Section 56

Chap. XIII. How to dijfelve Talk^for to beaut/fie womem
'J'HoHgh I (hall fpeak in a work , en purpofe, more at large , how Talk may be dif- folved into water or oyl ; We (hall here onely fet down , how it may be fitted for women s ufe. Of all fuch w ay s as are ufed , I (hall fet forth fuch as I have tried to be good. Beat Talk in a mortar of metal ; then put it into a pot of the ftrongeft clay, and cover it, and bind it in with ftrong iron wyer j lute it well all over, and flop the joynts that nothing breathe out ; and fet it in the Sun to dry. Then put this (tone in an oven* that flames ftrongly, or in fome other place, where the fire is rnoft vehe- ment. When the fire of the oven is out , take it forth and break the veflel ; and if it be well calcined, it is enough : Other wile do the fame again, until the calx of it be as whke'as it ought to be. When the calcined body of it, is white, as it muft be$ grind it on a porphyry-ftone , and put it into a little bag, or upon a marble in a very moift place, or deep well, or cittern ; and let it lie there long , and with much moi- fture it will drop forth at laft: It will more eafily and perfectly diffolve into Water, if it were burnt long enough, and turned into a calx. For the parts being turn d to lime, and made exceeding dry by force of fire, they attraft moifture. It is alfo done
Another way
that is good. Calcine the Talk, and put it in an earthen pot , and fet it in the hoc- teft part of a potters oven, to ftay there fix days. When the Talk is thus turn'd to a calx , put it into a gourd-glafs , which you (hall tarft make clean , and make a bole at the bottom of it: and fettinga veflel under it, you (hall have the moifture of ic drop forth , and the calx will refolve into Water .* put this into a glafs vial , and lei the water evaporate in Balaeo : take the fediment out for your ufe. I ufe alfo
Another way;
Put fnails in an earthen veflel, in the open air , that they may be kept hungry three days, and pine for want of meat, and be purged ; then take a filver Loadrtone, of Talk, rnoft finely powdred , mingle it wkh the white of anegge, and make an oint- ment ; anoint the earthen veflel with it , and put the fnails into it , for they will car. tip all the Talk ; When they have eaten all , and voided their excrements , bruifo
11 tb*
l^X Natural Magick. "Boo^ 9.
the fnails with thcif (Wis j and potting them into a rctorc , draw out their moifture with a gentle fire; the humour that drops forth, will exceedingly adorn the face.
Chap. XIV. The preparation of Sublimate.
T Said, that there was nothing better than quick-filver for womens paints , and to cleanfe their faces,and make them fhinc. Wherefore,I Qull fct down many ways to Prepare it,that you may have the ufe of it to yonr dcfire. Take one ounce and half °t pure quick-filver , not falfified with lead : for if there be lead mingled with it, all your labour is loft. How it muft be purged and known, 1 taoght ellewhere. Min- gle this with half a pound of Mercury fubiimate, and put it into * marble mortar, •ndwith a new wooden peftle , ftiritwcll, turning it round aboot. Firft, it will be black , in fix hours it will grow white , if you ceafe not to beat it. Then adde one ounce and half of white fait, always turning it about with the peftle ; for the more you grind it, the perfe&er it will be. When it is very well ground , ir muft bewafnt. Sprinkle boiling clear water into the mortar, andftirh} and then ttay a while , until the muddy part may fink down , and the filth that was lighter, and fwims on the top : laying the veflcl on cue fide, pour out the water gently, and pour in frcfti ; do this five or fix times in the fame manner , until the pore and onely powder remain without dregs : make little cakes of it , and dry it in the fun. Some whilft they bruife it, fprinkle water on , left the powder by grinding fhoold be made fo fmall , that it (hould fly away into the air. The chief bufinefsis to purge it, and grind it well, that it be not troubled when it is ftrain'd forth : that which is gone to the bottom, and fo pan of it be loft • fomeopen a hole in the belly of a pot, that when it is iettled, the hole being opened , the water with the dregs may run forth. Other to fubiimate, adde a third part of quick-filver, and grind it in a wooden mor- tar ; and in the mean while they chew four grains of mattick in their mouths , and they tpu the clammy fpittle out of their mouths into the mortar, until it be white, as 1 laid: then they boil it in one pound of the diftilled water, of Bryony root, tillic be confumed : then they put a linnen cloth, to receive it at the mouth of the veffel, and lb they ftrain it forth, and fet it in the fun : they make troches of it with gum Traganth ; others to fublimate^tdd afixth part of quick-filver,bruifing it round about : then they adde camphir, borax, andcerufs, half as much, and mingle all together, The principal matter is, it is the beft way to fprinkle it with water whilft you grind ir, left by grinding it, the powder become fo light, that it fly away : alio, when the water is poored on, all the filth will come on the top, and more eafiiy be ponred off: then when the fubiimate is wafhed, it is left to fettle down : then again pouring off the former water , they pour on freGi, and they wafh it oft, till they fee it isenough, and no black fwims on the top. But there is no better, as we faid, than
Water of quick, fiver.
But fome will not away with quick-filver, by reafon of the hurt it commonly doth to the teeth : but they ufe other water. Yet there is no better water, then that which is extra&ed from quick-filver ; it is fo dear and tranfparert , and the face anointed With it, fhines like filver : it draws the skin haodfome, and makes it (oft by and by * ted 1 never law a better : the manner was fhewed before*
Chap. XV. How white-lead u prepared for the fate*
BEcanfe fnblimatets fo dangerous, there is a private way to do it with cerufs, but not rbeulual ways that women may have their defirt, without hurting theit skin or their tectb. 1 am now come to the bnfinefe of cerafs. Take of fwines grcafc
well
Of beautifying W men, 24. 3
Well wafhed and eleanfed in common water , at lead ten times: put it into a lye o1" fweet water, and after fifteen days, into a pot, or earthen vefle\, with a broad mouth; pouring in the (harped vinegar, put in your fwines greafe , that the vinegar may iwim three fingers above it : then faften a plate of lead on the mouth of the pot , well ln- tingthe joynts withlinnen cloths, that the vinegar may not evaporate. Every fif- teen days take eff the cover, and fee how it is , if the lead be diffolved,and fcrape the cover of all that hangs upon it,and put in thecover;anoint it all about,and let it ftand fo long, till all the reft be performed, as I faid before , and the whole lead be turned to cerufs. Cerufs muft be wafot thus : Pour water into a vcflel , put the cerufs into it; flir it up and down , that what dregs there is may fwim on the top : the cerufs „ is heavy , and will fink to the bottom : Pour forth what fwims above in the reflelj and pour on frefh water j and do this to often , until the pure cerufs be found with- out dregs : dry it, and lay it up. If you will do it
Another wajr,
Take twobandfuls of eleanfed barley, let it fteep all night in fair water . then dry ic on a linnen cloth, fpread abroad in the fun. When it is dried , poun it in a marble mortar ; when it "rs bruifed , put it into a glazed vcflel, which is full of vinegar, and caft upon this four whole eggs , with their fhclls s then flop the vcflel with a plate of lead, that is arched, or not very even, and let there be no place that gives vent. Sec it half in the find, and let it ftand in the open fun ; after ten days, take off the cover- ing of the vcflel that you ftopt it with i ftrike down the cerufs that is in it with a feather, and fcrape it off : then take the eggs out, and put in new, and do as you did ; and after fo many days fcrape it off, until the whole plate be confumcd. Let down the cerufs you have ftricken off, into a vcflel full of watcr,bound up in a linnen cloth that is clean,and moderately fine • and ftir it in the water, carrying it about here and there, until the muddy part of it run forth, and the fediment remain in the cloth: let the water fettle, and ftrain it, and pour it forth, changing the water fo long, until no dregs remain. Laftly, ftrain forth the water, and lay up the powder when it is dry* This alone with fountain- water, will make the face white, mingled with the white of an egge, and will make ic fhine. Some
isf neither wrf
wafh cerufs, and make it pure. Mingle bards of hemp, with Whites of eggs well ftirr'd : role up the cerufs in the middle of it i and wrapping a cloth about it , boil ic oae hour in a new earthen pot, putting water to it : as it boils, take off the skum : then take it from the fire ; and if any Lead be funk down, caft it forth : afterwards make Troches ©f it with Gum-Traganth,that it may keepthe better. Some bid boyl in water of white Lillies, Cerufs very finely powdered, tied up in a skin, andfaft- ned in a Linen-doth over it to the handle of the Vcflel. The manner of boyling is the fame as I firft fhewed. Then pour it forth into an earthen difh, and ftrain it gently from all its moyfture : dry it fifteen days in the Sun, and keep it,
Ch a p. XVI. the foft Sepesfor women.
I' Shewed in particulars how you might procure whiteflefs , luftre, and foftnefs to the Face : now fhall I fpeak of waters made of thefe , that will at the fame time make, if it be firft rub'd clean,
•olgflriru&alitWirtLO v-.a^a >* .(snlljiaisYfi o?tiow
TheFacervhiie^char^ruddyandfoft. Thefd I fpeak of can do it , being compofed together , and diftilled. Take Cerufs ready wafhcd,one ounce ; half as much Mercury fdblimare j Gum-Traganth as much ; Tartar , one ounce : powder all thefe , and put them into a young Pigeon wafhed and unbowelled , and fow them in : put it into a new Earthen Pot full of water* diftilled by a Retort t boyl it till the flcfli part from the bones ; then drftil it : wheii
LI % yort
244. Natural Magic k. 2>00^ 9.
yougoVo bed,wafh you Face ; and in the morning wafh it with Fountain- water: fo you (hall have it white, clear, foft, and well-coloured. Alio ycu may do it
Another way.
Bruife three pound of Bean-Cods, the fhells ; add two pounds of Honey, and one of Rofin of Turpentine : put them into a Veffel , and dole it that nothing vent forth ; and let it ferment eight days in dung : then add four pound of Affes milk : and in the Veffel draw forth Oyl at the fire ; uic this water morning and evening. If you will have
Another vraj ,
doicthu*. Diftil all thefe feverally ; Elder-flowers , and Flowers of wilde Roles, Broom, Honey- fu:kles,5o/(7/wo»/-feal , and Briony-Roots, fowre Grapes, and Sarco- colla : mingle equal parts of each, or diftil them again, andfet them in the Sun. This willbethebeft. Ifhallfhcw
Another for the fame.
Pull off a Hens Feathers withouc water, take out her Emrals, cut her in pieces, let infufc one night in white-Wine : in the morning waih her in it, and prefs her be- tween your hands that no Wine remain ; and then adding two Cups of white- Wine, diftil her in a Chymical Veffel : then diftil the Flowers of Bindeweed , Ci- trons, Oranges together ; and keep this water by it felf. Then open Lemmons, and prefs out the juice. And, alfo take water of Bean-flowers j then diftil fix cups of Aflet miik,and as many of Cows-milk. You fhall do the fame with water of Gourds, and of Milk well boyled, and of water of Bean-flowers , and of Rofin of Turpen- tine, Then provide a glazed Veffel , put into it , Cimphire two drachms , four ounces of Cerufs finely powdered : mingle them with the aforefaid waters , and fee hin a foft Veffel in the open Air fifteen days and nights. When you would ufc it, wet a Linen-rag in it, and wafh your Face.
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Chap. XVII. How to make the Face Rofc- coloured.
I Have made the Face white, now I will make it red , that the wife may be nude
wholly Beautiful for her husband. And firft,
To make a pale Face purple-co/oured.
And to adorn one that wants colour , ufc this Remedy. Take Vinegar twice di- ftilled,andcaftintoktherafpingsof red Sanders , as much as youpleafe: boylic at a gentle fire , adding a little Allom , and you fhall have a red colour mod perfect to dye the Face. If you would have it fweet-fmelling , add a little Musk, Civet, Cloves, or any Spices. Now
Another?
Take Flowers of Clove-Gilliflowcrs, bruife the ends of the fprigs , and dfaw forth the juice ; if they be fo ripe that they are black,add juice of Lemmons, that they may fhine with a more clear red. With this paint your Face, and you fhall have a plea- fantred colour without any ftinking fmell ; or wet the fprigs of Clove-gilliflowers in juice of Lemmons, and fet them in the Sun. Takeaway the old,and put in frefh, until it be as red ts you would have inlet the juice dry,and the color will bemoft glo- rious. Buc 1 draw a quinteffence from Clovegillflowers, Rofes, Flower-gentle, with Spirit of Wine ; then I add Allom, and the juice of a Citron, and I made an excellent colour to beautifie the Face. Take
Another,
If you add to the bed Wine one tenth part of Honey ,and one ounce of Frankinfence;
to)
Of beautifying Women. 245
and then diftil it , and tfcep in it the rafpings of red Saunders until it is coloured to your mindc ; and then wafh your Face with it : it will make your Face white and well-coloured. Alfo,
A Fftitts that cannot be detected •
And it is fo cunningly made, that it will delude all men • for a cleer water mikes the Cheeks purple-colonred, and it will laftlong ; and the cleerer the part will be, the more your wafh it with it,and rub it with a cloth of Woolen. You {hall draw put a water from the Seeds of Cardamom , ( which the Apothecaries call Grains of Paradife) Cubebs, Indian Cloves, rafpings of Bralil and Spirit of Wine diftilled : when they have been infufedfome time, draw forth the water with a gentlefire, or corrupt Dung, and wet your Face often with this. There are alfo Experi- ments n
To colour the Body,
If you boyl Nettles in water, and wafh your Body with it , it will make it red-co- lored, if you continue it long. If you diliil Straw-berrics,and wafh your felf with the water, you fhall make your Face red as a Rofe. But the Ancients dyed their bo« dies of divets colours ; partly, for ornament; partly, forterrour : as Cafar writes of the Bricans going co war ; for they painted themfelves with wood. Theophraftui calls it Ifatis , and we call it Guado. The Grecian-women painted themfelves with wood, as Zetiophon writes. And in our days the Weft-Indians crufh out in Harveft-time a blood-red juice from the Roots of wilde Buglofs : which the wo- men know well enough , whereby they cover their pale colour with a plcafant red : and fo change their over* white colour with this Experiment.
Chap. XVIII. To wafh away the over-mnch rednefs of the Face
I Have fhewed you how to colour the Face , now I fhall fhew how to uncolour it: when the Face is too red, and women that are very red defire this. The way is :