Wellcome Collection: Catchmay, Lady Frances (d.1629) (MS.184a)

hi[]ur & lett it boyle & melte, & scomme it cleane & then putt in the rest of your Rose[] lett it boyle & snowe & then sturringe it with a silver spone, so let it boyle till the lycour begine to waxe stiffe & clammey, then lett it bye & sober it, with some dolle lynen clothe, nowe & then sturringe it & when it is could have redye some galley pott, & putt it in, cast therin afterwards some white suger candey fine made in powder as can be, & then bride it upp & reserve it to your use.

To streynthen a weake backe. 1.

Take the pithe of a younge oxe or of a hefer as m[]h pithe of the backe as a good handfull, slyce it, & take out the s[]uffe that is in it, putt it in a fayer dyshe, put the []uto puer dates the skynne taken off wihe in side [] minced as fine as may be, one, two, or three, then boyle them in two or three sponefulls of Rose water, then looke what quantitie of dates, the like of Raysons of the sonne & Red currants, your Raysons must be minced small & the stones taken out, then boyle your currants & Raysons & Rosewater all togetherk till they be tender, & putt in somme cromes of breade, synamon & suger, & safron smale beaten into powder, temper all thes together in a fayer dishe, & have redy pas[]ilon[], which is made of suger & yolkes of egges fine flower & butter this worke alltogether into past, & rowle it as thinne as you can, & make it into peaces, the fashion of a peasecodd, & bake them slenderly, & reserve them to your use, & when you doe eate of them, take one of them & heate it by []the fier side fastinge one at morninge an other at noone. A playster to mitigate the payne of piles & emerodes: .2 Take the pappe of an apple putt therto the yolke of a new layd egge, worke them together, then putt in nyne chives of saffron smale groune, of lyne seede p[] cornes fine groune, thes boyle allthogether with imbers sturringe it, this make playsters on& paye it to your griefe.

A drinke to mitigate all heate of the lyver & spleyne.

Take of liverworte, of mayden he[]e, of endiffe of the flowers of winter gilloflowers cleane picked from the stalke, of great comferey, of the herbe terrogant of eche of thos fower unces of springe water a pottell, of licoras cleane scraped & thinne slyced one unce thes boyle all together now & then sturringe it, & then putt in fine white suger candey one unce & ahalf fine beaten into powder, & then lett it boyle it half away alwayes sturringe it, & put it in some close glasse, & reserve it to your use, this you must drinke every morninge a drafte & fast two howers after it.

To discharge an [impostumer] slow & all: .3.

Take powder of [seene] alexandria one unce, of ginger, of sinamon, of mace, of colliander seedes, Anyseeds of licoras, of eche the weight of eight pence, of suger two unces, of spurge seedes [] twelve blaunched, beate them all smale into powder, & put them into a quarte of clarett wyne, & lett it be brued out of one pott into an other often tymes in the daye, by the space of three dayes before you shall occupie it, & then lett it ronne out of a gelly bagge, & then take half a pinte, of the same drinke, & when you shall have neede to occupie it you muste warme it at the fier & drinke of it after your firste sleepe, & so lye still till it offer to comme, & then goe to a closestoole, till it be all comme away, & then make a playster of redd mintes, redd fennell, of sage, of wormewood, of every one a handfull, & putt therto a good handfull of conuim seedes, & beate them all smale together, & putt therto a good sawcer full of vineger, & set them all on the fier in a panne, & so sturre them till they be almost drye, & take them & putt them in a bagge, & lay this bagge to your stomake so that your stomake be not full of meate.

A medicen to make a womans disease come to her right Course :4

Take of younge sothernwoode, of byttany, of canapitis, of sentory, of the rootes of sentory salendine, of Saint Johns woorte with the flower, of eche of thos herbes a braunche as bigg as your thumbe, but one roote of salendine, of white wine a pinte & a half, of reysons of chesonne the stones taken out half a handfull cutt in peaces, thes boyle till the third parte be wasted, then strayne it then putt two or three & fortie blades of saffron s make in powder, & graines the weight of two p[]e beaten boyle it agayne, & of this drinke a draught in the morninge fl[]stinge with as muche treakill as a hasell nutte, & at night a draught without trekell. A very sofferant medicen for one that hath taken coulde at[] the harte:

Take oyle of bitter Almons, & waxe, capons greace, & rose water, boyle all them together then take black woole newly plucked of the sheepes necke, wett it in the licour, & put it in a quilted bagge, & lay it very hott to the stomacke to bedwarde:

A good medicen to []en a pluresy: 2

Take a faier costard cutt of the croune, picke out the coare, make no hole throughe, & then put ther[] =in thes powders, of a b[]oares thoothe the weight of fower pence, of the powder of Ruberbe fine grated as may be, the weight of three pence, of sinamon the weight of a penny, of the powder of white suger candy the weight of two pence, thes stopp into an the apple, & cover it agayne, & lay it on a tyle with imbers, & turne it often till it be as softe as may be, then cutt it in sounder, & give the sicke partie in the morninge half of it to eate, all the other half take the next day so that boothe the dayes be good to take medicen on, you must faste two howers after it, then have some good broathes to eate.

The order of makinge the greene oynetment: 3.

= + Take of sage, of rue, of eche of them a pownde, of wormewood, of bay leaves, of eche of them halfe a pownde, of mellisott herbe or flower, of camamell, of the flowers of spike, of Rosemary, of redd Rosewater leaves, of Saint Johns worte, of dill, of eche of thos one good handfull, of ma[]he mallowes two handfulls, all thes herbes chopp as smale as maye be, & stampe them as smale as may be, & wey them what they wey, putt therto the like weigh of puer shippe shuett, chopp it as fine as may be, mince your herbes & it together, & stampe it in a stone morter to one subst=ance that there be s no shuett seene, but all greene: put it in some fayer pott or panne, put therto sweete oy,e olive as sweete as may be a pottell & a pinte, thes worke all together in a panne with your handes to one substance & cover it close with some claye or past aboute the edges that no ayer come in nor out, lett it stande for seven dayes, the seven dayes beinge ended, undoe it & take it foorthe & put it in a panne, sett it on a softe sweete fier, alwayes sturringe it till the sea[] beginne to waxe parted & then strayne it into some fayer panne, then save redy thes oyles follo=winge, oyle of Roses, of camamell, of white lillies, of spike, of violetts, of eche of these one []ce, sturringe them together, & reserve them in a glasse for your use. yf you will have it more pleasant of sent & more nurrishinge add therto the gu[]s of labdam[] one []me & a halfe brused fine to powder, & of the gumme called [] cremitte thre quarters of an unce brused fine to powder, this mingle withyour other stuffe & strayne it, & so reseve it to your use:

stoned & putt in Suger to make it pleasant therto a spoonefull of fenell seede & strayne it & drinke of it in the morninge fastinge two howers after.

To make a siroppe for one that is shorte winded: Take a good handfull of Isope, a handfull of harehownd, seithe them in a quarte of Runinge water to a pinte strayne it through a fayer clothe, & put in suger to make it pleasante, use thas Eveninge & morninge w^th a licoras sticke thyre sponefulls at atyme:

A Sufferant medicen for them that are trobled w^th wynde: Take a quarte of malmesey or white wyne, one onces of Anyseedes, one once of fenell seedes one once of Carroway seedes, an once of comyre seeds, boyle all thes from a quarte to a pinte, strayne them If yo^u thinke good yo^u may put in suger, take of this in the morninge thre sponefulls, & two howers after. when you are disposed to make alight supper, [tosse] a [tosse] till it be yellow, & not burnte, & stricke it wth suger on bothe the sides, as longe as it will soake in, then put it into a fayer porrenger & put to five or six sponefulls of puer malmesey, eate up the [tosse] & drinke upp the malmesey & yo^u shall finde it to doe yo^u greate good.

A playster for an ache: Take of smallege & stampe it & putt to it aquavity & strayne it, then put to it boores grease sture them well together & anoynt the patient therw^th before the fier Eveninge & morninge.

A drinke to make on solible: Take thre fenell Rootes, thre parsely Rootes, & take out the pithe of them, then take thre sorell leaves boyle them well in whey & drinke therof morninge & Eveninge.

A medicen for an ache: Take greate garden wormes & slitt them & forage away the filth that is w^th in them, choppe them small, & frye them in good sallett oyle, strayne them to anoynte yo^r grief w^thall.

A medicen for the mother & the green sicknes: Take great garden wormes slitt them & washe out the filthines & then lay them in white wyne half an hower, then take them out & lay them in an oven to drye & when they are through drye beate them into fine powder & drinke it w^th white wyne in the morninge fasting, & faste two howers after.

A medicen to cleanse the backe & purge the Raynes: Take one fenell Roote & two parsly rootes, & picke out the pithes of them & put therto one handfull of pelletory of the walle, washe them all cleane & seathe them in possett Ale, & drinke therof when you goe to bedd & If you make at midnight, drinke of it also.

A medicen for the payne in the backe & heate in the backe. Take Rosewater & put therto [sanders] & Roseleaves, & lay them in steepe in yor Rosewater one whole night, & washt yo^r backe wth the same, & it will take awaye the heate, & greatly comforte the Raymes.

A good medicen for the goute: & to put it awaye. Take of […] two onces, as much of oyle olyve, & one once of cerice, put to thes two sponefulls of good vineger, & boyle them together & wth a very softe fier let it seethe, till it tourne collour somewhat blacke, then take it from the fier, & when it is somewhat cooled, dippe a linen clothe in it & use it in the manor of asoare clothe, havinge care that the clothe be well oyled therwth all places alike so make it […] & keepe it to yo^r use, & it will be good fower or five yeares.

for bourninge or scaldinge Take the whites of two egges & one yelke, beate them well together & skume of the frothe then melte thre sponefulls of barrowes grease wth two sponefulls of the Juce of sage put therto sture them well together till it be coulde & make therof asalve:

To heale the bourninge or scaldinge: Take of the fatte of dried bacon, & hould it betweene a payer of tonges when they be redd hott, & let it droppe into a pott of fayer water, & of the droppinges make yo^r playster

A medicen for the tooth ache: Take peare leaves & seathe them in Runinge water, or els take [penthe] worte, stampe & strayne it & seathe it in milke, or els take penyriall plantaynes, cropped of [mintes], make them in porrage & eate them.

An other for the same: Take stone [hones] six or seven sponefulls, on sponefull of longe pepper beaten, one sponefull of stronge vineger, a [Race] of ginger, asmuche [stabisacer] beaten in powder, a good peace of Roche allam, a greate quantitye of Rosemary, the Juce & leaves smale pounced seathe thes uppon a softe fier and purringe them, untill it be thicke like pappe, then take it & make balls in linen clothes therw^th & use them one after an other in the morninge only:

A good remedy for the toothe ache. Take Rue, pepper, a little blacke sope, & baye salte beate & mixt together, & put it into alinen clothe, & so put it of it into yo^r teethe:

A proved medicen for the toothe ache: Take apimrose Roote leaves & all, wipe it & picke it cleane but not washt it then stampe & strayne it & scome of the frothe that shall arise of it, take a droppe or two w^th a quill into the nostrell of the side not payned, lay yor head lower & sleape after it, it will make yor face swell but feare it not (w^th gods helpe) in any wise be suer you put it not the side the payne is on; it is good so used for the Rume

To kill a Canker: Take herbe grace, ragworte, fetherfewe, grousill, parsly, sorrill, leven boores greace, of oyther of them a handfull, a little bay salte, shredd thes together & seathe them in the dregges of Ale wth some vergis.

A treatise to breake or Rott a pliresy practised by Mr Alexis Open a new white lofe baken in the middle & spredd it wth treacle on boothe the halves of the cromy side, heate it hott by the fier side, then lay one of the halfes uppon the place of the disease, & the other halfe on the other side of the patients body directly agaynst, & so bind them that they sour not leavinge them so aday or a night, or untill the Appostume breaketh, w^ch have bine sometymes done in lesse then two howers, then take away the bread & the patient will begine to spitt, & avoyde the putrifaction of the Appostume, & after he hath slept awhile you shall give hime some meate & w^th the helpe of god he shalbe shortely healed.

A playster for a pluresye by Mr Alexis Stampe well in a morter fower onces of the Rootes of wild mallowes well sodden, put an once of butter, & an once & a half of honey, of pigeons donge two drames mingle them all together, & lay it hott right uppon the payne & soone after the corruption will breake

A good remedy against the roomes of the bellye: Take the galle of a bull & dipp some woulle in it laye it uppon the navell it will make the wormes to come out of the bodye

A medicen to helpe the [ufula] or greife of the [sancr] Take a little milke & sinkefoile & boyle them together, & washe the throate & mouthe of the patient & lay a warme clothe in the patients necke: or els take grosse pepper & bay salte & lay it uppon yo^r thombe & put upp the ufula w^th yo^r thombe or w^th a smoothe clothe.

A medicen for the quensey: Take a yonge swallowe & burne it to powder them put therto hony & make smale balles & so swallowe them downe & anoynt the throate wth the same.

A soverayne medicen for a man or woman in a Consumption the ingredience to this medicen Take a redd cocke kill him & flea him, & cutt him in fower Quarters, but washe him not, then to half adozen cappt dates & cutt them in fower quarters, then take half a scoare of large maces & five whole cloves, then put in thre or fower peeces of ould gould, stampe the bones of cocke, then take a pewter pott & lay in one quarter, & lay uppon it of every spices some & a peece of the gould, & so uppon every Quarter, till yo^u have so bestowed all yo^r spices & gould &c If you will put to this ingredience Amber, corall, pearle, but no kinde of licour at the first nor last, & when it is perfectly stilled or boyled (remember that yo^u put in to this ingredience adozen or sixteene Raysons of the sonne the stones taken out, this donne you must take so much Rye dowe as will stopp the potts mouthe close, & that thicke enough of the Rye paste so that no water can enter into then yo^u muste take agood great brasse pott & sett it on the fier that the pewter pott & the ingredience that is on it may stande two handfulls w^thin the water, & that the water may it two handfulls over the potts topp. & when yo^r pewter pott wth the ingredience is put into the brasse pott lay some heavye weight uppon it, that the heate of the pott made by the fier, in the seathinge be not overthrowen w^thin the brass pott, & let it seath on the fire from five of the clocke in the morninge, till eight at night, thus lett it seath till the water uncover the pewter pott in the brasse pott. Also you must have an other brasse pott wth seathinge water, to fill upp the pott wherin the Ingredience standeth, untill the tyme be come that yo^u muste take it upp, then open yo^r pewter pott, & give the sicke body of the sirroppe a spoonefull at one tyme; but when yo^u shall still for a woman you must use thes herbes to be filled w^th the cocke; hartes tonge, mother worte, mugworte, mother tyme & Comfrey, no herbes must be used for men; but if the patient be hott in his liver, take liverworte, & if he be trobled wth the stone, you may use a little pellitory of the walle.

A Soverayne water agaynst the Swellinge in the throate of Could & flegmaticke humors: & for the fallinge of the Ufula: Take a pinte of good Redd wyne, seathe it till aquarter be consumed away, then scumme it & put to it a peece of Allam, asmuch as a walenutt, & almost so much English honey as a sponefull, then lett them boyle a while, then take & use to gargarle yo^r mouthe therwth, & it will helpe by gods grace

The vertues of woode byttanye 1. This saveth mens bodyes by throughe gods helpe, by the vertue it hathe in it, for who soever beareth it about him, the fiend may have no power to overcome him, & this herbe must be gathered in the moneth of harvest, early in the morninge before the sonne doth Rise. 2. Who so drinkethe the Juce of byttony, it shall breake the stone & rast it out w^th the urine 3. Also if it be dronke wth honey, it is good against the dropsye 4. Also it is good for the outrage of wicked bloude 5. Also a playster made wth byttony, is good to putt away astroake in the necke if it be layde theron. 6. Also the Juce of byttony medled wth water of Roses, put into a mans eare, will amend his hearinge 7. Also the powder of byttony sodden wth honey, helpethe them that hath the bloudy Egestions. 8. Also it is good for the hastines & merveylously comfortheth the stomacke 9. Also the leaves of byttony medled wth salt, to make a playster therof, is a great helpe to new woundes if it be layd therto, & namely for the hedd if it be layd to it. 10. Also the leaves of byttony or drinke the Juce, it will wthdrawe the leaves of the Eyes. 11. Also the herbe of byttony sodden wth Rue evenly proportioned, is good for markes in the Eyes & the bludde of the Egestious it putteth away that Anoynteth the Eyes. 12. Also it draweth away all vermin in a mans body & distroyethe it 13. Also take fower handfulls of byttony, & thre cuppfulls of ould wyne, & seventin pepper cornes, & breake them smale, seathe them & drinke them, it wonderfully purge the the Raynes. 14. Also take an once of byttony, & an once of plantine, & drinke it w^th warme water, & it shall destroy the fever quotidian: 15. Also take the powder of the Roote of byttany, drinke it w^th luke warme water, & it shall purge the [flount] w^th spittinge out of the mouthe 16. Also who will take the weight of a beane of the powder of byttany mingled wth honey, & drinke it at [even]. it will comforte the stomacke & the digestions. 17. Also who will make a garland of byttany & lay him aboute An Adder, he shall kill himself therw^th 18. Also take byttany well warmed by the fier, & then binde it to the foreheade, it provokethe sleepe & putteth away wicked bloud, & destroyeth the heate of the Eyes. 19. Also take the Juce of byttany & put it into the Eare of a deaffe man, & it shall helpe his hearinge 20. Also byttony sodden w^th wyne & easill, & hould it in the mouthe it helpeth the tothe ache. 21. Also drinke the Juce of byttany fastinge, & he shall not be dronke that daye. 22. Also when it is sodden in wyne it purgeth the veynes & the selene of the stomacke. 23. Also the Juce of byttany medled wth salte, & put into the nostrells, it shall purge of the evell [satoure] of the nostrells.

A Soverayne medicen against the goute Take half a pound of [brunought] waxe, half a pound of Rosen, & an once of fine [oliband], a quarter of a pound of fine letharge of gould, thre quarters of a pounde of white leade, all thes must be beaten to fine powder, & searse it throughe a fine searse, & then take apitite of oyle of neats foote, & then sett it over the fier w^th wax & Rosen, & when it is moulten then put to the other powders & it fast w^th a [slice], then put it uppon a pewter dishe, & if it be harde when it is could then take it from the fier or els let it seethe more untill it be hard uppon the pewter dishe, then take it from the fier & anoynt a fayer borde wth some oyle of neats feete, & as you may handle it for heate worke it theron as it wer shomakers wax & make it into greate Roules & make of it playsters over s chaffinge dish of cooles, spread it uppon a linen clothe or leather, & lay the playster warme uppon the Joynte or place that is greeved, untill the patient be whole or till the grief be driven away to an other Joynte, & so like wise salve the next soare place as ofte as yo^u shall see the playce to fleete from one place to an other, untill the patient be made whole, & lett him beware of could & hott wynes. This cured the ould lord Ring the first of that name when all Surgeons had lefte him.

An other for the Same: Take a handfull of Rue otherwise called herbegrace, a handfull of greate plantayne, & asmuch of redd sage, stampe thes herbes very smale & then take half a pounde of blacke soape, & asmuch treacle of Jane as yo^u may buy for a groate or sixpence, mixe them all together, & put them in a close vessell & when the payne or grease dothe come, then take a peace of white lether, pricke it full of holes, & spredd this salve uppon it, & lay it wher the payne is, & if the payne dothe Rune from one place to an other follow it w^th playsters so salved, & it shall help him by gods grace very spedily.

A medicen for one that cannot sleepe: Take oyle of Roses & putt therto a little good vineger, & heate them well together, & put it on a clothe & binde it to the patients forehead & it is a very comfortable remedy.

An other for the Same. Take the white of a new layd egge, & clapp it w^th a spone, untill it come to an oyle, then lett it stande awhile, & then take the froathe of it from the oyle, & put therto Rosewater, vaineger, & womans milke, & lay it to the patients forehead in a lynen cloath, & when it is drye lay on more, a necessary helpe. [prelated]

For an ould soare or a greene soare called an Jucarinte Take feny creke, maskewe, frankensence, safron, Rosen, turpentine, waxed honey & may butter, boyle them together in the same butter, & strayne it through a cleane course linen clothe.

A Remedy for womens [pappes]. Take white wyne & herbe John, & barly branne, seathe them together & lay it to the soare.

An other to asswage the swellinge in womens pappes Take blacke minte, stampe it & streyne it w^th swynes grease, & lay it to the soare pappes, & it will putt the payne away by gods helpe.

To make a salve called: gratia dei [provabid] Take byttany, pimpernell, verbayne, egremony, & the herbe called gratis dei of egre of those herbes two ounces, stampe them well in a morter, & after boyle them in a gallon of wyne untill two parts of the wyne be sodden, then draw the herbes through a strayner, & so take the Juce of them, & set it again over the fier till it begine to boyle, then rast into it fower onces of virgens waxe, & when it is