by sweates and finallie are not a little profitable by their whole substance as many learned men daily with great successe doe practice but of these thinges more then enough Therefore now we will goe forward to those thinges which you write touching mettalles A briefe answeare of Iosephus Quercitanus Armeniacus doctor of Phisicke to the exposition of Iacobus Aubertus Vyndon concerning the originall and causes of mettalles against the Chimistes MANY write that mettell is a bodie to be digged vp by nature either liquid as quick-siluer or hard which may be molté with the heate of the fier as gold siluer copper leade and tinne or softened as Iron Other call all things that are digged out of the bowels of the earth by the proper name of mettalles So Onesicritus writeth that in Carmania there is a mettall of a red chalke Herodotus affirmeth that in Lybia about Atlantus is a mettall of salt and this doth Plinie testify in his 33. booke of his naturall historie Others say that is proper mettall which being molten is brought againe to his former forme and that may be beaten out with hammer is hard and apt to take impression for that cause they deuide it into six that is golde siluer copper tinne leade and Iron whereunto some haue added mercurie not that it is a mettall indeede but it may be The Chimistes vse to call them by the names of the planets not to referre their substance to the planets as Aubertus foolishly thinketh but partly moued with a certaine likenes of the greatest and principall starres for which cause they named the two most perfect mettalles the Sunne and Moone and Iron for his hardnes Mars whom the Poets faine to be the God of armes and battell and quicksiluer for the great and vncertaine motion they called Mercurie and partly after the Pythagoreans that they might hide their secrets vnder darke speeches But I see no reason why Antimony should be properly receiued among mettalles wherefore by Agricola his leaue whose aucthoritie Aubertus leaneth vnto it is to be excepted out of their kinde for that it is alltogether repugnāt to their definition for all mettalles molten doe returne to their proper forme and such as are easie to be driuen be hard and apt to receiue impression by which reason they differ from many liquable stones in which the humiditie is not strongly mixed with the dry earthines as also from infinite kindes of marcasites and halfe metalles But Antymony molten doth vtterly loose his first forme as practisioners doe daily trie neither is it easye to be driuen and practise sheweth it will take no print and therefore properly it cannot be called mettall But it pleased Aubertus which is so learned in mettalles to affirme this that yet he dreameth that tynne glasse which is that Bisemutum and that sinder or ashie kinde of leade whereof Agricola speaketh much in the 8. booke de natura fossil to be Stibium molten and the Chimists basiliske which is most absurd For that tinne-glasse which is commonly called bisemutum is not stibium any way prepared neither the Chimistes basiliske extract with tartar niter may be called bisemutum which I leaue to the iudgement of al that be of vpright mindes but this is small to the purpose when many thinges are called by the name of mettall and yet not properly But let vs pardon Aubertus in this which neuer saw any mines that he might iudge rightly of thē neither vnderstandeth the minde of Agricola In the meane time hee complaineth that Chimistes deuide the metalles into perfect and vnperfect and that he thinketh ridiculous for many causes First because of a certaine diffinition giuen by Geber which agreeth no lesse to one mettall then an other whereas the perfecte might be discried from the imperfect one diffinition were to be giuen to the one an other to the other As though the diffinition of a man were not agreeable to a child although he be not yet come to a mans age or in other accidentes seeme to differ from him as mettals do differ among themselues So the diffinitions of white and red coralles should be sundrie and diuers that by reason of absolute and perfect concoctiō the white haue not attained the vttermost degree whose definition notwithstanding is all one But Aubertus to proue his opinion the better writeth that all thinges which haue essentiall forme as it is certaine mettalles haue must of necessitie be perfect And that nature the godly parent of all thinges in doing of her office doth not cease or rest except it be letted vntill she hath attained her purposed end and scope He addeth that the matter whereof any naturall thing is made and whereabout nature is occupied doth moue so long vntill it hath attained the essentiall forme He concludeth that mettall cannot rightly be deuided into perfect and vnperfect neither that gold ought by any meanes to be called more excellent and perfect although it be more bewtifull and temperat then other mettalles all which wee must confute as sriuolous and vaine And to prosecute all thinges in due order we must shew that golde it selfe of the true Philosophers is worthily called more perfect excellent and pure then other mettals that hereuppon wee may conclude mettalles not without reason to be deuided of the Chimistes into perfect and vnperfect Therefore that I may also stay vpon the aucthoritie of Agricola out of whom Aubertus hath specially taken those his wordes he writeth in lib. 5. de ortu causis subterraneorum that mettalles do differ among themselues not onely in shining but also in colour sauour sent weight and power And specially speaking of shining which you Aubertus confesse to be in golde and siluer he saith But by how much the humor is more subtile thicke and pure by so much the mettall is more cleere and shining for which cause in this behalfe gold excelleth the other The excellencie of which gold Agricola himselfe seeketh in the difference of sent sauour and waight For the vnperfect mettalles when they come in any liquor are perceiued to be sower of taste as copper and Iron for the adust earth is cause of their sowernes whereof those mettalles do participat as Agricola himselfe witnesseth But the other because of their pure earth and more abundant water do not giue the liquors so sensible a sauor bur rather a sweetish tast as gold and siluer Also for as much as in gold the earth is most pure and verie wel tempered with his water it giueth verie litle or scarse sensible smoke when it is burned and rather sweete then stinking And Agricola addeth more that gold when it is purged in the fier hath in a maner no excremente because of his puritie in others there is more but so much more in one then an other as it is more vnpure Also the excellency of golde is to bee sought for in his force and strength because that besides it and siluer all other mettalles do vanish away in smoke
they call sulphur is not the common sulphur which burneth with combustion of blacknes and adustioÌ„ is burned whereas their proper sulphur doth whiten rubify coagulat and finally make perfect that Chimicall quickesiluer which is commonly vnknowen into the substance of golde according to nature or of the philosophers stone and gold according to art And this is the true secret sulphur and the onely tincture and shadow of the sonne and the proper congeler of his quicksiluer which the Philosophers haue shadowed with diuers names their dark speeches and enigmaes whereby it appeareth Aubertus to haue farre erred and by all meanes to bee refused because he speaketh of a sulphur which he knoweth not and that the Chimick Philosophers are not to be blamed because they say quicksiluer and sulphur to be the matter of mettalls which do not vnderstand it of the common quicksiluer sulphur For they know that these things whereof they speake are not founde in the mettal mines in their verie nature but oâ— those two they say there is made a third mixture hauing the natures properties vertues of them that of it may be engendred any mettall according to the diuersitie of the composition digestion and place These shall suffice touching the next matter of mettalles which Aubertus would haue to be water wrought vpon by the other elements but he hath kept sileÌ„t the cause why he thinketh so being contented to say that it is set forth by others or that he hath found it in other mens writings which is the saying of a man that will proue his opinion by an other mans credit and not by reason as the true Philosophers doe But now the efficient causes call vs which the Philosophers make double and so many passioÌ„s for heat and cold are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they haue power to moue moist and drie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for because they rather suffer any thing then worke and are said to be wrought vpon of the first qualities as of the most noble and higher in nature by whose worke forme is ingendred in thinges for the matter is not knowen by it selfe but by the chaunge which cannot be without suffering as neither that without touching the which by coniunction and cogelation and by introduction of act and forme is abolished But it is to be obserued that by the mixture of drie and moist the bodies are first called congealed then harde or soft of which congealed bodies there is a triple difference for it is either a watrie humor that is congealed or some dry earthly thing or a mixture of them both Also these some of them are molten some dried some moistened and some made soft But those thinges which are drye and fierie as hony and must will neuer be congealed and they which are moist airie predominant as all oily thinges Wherefore these also are not elements neither the matter of these sufferinges But of bodies which doe congeale and are hardened according to Aristotle some are affected by heate and some by cold by heate drying vp the humor by cold driuing out the heate Therefore those thinges that are congealed by heat by want of moisture are dissolued of cold which maketh the moisture to enter in againe as salt And those thinges which for lacke of heate are congealed are dissolued againe by heate entring in againe as mettals for whatsoeuer is dissolued melting is molten either by fire or water Whatsoeuer melteth by water must needes be congealed by hot drie that is fiery heate and those which fier melteth or whose congelacion in any part it doth dissolue as horne are congealed by colde for of contrarie effectes the causes be contrarie and because that mettalles do melt by heat it is of necessitie that first they were congealed by cold as the efficient cause whereof none of the Chimist philosophers doth doubt although as Aristotle some time saith experience sheweth vs the contrary for salt is congealed by heate and may bee dissolued and molten by fier as I haue often tried and it is called fusible salt Neither Albertus Magnus that great Philosopher ought to be reprehended of our Aubertus because he referreth the power of making mettalles vnto heate when as Albertus doth not meane it of only heat as he thinketh Therefore it is to be knowen as Aristotle witnesseth thinges by meanes of colde to suffer rather then to worke because that cold is proper to the patient elements that is water and earth which both by nature are cold For they do not receiue cold from any other thing as they do heate but by taking away the heat they coole of their owne nature neither are they cooled by any externall cause as the aier and fier Wherfore albeit cold in mixed thinges hath an efficient force yet it preuaileth rather to corruption then to generation Therefore the Chimists are not to be reprooued although they say that nature needeth a heat vnder the earth for the procreatioÌ„ of mettals as a more effectuall efficient cause which may mingle alter dispose digest and concoct their matter at last with long tract of time frame it into gold as into his last end Neither are they to be reproued in this that they refer some force to the influeÌ„ce of the heauenly bodies for Aristotle â—onfirmeth their opinion in his booke de coelo mundo and his booke of the causes of the properties of elements in these wordes For saith he the first beginnings mouing to generation and inducing forme in euery thing are the starrie and heauenlie bodies by their mouing and light For they are the first that moue moued of the intelligences to performe the nature of generation or corruption for the preseruation of kindes and of them is giuen forme and perfection and as hee said in an other place the sonne and man engendreth man nether doth Aubertus rightly conclude vppon this reason the art of Alchemy to be vaine if mettalles bee ingendred by force of the starres when as the Chimiste s can not haue the fruition of this heauenly power for they beleeue with the Philosopher that if formes bee put on vppon inferiour thinges by the motion and light of the heauenly bodies by their site and aspect the same by consequent to come to passe in mettalles but that is done as it were by a generall cause and farre off but they haue a neerer efficient cause as we said that is heate by force whereof mettalles congealed in the bowels of the earth are disposed digested made perfect These thinges thus declared we must see to what end Aubertus tendeth and what is his vttermost scope hee would haue the labour of the Chimistes which they take vpon them in making perfect of mettalles to be vtterly vaine and lost and he denyeth that copper tinne Iron or leade which of them are called vnperfect mettalles can by any art be made perfect and be turned into gold and siluer And first saith hee it is euident
The like is to be thought of mettals for as the want of proper matter is the cause chiefly why that of euery thing an other the like is not ingendred so if fit matter be found out it is the chiefe cause why that of one another the like is ingendred Therefore for so much as it is possible for the art of transmutation to finde out the same matter of gold and siluer which is altogether naturall that is that third nature the quicksiluer coagulat and mixed with his sulphur and that it is easie to follow and imiâ—at nature it selfe in his working because it doth decoct and digest that matter with most pleasant heate vntill in the last terme of his motion his agent be seperat from it that is his strange sulphur It followeth both on the behalfe of the agent and of the proper and naturall matter the art may be called possible and truely naturall but at the length Aubertus will flye to this argument If this Philosophers stone could iuduce the shape of siluer and golde it would make it like vnto it selfe and by that meanes frame another Philosophers stone I answere this conuersion of mettalles is the reducing of them vnto a certaine meane that is to a temperature and that excellent equallitie which is onely found in gold in substance colour digestion fusion sound and other properties These hetherto disputed shall suffice not that I would take away any thing from Aubertus estimation in other pointes but to shew him and such as thinke his little booke to bee adorned with tauntes that they haue vsed their sharpe tauntes against such as haue not deserued And finally that I might defend the truth whereof it were meete that he also were studious if he be a good maÌ„ such as I think him to be neither are these things deuised by me but set forth by most learned men confirmed with most certaine argumeÌ„ts notwithstanding least any man may think one to vse only their authority which Aubertus ought not vtterly to contemne for who will thinke that they haue left vnto vs rashly or without credite those seâ—retes euen vnder a holy oth Therefore this same part of philosophie which hee so sharply doth taunt improue and cauell I on the contrary dare boldly affirme that it can neuer be sufficiently commended and praised according to desert If wee do beholde only the miracles of nature which it bringeth out of his secret bosome or the commodiâ—ities thereof which are almost innumerable besides the infinite thinges wherewith it doth open many artes For to passe ouer al other the vertue of the Philosophers stone is such and his excellencie snch that it is sufficient for the healing of most diseases and it sheweth the true and exquisite preparations of medecines but it is no maruel if the thing stiâ—ke to them that are accustomed with most vncleane thinges or with whom onely custome maketh a law But I do counsaile such men either to learne better thinges or not to enuie those that are better taught or at least that â—hey will not reproue thinges they know not If not yet we will not care for their enterprises because wee know that at the last truth shall haue the victory with his brightnes will driue away those darknes make all things manifest as it is indeede THE TRVE AND PERFECT SPAGERIKE PREPARATION OF MINERALS animalles and vegitables with theyr vse Set forth by Iosephus Quercetanus of Armenia Doctor Whereunto are added dyuers rare secrets not heeretofore knowne of many By I. H. practisioner in the Spagericall Arte. AT LONDON Printed Anno. Dom. 1591. ¶ The spagyricall Preparation of Mineralles and precious stones And first of Gold Chap. 1. ALL medicines are taken out of thinges minerall animall or vegetable by preparation Amongest the mineralls gold only is most temperate and perfect the which being brought in to thin leaues is ministred by all the Greeke and Arabian phisitions to strengthen nature against the passions of the hart vnto such as are much addited to sadnes and against all melancholy diseases as we haue shewed in another place Wherefore they prescribe it in their electuaries of pearles and in laeticia Galeni although some thinke it falsly ascribed vnto Galen in their Antidote of Coccus baphicus otherwise called alkermes in Aurea Alexandrina of Nicolas Mirepsi and in his Analeptike electuarie In their diamargariton of Auicen his description many other medicines All which according to their nature and qualitie do exhilerate the hart subdue melancholy and frensies restore the spirites and strength decayed and this they vse to giue without any other preparation But the Chimicall phisitions do draw out of gold a true tyncture to cure the same diseases and many other incurable greefes specially the leprosy canker and other corrosiue vlcers and so make thereof a perfect holesome medicine which may easily bee caryed by the meseraicall veines vnto the liuer and so vnto the hart and through the wholl body where as being otherwise vsed it helpeth litle or nothing but rather huâ—teth much because it cannot be ouercome by naturall heat for as the fier with any heat cannot burne or consume the same much lesse the strongest stomacke hart or liuer of any man whatâ—oeuer wherefore after this manner following you shall draw forth his tyncture Of the tincture of Gold THe tincture of gold is his colour so separated from the bodie that it remaineth altogether white and is prepared thus First ye must purge your gold by Antimony according to art than Amallgame it with mercury and sette it in a furnes of reuerberation vntill it become spongious light and of a purple colour so that it cannot be brought to gold againe out of the which yee shall draw his tyncture with Acetum alcalisatum by digesting it in Balneo 40. dayes being close luted with hermes seale The which yee shall afterward vapour away and circulat it with Alcoholl vini alcalisated whereby his force shall be meruailously increased for the curing of diuers and sundrie diseases of the which tincture Ê’ i. being mixed with â„¥ i. of Aqua theriacalis is taken euery morning ℈ i. fasting for the space 10. dayes This medicine is diaphoreticall purging the superfluous and noysome humors of the whole bodie by sweat the white body of gold which is true lune fixed the tincture being drawen away as afore is by an expert practisioner in few daies brought into Mercurie which beeing precipitated by himselfe into a red powder 8 grames thereof is giuen in wine or Aqua theriacalis to cure the dropsie and the pox and that only by sweat If thou cast this Mercurie of golde vpon a due proportion of his proper sulphur low it and digest it philophically then shalt â—hou make a most excellent medicine of all other to cure the leprosie for it doth purify the bloud that is corrupted and clenseth the whole body from all excrements onely by sweates and maketh a man as it
A BREEFE AVNSWERE OF IOSEPHVS QVERCETANVS ARMENIAcus Doctor of Phisick to the exposition of Iacobus Aubertus Vindonis concerning the original and causes of Mettalles Set foorth against Chimists ⧠Another exquisite and plaine Treatise of the same Josephus concerning the Spagericall preparations and vse of minerall animall and vegitable Medicines Whereunto is added diuers rare secretes not heeretofore knowne of many By Iohn Hester practicioner in the Spagericall Arte. At London Printed Anno. Dom. 1591. conceale or fraudulentlie obscure and with many fallacies and subtilties shadow and couer those things which beeing plainly sette downe might redounde to a more generall good then easily may be expressed And howsoeuer this malicious suppressing or sophisticate publishing of diuers secrets be generall in many Artes and knowledges yet I thinke it is in no one thing more common then in the Spagericall Arte. In the which Arte after I had bestowed many yeeres studie and trauaile J freely imparted to my CountrimeÌ„ at diuers times heertofore such secrets as by often reading in the best Authors of the same Arte or by many experiments of my great labour and charge I haue founde out most certaine and without deceit And now vnder your worships fauourable protection J offer to my Countrimens freendly acceptance the Spagericall practises of Iosephus Quercetanus augmented with diuers rare secrets not commonly knowne all which J doubt not will with more fauour be receiued in generall if they may be graciously shadowed and defended vnder your worshipfull name whose prosperous successe in all your honorable and vertuous attempts actions with a most deuote affection J doe most earnestly wish Your dutifull Seruaunt Iohn Hester ⧠To the gentle Reader EXperientia stultorum gubernatrix is with some held as a Prouerbe autenticke but in mine opinion freendlie Reader they are most fooles that want it For without it howsoeuer otherwise well read a man can say no more in Artes then the great Trauailer who in some fewe daies hauing coasted the worlde in a Card-makers shop can discourse directlie eyther of this or that but must be faine if fault be found to confesse his owne ignoraunce and blame the Maps falsenes yet as wee haue with vs a custome when we heare thinges incredible spoken from a far to say it is better beleeuing it then going thether to disproue it so are there many yea the most which will not stick to talke most that least of all aduenture in this perrilous passage to Science and yet the onely directed path called experience for besides the daily cares nightly watchings external woundes internall woes deforming of members disquieting of minde debilitie of senses and losse of sight with infinite other incombrances which lie as Adders in his way that treads this walke he shall on each hand be terrified with Legions of lying Spirits deluding flatterers of tame beastes by the Philosopher held the most deuouring and iniurious slaunders of wilde beasts the most implacable selfe tryall hath taught mee this since I first vndertooke to search the secrets of Earthes flowing bountie and her Minerall vaines I haue suffered all the vnpleasant sharpnes that experiences pathes yeeldes and endured euery enuie that malice could deuise yet the end I hope for beeing the benefite of this Weale publique in which I lyue a willing though vnworthy member animates me in despight of enuie to professe the neuer dying labors of my ouer-wearied powers to those that are willing to buy for nothing in a manner what I haue obtained with my precious life O the God that rewardeth all things will in my Redeemer accept I doubt not of my intent hath secretlie summoned my soule to discharge the fruites of her experience I haue translated this insuing worke and written these present lines for thy good gentle Reader On these flowers let no Spyder presume for they are ful of vertue that makes enuy mute They are free gifts and shoulde bee gratefully accepted the best intend the best the worst I write not for Such faultes gentle Reader as by vnskilfulnesse of the Printer in this argument and want of my continuall presence in the printing which are in any place to be found J pray thee courteously to pardon and freendly to correct A BRIEFE ANSVVERE OF Iosephus Quercitanus Armeniacus Doctor of Physicke to the exposition of Iacobus Aubertus Vindonis Concerning the originall and causes of Mettalles ANOTHER EXQVISITE AND plaine treatise of the same Iosephus concerning the Spagericall preparation and vse of Minerall Animall and Vegetable medicines AND FIRST AN ANSWEARE TO his slaunderous Epistle wherein he goeth about to ouerthrow certaine medicines of those whom hee calleth Paracelsians MInding to answeare the little booke of Aubertus concerning the originall of mettals and their causes although it be not greatly worthie of answere yet I neither can or may passe ouer this greatlie maruelling at the rashnes of those meÌ„ which dare curse and condemne this arte approued by the authoritie of so many ancient and great men especiallie Hermes Trismegistus Geber Lullus Arnoldus Villanouanus and our Auicen himselfe Whose testimonies confirmed with authoritie and arguments yea and with practise it selfe are of more waight then that they should so easily be shakeÌ„ of with the slender reasons tâ—unts of such meÌ„ But this truely I grant that through the fault and deceits of some ignorant and wicked men that the Chymistes are euill spoken of but to condemne thinges for their abuse specially of so great weight as I know and defend this to be truely it neither can or ought to be so For it openeth vnto vs so many works of the almightie God it laieâ—h open so many secretes of nature and preparations of herbes beastes and mineralies hetherto vnknowen and sheweth the vses almost of all things which were hidden and laid vp in the bosomâ— of Nature that they shew themselues vnkinde toward man that would haue this art buried As touching Paracelsus I haue not taken vpon mee the defence of his diuinitie neither did I euer thinke to agree with him in all points as though I were sworne to his doctrine but besides the testimonie wherewith Erasmus adorneth him in certaine Epistles I dare be bolde to say and defend that he teacheth many things almost diuinely in Phisicke which the thankfull posteritie can neuer commend and praise sufficientle whereof I trust occasion shall be geuen to speake in another place But that all men may know with what discretion thou Aubertus hast taken in hand to oppugne these things goe to we will reason of those two points which in the Preface of thy little book thou hast taken vpon thee to handle But thou art a man truelie as I perceuie of a verie sharpe witte The one of thy points which thou handlest is concerning Laudanum accounted verie perilous the other of the burnt eyes of a crabbe which you also think to be ridiculous And first because you thinke it not to be the Laudanum of Dioscorides you demaund what it should
those foure mettalles to bee perfect but we haue before shewed they are altogether vnperfect for many causes neither can it be denied but that by art and right preparation they are made much more perfect and excellent in their kinde Therefore Aristotle 4. met cap. 6. Iron saith hee wrought is molten that it becommeth moist and congealeth againe and no otherwise are they accustomed to make steele for the fex of the Iron setleth and is seperat into the bottom and when it is after made pure and cleane from his forces it becommeth steele but Iron is so much the better as it hath least excrements But let vs passe ouer authorities when we haue sufficiently approued this by philosophicall reasons by which we haue more then sufficiently shewed onely gold to be perfect all other mettalles to be vnperfect Moreouer Aubertus addeth that he might make the art of transmutatioÌ„ vnpossible Those things which are maâ—e perfect and formed by art are artificiall but mettalles both by knowledge of the name and diffinition of the essence are naturall for they are mineralles saith he and haue their originall onely from a naturall beginning therefore they are naturall and that according to Aristotle For naturall thinges haue the beginning of their making in theÌ„selues but those which are made by art not but haue it outwardly from some other and brieflie to end hee addeth that no naturall forme can bee put on by art whereby hee concludeth that there can be no artificiall mettalles Now therfore goe too it is our part to ouerthrow these argumeÌ„ts and finally to proue the Chimick art to be true which imitating nature it selfe doth transmute mettalles we said before they were called vnperfect which were in motion to that forme whereunto they were last decreed and those perfect which haue attained the end of their motion And because gold is come to the vttermost terme of his motion is formed according to the true intent of nature as we haue alreadie shewed therefore we hane concluded that alone to be perfect and all otheâ— that be in their motion to the forme of gold to be vnperfect whose perfection notwithstanding nature doth still prosecute in her bosome that she might conuert them although in long time into golde This can the diggers of mettalles testify which in one hundred waight of lead finde certaine ounces of fine siluer which is their great gaine So also in many copper mines there is found gold and likewise in siluer mines which when as such as are skilfull of these thinges perceiued or as often as they found any vnperfect siluer through indigestioÌ„ they vse to shut vp their mines and prouide that they be so let alone for 30. yeares or more vntill there bee made a perfect concoction by the heate vnder the earth So also writeth Plinius that there is siluer in golde by diuers waight in some the tenth part some nine and some eight In one onely mettall saith Galen which they call Albiâ—rarense the 26 part is found and therfore it is more excellent then other because it is according to the greater or lesse digestion of nature as may be iudged For when as digestion is complete then is found most pure and perfect gold Whereby it appeareth that albeit mettals be in a certaine terme of motion yet not to bee in the last and that they are in the way and passage to gold as to that which is only perfect For where any vaine of mettal is found neere therto is also fouÌ„d another wherupon after Pliny they are called mettals of the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that one is sounde after another But Aubertus wil say to this If vnperfect mettals by longer decoctioÌ„ may be reduced into gold by nature why do not the diggers expect that time speciallie seeing if that should come to passe they should haue much greater gaine by the thing we answere there are certaine things which make the generation of mettalles diuers not onely in kinde but in properties and accidents according to the regions and places where they grow as also beastes are made diuers as writeth Aristotle 6. de animalibus For in Egipt Scorpions are not venemouse in other places contrary and wheat in time in some places doth degenerate into rye rye into wheat So is to be said of mettalles which although they be appointed of nature vnto their end that is that they should be gold notwithstanding by the diuersity of Regions and mines and their corruption some are brought to their degree of perfection that they become golde and some remaine in the path of imperfection according to the diuersitie of digestion or purifying For by weaker heate nature doth congeale some vndigested thinges as lead and tinne some with a superfluous and burning heate as copper and Iron and some contrariwise for want of heate and lacke of an agent doth not congeale as quicksiluer But nature it selfe bringeth forth siluer with a reasonable temporat heate but gold with a most temperate which needeth no workemanship to be made perfect as that hath attained the vttermost end and accomplishment For as Aristotle saith in his 2. booke de Coelo mundo that onely is good accomplishment that needeth no labour to make it good and all perfection of thinges consisteth in this point that they receiue their last accomplishment For so much then as the vnperfect mettals haue not attained to that last ende of perfection for the causes aforesaid therefore they lacke the worke of art by whose help following nature it selfe they are at length made perfect and attaine that last end whereunto they were ordeined of nature that is they become golde For as the Philosopher writeth 2. Ethicor. truely sometime art maketh perfect some things which nature cannot worke other some it doth follow So nature being holpen by art trees bring forth their flowers and fruites euen in the winter season and in cold countries which nature of it selfe could not do as is to be seene in the county palatines orchard at Hedelberge and in many other places but that which Aubertus saith that in the whole work of Alchemy nature doth vtterly rest and onely art doth moue the subiect it is most falsly spoken for by reason of nature being agent Chymia is a naturall worke for the matter in the selfe same stone which by decoction it desireth retaineth digesteth expelleth corrupteth engendreth and formeth in his time by the commandement of almightie God wherewith nature doth forme mettalles by the mixture of it but by reason of the ministerie I confesse Chimia to be an artificiall worke not that art doth corrupt engender and forme but thus farre onely that it ministreth all this vnto natures working which otherwise of it selfe it could not alone performe for nature worketh two manner of waies to engender golde one by it selfe and first of all when it doth engender gold in his proper mines and of his proper beginninges in which it is vnpossible for
and therewith part by passing into water wax blacke and the water by passing into airie wax white and the aire beâ— turned into fier The separation of elements made they make a coniunction of water earth with aire and fire keeping a proportion that euery element may be dispersed with other giue vnto the male 3. partes of his water and vnto the women ix parts then euery like reioyceth with his like for the desire of the ioyning specially of the materiall sulphureouse forme These thus ioyned they putrify it in a moist heate lest by hot fier the mercurie should be seperat or carried vp on high through his spirituall nature that by this corruption the matter might be changed and the elementes naturally deuided that regeneration may followe for there is nothing borne or groweth nor without life but first things putrifaction is made After putrefaction they come to coagulation and with the same most temperat heate continually altering the matter as well inwardly as outwardly they do worke vntill all the matter be white like vnto pearles then is there a true fixing and congealing of the shining spirites with the bodies The Chimick philosophers call this the white thorne and white sulphur incombustible which neuer departeth from the fier Finally they proceede vnto Cibation that is to the making thicke of the thinne and making subtile the grosse mingling his water with the ashes and his milke with the foliat earth but moderatly that so the whitenes and rednes goodnes quantitie and vertue of it may increase and grow and by decocting and decocting againe the matter might be nourished Then they sublyme the matter but not with common sublimation and so purge it from all vncleannes lifting vp the bodie and making it spirituall and the spirit corporal fixed by taking away the sulphureous saltnes that it may all be white and easily be molten Hauing finished the sublimation they leuen the water by ioyning the spirit with his whitened earth or calce as with his ferment or incorporating the soule with the bodie For the spirituall accidentes cannot shew their permanent qualities except they be ioyned with fixed bodies as with his leuen which bringeth vnro him his aptnes to his nature colour and sauour by the mutuall and common impression of the bodie and spirit without the which the worke can not bee finished as paste cannot be leuened without leuen But for the greater nobilitie of the matter they thinke it must be exalted by increasing the spirit and sublyming making subtil the earth by naturall rectifying of all the elements and the true circulation and graduation of them vntill they be brought to a perfect â—mbrasing Then they increase the force of their Salamander by reiterating their solutions and coagulations and with new leuen in force and quantitie and that into infinite Last they make proiection of one waight vpon many vppon the vnperfect according to the perfection of the medecine for by how much the more it is made subtill and stained so much the more abundantlie it worketh and so following nature they make perfect vnperfect mettalles and turn them into the sunne moone of their proper matter purified and made subtile by art and then fixed by decoction and digested vntill it come to a white and after into a red colour and is made againe flying and againe fixed vntill it haue his entrance and staâ—ne perfectly they ma e their medecine and their powder which they call the philosoph rs stone And that by sundry workes â—iuers thinges many vessels and many furnaces as by that is aforesaid the vnskilfull of art peraduenture will iudge when as vnto the true Philosopher in all this great worke there is but one worke one way one thing one vessell one onely fier and furnace as all do confesse All these things would I note by the way whereby I might ouerthrow maister Aubertus opinion touching the philosophers stone for it is lawfull for any mâ—n by iâ—sting to vtter his follie in thinges vnknowen and that I might demonstrat that not the bare forme of gold or siluer drawen from his substance as hee thinketh is not the matter of the philosophers medecine But saith he I care not of what matter the stone bee compounded Notwithstanding because it is not a naturall substance it cannot put on a naturalâ— forme but onely artificiall and deceitfull I could here appeale to the witnesse of many notable men but I thinke it better to deale by reason Therefore I say that mettalles truely altered are knoweÌ„ to be perfect not by the forme theâ— had afore or that is put in for that were impossible but by the accidents properties and passions which follow the formes Therefore if in mettall altered all those thinges are found in euery examination that are in the true mettall truely it is to be iudged they haue not a counterfect form but the true forme of mineral gold and siluer For that which worketh the worke of the â—iâ— is the â—iâ— as the philosopher writeth 4. Meteor and so contrarie Further more we haue shewed the Philosophers stone to be naturall by reason of his making and that by meanes of the naturall agent that is fier with his naturall colour sent and forme which are accidentall formes following his determinat substantiall forme art ministring matter vnto it For art is ioyned with nature for the beginning of art is nature it selfe as the philosopher writeth 2. phisic â—y which reason art may be called natural his workes naturall his formes are called naturall in two sortes that is when nature prepareth matter for it selfe and afterward induceth forme as in man and stone or when art doth minister and prepare matter for it selfe yet not with the last prepation with nature notwithstanding doth dispose and prepare euen to the end and doth induce a forme vpon it as is to be seene in the making of ceruse and red lead Neither is it any new thing that art in many points followeth nature and that many naturall thinges are made by art which Arist affirmeth 4 Metaph. spheaking of colchota and calchant For nature saith hee in the mines of Atraments engendreth Atraments and he sheweth the manner of the making And a little after hee saith the two atraments may be made and compounded by art for art being the follower of nature as he writeth 2. Metaph. by taking the substance of Iron or copper whereof naturally they are made ministring it vnto nature with often dissolutions distillations and coagulations doth so perfectly and ingeniously make them that they haue the same properties and operations actiue passiue that the two mineral attraments haue The like is seene in making of salt There is some minerall salt founde as in Polonia other some is made as in France yet hauing the same properties and passions as the minerall by which reason it may be called verie naturall and his forme also naturall and verie perfect
many other throughout Germany and Italie do vse the spirit and oile of vitrioll for the curing of the falling sicknesse the stone and asthma with great ease and meruellous profit And Dioscorides speaking of vitrioll saith thus it killeth the broad wormes in the bellie ʒ i. of it being taken inward Being dronke with water it helpeth against the poyson of toadstooles and dissolued in water dropped into the nose purgeth the head By this it doth sufficiently appeare that so great a venemous quallitie is not in Mercury sublimat by meanes of vitrioll much lesse it is to be thought of commō salt Finally if so great malignitie were in it by meanes of the salte or vitrioll because it carrieth vp the spirites with him this malignitie also would be in Mercurie precipitat for the strong water wherwith it is made is compounded of the spirites of vitrioll and salte with the which also the phisitions make their precipitate which many of them doe minister without further preparation which albeit through his great sharpnes by meanes of the spirits inclosed in the strōg water it purgeth the bodie violently yet it is well knowen vnto many learned men at this day that it doth not hurt as the sublimat doth This malignity therefore in the sublimat commeth by how much the more it is made subtill and stronger by exaltation and flyeth with a small heate but in the precipitate it is not so for it is mortifyed and so fixed with that philosophilall fier the strong water that it will suffer great heat neither can that maligne aire be sent vnto the hart if it containe any which by nature is easily assaulted with all poysons because that the naturall heat cannot cause the precipitate to fume which no violence of fier can cause to vanish away as by certaine experiences is approued the fixing therefore of his spirit is the true preparation that either taken inward or applied outward cānot hurt the which many go about to do sundry wayes I speake of them which seeke his preparation onely for phisicke which think by powring on the water twise or thrise vpō the feces which they call caput mortuum and so distill it againe that the true preparation of so great a medecine may be attayned but they are not a little deceaued specially because they are not carefull to take away his corrosiue or else know not how to do it for truly Mercury precipitat can neuer be a sufficient profitable medicine so long as the corrosiue quality taken of the strong water is ioyned with it which is not taken away as many suppose with common washings but with farre other preparations and dulcifyinges which beyng vnknowen no perfect thing can be wrought therefore ye mustworke after this order following specially for the making of turpetum that wonderfull medicine Rec. Calcis terrae pellucidae fixae Talcum well calcined the which calcination shall be shewed in another place of each one pound make of them a strong capitall lye in the which ye shall boile one pound of Mercury first fiue times sublimed euery time quickened according to art the space of 7. howers and so shall ye attaine vnto the perfect purging of Mercury and the beginning of true fixing to all workes for these calces are so fixing that with sublimations reiterated vppon them at the length the mercury shall be fixed This mercury so prepared dissolue with regali foetido and proper menstrua dissolue also by it selfe ʒ iij of the mercury of Antimony well prepared and ℥ i. of gold purged by antimony according to art All these dissolutions put into a bodie of glasse and the vessell will be darkned or clowdy set that glasse in an Athenor giuing thē soft fire vntil they wax cleare then increase the fire and distill away the water by alimbecke from the feces till they bee drye powring on the water againe vpon the dead head four tymes then put on new fixing water that the matter may be couered 4 fingers set that to digest 2. or 3. dayes then distill it twise or thrise vppon the feces and toward the end giue it fier of sublimation that those thinges which are not truely mortifyed may rise and be exalted which must be kept a part for they serue not for our purpose then take the dead masse and bring it to powder and put it in a scaruell stirring it the space of 12. howres in the second degree of the fire in a fornes of reuerberation vntill it come to the rednesse of a Salamander out of the which ye shall drawe all the sharpnes and venom on this manner Rec. Of the sleume of vitrioll and allome ana lb. ij fs distilled vineger lb. ij calcis terrae nostrae pellucidae ae fixae ℥ 4. sulis corneoli cristallint ℥ i. whites of egges 20. distill all these by alimbeke twice vpon the feces put three pound of this water to one poūd of the powder of Mercury prepared as afore and distiil it away from the feces in alimbeke 4. times and the last time distill it vntil the feces be dry This done grind your powder vpon a stone powring to it againe new fixing water distill it againe foure times as before Then you shal fixe and make sweate thy mercurie by distilling from it the Alchooli vini fiue times putting on fresh euery time This the chyminicall phisitions call precipitate or turbith minerall by cause it purgeth grosse and slymie humours eight graines of this is giuen with conserue of Betony and aqua theriacalis to cure the pox due purgations being vsed before With two drammes of the extract of wild cucūbers one dramme of the extract of Hermodactiles ℈ ss of this precipitat is made a mixture whereof halfe a scruple is mingled with two drammes of aquae theriacalis and is giuen for the gout 4. or 5. times according to the age and hardnes of the disease and the strength of the sicke bodie in the spring Autumne For without any greefe it doth meruellously purge the sharpe excrements and draweth them out of the ioyntes For to cure the dropsie there is made this composition which doth purge the sharpe excrementes and strengthen the nutritue parts Rec. Of this precipitat aforesaid ℈ i. the extract of alhandall and Elaterium ana one scruple a halfe of the extraction of Elebori nigri well prepered and Rhuberbe ana one scruple the essence of red corall and yellow sanders ana 2. scruples spiritus vitrioli i. scruple olei mafliichini and cinamomi ana halfe a scruple mingle thē with the powder of cubebes and the muslage of gumme tragagant and make it into pilles The dose is from halfe a scruple to one scruple it must be geuen twice in a weeke if their strength will beare it If it be mingled with Diaphoreticall thinges it onely prouoketh sweates and by that meanes helpeth also many diseases mingled alone with butter it cureth cankered and eating vlcers specially that come of the
pox Likewise the fistula and all callowes matters Ex triapharmaco and the aforesaid precipitate is made a plaster which being put into the necke of the bladder with a waxe candle or small tent as it ought cureth the vlcers of it and taketh away the flesh without paine or danger The fixing water for the said turpetum is made ex Climia lapide Sedenegi lapide perlato marchasitarum sulphure rubicundo lacerta viridi rubra halinitro sale aluminoso this made after the manner of Aqua fortis among all waters of graduation this is the chiefest and verie fixing if any attaine vnto it truely Of mercury also are made other medicines for there is made of it being first prepared as it ought Amalgamy with gold which is put into a bolts head and closed with Hermes seall so being kept in a temperate fire 20. daies is brought to a yellowish fixed powder the signe of perfection is when it will not vapour away by force of fire neither be quickned againe in water This medicine is Diaphoretical and is ministred for the forenamed diseases specially to cure the pox onely by sweates There is also made of Mercurie a balme with the water of the calex of egge-shelles and tartar also a most excellent oile for fistulaes all vlcers and callosites this shall suffice to bee spoken of Mercurie so that this one thing being noted that the whole perfection of this medicine consisteth in the fixing and dulcifying of it Of Arsenicke Chap. 7. AMongest the corrosiue medicines which by the extreame sharpnes of heat do distroy our naturall heate or conuert it into fiery quallity and by their malignant nature dissolue the naturall moysture consume all the substāce of the bodie and cause putrifaction with stinche the Phisitions do accompt Arsenicke sandrake and orpiment and therefore do iudge the vse of those medicines very perilous in chirurgery nether by any meanes necessary because they are so venemous and contrary to our nature This they may verie well say if they knew not their true preparatiōs wherby they are made apt to cure many outward infirmities These medecines are said to be venemous for their maligne quallitie and sharpnes But that euil quallity consisteth in the spirit stinking aire or blacke smoake which it sendeth out with a small heate but the sharpnes is onely in the salt This venemous and blacke smoke when it is raised by natural heate doth weake the matter of the part corrupteth it oftentimes killeth as if one had dronke poison if it be not laide too farre from the principall partes specially the skin being wounded which happened to a certaine woman and Fernelius the chiefe of phisitions of our time witnesseth that he saw it seeing that maligne quality is in the blacke smoke it must be altogether fixed for by fixing as we said before in the chapter of mercurie all the venom is taken away from the spirites as from arsenicke mercurie orpiment others The sharpnes is taken away by extracting the salt which may be done by their proper washinges as wee haue before shewed by which reason arsenike shall not hurt but profit much in locall medicines for poisoned woundes the wolfe fistula canker and gangrena if it be dulie prepared fixed and sweetned Of which true preparation Dioscorides seemeth secretly to intreat of when as hee speaketh of that metalline sandaraca which in the beginning of the chapter he writeth to smell of sulfur It is giuen with mulsum to those that coughe out rotten matter and to those that are short winded it is verie well giuen in drinke with rosen It is verie hurtful to geue sandrake vnprepared when as Galen doth witnes it is of a burning quallitie vnto whose opinion Dioscorides also agreeth in the sixt booke 29. chapter of simples Therefore it will not be amisse or hurtfull to vse arsenicke or any other corosiue medicine being prepared in chirurgerie specially the preparation therof is thus sublime arsenicke 3. times with salt prepared and rubifyed vitrioll the scalles of Iron that yee may purge it which afterward yee shall fixe with salt peeter giuing fyer by degrees the space of 24. howres and it will be a masse whiter then snow Resembling the colour of pearles which yee shall dissolue in warme water to draw out his salt and there will remaine in the bottome a verie white powder which being dried ye shal fix with the like waight of olei inceratiuiex talco confecti and set it in a fournace of reuerberation on whole day then againe dissolue it in warme water that the powder may remaine white fixed sweet mhich in a moist place wil turne into a fat thicke oile like buter swaging paines for like as arsenike not prepared bringeth great paines and by the maligne qualities is poison so contrariwise by his fixing he looseth that and worketh without paine and is a profitable medicine for curing of poisoned woundes if 1. ounce of it be mingled with 2. ounces of oile of mirrha Many also sublime arsenicke 3. times cum calce fixa colchothare then dissolue it in aqua stigia fixatoria ac conueniente for that purpose distilling the water often from the feces thā reuerberate the caput mortuum which will come to a white powder fixed from which the alkalie is drawen out with the alchoole of wine and so is made sweete the vse of this is to cure fistulaes and cankers Of Sulphur chap. 8. SVlfur is the balme of the lunges which the Chimist doe 3. or 4. times sublime with colcothar to purge it from his impurities and make thereof many profitable medicines to cure asthmatis if sugar be mixed with it also of the flowers of sulfur and his proper menstrua Therebinthinat digested certaine daies in a drie heate there is drawne out a balme like to a rubine the menstrua being seperated there remaineth a verie red oile of sulphur which must bee circulated with vin◠distillato alcholisato and be this means is a balme drawne out of sulfur whereof 3. or 4 droppes is geuen with water of Isope to those that are short winded and spitte rotten matter It healeth all manner of woundes quickly c. Notwithstanding the auncient Phisitions seeme to haue thought that sulfure did only cure outward greefes that it had a drawing quallitie and was of a whot temperature and thin essence as Galen and Aegineta wrote and that it was good against venemous beastes specially against the Sea Turtle and Dragon either cast on drie or mingled yet Galen seemeth to allowe the vse of sulfurie waters by these wordes The bathes or drinking of sweet waters is very hurtfull to the sicke of the dropsie But of salte sulpherie and pitchie waters is very profitable Dioscorides writeth that sulfur eaten with a rere egge helpeth those that are shorte winded But the Spagirickes haue attained to many things vnknowne to the auncient Phisitions Finally of sulfur is also madeth sower
passe amongest others an especial remedie and experiment often proued against the stone in the raines which is prepared in this order In March there are found in the Maw of an oxe certaine little stones which if they be taken with white wine dissolueth the stone Also in the moneth of May in the bladder of the gall of a bull is found a certaine stone which if it bee put in white wine it changeth it to a yellow colour like safron changing the tast but litle if the sicke drinke euerie day of this wine daily powring on freshe vntill the stone be consumed by these meanes it is manifest by experience that the stone is diminished and at length consumed Many other medecines are prepared of the partes of animalles which are not of themselues to be disallowed of many ignorant neither their preparations reiected because they are vnknowen vnto them all which they may easily attaine vnto in time if so be they will not condemne at the first sight that which they know not and thinke them so impossible to themselues which are not able to conceaue such great thinges which yet by searching and diligent labour of hand not without great maruell and profit to the sicke are proued most true and certaine to a true phisitian The Spagyricall preparation of Medicines taken out of Vegitables and first of wine Chapter 1. TAke the purest and strongest wine ye can get distil it in a gourd of glasse with a narrow mouth ouer the which ye shal paste a paper the which being drye annoint it with oile of sweete almondes then set on the head and receauer and distill it in Balneo and the spirit wil flye through the oily paper the which yee shall circulat and keepe in a cold place close stopped whose vertues are infinite for the health of mans bodie the spirit being taken away yee shall boile the feces vntill it come thicke like a sirop set it in a moist seller the which in short time wil congeale into hard stones or salt which is called of some lapilli vini the which ye shal kepe in a dry place to your vse that is to dissolue gold therewith the which thou maist do in this order First calcine thy gold into an impalpable powder that it caÌ„not be brought to gold again theÌ„ take therof â„¥ ss lapilloruÌ„ vini prepared as afore â„¥ i. fs Alcooli viniq s digest theÌ„ together 14. daies then distil it there wil come forth a water of a golden colour then powre on more spirit of wine prepared as afore digest it againe and distill it as aforesaid and this ye shall doe vntill the spirit of the gold be drawen forth Vinum alcalisatum TAke those feces that remained after the spirit is taken away and calcine them white then with his proper fleme ye shall draw away his salt the which is called sal vini of the which take â„¥ si spiritus vini â„¥ 2. digest it in Balneo 20. daies then distil it vntil it be drie in the bottom then put on more spirit and digest it as afore and this ye shall doe vntill the salt be distilled ouer the helme and then it is prepared The preparation of tartar and first of spiritus tartari vel liquor fecularum vini TAke white tartar lib. 4. distil it in maner of aquafortis vntil all the spirits become forth the which ye shall seperate in Balneo from the oile then take that oile which remained in the bottom and rectify it in sand and thou shalt haue a most precious oile or balme thou shalt note that the first liquor seperated in Balneo is called liquor fecularuÌ„ vini or spiritus tartari which would be rectified froÌ„ the colcothar 3. or 4. times to take away his stinking smell the oile which ye rectifyed is called oleum fecularum vini siue mumia fecularum vini the which is most profitable in curing of running and corroding vlcers and sores which goe creeping vpon the flesh and especiallie those that come ex lue venerea being dâ—onke in wine it breaketh the grauell in the raines bladder and expelleth it by vrine certaine drops being dronke with the decoction of frogges is conuenient for the pthisick It preuenteth the infection of the plague if yee annoint the â—ostrelles therewith It drieth and consumeth ficus in ano in short time without any paine Furthermore Ê’ 1. of the spirit of tartar being dronke with the water of fumetorie or hirundinaria or such like is conuenient for pustulas gallicas exanthemata erisipelas the dropsie water betweene the skinne and the flesh menstrual fluxe and all obstructions of those partes as the iaunders It taketh away the leprosie in the beginning ye shall note that ye may augment his force meruellously in this order Ye shal mixe it with Aqua theriacalis which is made thus Take perfect good theriakle â„¥ 5. redde mirra â„¥ 2. Safrone â„¥ ss the spirite of wine â„¥ 10. mixe them in a glasse and set it to digest 6 or 7. daies then distill it in Balneo Sometimes they put into this water Ê’ 2. of Campher especiallie when it is vsed in whot burning agewes and inflamations and then it is called Aquae theriacalis camphorata As for example Take Spiritus vitriolli 1. ounce Liquoris fecularum vini correcti 3. ounces Aquae theriacalis 5. ounces mixe them and digest them in Balneo 40. daies then giue thereof 1. dram with good strong wine or other conuenient liquor bothe for the aforesaid effectes and also to cure and preuent infinite other diseases for this composition hath a singuler percing qualitie aboue many others yee shall note that the liquor of Lignum vite may be vsed in the same order and so it will worke his effect with more speede Sal tartari TAke those feces that remained of the Tartar at the first distillation and calcine them vntill they be white then dissolue it in faire water distilled beeing warme filter and congeale it and in the bottome ye shall finde a white salte which laied in a moyst place will turne into oile the which taketh away spottes in the face or any other partes also it clenseth vlcers if ye mixe 1. dram with 1. ounce of the spirit of wine this oile maketh the haire faire and yellowe yee shall note that if this salte be often calcined and congeled it will become Christaline and is of great force against diuers infirmities as hereafter God willing shall be taught The liquor of Honie Cap. 2. THat which diuers men call the oile of H onie is not a vnctuous oile like vnto other oiles but rather a certaine element the which is neither oile nor water although it bee cleere this is not much vsed in chirurgerie by cause it is not conuenient in sores but rather a thing appertaining to phisicke because it comforteth the stomacke strengtheneth the spirites and extinguisheth all feuers it helpeth the collicke It
There is also an oile made of sal nitri the which doth cui and disperse humors in the bellie it dischargeth the bladder of superfluous humours it preserueth health linguae nigrae calidaeque medetur it helpeth vlcers in the mouth vlcerâ—â— bus canis conuenit c. Sal petrae fusibills Salt peter is a certaine matter made of stones and is thus prepared Rec. Calcis viui q. v. and couer it two fingers high with water and stirre it well then let it stand 24. howres you shall finde vppon it a certaine skumme or skin the which is the salt which gather diligently with a scummer take of that salt and put thereunto a third part of pure oile of tartar and it will be fusible for this is the true salt peter this serueth also to the making of glasse and smaltes and is apt to cause all mettalles to melt and mixe with any alchimicall medicine and is of great vertue Colirium contra pustulas maculas pannas cataractas similes affectus oculorum quod visum acuit mirè conseruat REcip. Limature auri purissimi Ê’ ss Balsami Croci ambrae ana scru 2. Musci opij anae scru 1. tutiae extinctae nouies in vrina pueri Ê’ 1. tragaganthi sagapeni galbani stercoris lacertae ana Ê’ ss lapidis calaminaris vitrioli albi saccari candi aloes hepatica ana 1. scru Cortic myrobalan citrinaruÌ„ indaruÌ„ ana Ê’ i. Castorei Ossis sepiae ana ℈ ss fellis vulturis humani vrsini aquilae anâ—Ê’ ij make of all these a coliri with sufficient quantitie of the iuice of fennell rue and celandine of the which yee shall put two or three droppes in the corner of the eie In steed of that yee may vse many times this medicin the which hath a great vertue in all liuing creatures Rec. A glasse and fill it halfe ful of wine and set it in an Ant hill that they may creepe into the wine then distill them altogether or else let the antes stande in putrifaction 5. or 6. daies in the wine and straine them forth then distill it of the which essence yee shall put 2. or 3. drops into the eies It is most chiefly against cataractes redde and painful eies if the disease haue longe continued and hath fattie â—arnositie in the eie first yee shall put into the eie a litle burnt allome vntill the flesh be eaten away and then leaue A most excellent clister dispereing wind dryuing forth water against Hidropem asciten adiuncta timpanitâ— ascirrho iâ—cinorâ— REcip. the vrine of a sucking child â„¥ 10. and boile therein wheat the feede of fenel aniseed dyll ana â„¥ i. ss purifyed hony â„¥ i. fiat Clister Of the causes and reasons of spagiricke preparations of simple purgations HYpocrates in his booke de natura humana doth write that purging medicines doe drawe vnto them the humors which are vnnaturall in the body not by a common mingled quallitie but by the simillytude or property of the whole substance and an ingrafted famillyaritie Whose sentence Galen confirmeth against Asclepiadem and Erassistratum who thought that purging medicynes could not drawe any one humor but whatsoeuer they touched they could conuert turne it into their owne nature and so indifferently like leaches or boxes to draw the sharpe thinne humors as is most apt to purge rather then grosse and thicke But whereas al alterations are done either by force of heate or by driuing away the emptie or by a similitude of the whole substance that onely as Galen writeth is done with the Simâ—athiae of quallities or els with the likenes of the whole essence which things though I haue plainely shewed them yet they cannot be expressed with wotdes and the Greekes call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a propertie which cannot be declared So the Amber doth draw strawes and the loadstone Iron by which reason it is saide that Rhabarbe expelleth coller Agaricke fleame and Senna blacke choller although besides this peculier power of purging euery one of them haue a certaine generall facultie to drawe other humors which is to be iudged by the composition of many medycines with which we vse to purge diuers humors which alone would not suffice to purge by themselues if those simples did not worke together with naturall helpe to euacuate with a common force did prouoke the expulsiue power It is ment saith Galen that the simples mingled together doe agree and not differ in any thing Amongst these medicines some bee dygestiues of choller which cheifly euacuate yellow choller some of fleagme that euacuat fleame some of mellancholly which euacuate blacke choller and so forth of the other humors Therebe also other medicines which by the vaines of the inward partes and belly doe cast out the bloud it selfe which are called Jmpropriae seeing they bee poysons neither doe they alone purge but also destroye and kill as Galen witnesseth who telleth a historie of a certaine man that had found an herbe which firste toke awaye the blood of them that tooke it and then afterwarde the life also but those are to be reiected of al other for the true only euacuating of blood is done by opening of a vaine not by those medicines which by a certaine maligne and sharpe quallitie and deadly propertie doe eate the vaines and by alteration cast out the blood the treasure of life not without great violence of spirites and vexation of nature But of these purging medicines there are 3. orders or sortes The first malignaunt in which is a certaine vennamous power and substance except they be prepared as they ought among which are numbred of the roots these Eleborus niger turbith hermodactilus Esula Cucumeris agrestis Asarum Thymelaea Chamaelaea Among gumes scamonium Euforbium sagapenum Among fruits and seedes Colocynthis Lathyris Among stones Armenus Cyanus Which medicines if at any time they doe not purge as they should they doe the bodie much hurt as Galen writeth The second are more milder or gentle which are so called because they purge gentlie without any greife and they voide the hurtfull humors not of the whole body but of certain partes and soften the belly and do but litle decline from nourishing of nature which among herbes are theise Malua Mercurialis Violae Rosae Brassica Beta serum lactis purnes manna theribinthina cassia medulla which neede no other preparation then the common that they may be safly taken The third sorte are of meane among the which are Aloe Agaricus Cnicus Senna Amongst rootes Rhabarbari â—oliâ—odij Jridis raphani siluestris mechoacam Eupatorij mesuae Which last simples were lately found out and the roote of the former is all together like in force vnto the vitis ingrae All these are called Men because they euacuate only superfluous humors which are vnfit to norrish the body and that without great labor and cheifly if they be well prepared and their due
dossis obserued The cause of the purging quallitie of all these simples is this that a certaine thinne portion of it stirred vp by naturall heate creepeth in by the open conditts or passages into the lesser vaines and from thence floweth into the greater from the which by the liuer it is turned into the intestinalls and into the reynes it selfe and then followeth euacuation of humores by the belly which sometimes are discerned by the vrine in which as well the coloure as the sauor of the medicine receaued is manifestly seene which any man may trie in Rhabarbe senuae Seing therfore the vapor of these medicines which we call the essence being stirred vp by naturall heate from the earthy partes doth attenuate the resting humor and moueth the nature of the parte with a contrarie quallitie and prouoketh it to cast out their earthly substance or feces remaining in the stomake and the inward partes who then is so doltish that wil not commend the spagiricall preparation of these medicines wherewith wee doe drawe forth the essence which is the true purger and take away the maligne quallitie Or at the least we suppresse it with his owne menstrua which agreeth with his properties and haue an vnitie with them We seperate the feces or yearth as deadly and hurtfull which doth much offend for his thicknes cleauing vnto the tunicle of the stomake which Galen affirmeth out of Hipocrates in these wordes For saith he the purging medicine how smal soeuer it be it must needes goe to the bottom of the stomacke and in going do wne the stomake and what soeuer is found about it is infected not onely by the quallitie of the medicine but also by the cleauing of the substance in the swallowing it is greatly hurte and againe those that are of more thinner essences more readily executed their proper accions then the grosse as Galen witnesseth in many places Also where as he saith in the first booke of simples that those things which haue but a smal bodyly substance doe worke more then they that haue great Our extractions of essēces is to be commēded in which al these things are performed the proper purgatiue quallitie of the humor notwithstanding reserued in the medicine as also it is made so much the stronger in that his vnprofitable earth and fex is seperated from it and by his proper menstrua ioined vnto it all the maligne quallitie is taken awaye which Galen writeth is to bee done where he saith those seedes are to be mingled with medicines which mittygate their mallignitie and hinder not their worke which haue force to extenuate to cut that they may cutt asunder grosse humors and open the wayes by which they must be auoyded All which thinges all learned men may iudge to be done in our preparations But some will saye the extraction of essences is not so necessarie when as Actuarius commaundeth vnto whose opynion Paulus agreeth that to such as are of a weake stomacke 15. or 20. graines of Lathiris are to be swallowed whole he saith that though they be not brused minimeque in Corpus permeent yet they purge verie much Which place is not against our saying but doth rather affirme it because alitle after he willeth that those who must bee more effectually purged must eate them by which it is manifest enough that there is a greater vertue by bringing the medicine into a fine substance then in the whole mase and in the essence it selfe a greater force then in the residence of it which may be perceaued in Rhabarbe it selfe the infusion thereof doth purge more mightely then the whole substance doth for which cause I doubt not but that the same graines of Lathyris are prescribed rather whole then brused by any meanes to a weake stomake because the force and strength of the Lathiris as Galen saith is much like in force to Esullae and these medicines are so sharpe and vehement that they purge both vpward and doneward with great vexation and by that meanes the more violent they be the more they hurt the stomak but the slender body as Galen writeth is easier altered and chaunged of that whereunto it is applyed but that which is grosser is not chaunged but in a great time and scarce at length feeleth any sensible alteration for we trye by experience that we are so much the soner heated with pepper as by how much the smaller it is beaten and euen so must we iudge of the purging medicines therefore in steade of those Infutions and decoctions after the cōmon sorte we vse their essences and that healthfully without hurting of the stomak or any of the other partes But those vehement medicines otherwise to be feared haue beene so rightly prepared of the true spagiricks that their malitious quallities and sharpnes haue bin altogether bridled with their proper corrections and so haue serued in steade of gentler medicines for the cure of diuerse diseases So our Essence of Elcborus Niger being well prepared is ministred at this day in many places and is safly giuen to children to losen the belly without any labor In the meane season there bee a great number which ignorantly condemne these essences and speake against the vse of them and spew out the poyson of their gaule against them at whose rayling I cease to meruaile because the Poet saith that to those men that think nothing right but what them selues doe nothing can be founde more vniust or wicked then that they doe not But there bee other which being ouercome with reason will at last commend these our extractions of essences out of all thinges but yet they feare this one thing that is their fierie nature in them by a certeine quallitie receaued of the outwarde fire and therefore they refuse the vse of them chiefly in agues and for curing of hott effectes by which they shew themselues to be vnskillful in the Spagirick Arte and to giue rashly iudgment of thinges vnknowen For almost all Essences are drawen forth with the temperate heate of balneo or horsdonge with proper meanes belonging thereto which we call Menstrues because the skillfull spagirickes by it with their art and labor do drawe forth al the strength and vertue of any thing seperating that which is pure from the earth and stinking feces reseruing onely the quickning escence whose power rising vp as it were breaking his bondes doth drawe it selfe higher and sheweth much greater force then it did before and more effectuall for helping of the bodie And if they will saye that all the menstrues be hot they are verie much deceaued for the iuce of Lemonds prepared after our order is the mēstrue for pearles because it dissolueth them and chaungeth thē into a thinner essence and yet the iuce is not hot nor the essence of the pearles hot which remayneth When the menstrua is separated awaye And as Galen writeth wee must not call whatsoeuer is subtill hot also for water it selfe