Certain necessary directions as well for the cure of the plague as for preventing the infection with many easie medicines of small charge, very profitable to His Majesties subjects / set down by the Colledge of Physicians ...

XVIII. For the richer sort.

TAke the shavings of sparts-horn, of Pearl, of Coral, Tormentil-roots, Zedoarie, true Terra Sigillata, of each one dram, Citron-pills, yellow, white and red Saunders, of each half a dram,

white Amber, Hyacinth-stone prepared, of each two scruples, Bezoar-stone of the East, Ʋnicorns horn, of each four and twen∣ty grains, Citron and Orange péels candi∣ed, of each thrée drams, Lignum Aloes one scruple, white Sugar-candie twice the weight of all the cest; mix them well, being made into a Dredge-powder. Take the weight of twelve-pence at a time every morning fasting, and also in the even∣ing about five a clock, or an hour before supper.

With these Powders and Sugar there may be made Lozenges, or Manus Christi's, and with convenient Conserves they may be made into Electuaries. All which, and many more for their health, they may have by the advice and directions of their own Physicians: or, as we hope, Physicians will not be wanting to direct them as they may have néed, to the Poor for charity sake.

They may also use Bezoar-water, or Treacle-water distilled, compounded by the Physicians of London, and known by the name of Aqua Theriacalis stillatitia, which they may use simply; or they may mix them also with all their Antidotes, as occasion shall require.

Take of Amber-gryse a scruple, dissolve it in four ounces of the best Spirit of

Sack; take hereof every morning a scru∣ple, with crumbs of White-bread and su∣gar of Roses. Balsam of Sulphur to four or five drops, or Elixir Proprietatis to twenty or thirty drops, in wine, or water and su∣gar, may be effectual.

The use of London-Treacle is good, both to preserve from the Sickness, as also to cure the Sick, being taken upon the first apprehension in a greater quantity, as to a man two drams, but less to a weak bo∣dy, or a child, in Carduus or Dragon∣water.

Take of the finest clear Aloes you can buy, of Cinnamon, of Myrrbe, of each of these the weight of thrée French Crowns, or of Two and twenty pence of our Money, of Cloves, Mace, Lignum Aloes, of Ma∣stick, of Bole-Driental, of each of these half an ounce; mingle them together, and beat them into a very fine Powder, of the which take every morning fasting the weight of a Groat in White-wine deluyed with water.

Take a dry Fig, and open it, and put the kernel of a Walnut into the same, being cut very small, thrée or four Leaves of Rue, commonly called sperb-Grate, a corn of Salt; then rost the Fig and eat it warm, fast thrée or four hours after it, and use this twice in the wéek.

Take the Powder of Tormentil the weight of six pence, with Sorrel or Scabi∣ous-water in Summer, and in the Winter with the water of Ʋalerian, or common Drink, wherein hath béen infused the fore∣named sperbs.

Or else, in one day they may take a little Worm-wood and Ʋalerian, with a Grain of Salt; in another day they may take se∣ven or eight Berries of Iuniper dried, and put in Powder, and taking the same with common Drink, or with Drink in which Wormwood and Rue hath béen stéeped all night.

Also the Treacle called Diatessaron, which is made but of four things of light price, easie to be had: The Ingredients are, Gentian, Bay-berries, Myrrhe, and Aristolochia the round, in equal proportion, made into an Electuary with thrée times the weight of sponey.

Also the Root of Elicampane taken in Powder with Drink.

Likewise a piece of Orrins-root kept in the mouth as men pass in the stréets.

Take six Leaves of Sorrel, wash them with Water and Ʋineger, let them lie in the said Water and Ʋineger a while, then eat them fasting, and kéep in your mouth and thew now and then either Setwall, or the Root of Angelica, or a little Cinamon,

or four Grains of Myrrhe, or so much of Rattle-snake root: Goats Rue may be eaten in Salads, or the Iuice or Decoction thereof in Broath or Passet-drink, may be so used to very good purpose.