¶ Howe to drawe a profitable Oyle out of Waxe, for sundrie vses. Cap.xl.
The Oile of Waxe, is myraculous and diuine in workyng, bycause it serueth in a manner vnto all griefes. Reymond Lully greatly commendeth this Oyle, approuing it rather as a celestiall and diuine remedie, and that this in woundes, doeth worke moste miraculously, which for his maruellous commoditie, not so well to be allowed of the common Chirurgions, bycause this pretious Oyle healeth a wounde, be the same neuer so wide and bigge, being before wide stitched vppe, in the space of tenne or twelue dayes at the moste. But those whiche are small, this Oyle healeth in thrée dayes, by annoynting onely on the cuttes or woundes, and laying after linnen cloutes, wette in the saide Oyle, vpon the woundes. For inward diseases the saide Oyle worketh myraculouslye (if that you minister or gyue a dramme at a time in white Wine to drinke) and stayeth also the sheading of haire, either on the head or beard, by annointing the places with this Oyle. Besides these, it is miraculous in the procuring of vrine, being mightily stopped, and helpeth also stitches and paine in the loynes, by drinking the like quantitie of the Oyle aboue taughte in white wine.
Now the making and drawing of this oyle, is on this wise: firste take a body of glasse, named a Retort, which stronglye lute aboute with clay and flocks, diligently tempered togither with salte water: after the body is thus fenced and thoroughe drie, putte in a pounde or more of pure newe waxe, so that the saide waxe filleth not aboue halfe youre body, and to euerye pounde of Waxe, poure in foure ounces, of the pouder of redde bricke, finely brused, whiche after set into an earthen potte, filling it rounde aboute with fine sifted ashes or sande. After this, set the potte with the bodye in it, on a fornace, making a softe fire at the firste vnder it, and after encreasing a little more your fire, distil them so long, vntill all youre Oyle be come, whiche after a while wyll congeale in the receiuer: but it maketh no greate matter, although the oyle so doe, for it is neuerthelesse in his perfection. Bycause that if you shoulde distill it so often ouer, vntil it will congeale or stiffen no more in the receiuer, then shall you make it ouer hotte, and so quicke in the mouth, that it is not possible by anye meanes to drinke it downe. But being once distilled, you maye either giue it in Wine to drinke, or annoint with the Oyle on any place of the bodye where you will, whiche will always doe good, and hurte in no manner.
And in consideration of these aboue taught, you maye evidently learne and perceiue, that this myraculous Oyle oughte to be hadde in greate veneration of the common sorte.
¶ Another waye of drawing the Oyle of Waxe moste noble, and doth maruelously help the cold Goute, the Sciaticke, the swelling of the legs, and al other griefes proceeding of a colde cause. Cap.xlj.
Take of pure newe waxe so muche as you please, which put into a panne ouer the fire to melte, and being molten, haue by you in a readinesse another panne well glased, and cleane within, filled with verie good and perfecte wine, into whiche poure youre molten waxe, letting it soake and drinke in well, and washe often in the saide wine. After this take the waxe forth, melting it againe ouer the fire, and molten, washe the same againe in the beste wine, so that euerie time melting the waxe, poure it into freshe new wine, washing and soaking it in the same diligently, after wringing it very wet with the hands. And vsed on this wise, both melt and washe againe in the abouesaide manner, and this also do for eighte times togither. Then set the same forth, being a cleare season and ayre, all the nighte throughe, after which put the waxe into a Retorte with a little of Mumia, and oyle of Ypericon or Saint Iohns wort, and a little olde Oyle: and although without these it maye doe good, yet mixed with these it worketh farre better, than vsed alone.
Nowe to retourne to the former matter this crooked bodye or Retorte set in fine sifted ashes, and a gentle fire made vnder it, vntill all the oyle do runne forth, and in this comming forth of the oile, shall appeare all the foure Elements, as Ayre, Water, Earth and Fyre, whiche will orderly appeare in the receiuer, right maruellous to sée. And the Oyle being thus fullye drawne, worketh miraculouslye in all diseases which procéed of a colde cause, like as we haue aboue taught.
¶ The conclusion to the Reader.
Thus (gentle Reader) I haue (I truste) fullye satisfied thy desire in as manye things as are needefull to be knowen. And I committe this my little Booke to thy gentle iudgement: if thou mayste receiue any profite or commoditie thereby, I shal be gladde of it, and if not, yet fauourably let it passe from thee to others, whose knowledge and experience is lesse than thine herein, that they may gather suche things as to them are strange, though to thee wel known before. And thus brieflye I committe thee to God.