Item 2.2 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.1v

receipt for a beverage to drink before and after meat

Take osmund fern and the roots and clary featherfew wood betony

...

at three days old begin to drink it before all your meats and after your meats half a pint at a time.

Item 2.3 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.1v

receipt for a beverage to drink in the middle of a meal and after

Take all these herbs and fruit that was boiled in the drink and shred them very small and bruise them well

...

so drink it two wineglass fulls at every meal one in the midst of your meal and one after

Item 2.4 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.1v

A remedy against the wind colic

Take mother's thyme and fennel seeds of each a like quantity some raisins of the sun

...

boil them in white wine posset drink that is made very clear the quantity as you find cause.

[This is the full text of the receipt.]

Item 3.4 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.2v

A powder for the colic of passage

Take coral, amber, and jet, of each of these powders an equal quantity by weight

...

you may take this morning and evening and when your fit comes upon you, keep the powder in a little fine bladder

Item 3.5 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.3r

A water for the eyes

Take a fine clean linen cloth, and therewith take the dew from barley in May

...

so set it in the sun to distil for certain days, till it hath grown thick and clear again

Item 3.6 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 3r-3v

A special ointment for any ache or bruised place, or shaking of the hand or the gout

Take six pounds of May butter fresh out of the churn, beaten well

...

you may give to poor people that are troubled with any aches. This ointment will keep perfect good for three years

Item 3.9 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.4r

To make conserve of cowslip or marigold, good against melancholy

Take these flowers and clip the yellowest part of them then take twice so much sugar as they do weigh

...

take it off the fire, and cook it so may you box it and keep it all the year

Item 3.10 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 4r-4v

To make sugar pellets good against the cough

Take sugar candy, four ounces. Beat it to a fine powder

...

when they be dry you may box and keep them all the year

Item 3.11 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.4v

To make paste of elecampane, good against the cough of the lungs

Take the youngest roots you can get, and lay them in water

...

when it is dry you may box and keep it all the year

Item 3.12 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 4v-5r

To make paste of regia an excellent paste against a consumption, and will fatten those that are entered into a consumption

Take two quails, and a dozen of cock sparrows, roast them ready to eat

...

so bake it upon a sheet of white paper, so you may keep it all the year

Item 3.13 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.5r

To make an excellent paste of erego roots

Take of young roots one third of a pound. Cut them in pieces, and stamp them in a mortar

...

when it is dry you may keep it all the year

Item 3.26 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.7v

An approved medicine for the stone

Take a quarter of a pint of white wine, and the yolk of a new laid egg

...

it dissolveth the stone without any pain you must fast an hour

Item 3.27 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.8r

A drink for a consumption and cough

Take one quart of sack, and one pint of good ale

...

take it three times a day, three or four spoonfuls at a time

Item 3.28 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.8r

For the toothache

Take goose dung and warm it in a fire shoule very hot

...

so lay it all over that side of your face which is in pain

[This is the full text of the receipt.]

Item 3.29 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.8r

To make one fat very speedily

Take fine wheat flour and make it up into cakes as big as the palm of your hand

...

eat one cake every morning you must make fresh every other day

Item 3.35 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.8v

To keep the smallpox from pitting

Sariah Boyle

Take one spoonful or two of honey

...

if this is not enough you must make more the fresher it is made the better it is for use

Item 3.36 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.9r

To make hair to grow

Take the juice of southern-wood and warm it with a brush

...

smooth your hair with this

[This is the full text of the receipt.]

Item 3.37 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.9r

For the toothache

Take the juice of rue and drop in two or three drops of it to the same ear

...

and lie uppermost with it a little while

[ This is the full text of the receipt.]

Item 3.38 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.9r

A very good glister for the griping pains of the belly and the spleen

Take one third of an ounce of chamomile flowers, and one third of an ounce of bay berries, juniper berries one third of an ounce

...

two or three hours is long enough to infuse it before you take it

Item 3.40 (Medical writing, Receipt, Culinary writing), fol.9r

To make a syllabub you may take of the drink as much as you will in a fever

Take the juice of two lemons and the peel of one half a pint of verjuice

...

a quarter of a pound of loaf sugar and three pints of milk hot from the cow

[This is the full text of the receipt.]

Item 3.42 (Medical writing, Receipt, Culinary writing), fol.9v

To make warden broth

Take one chop of mutton, pick it clean from the fat

...

this is good for those that have a consumption

Item 3.44 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.9v

For the stone

Take as much honey and butter unsalted as a walnut

...

take it three mornings before the new and three before the full of the moon

Item 3.45 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.10r

To make an ointment to anoint the back for the stone

Dr. Albune

Take a very fat rabbit and take off the fat of the kidneys

...

change your water often in the beating of it so keep it for your use

Item 3.46 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.10r

To kill the worms in the face

Take the white of a new laid egg and beat it very well

...

keep it in a glass and so wash your face with it where the worms are

Item 3.47 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.10r

For a cough if it proceeds from a cold

Take licorice and anise seed, of each a like quantity

...

eat the quantity of a good nutmeg thereof every morning and evening

Item 5 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 10v-61v

[This section of the manuscript consists of 273 numbered medical receipts, attributed as a group to Lettice Corbett even though some individual items within the section have other attributions. The MS items in this section correspond to the receipt numbers in the manuscript, so that item 5.1 is the receipt Baker has numbered 1, and so on.]

Item 5.1 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.11r

A broth for the bloody flux

Make broth with a chicken, and put into it plantain

...

give of it in the morning and at four of the clock and at night

[A note beside the receipt's title indicates "here begins MrsLetice Corbett's receipts"]

Item 5.2 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.11r

To open and comfort the lungs or for a great cough

Take the leaf and the root of foal-foot

...

put some of this powder in the yolk of an egg and sup it of every morning fasting

Item 5.3 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.11r

For the stone in the kidney or the bladder to break it and bring it away without pain, tried

Take a quarter of a pint of parsley water, and put into it three or four drops of oil of juniper

...

if your body be not able to endure it then lie on your bed and sweat half an hour if you can or may

Item 5.4 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.11r

For the wind colic

Take the bottom of a rye loaf pricked full of cloves

...

lay it hot to your belly heating it again as it cooleth

Item 5.5 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.11r

For to take an ague out of any part of the body

Dip a cloth in warm vinegar

...

and lay it to the grieved part, probatum

[ This is the full text of the receipt.]

Item 5.6 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.11v

For the colic

Take a wax candle twist it four or five times double

...

the vapour thereof will draw out of the body a great quantity of water whether it be in the stomach or belly it will give them present ease

Item 5.7 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.11v

A purging ale for the colic

Take of licorice one ounce, mace two drams, one third of a dram cinnamon

...

when it hath stood three days broach it and drink it as often as you will

Item 5.8 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.11v

To make purging ale

Take strawberry leaves, cinquefeuille scabious, agrimony

...

shred the herbs bruise the roots and use them as aforesaid

Item 5.9 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.11v

For a cold

Take a good quantity of licorice, anise seed, raisins of the sun, stoned, and sugar

...

drink a good draught of it morning and evening very warm and sweat if you can one hour or two

Item 5.10 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.12r

To stanch bleeding at the nose probatum

Take the powder of burnt eggshells

...

and sniff it up into the nostril that bleedeth

[This is the full text of the receipt.]

Item 5.11 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.12r

For the running of the reins probatum

Make almond milk with plantain water, or else boil plantain leaves in the water whereof you make your almond milk

...

drink a good draught three hours afore dinner and drink another three or four of the clock in the afternoon and eat often conserve of red roses

Item 5.12 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 12r-12v

An excellent medicine for the plague

Take four pounds of the best muscadine and boil therein rue and sage

...

you need not doubt of the goodness of this medicine but trust in God too

Item 5.13 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.12v

A perfume against the plague

Take rue, angelica, equal handfuls. Dry them by the fire and chop them very small

...

every morning burn some of them upon the coals and perfume your clothes over it, and burn of it about your house if you please

Item 5.14 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.12v

A pocket perfume to prevent the plague

Take rue and steep it three nights in strong vinegar

...

prick it full of holes and put the sponge in it and smell to it when you are in danger

Item 5.15 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.12v

To stop a looseness in the body

Take horse dung and boil it in muscadine and put it in a linen bag

...

and lay it to the party's navel

[This is the full text of the receipt.]

Item 5.16 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.12v

Another for the same

A second remedy for a looseness in the body

Seethe new milk with rice flour or wheat flour, then scrape some wax into it

...

and boil one walme with the wax and let the party eat it

[This is the full text of the receipt.]

Item 5.17 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.12v

Another for the same

A third remedy for a looseness in the body

Stew some prunes in fair water with cinnamon and sweeten it with sugar

...

it will cure them if they eat oft enough by God's blessing

Item 5.18 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.13r

For the bloody flux

Knead up a cake with bean flour and vinegar then bake it

...

this will cure a great flux, if you drink binding things too by God's blessing

Item 5.19 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.13r

Burket's decoction

Burket

Take half a spoonful of anise seed as much coriander seed

...

drink a good draught of this morning and evening lukewarm four days together

Item 5.20 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.13r

An excellent medicine for the plague

Take of white wine, the juice of almonds, three ounces each, one leaf of gold

...

this hath been taken of sixty persons infected and but two died

Item 5.21 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.13r

A good medicine for a stinking breath if it do proceed from the stomach

Take a little fair water and make it very salt with bay salt

...

do this ten or twelve mornings together

Item 5.23 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.13v

A medicine for the headache, if it do proceed from humours that do vapour up from the stomach

Take the roots of a single peony, fresh out of the ground

...

hang it about your neck between your breasts it will make you vomit when the headache troubles you and if you continue it, it will give you much ease

Item 5.24 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.13v

A medicine for children who have swelled bellies

Take a double garden daisy leaf and root and stamp them

...

give the child a good draught of it to drink with God's help in two or three times it will cure the child

Item 5.25 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.13v

For the spleen

Take the seeds of ashen keas, beat them to powder

...

and drink a quantity of them in some liquor every morning and boil some in porridge

[This is the full text of the receipt.]

Item 5.26 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.13v

A good cordial

Take a few seeds of pomecitrons peel them and grind them

...

this being drunk will drive out infection from the heart

Item 5.27 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.13v

For worms in the stomach

Take one pottle of muscadine, one handful of wormwood, as much rue

...

put them in a bag and lay it from below the navel to the uttermost part of the stomach

Item 5.28 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.14r

To procure sleep

make a bolster with flax to cover all the top of the forehead

...

lay it to the aggrieved party's temples when they settle themselves to sleep, let no noise be made to disquiet them at that time

Item 5.29 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.14r

For the deafness in the hearing

Take wood-betony and stamp it and strain it with red rose water

...

you must stop your ears with black wool. Use it three weeks or one month together probatum

Item 5.30 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.14r

For the headache

Roast one egg hard then peel the shell and cut the egg

...

lay it hot to the nape of your neck

Item 5.31 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.14r

For the deafness in the ears

Take the gall of a hare and aqua vitae and woman's milk

...

for a man you must take the milk of a female child, and for a woman you must take the milk of a male child

Item 5.32 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.14r

For the green sickness

Take one handful of the young tops of rosemary

...

drink three spoonfuls of this wine, first in the morning, and last at night. Probatum

Item 5.33 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.14v

To stop a lask

Take two new laid eggs, put away the whites and put both the yolks into one shell

...

use this three or four times, probatum

Item 5.34 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.14v

A good barley water for all diseases of the lungs

Take half a pound of fair barley, of licorice one third of an ounce

...

sweeten it with sugar or syrup to your own liking

Item 5.35 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.14v

For an ague

Take of orange peels, nutmeg, and root alum, of each being made into very fine powder one third of an ounce

...

if you be not able to walk, sweat in your bed upon it this is very good against a fever, probatum est

Item 5.36 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.15r

For the deafness or singing in the head

Take wormwood, hore-hound and house leek, of each one handful

...

warm a little of it and drop it into your ear, stop the ear with black wool

Item 5.37 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.15r

For a tertian ague

if it be a man take four grains of lapis beaser

...

take the medicine before the fit cometh probatum

Item 5.38 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.15r

For one that cannot hold his water

Let him learn when a grave is opened, wherein a woman hath been buried, and make water in the grave

...

and if it be a woman then she must do the same in a man's grave

[This is the full text of the receipt.]

Item 5.39 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.15r

For a hoarseness

Take of diatragacanthum-frigedum one ounce

...

take the quantity of half a small nutmeg thereof in the morning and at night when you are in bed

Item 5.40 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.15r

A medicine or bath for the dropsy

Take two gallons of ale

...

boil them together for a bath to bathe the said party with

Item 5.41 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.15v

To cause a quick taste

seethe century and plantain in wine

...

and drink a draught of it night and morning

[ This is the full text of the receipt.]

Item 5.42 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.15v

The philosopher's egg

Take pearl prepared three scruples, amber prepared four scruples

...

this is a great cordial when nature is almost spent if you take one grain at a time

Item 5.43 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.15v

An emplaster called decicatinum-rubur

Take oil of roses one ounce, white and red lead two ounces each

...

stir it continually when it is on the fire, this is good to dry up old sores

Item 5.44 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.15v

For a new wound

Take boreas, it is white powder which the goldsmiths do use

...

it will heal it in forty-eight hours

Item 5.45 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.16r

Another plaster for old sores

Take lapis calaminaris, lapis sanguinaris, lapis parasule, lapis emere

...

when it is well mixed make it up in rolls and keep it in leather

Item 5.46 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.16r

For an extreme heat in a woman's breast

Take of the best bird-lime four ounces

...

temper it with a quantity of camphor, so apply it to the breast

Item 5.47 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.16r

A bath for lame and numbed joints

Take bay leaves, barm, wheat bran, alike two manipuli

...

bathe yourself in it as often as your body can endure it

Item 5.48 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.16r

For a green wound

Take claret wine, two spoonfuls, oil olive one spoonful

...

wash the wound very clean therewith and dress it with lint dipped in the same

Item 5.49 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.16v

An excellent mucelage for an extreme hot rheum in the eyes

Take spring water, red rose water, plantain water, eye bright water

...

you need not fling away the apples every time you dress it but put them into a dish to use again several times

Item 5.50 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 16v-17r

An excellent eye water for a hot rheum or bloodshot eyes

Take lapis tutia, lapis calaminaris, bole-ammoniac, white coperice, alike one third of an ounce

...

you may make it sharper or milder as you please, the tutia and the calaminaris stones will serve to quench in several waters

Item 5.51 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.17r

An excellent eye water

To a quart of snow water, take a quarter ounce of white coperas

...

drop it three times a day into the eye, and if it be a pin and web by God's help it will cure it

Item 5.52 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.17r

A dreg for the lungs

Take licorice, fox lungs, flower-de-luce root, one ounce each

...

beat all the rest into gross powder, so mingle them together and eat them at your need continually

Item 5.53 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 17r-17v

To make lozenges for the wind in the stomach called diatria-paperion

Take mother thyme dried, ordinary pepper, long pepper, white pepper, one ounce each

...

so make it up in lozenges upon a trencher which hath been wet in fair water

Item 5.54 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.17v

To stop a laske

Quench in your beer one gadd of red hot steel before you drink it

...

or you may drink the powder of acorns in red wine

Item 5.55 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.17v

For a costive body

Take an onion and core it, then fill it up with black soap

...

lay it warm to the patient's navel

Item 5.56 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.17v

For the heart burning

Chew the tops of fennel and swallow down the juice

...

use this often and drink store of new milk

Item 5.57 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.17r

For the bloody flux

Take a quantity of flaxweed and boil it in milk

...

eat this to your breakfast, so long as you need it

Item 5.58 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.17v

For the stitch

Take bay berries and the smooth leaves of holly

...

make it blood warm and drink it when you go to bed and you shall find present remedy

Item 5.59 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.18r

To stanch bleeding at the nose

burn eels' skins, and blow the ashes through a quill into the nostril

...

put it up high enough into the nostril, or dry some of the blood to powder and blow it up

Item 5.60 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.18r

To make an eye water for a hot rheum

Take of the juice of seal-lgreen and spring water, of each a like quantity

...

instead of the juice of house leek, you may put honey, and five leaves of rosemary

Item 5.61 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.18r

For the colic and stone

When the pain taketh you then take four spoonfuls of mayflower water

...

lay them on each side of the flank and you shall find ease

Item 5.62 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.18v

For the colic and stone

Take mother thyme, pellitory of the wall, chamomile, parsley

...

drink it warm three or four mornings together

Item 5.63 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.18v

For the stone in the kidney

Put three or at the most four drops of juniper oil into one quarter of a pint of parsley water

...

if your body will not endure it then lie down upon a bed and sweat so long time

Item 5.64 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.18v

For the sciatica or any ache

Take one spoonful of neat's foot oil, one spoonful of ox gall

...

anoint the grieved part by the fire and keep it warm wrapped with a red cloth

Item 5.65 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.18v

For a settled ache

Take the skin of a wild cat being dressed

...

the hair side must be next your skin

Item 5.66 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.18v

For a felon, or uncum

Take two house snails with their shells, and a little rue

...

as this foresaid quantity spendeth make fresh

Item 5.67 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.19r

For a sore breast

Take holly hank leaves and violet leaves

...

lay it to the breast, as hot as can be suffered

Item 5.68 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.19r

To dissolve humours, bruises and swellings in any part of the body

Take marshmallow roots, wash them, scrape, slit them and pick out the piths

...

when it is almost cold make it up into rolls, and wrap it in parchment

Item 5.69 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.19v

For an eye that is bruised

Take an orpine leaf and peel off the inner skin, so lay it upon the eye,

...

if the eyelids be kept open it is the better

[This is the full text of the receipt]

Item 5.70 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.19v

To make oil of swallows, it is good for aches

Take two dozen of swallows out of the nest

...

wring it through a cloth, and save the oil for your use

Item 5.71 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.19v

For an ache in a shoulder, or a leg

Take a fat cat and flay her, and take out her bowels, but do not wash her

...

dress it so every morning and evening for three or four days, but no longer, lest it suck away the strength of your joint. This is an excellent medicine

Item 5.72 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.19v

For one that cannot make water

Take the white strings or roots of primroses, wash them clean

...

drink thereof a quarter of a pint, morning and evening, probatum

Item 5.73 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 20r-20v

A most precious balsam

Take turpentine, one third of a pound, salad oil, one pound, beeswax, a quarter of a pound

...

it preventeth the stone if it be so drank once a month

[The receipt includes a long list of the ailments which it can treat with the heading, "the properties are these"]

Item 5.74 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.21r

The mother of balm, or balsam

Take of turpentine, two pounds, frankincense, one pound

...

let not your fire go out day nor night for the space of ten or twelve days together, for so long it must be drawing off

Item 5.75 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.21r

The water of balm or balsam

Take turpentine, four pounds, frankincense and mastic each two ounces

...

the third will be reddish as good saffron, and it is called an artificial balm

Item 5.76 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 21r-21v

To make an excellent emplaster

Take a quart of oil of roses, litter of gold one pound, finely searced

...

the virtue of this emplaster is to heal any old sore or new, and to draw out any thorn or ache, or swelling, or for wounds, to draw out the matter, and to heal it fair and well

Item 5.77 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.21v

For a consumption of the lungs, green sickness, the tisick or shortness of breath

Take a gallon of running water, and put in two good handfuls of unset hyssop

...

an approved thing for these four said griefs, and hath helped many far gone

Item 5.78 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.22r

The treacle water excellent for the plague, or any infectious disease

Take one ounce of hartshorn shaved, and boil it in three pints of spring water

...

so infuse it all together and dissolve it, and still all this in an ordinary still

Item 5.79 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.22r

A most precious water to comfort and cheer the spirits

[in the left margin, perpendicular to the receipt, she has written "of all artificial waters this is the best".]

Take galingale, cloves, ginger, melilot, cardamom, mace, nutmeg

...

if a spoonful be given at the point of death, it reviveth the spirits, strangely

Item 5.80 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.22v

To make aqua mirabilis

Take cardamom, galingale, melilot

...

these ingredients will yield well with those, more than so much of the best water

Item 5.81 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.23r

For a hoarseness

Take a good quantity of veraine and licorice, boil them in fair water

...

drink no other drink to your meat till you are well, and keep your head very hot

Item 5.82 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.23r

For him that maketh bloody urine

Take a little quantity of rue, being made into fine powder

...

and drink it in your ale or beer

[This is the full text of the receipt.]

Item 5.83 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.23r

A precious powder for foul sores

Take orpement, verdigris, alike one ounce, vitriol burned till it be red

...

when it cometh out of the wound of it own accord then the cure is wrought

Item 5.84 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 23r-23v

To preserve roses, a purge

Take damask rose buds, and clip them off the whites, then take to every pound of roses three pounds of sugar

...

if you eat a small quantity of this in a morning, it will work three or four times without making you sick

Item 5.85 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.23v

To make a restoring broth

Take a red or black cock, and when he is plucked and garbaged cut him in quarters

...

so let the patient drink a little quantity of this broth first and last, and so often as you think convenient. You may make this broth with veal, or mutton

Item 5.86 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.24r

An excellent oil for wounds

Take betony, century, adder's tongue, self heal and St. John's wort

...

set them in the sun all the summer, then strain it and keep it for use

Item 5.87 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.24r

To make wormwood water for the colic

Take of wormwood one pound and a third, peach leaves, anise seeds, licorice, fennel seed, one third of a pound each

...

bruise all these and put them into a gallon and a half of sack, so distil them in a limbeck

Item 5.88 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.24r

To make Doctor Steeven's water called aqua-composita

Take ginger, cloves, mace, nutmeg grains, galingale, anise seed, fennel seed

...

it is an approved preservative against the decayings of old age

Item 5.89 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.24v

Rose-solis

Instructions for gathering and using rose-solis

gather your rose-solis in June or July, pluck it up by the stalk

...

it is admirable good in a consumption if the patient do drink half a spoonful in a draught of good ale every morning and night

Item 5.90 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.24v

To take away hair

Take horse leeches and burn them to powder

...

touch the place therewith and the hair will grow no more in that place

Item 5.91 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 24v-25r

To make manus Christie

Take coral white and red, each one third of an ounce, pearl, two ounces

...

take it up and cast it with all speed upon a smooth stone, into what fashion you please

Item 5.92 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.25r

To make a restorative water admirable in a consumption

Take a red cock, and pluck him, and split him, take out all his entrails

...

you may take it a full hour before supper and four spoonfuls at once, which will add much effect

Item 5.93 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.25r

For a pus boil or a plague sore

Take six figs, and boil them till they be soft, then stamp them with some leaven

...

lay it hot as it may be suffered upon the swelling, and it will ripen it draw and heal it

Item 5.94 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.25v

A girdle for the itch

Take quicksilver, a third of an ounce, and put it into a glass with half a pint of the strongest urine you can get

...

spread the quicksilver upon the cotton, then sew it close to the body and wear it nine days

Item 5.95 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.25v

For the itch

anoint the body with juice of plantain, or brimstone and butter

...

it is a safer medicine than the quicksilver girdle

[ the final phrase refers to MS item 5.94]

Item 5.96 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.25v

For a bruise or strain

Make a poultice with milk and oatmeal, beaten small

...

spread this upon a piece of leather pricked full of holes and lay it hot to the bruise or strain

Item 5.97 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.25v

For the bone ache

Take good aqua vita and oil of bays, of each a like quantity

...

chafing it with your warm hand till the oil be dried in, keep it warm

Item 5.98 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 25v-26r

For the spleen, and the green sickness

Take a little quantity of capers and currants, boil them with a little mace in muscadine

...

eat one great spoonful thereof every morning and at four of the clock in the afternoon, continue this so long as you find cause

Item 5.99 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.26r

A medicine for the rheum in the head, the ption

Take of the leaves of senna picked

...

sweeten it with two or three spoonfuls of syrup of violets or sugar

Item 5.100 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.26r

A medicine to clear the sight and to prevent toothaches and headaches

Take bay salt, cumin seed, and sweet fennel seeds, each one third of an ounce

...

this by God's help is good to clear the sight and to prevent the headache and the toothache

Item 5.101 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.26r

A broth for the yellow ganders, to be drunk every evening and morning

Take the crag end of a neck of mutton and veal, boil it in a pipkin

...

thicken this broth with oatmeal bruised

Item 5.102 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.26v

For a man's mould that is fallen down

Take the leaves of agrimony, a good quantity, wash them and a good quantity of honey

...

it is very good to anoint the mould after the plaster is raised

Item 5.103 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.26v

To make juice of licorice

Take of the best Spanish licorice, scraped very clean the quantity of six pounds

...

make it up in small pellets and dry them with a temperate heat

Item 5.104 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 26v-27r

To make capon ale

Take two large capons, parboil them upon a soft fire the space of an hour or more

...

it drinketh not newish at all but fresh and flowereth and mantleth exceedingly and hath no windiness

Item 5.105 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.27r

To take the ague out of any place

Take verrain and hemlock, of each one handful, boil them in fresh butter

...

within two days the ague will be gone

Item 5.106 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 27r-27v

To make Gaskins powder, it is an excellent antidote against infections, or other pestilent diseases which would poison the heart

Take pearl, white amber, coral, of each one ounce

...

it doth usually procure sweat, and the party must fast two hours after it this is a great cordial

Item 5.107 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.27v

A water for an ague

Take pellitory of the wall, pimpernel, scabios, mugwort

...

take six or seven spoonfuls of this water, being warmed with a little sugar, one hour before the fit come

Item 5.108 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.27v

To make the digestive salve

Take turpentine, washed, two pounds, honey, four ounces

...

incorporated these with flour into the form of a salve

Item 5.109 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.28r

For a red face, or to draw any rheum out of the head

beat bay salt, to fine powder, and quilt it in a linen cloth

...

wear them night and day for a fortnight or three weeks' space, this is known to be good and effectual

Item 5.110 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.28r

To stanch bleeding

in February, gather the spawn of the frogs, and toads

...

lay it to the wound, or take swine's dung hot and lay it to the wound or vein

Item 5.111 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.28r

An excellent cordial

in any ordinary distempers, as fevers or agues take one spoonful of the syrup of corn-roses

...

and drink the rest after it going to bed

Item 5.112 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.28r

For the shingles

Take two spoonfuls of salad oil, and one spoonful of milk or cream

...

roll the party about and dress it evening and morning

Item 5.113 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.28v

For the wind colic

Take wormwood and rosemary, of each one manipulus

...

when they are cold heat them in the sack and lay them on again, this is a present help

Item 5.114 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.28v

Another for the same

Another receipt for wind colic

boil chamomile, one manipulus, in one pint of olive oil

...

when it groweth cool heat it again, in hot water, and lay it to your body again

Item 5.115 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.28v

For them which having the colic cannot make water

Take alexander leaves, one manipulus, and fry them in butter

...

lay it to your navel as hot as you can endure it

Item 5.116 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.28v

For the yellow jaundice

Take celandine, one manipulus, boil it in one quart of good ale

...

drink a good draught of it morning and evening, till the disease be cured, fasting at least one hour before and after it

Item 5.117 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.29r

For the yellow jaundice

Take hemp seed, bruised, ivory rasped, and saffron

...

drink a draught of it warm, morning and evening

Item 5.118 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.29r

A water for an ordinary sore

Take woodbine leaves and red sage, of each one manipulus

...

lay the fresh leaves upon the sore

Item 5.119 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.29r

To kill wildfire in the flesh or skin

Take rock-alum, beaten to powder, and sweet cream and soot of the chimney

...

then anoint the sore therewith

Item 5.120 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.29r

An excellent powder called the powder of life

Take the bones of a mouse, and the root of tormentil

...

for all manner of sickness in man's body or in the womb, or for all manner of poison and venom and the dropsy, and palsy, and the wallowing about a man's heart

Item 5.121 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.29v

For deafness

Take woman's milk and make it blood warm, and bathe the ear within and without

...

use this nine or ten days if you are very deaf

Item 5.122 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.29v

An ointment for aches, boils, stitches, burns, and whatsoever doth proceed from cold

Take sage, rue, of each one pound, bay leaves, wormwood, and chamomile

...

take it off the fire and let it cool a while then strain it and put to it one ounce of oil of spike

Item 5.123 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.30r

For a pain in the side

Take linseed, fennel seed, anise seed, bay berries, chamomile, mugwort

...

then lay it hot to your side

Item 5.124 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.30r

For red inflamed eyes

Take the juice of coleworts, woman's milk, and a little rose-water

...

drop of it into the eye, and bind a colewort leaf upon it

Item 5.125 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.30r

A water for sore legs, it heals and dries them

Take oak leaves, and the inner bark of young oaks, near the roots

...

as it drieth wet it again with the water so dress it till it be whole

Item 5.126 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.30r

Another for the same

A second remedy for sore legs

Take nightshade, periwinkle, celandine, oak leaves, of each one manipulus

...

wash the sore before you dress it with any salve, morning and evening

Item 5.127 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.30v

An electuary for a cough

Take maidenhair, germander, hyssop, horehound, of each one pugilus

...

if you please you may put in less of the elecampane and make up the quantity with anise seed

Item 5.128 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.30v

To make oil of eggs

boil your eggs hard, then take the yolks of them and stamp them in a mortar

...

it easeth the pain of the haemorrhoids, it is excellent for burns or scaldings

Item 5.129 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.30v

For lame limbs

Take hartshorn, and rasp it, and steep it in water five or six hours

...

so lap it up in dry warm cloths, this hath been proved

Item 5.130 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.31r

A special plaster for the sciatica or goutish humour

Take of the best salad oil one pound, of red lead and white lead each four ounces

...

boil it up till it be as black as pitch, then take it off and stir it till it be thoroughly cold

Item 5.131 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 31r-31v

To make oil of St. John's wort or English balsam, this is good for agues used as for the plague, one hour before the fit, to procure a stool anoint the navel therewith

infuse three days the flowers, seeds and buds of St. John's wort

...

it will make it the better for these diseases, and the colic and all cold griefs, as the sciatica, gout, and the like

Item 5.132 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 31v-32r

A water for the plague

Take rue, agrimony, wormwood, celandine, sage, balm, rosemary, tormentil

...

this oil must not be used before the infection be six hours taken, and then it is excellent

Item 5.133 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.32r

An excellent diet drink to expel all windy and watery humours

Take sarsparilla, saxifrage, of each two ounces, China roots tormentil roots

...

drink it first in the morning and last at night, and at four of the clock, if you please

Item 5.134 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.32v

A receipt for a green wound

Take plantain and bruise it and lay it in a still with a layer of honey

...

lay it upon the wound and when it is dry wet the cloth again

Item 5.135 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.32v

For a green wound

Take a pint of claret wine, half a pint of oil, sugar well beaten

...

take so much as may serve your occasion, which you must warm and with lint dress the wound, - probatum

Item 5.136 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.32v

A sufferant medicine for the rheum

Take of licorice one third of a pound, scrape it very clean and bruise it in a mortar

...

make it up like little cakes of manus Christie

[The receipt for manus Christie is given in item 5.91]

Item 5.137 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.33r

A medicine for the bloody flux

Take four or five eggs, and roast them hard till they be blue

...

then let the patient drink of the same, two or three times a day

Item 5.138 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.33r

A medicine for the lask

Seethe a quantity of wheat flour in a bag very well

...

then give it to the patient two or three times a day, and it will help him

Item 5.139 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.33r

To help a stinking breath

Take two good branches of rosemary, and a pretty quantity of large mace

...

drink three mornings together of it, and so once a month till you are well and it will cure you

Item 5.140 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.33r

For a scald, or a burn, though it come with gun-powder, probatum

Take salad oil, and snow water, of each a like quantity, beat it up to a froth

...

then anoint the sore therewith, then anoint it with oil of eggs till it be whole

[The receipt for oil of eggs is given at item 5.128.]

Item 5.141 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.33v

A salve for any sore

Take of unwrought wax, of turpentine, each one pound, salad oil one pint

...

put it in an earthen pot which must be well warmed against the fire for if you put it in cold the salve will leap out again

Item 5.142 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.33v

For a new cut that will not leave bleeding

Take the blades of unset leeks, stamp them and put them into honey

...

it will stint the bleeding and will draw out the bruised blood and make it clean

Item 5.143 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.33v

For an imposten in the head

Take primrose roots, make them clean,

...

and put them in your nose at any time and it will break it

[This is the full text of the receipt.]

Item 5.144 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.34r

A medicine for one that is bound in his body

Take an onion and core it, and fill it up with good black soap

...

lay it to the patient's navel, somewhat warm to that man or child

Item 5.145 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.34r

For the memory

Take and grind mustard seed, with vinegar

...

it will quicken the memory of those that have been sick

Item 5.146 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.34r

To stop the lask

Take the seed of plantain, and beat it

...

it may be given to a child probatum

Item 5.147 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.34r

For the flux

Take the pissell of a hart, and dry it in an oven till it be as hard as a race of ginger

...

let the party drink of it first in the morning and last at night

Item 5.148 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.34r

For a canker in a woman's toe

Take brown mints, in wine, and oil, and make a plaster

...

and when you give this for the same, or any medicine, give therewith the juice of nuts

[This is the full text of the receipt.]

Item 5.149 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.34v

For the cough of the lungs

Take ten wardens, pared and cored

...

strain it as you use it, which must be often, every day, a spoonful at a time

Item 5.150 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.34v

For a consumption

Take five quarts of goat's milk, and boil in it the kernels of five pints of hazelnuts

...

put in the last boiling three or four pieces of angel gold and with it six yolks of eggs

Item 5.151 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.34v

A cordial for wind in the stomach and to help the concoction of meat

eat of the conserve of quinces, made with spice, the quantity of half a walnut at a time

...

presently after dinner and supper

[This is the full text of the receipt.]

Item 5.152 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.35r

To cool the back

Take waterlily leaves, called nymphea leaves

...

apply them to each side of the back, but not on the ridge bone

Item 5.153 (Medical writing, Receipt, Culinary writing), fol.35r

A cordial broth or cullis

Take four sheep's hearts, new out of their bodies, and wash them very clean

...

also you may put in a quantity of sack, or muscadine, when it is boiled

Item 5.154 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 35r-35v

A cordial cullis

Take a young leg of mutton, cut off all the fat and the skin

...

pour the liquor from the meat and take a quantity of it in the morning and two hours before supper

Item 5.155 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.35v

Cordials

Take seven grains of ambergris in fine powder mixed well in the yolks of two new laid eggs

...

mixed in one or two spoonfuls of syrup of gillyflowers, and as much cinnamon water

Item 5.156 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.35v

Cordials for fainting

In any fainting, take four drops of the oil of cinnamon, mixed with one spoonful of syrup of gillyflowers

...

take it in pennyroyal water

Item 5.157 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 35v-36r

To keep the body laxative

Take two ounces of manna, dissolve it in one third of a pound of fair water

...

eat it one hour before dinner and supper

Item 5.158 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.36r

A precious water for the eyes

Take smallage, rue, fennel, vervain, agrimony, betony

...

drop that water in the sore eye every night, probatum

Item 5.159 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.36r

For the migraine often proved and never failed

Take aqua vita, or aqua composita, the gall of an ox

...

within six days dressing it will be clean gone, it must be used three days and three nights together

Item 5.160 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.36v

For the stitch

Take oats and pigeon's dung, a like quantity, put them into a frying pan

...

if you feel them cold heat them in the frying pan, bags and all, and let the bags be well swaddled about it

Item 5.161 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.36v

A principal medicine for the stone and strongullion

Take cloves, mace, acorns, long-pepper, turmeric, bays

...

drink it first in the morning and last at night, and you shall find ease

Item 5.162 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.36v

A present help for the bloody flux

Take a pint of milk, and half a pint of water seethe them together

...

put it into it and let the party drink thereof

Item 5.163 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.37r

To make China broth, it is a great restorative

Take China roots, two ounces, white and red saunders, two ounces of each

...

drink as much two hours before supper, or when you please

Item 5.164 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 37r-37v

To make bread to digest phlegm

Take licorice scraped clean and bruised, one third of a pound, seethe it in a gallon of water

...

lay them in a soft heated oven as after the baking of bread, it will endure long

Item 5.165 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.37v

Mr. Williams

For deafness, and singing in the ears

Take a stone pot of a quart, with a long neck with running water

...

do this morning and evening in your bed for the space of an hour, and it will help you

Item 5.166 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.38r

For a red face, or any rheum in the head, probatum

Take bay salt, and beat it to powder, and fit two fine linen bags to the soles of your feet

...

you must dry the bags every night and morning and so lay them on again

Item 5.167 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.38r

Rules of physic, to help the obstructions of the spleen, the preparative, probatum

Take of the five opening roots, each one ounce, caper and tamarisk barks, each one third of an ounce

...

which is to be taken at four draughts in two days

Item 5.168 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.38v

The purging potion

Take manna, syrup of augustine, each one ounce and a third

...

take this in the morning and drink some broth two hours after it

Item 5.169 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 38v-39r

The hippocras

Take of the five opening roots, each one ounce, tamarisk and caper barks, each one third of an ounce

...

put it in a glass keeping it close stopped

Item 5.170 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.39r

The electuary

Take of conserve of cervina and of agrimony each one ounce and a third

...

as much as sufficeth to make it in the form of an electuary

Item 5.171 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.39r

The emplaster

Take gum armoniacum, dissolve it in vinegar

...

spread it on leather and use it

Item 5.172 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 39r-39v

The ointment

Take unguentum succo brionie

...

mix all these together and the ointment is made

Item 5.173 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.39v

Directions how to use them

Instructions regarding the use of some of the preceding receipts

First anoint your side with the ointment, and lay on the plaster to your side

...

anointing your side and laying on the plaster again every morning and night all that space

Item 5.174 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.39v

For the stiffness in the knees or any other place

Take a great quantity of dew snails and put them in some linen cloth

...

conserve it and anoint the grief therewith

Item 5.175 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 39v-40r

A singular good medicine to break and avoid the stone

Take saxifrage, passpert, maidenhair, parsley

...

bruise them together, then warm it at the fire and drink it morning and evening

Item 5.176 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.40r

A medicine for the stone colic

Take three or four drops of the oil of anise seeds in your drink

...

you shall find great ease for the stone colic

Item 5.177 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.40r

For one that cannot hold his water

Take the claws of a goat's foot, beat them to powder

...

a spoonful at a time till he be whole and well

Item 5.178 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.40r

For a bruise

roast an onion and lay it to

...

as hot as you can suffer it

[This is the full text of the receipt.]

Item 5.179 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.40r

A proven medicine for a felon

Take black soap, the soot of a chimney

...

beat all these together until it be like a plaster, and lay it to the fellon

Item 5.180 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.40v

My Lady Paget's water, or Greene's powder, to heal a sore without any salve

Lady Paget and Greene

Take bole-armoniac, white coporise, of each four ounces, camphor, one ounce

...

as you use it beat it into powder and use it as prescribed

Item 5.181 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.41r

To take away the itch of a wound that is healing

Take oil of roses, and wine vinegar, of each a like quantity, beat them together

...

lay upon it a very thin piece of lawn, and thereupon lay your healing or drawing plaster

Item 5.182 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.41r

To do away a rancle

Take the tallow of a ram, and rye meal then make a plaster

...

and lay it to the sore

[This is the full text of the receipt.]

Item 5.183 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.41r

To take away dead flesh

Take tongue-wort, honey, and rye meal make a plaster

...

and lay it to the sore

[This is the full text of the receipt.]

Item 5.184 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 41r-41v

For a feeble stomach that cannot keep that it hath, but it goeth from him straight

Take wormwood, brown mints, and plantain, grind them together in a mortar

...

do this three days and the vomits shall cease

Item 5.185 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.41v

For the jaundice

Take three quarters of an ounce of the leaves of senna

...

apply to his stomach hot cloths lest he cast it up again

Item 5.186 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 41v-42r

An electuary for the jaundice

Take of turmeric one ounce, of rhubarb one ounce, of saffron four pennyworth

...

take of this conserve in the morning early, and again one hour before dinner, and one hour before supper, the bigness of a nutmeg at a time

Item 5.187 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.42r

For a bruise or swelling, coming of a bruise or otherwise

Dr. Mathias

Take fresh cow dung, brown bread crumbs, grounds of beer, a little vinegar

...

in warm mace ale and broth, two hours after taking heed of cold

Item 5.188 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.42r

Another for the same

For a bruise or swelling

Take strong beer, boil in it a good quantity of St. John's wort

...

put in some white bread crumbs and some red rose leaves so boil it to a poultice

Item 5.189 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 42r-42v

An ointment for a bruise

Take a quart of aqua vita, infuse in it the flowers of mallows

...

this is good for any bruise or fall or otherwise, to keep it from putrefying

Item 5.190 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.42r

For the squiney

Take of plantain water half a pint

...

cast of it into the throat, with a squirt every quarter of an hour, probatum

Dr. Matt

Item 5.191 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.42r

A special receipt for a felon

Take white camphor leaves, leaves of hyssop and rue each a like quantity

...

beat it well until it be enough and then apply it

Item 5.192 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.43r

To bring the stone easily from the back into the bladder

Take one third of an ounce of cassia, fistuly new drawn

...

in plantain water half an hour before meals

[ This is the full text of the receipt.]

Item 5.193 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.43r

For the pleurisy, the drink

Take one pint of white wine, and three balls of a stone-horse dung

...

these two with God's blessing will cure the disease though it be far gone, yet nevertheless if the party may be let blood do not neglect it

Item 5.194 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.43v

For a consumption

Take of white ginger, one ounce, of mace, one quarter of an ounce

...

it is to be understood that the egg which is laid today serves for the receipt tomorrow morning, probatum

Item 5.195 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.44r

Mina cidoniorum, commonly called quiddany of quinces

Take of the juice of quinces cleared, six pounds, boil it gently with a soft fire

...

and procureth an appetite to meat, it stays the vomiting and laxativeness

Item 5.196 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.44r

For a cough

Take conserve of the oldest roses, and dioscordium a like quantity

...

mingle them together, and take them morning and evening

[This is the full text of the receipt.]

Item 5.197 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 44r-44v

For the lungs

Tried by the Lady Loe

Take a good pint of the best honey clarified very well

...

it must be put into a pot or box whilst it is hot

Item 5.198 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.44v

A cordial

Take eight spoonfuls of strawberry water, of good chosen claret wine three or four spoonfuls

...

mingle these well and make of them a julep, take three or four spoonfuls or as you need

Item 5.199 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.44v

For the palate of the mouth

Take as much rye leaven as a walnut, a quarter of a handful of featherfew

...

warm it in white wine vinegar as hot as you can suffer it and lay it on again

Item 5.200 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.45r

For the bloody flux

make one place of a hearth very hot sweep it clean, then take one handful of bay salt

...

take some of the powder of the nutmegs, and put it into sack, drink it and it will ease you

Item 5.201 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.45r

For an extremity of the wind colic

the parings of an earthen floor, cut them about the bigness of fritters

...

when they are hot, put them in a bag and apply them where the pain is

Item 5.202 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.45r

For the itch

Take burned alum, beat and seared very fine, then take as much brimstone

...

anoint the patient at evening four nights together, then shift him in clean linen

Item 5.203 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.45v

A purging drink for the liver

Take sarsparilla sliced, polipodium of the oak

...

after it is three or four days old, drink a good draught of it two or three hours before every meal

Item 5.204 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 45v-46r

For the itch in children or others

Dr. Matt

Take fumitary, young buds of a vine, eight

...

four or five spoonfuls at once with some whey and sugar morning and evening, and at other times

Item 5.205 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.46r

For the coming out of the fundament

Dr. Matt

First wash the fundament with warm milk, then strew on it the ashes of beetles, things like hornets

...

dress the party with this very often, lest it should cancer it

Item 5.206 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.46r

For bleeding at the nose

Take wine vinegar, and clay of a barrel, temper them together like an ointment

...

apply it to the breasts shifting it often, if to a man to his privy parts

Item 5.207 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.46v

To stop bleeding at the nose

Take dragon's blood finely powdered, make soft small tents of fine lint

...

hold the head forward and keep them in two or three hours

Item 5.208 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.46v

To stop bleeding at the nose

Take periwinkle, burnett, and horse tail, chop these

...

apply it plaster wise to the neck, and up to the ears, and renew it often

Item 5.209 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.46v

For a pleurisy, or to bring out the smallpox, or any infection

Take stone horse dung, put it in white wine, or ale

...

strain it and drink a little draught

Item 5.210 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.46v

To keep the face from the pitting of the pock holes

Take of fine white salt one third of an ounce, of red rose water one pint

...

anoint the face with a feather as often as it itches

Item 5.211 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.47r

Mouth water

Mistress Hall

Take tops of rosemary, red sage, woodbine leaves, columbine leaves

...

boil all these in a quart of water, to a pint

Item 5.212 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.47r

Plasters for the feet to draw down watery humours

Take of black soap, four ounces, bay salt finely beaten, one ounce

...

make it for soles to wear, both night and day within socks

Item 5.213 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.47r

For the beating of the heart

Dr. Matt

Take a little toast of wheaten bread

...

strew upon it a little powder spices de amber, and on this white sugar candy

Item 5.214 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.47r

For the wind in the stomach

Dr. Matt

Take winter savoury, wild thyme, pepper and ginger

...

and also the roots of elecampane, candied and angelica, both roots and tender stalks

Item 5.215 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.47v

For windiness in the head

Dr. Matt

Take of rosemary five or six manipuli, of betony one manipulus

...

hang it in fourteen gallons of beer, so drink it

Item 5.216 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.47v

An excellent water for the spleen

Dr. Matt

Take ash buds and distil them, and when you have a good quantity of water, distil the water again

...

when you use it mingle a quantity of each of them together

Item 5.217 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 47v-48r

A special receipt for the toothache

Take of the best licorice dis-barked one ounce, of pellitory of Spain dis-barked one third of an ounce

...

snuff up of the powder into the nostril on which side the pain is and it will take away the pain

Item 5.218 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.48r

An excellent ointment for a bruise or swelling or for a breast, to be made in May

Take southern-wood, self-heal, smallage, sage, herb of grace, plantain

...

boil it to the form of a plaster, strain it and keep it for your use

Item 5.219 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.48v

A serecloth for a bruise or broken bone

Take burgundy pitch, one pound, resin, one third of a pound,

...

wax four ounces melt them together

[This is the full text of the receipt.]

Item 5.220 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.48v

To make the minium plaster

Take red lead, one third of a pound, finely searced

...

so make it up in rolls, this is to heal a sore

Item 5.221 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 48v-49r

A healing salve

Take brier, crows-wort, valerian, hyssop, sage, rib-wort

...

stir it all together, so keep it for your use

Item 5.222 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.49r

A glister for the stone

Take mallows, violet leaves, pellitory of the wall, mercury

...

when you would use it make it blood warm, so put it in a bladder

Item 5.223 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 49r-49v

A restorative marzipan

Take pistachio nut kernels, Jordan almonds, of each three ounces

...

make it into a marzipan, and bake it to eat at your pleasure

Item 5.224 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.49v

To make unguentum Egyptiacum

Take honey, one pound of vinegar, six ounces of verdigris

...

boil these as before

Item 5.225 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.49v

To make unguentum verides

Take oil olive, one pound, yellow wax, three ounces, resin, six ounces, frankincense, one ounce

...

strain it and stir it all the while it is on the fire

Item 5.226 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.50r

To make pulvis sanctus

Take senna, parsley seed, cloves, white wine, tartar, of each one ounce

...

to an indifferent body give one ounce and a third, to a strong body give two ounces

Item 5.227 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.50r

For a burn, or scald

Take the white of an egg, and beat it up to an oil

...

then dress it as often with it as with convenience you can till it be whole

Item 5.228 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.50v

A sere-cloth for a bruise, sprain, ache, or swelling

Take the brightest wax and resin, of each two pounds

...

make it into cakes to spread upon leather, or else dip in your linen cloth, to make sere-cloth

Item 5.229 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.50v

To still milk for the stone

Take pellitory of the wall, wild thyme, saxifrage parsley

...

put in white wine enough to make it a pretty draught, and drink it lukewarm

Item 5.230 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 51r-51v

An excellent drink for the heat of the liver, lights and lungs, and to comfort the vital spirits

Mistress Al Knollys' water of milk

Take three gallons of milk from the cow, sorrel, sink-field, strawberry leaves

...

these ingredients will make but one gallon of water, which will be quickly spent

Item 5.231 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.51v

An approved drink for a weak back

Take a quart of old alligant, five or six dates, a handful or raisins of the sun

...

drink thereof a quarter of a pint in the morning fasting and when you go to bed

Item 5.232 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.51r

To make an excellent custard for a weak back

Take of the pith of an ox stripped out of the skin

...

bake them as you do ordinary custards and eat them in the morning, when you are fasting and towards bed

Item 5.233 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.52r

An excellent cooling broth for one in a burning fever, probatum

Take three quarts of water, and put therein two little chickens

...

give the patient to drink as often as you can get them to take it

Item 5.234 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.52r

To stop the bleeding of a wound or nostrils

burn linen rags to dust, and put that powder on the wound

...

a good big wet cloth being put to the secret parts will suddenly stop that party's bleeding at their nose

Item 5.235 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 52r-52v

For the cough of the lungs

Take red rose leaves, betony, comfrey roots, coltsfoot, of each two manipuli

...

boil it to a thin syrup

Item 5.236 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.52v

A purge

Take flowers of a peach tree, infuse them in warm water ten or twelve hours

...

it purgeth waterish humours mightily, and yet without grief or trouble to the stomach or other lower parts of the body, probatum, Mr. Garrett

Mr. Garrett

Item 5.237 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.52v

To purge the body

Take cakes made with damask rose leaves and sugar

...

eat a reasonable quantity in a morning fasting, and drink a draught of whey after them

Item 5.238 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.53r

An approved medicine to stop the blood in wounds, or else at the nose

Take one handful of wild tansy, and bruise it, then lay it to the wound

...

it will presently stop the blood

Item 5.239 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 53r-53v

An approved receipt for a wound drink

Take southern-wood, wormwood, bugles, mugwort, wood-betony

...

this drink must be made in the month of May or gathered and mingled together and dried within doors in the shade

[The receipt includes a long list of the ailments which it can treat, beginning, "There was a famous physician that did report this drink is good for..."]

Item 5.240 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.53v

For the stone if it do stop the urine

Take a quantity of white wine and quench in it six times red hot flints

...

drink a small quantity of it so often as you find cause

Item 5.241 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 53v-54r

An excellent medicine for the stone, be it in the reins, or bladder of what quantity soever it hath been tried, and proved by Sergeant More

Sergeant More

In the month of May when oxen go to graze, you must take of their dung, not too fresh nor too dry

...

in using of the same remedy, they have been perfectly cured. There was never found a sooner remedy for the disease

Item 5.242 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.54r

For to keep the blood from cluttering in the throat, as it falleth from the head proceeding from a bruise

Sow wheat-bran in little bags and boil them in water

...

so shift hot bags as they do cool, till the blood do stay

Item 5.243 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.54v

For the worms, and to assuage the swelled bellies of children

Take mints, wormwood, tansy, feather-few, southern-wood, chamomile

...

and bind anointed paper upon it, so do every night till you find remedy

Item 5.244 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 54v-55r

A drink for the scurvy called balsumum maria

Take scurvy-grass, five manipuli, watercress, brook-lime, of each two manipuli

...

the other half of whey being first boiled scummed and clarified with violet and borage flowers, or leaves and fumitory

Item 5.245 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.55r

For a bursten child

Take the roots of herb-robert and comfrey roots a like quantity, wrap them in a wet paper

...

give the child it to eat a quantity thereof twice every day

Item 5.246 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.55r

The poultice to apply to the same grief

A poultice to relieve a bursten child

Take the leaves of herb-robert, comfrey

...

once in two days, lay on fresh medicine

Item 5.247 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.55v

To strengthen children's weak limbs

Take dane-weed, chamomile, angelica, a like quantity, beat them very well

...

wrap a cloth dipped in the ointment about the limb and wrap it over with other cloths

Item 5.248 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.55v

For the worms

Take bear-foot, dry it and make it into powder

...

give the child this quantity to eat three mornings together

Item 5.249 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 55v-56r

To make the black gum plaster

Take three quarters of a pound of the finest yellow virgin wax

...

is excellent for wounds in the head, and elsewhere, that require some comfortable heat and little or no drawing

Item 5.250 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.56v

For the wild fire

Save the urine of a cow in a vessel, the oldest is best

...

so lay it warm to the sore, dress it with fresh medicine twice every day

Item 5.251 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.56v

A serecloth for an ache proceeding from a hot cause

Take oil olive, one pound, virgin wax, four ounces

...

then apply a new plaster to the grief so continue till you find remedy

Item 5.252 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.57r

A restoring broth for a consumption

Take a piece of flesh, either veal or mutton, the bigness of a great duck egg

...

drink a good draught of it in the morning, and another in the afternoon

Item 5.253 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.57r

To make cinnamon water

Take cinnamon, two pounds, damask rose leaves, balm, and sweet marjoram, of each three manipuli

...

set it in the sun one week, then strain it and keep it in a glass close stopped

Item 5.254 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.57v

To strengthen a weak stomach

Take syrup of quinces, one ounce and a third, syrup of mints, one third of an ounce

...

mingle them in carduus-benedictus water, or balm water, five ounces

Item 5.255 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.57v

To give rest

Take diascordium, four scruples, syrup of the juice of lemons, one third of an ounce,

...

marigold water, or cardus-benedictus water, two ounces

[This is the full text of the receipt.]

Item 5.256 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.57v

Pills to take an hour before supper to help digestion, and the green sickness

Take aloes, washed in rose water, and beaten, one ounce

...

a day or two before you take them, take the powder of galingale, in muscadine

Item 5.257 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.57r

For a bruise in the eye

Take a live pigeon, cut him in the wing and take a drop or two of his warm blood

...

lay it upon flax, and clap it close to the eye twice a day

Item 5.258 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.58r

For an old oozing sore that will not heal with salve

Dr. Matt

Take tanner's ooze, made only of the bark, and clarify one pottle of it

...

lay them upon the sore four or five times a day letting the undermost cloth lie still for it will make it bleed in pulling it off

Item 5.259 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.58r

To make hippocras

Dr. Matt

Take of clear claret wine, one pottle, of cinnamon, and nutmeg, of each one ounce

...

if you desire to have it white, then take three pints of white wine and a pint of sack, in which sack steep all the spices and sugar afore named as in the other

Item 5.260 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.58v

To make gallons of hippocras

ha:samon

Take canary, and white wine, of each one gallon, of cinnamon four ounces

...

when you run it put in a quart of milk, and run it till it be as fine as rock water

Item 5.261 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.58v

To make one gather flesh

Take a great pumpkin, take out the seeds, then set the pumpkin into an oven

...

take a little draught twice a day, warm in the morning and at four of the clock in the afternoon, fast an hour after it

Item 5.262 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 58v-59r

The composition of the water of orange flowers, good for old weeping sores

Dr. Matt

Take half a pound of orange peels dried, boil them in a pottle of spring water

...

this you may use for any part of the body, hot fiery or spreading sores

Item 5.263 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.59r

For a burn or scald

Take half a pint of neat's foot oil, a little sheep suet

...

anoint the place three times a day, and lay a linen cloth upon it

Item 5.264 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.59r

For the swelling of the legs or ague

Take one handful of mallows, of red sage, of great mouse ear, of red nettle, an equal manipulus

...

make a poultice of all these with a little oatmeal and milk of rib-wort, and plantain, of each a manipulus

Item 5.265 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 59r-59v

A poultice for a sore breast

Take oatmeal and milk, boil them together put therein three spoonfuls of oil of roses

...

so use the same without a tent or anything else

Item 5.266 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.59v

A poultice for to break a brest or any swelling which gathereth to a head

Take plantain, mallows, chick-weeds, and grancell, of each one manipulus

...

as it dryeth put more milk to it in the heating when you use it

Item 5.267 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.59v

A salve for a broken breast

Take beeswax, two ounces, resin, one ounce, turpentine, one third of an ounce

...

boil all these together till they be thoroughly incorporated, then keep it for your use

Item 5.268 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.59r

A receipt for a timpany or swelled belly

Take half a spoonful of the powder of mountain sage

...

in every draught of beer that you drink for one whole month

Item 5.269 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.60r

The glister

Take anise seed, cumin seed, fennel seed, all these bruised

...

take a quantity of this blood warm every second day, as a glister, for the month, and afterwards once a week, or as you find cause

Item 5.270 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.60r

The fomentation

Lettice Corbett

[A note to the right of the receipt's title reiterates that " All these are my cousin Letice Corbett's receipts"]

Take one peck of green chamomile, and boil it in one pottle of muscadine

...

use this every second night, when you do not take the glister, for nine times, putting in a little fresh chamomile to it, this is very good medicine

Item 5.271 (Medical writing, Receipt), fols 60v-61r

The composition of the golden palsy water

Dr. Matt

Take the flowers of lavender, clean picked and stripped

...

take a piece of scarlet and dip it in the water, and lay it warm to the nape of the neck

Item 5.272 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.61r

Another palsy water for the poorer sort also exceedingly tried

Dr. Matt

Take a great round glass that will hold a gallon and a half, fill it with lavender flowers

...

drink of this with beer or ale, as need doeth require

[The scribe has run out of room at the bottom of the page, and has written the final two words, "doeth require", vertically in the left margin]

Item 5.273 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol.61v

Another palsy water of exceeding great virtue in palsies, dizziness of the head, and weakness of the sinews

Take cowslip flowers, lavender, spike flowers

...

exceeding effectual in palsies, apoplexies, giddiness of the head, and all weakness of the sinews and all cold diseases

[A note at the bottom of the page closes this section of the manuscript with a reiteration that "All these receipts I had of my cousin Lettice Corbett : which are in the second book". The second book to which the note refers is simply the second section of the manuscript, ie the receipts in MS item 5.]

Item 87 (Verse, Medical writing), fols. 127r-130v

She beginning to study physic, takes her leave of poetry, so falls into a long digression on anatomy.

Farewell farewell, kind poetry my friend,

...

And yet the sense, the smallest part engross.

Item 7 (Medical writing, Receipt), back pastedown-back flyleaf v [rev]

Medical recipes

For rheumatic pains take half a dram of Virginia snakeroot powder in a glass of white wine.

...

A pellet of hard diaculum stopped in the ear relieves deafness.

Probatum Mountague North.

[

This is the entire entry.

This is the first item in the reversed section of the manuscript.

Preceded by blank marbled back pastedown and back flyleaf r [rev].

Item 18 (Compilation, Medical writing), pp.347-352

Rules of Health

That measure of food is exactly proportionable which the stomach hath such power and mastery over as it can perfectly concoct and digest in the midst of any employments either of mind or body, and which withall sufficeth to the due nourishment of the body.

...

The true secret of preserving union among the good, is to entertain perpetual differences among the bad.

Item 2 (Medical writing, Receipt), 109v-58 rev.

[Medical receipts]

Item 3 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol. 2r-v

Recipe for the Lady Grey's Water

The Lady Grey's water

Take sage, Saladine, Rosemary, Rue, Mugwort, Pimpernel, agrimony, Bellony, Wormwood, Scabies, Cardus, benidictus, sentery, Dragoes, Rosa solis, Scordium, Balm, of each a good handful

...

It will expel the smallpox Plague the measles or Surfeits and any disease that lies about the heart and Vitals

Item 24 (Medical writing, Receipt), fol. 165v (rev)-165r (rev)

Recipe to cure a green wound

An excellent unguent for a green wound

Take a handful of Clowns all heal Leaves.

...

give your patient to drink every morning two spoonfuls in a small draught of wine tempered with a little Sugar

[fol. 165r (rev) is blank.]