THE ANTIMONIAL Cup twice cast: Or, A TREATISE concerning the Antimoiall Cup, showing the abuse thereof.  
FIRST, Written in Latin by JAMES PRIMROSE Dr. of Physic, in consideration of a small Pamphlet set forth by the Founder of the Cup.  
Translated into English by ROBERT WITTY, Master of Arts, Philiatr.  
LONDON, Printed by B. A. and T. FAUCET. 1640.   

The Translators Preface to the Reader.  
HAving finished my Translation of the Popular errors, or the errors of the people in matter of Physic, being a learned Treatise, lately set forth in Latin by Dr. PRIMROSE the Physician, my very good Friend, it pleased my aforesaid Author to write something touching the Antimonial Cup, which is now adays in such frequent use, and so much admired by some, and to give it to me to translate into into English, to be annexed to the former Treatise, being an Error as common and gross as any other; But seeing that the Impression of the aforesaid Treatise a for some reasons procrastinated for a while, it was thought convenient at the request of some Friends, to substrast this from the other, and to set it forth in a small Pamphlet by itself, which ●ow thou hast, being never till now in Print; The other wanting nothing but the Printers art, shall as soon as may be, be Pressed to do thee service; mean while accept of this lovingly, expect the other patiently, as it is tendered willingly by him, who is thine in any friendly office.  
RO: WITTY.   

A TREATISE CONCERNING THE ANTIMONIAL Cup, showing the abuse thereof.  
THere is come not long since into use a Cup made of the Regulus of Antimony, so called by Alchemists, which is sold at a very high rate, and is reported to be good for many things, and diseases, both by him that makes it, and by the people who are always eager in their pursuit after Novelties, and it is thought by the people to be a thing of great value, and heretofore not known by Physicians; when nevertheless, it is very well known of all them that have any skill in the Chemics; for the way of making the Regulus out of Antimony, is very easy, ordinary, and ancient. But that we may explicate to the people this error so pernicious, we will first speak of the Cup itself, and then of its force. Now the Cup hath not its virtue from the artificial form thereof; for so any Cup made of Silver or Gold should do the same. But it hath all its virtue from the Antimony: Now they that pry into the nature of Minerals and Mertals, are of opinion that Antimony doth consist of crude and very impure Sulphur, Mercury, and Arsenticke: And therefore it is so contrary to our nature, that after what manner soever it be prepared and corrected, it doth even in the least quantity that may be given, offer great violence to the entrails, and doth retain its malignant quality, which can scarce be taken away by any infusions. If by chance some man of a strong constitution be able to endure the force thereof, he expels it upwards and downwards, with abundance of humours; but them that are waeke, and such as do vomit hardly it doth wonderfully gripe and torment; For howsoever it be prepared, it never lays aside its malignant and deadly quality.  
Hence many grave Physicians, as Fernelius, Riolanus, Gesnerus, and the whole College of Physicians at Faris, do utterly dislike the internal use thereof, in respect of its deadly quality too hurtful to Nature. Nevertheless to satisfy the people, we will grant, that it may safely be used, so it be rightly prepared, and discreetly used. I know it hath been diversely assayed to be prepared by the art of the Alchemists, that though not altogether, yet at least in some measure the malignity thereof might be abated, but that art is not yet fully found out, which can quite take away the force of that Medicament.  
Now the common and more ordinary preparations, which are to be sold even small shops, are the regulus of Antimony, of which the aforesaid Cup is made; The glass of Antimony, which the people call Stibium, whereas Stibium is indeed the true name of Antimony itself, and of this Glass, not of the Regulus ought this Cup to be made, saith Sennertus in his Institutions, and Hartmannus in his notes upon Crollius. Moreover there are made of it Crocus metallorum, or the Saffron of metals; Pulvis emeticus, Mercurius vita, a Tincture, and an Oil.  
And all these preparations are endued with one & the same quality; to wit, vomiting and Purging, which manifests that in none of the aforesaid preparations was the deadliness of the Antimony taken away. Now seeing that in all things, yea even in the worst of all there are some degrees of pravity, the people must know that in all Minerals, that preparation is accounted the best, and least dangerous, in which the form of the Mettle is lost; for then there is made a greater separation of the pure from the impure; and therefore all Alchemists do endeavour so to dissolve Gold, a harmless Medicament in itself, that the form of the Mettle being laid aside it may be made potable, and they do not approve of any dissolution thereof, in which it can return to its own nature; which is indeed much more true of Minerals that are of a mischievous nature. It is therefore to be noted that that Antimony which we call crude, to wit, unprepared at all, is of no force to move the body, and therefore the Ancients who were ignorant of Chemical art, knew no inward use thereof. Now the first and easiest preparation of all, is that, which we call the Regulus, in which the form of the Mettle is not taken away, but doth melt into a certain form of Lead. Hence Dioscorides saith, that Antimony melted turns to Led, having some light knowledge of that Regulus, for it is made of it being melted only, and so a little refined, and it doth retain all the malignity of the Antimony, which laid as it were asleep before, under the earthy excrement. This do Mettall-men use, and mix in Guns, Bells, and other the like engines: but seeing it doth yet possess all the naughty and mischievous qualities of Antimonic, it must necessarily follow, that the Cup made of it is most dangerous. Therefore the best Alchemists have quite abandoned it from any use in Physic, save that by a further preparation may be extracted out of this Regulus the glass of Antimonic, and many other such things fare better than the Regulus itself. Wherefore some in stead thereof have used the glass of Antimony, as did frequently that most excellent Physician Matthiolus, the people call it Stibium, and are sore afraid of it, where as indeed it ought to be preferred before the regulus. Nevertheless Quercitanus, Hartman, and some others of principal note among the Alchemists, who do highly extol the virtue of Antimony, do think this preparation of the Glass also unsafe, in respect of the mixture of impure Sulphur, which is not yet taken away. And therefore waving those two as not safe, they do familiarly use the Crocus, or Hepar Antimonij, Saffron or liver of Antimony; Pulvis emeticus, the vomiting powder; and Mercurius vitae, Mercury of the life: Which preparations the College of Physicians at London hath inserted in their dispensatory, and there is almost no shop, in which both the substance and infusion of them is not to be sold. From whence they that do so much extol this Cup, may gather, that they use a pernicious and dangerous remedy, whereas the same much better prepared is every where obvious, and to be sold, yet at a very easy rate.  

Of the force of the Cup.  
AS touching the force of the Cup, it doth not gently ●●t mightily provoke vomit & stooled▪ ●ow every vomit although it be ●●●●ed by the most gentle Medicines 〈◊〉 is nevertheless always more ha●h ●o Nature them any Purgation by the inferior parts, because the stomach was not made for expulsion, but for reception; for it is one of the noble parts, and of exquisite sense, and hath a very great sympathy with the Brain and the heart, in so much as when it is affected, the people think and complain that their heart aches. It is therefore not good to strain such a noble part with such a violent medicine. But besides, a Vomit doth offer much violence to the strength of the whole Body, strains the Head, brain, muscles of the belly, the breast, and all the entrails which are contained in the lower belly, and sometimes in gross bodies breaks the veins, and let's out the blood. Wherefore if we must not use other purging Medicines, but with a great deal of care and premeditation, much less Vomitories; for of all evacuations a Vomit is the most grievous and dangerous. And therefore many things are to be regarded in the provoking of vomit. First, the nature of the patiented, and his aptness or difficulty for vomiting, for in them that vomit hardly, there is a great deal of danger, although they be sick of a disease, which might be cured by vomit. Such are they that are fat, those that are straight breasted, many slender persons, who have weak stomaches, such are subject to a Cough, or difficulty of breathing, which have tumors or Ulcers in their breasts, they that have weak heads and eyes, and such as are troubled with the inflammation, or pain in the Midriff. Secondly, the time of the year is to be considered; for it is not convenient at every time of the year. Thirdly, the nature of Diseases; for in some diseases it doth more hurt than good, and in those wherein it may do good, it must not yet be always used, and therefore the founder of the Cup is mistaken, when he saith, that the Cup is good for all the Diseases, which stand in need of Purging, as we shall manifest afterwards. Fourthly, the constitution of Diseases; for it cannot be administered at all times of diseases with out danger to the patiented: The Physician must consider in all Evacuations the beginning, increasing, state of the Disease, much more in a Vomit. Fifthly, great care is to be had of preparing the body and the humours, and many things are to be regarded both before the vomit, and in the very act of vomiting, which are not to be handled in this place. So as there is no evacuation, which requires so much consideration, as that which is done by vomit. Now seeing these things can be known only by a Physician, and that not every one, but by a very learned and sklfull man, I cannot but wonder at the adventurous rashness of some men, yea and women, who being unread in the rules of Physic, grossly ignorant both of Diseases and their causes, their times, and not knowing the method of Curing, dare nevertheless vex and torment such a noble subject as Man's body with variety of Medicines; Secondly, persuade unto vomit, the most dangerous and difficult evacuation of all other; Thirdly, provoke it with a Mineral, whi●● is most contrary to Nature; Fourthly, to do it with Antimony, th●n which no Mineral is more churlish; and lastly, to use that preparation of it, which is the very worst of all. Not that I do altogether dislike the use of Antimony, for I have often used it with good success, but better prepared. But especially the founder of the Cup is to be blamed, for selling such a cheap medicine at so dear a rate, the right use whereof he doth neither teach the people, nor I think he himself knows: And there tore I have known many, who by taking the infusion of it, have been grievously tormented, and some that have died, who despising the counsel of Physicians have preposterously used it. For Physic although it be in its own nature very good, is the hand of God, but like a sword in the hand of a madman, as we have said in another place out of Herophilus, in our Popular Errors.   

Of the Founder of the Cup, and the Authors cited by him.  
AS for the Founder of the Cup, he professes himself a Minister, and Preacher of God's Word, that is, a man that will scorn to deceive any body, and will not meddle beyond his knowledge, and therefore without question he hath brought us a very Sovereign medicine, which he made conscience to conceal any further, though before he was borne, the thing was in use in another name, as appears by those Authors whom he doth cite for the patronising of his gains, thought they are men of small note and hardly worth, to be cited. First, he hath a great commendation of the Antimony itself, extolling it above all medicines in the world; So do they that commend aurum potabile, & o all the Alchemists till this Minister have preferred the Gold before it. It is (saith he) a mineral (according to Paracelsus) consisting of Mercury, Sulphur and salt; So is my glove according to the said Paracelsus. It was first discovered (saith he) by Geber King of Arabia; and yet Dioscorides, Galen, Hypocrates, and ancienter Authors b●●ore Geber do speak of it: And he called it Magnesia, as if Geber spoke Latin, but Quercetanus calls it so indeed, Secondly, amongst all the medicines that are prepared out of this mineral, he disclaims from all except the Rugulus, in which he shows his weakness, for the Regulus is the weakest, easiest, and coursest preparation of all others▪ therefore he adds, and what may be conveniently prepared 〈◊〉 of the same, and that I like well, for our of the Regulus may be drawn the dowers, the glass of Antimony, the Cro●us metallor, and many other preparations; and herein I adhere to the authority of Bornettus, and Mylius, cited by him; who do not say, that it is to be used in Physic, but that it is the chiefest examination of Gold, and the true matter of all Flowers, and medicinali tinctures contained within Antimony, which is true; for the flowers & other Antimonial extractions must be properly drawn out of the regulus, & the worst of them is better than the regulus itself: Then be brings in Paracelsus with the titles of Oriental star of Natural, spagirical, and Magnetical light and knowledge. Now I am sure no learned and honest man will approve of such an illiterate man as Paracelsus was, approving and practising Magical arts, which he calls the Syrups and electuaries of the Devil. But let us hear what he says; In his Book De vitâ long â, pag. 167. cited by this Writer, not a word of the Cup, but only of the praises of Antimony, as Alchemists use to do, that is, beyond the deserts thereof, and that it cures the Leprosy, which notwithstanding Paracelsus never performed therewithal, but howsoever he never used the Regulus, or the Cup, but hath many better preparations of Antimonte then that Cup is, as appears by the next authority cited by him out of his 6. Book, Pag. 22. Where he attributes all these virtues unto the quintessence of Antimony, the Regulus being not the essence of it, but amongst all preparations the coursest and unsafest; and all the passages alleged out of Paracelsus do intimate no more, but only that Antimony is an excellent Medicine, that cures (saith he) the Leprosy, Cicatrices, besides many other diseases, but for these two I am sure it is false, for neither by the Cup, not by any other antimonial Preparation can it be performed. And I believe Paracelsus spoke he knew not what, when he saith, As that Antimony refined Gold, so by the same reason it purifies the Body of man. He must be void of reason, who will think this comparison true and right, as if there were the same reason for Gold a Mineral, having some convenience of Principles with another mineral, and the Body of man, with which it hath no convenience at all: For the fame might be as well said of all Purging medicines, that cleanse the body of man from all its imparities; but howsoever the Cup is not the right preparation of it to give to cleanse Man's body. He brings a second authority of Martinus Rulandus, who calls his Aqua-benedicta the infusion of this Cup, which is absolutely false, and Quercetanus, Libavius, Sennertus, and Hartmannus upon Crollius, yea his own Son Rulandus says otherwise; namely, that his Aqua-benedicta which he commends so much was made of Antimony indeed, but not of the Cup, but of the Crocus metallor, otherwise called Hepar antimony, the liver of antimony, or some other better Preparation; as if he did say, that it was the infusion of this Cup, yet it is not to be used by every one, except they have the same knowledge & judgement, that Rulandus hath; neverth less he used other Medicines as bad as this, which he doth commend as much, as his Extractum Esulae, which is absolutely preferred by him before all other medicines, and antimony itself, showing that no Medicine is good for every body. But Alchemists have that property, to extol things to the skies, but when they come to the trial, they are found false, or else lose their virtues in other folk's hands; As for example, that it cured the Frenzy, it is 〈◊〉, for in the dissences of the head, vomiting is very hurtful, by the consent of all Physicians. That it cured the F●lling sickness, it were to be desired but it doth not prove so, except that comes from the stomach, the head being only affected by the Sympathy of the said stomach. That it healeth Impostumes in the Lungs, and cured the Pleurisy it is most untrue; For breaking the impostumes in the lungs, if it be given when they are at maturity, perhaps it will, because of the great straining of the upper parts of the body, but another vomit may do the like, if the man can bear it. The truth is, those that have impostumes in the Lungs are so short wound, that they cannot bear the straining of a vomit; but howsoever an Impostume to be broken, and to be healed are two several things, a vomit may do the former, but not the latter. Concerning the Pleurisy; the Physician, that gives such a purging medicine, that works upward as well as downward, in such a disease, is much to be blamed, for working against the rules of Physic. Quercetanus is so bold in his Pharmacopoeâ, as to speak of such a Cure, but not in a right Pleurisy, but because that book is full of lies, I will say no more but this, namely, that neither he, nor Rulandus ever used the Antimonial cup, or the regulus out of which it is made, no● that Quercetanꝰ his Aqua benedicta was made of it; for he himself says plainly the contrary, 3dly, He brings the book called Basilica antimonij, commending Antimony but not the Cup; And to show how largely these Alchemists speak, he says it cures the French Pox, Leprosy, Gout, and Falling sickness, which, never a one of them ever performed, and yet the Basilica speaks of that preparation of antimony that provokes sweeting, as well as of others. So I may say the like of ●rol●ius, who commends the Antimony but no● the Cup, and so Mylius, and ●●●net●us who commends the Antimony but not a word of the cup. As for Mylius, he is but a transcriber of other men's works & hath compiled a mighty great volume without any judgement word by word out of Paracelsus, Quercetan and others, and hath indifferently put in true or false, whatsoever he found written, so I will not give a straw for his opinion, when he commends the antimony against diseases, which none of them did ever cure. For Bornettus, I know him well, he wrote his book, being very young, and I do not think he believes, that the French Pox, and the Leprosy may be cured by those means. Thus I have sisted all the authorities of this man in the behalf of his Cup which prove only that Antimony is an excellent medicine, powerful in operation, and too powerful in deed, but that the Cup is the pure essence of it, none of them say, nor will any man that hath any skill in Chemistry ever affirm. Besides he brings some Physicians living (and some very well known to me, but the greatest part I know not) who (is he saith) have approved his Cup: I will make a good interpreration of their judgement, for without question the infusion of his Cup will work, and such bodies might be met withal, in which it hath so powerfully wrought that being able to bear it, they have received much good by it, but that they have said that his Cup was better and safer than other preparations of Antimony, or then other purging Medicines, and that a woman having bought it, hath also gained knowledge when, and in what Diseases to apply it, I will not wrong their judgement so much as to believe it.   

Of the virtues of the Cup.  
NOw to come to the virtues of the Cup, he makes a great list of all the Diseases for which it is good, naming almost all Diseases that have need of purging from Head to foot, without distinction of the several causes of them, the Cup is good for them because it purges, and by the same reason all purging Medicines may do the like, and are good for the same diseases, for Nature hath provided variety of remedies, some strong some weaker, of all sorts, that the Physician may choose what he thinks most fit for his patient, for one same remedy, in the same disease is not fit for every one. When we read the books of Alchemists, they commend other remedies as much as Antimony for the same diseases. But let us a little consider some particular Diseases named in his Pamphlet, which I do except against; It cures perfectly the French Pox, the King's evil, the Falling sickness, as he saith, in the 9, 10, and 13. th' Mark, which is false; nay I say more it is a very gross mistake, and rash boldness in him, or any man, to prescribe the infusion of this cup in the Plague, small Pox, spotted Fever, and Purples, for all violent medicines that draw the venomous humours of these diseases within the body which Nature doth expel to 〈◊〉 circumference, do work against the rules of Art. It is also false that any vomit is good for the Pleurisy; and so I say the like of a Consumption: If the founder of this Cup had well known the nature of these diseases, he would never have said so. Indeed where nature hath need of purging or vomiting this cup may serve, observing all that is to be considered in the use of those evacuations; for we do not deny that it will work, but this we say, that it being the worst and unsafest preparation of all others, it is better to use some other than it, and all those diseases that he brings experience for, (leaving out those that have been killed by it) might have been performed by other vomits, made our of the antimony, or other simples working the same effect.   

Of the manner of using the Cup.  
NOw the manner of using the cup shows the weakness of the man, he bids to put the Cup into a pot, and cover it with liquor to be above the cup an inch or two, then to boil it gently for two hours, & so to keep it warm for twelve hours, then to take a cup full of it or more, & the quantity of his liquor is a pint of Wine for two, yet it works better says he, if two or three cup-fuls be taken, and he is bold to say, that it works without any violence, gives counsel if it should work three or 4. days together, not to stop it, & in the end to beware of counterfeit Cups. Here are as many Errors as words; First, it is needless to shape the Regulus into a cup, seeing the Wine is not to be infused in the cup, but the Cup in the wine in an earthen pot. Is not a little lump of the same Regulus without any particular shape, as good as a Cup of it? And if one do steep it, will it not think you infuse its virtue into the liquor, as well as the Cup, & best of all if it were in powder? But thus the Regulus had been bought too cheap, but we must have it a cup or a Ring (forsooth) to make the people believe it is not an ordinary thing. Secondly, being thus prepared by boiling, makes the drink look so distastefully, and makes it to lose its virtue, so as if a Child hath need of half a pint, a strong man of two or three, as he says. Let the R●ader go to an Apothecary's Shop in any part of the Kingdom there he m●y ●i●d a little Stibium, which is Antimony in glass, of this let him take six grains weight, let them steep closely in two or three spoonfuls of white wine, and it will be every whit as pure as it was without any taste, & it will work as well, and more safely; but if you fear the Stibium, not without cause, take as much of the Regulus out of which he makes his cup, use it as I have said, and it will work in as little quantity. Yea steep the Cup in a quart of Wine close without any fire, for a fortnight, give but two or three ounces of that Wine, and it will work with a better effect. Thirdly, that it works without any violence, it is not so, for I know many that have taken it, who have been grievously tormented with it, and this is common to all vomits, yea even when they are provoked by the strength of nature. Fourthly, it is a pernicious counsel to suffer a superpurgation, and Physic to work so long, if it happen well in some strong bodies, it is not to be thought that it will do so in every one. The last, to beware of counterfeit Cups, is to keep the people continually bound to him; for (saith he) if it be broken, bring it to him in weight, and for Ten shillings he will give you a new one. This is the best tricks of all his book, a pound of antimony unprepared is hardly worth above sixpences in the Druggisters Shop, for twelve pence or eighteene-pences more, of that pound one may have half a pound and more of this Regulus, what the casting of it into a Cup is worth let any body judge, in very deed three cups of 4 or 5. ounces a piece, do not stand the maker to above ten Shillings. Besides when the cup is broken, the virtues are not broken, the pieces being steeped do retain the same virtue, and will work the same effect, as when the Cup was whole. The mettle then being so good cheap, and the preparation of it so easy, there is no great fear of counterfeit ones, for a counterfeit one is like to cost more, than a right one.  
To conclude, I say, though this Cup should be so admirable, yet it is beyond the capacity of any that is not a Physician, to adapte the right use of it to every person, for all Diseases, times, and places, as we have said already; nor do I think the Founder himself hath the full knowledge of these things.   
FINIS.   

Jmprimatur,  
T. WYKES. April. 24. 1640.