The seconde part of the Secretes of Master Alexis of Piemont by hym collected out of diuers excellent authours, and newly translated out of Frenche into Englishe, with a generall table, of all the matters conteined in the saied boke. By William Warde.

To get oile out of Talchum artificially, and of his owne strength.

TAke sixe pound of Talchum, and beate it smal, & put it in a pot not baked nor leadid within, but thick••

and greate of earth, and put of the said Talchum into it vntill the pot be ful: then set the couer vpō it and binde it well with wier, and stoppe the saide pot well with Lutum sapientiae, and lette it well drie and so put it in a furneise of bricke, or lime keele neere vnto the mouth where the fire reuerberateth, and whan you will take it out, beware that it breake not. This don•• braie it small vpon the marble vntill it be like vnto flower, and do it quickly, to the intent it take not muche aier, and put it in a little sacke pointed at the bottome like a gelley bagge, and laie vpon it a cuppe of glasse or some other well leaded and glased within, which may be meete to receiue the saide oile. Then lette it doune into a wel with a corde about a two pardes, or a yarde and a halfe from the water, and very nighe vnto the wall, but that it tutche it not, and remoue it not in xx. or xxv. daies. Then if you se that it hath begon to cast some oile you maie take it out of the well, and sette it in some moiste place, that is to saie in the corner of a sellar, for feare lest the aier or the winde or any kinde of best should hurt it. And leaue it so longe in the said place vntill all the licour become out of i••: Then take the lees that remaineth, and distil it thorow a lembick with a small fire augmenting it little and little vntill by the force of the fire all come out that maie comme, and it is called of the Alkemistes the fire of Talchum. Nowe the first that is gotten out by the humidite and moistnes, is called the earth, and is very medicinable. The second is the very richesse of the Alkemistes: And I will saie vnto you that many whiche professe Alk••∣••ni•• haue sought this secrete, and haue done in all thinges as is here writen, and yet coulde neuer finde this meanes to giue it this great humidite, and of such abondance and with so long time: And for asmuche as the mater in it self is very stiffe and drie, so wil it haue great moistnesse and in abondāce. And bicause it hath had great and it must needes haue muche moistnesse,

and hauinge had these partes there is made of it two Clementes, separated as you see. Then take this last lees, and stampe it in a morter, and put it in a pot or cawdron pouring vpon it some well water, and let it boile a certaine space, and then straine it, and washe your body with it, and you shall se your skinne wil be very white, and will heale a manne of all maner of skabbes and skurt, and swelling of the legges. And in vsing the saide water for to washe your handes with, you shall haue them softe and cleane from all spottes or frackles. This is the parfite waie & meal••e to make oile of Talchum, whiche hath many properties of the whiche the Dutchesse of Sauoye did vse and occupie. And who so euer vseth this licour, it will take awaie Freckles, Spottes, Wartes, skarres of woundes, or cuttes, and other markes, and in short space you shall see a meruelous experiēce of it. It maketh white teeth, and taketh oute the wrinkles of the face: And t•• you drinke of it two or three droppes with Wine or pot∣tage, it will make you haue a sweete breath, if it co••ne bicause of the stomack. It comforteth the mother and causeth a good appetite, and restoreth into his nature euery euill stomacke that is marred by some accident or occasion of ••••ckenes. And finally muche desired of the Alkemistes: for in putting into the saide oile some Mercurie well purified it congeleth incontinent and will endure the hammer, and this is very true.