[--To restore an old evangelic man to the strength of his
youth.--]
Here bigynneth the secunde book of medicyns / The first
medicyn is to reduce an oold feble euangelik man to þe firste
strenkþe of ȝongþe / Also to restore aȝen his nat{ur}e þ{a}t is
lost, and to lenkþe his lijf in greet gladnesse and p{er}fiȝte heele 4
[Give him our Quinte Essence with some of that ‘1^a. M^e.’ of
Gold and Pearl, a walnut-shell full at morn and eve. In a few
days he shall feel only 40 years old. Then let him take little
of our Quinte Essence, only that of Gold in good wine at
dinner and supper.]
vnto þe laste teerme of his lijf þat is sett of god / ȝe schal take
oure 5ta e{ss}enc{ie} aforeseid, þat is to seye, mannys heuene, and
þ{er}i{n}ne putte
a litil q{ua}ntite of 5 e{ss}encia of gold and of peerl.
and þe oolde feble man schal vse þis deuyn drynk at morn and 8
at euen, ech tyme a walnote-schelle fulle / and wiþi{n}ne a fewe
dayes he schal so hool[7] þat he schal fele him silf of þe statt and
[Footnote 7: ? ‘be so hool.’ Or is _hool_ a verb, become
whole, recover?]
þe strenkþe of xl ȝeer; and he schal haue greet ioie þat he is
come to þe statt of ȝongþe. And whanne his ȝongþe is recouerid, 12
and his nature restorid, and heelþe had, it is nedeful þat litil and
seelde he vse 5 essence / Also it is nedeful þat he vse ofte good
wiyn at his mete and at þe soper, in þe which be fixid þe 5.
essence of gold, as I tauȝte ȝou tofore. 16
[‘2^a. M^e.’]
[[* Fol. 19b.]]
[--To cure a man given up by his doctors.--]
The secu{n}de [*]medicyn is to heele a man, and make hym
lyue, þ{a}t is almoost consumed in nature, and so nyȝ deed þat
he is forsake of lechis. but if it be þe laste teerme of his lijf
[Give him Quinte Essence of Gold with celandine water, and he
shall rise up and speak.]
sett of god, ȝe schal ȝeue hi{m} oure q{ui}nte e{ss}ence of gold wiþ a 20
litil quantite of watir of celendoyn ȝdrawe, and meynge it wiþ
[‘Aq{u}a celidoyn.’]
þe oþ{er}e þingis aforeseid / and anoon as þe sike hath resceyued
it into his stomak, it ȝeueþ to þe herte influence of naturel heete
and of lijf. and þanne ȝe schal se hi{m} rise vp and speke, and 24
[Then comfort him with our Quinte Essence, and he shall be
cured, unless God wills he shall die.]
wondirfully be comfortid and strenkþid þ{er}by // þanne comforte
him wiþ minist{ra}ciou{n}
of our{e} q{ui}nte e{ss}encie afore seid, and he
schal be al hool / but if it be so þat god wole algatis þat he schal
die / And I seie to ȝou truly, þat þis is þe hiȝeste maist{ri}e þ{a}t 28
[Few doctors now know this highest secret.]
may be in transmutaciou{n} of kynde; for riȝt fewe lechis now
lyuynge knowe þis p{ri}uytee.
[Page 16: HOW TO CURE LEPROSY AND PALSY.]
[‘3^a. M^e.’]
[--To cure the Leprosy that is caused by rotten humours.--]
The þridde medicyn is to cure þe lepre þat is causid of
corrupcioun and putrifaccioun of ony of þe p{ri}ncipal humouris
of man; but not þe lepre þ{a}t comeþ to man of kynde of
þe fadir and of þe modir leprous,--for it is callid morbus 4
heredit{us},--ne þe lepre þat is sent of god by his plage, but þat
[Use our Quinte Essence, with those of Gold and Pearl; (or
Burning Water, if you have no Quinte Essence.)]
þ{a}t is causid oonly of rotu{n} humo{ur}is / take oure 5 e{ss}enc{e}
aforeseid, wiþ þe
q{ui}nte e{ss}enc{e} of goold and peerl, a litil quantite
at oonys, and vse it in maner as I seide afore / and wiþi{n}ne a 8
fewe daies he schal be p{ar}tily hool þ{er}of. and if ȝe haue n{o}n
p{re}p{ar}ate redy oure 5 e{ss}enc{e}, þanne take in þe stide þ{er}of fyn
bre{n}ny{n}ge watir / but þat oþ{er} is bettere.
[Wash the leper with strawberry or mulberry water; this is of
great virtue, but is much encreased by our Quinte Essence.]
Also, drawe a wat{er} of þe fruyȝt of strawbery or mulbery 12
tree, whanne it is ripe, and waische þe lepre þ{er}wiþ. þis watir
is of so greet vertu; for a souereyn maistir took it a leprous
[[* Fol. 20.]]
[*]womman, þat wiþ þe waischinge oonly of þis watir, w{i}t{h}ynne
schort tyme was maad al hool / but sikirly þe vertu þerof is 16
myche worth if it be meyngid w{i}t{h} oure 5 e{ss}enc{e}, or ellis
brennyng watir; and þanne it schal be no nede to vse in þis
p{er}ilous cure, venemys, as su{m}me lechis doon.
[4^a. M^e.]
[--To cure Palsy, which comes from viscous humours closing the
passages of motive power.--]
The 4 medicyn is to cure palsie vniuersel. Forsoþe alle 20
philosophoris seyn þat þe palesye vniuersel comeþ of habou{n}dau{n}ce
of visco{us} humouris closynge þe metis of vertu a{n}i{m}ale,
sensityue, and motyue. And þerfore it is necessarie þat þo
þingis þat schal cure þis sijknes be temp{er}ate, hoot, and moist, 24
[Blessed be God, our Quinte Essence will restore the paralitic.]
and a litil att{ra}ctyue, and to þe syno{us} confortatyue / Therfore,
blessid be god, makere of kynde, þat ordeynede for þe ma{n}
p{ar}alitike oure
5 e{ss}enc{e} aforseid, þ{a}t souereynly to hi{m} comfortynge,
[Fix in it the Quinte Essence of euphorbium and the like; and,
if God will, the palsied man shall be whole, if you make him a
stew of ivy and sage.]
restorynge, and temp{er}atly worchynge / þ{er}fore fixe 28
þ{er}i{n}ne þe 5 e{ss}enc{e} of þo laxatyues þ{a}t purgen flewme &
[‘sawe’]
viscous humouris, as a litil of euforbie, or turbit, or sambucy.
& þanne wiþoute doute, if god wole, þe p{ar}alitik man schal be
hool wiþ comfortynge and restorynge of kynde, if ȝe make him 32
[‘No{t}a
yue
sauge.’]
a stewe hoot and moist with herbis, þat is to seye, eerbe yue,
& sauge, þat haue an heuenly strenkþe to comforte þe joynctis,
[Failing Quinte Essence, let him drink Burning Water in fine
wine, and wash all over with burning water.]
& þe senewis, and þe vertu motyue. and if ȝe haue not redi
p{re}p{ar}ate oure 5 e{ss}enc{e}, þanne take fyn brennynge watir til it 36
[Page 17: TO CURE CONSUMPTION AND DRIVE AWAY DEVILS.]
be redy, and lete þe pacient drynke þerof a litil i{n} fyn wiyn.
and also he schal waische al his body and his extremytees wiþ
brennynge watir ofte tymes. and lete him vse þis a good while,
& he schal be hool. / 4
[‘5. M^e.’]
[[* Fol. 20b.]]
[--To fatten lean and consumptive men.--]
[*]The .5 medicyn for a man þat is almoost al co{n}sumed,
& waastid in al his body, and riȝt leene, as þ{a}t man þ{a}t
hath þe tisik & þe etik / Forsoþe þe v{er}ry cure to heele him
is oure 5 e{ss}enc{e} / Forwhi. it comfortiþ þe feble nature; and 8
[Mix with our Quinte Essence a little celandine water; give it
the patient, and he shall soon be wonderfully fat.]
þe nature þat is lost it restoriþ, & so restorid it p{re}serueþ /
And þ{er}fore if ȝe wol restore þe fleisch of a leene mannys body
[‘Celidoyne.’]
almoost consumed awey, drawe þanne a watir of celidoyne, and
take þ{er}of a litil q{ua}ntite,
and meynge wiþ oure 5 e{ss}enc{e} if ȝe 12
haue it redy, or brennynge watir in stide þ{er}of, and ȝeue it hi{m}
to dri{n}ke; and wiþi{n}ne fewe dayes he schal be wondirfully
restorid and fat.
[‘.6. M^e.’]
[--To cure Frensy, Gout, and troubles from Devils.--]
The .6. medicyn for passiou{n}s of frenesie, foly, ymagynac{i}ou{n}s 16
and noyous vexac{i}ou{n}s of deuelis, and also for þe
goute als weel hoot as coold. certeyn exp{er}ience techiþ þat
[‘colerike.’
‘Sangueyn.’
‘Fleumatyke.’
‘blake coler.’
‘malencoly.’]
[Dark melancholy men are troubled more with anxieties than any
others, being born under ‘Saturne, a wykyd planete.’]
colerik me{n} ȝeueþ to su{m}me ymagynac{i}ou{n}s; and sangueyn
me{n} be{n} ocupied aboute su{m}me oþ{er}e ymagynaciou{n}s; & ȝitt 20
flewmatik men aboute oþ{er}e / but þo me{n} þat habounde in blak
coler, þat is, malencoly, ben occupied a þ{o}usa{n}d p{ar}t wiþ mo
þouȝtis þan ben men of ony oþ{er} complexiou{n} / Forwhi. þ{a}t
humour of blak coler is so noyous, þ{a}t if it a-bounde and a-sende 24
vp to þe heed, it troubliþ alle þe myȝtis of þe brayn, engendrynge
[‘Nota sequentia.’]
noyous ymagynaciou{n}s, bryngynge yn horrible þouȝtis boþe
wakynge and slepinge; and siche man{er} of men ben born vndir
þe constillacioun of saturne, the wickide planete / Forsoþe, to 28
siche me{n} deuelis wole gladly appere, & mi{ni}st{er} to hem[*] her
[[* MS. hom]]
[Devils gladly appear to them and tempt them, so that they
often fall into despair and kill themselves.]
[[* Fol. 21.]]
p{ri}uy te{m}ptaciou{n}s wiþi{n}ne þe cours of her þouȝtis; and þese
men þus [*]turmentid wiþ þe passiou{n}s of malencoly comou{n}ly
speke wiþ hem, stryue and dispute wiþ hem silf whanne þei be 32
a-loone, þ{a}t ofte tymes oþ{er}e folk may heere it / These maner
of me{n} þat ben þ{us} turmentid, as weel by passioun of malencoly
as of deuelis, ofte tymes falle in dispeir, and at þe laste sle hem
silf / þe p{er}fiȝt cure of alle þese is oure 5 e{ss}encie auri {et} 36
[The cure is our Quinte Essence of Gold and Pearls, with a
little senna or lapis lazuli.]
[Page 18: TO CURE MELANCHOLY AND DRIVE OUT TROUBLES FROM DEVILS.]
p{er}ela{rum}, or ellis brennynge watir in stide þ{er}of, in þe whiche
ȝe fixe gold as it is aforeseid, wheri{n}ne be putt a litil of sen̅ē or
watir of f[u]mit{er}, or poudre of lapis lasuly, or ellis medulla{m}
ebuli, and vse it discreetly. forwhy. not al oonly oure q{ui}nte 4
[Burning Water, with a purge, will also cure these diseases.]
e{ss}enc{e} auri
{et} p{er}ela{rum} heelith þese disesis. / but also brennynge
watir in þe which gold is fixid, heeliþ hem, wiþ a litil of þo
þingis þ{a}t purgen and casten out blak coler sup{er}flue, & heliþ
þe splene. 8
[These medicines put away wicked thoughts, and bring in merry
ones; they dispel devils’ temptations and despair, and bring a
man to reason.]
Forsoþe þese medicyns puttiþ awey wickid þouȝtis and an
heuy herte malencolious; þei gladith and clense þe brayn and
alle hise myȝtis, and brynge yn gladnes and merye þouȝtis.
þei putte awey also þe craft of þe feendis temptac{i}ou{n}s, and 12
ymagynaciouns of dispeir. þei distroie, & make a man to forȝete
almaner of yueles, and naturaly bryngiþ him aȝen to resonable
[‘Saturne. γ.’]
[Saturn is an enemy to all creatures, and has power over foul
solitary places, as Vitas Patrum says.]
witt. and for as myche as saturne þe planete naturaly ys coold
and drye, and is enemye to al kynde / Forwhy, euery snow, 16
euery hayl, euery tempest, & also þe humour of malencoly
comeþ of hi{m}. & he haþ his influence vpon derk leed, &
vpon derk [*]placis vnder þe erf[8], foul{e} and stynkynge, and derke
[[* Fol. 21b.]]
[Footnote 8: Erf = erþe.]
wodis, and vpon
foule, horrible, solitarie placis, as it is pr{e}ued in 20
vitas patru{m}, þat is to seye, in lyues & colac{i}ou{n}s of fadris /
[The Moon too is full of bane.]
And also þe moone, naturely coold and moist, haþ his influence
vpon þe nyȝt, and vpon myche moisture, and vpon þe placis
wha{n}ne 4. weyes metiþ togidere. forsoþe in alle siche placis þei 24
wole a-bide and schewe hem to her foloweris / but forsoþe þo
[‘Jubiter and Sol | .B.’]
[Jupiter and Sol, on the other hand, make devils flee, and
betoken the joy of heaven, as Saturn and the Moon do hell.]
þingis þat ben of þe nature of Iubiter and of sol, goode planetis,
arne displesynge to hi{m}, and contrarie, and naturaly deuelis fle
awei fro he{m}, for þei haue greet abhominaciou{n} of þer v{er}tuous 28
influence / þ{er}fore it schewiþ weel þ{a}t þo þingis þat ben in þis
world, su{m}me þer ben þat bitokene þe glorious yoie of heuene,
and su{m}me þing þat figure þe derknesse of euerlastynge peynes
of helle / Forsoþe þe su{n}ne and iubiter, goode planetis, & 32
gold, pure metal, and alle pure þi{n}gis þat gladen a man, figurynge
by resou{n} þe ioie of heuene / and blak Saturne, and þe
spotty moone, figure & bitokene þe condicioun of helle / and
[Page 19: TO CURE THE GOUT AND ITCH, AND KILL LICE.]
[Devils hate the joys of God and the brightness of the sun;
they delight in stinking places, and melancholy and hell-like
things.]
siþ þ{a}t deuelis be dampned, & ful of wreche of helle, þerfore
þei hate þe clennesse & þe ioie of oure lord god & of hise
seyntis / also þei haten þe su{n}ne and his cleernes, and pure
þi{n}gis þ{a}t maken a man glad. and naturaly it plesiþ he{m} to 4
dwelle in derk, & in blak, orrible, stynkynge placis, in heuynesse,
[But our Quinte Essence is heavenly, like the joy of Paradise,
and drives away anger and all that devils love, so that it is
fitly called ‘Man’s Heaven.’]
wreche, & malencoly, & i{n} þo þi{n}gis þ{a}t p{re}tende þe
condiciou{n} of helle / And siþ oure 5. e{ss}enc{e} aforeseid is so
[[* Fol. 22.]]
heuenly a þi{n}g, & by sotil c{ra}ft [*]brouȝt to so myche swetnes, 8
it is so sou{er}eyn a medicy{n} þ{a}t it may weel be lijkned to þe ioie
of p{ar}adice. forwhi, it makiþ a man liȝt, iocunde, glad, and
merie, & puttiþ awey heuynesse[9], angre, melencoly, & wraþþe,
[Footnote 9: houynesse MS.]
[To deliver a man from a devil,--give him some of our Quinte
Essence with that of gold and pearl, and St. John’s Wort
water: at once the devil will flee away.]
þe whiche þat deuelis loue / +et ideo n{os}tra 5 e{ss}enc{ia} digne 12
vocat{ur} celu{m} humanu{m}+ / Also if a man be traueylid wiþ a
feend, and may not be delyuerid fro hi{m}, lete hi{m} dri{n}ke a litil
quantite of oure 5 e{ss}en{ce}, wiþ 5 e{ss}en{ce} of gold & peerl, and
[‘fuga demonu{m}’]
wiþ an eerbe callid ypericon, i.[e.] fuga demonu{m}, and þe seed 16
þ{er}of grounden & aftirward distillid, & þe watir þ{er}of a litil
quantite medlid wiþ þe oþere 5tis e{ss}enc{iis}; {and} anoon þe deuel
wole fle awey fro him & fro his hous.
[--To cure the Gout.--]
Also for þe goute, hoot or cold, þe pacient schal drynke 20
oure 5. e{ss}enc{e} wiþ a litil q{ua}ntite at oonys of þe letuarie de
[Take a little Quinte Essence and Rose-juice electuary, and
use daily our Quinte Essence with that of Gold and Pearl.]
succo rosa{rum}. and lete hi{m} vse þis letuarie a litil at oonys ech
oþ{er}e day, til sup{er}flue humouris be purgid / but he schal vse
eu{er}y day a litil
of oure 5. e{ss}en{ce} w{i}t{h} 5 e{ss}en{ce} of gold & 24
peerle; & wiþi{n}ne a fewe dayes þe pacient schal be hool. //
[‘.7. M^e.’]
[--To cure the Itch and destroy Lice.--]
The .7. medicyn, for to heele ycche, & for to dist{ri}e lies[10]
þat ben engendrid of corrupt humouris. take {o}ure 5 e{ss}enc{e}
bi hi{m} silf a-loone, and vse to drynke þ{er}of a litil quantite 28
[Footnote 10: “A lous is a worme w{i}t{h} manye fete, &
it co{m}meth out of the filthi and onclene sky{n}ne, &
oftentymes for faute of atendau{n}ce they come out of the
flesshe through the skynne or swet holes.
To withdryue them / The best is for to wasshe the
ofte{n}times, and to chaunge oftentymes clene lynen.”
--_The noble lyfe and nature of man, Of bestes, serpentys,
fowles, and fisshes y^t be moste knowen_. Capitulo. C. xix.]
[Drink Quinte Essence. Mix Mercury with spittle, Stavesacre
and Burning Water. Wash the body or head where the itch and
lice are.]
at oonys / and take also a litil q{ua}ntite of M{er}[{curie}?]. &
mortifie it wiþ fastynge spotil, & medle it wiþ a good quantite
[Page 20: TO CURE QUARTAN FEVER.]
of poudre of stafi-sagre, & þanne put it i{n} to a greet q{ua}ntite
of bre{n}nynge wat{er}, & þanne waische al his body, or ellis þe
heed where þe icche & þe lies ben. & vse þis medicyn .2. or
3. & þe sijk [*]man schal be hool. 4
[[* Fol. 22b.]]
[‘.8^ua. M^e.’]
The .8. medicyn for to cure the quarteyn and alle þe
passiouns þ{a}t comeþ of male{n}coly in mannys body; and þe
[‘feu{er} q{ua}rtene.’]
[--To cure Quartan Fever.--]
maistrie to p{ur}ge malencoly. and ȝe schal vndirstonde þat þe
q{ua}rteyn is gendrid of myche haboundau{n}ce of malencolye þ{a}t 8
[‘ye q{ua}rten is ingendyrd of Malyncoly.’]
[The Quartan arises from too much black choler, and lasts a
year or more. To cure it soon, drink our Quinte Essence; if
you have it not, put pith of white dwarf elder in Burning
Water, and take a walnut-shell full morning and evening.]
is corru{m}pid w{i}t{h}y{n}ne þe body. and for þis humour is erþely,
coold, & drie, of þe nature of slowe saturne, þerfore þe accesse
of þis sijknes ben slowe, and it duriþ comou{n}ly yn a man a ȝeer
or more, and it puttiþ fro hi{m} gladnesse, & bryngiþ yn heuynes 12
more þan oþ{er}e feueris do / If ȝe wole heele þis sijknes in schort
[[* ? our]]
tyme, lete þe pacient vse to drynke oon[*] 5 e{ss}enc{e}, and he schal
be al hool hastily / forwhi; it consumeþ þe corrupt sup{er}flue
humouris, & reducit nature to eq{ua}lite, and bryngiþ yn gladnesse, 16
& chasiþ a-wey heuynes & malencolie. and if it so be
þ{a}t ȝe haue nouȝt oure 5 e{ss}enc{e} / þanne take j ℔ of þe beste
bre{n}nynge watir, and þ{er}i{n}ne putte medullam ebuli, and namely
þe white, if ȝe may may haue it / of þis watir ȝeue to þe pacient, 20
morowe and eue{n}, a walnot-schelle ful at oonys. and he schal
[Or, take whatever purges black choler, put it into Burning
Water; make small pellets of it, and take one, and then two,
gradually.]
be al hool / or ellis þus: take what þi{n}g ȝe wole þ{a}t purgiþ
malencolye, and putte a litil þ{er}of into brennynge watir, &
vse þ{a}t laxatif maad into smale pelotis, wijsly resceyuy{n}g riȝt a 24
litil at oonys, as oon litil pelot, and p{re}ue þerby how it worchiþ,
þa{n}ne anoþ{er} tyme .ij. at oonys, if it be nede / so þat þe mater
be a litil digestid and a litil egestid. for bettere it is to worche
a litil & a litil at oonys, þan sodeynly greue þe nature. forwhi, 28
[[* Fol. 23.]]
two litil pelotis laxatif meyngid wiþ bre{n}ny{n}ge watir [*]wole
worche more myȝtily þan .8. pelotis wole do bi hem silf /
[‘Nota for y^e q{ua}rtene.’]
[It is said that a tooth from a live beast heals the Quartan,
and the juice of Hen-bit or Chickweed put in a man’s nostrils.]
Also philosophoris seyn þat a tooþ drawe out from a quyk
beest, born vpon a man, delyueriþ fro þe quarteyn / Also 32
þei seyn þat if þe yuis of þe eerbe þat is callid morsus galli{n}e
rub{r}i be putt in hise nose-þrillis whanne he bigynneth to suffre
þe accesse of þe q{ua}rteyn, he schal be hool, wiþ þe g{ra}ce of
god. 36
[Page 21: TO CURE CONTINUAL, TERTIAN AND DAILY FEVERS.]
[‘9^a. M^e.’]
[--To cure continual Fever.--]
[It arises from putrefaction of blood and corruptions of
humours.]
The medicyn to heele þe feu{er}e contynuel{e}. alle philosophoris
seyn þat þe feu{er}e contynuel{e} is ge{n}drid of putrifaccioun
of blood and of corrupcieu{n} of humouris in it /
þ{er}fore þe cure þ{er}of is to p{ur}ge blood, and to putte awey þe 4
corrupcioun of it, & þe humoris vneuene to make euene,
þe nature lost to restore, and so restorid to kepe / Forsoþe alle
þese þingis worcheþ o{ur}e q{ui}nte e{ss}enc{e}; and þerfore it curiþ
[Our Quinte Essence cures this, (tho’ Burning Water does not,)
if mixed with Quinte Essence of Gold and Pearl, and a little
Cassia or Herb Mercury.]
p{er}fiȝtly þe
feu{er}e co{n}tynuel{e} / and þouȝ bre{n}nynge watir caste 8
out fro blood watry humouris and corrupt, ȝitt take it nouȝt in
þis cure / forwhi; þouȝ bre{n}nynge watir be .7. tymes distillid,
ȝitt it is [not] fully depurid fro his brennynge heete, & þe .4.
elementis / but siþ oure 5. e{ss}enc{e} is not hoot, ne moist, coold, 12
ne drie, as ben þe 4. eleme{n}tis / þ{er}fore it heeliþ p{er}fiȝtly þe
contynuel feu{er}e; namely wiþ co{m}mixtioun of þe 5 e{ss}enc{e} of
gold & peerle / and if ȝe wole strenkþe ȝoure medicyn, þa{n}ne
putte yn oure 5. e{ss}enc{e} a litil quantite of pulpa cassie fistule / 16
or ellis þe iuys of þe eerbe m{er}curial{e}. & if it so be þat oþ{er}e
humouris habounde to myche w{i}t{h} blood, þanne take þo laxatyues
[[* Fol. 23b.]]
þat kyndely wole [*]purge hem, as comou{n} bookis of
fisik declareþ. 20
[‘10. M^e.’]
[‘feu{er} t{er}cyane.’]
[--To cure Tertian Fever.--]
The 10. medicyn to cure þe feuere tercian, þe which is
causid of putrifaccioun, or reed coler to myche haboundynge /
[Take Quinte Essence, with Rhubarb and Endive water, morn and
eve.]
to cure þees sijknes, tak oure 5 e{ss}enc{e}, or ellis fyn brennynge
watir,--but þe firste is bettere,--and putte þ{er}i{n}ne a litil 24
of rubarbe or of su{m}me oþ{er} laxatiue þat purgiþ reed coler, and
[‘wat{er} of endyue.’]
a greet q{ua}ntite of watir of endyue; and vse þis medicyn at
morowe & euen. and þe pacient schal be hool wiþoute doute.
[‘.11. M^e.’]
[‘feu{er} cotydyan.’]
[--To cure Daily Fever.--]
The 11. medicyn is for to heele þe feu{er}e cotidian, þe 28
which is causid of putrifaccioun of flewme to haboundynge /
and siþ flewme is coold and moist. oure 5 e{ss}enc{e} (and in his
absence take good brennynge watir.) haþ stre{n}kþe and vertu to
consume þe rotu{n} wat{er}y inordinat, and to myche coold humidite / 32
[Take our Quinte Essence, and a little Euphorbium, &c.]
þerfore take oure 5 e{ss}enc{e} or brennynge watir, and putte
þ{er}i{n}ne a litil of euforbij, turbit, or sambuci, or sum oþir þing
þat purgiþ flewme; and vse it morowe and eue, & þe pacient
schal be hool. 36
[Page 22: TO CURE AGUE FEVER, LUNACY, AND CRAMP.]
[‘.12. M^e.’]
The .12. medicyn for to cure þe feuere agu, and þe lunatik
man and womman / discreet maist{ri}s seyn, þ{a}t þe feu{er}e
[‘lunatyke p{er}sons.’]
[--To cure Ague Fever and Lunacy.--]
agu comou{n}ly is causid of a uyolent reed coler adust, and of
blood adust, and of blak coler adust; and sumtyme of oon of 4
[This fever comes of choler inflamed, and is accompanied by
lightheadedness.]
þese adust, and sumtyme of two togidere, and sumtyme of .3.
togidere / and þerfore þe feu{er}e agu is þe posityue degree, and
in þe sup{er}latyue degree, comp{ar}atif gree & sup{er}latif gree /
For þe feu{er}e agu haþ comou{n}ly alienacioun of witt, & schewynge 8
[‘No{t}a b{e}n{e}.’]
[‘Signa.’]
[[* Fol. 24.]]
of þingis of fantasy / And ȝe schal knowe weel whiche
ben þe humouris adust þat causen þe feu{er}e, be þese [*]tokenes /
[As the patient sees black, gold, or red things, so the
different humours are inflamed.]
Forwhi, if þe pacient seiþ þ{a}t he seeþ blak þi{n}gis, þanne blak
coler, þat is, malencolie, is adust / & if he se þingis of gold / 12
reed coler is adust / if reed þi{n}gis, and schewynge of bloodt
þanne blood is adust / And if he seiþ þat he seeþ alle þese .iij,
þingis, þanne alle þe humouris ben adust / For as myche as
brennynge watir ascendiþ to þe heed, and gladly wole a man 16
[Burning Water should not be taken, but Quinte Essence of Gold
and Pearl should, with that of Rose water, Violet, &c.]
drynke / And siþ þ{a}t feuere agu regneþ in þe regiou{n} of þe
heed / þe philosophoris counceilis þat þe pacient schal not
resceyue it in þis sijknes / but it is nedeful þat he take
oure 5 e{ss}enc{e} of gold and of peerl, meyngi{n}g þe 6 p{ar}t of 20
[‘Rose
violett
Borage
lutuse’]
5 e{ss}enc{e} of watir of rose, violet, borage, and letuse[1] / and
þanne ȝe schulen haue an heuenly medicyn to cure p{er}fiȝtly þis
sijknesse.
[‘for y^e frenesye & wodnesse.’]
For to cure þe frenesye and woodnes, or ellis at þe leeste 24
to swage it / take a greet quantite of popilion, and þe beste
[--To cure or assuage Frenzy and Madness.--]
vynegre þat ȝe may haue, and a good q{ua}ntite of rewe domestik,
weel brayed, and meyngid wiþ þese forseid þi{n}gis; and biclippe
[Wrap the head and feet in, and smell at, Popilion (with
Vinegar mixed), and Rue.]
þe heed and þe feet of þe pacient w{i}t{h} þis medicyn; and sum 28
þerof putte to his nose-þrillis. þis medicyn anoon puttiþ awey þe
frenesye & þe schewy{n}ge of fantasies / it curiþ also wode me{n}
& lunatike me{n}. and it restoriþ aȝen witt and discrecioun, &
makiþ al hool and weel at eese. 32
[‘13^a. M^e.’]
[--To cure Cramp.--]
The .13. medicy{n} is to put a-wey þe craumpe fro a man.
for as myche as wise me{n} seyn þ{a}t þe craumpe cometh of þe
[Use our Quinte Essence or Burning Water.]
hurtynge & þe febilnes of þe senewis, as it schewiþ sumtyme
yn medicyns maad of elebore, þer is no þi{n}g þ{a}t puttiþ awey þe 36
[Page 23: TO CURE POISON AND COWARDICE.]
[[* Fol. 24b.]]
craumpe as doiþ oure 5 e{ss}enc{e} aforeseid, or ellis [*]brennynge
watir in stede of it.
[‘14^a. M^e.’]
[--To cast poison out of a man’s body.--]
The .14. medicyn, to caste out venym fro mannys body /
take o{ur}e 5 e{ss}enc{e}, and putte þ{er}in{e} fleisch of a cok, neysch 4
soden & sotilly brayed, note kirnelis, fyn triacle, radisch,
[Take our Quinte Essence, with cock’s flesh, nut-kernels, &c.,
and Quinte Essence of Gold and Pearls.]
& garleek smal brayed, and oþ{er}e þingis þ{a}t ben goode
to caste out venym, as comou{n} bookis of fisik declariþ /
And also, to comforte þe herte, putte yn oure foreseid 5. e{ss}enc{e}, 8
þe 5. e{ss}enc{e} of gold and of peerl. and he schal be delyuerid
þerof & be hool.
[‘15^a. M^e.’]
[--To make a Coward bold and strong.--]
The .15. medicyn, to make a man þat is a coward, hardy
and strong, and putte a-wey almaner of cowardise and drede / 12
I seye ȝou forsoþe þ{a}t no þi{n}g m{a}y telle alle þe myraclis vertues
þat god h{a}þ m{aa}d in o{ur}e 5 e{ss}enc{e}, and not al oonly in
him, but also in to his modir, þat is to seye, fyn brennynge
[Give him our Quinte Essence with twice as much Burning Water,
and a little Peony juice and saffron, and Quinte Essence of
Gold and Pearl. The coward shall lose all faintness of heart,
despise death, and dread no perils. Therefore Christian
Princes should have tuns of Burning Water, and give every
fighting man a cup before battle with the heathen.]
watir. for to cure þis sijknesse, take a litil quantite of oure 5 16
e{ss}enc{e}, & putte þerto double so myche of brennynge watir,
and a litil q{ua}ntite
of þe iuys of eerbe pione and of saffron distillid
togidere, and a litil of 5 e{ss}enc{e} of gold and of peerl; and
ȝeue it him to drinke. and aftir sodeynly, as it were by myracle, 20
þe coward man schal lese al maner drede and feyntnes of herte,
and he schal recou{er}e strenkþe þat ys lost by drede, and take to
him hardynesse, and he schal dispise deeþ; he schal drede no
perelis, and passyngly he schal be maad hardy. þis is trewe, for 24
it haþ ofte tymes by oolde philosophoris [bene] p{re}ued / þ{er}fore
it were a greet wisdom þat cristen p{ri}ncis, in bateilis aȝen
heþene me{n}, hadde wiþ hem in tonnes brennynge watir, þ{a}t
þei myȝt take to eu{er}y fiȝtynge man half a riȝt litil cuppe ful 28
þ{er}of to drynke in þe bigynnynge of þe batel. & þis p{ri}uyte
owith to be hid from alle enemyes of þe chirche; and also
[[* Fol. 25.]]
[*]p{ri}ncis and lordis ministri{n}ge þese þingis schulde n{o}t telle
what it is. 32
[‘16^a. M^e.’]
[--To cure Pestilential Fever (when not sent as a punishment
by God).--]
The .16. medicyn aȝens þe feu{er}e pestile{n}cial{e}, and þe
maistrie to cure it. forsoþe holy scripture seiþ þat su{m}me
tymes oure lord god sendiþ pestilence to sle su{m}me maner
of peple, as it is seid deutrono{miu}m 28 in þis man{er} “Si 36
[Page 24: TO CURE PESTILENTIAL FEVER AND PLAGUES.]
[God says in Deuteronomy xxviii. that if men will not hear His
voice and obey His commandments, pestilences shall come on
them.]
audire nolu{er}is[11] vocem d{omi}ni dei tui, ut custodias {et} facias
[Footnote 11: MS. volu{er}is.]
om{n}ia mandata eius, ve{n}iant sup{er} te om{n}es maledicc{i}ones; iste
maledictus eris
in ciuitate &c.” {et} infra; “ad-iu{n}gat t{ib}i pestilenc{iam}
donec consumat te de t{er}ra, p{er}cuciat te d{omin}us egestate, 4
febre, {et} frigore, ardore {et} estu,
{et} aere corrupto ac rubigi{n}e, {et} p{er}seq{ua}tur
donec p{er}eas” hec ib{ide}m; {et} infra “p{er}cuciat te d{omin}us
vlc{er}e egipti, {et} p{ar}tem
corp{or}is p{er} q{uam} stercora eg{er}ant{ur}.
scabie q{uoque}, {et} p{ru}rigine, ita ut curari nequeas; p{er}cuciat te 8
d{omin}us necessitate ac furore mentis” // Therfore a gret fool
[These plagues a man would be a great fool to presume to cure,
but all other pestilences from evil planets may be cured by
our Quinte Essence with Aloes, Euphorbium, &c., and a laxative
Quinte Essence that will send the patient to stool once a day.]
were he þat wolde p{re}sume to cure þese plagis of pestilence þ{a}t
ben vncurable, þat ben sent of god to ponysche synne // Also
ȝe schal vndirstonde þ{a}t me{n} may die in .iij. maners. in oon 12
maner by naturel deeþ, in þe teerme þ{a}t is sett of god / In
anoþir maner bi violent deeþ, and also in þe .iij. maner occasionaly
wiþi{n}ne þe teerme þ{a}t is sett of god; as þo me{n} þ{a}t to
myche replecioun, or to greet abstynence or by disp{er}aciou{n}, or 16
ellis by necligence, sle hi{m} silf / but sikirly alle oþ{er}e maner
of feueris pestilence þat god suffriþ to come to ma{n}kynde by
p{er}ilous influence of yuele planetis, by þe g{ra}ce of god & good
gou{er}nau{n}ce may be curid p{ar}ti{a}ly wiþ oure 5. e{ss}enc{e}. and 20
[‘N{ot}a b{e}n{e}.’]
þ{er}i{n}ne putte a litil of aloes epatik & euforbij, & a litil of
ierapigra galieni & of 5 e{ss}enc{e}, of þe rote of lilie and also
[[* Fol. 25b.]]
of gold & peerle, capilli ven{er}is [*]and ysope; for þese þi{n}g{is}
ben nedeful to siche feueris & apostemes / it is nedeful also 24
þ{a}t wiþ þese þingis þer be sich a q{ui}nta e{ss}encia laxatyue þat
wole purge þe sup{er}flue humouris þat abounde; and þat þe
pacient so myche resceyue in a natural day þ{er}of þat he may
go weel oonys to sege; and so lete him vse þis laxatif .3. i{n} þe 28
[‘Caueas.’]
woke; But be weel war þ{a}t he take wiþ oure q{ui}nta e{ss}encia
but riȝt a litil q{ua}ntite of þe laxatif at oonys, as I tolde ȝou
[He must also take every morning an egg-shell-full of Burning
Water, and 2 or 3 pestilence pills in our Quinte Essence, and
smoke his house with frankincense, &c.]
tofore, for peril þ{a}t miȝte bifalle. & eu{er}y day take he by þe
morowe an eye-schelle ful of good brennynge watir, and þe corrupt 32
eyr schal not noye hi{m}; & also vse in þe dayes, two or
þre smale pelotis pestilenciales in oure 5 e{ss}encia, or in brennynge
watir; & al þe hous of þe pacient schal be encensid
[Page 25: MAY THIS BOOK {rest of line illegible} ]
strongly .iij in þe day wiþ frank-encense, mirre, & rosyn,
terbe{n}tyn & rewe.
and þis is p{er}fiȝt cure for þe feu{er}e pestilence /
And þus ȝe may, wiþ þis 5 e{ss}encijs, cure alle þese sijkness{es}
aforeseid, and manye oþ{er}e, as it were by myracle, if ȝe 4
[Here is an end of this most sovereign of all secrets.]
worche disc[r]eetly as I haue toold ȝou tofore / Now here
I make an eende of þis tretis þat is clepid þe mooste & þe
sou{er}eyneste secrete of alle secretis, and a passynge tresour
[What ills will befall if it gets into tyrants’ and
reprobates’ hands and prolongs their life in evil. I will keep
it for holy men alone; and I commend it to Christ’s keeping
now and ever.]
þat may nouȝt fayle // O quantu{m} malu{m} foret, si hic 8
liber p{er}ueniret ad manus ho{m}i{nu}m mundano{rum}, ad noticia{m}
tiranno{rum}, {et} ad
s{er}uiciu{m} rep{ro}bo{rum}! q{ui}a, si{c}ut s{anct}i p{er}
hunc libru{m} pot{er}unt continuare op{er}a vite {christian}i diuci{us}
{et} vehemenci{us}, ita {et}
rep{ro}bi possent p{er}u{er}so vsi diuci{us} 12
p{er}seu{er}are in malo. ego aute{m}, q{ua}ntu{m} in me est, p{ro}pt{er}
solos s{an}c{t}os
libru{m} hunc co{n}stituo, {et} ip{su}m custod[iæ] ih{es}u
{Christ}i c{om}mendo nunc et in eternu{m} // = //
Explicit librum de maximis secretis e{ss}encie quinte &c. 16
[Page 26: THE SPHERES AND PLANETS]
[[_leaf_ 26]]
¶ Philosofirs puttyn 9 sper{is} vndirewritten; but Diuinis puttin þe
tenþe sper{e}, where is heuyn empir{e}, in þe whiche, angel{is} &
sowl{is}[1] of seynt{is} seruen god; i{n} þe whiche is crist, in þe same
forme that he walkid i{n} erþe, and also owr{e} lady, & seynt{is} that
arosen w{i}t{h} criste.
[Footnote 1: l{is} is the MS. l with a line at right angles to it.]
¶ Þe first spere of þe 9 is clepid ‘p{ri}mu{m} mobile,’ þe first mevabil
thyng.
¶ Þe .ij. spere of sterr{is}: Arie{s} .1. þe rame. ¶ the secund hows of
Mars, þe bool, ¶ þe secund hows of Venus, Gemini, ¶ þe secund hows of
Mercuri, Canc{er}. ¶ þe hows of þe mone, leo. þe hows of þe sonne,
Virgo. // þe first hows of M{er}cury, Libra // þe first hows of Venus,
Scorpio // þe first hows of Mars, Sagittari{us} // þe first hows of
Iubit{er}, Cap{ri}cornus // þe first hows of Saturne, Aquari{us} // þe
secund hows of Saturne, Piscis. / þe secunde hows of Iubit{er}
[[_no more_]].
¶ Saturn is a planete evel-willid and ful of sekenes. Wherfore he is
peyntid w{i}t{h} an hooke, for he repeþ dow{n)} grene thyng{is} / he
fulfilliþ his course in xxx ȝeere.
¶ Iubit{er} is a planete wele willyng to alle thi{n}g{is} to be gendrid,
plent[i]ful & plesyng; therfor he is y-seid Iubit{er} as helpyn. i{n}
xij [ȝ]eere he filliþ his course.
¶ Mars is an enemy to alle thyng{is} to be gendrid; wherfor he is clepid
god of batel, for he is ful of tempest. he fulfilliþ his course i{n}
.ij. ȝeere.
[[leaf 26, back]]
¶ Þe sonne is þe worthiest planet, y-set i{n} myddis. he fulfilliþ his
course in CCClxv dayes & vj. howr{is}, þe whiche causen bisext.
¶ Venus is apte to alle thyng{is} to be gendrid. he fulfilliþ his course
in CCCxxxvj daies.
¶ Mercuri swyft is y-seid a messeng{er} of daies [[? heuene]]. he
fulfilliþ his course i{n} CCCxxxvj daies.
¶ Þe mone is a planete ny þe erþe. [[_ends._]]
* * * * *
NOTES
ON THE CHEMISTRY OF THE TEXT
By C. H. GILL, Esq., of University College, London
P. 4. Direction to submit any wine _that is not sour_ to distillation.
(_Sour_ wine is deficient in alcohol; that body having been changed into
acetic acid by oxidation.) In the language of the mystical ideas which
prevailed in the dawn of Chemistry, the colouring matters, sugar, &c. of
the wine are called ‘the .4. elementis,’ or as it were the ‘rotten fæces
of wine’??
The direction to distill the wine seven times is a good practical
suggestion for the obtaining of strong alcohol which will burn well.
Then follows a description of the distilling apparatus, which seems to
have been arranged to ensure a very slow distillation, so as to obtain a
product as colourless and scentless as possible.
P. 5. The second way to make the Quinte essence depends on distillation
of alcohol by means of the heat of fermenting horse-dung; also the fifth
manner.
P. 6. The directions for gilding burning water are all nonsense; but as
the writer had no means of testing the truth of his statements, they may
have been made in good faith.
P. 7. The idea which he expresses, that this gilt burning water will
make you well and young, is difficult to explain, except on the
assumption that, it being the strongest of alcohol, a very little served
to produce that elevation of spirits which seemed to bring back the
spring of youth.
P. 7, l. 6 from the bottom. The word _liquibles_ in the text does not
mean liquids, for a liquid cannot be made hot enough to be _quenched_.
If the original _liquibles_ cannot be retained I should substitute the
word _liquiables_, meaning those things which can be liquefied by heat.
Indeed in the next passage we find stated that if Saturn (the
alchemists’ mystical name for Lead) be quenched, &c., and that if then
Mars (Iron) be quenched in the same liquid, it will acquire the softness
of Saturn. Or if you quench lead in spirit which has had iron first
cooled in it, it becomes hard.
Of course there is no truth whatever in the above statements.
P. 8. The fire without coals, &c., is ‘corrosive sublimate,’ most
probably containing an excess of Sulphuric acid (vitriol) as an
impurity. If Copper (Venus) or Tin (Jupiter) be dipt into this solution
of mercury they will have a deposit of mercury formed on their surface,
which will give them a pearly appearance.
P. 8. To bring Gold into calx. When gold is treated in the way directed,
a fine powder of gold of a brown or yellow colour is left. This might
readily have been mistaken for a calx by those who had no clear ideas of
what calx really was.
P. 9. The departing of gold from silver is essentially the same as the
plan practised at the present day.
To get the Quintessence of Gold. I can make nothing of the directions,
that is, I cannot see that they (the directions) hide any real truth.
P. 10. How to get the Quintessence of Antimony. I can make nothing of
this part, and can only suggest that the vinegar used contained
hydrochloric acid, and when distilled with ‘Myn Antimony’ (native
sulphide of antimony) gave a distillate of Chloride of Antimony
containing some ‘kermes’ which is red.
From this point onward there is little or nothing that can be explained
by a Chemist.
GLOSSARY.
[Transcriber’s Note:
A number of the listed words are spelled differently in the text than
in the glossary, or have italics that will affect text searching. The
searchable spelling is given in braces at the end of the entry. Line
references in braces were also added by the transcriber.]
Agu, p. 22, l. 1, ‘Intermittent Feaver, commonly called an _Ague_, has
certain times of Intermission or ceasing; it begins for the most part
with Cold or Shivering, ends in Heat, and returns exactly at set
Periods.’ _Phillips._
Aischin, p. 4, l. 10, ashes.
Amphora, p. 11, &c., ‘a large vessel which derived its name from its
being made with a handle on each side of the neck, from ἀμφί _on both
sides_, and φέρω _I carry_.’ _Dict. of Gr. and Rom. Ant._
Anele, p. 6, l. 26, &c., heat?
Apostemes, p. 24, l. 24, imposthumes, boils.
Appeire, p. 3, l. 12, impair, worsen.
Arreins, p. 2, l. 25, spiders. {areins}
‘Cassia Fistula (Lat.), {p. 21, l. 16}, Cassia in the Pipe or Cane, a
kind of Reed or Shrub that grows in _India_ and _Africa_, bearing
black, round, and long Cods, in which is contain’d a soft black
Substance, sweet like Honey, and of a purging Quality.’ _Phillips._
Colaciouns, p. 18, l. 21, ? comments, homilies. {colac{i}ou{n}s}
Comounne, p. 3, l. 35, communicate. {Comou{n}ne}
‘Continual Feaver {p. 21} is that whose Fit is continu’d for many Days;
having its times of Abatement, and of more Fierceness; altho’ it
never intermits, or leaves off.’ _Phillips._ {feu{er}e contynuel{e}}
Deedly, p. 3, l. 24, liable to death, mortal.
Departynge, p. 5, l. 14, parting, separating.
Depurid, p. 9, l. 27, purified, purged.
Distillatorie, p. 10, l. 24, a still. Randle Holme, (_Academy_, p. 422,
col. 2,) speaks of ‘a Still or Distillatory Instrument,’ and further
on, iv., ‘He beareth Sable, the Head of a _Distillatory_ with 3 pipes;
having as many Receivers or Bottles set to them.’
‘Ebulum or Ebulus (Lat.), {p. 18, l. 3} the Herb _Wall-wort_,
_Dane-wort_, or _Dwarf-elder_.’ _Phillips._ {appears in form _ebuli_}
Encorpere, p. 13, l. 4, mix, incorporate. {encorp{er}e}
Euforbii, p. 21, l. 3 bot., ‘Euphorbia, the _Libyan Ferula_, a Tree or
Shrub first found by King _Juba_, and so call’d from the Name of his
Physician _Euphorbus_.’ _Phillips._ {euforbij}
Euphorbium, ‘the gummy Juice or Sap of that Tree much us’d in Physick
and Surgery.’ _Phillips._
Extremities, p. 17, l. 2, ends of the limbs. {extremytees}
Fecis, p. 4, l. 7; p. 9, dregs.
Fire of hell, p. 8, l. 23, a disease. {fier of helle}
Fumiter, p. 18, l. 3, fumitory. {f[u]mit{er}}
Fyme, p. 10, l. 2 bot., mud, clay.
Gerapigra galieni, p. 3, l. 29, ἱερα πικρα Γαληνου.
Giltid, p. 7, l. 3, having the properties of gold communicated by it.
Groste, p. 5, ll. 9, 29, grossness, heavy particles, residuum.
{grosté}
Hide, p. 13, l. 18, ? for hide{us}; compare the Harleian reading
‘unkinde.’
Hool, p. 15, l. 10, recover, improve.
Incombustible, p. 10, l. 2.
Incorruptibility, p. 7, l. 2. {incorru{m}ptibilitee}
Kynde, p. 1, l. 12, all creatures; l. 13, nature.
‘Lapis Lazuli {p. 18, l. 3} a kind of Azure or Sky-colour’d Stone, of
which the Blew Colour call’d _Ultramarine_ is made .. much us’d in
Physick.’ _Phillips._ {lapis lasuly}
Lembike, p. 9, l. 2, ‘Alembick or Limbeck (Arab.), a Still, a Chymical
Vessel used in Distilling, shaped like a Helmet, and towards the
Bottom having a Beak or Nose, about a Foot and a half long, by which
the Vapours descend. They are commonly made of Copper tinn’d over on
the inside, and often of Glass.’ _Phillips._
Liquibles, p. 7, l. 6 bot., meltable metals.
Lymayl, p. 8, l. 6 bot., Fr. ‘_limaille_: f. File-dust, pinne-dust.’
_Cotgrave._
Marien Bath, p. 12, l. 7 bot., Balneum Mariæ, a Chemist’s bath. ‘_Bain
de Marie._ Maries bath; a cauldron, or kettle full of hot water.’
_Cotgrave._ {bath clepid marien}
Medle, p. 19 last line, mix.
Medulla, p. 18, l. 3, pith.
Mercasite, p. 10, l. 14, ‘a kind of Mineral Stone, hard and brittle,
partaking of the Nature and Colour of the Metal it is mixed with; some
call it a Fire-Stone.’ _Phillips._ {m{er}casite}
Mercuriale, mercurie, p. 21, 19, &c., ‘Mercury .. among Chymists ..
signifies Quick-silver; and is also taken for one of their active
Principles, commonly call’d _Spirit_ .. Also the Name of a purging
Herb, of which there are two sorts, _viz._ _Good Harry_ and _Dog’s
Mercury_.’
Metis, p. 16, l. 22, _meatus_, passages.
Mon, p. 13, l. 19. ? {question mark in original: see footnote}
Morsus Gallinæ, the Herb Henbit or Chick-weed. _Phillips._ {cited at
p. 20 l. 33}
Mortifie, p. 19 last line, ‘Among Chymists to change the outward Form
or Shape of a Mixt Body; as when Quicksilver, or any other Metal, is
dissolved in an _acid Menstruum_.’ _Phillips._
Neischede, p. 7, l. 2 bot., neshness, softness, pliancy.
Oo, p. 4, one. {cited at line 11 and later}
Popilion, p. 22, l. 24; ‘Populeum, an Ointment made of Poplar buds, of a
cooling and allaying Quality.’ _Phillips._ Fr. ‘_Populeon._ Popilion,
a Pompillion; an ointment made of blacke Poplar buds.’ _Cot._ {word
appears on line 25, not 24}
Preparate, p. 8, l. 21, prepare. {p{re}p{ar}ate}
‘Quartan Ague {p. 20} is that whose Fit returns every fourth Day.’
_Phillips._ {quarteyn}
Quenchour, p. 6 at foot, cooling the florin ?
Quintessence is defined by Phillips as ‘the purest Substance drawn
out of any Natural Body; a Medicine made of the efficacious active
Particles of its Ingredients separated from all _Fæces_ or Dregs; the
Spirit, chief Force, or Virtue of any thing.’
Reme, p. 9, l. 5 bot., A.S. _reoma_, a strap, thong.
Reparale, p. 8, l. 21, make, compound. {rep{ar}ale}
Respire, p. 4, l. 5 from foot, exhale.
Restreyne, p. 7, l. 8, retain.
Reward, p. 2, l. 4, 7, regard.
Rotombe, p. 10, l. 3 bot., a retort.
Sambucy, p. 16, l. 7 bot., ‘Sambucus, the Elder-Tree; a Shrub of very
great use in Physic.’ _Phillips._
Stafisagre, p. 20, l. 1, ‘Staphis agria, the Herb Staves-acre, or
Lice-bane.’ _Phillips._ {stafi-sagre}
‘Tertian Ague or Feaver {p. 21} is that which intermits entirely, and
returns again every third Day with its several Symptoms at a set
Time.’ _Phillips._ {tercian}
To, p. 1, l. 16, too.
Triacle, p. 23, l. 5, cordial, ‘Treacle, a Physical Composition, made of
Vipers and other Ingredients.’ _Phillips._
Turbit, p. 16, l. 7 bot., ‘Turbit, Tripoly, an Herb called Turbith, or
blew Camomel.’
‘Turbith, an Herb so call’d by the Arabians, which grows in Cambaya,
Surat, and other parts of Asia; a dangerous Drug upon account of its
violent purging Quality.’ _Phillips._
Vapoure, p. 8, l. 5 from foot; p. 9 at foot, evaporate.
Woodnes, p. 22, l. 23, wildness, madness.
Ypericon, p. 19, l. 16, ‘Hypericon, St. _John’s-Wort_, an excellent Herb
for Wounds, and to provoke Urine.’ _Phillips._
* * * * *
* * * *
* * * * *
[Technical Notes and Errata:
The character “l-bar” ƚ has been represented in this text by “l-stroke” ł,
as it is much more widely available.
Two entries in the Table of Contents were merged in the printed book,
apparently for reasons of space. The original form was:
HOW TO CURE FRENSY, GOUT, AND TROUBLES FROM DEVILS, WICKED THOUGHTS,
ETC., p. 17; AND HOW OUR QUINTE ESSENCE IS HEAVEN 19
The main title page has been left as printed:
e{ess}encijs...
The internal title page was changed from
[Sloane MS. 73, fol. 10. Brit, Mus.]
The superfluous “e” and the comma after “Brit” appear to be the only
typographical errors in the book.
Each page of body text was surrounded by the following:
Top of Page:
Synopsis of page contents. This e-text preserves the page breaks and
line divisions of the 1866/1889 book.
Inner Margin:
Line numbers in increments of 4, used for Index.
Bottom of Page:
Footnotes, originally numbered from 1 on each page.
Outer Margin:
Side footnotes: Identified by asterisk rather than by number. In this
e-text they are printed directly below the referring line, in the same
way as page-bottom footnotes.
Folio number: Marked with an asterisk at the exact point of page break.
It appears to be mere coincidence that the text of folio (leaf) 26 was
printed on page 26 of the 1889 book.
Marginal notations: These are described in the “P.S.” of the editor’s
introduction.
Subheads: Printed in italics, with horizontal lines above and below.
Running summary: Provided by the 1866 editor. In this e-text, some of
the more fragmentary summary notes have been combined into one block.
Special Case:
On page 22, in the space at the end of a paragraph, a numbered
footnote reads [_in margin_, ‘Rose / violett / Borage / lutuse/’]. In
this e-text, the words have been shown as a marginal notation. ]