did take thereof and did eat; naughty boy as he was, I did chide him, and yet he would eat thereof."
Skill. I knew he had eaten something that was not wholesome food; and that food, to wit, that fruit, is even the most hurtful of all. It is the fruit of Beelzebub's orchard. I do marvel that none did warn you of it: many have died thereof.
Chr. Then Christiana began to cry, and she said, "Oh, naughty boy! and oh, careless mother! What shall I do for my son?"
Skill. Come, do not be too much dejected; the boy may do well again, but he must purge and vomit.
Chr. Pray, sir, try the utmost of your skill with him, whatever it costs.
Skill. Nay, I hope I shall be reasonable.
So he made him a purge, but it was too weak; it was said, it was made of the blood of a goat, the ashes of an heifer, and with some of the juice of hyssop, etc. When Mr. Skill had seen that that purge was too weak, he made him one to the purpose. It was made [the name was written in Latin] ex carne et sanguine Christi;[1] (you know physicians give strange medicines to their patients—and it was made up into pills, with a promise or two, and a proportionable quantity of salt. Now, he was to take them three at a time, fasting, in half a quarter of a pint of the tears of sorrow.
- ↑ That is, "of the body and blood of Christ."
