be a fitnesse and property in the waters as you here confesse then is not the mixture of Aurum potabile with theÌ„ arbitrarie as before you said but necessary If it be necessary then is not Aurum potabile sufficient by it selfe or in wine alone Thus much concerning your contradictions Now let vs view your manifest falshoods Read page 97 before meÌ„tioned namely Aurum potabile neuer did hurt This falsehood hath appeared by the counter-testimonies Read again page 103 there you doe auouch that Aurum potabile removeth the antecedent causes of diseases by conuenient naturall passages If Aurum potabile be able to remoue the antecedent causes vnto which end phlebotomy and purging doe chiefly and mainely serue then may they be omitted nor are they so absolutely necessary This is the selfe same falshood and contradiction which formerly hath beene by you auouched and by me in some part confuted Notwithstanding for the better euidence of so necessary consideration for the life health of man kinde against this harmefull errour and illusion I wil cleere and make euident the incomparable necessity and prerogatiue of the generall remedies in the manifest disburdening of antecedent causes aboue all other meanes or remedies whatsoeuer If haply you doe not knowe what the antecedent cause is in diseases Read Galen de sanitate tuenda l. 6. cap. 7. Quic quid corpus affligâ—it ex ijs qua in ipso sunt duplici id occasione oritur aut redundantia aut succi vitio that is whatsoeuer afflicteth the body or causeth it to bee diseased of such things which are within it selfe is two waies thereto occasioned namely by the abundance or by the vitiousnesse of humours Vnto the same distinction in the antecedent causes the general voice of all Phisitians doth subscribe by those tearmes of Plethora and Cacochymia Plethora Galen in divers places doth againe distinguish to be ad vasa and ad vires and in his booke de plenitudine cap. 15. hee declareth that there is Plethora ad vasa maior and minor that is a greater and a lesse Maior quae tunicas venarum etiam distendit minor quae cauitatem in venis tantum replet That is the greater is that which with the abundance stretcheth out the veines The lesser without distention doth only fill the veines Concerning Plethora ad vires commenting vpon the seauenteenth Aph of Hyppocrates lib. 2. he saith Non potest diu permanere sed processu temporis corrumpitur That is a Plethora or fullnesse simply in regard of the imparitie and inequality of the sickmans strength to indure beare it cannot continue long but it turneth into corruption or in time is corrupted From the former grounds and principles by the assistance of vulgar reason may any man collect the necessitie of Phlebotomy in a Plethora which is one antecedent cause of all materiall or humorall diseases If you desire illustration of the former necessity and explication of the reason of the necessitie read the same author in his 3 book de Meth. Med. cap. 15. in his comment vpon the 7 Aph. of Hipocrates the 2 book in his book de venae sectione contra Erisistratum As there the necessity and reason of necessity of Phlebotomie in Plethora which is a maine and chiefe occasion of diseases or the antecedent mouer fautor fuell matter or cause thereof so in other places likewise doth he giue demonstration of the necessity of purgation in the Cacochymia and vitious aboundance of humours that are without the veines Read for this purpose his tractate intituled Quos purgare c. whom when by what meanes it is fit and conuenient to purge his Comment also vpon the second Aph of Hip first booke his book de purgantium medicamentorum facultate de Meth. Med. 1. lib. de Morborum causis In all these places and many more the necessity of purgation in a Cacochymia doth euidently appeare as likewise did before the necessity of Phlebotomiâ— in Plethora the reason of both is plaine An immediate cause in act remaining the immediate effect must necessarily attend * Effectus immediatus est signum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 suae causae Scal. de Subtil it The immediate cause in diseases is that which the Phisitians call causa coniuncta This cause cannot be without some matter or humour whereof it breedeth which humour therfore is called causa antecedens in regard of the necessity of a precedence thereof before that immediate cause can possibly be produced The matter or humour in the body which necessarily goeth before the disease is there congregated in more or lesse quantity and either within the veines or without From within the veines to the outward sense Phlebotomie doth immediatly manifest it selfe to euacuate From the other passages purgation is by the eye witnessed directly to draw For this cause Purgation and Phlebotomie are called generall remedies because in all diseases generally they doe manifestly euocate the humours or superfluities whereof all diseases doe euer breed Now examine your Aurum potabile Is it possibly sufficiently to remoue the antecedent causes of diseases as you report thereof without distinction If it bee hereto sufficient then it must so be either in it selfe simply or by accident Simply nothing can bee sufficient or effectuall thereto except those things which haue a purgatiue nature or quality If it include such a property or quality in the nature thereof then it is not simply and truely a Cordiall if not simply and truely a Cordiall then is it inferiour and nâ—t to be compared with many other things which are truely meerely solely Cordialls corroboratiues and comforters of nature without any mixture with another nature different and aduerse thereto as all purges are If you say that your Aurum potabile doth by accident remoue the antecedent cause of diseases then is it no way equall or to be compared with Phlebotomie or Purgation which alwaies doe certainly immediatly manifestly speedily and promptly euacuate superfluities which euer are and euer were the antecedent causes of diseases as is aboue said That which is or happeneth only by accident is casuall and vncertaine nor can there be therein any certainty trust assurance or necessary expectation And thus your leuitie your fallacy your insidiation and insinuation into credulous mindes by confused and ambiguous pronunciatiues doth detect it selfe How vainely falsely therefore you make Aurum potabile his insufficiency sufficient in the remoueall of antecedent causes is most cleare and euident The danger hereof also is as evident while men in their necessitieâ— trusting vnto the vncertaintie and casuall sufficiencie hereof may for euer in the interim omit and loâ—se the opportunity and date of life and recouery by the certaine manifest and assured remoueall of antecedent causes in the generall remedâ—es neuer failing although in their vndiscreet ignorant and vnartificiall administration errors and mischiefes may oft happen as is vsuall in all other affaires likewise aswell as in this
proueth no more vniuersalitie in Aurum potabile then is vsuall vnto other deoppilatiues or openers of obstructions But hereto hee doth promptly reply that there are no other deoppilatiues either so effectuall as this or so permanent or certaine in their effects or so little disquieting nature in their operations or after their vse leauing behind them so small euill relique or remaining inconuenience nor that are so easie or pleasant to take Our experience of your perpetuall want and insufficiencie in euery proofe or reason of your assertions confidently by you notwithstanding promised in the former part of the Treatise and as yet in nothing performed doth warrant vs to deny vnto you common credit vntill you haue or can by some merit exceeding all exception vanquish extort our discreet beleefe Your partiall proiects or reports of your owne experience we knowe not to be inuiolate decrees I haue oft seene long continuations and knotty obstructions with as much pleasure and expedition as any patient can hope or thinke enodate and dissolued They haue neuer againe returned nor the remedies in that worke imploied beene stained with the least suspition of either mixing with the cure or leauing after the cure the least doubt or questioned imputation Concerning the pleasure and facilitie in their taking there was neuer quarrell heard the sound of praise hath oft awaked envy and after driuen her with furie into an Apoplecticke amazed silence For this therefore your felonie and robbing of al men and medicines of their vndoubted rights your deserued suspension in euery sound iudgement cannot bee auoided except you can read like a Clarke farre better then hetherto it seemeth you haue done Read then the histories of all times and ages past wherein Aurum potabile being vnknowne excellent counsells haue produced admirable cures in al kindes of diseases Read any practiser of note or celebritie in any age or time and you shall therein read if you can read with iudgement your owne iniurious insolence and vnrighteous presumption But say you there is an inexplicable divinitie in the temper that giueth vnto Autum potabile the incomparable preheminence If this be true then first soundly refute the former confutation thereof and next salue the present contradiction of your selfe in your professed practise As you doe affirme in this place concerning Lullius his custome so doe you in your testimonies and elsewhere acknowledge concerning your owne that you mixe your Aurum potabile sometimes with Cichory water sometime with wine If your Aurum potabile be in it selfe sufficient both to coole heat as elsewhere you affirme what vse then is there of Cichory water to coole or of wine for warmth or comfort Either your owne action doth stab your assertion with the lye or your assertion pronounceth your action needlesse or vaine This is your true temper through euery veine and pulse of your former worke namely to pronounce contraries and yet affirme them to be all truths And thus is your last reason detected as your first to be the liuely and perfect image and picture of your most imperfect selfe of whom I may truely say as Martiall of Thais Cum bene se tutam per fraudes mille putavit Omnia cum fecit Thaida Thais olet Thais by wiles doth plot that she Though Thais yet no Thais seeme to be When musk-like most perfumed she is All fumes orefumeth still Thais Through your secure triumph in so many your cunning couers adulterate colours painted adequate complexion counterfeit guilt of golden temper notwithstanding is perfectly sented your fained worth by the proper ill sauour in it selfe It remaineth now only and alone to consider your inconsiderate proposing of an obiection against your selfe and therein blindly leauing your selfe intangled Aurum potabile say you page 11. latine Copie being a Cordiall for so now you confesse it in your lethargie of the former vniuersalitie being properly a Cordiall say you how can it alone bee sufficient vnto the necessary euacuation of the superfluous or oppressing load of humors in the body The immediat cōtinent antecedent causes of diseases remaining within say you again health is scarcely or not at all to be hoped merely to follow vpō Cordials Vpon the precedent grounds you conclude that if the nature of the sick of the vniuersal medicine be furthered helped by some gentle purge so much the rather the sooner shall the naturall strength the propulsation of the disease succeed Now let the Reader behold Anth. against Anth. In the very next words immediatly following the former in the Latine copy thus he addeth Notwithstanding saith he if this come not to passe .i. that the nature of the sick of the vniversall medicine be not helped or furthered by purging in due consideration of reason Nature wil finde a meanes way for her selfe better thē the Physitian who is not Natures master but Minister helper For the Physitian saith he in all diseases ought thither to direct all his evacuations where nature doth regularly and critically intend them How now will Anthony satisfie and answere Anthony Anthony first said that without purging or evacuation of the immediate continent and antecedent causes of diseases which is the proper ordinarie and vsuall office skill direction of the Physitian health could hardly scarcely or hopefully follow Now lastly Anthony againe saith that Nature without the Physitian will better finde helpe and meanes for her selfe The cause of this difference betweene Anthony and himselfe is the want of right distinction That therefore I may mediate betweene his meaning and himselfe I will thus helpe him to distinguish Nature is to be considered two wayes The first way is as she worketh regularly perfectly or sufficiently and there the Physitian is solely to imitate Nature and to be directed by her and her minister and no master The second way is as Nature irregularly inconveniently or inperfectly worketh and then and there must the Physitian be her directer master commander and orderer This may be manifestl◠proued out of Hippocrates Aph. 20. 21. 22. lib. 1. If beside rule and reason example instance be demanded in way of illustration we might be infinite herein but one or two are no lesse sufficient then a multitude In the scorching flame and furious fire of an exquisite peracute or perperacute pleuresie phrensie Angina Peripuenmonia Synochus and divers other like if Nature demonstrate her selfe compleatly and effectually able to vent sufficiently or competently by any prompt or convenient naturall passage the fierie smoake and fume of the boiling veines menacing her suffocation then is there no vse but an abuse in any vse of Physicke or Physitian But if Nature in her strength fundadamentally quaile by the oppression of her enemy the disease in the quantitie of the humor and be beyond the extent of her durance or toleration grieued though the cordiall may flatter or ease for a miserable time the Physitian must then either enable or
the conservation of health those things which are most temperate are most fitt First because they breed no excesse Secondly because they being more neere and like with lesse offence alteration they are at any time added or conioyned where vse and need is For this cause it is as truly as anciently said Similima Similimis conservantur In diseases and distempers the case is otherwise There the maine respect and indication is the reduction of distemper into temper This is not done by things alike or temperate but by things contrary So saith Hypocrates Aph. 19. lib. 5. Contrariorum contraria est ratio I pray tell me good Sr in a cold stomacke is a draught of temperate ale better or a ginger spiced cup If your braine haue lost his common sense aske your stomacke when it is oppressed with cold Is there not a manyfest difference of benifitt vnto a cold digestion betweene a draught of temperate beare or other like liquor and a cup of wine that doth manyfestly heate Doth not experience avouch that Diatrion-piperion Diaga langa Diacumini things of a sensible excesse in heate do farr more happily and presently warme a cold raw and windie belly then Aromaticum Rosatum or any other compounds of the like more temperate simples Who will denie that methridat is hott and in the same vse diascordium more temperate In a case wherein they are both in the generall profiittable if there be in some one particular respect a more speciall necessity of heating Who will not preferr the first before the second and the second also before the first where is more danger or feare of heate It is not therefore the even temper of qualities but the manifest odds of qualities that vsually in contrary distempers of the body doth both indeed and really and also to the sense and feeling of every man profitt himselfe and correct his distemper Thus farr hath better reason then it seemeth is knowne vnto your selfe offered vnto you spectacles through which it is easie to see and consider the slender weight and worth of this your worthlesse reason Let vs now review it with better eyes thus must your reason necessarily reason syllogised If most diseases consist in distemper then that which is most temperate is the best remedie But most diseases consist in distemper Ergo That which is most temperate is best remedie The vacillation and falsehood both of Maior and Minor is euident for if all or most diseases did alone consist in distemper as they doe not yet would not that rightly inferre that therefore those things which are most temperate are the best remedies since it is apparent as is before proued that by contraries those things which are intemperate are onelie reduced or brought to be temperate The weaknes and vntruth of the Minor also is vndoubtedly mantfest vnto all well exercised Physitians who most seldome meete with such diseases as solely and simply grow from distemper alone no disease almost or generallie or for the most part presenting it selfe which beside the distemper hath not an offensiue quantitie or burden of euill and vitious humors as true cause thereof Thus the Maior and Minor failing the hope of any good conclusion is verie slender And thus also is the second reason of the Apologist like vnto the first and both like himselfe all in showes and boasting shadowes nothing in truth and substance Notwithstanding because wee will not altogether dispoile him and leaue him naked hauing alreadie disarmed him we will out of our tender hearts yeeld and allow vnto the temperate remedies in distempers some place or respect although he neither doth or can winne it or deserue it at our hands We must necessarily here distinguish concerning distempers There is a distemper farre exceeding temper and there is a distemper within the latitude of temper that is not much wanting or differing from temper though perfectly or strictly no temper In that distemper †Iutemperies quae non longe à mediecritate recessit similibus conservatur quae absit longiùs contrariis corrigitur ad temperiem reducitur Galen lib. de constit Artis which is within some latitude of temper that is within some reasonable tearmes of temper or not too much exceeding temper temperate remedies or not exceeding in any manifest qualitie may happily helpe to reduce vnto temper But in that distemper wherein is manifest excessiue oddes it is beyond all latitude extreamelie false that remedies within the latitude of temper or that are temperate should reduce the temper For example if a man be distempered with an excessiue violent or furious heate there temperate remedies betweene heate and colde are soone mastered and made frustrate or profit little or for a short time But where a man is distempered with heate in a small excesse or very slender degree there temperate things though they cannot manifestly coole yet may they somewhat refresh by their propinquitie and nearenesse vnto requisite and desired cooling If these like temperate things in such a case carrie with their temperature a Cordiall qualitie then may they much more in that respect be prosperous Thus it is clearelie distinguished how farre foorth that which is temperate may reduce into temper that which is intemperate as also where it shal be so farre from giuing temper that it shal be ouercome of the distemper This may now bee applied vnto Aurum potabile His excellent temper if it bee so temperate in Antonie's preparation as it is in his predication may in some degrees of distemper profite but in◠a manifest excesse of any grand distemper in true reason and nature the temperature must necessarilie bee so farre from reducing into temper that it may rather therein loose his vse and temper and neuer finde it selfe like it selfe Thus you haue good reason for your money for your gold for your liquor which out of reason and beyond reason you would extoll As your reasons in their proofe come lame halting and limping home so your flourishing shewes of some scholasticall termes are meere termes without their true sense and rightly apprehended fubstance This is seene in your palpable ignorance endeavouring to salue that oracle of Hyppocrates Contraria contrarijs curantur That you may not disparage your Aurum potaebile from the opinion of curing contrary distempers which you auouch thereof yet may withal hold it to be temperate you pronounce extreame contrary to all learning that the meane or temper is contrary vnto the extreames As if vnderstanding men could be so blinded or enchanted by your mists of seeming learning as not to distinguish how a meane and temper vnto an extreame or distemper may in a large or loose sense bee tearmed contrary and yet in the true and exquisite nature of contraries be indeed no contrary I will in few words make this your grosse errour more plaine The question is whether Aurum potabile by it selfe doe cure contrary distempers do actually resist in cold diseases cold in hot
saith hee with Mules that carry burthens so doth it with the sicke It is not fit alwaies to take of the burthen that they may feed It is more trouble and hinderance indeed vnto the idle driuer as in his owne experience the Apologist hath haply sometimes found it is more trouble I say to the driuer in feeding or refreshing his Mules to take downe their packes or burthens but if the poore Mules could speake they would tell you from their owne manifest sense that it were more ease and pleasure vnto them to feed without the incumbrance of their loads vpon their backes in the interim And common experience doth tell vs that burthens are vsually remooued from the trauelling or laboring beast not onely when they goe daily vnto their rest but vpon many other occasions The Apologist compareth his sicke patients vnto Mules but he vseth them worse if hee tie them perpetually vnto their burthens and tell them for their comforts that Aurum potabile shall refresh them and inable them to beare them still No doubt but they had rather be rid of their burthens then comforted to beare them Every disease is not such a burthen as is impossible to be remoued and in those kindes they are nor only made Mules but Asses that for Aurum potabile his sake will beare them still Many diseases there are exceeding tolerance and greater then can long be borne if not either in part lightned or lessned or wholly remoued and Aurum potabile cannot make them lesse In both these cases or kindes of diseases Aurum potabile is of small vse In the one the burthen being wholly remoued is of no vse at all In the other vntill the burthen be otherwise remoued it can be onely a comfort or reliefe in the misery but no release from the misery This all Physitians know to be vndoubted in their patients howsoeuer Groomes doe practise in their mules There is a plethora ad vasa and a plethora ad vires The first is a weight or burthen so farre aboue measure that the vessell cannot oft hold it without danger of breaking The other exceedeth not the capacitie of the continent vessels but is more then the strength can tolerate except in some part vnloaded The like may be said of Cacochymia or excesse of vitious humors out of the vessels All these sorts of burthens are common in most diseases In all these it is better to be deliuered from their incumbrance and oppression then to bee comforted and refreshed to beare their loade It is true where it is not possible to remoue them securely with any safety there it remaineth onely vnto confirmation and comfortation of the strength with more ease to endure them But this is not an vsuall or ordinarie condition in all or most diseases In many diseases the cause remoueable being remoued health doth follow spontaneously and vntill it be remoued there can be otherwise no possibilitie thereof In many diseases it is impossible to remoue the cause and that remaining there is no possibilitie in Cordials or any other meanes to cure them Where they may be remoued shall Aurum potabile perswade to keepe them Where they are not to be remoued can Aurum potabile be esteemed any more then a Palliatiue a Flatterer a Iuggler a Cosner of opinion or paine for a time It is a wonder to see how these drivers of Mules suppose the world a generation of fooles and studie to beget and multiplie as they suppose among asses soles for the propagation of their vaine-glorious heresie and grand imposture Wee haue not hetherto found the least weight or worth in any one reason This last reason offered in forme of a question as is his mysticall guilefull maner in them all is for want of good deliuery so deformed and disfigured that it can hardly be reduced into any forme or figure of right dispute or the vnmeasurable indefinities thereof be fashioned into any moode or measure that may containe his promised purpose in any sort It is far more easie to driue one of his Mules into a pinfold then to drawe him into a Syllogisme that may hold him within his lists Let vs notwithstanding with best fauour and aduantage vnto himselfe that is possible thus fashion for him his confused Chaos of dispute into some shape of likely reason Thus happily he may most fairely argue If some Cordialls are necessary in all diseases and Aurum potabile containe in it selfe the vse and vertue of all Cordialls then is it an vniuersall medicine in all diseases But some Cordialls are necessary in all diseases Ergo Aurum potabile is an vniuersall medicine We will grant that some Cordialls are necessary in all diseases in respect of the due care of natures preseruation but we will deny that all Cordialls are necessary in all diseases or for all different vses or for all seasons in any disease We deny also that Aurum potabile is any such Cordiall wherein is comprehended the vertue and power of all Cordialls These points remaine still to bee proued as at the first beginning Vntill therefore the Apologist haue first manifestly proued them we doe aske the good behauiour against this trifling and brabling intrusion vpon a common and vniuersall right for which he hetherto hath not or euer can shew any good evidence It fitteth not a man reputed learned so oft to affirme that he doth not demonstrate nor so oft to iterate and inculcate that thing which irresistibly and inuincibly he hath not cleerely founded vpon scientificall grounds He that is herein defectiue is no better then a babler a pratler a tatler Homo in verba proiectus locutuleius blattero saith Gellius Noct. Attic lib. 1. It is not the sound of words saith the same Author in the same place it is not the sound of words but the profundirie of the sententious and pithie thought that is true science and learning Non sonns habitusque vocis sed sententiarum penitiùs conceptarum altitudo And this vndoubtedly of your whole Apologie aswell as of this your fourth Argumentation is most true It is full of great words bubling seeming reasons but it is seasoned with little true and sound reason As therefore Catullus saith of Quintia Nulla in tam magno est corpore mica salis No eye can spie in that bulks space One iot of sweet or comely grace So may I iustly conclude of your grand Apology If you doe haply like my owne poetrie rather then that is borrowed I may thus truely say of your whole worke Verborum ingentem cumulum miramur vsque Verbosum verbis nil nisi verba dare We view a wordy world of chatter All words no word vnto the matter The fift Reason Aurum potabile saith our disputant doth open obstructions which are the causes of infinite diseases From this proposition he imagineth the conclusion must issue irresistibly Ergo Aurum potabile is an vniuersall medicine If our bountie should extend to grant all it
deliuerance there-from euill In the weaknes of your argument you may see a manifest argument of weaknes in your selfe The weaknes both of your argument and yourselfe learne then by this argument following against which in the iudgment of the learned you shall not be able to answere one word one syllable 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Whosoeuer doth draw a reason or proofe of goodnes in remedies from their prospering successe alone or doth draw a reason or proofe of their illnes and vnfitnes from their want of fortunate events or operation he is in himselfe and in his reason weake and ignorant But Mr Markes doth draw a reason or proofe of goodnes in Aurum potabile from the prospering successe alone and doth also draw a reason of the illnes and vnfitnes of Phlebotomie and purgation from their want of fortunate events or operation Ergo Mr Markes in this testimony is both in his reason and in himselfe weake and ignorant The Maior is Hyppocrates Aph. 27. lib. 2. His quae sine certa ratione deprehensaque causa levant acquiescendum non est neque vereri admodum deijs qua abs reprava apparent Horum enim plurae sunt instabilia The Minor is manifest in the testimony it selfe vnto any that readeth it The conclusion cannot be denyed in any rule or reason Conclusiones negari non oportet In this Syllogisticall and Scholasticall complete armor doth Mr Markes compell vs to oppose while he will needs make proofe of his wits vpon vs poore Physitians and so brauely challenge vs at our owne weapons Behold notwithstanding the profound reason whereupon he beareth himselfe so loftie and confidently in the end jadeth and here leaueth his Masters lame learning in the mire As I haue here manifested Mr Markes his reason vaine and weake by which he would extoll Aurum potabile and depresse the praise and worth of the other remedies so will I next proue manifestly and briefly that he himselfe and his Aurum potabile were ignorant and iniurious vnto the patient in intetrupting and causing to be discontinued so abruptly purgation and Phlebotomie howsoeuer after their vse the disease and accidents grew worse I dare not encounter so learned a Clarke without a Syllogisme thus then I reason In euery disease where the same reason and cause doth remaine the same of the continuance of the same remedies there those remedies ought not to bee discontinued howsoeuer after their vse the disease and accidents grow worse But in the fore-mentioned disease of the named Gent. in in this testimony the same reason and cause did still remaine the same of phlebotomie and purgation Ergo phlebotomie and purgation ought not to haue been discontinued although the disease and accidents grew worse The Maior is Hyppocrates 52. Aph lib. 2. Omnia facienti secundùm rationem licet non succedat secundùm rationem non ideo desistendum est dummodo manet quod à principio visum est The Minor is Mr Parsons of Sayton who in his Epistle to the Apoâ—ogie saith Neque per Purgationes Clysteres Vomitum sanguinis missionem incendium mitigare potuit Morbus indies ingravescebat that is the burning heate the flame or inward inflammation was nothing cooled but the disease which he himselfe confesseth a burning feaver and his accidents grew worse and worse which are manifest causes and reasons indicating both Purgation and Phlebotomie Thus the Minor appeareth to be the Parson his owne and the Maior his great Masters for so forsooth he professeth Hyppocrates in the English Copie of this testimonie As he cannot for shame denie himselfe in the one so can he not be so perfidious in the other as to deny his Master The conclusion therefore doth stand inviolat and infallible The Syllogisme is legall regular in the second figure and couched in Camestres I doe now therefore boldly proclaime and divulge with authority reason rule and manifest proofe that Mr Markes in this testimonie is an ignorant vndertaker that his insinuation into the Patient by Aurum potabile howsoeuer pleasing his ease was iniurious and vnseasonable that the generall remedies before-mentioned and administred by D. Co. howsoeuer by the Parson sleighted and vilified were in art and reason more proper pertinent and materiall vnto the Patients health and recoverie if vntimely they had not by Aurum potabile and by Mr Markes his vnlearned intrusion beene discontinued Here haply the Parson will obiect If there were so manifest a reason of iterated phlebotomie and purgation why did Dr C. omit when he did phlebotomize and purge to doe it vnto a more sufficient module and measure Why did not he thereby prevent the vse of such iteration in his administration thereof Vnderstand worthy Reader that Mr Markes had purged and let blood the Patient before D. Co. came vnto him and was also gone from him The quantities which he had evacuated in either kinde being vnto Dr Co. vnknowne discretion imposed a caution vpon him to performe that which remained rather vnder then ouer competence The reformation of this safe needful error afterward the immediat abrupt succeeding of AuruÌ„ potabile did furiously kick at reiect How necessary it was at that time to haue bene done againe is before proued the truth therof is confirmed by the following imperfect Crisis through the defect thereof by the plentifull decumbence of humors painful swellings of the nether parts wherof is neither want nor obscurity of witnesses as also by the patients long continuance languishingly sicke the space of halfe an yeare together notwithstanding the faire ease and pleasure done by Aurum potabile His languishing so long is euident reckning from Dr C. his departure from the patient in March going before vnto the date of this testimony September 10. after which time he was not as yet fully recouered saith this testimonie The Parson may haply as yet obiect farther The strength of nature was not able to beare or indure the iteration of the former remedies when Aurum potabile came with his succor and refreshing The contrary hereto did offer it selfe vnto euery vulgar and common eye For it is vndoubted in common sense and reason that the same ability which was sufficient to endure that expressed tedious painefull length of a languishing sicknesse by the vnperfect Crisis arising from the imperfect euacuations and of the dangerous decumbence of humours perpetually vexing and launcing the neather parts with perpetuall feare and doubt It is vndoubted I say that this strength might haue better indured a moderate evacuation in short time done with facility and without difficultie or danger The likely good reason and vse of such evacuations the words of this testimony doe offer apparent that is a burning feauer continuall estuation burning boyling all want of rest and sleepe in the Gentleman inward flame or inflammation by these words in the Latine copie expressed Ardens febris Aestus continuus flagratio incendium Vnto these we might adde though not here mentioned a
plethoricall body vrine red intense thicke troubled As these were manifest reasons causes mouing and vrging phlebotomie and purgation so that these still remained the same after their second vse besides their first knowne moderation and small quantitie it is euident by these words in the first testimonie before mentioned Neque per Clisteres Vomitum Purgationem sanguinis missionem quae omnia tentata sunt incendium mitigari potuit that is Notwithstanding purging vomiting bleeding saith M. Markes the heat the flame or burning could not be quenched It may here haply be obiected and imagined that without Aurum potabile giuing strength and refreshing the patient could not haue endured either the languishing long sicknesse as he did nor the iteration of any the former generall remedies if they had beene continued If this be granted yet doth it not excuse his fowle errour and ignorance who because Aurum potabile did giue this comfort abilitie therefore he perversly and ignorantly reiected other remedies no lesse necessary in other kinds as was this in that Neither is it to be doubted that if Aurum potabile were able to inable nature to indure the terrour and torment of the fore mentioned languishing sicknesse but that in reason other remedies of the same kinde and of the same created vse might haue done the same howsoeuer at this time and in this particular Aurum potabile alone hapned to be acceptable therefore had the oportunity solely vnto it self It may haply yet be further enquired what manifest indication there was of vomit before mentioned I need not giue thereof any other reason then that inseparable accident or symptome of a burning feauer namely the excessiue ebullition of putrified choler abounding in the stomacke and liuer which was in this patient manifest accompanied with that stoppage of the backe and kidneyes by the Parson witnessed which did indicate that revulsion and deriuation which vsually and manifestly vomit doth performe The Parson will haply as yet reply If phlebotomie and purgation were so needfull to bee againe iterated why did not the other learned and worthie succeeding Doctors insist in that course The answer is twofold First I doe by my owne proofe and experience knowe that the hope of their preualence therein against Aurum potabile and his preiudicate anticipation was impossible Secondly I knowe it manifest and out of doubt that the decidence from the sharpnesse of the disease and the setling of humours and their decumbence into the neather parts or at least their irreuocable entrance into the way of decumbence before the other two Doctors comming did deny vnto them the opportunity of the vse of those remedies their season being by delaying now passed and a new indication offering another and different counsell through Aurum potabile his preoccupation and tyrannous vsurpation of their due time and season The parson may as yet moue a doubt whether Aurum potabile be not in it selfe able to supply the vse of purgation and phlebotomy The contrar hereto is manifest first by the proofe and triall thereof made wherein by his owne testimony it is euident that after the forsaking of the former remedies of phlebotomy and purgat on and the adherence vnto Aurum potabile there immediatly followed a plentifull decumbence of humours swelling and possessing diuers parts a long languishing time Secondly that Aurum potabile cannot be able to performe or supply the vse of the former remedies is euident for that no particular medicine of what vniuersality soeuer hath euer as yet been found by experience or knowne by reason to drawe the bloud electiuely or immediatly in the proper masse substance from the seuerall fit veines For this cause therefore where the masse and substance of the blood is either corrupted or is growne an importable burden vnto nature Aurum potabile can neither certainely nor speedily as is oft requisite remoue it or euacuate it Concerning purgation also since it is manifest that the purgatiue vertue or quality is a proper certaine immediate and ordinary operation of such things as are in their true nature purgatiues Aurum potabile except proued among the kinde and nature of purgatiues which cannot agree with the nature of so perfect and absolute cordiall cannot nor doth not in it selfe purge or euacuate It may be obiected how came it then to passe that in this Gentleman it is said to purge so easily pleasantly and plentifully Hereto we answer that this purging issued not from any certaine or ordinary property in Aurum potabile though then or at some other times it may so happen thereto For while Aurum potabile haply as a Cordiall dispelled from the heart offensiue humours some of them it is likely through their abundance might fall into the common sinke or passage and so by accident be purged away but this kinde of purging is vncertaine doubtfull and not equally according to vse and necessity sufficient against the fulnesse and turgescence of humours which vnto a certaine module and measure require their certaine remoueall and euacuation That Aurum potabile hath properly his place among Cordialls both all generall descriptions and also the Apologist his owne particular confession in many places doth proue And thus obiections satisfied the fixed manifestation remaineth of M. Parsons ignorance in this testimony as also his insolence in vndertaking aboue his reach prowdly daring beyond his station without any likelyhood or liuelyhood of performance How void he is of true iudgement herein as also of any liuely sap of true learning the demonstration hath not beene obscure Now as his presumption in his supposed learning overdaring beyond the slender muscles is fowly fallen vnto the ground so let vs view his vnnecessary vnhonest vnciuill and crafty dealing which hath solely ministred the matter occasion of all the scandall Let mee put you in minde M. Parson that the Gentleman mentioned was first your patient You had purged him and once let him blood before Dr C. came vnto him and were gone from him After Dr C. was come had againe purged him vomited and once more let him blood the supposed doubt and feare of those remedies being past you then secretly came vnto him againe secretly communed and gaue vnto him Aurum potabile were you not herein a Fox Non redoles sed oles It is no borrowed smell it is your owne rancke sauour Let me yet farther tell you that after Aurum potabile was thus secretly giuen by Master Markes vnto the patient immediatly the patient together with his wife contrary vnto their former courteous and friendly vsage of Dr C. before in his many fortunate imployments amongst them many yeares together now accuse him vnto his face of erroneous iudging and practising in this one particular with constant asseueration that this assertion was auouched by some both honest and learned whom they would not name No other reputed learned or any Physitian but M. Markes his marked selfe had as yet beene with them Thus
hope of recouery It was no more then occasion did require as may appeare first in the patients aduersnesse vnto himselfe Secondly in Markes his description of the patients estate as also by the deliberation and pause which Aurum potabile did take for his imperfect recouery which was from D. C. his desertion of the cure in March vnto the date of the first domesticall testimony September 10th Whereas it is obiected that D. C. did write a booke inhumanely handling the patient with calumnies It is meere misprision The patient was neuer in any treatise by him nominated nor so much as described in any such sort as he can iustly any way appropriat vnto himselfe There was neuer any wrong really done vnto him but onely in his owne opinion What in any priuate speech hath passed that might seeme to touch him it was extorted and vnauoidable for the wronged his necessary and iust defense being prouoked by all extremity of dispite As for the book which is tearmed vaine it is able to answere for it selfe and was neuer as yet put to silence Now vnto the matter it selfe It is doubted whether the patient be beholding vnto D. C. in any part for his care and precedent paines or soly and totally vnto Aurum potabile succeeding after It doth not follow that because Aurum potabile pleased the patient his ease sense and desire therefore it doth performe the reall true benefit in right vnderstanding vnto the health It were ridiculous if any man should thus reason This way is a faire way a pleasant greene way pleaseth and refresheth me Ergo it is my way home This is a thorny ragged crooked way and much troubleth and discontenteth me Ergo it is not the way vnto my intended iourney The way vnto health is oft times as the way vnto heauen smally pleasing It is not the pleasures or refreshing in the way but the true end and expected issue thereof which indueeth the iudicious with content perseuerance and patience to walke therein In the right method of regular cure and according vnto art and reason D. C. did proceed by the confession of M. Markes his letter going before at the end of the confutation of the second testimonie The truth thereof likewise doth proue it selfe by demonstration in the same fore-mentioned confutation Common reason and the generall course and custome of all Phisitians in the like case or occasion doe vncontrouersly confirme the same How can it then be iust or reasonable that D. C. guiding his honest intention and care of the patients good by true art by likely reason and in all artificiall order course confessed should notwithstanding bee blamed and blasted with an euill breath because the present or speedy euent was not according vnto expectation equally prosperous happy or because the patient thereby found not ease What the disease was is apparent by Markes his description namely a burning feauer The remedies in that disease euer requisite necessary in ordinary regular cure were by D. C. administred according vnto art and reason as saith the same Markes The Patient complaineth in this course hee as yet found no ease †Plethore vnicum ac proâ—â—â—um remedium venae sectio Fernel de Meth. Mâ—d. b. 2. c. 4. but rather increase of paines Vpon this ground and reason Aurum potabile vndertaketh and the former proceeding confessed according vnto art and reason is repelled and interrupted What reason can be herein or wiâ—h what reason can any cunning fixe any iust blame vpon D. C. or derogate from his desert being by true reason rule iustified whatsoeuer was the present issue or successe thereof which more truely consisteth in God his holy designement then in mans indeauours though neuer so faire or likely And thus is the iniury and wrong done vnto D. C. made palpable vnto any common and vulgar indifferent view It is obiected that Aurum potabile gaue ease which the other remedies did not First herein it is requisite to consider that those likely and reasonabâ—e remedies before mentioned although their present benefit did not attend or accompany their vse as is not alwaies or euer expected yet their †Humores à natura iâ— constitutione eousque recedentes vt neque victu neque aâ—terati ne solâ— emendari neque câ—loris naturalis beneficio in bonitatem pâ—istinaÌ„ reduci possunt purgat one sunt auferendi Feâ—n de Meth. Med. 3 cap. 1. certaine and vsuall knowne profitting in ordinary course in certaine triall common experience doth yeeld infallible ground of likely reason that they did not only their vsuall comodious benefit in that ease and happines which did befall the sicke but prospered inabled the possibility of that reputed good in Aurum potabile Secondly let vs herewith compare examine what that good was which vnto Aurum potabile is so gloriously ascribed namely ease corroboration and refreshing vnto the patient Notwithstanding these reputed grand benefits the Patient continued the space of halfe an yeare as appeareth by Markes his testimonie languishing sick greeuously vexeâ— with paines swellings in many parts Auâ—uÌ„ potabile therefore gaue ease refreshing but cured not the disease being stil atteÌ„ded with the decumbence superfluity of humours This is euer a manifest argumeÌ„t of an imperfect Crisis or cure the perfect Crisis and cure neuer leauing behind any part of the old disease nor matter or occasion of new which Physitians call Empyrheuma but by manifest perfect compleat evacuatioÌ„s sufficiently remouing the superfluitie excesse of vitious humors which are the causes of disease Since then after the vse of Aurum potabile plenty of humors still remaine afflicting and oppressing divers parts therefore manifestly Aurum potabile was as insufficient and defectiue in true and perfect cure so also in due evacuation of humors necessarily conductiue vnto cure And thus doth manifest reason informe that Aurum potabile did vnseasonably intrude it selfe and abruptly discontinued more reasonable and necessary remedies This hurt and iniurie in reason Aurum potabile apertly committed the only good it did was reputed ease and refreshing vnto the Patient This is indeed a pleasure and benefit in the interim in cure but no effecting or effectuall perfecting of cure Here may a question be moued whether we may not safely trust Cordials among which Aurum potabile is one without phlebotomie or purgation for the relieuing of nature and cure of diseases considering many diseases are seene to be so cured sometimes When diseases thus happen to be cured which is very rare and seldome and euer vncertaine that it commeth by accident and is casuall no man is ignorant It is true that after Cordials Nature is found sometimes inabled or stirred vnto many spontaneous expulsions sometimes by bleeding sometimes by vomiting sometimes by sweat sometimes by purging as in the aboue-named Gentleman by his testimony of such like effects in his Aurum potabile may be haply granted But we must obserue
and distinguish when and how Nature is hereto accustomed and inabled as also when she hath power and when she hath no power thereto For where the cause of the disease is absolute Lord or Master ouer Nature as touching her owne daring to encounter or as touching her possibility to resist as also where she doth vnto her vttermost resist and striue in vaine for that the causes of diseases haue before gotten so strong holdes within her that she can neuer raise or remoue them there the power of Nature is of no force by Cordials nor can the most assiduous application of the most excellent Cordials prevaile but are in all reason vainely obtruded or at least vsed for a short time of slender releiuing only except the * Ideo in valdè acutis purgandum ait Hippocrates eadem die si materia turgeat dâ—fferre enim inquit in talibus malum Aph. 10. sect 4. generall remedies giue more promptly the more proper supply by the conquest remouall qualifying or at least competent diminution and lessening of the causes by which solely diseases collect hold and maintaine their vnmastered and irresistible greatnes against Nature But where the cause of the disease is not absolute Lord or Master but Nature is able in some degree or sort to struggle and contend therewith there she may be and is oft inabled by Cordials sometimes to put by the present fury and malignity of a disease sometimes to make an exchange of a more tollerable disease for a more intollerable a more dull for a more sharpe a chronick for a more acute yet still in these cases or for the most part or vsually she remaineth a prisoner vnto diseases though haply seeming sometimes somewhat refreshed or enlarged by exchange of the diseases There onely solely and truely Cordials do effectually prevaile to good or benefit where the disease is not in it selfe vnto Nature importable nor in the cause doth totally depresse and sway her downe For Cordials although they doe manifestly repaire the decayed strength of Nature yet can they not giue vnto Nature strength aboue that which radically fundamentally and originally shee before had and possessed in her selfe Nor can they inable her to beare any weight or loade of affection aboue that * Ideo pleniorem habitum bonam statim solvere monet Hippocrates tanquam periculosum vaidè Aph. 3. sect 1 her strength Nor can they by repairing or reducing her vnto her most perfect and able strength in her selfe thereby giue alwayes suffic ent provocation or needfull stimulation when she is oft-times forgetfull dull or idle to resist and expell from her those nward and secret hidden enemies of her life which remaining within her doe commonly by secret vnder-myning without their expulsion swiftly and suddainly oft strangle and kill her We see for this cause that vpon manifest comfortation and assistance by Cordials Nature is oft encouraged and lightened for a short time to make offer of resistance of expelling her disease of enlarging her selfe but in the end the †Humores copia suavires premunt suffocant temperamenti mediocritatem alterant corrumpuat hisque nominibus sunt exitiales Gal. de Meth. Med. 12. sect 5. cause of her oppression therewith the oppression it selfe remaining still vnremoued after some struggling and striuing in vaine she is conquered and yeeldeth vp the ghost He is no Physitian nor so much as a man injoyning common sense that is hereof ignorant or will deny it And thus it is apparent that vnto Cordials as touching the certaine profligation of diseases it is no prudence or wisdome ordinarily or vsually to trust although sometimes the strength of Nature when she is manifestly superiour vnto the vehemence of the disease being assisted and revived by Cordials doth casually wynde her selfe out of some imminent and present dangers If any man shall obiect that Aurum potabile hath a larger property or vertue then is comprehended in a Cordiall alone let him peruse the description which any learned Writer or Author hath giuen thereof Let him read Raymundus Lullius and Arnoldus de villa nova their descriptions alledged and produced by the Apologist Read the first in the 5. reason of the first part of the Apologie the second in the third reason of the same part Read his owne ample description also of the natures qualities and vse thereof succeeding immediatly Arnoldus his praises thereof before-mentioned Read the beginning of his 5. reason There most manifestly as also in other places of this worke and in the former Authors it â—ppeareth without all doubt or question simply and in it selfe to be solely a Cordiall Now worthy Reader vouchsafe to call to minde from the former discourse vpon what an ayrie foundation the praises of Aurum potabile in the three first testimonies hath built her nest namely the Patients flattering ease Markes his ignorant susurration and a strong opinion bewitched with Aurum potabile And thus is apparent how the Authors of the three first domesticall testimonies that they might wrest out somewhat which might sound or tune vnto the disgrace of Dr C. for his thank-worthie paines and vndeserued good-will towards the Patient haue studiously in their testimonies set nothing vpon the racke and out of nothing haue extorted nothing Their partialitie errour and wrong is not therein obscure nor can any obseruer be ignorant vpon how false things therein doth hang the supposed worth of Aurum potabile According vnto my former promise and the common rule of discretion I will intermeddle with no other testimonies of the Apologie that concerne me not These which doe concerne me whose reason and affection Authors and other circumstances are well knowne vnto me I haue here iufficiently sifted winnowed and found meere chaffe By the ignorance vntruth error in iudgment want of right distinction intemperance of passion misprision contempt and abuse of right reason manifested in them the possibility and likelyhood of the worthlesnesse trifling or insufficiency of many other is not obscure As for the maine scope whereat they all doe aime which is the boast of happie issues in Aurum potabile if all the testimonies were granted true and none were false or mistaken in that kind as I haue euidently proued some yet were not that sufficient to iustifie the common rash and precipitate trust and vse of Aurum potabile since good successes and events are alone no sound arguments or evidences of any perpetuity of excellency in any kind Neither do good successes necessarily inferre true Art or evict the merit or praise of the workeman but where therewith his worth is clearely likewise proued either directiue thereto or operatiue therein For this cause saith the Poet Careat successibus opto Quisquis ab eventu facta notanda putat Ovid. Ill him betide in his intents Who iudgeth workes by their events Nor can Dr An be ignorant that ill attempts do oft-times well prosper Prosperum ac faelix scelus Virtus vocatur saith
Seneca While some men doe thriue well in ill Most men a vertue deeme the skill It is not therefore the good successe that doth proue any thing or action good either in the nature end or vse This argument therefore for Aurum potabile his goodnes is so far from good that it is vnlearned temerarious rotten and vnsound CAP. VI. NOw hauing declared the falsitie and depraued end and vse of some of your testimonies best knowne vnto my selfe I will next according vnto promise recite other some which in true reason in Art in the generall counsels decrees and experience of all Physitians are infallibly and altogether void of credit or possibility in themselues This is evident by your proposing your curation of such diseases as are incurable See page 86. where you report your curation of a Marasme as saith your Latin Copie Your English Copie page 94. ignorantly translateth your word Marasmus an extreame debility We must needs take the Latin for the text and the originall The impossibility of curation of Marasme is evident vnto him who knoweth what Marasmus is Galen in his booke de Marcore doth teli you that it is corruptio corporis viventis propter siccitatem that is the curruption wasting or destruction of a liuing body thorough drynes or privation of the radicall and life-giuing moisture Marasme is the highest degree of a consummate consumption For this cause he saith in the same place that it is incurable Marasmus omnes corporis partes similiter absumit Attenuatos verò sanârunt qui Marasmum se sanâsse putârunt circa affectionum genera errantes that is a Marasme consumeth all parts of the bodie alike They haue only cured leane and extenuate bodies who ignorantly erring and mistaking the different kinds of diseases haue thought that they haue cured bodies consumed with the Marasmus Thus your grosse ignorance in not putting true difference betweene the kinds of consumptions doth necessarily convince the falshood of your reports and testimonies of their curation since no man can affirme truth concerning things by him not truely distinguished Thus your affirmation of your curation of Marasmus doth appeare vnto all learned men vnlearned and not true Concerning your reports of the curation of other kindes of consumptions likewise obserue the weaknes page 86 of the Latin Copie you avouch a man cured in few dayes page 87 of the Latin Copie you report another cured brevissime that is most speedily The English Copie 95 page translateth it timorously as doubting the Latin was too bold and ill advised Who knoweth not that knoweth least in Physick that all consumptions are Chronick and bringing diseases and necessarily and vnavoidably requiring length of time vnto their restauration repairing or reducing vnto former health cannot be in any reason or possibility truly said brevissimè that is very speedily or in few dayes cured Obserue yet further that Aurum potabile must needs be ignorantly and falâ—ely reported to be the proper remedie vnto consumptions except it be a restauratiue since in restauration consisteth the true cure of consumptions How farre Aurum potabile is discrepant herefrom let these words of the most subtill Scaliger determine Exercit. 272. Is verò qui auro vescitur Aurum fiet Cuius natura cùm longissimè disteâ— Ã natura nostra neutiquam nostrae licebit per illam restaurari that is he that feedeth vpon gold must needs be a golden substance or gold it selfe the nature thereof since it is so farre remote from humane nature it is impossible for our nature to be restored thereby Obserue yet once more that some doubt may be iustly made whether Aurum potabile aloâ—e may not do hurt in consumptions since it seemeth a thing inclining vnto drynesse and heat by his Masteâ—s mixture thereof with cooling things in hot diseases Things inclining though moderatly vnto drynes or heat are adverse vnto consumed and wasted bodies Ill would it fare with Antony if his flesh vnto the bone consumed were only to be restored by Aurum potabile which yeeldeth in quantity so vnlikely a pittance vnto restauration since in so few and small graines only administred and in the quality rather hard mettall then tender fl sh or ought thereinto * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Aurum argentum aut metalla à calore nostro concoqui aut dissolvi non pofsunt Aristot â— Probl. 42. Aurum est incoctile Scaliger Exercit. 272. convertible Let him try and trust it if he thinke good Let him dine suppe breakfast frolick feast therewith alone some few weekes I doubt he sooner shall turne into Midas then gold into him to nourish him and in the end with Midas may say as the Poet of him doth sing Copâ—a nulla famem relevat sitis arida guttur Vrit inviso semper torquetur ab auro Gold store nor 's thirst nor throates heat quell But gnawes his heart with hunger sell Beware then Doctor An lest if you make tryall that which of the same Poet is said of the same Mulas be verified of both Induiturque aures lentè gradientis aselli For want of fore-advised feares There steale vpon him Asses eares Thus much concerning the falsehood in reason of your curation of consumptions by Aurum potabile As loosly likewise elsewhere you either ignorantly miscall or mistake continuall feavers or els speake not truth of their curation Read this foule lapse page 50 of the Latin Copie which as the most Authentike I haue wholly followed There the Latin Copie in the margiâ— note saith continua febris that is a continuall feaver which notwithstanding afterward in your relation of the manner thereof proueth a manifest intermitting ague ending with a plaine infebricitation or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The cold say you did not hold long the burning 3 or 4 houres The English Copie page 56 translateth as ignorantly continua febrie in the margine afore-said of the Latine Copie a continuing Quotidian To leaue your barbarous improprietie of tearmes and speech let vs come vnto your assertions themselues concerning your curations by Aurum potabile of continuall feavers and burning feavers specified page 58 59 of the English Copie Galen in his 9 booke de Meth. Medendi doth demonstrate the Prime and maine necessity of Phlebotomie in all continuall or continent feavers which the Greeks distinguish by these termes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Maximum praecipuum remedium saith he est missio sanguinis sine qua plerunque sequitur aut Suffocatio aut Syncope lethalis He indeed in the same place granteth that Nature being strong and the inflammation within mediocrity sometimes by some large spontaneous profusion of blood at nose or at some other part sometimes by some large or copious breaking forth of sweat or the like Nature may haply free and deliuer her selfe in some continuall feavers But where Nature is ouercome by many degrees of the feaver or of the aboundance of putrified humor s
the recrudescence of her feaver Thus in that number which cannot be lesse nor for this purpose needeth to be more that is in a duality of instances in euery particular which is sufficient for demonstration though haply not for ostentation I haue manifested that other medicines are equall vnto Aurum potabile his best perfections and performances as also that although in pride and presumptions predication it may seeme superiour yet in true proofe practice other remedies in the blâ—ssing of God and their own specificall vertues are nothing inferiour This advantage only Aurum potabile may haply haue that when the cause of diseases hath bene first by other remedies remoued or at least qualified it remaining alwayes or for the most part behind as the Vltimum refugium the last hope or refuge as I obserue by the current of the whole Apologie where Nature beyond all hope of sense is now left derelict and without hope as it oft falleth out and yet insensibly doth recollect her selfe by little and little as is oft seene and is vsuall when at such times she is also easily raised and helped by any meane Cordiall or corroboratiue there Aurum potabile may alone being left alone participate with nature in the praise of her own work And thus gold the common obiect of a theefe is herein a theefe it selfe and robbeth Nature of hir own right As for Natures reliefe therein or thereby in the same manner other meane medicines in like sort vsed haue likewise oft times as well performed In both the true praise in the happy successe is only due to God and not to either instrument Non haec humanis opibus non arte Magistra Proveniunt c. Maior agit Deus That our indeavours fall out fit Vaine is the boast of Art or Wit If Gods free goodnes guide not it Thus farre the necessary vse and requisite convenience of confronting your arrogant and insolent boast in your owne workes and worth through Aurum potabile hath transported me necessarily to forget that modest silence which in euery mans owne fortunate successes doth more truly proue him worthy praise then all his praises can proue him truly worthy Excellent is that saying of Scaliger in his poetry lib. 3. concerning a good Physitian Medicum effinges saith he doctum probum lenem diligentem maturum fortunatum Deo fretum non suâ vel operâ vel successu tumidum that is Thou shalt describe a good Physitian to be a man learned of probâ—ty in life and conversation of faire and myld demeanure diligent in the execution of his power and office of ripe iudgment and vnderstanding fortunate in his actions relying and trusting in God aboue all not proud nor puffed vp with his own knowledge his works or happy successes Least therfore in farther opposing or answering your boasting folly I may haply be reputed like vnto your selfe I haue and do omit farther by instance to shew how easie it were to exceed you therein I will only conclude concerning your boasting of your excellent knowledge of so rare a medicin if it so proue with that wittie reproofe of Persius Scire tuum nihil est nisi te scire hoc sciat alter Deeme you your knowledge not your owne Except your pride do make it knowne CHAP. VIII I Will now briefly conclude according vnto promise with such counter-testimonies against your Aurum as for the most part my own knowledge and experience can avouch and testifie It is now 8 or 9 yeares since a worthy Gentlemâ—n Mr Iohn Hales Esquire my honored friend in true piety generosity integrity of life in loue of Vertue and Learning leauing behind him a happy memory with all that did know him It is I say now 8 or 9 yeares since he was prisoner or captiue vnto an immedicable dropsie He was by some frends perswaded vnto Aurum potabile as vnto the sole sacred anchor of remaining hope After he had committed himselfe thereto in the very first assumption thereof he instantly changed his former lookes his spirit quailed and death immediatly succeeded It may be haply replyed that this was a deplorate disease and therefore death was no more then was expected as the Apologist doth in some places giue vs to consider thereof But we could giue him also to consider a little further viz. that in deplorate diseases it is against Art to defame any noble remedy as * De Meth. Med. lib. 10. c. 9. Hip. lib. 2. aph 36. 37. Galen admonisheth by giuing it and administring it in vaine and without hope vse or profit Secondly no Physitian ought to assume vnto himselfe a priviledge to shorten one houre or moment of the shortest date of any mans life howsoeuer Aurum potabile doth plead custome therein It hapned thir last yeare that my very worthy friend and louing neighbour Dr Hickman Chancelour of the Diocesse of Peterborough hauing by my indeavour the yeare before cast off a dangerous dropsie now this last yeare was suddenly surprized with a Consumption which in him could neuer admit hope of curation in regard of many fatall and vnremoueable contradictions thereof He was perswaded notwithstanding by some †M. Markes factors for Aurum potabile vnto the vse thereof by their directions He expended therein 3 or 4 pounds After he had a while applyed himselfe thereto besides the sense of greater paines then before there succeeded which before were vnseene swellings in the bellie legges backe secret parts a generall decay in the former vigor of his spirits and death it selfe not so speedily before expected If good hap could here haue wrought impossibility of life vnto possible or could haue cast death out of possession then had the attempt thereof bene vsefull and commendable but not to distinguish where and when vselesly and vsefully within or without the latitude of hope or the posse of contingence to administer the most excellent remedies whatsoeuer is certain and infallible testimony and evidence of want of true iudgment Art and prudence It was reported in my hearing to the reuerend Doctor mentioned in the second domesticall testimony by one Mr Bernard Esquire my louing neighbour freind that an honorable GentlewomaÌ„ in the family of the Markhams where this gentleman was then present being surprised by a deplorate disease but without paine or at least with tolerable sense of paine after the receauing of Aurum potabile interchanged thereby for her former easie passage vnto death a miserable durance of intolerable torture not onely grieuous vnto all beholders and freinds but vnto the Master of Aurum potabile himselfe who professed his owne sorrow and repentance for the dispensation thereof The truth of this history the mentioned worthie Doctor according vnto the Gentleman his former relation by his letter vnto mee doth thus confirme Whereas saith he you make report from Mr Bernard what vnhappily happened to the young Lady Markham I will here relate vnto you what Sr Iames Harrington said concerning that matter vnto