of such a mould, that delicate daintiness delights us much, but we are loath to be fed too long with one food; and that long walking, in strange, pleasant, and contrary places, will less weary us, than short travel in oftentrodden ground.

This work might have been framed with finer phrases (more delectable to some, though not so meet for many), but that it is better to profit a greater sort, than to feed the fancies of a few; well assured, that the learned eloquent can better perceive plain speeches, than the slenderly learned, and common sort, can understand eloquent discourses.

Therefore, as I have written to all indifferently, so wish I to manifest the meaning thereof accordingly, who am your friend to serve you,

THE AUTHOR.

THE

FIRST BOOK

OF

NOTABLE THINGS.

1.

IN the first beginning hereof, a rare and strange matter shall appear, worthy to be marked, especially of such as love or use Sage. A certain man being in a garden with his love, did take (as he was walking) a few leaves of Sage, and rubbing his teeth and gums therewith, immediately fell down, and died: whereupon his said love was examined how he died: she said, she knew nothing that he ailed, but that he rubbed his teeth with Sage; and she went with the Judge, and others, into the garden and place where the same thing happened; and then she took of the same Sage to shew them how he did, and likewise rubbed her teeth and gums therewith, and presently she died also. Whereupon the Judge suspecting the cause of their deaths to be in the Sage, caused the said bed of Sage to be plucked and digged up, and to be burned, lest others might have the like harm thereby; and at the roots, or under the said Sage, there was a great toad found, which infected the same Sage with his venomous breath.-Antonius Mizaldus hath written of this marvellous matter. This may be a warning to such as rashly use to eat raw and unwashed Sage; therefore it is good to plant Rue round about Sage, for Toads by no means will come nigh unto Rue (as it is thought of some).

2. The hoofs of the fore-feet of a Cow dried, and made into fine powder, increaseth Milk in Nurses, if they eat it in their pottage, or use it in their drink; and being cast upon burning coals, the smoke thereof doth kill Mice, or at least doth drive them away.-This Mizaldus writes of the experiment of a certain Spaniard.

3. Aqua Vita, being outwardly applied, doth help very much the sinews and muscles and other parts of the body, tormented

B

or pained of a Cold cause, with heating, strength, and swift penetration.

4. If one use to rub chapped or rough lips with the sweat behind their ears, it will make them fine, smooth, and well coloured.-Proved.

5. Earth-Worms fried with Goose-Grease, then strained, and a little thereof dropt warm into the deaf or pained Ear, doth help the same. You must use it half a dozen times at the least. This is true.

6. Anthonius Benevinius, an excellent physician, doth glory, that he, with the water wherein Smiths did quench their hot and burning irons, giving the same often to drink, and with the eating of Capers, did perfectly heal a citizen of Florence, that had the grief and swelling of the Spleen seven years.

7. Oft Thunder doth turn and change Wines marvellously; but if the wines be then in cellars, being paved, and the walls of stone, they take less harm than in boarded cellars; therefore it is good, before such tempest or thunder, to lay a plate of Iron with salt, or flint stones, upon the said vessels of Wine. Levinius Lemnius.

8. Make powder of 'unslaked Lime, and mix it with Black Soap, and anoint any Wen therewith, and the wen will fall away; and when the root is come out, anoint it with Oil of Balm, and it will heal it perfectly.

9. The juice of Mullen Leaves (of some called Hedge-Taper, and of some Logwort) put to any part that is bruised, or that bath had a stroke, and the stamped leaves thereof, then put it upon the same, and tied fast on with a cloth: if you let it lie so a whole day and a night, unremoved, it will heal it finely, yea though it be a wound; but the sore must be first washed with white wine, a little warned, and the juice of the leaves must be put to it, and you will marvel at the effect.Mizaldus proved it.

10. A barren Vine will bear Grapes, if you cast old and sour Wine thereon; or if you bury the Lees of Wine at the roots thereof: but you must take beed that you cast not Soot that is swept from Chimneys, or Lime, to the root of the said barren Vine, which with their burning heat kills the Vine, and makes the same to wither before its time. Mizaldus.

11. In the morning, if Salt be holden in the mouth under the tongue, until it melt or consume into water, and Teeth being rubbed therewith, it will preserve the teeth safe and 'sound; it will keep them from rotting, and that they shall not be worm-eaten.-Proved.

12. There is no presenter remedy to ease the torment of the Gout, both in the hands and in the feet, than a young Whelp, especially of one colour, if the same be put to the grief.-Levinius Lemnius.But the whelp ought to be cut out, or cloven

into two parts, through the midst of the back, and the one half with the inner side hot, to be laid to the grieved place, -And this I know to be an excellent thing.

13. Many stinking things do drive away the contagious and pestiferous air, as Castorum, Galbanum, Sagapenum, Brimstone, (all which are to be had at the apothecaries) the smoke of burned leather, and ofhorns, especially the smell of gunpowder. 14. Common.azure is made as followeth: Take of Sal Armoniack, three ounces; of Verdigrease, six ounces; let them be made in powder, and mix them with Water of Tartar, so that it may be something thick; then put the same into a glass, and let it be well stopped that no air may get forth, and let it be laid in very hot horse-dung for the space of eight days; and then, when you take it out, you shall find it an excellent azure.- Mizaldus.

15. Any kind of Amber being sodden in the Grease of a Sow that gives suck to young pigs, is not only thereby the clearer, but also much the better.-Mizaldus.

16. A certain citizen of Padua, having Cantharides, that is to say Spanish Flies, applied to one of his knees, did piss above five ounces of blood. The like happened to one, to whose great toe of the same foot, the same was applied.-Bartholomeus Monteganus, a notable physician, affirms this; therefore, Cantharides is perilous to be taken both inward and outward.

17. The leaf of the greater Burr, borne or laid on the top of the head, doth draw the Matrix upward ; but laid under the sole of the foot, it draweth downward, which is a notable and excellent remedy against the suffocations, falling and displacing of the matrix. Mizaldus.

18. Ale sod till it be thick like a salve, helps all Sores and Aches applied thereto marvellously.-A thing often proved.

19. All kind of Docks have this property, that what flesh or meat is sod therewith, though they be never so old, hard, or tough, they will become tender and fit to be eaten. Hereupon it comes, that they were so used in the old time, so that thereby the meat was much sooner concocted and easier digested, and the wound more soluble.-Mizaldus.

20. If one suspect himself to be infected with the Pleurisy, let the party hold in his Breath as long as he can; and then, if he can let his breath go without coughing, he hath not the Pleurisy; if not he hath the Pleurisy, or is in danger thereof. 21. One may colour Ivory, or any other bones, with an excellent green colour, as followeth : Take strong water, called Aqua Fortis, wherein dissolve as much copper as the said water is able; then let the bones you would have coloured, lie in the same all night, and they will be like a Smaragdine colour.-Mizaldus.

22. If Oil be poured upon Wine, or any other liquor, it makes that the same shall not wax musty or be corrupted, for it excludes and drives forth all air that may breed corruption, only with the outward air of the oil, as with a certain covering. Notwithstanding, all strips of plants, whereon oil is poured or effused, do putrify, as Pliny reports.

23. The coals of a Birch Tree made in powder, and put into a Wound or great Sore, healeth it perfectly without any other thing. It was credibly told me, that the Moscovites use it much, and esteem it greatly.

24. If a Navel String of a Child, after it is cut, do chance to touch ground before it be burned, the same child will not be able to keep or hold his or her water, neither night nor day. A thing very true and known.

25. A flayed Mouse roasted, or made in powder, and drank at one time, doth perfectly help such as cannot hold or keep their Water; especially if it be used three days in this order. -This is very true, and often proved.

26. As soon as the Child is born (especially a Boy) there ought to be great heed taken in the cutting of the Navel String; for the member of generation doth follow the proportion of the Navel String; and if it be tied too short in a Wench, it may be a hinderance to her in bringing forth her child. Therefore it is meet that midwives have great regard therein.

27. Betony, drank with water of wine, doth cause a woman to be easily and speedily delivered; yea, though the child be dead, or if it be turned contrary to a right course: also it brings forth the After-burthen. The like effect hath PennyRoyal, as some affirm. And it hath been proved, saith Mizaldus. 28. The Wort Lead, laid on the Crown of the head, draweth up the Uvula, or the Flap in the Throat.-M. Cato, by the report of Mizaldus.

29. If a piece of fine Gold, or leaves of pure Gold, be put into the juice of Lemons, and taken out of it after it hath lain there a whole day, and the same juice then given to one that is sick of the Plague with a little wine, and the powder of the root of Angelica, or of the decoction of the same root; it is a marvel to be told what help it brings them; yea, though they be past all hope, or thought of recovery.-This Mizaldus writes as proved.

30. A little Bay Salt, stamped small, mixed with the yolk of an Egg, and applied to a Fellon, and so used divers times, doth not only perfectly heal the same with speed; but also it draws out all the pain of the arm, and ceases the swelling thereof, if any such be, by means of the same.-This is perfectly proved. 31. Children are not always like unto their parents, as may appear in Holides, which did beget a daughter of an Ethiopian, which daughter was not of the colour of her mother; but after,