MELANCHOLY'S BANE: OR, Choice, Pleasant, and Profitable RECREATIONS. Gathered out of many most famous and industrious searchers of Art and Natures Secrets.

BY EDWARD FOUNTAINE, an expert Artist, Living upon London-bridge, next door to the Angel.

I've often heard, a Bow still bent, grows weak:
And too much worldly cares the heart may break.
Pleasure with profit, any one can brook:
And you may finde both, in this little book.
If that it may your kind acceptance find,
These harmless lines will recreate your mind.

Printed at London 1654.




1. How to make haire to grow.
Take halfe a pound of Aqua Melles, in the spring time of the yeare, warm a little of it every morning when you rise in a sauser or such a thing; and tye a little spunge to a fine Box Combe, and dip it in the said water; and therewith moisten the very roots of your hair in combing it, and it will help it to grow long, thick and curled in a very short space.

How to write letters of secrets severall ways that can be read by none without this instruction following.

Take fine allom, beat it small, and put a reason∣able quantity of it into a little water, then write with the said water, the which writing cannot be read, but by steeping your paper afterwards in faire water.

You may likewise write with Vinegar or Joyce of a Lemon, or of an Onyon; then when you would read the same, you must heat your paper a∣gainst the fire.

Moreover, if you, will anoynt a piece of paper with Candle-greace, and lay it upon an other white Paper, then wright thereon, next open your Paper asunder, & strew a little Powder upon your Paper, and whatsoever colour your Pouder be of, your writing wil appear of the same colour.

How to make Haire of any colour to become black.

Take a little Aqua fortis, put therein a groat or six pence, according to the quantity of the foresaid water, then set both to dissolve before the fire. Last∣ly, dip a little spung in the said water, & wet your beard or haire therewith, but touch not the skin.


How to make a Candle burn in water, and endure a long time.

Take a Candle and stick at the bottom of it as much Lead as will make it stand upright in a pale of water and not sink, and the said candle wil en∣dure burning therein a wonderfull long time.

How to take out spots of Oyle or Greace.

Take the Bones of Sheeps feet, burnt hem al∣most to ashes, then bruise them to Powder, and put of it upon your spots, and lay all before the Sunne when it shines hottest; when the Powder be∣comes black lay on fresh in the place till it suck out the spots, which is done in very short time:

How to keep Meat fresh and sweet a long time with∣out Salt.

Put your Meat in Flower, Meale, or Bran, and therein it will keep fresh and sweet along time, or else cast beaten Coriander seed and Vinegar on it, and it will do the same.

How to make a Powder that will make good Inke in an instant.

Take Gall and Coperas, as much of the one as of the other; beat this into Powder, mingle it, and put it into a little water, and on the present it wil be very good Inke. Likewise if you strew of the same Powder upon white paper and write thereon with a little faire water, the letters will appear presently black.

An experienced conceit, how to make Hens lay Eggs all Winter thorow.

Take the tops of the Nettles, when they begin to come unto seed, and dry them: which so dryed, give a little of the same, with Bran and Hempseed mingled together, to your Hens, and they shall

every day after lay you an Egge a piece.

To make flesh seem to crawle full of Wormes.

And to doe this, take Harp-strings, and cut them into very short pieces, which strew upon meat, being taken hot out of the Pot, and those pieces will then move and stir about, like unto living wormes.

How to make Roots to have what proper forme you will on them.

To doe this, take such green Roots which be big, like as be the Briony-roots, Radish-roots, and Rape or Navew-roots, and of any of these Roots carve and cut as you list, and after put the same into the Earth, letting it there so long re∣main, until the same carving be covered with a skin. And on such wise may you make the coun∣terfeit Mandrakes, in fashioning in the Briony∣root, as both Mattheolus and Cardane doe write, the forme of a man with a Pen-knife; and setting the same Root againe into the Earth, with the head of the Root turned downward, and a little Barley put under it, which after will cleare and hang fast into the head of the Root, and appear like unto the hair growing out of the same.

To write what you list on a Steel Dagger or Knife.

To doe this, take an Ounce of Salt-peter, and an Ounce of green Copperas: beat these grosly together, and after put the same into a strong bot∣tle of glasse, distilling a water of it; which water use on this wise: First, take yellow or red Wax, stretching the same upon the Dagger or Knife, so far as you will draw or write thereupon, unto the thicknesse of a paper lease, and somewhat more; after, draw or write therein what you

list, drawing or writing unto the Steel; and then fill that hollow drawing or holes with the distil∣led water, which within a day and a night will have eaten it sufficiently. And the like may you draw and doe on any other piece of Steel.

How to make a hollow Ring to dance by it selfe, a pro∣per secret.

To doe this, take a Ring round about hollow, into which put Quick-silver, and stop the same fast that it run not forth. After heat the Ring somewhat in the fire, or let it lye neer unto the fire, and being hot, lay the same on a Table or Stool, which by and by after will begin to dance of it selfe, until it be cold againe.

How to make an Apple to move on the Table: a pro∣per secret.

To doe this, take an Apple, and cut the same in the midst; and in the one halfe make a round hole, putting therein a black Beetle, and so lay the halfe on the Table, and it will then move.

How to eut an Apple into many pieces without har∣ming of the skin or paring.

To doe this, take a most fine Needle with a smal thred, and thrust the same by little and lit∣tle under the paring, and thrust it in againe right against the place, until you have so gone round about the outside of the Apple. And this also remember, that you thrust the Needle thorow the paring at strait corners one against the other of the Apple; and this so often doe, until you come again unto the first place where you began.

And if so be you would divide the same in six or eight pieces, then draw the thred again by a like distance, alwayes taking heed to divide the

Apple under the skin. And when you have thus done with the Apple, and the pieces yet covered with the skin, then draw out the ends of the thred and you shall after divide the Apple within, without harming of the paring or skin, into so many pieces as you list. And when you have thus drawn out, and taken the thred quite away, you may keep the Apple so long as you think re∣quisite.

A Pretty conceit, how to catch Fowle without a Net.

To doe this, take Arsenick, putting the same in water, and in that water boil Wheat, or any other grain, and cast the same forth unto Fowls: and so many as eat thereof, will not be able af∣terward to flie away. And take the juyce of Ge∣lidone, and infuse Wheat in the same, letting it remain there for three dayes: after, give the same to Fowls to eat; and such as eat thereof, you may after take with the hand. Also, take Wheat putting it in Wine-lees, and let the same remain there eight dayes: after that, put it into the juyce of Celandine and Horehound, to steep; which so done, then give of the same unto the Fowls to eat; and such as eat thereof, cannot flie away.

How to make a blown Bladder to dance and skip about from place to place.

To doe this, take Quicksilver in a Bladder, and lay the the Bladder in a hot place, and it will af∣ter skip from place to place, without handling.

An excellent conclusion, how to put an Apple into a Viol.

Hang the Vial on the twig of an Apple tree, and put a young Apple in the mouth of the Vial, and it will grow therein. And so ye may doe with Grapes, or other fruit.


To make fish or flesh seem raw.

Take the bloud of a Goat, or of a Kid, and dry it, and keep it from the air, then cast on Fish or Flesh that is hot, and it will seem raw.

A new Receit for a Cook, how with one Spit, and with one fire, to keep one Capon raw, the second to boil; and the third to roste.

Provide a long Spit, and put thereon three Ca∣pons, Chickens, Pidgeons, or what you please, (onely three:) then make a long fire, and lay them thereto, and let one turn the Spit: Then, on that you would keep raw, pour continually cold water; and on that you would boil, pour scalding liquor; and that which you would de∣sire to roste, baste it with Butter, and so bread it.

A very useful secret for the making of divers Inks.

1. Golden Inke. Take Chrystal beaten, and temper it with the white of an Egge, and write, and when it is drye, rub it over with a gold Ring.

2. Silver Inke. Take Black-lead, temper it with Gum-water, and write upon the black paper; and when it is drie, wipe it with linnen cloath, and it wil shine like silver.

3. Yellow Inke. Take Saffron, and Argil, and temper them with Gum-water, and it wil appeare a perfect yellow.

4. Green Inke. Take Verdigrease & Argil, grinde them together on a Marble stone with a Moller: then temper it, & it wil be a perfect green colour.

How to make a sportive Conclusion with a Cat, by putting her into a small washing-bowle in a Pond, Thames, or other River.

Bring forth a small Washing-bowl, and put therein a Cat: then shove the Bowle and Cat in∣to

a great Pond, the Thames, or other River, (in a calm.) When you have so done, manage your Spaniels or other Dogs that will take the water, or be apt to bait a Cat, and you shall have dain∣ty sport: for the Dogs with their feet will turne the bottome of the Bowl upwards; the Cat be∣ing in the water, will still flee to her little Pin∣nace she first boarded, namely, the Washing-bowl; betwixt which will appear a terrible Sea-sight in fresh water.

How you may serve a Tapster such a trick, that he shall not be able to froth his Cans or Jugs.

Provide but in readinesse the skin of a Red Herring, and at some time or other when the Tapster is absent, doe but rub a little on the in∣side of his Pots, Cans, or Jugs, and he shall not in any wise be able to froth them for a long time after, although he would. This is a conceit to cozen the Tapster when he would cozen you.

How to take Crowes, Kites, Magpies, or Iackdaws, alive.

Take any piece of raw Flesh, or Liver of a Beast and slice it into small morsels, that they may swallow it: then take the powder or slices of Nux Vomica, and (making holes in the flesh) put it in∣to the same, and lay it where they haunt; and presently after they have eaten of it, they will take to a Tree as soon as they can, suddenly totter and fall down; where you may with hands easily take them: but they wil quickly recover againe.

How to finde cut a delusion of the Vintners, in mixing Water with their Clarets and Whites, or Honey with their other sweet Wines.

If you suspect your French Wines (as Clarets or Whites) to be mingled with water, (which

you may partly perceive by the thinnesse about the verge or brink of the glasse;) the best way to finde out the delusion thereof, is, to put a Pear pared into the glasse; and if it doth swim aloft upon the Wine, it is a pregnant evidence that the Wine is perfect, and unmingled: but if it sink to the bottome, then of a certain water is ming∣led therewith.

If you likewise have any suspition of your sweet Wines, (as Canaries, Maligoes, &c.) that they should be mingled with Honey; you may finde out the trick in this manner: Take a few drops of the Wine, and pour them on in a hot place of Iron, and the Wine will soon dissolve, but the Honey remain and thicken.

How to make a most excellent Water, which I al∣wayes use to fasten Teeth that are loose, to cleare the Gums from putrifaction; to cause them to grow if need require; to sweeten the breath, and finally to divert away the Rheume from that place, it be∣ing very astringent, and cleansing.

Take two ounces of good White-wine vineger, sour ounces of Rosemary flower water, Myrrh, Mastick, bole Armenick, fine Dragons blood in leafe, of each an ounce; Roch-Allum burnt, and fine beaten Cinamon, of each half an ounce; a pint of fair water, and half a pound of good ho∣ney, with a little Benjamin; mingle all these to∣gether, and put it to boil for a quarter of an hour, skimming it well, then take it off, let it cool, and set it up in a Viol for your use: gargle your mouth well with a little thereof every morning, and before and after meals: I cannot extol this

secret too much, having experimented it with good successe to many people of equality, within this City of London, as I can justifie.

Of a vessel which containes three several kinds of liquor, all put in at one bung-hole, and drawn out at one tap, severally without mixture.

The Vessel is thus made, it must be divided into three Sells for to contain the three liquors, which admit to be Sack, Claret, and White-wine: now in the bung-hole there is an engine with three pipes, each extending to its proper Sell; into which there is put a broach or funnel, pierced in three places, in such sort that placing one of the holes right against the pipe which answereth unto him, the other two pipes are stopped; then when it is full, turne the funnel, and then the former hole will be stopped and another opend, to cast in other wine without mixing it with others.

How to draw out also without mixture: At the bottome of the Vessel there must be placed a Pipe or Broach, which may have three Pipes, and a cock pierced with three holes, so artificially done, that turning the Cock, the hole which an∣swereth to such of the Pipes that is placed at the bottome, may issue forth such Wine as belongeth to that Pipe; and turning the cock to another Pipe, the former hole will be stopped: and so there will issue another kinde of Wine, without any mixture: but the cock may be so ordered, that there may come out by it two Wines toge∣ther, or all three kinds at once: But it seems best when that in one Vessel and at one cock, a man may draw several kinds of Wine which he plea∣seth to drink.


How to find at any time which way the winde is in ones chamber, without going abroad.

Upon the planching or floor of a Chamber, Parlor, or Hall, that you intend to have this de∣vice, let there come down from the top of the house, a hollow post, in which place an Iron-rod, that it ascend above the house ten or six foot, with a Vane or a Scouchen at it, to shew the winds without: and at the lower end of this rod of Iron place a dart which may by the moving of the Vane with the winde without, turne this dart which is within: about which upon the plaister must be described a circle divided into the 32 points of the Mariners compasse, pointed and di∣stinguished to that end; then may it be marked by placing a compasse by it; for having noted the North point, the East, &c. it is easie to note out all the rest of the points: and so at any time comming into this room, you have nothing to doe but to look up to the dart, which will point you out what way the winde bloweth at that instant.

How to roste a Capon, carried in a budget at a Saddle bow, in the space of riding five or six miles.

Having made it ready and larded it, stuffe it with Butter, then heat a piece of Steel which may be formed round according to the length of the capon, and big enough to fill the belly of it; and then stop it with butter, then wrap it up well, and inclose it in a box in the budget, and you shall have your desire. It is said that Count Mansfield served himself with no others, but such as is made ready in this kinde; for that it looseth none of its substance, and it is dressed very equally.


How to make two Marmousets, one of which shall light a Candle, and the ether put it out.

Upon the side of a Wall, make the figure of a Marmouset, or other animal or forme, and right against it on the other Wall make another; in the mouth of each put a quill or pipe so artificially that it be not perceived: in one of which place Saltpeter very fine, and dry, and pulverised, and at the end set a little match of paper; in the other place Sulpher beaten small; then holding a can∣dle lighted in your hand, say to one of these Ima∣ges by way of command, blow out the candle; then lighting the paper with the candle, the Salt∣peter will blow out the candle immediately; and going to the other Image (before the match of the candle be out) touch the Sulpher with it and say light the candle, & it will immediately be lighted, which will cause an admiration to these which see the action, if it be done with a secret dexterity.

A Cure for Cornes.

Steep your feet (the space of a quartar of an houre, going to bedward) in warme water wher∣in hath boiled three of four sorts of sweet smel∣ling Herbs, as Rosemary, Time, Hissop, Spear∣mint, or the like, then pare a little of the out∣ward hardest part of your Cornes, having a care you cut not to the quick, then apply the bredth of your Corne of this plaister upon each Corne, and as much fine Leather upon that as will keep it from sticking to your stockings, continuing and renewing this plaister as need requires for a whole week, it will soften the very roots of your Corns, so that you may easily pick them out with the point of a penknife.


An infallible way to take away Haire without cutting or shaving.

Take unslaked Lime, steep it in a little water, then take two parts of the said Lime and one part of Opimentum, knead them together in forme of Paste, apply of this Paste to the place where you would have the haire to fall until it be somewhat dry and no longer, then take it off, and the haire will come with it very easily; lastly, wash the place with a little Rose-water, which will both corroberate the place, and take away ill smell.

A new delectable sure and easie way to catch Ravens, and many other sort of fowle alive.

Spread Birdlime or Pitch upon brown paper somewhat thin, then make this paper up in forme of little funnel dishes, a little bigger then a Ra∣vens head or any fowles head that you would catch therewith, let not the bottome or small end thereof be pierced quite through, then make lit∣tle holes in the ground that such fowle frequents which will serve to prop up the said funnel; put therein little bits of any raw flesh, or what else you finde such fowle as you would catch most greedy after, and you shall see rare sport, for these paper funnels will stick to their heads and blind them, they will flye to and fro and fall at the first thing they hit against ordinary; then if you be but nimble enough you may take them up alive.

The Countesse of Kents cure for a stinking breath.

The Countesse of Kents powder good against all malignant and pestilent diseases, French Pox, small Pox, Measles, Plague, pestilent malignant or Scarlet Feavers, good against melancholly de∣jection

of spirits, twenty or thirty graines there∣of being exhibited in a little warm Sack or Harts horne Jelly to a man, and half as much or twelve graines to a childe.

Take of the magistery of Pearls, of Crabs eyes prepared, of white Amber prepared, Harts horne, magistery of Corral, of Lapis contra yerva, of each a like quantity, to these powders infused, put of the black tips of the great claws of Crabs to the full weight of the rest, beat all these into very fine powder, and searce them through a fine Lawn Searce, to every ounce of this powder adde a dram of true Oriental Bezar, make all these up in∣to a lump or masse, with the Jelly of Harts horn, and colour it with Saffron, putting thereto a scruple of Amber greece, and a little Musk finely powdered, and dry them (made up into small Trochises) neither by fire nor Sun, but by a dry Ayre: you may give to a man twenty granes of it, and to a childe twelve granes.

Lac virgineum.

Take of Allum four ounces, boil it in a quart of Spring-water, to the third part: afterwards take of Litharge beaten into fine powder halfe a pound, White-wine vinegar a pint and a halfe, boile it to a pint, straine both the waters, then mix them together, and stirre them about till they are white. It takes away pimples, rednesse, and sun-burning, the face being washed with it.

I have some things extraordinary, which I can∣not communicate to any but them that have need of my help, and will make use of me. What I have writ here, is very good and necessary; yet

know my manual operation excels them beyond proportion, in which I presume to be as expert in as any man in Europe whatsoever he be; as the approbation of some of the best Doctors of this age shall justifie if need requires.

I glory not in knowing or doing much, but in doing well that little which I undertake, and the things which I undertake are these:

First, I draw out hollow Teeth or roots though never so short, with wonderful dexterity, facility, and ease.

I make even smooth and plain, Teeth that are extravagant or sharper, longer, or ruggeder then the rest.

Hollow Teeth that for some reason you would not have drawn, as the falling in of the check, or an invincible apprehension or fear, or the like, I can stop them so that they shall neither ake, pu∣trifie, nor smel ill.

I have the best secret in the world, absolutely and infallibly, to make Teeth most perfectly white and clean, though never so black or rusty.

Foreteeth that are loose, I can fasten very well in lesse then halfe an hour.

I can set in Artificial Teeth so well, that none can possibly know them from natural ones.

Finally, I cannot choose but convince their ig∣norance, that are against drawing hollow Teeth or roots; their common foolish objection is, that I doe it more for my own profit then the Patients ease. I say they may as well object the same a∣gainst all other Arts, Sciences, or Trades in the world; for it is evident and cleare, that the draw∣ing

of Teeth from others is as necessary for thein; as the profit is for me; by reason that all the Art in the world cannot make a perished Tooth sound againe, nor hinder it from infecting the next adjoyning teeth in time. Besides hollow teeth breed often a stinking breath, a canker in the mouth, and other diseases in the body, and their intolerable aking is able to make a body fall into a dangerous Feavours; all which incon∣veniences may be shunned by having such teeth and roots neatly drawn. Lastly, if it be true that it is good to take the broken from the whole, or that one scabbed sheep may spoil a whole flock, or that it is good and necessary to repair imper∣fections of nature with Art, then all that I have said herein is true, and so I rest fully satisfied.

To conclude, as there is no man free from the asper∣sions and slanders of envious tongues, so I shall thinke my selfe sufficiently vindicated that the discreeter sort will suspend their judgement at the first view until they heare what others will say that have been under my hands, for I desire no other praise save what they can justly give me: and though some out of ignorance or malice, or both, cannot distinguish between an Operator and a cheating Mountebanke, yet none can deny but that in all vocations there are some honest men, as well as knaves; both which I heartily wish may prosper, and fare as they deserve, and no otherwise.

I live upon London-bride, next door to the sign of the Angel, and am at home all the morning till eleven a clock, and from three in the afternoon til night.

All Souldiers troubled with the Tooth-ache I will ease in courtesie, the poor for Gods sake.

FINIS.