MEDICINA INSTAƲRATA, OR; A Brief Account of the true GROUNDS And PRINCIPLES of the Art of PHYSICK.

With the Insufficiency of the Vulgar way of Preparing Medicines, and the Excellency of such as are made by Chymical Operation.

Whereto is added, a short, but plain Discourse, as a Light to the true Preparation of Animal and Vegetable Arcana's.

Together with a Discovery of the true Subject of the Philosophick Mineral Mercury, and that from the Authorities of the most Famous of Philosophers.

As also some small Light to the Preparation and Use of the said Mercury, in the dissolution of Minerals and Metals, for a Physical Use.

By EDVVARD BOLNEST. Med. Lond.

Also an Epistolary Discourse upon the whole, by the Author of Medela Medicinae.

LONDON, Printed for John Starkey at the Mitre with­in Temple-Barr. 1665.

TO HIS GRACE GEORGE, DUKE, Marquess, and Earl of BƲCKINGHAM, &c.

MY LORD,

I PRESENT not this small Piece unto Your Grace, with so large a Confidence and good Opinion, either of my own, or its worth, as to think it a Compo­sure [Page]that Merits your Patronage and Protection; it is only out of Gratitude, and a Compliance with that good and just Adage, Qui aquam hauris puteum corona. Your Grace, being the greatest and most constant Incourager, and Fautor, (that this Age hath produced) not only to Ingenuity in general, but also to my particular Self, (though the meanest of Nature's (now) Numerous Disciples.) Give me leave to make it my Op­portunity to return an Acknow­ledgment for that signal Honour of Your Princely Countenance, and other Favours You have been pleased to confer on me; I offer it not (My Lord) for your In­struction, You are One whom Na­ture hath already admitted, and [Page]her Self taught You in her own Schole, the Tract of her most Se­cret Operations; and being, as You are, (even to Admiration) above others, of a most subtile and quick Apprehension; and one, who by Your own most Noble and Acute Genius, Conceptions, Ob­servations, and constant Manual Operations, have not only disco­ver'd the Vanity of the Galenick way, but rendred Your Self most Perfect, as well in the Practick, as Theory of Experimental Philo­sophy, and consequently are a­bundantly Stored, and Enriched with those two worthy and com­mendable Attributes of the Learned, Judgment and Candor. I cannot appeal to such another Judge, and Patron: Be pleased [Page]therefore to accept of this my Mite, and from an improvement of my Talent, You may justly expect and challenge, and shall accordingly receive, a more large and ample Offering. In the mean time, I beg pardon for this trouble and presumption, who, in all faith­fulness, am

My Lord,
Your Graces most humble, and most devoted Servant, Edward Bolnest.

To Doctor Edward Bolnest, at his House in Jewen-street, near Cripplegate.

My honor'd Friend,

THat you have vouchafed me the Sight of those Papers which you intend for the Press, tis an Argument of extraordina­ry Friendship; and a submitting to my o­pinion shews, that your Humility is as great as your Knowledge in the noblest part of Medicine. There are many other persons of our Society, you might have pitch't on (to whom I pay a reverence and submission in point of Chymical Philosophy) whose long labours in the Fire have qualified them to a degree of Eminency far above me, and on whose Judgment you might have more surely rested; but since it is so, that you have singled out me, the meanest of our [Page]Collegues, I will be free with you, and you and all the World shall have my Opinion, whether it be worth any thing or no.

One thing in the Front pleaseth me ex­ceedingly; and that is the name of that Excellent Person, my Lord Duke of Buck­ingham, one that knows you well, and how to value you; a Prince by Merit as well as Title: for whether you take him in the Chymical, or in his Politick capacity, he appears no less in either; and yet he can be greater, if he please, because with so rare a Wit and other Abilities of mind, seated in a comely Body, I know not what he may not effect in Philosophy and Politie, by plying his Laboratory at Home, and another at Court. Therefore 'tis fit he should be your Patron, because he is able to be your Judge.

And as for those Noble Preparations, of whose vertues you give some Account to the World, whatever others may think, I can by Experience say, that in several Cases I have found them the best that ever I met with. This is to do you Right, not to flatter you, because you are above it; and [...] cause it is, that I have been In­strumental [Page]to pull you out of your privacy, and by perswasions brought you upon the publick Theatre, that men may know how learnedly and judiciously you can write, as well as operate; and that being thus openly ingaged in the Cause of Chymistry, the Adverse party of Calumniators may be ashamed, while they go about and tattle among the Women, and weaker sort of Men, that we are a Company of Illiterate Professors; and this, because we have ad­mitted some Persons to associate who have not been hooded in an University, though 'tis known they every day mend the work of their VVorships, and cure what they leave off as incurable by Galenick Remedies (of which 'tis like the World may shortly have sufficient Information;) and if men may be justified by their Works, it will appear (how mean so­ever their Book-learning be) that the least of them hath skill enough in Medicine, to furnish a score of the ordinary Master Drs. In the mean time, 'tis well we are not wanting of others who have a Reputation for Letters, and that we have you (Sir) for a Champion, you that can Instruct a Colledge, if need be. Therefore Macte tuâ virtute, go on as [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page]you have begun, that the Profession of Phy­sick may be redeemed from that obloquie which the usual unprofitable Learning, and idle pride of the Professors, hath brought upon it among the People; and that from your Pen men may know, there is a way to true Physical Learning, which lies quite out of the Common Scholastick Road; and that we must pass through the fire to it, while the fine Fellows are afraid to follow for fear of singeing their Scarlet. And yet 'tis pretty to observe, how some of them, now at last, per­ceiving most of the great Lords, and other Noble Gentlemen of Learning do prefer our way before the Galenick, are not ashamed to cry out, that themselves also are Chymists, and so no need of erecting a new Society upon the account of Chymistry; but alas, what hope is there of a due Reformation of Physick by Chymical Principles and Operations, in the hands of such as make pretence of owning them, meerly to put by others that are fast friends to the work? had not we, and our fellow-labourers, bestirr'd our selves, to erect a New Colledge to give credit to the State of Phy­sick, by putting People into a readier way of ease and Security, for their lives and [Page]Purses, there had never been found a Pre­tence in the mouths of those men, as if they all on a suddain were become the only Cordi­al, and the most Excellent Chymists, and that there needed no more toward the Pub­lick good in this way of Medicine, than what they know; which, how little it is, God knows, and you (Sir) of all men, are most able to make appear.

And give me leave to say, whoever reads and understands what you have written, will be of the same opinion: If not, 'tis because they are peevish, and are of the number of those that have been drawn in to pay five and twenty Pounds as a Test of their being the lawful Sons of those two great Dreamers, Hippocrates and Galen. You and I (Sir) have both been University men, and may (no doubt) pay our Fees when we please, and bring our formalities to London; but truly I would not willingly have you, nor my self, lose one Afternoons operation in your Labo­ratory, for all the Honours Academical, and the Venison that helps to make them; and because we have a mind all the days of our lives to be Learners, therefore we are not at leisure to cross the Sea, and return Doctors [Page]as wise as we went. Not that we despise those Academick Honours, but must needs sigh to see what a matter of course it is grown, to see all manner of men proceed, some of which it were a Disease to converse with, while they bring home little else besides the vices, and the Atheism, or the Scholastick Pedantrie of other Nations; which Nati­ons, in conferring those Academick Titles so easily, do as good as tell us, it is not the formal Accoutrement of a Doctor that makes Him one indeed, but it only inables him with a fair shew to think well of himself, and gull the Vulgar, who not being able to penetrate into the substance, are apt to court the shadow, and admire an empty Title, and to expect somewhat from Master Doctor, because by the sound he seems to be Some-body: But I have heard it said, that the Rectors of divers forein Univer­sities, when they have created such a Doctor, have oftentimes laught in their Sleeves, and given him this Farewell, behind his back, [Page]

Accepimus Aurum,
Dimittimus Asinum.

But with what Opinion soever they dis­miss Him, it is plain enough here what we find Him, and he usually so far forgets his own Country, that when he comes home again, he falls to practice upon English Bodies with Exotick Principles, Methods, and Medi­cines.

As to our own Universities, I believe they are the most refined in Europe, and deserve all the honour we can give them, because they appear more wary in distribution of De­grees; but 'tis a shame to see, that the great Body of Practicers should be made up of such Titular things as have been foisted up a­mong Foreiners, or else by Alliance at home, the favour and recommendation of some Fa­ther, or Uncle, or Cousin-Doctor, that hath had a Name, though perhaps little more of true Knowledge in Medicine than the No­vice that he prefers; or else they come in Play, by listing themselves in the number of some numerous party, or by colloguing with Midwives, Nurses, and old Woman and [Page]courting or humouring the Younger, in order to the getting of a Name. And thus they proceed Doctors again, after they come from the Universities.

Really, (Sir) to see, and talk of these things, as You and I have done, would make any Man almost forswear the Study, if not the Practice of Physick, whose own Internal worth will not permit him to descend so low, as to use these little Arts, for the gaining of a Trade, and yet shall find very small Docto­rated Fellows which use them, to rise equal to himself, and sometimes above him, in the noise of the World. And thus it will always be, while Physick hath no other Advance in the World than what the Galenists can give it: For, to say truth, our Art must needs be at a stand, while old Notions and Medi­cines are in fashion, and while old Authors are set up as the only Standard, whereby to try Doctrines and Experiments both Philoso­phical and Medicinal; and there is no way to redeem our Profession out of the hands of old Women, and others, but by setting the whole frame of Physick upon a new foot of Operative and Experimental Philosophy, because the common Methods and Remedies [Page]are every where to be had in Print, and, in a Twelvemonths time, any Person of good Parts and Industry, may as amply be acquaint­ed with them, as most of the Master-Doctors that walk with their Patients in the wonted Road to another World. And hence it is, that the Galenists are so eager for a power to hedge in the Common, for fear it may be over-stock'd, and to suppress, or deterr, all others from entring into what they would fain make their own Propriety, seeing it is an easie matter for ingenious Men, that have a mind to quit other Employments, to betake themselves to this, and in a short time to be as Wise as any that would be thought the only Learned, upon the account of having read the Galenick Institutions, Commentators, and Practicers; whereas on the other side, we, who profess Chymical Principles and O­perations, are never better pleased, than when we hear of numbers of Professors and Ope­rators coming in to us, because we know the Harvest is great, and the true Labourers few; there are in the field of Nature, yet undiscover'd, Secrets enough for Ages to fetch forth, and to find work for all the World, so that it were happy for us, if all the great [Page]Lords, and Gentlemen of England, would (as the King himself, and divers of the No­bility, have given an excellent example) erect Laboratories of their own, and spend time in the invention of Remedies more suffi­cient, and of a Philosophy more conducible, to cure the Diseases of this Age; for, then those noble Personages finding by experience, how much more of worth and use is attain­able, beyond what is contained in the Gale­nists Books, or is in Vogue among such idle Book-men, would soon spue them out of their Houses, and in their stead entertain the true Sons and Labourers of Art and Nature, who are in Truth, if not in Title, the only Do­ctors, because they are able to teach the other what Physick is indeed.

And this you (my noble Friend) have sufficiently shewn in your Learned Papers: They, whether Learned or no in their Own way, are obstinately ignorant of Ours, and so, not competent Judges of Us or Our fa­culty; We, for our parts, dare profess as much of Scholastick Learning in their way as most of themselves, and so take our selves to be the more competent Judges of the state of Medicine, because, besides what we know [Page]of our own way, we are also Masters of theirs; and we ought the rather to be be­lieved, if, after having had a through acquaintance with theirs, we have cashired it, and pitch'd upon the Chymical, as the most safe, satisfactory, and beneficial for Mankind. Therefore, before I return the Papers, give me leave to kiss some pas­sages of yours; as when you profess you have not taken up this way of Physick, but after a strict (though fruitless) search for satisfaction in the other;

That, having found the vulgar Medi­cines so composed, that the nobler part in them, being clogg'd with foeculential Im­purities, is made ineffectual, there appears a necessity of freeing Materials Medicinal from them, and of exalting those to a more Active and Spirituous nature;

That, after a due consideration of Ve­getables and Animals, you found greater Virtues are contained in the later; yet after these, considering the Mineral and Metalline Subjects, you found by experience, as well as reason, that they are indued with far greater Virtues, and that, if rightly prepared, they are of all Medi­cines [Page]the most safe and efficacious; And that, after long inquiry and diligence, in­to the way or method how to purifie and exalt the restaurative Powers of all the three sorts of Subjects, having attained it, then at length you fully resolved to leave the old Galenical Road, and betake your self (for the main) in your practice, to the use of Chymical Remedies.

This judicious proceeding of yours is most highly to be commended; and he, who hath tried, or shall try the Excellency of your Medicines, shall find you have said the Truth. Alas, these few that you intend to publish, are but a small part of those noble Preparations which I know you to be Master of, and of which the World is not worthy; and how great a Master of Rea­son, as well as a Work-man, you are, may be seen by your Philosophising upon the na­ture of Vomits, and the causes of Agues, and Fevers, as also by your profound Dis­course touching the grand Mercurial Li­quor, or Essence, a Menstruum that will dissolve and radically reduce all Metals to their first moist and unctuous form, by which, wonders may be effected in Physick, [Page]and otherwise; and, if ever our Nation come to see those great Things, which o­thers but cloudily talk of, I that have seen you in your Way, and daily Labours, have cause to tell Men, that, I believe, you are the Man we must be beholden to for the discovery.

Thus much to you (my dear Friend) without Flattery, for, you know, I abhor it, and have in my Nature (like you) too much of a Satyr to be a Flatterer; I shall now only add a few words concerning some Intimations that you have given me. The first is, of a Book in Answer to my Mede­la Medicinae, which the Author, very un­known (unless it be at some certain Coffee-Houses) is pleased to entitle Medela Ig­norantiae, and in his Title-page he thinks fit to tell the World I am Illiterate; but who or what he is, scarce any body can tell, and so 'tis imagined he hath taken this course to provoke me to make him known; therefore I suppose the only way to be re­venged on him is, to spoile his design by not vouchsafing to name him: And in Letters at length he stiles himself Doctor of Physick, as perhaps he may be; for, [Page]there are too many slight fellows about this Town, that bring no credit to Universities, yet have the confidence to wear the Title, the Ge­nerality of the Gang being meer Insects and Imperfect Animals in the Faculty, to say nothing of their Idleness. I remember, in Scaliger's Epistles, he having been told, that an obscure Fellow had written malepartly against him, expresseth himself thus, Mihi relatum fuit, Scarabeum quendam contra me scribere, cui respondere neque dignitatis est, nec otii: I have been told (saith he) that a certain Scarabee writes against me, to whom I have neither leisure, nor doth it become me, to give an Answer. Indeed the Fel­low is as unfortunate in his Attempt, as one can be, by pretending to answer me, yet I perceive, he hath not so much as touched any main string of my Book; onely he endeavours by railing, and with whole Pages of Greek, (for edification of the English Reader) to justifie the Aphorisms of Hippocrates, and other things of his and Galen's, which I said (and still say) are grown out of date, as most is that they have written; which. I can, and will make good, against all the Galenick Societies in Europe; and [Page]though he hardly allows me more than English, yet I can find Greek enough (and had at fourteen years of Age) to serve him and twenty more of the same Tribe. But alas (Sir) hard words cure no Diseases, unless they be Characteristick Charms, and without such as these, not a man of the old Faction knows how to conjure down a poor Ague, whilst the old Women and Mounte­banks every where do shame them, even quite out of City and Country.

In the mean time, as Illiterate as I am, I am content to share in the Imputation with other Brethren of our Society; the whole Business of the old Brotherhood is now to brand us with no Letters, but they shall find we have; and this vir Trium Literarum may in time come to understand it, as well as the rest. I hear also, that there are other small Beagles at the Press, ready to open against me; but those little Doctoral, Fellows are to know, neither I nor the Book-buyers shall take notice of them, in a Contest which it rather concerns their grave and formal Leaders to clear, if they can, and the World hath reason to expect it from them. But if what I have done will not [Page]serve to settle their minds, I promise you they shall have enough; for as my manifold diversions give leave, I am collecting for them.

As to the Reports sown up and down by some of the Grave Sirs, as also by their Pedees of the Faculty, as for example, That I was chidden rather than countenan­ced at our Audience at the King's Coun­cil-Table; you know the contrary, and with what Princely Grace an ear was given to every man of us: so that things are like to thrive with our Adversaries when their Refuge is in Lies. But they go further yet, and whisper up and down, that I proclaim all people to have the Pox, and I know not what; whereas 'tis plain, I maintain in my Book no more than this, that since the prevalencie of that disease in the Na­tions of Europe it hath exceedingly alter'd their Nature, and the Nature of all dis­eases, so that the old definitions of the Galenists, and their dull Remedies, do not reach any considerable Maladies; but if you, and I, and others that I know, be Masters of such Specifick Medicines as will do the Work, when theirs cannot, I suppose [Page]'tis easie to conclude from the Nature of our Medicines the Truth of my Position, That even those who never were formally infect­ed, may yet by Contagion at a distance, Inheritance, and divers other ways, come under a Fermental Change in the Frame and Constitution of their Bodies.

Others there are of the Faculty, that would fain seem to be more wise than their Brethren, and they forsooth do acknowledg, There is such an alteration in the State of Diseases as I contend for, but they with­all tell men, that they knew so before, and that I needed not have taken so much pains to convince them of it: But if they did know so, the more—They for conceal­ing it; and why then do they not alter the State of Medicine, exclude the Old un­profitable Remedies, and introduce new ones more effectual, Agreeable to such Alteration of Maladies? Why is it that the Bead-row of Antiquated Remedies, invented by Forein Authors, and Calculated for other kind of Climates, is still held forth as sufficient under the name of Pharmacopeia, seeing (as I hope shortly to make appear) there is not one Medicine in the whole Book that [Page]will reach any one radicated or deplorable Distemper?

But they say, That what ever is wanting there in Vertue of Medicine, they can supplie in the use of them by strength of Wit, which is that they call Method. Oh, here is the Diana, the great Goddess Method, or the Round of the Mill-horse, which every one can run that hath bought Sennertus, or Riverius in English; and that is the Reason why other Folk spoil their Trade much more than the Chymists do, and for thirty or forty shillings worth of Books, soon learn to become as compleat Methodists as themselves: Whereas you know (Sir) that Medicines should alter as Disease alter, and should be so made as to command Method, and when a Noble Medicine is once found, it ad­mits in the usage no Method but what is pecu­liar to it self, and results out of its own Natu­ral power and propriety, and thereby inables him that is acquainted with its energie, to puzzle and fool him that sails only by the Card and Compass of Books. And if Men will not believe words, those few Medicines which you mean to publish, and more which you and I know of, and others of our la­borious [Page]Associates, will abundantly convince them, if they please to observe the admirable Operations and effects, in little time, and small Quantities.

They say also, after they have abused the Apothecaries in publick, when they lately endeavored to get a power to inslave them, that I chalk out the way to the undoing of their Trade; whereas the Truth is, I only point out the way they must go to preserve their Trade; for, I know none of our Soci­ety that ever thought of disobliging them, but when we have settled our publick place or College, with a grand Laboratory suit­able to so worthy an Undertaking, we pur­pose (God willing) to turn the stream of Practice out of the Galenick Channel, and furnish the Apothecaries with such Pre­parations at reasonable rates, upon the cre­dit of our Society, as may inable us to correspond with that ingenious Company, by sending our Bills to them, and employing them with a fuller Trade, more for the Reputation of the Profession of Physick, and of themselves, as such of them who will loosen their dependence upon Formalists, and come over to us in compliance, shall [Page]quickly find; in the mean while, 'tis but reason they should practise with their own Medicines, seeing the Road and Method of using them is open and plain to every one that can read; and more Trust is to be given to the Skill that comes by obser­vation in the present time, than by follow­ing the Authors of other times and Coun­tries, who could not possibly leave directi­ons in Books, to fit the present State of Men and Diseases.

Consider that deplorable disease the Lues Venerea; of what Value are all the Rules and Remedies of writers? He that in this Age, when the Disease is quite another thing than it was twenty or thirty years ago, shall attempt the Cure of it with the old Messes, or the common Mineral Pre­parations, will be extreamly mistaken, and that is the reason of so many Semi-Cures and Relapses. What signifie all the tedious Decoctions of Guajac, Sarsa, &c. which you never used, and I have long since given over? A few of your Solar Pills, no big­ger than Pepper-corns, shall effect far more than Firkins of Diet-Drink, to say nothing of other high Arcanaes which no wit can [Page]reach that hath not your Skil and Industry in Operation, with which I have seen dread­ful Diseases Removed, as it were by In­chantment.

The World hath no cause to suspect You, or Me, to be out of love with Learning; and yet I say, the common Learning, that is in use for gaining Knowledge in Physick, serves rather to puzzle and confound than inform a Student, especially the single fangle Notions about Anatomy, forasmuch as the Investigation of Causes, and the Accommo­dating of Curations, Secundùm Ductus Anatomicos, and Secundùm Artem, have Slain their ten Thousands, and will do more, if Matters be not amended by Men of other Principles, and who labour night and day another way, to apprehend the manner of Nature's Operations, with the various Phae­nomena of Diseases in Man's Body, and how Medicines may be made of so compre­hensive a Power, as to answer all particulars, and supply all the defects of Ratiocination or Opinion, which is generally the meer product of Phant'sie.

'Tis not fit (my Friend) I should quite tire you; I shall only add, that what I [Page]have Written in my Medela, I have no Cause to repent of; Habent sua fata Li­belli, Books have their Fates, and mine hath had the Luck (so great is the force of Truth) to find a general acceptation in the Land, especially among the Nobler and the Learneder part, (from many of which I have received Thanks) yea, and among all Physicians that are not of the Interessed Faction; and yet even some of them have been so Ingenious, as to confess, I have in many things done well, only they say, I should not have published so much in Eng­lish: But I would ask them, Why am I faulted for this? Did not the Old repu­ted Princes of the Profession write all they wrote in their own Country-Languages? as Hippocrates, and Galen in Greek; the Arabian Avicen and his Fellows in Ara­bick; therefore, if I have espied faults in the common Doctrines and Practice, why should not our Country-men be made ac­quainted with them, seeing they are the Persons that are concerned, and most likely to promote that which the splendid Faction oppose? Who would fain hold up the old Mystery, not the Art, but the Craft of Phy­sick.

One would wonder, after all the reason that hath been given against the frequent spilling of precious Blood by Phlebotomie in our Climate, some Men should still have the madness to deal with us, as if we were in France, Italy, or Spain. For God's sake (Sir) do you take them a little to task; for, I am weary and sick of them, and I every day see the people begin to be so too: Their main shelter now is in some few noble Houses; for, the generality de­cline them. If you would once more take Pen in hand, I dare say you would be able to give them a final Passport; and this I hope you will do, as soon as we have set­led the Affairs of our Society or College, which we hope, in as conspicuous a manner as the Galenists, suddenly so to manage, as that it may conduce effectually to the end we aim at; which is the honour of Physick, by Men of sound Chymical principles, Labou­rers, and Learned. If any Persons among us chance to be Defective in the common Literature, we ought not to value them the less, as long as they have so much of a bet­ter sort of Learning, as inableth them to the inventing excellent Remedies, such as the [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page]vulgar Letter-men never had the honour to be acquainted with, by any Endeavour or Operation of their own.

Forgive me (my noble Friend) all this tedious Discourse, for, I could say a thou­sand times more, and think you never the worse of me, because I am zealous in this Matter; but let me prevail with you to print your Papers as soon as you can; for, the true Sons of Art will be exceedingly pleased with it, and among the meanest of them, I that honour you, who am

SIR,
Your faithful Friend and Servant Mar. Nedham.
From my House in Thomas Apostles, 10 May 1665.

Some Errata's have Slipt the Press, which those that are not Malicious will Correct as they Read.

Licensed,

20 th. April 1665.

MEDICINA INSTAƲRATA; OR, A brief Account of the true Grounds and Princi­ples of the Art of PHYSICK.

FInding by a daily experience the small virtue, efficacy, and power of the generality of Medicines, and the great un­certainty of performing any notable and worthy Cure, by their means and operation; I resolved upon a more diligent search and inquiry after such Medicines, as, with confidence of some good effect, I might more fully rely upon, [Page 2]after a serious consideration therefore of the cause why vulgar Remedies, or Me­dicines, so rarely or seldom performed the promised and expected Effects; I at last found the true and onely cause to be the great quantity of dross and impurity by Nature in their production and growth strongly united with the Medicinal or Re­staurative Essence, choaking and over­powering the true Physical part of them, so that it cannot, as it should, perform its Office, and produce the desired Effects it was administred for; for the body of Man being already clogged and stuffed up with Obstructions, and Nature's royal course and prerogative being by that means hin­dred and opposed, the Body by little and little feels the approaching decays of Na­ture, and accordingly calls for a powerful and able assistance to free her (if possible) from those Enemies of Life, that so Na­ture, (Spiritus innatus & custos corpori [...] ­oeconomus) the enlivening Inhabitant of the Body, being by some timely, sympa­thetical, and friendly aid and assistance (before her too great Debilitation) again impowred and re-inforced, may be able [Page 3]to eject and cast out her potent and de­structive Antagonist, and again re-assume her wonted and desired course, and so restore the pining, pale and decayed Body to its pristine blith, healthful, and flourish­ing condition. Being by these considera­tions, and other most strong and undeni­able Reasons, sufficiently confirmed what kind of Medicines Nature required, as most absolutely necessary and needful; as also that the true cause of the weak effect of common or vulgar Medicines, was the Physical parts being so much over-ballanced and debilitated, and, as it were, extinguished by the multiplicity of Dreggs and foeculential Impurities, close­ly joyned and mixed with it in its Crea­tion and progressive Growth, I at last of necessity concluded, that the freeing of Medicinal Subjects (or those things we would use in a Physical way) from some part (if not all) of those their foeculen­cies, drossy, and terrene parts, must un­doubtedly (in reason) render the Medi­cine of much more Efficacy and Power; of more power, because of more purity, and, consequently more spiritual and pe­netrating; [Page 4]and because more spiritual, therefore more fitting to assist the decayed and fainting Spirits of the infirm and lan­guishing Body, and so (as being of her own condition or quality) re-inforce, inable, and assist Nature (the Body's pre­server) to expel and drive out her pre­valent and health-destroying Opposers: And this certainly was the intent and meaning of Hippocrates, where he tells us, Contraria contrariis curari debent: Contraries must be driven away, and cured by contraries, viz. Corruptibilia per incorruptibilia, immunda enim per munda & non per immunda mundantur, & purifi­cantur: Pure things only are fit to pu­rifie, and not dirty and impure; Diseases are the beginnings of the corruption of the Body, and to remove corruption by corruption, or corrupting and corruptible things, the way and means rather to pro­mote and hasten it, to me seems (in rea­son) impossible, as doubtless it is, and therefore could no ways be imagined to be the meaning of so Learned a Physitian; his meaning therefore must consequently follow, that the Cure of Diseases (the [Page 5]destruction and corruption of the Body) must needs be performed by something of a contrary nature, viz. Incorruptible and pure: If therefore we would either pre­serve from, or drive out, Diseases and Corruption, it must surely be by some­thing that is of a pure and incorruptible Balsamick nature and property, which the generality of Medicines (as prepared) are so far from, that few or none of them (except some few Chymical, or having some of their Ingredients in some mea­sure purified) are able to preserve them­selves from a total Corruption, or at most a great diminution of their Virtues the space of one poor Year, though with much care and vigilancy secured and fortified by a close stoppage, from the ingression of Air, the Introducer of Corruption into all Porous and corruptible things: The more pure the Medicine, the more potent its Virtue, and consequently the better able to assist and strengthen our continually ex­hausted and spent Spirits, especially when assaulted by a too powerful distemper (the effect of some corruption) their pro­fessed Enemy: And this Galen (that pre­tended [Page 6] Oraculum Medicinae, did we, as we ought, as much mind his Precepts, as make use of his Name for a cavilling, super­ficial, unprofitable Discourse) most plainly tells us, Lib. undec. de simpl. med. facult. cap. undec. His words are these; Quae tenuium sunt partium medicamenta, iis quae sunt crassarum partium pl [...]s habent efficaciae, etiamsi parem sortita fuerint facultatem, nimirum quia melius penetrant. All which in brief tells us thus much, That those Medicines which are of thin or subtile parts, are of greater Efficacy and Virtue, than those which are of a gross quality, (and the Reason he also gives) because by their thinness and subtilty they are the more apt and able to penetrate. Thus this once great and experienced Physician; he also much desired to have the Aethereal and hot pure Substance, or Spirit of Wine, and also the Secret of Extracting and Se­parating it from its more gross, earthy, and watery parts, (an Artifice not known unto the Physicians of that Age) for considering how excellent, reviving, and cordial a Liquor Wine of it self was, he according to his former Opinion also con­cluded, [Page 7]that the hot, pure, and aethereal Substance of it, viz. Its Spirit, separated from its foeculential and drossy Impurities, must of necessity be a most high, effica­cious, and truly Cordial Medicine. If then the more thin, subtile, and aethereal Medicines are the most effectual and powerful, the Subtilisation of thick, gross and impure, dull Physical Subjects, must of necessity render them far more pene­trating and noble Medicines: And in this doth that most acute Philosopher and Phy­sitian, the noble Paracelsus, also second and confirm the fore-mentioned Aphorism of Galen, onely with a little addition, or raising unto the height of it the purity of the supreme of Elements; his words are these: Tum demum medicamenta corpori accommodanda ad ignis naturam reducta, per hoc enim elementum omnis aegritudo consumi debet à quolibet medico, Lib. de Vita longa [in 4.] Page 134. The sence thus: Then, saith he, are Medicines fit to be administred, when by a due preparation they are made most pure, and exalted to the Nature, or Quality of Fire; for by this Element, (or Medicines of the nature [Page 8]and property, or condition of this Ele­ment) ought Physicians to cure Diseases. All which is no more than a Physical Pre­cept, Aphorism, and Instruction, suffici­ently high for the preparation of Medi­cines, which ought to be of the nature of Fire, that is, most pure, subtile, spiritual and penetrating; for Fire is the most subtile, pure, and noble of the Elements, (in quo Deus omnium rerum Creator sedem & Majestatem suam posuit,) and indeed the Seat and Chariot of the Divine and In­comprehensible Majesty of God, &c. We have here then the Precept and Opinion of the greatest of the old Physicians, har­moniously agreeing, that the most subtile and pure Medicines are the most noble and efficacious, and therefore most fit and proper for the curing, extirpating, and rooting out of Diseases, &c.

The means to render Medicine ca­pable of the subtil, thin, and penetrating Quality, of assisting and strengthning our over-oppressed and fainting Spirits, I found most certainly to be by purifying (as I said before) of the Medicinal or Physical Subject designed for the Cure; [Page 9]this Purification, (or Purgation) I after much thought and meditation conclu­ded, could no way so advantagiously be performed and obtained, as by those excellent, incomparable, and truly Phi­losophical preparations we usually call Chymical, a way of making Medicines, (as well as a gate to Nature's choicest Secrets) of all other the most noble, and every way able to answer, yea, su­perlatively to exceed, the greatest and highest of our desires. Consider (O Artist) the power and excellency of any one thing or subject as Nature hath prepared, created, and given it us ready into our hands! Consider also with the excellency of it, as it is, what a height­ned purgation and purification may exalt it to! Consider the virtue and inex­pressible power of spiritual and pure things! Consider also what they may be, and do, being (after purification) fixed! Thou hast here a very large Field for contemplation, and as large a Gate opened to give thee entrance into the Closet, or inmost Recesses of Na­ture, and her infinite Treasures, &c. [Page 10]But I may not inlarge any further.

After a firm resolution of the way of improving, heightning, and exalting the virtue and efficacy of Medicines, I also fell to consider (after a full knowledge of the true Physical and Essential parts of things) what Subject or Species might yield these healing and restaura­tive Essences, in most and greatest abun­dance, and of most power and virtue; I perceived at last that some Vegeta­bles did yield them in far greater plenty and quantity than others, and of a stronger and speedier operation. After these, I considered the use of Animals in Physick, and learned the great effi­cacy, virtue, and strength of them also, and that in them the Quintessential and Physical parts, were yet in greater plenty than in the most of Vegetables, and of a higher and more intense operation and perfection. I yet (after these) con­sidered the third and last Kingdom of Nature, ( viz. the Mineral, or Me­tallin) and found by many Arguments (after a mature and deliberate Medita­tion, seconded by Experience, a most [Page 11]sure guide and teacher) the great power, excellency and strength, be­stowed upon, and implanted (yea, concentrated) in them by Almighty God, (their great Creator, and Eternal fountain of overflowing and inexhau­stible Goodness) and have since by a continued Series of experience, (and that in several more than ordinary Cases and Cures, as well as by the very ample, and yet deserved testimony of most eminently Learned, both antient and modern, Physicians, the onely true and painful, but ingratefully rewarded, discoverers of Nature's unvaluable and admirable mysteries and power) even to admiration, been fully and often sa­tisfied, that the virtue of Minerals and Metals (if rightly prepared) are of all others the most (safely) Efficacious, and far exceeding the power and virtue of Animals or Vegetables; yet are these two last named such safe, potent, and benign assistants, and preservers of the present, and restorers of the impai­red and decayed, health of Man, as, if well ordered, or prepared, and rightly [Page 12]applied, he shall have but little need of Minerals or Metals, though the noblest and best of all Physical Subjects, &c.

Having by this continued and diligent Inquisition, not only discovered and found out the cause of the too sluggish, dull, and ineffectual operation and suc­cess of the bulk of ordinary and vulgar Medicines, but also attained unto the knowledg of the most Physical Sub­jects, both in the Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral Kingdom, together with the way and method of improving, ad­vancing, and raising their Innate power, and Medicinal restaurative faculties, to a very sublime degree of purity and per­fection; I fully resolved with my self, to leave the old Galenical road, and apply my self in my practice [...], to the use of Chymical Medicines, some of which I shall in this small Tract give some short account of, and their virtues: For, considering that (care being first had of my particular and private con­cernment) there was also (as not being Born altogether for my self, nor to bury my Talent delivered unto me by Al­mighty [Page 13]God) somewhat of a duty in­cumbent upon me in relation to my doing somewhat towards a general good; I at last thought fit (being also by several of my Friends, who with much satisfaction and benefit had used and made trial of many of my Medicines, especially my Solar Pills, daily persua­ded and urged thereunto,) to commu­nicate somewhat in a more publick way, as well for others good, as my own private benefit, which as the Law of Nature commands, and allows, as most necessary first to provide for; so I will not in the least deny, or pretend a dis­owning of. I here therefore present my Country with an offer, of six most noble, purified, and efficacious Medi­cines, pleasantly and safely powerful in preserving the present, and restoring (if God please) the decayed and lost, health of Man, all prepared by the aforesaid means and method of Chymical pur­gation and purification: The true and full intent, scope and design of Chy­mistry (what ever other definition or interpretation may enviously or igno­rantly [Page 14]be put upon it) being no other, nor to any other end or purpose, than to cleanse, purge and refine whatever the Experienced and Learned Philosopher and Physician intends for a Medicinal use, and to raise, exalt, and advance to a more than ordinary degree of purity and perfection.

As to the Medicines spoken of in this Tractate (or small Piece) I shall not by way of Apology or Preface, much enlarge my self, but both briefly and confidently assure Thee, They are such, as, if rightly used, will sufficiently speak their own worth; The first ( viz. the Solar Pill) will prove it self second to none, except that great and famous Me­dicinal Elixir, or Arcanum of the Phi­losophers; Its goodness being the same after an hundred years as at the first day of its making, Time rather adding than robbing or detracting any thing from its first native virtue, excellency and per­fection.

The other five are truly of such useful and noble Quality, that enough cannot be said of them; I shall therefore as earnest­ly, [Page 15]and truly, as concisely, affirm them to be most friendly, and as powerful as friendly assistants unto, and preservers of a desireable, healthful condition, and constitution of body, and as effectual in in restoring (by Gods blessing and per­mission) the decayed and lost health of Man, and indeed such precious and admi­rable Remedies (and Medicines) as can­not sufficiently be esteemed and valued; their vertues (if but any thing carefully and neatly kept) not wasting or decay­ing by the length of Time (that univer­sal destroyer of all corruptible things) and the reason is, because they are true Quintessential and pure Medicines of a true balsamie nature, and such as do not only defend and preserve themselves, but all other things, from the entrance of Cor­ruption and Putrefaction; of what use, power and vertue therefore they may be to the infirm and sickly, languishing under any tedious, troublesome and chronick Disease, I leave thee at leisure to consider, and by the consideration to improve thy knowledg of them and their worth.

I. Pilula Solaris.

THis Noble and Excellent Panacaea, is so wonderfully a Friend unto the continually decaying Nature of corruptible Man, that whatever unnatural, destru­ctive, and health-opposing humor it shall in the whole body of Man meet with, be it as the most Learned of the Galenists do assure us, either of Choler, Phlegm, Melancholy, or Impurity, or Corruption of blood, or proceeding or springing (as the most acute and indefatigable Nature-searching Paracelsians do inform us) from a Saline, Sulphurous, or Mercurial matter, be it from whatsoever Cause, Source, or Fountain it will, and in whatsoever part of the Body it will (for it throughly search­eth, and in searching purifieth, both Center and Circumference, that is, both the Sto­mach and other chief bowels, together with the extreme parts) it doth by its tru­ly cleansing and renewing quality in time radically extirpate and drive it out, and in its place constitutes, induceth, or rather creates (may I so say) a most sound, flo­rid, [Page 17]and healthful constitution of body: Its effects I have found so truly, and (to miracle) admirable, that I cannot but in full measure give credit to those most high, and yet as highly and largely deserved te­stimonies, which many, and those the great­est of Physicians, have given of the bare Subject out of which it is prepared; I shall for brevity instance the Attestation of four or five only, and begin with the noble and most expert Paracelsus, whose testimony of it runs thus ‘ Essentiam in se continet quae nihil impuri cum puro relinquit, nec ullus tam insignis & peritus spagirus est qui vires & facultates ejus indagare queat, in prima enim Yle adeo exaltatum est & inter subjecta ab aqua producta adeo prae­de inatum est, ut virtus & facultas ejus nullo diluvio, instar aliorum aqueorum cre­scentium, imminuta aut absorpta sit, adeoque omnibus aliis praestat, hoc seipsam purgat, & una secum etiam alia: quod si nihil boni in subjecto reperitur, impurum corpus in pu­rissimum transmutat. Paracel. de vita lon­ga, pag. 146. 147. Arch. lib. 4. p. 221.’ The summ of which in English tels us thus. It contains in it self an essence, which will [Page 18]not suffer any thing of impurity to remain with that which is pure; nor can the most skilful of Spagirists fully search out, dis­cover, and manifest, the virtues of it: for in its first Yle, ( [...], or first most remote matter, for so I suppose he meaneth,) it is so exalted and amongst all other Subjects produced by the Water, so predestinated, that its efficacy, power, and vertue, can­not, like other products of the water, be at all consumed, or diminished, it therefore excelleth all others, it purgeth it self, and with it self all others; and though almost nothing of good, of purity, be found in what we would apply it to, or better by it, yet it transmutes the impure into a most pure body.

A second, and he a most conscientious and knowing Author, of the same Matter or Subject tells us thus: ‘ Studiosis opti­mè innotescit hocsubjectum, non unius gem­mae solummodo, sed omnium lapidum pretio­sorum, omnium Mineralium & Metallo­rum vires & virtutes in se continere, &c.’ The sence of which in English take thus; It is well known to studious Artists, that this (Solar) matter, doth not contain in [Page 19]it self the vertue of one Gem alone, as others of this kind do, being attributed to one, but it universally contains the vir­tues of all Gems, Minerals, and Metals whatever; and by reason all vertues are in it, the life of man is too short ever to learn and discover its high and wonderful Arca­na's. Ba. Va. Mo. C. T. A. &c.

A third both Famous and Modern Phy­sician, with admiration of the same, delivers himself thus: ‘ In eo sunt Sexcentae pro­prietates variae ac praestantes, ut, &c. Ita ut nunquam satis laudari queat hoc medica­mentum. Quercetan in Tetrad. Cap. 51.’ In it, saith he, are six hundred various and excellent properties, &c. And is, indeed, such a Medicine as cannot sufficiently be commended.

A fourth, being the excellent and most acute Philosopher and Physician, Peter Faber, though concisely, yet most fully of the same matter, delivers us his Opinion and Judgment (with his most profitable experience) of it thus, &c. ‘ In hoc solo virtus & proprietas Naturae Anima­lis, Vegetabilis & Mineralis, tanquam in Arca quadam, pretiosa & Arcana, conclu­sa [Page 20]est, credat qui velit: Talentum a deo mi­hi concreditum libenter, propter humani ge­neris salutem & necessitatem, omnibus com­municare non erubesco: gratias agent qui hac de re experientia certiores facti juerint; usus sum per viginti annos, & adhuc utor, in curatione omnium morborum, & nun­quam adhuc delusus fui ab ipso medica­mento, nec delusi fuerunt aegroti mei, qui ab ipso solo medicamento liberati sunt a morbis quam maximis incurabilibus, &c. Pet. Johan. Faber. Sap. univers. lib. 3. p. 201. 202. 227. &c.’ The English to this effect: In this alone (he saith speaking of a Physical preparation of the same sub­ject) is the entire virtue and property of the Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral Na­ture, as it were in a Chest or pretious Cabinet, closely shut up and contained: those that will may believe it; I most willingly, for the good of Mankind, deli­ver the Talent bestowed upon me by Al­mighty God, those who by experience shall find the truth of it will be thankful: I have used it, now, this twenty years, and do still use it, in the cure of all Dis­eases; Nor have I or my Patients ever [Page 21]yet been deluded or deceived by it, but by it alone have been cured of very great and indeed esteemed incurable Diseases, &c. Take yet the testimony of a fifth most laborious Artist and unwearied Searcher into the Secrets of Nature, who from his large experience of it and its wonderful effects in Medicine, doth boldly and plainly deliver his knowledge of it thus: ‘ Omnes rerum vires in omnibus Animali­bus, Vegetabilibus, & Mineralibus sigilla­tim dispersae, cunctae in hoc uno subjecto concentratae & perfectè unitae inveniuntur, ita ut inter subjecta medicinae apta, primum nobilitatis locum obtineat Auri primum Ens verum; in hoc enim omnium Animalium Vegetabilium & Mineralium vires, vir­tutes, & facultates collectae & plenè con­centratae invenientur, I. R. G. Pharm. Spag. part. secund. p. 61. &. aliis, &c.’ This is the most high and significant, and yet compendious Character which the above mentioned Author delivers of it: The whole Efficacy and Virtue, (saith he) found dispersed in all Animals, Ve­getables, and Minerals, is fully and per­fectly united and concentrated in this one [Page 22]Subject, so that among all Medicinal and Physical Subjects or Drugs, this Primum Ens Auri, or true Solar Embryon, is indeed the most noble; for in it are the powers of all Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals, closely heaped up, and, as it were, gathe­red into one bundle, &c. To confirm and second these most ample Testimonies already cited, together with my own ex­perience of this Medicine, and the Sub­ject out of which it is prepared, I could yet add the Vogue of many most famous and learned (both Antient and Modern) Phy­sicians; but what is already said, will (I am certain) be sufficient to the Learned, if at all Chymically and Physically studi­ous, to know not only the matter out of which it is prepared, but also the truth of what I have or shall yet assert of it. To others (if rational and ingenious) a plain and honest declaration of its Virtues, which they may in a due use of it (by God's blessing, find most true) will (I am confident) prove the highest and most convincing satisfaction, &c.

The Virtues and Use, &c.

THis most efficacious (and yet most safe) Medicine, as prepared, if taken in its usually limited Dose, doth not at all produce any Purgative, Emetick, or Cathartick operation, that is, it purgeth not either by Stool, or Vomit: that being a little exceeded, it (haply) manifests its force, in some by Urine, in others (if they continue in their Beds, as they may that can) by a gentle breathing Sweat; (for it keeps not one constant progress and course of operation in all Ages, Di­stempers, and Constitutions, but according to necessity and Nature's best advantage, sets it self to work.) In other some again by a more than ordinary or usual Spitting, (yet not as by a Mercurial Salivation, from which as dangerous as common pra­ctice and operation it is altogether free) yet in none of those so much as to cause any disturbance or weakning to the Body, the proportion of the Dose being yet raised, and the Stomach ( & coquus, co­quina & culina corporis, both Cook and [Page 24]Kitchin of the Body) with the other Bowels, being much clogged with Vitious and Excrementitious obstructions and hu­mours, and its Attraction of those hu­mours (for it mightily attracts) being greater than Nature can suddenly dispose of, or carry downwards, it perhaps may cause an easie dis-burthening of the Sto­mach, either upwards by some few gentle Vomits, or downwards by a Stool, or two, or more, according as the nature and constitution of the Patient, and most con­veniency for the Evacuation of the offen­ding humour, shall require; but this last and greatest quantity is not always in all Distempers and Diseases absolutely ne­cessary, and therefore is very rarely or seldom administred, unless in Chronick, very obstinate, deeply radicated, stubborn, or contumacious Diseases: As the Le­prosie, Gout, Dropsie, Pox, Agues, Fe­vers, &c. In all which, it is altogether, yea, absolutely requisite and necessary, that the Patient (his Age and Strength permitting) do for some days, (yet with intermission, but a more continued ta­king of the Pills in a smaller dose) resolve [Page 25]to take the highest proportion, which (as I acquainted you before) may cause, as it will, some gentle Vomits and moderate Stools, and thus to continue until the Dis­ease do gradually decline, and at last to­tally vanish, together with its Cause, Foun­tain, and first Original.

Some may haply say, If this be the manner that your Pill performs its Office in, (viz.) A resolution of the ill Hu­mours in the Bowels, and drawing them into the Stomach, and afterwards casting them out by Stool or Vomit, what need have we of this Medicine, or in what is it better than other Purges that perform the same thing?

I answer, Though all Purges have in some measure the same property, yet they perform it in another way than this my Pill doth; this doth not only operate upon the more loose and easily ejected Hu­mours, but also upon the more fixed, ob­stinate, and stubborn, which cannot possibly be done by any of the best of Purging Vegetables, without a very high prepara­tion and purification: And besides, Vege­table Purges being administred in small [Page 26]quantities or doses, operate not, but rest in the Body, and there do more hurt than good; but this Pill, though given in the smallest proportion imaginable, doth not only not do any hurt, but insensibly per­forms its desired Office, and produces, in time, its noble Effects: So that I have not in the whole Vegetable Kingdom, no, not in all Nature, found a Purge in the least comparable with this, &c.

But to return to the business it self, This extraordinary, or highest dose, and pro­portion, is also convenient, when common Distempers shall suddenly, or in short time, too much grow upon and invade the Body; as also, when debilitated and pro­strate Nature shall of necessity require a present and strong assistance for over­coming her too prevalent Enemy. Some may possibly here object, and say, that Vomits are too violent a course, and that this is the way utterly to destroy and over­throw Nature, and her remaining forces: For, Omne violentum naturae inimicum & contrarium est, & Motus violentos naturam non pati, abs (que) laesione manifesta. That is, What ever is violent is inimical and de­structive [Page 27]to Nature, and Nature is not able to endure violent motions.

To which I shall first answer, from a consideration of Nature's own course (the best of Reasons in a case of this na­ture) seconded and back'd by Experi­ence; and next give you (for brevity sake) the Opinion of one most eminent and experienced Physician only, &c. Nature, (we may observe) if any way disturbed, clogged, and annoyed in her fortress the Stomach, and her adjacent conveniencies, begins (though insensibly almost at first) to dislike, and in some measure reject what is there received, (or more properly from her impotency and disability to dispose of) and (as she should and would digest it for the Body's nourishment) suffers, (or rather causeth by her begun dislike, desire, and resolution, to eject and throw out what she perceives she cannot well master by her Digestive heat) a kind of small sickness or indisposition in the Sto­mach; and this it may be for an hour or two, or thereabouts. Time, and her not opportune succour and aid, to free her from those beginning Obstructions, that [Page 28]diminish her Digestive heat and faculty, gives gradually an encrease to this first small Indisposition or weak Digestion; and by a continued contraction and in­crease of those Excrements of Digestion, falls to a higher and higher dislike, disgust, and lothing of her usual food, or at least the usual proportion of it: And from this at length (after a receipt of any small quantity of it) proceeds not only to the now usual indisposition of Stomach, but to a kind of motion to Vomit, which now encreaseth daily more and more, and from a motion arives to a flat desire, and from this desire, yet further to the act it self, an evacuation by Vomit, by which means Nature would unload and disburthen her self of (Obstructions in the Stomach and chief Bowels) the cause of this indis­position and over-powering of both the retentive and digestive faculty; yet can­not well, without the assistance of some friendly Medicine or Remedy, fully clear her self, and attain her desire, (or return to her wonted indisturbed condition.) Nature hath here by this Essay and endea­vour of her own to free her self by Vomit, [Page 29]sufficiently demonstrated and plainly pointed out unto us, the means that she her self (as being her own both best Judge and Physician in her own case) would thus make use of, and is consequently most proper for us to follow for her aid and assistance, and recovery from this impo­tency and indisposition she now suffers under: Vomits then being her own volun­tary and elected way, cannot in reason be thought (whatever some inconsiderate and self-conceited may affirm) to be so destructive, and altogether inimical to Nature, and her prosperity: But, indeed (especially when directed by her own motion) the only agreeable and direct course to succour and relieve her in this her distress and impaired condition; and this my Experience hath often confirmed unto me by its happy success, to be no way destructive, but a truly friendly way of assisting Nature to expel and overcome her Opposites, approaching Diseases. Vomits then (though esteemed, and accordingly by many unadvisedly shunned, and alto­gether avoided, as Operations too violent and repugnant to Nature's safety and re­lief) [Page 30]being the course and method hinted and shewed unto us by Nature her self, and her Archeus, for the cure of many Dis­eases, cannot certainly be so offensive or disturbing to her, as that we should so contumaciously reject and condemn the use and prescription of them: For Nature doubtless would not put her self upon any motion to injure and impair her self, and what she by her own attempts endeavour­eth to perform by a Vomitive course, is certainly the best tract for us to follow, to give assistance and relief unto her decayed forces, and consequently to restore her to her just and full power and prerogative; the effect of which is a sound, strong, and healthful condition, and constitution. I argue not, nor contend, thus strongly for Vomiting Potions, as being absolutely needful in all trivial Distempers; but as being very much, yea, absolutely necessary for the full and perfect cure of some Dis­eases, and no way so destructive, or weak­ning to Nature, (though in strength of Operation somewhat exceeding the more mild and ordinary motion of only down­ward purging Potions, Boles, Electuaries, [Page 31]or the like, good also in their kind) as that they (being a way we only follow the tacite prescriptions and directions of Nature her self in) should to the utter loss of many sick people (by this way only recoverable) be wholly exploded, and altogether excluded out of a Physical course and prescription, as too many yet think and practise, &c.

Take also to second these operations of Nature, and Experience, the Authority of the truly learned and judicious Faber (an­swering the same Objections) in his own words; Hoc philosopho ridiculum videtur, nam natura facili negotio & via, violentos patitur motus, ut mortem ipsam evitet & se ab ipsa tueatur, mors enim omnium motuum violentissima est, & natura, ut hanc effugiat, caeteros quoscunque mavult sequi, & pati motus, & si laedatur aliqua ratione, facili via à laesione illa sublevatur, quocirca non timenda est illa laesio, cum plus utilitatis hinc exsurgat quam nocumenti: Pet. Johan. Fab. Sap. univers. lib. 3. p. 300. in Cap. primo de obst. Intestinorum, &c.

This, saith he, (meaning the former Objection) will to one, seriously and [Page 32]truly considering the course of Nature, seem most ridiculous, for Nature doth very willingly and voluntarily suffer and thrust her self into many violent and passive Motions, that she may escape, keep off, and defend her self from Death; Death is the most violent of motions, and rather than she will endure that, she will suffer any the most violent of disturbances and preternatural motions whatever: And if she be by these unnatural irritations some­what for the present put out of frame, debilitated, and weakned, she will again recover her self; and those small distur­bances (so that she may acquit and dis­charge her self of Death, her grand An­tagonist) are rather profitable, than any way disadvantageous or hurtful unto her, &c. Post nubila Phoebus. And this also, the wonted and continued course which we daily may see Nature of her own ac­cord make use of, to free her self from her encroaching Enemies, (Distempers and Diseases, the effect of Corruption) may strongly and sufficiently demonstrate unto us: For example, consider those two preternatural motions in a Tertian and [Page 33]Quartane Fever, (viz.) the cold and hot Fit as we call them. Which are not, as the Vulgar will tell you, because they are so seldom and rarely cured by Physi­cians, and therefore their shame and scan­dal, as well as the Gout, Dropsie, Le­prosie, &c. Divels, or Witches, or I know not what of the like Nature; nor do they, as the Scholes do generally tell us, pro­ceed from their four Humours, Phlegm, Choler, Melancholy, and putrefaction of Blood, as Quotidian from Phlegm, Ter­tian from Choler, and Quartane from Melancholy; nor as some particular Phy­sicians do affirm, ab effervescentiâ Sangui­nis, (viz.) from a Boyling of the Blood, (ab inflammato Sulphure) from an Inflamma­tion of the Sulphur in it, in which last they as much mistake the effect for the cause, as in the first, one cause for another; true it is, the Blood is inflamed, and that (sometimes) even to an extreme heighth, by which the Body, in which it runs, is (as it were) almost burned up, but yet this effervescentia Sanguinis, is not the cause effervescentiae Sanguinis, but indeed an ef­fect of the true cause, (viz.) an Ob­struction [Page 34]of Nature, by the Excrements of Digestion, left by the debilitated Bowels, and other particular Parts, in their several Offices of Digestion, accelerated (per­haps) by a stoppage of the Pores by some excessive Cold, (or other ways) from which ariseth Obstruction of Nature, and her Archeus, in her Prerogative Royal, and free passage and progress through the Body, for its preservation and conserva­tion in its due equation of Elements, which obstructions and excrements Nature to free her self from, (after a Concen­tration, or Collection of her Forces, ac­cording to her abilities) doth by a suddain Excursion, or Sally, from her Fortress, the most Inward parts, voluntarily, and with premeditation (may I so say) cause this violent ( effervescentia Sanguinis or) Passion, or produceth it by her powerfully issuing forth, with her Recollected forces, to free her self from those incroaching Obstructions which began to diminish her Royal course, and consequently to corrupt, and putrefie her Mansion, and the passage of her Progress; Wonder not, that Na­ture (by Nature, I here mean the Life, [Page 35]Spirit, Spiritus innatus, custos corporis oeconomus) wonder (or marvail) not (I say) that Nature should be of such power, to cause so great an inflammation, scorching heat, or combustion in the Body; for consider, she is Life, and Life is Fire, and Fire the most pure, powerful and strong of all the Elements; consider se­riously her Power, and how she can (other­ways also) both cure and cause even the greatest of Diseases, and this by the sole power and strength of her own fancy, without any previous matter in the Body for the cause, or production; nor doth here end the extent of her Power, for it can perform even Miracles: If you be­lieve not me, believe yet Christ himself, who tells us, that if we have Faith but as a Grain of Mustard-seed, what we may do by it; if you will say, that this is not meant of the Spirit, but of the Soul, which medleth not with the curing of Bodily diseases, hear yet our Saviour himself; Go, (saith he) thy Faith hath (healed or) made thee whole; and again, Be it unto thee according to thy Faith: You see here that Faith is no other than the strong power [Page 36]of the (Soul or) Spirit; This the most knowing (and as Religious as knowing) Paracelsus (whatever his ignorant Anta­gonists report of him, branding him with the Name of Atheist, from which also (as their due reward) themselves in the ge­neral Opinion scape not free) doth most plainly tell us, De fide Christus haud frustra tanta nobis inculcat (viz.) adeo efficacem esse ut nos vel sanos vel aegros facere possit, imo quod majus est, per eam vel salvi vel damnati fieri possumus, prout ea utimur; legimus ipsum sanatis omnibus dixisse, crede & sanus eris, aut fiat tibi secundùm fidem, &c. Paracel. lib. Principiorum. Cap. 10. &c.

Thus this most Conscientious and Christian Physitian: Yet some of his idle Enemies (viz.) such as from others re­ports and mouths only hear (but falsly) what he was, have, in my hearing, affirmed that in his whole works, from one end to the other, He never so much as mentioned the name of God, or Christ, which how false a thing it is, who ever shall please to peruse his works, must of necessity con­clude them either very Envious, or very [Page 37]Ignorant of him, and what he wrote; for there is hardly a Page in some part of his Works, in which he doth not, and that more than once, or twice, with a true Christian regard, and reverence, name and mention both the Name of God, and also of our Saviour himself: But to re­turn to this most excellent Physician's de­livery in the aforesaid words, He tells us thus, that Faith is most powerful, and can both cause, and cure Diseases, nay more, it will both Save and Damn; it was not therefore (saith he) in vain, that Christ spake so much of the power of Faith, who, when ever he cured any of Diseases, said, Believe, and thou shalt be made whole, or Be it unto thee according unto thy Faith, &c. Wonderful certainly is the secret power of the Spirit. (But of this enough.) I could even with the greatest of truth be here Voluminous, as to the stupendious effects of Faith, or strong persuasion and imagination, and what power we have by it, not only upon our own Bodies, but also on the Bodies (and not only the Bo­dies, but also the Spirits) of others; for it is said of Christ himself, that he did no [Page 38]great Miracles there, because of their Un­belief; at Cynthius aurem vellit, neque omnia in vulgus ratio suadet.

And returning to the power of Nature, and to confirm it by some familiar exam­ple; consider, as I said before, the hot and cold Fit, (as we call them) in Agues, &c. Nature finding her power begin to decay by some Obstructing matter or other in her passages of Circulation, Peram­bulation, or Progress, calls in all her Forces to the Centre; Her forces (the Spirits) being called, and with-drawn from their several stations, or parts of the Body, (of which they are the Life and only Preser­vers) those Outward parts are oh a sud­dain over-taken with a Chilness, (or, as we call it, a cold Ague fit) the true effect of Nature's calling in her Forces, there to Concentrate and Muster them up toge­ther, that by her suddain Sally, or Return with those her united Forces, and utmost Strength, she may expel and drive out (either in part, or wholly) her Incroach­ing and Death-threatning opposite; the Body is now again by this means, (viz.) Nature's Return with her united Strength [Page 39]to expel her Enemy, by degrees over­spread with a fiery and flushing heat ( viz. the hot Fit) a most certain effect, and sign of the Spirits again re-entring and assu­ming their former Stations, and with all the power and force she is possibly able to make against her powerful Adversary; This Contest, or Duel, lasts as long as Nature is able to maintain and bear it out; and having for that time done her utmost devoir, (for according to her Strength she will with greatest vigour maintain the Battel with her Antagonist) she ceaseth, and is for some time (and this according to her remaining strength and ability) more quiet and calm, than in the heat of her past Passion, (or Spiritus exscande­scentia) which is not as improperly termed preternatural, for it is really natural, and the work of Nature (or the Archeus) her self, and is only preternatural, quoad gradum non quoad calorem, for it is the Ar­cheus irritated, or advancing her self be­yond her usual course, &c. If she be strong, she will by a Quotidian Fever (or contest) indeavour to free her self of those Obstructions she feels begin to op­press [Page 40]her; If her strength be more slack and remiss, by a Tertian; if feebler, and yet more weak, by a Quartane; and if not able every second, or third Day, &c. to fight or encounter her Enemy, she will yet as often as possibly she can, and this (perhaps) but once in ten or fourteen days, but then is she weak indeed.

That this is truth, a daily Observation of these passages in the Sick, will suffici­ently assure and convince us, (viz.) that the stronger Nature is, the more frequent her Encounters, and Excursions are against her Opposite: Our own vulgar Obser­vations, and Rules, or Maxims, will also testifie and inform us the same; for we account a Quotidian Ague (or Fever) more easie to cure than a Tertian, and a Tertian yet more easie and facile than a Quartane, for if it vary (or alter) from a Quotidian to a Tertian, we think the worse of it; If from a Tertian to a Quar­tane, we account it yet worse, and of more dangerous consequence, and much more difficult to remedy than the former; and why is this, but only that we esteem Na­ture the more weak, and the Cause greater, [Page 41]and more hardly to be removed; and consequently Nature (though well assist­ed) will have the harder task to expel it; for though Nature may not be yet very much weakned and debilitated, yet the Disease, (viz.) Obstructions of Na­ture's right and privilege, being strong, and stubborn, Nature will the more hard­ly be put to it in the conquest and extir­pation of it, and cannot therefore so often draw forth her impaired strength and forces (being already in some measure infeebled) to expel and force out her yet prevailing Destroyer; but what she doth, she must do by degrees, and as her power and strength will bear, allow, and admit of; and this is Nature's daily course: Thus you see that Nature her self stirs up, and that voluntary, (even to the utmost of her power, and strength) those con­flicts and inflammations in her Habita­tion, that so she may free, and quit her self of those unwelcome, and unpleasing Guests, which would otherwise turn her quite out of her Possession.

This is my Opinion, and I think not disagreeable to Reason, however I want [Page 42]not to back it the Authority of two great Lights, most Eminent, Expert, and Learn­ed Modern Physicians, Van Helmont, and the most acute Faber, from whom, whoso desires more satisfaction, may peruse their several Tractates, de Febribus, &c.

But to return from this Digression to the two former Assertions of Nature's most willingly, and resolvedly Suffering, or rather throwing, and putting her self into preternatural Motions; Consider the violent disturbance in the Epileptical in­sultus, or in the Falling-sickness, with the like violent motions, perturbations, and preternatural, and unusual distur­bances, more or less, in all or most Mala­dies, Distempers, and Diseases whatever. If therefore violent, and preternatural, unaccustomed Motions were altogether destructive to nature, why would she make so constant and certain an irritation of them by her Archew, as we daily in most Distempers may perceive, and observe she doth? If it be answered, it is not Nature, but the Disease that doth it, and is the cause of it, and that it is no way pleasing to Nature, but altogether oppo­site [Page 43]to her: I answer, I well know that the Disease is in some sence or part the cause of it, but how? the Disease is not the Agent that stirs up those violent and unnatural Motions of it self, but is the cause that excites Nature to do it, to free her self from the Disease, and drive it out before her, by those her violent Motions and Passions, which she thus willingly and of her own accord stirs up and suffers, that she may overcome and conquer the cause, (corrupting Obstructions and Ex­crements) the opposites of her royal and wonted indisturbed progress; and this will appear most evident, as well in her conquest or victory over the Disease, as in her final overthrow and destruction by Death it self: For if Nature, either by the strength of her own force, and Ar­cheus, or by a timely and powerful assist­ance, do extirpate, overcome, and master the Disease, she is then quiet, and no lon­ger frets, wearies, and vexeth her self, by such violent Motions, but quietly keeps her wonted, desired, and usual course and progress; if by the Distemper she be at last overcome, and Death drive her to for­sake [Page 44]her Habitation, neither doth the Body then suffer under any violent motion or disturbance; for (the Spiritus innatus, custos corporis, is departed, and) there is no Life left, and where there is no Life, there can be no such Motion, though the cause of the motion be still left as copi­ously in the Body as before; I mean the cause that moved Nature to stir up these past violent Motions, and Symptoms, to have freed her self, (if possibly) from that most violent of motions, Death it self, which at last she is forced, nolens, vo­lens, to undergo and submit to; for it is appointed for all Men once to Dye.

The virtues of this Solar Pill.

THe Operation of it is managed sometimes in a sensible, sometimes an insensible manner, according to the quantity administred; but if kept in its usually prescribed and limited Bounds or Dose, it is, I say, rather insensible than any way perceptible, unless in its wonder­ful Effects, by which it giveth perfect Cure unto the Head-ach, Vertigo, Apo­plexie, [Page 45]Lethargie, Epilepsie, Convulsion; with those many other Distempers that usually afflict the Head, as difficulty of Hearing, noise in the Head and Ears, &c.

Most effectual also it is in opening all Obstructions of the Stomach, Liver, Spleen, and other the noble Bowels, the true original and foundation of many high Distempers, and grievous Diseases.

Excellent are its effects in the Cure of Agues, and Fevers of all sorts, as Quo­tidian, Tertian, Quartane, &c. (but taken in the highest Dose, if the Patient's strength and age permit, &c.

Most powerful also, and never failing in the Cure of that lothsome and trouble­some Disease the French-Pox, though of long continuance, and gotten even into the Bones. Nor doth it thus admirably Ope­rate in these more common and ordinary Distempers and Diseases, but also in those desperate and (almost) accounted incu­rable Maladies, (viz.) the Leprosie, Gout, Dropsie, &c. all which it in time perfectly Cures, and radically takes away the Cause.

A most noble and effectual Antidote it [Page 46]is in keeping out all ill Airs, and that most swift and poysonous Infection the Plague, and, if taken, a most potent Medicine to expel and drive it out again, provided it have not wholly seised and over-powred the Vitals.

To Women, a more safe and powerful Medicine cannot be given, it being almost an universal Remedy for those many Di­stempers, that usually attend their weak, unhealthy, cold and moist Bodies; all which, I out of respect to their modesty do here purposely forbear, and omit the reciting. A most admirable virtue and faculty hath God given it, to render and make fruitful even the most barren of Women, provided the cause be in them­selves, and accidental, as in most, (that is, by some remediable indisposition of Body, and not natural, or by the will of Almighty God) and being used after Conception, (but taken in the small or insensibly Operating proportion) it won­derfully availeth in strengthning those that are apt to miscarry, and makes them bring a most sound, healthful, and thriving Child into the World, though the Parents be [Page 47]of an infirm, and a most sickly constitu­tion, and disposition of Body, &c. And this I have often to my own and others great satisfaction and content Experienced, by many of my Friends, Acquaintance, and Patients, to whom I have in this point most successfully administred them.

In Virgins, it speedily eradicates, and takes away the cause and fountain of the Green-sickness, ill habit, and constitution of Body, caused by Obstructions of the Bowels, and Nature's due and wonted course, and causeth in them a lively, fresh, and chearful countenance, with a most sound and healthful condition, &c.

To Children, it is a most potent pre­servative against the Convulsion, Falling-sickness, Worms, Measles, Small-pox, together with those other too numerous Distempers, usually afflicting, and snatch­ing them suddenly from their sorrowful Parents.

This Medicine is so truly safe and ex­cellent, that without any the least danger it may be given to the most Aged, most Weak, and also to Infants, (though but new Born) one half or the fourth part of [Page 48]one of the Pills, for Children, if weak, in a little of the Mother's milk, as most fit and proper for it, which, then taking it, shall never after be troubled with Epi­leptical or Convulsion-fits; if they are taken with those Fits, it shall, being right­ly administred to them, by degrees gently and safely mitigate, and at last quite take them away; most excellent things there­fore for Women, Mothers of Children, to have still by them in their Houses: And for my own part, I seldom, either for my Self, or any other of my Family, (or Friends) really depending upon my care upon any Distemper, (which, by God's blessing upon a convenient use of this Pill, or Medicine, doth rarely happen, though I have many other excellent ones still in readiness by me) do use any other than this one, (as a true cleanser of the whole Body) with two other pleasant refreshing Cordials, hereafter mentioned, which I once in a quarter of a year, with much freedom, do give unto the least Child I have, and in the highest propor­tion, but suitable to their Strength and Age, besides an oftner taking of the Pills [Page 49]in the ordinary insensibly operating Dose and quantity, according also to their Age and Disposition; and truly, I think there is not either in the City, or within twenty Miles of it, more healthy, lusty, and thriving Children than they are; all which, next to God Almighty's provi­dence and blessing, I cannot attribute to any thing more, than to the Virtues of this Medicine, and a due and moderate use of it.

It exceedingly cleanseth, and conse­quently strengthneth all the principal Bowels and Members, and by that means easeth and cureth all afflictions of the Head, Stomach, Ventricle, Liver, Spleen, &c.

It extremely promoteth, and pleasantly helpeth forward, the Cure of all internal and external wounds, in short time bring­ing them to perfect Cure, and that by its Balsamic and cleansing Quality; and to most outward wounds or hurts, (with the daily use of these Pills in the insensibly operating Dose) you need only defend the hurt, or wound from the Air and Dust, with a plaister of pure Bees-wax, fresh [Page 50]Butter, Turpentine, and some Mineral or Metallin flowers or calx; and so you will see a very quick and sure Cure, &c.

It miraculously accelerateth the Cure of all Ulcers, Cancers, Fistulaes, Noli me tangere, Wolf, Scrophulous humors, or Kings-evil, and the like troublesome or filthy Maladies, totally consuming and drying up (as the Sun doth the Earth's superfluous moisture) the very root, cause, and corrosive fountain from whence they spring.

In short, this most noble Medicine is so potent a purifier of the whole Body of Man, and that by its true cleansing and searching Quality, that no Distemper (God Almighty's determined and appoint­ed time being not yet come) is able long to withstand and resist the effect of its power and virtue; but time (to this as to all others, though never so good) must be given for the manifestation of its effects, and a course and continuance answerable to the Distemper, allowed and observed in the taking of it; especially in Chronic Diseases, or Distempers of deep radica­tion and habit.

The simple, rash, and inconsiderate, hearing the admirable Virtues of this Me­dicine, will without doubt as much desire it as any; but imagine, that as soon as they have taken it into their Bodies, or at far­thest within three or four days, that their Infirmity, Distemper, or Disease, of what kind, degree, and nature soever, and of what continuance soever, must of necessity presently vanish and be gone, without any the least sign, symptom, or relict of it remaining, which no ingenious or discreet person must or will expect; but accord­ing to the nature, radication, habit, and continuance of the Malady or Distemper, Age, Strength, and Constitution of their Bodies, to bear its operation in a greater or smaller Dose, expect the desired ef­fects, in the restauration of their health, which (by God's blessing, and an orderly use of this Medicine, a due time) they will most assuredly find. I have already exceeded my intentions in this discourse, and should be too tedious, indeed, should I give a relation of the many notable Cures, which by my self, and others, that have had it of me, have been performed [Page 52]by it, which truly have been such, and so great, that I (though well acquainted with the strangeness of its effects) have many times extremely wondred at them, that it should in such small Doses as it usually was given in, produce so great and extraordinary effects, &c.

If (perhaps) the Pills do in the time of their Operation, or Working, cause any small Griping, either in the Stomach, or other Bowels, as possibly in some, they may sometimes do, let them not therefore presently unadvisedly slight, reject, and dislike them, as supposing them (from thence) an unsafe, dangerous, and ill-prepared Medicine, and a too harsh, strong, and violent sort of Physick for them, (or their Constitutions) but rather let them conclude it (as justly, and truly, they may) to proceed from some error or other of their own, either in the taking, or disordering themselves in the time of their Operation, or else that their Sto­mach, or other Bowels began to be ob­structed, or filled, with a Slimy, Clam­my, or Viscuous matter; (or substance) which would not easily be Evacuated by [Page 53]the Medicine, without that small trouble and inconveniency, (well to be tolerated, or born with, in respect of the great be­nefit they will reap by it, viz.) the prevention of some greater Mischief, (or Distemper) which might suddenly have assaulted, and invaded, even Life it self, if not by this means dispersed, and so pre­vented of so bad a Consequence; and that this is true, I have sufficient, and large Experience, knowing many, who have suffered some such small trouble in the first taking of them, but their Bodies, by a continued, and moderately repered ta­king, (for some time) being fully empti­ed, and free of those Stubborn, Gross, and Viscuous humors, (Matter, or Obstru­ction) they afterwards felt not any the least trouble, disturbance, or Griping by them; for the more obstructed, clogged, and foul the Bowels are, the more will they Operate, and possibly cause (in some) such small Gripings, (a profitable incon­veniency) the more free, and clear, the Body is, the more mildly, gently, and with less trouble do they perform their Office in Operation.

Though I well know, that no Disease, or Distemper whatever, is indeed (natu­rally) Incurable, unless the immediate hand of God, for some cause or other, do hinder and oppose the Cure; and also by Experience have often found, that these Medicines come not at all short, but far exceed what I have here said of them. I yet also, as well know, that the most pre­tious of all Medicines are of no force, power, and validity, against the decrees, will, and pleasure of Almighty God; all things, both in Heaven, and Earth, must submit to his call, and appointment; the most powerful of Medicines, when He will call for our Souls out of this Vale of misery and corruption, is then no longer able to do us any good, or prolong our Life one minute beyond the time and pe­riod appointed by himself; It being ap­pointed for all Men once to Dye, to Live again (according to his good will and pleasure) to another Life. Medicine is indeed a great blessing, created, and plen­tifully bestowed upon us by Almighty God, but can serve us no further than to preserve, and restore Health, so long as [Page 55]he in his Goodness shall afford us Life; for, though without the knowledge, and help of good Medicines, we may long linger, and lie under Diseases, and by the help of them, being well known, and as well prepared, quickly expel, and quit our selves of them; yet ought we not to dote upon, or put greater confidence in their Virtue, (though of greatest excel­lency, and perfection) than with, and in the use of them, to crave his blessing, and for the effects, wholly to rely and cast our selves into the Arms of his Mercy, who, if he calls, we should as willingly resolve to be dissolved, and return unto him; if not, we cannot but in reason (and with his blessing) expect, and assuredly (in time) find the desired effect, (viz.) the return, and restauration of our Health, from the due use of pure, powerful, and safely efficacious Medicines, of which number these are none of the meanest, but truly noble Remedies, and most safe, plea­sant, and friendly assistants unto human Nature, and therefore I shall give a brief Account of the Virtues of the other five in order.

II. Quintessentia Sali Balsa­mica, &c. OR,

A Most excellent Balsamic Oyl, or Quintessence of Salt, highly impreg­nated, tinged, and Philosophically united, with the true and pure Essences of the most Aromatick and Cordial of Vege­tables. So that the essences of the Vege­tables are by the Spirit of Salt improved, heightned, and exalted to a more than or­dinary degree of efficacy and perfection, and the Spirit of Salt made Cordial by the essences and power of the Vegetables, by which means it as well refresheth the Spirits, as opens them a passage through the whole Body, &c.

The Virtue of this Aromatised precious Liquor, or essence of Salt, are such, and so many, as no one is able fully to render an account of them. I shall therefore give you only some few heads of them, accord­ing to my own knowledge and experience of it: which may lead the Ingenious to [Page 57]a farther consideration of the infinite ex­cellency of it.

1. It renews the whole Mass of Blood, and so purifieth it, that with a continued (prescribed) moderate use of it, for some time, it doth in a wonderful manner re­vive and strengthen the whole Body, ren­dring it vigorous, lusty, and of a florid and strong Constitution; it extremely quick­neth the Senses, helps the Memory, and maketh lightsome the whole Body, and this by its cleansing the Stomach, and strengthning both the retentive and dige­stive faculty, &c.

2. A most excellent and certain Arca­num (or secret) it is in Curing the Stone, either in the Reins, Kidney, or Bladder, or any Tartarous obstruction, or degenerate Salt humor in the whole Body; it retardeth Old-age, keepeth back Grey­hairs, and preserves the Body in a health­ful and flourishing condition: It is a most pleasant and safe extinguisher of all pre­ternatural heats, as in Fevers, and the like, none almost comparable unto it, either in preservation, or restauration.

3. It openeth all Obstructions of the [Page 58]Body, killeth all manner of Worms, Stomach-worms, Maw-worms, &c. It prevalently advanceth and promoteth fer­tility, (or fruitfulness in Women) and is exceeding good and profitable for those al­ready with Child, with much safety pre­serving them from many troublesome and dangerous Distempers (and Symptoms) incident unto them; highly restaurative and strengthning to the Consumptive, Ptisical, Hectical, and all this because it preserves, nourisheth, and increaseth the humidum radicale of the Body; It is so excellent a Medicine, that it cannot almost in any kind of Malady, Distemper, or Disease whatever, either Inward, or Out­ward, without some eminently profitable success and advantage, be made use of. I shall therefore say no more of it, but re­commend it to the Ingenious and Discreet, as a most high gift of Almighty God, freely and in great Plenty bestowed upon us; for should we be diligent searchers into Nature and her Treasury, the great blessings of a greater and most omnipotent Creator, we should clearly see, that those things we have most need of, and which [Page 59]would do us most good, are every where by God in greatest plenty spread before us; but we are blind, and also hate know­ledge, and to have our way directed unto us, by those whom God hath been pleased out of his Goodness to inable to be a light and guidance unto us, &c. Salt in its gross Quality, and involved or mixed with those Impurities which Nature pre­sents it to us accompanied with, is so noble a Creature, as (except the Soul of Man) there is nothing sublunary, equal, or com­parable unto it. And this those many excellent uses it daily serves us for, will (if we consider them) sufficiently in­form us of, Christ himself said, there was none good but God; Yet of Salt he saith, it is good, Salt is good, &c. If so excel­lent then, and truly good, as it is gross and impure by reason of the Dreggs and Impurities mixed with it, what may it be by a Philosophical purification, purga­tion, and other convenient Chymical pre­parations advanced and exalted to. I will not tell thee my utmost thoughts of it, for so great Mysteries depend upon a true knowledge of Salt, and its purification, [Page 60]and preparations, as the Vulgar would count fabulous, and therefore as unfit for their knowledge, as beyond their reach and contemplation; it is (even as Na­ture, the Servant of the most high Creator, prepares it for us) so great and high a blessing, as we are no way capable of re­turning him sufficient thanks for, &c.

Concerning the virtue and excellency of Salt, besides that grand, most signal, and high Character and Epithite of GOOD, bestowed upon it by Christ him­self, and by him denied to all but God himself; I could also at large (if not too large for my present intent) give you the Testimonies of Paracelsus in his Herbar, (in Quarto) pag. 3, 4, 5. pag. 103, 104, 106. &c. of Peter Faber in his fourth Book, Secret. Chymicon. pag. 443, to pag. 448. also in his Mirothe. Spagi­ricum, lib. 3. from pag. 613, to 616. See also the said Faber in his Panchimic, lib. 4. from pag. 574, to 576. Who also pleaseth, may at leisure, in their se­veral Works, peruse the ample and won­derful Virtues ascribed unto it by Scroder, Glauber, Crollius, Sennertus, Agricola, Be­guin, [Page 61]Untzer, Hartman, Tentz, Gluckraht, Kesler, Querortan, Kunrath, and many others. There lately came to my Hands a sheet of Paper printed in December last, (the Publisher I know not) entituled, The excellency and usefulness of the true Spirit of Salt, being a Collection of the Attesta­tions of several Authors and Physicians, of the eminent Virtues of Salt. It treat­eth only of the simple Spirit of Salt, well prepared, which doubtless, even in that state and condition is a very excellent Me­dicine; but that you may know I write not of the Spirit of Salt simply of it self, I have in the Title told you, it is impreg­nated, tinged, and Philosophically united with the essences of the most Cordial and Aromatick of Vegetables; by which means it is exalted, and become a far more noble, pleasant, and efficacious Medi­cine, &c.

The use of this Philosophical Spirit of Salt, is thus: Let the Infirmed (or Sound) that is pleased to take it, put so many drops of it into a Glass of Wine, Beer, Ale, or the like, (as after stirring them well together, will give a pleasant rel­lish) [Page 62]and let them Drink it twice or thrice (or only once) a Day, if they will, be­fore, or at Meals, and with thus using of it for some time, they will assuredly find (unless stupid and void of perceivance) its noble Effects; those that would use it outwardly, must mix it also with Wine, Water, or some other Vehiculum, fit for the purpose it is intended for; and if it be for Sores, or the like, wash and bathe the place affected, and they will also in short time perceive its cleansing, healing, and wonderfull Balsamic quality, even to their great benefit and admiration, &c.

III. Pilula nobilissima Purgans.

BEcause some, either to gratifie their own Fantasie, or Conceit, or other­ways deterred therefrom by the too great Folly (or other ends) of some Phy­sicians, or else more dreading the small trouble in a Vomit, than valuing their own Health, had rather have such a Medicine as may operate only by Stool.

I have also taken the pains, to prepare, and have in readiness, such a Pill, or Me­dicine [Page 63]for them, pleasant in Taste, and very mild in Operation, yet very profi­table in all, or most Distempers, that our frail Bodies do commonly labour under.

IV. Tinctura Mirabilis, &c.

VEry Numerous, and (indeed) as Great, and Excellent, as Numerous, are the Virtues ascribed by the most Emi­nent of Physicians, unto the bare and un­prepared Subject of this noble Tincture. I shall in brief acquaint you with some of them, together with my Authors, and then give you a Glimpse, (and but a Glimpse) of those most desirable Effects, which it is by this Subtilizing, and Exalting pre­paration yet farther enabled, (after a due administration) Convincingly to produce and benefit those by, that shall rightly make use of it.

This Jovivenerean Subject hath been, and still is, by all knowing, diligent, and industrious Physicians, much esteemed, and highly valued. Paracelsus (that Mo­narch of Medicine) hath (and that doubtless from his great Experience of it, [Page 64]and its Virtue) given it this very ample Character; It is (saith he) most effica­cious, and powerful against all inward Af­fects whatever, Radically plucking up, and rooting them out. Most prevalent against all Fascinations, Incantations, Night-frights, Poysons, Epilepsie, Melancholy, and doth restore the Body with a kind of Celestial vigour, to a most temperate Habit, exqui­site, and most sound Constitution. Nor is this the Testimony of the Experienced Paracelsus alone; but also of the Knowing and Learned, Hartman, Crollius, Penotus, Sennertus, Basilius, Valentinus, Kunrath, and Quercetanus, with many other most indu­strious, expert, and eminent Physicians. Take now the Virtues, Efficacy, and Power of it, as here prepared, (and presented) such, and so great is the Potency, Efficacy, and Virtue of this noble Tincture, both in purifying the Blood throughout the whole Body, and resisting all Effects, proceeding from the Corruption of the same; that it is with admirable success given in all Di­stempers, arising from a corrupt, and pu­trified Blood; and this by reason of its sweet Balsamic, penetrating Salt, and [Page 65]noble Tincture; from hence it moderates, and in time quite taketh away, both the Leprosie, and its root, or fountain, an im­pure and degenerated Blood. It stoppeth all preternatural Fluxes, both in Man, and Woman, and this by reason of its Styp­tick Salt, and Mature Sulphur, hid in its Blood-like Tincture. It comforteth, and strengthneth the Heart, and Stomach, re­stores, and cherisheth, our humidum Ra­dicale, and this by its own humidum Ra­dicale, which is in a manner very like, if not equal with the humidum Radicale of our Bodies. It dissolveth congealed Blood, and this by its Spirit, and dissolved Salt, most profitable in all poysoned Wounds, and a high remedy for all Ul­cers, if mixed with any Balsam, because by its Styptick, and Blood-cleansing Salt, it accelerateth the Cicatrization, and so produceth a perfect Cure. In brief, it is so noble a Medicine, that it deserves a far higher Character than I shall now trouble my Self, or the Reader, with an account of; for, it mundifieth the Blood so power­fully, and throughly, that it may in all affects, distresses, and debilitations, or [Page 66]weaknings of Nature whatever, most safely and successfully be made use of, and administred, and this both to Old and Young in some appropriate Vehi­cle, &c.

V. Balsamus Vitae.

THe Virtues of this pure Quint­essential and Balsamick Liquor, are also so numerous and large, that enough cannot be said of it, being such a one as would (were it possible) restore even the Dying to Life: Of how great benefit therefore it may be to the Living, lan­guishing under painful, tedious, and lin­gering Infirmities, (which otherwise, by the help of good Medicines might soon recover) I leave to the Judicious to con­sider. In short, it exceedingly restoreth the Aged, Ptisical, Hectical, Consump­tive, &c. and beyond expression strength­neth, comforteth, and raiseth those that are spent, and almost quite wasted by a tedious and long fit of Sickness: In short time (respect being had to their low con­dition) reviving their low and decayed [Page 67]Spirits, and restoring the Body to its for­mer desired and healthful condition. In brief, it is so excellent a Balsamick, and Cordial Liquor, and of so pleasant and fragrant a Smell, sweet and grateful a Taste, that it far excelleth the most famous Syrian ( Aegyptian, or Mechaan) Bal­sam, which is of so high worth, that three or four pound of it is Yearly a Present for the great Turkish Emperour: Yet as pre­tious as it is, it is far exceeded by this most excellent Cordial, and pleasant pu­rified Quintessential Liquor, &c.

VI. Specificum Anodynum Nobi­lissimum.

THis most noble, (specifick) and benign Medicine, is so truly friend­ly unto distressed Nature, and her op­pressed and debilitated Forces, that even in the moment almost that it is taken, (unless Nature be irrecoverably spent, and no way again to be re-inforced for a longer continuance in her clayie Mansion) it doth not only afford a present succour, and relief, (and that by a most Sympa­thetical) [Page 68]and not cold Stupefactive means, (as some may happily imagine) but pro­ceeds, and that by its most truly genuine Specifick quality, to an utter Extirpation, and Eradication of the Disease, by its powerful opening unto Nature, her Ob­structed passages, Royal walks, and Cir­culations, and this through all parts of the Body, by which Nature's frequent, volun­tary, unusual, and preternatural Passions, are presently allayed, and Nature most quietly again assumes her wonted course, and undisturbed progress.

I can with much confidence give the same Character of it, that Quercetan once did of another preparation of the same Subject; Hoc praestantissimum medicamen­tum omnes ardores extinguit, & arcet, omnes defluxiones sistit, omnesque dolores mirum in modum sedat, atque hoc totum ut calorem nativum non extinguat quin potius conservat & tuetur (imo multiplicat) Spiritus innatos corroborando, tantum abest quod ipsos stupefaciat, vel (quod dictu ri­diculum est) partibus adimat, sed mira qua pollet facultate vires juvando, &c. Quercet. in Respons. ad Aubert, &c. [Page 69]This opportune and friendly Operation by some (to render it more taking and facile to ordinary apprehensions) hath been called a laying of the Disease to Sleep, or a mitigation of the Disease, which indeed it is; but how? Not by Stu­pefaction, but only by its prevalent assist­ance, and inabling Nature to do that, which, with her own feeble and over-powered Forces, she was no way able to perform, and so she ceaseth, or leaveth off, her fur­ther furious assaults, and struglings, (called a Disease) with her now vanquish'd and departing Antagonist; hence, it is most useful in all Diseases, Distempers, and Maladies attended with extremity of Pain, and want of Rest, as Fevers, Agues, Phrensie, Deliriums, &c. where Nature, by her continued Duel and Combat, hath so infeebled, both her Self, and Re­sidence, that no other remedy almost will give her that present succour, relief, and assistance, that her deplorable Condition of necessity calls for, and requires. I shall say no more of it than this, that it is a truly noble Specifick Anodyne, safely assistant, and friendly unto spent Nature, [Page 70]and her wearied and languishing Archeus, being such a one as may, without the least doubt or fear, be made use of in any Con­dition whatever.

A word touching the State of Physick and Physicians.

HE was never yet Born that could please all, it is therefore but Folly to expect it; nor indeed ought a wise Physician so much to study ways for the satisfying every Nurse, old Gossip, and the indiscreet Patient, as truly good Me­dicines (together with his Care) for the performance and discharge of the Duty that lies upon him; and whereas the An­tient Physicians were had in great esteem and respect for the worthiness of their Calling, it is now altogether contrary, and this through the great Folly of (even) Physicians themselves, each one seeking to Ingratiate himself, and this by Insinu­ation, by mean and pleasing Concessions, in plain English a servile Sycophancy, though not at all profitable to their Pati­ents, rather than really to perform that [Page 71]Duty that a true Physician ought to dis­charge, seeking more to please the Fancy than Cure the Diseases of their Patients, thereby Curing in a short time, instead of their Patients, their own sickly, and al­most expiring Purses; and he that doth otherways is not now esteemed, such is the Folly (and so much doth Custom prevail with the generality) of people;

And if any Physician be so honest, and careful, as industriously to seek for, and prepare, good Medicines, he is presently as it were excluded out of the number of the putatitious Doctors, more honoured for their Name, and some formal outward Accoutrements, than any thing in them, that may in the least render them worthy that Honourable Name they assume, and usurp, or is otherways without their De­sert put upon them; many other are the reasons of that great Dis-respect, and Cloud, that this most worthy Profession doth now lye under; but doubtless, there are many, both industrious, and ingenious Persons now of it, which are (and will as Pillars uphold and maintain) the Life of it, and the time (I hope) is now ap­proaching, [Page 72]wherein it will recover its due Esteem and Splendor; for many of the most Learned, Sober, and Discreet Ju­nior (Doctors or) Physicians, of this Age, well observing the great Dis-esteem it now suffers under, and considering the Cause of it, do find, that it is partly from the small benefit their Patients receive from their chargeable Visits, or more truly, from their most ineffectual (though most chargeable prescribed) Medicines; observing (I say) this Defect to arise (and that most undoubtedly) from the great inefficacy of their prescribed Medi­cines, they do now begin (though but privately, as being partly ashamed) to quit their former obstinacy, refusal, and contempt of the only pure (Chymical) and well prepared Medicines, and partly for fear of being Esteemed by others De­serters of the Old (and as they have strongly pretended, the only safe, though indeed most ineffectual and rotten) foun­dation, and method of Physick. They begin, (I say) though but secretly, to consider, open, and ransack the Treasu­ries and rich Caskets, and Cabinets of [Page 73]Nature, thence to draw forth, and pre­pare, those most excellent Arcanaes, and Quintessences, there stored up, and in plenty bestowed upon us by Almighty God; by which, doubtless, the infirm and languishing (though it may be afterwards ingrateful) Patient, will quickly be re­stored to his former Health, and the Doctor not so frequently, as now of late, hear, Thus, (his Patient's most earnest intreaty) For God's sake put me not into a tedions and chargeable course of Physick; This being performed, (viz.) the rich Store-house of Nature being unlocked, and opened by the skilful and learned Physician, then will Physick, and its Pro­fessors, again acquire that due Esteem, Reward, and Honour, which the Antients so deservedly reaped by it; But this ad­vantage and restauration must this Science receive, only from those which Paracelsus calls Astrales discipuli, its Astral disciples, or those by God, and Nature fitted for it, with a Genius, disposition, inclination, and real ability for an unwearied and deep search into Nature, and her inmost Re­cesses; It is not a Superficial Academick [Page 74]Learning, and Fruitless disputation, (of ens, & non ens) nor is it, as Paracelsus (in his Epistle to Christ. Clauser. Med. & Philoso.) tells us, Titles Eloquence, the Knowledge of Tongues, or the Reading of many Books, but a profound Meditation, and Knowledge of Nature, and her Mysteries, which easily supplies all other Defects, and alone is able to make a true Physician. I would not from this Citation of Paracel­sus, be thought to vilifie, slight, contemn, and discountenance Learning, and hereby excite, and incourage, every Dull-pated Mechanick (fit only to be a Mechanick) to the Study of the most abtruse, sublime, and mysterious Secrets of Nature; No, I am one that truly esteem and highly ho­nour Learning, and all those that are en­riched and adorned with so desirable a Jewel, as being not ignorant, but well weighing, and knowing how great an ad­vantage (and as great an Ornament) it is to those, whose propitious Fates have added it (as a blessing) to their other most acute and great natural Abilities; yet do I not, for all this, Idolise, and so Adore it, as to dis-esteem those modest [Page 75]and truly ingenious Spirits, whose un­happy Stars have deprived them of that which they not only own as an (almost) incomparable Treasure, and being sensible of the want of it, and their great Defici­ency by that want, do not only prise, but earnestly desire it, and at last obtain (by a continued diligence) no small Portion, or Improvement in it; for I very well know, and have often found, even admi­rable Conceptions in such as have scarce attained to the reading of their own Mo­ther-tongue, God bestowing extraordinary natural parts, as well in Cottages, as in Regal Courts, on Peasants, as on Princes, which, if polished, by the Artifice, and advantage of Learning, would (doubt­less) prove even the wonders of their Age, &c.

These I esteem, and would also incou­rage and cherish, and not those impu­dent and ignorant Fellows, whose Igno­rance prompts them, and their Confidence and Impudence imboldens them, to bid Defiance to all above them, and will tell you, that it is not Greek, Latin, and such stuff and trash, that will cure Diseases. [Page 76]This the Wise well know, and yet as well know, that those most Confident, and Impudent (and as Ignorant as Impudent) Boasters, must be, and are beholden, (if at any time they have any thing that is good) not only to those that have the advantage of them in Latin, Greek, and other improving Education, but also to those that have neither Latin, Greek, nor any thing of what the World calls Learn­ing, more than themselves, and yet far exceed them in all, but a more than Bruitish confidence, &c.

These (I mean these modest, and in­genious Spirits, though not improved by the most desirable help of Learning, and Education) may certainly, (with these who exceed them in so great an advan­tage) not improperly, be accounted in the number of those Astrales discipuli, which Paracelsus, and others, tell us, are only fit for the study, and search of Na­ture, and consequently the true, and only able Physicians, being, saith he, (ad hoc à Deo nati) created, and sent into the World only for that work and purpose; and that this is true, variety of Examples in every [Page 77]or all Ages may sufficiently convince us, &c.

These, and these only, are those that Providence hath ordained for the restau­ration of Physick, that most noble, and mysterious of Sciences. But to recede, and give period to this Digression, which my just and natural Zeal to the prosperity of this laudable Science, hath led me un­to; My request (as a truly well wisher) to all the Learned, Diligent, and Indu­strious Professors of Physick, is, that they incessantly labour to repair the breaches of their Profession, which indeed is no way to be performed, but by a serious conversing with the Wise; I mean the Books (or Monuments) left unto us by the Antient, Learned, and Nature-search­ing Philosophers, to which, as a Test and proof of the reality of their Theorical knowledge, they would also add a most unwearied Manual operation, which only is able to manifest the verity of the high­est of their Speculations in a Physical way, and detect, and produce, the most large and admirable of Nature's infinite Se­crets; for God hath not included any [Page 78]thing in the Creature, but he hath given absolute power unto Man, (as Lord of the Creation) to make himself fully Master of it, and that in its highest degree of Purity and Perfection; then will they attain unto such noble Secrets, and Medi­cines, as shall easily expel, not only the smallest, but also the greatest, and most contumatious, or stubborn, venomous, and chronick Diseases, provided the Infirm have not yet attained ad justam metam aetatis, to the just and utmost limits of time appointed by God himself, for then the slightest, smallest, and most trivial of Distempers is (as Paracelsus, in his Book of the Mystery of Worms, tells us) Introitus ad mortem, an Inlet to Death, which (as being the Will of the Al­mighty) there is no farther resistance a­gainst, nor redemption from, nor can any, even the best of Medicines, prevail against it; Otherways pure Nature is strong e­nough, to assist and strengthen Nature to the expulsion of the most violent of Dis­eases, such is the power of pure Arcanaes, which being had as altogether necessary for the Cure of chronick and contagious [Page 79]Diseases, there will then be no need of the now too numerous Physical Mustard­pots, nor of the dubious Diacritick and Diagnostick part of Physick, but only a true knowledge of the strength and dose of the Medicine; and this the most honest (and as learned as honest) Faber tells us, Ha­bito uno Arcanorum, vel Animantium vel Vegetabilium vel Mineralium, non est opus scire & cognoscere undenam morbus oriatur, & qua via procedat ad interficiendum homi­nem, sed opus est scire dosim Arcani, & pro­pinare ipsam cum jusculo aut vino, in quo­cunque morbo; tunc temporis enim ab ipsa propinatione Arcanum jungitur naturae, & Natura roborata & fortior facta ab ipso Arcano, morbum aggreditur, & expellit materiam morbificam quacunque in parte re­sideat; nam semper natura morborum est Curatrix, &c. Pet. Fab. Sap. Universa. lib. pri. cap. 21. &c.

Having (saith he) any one Arcanum, be it either of the Animal, Vegetable, or Mineral Kingdom, there is then no need of the uncertain Indications, Diagno­sticks, Prognosticks, and the like Verbal impertinences, (frustra fit per plura quod [Page 80]fieri potest per pauciora.) We need then do no more, but learn in what Dose, and Vehicle, to administer such a Medicine; we need not then trouble our selves whence the Disease sprang, or which way it proceeds, for such a pure Medicine will effectually do all that is requisite to be done, to corroborate debilitated Nature, and cast out the Morbifick matter, or Na­ture's opposite, and obstructor. Nor is this his single Testimony, of the excel­lency and power of such pure and quint­essential Arcanaes, but a confirmation of the Testimonies of all others that have had, and been Masters of, such exquisite, Celestial, and pure Medicines. From the same consideration doubtless did the in­comparable [...]arace sus thus advise us, Ele­mentum ignis in omnibus morbis summum est Arcanum, & quicunque medicorum Ele­mentum ignis in sua (liceat ita loqui) ar­canitate (sive Medicina) non habet, is se­ipsum verum & probatum (adeptum) me­dicum non jactet, sed tyronem & loculorem expilatorem. Paracel. in Tract. de Sulp. Emb. &c.

That Physician (saith he) that hath not [Page 81]raised his Medicines to the Nature of Fire, ought not to assume the Name of a Physician, for he (indeed) is no other than an Impostor, and Cheat, for the Element of Fire is the great Arcanum in Curing all Diseases. Take yet his farther Instruction, though in a more dark and Philosophical manner of expression, Bene­dictus sit deus altissimus & gloriosissimus qui ex immenso ejus amore & summa misere­cordia tales medicinis purissimis concessit ocu­los quales medicis, etiamsi peritissimis, ne­gavit. Paracelsus in Xenodoch, (nondum typis excus.) Blessed be (saith he) our most high and glorious God, who of his In­finite love and mercy towards us, hath given those Eyes to good and pure Medicines, which he hath denied to the most able and skilful of Physicians. What these pure Medicines are, he hath already told us, (viz.) Medicines exalted by purging and puri­fying, (viz.) Chymical preparations, even to the nature of Fire, (viz.) the highest purity and perfection; for then are they Galen's medicamenta partium te­nuium, or Medicines fit to be administred for the freeing oppressed Nature, from [Page 82]her languishing, and infeebled Condi­tion, &c.

Great is the favour these most excellent Men have in the fore-going Aphorisms, or Instruction, afforded us, but we are both Foolish and Ingrateful, for while we thirst after Wealth, we neglect the only Men and Means that would direct us to it, and do not, with the wise King of Israel, first seek and desire the fountain that would effectually, and plentifully bring us, not only those smaller Streams, or Rivulets, we so much desire and pine after, but also the full Streams of the highest of all sub­lunary Blessings.

But to return from this Digression to our Arcanaes, and the Subjects fit for such a degree of Exaltation, you may, if you please, consult the most expert Paracelsus in his Mannuale de lapide Physico; His Archidoxis lib. de vita longa, and other places of his Writings, to which you may add, and peruse, Quercetan, Faber, Hel­mont, Sennertus, Hartman, Crollius, Fer­nelius, Marsilius, Ficinus, Basilius, Valen­tinus, with (almost infinite) others, who, with much Charity, and Sincerity, have [Page 83]delivered unto us most admirable Secrets, would we with an answerable and requi­site Diligence, peruse, elaborate, and make use of them, &c.

If some (haply) should object, and tell me, that it cannot possible be, that Me­dicines, how highly soever elaborated, and prepared, can effect such Miracles, and suddain Cures, as are attributed to them; Let me tell him from the wise Hermes, that, quicquid superius est, idem est etiam inferius; if there be power in the Planets, or Stars, those great Ministers of Al­mighty God, the Angel Guardians, and successive Rulers of the World under him, as certainly there is, and far beyond even the best and largest of our wishes, to all intents and purposes whatever, then can we not despair (if we will credit Hermes) of obtaining (upon a diligent inquisition) the utmost aim and ends of our desires; for, doubtless, he hath not placed any in­fluence, or virtue whatever, in those supe­rior Bodies, that we should suppose im­possible for us to procure, and attain to, (for our own good, and his glory) be­cause they are out of our hand-reach [Page 84]placed in the Heavens; for whatever is below, hath the same Virtue with that which is above hath, and that which is above, but the same with that below; whatever is above hath its likeness below, and what we have here below in our reach, and power, hath in its Centre and Purity (as being produced by the Supe­rior rays and influx) the same virtue, efficacy, and power, that those most bright, and superior Bodies, we so much admire and gaze at, have, and contain in them, would we begin where Nature leaves, and help her in what she cannot perfect for us: At hic labor, hoe opus est, This is a work only for the Wise and Prudent. If any one shall yet Cavil at this Do­ctrine, and tell me, this is no way agree­able with the Instructions; and Method left unto us by Galen, Hippocrates, and o­thers, the only Founders, and Pillars of Physick, whose prescriptions direct us to diversity of Medicines, for diversity of Diseases, and that they made no use of poysonous Minerals, and Metals, but of the most safe, and wholsome of Animals, and Vegetables, &c. To those that shall [Page 85]thus object, let me tell them, That I think they have as little Versed themselves in the Writings of those whose followers they pretend themselves to be, as in theirs, whom they are only able, through Igno­rance, Malice, and Custom, to rail at, and revile, but no way able to Confute, or in the least overthrow their Doctrines, esta­blished, and built upon the Rock of Rea­son, and confirmed by daily innumerable examples of Experience; and this in the most desperate of Diseases.

As to their using only the most whole­some and safe of Vegetables, and Ani­mals, let them call to mind their Helle­bor. Albus and Niger, Elater. Colocynth. Tithymal. Thapsia. Turpethu. Bryon. Scam­mo. Cyclamen, with several others of the like violence in Operation, which, with­out a due Correction, and Chymical pre­paration, come not much (if at all) short of the most violent, and (as termed) most venomous of Minerals: but because we will also let them see how well grounded and perfect they are in their Master's pre­cepts, that tell us of our Venomous and Health-destroying Minerals; and would [Page 86]so silence our new Doctrine, as they very Gravely are pleas'd to call it; Let them consult Myre [...]sus in his Book of Colle­ctions, of the choicest, and most excel­lent compositions of their (Hodg-podg) Antidotes, and these from the most select and able of Galenists, and they shall there find few less, if not somewhat more, than an hundred of those Antidotes, which have in them, as their chief Ingredients, Ground, or Basis, either Minerals, Semi­minerals, or Metals, and those in a most crude and unprepared condition.

See now the great Obstinacy, joyned with a no less Ignorance, of many, that pretend themselves the strict followers of those sedulous and most laborious Foun­ders of Aesculapius his Temple. And seeing nihil perfectione in principio gaudet, certainly those Men, Galen and Hippo­crates (to whom we cannot but acknow­ledge our selves extremely ingaged, for delivering over unto us, their then more than ordinary Light, and Knowledge) intended not their Labours (so freely communicated for the good of Posterity) as Herculean Pillars, or a non plus ultra, to [Page 87]the indeavours of those ingenious Spirits that should succeed them, and by decree of Providence enter upon the Stage of the World after them, and that for the mani­festation of the Glory of Almighty God, as the Men and means provided, and de­signed by him, for the discovery (or ma­nifestation) of some larger part of those innumerable Treasures of Wonders, and Knowledge, which he is (infinitely be­yond the apprehension of all Mortals, that ever were, or shall be) able to draw forth, and bestow upon frail Man, for his solace, comfort, and admiration, to his Creator's glory. And this will well and clearly appear by the Ingenious confession (or rather admonition, and excitation) of Hip­pocrates, to a farther discovery and im­provement; whose Concession, let us take for the unanimous consent of all those most acute [...] or antient Founders of that Fabrick, which we ought with all diligence and sincerity (for a publique good) to build up, and adorn. Medicina (saith he) non eam assecuta est adhuc perfectionem, cui nihil addi possit, sed in qua semper vel aliquid modo reprehendi, [Page 88]modo corrigi, modo addisci queat, Hippo­crates, &c. In this, this great and know­ing Physician tells us, that Medicine (or the Science of Physick) had not then at­tained to so great Perfection, that nothing could be added to it, but that it yet stood in such a condition, as might well admit of reprehension, correction, and farther inquisition and addition. Words truly worthy, so worthy a Person, and such a one, as, were he now in being, would (I dare be confident) not only allow of those rational and real amendments which Posterity hath added to their Labours, but with greatest Alacrity, and Cheerfulness, imbrace the means and knowledge of ad­ding yet a greater Perfection to so abso­lutely necessary, and laudable a Science; and not, as some of their wilful and per­verse Disciples, and Successors, malitiously stop both Eyes, and Ears, against what only would make them what they should be, (viz.) Physicians in Knowledge, and Deed, and not only Putatitious (& solùm nomine & togaetenus) pretenders to the greatest of Contemplations, and Nature's Secrets, of which they yet know nothing, [Page 89]but only by their (Methodical) Igno­rance keep the generality of people in a Maze, and servile adoration to their empty Noddles.

This only to those pretended Galenists, who use the name of Galen, and Hippo­crates, together with other most deserving Learned Men, their followers, only as stalking Horses, to shadow and hide their Ignorance from the World's Eye, and a Warrant (at pleasure and large) to rail at, and cast ignominy and reproach on the Names and Repute of such most ex­cellent Hermetick Philosophers and Phy­sicians, as themselves are no way worthy to mention, and whose Works, (the only means and evidence left us to judge of Antiquity) together with those of their pretended Patrons, Galen, and Hippo­crates, they have as little perused, as they have studied the Turkish Alcoran, much less concocted, to make a right use of them, to the benefit and assistance of their languishing (deceived) Patients, &c. I think not thus of all that are diligently Studious, and most strict followers of those Fathers of Physick, Galen, and Hippo­crates, [Page 90]for I know many of them most learned, judicious, and discreet Persons; and what they are not yet satisfied in, or cannot yet well assent to, they will not however presently with a rash Malice, conclude, and condemn as Erroneous; Many of them also (sometime strong Assertors of the Antient Dogmatical me­thod of Physick, as the only safe, and most effectual way) have at last thought it no shame to give place unto their better Considerations, and allow of Purity as the only means to Perfection, and accord­ingly owned, and professed themselves Med. utriusque studiosos, Persons allow­ing, and Studious as well of the Chy­mical, as Galenical way of Medicines. Othersome of them have been so much farther (from a daily clear Experience) convinced of the excellency of Medicines purified, and separated from their dirty and drossie Parts, (which are the only Obstructors of those admirable effects, they would otherways produce) that they think nothing fit for administration in a Physical way, that hath not (in some measure) passed the Test of Chymical [Page 91]preparation, and purification, which, (in brief) let the Sons of Art (I mean such as have made some happy progress in their Labours, and so apprehend in few words things of great moment) accept of, and receive from me as followeth: As to the preparation of Medicines, out of Vege­tables, or Animals, thus. If thou wouldst have an Arcanum of Vegetables, first bring them, (viz.) the Vegetables, to a due putrefaction, and fermentation; then ab­stract the volatile Parts; separate their Flegm, and other Impurities by due pre­paration; then, after a due Incineration, or Calcination of their Cap. Mortuum, or Faeces, extract, and purifie the more fixed; joyn the fixed, and volatile in due order; digest, and fix the Arcanum by fitting de­grees of Heat; increase, or multiply it both in virtue and quantity, by a due Nou­rishment, ex quo aliquod nascitur ex eodem nutritur; do the like with Animals, ex­cept in fermentation, which, in their pre­paration may be excused: As to the pre­paration of Metals, Bodies of all other the most compact, and (almost) incor­ruptible, much might be said, not intended [Page 92]at this time to be divulged; of Minerals, I shall at present say nothing, and only give a short (and but a short) account of the preparations of Metals for Physick, and to a Medicinal use; As to the making of most rich Perfumes, we commonly as­sume the most pleasing and Odoriferous of Nature's products; so doubtless, the best of Animals, and Vegetables, must of necessity be the fittest Subjects to make, and prepare into the best of (such) Me­dicines; We will also (as in reason we ought) suppose the like of Metals, and therefore for Metallick Medicines, or our Metalline Arcanaes, assume and take the best of Metals, (viz.) Gold, and Silver; The manner and method to prepare these, is various, I shall only touch at two, and leave the rest to the search of those that shall not in these find the Satisfaction they desire. The one is by a Retexion, un­weaving, or opening (may I so say) of what Nature so carefully hath, as it were, bound up, and concocted, and wholly, or in part, fixed, (after her utmost prepa­ration of Purification.) This by some hath been called a reduction of the subject [Page 93]Philosophical into its first matter, Sulphur, and Mercury, (a Spiritual Body) &c.

This by othersome (and those such as think themselves no mean Proficients in the search of Nature, and her choicest Secrets) hath been laughed at, and e­steemed only a Philosophical fable: However, I dare, and do here affirm the truth, and possibility of it, &c.

This Reduction, or Retexion of so per­fect a Body as Gold is, hath by one most excellent English Philosopher (G. R.) been called a passing it per Rotam Philo­sophiae, a carrying or passing it through the Wheel (or subtile preparations) of Philosophy; and as Nature had her own Fire for the production of this Physical Subject, (viz.) Gold, the perfectest of her Works, so (to shorten somewhat our intended Operation) may we use the same Fire for the Destruction, Reduction, Retexion, Regeneration, and Improve­ment of this her utmost Master-piece, to bring it to that heighth, which she of her self could not advance it to, but left the Mastery to Art's Industry, (viz.) the heightning her begun (and ended) Ope­ration, [Page 94]to a supernatural degree of purity and perfection, and that in a double, tre­ble, ten-fold, or an hundred-fold degree, &c. beyond what she was of her self able to exalt it to.

I say, to this Operation we may (as most necessary) make use of her Magical, yet natural Fire, the true Universal and Balsamic ignis Naturae, (or rather contra Naturam, as here to be used, yet) the Ori­ginal preservation, and conservation of all products that the Eyes of Man do behold. The second, and last preparation, I shall point at, is, the Reduction of our assumed, Medicinal Subject, (viz.) Gold, by its Specificated humidum Radicale, (a true Metalline fire) in speciem Naturae, into the same species of Nature, with this Metallick volatile Fire, which, being by a true Philosophical skill, brought to this pass, and Nature, it will not then be any hard matter to make a true Union of our now Spiritual Body, with its true (Spe­cificated) humidum Radicale, &c.

This is that great Philosophical Laby­rinth, whose Clue hath been sought by many, but found by few. This is the Key [Page 95]that only opens unto us a Gate into the greatest of Nature's Medicamental Se­crets; It hath therefore been very spa­ringly mentioned by Philosophers, and if at any time touched upon, as suddenly (as it was frugally, and sparingly disco­vered, or unveiled) again clouded by some following Sophism. The most pro­found Lully is (indeed) herein, some­what more charitable than most others have been, where he tells us, Spiritus non potest misceri cum corpore perfecte, nisi edu­ctum fuerit corpus in speciem Naturae, id­circo qua do vis miscere corpus cum spiritu, reducendum est corpus illud in speciem Na­turae per vinculum amoris naturalis, &c.

A Spirit (saith he) cannot be rightly joyned with a Body, unless that Body be first brought in speciem Naturae with that Spirit. If therefore thou wouldst (at any time) joyn a Spirit with any Body, thou must bring that Body into an equality with that Spirit, &c.

Consider now well what I have here given thee a Light to; and weigh well the great Charity of the said Venerable Lully in the following sentence, Corpora praepa­randa [Page 96]& reducenda sunt ad unam aequali­tatem cum spiritibus, & ita simul ponantur, & fiat verum matrimonium & conjunctio; nisi enim corpora & spiritus quae conjungere vis, sint reducta ad unicam essentiam & unam Naturam, non permiscentur & con­jungantur, ut aqua cum aqua; decipiuntur igitur Stulti, qui putant posse conjungere spi­ritus cum corporibus, in eorum crassitie & diversitate Naturae, quoniam non fieri po­test, donec deducantur in unam aequalitatem formae.

‘Those Bodies (saith he) that thou wouldst joyn with Spirits, thou must first reduce to the Nature of Spirits, so may they be put together, and a true Matri­mony, Union, or Conjunction be made; and herein are those Fools deceived, that think to joyn Spirits with Bodies, in their grossness, and diversity of Nature: This is altogether impossible, and therefore are they deceived in their intentions.’ To strengthen this most rational Counsel of the most expert Lully, take yet the farther advice of that great and knowing Philo­sopher Calid, Non morabitur spiritus in corpore, nec cum eo ullatenus remanebit, quo­usque [Page 97]ipsum corpus habeat ex subtilitate & tenisitate, ut habet spiritus, nam cum corpus attenuatum fuerit, & subtiliatum & à sua densitate exierit, spissitudine, crassitie & corporeitate ad spiritualem essentiam, tunc commiscebitur spiritibus subtilibus & im­bibitur in iis, & sic uterque evadit unum & idem, & non separabuntur, sicut nec aqua mixta aquae, &c.

Then (saith he, speaking of the con­junction of Spirits and Bodies to a Phy­sical use) will Spirits remain with the Bodies (thou wouldst joyn them with) when the Bodies are first brought back to the nature of Spirits, and a Spiritual Es­sence from their gross and heavy Bodies, then will they remain with one another, as Water with Water, inseparably, and never again be parted, Nam naturâ Na­tura gaudet, & simile simili jungitur, &c. I have here given you the Unanimous advice of two great Philosophers, towards the preparation of Gold, and Silver, into the most excellent of Medicines. What I have here, with the Authority of two such eminent Philosophers, intimated, (or rather plainly declared) will haply by [Page 98]some be thought too trivial, and of small moment, or concernment, towards the discharge of my promise in this point; and further, demand how this is to be done, and when done, how farther to pro­ceed with them to the true conjunction, and creation of Medicine.

To these I shall answer, (in brief) thus, That, which I have here, in relation to my promise declared, though I give it them (for their better satisfaction and opinion of the thing) in the words of so great Authors, and not as from my Self, and in my own Style and Dialect, (which I could also well have done) is not, as they may deem it, an Admonition slight­ly to be passed over, and forgotten; but such an one, as, if seriously considered, may in time bring them no small way to­wards the enjoyment of their best of wishes.

As to the way and practice for the per­formance, I have also said more than will, without much meditation, and considera­tion, be presently discerned: To those that think I have done too little, I have done too much, and shall therefore, lest I [Page 99]receive a worse reward, for a better and larger discovery, leave them to their own Inquisition after that they desire. To the Grateful, Modest, and Ingenious, I may possibly hereafter make some farther Ex­planation of my meaning, and the true method, and means (but in a Philoso­phical style) to attain to their desire (in a Physical way.) For I expect not in the generality of the Students of Physick, the subtility of Geber, nor the profound­ness of Raymond Lully. I shall there­fore hereafter (haply) in my (inten­ded) Aurora, give the Students of Phy­sick, and searchers into Nature's admi­rable and most mysterious Secrets, those advantageous Instructions, which my pre­sent Discourse will not allow of; and therefore, if not yet understood, must (till then at least, for any thing from me) re­main a Secret, and indeed, such an one, as being the Gate into the (Physical) Rosary of Philosophers, is only attainable by the Astral Disciples, and Sons of Art, or those by Providence designed for it, by their own indeavours: But to give (if possible) some present satisfaction to the [Page 100]more quick apprehensions, how the se­cond way of reducing Gold into a Spi­ritual nature, by its proper Specificated humidum Radicale, (in its natural form, or dissolved) and after into a most noble, and fiery (purple) Medicine, may be performed: Take the following most clear light, and instruction of Bernard, Trevisan. Nulla aqua (saith he) naturali reductione speciem metallicam dissolvit, nisi illa quae permanebit ei in materia & forma, & quam metalla ipsa (dissoluta) possunt recongelare. No water (saith he) will naturally dissolve the Metallick body, (Gold, or Silver) but that, which will, after dissolution, remain inseparably with it, both in matter, and form, and which will afterward be congealed with (or by) the Metallick dissolved Body, &c. The weight and clearness of this Instruction, I shall not more insist on; I have now opened the Gate, where thou mayst enter into the most spatious, and delightful of Nature's Courts; nay, I have farther led thee into the path that will bring thee into her own choicest of Secrets, where I also hold up the Curtain to thee, to be­hold [Page 101]( Magnalia Naturae, or) Nature in the greatest of her Majesty; but I for­bear to speak more of these Mysteries, known unto so few, lest I too much violate the just, and most reasonable Injunctions of the Wise. I have said more than enough to the Ungrateful, and sufficient to the Grateful, and Ingenious, Qui oculos habet videat, Qui aures habet audiat, & capiat qui capere potest, &c.

If any one, from what I have in this friendly manner communicated as to the preparations of Metals (and indeed the best of Metals) to a Physical use, shall so far mis-construe my Instructions, as to imagine them to have relation to Medi­cines, as well for Metalline, as Human Bodies. It lieth not in my power to com­mand (or set bounds unto) his Thoughts, nor would I, if I could; let him therefore freely, and fully use his liberty, and, if he can, make a benefit of it beyond my Intentions, which are only Physical: He shall not yet fail of my well-wishes to attend him, and his labours; Nor should I at all envy, but rather rejoyce at his happiness, that out of so poor a Mine, [Page 102]could draw something towards so Rich a Jewel; and though they are things I pre­tend not to, yet will I not rashly deny the possibility of them, (being in some mea­sure sensible of the great Riches, and Treasures of Nature) and as I will not deny their reality, so neither will I affirm their certainty, but (whatever my acci­dental, yet possible as much satisfactory, as wished for, or desired experience in some small things (for I aim not at great ones) may have gained upon my belief, and confidence of them) leave them in their own inestimable and unvaluable worth, to be judged by more able and ju­dicious Persons, &c.

I have haply said more than Discretion would I should, or than I shall receive thanks for; of the Foolish, Empty, and light Criticks, I expect it not: To the truly Ingenious I know it will be as accep­table, as it is freely delivered; To those only I write, and to those also I wish a prosperous success in their honest indea­vours and Search into the superabundant, and most inestimable, Treasures of Na­ture.

A Continuation upon farther Consi­deration.

TO give the Ingenious yet a farther Testimony of my good and candid Intentions towards them, and their pros­perous success in Chymical Elaborations, and to prevent the lasie, empty, and im­pertinent Critick, of his seemingly just Cavil against my Obscurity; (as possible for want of Knowledge he may call my (rather) too clear, and open Instruction) I here offer, both the one, and the other, a most free and honest Exposition of my former hints and admonitions, and that in the very words of the greatest and most able Masters in Physick and Philo­sophy.

The specified Humidum Radicale of Metals, which I before spake of, (to be now more plain, and charitable than there I was) points only at the common Quick­silver, or vulgar Mercury: For, that being first rightly prepared, and as rightly dis­solved, and distilled into a clear whitish Silvery and Crystalline Liquor, is then [Page 104]the Specifick, and only true Metalline dissolving Menstruum, or Philosophick Mercury, amicable, or friendly to all Me­tals, and that only that can radically re­duce them and all Minerals to their first moist and unctuous form and Essence. And now I have told them thus much in my own ruder Style, I will yet, for their greater and fuller Satisfaction, let them also hear what a most charitable and honest Adept tells us of the same thing, Ex mercurio vulgi miris modis fit aqua & oleum, albissimum, veluti lac, cui si impo­nitur vel aurum vel argentum, dissolvitur, & aurum & argentum in eo liquore, sicut glacies in aqua calida, liquescit, & ita in sua principia seminalia reducuntur & tunc summam cum principiis vitae nostrae confor­mitatem habent. Et hoc modo, & tuta & efficacissima adversus quoscunque naturae no­strae morbos reddere possis. Sunt quam plu­rimi qui hanc essentiam Mercurialem con­ficere norunt, & perinde non opus est ut hic doceatur, & omnibus communis & vulgaris fiat; etsi vulgaris esse meretur propter necessitatem in Medicina: praestantissimum enim, imo divinum Medicamentum est, quo [Page 105]doctus & prudens medicus & laudem & gloriam sibi comparare queat; Nihilominùs cum haec st totius Alchymiae Margarita, neque prostitui neque indignis communicari debet. Secreta omnia Alchymiae ab illa de­pendent; is igitur qui eam cupiet, studeat Alchymiae & ejus operibus secretis.

In this as candid as plain Sentence, he tells us, that out of the Vulgar Mer­cury or Quicksilver may, after a wonder­ful manner, be made a Water, or Oyl, in which if we shall put either Gold, or Silver (first rightly thereunto prepared) they will sweetly (& sine strepitu) be dissolved in it, as Ice in warm water, and are thereby reduced into their first seminal principles (or moist Essence) and have then a most near affinity, or conformity with our Archeus or princi­ples of life (or more plainly with our life it self) and are also thereby render­ed most safe and Efficacious Medicines against all diseases whatever that afflict our weak bodies. There are (saith he) many that know how to prepare, or make this Mercurial Liquor, or Essence, and therefore it shall not be taught, [Page 106]and made common to all, though truly for its admirable Excellency, and vertue in Medicine, it deserves to be made publick; for it's a most noble and a divine Medicine, and such a one as by which the Prudent and Conscien­tious Physitian may acquire both praise, and glory; yet seeing it is, as it is, the onely Pearl, or great Arcanum of Al­chymie, it must not be prostituted (viz.) communicated to the unworthy. All the secrets of Alchymie depend upon it. He therefore that desires it, let him diligent­ly apply himself to Chymistry and its se­cret Operations &c.

I shall not here spend time to answer the objections and cavills of those that will perhaps tell me, that the Philoso­pher's Mercury is not the common Mercury, nor is it prepared out of it; this in some sence is true, and I well know (and it may be better than themselves) that the Philosophers point at and direct us (though aenigmatically) to another Mer­cury, and also a compound of Mercuries, or Mercurius duplicate called also their Mercury. But I as well know that, that [Page 107]is not (always) their crude, acute, and sharpe Menstrual, or dissolving Mercury: But as Rich. Anglus, Albertus, Rhasis, the minor Rosary, and all others, do in­form us, their matured or sweet concoct, and Congeling Mercury; cum mercurio seu argento vivo dissolvuntur corpora, eorumque naturae reserantur & aperiuntur, & in primam materiam reducuntur. Mer­curius autem ex corporibus congelatis hoc facere non potest, quia illud sulphur per congelationem alteratum est in Natura, quod non corrodit sicut primum. Rich. An­glus, &c. And again, aqua quae in auro, & argento est, est dulcis, nec dissolvens est, sed potius coagulans, & consolidans, quia est dulcis, non habens virtutem aceto­sam. Albertus magnus; Omnia corpora ex mercurio suam originem habent, & ex ipso generantur, & iterum in eum conver­tuntur; aurum quod ex puro & vivo mer­curio generatur, iterum ac Mercurium vi­vum convertitur, & hoc solummodo per Ar­gentum vivum & nullam aliam rem, omnia corpora in Argentum vivum convertuntur; attamen, Argentum vivum ex auro longe majoris virtutis est, figitque citiùs quàm [Page 108]illud argentum vivum quod nunquam fuit, corpus, quia hoc ab isto multum superatur, quantum ad vim sulphuream, quia argen­tum vivum ex auro calidum est, mascu­linum & siccum: Attamen ista duo, quoad materiam, nullam habent differentiam; so­lummodo secundum digestionem differunt, in quantum alterum istorum per calorem na­turalem in visceribus terrae decoctum est, Rosar. minor, &c.

You may now, by what I have thus freely produced from several Authorities, easily discern the difference of their Mercuries; the one called their Crude and dissolving, the other Concoct and conge­ling; this congeling Mercury (as one rightly tells us) is called theirs, Sicut filius patris, quia non producitur absque adjutorio Philosophi; quare meritò dicitur ipsorum, quoniam eum usque ad effectum producunt. This their congeling, or sweet coagulating Mercury, is Mercurius aut auri aut argenti (viz.) the Mercury either of Gold or Silver; that is, those bodies reduced into a running Mercury, or Quicksilver, and this by some is some­times (subtilly) called onely Theirs, [Page 109]amongst which R. L. in effect tells us the same.

Nos dicimus quod Argentum vivum vulgare non potest esse argentum vivum Philosophorum quocunque modo praeparetur.

It is true; common Mercury in this sence cannot be made their congeling Mercury, or Mercury of bodies, because it is Crude, and never was yet a perfectly decocted body, and so cannot be their Mercurius corporum, or Mercury of bodies.

Yet doth this not hinder but it may be made their dissolving or Menstrual Mer­cury; for, though they tell us that the Mercury of bodies is altogether necessary, yet do they not tell us (except delusive­ly) that common Mercury is not need­ful, and this R. L. is so charitable and genuine as really to confess and declare unto us, where he thus saith in The­orica Testamenti in clausula, quae dicit quod argentum vivum vulgi non valet unum ficum putridum; hoc diximus quia multum valet: and further affirms, that absque hac aqua Gloriosa argenti Vivi nul­lum Sulphur naturae sublimari potest. But to return to our congeling Physical Mer­cury, [Page 110]the bodies of Gold and Silver be­ing reduced into running Mercury will then Inseparably (and as R. L. tells us) per vinculum amoris naturalis, joyn, unite, and mix with the common Mer­cury prepared, which then (compound) Mercury is also many times called theirs. Sometimes their Rebis, some­times their red, and white Oyl, and this is animated either with Gold, or Silver: Sometimes by one Name, and sometimes by another: But to be short, what e­ver they tell us of these Mercuries (as Geber doth in a close Philosophical way, Mercurius Mercurio facilius jungitur, & Mercurius Mercurio adhaeret is only to in­form us, that not the bodies, but the Mercuries of those bodies, or the Mercury extracted out of those bodies, or those bo­dies reduced into Mercury, will then radically, and inseperably unite with the Vulgar Mercury, or Mercury of Jupiter, or Saturn, first Philosophically prepared for such a Conjunction; which, while they remain in their gross bodies, they will never do; for, nullum corpus (as [...]er tells us) in natura sua manens Mer­curium [Page 111]coagulare potest &c. Corpora cum spiritibus minùs conueniunt, neque radicali­ter conjungi possunt, quousque corpus habeat ex Natura spiritus, & in unam aequalita­tem naturae deducuntur.

Then, and not before, will they duly unite and joyn for the creation, or production of Medicine; and then will the Mer­cury of the body, whether of Gold, or Silver, which in opere Philosophico is loco masculi, because calidus & siccus, congele, dry up, and fix, the common Mercury, or Mercury of imperfect bodies, toge­ther with it self, into a most Noble Me­dicine, &c.

The reasons why, are too tedious (if not too great) here to be declared; but my intention being to inform, (or at least to communicate my apprehen­sion and small abilities with) the in­genious Pyroes, and diligent Searchers into the Science, and its Meandrous paths, not weary my self with oppo­sers, (if they believe not what is al­ready said, and produced, as to the dis­solving Menstruum, or Metalline Mercu­ry of Philosophers) I desire yet to lead [Page 112]them as it were by the hand a little far­ther, and let them hear the Modern (but most ingenious) D' Espagnet, Lunam Philosophorum (saith he) sive eorum Mer­curium, qui Mercurium vulgare dixerit aut sciens fallit, aut ipse fallitur; Mer­curium enim Philosophorum argentum vi­vum esse, non tamen Vulgare, sed ab e [...] extractum ingenio Philosophico, Geber [...] scripta nos docent.

If this suffice not, let them with pa­tience hear him yet again in as clear a discovery, Mercurius ex imperfectis me­tallis solus tincturae solis & lunae suscipiendae in opere Philosophico aptus est, ut ipse tinctu­râ plenè imbutus caetera uberrime tingat [...] De Espag. Opus Arcan. Hermet. Scient. And M. S. in his Nov. Lumen Chymicum tells us that Luna nostra est (non argentum vulgi) quae recipit semen Auri—What this Luna is you have but just now been informed by D' Espagnet (viz.) that it is their Mercury, and their Mercury is their Luna, and this Luna is common Mercury prepared. But this way, though it be to the same effect and end with that intended by me, yet it is not the [Page 113]same manner of process with it; for, this is by a reduction of the perfect Bodies, (viz.) Gold, and Silver, into running Mercury, by vulgar Mercury prepared, (then called theirs) and Mercurius anima­tus, or Rebis; or else a reduction of those Bodies by some Philosophical Artifice into running Mercury, which was also called, as I have said before, ( [...]cut filius Patris) their Mercury. This Mercury, loco masculi, because calidus & ficcus, they joyned, or united with the common Mercury prepa­red, or the Mercury of the other imperfect Bodies, and so proceeded farther, accord­ing to their secret Cabalistical and Philo­sophical instructions: But there being (as Experience as well as Geber assures us) more ways than one to one and the same end and purpose in this most noble Art, My intention is to give some glance, or glimmering Light, to another way, which some (from a more deep consideration of Nature, and as proceeding to a higher Subtilisation, both of the vulgar Mercury, and also of the Bodies by it) have given the name of Universal to; whereas the [Page 114]other, (they thought) in respect of this, merited only the name of particular, which particular was, doubtless, that of Bernard. Trevisan already cited, Nulla aqua Natu­rali reductione, &c. But this of Trevisan being not (as I said) the method by me driven at, though to the same purpose, (viz.) the production of a most excellent Medicine, both for conservation, and re­stauration of Health: I will not longer with-hold the desirous Reader from what I intend, and I hope will be for his In­struction, and Advantage.

I have already declared, (my Thoughts) that the common Mercury prepared, and afterwards dissolved into a clear, milkie, Crystalline, and Silvery liquor, or water, is the true Menstrual, or Metalline dissol­ving Mercury of Philosophers.

I have also already, by some eminent Authorities proved the same, (viz.) Ex mercurio vulgi miris modis fit aqua & e­leum, &c. But if that most rational In­struction be invalid for the begetting a be­lief of the Verity of it, hear to second it, the most profound R. Lully, Super omnes [Page 115]aquas mundi Aqua mercurii vulgi necessaria est, quoniam si haberes omnes aquas Mundi (praeter hanc) non potest cumillis transire, quiaista aperit & claudit nostram artem, & secum portat clavem, & seram; ideo cha­rissiman habeas, & nulli reveles, quia esses excommunicatus à deo & Maledictus; Ar­canum enim est, et donum Dei, & Deus qui cognoscit corda hominum tribuit illud quibus illi placet.

Those that are not yet convinced, and satisfied, as to the Subjects, for the pro­duction of the Philosophers both dissol­ving and congeling Mercuries, must (for any thing from me) acquire their content by their own pains; if we must and ought to believe Artists in their own Art, as most requisite it is, till either our own reason, or experience, can better inform us, then doubtless if we will meddle with Chymistry, and expect good from it, or our attempts in it, we must for our in­struction, and satisfaction, give credit to those that have been, (or at least so ac­counted) the chiefest, and choicest Ma­sters in it; upon this score then, surely [Page 116]we may with more than common con­fidence, trust to, and believe the fore­mentioned Authors, not as the meanest, but most profound, learned, and experi­enced in their Art; and consequently un­doubtedly conclude, that That most fa­mous, and as much hidden as famous, and necessary Menstrual, or dissolving Metalline Mercury of Philosophers, (for, I mean not their congeling Mercury) is to be prepared out of the common Mer­cury or Quick-silver. I pretend not my self a Master in these things, I only give my Conceptions, and my Authority, or Ground for them, and so will not ingage my self in the least, as to a discovery of the preparation (whatever my Thoughts, or Experience may warrant me to do) either of the vulgar Mercury, as to the Universal, or of the Mercury of Bodies, with the Vulgar, to the particular; but I suppose, first method of the Antient Phi­losophers. In the preparation, if we may credit D' Espagnet, Herculeus libor operanti incumbit; Nor indeed doth it require less skill than pains, nor a meditation inferior [Page 117]to either, for indeed these things call for an immense Meditation, and invincible Patience, as well as an Herculean labour, especially to the inexpert, and seeking Artist: But not to be too tedious, for I have much exceeded my first intentions, which allowed not the giving my Thoughts in so plain a Discourse as I have.

What I have done, I dare presume will save the Ingenious (not too Incredulous) no small time, cost, and labour, which haply he might in vain spend about Extra­neous matters, besides that perplexity, and vexation of Spirit, which most, with very little of satisfaction, do undergo in the search of it.

But to be yet a little more charitable, by a freeness in delivering of my Opinion and Thoughts to the more diligent Inqui­sitors after real Knowledge in this Art. I will yet give them the Admonitions of the most Knowing in it, together with my own Conceptions (and indeed my Experience from some often repeated Experiments) on them; and this to dissuade them from a fruitless expence, both of time, cost, [Page 118]and labour, in the dissolution of Metals, for the preparation of any noble Medi­cine, by Corrosives, Salts, or Saline li­quors; of which, how high an esteem soever some may have, I dare presume, their future Experience, will, with their loss, reduce them to my Opinion, and a Grateful acknowledgment of the honesty of Philosophers, in dissuading them from that Destructive deceptory, and Errone­ous way. First therefore, let us hear R. L. Qui cum aquis fortibus dissolvunt, ignorant vegetabilia (viz. salia eorum) menstruum nostrum ( Vegetabile viz. aut Minerale) acuentia; ignorant etiam aquam Mercurii vulgi quam nos scripsimus in Testamento nostro; dissolutio enim quae cum aquis for­tibus fit, Non est sicut Natura postulat; au­rum & argentum dissolvuntur cum rebus radicalibus sui proprii generis, Non autem cum aquis fortibus quae corrumpunt potiùs, quoniam illae aquae repugnant Naturae.

Hear to second it, Arnoldus, that plain and honest Master of the subtile R. Lully; Aquae solutionis ex salibus, Aluminibus, & id genus aliis confectae, quae cum metallis [Page 119]nullam cognationem habent, species metallorum non conservant, at è contra destruunt & dissipant; His aquis contraria est aqua Phi­losophorum, quae metalla conservat, subti­liora reddit, deinde dissolvit, & magno con­sensu naturae ea in primam materiam trans­fert.

You have now the advice and caution of two of the most eminent Masters in Physick, and Philosophy, that precedent Ages have produced, seriously admonish­ing, not to endeavour a solution of Metals into their first Matter, by corrosive and saline Spirits: What then is to be done, or what is the means and way to dissolve Metals, and Minerals, radically to a Phy­sical use. Certainly, no other than, cum rebus Radicalibus, as R. L. tells us, (viz.) by their true Specificate humidum Radi­cale, or first Matter, which (whatever some may imagine to the contrary) is no other than common Quick-silver, or vulgar Mercury. He that will, hath li­berty, without my regret, to slight what I here freely offer; I value it not, I have already my reward, and command, for [Page 120]this my good will, and seek it not from him, or any other: I deny not, but some Corrosive (or Corrosives, in some sence) may be helpful to the Physician, or Phi­losopher, towards the dissolution of Me­tals, and Minerals, to their Physical in­tents: And this R. Lully tells us, Quam­vis aliquantulum repugnat Naturae dissol­vere per ignem contra naturam, tamen siquis noverit iterum confortare per ignem Naturae, opus complebit, &c.

To imprint yet the most necessary Use and Virtue of vulgar Mercury prepared, in the Artist's good liking and opinion, and this for his own, not my advantage; I desire him to hear yet this following short sentence of the expert, and know­ing Avicen. Argentum vivum, dum vi­vum fuerit, habet quaedam opera; cum Mor­tuum, alia quaedam; cum autem dissolutum fuerit, habet opera maxima. Sapientes fa­ciunt ipsum spectare ignem, & tunc facit opera mirabilia, & transmutationes, quia sicut mutatur, mutat, & sicut tingitur, tingit.

Quick-silver, or Argent vivum, (saith [Page 121]he) while it is in its running form, or vive Nature, hath one kind of Operation; when mortified, other Operations; but when dissolved, it performs the highest, and greatest of all. (And this R. Lully also affirms, in Mercurio dissoluto absconditur magnum Secretum.) Wise men know how to make it abide the Fire, and then it per­forms Wonders: For, as it is changed, it changeth, and as it is tinged, it tingeth; That is, as it is impregnated, or anima­ted, either with Gold, or Silver, (viz.) either of the Luminaries, to a Physical use; so doth it not only receive, and ra­dically unlock, or open their Bodies, but is the Vehiculum that transfers their Vir­tues to us in a Medicinal way; and this for the preservation of Health, and re­stauration of our infirm and decaying Constitutions.

Though I have thus fully, (and bold­ly) because warranted by the Authori­ties of the most Eminent, and Experi­enced of the Philosophers, (and possibly by somewhat of Experience) asserted the Verity of vulgar Mercury, or Quick­silver [Page 122]being the true Subject, out of which their Mineral Philosophick Mer­cury, or Menstruum, is to be had, and prepared; yet am I not ignorant, but well know, that some of them, and e­specially R. Lully, doth in most of his Writings point at, and direct us to ano­ther more excellent, and noble Physical, or Philosophical Menstruum, which he sometimes calls his Aqua Caelica, some­times his Menstruum Circulatum, some­times his Menstruum Caelicum, some­times his Menstruum Vegetabile, some­times by one name, and sometimes by another, by which, all the Metals may be radically reduced into their first Mat­ter; Cum conservatione formae Vegeta­tivae, and without which, the common, or vulgar Mercury is not easily to be prepared, and made their Philosophick Mercury, or Aqua gloriosa, as R. Lully hath before called it.

Nor doth here end the bounds, or ex­tent of their Mercuries, not being con­fined to one, or two; for, they have had several, (besides the Universal) as the [Page 123] Mineral, Vegetable, and Animal Mer­cury; sometimes both joyned in one, I mean the Mineral, and Vegetable, which produced that potent dissolvent, or G. Vegetabile of Raymund Lully, which few yet have well understood, or perceived; of this, hear the profound Raymund him­self, Et potest altum ingenium miscere modos Mineralium & Vegetabilium & i [...]a Medicinas breviore via componere; an am­ple and acute Genius, may, by the com­mixtion of the Mercuries, much shorten the Works in production of Medicines, &c. But of these last Mercuries, or Menstruums, I intend not at present to inlarge, they being the Gate into the greatest of Chymical secrets; Let it suffice the Ingenious, that I have here given him a Manuduction to the Fountain where I now leave him to draw, and re­fresh himself with the Healing, and Phy­sical waters, &c.

I once more request the Ingenious, not to interpret any thing, either of my own Conceptions, or Instructions, or the Au­thorities of Philosophers produced by [Page 124]me, to be by me understood, to speak such a thing, as now, even the Thoughts of the Vulgar are much busied about, but little understand, (viz.) the great Elixir; What I mind, is only Physical, and in relation to a Medicinal use, for infirm and languishing Nature, which I firmly believe, was the intent, and only chief intent, of the Antient Philosophers, and not the Transmutation, (or more properly) as indeed it is, the Maturation of imperfect Metals, and Minerals, into Gold, and Silver.

We now daily see the great benefit that is received from Metals, and crude Minerals, in a Physical way, though in­deed very little, if any thing more than externally altered from their Mineral, and Metallick form, and especially from those of a Solar, and Lunar Nature, as Gold, Silver, Mercury, Antimony, &c. Which, even by those crude and rustick (for I cannot well call them Philoso­phical) preparations, do shew, and ex­ert their wonderful power, and virtue, (and that most safely being rightly and [Page 125]discreetly administred) in a Medicinal way. What then would they not do, if more Curious Artists did Philosophi­cally, and prudently prepare, open, and exalt them by such preparations (as certainly they may, or can) to a height of Purity, and Virtue, a thousand times beyond what those trivial and weak pre­parations do give them. And if Crude Mercury may safely be administred, and also to good effect, and somewhat pre­pared yet, to a better effect; and if Gold in its firm and solid body, as the Galenists tell us, only boiled in broth, be so restaurative and comfortable; what may not these and the like Metalline, and Mineral subjects be exalted, raised, and advanced to, for Physick, by a true Philosophick knowing Artist? Cer­tainly they must needs be (and I think I may with confidence affirm, that they will then be) the true Aurum & Argen­tum Medicum of Philosophers, and Phy­sicians, or the true Potabile, or uni­versal Medicine sought by many, but found by few.

I have now said all I yet will, and (as I said before) much more than I at first in­tended. It is very plain, and indeed too plain, if I did not know that a Providence attends the Actions of all, and that it shall be for their good, and light only, that are Astrales discipuli, and whome God in­tends (and hath fitted) for it; to whose alseeing Providence, guidance, and tuition I commend it, and under that seal do leave and bequeath it, to those prepared for it, and a fundamental inspection into the se­crets of Nature. Let none imagine I know more than I have here delivered, and so attempt in vain (by subtility of dis­course) a farther discovery from me, I aim not at great matters; to know God, and the Natures of the Creatures, is all I seek, and all I desire in this World. My inten­tion, and highest ambition in the prosecu­tion of a discovery of Natures secrets by Chymical Operations, is only Physical, and more I will never pretend to, nor ac­knowledge, what ever I may be blessed with. Let none therefore expect that from me that I own not my self Master of; he [Page 127]that doth, and fails of his expectations, let him not hereafter blame me, but him­self. I wish happiness unto all, but more particular unto the industrious, and ingeni­ous, and while I live, will not be wanting in some measure by my mean abilities, ad­vice, and acquired experience, faithfully to admonish, and further them, in their la­borious search and inquiry, into Nature's Medicamental and Magical secrets, and her ample (and indeed) infinite trea­sures, and this to render our lives both happy and healthful, till God call for our Souls.

I court not any for their good Opinion of me, or what I have done; If any traduce me as immethodical, I am not displeased with his Censure: Such a one throughly knows not either me, or my intent; by this discourse I shall please those I intend it for; for others, as I leave to their humour, so I desire them freely to allow me my Liberty. Velle Suum cuique est, nec voto Scribitur uno.

An Expostulatory Conclusion to my In­genious Countrymen, in behalf of Chymistry and Chymi­cal Medicines.

WHen I consider how great an op­position truth and knowledge do yet find, and that even from those that pre­tend themselves the only and greatest ad­vancers of her Ends, and Interest, I am no less amazed at their unworthiness than at the dullness, stupidity, and folly of others, that suffer themselves, like Children, to be cheated with Pebbles, instead of Pearls. I freely and from my heart protest, I have not any thing of prejudice, or envy towards the Persons of any; what I now do, or hereafter (possibly) may do, is only out of an innate Zeal I have to truth, and real knowlege: That which we Cordially fancy, we are all of us apt to defend, and speak well of; for my own part, I do a­bove all things under the Sun highly and truely esteem and value knowledge; nor [Page 129]have I spared either time, pains, or means (according to my ability) to improve those small Talents bestowed upon me by Almighty God. Nor shall I, as long as God shall please to continue me amongst the living, think any thing in this world comparable unto it; it hath been, is, and I hope always shall be (with King Solomon) the summ of my petition unto my Crea­tor, that he would vouchafe me Wisdom, and a knowing Heart, and with the wise Trismegistus in his Pimander, Deum cognos­cere rerumque causas; To know God and the causes of things. To know God (ex­cept by immediate inspiration of his ho­ly spirit) I know not, nor have the wise hi­therto found, any better way or Medium, than by a diligent search into Nature, that so per visibilia invisibilia, by the work, the workman might in some measure be known unto us: Or the great Creator, by the many small Creations set before us. If this be true, and Knowledg the only de­sirable Jewel for us, to seek and search after, I hope none can blame me for my good intents, nor think other ways of my [Page 130]opposits than Scientiae inimicos; & Scientia non habet inimicos nisi ignorantes, &c. Si­mile simili facile jungitur, Natura Natura laetatur & gaudet, & contrarium suum con­trarium non minus facile oppugnat.

As for Chymistry, in whose defence (without envy unto any) I purposely in­tend these few lines, it hath been, and still is most deservedly esteemed by the Wise, the most excellent of Arts, and Queen of Sciences, and hath therefore been still kept secret amongst them, and such Papers, or Manuscripts, as treated of it, or the excellency of it, still delive­red from one to another as their chiefest Testimonies of favour and friendship, and accordingly with greatest care pre­served amongst their choicest Jewels, and this because it was the only Gate that led us into the greatest of Natures most admirable secrets, and unvaluable Treasures, and that not only in relation to external accommodations, and the large benefits which might many ways be attained unto (as daily experience doth now testifie unto us) but also for [Page 131]that it gave us the means to prepare us such most wholsome, safe, and effica­cious Medicines as, by their quick, safe, and pleasant curing both external, and internal maladies, and distempers, might render our lives much more happy than otherwise they could possibly be with­out them. Innumerable, certainly, are the benefits we receive, and still shall receive, by Chymistry, and Chymical preparations; for, taken in its true ge­nuine definition and intention, it is no other than an Art that doth both teach and inable us (for our exceeding good and benefit) to separate Purity from Impurity, exalt, and advance what God and Nature hath given us, to a farther and higher perfection than we receive it in­dowed with; in which sence, if we shall well and truly consider it, what have we in this curious, and nice Age, either for Back, or Belly, Pleasure, or Ne­cessity, that hath not in some mea­sure been obliged to Chymistry, and its beneficial Operations, for that perfection we receive it in? What calling may [Page 132]be said to have attained to the per­fection, and height it now glories in, without her help in some one or other of her (more sublime, or trivial) Ope­rations? Consider our daily Viands, Consider our Bread, our Beer, our Wine, our sweet Confections; consi­der even what you will that can any way render our lives happy or satisfact­ory; consider it seriously, and you will find it in one degree or other to have passed under the hand of Chymistry, and her various Operations or Preparations. Can we then be thus insensibly led to admit of her daily help and assistance in things of smallest value, and can we be so stupid, dull, ignorant, and blind, as to neglect her assistance in things of greater moment, and the greatest of Concerns? And not only neglect her advice, but deny her friendly, and most profitable hand in those things which a­bove all other (our reason will tell us) we most need her help in? Nay, we do not only deny her to make us hap­py, but we seek by all means possible [Page 133]to disgrace, slander, and make her con­temptible, nay, odious to the whole World. Doubtless, in these our Fol­lies, (for I cannot call them other­ways) we declare our selves, either very Ignorant, (which we all shun, and hate to be esteemed) or else very Self-ended, and Malitious. Can we, with Alacrity, and the greatest of Content, admit, and allow her favours, (nay, greedily seek after them) to improve, and maintain our Purses, and Pleasures? and cannot we admit, and embrace her help for the preservation of our Health, without which, the other will be of lit­tle benefit, and less pleasure? As for my self, I am resolved to follow the Dictates of Reason, that only and sure Ballance, given Us by Almighty God, to weigh what may be most for our present, and future good: Et Ratio sat luminis habet & ipsa Lumen est, quo res omnes ut se habent percipere possumus. Faber, cap. 33. Panchim. lib. 2. Nor will I in the least oppose her sacred Admonitions; I own her as my Mistriss, [Page 134]and will accordingly stand for her, A­micus Galenus, Amicus Hippocrates, at magis amica Ratio, veritas, et sapientia; I acknowledg the few favours we re­ceived from Galen, and the little good we reap by Hippocrates, but yet will not deny Verity, or forsake Wisdome in favour of either. I acknowledg, we are obliged to their Labours, for the Knowledge left unto us by them, but think not my Self, or any other, at all ingaged there to set up our Rest, and Herculean stops, or a non ultra, to all farther inquisition and search after Knowledg. God is still the same, and hath infinity of Knowledg yet to be­stow upon Man in his own good time of Providence, and Dispenfation, and therefore not to be bounded, or confi­ned in the narrow Pages of a London Galenical, or any other, Pharmacopaea; and this we daily are, or may be, con­vinced of: Therefore, whereas I in some measure honour Galen, and Hip­pocrates, and have also a due esteem for those that profess themselves their [Page 135]followers, and truly more should have, were they not so strong Assertors of their failing Doctrines; yet cannot I think those of them Unblameable, who so Vigo­rously, and Obstinately oppose Truth, and a farther manifestation of VVis­dome. Why should we not as readily admit, nay, with all our power incou­rage an improvement in the Science of Physick, or Medicine, as in all other Mundane affairs? If to render our Lives happy, in the time of Nature's greatest Vigour, we must not only admit, but studiously endeavour all such ways as may continue and promote our Health; Why may we not with as great (if not greater) care and reason, do the same in the time of her impaired For­ces, debilitation, and fear of her utter loss? If our usual Food be rendred by several Chymical, or preparing means, much pleasanter for our Pallats, and fit­ter for our Stomach's Digestion, where Nature and her Archeus are yet power­ful; Can we in the least question, but Physick may also be rendred much more [Page 136]safe, delightful, and proper for her, (by the same means) when she most needs out assistance, and utmost help? And if Nature by some decay be weakned, and oppressed, that she cannot accept of her usual and accustomed Food, so as she would, and ought to dispose of it for the supply of her Spirits, and the main­taining of her Habitation; If she can­not, (I say) here in her ordinary course, so play the Chymist, as usual; Doubtless, she is less able to do it, in that which the very Name, as well as the Nature of it, makes her utterly to abhor, and reject; and, if she be not strong enough to seperate the Quint-essence of her daily and accustomed Food, how shall she extract any thing from her Physick, that may give that relief her present Condition requires, and calls for? She hath here a double task to perform, first to extract her re­lief, and then to make use of it. It would doubtless, therefore, in this case, be far better, to save her that labour of separation in this her weakned Condi­tion; [Page 137]for, of necessity, either the Phy­sician, or Nature, must officiate, or act, as Chymist, before Nature can have, or receive, what she calls for, and re­quires for her help, and assistance. Who therefore, not Drowned in Ignorance, or Drunk with Malice, and Envy, would so strongly oppose so great a Good, as Chymistry is the Author (and sole Au­thor) of? How lothsome is even the very name of Physick unto debilitated Nature! and what is the reason? Doubt­less, the hard task she hath put upon her by it, and even when she is least able to perform it, and hath more need of succour, than of a farther trouble. How shall she receive so great a Po­tion of lothsome Medicines, being weak, when, even in the greatest of her Strength she would loath (not only) to take (but also be troubled at the sight of) it! and this from a secret Sense and Antipathy, her Archeus hath against its nauseating and foeculential Quality, as well as the greatness of its Quantity. What remedy is then to be used? Cer­tainly, [Page 138]no other or better can any way be found out or propounded, than to fit and prepare those Subjects we in­tend for her relief, and that, by such means, and ways, as may make them fit for her weakest of Conditions, and they can no way else be so fitted, as by Chymistry, and its (Spagirical) O­perations, which seperates all Impurity, from the pure and Medicinal part, and so renders it apt and fit for Nature's more easie Reception; and the end she requires it for. Why then should any so Obstinately oppose so clear a truth, as the Excellency of Chymistry, in the preparation of Medicines, if compared with the other most rotten, and ineffe­ctual foundation of Physick? Or why do the Galenists cry out against us in things they understand not? Or, if they will say, they understand them to be such, as they incessantly rail at them to be, (viz.) Dangerous, Poysonous, and no way fit to be administred; Why do they make any use of them? Why do they steal our Extractum Rudii, (alias, [Page 139]Extract Catholicum Paracelsi?) VVhy our Laudanum? Pilula Alaephang? Why have they any thing to do with our Oleum Vitrioli, Oleum salis Communis, Oleum Sulphuris per campanam, Mercurius Vitae, Infusio Croci Metallorum, Mercu­rius, sublim. Dulcis, Mercurius praecip. Dulcis? Why our Chymical Distilled Oyls, as Oyls of Spices, Oyls of Woods, Oyls of Seeds? Why administer they, or prescribe they any of our simple, or compound Distilled Waters? Shew me any of these Oyls in Galen, or any of those Cordial Spirits in Hippocrates. Why do they Rail at us, and yet make use of our Medicines, as the best and most effectual they have? and can they thus make use of our worst of prepa­rations, and yet enviously slander the best? Certainly, it savours of much Malice, and more Folly. But to give Limits to this my just Zeal, for Truth, and a publick Good, I shall give my Country-men (yet Ignorant of the be­nefit of Chymistry, and Chymical Me­dicines) some small and brief account [Page 140]of Chymistry, in its Genuine, and true Sence; and some Reasons for the ex­cellency of Chymical Medicines, above those we usually tearm Galenical, and then leave both the one, and the other, to their better consideration. Chymi­stry, that most noble of Sciences, and beneficial of all Arts, is not (as yet falsly by many supposed) a Tracta­tion, or Operation only about Metals, but it is an Art invented, and adorned, by the continual Meditations and La­bours of the most Wise and Prudent of Men, and such a one as teacheth us to improve, and make use of, as well Animals, and Vegetables, as Minerals, and Metals, both to Physical, and all other necessary Uses, though at first in­deed intended more properly to Phy­sick, and a Medicinal use. The word is a Greek word, which is [...], its Derivation or Composition from [...] & [...], id est, (quasi) Salem fundere, to melt Salt, or a fusion of Salt, or which was, and is more properly the true Sence of it, and intent of Chymistry [Page 141]in it, as to Physick, to prepare Medi­cine so, as to bring it to the nature, and form, of a fixed, and fusible Salt, Quo habito (sive ex Animalibus, Vegeta­bilibus, aut Mineralibus) Laudandus sit Deus: and so indeed ought all Medi­cine to be, before it can be said to be perfect Medicine. Now separation, as well as several other Operations, be­ing most necessary for the Completion of this ultimate intent, and perfection: The Art was also by the Wise called Ars Spagirica, that is, Ars Separatoria, from [...] Separo, because Purification, which must of necessity also precede the ultimate intent of this Art, could not be performed without due, and of­ten repeated separation. See now in two or three words, the true and full in­tent, scope, and design of Chymistry, that most excellent (and therefore most unworthily despised) Science. I shall not therefore be tedious, I shall now give only a small Light, as to the ex­cellency of Chymical Medicines, (above all others) if rightly prepared, and ac­cordingly [Page 142]commend them to my Coun­try, as the most safe, most pleasant, and most effectual, and which is also no small argument for their welcom, (all things considered) the most cheap of Medi­cines.

Chymical Medicines are, of all o­thers, being rightly prepared, the most noble, and excellent, and this will ap­pear as well by Reason, as daily Expe­rience; the later is now so common, I need not say more of it: As for Rea­sons, take these few following, Let us consider, what it is that gives eminency, and perfection, to any one thing we e­steem as excellent, we shall find that it is the purity of it, and that, either in the Animal, Vegetable, or Mineral Nature; if we consider then, what we are now speaking of, (viz.) Medicine, prepa­red by Chymical preparations, we must also conclude its efficacy, and excellency, to proceed from its purity, or purified Nature. Let us yet farther consider what it is for; it is to help, and restore decayed Nature, and her languishing Ar­cheus. [Page 143]What is this Nature, and her Archeus? It is the most subtile, and pure Spirit of Man, or Woman, and there­fore no way to be assisted, but by that which is of purity, and likeness with it, (viz.) Medicines of a pure, subtile, and penetrating Nature. The conside­ration of Nature will tell you, what her Medicines ought to be; and a true consideration of such Medicines, will teach, and tell you, what Nature is, so that the quality of the one, will inform you what the Nature, and Essence of the other ought to be; a serious considera­tion then of Nature, will tell you the quality of the Medicines you ought to use for her relief, and assistance, which is, that they be of most subtile and thin parts. This made Hippocrates tell us, that the excellency of Medicine consist­ed in its subtility, and thinness, by which it was the more able to protect, and assist, decayed Nature in her disturbed Condition; and though amongst many things, (or Species) some may be said to be of more thin, and subtile parts, [Page 144]in respect of some others; yet the most thin, and subtile, as Nature produceth them, come extremely short of that sub­tility, which this Art, by its purging preparations, can raise even the most dull, and gross of Specificks to: Here­in then is the excellency of Chymical Medicines, above Galenical, Chymistry being able to exalt the most dull, and inactive of Medicines, to the greatest of subtility, and far beyond what Nature presents them to us in. Nor doth she thus exalt their purity, and efficacy, as to the Cure of all, both inward, and outward Distempers, but renders them (may I so say) in a manner Immor­tal, that is, Incorruptible; Which, the best of Galenical Medicines, cannot in the least boast of, few, or none of them being able to continue one poor Year, without some notable (if not a total) expiration of their Virtue. How then should these poor, dirty, and drossie Medicines, answer those great Ends we administer them for? How shall they root out inveterate, fixed, and chronick [Page 145]Diseases? How shall they purifie the Impure, or help the Infirm, who are not yet Cured of their own Corrup­tion, and Infirm condition? If it shall be, as usually it is, unadvisedly, and very inconsiderately Objected, that their Medicines are safe, and that ours, ei­ther quickly Cure, or quickly Kill; Let me tell them, they in this very Obje­ction, grant much more than they are aware of, for nothing can quickly Cure, but what is really Efficacious, and fit­ted for so great a good, which, nothing can be, that is not in some measure pure, and like unto the Nature it shall so assist; Herein then, inconsultly do they affirm, the excellency of our Me­dicines. If they say then, they as sud­denly Kill, I must return them this an­swer, that it is, when administred by their hands that know them not. Ex quovis ligno non fit Mercurius, Galenists are not fit to use Paracelsian Medicines, (until they have entred the Chymical Schools, and Laboratories) which, by reason of their excellency, subtile, and [Page 146]enlivening Faculty, are not to be admi­nistred by Quarts, or Pints, but by Drops in proper Vehicles; not by Pugils, or Ounces, but by Grains, half Drachms, or Drachms, (at most) being to help Nature, not stuff up the Body, (al­ready too much Obstructed) and so hinder, rather than farther her Restau­ration. However, knowing sufficient­ly the dulness, and inefficacy of their own Medicines, they must still be nib­ling at ours, and yet revile them, when they have answered their desires; and, if at any time they are too Keen for their Skill, and Knowledge, they are then most Damnable, and presently to be Cursed with Bell, Book, and Candle, and not one of them to be left in their Ga­lenical Antidotaries. I would, they would turn them quite out, or else ac­knowledge them, (as indeed they are) the best Flowers in their Garden; Let them not use ours, and we will faith­fully promise them never to make use of theirs. Ours decay not by length of time, theirs putrifie, and corrupt, [Page 147]even in a Years time; Ours safely, pleasantly, and quickly Cure, theirs do rather hinder, than farther Nature in her own Operation, and can only, when Nature hath Cured her self, rob her of the praise and glory of a Cure, which she her self hath performed: But I hope the time is now coming, when Ingenuity shall flourish, seeing many of those that not long since op­posed this so noble a Science, do now at last begin to appear its real Friends, Defenders, and Propagators; and when declaredly such, I shall wish them their utmost due, with a continued remem­brance of their Names unto succeeding Generations, as the worthy Promoters of so publick and great a Good.

A POSCRIPT To the Ingenious and Physically Studious READER.

I Intend also (how soon I cannot yet say) to present unto the Ingenious, Industrious, and Knowledge-Seeking-English, whose sullen Fate, slender and mean Education affords them only the benefit of what is published in their own Mother-tongue, a small, but very plain, [Page 941]and Methodical Treatise in English, as the (smaller Radii, glimmering Beams, or) Aurora, to a greater approaching Light, teaching a Spagirical (or Chy­mical) preparation of Animals, Vege­tables, Minerals, and Metals, to a Phy­sical use, (viz.) the Separation of their Quintessential, Medicinal, Fix'd, and Vo­latile parts; the Purification, Reunition, or Conjunction, and Coction of the said parts, into most noble, efficacious, and powerful Medicines, Arcanaes, and Physical Elixirs, and this in a higher, or lower degree, according to the Subtile Genius, Industry, and Prudence of the Artist; Most useful, and beneficial for the Preservation of the present, and Re­stauration, or Recovery, of the decayed, or lost Health of Man. The improve­ment, and farther consideration, may (haply) prove a Gate to other Se­crets; Yet, if any One, in the mean time, either diligently Studious of Phy­sick, or otherways curious in the search of the secrets of Nature, and Art, be desirous to be instructed in the Grounds [Page 150]of Chymistry, or the Spagirick Art, and shall in a reasonable and modest way request my instruction, and assistance in it, I do hereby promise him a faithful Manuduction, and Introduction, and that by plain Demonstration, and Practice, to the true and full grounds, intent, and scope of Chymistry, and this either as to Physical preparations, or other Nature-searching, delightful, and pleasant Ope­rations; Chymistry being the most noble, and transcendent of Arts, and, by which only, and not otherways, and this in a more sublime, or mean degree, accord­ing to the Acute Ingeny, Patience, Pru­dence, and Neatness of the Operator, whether in Medicinal preparations, or other choice Arcanaes, may something of excellency be expected, and produced, and perhaps the wished perfection, ut­most aim and end of our desires (at last) be obtained. My earnest desire of ad­vancing, improving, and promoting (more for a general Good, than my own pri­vate Benefit) this so noble a Science, and opening a Gate for entrance into the [Page 151]infinite Treasures of Nature, both for Health, and other Happiness, closely shut up and contained in the Creature, is the chief inducement to this Additional proffer, and the publick Notice of

E. Bolnest, Med. Lond.
From my House in Jewen-street, near Cripplegate, April 14 th. 1665.

Books Printed at the Theater in Oxford, and Sold by Peter Par­ker at the Leg and Star right a­gainst the Royal Exchange in Cornhil, viz.

A Fair Printed Bible, with Bishop Ushers Chronology, with the Com­mon Prayer and Apocripha, or with­out them: in 4to.

  • 1. The third part of the Bible, viz. Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Canticles, of a fair Print; to which may be added the Common-Prayer, New Testament and Singing-Psalms, in Octavo.
  • 2. An English New Testament, with a Fair large Print, for weak eyes, in Octavo.
  • 3. Another Testament, in Quarto.
  • 4. Another Testament in Twelves, of a fair Print for Children to learn by.
  • 5. A very curious Church Bible, with the Chronologie of a fair large Print, in Foiio.
  • 6. A Latin Testament of a fair Print in Twelves, for the use of Schools.
  • 7. Senecae Tragaediae, in Twelves,
  • 8. Elegantiae Poeticae, in Twelves.
  • 9. Cornelius Nepos, in Twelves.
  • 10. Justini Historici, in Twelves
  • 11. Homeri Illias notis Didymi, in Octavo.
  • 12. Plinii Epistolae, in Octavo.
  • 13. Quintiliani Declamationes, in Octavo.
  • 14. Theocritus in Greek, in Octavo.
  • 15. Maximus Tyrius, in Twelves.
  • 16. A Greek Testament with Curcelleus's and others Notes, in Twelves.
  • [Page]17. Salustius cum notis, in Twelves.

There is now in the Press at the Theater, a large Quarto Bible of a fairer Character than ever yet was extant, with Chronological Notes and other useful tables.

Books of Divinity Printed at London.

The Key of the Bible, unlocking the richest Treasury of the Holy Scriptures; whereby the Order, Names, Times, Penmen, Occasi­on, Scope, and principal Parts; containing the Subject matter of the Books of the Old and New Testament, are familiarly and briefly opened, for the help of the weakest capacity in the un­derstanding of the whole Bible: A Book singu­larly useful for private Families. By Francis Ro­berts D. D. Rector of Wrington in Somersetshire, in Folio.

Nineteen Sermons, being the first Legiti­mate Essay of the Pious Labours of that Learn­ed Orthodox, and indefatigable Preacher of the Gospel Mr. Josiah Shute, Published by Dr. Edward Spark, in Folio.

Sions prospect in its first View, presented in a Summary of Divine Truths, consenting with the Faith professed by the Church of England, confirmed from Scripture and Reason, illustra­ted by Instance and Allusion: Composed and Published to be an help for the prevention of Apostacy, Conviction of Heresie, Confutation of Error, and Establishing in the Truth. By Robert Mossom Dr. in Divinity, in 4to.

Index Biblicus, or an exact Concordance to [Page]the holy Bible according to the last translation, whereunto are added the marginal readings, with the acceptations, and various significations, of the principal words contained in the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, com­posed in a new and most comprehensive Me­thod, and adorned with divers significant and and pregnant Scripture phrases, By John Jack­son Minister of the Gospel at Mulsea in Surrey, in Quarto.

The works of Mr. Richard Allen Late Mi­nister of Batcomb in Somersetshire, in four parts, viz. Vindiciae Pietatis, or a Vindication of Godliness in the greatest Strictnes and Spiritua­lity of it, from the imputations of Folly and Fancy, together with several Directions for the Attaining and Maintaining a Godly Life, in Octavo.

Secondly, The Godly mans Portion and Sanctuary, in Octavo.

Thirdly, Heaven opened, or a brief and plain discovery of the Riches of Gods Covenant of Grace, in Octavo.

Fourthly, The World conquered, or a Be­lievers victory over the World, laid open in se­veral Sermons, on 1 John. 5.4. in Octavo.

The Pagans debt and dowry, or a brief dis­cussion of these questions, Whether, how far, and in what sense such Persons of Mankind a­mongst whom the letter of the Gospel never came, are notwithstanding bound to believe on Jesus Christ? with some other particulars rela­ting hereunto. Whereunto is added the Au­thors opinion concerning Election and Repro­bation, the Death of Christ, the Grace of God in and about Conversion, the Liberty or Power [Page]of the Will or of the Creature man, the Perse­verance of the Saints, &c. By John Goodwin-Minister of the Gospel, in Octavo.

A Metrical Paraphrase upon the Four E­vangelists, being the History of our Lord and Saviour. By Elisha Coles. in Octavo.

The best Acquaintance and highest Honour of Christians, or a Discourse of Acquaintance with God, upon Job 22.21. Acquaint thy self with him, and be at Peace, &c. By Mathew Newcomen late Minister at Dedham, in Octavo.

St. Pauls Progress upon Earth about a Di­vorce betwixt Christ and the Church of Rome, by reason of her Dissoluteness and Excess, re­commended to all Tender-Conscienced Chri­stians, A fresh fancy full of Various strains and suitable to the times. Translated out of Italian into English in Octavo.

Divine Meditations upon several Subjects, whereunto is annexed Gods Love and Mans Unworthiness, with several Divine Ejaculations. By John Quarles. in Octavo.

The Prayer of Prayers, Or the Lords Prayer Expounded. By Thomas Bevan. M. A. in Octavo.

Historical Contemplations, as also Scriptural and Occasional Observations, together with their Divine Improvement and Applications. By Caleb Trenchfield, late Minister of Cheapsted in Surrey 8 o.

The Murtherer punished and pardoned, or a true Relation of the Wicked Life, and shameful happy Death of Thomas Savage, Imprisoned, justly condemned, and twice Executed at Rat­cliff, for his bloody Fact in killing his Fellow Servant. On Wednesday October 26. 1668. To which is annexed a Sermon preached at his Fu­neral. in Octavo.

The Souls preparation for Christ, or a Treatise of Contrition; wherein is discovered how God breaks the Heart, and Wounds the Soul in the Conversion of a Sinner to Himself. By Thomas Hooker, Twelves.

The Supplications of Saints, A Book of pray­ers for every day in the week, and for all con­ditions, by Thomas Sorocold, the 39th. Edition, Twelves.

Sacred Principles, or a Manual of Devotions made up of three Parts, 1. The Grounds of Chri­stian Religion, and the Doctrine of the Church of England, as differing from the now Roman, and the new Reformed ones. 2. Daily and weekly Forms of Prayers, fortified with holy Scriptures, Meditations and Rules, to keep the Soul from the common Roads of sin, and carry it on in a mortified course. 3. Seven charges to Conscience, delivering (if not the whole body,) the main limbs of Divinity, which is the Art not of Dis­puting, but living well, by Will. Brough, D. D. late Dean of Glocester, twelves.

The return of Prayers, A Treatise wherein this Case how to discern Gods answer to our Pray­ers is briefly resolved, with other observations upon Psal. 85. and the 8th. concerning Gods speaking peace, by Thomas Goodwin, D. D. twelves.

Several pieces written by the Author of the Whole Duty of man, viz.

  • The Ladies calling, in Octavo.
  • The Government of the Tongue, Octavo.
  • The Art of Contentment, Octavo.
  • The Christians Birth-right, Octavo.
  • The Sinners Tears, made up of Meditations and Prayers, by T. Fettiplace. Twelves.

Books of Philosophy, Physick, Hus­bandry, Mathematicks, &c.

MOsaical Philosophy, grounded on the Es­sential Truth, or Eternal Sapience writ­ten by Robert Flud, Doctor in Physick. In Folio.

Maximes of State and Government, in divers Politick discourses written in Italian by Paulo Paruta, A Noble Venetian. Englished by a Per­son of honour. Folio.

The Anatomy of Melancholy, What it is, with all the Kinds, Causes, Symptoms, Prognosticks and Several Cures of it, in three partitions with their several Sections, Members and Sub-secti­ons; Philosophically, Medicinally, Historically opened and cut up by Robert Burton, with a Sa­tyrical preface conducing to the following dis­course. The 9th. Edition Corrected and A­mended, Folio.

An English Dictionary, Explaning the Diffi­cult terms that are used in Divinity, Husbandry, Physick, Philosophy, Law, Navigation, Mathe­maticks, and other Arts and Sciences, very useful (for such as are ignorant in the Latin and Greek Languages) for the better understand­ing what they read. By Elisha Coles late of Magd. Col. Oxford. in Octavo.

Cottoni Posthuma, divers Pieces of that Re­nowned Antiquary, Sir Robert Cotton, Knight and Baronet. in Octavo.

The Manner of Raising, Ordering, and improv­ing Forrest and Fruit-Trees: also how to Plant, Make and Keep Woods, Walks, Avenues, Lawns, &c. [Page]with several Figures proper for Avenues and Walks to end in, and convenient Figures for Lawns; Also Rules and Tables shewing how the ingenious Planter may measure Superficial Fi­gures, with Rules how to divide Woods or Land, and how to measure Timber and other Solid Bodies, either by Arithmetick or Geo­metry, shewing the Use of that most Ex­cellent Line, the Line of Numbers, by several New Examples; with many other Rules useful for most Men, by M. Cook, Gardiner to the Earl of Essex. 4to. to which is added a Trea­tise of subterranean Treasure, by Sir H. Platt.

An Introduction into the Greek Tongue, in most plain manner, delivering the principal matters, of the Grammar thereof, so far forth as may help toward the understanding the Greek Text of the holy Gospel, composed for their sakes that understand not Latin, and yet are desirous to have some competent knowledge in the Origi­nal Sacred Scripture. By Edmund Reeves, Dr. in Divinity, and Instructer in the Oriental Tongues. 4to.

A Treatise concerning Tongues, appertain­ing to learning the Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Chal­dean, Syrian and Arabian Tongnes, shewing and in how short a time a student may receive such Instructions and Directions in any one of them, as whereby he may proceed in the understand­ing of the Language, using the books requi­site thereunto, &c. by Edmund Reeves. 4to.

Certain Grammatical Chapters serving to intro­duce into the Common Grammar, whereunto is added a brief declaration, how this and some other Grammatical Books are to be used. By Edmund Reeve. 4to.

The construction of those Rules in the Latin Grammar, which were omitted in the book called Lillies Rules and Syntaxis construed, being helpful to young Scholars, also to others for their further progress in the Latin Tongue: by Edm. Reeves. 4to.

Observations on the present manners of the English, briefly Anatomizing the Living by the Dead, with a useful detection of the Mounte­banks of both Sexes. By Richard Whitlock Do­ctor of Physick. Octavo.

Morbus Polyrhizos & Polymorphaeus, a Treatise of the Scurvy. Examining the different opi­nions and practices of the most solid and grave writers concerning the Nature and Cure of this Disease, by Everard Manwaring Doctor in Phy­sick. Octavo.

Unheard of Curiosities, concerning the Talis­manical Sculpture of the Persians, the Horoscope of the Patriarchs, and the reading of the Stars, written in French by James Gaffarel, Englished by Edmund Chilmead Master of Arts and Chap­lain of Christchurch Oxon. A Piece so excellent that it was thrice Printed in France, in the space of six Months. Octavo.

Tachygraphy or Shortwriting, the most easie exact and speedy, by Tho. Shelton. Octavo.

The newest, plainest, and shortest Short-hand containing, 1. A brief Account of all the Short­hands already extant, with their Alphabets and Fundamental Rules. 2. A plain and easie Me­thod for beginners, less burthensom to the me­mory than any other. 3. A new invention for contracting words, with special rules for con­tracting Sentences, and other ingenious Fan­cies, both pleasant and profitable unto all, let [Page]their Character be whose or what it will, by Elisha Coles, Schoolmaster, in Octavo.

The Academy of Eloquence, containing a Comple at English Rhetorick exemplified, com­mon-places and formula's digested into an ea­sie and Methodical way to speak and write flu­ently, according to the mode of the present times, with letters both Amourous and Moral upon emergent occasions, by Thomas Blunt of the Inner-Temple Barrister, the 4th, Edition, in Twelves.

A Collection of the newest Songs, Poems, and Catches; now in Vogue both in City and Countrey.

Maximes of State with instructions to his Son, and the Sons advice to his aged Father, where­unto are added observatious touching Trade and Commerce with the Hollander and other Na­tions, proving that our Sea and Land Commo­dities inrich and strengthen other Countreys against our own. By Sir Walter Rawleigh, Knight Twelves.

A Dictionary English-Latin and Latin-Eng­lish fitted for the use of young Scholars, by Elisha Coles Schoolmaster, in quarto. A Book much commended by most Schoolmasters in this Nation, price 7 s.

History Books, Romances, Poe­try, &c.

THe History of the Island of Barbadoes, illustra­ted with a Map of the Island, as also the principal Trees and Plants there set forth in [Page]their due proportion and shapes, drawn out by their several and respective Scales, together with the Ingenio that makes the Sugar, with the Plots of the several Houses, Rooms, and o­ther places that are used in the whole Process of Sugar-making, viz. the Grinding-Room, the Boyl­ing-Room, the Filling-Room the Curing-House, Still-house and Furnaces, all described in Cop­per-plates, by Richard Liggon, Gent. Folio.

The State of Christendom, giving a perfect and Exact account of many Political Intrigues and se­cret mysteries of State, practised in most of the Courts of Europe, with an account of their seve­ral Claims, Interests, and Pretensions. Written by the Renowned Sir Henry Wotton Knight, some­time Ambassadour in Ordinary to the most Se­rene Republick of Venice, Folio.

Cassandra, the fam'd Romance, the whole work in five parts, written Originally in French, and now Elegantly rendred into English, by Sir Charles Cotterel master of the Ceremonies to his late Majesty, and dedicated to our present So­vereign Charles the Second, Folio.

Hymens Praeludia or loves Master-piece, being that so much admired Romance intituled Cleo­patra written in French, now rendred into Eng­lish by Robert Loveday, in Folio.

Irragguagli di Parnasso, or advertisements from Parnassus, in two Centuries, with the Po­litical touchstone, written in Italian by that fa­mous Roman Trajano Bocalini, and Englished by the Honourable Earl of Monmouth, the Third Edition, in Folio.

Lucans Pharsalia, or the Civil Warrs of Rome, between Pompey the Great, and Julius Caesar, by Thomas May, Esq; in Octavo.

Juvenals sixteen Satyrs, or a Survey of the manners and Actions of Mankind, with Mar­ginal Notes, and Annotations, clearing the ob­scure places out of the History, Laws and Ce­remonies of the Romans, by Sir Robert Stapleton Knight, in Octavo.

The Passion of Dido for Eneas, as it is in­comparably exprest in the fourth Book of Virgil, Translated by Edward Waller, Esq; in Octavo.

The Rape of Lucreece, committed by Tarquin the sixth, and the remarkable judgments that befel him for it, by that incomparable Master of our English Poetry Will. Shakespear, in Octavo.

Europae Modernae speculum, or a view of the Empires, Kingdoms, Principalities, Seignieu­ries and Common wealths of Europe, in their Government, Policy, different Interest and mutual aspect one towards another, from the Treaty at Munster, 1648, to this present year, by J. H. Gent.

Olor Iscanus, or a Collection of some select Poems and Translations, written by Henry Vaughan Silurist, in Octavo.

The life of Adam, written in Italian by Gio­vanno Francisco Loredano a Venetian Noble man, and rendred into English, by J. S. in Octavo.

Men-miracles with other Poems, by Mr. Lluellin Student of Christs Colledge in Oxford, in Octavo.

State worthies, or the States-men and Fa­vourites of England, since the Reformation, their Prudence and Policies, Successes and Miscar­riages, Advancements and Falls, during the Reigns of King Henry the 8th. Edward the 6th, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, King James, [Page]and King Charles the first, by D. L. Mr. of Arts, in Octavo.

Poems by Thomas Stanley Esq; Author of the History of Philosophy, in Octavo.

The Tryal of King Charles the First, with a Catalogue of the names of such as sate as Judges. with His Majesties Reasons against their usurp­ed power, and his last Speech at his Executi­on, &c. in Octavo.

Regale Lectum Miseriae, or a Kingly bed of Misery, in which is contained a dream, with an Elegy upon the Martyrdom of Charles late King of England of blessed Memory, and ano­ther upon the Right Honourable the Lord Ca­pel, with a curse against the enemies of Peace, and the Authors farewel to England, by John Quarles, in Octavo.

The new help to discourse, or Wit, Mirth and Jollity intermixt with more serious mat­ters, consisting of pleasant Astrological Astro­nomical, Philosophical, Grammatical, Physical, Chirurgical, Historical, Moral and Poetical Questions and Answers, with several other va­rieties intermixt, together with the Countrey­mans Guide, by W. W. in Twelves.

The Academy of Complements with new Additions of Songs and Catches, a la mode, stored with variety of Complemental and Ele­gant Expressions; also witty and ingenious Dialogues and Discourses, with significant Letters upon several Occasions.

A new set of Cuts for the Old and New Te­stament in 4to. price 10 s.

With several other School-books Printed at the Theater, and beyond the Seas. Sold by Peter Par­ker at the Leg and Star over against the Royal Exchange in Cornhil.

FINIS.

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