The water of Scabiouse This water is coÌ„sumptyue and dissolutyue is good vnto the scab or brekynge out or lepre and serpigine impectigne and vnto the dredefull vnto the amoureus ¶ The water of Saxifrage This water breketh the stone in the raynes and in the bledder and prouoketh the vrine and is good vnto pensyfenes and thought ¶ The water of myntes This water is moche consumptyue dyssolutyue and comfortatyue auayleth moche against the opylacions of the lyuer and of the mylt and of the conduytes of the vryne and vnto the stynkynge of the mouthe and of the gommes and prycketh the appetite to eate to vomet and is good vnto the faylyng of the herte it mondyfyeth the mother of the wombe it dissolueth the mylke quayled in the brestes it auayleth agaynst the venoÌ„ and sleyth the wormes and is good agaynst the coughe the muries colde and tenme colde it prouoketh the vryne and prohybyteth the colde of â—â—entes droukeÌ„ one houre before with good tryacle ¶ The water of Radesshe This water is subtylatyue appertyue abstersyue mondyfycatyue and prouocatyue of the vryne and auayleth agaynst the storgyne ympectygiue and taketh away the humoure from the membres modyfyed of the brest and maketh clere the voyce and subtyleth y e grosse humours the whiche ben in the breste and in the longes it is good vnto the bityng of the Scorpion and sleeth the Scorpions and auayleth vnto Feuer quartayne and vnto the Dropsye and vnto the Iaundes it breketh the stone and auayleth agaynste the bytynge venemous resolueth the humoures the whiche ben in the corner of the eye and taketh away the pympylles froÌ„ the bysage it resolueth les quantytie and the syuellynge of the mylt it prouoketh the floures vnto women and is good vnto them the whiche hathe eaten fruytes venymous The water of purslane This water is vyscose and contractyue of the flux of the belly it taketh away the styngynge of the teeth and auayleth vnto the stynkinge blode apostumes hoote and vnto the burnynge of the stomacke and vpon the calefacion of the lyuer and of the alteracion of the guttes and vnto the flux of the mother it weketh y e syght and lettynges aboue the heade and prohibyteth the frenasye The water of howsleke This water is moche colde and repercustiue of apostumes hote of abulatyues it swageth the payne of the podagre hote auayleth moche vnto the brennynge of fyre with oyle rosat and vnto the payne of the heed and sleyeth the nyttes and is moche good vnto the flux of the wombe and vnto the vlceracions of the guttes prohybyteth the frenasye ¶ The water of Bursa pastoris This water is stytyque and repercusyue and auayleth moche vnto apostumes hote at the begynnynge it consolydeth and incarneth the wouÌ„des fresshe and bledynge and it auayleth moche vnto the payne of the eares and dryeth the fylth of the eares and auayleth moche vnto the vlceracions of the guttes and vnto the flux of the neze to the flux of blode of what place soeuer it springeth out it prohybyteth the frenasye ¶ The water of the flourdelyce and of the leaues This water is moch aftersiâ—e and moche mondificatyue and auayleth moche vnto serpygne and ympertygyne melled with honye and it maketh the vysage fayre and clere and handes in washyng them it maketh also the vysage moche roddy and taketh awaye the spottes from the vysage it prouoketh y e fleures vnto the women and taketh awaye the hardnes of the mother from the bellye it incarneth the wouÌ„des that ben rotte and auayleth vnto the brennynge of the fyre and bytynge venymous ¶ The water of Lylyes This water ereuoketh the sleepe and consumeth the shakynges and dybylytie of the membres and wasteth and taketh away the polucions noctournes and is good for the coughe and weepynge eyes it maketh softe the wombe and auayleth vnto the Fluxe of the wombe ancyan and vnto the vlceracions of the guttes it resolueth the Apostumes of the mylte and auayleth moche vnto nosuâ—â— whyghte This is all one This water is dyssolutyue and subtylatyue and auayleth moche vnto y e scalle and scab of the heade and kepeth the heeres from fallynge it maketh clene the breste and the lyghtes from great humors and breketh the stone and is good for the Iaundyse and it dyssolueth the estrophules and maketh cleane the stomacke and guttes of the superfluytes colerykes The water for the Goute Take the flesshe of a foxe and cut it ryght small dystylle it in a stylletory and rubbe ye the sycke body ther with for it is a souerayne remedy The water of the grayne of Geneper This water is moche subtylatyue apertiue and mondyfycatiue and auayleth moche to make cleane the vlcers sordibus it prouoketh the vryne and the fleures vnto women maketh the enfante dede within the wombe of the mother to auoyde out and chaseth awaye the venome and the beaste venemous bayneth them in the decockcion of y e seede of brome it auayleth moche vnto the payne of the mother of the wombe and atricion of wormes ¶ For to please and for to make these women to seme more fayrer yonger vnto theyr husbandes and for to kepe theym from goynge in to fornycacion and aduoutre it is suffred to vse of some waters the which maketh the vysage fayre and whyte and of these waters I shal put here the which ben called symples and of other composed and made These symple waters ben of the â—â—oures of beâ—es waters of the seede of melos waters of the floure of elder water of the floure delyce water of the rote of Yris of Dragontyne and of the rote of sygilon salmonis ¶ Thus endeth these waters ¶ The Table of this present Booke The Prologue primo In nomme dei Amen ii ¶ The water of the floures of Roosemarye iii. ¶ The water of red rooses iiii ¶ The water of Betayne v. ¶ The water of Plantayne vi ¶ The water of lettis endiue vii ¶ The water of Fumetory viii ¶ The water of Balme ix ¶ The water of Elder x. ¶ The water of elder buglose xi ¶ The water of Garlyke xii ¶ The water of red soddes called archangell mountayne xiii ¶ The water of hartes tonge cycore Endyue all togyther by egall porcions w t the rote of percylle xiiii ¶ The water of Fenell xv The wa of cuffrurie mouÌ„tayne xvi ¶ The water of Ysop drye xvii ¶ The water of Horuid xviii ¶ The water of Sauge xix ¶ The water of the rotes and leues of Bresyll and offyrre xx ¶ The water stronge is in latyn inchium xxi ¶ The water of Quyns Apples and of red Rooses xxij ¶ The water of Malous xxiii ¶ The water of scabyoule xxiiii ¶ The water of Saxifrage xxv ¶ The water of Myntes xxvi ¶ The water of Radesshe xxvii ¶ The water of purslane xxviii ¶ The water of howselyke xxix ¶ The water of bursa pastorê xxx ¶ The water of y e flourdelyce xxxi ¶ The water of Lylyes xxxii ¶ The water for the goute xxxiii ¶ The water of the grayne of Geneper xxxiiii ¶ Thus endeth the xxxiiii waters Artificials ¶ Imprinted by me Robert â—â—â—â—r