and reason thereof Let euery mans opinion bee free to himselfe I will without preiudice to any other briefely shew you my opinion I take it for granted that gold of all mixed bodies is most equall and temperate in the Elements and elementall qualities so that moysture with heat as agent drinesse with coldnes as patient and subiect to action are inseparably with naturall concordance perfectly ioyned Wherefore gold is respectiuely a body not only incorruptible in water fire ayre and earth and as it were an earthly image of eternitie but also most conuenient agreeable and as it were allied to and with the heart of man which of his hot moysture doth worke the vitall spirits and maintaine the arteriall beatings of the pulse in all parts of the bodie And this temperament of gold must bee considered two waies First as Scholers call it Arithmetically hence commeth the equalitie and equabilitie of qualities elementarie in the compact and solide body thereof not resolued into the permanent forme of potable liquor In this consideration it were very hard for learned Physitions that build so much vpon and presse authoritie to deny that gold hath and actiuely doth shew many great effectiue vertues seeing the Catalogue is so great of many notable and famous Physitions which extoll the effects thereof and at this day doe vse it so much as of gold quenched in wine boyled in broth giuen in limell or foyle in Conserues and Electuaries The hope and end thereof in all their intentions is to Corroborate and comfort the heart And this temperature in and of gold is habituate and coessentiall with the whole substance matter and forme in all the Elements both actiue and passiue And because not the materiall but the formal Essence is most operatiue and professor of the noble Elements fire and ayre from whence resulteth in an indissoluble bond heate and moysture so friendly agreeable to mans nature Therefore gold in his naturall coagulation and soliditie cannot so fully according to the inward power of his naturall efficacie and vertue shew and performe the effects thereof as being resolued opened and made potable that the Elements and elementall qualities may more freely both worke and be wrought vpon and be brought from their potentiality to actiuitie in application to the body of man For then the agent and formall vertues fire and ayre be predominant in their exaltation Whose propertie being communicated applied to with the spirits of our body is to refresh comfort strengthen the heart renew restore and increase the spirits by that wonderfull facultie and neere equalitie as it were brotherhood which it hath to them And this in the second consideration of the temperament of Gold Geometricall in that different respect as the other is called Arithmeticall In which that proportionate qualitie friendly and concordant to the heart and temperament of man and that complexioned moyst heate or hot moysture is preualent or predominant And one chiefe reason why Arnald before cited and very many others of vnreprooueable authoritie doe so much commend and with a reserued secrecie admire the excellent dowers of gold is that being made potable it restoreth augmenteth and preserueth that our humidum radicale and calidum innatum Naturall heate and moysture vnderstand them complexioned not distinct and so with respectiue possibilitie prolongeth life and keepeth backe old age I meane the sense of the defects and infirmities thereof If it be obiected that this exact temperature and equality Obiection of mixture in gold being supposed it cannot actiuely operate or worke any thing in mans bodie because as euery action commeth from or by meanes of some predominant qualitie so equalitie without disparagement keepes all in an vndefeazeable bond of an irresoluble compound I answer thus In cases where the intemperature or distemper of the disease or the degree thereof in some cases is not yet knowne the doctrine positiue and counsell of Physitions is to vse and administer temperate Medicines which shall not be offensiue manifestly to any qualitie but indifferent and allowable to all If this be done with good aduise and reason in such like case it must needs be far more consonant to reason and behoouefull to the patient to giue such a Medicine as is not only temperate by qualification but so prerogatiuely excellent therein that it cannot lose that temperature and the consequent efficacie thereof by the force of any thing consonant or dissonant Which is farre otherwise in all vegetables reputed equall in temperament because they are apt in some cases to cause dangerous distemperature in mans body Examples are plentifull But for instance take Manna it selfe reputed a very temperate laxatiue yet very easily it selfe turning into a hot Cholerick humour and encreasing the same and the distemperatures and diseases consequent thereupon according to the disposition and inclination of the body receiuing it Of which there is no feare in the vse of gold for the reasons aforesaid Therefore whether the Tenure be That Contraries be cured by Contraries hauing respect to the disease and the cause thereof the qualitie of the Medicine is remedy Or that like are conserued by their like with regard to the strength of the patient and comfort of the heart according to the doctrine of Hippocrates Gold as hath beene prooued must needs be in both intentions the fittest and most conuenient Medicine and remedy for diseases of what temper or distemper soeuer being aduisedly giuen specially being Philosophically opened resolued and made potable That there may bee a generall or vniuersall Medicine 4 The fourth reason is also prooued by consideration taken from the nature of the person diseased with reference to the disease For if the disease be strong like a heauie burden pressing the patient and the poore patient weake not able to beare out the Critical day of happy iudgement of issue of the maladie I aske in this case what ought to be done Certainly rather enable the body to the end of the Combate by comforting and strengthning the heart then vainly attempt to remooue the log and suffer him to sinke vnder the burden For not the Medicine but nature alone is the true physition curing all infirmities if she be not oppressed or that she be so releeued that strength in her be maintained It is not vnlike by comparison vnto the charge of sumpter Mules or Pack-horses which oft times vse to bee fed trauelling that they may endure to carry their burdens to the Inne not discharged vntimely of their packes And by this meanes they neede not be vnloaden at euery bayte but prouendred vnder their loads for the quicker dispatch So no disease is cured the strength not maintained but contrarily by perfect Methode the strength and power of the body is by degrees to bee restored and comforted that the disease may be both resolued and life maintained To this purpose did Arnaldus write in these words The only intention of ancient Physitions was to giue vigor and
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
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
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
administred Which though by many the letters sent me before in this discourse set downe as also by the histories of many cures by my selfe and others therewith performed it be reasonable plaine yet I will draw it into a more distinct and orderly deliuery according to the good will and meaning I haue That by a generall helping medicine a most generall and vniuersall benefite may be reaped Therefore be it knowne that the vse of this medicine is generally twofold answerable to the two generall ends of Practicke Physicke One to preserue the present health The other to recouer it beeing broken or lost by curing the Diseases and rooting out the causes thereof THE VSE OF POTABLE GOLD in preseruation of health ALL the Physitions and learned men both before in my first printed booke and here in this alledged as also almost innumerable others whose names I omit to auouch for breuitie agree in this That Aurum Potabile is the best Medicine and most profitable Instrument for the conseruation of health in all kinde of complexionable temperaments That it partly suppresseth and suffereth not luxuriously to bud shoot out and bring their fruit vnto ripenesse any seedes or latent rootes of sicknesses lurking in mans body whereunto any pronenesse or aptitude hereditarie or otherwise accidentall make them obnoxious That it reduceth to mediocritie inordinate distemperatures either in excesse or defect That it refresheth vigorateth and strengthneth the heart restoreth and increaseth the vitall spirits aduanceth the force and and generation of good blood multiplieth geniture seede and habilitie of prolification in both sexes banishing sterility preuenting abortions and prouiding quicke easy and safe deliueries in childbed suppresseth the infirmities of age preserueth the vigor of youth It were vnnecessary to heape arguments in confirmation hereof being in it selfe so authentically warranted by famous authors and manifestly witnessed by many experiences Particularly it is a preseruatiue against the Falling sicknesse the Apoplexie Leprosie Plague Dropsy Cancer Gout Stone and all manner of feuers in all ages and sexes And in some it expelleth or rather enableth the body to expell by conuenient and most naturall passages the antecedent matter or humors from and by which any diseases depending vpon such materiall causes might spring and so by preuention preserueth health But it is to be knowne and obserued that this Medicine The first forme of gold though made of one body yet is reserued and vsed in three formes and consistences which not being knowne there may be much mistaking and errour in the vse and administration thereof First when the gold is dissolued in the proper menstruall or instrumentall water this water is distilled away from the dissolued gold vntill it be in the bottome in the forme or consistence of a liquid gum or hony deepely coloured as Raymund Lully cals it most vnctuous To which the spirit of wine is then put and by solution thereof tincted very red and deepe coloured That tincted spirit of wine is gently decanted or powred off and so reserued by it selfe in a glasse And is called the Physicall Tincture of gold And may so in small roome and with no burden bee caried whither any man please And this we call the first forme Take one ounce of this tincted spirit mixe it with The second forme 16. ounces of generous wine or if you please of any other liquor And this being so mixed is called that Potable golde of which so often mention hath beene hitherto made One or two spoonfuls of this at one time and sometimes a whole ounce I accustome to giue in such cases and Diseases as aforesaid The third forme is this and thus made That tincted The third forme red spirit of wine in which the dissolued gold is taken vp from the white feces or residence is put into a fit glasse body with a head And with a gentle heate of a Balneum the spirit is drawne off vntill the substance in the bottome of the glasse be dry Then doe I put on fresh spirit of wine setting it in digestion certaine daies In which time it will cast off an other residence This processe is reiterated and at euery such solution and distillation the feculent residence must be separated from the pure vntill it leaue no residence at all Then is it called the Quintessence or Essence of God which I doe vse to administer in the quantity of 2. or 3. or more graines and doe dissolue it in some appropriate liquor or other mixture conducent So that any that is desirous to make vse of this my Medicine may haue either the Potable gold or the Tincture of gold or the Essence of gold or all and apply them in all manner of needfull vses as occasion shall require They therefore that shall take it for preseruation may vse it in the simplest least curious order fashion That is to take of the Aurū Potabile one or two spoonfuls together fasting and in bed if they may else in the morning after they be vp the oftner the better Vse giues instruction from that common Indication aforesaid A Iuuantibus et nocentibus c From things that helpe and hurt euery one is directed Therefore whosoeuer after twice or thrice taking hath found benefit thereby he may proportion himselfe in moderate increasing or diminishing the dose or quantitie according to his owne hability and constitution For in increasing the quantitie of this there is no danger so it be within any bounds of mediocritie not exorbitantly exuberatè which is farre otherwise in all or most part of other simples and compositions whether meerely Medicaments or Midicamentall nutriments as are Oximel Saffron Methridate Treacle all Cordiales and Purges whatsoeuer Also a conuenient time to take it especially in those that haue weake stomacks will be one houre or two before dinner or supper or after supper at bed time for it doth both helpe digestion and procure sleepe according as the circumstances shall require or suffer In precaution of Lunarie Diseases such as haue their exacerbations fits according to the quarters changings full of the Moone as Epilepsies Defluxions inordinate Menstruals and such like The rule is for this last to take it neere the time of course In the other 3. 4. or 5. daies before the new and full Moone If it be desired for the more particular appropriating of this Medicine to any particular cause to take it not so simply of it selfe but mixed Then let such either by their owne knowledge or the appointment of some experienced Physition mixe it with some specificall water decoction extraction or otherwise formed Medicine according to the necessitie of euery particular cause and occasion Or with some compound water approoued for that Disease or Polychrestall to the same and others in neighbourhood and linke of causes to it THE VSE OF AVRVM POTABILE IN SVNDRY INFIRMITIES THe diseased person that shall vse this Medicine may take it in the same proportiō or
dose as formerly is set downe or somewhat greater or lesse according to the condition of the partie and state of his Disease Commonly one spoonfull of the Aurum Potabile is giuen at one time or sixe The dose or eight droppes of the Tincture of gold mixed in some appropriate liquor and of the Essence of Gold two or three graines Where necessitie shall require these doses may be doubled or more as of the Aurum Potabile two or three spoonfull vnto a full ounce of the Essence foure graines or sixe Of the Tincture in like respect Also in some persons greatly debilitated and not able well to retaine a small quantity is first to be attempted and then by degrees increased as by former examples may plainly appeare Also this Essence of gold is very fitting and conuenient for very yong infants but newly borne in any Disease whatsoeuer being ordered in this maner Take one graine of the Essence dissolue it in one or two spoonfull of brestmilke or in some distilled water as shal be fitting giue the childe part of that mixture at the first after a while giue it more This is securely giuen the third or fourth day after the birth so is likewise the Aurum Potabile in a small quantitie and mixed with some other liquor not with milke neither must the childe sucke within two houres after lest the wine in the potable gold should curdle the milke These administrations are to be giuen intermissiuely How oft sometime euery second third or fourth houre as the present case shall require vntill of the operation appeare with good signes the abating of the passions diminishing of the Disease and recouerie of strength It may be giuen at al times most commonly in the When to be giuen morning fasting or an houre before repast Likewise after meate to preuent a surfet For it helpeth digestion and preuenteth sicknesses following such repletions To procure sleepe it is giuen at bed-time or if necessitie vrge in any other houre of the night or day being effectually a true Anodine of contemperation without stupefaction not narcoticke The Effects of this Medicine corroboration of Effects the heart restauration of the vitall spirits decaied and enfeebled which apparantly is manfest by quiet and sweete sleepe most commonly following as also by mitigation of paine and appeasing of violent passions sometime by a milde and gentle sweat ensuing sometimes by vomit and reiection of malignant viscous humors also by plentifull euacation of vrine as also by restraint thereof where the retention is weake And though sildom yet somtimes by a loosenesse of the belly but very oft by staying inordinate fluxes And euery of these functions though contrary some one to other are directed and performed by the meere motion of Nature it selfe being strengthned vigorated and enabled by the virtue of this Medicine Let thus much suffice for the simple or very simply mixed vse of this Medicine But although in this forme taken and vsed it giueth great furtherance towards the curing of any malady as by many particular experiments hath beene related in which sildome times any addition of peculiar effect hath beene administred yet because of the great varietie difference and diuersitie of dispositions natures places diseases times and countries and because prescription ought not to preiudicate the skill and iudgement of all men Therefore to supply these differences I doe leaue free to the iudgement and discretion of euery rationall experienced Physition to administer this medicine with any kind of Waters Liquors Syrups Conserues Electuaries or other medicines simple or compound such as they shall vpon good grounds and experience know or iudge most appropriate specificall conuenient and agreeing to the present circumstances of the disease nature quality of the patient necessity of his state We giue no prescript of Method or limitatiō of proceedings vnto Physitions they being present know what is needfull what requisite in order time and place what in each respect is to be done what to be left vndone But where a competent Physition is not at hand as in Country villages or such like places there some admonition or direction is expedient It is well knowne among learned men what effect efficacy and force is attributed to that Medicine which is called Vniuersall in that high degree whereof writers make mention that it performeth great and admirable effect not only vpon mans body but also vpon Mettals as appeareth by these words of Raymund Lully The quintessence of gold after distilling away of the instrumentall water will remaine in the bottome of the glasse very pure and separated from all impurity thicke in the consistence of hony or of gumme deepely coloured and very vnctuous greatly auaileable both for Medicine of many body as also of Mettals But this Medicine of ours hath his preparation onely pertinent to the vse of man Neuertheles seeing that both that Medicine of Raymund Lully and this of mine haue all the virtue incident vnto them deriued from gold and from the forme thereof as from one fountaine and foundation therefore it will not be impertinent to prescribe the same vse and manner of administring of this medicine of mine which Raymund doth vnto his For if the agent cause be one in them both the manner of vse may also be the same He prescribeth a speciall vse in these words Mixe this Essence of gold in a quantity of white wine when you will giue it to a Phlegmaticke constitution especially in the Winter season If to a Cholericke giue it in faire water to a Melancholike in broth wherein mutton is decocted If he be of a Sanguine complexion in cleare white wine And this shall be a preuention against infirmities and their bodies shall be rectified against the distemper of the season If you giue this medicine to those that are sicke let the mixture be more effectuall of the Medicine Neither be thou greatly troubled saith he to know the perfect state of the disease For nature it selfe is wise and prouident by her owne instinct and hath inuested to this stone being dissolued sufficient virtues to rectifie that which is amisse in nature My sonne this medicine is powerfull both against hotte diseases and cold naturall and accidentiall c. These words and other hereunto tending Raymund setteth downe which we out of our experience haue found to be answerable to this our intent Neuerthelesse wee acknowledge that sometimes extraordinary symptomes doe occurre which threaten present danger of death if they bee not speedily preuented As is extreme heate extremitie of cold great thirst lacke of sleepe inordinate fluxes and such like All which by the good pleasure of God are mitigated and asswaged by this only Medicine of mine And yet many things may be appropriately added hereunto pertinēt for the expulsing of euery Disease Therfore if the patiēt haue a repleate body that necessity require some euacuation to bee made gentle not violēt purges fitting the humor offending are