PART I.

To the well minded Reader.

_Some or other will perhaps wonder at, and fain know what the reason

should be of my describing this =Pharmacopœa Spagyrica=, or Chymical

Dispensatory, especially when they consider that there are not onely

found various preparations of divers Chymical Remedies in my Books

that I have published, but also many such innumerable Writings of such

kind of businesses, are publick even from the days of old down to this

very day, both profitable ones (of which the number is very small)

and also unprofitable ones (of which there are a great multitude,)

insomuch that it might seem altogether needless to commit to the

Press any more matters of that kind. To satisfie such a one that thus

enquires, I judge it well worth my while to demonstrate in this place,

that it is not onely very profitable, but also highly necessary, well

to distinguish between good and tried Medicines, and such as are not

proved ones, not because you should neglect, correct, reject, and

suppress other Mens Writings, and to esteem highly of mine. No such

matter, for I well know that none can give more than he possesseth, and

if any one doth (out of a candid mind) bring to light any thing for

the profit and benefit of his Neighbour, how vile soever, and mean the

thing be, yet is it to be most thankfully accepted of; and therefore

let no body be so proud, as to presume upon the rejecting of the

industry and labour of another Man, but rather extoll it with praises,

though he himself could have done better. And so by what is here

spoken, I would hint unto you that the very reason why I have published

this small Treatise, is this, =viz.= that my inventions may reach out

an helping hand to poor afflicted mankind, and that I may assist them

in a Christian manner, according to the will and command of the most

high. And although I have already described the preparation of many

profitable Medicines, as well out of Vegetables and Animals, as out of

Minerals, in my Philosophical Furnaces, by the use of which in case of

necessity, every curable Disease may be sufficiently enough driven out

and carried off; yet nevertheless it hath seemed expedient unto me,

to set forth this little Work under three Parts, each of which parts

shall contain singular Medicaments as for example. The first Part shall

comprehend such Medicines, as proceed from Vegetables, the second Part,

such as proceed from Animals, and the third Part, such as may be had

out of Minerals. And this also is a primary reason why I have comprised

each kind of Medicaments in a singular Work or Treatise, because of the

envious know-littles, and foolish deriders, and despisers of Art, who

reject all Mineral Medicaments, (but they know not their properties)

as unsafe at all times, because not taken forsooth out of the wholsome

Vegetables, (whose use and virtue [say they] hath been approved for

many Ages) but out of the poisonous Minerals and Metals, whereto no

trust is to be given, and the use of them too is to this day very rare,

and their operation too vehement. Now that I may stop the mouths of

these kind of Men, and that they may see and know, that I likewise am

well versed in the virtues of Vegetables, and their true preparations,

together with their purification and fundamental Anatomy, and with

their reduction into most wholsome and most safe Medicaments, I have

purposed with my self in my first part of my Spagyrical Dispensatory,

to treat of no other things save onely such Medicaments as are made

out of known Vegetable Simples, without the addition of any other

things, (either Animal or Mineral) as for instance, out of Herbs,

Flowers, Roots, Fruits, and Seeds, their separation by Art, and their

reduction into a better form. In the second part, we will treat of such

things onely as proceed from, and are prepared out of Man, and other

Creatures, and such as live in the Air, and also such as live in the

Waters. But in the third Part I shall not desist from defending those

Medicaments of mine, which I published some years since, and were

prepared of Minerals, and shall demonstrate unto you, that they are

not at any rate to be shunned or neglected, if rightly prepared and

applied, but are to be preferred far before those Medicaments that are

prepared out of Vegetables and Animals. To them I will also adjoyn the

use and preparations of several other things, which I never as yet made

mention of. Nor do I doubt but that the eyes of the blind will sometime

or other be opened, so as to see the truth, and confess it and love it,

to the doing whereof, I pray God, that Eternal, Immutable, and durable

Light, the Father and defender of the truth to help us._ Amen.

THE

SPAGYRICAL PHARMACOPOEA:

OR

DISPENSATORY.

_What Vegetables are, or what is meant by the name of Vegetables?_

You are in the first place to note, that under the name Vegetable,

comes all that which hath its Food out of the Earth, which grows or is

encreased, be they Herbs, Shrubs, or tall Trees with what appertains

unto them, as the Root, Stalk, Leaves, Flowers, Seeds, and Fruits

of them, as well cultivated as wild, both of our own Countrey, and

Forreign, as well the known wholsomes one, as the unknown and hurtfull,

whatsoever name they are called by, the kinds, shape, form, property,

virtue, and power; of which, may be found described by many ancient and

later Philosophers and Physicians, so that ’tis needless to make any

farther rehearsal of them.

My purpose is onely to tell by what means, and by what most excelling

way that innate virtue, operation, and efficacy, which God hath

implanted into them, may, and indeed ought, by the dexterity and

industry of Man, to be separated from their dead Fæces and Husks, and

be concentrated and applied in a convenient form to Diseases, and be

reduced into a most pleasant and acceptable Essence. But some may

object and say, what good is here in bestowing such a deal of labour

and care to extract the virtues out of Herbs, and concentrate them,

and so at last administer them to the Sick? Will it not be all one,

if any one know their natures, virtues and properties, (the which may

abundantly enough be known by the large description given of them,

in the Books both of the Ancient and Modern Physicians) and so make

use of them, green and dryed, according as they are at hand, or else

first steep them in Wine, Ale, Water, or any other drink used at

Meals, or else boil them therein, or omit the decoction, and drink the

infusion, and so administer help. Will not that perform the very same

effect, that the well prepared, pure, subtile, sweet, and efficacious

essence will? I answer that without question, there is extracted some

kind of virtue out of the Herbs, by such a kind of infusion in Wine,

Ale, or such other like drinks, and is together with the Wine carried

into the Body, and effects no small things, if it meets not with too

much matter that is to be turned out. But yet no body will deny but

that their virtues being extracted and concentrated, and taken in a

spoonfull of Wine or Ale, will operate more speedily, and be taken in

more pleasantly, and display its virtues more effectually than the

boiled Herbs, or its infusion; wherein by reason of the virtue of some

few drops as it were lying hid in a whole handfull of Herbs, we are

constrained to drink down together herewith such a deal of Wine or Ale,

which too is rendred very unpleasant and ungratefull by the Herbs:

This the Ancient Physicians well observed, and made an accurate search

many Ages ago, by what means they might best of all prepare Herbs

sundry ways, so as to be taken inwardly with delight, and be encreased

in their virtues. Thence it came to pass that so many preparations

are brought into the Dispensatories, which abide in use even to this

very day: amongst which there are distilled Waters, Oils, Balsoms,

Ointments, Juices, Electuaries, Conserves, and such like; the which I

do not by any means reject, but onely mention how the virtues of Herbs

may be administred to the Sick, in a far more pleasant form. It is all

one to me, if the aforesaid and usual preparation of Herbs be still

in best repute and so continue, for I neither sow there, nor expect

to reap thence. And should I need their help (which God forbid) and

that I had no better to supply my necessity, I would give God thanks,

for his vouchsafing me a part of those prepared Herbs, lest I be

constrained to make use of raw Herbs, in that manner that the Cows eat

grass, but yet that I have better, no Body can blame me, if I rather

use them, and am willing to communicate them out of love and duty to my

Neighbour. Verily no Body is compelled to do otherwise than as pleaseth

him, one useth Herbs in an infusion of Wine, another eats them with

Vinegar, Salt, and Oil, another takes them green as they are, and cuts

them small, mixeth them with Sugar, and assoon as they are come to a

dryness, brings them into Powder, and takes them in some Broth; Another

may thicken them with Honey, and Sugar, squeeze them in a Press, and

so use them. And plainly ’tis no matter what way a Man takes in using

them. Some there are that can’t abide any Powders, because they stick

to their Gullet and will not pass down into the Stomach, others can’t

endure Pills, and some you will meet with to whom all sweet things as

Honey and Sugar are distastfull. And you will find many too that can’t

endure Wine or Ale, wherein Herbs have been steeped but all night. Upon

this account venerable Antiquity considered of so many preparations of

Herbs, that if haply one way did not like them in administring them,

the Physician might make use of another way, and so Men did year after

year attempt more and more the preparation of sweet Medicaments, and so

trimmed and adorned their _Pharmacopœa_’s daily by little and little,

and brought it to a better state: And that is thus evident (I will now

speak onely of the Vegetables,) _viz._ there are to be found almost

in all well constituted _Pharmacopœa’s_, burning Spirits, which are

produced (by distillation) out of fermented Herbs, as likewise Salts,

which are extracted out of calcined Herbs and again coagulated; also

extracts, and (by the mediation of the Spirit of Wine) thickned Juices

are extracted; also distilled Oils, and some coagulated into Balsoms.

And many more preparations of this kind, and better sorts there are,

which have not been of any very long standing, but have been by little

and little added by good and faithfull Physicians, all which things

do perform as much as they ought (or may be expected in the rank in

which they are) nor ought any one to throw them clear off. But now if

any one knows how ingeniously to extract the virtue of an Herb, and

to concentrate it in such a manner, as that one onely drop shall be

of as much efficacy as a whole cupfull of distilled Water, or as a

spoonfull of Powder, Juice, Syrrup, or Conserve. Why I pray, should not

one drop be in all likelyhood more willingly taken than a full Cup, or

a spoonfull? That which may be done by a few, needs not be done by a

great many. But haply some other will say, how can I be certain that

there is a greater virtue in some drops of some good Essence, than in a

whole spoonfull of dryed and finely powdered Herbs, or of green Herbs

condited and beaten with Sugar, or than a Potfull of distilled waters;

now this may be known by the virtue, odour, and tast, and that on this

wise. If a few drops be put into a potfull of pure fountain water, and

be stirred with a _Spatula_, the said water doth then exactly resemble

the odour of the Herb when whole, and doth as to its tast agree with

that water which is drawn out of the green Herb by distillation. If

therefore the odour and tast be there, the virtue cannot be far off,

besides the use will easily shew it, if both of them are in the proof

compared together. And this now cannot be contradicted by any probable

argument, for it is clearly evident to every one, that such a kind

of Essence is an hundred thousand times more efficacious (respect

being had to the quality and quantity of the same) than the Herb

either green or dryed: Besides there also ariseth this benefit, that

such a kind of Essence doth not at all lose any thing of its virtues

though kept a great many years, whereas the other preparations and

especially the distilled waters will grow musty and putrifie. But an

Essence will (if warily preserved) endure as efficacious above ten,

yea an hundred years, as it was the very first day that it was made.

Forasmuch therefore as these things are without controversie thus, we

should rather mind the chusing of such things which being but small

in quantity, are pleasanter and more efficacious than those that are

of so great a bulk, which indeed are of little or no efficacy at all.

There is no body will deny, but that the virtues of Herbs are widely

dispersed and hidden in themselves, and for which virtues sake we are

forced to take the whole Herb, that is, the dead body for that little

virtue that lies hidden therein, just as if a Man instead of Bread

should eat the crude wheat together with the stalk whereon it grows,

which certainly would prove very hurtfull to the Stomach, and would

together with its allaying our hunger corrupt the Stomach, and make it

unfit for digestion. If therefore the Countrey-men who are the most

sluggish and unaptest Men of all others, have by a long course of

time arrived unto and experimented this Wisedom and Dexterity, _viz._

that the Corn is not just as it comes out of the ground in its husk

and stalk, at all fit for the use of Man, and do likewise well know

that it is far more profitable (if the grain be first threshed out of

the Eare, then ground small in a Mill, the husky Bran be separated,

and then the pure Meal mixed with a little water and Salt, or ferment

Leaven, and so the Past suffered to ferment, and afterwards be baked)

than to use the crude Corn just as it grows, why should we not use

also the utmost of our endeavours to extract the most pure Essence

out of medical Herbs, and so to administer them to the Sick; than to

use the crude Herb as it comes out of the Earth? And this I instance

onely for example sake, that it may appear that a legitimal preparation

exalteth a thing into a far better state than it was before. And this

may be demonstrated by sundry examples, if need required, but sure

here is no body that is such an unwise Tatler as to dare to oppose it.

Forasmuch then as the case stands thus, that an extracted, pure, and

subtile Medicine, operates far more speedily and safely, than when

prepared after the common manner, I judge it much amiss to conceal the

way that leadeth thereunto, and not to give directions for the use and

profit of ones Neighbour. Nor indeed can I say that this invention of

preparing Essences of Herbs did proceed first of all from my self;

for ’tis unknown to me what another may either have done, or is able

to do. But this I know, that no body hath hitherto mentioned the same

either in Writings or otherwise, and that this preparation is no where

known or in use. Well be it as it will, whether or no others know it

as well as I, or have known it before me, yet it ought to be accompted

a good thing, that I bring it forth to light for the sake of so many

sick People. And it would have been much more acceptable unto me, if

any body else had published it before me, and had eased me of this

labour. But that I may return to my purpose; I will begin a brief but

very clear description of the way whereby the virtue of Herbs is to

be extracted and concentrated, that so by this means they may be more

effectually operative in Diseases, and be more commodiously administred

than the crude and unprepared Herb, and it is to be done as followeth.

_The Preparation of the Essences of Vegetables._

Take of an Herb cleansed from the Earth, and its withered and putrified

Leaves, both Root, Stalk, Leaves, Seed if they may be had, as much as

you list, but however let it be at the least some fifty pounds weight,

for the Fermentation will not succeed so well in a lesser quantity, as

if taken in a due measure and plenty. Cut the Herb, _&c._ small, pour

Water hereupon as much as is sufficient to fill your Copper Still,

within an hands breadth of the top, urge your fire somewhat strong,

and there will distill forth a clear and well smelling Water, together

with a little Oil, which you must separate from the Water by a tritory

or separating glass, and reserve it apart: then take out the Herbs

remaining in the Still, put more of your Herbs in, and distil the

Water and Oil as before, this repeat so long, until you have distilled

all the Herbs, always separating the Oil from the Water, and keeping

it apart. Now then all the Herbs being thus distilled, pour water on

them again, and put thereto a spoonfull of good new Ale yeast, and

let them ferment together in a woodden Vessel covered over for some

three or four Days: Then when the Herb begins to leave off working,

’tis enough, and is fitted to send forth in a volatile manner by

distillation its most pure parts, _viz._ Salt and Sulphur. Stir the

matter well with a stick, that so both thick and thin may be well mixed

together; fill your Still herewithal, give a fire by degrees, that

the Herbs burn not too, and the Spirit tast of an Empyreume. Distill

it with a Refrigatory so long as the water hath any savour, the which

you may easily find by tasting it often, when the water comes forth

insipid cease from the Distillation, keep what is distilled forth in

glasses: Then empty your Still and fill it again with more fermented

Herbs, even within an hands breadth of the top, distil thence the

Spirit, the which so long repeat until there remains nothing of the

Herb undistilled. Then having cleaned the Still and Refrigatory, pour

hereinto all your distilled Spirits, and rectifie them, take onely

the strong Spirits, pour out the insipid water left in the Still;

rectifie the Spirit again in an Alembick in _B. M._ and it will again

put off an insipid water; and if need be repeat this rectification yet

once more in a glass Alembick, that so the Spirit being exalted by a

farther operation may become very strong and subtil, and its internal

Vertue may be concentrated. So then, now take the Herb from which the

Oil and Spirits proceeded, make thereof small Balls which dry in the

_Sun_ or at the Fire, burn them unto Ashes, from which Ashes extract

the Salt with the insipid water left in rectifying your Spirit, and

coagulate it: This Salt you must again dissolve with more new water

and filter, and coagulate it and then it is enough. To one part of

this Salt, pour two parts of the rectified Spirit, and gently abstract

it in a _B. M._ and so the Spirit will receive into it self asmuch

as it needeth of the fixed Salt, and bring it over with it self by

the Alembick: But the fixed Salt holds back the Phlegm, which as yet

lurked in the Spirit. But now the Salt thus moist, if it be again

fired (or calcined) is as good as it was before. To this Spirit thus

concentrated even to the utmost, pour an half or a third part of the

Oil you distilled before out of the said Herb, mix them together by

shaking them well, and the concentrated and Alkalizated Spirit will in

a moment devour his said proper Oil, and will all of it be converted

into a clear efficacious and pleasant Essence. In which Essence the

volatile Salt and Sulphur of that Herb are united with the fixed Salt,

and are to be accompted of, as a pleasant, penetrative, efficacious

Essence, and friendly to nature; the which may be mixed and profitably

taken with any Liquor: A few drops of which have more Vertue than a

whole handfull of the crude Herb. And this Essence being taken into

the Body, doth not onely operate more efficaciously in those kinds of

Diseases which the Herb served for before its being thus prepared, but

doth also (by reason of its subtil purity) more speedily display its

Vertues, and being externally applied, doth (by its Odour) corroborate

the Heart and Brain beyond all other, how sweet and odoriferous soever

thickened Oils, prepared with Civet, Musk and Ambergrese; all which it

compared with this Essence, are to be esteemed of as a dead Body: For

in this Essence, the volatile Salt which is conjoyned with the Oil,

doth presently introduce (or lead it inwards) and make it subtil, even

to Admiration. And so this Medicine serves as well for inward, as for

outward Uses. And certain it is, that the sweet Odour of any Herb,

such an one as by which the Heart might be comforted, as it were in a

moment, doth sometimes effect more than another comforting Medicine

taken into the Body. For the Heart of a Man lives of the Air, as a

Fish doth in the Water, the which being pure, the Heart becomes also

well thereby, and so on the contrary ill. Why should a Man love to

smell a Flower, did not the sweet Odour comfort his Heart and Brain,

and were not his Spirits refreshed thereby. If then the Flower and

Herb effecteth thus much, where the sweet and comforting Spirits are

as yet encompassed, involved, wildly diffused, and tied to their dead

Body; what will the Spirit do, being separated from the Body, highly

depurated and again concentrated. Besides the daily, and (to all)

well known experience, that a pleasant Air refresheth the Heart, but

a corrupt and infected Air (as is evident in the time of the Plague)

doth (on the other hand) debilitate it, and plainly suffocate it; It

might be an easie matter to produce Histories to prove and verifie the

same, but that it would be too tedious. But yet I must needs set down

here one or two memorable ones, for the better confirmations sake of my

Opinion. _Josephus de Acosta_ an acute and very expert Philosopher, of

the Order of the Jesuits, wrote a Book of the Condition and Property

of the Isles of the West _Indies_ newly found out, and amongst other

things in the third Book, and ninth Chapter, speaks of things no less

incredible than true, concerning the nature of some Winds which (in

some Provinces scituate beyond _Chili_) leap down as it were from the

Tops of Mountains and Desarts, and saith of them, that these Winds,

do (by reason of the notable piercing cold) not onely cast or throw

down for dead, the Passengers passing that way, who not dreaming of

any such thing are not well provided against it, but doth also wholly

kill some meerly from that most subtile Cold, so contrary and extremely

inimicitious to the Spirits and Life of Man. For even as a pleasant

and temperate Air doth preserve and cherish our vital Spirit, and

nourisheth it; so on the contrary an intemperate and cold Air, doth

suffocate and kill it: The which thing is wont to happen to such as

sail at Sea, for there the Air is infected by the motion of the salt

Sea, and doth so affect and debilitate those that are unaccustomed

thereunto, and especially their Brain, Heart, and Ventricle (as we

said above concerning the cold Wind, in the Desarts about _Chili_)

that it causeth men to vomit, their Head and Heart pains them, they

loath both Meat and Drink, until they are accustomed to the Air, and

can well brook it. Besides this story I will yet add another, to shew

that an infected Air can bring more detriment to the life of a man,

than any corporal Poyson. For a corporal Poyson invades the stomach

onely, which by the help of Nature doth easily expel the same again,

which is sufficiently witnessed by all well known Histories, _viz._

that a man casts out by vomit a Poyson that is drunk down inwardly, but

that spiritual Poysons do hasten to the Heart, to suffocate the vital

Spirit, unless a man be well armed, and this shall be instanced unto

you by the following History.

About some 30 years ago, there were two Mountebanks at _Paris_, that

had their stations not much distant from one another, and they did each

of them to their utmost commend their own Treacle which they sold to

the Inhabitants, thereby to disparage each other, and each to allure

the men to himself onely. But at last they came to a bargain betwixt

themselves, which was this, each of them should defend himself with his

own Treacle, against the Poyson the one should give unto the other,

and thereby defend the excellency of his Medicine. Well, one of them

takes a huge Toad, swallows down one half, gives the other half to his

Companion to devour, the which he also swallowed and neither of them

hurt. The next day following, the other invites his Adversary and used

this Stratagem. He took a Viper, together with a Toad and put them into

a Drum, adding hereto an handfull of Salt, and ordered the Drum to be

beaten a while with Drum-sticks, with which unwonted noise both the

Serpent and Toad being enraged, breathed forth their spiritual Venome,

and filled all the Drum herewith: This done, he bid his guest put his

nose to the hole of the Drum, which is usually about the middle of it,

for the letting forth of the sound, who as soon as ever he had drawn in

the spiritual Venome, fell backwards and died presently, not dreaming

any such matter, nor understanding that the spirits either good or bad

have as effectual operation upon the body, as a corporal Poyson hath.

I have not inserted these two stories, to fill the Paper up with words,

but to shew, that Spirits being separated and freed from their bodies,

are in there virtue and operation an hundred times stronger than the

bodies themselves are, though conjoined with their Spirits. The which

thing doth as well take place in such subjects that are wholsome and

friendly to Man’s nature, as in these here rehearsed. It is abundantly

known how many good and subtile Spirits I have described for the sake

of the Sick, in my second part of Philosophical Furnaces; yet few are

here to be found that set about the preparation of them. Amongst which

Spirits, that of _Sal Armoniack_ is not the meanest, which because

of its penetrating and temperate heat, doth exhibit a most present

operation, and is a Spirit worth all Men’s knowledge, and worthy every

where to be had at the Apothecaries Shops. Yet I have not as yet

seen it any where to be had, though I described a short easie way of

preparing of it: But of this (if God will) more shall be spoken in the

next part, where we treat of such Medicaments as are prepared out of

Animals. Such as are their volatile Salts, and fixed ones, wherein a

great virtue lieth hidden, and are (in some cases) to be far preferred

before those Medicaments that are made out of Vegetables. But yet

though it be thus, I cannot but admonish here that good and subtile

Medicines are to be circumspectly used, and not to be administred to

the Sick in a greater quantity than their nature will bear. Good and

sound Wine is able to comfort, and conserve in health, the Heart,

Brain, and whole Body of him that useth it aright. Whereas another that

useth it immoderately, even the same Wine is able to inflame and infect

his Lungs and Liver, to possess his Head, to bring a trembling into his

Hands, and a Gout into his Feet, to weaken his Sight, and to fill his

Reins and Bladder with the Stone; and for this end it was never given

by God, nor gotten with so much labour, but was created onely to serve

for the health of Man. O what curious secrets do lie hidden in the

Wine onely (not to speak of Corn and other Fruits) all which the World

neither knows nor cares to know, and I have determined with my self to

publish, in my Vegetable Work, but yet it is at the pleasure of God,

whether he will permit so to do or not. It is sufficiently manifest by

Wine alone, that the abuse of a thing hurts not the abused subject, and

the same may be said of other penetrating Medicines, whose operation

is according as you use them. We do not suffer a Child or a Fool,

neither of which are _compos mentis_, to meddle with a sharp Knife, for

fear lest they should hurt both themselves and others too; but now a

Wise Man useth it aright, and knows how to employ it both to his own

and the use of other Men. If then one hurts another with a Knife, the

fault lies not in the Smith that made it, because he gave it such a

keen edge, but in him rather that used it amiss.

Thus much I judged it worth the while to advise you of, lest haply

some of the Essences which I have described, should undergo a wrong

censure, as if they were too hot, but if they should, it may be known

what answer to give. For I confess that too much heat doth as well

extinguish the Vital Spirit (seeing it is a temperate warmth that is

its life and nutriment) as the cold, which is an enemy to nature:

and therefore you are here taught not to drink down these fiery

Essences as if they were your ordinary drink, but they must be wisely

administred, _viz._ 1, 2, 3, or 4 drops at a time according as the

Patient is, in a spoonfull of Ale, Wine, or other liquors. And so the

Medicine penetrateth through the whole body, and performeth that effect

which God hath given it. But this is to be known, that the force and

essence of all good and wholsome Herbs consisteth of heat, the which

by how much the more it is dilated and diffused throughout the body of

that Herb, so much the less observable is it; and by how much it is

contracted, by so much the more visibly and sensibly is it apprehended.

Whatsoever yields a temperate heat, is acceptable and wholsome to

nature; and contrarily, whatsoever refrigerateth too much, all that is

inimicitious and deadly, and this even every one, to whom nature is in

any small measure known, is enforced to acknowledge.

The death and destruction of the life of Man, is no other thing saving

a dissimilitude and contrariety, whereby that which is alike and

temperate is destroyed and dissipated, whether it be done by too much

heat or too much cold, ’tis both on the same manner. Too much heat doth

exhaust the strength out of a Man’s body, just as a great fire draws to

its self a lesser. But a mighty cold drives the spirit and life of a

Man to the heart, and is worse than the heat, but yet more insensible,

and this is clearly evident in Wine, which being set in a Vessel at

the fire, the Sun, or some warm place, the heat draws to it self the

spirit and life of the Wine, and leaves behind an insipid or unsavory

matter, because like covets its like, but if a Vessel filled with Wine,

be set in an intense cold, that cold doth not attract the Spirit as

the Fire did; but hates it as being unlike it, drives it into a little

room into the center of the Vessel, so that having broken the Vessel

and separated the Ice, the spirit will be found whole by it self, which

otherwise, and in the heat did ascend and might be caught in a Receiver

set hereto So then, the Spirit is constrained as well by too much cold,

as by too much heat to forsake its Soul and Habitation and leave it to

the power of Death.

And many things might be spoken both of the nature of heat and cold

which are understood but by few. There lies hidden therein great

_Arcanums_ which is not at all fit for the contemners to be acquainted

withall. An hot and temperate Air, and the light of the day being

dispersed widely or a far of, are the graces and virtue of God. But

the concentrated hot Air and Light of the Day, what can they be else

but God himself, the Habitation of pure Spirits. The darksome and cold

night is nothing else, but the emitted and widely dispersed or dilated

curse and wrath of God. But the concentrated and dark night is nothing

else but the eternally mortifying power and center of all evil, and

Habitation of evil Spirits, where is howling and gnashing of Teeth. Do

but a little consider, what is it that a little concentrated handfull

as it were of the Sun will not do? will not the heat kindle Wood, as it

were in a moment, and melt Lead and Tin? what would not the Sun do if

intercepted the breadth of three or four paces? without doubt it would

suffice to melt Iron and Copper. But it exceeds all understanding to

guess if the shining Sun were concentrated a miles breadth what would

it then do. But yet it is likely that it would burn up the whole World

in a moment, and make it vanish away in smoak, should the Sun shine on

it in this wise. This may be demonstrated by the contact and union of

the Sun’s beams in Concave one a burning Glass. And if we are unable to

behold the light of the Sun, when a little collected by some instrument

because the brightness thereof is such, as to hurt the Sight; who is

able to stand before the Sun it self, (and yet he is but as an egress

or out-gone virtue of God) much less before God himself who is the

Center of light. And could the darkness be so concentrated as the light

is, what an incomprehensible and dreadfull monster (such as Death, the

Devil, and the infernal Pit are) should we see, which God in mercy

prevent. For by how much the fairer, excellenter, and more unutterable

the concentrated light is, as being the divine presence and clarity, by

so much must the concentrated darkness be the more horrible and more

dreadfull, for these two are contraries. I may haply have made too wide

a digression, but yet these things are well worth your consideration,

that so it may even from hence appear how little the nature of man

is able to abide the extreams and centers of either heat or cold,

for either of these is a death and poison, but their temperature is

the life of a man. Forasmuch therefore as a Physician ought to be a

Philosopher and Spagyrist, and such an one who hath nature in his hand

and power, it is not difficult for him to find out a true temperature,

which may give to nature that which she desires and stands in need of.

Thus now it is hereby proved, that my Vegetable Essences are not to

be therefore shunned, because they are in themselves hot, for then we

might upon the same account shun God too, who in himself is a consuming

Fire; but it lies in the Physicians hands to temperate and moderate

these kinds of Essences with proper and suitable vehicles, according as

best conduceth to the help of the Sick.

Moreover the external use of those Essences is very notable in the

cold affects of the members, in which case they are a present help:

for the volatile Spirit is as it were a leading vehicle to the Oil and

volatile Salt, and the use of them is pleasant, if a little Cotton be

herewith impregnated, and so put to the Nostrils and smelt to. It doth

most notably vivifie (in time of infected Air) and comfort the Spirits,

preserves the heart from the corrupt Air and contageous Vapours. It

doth also correct and refresh the pent up Air in Parlors and Chambers,

_&c._ if the Glass wherein they be, be opened and exposed to the Air,

from whence the subtile Essence may be without ceasing diffused into

the Air, and make the room smell sweet. So that whosoever is already

in the room, or goeth hereinto will be refreshed with the friendliness

of the Odour. Nor are they very dear neither to him that knows how

rightly to prepare them, and is not to seek in manual operations.

But now this method (which I have spoken of) serves for such Herbs

onely as may be had fresh and plenty, and not so well for forreign

Herbs, dried Spices, Woods, Seeds, and Roots, for they require another

way which is as followeth.

_Process for Spices_, &c.

Forasmuch as that extraneous well smelling Vegetables are not every

where to be had, as our home-grown Herbs are, we must deal more

sparingly with them, and that on this wise. They must be powdered, and

to every pound must be put five or six pounds of common water, and

be macerated some three or four days in a warm place (whether it be

Root, Wood, Herb, Seed, or the like) then put them into a Still and by

Distillation draw according to Art some part of the water, and there

will come forth together herewithall an Oil of that Herb or Fruit,

which you must separate from the waters and keep by it self, untill

you get the Spirit and volatile Salt also, the which are to be joyned

with the Oil and be converted into a sweet Essence. Then take out the

water that remains together with the Vegetable out of the Still, put

it in a wooden Vessel, and add hereto the water you distilled and put

thereto so many pounds of Sugar as the Vegetable weighed. When your

Sugar is dissolved in the Water, mix therewith new Ale-yest, and let

it stand in a warmish place, and the Spice will ferment as if it were

a new Herb; when it hath done working, put it into your Still, and it

will yield a Spirit, like as the new fresh Herbs did, and such an one

as will both tast and smell strong of that Seed or Wood you distilled,

the which you ought to rectifie as is said before: the residue is to

be burnt into ashes, the Salt is to be extracted, and the Spirit to be

thence distilled, with which the Oil is to be conjoyned according to

the before prescribed weight.

_N. B._ Now forasmuch as the outlandish Spices can scarce be distilled

in quantity enough at one time onely, so as to yield Salt enough out

of the remainder thereof, it will be well enough, to use the Salt of

another Herb, instead of its own, or in defect of that too, you may use

highly depurated Salt of Tartar as a substitute, but yet it is better

to use its own proper Salt, provided it may be had.

This is the true and genuine description, how the Essences both of

our own home-grown Vegetables, and likewise of forreign and dry

Vegetables are to be prepared. Now remains that we describe the virtue

and efficacy of the prepared Essences; and this I could do, would it

not be too tedious, _viz._ to describe the virtues and efficacy of

the several Herbs. But seeing there are already Books that are full

thereof, I look upon it as superfluous to repeat the same, but refer

the well minded Reader, to those kind of Herbals which treat of the

virtues of the said Herbs. For whatsoever virtues the Herb either green

or dry abounds withall, its Essence possesseth the same much more

excellently, as being what is brought into a small compass, and so

multiplied: whereas otherwise a good part of the Herb goes to the said

contained vertues; especially of our Herbs here in _Germany_, in which

the vertue is widely dispersed, and it is therefore far more advisedly

done to collect them into a narrower room, that they may be the more

commodiously administred. This moreover is well worth the noting;

_viz._ that we can search out the Vertues of all Vegetables by their

Signature, far better than by reading those Books that are composed of

scraps from one, and scraps from another _&c._ Neither is it so well

always to acquiesce in the Writings of the Ancients, who also remained

ignorant of such things as God taught them not, by nature. Pray what

Master is there of knowledge that never erred from the truth? and who

is it that you can in all things safely trust?

O! I could wish, that we could but reade, and understand the Writings

and Signs of the said Herbs, by which it speaketh with us, we should

not need so many seducing Books. Who I pray exalted _Moses_, _Daniel_,

_Joseph_, _Solomon_, and many other Philosophers, to such an height of

Wisedom and Art? It was onely God, who yet lives and can at any time

easily doe whatever he formerly could: who can doubt as touching him,

when God minds the enlightning or blessing of any one with his Gifts,

he makes no use of any Books, for this purpose, and so instruct out of

them, nor doth he dispute or controvert with him. We should seek unto

this Master and learn from him, and not out of the elegantly written

_Arabian_, _Græcian_ and _Latine_ Books. But now the world is come to

such an height of pride and errour, that it can neither believe nor

comprehend that any one can learn ought but in the Schools, and yet the

most expert and most famous men that ever lived in the world, arrived

to that famous light of nature without making use of the Schools, and

the things that they wrote, they did not publish them in a strange

Language, but in their own Mother Tongue, as is sufficiently evident.

And this is the saying to this very day, _viz._ Whence hath this man

his understanding, and was never bred up in the Schools? I knew him

from his youth, and that he had nothing in him. Alas good Sir, you

are very wise. Brought you with you into the World more than I did?

Were not you born a naked Infant as well as I, and that skill which

any one hath, received it he from his Parents, hereditary? Is it not

the gift of God, whether it be much or little? Art doth not consist in

the variety of strange Languages, but in experience. It is one Art to

understand and speak several Tongues, it is another Art to calculate

the Course of the Sun, Moon and Stars, and to predict from them the

Changes of Times and Seasons. Again, it is another Art to prepare

and purifie the Nature, Properties, Vertue and Efficacy of all the

Vegetables, partly for the conservation of the Life of Man, and partly

for diverting accidental Diseases, and to know how to use them as need

requires. Besides it is another Art, to get out of the Earth those many

rare kinds of the wonderfull Creatures of God, and those Fruits of the

Earth as the Minerals and Metals, for Man’s use, (which is the End they

were created for, and which we cannot want) and to depurate them by the

Fire, to transmute them out of one form into another better form, and

to have the knowledge, understanding and experience of them all.

As concerning the signature of Herbs, by which God teacheth us their

hidden Vertues, many things might be said, and it were to be wish’d,

that such a knowledge were earnestly desired, and sought after by all

those that deal in Physick, and do thencefrom get their food, there

would not then be so much need of troubling ones Brains with so many

forreign and domestick Writings, where you shall find one gainsaying

another, and so leave they as doubtfull what party we were best

addict our selves unto and believe; but now we may easily find out

the certainty and truth by their signature, and distinguish what is

erroneous, and proceed on with more safety in all the practise, yea

and in time too (by God’s permission) come into a far better State.

And here you are to remember, that the signature of Herbs, do shew a

Physician their Vertues as well as Books do, for indeed they rather

trace by-paths, than walk in the way of truth. And here would be a

very convenient place to treat of the signatures of Vegetables, but

forasmuch as I have written a peculiar Book concerning them (which God

willing) shall suddenly come abroad, let the friendly Reader have a

little patience and expect it, wherein he shall find things wonderfull

and unheard of.

But that there may appear some footsteps thereof in this first part,

_viz._ by what means you are to meet with Diseases by the Essences

which I have described above, I could not omit the reckoning up of

some specifical ones, which I have proved by most certain experience

to be good against some principal and well known Diseases: That is

to say, in the Gout, there is Hellebore but especially Helleboraster

(which is a kind of Ellebore) the _German_’s Tobacco, and the Tobacco

of the West _Indies_ are a singular specifick and most notable asswager

and helper in all Podagrical griefs. Now the Physician should know

and understand, what the reason is that Ellebore and Tobacco ought

to be used in such kinds of Diseases. Then for the stone, I commend

the Essence of the seed of the Ash [or Ash-keys] before all other

stone-breaking Diuretick Medicines. For verily very many men have (by

that same Medicine) been freed and restored to health, who have lain

sick of it many years, insomuch that after their death there hath not

been found (in anatomizing them) not so much as the least footstep

thereof either in their Reins or Bladder: And yet before they used

this Medicine, they were almost every day pained with the same. This

specifick is made of the seed of Ash, which is usually ripe in Autumn,

the seed you are first of all to bruise well, and then mixing water

therewith distil it into your Still, and separate the Oil from the

Water, and reduce it into small Morsels or Troches with Sugar, for your

daily use. But a whole sack full, and as much as a man can carry, will

scarce yield you an Ounce or two of Oil: and one Ounce of this Oil will

suffice for two pounds of Sugar, for a greater quantity makes the Sugar

too unpleasant; for the Oil of the Ash-keys is very unpleasant and

nauseous, insomuch that it will provoke to vomit, if too much of it be

taken, otherwise it performs wonderfull effects in this case. But now

if out of what remains behind, you do (by the means of fermentation)

distil its Spirit, and after its concentration extract the fixed Salt

out of the Ashes, and unite it with the Oil, then will you have a

perfect Medicine, and most high specifick in the stone. And seeing that

we treat onely of Vegetables in this part, it will not be expedient

to mix herewith the Animal and Mineral medicaments, but in the second

part somewhat shall be mentioned of Animals, which doth efficaciously

bring forth stony and gouty Humours. Insomuch that the Urine of such a

sick Person, doth (after the use of this Medicine) being heated at the

fire, coagulate (like Cheese or Cows Milk) in the manner of natural

_Calx vive_ that is made out of stones. There is likewise amongst the

Minerals, one of them that efficaciously drives out the stone and gouty

Humours, which also we shall speak of, in its due place, _viz._ in the

third part. In some internal affects of the Liver and Spleen, and in

all concreted Blood be it from a blow, fall, or any other accident,

the Essence of St. _John_’s wort bears the chiefest note: For it

banisheth away all pains, resolveth congeal’d Blood, and healeth an

hurt (or wounded) affect provided the evil be not too inveterate. As

for the Uterine affects of Women, when the Womb hath taken Cold and

is moved out of its place, or otherwise hurt, the which produceth to

Women many difficult and chronical Diseases; the Essences of Tobacco,

Henbane, (of all sorts) being applied by means of a Spunge in a Uterine

Instrument, are a most certain lenative and sure Medicine: they restore

the _Matrix_ to its place and quietude, and heal all other infirmities.

In weak decrepid and decayed men, what will not the true Essence of

Roses and Cinamon do? if often taken, it comforts the Heart and Brain

above all other Medicaments: But this Essence must be prepared, and

concentrated into a narrow room, that so one or two drops, whether

put on the Tongue, or put to the Nose, may corroborate the whole Body

by its vertue, and the stander by may have enough to do to admire its

sweet Odour.

_N. B._ If any one hath a mind to make such an Essence, it behoves

him that he first gets the true Oil of Roses, which is distilled out

of the yellow Thrums on which the Roses grow, and not out of _Lignum

Rhodium_, and is gotten out by the mediation of water (but you must not

ferment them before you have gotten their Oil) then afterwards ferment

them with new Yeast, whereby you may get their Spirit, for if you

observe not this method, you will effect nothing, the reason is this:

because if you set them a fermenting first, the Oil (as being the best

and most efficacious part) is mixed and united with the Spirit, and

so widely dilated, that it will be a hard matter again to concentrate

it. Well, what shall I need say more of the vertue and efficacy of

the vegetable Essences, seeing that the Nature and Vertue of them is

enough known already: But yet thus much I must needs confess, that I

have not in all my life time seen any thing done, which was more sweet,

friendly and efficacious, than these Essenses of Vegetables. For if the

Essences are but prepared according to this description of mine, we can

hardly be satisfied with their Odour, especially if made out of well

smelling Herbs, as Roses, Violets, Clove-gilli-flowers, Bawm, Camomile,

Pennyroyal, and other such like. Besides such kind of Essences may be

made out of Gums, when their Oil is driven forth by the Spirit of Salt,

(lest else they savour of an Empyreum, and become unpleasant) but with

this Proviso that you use the Alcalizated well swelling Spirit of some

other Herb, whose Odour is not much unlike, for the Gums do not afford

a Spirit. Now there’s _Assa Fœtida_, or Benzoin, Storax, Mastick,

Camphire, Amber, and the like, nay even Civet, Musk, and Ambergrese

may be reduced into very fair and pellucid Essences, by an Alcolizated

Spirit, and be rendered far more pleasant than the common Musk,

Ambergrese, and Civet: For the volatile Salt contained in the Spirit,

makes the Body volatile and spiritual, so that at the opening of the

Glass, wherein such an Essence is, the whole room will be filled with

the sweetness of the Odour: But more of this in the second and next

following part, wherein shall be taught, by what means a sweet Odour

may be extracted out of our small Animals in _Germany_, not unlike to

Civet. What shall I say more, methinks I have done enough, he that

understands not this, would much less understand the things that are

more subtil, should they be described. And though I could shew a far

more compendious way of preparing Essences, yet haply the ingratitude

of the World being considered, this that I have already done is too

much, and if any is minded to carp at these here, let him first give

us better than these, but they will have a care how they attempt that.

For he that is endowed with understanding, even he also understands

that the labour and diligence of another man is not in the least to

be disesteemed, for the truth will remain truth though never so much

exposed to injuries. And as we have said, that good and efficacious

Essences, may be prepared out of pleasant and well smelling Herbs: Even

so by the same rule may ill smelling ones be made out of bad smelling

Vegetables and Animals, which also have their use and are profitable,

as in the suffocation of the _Matrix_, where, (for the most part) such

things that egregiously stink are applied to Womens Nostrils, that (by

their grievous smell) they may impead and repress the rising up of the

Womb: And this doth sometimes succeed very prosperously; these are

_Assa Fœtida_, _Castoreum_, burnt Rags, burnt Feathers and such like,

which yield a most filthy Odour: And if now the unprepared Body, in

which the Odour lies largely dilated doth nevertheless perform notable

Operations, what would it be think you if the Oil of such bad smelling

things were conjoyned with the volatile Alcolizated Spirit? I say it

would do more than the crude Body, not onely ten, but twenty or thirty

times more. But amongst all the fetid and ill smelling things, which

are not inimicitious to Nature, these I find the strongest, _viz._ the

black Oil of Tartar, which is drawn forth by distillation, and that too

which is distilled out of Goats horns, Hogs hoofs, Birds feathers, and

the Hairs of all Animals, all which do stink extreamly, and yet are not

hurtfull unto man, as those Stinks are which proceed from rottenness,

as from dead Beasts, Fishes, rotten Eggs, and such like, whose stink is

wholly inimicitious to the Spirit of Life, do threaten its destruction,

and are (as much as possible can be) to be shunned. For the Heart,

Brain, and whole Body is therewith infected, and debilitated. But

why such strong smelling Oils as those are, that come from Beasts

horns, Hairs, and Hoofs, do not perform the same, shall be told in the

following second part, where we will treat of Animals and of such parts

of them, as may be made use of for Medicine.

And thus will I put an end to the first part of my _Spagyrical

Pharmacopœa_, and would have the Reader admonished that (if he would

use this my Description of Essences) he would have a watchfull Eye

by whom they are prepared, and not trust every Body that hath scarce

saluted even the very first entrance of Art, and yet dares to make

Medicaments, and administer them to others. For under this covering

will be exercised great deceit, for some will not for their gain sake,

bestow so much Labour and Costs, as to make Essences out of good and

new Herbs, but scrape up any thing, that thereby they might onely

bring forth somewhat or other that may resemble the Odour and Savour

of the Herb. And although such Essences should be prepared of some

of the best Vegetables, yet the covetousness of profit may cause that

the Spirit be in too great a quantity mixed with the Oils, which may

easily be done, if to one part of Oil, five, eight, ten, or twelve

parts of Spirit be taken, because the Spirit is easier to be had than

the Oil, (whereas according to my prescription two or three parts are

to be taken onely) and therefore may you easily conjecture, that such

Essences are far less efficacious; for the greatest virtue consists

in the Oil, the which being by the Alcalizated Spirit, made volatile

and penetrable, is introduced (or carried more inwards.) And besides

this is not all, but there may be another abuse too, as when a Man

willing to spare his own labour, doth not himself make the Oils, but

buys them cheap from some sweet Powder makers, which Oils may (and

sometimes ’tis so) have in length of time lost their most subtile part,

and are become rank and clammy, and so makes use of such, from whence

no laudable matter can be effected, as is manifest to every Body. But

admit it be so, that new Oils can neither be had nor prepared with your

own hand, because of the defect of the Commodity, yet may such Oils

as are never so old and never so much clammy be rendred usefull, if

they are first distilled and then rectified in a Retort, by Spirit of

Salt: For then they come over clear, and become fit for an Alkalizated

Spirit to dissolve them, which such Oils as are old will not do. This

I thought good to advise, lest haply he that thinks he enjoys a good

Medicine, should impute the blame to me, or lay the fault to the

Essence, when the effect answers not his expectation: For thus it hath

hitherto hapned to my Medicaments, and doth even to this day fall out

so, _viz._ that very many (in sundry places) do falsely pretend as if

they knew my secrets, but ’tis untrue, and a meer diabolical couzenage,

for they administer their own unprofitable Medicaments, selling them

for mine, and especially my _Panacea_ and Tincture of Antimony, which

notwithstanding hath no affinity with mine, and what is more too they

fear not to affirm that such Medicaments are made by my universal

_Menstruum_ (which they neither understand nor know how to use.)

And because here falls in some mention of this _Menstruum_, ’twill

be expedient to say somewhat of it, _viz._ what is to be understood

concerning it, seeing there are so many various opinions of the same.

Most People think that the Alkahest is a subtile water, whether

drawn out of the Air by certain instruments, or prepared by subtile

Distillations, but in this opinion, they err. But yet I will not deny

but an efficacious water may be drawn, not onely out of the Air, but

also out of the most intense light of the Sun, and thus I my self have

sometime done. But this moist dry _Menstruum_ which I call by the name

Alkahest, is nothing else but the Salt of the Earth, and may be used

both in a moist and a dry form, and thus much the very Etimology of

the word signifies, if rightly lookt into and read, _viz._ _Alkali

est_, for the word Alkahest is compounded of two words, of _Alkali_ and

_est_, where the _l_ and _i_, by a transverse line are made one letter,

_viz._ _h_, and is then read Alkahest, but take away the transverse

line, and then ’tis read _Alkali est_. Hence ’tis manifest to every

body, that I have not rashly imposed that name upon this _Menstruum_,

but have thereby openly named the subject. For this very reason it will

be very expedient to suspend your judgment, and not to be so hasty in

uttering your opinion and censure of such a thing as you do not at

all know, but rather think thus, who knows if I understand what I say

or not: I may happen to say somewhat unadvisedly which may easily be

refuted, the which we see here to be done. For there have been various

discourses of this _Menstruum_, as if I had given it a name so famous

without any ground, seeing it ariseth from Salt onely, when as the

Alkahest is a subtile water. But by what I have abovesaid it appears

that I have not given it an improper name, but have called it by its

peculiar Title; the which I did for the sakes of such as contend, to

prevent any future controversie about the name thereof, but how it

is to be used as to those secrets contained in _Miraculum Mundi_, is

not to be spoken of here. Let it suffice the well minded Reader that

I do again, and again assure him, that all and every of the things I

have there spoken, may without controversie be done by this one onely

subject, _viz._ the Salt of the Earth. And so that Treatise doth

rightly deserve the Title of _Miraculum Mundi_. But yet I do again

by way of Summary as ’twere, Admonish, if any one should use this my

Essence, and have it not rightly prepared, he throw not the blame on

me, as that I had written unprofitable things, but rather let him that

has not rightly prepared it, bear the blame.

But yet ’tis not to be doubted but that men of all states or conditions

will in process of time endeavour the preparing of those Essences,

not onely because they are a pleasant and efficacious Medicament, but

withall because of their comforting, penetrating, and highly gratefull

Odour. For the crude and cold Air in pent in rooms may not onely be

tempered and rendred acceptable and friendly to nature, but it may also

be happily and safely made use of in external cases and Diseases, as

need requires.

It will therefore behoove everyone what way he may most profitably

attain them by. The preparation is easie, so he use but diligence,

and then may a good quantity of those kinds of Essences of all the

Vegetables and Spices which are in use in the Shops, be easily gotten.

Now such an one that hath conveniences to prepare them himself, he

verily best knows what he has, and may safely trust thereto. There is

also great difference in the Essences according as they are prepared;

one will happily prepare them very neatly, another but rudely, but

the difference will easily appear as well by its efficacy as by its

sweet smell; as for instance. That Essence which is rightly prepared

according to the aforesaid weight and proportion, must necessarily be

very subtile, sweet, efficacious, and of a strong Odour and Savour. But

if it be otherwise ’tis a sign that the Oil was too sparingly added,

and it can’t be accounted of as a rightly prepared Essence.

_N. B._ The things which I have here spoken, of Odour and Savour which

the Essences ought to have, are to be understood onely of well-swelling

Vegetables, such as are Roses, Marjoram, Rosemary, Violets, Camomil,

for the Essences that are prepared out of these, must needs be

well-smelling and efficacious. But as for those Essences which are

prepared out of those kind of Vegetables that have no such notable

Odour, it can’t be expected that the Essences prepared from them can

afford more Odour than the Vegetable had, but yet do they excite a more

present efficacy, as for example. The Essence of Wine which doth easily

exceed all other comfortatives is notwithstanding void of any eminent

Odour, nor haply doth it resemble any other than the flower of the Vine

in Spring-time: and therefore being taken into the body, it displays

its Virtues, but not by its Odour; even so, neither doth the Wine it

self being taken into the body operate by its Odour.

And hitherto belongs the teaching how to come to get such an Essence,

seeing that it is not prepared after such a manner as I have delivered

for the general dealing with Vegetables, and that, because the pleasant

Oil of Wine (without which [oiliness] no Essence can be prepared) is

hard to come by. I will therefore teach the way of preparing it, but

what I now write is onely for the sake of weak and decrepid old Men,

and also the poor, but not for the wiselings and unworthy Deriders.

For I very well know that some or other after he hath read this Book,

will out of the good conceit he has of himself say, this is no news

to me, I knew this many years ago, _Glauber_ doth not publish this of

himself, but hath gotten it elsewhere out of some old Book or other:

He that thus judgeth of me doth for no other cause say so, but out of

envy and hatred to detract from my Writings: And the answer I make to

such envious men is this. That I do not know whether any one heretofore

either had, or at present hath either such or such a secret which I

have made mention of in my Writings, or no. It may be for ought I

know that such secrets were extant above an hundred years ago, and

may be even at present in use with some, that I know not: however

that’s nothing to me: For it is assuredly false, if any say that I

have borrowed from any one, or else out of any old Books, so much as

one, much less most of, or all the secrets (according as the envious

say) which I have published in my _Miraculum Mundi_, or in any of my

other Writings: But I obtained them through the Grace of God by the

many Trials I made, searching after them with my Costs and Labour. And

forasmuch as such envy me, therefore do they privily scatter abroad

their lies concerning me, which will in short time (God permitting) be

demonstrated. But put case that I did take whatsoever I have written

out of others, and out of ancient Books, will they I pray be either

more or less profitable because of that, than if they were my own: Is

it not one and the same for any notable thing to be emitted, who writes

it, or whom it proceeds from, so that it be, and may be exceeding

profitable to very many. But because of this envy and calumny which

I undergo from wicked men, I do keep within my breast many things,

which otherwise I would have communicated for the common good. And

if so be that they cannot believe nor comprehend what is mentioned

in my _Miraculum Mundi_, (and yet is not of such deep search as the

unskilfull imagine) how will they believe, that I should set before

them far higher things? Well therefore may the old Proverb take place,

_Secret things are for secret Men, and foolish things for foolish Men_.

Now followeth the process of preparing a comfortable and pleasant

Essence out of the Oil of Wine, and its fixt and volatile Salt. I

think there’s no body will deny, but that hitherto there hath not

been made any mention by those that are wont to distil Wine of any

such thing as an Oil; save that by those that have written, that the

Oil of Wine is to be sought for in Tartar and in the Fæces, and that

a black Oil may be distilled both out of the dried Fæces of Wine and

also out of Tartar, I think is sufficiently known to all Chymists: But

such an Oil doth purchase to it self (by this way of proceeding) such

an ungratefull Odour, that it is merely on that score, used neither

inwardly nor outwardly, though it be endued with good Vertues. For

verily I do not yet know whether there can be found (amongst all other

things) any thing that stinks worse than that Oil that is prepared out

of Tartar, and therewithall may’st thou drive away both Men and Beasts,

because the Odour that it emits, is in a manner intollerable. Whereas

this which I here mention, is a pleasant, friendly, clear and bright

Oil, and is made thus. In the Vintage time, when the Grapes are pressed

forth, take some pure Must, let it ferment in a Barrel, until it

becomes white, and the greatest part of the Fæces settle to the bottom,

which done begin your distillation, and draw out the Spirit, either

out of a Copper Still tinned in the inside, or some other distillatory

Vessel; of the Spirit will be no great quantity. After it hath ceased,

take off the head, and pour that which remains into clean Glasses, let

it stand for some days, and there will swim at the Top a white Oil, and

sometimes it will settle to the bottom, the which is to be separated

from the Must, and will serve for the making the abovesaid Essence. But

the Must, from which the Spirit and Oil are taken, may be mixed with

your other Must, and it will again ferment and become Wine, but if you

can’t do thus for want of skill, make thereof a Vinegar. This is a most

compendious and the most easie way of preparing the Oil of Wine, and

although I know another way besides this, and how such an Oil may be

had even out of the Autumn Season, yet doth it seem to me not so well

to publish all things together, and at once: This way of preparation

that I have now taught will to many be hard enough to effect, though

it be clear enough described. And you are to observe, that in this

work the due time of distillation is to be regarded, _viz._ When the

Must is so far fermented, as that its tast is neither plainly sweet,

nor plainly vinous, but a midling between both; which if neglected

the fault is none of mine, for I have advised you of all things to a

tittle. If you begin your distillation too soon before the Must is

sufficiently dissolved, it affords no Oil; if you tarry too long, the

Oil precipitates with the Fæces, nor wilt thou get ought, and therefore

all things are to be done in their due time. But how this Oil is to be

reduced, with his own Spirit, and his fixt and volatile Salt, into an

Essence, is mentioned before, what use this Essence serves for needs no

description. For every body well knows what a vivifying and comforting

vertue there is in Wine, and yet the Wine is endued but with little Oil

(though the Oil as we said before is the best part of the Vegetable)

and besides, it is united with a great quantity of insipid Water, and

crude Tartar, but the Essence is freed from those Crudities of Water

and Tartar, and is compounded of a due proportion of the most pure

parts, or of the three Principles, Salt, Sulphur, and Mercury, and may

deservedly be called the Quintessence or Soul of the Wine.

Whosoever he be that hath it, will see what good it is endued with, and

how to be used. To me it seems to be an Antidote against Poisons; for

seeing it is written of old, that a Serpent or other venemous Animal,

cannot abide in the Vineyards at such time as the Vine flowreth,

therefore the Oil and Essence of the Wine resembling this very Odour,

the Essence may not unfitly be thought so be good in healing contagious

Diseases.

But this is to be noted concerning Essences, that they must not be

stopt with such things that will be melted by the Essence, but be

rather stopt in with a double Bladder, lest the volatile Spirit should

fly away. For should this so be, the Oil would again be debilitated and

let go its Spirit, and the Essence would be corrupted.

And because my purpose was to speak of the preparation of Vegetable

Essences, but not make a description of their most ample use, I will

now put a period to this business, leaving every one to be wiser as

his own capacity is. But yet, would the present time have permitted,

I would have mentioned some specificks, which may haply be elsewhere

done. But thus much I say, that in Wine, lies hidden very much

which but few know, and which if one would reckon up, would stir up

admiration. But it appertains not to this place, but to the Vegetable

Work, which (if God permit) shall soon follow. But seeing I have made

mention of Wine, I cannot omit to add in this place one thing, _viz._

what yet farther use the Essences of Herbs might be of, if always to

be had ready prepared in the Apothecaries Shops: For one, two, three,

or more drops of Essences, being put in a Cup of Wine at pleasure

and stirred about, that the Wine may be united with the Essence, do

presently make the Wine clear and pleasant, resembling the kind and

nature of the Essence you put in; and by this means divers kinds

of Wines may presently be made out of one and the same Vessel, to

refresh and please your guests: And this way far exceeds the using of

extracts, which make the Wine troubled, but this leaves it clear. It

will be needless therefore to put different sorts of Wines in several

Vessels in Cellars, where they will all of them by degrees wax weaker

and weaker, unless they are kept always full; but one onely Vessel,

is sufficient for to make various kinds of Wines at your pleasure;

and this is a very profitable secret for great Men and others, who

sometimes must have various Wines. It is a usual thing with many to

drink a draught of Physical Wine in a morning on a fasting Stomach, to

strengthen the weak Stomach, and to preserve it from hurtfull Air, if

they can but get it, and if they use that which is usually made of the

Reliques of the Wine, and such decayed stuff, such is void of virtue,

and brings more hurt than benefit. But now, having these Essences of

Herbs, you may easily impregnate generous Wine therewith and make it

Medicinal, and by this way maist thou be certain that thou hast good

Wine, and not such as is made out of the droppings and refuse, which is

usually employed to make Medicinal Wines of, and from whence gripings

and other incommodities do frequently exist: But that which is composed

of generous Wine, and a well prepared Essence deserves the name of

wholsome Physical Wine. These things I was willing to add to this first

part of my _Spagyrick Pharmacopœa_ by way of Ornament, and do request

the well minded Reader, that he think well of my Labour, Diligence, and

Intention. There shall follow (God permitting) in the two next parts,

more good Medicines.

_The End of the First Part._

THE

SECOND PART

OF THE

Spagyrical Dispensatory.

Concerning the preparation of Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals, by

an Universal Dissolvent.

Wherein is clearly demonstrated and exactly described, that Niter

is the true Universal Dissolvent, and how all Vegetables,

Animals, and Minerals, are therewithall dissolved, corrected,

and their venemous and obnoxious property changed into wholsome

Medicaments, contrary to the opinion of many ignorant Men.

_What Animals are, and what is understood or meant by them._

I do here understand by the name of Animals all such things as have

life, and a vital motion, as Men, all kinds of Beasts, Worms, and

Insects, either in the Earth or above the Earth, the Fishes in the

Water, the Birds in the Air, and all the Creatures that can move

themselves, and that do partake of a visible life. Amongst these living

Creatures, there is this difference to be observed, _viz._ that some

of them serve for the use of Medicine; other some of them are not fit

for Medicine; for all those Animals which nourish mankind and sustain

his body, have not a medical but nutritive power, so that out of them

can’t be prepared Medicaments resisting Diseases. For although that out

of some Animals (as Oxen, Sheep, Goats, Hens, Birds, and such like)

a good Essence may (by the benefit of Art) be extracted, so as to

restore and strengthen a body that is debilitated by sickness (as you

may see in my Book of the Kitchin Art) yet that labour doth appertain

to the Kitchin, and Cooks, rather than to the Apothecaries. Therefore

in this Treatise nothing else shall be mentioned, but concerning such

Animals onely as do not nourish the body of Man, but (being eaten or

any ways entring into Man’s Belly, or other parts of his body) do by

their venome most greatly hurt: But being inverted or turned in and

out by the Spagyrical Art do become excellent Medicines, and (without

that bettering them) would remain venemous and hurtfull: such as these

are Vipers, Serpents, Toads, Scorpions, Spiders, and other venemous

Insects; the which being spoiled of their venome or changed by Art,

do become Medicines of a penetrative efficacy. Indeed a Serpent, a

Toad, and other like venemous Creatures being onely boiled in common

water, are barred of their Poison, and may be eaten without any

hurt, seeing that their Poison consists not in the Flesh, but in the

Spirit, and vanisheth by a bare decoction. Many examples do confirm

this thing, and ’tis evidently known that Serpents have been oftentimes

boiled and eaten instead of Eels. It is no new thing in _India_, that

that People do feed on great Serpents boiled, instead of Food, and

contrariwise other Animals there are which do not deposite or lay

aside their venome by a bare boiling, but do retain it, such as are

Scorpions, Tarantula’s and such like. But now, if to such kind of

Vermine that are endued with so hurtfull a Poison, a water or liquor

of a stronger efficacy be added, wherein they may be digested, their

venome is turned into a wholsome Antidote, and is a resister of Poison,

as shall be proved anon. This is certain, that the omnipotent God hath

not created so much as the least Worm in vain, which cannot bring some

profit, though by the under sort of Men, it be contemned and plainly

neglected. But forasmuch as almost all such Vermine and Insects, are

(by reason of their Poison) rarely used in Medicine, and scarce any one

knows their occult virtues, from that signature God hath given them,

or cares to know, the use of them remains unknown and in the dark.

Nay it is well done, that (seeing the way of correcting such Poisons,

or turning them into Medicine, hath lain hid from the greatest part

of the Learned ones) their use was thrown out of the Apothecaries

Shops. But yet in process of time, some of those kind of Vermine were

admitted by the Physicians, as the Scorpions, Cantharides, and such

like. The Scorpions being suffocated in Oil Olive do tame their own

proper Poison; Cantharides, great Worms, and Milli-pedes, or Pigs lice,

are used to provoke Urine. But yet not without danger, because of the

venome they abound with. Nevertheless Men have dared to use them, and

many times they have proved very profitable. But had their bettering

been known; and had they (being thus corrected) been made use of, they

would (without all fear of danger) have procured a greater honour to

those that used them. Now the usual way of all such as know not the

manner of correcting them, such little Animals are dried, and (crude

as they are) beaten into a powder, and so administred to the sick, and

do some times (though with mighty hazard) perform great cures. Were

the signature of such Vermine well examined, and their use in Medicine

well known, and they were afterwards transmuted and changed (by the

help of an universal Dissolvent) into a safe Medicament, they do then

become such safe and effectual remedies, as to take away most grievous,

(and in the accompt of some plainly incurable) Diseases, and do in

many Degrees exceed the weak operations of Vegetables. For the Animals

which God hath gifted with life, are of a far greater efficacy than

the Vegetables, and this any one will not be over hard in believing

of. You will find many wonderfull things in my Book of the signature

of Animals, Vegetables, and Minerals (which shall shortly come forth

to light) nay and besides their signatures, as well their unknown

and occult Vertues as their known Vertues shall be herein declared.

But in this Treatise, shall onely be mentioned some of the principal

small Animals of use in Medicine, _viz._ by what means they may be

reduced into most excellent and most safe Medicines, by the help of

the universal Dissolvent. As for their Vertues, and Efficacy, the well

minded Reader may search for them in my other Writings. And although

I have met with admirable Vertues in some hitherto neglected Vermine,

and would have also described them for the profit of my Neighbour, and

so purposed to have made a large discourse concerning them; yet the

love to my Neighbour (whom I would not willingly lead about in many

erroneous Turnings) hindred me from performing it. For all the Vertues

that are apart dispersed amongst all the Vegetables and Animals, are

all of them concentrated in one Mineral, and found perfectly united, so

that there’s no need of using so many distinct Medicines of Vegetables,

Animals, and Minerals, and therefore I refer the Reader thereunto. But

yet for satisfactions sake of such who abhor such Medicines as are made

of Minerals, and dread them as if they were a Poison, I will detect the

Vertue and Power of some of the most principal ones in Medicine.

_Of the Signature, Property, and Medicinal Vertues of the Bull-like

and Horned =Scarabæus= or Beetle._

I have known some of the biggest and flying _Scarabæus’s_ that have

weighed half an Ounce, or a whole Ounce, and of a Chestnut Colour, and

they will firmly stick to any thing by reason of their sharp Feet,

and are furnished with double Wings, the upper ones are hard and

smooth like an horn, the under ones are very thin and transparent,

and shew like the dried leaves of Poppy. The Male is for the most

part bigger than the Female, and is armed with two horns, which in

their branchings resemble the Figure of Stags horns, hard and smooth

like horn, and hollow on the inside, without any marrow, with these

he defends himself. If you put one of them on a Table, and smite him

often with some small twigs, and enrage and provoke him to anger, he

doth not run away like as other Animals do, but sets upon his Enemy,

with his upright and variously branched horns, as if he would revenge

himself for the injury done him; and whatsoever you reach out to him,

he presently snatcheth with his horns, and holds it so fast, that ’tis

a hard matter to get it from him: If the thing be too heavy, he then

leaves it, and goes his way without it: But if it be light, he carries

it away with him, and afterwards unlooseth his horns from it and lets

it fall. The Females two horns are lesser and crooked, which open and

shut like Pincers; whatsoever they seize on, they hold it most firmly,

and if you expose to its horns any thing that is not hard she doth

gripe it so long, till the tops of her horns touch each other. Being

hanged at a Cats or a Dogs Ear she presently pierceth it through,

and so holds that the Dog can’t cast her off with her Feet, but (not

knowing what is happened to him) runs to and fro, howling and crying

out, as if he implored help from some body else, such is the innate

anger and malice of this small Creature. They feed not upon Grass and

the Leaves of Trees as other _Scarabæus’s_ do, but are nourished with

the Juice of the thin soft reasinousness which is in Summer Flowers

out of those Trees that bears fruit with stones in them, such as Nuts,

Cherries, Plums, Pruens, Peaches, and such like. These Trees they

sticking fast on, do by sucking out the Rosin thence flowing, support

their lives withal. These small Creatures are truely Martial, and as if

they were endued purposely by nature with Weapons, and armed. Some men

do break off their horns, and carry them about them, as if they were a

safeguard against the invasions and being set upon by wild Beasts, but

I count this as superstitious. Some (I know) do reduce them with their

Wings into pouder, and make use thereof, and have healed the inward

pains and prickings of the Body: And have cured Quartanes, yea have in

all Feavers hanged it about the Neck; but yet I believe it would bring

more profit, if it be duely prepared and so taken into the Body. But

what effects they will perform in the other parts of the Body I know

not, nor have I hitherto tried or known them to have been used to any

other intent than before mentioned. But I am certainly assured, that

there is a most wholsome Vertue in this insect, because of his thus

living on, and being nourished by those resinous Juices which flow out

of such Trees as bear those kinds of Fruits that have Stones in their

inside: Wherefore I think that their whole Body is of a balsamick

Nature, and I do judge by their signature, that they may be profitably

used in curing all inward and outward hurts arising from beating,

wounding, stabbing, and shooting, if they are first reduced into an

Essence according to my method. The horns and those hard wings, may be

reduced into a Magistery, apart by the universal Dissolvent, and serve

for inward Use. And the body being on like manner prepared, may be

applied and made use of for the allaying of all griefs, or pains both

externally and internally. Without doubt it aboundeth with many other

hidden Vertues which are unknown both to my self and other men.

_Of the Pilular or Globular =Scarabæus=._

There are other _Scarabæus’s_ used in Medicine, _viz._ the black and

globular ones, usually abiding in Horse dung, and also those that live

in Oaks, and be of an ashy Colour, and are pleasant food to Poultry,

who by feeding on them do lay abundance of Eggs, but the black ones

they abstain from, and do not eat them. I know not whether or no these

last mentioned (_viz._ the Oak ones) are any thing at all helpfull in

Medicine. But yet thus much they do, if they are bruised and applied to

the bare skin they cause Pustles, and so do those too that are called

golden _Scarabæus’s_ that are usually on Roses, and Elder-flowers.

Both these sorts have this property internally and externally, and so

have the _Cantharides_ or those green Flies called Spanish Flies, and

do most vehemently provoke Urine. If now these are by Art changed,

and their venemous quality taken away, they are profitably used, and

safely, in curing the Gout, Stone, and other grievous Diseases and

bring a great deal of benefit. The black and globular ones are martial,

and are not much unlike to the horned _Scarabæus’s_; the ashy ones are

of a Saturnine nature, the green ones of a venereal Quality, and the

red and little ones are of a solar property. These last mentioned, are

by the _Germans_ called Golden and God Almightie’s Birds, and some do

boast that they have gotten out from them good Gold, and put it to

the Test, which to me doth seem unlikely. I will not deny but that

there lieth hidden in them a strengthening Cordial (as they call it)

properly for corroborating a man’s heart if a preparation or correction

preceed, I should be unwilling to make use of them crude and unmended.

Besides the aforesaid reckoned up _Scarabæus’s_, there is yet another

kind of black ones which creep along the Grass in the Months of _May_

and _June_, and cannot flie as the above mentioned ones can, and yet

have little Wings. These are exceeding slow creepers, and being put

upon ones hand, do turn out a strong smelling Liquor, and are called

_May_ Birds, and the Worms of Fat by the _Germans_; the _Latines_ call

them the uncteous _Scarabæuses_. They operate most efficaciously, and

are used by many for curing those most grievous Diseases of the Gout,

Stone, Leprosie, French-pox, and Dropsie, one two or three Grains of

them being reduced into powder, are usually administred, in some proper

Vehicle. They do most vehemently expel Defilements, by vomit, stool,

and Urine, insomuch that the Urine of the Gouty, Leoprous, or those

that are afflicted with the Stone will be coagulated like Milk, or will

become tenacious, and wax hard like a stone, the which event may well

astonish any one to consider of. I know very many that have had the

Gout, and been cured of it thereby, though I confess it is a Medicine

somewhat hazardous because of the force of its operation. But if it be

first corrected by the Universal Salt, it may be most safely afterwards

used in the curing of the said Diseases. _Wierus_, a very learned

Physician, did heretofore publish a Treatise of the wandring Gout, and

highly commended this _May_ Worm, so called by some: And likewise the

great common Earth-worms, for curing it. Neither is it without ground

that this Worm [or _Scarabæus_] we mention, far exceed all the rest of

them that are endued with Virtues, healing Diseases. The _Cantharides_

come far short of it, and the sky coloured Flies, which are formed

onely in Carkasses, are far short of the _Cantharides_. In the next

place follow those greater Flies, that usually stay in men’s houses,

and keep buzzing about till they can find some raw Flesh, whereon

they cast their filth in the likeness of small Eggs or Knits, which

become Worms in a days time. And I do believe that there is scarce any

Creature endued with a smelling so acute and subtile as this Flie,

and upon that account I do not question, but that it would shew its

Virtues in hidden Diseases. Yet I would not be any man’s Authour or

encourager to make use of him, because nature her self cannot by any

means endure (when a man by chance eats the flesh that is defiled

with their Excrements) their filth in the Stomach, but doth presently

cast it forth by vomit as that it were a Poison. I ascribe to these

Flies a mercurial Nature, and I likewise affirm that there are in the

common Worms medicinal Virtues. For they do strongly expel by Urine

and Sweat, and being made use of, crude as they are, they provoke to

stool, and cause vomiting. But I verily believe, that being corrected

by the universal dissolvent and transmuted into a sweet Essence, they

will become an excellent Specifick against Impotency, and a notable

corroborative to such that are tired with the venereal Sport. Their

signature is testimony enough, and the Figure of their Bodies, for they

will sometimes stretch out themselves at length, otherwhile contract

themselves into a shortness, one while become thicker, then presently,

and as often as they please can they extenuate themselves or become

smaller, nor can any Animal do thus besides themselves. Nor know I any

Animal that doth (in Coition) more firmly adhere to the Female, than

this Worm, whom I have many a time seen, in the Spring Season when

the Cold is asswaged and the Earth again open, to join himself to the

Female (not under the Earth) but to creep out of the Earth with half

his Body, and so apply himself to the half part of the Female, who

likewise creeps out of the Earth, and he so long labours with her, till

there is made a thorough conjoining of both their Bodies. And these

two Worms are so pertinacious or earnestly bent on this action, that

they will rather suffer themselves to be slain than be separated. This

venereal Labour being finished, they do each of them betake themselves

into their Caverns or Holes. Such Hens as feed on them do plentifully

lay Eggs daily, and sometimes two on a day, the which thing no sort

of Corn will make them do. That Earthworm is endued therefore with a

venereal Nature and Property. There are besides these, other small

Vermine that are far more prone (and approach nigher) to a venereal

Nature, and they are a sort that have six Feet and run most nimbly,

and have wings but do not make use of them. They are small and broad,

and are in great companies in old Walls, and old rotten Boards of

Stables, and lay their Eggs in the Walls and Wood. They come abroad

onely in curious Weather, and in a rainy and cold Season do betake

themselves to their Holes, and in fair weather out come they again,

and observe no order in their coupling. The Female going, carries the

Male along with her sitting on her back, another Male being stronger

throws him off, and himself gets up upon the Female, and he again

being thrown off in his room comes a new trader, and thus spend they

the day in this riding kind of Sport, and the Female is exercised with

an uncessant Change of Males. They are not seen to eat any Food. Some

of them I shut up in a Glass so that they could not get away, yet (in

this captivity) they betook themselves to this venereal Act, and at

length setting upon each other, would rather perish with Famine than be

separated. They are so small that an hundred of them will but weigh an

Ounce: Their wings are red and spotted with black. They run exceeding

swiftly, I never could find any thing written of them. I gave them to

Cats and Dogs to eat with their meat, and I found wonderfull things.

Hens and other Birds will not eat them, haply because they cannot

brook the too vehement operation of them. They must needs be endued

with singular gifts, he that will make trial, may so do, but yet so as

not to use them but corrected, because (amongst all the Vermine that

I know of) they do most excell, and abound with the greatest venereal

Venome. There are yet besides these, other Worms (or Vermine) that are

profitable to make Medicine of. The food and nutriment of the _Aselli_

or Pig-lice is rotten Wood; if you touch them they rowl up themselves

into a round Ball. They are for the most part used for repressing of

the Stone. The Cimexes, or Knats, or Flies, are of a red colour, and

do vex and disquiet a Man at night, they suck his bloud, and usually

quarter in old Pine-wood, and in ancient Chambers, and are detestable

things because of the stinch they emit. And besides them, there is

another kind of such Vermine that are of a green colour, and more

venemous, and yield a more filthy stinch than the red Worms do. This

Insect has wings, and is four times bigger than the Cimex, and live

in the Grass; but when the cold Winter approacheth, they then live in

hollow Trees, or hide in the Chinks that be in Walls. If an Ox or Cow

do by chance in eating Grass swallow down such a kind of Vermine, they

swell up, and sometimes die of it; but yet they do so well know how to

shun them, that the Beasts seldom swallow them. I do from hence guess,

that there lies hidden in this kind of Animal, some singular matter,

because of its wonderfull disposition it hath: For I have tried by

certain experiments that it can either retain, or emit its stinch as

it pleaseth. It is a notable subtile and fallacious Creature, and this

I could confirm by wonderfull stories. It doth exactly imitate the

perverse disposition of all Turn-Coats, Lustfull, Venereal, and Bestial

Men. It doth presently deposite or lose its stinch in the universal

_Menstruum_, but what it will (being thus prepared) perform, I having

as yet omitted farther inquisition, cannot tell. Infinite is the number

of these and such like Insects, and without doubt they were not created

in vain, they prosecute each other with a mutual and deadly hatred, and

do by laying snares endeavour to destroy each the other. I have known

one little small Worm or Insect, that by sucking out the juice and

strength of the great Earth-Worms do wax fat, and is in all places his

Superiour or Master. In the Spring-time he is a small lean Worm, and is

not so big as the Blatta, that live upon Meal, but in Summer time he

doth so fatten himself with the Earth-worms, and becomes so unwieldy

that he can hardly creep: He is black as a Coal, and moves himself by

the many short feet he has, is about the thickness of a Quill, and

about a fingers length, and under the earth shrewdly bites the poor

Earth-worm, and sucks from him his best juice, which said Earth-worm

being no ways able to defend himself, doth out of meer pain creep out

of the Earth, and brings out his fast adhering Enemy: he sticks on to

him so close, that he can’t be driven off, and so long sucks, untill

being well satiated and full, he at length falls off of his own accord.

I have often seen these Earth-worms so long vexed with them and twined

themselves to and fro till this little Vermine hath pierced the Worm

through, and divided him in twain, but yet closable together again, if

he can but onely get into the Earth. You may see evident signs of the

malice of this small Vermine, upon some of the older Worms, that have

had several such bitings, and yet closed together again. For I know

no enemies the great Earth worms have, save onely the Mole, and this

same Worm. This black and martial Worm having done with one, presently

sets upon another Worm, and so sucks out the best juice, and leaves

the body of the said great Worm destitute of any strength. He is of

great virtue and as to his excellency is to be preferred far before all

other Worms if but well prepared: As for Spiders, there are many talks

of them as if they were poisonous, but I could never as yet find any

such thing in those that grow in the space of one year, and then vanish

away again; they are such that make their Webs on Trees, Bushes, and

the like to catch Flies in, and are cross-bearing Spiders, because they

have on their backs the figure of a Cross. Every month they put off

their old skin, and so do those too that make their Webs in the corners

and holes in Houses, and will live three months without either meat

or drink befor they die. These are somewhat worser than the former,

and yet not so poisonous as the report goes, and as is believed. All

the green sort of Spiders, that live in the Grass and among Leaves

are void of all Poison, (and all others) save those which abide in

cold places, as Cellars, and moist Vaults, and nourish themselves with

Insects, and are covered over with a black and roughish skin like

black Silk or Velvet, are slow paced, and as being the Kings of all

Spiders, do kill the others by their biting, and devour them if they

can but get them within their power. If one Spider be thrown into the

Nest of another, the stronger drives out the weaker, but they cannot

any of them abide these black Spiders, abhorring their presence, and

running away as fast as they can. Nay more, neither the Black-bird,

nor other Birds (whose food’s the other Spiders are wont to be) will

eat them. They grow old very slowly, and live in a Cellar many a year,

as being patient endurers of the cold, and do not renew their skin as

the rest do. Those likewise that devour the Flies in stores in the

Winter, or at least-wise are nourished with the sweet fume or vapour of

Hony, Sugar, and such like things, and arrive to an old Age, are also

venemous. All these are rarely used in Medicine, there being indeed

no need of them amongst such plenty as there is of good Medicaments.

This one benefit I have observed in them that they so purge sick Hens,

as that they recover their former health, and do presently after get

strength and wax fat. Emmets that live by the juices and Rosins of

Trees, are also used in Medicine, but yet do no great matters. Locusts,

Grylli (a kind of Grass-hopper) and such like Insects, (though they are

endued with hidden virtues) are notwithstanding neglected, forasmuch

as there is one onely Mineral that can effect more then all the bigger

or lesser Animals, Worms, and Insects, and therefore well may they be

despised. There are also some things that are taken from the bodies of

the bigger sort of Animals that are used in Medicine, as the Stomach,

Intestines, and Teeth of the Woolf; the Lungs of the Fox: The Gall,

the Hair, the Skin, the Excrement, the Horns, _&c._ of other Animals;

but yet no great matters have been hitherto done by all this ado,

because they are parts or Members of such Animals, as being altogether

void of Poison, are usually Man’s Food, or may so be. Whereas were

they the parts of Animals that would alter our nature, or were they

the Teeth, Bones, Horns, or other parts of venemous Creatures, and

then changed and reduced into good Medicaments, somewhat might be done

by them. By such as alter nature I mean, the Teeth of Dogs, Wolves,

Bears, Lions, and such ravenous Creatures; the Bones and Horns of the

Elfe, Goats, Kids, Does, Stags, Elephants, and the Hairs of Men and

other Animals. Amongst the venemous Animals, the Teeth and Skins of

Vipers, Serpents, Toads, Salamanders, _&c._ In the third degree are the

Teeth of the Sea-dog, and Whale, and of the horned Fishes, and those

which the _Dutch_ Marriners call Walrussen, and others the Unicorn:

the Horns of them, and of other such like Sea Monsters, whose Flesh

is venemous, and therefore their Teeth must necessarily be endued

with medicinal Vertues, provided they be changed and converted into a

convenient Essence. Besides in the Excrements of all Animals, lies hid

a singular medicinal Vertue, nor is the volatile Salt (but especially

of those that are poisonous) to be contemned. The fixed Salt being

the subduer of many Diseases, doth not a little help to the making of

Medicine. But I am not minded to treat of these at present, but will

onely demonstrate by what means all Animals are to be dissolved by the

universal _Menstruum_, and Poison to be converted into most wholsome

Medicine. The Vertues of them are already known, nor is ought more

required save a due preparation, the knowledge of which I am minded to

manifest in this Treatise. It is apparently evident that the Teeth,

Horns, Skin, Hairs, and Claws or Hoofs, are by so much the better and

more efficacious Antidote, by how much the greater and more present

Poison their Flesh is endued withal, and this we see by experience.

Such as desire to know more, of such like venemous Animals, may read

my Book, of the signature of things, wherein they will find many

profitable things and worthy of consideration.

_The preparation and changing of all venemous Animals and Worms,

=&c.= into safe and efficacious Medicaments._

As touching what belongs to their preparation, it doth not consist in

the way that hath been hitherto used as to the preparing of Animals

for medicinal Use, the which have hitherto been either reduced into

Powder, or else have been converted into Spirits, Waters, and Oils,

by decoction in a B, or else turned (by Calcination) into Ashes,

that so their fixt Salt, may be extracted, or (by sublimation) pass

into a volatile Salt. I do no wise contemn these, and other hitherto

used ways and methods of preparing Animals for the use of medicine,

for in very deed they are good and profitable. But forasmuch as I

have the knowledge of a better and more compendious way of doing all

these things, I neither would nor could any longer hide the same, but

communicate it for the good of mankind, and for the help and comfort

of the sick. And now that the well minded Reader, may percieve a

difference between the old way of preparing these Medicaments and

my way, I will briefly declare and demonstrate the same. I have not

hitherto heard or read of any other way than this which followeth,

_viz._ The Animals are either wholly or else some part of them, dried

in the Air, then powdered and administred in Powder in some appropriate

Vehicle, or else some Honey or Sugar is added to the Powder, thereby to

make it into an Electuary; or else the Animals are digested (whilst new

or fresh) in Oil, then pressed out, and changed into a Balsam, that so

they may serve either for inward or outward Uses as necessity requires.

Or else they are made up into other Medicines, and so confected and

kept for use. Or, being new, are distilled by a B. in water, the

residue is by Calcination burnt into Ashes, and the fixed Salt, is

(by the benefit of distilled water) extracted out of the Ashes. Some

do distil the bodies of Animals, dry, or moist, in a Retort, and

do get a stinking Spirit, Oil, and volatile Salt, which parts they

Sever from each other, rectifie them, and keep them to use in time of

need. Others do put the venemous Animals alive into Oil, or into some

other Oil drawn out of an Aromatical Vegetable by distillation, and

so suffocate them herein; and do afterwards use that Oil for outward

and inward Uses, as is evident in the Oil of Scorpions. These are the

ways hitherto made use of for the preparation of medicaments out of

Animals, nor have they been fruitlesly used. But whereas I saw, that

the Animals being prepared the aforementioned ways are venemous and

crude, but especially when they are but onely dried and powdered, and

so used, and that the administring them to the sick is not without

danger, because they set upon nature with too much vehemency, if any

(nay the smallest) errour be committed in the Dose: and besides, they

do (by their ungratefull and loathsome savour) beget a nauseate, and

withal considering, that the Spirits, Oils, and Waters drawn out of

Animals by distillation, do for the most part smell of an _Empyreum_,

and are extremely distastefull to nature; and that though the volatile

Salt, and the fixt, which contain the greatest Vertues of the Animals,

and may more commodiously be taken into the body than the Oil, which

is plainly intolerable to sick Persons because of its stinch; yet

forasmuch as in such an Operation the chiefest Virtue is burnt up,

and corrupted, and that therefore the Medicament so distilled is less

profitable than the crude Body of the Animal; this way and method

cannot at all be accompted of as worthy the being ranked amongst the

best sort of Medicines. Seeing then and well percieving all these

Circumstances, I counted it wholly necessary to bethink my self of a

more profitable and better way, and such a way too, as by the help

whereof, every Animal, or at least such a part of it according as

is requisite, may (without any separating of the whole body into

divers parts) be dissolved, and changed in its whole substance by a

certain dissolving and correcting Water poured upon it, and so its

venome be converted into Medicine. Now the dissolving Water, and the

dissolved Medicine stand in such a posture, as that it may be again

abstracted and separated from the dissolved and corrected body after

its dissolution and correction, and this so corrected or purged body

may be administred in some convenient Vehicle to the sick, or else

alone by its self, as shall be more clearly manifested in the following

discourse.

_A universal =Menstruum= by the help of which all Vegetables,

Animals, and Minerals are dissolved, corrected, and reduced into

a most pure and most safe Medicament._

I have in my _Miraculum Mundi_, taught and told you that Niter is the

true universal dissolvent, and is operated withall three manner of ways.