# The Fourth Book

::: {.editorial-note}
From *The Secretes of the Reuerende Maister Alexis of Piemount*, part 1, trans. William Ward (London: John Kingstone for Nicolas Inglande, 1558), book 4.

Text from the [Text Creation Partnership's keyboarded edition](https://github.com/textcreationpartnership/A16068) (EEBO-TCP A16068), converted with `scripts/tcp-to-articles.php`. Spelling, u/v and i/j as printed; long s printed as s; line-end hyphens rejoined; italics mark words set in roman or italic type within the black letter. • marks a letter and 〈◊〉 a word or more that TCP could not read. Each page begins at its folio number in square brackets, which links to that page of the [microfilm scan](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558) on the Internet Archive. Not yet checked against the scans.
:::

[[f. 67r](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n146)] *THE FOVRTH BOKE.*

#### ☞An odoriferous and precious water, wherwith a man may weate or bath anye linnen clothe, to wype or rubbe his face, which wil make the flesh white and wel coloured: and the more a man rubbeth his face with it the fairer it is, and also continueth .vi. monethes: 〈◊〉 thing experimented and proued yea, and it for a quene.

TAke a pounde of roche Alome, wasshed and burned, Malmesey twoo glasses full, paste of Borax .vi. vnces, white Gomme dragant a pounde, Gomme arabicke thre vnces, stiep al in the Malmsey, by the space of twoo naturall dayes, myngle it with twoo pottes of Goates milke, and stoppe it well that it take no vente: than take nine vnces of *Sublimatū,* and set it to burne or calcine in an vnyelded potte, well closed vp in a furnayse, and twoo pounde of Ceruse of Alexandria, prepared in this maner. Lappe it vp with the white of an egge, in some lynnen clothe, and boyle it in sweete lye, vntill the thirde part be deminished: than mixe all these thinges well together. This dooen, take twoo pounde of rawe white Honny, thre pound of Terebentyne of Alexandria, three glasses of stilled vinagre, Ginger stamped .vi. vnces: boyle all with the saied vinagre, vntyil there be but two glassesfull left. Than take .iii. vnces of fine Mirre elect, & put it vpon the said thinges: after this take twoo vnces of litarge or white leade of siluer wel beaten into poulder, and boile it in .iii. glasses full of good vergeous or whyte wyne, vntyll the thyrde [[f. 67v](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n147)] part be diminished: than with a litle cane, rede, or stick, mixe or sturre well all the saied thinges together, in some vessell, the space of .vi. houres. Finallye, put into the same about fiftie snailes out of their shelles & made cleane, an vnce of Campher, a good fatte henne flawen and brokē into small pieces, without washing her, two Orenges withoute their pilles, kernelles, or the lytle skinne within the pille .xii. Lemons ordered likewise, or elles the iuyce of them, which will consume the saied snayles, and all wyll waxe like paste. This dooen, take the white of .xxv. egges new laied, hard roste, with the whiche you must incorporate sixe vnces of Synamom, and a certaine quantitie of sugre candy, and put all together in a violle into the bathe or baine, and still it. The first water that shall come of it, will be white, the seconde yet whiter, which you shall receyue a parte by it selfe, and the thirde verie white. Then myngle the first with the laste, and distill it againe, and kepe it, for it is good: yet not so good as the second, which is verye excellent aboue all thinges in the world, and that must serue for the visage or face. If you will dresse or trimme handkerchers with it, as is aboue saied, take what handkerchers you will, so that they bee not very fine, & lay them in a platter, and powre vpon theym as muche water as wyll couer them, leauing them so the space of sixe houres, than hauing taken them oute, and hanged them vp, in such sort, that the water may droppe out of them into the same platter, ye shal let them so drie, then bathe or washe them again, as before, other vi. houres, driyng them agayne, and so .vii. times. Than shal you haue an excellent thing.

#### ☞To make a water that wyll make a whyte and pale persone well coloured.

TAke white Pigeons, and fatten them with Pyneapple kernelles, the space of .xv. daies, and than kil them: and hauing cast away the head, the feete, and the guttes, with all the garbage, distill them in a limbecke [[f. 68r](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n148)] with halfe a loffe of Succarine Alom, thre hundred leaues of fine siluer plate, fiue hundred of golde foyle, and the cromme of .iiii. white loues stieped or weated in almonde milke, a pounde of the marye of a calfe or oxe, and freshe barrowes grease. Make all this to distil with a litle fier, & you shal haue therof a verie perfite water.

#### ☞A verie good water to make the face appeare of the age of .xxv. yeares.

TAke a couple of calues feete, and seeth theym in xviii. pounde of riuer water, vntil halfe be consumed, then put to it a pounde of ryse, and lette it seeth with crommes of fine manchet breade stieped in milke, two pound of freshe butter, and white of .x. new laied egges, with their shelles & all: set those al thinges to distill, and into the water that shall come of it, put a litle Campher, and succarine Alom, and you shall haue an excellent and noble thing of it.

#### ☞A water to beautifie the face, and all other partes of the bodye.

TAke of white Borar twoo vnces, roch Alome an vnce, Campher twoo dragmes, Alome called in Latyne *Alumen scissilae* or *plumae,* whiche naturallye groweth like a stone, and not withstandinge maye be deuided, there bee longe strakes seene in it, and the Alome called *Alumen catinae,* because it is boyled in a caudron, and is made more pure by an herbe (like to herbe yuye) burned into ashes and lye made therewith, of ech of these an vnce: beate eche of these to poulder by them selues: and than incorporate all well together, and put it in some greate vessel full of condite water, the which you shal couer and close vp sure with a lynen cloth, and set it to the fier, the space of two houres, than take it awaye, and when it is colde agayne, putte it in another vessell, and take the white of two egges new layed the same day, and beate it well with a litle vergeous: and so put it in the vessell with water, and leaue all so together [[f. 68v](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n149)] the space of .xx. dayes in the Sunne, and you shall haue a perfite thing of it.

#### ☞A water to make the skinne white, and to take away the sunne burning.

TAke halfe a potfull of raine water, and fill it vp with vergeous, than seeth it vntill it bee halfe consumed: and in the meane time that it yet boyleth, fill it with the iuyce of Lemons. When it hath sodden, take it from the fier, and putte to it the white of .iiii. egges newe layed, and well beaten, but the foresaied substaunces muste be colde before you put in the saied white of the egges: and than is it made.

#### ☞Another water to beautifie the face, and to make it appeare of the age of fiftene yeres.

TAke quicke Brimstone an vnce, white ensence of the best .ii. vnces, of Myrre twoo vnces, of fyne Ambergrise .vi. dragmes, beate eche of these drooges by them selues, and then mingle them altogether with a pounde of rose water. This doen, put them to distill, and kepe it in a vessel close stopped. And when you go to bedde, washe your face therewith, and leaue it so not wiping it: and in the morning washe it againe with well water luke warme, and by thys meane shall you mayntayne, and keepe the skynne verie delycate, fyne, and smoth.

#### ☞An easye water for Ladyes and gentil women.

TAke the whyte of eyghte newe layed egges, and beate them vntill they bee conuerted into a cleare water, then strayne them, and take *Alumen catinae* or *Dessquamatum,* Boras, Campher, *Alumen zucharinum* which is made with Alome relented, Rose water and whites of egges into the facion of a Sugre lofe, of eche of them an vnce, of Vinagre eyght vnces, water of beane blossoms twoo vnces. Let all these saied thinges be finelye stamped and beaten in a morter, and than put all together [[f. 69r](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n150)] in a great violle of glasse, the whiche beynge well couered, you shall leaue in the sunne the space of fiftene dayes, styrringe the sayde water twise or thrise a daye, and so let it stande and rest. This done, put it in another violle, and washe your selfe with it whan you wil, leauinge it so a certaine space vpon your face: and than rubbe it with a piece of scarlet. The lady or gentlewoman that will vse often times to washe her face with this water, yea, were she of yeares thre score, she shall appeare to be of the age of, xv. yeare.

#### ☞To make a goodly lustre or beautiflynge of the face, good for ladies and dames.

TAke a greate Lemmon, and make a hole in the toppe of him thorough the which hole you shall take out of the substaunce within the bignesse of a Walnutte: and fyll it agayne with Sugre Candye, with foure or fiue goldfoyle leaues, and couer it agayne with the piece that you toke of, sowinge it with a needle, so that it may remaine fast on. Than set the sayde lemon to roste vpon the coales, righte vp, and after as it shall beginne to roste or boyle, tourne it often, vntill it hath sweat a good space, than take it of. And whan you will vse of it, putte one of your fingers into the hole that was sowed vp, and rubbe youre face with it, with some fine linnen clothe, and it will proue an exquisite thinge.

#### To take out spottes, lentilles, or pimpels of the face.

TAke the meale or flowre of a kind of pulse corne called *Lupinum,* which groweth in Italy and Fraunce, but here vnneth knowen, the freshe and recente gall of a goate, the iuyce of a lemon, Alome sucharine, incorporate well all together in maner of an oynctmente: and rubbe at night the place with it where the spottes or burgeons be, and you shalbe incontinent cured of them This is well experimented and proued.

#### ☞A very good way how to geue a lustre or shew to all distilled water.

[[f. 69v](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n151)] TAke litle greene pine Apples well mondified, cut them in litle rounde and flatte pieces: whiche you shall stiepe three dayes in cowe milke, chaunging the milke once a day (but it were better in goates milk) at the ende of thre dayes distille them with these poulders folowing. Poulder of glasse foure vnces, pieces of redde corall two vnces, Suger Candy four vnces, roch Alome .i. vnce, quicke siluer mortified with spittle, an vnce and a halfe .xij. new laide egges broken with their shelles and all, Turpentine washed in ix. waters, four vnces, Snailes such as carry no shelles on their backes and if you can not get such, take those that cary shelles. All these thinges well stamped eche one by him selfe, mingle them together, and than make in the Limbeck a rowe or bedde of them, than a bedde of the poulders, and one of Turpentine, and so another of the snayles, and thus one vpon another, vntill the Limbecke be ful, than cast vpon it a glassefull of good white wine, and make vnto it a temperat fyre. Thus shall you haue such a water as you wuld desyre, the which you shal kepe in a flagon of glasse: for it is very good to make white and to beautifie the flesh, and to take away the wrinckles of the face: A thinge proued.

#### To make a water of whyte Melons, that maketh a fair skinne.

TAke white Melons well made cleane of theyr pilles, and cut them in pieces a fyngar thick, leauing all the middes alone, than take these thinges folowinge: Succharyne Alome four vnces, quicke syluer broken or mortified, an vnce, Roch Alom burned an vnce, Turpentine washed a pound .xij. new layde Egges stamped with shelles and all, white Snailes cut in pieces as many as you will, Suger. iiii. vnces, with a glassefull of goates milke, and one of white wine: than fyll the Limbecke with the saied thinges, layeng rancke vpon ranck, as we haue said of the other water before. Giue it than a litle fire, and kepe the water [[f. 70r](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n152)] in a viole, whiche will be excellente to washe youre fa•e with. After this maner is made y^e^ water of *Auguria* of the blossomes of beanes, of mallowes, and of the blossomes of Tansey, or wild vine, & other such like things.

#### To make a very good water of Gourdes, as well garden Gourdes as wilde.

TAke Gourdes, and plucke of their vtter pille or barke, cut them into little round wheeles, than put to them sixe vnces of succarine Alome, an vnce of Alom *sciffilae* or *plumae,* the value of a peny of Myrrhe, halfe a pounde of Turpentine wasshed, foure newe laide egges stamped and well beaten together, sixe Lemons cut in trenches, Snailes as many as you will, a glasse of white wine. Beate into poulder that whiche ought to be beaten, and mixe well all together, makinge the first ranke of Suger, the seconde of poulder, and the thirde of Snayles: than put the wine, the Lemons, and the egges vpon all the reste, and so distill it with a small fire: and the water that commeth of it must be kept .viii. or .xv. dayes in the sunne in a viol. A man may make the lyke also of Gourdes that growe nigh vnto the sea.

#### ☞An oyntment for the face whiche beinge kepte on, or vsed continually the space of eighte dayes, altereth the skinne and reneweth it finely.

TAke four newe laide egges, and lay them eyghte dayes together in stronge Vinaigre, so that they become tender and soft, that you may take of the shelles. After this take oute the yelkes finelye that you breake them not, and put them in an earthen dishe leaded. This done, take the value of a peny of white Turpentine well wasshed, the value of a halfe peny of sugre Candy, and twise as muche of the paste of Borar, Campher, Verdegrise, Roche Alome, of eche of them sixe deniers. All these thinges well beaten to poulder, take .ii. quarters of quick siluer mortified w^t^ spettle, or the iuyce [[f. 70v](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n153)] of lemons, oyle of wine leese called *Tartarum* .iiii. vnces, a white onyon, which you shall boyle in white wine, & straine thorowe a strainer, and mingle al this with the yelkes of the egges, incorporatinge, and beatinge all well together, with the iuyce of two lemmons. And at night whan you goe to bed, laye the sayde composition vpon your face, necke, and breaste, lettinge it so drye of it selfe. Nowe, you must styrre it well at euery time you will occupie it, and you maye not take it to sone from your face, for than you shall marre the skinne: but you must let it lie on the space of eight dayes. And although you would thinke the sayed composition burned or flawed of the skinne of your face, you may not for all that take it of, but let it worke his operation, and at thende of eight dayes take it of in this maner folowing. Take wheate bran, mallowes, leaues of Marche violettes, Beane poddes, crommes of breade, and a good quantitie of rawe honny, and boyle al these thinges together, vntill it be all softe, than powre it in to some potte, and let it coole vntill suche tyme as you maye endure the smoke therof, holdinge youre face ouer the potte. Also couer well your heade, your breaste, and other places, where you haue laide the saide past, and holde your face so ouer the smoke of the pot vntil the sweate drop down by al your face. And whā you perceiue your self to swet take a litle of the said water, & put crommes of bread in to it, and whan you haue well swete, take of the breade crommes, & rubbe with them al about wher the composition is laide: for there the skin wil be very tender, and therfore must you rubbe hard, vntil your face be cleane of the said past, or composition, than immediatly washe your face with cleane water, and wipe it drie again. After this, you must take some distilled water, wherein is no stronge substaunce, and bath your face with all fiue or six times. If in case there remaine behind anye of the saied past in any place of your body, rubbe it well with the said crommes of bread, or some linen cloth, wete or dieped in such distilled water, and you shall incontinent [[f. 71r](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n154)] see that that skinne which was rough, thicke, and rude, shalbe chaunged and altered into a fine, faire, and delycate skynne. But beware that in eyght daies after you go not abroade in the open aire, or to nygh the fyre, lest the new fyne, tender, and delycate skynne, shoulde be burned, or take anye hurte. This is a goodly secrete.

#### ☞For him that hath naturally a redde face.

TAke foure vnces of the kernelles of peches, twoo vnces of gourdes seedes, and make therof an oyle, wherwith you shall anoynt his face morning and euening, and this will kil and destroy the rednesse. A thing founde trew by experience.

#### ☞To make aqua argentata or siluered water, which maketh a white ruddie and glistring face and is made like a water and not like an oyntment, that the dames of Italy for the most part do vse, althoughe that fewe men make it as it ought to bee made.

TAke .iiii. vnces of *Sublimatum,* and break it in sonder in a morter, styrringe it alwaies with one hande. When it is broken ynough, take .iiii. deniers of quicke siluer, and put it in stronge white vinagre the space of viii. daies, than put it in another vessell with other vinagre, and boyle it a litle. This doen, take the quicke syluer out of the vinagre, and lay it in a dishe, taking the crome of a lofe, which you shall cromme with the sayed quicke siluer, styrring wel altogether, vntill the quicke siluer be faire and cleare, than blow in it, and the bread will flie away: than shall you put this quicke siluer, so purged, with the sublimat, in mixing and styrrynge it wel with one hand, & so it wil become white as snowe: than take hote boylinge water, and powre it into the saied morter, which must also be hote, and styrre it well and mixe all together, and so let it stand and rest. After this take diligently the water away, which wil be very good for scabbes, or skurfe: & powre to it other sethinge water, & was•he it well, as before, foure or fiue tymes. [[f. 71v](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n155)] This dooen, take .xii. or .rv. Perles, and a Carlyn or twoo of golde broken in sonder, or elles a lytle Campher, a lytle Boras, a lytle Talchum, if you haue any. All these thinges shall you breake and bruse in sunder, with one hande in a morter, and so leaue it fourtye daies in the Sunne, sturring it euery daye with youre hande the space of halfe an houre. After the saied fourtie daies take foure newe layed egges, the whiche beinge a lytle heated by the fier: you shall brake: and hauyng taken the whites of them, you shall put them into the saied morter, mingling well all together, and so shall you dooe this water folowing. Take litle ripe Lemons, and take of the outwarde yelowe pille, than cut them in small pieces, wyth .xii. newe layed egges, beatynge the yelke, the white, and the shelles together, than adding to it twoo vnces of Turpentyne, you shal put al into a Limbecke, making to it a litle fier, wherof you shall haue about a glasful of water, with the which water you shal temper your siluered water in the morter: than kepe it in a violle close stopped, in a cole place: And so it will bee an excellent thinge, and it were to geue a queene. And when you wyll occupie of it, lette your face fyrst bee cleane, and than laie to the saied water, as muche as you shall by youre discretion, thynke sufficient, lettinge it drie of it selfe.

#### ☞To make an oy•tment for the face.

TAke three vnces of the fatte caule of a fatte lambe, the whiche you shall put into freshe water, chaunging it euery day fiftie times, seuen or eyghte daies together, then cut it very small, put it in an earthen panne leaded, full of whyte cleare Vinagre, with a dragme of Campher stamped. Boyle this together by the space of twoo or thre Pater noster, and after strayne the grease with the foresaied thinges, thorowe a whyte linnen clothe, than lette the grease coole, vntill it bee harde againe: and if there bee anye ordure or fylthe at the bottome, [[f. 72r](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n156)] you muste take it away. After this take twoo vnces of the oyle of Tartare, and put it in some vessell vpon the coales, vntill it come together: and hauing set it in a moyste place by the space of a daye and a night, put to it an vnce of Borar well wasshed, than stampe and mixe all well together, adding to it an vnce, and a halfe of Ceruse wasshed, and hauing put all in a new carthen panne leaded, set it on a small fier, styrryng it alwaies well together, vntyl all the saied thinges be wel incorporated together: and after that you haue layed it vpon your face, laye on also a redde coloure made wyth the grayne whereof Scarlate is died, called in Latyne *Coccum,* and wyth Brassel, for it shalbe better than with Brasyll alone.

#### ☞To make a redde colour for the face.

TAke redde Sandall fynely stamped, and strong vinagre twyse distylled, than put into it as much Sandall as you wyll, and let it boyle faire and softly, & put to it also a lytle roche Alom stamped, and you shal haue a very perfite redde. If you wyll make it odoriferous and sauour well, put a lytle Muske to it, or els Ciuet, or some other odoriferous thing what you lyst.

#### ☞To make the face fayre.

TAke Beanes and a kynde of a litle grayne called in Latyne *Faseoli,* and Cyche peason, and make a poulder thereof, which you shall stiepe and temper in luke warme water, with the white of an egge, and the milk of an asse: and than lay it out to drye. And after stiepe it in a lyttle water, wherewith you shall wasshe youre face, and it wyll become fayer, cleare, and nete.

#### ☞To make the face faire another waye.

TAke the fresshe blossomes of Beanes, and distyll them thorowe a Limbecke, and so wasshe youre face with the water that shall come of them.

[[f. 72v](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n157)]

#### ☞To make the face fayre.

TAke the flowres of Rosemary, and boyle them in white wine, than washe youre face with it, and vse of it for to drinke and so shall you make youre face verie faire, and also your breath sweete.

#### ☞To take out spottes or redde pimples out of a mans face and to make the skinne very faire.

TAke a litle roche Alome, and breake it a sonder into small pieces, than take the white of an egge newely layed euen at that instant, the whiche you shall set to the fyre in a lytle panne leaded, with the roche Alome, and leaue it so vntyl you see that it beginneth to boyle, mingle it alwaies with a lytle sticke. And when it is waxen hard, annoynet well al yourface with it three or foure daies, and it wil make your face fairer. A thinge founde trew by experience.

#### ☞To make a water that maketh the face white.

TAke Lytarge, Syluer sublymed the value of a grote, and put it into some vessel w^t^ strong white vinagre, than boyle it vntyll it bee deminished the heyght of two fyngers: lette it stande and rest, than straine it and kepe it. Also milke and the iuyce of Orenges mixed with the oyle of wyne lees is verie good.

#### ☞Another maner to make the face fayre.

TAke the gall of a Hare, of a Cocke or Henne, and of Eeles, temper them with Honnye, and putte them so into a vessell of brasse well stopped, for to annoynt your face with whan you lyste, but take heede it touche not your eyes: for it would inflame them and make them looke redde, and so hurt you.

#### ☞To take of spottes lyntelles or redde pymples out of the face.

TAke greene Lisardes quicke, and boile them in oyle vntyll the thyrde parte bee consumed. Strayne [[f. 73r](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n158)] this, and put to it white ware, and than make thereof an oyntment, wherwith you shall often times annoint your face.

#### To take of a ringe worme or tetter that renneth all ouer a mannes face, called in Frenche Le feu volant.

TAke the rootes of *La•athum acutum,* called Sorel as wel wylde, as of the garden, wash them wel and mondifie them, and cutte them in small pieces, the whiche you shall stiepe in strong whyte vynagre, and leaue them in it two dayes & two nights. Afterwarde rubbe the place of the sore with it three or foure times a day, and at night with the sayd pieces of the sorell retes, letting them stiepe alwaies after in the sayde Vynagre, and you shall be cured.

#### To dryue a way life.

TAke encens, and the larde of a barrowe Hogge, properly called barrowes grease, Boyle them together in an earthen panne or potte leaded, and with this ointment rubbe or annoynte the place where the life be.

#### To make a water that taketh of all stayninge, dying, and spottes from the handes of artificers that gette them by workinge, and maketh them very white and fayre: It is also good for them that be sunne burned.

TAke the iuyce of a Lemon, with a litle baye salte, and washe your handes with it▪ and let them drye of them selues: washe them agayne, and you shall finde all the spottes and stayninges gone. It is also very good against the scurfe or scabbes.

#### To make a water that maketh the fleshe and skinne of a man or woman very fayer, and will be kept like a precious baulme.

TAke a yonge crow euen out of the nest, if you maye get one so: if not, take him as yonge as you maye: [[f. 73v](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n159)] to whome (by the space of .xl. dayes) ye shall geue none other meate, but the yelkes of harde egges. Than kyll him, and flawe him, breakinge the fleshe into smal pieces: than take leaues of a myrtle tree, and lay one ranck of them, and another of the little pieces of the crowe, in some great violl of glasse, powdered and strowed ouer with the poulder of *Talchum,* stamped with the oyle of swete Almondes, and put in as muche of it as your discretion shal iudge, for a great quantitie will do no hurt to it. And if there remayne yet anye pieces of the sayde crowe, make therof another ranck, adding therto some myrtle leaues, and than of the *Talchum,* and the sayde glasse must be large, wyde, and lowe. Finally you shall poure vpon it thre or foure vnces of the oyle of Myrrhe, dressed with egges, as is declared in this booke. Than set the saied violl or glasse vnder the Limbeck, stopping well the sides and ioyntes, that it take no vent, and likewise the recipient: and geue it at the beginning a small fyre for the space of foure or fiue houres, so that al these thinges may be dissolued, and as it were, breake, and corrupt amonge them selues: than make the fyre greater and greater, and at the ende very great for the space of an hour, letting it after cole. And if the fire haue ben great ynough, the water will be yelowe, and somwhat redde, the whiche water you shall put into another lyke glasse, great, according to the quātitie of the said water putting to it half a pound of rosemary blossoms, halfe a glassefull of Aqua vite, setting al to distill agayne w^t^ the limbeck, and recipient as before: you must put in the recipiēt, or at the beke of the limbeck, some fine litle cloth, wherin must be white Bengewin stamped betwene ij. papers as wel as you can. Whan this water shalbe distilled, it will be very cleare & fayre, which you shal kepe in a viol, wel stopped with waxe, and cered cloth, to the ende it take no vent, and you may neither kepe it in the sunne, nor in any hote place. This will be a noble and precious water, whiche hath not the like in the worlde for to make the skin fayre, and to preserue it. The maner [[f. 74r](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n160)] how to vse it is this. Fyrste, you must washe youre face well with cleare water distilled, and than rub well both face, breast, and other places of youre body where you list, with a piece of scarlet weted in the sayd water, and lie downe vpon your bedde, holding a litle while, the piece of wet scarlet vpon your face, and thus maye you do euery .viii. or euery .xv. daies once, or elles euery moneth, or euery two moneths. In the mean time you may vse some other water, as the water of Beane blossomes, of gourdes, of melons, of onyons, of white flourdelice, of the rote of the herbe called in latin *Dracontium,* or more comonly *Serpentaria,* in englishe dragons, and of other like: but you must take hede that you put in it no sublime, nor Ceruse in any wise. Thus shal you haue a water of a merueilous vertu, to make your skinne and fleshe fayre and naturall, and to conserue and keepe it longe yonge, gaye, freshe, and nete.

#### ☞A verye goodlie water to washe the face, necke, and the breast, whereof a man maye make a greate quantitie, for the more there is of it, the better it is: It maketh the skinne and fleshe of the face fayer, not burtinge or destroyinge the teeth, and shall seme that the face is nothinge at all holpen with any coloure, but that it is euen so by nature.

TAke two fatte Pigcons, two pounde of Veale, seedes of Spurge, pilled thre vnces of Pine apple kernelles, sweete Almondes, bytter Almondes, the rootes of white and yelowe floure delice, Beanes broken in pieces and mo•dified, the gall of an Oxe, the roote of Dragons, the roote of a litle yonge Ashe, or romon *Diptum,* a litle lemon the yelow pill taken away, & cut in pieces, the cromme of a white lofe wet in milke gomme dragant stieped in wine, gomme Armoniac slieped in Vinaigre, and let there be of all these thinges a reasonable quantitie. Than put therevnto flowres or blossoms of *Ligustrum,* which is a tre hauing leaues like an oliue tre, but they be broder and softer, & more grene [[f. 74v](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n161)] of colour, whiche doth beare white flowers and swete, wherof is made an oyle called *Oleum ciprinum.* And this free doth growe in watrie places, as Willowes and salowes do, and beareth a blacke fruite like vnto an elder free, and distill all these with a small fyre, hauing bound or tied a litle linen cloth with Musk, and white Benge wyne, at the becke of the Limbecke: than kepe the water in a glasse well stopped, for it will be very excellente to make a white and naturall skinne or fleshe, without hurtinge the teeth or any other thinge.

#### ☞To make a very excellente redde colour for the face, whiche is naturall, and continueth longe vpon the face, makinge it alwayes gayer and fairer.

TAke the whites of .xxv. harde Egges, and put a glassefull of the mylke of greene figges among them, if you can get none of it, take lytle figges that be not rype, and cutte them in smal pieces, whiche you shall mingle with the sayd egges: and than distill them, and the water that shall come thereof, maketh of it selfe the flesshe white: but if you will make it redde, take for euery glassefull of the saied water, two vnces of Alome *Scissilae* or *plumae,* beaten in poulder, half an vnce of the grayne called in latine *Coccum,* wherwith scarlet is died, and two vnces of the graynes that men vse to die Cr•mson •ilke with. Let all this he putte in a viole well stopped, that it take no vent, then set the vyole in a kettle of bote water (not boylinge hote) by the space of eyghte dayes. This done, straine oute well the substaunce of the sayde coloures, and take the water so coloured and died: and putte to it as muche more of the same Alome, and graynes as before, and set it agayne altogether in hote water, by the space of eyght dayes: than strayne oute the water, and adde to it the thyrde time some Alom, and graines, with a litle gomme Arabick, that is to say, for euery glassefull of water, half an vnce of gomme, setting it againe in hote water eyghte [[f. 75r](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n162)] dayes, as before: and after you haue taken it oute, strayne it, and you shall haue the fairest redde, that is possible to wishe for. Than weate some lytle piece of Scarlate or Crymson sylke in it, and rubbe youre face therewith so longe vntill the fleshe beginne to waxe somewhat chafed, and the redde well perced thorowe. You maye also adde to it what odoure or sauoure you will. And if you will not set the violle in hote water, as is aforesaied, set it before a lytle fyre, not sufferynge it to seeth, and that for the space of a daye or moore: than strayne it, and you shall see all thinges come to passe, as I haue saied.

#### ☞Another kinde of redde verye good for the face, easier to make, and with lesse coste.

TAke twoo vnces of fisshe glewe verie cleare, and stiepe it in white wine, the space of fyue or syxe dayes, vntill it bee very softe: than take Brassell that is good and of a good colour, well scraped or cut in small pieces, than stiepe it in well water, so that the water bee aboue it moore than a hande breadeth, and a halfe, this dooen, boyle it together with a small fyre, assaiyng euermore the colour vpon a paper, vntyll it be to your fantasie. And before you take it from the fyre, put to it, for euery glassefull of the saied colour, an vnce of rawe roche Alome beaten in poulder, and Gomme arabicke, as muche as three or foure beanes. Than take it frome the fyre, and keepe it in a v•olle close stopped: & so shall you haue an erquisite thing. Women of base degree, are wont to seeth onely the Brasyll in wyne or water, putting to it a litle roche Alome, and Gomme, letting it hoyle vntill the colour be to their mynde.

Other take redde Sandall or Saunders, the whiche they put in wine, or at the least in Aqua vite, and not boyle it at all, but keepe it so the space of a night. Than in tourninge the water, they put moore Sandall to it, and a lytle moore Alome, accordynge as they lyke the coloure.

[[f. 75v](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n163)]

#### ☞An excellent white aboue all other,

TAke brayed Talchum, and burned tinne beaten in to poulder with a wodden pestell, than washe them and mingle them together, and put them in some maner of platter, or other great and large vessell, couered with suche another, and so set it in a glassemakers fornayse, the space of three or foure dayes. And hauing taken it out, it will bee as white as snowe. Than braye it finely with the water of yonge fygges, or with the milke of greene fygges, or with distilled vynagre, or some other suche sharpe and clammy thyng.

#### ☞To make heare as yelow as golde.

TAke the ryne or the scrapynges of Rubarbe, & stiepe it in white wyne, or in cleare lye: and after you haue washed your head with it, you shall weate your heares with a sponge or some other cloth, and lette them drye by the fyre, or in the Sunne: After this weate them and drye them agayne: for the oftener you dooe it, the fairer they wyll bee, without hurting your head anye thyng at all.

#### ☞To make lye to washe the head, whiche (besyde that it comforth the braine, and the memorie) maketh the heare long, faire, and yelow, like golde.

TAke lye that is not to strong, but as women commōly make it to wassh their heades: and make as muche of it in a kettle, as wyll serue you ten washinges, putting to it this folowing. The pilles of ten Orenges, or of sweete Lemons, if you haue anye, yf not take sowre ones, the pilles of Cytrons, as manye as you can gette, bee they greene or drie it is all one, the blossoms of Camomell, Baye leaues, a handfull of the herbe called Maiden heare, halfe a handfull of Agrimoyne, twoo or three handefulles of Barley strawe, chopped in pieces, halfe a dishefull of a kynde of pulse corne, called in Latyne *Lupinus* and in Frenche *Lupius,* [[f. 76r](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n164)] hauing one stalke, the leafe in fyue deuisions, the cod creauesyd aboute, hauynge in it fyue or syre graynes, harde, broade, and redde, they bee commonlye in Fraunce and in Italye, but here in Englande vnneth knowen, and therefore they haue no Englishe name: they must bee dried, a dishefull of Fennygreeke, halfe a pounde of wine lies, or twoo or three disshfulles of Brome blossomes, whereof it is good alwayes to haue some drie in your house to make suche thinges withal. Put all this that I haue named in a great vessell with the saied lie, leauing it alwayes so, to take thereof and occupie when you will. And the lenger the saied lye shall be compounde with the foresaied thinges, the better it will bee. The saied composition will bee good for fyue or syxe monethes or moore: and you maye renewe it at your pleasure. But when you wyll put it in vse, take it handsomely and cleanely vp, without touching in any wise the saied drooges put in it: and in heatinge it agayne you maye put in it a lytle Myrre and a lytle Synamom: and thus shall you make it verye good, as well for the health of the head, and eyesyghte, as for to beautifie and make the heare faire.

#### ☞Lye to make heare blacke.

TAke Gomme lye, and boyle it with a handfull of the leaues of Beete, three or foure handfuls of Sage leaues, eyther greene or drie, and as muche Myrre as you wyll, with Baye leaues, and a fewe leaues or outwarde pille of a Walnut. But when you wyll vse of those lyes that make yelowe or blacke, rubbe not youre face, or youre necke with it, least they become blacke, or yelowe, although they dye not the skinne so soone as they dooe the heare. And after hauing thus washed youre heare, you muste washe your face with common lye, or cleare water, or elles with white wine.

[[f. 76v](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n165)]

#### ☞An oyle for to annoynt the heare, which maketh it yelowe lyke golde, long and glystryng lyke burnyshed golde.

TAke a glassefull of the oyle of *Sesamum,* whiche is a white graine growynge in *India,* whereof oyle is made, whiche is called *oleum Sesaminum,* if you can get of it, if not, take oyle Olyue not greene, but verye yelowe, and cleare, where vnto you shall put three vnces of drie brome blossomes, well mundified, from the verdure and greenesse that is in them, and from the white that you shal find wythin: than stampe them so grosely, adding thervnto an vnce of the yelowe that is in the middle of white flowre delices, and a quarter of an vnce of *Curcuma,* and the sixte part of an vnce of Saffron, w^t^ a litle Synamom, Bengewine, Muske, and Ciuet, if you wyll. All these thinges will giue a good sauour, helpe the colour and comfort the head: you must put all together into one vessell or violle, wherein muste bee oyle, which you shall kepe in the Sunne all the Sommer, and so take of it at euery time, a litle for your face, and the older it waxeth, the better it will bee. Also you maye at the ende, putte the oyle agayne vpon the saied drooges, into the vessell, for they will continue still good together manye yeres: or elles you maye chaunge those substaunces, accordynge as you see neede. It shall bee also very good to anoynt with this oyle the kombe that women kembe them selues with, in the Sunne: or elles laye some linnen cloth hote vpon their head, and let it so lye, without putting any other thing to it. This is a thing very rare and excellent for a queene: for to dooe thus there can not bee founde a better.

#### ☞A very goodly way or maner howe to make yelowe aberne heare, without standinge long or nothing at all in the Sunne, a rare and a verie excellent secrete.

[[f. 77r](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n166)] TAke halfe a pounde of *Antimonium,* halfe a pounde of wine leese, nine vnces of salt Peter, al these thinges beinge finely brayed and incorporated, take an earthen pot or panne, and put it in the middle of a fire, that the fire maye be both aboue it and vnderneth it, vntyll it be redde hote: than caste in the sayde poulders, by little and lyttle with a spone, tarryinge a little space betwene euery sponefull castinge in, vntill the fyrst be all burned, and continue so castinge in one sponefull after another, vntill all be in. But this muste be doone in a chymney, or in an open place, because there wyll ryse suche aboundaunce of smoke that it is not possible for you to endure it, than hauynge letten it coole, breake the sayde panne, and in the bottome you shall fynde as it were a maner of a thicke cake or browne lofe. Than breake the sayde matter and substaunce in dyuers pieces vpon the grounde, or in some cleane place, and you shall fynde in the middle, certayne little graynes like vnto fine siluer: but they be brittle and easy to be broken. And this is it that the searchers oute of the secretes of nature do call the kinge or chiefe of Antimonium, whiche in operation belongynge to metall serueth for many thinges, as we will after declare. But this will not serue any thyng at all for to make heare white notwithstandinge you muste kepe it by it selfe. Than take the reste, and the blacke substaunce and yellowe, and all that you finde in the bottome, and on the sides of the sayde panne. All the which thinges (because they wyll incontinent waxe moyst) you shall stampe grossely and quicklye, addinge to it for euery pounde, an vnce of *Vitrioli,* rubified or made redde, as we wyll shewe you hereafter. This doone, putte all these thynges together in lye, not to stronge, and lette it stiepe vntyll it becomme as it were a saulce, putting to it, two vnces of the oyle of yelkes of Egges, yf you haue anye, if not, take Oyle Olyue. Nowe, you muste keepe this licoure thicke as it is, in some vessell, vntyll it be harde, and you shall fynde it alwaies good. Whan you wyll put [[f. 77v](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n167)] it in effect, take common lie, and put into it two or thre vnces of rawe Roche Alome stamped, and washe youre heade with it as you are wont to dooe. And after you haue washed it, without dryinge it anye otherwise than of it selfe, annointe all youre heare with the saied lycoure heated, and beinge thus annoyncted, wrappe them in a hote linnen clothe, resting your selfe a while. This doen, you shall take of the sayed annoinctynge, wasshynge youre heade with hote lye, vsinge and dressinge the Sope as you shall thinke good. And finallie wasshe youre heade and heare againe with a little warme white wine, and wrappe them with a hote linnen clothe, or drie theim in the Sunne, or by the fire, as you will, and laste of all you shall annointe youre selfe with oure saied oile, or with the Oyle of Iasemin, or some other odoriferous and swete Oyle, which may conserue the heares that they break not, and may geue them a lustre to make them glister and shine, vsing this maner of annoynctinge euerie .xv. dayes, or euerye moneth, as you liste youre selfe. By this meane you shall haue faier heare and glisteringe like golde. But remember to vse in al thinges a discretion, and diligence, at the fyrste whan you vse any receipte, as for an example in this confection, you muste take heede that the lie be not to stronge, leaste with the saied oynctment (whiche I tell you is very stronge) it eate and consume your heare. Also you muste well consider the quantitie, and howe longe it muste lye on youre heade, before you wasshe it awaie, as is declared: and soo, accordinge to the experience that you shall haue in the effecte, you shall vse and gouerne youre selfe in all thinges, for there is no rule so certaine, but leaueth alwaies some place for the discretion, diligence, and Iudgemente of the personne that will followe it, and putte it in vre or effecte.

#### An oyntment to make the heares fall from anye place of the body.

[[f. 78r](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n168)] TAke the whites of three newe laied egges well beaten, eight vnces of quick lime, an vnce of orpiment, and the whole beinge beaten in poulder, let it be put among the whites of the egges and adde to it after a litle lie, so much that it may make it a licour thicke like saulce. Than with a pensill or some other thinge, annoint the place frome the whiche you will haue the heares fall, and leaue the oinctmente so vpon it the space of a quarter of an houre, or a little more, than washe the place with warme water, and all the heare will fall of, or if not, you muste annoincte it againe, and hauinge staied a while, washe it as before, and the heares will fall of without doubt. Finallie you muste annoint the saied place with oyle Roset, or with the oyle of Violettes, and the skinne will remayne very faier, and without hurt.

#### ☞An oyle or licoure to make the heare fall of, and may be kepte as longe as a manne wyll: It is also good for all occasions.

TAke an vnce of Soda (whiche is asshes made of grasse, whereof glassemakers doo vse to make their Cristall) ten vnces of quicke lime eyghte vnces of Orpimente, and make thereof a fine poulder, whiche you shall putte in a panne, with as muche sweete and cleere lie as will be aboue the poulder a handefull: than boyle it together a good houre, and after hauinge lette it stande by the space of xxiiii. houres, you muste straine it, and take three vnces of it, and put therto an vnce of oyle Oliue, and let it boile together vntill the water be consumed and vanished awaie, which you shal knowe, castinge a droppe or two into the fire, with a little sticke, and if it make no noise, it is a signe there is no more water lefte. If you will make it odoriserous & swete, put to it Muske, or Ciuet, & so kepe it: and whan you wil make the heares to fal of, wash first the place wel with hote water, thā annoinct it w^t^ the said oyle, and leaue it so a certaine space [[f. 78v](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n169)] and than wasshe it againe with hote water, and all the heare will fall away. Finallye annointe the place with oyle Roset, or violet oyle.

#### An aduertisement or lesson for them that will make the heare fall of.

FIrste, you muste note that the heare will not fall awaye, but whan the mone decreaseth, that is to say, in the quarter of the wane, and it is far better to make them fall of with the oinctmente, or with oyle, than to plucke them out with a payre of pincers, as some gentle wemen do vse in Fraunce, because it doth violence vnto the flesh, moueth the bloud, and enlargeth the pores, and also maketh the heare to growe againe greater.

Therefore in all sortes it is good to annoint by and by the place with some coolinge or refreshing oyle, as oyle roset, or of Violettes. Likewise, you muste vnderstande that oftentimes the oynctment beinge mixed with Orpiment, burneth the skinne, and that commeth by the naughty or to stronge composition of it, or whan a man letteth it drye to longe vpon the place, or without fyrste wasshinge the place with hote water, or whan a man annoincteth not the place by and by after the heares be fallen, as we haue sayde before.

#### To cause that the heare shall growe no more or to make them come out thynne and fyne lyke the fyrst soft heare or mosynes of the face.

A Man can scant fynd a remedy that the hear growe no more, because that manye whan they will do it, they make certaine oyntementes very colde and drye, wherwith they anoincte the place a good while, not doinge any good at al, by reason of the power of nature, which hath alwayes his course, and casteth oute her superfluities, with the heare. Therfore they burne the skin and do but marre it, wherfore you must note that they must make them fall of in the laste quarter of the wane of [[f. 79r](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n170)] the Moone, and then incontinent annoyncte the place with oyle rosat, or of Violettes: this dooen, the heare groweth agayne weaker, softer, and finer: and slacketh at euery time moore and moore in comming forth.

But if you will that it neuer growe more, vse these remedies folowinge, whiche are very good, and certaine by experience. Take the litle stones of Oliues burned, the outwarde coddes of beanes, dried, the seede of Henbaine, Litarge of golde and siluer, the shelles of fyshes called in Latyne *Tellmae,* burned, and the iuyce of blacke Poppy, as much of the one as of the other, and halfe as much Orpiment as of one of those thinges. All this beyng beaten to poulder, boyle it in as muche oyle Oliue rosat, as will couer them sixe fingers heyght, styrringe it continually by the space of twoo or thre houres: than let it coole, and straine the saied oyle, and so keepe it, putting to it the fourth part of the oyle of Selandyne. And when the heares bee fallen, take a little linnen cloth, wette in the said oyle luke warme, and lay it vpon the saied place, leauinge it so bounde on all a nyght. In the morning take of the lynnen cloth, and annoynt the place with oyle rosate: and at night lay the lynnen cloth on againe wetted as before: and this do .vi. or .vii. nightes, but let it be in the wane of the Moone. And yf you perceyue that the heares grow againe, make them fall away agayne at the nexte wane of the Moone, doyng in al poyntes as before: you shall not oft doe it, but you shal make that the heares shall neuer grow more.

#### ☞To make a kinde of cloth or plaister to take the heare from the face, necke, and handes, or from anye parte of the bodye.

TAke twoo vnces of Turpentyne, halfe an vnce of white waxe broken small, or some what moore or lesse, accordinge as neede shall require, Bengewyne, *Storax calamita,* at youre discretion. Fyrste melte the waxe a lyttle, wyth a lyttle fier, and than the Bengewyne and *Storax:* after this, put in the Turpentyne, [[f. 79v](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n171)] adding to it a lytle Ceruse well brayed, and settinge it to the fyre, putte in to it a lyttle Masticke, and make thereof a mixion neither to thicke nor to cleare or thinne. Than take a piece of linnen clothe of what bygnesse you will, and lay it abrode vpon a table, spreading afterwarde the saied composition vpon it with a spone, or some other thinge, as it were in maner of a plaister, than let it coole, and keepe it so the one vppon the other open, without folding vp the lynnen clothe, for when the saied mixion is colde, it is harde. If you will putte it in profe and occupie, dooe as foloweth.

At night when you gooe to bedde, washe your face and necke with luke warme water, rubbinge it well with a linnen cloth, or with your hand: and when it is drie or when you haue wiped it, take a piece of the saied plaister, or cyred clothe, and heate it by the fyre, vntill the saied mixion bee liquide and softe, then immediatly binde it vpon youre face, or vppon the place, from whence you woulde haue the heare to falle, and presse it harde on, leauinge it so all night. In the morninge go to youre lokinge glasse, and pluckynge of one ende of the saied lynnen clothe, you shall plucke awaye with it all the heare of your face, and so shall you leaue a very faire skinne. And if in case there remain yet any of the saied mixion vpon the fleshe, wasshe it with hote water, and with wheate branne, rubbinge it so longe with some piece of lynnen cloth, tyl you make it fal of, than washe your face with Aqua vite, or white wine, or with some other distilled water, being not to strong, but let it be of Melons, or gourdes, or of such other like and vse afterwarde waters meete for the face, as you lyst, and thus shall you kepe and maintayne youre face as cleare as glasse.

#### ☞A meruelous secrete, whiche the greate lordes of the Moores dooe vse, whereby they make that theyr children haue no heare vnder their armes, or other place where they wyll. And this secrete founde I in Syria, the yeare 1521. by the meanes of a lorde of the countrey, whose doughter I healed.

[[f. 80r](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n172)] AS soone as the child is borne, they make ready by and by a peece of fine golde, or a Ducar, or els a rynge, or some like thinge, and kepe it in the fyre vntill it be redde hote, not meltyng it, than they carry it with a payer of tonges & laye it vpon the place, where they will no heare shall grow, and immediatlie annoynte it with oyle Rosat, or the oyle of Violettes: than after .xxiiii. houres, they do the like agayn, and by this meanes there groweth neuer heare in that place. I haue often times made the heare fall from yong gentil womens browes and foreheades with this medecine and they haue founde it wonderfull: but the golde must be very fine, which suffexeth no token, marke or skarre to remaine wher the burning was, as other metals do. I haue kept this secret hidden a longe time, •although that diuers times, men would haue giuen me greate giftes, yet I would not publish it a broade, vntill now that I haue doone it, in this present booke.

#### ☞To make a kinde of cloth, called cloth of Leuant wherwith women vse to colour their faces.

TAke the shearynge of skarlate, and boyle it in water, where quicke Lyme hath bene boyled: and after you haue boyled it a good space, you shall straine it, and take a potful of it, and put into it two vnces of Brasill, cutte in litle peeces, addyng to it an vnce of Roche alume, and as muche of Verdigreese, and a quarter of an vnce of gumme Arabicke: and after you haue well boiled it, the space of halfe an houre, take a peece of olde linnen clothe, of what bignesse you wil, and wete it in this decoction, or red colour, than couer the pan, and let the saied mixtion coole, by the space of a day & after you haue taken it oute, drie it in the shadowe, and keepe it [[f. 80v](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n173)] in some vessell, among odoriferous and •oote thinges, for to helpe you.

#### ☞The same another waye.

TAke a glassefull of Aqua vite, a quarter of an vnce of the graine that I spake of before called *Coccum,* halfe an vnce of Brasyll, halfe an vnce of gomme armoniacke, put all these thinges together, in the glasse where the Aqua vite is, than stoppe it clase, for feare it take vent, and the sayed glasse muste bee full. After this sette it vpon a small fier, makinge it seeth faire and softlye, or elles sette it in the Sunne, by the space of twoo or three daies. This doen, strayne it, and put in it pieces of olde linnen cloutes, as we haue saied before. If you thinke, in strayninge this water, that the coloure is not redde, to your minde, your maye put in moore of the saied grayne and brasell.

#### ☞To dye a whyte bearde or heare of the heade into a faire blacke.

TAke good galles of Leuant, or suche lyke, and frie them in oyle, but let them not burne: than stampe them, and sifte them once or twise. Take also *Ferretum* or Spanishe blacke, whiche the Frenchmen call *Atrament d'Espaigne,* the whiche likewise you shal stampe and beate well to poulder. Than take a panne full of lye, and put into it the pylles or rynes of Pomegranades, Walnut pilles, Pineapples, Myrre, Sage leaues, as muche as you wyll. Let all this boyle together, vntill it bee broughte vnto the thirde parte. You muste haue in it also two partes of galle, and one of *Ferretum,* tempering and incorporating all well together, vntill the blacke colour content you, wherewith you may die your bearde, and heare, in this maner. Washe youre bearde with lye not to stronge, least it hurte you: and whiles your head or beard is yet hote, annoynt it with the saied confection: but it must bee luke warme, to the entent it maye penetrate and perce the better, and so [[f. 81r](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n174)] leaue it a certaine space. Than wasshe youre heade or bearde fyrst with lie, and than with hote water, and you shall haue youre heade and bearde sayre and blacke. This hurteth not, nor smarteth anye thinge at all, neyther bringeth anye inconuenience to the heade.

#### ❀ A noble and excellent poulder to make cleane the teeth, to make them fast and white, and to conserue the gommes. A better thinge can not be founde, and it were to geue or present to a Quene or Princesse.

TAke *Lacca* of grain,^[Lacca de graine, is a certaine confection or mixtion, made of graine, and are little rounde red balles. Lacca is a Turkish worde, and not vsed amonge vs, but amonges the Italians,] if you can get 〈◊〉, if not, take of the graine it selfe that is very good .x. partes, seuen partes of barley cakes or breade, so burned that they be brought to coales, *Lignum aloe* 〈◊〉. partes, fine pommeyse stone scoured and made clene in embers, and stieped or tempered in white wine, or in Vinaigre eight partes, dragons bloud three partes, roche Alome burned foure partes, honnye burned in a panne vntyll it be fyrste blacke, and than yelowe, three partes (and this may you do of the lees of honnye, that remayneth whan it is distilled, puttinge it in a panne, and settinge it in a glassemakers fournesse the space of a day or two) coles of the wood of rosemary, three partes, fyne Synamom two partes, Bengewyne one part, Bole Armenick oriental, nine partes, white wine lees two partes, Aleblaster one part small pearles one part, the scrapynge of yuorye two partes, lyttle Quinces not rype, of the byggenesse of a Walnutte, or a little more, sixe partes. Nowe the best be those that be not come to perfection vpon the tree; the whiche you muste burne in the fyre, euen vnto coales, Mastir eighte partes. Let all these thinges be well stamped, and passed thorough a fine sarce, addinge thereto a lyttle Muske, and some Golde or Syluer foyle. This doone, you shall keepe the sayde poulder in some boxe well stopped, and so shall you haue a precious thynge. And whan you will occupie [[f. 81v](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n175)] of it, wasshe your mouth well fyrst, with cleane water, or wine, than rubbe your teeth with youre fingar, or some lynnen cloth, taking of the sayed poulder vpon it, and after washe your mouth well. Thus ofte doing, you shall alwayes haue your teeth very white, faste in your head, stronge and not hollowe.

#### To make a very excellente conserue to scoure the teeth, to comforte the gummes, and to make a swete and good breath.

BEcause the vse of the poulder to scoure teeth, seemeth lesse commodious, than some licoure or conserue, which agreeth better with the mouth, therefore we will write here a very excellent one, whiche hath not his like in the worlde, and must be made as foloweth. Take one part of syrop roset, two partes of the syrop of Myrtell, or of the woode called Lentiscus, out of the whiche commeth a gomme called Mastir, put this together in a cleane panne, than put to it of the saied poulder for the teeth, whereof we haue spoken in the Chapter before, so that al may be brought into softe paste or dowe, than set the little pan vpon & chafinge dishe, wherein must be some hote ashes, with a fewe embers, or elles at the leaste set it farre from the fyre, and make it boile sayre and softly, styrringe it alwayes, vntyll it be as thicke as honny or thicker: than take it frō the fyre, and put to some goldfoile and musk, what quantitie you will. And so shal you haue a singuler thinge for to do this that I haue spoken of.

#### An aduertisement or lesson concerning the making of poulders, and conserues for the teeth.

IF you wil make the said thinges as excellent as is possible, you must take of the said things as much as you may get: or if you cannot haue them al, take at the least the most excellent, as graine, pearles, Corall, yellowe Amber, *Lignum aloes,* Boale Armenick, also the coales of [[f. 82r](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n176)] Barley Cakes or loues whan they are burned, and all the other thinges be very good in it. And if you woulds geue it to some greate prince or lorde, which had rather haue it of a good colour, or would know the thinges in it, you may make it as is saied, of sewe thinges, with goldfoile and Muske. And he that wil make it with lesse cost, and a greater quantitie, may (with the thinges mē tioned in the chapter with the poulder) adde poulder of brickes, poulder of marble, Creuise or lopsters shelles burned, and a little white salte, the lees that remaineth in the bottome when men make stronge water, called *Aqua fortes,* is also very good, eyther by it selfe, or mingled with some other thinge, and soo shall you haue a greate deale of substaunce with small cost. And if a man wil make a conserue of litle charge, and without much labour, he must take rawe honnye, or honny roset, and mingle it with the said poulders, and so rubbe his teeth therwith, with his finger, or with a linnen clothe, and washe his mouth well after it. Doinge this euery eight dayes, he shall make his teeth very fayre and white. A thinge very good, and mete for euery man.

#### An excedinge white and good poulder to scoure the teeth, whiche is meeter for lordes and great men, then anye of the other before.

FYrst here is to be noted a goodly and notable secrete of great vertue, for to scoure and make white teeth, whiche is the pommeise stone alone, so that it be of that fyne and whyte stone, whiche shoemakers doo vse to whiten whyte leather Shoes, and well beaten in poulder: For in rubbinge youre teeth with the same poulder, if scoureth and maketh them cleane, and taketh away all the roughnesse of theim, as men see by experience, that the pommeise stone is vsed to polysshe bones, marble, and other like thinges. I haue sene of my frendes, men of great iudgement and knowledge, whiche gaue nothinge vnto greate men and Lordes, but the [[f. 82v](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n177)] sayd poulder, whan it is well beaten in poulder, a man can not tell what it is: also you may geue it a little sauour, layinge it amonge bagges of Muske and Amber, of whome it taketh an odour, and I haue seene men of estimation, that helde it for a thinge of greate importaunce, when they sawe the vertue and operation of it. Nowe, if you will make a white poulder, more noble and more profitable for the teeth, and gommes, take small pearles stamped a lytle, or elles whole, and putte them in a dyshe, or in a wyde glasse: than take the iuyce of lemons or orenges, strayned thorough a linen cloth, at the leaste sixe or seuen times, and poure it vppon the saied Pearles, vntill it couer them ouer three or foure fingers high, and you shal see that in shorte space it wil beginne to boyle, and than couer it with some paper, or linnen cloth, leauinge it so three or foure dayes, and at the ende you shall finde the sayed pearles dissolued and molten in the iayde iuyce, and tourned into a paste as white as snowe, marye there will be a little yellowe skinne vppon it, engendred of the sayed suyce. This doen, take cleere well water, or the water of *Lentiscus* distilled, and poure it vpon the sayed paste, three or four fingers heighte aboue. Than take a little forke, or the steale of a syluer spone, or some thinne sticke, and styre the paste well aboute in the sayed water, lettinge it so stande, and finallye caste oute the water, and if you see yet anye of the yellowe, remayne vpon the saied paste, washe it againe, as before, and couer it with a paper, lettinge it so drye of it selfe, in the sunne. After this you shall take three partes of the saied paste, or whyte poulder, foure partes of white Pommeise stone, as is aforesayed, two partes of white Bengewine, one parte of Roche Alome well burned, one parte of white Corall, halfe a parte of white yuorye, halfe a parte of Aleblaster verie white. Breake and bruse all these well vpon a table of marble, or in a syluer cuppe, puttinge to it some siluer foile, and thus shall you haue a very whyte and excellente substaunce or matter to make your teeth [[f. 83r](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n178)] as white as snowe. And if you will, you waye put it to keepe in a conserue, with the syrope of Ceder, or honny Roset, or otherwise as you will. Also, if you will make the saied poulder verye redde, dresse it onelye with the *Lacca* of graine, and a lyttle redde corall. Nowe, because that in stampinge, it will waxe somewhat white, put to it a little Boale Armonicke, with a little of the iuyce of Dragons bloude, and also golde foile. You maye g•ue to all these saied poulders what odoure and sauour you will, but vnto the white poulder you may put no Musk nor Amber, nor any other suche drooges, for it woulde take awaye the whitenesse, but you maye putte it well ynoughe in a lyttle bagge amonge Muske, or other odours.

#### ☞A distilled water, excellente for to make the teethe white immediatelye, and to preserue theym wonderfully.

TAke a pounde of the firste water distilled of honny, the whiche is white: than put it in a violl, with an vnce of commune white salte, halfe a pounde of raw roche Alome, an vnce of Salte Peter, halfe a poūde of y^e^ water of the leaues of *Lentiscus,* two vnces of Mastick, the heighte of twoo fingers of Vynaigre in a glasse, and as muche white wine: Distil all these thinges with a small fire, that they smell not of the smoke, nor any burninge: continuinge youre distillation in suche sorte, that you be at the leaste foure and twenty houres in distillinge the whole, or elles you may make it distill in *Balnee marie,* whiche is the sureste of all. Nowe, you muste continue youre distillation so long, vntill there bee a moyst substaunce to come forth, and into the water that distilleth out, you shall put a litle poulder of fine Synamom, a litle *Lignum Aloes,* and Boale Armonicke, for to geue it a redde colour, whiche many men like well: also for to geue it a strength and [[f. 83v](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n179)] odour, you shal put in rawe honny makinge it dissolue in the heate of the Sunne, for it is a thing good for the gummes, and geueth a good fauour to the water. Keepe this well as an excellent thing, and it were for a queene. And when you wyll occupie of it, washe well your mouth fyrst, and wipe youre teeth with a little piece of white linnen clothe, and than pike them wyth a tooth piker made of the woode Lentiscus, or some other thinge wette in the saied water, or with a lyttle clothe, rubbe them a lyttle, and incontinent you shall perceyue and feele it fasten and bynde youre gommes, and comforte your teeth making them faire and white. And he that loueth better the white then the redde, let him put no Synamom, Boale armonicke, nor *Lignum Aloes* into it, after it is distilled, but let hym put it in to destill with the other thinges, puttinge of eche of them as muche as there is of Masticke, and it shal be euen as excellent and as white as otherwyse.

#### ☞Three aduertisementes or lessons of importaunce to kepe the teeth white and vncorrupt and also a swete breathe.

THe first is, he that vseth not to wasshe well hys mouth euer when he hath eaten his meales, shal I haue alwayes yelowe teeth & a stinking breath. The seconde is, he that slepeth with his mouth close, hath likewise an euyll breath, and foule teeth. The thirde is, that for to maintayne and kepe the teeth faire and white, and a sweete breath, when a man is layed is his hedde, and when he waketh in the mornyng, it is good to purge well the breaste and throte, spitting out all that is gathered together that nyghte: which also is good for the stomacke and heade. And hauing your teeth and breath warme take a lynnen cloth or the corner of the shete, and rubbe youre teeth well within and withoute, to take awaye the fumositie of the meate, and the yelownesse of the teeth gathered together in the night: for it is that, that maketh youre [[f. 84r](https://archive.org/details/bim_early-english-books-1475-1640_the-secretes-of-the-reve_ruscelli-girolamo_1558/page/n180)] teeth yelowe, and gommes redde, and corrupteth your breath. This is a verie necessarye thing to be knowen, and oughte well to be obserued: It is also good to eate euery mornynge some graynes of Masticke.

#### ❀ A decoction to washe and scoure the mouth, to fasten lose teeth, to consolidate and make sounde the gommes, and to make the fleshe grow agayne if it were decayed or fallen awaye.

TAke halfe a glassefull of Vynaigre, and as muche water of Lentiscus, of Rosemarye, Myrrhe, Mastick, Boale Armenicke, the moisture that distilleth out of Dragons bloude, Roche Alome burned, of eche of theim an vnce, •ine Synamom halfe an vnce, well, riuer, or fountaine water, three glassefulles: mingle all well together, and let it boyle with a small fyre, addinge to it halfe a pounde of honny, takinge awaye the scumme of it, than put in a little Bengewine. And whan it hath boyled a quarter of an houre, take it from the fyre, and keepe it in a cleane vyole, and washe your teeth often times withall, as wel before, as after meat: and holdinge it a while in your mouth, it is verye good for the heade, and maketh a sweete breath. A thinge of great excellencie.

*The ende of the fourth booke.*