The skilful physician containing directions for the preservation of a healthful condition, and approved remedies for all diseases and infirmities (outward or inward) incident to the body of man ... whereunto is added experimented instructions for the compounding of perfumes, also for the chusing and ordering of all kinds of wines, both in preserving the sound, and rectifying those that are prick'd : never before imparted to publick view.

PLAGUE or PESTILENCE.

For the Pestilence.

Take half a handful of Rue, as much of Fetherfew, and one handful of Mari∣golds, a handful of Burnet, a handful of Sorrel, a quantity of Dragons, either the root or the crop, as the time of the year requireth; and then take a pottle of running water, and let them boil over the fi••e till half the water be consumed, then take it from the fire and let it cool, and when it is almost cold, straine it through a fair linnen cloth, and then let the sick body drink thereof, and if it be too bitter, put thereto a quan∣tity of loaf Sugar, or else powder of Li∣coras.

This hath been proved of a certain by great men, and hath holpen almost an hundred Persons in divers places; and where there were three persons in one

house sick, two of them drunk thereof, and the third would not, and he dyed, and the two that took it lived, and this was proved of a certain. This Medicine must be given betimes before the Purples do appear, and it will cease by the grace of God.

A Medicine against the Plague.

Take a handful of Sage vertue, a handful of Hens grease, a handful of El∣der leaves, a handful of red Bramble leaves, and stamp them all together, and strain them with a fine cloth into a quart of White Wine, and then take a quan∣tity of Ginger, and mingle them all to∣gether, and drink thereof a spoonful e∣very day fasting for ten dayes together, and for the first spoonful you shall be safe for four and twenty hours, and af∣ter the ninth spoonful you shall be safe for all the yeare after. And if it shall happen that any be strucken with the Plague before this Medicine be taken, then take water of Scabious and water of Betony, and a quantity of fine Treakle, and put them together, and drink it, and it will put out all the Venom, and if

the Sore do appear, then take leaves of Elder, and make a Plaister thereof with Mustard seed stamped together, and lay it to the Sore, and it will draw out all the Venome, and (by Gods grace) reco∣ver the party.

A precious Water good against all Poi∣sons and Pestilences.

Take Turmentile, Scabious, Dittony, Pimpernel of each a like quantity, distil them all together, and drink of it.

An approved Medicine for the Plague.

It taketh one like the Ague, with cold: as soon as it taketh them and complain of it, take five, seven or nine leaves of Garden Spurge, nine is the most, stamp them small in a dish, and put to it warm milk or Posset Ale, and let the sick bo∣dy drink it, and presently go to bed and sweat; then take a great Onion and take out the core, and put into it Mithri∣datum, then lay on the top again, and rost it very soft, then beat it very small in a dish, and put to it three spoonfuls of White Wine Vinegar, and as much

Sugar as will make it pleasant to take, and as soon as the stomack is purged, give him of the Onion as much as you can, for that will draw out ••he Sore in four and twenty hours (by Gods grace) and keep the Patient very hot and warm, and give him hot Broths and Drinks, and keep him in a sweat four and twenty hours, and after keep him very hot, and when the Sore is come out, roast an O∣nion with Treakle and Viegar, and lay it to the Sore to draw it out, and have a Chirurgion to launce it.

For the rest of your houshold, give them every day Mithridatum and Trea∣kle, and take Centory and Madder, and boil it in Beer, and let them drink now and then thereof.

An excellent Drink against the Plague, Small Pox or Meazels, and for the cure and prevention thereof.

Take a pint of Dragon water, three pints of the best Malmesey or Muskadine, boil therein of Rue and Sage, of each a handful, and let it boil till one pint be boiled away, then strain it, and after∣wards set it on the fire again, and put

thereto long Pepper, Ginger and Nut∣megs beaten to powder, of each one ounce, boil all these a little more, and then take it from the fire, and put there∣in of the best Mithridate one ounce, of London Treakle two ounces, and a quar∣ter of a pint of the best Angelica Wa∣ter, and use it as followeth. If you think your self to be infected, take one spoonful of this at a time morning and e∣vening luke-warm, but if not infected, take it but once or twice a week at the most, half a spoonful at a time, in any Plague time; and when they that are in∣fected take this, let them lye down and sweat two or three houres in the bed; and when they be well dryed, and warm kept, let them drink none but warme Drinks or Caudles, and so by Gods assi∣stance they shall be well. This Drink will keep good half a year if it be close kept.

A good Drink against the Plague.

Take of White Wine one quart, and put therein the juice of these Herbs fol∣lowing, of Elder leaves, Rue leaves, Wormewood and Scabious, and put in a

spoonful of good Treakle, and the pow∣der of a good Race of Ginger, stir all together, and drink three spoonfuls of this every morning for the space of nine dayes together: This preserves you from the Plague, and if you be infected, it wil expel it; and if it come to a Botch, stamp the leaves of red Brambles with Mustard and Honey, and make a Plaister, and lay it to the Sore. Probatum.

An excellent thing to defend the Plague.

Take twenty leaves of Rue, two Wal∣nuts, and two figs, and a graine of Salt in the morning fasting with a little Wine.

A good Preservation against the Plague.

Take of the best Hung••ria or Roman Vitriol, with a little Amber, and dissolve it in Vineger of the best, then take a litle Rosewater, and mingle therewith, and every morning take half a spoonful thereof, and cast it on a brick made hot in the fire, and let the chamber where any abide be perfumed every day, and t will take away all corruption and poi∣son

out of the Chamber, so that the Spiders will nor endure; of all outward Medicines, there is none better then this, by the advice of Doctor Matthias a Germane, and Doctor Butler of Cam∣bridg.

A Water for the Plague.

Take Turmentile, Scabious, Betony, of each a like quantity, distil them toge∣ther, and they will make the best water for a Surfet or any manner of poisono••s Disease, if you drink it in the morning fasting.

A Water to be made in May, good against the Plague or Surset.

Take Cellendine, Rosemary, Rue, Pellitory of Spain, Scabious, Angelica, Pimpernel, Wormwood, Mugwort, Betony, Egrimony, Balme, Dragon, and Turmentile, of each half a pound, shred them somewhat smal, and put them into a narrow mouthed pot, and put to them five quarts of White Wine, stop it close, and let it stand three daies and nights, stirring it morning and e∣vening,

then take the Herbs from the Wine, and distil them in an ordinary Still, and when you have distilled the Herbs, distil the Wine also, wherein is vertue for a weak stomack. Take of ei∣ther of these three or four spoonfuls in the morning or any other time, as oc∣casion serveth, walking after it till you shall feel your selfe inclining to sweat, then go to bed, or betake your self other∣wise to rest.

An approved Medicine for the Plague.

Take a root or smal handful of Saxi∣frage or Meadow Parsley, one good spoonful of Sassafrass wood smal beaten, one half root of Tormentile or Setwal, Elder berries one good spoonful, or a handful of the leaves of Rue, red Sage, and red young Bramble leaves, of each a handful, two spoonfuls of old black Ivy berries, Harts horne scraped very small as much, eight Figs dryed, eight Races of white Ginger, and two Oranges, stamp them all together in a Mortar, steep them all at least twelve hours in a quart of White Wine, and half a pint of White Wine Vinegar, then strain them through

a fine cloth, and drink every morning a spoonful fasting, and take nothing in two hours after, and as much at night; if you be to go abroad into any infectious place, carry in your mouth one half root of Tormentil, taking the wind as much as you can of all infectious persons and pla∣ces. This is to be done before you be infected, and when you are infected, you must keep your self warm and out of the ayre for twelve dayes, drinking this as before; and if there be any great danger, you may drink a spoonful every three or six hours, and it will with Gods blessing bring the Infection out in Sores, which being done, the worst is past; only take heed of cold to drive in the Sores again, and use warm Poultices which may draw them to a head, ripen, and so break them.

A Preservative against the Plague.

Take of Sage, Rue, Elder leaves and red Bramble leaves, of each a handful, stamp them all together, and strain them through a cloth with a quart of White Wine, then take a quantity of Ginger, and mingle it together, and drink thereof

morning and evening a spoonful nine dayes together.

For the Party Infected.

If you be infected before you have drunk the aforesaid Medicine, then take a spoonful of Scabious Water, as much of Betony, and a quantity of fine Trea∣kle, put it together, and drink it, and it will expel the Venom.

To break the Botch.

Take Bramble leaves, Elder leaves and Mustard seed, and stamp them all together, then make a Plaister thereof, and lay it to the Sore.

A Medicine for the Plague.

Take three slips of Herb grace, and siz spoonfuls of Vinegar, and beat them to∣gether, then strain them, and put there∣to one ounce of Treakle, and one ounce of Sugar, and stir them together, and set it on the fire and make a Sirrup there∣of, then take a Sage leafe, and every morning take as much as a bean upon the same leaf, and eat it.

A Drink against the Plague.

Take one ounce of Sorrel Water, as much Dragon water, and a dram of Treakle, and put thereto a dram and a halfe of Powder Imperial, and give it to the Patient in Ale within four and twenty hours after he is infected.

Another.

Take a handful of Savory, and boil it in a quart of Wine Vinegar with a spoonful of graines beaten being put therein, and drink it every morning with Sugar fasting.

Another.

Take in the morning fasting one dry Figge, one Walnut, and four or five leaves of Rue chopt all together, and eat it, and after drink a cup of Wine.