whatsoever; yea, though the bones therewith be bare; but you must anoint the sores twice every day, washing first the corruption from the sores with White Wine.-Arnoldus.

49. Take one handful of Mugwort, and seeth it in sweet Oil Olive, until the third part of the oil be consumed; then anoint therewith any part that is tormented or pained with the Gout, and the pain thereof will be quickly gone or put away. This is an experiment of the King's surgeon against the Gout of the Feet and Hands.Mizuldus.

50. It is found by observation, that Rats and Dormice will forsake old and ruinous houses three months before they falls for they perceive by an instinct of nature, that the joints and fastening together of the posts and timber of the houses, by little and little will be loosed, so that it will fall to the ground Plinius and Lemnius.

51. If one bleed on the right side of the nose, bow and press hard the party's right finger that bleeds: if on the left side, then the little finger in like case, for therewith the bleeding will cease. This is a common and proved remedy.-Mizaldus. 52. Whosoever is tormented with the Sciatica, or Hip Gout, let them take a herb called Spear Grass, and stamp it, and lay a little thereof upon the grief, but put upon it a cockle or walnutshell, and tie something on it that the herb be not removed ; and within six or eight hours at the most, it will make a great blister on the same place; then lay a Clot Leaf, or a Wort Leaf on the same, but first let the water out of the blister with a pin, and it will draw out all the water that causeth the pain or grief. This helped one that was pained therewith Twenty years.

53. Put two or more quick Mice in a long or deep Earthen Pot, and set the same nigh unto a fire made of Ash Wood; when the pot begins to be hot, the Mice therein will begin to chirp or make a noise, whereat all the Mice that are nigh them will run towards them, and so will leap into the fire, as though they should come to help their poor imprisoned friends and neighbours. The cause whereof Mizaldus ascribes to the smoke of the Ash Wood.

54. If you seeth the dregs, or mother, or foam of Oil to half, and therewith anoint the bottom, corners, and feet of any Chest or Press, the Clothes that you lay therein shall never be hurt with moths, so that it be dry before you put your clothes therein.-M. Varro and Cato.

55. Make a plaster of Potter's Clay, mixed with Vinegar and the White of an Egg, and apply it to the Gods of him that bleeds at the nose, and straightway his bleeding will stay or cease. This is a sure proved medicine.

4056. Give a Woman (that suspects herself to be with child),

at night when she goes to bed, a Clove of Garlick to eat ; and if she feel no savour thereof in the morning when she riseth, then she is with child.-This I had out of an old written book.

57. An excellent and approved thing to make them Slender that are Gross: Let them eat three or four cloves of Garlick, with as much bread and butter, every morning and evening, first and last, neither eating nor drinking for three or four hours after their taking it in the morning, for the space of fourteen days at the least, and drink every day three draughts of the decoction of Fennel, that is, of the water wherein Fennel is sod and well strained, fourteen days after, at the least at morning, noon, and night. I knew a man that was marvellous gross, and could not go a quarter of a mile, but was enforced to rest him a dozen times at the least, that with this medicine took away his grossness, and afterwards could go a journey on foot.

THE

THIRD BOOK

OF

NOTABLE THINGS.

1.

FIVE Eggs laid in the evening in strong and tart Vinegar, and taken out of the same the next morning, so that you perceive their shells therewith to be something soft, else let them lie longer therein, and then put or thrust them down the throat of a Horse that hath the Cough, his tongue being held all that while out of his mouth, will heal him perfectly of the same.

2. The Turtle Doves have such a love one to another (being mates), that when one of them is dead, the other will never after have any other mate.-Aristotle.

3. If you take an Oak Apple from an Oak Tree, and in the same you shall find a little Worm, which if it doth fly away, it signifies Wars; if it creeps, it betokens scarcity of Corn; if it run about, then it foreshews the Plague. This is the Countrymen's Astrology, which they have long observed for truth.-Mizaldus.

4. Whosoever is troubled with the Cough or Shortness of Breath, let them drink a good draught, something warm, of this following, thrice every day, first and last, and one hour after dinner, for the space of seven or eight days, and it will help

them (God willing), for it is an excellent and often proved thing. Take of the roots of Enulacampa, cut in small pieces, of Hyssop and Pennyroyal, and also of scraped Liquorice, of each two handfuls; seeth them all in a gallon of pure and fair water, until the water come to one bottle; then strain it well, and keep in a clean vessel, close stopped or covered, and so use it.

5. Soap mixed with a little Salt, helpeth perfectly a Fellon, uncome, or other sore, or swoln Finger, with speed.-I know that this hath been well proved.-Mizaldus.

6. The white of an egg well beaten, with the powder of Mastich, helps chapt hands, if they be anointed therewith.

7. Seeth the Leaves of an Oak and the middle Rind thereof in Water, and wash the Head that is sore or full of Pustules therewith, and it will help it presently.—Proved.

8. The Root of Pelitory of Spain, chewed between the Teeth a good while, will purge the Head and Gums very well, and fasten the Teeth: it helps the Head-ach and Tooth-ach, if it be used four or five times a day, two or three days together.It is very true, and often proved.

9. Make that which is shorn from Scarlet into powder by drying it at the fire or in an oven, and then give to the party that hath the Bloody Flux, to drink half a pound thereof in Red Wine. Use this five or six times, and it will help him or her shortly and surely (God willing).-This is well proved.

10. If one that hath eaten Garlick or Cummin Seed breathe on the face of a Woman that is painted, the colour will vanish away straight; if not, then her colour remains as it did before.-Lang.

11. Tiberius Cæsar, who was Emperor of Rome when Christ suffered, when he awaked out of sleep did see in the dark, as cats do.-Suetonius.

12. Whosoever eateth two Walnuts, two Figs, twenty Leaves ́of Rue, and one grain of Salt, all stamped and mixed together, fasting, shall be safe from Poison or Plague that day; which antidote King Mithridates had used so much, that when he drank poison purposely to kill himself, it could not hurt him.-Plinius.

13. If you will enclose Seeds of divers kinds, either in wax or in some other fast matter, made something thin or small, shooting out at length, (that is) as long as you would have the same to grow, and then putting the same in the ground well dunged, a marvellous Hedge will spring thereof. This is the workmanship and experiment of the King's gardener.Mizaldus.

14. Grind Mustard with Vinegar, and rub it well and hard on the Palms of the Hands or Soles of the Feet, and it will help and quicken forgetful persons.-Petrus Hispanus.

15. A most notable and proved Water to clarify the Dimness of the Eyes and Sight doth follow: Take the juice of Fennel, Celandine, Ruc, and Eyebright, of each two ounces; Honey one ounce and a half; Aloes, Tutty, and Sarcocol, of each half an ounce; the Gall of a Chicken or Cock two drachms; Nutmegs, Cloves, and Saffron, of each one drachm; Sugar Candy six drachms. Put all into a limbeck of glass and distil it, and put of this water into your Eyes, once in a day, two or three drops at a time; and there cannot be a more precious thing for the Eyes than this. I know it by proof, and therefore I am the bolder both to praise it and publish it abroad for the comfort of others.

16. The threescore and third year of one's age is counted to be a dangerous and perilous time, for that it doth seldom pass without danger of life, or without some other great misfortune; and it is observed in many examples. Hereof Augustus Cæsar (as Gellius reporteth) was marvellous glad that he had escaped that year of his age. The cause may be, that the seventh year and the ninth year (being Anni Climacterici & Critici, which are judicial years) multiplied together, make the said number of 63.-Mizaldus.

17. Seeth Ivy Berries in Vinegar or in White Wine, and when they are well sod, sup of the same hot liquor, and when it is cold spit it out, and sup more thereof.-Whosoever doth this helpeth the Tooth Ach.

18. Whosoever is lame, and can neither go nor stir their Joints, let them take of Aqua Composita and Oil of Roses of each a like quantity; mix them both together, and anoint the grieved place therewith morning and evening until it be well, which will be within a while after, but rub the place with warmed cloths well before.A thing often proved.

19. Whosoever hath Mars in his Horoscope, or the Ascendant of the time of his birth, certainly he will have a special scar or mark in his face. Proved. Which I have tried in many, and yet never found it false.

20. That Pigeons may not be hunted or killed by Cats, at the windows or at every passage, and at every pigeon-hole, hang or put little branches of Rue, for Rue hath a marvellous strength against wild beasts.-As Didimus doth say.

21. This medicine following will procure a good stomach to meat; Take three drachms of good Cinnamon, one drachm of Mastich, one drachm of the parings of Pomegranates, and half a drachm of Galingale, and stamp all these together, and temper it with clarified Honey, and then use as much thereof as a nut every day (during ten days) fasting, and it will procure a good stomach, and also preserve and keep the same from any evil humours to breed therein.—This is an excellent medicine, often proved, and easy to be made.

22. If you mark where your right foot doth stand at the first time that you do hear the Cuckow, and then grave or take up the earth under the same; wheresoever the same is sprinkled about, there will no Fleas breed.-I know it hath proved true. 23. To make the counterfeit Mandrake, which hath been sold by deceivers for much money, do thus as followeth: Take the great double root of Briony, newly taken out of the ground, and with a fine sharp knife frame the shape of a man or a woman of the same with his stones and cods, and other members thereto, and when it is clean done, prick all these places with a sharp steel, as the head, the eyebrows, the chin, the privities, and put into the said holes the seeds of Millet, or any other that brings forth other small roots that do resemble hairs (which Leek Seed will do very well, or else Barley). After this, put it into the ground, and let it be covered with earth, until it have gotten upon it a certain little skin, and then thou shalt see a monstrous idol, and hairy, which will become the party, if it be workmanlike or cunningly made or figured.-Mizaldus. Another trim way for the like, is in the Natural and Artificial Conclusions, Englished by Thomas Hill.

24. Five-leaved Grass, through Jupiter's force, doth resist Venom or Poison; whereof if one leaf twice every day, morning and evening, be drank with Wine, it is said to put away the Quotidian Ague; three leaves the Tertian Ague; and four leaves the Quartan Ague.-Marcillius Ficinus.

25. Vervain stamped and strained with Wine, Water, or Vinegar, and then given to a Woman that travails, or is in labour, and cannot be delivered; it causeth speedy deliverance. Trotula de Passionibus Mulierum. And Gilbertus affirms the like, if it be drank with water.

26. A strange medicine and a rare secret for consuming the Web in the Eye, oftentimes proved. Take nine little Worms with many feet (by some called Swine Lice; if they be touched they become round as a button; they are to be found between the bark and the wood of old timber or trees), stamp them with a little Juice of Woodbine or Betony; then strain the same well, and let the party that hath the Web in his Eye drink it in a morning something warmed. Do this three mornings together, and it will cure it perfectly (God willing).—This was told me for a very truth by one that had proved it divers times. 27. This that followeth is a special medicine for them that swoon, or are faint at the heart: Take Rosemary, Sage, Betony, and Marjoram, of each one handful; and seeth them in a gallon or more of fair water, till half the water be consumed; then take away the herbs, and put to the said water a pint of good Honey, and them scum it well; and put thereto an ounce of