THE Wonderful and strange effect and virtues of a new Terra Sigillata lately found out in Germany,  
With the right order of the applying and administering of it: being oftentimes tried and experienced by Andreas Bertholdus of Oschatz in Misnia.  
AT LONDON, Printed by Robert Robinson for Richard Watkins. 1587.   

To the right worshipful, my especial good friends M.D. Master, and M.D. bailie, Doctors in Physic attendant upon her Majesty.  
WELL known is it unto you both, Right reverend and learned doctors how carefully our good friend M. Hugh Morgan her majesties Apothecary, hath evermore employed himself and his purse to furnish this Realm with the rarest, perfectest and best sorts of all manner of Plants, Fruits, juices, Gums, Metals, Minerals, Bowls, Stones, and whatsoever else needful: For the either preserving or restoring of health. Whereby he hath not only well deserved of his Country at home. But is also become famous for sundry his compounds, specially for his exact Composition of his Mythridat, and his Tyracle of Andromachus: throughout France and Italy and many places further off. It pleased him (I thank him) of late to send unto me a new Terra Sigillata, lately found out in Germany: which hath not only been tried by the Physicians of those parts to be most sovereign against all poisons and sundry deadly diseases: but hath also in the like cases been here well experienced by my good & learned friend M. Doctor Hector, Nuns and diverse others of your learned College in London, who hath found it most effectual in sundry dreadful and dangerous diseases. He sent me withal a little book in latin written by Andreas Bertholdus touching the virtues and the right use thereof, which I thought good for the benefit of such as be ignorant in that tongue to put in english and to publish it under your learned protection. Accept it I beseech you and vouchsafe it your favourable countenance. Aluingham this 14. of August. 1587.  
Your assured loving friend, B. G.   

Of the Virtues, force, and use, of the right and approved Terra Sigillata of Germany.  
FIrst (which in nature is most to be wondered at & reverenced,) it resisteth all manner Poisons or Venom's received inwardly, be they never so furious or deadly, and speedily expelleth them by vomit, if either before or presently after the poisons it be taken, if any thing later, it driveth them out by sweeting.  
Secondly, with the like wonderful quality of nature, it resisteth the most cruel and horrible infection of the Pestilence, not only in preserving such as use it, but also in speedy curing and calling to life, such as are infected, and half dead.  
Thirdly, it cureth the bitings or stingings of all manner of venomous beasts, or worms, and any wound made with poisoned Dart or weapon.  
Fourthly, it is found to have a singular and most sweet agreement and wonderful Sympathy with the vital parts of man's body, so as it greatly comforteth the heart, refresheth the brain, and keepeth away diseases from all the inward parts beside. It assuageth all manner of headache, pain and trembling of the heart. It helpeth wounded, inflamed, bleared, and watering eyes. It hath also been found by experience, that in wounds and inflammation of the brain and the stones, this excellent earth hath done more good than any other medicine could promise or perform.  
Fiftly, against all unmeasurable bleeding, either of vain, artery, or any other part of the body, there cannot a more assured remedy be found.  
Sixtly, it drieth up all manner of Rheums, Destilations, and Murrs.  
Seventhly, it stoppeth the lask, Lyentery, bloody flux, and all other too much looseness of the belly.  
Eightly, it thoroughly healeth all burnings, or scaldings, by Fire, Water, or Metal, both keeping them from blistering, and speedily restoring the hurt parts.  
Ninthly, it healeth sound and perfectly all green wounds, & rankled and rotten Soars.  
Tenthly, it is against the Quinsey and inward Inflammations a most present remedy.  
The eleventh, against Itch and Skabs that are hardly cured, this earth is with very good success used.  
The twelft, it is a most meet medicine against all such sicknesses as are to be avoided by Sweeting.  
The thirteenth, against the consuming of the Longs, as well in drying up the soar, as in staying the spitting of blood, it is a medicine most profitable.   

A more full and plainer declaration, of the manner and order in the using the said earth against the diseases before named.  
FIrst, to speak in general of the use of this earth, and the manner of taking it: It is with most happy success given. In the like sort, and against the same unnatural diseases, as is the earth of Lemnos, which of old time was so famous, and is at this day so highly of the Turkish Emperor and his Bassas accounted of, as they esteem it to be far more precious than gold: Nay which is more, in the curing of many diseases, it far exceedeth the said Lemnian earth, which for the most part counterfette, is yet with such difficulty brought out of Turkey unto us (For that which is commonly sold at the Apothecaries, is in comparison hereof not worthy to be named.) And therefore great good reason it is, that we confess, and with a thankful mind acknowledge, the singular liberality and bounty of that great and most mighty majesty extended towards our countrymen of Germany: That where by reason of the Turkish barbarousness so godly and blessed gifts of God, as likewise all learning, arts, and liberal sciences, hath been defaced and corrupted, yet hath it pleased him at this day, so to beautify this poor Country of Germany, not only with all kinds of good learning and arts, and with the profound knowledge of Divinity, but hath likewise sent unto us such his most rare & excellent gifts, whereby we are sufficiently provided of whatsoever concerneth the health of either soul or body. And because I would not have men be persuaded by my bare words (who upon a charitable affection have willingly published to the world this worthy benefit of God,) I do unto all learned men commit the efficacy, form, and virtuousness of this blessed and never sufficiently commended earth, to be weighed & examined with sound judgement and consideration, which hath often been proved by good trial and experience. The virtues whereof for their furtherance that have not been much acquainted with Physic, I will here briefly set down.  
First, if poison be given to any man in meat or drink or otherwise, or if any have unawares, as many times it chanceth, tasted any deadly or venomous medicine, as soon as he perceiveth himself diseased, let him take a dram of this earth, or more or less according to the strength of the poison, and the age and force of the sick man, and in some convenient liquor let him drink it up, and if the poison have been but newly received, he shall presently bring it up by vomit: But if so be through longer time the Venom have béeve dispersed and carried to the inward veins yet being well covered in his bed, he shall happily drive it out by sweeting. The liquors that are most meetest to take it with, are these: the water of Carduus benedictus, devils bit, swallowwort.  
The water of the roots of the great broad Clott, Angellica, Pympernell, and such like: If you have not these waters at hand, this sovereign preservative may be taken very well in white Wine.  
Secondly, against the plague it may be used in the like manner, especially when it is to be given unto such as are already infected. But if you mean to take it but as a preservative, you need not to take a whole dram, for half a dram taken in the morning in a little wine or vinegar of marigolds, or any other convenient liquor, will very well serve.  
I myself have always used this earth with very good success, in manner as followeth, as soon as a man feeleth any pain of his heart or his head, or perceiveth any anguish, grudging, loathsomeness, giddiness, or other signs of the pestilence, I do straight dissolve in wine, water, or other liquor, a dram of this earth, and give it to the sick man in his bed, casting him in a sweat, wherewith the venom is in a very few hours driven out, without any outward sore or swelling: But if it so fall out as it be not taken in time, the blood being for the greatest part infected, there cometh out in the sweeting either sore or carbuncle. In this case you must open the vain as near to the sore as may be: As if it be under the arm, 
Or middle vein.  open the Mediana of the said arm, if the botch be in the flank or grain, the great vain on the inside of the leg is to be opened, if the sore be under the knee, open the vain in the sole of the foot. In the mean time be not negligent in qualifying of evil humours, lest the poison gathering force should strike to the heart, the heart being relieved, will forthwith drive the venom into a sore, which sore being ripe, must by an expert Surgeon out of hand be lanced and well healed up, neither must you omit to take a little portion of this earth, and steeping it in vinegar with powder of Cinnamon, make it in a plaster, and lay it upon the heart, you shall perceive a great quantity of the poison drawn out by the plaster.  
Herewithal must you remember after the receipt of the medicine to take a toast wet in very good vinegar, and to cause the patiented to hold it to his nose to keep him from casting it up again. And if he fortune to cast it up you must give it again and again, till his stomach do keep it. This manner of using of it a man of great authority and calling in the Turks Court did send to a noble man his friend as a great secret, with this protestation, that a principal Physician of the Turks did leave this order written in the Arabyck tongue, which the experiences of a great number hath since confirmed.  
Thirdly, against the biting of a mad dog, the stinging of Serpents, Scorpions, Spiders, or any other venomous worms, as also against wounds made by poisoned weapons, this earth may in this sort be most commodiously used. Take as much thereof as shall suffice for the bigness of the wound, and with fasting spittle make it into a paste spread upon Linen, and lay it to the soar, or being made more thinner anoint the soar with it, whereby the venom shall not all only be drawn back, but the force thereof quite abated, so as in this case it is not possible to have a better medicine. And if it happen the plasture be applied too late, then must you of neressitie drive out the poison by receiving inwardly a dram of the earth infused in wine or other medicinable liquor.  
Fourthly, it doth wonderfully assuage the pains and raging of the head, whether it come of heat, wind, labour, watching, care, or trouble of mind, and restoreth the consumed spirits if it be taken with good Aqua vitae, the waters of Betony, Rosmary, Mageram, Penyroyall, or such like, or in great heat a dram of it taken in the morning with rose-water. The pains and trembling of the heart it assuageth, and the heart itself being dampish it greatly rejoiceth, if a dram of it be taken with the waters of Balm, Salendine, Mother-wort, Buglasse, Borage, or Geliver Flowers, or drunk in like sort with good white wine. For the burning heat of the eyes, bleerednes, rheums, or any flux, this earth is specially good, applied either with Rose-water, the waters of Planteyne, Eybright, valerian, Fenell, or any such, and dropped into the eye with the feather of a black hen, or linen cloth dipped in the water and laid to it, for any stripe in the eye it healeth it, if it be laid to with the whit of an egg, and any convenient water as shall seem good to the Physician or Surgeon. It helpeth the wounds of the head or of the stones, if being dissolved in rose-water, a linen cloth dipped therein be laid to the hurt place, for thereby shall the soar be kept from any inflammation, flux of evil humours, or hurtful accident.  
Fiftly, you may quickly staunch blood breaking out from any part of the body, if you beat a Trocyse of this earth into powder, & mingling it with spittle or any other liquor, apply it to the place, you shall soon restrain bleeding at the nose if mingling this earth with vinegar, the white of an egg, & the water of tormentil, you spread it upon linen cloth and lay it to the temples to the part of the head, and put it into the nose, you shall easily also dissolve cluttered blood congealed within the body by any casualty, if you take either this earth alone in warm wine, or if you cause the patiented to drink a dram of the earth and a dram of that bowl which they that dig in quarreyes find in the midst of the stones, and name it it in Dutch of the colour Lyverstone, and of the place Steynmarle, dissolved in the white of two eggs and warm vinegar, with a scruple of Saffron.  
Sixtly, to cure the Rheum, use often to drink this earth morning and evening, either in white wine or other liquor, whereby you shall immediately sweat and find great ease.  
Seventhly, you shall stop any looseness of the body if you give a dram of this earth in the morning and at night in the water of tormentil, of Oak leaves, or of the flowers of our Acacia.  
Eightly, to keep any part of the body that it blister not after burning and scalding and to skin it very speedily, power upon this earth clear Fountain water wherein unquenched Lime hath soaked the night before, and herewithal with the feather of a black hen anoint often times very tenderly the sore place.  
Ninthly, if this earth be put in any plaster steeped in any liquor, or received any ways into the body, it perfectly cureth all pains, inflammations, or evil accidents of any wounds or ulcers, especially wounds of the kidneys, stones, or inward parts.  
Tenthly, it healeth Itches, Scabs, Rybes, Skuruinesse, Mangies, or other such filthy diseases of the skin and maketh the skin smooth and white, if so be it be dissolved in spring water or plantine water, if the foul and leprous skin be often washed therewith and not dried after it.  
Lastly, this earth of ours doth help the quinsey, inward inflammations, ulcered Lungs, and such other inward diseases, if a dram of it be taken in any water proper to the disease, and likewise it cureth all Colics, and Illyacke passions. These are in effect the virtues of this excellent earth, as far as I have hitherto had experience. Other virtues of this blessed earth doubtless there are many, which I leave to the experiences of the learned Physicians. Only this I will tell them, that this earth is of the nature of the Sun, or of Gold, for it groweth in no place but in the gold mines in the midst of the rocks, as doth the precious stone. (I mean the yellow earth, for the white is in the silver mines, and likely it is that every metal else hath his proper vole or earth as I guess, for as yet I have not fully understood it.) Whereupon it is called by Paracelsus in the first part of his great Surgery and in other places, the grease of the Sun, because it hath in it some show of fatness. Moreover, I have had of some skilful Alchemists two sorts of earth, the one drawn from gold, the other from silver very like unto these of ours, which so being, out of all doubt that earth of ours being as it ought to be prepared and applied, will cure all those grievous diseases that gold itself being prepared according to Art will cure, which I leave to the search of the wise and learned Physicians: For myself it sufficeth to have showed the way to others, whereby they may garnish and advance the glory of God and our Country.  
In fine, these and other many remedies sundry Doctors have daily found out, especially in the falling sickness, wherein they have found by good trial and experience that divers infected with that disease, by taking of this earth gotten in the golden mine, have been thoroughly delivered, so as they have not any time after been touched with it.  
And therefore I heartily desire all such to whose hands this earth hath come, and who have had any experience of it, that if so be they happen to have any other experience of it either by themselves or others, than a number of learned men have tried (whose witness of great credit yea, even of Magistrates and Princes before whom it hath been tried I have set down,) that for the comfort of the diseased, brotherly charity, and commodity of the universal members of Christ, they would vouchsafe to send me word of it hither into Silesia, where I remain in a town called Kupfferberg, or to advertise the famous & most learned Philosopher D. John Montanus Doctor in Physic, now dwelling at Striga.  
Touching the names of both the white and the yellow earth, to speak something thereof, I trust there is no man that can justly be offended with me, in that I have termed the white earth digged out of the silver mines, by the name of mineral unicorn, wherein I have not so much here followed mine own fancy (though it may be permitted to the Inventors to give names to such things as they have found out) as the counsel and advise of the best Miners, and Doctors of Physic, who commonly give names according to the effect & quality of the medicine, and not according to the outward shape or show only, as the unlearned use to do: Or because I have called the yellow earth the grease of the Sun, being gotten out of the gold mines, and afterwards with great diligence prepared. For I have found by experience, that the yellow earth hath the same force and virtue in curing diseases that gold itself hath: as the white hath the virtues of silver. So as good reason to me it seems, to name them according to the things whereof they take their force. If these names displease any man, the party may come hither to the mines where they grow, and consider the place, circumstance, form, and property, of the thing, before he as unskilful in Mineral matters, do maliciously blaze abroad his foolish writings against the secret works of God, or upon a covetous conceit, fearing that his Ritchin will be the colder, if out of Germany that may be had at a small price, which is hunted for out of Araby, Turquy, and the barbarous places there abouts, with so great sums of money and with greater gain retailed, although not half so good as this which we may have with less cost by much at home: Yet must they in the mean time be accounted great Doctors, because they can skill of such things as are far fetched, though they never saw the place where they grew, nor ever have seen them green or new gathered, as hath hitherto happened of that excellent herb Scordium, which being ●●ught by the Merchant out of far Countries and sold at a very high price, yet is now lately found to have grown continually in Germany, both as fair as that which cometh from beyond seas, and of better use for the bodies of our Germans than the other. In like sort falleth it out with minerals, metals, and precious stones, which as the learned Story writer Sebastian Munster affirmeth, are now found all to grow at home with us, and are sent abroad into other Countries in great abundance, which a hundred & fifty years ago were sought for at strangers hands, and so distributed about.  
We that do daily with infinite toil and excessive charges hunt for these hidden treasures in the bowels of our old mother the earth, do every day find new kinds both of metals and minerals, that the old writers never knew of, nor those that at this day inhabit those Countries are yet acquanted with, beside the unskilful Doctors, and dwellers at home, is it possible that these fellows should have better knowledge of such things, as at home they were never acquainted with? neither know what kind, sort, or nature they be of: than those to whom they be most familiar, and who daily gather them where they grow: Yet cease they not with their eloquent pens, impudently to lie & to deface the truth, attributing to every thing most foolish & feigned names both in Greek and Latin, not weighing the properties and qualities of every thing, according to which the Lord God did by Adam from the beginning name them: but as seemeth best to their foolish brain, which fancy of theirs is as foolishly still maintained, and shamelessly defended by their followers, alleging only this slender reason, such and such a Philosopher hath said it: which for the blindness sake and untrustiness of the parties they might rather have deemed to have been most false. And thus not only to God and his gifts, but to their own Country of Germany, these Doctors and Philosophers of Germany are found to be most injurious, who despise the rare blessings of God that are proper to them and their Country: Only commending and desiring such things as are gotten abroad, suppressing with a vile kind of mind such things as they have at home, nay, which is a fouler thing, they neither have desire to benefit their Country nor their brethren, neither will they suffer others that would do it, but study continually how they may with all sorts of railings and slanders stop and deface the good and laudable attempts of such as they know to be studiously and honestly given. Where it had been a great deal more meet for them first 〈◊〉 have given most hearty thanks to God that in the latter days hath so abundantly blessed our Country of Germany in bringing to light such infinite treasures as having long lain hid, are now through his mercy found out, to the end that by continual beholding of them we may be called from the dungeon of darkness to light, and to the amendment of our lives. And even of the very bounty and goodness of their disposition, thou mayst easily (good reader) perceive them whom God will have partakers of his hidden treasures, when as they do not with injustice keep to themselves the secret knowledge which they have received from God, but seek by all the means they may to make them common to all men, especially to those that be good and godly: and for the others, his good will is they should continually apply their studies to their private contentation, and never attain to the knowledge of the truth: And these good fellows use always to keep in their own custody such things as they themselves have no skill of, neither will they suffer such as are of understanding to have the use of them. But let us leave this kind of people as withered and rotten stocks, neither profitable to themselves nor others: And according to that which God hath given us, let us be fruitful, always giving praise and thanks to God our merciful father, not seeking our own honour or private commodity, who shall also make us profitable & fit for his kingdom: with which he hath promised to give to us whatsoever we shall have need of, so that we seek for that kingdom before all other things. To this only God who is & hath been from everlasting, be everlasting honour and glory.  
THe testimonials of the Princes & Magistrates, who have seen before them the experience and miraculus force of the Silesian Terra Sigillata: And there upon for the acknowledging of such divine benefits, and extolling the glory of God, have under their great seals confirmed the truth in such order as followeth.  
FIrst an exemplification, that is an abstract out of the German original faithfully translated into Latin, that the most noble Prince William Landgrave of Hesse in cassel Court in Catzenelnbog, Ditz Ziegenheim and Nidda, of his great clemency, did grant to Andrea's Bertoldus of Oschatz, by his Doctors in Physic and Chancellor.  
Be it known unto all persons, that an honest man called Bertold of Oschatz, came into the presence of the most noble Prince and Lord, the Lord William Landgrave of Hesse Court of Catzenelnbogen Ditz, Ziegenheim and Nidda etc. our gracious Lord and Prince, and in humble manner declared unto him, that he had found in an old mine of Gold within the dominion of Schueidnitz, a new kind of earth, which is a present help and a most notable remedy against all manner of poisons and sundry diseases, which earth having a stamp upon it he offered to sell unto his Excellency: who not trusting the man upon his bare word, committed the matter to his Physicians, Maurice, Thaurern, and Laurence Hyper: Commanding them to make a perfect trial of the said earth, whereupon the said Doctors in Physic to satisfy their Prince, did make a double proof of this earth, in this manner. They took four sundry sorts of the deadliest poisons that might be, which were, Mercury Sublimate, Aconitum, Nereum and Apocinum, and of some one of these they gave half a dram a piece to eight dogs, to four of them they gave the earth after the poison, and to the other four the poison alone: Of these four that took it alone, the first that took Apocynum, died within half an hour: the second that had taken Nereum, died within four hours: the third that swallowed Mercury, died within nine hours after: And although they all did cast up some part of the poison, yet after most cruel torments with cramps and trembling they died: the fourth dog that eat Aconitum, sustained thirteen great pangs of the cramp, so as every man thought he would have died with his fellows, yet lived he the first day, and having half the dose of this medicine given him, he thoroughly recovered. The other four dogs to whom the poisons before named with the like quantity of this Terra Sigillata was given, for three hours after the receiving of it, were very sick and feeble, especially one of them to whom the double quantity of Aconitum by negligence was given, vomited thrice: the next day they were all well and did eat their meat greedily, so as there appeared scarce any token of poison. When thus his Highness had seen the experience of this earth to be so present a remedy against such deadly poisons, & that the said Andrew Bertold had humbly craved his letters of credit, both in the favour of the man and advancement of the truth, that others might have knowledge, he denied not to grant them: But commanded that his letters testimonial sealed with his Highness his privy seal, and subscribed with the hands of the foresaid Doctors, in whose presence this trial was made, should be given unto him. Which we the abovenamed Doctors upon our allegiance to his Highness, and for the furtherance of the truth, because we found it as hath been declared to be true & unfeigned, most willingly have done. Given the xxviij. of July, the year of our Lord, 1580.  


Mauritius Thaurer D.  
Laurencius Hyperius M.D.  
johan Krug.     

IN the year of our Lord 1580. the day of Saint james: In the presence of the most noble and worthy Prince William Landgrave of Hesse there was made of the Terra Sigillata brought unto him by Andrea's Bertholde of Oschatz this proof upon certain dogs.  
A red Dog with a white ring about his neck had given him between eight and nine in the morniug a scruple of Mercury sublimed, and a scruple of the Terra Sigillata therewith: within half an hour after the second hour he vomited extremely, the third hour again he cast up certain choleric matter, so did he the fourth hour, and without any great harm he escaped.  
A yellow Cur with a whit breast had given unto him a scruple of Mercury sublimed and nothing after it, within half an hour after he made water and presently after he scummered, within half an hour afterwards he was taken with a Cramp and fell to the ground, after this Cramp he stood up a while panting and grinning, and presently after was again taken with the cramp, and withal swelled in the belly: at one of the clock he was taken with a more grievous Cramp and lay as though he had been dead for a quarter of an hour, within half an hour after two, he began again to go, and for an hour and an half afterwards, he stood still without moving: between four & five, he was again extremely taken with the cramp and sundry times after, at last he died in the night.  
A black little hound with a white tail, had given unto him a great dram of Aconitum, and therewith a dram of this earth, within half an hour afterward he vomited extremely & within half an hour after, he cast up certain frothy matter, after the first hour he vomited the third time & so escaped.  
A branded shaghairde dog with a white tail had half a dram of Aconitum given him and nothing herewith, within an hour he was taken with a great Crapme and 〈◊〉 king one hour after that abou● 〈◊〉 of the clock he was taken 〈◊〉 with the cramp sundry times, 〈◊〉 wise after one, and half an hour after two he fell into the Cramp again, so did he at three a Clock, after three he was extremely pulled with the cramp, and by and by after had the like fit wherewith he made a great quantity of water, that stonke horribly, than was he again touched with the Cramp, when as there was given him at the commandment of our gracious Lord the Landgrave of Hasse half the dose of this suffraine medicine whereby he recovered and escaped.  
A black Cur with a white neck had given unto him half a dram of Nerium or Oleander & half a dram of this earth, within one hour after the taking of it, he vomited extremely, and within a little after he vomited green baggage, within half an hour after he frothed and foomed at the mouth, this was the faintest and weakest dog amongst them all, yet did he presently recover and scape.  
A brown Cur with a white neck had given unto him half a dram of Merium and nothing of the medicine. First he vomited a thin matter about ten of the Clock he vomited again, after twelve he was taken with a great quaking and a terrible cramp, which fit was very long and extreme: afterward he was pulled with the cramp till almost three, after three he was terribly racked with the Cramp, and between three and four he died.  
A grey little begle had given unto him a dram of Apocynum half leaves and half roots and withal a dram of this Terra Sigillata. This dog as far as we could discern was not all the day long any wise vexed, but escaped very well.  
A branded dog had given unto him a dram of Apocynum half root and half herb and nothing of the medicine, within half an hour after the receipt of the poison, he was taken with an extreme cramp and quavering, and within a very small while after he fell suddenly dead to the great wondering of those that stood by.  


Mauritius Thaurer D.  
Laurencius Hyperius. D.     

A copy of the Letters Patents which the noble earl Wolfgan earl of Hohenloe, Lord of Langenburg etc. Had granted to Andrew Bertolde of Oschatz, in witness of the wonderful virtues of the Terra Sigillata, found lately in Germany which hath been tried to be an approved medicine against the strongest poisons, and sundry other grieves: faithfully translated out of the German Original.  
WE Wolfgangus Earl of Hohenloe, Lord of Langenburg, etc. Do openly make known unto all men by these my Letters Testimonial, that there came lately before me at Langenburg, my well-beloved friend Andreas Betholdus of Oschatz, and declared unto me that he had a most excellent kind of Terra Sigillata, which was not all only of great force against sundry diseases: but also a most undoubted remedy against all manner of venomous poisons, as had been proved by sundry witnesses upon a great number of dogs, which made me also desirous to see the trial of it. It happened at the same time, that one called Wendol Thumblardt was by our Lieutenant of Langenburg for certain felonies imprisoned, who being examined by our justices, confessed himself guilty of a great number of robberies: And therefore brought to the bar was condemned to be hanged. Being yet detained in prison, & coming to his ear that there was such a medicine, so sovereign against sundry sicknesses, and the most deadly poisons, he made humble request as well by his parents, as by other his friends, of which there were present no small number, desiring for the mercy of God, & respect of his poor life, that being thus condemned, he, might have given unto him the most deadly poison that might be devised, whereby a perfect trial might be had of the worthiness of this medicinable earth. And in this respect, not only for this pitiful request of his: but also for the commodity and benefit of all Christendom, (if so be the medicine prove answerable to the report) pardoning the offender, we granted his life upon that condition. Therefore the day of the date of these presents, in the presence of ourself, and our well-beloved Cousin the County George Friderick of Hohenloe, and Lord in Langenburg, and in the presence of all our Nobility and Commons, the said patiented received a dram and a half of Mercury Sublimate, mingled with Conserve of Roses, & immediately after it he drank a dram of the Terra Sigillata in old wine. And albeit the poison did in the judgement of our learned Physician George Pistor Doctor in Physic, and john Lutzen our Apothecary, who were both by him all the while, extremely torment and vex him: yet in the end the medicine prevailing overcame it, whereby the poor wretch was delivered, and being restored to his health was committed to his parents. Whereas therefore the foresaid Andrew Berthold, hath humbly required io have our Letters Testimonial for his farther credit, we have thought good for the furtherance and advancement of the truth, to grant him these our Letters, signed with our seal Manuel. Given at Langenburg the 25. of januarie, in the year of our Lord. 1581.  
The copy of the Letters Testimonial granted by the Magistrates of the City of juliers unto Master Crisantus a Cronenbnrg, Citizen of Coleine, in the name and behalf of Andreas Bertholdus of Oschatz, touching the force and virtues of the sealed earth lately found in Germany. Truly drawn out of the dutch original.  
WE the Mayor and Aldermen of the Town of juliers do signify unto all to whom this present writing shall come, that there presented himself before us one Crisant of Cronenburg a substantial man, and Citizen of Coleine, declaring unto us that he had an assured remedy against all poisons, called by the name of Terra Sigillata, Axungia Solis, S. Paul's earth, or Adam's earth, being made up in divers trocisks, some of them reddish in colour, some Greyish, sealed with a scutcheon wherein is portrayed the Sun, the half Moon, and five Stars. In place of the helmet these Letters, A.B. and on the other side V.O. Who beseeched us to give him leave to make trial in our sight of the said earth upon certain dogs and beasts. Which when we had granted, the said Crisantus did will to be brought before him two great dogs of like colour and bigness, and therewithal two Crowns weight of Mercury Sublimate, which he divided in our presence, and in the sight of john Oitweilers our sworn Surgeon, into two equal portions, whereof the one he gave alone in a piece of lard to the one dog, the other part of the poison he gave to the other in a piece of lard being mingled with the quantity of three Trocisks of the Terra Sigillata. Both the dogs in our presence devoured the portions that were thrown unto them, and both vomited and grew to be very feeble, six hours after the receiving of the poison, the first dog that had taken the poison pure without any of the earth, died. The other which had received the Terra Sigillata with the poison, remained safe and alive, and being shut up for a day, after was suffered to go at large. Sith these things we saw to be true as they be reported, we thought good to grant to the before named Crisanti●● of Cronenburg these our Letters of Credence, sealed with our common Seal. Given at juliers in the year of our Lord 1580. The xii. of February.  
Subsigned Paulus Herle.   

THis copy was drawn out in the presence of the honourable Henry Wendelen, & Theodorck a Bruck, both the Scavins in Dusseldorff, was by me Antony Burker chief Notary there, conferred with the true original, sealed & subscribed, neither razed canselled, nor to be suspected, which original remaineth in the keeping of the said Crisantus, wherewith I confess it agreeth word for word, which I the aforesaid Anthony Burker do witness with mine own hand. Dated the ninth of March, the year. 1582.   

Andrew Berthold to the loving Reader.  
BE it known unto all and singular the studious, and searchers out of the treasures of nature, that for their own necessity or their friends, desire to be partakers of the wonderful & medicinable force of the Terra Sigillata of Silesia: as well for recovering & keeping of their health, as to be preserved from all deadly poison: That I Andrew Berthold of Oschatz, upon the mountain called Kupfferberg, dwelling near unto the Golden river named in the German tongue the Bober, about seven miles from the head of the river called the Elbe, have been earnestly required by sundry Doctors in Physic and other men of name, to leave some quantity of this precious earth in some place near unto the Rhine, specially at Franckfort, where in my absence, as oft as occasion served, it might be had. When as therefore I caused these books to be printed by that virtuous man Christopher Coruin a Printer, & Citizen of Franckfort: I thought it good not any where better leave it, than with him who might utter it at a reasonable price to all such as have need of it: which I could hardly entreat him to trouble himself withal, but only in respect that he had printed the copies. Wherefore I intend, God sparing me life, to send abroad every Mart not only good store of this earth, but also certain precious stones needful in Physic: As Rubies, Emeralds, Sapphires, jacinths, Carnelins, Citrins, Crystals, Serpentins, Amethists, Garnats, and such like. And whosoever lacketh any stones belonging to Physic or otherwise, he shall be sure at the said Coruins to have not only them, but also the earth ready prepared, which our merciful God hath bestowed upon Germany, for the common profit of all Christendom. To which almighty Lord be all honour, glory, and praise, for ever and ever.  
Andrea's Bertholdus of Oschatz.  
FINIS.