A black almanack or Predictions and astronimonicall observations foreshewing what will happen to the king of Scots this present year, from the aspect and conjunction of the planets on the day and hour of his coronation the first of January 1651. Also some calculations concerning many bloudy fights between the English and Scots and the various success thereof. With a bloudy contention between the buff-coat, the long coat, and the black-coat, and the issne [sic] thereof. Licensed according to order.

To make Doctor Josephus Water.

TAke a pint of Water, and a spoonful of French Barley, half a handful of red Rose leaves, two or three drops of the Oyl of Brimstone, and a quarter of a pound of the finest refined Sugar; the water and Barley to seeth together, and then the scum to be ta∣ken off, and so the other to be let cool, so with the Rose leaves to stand all night, and then to be well brewed all together; but first the leaves and Barley strained from the Water.

For the Convulsion.

TAke one ounce of an Elke-hoof, and half an ounce of English Liqueris, two piana small roots, two or three Fenel roots, as many Parsly roots, three or four roots of unset Hys∣sop, a little quantity Herbegrass which is Rue, a quart of small beer, but boyl it till it come to a pinte, then strain it, and sweeten it with Syrop of Hyssop, and give it the Party before and after the Fit.

For the moist Rhume in the Head.

TAke conserve of Roses two ounces, Metri∣date two drams, Bolearminak one dram, of Olibinum one dram and an half, Mastick half a dram, beat these together with Syrop of Violets into the form electuary; whereof take twice going to bed, and in the morning the quantity of a Nutmeg.

Another for the same.

ROsemary flowers, Elder flowers, Bittony flowers, Sage flowers, of each two good handfuls, Scurvy grass three handfuls, China∣roots three ounces, an ounce of sweet Fennel-seeds, two ounces of Coriander-seeds, half a pound Fumitur, three handfuls Epithimum, A∣gramony, Hartstongue, of each two handfuls; Harts-horn-shaving one ounce, of Stringo∣roots four ounces, Citron-seeds Musked, half an ounce; let these be boyled in a gallon and an half of Whey, and let them first be infused two dayes in a gallon of white Wine, then put the ingredience with the Wine to the Whey,

and let them be boyled gently the space of two hours, and so next day drink thereof half a pint in the morning, and so in the afternoon as long as it lasteth.

An approved Medicine for sore Eyes.

TAke six ounces of Lapis Callimnaris, and heat that in a wooden fire, and blow it red hot, and then quench it in a pinte of pure white Wine in a Bowl, or any other clean vessel nine times; and then strain it out by it self through a fine linnen cloth; and then take a handful of Houslick unwashed, and stamp it in a clean Morter, and strain it through a fine cloth; then put the quench'd Wine and that both toge∣ther, and strain them again through a fine cloth; and then take a feather and drop it in your eyes three or four drops at a time every morning and evening, and by the grace of God you will find help in a very short time.

Probatum est.

A Medicine for Children that have the wormes, ap∣proved by Mistris Isabel Dee in Moscoe.

TAke Wormseed and boyl it in Beer, and then sweeten it with clarifyed Ho∣ney, and let them drink of it every morning fasting.

For a pain in the stomack by a Cold.

TAke two or three Turnips and wrap them in brown Paper, weted; and put them in Ember-ashes for two hours as ready for to eat, and then scruze the juyce out of them be∣twixt two Trenchers, and then mix it with Loaf-sugar, with Cynamon, and Nutmeg pow∣dered and made like a Syrop; and then drink four ounces of it at night when you go to bed: Probatum est.

Mistris Fryerirs medicine for sore Eyes.

TAke a pine of white Wine, two drams of Camphire out as small as may be, half an ounce Omphacium, that is, pure oyl of green Grapes, or for want of that, your purest Sal∣let-oyl; put the Camphire and the Oyl into a Basin, let them stand covered two hours, then put in your white Wine to them, then take the stones called Lapides Culumanaris, and heat three of them fire hot; then put them so hot into the Wine, covering your Basin very close, while they are a cooling in the water heat three more fire hot, take the other out, and put in the hot ones, and so heat them by course five or six times, till the Wine is very hot, and the Camphire well dessolved; then take the clearest of it, and the top, (when it is cold) and reserve it in glasses: For your use put two or three drops into the sore ey three times a day.

For a Fellon or a Whitlow.

FIrst take a quarter of a pinte of Milk, and as much Leaven as an egg, and let it boyl till it commeth to be as thick as a Poultess then take a penny-worth of oyl of Roses and mix with it, (and which is above half a spoon∣ful,) and so apply it to the grieved place as hot as you can; twice a day lay it too as you do a Poultess: This is proved.

For one that is Bursten, or a Child that hath been Bur∣sten six years.

TAke oyl of Nip or Nep, and anoynt the Party therewith, and morning and even∣ing take of the herbs, and bind one boyl'd in Butter; or dip Wool in the aforesaid Oyl; this use six weeks until you be whole: This proved.

For to keep a Child from ha∣ving Convulsion fits

TAke oyl of sweet Almonds new drawn, bea∣ten up with white Sugar-candy, and give the Child so soon as it is born, as much as a good big Pea or Nut: This proved.

For a Child still born, that was not long dead in the womb; or if there be any life in it, though not in ap∣pearance.

TAke of the blood of the String, and sueeze out a drop (as you cut the Navel string) into a spoon, and give it the Child in a little fair water, and if life be in it, it recovers in an hour or less: Proved.

For to bring them down on a Woman in Child-bed, though never so weak.

TAke half a Dosin of Piana seeds, and beat them a little till the black hull come off, and then beat this small, and give her in a spoonful of Cardus-posset-drink, sweeten it with a little sugar, then give her a good draught of the Posset to drink, as hot as she can; and let her lie close, and it will cause her to sweat, and it will be a meanes to bring them, and to drive an Ague away, if she take it but three times every two hours: Proved.

To make a Cordial to give one in a burning Fever or A∣gue, in the time of their burning, when it is at the height.

TAke some gross Mace oyl, a quarter of a pint, and sweeten it with an ounce or two penny-worth of the Syrop of Clove-gilli-flowers, and give it him to drink: And you may make another on this wise. Take the juyce of an Orange, and as much red Rose-water, and sweeten it with white Sugar-candy; it will refresh the Spirits, and cool and alay their drought.

Probotum est.

To make a Glister for one that is troubled with a sharp humour that causeth blood to proceed instead of Ordour.

TAke a pint and an half of Milk, and boyl it into a pint, with a handful of red Rose leaves, and sweeten it with powdered Sugar, and give it him, and let him keep it as long as he can: Probatum.

For an Itch that is vehement.

TAke of your Soap and Brimstone a like quantity, and as much English honey, and boyl these together till it be like an oyntment, and then anoynt your wrists with it warm by the fire, and lap clouts about them warm, and anoint under your Arm-holes, and under your Hams, and in the bent of your Arms; and do

not shift you in a month, nor pull off your clouts from off your wrists all the while, and you shall be whole without any purge, though your hands were all scabby: Probatum.

For a Consumption.

TAke as much flour of Brimstone as you can take upon a Sixpence, and pour three drops of Blood-warm Milk into a Spoon, and mix it by degrees; and till it be like Batter; and your Spoon being full, put to it good store of Sugar, then drink the rest of the pinte of Milk blood-warm also, sweetned with Sugar well; this you may use as long as you please, and at any time in the year; for them that find a wheasing and shortness of breath, it is very good; you must fast an hour after it: Proved.

A Medicine to ripen any Boyl or sore, or a Push.

TAke a Spoonful of Molish-honey clarified. Wheat-flower a Spoonful, a yolk of an Egg-mix these altogether, and apply it warm (as blood) morning and evening as thick as

your finger, till it break apply it: It is very good to ripen a Plague-sore.

For the Spleen.

LEt the Party purge twice in a week, with a Dram or the weight of Six pence of Pulvis Sanctus, and the next week cause the Leeches to be applyed to the Emerod veins in the Fun∣dament, afterward use this Drink following for the space of seven or eight days.

TAke the inward bark of an Ash-tree, two ounces of Polopodi-root, or Fern that groweth on the sides of watry ditches, one ounce Tamartock, two good handfuls, Lico∣nish half an ounce, Anniseed an ounce: Let these be boyled in three quarts of small Beer till it come to two quarts; whereof let the Party drink every morning, and at night go∣ing to bed-ward a quarter of a pinte very warm.

And for Diet,

LEt them generally forbear Fish, Bak'd-meats, smoak'd-meats, and new Beer; use to eat good store of Broom-buds, Capers for Sallets; and after this course, you shall cause the Leeches to be applyed to the Emerod veins in the Fundament.

An excellent Medicine for a Scald or Burn, and chiefly for the Emerods.

TAke a pinte or a quart of Linced-oyl, and put into it as many Crafish alive as it will hold, then boyl them a quarter of an hour, then strain the oyl from them, and let them be very well bea∣ten in their shels in a Morter, then put them into the oyl again and let them boyl as former∣ly, then strain them from the oyl as you can, then fill your oyl as full of tops of Elder, or young buds of Elder, or the young fresh leaves; and let it boyl in them till they be crisp'd like fry'd Parsly; then strain it very hard from the Elder, and reserve it for an excellent Me∣dicine

For the Whites, to cleanse and stay them.

TAke of Purits Rossin, or Gum, of Lignum vita, otherwise called of gum Guaicom; rub it gently in a Morter, so as it may be in a fine powder, and thereof mingle as much as the weight of six pence in a draught of Milk and Sugar, and take it cold; so use it twice in a week for two weeks together, and it will give you two stools or three, cleanse and knit the weakness of the back.

For a Whitlow.

TAke a Snail out of his Shell, and chop it ve∣ry small, and bind it to it, and dress it twice in a day, and it will quickly heal it.

For a cut of a finger or hand.

TAke some green Hysop and stamp it well in a Morter, with some Sugar, and so bind it on the hand.

For a Tetter or Ring-worm.

TAke ordinary white Coperas, four ounces powdered fine, and put to it a pinte of sharp white Wine vineger, and shake them well to∣gether, till the Coperas be well dissolved; so weting linnen cloths in it, and apply it to the place grieved.

For one that is costive in Child-bed, there is no sa∣fer thing nor better.

TAke two ounces oyl of sweet Almonds, or if the Party cannot take it, you may make a Supository of Castle-soap cut with a wyre.

〈…〉〈…〉

For the Scyatica, an approved Medicine.

TAke red seeded Nettles, and whip the grieved party so far as his pain goeth, till it be all over bubbled, and so let him ly to sleep, and the next day he shall be whole by the help of God, though he were so bad he could not stir off the bed in five or six weeks out of your bed; you must lash them gently, not too hard; and if it should come again, use it again; and if it come again, use it again, and be whole alwaies after.

For an extraordinary flux of Rheum in the Eys that hath been.

TAke stone pitch and spread it upon leather, as broad as the palm of your hand, and as round, and prick it full of holes with a point of a knife, and lay it to the nape of your neck, just upon the bone that sticketh out most, and as long as it will ly on, let it: but in two or three

days it helpeth some: You may let it ly on as long as you please, a quarter of a yeer, and if it falleth off before your eyes be well, you may wipe off the moisture of it, and apply others, as you shall see occasion. Probatum.

To Cure a Catarack.

A Catarack is curable by making an Issue in the Nape of the Neck.

This is the manner how you shall discern a Catarack it will seem to be like many motes or little Flyes between them and the light, and in the beginning, beginneth to take away the true sight of the Eye, and then it groweth into a Film, which is counted uncurable when it covers the whole sight or bale of the Ey, though at first it is curable, although there is nothing to be seen on the out-side of the Ey, as a purl, or such like; so that it is not to be helped being within the Ey (though many books write of it) without the handy Operation of some skilful Chyrurgion, puting some silver Needle into one corner of the Ey, and twisting the film about the Needle, coucheth it under the sight of the Eye, where it will afterward waste; but it re∣quires an Artist that is well skill'd, in the couching a Catarack.

For a Consumption.

TAke the heart and lungs of a Calf new killed, a Capon, let these be bruised in a stone morter, and boyled with an hundred Snails, till the broth be as thick as pottage; then put to it Harts tongue, Maiden hair, Hysope, Scabias, Sage, of each an handful, with China roots sliced and beaten two ounces, of the juyce of Coltsfoot roots ten ounces, the blood of a Pig newly killed, and Conserve of red Roses one pound; these being well mixed, let them be distilled in Balneo with a very gentle fire, and reserve it.

Another.

TAke a young Cock, pull him alive, and then slit him in the middle, then wipe him with a clean cloth, then take sops of white bread, soaked in a quart of Burrage water, put the sops in a common Still, and lay the Cock with his bones broken upon the sopping, putting thereto raisins of the Sun stoned and unwashed, with a quantity of Dates, this being distilled, take thereof constantly a pretty quantity.

A Julip of D. Trench, for the Mother fits, Proved.

IN the time of yeer distil black Cherry water, Pyon flower water, Couslip water, Rue or Herbgrace water, then take of the waters of Couslip, and black Cherry, of each an ounce, Aqua Histericae half an ounce, Cinamon water one dram, Sirup of Clove Gillyflowers three drams; Take of these two spoonfuls at a time, as often as you please. Histerica is Castor.

To make the Salt of Coral.

TAke of the broken pieces of the reddest Coral you can get at the Druggist, half a pound, or as much as you please, then put upon it of good wine Vineger distilled a gallon, and presently you shall see it work up and down up∣on the Coral, then set it in a great glass on the top of a warm Stove, and let it stand three or four dayes, then if you taste of the Vineger, al∣though it were sharp before, it will have no strength, but taste sweetish, which is a signe it hath taken into the Vineger as much as it can;

then you may pour that off from the Coral, and put on more Vineger, and do as before, till all your Coral be dissolved; then put all your Vi∣neger together, and put it into a large flat pan well glased, and lay into the Vineger in the pan two or three white lists half a yard long, and let one half of them ly in the Vineger in the pan, and the other half hang out, and you shall see those lists (which must first be very clean washed before you lay them into the Vineger) by drops draw out all the Vineger in the pan, which you must receive with setting an other large pan or pot under the ends of the Lists that hang out of the pan that they ly in. And when you have so filtred your foresaid Vineger very clear from the dross of the Coral which you shall see remain at the bottom of the first pan you put your Vinegar into, then you must set your clear Vinegar into the Oven, being a little hotter then when Houshold bread is drawn; but it must be put into a large clean Tinne Ba∣son, or Silver, for it will pierce through any earthen vessel; and so it must be breathed away gently, till all the Vineger be gone, and leave the Salt of Coral in the bottom, being very gently dryed. Then must you have in a readiness a pottle or two of plain distilled water, and upon your formerly dryed salt of Coral, if there be a

quarter of a pound, put a quart of distilled wa∣ter, and set it in warmth till it be melted, like Sugar in it; then lay in your clean washed lists of cloth into it, being put into a flat Pan as for∣merly, and let it run through those lists by drops, to purify the salt, and when all the wa∣ter is come from the dross, which will remain in the Pan the lists were put into, then put your clear water into the Oven, and let it breath away gently, till it leave the salt of Co∣ral dry, and then disolve it in distilled water a∣gain, and proceed with it as before, and then it will be pure and prepared for your use; whose vertues are many, and some approved by pra∣ctise as followeth.

The vertues of the salt of Coral.

IT is to be given to children of any age in Fevers, the weight of twenty grains, and gently covered to move sweat. Also to women in child-bed that are in any Fever, the weight of thirty grains. Also in apparision of any small P••x, or the Measels, it is never taken without good success. It strengtheneth the Liver, and helpeth it to make good blood, being taken

twice in a week in a little Posset-ale, and con∣tinued so for the space of a moneth. Also it helpeth children of Convulsions.

For Convulsion Fits.

TAke white Coperas, dissolve it in a little warm distilled water, and then with clean lists layed into it, fylter it from his dross, dand gently vapor away the water till it be ry; then dissolve it again, fylter it, and lay it again in a Oven as before, and it is prepared: Hereof you may give unto a sucking child three grains in a spoonful of Posset-drink once or twice and it seldom or never faileth, but cureth.

An excellent Vomit.

TAke the leaves of Assara-bacca, being ga∣thered in the beginning of June, and run a threed through the leaves; and let them hang thereon till th••y be dry, in the shade, so that you may powder them to fine Powder in a Morter; and then searse them, and keep the Powder in a Glass close stopped: Hereof you may give to a man or woman ten grains, and temper it well with conserve of Barberries, or any other conserve; and after it doth work, let them drink still between times, a good draaught of Posset-drink.

For the Tooth-ach.

TAke the green Bark of the Elder-tree, after you have scraped off the upper gray Bark, being gathered in the Spring; let it be gently dryed in the shade, so as it may be powdered, whereof take a quarter of an ounce; Bay-salt well dryed, Pellitory of Spain, and Euphorbi∣um, of each the weight of six-pence; let all of them be beaten together into very fine Pow∣der, and thereof ty up so much in a little thin Lawn, Tiffine, or Sarcenet, as will make the quantity of an ordinary Button; which you must let the Party hold between his teeth, lay∣ing it on the pained Tooth, and so hanging down the head, let the Rhume run out of the mouth till the pain cease. With this onely Me∣dicine, M. Clark in Sheer-lane got forty pound in a year, having many coming to him in the mornings, and paying ten groats each of them, and so departing holpen. Or take the Powder of Spanish-flies and lay them on a piece of sower Leven, well moystened with sharp Vine∣gar, and press them well into the Leven, (being the bigness of a Shilling, and so lay them un∣der each ear, and when they are fast bound, let them lie still the space of six or eight hours, in which time it must raise a Blister, which when

you take it off, you must dip and let it run as long as you can, laying on it a Colewort-leaf, until it be whole; and this will also help.

For the Mother.

TAke Sneesing-powder, the weight of six-pence, Castorium, the weight of two-pence; mingle them together, then moysten the Powder well with oyl of Amber, and taking a little on the end of ones little finger, stroak it into the nose when the Party hath her Fit, and it will cause her sneese, and cease the Fit.

Also for the preventing the Fit.

THe Party should use twice in a week at her going to bed, to take two good Pills of Assa-fetida: Or else, Take of the Briony root, dry, the weight of six-pence, and boyl it in a pinte of white Wine; and then strain it, and put some sugar to it, and make three draughts of it, taking it three times in a week, each other morning, and you shall find it a singular Remedy.

For the Spleen.

LEt the Party purge twice in a week with a Dram or the weight of six-pence of Pul∣vis Sanct……, and the next week let them cause the Leeches to be applyed to the Hemeroid-veins in the fundament, and afterward use this drink following for the space of seven or eight dayes.

Take the Inner Bark of the Ash-tree, two ounces; the Polipody-root, or Fearn-root, that groweth on the sides of watery ditches, one ounce; Tamerickt, wo good handfuls; Liqueor∣ish, half an ounce; Anniseeed, one ounce: Let these be boyled in three quarts of small Beer, till it come to a pottle, whereof let then Party drink morning and at night going to bed a quarter of a pinte very warm.

And for Diet, let them generally forbear Fish, Baked-meats, Smoak-dryed-meats, and new Beer; use to eat good store of Capers, and Broom-buds for Sallets.

And after this course, you should cause the Leeches to be applyed to the Veins in the Fun∣dament, called the Hemeroid veins.

For a Tertian Fever.

TAke young Plantane, with the root, young Vervane with the root, Cinke∣foyl with the root; of each of them three roots; with the herb of red Fennel, red Sage, Rosemary, of each three slips: Let these be boyled in a pinte and a half of Posset-ale, or whey, till that come to a pint, and in the latter end of the boyling, put into that a dram of the salte of wormewod, and then let that be strained.

Whereof the patient must make three good drafts three howers before the fit be exspected, each hower a draft as hot as he can drink it, and at the second day of taking that, the cure is done. This cureth the fever that cometh every other day.

To dry up milk in the brests

USe nothing but the plaister of Diachilon, spread upon thin leather, and let it ly on three or four days, and it faileth not.

For sore Nipples.

TAke of the rosin of the Firre tree, and when that is finely powdered, strew that upon the sore nipples, and then cover them with little cups fitted hollow for to cover the

nipples like a thimble, with a little brim unto it, and it will skin it. This powder also being finely beaten, and with a quill blowen into the eye will take away the pin and web, or any excrescens on the surface of the eye.

For one that is Costive in Childbed.

THere is nothing safer nor better, then to give the party two ounces of the oyle of sweet almondes. Or if the party cannot take that, you may give her a suppositer of Cassel sope, which is alway to be had; for the manner of the cutting the sope, you may do that by the holding a Cytern wyer fast at both ends, and then sawing it through it without break∣ing out of the sides, as it will do if you cut with a knife.

For to Clense and stay the whites.

TAke of the purest rosin, or gum of Lignum vitae, otherwise called the gum of Guai∣cum: rub it gently in a Morter, so as it may be in a fine powder, and thereof mingle as much as the weight of six pence in a draught of milk and sugar, taking that cold, and so use that twice in a week for two weekes together, and that will give two or three stooles, clense and knit the weakness of the back perfectly.

For a Whitelow on the finger.

TAke a snaile out of his shell, and chop it very small, and bind that to it, and dress it twice in a day, and that will quickly help it.

For a cut hand or finger,

TAke some green hysop, and stamp that well in a morter with some sugar, and so binde that to the wound.

To stay the bleeding of the nose.

TAke nettles, stamp them and juice them, which you may take cold a good spoone∣ful or two, holding that in your mouth as long as you can, and then take some more fresh, and also stamp them, and lay them al over your forehead, being a little moistned or sprinkled with vineger.

Also thus

YOu should in the moneth of March take two or three cloths as big as handkerchiefs, and wet them very well in the spawn of froggs, and hang them up to dry in a stove, and then dip them very well again, and dry them, and do so three or four times, and when at last they

be wel dryed reserve them. And when you have occasion to use them, you may tear off a peece, and spriknle it with a little vineger, and lay it on cold upon the forehaed, and if that do not stay it, the party must presently be let blood before he grow too weak.

For a Cough.

TAke Turnips, and put them into an Earthen glased pot, and cover it with a cover of the same, or a peuter dish and paste that close together, then set them into the bakers oven with the houshold bread, and then they wil be wel stewed. And then press out the juyce, and make it into a syrup with sugar, and take of it often in a day, a spoonful at once, letting it melt down your throat by de∣grees, and that wil recover you from your cough.

For the wormes in Children.

TAke gum Dragaint a dram, put to it a quarter of a pint of Rosewater, let it stand twenty four howers, stirring of it often, and with this muscilage moisten some fine powdered sugar, working them together into a paste, of which paste, take the quantity of twenty grains, and mix with it nine or ten graines of the

powder of Mercurius dulcis and make that into a little cake, and let it dry in a Stove, and give it to children of five, six, or seven, and to elder you may give twelve graines.

The Composition of the Emplastrum Diachilon, to dry up milke in the brests.

TAke Linseed oyl two pintes and a half, Litharge of Lead in fine powder, two pound, mix the oyl and the Litarge toge∣ther, and let them boyl til they be knit and com to a reasonable stifnes, then put in twelve ounces of the muscilage made with Marshmallow roots, Fennigreek seed, and Linseed, then boyle it til al the muscilages moisture be boyled away, then put in half a pound of wax, rosin one pound, melt them with the rest; which being done, put into the same in the cooling cerufe one pound, stir them up together, and then make them up into roules and reserve them.

When you put in your muscilage, put it in a spoonful at once, til you have put it al in, lest it make the medicine run over.

For any red inflammation, or that which is called saint Anthonies fire, which usually doth come in the Legs, and somtime in other Places.

TAke one ounce of the Lapis Medi∣camentosus, and boyle it in a quart of fair water, til half a pint be wast∣ed, and then let it stand together all night, next morning you should dip a linnen cloth in it warm, and lay it on the place til it be dry, and then lay on another, and you shall keep wet clothes to it til it be wel, which usualy is two or three dayes.

For a Tetter or Ringworm.

TAke ordinary white copperas four ounces, powder it fine, and put to it a pinte of the sharpest wine vineger, and shake them wel to∣gether til the copperas be dissolved: and so wetting linnen cloths in it apply it, to the place.