The gentlewomans companion; or, A guide to the female sex containing directions of behaviour, in all places, companies, relations, and conditions, from their childhood down to old age: viz. As, children to parents. Scholars to governours. Single to servants. Virgins to suitors. Married to husbands. Huswifes to the house Mistresses to servants. Mothers to children. Widows to the world Prudent to all. With letters and discourses upon all occasions. Whereunto is added, a guide for cook-maids, dairy-maids, chamber-maids, and all others that go to service. The whole being an exact rule for the female sex in general. By Hannah Woolley.

Choice and Experimental Observations in Physick and Chyrurgery, such which rarely fail'd any who made trial there∣of.

A most approved Receipt for a Quartane Ague.

PRocure a white flint-stone (for that will best endure the fire without breaking) and let it lye in a quick fire till it be red hot, then take fome small beer and quench it therein; when the fit is coming, let the diseased drink a good draught thereof, and another in the midst there∣of; let this be done four several days both in the fit, and when the fit is coming. This I have been credibly inform'd was a receipt a woman had her livelihood from, in curing several when all other means proved ineffectual.

For a sudden and violent bleeding at the nose.

Take an Egg-shell and burn it to a coal, then pulverize or beat it to a fine powder, and let the person snuff it up his Nostrils, or take your two thumbs and press them hard against the Temples of the Bleeder, and you would ad∣mire how speedily it will divert the course of the blood. For those that are accustomed thus to bleed, let them make an ordinary Posset, taking off the curd, let the juice of Liverwort beaten be added thereunto, and so drink morning and evening.

To stop the Bleeding of a Wound.

Take Vervine dried, and reduce it to powder; or take the sole of an old stocking and burn it, put the ashes of the one, or powder of the other, to the wound, and it will leave bleeding.

An approved Medicine of London-Midwives to break and heal Womens sore breasts.

Take red Sage and Oatmeal the finest you can get, and boil them together in Spring-water, till you have boil'd them to a consistency, that is as thick as to make a Plaister; then add thereunto a fit proportion of Honey; having boil'd a little while together, take it off the fire, and whilst it is boiling-hot, make it indifferent thick with the best Venice-Turpentine, then spread it on fine leather, or linnen-cloth, and laying it on the sore breast it will first break it, and afterwards perfectly heal it.

An excellent way to dry up a Womans breast.

Of Linseed-Oyl and English Honey, take of each a peny-worth, of white-wax half a peny-worth, and half a quarter of a pound of sweet butter, boil all these together, spread a Plaister thereof, and lay it on the breast. Probatum est.

An infallible receipt to increase milk in Womens breasts.

Take Chickens and make broth of them, then add thereunto Fennel and Parsnip-roots, then take the newest-made Butter you can procure, and butter the roots therewith; having so done let her eat heartily, and her expectations therein will be speedily satisfied.

Against a Stinking-breath.

To prevent a Stinking-breath, you ought to keep your teeth very clean by rubbing them every morning with water and salt, which will also cure the scurvy; you may if you please try Mr. Turners Dentifrices, which are every where much cryed up. But if your breath be tainted, proceeding from some other cause, take Rose∣mary-leaves with the blossoms, if to be had, and seeth them in White-wine, with a little Myrrh, and Cinamon, and you will find the effect to answer your desires if you use it often.

For a Cancer in a Womans Breast.

Take Goos-dung and Cellydony, stamp them well together, and lay them Plaisterwise on the sore; this shall cleanse the Cancer, kill the Worm, and heal the Sore. For a Cancer in the Mouth take the juice of Plantane-Vinegar, and Rose∣water, mingle together of each a like quantity, and wash the mouth often with them.

For young Children who by reason of the weak∣ness of their Limbs can neither stand nor go.

Take Marjoram and Sage, of each a like quan∣tity, beat them very well together, then strain out the juice, and put it into a double Glass-Vial, filling the Glass as full as it will hold; stop it then with paste very close all over, set it into an Oven, and there let it stand the time of an Houshold-loafs baking; taking it out, let it stand till it be cold; then breaking the paste round about it, see if the juice be grown thick; if so, break the Glass, and put what was

therein contain'd, into a Gally-pot, and keep it. When you use it, take the quantity of two spoon∣fuls at a time, and as much Marrow of an Ox∣leg, melt them together, and mingle them well, and both morning and evening anoint there∣with (as warm as can be endur'd) the tender parts of the Childs legs, knees and thighs, chafing them well with your hands; and in a short time (Deo volente) the child will be able to go and stand; this receipt hath been ever found successful.

An approved China-broth for a Consumption.

Take two Ounces of China-root sliced thin, and let it be steept twenty-four hours in fair water, let it stand warm all the time close co∣vered in an Earthen Pipkin, add thereunto a couple of Chickens, or a Cockerel, cleanly dressed, to these put half an handful of Maiden-hair, the like quantity of fine leav'd grass, and Harts∣tongue; twenty sliced Dates, three or four blades of Mace, and the bottom of a Manchet, let all these stew together till there be but a quart of liquor left, then strain it and take all the flesh and bones, and beat them in a Stone-Morter, then strain out the juice into the afore∣said broth, then sweeten it with two ounces of powder'd Sugar-candy. Take hereof half a pint in the morning warm, and sleep after it if you can; you will not do amiss to add two drams of white and red Sanders to steep with your China-root.

A most excellent Jelly for the Consumption.

Take a new kill'd Cock, scald him, and wash

him clean; then take a Leg of Veal, and take away all the fat from it, and let them lie in water five or six hours, then seethe them toge∣ther in a gallon of Spring-water, scum clean the fat off; thus let it seethe over a soft fire till the liquor be half consumed; then put in a pottle of White-wine, and let it boil to a quart; add hereunto the whites of new-laid Eggs, clarifie it and let it run through a Jelly∣bag; then set it on the fire again, and put in∣to it an ounce of gross Cinamon, and a pound of fine Sugar, and let it run twice or thrice through a Jelly-bag again; having made a Jelly hereof, eat thereof cold.

An excellent Comforter of the Stomach, and helper of Digestion.

Take two ounces of good old Conserve of Red-roses, of chosen Mithridate two dramms, mingle them together, and when you are going to bed eat thereof the quantity of an Hasel∣nut. This will expel all flatulency or windiness off the Stomach, drives away raw humours, and venemous vapours; helpeth Digestion, drieth the Rheum, and strengthneth the Sight and Memory.

A well-tried Medicine for the Corns on the Feet or Toes.

Pare your Corns well, then take a black snail and bruise it, and put a drop or two thereof on the place grieved; adding thereto a little powder of Samphire; this I can assure with constant use in a little time will take away the Corn.

An excellent Diet-drink for the Spring to purge the Blood, and cleanse it.

Of Scurvy-grass take half a peck, Broodlime, Water-cresses, Acrimony, Maiden-hair, Liver∣wort, Borrage, Bugloss, Betony, Sage, sweet Marjoram, Sea-wormwood, Tops of green-hops, Fumitory, of each a good handful; of Ivory, Harts-horn, and yellow Sanders, of each one ounce; Red dock-roots two ounces, Parsley, Fennel, Asparagus-roots of each an ounce, Rai∣sins half a pound; boil these very well in a gallon of Beer, then stamp and strain them, and put it into three gallons of new Beer to work together.

A Remedy for the Dropsie, whether hot or cold.

Take of the tops of red Mint, of Archangel, or blind nettles, and red Sage, of either a small quantity, stamp them together, and strain the juice of them into some stale Ale, so much as will serve to drink morning and evening, do this for ten days together, and (God willing) it will effect the Cure.

Another for the Dropsie, which hath cured many a Person when they were left and forsaken by Physicians.

Take green Broom and burn it in some clean place, that you may save the Ashes of it; take ten or twelve spoonful of the same Ashes, and boil them in a pint of White-wine till the vir∣tue thereof be in the Wine, then cool it, and drain the Wine from the dregs, and make three draughts of the Wine, one fasting in the

Morning, the other at three in the Afternoon, and the other when you go to Bed, this seldom fails in its desired effect.

For the Web or Pin in the Eye.

Take the Gall of a Hare and clarified Honey, of each a like quantity, mingle them well to∣gether, and anoint the Web with a feather dip∣ped in the same, and in three or four days it will be gone.

To cleanse the skin of the face, and make it look heautiful and fair.

Take Rosemary and boil it in White-wine, with the juice of Erigan put thereunto, and wash your face therewith Mornings and Even∣ings. If your Face be troubled with heat, take Elder-flowers, Plantane, white Daisie-roots, and Herb-Robert, and put these into running-water, and wash your Face therewith at night, and in the Morning.

How to ripen and heal a Felon or Whitclof.

Take some white flower and boil it in Claret-wine to a Poultess, then spread it very thick, and apply it as hot as you can endure it, this will asswage the throbbing pain of the Whitclof, break and heal it.

How to cure the bloody Flux.

There are two sorts of Fluxes, the one pro∣ceedeth from the evil quality or temperament of the Liver, and is called in Latin, Fluxus He∣paticus; the other cometh from the great heat

and distemperament of Nature, and is called Dysenteria; that is, the distemper of the Guts; some cure this distemper with repression and re∣strictives, but many more hundreds are cured by Aromaticum Leonardi, with three or four doses of his Syrupus solutivus. You may try this way, which I shall assure you is both safe and good: Take Frogs and distill them as you do Herbs and Flowers, or any thing else, but put nothing to them but a little water; take two or three spoonfuls of this distillation in any thing you drink, and it will give you present ease.

A Cure for every sort of Gout.

The Gout whether hot or cold, or what∣ever temperature, ariseth from one and the same cause, though the effects seem different. As for example, Fat-men have it with much inflama∣tion, redness, and great pain; in leaner Persons it is discovered with less inflamation, though not with lesser pain; it afflicteth Cholerick and Melancholick men with nodes and tumours. The cause of this distemper cometh from an evil quality engendred in the Stomack, Blood and Liver, the cure thereof must be then the removal of this ill quality from the Stomack, and the purgation of Blood and Liver. Where∣fore when you perceive the pain approaching, take two Doses of Pillula Magistrales Leonardi in the morning fasting one day after another; or if you will intermit a day, then take drams of Quinta essentia solutiva Leonardi, in half a Pottinger of Veal-broth sweetned with Sugar; take this five hours before you eat any thing;

then every night after Supper take a little of the Unguentum Leonardi, and anoint your grief, and you will find your speedy recovery.

How to cure the Green-Sickness.

Laziness and love are the usual causes of these obstructions in young women; and that which increaseth: and continueth this distemper, is their eating Oatmeal, chalk; nay fome have not for∣born Cynders, Lime, and I know not what trash. If you would prevent this slothful disease, be sure you let not those under your command to want imployment, that will hinder the growth of this distemper, and cure a worser Malady of a love-sick breast, for business will not give them time to think of such idle matters. But if this Green-sickness hath already got footing in the body, use this means to drive it away: Take a Quart of Claret-wine, one pound of Currans, an handful of young Rosemary-tops, with half an ounce of Mace, seethe these to a pint, and let the Patient drink thereof three spoonfuls at a time, Morning and Evening, and eat some of the Currans after.

An Universal Medicine of wonderful use both for Man and Woman.

Take ten ounces of the seeds of Quinces, six ounces of the pills of Citrons; Balm and Nettles, of each four ounces; beat all these grosly, and infuse them in six quarts of good White-wine, thus let it remain six days, then distill it with six ounces of Honey, and fifteen ounces of Su∣gar, until you have received a quart of water;

then put it in a place to cool, then add there∣unto eight grains of Musk dissolved, with about two ounces of Rose-water put thereunto, two scruples of oyl of Vitriol, and incorporate them well together; then keep this water in a Glass well closed to keep out the air; and of this take one ounce in the Morning, and fast there∣on two hours. This Experiment is a wonder∣ful preserver of health, and continuer of life to long age, if constanly used, which may appear by the excellency of the Ingredients; for the Quince-seeds are admirable for the removing of ill humours which clog the Stomach, and are very cordial; the Pome-citron-pills preserve and help digestion; the Balm purifieth the Blood, healeth the Liver, incourageth Concoction, and comforteth the heart; the Nettles provoke Urine, mundifie the Reins, and correct the ma∣lignity of the sinews; as for the Wine, you can∣not be ignorant of its Virtues; Musk purgeth the Blood of Windiness; the oyl of Vitriol healeth all the excoriations of the Mouth, Breast, and Stomach, and is excellent against malign humours that oppress it.

An admirable Remedy against the yellow Jaundies.

Take an handful of Red-nettle-tops, Plantane, and Saffron, and boil them well in a pint of Ale, then strain it, and drink five or six days thereof, and you will find it a present remedy; let not the cheapness of its ingredients occasion this composition to be slighted.

Against the Itch.

Take sweet Butter, unwrought Wax, Vinegar;

Brimstone, a little Rose-water and red Cloves whole, boil them together till they be like Salve, then anoint the flesh three sundry nights by the fire therewith, and no more, and you need not question a cure.

Against Kibed Heels a certain Remedy.

Make a hole in the top of a Turnip, take out some of the pith, and pour into the hole oyl of Roses, then stop the hole close, and roast it under hot Embers; when it is soft, ap∣ply it Plaisterwife to the Kibe as hot as can be endured.

What is best to be administred to one sick of the Measels.

In this distemper, as in the small Pox, it is only necessary to defend the Heart, and preserve the Stomach from putrefaction and corruption; if young, to hinder the hands from murdring a good face; and then give the diseased a Julip, made of two ounces of Violets, four ounces of Rose-water, and four grains of Oyl of Vitriol, mix them and let them be drunk cold: It is as good a receipt as any for this distemper.

To cure the Fits of the Mother.

Some, nay most use burnt Feathers, or Assa∣foetida, applyed to the Nose of the distemper'd person, not without success; but your better way is to take six or seven drops of the spirit of Castoreum, in the beginning of the fit, in two or three spoonfuls of Ale-posset, and ap∣ply a Plaister of Gavanum to the Navel.

To take away the Heat of a Burn or Scald.

Roast Eggs as hard as a Stone, then take out the yolks of them, then fry the yolks of these Eggs in a Frying-pan till they turn to an Oyl; then strain it, and anoint the Burn or Scald therewith, then lay on a Bladder anointed with Sallet-oyl, and this will speedily asswage the pain, and heal the Scald or Burn.

For a Scald-head.

Take a Candle, and let it drop upon it as hot as you can, in so doing it will scale off; then take the Stale of a Cow, and the furring of Chamber-pots, boil these together and wash the place, and it will speedily cure it.

A very good receipt for one hurt with Gun-powder.

Take twelve heads of Housleek, one hand∣ful of Groundsel, one pint of Goose-dung, as much Chicken-dung of the newest that can be gotten; stamp the Herbs very small, then put the dung into a Mortar, temper them toge∣ther with a pottle of Bores-grease, stir them to∣gether half an hour, then strain it through a Canvas-bag, and so preserve it for your use; it will keep two years, and be not the worse.

A very safe Clister to be used by-either Man or Woman, who is much bound or costive.

Take Mallows and Mercury unwasht, of each two handfuls, half an handful of Barley; clean rubbed and washed, and boil them in Spring∣water, from a pottle to a quart, then strain out

the Water, and put it in a Skillet, and put to it three spoonfuls of Sallet-oyl, two spoonfuls of Honey, and a little Salt, then make it luke∣warm, and with your Pipe administer it.

How to cure old Sores on the Legs, which have been of so long standing that the Bones have ap∣peared.

Take a quantity of sweet Cream, and as much Brimstone beaten into fine powder as will make it thick like Paste; then take so much sweet Butter as will work it into the form of an Oyntment, and herewith anoint the place grie∣ved twice a day, and in a short time the cure will be effected. Probatum est.

An excellent way to dissolve the Stone.

Take a peck of Green-bean-cods without dew or rain, and two good handfuls of Saxi∣frage, lay the same into a Still, one row of Saxifrage, and another of the Green-bean-cods; and so distill in this manner a quart of Water; and then distill another quantity of Water from the Bean-cods alone, and use to drink of these two Waters. If the Patient be most troubled with the heat of the Reins, then let him most frequently drink of the distilled Bean-water, and upon coming down of the sharp gravel or stone, let him drink the other.

A way not only to prevent but to cure the Tooth-ach, or to make an aking-Tooth fall out of it self.

Every Month, twice or thrice therein, wash

your Mouth with White-wine, in which Spurge hath been boil'd, and you shall never be trou∣bled with the Tooth-ach. If your Tooth be hollow, and paineth you much, take this Herb called Spurge, and squeeze it, and mingle Wheat-flower with the Milk which issueth thence, with this make a Paste, and fill the cavity of your Tooth therewith, leaving it there a while, changing it every two hours, and the Tooth will drop out.

How to order a Woman with Child, before, in, and after her Delivery.

To preserve the Infant, and prevent Aborti∣on, take Coriander-seed prepared two drams, of the roots of Bistort, the shaving of Ivory, and red Coral, of each a dram, of white Am∣ber and Crystal, of each a Scruple; Alkermes half a Scruple, Sugar dissolv'd in four Ounces of Rose-water; make tables each of them weigh∣ing a dram. Let the Woman with Child take one of them every other day, morning and evening; between whiles let her sup a new∣laid-Egg, thickned a little with Magisterium of Pearl, or red Coral. But if her Breasts after their filling should begin to lessen or fall, it is a sign of future Abortion; to prevent which, let her take root of Bistort and Corianders, of each two drams; of unripened Gales, and red Sander, and Hippocestidos, of each one dram; Guin-Labdanum and Mastick of each half an ounce; choice Frankineense and Bdelium, of each two drams; of Coral, Amber, one dram of each; powder those which are to be powder'd, and

with Oyl of Turpentine and Wax, make two or three Cere-cloths, apply them sometimes to her Loynes and Sides, and sometimes under the Navel. She must avoid all violent and sudden motions, both of the Mind and Body, as Coughs, Sneezings, Frights, also Spices and Wine. Thus much before Delivery.

In Labour, if you will facilitate the Birth, and give speedy ease, take three or four drops of the distilled Oyl of Nutmegs in a spoonful of White-wine, or take white Dictamn-root, stones of Dates, and Borax, of each two Scruples; Ci∣namon, Cassia-Lignea, Amber, fine Pearl, of each one Scruple; Saffron half a Scruple, make a small powder of these, and divide them into two equal parts, and let her take the one part in a draught of Lilly-water, or Ale-posset made with Rhinish-wine; and the other part let her take in like manner six hours after if need re∣quire. If she be subject to swooning or faint∣ing before or after Labour, give her a spoon∣ful of this excellent Cordial following.

An excellent Cordial for Women troubled with Swooning-fits in Travel.

Take Borage-water, Rose-water, Strawberry-water, and Rhinish-wine, of each two Ounces; Species of Diamargaricum frigidum, one Scruple; make a warm infusion for the space of an hour, then strain it, and add thereunto Manus Christi, made with Pearl, four Ounces; Oriental Bezor, Unicorns-horn, and Ambergriece, of each six Crains; of these make a Cordial-Julip.

Great pains frequently follow Women newly

brought to Bed; for which, there is nothing better than this plain receipt; viz. Drink a good draught of Beer boil'd with a spoonful of Ca∣momile-flowers; and in greater pains let her drink six Ounces of the Oyl of sweet Almonds fresh drawn.

If the Woman delivered have no mind to give suck, and that she will have her Milk spee∣dily dried up, a quick and safe remedy is, new Spunnges wet in Vinegar, where a handful of Cummin-seed boiled is bruised, tyed close to the Breasts, anointing them with Unguentum Po∣puleum.

To procure store of Milk, use Posset-drink boiled with Fennel, with the seeds thereof, and Anniseeds. These remedies are known to be safe and effectual.

Thus much for Physick and Chyrurgery; ha∣ving given you only some of the choicest Re∣ceipts I could procure; if you defire a larger knowledg herein, you would do well to ac∣quaint your self with the Composition of Mans Body, and the Diseases incident to every part; which you may gather from several Books of Anatomy, either that of Dr. Read, or Dr. Riolanus, I think as good as any extant.

If you would know the nature of Plants, Gerhard and Parkinson write incomparably on that Subject, but if they are too bulky, and so may seem tedious, you may make choice of lesser Herbals, as Adam in Eden; or a small Manuel, written by Mr. Lovel.

If you would have a Salve for every sore, as the Proverb expresseth, and a receipt for every Distemper, consult the general practice of Phy∣sick, Riverius his practice of Physick translated by Mr. Culpeper; with many more of the like Subject.

The next Qualifications which accomplish a Gentlewoman, are, Candying, Conserving, Pre∣serving, and Distilling.