A Book of Simples

by Unknown

Take seed pearle, redd coral, crabs eyes harts horne white amber of each a like quantity being all finely beaten and searcht, then take of the powder of the black tips of crabs claws as much of all the rest of the powders as finely beaten and searcht then mix all these very well together & make it up into balls with jelly of harts horne, wherein you must infuse a little saffron so leting them lye untill they be dry which powder being finely scrap’d may be taken 10 grains in a spoonfull of oraggons water washing it down with another Spoonfull of the same water but to a young child seaven grains are sufficient.

The vertues are many as followeth, first to prevent Smallpox and put for the disease it recovereth a Consumption if constantly taken a good space. it is most excellent in all violent feavors burnings and against all sorts of poyson it serveth to extirpate and master the venome of ye pestilence when no bexra lemia Sigillata Beazers Stone or unicorns home though taken in a double proportion can match or shew its Selfe equivalent it is very good for the passions of the heart and for that most Singular probatum it also helpeth ye quotidian & double tertian agues the quartain I cannot much commend it for only it comforts the spirits and mittigates the fits but for all other agues very good being taken in time it preventeth a man from all diseases and infections and continues their health and viggour working without any viollence to nature and in agues without any sensible motion for it provoketh not to purge or vomit nor give any offence at all to ye herb smell or stomach.

296. The Lady Marquese Heartfords Re^ct for all Agues.

Take halfe a pint of white wine and the quantity of a walnut of London or other treacle put them both together into a porringer and stir it till it tis dissolved then put them into a half pint pot and cover it close seting it in embers that may but keep it warme the space of 5 hours then when you go to take it oft opening the Lidd let it first simber a quarter of an hour upon a very gentle fire then take it off the fire and stir it a little then cover it & take it blood warme when you go to bed the night before your fit comes for your supper you may eat some light spoon meat it will cause you to sweat all night but must not be taken till after the 3d fit. probatum.

297. An Excellent Powder to Cure a Defective Memorie Gidieness in ye Head or any other Distemper in the Brain.

Take 3 ounces of seana leaves zedoane commine parsley and dill seeds of each one ounce ginger half an ounce cloves nutmegs gallingall pimpernell roots sage rue vallerian Annyseeds of each a quarter of an ounce pound all these small then mix them very well together with 4 ounces of white sugar candie finely beaten of this you must take mornings and evenings a dram at a time drying your herb well before you make it this is ye Lady Wroughtons with the following ointment.

298. An Ointment for the Giddiness in the Head or any other Distemper in Ye Brain or Deffect in the Memorie.

Take white lillyes colwort leaves wild balme of each one dram being pounded put them into a pot with 2 ounces of Sallet oyle fresh butter as much as all the rest 3 spoonfulls of the spirit of Sack 3 times rectified water of rue of sage of Sallendine of each 2 spoonfulls temper these well together and set it in embers to keep it warme 8 hours then strain it through a cloth, then boyle your liquor till it be as thick as honey on a mild fire then take it off the fire and put it in a wide mouth’d glass and Sun it till it come to the colour of copper so keeping it for use when you have occasion to use it anoint the hinder part of the head your poule and temple especially warming it when you use it and keep the head warme some time after this is best made when the Sun is hottest.

299. Mrs Skillins Re^ct for the Yellow Jaundise.

Take a pint of strong beer or Ale 9 earth wormes Slit them and Scoure them from their slime then take a handfull of Sallendine and one penny worth of Saffron and put all these together and let them boyle up once or twice then let them stand till they are cold then strain them out & drink this 3 mornings.