Chap. I. Whereof the powder is made, and of the Philosophicall preparation of it.

WHatsoeuer the Almightie disposer of vniuersall nature, hath dis­persiuely infused in the generalitie of naturall things, either celestiall or terrestriall, the same is collectiuely found in one particular of the same kind; as for example, what vertue, qua­litie, or influence is dispersiuely placed in euerie Starre, Orbe, or bodie celestiall vnder the first mouer, the same is found vnited in one Sunne. What animall faculties are dispersed in all seuerall liuing crea­tures, are gathered together in one man. What hidden vertue soeuer, is dispersiuely infused in minerals, is collectiuely vnited in one metall, which is Gold, and this is the principall materiall whereof this powder consisteth. But for abbreuiation of time and labor, since it is hard to make a perfect calcination of Gold by it selfe, I haue therfore, following the opi­nion of Auicen, and wonne with his reasons, added a due proportion of the other perfect metall, that thereby their agent might make a better sub­tiliation of them, which agent in the composition, is the third ingredient, being a spiritualized metall in the forme of minerall water. These thrée ingredients onely enter this powder and no more: which I terme by the name of Diacatholicon Aureum, because that the chiefest thing, and most [Page] in quantitie in the composition is Gold, being brought to that wondrous actiue qualitie by the true minerall fire, which is the agent and long con­tinuall decoction: neither doe I vse either in my preparation or decoction, any thing but those thrée ingredients; that this is true, I can make mani­fest to any man by demonstratiue practise before his eyes, on which I wil engage goods, life, and credite, that there neuer came either common Quicksiluer prepared or vnprepared, Antimonie, Stibium, meane mine­rall, vttriall, salts, powder, strong water, imperfect mettall, or any other such like thing whatsoeuer, but onely those thrée ingredients before na­med. How I came by this powder, what time I spent in the speculatiue part of the Magisterie, what labour and cost in the experimentall perfor­mance of it, how often I missed in the practise before I could attaine to the perfection of it, if I should here declare, would but wearie the reader, trouble the Printer, wast much paper, seeme to sharpe censurers, affected and selfe conceited discourses, in mine owne censure néedlesse circumstan­ces, and in the end little to the purpose. Omitting therefore all such vaine and néedlesse discourses, I will procéede to shew the vertues and operati­on of it.

CHAP. 2. Of the nature and qualitie of this Catholicon Aureum.

HIppocrates in the second Apho. of his first booke, and the 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. and 9. Aphor. of the fourth booke, maketh mention of two sortes of purging medicines, the one by vomit, the other by siege: Of pur­ging medicines by vomit, Mesue in his first booke, De simplicibus medicamentis Purgantibus, the first Theorem, maketh a thréefold diffe­rence, taken from their facultie more or lesse. The first he termeth vehe­ment, which extreamely disturbe nature, as white Hellebor, and Tithi­mal, &c. The second meane, as Nux vomica and Nitrum. The third mild, as Onion séed and Radish. But of simple medicines which purge by siege, he maketh a fourefold difference. The first, are such as purge by dissolu­tion of the humours, and being dissolued by attraction of them from the vp­per parts, or eradication from the lower parts, not that the medicine be­ing receiued into the stomacke, doth penetrate the veines or the solid parts of the bodie to euacuate the humor, but by a certaine attractiue qualitie, doth draw his choyse and familiar humor through the veines and passages of the bodie, into the stomacke and bowels, euen as we see Iet or Amber draw little strawes, or the Loadstone Iron, though they touch them not: of this kind, are Scammonie, Colocinthis and Turbith. The second kind [Page] of purging simples, are such as doe not draw, but onely purge by driuing and pressing out, drying and consuming the putrid excrements, and after­ward binding the bodie as Mirabolanes, and Tamaryndes. The third sort purge by mollifying the humors within the stomacke and bowels, as Cassia fistula and Manna. The fourth and last, by making them slippe­rie, as the Muscilage of Psillium and Mallowes: these thrée latter kinds of purgers haue a weake facultie, and therefore scarce perspicuous, euacu­ating onely those humors within the stomacke and bowels, which there they méete withall, not passing the lyuer or working any thing by attracti­on. The first kind of purging medicines which worke by attraction, Ga­len in his booke entitled, Quos purgare oportet, doth pronounce that they are all of a hot qualitie. Omnia medicamenta purgantia facultate sunt cali­da, which in naturall Phylosophie must néedes be graunted, for there are but two actiue qualities, heate & cold, as Aristotle witnesseth in his fourth booke of his Meteorologickes, the first Chapter.

Now it is manifest, that it is the nature of heate alone to draw, for cold cannot doe it: therefore whatsoeuer purgeth by attraction, must néedes bée of a hot temperature. This being well knowne and considered, let vs see how all these kind of purgers worke, and the reason why, and then come to shew the nature and operation of this Catholicon Aureum. Galen in the fift booke of the facultie of simple medicines, affirmeth, that whatsoe­uer purgeth, hath a facultie to worke on his peculiar and proper humour, some on one, some on two, and some on more; and that which is proper to any one humour, neuer worketh on another, vnlesse the malignitie of the medicine, or the quantitie of the dose do too much excéede, which Galen al­so witnesseth in his booke, De purgantium Medicamentorū facultate. Hip­pocrates also confirmeth it in his booke, De natura humana, saying there, That if a medicine be administred to bring forth fleame, it onely bringeth out fleame: if to purge choler, it onely purgeth choler: if to euacuate melan­choly, it onely euacuateth that humour: to whome Mesue consenteth in his first booke, De simp. medi. purg. the first Theorem, affirming more plainly, that if a medicine be giuen to purge melancholy, though choler and fleame abound much more in the bodie, yet it leaueth them, and purgeth melancholy, his own peculiar and destinate humor: whence, they haue this strange facultie, the same Authors opinion is, that it proceedeth not from the temperature of the medicine (meaning the first qualities) nor from one contrarie working on another, nor from like drawing his like, nor as a light medicine vpward, a heauie downward, stirring the matter to be purged: but Quia talem coelitus est sortitum facultatem: That the fa­cultie of euerie purging medicine, procéedeth from an heauenly qualitie and hidden influence.

Now hauing shewed the nature and differences of purging simples, after [Page] what sort they worke, and by what meanes out of their Theoricke, it re­maineth after perfect inuestigation both by cause and effect, to set downe the nature and operation of this Catholicon Aureum, or generall purging powder of Gold. Then, whereas I said before in the beginning, that all purges worke either by vomit it or siege, this powder of Gold worketh both vp vomit and siege: yet let not this derogate any thing from the excel­lencie of it, that it worketh by vomit: for although I must néedes confesse, that euerie action of any part made against the first ordinance of nature, is improsperous and vnfit, and so séeing nature did at first ordaine the Gula for attraction, and the Pilorum for expulsion: therefore by consequent, all vomits made by contrarie motion to nature, are improsperous and hurt­full: although I say, this be simply true and cannot be denied, yet respec­tiuely & by accident, vomits are not onely not hurtful, but verie commodi­ous, and necessarie as well for the curing of diseases, as for the regiment of health. For when there is aboundance of light Choler, thin water, and fleame swimming on the top of the stomacke, the expulsiue facultie can­not driue them downward, by reason of their lightnesse, neither is nature able to digest them, so they must of necessitie be euacuated by vomit, and so of two euils the lesse must bee chosen, this way of purging being al­lowed and commended by Galen and Hippocrates, and mightily confir­med by the Academie of Salerne, prescribing for the regiment of health to vomit once a month. To which of the foure differences of purging medi­cines to referre this powder, is a matter verie difficult, seeing it was ne­uer yet truely and Philosophically determined by any Paracelsian, whe­ther Mercurie or any minerall purge did worke Attrahendo humores, by drawing the humours together into the stomacke. But my assertion is, that this powder of Gold doth not worke Attrahendo, or Comprimendo, and Exprimendo, but Leniendo, and Lubricando, which I prooue thus.

There is no cold medicine which doeth purge by Attraction; but the outward qualitie in the superficies of this powder, from whence the pur­ging facultie procéedeth (as is plainely shewed in the end of the sixt Chap­ter) is cold, therefore ꝑ conclude, that it cannot draw any humors into the stomacke. My proposition was proued before by the naturall effectes of heate and cold, and by the authoritie of Galen before cited, in his booke in­titled: Quos purgere oportete and in his fift booke, De simp. medi. facul. the sixtéene Chapter. My assumption I proue thus: as is the effect, so is the cause: but the effect which Mercurie worketh is cold, and therefore Mer­curie it selfe is cold: My proposition in the Philosophers maxime, the as­sumption is proued by instance in the disease called the Palsie, and relax­ation of the Sinewes, which we see dayly happen to those that deals much with Quicksiluer, as our Gilders with rich Gold, being caused by the [Page] sinne of the Quicksiluer. Now that the Palsie is a cold disease, Galen wit­nesseth in his fourth booke De causis pulsuum. My second instance is taken from another effect of Mercurie, which is this, When any hath taken a great quantitie, as much as will poyson a bodie, during all the time of the working of it, the partie shall neuer thirst, which if it were hot, it would inflame the bloud and vitall spirits, and cause intolerable thirst, as it hap­peneth after the taking of all hot poysons, for the partie will thirst euen to the death, which is proued by an example cited of Conciliator, in his booke De venenis, of an Apothecarie, who thirsting in the extreame heate of Summer, in the night time tooke a Pitchard of Quicksiluer in stead of some drinke or other, and dranke of it, forthwith it cooled his thirst, con­gealed the bloud, and destroyed the vitall spirits, and being found dead in his bed in the morning, his body by the aduice of a Phisicion was cut vp, and there was found in his stomack one pound of Quicksiluer, the bloud in his heart being congealed: by which the same Authour concluded, that it was of a cold qualitie.

To these instances may be added, that it is in the forme of water alto­gether without taste, not bitter, sharpe, sowre, salt, swéete, or hauing any stiplicitie or corrosiuenesse. Besides these probable inductions, the autho­ritie of diuers of our moderne Authors may be added, who haue diligently both by speculation and proofe inuestigated the nature of it, whatsoeuer Paracelsus through vaine subtilties and trifling arguments, goeth about to perswade the world that it is of a hot qualitie: then since the super­ficiall purging qualitie of this powder is cold, it manifestly proueth that it doth not purge by attraction. The second reason which proueth that this powder doth not purge by attraction, is taken from a sure demonstration by certaine experience, which is this. The first time that it is administred vnto any bodie, it will worke his effect duely as it ought to doe, euacua­ting the humours, but if it bee administred againe the next day, it will then verie little worke by siege or vomit, or nothing at all, by reason the first day it did euacuate all the humours within the stomacke and bowels, which it then met withall: now all other purges attractiue being taken againe the second day, will worke afresh, because they still drawe mo humours out of the veines and fleshie parts of the bodie, and if there bee none to draw, they dissolue and melt the flesh it selfe, draw bloud out of the veines, & spirits out of the arteries, and so by consequent life it selfe: which vice would also bee incident to this powder of Gold, if it did worke any whit by attraction, which seeing it doth not, it cannot hold with the natu­rall possibilitie of this powder, to produce any such fatall euent: and as it worketh not Attrahendo, so neither doth it worke Comprimendo, be­cause it leaueth the bodie after alwayes soluble, sometimes a weeke, a [Page] month, yea, a quarter of a yeere: by which may bee noted the excellencie and preheminence that this purge hath aboue all other purging medicines in the world: for this must needes be graunted, which Galen himselfe con­fesseth in his booke entituled, Quos purgare oportet, That al purging me­dicines which worke by attraction, are verie offensiue to the stomacke, and noysome to all parts of the bodie, diuers symptomes and great incon­ueniences following them, by reason when there is such a suddaine vio­lent and vnnaturall pulling, and riuing the humours from bloud wherein life consisteth, nature can hardly endure, this seperation being before so firmely vnited together, without her great detriment and losse of many spirits, the inconueniences and vices whereof, I will shew at large in the sixt Chapter.

Now this purge of Gold, seeing it worketh not by attraction, cannot be scandalized with any of those blots, neither can any such symptomes follow it. But happily some may here obiect, that if it onely purge Le­niendo and Lubricando, and not Attrahendo; how can it remoue and purge stubborne and rebellious humors, out of the veines and solid remote parts of the bodie, and then not being able to remoue them, how can it be good almost for any disease: and to conclude, it were as good to take a glister, or eate a little Cassia, Manna, or stued Pruines, as to take this golden purge. To this I answere, that though it purge not the humours within the veines and fleshie parts by attraction: yet it doth either helpe nature to digest them, or expell them by sweate and Vrine, which is a direct course according to natures owne procéedings: so you see that it doth worke by vomit, siege, sweate, and vrine, according as nature is burdened and o­uerladed: for if the stomacke bee oppressed with light choler, water, and flegme, it purgeth them by vomit: if the intestines and lower parts bee o­uercharged with choler, water, or flegme, it worketh by siege: if either stomacke or bowels be ouerladen with melancholy, it euacuateth alwaies that humour by siege: if the bloud and the solid parts of the bodie bee op­pressed with any of those humours, it dissolueth them and openeth their passage, and purgeth them by sweate and insensible expiration. If the Emulgent veines or reynes of the backe be burdened with choler, flegme, or melancholy, or haue any obstructions, it openeth the passages, dissol­ueth the humours, and bringeth them out by Vrine; for it purgeth all the vicious and offensiue humours alike, not hauing any humour destinate to it, but as the body is most ouercharged, on that it worketh first. In the answering this obiection, a greater may arise among the learned, and that is this: Whereas I say that this powder of Gold dooth purge by sweate and Vrine, how can that agrée with naturall Philosophie and experience, that a cold qualitie (which I affirmed before this powder had) can open, [Page] dissolue, sweate, and expell by Vrine. To this I answere, that though the outward superficiall qualitie of this powder of Gold bee cold, from the Mercurialitie, yet inwardly there is a subtill acrious heate, from the Au­reitie, which is stirred vp and animated by the naturall heats of our bo­dies, and brought in Energian.

Nature being alwayes wise in her working, making seperation of the cold qualitie in the superficies of the medicine, to worke by vomit and siege: and selecting the subtill inward medicinable vertue, drawing it into the veynes to helpe her selfe to worke away all that offendeth her, shée be­ing alwayes prone to her emendation and perfection. And thus I haue shewed in generall the nature and working of this powder of Gold; but fearing lest I haue excéeded those straite limits I alotted my selfe, I am enforced to omit many things that were expedient to bee spoken of this matter: onely touching these things, as briefe as I could, which are ne­cessarie; but if there be any that rests not contented with that which here is said, I will by conference fully satisfie him at any occasion.

CHAP. 3. How and in what quantitie this powder is to bee taken.

COmmonly for a sucking child two graines will suffice, for youth thrée graines, for middle age and most sort of people foure graines, for strong folkes and stubborne diseases fiue graines. It may bee taken in a spoonefull of drinke, Aqua-vitae, or spirit of Wine, in the pappe of an Apple, or a Quince, in the pulpe of Raysens or Pruines, in a little broth, in conserue of Roses or Barberies, or in any such like thing: Or if it please the Phisicion in any sirupe, powder, electuarie or potion, proper to that disease, or especiall humour which he doth intend to purge, which I leaue to the learned discretion of euerie Phisicion, who may well determine of euery particular patient, which in generalitie it is impossible for me to doe: but particularly I can direct any that shall require it for what intent so euer, either in Pill, Potion, Lezenge or Electuarie, accor­ding as shall best fit the disease, and the Patients content.

CHAP. 4. Of the preparation of the bodie, and time when this powder is to be ta­ken, to the intent that any man may vse it, that hath not the Phisician al­wayes at hand.

SInce there are diuers that inhabit in the Countrie farre from any Phisician, which cannot easily resort to one when they stand in need: and diuers of the poorer sort of people, that are not of sufficient abi­litie to pay the Phisician for his counsell, and the Apothecarie for his drugs, therfore I thought it conuenient to signifie thus much vnto them, or to any other that are determined to take it, how they shall take it, and how to prepare their bodie and make it fit, for what purpose so euer they would haue it. If there be any therefore which to the intent to kéepe their bodies in health, or to preuent any vsuall sicknesse incident vnto them, or hauing alreadie any Ague, weaknesse of the stomacke, or molested with superfluitie of humours, or any disease mentioned in the Chapter follow­ing, by the opinion of the Phisician; I say, if any of these be determined to take of this powder, let them first consider, whether they doe intend to sweate much or little, at the time of the working of it: if much, let them kéepe them warme in their bed; if little, let them sit vp by a fire in their Chamber: Then let them consider whether they would haue it worke more by vomit then siege, or more by siege then by vomit. If they would haue it worke more by vomit; first, let them eate a great meales meate ouernight: but if they would haue it worke more by siege, let them eate ouernight verie little or fast altogether. Secondly, if they would it worke more by vomit then by siege, let them a little after they haue takē it, drink fiue or sixe spoonefuls of warme water, and saliet Oyle, or warme water alone. But if they would haue it work by more siege, let thē presently after they haue taken it, drink fiue or sixe spoonefuls of cold water: but whether they would haue it worke by vomit or siege, let them ouernight take be­fore supper, if they sup at all, or in stead of their supper, as many of these Pruines as they please. Take water, or Rhenish wine, or both together, and dissolue pure English Honie in it, or Sugar, as much as will make Mead, or Sirup of it, and in this Sirup, let the best damaske Pruines be stued.

Take ouernight of these Pruines and the Sirup, as much as you will; or take Sirup of the infusion of Roses, or Sirup of Vineger, or any such gentle soluble thing to prepare the bodie before: but after they haue taken [Page] the powder, during all the time of the working of it, drinke the wherof Posset drinke, made with clarified Mace, & Ale. And at dinner, eate some breth made with light meate at supper, and afterward vse your ordinarie diet, but sparingly at first.

CHAP. 5. For what diseases this powder is good.

SEeing that this powder doth purge all offensiue humours to mans nature, as well simple as mixed: therefore I conclude, that this Ca­tholicon is good for al diseases, when as there néedeth any Purgation of any humour, either vpward, downeward, by sweate, or Vrine; for the cause remooued, the effect must néedes cease, and in this kind it may haue the preheminence aboue all other purging medicines, which euer Art or inuention till this day found out: and although it may iustly challenge this preheminence both by art and nature, namely by the matter whereof and the meanes whereby it is made, yet are other simples and confections ne're the worse, nor lesse to be regarded, for euen they in their due place and time may bee mixed with this, to make a more peculiar purging medi­cine, more specificate to any member affected or humor exceeding. More­ouer it farre excelleth them all in these properties, namely in the smalnes of the quantitie, the aptnesse of the receite, the not offensiuenesse in taste; soone, safe and pleasantly working his effect, and in the wholesomnesse of it to mans body, euen by the testimonie of Mesue himselfe, affirming those to be the wholesomest purges which are swéete or without taste: For this being administred in the quantitie of two, thrée, foure, or fiue graines at the most, may as well be taken as a péece of bread, or spoonefull of drinke, and hauing no taste, neuer offendeth the Patient, as shall be shewed here­after; for here with breuitie, I intend to set downe the chiefe diseases for which this powder is specially good, and leaue the rest to the good censtoe­ration of the Phisician.

• 1 Headache proceedeth from choler, flegme, or melancholy, or mixt humour.
• 2 Headache from an euill stomacke.
• 3 Megrim.
• 4 Vertigo or Turnabout.
• 5 Dead sleepe.
• 6 Apoplexy.
• [Page]7 Frensie.
• 8 Losse of memorie.
• 9 Noli me tangere, Cancer.
• 10 Erisipelas.
• 11 Carbuncle.
• 12 Elephantiasis.
• 13 Pustles.
• 14 Scabs and Itch.
• 15 Leprosie, or any tumors against nature.
• 16 Cough.
• 17 Asthma, or difficultie of breathing.
• 18 Inflamation of the Lungs.
• 19 Spitting of matter.
• 20 Ptisicke.
• 21 Pleuresie.
• 22 Spitting of bloud.
• 23 Swounding.
• 24 Weaknesse of the stomacke.
• 25 Vomiting.
• 26 Great thirst.
• 27 Losse of appetite.
• 28 Doglike appetite.
• 29 Surfeting.
• 30 Sighing.
• 31 The night Mare.
• 32 The Cholicke.
• 33 Iliaca passio.
• 34 Windinesse in the bodie.
• 35 All sortes of Wormes.
• 36 Fluxes, Lienteria, Dissenteria, and Diarrhaea, because in the beginning it is good to purge away the vicious humour.
• 37 The Emmorrhoids or Piles.
• 38 Obstructions and distemperature of the Liuer.
• 39 Iaundise, yellow and blacke.
• 40 The Greene sicknesse.
• 41 The Dropsie, Anasarcha, Vposarcha, and Timpanites.
• 42 The obstructions of the Splene.
• 43 Flatus melancholicus hypoc.
• 44 Vlceration of the Reynes.
• 45 The Stone or grauell in the Reynes.
• 46 Strangurie.
• [Page]47 Difficultie of pissing.
• 48 Pissing of bloud.
• 49 For bringing down womens Flowers.
• 50 Sterilitie or barrennesse.
• 51 The quotidian Ague.
• 52 The Tertian.
• 53 The burning Feuer.
• 54 The Quartane.
• 55 The Pestilence.

In all these diseases it is good to take of this powder, yet imagine not that this of it selfe will cure them perfectly, yet many of them it will, as most sort of Headaches, & weaknes of the stomacke, all sorts of wormes, the thrée Fluxes with an other simple after the body is purged, the Stone in the reynes, womens termes, & all maner of Agues (the Feuer Hecticke, and Marasmus excepted) whether the humours bee enflamed within the veynes or without, in al maner of people, sucking children and other, com­monly at once taking, but for the Quartan it will aske longer time. Also I presume it wil cure y^t Pestilence if it be takē in any time, & not past al help.

Finally, for the French Pox▪ or any simptome therof beginning, it is the most singular medicine that euer was found out, for without hot-houses, lothsome diet drinkes, bathing in Cornelius Tub, any other Purgations, annoyntments, fumes, or Suffumigations with Quicksiluer, making most lothsome Excoriations and painefull Exulcerations, eating the teeth out of the head, and dissoluing the Sinewes, and other simptomes, this onely of it selfe, if it be taken before the desperate symptomes doe appeare, will cure them, and doubtlesse excelleth all other that art or nature can this day afford.

In like maner it may be probably coniectured, by the authoritie of di­uers Authors, and reasoning from the materials whereof it is made, that it may cure the Gout, if it be not alreadie grown to a desperate period. Now that I haue shewed for what diseases this powder is good, some may expect that I should set downe the particular experiences that I haue made of it, to wit, the Cures which it hath performed, with the names of the parties, the time when, & the place of their abode, to the intent it might the better perswade the hard beleeuing world, of the good effects of it, & giue greater credit to my words. But for these causes I haue wittingly & willingly omit­ted thē: first, in regard that many of y^e parties are not willing to haue their names come in print, nor the diseases knowne of which they haue béene cured. Secondly, the rehearsal of these cures performed by my selfe and my friends which haue administred it, would aske a longer discourse then all my treatise besides. Lastly, I might haply be condemned of too much arro­gancy & vainglory, séeming to incline for the most part to y^e emperical sect. To auoid therefore imagined arrogācie, tediousnesse in discourses, and dis­pleasure to my friends, I haue purposely neglected that which might well here haue beene spoken of this large subiect.

CHAP. 6. What symptomes and accidences happen after the taking of this powder.

I Think it not impertinēt to this purpose, first to shew what symptomes and inconueniences follow and happen to the bodie after vsuall purga­tions, that thereby the difference betwéene them & this powder of gold may be plainely perceiued.

Galen in his booke entituled, Quos oportet purgare, giueth a generall and true proposition of all purging medicines: Omnia purgantia medica­menta ventriculum vitiant, praecipue (que) os ipsius, &c. which Mesue largely confirmeth in his first booke De simp. medic. purga. the first theorem, whereto all other Phisicions with one consent agrée, and by experience we see it daily verified: and they doe not onely hurt the stomacke in particular, but are also grieuous to nature itselfe, offending the principall parts of the bodie, so that the diligent searchers out of their faculties and operations haue noted these symptomes which vsually follow the taking of thē. The first is, Agues, because they doe inflame the humours. The second, Cepha­lalgia, by reason of their vapours fuming vp into the head. The third, Ver­tigo, caused by the circumaction of vapours raysed vp into the braine with­in his ventricles and arteries. The 4. imbecility of sight, by reason of too much drinesse of the parts of the eyes, which follow superfluous euacuati­on, or of the humour within the nerue optick, which those purges dissolue and cannot euacuate. The 5. weakenesse of the stomacke, caused diuers wayes by the distemperature which the medicine bred. The 6. immode­rate thirst, caused by the saltnesse, sharpnesse, heate and bitternesse of the medicine. The 7. sighing, caused either of immoderate heat and acrimony of the medicine gnawing the stomacke, or by his drinesse drawing it to­gether. The 8. payne of the stomacke, caused of the vnequall distempera­ture or exulceration which the purge made. The 9. excoriation of the bo­wels, through the corrosiue and fretting qualitie of the medicine. The 10. inflamation of the reynes, procéeding from the heate of the medicine. 11. The stone of the reynes, by reason of abundāce of slimy matter brought to that place, and by heat baked into a stone. 12. Voyding of bloud, prouoked by the vlceration of the bowels. 13. Tenasmus, or a vayne desire to goe to stoole, by reason the spincter or muscle of the fundamēt is vlcerated through the acrimony of the medicine or humour voyded. 14. The Emmorrhoids or Plies caused by such medicines as open the veynes. 15. Imbecility or [Page] weakenesse of the whole bodie, by reason of the generall disturbance of na­ture, caused by the violence of the medicine. 16. Convulsion, caused of much matter stirred vp and drawne together, but not euacuated, which after hauing recourse to the sinewes and muscles, causeth convulsion. 17. Costiuenesse, the body being left hot and drie after the purge, and then ba­keth the excrements, which doth happen in sundrie purgations, & most Pa­tients complaine of it. All which diseases do happen to them that take pur­gations for three especiall causes, being thrée maine vices incident to most of vsuall medicines that purge. The first, when they doe moue, dissolue, and draw together offensiue humors, and nature not able to euacuate thē. The second, when humours are euacuate illegitmately and with molesta­tion of the Patient, which happeneth whē they are ministred for those hu­mours which they ought not. The third, when they doe too much euacu­ate, working too violently, making excoriation of the stomack and bowels, and drawing the bloud out of the veynes. For the correction of these symptoms, the learned Phisicions in all ages, hauing especiall care of their Patients health, laboured by all means possible to find out Antidotes and correctors to withstand their inconueniences, and breake their malice: and in regard each purging medicine had some manifest vice or other, they did not onely inuent generall correctors to auoyd such capitall vices, but also particular for euery such medicine. Hence Aloes had Mastick, Bdellium, and Tragagant, to keepe it from opening of the veynes & drawing bloud out of them, and causing the Emmorrhoids. Mirabolanes were prepared with oyle of sweete Almonds, and administred with iuice of Fumitary, Wormwood, Agarick, and Spikenard, and Diureticks, to hinder them frō causing obstructions. Scammony was corrected with iuice of Quinces and vineger, to breake his malice, and giuen with Aromaticks and comforters of the principall parts, to ouercome his enmitie to the whole bodie. Tur­bith was corrected with Ginger, to auoyd windinesse: and so in like maner euery one had his particular correcter, directer, and helper to worke duly, & qualifie their vices. This knowne and well considered, it resteth to shew whether there be any such vice in this Catholicon Aureum or no; & herein is the difference séene betwéene this and all other purges, that whereas all of them néed correctors to breake their malice, Aromatickes to take away their lothsomnesse and help their working, admixture of contraries to stay their violent and immoderate operation, and Cordials to comfort & de­fend the principall parts: So that if the ill effects they worke, be weighed in an equall ballance with their good, the good will scarce counterpoyse it. This powder onely hath this grace, that it neuer offendeth any of the prin­cipall parts, neuer draweth bloud out of the veynes, neuer worketh too vi­olently, euacuating more thē is burdensome to nature, neuer inflameth the [Page] bloud, or any part of the body, neuer maketh exulceration of the stomack & bowels, neuer violently draweth humours, but after a direct course hel­peth nature to digest them or expell them by sweat, vrine, and expiration, neuer néedeth any corrector, nor hath any such inconuenience: therefore by consequent, neuer raiseth any such symptoms which vsually follow the ta­king of the other purges, but contrarywise I affirme that it strengtheneth the heart, the liuer, the braine, and the whole body, purifieth the bloud, re­uiueth the spirits, making them fit and apt to doe all their functions natu­rall. That this is true, I giue the learned thus much to consider. The ma­terials whereof this powder consisteth in generall are two, for in it are two corporeall substances mixed and vnited together, not as Elementa in composito mixta inseperabilia, but as salt dissolued and mixed with water, or sugar in wine per minima as farre as that mixion and vnicion may be, yet with more fixation and very hard (yet possible) seperation. One of the substances is Metalline fixed, the other Mercuriall fixed agent & pati­ent. Of these two vnited together is this powder made; from these two in one, procéed two seuerall qualities, the one purging by siege Leniendo and Lubricando; by vomit Os stomachi aperiendo, and Naturam fortiter mo­uendo. The other comforting from the Aureity, and helping naturall heat to dissolue open, and expell whatsoeuer is offensiue either within the ves­sels, or without, by sweat and expiration: and as neither Mercury it selfe without his incorruptible patient can safely purge or work any good effect, so neither Gold without his Mercuriall agent the true minerall fire, can be so subtiliate as to comfort nature & expell offensiue humours, but both Philosophically circulate together make this perfect purge. From these reasons it may be gathered, why it both purgeth and comforteth, from the one qualitie leauing the body long after soluble, from the other qualitie strengthening the vitall spirits and animall faculties, restoring also natu­rall heat and radicall moysture to the temperature thereof.

CHAP. 7. The conclusion.

CVrteous Reader, I haue thus bréefely and truely shewed the mate­rials whereof this powder consisteth, the preparation of it, the qua­lities and operation, the differences betwéene this and all other pur­ges, and in what diseases it is good to take it; yet imagine not that it will cure them of it selfe alone, but onely seruing for a preparation to their cures, wheresoeuer there néedeth any purging in stead of all other, [Page] yet many of those diseases as I noted before, it will of it selfe cure, with diuers others which time and experience shall make manifest, and the in­genious Reader may easily gather frō the instance of those, and that with more effectuall, safe, pleasant, and speedice working, then any other at this day known and inuented: and if any hereafter require farther satisfac­tion of the naturall possibilitie hereof, either by authority, reason, or experience, I shall bee ready at any occasion to doe it, eyther by word or writing; in the meane time commending these first fruites of my labours to his indif­ferent and equall censure, Et hic me Plato sistere iubet.