MEeting with a precious Pearl unhandsomly dealt with, and exposed to the view of the world in a Dunghil, I could do no less, (the true owner making no hast to challenge it) then take it out from amongst the rubbish, and set it forth in its native lustre and purity, as well as my skill, who am but a young practitioner, would inable me.

The Pearl is a receit of an excellent Diapho­retical and Diuretical Pill, comitted to the cus­tody of Mr. Richard Mathews, in the year 1655. by Mr. George Starkey the first that found it out. What use Mr. Mathews made of it for the publick good and benefit of mankind, his Book entiruled, The unlearned Alchymist, doth in some measure manifest, & what emolument and profit he reaped by it, the poore and ne­cessitous in his life tasted, and his widow since [Page 2]his death reapes the benefit of; though she hath carried her self very unworthy of that provision her husband made for her by meanes thereof, by abusing her husbands friends to whom in love he comunicated the knowledg of it, wounding the credit and reputation of the deceased, in seeking to cast dirt upon them: but it is a needless thing to spend time in wiping away that dirt: there is none that knows her and them, can give credit to those false and frivolous aspersions that she bespatters them withall; neither is there any that had knowledg of her deceased husband, that can be perswaded to believe, that he would deale so unfaithfully with his freinds, as to give them a counterfeit in stead of a true receit.

M^r Mathews having a crazy and weak bo­dy, was solicited by divers (that had much experience of the vertue of the pill,) not to suffer it to dye with him, supposing him to be the first author of it (as he was generally re­puted to be.) In the year, therefore 1659, two of his intimate freinds, viz. Ahasuerus Fromanteel, and Jonathan Loddington coming to visit him, he gave them the receit, wish­ing them to read it over, and then to seal it up, and keep it: requiring no other condition of them, then not to open it whilest he li­ved, [Page 3]which take as it followeth.

Take Equal parts of India, Salt Peter, and the best White Rhenish Tartar, and pound them, and drive them through a hair sive, and in a yellow Pipkin, or new Chamberpot of Earth set upon Charcole, put it in by Spoon­fulls till all be burned White: this is called the Salt of Tartar: note, if it will not fire, touch it with a live Cole, and if it fire while this is warm, pound it to gross pouder, and put it in a well glased Dish, or which is better, a glass body, and let it stand covered with the Oyl of Turpentine two fingers high above the Tartar, stir it with a wooden Spa­tul [...], supply it with Oyl that it be allwayes covered for six months, till it be open, and come to sope, and be of a body the thickness of grease, or an Electuary: This is the true corrector of Opium, & all vegetative Poysons, and the greatest Treasure in the world, for which we bless God.

Take of this Corrector two pound, of Opi­um one pound, of white Hellebore in powder one pound, of English Liquorish one pound let all be sufficiently incorporated at severall times by a strong arm in an iron mortar, be sure the corrector have thorough ingresse, and have a care to choose Opium wrapped in the leaf, else it may be sophisticated, and [Page 4]then it will loose it's operation. This is in faithfulness the true Pil, whereof my bils and book speak, and you have proved until De­cember, 1659, R. M.

And whereas now it is affirmed, that Mr. Mathews made some addition to this Pill af­ter the giving forth this receipt, I shall give you that also, In November 1661, which was the Month before that wherein he died, he gave this also written with his own hand:

Incorporate them, &c. as in the former, & now to use M^rs Mathews own words: There is no man that knew her husbands faithful­ness, or had intimate acquaintance with him, but will beleeve him against any contradicti­on whatsoever. And therefore as she ac­knowledges the first to be a true receipt ac­cording to his practice, until December 1659. which wrought most of the eminent cures mentioned in his Book. So this must be tru [...] for the last two years of his practice, except she wil say her Husband was at the last grown [Page 5]false and unfaithfull in what he declared to his friends with affirmations of much candor and sincerity. Neither did he as he affirmed make this known, till he had made sufficient provision for his wise to live upon without it, which being done, it was his resolution had he lived, to have published it to the world, saying often he would not leave it in a par­ticular hand, for his people were so carelesse, he knew they would spoil it.

Here you have the Pearl faithfully as he left it, and that it might not be disesteemed in regard of the paucity of the ingredients, or feared by reason of the dangerousness of them, there being much malignity in some of them, and therefore cryed down by the Do­ctors, to whose gain this is, and hath been very prejudicial. I shall briefly give a touch upon the particulars thereof, and first for the corrector which is in the Receit affirmed to be the greatest treasure in the world, and doubtless it is a treasure of excellent value if rightly prepared.

It consists of a fixed Salt, and an essential oyl brought by a due fermentation into a Tertium Neutrum, distinct from either of them.

The Salt in the Receit is called the Salt of Tartar, for the powerfulness whereof, in [Page 6]regard the Pill hath much credit upon Mr. Mathews account, I shall produce his testi­mony. In the latter end of his book entitu­led, The Unlearned Alchymis [...], he gives you a Receit, the like whereof he confidently af­firms never saw the Light for the good of mankind, and in the midst of his high en­comium's of it, he hath this expression, If thou (as blind as bayard) cry out of the strong poyson of the subjects, viz. Poppy and black Hellebore, thou snarling fool cease, and first learn the power of Salt of Tartar, and do not bewray thy folly and ignorance, till thou have proved it's power, lest thou give occa­sion of perpetual laughter unto those whom experience hath taught and informed. Sal sa­pit Omnia, Salt makes all things savoury. Every one knowes it's vertue in preserving things from putrefaction: and amongst all fixed Salts there is none so powerful as that of Tartar, which Van Helmont calls, Sua inter alcalia respublica: Diascorides affirms it to be cleansing, heating, binding, eating & drying, It purifieth the blood, and purgeth the body (saith Mullerus) in the most deplorable dis­eases. It maketh Medicines of it self of ex­cellent vertues according to the severall wayes of preparing of it, and mixed with o­ther ingredients it corrects the venome, and [Page 7]exceedingly exalts the virtue of the simples to which it is joyned. It is of singular use in the extracting the tincture and essence of Vegetables. Neither is the Salt Peter (though it be here cheifly used for the burning of the Tartar,) without singular vertue, as may be a­bundantly seen in the writings of several who have treated of it. It resists putrefactions, quencheth thirst, incideth the Tartareous humours in the body, resolveth coagulated blood, and easeth pain, and therefore is fre­quently used in Feavers; (and those the most malignant) the Collect, Plurisie, peripneumo­ny, stone of the Reins and Bladder, and obstruction of the Liver, and mesereum, for these and other distempers it is variously prepared.

The Lapis Prunellae, the mineral Saccharat Christal, the Corallate Niter, sweet Salt, Pa­nacaea Duplicata, or Duplicate, Arcanum of Minsicht, the Spirit of Niter, the flowers and tincture, with other excellent medicines high­ly cryed up by many authors, have this for theire Basis.

But all salts per se are of a sharpe and cor­rosive nature, which is taken a way by the addition of, and fermentation with essential Oyles, til they be saciated with them, and be­come one body, and so they may be made an excellent Balsome.

Now among all essential Oyles there is not any in the vegetable family doth ex­cel the Oyl or Spirit of Terebinth, or Turpen­tine which is admirably Diuretick, and Ab­stersive, healing both outwardly and inward­ly, as it is very well known to experienced Physicians and Chirurgeons. It is hot, emol­lient, discutient, opening & purging. Beguinus saith it helpeth the Cough and ptysick, it re­sisteth pestilent Poyson, purgeth the Stomach, provoketh Urine, expels the Stone, helpeth the Strangury, and Ulcers of the Bladder, it openeth and strengtheneth the Nervous-parts, dissolveth coagulated blood, and helpeth the Matrix. Large are the encomiums that by many are given of it, and it is plentifully to be had without danger of being adulterated.

With this Oyl the Salts are to be so long digested, till being fully opened they drink up thrice their quantity in weight, which you shall in the operation see them after some time greedily as it were thirsting for; with which they are to be supplyed till they are fully satisfied; neither as yet is there a firm union, for after this the Salt will cast forth all the Oyl again and betake it self to the bottom, and then become obdurate like a coy Lover, that hath taken offence, seeming [Page 9]hard to be reconciled: yet after this with many sollicitations and much patience, it wil yeild to entertain, and embrace the Oyl again, and to have the Gordian knot knit which cannot be losed. This is a six-months work at least, yea I have by experience found it in some above a twelve-month before it hath been brought to perfection, and if some may have a more speedy way, and can fa­cilitate their work, yet knowing the pro­verb, difficilia quae pulchra, I shall with the poet say,

This is the corrector of all Vegetables; yea the most truculent and virulent strip­ping them of all their Poysonous and hurt ful qualities, and making them safe, and ex­cellently medicinable: This doth ripen the crudities, separate the Gummousnes, cor­rect the venome, and exalt the vertue of all simples, and makes them truly diffusive of their vertue through all the parts of the body: where as if they be taken crude, or ac­cording to the Galenical way of preparati­on, they onely disturb the stomack, irritate the Archeus of nature, which being enraged may cast forth what is in the stomack and [Page 10]bowels, & so that which is bad being cast out with the good, some benefit may by accident be obtained by them, yet not without preju­dice to the patient, the Faeces of the drugs re­maning behind, which after leave dangerous consequences.

Let him that prepares this be sure there be an intire union between the Oyl & the Salt, and a transmutation of the Oyly Sulphur into a saline nature; which may be known by this as by a sure sign viz. if they will dissolve in any liquor without separating any Oylynes swiming on the toppe, and then is it made truly volatile, and may by an experienced hand be dissolved, and distilled, & of it a Spi­rit made of farre more excellent vertue.

The vegetables of which this Pill is com­posed come next in place to be treated of, whose properties are in every Herbal set forth, yet in regard every one that shall de­sire to make vse of this Pill, may not be fur­nished with those Books: I conceive it will be of use to give you a breif account of what Authors have writ of them.

The Opium and the two Hellebores: have admirable vertues in them, though in regard of a venemous quality, connatural to them, they have Nol [...]me tangere writ upon them without a due correction, but when that vi­rulency [Page 11]is by a due correction extinguished, they prove admirably efficacious for releife in, and the cure of many, not onely ordinary distempers, but astonishing and desperate diseases.

And first for the Opium, it is a great Nar­cotick, and therefore cryed down as a Stupe­factive Lethal ingredient by many physicians, and yet it is a cheif ingredient in many of their principal Antidotes; witness Mitridate, Di­ascordium, Venice and London treacle, Phi­lonium, Laudanum, and other medicines, of which he that peruses their Dispensatoryes, may furnish himself with a catalogue: what they correct the malignity of the Opium with in those medicines, let the makers of them seriously consider, I am confident there is no way proposed in those Dispensatoryes that is sufficient to do it; except the multi­plicity of ingredients do drown in part their virulency, together with part of their vertue: The Stupefactive venome of Opium consists in the Sulphureous part of it, which by often made factions with this correctour and drying again is exhaled, and then it be­comes amicable to nature, and doth power­fully put forth the following vertues.

• 1. There is an anodinous vertue eminent­ly [Page 12]appearing in the operation of it, whereby it quietly asswages pain in a pleasing and al­most insensible way, driving out what is of­fensive. It is that Nepenthe Homer speaks of.

  ‘— [...] —’

  It frees from Choller, & trouble, and obli­terates all evils. Delenefica vi [...] moderatur et expultricem facultatem, iratumque archeum placat, Circea quasi virga tactum. It moderates the sensitive and expulsive facul­ty, and pacifies the enraged Archeus, as it were with a charm, and this not by stupefying the sences, or laying (as some frequently affirm by this Pill,) the distemper asleep, as some of the following virtues wil make more mani­fest.

• 2. Upon this depends a somniferous vir­tue [...] asswaging pain it doth usually bring to a quiet sleep; not stu­pefying and hurtful when duly corrected, but most pleasing and refreshing to the sen­ses, making the spirits more fresh and lively after it.

• 3 It is excellent for the staying of all fluxes bloody, and dysenterial as well as others. It [Page 13]dryes up Rheumes and Cattarhes that destil and drop upon the Lungs, it stays a looseness, & corrects the immoderate working of any purging medicament.

• 4. It hath a singular virtue in the repres­sing, & mitigating the violent fits of Agues & Fevers, & in curing of them. Trallianus in his 12th Book, Chap. 8. commends for singular antidotes in the cure of Feavers, those which have Opium in their composition: and Galen himself in his book of the way of curing Fea­vers, doth affirm that [...] w [...]ch is our Venice treacle (known to most to have Opium for one of the principal ingredients) to be of great efficacy for the removing of Feavers.

• 5 It is eminently sudorifique, purging the body by sweat more effectually then any o­ther Vegetable whatsoever, and this not in a troublesom offensive way, but in a sweet plea­sing manner, composing the spirits without desire of moving, or tumbling from place to place, (as is usuall in other sweating) where­by it purges the superflous and offensive hu­mours from all the parts of the body. And how effectual and safe such diaphoreticks, are even in deplorable diseases, few are igno­rant of. Now that the sweat proceeds from [Page 14]the taking of Opiate medicines is principally caused by the Opium, take Diascorides his testimony [...] The very smel of the Opium is spread through the whole body. The sweat procured by that means oftentimes having the very sent of the Opium.

• 6 It is also Diuretick, purging by Urine, which is not so evident in the quantity, as the quality of it, being more high coloured, bringing away slimy stuff often like rags, and frequently causing both Gravel and stone to be voided.

• 7 It hath also a purgative faculty, where there is need of it. Frequent experience (saith a learned doctor) hath taught us, that two or three grains of the Opiate Laudanum being given at night, hath purged both upwards & downwards in the morning, which quality proceeds from the bitterness of it: Opium saith Quercetanus is bittter by reason of the Salt, which being separated from its Oyl, or Nar­cotick Sulphur, is no less purging than all other bittter things, as Gentian, Centory, and the like: and Van Helmont makes mention of an Opiate medicine he gave in the evening, which cau­sed a vomit the next morning, took away the [...] [Page 15]and by spitting purged away the flegme

• 8 It is very powerful for the expulsion of wind, and that to admiration. It asswages the torments, and gripings of the Stomach, and bowels, and drives out the wind, both [...] upwards and downwards. The true cause of all gripings (saith my author) is a preter-naturall acidity, which is hostile wherever it is found. Now acidity hath the Spleen for its seat, and is the fer­ment of the stomach, by which the digestion is performed, but if this acidity be over­exalted there, it causeth torments, and wring­ing gripings, usually called, Orexis Stomach [...], & if the least acidity descend into the bow­els, Meseraickes or messenteriall vessels, not fully transmuted into a Saline nature, it there also causeth torments, and pain with ventosi­ty, and flatulent winds. To these Opium is specifically accomodated, (when corrected) both giving ease in the tormenting griping pains, and extinguishing the malignant aci­dity, which is the cause of them.

These are the virtues that by authors of good esteem are attributed to Opium, and if any of them seem to be opposite to, or con­tradicting of others, be not too hasty in re­jecting all, and passing a rash sentence on [Page 16]the discourse, severall parts of the same sim­ple are found by the experienced to have dif­ferent effects, the Sulphureous part may work one way, & the Saline a quite contrary way, and the same thing may have different effects, according to the subject they work upon dif­fering in their temperatures; what binds one man, hath by experience been found to loosen another. Quicquid recipitur agit ad modum recipiertis. And this noble Vegetable being duly corrected, is made so friendly to nature, that it becomes wholly serviceable to it, assisting it in the performing of that service the patient that makes use of it stands most in need of.

The other simples in this composition that are powerful in operation, are the two Hel­lebores, of which also a large catalogue of ver­tues are in herballs described, the principall whereof I shall briefly lay down. They are both said to be dry and hot in the third de­gree, and the black hotter than the White; this cleanseth the stomach by vomit, the o­ther the bowels by stool, and both purge a­way superfluous humours. They were an­tiently esteemed as the appropriate medicine to purge away melancholly distempers, and cure Madness that proceeded from them, as appeares by Martial.

I know not (saith he) whether the whole sland Anticyra be not by reason appointed [...]o bring forth Hellebore to cure the mad­ [...]ess of covetous persons: And certainly [...]here are none more mad than those who [...]ake Gold their God, and Gain their God­ [...]ness; that prefer Earth before Heaven, and [...]azard the perpetual loss of their souls, for [...]he obtaining a little wealth to look upon [...]nly, for to make use of it they have not [...]earts. Such mad men are they, that for a [...]ade in the world have sold their liberties, [...]d brought themselves into bondage: and [...] mad are they that will part with Truth and [...]ighteousness, wherein the Image of Christ [...]nsists, to scrape together a little pelf, which [...]ey neither stand in need of, or can expect [...]ng to enjoy. I wish her that challenges the [...]le propriety in this Pill, to be made sen­ [...]le of the indirect means she hath used, by [...]nting lies and slanders to defame others, [...]d other under-hand dealings, that she [...]ight thereby ingross all into her own [...]nds; and being convinced of her own [...]stemper, I shall advise her to use a right [Page 18]way of recovery, not Hellebore which the Poet points unto, but what the great Physi­cian prescribes to the Rich man, Luk. 18.22. or the course that Zacheus took, Luk. 19. But to return to the matter in hand, the Helle­bores are not onely a medicine for the phren­zy, but commended also for the opening the Liver, and healing the imperfections thereof, purging the Head, and curing the Meagrim▪ Parkinson tells us of a Helleborisme much commended by Mathiolus, and Faber gives a high commendation of his Arcanum purga [...] radicis Hellebori, which in an admirable man­ner purges the head and stomach, which are the principal fountain and seat of the giddi­ness and meagrim, and that without trouble or fear of any convulsion, for the Hellebore in its dissolution loseth whatsoever venome it had naturally in it, and is wonderfully al­tered. And these Pills, saith a learned Writer do alone cure the Meagrim safely, speedily and pleasantly. The same Author tells us [...] a Pill which he calls, Extractum seu Chylism [...] catholicum & holagogum, which brings awa [...] promiscuously all peccant humors, that hat [...] both the Hellebores for part of their ingre­dients. Being well corrected and rightly pre­pared they are exalted in their virtues for th [...] cure not onely of the diseases mentioned a [...] ­ready, [Page 19]but many others also, which by the [...]xperienced in physick they are reckoned ap­ [...]ropriated unto; as Colds and Coughs [...]ough of long continuance: Cramps, Con­ [...]ulsions, Sciatica, Gout, shrinking of the Si­ [...]ews, Tooth-ach, Dropsie, Epilepsie or Fal­ [...]ng Sickness, the Jaundice black and yellow, [...]eprosie, pains in the belly, Ruptures and [...]orms: the weight of a two-pence of the [...]owder (saith an approved Author) cureth [...]n Ague. But thus much briefly of the two [...]ellebores, which I have joined together as [...]eing efficacious for the cure of the same dis­ [...]ases.

The last of the ingredients is the Liquo­ [...]ice, which (as Galen saith) is sweet, having [...] little astriction joined with it, making it [...]emperate in heat and astriction, that is the [...]earest to our temper, but because the safety [...]nd goodness of it is very well known: And [...]ecause an inconsiderate quantity thereof is [...]aken in a Pill, not likely to have any emi­ [...]ent operation distinct from the other [...]pecies, and was added by Mr. Mathews (as [...]e hath told me) chiefly to make up the bulk, shal therefore say no more of it.

The powerfull ingredients of this Pill (you [...]e) are few, and thereby it is rendred more [...]fficacious, for where multitudes are put into [Page 20]a composition, they prove usually but as [...] clog to each other to hinder their proper o­perations.

You have here the Pil anatomised, and [...] description of the several parts whereof [...] consists, with their power and vertue, and [...] singly by themselves, they are of such effica­cy as you have-here set down: Vis unita fort [...] or. What will they not do when united, and not barely united, but corrected of thei [...] venemous qualityes, and enobled with s [...] powerful a Balfome, as exalts their vertue to the utmost, making them truely freindly to our natures.

And surely though they do not attain to be a universal medicine, yet they are of a very large extent, witness the catalogue of cures performed by them, put out by Mr. Mathews▪ Neither are the Pills made by others accor­ding to the directions which are here laid down destitute of testimony of their successe in the cure of the most of the diseases menti­oned in the bills given forth with them, divers have brought me relations of singular benefit they have reaped by them they had from me of my preparing: some have been freed from Agues and Feavers by them, o­thers cured of Colds and Coughs, some that had pains in their Limbs that they could not [Page 21]without great difficulty walk a coits cast or [...]wo, by the taking 2 or 3 Pils, have been able with ease to walk a mile or two, others that [...]ave had stones brought from them to admi­ [...]ation: An ancient woman lately brought [...]hree stones to shew me, that by the taking [...] or 3 of my Pils she had come from her. A [...]ilkman who is very ancient was troubled with making of bloody water, in such a man­ [...]er that he could not walk a bow shot but [...]e was afflicted with it in a very painful man­ [...]er, was by my Pils perfectly cured of that distemper, though he was hardly perswaded [...]o take them, or continue the use of them, [...]aving been told by some expert in Physick, [...]hat his grief was incurable: the same person was lately troubled with a fit of the Stone, that he lay roaring for pain, and then taking [...] Pill, he was brought to a gentle sweat and [...]est, and in his sleep had a stone came from [...]im insensibly, of the bigness of a small bean with the raking whereof he was so sore after­wards, that for 2 or 3 dayes he could not [...]old his water, and by the taking of a Pill or [...]wo more he was cured of that also. The wife of the same man a very antient woman, [...]aving been long troubled with an Asthma, [...]f which she could get no cure, was by this [...]ill she had from me set at liberty.

They which sell of my Pils can tell you of many examples. One that sells my Pills in London, had lately a gallant came to him, who affirmed that by a quarter of an ounce of Pils of my making, he was cured of an Ague when the Doctors had done their utmost endea­vours to remove it; and at last had given him the Jesuites Powder, their Ultimum refugium in such cases, but all proved fruitless. I call it their Ultimum refugium, because a Neigh­bor of mine, a Gentleman, of a ful purse, late­ly sick of an Ague, had for a long space the Doctors come every day to visit him, first one single, and after a while a couple, till at length his wife seeing them to spin out the time for their own gain, begun to grow something impatient, & then they prescribed this powder, under the title of Pulvis Peruvi­anus. The same person had a Gentleman told him in brief, I could tell you of wonders wrought by the Pills, I had of you (which were of my preparing.) A poor man lately came to his shop for some Pills, and told that he had spent what he had upon the Physicians without help, and now he was advised by a learned Doctor to get of those Pills, for if they would not cure him nothing would.

So high an opinion had this learned man of the Pill, that he preferred it before any o­ther [Page 23]medicine the Apothecaryes shop could afford.

This causes me to remember another rela­tion I had from an honest Minister who hath had many Pills from me, whom being reco­vered from a desperate distemper by the use of the Pill, a doctor of his acquaintance came to visit, he related to the Doctor in what condition he had been, with the meanes of his recovery; the other who at other times hath been very lavish in exclaiming against this Pill, gave him this serious counsel. Let me advise you as a friend (saith he) to make use of this Pill never but in cases of extremi­ty; which is in effect thus. In small and or­dinary distempers make use of our prescrip­tions, but being you are my friend, let me advise you when your life lyes at the stake, and comes to be hazarded, trust not to them, but make use of this as a more powerfull me­dicine.

I might multiply examples of several cures wrought by them in persons of all ages and sexes, women with child & some in child-bed, who by their midwives and freinds & Physi­cians also have been esteemed past recovery, yet by this means principally God hath been pleased to raise them up. I could tell you their names and places of habitation if it were re­quisite. [Page 24]I might also present you with the re­lations I have had from persons that have made use of my Pills in several counties, as Lincolnshire, Dorsetshire, Devonshire, Northam­tonnsheire, &c. Where a blessing hath gone a­long with Pills of my preparing in the doing of many eminent cures. But I forbear to set down particulars, as affecting brevity: These may serve to make it evident to all persons that are not incurably possest with prejudice, that we have the true Receipt of the Pil, with the manner of preparing it, whatever is or may be asserted to the contrary; and we have been directed and assisted by Mr. An­drews, a man of known integrity; who made the Pill for Mr. Mathews, before ever he made it himself, and was for some time his sole o­perator, when he began to be in credit for the Pill. Yea Mr. Starkey who was the first inventor of the Pill, hath not been wanting in declaring to us, not only the Manual ope­ration, but also the Nature of it, and wayes to improve it, and alter it as need requireth

I could give a particular answer to those scandalous personall reflections, that Mrs. Mathews bills, advertisement, and book swarmes with, and shew the falshood and invalidity of them, but this may prove nau­seous to unconcerned persons, and therfore [Page 25]I shal be silent in it, and only declare that out of a love to peace and truth, there hath been by my self, & the others she exclaims against, a hearing desired, with a promise, that if it could be made appear; to the judgement of any indifferent rationall man, that we had either injured her or dealt any ways unfaith­fully, that we would acknowledge the wrong, and make such satisfaction, as by such persons should be judged expedient; but this hath been alwayes refused.

I shall now breifly speak something to the manner of taking of this Pill, with the way of it's working. The Pill is ordinarily to be taken at night when going to bed, with a cup of Sack, White-wine, Ale or Beer drank after it, to carry it down, the Veh [...]cle is to be appropriate to the disease, if it be for an Ague a cup of Sack, or some cordial liquor is best; if for a Fever without an Ague a cup of White-wine is more proper; if for purging the Reins and Bladder of Stone or Gravel, White wine is the best, being the more Diu­retick: here discretion is to be made use of, as also in the quantity of the dose, which must be according to the age, temperature, and strength of the patient. Reason wil teach you to give a very small quantitity of it to a child, whereas 10, 12 or 14 graines is an ordinary dose for a man or woman, yea [Page 24] [...] [Page 25] [...] [Page 26]20 grains (if it be well prepared, and the vi­rulency of the simples, by frequent made-factions, and exsiccations be extinguished) will not disturb or afflict the Patient with troublesome symptomes; neither then is it the less efficacious, as some practitioners fondly conclude who suppose that medicine to be best, which doth with a small quantity disturb nature, and manifest its violent ope­ration; for the vertue of a medicine consists not in the Vomative, laxative, or deleteriall qualities thereof which disturb nature, and enrage the Ancheus, causing tumults and per­turbations: but their excellency consists in their amicable and pleasing serviceableness to nature; whereby at the same time they refresh, and recreat the Vitall Spirits, and dissolve all preternaturall excrements, and coagulations.

It is the commendation of a good medi­cine, to cure not only tuto & cito, safely and speedily, but also pleasantly; and then doth the medicine do it's work the best when it is so prepared, that a large dose of it may be taken with the least Perturbation of the head and stomach, which make some rash ignorant persons to dislike it and lay it aside as void of vertue, to such I shal invert the or­der of the Poets choice.

It is not necessary to tye the patient to a­ny rules of diet in the time of using this Pill; only let the food be nutritive, and the drink cordiall, both used with moderation.

The operation of this Pill is generally by sweat, where there are many peccant humors to be purged out, which in some persons are more insensibly transmitted through the pores than in others. It is the opinion of some able doctors, that thin lean bodyes that sweat least by an insensible transpiration, send sorth more in vapors then gross and corpulent bo­dies that sweat most violently, and this they affirm they have found true by infallible de­monstration, having at severall times taken the weight of such persons, with the weight of their food and excrements. If therefore there be not such violent sweating wrought by it in thee as in others, do not presently conclude it to be of no efficacy, but have a little patience in the use of it, and probably thou mayest have a cure wrought in a more insensible way.

And here I cannot but admire at the impa­tience and folly of many persons, who be­cause they have not a perfect cure wrought [Page 28]by the taking of 2 or 3 Pills, sometimes by one, will lay it aside as altogether inefficaci­ous; when as if a Doctor prescribes a course of Physick to them, they will be punctual in observing his rules many weeks, yea months, and not reap much sensible benefit by it. All the Doctors art and skill is grounded on his own or other mens experience, whose works and writings he gives credit to, upon a bare affirmation; yea the knowledge of the ver­tue and efficacy of all simples, as also com­pound medicaments, hath it not experience for the Originall? and shall not those expe­riences that are evident before our eyes, and which we have certain testimony of prevail asmuch with us, as the bare affirmations of others, who it may be (and often is so) speak not from any ground at all, but their own i­maginations?

It is cause of mourning to behold both Doctors and the generallity of people de­luded by them, to continue so heathenish as to give more credit to Galen and Hypo­crates for the welfare of their bodies, than the word of God himself for the good of both soul and body. But there is a vail which is not yet taken away, that blinds the eyes of men both in this and other things.

I do not go about to perswade any to make use of it so long without visible success as to have it come to the charge of an Apothecarys bill, or as a Doctors visit. I never yet knew any that had patience, to take so much as comes to the ordinary price of a single po­tion, but have thought their Mony well be­stowed.

My first acquaintance with this Pill arose upon my being visited with the gout, my pain was very great, and my lameness such that I could not walk in my chamber without crutches. The first Pil I took wrought some mi­tigation of the pain, but I continued it a good space before I had a perfect cure. I first cast away one crutch, and after a while the other, neither left I the use of the Pill, but as often as I either felt or feared the fit approaching, I made use of the Pill again; and so with the diligent use of it, my disease is totally eradi­cated, and blessed be God, I have not had a fit of it, for some years past.

My wife also being sorely afflicted with the Meagrim and extream pain in her head, seeing the benefit I had reaped by it, was perswaded to the use of it, and though at first or second Pill, she found little amend­ment, yet at 7 or 8 times taking of it she had a full cure.

And whereas it is the fear of some, that the frequent use of them will beget such a habit in the body, that they cannot live healthfully without them, (as it is with those that accustomed themselves to Tobacco,) my own experience can evince the contrary, for I may safely say, that neither I or my wife take the quantity of a quarter of an ounce in a year, such is the goodness of God to us, that we enjoy far more health then we have done for a long time formerly, and never have recourse to these, except when some cold or other distemper ceases upon us.

The great objection against this Pill, is, that it generally bindes the body, though some are loosened by it: for your satisfacti­on in that particular, I refer you to Mr. Mathewes Book, in the 76 and 77 sections or Paragraph.

This by the variation of some of the in­gredients, (as by a skilful hand may be done) may be amended.

If more particular directions for the use of this Pil be desired, I refer you to the rules and examples laid down by Mr. Mathews in his Book, to which in what I write, I desire to be serviceable, not destructive; it being his request to us in his sickness, that we should publish this Receipt with his Book.

This therefore may be adjoined to it as an Appendix, and will do more service to the publick than the Dunghill there in­truded, which being according to its name, it is high time, the Scavenger should carry it out from amongst the habitations of civil people.

And now as a cloze I shall give you the copy of the Receipt, as it was given to me by the first author of it, Mr. George Starkey.

Rec. The best Tartar, and Salt-Peter e­qually ballanced, Pulverised, and mixt, of each a pound, or at pleasure, put the ingre­dients in an iron kettle that is clean; fire them with a coal, and they will burn with an impetuous noise, after the flushing is over stir the Mass with an iron rod diligently till the redness cease, and the Mass will become a very white Salt, of the nature both of the Tartar, and Salt Niter, which is a noble Salt, and gives a very efficacious Alkali.

Or if you rather desire the Alkali of Tartar alone, take of it what quantity you please, and send it either to the Glass-house; or Pot-house to calcine, and it will become a white cake of Salt.

But in my Pyrotechny asserted, I gave rea­son why Tartar calcined with Saltpeter is no [Page 32]less inferiour to (in some cases excelling) the Salt of Tartar (Per [...]se) by bare concre­mation

To make which the more effectual as to its Alkalisate strength, take of this Tartar so calcined by Niter, and in a strong crusible let it flow in a wind Furnace, pour it out when it is fully melted, and you shall have an Al­kalisate mass, of a blewish colour like pot­ash, easily melting in the air; of a most ex­cellent Alkalisate sharpness, which Salt so prepared, is recommended to the studious Artist.

This, or the Calcinate of bare Tartar, let the Artist take (as he pleaseth) and dissolve in boyling water, which after agitation (twice or thrice) being settled and decanted clear, let it be boiled up to a driness, which is the fixt Salt, or Alkali of Tartar purified.

To make it clear and white as Christal: Ha­ving dissoived the Lixivium from the Alkali of either the Salt of Tartar single, or as was taught with Salt Niter, by Concremation and Fusion: Let then an infusion of quick-lime be made, of which being settled, let equal part in respect to the Lixivium be added, and the mixture let stand about ten or fourteen daies covered with a cloth from dust, then decant all the liquor, which will be clear like [Page 33]to running water, and the Salt when dry be­ing boyled in a clean vessel (from which it shal take no tincture) will be white as the pu­rest Cristal.

Of this Salt (made very dry) take a pound, or what quantity you please, of Oyl of Tere­rebinth, or any other distilled Oyl three pound, put the Salt into a vessel that is firm and broad, pour on so much Oyl as will co­ver the Salt from the air, let it stand, and with a pestle stir the mass daily twice or thrice, so will the the Oyl gradually be drunk up of the Salt, which must again be renewed and daily stirred and ground together till the whole three pound in respect to one of Salt be imbibed; the whole will become a white Cream by the union of the Salt and Oyl together. This is at least six months work.

In this union of the Oyl and Salt the Al­kalisate corrosiveness of the one is allaied by the unctuosity of the other, and both made temperate, to the correcting of the maligni­ty and venome of the most truculent vege­tables.

Your Cream or Corrector made as before is taught, and having stood its time till it will dissolve in any liquor, without separating the least oyliness at the top, which is a sure sign [Page 34]of an intire union of both, and a transmuta­tion of the oylie Sulphur into a Saline nature. Take of your best Opium (if very pure) if not dissolved, filtred and by evaporation drawn to the consistency of a Rob, one pound or what you please of white Hellebore ponder­ed and finely searc'd, two parts to one of the Opium, of the Cream as much as will serve to bring it to the consistency of a Pill, beat them well together and dry them in a dish covered from dust; cut if you will the mass into thin slices, and so moisten it again, beat­ing it up still, and repeating this till the mass when dried weigh double in respect to the Species: then with oyl of Turpentine alone beat it up to the consistency of a Pill, and keep it about three weeks ere you use it, and it is fit for use. Onely the older it is, the bet­ter it will be.

Comparing this and the former receipt, we shall not stand in need of a judge endued with the wisedom of Solomon to decide who is the true Father of the child, one of a mea­ner capacity may determine the controver­sie; and if any shall still doubt, I shall de­sire them to read seriously Mr. Starkey's Pyro­techny-asserted, and he shall there though in more obscure termes see the foundation and ground of it.

It will be needless to say any thing for the explaining this Receipt, having spoken al­ready to all the ingredients. But here you may see some variety in the Alkali. The way prescribed to purisie the Salt is worth your serious consideration. The Tartar cannot be brought to so pure a Salt by burn­ing, but you shall have some feculency ad­hering to it, which by this means is taken away.

The Art and manner of the composition is of singular concernment. The Opium (whereof that which comes from the Streights is best) cannot be cleansed without dissolution, in the doing whereof not any of the vertue is diminished: and if it be done with spirit of wine it rather helps to the correcting of it.

The severall moistenings and dryings of the Pill is of excellent use; by this means the Sulphureous part of the Opium, in which the malignity consists, is exceedingly wast­ed, and totally subdued.

And now whosoever thou art that shalt un­dertake the making of this Pill, see that thou beest very cautious. Thou dealest with dangerous subjects. It is not a work for a raw or careless youth.

Two or three things are much feared in [Page 36]the publishing this Receipt. The one, lest that the making of this Pill be adventured on by indiscreet persons that want judgment, or careless and rash persons that shall without due caution and circumspection mixe these things together, and they not being brought to maturity, may retain their noxious qua­lityes, and so have dangerous consequen­ces. I have severall times heard Mr. Mathews say, that he durst not trust bis people in this, for if his eye was not on them, they were very subject to do amiss, an evident expe­rience of whose carelesness was seen in the last preparation for the Pills he made be­fore his death; but let such persons consider that this Receipt is not made authentick by being inserted in the dispensatories, & there­fore if any miscary by it through want of due preparation, they must not expect to have their fault buried in the Grave, without being questioned, as is too usuall in those miscariages that are by authorised Physicians.

The second thing feared is lest this falling into the hands of mercenary men (who mind their own gain, more then other mens good) this medicine may be spoiled, and rendred inefficatious; and that either by making use of decayed drugs, which have lost their virtue, or such as are adulterated, [Page 37]as much of the Opium which is brought from the Jndies is; if credit be to be given to that excellent Herbarist, Mr. John Parkinson. Or it may be spoiled with additionall mixtures, that are either of little value, or of a contrary nature, either of which may so clog the due ingredients, that they shall not be able to put forth their true vertue. This hath been the lot of many excellent medicaments which have been reported to be of admirable ef­ficacy in their first Originall and rise, but now they are become contemptible, and destitute of that power and virtue they at first appeared endued withall. The Epi­thites of Sophisticate, and adulterated, are not more commonly, than truly given to many medicines that are usually sold. I will in­stance only in the Oyle of Amber, a thing of singular vertues, if rightly prepared from the pure and simple amber, many authors have written very highly of the praise there­of, and my own experience, with the relati­ons I have had from severall persons, who have had of this from me, hath confir­med the truth of their writings. For farther satisfaction, you may read what Mr. Mathews affirms of it in several places of his book, principally in that part, which gives directi­ons how to draw it. But this Oyle of Amber [Page 38]that is commonly sold by the Druggists, and Apothecaryes, is by some of them that are more candid, and ingenuous than others, acknowledged to be a great part of it Oyle of Turpentine, or at the best Oyle of Spike, only the Amber over ruling, in giving it the sent and tincture; for (say they) were it pure and simple without mixture, it could not be afforded at that low price it is sold at: How weak and inconsiderate are those per­sons, that having occasion to make use of that Oyl, or other the like things, will to save a little in the price, buy trash to put into their bodys, or for outward applications, which is likely to afford them little or no releif; and how Sordid are those practitioners, that will obtrude it upon their patients, or di­rect them to the use of such debilitated and invallid medicaments.

The third thing feared is, lest the very names of the Opium and Hellebores do so affright weak and timerous persons, that they shall not dare to make use of it: and truly this is the bugbear that doctors do la­bour to deter people from the use of it by, Take heed (say they) what you do, there is Opium in it, and Opium will be Opium when all is done to it that can be done, whereas this Opium is a principall ingredient, in ma­ny [Page 39]of their prime medicines, as I have for­merly shewed, and to use Mr. Parkinson's own words, It is an ingredient of much respect in those great compositions of Theri­ca, Mithridaetum &c. the like may be said of the Hellebores.

But let such persons consider, that as the onely wise God placed Cherubims with a fla­ming sword to keep the way of the Tree of Life; so he hath fenced and armed those sim­ples which have most virtue in them for the recovery of mans lost health with some ve­nome that must by wisedom and diligence be destroyed by them that would enjoy the be­nefit of them. The bush that beareth the fra­grant Rose hath its sharp prickles, and the Bee that affordeth the sweetest hony is armed with a sting, which he that will gather the ho­ney must take heed of. And if it be lawful to compare temporal things with spiritual, I may say, true Chymical preparations do some­what resemble the work of the All-powerful God in the mystery of Regeneration, where­in he makes choice of the worst of men many times to make of them the most active instru­ments for the propagating his Truth and glo­ry. Saul the greatest of sinners is made by him the chiefest of the Apostles, and one that laboured more abundantly than all the rest [Page 40]in the work of the Ministry: where true mortification and renovation passes upon such as have been the most deadly enemies to the Church and cause of Christ, they become the most glorious instruments for the advan­cing his kingdome. Yea such is that inbred corruption that is adhaerent to the best of natures, that as Christ saith, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. This is a received truth in the Theory, but how a verse are we generally from em­bracing it in the practical part of it. Paul tells us Gal. 2.20. that he is crucified with Christ, and that he lives not but Christ liveth in him, he was taken off from the activity of his own naturall principles, and now sole­ly caried forth, and acted by the Spirit of Christ: do not our actions declare the con­trary of us? there is none I suppose so void of reason, as to affirm that their earthly sensuall earnall actings are the product of that pure, and imaculate Spirit of the Lord Jesus. On that all that challenge the name of Christian, would seriously confider this; he is a true Christian indeed, that can say with Paul: the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world: I am no more ena­moured with, or have my affections set up­on the world, or the things of it, than they [Page 41]would be upon a dead carkass, yea such a contemptible carkass, as hath been executed on a Crosse or Gallows: and I am crucified to the world: A man that is dead can feel no injury that is done to him, strip him, cut him, mangle him, dispose of his body at your pleasure he is not sensible of it. This is the happy condition of a true Christian, his delight is not in the things of this world, and makes it not his business to scrape them together, and grow great here, neither is he affected with the affronts, and injuries that are inflicted by the world, he is above the rage and malice thereof, and he is made thus free by true mortification. It is a hard thing to be breif in this subject, I hope it will not be taken amisse being (I conceive) a seasonable word.

In the like though far inferior manner is it with medicinall simples, the most truculent of them, when once there is true mortifica­tion and destruction of their virulency, are made not only safe, but admirably efficaci­ous; yea the best of them, have their crudi­ties, and noxious qualities, which by decocti­ons, digestions, or some other previous pre­parations, are to be destroyed before they can be made wholly safe and Salutiferous. [Page 42]This work is fully done in this Pill by them that rightly prepare it. The rose is gathered to your hand, the sting is taken from the Bee, and you may suck the hony without dan­ger.

And now at the last I desire you to remem­ber that I said this is not an universal medicin, some diseases are so fixt and radicated, that they require that which is more powerful, of which sort are some medicaments prepared from minerall Sulphurs, of which the author of this Pil is seldom unfurnished. But though it be not universal, yet it is of a very large extent, and he that shall with a patient waiting for a blessing upon it, continue the use of it, wil not have need to seek for other, in the diseases to which the particular ingredi­ents are appropriated, or that arise from the distempers, that they are powerful in the re­moving of: And now for the help of weak memories, I shal adjoin at the end the copy of a Bill given ordinarily out with them, wherin you have a catalogue of diseases, not at an ad­venture heaped together, but such as by cer­tain experience this Pill hath been found helpfull in.

THis Pill being composed of Simples of a very powerful operation, purged from their churlish and malignant quality by an excellent Balsom of long preparation, is by it made so amicable to Nature, that it hath upon ample experience been found effectual for curing the diseases following:

It removes the Ague, if two Pills be taken two hours before the fit comes, and a Glasse or two of Sack drank after it, and the patient put in a warm bed disposed for sweat, & one Pill taken each intermitting night. The like for Feavers, only instead of Sack drink White­wine. It helpeth the Head-ach, Tooth-ach, Cold, Cough or Surseit. Dries up dropping Rhumes & Catarrhs which destroy the Lungs. It removes pains of the breast, trembling of the heart, cleanseth the blood; helpeth fits of sudden Swoonings and Convulsions. If White­wine be drank after it, it cleanseth the Reins and Kidneys of gravel, openeth the urinary passages, drives out the stone if not coagula­ted, and oftentimes with the urine sends forth like jags of cloth or paper of sundry co­lours. Also it sends forth by vomit or other­wise [Page 53]clotted blood; breaks inward Impost-humations to astonishment. Effectually easeth pains and aches got by Surfeits, Colds or Bruises; whereby many secret and hidden griefs are cured, which otherwise could not be discovered. It is an easie and sound cure of the French disease, if used according to such direction as may be given. It cures some kind of Gouts and gives ease in all, especially if the places affected be annointed with true and simple Oyl of Amber, which is rare to be had at any Apothecaries, but may be had with the Pill. It helpeth the shaking and trem­bling of the joints, strengthneth the brains, encreaseth memory, revives and comforts the heart. It is very fafe for women with child, and of excellent efficacy for women in Child-bed, to ease them of their pains, and bring them to rest. It openeth obstructions, and in like manner stayes fluxes. It strength­ens and opens the Spleen, and expels wind in an incredible manner. Dries up Hydropi­call Humors. It is with safety and good success given to infants as soon as born, and after to expel winds. Brings to rest, and pre­vents or cures the Rickets. It helpeth in Rup­tures. It hath been found very effectual for hastening and making firm the cure of wounds, all sort of sores and swellings. Nei­ther is there any disease in old or young, in [Page 54]which it doth not afford releif and ease, if not a perfect cure. It works not as ordinary Physick, which is pretended to take away that humor the Disease feeds upon, and so to weaken Nature, that it may conquer the Distemper, by which means it many times kills the Patient with the Disease: But con­trarily, this being a soveraign Cordial, for­tifies Nature, enabling it to grapple with it's enemies, and hereby becomes effectuall for the curing of several Diseases. If it cures not all that use it, know, that it is the blessing of the Lord upon all means that makes them effectual when he pleases, that so all may use them with submission to, and dependance upon him.

The ordinary dose for men and women, is about 10. or 12. grains, or the bigness of a great grey pease; to children of 2. years old the quantity of a barley corn; to them new born, of a pins-head; every one may increase the quantity as they find themselves able to bear it, and their necessity requires. It is ordinarily taken at going to bed, with a little Sack, White-wine, Ale or Beer drank after it, to carry it down, and care taken of Cold both in and after the sweating.