so often repeate this, vntill you haue distilled it sixe or seauen
times ouer, that the coloure be chaunged, and in the ende, to the
coloure of golde. Whiche then is moste pleasaunt of sauoure, and so
swéete, that nothing maye be compared like to it, in flagrantnesse of
smell. The Quintessence doeth dissolue golde, prepareth it apte to be
drunke, and any Iewell put into the water, it doth also dissolue the
same. Also this is named the Blessed Water, in that giuing to any two
or thrée drams to drinke, being at the point of death, doth so
sodainely recouer the person againe, as doeth the Quintessence of wine.
And washing any grieuous wounde or stripe with the water, doeth in
shorte time heale the same. Also this pretious water doth maruellously
help the cough, the Rheume, the disease of the Splen, and many other
diseases, whiche woulde scarcely be beléeued. The water also ministred
daily vnto a person sicke of the Palsey, for the space of .xlvj. daies,
he was by the mightie helpe of God, & this miraculous water, throughly
healed of the disease. Also this Quintessence doth helpe the falling
sicknesse, and preserueth the bodye from putrifying, so that by al
those we maye learne, that thys is rather a diuine water from Heauen
(and sente from God) to serue vnto all ages.
¶ The manner of drawing and making Waxe of
the Honny combes. Cap.xxxiiij.
The Honny being drawen from the combes, although some Bées hang on them
deade, yet putte all togither into a fayre panne or cauldron, into
whiche poure so muche water or more, as the quantitie of the combes be.
This set ouer a softe fire, vntill the same what it be, is throughly
heated and molten in the panne, and in the melting continually sturre
the same aboute, with a bigge splatter or some staffe, leaste the Waxe
cleaue to the panne sides, throughe the flame or heate of fire, and
appeare burned: after poure the whole substaunce into a course hairen
bagge, pressing it forth into a troughe or other like vessell, made for
the only purpose, on which poure twoo or thrée kettles full of hote
water, that no dregs hang after on the Waxe, and by that means shall
you haue the Waxe both pure and cleane. But if you wil haue it caste
into faire round cakes, and to be cleaner and purer, then melte the
Waxe againe, and being molten, poure it into a cleane vessell, which
washed likewise with warme water (as aboue was taught) set after in the
Sunne, by which meanes, the cake will continue verye long faire of
couloure.
¶ What Waxe is beste allowed and commended.
Cap.xxxv.
Waxe being the foode of lighte, and seruing vnto innumerable vses of
men, of all the kindes, the same is beste allowed and commended, whiche
is bothe newe made, meanelye redde of coloure, somewhat fattie,
smelling swéete, hauyng some sauoure in it of the Honny, and cleare. Of
the Waxe also in sundrie Counties, that in the countrie of _Pontus_ is
well commended, and the same in the Isle of _Creta_: nexte to these is
the Waxe in the Isle of _Corsica_, which is made of the Boxe trée, and
supposed to haue some good effectes in it for Medicine.
¶ Of the great commoditie and benefite of Waxe in
Medicines. Cap.xxxvj.
Waxe hath a meane among heating things, both in the cooling, drying,
and moistning, as writeth _Galen_ in the seauenth booke of Simples, and
.22. Chapiter, whiche properly helpeth the roughnesse of the breaste,
when it is ioyned or mixed with the oyle of Violets, for that bothe
mollifyeth or softneth the sinewes, ripeneth and resolueth vlcers. The
quantitie of a pease in waxe swallowed downe of Nurses, or such women
as giue sucke, both dissolue the milke courded in the pappes. And tenne
little péeces of pure newe waxe, vnto the biggenesse of a hempséede,
drunke downe at one time, doeth cause the milke not to courde in the
womans stomacke and breastes. If the priuie place or thereabout, of
either man or woman, happeneth to swell, then by applying an ointment
made of white waxe, it shortly assuageth and healeth the same. If anye
also happeneth to be diseased with the bloudy flixe, by stuffing a yong
Pigeon with newe waxe, after rosting the same, and eating the fleshe
thereof, doeth in shorte time after staye the same. Also, if a Quince
made hollowe and filled with pure newe waxe, be after rosted vnder hote
embers, vntill the same be tender, and eaten fasting without drinking
after it, doth in like sorte staye and helpe the perillous flixe, and
scouring of bloude. The waxe besides serueth to all maner of plaisters,
ointments, suppositories, and such like.
¶ Of that whych is a stay of the combes, and made
for a defence of Bees from colde. Cap.xxxvij.
The same made of Bées at the entrie of the mouth of hiues, oughte to be
yelowe of coloure, and swéete smelling, like to _Storax_, and drawne
into a length, like to _Mastike_. Yet that is rather chosen, bycause in
heating and drawing it is principallest. For of itselfe, this draweth
forth thornes or splents of wood run déepe into the flesh by applying
it plaisterwise on the grief, it helpeth an olde coughe by making a
smoake thereof, and holding the mouth ouer it, and applyed in the forme
of an ointment on ringwormes, doeth spéedily heale them. Nowe this
matter (as aboue was taught) is the stay of the hony combes, by whiche
Bées stoppe and kéepe forth al manner of colde and other annoyances
which might endamage them, the same also being of so strong a sauor,
that some vse it in the stéede of _Galbanum_. _M. Varro_ nameth it a
refuge of Bées, withoute their cottages, bicause Bées make the same at
the entry of the hiue.
¶ Howe to make Waxe white. Cap.xxxviij.
Waxe is made white in this manner, firste that kinde of waxe (fit for
this purpose) ought to be whiter and purer, and broken into little
péeces, putte after into a newe earthen panne, pouring vppon it
sufficient salt or sea water, and a lyttle Nitre brused, which séeth
altogither. When the same bath boiled twice or thrice vp, remoue the
panne from the fire: the waxe being throughly colde, take forth of the
panne, and scraping off the filth, if any suche hang on, putte againe
into newe salte water, séething it againe. And when the waxe hathe so
often boyled (as aboue was taughte) then take off the panne from the
fire, and taking the bottome of a newe earthen panne, melt it with
colde water, whiche dippe by little and little into the waxe, drowning
it a little, and that the water be aboue the waxe, whereby the waxe
maye become verye thinne, and be the sooner cooled it selfe. And taking
by and by oute the moulde or bottome, drawe firste the rounde cake off,
and wetting againe the bottome in colde water, dip it into the waxe,
and the same so long doe, vntill you haue drawne off all that waxe into
cakes of like sorte, whiche after stitche throughe with thréede,
hanging the cakes on a rope one from another, and that in the daye time
often wetting them in the Sunne, but in the nighte time, in the Moone
light: and so long doe this, vntill the waxe be white. And if anye
desireth to haue waxe whiter than this, then let him do the like, as
abouesaide, but boyle the waxe oftner. Some in stéede of the salte
seawater, take strong Brine water, in whiche they boyle the waxe in the
same manner twice or thrice, as aboue was taughte. And _Paulus Euerdus_
in his booke of Confections, teacheth the making of waxe white two
manner of wayes.
¶ Howe you may make redde Waxe. Cap.xxxix.
That you maye colour and make Waxe redde, take to one pounde of waxe,
thrée ounces of verye cleare Turpentine, if it be in sommer, but if it
be in winter, then take foure ounces. Now these disolue and melt
togither ouer a soft fire, and taking it from the fire, let it coole a
little, after which put in your Vermillian finely ground on a Marble
stone, and of swéete Salet Oyle, of eache one ounce, mixing these well,
stirre al togither, diligently. But some in stéede of Vermilion, doe
take the reede leade, which is little commended, except there be thrée
times so muche of the redde leade, as of the Vermilion putte in. And in
the like sorte may you make the gréene Waxe, if instéede of the
Vermillian, you take so much of the gréene Coporas finely ground, as
you did of the Vermilian.
¶ Howe to drawe a profitable Oyle out of
Waxe, for sundrie vses.
Cap.xl.
The Oile of Waxe, is myraculous and diuine in workyng, bycause it
serueth in a manner vnto all griefes. _Reymond Lully_ greatly
commendeth this Oyle, approuing it rather as a celestiall and diuine
remedie, and that this in woundes, doeth worke moste miraculously,
which for his maruellous commoditie, not so well to be allowed of the
common Chirurgions, bycause this pretious Oyle healeth a wounde, be the
same neuer so wide and bigge, being before wide stitched vppe, in the
space of tenne or twelue dayes at the moste. But those whiche are
small, this Oyle healeth in thrée dayes, by annoynting onely on the
cuttes or woundes, and laying after linnen cloutes, wette in the saide
Oyle, vpon the woundes. For inward diseases the saide Oyle worketh
myraculouslye (if that you minister or gyue a dramme at a time in white
Wine to drinke) and stayeth also the sheading of haire, either on the
head or beard, by annointing the places with this Oyle. Besides these,
it is miraculous in the procuring of vrine, being mightily stopped, and
helpeth also stitches and paine in the loynes, by drinking the like
quantitie of the Oyle aboue taughte in white wine.
Now the making and drawing of this oyle, is on this wise: firste take a
body of glasse, named a Retort, which stronglye lute aboute with clay
and flocks, diligently tempered togither with salte water: after the
body is thus fenced and thoroughe drie, putte in a pounde or more of
pure newe waxe, so that the saide waxe filleth not aboue halfe youre
body, and to euerye pounde of Waxe, poure in foure ounces, of the
pouder of redde bricke, finely brused, whiche after set into an earthen
potte, filling it rounde aboute with fine sifted ashes or sande. After
this, set the potte with the bodye in it, on a fornace, making a softe
fire at the firste vnder it, and after encreasing a little more your
fire, distil them so long, vntill all youre Oyle be come, whiche after
a while wyll congeale in the receiuer: but it maketh no greate matter,
although the oyle so doe, for it is neuerthelesse in his perfection.
Bycause that if you shoulde distill it so often ouer, vntil it will
congeale or stiffen no more in the receiuer, then shall you make it
ouer hotte, and so quicke in the mouth, that it is not possible by anye
meanes to drinke it downe. But being once distilled, you maye either
giue it in Wine to drinke, or annoint with the Oyle on any place of the
bodye where you will, whiche will always doe good, and hurte in no
manner.
And in consideration of these aboue taught, you maye evidently learne
and perceiue, that this myraculous Oyle oughte to be hadde in greate
veneration of the common sorte.
¶ Another waye of drawing the Oyle of Waxe moste
noble, and doth maruelously help the cold Goute,
the Sciaticke, the swelling of the legs, and al
other griefes proceeding of a colde
cause. Cap.xlj.
Take of pure newe waxe so muche as you please, which put into a panne
ouer the fire to melte, and being molten, haue by you in a readinesse
another panne well glased, and cleane within, filled with verie good
and perfecte wine, into whiche poure youre molten waxe, letting it
soake and drinke in well, and washe often in the saide wine. After this
take the waxe forth, melting it againe ouer the fire, and molten, washe
the same againe in the beste wine, so that euerie time melting the
waxe, poure it into freshe new wine, washing and soaking it in the same
diligently, after wringing it very wet with the hands. And vsed on this
wise, both melt and washe againe in the abouesaide manner, and this
also do for eighte times togither. Then set the same forth, being a
cleare season and ayre, all the nighte throughe, after which put the
waxe into a Retorte with a little of _Mumia_, and oyle of _Ypericon_ or
Saint Iohns wort, and a little olde Oyle: and although without these it
maye doe good, yet mixed with these it worketh farre better, than vsed
alone.
Nowe to retourne to the former matter this crooked bodye or Retorte set
in fine sifted ashes, and a gentle fire made vnder it, vntill all the
oyle do runne forth, and in this comming forth of the oile, shall
appeare all the foure Elements, as Ayre, Water, Earth and Fyre, whiche
will orderly appeare in the receiuer, right maruellous to sée. And the
Oyle being thus fullye drawne, worketh miraculouslye in all diseases
which procéed of a colde cause, like as we haue aboue taught.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
¶ The conclusion to the Reader.
Thus (gentle Reader) I haue (I truste) fullye satisfied thy desire in
as manye things as are needefull to be knowen. And I committe this my
little Booke to thy gentle iudgement: if thou mayste receiue any
profite or commoditie thereby, I shal be gladde of it, and if not, yet
fauourably let it passe from thee to others, whose knowledge and
experience is lesse than thine herein, that they may gather suche
things as to them are strange, though to thee wel known before. And
thus brieflye I committe thee to God.
(∵)
[Illustration]
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¶ Certaine Husbandly Coniectures
of Dearth and Plentie for euer.
The first Chapter.
And first consider and marke, that howe the weather is a daye before
the day presente, and the daye after the Sunnes entraunce into the
signe Aries, and suche like shall the weather be (for the moste parte)
in these thrée moneths, as in September, October, and Nouember.
And looke howe the weather shal be at the Sunnes entrance into the
signe of Leo, as at the day of the entrance the daye before, and the
daye after, and such commonlye shall be in the moneths of December,
Ianuarie, and Februarie, for if the winde shall then blowe oute of the
North, or Easte, and those daies drie, then shall followe a verye colde
season in those thrée moneths: but if the winde blowe out of the South
or Weast, and that it raineth in those thrée dayes, then yse to followe
in those thrée moneths. And if the weather in these thrée daies shal be
neither wholy drie, nor wholy moiste, then shall folowe an vnstedfaste
Winter.
And like as the weather shall be at the Sunnes entraunce into the signe
Libra, as at the daye of the entraunce, the daye before, and the daye
after, suche for the more parte shall be the Spring, as in the moneth
of Marche, Aprill, and May.
And looke howe the weather shal be at the Sunnes entrance into the
signe Aquarius, at the daye of the entraunce, the daye before, and the
daye after, (suche for the more parte) shall the weather be in the
moneths of Iune, Iuly, and August.
And manye auntient men affyrme, that like as the weather shall be
whiles the Sunne is running by the signe Libra, and vnto the .20.
degrée of Scorpio, which time is from the daye named (the Exaltation of
the crosse) vnto the day of al Saints, such for the more parte shall
the yeare following be, as in diuiding that foresaide time into twelue
moneths, and that foure daies doe aunswere to eche moneth, of the
whiche foure dayes, that eache one of the foure, doeth declare the
condition of the quarter following, and beginning also to recken
November as the first moneth of the yeare.
And the generall signes of the dearth and plentie after the minds of
the auncient husband men be these, as the ouermuch coldenesse drying,
the ouermuch moysture softning, the ouermuche heate greatly burning,
and the ouermuch drinesse putrifying and working into dust.
For when any of these qualities shall excéede in the proper time, but
especially in that time, which to the corne and fruites do not agrée,
then shall dearth and scarcitie both of fruites and corne ensue.
As for example, when the moneth of March shal be ouer moyst and wet,
which rather ought to be drie, and that the moneth of April shal be
drie, which then ought to be moyst, doth after pronounce the penurie of
the fruites of the earth.
And if that part also of sommer shal be weat, in which the corne doth
then fall vnto ripenesse, that rather ought to be drie, doth after
signifie the scarcitie both of corne and other fruites of the earth.
And the like may be saide of the other constitutions, which when the
Elementall qualities shal be in such a condition as do best agrée, then
doe they promise both fruitfulnesse and plentifulnesse.
And if in the Spring be signes of colde and drought, and that in the
ende of the spring neare the full moone be frostes, then shall follow
very small yéelde of the fruites of the earth, and little wine that
yere following.
And if the spring be drie, then fewe shall the fruites of the trées be,
yet good, and the scarcitie of corne shal be that yeare.
And if the Spring shall be colde, the fruites of the Earthe shall be
late ripe.
And if the Spring and Sommer shall be ouer wette, or mistie, or colde,
with cloudie weather for manye daies together, whiles all the trées
haue borne their blossoms, and the fieldes their floures, and beginne
to shedde their floure, then shall follow the scarcitie of fruites of
the earth in that yeare, or else a verie greate rot of them, and many
sicknesses in that yeare.
And if the sommer be drier than customably, then shal follow the
scarcitie of corne, yet the Sommer fruites shall that yeare be sound,
the fishes then die, and most sharpe sicknesses shall raine that yeare.
And if the Sommer shal be hotter than customably, then shal followe
many sicknesses or diseases, yet great plentie of the Sommer fruites
that yeare.
And if the Sommer shal be colder than customably, then shall follow a
healthfull yere, but the fruites of the earth shal late ripe that yeare.
And here further note of the spring, that if in the same season of the
spring, there shal be a more plentie of all floures and fruits toward
than customably, doth after signifie a scarcitie of corne that yere,
vnlesse the heate of sommer doth otherwise reforme the same.
And the wise and auncient husbandmen haue obserued, that when the
winter shal send downe store of raine on the earth, so that the same
excéede not or bée too much, and that the March following be drie, and
the Aprill wette by often shoures, and that the same part also of
Sommer bée drie in which the corne falleth to ripenesse, then doth the
same promise a plentifull yeare.
And when that part of the Haruest shal be faire and drie, in which the
wheat is sowen, and the parte of sommer in which corne falleth too
ripenesse shal be faire and drie, the spring also meanely warme, doth
then not only promise fruitefulnesse, but a plentifull yeare of corne.
And nowe the Haruest moyster than customably doth putrifie the Grapes,
and causeth a small yéelde of wines that yeare, with the scarcitie of
other fruites.
And if in the latter part of Haruest it be moyster, then in the yere
following shal ensue the scarcitie of corne.
And if the Haruest bée drier in the first part, then in the yeare
following shal Rie, and that smal graine named Mill, and suchlyke, be
deare.
And if the haruest be hoter than customably, then shall followe a
diseased yeare and that dangerus.
And if the Haruest be colder than customably, then shall follow the
losse of the Haruest fruites both in the store and tast of them.
And the Winter colde and drie, is of all husbandmen commended, but
extréeme colde, doeth then flea the trées, especially those which ioy
in a warme aire, as the Pomegranade trée, the Oliue trée, the Lemmon
trée, the Figge trée, the Peach trée, and such like.
And if the Winter excéede in the extremitie of coldnesse, then doth it
signifie harme both vnto the Vine and the Oliue trée, the Cherie trée,
and the yellow Quince trée.
And if the Winter be hote and moyst, then the same doth pronounce an
vnhealthfull yeare, and daunger to séedes and fruites of the earth.
And the excesse qualitie, and distemperature of any of the foure
quarters, is euill and daungerous to the fruites of the earth.
And the plentie of snowe falling in the due season of the yeare, doth
batten the earth, (and if the others do helpe) then doth it signifie
the plentie of corne and other fruites of the earth.
And if any washeth the handes with snowe, it doth then make them
stedie, in that the snowe is ingendered of a vapour somewhat drie and
earthly.
And the snowe nourisheth shéepe & other beasts in that the snow is
ingendered of the moyst aire, in which life consisteth.
And the snowe increaseth the corne and other growing things on earth,
in that by his coldnesse it so doth shut the poures of the earth, that
the heate with the whiche the séedes of the earth be cherished, cannot
then breath forth.
And the snow heateth and cherisheth the earth, by the thicke couering
of it, and defendeth the gréene wheat and other séedes sowen, from the
sharpe and vehement colde then of the ayre.
And the snowe may be kept all the yeare under the earth, couered with
strawe, and profitable it is to mixe with the wine in hote sommer, and
necessarie also to coole the ayre about sick persons.
And the vnprofitable falling of the deawe, mistes, or fogges
(especially when all crescent thinges doe bud foorth, and shewe theyr
floure) as in the Moneth of Aprill and May, as well on the trées, corne
and grasse, which beastes then feding on be greatly harmed, through the
deaw fallen, and all other thinges also much harmed by the same, as
hath bene often obserued by the ancient and wise husbandmen.
And the ouermuch falling of raine, frostes or haile, especially in the
spring time, and in the winter time, whilst the corne is yet as grasse,
the excesse of raine also doth then threaten the scarcitie of vittailes
to ensue that yeare.
And the great plentie of beanes, after the opinion of the common
husbandmen, through the much raine fallen, doth fore shewe the
scarcitie of corne, and especially of wheate that yeare.
And a like iudgement may be giuen of the Oke and Holly trée, which if
they beare plentifully, then a fruitfull yeare followeth, and
contrariwise bearing but few, then a deare yeare of corne to ensue.
And the great plentie of Grashoppers, wormes and Catterpillers
appearing in their proper time more than customably, doe not only
declare harme to vines and séedes sowen, but to all fruites that yeare.
And the great store of windes, not only cause little fruites, but
scarcitie of corne to ensue that yeare.
And a stilnesse in a manner throughout the yeare, doth declare a
likelyhode of the plague to ensue shortly after.
And the auncient _Hipocrates_ writeth, that when in the Sommer the
North winde long continueth, and in the Harvest, the South winde with
store then of raine, it doeth after threaten in the Winter the
headache, hoarsenesse of voice, the coughe, consumptions or impostumes
to ensue.
And if after a drie Sommer (as write the auntient Phisitions) the North
winde doeth long continue in the Harueste, then the bodies of women,
and suche diseased with a moiste sicknesse, doe then in that season the
rather recouer health, in that the drinesse of the seasons and windes
is contrarie to the excesse, and to the rottennesse of the humors, by
whiche the sicknesses were caused.
And if the Winter shall be hote and moiste, and the Spring colde and
drie, then doth the same threaten sicknesse to men in the Sommer, and
that women with childe shall haue vntimely birthes of a light occasion.
And _Hypocrates_ writeth, that when in the Winter be longer Northerly
windes, and in the Spring longer Southerlye windes, and that raynie and
wette in the Sommer following, then doeth followe Agues, and the
Diseases of the eies.
And when after a colde Winter, and that South windes and raynie in the
Spring, and that the Sommer be drie then in the Haruest following doe
agues ensue, paines also of the bowels thoroughe the greate scouring of
the bodie, and Sicknesses, with the whiche olde men, diseased persons,
and children be then more pained.
And when the Southwest winde doth long blowe aboute the end of Haruest,
then those persons diseased with a long sicknesse, do shortly after die.
And a further knowlege of dearth and plentie of victualles, and of
sickenesse may be had on this wise.
Firste in the end of Haruest, cutte open two or thrée Oke apples,
looking whether there be in them either Flyes, Worms, or Spiders.
For if in the Oke apple be founde Wormes, or Magots, then they signifie
(after the opinion of auncient husbandmen) to the dearth and scarcitie
in that yeare.
And if the Oke apple cut open be founde like to flies, it doth after
threaten battel to ensue in that yeare.
And if in the Oke apple be founde like to Spiders, then doe they
foreshewe the plague or pestilence to ensue in that yeare.
And to conclude, the onely proofe of the former taught, shal moue the
Reader better to credite these.