Manuscript Location

Princeton University Library, Rare Books and Special Collections

Place of Origin

England

Date of Composition

17th century

Description

This receipt book contains approximately 300 detailed receipts for cooking, medicinal cures, and magic charms and formulas, in various hands. Each receipt is numbered and most are attributed, such as "My Lady de la fountaine," "My Lady Waterman," etc. All the receipts are indexed at the end of the volume. The culinary receipts include "conserve of Cowslips," "Currant Wyne," "To make flesh jelly," etc. The medical receipts include "To kill wild fire," "The great plague water," "A gentle purge to be taken at any time without dainger. Good to free the liver from obstructions and stoping of the cause of most diseases in women..." Charms include "A writ for a madd dogg" [9 words to be "written upon anything the dog will eat"].