there is very great difference betweene the Astachum whereof you vndiscreetlie speake and the riuer or sea crabbe But you will say there is no great regard to be geuen vnto words and that these kindes of shell fish for the most parte are confounded among them selues Let it be so this I would also speake by the way because I see you doe lacke them and that our disputation might be both more euident you thinke it two waies absurd that the eies of crabbes calcined should be prescribed in a quartane because that by their drith and sharpenes they increase the discase O subtile argument and worthie of such a Phisicion We are not ignorant my Aubertus that the continent cause or matter of the quartane ague is the very iuice of melancholie which by his proper causes being gathered much together that it cannot be ruled by the naturall heate at length putrifieng it inflameth this feuer This melancholie humor the Phisicians make double the one naturall which is as the fex and slime of bloud the other adust which is as it were the congeled tartar or ashes of certaine burnt hâ—mors and that commeth speciallie of yellowe coller and melancholie adust although sometime it come of burnt flegme if we credite the Arabians Therefore seeing that the melancholicke humor which is colde and drie is the matter of these feuers we will confesse with you the couse of them to be partly cold and drie but that it is increaseâ— by the vse of all drie and sharp things we denie as false For whereas this humor by nature is groâ—se shâ—â—e and tough and that abounding speciallie in the spleene Mesenterium and vseth to be gathered about the Hipochondria or sides and by successe of time to be indurate truelâ—e there is no learned Physician that doubteth but that it is to be mollified digested rarefied made thinne and cutte but those thinges which for this purpose are of least force are mollifying which the Greekes call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and those which are oâ— a greater force whotte and thinne to the seconde oâ— thirde degree are called of the Greekes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Latinists rarifying which with their heate and meane drith doe dissolue and disperse mollifie and digest all the hardnes of the spleene and greeued bowels The timelie vse of which medicines chieflie is both requisite and greatlie commended in quartanes So the barke of the Ashe and of Cappars the roote of Brionia the wilde Cowcumber Walwort and Ireos all whotte and drie some euen in the third degree being taken they mollifie and driue away all hardnes or being applied outwarde doe dissolue and consume the harde spleene So may I fay of Amoniacum bdellium opoponax galbanum which although they be all whotte and drie euen Barbers know that they haue a great force to mollifie and digest Seeing then mollifying and rarefying things are conuenient to cure the quartane as all men confesse being taken in season thinke it not so absurde or ridiculous my Iacobus if aniâ— doe also vse the ashes of the eyes or sometimes of the heads of Crabbes or for lacke of them Creuisses For the ashes of those shell fishes speciallie of the eyes haue great force to extenuate and dissolue that fex of the melancholie humor which those whom you call Paracelsians doe name tartar congealed But if you doe so much abhorre these calcinations which we often vse and doe aske why we doe it learne this Auberius out of Galen in the eleuenth booke de simpl medic faculs whereas speaking of salt he vseth these words Salt burned digesteth more stronglie then vnburned by how much the bodie is made more subtile rcceiuing his qualities of the fire Also he writeth in the same book those medicines which consist of thinne partes haue more force then they of grosse partes although they had like qualitie because they pearce better for which cause onely wee vse calcined Crabbes to loose those feces and tartarous humors For by calcination the salt of things is drawen out and salt must be dissolued with salt onely if you doe well vnderstand it and so you shall learne that diseases are not to be cured with coÌ„traries but like with like although as yet you perceiue not the reason Otherwise how could you say that the stones of spunges burnt glasse Goates bloud dried the ashes of Cocles Lapis Iudaicus calcined or the bone of a cuttle with so great force coulde helpe the stone or grauell of the reines I know you will flie to the Asses sacred anchore namelie of secrete qualities which notwithstanding reason it selfe teacheth to be done with the salt which doeth dissolue them and expel them by vrine what will you then say of the hedge sparrow that laudable medicine of auncient Physicians for the same disease whereof Paul Aeginet lib. 3. cap. 45. where he leaueth it thus written This saith hee pouthered whole with salt and often eaten rawe driueth out the stones that are alreadie growen by vrine and letteth theÌ„ not to growe againe afterward but if it be burned whole with his feathers all his ashes by it selfe or with a little pepper dronk with old wine hony it worketh the same effect Thus you see how the ancient PhysiciaÌ„s did vse the ashes which you call absurd and in what diseases euen in curing the stone of the reines whose matter is also such a grosse humor that with heat it groweth to a stone How much more Crabbes calcined preuaile against that disease is noted of Hollerius Mathiolus and a thousand times hath beene proued by certain experience Neither will I passe ouer among other medicines which are vsed for this disease Christall which is the chiefe Christall I say calcined in a reuerberatorie out of which after is drawen his salt of whose dissolution in a moist place is made a most excellent oile very profitable to put away all obstructions of the bowels Wherefore you may not thinke it so ridiculous that a medicine should be taken out of the calcined eyes of Crabbes neither so to spue out your bitter poison against it This will I also adde out of Galene and the opinion of all the auncientest that the Crabs them selues calcined euen by the propertie of their whole substance are marueilous effectuall against the biting of mad dogges And Galens wordes which he reporteth of his master Pelope doe shewe that madnes to be a most drie infection It is not without cause saith hee that the Crabbe being a waterie creature should helpe them that are bitten of a mad dog in whom it is to be feared least they should fall into a most drie disease that is madnesse Nowe there remaineth that I should speak of the sharpnes which you finde in the calcination of Crabbes which as you say doeth increase the quartane But I feare least by those wordes the learned may thinke you vtterly ignorant what a sharpe tast is For it is easie for vs to shewe that the ashes of Crabs
is of a more subbil essence which is manifest because it runneth spedily throwe haire and garments and yet being so thinne it neuer heateth as by his nature neither is it the proper norishment of fire but it is contrarie to it But they will aunswere Vini alcool his essence or spirite which menstrue we oftenest vse to drawe out the essence of all other thinges is most hot let it be so shall it therefore bee called daungerous by any meanes Seeing the proper menstrua is alwaies seperated out of euery essence of thinges and all his force is taken away and euerie medicine remaineth simple with his proper quallities being onely increased in vertue Finally to returne to purgings who will deny that they haue a hidden power of heate to stirre vp with which notwithstanding must bee mingled such things as must take awaie their malignitie and make it more subtill and pearcing and quicken his slow operation and make it effectuall according to the opinion of Galen Therefore Paulus wileth to mingle with Eleborus Peniroyall and sauerie or any of those that soddenly passe through and are not hurtful to the stomack Item all phisitions doe will to mingle with Rhabarbe Cinamond and spikenard with hermodactilis Radish Cōmin with Cnicos Cardamomum Aloes with Nutmegges masticke and cloues with Agarick turbith sennae ginger which although they bee hot yet they are mingled in purgations which also are safly giuen to the sicke of the Agew not that a hot medicine is giuen for the Agews sake but that greater commoditie might followe in rooting out the humors which cause the feauers for the commoditie is greater saith Galen in taking awaie the molesting humors then the hurt which necessarily is done to the body by the purgations which yet wil bee more commodiously donne if whatsoeuer hurteth be taken away without payne by medicines prepared and corrected which the cōmon phisitions do although they take not away the heat of the simple mixed in the corecting of their purgations and notwithstanding they feare not to minnister them to hott diseases But our Menstrua of Alcoole Vini although they cal it hott yet is it so spiritual Yf we may vse words of art that with the least heate it vaporeth away and is altogether seperated from that which it dissolueth which is so separated from the feces that his power and subtil essence only remaineth which also more aptly doth execute his proper action whether it be to coole or heate or to purge and that with lesse daunger for 2 causes First because the essence of the medicine doth more swiftly passe thorow the bowells and thereby the sharpe and yearthy partes of them cleauing to the inward partes cannot vlcerate them according to which opinion Paulus speaketh thus of Colocinthide let it saith he be diligētly corrected because his sharpenes cleauing to the entrailes doe cause vlcers and trouble the sinnowes with like effects Secondly because all the noysome qualities of those Essences yf they cannot be wholly taken awaye in the first preparation may yet be taken away or easily corrected with mixing of other conuenient essence So the of Alloes otherwise is slowe in purging wil most swiftly purge and least it should open the vaines by his to much subtilnes it may eassily be corrected with our oyle of Masticke and so safly ministred But let vs heare Mesues Iudgement of all these preparations who agreeing with Paulus and Auicen that writeth Colocinthides is to be beaten small for our reasons aforesaide in these wordes It doeth require saith he long decoction and it is as it seemeth to me with the sonne of Serapion contrarie to the minde of the sonne of Zezaz to be beaten to small pouder that his malicious power may be mixed with other exquisite things to correct him that it may the sooner passe thorow the bowels and not stay in them for the thicknes of some part not wel beaten whereby it may peraduenture be longer staied in the bowels and exulcerate them chieflie when by some little partes of it sensiblie felt who cānot denie but that al these are done more commodiouslie with our essences with greater profit to the patient then the simple pouder I thinke none except some donghill raker that is altogether vnskilfull in phisicke It remaineth that we set downe the extractions of purgers and their preparations and so to prosecute in order Of Eleborus TAke the rootes of blacke Eleborus fresh gathered in Autumne 1. li. boile thē in water of Aniseede peniroyal out of which the oile is drawen Chimicallie closlie stopped in Balneo a whole day then straine it foorth harde and distill it by a filter vntill it be cleare then seperate the menstrua and in the bottome will remaine a slimie substance vnto which poure the spirite of wine that it may be couered foure fingers and so let it stand two or three daies close stopped to digest in Balneo then poure away that part which is cleare put on more doing as ye did before vntill you haue drawen out all the essence with reiterating the digestions alwaies seperating the feces according to arte which done seperate the first menstrua in Balneo that being done circulate it with new spirites of wine of the infusiō of maces for certaine daies then seperate the Menstrue againe in the bottome shall remaine Essentia Ellebori in forme of a sirop and Duskish of Coulor the which thou shalt keepe to many vses ℈ j of these essence mixed with certaine dropes of oyle of And myntes is giuen fasting with some conuenient decoction or water of wormes against the dropsie Item with water of Betony it helpeth against diseases of the braine as Maniae Melancholiae Vertiginis Epilepsiae and Paralysis it purgeth choller and fleame without any paine and finally the whole bodie of all corrupt-excrements which as Hipocrates saith maketh a man healthfull and as it were young it draweth not onely the hurtfull humors and excrements out of the vessels by purging the bloud but also from the whole bodie and skinne it selfe and therefore it is very healthfull against Elephantiasis the canker Erisipelas malomortuo all eating sores Paulus did giue about ʒ i. of the roote of Eleborus niger infused in aqua mulsa fasting against the aforesaid diseases I know not why in our time wee haue left the vse of it and shunne it as it were some strong poison and yet in the ancient time it was so much commended except it bee through the vnskilfulnes of the Phisitions seeing the mallice of this medicine and all other may easily be taken away with their true preparations as we haue declared and that this doth good Hypocrates witnesseth where he maketh mētion of white Eleborus saying thus To some bodies saith he Eleborus is troublesome as in other places hee saith that all byting medicines are naught for them but it being corrected by art and industrie may rightly bee ministred to whom and when it ought
There is also an oile made of sal nitri the which doth cui and disperse humors in the bellie it dischargeth the bladder of superfluous humours it preserueth health linguae nigrae calidaeque medetur it helpeth vlcers in the mouth vlcerâ—â— bus canis conuenit c. Sal petrae fusibills Salt peter is a certaine matter made of stones and is thus prepared Rec. Calcis viui q. v. and couer it two fingers high with water and stirre it well then let it stand 24. howres you shall finde vppon it a certaine skumme or skin the which is the salt which gather diligently with a scummer take of that salt and put thereunto a third part of pure oile of tartar and it will be fusible for this is the true salt peter this serueth also to the making of glasse and smaltes and is apt to cause all mettalles to melt and mixe with any alchimicall medicine and is of great vertue Colirium contra pustulas maculas pannas cataractas similes affectus oculorum quod visum acuit mirè conseruat REcip. Limature auri purissimi Ê’ ss Balsami Croci ambrae ana scru 2. Musci opij anae scru 1. tutiae extinctae nouies in vrina pueri Ê’ 1. tragaganthi sagapeni galbani stercoris lacertae ana Ê’ ss lapidis calaminaris vitrioli albi saccari candi aloes hepatica ana 1. scru Cortic myrobalan citrinaruÌ„ indaruÌ„ ana Ê’ i. Castorei Ossis sepiae ana ℈ ss fellis vulturis humani vrsini aquilae anâ—Ê’ ij make of all these a coliri with sufficient quantitie of the iuice of fennell rue and celandine of the which yee shall put two or three droppes in the corner of the eie In steed of that yee may vse many times this medicin the which hath a great vertue in all liuing creatures Rec. A glasse and fill it halfe ful of wine and set it in an Ant hill that they may creepe into the wine then distill them altogether or else let the antes stande in putrifaction 5. or 6. daies in the wine and straine them forth then distill it of the which essence yee shall put 2. or 3. drops into the eies It is most chiefly against cataractes redde and painful eies if the disease haue longe continued and hath fattie â—arnositie in the eie first yee shall put into the eie a litle burnt allome vntill the flesh be eaten away and then leaue A most excellent clister dispereing wind dryuing forth water against Hidropem asciten adiuncta timpanitâ— ascirrho iâ—cinorâ— REcip. the vrine of a sucking child â„¥ 10. and boile therein wheat the feede of fenel aniseed dyll ana â„¥ i. ss purifyed hony â„¥ i. fiat Clister Of the causes and reasons of spagiricke preparations of simple purgations HYpocrates in his booke de natura humana doth write that purging medicines doe drawe vnto them the humors which are vnnaturall in the body not by a common mingled quallitie but by the simillytude or property of the whole substance and an ingrafted famillyaritie Whose sentence Galen confirmeth against Asclepiadem and Erassistratum who thought that purging medicynes could not drawe any one humor but whatsoeuer they touched they could conuert turne it into their owne nature and so indifferently like leaches or boxes to draw the sharpe thinne humors as is most apt to purge rather then grosse and thicke But whereas al alterations are done either by force of heate or by driuing away the emptie or by a similitude of the whole substance that onely as Galen writeth is done with the Simâ—athiae of quallities or els with the likenes of the whole essence which things though I haue plainely shewed them yet they cannot be expressed with wotdes and the Greekes call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is a propertie which cannot be declared So the Amber doth draw strawes and the loadstone Iron by which reason it is saide that Rhabarbe expelleth coller Agaricke fleame and Senna blacke choller although besides this peculier power of purging euery one of them haue a certaine generall facultie to drawe other humors which is to be iudged by the composition of many medycines with which we vse to purge diuers humors which alone would not suffice to purge by themselues if those simples did not worke together with naturall helpe to euacuate with a common force did prouoke the expulsiue power It is ment saith Galen that the simples mingled together doe agree and not differ in any thing Amongst these medicines some bee dygestiues of choller which cheifly euacuate yellow choller some of fleagme that euacuat fleame some of mellancholly which euacuate blacke choller and so forth of the other humors Therebe also other medicines which by the vaines of the inward partes and belly doe cast out the bloud it selfe which are called Jmpropriae seeing they bee poysons neither doe they alone purge but also destroye and kill as Galen witnesseth who telleth a historie of a certaine man that had found an herbe which firste toke awaye the blood of them that tooke it and then afterwarde the life also but those are to be reiected of al other for the true only euacuating of blood is done by opening of a vaine not by those medicines which by a certaine maligne and sharpe quallitie and deadly propertie doe eate the vaines and by alteration cast out the blood the treasure of life not without great violence of spirites and vexation of nature But of these purging medicines there are 3. orders or sortes The first malignaunt in which is a certaine vennamous power and substance except they be prepared as they ought among which are numbred of the roots these Eleborus niger turbith hermodactilus Esula Cucumeris agrestis Asarum Thymelaea Chamaelaea Among gumes scamonium Euforbium sagapenum Among fruits and seedes Colocynthis Lathyris Among stones Armenus Cyanus Which medicines if at any time they doe not purge as they should they doe the bodie much hurt as Galen writeth The second are more milder or gentle which are so called because they purge gentlie without any greife and they voide the hurtfull humors not of the whole body but of certain partes and soften the belly and do but litle decline from nourishing of nature which among herbes are theise Malua Mercurialis Violae Rosae Brassica Beta serum lactis purnes manna theribinthina cassia medulla which neede no other preparation then the common that they may be safly taken The third sorte are of meane among the which are Aloe Agaricus Cnicus Senna Amongst rootes Rhabarbari â—oliâ—odij Jridis raphani siluestris mechoacam Eupatorij mesuae Which last simples were lately found out and the roote of the former is all together like in force vnto the vitis ingrae All these are called Men because they euacuate only superfluous humors which are vnfit to norrish the body and that without great labor and cheifly if they be well prepared and their due
and perish with the violence of fier vppon the test or cople which happeneth vnto them as the earth in them is found to be lesse pure and their temperature not so good As it hapneth vnto Iron through the impure earth whereof there is great store in it But when as gold alone cannot bee consumed with anie fierie heate as Aristotle saith and looseth nothing of his waight though it bee burned or tried of necessity it must haue a most pure earth and well compact with his water whereby it commeth to passe that his earth doth hold and let his humor that it vapour not away and contrariwise the humour defendeth the earth that it butne not as saith Agricola which commeth to passe as others do affirme because of a most subtill moist and drye that hath not any impuritie mixed By this reason gold according to the nature of thinge is purer then other mettalles and surmounteth them in price because it is the most simple and purest mettall and furthest from imperfection of elementes by reason of his forme So Pliny saith vnto one thing which is golde nothing decayeth by fier as the Poet also saith and as appeareth by that aforesaid By this we may gather that amongest all mettalles gold is not onely the brightest but most temperat and perfect in respect of which all other mettalles may worthely be called vnperfect For nature alwaies tendeth to perfection that is to the making of golde which alone amongest mettals is called perfect for no agent naturall as the Philosophers say ceaseth from worke in his owne matter neither is seperat but with putting on some forme in that matter Therefore so long as the agent is ioyned to the matter or worketh vpon the matter that is said to be vnperfect for the perfection of any thing is not but by putting on of forme For so much then as in all mettalles there is a certaine viscous water which the Chimistes Philosophers call quickesiluer because of the likenes which is put in place of the matter and that which they call sulphur by like similitude of the agent or inducer of form in that matter no mettall can bee called perfect but that froÌ„ which the sulphur is separated But because other mettalles haue their sulphur mixed in the matter whereby they are killed made blacke calcined and burned which happeneth vnto them onely by that dry exhalation that is the sulphur because it is a matter apt to be set on fire for that cause they be altogether called vnperfect But on the contrary part because onely golde is altogether without this sulphur which the affinitie of gold and quicksiluer by it selfe doth sufficieÌ„tly declare For as Pliny writeth all things swimme vppon it but gold which alone it draweth vnto it By this meanes it is free from corruption both in the fier out of the fier Of right therefore it alone is called perfect and formed according to the first and true intention of nature and complete because it is come to the vttermost end wherein it is complete and pure because the agent is not mingled with the matter but is seperat from it To this purpose writeth Aristotle Met. 3. cap. vltimo speaking of mettalles wherefore saith he they conteine earth in them and are all burned because they haue a drye exhalation But gold alone of all the rest vseth not to be burned But Aubertus not content with these reasons will answeare what so euer hath attained an essentiall forme of necessity must bee perfect But all mettalles haue their substantial forme No man will deny saith he except it be some blockhead ashes blower and by that meanes hereupon concludeth that all are perfect But it is easy enough for vs to answere this obiection For those thinges which perseuer in their nature are called perfect in their kinde through their substantiall forme but some continue by nature in their kinde which notwithstanding are made perfect by some meanes through their substantiall forme to the which their is a certaine motion and end but because they are carried to another later essentiall forme which altogether finisheth the matter it selfe and maketh it complet therfore they are called vnperfect so long as they remaine vnder that first forme in respect of the later to the attaining whereof they do endeuor themselues But if no accompt be made of that later forme but they be considered onely in themselues they are truely perfect in that their kinde through their essentiall forme as that kinde doth require This all men see in the generation of egges in which there is a certaine determined motion in the getting of his substantiall forme which doth so remaine But because those egges are by nature ordeined to this end not to remaine vnder that forme but to bring forth a byrde and so is made the begetting of the latter substantiall forme Therefore egges are called vnperfect vnder the forme of an egge but it is a perfect thing after the bringing forth of a birde for that is the last ende of egges This is likewise to be iudged of mettalles which albeit they haue in their kinde gotten an essentiall forme yet can they not be called perfect in respect of gold which alone is said to bee perfect vntill they come to that last perfect end that is to the perfection of golde and become golde And like as in the generation of the Embrio there is comparison of the vegetable soule to the sensible and of the sensible to the rationall and not as formes so other imperfect mettalles are in respect of gold Therefore the Chimisticall Philosophers haue worthily deuided the mettalles into perfect and vnperfect For although the difference of mettalles be in the forme it selfe yet shall it not be properly the difference of the kindes as the difference of man and horse but shall be taken more properly of the matter his partes that is according as it is digested or vndigested complete or incomplete seeing those are altogether of one proper matter But indigest and incomplete is spoken in respect of gold But whereas Aubertus judgeth Iron more noble then golde because it serueth more to the vse man I thinke he shall neuer perswade any Phisitions be they neuer so vnlearned which rather desire to catch gold then Iton But I suppose there is suffâ—ciently spoken touching the excellencie and perfection of gold and because we said that mettalles are of one proper matter although not in all alike digested herein consisteth the point of the question therefore we must now come to seeke out that matter of mettalles The Philosophers make two causes of mettals as also of all other mixed bodies The one generall and far of which is taken of the elements as of the first causes of all things of which they coÌ„sist as of most simple are resolued againe as into most simple The Peripatecians contende against the Stoickes that onely the qualities and vertues of the elementes doe passe one into another and
they call sulphur is not the common sulphur which burneth with combustion of blacknes and adustioÌ„ is burned whereas their proper sulphur doth whiten rubify coagulat and finally make perfect that Chimicall quickesiluer which is commonly vnknowen into the substance of golde according to nature or of the philosophers stone and gold according to art And this is the true secret sulphur and the onely tincture and shadow of the sonne and the proper congeler of his quicksiluer which the Philosophers haue shadowed with diuers names their dark speeches and enigmaes whereby it appeareth Aubertus to haue farre erred and by all meanes to bee refused because he speaketh of a sulphur which he knoweth not and that the Chimick Philosophers are not to be blamed because they say quicksiluer and sulphur to be the matter of mettalls which do not vnderstand it of the common quicksiluer sulphur For they know that these things whereof they speake are not founde in the mettal mines in their verie nature but oâ— those two they say there is made a third mixture hauing the natures properties vertues of them that of it may be engendred any mettall according to the diuersitie of the composition digestion and place These shall suffice touching the next matter of mettalles which Aubertus would haue to be water wrought vpon by the other elements but he hath kept sileÌ„t the cause why he thinketh so being contented to say that it is set forth by others or that he hath found it in other mens writings which is the saying of a man that will proue his opinion by an other mans credit and not by reason as the true Philosophers doe But now the efficient causes call vs which the Philosophers make double and so many passioÌ„s for heat and cold are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because they haue power to moue moist and drie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for because they rather suffer any thing then worke and are said to be wrought vpon of the first qualities as of the most noble and higher in nature by whose worke forme is ingendred in thinges for the matter is not knowen by it selfe but by the chaunge which cannot be without suffering as neither that without touching the which by coniunction and cogelation and by introduction of act and forme is abolished But it is to be obserued that by the mixture of drie and moist the bodies are first called congealed then harde or soft of which congealed bodies there is a triple difference for it is either a watrie humor that is congealed or some dry earthly thing or a mixture of them both Also these some of them are molten some dried some moistened and some made soft But those thinges which are drye and fierie as hony and must will neuer be congealed and they which are moist airie predominant as all oily thinges Wherefore these also are not elements neither the matter of these sufferinges But of bodies which doe congeale and are hardened according to Aristotle some are affected by heate and some by cold by heate drying vp the humor by cold driuing out the heate Therefore those thinges that are congealed by heat by want of moisture are dissolued of cold which maketh the moisture to enter in againe as salt And those thinges which for lacke of heate are congealed are dissolued againe by heate entring in againe as mettals for whatsoeuer is dissolued melting is molten either by fire or water Whatsoeuer melteth by water must needes be congealed by hot drie that is fiery heate and those which fier melteth or whose congelacion in any part it doth dissolue as horne are congealed by colde for of contrarie effectes the causes be contrarie and because that mettalles do melt by heat it is of necessitie that first they were congealed by cold as the efficient cause whereof none of the Chimist philosophers doth doubt although as Aristotle some time saith experience sheweth vs the contrary for salt is congealed by heate and may bee dissolued and molten by fier as I haue often tried and it is called fusible salt Neither Albertus Magnus that great Philosopher ought to be reprehended of our Aubertus because he referreth the power of making mettalles vnto heate when as Albertus doth not meane it of only heat as he thinketh Therefore it is to be knowen as Aristotle witnesseth thinges by meanes of colde to suffer rather then to worke because that cold is proper to the patient elements that is water and earth which both by nature are cold For they do not receiue cold from any other thing as they do heate but by taking away the heat they coole of their owne nature neither are they cooled by any externall cause as the aier and fier Wherfore albeit cold in mixed thinges hath an efficient force yet it preuaileth rather to corruption then to generation Therefore the Chimists are not to be reprooued although they say that nature needeth a heat vnder the earth for the procreatioÌ„ of mettals as a more effectuall efficient cause which may mingle alter dispose digest and concoct their matter at last with long tract of time frame it into gold as into his last end Neither are they to be reproued in this that they refer some force to the influeÌ„ce of the heauenly bodies for Aristotle â—onfirmeth their opinion in his booke de coelo mundo and his booke of the causes of the properties of elements in these wordes For saith he the first beginnings mouing to generation and inducing forme in euery thing are the starrie and heauenlie bodies by their mouing and light For they are the first that moue moued of the intelligences to performe the nature of generation or corruption for the preseruation of kindes and of them is giuen forme and perfection and as hee said in an other place the sonne and man engendreth man nether doth Aubertus rightly conclude vppon this reason the art of Alchemy to be vaine if mettalles bee ingendred by force of the starres when as the Chimiste s can not haue the fruition of this heauenly power for they beleeue with the Philosopher that if formes bee put on vppon inferiour thinges by the motion and light of the heauenly bodies by their site and aspect the same by consequent to come to passe in mettalles but that is done as it were by a generall cause and farre off but they haue a neerer efficient cause as we said that is heate by force whereof mettalles congealed in the bowels of the earth are disposed digested made perfect These thinges thus declared we must see to what end Aubertus tendeth and what is his vttermost scope hee would haue the labour of the Chimistes which they take vpon them in making perfect of mettalles to be vtterly vaine and lost and he denyeth that copper tinne Iron or leade which of them are called vnperfect mettalles can by any art be made perfect and be turned into gold and siluer And first saith hee it is euident
many other throughout Germany and Italie do vse the spirit and oile of vitrioll for the curing of the falling sicknesse the stone and asthma with great ease and meruellous profit And Dioscorides speaking of vitrioll saith thus it killeth the broad wormes in the bellie ʒ i. of it being taken inward Being dronke with water it helpeth against the poyson of toadstooles and dissolued in water dropped into the nose purgeth the head By this it doth sufficiently appeare that so great a venemous quallitie is not in Mercury sublimat by meanes of vitrioll much lesse it is to be thought of commō salt Finally if so great malignitie were in it by meanes of the salte or vitrioll because it carrieth vp the spirites with him this malignitie also would be in Mercurie precipitat for the strong water wherwith it is made is compounded of the spirites of vitrioll and salte with the which also the phisitions make their precipitate which many of them doe minister without further preparation which albeit through his great sharpnes by meanes of the spirits inclosed in the strōg water it purgeth the bodie violently yet it is well knowen vnto many learned men at this day that it doth not hurt as the sublimat doth This malignity therefore in the sublimat commeth by how much the more it is made subtill and stronger by exaltation and flyeth with a small heate but in the precipitate it is not so for it is mortifyed and so fixed with that philosophilall fier the strong water that it will suffer great heat neither can that maligne aire be sent vnto the hart if it containe any which by nature is easily assaulted with all poysons because that the naturall heat cannot cause the precipitate to fume which no violence of fier can cause to vanish away as by certaine experiences is approued the fixing therefore of his spirit is the true preparation that either taken inward or applied outward cānot hurt the which many go about to do sundry wayes I speake of them which seeke his preparation onely for phisicke which think by powring on the water twise or thrise vpō the feces which they call caput mortuum and so distill it againe that the true preparation of so great a medecine may be attayned but they are not a little deceaued specially because they are not carefull to take away his corrosiue or else know not how to do it for truly Mercury precipitat can neuer be a sufficient profitable medicine so long as the corrosiue quality taken of the strong water is ioyned with it which is not taken away as many suppose with common washings but with farre other preparations and dulcifyinges which beyng vnknowen no perfect thing can be wrought therefore ye mustworke after this order following specially for the making of turpetum that wonderfull medicine Rec. Calcis terrae pellucidae fixae Talcum well calcined the which calcination shall be shewed in another place of each one pound make of them a strong capitall lye in the which ye shall boile one pound of Mercury first fiue times sublimed euery time quickened according to art the space of 7. howers and so shall ye attaine vnto the perfect purging of Mercury and the beginning of true fixing to all workes for these calces are so fixing that with sublimations reiterated vppon them at the length the mercury shall be fixed This mercury so prepared dissolue with regali foetido and proper menstrua dissolue also by it selfe ʒ iij of the mercury of Antimony well prepared and ℥ i. of gold purged by antimony according to art All these dissolutions put into a bodie of glasse and the vessell will be darkned or clowdy set that glasse in an Athenor giuing thē soft fire vntil they wax cleare then increase the fire and distill away the water by alimbecke from the feces till they bee drye powring on the water againe vpon the dead head four tymes then put on new fixing water that the matter may be couered 4 fingers set that to digest 2. or 3. dayes then distill it twise or thrise vppon the feces and toward the end giue it fier of sublimation that those thinges which are not truely mortifyed may rise and be exalted which must be kept a part for they serue not for our purpose then take the dead masse and bring it to powder and put it in a scaruell stirring it the space of 12. howres in the second degree of the fire in a fornes of reuerberation vntill it come to the rednesse of a Salamander out of the which ye shall drawe all the sharpnes and venom on this manner Rec. Of the sleume of vitrioll and allome ana lb. ij fs distilled vineger lb. ij calcis terrae nostrae pellucidae ae fixae ℥ 4. sulis corneoli cristallint ℥ i. whites of egges 20. distill all these by alimbeke twice vpon the feces put three pound of this water to one poūd of the powder of Mercury prepared as afore and distiil it away from the feces in alimbeke 4. times and the last time distill it vntil the feces be dry This done grind your powder vpon a stone powring to it againe new fixing water distill it againe foure times as before Then you shal fixe and make sweate thy mercurie by distilling from it the Alchooli vini fiue times putting on fresh euery time This the chyminicall phisitions call precipitate or turbith minerall by cause it purgeth grosse and slymie humours eight graines of this is giuen with conserue of Betony and aqua theriacalis to cure the pox due purgations being vsed before With two drammes of the extract of wild cucūbers one dramme of the extract of Hermodactiles ℈ ss of this precipitat is made a mixture whereof halfe a scruple is mingled with two drammes of aquae theriacalis and is giuen for the gout 4. or 5. times according to the age and hardnes of the disease and the strength of the sicke bodie in the spring Autumne For without any greefe it doth meruellously purge the sharpe excrements and draweth them out of the ioyntes For to cure the dropsie there is made this composition which doth purge the sharpe excrementes and strengthen the nutritue parts Rec. Of this precipitat aforesaid ℈ i. the extract of alhandall and Elaterium ana one scruple a halfe of the extraction of Elebori nigri well prepered and Rhuberbe ana one scruple the essence of red corall and yellow sanders ana 2. scruples spiritus vitrioli i. scruple olei mafliichini and cinamomi ana halfe a scruple mingle thē with the powder of cubebes and the muslage of gumme tragagant and make it into pilles The dose is from halfe a scruple to one scruple it must be geuen twice in a weeke if their strength will beare it If it be mingled with Diaphoreticall thinges it onely prouoketh sweates and by that meanes helpeth also many diseases mingled alone with butter it cureth cankered and eating vlcers specially that come of the
pox Likewise the fistula and all callowes matters Ex triapharmaco and the aforesaid precipitate is made a plaster which being put into the necke of the bladder with a waxe candle or small tent as it ought cureth the vlcers of it and taketh away the flesh without paine or danger The fixing water for the said turpetum is made ex Climia lapide Sedenegi lapide perlato marchasitarum sulphure rubicundo lacerta viridi rubra halinitro sale aluminoso this made after the manner of Aqua fortis among all waters of graduation this is the chiefest and verie fixing if any attaine vnto it truely Of mercury also are made other medicines for there is made of it being first prepared as it ought Amalgamy with gold which is put into a bolts head and closed with Hermes seall so being kept in a temperate fire 20. daies is brought to a yellowish fixed powder the signe of perfection is when it will not vapour away by force of fire neither be quickned againe in water This medicine is Diaphoretical and is ministred for the forenamed diseases specially to cure the pox onely by sweates There is also made of Mercurie a balme with the water of the calex of egge-shelles and tartar also a most excellent oile for fistulaes all vlcers and callosites this shall suffice to bee spoken of Mercurie so that this one thing being noted that the whole perfection of this medicine consisteth in the fixing and dulcifying of it Of Arsenicke Chap. 7. AMongest the corrosiue medicines which by the extreame sharpnes of heat do distroy our naturall heate or conuert it into fiery quallity and by their malignant nature dissolue the naturall moysture consume all the substāce of the bodie and cause putrifaction with stinche the Phisitions do accompt Arsenicke sandrake and orpiment and therefore do iudge the vse of those medicines very perilous in chirurgery nether by any meanes necessary because they are so venemous and contrary to our nature This they may verie well say if they knew not their true preparatiōs wherby they are made apt to cure many outward infirmities These medecines are said to be venemous for their maligne quallitie and sharpnes But that euil quallity consisteth in the spirit stinking aire or blacke smoake which it sendeth out with a small heate but the sharpnes is onely in the salt This venemous and blacke smoke when it is raised by natural heate doth weake the matter of the part corrupteth it oftentimes killeth as if one had dronke poison if it be not laide too farre from the principall partes specially the skin being wounded which happened to a certaine woman and Fernelius the chiefe of phisitions of our time witnesseth that he saw it seeing that maligne quality is in the blacke smoke it must be altogether fixed for by fixing as we said before in the chapter of mercurie all the venom is taken away from the spirites as from arsenicke mercurie orpiment others The sharpnes is taken away by extracting the salt which may be done by their proper washinges as wee haue before shewed by which reason arsenike shall not hurt but profit much in locall medicines for poisoned woundes the wolfe fistula canker and gangrena if it be dulie prepared fixed and sweetned Of which true preparation Dioscorides seemeth secretly to intreat of when as hee speaketh of that metalline sandaraca which in the beginning of the chapter he writeth to smell of sulfur It is giuen with mulsum to those that coughe out rotten matter and to those that are short winded it is verie well giuen in drinke with rosen It is verie hurtful to geue sandrake vnprepared when as Galen doth witnes it is of a burning quallitie vnto whose opinion Dioscorides also agreeth in the sixt booke 29. chapter of simples Therefore it will not be amisse or hurtfull to vse arsenicke or any other corosiue medicine being prepared in chirurgerie specially the preparation therof is thus sublime arsenicke 3. times with salt prepared and rubifyed vitrioll the scalles of Iron that yee may purge it which afterward yee shall fixe with salt peeter giuing fyer by degrees the space of 24. howres and it will be a masse whiter then snow Resembling the colour of pearles which yee shall dissolue in warme water to draw out his salt and there will remaine in the bottome a verie white powder which being dried ye shal fix with the like waight of olei inceratiuiex talco confecti and set it in a fournace of reuerberation on whole day then againe dissolue it in warme water that the powder may remaine white fixed sweet mhich in a moist place wil turne into a fat thicke oile like buter swaging paines for like as arsenike not prepared bringeth great paines and by the maligne qualities is poison so contrariwise by his fixing he looseth that and worketh without paine and is a profitable medicine for curing of poisoned woundes if 1. ounce of it be mingled with 2. ounces of oile of mirrha Many also sublime arsenicke 3. times cum calce fixa colchothare then dissolue it in aqua stigia fixatoria ac conueniente for that purpose distilling the water often from the feces thā reuerberate the caput mortuum which will come to a white powder fixed from which the alkalie is drawen out with the alchoole of wine and so is made sweete the vse of this is to cure fistulaes and cankers Of Sulphur chap. 8. SVlfur is the balme of the lunges which the Chimist doe 3. or 4. times sublime with colcothar to purge it from his impurities and make thereof many profitable medicines to cure asthmatis if sugar be mixed with it also of the flowers of sulfur and his proper menstrua Therebinthinat digested certaine daies in a drie heate there is drawne out a balme like to a rubine the menstrua being seperated there remaineth a verie red oile of sulphur which must bee circulated with vin◠distillato alcholisato and be this means is a balme drawne out of sulfur whereof 3. or 4 droppes is geuen with water of Isope to those that are short winded and spitte rotten matter It healeth all manner of woundes quickly c. Notwithstanding the auncient Phisitions seeme to haue thought that sulfure did only cure outward greefes that it had a drawing quallitie and was of a whot temperature and thin essence as Galen and Aegineta wrote and that it was good against venemous beastes specially against the Sea Turtle and Dragon either cast on drie or mingled yet Galen seemeth to allowe the vse of sulfurie waters by these wordes The bathes or drinking of sweet waters is very hurtfull to the sicke of the dropsie But of salte sulpherie and pitchie waters is very profitable Dioscorides writeth that sulfur eaten with a rere egge helpeth those that are shorte winded But the Spagirickes haue attained to many things vnknowne to the auncient Phisitions Finally of sulfur is also madeth sower
that it may be put in the beginning of the preparation of mettals in steed of their matter 13. R Regeneration 18 Rubrica metallum 7. Refreshing of the spyrits 2 Rules of the Chimists fol 2 S Sharpe thinges what they are 5 Siluer in Lead 13 Splene R 3 6 Sibium is not to bee numbred among the mettals 7 Sulphur of the Philosophers is not the coÌ„mon sulphur 13 White sulphur incoÌ„bustible folio idem Salt arteficiall 19. minerall 19 fusible burnt 14. Salt of mettall fol 7 Salt his force 5 Salamandra philos 18 Sharp things their vse is to be graunted in a quartaine Feuer 5 Salt is resolued onelie with salt 4 Salte which is congeled by heate may bee resolued by fire 14 Sulphur is the next matter of medicines vnto quicksiluer 10 8 12 Spirits of things haue only their actions in bodies 2 T Terra foliata 17 Terra mortua 6 Trogloditys vires 4 The efficient or procuring causes are to be had in greater estimation then the obiects whereunto they worke 13 That yron contrary to Aubertus opinion is not more excellent then gold 39 That cold is proper to the element suffering 3 15. That Trees may bring forth fruites flowers in winter seasoÌ„ 16 That the Lake Lemanus hath no Crabs in it contrary to Aubertus opinion 3. There are not manie thinges or instruments required necessarily vnto the finding out or making of the Philosophers stone 17 18 That the Philosophers stone is a thing naturall 15 The effects and opeperations of the phylosophers stone 17 the true subiect the force vertue 18 20 That there be manie matters of one the same thing 6 16. That mettal is a word signifying many thinges 7 15 The difference of mettals among theÌ„selues 9. in the deuision 7 10 the matter 10 14 cause The differeÌ„ce between mettall stone that melts with fire 7 That in preseruatiues against poyson such things are necessarie wherein there is opium 2 3 The secrete hidden property of al things is a holi-anker of asses fol 4 The spirits mettals are not indued with contrary qualities 11 The forme of Gold or Siluer abstracted froÌ„ his concreat is not the matter of the Phylosophers stone 19 W Why the Authour of this booke tooke vppon him to aunswer Aubertus 17 Whereunto a sweete tast tendeth 5 Where the elements giue no place in mixed bodies 10 Whereof procreation or regeneration commeth 16 What is the neerest principall matter in the procreation of mankinde fol 12 What thinges are imperfect 15. Why the Chimists do cal the mettals by the names of the planets fol 7 Why bodies congeale grow together 14 A Table containing those chosen things mentioned in the second part of this booke whose markes with R. signifieth Remedies ADamant stone made soft and dissolued folio 33 Adamant the preparation why it is omitted idem Aeris oleum 24 Aeris vitrioluÌ„ aes vstum 33 Affects of the pestileÌ„ce R 33 34 35 36 Against cold affects 36 Against poysonne of Musshrompes 28 A malgamy of Mercury and gold 29 Antimoni the purger of gold his flowers sulphur tintur and glasse fol 31 Aqua bituminosa 30 Chalibiata 23 Fixatorea pro turpeto 29 Arsenike his oyle preparation and sublimation 29 Asmatiks R. 28 30 31 Auripigmentum 30 Against all kinde of maling and putrified vlcers R 22 24 25 Ad tartareos morbos fo 38 Affects of the braine 23 56 58 60 The vse of apium very dangerous to womeÌ„ with child 27 An excellent glister dispercing wind 52 Aniseed oyle 42 Aqua ad sufficioneÌ„ oculorum 50 Agarike his extract 53 Alloes 53 howe it is corrected his force increased 56 ApoplecticoruÌ„ R 60 Artritides R 58 60 Ash wood his oyle 45 A composition of saltes that seperat fleme 50 Arteficiall saltes and theyr properties 48 B Balmes for woundes 45 46 47 BileÌ„ euacuantia 57 58 Blood his true euacuation 53 Bayberies his oyle 43 Balsamum vrinae 50 C Colocinthis wherfore it is beaten in powder 54 56 hys extract 59 Colericum R 23 Collike R. 26. 27 Comfortatiues for the hart 22 27 32 34 Coral his tinture 33. Corneola idem CraniuÌ„ humanij his salt oyle essence and sublimation 35 Crocus martis 23 Christall 33 Coper 24 Callos tolentia 24 29 Crabs eyes calcined 37 Caput mortuuÌ„ what it is 28 Cordialles what they profite 22 Ceruse or white leade folio 25 Calcites 24 Celandine his essence folio 39 Cow dung the water therof distilled 37. Comfortatiues for the stomack R. 23. 32. 41 Cuttell bone 37 Child birth 36 Chollike cured 23 40 Caraway seede hys oyle 42 Cominseed his oile 42 Cloues his oyle 44 CinamoÌ„d his oyle 43. Common salt 51 Colirium contra pustulars et similibus affectis oculoruÌ„ 52 Causes and reasons of of the spagerike preparation of simple purgations 53. D Diaphorelicum medicamentoruÌ„ 22 29 32 Dropsy 22 27 56 58 Defenes R 27 Disinteria R. 23 60 Diarrheae R 23 Dill seed his oyle 42 E Eyes R 35 37 Eleborus of both sorts was vsed of the Ancients 57 58 Elephantiae R 56 Erisipelatis idem Esula radix 57 Expelling the stone fol. 28 33 37 54 EuphorbiuÌ„ extractum fol 60 Excoriacione of the intestinals 59 Eating medicines how to take away theyr malingnite sharpnesse 30 Eating or coroding medicines profitable to bee prepared in Chirurgery 30 Elephants tooth or Iuorie 36 Experience 27 Egs his oyle 47 F Falling sicknes R 23 28 31 33 34 35 Flegme purged from the ioynts 27 58 Flegme purged R 56 58 59 60. Fixationes vires 29 Fistuloes R 24 Febris continua 32 Febris quartana R 37 Febris inter mittentis R idem Febrium putridiuem cohibentia 31 Frogs their spawne distilled 37 From whence all medicines are taken 22 For such as coughe forth matter such like filthines R 30 Fenell seede oyle 42 Fruites their oyles 43 Frankensence his oyle folio 45 G Giddines in the heade R 56 GalbanuÌ„ his oyle 47 Gangrena 30 Gold as the common people doe take it dooth more harme then good 22 Golde his tinture hys white body essence and mercurie idem H Hurting the stomack fol 59 Himicraniae R 60 Hermodactilis his extract 57 Hisope his oyle 41 Hony his liquor 3â— I Impetigo R 57 Iuniper woode hys oyle 45 Iuniper berries theyr oyle 43. Iuie berries their oyle fol 43 Iron his oyle 23 Iliacorum R 26 Iuyce of Lemons is the true menstrua for pearles 31 L Liuer R 46 23 31 â—8 Lactariorum extracta fol 58 Lapis armenius 54 60 Lapis cianâ—us ibideÌ„ Latheris granorum essenci 58 Lodestone 53 Lunges R 31 Liuer of a Frog 37 Lienteria R 23 46. Lilium verum 32 Lapis cornalinus 33 Lapis iudaicus idem Lapis lincis 33 Lapis hematites 33 Lapis spungiarum 33 Luna fixa 22 M Mercuri balsamum oleuÌ„ precipitatus prepreparatione et sublimatione 27 28 29 Mysy 24 Morpheâ—e 32 Muske 36 Mumia of 3 sorts his essence and preparation 34. Mille pedum 37
dossis obserued The cause of the purging quallitie of all these simples is this that a certaine thinne portion of it stirred vp by naturall heate creepeth in by the open conditts or passages into the lesser vaines and from thence floweth into the greater from the which by the liuer it is turned into the intestinalls and into the reynes it selfe and then followeth euacuation of humores by the belly which sometimes are discerned by the vrine in which as well the coloure as the sauor of the medicine receaued is manifestly seene which any man may trie in Rhabarbe senuae Seing therfore the vapor of these medicines which we call the essence being stirred vp by naturall heate from the earthy partes doth attenuate the resting humor and moueth the nature of the parte with a contrarie quallitie and prouoketh it to cast out their earthly substance or feces remaining in the stomake and the inward partes who then is so doltish that wil not commend the spagiricall preparation of these medicines wherewith wee doe drawe forth the essence which is the true purger and take away the maligne quallitie Or at the least we suppresse it with his owne menstrua which agreeth with his properties and haue an vnitie with them We seperate the feces or yearth as deadly and hurtfull which doth much offend for his thicknes cleauing vnto the tunicle of the stomake which Galen affirmeth out of Hipocrates in these wordes For saith he the purging medicine how smal soeuer it be it must needes goe to the bottom of the stomacke and in going do wne the stomake and what soeuer is found about it is infected not onely by the quallitie of the medicine but also by the cleauing of the substance in the swallowing it is greatly hurte and againe those that are of more thinner essences more readily executed their proper accions then the grosse as Galen witnesseth in many places Also where as he saith in the first booke of simples that those things which haue but a smal bodyly substance doe worke more then they that haue great Our extractions of essēces is to be commēded in which al these things are performed the proper purgatiue quallitie of the humor notwithstanding reserued in the medicine as also it is made so much the stronger in that his vnprofitable earth and fex is seperated from it and by his proper menstrua ioined vnto it all the maligne quallitie is taken awaye which Galen writeth is to bee done where he saith those seedes are to be mingled with medicines which mittygate their mallignitie and hinder not their worke which haue force to extenuate to cut that they may cutt asunder grosse humors and open the wayes by which they must be auoyded All which thinges all learned men may iudge to be done in our preparations But some will saye the extraction of essences is not so necessarie when as Actuarius commaundeth vnto whose opynion Paulus agreeth that to such as are of a weake stomacke 15. or 20. graines of Lathiris are to be swallowed whole he saith that though they be not brused minimeque in Corpus permeent yet they purge verie much Which place is not against our saying but doth rather affirme it because alitle after he willeth that those who must bee more effectually purged must eate them by which it is manifest enough that there is a greater vertue by bringing the medicine into a fine substance then in the whole mase and in the essence it selfe a greater force then in the residence of it which may be perceaued in Rhabarbe it selfe the infusion thereof doth purge more mightely then the whole substance doth for which cause I doubt not but that the same graines of Lathyris are prescribed rather whole then brused by any meanes to a weake stomake because the force and strength of the Lathiris as Galen saith is much like in force to Esullae and these medicines are so sharpe and vehement that they purge both vpward and doneward with great vexation and by that meanes the more violent they be the more they hurt the stomak but the slender body as Galen writeth is easier altered and chaunged of that whereunto it is applyed but that which is grosser is not chaunged but in a great time and scarce at length feeleth any sensible alteration for we trye by experience that we are so much the soner heated with pepper as by how much the smaller it is beaten and euen so must we iudge of the purging medicines therefore in steade of those Infutions and decoctions after the cōmon sorte we vse their essences and that healthfully without hurting of the stomak or any of the other partes But those vehement medicines otherwise to be feared haue beene so rightly prepared of the true spagiricks that their malitious quallities and sharpnes haue bin altogether bridled with their proper corrections and so haue serued in steade of gentler medicines for the cure of diuerse diseases So our Essence of Elcborus Niger being well prepared is ministred at this day in many places and is safly giuen to children to losen the belly without any labor In the meane season there bee a great number which ignorantly condemne these essences and speake against the vse of them and spew out the poyson of their gaule against them at whose rayling I cease to meruaile because the Poet saith that to those men that think nothing right but what them selues doe nothing can be founde more vniust or wicked then that they doe not But there bee other which being ouercome with reason will at last commend these our extractions of essences out of all thinges but yet they feare this one thing that is their fierie nature in them by a certeine quallitie receaued of the outwarde fire and therefore they refuse the vse of them chiefly in agues and for curing of hott effectes by which they shew themselues to be vnskillful in the Spagirick Arte and to giue rashly iudgment of thinges vnknowen For almost all Essences are drawen forth with the temperate heate of balneo or horsdonge with proper meanes belonging thereto which we call Menstrues because the skillfull spagirickes by it with their art and labor do drawe forth al the strength and vertue of any thing seperating that which is pure from the earth and stinking feces reseruing onely the quickning escence whose power rising vp as it were breaking his bondes doth drawe it selfe higher and sheweth much greater force then it did before and more effectuall for helping of the bodie And if they will saye that all the menstrues be hot they are verie much deceaued for the iuce of Lemonds prepared after our order is the mēstrue for pearles because it dissolueth them and chaungeth thē into a thinner essence and yet the iuce is not hot nor the essence of the pearles hot which remayneth When the menstrua is separated awaye And as Galen writeth wee must not call whatsoeuer is subtill hot also for water it selfe