( 6-\5 ) 
fort of Shell we ufein the Shops, if it be to be cafcihecb 
provided it be a Sea-ihell. Nor do I find either Diofcorr 
ties or JEtius to have diftinguifif d betwixt the Offrea 
Purpura or Buccinum calcined ; but gives them all the 
fame Cauftick Virtue ; poflibly fame one Species may 
have it in a higher degree, as we iee the various forts of 
Lime-done, it calcined, differ in ftrength. 
One thing I ihall not omit before I end this Paper* 
becaufe it is now in my mind, that tho' the Species of 
Shell or Purpura be fcarce known to our Shops at this 
day, yet the ufe of the Purple Juice has been by Tra- 
dition at leaft tranfmitted down to our Times, and kept 
as a Secret even in theft Iflands, till Mr. Cole got hold of 
it, and publiftfd it. Sir Robert Southwell the now Prefi- 
dent of the R. S. told me many years ago , that his 
own Mother in Ireland was famous for marking Hand- 
kerchiefs with the Juice of Fiili ; whicfi Mark would 
never wafti out. And the very Learned Mr. John Beau- 
mont informs me of a pallage in our Bed as Ecclefiaftical 
Hiftory relating to the Purple, ^s-^known tiling in his 
time. The Paflage is as follows : 
Be dee, Hijloria EcclefiaJlicaGentis AngL 1. i. c. i. 
Vari'is Conchyliorum generibus except is : in qui bus funt 
& Mufcute, quibus inclufam fepe Margaritam omnis qui- 
dem coloris optimam inveniunt, id ejlj & rubkundi '& 
purpurei, & hyacinthi & Prajici fed maxime candidi. Sunt 
(5? Cochlear J at is fuperque abundant es, qui bus linilura coc- 
ctnei colorzs conficitur. Cujus rubor pulcherrimus nullo un- 
quam folis ardore, nulla valet pluviarum injuria pallejcere ; 
fed quo vetuflior, eo Jolet effe venuftior. 
You fee from this Palfage the Purple Trade of Dying 
was ufed in England, and very much valued. 
Of Mr. Coles 'you have a Cut in the Philofophical 
Tranfatlions, N°. 17S. 
Fig. 5. Reprefi^nts the true Purpura of the Ancients 
by the Italians called Gerufolo. 
K z IV. An 
