Book 2 — BOOK II.
Reading edition
TO MAKE OLD MEN YOUNG, AND DYING ONES WELL. Here bigynneth the secunde book of medicyns / The first medicyn is to reduce an oold feble euangelik man to þe firste strenkþe of ȝongþe / Also to restore aȝen his nature þat is lost, and to lenkþe his lijf in greet gladnesse and perfiȝte heele vnto þe laste teerme of his lijf þat is sett of god / To restore an old evangelic man to the strength of his youth.
ȝe schal take oure 5ta essencie aforeseid, þat is to seye, mannys heuene, and þerinne putte a litil quantite of 5 essencia of gold and of peerl. and þe oolde feble man schal vse þis deuyn drynk at morn and at euen, ech tyme a walnote-schelle fulle / Give him our Quinte Essence with some of that ‘1a. Me.’ of Gold and Pearl, a walnut-shell full at morn and eve.
and wiþinne a fewe dayes he schal so hool9 þat he schal fele him silf of þe statt and þe strenkþe of xl ȝeer; and he schal haue greet ioie þat he is come to þe statt of ȝongþe. And whanne his ȝongþe is recouerid, and his nature restorid, and heelþe had, it is nedeful þat litil and seelde he vse 5 essence / Also it is nedeful þat he vse ofte good wiyn at his mete and at þe soper, in þe which be fixid þe 5. essence of gold, as I tauȝte ȝou tofore. In a few days he shall feel only 40 years old. Then let him take little of our Quinte Essence, only that of Gold in good wine at dinner and supper.
[* Fol. 19b.] The secunde *medicyn is to heele a man, and make hym lyue, þat is almoost consumed in nature, and so nyȝ deed þat he is forsake of lechis. but if it be þe laste teerme of his lijf sett of god, ȝe schal ȝeue him oure quinte essence of gold wiþ a litil quantite of watir of celendoyn ȝdrawe, and meynge it wiþ þe oþere þingis aforeseid / and anoon as þe sike hath resceyued it into his stomak, it ȝeueþ to þe herte influence of naturel heete and of lijf. and þanne ȝe schal se him rise vp and speke, and wondirfully be comfortid and strenkþid þerby // ‘2a. Me.’ To cure a man given up by his doctors. Give him Quinte Essence of Gold with celandine water, ‘Aqua celidoyn.’ and he shall rise up and speak.
þanne comforte him wiþ ministracioun of oure quinte essencie afore seid, and he schal be al hool / but if it be so þat god wole algatis þat he schal die / And I seie to ȝou truly, þat þis is þe hiȝeste maistrie þat may be in transmutacioun of kynde; for riȝt fewe lechis now lyuynge knowe þis priuytee. Then comfort him with our Quinte Essence, and he shall be cured, unless God wills he shall die. Few doctors now know this highest secret.
HOW TO CURE LEPROSY AND PALSY. The þridde medicyn is to cure þe lepre þat is causid of corrupcioun and putrifaccioun of ony of þe principal humouris of man; but not þe lepre þat comeþ to man of kynde of þe fadir and of þe modir leprous,—for it is callid morbus hereditus,—ne þe lepre þat is sent of god by his plage, but þat þat is causid oonly of rotun humouris / ‘3a. Me.’ To cure the Leprosy that is caused by rotten humours.
take oure 5 essence aforeseid, wiþ þe quinte essence of goold and peerl, a litil quantite at oonys, and vse it in maner as I seide afore / and wiþinne a fewe daies he schal be partily hool þerof. and if ȝe haue non preparate redy oure 5 essence, þanne take in þe stide þerof fyn brennynge watir / but þat oþer is bettere. Use our Quinte Essence, with those of Gold and Pearl; (or Burning Water, if you have no Quinte Essence.)
[* Fol. 20.] Also, drawe a water of þe fruyȝt of strawbery or mulbery tree, whanne it is ripe, and waische þe lepre þerwiþ. þis watir is of so greet vertu; for a souereyn maistir took it a leprous *womman, þat wiþ þe waischinge oonly of þis watir, withynne schort tyme was maad al hool / but sikirly þe vertu þerof is myche worth if it be meyngid with oure 5 essence, or ellis brennyng watir; and þanne it schal be no nede to vse in þis perilous cure, venemys, as summe lechis doon. Wash the leper with strawberry or mulberry water; this is of great virtue, but is much encreased by our Quinte Essence.
The 4 medicyn is to cure palsie vniuersel. Forsoþe alle philosophoris seyn þat þe palesye vniuersel comeþ of haboundaunce of viscous humouris closynge þe metis of vertu animale, sensityue, and motyue. And þerfore it is necessarie þat þo þingis þat schal cure þis sijknes be temperate, hoot, and moist, and a litil attractyue, and to þe synous confortatyue / 4a. Me. To cure Palsy, which comes from viscous humours closing the passages of motive power.
Therfore, blessid be god, makere of kynde, þat ordeynede for þe man paralitike oure 5 essence aforseid, þat souereynly to him comfortynge, restorynge, and temperatly worchynge / Blessed be God, our Quinte Essence will restore the paralitic.
þerfore fixe þerinne þe 5 essence of þo laxatyues þat purgen flewme & viscous humouris, as a litil of euforbie, or turbit, or sambucy. & þanne wiþoute doute, if god wole, þe paralitik man schal be hool wiþ comfortynge and restorynge of kynde, if ȝe make him a stewe hoot and moist with herbis, þat is to seye, eerbe yue, & sauge, þat haue an heuenly strenkþe to comforte þe joynctis, & þe senewis, and þe vertu motyue. Fix in it the Quinte Essence of euphorbium and the like; and, if God will, the palsied man shall be whole, if you make him a stew of ivy and sage. ‘sawe’ ‘Nota / yue / sauge.’
and if ȝe haue not redi preparate oure 5 essence, þanne take fyn brennynge watir til it be redy, and lete þe pacient drynke þerof a litil in fyn wiyn. and also he schal waische al his body and his extremytees wiþ brennynge watir ofte tymes. and lete him vse þis a good while, & he schal be hool. / Failing Quinte Essence, let him drink Burning Water in fine wine, and wash all over with burning water.
[* Fol. 20b.] TO CURE CONSUMPTION AND DRIVE AWAY DEVILS. *The .5 medicyn for a man þat is almoost al consumed, & waastid in al his body, and riȝt leene, as þat man þat hath þe tisik & þe etik / Forsoþe þe verry cure to heele him is oure 5 essence / Forwhi. it comfortiþ þe feble nature; and þe nature þat is lost it restoriþ, & so restorid it preserueþ / ‘5. Me.’ To fatten lean and consumptive men.
And þerfore if ȝe wol restore þe fleisch of a leene mannys body almoost consumed awey, drawe þanne a watir of celidoyne, and take þerof a litil quantite, and meynge wiþ oure 5 essence if ȝe haue it redy, or brennynge watir in stide þerof, and ȝeue it him to drinke; and wiþinne fewe dayes he schal be wondirfully restorid and fat. Mix with our Quinte Essence a little celandine water; ‘Celidoyne.’ give it the patient, and he shall soon be wonderfully fat.
The .6. medicyn for passiouns of frenesie, foly, ymagynaciouns and noyous vexaciouns of deuelis, and also for þe goute als weel hoot as coold. certeyn experience techiþ þat colerik men ȝeueþ to summe ymagynaciouns; and sangueyn men ben ocupied aboute summe oþere ymagynaciouns; & ȝitt flewmatik men aboute oþere / but þo men þat habounde in blak coler, þat is, malencoly, ben occupied a þousand part wiþ mo þouȝtis þan ben men of ony oþer complexioun / ‘.6. Me.’ To cure Frensy, Gout, and troubles from Devils. ‘colerike.’ ‘Sangueyn.’ ‘Fleumatyke.’ ‘blake coler.’ ‘malencoly.’
Forwhi. þat humour of blak coler is so noyous, þat if it a-bounde and a-sende vp to þe heed, it troubliþ alle þe myȝtis of þe brayn, engendrynge noyous ymagynaciouns, bryngynge yn horrible þouȝtis boþe wakynge and slepinge; and siche maner of men ben born vndir þe constillacioun of saturne, the wickide planete / Dark melancholy men are troubled more with anxieties than any others, ‘Nota sequentia.’ being born under ‘Saturne, a wykyd planete.’
TO CURE MELANCHOLY AND DRIVE OUT TROUBLES FROM DEVILS. [* Fol. 21.] Forsoþe, to siche men deuelis wole gladly appere, & minister to hem10 her priuy temptaciouns wiþinne þe cours of her þouȝtis; Devils gladly appear to them and tempt them,
and þese men þus *turmentid wiþ þe passiouns of malencoly comounly speke wiþ hem, stryue and dispute wiþ hem silf whanne þei be a-loone, þat ofte tymes oþere folk may heere it / These maner of men þat ben þus turmentid, as weel by passioun of malencoly as of deuelis, ofte tymes falle in dispeir, and at þe laste sle hem silf / so that they often fall into despair and kill themselves.
þe perfiȝt cure of alle þese is oure 5 essencie auri et perelarum, or ellis brennynge watir in stide þerof, in þe whiche ȝe fixe gold as it is aforeseid, wherinne be putt a litil of sen̅ē or watir of f[u]miter, or poudre of lapis lasuly, or ellis medullam ebuli, and vse it discreetly. forwhy. not al oonly oure quinte essence auri et perelarum heelith þese disesis. / The cure is our Quinte Essence of Gold and Pearls, with a little senna or lapis lazuli.
but also brennynge watir in þe which gold is fixid, heeliþ hem, wiþ a litil of þo þingis þat purgen and casten out blak coler superflue, & heliþ þe splene. Burning Water, with a purge, will also cure these diseases.
Forsoþe þese medicyns puttiþ awey wickid þouȝtis and an heuy herte malencolious; þei gladith and clense þe brayn and alle hise myȝtis, and brynge yn gladnes and merye þouȝtis. þei putte awey also þe craft of þe feendis temptaciouns, and ymagynaciouns of dispeir. þei distroie, & make a man to forȝete almaner of yueles, and naturaly bryngiþ him aȝen to resonable witt. These medicines put away wicked thoughts, and bring in merry ones; they dispel devils’ temptations and despair, and bring a man to reason.
and for as myche as saturne þe planete naturaly ys coold and drye, and is enemye to al kynde / Forwhy, euery snow, euery hayl, euery tempest, & also þe humour of malencoly comeþ of him. & he haþ his influence vpon derk leed, & ‘Saturne. γ.’ Saturn is an enemy to all creatures, and has power over foul solitary places, as Vitas Patrum says.
[* Fol. 21b.] vpon derk *placis vnder þe erf11, foule and stynkynge, and derke wodis, and vpon foule, horrible, solitarie placis, as it is preued in vitas patrum, þat is to seye, in lyues & colaciouns of fadris /
And also þe moone, naturely coold and moist, haþ his influence vpon þe nyȝt, and vpon myche moisture, and vpon þe placis whanne 4. weyes metiþ togidere. forsoþe in alle siche placis þei wole a-bide and schewe hem to her foloweris / The Moon too is full of bane.
but forsoþe þo þingis þat ben of þe nature of Iubiter and of sol, goode planetis, arne displesynge to him, and contrarie, and naturaly deuelis fle awei fro hem, for þei haue greet abhominacioun of þer vertuous influence / ‘Jubiter and Sol | .B.’ Jupiter and Sol, on the other hand, make devils flee,
þerfore it schewiþ weel þat þo þingis þat ben in þis world, summe þer ben þat bitokene þe glorious yoie of heuene, and summe þing þat figure þe derknesse of euerlastynge peynes of helle / Forsoþe þe sunne and iubiter, goode planetis, & gold, pure metal, and alle pure þingis þat gladen a man, figurynge by resoun þe ioie of heuene / and betoken the joy of heaven,
and blak Saturne, and þe spotty moone, figure & bitokene þe condicioun of helle / as Saturn and the Moon do hell.
TO CURE THE GOUT AND ITCH, AND KILL LICE. and siþ þat deuelis be dampned, & ful of wreche of helle, þerfore þei hate þe clennesse & þe ioie of oure lord god & of hise seyntis / also þei haten þe sunne and his cleernes, and pure þingis þat maken a man glad. and naturaly it plesiþ hem to dwelle in derk, & in blak, orrible, stynkynge placis, in heuynesse, wreche, & malencoly, & in þo þingis þat pretende þe condicioun of helle / Devils hate the joys of God and the brightness of the sun; they delight in stinking places, and melancholy and hell-like things.
[* Fol. 22.] And siþ oure 5. essence aforeseid is so heuenly a þing, & by sotil craft *brouȝt to so myche swetnes, it is so souereyn a medicyn þat it may weel be lijkned to þe ioie of paradice. forwhi, it makiþ a man liȝt, iocunde, glad, and merie, & puttiþ awey heuynesse12, angre, melencoly, & wraþþe, þe whiche þat deuelis loue / et ideo nostra 5 essencia digne vocatur celum humanum / But our Quinte Essence is heavenly, like the joy of Paradise, and drives away anger and all that devils love, so that it is fitly called ‘Man’s Heaven.’
Also if a man be traueylid wiþ a feend, and may not be delyuerid fro him, lete him drinke a litil quantite of oure 5 essence, wiþ 5 essence of gold & peerl, and wiþ an eerbe callid ypericon, i.[e.] fuga demonum, and þe seed þerof grounden & aftirward distillid, & þe watir þerof a litil quantite medlid wiþ þe oþere 5tis essenciis; and anoon þe deuel wole fle awey fro him & fro his hous. To deliver a man from a devil,—give him some of our Quinte Essence with that of gold and pearl, and St. John’s Wort water: at once the devil will flee away. ‘fuga demonum’
Also for þe goute, hoot or cold, þe pacient schal drynke oure 5. essence wiþ a litil quantite at oonys of þe letuarie de succo rosarum. and lete him vse þis letuarie a litil at oonys ech oþere day, til superflue humouris be purgid / but he schal vse euery day a litil of oure 5. essence with 5 essence of gold & peerle; & wiþinne a fewe dayes þe pacient schal be hool. // To cure the Gout. Take a little Quinte Essence and Rose-juice electuary, and use daily our Quinte Essence with that of Gold and Pearl.
The .7. medicyn, for to heele ycche, & for to distrie lies13 þat ben engendrid of corrupt humouris. take oure 5 essence bi him silf a-loone, and vse to drynke þerof a litil quantite at oonys / and take also a litil quantite of Mer[curie?]. & mortifie it wiþ fastynge spotil, & medle it wiþ a good quantite of poudre of stafi-sagre, & þanne put it in to a greet quantite of brennynge water, ‘.7. Me.’ To cure the Itch and destroy Lice. Drink Quinte Essence. Mix Mercury with spittle, Stavesacre and Burning Water.
[* Fol. 22b.] & þanne waische al his body, or ellis þe heed where þe icche & þe lies ben. & vse þis medicyn .2. or 3. & þe sijk *man schal be hool. Wash the body or head where the itch and lice are.
TO CURE QUARTAN FEVER. The .8. medicyn for to cure the quarteyn and alle þe passiouns þat comeþ of malencoly in mannys body; and þe maistrie to purge malencoly. ‘.8ua. Me.’ ‘feuer quartene.’
and ȝe schal vndirstonde þat þe quarteyn is gendrid of myche haboundaunce of malencolye þat is corrumpid withynne þe body. and for þis humour is erþely, coold, & drie, of þe nature of slowe saturne, þerfore þe accesse of þis sijknes ben slowe, and it duriþ comounly yn a man a ȝeer or more, and it puttiþ fro him gladnesse, & bryngiþ yn heuynes more þan oþere feueris do / To cure Quartan Fever. ‘ye quarten is ingendyrd of Malyncoly.’ The Quartan arises from too much black choler, and lasts a year or more.
If ȝe wole heele þis sijknes in schort tyme, lete þe pacient vse to drynke oon14 5 essence, and he schal be al hool hastily / forwhi; it consumeþ þe corrupt superflue humouris, & reducit nature to equalite, and bryngiþ yn gladnesse, & chasiþ a-wey heuynes & malencolie. To cure it soon, drink our Quinte Essence;
and if it so be þat ȝe haue nouȝt oure 5 essence / þanne take j ℔ of þe beste brennynge watir, and þerinne putte medullam ebuli, and namely þe white, if ȝe may may haue it / of þis watir ȝeue to þe pacient, morowe and euen, a walnot-schelle ful at oonys. and he schal be al hool / if you have it not, put pith of white dwarf elder in Burning Water, and take a walnut-shell full morning and evening.
or ellis þus: take what þing ȝe wole þat purgiþ malencolye, and putte a litil þerof into brennynge watir, & vse þat laxatif maad into smale pelotis, wijsly resceyuyng riȝt a litil at oonys, as oon litil pelot, and preue þerby how it worchiþ, þanne anoþer tyme .ij. at oonys, if it be nede / so þat þe mater be a litil digestid and a litil egestid. for bettere it is to worche a litil & a litil at oonys, þan sodeynly greue þe nature. Or, take whatever purges black choler, put it into Burning Water; make small pellets of it, and take one, and then two, gradually.
[* Fol. 23.] forwhi, two litil pelotis laxatif meyngid wiþ brennynge watir *wole worche more myȝtily þan .8. pelotis wole do bi hem silf /
Also philosophoris seyn þat a tooþ drawe out from a quyk beest, born vpon a man, delyueriþ fro þe quarteyn / Also þei seyn þat if þe yuis of þe eerbe þat is callid morsus galline rubri be putt in hise nose-þrillis whanne he bigynneth to suffre þe accesse of þe quarteyn, he schal be hool, wiþ þe grace of god. ‘Nota for ye quartene.’ It is said that a tooth from a live beast heals the Quartan, and the juice of Hen-bit or Chickweed put in a man’s nostrils.
TO CURE CONTINUAL, TERTIAN AND DAILY FEVERS. The medicyn to heele þe feuere contynuele. alle philosophoris seyn þat þe feuere contynuele is gendrid of putrifaccioun of blood and of corrupcieun of humouris in it / þerfore þe cure þerof is to purge blood, and to putte awey þe corrupcioun of it, & þe humoris vneuene to make euene, þe nature lost to restore, and so restorid to kepe / ‘9a. Me.’ To cure continual Fever. It arises from putrefaction of blood and corruptions of humours.
Forsoþe alle þese þingis worcheþ oure quinte essence; and þerfore it curiþ perfiȝtly þe feuere contynuele / and þouȝ brennynge watir caste out fro blood watry humouris and corrupt, ȝitt take it nouȝt in þis cure / forwhi; þouȝ brennynge watir be .7. tymes distillid, ȝitt it is [not] fully depurid fro his brennynge heete, & þe .4. elementis / but siþ oure 5. essence is not hoot, ne moist, coold, ne drie, as ben þe 4. elementis / Our Quinte Essence cures this, (tho’ Burning Water does not,)
þerfore it heeliþ perfiȝtly þe contynuel feuere; namely wiþ commixtioun of þe 5 essence of gold & peerle / and if ȝe wole strenkþe ȝoure medicyn, þanne putte yn oure 5. essence a litil quantite of pulpa cassie fistule / or ellis þe iuys of þe eerbe mercuriale. if mixed with Quinte Essence of Gold and Pearl, and a little Cassia or Herb Mercury.
[* Fol. 23b.] & if it so be þat oþere humouris habounde to myche with blood, þanne take þo laxatyues þat kyndely wole *purge hem, as comoun bookis of fisik declareþ.
The 10. medicyn to cure þe feuere tercian, þe which is causid of putrifaccioun, or reed coler to myche haboundynge / to cure þees sijknes, tak oure 5 essence, or ellis fyn brennynge watir,—but þe firste is bettere,—and putte þerinne a litil of rubarbe or of summe oþer laxatiue þat purgiþ reed coler, and a greet quantite of watir of endyue; and vse þis medicyn at morowe & euen. and þe pacient schal be hool wiþoute doute. ‘10. Me.’ ‘feuer tercyane.’ To cure Tertian Fever. Take Quinte Essence, with Rhubarb and Endive water, morn and eve. ‘water of endyue.’
The 11. medicyn is for to heele þe feuere cotidian, þe which is causid of putrifaccioun of flewme to haboundynge / and siþ flewme is coold and moist. oure 5 essence (and in his absence take good brennynge watir.) haþ strenkþe and vertu to consume þe rotun watery inordinat, and to myche coold humidite / ‘.11. Me.’ ‘feuer cotydyan.’ To cure Daily Fever.
þerfore take oure 5 essence or brennynge watir, and putte þerinne a litil of euforbij, turbit, or sambuci, or sum oþir þing þat purgiþ flewme; and vse it morowe and eue, & þe pacient schal be hool. Take our Quinte Essence, and a little Euphorbium, &c.
TO CURE AGUE FEVER, LUNACY, AND CRAMP. The .12. medicyn for to cure þe feuere agu, and þe lunatik man and womman / discreet maistris seyn, þat þe feuere agu comounly is causid of a uyolent reed coler adust, and of blood adust, and of blak coler adust; and sumtyme of oon of þese adust, and sumtyme of two togidere, and sumtyme of .3. togidere / ‘.12. Me.’ To cure Ague Fever and Lunacy. ‘lunatyke persons.’ This fever comes of choler inflamed,
and þerfore þe feuere agu is þe posityue degree, and in þe superlatyue degree, comparatif gree & superlatif gree / For þe feuere agu haþ comounly alienacioun of witt, & schewynge of þingis of fantasy / and is accompanied by lightheadedness.
[* Fol. 24.] And ȝe schal knowe weel whiche ben þe humouris adust þat causen þe feuere, be þese *tokenes / Forwhi, if þe pacient seiþ þat he seeþ blak þingis, þanne blak coler, þat is, malencolie, is adust / & if he se þingis of gold / reed coler is adust / if reed þingis, and schewynge of bloodt þanne blood is adust / And if he seiþ þat he seeþ alle þese .iij, þingis, þanne alle þe humouris ben adust / For as myche as brennynge watir ascendiþ to þe heed, and gladly wole a man drynke / ‘Nota bene.’ ‘Signa.’ As the patient sees black, gold, or red things, so the different humours are inflamed.
And siþ þat feuere agu regneþ in þe regioun of þe heed / þe philosophoris counceilis þat þe pacient schal not resceyue it in þis sijknes / Burning Water should not be taken,
but it is nedeful þat he take oure 5 essence of gold and of peerl, meynging þe 6 part of 5 essence of watir of rose, violet, borage, and letuse15 / and þanne ȝe schulen haue an heuenly medicyn to cure perfiȝtly þis sijknesse. but Quinte Essence of Gold and Pearl should, with that of Rose water, Violet, &c.
For to cure þe frenesye and woodnes, or ellis at þe leeste to swage it / take a greet quantite of popilion, and þe beste vynegre þat ȝe may haue, and a good quantite of rewe domestik, weel brayed, and meyngid wiþ þese forseid þingis; ‘for ye frenesye & wodnesse.’ To cure or assuage Frenzy and Madness.
and biclippe þe heed and þe feet of þe pacient with þis medicyn; and sum þerof putte to his nose-þrillis. þis medicyn anoon puttiþ awey þe frenesye & þe schewynge of fantasies / it curiþ also wode men & lunatike men. and it restoriþ aȝen witt and discrecioun, & makiþ al hool and weel at eese. Wrap the head and feet in, and smell at, Popilion (with Vinegar mixed), and Rue.
[* Fol. 24b.] The .13. medicyn is to put a-wey þe craumpe fro a man. for as myche as wise men seyn þat þe craumpe cometh of þe hurtynge & þe febilnes of þe senewis, as it schewiþ sumtyme yn medicyns maad of elebore, þer is no þing þat puttiþ awey þe craumpe as doiþ oure 5 essence aforeseid, or ellis *brennynge watir in stede of it. ‘13a. Me.’ To cure Cramp. Use our Quinte Essence or Burning Water.
TO CURE POISON AND COWARDICE. The .14. medicyn, to caste out venym fro mannys body / take oure 5 essence, and putte þerine fleisch of a cok, neysch soden & sotilly brayed, note kirnelis, fyn triacle, radisch, & garleek smal brayed, and oþere þingis þat ben goode to caste out venym, as comoun bookis of fisik declariþ / And also, to comforte þe herte, putte yn oure foreseid 5. essence, þe 5. essence of gold and of peerl. and he schal be delyuerid þerof & be hool. ‘14a. Me.’ To cast poison out of a man’s body. Take our Quinte Essence, with cock’s flesh, nut-kernels, &c., and Quinte Essence of Gold and Pearls.
The .15. medicyn, to make a man þat is a coward, hardy and strong, and putte a-wey almaner of cowardise and drede / I seye ȝou forsoþe þat no þing may telle alle þe myraclis vertues þat god haþ maad in oure 5 essence, and not al oonly in him, but also in to his modir, þat is to seye, fyn brennynge watir. ‘15a. Me.’ To make a Coward bold and strong.
for to cure þis sijknesse, take a litil quantite of oure 5 essence, & putte þerto double so myche of brennynge watir, and a litil quantite of þe iuys of eerbe pione and of saffron distillid togidere, and a litil of 5 essence of gold and of peerl; and ȝeue it him to drinke. and aftir sodeynly, as it were by myracle, þe coward man schal lese al maner drede and feyntnes of herte, and he schal recouere strenkþe þat ys lost by drede, and take to him hardynesse, and he schal dispise deeþ; he schal drede no perelis, and passyngly he schal be maad hardy. þis is trewe, for it haþ ofte tymes by oolde philosophoris [bene] preued / Give him our Quinte Essence with twice as much Burning Water, and a little Peony juice and saffron, and Quinte Essence of Gold and Pearl. The coward shall lose all faintness of heart, despise death, and dread no perils.
[* Fol. 25.] þerfore it were a greet wisdom þat cristen princis, in bateilis aȝen heþene men, hadde wiþ hem in tonnes brennynge watir, þat þei myȝt take to euery fiȝtynge man half a riȝt litil cuppe ful þerof to drynke in þe bigynnynge of þe batel. & þis priuyte owith to be hid from alle enemyes of þe chirche; and also *princis and lordis ministringe þese þingis schulde not telle what it is. Therefore Christian Princes should have tuns of Burning Water, and give every fighting man a cup before battle with the heathen.
TO CURE PESTILENTIAL FEVER AND PLAGUES. The .16. medicyn aȝens þe feuere pestilenciale, and þe maistrie to cure it. forsoþe holy scripture seiþ þat summe tymes oure lord god sendiþ pestilence to sle summe maner of peple, as it is seid deutronomium 28 in þis maner “Si audire nolueris16 vocem domini dei tui, ut custodias et facias omnia mandata eius, veniant super te omnes maledicciones; iste maledictus eris in ciuitate &c.” et infra; “ad-iungat tibi pestilenciam donec consumat te de terra, percuciat te dominus egestate, febre, et frigore, ardore et estu, et aere corrupto ac rubigine, et persequatur donec pereas” hec ibidem; et infra “percuciat te dominus vlcere egipti, et partem corporis per quam stercora egerantur. scabie quoque, et prurigine, ita ut curari nequeas; percuciat te dominus necessitate ac furore mentis” // ‘16a. Me.’ To cure Pestilential Fever (when not sent as a punishment by God). God says in Deuteronomy xxviii. that if men will not hear His voice and obey His commandments, pestilences shall come on them.
Therfore a gret fool were he þat wolde presume to cure þese plagis of pestilence þat ben vncurable, þat ben sent of god to ponysche synne // Also ȝe schal vndirstonde þat men may die in .iij. maners. in oon maner by naturel deeþ, in þe teerme þat is sett of god / In anoþir maner bi violent deeþ, and also in þe .iij. maner occasionaly wiþinne þe teerme þat is sett of god; as þo men þat to myche replecioun, or to greet abstynence or by disperacioun, or ellis by necligence, sle him silf / These plagues a man would be a great fool to presume to cure,
but sikirly alle oþere maner of feueris pestilence þat god suffriþ to come to mankynde by perilous influence of yuele planetis, by þe grace of god & good gouernaunce may be curid partialy wiþ oure 5. essence. but all other pestilences from evil planets may be cured by our Quinte Essence with Aloes, Euphorbium, &c.,
[* Fol. 25b.] and þerinne putte a litil of aloes epatik & euforbij, & a litil of ierapigra galieni & of 5 essence, of þe rote of lilie and also of gold & peerle, capilli veneris *and ysope; for þese þingis ben nedeful to siche feueris & apostemes / ‘Nota bene.’
it is nedeful also þat wiþ þese þingis þer be sich a quinta essencia laxatyue þat wole purge þe superflue humouris þat abounde; and þat þe pacient so myche resceyue in a natural day þerof þat he may go weel oonys to sege; and so lete him vse þis laxatif .3. in þe woke; and a laxative Quinte Essence that will send the patient to stool once a day.
But be weel war þat he take wiþ oure quinta essencia but riȝt a litil quantite of þe laxatif at oonys, as I tolde ȝou tofore, for peril þat miȝte bifalle. ‘Caueas.’
& euery day take he by þe morowe an eye-schelle ful of good brennynge watir, and þe corrupt eyr schal not noye him; & also vse in þe dayes, two or þre smale pelotis pestilenciales in oure 5 essencia, or in brennynge watir; & al þe hous of þe pacient schal be encensid strongly .iij in þe day wiþ frank-encense, mirre, & rosyn, terbentyn & rewe. He must also take every morning an egg-shell-full of Burning Water, and 2 or 3 pestilence pills in our Quinte Essence, and smoke his house with frankincense, &c.
MAY THIS BOOK... and þis is perfiȝt cure for þe feuere pestilence / And þus ȝe may, wiþ þis 5 essencijs, cure alle þese sijknesses aforeseid, and manye oþere, as it were by myracle, if ȝe worche disc[r]eetly as I haue toold ȝou tofore /
Now here I make an eende of þis tretis þat is clepid þe mooste & þe souereyneste secrete of alle secretis, and a passynge tresour þat may nouȝt fayle // Here is an end of this most sovereign of all secrets.
O quantum malum foret, si hic liber perueniret ad manus hominum mundanorum, ad noticiam tirannorum, et ad seruicium reproborum! quia, sicut sancti per hunc librum poterunt continuare opera vite christiani diucius et vehemencius, ita et reprobi possent peruerso vsi diucius perseuerare in malo. ego autem, quantum in me est, propter solos sanctos librum hunc constituo, et ipsum custod[iæ] ihesu Christi commendo nunc et in eternum //=// What ills will befall if it gets into tyrants’ and reprobates’ hands and prolongs their life in evil. I will keep it for holy men alone; and I commend it to Christ’s keeping now and ever.
Explicit librum de maximis secretis essencie quinte &c.
FOOTNOTES
THE SPHERES AND PLANETS
[leaf 26]
¶ Philosofirs puttyn 9 speris vndirewritten; but Diuinis puttin þe tenþe spere, where is heuyn empire, in þe whiche, angelis & sowlis1 of seyntis seruen god; in þe whiche is crist, in þe same forme that he walkid in erþe, and also owre lady, & seyntis that arosen with criste.
¶ Þe first spere of þe 9 is clepid ‘primum mobile,’ þe first mevabil thyng.
¶ Þe .ij. spere of sterris: Aries .1. þe rame. ¶ the secund hows of Mars, þe bool, ¶ þe secund hows of Venus, Gemini, ¶ þe secund hows of Mercuri, Cancer. ¶ þe hows of þe mone, leo. þe hows of þe sonne, Virgo. // þe first hows of Mercury, Libra // þe first hows of Venus, Scorpio // þe first hows of Mars, Sagittarius // þe first hows of Iubiter, Capricornus // þe first hows of Saturne, Aquarius // þe secund hows of Saturne, Piscis. / þe secunde hows of Iubiter
[no more].
¶ Saturn is a planete evel-willid and ful of sekenes. Wherfore he is peyntid with an hooke, for he repeþ dow{n)} grene thyngis / he fulfilliþ his course in xxx ȝeere.
¶ Iubiter is a planete wele willyng to alle thingis to be gendrid, plent[i]ful & plesyng; therfor he is y-seid Iubiter as helpyn. in xij [ȝ]eere he filliþ his course.
¶ Mars is an enemy to alle thyngis to be gendrid; wherfor he is clepid god of batel, for he is ful of tempest. he fulfilliþ his course in .ij. ȝeere.
[leaf 26, back]
¶ Þe sonne is þe worthiest planet, y-set in myddis. he fulfilliþ his course in CCClxv dayes & vj. howris, þe whiche causen bisext.
¶ Venus is apte to alle thyngis to be gendrid. he fulfilliþ his course in CCCxxxvj daies.
¶ Mercuri swyft is y-seid a messenger of daies [? heuene]. he fulfilliþ his course in CCCxxxvj daies.
¶ Þe mone is a planete ny þe erþe.
[ends.]
NOTES ON THE CHEMISTRY OF THE TEXT
By C.H. GILL, Esq., of University College, London
P. 4. Direction to submit any wine that is not sour to distillation. (Sour wine is deficient in alcohol; that body having been changed into acetic acid by oxidation.) In the language of the mystical ideas which prevailed in the dawn of Chemistry, the colouring matters, sugar, &c. of the wine are called ‘the .4. elementis,’ or as it were the ‘rotten fæces of wine’??
The direction to distill the wine seven times is a good practical suggestion for the obtaining of strong alcohol which will burn well. Then follows a description of the distilling apparatus, which seems to have been arranged to ensure a very slow distillation, so as to obtain a product as colourless and scentless as possible.
P. 5. The second way to make the Quinte essence depends on distillation of alcohol by means of the heat of fermenting horse-dung; also the fifth manner.
P. 6. The directions for gilding burning water are all nonsense; but as the writer had no means of testing the truth of his statements, they may have been made in good faith.
P. 7. The idea which he expresses, that this gilt burning water will make you well and young, is difficult to explain, except on the assumption that, it being the strongest of alcohol, a very little served to produce that elevation of spirits which seemed to bring back the spring of youth.
P. 7, l. 6 from the bottom. The word liquibles in the text does not mean liquids, for a liquid cannot be made hot enough to be quenched. If the original liquibles cannot be retained I should substitute the word liquiables, meaning those things which can be liquefied by heat. Indeed in the next passage we find stated that if Saturn (the alchemists’ mystical name for Lead) be quenched, &c., and that if then Mars (Iron) be quenched in the same liquid, it will acquire the softness of Saturn. Or if you quench lead in spirit which has had iron first cooled in it, it becomes hard.
Of course there is no truth whatever in the above statements.
P. 8. The fire without coals, &c., is ‘corrosive sublimate,’ most probably containing an excess of Sulphuric acid (vitriol) as an impurity. If Copper (Venus) or Tin (Jupiter) be dipt into this solution of mercury they will have a deposit of mercury formed on their surface, which will give them a pearly appearance.
P. 8. To bring Gold into calx. When gold is treated in the way directed, a fine powder of gold of a brown or yellow colour is left. This might readily have been mistaken for a calx by those who had no clear ideas of what calx really was.
P. 9. The departing of gold from silver is essentially the same as the plan practised at the present day.
To get the Quintessence of Gold. I can make nothing of the directions, that is, I cannot see that they (the directions) hide any real truth.
P. 10. How to get the Quintessence of Antimony. I can make nothing of this part, and can only suggest that the vinegar used contained hydrochloric acid, and when distilled with ‘Myn Antimony’ (native sulphide of antimony) gave a distillate of Chloride of Antimony containing some ‘kermes’ which is red.
From this point onward there is little or nothing that can be explained by a Chemist.
GLOSSARY.
Agu, p. 22, l. 1, ‘Intermittent Feaver, commonly called an Ague, has certain times of Intermission or ceasing; it begins for the most part with Cold or Shivering, ends in Heat, and returns exactly at set Periods.’ Phillips. Aischin, p. 4, l. 10, ashes. Amphora, p. 11, &c., ‘a large vessel which derived its name from its being made with a handle on each side of the neck, from ἀμφί on both sides, and φέρω I carry.’ Dict. of Gr. and Rom. Ant. Anele, p. 6, l. 26, &c., heat? Apostemes, p. 24, l. 24, imposthumes, boils. Appeire, p. 3, l. 12, impair, worsen. Arreins, p. 2, l. 25, spiders. ‘Cassia Fistula (Lat.), Cassia in the Pipe or Cane, a kind of Reed or Shrub that grows in India and Africa, bearing black, round, and long Cods, in which is contain’d a soft black Substance, sweet like Honey, and of a purging Quality.’ Phillips. Colaciouns, p. 18, l. 21, ? comments, homilies. Comounne, p. 3, l. 35, communicate. ‘Continual Feaver is that whose Fit is continu’d for many Days; having its times of Abatement, and of more Fierceness; altho’ it never intermits, or leaves off.’ Phillips. Deedly, p. 3, l. 24, liable to death, mortal. Departynge, p. 5, l. 14, parting, separating. Depurid, p. 9, l. 27, purified, purged. Distillatorie, p. 10, l. 24, a still. Randle Holme, (Academy, p. 422, col. 2,) speaks of ‘a Still or Distillatory Instrument,’ and further on, iv., ‘He beareth Sable, the Head of a Distillatory with 3 pipes; having as many Receivers or Bottles set to them.’ ‘Ebulum or Ebulus (Lat.), the Herb Wall-wort, Dane-wort, or Dwarf-elder.’ Phillips. Encorpere, p. 13, l. 4, mix, incorporate. Euforbii, p. 21, l. 3 bot., ‘Euphorbia, the Libyan Ferula, a Tree or Shrub first found by King Juba, and so call’d from the Name of his Physician Euphorbus.’ Phillips. Euphorbium, ‘the gummy Juice or Sap of that Tree much us’d in Physick and Surgery.’ Phillips. Extremities, p. 17, l. 2, ends of the limbs. Fecis, p. 4, l. 7; p. 9, dregs. Fire of hell, p. 8, l. 23, a disease. Fumiter, p. 18, l. 3, fumitory. Fyme, p. 10, l. 2 bot., mud, clay. Gerapigra galieni, p. 3, l. 29, ἱερα πικρα Γαληνου. Giltid, p. 7, l. 3, having the properties of gold communicated by it. Groste, p. 5, ll. 9, 29, grossness, heavy particles, residuum. Hide, p. 13, l. 18, ? for hideus; compare the Harleian reading ‘unkinde.’ Hool, p. 15, l. 10, recover, improve. Incombustible, p. 10, l. 2. Incorruptibility, p. 7, l. 2. Kynde, p. 1, l. 12, all creatures; l. 13, nature. ‘Lapis Lazuli a kind of Azure or Sky-colour’d Stone, of which the Blew Colour call’d Ultramarine is made .. much us’d in Physick.’ Phillips. Lembike, p. 9, l. 2, ‘Alembick or Limbeck (Arab.), a Still, a Chymical Vessel used in Distilling, shaped like a Helmet, and towards the Bottom having a Beak or Nose, about a Foot and a half long, by which the Vapours descend. They are commonly made of Copper tinn’d over on the inside, and often of Glass.’ Phillips. Liquibles, p. 7, l. 6 bot., meltable metals. Lymayl, p. 8, l. 6 bot., Fr. ‘limaille: f. File-dust, pinne-dust.’ Cotgrave. Marien Bath, p. 12, l. 7 bot., Balneum Mariæ, a Chemist’s bath. ‘Bain de Marie. Maries bath; a cauldron, or kettle full of hot water.’ Cotgrave. Medle, p. 19 last line, mix. Medulla, p. 18, l. 3, pith. Mercasite, p. 10, l. 14, ‘a kind of Mineral Stone, hard and brittle, partaking of the Nature and Colour of the Metal it is mixed with; some call it a Fire-Stone.’ Phillips. Mercuriale, mercurie, p. 21, 19, &c., ‘Mercury .. among Chymists .. signifies Quick-silver; and is also taken for one of their active Principles, commonly call’d Spirit .. Also the Name of a purging Herb, of which there are two sorts, viz. Good Harry and Dog’s Mercury.’ Metis, p. 16, l. 22, meatus, passages. Mon, p. 13, l. 19. ? Morsus Gallinæ, the Herb Henbit or Chick-weed. Phillips. Mortifie, p. 19 last line, ‘Among Chymists to change the outward Form or Shape of a Mixt Body; as when Quicksilver, or any other Metal, is dissolved in an acid Menstruum.’ Phillips. Neischede, p. 7, l. 2 bot., neshness, softness, pliancy. Oo, p. 4, one. Popilion, p. 22, l. 24; ‘Populeum, an Ointment made of Poplar buds, of a cooling and allaying Quality.’ Phillips. Fr. ‘Populeon. Popilion, a Pompillion; an ointment made of blacke Poplar buds.’ Cot. Preparate, p. 8, l. 21, prepare. ‘Quartan Ague is that whose Fit returns every fourth Day.’ Phillips. Quenchour, p. 6 at foot, cooling the florin ? Quintessence is defined by Phillips as ‘the purest Substance drawn out of any Natural Body; a Medicine made of the efficacious active Particles of its Ingredients separated from all Fæces or Dregs; the Spirit, chief Force, or Virtue of any thing.’ Reme, p. 9, l. 5 bot., A.S. reoma, a strap, thong. Reparale, p. 8, l. 21, make, compound. Respire, p. 4, l. 5 from foot, exhale. Restreyne, p. 7, l. 8, retain. Reward, p. 2, l. 4, 7, regard. Rotombe, p. 10, l. 3 bot., a retort. Sambucy, p. 16, l. 7 bot., ‘Sambucus, the Elder-Tree; a Shrub of very great use in Physic.’ Phillips. Stafisagre, p. 20, l. 1, ‘Staphis agria, the Herb Staves-acre, or Lice-bane.’ Phillips. ‘Tertian Ague or Feaver is that which intermits entirely, and returns again every third Day with its several Symptoms at a set Time.’ Phillips. To, p. 1, l. 16, too. Triacle, p. 23, l. 5, cordial, ‘Treacle, a Physical Composition, made of Vipers and other Ingredients.’ Phillips. Turbit, p. 16, l. 7 bot., ‘Turbit, Tripoly, an Herb called Turbith, or blew Camomel.’ ‘Turbith, an Herb so call’d by the Arabians, which grows in Cambaya, Surat, and other parts of Asia; a dangerous Drug upon account of its violent purging Quality.’ Phillips. Vapoure, p. 8, l. 5 from foot; p. 9 at foot, evaporate. Woodnes, p. 22, l. 23, wildness, madness. Ypericon, p. 19, l. 16, ‘Hypericon, St. John’s-Wort, an excellent Herb for Wounds, and to provoke Urine.’ Phillips.
Errata and Technical Notes
The character “l-bar” ƚ (html entity #410 or x019A) has been represented in this text by “l-stroke” ł (#322 or x0142), as it is much more widely available.
Two entries in the Table of Contents were merged in the printed book, apparently for reasons of space. The original form was:
HOW TO CURE FRENSY, GOUT, AND TROUBLES FROM DEVILS, WICKED THOUGHTS, ETC., p. 17; AND HOW OUR QUINTE ESSENCE IS HEAVEN 19
See also comments on footnotes, especially
Footnote 15
with linked page image.