From The Archives of
The Somerset Local Records Office
Quarter Sessions Records 1681
As well as the amusing point of the "misbehaviour" of William Larder, this extract is also valuable in helping to confirm the connection between the two Somerset surnames of "Larder" and "Leader".
A Modern English "Translation"
The examination of Susanna Owen of Wedmore within this county single woman taken upon oath before Francis Poulett Esq. contents of his attestation, Justice of the Peace of this county the 20th day of January anno domini 1681.
Saith
that she is with child and that the father thereof is one William Larder alias Leader of the same husbandman unto whom she was a servant, who had the first time carnal knowledge of her six weeks after Midsurnmer last past in the night time in his own house when his wife was gone from
home, and another time about a fortnight after in his house in the daytime in the absence of his wife, and that no other person had carnal knowledge of her for a year last past.
Fra Poulett
From ye Gent' Mag, 1770. P 421.
The following Recipe to prevent Infection deserves to be rendered as public as possible. It is call'd ye Thieves' Vinegar, having been made use of by some abandoned Wretches, who plunder'd ye dying, & ye dead in one of ye great Plagues abroad; - & acknowledg'd to their confesior before their Execution. To prevent Infection. Take Rue, Wormwood, Sage, Lavender, Mint, & Rosemary, of each one handful, put these altogether w.th a Gallon of ye best vinegar into a stone_pan, cover'd over w.th paste, & let them stand within ye warmth of a fire, to infuse for eight Days : then strain them off, & to every quart bottle put three quarters of an ounce of Camphire. Let ye Camphire be dissolv'd before it is put into Bottles. Rub ye temples, & loins with this preparation before going out in a morning, wash ye mouth, & snuff up some of it into ye nostrills, & carry a piece of a Spung, y.t has been dipt into it, to smell to pretty oft'n. This Recipe will be certainly useful to Hospitals, & Workhouses. The Clergy may avail themselves of it in their attendance upon the sick, & perhaps the Gent' of ye faculty may not think it unworthy of their regard.
From the Axbridge Parish Records
A medicine for ye Bite of a mad Dog,
taken from ye Church of Cathrop, Lincolnshire; where almost ye whole parish were bit by a mad dog. Take ye leaves of Rue pick'd for ye stalk & bruised, 6 Ounces, Garlick pick'd, & bruised - Venice treacle, & Metridate & scrapings of Pewter, of each 4 Ounces; Boyl these over a slow fire in two Quarts of strong Ale 'till one Pint be consumed; bottle it, & give of it. Ninespoonsful to a man or woman, seven mornings fasting; & 6 spoonsfuls to a Dog. ------------ they at Cathrop who used this Medicine recover'd, & they who did not, died.
From the Axbridge Parish Records