LIFE AND DEATH. 375 



yet those rarely used (especially in summer), which are made 

 of astringent mineral waters, such as may safely be used, 

 as waters participating of steel and copperas, for these do 

 potently contract the skin. 



10. As for filling up the pores, paintings, and such like 

 unctuous daubings, and (which may most commodiously be 

 used) oil and fat things, do no less conserve the substance 

 of the body, than oil colours and varnish do preserve wood. 



11. The ancient Britons painted their bodies with woad, 

 and were exceeding long lived ; the Picts also used paint 

 ings, and are thought by some to have derived their name 

 from thence. 



12. The Brazilians and Virginians paint themselves at 

 this day, who are (especially the former) very long lived ; 

 insomuch that five years ago, the French Jesuites had 

 speech with some who remembered the building of Fernam- 

 buck, which was done a hundred and twenty years since, 

 and they were then at man s estate. 



13. Joannes de Temporibus, who is reported to have ex 

 tended his life to three hundred years, being asked how he 

 preserved himself so long, is said to have answered, By oil 

 without, and by honey within. 



14. The Irish, especially the wild Irish, even at this day 

 live very long ; certainly they report, that within these few 

 years, the Countess of Desmond lived to a hundred and 

 forty years of age, and bred teeth three times. Now the 

 Irish have a fashion to chafe, and, as it were, to baste 

 themselves with old salt butter against the fire. 



15. The same Irish used to wear saffroned linen and 

 shirts, which though it were at first devised to prevent 

 vermin, yet howsoever I take it to be very useful for lengthen 

 ing of life ; for, saffron, of all things that I know, is the best 

 thing for the skin, and the comforting of the flesh, seeing it 

 is both notably astringent, and hath besides an oleosity and 

 subtile heat without any acrimony. I remember a certain 

 Englishman who when he went to sea carried a bag of 

 saffron next his stomach, that he might conceal it, and 

 so escape custom ; and whereas he was wont to be always 

 exceeding seasick, at that time he continued very well, and 

 felt no provocation to vomit. 



16. Hippocrates adviseth in winter to wear clean linen, 

 and in summer foul linen, and besmeared with oil : the rea 

 son may seem to be, because in summer the spirits exhale 

 most, therefore the pores of the skin would be filled up. 



17. Hereupon we are of opinion that the use of oil, either 



