ounces let them be well stirred together with a spattle vntil the oyle and Sope bée wel incorporated together After this put thereto Venis Ceruse and Lytharge of each 2. ounces euer mingling and stirring them with a spattell of Vitriol calcined til it be red and pouldred one ounce Of 〈◊〉 halfe an ounce When any of the aforesaid things are put in stirre it wel til it come to a conuenient thicknesse for a playster which thou shalt apply to the knots it helpeth not onely these but also of callous and hollow vlcers and pockes An excellent water to the same effect TAke Vnsâ—ickt-Lime let it lye in Spring water fiue 〈◊〉 sixe dayes that thou mayest draw out the Salt Let the water be foure or fiue fingers aboue the Lyme Of this water take 3. pound in the which thou shalt quench a red hote plate of Stéele twelue times and oftener After this thou shalt put therein of burnt copper brought into pouder 3. ounces of Cinabar halfe and ounce Let them stand by the space of foure or fiue dayes in which time the water will be of a gréene colour by meanes of the inward vitriol of the burnt copper This water is an excellent remedy to qualifie and alay suddenly all manner aches and paines A remedy to dissolue the Stone AFter some conuenient gentle purgation let the patient grieued with the Stone take one little spoonefull of this poulder following which not onely openeth the conduits prouoking vrine but also diminisheth and hindereth the growing of the Stone Take of the kernels which are in Medlars Gromel called Milium Solis the séedes of the great Burre Saxifrage Hollyhock Auis séedes Fennel-séedes of each thrée drammes of Christall stones and of Tartar fix drammes of the stones which are called commonly Crabbes eyes halfe an Ounce of the Salt of ground Furze one drachme of Cinamon one Ounce and a halfe of Violated Suger two Ounces and a halfe mingle these and make a poulder This poulder being taken let the partie drinke vpon it a little wine Iuniperated or of this water following Take of the rootes of Eryngium of ground Furze and of the fiue rootes apertiue of each one Ounce of the barke of Lemons one Ounce and a halfe of the foure greater cold séedes of the séedes of Mallowes and Hollihock of each thrée Ounces of the séedes of Saxifrage of Gromel of the greater Radish of the Burdock and of ripe Iunipar Berries of each Drachmes six of Askakeng Berries twenty in number of Iuiâ—bes six couple of Dictam of the flowers of Broome of Saint Iohns woort of Betonie of the greatest Mallow of each two gripes with the thomb and two fingers of liquirice two ounces and a halfe of the wood of Caffia one Ounce beate and poulder that which is to be pouldered and let them be stéeped or infused in water of siluer wéed called wilde Tansey and of Parietory of the wall of each one pound and a halfe of the best white wine two pound and that by the space of foure daies in Bal. M. hote and then let it be strongly strained Into the liquor put of the Species of Diatragaganthum Frigidum and of the Trochiscks of Alkakenge without Opium of each one Ounce Let them be digested againe at the fire of Baln Mar by the space of one or two dayes and let them be distilled by a glasse Allembic according to Art This water also taken by it selfe alone câ—â—teth and thinneth grosse matters and clenseth the raynes and sucking-vaines and the bladder from the stopping of sand and grauel and frâ—eth them from grosse humours Of this water by it selfe alone the dose to be giuen at one time is two Ounces with some conuenient syrrup An other excellent water against the Stone TAke the Iuice of Radish of Lâ—â—tâ—ns of each one pound and a halfe of the waters of Betonie of wild Tansey of Saxifrage of Veruaine of each one pound of Hydromel and of Malmesey two pound In these liquors mixed together infuse by the space of foure or fiue dayes at a gentle fire of Baln Mar Iunipar Berries ripe and newe gathered being bruised thrée Ounces of Gromel of the séede of the Burdock of the greater Radish of Saxifrage of Nettels of Onions of Anis of Fenel of each one Ounce and a halfe the foure cold séedes the séedes of great mallowes of each six drachâ—â—es the species of Lithontri the Electuarie Duis Iustini Nicolai of each halfe one Ounce the Calxe of Egge-shels Cinamon of each thrée Drachmes of Camphore two Drachmes Let all againe be well distrained and then distilled by ashes Two ounces of this water taken doth wonderfully clense the Counduits prouoke vrine and wil breake and expell the Stone To this if you adde his proper Salt or one scruple of the extract of Betonie it will be a more effectual remedy The conclusion of this Treatise ALchymie or Spagyrick which some account among the foure pillers of medicine and which openeth and demonstrateth the compositions and dissolutions of all bodies together with their preparations alterations and exaltations the same I say is she which is the inuenter and Schoole-mistresse of distillation For Alchymie vseth seuen workes which are as it were certaine degrées by which as it were by certaine necessary instruments she ordereth and finisheth the transmutations of things By transmutation I meane when any thing so forgoeth his outward forme and is so changed that it is vtterly vnlike to his former substance and woonted forme but hath put on another forme and hath assumed an other essence another colour another vertue and another nature and properly As for example when linnen rags are turned into paper metall into glasse skins or leather into glue an hearbe into ashes ashes into Salt Salt into water and Mercury so moueable into a fixed body as into Sinabar and poulder The seauen degrees of working are these mentioned before in the Practise 1 Calcination Which is the bringing of any thing to ashes 2 Digestion Is a dissoluing of that which is thick into thinne to be purified 3 Fermentation Is a mixing of kindly matter for multiplication or the kindly seasoning or leauining of a thing 4 Distiliation Is an extraction of a liquor from a body by heate 5 Circulation Is to rectifie any thing to a higher perfection 6 Sublimation Is the lifting vp of moyst matter to make it more pure and dry 7 Fixation Is to make that which is flying to abide with his body Beside these there are diuers other workings as DissolutioÌ„ is to dissolue yâ— which is grosse Putrifaction is the meane to generation Exaltation is euaporation of the impure humour Rectification is a reiterated Distillation to perfection CoagulatioÌ„ is the congealing of moisture CohobatioÌ„ is a repetition of Distillation by which the liquor distilled is powred vpon the feces and distilled againe Distillations are diuers according to the diuersities of reasons maners and of subiects whereupon arise sundry differences of distillation The first difference is taken
and distil them vpon ashes to drinesse and thereof a Treacle-water will bée made A very smal spoonefull of this is sufficient to be giuen at once against the diseases before expressed Another Treacle-water cordiall and comfortable for the heart very good against al pestiferous effects therof vsed with great profite TAke of the rootes of Angelica of Cloues of Goates beard of Tormentil or Set-foyle of Bifolium or two-blades of Enula campans of each two ounces Of yealow Sanders and of the barke of the same of each one ounce and a halfe Of white Diptani of Scabiose of Rus of Goates beard otherwise called Méedwoort of each one handfull Of the Flowers of the lesse Centaure of S. Iohns-woort of Broome of Violets of Borage of Buglosse of Water-Lyllie of Red Roses of each a thrée finger gripe Put these into 3. pound of Malmesie infused by the space of 4. dayes set vpon the fire of Baln M. and the Iuice of Lemons the water Melissa Aeetouse and of Roses mingled with the sayd Wine of each one pound Then strayne them In the liqnor distrained put of Treacle ounces thrée of the confection of Hiacinth one ounce Of the confection Alchermes 6. drachmes Of Diamargarit friged Diatria Santali of each 3. drachmes of Diambre and Diacoral of each two drachmes of Saffron and Myrrhe of each halfe a drachme Infuse them againe by the space of two or thrée dayes at the same fire of Baln M. Then distil them to drinesse by fire of ashes and it will be a Treacle water But to make it the more effectuall the Salt must be extracted out of the feces which remaine according to arte and then mingeled with the foresaid water A water against Poysons and against all pestilentiall effects TAke of the Rootes of Angelica of the Carline-thistle of Set-foyle of the Barke of the Olibian Trée of each two ounces of Cardus Benedictus of Méede-woort called Goates beard of all the Sanders of each halfe an ounce the Treacles of Mythridate and the confection of Hiacinth of each 2 ounces the speces of Diamarg Frigid Camphor of each 2. Drachmes Let these be grossely beaten or brused put into a glasse Allembic powring thereon 3. pound of rectified Aqua vitae Then let them be digested in a vessel wel closed so distilled by ashes or a vaporous Baln This water is wonderfull effectuall against poysonful and pestilential effects The quantitie which must be giuen is halfe a spoonfull An excellent water to be giuen against Feuers burning and pestilentiall TAke of the rootes of Angelica Buglosse of Scorzonerae Acâ—â—y one ounce of the Treacle Alexandrine 2 ounces of the Iuice of Lemons clensed of the waters Fumetarie Gotes beard and Cardui Benedictus and of the lesser centaure of each ounces 4. Diamarâ—â— Frigid halfe an ounce Let these lye infused by the space of thrée or 4. dayes then let them be distrained and distilled Of the which let the sicke drinke 4. ounces and then being well couered in his bed he shal sweate more than ordinary Principall Remedies to ease the torments and extreame paines of the Goute TAke of the leaues of Missel which groweth on the Apple-trée cut or shred very smal halfe a pound the flowers of white Mulline of Chamomil of Lyllies of Wallwoort or Danewoort all the kindes of Poppey with their cases which containe the séed new gathered and before they be full ripe of each one gripe of the 2. fingers and the thumbe of gréene Frogs or in stéed of them the Ielly or sperme of Frogges which is to be found in standing waters in the Moneth of March one pound the séed of white Poppey brused 4. ounces of Crabbes of Crafishes shelles and all beaten or crushed together 20. in number of red Snailes and Earth-wormes both wel washed in good white wine of each 4. ounces of Badgers grease â—xe ounces of Sperma Ceti 4. ounces of the oyle of violets or water Lilly newly made 6 pound or if you wil in steede of these oyles take so much of oyle Oliue Put these into a glasse vessel for that purpose conuenient and close stopt set it in horse dung by the space of 7. or 8. dayes But if néed require more haste let them boyle in a Copper vessel ouer the fire by the space of two houres and then straine them strongly The which also you shalt doe if they stand in Horse dung to be digested Thou then shalt seperate the oyle from the watery part thereof according to arte to the which oyle thou shalt adde of Saffron 2. ounces of Camphyre hale an ounce Put all these into a glasse vessel and set them againe in Horse dung or in Balneo or in the Sunne by the space of 5. dayes and thou shalt haue a most excellent Balsam to asswage and qualifie all paines of the Goute and in the ioynts I wish that all Apothecaries would prepare this to be reary at al times for present vse for that they cannot appoint themselues of any thing better than this which my selfe haue found true by experience A plaister to helpe and easie all paines of the Goute TAke the marrow or pulpe of Cassia foure ounces of new Treacle the newer the better halfe an ounce The meale of Barley and Oates of each three ounces The crumbes of white breadâ— foure ounces of Cowe-milke two or thrée pound Let al these be sodden in the forme of a Cataplasme which thou shalt apply warme to the grieued parts It thou shalt adde one ounce of vitriol calcined and beaten into the pouder thou shalâ— make it much better Another Cataplasme TAke the distilled water of whyte Mulleyn and of Ferne of each halfe a pound of calcined vitriol as before one ounce and a halfe of Oate meale 4. ounces Of Saffron two 〈◊〉 make a Cataplasme A water against the paine of the Coute THis water following prepared in due time wil much auaile against the greatest paines of the Gout where there appeareth rednesse and much heatâ— Take of the distilled water of the sperme of Frogges of Hightaper of Ferne of each one pound and a halfe In these infuse Tuttie and Lytharge of each two ounces Vitriol calcined and Allum of each one ounce Let the grieued parts be moystened with linnen cloâ—â—es wet in the same applyed warme renuing the same diuers times Another excellent water against the Goute TAke of the Sope of Genua that which is white and good one ounce Of liquid Salt made to runne at a strong fire one ounce and a halfe of Vitriol one ounce of Acatia halfe an ounce Let them all boyle together in a pinte of Rose vinegar or of common vinegar With this liquor wash both the greiued partes An excellent playster which being layed vpon the knots and puffes of the Gout dissolueth them TAke of the oyle of Apple Missel of our description one or two pound warme it in a vessel at the fire béeing made warme put into it of shaued or scrapings of Sope 4.
Philosophers which with one consent say Ignis azoc tibi sufficient Let Fire and the Matter suffice thée This onely Balsam is the vniuersal medicine to defend and conserue health if it be giuen with some conuenient liquor to the quantitie of one or two graines Great and admirable is the vertue thereof to restore our radical Balsam the which wée affirme to be the Medicine of diseases euen by the common consent of al Physitians But our Lullie and other Phylosophers are not content with this but procéeding further do dissolue the forsaid Phylosophical Sulphur in a conuenient portion of the spirit of wine rectified to perfection as afore and suffer them to be vnited and very well coupled together by way of Circulation in a Pellican Hermetically stopt or closed and within fewe dayes the water is made azure like or Celestial which béeing distilled is of force to dissolue gold and doth reduce it into the true Calxe of the Phylosophers into a precious liquor which itterated circulations and distillations can also passe by the necke of the Allembic or by Retort In the which working if thou procéede as thou shouldst thou shalt be able to separate from gold already phylosophically dissolued and animated thy phylosophical dissoluing which wil continually serue for newe dissolutions For very little is lost in euery dissolution And so thou hast the true potable golde the vniuersal Medicine which neuer can bée valued béeing inestimable nor yet sufficiently commended After the same manner thou shalt make the dissolutions of Pearles and of pretious stones most general remedies and deseruing to be placed among the chiefe if they bée dissolued after the order and manner aforesaid with a natural dissoluing Remedies I say which can much better confirme and strengthen our nature than if according to the common manner they bée onely powdred and searced as is wont to bée done in those our common preparations and cordial powders But some paraduenture wil say that these kinde of preparations are too hard or such as they vnderstand not or at least care not to vnderstand But this is a vaine obiection to preuent for excuse of their ignorance the difficultie of these preparations and the protract al time when as the thing is neither difficile nor long to them which know how to take it in hand These things are not to bée estéemed nor labour is to bée spared to attaine so excellent precious medicine which in so little smal a dose as in the quantitie of one or two graines can worke so great and wonderful effects which bringeth great commendation and honour to the Physitian and to the sicke perfect health and vnspeakable sollace and ioy But to conclude I wil say with Cicero in his Tusculans There is no measure of seeking after the truth and to be wearie of seeking is disgrace wheÌ„ that which is sought for is most excellent CHAP. VI. The way to prepare and make the Balsamick Medicine out of all things BY the foresaid preparation of sulphur Balsamick vegetable which wée haue before taught faithfully plainly and manifestly it is easie to vnderstand after what manner the same Sulphur may bée extracted out of euery mixed body In the wich bodie that I may summarily gather al things together there is first found a liquor without al odour or rellishing taste which is called Phlegme or passiue water Then commeth a liquor which hath taste colour odour and other impressions of vertual qualities which is called the Hercurial liquor And after that commeth foorth an oylie liquor which floteth aloft and conceiuing flame which is called Sulphur After the extraction of these thrée seueral moystures there remaineth nothing but ashes or dry part out oâ— the which ashes béeing wel calcined Salt is extracted with his proper Phlegme messhing oftentimes and powring water warmed vpon the foresaid ashes put into Hypocrates bagge and repeating this so often times til you perceiue a Salt water to come which hath a brinish taste after the same manner as women are woont to make their lye-wash This béeing done let the moyst be distilled and the salt wil remaine in the bottome The which salt notwithstanding in this first preparation is not made cleane enough nor sufficiently purified Wherefore the same distilled water is to be powred vp againe that the Salt may againe bée dissolued in the same the which so dissolued filter it or straine it through a bag oftentimes as afore til it be most cleare then coagulate it at a gentle heate And after this maner thou mayst extract a Salt cleare pure out of al vegetable ashes Vppon this Salt being put into an Allembic powre al his mercurial sharpe water let them be digested by the space of one or two dayes in the gentle heate of the Balme and then let them be distilled by ashes and so the water wil distil forth without taste or rellish Because whatsoeuer it contained of the volatile Salt wil reside in the bottome with his per fixed salt Goe forward therefore in thy working as before I taught thée concerning the wine Or if thou wilt not worke so exactly meshe vp againe al the mercurial liquor and make it passe through the foresaid Salt which wil take into it al that vitriol impression which that water shal haue and the water or liquor shal haue neither rellish nor taste but shal be altogether like to common water But if thou adde so much that the volatile part doe excéed the fixed that is to say that there be more of the volatile than of the fixed the which thou shalt easily know by waight because it wil be increased thréefold or by trial vpon a red hote copper or Iron plate when this matter béeing cast vppon the same vapoureth and passeth away in smoke then thou must sublime it and it wil become the Sal Aâ—moniack of the Philosophers so it pleaseth them to cal this matter which wil bée cleare and transparant like pearles Vppon this powdred matter thou shalt powre by little and litle the oylie liquor purified and thou shalt boyle this matter that of volatil it may be fixed againe Neuerthelesse that which shal be fixed shal be of nature more fusible than waxe and consequences wil more easily communicate with spirits and with our natural Balsam when it is seperated from his passiue water and passiue earth which are vnprofitable Both which matters the Phylosophers cal the passiue Element because they containe no propertie in them neither doe they shew forth any action And thus a body or nature is made wholely homogenical simple albeit there are to bée séene thrée distinct natures the which notwithstanding are of one or the same essence and nature And so a body shal bée compounded exactly pure out of those three hypostatical beginnings namely salt Mercurie and Sulphur The which Sulphur in some part is answerable to truely simple and Elementarie fire Mercurie to Ayre and to Water in like manner most
by intemperate life by a naturall disposition by the thicknesse of the skinne or by such like occasions then it cannot be but that such bodies shal be subiect to many other diseases than those whereof we haue spoken before It is also to bée remembred in this place that in all these euaporations ordinarie exhalations somewhat of our substancetying nectar of life or of our radical Balsam doth also breathe away The which breathing if it be gently and sparingly and without all manner violence and force but by a certaine voluntarie continuance and naturall then our age is prolonged in the meane time declining to extreame old age by little and little vntill al our water of life or radical oyle which continueth the lampe of our life be consumed But if the sayd exhalation or breathing bée violently and suddenly enforced as it commeth to passe in burning feauours and in many other sicknesses faintings passions and most vehement motions of the spirits of our body then our life shall be preuented before age Haereupon commeth the vntimely and in some sort the violant death of many and yet the cause of such violence comming from an internal occasion And because it is very pertinent and necessarie that wée rightly vnderstand those things which wée haue now spoken concerning the natures of the contents in vs that is to say of the enforcings moystenings and out-flowings and so much the rather because by them wée come to the knowledge of our â—pirits and of our radicial moysture or nectar of life and also to the causes of the conseruation prolongation destruction and abreuiation of our life I wil therefore now declare them all by an example whereby euery one which wil giue eare may come to the perfect knowledge of those things And yet wée doe not much estéeme presumptions probable reasons or authorities but wée wil ground our demonstration vppon the very senses themselues that those things which wée speake may bée both séene and felt And if so bée any bée so farre deuoyd of shame that hée will yet obstinately contradict vs we will say to him as sometime Aâ—errho said One experience is more of value than many reasons Experience cannot bée without sense he which denieth sense is worthy to haue no vse of sense And forasmuch as Aristotle sayd that the foundation of all demonstration is in sense Who is hee that dare gainesay it Therefore wée wil take Wine againe for an example forsomuch as wée vsed the same before In which wine how apparantly and manifestly doe such separations and excrements appeare to bée made And this it doth by his owne proper nature that the more easily the nature of either of them and of both may manifestly bée knowen by this Analogie and resemblance which it hath with our blood For by the clensing of wine wée know the vitall Anatomie of our blood and by the same it will appeare which are our natural spirits ethereal as also which is our natiue heate and radicall moysture which two doe vphold our body and defend our life and of whose helpe either of them haue néede forasmuch as that radicall moysture is the foode and nourisher of heate and this same heate subsisteth by the benefite of that moysture Thus these two replenished with spirit and as it were knit together are spred and diffused through the whole body By this same example the difference betwéene nourishing vital humiditie and that which is vnprofitable and excremental wil plainly appeare Furthermore it wil appeare which be moyst and which be dry in that kind of moystures which are outflowing and which of them are hurtful to our nature and which profitable By which anatomie of blood the reader willing to learne shal profit more as I thinke because we referre those foure humors whereof they make blood one to the very same and doe by a certaine analogie and resemblance compare it therewith But to come to the 〈◊〉 Therefore when the wine is prepared the clusters of grapes are crushed in the wine-presse first and the skinnes and kernels with the stalkes are throwne away Then the vnprofitable clensings and excrements being partly by mans industrie and partly by the nature of the wine it selfe being reiected the wine is powred into caskes and vessels In these digestion being made by his owne force it seperateth and purgeth forth together those seculent and more grosse superfluities This done the wine is all most perfect and fit for drinke and nourishment That first artificiall preperation of wine which is made by the expression and separation of the Vintners doth after a certaine manner represent vnto vs the preparation of wheate in the which separation the chaffe and the branne being taken away the rest is grouÌ„d into meale that it may be more fit for nourishment Euen so in like maner in our mouthes first preparation of the flesh is made from the bones or such like And the expression or grinding is made with the mouth and téeth then after due chewing the meate is sent down into the stomach This is the first resembled preparation of our nourishment with that first preparation of wine and wheate and that which is put into our stomach answereth that wine which at the first is put into vessels the meale which is ground Therefore after this there is another working in the stomach by nature For whatsoeuer the stomach receiueth it concocteth and digesteth yea all kind of meates mixed together like wine in his caskâ— or any other kind of drinke made of hony fruites barley or of water wherein diuers things are sodden The stomach therefore is that vessell of nature wherein not only the matter put into it is concocted and digested but also it is the same which seperateth the tartarous feces and whatsoeuer is excremental therein by such passages and vents as nature hath prouided to that end At the length after much purifying the blood is clensed being the red fountaine and the original of the spirits of our life euen like as wine which throughly fined is preferred before all others which serue for the nourishing and restoring of our life But let vs now procéede 〈…〉 Out of this artificial wine with the hâ—â—pe of gentle fire by circulatorie vessels as they terme them is extracted a fire of nature which attendeth the radical moysture namely a water of life wholy fiery and ethereal a quintessence altogether spiritual and almost of an incorruptible nature After the very same manner through the benefite of nature and by Circulation which is made by the heate of the Heart and of the Liuer there is generated and extracted in vs that quickening fire accompanied and nourished with his proper vnctuous humour and radical which is the water of life and true and quickening Nectar the quintessence and almost the ethereal spirit the incorruptible vpholder and conseruer of our life This also here by the way commeth to be noted in the operatioÌ„ of the foresaid wine which is also
blood draweth his first beginning of his composition That tartar or lées is of the blood which cleaueth to the vessels of the bowels Now the feces of the Chylus are nothing else but that huge heape of excrements of diuers sorts which are in that nourishment existing in diuers parts of the body And when those Niter-Sulphurus and tartarous impurities cannot by nature be digested ouercome and expelled they stuffe the bowels they are made the seminarie and store-house of most grieuous sicknesses so that if we will confesse the truth we must of necessity say with great Hipocrates that sicknesses haue both their séedes and also their rootes in our bodies the which most euidently appeareth by the foresaide comparison of wine and blood The which standeth vpon apparant and sensible foundations and not vpon doubtfull figments and Imaginations And as we sée in the spring times when nature putteth forth her flowers that the lées of wine are mixed with the wine it selfe and doe trouble it and oftentimes corrupt it and that as in the excéeding heate of the Sommer Sunne the more hote Sulphurus part of the same wine that is the spirit may and is woont to vapour away whereof followeth the corruption of the same wine euen so also about the same seasons and times the feces and tartarous heape mixed with our blood doth at the last peruert and corrupt it hereof commeth the occasion and multiplication of sicknesses For the spirit of blood being disprearced and seperated both by external and also by internal heate it must needes bée corrupted to the which corruption arising of the said causes the cause of many sicknesses is rather to be referred then to those bare simple qualities of hote and cold dry and moyst As therefore we haue taught in the seperation of the true spirit of wine which resembleth the celestiall and spiritual Nectar of our life many impurities thereof doe manifestly appeare euen so and after the very same sort it fareth with wheate with fruits and with meates and drinkes prepared of them and generally with all other vegetable things procéeding after the same maner as we haue said concerning wine For they haue no light proportion with our blood according to this saying We are nourished with those things whereof we consist which thou maiest aptly turne and say we consist of those things wherewith we are nourished But the one partaketh of the other or of this or of that more then of the other as for example of the spirit of the Mercurial liquor of Salt of the feces of the stinking vnprofitable excremēts which is the reason that out of this or that more commendable kinde of meate the more worthy and commendable blood is generated Therefore to adde one example more in stéed of a surplussage of waight let it not be forgotten that out of Hydromel Cider Ale or such like kind of drinkes out of their feces the same preparations and seperations as wel of a commendable liquor as of feces may be made after the same maner as we haue before shewed to be done concerning wine and that the beginnings and heterogeneall and vnnaturall parts may in the same sort be extracted out of these as out of that other To conclude thou maiest with better successe learne the beginnings of sicknesses by making a comparison betwéene the preparation and seperation of those things which giue nourishment vnto man and our blood then if according to the cōmon maner thou haue recourse to the humours bare qualities and so to séeke out and discerne the causes originals of sicknesses by a certaine witty contemplation rather then by that which is more true and infallible Thus we haue thought good to set down these things by way of anticipation concerning the exact and internal anatomy of humours concerning also the artificiall examining of them both that thereby it might appeare from whence the natural impressions of things the infallible causes of diseases are to be sought as also that the true Philosophers Physitians may vnderstand thereby the way to cōpound prepare and administer artificially medicines and remedies which now we intend to shew euen according to the order and method of the Dogmatickes So as wée thinke it not good vtterly to reiect the olde nor wholy to followe the newe but to restore the old forme of composition of Medicines increased and amended with many of our inuentions experiments and compositions for the publique good and for the health of the sicke as also for the instruction of some ignorant Physitians An Elixir of our description A wonderfull remedy to cure inueterate and almost desperate diseases and to conserue health and to prolong life as followeth TAke of the roote of Zedoary of Angelica of Gentian of Valerian Tormentil or Setfoyle Goates beard Galanga the wood Aloes and citrine or yeallow Sanders of each thrée Ounces Of Baume of red Mint Maioran Basil Hysope Germander Chamepithis of each halfe a handfull of Lawrell Berries Iuniper of the séedes Peony of Seseli or Comin of Anis of Mugwoort of Cardus-Benedictus of each two ounces the barke of Citrine of Missel of the oake and of all the Mirabolans of each one Ounce Cloues Cinamum Mace Ginger Cubebs Cardamony Pepper long and round Spikenard of each one ounce and a halfe Aloes Hepat Myrrhe Olebanum Mastic of each sixe Drachmes The flowers of Rosemary of Sage of Stechados of Mary-golds of Saint Ihons woort of centaury the lesser of Betonie of the Linden tree of each so many as yée can gripe with two fingers and the thumbe at twise of the flowers of Chicory commonly called Suckary of red Roses and of Buglosse of each one gripe in like sort onely of gruat hony and of white Suger of each one pound Of Aqua-Vitae after the best maner rectified ten pound Cut that which is to be cut and beate that which is to be beaten All these things being put into a large Matrat and close stopt that no breath come forth set in horse-dung meanely hote by the space of eight or ten dayes to putrifie Being putrified let them be hard and well pressed or strained and put the liquor distrained into an Allembic and distill it by a Cornute at aconuenient fire The first water which commeth forth from the distrained liquor wil be most cleare kéepe it by it selfe for it is precious Thy Receiuer being of glasse must be of good receit and must be passing wel closed with the Cornute by the necke that the least vapour come not forth And when the Receyuer beginneth to bée darkened and to be filled with white spirits thou shalt increase thy fire by degrées a little and a little according to arte vntil the said whited spirits appeare no more Then take away the Receiuer that thou mayst put by it self that water which commeth foorth the second time and kéepe it wel it is called the mother of Balsam being very profitable to roote out many sicknesses and to
conserue health Then againe put to thy Receyuer and increase thy fire by degrées as thou didst before so long vntil at the first there distill foorth a yealow oyle after that a red oyle the matters in the Matrat remaining drie and yet not throughly drie least the liquor which shall distil foorth doe smel of burning These things done take that most cléere water which came forth first of all in good plentie powre it vpon the feces remayning and make them to digest together by the space of 6. or 7. dayes at the heate of Baln-marie vntil the water be coloured and waxe yellow that is to say vntill it hath attracted the more fierie and oylie portion of the matter and the feces which shall remaine when they haue yéelded their whole tincture to the foresaid water reserue and kéepe apart to such vse as herafter shal be declared But if you think good you may reserue a portion of euery of the said liquors to such medicinable vses as is before shewed and vse the rest in the progresse of the foresaid worke and in the subsequent After you haue drawne the foresaid liquors that also which tooke last tincture from the feces thou shalt mixe them together that from thence thou mayest extract a farre more Elixir of life than the former and most precious procéeding in manner following When thou haste mixed the foresaid thrée liquors together thou shalt distil them by a Corrnute or by a glasse Allembic pretermitting al digestion vsing in other than the sayd mixture vse and follow the same way order which thou diddest before seperating the Elements and beginnings of liquors For thou shalt draw out of the first most cleare water which thou shalt reserue by it selfe namely at such time as thou shalt perceiue the receiuer to be darkened with a cloudie fume then chaunging the Receiuer and putting too fire as thou didst before thou shalt continue it so long vntil thou sée the liquor to issue foorth of yealow colour the which also thou shalt kéepe apart as thou diddest the former In the meane time while the foresaide distillations or seperations of Elements that is to say of the two beginnings Mercurie and Sulphur are in hand thou shalt calcine at a Reuerberatorie fire the Feces which thou reseruedst before out of the which being brought to ashes thou shalt extract salt according to Arte with thy first most cleare water the water seasoned with his Salt shal be mingled with the other two liquors which were reserued that so at the least out of a Tryangle thou mayest make a Circle O as Philosophers speake that is to say that out of those thrée seueral waters by circulation in a Pellican made according to Arte there may come foorth one essence and so by that meanes that great Elixir of life and admirable secret shal be made And not onely made but also by so short a way so easie and so well knowen to true Philosophers that they know thereby how and in what order to make Elixirs out of all things The vertues of this Elixir are vnspeakable both to the curing also to the preuenting of giddinesses in the head the Falling sickenesse Apoplexies Palsies madnes Melancholy the Asthma and diseases of the Lungs faintings and soundings traunces weakenesse of the stomach and of other parts consumptions procéeding of an euil disposition of the bodies passions procéeding from the gaule and such like heauie and lamentable griefes Certaine droppes onely of this being giuen in some conuenient breath and fitting for the sicknesse As for example against the Epilepsie with water of Peonie of Lillyes Connally or of flowers of the Linden trée Against the palsie with the water Mary goldes against the pestilence with the water of Goates beard or of water of Cardus Benedictus against the Asthma or Tissick with the water of Scabiose or of Fole-foote or such like Moreouer this Elixir is of force to restore and conserue our radial Balsam if fower or fiue droppes thereof be giuen in broath wine or other conuenient liquor But peraduenture thou wilt say that the preparation of this Elixir requireth too much labour is too tedious But it is much better and more necessarie to spend the time in things so admirable and of so great importance than about Medicines that are altogether vnprofitable And yet to serue euery mans turne I wil set downe the preparation of an other Eilxir more easie and peraduenture more pleasing to conserue health and to prolong life Another Elixir of life most easie to be made TAke the Rootes of Gentian slit in pieces and dryed with a gentle heate also the roote of the lesser Centaurie of each thrée ounces Galanga Cinimon Mace Cloues of each one ounce Flowers of Sage of S. Iohns woort of each two grypes with two fingers and a thumbe Of the best white wine 6. pound Infuse these in a glasse Matrate wel stopped by the space of eight dayes at a gentle fire of Balne-Marie Then let them be wel streined so distilled by a glasse Allembic in ashes til nothing remaine but drynesse Then powre the water distilled vppon the feces that from them thou mayest drawe away the whole tincture in a milke warme Balne-Mary Bring the Feces after the drawing away of the tincture into ashes which thou shalt put into Hyppocrates bag powring the said coloured water oftentimes vpon the ashes that it may draw vnto it the proper salt Giue of this Elixir the fourth part of a spoonefull in some conuenient liquor Vse it a long time It is a special remedie for all consumptions for the weaknesse of the stomache which it purgeth from tough and slimy humours which cleane to the same It stayeth the breeding of wormes and kéepeth the body in health Take of this twise in one wéeke and continue with it A Treacle-water for the head helping all paines of the same proper for the Apoplexie Epilepsie Palseyâ— and such like TAke of the rootes of Peony of Misselto of common Acorns or Cane of each thrée ounces Of ripe Iuniparberryes and of the séeds of Peony of each one ounce Of Cloues and Maces of each 6. drachmes Of Castoreum halfe an ounce Of the flowers of Stechados Mary-gold Rosemary Sage Lillyes coâ—â—ally of the Linden trée of each two grypes with two fingers and the thumbe Cut that which is to bee cut and beate that which is to bée beaten and infuse them by the space of 3. dayes by the heat of a hote Balne in white wine of the best 2. pound and with the waters of Peony Sage and of Mary-goldes of each one pound Then straning them hard To this liquor adde of Treacle of Alexandria ounces 4. of Anacardine confectionem Meâ—u one ounce and a halfe of Diamosch and Aromatici Gabriel of each halfe an ounce Stéepe or infuse these againe by the space of two or thrée dayes at the fire gentle of Blan M. Then straine them againe