WHETHER your Aurum (D ^r An?) bee as truely potable as pottable, that is, as truely converted into potable liquor the content, as it may into pott the Continent, I meane not to dispute. Whether like­wise your aurum be aurum, I doe therein permit you vnto those lear­ned Censors who haue vndertaken you, who haue alreadie taken the even scales into their hands & haue proved your light weight therein. I wil not rob them of their due praise. I will only levill at your Apologie, being thence iniuriously awaked from my sleepie thoughts there­of. You haue divided it into two parts, the first is reason, the second is testimonies. I will therefore first declare all your reasons ioyntly and in generall, to be voyd and of noe vse, to proue the worth of your Aurum potabile to be allowed, or authorised. I will after descend into every single reason and position apart: some of your testimonies I will last call vnto their strict accompt. Concerning the invaliditie of your reasons in generall, knowe that [...]ose things which are pro­perly directed and immediately to be iudged and witnessed by the Necesse est in his à vi extrinse­ca & viso assen­tionem commo­veri. Cicero de Fato. sense, it is indirect and vaine to build their proofe vpon reasons. It were madnes at noone day when the sunne shineth in his brightnes to offer the proofes thereof by rea­son vnto an open and wellseeing eye. The right preparations [Page 2] of medicines and their compositions are to be iudged pro­perly and approved by the eye, by the tast, and by the cou­lor, and other outward testimonies from a iuditious view thereof, and by the outward senses. Reasons therefore herein are insufficient and deceivable satisfactions of the goodnes, truth, number of ingredients and right workmanship, in which the outward sense was ever chiefe Iustice and sole proper Iudge. Since then no man but your selfe hath as yet in every single concealed part, nor in your menstruall water (as you confesse) viewed or seene the right preparation and composition of your medicine, doe not vainely hope by the miste of needlesse and sophisticall reasons to moue the iudi­tious to giue credit thereto. Iust Cauendum est ne incognita pro cognitis habea­mus, ijs (que) temerè assentiamus, sed adhibeamus ad considerandas res & tempus & diligentiam. Cic. Offic. 1. men cannot be blamed in making doubt, howsoever men vnlearned, or not practised, or not exercised in iudging herein, may and are commonly perswaded and easily drawne. Thus much in generall con­cerning the want of reason in your reasons to satisfie reaso­nable men, for that excellency of your Aurum potabile. Now let vs singly drawe forth your severall weaknesses in your reasons & lame positions a part, halting through every scat­tered part of your whole worke. First for the vaine professi­on of that vnlimited vniversality in your Aurum potabile: vnderstand that all things vniversall are of three kinds. The first is vniversall in substance, in which sense no creature, but one only Deus est prin­cipium vniuer­sale non de essen­tia vniuersi, sed supra vniuersum Scaliger, Creatour of all things can be called vniversall. The second is vniversall in predication, and thus only Genus and Species the generall and speciall kinds of all things crea­ted are called vniversall. In this sense Aurum potabile can be no more vniversall then in the first, since it is a particular and individuall substance. The third is vniversall in power and in the generalitie and multiplicitie of divers ends and vses therein. In this sense only Aurum potabile can be vniversall. Now let vs see how farr this vniversalitie in this vnderstan­ding may extend. All things that are created haue their se­verall ends and vses for which they were created, and in [Page 3] those ends some are more proper vnto one Creature, some vnto another. Many ends and vses are common vnto many of them. But every one hath his owne proper Natura nihil fecit▪ frustra Aristot. inseparable end and vse vnto it selfe aboue and beyond all the rest. For this cause Philosophers say and truth doth iustifie, that every particular hath his owne distinct forme in it selfe by which it hath a peculiar Hinc illa [...]. being in it selfe, by which it is that it is solely vnto it selfe, and different from all other. As every thing hath his distinct and seperate forme vnto it selfe, so necessarily must it haue his speciall and proper qualities, ends and Forma & fi­nis in naturae o­peribus sunt v­solâ differunt ra­tione. vses, from thence derived vnto it selfe, by which it is different from all other vses, since God hath created no forme Nec frustra ac sine causa quid facere dig­num Deo est quod abhorret ab hominis constan­tia. Cicero 2. de without his owne proper and speciall indowment. This is the reason of Aristotle his [...] vnum ad vnum, that is, every thing was made vnto one mayne end or Vnius causae vna est actio per se, plures per ac­cidens. Vnius rei vnica forma, vnias ar­tis vnus finis. vse, although therof might be made many common vses besides: as is instanced concerning the Gladius Delphicus. If this be a truth that never was nor can be denyed, then is it manifest and certaine that Aurum potabile cannot yeeld or afford any of those speciall properties or vertues which God and na­ture haue only made and tyed appropriate vnto other speci­all formes alone, be they of medicinall vse or whatsoever els. For formes are infinite and extend as farr as Ens it selfe, since there is, nor can be no being without a forme. A necessary conclusion from hence doth vnavoidably and vnanswerably issue that Aurum potabile granted his owne peculiar vertue proper vnto his owne forme, whatsoever vertues it hath be­side it, it hath in common with many other medicines, and therefore cannot challenge the properties of all other vnto it selfe alone, nor exclude other from the participation in com­mon with it. And hence it is also evident that Aurum potobile can haue no other vniversality then is equally contingent vnto other things, creatures or medicines aswell as vnto it selfe. Vnto this infallible proofe of reason, it is easie by infi­nite instances to giue illustration. It is cleare that in many [Page 4] common cases Aurum potabile is drosse and counterfeite with many vulgar things compared. In a vehement burning thirst a cupp of small beere, nay a cup of water is both more vsefull and more necessary. In a consumption there are many better restauratiues, yea a messe of porrage well ordered without comparison is more proper, and in hunger and ne­cessity of nourishment farre more pretious. In a dangerous surfeit all the gold in the world reduced into whatsoever potability, spirit or essence is nothing so ready, so prosperous, so present a remedy, as any common vulgar matter, that may procure in the beginning the disgorging of the cause. The like may be said concerning any mortall poyson, swal­lowed into the stomacke. Will any man be so madd as to trust vnto the glorious vniversality of Aurum potabile, who can procure the present revomition of the substance of the poyson, by any small trifle procuring vomitt? In an exquisite Synodius, Phrensie, Peripueumonia, Augnia Pluresie, and in many innumerable other peracute diseases, rising from the offensiue quantity and corrupt quality of the blood, that little Iron and small instrument wherewith the Surgion doth phlebotomize, is a much more speedy, sovereigne and saving remedy: Thus what nature, what reason, what instances doe manifest we manifestly see. Now let vs returne to view what the Myntmaster and Coyner of Aurum potabile doth pre­sumptuously pronounce. Speaking of his Aurum potabile page 4 he vttereth these prodigious words Id nimirum omnes iam dictorum, nec non aliorum simplicum facultatis aequat, nec hoc salum, sed multis modis superat, that is, It doth not only equall, but exceed many degrees the vertues and faculties of al those things before mentioned and of other simples. Those things which were before mentioned were Vineger, Rhu­barbe, Nitre, Lead, Quicksiluer, Vitriol, Champhre, inclu­ding with these innumerable more. Here we see his open and expressed profession that▪ Aurum potabile doth not only con­taine in it selfe the vses and vertues of all medicines in gene­rall, [Page 5] but of every speciall throughout the generall, and of every particular comprehended vnder the specialls, for these particulars before mentioned are all of severall kinds and species. This is a wonder, a miracle, a mystery. Many vses in­deed God hath given vnto many particular things vnder the same kind, but all the severall specificall vses of all other things of the same kind given vnto any one particular alone, nature did never knowe, nor the Sunne it selfe in this sublu­nary world did euer behold, Looke through all the Coasts and Corners of the world, pervse the Catalogue of all the in­finite bounties and guifts of God and nature in all kinds, a­mong them all, is not to be found, such an vniversality in an vnity, or an vnity of such vniversality. No man, no age, no art, no science hath at any time knowne it. Of the impossibi­litie also thereof as in reason, so in religion the demonstration is evident. God hath created nothing in vaine nor needlesly. All things are good which he hath made, and certainly if good, then good for some good end and for some good vse. If every particular thing created, hath his particular good particular vse and end, Aurum potabile his vse is likewise but particular and can exclude no one thing created whatso­ever from a particular goodnes and vse, contayned in it selfe and not in another. This all ages, all times, all nations and people long before Aurum potabile was borne, haue euer witnessed, and are able to giue the contrary affirmation, the lie vnto the face of the divell and the Apologist, creating so foule a monster, out of the order and rule of all things crea­ted by God. Many excellent things hath God created for man, which haue many excellent vses; He hath created the medicines of the earth Ecclesiasticus 36.4. and among them many haue their many excellent vses, but any one creature or medicine whatsoeuer contayning in it selfe alone all the vses of all other things of the same kind or frustrating or making needlesse any one vse or good quality giuen by God to any one particular whatsoeuer, as to affirme it, is in reason im­possible, [Page 6] in nature monstrous, so in religion most impious. Now let vs heare what the Apologist saith. It is not sufficient (saith the Apologist page 5 [...]ine 8) to call Aurum potabile Polycreston, but it must be Pancreston that is, restrictiuely to be a thing having variety and multiplicitie of vses, is not at­tribute competent or equall, but it must be absolute of infi­nite vses, excluded out of no vse. In his preface vnto the Rea­der he tearmeth it Materia vniuersalis perse, that is a thing materially or in the materiall substance by it selfe alone vni­versall. Behold the face of Idolatry page 61 of the English coppie, he likewise aboue the capacitie or reach of reason avowcheth that his Medicine neuer hurt any but euer profi­ted all. The same he iterateth page 107 and page 122. Hee further avowcheth, page 97 of the Latin coppie that if it happen into the hands of an vnskilfull dispensor, it cannot notwithstanding by the most envious, be once instanced in any particular to haue giuen somuch as occasion of hurt, which is incident to other excellent remedies. From abuse by man there was neuer as yet any sublunary thing created by God for man absolute or free, how then can this Creature alone of his creation be excepted without impiety and intol­lerable arrogancie. page 55: he appropriateth this divine and miraculous medicine vnto himselfe, saying that after God it bringeth most present remedie. Thus he maketh himselfe and his medicine, or himselfe in his medicine solely God his se­cond; In the same place he doth proclayme it to haue place where no Physitian or Physick humane can giue remedie or helpe, but onely the Celestiall and divine or heauenly, page 121. of the English coppie he saith it is of generall and extra­ordinary effects in all diseases, sexes, ages, circumstances. The impossibility of these assertions in reason in nature, in Gods decree, all honest and wise men consider. Now let vs duely examine whether his owne conscience also doe not check it selfe herein; certainly in many places his own falfe tongue, be­trayeth his double and guilefull thoughts. Read page 15. [Page 7] line 2. 3. 4. 5. of the latin coppy. Nihilominus hic considerari velim, & caetera. There he confesseth that there is no such ne­cessity of Aurum potabile but that by other meanes as well as by it, men may aspire vnto the top and perfection of phy­sicall curation, as also that there are other wayes vnto the same wood for health aswell as by that. These words are left out in the english Coppie, see page 18 thereof. Reade his pre­face also vnto the Reader, there he confesseth that he vseth and mixeth other Vegetables in the administration and dis­pensation of his Aurum potabile, and he commendeth the same vse and custome vnto the rationall and learned physiti­an. Behold how truth here vnawares stealeth out of his owne mouth. How farr in divers other places his tong hath over­runne his wit, in the reasonles and boundles adoration of his golden incomparable vniuersality, is not before obscure. Here now see how by his owne mouth that Pancreston, that vnlimited vniuersality that adaequation of temper in it selfe, reducing all other things into temper page. 4. 5. is here con­tented in it selfe not to be so absolute, but to borrow assi­stance, and many vses of other discrepant and different things or natures. Yea he doth in the same place acknowledge it to be requisite prudence to adioyne them vnto his vniuersall medicine: and commendeth it vnto the rationall and iuditious physitians discretion therein. Thus vsuall and easie is it for men who either desire to dissemble those things they knowe, or intend to iustifie those things which they knowe vniust, to be betrayed by their owne memory and to contradict them­selues. And thus by nature, by reason, by his owne positions and confession, is the vniuersality of the Apologist his Au­rum potabile from the vnlimited stiles, the intollerable titular transcendence and sole supremacy reduced vnto more mo­dest and moderate termes, yea euen by pronunciates out of his owne mouth. Mistake not (worthy Reader) I doe not denie that golde it selfe in medicine hath many excellent v­ses. I denie not divers wayes of the profitable and vsefull [Page 8] preparation. I doe ingeniously graunt that gold in his owne kinde (although questioned in D ^r Anth. his preparation) may be, and is an excellent medicine, as divers other excellent me­dicines in other kinds are, but his excessiue and vnreasonable extolling thereof beyond measure and meane, and the slaun­derous derogation thereby from all other blessed remedies, vnto which God their Creator hath giuen their seuerall di­stinct specifical vertues aswell as vnto Aurum potabile, is that which modest eares do abhorr, and I cannot but iustly taxe. I will therefore conclude with that necessary castigation of Libauius no obscure Alchymist, and who hath described and taught divers wayes of the fabrick of Aurum potabile in di­vers kinds and manners. Aurum dicitur (saith he Alchem. part 2. lib. 1.) adversus omnes morbos Alexiterium catholicum. Sed cum non peccetur vno modo, nec morbi fint vnius naturae ne­queant (que) omnes ad commune principium sanativum reduci, ap­paret Paracelsicos transgressos esse veterum sensa, & hiperboli­câ laude, aurum infame reddidisse. That is gold is said a gene­rall Cordiall against all diseases, but since errors happen not all after one way or manner, neither are all diseases of one kind or nature, nor can be brought all into one kind, principle or way of cure, it is apparent that the Paracelsians haue trans­gressed the rules, sense and meaning of the Ancients, and with their vnmeasurable and hyperbolicall praises haue now pro­cured the very name of gold to be in disgrace and infamous. Looke vpon this glasse (D ^r Anth.) and view therein the face of your owne follie. Assuredly if all your pronunciats before mentioned concerning your Aurum potabile, might bee in proofe and triall found true, it must necessarily be convinced to be magicall. Omnis materia subijcitur vicissitudini mutatio­num (saith Aristotle) that is, whatsoeuer is compounded of an elementary matter is subiect vnto variation, mutations and alterations of all kinds. Nothing can be so generally or vniuersally vnto all vses in any kind the same, but it must vary, differ, and be mutable in his vse and vertue according [Page 9] to euery circumstance which vsually doth happen vnto all things mortall. Casus & tempus, omnibus rebus accidit saith Ecclesiastes 9.11. Chaunce & time happeneth vnto all things. If you will therefore proue that your potabile aurum is the same euer in all diseases not variable therein, not failing or immutable, alwayes by it selfe fit, in all sexes, ages and di­stempers, then is it exempt from the course, order and nature of all sublunarie things. Vpon this ground and proposition, will invincibly follow a conclusion: that it is a diabolicall and inchaunted medicine. Your owne lipps haue beene your accusers, and out of your owne mouth men will iudge you. Now bring forth your medicine to proue your selfe an ho­nest man. Conceale it not, make it knowne in euery part and particle, in your Aqua menstrualis aswell as in all other parts, since the diuell Si Medicus paret remedia domi suae poterit, im­pune pro melle, aconitum praebere aegro, ignis enim poterit fraudē detegere? Riolanus in liban. Man and imposture may hide themselues therein, aswell as in any other parcell belonging thereto. Let your rich marchandize, therein your vnlimited commoditie perswade you no longer to conceale it. Bring it forth (I say) put it vpō the triall, let it vndergo no secret nor priuy, but the open verdict of all good men. You haue (no doubt) greater worth in your selfe, then that, to vphold and maintaine you; your trust is not soly therein: For your owne iustification, for your credit, for the common good publish and comunicate it vnto all. Let it proue it selfe by it selfe, and no longer hide the face for any priuate respect. There is no good man will or can conceale any secret, vpon so iust and requisite challenge. Thus much concerning your straggling proiects in praise of Aurum potabile. Now let vs descend into your particular reasons in order as they are proposed to de­fend his vniuersality and the arrogation of supreame worth and dignitie.

THus carried with a prosperous gale, and willing sail, we are at length arrived vpon the margin or skirts of your second part of the Apologie. In your very first entrance you complaine of the indocilitie and incredulitie of men, concerning your doctrine of the vniversall medicine. Al­though you haue (as you say) perswaded, yet can you not perswade. Certainely you perswade your sel [...]e of your selfe too well, and therefore of others so ill. See whether you can [Page 33] see no fault in your seife, and your owne perswasions in the first passed part of your Apologie. You shall there finde mee your friend to helpe you therein. As there, so in the second part you boast of reason and experience. Your reasons are short, as you confesse, as I will declare, and as all men may see. In your experiences (which really and indeed are rather other mens testimonies) you abound. So it befitteth him who wanteth true reason and iudgment, and buildeth vpon such inartificiall arguments, meerely arising from the fancies and sense of distressed patients, transported vsually by their affection, most seldome by reason and true judgment gui­ded. You tell vs, let the envious barke, and say that your gold is no gold: but this you say is more certaine, then that is most certaine, that a medicine an hundreth times more preci­ous then gold, is by you out of gold deduced. If your proofe heereof bee onely equall vnto that which formerly with the same titles and tearmes you haue exalted, and falsely dignified, it is lesse then nothing, since out of nothing cannot issue any thing. We will now attend how according to your promise, you doe proue your selfe master and maker of the genuine, true and no counterfeit Aurum potabile. Vnto this purpose you produce three reasons. The first is this, That me­dicine which is made of gold, dissolued without corrosiues in­to a substance or cōsistence, like hony potable, easily dissolued in any liquor, is the most excellent medicine liquor, & true vndoubted Aurum potabile. This is the Maior, the Minor fol­loweth. But (say you) my medicine is such, namely gold dissolued without Corrosiues, into a substance or consistence, like hony potable, easily dissolued in any liqor: Erg. my medicine is the true Aurum potabile. We deny your Minor, & expect it by you proved. In stead of thee expected proofe: you tell vs that you haue formerly demonstrated it in a former treatise, and referre vs thereto. In that treatise, according to my pro­mise in the beginning, I must remit you vnto those learned men, who haue there, and for that alreadie taken you into [Page 34] their handling. I will therefore onely make a serutinie and tru­tinie of those your reasons and proofes, which I doe find here. In your Minor you say, that your medicine is gold, dissolued without Corrosiues. This I do denie, and you cannot prooue it, except you make your concealed Aqua Menstrualis knowne, I will not credit you, but that there are Corrosiue vertues and powers therein. Except therefore you do make knowne that your grand secret, your totum scire, & secretum, your argument and proofe is for all hope of progresse, lost and drowned in your Aqua Menstrualis. And there we leaue your first proofe, cowardly hiding it selfe. I need not tell you, that Aurum potabile, per aquam fortem, per fraudem com­positum, solutum aquis regijs, is reproued & damned of Chy­micks themselues. That that Aurum potabile, which is debite modo & comprobato sapientibus, is knowne vnto you, you doe not make knowne vnto vs, but leaue it obscured and sunke in the puddle of your menstruall water. We come vnto your se­cond proofe, by which you would convince, that your vni­versall medicine is the true Aurum potabile. The medicine, say you, which haue the genuine, proper, and inseparable effects of Aurum potabile, is to be taken and esteemed the same. But your vniversall medicine hath those vniversal and solely pro­per effects of Aurum potabile, Ergo it is the same. We denie not your Maior from the immediate and proper effects, vnto the true immediate cause, the sequele is most certaine and ne­cessary. Your Minor we doubt and thinke false, and therfore we vrge and require your proofe and manifestation thereof. But you homely and plainely tell vs, that your medicine hath giuen and yeelded sufficient evidences, testimonies, and ef­fects, only worthie Aurum potabile. And thus except we will take your bare word and credit therein, or stay for further proofe out of your succeeding testimonies, the promised pre­sent proofe is not performed. Your third proofe is taken out of the admirable and wonderfull manner, falling out in the workmanship of your Aurum potabile, that is, the permanent [Page 35] and perfect dissolution thereof, the ascent in an exceeding red shape or forme by the Alembike. When wee haue seene the Gold in solid substance first put into the Alembike, and after without fraud closed therein; lastly, ascending in the mentio­ned forme, and withall doe know your Aqua menstrualis, we are then Chrysopaeidare possunt alijs me­tallis qualitates accidentarias auri veri, colo­rem, duritiem, pondus &c. Es­sentiales non pos­sunt, nempe cra­sim, formam, pro­prietates Riolan. and not before, in any reason or equitie, tyed to take your report in your owne cause. Thus you see how you per­swade your selfe too well of your selfe. You thinke better of your credit then it is, and trusting thereto ouermuch, your last proofe is as the first and second, voide and annihilate. But you reply, that you haue many learned Physitians, eye-witnesses of this your experience. We answere and oppose your owne confession, viz. that your Aqua menstrualis is knowne vnto no man. If no man know it but your selfe, then no man but your selfe can satisfie vs, whether there be therein any corro­siue power or vertue, and (as we said before) we are resolued not to credit you. Therefore your last proofe or argument is dissolued, and with the former voide. Thus haue you by force and argument gained nothing. Let vs now familiarly, yet se­riously, conferre together. Suppose we should yeeld vnto you the honour of possessing, and the prerogatiue of the first in­venting and finding out of Aurum potabile. You cannot ther­by proue your selfe more generally learned, or more truely honest, both which, are more chiefly and mainely required in euery man, in euery facultie. Generall learning or knowledge consisteth not in any one particular alone. As for honestie, your presumption is the vnlimited, and so vniversall mono­polie of your medicine, not vsually tolerated or allowed in a common-weale, and your reserued & concealed privat gaine therein, doe minister iust occasion and matter to Si medicus pa­ret remedia do­misuae, exigat si placet [...] centum aut mille aureos [...] quis precio sta­tuet modū? Ri [...]. suspect you. In your third proofe, you seeme to praise your selfe by the way of answere to an obiection, for your communicating vnto many, so excellent a medicine, that should not be made (say you) so common. And you say, that like the sunne it is nothing lesse precious, because the shining glorie & brightnes [Page 36] is communicated vnto all. It is true indeed, your Aurum pota­bile is nothing lesse precious for the communication, but it may be happily lesse communicabie for the price. I would thinke your comparison not to hold in the sunne so fitly, as in the moone, since your communication is nothing so cleare, nothing so free or bright, but dimme and clouded in much darknes. You shine not but in part, nor fully; the beames of aqua menstrualis altogether eclipsed. Neither doe you shine gratis. Deale plainely and vprightly. If your communication thereof be honest, without extortion therein, without rob­bing and spoyle, without deceit, ingeniously, apertly, freely communicate the whole preparation, that other men Magistratus in publicum consu­lit, ut sciatur quae medicamenta praescribunt Me­dici, ut publice fiant & exami­nentur. Libavius in Giammanū. may know aswell as your selfe, what errors and abuses there are hidden secret in that reserued watrish and menstruall orbe or aspect. It is not sufficient for you to say, that you haue by the grace and gift of God obtained the secret of secrets, the soie Iewell of Art and Nature, but other men must know that you came truely and honestly vnto it; as also, that ho­nestly and truely you vse it. Otherwise there ought no more thereof remaine with you, but the punishment of your fault and sinne therein. Learne of Esops cock, he found a Gemme, you know where, and you know how. Dum vertit stercorae­rium offendit gemmam, saith the fable. He stirred vp the muck­hill, and found a gemme. It added nothing vnto his worth, yet he shewed a more honest affection then you, he made no pro­fit of his good hap, he wished it freely vnto the Gold-smith. You crow lowder, and make more cackle, but you are no­thing so ingenuous. You sell the grace and gifts, which you say, God hath giuen vnto you, & after such a rate & propor­tion, as no man knoweth but your selfe. And thus indeed you communicate it vnto euery man, but the truly golden sup or sap therein, no man tasteth but your selfe. Thus farre we haue launched into the depth, & haue sounded & fadomed the pro­fundity of your proofes, both in the 1 and 2 part of your A­pologie. We will now cast anchore a while, & prepare and re­paire [Page 37] our tackle, that with prosprous winds, & fresh gales, we may also giue a new charge vpon your testimonies. As you formerly in your reasons & arguments, professed your selfe a Champion of truth; and it hath solely proued a guilefull sha­dow of truth, seruing only vnto your commodity & benefit. So in the preface vnto your testimonies also you now pro­mise that you will publish no letter or testimonies vnto any mans disgrace; but how false and dissembling your prom [...]se and purpose is herein, let all men iudge, who may manifestly behold how iniuriously and scandalously many of your testi­monies make a footstoole and ladder of other mens names & depraued worth, that thereby your golden medicine may clime vnto the vsurped top and height of supremacy. It is a wonder how so sodainely you are start vp so learned, so fa­mous, so brauingly audacious, since (as it is well vnderstood) not not many yeares since dispairing of thriuing by your learning, you became a Traffiquer, or trader in woolls, or cloath, a long time together. Is it possible that you can so swiftly lay aside your Mechanicke thoughts, and so prowd­ly and daringly, not only encounter, but triumph vpon lear­ned men, your selfe so late so obscure and despicate in your owne eyes? I will not say with the Poet, Quid Domini faci­ent? But good S ^r tell me;

The insolence is vnmeasurable in so meane a Philosopher, as you haue proued your selfe, and therefore iust indignation doth afford you no better nor other answere but this con­tempt.

WE are now come to buckle with your testimo­nies. First, I will make manifest that they are all in generall of no validitie, to proue the worthi­nesse [Page 38] of authorization in your Aurum potabile. Secondly, I will proue and manifest that some of your testimonies are knowne vnto my sel [...]e to be false, and other some in all possi­ble reason apertly impossible. Thirdly, I will produce testi­monies concerning other medicines in their worth and suc­cesse, nothing inferiour to your testimonies of Aurum pota­bile, and for the most part in the same kindes. Lastly, I will oppose vnto your testimonies blazed in honour of Aurum potabile, such counter-testimonies, as shall sound as much in dishonour. First, for the invaliditie in generall of your testi­monies, and iointly they are all defectiue in one of these two kindes. Some are directly false. All the rest witnesse no more but the felicitie, good successe, and happy issues and euents of your medicine, which is no sufficient or compleat satisfacti­on for the authoritie, lawfulnesse, or allowance of your medi­cine. Many diseases haue beene by sleight meanes prudently guided, admirably cured. Many diseases likewise haue beene cured by chance, when all humane helpe hath vtterly beene dispaired. I did my selfe knowe a Gentleman cured of a long and Cronicall head-ake and giddinesse, by a rude blowe with a staffe vpon his head, plentifully causing him to bleed, with great danger of his life. I knewe another by taking ratsbane vnwillingly from a poysner, dispatched of an inueterate and incurable french poxe, many yeares before setled in his bones all vsefull helpe in that kinde wearied, and a long time made frustrate. I haue read an history of a woman, who being wea­ried with her husbands▪ long and chargeable sicknesse (think­ing therby to dispatch him of his misery) gaue him the pow­der of a Toad, whereby he was presently recouered. I doe read of another woman in whom the dropsie had ouergrown the reuocation thereof by any ordinary course, at length she chanced from an high place to fall, and hitting her belly vpon a sharpe stone, it made way and passage for the hidropicall water, and the woman was thereby deliuered. These good issues or euents, doe not commend these medicines, or their [Page 39] vse, nor for that cause can giue them a supremacy or princi­palitie aboue all others. Neither can the multitude of testi­monies, or reports of their admirable successe iustifie their prescriptions. If the testimonies of good euents, or issues were sufficient, the hardie Empericke, the Magitian, and Im­postor would proue the most excellent Phisitians, who in all ages haue abounded, the one with wonderous, the other with supernaturall and miraculous successes. Concerning the one I haue knowne my selfe (and it is not difficult at this day to produce innumerable knowne witnesses of the best worth & estimation, both in Northampton shire, and in other Coun­tries) I haue knowne diuers practisers in this kinde, who with certaine secret words, crossed Napl [...]ns, & the like, haue oft and vsually found good successe in desperate diseases, when Art hath giuen place, or could not preuaile. Concer­ning the multitude of testimonies, touching good issues in im­postures, and deceitfull curations, in regard both of the ho­nour and eminence of personages, it would bee tedious and scandalous to write. Reginald Scot doth fulfill more then measure in this kinde in his discouery. How easie it is also to gaine fame and a high name among vulgars, let Tobacco vaunt and boast it selfe. In his first arriuall into this king­dome, there was scarce one mouth which did not open in his praise, & all diseases did quake at his feareful rumour, whiles it menaced their generall ruine and exile from men. The dis­eases which it was then said to haue cured, were infinite, and administred admirable matter of laughter in this kinde. Our late Welling borroughe well had in a short time gained for every drop thereof almost a flood of praises. No man depar­ted from thence vncured. Aurum potabile doth now play the same descant at an higher rate, but cannot straine vnto an higher note, then the harmonious applause and noise of that wells praise as long as the musicke lasted. I might abound in many more, and in more then too many examples in these kindes. These sodaine glorious puffes of praises howsoeuer [Page 40] in men full of wonder & easily blasted with admiration they obtaine a violent obsession of their vulgar opinions, wise men are more slowly surprised with such rash incursions of vaine credulitie and selfe conceit. These considerations well weighed how can you expect to [...]aue your vniuersall medi­cine esteemed worthy authorization or to bee pure and vn­counterfeit merely in respect of his fame, spreading renowne, and common voice, or in regard of the glorious ostentation of happy add succesfull issues alone amongst men, who know not, nor can acknowledge, or take notice of the reason, work­manship, and composition thereof, and thence assure them­selues of the due and right accommodation. No truly adui­sed Phisitian can thinke either the credit of testimonies in the succesfull events, or another mans experience and informati­on equall or equiualent vnto his owne knowledge, since eue­ry iudicious Physitian for his owne iustification in all his vp­right actions, ought in himselfe, and not in another, to knowe the temper and constitution of all things, which he shall law­fully apply or vse; and to examine seriously and duly, how it consenteth first generally with allowance of reason, and also is proportioned to his particular. Thus euery honest and vp­right Artist is bound, and will be ready to giue account of all his actions in euery circumstance, and in each particular. It is not the good issue or euent of a medicine, that doth or can alone commend a Phisitian, but his owne precise know­ledge of the anatomie thereof, guided and gouerned by rule and likely reason vnto the likely issue. He is an Idiot or foole that meerely iudgeth by euents. That Phisitian therefore doth not answere his dutie and required worth, who led like a blinde ignorant by the opinion of another man, and not knowing himselfe the nature and qualitie of a medicine, doth traditionally at a second hand, and vpon anothers commen­dation prescribe it. He that applaudeth himselfe herein, how­soeuer in his owne golden opinion, prowd of a gay new knowledge, he supposeth that he out-strippeth other meaner [Page 41] wits, and howsoeuer with glittering shadowes he may for a time amaze vniudging men, yet vnto him, who is substanti­ally and truly wise, and can discerne the miraculous illusions, which rash lightnesse is able to worke in common braines, he shall cleerely appeare through a faire superficiall shew with­out, a substantiall foole within. How can you then alone, a­boue, or beyound reason, challenge a prerogatiue of impo­sing your Aurum vpon other Phisitians, or how can you iustl [...] blame them if they be wary in trusting it, while vn­knowne vnto them? If you haue obtained such a secret, you that knowe it, may knowingly vse it, they that knowe it not, may be iustly doubtfull; since where is not knowledge must and ought be doubt If therefore you will ingeniously make your secret knowne, then they that knowe it with you, may iudiciously vse it, and iustifie it with you. If you will keepe it niggardly vnto your selfe, or dare not shew it, as therein only holding your priu [...]te or monoplized gaine for your owne base commoditie, then enioy it your selfe, and vnder­standing it your selfe, commend it your selfe, but arrogate there in not too much to your selfe, nor derogate in the pride of one instrument from the whole excellency of all good workmanship, as if all art were now lately coniured w [...]thin the circuit of Aurum potabile. Knowe God your selfe and othe [...]s as wel as your selfe, yea to be not only in many things equall, but better then your selfe; though in this one thing haply you had or could euidently proue your deseruing be­yond the ordinary measure of all desert. Looke not to build your owne true worth vpon others testimonies of your me­dicine. There are other more true testimonies and vndoub­ted euidences of true worth, then are to be seene in the excel­lencies of a dead instrument; the true liuelyhood and perfe­ction whereof, consisteth in the prudence, guidance, and go­vernment of the learned Phisitian. Your vniuersall and gene­rall medicine, can be but a materiall and sublunary body: but the discreet and artificiall accommodation thereof, is a spiri­tuall [Page 42] vertue, and power of the soule. In the better part there­of all other Phisitians participate with you, yea you cannot deny that many exceed you. How dare you then so much a­dore and worship a senselesse and earthly instrument, as in the ouerflowing praise thereof, to drowne the true praises, which God aboue and beyond it hath g uen to his owne gifts graces and heauenly endowments of true science, pru­dence, sagacity, and iudgement, which hee hath ordained to rule, guid, order, and dispose the right dispensation of all such outward meanes, and instruments of what excellency soeuer. Contract then your swelling pride in so small a merit. Let it not so ranckly ouerflowe the banks of modesty and reason. I see among your testimonies the names of some honorable, and worthy personages, and I may, and doe iustly suspect, that many of their priuate letters are published without their consent and priuitie. I there meet also the names of diuers mē of eminent learning and wisdome; and therefore it doth in­duce me to perswade my selfe that you haue beene ouerbold to subscribe them, when I compare with their worth & gra­vitie, your intolerable ridiculous arrogancie in an vnknowne fabrication, which when knowne (for ought is as is yet knowne) may hereafter proue a trifle, if not worse. I doe not say so, but if it be so, trust not too much vnto praises, which consist in others gift and prodigalitie, but in true vertue, standing by it selfe. I doubt it not, nor thinke it impossible, that some of your inserted letters are permitted by the Au­thors in dirision of your boundlesse insolency, if with their allowance printed.

Let me then conclude, if your vniuersall medicine had trauel­led through as many guts, as M ^r Coriats shooes haue tram­pled Countries, it could not returne laded with more See the Od­combian ban­quet. wor­thie praises, nor more praises of worthies. Your merits are equall, and therefore your praises may well be equalled. He and only he with one paire of shooes, or santals (a peerelesse paire and neuer pared) hath troden out the vnpaced spaces of this worlds vniuerse. You, and you alone, with one alone me­dicine, yea, with one alone, and one your owne, doe cure all the wide worlds maladies. As therefore the Poet doth deter­mine betweene the two Sheepheards, contending for the waged heiffer; so may we iustly say, or rather sing, concer­ning your freind Odcombe, and your selfe,

Is it possible so many Worthies (if not in iest) should with such amazed wonderment spend so many immoderate pray­ses in a matter out of the element of their owne skill, onely vpon good successes, or issues by your selfe conceaued, with­out true knowledge of the cause or reason, which onely dis­cerneth and putteth iust difference betweene an apparant good, and an appearing only? We can not thinke so vnwor­thily of men so worthy. We may rather with good manners impute it vnto your owne well knowne vaine glorious cor­rupting, or straining of their facility.

THus much in generall, concerning the defection of all your testimonies for the proofe of worthinesse in your Aurum potabile, to be authorized, allowed, and [Page 44] approued. Now I descend from the insufficiency of all vnto the falshood of some. I will beginne with that trinity of let­ters first marching in the Apologie the three first domesticall testimonies. The maine end and scope in them is the praise of Aurum potabile, vnto whose worship is sacrificed D ^r C. his vniust slaunder and reproach. The partiall arrogating vnto the one, and iniurious derogating from the other. I will now make euident for the honour and vendication of truth. I will not, according vnto the Apologist his example, [...]e ouer busie to entermeddle with men, and matters out of my own know­ledge, nor rashly and inconsiderat [...]ly to p ecipitate my selfe into particular quarrels, the subiect, the circumstance, the oc­casion, and persons vnknowne, as in the three first domestick testimonies he hath done. I doe therefore omit all other testi­monies, and will only vndertake those, whose authors and matter is knowne vnto my selfe, by the errours and mistaking therein detected, displaying the likelyhood, contingence, and possibility of the same defects, and insufficiency in many, if not in most, or all the rest.

NOw hauing declared the falsitie, and depraued end and vse of some of your testimonies, best knowne vnto my selfe, I will next according vnto promise, recite other some, which in true reason, in Art, in the generall counsels, decrees, and experience of all Physitians, are infalli­bly, and altogether void of credit, or possibility in themselues. [Page 79] This is evident by your proposing your curation of such dis­eases as are incurable. See page 86. where you report your cu­ration of a Marasme, as saith your Latin Copie. Your English Copie page 94. ignorantly translateth your word Marasmus an extreame debility. We must needs take the Latin for the text, and the originall. The impossibility of curation of Ma­rasme, is evident vnto him who knoweth what Marasmus is Galen in his booke de Marcore, doth teli you that it is cor­ruptio corporis viventis propter siccitatem, that is, the currup­tion, wasting, or destruction of a liuing body, thorough dry­nes, or privation of the radicall and life-giuing moisture. Ma­rasme is the highest degree of a consummate consumption. For this cause he saith in the same place, that it is incurable. Marasmus omnes corporis partes similiter absumit. Attenua­tos verò sanârunt, qui Marasmum se sanâsse putârunt, circa affectionum genera errantes: that is, a Marasme consumeth all parts of the bodie alike. They haue only cured leane and exte­nuate bodies, who ignorantly erring and mistaking the diffe­rent kinds of diseases, haue thought that they haue cured bo­dies consumed with the Marasmus. Thus your grosse ig­norance, in not putting true difference betweene the kinds of consumptions, doth necessarily convince the falshood of your reports and testimonies of their curation, since no man can affirme truth, concerning things by him not truely distingui­shed. Thus your affirmation of your curation of Marasmus, doth appeare vnto all learned men, vnlearned, and not true. Concerning your reports of the curation of other kindes of consumptions likewise, obserue the weaknes, page 86 of the Latin Copie, you avouch a man cured in few dayes, page 87 of the Latin Copie, you report another cured brevissime, that is, most speedily. The English Copie, 95 page, translateth it ti­morously, as doubting the Latin was too bold, and ill advi­sed. Who knoweth not, that knoweth least in Physick, that all consumptions are Chronick, and bringing diseases, and neces­sarily, and vnavoidably requiring length of time vnto their [Page 80] restauration, repairing or reducing vnto former health, can­not be in any reason or possibility, truly said brevissimè, that is, very speedily, or in few dayes cured. Obserue yet further, that Aurum potabile must needs be ignorantly and fal [...]ely reported, to be the proper remedie vnto consumptions, ex­cept it be a restauratiue, since in restauration consisteth the true cure of consumptions. How farre Aurum potabile is dis­crepant herefrom, let these words of the most subtill Scaliger determine, Exercit. 272. Is verò qui auro vescitur Aurum fiet. Cuius natura cùm longissimè diste [...] à natura nostra, neuti­quam nostrae licebit per illam restaurari: that is, he that feedeth vpon gold, must needs be a golden substance, or gold it selfe: the nature thereof since it is so farre remote from humane na­ture, it is impossible for our nature to be restored thereby. Obserue yet once more, that some doubt may be iustly made whether Aurum potabile alo [...]e, may not do hurt in consum­ptions, since it seemeth a thing inclining vnto drynesse and heat, by his Maste [...]s mixture thereof with cooling things in hot diseases. Things inclining, though moderatly, vnto dry­nes or heat, are adverse vnto consumed and wasted bodies. Ill would it fare with Antony, if his flesh vnto the bone consu­med, were only to be restored by Aurum potabile, which yeel­deth in quantity, so vnlikely a pittance vnto restauration (since in so few and small graines only administred) and in the qua­lity rather hard mettall, then tender fl sh, or ought thereinto [...] &c. Au­rum & argen­tum, aut metal­la, à calore no­stro concoqui aut dissolvi non pof­sunt. Aristot. [...]. Probl. 42. Aurum est in­coctile Scaliger Exercit. 272. convertible. Let him try and trust it, if he thinke good Let him dine, suppe, breakfast, frolick, feast therewith alone some few weekes. I doubt he sooner shall turne into Midas, then gold into him, to nourish him, and in the end with Midas may say, as the Poet of him doth sing.

Beware then (Doctor An) lest if you make tryall, that [Page 81] which of the same Poet is said of the same Mulas, be verified of both:

Thus much concerning the falsehood, in reason of your cu­ration of consumptions by Aurum potabile. As loosly like­wise elsewhere, you either ignorantly miscall, or mistake con­tinuall feavers, or els speake not truth of their curation. Read this foule lapse page 50 of the Latin Copie, which as the most Authentike I haue wholly followed. There the Latin Copie in the margi [...] note saith, continua febris, that is, a continuall feaver, which notwithstanding afterward in your relation of the manner thereof, proueth a manifest intermitting ague, en­ding with a plaine infebricitation, or [...]. The cold, say you, did not hold long, the burning 3 or 4 houres. The En­glish Copie page 56, translateth as ignorantly continua febrie, in the margine afore-said of the Latine Copie, a continuing Quotidian. To leaue your barbarous improprietie of tearmes and speech, let vs come vnto your assertions themselues, con­cerning your curations by Aurum potabile, of continuall fea­vers, and burning feavers specified page 58, 59, of the English Copie. Galen in his 9 booke de Meth. Medendi, doth demon­strate the Prime and maine necessity of Phlebotomie in all continuall or continent feavers, which the Greeks distinguish by these termes of [...] and [...]. Maximum & prae­cipuum remedium, saith he, est missio sanguinis, sine qua plerun (que) sequitur aut Suffocatio, aut Syncope lethalis. He indeed in the same place granteth, that Nature being strong, and the in­flammation within mediocrity, sometimes by some large spontaneous profusion of blood, at nose, or at some other part, sometimes by some large or copious breaking forth of sweat, or the like, Nature may haply free and deliuer her selfe in some continuall feavers. But where Nature is ouer­come by many degrees of the feaver, or of the aboundance of [Page 82] putrified humor s in the blood or veines, or of their excelling boyling inflammation, without Phlebotomie, Nature can ne­uer be relieued, and the feaver must needs be killing, deadly, and mortall. For this cause and reason, saith the same Author, lib. 3. de Crisib. cap. 9. Plurimi in accessionum principijs propter materiae multitudinem, aut inflammationis magnitudinem, inte­reunt. Many sicke men doe die euen in the beginning of the exacerbations of their sicknes, through the mighty oppression of the abundance of humors, or the excelling greatnes of their inflammation. Who then doth not see the inevitable necessity and ingruence of certain death in these exigent if the discreet administration of Phlebotomie be not suffic [...]t in time to prevent it? Can Aurum potabile here play the Chirurgion, or let blood? or can it so comfort Nature, that aboue Na­tures fundamentall and radicall power, she shall performe in the power thereof, that which is impossible? Is he wor­thy to be a licensed Physitian, who maintaineth, and closely soweth these serpentine errours and absurdities, so mor­tall and pernicious vnto the life of man? Did euer any learned Physitian, with such enormious ouer-plus of at­tributes, fixed vpon any one particular medicine, seeke and indeauour to robbe and spoile the sicke so totally, and wholly, of all mature care, respect, or consideration of the generall necessity and vse of the generall remedies, neuer safely nor prudently of any age, time, learned writers, or Phi­sitians omitted? Who beside your selfe hath euer in any age, or time perswaded simply, or without carefull addition to trust alone in burning or continuall feauers, vnto any one sin­gle helpe or medicine? Look and view Rulandus in his Cen­tuaries, who although in the Chymicke preparation of many excellent remedies (as Quercitanus reporteth and iudgeth of him) he far excelled your excellence, that is faine to praise it selfe in one medicine alone. Although I say in multiplicity of excellent Chymicke preparations, hee vniuersally and in many hath excelled your owne single vniuersalitie, yet shall [Page 83] you not finde in any one curation among so many hundreths at any time, any of those his Famespread particular medicines vsed without the precedence of the general remedies, Phlebo­tomie and Purgation. View any other Chymicke-Phisitians, Libauius, Gunitherius, Andernacus, Quercitanus, or whoso­euer else hath obtained any note or name among the learned, and you shall finde no man but your selfe in continuall fea­vers to attribute absolute, certainty, perfection, or safetie of cure in any one meane or medicine whatsoeuer, omitting the carefull and circumspect regard of the mature administration of Phlebotomie. You will answere that toward the conclu­sion of your Apologie, and in that your last farwel, or Chap­ter of the vse of Aurum potabile, you doe admit Phlebotomy in conuenient time, as also purging. This is your ordinary practise to abuse the simple and vulgar reader, to intice by confused proiects at large scattered, his trust and beleefe, and afterward in some obscure sort or manner, and in some lesse obserued place sparingly to insert a cunning limitation, or contradiction thereof, thinking thereby to salue the doubt & question of your falsehood and deceit, which you doe fore­see that the better aduised may in reason iustly make. To what other ende doe you without difference or distinction, professe simply, pronounce, & iterate in so many places your curations of continuall Feauers by Aurum potabile, mentio­ning it meerely, solely, and by it selfe, but that when the cre­dit of that professiō so oft inculcated, hath fully setled it selfe in the vulgar braine without addition or consideration of o­ther respect, You may then speakingly, and more vnobser­vedly thrust in that, which may serue you for caution against iust challenging: that thus not easily espied of those whome you purpose to make a monopolie, by their inchaunted and deceaued trust in your Aurum potabile, you may still conti­nue thē inthralled vnto fraud, vnder pretense of extraordina­ry loue and care of the general good & humane health which you seeme to professe.

Thus haue I breifly detected the fraud, ignorance, & im­possibility of some of your testimonies in true & sound rea­son, in the common reception of art and exercise of true lear­ning. I now come to shew vnto you, that there are other m [...] ­dicines and remedies, nothing inferiour, but equal in their ef­fects, vnto your testified praises, and praised testimonies of Aurum potabile.

AS in your exaltations of the effects and successes of Aurum potabile, you drawe forth solely, or for the most part, such testimonies as testifie within your owne experience of your owne triall, so will you haply ex­pect that I should hold the same euen proportion and equall such issues vnto Aurum potabile, as may match it with medi­cines in my owne practise and proofe. This I will therefore accordingly doe, that thereby you may the better conceaue that it is not so difficult, or so praise-worthie (as you deeme it) for any practiser in his owne priuate course, to take iust occasion to magnifie his medicines, and their manifold won­dred issues, if wise men did not consider that too much won­der doth argue ignorance, and ignorance more vsually then true science doth dote vpon such vaine glory. Your ordinary and common curations performed by Aurum potabile, I will omit as not worthy a second mention. Those onely wherein consisteth extraordinary note, I will match with the like. The cures most remarkable which you haue recorded are the deliuery of the difficultie and danger of Child-birth, the deli­very of dead children in the English Copie, page 72. 73. 74. [Page 85] the Dropsie page 78. of the English copie. Small poxe 87-88. of the same copie. Diuers kindes of Convulsions, Epilep­sies, Palsies, 85. 92. 93. of the same copie. Deplorate estates reputed dead and vnrecouerable, page 85. 81. 82. of the same copie. Vnto the first I equall first these two cures following. In the yeare 1604, there happened to bee my patient a wor­thy Lady then lying in Hartwell Parke in Northampton­shire She was left by a former beneficed Phisitian, as also by her Midwiues in a deplorate abortion, without hope in their combined resolutions, and with prediction of impossibilitie of deliuery with life. There augmented the former doubt and feare the presence of a continuall feauer, the double Iaundes, the yellow, and the blacke. By one only medicine, contrary vnto all expectation, and against much opposition, I imme­diatly recouered her decayed power and strength, The Lady Coke of Hart­well Parke. & within an houre or two after the assumption thereof, shee was with gladsome facilitie deliuered, her child liuing vntill the next day, with very good likelyhood of continuance in life, being notwithstanding borne twelue weekes before the time. The history is not obscure, nor the witnesses of the meanest worth and eminencie. The Iaundes of both kindes was shortly▪ with wonder vnto the beholders cured, at which time also shee a­voided from her guts a stone the bignesse of an hasle nutte, round, smooth, white, as hard as a flint, full of holes as if bo­red through.

Many yeares before the former successe, I had made proof of the same medicine, but especially in a vertuous Lad e dwelling two miles distant from Northampton westward. Shee had then beene distressed very neere the space of a sort­night, in doubt of strength and hopefull deliuery in child-bed. Within an houre, or thereabout, after the taking of the same medicine at my hand, earnestly by her desired against the op­position of other women present, she sensibly recouered her lost strength, and obtained speedily her wished deliuerance of her liuing burden: I knowe not whether the Agents for [Page 86] Aurum potabile may now haue preuailed to beget an obli­vion, and extenuation of this and diuers other my willing & fortunate endeauours in that familie.

Vnto the third Curation by Aurum potabile, and your boast therein, I doe oppose the wife of one Edward Owen, dwelling in the citty of Couentree; she was vexed the space of a weeke with the head of a dead childe, remaining in her wombe after the body was gone diuers dayes before. All o­ther meanes in vaine varied, this one medicine (when she was almost spent and ready to yeeld the Ghost) gaue vnto her comfort and strength, and within few howres after the recea­ving thereof a speedy deliuery of that dead part. She liued af­ter it two daies with some hope of recouery: but her former labour, paines, and toile, first with the first diuided part, and after with the second, and the treble vexation and weaknesse in the time of interim betweene the one and the other did de­priue her of that hope; the woman her selfe, notwithstanding, being very thankfull and ioyfull of her receaued ease, and comfort without expectation of life.

In Northampton this last passed yeare, the wise of one Maude, vexed by multitudes of other medicines, in vaine af­ter the receauing of this selfesame medicine beyond all hope or opinion, within few houres was disburdened of her dead and before mangled burden, and suruiueth the misery, and is now since that time againe with childe.

Your wonders acted by Aurum potabile in the small pox, I will paralell with as wonderfull issues by other medicines. It is now about tenne yeares past, since a poore man of Nor­thampton required my aduise concerning his child, being a­bout 4 or 5 yeares of age. She had beene partly by much for­mer Phisicke, and partly by the long continuance of her dis­ease about halfe a yeare extreamely weake and macerate. I prescribed only vnto her the assiduous vse of Carduus bene­dictus boiled in posset drinke. After this drinke vsed two or three daies, the child did cast forth an incredible number of [Page 87] wormes, and after the wormes issued the small pox plentiful­ly. Thus was the childe perfectly, and instantly recouered, & grew in strength, bignesse, and feeding. For the praise and worth of this meane medicine sensibly vnto the childe it selfe, it is worthy the recording, that the child after the recouery, did take such liking and loue vnto Carduus benedictus, that spontaneously and of the owne accord she could cry and call for it, and greedily eat it sometimes alone by it selfe in the ve­ry bitter substance.

I will followe this cure of the small poxe with another only, Anno 1601. A young Gentleman, my very worthie freind H. T. was dangerously surprised by the last mentio­ned disease, vpon which after they were fully broken out, did freshly againe start out and creepe another kinde of poxe of a lesse high colour. After the poxe were thus plentifully and doubly broken forth, and had spread and setled themselues in euery part, beyond all possibility of returne backe againe in­ward (the Gentleman notwithstanding still continuing sicke) I gaue vnto him an ordinary lenitiue. Before the receauing thereof, hee continued still very sicke and weake, vnable to moue, or to be moued out of his bed. After the first operati­on thereof, in the same instant, he was discharged of his sick­nesse, continuall heat, the noisome fume and smoak of his dis­ease, and wearisomnesse of his bed, and so perfectly and pre­sently reduced vnto his former healthfull temper, that imme­diatly without my knowledge, hee aduentured downe into the house and aire, with the fresh heat and glowing of the poxe in his face. Notwithstanding he did neuer after find any sicknesse, weaknesse, or inconuenience at all therein, the fresh remembrance, or markes only of the poxe in his face, outfa­cing the wonder. Here you may see what rare successes may oftentimes happen vnto meane trifles and toyes in their vul­gar esteeme, giuing occasion of wonder vnto men, whose de­fectiue knowledge is vnable to check and limit the too much wandring of wondring. Concerning the cures by Aurum po­tabile [Page 88] of Convulsions, Palsies, Epilepsie, or falling sicknesse, I knowe you cannot equall those wonderfull kindes, which in a former Treatise I haue published. In that See the dis­couery of er­roneous pra­ctisers in Phi­sicke likewise Chap 9. & 10. of the Triall of witchcraft, as by a second edition it is to bee enlarged, partly for more perspi­cuitie, partly for some points formerly omitted, or vnsatisfied. discouery you may discouer page 37. 38. pag. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. many won­ders of nature in the former kinds, & by ouer wondring vul­gars esteemed aboue nature, yet by natural meanes somtimes cured, sometimes qualified and mittigated, in all which I was my selfe alone imploied with no lesse happy successe then can happen to Aurum potabile.

Concerning Dropsies by Aurum potabile related in the A­pologie to haue beene vanquished, I will bound my selfe (as in all the former) vnto the equalling them within two instan­ces. A Gentlewoman of my name and family, hapned to bee suddenly and extreamly swollen in her belly, and extenuate in all other parts of her body except her legges. After three quarters of a yeare cōtinuance in this estate, with some hope of child-birth, in the end finding her selfe deceaued, and like­wise her midwiues, & some also learned (able in as great diffi­culties to iudge and discerne) she resolued her selfe to be Hy­dropicall. She did heare the counsell, & had the conference of diuers worthy and learned Doctors, and Phisitians, yet re­solued to be a patient to my selfe alone, & yet so my patient, as to haue no further patience then with one onely medicine, and but once indured, or at most twise. After the receauing hereof without any molestation vnto her, the first day with­in few houres all her humours and hydropicall swellings im­mediatly did fall, and she hath euer since that day and time beene perfectly recouered, and so hath remained now 4 or 5 yeares. If Aurum potabile had effected this, it had beene chro­nicled as a wonder, but let Aurum potabile learne not to bee 100 swift vnto wonder. Every ordinary Phisitian that hath the opportunity by any competence of practise to view the workes of nature, cannot choose but oft meet with many rare and wonderfull contingents. It behoueth a Phisitian to make rather his vse then his boast thereof. I affect not with [Page 89] the Apologist the indiscreet publication of euery particular man and name. This report hath the testimony of learned Phisitians, as concerning the disease, and of many neighbours in Northampton touching the forementioned effect.

There was Patient vnto mee this last yeare, a very aged Gentleman, one M ^r Wiseman, in his owne account more, in the common esteeme of other men nothing lesse, then foure­skore yeares. I found him extreamely swelled in legs, thighs, back, belly, [...]tomack, as largely as the skin was able to stretch and distend it selfe. His senses were so benummed, that hee oftentimes did not (though being awake) take notice of vsu­all or ordinary obiects. His sleepes were vnquiet with groanes and starting, his respiration very short, thicke, and full of difficultie, his reason and memory very oft by fittes, and times forraking him. Hee very earnestly desired my presence, and counsell. After my first view of him I de­parted, leauing him in my opinion (which was grounded vp­on the occasion, which his estate before described did yeeld) out of any likelyhood of helpe. I returned againe the second time notwithstanding, being againe solicited, and then I ad­ministred vnto him a tentatiue purge, hidden from his taste or sight in a little caudle. The effect thereof was admirable. All his swellings wholly descended from his vpper parts in­to his legges and thighes, the extreame sicknes of his stomack, shortnes of winde, and difficultie of breathing and suffocati­on, departed; his outward and inward senses returned perfect, and after the first operation of his purge by the vsual passage, he did also cast vp by vomit at least one pint of meere blood, without the mixture of the least moytie of any other matter or humor, being an accident, which in al his life ne [...]er former­ly had happened. So perfect an alleviation, did so presently follow the same also, that he found himselfe in strength and ability the same that he was in his former health, & forsaking his Chamber, walked into his house after his wonted manner, the space of a fortnight or three weekes, or thereabouts, [Page 90] complaining solely of his swelling in his legs. The mentioned time passed, he relapsed into the former dangerous estate: first described, and had the same deliuery with the same accidents, by the same medicine The third time he relapsed, and then discouraged with the short stay of the two former alleviati­ons, he demanded not helpe, and thus extreamely swelling in all parts, was soone suffocated. With his death, the rare and extraordinary operation of the medicine doth not die, nor is thereby obscured, or iustly to be extenuated. I [...] this rare e­vent or issue had fallen vnto the Apologist, he would haue de­dicated the memory thereof vnto the worship of Aurum po­tabile, and his owne praise. I knowe this medicine excellent for the expulsion of hydropicall waters, or swellings: but vn­to any necessary sequele therefrom, of that evomition of blood, with such swift and admirable alleviation and recove­ry thereby, from all the former euill accidents at once, instant and movent, I vaine-gloriously ascribe nothing, being a thing that happened by accident, and without fore-knowledge or hope of such event in the first intent thereof. I come now to offer vnto view the last paire of euidences, for the matching of other medicines, to be comparable with Aurum potabile, and that is, in derelict and deplorate estates, as the Apologist hath termed it, Anno 1609. a noble and worthy Lady hap­pened to be my Patient, The Lady Clifton, wife vnto the Lord Clifton. noble in true worth and vertue, wife vnto a Barron. Her disease was vnknowne, as vnto my selfe, so vnto many other her Physitians▪ but her danger was mani­fest vnto vs al. She was continually afflicted with a vehement palpitation of the heart, fainting, perpetuall want of rest and sleepe, and implacable paine and excruciation and anxietie in her stomack, as accidents and concomitants. When now in mine opinion, and in the decree of all the other learned and re­verent Physitians (some being then present with her from Oxford, some from London) as also when in all likely reason, it was impossible with that fury & vehemencie of her paines, she should surviue beyond one day at the most, not by any [Page 91] merit in my selfe, in my skill or better iudgment, but by Gods only goodnes, I did casually happen to administer vnto her, in way of variation and proofe, only a medicine procuring sleep, which beyond my expectance in reason, happened to be so fortunate in the oft iterated vse, as exceedeth credit. Vpon the first assumption thereof, she did fall into a more then ordi­nary sound sleep, from that euening, vntill the next morning. In the morning she awaked free from all paine and ill acci­dents, so continuing the space of a weeke together, being all that interim able to ride & walke abroad to visit her friends, somtimes in a calme euening to take the aire in her Coach, without any noted sense or complaint of the former accidents or paine. After a few dayes of this Halcyonian tranquillity and ease, the violence and fury of her paines vsually againe re­turned, vntill the same medicine required and receiued, pro­duced the selfe-same effect, which in this manner at the same times it failed not to do constantly almost a quarter of a yeere by continued courses or vicissitudes. In this manner was shee admirably preserued aliue so long space. After that time pas­sed, it then failed, and lost his former vertue and wont, and then within few dayes, the intollerable crueltie and fiercenes of paine, made an end of her dayes. There are divers Ladies and Gentlewomen in Northampton-shire witnesses hereof. This example of the manifest, excellent power and efficacy of a medicine, in such an estate, by so many iterations appro­ved, is not easily paralleled. I do not notwithstanding with the Apologist, exalt it aboue measure, nor arrogate vnto my selfe thereby beyond others, nor depraue other men or medi­cines in the pride thereof, nor impute vnto it aboue reason, re­membring the sage counsell of Hippocrates, lib. 2. Aphoris. 27. not to trust, or relie, or giue too much credit or honour vnto medicines or diseases, that for a time, or without reason do giue refreshing.

The yeare 1615. by a very worthy noble Knight in Bed­fordshire, I was required to visit his sicke daughter, Sir Richard Chetwood. who ha­uing [Page 92] bene divers dayes vexed with a feauer, in the end was suddainly deprived of all her inward and outward senses, and in that shape of death, continued 42 houres, both speechlesse and senselesse. Her recovery, before my comming, by her Pa­rents and friends as a thing impossible, was not so much as i­magined, but her graue intended. That remedie which hath bene formerly mentioned, to relieue in danger and difficultie of childbirth, and in expulsion of the dead infant, first revived her, and after restored her by the grace of God vnto her per­fect health, other meanes only concurring, to remoue the re­crudescence of her feaver.

Thus in that number which cannot be lesse, nor for this pur­pose, needeth to be more, that is, in a duality of instances in e­uery particular (which is sufficient for demonstration, though haply not for ostentation) I haue manifested that other medi­cines are equall vnto Aurum potabile his best perfections and performances, as also that although in pride and presumpti­ons predication, it may seeme superiour, yet in true proofe & practice, other remedies in the bl [...]ssing of God, and their own specificall vertues, are nothing inferiour. This advantage only Aurum potabile may haply haue, that when the cause of dis­eases hath bene first by other remedies remoued, or at least qualified, it remaining alwayes, or for the most part behind, as the Vltimum refugium, the last hope or refuge (as I obserue by the current of the whole Apologie) where Nature beyond all hope of sense, is now left, derelict, and without hope (as it oft falleth out) and yet insensibly doth recollect her selfe by little and little, as is oft seene, and is vsuall, when at such times she is also easily raised and helped by any meane Cordiall or corroboratiue) there Aurum potabile may alone (being left alone) participate with nature in the praise of her own work. And thus gold, the common obiect of a theefe, is herein a theefe it selfe, and robbeth Nature of hir own right. As for Natures reliefe therein, or thereby, in the same manner other meane medicines in like sort vsed, haue likewise oft times as [Page 93] well performed. In both, the true praise in the happy successe is only due to God, and not to either instrument.

Thus farre the necessary vse and requisite convenience of confronting your arrogant and insolent boast in your owne workes and worth through Aurum potabile, hath transported me necessarily to forget that modest silence, which in euery mans owne fortunate successes, doth more truly proue him worthy praise, then all his praises can proue him truly wor­thy. Excellent is that saying of Scaliger in his poetry, lib. 3. concerning a good Physitian. Medicum effinges (saith he) do­ctum, probum, lenem, diligentem, maturum, fortunatum, Deo fretum, non suâ vel operâ, vel successu tumidum: that is, Thou shalt describe a good Physitian to be a man learned, of pro­b [...]ty in life and conversation, of faire and myld demeanure, di­ligent in the execution of his power and office, of ripe iudg­ment and vnderstanding, fortunate in his actions, relying and trusting in God aboue all, not proud, nor puffed vp with his own knowledge, his works or happy successes. Least therfore in farther opposing or answering your boasting folly, I may haply be reputed like vnto your selfe, I haue, and do omit farther by instance, to shew how easie it were to exceed you therein, I will only conclude concerning your boasting of your excellent knowledge of so rare a medicin (if it so proue) with that wittie reproofe of Persius:

I Will now briefly conclude according vnto promise with such counter-testimonies against your Aurum, as for the most part my own knowledge and experience can avouch and testifie. It is now 8 or 9 yeares since a worthy Gentle­m [...]n M ^r Iohn Hales Esquire, my honored friend in true piety, generosity, integrity of life, in loue of Vertue and Learning, leauing behind him a happy memory with all that did know him. It is, I say, now 8 or 9 yeares since he was prisoner or captiue vnto an immedicable dropsie. He was by some frends perswaded vnto Aurum potabile, as vnto the sole sacred an­chor of remaining hope. After he had committed himselfe thereto, in the very first assumption thereof, he instantly chan­ged his former lookes, his spirit quailed, and death immediat­ly succeeded. It may be haply replyed, that this was a de­plorate disease, and therefore death was no more then was expected, as the Apologist doth in some places giue vs to consider thereof. But we could giue him also to consider a little further, viz. that in deplorate diseases, it is against Art to defame any noble remedy, as De Meth. Med. lib. 10. c. 9. Hip. lib. 2. aph. 36. 37. Galen admonisheth, by gi­uing it, and administring it in vaine, and without hope, vse, or profit. Secondly, no Physitian ought to assume vnto himselfe a priviledge, to shorten one houre or moment of the shortest date of any mans life, howsoeuer Aurum potabile doth plead custome therein.

It hapned thir last yeare, that my very worthy friend, and louing neighbour D ^r Hickman, Chancelour of the Diocesse of Peterborough, hauing by my indeavour the yeare before, cast off a dangerous dropsie, now this last yeare was sudden­ly surprized with a Consumption, which in him could neuer admit hope of curation, in regard of many fatall and vnre­moueable contradictions thereof. He was perswaded not­withstanding by some M. Markes. factors for Aurum potabile vnto the [Page 95] vse thereof by their directions. He expended therein 3 or 4 pounds. After he had a while applyed himselfe thereto, be­sides the sense of greater paines then before: there succeeded, (which before were vnseene) swellings in the bellie, legges, backe, secret parts, a generall decay in the former vigor of his spirits, and death it selfe, not so speedily before expected. If good hap could here haue wrought impossibility of life vnto possible, or could haue cast death out of possession, then had the attempt thereof bene vsefull and commendable, but not to distinguish where and when, vselesly, and vsefully within or without the latitude of hope, or the posse of contingence, to administer the most excellent remedies whatsoeuer, is certain and infallible testimony and evidence of want of true iudg­ment, Art and prudence.

It was reported, in my hearing, to the reuerend Doctor mentioned in the second domesticall testimony, by one M ^r Bernard Esquire, my louing neighbour & freind, that an ho­norable Gentlewomā in the family of the Markhams (where this gentleman was then present) being surprised by a deplo­rate disease, but without paine, or at least with tolerable sense of paine, after the receauing of Aurum potabile, inter­changed thereby for her former easie passage vnto death, a miserable durance of intolerable torture, not onely grieuous vnto all beholders and freinds, but vnto the Master of Au­rum potabile himselfe, who professed his owne sorrow and re­pentance for the dispensation thereof. The truth of this histo­ry, the mentioned worthie Doctor, according vnto the Gen­tleman his former relation by his letter vnto mee doth thus confirme. Whereas, saith he, you make report from M ^r Ber­nard what vnhappily happened to the young Lady Mark­ham, I will here relate vnto you what S ^r Iames Harrington said concerning that matter, vnto my selfe in presence of ma­ny others, viz. that the said young Lady being (as I remem­ber) his owne daughter, and languishing so long vnder sick­nesse, that no hope of recouery was left, D. Antony sent vnto [Page 96] her some part of his Aurum potabile, which preuailing no­thing at all for her amendment or ease, hee came himselfe to her in person, and did giue her some (belike) of the purest and strongest of that medicine, or a greater quantity. Within short time it wrought such an alteration in her, that the Knight, as he himselfe said, wished he had giuen 500 ^l rather then shee should haue indured the torment and continuall vexation, which from that time afflicted her vnto her death. It seemeth that her disease was a consumption, whereof (said her father) as she long languished pati [...]ntly, shee might haue died quietly to her selfe, and comfortably to her freinds. It was not hoped that she could haue liued 2 weekes, but shee departed within two daies, and that short time was also te­dious and greiuous vnto the beholders.

It is now 3 or 4 yeares since an old Gentleman of great estate and wealth, dwelling at Billing in Northamptonshire, M. Freeman. being greeued with obstructions of his backe and kidneyes, and the stoppage of his vrine by grauill, desired my counsell and aduise. He had before vsed Aurum potabile, by the aduise and direction of a M. Markes. grand dispenser thereof, whom I found present with him. Hee did not onely finde no ease or benefit thereby, but (as he said himselfe oft in the frequent hearing of diuers witnesses) such distemper, heat, and offense, that conti­nually afterwards the space of two or three yeares together, vpon any light occasion, he would fall into such detestations, execrations, and impatience with the very mention thereof, that it was a very difficult matter sodenly to pacifie his cho­ler. The cause he found in himselfe and would relate vnto his frends. This I can witnesse with others, that by Aurum pota­bile he receaued no ease or benefit, which notwithstanding o­ther succeeding medicines did immediatly at that time vnto his compleat satisfaction yeeld.

It were an endlesse labour to produce innnumerable in­stances. In all places almost where I happen to come within the short circuit of my practise, I finde Aurum potabile with­out blushing in the absence of the dispenser, vsually outfa­cing the present Phisitian, contrary to all reason, art, good manners, or due respect of the ilfare, or welfare of the patient. Sometimes it preuenteth good counsell, sometimes circum­venteth, sometimes interrupteth, sometimes corrupteth, sometimes peruerteth, or inuerteth. This cannot seem strange vnto any man, who can consider how full of danger and in­conuenience in reason it necessarily must be to trust an vnrea­sonable [Page 98] creature, or senselesse instrument (of what excellency soeuer) by it selfe alone, without accommodation or d [...]ecti­on thereof, by knowledge, iudgement, and due disc [...]at on, vnto a proportioned aptnesse and fit proportion, with requi­site circumstances. This abuse notwithstanding, and custome is generally vsuall in all places through this kingdome, into which so vniuersally the maker and architect of this vniuer­sall medicine doth send, sell or make sale of it. The vnauoi­dable consequent of mischiefe and inconuenience in this li­cense and liberty, although euery man is not able to obserue, yet no man can be thereof ignorant, who hauing common vnderstanding, will lend and accommodate it vnto due con­sideration of reason. Thus farre haue I equalled the praises of diuers other medicines vnto Aurum potabile. I haue en­countred also those br [...]uing testimonies of the Apologist, with a counterbuffe of other testimonies. I will now descend from the top and pride of his testimonies, vnto his sodaine precipitation & rash descent in his conclusion vnto his vaine re [...]pitulation of all his former errours.

AFter the Apologist his testimonies at large gloriously displayed, he mustereth vp againe, and offereth a re­view of al his passed positiōs in the Apology, adding with a faire florish a proclamation of his defence of truth, of charity, of loue & care of humane kind, & the health of man. I will therefore now dismantle the face of his iugling & cir­cumuention, by the manifestation, first of his owne contradi­ctions of himselfe therein: secondly, of his apparant false­hood, in his counterfeit profession of truth. Concerning his contradictions, read page 111, of the english. Thus you say, Let Electuaries, Syrrupes, Pills, Powders, remaine, & retaine their account and worth by long time and experience appro­ved. Reconcile this with the page 106, where in skorne you [Page 99] call these kindes of remedies popular Recipies and Benedicta medicamenta that doe no good, and page 104, seplasiasticke preparations. Reconcile also those words page 103, of the Latine copie left out in the English, with the page 120 of the English. In the first named place you say Aurum potabile resisteth all diseases by what name soeuer called, and remo­ueth the antecedent causes by conuenient naturall passages. In the second place you say that in a repleat body euacuati­on is necessary by purging to be had, as also that blood-let­ting in conuenient time is not to be neglected. See your con­fusion and contradiction herein. If you speake truth in the first place that Aurum potabile remoueth the antecedent cau­ses of diseases, that which you say in the second place is false, friuolous, & needlesse; namely that there is necessity of pur­gation or phlebotomie for that purpose page 101 of the La­tine copie, againe read: In our countrey (say you) Aurum potabile mixt with wine is sufficient without any other mix­ture or addition in all diseases. A few lines after this you say in the same place of the Latin copie; Notwithstanding where the aire is intemperate, or the discretion of the Phisitian, or the necessity of the person shall perswade it may be tempered with fit and proper waters. See your folly & contradiction. If there be a fitnesse and property in the waters (as you here confesse) then is not the mixture of Aurum potabile with thē arbitrarie (as before you said) but necessary. If it be necessary then is not Aurum potabile sufficient by it selfe, or in wine a­lone. Thus much concerning your contradictions. Now let vs view your manifest falshoods. Read page 97 before mē ­tioned, namely Aurum potabile neuer did hurt. This false­hood hath appeared by the counter-testimonies: Read again page 103, there you doe auouch that Aurum potabile remo­veth the antecedent causes of diseases by conuenient naturall passages. If Aurum potabile be able to remoue the antecedent causes (vnto which end phlebotomy and purging doe chiefly and mainely serue) then may they be omitted, nor are they so [Page] absolutely necessary. This is the selfe same falshood and con­tradiction, which formerly hath beene by you auouched, and by me in some part confuted. Notwithstanding, for the bet­ter euidence of so necessary consideration for the life & health of man kinde, against this harmefull errour and illusion, I wil cleere and make euident the incomparable necessity and pre­rogatiue of the generall remedies in the manifest disburde­ning of antecedent causes, aboue all other meanes or reme­dies whatsoeuer. If haply you doe not knowe what the an­tecedent cause is in diseases; Read Galen de sanitate tuenda l. 6. cap. 7. Quic quid corpus afflig [...]it ex ijs qua in ipso sunt, duplici id occasione oritur, aut redundantia, aut succi vitio: that is, whatsoeuer afflicteth the body, or causeth it to bee diseased, of such things which are within it selfe, is two waies thereto occasioned; namely by the abundance, or by the vitiousnesse of humours. Vnto the same distinction in the antecedent cau­ses, the general voice of all Phisitians doth subscribe by those tearmes of Plethora and Cacochymia. Plethora, Galen in di­vers places doth againe distinguish to be ad vasa, and ad vi­res, and in his booke de plenitudine, cap. 15. hee declareth that there is Plethora ad vasa, maior and minor, that is, a greater, and a lesse. Maior quae tunicas venarum etiam distendit, minor quae cauitatem in venis tantum replet. That is, the greater is that which with the abundance stretcheth out the veines: The lesser without distention doth only fill the veines. Concer­ning Plethora ad vires, commenting vpon the seauenteenth Aph of Hyppocrates lib. 2. he saith, Non potest diu permanere, sed processu temporis corrumpitur. That is, a Plethora, or full­nesse, simply, in regard of the imparitie and inequality of the sickmans strength to indure & beare it, cannot continue long, but it turneth into corruption, or in time is corrupted. From the former grounds and principles by the assistance of vulgar reason, may any man collect the necessitie of Phlebotomy in a Plethora, which is one antecedent cause of all materiall, or [Page 101] humorall diseases. If you desire illustration of the former ne­cessity, and explication of the reason of the necessitie, read the same author in his 3 book de Meth. Med. cap. 15. in his com­ment vpon the 7 Aph. of Hipocrates the 2 book: in his book de venae sectione contra Erisistratum. As there the necessity and reason of necessity of Phlebotomie, in Plethora▪ (which is a maine and chiefe occasion of diseases, or the antece­dent mouer, fautor, fuell, matter or cause thereof) so in o­ther places likewise, doth he giue demonstration of the neces­sity of purgation in the Cacochymia and vitious aboundance of humours that are without the veines. Read for this pur­pose his tractate intituled Quos purgare, &c. whom, when, & by what meanes it is fit and conuenient to purge; his Com­ment also vpon the second Aph: of Hip: first booke, his book de purgantium medicamentorum facultate, de Meth. Med. 1. lib. de Morborum causis. In all these places and many more the necessity of purgation in a Cacochymia doth euidently appeare, as likewise did before the necessity of Phlebotomi [...] in Plethora, the reason of both is plaine. An immediate cause in act remaining, the immediate effect must necessarily at­tend Effectus im­mediatus est sig­num [...] suae causae. Scal. de Subtil. it. The immediate cause in diseases, is that which the Phisitians call causa coniuncta. This cause cannot be without some matter or humour whereof it breedeth, which humour therfore is called causa antecedens, in regard of the necessity of a precedence thereof, before that immediate cause can possi­bly be produced. The matter or humour in the body which necessarily goeth before the disease, is there congregated in more or lesse quantity, and either within the veines or with­out. From within the veines to the outward sense Phleboto­mie doth immediatly manifest it selfe to euacuate. From the other passages, purgation is by the eye witnessed directly to draw. For this cause Purgation and Phlebotomie are called generall remedies, because in all diseases generally they doe manifestly euocate the humours or superfluities, whereof all diseases doe euer breed. Now examine your Aurum potabile. [Page 102] Is it possibly sufficiently to remoue the antecedent causes of diseases, as you report thereof, without distinction? If it bee hereto sufficient, then it must so be either in it selfe simply, or by accident. Simply nothing can bee sufficient or effectuall thereto, except those things which haue a purgatiue nature or quality. If it include such a property or quality in the na­ture thereof, then it is not simply and truely a Cordiall: & if not simply and truely a Cordiall, then is it inferiour, and n [...]t to be compared with many other things, which are truely, meerely, solely Cordialls, corroboratiues, and comforters of nature, without any mixture with another nature different and aduerse thereto as all purges are. If you say that your Aurum potabile doth by accident remoue the antecedent cause of diseases, then is it no way equall, or to be compared with Phlebotomie or Purgation, which alwaies doe certain­ly, immediatly, manifestly, speedily, and promptly euacuate superfluities, which euer are, and euer were the antecedent causes of diseases, as is aboue said. That which is, or happe­neth only by accident is casuall and vncertaine, nor can there be therein any certainty, trust, assurance, or necessary expe­ctation. And thus your leuitie, your fallacy, your insidiation, and insinuation into credulous mindes, by confused and am­biguous pronunciatiues doth detect it selfe. How vainely, & falsely therefore you make Aurum potabile his insufficiency sufficient in the remoueall of antecedent causes, is most cleare and euident. The danger hereof also is as evident, while men in their necessitie [...] trusting vnto the vncertaintie, and casuall sufficiencie hereof, may for euer in the interim o­mit and lo [...]se the opportunity, and date of life and re­couery, by the certaine manifest and assured remoueall of antecedent causes in the generall remed [...]es neuer failing, al­though in their vndiscreet, ignorant, and vnartificiall admini­stration, errors and mischiefes may oft happen, as is vsuall in all other affaires likewise, aswell as in this. Another manifest falshood is page 106. where you say, that you doe impose or [Page 103] prescribe nothing against reason, whereas in all your former proposed proofes in your Apologie, you haue not produced any one solide or substantiall rea [...]on among them all. Equall vnto this is that page 94. of the Latin copie alone, where you proclaime Aurum potabile availeable in deplorate diseases; & where all humane helpe is denied. This must necessarily be an Hyperbole, or a lie. It is not materiall which it be. I will not heere tell you, that D. Anthony doth contradict you herein, page 97. Latine Copie, where he saith (if you do remember or marke the place) that Aurum potabile in derelict or mor­tall diseases can do no good. The last falshood, or rather that which I haue reserued vnto the last, is the great mother of all the rest, namely your counterfeit profession of trueth, of cha­rity, simplicity, simple truth, which you predicate, page 109. and 94. Latin copie, likewise your profession of contempt of fame or glory, page 61. English copie; Is it contempt of glo­ry to proclaime, that God would haue you alone honoured with this great secret, which you do expressely in your Latin Preface? Is it contempt of glory to publish, that the hand of God doth miraculously aboue all other created medicines, worke by your Aurum potabile, as you doe page 91. of the Latin copie? Is it contempt of glory to ranke your medicine next vnto God, as aboue all other, the most present succour from God, which in expresse words you do page 55. Latine copie? The excellencie of the workmanship, necessarily infer­reth the praise of the workeman, being maker and master thereof. Your open praising of the one, doth secretly praise the other. There is no doubt howsoeuer your mouth dissem­bleth it, that your vaine heart doth foolishly glorie with the sot Damaetas in the worthy Sidney,

Thus saith he, thus thinke you. Veritas (saith Iulius Scali­ger exercit. 307. sect. 9.) est adaequatio notionum quae sunt in iu­tellectu cum rebus; that is, Truth is, adequatiō of the right no­tions [Page 104] of the vnderstanding, vnto the things themselues as they are in themselues. Truth doth neither come short, nor exceed the matter it selfe. It is not then truth to speake con­traries, to call things temperate, positiue contraries, and ther­fore contraries, because temperate. Can truth speake con­tradictory things? Can truth maintaine such an vniversality in an individuall substance, as is not subiect vnto the common and ordinary variation and mutation of all other things, by circumstance and time? Do you call it truth, to confound ignorantly things different? Do you call it charity, to per­vert the ancient euer receaued truth of all ages and times, by all men allowed and approued as authenticall oracles, and the vnchanged decrees of God and Nature? Obtrude not in this manner the Name of God, of truth, of charity. While you publish such absurd incongruities, erronious passages, depra­ued principles, crackt and vnsound reasons, and crasie testi­monies, as wildly ouer-runne the face of your whole worke, we will and can esteeme you no better then a deceiuer, a Se­ducer of men. Thinke not that Aurum potabile can be any protection for you in your insidiation and insnaring of vul­gar opinion, with the vain-glorious baites and pretexts of a new learning or revelation, neuer gained before, and now forsooth, infused into you alone. It is not vnknowne, that these like allectations and intisements, are vsuall introducti­ons vnto common illusion. There was neuer as yet seene fa­mous Heretike, Impostor, or Magitian, who was not able with the pollicitations of some more then ordinary remark­able graces, qualities, or beauties, to vaile and hide his foule acts and intentions, by the excellence of some good parts, holding earnestly and intently mens mindes and fancies, while their eyes therewith dazled, might not espie their couert fraudes. If your heart be vpright, let your tongue speake the plaine truth. Truth doth not need her defence by vntruth, by false grounds, sophisticall reason, trifling argumentations, such as you hetherto haue solely offered vnto our view. If [Page 105] you could proue your Aurum potabile to be the true Aurum, not adulterate, spurious, nor sophisticate, but indeed the very true genuine selfe-same preparation, which your grand Lulli­us, and other Philosophers haue hunted after (as is impossi­ble) yet ought you not to make an Idoll thereof, nor lift it vp aboue the nature and confines of an earthly medicine, & sens­lesse creature. You affirme it heauenly and no humane thing, page 53 of the Latin copie, and page 91. you bid the envious behold the miracles of God therein, saying, that the divine hand of God doth worke miraculously therein. Thus you say in the Latin copie, but in the English are ashamed thereof, as doubting lest the vulgars should hisse and point at this your dangerous, subtile, cunning, and secret insinuation. Modestie rather becommeth truth, then these hyperbolicall ostentati­ons. You cannot excuse it with your distinction of emphati­call termes only, since you do not only here, but in all other places, apparently iustifie, as properries reall in the nature of Aurum potabile, these like wonders. And thus far is sufficient to haue pointed out vnto you your contradictions of your selfe, and manifest falsehoods in themselues, which although you may now labour for shame of men to hide,

WEe haue now, according vnto promise, declared the invaliditie of the Apologist his testimonies in generall, by good successes, meerely aduancing the praises and worth of Aurum potabile. We haue proued some testimonies manifestly false, some in reason impossible. We haue discouered the hyperbolicall assertions, false positi­ons and praises of Aurum potabile aboue sense and reason. [Page 106] We haue opposed some counter-testimonies, to qualifie the pride and swelling of the ouer-flow of his testimonies. Wor­thy Reader, mistake me not, I do not deny vnto the honora­ble personages, nor vnto any other learned and reuerent men, their dues and rites of honour, esteeme and credit, who haue daigned their testimonies in the behalfe of Aurum potabile. My desire, scope, and performance hath solely bene to mode­rate the immoderate and vnlimited arrogation of Aurum po­tabile vnto it selfe, the iniurious extenuation of the true worth of all other remedies, which God hath not giuen idlely, nor in vaine, indowed with so many seuerall specificall vertues and powers. I haue therefore indeavored to draw aside the cur­taine and couer of illusion, hiding the true face and view of the false, deceitfull, and erronious reasons of the Apologie, the equivocations therein, and contradictions of it selfe. This hath bene no more then requisite and iust in me, being by vn­iust wrong, provoked to maintaine truth against error. I haue not denyed (although iustly I may) that Aurum potabile may be proued an excellent medicine. I doe with patience expect vntill D ^r An. do proue himselfe the right author of the right preparation. I will notwithstanding in the interim admonish him, that he may be absolute in the dissolution of Aurum potabile, and yet dissolute in the most absolute respects of a scientificall Physitian, yea of no worth in any other worth. Thus saith Martial of Charinus vnto his friend Severus,

Apply this, D ^r An. we are content to reserue you for that golden purpose (if you can proue your Aurum potabile so ir­refragable and incomparable (as you haue promised) we are cōtent, I say, you shall make our generall provisiō, yet know that you may be excellent herein, and good for nothing els. Know also that no man that hath true reason, will trust his life vpon the praise, yea, or vpon the proofe of any one medi­cine simply alone, since God, Nature, difference inavoydable of circumstances & common necessities do continually teach vs to varie in most parriculars, of what kinde soeuer, or su­preme excellence.

Lastly let me tell you, that frō the naturall predominance of a mechanicall humour, you publish your encomiastick tra­ctates & bookes, burdened only with the praises of your own workmanship. Yea you are so farre transported with the pride thereof, that you advance opprobrious tearmes, and op­pose the calumnious imputation of malice and envy, against those who present you with the iust reproof of your At illud ante oculos habendū esse censeo te, me (que) alios (que) om­nes nos homines esse meminisse. Qui si quid ho­mo sit scias, fa­citè te nihil esse inte [...]liges. Scal. Exerc. 148. bound­lesse boasting. The writings of your aduersaries in presump­tuous, vnciuill, base, and rustick phrase, you terme mere froth, the deceitfull insides of rotten egges, p. 107. of the Eng. copy: waste paper to stop mustard pots, or other base offices. Are you not ashamed of this rurall rude scurrility? In vulgar clownish termes also, you call your adversaries (vnto whom notwithstanding you do not, nor can deny the dignity and rites of learned men) A b c darie comicall Raylers: & p. 106 of the Eng. copy, calumniating bablers, & p. 95. liuid Vipers: & p. 107, learned Scolds. Hath your charity (predicated page 94. of the Lat. copy) no milder temper? Is your simple truth (professed p. 109. of the lat. copy) so cholerick, so vndiscreet­ly prouoked? [...], Know and consider your selfe. Thinke not to protect your selfe therein, by taking the Iudge [Page 108] and searcher of hearts in vaine into your mouth. Your hear [...] we see by the rude and vnlearned messenger thereof, your barbarous voyce, thorow your whole worke. We haue mani­fested all your principles therein, or false, or confused, & your practise built vpon so erronious foundation, must necessarily be dangerous. We haue displayed in the right and true colors, your bundle of absurdities in the Apologie, your assertions in Nature impossible and prodigious, your metaphysicall e­lation and extolling of your vniversall medicine aboue all na­turall or Physicall condition. We haue before plainely set be­fore your eyes, your rules out of rule, your reasons without reason, your truthes, in your owne mouth, vntruths. Now setting aside verball trifling, the ouer-loue, and ouer-valuing of your selfe, come vnto the matter, and materially answere, if your conscience do witnes vnto you, that truth is your buck­ler. In the meane season I will retire my selfe, vntill your se­cond Herauld (as did your first) doe againe as vnmannerly thrust vpon me, hoping haply, because his exorbitant ascent, had many moneths beene seene in our Climate (as I heare) be­fore the abortiue eleuation thereof had presented it selfe vnto the eye of my notice, that he might now safely attempt and dare my supposed feare or sideration, with the sudden blaze of so mis-shapen and vgly a meteor.