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CHAP. LVII.
A description of certaine artificiall balmes.
BVt it is vvell and sufficiently knowne, how that now the true and naturall balme is no vvhere to be found, and that in place thereof the indu∣strie and skill of man hath inuented Oyles which approach and draw neere in vertues and faculties vnto the true balme: now therefore be it in like manner knowne that these Oyles are made either by distillation or impressi∣on: and that vve will speake onely of some certaine ones which are made by impres∣sion, ceasing to speake of those which are distilled for them which meddle in draw∣ing out the quintessences of things, as you shall further perceiue by our Booke of se∣cret remedies.
Balme of the maruellous apples: Take the maruellous apples either with or with∣out kernells, but verie ripe, put them in a vessell full of common oyle, either old or new, or of the oyle of sweet Almonds or Linseed, and infuse them a long time in the Sunne, or in Maries-bath, or in horse-dung that is verie hot, or in the earth in a ves∣sell that is well couered ouer with sand, and let it remaine there one whole yeare, or else two, vvhich is the better; you may likewise make this oyle of the leaues and little cods without the fruit: some with the apples put together with the oile of sweet almonds or linseed oyle, doe joyne of liquid varnish one ounce for euerie pound of oyle: such an oyle is a singular balme for all wounds, inflammations of the breasts, and for the appeasing of outward paines and ache; for the bursting of young chil∣dren; the vlcers of the matrix; and to procure conception, if after that the woman is come out of the bath made for the same purpose, the annoint her secret parts there∣with, and drinke of the powder of the leaues with vvhite Wine: it is also singular good for the paine of the hemorrhoides, being mingled with linseed oyle, or the oile of sweet almonds. We haue spoken of the maruellous apples in the second Booke, where we haue declared how that the hearbe whereupon they grow is called Balsa∣••ina, because it hath the vertue of balme. The oyles of the flowers of Rosemarie, white mullein, Paules betonie, Nicotian, and ground Iuie, being thus prepared as we haue spoken of before, haue like vertues with balme.
Another balme: Take the fruit of the elme, the flowers of Hypericum, and the buds of Roses, put all together in a glasse bottle with oyle of Oliues, stop vp the bottle close, and leaue it in the Sunne, vntill you see the same all of it in such manner consumed as though it were rotten: afterward, strayne it and keepe the oyle for your vse.
Another: Take Gumme elemie foure ounces, oyle of vvormes, oyle of Roses, and Hypericon, of each two ounces, of Venice Turpentine two ounces; mix altogether and incorporate them vpon a coale fire, afterward keepe it in little bottles.
Another balme: Take the flowers and seeds of Hypericon foure handfulls, bruise them throughly, and set them in the Sunne the space of ten daies in a glasse bottle, with foure pound of old Oyle of Oliues, afterward presse them out carefully, and put againe as many moe flowers and seeds of Hypericon into the bottle, set it in the Sun againe tenne vvhole dayes: after presse it out all againe, and put thereunto as fol∣loweth; of oyle of dill, and of Venice Turpentine, of each a pound and a halfe, of A∣qua-vitae halfe a pound, of Mummia, vvood of Alo••s, masticke, myrrhe, and Iuie∣gu••, of each an ounce and a halfe, of the rosen of the pine-tree three ounces, saffron halfe an ounce, cloues, nu••megs, cinnamom, of each three drams: mix all together, and boile them three houres in Maries-bath in a glasse bottle close stopped, that nothing may breath out: Then set the bottle in the Sunne the space of ten daies, reseruing the oyle afterward for pains of the eares, wounds, fistulaes, cankers, Noli me tangere, &c to