Frustra Medicina paratur Cum malaper longas invaluëre moras.

6. Unless this remedy of disclaiming such Chymical fooleries be seasonably (that is, speedily applyed) the abused people finding their expectation (once & again) deluded by such quacking Empericks, will in a short time come to suspect all Chymical prepara­tions, for such as they, or others, with little or no profit, perhaps to their Cost, and Ex­tream hazard have Experienced. They will at last startle at the very name of a Chymi­cal medicine, as at the appearance of some ghastly Ghost or spectrum. Away will one cry with your Chymistry, for such a time I took an universal Pill or Powder, and escaped very narrowly of being sent by it on a fools er­rand out of the world: besides such a per­son took it, who in few dayes, or perhaps not many hours, was so perfectly cured thereby of all diseases, as to lie covered with a Tombe­stone. Such true reports of the pernicious effects of some Catholick venom, will stick as an indelible blot of infamy, to blemish true and real Chymical medicines, unless the dis­guise be pluckt off from such counterfeit pre­parations, under which they march with the greatest confidence imaginable, promising [Page 14]wonders, though upon no ground, and with­out the least truth, to the disgrace of Pyro­techny, and its true Adept sons, except the Cheat of them be discovered and laid open to the world.

7. And lastly, I have been almost weari­ed with sollicitations, both by word of mouth, and letters from several persons here in Town, and living in divers parts of the Countrey, to know what my judgement is concerning such and such (highly extolled) medicines. Whom not to undeceive and dis­abuse, lying in my power to do it, would in effect be the same as to abuse them. Qui non prohibet malum (quod potest) jubet.

And so I come at length to answer the im­portunities of such who have requested my opinion and Censure of the forementioned perparations, and shall begin with that known by the name of

Lockyers Pill, or Pillula extracta Radiis solis.

Concerning which I have seen and read a Tractate Written, likewise Tables on a board exposed commending it without either Rea­on or measure. Who was first Godfather to the Pill, I know not, but its name at the Begin­ning [Page 15]was as absolute an Abortive in Gram­mar, as the Pill it self was in Philosophy, and Pyrotechny, and was called Pilluradii Ex­tractus solus, the interpretation of which would puzzle a Synod of Grammarians, though since the Pill hath learned so much true Latine, as to proclaime its name Pillula radiis solis extracta, which was the meaning of the former barbarous denomination, as might be collected from its gaping, rather then speaking.

By which licking of its name till it had some tolerable shape, as Bears are said to lick their whelps, and by other manifest symp­tomes, it appears that the Book in commen­dation of this new bawble, was midwif't into the world by some of the forlorn hope of the Schools of learning, in reading which with seriousness, I was surprized with a double admiration. First, That any man of common discretion, should run into such Extravagant sesquipedantick Rodomontadoes in praise of a preparation, which is (absit in­vidia dictis) one of the poorest, meanest, and most vulgar, that is or can be made of Anti­mony by the fire. Secondly, That such a piti­ful toy, and more pitiful Scribble in praise of it, should among any that pretend to reason find other acceptance then derision, his brags concerning it appearing at first view so pal­pably [Page 16]gross, as to try the faith of a Solifidian, for confirmation of which wonderful effects, to have nothing but the (ipse dixit) of one, who in his too lavish boastings would out­do a profest Mountebanck, and yet to find so much credit as to become famous, speaks the levity and madness of the people ad­vanced to such a degree and height, as to in­cur the censure of Orestes himself, when most distracted.

Those expressions which I findused in its commendation, viz. that it is the best thing which ever he met with or desires, may in some sense be true, and we have an English proverb fit to the purpose, Give a fool or a child a bawble, and he will not leave it for a noble. Gold it self may be, and oft is over­valued by a wise man, no marvel then if a butterfly or a play-toy be overprized by a Schoolboy. And a pretty play-toy I must confess this is, if that were all, nor should I ever censure it, if it did not play with the skins and lives of mankind.

I shall not say of this Pill that it is prepara­tio insulsa, having in it a double Salt, to wit, common and Salt-petre, but this I shall con­fidently affirm of it, and the Charcoal in it will confirm my sentence, that it is Nigro carbone notanda.

He that shall commend this, or any other [Page 17]preparation like unto this so highly as I find that to be, if his breast assents to the truth of what he writes with his pen, deserves to be sent from the School of Vulcan to pick Sallets with Nebuchadnezzar, till the dew of Heaven have cooled his overheated nod­dle, so as to understand himself, and his ope­rations a little better then he doth.

The preparation is at best but a Crocus of Antimony, and so much more churlish then the common made as the Apothecaries pre­pare it by flushing with ana of Saltpetre, by how much the neerer it comes glass, or vi­trum of Antimony. For the Charcoal, and Sea-salt which are mixt in the composition, give it an easier fluxibility in the fire, which quickens and makes more active, doth no way extinguish, correct or diminish the viru­lency of Antimony. As for instance, Let one part of Antimony be calcined with three parts of Saltpetre, the Calx (if the work be well done) will be very white, from which the saltness being separated by hot water, and the powder dried, it is then called Antimonium Diaphoreticum, which may be given from ten to 30. grains, with­out any vomitive effect ordinarily, but if this powder before the Salt be washed from it, be melted in a Crucible by a strong fire, then poured forth, and dulcified with warm [Page 18]water, and after dryed, it gives a powder in colour rather whiter then the forementioned Antimonium Diaphoreticum, but in its chur­lish vomitive quality equal either to Crocus or vitrum it self. So it is proportionably in this mock-preparation disguised under the name of Panacaea Aurea, or Pillula radiis solis extracta, which two preparations (I would have the reader take notice) are the same and Synonymous, and do really excel [...] ordinary Crocus in their venoms rigor, and this is the highest attainment (after infinice brags and boastings) of these bungling Sophi­sters, whose idle rhapsodies deserve rather a satyrical derision, then any other kind of Confutation.

Let no man bless himself with hopes of the Pills excellency, by reason of the small dose in which it is administred, for since its natu­ral, ordinary, and proper effect is forcibly to provoke vomit, the lesser the dose is, the greater and quicker malignity it argues in that which is administred. As for the great cures that are noised about, and attributed to this Pill, I doubt not but these reports (upon moderate enquiry) will be found to be like to the shearing of hogs, where the squeaking far exceeds the wooll. I would not be understood as though I deny a possibility of great and unexpected cures by this means [Page 19]but say, that they are adventured on with danger and hazard, by reason of deficiency in the Antimonies correction. Nor a hun­dreth part so notable and certain cures, as may be made by Antimony totally corrected, exalted, glorified and perfected, besided the absolute safety joyned with soverain Excellen­cy in such true preparations, which in these uncorrected venoms is not to be expected. But lastly, compare this with other preparations of Antimony, which were once famous, till their desperate danger, (that is insepara­ble from the vertue of such false operations) brought them at last to become deservedly infamous, and see if there be any thing new in this, transcending them; nay, if there be any odds, it is, that this not so effectual and safe as some of them.

For there are several processes in Antimo­ny, the products of which, at their first com­ing upon the stage have been extolled to the the Heavens, yet wanting real worth to con­firm and make good their commendations, they have in short time been laid aside, like a crackt Bagpipe, or instrument out of tune, though their first appearance in publick was ussherd in with as large a Catalogue of Cures, as this is or can be. For (as Basilius Valentine truely saith, The vertues of Antimony are so great, and inexplicable, that no mortal man [Page 20]can ever be able to search out the bottom of its secrets and mysteries. Even crude as it comes out of the earth it is of great vertue. How­beit it is nothing so powerful, penetrative, ab­stersive, and renovative in its gross substance, nor in any preparation that doth not extin­guish its venom, as it is when its central pro­fundity is by art manifested, and its Arca­num made to appear. Of which I shall God­willing write more fully in a peculiar tractate concerning the mysteries of Antimony. Here I shall onely compare this new invention, with other old ones of the like kind, to see if we can find any thing peculiar herein, that excels the others; and upon serious and so­ber enquiry, I find no such thing. The re­lief that the sick may expect hence, is no o­ther, then that which a man half starved may receive from a loaf of Bread fastned to the point of a sharp spear, and darted at him, the loaf may refresh his hunger-pincht stomack, and save his life, but the deadly spear threa­tens as much or more danger, then the bread promiseth relief. The tree of life is guarded with armed and angry Cherubims, whose flaming sword is to be taken away by the true Artist, that so the restoring fruit may be en­joyed with profit and safety, but trust me this Absaloms pillar will perfom no such thing. Yet it may answer expectation in [Page 21]keeping up the name and memory. Erostra­tus who burnt Diana's Temple Eterniz'd his memory, when the builders of it lie buried in oblivion. A famous Quack will be longer remembred then a skilful Doctor of ordinary practice, but the memory of one and the o­ther differs exceedingly. Thais of Corinth hath outlived the remembrance of all the noble Matrons, and honest women, that were coetaneous with her, and so Lockyers Pill may be more durable then a Grave-stone, but so as to be contemned, derided, and be­come the byword of every Practitioner, when the remembrance of its formet credit and esteem, will add to its present and future in­famy. Such a name I would not envy.

With what applause did the Antimonial cup court the world, and that of late years? of which an Antient Divine, published a book in its praise, boasting of as many cures done by it, as might serve for a prologue on a Mountebanks stage at Tower-hill or Smith­field. Besides, the writings of most profound Philosophers, were tortured upon the Rack of that Authors Ingeny, to make them con­fess that all the excellency which in their most deep and mysterious sentences, they boast to be in their hidden Elixars and Mercury is true of this Chymical toy. And I dare af­firm on my Credit, nor do I doubt but my [Page 22]experience in the Art of Pyrotechny, will be believed by those that know me, sufficient to allow me for a competent judge in this case, that the effects of the Antimonial Cup equal at least, if they exceed not the effects of this (so called) Golden Panacaea, or Pills extra­cted by the Solar rayes, of which I may say truely, It is tituli magniloqui trufa, at the best an Ape clad in a jacket of tissue, where the gay cloathing doth onely add to the beasts deformity. But let all sons of Art know, that diseases are not to be chased away with swelling titles, and bombast names.

What need I mind the Reader of the fame which once the Crocus of Antimony had in the world, the infusion whereof was by Rulandus an eminent German Doctor inti­tled (aqua benedicta) to which he attributes many Centuries of cures, prodigiously admi­rable, yea almost incredible. Nor hath the vitrum of Antimony wanted both its favou­rers and admirers, as I could name several Au­thors both famous and learned. So also Mercurius vitae, reckoned by Bilichius as the Apex of Chymical preparations, though he erroneously ascribes that off-spring to the parent Mercury (from whom also it hath its name) yet it is indeed wholly the product of Antimony, as experience may [Page 23]make it appear to any that is ingenious in the School of Vulcan, by ocular demonstration, beyond denial or doubt.

All these and many other preparations of Antimony, (too tedious here to name) had their time of being extolled almost for work­ing of Miracles, yet because of their malig­nant virulency, have at length been laid aside as so many dangerous fiends, not to be conju­red up in Medicine, without the help, Art, and advice of a very skilful Exorcist, or Doctor.

Such a Devil in a new dress, is this lately invented Pill, as by an ordinary flux may be made to appear in a quarter of an hour, by which means these Pills will quickly and easily give at least a third part of their weight in Regulus, to the inexcusable disgrace of him that prepares and commends them, who very disingeniously, and without the least truth (as I am informed) denyes them to be at all Antimonial, of which nevertheless they are the most contemptible preparation.

As for the Sun-beams which the title page, and the very name of the Pill promise, or seem to promise, I am confident the Master of the Pill cannot tell what he under­stands himself, or would have others to un­derstand by the Periphrasis. Whether they [Page 24]be extracted, prepared, and maturated by the Sun-beams, as the Grammar sense carries it, or they are brought to perfection by the influence of Gold, figuratively called the Sun by Philosophers, or at least have the quali­ty, nature and vertue, and do that in the Mi­crocosm, which the Sun doth in the Macro­cosm, let what will be the Reason of that title, if they be not made by the beams or heat of the Sun, or dryed up, and brought to a Consistence thereby, it is a groundless insipid denomination. It is a new name sig­nifying just nothing. Men are said to be judged by the names they give to their Chil­dren, sure I am, Philosophers may be judged by the titles they give to their secrets. Here is a secret of whose name and title we may say, as the Angel once said of his name to Manoah, It is wonderful! Wonderful to me, what affinity Charcoal, Sea-salt, Saltpetre, and Antimony have with the Sun-beams? what the Crucible the mixture is melted in? the fire that melts it? the water that dulcifies it? the Sugar, Gums, &c. that make the powder into a Pill, any of these, or all put together, he that can make out to my understanding, how they denote the Solar rayes, either really or analogically, shall be my Oedipus: till then my wonder will and must continue.

Howbeit as I before hinted out of Basilius Valentine, in Antimony are most noble ar­cana's hidden, but not to be prepared by the hand of every ignorant Sciolist, concerning which this caution of Helmont is universally true, and not to be neglected, that Antimo­ny, while it causeth vomit, and ☿ while Sa­livative are not medicaments fit for an honest man to use.

If any shall object that Lockyers Pill works with some scarce perceptibly, I answer, so will the Antimonial Cup, Crocus, or vi­trum of Antimony, in a full dose with some robust natures; but this universal Pill, or ra­ther poyson, is given in so small dose at first and gradually increased, that scarce Arsenick, Orpiment, or Realgar would prove lethally dangerous, if given in the same quantity, which beguiling nature with an insufficient dose, and gradual administration, is a perni­cious prevarication against the sure rules of the true Art of Medicine, which prescribe, that whatever noxious is given internally, be given with great caution in respect of the parties strength, age, and other circum­stances, yet in a sufficient quantity to work it self out, lest by this means of imposing on natures discretion, with a virulent venom gi­ven in a too small dose, an enemy be lodged [Page 26]within, ready upon occasion to work an in­evitable mischief, when nature beguiled by the small dose of an absolute poyson shall be least aware of it, and not able to prevent, or remedy it, for where the Archeus of the sto­mack is not sufficiently provoked to vomit, nor the pylorus, mesaraicks, and bowels to an artificial dysentery, or purging, (as it hath fallaciously got a name) there at least pro­vident nature involves the offensive powder (or Pill) in a flegmatick inclosure (as a spider doth a fly in its web) and so gradually as more is taken in it covers it, till with the heat of the stomack and continuance, this secon­dine break or dissolve, then follow continu­al vomitings, and loosness with Syncope's, deliquia's, and other tragical symptoms, and perhaps the life of the Patient payes for the folly of the ignorant Artist; at least an inde­lible malignant Character is imprinted upon the bowels, and viscera, which by no Art perhaps is after to be remedied, or with ex­tream difficulty. Hence arise continual pal­pitations of the heart, involuntary sighings, oppression of the vitals, with most difficult breathing, as durable as the life, to the amaze­ment and horror of beholders. And truely it was to gratifie the importunate requests of several, who from Bristol, Lincolnshire, Ox­fordshire, Kent, Surry, Sussex, &c. have sol­licited [Page 27]my opinion of these Pills, with reciting several apparent, undeniable, inexcusable tragedies ensuing after, and caused by the taking of them, that caused me thus far to travel in the Anatomy of them, and discover­ing their true nature, vertue, and danger, that a record may be for future in behalf of Pyrotechny, that the Philosopher by the fire hath publickly protested against them, and given caution to that purpose.

No less Dangerous is that Mercurial prepa­ration not more famous about the Town and in the Countrey, for its monstrous price, then infamous for its salivative quality, of which an ounce of fine gold is but the pur­chase of eight grains, and that quantity ex­ceeds a single dose but one grain. This pow­der is onely Bradshaw revived with a double value set upon the medicine by his successor. It is an odd and old folly of the vulgar, to va­lue the goodness and excellency of a thing according to its price, so that it is become a proverb, far fetcht, and dear bought is for Ladies: but if it were truely known how little this powder in vertue exceeds common and ordinary precipitate, men would hardly be perswaded to give after the rate of two hun­dred and forty pounds an ounce for it, and might have the common that wants little or [Page 28]nothing of its goodness for less then a shilling.

Yet if the detrimnet of the purse were all the mischief that attended this old new inven­tion, I could be content to let it pass; and suf­fer the people to be lasht for the itch of their curiosity with a silver whip. But when that comes to be hazarded by it, that is so far bet­ter then estate, (even the life of man kind,) for which to redeem it from the pit, man would willingly give, not onely all that he enjoyeth, but skin for skin besides; in such a case I cannot let it pass without notice and censure, that if men will be foolish, and ha­zard their lives, and health to extream dan­ger, by adventuring on unfaithful remedies; it may be on their own score, and not be imputed to the insufficiency of the Art, which is properly the fault of ignorant, yet confi­dent Artists.

The preparation is onely a precipitate of ☿, and if any Gold be added in precipitation, if the precipitation be made with a Corrosive, it is at best a delusion, for what dissolves meddles not with Gold, nor will aqua regia that dissolves gold, work on it alike, when mixed with ☿, or if they were corroded to­gether, or by bare digestion precipitated, [Page 29]without a corrosive, so long as there is no alte­ration, nor union of their natures, the pro­duct is inconsiderable, the ☿ is not in the least amended of its salivative venom, nor is the body of ☉ in the least opened or altered, but as to all medicinal vertue is dead; as it was before precipitation; so that it is a clog (if any thing) to the ☿; but gold reducible as before: for trial, let this powder be put in a small crucible, in a heat of fusion for ☽, or a smaller degree, the ☿ goes away in a white smoak, and if a piece of gold be held over the fume in a pair of tongs, the ☿ straightway cleaves to it, and whitens it, and stands in a pearly dew of crude ☿, if any part abide, that may be gold or silver; but because it is cor­porally metalline, (as it was before) it adds nothing of medicinal vertue to the ☿. I deny not but in Corrosive dissolutions, the Corro­ded metal or ☿, may and doth give a deter­mination of efficacy to the coagulated salt of the dissolving spirit, as it is in the Lunar Pills, of which the honorable Robert Boyl Esquire hath written much in their commen­dation. But where ☿ is dissolved by a Coro­sive, the product becomes too churlish to be given (almost in any dose) without washing away the Corrosive salts by warm water, and when at the sweetest (that water can bring it too) the ☿ still impresses on those atoms of [Page 30]salt which remain its odious quality of salivation, and tormenting the the Intestines and viscera; that oft times the tragical ope­ration thereof, becomes a spectacle of hor­ror and astonishment. And though ☿ may have many, and those excellent vertues, in its own nature, (as the Elogy of John Woodall a famous Chirurgeon testifies in its praise) yet till a true Philosophical preparation thereof be made, it is attended with so ma­nay infamous qualities, and dangerous symp­tomes, as justly to brand the unadvised user thereof, with a mark of ignorance at best, if not of unfaithfulness and dishonesty.

The ground of mistake in those that work both on ♁ and ☿, is the Commendation that is truely given by the sons of Art to the Arcana's that by the labour of wisdom, are to be prepared out of both, such are the Corrallatum or Precipiolum of Paracelsus, which is his Diaceltatesson, (of which I have written in my Catalogue and Index of medi­cines by me prepared, with directions for their use &c.) which cures radically the Gout, and Lues, all Fevers, the Dropsey, and Ul­cers of the Lungs, Kidnies and Bladder, the Horizontal gold also, which is truely universal, the Sacharine Ens, or Ladanum [Page 31]of ☿ the Lily of ♁, the stone of the fire of Basilius Valentine, with other of the like na­ture, which mundify, cleanse and restore na­ture, so as to renew the hair, the skin, and teeth, and powerfully extirpate all diseases radically. After which secrets rash ignorant pretenders seeking long in vain, fall at last to actual imposture, and boast of trivial prepara­tions in which the form of ♁ is only disguised, as if they were indeed these noble mysteries, when as they are onely unfaithfully prepared, incorrected poysons, such (as pests in a Com­mon wealth) deserve a black mark, that they may not be a real scandal and reproach to true sons of Art. To pluck off whose disguise is the end of this tractate. To undeceive al­so as many as I can who have been seduced by their boastings, and swelling words of vanity, to run too great a hazard of both life and health in trying their unfaithful remedies. For whose satisfactory information, let such learn from me, that the vomitive quality of ♁, and the salivative of ☿, do betray both their natures, as the Devil is reported to be betrayed by his cloven foot, that how­ever they may be disguised, yet their form is not changed, but by an easie art, and in a little time, both may be returned to their pristine form, the ☿ to running quicksilver, [Page 32]and the ♁ to regulus. No marvel then if the hopes of such as make use of them be deluded to the unexcusable disgrace of the preparers and extollers of such dangerous secrets, whose rashness will, I hope, lie no longer as a ble­mish on true Pyrotechny, and its Adept Sons.

Besides, these who deal in ☿ and ♁ pre­pared with trivial mock preparations yet extolling their products to universality in medicine, there is another sort of Chymists, who like Whifflers in a show of Pageantry, serve only to make the Art of Pyrotechny appear ridiculous, some having gotten a knack by mistake esteem it for what it is not, and confidently so report of it, and give out concerning it both by word and writing, others lighting upon some speci­ficks, which may be useful, and prescribed with credit to themselves, and the Art, in such cases for which they are peculiar, do by undue boasting and unreasonable com­mendations thereof, much bring their own judgement and the credit of the Art they profess, into suspition and question. Of the first sort are they who cry up a spirit of Salt with the highest Elogy due to the best of its kind, which is truely made and prepared, [Page 33]yet instead of it, sell a pitiful rascal Phlegm of Salt, which hath truely none of the ver­tues which are duly ascribed to that which is faithfully prepared. Of the true spirit of Salt Helmonts testimony is to be understood, that it hath not its peer or fellow for extin­guishing the thirst that afflicts feverish per­sons, as also against the burning sharpness of urine, yea where the bladder is actually opprest with a stone, as also in the stranguries of old persons, that it gradually diminsheth, and pleasantly brings away nephritical gra­vel and stones; It is also a most excellent Diuretick, and so very helpful in Hydropick, and Scorbutick Cases, cleansing and amend­ing the blood by its balsamick quality. But let the Reader consider what spirit of Salt performs all this. It is that which is distilled from Spanish Salt, first decrepited, then melted in a Crucible, after dissolved among slices of Radish roots, then dried again, and mixt with calcined Potters clay, and distilled by degrees of fire at first, & urged at last with the extream fire of reverberation, and so continued till the Spirits be wholly drawn off. This Spirit is of a pleasant sent, very vola­tile, ponderous, tincted, and exquisitely crid, yet will not corrode common quicksilver, though in sharpness it equal the most recti­fied [Page 34]oyl of Vitriol, and in weight, and is so volatile that you can no sooner open the glass, but the fumes in form of a smoak will soon fill the room. Whereas this spirit which lately is cryed up in City and Country, is made of white Salt, not so much as dryed from its moisture, which by lying in the air it contracts. The invention of drawing it, as to the instrument was Glaubers, which being of earth lets out all the subtle spirits, giving onely the flegm, which a small trial will de­monstrate to any that is ingenious, for let that spirit be rectified with a very gentle fire, and all that is insipid thrown away (for it is worth nothing else) the residue of a whole pound will be so incredibly little, that a man who hath once made the experiment, would wonder at his own levity and vanity, to be deluded by so palpable a trifle, in a thing that concerns not his purse onely, but his health and life also, for by relying on this broken staffe for help, opportunity of seeking out elsewhere is lost, never to be recovered again, and this damage at least is got by pro­mised help, where the thing on which the Patient relies for performance of what he expects, and the Doctor promiseth, cannot perform what it gives hopes of. Such may well be called cruel promises, where the life [Page 35]is ingaged, and the effect in an ordinary way cannot, nor will answer expectation. Of this sort are several Chymical preparations, as namely Elixir proprietatis, the tincture of Corals, the Magistery of Pearls, &c. which have onely the name of Paracelsus and Hel­monts secrets, but are not the things them­selves. Such is the potable gold boasted of by some, in which is nothing of remark, but the cheat of it, and disapointment of expecta­tion in him that useth it. Of this sort of po­table gold that testimony of Gideon Harvey may be very true, that it hath no admira­ble vertue in it, but by reason of its Corro­sive spirits (with which it is prepared) it hath to his knowledge caused dysenteries &c. which is no more then Helmont said before him, to wit, that in his Tyrociny he could by Corrosives make gold appear in the dis­guises of oyl, Vitriol, and a spirit, yet he could never find in those preparations such vertues which the Adept Philosophers as­cribe to the preparations of Gold extolled by them, nay rather he found better effect in the decoction of some simple then herein. But at last he perceived that gold without its true proper Corrosive is dead; till (I say) it be ra­dically penetrated by its Corrosive, which as Paracelsus saith, is truely more noble then [Page 36]the gold it self. Nor is it impossible, but Dr. Harvey may hereafter come to find another far more secret potable gold, then any he hath seen yet, which may have other ver­tues then that which he mentions with such deserved contempt. Then he may have a far better est eem of Helmont then at present he manifests; when the whimsies of his natural Theology (little better then Scripture Atheism or Ethnick Divinity) his Graphical de­scriptions of the several divisions of the Chaos, his Metaphysical Dog-Cat, with other pretty Chimera's about fire, and the Elements, shall by riper years be worm'd out of his brain, then he may fall into a more serious consideration of his latter end, set forth to him by the Emblems of his Deaths­head and flower-pot, and at last perhaps prove a Sober Philosopher. Till then I leave him for answer, to what he hath vomited up in disgrace of Helmont, to his further and more judicious reading of him; his Ex­ceptions being so empty and weak, as to deserve no further answer, and his Book of Archeology so pitifully idle, as that it hath not the good luck of those Tractates which have of all others the worst fortune, to contein so much in it of real value, as to requite the Readers time that he spends in reading it.

But to leave Dr. Harvey, and his po­table gold, and come to what we further intend, namely, to discover the abuses un­der which the Art of Pyrotechny grones, and to disabuse the people who have been, and are deluded by such empty bubbles, in which besides a swelling outside there is no­thing but air and vanity. I shall in brief re­sume what I have said before, and so con­clude this my censure of unfaithful Chy­mical remedies, they are all of them mistakes in art, imposed on the credulous world for what they are not, of which some are tru­culent, and lethally dangerous, where, to wit, dangerous subjects are wrought upon, and the true preparation not understood by such Tyro's as too rashly adventure upon the work, yet they extol the products to the heavens for the true secrets of the Adepti, when indeed they are onely false names of rare Arcana's put upon real venoms, where the preparation is not true, nor the product safe, such are Lockyers Pill, Hugh's powder, Mercurius vitae, commonly now known by that name, Aurum vitae, &c. with twenty se­verall impostures of the like nature. Others are safe, being of subjects in which lies no danger, but for want of a due preparati­on, [Page 38]trivial and sophisticate. Such is Con­stantines Phlegme of Salt, the common spirit of vitriol, the common Elixir proprietatis, Tincture of Coral, Oyl of Amber, yea what spirit or oyl is there, that for gain sake is not adulterated, or the preparation shuf­fled over, where the true way of doing it is troublesom and difficult, or perhaps not known. Every Tyro at his first entrance on the art of Chymistry, boasts himself straight­way for a Colossus in Pyrotechny, and will adventure upon the most hidden myste­ries, who knows not the keyes by which natures Cabinet is unlocked. Hence it is, that while many boast of high Arcana's, and yet they and their secrets become at last de­servedly contemptible, others who have some particular remedy not usual, with which more real good is done, then with these great mysteries (whose cruel danger makes them at last suspected by all, and ab­horred by them, who know and have tried them) they take this opportunity of extol­ling this rarity of theirs for the Apex of Chymical preparations. Thus spirit of Harts­horn with some, spirit of Soot with others, (called by the name of ignis vitae) spirit of Dead mens bones with a third sort, are ig­norantly and unadvisedly commended as [Page 39]true Panpharmaca, and so used by many, whereas they are only urinous spirits, and so abstersive, of which that of Hartshorn is the best, but nothing comparable to that spirit made of it, by the circulated salt of Helmont and Paracelsus; by which Hartshorn is turned into a lacteous spirit, and will reach the prin­ciples of our constitution, by which means such notable spirits do strengthen the bal­som of life, & are powerfully renovative and restoring decayed strength, and the drooping vital spirits. Of this sort are Crabs eys, Pearl, and the stones of vegetables, and animals, the shells also of Crabs, and fishes, yet so as that there are kinds and degrees of goodness among them, but their preparation must be performed by a true Key or agent, and not according to the slender skill of an illiterate Tyro, or ignorant Sciolist. In doing which, the concrets must be resolved by a sponta­neous retrograde solution, and the primitive lactiform liquor separated totally from the dissolvent, which is the highest advancement those concretes can be brought to, in which are wonderful excellencies hidden, for such who have an inclination to nephritick Coa­agulations of gravel, and stranguretical muc­cous viscidities in the bladder, which inclinati­on though old and obstinate, such Arcana's re­move, [Page 40]and by a restoring vertue confirm the Kidnies and bladder in their pacified state, to the infinite comfort of the patient and credit of the Physitian. Of these and many other true secrets, I shall God willing put forth a discourse intituled, Helmont revived, as a forerunner to which it was necessary to send forth this tractate, to undeceive the world, who have long been abused with adulterate rascal preparations, instead of true Chymical Arcana's and medicines, to the injury of de­luded patients, and disgrace of the Art, which reproach I doubt not but these lines of mine will for the future wipe off, and remove.