|b{THE_BOOK_OF_QUINTE_ESSENCE_OR_THE_FIFTH_BEING;_}
|b{That_is_to_say,_MAN'S_HEAVEN.}
|b{Ed._from_British_Museum_MS._Sloane_73_}
|b{about_1460-70_A.D.}
|b{by_Frederick_J._Furnivall,_}
|b{EETS_OS_16_(1866;_rev._ed._1889)}



|p1


THE BOOK OF QUINTE ESSENCE
OR THE FIFTH BEING;
That is to say,
MAN'S HEAVEN.

|r[Sloane_MS._73,_f.10,_Brit._Mus.]
|r------------------------
|r_BOOK_I.


|r[f.10a]  |r<b> With e myt, wisdom, & grace of e holy trynite, I write
          to ou a tretice in englisch breuely drawe out of e
     book of quintis essencijs in latyn, at hermys e prophete and
 |r4 kyng of Egipt, after the flood of Noe, fadir of philosophris,
     hadde by reuelacioun of an aungil of god to him sende, at
     e wijsdom and e science of is book schulde not perische,
     but be kept and preserued vnto e eende of e world, of alle
 |r8 holy men from al wickid peple and tyrauntis, for greet perilis
     at myte falle erof. For wiinne is breue tretis, wi e
     grace of god, I wole more determine of practif an of theorik.
     itt ben boe nedeful / The firste and souereyneste priuyte at
|r12 god, maker of kynde, ordeyned for mannys nede, how at olde
     euangelik men, and feble in kynde, myte be restorid, and haue
     aen her firste strenkis of onge in e same degree at is in
     al kynde, & be mad hool parfitly, except e strok of e
|r16 undir blast, & violent brusuris, and oppressynge of to myche
     betynge / Also perilous fallyngis of hi placis, to myche absty_nence,
     & oere vuel gouernaunce aens kynde, And also e
     teerme at is sett of god, at noman may a-schape, as Iob sei in
|r20 latyn / "Breues dies hominis sunt &c." Forsoe philosophoris



|p2


     clepen e purest substaunce of manye corruptible ingis elemen_tid,
     `quinta essencia,' at is to seie, `mannys heuene,' drawe out
     by craft of mani; for whi, as quinta essencia superior, at is,
 |r4 heuene of oure lord god, in reward of e.iiij elementis, is
     yncorruptible & vnchaungeable / rit so |r[f.10b] quinta essencia su_perior 
     inferior at is to seie, mannys heuene, is incorruptible,
     in reward of e .4. qualitees of mannys body; and so it is
 |r8 preued naturaly at oure quinta essencia, at is, mannes heuene,
     in it-silf is incorruptible; and so it is not hoot and drie wi
     fier / ne coold and moist wi watir / ne hoot & moist with eyr,
     ne coold and drie wi ere; but oure quinta essencia avayli to
|r12 e contrarie, as heuene incorruptible / But vndirstonde at oure
     qui[n]ta essencia is nout so incorruptible as is heuene of oure
     lord god; but it is incorruptible in reward of composicioun
     maad of e .4. elementis; & it hath .iij. names by the philoso_phoris
|r16 , at is to seie / brennynge watir / e soule in e spirit of
     wyn, & watir of lijf / But whanne e wole concelle it, anne
     schal e clepe it `oure quinta essencia'; for is name, & e
     nature erof, rit fewe philosophoris wolde schewe / but sikurly
|r20 ei biriede e true with hem. and witi weel that it is clepid
     brennynge watir; and it is no brennyng watir: forwhi, it is not
     moist ne coold as comoun watir; for it brenne, & so doi not
     comyn watir; ne it is nat hoot and moist as eir for eir cor_rumpi 
|r24 a ing a-noon, as it schewi weel by generacioun of flies,
     & areins, and siche oere; but sikirly is is alwey incorruptible,
     if it be kept cloos fro flit / Also it is not coold and drie as ere.
     for souereynly it worchi & chaungi. And it is not hoot and
|r28 drie as fier, as it schewi by experience; for hoot ingis it keli,
     & hoot sijknessis it doi awey / Also at it eue incorruptibi_lite,
     and kepi a ing fro corruptibilite |r[f.11a] and rotynge, it is preued
     us / Forwhi. what pece of fleisch, fisch, or deed brid, be putt
|r32 erinne, it schal not corru[m]pe ne rote whilis it is erinne /
     miche more anne it wole kepe quyk fleisch of mannys body
     from al manere corruptibilite and rotynge / This is oure quinta
     essencia, at is to seie, mannys heuene, at god made to e con_seruacioun



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     of e .4. qualitees of mannys body, rit as he made
     his heuene to e conseruacioun of al e world / And wite e for
     certeyn at manye philosophoris and lechis at ben now, knowe
 |r4 nout is quinta essencia, ne e true erof / Forwhi; god wole
     not at ei knowe it; for her greet brennynge coueitise &
     vicious lyuynge / Forsoe quinta essencia superior, at is to seie,
     heuene of oure lord god bi him silf / Aloone / eue not conser_uacioun 
 |r8 in e world, and wondirful influence, but by e vertue
     of e sunne, planetis, and oere sterris; rit so oure quinta
     essencia, at is, mannys heuene, wole be maad fair wi e sunne
     mineralle, fynyd, schynynge, incorruptibile; and euene in qualite
|r12 at fier may not appeire, corrumpe, ne distroie. and is is verry
     gold of e myn, of e ere, or of e floodis gaderid / for gold of
     alkamy maad with corosyues distroie kynde, as aristotle and
     manye oere philosophoris prouen / and erfore good gold na_turel,
|r16 & of e myn of e ere, is clepid of philosophoris `sol' in
     latyn; for he is e sonne of oure heuene, lich as sol e planet is
     in e heuene aboue; for is planete eue to gold his influence,
     nature, colour, & a substaunce incorruptible. And oure quinta
|r20 essencia, mannys heuene, is of e nature |r[f.11b] & e colour of heuene /
     And oure sol, at is, fyn gold of e myne, schal make it fair, rit
     as sol e planete maki heuene fair / and so ese two togidere
     ioyned schal eue influence in us, and e condiciouns of heuene
|r24 and of heuenly sonne / in as miche as it is possible in deedly
     nature, conseruacioun and restorynge of nature lost, & renew_ynge 
     of onge / And it schal eue plenteuously heele: and so it
     is preued by astronomy aboue, at sterris at ha influence vpon
|r28 e heed and e necke of man / as ben e sterris of arie, taurus,
     and gemini, euen influence syngulerly vpon Gerapigra galieni /
     And erfore it ha a synguler strenke, by e ordynaunce of
     god, to drawe awey e superflue humouris fro e heed, e necke,
|r32 and e brest, and not fro e membris bynee / And so I seie of
     spicis at drawi humouris fro e knees, e leggis, and e feet,
     at resseyuen a synguler influence of e sterris of Capricorn,
     Aquarie and pisces, & rit so of oere, et cetera / Comounne
|r36 e not is book of deuyne secretes to wickid men and auerous;



|p4


     but kepe e it in priuytee / Take e beste wiyn at e may
     fynde, if e be of power; & if e be rit pore, anne take
     corrupt wiyn, at is, rotyn, of a watery humour, but not egre,
 |r4 at is, sour, for e quint essencia erof is naturaly incorruptible
     e which e schal drawe out by sublymacioun / And anne
     schal er leue in e ground of e vessel e .4. elementis, as it
     were, rotun fecis of wiyn / But firste e muste distille is wiyn
 |r8 .7. tymes; & anne haue e good brennynge watir / Forsoe,
     is is e watri mater |r[f.12a] fro which is drawe oure quinta essencia /
     Thanne muste e do make in e furneis of aischin, a distillatorie
     of glas al hool of oo. pece, wi an hoole a-boue in e heed, where
|r12 e watir schal be putt yn, and be take out / And is is a 
     wondirful instrument at at ing at by vertues of fier ascendith
     and distillith wiinne e vessel, per canales brachiales, at is, by
     pipis lich to armys, be bore aen, and eftsoones ascendith, &
|r16 eft descendi contynuely day and nyt, til e brennynge water
     heuenly be turned into quintam essenciam / And so bi con_tinuelle 
     ascenciouns & discenciouns, e quinta essencia is
     departid fro e corruptible composicioun of e .4. elementis.
|r20 For bifore at ing at is twies sublymed is more glorified, and
     is more sotil, and fer from e corrumpcioun of e .4. elementis
     more separat an whanne it ascendith but oonys; and so vnto
     a ousand tymes, so at by contynuel ascendynge and descend_ynge, 
|r24 by the which it is sublymed to so myche hines of glorifi_cacioun, 
     it schal come at it schal be a medicyn incorruptible
     almost as heuen aboue, and of e nature of heuene / And
     erfore oure quinta essencia worily is clepid `mannys heuene' /
|r28 And aftir manye daies at it hath be in is sotil vessel of glas
     distillid / e schulen opene e hoole of e vessel in e heed at
     was selid with e seel of lute of wijsdom, maad of e sotillest
     flour, and of white of eyren, and of moist papere, ymeyngid so
|r32 at no ing respire out / And whane e opene e hoole. if er
     come out a passyn e heuenly swete flauour at alle men at
     come yn naturely |r[f.12b] drawe erto. anne e haue oure quinta
     essencia / and ellis sele e vessel, and putte it to e fier aen
|r36 til e haue it.



|p5


        And anoer maner worchinge of oure quinta essencia is
     is / Take e noblest and e strengest brennynge watir at e
     may haue distillid out of pure myty wiyn, and putte it into
 |r4 a glas clepid amphora, with a long necke / and close e mou
     strongly wi wex; And loke at half or e ridde part be fulle;
     and birie it al in hors dounge, preparate as it is seid hereafter /
     so at e necke of e glas be turned dounward, & e botum
 |r8 be turned vpward, at by vertu of e hors dounge e quinta
     essencia ascende vp to e botum. And e grost of e mater
     of e watir descende dounward to e necke / And aftir manye
     daies, whanne e take it out, softly lift vp e glas as it stondith,
|r12 and e schal se in ickenes and cleernesse a difference bitwene
     e quintam essenciam sublymed, and e grose mater at is in e
     necke / e wondirful maistry of departynge of at oon fro at
     oer is is / Take a scharp poyntel, or a pricke of yren, &
|r16 peerse into e wex at hongi in e mon of e glas aens e
     ere / and whanne e haue peersid al fully to e watir, take out
     e poyntel or e pricke / And at erely watir wole first come
     out at is in e necke / and so til it be come out vnto e
|r20 departinge bitwixe it / and e quinte essence, |r[f.13a] at is, mannys
     heuene sublymed. and whane e se at is quint essence wole
     renne & melte aftir at is erely watir be voydid, putte anne
     swiftly oure fyngir to e hoole, & turne vp e glas, and anne
|r24 e haue erinne oure quinte essence, and e erely watir wioute
     aside. And is is a passyng souereyn priuytee.
        The ridde maner is, at e take a greet glas clepid amphora,
     and seele it weel, and birie it weel in e wombe of an hors al
|r28 togidere. and e puret of e quinte essencie schal be sublymed
     aboue, & e grost schal abide bynee in e botme / take out
     softli at at fleti a-boue; and at at leeue bihynde, putte it
     to e fier.
|r32    The .iiij. maner is is. take what vessel of glas at e wole,
     or of ere strongly glasid, and er-vpon a round foot of glas
     wi a leg. and seele e vessel with his couertour, at e rod
     of e foot of e glas wiinne e vessel honge in e eyr, at at
|r36 ing at ascendith to e couertour in e maner of a pott boilynge



|p6


     descende doun aen by e foot of e glas. and this instrument
     may e do make wioute greet cost / The fife maner is, at e
     brennynge water be .10 times distillid in hors dounge con_tynuely 
 |r4 digest.                                          4
       The science of makynge of fier wioute fier / wherby e
     may make oure quinte essence wioute cost or traueile, and
     withoute occupacioun and lesynge of tyme / Take e beste horse
 |r8 dounge at may be had at is weel digest, and putte it wiine
     a uessel, or ellis a pitt maad wi e ere anoyntid oruout with
     past maad of aischin. And in is vessel or pitt, bete weel togidere
     e dounge; And in e myddil of is doung, sette e vessel of
|r12 distillacioun vnto e myddis or more / For it is nede at al e 
     heed of e vessel be in e coold eir / at, at ing at bi vertu
     of e fier of e doung at ascendith erby be turned into watir
     |r[f.13b] by vertu of cooldnes of e eir and falle doun aen and ascende
|r16 vp aen. and us e haue fier wioute fier, and but wi litil
     traueile.
        Also anoer maner of fier. sette oure vessel forseid to e
     strong reuerberacioun of e sunne in somer tyme, and lete it
|r20 stonde ere nyt and day.
        Here I wole teche ou how pore euangelik men may haue
     wioute cost, and almoost for nout, e gracious influence of
     gold, and e maner of e fixynge of it in oure heuene, at is,
|r24 oure quinta essencia. if e be pore, e schal preie a riche man
     at is oure freend to leene ou a good floreyn of florence / and
     anele it vpon a plate of yren as yren is anelid. and haue biside
     ou a uessel of ere glasid, fillid ful of the beste brennynge watir
|r28 at e may fynde. & caste into e watir e floreyn anelid. and
     loke at e haue a sotilte and a sleie to quenche sodeynly e
     fier, at e watir waaste not; and be weel awar at non yren touche
     e watir. but af[t]er caste into e watir e floreyn, and do so .l.
|r32 tymes or more, for e oftere e bettere it is / And if e se at e
     watir waaste to myche, chaunge it anne, and take newe, & do
     so ofte tymes. and whanne e haue do oure quenchour, putte
     alle e watris togidere / And e schulen vndirstonde at e
|r36 vertu of brennynge watir is sich at naturely it drawi out of



|p7


     gold alle e vertues & propirtees of it, & it holdi incor_rumptibiletee 
     & an euene heete. |r[f.14a] anne meynge is brennynge
     watir us giltid wi oure quinte essence, and vse it. but be war
 |r4 at e quenche not e floreyn in oure quinte essence; for anne
     it were lost / And if it so be at e haue not is brennynge watir
     redy, anne quenche oure floreyn in e beste whit wiyn at
     may be had / For sikirly e philosophore sei, at wiyn hath
 |r8 also e propirtee to restreyne in it e influence and vertues of
     gold / And whanne e haue do our werk, e schal wite at e
     floreyn is als good, & almoost of e same weite, as it was
     afore / erfore vse wiyn or brennynge watir giltid, so at e may
|r12 be hool, and wexe glad, and be ong. And us e haue oure
     heuene, and e sunne in him fixid, to e conseruacioun of mannys
     nature and fixacioun of oure heuene, at is, oure quinte
     essence.
|r16    The science how e schule gilde more mytily by brennynge
     watir or wiyn an I taute you tofore, wherby e water or
     e wivn schal take to it mytily e influence & e vertues
     of fyne gold.
|r20    Take e calx of fyn gold as it is declarid here-aftir in is
     book, and putte it in a siluer spone, and anele it at e fier.
     & anne caste e cals of the gold in e brennynge watir
     or in wiyn .l. tymes, as I taute ou tofore wi e floreyn. and
|r24 e schule haue oure licour by an hundrid part bettir gilt an e
     had tofore wi e floreyn / Forwhi. fier worchi more strongly
     and bettere |r[f.14b] in sotil parties an it doi in an hool plate / And
     also brennynge watir or wiyn drawi out more mytily bi a
|r28 ousand part e propirtees of gold fro smale parties anelid, an
     it doi fro a icke plate / And e schal vndirstonde at wiyn
     not aloonly holdi in it e propirtees of gold, but myche more
     e propirtees of alle liquibles if ei be quenchid erinne. and at
|r32 is a souereyn priuite: Forwhi, if e quenche saturne liquified
     in wiyn or in comoun watir .7. tymes, and aftirward in at wiyn
     or watir e quenche mars manye tymes, anne mars schal take
     algate e neischede and e softnes of saturne / And e same
|r36 schal venus do, & alle oer liquibles / or ellis, And e



|p8


     quenche mars in whit wiyn or in comoun watir manye tymes,
     and aftirward in e same wiyn or watir e caste saturne liquified
     ofte tymes, anne wioute doute e schal fynde at e saturne
 |r4 is maad rit hard / Therfore e propirtees of alle liquibles may
     be brout into wiyn or watir; but myche more mytily into
     brennynge watir good and precious.
        The science to make a fier, at is, wioute cole, withoute
 |r8 lyme, wioute lit, worchinge aens al maner scharpnes or
     accioun of visible fier, rit as worchi e fier of helle / And
     is priuytee is so vertuous, at e vertu erof may not al be
     declarid. And us it is maad. Take Mercurie at is sublymed
|r12 with vitriol, |r[f.15a] & comen salt, & sal armoniac .7. or .10. tymes 
     sublymed / and meynge hem togidere by euene porcioun. and
     grynde it smal, and leye it abrood vpon a marbil stoon; and by_nyte 
     sette it in a soft cleer eir, or ellis in a coold seler; and ere
|r16 it wole turne into watir / And anne gadere it togidere in to
     a strong vessel of glas, and kepe it / This water forsoe is so
     strong, at if a litil drope erof falle vpon oure hond, anoon it
     wole perce it oru-out; and in e same maner it wole do, if it
|r20 falle vpon a plate of venus or Iubiter, into is watir, it turne
     hem into lijknes of peerl. who so coude reparale & preparate
     kyndely is fier wioute doute it wolde quenche anoon a bren_nynge 
     sijknes clepid e fier of helle. And also it wolde heele
|r24 euer cor[os]if sijknesse. And manye philosophoris clepi is
     ing in her bookis `sal amarus,' al ou ei teche not e maistrie
     erof / If it be so at is firy watir breke e glas, and renne out
     into e aischen, anne gadere alle togidere at e fynde pastid in
|r28 e aischen / and leye it vpon a marbil stoon as afore, and it wole 
     turne into watir. And is is a greet priuytee.
        The science to brynge gold into calx / Take fyn gold, and
     make it into smal lymayl: take a crusible wi a good quan_titee 
|r32 of Mercur, and sette it to a litil fier so at it vapoure
     not, and putte erinne i lymail of gold, and stire it weel togi_dere 
     / & aftirward |r[f.15b] wiinne a litil tyme e schal se al e gold
     wiinne e Mercurie turned into ere as sotil as flour. anne
|r36 eue it a good fier, at e Mercurie arise and go his wey; or ellis,



|p9


     and e wole, e may distille and gadere it, puttynge er-vpon a
     lembike / and in e corusible e schal fynde e gold calcyned and
     reducid into ere / And if e wole not make lymayl of gold,
 |r4 anne make erof a sotil inne plate, as e kan, and putte wiinne
     e Mercurie al warm; and e schal haue oure desier / And
     in is same maner e may worche wi siluir / Thanne take e
     calx of ese two bodies, and bere hem openly wi ou; and er
 |r8 schal noman knowe what ei ben / And if e wole bere hem
     more priuyly wioute ony knowynge, anne meynge hem wi
     pich melt, or wex, or ellis gumme. for anne noman schal knowe
     it what it is. And whanne e wole dissolue ony of ese calces
|r12 by hem silf, putte eiir by him silf in a test, or ellis e pich or
     e wex in which ei ben ynne; and anoon schal come out verry
     gold & siluer as ei were tofore.
        Now I wole teche ou e maistrie of departynge of gold
|r16 fro siluir whanne ei be meyngid togidere / Forsoe e woot
     weel at er be manye werkis in e whiche gold and siluir
     be meyngid, as in giltynge of vessel & Iewellis / erfore
     whanne e wole drawe e toon fro at oir, putte al at mixture
|r20 into a strong watir maad of vitriol and of sat petre. and e
     |r[f.16a] siluyr wole be dissolued, and not e gold: anne e haue at
     oon departid fro e toir / And if e wole dissolue e gold to
     watir, putte anne yn e watir corosyue, Sal armoniac; and at
|r24 watir wioute doute wole dissolue gold into watir.
        The science to drawe out of fyn gold vta essencia is is /
     First e schal reduce gold into calx, as I tolde ou tofore /
     anne take vynegre distillid, or ellis oold vryne depurid fro e
|r28 fecis, and putte it in a uessel glasid; and e liquor schal be in
     e heie of 4. ynchis; and erinne caste e calx of gold, &
     sette it to the strong sunne in somer tyme, ere to abide / and
     soone aftir e schal se as it were a liquor of oyle ascende vp,
|r32 fletynge aboue in maner of a skyn or of a reme. gadere at awey
     wi a sotil spone or ellis a feere, and putte it into a uessel of
     glas in e which be putt watir tofore. and us gadere it manye
     tymes in e day, into e tyme at er ascende nomore / and aftir
|r36 do vapoure awey e watir at e fier. And e vta essencia of e



|p10


     gold wole abyde bynee. And manye philosophoris clepi is
     quinta essencia an oile incombustible, at is a greet priuytee /
     And if e wole fixe is quinta essencia in oure heuene, at it
 |r4 may wioute doute restore aen to man at nature at is lost,
     and reduce him aen into e vertu of e strenke of onge, and
     also lenki his lijf into e laste terme of lijf set of god // Now
     forsoe I haue toold ou e souereynest |r[f.16b] priuytee and restorynge
 |r8 of mannys kynde, and in part greet ing at schulde not be
     schewid / Forwhi is oyle, at is to seie, quinta essencia of gold,
     hath e mooste swetnes and vertu to a-swage and putte awei e
     ache of woundis, and for to heele woundis, oolde sooris, and
|r12 manye wondirful yuelis / Also in e same maner e may drawe 
     out of siluir, quinte essencie //
        The science to drawe out of antymony, at is, mercasite
     of leed, e vte essencie, is a souereyn maistrie, and a priuytee
|r16 of alle priuytees / Take e myn of antymony aforeseid,
     and make erof al so sotil a poudre as e kan / anne
     take e beste vynegre distillid, and putte erinne e poudre
     of antymonye, and lete it stonde in a glas vpon a litil fier
|r20 into e tyme at e vynegre be colourid reed. anne take at
     vynegre awey, and kepe it clene, and putte aen er-to of oere
     vynegre distillid, and lete it stonde vpon a soft fier til it be
     colourid reed. & so do ofte tymes. and whanne e haue gaderid
|r24 al oure vvnegre colourid, putte it anne in a distillatorie. and
     first e vynegre wole ascende; anne after e schal se merueilis:
     for e schal se as it were a ousand dropis of blessid wiyn
     discende doun in maner of reed dropis, as it were blood, by
|r28 e pipe of e lymbike / e which licour gadere togidere in a
     rotumbe / and anne e haue a ing at al e tresour of e world
     may not be in comparisoun of worines erto / aristotle sei at
     it is his lede in e book of secretis, al ou he |r[f.17a] telle not e name
|r32 of e antymonye aforseid / Forsoe is doi awey ache of alle
     woundis, and wondirfully heeli. e vertu erof is incorruptible
     & merueilous profitable / it nedit to be putrified in a rotombe
     and seelid in fyme, and anne it worchi greet priuytees / For_soe 
|r36 vta essencia of is antymony at is reed, in e which is



|p11


     e secreet of alle secretis, is swettere an ony hony, or sugre, or
     ony oir ing.
        The science in the extraccioun of e .5 essencie from blood,
 |r4 and fleisch, & eggis / To ou I seie, at in euer elementid
     ing, e .5. essencie remayne incorrupte: it schal be anne
     e moost ing of merueyle if I teche ou to drawe out at
     fro mannys blood reserued of Barbouris whanne ei lete blood;
 |r8 also fro fleisch of alle brute beestis, and fro alle eggis, and oere
     suche ingis. for als myche as mannes blood is e per tist werk
     of kynde in us, as to e encrees of a at is lost, it is certeyn
     at nature at .5. essence maad so perfit at, wioute ony oir
|r12 greet preparacioun wioute e veynes, it beri for at blood
     anoon aftir into fleiseh. and is 5 essence is so ny kynde at
     [it] is moost to haue  / Forwhy. in it is merueylous vertu of oure
     heuene sterrid, and to e cure of nature of man worchi moost
|r16 deuyn myraclis, as wiinne I schal teche ou / erfore resceyue
     of Barbouris, of ong sangueyn men, or colerik men, whanne ei
     be late blood, e which vse good wynes. take at blood aftir at
     it ha reste, and cast awey e watir fro it, and braie it wi e
|r20 .10. part of comen salt preparate to medicyns of men; and putte
     it into a uessel of glas clepid amphora, e which, sotely seele,
     and putte it wiinne e |r[f.17b] wombe of an hors, preparate as tofore,
     and renewe e fyme oonys in e wike, or more, and lete it
|r24 putrifie til al e blood be turned into watir / and it schal be doon
     at e mooste in xxx. or xl dayes, or aftir, more or lasse / anne
     putte it in a lembike, and distille it at a good fier / what so euere
     may ascende, putte at watir vpon e fecis brayed, meyngynge
|r28 vpon a marbil stoon; putte it aen, and aftir distille it aen
     manye tymes rehersynge / And whanne e haue is noble ing
     of blood, erof e .5. beynge drawe out / putte aen e watir in
     e stillatorie of circulacioun til e brynge it to so myche swetnes
|r32 & an heuenly sauour, as e dide e brennynge watir. and is is
     e 5 beynge of blood deuyn, and miraclis more an man mai
     bileue but if he se it.



|p12


        Now wole I teche ou to drawe out e .5 beynge from
     capouns, hennes, and al maner fleisch of Brut beestis, and
     from al maner eggis of foulis at ben holsum and medicyn_able 
 |r4 to ete for man kynde / Grynde summe of ese ingis
     forseid, which at e wil, as strongly as e can in a morter, wi
     e 10 part of him of sal comen preparate to e medicyne of
     men, as I seide tofore. putte it in e wombe of an hors til it be
 |r8 turned into water. distille as it is aforeseid, and in e stillatorie
     of circulacioun e watir at is distillid, putte it in aen til it be
     brout to e swete heuenly sauour and smel aforeseid /
        The science to drawe out e 5 beynge of euerych of e .4
|r12 elementis, and to schewe euerych of e forseid ing bi hem
     silf; & at is rit merueylous / I wole not leue for a litil to
     schewe a greet secreet, how e may drawe out e 5 beynge of
     ech of e 4 elementis of al e ing rehersid afore, and profitably
|r16 schewe hem / And e maner ys |r[f.18a] is / take at ing putrified
     and brout into watir, what so euere e wole, as I taute ou
     tofore; and at ing be mannes blood brout into watir, of e
     which e wole drawe out e 4 elementis / putte erfore at
|r20 water, or at blood putrified, in a stillatorie of glas, and sette
     it wiinne a pott of watir, and eue vndirnee a fier til e watir
     of blood be distillid by e pipe of e lembike into a glas clepid
     amphora, rit clene / And whanne no ing may more by at fier
|r24 ascende, for certeyn e haue of blood drawen out al oonly e
     element of watir / Forwhi. fier of at bath hath no strenke to
     sublyme eyr, or fier, or ere. and so [take] o re elementis, and
     sette in e same bath by.vij. dayes at ei be weel meyngid, &
|r28 so cloos at no ing be distillid / aftir e.vij. dayes take e
     stillatorie, and putte it to e fier of aischen, at is strongere an
     fier of bath clepid marien; and e watir schal ascende in foorme
     of oyle schynynge as gold / and aftirward at no ing more schal
|r32 ascende, e haue anne in e ampulle .ij. elementis, at is to seie,
     watir and eyr. & oon from anoir e schal departe in e bath,
     puttynge yn aen wher al-oonly e cleer watir schal ascende /
     and e eyr schal al-oonly remayne in e botum of e vessel in
|r36 lijknesse of oyle of gold. e which oyle at is gold, e which oyle



|p13


     at is ayr / putte it aside. anne er leeue itt fier wi ere.
     to departe fier from ere, putte e element of watir, at is to
     seye .iiij lb of watir, vpon j lb of mater / and putte by .vij. daies
 |r4 to encorpere wel as tofore in e bath of marien / Aftirward
     putte it to e fier of flawme rit strong, and e reed water schal
     ascende. e which gadere togidere as longe as ony |r[f.18b] ing ascendi.
     and to ou schal remayne an ere rit blak in e botum. e which
 |r8 8 gadere togidere aside / anne e redeste watir e schal take. forwhy.
     er be .ij. elementis, at is to seie, e element of watir and fier.
     anne yn e stillatorie, to e fier of ba, cleer watir schal asende.
     and in e botum schal remayne e reed watir, at is, e element
|r12 of fier. and so e haue now first oon oyle, at is, ayer o side, and
     watir, and fier, and ere. and note e weel at erfore e element
     of watir is putt aen to drawe out from ere fier and eyr, for ei
     wole not ascende, but oru e help of element of watir. brynge
|r16 aen euerych into 5 beynge wi e vessel of circulacioun as to_fore 
     / or ellis rectifie, makynge oon ascende .7 tymes bi an oir /
     but first e moste e rit blak ere of oon hide nature, in e
     furneys of glas mon, or ellis reuerberacioun, xxj. dayes calcyne /
|r20 And for a cause I speke to ou nomore of this science. but
     ioie e, and thanke oure glorious lord god of ese ingis at
     e haue had.
        The science to fixe alle erely ingis in nostra 5ta essencia,
|r24 at is to seie, oure heuene, at by her influence ei may eue
     erto er propertees and her hid vertues / oure glorious god
     ha ene sich a uertu to oure quinta essence, at it may drawe
     out of euery matier of fryt / tree / rote / flour, herbe / fleisch,
|r28 seed & spice / And euer medicynable ing, alle e vertues,
     propirtees, and naturis, e whiche god made in hem; and at
     wiinne .iij. houris.
        Now I haue shewid ou a souereyn priuytee, how at e
|r32 may wi oure heuene drawe out euery 5 essencia from alle
     ingis aforeseid / erfore alle necessarie ingis to euer syrup
     putte yn oure 5 essencie, & wiinne .iij. houris at watir schal
     be sich a sirup, vndirstonde wel, bettir by an hundrid part, by



|p14


     cause of oure 5 essencie, an it |r[f.19a] schulde be wioute it / And
     so I seie of medicyns comfortatyues, digestyues, laxatyues, re_striktyues,
     and alle oere; forwhy. if e putte seedis or flouris,
 |r4 fruytis, leeues, spicis, coold, hoot, sweet, sour, moist, do ei
     good or yuel, into oure 5 essencie, forsoe sich 5 essencie e
     schulen haue erfore. oure 5 essencie is e instrument of alle
     vertues of ing transmutable if ei be putt in it, encreessynge
 |r8 an hundrid foold her worchingis //

        Explicit pars prima tractatus quinte essencie:



|p15


|rBOOK_II.

        Here bigynneth the secunde book of medicyns / The first
     medicyn is to reduce an oold feble euangelik man to e firste
     strenke of onge / Also to restore aen his nature at is
 |r4 lost, and to lenke his lijf in greet gladnesse and perfite heele
     vnto e laste teerme of his lijf at is sett of god / e schal take
     oure 5ta essencie aforeseid, at is to seye, mannys heuene, and
     erinne putte a litil quantite of 5 essencia of gold and of peerl.
 |r8 and e colde feble man schal vse is deuyn drynk at morn and
     at euen, ech tyme a walnote-schelle fulle / and wiinne a fewe
     dayes he schal so hool at he schal fele him silf of e statt and
     e strenke of xl eer; and he schal haue greet ioie at he is
|r12 come to e statt of onge. And whanne his onge is recouerid,
     and his nature restorid, and heele had, it is nedeful at litil and
     seelde he vse 5 essence / Also it is nede ful at he vse ofte good
     wiyn at his mete and at e soper, in e which be fixid e 5.
|r16 essence of gold, as I taute ou tofore.
        The secunde |r[f.19b] medicyn is to heele a man, and make hym
     lyue, at is almoost consumed in nature, and so ny deed at
     he is forsake of lechis. but if it be e laste teerme of his lijf
|r20 sett of god, e schal eue him oure quinte essence of gold wi a
     litil quantite of watir of celendoyn drawe, and meynge it wi
     e oere ingis aforeseid / and anoon as e sike hath resceyned
     it into his stomak, it eue to e herte influence of naturel heete
|r24 and of lijf. and anne e schal se him rise vp and speke, and
     wondirfully be comfortid and strenkid erby // anne comforte
     him wi ministracioun of oure quinte essencie afore seid, and he
     schal be al hool / but if it be so at god wole algatis at he schal
|r28 die / And I seie to ou truly, at is is e hieste maistrie at
     may be in transmutacioun of kynde; for rit fewe lechis now
     lyuynge knowe is priuytee.



|p16


        The ridde medicyn is to cure e lepre at is causid of
     corrupcioun and putrifaccioun of ony of e principal humouris
     of man; but not e lepre at come to man of kynde of
 |r4 e fadir and of e modir leprous, -- for it is callid morbus
     hereditus, -- ne e lepre at is sent of god by his plage, but at
     at is causid oonly of rotun humouris / take oure 5 essence
     aforeseid, wi e quinte essence of goold and peerl, a litil quantite
 |r8 at oonys, and vse it in maner as I seide afore / and wiinne a
     fewe daies he schal be partily hool erof. and if e haue non
     preparate redy oure 5 essence, anne take in e stide erof fyn
     brennynge watir / but at oer is bettere.
|r12    Also, drawe a water of e fruyt of strawbery or mulbery
     tree, whanne it is ripe, and waische e lepre erwi. is watir
     is of so greet vertu, for a souereyn maistir took it a leprous
     |r[f.20a] womman, at wi e waischinge oonly of is watir, withynne
|r16 schort tyme was maad al hool / but sikirly e vertu erof is
     myche worth if it be meyngid with oure 5 essence, or ellis
     brennynge watir; and anne it schal be no nede to vse in is
     perilous cure, venemys, as summe lechis doon.
|r20    The 4 medicyn is to cure palsie vniuersel. Forsoe alle
     philosophoris seyn at e palesye vniuersel come of habound_aunce 
     of viscous humouris closynge e metis of vertu animale,
     sensityue, and motyue. And erfore it is necessarie at o
|r24 ingis at schal cure is sijknes be temperate, hoot, and moist,
     and a litil attractyue, and to e synous confortatyue / Therfore,
     blessid be god, makere of kynde, at ordeynede for e man
     paralitike oure 5 essence aforseid, at souereynly to him com_fortynge, 
|r28 restorynge, and temperatly worchynge / erfore fixe
     erinne e 5 essence of o laxatyues at purgen flewme &
     viscous humouris, as a litil of euforbie, or turbit, or sambucy.
     & anne wioute doute, if god wole, e paralitik man schal be
|r32 hool wi comfortynge and restorynge of kynde, if e make him
     a stewe hoot and moist with herbis, at is to seye, eerbe yue,
     & sauge, at haue an heuenly strenke to comforte e joynctis,
     & e senewis, and e vertu motyue. and if e haue not redi
|r36 preparate oure 5 essence, anne take fyn brennynge watir til it



|p17


     be redy, and lete e pacient drynke erof a litil in fyn wiyn.
     and also he schal waische al his body and his extremytees wi
     brennynge watir ofte tymes. and lete him vse is a good while,
 |r4 & he schal be hool. /
        |r[f.20b] The .5 medicyn for a man at is almoost al consumed,
     & waastid in al his body, and rit leene, as at man at
     hath e tisik & e etik / Forsoe e verry cure to heele him
 |r8 is oure 5 essence / Forwhi. it comforti e feble nature; and
     e nature at is lost it restori, & so restorid it preserue /
     And erfore if e wol restore e fleisch of a leene mannys body
     almoost consumed awey, drawe anne a watir of celidoyne, and
|r12 take erof a litil quantite, and meynge wi oure 5 essence if e
     haue it redy, or brennynge watir in stide erof, and eue it him
     to drinke; and wiinne fewe dayes he schal be wondirfully
     restorid and fat.
|r16    The .6. medicyn for passiouns of frenesie, foly, ymagyna_ciouns 
     and noyous vexaciouns of deuelis, and also for e
     goute als weel hoot as coold. certeyn experience techi at
     colerik men eue to summe ymagynaciouns; and sangueyn
|r20 men ben ocupied aboute summe oere ymagynaciouns; & itt
     flewmatik men aboute oere / but o men at habounde in blak
     coler, at is, malencoly, ben occupied a ousand part wi mo
     outis an ben men of ony oer complexioun / Forwhi. at
|r24 humour of blak coler is so noyous, at if it a-bounde and a_sende
     vp to e heed, it troubli alle e mytis of e brayn, engendrynge
     noyous ymagynaciouns, bryngynge yn horrible outis boe
     wakynge and slepinge; and siche maner of men ben born vndir
|r28 e constillacioun of saturne, the wickide planete / Forsoe, to
     siche men deuelis wole gladly appere, & minister to hem her
     priuy temptaciouns wiinne e cours of her outis; and ese
     men us |r[f.21a] turmentid wi e passiouns of malencoly comounly
|r32 speke wi hem, stryue and dispute wi hem silf whanne ei be
     a-loone, at ofte tymes oer folk may heere it / These maner
     of men at ben us turmentid, as weel by passioun of malencoly
     as of deuelis, ofte tymes falle in dispeir, and at e laste sle hem
|r36 silf / e perfit cure of alle ese is oure 5 essencie auri et



|p18


     perelarum, or ellis brennynge watir in stide erof, in e whiche
     e fixe gold as it is aforeseid, wherinne be putt a litil of sene or
     watir of f[u]miter, or poudre of lapis lasuly, or ellis medullam
 |r4 ebuli, and vse it discreetly. forwhy. not al oonly oure quinte
     essence auri et perelarum heelith ese disesis. / but also brennynge
     watir in e which gold is fixid, heeli hem, wi a litil of o
     ingis at purgen and casten out blak coler superflue, & heli
 |r8 e splene.
        Forsoe ese medicyns putti awey wickid outis and an
     heuy herte malencolious; ei gladith and clense e brayn and
     alle hise mytis, and brynge yn gladnes and merye outis.
|r12 ei putte awey also e craft of e feendis temptaciouns, and
     ymagynaciouns of dispeir. ei distroie, & make a man to forete
     almaner of yueles, and naturaly bryngi him aen to resonable
     witt. and for as myche as saturne e planete naturaly ys coold
|r16 and drye, and is enemye to al kynde / Forwhy, euery snow,
     euery hayl, euery tempest, & also e humonr of malencoly
     come of him. & he ha his influence vpon derk leed, &
     vpon derk |r[f.21b] placis vnder e erf, foule and stynkynge, and derke
|r20 wodis, and vpon foule, horrible, solitarie placis, as it is preued in
     vitas patrum, at is to seye, in lyues & colaciouns of fadris /
     And also e moone, naturely coold and moist, has his influence
     vpon e nyt, and vpon myche moisture, and vpon e placis
|r24 whanne 4. weyes meti togidere. forsoe in alle siche placis ei
     wole a-bide and schewe hem to her foloweris / but forsoe o
     ingis at ben of e nature of Iubiter and of sol, goode planetis,
     arne displesynge to him, and contrarie, and naturaly deuelis fle
|r28 awei fro hem, for ei haue greet abhominacioun of er vertuous
     influence / erfore it schewi weel at o ingis at ben in is
     world, summe er ben at bitokene e glorious yoie of heuene,
     and summe ing at figure e derknesse of euerlastynge peynes
|r32 of helle / Forsoe e sunne and iubiter, goode planetis, &
     gold, pure metal, and alle pure ingis at gladen a man, figu_rynge 
     by resoun e ioie of heuene / and blak Saturne, and e
     spotty moone, figure & bitokene e condicioun of helle / and



|p19


     si at deuelis be dampned, & ful of wreche of helle, erfore
     ei hate e clennesse & e ioie of oure lord god & of hise
     seyntis / also ei haten e sunne and his cleernes, and pure
 |r4 ingis at maken a man glad. and naturaly it plesi hem to
     dwelle in derk, & in blak, orrible, stynkynge placis, in heuy_nesse, 
     wreche, & malencoly, & in o ingis at pre tende e
     condicioun of helle / And si oure 5. essence aforeseid is so
 |r8 heuenly a ing, & by sotil craft |r[f.22a] brout to so myche swetnes,
     it is so souereyn a medicyn at it may weel be lijkned to e ioie
     of paradice. forwhi, it maki a man lit, iocunde, glad, and
     merie, & putti awey henynesse, angre, melencoly, & wrae,
|r12 e whiche at deuelis loue / et ideo nostra  5 essencia digne
     vocatur celum humanum / Also if a man be traueylid wi a
     feend, and may not be delyuerid fro him lete him drinke a litil
     quantite of oure 5 essence, wi 5 essence of gold & peerl, and
|r16 wi an eerbe callid ypericon, i.[e.] fuga demonum, and e seed
     er grounden & aftirward distillid, & e watir erof a litil
     quantite medlid wi e oere 5tis essenciis; and anoon e deuel
     wole fle awey fro him & fro his hous.
|r20    Also for e goute, hoot or cold, e pacient schal drynke
     oure 5. essence wi a litil quantite at oonys of e letuarie de
     succo rosarum and lete him vse is letuarie a litil at oonys ech
     oere day, til superflue humouris be purgid / but he schal vse
|r24 euery day a litil of oure 5. essence with 5 essence of gold &
     peerle; & wiinne a fewe dayes e pacient schal be hool. //
        The .7. medicyn, f@or to heele ycche, & for to distrie lies
     at ben engendrid of corrupt humouris. take oure 5 essence
|r28 bi him silf a-loone, and vse to drynke erof a litil quantite
     at oonys / and take also a litil quantite of Mer[curie ?]. &
     mortifie it wi fastynge spotil, & medle it wi a good quantite



|p20


     of poudre of stafi-sagre & anne put it in to a gret quantite
     of brennynge water, & anne waische al his body, or ellis e
     heed where e icche & e lies ben. & vse is medicyn .2. or
 |r4 3. & e sijk man |r[f.22b] schal be hool.                                4
        The .8. medicyn for to cure the quarteyn and alle e
     passiouns at come of malencoly in mannys body; and e
     maistrie to purge malencoly. and e schal vndirstonde at e
 |r8 quarteyn is gendrid of myche haboundaunce of malencolye at
     is corrumpid withynne e body. and for is humour is erely,
     coold, & drie, of e nature of slowe saturne, erfore e accesse
     of is sijknes ben slowe, and it duri comounly yn a man a eer
|r12 or more, and it putti fro him gladnesse, & bryngi yn heuynes 
     more an oere feueris do / If e wole heele is sijknes in schort
     tyme, lete e pacient vse to drynke oon 5 essence, and he schal
     be al hool hastily / forwhi; it consume e corrupt superflue
|r16 humouris, & reducit nature to equalite, and bryngi yn glad_nesse,
 , & chasi a-wey heuynes & malencolie. and if it so be
     at e haue nout oure 5 essence / anne take j lb of e beste
     brennynge watir, and erinne putte medullam ebuli, and namely
|r20 e white, if e may may haue it / of is watir eue to e pacient,
     morowe and enen, a walnot-schelle ful at oonys. and he schal
     be al hool / or ellis us: take what ing e wole at purgi
     malencolye, and putte a litil erof into brennynge watir, &
|r24 vse at laxatif maad into smale pelotis, wijsly resceyuyng rit a
     litil at oonys, as oon litil pelot, and preue erby how it worchi,
     anne anoer tyme .ij. at oonys, if it be nede / so at e mater
     be a litil digestid and a litil egestid. for bettere it is to worche
|r28 a litil & a litil at oonys, an sodeynly greue e nature. forwhi,
     two litil pelotis laxatif meyngid wi brennynge watir |r[f.23a] wole
     worche more mytily an .8. pelotis wole do bi hem silf /
     Also philosophoris seyn at a too drawe out from a quyk
|r32 beest born vpon a man, delyueri fro e quarteyn / Also
     ei seyn at if e yuis of e eerbe at is callid morsus galline
     rubri be putt in hise nose-rillis whanne he bigynneth to suffre
     e accesse of e quarteyn, he schal be hool, wi e grace of
|r36 god.



|p21


        The medicyn to heele e feuere contynuele. alle philo_sophoris 
     seyn at e feuere contynuele is gendrid of putri_faccioun 
     of blood and of corrupcieun of humouris in it /
 |r4 erfore e cure erof is to |r[f.23b] purge blood, and to putte awey e
     corrupcioun of it, & e humoris vneuene to make euene,
     e nature lost to restore, and so restorid to kepe / Forsoe alle
     ese ingis worche oure quinte essence; and erfore it curi
 |r8 perfitly e feuere contynuele / and ou brennynge watir caste
     out fro blood watry humouris and corrupt, itt take it nout in
     is cure / forwhi; ou brennynge watir be .7. tymes distillid,
     itt it is [not] fully depurid fro his brennynge heete, & e .4.
|r12 elementis / but si oure 5. essence is not hoot, ne moist, coold,
     ne drie, as ben e 4. elementis / erfore it heeli perfitly e
     contynuel feuere; namely wi commixtioun of e 5 essence of
     gold & peerle / and if e wole strenke oure medicyn, anne
|r16 putte yn oure 5. essence a litil quantite of pulpa cassie fistule /
     or ellis e iuys of e eerbe mercuriale. & if it so be at oere
     humouris habounde to myche with blood, anne take o laxa_tyues 
     at kyndely wole purge hem, as comoun bookis of
|r20 fisik declare.
        The 10. medicyn to cure e feuere tercian, e which is
     causid of putrifaccioun, or reed coler to myche haboundynge /
     to cure ees sijknes, tak oure 5 essence, or ellis fyn bren_nynge 
|r24 watir, -- but e firste is bettere, -- and putte erinne a litil
     of rubarbe or of summe oer laxatiue at purgi reed coler, and
     a greet quantite of watir of endyue; and vse is medicyn at
     morowe & euen. and e pacient schal be hool wioute doute.
|r28    The 11. medicyn is for to heele e feuere cotidian, e
     which is causid of putrifaccioun of flewme to haboundynge /
     and si flewme is coold and moist. oure 5 essence (and in his
     absence take good brennynge watir.) ha strenke and vertu to
|r32 consume e rotun watery inordinat, and to myche coold humi_dite 
     / erfore take oure 5 essence or brennynge watir, and putte
     erinne a litil of euforbij, turbit, or sambuci, or sum oir ing
     at purgi flewme; and vse it morowe and eue, & e pacient
|r36 schal be hool.



|p22


        The .12. medicyn for to cure e feuere agu, and e lunatik
     man and womman / discreet maistris seyn, at e feuere
     agu comounly is causid of a uyolent reed coler adust, and of
 |r4 blood adust, and of blak coler adust; and sumtyme of oon of
     ese adust, and sumtyme of two togidere, and sumtyme of.3.
     togidere / and erfore e feuere agu is e posityue degree, and
     in e superlatyue degree, comparatif gree & superlatif gree /
 |r8 For e feuere agu ha comounly alienacioun of witt, & schew_ynge 
     of ingis of fantasy / And e schal knowe weel whiche
     ben e humouris adust at causen e feuere, be ese |r[f.24a] tokenes /
     Forwhi, if e pacient sei at he see blak ingis, anne blak
|r12 coler, at is, malencolie, is adust / & if he se ingis of gold /
     reed coler is adust / if reed ingis, and schewynge of bloodt
     anne blood is adust / And if he sei at he see alle ese .iij,
     ingis, anne alle e humouris ben adust / For as myche as
|r16 brennynge watir ascendi to e heed, and gladly wole a man
     drynke / And si at feuere agu regne in e regioun of e
     heed / e philosophoris counceilis at e pacient schal not
     resceyue it in is sijknes / but it is nedefnl at he take
|r20 oure 5 essence of gold and of peerl, meynging e 6 part of
     5 essence of watir of rose, violet, borage, and letuse / and
     anne e schulen haue an heuenly medicyn to cure perfitly is
     sijknesse.
|r24    For to cure e frenesye and woodnes, or ellis at e leeste
     to swage it / take a greet quantite of popilion, and e beste
     vynegre at e may haue, and a good quantite of rewe domestik,
     weel brayed, and meyngid wi ese forseid ingis; and biclippe
|r28 e heed and e feet of e pacient with is medicyn; and sum
     erof putte to his nose-rillis. is medicyn anoon putti awey e
     frenesye & e schewynge of fantasies / it curi also wode men
     & lunatike men. and it restorri aen witt and discrecioun, &
|r32 maki al hool and weel at eese.
        The .13. medicyn is to put a-wey e craumpe fro a man.
     for as myche as wise men seyn at e craumpe cometh of e
     hurtynge & e febilnes of e senewis, as it schewi sumtyme
|r36 yn medicyns maad of elebore, er is no ing at putti awey e



|p23


     craumpe as doi oure 5 essence aforeseid, or ellis |r[f.24b] brennynge
     watir in stede of it.
        The .14. medicyn, to caste out venym fro mannys body /
 |r4 take oure 5 essence, and putte erine fleisch of a cok, neysch
     soden & sotilly brayed, note kirnelis, fyn triacle, radisch,
     & garleek smal brayed, and oere ingis at ben goode
     to caste out venym, as comoun bookis of fisik declari /
 |r8 And also, to comforte e herte, putte yn oure foreseid 5. essence,
     e 5. essence of gold and of peerl. and he schal be delyuerid
     erof & be hool.
        The .15. medicyn, to make a man at is a coward, hardy
|r12 and strong, and putte a-wey almaner of cowardise and drede /
     I seye ou forsoe at no ing may telle alle e myraclis ver_tues 
     at god ha maad in oure 5 essence, and not al oonly in
     him, but also in to his modir at is to seye, fyn brennynge
|r16 watir. for to cure is sijknesse, take a litil quantite of oure 5
     essence, & putte erto double so myche of brennynge watir,
     and a litil quantite of e iuys of eerbe pione and of saffron dis_tillid 
     togidere, and a litil of 5 essence of gold and of peerl; and
|r20 eue it him to drinke. and aftir sodeynly, as it were by myracle,
     e coward man schal lese al maner drede and feyntnes of herte,
     and he schal recouere strenke at ys lost by drede, and take to
     him hardynesse, and he schal dispise dee; he schal drede no
|r24 perelis, and passyngly he schal be maad hardy. is is trewe, for
     it ha ofte tymes by oolde philosophoris [bene] preued / erfore
     it were a greet wisdom at cristen princis, in bateilis aen
     heene men, hadde wi hem in tonnes brennynge watir, at
|r28 ei myt take to euer fitynge man half a rit litil cuppe ful
     erof to drynke in e bigynnynge of e batel. & is priuyte
     owith to be hid from alle enemyes of e chirche; and also
     |r[f.25a] princis and lordis ministringe ese ingis schulde not telle
|r32 what it is.
        The .16. medicyn aens e feuere pestilenciale, and e
     maistrie to cure it. forsoe holy scripture sei at summe
     tymes oure lord god sendi pestilence to sle summe maner
|r36 of peple, as it is seid deutronomium 28 in is maner "Si



|p24


     audire nolueris vocem domini dei tui, ut custodias et facias
     omnia mandata eius, veniant super te omnes maledicciones; iste
     maledictus eris in ciuitate &c." et infra; "ad-iungat tibi pestilen_ciam 
 |r4 donec consumat te de terra, percuciat te dominus egestate,
     febre, et frigore, ardore et estu, et aere corrupto ac rubigine, et per_ sequatur 
     donec pereas" hec ibidem; et infra "percuciat te dominus
     vlcere egipti, et partem corporis per quam stercora egerantur
 |r8 scabie quoque, et prurigine, ita ut curari nequeas; percuciat te
     dominus necessitate ac furore mentis" // Therfore a gret fool
     were he at wolde presume to cure ese plagis of pestilence at
     ben vncurable, at ben sent of god to ponysche synne // Also
|r12 e schal vndirstonde at men may die in .iij. maners. in oon 
     maner by naturel dee, in e teerme at is sett of god / In
     anoir maner bi vi olent dee, and also in e .iij. maner occa_sionaly 
     wiinne e teerme at is sett of god; as o men at to
|r16 myche replecioun, or to greet abstynence or by disperacioun, or
     ellis by necligence, sle him silf / but sikirly alle oere maner
     of feueris pestilence at god suffri to come to mankynde by
     perilous influence of yuele planetis, by e grace of god & good
|r20 gouernaunce may be curid partialy wi oure 5. essence. and
     erinne putte a litil of aloes epatik & euforbij, & a litil of
     ierapigra galieni & of 5 essence, of e rote of lilie and also
     of gold & peerle, capilli veneris |r[f.25b] and ysope; for ese ingis
|r24 ben nedeful to siche feueris & apostemes / it is nedeful also
     at wi ese ingis er be sich a quinta essencia laxatyue at
     wole purge e superflue humouris at abounde; and at e
     pacient so myche resceyue in a natural day erof at he may
|r28 go weel oonys to sege; and so lete him vse is laxatif .3. in e
     woke; But be weel war at he take wi oure quinta essencia
     but rit a litil quantite of e laxatif at oonys, as I tolde ou
     tofore, for peril at mite bifalle. & euery day take he by e
|r32 morowe an eye-schelle ful of good brennynge watir, and e cor_rupt 
     eyr schal not noye him; & also vse in e dayes, two or
     re smale pelotis pestilenciales in oure 5 essencia, or in bren_nynge 
     watir; & al e hous of e pacient schal be encensid



|p25


     strongly .iij in e day wi frank-encense, mirre, & rosyn,
     terbentyn & rewe. and is is perfit cure for e feuere pesti_lence 
     / And us e may, wi is 5 essencijs, cure alle ese sijk_nesses 
 |r4 aforeseid, and manye oere, as it were by myracle, if e
     worche disc[r]eetly as I haue toold ou tofore / Now here
     I make an eende of is tretis at is clepid e mooste & e
     souereyneste secrete of alle secretis, and a passynge tresour
 |r8 at may nout fayle // O quantum malum foret, si hic
     liber perueniret ad manus hominum mundanorum, ad noticiam
     tirannorum, et ad seruicium reproborum! quia, sicut sancti per
     hunc librum poterunt continuare opera vite christiani diucius
|r12 et vehemencius, ita et reprobi possent peruerso vsi diucius
     perseuerare in malo. ego autem, quantum in me est, propter
     solos sanctos librum hunc constituo, et ipsum custod[i] ihesu
     Christi commendo nunc et in eternum // = //

|r16    Explicit librum de maximis secretis essencie quinte &c.



|p26



|r{THE_SPHERES_AND_PLANETS:_omitted}
