Book IX, chapters 21–30: Adorning women and making them beautiful

CHAP. XXI.

How we may take off red Pimples.

BEcause red Pimples use to deform the Face; and specially, the whitest: therefore, to take them off, use these Remedies. I often, to take off

Pimples,

used Oyl of Paper; namely, extracting it from burnt Paper. I shall shew the way elsewhere, because I will not disturb the Order: where I shall speak of the Extraction of Oyls and Waters. Wherefore anoynting that on the red spots, will soon blot them out.

For the same.

Rear Eggs are good, twenty of them boyled hard cut in the middle, and the yelks taken forth: fill up the hollow places in the whites, with Oyl of sweet Almonds and Turpentine-Rosin: extract the Liquor in a Glass Vessel: use it.

Another.

Beat two Eggs well together, add as much juice of Lemmons, and as much Mercury sublimate: set it in the Sun, and use it.

Another to polish the Face.

Take Sow-bread-Roots, three parts; cleansed Barley, six parts; Tartar calcined, one part; Roots of wilde Cucumers powdered, two parts; Wheat-Bran, two handfuls: let them all boyl in Water, till a third part be consumed: then wash your Face with it.

CHAP. XXII.

How Tetters may be taken from the Face, or any other part of the Body.

RIng-worms will so deform the Face, that nothing can do it more: sometimes, they run upon other parts of the Body, as the Arm-pits and Thighs: there drops forth of them, a stinking water that will foul the cloths. I found these Remedies

Against Tetters.

Distil water from the Roots of Sowredock, and add to every pound of these, of Pompions and Salt-Peter, half an ounce; Tartar of white-Wine, two ounces: let them soak for some days: then distil them, and wash your Face in the morning therewith; and at night, smeer it with Oyl of Tartar and of Almonds, mingled. Oyl of Eggs is good also to anoynt them with. Yet sometimes these Tetters are so fierce, that no Remedies can cure them. I shall set down

Another,

that I have used with admirable success, when they were inveterate. In a Glass of sharp red-Wine, boyl a drachm of Mercury sublimate; then wash the place with it morning and evening: let it dry of it self. Do this three or four times, and the Tetters will away, and never come again.

Another.

Take Salt-Peter, three ounces; Oyl of bitter Almonds, two pound; of Squils, half a pound; one Lemmon without the Pills: mingle them, and let them ferment three days: then, with Chymical Instruments, extract the Oyl, and anoynt your Tetters therewith, and they will be gone, though they seem to turn to a Leprosie.

CHAP. XXIII.

How Warts may be taken away.

WArts use to possess the Fore-head, Nose, Hands, and other open places: so doth hard Flesh, and other foulness of the skin: women cannot endure them. I found out Remedies against these deformities of the skin.

Against Warts.

The Ancients used the greater Spurge, whose juice, anoynted on with Salt, takes them away: and therefore they called it Warts-Herb. There is also a kinde of Succory, called Verrucaria from the effect: for if one eat it but once in Sallets, all the Warts will be gone from any part of the Body: or, if you swallow one drachm of the Seeds.

Another.

This one, and so no more. There is a kinde of Beetle that is Oyly, in Summer you shall finde it in Dust and Sand in the way; if you rub that on the Warts, they will be presently gone, and not be seen. You may finde these, and keep them for your use.

CHAP. XXIV.

To take away wrinkles from the Body.

MAny parts of the Body use to be wrinckled, as the Hands, Face, Belly after Child-bearing; and the like. To contract the Skin therefore do thus:

For a wrinckled Forehead,

the Dregs of Linseed-Oyl is good: or Lees of Oyl of Olives; putting unto it a little Gum-Arabick, Traganth, Mastick and Champhire: it is good also for flagging Brests.

For a wrinkled Face.

When Eggs are boyled hard in water, cut them in the middle, fill the holes where the yelks were, with Powder of Myrrh: then cover one with the other half, and binde them with a Thread, that they come not asunder: then take a glazed earthen Vessel, with a broad mouth, and lay sticks across it, that the Eggs may lie upon them hanging neer the bottom: let the cleft of the Eggs hang toward the bottom: put the earthen Vessel into a chest of Osiers, and set it in a Well; let it hang one foot from the water; by the moysture whereof, the Myrrh will dissolve into Oyl of water: anoynt your Face with it. The juice of the green Canes of the Pine-Tree, but it is weaker then the distilled water, being applied to the Face, with a Linnen-cloth wet therein, will take away all wrinkles from the Face excellently well. You have

Another.

Steep Kidney-Beans in Malmsey, one day; then take away the black whence they sprout, and distil them with Lemmons and Honey. Take a quantity of old Cow-Beef, and distil that also; mingle the waters, and set them in the open Air, in a Glass-Vessel in the Sun for fifteen days, and wash your Face morning and evening therewith.

Another.

Crop in the morning the Flowers of Mullens, and steep them in Greek-Wine, with the Roots of Solomons-Seal: then receive the water distilled in Glass-stills: and if a woman, when she riseth out of her bed, wash her face with this, she will be very fair; and if you would take off the wrinkles with the same water, add distilled water of Lemmons thereunto, and it will make you glad to see the effect. But this is the best

Water to whiten, plain, and beautifie the Face.

Take equal parts of the Root of Solomons Seal, greater Dragons and lesser, Sparagrass, Bryony, and white Lillies, as much as you please: bruise them a little, and cast them into an earthen pot with a large mouth; let it be glazed: pour on Greek Wine that may cover all: add to these juice of Lemmons a fourth part, ten new Eggs bruised with their shells, and Land-Snails without shells; let them infuse a while: then distil them at a gentle fire, and keep the first water a part: then augment the fire, and keep the second: that will be stronger: for this wipes all spots and red pimples from the Face. Some mingle with this, water of Bean-Flowers, Elder, Poppy, Honey-Suckles, and the like; so do they take away all wrinkles and spots coming from the Sun, and all the rest. But you may thus take off

The wrinkles of the Belly after child-birth.

Untipe Services are long boyled in water: with these mingle whites of Eggs, and water wherein Gum-Arabick is dissolved: wet a Linen-cloth in such water, and lay on the Belly; or mingle the Powders of Harts Horn burnt, the Stone Amiantus, Salt-Ammoniac, Myrrh, Frankincense, Mastick, with Honey; and it takes away all wrinkles.

CHAP. XXV.

Of Dentifrices.

DEntifrices are used amongst things to beautifie women: for there is nothing held more ugly then for a woman to laugh or speak, and thereby to shew their rugged, rusty, and spotted Teeth: for they all almost, by using Mercury sublimate, have their Teeth black or yellow: and because they stand in the Sun when they would make their Hair yellow, their Teeth are hurt thereby, and grow loose, ready to fall out; and do oft-times. I shall shew first how to make black Teeth white as Pearls; then how to make flesh grow about such as are weak and bare of Gums, and to make them strong. But of old were made

Dentifrices

of the shells of Purples, and others like trumpets burnt. The Arabian-stone it is like the spotted Ivory; burned, it is good for Dentifrices. Also, of Pumex-Stone very profitable Dentifrices were made. Pliny. So with the Powder of Ivory rubbed on, the Teeth were made as white as Ivory. Ovid.

That Teeth may not grow black forborn,
With Fountain-water wash them every morn.

I shall add

Another

that I use. The Crums of Barley-Bread burnt with Salt sprinkled on, and Honey, will not onely make the Teeth white, but makes the Breath sweet. Also, with red Coral, Cuttle bone, Harts Horn, and such-like, whereof every one will well polish and wipe the Teeth clean: so doth also the Grains of Cochinele. Also, there is made a water of Allom and Salt distilled, that whiteneth the Teeth exceedingly, and confirms them; but the Oyl of Sulphur doth it best: for it smooths them and wipes away all spots: and if any one think it is too strong, it may be qualified with the water of Myrtle flowers. Make a Tooth-scraper after the fashion of a Tooth, and pour on Oyl, and rub the spots therewith: but he careful it touch not the Gums, for it will whiten and burn them: rub so long till the spots be gone, and they be very white. I have now described the most perfect Remedy.

CHAP. XXVI.

To hinder the brests from augmenting.

AMongst the Ornaments of women, this is the chief, to have after Child-bearing, round, small, solid, and not flagging or wrinkled Brests. So we may

Hinder the augmenting of the Brests,

if we will. Bruise Hemlock, and lay a Cataplasm thereof with Vinegar to womens Brests, and it will stay them that they shall not increase; especially, in Virgins: yet this will hinder milk, when it should be seasonable. But if you will

Curb soft and loose Brests,

Powder white Earth, the white of an Egg, sowre Galls, Mastick, Frankincense; and mingle them in hot Vinegar, and smeer the Brests therewith: let it stay on all night. If it do not effect it, do the same again. The Stones of Medlars are good for this also; unripe Services, Sloes, Acacia, Pomegranate Pills, Balanstia, unripe Pine-nuts, Wilde Pears, and Plantain; if they all boil in Vinegar, and be laid to the Brests, or some of them. The Antients commended for this purpose a Whetstone of Cypress, that we sharpen Iron upon, to restrain Virgins Brests, and not let them grow big. Dioscorides. But Galen saith, That it not onely stops the encrease of the Brests, but will hinder childrens Testicles from growing: but I use the juice of Ladies Mantle from the Leaves of it, and I wet Linen in it, and lay it on the Brests, and renew it; for it will not onely hinder Virgins Brests from increasing, but will fallen the loose Brests of Matrons, and make them firm. It is more effectual to use the decoction of the Herb; and if you joyn any of the forementioned thing[…] therewith, as Hypocistis, Pills of Pomegranates, and the like. So water distilled from green Pine-Apples, will draw in loose Brests, and make them like the round, hard, solid Brests of Virgins.

CHAP. XXVII.

How the Hand may be made white.

THe Hands must not be forgotten, but we must make them white also, smooth, and soft, that are Ornaments of the Hands to be desired. But how whiteness and smoothness may be obtained, I have shewed already; softness remains, which is onely given to fat Hands.

To make the Hands as white as Milk.

Take things that are Milk-White, as Almonds, Pine-Kernels, Melon and Gourd-Seeds, and the like. Therefore bruise bitter Almonds, Pine-Kernels, and Crums of Bread: then make Cakes of them with Barley-water, wherein Gum Traganth hath been soaked. You may use this for Sope, when you wash your Hands; for they scowre them, and make them white. I

For the same,

use oft-times bitter Almonds, half a pound: put them in hot water to blanch them: then beat them in a Marble-Morter. Afterwards, take the lesser Dragons, two ounces; Deers Suet and Honey, of each as much: mingle them all in an earthen Pot with a large mouth: set them at the fire, and let them be stirred gently with a wooden-stick that they mingle well: put it up in Boxes for your use. If you will have

Your hands white,

wash fresh Butter nine times in sweet water, and last of all, in sweet-sented Rose-water, to take off the ill smell; and that it may look as white as Snow, then mingle white wax with it, and a good quantity of Oyl of sweet Almonds. Then wash your gloves in Greek-Wine as the manner is, and smeer on the foresaid mixture: put on these when you go to bed, that all night they may grow soft by the help of fat things. Then take Peach-Kernels, with the skins picked off, Seeds of Gourds, Melons, white Poppy, Barley-meal, of each one ounce and half; the juice of two Lemmons, rosted in the Embers: mingle these with as much Honey as will make them thick as an Oyntment: and to make them smell well, you may add a little Musk or Civet, when you go to bed; but in the morning wash them with Fountain-water; and for Sope, use the Lees of Oyl of Nuts well pressed forth, or Lees of Oyl-Olive. Others use this Liniment onely. Press the Cream out of Lemmon-Seeds; with two ounces of it, mingle one ounce of Oyl of Tartar, and as much Oyl of Almonds. When at night you go to bed, wash your Hands in Fountain-water; dry them, and anoynt them with this Liniment, and put on your Gloves. Take

Another.

For one weeks-time, infuse the Marrow of Ox-bones in cold water; but change the water four or five times a day; and for every pound of Marrow, take six excellent Apples, and cut them in the middle, and cast forth the Seeds and Core: then beat them small in a Marble-Morter, and put them into a new Morter, that they may smell the sweeter: adding a few Cloves, Cinnamon, Spikenard; let them boyl in Rose-water. When they are all very soft, take them forth and strain them, and again add a sharp Lixivium, and let them boyl at a gentle fire, until all the water be washed. Then set them up in a Glass-Vessel for your use, or make them into morsels. That which follows is good

For the same.

Make a hole in a Lemmon, and put into it Sugar-Candy and Butter, and cover it with the Cover: wet Hards of Hemp, and wrap it up in, and boyl it in hot Embers, and that it grow soft by rosting: when you go to Bed, anoynt your hands with it, and put on your Gloves.

CHAP. XXVIII.

How to correct the ill sent of the Arm-pits.

THe stink of the Arm-holes makes some women very hateful; especially, those that are sat and fleshy. To cure this, we may use such kinde of Experiments. The Ancients against the stink of the Arm-pits, used liquid Allome with Myrrh to anoynt them: or the Secrets and Arm-holes were strewed with the dry Leaves of Myttles in powder. The Roots of Artichoaks smeered on, doth not onely cure the ill sent of the Arm-pits, but of the whole Body also. But Zenocrates promiseth by Experiment, That the faultiness of the Arm-pits will pass forth by urine; if you take one ounce of the pith of the Root boyled in three Lemina's of Muskadel to thirds; and after bathing, fasting, or after meat, drink a cup thereof. But I am content with this. I dissolve Allome in waters, and I wash the Feet and Arm-pits with it, and let them dry: so in some days we shall correct the strong smell of those parts. But it will be done more effectually thus. Pown Lytharge of Gold or Silver, and boyl it in Vinegar; and if you wash those parts well with it, you shall keep them a long time sweet: and it is a Remedy, that there is none better.

CHAP. XXIX.

How the Matrix ovar-widened in Child-birth, may be made narrower.

TRotula saith, we may honestly speak of this, because Conception is sometimes hindred by it, if the Matrix be too open; and therefore it is fit to lend help for such an impedient. For some women have it stand wide-open by reason of their hard labour in Child-birth; and if their Husbands be not content with it, that the men may not abhor the women, it is thus remedied, Take Dragons-Blood, Bole-Armeniac, Pomegranate-shells, white of an Egg, Mastick, Galls, of each one ounce: powder them, and make them all up with hot water. Put some of this Confection into the hole that goes into the Matrix. Or, Galls, Sumach, Plantain, great Comfrey, Allome, Chamaelaea: take equal parts of them all, and boyl them in Rain-water, and foment the Privities. Or, beat sowre Galls very finely: mingle a little of the Powder of Cloves with them. Let them boyl in sharp red Wine: wet a woollen cloth in it, and apply to the part. Or thus may you restrain that part of common whores, with Galls, Gums, whites of Eggs, Dragons Blood, Acacia, Plantain, Hypocistis, Balanstia, Mastick, Cypress-nuts, Grape-skins, Akorn-cups. Or, in that hollow part where the Glans breaks forth; and gaping, shews the Nucleus, with Mastick and Terra Lemnia. If all these be boyled in red Wine or Vinegar, and the Matrix be often wet therewith, it will come very close, and be much straighter. Or else powder all these, and cast them in through a Reed, or make a fume under them Great Comfrey will be excellent for this purpose: for flesh boyl'd with it, will grow together. And the other also, if it be boyl'd, will very well glew together fresh Wounds. The Decoction of Ladies Mantle, or the juice, or distilled water of it, cast into the Matrix, will so contract it, that Whores can scarce be known from Maids: or, if they sit in the Decoction of it; especially, if we mingle other astringent things with it, and wet the Secrets therewith. The distilled water of Starwort, being often injected into the Matrix, will make one scarce know which is corrupted, and which is not. But if you will have.

A woman deflowred made a virgin again,

Make little Pills thus: Of burnt Allome, Mastick, with a little Vitriol and Orpiment: make them into very fine Powder, that you can scarce feel them: when you have made them Pills with Rain-water, press them close with your fingers; and let them dry, being pressed thin, and lay them on the Mouth of the Matrix, where it was first broken open: change it every six hours, always fomenting the place with Rain or Cistern-water, and that for twenty four hours, and it will here and there make little Bladders; which being touched, will bleed much blood, that she can hardly be known from a Maid. Midwives that take care of this, do it another way. They contract the place with the Decoction of the forementioned things, then they set a Leech fast on upon the place, and so they make a crusty matter or scab; which being rub'd will bleed. Others when they have straightned the part, inject the dried Blood of a Hare or Pigeon; which being moistned by the moysture of the Matrix, shews like live fresh Blood. I found out this noble way: I powder Litharge very finely, and boyl it in Vinegar, till the Vinegar be thick; I strain out that, and put in more, till that be coloured also: then I exhale the Vinegar at an easie fire, and resolve it into smoak.

CHAP. XXX.

Some sports against women.

THus far I have shewed how to beautifie women, now I shall attempt some things against their decking of themselves, and make some merriment after those things that I seriously discovered to adorn them.

To make a painted Face look pale.

If you would know a painted Face, do thus: Chew Saffron between you Teeth, and stand neer to a woman with your mouth: when you talk with her, your breath will foul her Face, and make it yellowish; but if she be not painted, the natural colour will continue. Or burn Brimstone in the room where she is: for if there be Ceruss or Mercury sublimate on her Face, the smoak will make her brown, or black. The painted Women that walk at Puteoli, in the Mountains of Phlegra, are made so black, as Silver-money is, shut up in bags. We may also know thus,

Whether she be painted with red.

Chew Grains of Cummin, or a Clove of Garlick, and speak close by her; if it be natural, it will remain; but counterfeit with Ceruss or Quick-silver, it presently decays.

To make a woman full of red pimples.

Of a Stellio is made an ill Medicament: for when he is dead in Wine, all the Faces of those that drink of it, will be red-spotted Wherefore, they that would disfigure Whores, kill him in an Oyntment. The Remedy is, the yelk of an Egg, Honey and Glass. Pliny.

To make the Face green.

Avicenna saith, That the Decoction of Chamaeleon, put into a bath, will make him green-coloured that stays long in that bath; and then by degrees he will recover his former colour.

To make the Hair fall off the Head and Beard.

Touch any part of mans body with a matter white as milk, that the Salamander vomits up out of its mouth, and the Hairs will fall off; and what is touched is changed into the Leprosie. Pliny.