¶ The birth of Mankind/ newly translated out of Latin into english. In the which is entreated of all such things the which chance to women in their labour, and all such infyrmitees which happen unto the Infants after they be delivered. And also at the latter end or in the third or last book is entreated of the Conception of mankind, and how many ways it may be letted or furthered, with divers other fruitful things, as doth appear in the table before the book. ¶ Cum privilegio Regali, ad imprimendum solum. ¶ An admonition to the reader. FOr so much as we have enterprised the interpretation of this present book, offering and dedicating it unto our most gracious and virtuous Queen Kateryn only, by it minding and tendering the utility and wealth of all women, as touching the great apparel & dangeours, which most commonly oppresseth them in their painful labours. I require all such men in the name of God, which at any time shall chance to have this book, that they use it godly, and only to the profit of their neighbours, utterly eschewing all rebawde and unseemly communication of any things contained in the same, as they will answer before God, which as witnesseth Christ, will require a count of all idle words, and much more than of all rebawde and uncharitable words. Every thing, as saith Solomon, hath his time, and truly that is far out of time, yea and far from all good honesty, that some use at the common tables and without any difference before all companies rudely and leudelye to talk of such things, in the which they ought rather to know much, and to say little, but only where it may do good, magnifyeng the mighty God of nature in all his works, compassionating and pytyenge our even Christians, the women which sustain and endure for the time so great dolour and pain for the birth of mankind and deliverance of the same in to the world. Praise God in all his works. ¶ Unto the most gracious/ and in all goodness most excellent virtuous Lady Queen Katherine/ wife and most dearly beloved spouse unto the most mighty sapient Christian prince/ King Henry the viii Richard jonas wisheth perpetual joy and felicity. WHere as of late (most excellent virtuous Queen) many goodly and proper treatise/ as well concerning holy scripture/ wherein is contained the only comfort and consolation of all godly people: as other profane arts and sciences right necessary to be known & had in use/ have been by the painful diligence of such clerks which have embusyed them in the same very earnestly and circumspectly set forth in this our wulgare english tongue/ to the great enrytching of our mother language/ and also the great utility and profit of all people using the same/ and among all other things/ out of the noble science of physic have been divers/ proper/ and profitable matters compiled and translated from the Latin tongue in to english/ by the reading of the which right many have confessed themselves to have received great light and knowledge of such things in the which they have found no small comfort and profit. And in this behalf there is in the Latin speech a book entitled/ departu hominis: that is to say/ of the birth of mankind/ compiled by a famous doctor in physic/ called Eucharius'/ the which he wrote in his own mother tongue/ that is being a German/ in the German speech/ afterward by an other honest clerk/ at the request and desire of his friend transposed in to Latin: the which book for the singular utility and prophet that ensueth unto all such as read it/ and most spetiallye unto all women (for whose only cause it was written) hath been sith in the Doutche and French speech set forth and imprinted in great number/ so that there be few matrons and women in that parts/ but (if they can read) will have this book always in readiness: considering then that the same commodity and profit which they in their regions do obtain by enjoing of this little book in their maternal language/ might also ensue unto all women in this noble realm of England/ if it be set forth in the english speech/ as concerning this/ I have done my simple endeavour for the love of all womanhood/ and chiefly for the most bound service/ the which I own unto your most gracious highness to translate the same into our tongue. Most humbly desiring first your grace's highness/ and then consequently all noble ladies and gentlewomen with other honest matrons to accept my pains and good will employed in the same: the which thing as I do not doubt for the wont and incomparable benignity/ goodness/ and gentleness inset & planted in your grace's nature/ so shall it be no little encourraging unto me hereafter with farther deliberation and pains to revyse and oversee the same again/ and with much more diligence/ to set it forth. For considering the manifold/ daily/ and imminente daungeorus and parels/ the which all manner of women of what estate or degree so ever they be in their labour do sustain and abide: yea many times with apparel of their life/ of the which there be to many examples needless here to be rehearsed. I thought it should be a very chartable and laudable deed: yea and thankfully to be accepted of all honourable & other honest matron's/ if this little treatise so fruitful and profitable for the same purpose were made English/ so that by that means it might be red and understand of them all/ for as touching mydwyfes'/ as there be many of them right expert/ diligent/ wise/ circumspect/ and tender about such business: so be there again many more full undyscreate/ unreasonable/ chorleshe/ & far to seek in such things/ the which should chiefly help and succour the good women in their most painful labour and throngs. Through whose rudeness and rasshenesse only I doubt not/ but that a great number are cast away and destroyed (the more petye.) For this cause and for the honour of almighty god/ and for the most bound service/ the which I own unto your grace/ most gracious and virtuous Queen/ I have judged my labour & pains in this behalf right well bestowed/ requiring all other women of what estate so ever they be/ which shall by reading of the same find light and comfort to yield and render thanks unto your most gracious highness/ wishing greatly that it might please all honest & motherly midwifes diligently to read and oversee the same/ of the which although there be many/ which do know much more peradventure/ then is here expressed/ yet am I sure in the reading of it/ their understanding shall be much cleared and have some what farther perseverance in the same. It is no small charge the which they take upon them/ for if when any strange or perilous case doth chanse/ the midwife be ignorant/ or to seek in such things which are to be had in remembrance in that case/ then is the party lost and utterly doth perish/ for lack of due knowledge requisite to be had in the midwife. Wherefore I beseech almighty God/ that this my simple industry and labour may be through your grace unto the utility/ wealth/ and profit/ of all english women/ according to my utter and hearty desire and intent/ to whom also I daily pray long to preserve and prosper your most gracious highness both to the continual comfort & consolation of our most redoubted & without comparison most excellent Christian Prince/ and also the joy and gladness of all his loving subjects. Amen. ¶ Here after beginneth the table of this present book. ¶ After what manner and fashion the birth lieth in the mother's womb, & how many cawls it is compassed and wrapped in. Cap i fol. xi ¶ Of the time of birth, & which is called natural or unnatural. Ca. ii fol. xiii ¶ Of easy, and uneasy, difficull, or dolorous deliverance, and the causes of it, with the signs how to know, and foresee the same Cap iii fol. xivi. ¶ How a woman with child shall use herself, & what remedies be for them that have hard labour. Cap four fol. xvii ¶ remedies and medicines by the which the labour may be made more tolerable▪ easy, and without great pain. Ca. v. foe xxv ¶ Certain pylles the which make the labour easy & without pain. fol. xxvii ¶ How the secondyne or second birth shall be sorsed to issue forth, if it come not freely of his own kind Cap vi fol. xxviii ¶ How that many things chance to the women after their labour, and how to avoid, defend, or to remedy the same. Cap vii fol. xxxii ¶ Of aborcementes or untimely births, and the causes of it, and by what remedies it may be defended, helped and eased. Cap viii fol. xli ¶ Of dead births, and by what signs or tokens it may be known, and by what means it may also be expelled. Ca. ix fo. xlvii ¶ How the infant newly borne, must be handled, nourished, and looked to. Cap ten fol. liii ¶ Of the nurse, and her milk, and how long the child should soucke. foe lu ¶ The Table of the second book. ¶ Of divers diseases and infirmities which chance to children lately borne, & the remedies therefore. foe lix ¶ Of the flix or overmuch looseness of the belly. foe lx ¶ To unloose the child being boudnen. foe lxii ¶ Remedy for the cramp or distension of the membres. fol. lxiii ¶ Remedy for the cough and dystyllatyon of the head. fol. lxiii ¶ Remedy for short wind, fol. lxv. ¶ Against wheels or bladders on the tongue. fol. lxv. ¶ Of exulceration or clefture, chapping, or chynning of the mouth. fol. lxvi ¶ Of Apostumation and running of the ears lxvii ¶ Of Appostumation in the head. fol. lxvii ¶ Of the swelling or bolning of the eyes. fol. lxvii ¶ Of the scum or white of the eye. fol. lxvii ¶ Against immoderate heat or the fever. foe lxvii ¶ Against fretting or gnawing in the belly. fol. lxviii ¶ Against swelling of the body. fol. lxviii ¶ Against often sneezing. fol. lxviii ¶ Of whelks in the body and the cure. fol. lxix ¶ Against swelling of the cods. fol. lxix ¶ Against swelling of the navel. fol. lxx ¶ Against unslewynesse fol. lxx ¶ Against yering. foe lxxi ¶ Of yerkenesse or appetite to vomit. fol. lxxi ¶ Against fearful and terrible dreams. fol. lxxii ¶ Against the mother. fol. lxxiii ¶ Of short breath, hoarseness, or whistling in the throat. fol. lxxiii ¶ Against tenasmus. fol. lxxiiii ¶ Against worms in the belly. fol. lxxiiii ¶ Of chawfing or galling in any place of the body. fol. lxxv. ¶ Of the falling sickness. fol. lxxvi ¶ Consumptyon or pining away of the body. fol. lxxvii ¶ Of lassytude, weariness or heaviness of the child's body. fol. lxxvii ¶ Of trembling of the body, and the membres of the body. fol. lxxviii ¶ Of the stone. foe lxxviii ¶ Of google eyes, or looking a squynt. foe lxxviii ¶ The Table of the third book. ¶ Of such things the which shallbe entreated of in this third book. Cap i fol. lxxix ¶ Of conception, and how many ways it may be hindered or letted. Ca. ii fol. lxxx ¶ How many ways conception may be letted, & how the causes may be known. Cap iii fol. lxxxi ¶ How to know whether lack of conception be of the woman or of the man, and how it may be perceived whether she be conceived or no. Cap four fol. lxxxiii ¶ Of certain remedies and medicines which shall cause the woman to conceive. Cap .v. fol. lxxxv, ¶ Here endeth the table of this book, ¶ For because that in this book many times be found certain measure & weights of physyke not known peradventure to all such as shall chance to read it/ therefore here briefly I have set them forth/ showing the value and estimation of them so far as shall be requisite to the better understanding of such things the which ye shall read in the same treatise. The pound weight xii. ounces. The ounce containeth viii. drams. The dram three scruples The scruple xx, grains, ¶ Where as is written that the scruple containeth twenty grains/ ye must note that by these grains be understand grains of barley taken out of the middle of the ear/ of the which twenty maketh a scruple: so that the pound containeth .v. M vii C lxii grains. etc. as followeth. The pound v. M. vii C lxii grains. The ounce containeth iiii. C lxxx grains. The dram lx. grains. The scruple xx. grains. ¶ ye shall also note here that many times ye shall happen upon strange names of such things the which are occupied about infirmities spoken of in this book/ for the which there is no english but are used in there own proper names of greek or latin: and they are such for the most part which are to be had only at the Apothecaries/ being of them right well known wherefore when ye shall need any such thing if ye send the same names in your bill to the apothecary's they will soon speed your purpose: neither do this if ye may without the advise of some expert and well learned physytianes. ¶ Here after beginneth the first book. THE first BOOK. THE first ¶ After what manner and fashion the birth lieth in the mother's womb, and how many cawls it is compassed and wrapped in. ¶ Cap i IN so much as our intent is in this book following to entreat and speak of the birth of mankind/ and of such things which happen and chance to the mother in her labour and travail/ in the deliverance of the same/ it shall be first very necessary to show after what manner and fashion the infant lieth in the mother's womb/ and in how many cawls the same is lapped and wrapped: to the farther knowledge and perseverance of such things the which we shall entreat of hereafter. ¶ wherefore ye shall understand that the birth lieth in the mother after this manner: first it lieth round in manner as a bowl the hands being between the knees/ and the head leaning on the knees: either of the eyes joining upon either of the knees: the right eye upon the right knee: and the left upon the left/ the noose depending between the knees/ so that the face and forepart of the infant is toward the inward parts of the woman/ dying in manner upright in the mother's matrice. ¶ Farther ye must understand that there be three coveres or cawls in the which the birth is contained and lapped: of the which the one compasseth & embrasyth round about the birth/ and the other two cawls also: and it is called the secondyne second birth or the after birth: the which defendeth the birth from noysum and ill humours increasing in the matrice after conception by retensyon of the flowers otherwise wont to pass and issue forth once in the month/ the which ill humours if they should touch or come near to the birth would greatly perish and hurt the same. But after the deliverance of the principal birth these humours also with the foresaid call or secondyne issue forth/ and is called the after birth. ¶ The second call with the which the birth is covered/ compasseth the same birth from the navel down ward/ covering all the inferior parts of the infant/ and this skin or call is as it were full of plyghtes and wrynkles: and through this call the birth is defended and kept from ill and sharp humours as urine or piss issuing from the infant and sweat. etc. for so long as the child is in the mother's womb it sendeth forth urine/ not by the due membres but by the vain which proceedeth out of the navel. ¶ The third shin or call likewise containeth all the birth in it defending also the same from humours & urine: and from the boystesnes of the secondyne or first call and this is called the armour or defence of the birth. ¶ This is the manner of the situation and lodging of the infant in the mother's belly: and these be the three cawls containing and enclosing in the birth. Now will we speak of the time of birth. ¶ Of the time of birth, and which is called natural or unnatural. ¶ Cap ii ANd when the time of birth approchyth near/ most commonly these signs following come before: by the which the time of labour is known to be at hand. ¶ first certain dolours and pains begin to grow about the guts/ the navel/ and in the reins of the back/ and likewise about the thighs & the other places being near to the privy parts/ which likewise then beginneth to swell and to burn and to expel humours/ so that it giveth plain and evident token that the labour is near. ¶ But ye shall note that there is two manner of births/ the one called natural/ the other contrary to nature. Natural birth is when the child is borne both in due season & also in due fashion. The due season is most commonly after the ix month or about xl weeks after the conception/ although some be delivered sometimes in the seventh month/ and the child proveth very well. But such as are borne in the eight month/ other they be dead before the birth/ or else live not long after/ as the noble medicine Auicenna doth testify. ¶ The due fashion of birth is this/ according as witnesseth Albert the great/ first the head cometh forward/ then followeth the neck and shoulders/ the arms with the hands dying close to the body toward the feet/ the face and forepart of the child being towards the face and forepart of the mother/ as it appeareth in the first of the birth figures. For as Albertus writeth/ and as we have rehearsed before also/ before the time of deliverance the child lieth in the mother's womb the face and breast being towards the back of the mother/ but when it should be delivered/ it is turned clean contrary/ the head downward/ the feet upward/ and the face toward the mother's belly/ and that if the birth be natural. Another thing also is this/ that if the birth be natural/ the deliverance is easy without long tarrying or looking for it. ¶ The birth contrary to nature is/ when the mother is delivered before her time/ or out of due season/ or after any other fashion than is here specified before/ as when both legs proceed first/ or one alone/ with both the hands up/ or both down/ other elles the one up & the other down/ and divers otherwise as shallbe hereafter more clearly declared ¶ Of easy, and uneasy, difficull, or dolorous deliverance, and the causes of it, with the sygues how to know, and foresee the same. ¶ Cap iii VEry many be the parels/ dangerous & stronges which chanse to women in their labour/ which ensue & come in divers ways/ & for divers causes/ such as I shall here declare. ¶ first when the woman that laboureth is conceived over young/ as before xii ye or xu year of age/ which chanseth sometime/ though not very often/ and that the passage be over angust street or naro we/ other naturally/ or else for some disease and infirmity/ which may happen about that part/ as apostumes/ pushes/ piles/ or blysterres/ and such other/ thorough the which causes nature can not (but with great dolour and pain) open and dilate itself to the expelling & deliverance of the child. And sometime the vesyke or bladder/ or other entrails being about the matrice or womb be also apostumat & blystered/ which being grieved/ the matrice or womb likewise is grieved with them/ and that hindereth greatly the deliverance. Also sometime in the fundament are emerrodes or piles and other pushes/ chappynge or chins which cause great pain/ also hardness and difficult or binding of the belly/ which things for the grief and pain that ensueth of them causeth the woman to have little power to help herself in her labour. ¶ furthermore if the party be week and of feeble complexion/ or of nature very cold/ or to young/ or very aged/ or to gross and fat/ or contrary wise to spare and lean/ or that she never had child before/ or that she be over timorous and fearful/ divers wayward/ or such one as will not be ruled/ removing herself from one place to another/ all such things causeth the labour to be much more pain full/ cruel/ and dolorous/ then it would otherwise be. Also ye must understand that generally the birth of the man is easier than the birth of the female. ¶ Item if the child be of a fuller & greater groweth than that it may easily pass that narrow passage/ or contrary wise/ if it be so faint/ weak/ and tender/ that it can not turn itself/ or doth it very slowly/ or if the woman have two children at one's/ other elles that it with the which she laboureth be a menster/ as for example/ if it have but one body and two heads/ as appeareth in the xvij of the birth figures/ such as of late was seen in the dominion of werdenberghe. ¶ Again when it proceedeth not in due time or after due fashion/ as when it cometh forth with both feet or both knees together/ or else with one foot only/ or with both feet downward and both hands upward/ other else (the which is most perilous) sydelong/ arselonge/ or backelonge/ other having two at a birth/ both proceed with their feet first/ or one with his feet and the other with his head/ by those and divers other ways the woman sustaineth great dolour pain and anguish. ¶ Item if the woman suffer aborsment/ that is to say bring forth her child in the four or v. month after the conception/ which is before the due time/ in this case it shallbe great pain to her/ for so much as (according to Galenus saying) in that time the entrance of the womb is so firmly and strongly enclosed/ that scace the point of a needle may enter in at it. ¶ Also if the child be dead in the mother's belly it is a very perilous thing/ forsomuch as it can not be easily turned/ neither can it wield or help itself to come forth/ or if the child be sick or weakened/ so that it can not for feablenesse help itself. The which thing may be foreseen & known by these tokens: If the woman with child have been long sick before her labour/ if she have been sore laxed/ if after her conception she have had daily & unwontly her flowers/ if street after one month upon the conception her breasts yield any milk/ if the child steer not ne move at such time as is convenient for it: these be tokens that it should be very weak. By what tokens ye shall know it is dead/ I shall show you in the ninth chapter hereafter. ¶ Also there is great apparel in labouring/ when the secondyne or latter birth is over firm or strong/ and will not soon rive or break asunder/ so that the child may have his easy coming forth. And contrary wise when it is over weak slender or thin/ so that it breaketh asunder before that the child be turned or apt to issue forth/ for then the humours which are collect and gathered together about this secondyne or secoside birth pass away sooner than it should do/ & the birth shall lack his due humidite and moystenes/ which should cause it the ●●selyar to proceed and with less pain. ¶ The birth also is hindered by over much cold or over much heat/ for in over much cold the passage and all other powers of the labouring woman be coarted and made narrower than they would otherwise be. Likewise over much heat debiliteth/ weakeneth and fainteth both the woman and the child/ so that neither of them in that case can well weld or help themselves for faintness. ¶ And further if the woman have used to eat commonly such meat or fruits/ which do exiccat or dry and constrain or bind/ as medlars/ chestenuttes/ all sour fruit/ as trabbes/ chokeperes/ and such other/ with over much use of vergers/ & such like sour sauces/ with rise mill/ and many other things/ all this shall greatly hinder the birth. ¶ Also the use of cold baths after the .v. month following the conception or to bathe in such water where alum is/ iron/ or salt/ or any such things which do coarcte and constrain/ or if she have been oftentimes heavy and murning/ or ill at ease/ or if she have been kept over hungry and thirsty/ or have used over much watch and walking/ other if she used a little before her labour things of great odour smell or savour/ for such things attract and draw up ward the mother or matrice/ the which is great hindrance to the birth. ¶ Also if the woman feel pain only in the back and above the navel and not under/ it is sign of hard labour/ likewise if she were wont to be delivered with great pain in times passed/ is a sign of great labour always in the birth. ¶ Now signs and tokens of an expedite and easy deliverance be such as be contrary to all those that go before. As for example/ when the woman hath been wont in times passed easily to be 〈…〉 that in her labour she feal but little throng or dolour/ or though she have great pains/ yet they remain not always in the upper parts/ but descend to the neither parts or bottom of the belly. ¶ And to be short in all painful & troublesome labours/ these signs betoken & signify good speed and luck in the labour: unquietness/ much steering of the child in the mother's belly/ all the throngs and pains tumbling in the fore part of the bottom of the belly/ and when the woman is strong and mighty of nature/ and such as can well and strongly help herself to the expelling of the birth. And again evil signs be those/ when she swetethe cold sweet: and that her pulses beat and labour over sore/ and that she herself in the labouring faint and swoon: these be unlucky and mortal signs. ¶ How a woman with child shall use herself, and what remedies be fo●● them that have hard labour. ¶ Cap four T●… 〈…〉 such as are in such difficull apparel of labour/ as we have spoken of before/ ye must observe/ keep & mark those things which we shall (by the grace of god) show you in this chapter following. first the woman with child must keep two dyettes/ the one a month before her labour/ the other in the very labouring/ & above all things she must eschew and forbore all such things which may hinder the birth so near as she can possible/ the which we rehearsed in the chapter before/ but if there be any such thing which can not be avoided/ for so much as it cometh by nature or by long continuance and custom: in this case yet ye shall use some such remedies/ the which may somewhat assuage it/ mollify it/ or make it more easy or tolerable/ so that it hinder the birth so much the less. ¶ But if it so be/ that any infirmity or disease/ swelling/ or other apostumation chanse about the mother or the privy part/ or about the vesyke or bladder/ as the stone/ the strangury/ and such like: the which things may cause such straightness and coarctation that uneath great and horrible pain/ the party can be delivered or discharged: in these cases it behooveth such things to be looked unto and cured before the time of labour cometh/ by the advise of some expert Surgeon. ¶ Also if the woman be over much constipat/ or bound all ways/ she must use the month before her labour such things/ the which may lemfye/ mollify/ dissolve/ and lose the belly: as apples fried with sugar taken fasting in the morning/ and after that a draught of pure wine alone/ or else tempered with the juice of sweet and ripe apples. Also to eat figs in the morning fasting and at night/ loosethe well the belly. ¶ Again in this case she must refrain from all such things as do harden/ restraint/ and constipat: as be such things/ the which be browled or roasted/ & rise/ hard eggs and mill/ and such like. ¶ Also if farther necessity require she may receive a clyster/ but it must be very gentle and easy tempered other with cheken broth or broth of other flesh: she may use also some other easy and temperate purgation to mollify and lose her with all: also a suppositar tempered with soap/ lard/ or the yolk of eggs. ¶ And if it chance that (the labour drawing near) she wax faint or syckelye: then must ye comfort her with good comfortable meat/ drink/ wholesome and noble electuaries/ and in this time must she do all such things the which can make her apt and sufficient to her labour/ & to use such things the which may lax/ open/ and mollify the nature and passage/ so that the birth may the more freely proceed: and that chiefly in the younger women. The elder women for because that/ that parts in them be somewhat drier & harder/ therefore they must use hot and moist things which have property to lenify and sople/ and that both in meat and drink/ and also in outward fomentations/ bathynges/ suppositaries and anoyntmentes: Anoyntmentes wherewith ye may sople the privy place/ be these: hens grese/ ducks grese/ goose grese/ also oil olive/ or lynesede oil/ or oil of fenegreke/ or the viscosite of holyoke & such other/ and for drink let her use good type wine mixed with water: also there must be a consideration in the dieting of the woman/ that she may use such things the which may moisten her/ and not make her fat. Contraryewyse let her avoid such things the which should exiccat dry constrain or coarte her: & that all the month before her labour. But about ten days before the time (if she feel any pain or grief) let her use every day to wash or bathe her with warm water/ in the which also that she tarry not over long in bathing for weakening of her: in the bath let her stand so chat the water come above the navel a little/ and let be sodde in the water meadows/ holyoke/ camomile/ mercury/ maydenhere/ lynesede/ fenegreke sede/ and such other things which have virtue to mollify and supple: and if it so be that for weakness of the body she may not endure this bathing in warm water/ then with a sponge or other cloth dipped in the foresaid bathe/ let her sokynglye wash her feet/ her thyghs/ and her privy parts/ the which thing shall greatly profit to her. But in such time beware ye come not in the common hot houses/ for they would cause you to be feeble and faint/ which were ill in this case. ¶ And when ye are thus bathed or washed/ then shall it be very convenient for you to anoint with the foresaid greases and oils your back/ belly/ navel/ sides/ and such places as are near to the prevye parts. furthermore it shall be greatly profitable for her to convey inward in to the privy part these foresaid oils or greases with a sponge or other thing made for the purpose/ she dying upright the mids of her body most highest/ so that it may the better remain within her/ and that chiefly/ if the matrice be dry/ other elles the party very lean and spare. ¶ It shallbe also very profitable for her to suffume the neither places with musk/ ambre/ gallia muscata/ which put on embers yield a goodly savour/ by the which the neither places open themself & draw downward. ¶ Also as I said before/ she must take good heed to her dyette/ that she take things the which may comfort and strengthen the body/ feeding not over much of any thing/ and to drink pleasant and well savering wine/ or other drink/ also moderately to exersyce the body in doing some thing/ steering/ moving/ going/ or standing/ more than other wise she was wont to do: these things farther the birth & make it the easier: & this is the manner of dyette the which we advise the woman to keep the month before her labour or longer. ¶ Another dyette there is/ the which she ought to observe in the time of labour/ when the storms and throngs begin to come on/ and the humours/ which yet hitherto have remained about the matrice or mother collected/ now begin to flow forth: and this manner of dyette consisteth in two sorts. first that such things be procured and had in readiness which may cause the birth or labour to be very easy. Secondly to withstand/ defend & to put away so near as may be the instant & present dolours. And as touching this point/ it shallbe very profitable for her for the space of an hour to sit still/ them rising again to go up & down a pair of stairs crying or reaching so loud as she can/ so to steer herself. ¶ Also it shallbe very good for a time to retain and keep in her breath/ for because that thorough that means the guts and entrails be thrust together and depressed downward. Also it shallbe very good to receive the same medicine/ the which we shall describe hereafter/ for that medicine expelleth and sendeth forth the birth. ¶ But when the woman perceiveth the matrice or mother to wax lax or lose/ and to be dissolved/ and that the humours issue forth in great plenty/ then shall it be meet for her to sit down leaning backward in manner upright. For the which purpose in some regions (as in France and Germanye) the midwifes have stools for the purpose/ which being but low and not high from the ground/ is made so compass wise and cave or hollow in the mids/ that that may be received from underneath which is looked for: and the back of the stool leaning backward/ receiveth the back of the woman/ the fashion of the which stole is set in the beginning of the birth sygures hereafter. ¶ And when the time of labour is come/ in the same stole aught to be put many clothes or clouts in the back of it/ the which the midwife may remove from one side to another according as necessity shall require. The midwife herself shall sit before the labouring woman/ and shall diligently obserut and wait how much & after what manner the child stearethe itself: also shall with her hands first anointed with the oil of almonds or the oil of white lilies rule & direct every thing/ as shall seem best. Also the midwife must instruct and comfort the party not only refreshing her with good meat and drink/ but also with sweet words/ giving her good hope of a speedful deliverance/ encouraging and enstomacking her to patience and tolerance/ bidding her to hold in her breathe in so much as she may/ also streking gently with her hands her belly above the navel/ for that helpeth to depress the birth downward. ¶ But and if the woman be any thing gross/ fat/ or fleshly it shall be best for her to lie grovelling/ for by that means the matrice is thrust and depressed down ward/ anointing also the privy parts with the oil of white lilies. And if necessity require it/ let not the midwife be afraid ne ashamed to handle the places and to relax and lose the straits/ for so much as shall lie in her/ for that shall help well to the more expedite and quick labour. ¶ But this must the midwife above all things take heed of that she compel not the woman to labour/ before the birth come forward/ & show itself. For before that time all labour is in vain/ labour as much as ye list. And in this case many times it cometh to pass/ that the party hath laboured so sore before the time/ that when she should labour in deed/ her might and strength is spent before in vain/ so that she is not now able to help herself/ and that is a perilous case. ¶ furthermore when the secundine or second birth (in the which the birth is wrapped and contained) doth once appear/ then may ye know that the labour is at hand/ wherefore if the same secundine break not of his own kind/ it shallbe the mid wife's part and office with her nails easily and gently to break it/ and rend it/ or if it may not so conveniently be done/ then raise up between your fingers a piece of it/ and cut it of with a pair of shears/ or a sharp knife/ but so that ye hurt not the birth with the cut/ this done/ by and by ensueth consequently the flux and flow of humours/ of the which I spoke before/ and then next followeth immediately the birth. ¶ But if it so chanse the secundine should be cut by the midwife and all the watery part yshued and spent before due time and necessity should require it/ so that the privy passage be lest exiccat and dry/ the birth not yet appearing/ and by this means the labour should be hindered and letted. In this case ye shall anoint and mollify that privy passage with the oil of white lilies/ or some of the grese spoken of before/ first wharmed and so conveyed in to the privy parts the which things will cause the way to be slypperye/ sople/ and easy for the birth to pass. But chief in this difficulties should profit the white of an egg together with the yolk powered in to that same place/ which should cause it to be most slypperye and sliding. ¶ And if it so be/ that the birth be of a great groweth/ and the head stick in the coming forth/ then must the midwife help all that she may/ with her hands first anointed with some oil opening and enlarging the way/ that the issue may be be the friar: likewise must be done if she bore two children at once. And all this is spoken of the natural birth when that first proceedeth the head/ and then the rest of the body ordinately/ as ye mayese in the first of the birth figures following. ¶ ij. But when the birth cometh contrary to nature/ then must the midwife do all her diligence and pain/ if it may be possible/ to turn the birth tenderly with her anointed hands/ so that it may be reduced again to a natural birth/ as for example: Some time it chanseth the child to come the legs and both arines and hands downward close to the sides first forth/ as appeareth in the second of the birth figures/ in this case the midwife must do all her pain with tender handling and anointing to receive forth the child/ the legs being still close together/ & the hands likewise remaining/ as appeareth in the say●e two figure. How be it/ it were far better (if it may be by any means) that the midwife should turn these legs coming first forth upwards again by the bellywarde/ so that the head might descend downward by the back part of the womb for then naturally again & without apparel as the first might it proceed & come forth. ¶ iii. Again sometime the birth cometh forth with both legs and feet first/ the hands being lifted up above the head of the child/ and this is the parelloust manner of birth/ that is as appeareth in the iij. of the birth figures. And here must the mid wife do what she may to turn the birth if it may be possible to the first figure/ and if it will not be/ must reduce the hands of it down to the sides/ & so to reduce it into the ij. figure. But if this also will not be: then receive the feat as they come forth/ & bind them with some fair linen cloth/ and so tenderly and very softly lose out the birth till all be come forth/ and this is a very ●copardous labour. ¶ iiij. Also sometime the birth cometh forward with one fore only/ the other being left upward/ as appeareth in the four figure. And in this case it behoveth the labouring woman to lay her upright upon her back/ holding up her thighs & belly/ so that her head be the lower part of her body: then let the midwife with her hand return in again the fore that cometh out first in as tender manner as may be/ and warn the woman that laboureth to steer and move herself/ so that by the moving and steering the birth may be turned the head downward/ and so to make a natural birth of it/ and then to set the woman in the stole again/ and to do as ye did in the first figure/ but if it so be that notwithstanding the mother's steering and moving the birth do not torn/ then must the midwife with her hand softly fetch out the other leg which remained behind/ evermore taking heed of this that by handling of the child she do not remove ne set out of their place the two hands hanging downward toward the feet. ¶ v. Likewise sometime it cometh to pass that the side of the child cometh forward/ as appeareth in the .v. figure/ & then must the midwife do so/ that it may be returned to his natural fashion/ & so to come forth. ¶ vi. Also sometime the child cometh forth the feet forward/ the legs being abroad/ as in the vi figure/ and than must the midwife see/ that the feet & legs may be joined together/ and so to proceed & come forth/ ever more regarding the hands/ as I warned you before. ¶ seven. If it come with one of the knees or both forward/ as in the vij figure/ then must the midwife put up the birth/ till such time as the legs and feet come right forth/ and then to do as afore. ¶ viii. When the child cometh headlong/ one of the hands coming out and appearing before/ as in the eight figure/ then let the birth proceed no farther/ but let the midwife put in her hand and tenderly by the shoulders thrust in the birth again/ so that the hand may be settled in his place again & the birth to come forth ordinately & naturally/ as in the first figure/ but if by this means the hand come not to his convenient place/ then let the woman lie upright with her thighs & belly upwards/ & her head downwards/ so that by that means it may be brought to pass/ and then to bring her to her seat again. ¶ ix. But if it proceed with both hands forwards/ then must ye likewise do as afore: by the shoulders thrusting it back again / until such time as the hands lie close to the sides/ and so to come forth as appeareth in the ix figure. ¶ x. But when it cometh arsewarde/ as in the ten figure may be seen/ then must the midwife with her hands return it again/ until such time that the birth be turned/ the legs and feet forward/ otherels if it may so be/ it aware best that the head might come forward/ and so naturally to proceed. ¶ xi. And if it so be that it appear & come forth first with the shoulders/ as in the xi figure/ then must ye fair and softly thrust it back again by the shoulders/ till such time as the head come forward. ¶ xii. But when the birth cometh forth with both hands and both feet at once/ as in the twelve figure/ then must the midwife tenderly take the child by the head/ and return the legs upward/ and so to receive it forth. ¶ xiii. And when it cometh brestewarde/ as in the xiij figure/ the legs and hands biding behind/ then let the midwife take it by the feet or by the head/ which that shall be most apt and commodious to come forward/ returning the rest upward/ and so to receive it forth/ but if it may be headlong/ it shallbe best. ¶ xiv. Now sometime it chanceth the woman to have two at a burden/ and that both proceed together headlong/ as in the xiv. figure/ & then must the midwife receive the one after the other/ but so that she let not slip the one whilst she taketh the first. ¶ xv. If both come forth at once with their feet forward/ then must the midwife be very diligent to receive first the one/ and then the other/ as hath been showed before. ¶ xvi. When the one cometh headlong/ the other fotewyse/ then must the midwife help the birth that is most nearest the issue/ & it that cometh fotelong (if she can) to return it upon the head/ as is spoken of before/ taking ever the heed/ that the one be not noyson to the other in receiving forth of either of them. ¶ And to be short/ let the midwife often times anoint and mollify the way and passage with some of the foresaid ointments/ to make the woman's labour so much the easyar/ & have the less throng travel and pain/ & if there chanse to be any aposteme/ or disease about that places in this time by such anointing to allay and suage the pain: so that for the time it may be the less grief to the party/ as I poke of before also/ and for them that be in this case/ it shall be best to lie groweling/ as I said of the gross fat and fleshly woman. ¶ Remedies and Medicines by the which the labour may be made more tolerable, easy, and without great pain. ¶ Cap .v. ALl such things as help the birth & make it more easy/ are those: first the woman that laboureth must other sit groveling or else upright leaning backward/ according as it shall seem commodious and necessary to the party/ or as she is accustomed. And in winter or cold whether the chamber wherein she laboureth must be warmed/ but in summer or hot whether/ let in the air to refresh her withal/ lest between extreme heat and labour the woman faint and sound/ and furthermore she must be provoked to sneezing/ & that other with the powder of Eleborus/ or else of pepper. Also the sides of the woman must be streken downward with the hands/ which thing helpeth greatly and farthereth/ and let the midwife always be very diligent providing and seeing what shallbe necessary for the woman/ anointing the privities with oil or other such grese as I spoke of before in this fashion: Take the oil of white lilies or ducks grese/ & with that temper two grains weight of Safran and one grain of musk/ and with that ointment anoint the secret parts. If this profit nothing/ then use this suffumigation. ¶ Take myrrh/ galbanum/ castorium/ let those be beaten and make like pylles of them tempered together with bulls gaul/ then take a dram of this pylles/ and put it on hot coals/ and let the woman receive the fume and savour of it underneath. ¶ Another perfume: Take yellow brimstone/ myrrh/ mader/ galbanum/ oppoponacum/ of each like much/ and temper all these together/ making of them pylles/ and with those also ye may make fume to be received underneath. Iten the fume of culver dung or of hawks dung by putting to of oppoponacum/ is sovereign for the same. All these fumes open the poors beneath/ and causeth nature to be the friar in deliverance. ¶ Also it is very good to dip wool in the juice of rue/ and the same to convey into the secrets. Also the powder of aristolochia rotunda/ or the rote called bothor martis/ or malum terre/ or the seed of staphisagre: any of these wrapped in wool and conveyed inward provoketh & calleth forth the birth. ¶ Item take heleborus/ oppoponacum/ and wrap them together in wool/ and ministre them inward: for that will bring forth & provoke the birth/ whether it be alive or dead. Also the rind and bark of cassia fistula beaten to powder/ and tempered with wine and drunken/ provoketh well the birth. ¶ Item asa fetida of the bygnes & weight of a peses mingled together with castorium of the weight of a dram: beaten together & tempered with wine mixed with water and so drunken/ is very good to provoke the birth Also canell drunk with wine is very good. ¶ Item take a scruple of roses/ with the water of the seed of fenugreek/ cicercula/ may denhere/ all beaten together and sudden/ and the oil of blue flower de luce a small quantity tempered there with all: and then give it to the woman that laboureth/ and it shall provoke the birth greatly. Also cassia lignea and asa fetida drunk with wine/ be very good for the same. Also holyoke sudden in water and drunken/ is sovereign for the same purpose/ & it is very good for her to wash her in the water/ in the which this holyoke is decoct and sudden in. ¶ Certain pylles the which make the labour easy and without pain. TAke canell or cinnamon and of savin of each a dram/ of cassia lignea a dram and a half/ of myrrh/ aristolochia rotunda/ & costemary of each a dram/ of storax liquida half a dram/ and of oppium the weight of twelve grains/ bete these all together/ and form them into pills/ and give unto the woman two drams of these pylles with two ounces of good old wine. ¶ Item Safrane and Syler Montanum provoketh the birth of any living thing/ if it be drunken: how be it to a woman give never passing a dram at once of Safrane/ for greater quantity should greatly hurt. ¶ Item take .v. drams of savin/ of rue or herb grace one dragm & an half/ of juniper byryes two drams/ of asa fetida/ amoniacum/ madder/ of each two drams: of these make pylles/ given to the woman in labour with water in the which is sudden savin and penyryall/ or else with the broth of cicercula/ and the juice of rue shall help very greatly. ¶ Item take two drams of savin/ of asa fetida/ armoniacum/ & madder/ of each half a dram/ these temper together in pills/ and give her with wine two drams of the same. ¶ Item take of aristolochia longa/ pepper and myrrh/ of each like much/ confict them together with wine & make pylles of them/ & minister them with an ounce of water of the decoction of lupines/ these pills be of such efficacy and strength that it alleviateth and unpayneth the birth/ it delivereth the matrice or mother from all manner of birth/ be it alive or dead. ¶ Item take of white bedellium/ myrrh/ and savin/ of each like much: temper these with cassia lignea and honey/ and make pylles of them of the bigness of pesen/ & of these pylles give at each time .v. to the labourer/ which be of the same might & strength with the other pills spoken of here next before. ¶ Item take of myrrh/ castorium/ and storax/ of each one dram/ temper them with honey/ and make pylles of it/ these for this purpose excel and pass all other/ they be of such virtue and strength in operation. ¶ A plaster to provoke the birth: Take wild goward/ & seth it in water/ in the same water temper myrrh/ the juice of rue/ and barley meal/ so much as shallbe sufficient/ stamp these things together/ and make it plasterwyse/ then lay it to the woman's belly between the navel and the neither part this plaster shall help marvelously. ¶ And although many other things there be the which have virtue and power to provoke birth and to help it/ yet leaving all such things for brevity and shortness we have set here such things/ which are chief and most principally conducent for the same purpose. ¶ How the Secondyne or second birth shall be sorsed to issue forth, if it come not freely of his own kind. ¶ Cap vi HEre also sometime it cometh to pass/ that the secundine/ which is wont to come together with the birth/ remain & tarry behind and follow not. And that for divers causes/ one is: For because peradventure the woman hath been so sore weakened and feblysshed with travel/ dolour/ and pain/ of that first birth/ that she hath no strength remaining to help herself to the expelling of this second birth/ another may be/ that it be entangled/ tied/ or let within the matrice/ which chanseth many times/ or that it be destitute of humours/ so that the water be flown from it sooner than it should/ which should make the places more slippery and more easy to pass thorough/ or else that the places over wearied with long & sore labour/ for pain contract or gather together/ & enclose themself again/ or that the places be swollen for anguish and pain/ and so let the coming forth of the second birth. ¶ But to be short of what so ever cause it be thus stopped/ the midwife in any wise must find such means that it may be unloosed and expulsed. For otherwise great inconuemency should chance to the party/ and specially suffocation & choking of the matrice/ which also must so much the more be taken heed to/ for because the second birth retained & kept within/ will soon putrefy & rot: whereof will ensue ill noisome and pestiferous vapours/ ascending to the heart/ the brains/ and the mydryffe/ through the which means the woman shallbe short winded/ faint hearted/ often sounding & dying without any manner of moving or steering in the pulses: ye and many times is plainly suffocated/ strangled/ and dead of it: wherefore that none of these things happen/ with all diligens and pain it must be provided that the secondyne be expelled. ¶ If retention of it come by weakness of the labourer through long travel/ then must she be recomforted and strengthened with good comfortable meats & drinks which may enharte her/ as broth made of the yolk of eggs/ or with good old wine & good fat and tydy flesh/ or birds/ hens flesh/ capon/ partridge/ pyginnes/ and such like. ¶ And if retention of this secundine come/ because the place is contract together again/ otherelles that the matrice is swollen for long pain/ then must be used such things to provoke it out/ the which do make the way slypper/ sople/ and easy for it to proceed/ with the oils or ointments spoken of before/ as oil of white lilies/ of maioram/ and of blue lilies. Item the berries of iumper or galbanum beaten to powder and drunk with luke warmed wine/ will cause the same to issue out. Iten sothernwood/ or elles penyryall sudden in wine/ and the decoction drunken/ is of the same virtue. ¶ Item to suffume the secrets with the perfumes written of before/ is good for this purpose/ & the fume of the water/ in which mallous holyoke/ and berefutte ut sudden in/ received beneath/ is like good. Also to wash that parts in water in which is sudden bran/ or to hold a little bagful of sudden bran to the place/ and therewithal to sook the place/ is very profitable. ¶ But if the retention of the secondyne come by reason that it is entangled or fastened in some place of the matrice/ so that it will not resolve ne lose then make a fume underneath of brimstone/ ivy leaves/ and cresses or else of cresses and figs. ¶ Also of all odoriferous and sweet smelling things: as ambre/ musk/ frankincense/ gallia muscata and confection near/ the which savours and perfumes put on the emberres must be so closely received underneath/ that no part of the smell do ascend to the nose of the woman. For to the nose should the savour of nothing come/ but only of such things/ the which stink or have abominable smell: as asa fetida/ casto rium/ man's here or woman's here burnt/ peacocks feathers burnt. Item in this case it shallbe very good to make a perfume underneath of the hoof of an ass/ which things although they be of ill savour/ yet they be of such nature & efficacy/ that they occasionat not only the secundine/ but also dead births to proceed & come forth out of the matrice. ¶ And in this case also let the woman with hold her breathe in ward in so much as she can/ for that shall drive downward such things as be in the bodyr to be expelled. Item let her be provoked to sneeses with the powder of eleborus or pepper put in the nose holding her mouth and nose so close as may be. ¶ Also the ointment/ which is called unguentum Basilicon/ conveyed into the matrice/ is very good/ for it mollifyeth the place and draweth out the secundine parforce/ the which so soon as it is expelled/ infude the oil of rooses in to the same matrice. Item rosewater tempered with a quantity of the powder of holyoke/ and drunk/ is good to expel the secundine. ¶ And if it be so that any part of the secundine do appear/ let the midwife receive it tenderly/ losing it out fair and softly lest it break/ and if ye doubt that it will break/ then let the midwife tie that part of the which she hath handfast to the woman's leg or foot/ not very straight/ lest it break/ neither very lax/ lest it slip in again/ and then cause her to snese. Then if the secundine tarry or stick/ so that it come not quickly forward/ then loose it a little & a little very tenderly wrething it from one side to another/ till such time as it be gotten out/ but ever beware of violent and hasty moving of it/ lest that with the second birth ye remove the matrice also. ¶ And if in this mean while the women faint or sown by reason of great pain ensuing of the taking a way of this secundine/ then must ye minister such things to her the which comfort the head and the heart as be electuaries which are conficte with musk/ ambre/ and the confection of precious stones/ as Diamargariton/ and such other. Also such things the which comfort the stomach/ as Diagalanga/ Dia cinamomun/ and such other which are alway in a readiness at the apothecary's/ the which things she shall receive with wine. ¶ Item to remove the secundine and to expel it: take rue/ horehownd/ Sothernewood/ and motherwort/ of i'the like quantity/ and than take so much of the oil of lyshes/ as may be sufficient to steep/ moisten and soak the foresaid herbs in/ put all this together into a glazed pot covered with such a cover that it have a little hole or vent above in the top of it/ then set this pot over the fire of coals/ so that it boil a while/ then take it from the fire/ and set it under the stole where the woman sitteth made for the nonce having a pipe made for that purpose of the which the one end ye shall put into the vent or hole of the cover to the pot & the other end must the party receive in to her body. And so to sit cloosed round about with clothes/ that no vapour or air go forth of the pot having a few coals under it/ to keep it hot/ and thus sit the space of an hour or two/ till such time as the secondyne move and begin to proceed of his own kind. And if it be so that ye profette not this ways/ yet then lay this plaster on the belly between the navel and the secrets/ of the which we shall speak hereafter/ the which is of such operation and efficacity that it expelleth dead births: if for all this the secondyne come not forward/ then leave it/ and use no more medicines ne remedies to that purpose but let it alone/ for with in few days it will putrefy and corrupt/ and dissolve into a watery substance/ thick like brine/ or other fex mixed with water/ & so issue forth. Howheit in the mean while it will put the woman to great pain in the head/ in the heart/ the stomach/ as we touthed before. ¶ How that many things chance to the women after their labour, and how to avoid, defend, or to remedy the same. ¶ Cap vii IT is also to be understanded/ that many times after the deliverance happeneth to women other the fever or ague/ or swelling or inflation of the body/ other tumbling in the belly/ or else commotion or setteling out of order of the mother or matrice. cause of the which things is sometimes lack of due and sufficient purgation and cleansing of the flowers after the birth/ or elles contrary wise over much flowing of the same/ which sore doth weaken the woman. Also the great labour and steering of the matrice in the birth. ¶ Then as oft as it cometh for lack of due purgation of the flowers/ then must be ministered such things/ the which may provoke the same/ whether it be by medicines taken at the mouth/ or by lotyon & washing of the feet/ or by fumes or odours or emplastration/ or by decoction of herbs serving to that purpose/ other else by ointments/ & such other things/ according as the person or the apparel doth require/ of the which things few or no women be ignorant. And ye must take diligent heed that she be exactly and utterly purged: to this be agreeable all such things/ the which provoke urine & open the veins/ making free way for the blood to pass/ & send the humours and matter downward/ as motherwort/ azure/ savin/ penyryall/ parcelye/ cheruyll/ anyse sede/ fenel sede/ iumper byries/ rue/ baybyries/ germaunder/ valeriane/ time/ cinomome/ spykenarde/ & such other. All those things as they do provoke and cause urine so do they also provoke and cause the flowers to departed. Howbeit as near as ye can use none of these things without the counsel of an expert physisyon/ lest whilst ye help one place ye hurt another/ also to sneeses helpeth much in this matter/ & to hold in the breathe enclosing the noose and the mouth. Also fumigation made of the yes of salt fishes/ or of the hoof of a horse underneath/ provoketh the flowers. If ye profit not by this means then if she be able to bare it/ let her blood in the vain/ called Saphena/ under the ankles of the feet/ for this provoketh flowers chiefly of all other things. ¶ Likewise do/ if the woman have the ague after her labour/ for that cometh of like cause by retention of the flowers/ and in the fever let her use to drink water/ in the which is decoct barley beaten/ or cicer and barley together/ or water in which be sudden Tamaryndi/ or way of milk/ and let her eat cullies made of a cock/ and sweet pome Granates: for these things do provoke the flowers/ & mitigateth the immoderate heat/ refreshing greatly the body/ losing and opening such things/ the which before were constricte and cluddered together. ¶ If the body after labour do swell & inflate then let her drink water in the which is sudden cicer and cumin beaten together. Item good old wine with the electuarium called diamarte/ or the which is called alcakengi: of the which Auicenna speaketh in his .v. book. Item gum serapine/ organnie/ and mastic. Also in this case a glister made of such things/ the which do vaynqueshe and expelle ventositees and wyndenesse/ also a pessary or suppositar made for that part of Aristolochia rotunda/ squinan tum/ storax liquida/ doronicum/ zeduaria. ¶ Again if the woman after her labour have fretting and knawing of the guts/ and pain of the matrice and other secret parts there about/ then let her use the vapour and fume of such things the which have virtue to mitigate suage and allay the pain/ as mallows/ holyoke/ fenegreke/ cumin/ camomile/ savin/ and hemlock. ¶ Also to anoint the places with oleum sesaminum/ or with oil of sweet almonds And if no great heat do abound in the woman/ she may drink treacle or trifera magna with wine in which is decoct motherwort or muggeworke. ¶ Also against pains in the privy parts/ take pennyroyal/ policaria/ six leaves of bay tree: seethe them together/ and receive the vapour underneath closely. Item take rue/ red motherwort/ sothernwood/ bete them together/ and temper them with the oil of penny rial/ and put all together into a pot/ and set it over the fire a while/ till it be somewhat sudden together/ and than take it of again/ & put it all in to a little round linen bag made for the purpose/ the which with this herbs in it ye shall convey into the secrets. ¶ Item take camomile & line of each like much four handfuls: bray them together & seethe them with white wine/ & then put it in a round bag of linen/ as before was done/ & convey it into the woman's privy parts. Iten let her drink for the same purpose ij. grains of musk with wine. ¶ Iten take white onions & cover them under the hot ashes the which when they be well roasted/ beat them together with fresh butter unsalted/ & make it in manner of a plaster/ & then put it in a linen bag/ & convey itin to the places/ as before/ in the mean while perfuming the privy parts with white frankincense & storax. ¶ If it be so that the woman be vexed about the back and loins after her labour/ take camomile / and muggewoort/ of each two handfuls of woorwode/ sothernewood of each one handful/ of motherwort three handfuls/ of cinamome and nutmegs beaten small half an ounce/ decoct all these things together/ and in the water of this decoction being warm/ dip a sponge or other linen clothes fomenting/ soaking/ and streking the back with the same/ and so do often times/ or else put all these foresaid herbs together sudden in a bag/ and lay it plasterwyse to the back. ¶ If this profette not: take oil nardine/ oil of white lilies/ of each an ounce and an half/ to the which put a dram of nutmegs beaten to small powder/ with this anoint the back. Item take oil of anise/ oil of camomile/ of each an ounce/ oil of white lilies two ounces/ of wax two drams: dissolve all these together over the fire/ and there with anoint the back. ¶ But if after the labour the flowers issue more vehemently & in greater abundance than they should/ to the great effeablysshing of the woman and inducing of much langor and painfulness: then syrst shall ye note where upon it cometh: for the cause known the disease may the more readelye be recured: and causes of it be divers: but most especial those that follow/ that is to say: Of much abundant superfluous blood contained in the hole body: or of much commistion of the melancholy humour & the blood together/ by the which the blood is e●fyred and chawfed: and so distendeth openeth and setteth abroad the veins which descend to the matrice. Also the blood being very thin and waterish: for so it penetrateth/ thrylleth/ and issueth forth the sooner. Also if the veins be very large/ & receive much blood: for in that case they send forth the more again. Also if the matrice be unmighty & weakened/ the veins likewise weak and large: so that they can not retain nor withhold the blood. Also if the body of the woman or the outward parts be very dense/ close/ and compact together: so that the outward powers be contract and shut in such wise that no vapours or sweat can issue out at them: then this shall cause the ill humours (which otherwise would pass through the powers in sweat) to remain within the body/ and there to engender and increase greater flux and abundance of matter/ which proceedeth with the flowers & augmenteth the quantity of them. Also if the veins/ which be named hemorroides/ in the matrice be open and flow forth. Also if the matrice be perished or otherwise viciat. Also if it chanse that the woman have had a fall/ or hath been thrust or beaten/ by all and any of this means may come this inordinate flux of flowers. ¶ Now sting then that it ensueth by so manifold occasions & causes it shallbe meet that women in this case be nothing ashamed ne abashed to disclose their mind unto expert physicians/ showing them every thing in it/ as they know where upon it should come: so that the physician understanding the woman's mind/ may the sooner by his learning and experience consider the true cause of it/ and the very remedy to amend it. And many things there be which seize and restrain this over much flowing of flowers: both electuaries/ confections/ trochiskes powders/ clisteres/ odours/ suffumigations baths/ plasters and ointments/ of which for the love of women I will here set forth the most principal and best. ¶ first then to stint and restrain the owtragius flux of flowers it shallbe very good to bind the arms very straight and strongly & not the feet or hands as: some unwise men do teach/ and then to set a ventose or box or cup of glass with fire (which is called boxing) under the breasts/ but cutting no part of the skin/ laying also linen clothes dipped in vinegar on the belly between the navel and the secrets: conveying also into the places such things/ which have virtue to restrain blood/ as balaustium/ the ryne of pome granate/ carabe/ terra sigillata/ bull armenyacke/ sanguis draconis/ hematites/ the red rose/ white frankincense/ and galls: all those things or as many of them as ye can conveniently get/ beat them to powder in like portion/ and temper them with thick and gross wine/ making of it a plaster/ the which so tempered put it in to a little round bag the quantity of a man's thumb the which she shall put in to the privy places. ¶ Item an other plaster to be ministered likewise: Take of the bloudestone/ called Emathites/ bull armenyacke: of each half an ounce: sanguis draconis/ licium/ of each two drams: Karabe: the cups of Acorns/ Cypress nuts/ Balaustium or psidium/ of each one dram: of the scales of iron one dram and an half: Turbyntyne and pyche like quantity/ or so much as shallbe sufficient to make a plaster: beat and bray all these together/ tempering it to a plaster: and then do with it as ye did with the other before. ¶ An ointment for the same purpose: Take oil Myrtine/ oil of rooses/ of each half a pound: Carabe/ the scraping of ivory/ the scraping of a goat's horn/ red coral: terra sigillata/ white frankincense/ of each one ounce/ of white wax three ounces/ all those tempered together/ make them in an ointment/ & therewith anoint the womb and the secrets. ¶ A batthe concerning the same: Take wurmewud/ plantain the more & the less the tops of wines/ fresh branches of wild mulberies/ unripe damsenes sloes/ or boloes/ wild peers/ meddlers or myspylles/ of each three handfuls/ of red roose leaves three handfuls/ of oak bark four handfuls/ of dayses/ of all sorts of thistles/ of each two handfuls: of cinkefoyle/ the leaves & rotes/ tormentil the roots/ colubrine/ of each an handful: also of acorn cups a sawser full/ of gawlles/ of acorns pilled/ of bursa pastoris/ of each two handfuls: beat all these to powder/ cutting and bruising that/ that will not be beaten to powder/ & seethe them together in rain water/ or else in water/ in the which ten or twelve burnt s●ones have been quenched: this done/ let the woman bathe herself in this water up to the navel/ and when she cometh forth of the bathe/ give her to drink two drams of electuarium athanasie/ or miclete/ which plantain water/ or if she be sore thurstye with red wine. ¶ And likewise ye may give unto her of these electuaries that follow: take good old roose sugar two ounces/ of red coral/ burnt ivory/ bull armenyacke/ of each two drams/ of hematites three drams/ beat all these things together/ tempering it with the roose sugar/ & let her receive of it in the morning and evening with two drams of plantain water/ or else the water of bursa pastoris. ¶ Item take the stone Emathites/ & rub it on a whetstone/ till the whetstone seem red/ then wash it of again from the whetstone with plantaynewater/ and so do oftentimes/ until such time that thou have a good quantity of it/ and every morning and evening let the woman drink two or three spoonfuls of the same. ¶ furthermore there be at the apothecary's trochiskes which help greatly in this case/ as the trochiskes of karabe/ and the trochiskes of bull armoniac which must be ministered a dram or more of either of them/ with four or .v. spoonful of plantain water. Who that requireth farther in this matter let them ask counsel of the physicians/ for we have set here but such things which may seem most necessary. ¶ Now if it so be that there be engendered any aposteme or other disease in the privy places after her labour/ then most the apostumes and diseases be cleansed/ purged/ & healed/ the pain and ache of it mitigated and suaged with the juice of the berries of solatrum and the juice of plantain/ also the oil of rooses/ so that all these things be tempered together/ and the places anointed therewith. ¶ Iten otherwise: take the wite of an egg/ woman's milk/ the juice of purselayne/ and temper all these together/ and convey it to the diseased place/ also let a bathe be made of water/ in the which be sudden psida/ red rose leaves/ the cups of acorns/ oak bark/ tormentil/ colubryne/ and cinkefoyle/ the leaves and the roots/ let all these things be sudden together/ and in the water the woman to bathe herself up to the navel: and after that the grieved parts be healed and cleansed let the place be anointed with unguentum album/ or unguentum rubeum/ which is to be had at the apothecary's/ and with such other things whose property be to refrige rate and cool. And look what cure and remedies be ministered to this places being apostumate/ or otherwise diseased/ the same also serveth/ if the matrice or any other part of the secrets be rupte or broken. ¶ Many times also it chanseth that the fundament gut cometh forth both in man and woman/ and specially in women in this business/ by reason of their great labour and striving with themself: wherefore in this case it is the mydwifes' part with her hand warmed & wet in whit wine/ to reduce it back into his place again/ the which if she can not by this means/ for because that per adventure it be swollen/ then let her dissolve butter in whit wine warmed/ and there in dip wool with the which wrap the same gut a while/ so doing often times/ till it be suaged/ that it may be returned in again and ye may use in the stead of wine lukewarm milk. And when it is thus returned and reduced into his place: take wax/ and melt it together with mastic/ or whit frankincense/ then spread it upon linen plasterwyse/ and lay it over the place where it came forth binding it to it with a linen cloth or roller for parting of/ & let this be done thus so often as she goythe to stole after that she hath done/ until such time that it be so settled within/ that it come no more out/ and if ye will not occupy wax/ then dip wool in the oil of mastic or of speak nardy/ and lay it unto the place over the fundament/ binding it fast upon the place/ as before. ¶ Item another way: wash & soak the gut with the water in which is decoct & sudden such things which exiccat dry and constrain or combyne/ as galls/ cypress nuts/ spida/ karabe/ mastic/ frankincense/ sanguis draconis/ and when it is well washed and soaked with this water/ then take the powder of an hearts horn burnt/ and strue it round about the gut/ and so restore it again in to his place. ¶ Again if it chanse/ that after the woman's labour the matrice be removed out of his place/ and appear forth/ then let it be washed and soaked with the water in which be sudden these things following: take of cupresse nuts/ spicanarde/ psida/ balaustium/ acorn cups/ of each an ounce: of mespylles and untype wild peers/ & unripe apples/ plums/ and damsens or bolous: of each a handful and such/ of those as be to be powdered beat them to powder and the rest divide/ and cut them small: then seathe them all together in rain water/ or else in water in the which steel being red hot hath been often times quenched: and in the same water let the party bathe her up to the navel/ or else dip a sponge or a lock of wool in it/ & therewith wash and soak the same matrice oftentimes then/ ever with a fair clean linen cloth wipe it clean again & strew upon it the powder following/ beaten very small and searched through silk. ¶ Take of frankincense/ karabe/ galls/ pside/ balaustie/ cypress nuts/ alum/ antymonye/ bull armoniac/ mastic/ of each like much: beat these to very fine powder/ and strew the matrice with it/ then tenderly reduce it in to his place again with warm linen clothes binding it up. ¶ But if so be that the matrice be swollen/ so that by this means it will not be restored to his natural place again/ then dissolve butter in white wine/ as ye did before/ and with the same soak it unto such time as it be assuaged/ and than reduce it. ¶ Again sometime it chanseth that the woman's navel thorough labour is dissolved/ so that it openeth itself: then make a small tent of fine linen/ and anoint it with this ointment that followeth/ and the same put it in to the navel: take white frankincense / and beat it to powder/ and than temper it with the white of an egg/ so that it be after the manner of liquid honey: with this anoint the navel within and without/ anointing also the tent/ the which being put in the hole of the navel bind some cloth over it to keep it in his place. ¶ Item many times it chanseth that thorough the great difficulty and throngs of labour the privy part and the fundament be come one/ by reason of rapture and breaking of the same part in the deliverance of the child/ and that by that means the matrice descendeth and issueth down/ the which thing chanseth sometimes by reason that the same place is very narrow and also tender/ and the birth big/ and of great groweth/ so that it proceedeth with such violence/ that it breakethe the way before it. ¶ When this mishap falleth/ then first wash and soak the matrice/ and also reduce it to his place again/ after the manner as I told you here immediately before/ then heal these brack & wound sowing of both sides of it together again with a silken thread/ as surgeons do other wounds: and if that like ye not then/ may ye cure it otherwise without sowing thus. ¶ Take two little pieces of linen cloth/ each of the length of the wound/ & in breadth two fingers broad: spread the little clothes with some fast cleaving plaster the which will cause the clouthes to stick fast where they shallbe set/ then fasten them the one on the one side of the rift/ the other on the other side/ so that nothing appear between the pieces of linen in the mids of them/ but only the cleft and rift of the wound in the breadth of a straw/ then this done/ sow these sides of linen together close as before I bed you to sow the skin: & when they be thus stytched together/ lay a little liquid pitch upon the seem: and this done the laps and sides of the word under the linen plaster will grow together again & heal/ & then may ye remove your plasters. ¶ I●em another way: take camfely dried/ & beat it to powder/ also cumin and cinnamon both beaten to powder/ join all three together/ and strew of this powder into the wound/ and without fault it shall heal. ¶ Of aborcementes or untimely births and the causes of it, and by what remedies it may be defended, helped & eased. ¶ Cap viii ABorcement or untimely birth is/ when the woman is delivered before due season & before the fruit be ripe: as in the. iij.iiij. or .v. month before the birth have life and sometimes after it hath life it is delivered before it steer being by some chance dead in the mother's womb. Of the which thing there be many and divers causes. ¶ first sometimes the mouth of the matrice is so large and ample/ that it can not conveniently shit itself together/ neither contain the feature or conception/ or it is corrupt and infect with such vicious & ill humours that it is so slippery that the feature slippeth and slideth forth. Also sometimes the matrice is apostumated & sore/ so that for pain it can not contain the conception. ¶ Item sometime the cotilydons/ that is the veins and synnues by the which the conception and feature is tied and fastened in the matrice (through the which also the feature receiveth norishment and food) be stopped with vyscous and ill humours/ or else swollen by inflation/ so that they break/ by the which means the feature destitute of his wont norishment perisheth and dieth/ and that most commonly in the second or third month after conception: wherefore Hypocrates saith: All such women which be impregnat or conceived being of a mean state in her body/ that is to say/ neither to fat or gross/ ne to spare or lean: if it chanse any such to aborce in the second or third month (no other evident cause appearing) know ye for certain that it ensueth for because the cotilydons be opplete/ stopped/ and stuffed with ill humours/ & be swollen and puffed therewith/ that they break/ and so consequently the feature drieth for fault of food. ¶ Item aborcement sometime cometh by reason that some of the places about the matrice be diseased and grieved: as if intestinum rectum/ which is called the fundament gut be exulcerat/ having the piles or hemorroides/ or the vysyke or bladder be swollen or encumbered with the stone/ the strangury/ or other ill/ in these cases through the great labour and pain the which the party hath in endeavouring and enforcing herself other to stole or to make water/ be engendered great motions downward/ by the which means many times the cotylydons be infringed and broken. ¶ Also aborcement may come of a disease called Tenasmus/ the which is when one hath ever great desire and lust to the stole and yet can do nothing/ never the less the parties greatly do enforce and pain themself to it/ as Hypocrates saith: The pregnant woman which hath tenasmum/ for the most part aborteth. ¶ Item the cough/ if it be grievous/ causeth the same/ and as the forenamed excellent phisytianes saith/ such as are very spare and lean and brought low evermore lightly doth aborte/ for because that as Auicenna writeth: all the meat and food the which they receive/ turneth to the food/ noryshment/ and restoration of their own bodies/ and so is the conception destitute of food/ wherefore necessarily it dieth. ¶ Item this chanse also cometh by over much bleading or issuing of the flowers/ when they issue immoderately. And so saith Hypocrates: If the woman yield flowers after her conception/ it can not be that the feature do long prove/ the which saying must be understand/ if they flow vehemently/ or that the party be weak and very spare/ or if it be after the third month/ for it may be well that in the first and second month flowers may issue/ and yet no danger/ for as yet little food and norishment satisfieth the conception. ¶ Item to be let blood/ may be the cause of aborcement as Hypocrates saith: which must be understand in such as have but little store of blood: but such as have great copy & plenty of blood may without any apparel (if any cause require it) be let blood/ so that it be after the four month and before the vii How be it I would that none should be let blood/ except some great and urgent cause did require it. ¶ Item it may come by taking of some strong purgation before the four month & after the seven. moaneth/ and if it be so that any necessity do so require that she must needs receive a purgation/ let it be done betwent the four and the vij month after the conception: for than may it be with lest apparel/ and se that the purgation be very gentle & easy. ¶ Also this may come by reason of a continual flux/ be it bloody or otherwise/ and specially if the woman be weak and spare/ for by that means the conception is greatly weakened and perished. Item over much vomiting may be cause of aborcement/ for by over much galping and reaching upwards the cotilydons may be broken/ and so the feature to perish. ¶ Item over much famine or hunger & also sharp and fervent sickness may be the cause hereof/ as the pestilence/ aposteme in the breast/ the sudden palsy/ the falling sickness. etc. Also over much drunkenness & excess feeding and surfeiting/ by the which the birth is suffocat and strangled in the belly and the food corrupt for lack of due digestion. Iten if the birth be sick by any outward or inward cause/ or if the secondyne in the which the feature is contained/ do break before his time and the humours and waterres of the same flow and issue forth/ causeth the place to be slippery/ and so the birth to slide away untimely/ or if the mother have taken very great cold/ which may soon chanse in the far north parts/ or over great heat/ which weakeneth both mother and child. And therefore ought women with child to eschew much bathing or going to the hot houses in their teming for that may do hurt three ways/ first that it kenleth & inflameth the air or breathe contained in the body/ and so styfleth the child and sometimes the mother to/ secondly that it relaxeth/ dissolveth/ and loseth the cotylydons/ and so maketh the birth to issue forth/ thirdly that the utter heat of the bathe increaseth the inward heat of the body/ in so much that the birth not being able to sustain and abide the heat naturally proceedeth for refrigeration & coling/ but in the time or about the time of labour she may use baths/ as I declared before for the redyar and more expedite deliverance. ¶ Item the intemperancy and mutation of the air/ and whether may be cause of aborcement/ for as Hypocrates writeth/ when so ever the winter is hot & moist/ & the spring tide after cold and dry/ such women in that spring tide may soon and of a light cause have aborcement/ or if they aborce not/ yet they shall be delivered with great pain/ and the birth shall be very weak and syckelye/ so that it shall die straight/ or if it die not by and by/ it shall prove but very slenderly/ the cause of the which thing is this: for when that such wyntering chanceth/ the hot and moist whether heateth and moisteth the woman's body/ and by that the body is opened/ unloosed/ and resolved/ no less than thought she were every day bathed/ and upon this when the spring tide cometh/ if it be cold and dry: finding the body open and unlosed after such sort/ the cold entryth and percethe the body the sooner and the more vehemently/ and the birth feeling the sudden cold and change of whether/ pineth away and dieth in the mother's belly/ or anon after it is delivered/ or if it live/ it liketh not/ nor proveth not/ and great pain shall it be to keep life in it. ¶ Item aborcement may happen by over much steering of the body in labouring/ dancing/ or leaping: or by some fall or thrust against some wall/ or beating/ or by some sudden anger/ fear/ dread/ sorrow/ or some sudden & unlooked for joy. Thus have I rehearsed all the causes of the which most commonly may ensue aborcement or untimely birth: the which no doubt is much more grief and vain to the woman then the very natural labour/ for such things as chance to man or woman contrary to nature/ or before nature doth require it/ is far greater grief than the same happening and coming in his due season. Signs whereby ye may foresee aborcement. When the woman shall labour before her time/ these signs are wont to go before: first her breasts which before were whole/ sound/ and full/ shall begin to were less/ to fall/ and to flag: & then ever for the most part aborcement followeth. But if it be so that she go with two children at once/ if one of the breasts suage/ which before was in good liking/ the other remaining sound and safe/ then look of what side the breast is of/ and the child of that side is in apparel/ wherefore Hypocrates writeth: If the right breast slake or flag/ the masculine or male birth is in parel: if the left/ the female birth: for because that for the most part when there be two at once/ the one is masculine and the other femenyne/ the man lieth in the right side/ and the woman in the left. ¶ Also an other sign of aborcement is/ when the woman hath great pains & dolours of the matrice/ and that she begin to wax red in the face/ and all parts of her body to shake and tremble/ as though it were in a fever/ or the palsy in the head. Item when she feeleth great ache in the inner part of the eyes toward the brains/ the rest of the body taken as it were with a weariness and languesshing/ these things portend and signify aborcement to be at hand/ spetiallye if at the same time the flowers issue also. ¶ Item if the woman's body do swell and inflate with a certain hardness or stiffness and that she feel stitches and as it were ven tosyte or wind running from one side of the body to the other/ and yet the belly not withstanding/ being nothing the more ponderous or weighty/ and that the same inflation do persist and continue any while the woman taking and eating such things which have virtue to discuss and vanqueshe ventosity & wyndénesse: this thing I say doth betoken apparel of aborcement through ventosity and inflation/ and that chiefly about the third or fourth month after the conception. Now have I sufficiently declared evident & sufficient signs where by may be provided and foreseen the aborcement before it come/ now will I show you the remedies/ whereby it may be averted and let. ¶ The chief remedy to avoid aborcement is: to avoid & shun all such things which may be cause of it/ the which I have competently entreated of already: but if ye fear aborcement because that the mouth of the matrice be over ample and large/ then must ye use such things/ whose operation is to contrahe/ constrain/ and bring together: as baths/ fumigations/ ointments/ plasters/ odours/ and such like/ of the which I spoke before in the seventh chapter/ and such things the which repress and stint the flowers flowing over much after the birth. ¶ Again if ye fear this apparel/ because the mouth of the matrice is moist and flypperye/ other because that the cotylydons be replete and fulfilled with vyscous humours/ and with inflations or ventosytees: then may ye defend it by using of such things/ whose qualities be to purify/ cleanse/ exiccat/ or dry/ and to repress ventosytees. ¶ How be it/ in all this matter let not to make some expert physytyan of your counsel/ if ye may have such one/ for because that many such things come/ and not all by one way or mean. ¶ And if ye doubt apparel/ for because that the matrice or other places about be infected/ exulcerated/ or appostumat/ or having the stone or strangury/ and such other things/ then ask/ and use the advise of some well learned medicine/ and he shall show you how all things shall be recured. ¶ If again ye fear aborcement/ because the party is very weak and low brought/ then let her feed on such things the which moisten and nourish well or fatten the body/ as capon flesh/ kid/ lamme/ young veal/ partridge/ and such other. ¶ Again if the woman be taken with any sharp and fell decease/ then let her be cured of the same as shortly as can be with such things the which appertain to the curing of such disease/ or if she have sustained any long famine or hunger: then let her be fed with good meats and drinks moderately taken/ and if she have surfeited by over much eating and drinking (as now a days most commonly people do) then let her abstain for a time/ & if it may be conveniently done/ let her receive some casy & gentle medicine/ which may alleviat and lighten her of her surfeiting burden. ¶ Now if it so be/ that the woman abound in blood/ then shall it be very good a little to let her blood/ both for herself and also for the birth/ which through over much adoundance of it might happen to be suffocated and strangled/ of the which thing also I have spoken largely before. ¶ furthermore if the woman fear aborcement/ by reason of contynuad cough/ or over much vomit and parbraking/ or the flux/ or of the disease called tenasmus/ or of over much issuing of blood/ whether it be by the nose/ or other parts of the body axe th'advise of a physician for remedy/ if for the fragility/ tenderness/ and brack/ of the secondyne she fear this aborcement/ for because that in this case the secondyne shall not be able to hold and contain the birth/ as for this/ there is no other medicine to defend it/ but only that the party take heed that she hurt not herself by over much moving or steering/ as by labouring/ dancing/ running/ standing/ fast going/ or carrying of ponderous and weighty things/ or lefting of the same. And to be short/ let her with all wariness take heed and be diligent that she exchue and abstain from all such things the which might cause and induce aborcement. ¶ Of dead births, and by what signs or tokens it may be known, and by what means it may also be expelled. ¶ Cap ix IT shallbe now convenient for us to speak of dead births/ how it shall be known that they be dead/ and how they may be expelled from the mother. Signs then that the birth is dead in the mother's womb be these: j first if the mother's breasts do suddenly slake/ as I touched before in the eight chapter two If it move itself no more being wont before to steer itself. in. If when the mother turneth her from the one side on the other/ she feal it falling from the one side to the other like a stone or added weight four If her belly and navel begin to were cold/ which before was wont to be temperately hot. v. If any stinking & filthy humours flow from the matrice/ & chiefly after some fell disease vi If the woman's eyes wax hollow/ & that her colour change from white to swart and dun colour/ and that her eyes and nose wax atoned/ and have not their right use/ and her lips wax wan. seven. If beneath the navel and about the secret parts she feal great throng and pain/ the colour of her face changing into worse and worse/ otherwise than it was wont to do eight If she have appetite to eat such things/ the which be against nature/ and not wont to be eaten or drunken ix If she be in her sleep vexed with bain dreams ten If she be pained continually with the strangury/ or that she enforce herself much to the stole/ and with all her power/ and yet can not do any thing. xi. If her brethe begin to stink/ the which thing lightly happeneth two or three days after the birth be dead. xii. If her hands put in to very warm water/ and then laid on the woman's belly/ and the child steer not/ is a sign that it is dead. ¶ Of all these signs now the more that come together of them at one time & in one person/ the surer may ye be that the birth is dead the which being once did/ all diligence must be had that it may be expelled out of the woman's body: but here must ye see again whether it may be expelled/ the mother's life saved or no/ for some time it chanceth that the mother dieth with all/ and sometimes the mother doth well and prospereth. ¶ Whether the mother shall be in apparel withal or no/ by these things shall ye know if the woman being in the labour sown or far as though she were in a transe/ if her remembrance fail her/ and she wax feeble and scant able to moune or steer herself/ if she (called with a loud voice) can answer nothing at all/ or else very little and that very softly/ as though her voice began to fail her: if she be invaded or taken among in the labouring with convulsion or shrynkeling together: if she refuse or can not broke meat/ if her pulses beat very fast/ the which signs when ye see in the woman labouring: it is an ruident token that she shall not live long after her birth/ wherefore commit the cure of her to the hands of almighty god/ but if none of these signs do appear/ then have good hope/ for the woman shall do well/ the birth being once departed: wherefore give all diligence to the expultion of it/ that the woman may be delivered of this dead burden: the which thing may be done by two ways/ other by medicines expulsive/ or else by certain instruments made for the nonce. ¶ first without instruments with this fumigation: take other the hoof or dung of an ass/ and put it on coals/ and let the woman receive the fume underneath. Another: take the skin of an adder/ myrrh/ castoreum/ brimstone/ galbanum/ oppoponacum/ madder that the dyerres occupy/ pigeons' dung/ or hawks dung: beat all these to powder/ and temper them with ox gall/ and make pylles of it each of the quantity of a fylbert nut/ and then put one after another in the coals/ and receive the fume thorough a pipe or conduit made for that purpose in to the privities. ¶ Another: take incense/ oppoponacum/ galbanum/ brimstone/ of each like much/ beat them together and temper them with ox gall/ and make pylles of them/ and then of the same make fumigations/ as before. ¶ A potion for the same purpose: take asafetida half a dram/ of rue iij. drams/ of myrrh two drams: & beat them to powder/ and give to the woman at each time a dram of this powder with white wine/ or with water in the which savin is sudden. ¶ Another: take figs/ fenegreke/ organnye/ and seethe them in water the which gene unto the woman to drink/ for this drink will engendre lubrycyte and slypperynesse in the neither parts/ and use also some of those things which have virtue to provoke the birth/ whereof we entreated before. ¶ Item certain pessaries or suppositaries concerning the same: take gum armoniac/ oppoponacum/ helleborus niger/ staphisagre/ aristolochia longa/ & colocynthis without his kernels: beat all these things together/ tempering them with ox gall and also with the juice of fresh rue/ then make a pessary of / and anoint and wet the pessary with the same/ conveying it into the secret places. ¶ Item another: make a pessary of woollen of the length & thickness of a finger/ and do it in the juice of rue in the which is dissolved a quantity of scammome/ and do with that pessary/ as before. ¶ Item take aristolochia rotunda/ savin/ guard cresses/ of each like much/ beat them to powder/ and temper them with ox gall: with this anoint a pessary made and ordered as before is spoken of. Item if the woman drink the milk of another woman/ it will steer and expel the birth. ¶ Item take of the juice of dyttayne or of the powder of the root of the same herb two drams/ and give the same to drink to the woman with wine/ except she be in great heat/ for than shall ye give it her with lukewarm water/ and this shall expel the dead birth without any apparel of the mother. ¶ Item take of myrrh four drams/ of cinamome/ galbanum/ castorium/ of each two drams: of oppoponacum one dram: all those beaten/ and tempered together with ox gall/ make pills of them/ wayenge each of them a dram/ and with the fume of those perfume the neither parts/ by this vapour the dead birth is brought forth/ inflammation and suffocation of blood is expelled. ¶ Item take of water mint/ sothernwood/ muggewort/ of each a handful/ of asphaltum half an ounce/ of madder two ounces and an half/ of camomile/ barotum/ fenegreke/ of each two ounces: seethe all these things together in rain water: in the which let the woman bathe herself/ then take of hensgrece and ducks grease/ of each four drams: to the which add two ounces of oil of anues sede/ with this ointment anoint the woman's head coming out of the bath: then take datestones & beat them to powder a dram and a half/ with a scruple of safrane tempered together with whit wine: the which let her immediately drink after she come forth of the bathe. ¶ Item take oppoponacum/ & make there of a pessary the quantity of a finger/ convey it into the privities/ this expelieth the dead birth. ¶ Item take of galbanum a dram or some what less: of goats milk an ounce and a half or two ounces in the which the galbanum being dissolved/ give it to the woman to drink. ¶ Item a plaster for the same: take galbanum beaten and tempered with the juice of motherwort/ and of this make a plaster by putting to of wax a certain quantity/ than take a linen cloth of such length & breadth that it may cover all the belly under the navel to the privities from one side to the other/ on this cloth spread this plaster of the thickness of a straw/ and lay it to the belly. Item take the treacle which is called diatessaron: and give of it to the woman for to drink/ and it will expel this dead birth. ¶ But if all these medicines profette not/ then must be used more severe and hard remedies/ with instruments/ as hooks/ tongues/ and such other things made for the nonce. And first the woman must be laid a long upright/ the middle part of her body lying higher than all the rest/ companyed of women assisting her about to comfort her/ and to keep her down/ that when the birth is plucked out she rise not withal. Then let the midwife anoint her left hand with the oil of white lilies or other that may make it sople and smouth: and holding out her fingers shytting together her hand let her put it to the matrice to feel and perceive after what fashion the dead birth lieth in the mother's womb: so that she may the better put in hokes and such other instruments to pluck it out with all. ¶ If it be so that it lie the head forward/ then fasten a hook other upon one of the eyes of it/ or the roof of the mouth/ or under the chin/ on one of the shoulders/ which of these parts shall seem most commodious and handsome to take it out buy/ and the hook fastened to draw it out very tenderly for hurting of the woman. ¶ But if it lie the feet forward/ then fasten the hook on the bone above the privy parts/ or by some rib/ or some of the back bones/ or of the breast bones/ and when this hook is thus fastened/ the midwife may not by and by draw and pluck at it/ but holding it in her left hand/ let her with her right hand fasten another in some other part of the birth right against the first/ and then tenderly let her draw both together/ so that the birth may proceed and come forth on both sides equally/ moving it from one side to another/ till ye have gotten out together/ and now and then to help it in the coming forth with the forefinger well anointed/ if it chanse to stick or to be let any where: and as it cometh forth/ alway to remove the hooks farther and farther on the dead birth. ¶ Again if it chanse that one of the hands only of the birth do appear/ & that it can not conveniently be reduced & returned upward again/ by reason of the narrowness of the place/ then byndt it with a linen cloth/ that it slip not up again/ and then to pluck it outward/ until such time that the hole arm be out and then with a sharp knife cut it of from the body/ and even so do if both hands appear first at once/ or one leg or both/ if they can not be returned back/ to be otherwise taken out convenient lie/ as ye cut the arm from the shoulders/ so likewise cutting the legs from the thighs/ for the which purpose the surgeons have me●e instruments made for the nonce with the which such legs and arms may soon be cut from the body/ these parts being once rese●te and cut from the body/ then turn the teste/ so that it may easily proceed with as little pain to the mother/ as may be. ¶ If it be so that the child's head be so swollen by inflation/ swelling/ or resort of humours that it will not conveniently issue out that narrow places/ then let the midwife with a sharp penknyfe cut open the head/ that the humours contained in it may issue and run forth/ and so the head to wax less able to be plucked out: but if it so be that not by any such casualte the head be big/ but only of a natural groweth/ then must the head be broken in pieces/ and the parts evermore taken forth with such instruments/ as the surgeons have ready and necessary for such purposes. ¶ Again if that after the head were come forth/ yet the breast part would not follow for greatness/ then must ye break and cut likewise that part/ unto such time that it may be had forth. And even so likewise/ if all the rest of the body should be so swollen that it would not proceed ne come forth/ then must it likewise be broken in pieces/ & so had forth. ¶ furthermore if by chanse or bysease it come to pass that the mouth of the matrice be exulcerat or apostumat/ so that the passage be made the narrower by that means/ the drier and the more contract/ then must ye first study and endeavour you to sople and ease the places by oils & other greces/ such as I spoke of sufficiently before in the fifth chapter with baths and fumigations. ¶ Also if the dead birth come sydelonge/ then must ye do what may be dove to convert & torn it to such fashion/ that it may most easily be brought forth: the matrice & other secrets must be anointed/ perfumed/ and vapored with such things/ the which may make it more ample & large/ if it can not be thus had forth hole: then let it be cut out by peses meal/ as is before spoken of. And if after this deliverance the flowers issue over vehemently/ then use such things as have virtue to restrain them/ of the which I have spoken in the vij chapter before. But contrary to all this/ if it chanse that the woman in her labour die/ & the child having life in it/ then shall it be meet to keep open the woman's mouth/ and also the neither places/ so that the child may by that means both receive & also expel air & breathe which otherwise might be stopped/ and then to turn her on the left side/ & there to cut her open/ & so to take out the child/ & they that are borne after this fashion be called cesares/ for because they be cut out of their mother's belly/ whereupon also the noble Roman cesar the i of that name in Rome took his name. ¶ How the infant newly borne, must be handled, nourished, and looked to. ¶ Cap ten AFter that the infant is once borne/ by & by the navel must be cut three fingers bredthe from the belly/ & so knit up: then as Auicenna writeth/ let be strued on the head of that that remaineth/ of the powder of bull arm nyacke/ & sanguis draconis/ sarcocolla/ myrrha and comyne/ of each like much beaten to powder/ strew on the cut of that piece that remaineth/ then upon that bind a piece of wool dipped in oil olive that the powder fall not of: some use first to knit the navel/ and after to cut it so much/ as is before rehearsed. ¶ And furthermore some say that of what length the rest of the navel is left/ of the same length shall the child's tongue be/ if it be a man child. Item Auicenna saith that divers things may be known by merking of the child's navel/ for as he saith/ when the woman is delivered of her first child/ then behold the navel of the child/ which if in that part of it which is next un to the body it have never a wrinkle/ it proten death and doth signify perpetual from thenceforth sterilite or barrenness/ & if it have any wrynkles in it/ then so many wrynkles/ so many children shall the woman have in time to come. Also some add to this & say: that if there be lytteli space between these wrynkles in the navel/ then shall there be also little space between the bearing of the children/ if much/ it syngnifyeth long time between the bearing of them. ¶ Now to return to our purpose/ when that the navel is cut of/ & the rest knit up: anoint all the child's body with the oil of acorns/ for that is singularly good to confirm/ steadfast/ and to defend the body from noisome things/ which may chance from without: as smoke/ cold/ & such other things which if the infant be grieved with all/ street after the birth/ being yet very tender/ it should hurt it greatly. ¶ After this anointing wash the infant with warm water/ and with your finger (the nail being pared) open the child's nosestrelles/ and purge them of the filthiness. Item it shallbe good to put a little oil into the eyes: and also that the mother or nurse handle so the child's sitting place that it may be provoked to purge the belly. And chiefly it must be defended from over much cold or over much heat. ¶ After that that the part extante or boging forth of the navel is fallen/ the which commonly chanseth after the third or four day then on the rest remaining strew the powder or ashes of a calves hoof burnt/ or of snail shells/ or the powder of led/ called red led/ tempered with wine. ¶ furthermore when the infant is swadeled and laid in cradle/ the nurse must give all diligence and heed that she bind every part right and in his due place and order/ and that with all tenderness and gentle entreating/ and not crokedlye and confusely/ the which also must be done oftentimes in the day: for in this is it as it is in young and tender imps/ plants/ & twygges'/ the which even as ye bow them in their youth/ so will they evermore remain unto age. And even so the infant if it be bound and swadeled/ the membres dying right & straight/ then shall it grow street and upright/ if it be crokedlye handled/ il will grow likewise/ and to the ill negligence of many nurses may be imputed the crookedness and deformity of many a man and woman/ which otherwise might seem well favered as any other. ¶ Item let the child's eyes be oftentimes wiped and cleansed with a fine and clean linen cloth or with silk: and let the arms of the infant be very straight laid down by the sides/ that they may grow right/ and sometime stroking the belly of the child before the vesike of bladder to help to ease and to provoke the child to the making of water/ and when ye lay it in the cradle to sleep/ set the cradle in such a place that neither the beams of the son by day neither of the moan by night come on the infant: but rather set it in a dark and shadow place: laying also the head ever somewhat higher than the rest of the body. ¶ And farther let it be washed two or three times in the day/ and that anon after step in the winter with hot water/ in the summer with lukewarm water: neither let it tarry long in the water but unto such time as the body begin to waxered for heat: but take heed that none of the water come in to the infant's ear/ for that should greatly hurt his hearing another day. Then to be short/ when it is taken out of the bathe/ let it be wiped and handled with gentle and soft linen clothe warmed/ and then to lay it on her lap the back upward/ the which with her hands let her tenderly stroke and rub/ and then to lap it up/ and to swadell it/ & when it is swadeled/ to put a drop or two of water in to the nostrils of it/ is very good for the eye sight. And so lay it to rest. ¶ Of the nurse, and her milk, and how long the child should soucke. AS conterning the bringing up nourisshement and giving of suck to the child/ it shall be best/ if the mother give her child suck herself/ for the mother's milk is more convenient and agreeable to the infant then any other woman's/ and more doth it nourish it/ for because that in the mother's belly it was wont to the same and fed with it/ and therefore also it doth more desyrouslye covet the same/ as that/ with the which it is best acquented/ and to be short/ the mother's milk is most holsomste for the child. As Auicenna writeth: it shall be sufficient to give it suck twice or thrice in a day. And always beware/ ye give not the child to much suck at once in this tender age of it/ for clowing of it/ and lest also it loath it/ but rather let it have often of it/ and little at once/ then few times/ and over much at once. For such as be over clowed with the mother's milk/ causeth their body to swell and inflate/ and in their urine shall it appear that it is not over come ne concocied or digested in the child/ which thing yet if it chance/ let the infant be kept fasting/ until such time as that the which it hath received already/ be completely digested. Item if the mother's milk be somewhat sharp or eager/ let her never give the child her breast fasting. ¶ If it be so that the mother can not give the infant suck herself/ either for because of sickness or that her breasts be sore and her milk corrupted: then let her choose a wholesome nurse with these conditions following. ¶ first that she be of a good colour and complexion/ and that her bulk and breast be of good largeness. Secondly that it be not to soon after her labour/ ne to long after/ so that it be two months after her labour at the lest/ and that (if it may be) such one which had a man child/ thirdly that she be of mean and measurable liking/ neither to fat ne to lean. fourthly that she be good and honest of conversation/ neither over hasty or ireful ne to sad or solemn/ neither to fearful or timorous: for these affections and qualities be parnicious and hurtful to the milk/ corrupting it/ and pass forth through the milk in to the child/ making the child of like condition and manners/ also that they be not over light & wanton of behaviour. Fyftelye that her breasts be full and have sufficient plenty of milk: and that they be neither to great/ soft/ hanging/ and flagging/ ne to little/ hard/ or contract/ but of a measurable quantity. ¶ Also look upon her milk/ that it be not blackysshe/ blueysshe/ grey or reddysshe/ neither sour/ sharp/ saltysshe/ or brackysshe/ neither thine & fluye/ neither over gross and thick: but temperately white and pleasant in taste: and to be short: that milk is best and most to be chosen of the which a drop being milked softly on the nail of the thumb holding your finger still/ it rolleth not of/ neither flitteth abroad/ but if ye move your hand a little it will slide of by and by: but if when it is milked on the nail it spread abroad/ & flit by & by/ then is it to thine: but if it cleave still when that ye move a little your hand then is it so spysse & thick/ the mean between both is best. ¶ If it be so/ that the nurses milk be to hot or sharp/ then let her never give the child suck herself being fasting. Sometime it chanceth/ that the mothers or nurses milk doth fail or decrease/ the which thing may come by divers causes: as by sickness/ by decease in the breasts/ or by taking of cold in the same/ and so stop and cludder the milk: or for because she lacketh such things/ the which might engender milk/ other by over much fasting/ hungres/ and thirst: the which causes must be well considered/ and then according to that minister a remedy. ¶ Things which do augment & increase milk/ be those: let her use to eat parsenyp/ other the seed or the rote. Also the seed or rote of fennel sudden in the broth made with barley or cicercula: let her eat of that with other meats that she feedeth on. Item to eat sheeps breast and the milk of them is good. Item take an ounce of cow butter/ & dissolve it in warmed wine/ the which let the nurse drink. Item boxing under the breasts doth well/ not cutting the skin. ¶ Item a plaster for the same of frankincense/ mastic/ and pitch laid to the breasts or under the breasts the skin first being anointed with oil/ left it should cleave over fast to the place. Item it shallbe very good to rub softly with the hand the breasts/ or else in bathing after dinner or supper to cause some to suck her breast. Item take the oil of white lilies or of violets/ and mingle with it musk/ incense/ & laudanum well tempered together/ in the same dyppe a peses of wool/ and clap it to the breasts/ and soak them with it. Item wash them/ and soak them often times with wine/ in the which is decoct and sudden mints/ roses/ violets/ and xiloaloes. Also to eat of the broth in the which is sudden a hen/ with cynamome/ maces/ and cardamomum / and also the yowlke of an egg. Item it is good for her to eat fresh cheese and milk/ and to refrain from all manner of great labour and hard works. Also pottage made of bean meal/ rise/ and bread made of fine flower/ tempered with milk and sugar/ putting to it also a quantity of fennel seed or of the ●eues/ is very good for her. ¶ Item take of anise seed/ of syler montanum/ of each iii drams/ of crystal beaten to powder. u. drams/ & as much of sugar/ give her this to drink about ten days at morning/ evening/ & myddaye. Iten take of fennel seed or the leaves/ & of horehownde of each two hanofulles/ of ams sede iiij. drams/ of safrane beaten one scruple: also of fresh butter three ounces/ & seethe all these in sufficient water/ making hereof a plaster/ & the same plaster whilst it is hot/ lay it to the nurses breast. ¶ Item take of common seed an ounce & an half/ & of clarified honey three ounces: seethe it in vi li. weight of water together being put into a new pot & let it seethe to the third part/ & of this decoction give the nurse them oftentimes to drink. Iten take of beets well washed one ounce: of common half an ounce of honey vi ounces: of these mingled & tempered together/ make an electuary/ of the which let her take both in the morning and evening at each time a spoonful. Iten take two drams of crystal beaten into fine powder & divide that in four equal parts/ one of these parts give unto the nurse the space of four days to drink/ with broth made other of cicer/ or else of peason: also all those things following increase & augment milk in the breasts: annes & annes sede/ dyll & the seed/ horehownde/ cardomome/ fresh cheese/ wortes made of old ehece/ cicer/ crislal beaten to powder & taken with honey: lettuce/ fennel/ wine in which rosemary or serpillum be sudden. Iten to abstain from venery or man's company/ for if she use that/ it shall spend & consume the milk & make it unsavoury & unwholesome: neither can the child well broke it/ but most commonly shall cast it up again/ because it can not digest it Also it shallbe best that the child suck not of the mother's breast by and by as soon as it is borne: but rather of some other woman's for a day or two/ for because that the cream (as they call it) straight after the birth the first day in all women doth thycken and congeyle. ¶ Item if it chance that the nurse be over sore laxed/ or that she be over bound/ so that she take any medicines to remedy it/ then let another give the child suck/ whilst she be recovered again. And when the child is laid in cradle to be rocked: rock not to fast/ lest through over much rocking and steering the child's stomach torn and the milk there corrupt for lack of rest. ¶ Avicen adviseth to give the child suck two years/ how be it among us most commonly they suck but one year. And when ye will ween them/ then not to do it suddenly/ but a little and little/ and to make for it little pylles of bread & sugar to eat & accustom it so/ till it be able to eat all manner of meat: & this shall suffice for the education and bringing up of infants at this time/ notwithstanding divers other things here are left unspoken of/ another time god willing we shall declare them at large. ¶ Thus endeth the first book. THE second BOOK. ¶ Of divers deceases and infirmities which chance to children lately borne, and the remedies therefore. ALL though there be in manner infinite deceases which hap to infant's/ as writeth Hypocrates/ Galenus/ Rasis/ Amcenna/ and divers other: yet for brevity and shortness we will rehearse here only such of them/ which most commonly happen to the same/ and that be those: Exulceration of the gums/ flix of the belly or over much looseness of the same/ the belly hardbownd/ the cramp/ the cough/ & distillation of the head/ short wynded/ bladders on the tongue/ exulceration or chipping of the mouth/ aposteme in the ears/ aposteme in the brain/ swelling and bolning of the eyes/ scum or cream of the eyes/ the fever/ gnawing in the belly/ the body swelling and puffed up/ often sneezing/ whelks or bladders on the body/ swelling of the cods/ swelling of the navel/ unslepynesse/ yexing/ appetite to parbreak/ fearfulness in the dreams/ the mother/ issuing out of the fondament gut/ worms in the belly/ chawfing/ the falling sickness/ the consumsyon/ the palsy/ trembling of the parts of the body/ the stone/ gogell eyes. ¶ How to cure and to remedy all these/ now will I show in order. first in exulceration of the gums are wont certain pushes and as it were wheels grow on the gums or in the corners of the jaws/ the which put the place to much grievance: and to remedy this it shall be good that ye with your finger rub the infant's gums and the pushes or whelks with all: and then to anoint the same gums with ointment made of hens grese/ hare's brain/ oil of camomile mixed with honey/ other else turpentine tempered with honey/ then take water/ and in it seethe camomile and dyll/ the which water being hot: power it on the child's head/ holding it a foot above the head. ¶ Of the flix or over much looseness of the belly. For this take the seed of roses/ cumin/ anyse and the seed of smalege: beat all those together and make them plaster wise/ and lay it to the child's belly: if it stint not by this remedy/ then take of the coagulum of a kid a half penny weight or a little more/ & give it to the child to drink with cold water/ and all the same day let the child be kept from sucking/ lest the milk should cured in the stomach of it/ but in the mean while let it eat of the yowlke of poached eggs/ or of white bread sudden in water. ¶ And farther if that it which the infant voideth be of/ red or yellow colour/ then let drink, of the syrup of roses/ or of crabs/ other elles of pome granates/ tempered with a little mint water. ¶ Item another medicine: take leaven and in water break it/ & let it steep a while/ then strain it through a linen cloth/ then take of the syrup of violets the weight of an half penny/ of spodium/ called ivory/ the weight of a scruple/ of gauls the weight a dram and a half: temper all these things together/ and give it to the infant to drink. ¶ Item take the seed of sorrel/ and beat it/ then temper it together with the yowlke of a roasted egg/ and give that to the child to eat. ¶ Item take a gaulle/ & beat it to powder/ then seethe it in water with this water/ temper barley meal/ or the meal of millium/ & make a plaster of it/ the which lay unto the child's belly. ¶ If this profit not: take of acatia & seruse of each a dram/ of opium the weight of an half penny/ of sugar a dram/ & of all these tempered together/ make a suppositary of the length of a finger & an half the thickness of two wheten strawys twined together/ & the same conveys into the infant's fundament/ & it shall seize the flix. ¶ Iten if that that cometh from the child/ be whytysshe/ then take of nut megs the weight of the eight part of a dram/ and of white frankincense a scruple/ the which temper it with the juice of a quynse/ and give it to the child to drink. ¶ Item take an ounce of safrane/ of myrrh/ a quartar of an ounce and temper them with red wine/ making of it a plaster/ the which lay unto the child's belly. Item take the meal of barley/ temper it with the juice of plantain and a little vinegar/ and make it plasterwyse/ and lay it to the child's belly. ¶ Item take the juice of centinodium and the white of an egg: and temper them together/ to the which add the powder of dried red roses/ the powder of hematites/ mastic frankincense/ bull armenyacke/ sanguis draconis and psida: of all these mixed together make a plaster/ and lay it to the infant's belly. ¶ Item to wash the child with the water in the which be sudden leaves of red rooses is very good. Item take the juice of confery and the juice of plantain the more and the less/ and in this put clay of an old furnyse or oven/ and make of it a plaster/ and lay it to the child's belly. ¶ To unloose the child being bounden. If the child be so bound/ that it can not siege: then make a suppositary of honey sudden till it be hard and massy/ and let the suppositary be of the length of your little finger/ & the bigness of two whetestrays bound together/ then dip it into oil and convey it into the child's fundament. ¶ Item likewise ye may make a suppositary of the stalk and rote of betes/ or else of the rote called oresse or flower de luce rote/ made of the quantity before spoken of/ & conveyed into the sitting place of the child. ¶ Item to give to the infant as much honey as a pease to drink & to rub the belly a little/ and to sople it with a piece of wool dipped in oil/ or dipped in bulls gall/ & laid to the navel. Item ye may give unto the nurse a medicine which hath virtue to unbind and loose/ and the next day after let the child suck her/ and it will lose also the child. ¶ Item take of mouse dung half a dram and temper it with the fat in the kidneys of a goote/ & make a suppositor of the same. Item take of small mallows/ of great mallows of each an handful of fenegreke and lynsede of each an handful/ of holycke two ounces/ of figs the number of ten seethe all these together in water/ & then stamp them in a mortar/ and put unto it of butter and of hens grease two ounces/ and of safrane one scruple/ and make a plaster of it upon a linen cloth of the thickness of a straw/ and lay it to the child's belly a day and a night. ¶ If this move not the belly/ then take of aloes one dram/ of eleborus both niger and albus of each xu grains/ beat these to powder/ then temper them with three spoonfuls of the juice of walwort or of ox gall: in this liquor dip wool/ and lay it to the navel the breadth of a hand/ and bind it to the place. ¶ Item take the juice of wallwurte and of mill meal and seethe those together/ till they be thick/ then make a plaster thereof/ and lay it to the belly beneath the navel. Item take two handfuls of red roses and put them in to a bag of four fingers breadth/ then seethe it in the water wherein smiths quench their hot iron/ putting to it a little vinegar/ them take out the bag again/ and wring it a little/ then lay it to the child's stomach. Item to anoint the child's belly with butter/ the which hath styped and stand long in the rind of walnuts/ is very good. ¶ Remedy for the cramp or distension of the membres. If it chance that the infant be taken with the disease/ called the cramp/ the which for the most part cometh of indigestion and of the weakness of the power attractive: & specially in such children the which be very fat and moist/ then shall ye anoint the infant with the oil of flower-de-luce or elles white lilies/ other the oil of rue. If the cramp take the child whylste it stretcheth forth the arms/ legs/ and other members (as we be wont in gaping or yaning) then let it be bathed and washed in water/ in the which tapsus barbatus is foden in/ or elles anointed with the oil of violets/ and the oil of sweet almonds tempered together/ and if the child be in great heat anoint him with the oil of violets/ or with oil olive/ tempered with a little white wax/ and also power on the child's head the oil of violets. ¶ Remedy for the cough and distillation of the head. Sometimes the child is sore encumbered with the cough and with distillation or running of humours out of the head/ to the nose/ the mouth and the breast: the which he shall remedy thus: first power warm water on the child's head holding it a foot & a half from the child's head/ and so do continually the space of half an hour/ and in the mean while put a little honey on the child's tongue to chaw upon/ then put your finger in to the child's mouth/ and depress or hold down the inner most part or the rote of the tongue next to the throat/ to provoke the child to vomit/ and to void the gross and viscous humours which be cause of this ill. ¶ Item take gum arabic/ gum dragagant/ the sede of quynces'/ the juice of lycoryse/ and sugar penedium: all this beaten together/ give every day to the child a quantity of it with milk new milked. Item take sweet almonds and blanch them/ & then beat them in a mortar/ and than seethe them with the juice of fennel/ or else the water thereof: of this decoction give to the child at evening and morning. Item the water of fennel tempered with milk/ and so drunken/ is very good. ¶ And if it so be that the cough have exasperate and made rough the tongue & the roof of the mouth/ then take of the sedes of rydonium two spoonfuls: bruise them a little and steep them in warm water the space of two or three hours: then strain the vyscose and gross water from them through a strainer/ and that remaineth/ fry it together in a frying pan with sugar penidium & the oil of sweet almonds thereof making an electuarium: the which give unto the child to receive: if the child have great heat with the cough/ then add unto the same electuary the juice of a sweet pome granate. ¶ Item against the cough & over much heat: take of white poppy/ and tragacanth two drams/ of the grains of Gowards four drams/ and beat all these together/ & give of it to the child with the water in which reasons have been sudden. ¶ Item take reasons/ and taking out the seed or grains of it: seethe them together with water in a frying pan/ so that they burn not to the bottom of the pan/ then take it from the fire/ and beat it well in a mortar tempering there with all sugar penidium/ and give of this in the morning & evening to the child. ¶ Again if the cough come of a cold cause/ then take a little myrrh beaten to powder/ and temper it with a quantity of warmed honey and the oil of sweet almonds/ and of this give unto the child. ¶ furthermore the nurse must avoid all such things the which may engender cough: as vinegar/ over much salted meats/ nuts/ and all sharp things. Also she must anoint the child's breast with butter and with dialtheas. ¶ Item for the cough: take reasons/ and fry them in a frying pan/ then stamp them in a mortar/ and to that add as much of sugar penidium/ with a little oil of violets/ and make an electuary of these/ and give to the child the mountenance of a hazel nut. ¶ Remedy for short wind. Many times chanceth also to infant's difficulty of breathing or short wyndenesse/ the which to remedy: take line sede/ & beat it/ and give it on the child with honey: but if the disease increase on the child/ & that the wine pipes in manner seem stopped/ then anoint well the ears/ and all the places about the ears with oil olive/ and also the tongue for to provoke vomit/ and then power a little warm water in to the child's mouth/ and give to it a little lynesede tempered with honey and beaten/ made after the fashion of an electuary. ¶ Item if the child have besides this also the flix: then give unto it the syrup of myrche decoct with honey/ other elles dates sudden with milk/ and the meal of wheat. ¶ Against wheels or bladders on the tongue. Item sometimes happeneth to children wheels and blisters on their tongues and mouth/ which thing cometh of the sharpness and eagerness of the nurses milk/ the mouth & tongue of the infant being so tender that the lest thing that toucheth it/ shall offend it/ wherefore besides that it is great pain to the child thus to be blystered by the eagerness of the milk it is also very perilous & dangerous/ for such wheels which be not ripe and seem black/ betoken death/ which if they be white or yelowyshe/ then they be of less apparel. Against this ill: take violets/ roses/ and xylocaracta/ and temper all these beating them together/ & lay of it upon the blisters. ¶ Iten take the juice of lettuce/ the juice of solatrum/ and the juice of purcelayne/ which when they be well commyxte and tempered together/ anoint there with the whelks. And if the foresaid blysterres or whelks be blackysshe/ then add to the foresaid myces lycoryse beaten to powder. ¶ Item if the same be very moist/ then take myrrh/ galls/ the ryne of frankincense: beat them well together/ and temper them with honey/ and anoint the child's tongue there with. ¶ Item take the juice of sharp mulberries other else of unripe grapes/ which is called vergeus/ & with that anoint the tongue. Iten it is very good to wash the tongue with wine/ & then to strew upon it the powder of galls/ or else of the bark or rind of frankincense. ¶ If ye will have a quyckar medicine in operation & a sharper/ then take bull armeny/ psida and sumach of each three drams/ also of galls two drinns of alum one dram: all these beat together & search them through a serchar/ & strew that powder on the blysterres. Iten if this wheels be reddish & cause much spettyll to gather together in that place/ then let the nurse use such things which are moist & cold/ and let her chaw in her mouth very small a few fatches/ of the which lay on the infant's mouth & tongue. ¶ Iten amidum tempered together with rose water/ & put on the child's tongue/ is good. Iten take the juice of pome granates/ the juice of quynces'/ or the juice of orynges/ & do of this on the child's tongue in like manner/ but if the wheels or blisters be somewhat yelowysh then to these juices spoken of before add the juice of lettuce & of purcelayne. ¶ But if the wheels seem whitish/ then take of myrrh/ & of safrane/ of each one dram/ of sugar candy two drams/ and beat these to powder and lay of it on the wheels and the tongue. ¶ Of exulceration or clefture, chapping, or chyning of the mouth. Sometimes by reason of the hardness of the nurses paps the child's lips & mouth be exulcerat having in manner of clefts and chins in them and in this case take tozed wool/ and dip it in the juice of plantain/ or else in butter molten/ or in fresh hens grese every of them being warm and with this anoint the mouth and lips of the child. ¶ Of Apostumation and running of the ears. When that humours and matter issueth out of the ears which properly cometh of abundant humours in all the body/ & most specially in the head/ then take a peses of wool/ and dip it in honey mixed with red wine/ to the which is put also a little quantity of alum beaten to powder/ or of safrane/ then make of the same as it were a tent/ and put it in the child's ear/ & when the wool hath sucked and drawn to it the humour and filthiness of the ear/ then take it out/ and put in new/ and if that/ the which cometh out of the ear be as matter/ then take of sudden honey and tempered with water/ put of it in to the ears/ or else take the powder of galls tempering it with vinegar/ and do like wise. ¶ But if the child haut great pain & dolour by windiness/ ventosity and the humours in this place/ then seethe organnye or myrrh with oil olive and so being warm put of it in to the ears. ¶ Of Appostumation in the head. If there be any apostume engendered in the head (which many times chanceth) the which causeth the cheeks and eyes to be greatly pained/ and the eye sight to wax wannysshe or tawny/ then must be applied such things which may refrigerat and cool the brains: as take of the juice of gowardes and the juice of solatrum/ and the juice of purcelayne/ and temper them with the oil of roses/ in this dip a peses of wool and lay it to the head/ and as oft as it waxeth dry/ dip it again/ and likewise lay it to the head. ¶ Of the swelling or bolning of the eyes. Against swelling & bolning of the eyes: take licium/ and temper it with woman's milk/ and put of it into the child's eye/ and bind it to the place with fine and soft linen cloth/ then afterward wash the eyes with water in which camomile and basil have been sudden in. If that in this swelling the eyes be not red/ neither the brows swollen/ then take myrrh/ aloes/ safrane/ & the leaves of roses/ and temper all these/ and steep them in old wine: and bind it to the thyldes' eyes with some linen cloth/ & into the child's nose put a quantity of ambre dissolved in woman's milk. ¶ Of the scum or white of the eye. Against the scum or white of the eye which for the most part happeneth to children thorough over much crying & weeping: take the juice of solatrum/ and drop of the same in to the child's eye/ and if by the same chanse the vain of the eyes wax reddysshe/ or be swollen/ then anoint them with the same juice. ¶ Against immoderate heat or the fever. If the infant be in great & vehement heat contrary to nature/ the which is called a fever. first it shallbe the nurses part to eat and use such things the which cool and moisten Also to give unto the infant of these things following: the juice of pome granate/ the water of gourds/ sugar/ with a little camphor mixed here with all/ tempered well together. Iten it is very good to provoke it to sweiing. ¶ Iten take of the juice of worm would/ of plantain/ malows/ & sengreen/ and temper them all together/ in the which also mixed barley meal/ and make a plaster of all these/ and lay it to the child's breast. Iten take the oil of roses & the oil of poplar/ & mixed them together with this ointment being cold/ anoint the child's forehead/ the temples/ the arms/ the hands about the wrists & pulses/ & the feet about the ankles. Iten take of barley meal and of dried roses & powdered/ & temper these with the water of roses & the water of endive/ & make thereof a plaster/ the which lay to the child's breast. ¶ Also as often as the child is washed/ let it be done with water in which is sudden such things which cool/ as lectuse/ purcelayne/ endive/ plantain/ and such other. ¶ Against fretting or gnawing in the belly. If the child be vexed with fretting and gnawing in the belly/ the which thing ye shall know by the immoderate crying of the child/ and that it turneth from one side to another with great crying/ then shall you take warm water/ oil olyfe/ and a little wax/ tempering them together/ and herein dip a peses of wool/ and there with soak the child's belly oftentimes. ¶ Agaynstc swelling of the body. When the child's body or any part there of is swollen and puffed up/ then take the tops of elder tree/ and of walwort: and seethe them in white wine/ & therein lap the infant/ specially if it be not taken with over great heat/ but if so be that with swelling in the head the belly be swollen also/ then take myrrh/ aloes epaticus/ & safrane/ and beat them all together/ and temper them with the juice of beans/ and lay it to the thyldes' head. ¶ Against often sneezing. Sometimes the infants be sore troubled and vexed with often starnutation and sneezing / which thing if it come of the apostume in the head: then shall ye minister such things to the head which refrigerat and cool/ whether it be oils/ ointments/ juices of herbs or other things. If this come of any other cause then of apostume/ then take basilicum/ be it green or dry/ and put of the juice or powder of it into the child's nose but if this sneezing come and begin with heat/ & that the child's eyes seem as they grew in ward for pain of this sneezing/ then lay to thyldes' head the leaves of porcelain/ or gowarde cut in thin pieces and tempered with the oil of rooses and barley meal/ and also the yowlke of an egg. ¶ Of whelks in the body and the cure. These whelks if they appear black upon the body/ they signify apparel of life/ and so much the more the greater quantity that there is of them/ but if they seem whitish or reddish/ it is no apparel/ & may easily be cured: wherefore take the leaves of the red rose the leaves of myrtles & of tamariscus/ and seethe these in water/ and in that water wet a linen cloth/ & soak there with the whelks. Iten like wise it is good to anoint the same with the oil of roses/ of myrtylles/ & tamariscus. If the whelke be white or reddish/ then let them be ripe/ before ye minister any thing to them/ & when they be open & begin to mattery/ then anoint them with the ointment of ceruse. Item it shallbe very good for the same purpose to wash the same whelks with mulsum & hydromel/ in which salt peter hath been styped & dissolved. ¶ Against swelling of the cods. Many times chanceth to children (thorough over much crying) swelling about the cods/ & sometimes burstennesse & swellynge in the inner part of the thighs. Against this ill take the seed of ameos: beat it & temper it with the yowike of an egg/ & lay it to the swelling or burstenneste/ and thereto bind it with some gentle linen cloth. Item take bitter lupines & myrrh/ and steep them in wine/ and seethe them together making hereof a plaster/ the which lay to the grieved part. ¶ Item take of alum xiii drams/ of galls xi drams: beat them/ and seethe them together in red wine/ till it be thick/ of this lay on the grieved place/ holding also upon it a sponge dipped in water/ mixed with vinegar/ oftentimes renewing the same when it is wasted. Also you may take the aforesaid decoction/ putting unto it a quantity of size/ and seething them together/ & make a plaster of it/ & spread it on a linen cloth/ and so bind it to the place/ and often times to renew it. ¶ Against swelling of the navel. Also sometimes the child's navel swelleth/ & specially strait after the birth when it is cut/ for this take spike celtyke/ which some call marry mawdelyne flower/ the which women use to put in lie/ & seethe it in the oil of sesamun mixed with turpentyne/ then in this dip wool/ & lay it on the place the thickness of a finger. ¶ But if so be that this swelling come of over much crying/ cough/ or of a strooke or fall/ then take lupines & the powder of fair old linen cloth burnt to powder/ and temper these with red wine/ & then in this dip a peses of tow/ and lay it to the navel. ¶ Against unslepynesse. Against unslepynesse/ that is/ when the child is destitute and wanteth his due and natural rest/ all the while crying and weeping/ for this take the stalks of poppy/ and the seed with all/ and temper it with the oil of lectuse and the oil of poppy/ all these being mixed together/ bind them with some linen cloth to the forehead & temples of the child. ¶ But if this unslepynesse come of the impurity and illness of the nurses milk (as many times it doth) then take of the oil of violets/ and put unto it a little quantity of vinegar/ and of this liquor drop often times in to the child's nostrils/ or else take the oil of rooses/ and temper it with the juice of lettuce/ and therewith anoint the head and stomach of the child/ & farther see that the nurses milk be amended. ¶ Item take the syrup of white poppy/ & give of it to the child to drink/ anointing the forehead and temples with the oil of violets/ in which is put a little quantity of safrane and of oppium. ¶ Against yexing. Against yexing: take a nut of ynde/ and beat it/ tempering it with sugar/ and give it to the child to eat: this yexing cometh other of over much meat/ or for lack of meat and emptiness of the stomach. ¶ As often as it cometh by the abundance of meat & coldness of the stomach/ then anoint the stomach with the oil of bays warmed/ other else lay to the stomach a plaster made of the seed of dill beaten and tempered with the juice of mints. ¶ But if it come by defect and lack of meat and emptiness of the stomach/ take the oil of violets/ or of rooses/ or the juice of endive/ or of any other such herbs/ the which have power to infrigidat & cool/ and temper the same with woman's milk/ and anoint therewith the child's stomach. Also give the child to feed upon milk & other good and wholesome things to sup neither pass not greatly/ though the child reject and vomit up again that the which it receiveth/ for so much ever will remain in the stomach that shallbe sufficient to sustain it and to moisten it. ¶ Of yerkenesse or appetite to vomit. Against over much appetite to vomit/ bete four grains of cloves/ and give it to the child. Item take of mastic/ white frankincense/ and the leaves of the red roose/ so much as shallbe sufficient/ and all these beaten together/ temper them with the juice of mints/ and make a plaster of it laying it to the child's stomach: but if the child's vomiting be very vehement/ then put unto these foresaid thing a quantity of vinegar. ¶ Item take fine meal/ and bake it so hot/ till it were brown/ then beat it to powder again/ putting it in to vinegar/ & to these add the yowlke of an egg hard roasted/ mastic/ frankincense/ & gum arabycke/ and temper all these with the juice of mints/ making of it a plaster the which lay to the child's stomach/ & to the child's mouth hold a warm toast of bread. ¶ Causes of this ill be iii the first/ if the child have taken more milk than it is able to concoct & digest: the second/ if the nurses milk be over thin/ waterysh/ and fluyshe: the third/ if the same milk be impure feculent and corrupt: these causes pronoke vomit/ and spetiallye if the child also have a weak and waterysshe stomach/ wherefore ye must help the infant after this manner: first let the child suck less than it did before/ and then also mark that the which the child doth parbreak/ whether it saver sharply like vinegar/ and that it be whytysshe: for if it be so/ then take of white frankincense eight grains/ of dried rue twenty grains/ beat these to powder/ and give it to the child to drink/ with the syrup of red rooses. ¶ Or else let the nurse chaw common/ and so put it into the child's mouth/ give also of the syrup of pome granates/ with the powder of dry mints to the child. ¶ Item take of xiloaloes one dram/ of galls ten grains: beat all those to powder/ temper it with the syrup of rooses/ putting to it a little of nutmegs/ and give of this to the child to drink ever before it suck/ also to the stomach of the child lay this plaster. ¶ Take mastic/ accatia/ xiloaloes/ galls/ white frankincense/ toasted bread/ of each like much/ beat them together putting to of red rooses and tempering it with the syrup of rooses/ and so lay it to the child's stomach. ¶ But if it so be that the parbraking of the child saver not after the fashion of vinegar/ but after some other sour savour/ & that it be not whitish/ but pale & grayesshe then give it the juice of quynces'/ and lay this plaster unto the child's stomach: take barley meal/ wild mulderyes/ and psida/ beat all these together/ and temper it with roose water/ and lay it to the child's stomach. ¶ And furthermore if the child's stomach be some what waterish and slow in digestion/ then anoint it with the water of roses/ in the which musk hath been dissolved/ or else the water of myrtles: and give it to drink the juice of quinces with a little cloves and sugar/ or with a scruple of nutmegs/ there with tempered and mixed. ¶ Against fearful and terrible dreams. verse other things there be which might be here rehearsed/ but this shallbe suffitient. ¶ Consumption or pining away of the body. When the infant falleth away/ and the flesh rebateth remaining nothing but as it were skin and bone/ and thereby the child waxeth sickly/ then let the infant be often bathed in water/ in which hath been sudden the head & the feet of a ram/ so long till the flesh part from the bones of his own accord/ and every time that the child cometh forth of the bathe/ first let it be wiped and dried clean/ & then anoint it with this ointment: take fress he butter/ oil of violets/ or oil of rooses/ of each ii drams/ of swynesgrece vi drams/ of white wax four drams: melt all these things together/ and make an ointment of it/ anointing there with the child's body. ¶ Item take white wax/ swenes grease/ sheeps tallow/ fresh butter/ melt all these things together/ & strain them/ making of it an ointment to anoint the child withal. ¶ Of lassitude, weariness, or heaviness of the child's hody. Sometimes it chanceth that the child's membres of the body be so feeble/ as though it hath the palsy/ so that with that parts of the body the child can not help itself/ neither can it left up the hands/ arms/ ne stand on the feet/ if the child have this disease whilst it sucketh/ then let the nurse be comforted and strengthened with such things the which have virtue to heat and to dry. Also let the nurse feed only on roasted or fried meat/ & that she forbore from milk/ fish/ and hard or salted powdered flesh. ¶ furthermore let not the nurse use any watered wine/ or mixed: & let her bathe the child ever before that she give it suck/ after anointing it with the oil of castorium/ or the oil of costum/ & let the child drink every day a quantity of this electuary following: Take wild mint/ cynamome/ cumin/ dry roses/ mastic/ fenugreke/ valeriane/ ameum/ doronicum/ zedoarium/ cloves/ sanders/ xiloaloes/ of each a dram/ of musk half a dram/ beat all those to powder/ & confycte them with clarified wine/ making thereof an electuary/ of the which every day give unto the child the, iiij. part of a dram to drink. If the child have this disease in every part of his body/ then take an ounce of wax/ and a dram of euforbium/ temper them together with oil olive/ and make hereof a plaster/ and lay it to the reins of the back. ¶ Of trembling of the body and the membres of the body. If the child happen to be vexed with trembling and quaking of the body or the parts thereof/ so that ye fear that shrynckling of the part/ or that the falling sickness should ensue/ then remeady it after this means: take the oil of rooses/ and the oil of nardus/ and temper them together/ warming it/ and there with anointing the back book or reins and the other shaking membres/ ye may also take any other oil/ the which hath virtue to warm and calefye/ as the oil of bays/ and such other. If thou can not cure it by this means/ then demand farther counceill of the physytyons. ¶ Of the stone. If the child be emcombred with the stone or with any other thing the which may let, and stop the urine/ the which may be known by these tokens: first if he have the strangury/ if it be provoked often to piss and yet can do but little at once/ and that with great pain and dolour/ if the urine be thin and clear/ and also (being a man child) if the prick be ever standing: all which things ye shall remedy thus: ¶ first bathe the child in water wherein is decoct malous/ holyoke/ lynsede/ and paritorye/ then give it to drink some such thing which hath quality to provoke urine and also when the nurse layeth it to sleep/ let her anoint the privy parts with oil and give the child to drink the water of mulberies with milk/ or otherwise: take the blood of a goat/ and the powder of a scorpion/ with the oil of scorpions/ or the oil of white lilies tempered plasterwyse/ and lay it to the child's belly above the privy membres. ¶ Of google eyes or looking a squynt. If the child have google eyes/ or that it look a squynt/ then first set the cradle in such a place/ that the light may come directelye and right in the child's face/ neither in the one side/ neither in the other/ neither above the head/ lest it torn the sight after the light. Also mark/ on which side that the eyes do goggle/ and let the light come unto it on the contrary side/ so to return the sight. And in the night season set a candle on the contrary side/ so that by this mean the gogling of the eyes may be returned to the right place. And farther it shall be good to hang clothes of divers and fresh colours on the contrary side/ and specially of the colour of light green/ or yellow/ for the child shall have pleasure to behold these strange colours/ and in returning the eye sight toward such things/ it shallbe occasion to rectify the sight again: and this shall be sufficient for this time of the diseases of children/ after they be borne making here an end of this second book. THE third BOOK. ¶ Of such things the which shallbe entreated of in this third book. ¶ Cap i IN these two precedent books we have sufficiently for this time declared such things the which are wont to happen unto women before their labour/ in their labour/ & also after their labour/ and farther of such infirmities and diseases/ which are wont to vex the infant after it is delivered into this world/ with competent remedies for the same. ¶ And here in this third book (by the leave of god) shall briefly be declared such things which may farther or hinder the conception of man/ which as it may be by divers means letted and hindered/ so also by many other ways it may be farthered and amended. Also to know by certain signs and tokens whether the woman be conceived or no/ & whether the conception be male or female/ and finally certain remedies and medicines to farther and help conception/ & so to conclude this small tract or treatise. ¶ Of conception, & how many ways it may be hindered or letted. ¶ Cap ii THere is nothing under heaven which so manifestly & plainly doth declare & show the magnificent myghtynesse of that omnipotent living god/ as doth the perpetual and continual generation & conception of living things here in earth/ by the which is saved/ prorogued/ & augmented the kind of all things. And where that this almighty lord & creator hath so institute & ordained/ that no singular thing in itself (here upon the earth) should continually remain & abide/ yet hath he given from the beginning and instincted such a power and virtue unto these mortal creatures/ that they may engender and produce other like things unto themself/ & unto their own sunilitude/ in the which always is saved the seed of posterity/ were not this provision had by almighty god/ the nature & kind of all manner of things would soon perish & come to an end/ the which virtue & power of generation many times doth halt & miss/ by defect & the contrary disposition in the parts generant. As ye may evidently see in the sowing of corn and all other manner of seed/ so that there be in all manner of generation three principal parts concurrent to the same: the sour/ the scade sown/ and the receptacle or place receiving and containing the seed. If there be fault in any of these three/ then shall there never be due generation/ unto such time as the fault be removed or amended. The earth unto all seeds is as a mother & nurse containing/ clipping and embracing them in her womb/ feeding and fostering them as the mother doth the child in her belly ormatrice/ until such time as they come unto the groweth/ quantity/ & per fection due unto their nature and kind but if this seed conceived in the bowels of the earth do not prove or fructify/ then be thou sure that other there is let in the sour/ in the seed/ or else in the earth. The earth may be over waterysshe/ dankesshe/ or over hot and dry/ or else full of stones/ gravel/ or other rubryshe/ or full of ill weeds/ which may strangle and choke the good corn in his growing/ also the seed may be putrefied/ or otherwise viciat and corrupted/ and so the life & spirit of it vanished away and destroyed. The sowar may unordynatlye strew and cast the seed on the earth. etc. So that if there be let in none of these three parts concurrent to generation/ or that the lets be removed & done away/ then doubt less will ensue multiplication and encreasement of that kind/ of the which the seed cometh/ according to the natural inclination the which almighty god hath enplanted and set in the kind of all things. ¶ How many ways conception may be letted. and how the causes may be known. ¶ Cap iii every thing then the which doth increase in his kind must first be conceived in the womb & matrice of the mother/ which is apt and convenient for the receipt of such seed. And as I said before/ as there may be defect and lack in the mother receiving the seed/ so may there be fault and defect in the sour/ & in the seed itself also. ¶ And in woman there may be four general causes/ by the which the conception may be impedyte and let: over much calidite or heat of the matrice/ over much coldness/ over much humidite or moistness/ & over much dryness. Any of these four qualities exceeding temperancy/ may be sufficient causes to let due conception. ¶ Wherefore the right excellent physician Hypocrantes in the .v. book of his Amphorysmes saith: All such women the which have cold and dense matrices/ can not conceive/ nor such as have moist and waterysshe matrices can conceive/ for the power of the seed is extinguished in it. Also having dry matryces/ conceive not/ for the seed perisheth for lack of due nutriment and food/ but that matrice the which hath all these qualities in temperancy/ that is fruitful/ this is Hypocrates saying/ the which thing also may be well perceived by a familiar example of the sowing of corn. ¶ For if it be sown in over cold places/ such as be in the parts of a country/ called Sithia/ and in certain places of Almaigne/ or in such places where is continual snow or frost/ or where the son doth not shine/ in this places the seed or grain sown/ will never come to proof/ nor fructyfye/ but through the vehement coldness of the place in the which it is conceived/ the life and quickness of the grain is utterly destroyed and adnyhilat. ¶ And farther as concerning over much humidite: If ye sow your grain in a fen or marysse and watery ground/ the seed will perish through the over much abundance of water which extynguyssheth the liveliness and the natural power of the grain and seed. ¶ Likewise if it be sown in such a country or place where is over great heat/ not tempered with water & rain/ or if the year be so dry/ that there came no rain at all to allay the extreme & faruent heat of the son/ then shall the seed sown whither & dry away/ and the power of it be consumed & burnt. ¶ Also if it be sown in dry places/ where never cometh rain/ or on the sand/ and gravelye places/ in such a place the grain can never take/ ne prove/ ne be conceived in it to come to any fruit or profit. ¶ Wherefore if the matrice be distempered by the excess of any of these four qualities/ then must ye reduce it again to temperancy by such remedies/ as I shall show you hereafter. Likewise may there be defect and lack in the man/ as if the seed be over hot/ the which the woman shall feal/ as it were burning hot/ or to cold the which he shall feal/ as it were in manner cold as yise/ or to fluye or thin. etc. divers other other ways also it may be letted/ which shall not need here to be rehearsed. ¶ Now if the woman can not conceive/ the cause coming of over much frigidite and coldness in the matrice/ that shall she know by these tokens: she shall feal great cold about the sides/ the reins of the back and the matrice/ her urine shall appear white and thynnysshe/ and sometimes also somewhat spysse and thick/ and all manner of cold things shall noye her/ hot things shall greatly comfort her. ¶ But if it come by over much humidite of the matrice/ that shall she know by these signs: If the body of her be of a fat and gross disposition/ if with her flowers issue forth at the beginning and the latterende of them certain vyscous and watery substance/ and that her urine be white/ thick/ and sometime as it were milk. also that she feal great cold and pain about the matrice & privy parts/ & much dolour in her sides and in the reins of her back. ¶ And when over much heat or drieth in the matrice/ is cause of the hindrance of conception/ then is the urine high coldred/ red or yellow/ being thin with certain motes appearing in the water/ the woman hath great thirst/ and bitter rising or belching out of the stomach in to the mouth. And many times they that are in this case/ be very spare and lean in all their body/ having also but small quantity of flowers/ the which thing may happen other by over much watch/ or over much fasting/ labour/ travel/ sorrow/ sickness. etc. But such women which naturally are thus spare & lean/ may very hardly be brought to a temperancy again & be made apt to conceive. And this shallbe sufficient for this time to know which quality by his excess causeth sterilite/ now will we show how it shallbe known whether lack of conception be in the woman or else in the man/ and how to know whether the woman be conceived or no/ according to the mind of right expert doctors of physic. ¶ How to know whether lack of conception be of the woman or of the man, and how it may be perceived whether she be conceived or no. ¶ Cap four IF ye be desirous to know whether the man or the woman be hindrance in conception: let each of them take of wheat and barley corns/ and of beans of each vii the which they shall suffer to be steeped in their several urine/ the space of xxiiij hours/ then take two pots/ such as they set gylyflowres in/ fill them with good earth/ & in the one let be set the wheat/ barley/ & beans/ styped in the man's water/ & in the other the wheat/ barley/ and beans/ styped in the woman's water/ and every morning the space of eight or ten days/ let each of them with their proper urine/ water the said seeds sown in the forenamed pots/ & mark whose pot doth prove/ & the seeds therein contained doth grow/ in that party is not the lack of conception/ but see that there come no other water or rain on the pots. ¶ Iten according to Hypocrates writing if ye will know whether the fault be in the woman or no/ then let the woman receive in to her body underneath/ being well and closely closed round about the fume of some odoriferous perfume/ as laudanum/ storax/ calamity/ lignum aloes/ musk/ ambre/ and such other/ and if the odour and savour of such things ascended thorough her body up unto her nose/ ye shall understand/ that sterilite cometh not of the woman's part/ if not: then is the defect in her. ¶ Item if she take garlic being pilled out of the husks/ and convey of it into the privy parts/ and if the scent of it ascended up through the body unto the nose/ the woman is faultless/ if not: then is there lack in her. These are signs to know whether the lack be in the man or the woman. ¶ Whether she be conceived already or no/ ye shall know by these signs: first the flowers issue not in so great quantity as they are want/ but wax less and less/ and in manner nothing at all cometh from them. Also the breasts begin to wax rounder/ harder/ and styffar than they were wont to be/ the woman shall long after certain things otherwise than she was used to do before that time. Also her urine waxeth spysse and thyckysshe/ by retension of the superfluyties. Also the woman fealeth her matrice very fastelye enclosed and shit/ in so much that as Hypocrates saith/ the point of a needle may scace enter. ¶ Item to know whether she be conceaned or no/ according to Hypocrates mind/ in the .v. of his Ampho. give unto the woman when she is going to bed a quantity of mellicratum to drink/ and if after that drink she feal great pain/ gnawing/ and tumbling in her belly/ then be ye sure/ that she is conceived: if not/ she is not conceived/ this mellicratum is a drink made of one part wine/ an other part water sudden together/ with a quantity of honey. ¶ But if ye be desirous to know whether the conception be man or woman: then let a drop of her milk or twain be milked on a smooth glass/ or a bright knife/ other elles on the nail of one of her fingers/ and if the milk flew and spread abroad upon it/ by and by then is it a woman child: but if the drop of milk continue and stand still upon that/ the which it is milked on/ then is it sign of a man child. Item if it be a male/ then shall the woman with child be well coloured/ and light in going/ her belly round/ bigger toward the right side then the left/ for always the man child lieth in the right side/ the woman in the left side. ¶ Of certain remedies and medicines which shall cause the woman to conceive. ¶ Cap .v. ALl sterilite then for the most part ensueth and cometh of the dystemperancye of one of these four forenamed qualities/ wherefore the remedy and cure of the same when it chanceth/ must be done by such things/ the which have contracye power & operation to the excessive qualities for by that shall it be reduced to his temperancy again. ¶ As if that coldness and moistness exceeding temperancy in the matrice be occasion of sterilite/ then must she apply such things to that place/ the which be of nature hot & dry/ the which may calify and warm the place/ and also dry up the ill moistness and humours contained in the same/ hindering conception. ¶ Wherefore take of savin/ baytreleves/ the flowers of camomile/ melylote/ maioram/ caprifolium/ herba paralysis/ cytron leaves/ and such other things of aromatycall and hot nature: and seethe these in water together/ and let the woman receive the vapour and fume hereof underneath in to her body through some conduit or pipe made for that purpose: her clothes being close about her/ that none of the vapour or air issue out/ & over this let her sit all a night/ if she may/ receiving ever the fume hereof in to her body/ and in the morning let her accompany with her husband/ and she shall conceive. ¶ A bathe also for the same purpose: when the time of her flowers about the end of the last quartar of the moon is almost finished: let her bathe herself in a bathe/ where in is decoct & sudden caprifolium/ malowes/ french malowes/ holyoke/ rooses/ iunyper berries/ parytarye/ wild mints/ bay leaves/ myrtylles/ savin/ camomile/ pynpernell/ mints/ maioram/ cytron leaves/ basil/ penyryall/ and such other. But before that she bathe her in this water/ it shallbe best for her to be purged and cleansed from the cold humours with theodoricon/ or with benedicta/ or with the pylles which be called sinequibus esse nolo/ to be had at the apothecary's/ and than let her enter in to this foresaid bathe/ and when she cometh forth of the bathe again/ then let her take of diamargariton/ or of muscata/ to the quantity of a nut/ drinking it with good and odoriferous or well sinelling wine/ other else let her take of this electuary following/ which is very excellent for that purpose. ¶ Take of spike/ nutmegs/ cloves/ zedoarium/ galingale/ long pepper/ dry rosesstorax/ alipta muscata/ of each of these like much/ then take of the root of tormentil as much as of all the other forenamed things together/ and beat all these to powder/ tempering them with a sufficient quantity of clarified honey/ to the which also add a little of pure musk. Of this electuarium both evening and morning the space of ten days let the woman take to the mountenance of a nut with good odoriferous wine bathing herself also every day the space of the said ten days: at her coming forth of the bathe/ receiving of the foresaid electuary/ then also let her perfume her privities with the savour and fume of laudanum/ frankincense/ xiloaloes/ storax/ ambre/ alipta/ xilobalsamum/ and such other things. And after this let her make a supposytarye anointed with magna trifera/ or esdra/ with the powder of olibanum/ and the dyle of bays mixed and tempered together/ and let her retain this supposytarye in her privities all the day time the foresaid space of ten days/ and then at the ten days end (the man and woman accompanying together) god willing/ she shallbe conceived/ & these be the remedies if the defect & lack of conception come by reason of coldness and moistness. ¶ But if it come by distemperance of the matrice in hot and dry/ first let the humour which is cause of it/ be purged by conneniente medicines/ & then every night the space of ten days let her bathe herself in warm water/ nothing else being put unto it/ & in this batthe let her remain not long/ and at her coming forth give her to drink of trifera magna/ with watered wine/ and after this receive she the vapour & fume of the decoction of these herbs underneath into her privy parts: take violets/ beerefote/ parytarye/ and penyryall/ seethe them in water: and then convey in to the same place a supposytary of trifera magna with the powder of olibanum. ¶ Item a suppositarye which is wonderful good in expelling and dowing away such things which let conception: take of siler montanum beaten to powder two drams/ of the renatte of an hare the four part of a dram/ and temper these together with clarified honey and the oil of bays/ & anoint here with a supposytarye/ the which let the woman retain in her secrets the space of a day and a night. ¶ Iten a supposytary made of hare's dung and honey tempered together/ is very excellent for the same purpose/ but let the woman abstain from all manner of salt and sharp meats/ and use to drink good odoriferous and pleasant wines allayed with water. ¶ Also to drink of the wine in which is dissolved musk/ or elles viscus quercinus/ is good to help to conception/ also the heart bone of an heart/ and the scraping of ivory is very good for the same. ¶ Item a supposytary for the same/ which hath been many times well proved for that purpose: Take garlic pilled and cleansed from the husks/ and seethe it in the oil of rooses/ or else the oil of maioram unto the time that it be dissolved/ and that all the moystenes be departed from it/ then take it out of the oil again/ and stamp it/ & then wrap it in wool/ and convey it supposytarywyse in to the privy parts/ and there keep it the space of a day: this thing is marvelous good for conception/ and hath been well proved. ¶ divers other lets of conception and remedies for the same might here have been declared/ which for brevite and shortness we for this time do let pass/ making here an end of this treatise/ the which we have composed and translated out of Latin/ to the honour of God/ the utility and profit of all honest matrons. Deo gratias. ¶ Imprinted at London/ by. T. R. Anno Domini. M. CCCCC.XL.