On the contrary, laudable meats and drinks make the body to be well colored and comely, for that they yeeld good juice, and consequently a good habit. Therefore if the spots of the face proceed from the plentitude and ill disposition of humors, the body shall be evacuated by blood-letting; if from the infirmity of any principal bowel, that must first of all be strengthened; but the care of all things belongs to the Physician: we here only seek after particular remedies which may smooth the face, and take away the spots, and other defects thereof, and give it a laudable colour.
First the face shall be washed with the water of lilly-flowers, of bean-flowers, water-lillies, of di∣stilled milk, or else with the water wherein some barly or starch hath been steeped. The dried face shall be anointed with the ointments presently to he described; for such washing cleanseth and prepareth the face to receive the force of the ointments, no otherwise then an alumed lye pre∣pairs the hairs to drink up and retain the color that we desire. Therefore the face being thus cleansed and prepared, you may use the following medicines, as those that have a faculty to beauti∣fie, extend, and smooth the skin: as,
℞. gum. tragacanth conquess. ʒii. distemperentur in vase vitrio cum lb ii. aquae communis. sic gummi dissolventur, inde albescet aqua. Or else. ℞. lithargyri auri, ℥••i. cerus. & salis c••m. an. ℥ ss. aceti aquae plantag. an. ℥ ii. caphur. ʒ ss. macerentur lithargyres & c••rusa in aceto se••••sim per tres aut quatuor horas, sal vero & camphora in aqua quam instituto tuo aptam delegeris: then filter them both several and mix them together being so filtered, when as you would use them.
℞. lactis vaccini, lb ii. aranciorum et limon. an. nu. iv. saccari albissimi, et alum. roch. an. ℥ i. distillentur omnia simul: let Lemmons and Oranges be cut into slices, and then be infused in milk, adding thereto the sugar and alum; then let the mall be distilled together in balneo Mariae; the water that comes thereof will make the face smooth and lovely. Therefore about bed-time it will be good to cover the face with linnen-clothes dipped therein. A water also distilled of snails gathered in a vine-yard, juice of lemmons, the flowers of white mullain mixed together in equal proportion with a like quantity of the liquor contained in the bladders of Elm-leaves, is very good for the same purpose. Also this,
℞ micae panis albi, lb iv. flor. fabar. rosar. alb. flor. nenuph. lilior. & ireos, an. lb ii. lactis vaccini, lb vi. ova. nu. viii. aceti ••pt. lb i. distillentur omnia simul in alembico vitr••c, & fiat aqua ad faciei et manuum lo∣tionem. Or, ℞. olei de tartaro, ℥ iii. mucag. sem. psilii, ℥ i. cerus. in oleo ros. dissolut. ℥ i. ss. borac. sal. gem. an. ʒ i. fiat linimentum profacie. Or, ℞. caponem vivum, et caseum ex lacte caprino recenter confectum, limon. nu. iv. ovor. nu. iv. cerus. l••t. in aq. rosar. ℥ ii. boracis, ℥ i ss. camph. ℥ii. aq. flor. fabar. lb iv. fiat omnium infusio per xxiv. horas postea distillentur in alembico vitreo.
There is a most excellent fucus made of the marrow of sheeps-bones, which smooths the rough∣ness of the skin, beautifies the face; now it must be thus extracted. Take the bones, severed from the flesh by boiling, beat them, and so boil them in water; when they are well boiled, take them from the fire, and when the water is cold, gather the fat that swims upon it, and there with anoint your face when as you go to bed, and wash it in the morning with the formerly prescribed water.
℞. salis ceruss. ʒ ii. ung. citrin. vel spermat. ceti. ℥ i. malaxentur simul. et fiat linimentum, addendo olei ovor. ʒ ii. The Sal cerussae is thus made▪ grinde Ceruss into very fine powder, and infuse lb 1. there∣of in a bottle of distilled vineger for four or five daies, then filter it, then set that you have filtred in a glased earthen vessel over a gentle fire until it concrete into salt, just as you do the capitellum in making of cauteries.
℞. excrementi lacert. ossis saepiae, tartari, vini albi, rasur. corn. cerv. farin. oriz. an. partes aequales, fiat pulvis, infundatur in aqua distillata amygdalarum dulcium, limacum vinealium, flor. nenuph. huic addito mellis albi par pondus: let them all be incorporated in a marble morter, and kept in a glass or silver vessel, and at night anoint the face herewith; it wonderfully prevails against the redness of the face, if after the anointing it you shall cover the face with a linnen cloth moistened in the former described water.
℞ sul lim. ʒi. argent. viv. saliv. extinct. ʒii. margarit. non perforat. ʒi. caph. ʒ i ss. incorporentur simul in mortario marmoreo, cum pistillo ligneo, per tres horas ducantur et fricentur, reducanturque in tenuissi∣mum pulverem▪ confectus pulvis abluatur aquâ myrti et desiccetur, serveturque ad usum, adde follorum auri et argenti, nu. x. When as you would use this powder, put into the palm of your hand a little oyl of mastich, or of sweet-almonds, then presently in that oyl dissolve a little of the de∣scribed powder, and so work it into an ointment, wherewith let the face be anointed at bed-time: but it is fit first to wash the face with the formerly described waters, and again in the morning when you arise.
When the face is freed from wrinkles and spots, then may you paint the cheeks with a rosie and flourishing colour; for of the commixture of white and red ariseth a native and beautiful color; for this purpose take as much as you shall think fit of brasil, and alchunet; steep them in alum-wa∣ter, and therewith touch the cheeks and lips, and so suffer it to dry in: there is also spanish red made for this purpose; others rub the mentioned parts with a sheeps-skin died red▪ moreover the friction that is made by the hand only, causeth a pleasing redness in the face, by drawing thither the blood and spirits.