I knew two gentlewomen that did thus when they were young maids, and they had dreams of those that married them.

Alexander Tralianus, of curing diseases by spells, charms, &c. is cited by Casaubon, before John Dee’s Book of Spirits:  it is now translated out of the Greek into English.

Moreri’s Great Historical, Geographical, and Poetical Dictionary.  Abracadabra, a mysterious word, to which the superstitious in former times attributed a magical power to expel diseases, especially the tertian-ague, worn about their neck in this manner.

Some think, that Basilides, the inventor, intends the name of god by it.  The method of the cure was prescribed in these verses.

      “Inscribes Chartae quod dicitur Abracadabra
      Saepius, & subter repetes, sed detrahe summam
      Et magis atque magis desint elementa figuris
      Singula quae semper capies & caetera figes,
      Donec in angustum redigatur Litera Conum,
      His lina nexis collo redimire memento. 
      Talia languentis conducent Vincula collo,
      Lethalesque abigent (miranda potentia) morbos”.

      Abracadabra, strange mysterious word,
      In order writ, can wond’rous cures afford. 
      This be the rule:-a strip of parchment take,
      Cut like a pyramid revers’d in make. 
      Abracadabra, first at length you name,
      Line under line, repeating still the same: 
      Cut at its end, each line, one letter less,
      Must then its predecessor line express;
      ’Till less’ning by degrees the charm descends
      With conic form, and in a letter ends. 
      Round the sick neck the finish’d wonder tie,
      And pale disease must from the patient fly.

Mr. Schoot, a German, hath an excellent book of magick:  it is prohibited in that country.  I have here set down three spells, which are much approved.

**To cure an Ague.

Write this following spell in parchment, and wear it about your neck. 
It must be writ triangularly.

A B R A C A D A B R A
A B R A C A D A B R
A B R A C A D A B
A B R A C A D A
A B R A C A D
A B R A C A
A B R A C
A B R A
A B R
A B
A

With this spell, one of Wells, hath cured above a hundred of the ague.

**To cure the biting of a Mad-Dog, write these words in paper, viz.

“Rebus Rubus Epitepscum”, and give it to the party, or beast bit, to eat in bread, &c.  A Gentleman of good quality, and a sober grave person, did affirm, that this receipt never fails.

**To cure the Tooth-Ach:  out of Mr. Ashmole’s manuscript writ with his own hand.

      “Mars, hur, abursa, aburse”. 
      Jesu Christ for Mary’s sake,
      Take away this Tooth-Ach.

Write the words three times; and as you say the words, let the party burn one paper, then another, and then the last.  He says, he saw it experimented, and the party “immediately cured.”