strength vnto nature Who being strengthned performeth whatsoeuer is expedient And by this meanes they neuer did ouerthrow any man Therefore neuer cease to worke with Cordialls in administration of Physicke This is the counsell of Arnald Moreouer many diseases proceed from obstructions The fift reason of some viscous slymie and mucilaginous matter not separated in the vessels of concoction by their imbecillity either naturall or accidentall Therfore if this obstruent matter be subtiliated the obstruction shall thereby be taken away consequently both the disease and accidents of the disease cured Of such kinds of Obstructions besides other diseases many kinds of fevers doe arise burning rotten hectick pestilent c. Also many and dangerous sicknesses both hot and cold Against which though Medicine made of vegetables doe often very much preuaile yet because for the most part they be too weak and leaue no solide and lasting impression or contrariwise worke so violently and seldome without some offence scarce euer with such temper gentlenes and sincerity as is requisite Therefore that Medicine which being most temperate and equally graduated to the Elementall harmonie of mans body ought iustly to be preferred both before them and all of that kind For such one cannot by his coldnesse offend the complexioned parts nor by his heate the hot but by opening and so promotiuely taking away the Obstruction be equally certainly profitable to all Galen teacheth that the cause is to be takē away by finding out and applying the true contrary of euery alterable nature As to cure any disease coming of and depending on Obstruction is the dissoluing of matter obstruent opening the Obstruction This counsell we ought to follow in al such cases in opening that which is forcibly shut And then gentle and quiet restitution commeth of temperament to all distempered parts For whether the excesse were in heate or cold the spirits which were shut vp in prison now set at liberty are refreshed recouer their former vigor and health to the whole body If the blood saith Hippocrat be stopped in his course and the spirit with it it causeth chylnesse numnesse giddines losse or hinderance of speach heauines paine of the head convulsions after which follow many kinds of the falling sicknes which be accounted cold diseases In briefe it is most euident that only Obstructions be the cause of many and sundry diseases not only different but directly contrary each to other Therfore as one cause brought them in so may one Medicine expell them But pause a while It may be demanded how humors Obiection so exorbitāt abounding as they do in the bodies of many men shal be emptied from thence by the force of any medicine whose faculty is not to expel or purge by the common passage and whose intent is to be only strengthning and comforting the heart To which I answer It is true that in many diseases Solution the abundance of humors are such causes that except they be purged away in due and conuenient time and order it is scarse possible to hope for a sound recouerie in vvhich case if some gentle Purgation together vvith the administration of this vniuersall Medicine be vsed both the strength shall be better maintained sooner recouered and the disease ouercome Yet though no purgation be giuen but onely this vniuersall Medicine at times administred such is the vertue thereof that Nature it selfe being strengthned and comforted aboue the malice of the offending humors and the disease will expell the burden of those humors by the most conuenient passages which that case may require whether it be by siege vomit vrine sweate or other exitures For the Physition attending is not directer and Master but minister and seruant in fit administration vnto nature which being comforted and strengthned will helpe her selfe beyond all hope and conceit of man as hath bin often found to the admiration of the greatest Doctors which hitherto haue written and happeneth daily in our owne experience In all diseases the Physitions part is to promote the indeauour of nature to expel the offending humors by those passages which herselfe sheweth and directeth with discretion betweene criticall and symptomaticall euacuations and of the conueniencie of a few circumstances following the particularities of the disease Of this I could easily and plentifully bring many irrefragable and demonstratiue reasons but they may partly bee vnderstood by that which is already said and partly are written by diuers others graue and learned Authors Therfore I wil follow breuitie only set down a few lines out of that profound and singular Philosopher Raymund Lully who in the 32. Chapter of the Theorie of his Testament writeth thus Blessed be our glorious and omnipotent God who hath giuen mankinde knowledge and vnderstanding to ioyne and integrate the confused particularitie of all Medicines with one reall vniuersalitie by which all things be and continue rectified Therefore Sonne I warne thee if thou desirest to be a perfect Physition set not thy Practise on the particularities of Medicine or the particular intentions of Physicke because they be confused and at this day not sound nor perfect For nature cannot endure them by reason of their too much confusion but is best pleased or satisfied with and in one only Medicine Because there is but one Medicine truly curing all Infirmities and comforting the spirituall vertues and powers of life c. And a litttle after in the same He that knoweth how to reduce most particularities or vertues for the intention of Curing diseases vnto one vniuersalitie of subiect shall bee the most excellent amongst Physitions In particular Medicines vertues bee confused but in an vniuersall they bee reall vnited and actiue as the whole course of nature sheweth And this is Medicina Medicinarum superlatiuely by excellencie and prerogatiue the Medicine of Medicines And hee that hath such a Medicine hath a pretious gift of God For it is an incomparable treasure Thus far Raymund who though he there speake of that great and high Philosophicall secret yet he plainly witnesseth that there is in nature a vniuersall Medicine which whether it be made of gold or gold made of it It mattereth not much for either way it sufficiently proueth the excellent properties of gold most agreeable to mans nature which hauing thus farre prooued I will here end this first part of this Treatise Hauing thus vnto moderate and well tempered Iudgements for my intent and purpose in this treatise prooued that there hath bin and therefore may be a Panchresticall Medicine for which very many learned are either searchers themselues or witnesses of other mens happines in attaining the same yet because the peruicacie of some is such that against experiment and sense it selfe they will peraduenture consciously pretend the Impossibilitie maintaine the negatiue some againe though yeelding a possibilitie maintaining the affirmatiue wil fight in the shadow of one instance contending that thogh they granted it may
administred Which though by many the letters sent me before in this discourse set downe as also by the histories of many cures by my selfe and others therewith performed it be reasonable plaine yet I will draw it into a more distinct and orderly deliuery according to the good will and meaning I haue That by a generall helping medicine a most generall and vniuersall benefite may be reaped Therefore be it knowne that the vse of this medicine is generally twofold answerable to the two generall ends of Practicke Physicke One to preserue the present health The other to recouer it beeing broken or lost by curing the Diseases and rooting out the causes thereof THE VSE OF POTABLE GOLD in preseruation of health ALL the Physitions and learned men both before in my first printed booke and here in this alledged as also almost innumerable others whose names I omit to auouch for breuitie agree in this That Aurum Potabile is the best Medicine and most profitable Instrument for the conseruation of health in all kinde of complexionable temperaments That it partly suppresseth and suffereth not luxuriously to bud shoot out and bring their fruit vnto ripenesse any seedes or latent rootes of sicknesses lurking in mans body whereunto any pronenesse or aptitude hereditarie or otherwise accidentall make them obnoxious That it reduceth to mediocritie inordinate distemperatures either in excesse or defect That it refresheth vigorateth and strengthneth the heart restoreth and increaseth the vitall spirits aduanceth the force and and generation of good blood multiplieth geniture seede and habilitie of prolification in both sexes banishing sterility preuenting abortions and prouiding quicke easy and safe deliueries in childbed suppresseth the infirmities of age preserueth the vigor of youth It were vnnecessary to heape arguments in confirmation hereof being in it selfe so authentically warranted by famous authors and manifestly witnessed by many experiences Particularly it is a preseruatiue against the Falling sicknesse the Apoplexie Leprosie Plague Dropsy Cancer Gout Stone and all manner of feuers in all ages and sexes And in some it expelleth or rather enableth the body to expell by conuenient and most naturall passages the antecedent matter or humors from and by which any diseases depending vpon such materiall causes might spring and so by preuention preserueth health But it is to be knowne and obserued that this Medicine The first forme of gold though made of one body yet is reserued and vsed in three formes and consistences which not being knowne there may be much mistaking and errour in the vse and administration thereof First when the gold is dissolued in the proper menstruall or instrumentall water this water is distilled away from the dissolued gold vntill it be in the bottome in the forme or consistence of a liquid gum or hony deepely coloured as Raymund Lully cals it most vnctuous To which the spirit of wine is then put and by solution thereof tincted very red and deepe coloured That tincted spirit of wine is gently decanted or powred off and so reserued by it selfe in a glasse And is called the Physicall Tincture of gold And may so in small roome and with no burden bee caried whither any man please And this we call the first forme Take one ounce of this tincted spirit mixe it with The second forme 16. ounces of generous wine or if you please of any other liquor And this being so mixed is called that Potable golde of which so often mention hath beene hitherto made One or two spoonfuls of this at one time and sometimes a whole ounce I accustome to giue in such cases and Diseases as aforesaid The third forme is this and thus made That tincted The third forme red spirit of wine in which the dissolued gold is taken vp from the white feces or residence is put into a fit glasse body with a head And with a gentle heate of a Balneum the spirit is drawne off vntill the substance in the bottome of the glasse be dry Then doe I put on fresh spirit of wine setting it in digestion certaine daies In which time it will cast off an other residence This processe is reiterated and at euery such solution and distillation the feculent residence must be separated from the pure vntill it leaue no residence at all Then is it called the Quintessence or Essence of God which I doe vse to administer in the quantity of 2. or 3. or more graines and doe dissolue it in some appropriate liquor or other mixture conducent So that any that is desirous to make vse of this my Medicine may haue either the Potable gold or the Tincture of gold or the Essence of gold or all and apply them in all manner of needfull vses as occasion shall require They therefore that shall take it for preseruation may vse it in the simplest least curious order fashion That is to take of the Aurū Potabile one or two spoonfuls together fasting and in bed if they may else in the morning after they be vp the oftner the better Vse giues instruction from that common Indication aforesaid A Iuuantibus et nocentibus c From things that helpe and hurt euery one is directed Therefore whosoeuer after twice or thrice taking hath found benefit thereby he may proportion himselfe in moderate increasing or diminishing the dose or quantitie according to his owne hability and constitution For in increasing the quantitie of this there is no danger so it be within any bounds of mediocritie not exorbitantly exuberatè which is farre otherwise in all or most part of other simples and compositions whether meerely Medicaments or Midicamentall nutriments as are Oximel Saffron Methridate Treacle all Cordiales and Purges whatsoeuer Also a conuenient time to take it especially in those that haue weake stomacks will be one houre or two before dinner or supper or after supper at bed time for it doth both helpe digestion and procure sleepe according as the circumstances shall require or suffer In precaution of Lunarie Diseases such as haue their exacerbations fits according to the quarters changings full of the Moone as Epilepsies Defluxions inordinate Menstruals and such like The rule is for this last to take it neere the time of course In the other 3. 4. or 5. daies before the new and full Moone If it be desired for the more particular appropriating of this Medicine to any particular cause to take it not so simply of it selfe but mixed Then let such either by their owne knowledge or the appointment of some experienced Physition mixe it with some specificall water decoction extraction or otherwise formed Medicine according to the necessitie of euery particular cause and occasion Or with some compound water approoued for that Disease or Polychrestall to the same and others in neighbourhood and linke of causes to it THE VSE OF AVRVM POTABILE IN SVNDRY INFIRMITIES THe diseased person that shall vse this Medicine may take it in the same proportiō or
and reason thereof Let euery mans opinion bee free to himselfe I will without preiudice to any other briefely shew you my opinion I take it for granted that gold of all mixed bodies is most equall and temperate in the Elements and elementall qualities so that moysture with heat as agent drinesse with coldnes as patient and subiect to action are inseparably with naturall concordance perfectly ioyned Wherefore gold is respectiuely a body not only incorruptible in water fire ayre and earth and as it were an earthly image of eternitie but also most conuenient agreeable and as it were allied to and with the heart of man which of his hot moysture doth worke the vitall spirits and maintaine the arteriall beatings of the pulse in all parts of the bodie And this temperament of gold must bee considered two waies First as Scholers call it Arithmetically hence commeth the equalitie and equabilitie of qualities elementarie in the compact and solide body thereof not resolued into the permanent forme of potable liquor In this consideration it were very hard for learned Physitions that build so much vpon and presse authoritie to deny that gold hath and actiuely doth shew many great effectiue vertues seeing the Catalogue is so great of many notable and famous Physitions which extoll the effects thereof and at this day doe vse it so much as of gold quenched in wine boyled in broth giuen in limell or foyle in Conserues and Electuaries The hope and end thereof in all their intentions is to Corroborate and comfort the heart And this temperature in and of gold is habituate and coessentiall with the whole substance matter and forme in all the Elements both actiue and passiue And because not the materiall but the formal Essence is most operatiue and professor of the noble Elements fire and ayre from whence resulteth in an indissoluble bond heate and moysture so friendly agreeable to mans nature Therefore gold in his naturall coagulation and soliditie cannot so fully according to the inward power of his naturall efficacie and vertue shew and performe the effects thereof as being resolued opened and made potable that the Elements and elementall qualities may more freely both worke and be wrought vpon and be brought from their potentiality to actiuitie in application to the body of man For then the agent and formall vertues fire and ayre be predominant in their exaltation Whose propertie being communicated applied to with the spirits of our body is to refresh comfort strengthen the heart renew restore and increase the spirits by that wonderfull facultie and neere equalitie as it were brotherhood which it hath to them And this in the second consideration of the temperament of Gold Geometricall in that different respect as the other is called Arithmeticall In which that proportionate qualitie friendly and concordant to the heart and temperament of man and that complexioned moyst heate or hot moysture is preualent or predominant And one chiefe reason why Arnald before cited and very many others of vnreprooueable authoritie doe so much commend and with a reserued secrecie admire the excellent dowers of gold is that being made potable it restoreth augmenteth and preserueth that our humidum radicale and calidum innatum Naturall heate and moysture vnderstand them complexioned not distinct and so with respectiue possibilitie prolongeth life and keepeth backe old age I meane the sense of the defects and infirmities thereof If it be obiected that this exact temperature and equality Obiection of mixture in gold being supposed it cannot actiuely operate or worke any thing in mans bodie because as euery action commeth from or by meanes of some predominant qualitie so equalitie without disparagement keepes all in an vndefeazeable bond of an irresoluble compound I answer thus In cases where the intemperature or distemper of the disease or the degree thereof in some cases is not yet knowne the doctrine positiue and counsell of Physitions is to vse and administer temperate Medicines which shall not be offensiue manifestly to any qualitie but indifferent and allowable to all If this be done with good aduise and reason in such like case it must needs be far more consonant to reason and behoouefull to the patient to giue such a Medicine as is not only temperate by qualification but so prerogatiuely excellent therein that it cannot lose that temperature and the consequent efficacie thereof by the force of any thing consonant or dissonant Which is farre otherwise in all vegetables reputed equall in temperament because they are apt in some cases to cause dangerous distemperature in mans body Examples are plentifull But for instance take Manna it selfe reputed a very temperate laxatiue yet very easily it selfe turning into a hot Cholerick humour and encreasing the same and the distemperatures and diseases consequent thereupon according to the disposition and inclination of the body receiuing it Of which there is no feare in the vse of gold for the reasons aforesaid Therefore whether the Tenure be That Contraries be cured by Contraries hauing respect to the disease and the cause thereof the qualitie of the Medicine is remedy Or that like are conserued by their like with regard to the strength of the patient and comfort of the heart according to the doctrine of Hippocrates Gold as hath beene prooued must needs be in both intentions the fittest and most conuenient Medicine and remedy for diseases of what temper or distemper soeuer being aduisedly giuen specially being Philosophically opened resolued and made potable That there may bee a generall or vniuersall Medicine 4 The fourth reason is also prooued by consideration taken from the nature of the person diseased with reference to the disease For if the disease be strong like a heauie burden pressing the patient and the poore patient weake not able to beare out the Critical day of happy iudgement of issue of the maladie I aske in this case what ought to be done Certainly rather enable the body to the end of the Combate by comforting and strengthning the heart then vainly attempt to remooue the log and suffer him to sinke vnder the burden For not the Medicine but nature alone is the true physition curing all infirmities if she be not oppressed or that she be so releeued that strength in her be maintained It is not vnlike by comparison vnto the charge of sumpter Mules or Pack-horses which oft times vse to bee fed trauelling that they may endure to carry their burdens to the Inne not discharged vntimely of their packes And by this meanes they neede not be vnloaden at euery bayte but prouendred vnder their loads for the quicker dispatch So no disease is cured the strength not maintained but contrarily by perfect Methode the strength and power of the body is by degrees to bee restored and comforted that the disease may be both resolued and life maintained To this purpose did Arnaldus write in these words The only intention of ancient Physitions was to giue vigor and
experimentally found be vnited and naturally inclosed Secondly whereas the originall of most diseases 2 The second reason springeth from that which the Physitions call Intemperies that is a distemperature being especially in the first qualities hot cold moist or drie there is no reason to the contrary but that one Medicine being without excesse or defect in equall harmonie of all qualities most temperate and also powerfull in operation may bee sufficient for the collection qualifying and rectifying of all and euery such distemper Such a like body is gold which notwithstanding it be compounded of the foure Elements yet is this in prerogatiue aboue all other naturall bodies endowed with an exact temperament and equalitie of the compounding Elements and Elementall qualities Euery one to the other three and all foure to and among themselues by exact naturall equalitie and perfect mixture are so compounded to the perfection of this body that it constantly persisteth in the fire without diminution From this proportionall mixture of Elements resulteth a temperament of supreme mediocritie whereupon that our learned and famous countryman Roger Bacon calleth Gold the meane betweene the foure first qualities Seeing therefore by Gods gift in the creation it consisteth of so true an adequation and subtile temperament this must needs appeare and shew it selfe operatiuely in consequent effects vpon those first qualities and be powerfull against all distemperatures whether hot or cold moyst or dry or any their combinations First allaying and bridling any excesse therein and so by degrees and succession ouercomming the whole discord and restoring mediocritie of temperament betweene all So that the generall Axiome or Rule of great Hippocrates is here magnified That Diseases are cured by Medicines contrarie to themselues For the meane betwixt two extremes is no lesse contrarie to both and either of them then one extreme to an other and more powerfull in reduction by how much it is more habituall and fixed in the vnspotted mediocritie and equalitie Let this be vnderstood of gold dissolued and made potable otherwise it is not operatiue vpon those distempered qualities in one kinde or other The third Reason concerneth the temper of the bodie to bee cured Death saith Galen doth alwaies 3 The third reason follow the vnmeasurable or excessiue distemperatures of the Heart So likewise doe Diseases For all parts of the bodie languish with the Heart Let vs therefore consider a little the Emperie of the Heart in mans bodie how by his owne heate and vitall spirit it raigneth ouer and in all parts of the bodie Let vs also take into consideration the distemperature of other parts making impression vpon the Heart and so are causes of languishment and death VVhich beeing on either side certaine then it must also bee true that if golde administred doe restore integritie of temperament to the Heart the other parts and members of the bodie shall also receiue comfort strength restauration and finally life to the whole bodie VVherefore the first office of euerie good Physition is to haue speciall regarde to maintaine and vphold the spirituall functions of his diseased patient which all haue their originall from the heart For if he suffer them to quaile and ouer much to bee deiected all Cordialls will then come vnseasonably That admonition is iust and necessarie First strengthen and comfort the Heart then apply for the Disease if neede be for oft times the Heart being well corroborated the Disease imminent vanisheth But some will aske how gold so hard solide and compact and therefore indigestable by any strength of mans stomacke can passe from thence to the heart and strengthen comfort rectifie and restore it conconsidering that these and such like faculties come to it by the plentie of pure cleere and subtill spirits of the blood which cannot be made of any thing not digested both in the Stomack and Lyuer and therefore not of gold In answer whereof I say that long and daily obseruation hath confirmed that many things naturally are effected by the hidden and specificall properties of some things whereof no vnderstanding of man can giue a certaine and vndisputable manifest cause or reason We see the affinitie of natures betweene Iron and the Lode-stone and the pointing of this to the North Pole Of which kinde there be infinite exemplarie instances Neither doe the most learned Physitions and best Philosophers so well agree vpon the reasons of those Purging Medicines which they call Electiue as appropriate specially to one humour and diuers others to some speciall part of the bodie yea and to some speciall diseases but that a great part of them doe flie to these hidden and specificall properties some in the same some in other termes In which ranke if wee marshall gold what Lieuetenant will chide He certainly must be some ouerweening man that will question these noble vertues of gold that hath read so many notable and famous Authors for that affirmatiue assertion part whereof I haue cited in my other booke being but one Rank of a whole Armie Here I will only trouble the Reader with a few lines out of that famous Physition and excellent Philosopher Arnald Gold altereth the euill condition of mans body clenseth and reneweth it The vertue of many things may come neere the particulars of the operation hereof but no one performe it all But potable gold alone is it which worketh these miraculous effects this is not subiect to corruption but is agreeable to the Complexion and temperament of man It doth neither heate nor coole nor moysten nor dry but is temperate in all temperature and exceedeth all things in durabilitie It helpeth a cold stomacke and giueth courage to Cowards and fearefull hearts It helpeth the passions of the Heart It is good against Melancholy It comforteth naturall heate and tempereth the same neither may any thing be compared to it or supply the stead thereof The vertue thereof is manifest in the substance of it It clenseth and clarifieth by reason of the naturall heate it hath It giueth high and supreame temperament aboue all other things by reason of the great temperament of it selfe and beeing it selfe most durable it causeth continuance and durabilitie according to naturall possibility in other things and preserueth mans body And because it is like to the Complexion of mens bodie therefore if it be prepared as it ought it will ioyne and incorporate thereunto But all the secret is in the preparation of it which the wise Philosophers haue concealed It confirmeth and keepeth sound the substance of the Heart and preserueth it and clarifieth the substance of the spirits and sendeth good blood to the skin and with a light and easie abstersion preserueth beauty as in youth Thus he writeth as also in other places of this Author you may reade many admirable effects and vertues of gold both solide and potable How gold is so powerfull a Cordiall and so generall a Medicine is held a very difficult question to finde the cause
vnwillingly and almost compulsiuely brought thither by the neerest of blood to the sick gentleman with no lesse intreaty then others But these Physitians were so far from conferring with me cōcerning the further health of this patient whom they then found in very good case that they both ioyned and would not bee quiet before they had rid me thence contrary to the will of the patient and of those that were present In what case and state I both found and left this gentleman you haue hard After my departure what cooling or astringent or otherwise qualified Syrupes or Electuaries or other forme of medicine they gaue him all that day I know not But this I know that the next night he relapsed into the same cruell and desperate accidents in which I formerly had found him and from which I had restored him peraduenture he fell into this relaps for want of that my medicine so powrefull in strengthning the heart and expelling poyson from it For doubtlesse the exitures being stopped and the poyson returning from the outward parts of the body whither nature had expelled it to the heart the same accidents must needes returne Such relapses are most dangerous because both the infection is stronger and the body weaker And so it appeared in this noble gentleman by this his vntimely death Then did these Physitions vnder whose hands he died bethinke themselues of some stratageme to avoid the imputation imminent One of them therefore hastneth to the Court where he publisheth excuse of himselfe and accusation of me And further causeth me to bee cited to the Colledge of London Physitions and with the eloquence of Tertullus very stoutly accuseth me as culpable of the death of this gentleman Where I acquited my selfe and maintained my innocency by foure lawfull witnesses seruants and attendants of their late Master the deceased knight Who with one consent and contestation dilated That I came to their said Master lying in his last and extreame pangs rauing after the exitures of the small pocks were striken in That after I had with carefull and diligent attendance all that night administred my potable Gold vnto him as aforesaid the extremities of his passions and grieuousnesse of accidents were much eased and abated he more quiet and in better sense and that the Pustules of his diseafe did againe plentifully breake out by which meanes he was respectiuely in good temper And that the next day when the said Physitions had excluded me and giuen him their mixtures all things turned to their old course he to his former extremities and so died His Maiestie also had commanded 4. honourable persons to be present at the Colledge in the hearing and debating of these actions now in question that is the right honourable the Lord Kneuet Sir Henry and Sir Philip Cary knights brethren of Sir Adolph deceased and Sir William Godolphin knight who finding it fully proued how I found him in the agony of death how I left him in good temper how the other Doctors receiued him in very good case for that disease how they left him dead truly reported the whole matter to the Kings Maiestie as indeede it was What his Maiesties censure then was herein and on whom he would lay this imputation of his death may easily be coniectured out of the manifestations of the cause Also those two worthy brethren meere strangers to me at that time liuing in honourable account and place so generously and vertuously that none dare entertaine any sinister thought against their sinceritie nor opinion that they will for any respect whatsoeuer be induced to report any vntruth for me nor any other are alwaies ready to giue further satisfaction if any as yet be not sufficiently perswaded of these proceedings Reason it selfe in one maine ground of Physicall indications doth teach vs that à iuvantibus et nocentibus from such things as helpe and such things as hurt a most inuincible argument is drawne and concluded Is it not a generall rule with all Physitions to continue the vse of those things which haue manifestly releeued and profited the patient if there be no necessarie exception and to fly and for beare the vse of those which haue hurt or done no good Nature teacheth brute beasts to seeke shadowed and coole places in the heat of sommer because their sense findes ease and refreshing by the shaddow and hurt and annoyance by the parching sunne Apparant it is that my Potable gold did euen miraculously refresh helpe profite and comfort this diseased gentleman of whom this question first grew For his vnderstanding was thereby recouered quietnesse rest and sleepe procured naturall and healthfull sweating caused and the poyson of his disease driuen from the center and heart whereby the pustules and exitures did againe appeare and come forth All arguments and signes of good estate and temper in that disease did appeare as portending a perfect recouerie On the other side whatsoeuer the Medicines administred by these two other Doctors were before or after my comming I know not But most certaine it is that whatsoeuer they gaue or howsoeuer they handled the matter much hurt succeeded euen the greatest mischiefe that may happen to a languishing patient For all the concourse of his former grieuous direfull and mortall symptomaticall accidents returnes with double strength when his heart and vital spirits were not able to resist The striking in againe of the exitures rauing wrestling and which only remained to conclude the tragedie Death it selfe the last of all lines that man can draw and a true line to draw and direct vnderstanding men to the true cause of his death These circumstances compulsarily wrung from me be sufficient for the euidence of this verity to all men that will not maliciously spurne against apparant truth But my traducers doe still spiderlike sucke poyson in stead of hony and force themselues to an vnnaturall vomit of these humors against this medicine truly of gold and truly potable In which bitternesse if they did not still persist against their owne science conscience regard of vertue and veritie wounding many honest hearts with false suggestions against my good name and the innocuous worthinesse of this Medicine and defrauding many poore languishing soules of the vse and benefite thereof I would and surely gladly would for their sakes haue forborne the narration and report of this true storie Which I am by them compelled to publish for my Apologie MIstres Cicely Boulstred a worthie gentlewoman Extreme vomiting and virgine attending in neere seruice our gracious Queene in good fauour and account fell sicke and had greiuous passions Vnto whome diuers of the most famous Physitions of the Colledge were called Who with great care and their vtmost skill sparing no cost as was fitting in such a place administred all kinds of conducing Medicines both Cordials and other respectiuely to the cause of her disease and passions both such as be ready in the shoppes as others by some singularitie of
preserued MAster Foxton in Red Crosse streete had his wife Dead birth in the like case and in greater danger by reason of the childe in her body being dead THe like Foetus mortuus or dead birth the wife of Dead birth Master Castle of Hatfield Peuerell in Essex had carried in her body three daies neither could she be deliuered by any helpe vntill shee tooke the Aurum Potabile THe wife of Master Harde dwelling vpon Saint Peters Hill in London was deliuered of a dead Dead birth childe yet neuerthelesse she was still full of intollerable paines Whereupon the wife of M. Fitzgarret Esquire neere dwelling gaue vnto her of my Aurum Potabile the next day after her deliuery of that childe at 9. of the clocke in the morning And the same day at 2. of the clocke in the after noone shee was deliuered of an other dead childe and then presently recouered THe wife of Mast Iohn Bingle of the Exchequer was Perill of Childbirth in her trauell in great peril of death vnto whom a graue gentlewoman there present at her labour gaue of my Aurum Potabile with which helpe both shee and the childe were saued THe Lady and wife of Sir Iohn Pretiman knight Burning feuer in Childbirth being in childe-bed fell into a burning feuer also she could take no rest nor sleepe And other very violent passions she endured She was not willing to take any manner of Medicine Only Aurum Potabile shee tooke and was quickly restored to health THe wife of Mast Edmund Kingstone of Glocester Burning feuer and bloody flux in Child-bed shire being in childe-bed had a burning feuer and with it a bloody flux She was throughly cured by the same meanes which the Lady Pretiman vsed AN other gentlewoman of the same Countie Feuer and scouring in Childbed the wife of Christopher Blackewell was by the same meanes cured of a feuer with an excessiue scouring lying in childbed THe wife of Master Iohn Sherington of London Preseruation of Aborte Marchant being with childe had many passions and euident causes to make her feare abortion or miscarrying Beeing therefore aduised thereunto she tooke of my Aurum Potabile daily a proportionable quantitie and went out her full time receiued Gods blessing in the safe deliuery of a faire childe Whereby it appeareth that this Medicine hath diuers vertues and faculties As in case both to promote the birth where it is stayed be the birth aliue or dead as also to stay and preuent abortion of miscarrying vnto the full time and periode of the naturall birth which in the power of the Medicine is but one That is the onely comforting strenghtning and enabling of nature to promote and performe her owne actions which way soeuer is most fit for the safety health of the body as in other cases before hath beene obserued And not only profitable to each mother in all those former causes but to the infant also as shall appeare by one Relation which here followeth THe wife of Master Richard Browne Esquire Perill in Childbirth dwelling in the Blacke fryers was long in labour of childbirth and in great danger notwithstanding she had two midwiues with her A certaine gentlewoman and neighbour being then present perswaded to send for some of my Aurum Potabile and to giue it her One Midwife said she had better meanes to giue her But when all meanes fayled and small hope of life remained then was my Aurum Potabile sent for And after it was twice administred vnto her she was safe deliuered of a liuing and well liking childe God be praised The next day following The new borne Infant in danger the same gentlewoman and neighbour came to visite the mother and childe finding the childe in the Midwiues lap not well but languishing and ill The Midwife desired of this gentlewoman some of the Aurum Potabile for to giue the childe It was then asked whether she who had denied it vnto the mother the former day would now giue it vnto so yong an infant The Midwife answered that hauing seene the admirable effect thereof the day before she doubted not of successe in the childe She gaue it therefore vnto the childe mixed with breastmilke and the childe presently amended If therefore such yong infants which skantly haue seene the light of the Sun and haue brought from the mothers wombe their infirmities and not taken them by misdiet or misorder doe finde releefe by this Medicine as also women in their conception and in time of their deliuerie and afterwards lying in childbed as is euidently set downe in particularitie Euen in this only case it meriteth that account that no Lady or gentlewoman of accompt should at any time bee vnfurnished thereof for the benefit of themselues and their infants in case of necessitie seeing that no Medicine is more powerfull more secure more pleasing to take SIr Lewis Lewknar knight in the yeare of our Lord 1611 fell dangerously sicke with a cōtinuall burnīg The Plague or Pestilence feuer vehement passions He sent for two famous Physitions of the Citie of London which followed and plyed him sixe daies with al the conducible remedies they could deuise but without any successe For they neither eased his passions nor abated the burning heate and furie of the feuer So that the patiēt euery day waxed worse worse at the last an Aposteme appeared in his groyne a true token in such a disease of a pestilent and contagious infection which at that time though not since was very hot in London Thereupon these Doctors excused themselues in that they were tied to the attendance of diuerse noble persons whom they were loth to infect And therefore were compelled to bid him farewell And accordingly left this worthy gentleman to wrestle with this disease for the cure of which they were waged and by conscience thereunto tyed and his trust in them was reposed They hauing thus taken their leaues I was sent for not knowing the disease which could not long hide it selfe hauing such manifest tokens Yet I thought it against both charity and honestie now being with him to forsake him And therefore resolued by the grace of God with some powerfull and strong Antidote to expell the poyson from his heart and afterwards to proceede for his further recouery as occasion should be ministred To which purpose I first gaue him sixe graines of my Essence of gold mixed appropriatly After which in a small time he began to sweate which continued all that night and a great part of the next day The next night and so euery day for 4. daies more I gaue againe the same Medicine in the same quantity which caused abundant sweating whereby both the malignitie of the feuer and the vnnaturall heate was exceedingly abated the Aposteme which was risen very great did daily decrease and at last quite vanished only with a certaine sticticke plaster outwardly applied Thus he was cured
gold But to ouercome vtterly to suppresse the great aboundance of those humors or matter which caused these fits so often to returne without being perfectly cured I aduised her to take sometimes of my Essence of gold Which when shee had taken shee cast vp a great quantitie of Melancholicke blacke stuffe Since which time she hath neuer beene troubled with any of those passions MAster Iohn Sherington of London Marchant had a sonne about three yeares old long time Obstructions in a childe deiected and weake and had receiued many Medicines against the wormes and other causes which were suspected but to no purpose for he daily grew worse and worse At last therefore hauing taken my Potable golde a few daies he cast vp a great quantity of tough thicke and viscous humors After which the matter of Obstructions being taken away he presently recouered perfect health ALso a yong daughter then borne to this Master A new borne Infant Sherington being sixe moneths old fell dangerously sicke and with the same Medicine was restored THe wife of Mast Coles dwelling in Colmanstreete Plague after the death of her said husband who died of the Plague shee beeing then with childe was also infected And fearing in that case all strong Medicines vsed only my Potable golde and the Essence with vse whereof by Gods grace she recouered her childe saued of which shee was after safely deliuered The husband which tooke other Medicines not this died The wife which refused all other Medicines and tooke only this recouered Notwithstanding the increase of danger by her childbearing Let the due consideration of this one case stop the mouth of malice it selfe and informe the enuious to glorifie God for his great and good gifts bestowed vpon men EDmund Nusum dwelling neere Charing-Crosse fell into a dangerous sicknesse and long time continued therein In this his distresse he sent for a learned Physition of London well knowne who vsed his best skill and endeauours for recouery of this patient But failing in his expectation he tolde the patients wife that she must shortly be a widdow A worthy gentleman their neighbour pitying this case sent his man to me in this sicke mans behalfe I came and found the Apothecarie at the patients dore newly come from him which saluted me with these or the like words You come tooo late there is no good to be done To whome I answered that though I could doe no good yet I would do no hurt So when I came to the patient and could not finde any likely signes nor hopes of life I vndertooke nothing concerning his recouery neither promised so much as hope Yet for a triall I gaue him some of my potable golde and continued that administration all that night once in three houres It pleased God that hee recouered to the great admiration of all men NOt long after the only sonne of the aforesaid Apothecarie whose name was Nathan Darbey 17. yeares of age was likewise taken with a violent burning feuer He had the aduice and counsell not onely of the said Physition before specified but also of many other of the Colledge But the patient grew worse and worse and at length became speechlesse and was as it were vpon the threshold to take death by the hand The father then though in despaire of his sonne yet hauing seene the former effect came hastily vnto me in the Sermon time being then the Sabbath day imploring my aide for his sonnes recouerie if yet it were possible His complaints preuailed I gaue his sonne of these materials iterated by degrees as the case required God blessed the meanes and he recouered MAster William Parkinton gentleman likewise dwelling neere vnto Charing-Crosse and sufficiently well knowne lay dangerously sicke vsing the aduice and helpe of the said before mentioned Physition He neglected no meanes of ordinary course prescribed by Physicke Neuerthelesse the patient found small releefe For the Physition himselfe accounted him a dead man So likewise did his wife and other his friends In this forlorne estate I was called vnto him I only gaue him of the Essence of gold and the Aurum Potabile And that God who doth wound and heale who bringeth vs to the brinke of the graue and raiseth vs vp againe by this meanes as his reuealed ordinance restored him againe vnto perfect health BY these three last instances all dwelling neere vnto one place and almost at one time one Physition being called vnto them all and they all forsaken by him as deplored yet neuerthelesse they all beeing recouered by the only helpe of this Aurum Potabile we must of force acknowledge the same to bee an extraordinary blessing sent from God for releefe of those who haue enioyed the benefit thereof And let no man depraue this Medicine in that it is administred so diuersly It ought rather to be had in greater price The neerer vnto simplicitie the neerer to veritie Also in vaine are many things vsed when one thing preuaileth As in all the course of our life this is true so likewise in administring of Physicke Therfore Damascen saith It were a wicked fact to vse a compound Medicine where a simple profiteth CONCLVSION OF THE SECOND PART BY these euidences and manifold experience sincerely deliuered partly taken and faithfully translated out of Latine letters sent from seuerall parts beyond the seas partly in English verbally set downe as they came to me any reasonable man not seduced by vaine oppositions nor willfully preiudicate nor peruersly malicious may easily iudge that this medicine my Potable gold is the most wholesome safe operatiue medicine which at this day is knowne to be had in vse both for the cure of desperate and hopelesse sicknesses when all helpe of man is accounted vaine And for the wonderfull restoring of the decaied strength and languishing powers of the body with a singular comforting of the heart As also for a Prophylacticke and preseruer of health Which so being the greater is their sinne which contrary to Gods commandement Christian charitie the loue of truth their dutie towards their neighbour and peraduenture their inward testimony of their owne conscience haue so virulently and despitefully inueighed against the true and vncontrollable virtues and effects thereof And in their wast papers of impression haue attempted to shew the power of malicious Rhetoricke thereby to wrong that good which they themselues cannot attaine vnto Whereby so farre as their habilitie and credibilitie could stretch they haue notoriously iniured not me only but all sorts ranks and degrees of people subiect to the vnrespectiue tyranny of sicknesse which maketh no difference betweene the Cottage and Pallace the King and the Peasant The wrong to me is that for my loue and truth workes of charitie good intentions towards all and good deserts of as many as haue made or hereafter shall make vse of the fruites of these my labours they haue rewarded me with that which is vnder my backbiters tongues railing for reuerence