Art prepared Her passions still continued if not encreased Continuall vomiting and reiection of whatsoeuer she tooke meate drink medicines with swoundings torture torments of euery part of her body A miserable and pitifull spectacle much lamented of many very honourable persons Shee could not rest nor sleepe night nor day So that sinking vnder the burden of this affliction with the violence and continuance thereof her strength vtterly failed Shee could not retaine so much as one drop of any broth or other nourishment Her Stomacke by coniecture of all Physitions was drawen together and shut vp without any power or faculty to performe the offices of nature In this miserable estate this distressed gentlewoman languished two whole monthes without any ease or releefe by the vse of any the Medicines giuen her by the aduise of the said Physitions all things tending to a more desperate and Immedicable estate Whereupon the mother of this gentlewoman demanded of these said Doctors whether they had any hope to giue helpe or at least wise ease to her daughter else she said she would send for Doctor Anthony Those Doctors hereupon limited themselues to a certaine time which they spent in their vttermost habilities to perform to the intēt I shold not be called To which purpose they commanded an Apothecary to attend in the Chamber of the patient all the next day and night and euery third houre to giue her a Cordiall Then voluntarily they said to the mother Send for Doct. Anthony if you will and God send him good successe with your daughter Then was I sent for and finding this gentlewoman in so desperate a case left and giuen ouer by all the Doctors of the Colledge as not to be recouered for besides the aduise of these Six there had beene publike consultations in the Colledge as is requisite in such like cases which sildome come in vse I desired God to blesse my endeauours and to continue his blessings in the administration of this my happy medicine After a small time vpon due and mature consideration of all things I gaue her at the first not a whole spoonfull of my Aurum potabile as in other cases but much lesse scarce a quarter so much which she cast vp againe with a vehement force and torture of her body A little while after I gaue her as much more which she cast vp in the same manner as she did the first Againe I gaue it the third time some part of which shee also cast vp but kept some with a kind of strife or conflict betweene the medicine and the maladie Then I aduised that she should not further be troubled for a season but to try if shee could now take a little rest or sleepe So she disposed her selfe thereunto and slept soundly a whole houre which diuers of great account then present can witnesse For she snored that we all heard Which seemed strange to all considering for a long time before shee had taken no rest When she waked she said that she found her selfe somewhat better at ease Then which was the fourth time I gaue her halfe a spoonful which she kept without any contending or trouble to her body This gaue me and many worthy gentlewomen there present great hope of a good recouerie Wherein God be praised we were not deceiued For in all the other administring of this Medicine orderly as she was able to beare increasing the quantitie her spirits were releeued she daily recouered strength all the passions symptomes and accidents of her diseases ceased her sicknesse fully left her and she recouered perfect health Thus with the vse of this happy Medicine this gentlewoman was recouered and cured of that dangerous disease wherein those other Doctors had wearied themselues and forsaken her at which her friends wondred mine reioyced and other malicious aduersaries fretted for which God be praised If they will call these the effects of Iugling and of a corrosiue Medicine they will hardly finde any Cordiall amongst all their Dispensatories and Magistrall prescriptions The cause and effect are Essentiall Relatiues THe Lady and wife of Sir Francis Leake Knight Continuall vomiting and destillation of Reume continuing many moneths being now conceiued of her first childe was fallen into many infirmities Shee had a continuall and abundant slux at her mouth caused by collection of phlegmaticke and pituitous humors Also a continuall vomiting and casting euer after any food taken Her flux ceased not neither day nor night She was brought to that weaknes leannesse in her body that al her friends thought she was in a consumption During the time of this sicknes which was fiue moneths she vsed many medicines in hope of remedy but found none And therefore iustly feared eyther miscarying her trauell or the losse of her owne life Whereupon by the perswasion of some friends which knew right well the efficacie of my Potable gold she tooke therof the third month before the time of her deliuery and at seuerall times continued the vse of it By which meanes her vomiting flux of spitting ceased she recouered strength and good habit and all the rest of the time of her childe bearing continued in very good health and disposition And in due time was deliuered of a faire and strong Sonne which is yet liuing THe Lady and wife of Sir Edward Barret knight Perill in childbirth and sister to the forenamed Lady being in trauell of childbirth in such hazard and extremities of hard labour that both her Midwiues all other there present despaired both of safety and life of mother and child by counsell of a great Ladie then in my chamber tooke of my Potable gold and beyond the expectation of them all was presently deliuered of a child in good liking But the after burden stayed which in that weakenesse made them feare the like danger Therefore they gaue her the same Medicine againe by which the after burden followed she recouered and did well THis Medicine hath likewise bin happy and succesfull to very many others Weomen in like cases euen after the childe hath beene dead in their bodies and they giuen ouer in their last extremities So that it is scarse possible to finde any Medicine to match this in such cases whereof I will set downe a few examples THe wife of Ioseph Pemberton Haberdasher of Ipswich Childbirth in the Countie of Suffolke was deliuered by meanes of this Potable gold being in great extremitie and danger by reason of her hard labour THe wife of Master Oratio Paluasino was recouered Childbirth by the same Medicine beeing in great danger through hard labour in childe-birth IN like manner was the wife of Thomas Blackeborne Childbirth Citizen of London when she had beene two daies in labour safely deliuered by this helpe THe wife of Nicholas Colman in Great Saint Bartholmewes Childbirth was euen at the point of Death and vpon the taking of this Aurum Potabile was presently deliuered and her life
THE APOLOGIE OR DEFENCE OF A VERITY HERETOFORE PVBLISHED CONCERNING A MEDICINE CALLED AVRVM POTABILE that is the pure substance of Gold prepared and made Potable and Medicinable without corrosiues helpefully giuen for the health of Man in most Diseases but especially auaileable for the strenghning and comforting of the Heart and vitall Spirits the performers of health AS AN VNIVERSALL MEDICINE Together with the plaine and true Reasons manifold and irrefragable Testimonies of fact confirming the Vniuersalitie thereof And lastly the manner and order of administration or vse of this Medicine in sundrie Infirmities BY FRANCIS ANTHONIE of London Doctor in Physicke LONDON Printed by Iohn Legatt 1616. THE PREFACE TO THE INDIFFERENT and Iudicious Reader ALexander the Great King of Macedon amongst all other blazons of his honour hath this not the least That in hearing of causes both his eares were open to both parties Plaintiffe and Defendant That being rightly informed his decision of the controuersie might be vpright not partiall As this is the duty of euery learned and iudiciall Reader so in this question of mine I cannot entertaine other thought then expectance of all integrity Not onely to haue eares and all other senses auersed from the tongues and quills of idly-learned slanderers but also reserued vnto a generous equanimitie towards the necessarie and equable reply of the Defendant Not doubting therefore gentle Reader of this your disposition I haue written and dedicated to your hands and hearts to take reade digest and cherish this Apologie of my Preparation and administration of my Essence and Liquor of Gold commonly called Aurum Potabile or Potable Golde with assurance of censure on my side though distasting the A-B-C-darie and Comicall Rayler If therefore my malicioners haue heretofore seduced you into sinister constructions of this cause it was not your fault but their posting malice anticipating and forestalling that better and true Information which this Apologie freely now offereth and earnestly intreateth to be so accepted Many good men haue iustly complained against the Pasquelling libertie of traducing slanderers If a sufficient conclusion should rest therein yea or a moouing Inducement then you with me must needs confesse that no vertue shall haue his due regard no man of whatsoeuer desert shall be secure of his good name My contentment and satisfaction preseruatiue my shield and defence against the tainted darts of such aduersaries shall bee securitie against foule challenge Impossibilitie of attaint the warrant of truth which in her naked simplicitie shall maintaine me in the vprightnesse of a good conscience against all their attempts and by Gods grace powerfully deliuer me Vnto you therefore indifferent and sincere Readers I consecrate the protection both of this Treatise and of the Medicine it selfe therein handled Because as no man is created solely for his owne particular but for the profit and good of others for nature hath made and charitie commanded a vicinitie and neighbourhood betwixt all men so this being materially a kinde of vniuersall Medicine it ought not to be restrained from the publike tēder of profit to all men Socrates being demanded what Countriman he was answered not only an Athenian but a Cosmopolitane a Cittizen of that great Commonwealth the whole world So ought euery good Physition in the publike profession of his facultie not to burie his talent in the soyle of one Countrey but to remember that the very Character of his calling doth challenge the fruits of his function for all the world so far as possible capacitie extendeth specially of this neerest communitie in Christendome Let it not therefore seeme strange vnto you worthy Readers that without exception of Countrey or nation I doe indefinitely appeale vnto all and in such generality consigne these fruitions which long study labor chargeable experience haue confirmed vnto me in my profession and Practise of Physicke Arist saith morally but the sentēce is diuine Bonū quo cōmunius eò melius The more cōmō a good thing is the better it is Of which followeth one reason of this my present act Omne Donū quo melius eò comunicabilius The better any gift is the more cōmunicable also ought it to be And as it is so in nature it self so ought it to be in the dispēsation of the possessour I do not herein so propose and magnifie mine own endeuours the perfection of this Medicine by my selfe made with a solitarie conceit and ambitious preiudice as though no person else where were seized of the like and peraduenture in a higher degree of exaltation but acknowledging Gods blessings and gifts to my selfe amongst many others I may not hide my talent in the earth But beside the present vses hereof in most vrgent causes of health do also wish the prouoking and virtuous emulation in others to incite their industries in the search and labour of excellent necessity for a common good Also that so generall a Medicine may as generally be knowne to be had to the intent to be vsed in all places The opinion of euery excellent both ancient and moderne Physitions concerning the virtue power efficacie and vse of Potable gold is conuested in their owne writings who do hold firme that no Physition can well saue the performing honour of his profession without Potable gold howsoeuer otherwise he be furnished with herball Medicines In which kind also God hath stored so many particular adiuments for the reliefe of mans miserable maladies that none ought to neglect the indagation of their virtues the preparation of their parts and administration of their Remedies Which as I gladly and happily vse in fit time and place so I also commend the like vse to others euen with this Potable Gold as is commonly vsed in sundry other Polychresticke or Panchresticke Medicines according to euery present requisition of occasions and circumstances by the aduice of any rationall and experienced Physition With which profession I offer and submit the respect and acceptance of my Inuentions desiring you all with like regard and fauour to receiue and embrace this my will and desire of doing good and to be profitable to many THE DIVISION OF THIS TREATISE ABout fiue yeares past I published a short discourse for the Assertion of Chymicall Physick and of true Potable gold containing these heades or Chapters 1. Whether gold may be so dissolued that it become truly potable 2. That the highest and most powerfull excellencie of Medicines is in Mettals 3. That amongst all Mettals gold hath the prerogatiue concerning the Physicall vse of Medicine 4. Of what manner is the Art and mystery to dissolue gold and distill it vp which commonly is called Drawing ouer the helme 5. That it were requisite by publike question to examine and try this truth of this Magisterie that so the mouth of all gainsayers might be stopped 6. That Potable gold deserueth the name of a Generall or vniuersall Medicine and of the manifold vse and efficacie of mine owne Potable gold This Treatise of
mine containing a simple naked and plaine deliuerie of a simple and naked truth and therefore as simply and plainly in words and style set forth though it really satisfied both here and in forraine parts many learned men Iudiciall louers of truth yet it wanted not the common lot of all vertues to finde maleuolent eyes and detracting encomberers such as may seeme either with blinde zeale or ignorant opinion of omniscience rather to repine at a fee lost then desire the true knowledge of that which they neuer intending to labour for yet ambitiously desire an imputation of criticall knowledge therein The sand of this descent was chiefely if not only in London The Issue none haue greater cause to mourne for then the Printers for want of vtterance or rather they which bare the charge of printing for vnto Iudiciall Readers those labours of theirs though they were tedious and nauseous yet some recreation followed in laughing at so much obstetrication of such mountaines in the parturition of such ridiculous mice I hope none will expect a cryquit answer of me to their most powerfull arguments being in the most modest terme a shamble of impotent and effrenat scolding but rather truth and matter against falshood words leauing their tongs and goose-quils to the iudgement and censure of their owne reformed and better aduised hearts of which my charitie perswades me not wholly to despaire knowing some learned gentlemen of the same company not the same minde ready to blush at such a publication which all the learned men of Christendom do laugh And who can fancy such barking Rhetoricke wherein not only good words are made the measures of madnes but precious houres are consumed in frothy rablings If they be still of the same spirits I wish them thereof full contentment therein And that therefore they would in some hollow craggy place stretch out their own straines that 1000. exchange of interest might bountifully returne them their delightfull termes and Syllogismes in this their new Barbara But this my Apologie shall with much tranquillity I hope answer them defend mine owne reputation and integritie vindicate this verity questioned giue estimation to potable gold and make the vse thereof more common According to which intentions I haue diuided this Treatise in three parts In the first shall be proued and maintained that which in my first printed booke was deliuered concerning gold that it may be made potable and medicinable and be esteemed for a kinde of generall Medicine or neere thereto In the second I will satisfie and sufficiently prooue by irrefragable testimonies and examples that this my Medicine so much canuased both is made and doth consist of gold and also performeth the true effects mentioned to be incident vnto potable gold In the third part I will shew and teach the way how to vse this Medicine in euery particular disease That all pacified and indifferent persons fauorers of truth and embracers of Gods blessings may enioy the fruition thereof Some circumstances also I haue hereunto annexed such as are pertinent to this our intent It is a controuersed question Whether there bee or may bee made a generall or vniuersall Medicine good for all Diseases Many hold the negatiue If they speake precisely of all Diseases without distinction I say as they doe and consent For there be many fatall mortall and Incurable Diseases against which all consultation and counsell of Physicke is bootlesse Therefore that my assertion of a generall Medicine be rightly vnderstood I desire my meaning to bee truly and distinctly taken For I know that some diseases be natiue and hereditarie some caused by some outward and superuenient chance or accident some proceeding of simple distemper some of humors ioyned therewith Those which are natiue and hereditarie are generally thought and for the most part be all incurable though they may in some kinde receiue alleuiation and ease And some of them also in the title of those which happen by superuenient accident As luxations lamenesse Impotencies want or superfluitie of some ioynt blindnesse deafenesse Ambiguitie of sexe c. And these so farre as they be restaurable and capable of Cure are chiefely vnder that part of this facultie which is called Surgerie and requireth the hand though not alwaies and in all cases But those Infirmities and Diseases of the other kinde proceeding of inward causes within the body such as for the most part be all Maladies whereupon all Rationall Physitions are exercised if by administration of one Medicine they all I meane so long as they are accounted curable by Rationall Physitions may be eased mitigated and perhaps perfectly cured surely such Medicine ought and may be accounted respectiuely a generall Medicine For as that Physition is to be accounted perfect and a generall Master of his Art which knoweth according to his title facultie and profession how to cure all diseases though he leaue and giue ouer some as incurable not for wnat of fit meanes and skill in all cases of possibilitie but through ineptitude and indisposition of the subiect being vncapable of redintegration So also that shall be accounted a Medicine vniuersall which cureth most and the greatest diseases though not all not through defect of efficacie in the Medicine it selfe but respectiuely for the inhabilitie of the subiect This also may be proued by reason deriued from 1 The first reason those Medicines of Rationall Physitians which for the multiplicitie of their operatiue extent to many intentions and curing of many diseases are called Polychresta that is of many vses For if there be among them such as be helpful not to one only singular affection but to many different diseases why is it not likewise consequent and reasonable that by help of Art a Medicine may be made much more comprehensiue of efficacie vpon diseases And as it may bee made to exceede in one degree so in 2. 3. 4. 100. and from Polychreston of many vses be Catholicon vniuersall of all vses The reason is all one to reasonable men If obiection be made that such Polychrest is artificially made by composition of many things wherin are diuersitie of natures And this vniuersall of one onely which implieth an impossibilitie of different and contrary operatiue faculties to this I answere that Polychrests are made out of Simples without commixtion As from Rheubarbe Vineger Lead Niter Vitriall Opium Camphire and many other wherof some doe both loose and knit some do heate and coole some haue other contrary effects which appeare in their operations and are testified by Writers These things being thus in impure mixtures and vnperfect bodies what doubt can there be made of the high prerogatiue and supreme excellencie of Gold which all the learned and experienced antiquity and the continued deriuation from thence vnto this day haue acknowledged and magnified for the chiefe if not only Treasurie and rich Cabinet of vniuersalitie and Panchresticke Medicine In which all the dowers of all other Medicines whatsoeuer are written 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
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
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