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careful worldlings, to cast their whole care on the Lord, and not to depend on their own provision or worldly wealth.

60. Water or Wine wherein Walwort is sod, (if a good draught thereof be drank every day first and last, for the space of twenty days at the most) doth perfectly help them that have the Dropsy It is an excellent medicine for the same.

61. If the Root of Peony, especially of the Male Peony, be hanged at the neck of a Child or a Boy that hath the Falling Sickness, it doth help very much; likewise doth Pellitory, and the Hair of a Dog that is black.

THE

FIFTH BOOK

OF

NOTABLE THINGS.

1.

A MARE will bring forth a Foal of divers colours, if she be covered with a cloth of divers colours while she is taking the Horse; for such colours as be before the eyes of the Horse, while he doth horse her, without doubt the Foal will be of the same colours. The same may be proved with Dogs and other beasts.-Mizaldus.

2. The Berries of Halicacabus (called Winter Cherries) being stamped and the juice pressed or wrung out of the same, and then dried in the shade, the same, if it be given to such as have the Stone, or cannot make Water, and also to them that have the Dropsy, it will provoke Urine, or drive forth the Water, and also expel the Hydropical Humours.—Mizaldus.

3. If the Leave of Elder, first made hot between two Tile Stones, and then applied hot to the Forehead and the Temples, if any Pain lie there it helpeth the Ache of the Head marvellously. This is very good and well proved.

4. Here followeth a marvellous Water to provoke Sleep.. Take of Opium Thebaicum, and Garlick Heads pulled, of each two ounces; beat the Garlick Heads in a mortar with a wooden pestle, and put thereto the Opium grinded; incorporate these well together, that it may be like a sauce. Distil this in a re

tort, with a most soft and slow fire in ashes: with this water distilled, when need shall require, anoint the Temples, the Forehead, and Pulses of the Wrists. And beware you administer, nor use this, but upon great necessity, and on frantic persons, as you shall think it good.

5. The Juice of the Buds, Leaves, Inner Rind, or of the Young Branches of Elder (something warm) put into the Ear, doth not only break the Imposthume thereof, in four or five times using, but also doth marvellously help the Deafness.This was told me for a great secret; and I have tried it to be an excellent thing in such a case.

6. To see Monks in one's dream, doth portend Death or Calamity. To see fat Oxen, betokens plenty of all things. To lose an Eye or a Tooth, signifies the death of some Friend, or of a Kinsman, or some other evil luck. To dream to be Dumb, foreshews speedy Gladness. To see Oxen plow, betokens Gain. To enter into Waters, betokens Evil.-Artemidorus.

7. Put an old Gander in a House, and let him be there three days without meat, then cast unto him pieces of an Eel newly killed; then gather the dung that comes from him after he hath eaten the pieces of Eel, which dung being laid on an Imposthume or Swelling, is a present remedy therefor.

8. The Brain of a Weazel dried, and drank with Vinegar, doth help them that have the Falling Sickness.-Mizaldus.

9. Take a little stick and tie about the end thereof Old Oaken Leaves, then cut them something round, and hold the same leaves in your mouth, as deep and as far as you can suffer it well (holding the stick between your teeth), and so hold your mouth over a pottinger or a dish, and there will great abundance of Humours void out of your mouth; and within a while, wash in fair water the said leaves on the stick, and then hold in your mouth so again. Do this for the space of half an hour, and use this three or four times a day for three or four days together, or until you have avoided as much watery Humours as you think good. This is the best and presentest remedy for helping of the Rheum that ever I knew or heard of.—I had it of a gentleman that esteemed it as a treasure ; and whosoever proves it, shall find it an excellent thing.

10. This following is an excellent Gargarism to purge the Head and the Breast. Take of Slavesacre three drachms; Pellitory of Spain, and Mustard Seed, of each two drachms; Long Pepper, Ginger, and Allomgem, of each one drachm. Make Powder of them that are to be powdered, and stamp the rest, and mix all well together, and put as much thereof as a bean in a little linen cloth, and tie the same fast with thread, that it may be round; then hold the same in your mouth,

and

champ it softly between your teeth, and you will bring forth Water and Phlegm abundantly. Use this daily, until you think your Head be well purged.

11. Earthworms slit and cleansed, and washed from their slimy and earthy matter (half a dozen of them at least), and cut in pieces or chopped, and a good mess of pottage made thereof, made with Oatmeal and Water, and so much every day eaten by them that have the Black Jaundice, for the space of twelve days or longer, no doubt it will perfectly cure them thereof, though it be never so long rooted, and though it be past cure. Or else a spoonful of the Powder made of them in March, or any other time when you can get them, taken every day so long, in a little draught of any drink, doth perfectly cure the same. This is very true, and hath been oftentimes proved. It hath helped some in four or five days.

12. Olibanum, which is a kind of Frankincense in Powder, mixed with as much Swine's Grease, and boiled together, wherewith if Children's Heads that are full of Lice, or that are given to breed Lice, be anointed, they shall afterwards be freed from Lice. This is better and more safe than to use ointments mixed with Quicksilver, which is very dangerous: therefore let mothers or nurses rather use this.

13. It is proved by experience, that to use combustibly in the dinner, and immediately before supper, half an ounce of the Flower of Cassia, newly drawn, doth forbid the engendering of Imposthumation of the Stomach. Truly I say unto thee, that who doth use such taking of Cassia, shall be preserved from every evil affection of the Stomach.-Emperica

Bened.

14. Wine of the decoction of Tormentil, drank daily without any other drink, and the Herb thereof sodden, and every evening plastered over the Eyes, for the space of three or four months or more, restoreth the sight; yea, to those that have their Eyes, as though they did see, and yet are blind, and see nothing at all.-Petrus Hispanus.

15. Andreas Matheolus knew a Woman that every day, for a whole year's space, was grievously troubled with the Pains of the Mother, which was helped very well of that disease, by drinking, once a week, at her going to bed, of White Wine, wherein an ounce of the Root of Briony was heated; and she using this medicine a whole year in such sort, she felt no more harm thereof.

16. If you will destroy or put away Warts, cut off the head of a Quick Eel, and rub the Warts all over well with the same blood, as it runs from the Eel; then bury the Head of the said Eel deep in the ground, and when the Head is rotten, they will fall away. I think the author hereof is Mizaldus.

17. The Juice of Coleworts, put or snuft into the nostrils,

doth purge the Head marvellous well, and help the ancient Pain of the Head.-Often proved.

18. This following is an excellent and often proved thing for the Cholic, Stranguary and the Stone. Take the Seed of Carraway, Fennel Seed, Spicknard, Anniseed, Cummin Seed, Cinnamon, and Galingale, of each half an ounce; Gromel Seed, and Liquorice, of each of them an ounce; beat them all to Powder, and drink half a spoonful of the said Powder in Ale, a little warmed, and walk up and down an hour after, before you eat or drink any other thing. Do this five or six days together at least, and you shall find it of a notable operation. -This was taken out of a learned practiser's book; besides, since it hath been many times proved.

19. Young Children, whose Gums are anointed with the Brain of a Hare, do bred their Teeth easily.—Mizaldus. And it hath been proved with the Brain of a Coney.

20. If a large Round Vessel, with one hole on the top thereof, be filled with Quick Lime and Brimstone, of both equal. portions, and the hole well stopped, that no air nor any thing may go out, and so put in some Standing Water, or a little Pit of Water, or into some Cistern full of Water, it will keep the said water Hot a long time, or for many days.-Proved of many, saith Mizaldus.

21. Hens' Dung mixed with Meat that is given to be eaten of Mad Dogs, will take away their Madness from them (as it is thought-Mizaldus.

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22. They that use to receive three pills made of Aloes de succo citrino, made in Powder (which is to be had at the Apothecaries') and mix with the Juice of Coleworts, of the bigness of a bean, shall never be troubled with Pains in the Head. -Petrus Hispanus.

23. A strange medicine for the Gout. Take a handful of Arsmart, and wrap and tie the same in a Bur Leaf, and lay it first in Cold Ashes, then compass the same with Hot Embers and Coals, and so roast the same well; then apply the same roasted Arsmart to the grieved place, and do this evening and morning for two or three days, and thou shalt find a present help hereof. This was told me for a great secret and a proved thing.

24. If you put or stop fast within a Nut, Quick Brimstone, Saltpetre, and Quicksilver, the same being put into a Loaf of Bread, and then the same Loaf put into some Hot Place, you shall see the Loaf of Bread so Leap, that it will be pretty sport to them that see it-Mizaldus had this of one that proved it.

25. A most excellent Oil of St. John's Wort is made as followeth. Infuse or steep for the space of three days, the Tops of St. John's Wort in pure and excellent Wine, then, in a double vessel, let them heat easily over the fire, and then strain them

easily; then again put as many of the Tops of St. John's Wort in that strained liquor, as you had before, and let them steep therein three days or three nights, as before; thea heat and strain them as before; then add thereto three ounces of Turpentine and six ounces of Old Oil, and of Saffron the weight of twenty-two barley corns; mix and seeth them all together in a double vessel, until the Wine be consumed; and that which remains put in a glazen or leaden vessel, and keep it safely for your use. This Oil is of a marvellous virtue and property, as well chiefly against Venomous Ulcers, as many other Diseases and Cold Griefs, well known to many Women.Mizaldus.

26. If you rub slightly any kind of Beast or Cattle with the Juice of Gourds in hot weather, no kind of Flies will then hurt or molest them, nor yet annoy them. A thing desired of many, and very necessary for such as ride in the hot weather.-Mizaldus

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27. The leaves of Wild Ivy sod in Wine, and laid upon any Canker, doth kill and heal the same.-Tortula.

28. This Water following is very precious for Frantic and Mad Men, proved very often. Take the Flowers of Rosemary, of Burrage, and of the Root of Bugloss, of each half a pound; of Saffron two drachmns; of Quinces four ounces; of the best White Wine two pints. Mix them all together, and then let them stand so for the space of a natural day; after that, bury the Glass Body wherein all the same is, in Horse Dung for fifteen days; and then take it out, and distill a Water thereof, according to art, two or three times over. Keep this water as the apple of your eye, for it is very precious, and will prove in all melancholy sicknesses very effectual, and in the Pain and Trembling of the Heart. The quantity to be given at one time is a drachm, which is the weight of seventy-two barleycorns. If you will prove it, you will praise it. And this is a jewel of health, with many other more excellent things.

29. Against the Quartan Ague, take all the Urine that the Party makes at one time in his fit, and knead Flour therewith, and when the same is baked, then give it to a Dog of the same house, and when you have done this thrice, the Party will be whole, and rid of that disease; and in his stead, the Dog will be sick. But for a man that is sick, a Dog must be chosen; if a Woman, a Bitch must be had.-This was taken out of an often proved experiment of an Italian, by the report of Mizaldus.

30. Whosoever desires to see the Sun eclipsed, without hurting their Eyes, let them behold the shadow thereof in a Vessel where Oil is put; where they behold and see it without danger; for a fatty humour is not easily troubled. And what shapes and forms it doth receive, it representeth the same truly-Mizaldus, ma

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