ingendered any children because in these the abundance of divers humours retained and stopped hath bred some worse thing and hath given greater occasion of disturbing the temperate health of the body CHAP. II. Of the cure and remedy of sterilitie and barrennesse proceeding from Phlegme THe causes and signes of the difficulty and hardnesse of conceiving in women in men of causing women to be conceived and in them both of begetting being already knowne it followeth now to speake of the cure of them And first of all truely if that difficulty shall be bred and caused of moist and cold Phlegme before all things be used that superfluous matter shall be prepared and digested with this syrup following Take of the roots of Madder the greater two ounces of Ruscus or Butchers-broome Sperage Galangale of each one dram Mugwoort Savine wild Penniroyall Balm Balsamint or Costmary Mints Harts-tong Venus-haire Gallitricum or Clary Sambucus or common Elder Origanum Calamentum montanum Penniroyall of the roots of Valerian of each halfe a handfull of the seed of Seselie drams six Anise Carui or Caruway-seeds of the seed of Fennell Ameos Spikenard of each two drams Xylobalsamum Carpobalsamum of each one dram Liquorice Raisins of each one ounce Rosemary-flowers Staechados Arabica of each halfe an ounce scrapings of Ivory Calamus aromaticus Red-sanders of each halfe a dram Let all these things be beaten together and make a decoction of them with running water as much as sufficeth and with three drammes of Vinegar and three pound of Sugar let them be strained to one halfe of it and adde to the straining Cinamome one dram Muske foure graines The party must drinke foure ounces every day in the morning of this Aromaticall syrup very warme Or you may make this syrup more thin with water of Elder Pimpinel and Mugwoort taking one ounce of each of them and so to drinke three ounces in the morning very warme Or you may prepare another syrup in this manner take Mugwoort Savine Mints Origanum Calamint Hyssop Pimpinel Germander Maiden-haire flowers of the common Elder Staechados of each one handfull Anise Fenel Ameos Carui the seeds of Dill Sesely of each halfe an ounce of the roote of Sperage Butchers-broome the greater Madder of each halfe a pound of red Cicers a little quantity termed of the Physicians a Pugill Spica celtica Spica nardi Galangall Squinantum Calamus aromaticus of each two drammes mixe them and make a decoction of them with running-water with Hony and Sugar of each one pound and a halfe and let it be made aromaticall and sweete to the sense of smelling with Cinamome and Muske as is declared before Three draughts of this syrup to be taken every day in the morning very warme may be prepared in this manner Take Oxymel squiliticum syrup de radicibus acetosi syrup of Mugwoort of each one ounce and a halfe of the waters of Pimpinel Fenel Mugwoort of each three ounces Let three draughts be made of this mixture Afterward the matter being sufficiently prepared and digested by these syrups to be purged out of the body If the woman shall be of a strong Nature or Complexion which is affected with this difficulty of conceiving she may also take these pills Take Pilulae faetidae two scruples Species Diacastoreum one scruple Diagridium sixe graines make of them eleven Pills with syrup of Mugwoort or Hony But if shee cannot brooke the use of Pills let her use this potion in steed of the Pills Take Diacassia halfe an ounce Electuarie of Diaphaenicon Electuarium Indum of each two drams syrup de radicibus made without Vinegar temper them with two ounces of Mugwoort or Bawme water and make a draught of them or else take of the Electuary Diaphaenicon Electuarium Indum Diacassia of each one dram of the best Agarick two drams Ginger one scruple Sal gemma sixe graines Let all things be infused in the whey of Goats milk and hony of Roses one ounce and when they have been infused twelve houres let them be strained and make a drinke of them being mixed with the aforesaid Electuaries But if a dry Electuary shall better please the party let three dry morsells be made up in this manner Take Electuarie Diaphaenicon Electu Indum Diacassia of each two drams white Sugar so much as sufficeth and make three morsells gilded If this shall not be so well liked you may make this Confection in little roundells or Trocoisks take red Roses Cinamome Ginger of each one dram Sanders white and red of each halfe a dram Hermodactyli Esula of each one dram and a halfe Diagridium Turbit of each two drams Mastick one scruple white Sugar halfe a pound Dissolve all these things with the juyce or water of Mugwoort and after they have beene infused in it some houres let them be strained and let a confection be made in little rundells or Trochiskes Let the Dosis or quantity to be taken bee halfe an ounce or five drams Or if you please you shall take of the powders and shall mingle them with white Sugar in equall weight and shall make a mixture of them properly named Tragaea of which you shall give one dram and a halfe in broth of Cicers very warme Some doe give the leaves of Sena beaten to powder two drams and a halfe after this manner But these purging medicines are to be tempered by the counsell of skilfull Physitians according to the qualities of those things for which they are given Now such kind of matter being sufficiently purged the next thing shall be that the use of bathes doe follow and so often as the woman shall come out of them let her take one dram of common Triackle or Mithridate in water of Mugwoort Or if it like you better let her take a little of this confection following Take of the Species or kindes of Triphera magna without Opium Diapliris Diambra Diamuscus Diasatyrion of each halfe a dram scraping of Ivory seed of the herbe of Mercury of each two scruples the Runnet of a Hare and Matrix of it of each halfe a dram Sisely halfe a scruple white Sugar halfe a pound Let them be dissolved with Bawme-water and let there be added to them being orderly boiled Conserve of the rinds of the Citron one ounce and conserve of Rosemary-flowers halfe an ounce Let there be a confection made somewhat thicke But let her chiefest care be while shee doth use bathes that she use a certaine convenient diet and moderate feeding which alwaies must be prescribed and appointed of a skilfull Physitian But if the woman cannot have such naturall bathes a bathe may be prepared for her of these herbes following sodden in water Take Mugwoort Betony Chamaepitis Germander Celandine Clary Bay-leaves Mallowes Feverfew Bawme wilde Penniroyall Origanum Ozimus Penniroyall Rose-mary Savine Melilote St. Iohns-worth Hissop Cammomel of each one handfull Carui Cummin Siler montanum Anise Dill of each three ounces Linseed Fenugrec of each three ounces roots of Cumfrey
Valerian Stone-parsley of each one pound Brimstone one ounce and a halfe Salt two ounces Allome one ounce Let all of them being mingled together be put in a bag and let them boile in water And alwaies every fourth day this bathe must be renewed againe As often as shee shall leave bathing let her take of comon Triacle or Mithridate as is spoken before let her lie downe in her bed and let her provoke sweating if she can by any meanes Or let her use the confection before described morning and evening in the same manner But when it shall not seeme commodious to use this bathe some of the aforesaid herbes may be gathered and fomentations may be made of them But when all these things shall not sufficiently purge the Phlegmaticke humour it shall be profitable to minister a pessarie to her every night prepared in this manner and let her use it untill she shall feele her selfe freed from those superfluous Phlegmatick humours Take Mugwoort Savine Marjoram Dittany Wormewood of each halfe a dram Anise Rue the rind or outside of Frankincense of each one scruple the pulpe of Colocynthis two scruples Make a powder of them and let it be tempered and incorporated with the juyce of the herbe Mercurie or Germander and make a Pessarie Further among all the medicines which bind the Matrix wee thinke that nothing can be better approved than this following Take Acacia Balaustium or the flowers of Pomgranates Akorne cups the drosse or scales of Iron Mints Lillies barke of the Mastick-tree or Lentiscus the outside of Olibanum Anthera Sumach Tartar Spike of each halfe a dram mingle them and make a powder of them of which with the juyce of Sorrell or Fullers teasell named in latine Virga Pastoris or with the juyce of Milfoile or Yarrow let Pessaries be made But because sometimes it commeth to passe that by reason of cold and moist Phlegme How the ill-savour of the Matrix is to be cured the Matrix cannot onely retaine and hold the seed but also doth offend with a noisome stinch and savour therefore when this chanceth we must use this medicine following Take Galls Nutmegs of each three drams Cloves one dram Muske halfe a scruple let them be beaten to powder and dissolved with one pound of red Wine When the woman will use these things let her wash her secrets well with them and lay clothes being dipped therein upon them but let her doe it especially when she goeth to bed But if it pleaseth to use a more forcible medicine to restraine and binde the Matrix you may then use this following Take the root of Comfrey Allome Balaustium Myrrhe Olibanum Mastick Colophony Bole-Armeny Cypresse-nuts Harts-horne burnt of each one dram and a halfe Let all things be pounded and reduced into a powder and let the halfe part of it or all boile in sower red Wine a little Vinegar being mixed with it Let the woman wash and bathe her secrets with that decoction being very warme Likewise shee may sprinckle the dry powder upon them and also lay a cloth doubled once or twice upon being dipped and moistned before in that decoction But if this shall profit nothing or little you must use also this Pessarie besides prepared after this manner Take Allom named in latin Allumen Scissile Myrrh Lignum Aloes the haires of a Hare cut into small pieces Rue or Herb-grace Bayberries Doronicum Cypresse-nuts of each halfe a dram Storax Calamita two drams Amber one scruple and a halfe Muske Allome called Allumen Saccharinum of each two drams Let them be mingled together and brought to a powder and make a Pessery of it with Oyle of Myrtles CHAP. III. Of the Cure of sterility arising from cholericke humidities and moistures of the Matrix WHen choler shall be an impediment to conception before all things a good diet must be appointed and a moderate use of all those things which doe necessarily belong to the life of man and woman to wit sleepe watching moving resting meate drinke and the like things and that all decline from that humour to that which is cold and moist Next after the convenient use of these things proved a little time the anckle-veines of both the feete shall be opened but specially when the woman shall abound with blood But let her not have overmuch blood taken from her because blood as they say is the bridle of choler After the opening of a veine the cholericke humours shall be prepared with this syrup following Take of the syrups of Acetosae simplicis Oxysaccharum simplex syrup of Endive of each one ounce waters of Succory Hops Buglosse of each two ounces Temper them with yellow Sanders Cinamome and Mace so much as sufficeth that the drinke may be odoriferous You shall give a certaine quantity of this drinke to her in the morning every day when her stomacke is empty and three houres before supper or so often as it shall seeme necessary Or if it please you for this drinke you may give her this decoction reasonable warme Take the flowers of Buglosse Borrage red Roses of each halfe a handfull Violets Lettuce the flowers of white Poppy Endive broad-leaved or garden Endive of each one handfull Endive and Lettuce-seed of each halfe an ounce the Foure Cold-seeds six drams Mingle them together and let a decoction be made of them in fountain-Fountaine-water so much as may suffice or with an ounce and a halfe of the wine of Pomgranates and foure ounces of Vinegar and let two pound of Suger be added to them and let it be made aromaticall with yellow Sanders Cinamome and Amber of each one scruple Let her use this syrup morning and evening the quantity of three ounces Now the superfluous matter of cholericke humours being prepared for purgation it shall be purged with the draught following Take of Cassia newly extracted or the best Manna one ounce Let it be tempered with this decoction following Take Venus-haire flowers of Buglosse Violets Prunes Tamarindae Electuary de succo Rosarum of each two drams make a decoction and mingle the Cassia or Manna with three ounces of this aforesaid decoction and let one draught be made of it Or take of choice Rheubarb two drammes Spick-Nard six graines let them be infused in Goats milke with a little white Wine and the infusion being made ten houres let them be strained and take three ounces of that which is strained and one ounce and a halfe of the syrup of Peach-flowers and of them mixed together let one draught be made If this potion doe not like her you shall give her this morsell following confected in this manner Take of the Electuary de Succo Rosarum Diamanna of each three drams white Sugar so much as sufficeth let the Bolus or Morsell being gilded be divided into three parts How Citrine or yellow choler is to be purged But if Citrine or yellow Choler shall breed this difficulty of conceiving to the Matrix wee must use these solutive
else take of the Waters of Buglosse Pimpinell Fumitary Mugwoort Harts-tong of each three ounces Vinegar one ounce white Sugar foure ounces When these are made odoriferous with Cinamome let them be made a Iuleb Let the Dose or quantity at a time be foure ounces Or otherwise Take Calaminth Origanum Staechados Liver-woort Borrage-flowers Mugwoort Buglosse Germander of each halfe a handfull Harts-tong halfe a handfull the barks of the Broome and Ash-tree of each halfe a handfull Raisins one ounce Mixe them and let a decoction be made with one ounce of Epithymie Sugar one pound clarified Hony halfe a pound Vinegar two ounces Let this decoction be spiced with Cinamome let the quantity of an ounce and a halfe be taken with the aforesaid waters The matter being prepared and made solutive for purgation it followeth that it be purged and expelled with medicine Take Cassia newly extracted Manna of each halfe an ounce Let them be dissolved in this decoction following Take Venus-haire flowers of Buglosse Borrage Violets Germander Harts-tong of each halfe a handfull Raisins halfe an ounce Mixe them and make a decoction in water to which adde Cinamome a dram Cassia extracted Manna confection of Hamech of each two drams syrup of Violets one ounce Let all things be tempered together and let a purging medicine be made of them let the quantity of an ounce and a halfe be taken at a time Or else take of the confection of Hamech three drams and a halfe Sugar a sufficient quantity and let a gilded morsell be made devided into three parts Also the pills named Pilulae Lazuli may be used a dram taken at a time The superfluous matter expelled and voyded the next thing to be performed is to use convenient and fit bathes for this purpose which shall be prepared in this manner Take Camomel Melilot Germander Chamaepithys Hyssop Bay-leaves Lavander of each two handfulls Mugwoort foure handfulls Marish-Mallowes with the rootes five handfulls Line-seed Fenegrec of each one pound roots of Valerian halfe a pound Let them all be cut in pieces and being inclosed in a bagge let them boile in bathe let the woman sit afterward But after the Bathe let her eate every day morning and evening a certaine little portion of this confection following Take of the Species of precious Stones two drams seed of Mercury scrapings of Ivorie of each two drams the Pissle of a Bull the Runnet of a Hare with the Matrix of each two scruples white Sugar halfe a pound Dissolve them with water of Buglosse and put to it conserves of Buglosse halfe an ounce of Borrage three drams Cinamome one dram Let those things be powdred which are to be powdred and let the confection be made in Morsells But if the use of the bathe prescribed shall not be convenient yet Fomentations may be made of the aforesaid recited Simples this Electuary going before being alwaies used Further after the bathe or fomentations it shall not be unprofitable to use these Pessaries also in the night and at any other convenient time Take Costus powdered and with oile of Roses and Silke make a Pessary Or with Fenegrec and the Grease of a Ducke or with Sperage-seedes and fat of a Goose Or with oile of Violets Muske and the aforesaid seeds CHAP. VI. Of the Cure and Remedy of sterility proceeding of over-much heate drinesse moisture and coldnesse AMong other impediments and hinderances of conceiving and ingendring immoderate siccity and drinesse of the Matrix is not the least cause And that cause being found out the use of all things is to be directed to a moist temperature yet so as the body be not weakened by these things but strengthened Therefore it shall be very profitable to use these little Cakes often Take white Sugar one pound and a halfe Amylum three ounces Let the Sugar be dissolved with Rose-water and the Amylum mingled with it let a decoction be made with three ounces of sweet Almonds and a little oile of sweete Almonds and little Morsells It is also exceeding profitable to drinke Goats-milke newly milked with Hony or Sugar mixed with it Likewise this bathe is wonderfull convenient Take Heads of Weathers and let them be sodden in a Kettle full of water so long till the flesh be loosed and part quite from the bones which being done Take moreover the leaves of Vine named Vitis Muscatella of the Willow tree Violet-leaves Camomel Melilot of each two handfuls Marish Mallowes with the roots six handfuls Fenegrec Line-seed of each two pound roots of Valerian one pound and a halfe let all things be mingled together and let a bathe be made of them being sufficiently boiled And it may be prepared so that either the woman may sit in it or make Fomentations of it But after the bathe or Fomentations she may take a little morsell of this confection the next houres after meate Take of the Species of Diarhodon Abbatis two drams seede of Mercury scrapings of Ivorie of each two scruples the Matrix of a Hare two drams Cotton-seed Tragacantha Gumme Arabicke of each halfe a dram white Sugar halfe a pound dissolved in water of Buglosse conserve of Buglosse Borrage of each one ounce mixe them and let a gilded confection be made But especially it shall be needfull to moisten the Matrix which shall partly be done by Fomentations used underneath in a chaire inclosed and covered round about and partly by Pessaries being thus prepared Take Marrow of the leg of a Cow Grease of a Henne of each halfe an ounce Styrax liquida two drams Also foure ounces of oile of sweete Almonds may be added to them and let Pessaries be made with cleane wooll But if conception be hindered through intemperate hear that either the body is of an over-hot complexion or the secret parts are molested with intemperate heat First of all this heat shall be diminished by a convenient launcing and opening of the veines the Ankle-veines in the left foot and the Liver-veines in the right foot Afterward purgations must be used so much as reason shall require but before them this Potion shall be taken for a preparative of the hot humours Take herbes of Plantane the greater Endive Venus-haire Polipodie Fumirary of each halfe a handfull red Roses Violet-flowers Buglosse Water-Lillies Borrage of each a little quantity named a Pugil Raisins halfe an ounce Let all of them mixed together be boiled in running-water let one halfe be consumed and wasted let them be strained and to the straining let there be added a sufficient quantity of white Sugar and let it be made aromaticall with Cinamome scrapings of Ivory red Corall prepared red Sanders of each halfe a dram Take three ounces of the aforesaid decoction and let them be tempered with two scruples of Choyse Rhubarb powdred with syrup of Epithymie halfe an ounce Cassia newly drawne one dram and a halfe or Manna one dram Or otherwise Take of the Electuary de Succo Rosarum three drams Cassia newly extracted Diasena
of each two drams Temper them with an ounce and a halfe of the aforesaid decoction or of findive-water let a Potion be made of it Or else Take syrup of Peach-Roses one ounce syrup of Peach-flowers halfe an ounce Trochiskes of Agaricke one dram Cassia newly extracted two drams waters of Buglosse and Burrage of each one ounce mixe them and make one draught Pessaries also may be prepared and be applied underneath compounded with the juyce of Mandrake Mastick Myrrh Camphire and Gum Arabick But if the heat do not exceed but shall be more temperate then that which aboundeth shall be diminished with Plaisters laid upon the Navell and secret members as with Vnguentum Santalinum decocted in a liquid and thick forme In few words wee may proceed in the same order as wee have prescribed concerning choler and blood But if coldnesse and moistnesse shall molest and vexe the secret parts over-much First the superfluity of them shall be mollified and prepared for purgation by remedies declining from them to heat and drinesse according to the prescript of the syrup following Take of the herbes of Mugwoort Betony Bawme Penny-royall Marjoram of each one handfull roots of Enula Campana Galangal Saytrion Parsley Fennel Asarum of each two drams Anis-seed Amomum Liquorice Madder that Diers doe use wilde Carrot Siler montanum Cummine of each one dramme Raisins one ounce fountain-Fountaine-water so much as sufficeth of Sugar or clarified Hony a sufficient quantity Let them all be commixed and after the straining made let them be made odoriferous with Cinamome and let Oxymel squilliticum be added to it Take three ounces at a time Or else take Electuarium Indum one ounce Catharticum Imperiale halfe an ounce waters of Buglosse and Borrage of each one ounce temper them together and make a draught Or dissolve them with three ounces of the aforesaid decoction and in like manner make one draught There may also be use here of Pilulae Foetidae and of Pills confected of Rheubarb Purgation sufficiently made let her take Pills prepared in this manner the quantity of a dram when shee is about to goe to bed Take Lignum Aloes Xylobalsamum Siler monnum Asarum or Asara Bacca Masticke Nutmegge Anis-seede Fennel-seede of each one dram Spicke-Nard Calamus Aromaticus Galbanum of each halfe a dram Myrobalani Chebuli Bellirici of each sixe drams Aloes two ounces mingle them with syrup of Peach-Roses and make a masse of Pills let the quantity to be taken be one dram at once To be briefe you may proceed in the same manner as wee have before advised in the cure of Phlegme CHAP. VII Of certaine generall Precepts serving for the curing of the barrennesse of men and women A Great part of the Cure of the barrennesse of men and women consisteth in the use of exeternall things which by our advice must be moderate that the body doe not become grosse and fat because fatnesse doth very much hinder secundity and fruitfulnesse Also extreme leanesse cannot be without fault in this case Wherefore in both these they must use temperate nourishments which have not the Nature to inflate and to breed windy matter in the body They must use Wine but little and sparing and moderate meate But principally let women observe and consider the complexion and state of the Matrix and let them warily marke their Termes lest in the time when they issue forth or when they are cleared from them they use an inconvenient diet but that rather they use most especially such things which are knowne to have an expulsive vertue and force to expell out of the body such as are parsley Stone-parsley Fennel the herbe which the Germans call commonly Pimpinella with the like herbes and roots of the same nature and quality But that every one may be instructed concerning every case wee will give an Antidote and Medicine contrary to the complexion of every corrupted Matrix And verily first of all when the Matrix shall be distempered and troubled with immoderate coldnesse there is caused a stopping of the Flowers bred and ingendred by reason of an evill diet observed in meat and drinke whereby continuall paines are felt about the loynes kidnies secrets along the backe and other members of the body and ever and anon horrible cold doth vex and molest them When things are come to this passe the use of those things is profitable whatsoever are of a hot Nature specially hot baths abounding with Brimstone such as are the bathes of the Helvetians or Swissers especially named the bathes of Badena a City in Helvetia in Germany But it shall be very profitable to use this syrup or potion for a preparative of the mattet to be purged Take of the syrup of Mugwoort on ounce Oxymel compound halfe an ounce waters of Mugwoort and Bawme of each one ounce By mixing them together make one draught But this drinke following must be used for a purgation Take Benedicta Laxativa Cassia newly extracted of each three drams water of Penny-royall and Mugwoort one ounce and a halfe mingle them and let one draught be made Also the confection of Diacastoreum is approved for this use Likewise all their meats are to be seasoned with these spices which have the Nature to heat as with Peper Ginger and such like To be short they must proceed in the same order as wee have taught before in curing sterility comming from a phlegmaticke humour Further if the Matrix shall be grieved with intemperate heat and drinesse the Termes will issue forth often but so sharpe that often times the secret parts are diseased and exulcerated In this case the diet medicines and use of all outward things is to be reduced and brought to a cold and moist temperature as it is in like manner declared before in the Cure of barrennesse proceeding from superfluity of choler But because oftentimes conception is hindred of wind inclosed within the body they must use meate and drinke which doth not puffe up and breed wind in the body but such as doth dissipate and disperse the same and proceed in the same order as we have taught before in curing the false windy conception named Mola And let these things be sufficiently spoken concerning those things which rectifie and remedy barrennesse Now in this discourse those things are not to be omitted Helps of frutfulnesse which further and cause fecundity and fruitfulnesse In this behalfe many excellent profitable things are delivered of the ancient and latter Physicians of which those which are chiefest we have thought it a profitable thing to gather together and to publish abroad to the profit and commodity of many Suffumigation These Fumes first made upon the coales and directed to the Matrix doe please very many Take Cypresse-nuts Nutmegge Masticke Frankincense Ladanum Myrrh Galbanum Bdellium Bay-berries of each one dram Styrax-calamita Styrax liquida of each two scruples Cloves Carui of each halfe a dram Amber two graines Saffron one scruple Muske five graines
be prepared for her drinke Compound Medicines But because the ancient Physicians have many times beene accustomed to use compound medicines not without praise in restraining and stopping this unnaturall Flux wee will hereafter also bring forth some of them An Electuary First of all you shall prepare an Electuary of which you shall give halfe a dram every day in the morning when the stomacke is empty to the woman which is grieved with this Flux dissolved in red Wine wherein Steele hath been quench'd Take roots of Comfrey Plantane as much as sufficeth Let them being boiled well be brayed in a Mortar and let them be straind a thorow strainer made of horse-haires Take of the Paste of Comfrey two drams of the roots of Plantane one dram and a halfe Sugar one pound dissolve the Sugar in raine-water or water wherin Iron red-hot hath been quenched or temper them together in Plantan-water in which Lapis Haematites hath beene dissolved untill it be red and boile all being mixed together with a little and easie fire and when they are are boiled and cooled a little put to them these simples following Take Sanguis Draconis Succus Acaciae seed of Sumach Terra Sigillata Amber Harts-horne burned and washed of each one dram Pearles prepared foure scruples red Corall prepared one dram and a halfe Spodium Lapis Haematites Parsley-seed of each two scruples mixe them being beaten to powder and make an Electuary in a dry Forme to be divided into Morsells Another Electuary Or prepare another Electuary in this manner Take old conserve of Roses one ounce Diacydonion cum saccharo sine speciebus three ounces Diarrhodon specierum Abbatis Coralls red prepared and powdred foure scruples Pearles prepared one dram Trochiskes de Carabe de Terra Sigillata of each two scruples Spodium Lapis Haematites Mumia of each of them halfe a dram Temper them with syrup of Pomegranates and make a gilded Electuary of which let the quantity of a Chesse-nut be taken every day morning and evening and let it be drunke being dissolved in red-Wine wherein Steele red-hot hath been quenched Also the Party may take these Pills following seven of them taken every morning when the stomake is empty as yet fasting Take Mumia Frankincense Masticke Harts-horne burned and washed of each halfe a dram the Runnet of a Hare or Kid foure scruples Temper them with plantane-Plantane-water in which Gum Arabick may be dissolved and let Pills be formed of it Also Mesue doth commend in this case Pilulae de Bdellio Majores and Minores to be taken one dram at a time Notwithstanding also these Pills following do profit Take Terra Sigillata Bole-Armeniacke prepared Galls Sanguis Draconis Runner of a Kid of each one dram Camphire two scruples mixe them and let Pills be made with syrup of Myrtles a dram to be taken at a time There is also no lesse consideration and respect to be had of the cure to to be used outwardly than of the inward hitherto handled and intreated of for there are many things which applyed outwardly doe wonderfully profit for the curing of these Fluxes But first of all such a bath or fomentation is to be prepared A Bathe or Fomentation Take Cauda Equina or Horse-taile leaves of the Mulberry-tree of the Peare-tree of Sloes of Services of the Medler-tree the inward barkes of the Oke red Roses Virga Pastoris or Fullers Teasell of each two handfulls Galls Myrtles of each one pound Medlers Services Acorne-cups of each two pound mixe them together and let a bathe or fomentation be made of all of them in water wherein Iron red-hot hath beene quenched If it be not convenient to use this bathe or fomentation you shall prepare such a Fume to be received by a Tunnell A Fume Take Colophonie halfe an ounce Spodium Bole-Armeniacke Blatta Byzantina blacke Poppie Henbane of each two drams mixe them and make a grosse powder Or else you must use this experiment very well approved Take the barks of the Pitch-tree used of the Curriers already in their worke one pound the inward parts or inward kernells of Galls bunches of Grapes dried let these being mixed together boile in water wherein red-hot Steele hath beene quenched and let the woman convey that fomentation into the Matrix by a Tunnel and that being done let her eat a Morsell for to comfort her of the Electuary before prescribed Also Vnguentum Comitissae is approved the which because it is knowne unto the Apothecaries It was not needfull to set it downe But if that cannot be gotten you may profitably use this Vnguent following prepared in this manner Take oile of Myrtles foure ounces juyce of the greater Plantane two ounces powder of Masticke two drams Sumach-seed Succus Acaciae Hypocistidos Myrtles Terra Sigillata Bole-Armeniack of each two ounces and a halfe Spodium Barley burned red Roses of each one dram Mingle them with Waxe so much as sufficeth and let an Vnguent be made of it A soft oynment Also such a soft ointment very profitable may be made Take the juyce of Comfrey of both the kindes of Plantane Cinquefolie or five-finger-grasse of each a like a little Vinegar mixe all things together and lay Linnen-clothes moistned in them upon the belly and loynes Or you shall prepare another in this forme Take Succus Acaciae Hypocistidos Psidia Another soft oynment Terra Sigillata Trochiskes de Carabe Colophonie of each halfe an ounce mingle them together and let a powder be made of them which you shall use in manner of a Cataplasme tempered with the juyce of Plantane applyed to the fore-parts and hinder-parts Also such a Plaister not unprofitable may be made Take the powder of Harts-horne burnt A Plaister Paper burned the drosse of Iron of each one ounce Acorne-cups two ounces mixe them make a powder with which tempered with the white of an Egge a little Vinegar and Plantane-water let a plaister be made A certain other plaister shall be prepared in this manner Take Masticke Olibanum Mumia Sanguis Draconis of each one ounce Flea-beane burnt Allome roots of Wal-woort or Asse-eare Psidia Pomegranate-flowers of each equall parts of all of them being beaten to powder halfe an ounce Earth-wormes pounded Frankincense of each two drams Mixe them together and make a Plaister of them with the white of an Egge a little Vinegar and Plantane-water Againe let another Plaister be thus made to be used after the manner of a soft ointment Take the juyce of Plantane mixed with Vinegar steepe leather of a Cowes hide in that Mâ—â—ture Afterward boile it and dip a cloth sometimes folded together in that decoction and apply it in manner of a soft ointment But if you shall use all these things in vaine at last you shall use these Pessaries Pessaries having wonderfull power to bind Take Triphera Magna Micleta Athanasia of each one dram Hypocisthidos Succus Acaciae Bole Armeny Sanguis Draconis roots of Comfrey
observed that the retention of the Termes is caused by the corruption of some humour are these namely most great paines from the Navil even to the privities and about the Kidnies loynes and hips continuall paines but most often paines of the head and also cold sweats many infirmities and griefes of the eyes because of their affinity and fellowship with the Matrix a painfull heavinesse of the eye-lids the colour pale much sadnesse often refusing of meate appetite slow weakenesse of the members and heavinesse of the whole body But here also concerning the quality of the humors very great differences are noted and observed as shall be made manifest in the discourse following If the cause be from Phlegme If the cause of the stopping of the Termes come from phlegme what be the signes and what be the cures the woman waxe pale the eyes doe become blewish the eye-browes doe swell cold is felt in the bottome of the Matrix thick and stinking humors doe issue from it white Termes doe drop from them the vrine is plae like unto Milke thicke and grosse substance is found in the bottome But where this cause shall be observed and found first the diet shall be directed and ordered to a hot and dry temperature Next that cold matter shall be mollified and prepared for purgation with this syrup following Take Chamaepitis Germander Origanum Rosemary Penny-royall Savine water-Mints Calamint wild Mints Thyme of each one handful leaves of Sena one ounce rootes of Ruscus or Butchers Broome Sperage Parsley stone-Parsley wild Radish Madder Valerian of each one ounce a halfe Iuniper-berries foure ounces Agarick two drams seede of the Nettle of the wild Carrot Ameos Anise Fennel Costus of each halfe an ounce and a halfe Let all things be mixed and beaten together and sodden in three pound of running-running-water to the wasting away of halfe of it let them be strained and to the straining adde Sugar so much as sufficeth let it be spiced with two drams of Cinamome and let a syrup be made and let three ounces be taken at a time Or let another such digestive be made Take Oximel compound three ounces water of Mugwoort and Bawme of each foure ounces and a halfe let it be spiced with one dram of Cinamome let a Potion be made of them to be taken at three draughts Then the matter being prepared for purgation shall be purged with this potion following A Potion Take fat Cassia and extracted with the decoction of Germander one ounce and a halfe Dodder Liquorice Polipodium Raisins Venus Haire of each halfe a handfull Cassia extracted Electuarium Indum of each three drams syrup de radicibus sine Aceto one ounce temper them and with the broth of red Cicers let a potion be made and let the quantity of it to be taken be two ounces If they had rather use Pills than this Potion they shall use these Pills take of Masses or Lumps of Pilulae foetidae Agregativae of each halfe a dram Pills Diagridion three graines mingle them with syrup of Mugwoort and let pills be made of them of which nine shall be taken at a time Or else this Powder to be taken in the broth of Cicers or in Whey shall be prepared in this manner Take of the best Turbit one dram A Powder or foure scruples Ginger halfe a dram Sal gemma six graines Saffron two graines Cinamome three graines Sugar two drams mixe them and let a powder be made of them Or they may use this potion following Take Benedicta Laxativa Electuarium Indum of each two drams Diacassia three drammes temper them with Bawme-water and Mugwoort-water so much as sufficeth Morsells Or let such purging morsells be made Take red Roses Ginger Cinamome of each three drams Sanders white and red of each one dram Hermodactyli Esula of each three drams Turbit foure drams Diagridion two drams Masticke one scruple white Sugar one pound Let all these things be dissolved in water of Mugwoort and let a confection be made in morsells and give foure drams at a time Or they may use this infusion following An Infusion Take Agarick halfe an ounce Ginger two scruples Sal gemma halfe a scruple let them be infused in three ounces Adde to them Oximel Squiliticum one ounce let all these things be infused twelve houres afterward let them be strained and squeised out and also spiced and made sweete with Cinamome and Sugar so much as sufficeth and let a potion be made of it the superfluous matter being sufficiently purged the next thing is that such a bathe be prepar'd in which the woman which is purged may sit A Bath Take Savine Calamint Origanum Bawme Feverfew wild-Mints Penny-royall Melilot Camomile of each two handfulls Celandine Pucedanum Horehound worme-Wood of each one handfull Bay-leaves Lavander Mercury Rosemary Ozymus flowers of the Elder-tree of each three handfulls Marish-Mallowes with the roots foure handfulls Mugwoort six handfulls rootes of Valerian two pound let all these things except the Mugwoort be beaten together and being put in a bagge let them boile in water and let a bathe be made of them And when shee commeth out of the bathe let her be annointed with this oyntment following under the Navell and about the loynes take oile of Lillies of sweet Almonds Marrow of the legge of a Calfe one ounce Muscilage Marish-Mallowes Fenegrek Line-seed of each one ounce Wax so much as is sufficient mingle them being beaten and let an Vnguent be made of them This being done let her drinke one spoonfull of this powder following with a convenient portion of the former decoction and afterward lying downe in her bed let her take her rest Take the best Cinamome rindes of Cassia Fistula of each halfe an ounce Cassia lignea three drams Saffron one dram a halfe Aristolochia rotunda Asarum Calamus Aromaticus rinds of the roots of Capparis Costus Dittany roots Tormentill of Eringus Lacca of each foure scruples Chamaepitis Germander Bay-leaves Origanum Penny-royall Ginger Calamint Thyme seeds of Broome of wild Rue of Daucus wild Cresses Hyssop Nigella or Gith Ameos Anise Fennell Bay-berries Serapinum of each halfe a dram Sugar equall to all in waight mixe them together and let a powder be made of them If shee cannot well away with this powder in this manner then let a confection be made in morsells after this manner following of which let her alwaies eate after the bathe Take of the aforesaid powder without Sugar one ounce and halfe a pound of white Sugar Let the Sugar be dissolved in the former decoction or in Mugwoort-water so much as sufficeth and let a confection be made in morsells In this cause proceeding from Phlegme all hot bathes consisting of much Brimstone are approved such as are bathes of Badina a City in Germany But if the woman shall not be able to use the bathe prescribed let her take foure handfulls of the aforesaid sorts of herbes let her boile them
with the best wine and let her receive the Fume of them underneathe thorow a Tunnell And if shee shall also be unable to endure this notwithstanding let her have a Fumigation with this fume following Take Amomum Galbanum of each three drams Assa Foetida Castoreum Spodium of each one dram mixe them and and let a powder be made of them of which one dram at a time cast upon the coales let a Fume be made to be received onely into the Matrix After the Fume being done let her use these Pills seven of them taken at a time Pills Take the fruit of Savine two drams Rue dryed one dram seed of wild Rue halfe a dram Assa Foetida Lachryma Ammoniaca Diers Madder of each one scruple Myrrh Castoreum of each two scruples Cinamome black Peper of each halfe a dram let all things be mix'd together and let them be made a powder and tempered with water of Mugwoort and let pills be formed as big as Pease all these things being finished both the veines named Saphenae shall be opened in both feete the Moone going downe Afterward she may use these Pessaries Take Triacle Mithridate Pessaries of each halfe a dram Castoreum Lachryma Ammoniaca of each one dram mixe them with Cotton dipped in the juyce of the herbe Mercury and make a Pessary Or otherwise Take of the juyce of Rue Wormewood of each equall parts Myrrh Euphorbium seed of Savine of each one dram and a halfe mixe them and let a Pessary be made Another may be made in this manner for women which are stronger by Nature Take Elleborus albus Pyretrum of each three drams Nigella Diagridium of each one dram mingle them with the juyce of Mercury and let a Pessarie be made Let such another be made which is of more efficacie and force Take Nigella Staves-acre Centaury the lesse of each two drams Elleborus albus Vitrum Sal gemma blacke Peper Diagridium of each two scruples Aloes Ladanum cleare Turpentine Styrax Calamita of each three drams Amber one scruple let all things be mixed together and incorporated with a hot Pessell because of the Gummes and being inclosed in a cloth moistned in the juyce of Mercury let Pessaries be made of them Or otherwise Take Gentian Savine Staves-acre Colocynthis Nigella or Gith of each one dram and a halfe let all these things be incorporated with the juyce of the wild Cowcumber named Elaterium or with the juyce of Mercury and let Pessaries be made of it If these former seeme to profit little other Pessaries shall be prepared in this manner Take juyce of Mercury Wormewood Feverfew Mugwoort of each three ounces Myrrhe Euphorbium Castoreum of each two drams Savine-seede Gith-seed of each one dram Ladanum Galbanum of each one dram and a halfe those things which are to be beaten to powder let them be powdered but let the juyces be decocted to a thicknesse let Pessaries be made of them the length and thickenesse of a finger If retention of the Termes be from Choler how it is to be Cured But if retention and straining of the Termes doe proceed from Choler heat shall be felt in the sound and botome of the Matrix drinesse coarctation and streightnesse and a certaine hardnesse not without paines and prickings desire of Venus a yellow colour of the eye-lids the urine red small store of Termes alwaies of a Citrine or yellow colour doth follow and accompany these signes and tokens of Choler And that cause being known the universall diet shall decline to a cold and dry temperature Afterward the supefluous matter shall be prepared for to be purged with this decoction following take leaves of Sena one ounce Mugwoort two handfuls Venus-haire Sorrell Endive Harts-tong Betony Liverwoort Bawme Mercury of each one handfull the foure cold seeds Agnus Castus Daucus or wild Carrot Pyonie Sperage Sothernwood Basil Milium Solis or Gromell of each halfe an ounce red Roses Borrage-flowers Violets of each a small quantity calld a Pugil roots of the best Rheubarb one dram Valerian Butchers-broome stone Parsly Smallage of each an ounce Cyperus Spike of each one dram and a halfe Cicers red Beanes Iuniper-berries Fenegrek of each one Pugil Let all these things be mingled together and beaten and boiled in three pound of running-water untill halfe be wasted let them be strained and to the straining let Sugar be added so much as sufficeth let it be spiced with a dram and a halfe of Cinamome You shal give 3 ounces of this decoction foure daies together in the morning when the stomack is empty or in the evening three houres before supper very warme to be drunk of the Patient But if she shal loath this decoction let her use this syrup following A Syrup Take syrup Acetosae simplicis one ounce Oximel simple half an ounce mingle them with the water of Succory and Endive of each one ounce and let a draught be made of it Or else take one ounce of the syrup of Peach-Roses syrup of Endive half an ounce commixe them with two ounces of the afore-spoken decoction or water of Endive and let a draught be made Or you may prepare such solutive medicines Take Manna halfe an ounce Electuarium de Succo Rosarum confection of Hamech Diacassia of each one dram syrup of Violets halfe an ounce waters of Succory and Endive of each one ounce mixe them and let one draught be made or otherwise take of the best Rheubarbe two drams Spike Nard six graines sprinckled with the best Wine infuse them in Whey twelve houres then straine them and to the straining adde Manna Cassia newly drawne of each one ounce and a halfe syrup of Violets one ounce let it be spiced with Cinamome as much as sufficeth and let a potion be made to the quantity of three ounces The superfluous matter being sufficiently purged voided by these solutive medicines such a bathe is to be decocted in which the woman may sit Bathe Take Marish-Mallowes with the rootes three handfulls Motherwoort or Mugwoort two handfulls Elder-flowers Willow-flowers Violet-Plants or Mater violarum Maiden-haire of each one handfulll Valerian halfe a pound Fenegrek Line-seed of each three ounces common Salt two drams Roche Allome halfe an ounce Brimstone one dram let all things be beaten together mingled and put in a bagge and let a bathe be made by boiling of them in which the woman may sit In this case all temperate waters with Allome and Copper doe profit and doe good when shee commeth out of the bathe let her be annointed with this ointment about the Loines and under the Navell Take oile of Roses of sweet Almonds of Violets of each one ounce Marrow of the leg of a calfe halfe an ounce two drams fresh Butter Hens-grease Muscilage of Fenegrek Muscilage of Line-seed of each halfe an ounce Waxe so much as sufficeth and let an Vnguent be made of them in a liquid forme After the Vnction being performed A
he be distinctly and propound 〈◊〉 formed yet hee hath not attained to his just perfection But if he bee borne the seventh month Why the Infant borne the seventh month may live hee shall live most easily because hee is perfect enough then But that they which are borne in the eight moneth are most seldome able to live when some borne in the seventh moneth doe for the most part remaine alive doth come to passe not without good reason For in the seventh moneth the Infant is alwaies moved to the birth at which time if he shall be of that force and strength he commeth forth to the birth If he be not hee remaineth in the wombe untill hee shall be able and strong enough that is to say the other two moneths If after that motion of the seventh moneth hee proceed not to birth he removeth himselfe from thence into another place of the womb is so debilitated effeeblished by that moving The Infant borne the eight moneth cannot live that if he come forth to birth the eight moneth following hee cannot live at all because of that motion For neither is the Infant weakned with this moving alone but with a double motion even unto death First Two deadly motions of Infants when he is borne the eight moneth after his moving in the seventh as we said of late Next because in respect of the Planets every seventh moneth bringeth forth a motion hurtfull and dangerous to any Feature The Sun I say at that time remaining in an opposite Signe and because the eight moneth is proper to Saturne an enemy of all things which receive life Also we must know The difference of sex and the cause thereof that male-children are conceived in the right side of the Matrix by plentifull seed issuing out of the right testicle or stone of the man but female-children in the left side by the seed of the left testicle For the right side because of the Liver is hotter but the left side is colder But principally the more copious and plentifull heat is a cause of ingendring and procreating of male-children The similitude of forme with the parents is from the power of the seed That also children doe sometimes answer and agree to their parents in likenesse of forme that thing is caused by the vertue and power of the seed that the Infant is most like to him or her in forme and shape whose seede doth most exceed and excell in power and vertue But in this case Motion of the starres supposed a cause the motion of the Starres is supposed to prevaile some thing that when the seed is conceived under good aspects of the Planets this causeth an excellent shape but when it is conceived under evill aspects in like case it procureth an ugly shape And so much hitherto CHAP. VI. Of certaine Precepts very necessary for women conceived with childe even to the houre of the birth by the reason of divers chances HEreafter we will give some wholesome and necessary Precepts to women conceived with childe by which being instructed they may certainly know how they may behave and use themselves from their conception even to the birth and deliverance that no danger may happen to them or they cause a hard and painfull birth to themselves by the neglect of the Precepts Before all things 1. To be merry and cheerefull not pined with care let them be of a merry heart let them not be wasted and pined with mourning and cares let them give their endevour to moderat joyes and sports For these things doe both exhilarate and cheare up the Infant and stirre up all the faculties of the Feature and doe strengthen and comfort him in his parts and members as is manifest in the third Chapter Further 2. let them abstaine and forbeare from all violent motion and hard painfull labours To abstaine from violent motion and painfull labour c. and let them use moderate exercise let them not leape or rise up suddenly let them not runne also neither dance nor ride neither let them lace or gird in themselves hard or straight or lift up any heavie burden with their hands Sleepe especially is convenient 3. To take heed of sharpe and cold winds great heat c. Againe let them take heed of cold and sharp winds great heat anger perturbations of the minde feares and terrours immoderate Venus and all intemperance of eating and drinking Let the diet and food of women with child 4. To be moderate in diet be frugall and moderate let them abstaine from crude raw and grosse meates to wit Lentills Beanes Milium Beefe salt and fryed fruites milke cheese and such like But let them use Chickins Egs divers sorts of Pottages Birds Mutton and Veale It will be good sometime to use Cinamome and Nutmeg with Sugar Let reasonable white Wide serve for their drinke 5. Not to let blood the first foure months nor to use boxing-glasses The first foure moneths from the conception by the counsell of Hippocrates let them not open any veine let them also abstaine from boxing glasses or boxing let them take no Pills or purge without the counsell of an expert and skilfull Physician for that time the Ligaments and binders of the Feature are as yet tender and weake and therefore the Feature is easily destroyed and nourishment is substracted and drawne from him But if it shall happen that they be bound and cannot got orderly to stoole 6. To make the body soluble being bound let them take Spinage seasoned with store of Butter also Lettuce made tender with Water with Salt Wine and Vinegar But if those things will not relaxe and unloose the belly let them use Suppositors confected and made of Hony and the yolke of an Egge or with Venice-soape But if the constipation and binding shall be so great that this remedy will not profit let them by the advice of a skilfull Physician use a potion of the decoction of the leaves of Sena together with Cassia newly extracted and drawne which the Physician shall minister more or lesse according to the quality of the constipation or costivenesse And if they shall conceive with grievous Symptomes and accidents 7. If after conception there happen swooning and fainting what to doe and after the conception shall suffer swoning and fainting continually let them drinke Sorrell-water and Rose-water warmed tempered with Cinamon and little Rundells or Cakes named Manus Christi or Diamargariton Or the water of Roses and Buglosse being tempered with a litte Cinamon Cloves and Saffron beaten to powder shall be laid upon the brest in a cloth once or twice doubled together dipped and steeped in that water If they thinke they shall be delivered before their time through some accident what to doe But if they thinke they shall be delivered before the time as in the seventh moneth or some other immature and unseasonable time and shall already
feele the dolours and paines of their labour to be moved and stirred up either through some immoderate exercise or constipation and hard binding of the belly or by an Ague or some other disease let her receive a Fume or Suffumigation of Frankincense upon the coales For the doing of this will greatly strengthen the Matrix and the Infant Afterward let her bathe the outwards parts with Allome Galls Comfrey decocted and sodden in Raine-water Wine and Vinegar And if they shall be weak and feeble by swooning let them take Diamargariton or Manus Christi after the same manner as wee spake before But if a disposition to vomiting shall creepe upon them If there happens a disposition to vomit or want of digestion what to doe or that they cannot digest the meat which they have taken let them use this syrup Take of the syrup of Pomegranates one ounce and a halfe Muske Lignum Aloes of each one scruple Cinamome one scruple and a halfe temper and commixe them with three ounces of water of Sorrell and make a draught of it for them to drinke Let them drinke this syrup every day when they are fasting being well warmed Also for the strengthning and comforting of the stomacke let them use these Roundells or Trochiskes Take of the confection Diambra morning and evening and also after meat To strengthen and comfort the stomacke Also let them lay this Plaister following upon the mouth of the stomacke Take Masticke Cinamome red Roses Sage Mint Baulaustium or the flowers of Pomegranates of each one ounce and a halfe Oile of Quinces of Turpentine a sufficient quantity make a Plaister of which take so much as may suffice to spread upon a piece of Leather the breadth and forme of a stomack-plaister termed Seutum which may be covered with silke Or let them use this Vnguent or Ointment Take Masticke white Frankincense Mints of each a little quantity let them temper every one of them beaten to powder with common oile and therewith annoint well the mouth of the stomacke 10. If they shall have their Termes come downe what to doe But if in the time of child-bearing they shall have the Termes to come downe they shall prepare sweet milke in which a piece or gad of steele red hot hath been extinguished and quenched they shall drinke of it they shall eate of it they shall make Pottage and Sops with it Also they may sweat using these things Take of the greater Plantane Inula campana Cinquefoile or Five-finger grasse Culvers or Pigeons dung the stalks of Beanes and Oats of each one handfull let them all be let decocted in water together and let sweatings be provoked by sitting in a bathe of them 11. Women that are seldome delivered at the due time what to doe There are also many women which are seldome delivered at the due time but too soone and before the time let them when the are conceived with childe prepare and make bathes for their feete and legges in which let them sit daily one houre before supper and againe three houres together after supper Take Saxifrage Camomile Salt Dill of each a handfull Also they may use this Electuary in the morning and when they goe to bed Take Electuarium laetificans mixed and tempered with Been white red beaten to powder But especially this thing which is knowne by much experience shall greatly profit Take the little skinnes extracted and drawne out of stomackes of Hens and let them take them beaten to fine powder for a few daies in the morning fasting with Wine the waight of a French-crowne And these truely are generall precepts fit and convenient for many accidents and changes that it may be certainly evident and apparent to every one how they ought to carry and demeane themselves from the conception even untill the time of the birth the knowledge of the which is not so profitable as the use is necessary The end of the second Booke The third Booke Of the birth and all manner of remedies which may concerne women in time of child-birth and also their Infants CHAP. I. Of the due and lawfull time of the birth and of the forme and manner of it and also of the paines and dolours of women in time of their travell and labour NOw the ninth Month being instant the nourishment of the Infant beginneth to faile in the wombe and not to be sufficient The Infant being great and wanting nourishment moveth with great violence in the wombe because of the greatnesse of the Infant to which he is growne unto For now being great hee needeth much nutriment and food which because he cannot sufficiently attract and draw unto him by the small veines and likewise by the Navell he is moved with great force and violence in the womb He breaketh the ligaments so that he breaketh asunder the Ligaments or binders the small veines with the coats or caule in which he is wrapped infolded I say the Secundine with the other two coats or wrappers of which it hath been spoken before and doth prepare unloose himselfe to the birth after the maner of this figure What the paines of the birth are By this declaration appearance Midwives and other women which are present with pregnant and laboring women may marke and observe the true and proper paines passions and throngs of child birth which indeed are no other thing but the violence and strugglings of the Infant being come to perfection with which he is driven tossed and rolled hither and thither and striveth downeward to the lower parts that he might have passage to come forth into the light For the membranes or caules being broken by his striving violence and the Matrix being disclosed and opened the humours doe begin to flow abroad from which the Infant being freed and delivered by and by feeleth the aire and through desire of this life is rolled towards the out-passage of the Matrix A naturall birth his head turned towards the mouth and entrance of the Matrix And this is the forme and manner of a legitimate and most naturall birth if first the head proceede forth the hands stretched downewards by the sides and laid upon the hips as the present Figure adjoyned doth shew and expresse But the birth is said to be unnaturall if any of these conditions and properties shall be wanting The Midwife to be provided of convenient things Wherefore the Midwife shall have a diligent care that shee be furnished and provided timely and speedily to receive any birth with a convenient Stoole or Chaire with a Knife Sponge binders and with oile of Lillies warmed with which shee may profitably annoint both the wombe of the labouring woman and her owne hands CHAP. II. Of the Office of Midwives and of the apt and fit forme and fashion of their Stoole or Chaire The office of Midwives BVt what the Office of Midwives is in the time of birth and how the action
swellings and tumors In the Hydropsie the legs do swel but in the false conception Mola they waxe lesse and feeble In the disease named a Tympany the belly is hard sounding like a tabor or drum but in the conception Mola it is not so And by this meanes the differences of these like tumors may be observed noted and understood how hardly they may be cured CHAP. II. Of the cure of the false conception Mola and other false tumours and swellings of the wombe IN the cure of the false conception Mola The dyet inclining to heat and moisture such a Diet before all things is to bee appointed as may incline to heate and moisture Also where there shal be need of blood letting let the veine of the anckle be opened named Saphena The veyne of the ancle to be opened thereby the matter shall be purged and voyded in that manner as you shall see delivered in the Retention and stopping of the Termes in the sequel of the discourse hereafter following These things going before those things which purge and cure inwardly A Bathe also outward remedies may be used First of al we must use a Bath in which she which is conceived with the false conception Mola must sit every day morning and evening her stomach being empty the water reaching up so high as her navell And the bathe shall be prepared in this manner Take of Marish Mallowes with the roots sixe handfuls of other Mallowes Branca Vrsina or beares foot or if it bee not to bee had Violet leaves Pellitory of the wall Camomile Melilot of of each two handfuls Fenegreke Lin-seed of each two pound Those things being beaten to powder which are to be powdred let them be put in a bag and let them boyle in the water in which the sicke woman shall sit Also it will be very profitable to lay that bagge very hot upon the secret parts and the loynes An Vnguent After this bathe let her bee cherrished with warme clothes and lying downe in her bed let her be annointed with this unguent about the secret parts and loynes Take of the oyle of sweet almonds one ounce and an halfe of oyle of Lillies Hens-grease Muscilage of Lin-seed Fenegreke of each halfe an ounce White waxe so much as sufficeth temper them together An Electuary and make an oyntment Also let her use this Electuary following the quantity of a Filbert nut every day morning and evening Take of Cinamome two drams the rind or outside of Aristolochia longa Cassia Fistulae or in stead thereof let the quantity of the Cinamome be augmented of each one Dram Assarra Baccha Lacca seed of Rue the fruite of wilde Savine Saffron of each halfe an ounce Sugar halfe a pound Let the Sugar bee dissolved in the iuyce or water of Rosemary let the confection be made in morsels Also this Electuary may bee given her another way that is to say in broth decocted with old wine the yolkes of two egges and Sugar a reasonable quantity of this Electuary being put into it Also these Pilles following are wonderfull forcible of which let her take halfe a dram Pilles or a whole Dram. Take Nigella Romana Aristolochia rotunda Dictamum Creticum seed of Garden-cresses the fruit of wilde Savine Serapinum seede of Rue Amoniacum Thymiama Madder of the dyers Myrrhe Castoreum of each one dram make Pilles of them with the iuyce of the wilde Reddisk and Hony so much as sufficeth let her take the waight of one or two drams These things being done Suppositories suppositories also are to be conveyed into the Matrix which may driue forth the false conception Mola and remove it from the inward receptacle and cave of the Matrix into the outward part take Asphaltum Borace Castoreum great Centaurie Ditany Elleborus albus Galbanum Gentian Opoponax Savine Serapinum Scamonie of each halfe a dram Saffron one scruple temper and incorporate them with the iuyce of a Leek and make a suppository Sometime shee may use trochiskes of Myrrhe of which wee have spoken in the third chapter of the third booke for they both drive forth the false conception Mola and cause an easie passage But in tumours or swellings How tumours proceeding from a Tympany and Hydropsie are to be cured which happen of inclosed aire reteined humours the diet is so to be prescribed and ordered that it incline wholly to heate and drinesse Purgations also Phlebotomies or bloud-lettings may bee used according to the abundance of the qualities Which things being performed in the first place a bathe or Fomentation shall be prepared in the forme before prescribed A Bathe these things following being added unto it besides take Wilde Penny-royall Rue Penny-royall Bay-leaves drie Wormewood Anise Fennel Cumine of each an equall portion More things also like unto these of the same Nature may bee taken for mitigation and repressing tumours And Part also of the Herbes now spoken of shall bee put into a bag and applyed to her loynes while shee sitteth in the bathe After the bathe A Confection let her take of this confection the bignesse of a Filbert-nut in old white wine in which Alsara Bacca is before infused Which confection is made thus Take of the Species or kindes of Diacurcuma Diacyminum of each three Drammes white Sugar halfe a pounde let the Sugar be dissolved in the water of Herbe-grace and make a confection in little cakes or Morsels Or if you please you may give her this Potion warme A Potion after her bathing made in this manner Take twenty Peach-kernels the skinne newly pulled off to which being pounded with the yolkes of two egges and mixed together you shall adde the powder following Take Galanga Cinamome Long-peper Ginger Cloves Saffron Nutmeg of each halfe a Dram make a powder of them Let a Decoction be made of all these with the best wine Let them bee strayned and when it is strayned put sugar to it and make a very cleare potion of it Or which liketh us better let the matter of the simples still remaine in the Decoction and let them be taken altogether in the warme drinke The Species also of the confection named Hiera Picra doth much availe in this case taken in some drinke or Pilles But when the Tumour or swelling shall bee caused by the retention of divers humours then the matter shall bee purged out and voided by such remedies as wee have beene accustomed to use in the stopping of the Termes and to provoke urine such as this is Take the seeds of Parsley aniseed Fennel Stone parsley Cardamomus and the leaves of Rue Let all of them being beaten to powder with equall waight be drunke with sweet wine Also in this case the confection of Diagalanga is approved to bee good and the Electuary de Baccis lauri also the oyle of Rue of Henbane and of White Lillies A Plaster and the Trochiskes of Agaricke A plaster also of this sort may
prepared of each halfe a scruple the powder of precious stones halfe a dram temper all these together and with Syrup of Roses make an Electuary and let it be gilded with a leave of pure gold Because also the first three moneths Aborcements are caused through ventosities and windinesse 3. How ventosities or winds are to be dispersed and dispelled the meate of the woman with childe shall be continually seasoned with these spices Take Cinamome Nutmeg Cardomomus of each halfe an ounce Ginger six drams long Peper one dram Saffron halfe a scruple of these shall be a powder made which may be used in all meats But when the ventosity and windinesse shall begin to be augmented and increased they must use the confections of Diagalanga Diatrionpipereon Diacyminum and the like And it shall be profitable thorowly to annoint the belly and flanck with oile of Lillies But for the repressing of vapours fuming up into the head Stiptick fruits to be eaten after meats alwaies stiptick and binding fruits are to be taken after meat that is Peares Quinces Medlers Coriandrum Saccharatum or Diacydonion which Avicen approveth before all other things for that purpose Salt meates with vinegar water in which gold hath beene quenched approved Rosted flesh and fish better than boiled Also salt meates with Vinegar and water in which gold heat red-hot is extinguished and quenched taken with meat are very much approved Likewise it shall be more wholesome to eate rosted flesh and fish than boiled very well seasoned with spices Let their wine be cleare wholesome and a little allaied with water After meat it is profitable to take some Filbird-nuts covered over with Sugar How the swelling of the legs is to be taken away but for the taking away of the swelling of their legs let the stalkes of Colewoorts or Camomile-flowers be sodden with wine and vinegar and let a fomentation or bathing be made upon them with these Some doe mingle clay with water wherein red-hot steele hath beene quenched a little Vinegar being sprinckled upon it and doe lay such fomentations upon the legges But if abortion is to be feared by reason of the diseases of the Kidnies and of the Loines a great inflammation accompanying those grievances which may be knowne by the urine or water the loynes are to be annointed with this Vnguent Take oile of Mirtles of Roses of Mastick 4. The cure of the Kidnies and Loines of each one ounce and a halfe the juyce of the greater Plantane Barba Eovis or Housleeke of each halfe an ounce Bole Armenie parched Barley Terra sigillata red Sanders red Roses Succus Acacia Myrobalans Hypocisthis of each halfe a dram Let those things which are to be powdred be beaten to powder and let them be commixed and tempered together with Vinegar white Waxe and Turpentine so much as sufficeth and make an Vnguent of them After this ointment hath beene used a few daies this plaister following shall be laid afterward upon the Kidnies Loines Take Masticke halfe an ounce Ladanum three drams yellow Wax Bistort Cipresse-nuts Myrobalans Hypocisthis How coldnesse is to be driven away Acacia Terra sigillata red Roses Bole Armenie of each one dram and a halfe to these adde a little quantity of oile of Mirtles or Turpentine and make a Cerot or Cere-cloth which may be spread upon a piece of Leather But if it be suspected that abortion will follow by a cold cause we must abstaine from this ointment and we must use the plaister here following Take Masticke six drams Ladanum foure drams and a halfe yellow Wax Colophonia Ship-pitch or Stone-pitch Styrax Calamita of each one dram and a halfe Cypresse-nuts Mints Bistorte Gallia muscata Frankincense Galbanum Gum Arabick Mirth of each one dram and a halfe Make a plaister of them with Turpentine If the woman shall feele an itching under it this must be taken away for a few daies then afterward it must be applied to the place againe neither must it altogether be omitted because the Kidnies and Loines are very much strengthned by this And if the belly of the woman with childe shall be overlaxative and loose it shall be restrained with an Electuary confected in this order Take the confection Diamarinaton that is sower Cherries condite Diacydoniton Electuarium de Cornis conserve of Roses of each one ounce the cups of Akornes Terra sigillata of each one dram Temper them with the syrup of Pomegranates and make an Electuary in a liquid forme this taken morning and evening and before meat is very much approved Also in this case Crab-fishes gathered out of brookes and rivers are commended of Hippocrates Likewise all meats sodden in water wherein iron or steele red hot hath beene quenched or tempered with the juyce of Acacia also wine alaid with that water let not her meat be thin and moist but dry and thicke let Dates that is to say the fruit of the Date-tree be sodden with her pottage If these things shal not bind the belly it shall be convenient to use a strictive Clysters and if shee shall be grieved with the disease Tenasmus and goeth often to the stoole but voideth nothing so aborcement is to be feared all those things are to be used before spoken with which the belly may be unloosed and made slippery and also Clysters and Suppositories Likewise the Diet is to be prescribed and ordered according to the forme and manner before set downe 8. If the child-bearing woman shall abound with noisome humors whereby many diseases may follow as a Tertian Quartane or a continuall Fever the which as Hippocrates telleth us doe easily cause abortion because by them the nutriment of the Feature is diminished or if the fits be great with great paines of the head and immoderate heat then wee must resist the heat in this manner Take water of Roses of Betony of Sage Vinegar of Night-shade of each one ounce Bole-Armeniack one scruple of all the kindes of Sanders of each halfe a dram Terra sigillata Saffron of each one scruple Mixe them together with the white of an Egge and make a soft ointment to be laid upon the Temples of the head shee may use also in stead of a Cordiall medicine the confection Diatriasandalon conserve of Roses Borage and Buglosse But if it shall happen also that the Matrix be inflamed earth-wormes are to be pounded in a mortar of which Vineger the iuyce of Rue and common oyle mixed with them let there be made a soft oyntment or the Emplaster of Sanders or the plaster named Coctum Album shall be layed upon it But if the second or third moneth the Whites shall beginne to issue forth by reason of Phlegmaticke humours abounding whereby the Cotyledons are grieved which are veines to which the Feature is fastned in the wombe and the mouth of the Matrix becommeth slippery and therefore it is to be feared that the woman shall suffer Aborcement we must proceede altogether in
that manner as wee have declared in the Cure of dispersing Ventositie and windie matter Divers experiments leting Abortion Furthermore other experiments also are approved A little bone which they call Saltus or Astragalus Leporis to bee carried about the woman and to drinke of it daily the stomacke being empty Also the stone named Lapis-stellatus so enchased in gold or silver that it may touch the naked body Some women beare about them a claw taken from the foot of a Beare Also the ashes gathered together of a Hedgehog being burnt and tempered with oyle affordeth an oyntment very commodious and profitable for this affection and passion Little wormes are found underneath herbes which if they be hanged alive on the womans necke shee shall never Aborte neither bring forth before due season as some are bold to promise and let the truth of the matter depend upon their credit For they say they have such great efficacy to hinder the birth that the woman cannot be delivered unlesse they bee removed Wherefore they admonish that they must bee alwaies removed and taken away in time Also the stone named Lapis Aetiles which some say is found in an Eagles nest is proved against Aborcements and over hastie birthes which in like manner is reported to further and promote a lingring and over-flow birth 10. There are likewise some other external things which chance outwardly and for all that doe cause aborting to women by a naturall cause as if a woman-conceived with childe doe tread upon a serpent viper the egge of a Crow as some doe write or a dead serpent with two heads named Amphisbaena Some also doth attribute this property to Castoreum carried in the bosome But if it happen that the Termes issue forth after Conception 11. they are not straight way to be stopped unlesse the woman become weake with Flowing of them If they issue forth moderately this thing is to bee permitted because they signifie that much slyminesse and distempered humours and abundance of bloud is deteyned in the wombe If they flow forth more copiously they shall bee stayed and restreyned with Acacia Hypocisthis and Lin-seed sodden in water to be used by a bathe or Fomentation If the legs shal be swoln which thing often time happeneth the three former monethes regard is to bee had of the liver and stomacke that they may bee lightened and eased from superfluous humors and let meats bee given them of another quality If the liver grow hard to women-conceived with childe it is a hard thing to remedy it because as Galen witnesseth in this passion they are not able to endure strong medicines Wherefore the most gentlest shall bee administred to them But because it falleth out that dead Features sometime doe proceed forth more slowly and sometimes never even as the Secundines doe wee must understand that most great dangers doe happen to women also sicknesses swooning failing of life especially in sommer-time by reason of venemous vapours fuming and flying upward from the putrefying Feature and so greatly vexing and molesting the heart and the brain that oftentimes they are deprived of the use of reason and understanding Therefore all care is to bee used and imployed that dead Features may speedily be expelled the poore women freed from so great dangers which thing how it may bee done wee have taught in the former books by a large discourse CHAP. V. Of the signes of Conception ALthough it be a hard thing to know the true conception of women yet we may give a coniecture by many signes and attaine unto it by some arguments confirmed and ratified by experience It is credited for certaine signe of conception if the woman the tenth day or some day sooner after shee had company carnally with man shall perceive the Termes to bee white or red by reason of humours also the stopping and retention of the Termes is accompted for a signe yet it deceiveth because it happeneth also often times without conception Therefore this being omitted wee will prosecute other notes and signes taken from the body of the woman herselfe concerning true conception every member and part examined and first the beginning shall proceed from the head The paines of the head swimming of the brain and dymnesse of the eyes if they concurre and chance together doe signifie conception The apples of the eyes are lessened The eyes swell and are changed into a swartish colour The little veines doe waxe red and begin to swell with bloud The eyes sinke downe into the head The eye-lids become feeble Divers colours are seene in the eyes and perceived in a looking-glasse Red pimples doe arise in the face The little veines placed betwixt the nose and eyes are swolne with bloud and are seene more clearely and plainely than they were wont The veine under the tongue waxeth greenish The necke is hot the backe-bone cold The veines and arteries are full the pulses are easily perceived The veines situated in the breast at first wax blacke afterward begin to be yellow or to be of a blewish-colour The dugs begin to swell and wax hard with paines The nipples beginne to be reddish If cold water be drunke a coldnesse is felt in the breasts A loathing and refusing of meat and drinke creepeth upon the woman Divers appetites longings are ingendred A destruction and decay of Naturall appetite and desire is caused and procured A continuall casting and parbreaking and weakenesse of the stomach Sower and slow belchings A loathing of wine A disordered and intemperate beating of the heart Sudden ioyes after these sudden sorrowes Wringings and gripings about the Navell Paine of the loynes The lower part of the belly is affected with swellings There are inward compunctions and prickings in the body The seed is reteyned seaven daies after carnal company A coldnesse and chilnesse of the outward members after the act of Generation The attractive faculty and vertue of the Matrix is increased The Matrix is dryed by and by A great delight and pleasure in the Venerious act but after conception a disdayning of Venus The Matrix is restreyned and closed But because this thing is procured by other causes also it may bee observed and noted by an infallible and certaine difference when it foresheweth conception For then it is slender and soft but if it be restreyned and closed for any other cause as by too much heate or swelling then it remayneth harder The secret parts of the woman are wrinkled even unto the seaventh moneth The wombe waxeth round and swelleth About the beginning of Conception paines of the belly and backe 〈◊〉 felt as it were beating The Termes or Flowres are stopped For the veines from whence they doe flow carrie and conveigh by the mouthes and speckes named Acetabula bloud to nourish the Feature through the Navel and some of that matter is drawne upward to the breasts where it is transmitted and changed into milke For so also Hippocrates admonisheth us saying
blacke neither doth it issue forth copiously although it be constrained If it arise through subtility and thinnesse of the blood then the blood is pure and cleare and the Flux is small If heate be mixed with it it shall easily be discerned in the Matrix and by other tokens and signes If cold be mixed with it it shall in like manner be observed and found out If the blood shall issue forth because it is liquid and thin the cause of this is the evill disposition and state of the body and the debility of the concoctions caused and ingendred by abundance of many moistures and winds or vapors inclosed and imprisoned in the Matrix But if you will have certaine knowledge of the humor constraining this unnaturall issue looke upon a linnen cloth sleightly coloured and dipped in the menstruous blood If the colour of it doth incline to rednesse you may know that the cause of the Fluxe doth proceed from blood If it bend toward Citrine or yellow colour from Choler if it incline to whitenesse from Phlegme But if it incline to a black colour you may know the cause of the Fluxe to arise from Melancholy What Fluxes are to be stopped Further you shall consider when as the Flux shall be tolerable and easie to be indured which doth not make the body leane nor weaken it but doth dis-burden it and make the same more light and nimble that such a Flux is inforced and moved by naturall vertue and power only expelling and voyding that which is superfluous in the blood and therefore such Flux and issue ought not to be restrained or stopped But if the contrary thing happen it is to be restrained and staied altogether lest it bring the Patient to cholerick Fevers because that blood being evacuated and exhausted Choler doth beare the whole sway and play the Tyrant and being freed from his bridle doth furiously vex and torment the Patient For blood as it is commonly said is the bridle of Choler But because also naturall colour is nourished cherrished with blood that flowing away it is necessary that a defect and decay of heat must follow and ensue and by that all the members and parts of the body to waxe cold the whole body to be debilitated and weakened the whole appetite to be taken away the concoctions to be hindred the Consumption and Hydropsie and also other most miserable diseases at the last to hasten after the same But because it is not sufficient to know the diversities of the diseases onely unlesse wee be resolved likewise of the fit and convenient cure of repelling them wee will hereafter also declare a few things of many which shall seeme to be the choisest and most speciall concerning the cure and remedy of these evills And as the Causes of these Fluxes and issues are inward and outward so the cure shall be inward and outward also The inward cure of unnaturall Fluxes And truely first of all if this unmeasurable or unnaturall Fluxe shall happen by some inward cause before all things the diet and use of all outward things shall be ordered and directed to a cold and dry temperature that blood may decrease and be diminished Therefore it will greatly profit to decoct and seethe all convenient and agreeable meats in Milke or Water in which Steele red-hot hath beene quenched and to eate Colewoorts boiled with Lentills or Beanes Or if it please you such a decoction shall first be prepared wherein other meats afterward shall be boiled Take Plantane-leaves flowers of Wool-blade or Lungwoort with the leaves of each one handful the roots of Symphytum or comfrey one ounce mingle them together and boile them with water or Milk in which burning Iron hath beene quenched straine it and squeise it out hard With this decoction all other meates may be prepared as Almonds Lentills Beanes the graine Milium Rice Amylum and the like things rosted flesh is to be preferred before sodden Also sauces may be prepared of the juice of Goose-berries Sorrell and Barberries to be mingled with other meats Let her abstaine from Spices and all things which are of a hot nature but specially from Saffron Let her drinke thicke red Wine allaied with water wherein Steele hath beene quenched It will likewise be profitable that Gold should oftentimes be extinguished and quenched in that Wine after it hath beene made red-hot in the fire Let her use no exercise but as much rest as may be Let her use much sleep let her wholly shake hands with Venus and flie from her as from a deadly poison Her belly being constipated and bound by reason of this continuall Fluxe shall be relaxed and unloosed with a gentle Clyster but thou shalt not by any meanes restraine and stop the Flux unlesse it shall induce and bring debility and feeblenesse lest thou oppose thy selfe against Nature of her owne accord expelling and voiding out superfluous things when thy resistance shall procure great evill When and how Fluxes are to be restrained But when necessity shall require then at last it will be convenient and profitable to binde and stop this Flux And first of all you shall use this powder of which you shall give one dram to be drunke at a time in water in which Gold heat red-hot hath bin quenched And the powder shall be thus prepared Take Terra Sigillata Carabe or Amber Succus Acacia of each halfe an ounce Hypocistis or Hypoquistidos Harts-horne washed and burnt the Runnet of a Kid or Hare of each two drams red Corrall prepared and beaten to powder one dram Gumme Arabicke Costus Sanguis Draconis Bole-Armeniacke prepared of each one dram and a halfe Comfrey flowers of Quinces the pills or rindes of Pomgranates of each one dram Pearles prepared one scruple Mumia halfe a dram Myrtles Olibanum of each one dram Lapis Haematites or the Blood-stone roots of the water-Lilly of each one dram and a halfe Mix them all together and let a powder be made of them Also you shall not unprofitably give this powder following to be eaten in an Egge Take Bole-Armenie prepared Terra Sigillata red Sanders Anthera of each one scruple and a halfe Rindes of Pomegranates Acorne-cups Nut-meg of each halfe a dram Mixe them and make a Powder Or let her use this Electuary morning and evening Take of the Antidote Athanasia Micleta of each one ounce old conserve of Roses one ounce and a halfe Rindes of Pomegranates Acorne-cups Nut-meg Corall prepared of each one scruple and a halfe Pearles prepared halfe a scruple Terra Sigillata halfe a dramme Sanguis Draconis Bole-Armenie prepared Lapis Hematites of each one scruple Temper them with syrup of Pomegranates as much as sufficeth and let an Electuary be made of it Adde to it if neede be Philonium Persicum one dram Moreover against Thirst Water wherein red-hot Steele hath beene quenched mingled with the syrup of Quinces and Pomegranates and with the juyce of Gooseberries and Acetosa simplex shall