The regiment of life, whereunto is added a treatise of the pestilence, with the boke of children, newly corrected and enlarged by T. Phayre

The seconde parte, of the cure of one that is enfected with the pestilence alreadye.

Howe to knowe a man that is infected, the fyrst chapter.

WE sayd in the beginninge, how y^e pestilence was en∣gendred of the corrupt and noughtie ayer, turning all the humoures of the body quycklye to corrupcion & to venyme. Wherefore we muste take hede be ty∣mes, lest the vital mēbres be infected

of the sayd poison, for it euer seketh to the hert, and yf it come vnto the hert, afore the medicine, then is there no recouery, for not one amōg an hūdred lyueth. For the sayde venyme is so swyfte, so fearce, and so boystous of it selfe, that it wyll not (without greate difficultie) be put out of possession, but dryueth awaye the medicine from the herte agayne.

But yf the medicine come vnto the hert afore the venym hath the vpper∣hande, then he dryueth it oute, by the helpe of the vertue expulsyue, of the spyrituall membres, and that expulsiō commonly is by swette.

And for because somtimes a man is poysoned, & can not tell him selfe, nor none that is about him, wherof many daūgers doth arise, for as y^e prouerbe is, one scabbye shepe enfecteth a hole flocke, therfore it shalbe necessary that euery man take hede vnto hym selfe, & consydre all the signes & tokens that shal be sayd herafter: for the more care

that he hath about that, the soner shal he escape out of the daunger.

And yf a mā feleth hym selfe infecte, aboue all thynge let hym remembre god, for it is a sycknesse y^t in a twink∣līg of an eie may bring a mā to death.

Firste let hym loke whether in hys arme holes, flākes, or vnder his necke there be any aposteme or swellyng, or whether in any other partes of his bodi ther appeare any grene, blacke, or euil coulored sore, for that is the signe that neuer fayleth, but the person cer∣taynly is enfected, Notwithstanding euery man enfected with y^e pestilence hath not such vlcers, botches or sores, wherefore ye muste take heede of the other signes hereafter, that ye be not deceiued for lacke of y^e said apostemes. But what is the cause y^t such aposte∣mes somtimes doth appeare, & some∣times doth not? no doubt, but because that whē the venim is so vehement & so furious, and hath gotten hold in the bodye of man, nature by reason of the

swyftenesse of the infecciō, is so trou∣bled, letted, and entangled, that she cā∣not tell whiche waye to succoure, & so can driue out none apostemes, & that is more perillous, thē yf ther wer ma∣ny sores. But againe, when y^e venim is but meanely furious, & the nature of y^e pacient strong ynough by reason of good humours, thē it defendeth itself and driueth the venim from the hert & principall membres, to such places as it may be best auoyded at, which brea∣keth forthe by comuvlsion in botches, carbuncles and other sores.

The seconde sygne is, yf ye feele a greate pryckyng and shotyng in youre bodye, and specially in any of the .iii. clensyng places, y^t is to say the necke, the armeholes and the flankes.

The thyrde signe is when ye fele an outragious heate within you, as yf ye were in the fire. Which heat somtime spreadeth it self abrode through al the hole body, and otherwhyle ther ary∣seth suche a colde, that it maketh a mā

to shake as yf he were in a feuer. Wherin al ye that be infected, muste take hede: for some there be y^t in the beginning fele not such a feruēt heate outwardly, but it is within as greate as yf they burned, with moche heuy∣nesse of y^e head, drynesse of y^e mouth, & extreme thirst. Wherby many one are compelled for to slepe euen for verye labour of the spirytes, and some other watch, and are so out of quyete that a man wold thynke they were fallen in to a phrenesye.

The fourth sygne is, yf great vapours and fumes arise out of the body, when a man is in a bathe, and wolde fayne sweate, but he can not.

The fifth signe is yf the paciente can not drawe his breath easely, for many one is so strayte wynded, that he can not speake, and when he breatheth it is with great laboure and difficultie.

The sixt signe is vehemente payne of the heed, suche as is wont to be in a frenesy. But there be some for al that,

that in the beginning of the infeccion, fele nothīg so great peyne as we haue spoken of in the heed. Notwithstan∣ding this is a general rule, y^t the pesti∣lence can not be in the body, without some payne, or heuinesse in the heed▪ The .vii. signe is great desyre to slepe, frō y^e which many one can not abstaine him selfe in any wise, nor can not be kept waking of thē y^t are aboute him. The .viii. sygne is chaungynge of the syght, for somtimes there commeth to the pacientes eies, as it wer a yelowe colour, somtimes al that he beholdeth he thynketh it to be grene.

The .ix. signe is peine of the mouthe, or an vnnatural tast, bytter, soure, or∣stinkinge. The tenthe sygne is often ••omiting, bitter, & of diuers colours. The .xi. is heuinesse and dulnes of al the hole body, and swownynge, and weakenesse of the limmes, These be y^e principal signes & tokens whereby ye may perceyue whē any mā is infected. Notwithstandyng all these signes are

not euer manifest, for somtymes it is sene, that one hath had the pestilence, & felt nothyng at all, yea and somtimes the vrine wyl be as fayre and as good to sight, as in a hole man, because the humours come not at the lyuer, and the feuer wylbe smal or none, for that the venime is not in a hote humoure, and so driueth out no heate, and yet the pacient by and by dyeth.

Somtymes also he shal thynke hym selfe hole, bycause that nature in the fyrste brunt droue the venome from the herte, and yet anon after his lyfe passeth from hym, for that nature was not strong ynough at the next assult, eyther by reson it was vexed & weried in the firste, or els the venime perad∣uenture multiplied or chaunged into more malignitie or nerer to the herte than it was afore. Euery one in the begynnyng seme lightly to be better, for then the strength of nature is ga∣thered al togither to stād againste hys enemye, but it is not so in other euyll

sickenesses. The paciente also manye tymes thynketh hym selfe stronge ynoughe, because the venime worketh not so cruellye vpon the other mēbres as it doth vpon the herte.

Wherfore in time of pestilence, when ye fele your selfe in any thing diseased, dryue not forth y^e time in loking whē the signes aforesaid shuld appeare, nor stande not in examining or doubtyng whether ye be infected or no, for ye maye be sure, that so longe as thys dysease raigneth in y^e country where ye are, ye shall haue fewe sicknesses, but eyther is pestilence alreadye, or els wyll be within a whyle: and so gyue your selfe to y^e cure of the Pesti∣lence, for while the noughty influence of that infecciō dureth, al superfluous humours may lghtly be enfected, and that is the onlye cause, why in time of pestilēce, ther is so few of other infir∣mities. For as soone as many sortes of other syknesses doo arise, the pesti∣lence abateth and is gone.

And here is to be noted, that what∣soeuer chyld in the tyme of pestilence, be vexed with the wormes, ye maye safely affirme y^t he is infected, for it is a matter so disposed to the pestilence, euen as is brymstone, to be kindled of the fyre. This haue many phisicions not considered, & bicause of that, haue bene deceiued in theyr cure. Here I haue declyned by occasion, but now to our intent.

When one or two, or more of these sygnes aforesaid are knowē to be in a bodye, let hym not despyse them, nor put any foolyssh trust in the strēgth of his cōplexiō, as many one haue done, & by and by dyed, nor let no man trust y^e colour of his vryne, or mouing of the pulse: for somtymes the strength is so excessyue in the venyme, that a man is deed afore the naturall vertues are a∣ble for to succour him, or to dryue a∣waye the venim from the herte. And herein haue many wise phisicions also ben deceyued, and haue euyl iudged of

the pacientes pronostyke.

Therfore by and by without delaye, ye muste admynystre some good and holsome medicine, as shalbe sayd her∣after, or elles the stylled water that we spake of in y^e former Chapiter, or some other valiaunt medicine against the pestilence, that it may descend vn∣to the hert afore the venyme haue the vpperhande of nature.

For yf it bee once settled at the hert, I affirme plainely, ther is no hope at al. Yet there be some fooles, that tarye tyl the twelueth houre, or the foure & twentye, after the infeccion, and they boost them selues that they wil heale the pacient, but that is a manifest & a a shameful errour, for yf any by chaūce is so recouered, it commeth of God, & not of any medicine, for where as one so escapeth, an hundred other perisshe.

Notwithstandyng yf the case so be that ye be not called, or can gette no remedy afore the said time, caste not your selfe into dispayre, or put not the

paciēt in discomfort, take or giue your medicine in y^e name of God, and yf ye can not brooke it, take asmuch agayn and do so many tymes til ye maye re∣tayne it, thē lay ye downe to sweate, and lyft vp your hert to God, callinge vpon hym, without whom there is no helth, and by the grace of Iesu, ye nede not to be feareful of death, for that y^e is impossible to man, is easye ynough with God, yea many times nature worketh it selfe, aboue al natural ex∣pectaciō. But I counsaill at the firste begynnyng to receyue the medicines, when any of the forsayde signes ap∣peareth, or when ye fele your selfe diseased, for the venyme perceth soner to the herte, of the cholerike, thē either of the sanguyne or the melancholyke, although the sanguynes are apter to infeccion, then the other are, chefelye yf the sycknesse be in somer.

They that are of melancholy be not lyghtly taken, but in case they be, thē the cure is very daūgerouse and hard.

Therefore I saye take heede at the beginnyng as the prouerbe is. Prīcipiis obsta, sero medicina paratur Lū mala per longas inualuere moras.

Take the medicine quickely, and let thy selfe bloud, and remember god the phisicion of thy soule, and withoute doubt, thou shalt well inough recouer.

Nowe we haue declared the signes by whiche ye maye easily know whan a person is infected, and wee sayde it was conueniente to take the medicyne as soone as anye of them appeareth, without any longer tarying, afore the venime commeth to the hearte, here wee wyll enfourme you, howe ye shall perceiue whether the saide venime bee setled in the hearte or no.

Take a dramme of bole armeny made in pouder accordyng to the doctrine of y^e last chapter in the first part, and if ye can not get it, take some other excellēt medicine against y^e pestilence, namely one of the receites that shall bee sayde hereafter, and geue it to y^e pacient, but

there can nothyng be better, then the foresaide pouder yf ye haue it at hand.

Take I saye thereof one dramme, & an ounce of white wyne, and odorife∣rous, with two ounces of water of ro∣ses, mingle them, and geue them to the pacient. The blacke receit declared in the Chapter of preseruatiues, maye be wel vsed in stede of the bole.

And yf he maye retayne the drynke within his stomake, it is a good signe that the venime was not at the hearte afore he toke the medicine, and there∣fore he may be let bloude wel inough.

But yf the pacient cannot broke the saide drinke, but cast it vp and vomite, then ye maye be sure, that the venyme hath bene at y^e heart afore y^e medicine.

Therfore by and by wash his mouth with wine, or with water of scabious, of sorel, or of roses, and it ought to be very wel mundified and clensed.

Then geue hym an other dose of the said drinke, and heat a cruste of bread, and holde it to his nose, that he maye

the better kepe the foresayd pocion▪ And if the seconde tyme he caste it vp againe, and is not able to reteine it, wash his mouth as is saide before, and geue it him the thyrde tyme, with a li∣tle vineger, that it may perce the bet∣ter, and so .vi. or .vii. times, if he do not holde it, geue it hym agayne, and then whether he retayneth it, or retayneth it not, by and by ye ought to lette hym bloude.

But in case the paciente were infected xxiiii. houres afore ye geue the drinke, neuer let him bloud, for y^e can nothing helpe him, but rather make him feble, but administer a medicine ordeyned for the pestilence, as is sayde afore, or such as shalbe spoken of hereafter, and that done prouoke hym to sweate.

Nowe to oure purpose as concer∣nyng dyet.

¶The seconde Chapter, of the cure of pestilence, by the waye of dyet.

FYrst as soone as e∣uer the paciēt feleth himselfe infected, it is verye good to a∣uoid y^e corruptaire, by chaunginge into some other place: or els if he can not so, let him rectifye the ayre of his own house, or of his cham∣ber, with water of roses and vineger, or els with fumigacions as is spoken of before, according to the quality of y^e time, & the cōplexion of his own body.

Moreouer it is good for him to shif∣ten his bedde out of one chamber into another, and from that to the fyrste a∣gayne the nexte daye, euer rectifying the ayre, of them both, as is aforesaid.

And as touchynge meat and drinke, he ought not to abstaine, or yet to take anye superfluities, for to eate good meates measurablye (thoughe it be a∣gainst his stomake) yet in this disease it shall doe him muche good; Let him

eate the brothe of chickens, capons, or coleyses of rabbettes, and suche lyke meates, with a litle sorell sauce, or vy∣neger, & rosewater, or wine of pome∣granades, (yf they maye be gotten) or wyne of barberyes, and suche other.

If ye wyl haue other kynde of sau∣ces, or a pouder to strowe vpon youre meate, ye may make it after this sort.

Take graynes of paradise, whyte dyptanye, of eche an ounce, fine poudre of cinamome, and cloues, of eche halfe an ounce, make them al in pouder, and mingle it with suger. In this disease ye maye eate no quesye meates, as eles, gese, duckes, and other suche as bee euyll.

I call them euyll meates, whych (accordyng vnto Galene De differen∣tiis febrium) are eyther euil of theyr owne nature, or els if thei be natural∣lye good, yet by reason of some putre∣faction, are as muche or more vnhol∣some, as the other are, partelye so, be∣cause of longe kepynge, vncleane and

naughty dressyng, or when thei be lai∣ed vp in a filthye or stinking place, and partly by some yl infeccion, when thei were aliue: for he that vseth such kind of meates, is oftentimes accoumbred with manye naughtye sycknesses, as corrupte & pestilencial feuers, scabbes, pustles, lepries, and other euyll infir∣mytyes.

All fyshe in this case are to be auoi∣ded. Brothe or gruell, made with bo∣rage, buglosse, endiue, succorye, sorell, purcelane, and other like herbes, with a litle saffron, and cleane wheat floure, or the crommes of breade in a broth of chickyns, or without a broth, maye be wel administred.

Potched egges also with sorell sauce and cinamome, vineger & rosewater, are meruelous good in this case.

And yf the heate be very vehement, as well after meat, as afore, he maye wel drinke a draughte of sodden water with the iuyce of orenges, limons, ci∣trons, or of sowre apples, wel mīgled

together, to quēch y^e venimous fumes, that might ryse vp to the brayne. And yf the paciente be younge, and stronge hauyng a good stomake, hole winded, hoate of complexion, and in tyme of heate, not subiecte to the colike, nor to none hydropsye, nor apostomes in the bowelles, he maye drynke a good draughte or twoo of cleare and colde water commynge out of a rocke, or of a runnynge water, or of a faire spring. For when nothynge elles can myty∣gate the thyrste, yet wyll cleare water by lytle and lytle, dymynishe all the heate. But ye must beware ye take no greate excesse.

Aptisane with suger of roses, is ve∣rye good to drinke betwene meales.

The pacient oughte not for to sleape duringe the fyrste .xxiiii. houres, and in the time y^t he receiueth his medicines. Afterward he mai slepe a litle at once, to comforte the weakenesse of the spi∣rites, and he ought euery daye to go to syege once.

And aboue al other thynges let him not dispayre, but bidde him be of good comfort, and doubt not of his health, so he take no thought, but as much as is possible, make him to reioise, as wel by communicacion as by musike, and bringyng in vnto hym good and hole∣some herbes, fruites, boughes and other thynges of coumforte, but yet notwithstanding see that he remember God, and not∣forget his own cōscience, for in this sickenesse the worst is euer to be feared.

¶The thyrde Chapter, of the cure of pestilence by the waye of medicine.

AS soone as euer ye fele your self infect, take of y^e poudre of bole armoniake, in maner and forme a∣fore declared, or of y^e blacke receite the weyghte of halfe a crown, more or lesse according to the vertue of the pacient, myngled with the water of roses, and a litle vineger, as is sayde afore, and drinke it all at one draught.

And if ye can not get the foresaid pou∣der, or paraduenture ye wil abhorre to take it, thē drink a litle pocion of y^e re∣ceit folowing, which is very excellēt.

¶A receit against the pestilence. TAke y^e rote of turmētile dryed in the shadowe, of saffron, and of mustarde sede asmuch of one as of an other, make of them a pouder, and incorporate it with the thyrde part of mithridatum, or of fyne triacle, wyth a lytle stronge venyger,

ī maner of an opiate, kepe it in an ear∣then vessell close, and in tyme of nede vse it. The weighte of it at once is frō halfe a dramme vpwarde▪

This receite woorketh more vpon the venime then it doth vpō the feuer. And euery daye folowing it is good to take a litle sirupe of limons, with wa∣ter of sorell, or of matfelo••, or of oure lady thistle.

And he that hathe none of the sayde sirupes, let hym vse the waters of the same herbes, or the good water that I haue discribed in the chapter of medi∣cines preseruatiues.

Auicenne sayeth that whosoeuer ta∣keth an onyon & drynketh it in mylke fastyng in a mornyng, he shal bee safe that daye from all infeccyons of the pestilence. Therfore some are wont to rost two or thre onions, and to eat thē with vineger and browne bread nexte their heart afore they enter into anye suspecte ayre. And haue founde health in their so doinge.

IOhannes Manardus, •• man of hye knowlage in the arte of medicine, and of greate auctorytye a∣monges al learned men, describeth in his boke of Epistles, a very good receit aswel pre∣seruatiue as curatiue deuised by him∣self for lacke of good triacle, and is of merueilous operacion, as well in this disease, as in healing all maner veny∣mous woūdes, both of adders, snakes, and other kinde of serpentes. The re∣ceit of this noble medicine is this.

¶Manardus medicine for the pestilence. TAke the dried bloud of a drake, and of a ducke, of a gose, and of a kid, rue, fenell seede, the seede of cumine, dylle, and of wylde nepes, or gardē nepes, or rapes, of euery one .iii. drammes, the roote of gētiane, trifoile, squinantum, frankē∣sence, roses dried, of ech .iiii, drammes. White pepper and long, cost, valerian,

anyse, cinamome of eche .ii. drammes, myrrhe, nard, of eche .vi. drāmes, ben∣iamin, assarum, gumme armoniake, of eche thre drammes, aloes, agarike, of eche two drammes, carpobalsami .xx. graynes, ireos, saffron, reubarbe, and reupontike, gynger, mastike, of ech one dramme, sticados, fiue drammes.

Make a fyne pouder of these, and with foure times asmuche of claryfied honye, mingle all together, and kepe it in a siluer vestel or a glasse stopped, for it is an hie treasure, ī such a case. The dose of it is two drammes in wine or water of sorel.

¶Here foloweth an electuarye of a wonderful vertue, in the tyme of pestilence, THis electuarye is of so great ver∣tue, in thē that do receiue it once in .xxiiii. houres, that they maye be sure from all euil infeccions of cor∣rupte ayres and contagious, all the daye after.

But in them that are infecte alrea∣dye,

and are taken with the pestilence, yf they drynke of it but one sponefull, as shal bee sayde hereafter, (speciallye after letting bloude yf it bee conueny∣ent to the pacient) and laye him down and sweat vpon thesame, yf the venim hath not vtterly ouercome the hearte, he shal vndoubtedly recouer.

It hath bene lately proued, that after drinkynge of thesame medicine whan y^e pacient made his water in an vrinal, the glasse hath bruste in pieces, by rea∣son of the venime that it purged out.

¶This is the makyng of the sayde electuarye Take cinamome electe, one ounce, terra sigillata .vi. drāmes, fine mirrhe iii. drāmes, vnicornes horne .i, drāme the sede and rinde of citron, rootes of diptany, burnet, turmentille, zedoary, redde corall, and, drammes .ii. yelowe saunders .iiii. scrupules, red saunders, ii. scruples, white ben and red, floures of marigoldes, ana. one dramme, iue∣rye raced, scabiouse, beronici tunici,

anyse, cinamome of eche .ii. drammes, myrrhe, nard, of eche .vi. drāmes, ben∣iamin, assarum, gumme armoniake, of eche thre drammes, aloes, agarike, of eche two drammes, carpoba••sami .xx. graynes, ireos, saffron, reubarbe, and reupontike, gynger, mastike, of ech one dramme, sticados, fiue drammes.

Make a fyne pouder of these, and with foure times asmuche of claryfied honye, mingle all together, and kepe it in a siluer vestel or a glasse stopped, for it is an hie treasure, i such a case. The dose of it is two drammes in wine or water of sorel.

¶Here foloweth an electuarye of a wonderful vertue, in the tyme of pestilence, THis electuarye is of so great ver∣tue, in thē that do receiue it once in .xxiiii. houres, that they maye be sure from all euil infeccions of cor∣rupte ayres and contagious, all the daye after.

But in them that are infecte alrea∣dye,

and are taken with the pestilence, yf they drynke of it but one sponefull, as shal bee sayde hereafter, (speciallye after letting bloude yf it bee conueny∣ent to the pacient) and laye him down and sweat vpon the same, yf the venim hath not vtterly ouercome the hearte, he shal vndoubtedly recouer.

It hath bene lately proued, that after drinkynge of the same medicine whan y^e pacient made his water in an vrinal, the glasse hath bruste in pieces, by rea∣son of the venime that it purged out.

¶This is the makyng of the sayde electuarye Take cinamome electe, one ounce, terra sigillata .vi. drāmes, fine mirrhe iii. drāmes, vnicornes horne .i, drāme the sede and rinde of citron, rootes of diptany, burnet, turmentille, zedoary, redde corall, ana, drammes .ii. yelowe saunders .iiii. scrupules, red saunders, ii. scruples, white ben and red, floures of marigoldes, ana. one dramme, iue∣rye raced, scabiouse, beronici tunici,

sede of basile, y^e bone of a stagges heart, saffron, ana .ii. scruples, make a fyne pouder, and adde vnto it of bole armo∣niake preparate two ounces, white su∣ger thre pounde, and with a sirupe of acetositate citri, make a goodlye elec∣tuary, and kepe it in a glasse.

If the pestilence commeth with great excesse of heat, drinke it vpon rosewa∣ter, and vineger, but yf ye fele it colde, take it in a draught of wyne, and couer ye with clothes, so that ye may sweate as longe as is possible, for wythoute dout, it is a presente remedye as I my selfe haue oftentimes proued.

¶An other deuine medicine, in a liquide fourme. TAke rue, wormewood & bawme the herbe, of ech a like porcion, of celido∣ny, both herbe & rote as∣muche as al the other, so that ye haue of them .iii•• a good bigge handful, wash the rote of

celidony, very clene & purely, in wine or in fayre clere water, than put them all into a new pot of earth neled with∣in, and poure vpon the herbes, halfe a pounde of the moste strongest vineger ye can gettte, couer them iust, and lute the mouth of the potte, with luto sapi∣encie, which is made of wheate floure and y^e white of an egge, that no breath maye issue, and seeth it eyghte or .ix. houres, with a softe fyer, than lette it ••ole by litle and litle, and after straine the herbe, and sette the licoure in the sonne to rectifye.

¶Whan a person is infected with the pestilence: First as I sayde afore, lette hym bleede in a due vayne, than geue hym a sponefull of this lycoure, with as muche as a nutte of triacle, yf so be ye haue any, luke warme, by and by let a cruste of breade all hote, be dipped in vineger, and holden to his mouth, that he may the better broke the medicine.

And yf he chaunce to vomite, incon∣tinente washe his mouth with wine,

and cause hym to receiue againe an o∣ther sponful, and so if nede be .v. or .vi. times, til ye se that he reteine it, which is a very good signe, yf he so doe.

After this set hym in a warme bed couered, that he may sweate out y^e re∣sydue of the venime, and by the grace of God he shall escape the daunger. This is a medicine of infinite vertue. But if the pacient haue a greate heate geue hym no triacle, or els very litle.

¶The .iiii. chapter of the cure of pestilence, by lettyng of bloud, ventoses, and purgacions

ALthough phlebotomy or lettyng of bloud, be one of the chief thinges that are requyred to the cure of the pestilence, yet for lacke of vnderstandyng, and letting bloud other∣wyse than behoueth, manye one is cast awaye: and therefore euerye good bar∣boure

ought for to take heed, y^t he hurt not them, whiche come vnto hym for helpe (for that were a greatte shame) whiche he shal neuer do, yf he ponder wel y^e thinges, y^t shal be said herafter.

¶Thys is a general rule. IN the time of pestilence whā a body is infect, ye maye not haue respecte either to y^e signe, y^e daye or y^e houre: but whether the mone be there or not, or what aspectes so euer be in y^e planettes lette him blede forth with in the name of God.

Younge men and sanguine, and they that haue aboundaunce of ••••e••, and of blood mingled with other ••ors, ought to blede somwhat more in quā∣titie, but alwayes kepe a moderacion, that ye take not out to gre•••• quāti∣tye at once.

It is better to let hym blood twyse, leauynge the wonde of the fyrst stroke open, and annoynt it with a litle oile,

and after foure or fiue houres, let him blede in the same wound agayne, but wythout strykyng yf it be possible.

But alwayes gyue an eye, to the strength of the paciente, that it be not enfebled, and agayne beware that ye haue taken awaye the rankest, and the strōgest venime, wherin yf ye be dout∣ful, take the counsaile of some good expert phisicion.

Also ye must note, that ye may not let blood, to any children within the age of .xiiii. yere, nor to olde men aboue fyftye yere olde, nor to women great with childe, specially nere vnto theyr tyme, nor when theyr due purgacions is vpon thē, nor to thē that are newly brought to bed, or within a wekeor, ii. after she is purified, generally to none whiche is weake & feble in hys body. Ye shal also note, that there are some olde menne of better strength & complexion, than many yong are of, & agayne dyuers young children often or twelue yeres olde, are of higher co∣rage,

and of as good strengthe, as they that are many yeres elder. In suche cases, a litle euentaciō of the enfected blood, may be y^e sauing of theyr liues, so that all thinges be done with good discretion.

It is wisdome also to let them blood liyng vpō theyr backes, whō ye thinke would fainte in stāding or in syttyng. And yf the case do requyre the letting of blood, and the paciente be not able to beare it for any of the causes afore rehersed, it is good to apply ventoses, in maner and fourme as I shall de∣clare hereafter.

And here we shulde saye somwhat of the greate errour that many do com∣myt in taking one veyne for an other, for by such errours is the venym dra∣wen many tymes vnto the herte, and so procureth deathe vnto the pacient.

Wherefore that ye may not be dis∣••eyued, euer in the pestilence lette him blood on that syde that the sore is on, and not on the contrarye syde, in anye

wyse, for that shulde drawe the venim ouerthwarte the membres spirytuall, and so destroye the man.

But or euer ye lette him blood, it is good to gyue some good and holsome medicine agaynst the venyme, such as is declared in the chapters herbefore.

If the botche appeare vnderneth the eares, let him blood in the hed veyne of y^e same arme, or els in the braunche of the same veyne, which is vpon the hand, betwene the myddle fynger and the nexte that is adioynynge,

If it appeare vnder the throte, take the same veyne, and within a whyle after, it is good to open the .ii. veynes vnderneth the tongue.

If the sore be sette within the arme∣holes, take the veyne called me••••ana, whiche is betwene the foresayd heade veyne, and the veyne commynge from the lyue••.

If the sore be sette within the stan∣kes, than ye muste open the veyne cal∣led saphena, whiche is about the ancle

of the fote, on the inner side: and yf ye can not fynde it there, take the branch of it, y^t is betwene the greate too, and the nexte vnto him, but the lettyng of bloode in that vayne is forbiddē vnto women when they be in healthe.

And yf there apere .ii. botches, one on euery syde, Manardus gyueth coūcell to take the right side and not the left. And in case there doth appere no signe of botche or swellyng, than he biddeth you to open both the veines saphenas on the right side and the lefte.

Notwithstandynge, Marsilius Fi∣cinus is of a contrarye opinion, and sayeth that it is best when there doth no sore appere, to take the common veyne on the ryghte arme.

I thynke herein Manardus councel rather to be folowed.

But yf ye se the botche standyng out∣warde more towarde the bounche, thā ye must open the veyne called sciatica, whyche is aboute the ancle of the fote on the outsyde. The whiche openynge

of the veines muste be done as sone as is possible, alwaye presupposed, that he hath receiued one or other medicine agaynste the venym, and that he sleape not in any wise, as is afore mēcioned.

And to them that can not lawfullye be letten blood, ye must in all hast ap∣plye many ventoses, with scarificatiō or withoute scarifienge, as it semethe best to your discretiō, so ye take a rea∣sonable order thus. If the soore be vn∣der the eares, or about the throte, lette youre ventoses be applyed behynd v∣pon the necke.

If the botch appeare vnder the armes, set your ventoses behynde vpon the shulders. If the sore be in the flanke, or thyes, lette your ventoses be sette vp∣on the buttockes.

And yf the pacient be replete wyth humours and stronge, hauing no fluxe nor other impediment, & ye thynke he nedeth to be purged: ye may gyue him in y^e mornyng .i. ounce of cassia, or of māna, with a litle dy aprunis laxatiue

more or lesse, according to y^e pacientes necessitie, tempered with water of sca∣biouse, sorell, or endiue, euer takynge hede, that he do receiue some medicine against the venim, during al the time of his disease.

¶The fifth Chapiter, of applyca∣tion of outward medicines.

HEre is to be noted y^t no maner plai∣ster repercussiue, mai be set vpō any botch of pestilēce. But assone as is possible, after let∣tinge bloode, it is good to take an onion, & to make an hole in the middest of it, thē fil it ful of good triacle, after that stoppe it, and set it on the harth to roste, as it were an apple. And when it is rost so longe tylle it be tendre, let it cole a litle: and set it hote vpon the botche, and when it hath bene there by the space of two houres, take

it of, and laye an other on.

Or take a cocke and pull the fethers of, about his foundamente, & put a li∣tle salt in it, and set his foundamente vpō the saide botche, keping him on a good whyle, stoppyng many times his byll, that his breth may be reteyned, & let hym blowe againe. And yf y^e cocke dye, it shall be good to take another yonge cocke, and splytte it quycke asounder, and lay it on y^e botch, but ye muste cōmaūde them that take them of, to cast thē in y^e fyre, and not to take the sauor whē it is remoued: for that is verye daūgerous. Some there be y^t lay aboute y^e sore, water leches called bloodsuckers, and it is very good, so they be well prepared, & clensed, from corrupciō. Other apply ventoses with scarificatiō, but they ought fyrst to be applied withouten any scarifying, so they shal y^e better drawe y^e venym out.

Other lay therto a playster made of galbanū, diaquilō, & armoniake, incor∣porate togyther, & some other lay on it

a plaister made of figges, soure leuē, & reisins without kernels, braied & in∣corporate altogyther in oyle of camo∣mylle. There be also y^t set vpon the botche an herbe called crowefoote, which is very hote, & maketh a blister on y^e skinne, & that same they breake, and kepe the place open many dayes after. And in that case, yf the botch be in the verye arme holes: it is beste to set y^e sayd herbe a loft vpon the arme.

And some other breake the forsayde botche with a stronge ruptory, hauing part of maturatiō, as for exāple thus. Take sowre leuen foure ounces, mus∣tarde, rue, scabiouse, wormewood, of euery one an handfull, white lilly ro∣tes, the thyrde parte of all, grene cop∣porose two drammes, cantharides in numbre .x. galbani one ounce, old nut∣tes, and somwhat fusty, or els newe yf ye can not get them, in nūbre .iiii. oile of white lilles, as moch as shal suffice, seeth al the herbes and rootes in oile, accordyng to arte, with a double ves∣sel,

that is to say: the oyle being in one panne may seeth onely by the boiling of the water in an other greate panne, and make a playster with the residue of the stuffe in a good fourme. It hath a greate vertue to breake a pestilence sore without moch payne, and afore ye lay it on, wash the sore with a sponge dipped in the straynyng of the foresaid herbes and rotes.

Other take oyle olyue & seth it with oken asshes, addynge vnto it a litle of blacke sope, & quicke lyme, and make a plaister of the same, it is not to be v∣sed, but in strong complexions.

And al the forsaid waies are to be cō∣mended. But after one hath vsed thē a whyle, & seyth they begynne to come to maturation, let him take y^e counsell of a lerned surgeon, or any other of good experience, and to set maturatiue emplaysters, vnctions, & bathes, accor∣dyng as becommeth, percing the apo∣steme in the softeste place, afterwarde procede with mundificaciō and incar∣nacion,

euen as in other kindes o fap∣postemes: wherein I humblye desyre them to haue some pytie of the poore, that be diseased, & not to fauoure thē that haue ynough, but rather take so∣moche of the ryche, that they maye the better haue wherwith to helpe y^e nedy. And forbycause the sycke maye haue some comfort, if in case they shuld be destitute of surgeons, I will (besydes the said medicines whiche they may confidentlye vse,) describe some ma∣turatiue emplaysters that are experte and proued in this cure of pestilence.

¶A playster to rype a botche com∣mynge of the pestilence. TAke mallowes, & the rotes of holyhocke, & onions, asmuche as shal suffice, washe them and seeth them in water, & after∣ward bray thē in a morter with pou∣dre of ••ineseed, and of fenugreke, and a good quantitie of swines grese freshe, laying on the plaister euery day once.

¶An other for the same.

TAke white diptany an ounce & an halfe, the rote of walwort an ounce, the rotes of cresses halfe an ounce, white onions .ii. oūces, seeth the rotes in water, and rost the onyon vpon the coles, then stampe thē al to∣gither, addyng of oyle of camomil .iii. ounces, rosyn one ounce, nettle seede syxe drammes, waxe, asmuch as shall suffice, and make a goodlye playster or an oyntmente at your pleasure, for it ripeth the sayd botch in a shorte space and consumeth y^e venyme, and is good aswell for yonge men as for olde.

And afore that it be thorough rype, cause it to be perced as it is said afore. And if after the sayd percing there be great payne, take the yolke of an egge wel beaten, and a lytle oyle of roses, & annoynte a tent therin, and put into y^e sore, for to cease the payne. Afterward mundifye the place with a salue made of yolkes of egges, fine barly floure, & a lytle hony of roses. Last of al, for the perfecte incarnacion, take the iuyce of

dayses, and with a lytle waxe make a softe oyntmente, and vse it, or ye maye lay therto any other salue incarnatiue as ye are wonte to do in other clene sores. Prouided alwaye y^t it is better in this case, to breake y^t sore betymes than to tary for the rypyng long, leste perchaunce y^e venym beyng included, gather strength by the putrefaction, & so returne agayne vnto the hart: ther∣fore open it, afore it come to rypyng, & after procede with your maturatiues, and other holsome playsters.

THus moche haue I spoken of surgery, in the exterior cure of one that hath the botch, so farre is god hath giuen me vnderstandinge to perceyue, accordyng to the mindes of such famouse clerkes, as haue most effectually written of the same. Now will I declare a lytle of the exterior ••••re of him that hath no botch at all. ••nd yet is sore infected with the pesti∣lence. For the noble handy woorke of surgery, is conuenient to thē both, as

wytnesseth Marsilius Ficinus, in his booke of pestilēce in the .xi. Chapiter. And the fourme of it is thys.

After that the pacient hath receiued some good & holsome medicine against the pestilence, and swette (or after let∣tynge blode, yf the case do so requyre) by & by ye muste apple your labour to take away the residue of the venyme, that remaineth in y^e body. And to that intent ye ought to make a ruptorie o•• sowre leuen & cantharides, or other a∣boue rehersed, & set it on the muscule of the right arme, vnder the cubite, o•• the parte where as the pulse lieth, bu•• not vpon the pulse it selfe, and so pro∣cure a blystre, whiche ye shal immedi∣atly cut of, and kepe the sore runnin•• many dayes after, y^e longer the bette•• for the pacient.

An other issue ye maye make in the same maner, vpō his right legge, four fīgers aboue his heele toward the i••¦steppe, and kepe it open lykewise, til moneth or two after he be recouered

¶The .vi. Chapiter, of the cure of carbuncles and anthrax.

AS concernyng the curation both of a carbuncle & the pe∣stilence sore called anthrax, ye maye doe euerye thynge accordyng as we spake afore in the generall cure of the pestilence, bothe as touchinge diete, medicines agaynst the venyme, cordialles, laxa∣tiues, blood lettinges, & ventoses, ye shal heale them as ye heale the botch, in al thinges. But as touching lettīge blood, when ye se a carbūcle or an an∣thrax by him selfe without aposte me of y^e emunctoryes, be it vpō the necke, or vpon the throte, or the face, or the head, ye must let him blood in the head beyne. If it be vpon the shoulders, brestes, or arme or other place aboue y^e ••auyl, take the veine called mediana.

And yf it be beneth the sayde places, downe vnto the knees, take the veyne saphena, but yf it be on the outsyde of the thygh, take the veyne sciatica, euer

vpon the side that the sore is on, (as is sayd afore) consyderyng the complexi∣on, the strength, the age, and the quali∣tie of the blood, euen as is said in the chapter of the botch, and likewise ap∣plye the ventoses vpon them that can not beare flebothomye.

Whyche thynges presupposed, it is good to set vpō the carbūcle, whether it be with botch or without botch, the yolke of an egge, incorporate with as much salt as ye cā tēper with it, renu∣yng it euery houre duryng a hole day. Or els apply the sayd leches or blood suckers round aboute the sore, & after they haue sucked oute the bloode, set theron a cocke as is said of the botch, or els a doue al hote splitte in y^e mid∣dle. And he that can not gette the leches, yet let hym not fayle to applye the residue of y^e sayd medicines, euery one after other as afore is sayde.

Or a hote lofe commynge out of the ouen, or take a sower pomgranad, an•• cut and seeth it in vinegre, or scabious

brused betwen two stones, or the rote of daises, or good sowre dough, incor∣porate with salt and a litle oyle oliue: all these medicines are good to kyl the carbuncle.

The precious stone called a saphyre hath also great vertue against venime and specially against a carbuncle, yf ye touche it with the stone, and drawe it round about the sore by the space of an houre. But whatsoeuer medicine ye set vnto a carbuncle, ye must laye a de∣fensiue about the sore, whiche is made as hereafter foloweth.

¶A good defensiue. Take sanguis draconis, and bole ar∣meni, of ech a like much, make them in pouder and incorporate them wyth oyle of roses, and a litle vineger, and lay it in a cloth al about the sore, with∣out touching any part of it, & renew it when it is harde and drye. But yf the person be of good abilitie and the car∣buncle veri fearce and burning, cannot bee quenched with the meanes afore∣saide,

than ye muste procede with an actual or potencial cauterie, and to re∣moue the escare, laye on capons grece or a litle butter, or els a playster made of mallowe leaues, holihokes, violet∣tes, lily rotes sodden in broth of netes fete or other fleshe, & afterward stam∣ped, streyned, & vpon the fyer mingled with pouder of lineseede, barly floure, beane floure, freshe butter, and swines grece, adding in the ende whan ye take it of, two yolkes of egges and a litle saffron, and styrre it wel about.

This is good also to rype the foresayd sore, afterwarde mundify and heale as is sayde in the other chapter.

I could declare many other remedies, but I set thē that haue bene often pro∣ued, and that be most easye for to gett•• at nede, desyring al them that shall vse these my simple labours, to accept my good wyll vnto the beste, and to pray to God almyghtye for his grace, vnto whom only be al laude glorye and ho¦nor, world wythout end, Amen.