ABSTRACT
Many women here are with child, and among them the wife of Messer Tommaso Soderini and many others. I went to enquire and found out the remedy they have used: a poultice, which they put on their bellies. So I went to the woman and besought her to make me one. She says she will do so gladly, but it must be in winter. ... She has never put it on any woman who did not conceive, but she says it stinks so much, that there have been husbands who have thrown it away. So discover from Francesco if he would have you wear it.l
she says it is to be girded on by a boy who is still a virgin, saying first three Our Fathers and Hail Marys in honour of God and the Holy Trinity and St Catherine; and the letters written on the belt are to be placed on the belly, on the naked flesh .... But I, Niccolo, think it would be better, in order to obtain what she wishes, if [Margherita] fed three beggars on three Fridays, and did not hearken to women's chatter.3
