A compendious DECLARATION OF THE excellent virtues of a certain lately invented oil, called for the worthiness thereof Oil Imperial.  
WITH THE MANNER HOW THE same is to be used, to the benefit of Mankind, against Innumerable diseases.  
Written by Thomas Rainold Doc. of Physic.  
VIRTUTE DUCE COMITE FORTUNA.  
VENETITS joan. Gryphius excudebat. MDLI   

TO HIS SINGULAR friend Francis Merry merchant of the Cite of London Thomas Rainold wisheth, all health.  
THE strong obligation wherein, throu your special humanity, I found myself right straightly obliged and bond, will in no wise suffer forgetfulness of the infinite benefits daily received at your hands in to mi mindful mind to make any unlauful entry. But continually calling on, & setting before mine inward eyes, on th'one side, the weighty burden of bond duty, on thouther, the feeble correspondency of mi small power, engendereth in mi fantasy so perplex and doubtful deliberation, that comparing the remissness of mi slender power, with the excess of your singular merits, I can conceive but small hope with so little force, ever to discharge me of so great and grave a bond. Notwithstanding, willing in this behalf to ensue the example of honest debtors, as you, I am certain, do of gentle Creditors, whereas I am not able at one payment, to acquit the total sum of mi due debt, if as pour, time, place, and occasion do give, I declare mi self, in that I mai, somewhat towards, and readily willing, I doubt not but your want courtesy will accept diligent endevar, in place of a mean contentation. Whereas' a feu months passed, you bought, only upon mi commendation, a certain portion of the Oil, surnamid Imperial, thereoppon requiring me to vurite you a short memori of the most notable qualitees thereof, so soon as convenient leasar would suffer me, parteli to perfurm mi promise to the inventor of the said Oil longsith made, but cheifli glad to embrace this occasion, wherebi y might seem to have found sum matter, therein to show the inclination of mi heart towards the accomplishment of any your virtuous desires, y forthwhith took in hand to compile, as you see, this simple and rude treatise. The which, albeit it shall manifestli appear far & wide disanswerable, both to your expectation, mi desire, and also the worthiness of the matter, yet y trust you will have respect rather to the prompt good will of one, which in every thing to his utter, is much fainar to gratify, then able, to satisfy such his rare & approved friend. And in your so doing, you shall increase in me spirit and courage, by little and little, to excogitate hereaffter sum matter more peradventure agreeable both to your appetite, and also my fantasy. In the mean while, far you most harteli well. From Venice the first of March.   

HONOUR, says the good old proverb, nourisshith art: which saying of no less verity, then antiquity, if in our age as in times ancient were remembered and regarded, no doubt but, th' activity of men's wits at this present being no less lively, and forward then, the same of them in times passed, there would be brought forth in these our days, as great effects of witty ingine, as have been from time to time from our ancient predicessars successiveli hitherto received: who hath so little wordli experience that looking abroad seith not with his eyes, withi these feu years, in all kind of arts and sciences such an increase, yea perfection engendered & upsprung, that almost it seamith there can be no addition made to that the late wits of men have contrived, invented, and throuhli furnisshid? So that the fine industry and sharp wittiness of men in those latter days in all manner of knowledge, & experiences, have so far and earnestli travelid, and each his science so renuid, & pullisshid, that the excellent effects and inventions, of these feu years, mai be comparid, and estemid equivalent with the inventions of many hundrith years before. Examples hereof be so many & plentitul, that were it to mi present purpose, I might therewith furnish forth a great volume. But as there be divers, whom the sight and fruition of fair fruits do much delight and rejoice, so be there well few, whom the care to set, or chearesshe the plaits wherefrom such fruits might be lookid for, doith enithing touch, wherebi it cometh to pass, that many of whom outherwise might be hoopid great abundance of excellent fruits and virtuous inventions, either for lack of sufficient suckor, as the veri humour of there tree, they can not increase, ne till due season nourish there fruit, but are constraignid to suffer them perish in the blossom, or if there good adventure be, to attain unto the perfection of fruit, the same, with the blasts of envy is so windshaken, that the tree of his fruit little praise & less profit enjoyeth. That foul vice of ingratitude, right many apt & able wits, from the atcheaving & enterprise of many worthy matters, doth daily, no doubt, withhold & greatelis discourage, having over much regard & respect, towards the vilite of that common reigning devilish vice. But in there so doing, as peradventure they mai be commended for wise, circumspect, & maintaignars of thereoune tranquillity and quietness, so yet such private prudendencie is open injury & enimite to the common wealth of mankind and all posterity. If our ancients would have been abashed, or withholden from well doing, or writing, for any such respects, reigning in there days as much ingratitude as now in ours, we should have found ourself at this time, in so profound darkness & ignorancy of all verity, that little should be the difference between us and bruit beests.  
Treu it is, that to the said incommodity of Envy be subiectid, in manner with out exception, all such, who with there pen, pain themselves to publish any kind of matter, nameli being annexed with sum novelty or rareness. For anon as in writing aman have his concepts once discharged, & set at large, full many judges, & of as variable senses & opinions doth that pout writing forthwhith acquire; Sum will improve it because nothing can like them but there own: Sum, be cause they not well understand the matter: either, to seem thereby the wisar and more skilful: But he that is so tender over his name that to shun and avoid the nips of girning Envy, will abstaign and forbore to puttfurth any such talon, wherewith the giver of all goodness doth endue him, take he head, least whilst he seakith by that means to seem wordli wise, he becum ungodli wickid: For so much as it aught to be persuaded to all unfainid Christians, no man to be wise, to be cunning, mighty, rich, of any either gifft at god's hand to have received, for his own oneli peculiar advantage, glori, promotion, wealth, or pleasirs, but therewithal to the utilite, commodity, & benefit of all men, in that mai lie in him: And where as there be many and many things, whereof the brittle and feeble nature of mankind hath daily necessity, & indigence, as well to the safe maintaining and upholding of his health & well far, as also to the repairing & restoring of the same being enithing decayed or emperisshid, who so can devise or invent any manner of thing whereby man mai perceaver, and the better continued in good health, or fallen therefrom, the sonar and more effectuousli recover the same: Such inventor and devisar in mi opinion, not only meritith praise and commendation of all them that wourtheli be comprehended under the name of man, but also in conscience is straightly bond, to publish it so largeli, that the utilite thereof mai be extendid & spread over all men: For therefore, no doubt doth god inspire divers men with sundry knowledge, that each with either frindeli communicating his received talon, one thereby should found himself the nearar bound & beholding to the either.  
So that by such unpartial distribution of his manifold graces, god hath throu his divine pollici, in a certain amity, & liege, marvelously unitid and knit all this wide world together: Were it not, that one man, one Cite, one Nation, had need of an outhers' commodities, wisdom, council, help, serueis, soukar, riches, verili one would contemn & neglect an either wurs then strange dogs together.  
Considerid then, that gods bounty doth thus gather and bind us in one, throu his indifferent liberalise, who that envieth, dispraiseth, detracteth an outhers gifft, maligneth, despiseth, reproveth, and doth open contumeli even to god the giver thereof. neither forcith it housmal in appearance such quality do seam: forsomuch as all & sum, the less with the moor, at his hands aught to be taken with like thanckfullnes: neither is any thing to be taken as little or small, that from so plentiful an hand proceadith: But what should I speak of the smallness or greatness of any quality, when all that consisteth in the acceptation of man's light head: We see daily certain arts and qualitees, had in the top of all estimation, there Artificers embracid, honoured, & enritchid, which notwithstanding solitil profit the common wealth of men, that much rather thereto they be mere pernicious & damageable: worthy, if our judgement, throu blind appetite were not wholi corruptid, to be forgotton, unexercised & utterli banisshid: whereas in the mean white many innocentarts, available toal men, necessari, godly, virtuous, either lie altogether neglectid, & unesteamid, not able to ministre unto there pour practisars a scarce living, orels be veri slenderli regarded & scantli lookid on: So that as it is offt and trueli said, every thing as it is taken, and not as it is in deed.  
But as we see that great heaps be compilid of many small handfuls, if every man for this part, setting aside disdaign at outhers' virtue, would contend in all his life to contrive or invent one only feat in any what soever science conducible to mankind, it is easy to be understandid to what increase & absoluteness within feu years all manner of sciences might attain: And to approoche somewhat near to mi pretendid purpose, In the noble science of Physic, as it can not be denied, but that the clarcks of times passed professing the same, have universalli in every part thereof, so earnestli and fruitfulli travelid, that great wonder, & therewithal exceeding pleaser it is to behold the curious and ingenious industry of them. One descanting upon another, to investigate and right out enithing mistaken or mistought by there predecessors: to explicate and clear things obscureli & darkli by either, either throu brevity, orels rudeness, entreatid of before: to Compose and devise medicines of most efficacy against all manner of Maladies infesting the weak body of man: briefli to stable and reduce that worthy science, so near as the debility of man's brains could approoche, unto Such exactness, that of a divining & guessing nouledge it might becum a certain & unfallible science. Euenso as well, it can not be truly denied, but that in this our time god hath stearidup excellent virtuous wits which so straitli call to examination all the doctrine and documents left from the ancients, weighing, & so advisidlitrieng, the sincere from the contrary, that if they proceed as they have begun, it is like within feu years, that science will be so renuid, refreshed, and purged, that they which hitherto have born all the bruit, & have obtainid all authority, will lose a great portion of there credit, & be reputid rather for good meaners, then perfect true teachars.  
This diligens not alone in the speculative parts of Physic is used, but also in the pradive, daily being invented, more effectuous, more sicure, and more expedite remedies against divers tedious, dangerous, and hard curable diseases? How many fair Simples are now in common use, which to our forefathers were utterli unknowen & unseen: As Reubarb, Sene, Gassia sistula, Manna, Sugar, Ambte, Musk, Civet, Camphire, Turbith, the herbs Angelica, imperialis, with a numbered of other simples of excellent graces & qualitees: which if they lackid, the fairist flowers of Physicians garlants were gone withal: Again, by the art of distillation, (unto the ancients utterli unknowen) how many fair waters, Baumes, oils, and other such things have there been of late days contrived, which to the paurposes whereto they were invented be of such force & efficacy, sum against outward diseases and sum against the inward that no either Simple or compost medicines, in times passed devised mai be to them in any wise comparid. For by the feat of distillation the purar parts and strength being before biried or drounid in the gross materialnes of the herbs, Roots, gums, seeds, wuds, fruits or other what soever simples be artificially divided, & extractid in such wise, that the water, Oil, or liqeur, after that sort throu expert handling sublimid & distillid, in manifold wise surmountith the simple wherefrom it is sublimid, whether you regard the more celerite in wurking, or else the greater efficacy in operation.  
What water, Decoction, or the best of wines, can so speadeli comfort and revive a parson for weekenes of spirits having the heart fail, as the liqueur called quintessence, which is nothing else but aqua vitae, or aquacomposita, 
The virtue of quintessence.  by extreme distillation delivered from all waterisshenes, resting only a pure and exceeding subtle essence, which can justeli be namid neathersire, Aer, water, nor Earth: and therefore is taken to be as ill were of a sifft being or essence, different in nature from the essence, being, or quality of the four Elements: The same also against late surfeits engendrid, either throu native slackness, and cold complexion of the stomach, orels by the evil quality or overmouche quantity of meat, how much it prevailith, daily experience plainli declareth: And what other liqeur so soon as it receiveth impression and virtue of any thing being but a while steepid therein, and the same virtue so speadili communicatith to the boodi that receiveth it outewards over innardss as 'cause mai require?  
What usual oil, so swiftly penetratith, or entrith into the skin, 
The power of Oleum philo sophorum.  flesh, and depth of all parts of the body, as the oil named oleum philosophorum: So valiantli doth dissipat discuss, disparse any collection of cold knotty, and viscous humours, in what part of the body so ever they be found withoutfurth: so effectuousli healeth old aches & pains: dissolving & melting, the crassenes & grossness of gluy humours: warming, & chase parts throu distemperancie of cold debilitate: with other infinite propretees.  
Here also, if y listid to be long, I might make mention of the oils of lignum Aloes, of Nutmegs, of Cloves, Geniper, Sulphur, Eggs, & many other things: Which as they be singular against innumerable infirmities, so be they, & all that hitherto I have rehearsed, far and wide surmountid in all graces and excellencies, of an oil, not many years sigh, 
The excellency of Oil Imperial.  by a familiar friend of mine invented, namid for the wurthines thereof, Oil imperial. To this oil, all other natural or artificial that they be, unto this day contrived or invented, be as far inferiors, as the coarseness of other base Metals to the purity and extreme finess of gold.  
But according as is said before, as the manner of distillation of waters, and oils, is a new and late invention, to the very ancient physicians, unheard of and unknowen, so the making of this oil imperial, hath been as well to the New as to the old hitherto utterly, so far as I can yet learn, unknowen, either then to mi said friend: Who, about five years past, after long labour, constant diligence, & his no small charges employed in that behalf, having at length brought it to pass: for the accustomed familiarity between us, gevig me a certain portion thereof, required, that I would according to mi simple skill in physic, somewhat instruct him whereto it might appear to be most conducible, and what by reason I could judge the chief qualitees thereof should be.  
When I had well and advisedli considered the singular grace of thesame, and received sufficient information of the particulars, whereof it was composid, y gessid anon, that it could not be, but that special and notable effects against a world of diseases, thereby dueli used, should to mankind en sue: Wherefore according to his request, so far as Art and reason had taught me, in writing y declared, what commoditees were most likeli to be lokid for, by it: And against what diseases it seamid to be most available: Notwithstanding forsomuch as to judge the virtue of any medicine only by art and reason, without a confirmation engendered by experience, is not alway sure, ne void of parel: I counselid him not to be over bold, until such time that by leaser, as sundry occasions should offer themselves, reason by practice were established.  
Sigh which time in dead, both he and either for there parts, and y for mine, not only in Ingland, but also in divers other quartars beyand the seas having made sufficient prouffs, of the undoutid good qualities wherewith aboundantli it is enduid And besides that, being nueli again by the said inventor of this divine oil, sollisitatid, with mi rudeness, to publish unto the world such success, and veritable experience, as from time to time hath been found, and tried by practice to be faithfulli true: I thought mi small labour and pains to be employed herein, to the satisfaction of my friends honest: demand, and the undoubted utility which might succeed to all them, that driven throu importunity of such like diseases, be constraignid to seek for speedy and assured remedy, should not deserve any discommendation, or envious reproff of the Malevolent, but rather the favourable acceptation of upright and honest judgements.  
Plainly yet confessing, that in mi self y can not found so exact and sufficient ableness, so lively to express the valour of this excellent oil, as the wurthines thereof would require, and mimind desire? Onli y mai, and will avaunt mi self herein to use such sin cerire and singleness of verity, that I trust none shall have any just occasion to accuse me of vanity, or any private affection used in this behalf: as to have extollid the dignity of the said oil, any thing above the merits, or above that, the effect thereof, being, aright used; mai accordingli approve and confirm: And albeit the singular qualitees of it be greater, then mai in feu wurdes be comprehended & set furth, yet minentent is not thereof to sai all that mai be said or written, but onli by exemplifying of sum portion of his infinite virtues, to open the gate, wherebi the skilful and learned, by the feu experiences here rehearsed mai entre by them sellf into a brodar camp of farther knowledge.  
To th'end also, that the verisimilitude of all that shallbe said thereof mai to the learned the moor cleareli ap pear, here will y trueli rehearse the sum of the particular ingredience which to the composition of this oil do concur: without yet opening all the circumstance used about the making of it, jest the author thereof should, not without a cause claim himself injuried & wrongid thereby. 
The simples whereof Oil Imperial is made.   
These be the simples. First, Cloves Mace, Nutmegs, the roots of Setwale, of Angelica, Imperialis, Enula campana, Gentiana, & Petasites; the rinds and kernels of Citrons, Oranges, & Lemons: the wuds, of lignum Aloes, lignum vitae, and lignum Asphalathi: these herbs dried, Origanum Cretense, Diptamus Creticus: Scordion Cretense: Squinantum: folium Indun: Roosemary: Saveri: Mariorame: Herb Maudlene: the sedes of Amomum, Ameos, Daucus, Basel, Semen Santonicum: Coriander, and carvi.  
Of all these in ascertain proportion mixid and temperid together, by long digestion, and at length with a gentle distillation is creatid this celestial oil, without adding or adjoining thereto eniouther oil or liqeur whatsoever, as I can well testify having more than once seen the making thereof: Pondering then well the rehearsed ingredience as I have them faithfulli reportid, he that would aufft doubt whether is were of a special efficacy, should declare much his own simplicity and ignorance in the nature of things: For whereas they be all and each severalli of notable great virtue, being here conjoined, unitid, and commixid together, and then of them all so incorporatid, the foresaid oil by singular ingine, as the life, perfection, spirit, quintessence and divinar part, extract and drawn fourth, it must necessarili comprehend in itself the whole sum of the particular virtues natural to all and each such simples: & that in more perfection & exact wise than they were before in the simples self: nooutherwise then Aqua vite skilfulli distillid, much surpassith the wine werefrom it is destillid, both in activity, simplicity, purity, penetration, speadi operation and divers other wise.  
So that as experience witnesseth, thesame once divided from the wine, as the life and soul there of, the rest remaining in the bottom of the stillatory, is as a boodi souls & spriteles, having no taste ne relless, but all unsavoury & waterisshe, therein resting no moor propriety of wine: Euenso the said oil, as the veri heart blood & spirit, of these rehearsed simples, obtainith in it the effects, & natural propretees of them all, in far more excellency, than the very self simples had them: And that because there qualitees, overmatched, hide & allayed, with the gross material substance, and corpulency, can not so cleareli declare there force, nor so exquisiteli exercise there divine operations, as being by art sequestrate, divided, & delivered of all materialnes. neither here prevailith the cavillation of sum, which moved either of envy, or ignorancy, or else both, would prove that neither this oil ne any either, to be so effectuous as the veri material composition of the simples from the which they be extractid, by the examples of divers distillid waters: of whom sum there herbs being of bitter quality, the water participatith nothing of that taste, but all bitterness left with the herb, the water distilleth rather sweet: Wherebi it mai seam evident that such water leasing the apparent sensible qualitees, of the herb, should also therewithal want the propreties due to such qualitees: as is to be seen in the water of wurmwud, and the most part of all other herbs.  
Hereto y answer that this defect in waters, followeth much, throu the common undiscrete and rash distilling of them: whereas, were they with more leasar and sofft tempering of the fire curiouseli handlid, they should retaigne by a greate deal better, the gust & taste of there herbs, as divers wary practisars do know: But howsoever it come to pass in waters, in oils is an nouthar reason: forsomuch as the oil of every thing is far more intrinsical and connatural to the substance thereof: Engendrid by a farther & more exact labour & industry of nature, in tempering, mixing, intermingling, & circulating the materials or elements together with so mutual and friendly action & passion, the one within th'outher, thereto aiding the moderation of internal and external heat as digestar, concoctar, and ripar of all, that being thus once, by these means the contrariete & ennimite of the four Elements conciliate, and accorded together, they never after by any mean can be severed a sundar again: So straight be they enlinckid the one within the either, that what violence so ever is done to them, either go they to gather, eatherels valientli remaigne together.  
Oil then is the likeur most permanent & durable jest subject to corruption, dissolution, dissipation: wherein nature lockith & upclosith all her jewels; In things animate, as man and either living beasts, it is the treasure of there lift, wherewith there natural heater, is fed, nourisshid and maintaignid: In plants and either vegetables it beareth such authority, that where it most aboundeth, there is that Plant most lively, continuiths longest, withstandith best all injuries of weather, remaignith longar fresh and green: as the Bay tre, the Box, the vine, the olive tre, the herb Aloe, Rosemary, and many moo.  
Whereas' other being less oily or gummi, having a moor fluy, and waterisshe composition, soon fade, & whither a way, the weakness of the water for every small distemperancie of weather forsaking the substance wherein it was.  
Being then manifest, that the oili part of each thing, is it, wherein the spirits, life, and chief virtue of thesame be conseruid and most resident; it is nothing to be doutid but he which out of any plant can thesame saffeli without overmuch violency of fire extract, shall forth with enjoy a liqeure much more medicinable against all diseases, than the plant self: By reason that, besides it hath thesame qualitees, it hath them in a more simplicity & purity: what difference is between qualitees annexed with tenuite, thinness, or subtlety of substance, & the same matchid with crassenes of substance, unto Physicians it is not unknoven: Yet not all tenuite, thinness, or subtlety of substance worketh with like efficacy in the body of man: Aqua vite, of whom we spoke before, brought by offt reiteration of distillation to such extreme subtly, that no watery part remaign therein, so that asponeful or sausarfull thereof being set a fire, it consumeth hooli in to flame, without leving any manner of humour or water behind: Thus handlid, I sai, it is the most dainty, thin, fine, and simple liqeur that by man's wit can be invented: Not with standing, any utter part of man's body being, for sum cause bathid or fomentid therewith, skantli it entre the poors of the skin, but veri swiftteli throu the small heat of the skin it smookith and drieth away again, leving small empression or efficacy behind it: Likewise against any cold disease, or surfeits being drunk, what it cando, it doth soodenli & out of hand, warming the stomach, running every where abroad into the veins, multiplying for a time & comforting the debilitate spirits of the body: but such his operation right soon ceaseth & his power vanisshith auuai anon.  

the efficacy of oil Imperial.  This present oil imperial being on any external part annointed remaingnith not without upon the face of the skin, ne by the heat thereof smokith or consumeth away, but speadeliper cith, & enterith the poors, in manner without rubbing thereof on the skin: warming, opening, dilating thesame part, & being thereunder any oppilation, or collection of knottis cold humours, the same it undoith, dividith, meltith, dissolveth, and utterly disperseeth: making way, & so preparing the matter, that nature, having in her any force mai lightli discharge herself in expelling that, which before throu grossness, withstood all her power & endeavour: Again, the same oil received by any means within fourth, warmith the stomach, dissolveth ventosity, openeth oppilations, or stoppings engendered of cold humours; It passeth also, albeit not so hasteli as aquavite, into the veins, dilating itself veriwhere; carried to the reigns or kidnees, provokith urine breaketh thee, stone: Mounting or descending, in the other veins of the boodie, for the oili part sake it is the more familiarli received; throu qualitees annexed with subtilite & extreme tenuite, dissolving and rarefying cold and undigestid humours there found▪ wherebi they be made the aptar, either to be overcum and digestid, orels utterli by sweat, & other means of Expulsion to be thrust out of the boodi: Conveyed to the heart, it fortifieth and conforteth the same, increasing the natural vigeur & pour thereof: wherebi it mai the better withstand the assaults, and invasions of any venomous or pestilent vapours, by any occasions creaping thereto.  
These & infinite other effects it worketh in the body of man, as somewhat more particularli shallbe said hereaffter, and that not slightli of passingli as aquavite, which doth but as it were look into the body, and sodenli bestoing itself abroad, taketh his leave again, not able throu the extreme simplicity of his substance, to abide any while the heat of the boodie, but of the same veri soon is consumid and resolved: but if it be received with ale or wine it endurith longer in the body, and worketh moor sadli: The deeds and operations of oil Imperial be infiniteli more constant, & stable: for by reason of his oilines, it hath his substance better compact, & fixid together, and threrefore abideth, & endurith longer while, withstanding the greadines of the boodeli heat, fortifying and increasing the same, becumming thereto an aid and sovereign suckar, towards the vanquesshing, expulsion, and subduing of any noisome and rebel humours; & the retempering of any distemperid part.  
And albeit that being, as it is, oil, and therefore sum what of substance more crass, it might seam, by so much, to be less apt with such celerite to be distributid into the veins, as Aqua vite, which is, as it were, nothing else but firi air concretid into the similitude of water; yet in this oil the four elements, yea the grossest of them, by the benefit of nature be so subtiliatid, raffinid, and depurid, that truelis never hitherto any oil hath been, or, in mi opinion, by the work of nature can be, more simple, subtle and Aerial, Wherebi veri speadeli it exersisith his propreties, & soon bestoweth itself abroad. Farther whereas Odour and good savour, concurrant with good qualitees is no small commendation in any manner of Medicine or meat applicable to the use of man's boodie, making the same the more grate, and Amiable unto the receavar, & signifying sum special grace of mixtion to the Medicine by celestial favour & influenceinstinctid; no other wise then in Music, certain concords & consonancies concurring together, engender above other, a marvelous sweatenes of harmony & heavenly melody, ravishing the hearers in wonderful delight and rejoice: albeit that no man readily can allege sufficient reason wherefore such concord more than other, should be agreeable & pleasant to the ear of man: But whether the grace of good savour, be to be ascribid unto sum particular and notable proportion & consonancy of the four Elements, or else to sum Quintessential property, and divine influx, it would breed a long prossess to discuss: Onli this of oil Imperial mai beaffirmid, that among the oils all, in good and virtuous odor none mai be comparid to it: a plain testimony that therein be hide and harberid spirits of no small excellenty.  
So that whereas these many years there hath been among curious wits, great controversy and question, of the high medicine, named for his excellent efficacy, in praeseruing and prolonging the life of man, Elixir vitae; allthings indifferentli weighed, and so compared together, that laud and praeheminencie, mai much more iustli be attribute unto this rare et worthy oil, then unto such oils, waters, Aurum potabile, and other fancies, by divers alledgid, proposid, and far above there merits exaltid and magnified: Notwithstanding to avoid all fantastical vanity, y say, the veri true Elixir vitae, maintaignar and prorogar of the same, is the wholesome habit, state, compositinon, or complexion of the boodi, upholden & maintaignid with the temperancy of convenient diet; eaquabilite of natural heat, stearid up & quickened throu necessary and moderate exersice: And with excheving the excess of all passions or affections of the mind: In whom these propreties be found, it mai be well said, the same to have the veritrade, mean, and elixir of long and helthsum liff.  
But forsomuch as the blind bewitchid will of man, hath renouncid the just governance of reason, and yeldid itself as captif to the tyrannical jurisdiction of unbridlid sensual and appetites, it followeth, that feu or none there be, all thouh there state or complexions be naturally neverso firmed & good, but that throu execssive misuse of bodili actions and appetites, it is altered, perverted, and corrupted: The natural heat, governar, framer, devisar, director, and 'cause general of all operations in the body, either by superfluite oppressed, scarcite deminisshid or evil quality into distemperancie altered: Vuereas then, all the comfort strength, motion, sense, all the operations, & actions of the boodie (being besidesfurth with his apt and due membres or instruments furnisshid) consisteth & dependeth chiefeli upon the safe and temperate maintaining of the natural heat includid universalli in all & every part of the body; by whose presence each part is hablid to attract his convenient nutriment, & the same to digest & assemble to itself, the superfluities not agreeable or necessari to refuse, and by convenient means to expel; by whose moderation also, the vapours or spirits of life, of sense, of motion, be engendered conseruid & made apt to Animate & steer up the instruments of the boodie, each to the execution of his deputid office: if it hap therefore, that the same either by over, or under, in quantity or quality, becum oppressed, or decayed, that medicine which best, withmost expedition, & security, can help to restore, repair, and set on foot again the lapse or fall of the said natural heat, aiding and coadiuting it to the vanquishing and repulsing of all adversrie causes, such Medicine mai, and that not unwurthelis be accountid an Elixir, or prorogar of humain life.  
This our Oil, iustli called imperial, in this case is so mighty and valiant, in helping and Farthering natural hear, to the clearing & unstopping of all obstructions and stuffing of any part in the body, in rarefying the density or cloosenes engendered anywhere, by what occasion so ever it be, in increasing heat decayed, that his operation surmountith all praise and commendation: and therefore mai wurtheli be held and estemid for The very Elixir of liff: The which when you when you be disposed to use against any disease, 
Oil Imperial mai be hamid the Elixir of life.  either withinforth, or withoutefurth, not mindid to use the same alone, if you mix it with sum other such simples or composts as be agreeable to that disease, infiniteli shall the virtue of that simples or composts, by the presence of this oil, be enhaunsid & encreasid, with much more speade and efficacy performing there lookidfor effects.  
And to th'end that with the superfluite of many words the reader, be not fastidiat & over cloyed, or there desire to be resolved of the final and uttar virtues of the said oft mencionid oil, any longer held in suspense, I will hereaffter brieffli, and as it were with mi fingar superficially point unto certain particular diseases, against the which y, and either, have offten found it singularli soweraign: not partialli describing every small circumstance to be used therein: for that would becum matter of a greater volume: and besides that argue in me a superstisious arrogancy, in that it might seem I had so slendar an opinion of other men's judgements, to think that unleese y declared piece by piece every particle, they should be to seek, how to there pourposes at any time to apply the same: Iknou though I should mince the matter never so small, or enlarge it so much as might be, yet feu bether that without the advise of sum discreet and learned physician, would in any Important disease intermeddle therewith: Not that this Oil of itself, is little or more dangerous, but for this reason that the most innocent medicine in the world, yea our familiar meat, & drink, used out of convenient season, or where it were better forborens, or after sum unordinate sort, mai and daily do, breed displeasirs:  
To the expert then, that which before I have all ready in this matter said, is sufficient: Not withstanding for there sake which have not that discourse nor exact judgement of the sequel and consequency of things, I wila little broodar extend mi tale, and specify a certain of the most notable diseases whereto this oil is found effectuous: Firsst begin at the head as captain general & overseer of all the rest of the boodi.  
In the head of man, 
dis● head.  from the substance, & the cawls of the brain, all the Synues of the body he engendered, & from thence by certain means, dirivied and sent forth unto all other parts of the body; Throu the which Sinew, out of the said brains, as original and fontain, be distribute and disparsid the spirits and vapours of sense and Moving: without whose presence, no member nor portion of the body can once either move or feel; so that whereas the mouth and head spring of the synues is in the head, and the spirits opon the subtilar part of the blood engendered do make there, ther first entrance in to the foresaid synues, throu there capacity carried every else where: it happenith sometime that, gross, and viscous superfluous humours, engendered, and amassid or heapid in the place, or sum pestilent, and venomous putrefied humour ascending from sum inferior part to the topkastel of the head do obstruct or stop, more or less, the said gates, ports & entries of the synues: whereby doth ensue, that the spirits being prohibitid there accustomed course, the sense of feeling & motion of the body, the one alone, or the either, or both for a time is diminisshid or decayed.  

he Apoplecia.  If the Oppilation & stopping be uttar and exact, coming of cold crass humours, it engendereth the dangerous disease called the Apoplexia: wherein all bodili sense and motion be so brought a sleep, and failid, that oft times the patiented, xxiiii. hours or more, lieth so senseless that it appeareth the same of at life to be wholi destitute.  
The falling sickness also proceadith like causes; 
the falling sickness.  but the oppilation causing that disease is not so exact & extreme; wherefore they that fall, be not utterly private of sense & motion: For we see them beating there heads and body; And that beating of there head, no doubt is done by the instinct of nature: By reason that whereas the passage of the spirits of Motion, is not quite stopped up, but onli that by the access of such corrupt humour, there course is interruptid, and they thereby, as it were stranglid, nature which always is industrious to save herself in her due being, moveth the patiented to bestere himself: but espetialli to steer the part offended or grieved; thereby the better & sonar to deliver itself from encoumbrance of the wicked humour occasion of such disturbance: as the like manner she useth in vomiting: at what time naturally the stomach is provoked to discharge itself from noisum humours occupying that place: And also in the cough the wezand being ticklid, or irritate by sum humours descending thereto, which, were not the present resistance of that place, would forcebli entre in to the windpipe, to the peril of strangling the party.  
Item in the Head happenith an other tedious disease called the Paulsy. Whiche commonli, proceadith of causes not unlike the foresaid: houbeit not so vehement ne dangerous. And most times ensuiths rather of distemperantie and debility of the instruments of moving, which be the synues, then of any abundance, or evil quality or quantity of humours oppilating the mouths of the said synues.  
Farther, 
●ng  in the Head do reign the diseases called, Caros i the sleeping sickness: And Vertigo, that is, the Turnsicknes, or swimming of the head: with Catalepsis, whihe signifieth astounnidnes, or Amasidnes: with divers either: All which, with the rest what soever they be, have sum time there causes only in the head, and sum times, or rather most, take there original of the stomach.  
For, the stomach in comparison of the head, mai be resemblid to the pan or bottom of a stillatory; and the Head, to the deck or lembick of the stillatori: so that, what soever humours or other matter is found in the stomach, thesame throu the natural heat of that place resolved in to reeks, fumes, or vapours, and the said vapours stieng from thence and breathing up in the head, as they be affectid & disposed in themself, so do they affect & dispose the head & his parts: If then such vapours be stinking, corrupt, evilsavorid, resolved from sum putrefied & rotten humours, thereopon, be engendered in the Head, other the Turnsicknes, the Palsy, the falling sickness, or else sum other notable grief: as Apostumations in sundry regions of the head: which when they be ripid and broken, sand forth the matter by the ears, or the noose, or the roof of the mouth, or eyes, or outhewise as nature findith most accommodate place & region to thrust forth such matter: oft times also it engendereth stinking and rotten teeth and breath, with discoulorid eyes, & duskid eye sight: as also trooblid wits & evil memori.  
Against all these inconueniens; oil imperial taken inward, be it alone or conjoined with other convenable things (as anon shallbe said) shoveth exceeding efficacy: throu his wholesome & aromatical odor, with correspondent qualities, comforting the stomach, drying up, and sincering alputrifaction: the virtue whereof mounting into the head, there cutteth, divideth, and disperseth all crassnes & tenacite of humours, attenuating matters congeilid & cludderid together: opening all oppilations, chieff causars of the apoplex, palsy, falling sickness, sleeping sickness, Astunnidnes, swimming, ringing, singing, & piping in the ears; dispatchith old aches be they in the forepart or hinder part of the head, or else in the sides of the head, called Migremes: it maketh the breath sweet: it confirmeth the Memorative part, dullid by reason of cold, or outherwise evil disposed humours: It fortifieth the vigeur and pour of the synues: Encreasith also the liveliness & agilite of the spirits both of motion & sense: clarifieth the eyesight, quickenith the sense of odor or savour: and likewise the sense of hearing: Stearith up the vivacite and present readiness of wit and comprehention or understanding.  

a precious me dicine made with oil imperial.  The use of the said oil in these cases, accompanied with other simples having respect to such diseases, as I have offt used, is in this wise: Take of the flowers of rosemary, sage, betoni, hyssop, Gelifloures, primroses, Cowslips, damask roses, of each of these flowers the weight of vi pens: of the fresshist leaves of Mariorame, of winter savoury, Terragon, pennirial, and sweet garden Mints: of each the weight of four pens: of the seades of Peoni, of Basil, of sweet Fenil, of Anise, of each the weight of four pens: of fine cinnamon, nutmegs, & Mace, of each the waigth of u pens: And whereas all the foresaid flowers can not be had at one season: let each in his season be gathered, & that in a fair dry morning, after the sun have one half or one hole hour, shone thereopon: then on a fair linen clotthe lai them abroad in the air, out of the sun to dry a litil, the space of vi. or viii hours: which done, take the foremencionid weight of them, and three times as much white sugar, beaten first to powder: and in a stone mortar beat the flowers and sugar together till they be well temperid th'one with the either, conserve wise: the which you shall reserve in sum brood mouthid glass or galli stone pot, until you have all your flowers in readiness: And as hath been said of the flowers, so do likewise with the herbs in every point: As for the other dry droges, you shall beat them in to powder, and after, in a stone mortar with the conserve of the flowers, & herbs, stamp them and mixed them perfetli in one, adding thereto, drop after drop, the quantity of ii spoonfuls of oil Imperial, continually steering, and stamping, till all be well incorporate together: This precious Electuary, not alone against the above rehearsed diseases, but also, all other inward diseases is most mighty and present remedi: And as the disease is greater or lessar, so is it to be used in more or less quantity, and offtnar or seldomar times: Being the disease great, it is to be taken two times the day: that is iii hours before dinner, and ii hours or more after suppar, at each time the quantity or weight of two. grootes: either alone, or else with sum destillid water, or sum good thin brotth; or if the party be of complexion veri cold, with sum malvoisie, or romeni, or other good white wine: thus continuing the space of forty days: Presupposing that if the quantity or quality of the humours causars of such disease, do require it, that the same by the advise of sum expert Physician should be purged & clensid, to th'end the medicine mai the better & with more success work: not forgetting to use therewithal, conformable & accommodate diet.  

how oil imperial is to be taken alone.  But who that listith to receive it without being accompagnied with such, or other conserves, shall found it nothing the less virtuous in his operation; at what time it is to be taken at the foresaid prescript seasons, one quartar of a spoonful at once, with iiii. or u sponesulls of Muscadel, or other sweet wine, otherels with as much of the brotthe of mutton, vele, or chicken: Sum dipp therein a morsel of bread, & so eat it: supping after it, a dozen spoonfuls of thin brotthe: either take it with figs, or with a little clarified honi, or fun syrup, sugar, or any conserve: as the conserve of roses, of borage, Bugloss, rosemary, and such like: there be also that rolling the powder of licorice in this oil, make thereof pills, the which they swallou whole: every man as his stomach can serve him best: Not that the oil of itself is lothesum or tedious to be received, but forbecause therebe many of so tender stomachs, that the same will admit nothing ministered in the name of a medicine, unless it be covered with sum other more familiar thing: Housoever you deal with it, so it be conveyed in to the body it maketh no great matter: and that you remember to increase or diminish, the quantity of it, proportionalli to the vehementie, or slackness of the disease: As that the smallist quantity be u or vi drops: The greatest half a spoonful at once, not that in exceeding the said measure there were any peril, but because the same mai seam sufficient for one time against any never so strong & rebel disease.  
Thus whether it be ministered alone, otherels, according to the discretion of the physician, matchid with other agreeable medicines, it bringeth forth such effect, as of any worthy medicine mai be lookidfor: And that not alone in cold diseases but also in the hot: For, whereas commonli there is no hot disease but that it is engendered by inclusion & imprisoning of sum humours, be they hot or cold, in all the veins, or in sum cornar of the veins, bouwels, orouther entrails, or any fleshy or muskli part of the body: where being coartid, penned, & straightnid, they putrefy smoulder, and kendel an unnatural fire or heat, yea though the humour before such inclusion were never so cold, no outherwise then wet Hey or Strau, laid in a close house without vent, & the said putrefied humours as they putrefy more and more, so wax they hotter and hottar, by which heat again they resolve in to such reeks & fumes, that the place wherein they be in stopped and lodgid, becumming to strait for them, they strive, and contend to getfurth: but if all issue be dinied them, than such strife, and contention, returned into rage, and fury, fillith the pour patiented oft-times so full of intolerable anguish & dolour, that death were to be preferred.  
Therefore that, which can unstop, & set at large such humours, by consequent cureth the disease thereon ensuid: for such furious fiery humours, being once enlargid, and set at there liberty, soon dispatch, disparce, and consume themself: thereto helping the expulsive pour of nature (if she have not been to much alreadi oppressed) inset in every member, and part of the boodi, to repel from themselves things noisum: For this reason against all Intermitting agues, as the Quotidian, the Tertian, 
against all agues.  and the Quartain agues, this Imperial oil is much excellent: because that the several humours, causes original of these foresaid Agues, throu putrefaction changed & altered from there natural state, remaign pen tup and incloosid in sum spetial place, where they can not breath, event themself, ne easeli get forth. Vuerefore to unstop & enlarge all such oppilations, one hour before you suspect the ague shall invade the patiented, give him to drink one quartar of a sponesul of oil imperial, with twelve. or xu spoonfuls of posset ale, or wine, or sum other good thin brotthe, forthwith doing what mai be done, to provoke the party to sweat before the fit of the Ague do entre: Iff you list to use the Electuari, whereof we written before, you mai as well: but in case, besides the said drink, you annoint all the ridge of the patients back, from the reigns up wards unto between the shoulders, with the oil of Camomel temperid with a little of this sovereign oil, the better shall the ague be prevented, and the sonar shall the patiented sweat: This ordar being kept ii or iii times, before the assault of the fit, no doubt all the occasion of such Ague, willbe discharged: onless besidesfurth there be to great disordar in diet.  

against the pestilence.  To preserve any man from the infection of the pestilence, if he take each day, or each other day, in the morning fasting, of the above writin Electuari, or of this oil alone, one small quartar of a spoonful, with sum such things as be remembered before, it shallbe found singular in preserving: But if any be alreadi seasonind with the plague, than twice the day, morning and evening, with a quantity of barlei water, or sum other thin brotthe or rather with the mountnance of a walnut of good Thriacle, or Mithridatum, give the infected half a spoonful of this oil, incontinentli provoking him to sweat: and diet him besidesfurth, as appertaineth:  

against poisons & venons  Also against poisons, stingings, or bitings of any venomous beasts or mad dogs, the said oil taken as before with Mithridatum, or theriacle withstandith the venemosnes of such sting or bite, from approaching near or invading the heart or any other principal part: Is likewise convenient to be annointed upon the place stung or bit; or to be temperid with Emplastars' usualli made for such purposes, wherebi there virtue retractive shallbe made double: Besides, that the subtlety of the oil entering such wund will altar and effeblisshe the malice of the venom, that though it do penetrate farther in thebodi, yet accompanied and matchid with the said oil, it shall have no power to do any violenci to the parts where it shall pass by.  

for the swoning.  For them that are much disposed to pove, or swoon, if, after any sort they list, it be efftsones used, it shall deliver them of that infirmity: to them that be swounid or faintid u or vi drops thereof with a spoonful of white wine or Muskatel poured in to there mouth, there temples also, & their nosestrels rubbid therewith, reviveth & calleth them again to themself.  

against diseases of the spleen.  Therebe whose Spleen or Melt, is so obstruct and stopped with gross Melancholious humours, that neither, according to the due office of that bouwel, it can by attracting the Melancholi part, deliver the blood there of: neither yet expurge itself from that it hath alreadi conceived, the passages both of entrance, and issue being obstruct and stoptup. Vuerebi ensuiths divers grievous dispositions of the body: for whereas the Melancholy humour, is the dross, dregs, & as it were the lies, & terrestrial part of the blood; remaining undividid & unsequestratid from the purar part of the same, it fareth forth, & passeth everywhere, with the blood, troobling, darckning, obscuring the clarite and brightness thereof: as the purity, and clearness of wine is defacid, and discolorid, and the good relless thereof destroyed, when the lies hanging in the substance of it, trouble the same: neither can be by sum slight, depurid therefrom, and the lies to his place, the bottom, returned again: They in whom the blood after this sort is with such fellowship infected, be inclinid much to all Heaviness, pensiveness, without any external cause: they feal the light of there wits and spirits, obfuskat, & darcknid: they abhor and hate company, desirous of solitariness; be full of despair, weep, mourn, by themself causeless: be much suspicious, soon take unkindness and displeasirs, rejoice in nothing, and weri of this life, often desire death: all these, with many more tedius passions, folou & molest them, whose blood is assosiatid, with that sad, & black humour the Melancholi: But to greater danger, and perilous pain be they subiectid, whose Melt, as hath been said being obstructid, the black humour that therein resteth, at certain seasons swellith, puffith, & heaveth up, like sour leaven or barm, in do we: or as vinegar, or strong water falling on the earth, his sigh & liftith up itself in bubbles or bladders: throu the which swelling and inflation, the bowel of the Spleen, wherein such sour Melancholi humour is comprehended, is by that occasion distendid, and puffed up, more than his natural: and therefore requireth more room or place than he was wont, to the injury and oppression of his neighbars: as principalli the Stomach & the Midriff: whereopon offtimes during the time of such inflation, if it be vehement, the patiented leasith his speech: because the Midriff is shortenid or interruptid of his due scope, or wont course: and the stomach nameli the mouth or entry thereof, molestid and straighnid by the swollen spleen, which lieth in manner overthwart the stomach: For, these parts be as chief, in enlarging or withholding the speech: as in the Stomach mai be seen by daily experience: if a man swollou a peses of meet, bread, or other thing, which not straight enterith in to the capacity of the stomach: but restith and stayeth at the mouth of the stomach so long as the same there remainith, the party in no wise shallbe able to speak one word: and that for divers causes needles in this place to be rehearsed.  
The said splenetic patients, not alone fail of there speech, but also manitimes have there mouths drauwen on the one side, there eyes staaring, a continual assai, and endeavour, to speak, if it would be; with veri painful retraction of the sinews; so that many times immediateli ensuiths death with much anguish, to the great compassion of the beholdars: Against all these incommodities, whether it be with inflation of the spleen, or onli a continual hardness, and swelling thereof, nothing can be excogitate more present reamedi, than the daily use of this Oil after such sort as hath been before prescribid: together with oft ennointing of the lefft side under the small ribs, with this effectuous oil: and by mixtion thereof, witheni such ointment or plastar as can be devised to that purpose.  

against the colic or stitches.  There be feu, that at one time or either have not felt the bisie dolour of the colic; or the sharp stabs and stitches in the breast, sides, or outherwhere, distending, stretching, & as it were racking, tearing, & pulling a sunder the guts, the breast, or other part where any ventosity is so encloistrid & penned, in that in no wise it can get forth: This Oil then, received by the mouth after any sort it pleaseth the patiented, or the physician to ministre it: conveyed also with a glistar into the guts, or if need be annointed on the belli, the side, the breast, the stomach, or any other place where such ventosity is engendered & includid, mightili dissolveth, disperseeth, and vanguesshith the same, and that in small time.  

for the crudite of the stomach.  So that many being encombrid with crudite, or raunes of the Stomach, and by consequence with ventosity, offt belching, & curling, murmuring or rumbling in the guts, by using once the day or once in ii days, half an hour before dinner iii or iiii. drops of this oil, more or less, according to the cause, have recowerid good digestion with concoction of all crudite.  

Against the stone.  For the stone, be it in the Rains or in the bladder, being received alone or temperid with other convenient things, and the reins withoutefurth annointed therewith alone, or alaid with the oil of roses, or bittar almonds, to the physicians discretion: likewise if the stone be in the bladder, thereof conveyed into the bladder, & the neck of the bladder, or the shaare with it curiousli annointed, it penetratith, & by penetration breaketh, pouderith, and crummith the stone, in such wise that no either medicine can be found of the like speadi efficacy towards that purpose.  

for the green sickness.  Against the green sickness in women, and the stopping or staying of their natural course, as also to dispose them the better to conception, whether it be drunken, or with convenient means (as women and physicians do knou) conveyed to the privi places, it hath been found always a thing of great and readi success.  
Against impotentie to the wurks of generation, both in man and woman, proceading either by infrigidation of the parts generatif, or sum obstruction, withstanding the due course of the spirits & vapours, movers and steerers to that act, this Imperial oil, therewith offt times being annointed the parts generatifs, is veri singular.  

Against the flux of nature.  Take of Mastic, of the flowers of Pome granate, of Myrtle berries, of each half an ounce: beat them to powder, and temper them with vi spoonfuls of this Oil, enclosing all together in a little vial of glass, setting it a sunning, ten or twelve days; with this oil annoint the neck of the bladder, which lieth between the fundament and the yard, with also both the genitories, every day twice & thereby shall seize, be stayed & stopped, the continual flux of nature, wherewith many be much grieved & effeoblisshid.  

for the cough.  Against the cough, and wheezing or whistling of the throat, for short breath, & all manner of stopping or stuffing in the Lungs, take this oil with sum Syrup of licorice, of Maidenhair, or hyssop: or mix it with sweet butter and sugar, and so using it, it shall clear and unstop the lungs marvelously.  

for the tooth ache.  For the tooth ache, the gums therewith rubbid, or in case the tooth be hollow iii or four drops thereof conveyed into the holones of the tooth, swageth swiftly the anguish and dolour thereof: and if there be any putrefaction therein, thesame drieth & sincereth it.  
Against the swelling about the throat called the king's evil, 
the kings evil.  thesame being two times the day annointed with this oil alone, or else minglid with sum other weaker oils, with patience by little & little, resolveth and consumeth quite away.  
The whole head therewith, now et then annointed, preserveth the here from falling, and conserveth them in there natural colour, withstanding baldness and hoorenes, causeth the here, in the head or beard to prosper and grow long; the whole head likewise annointed, and thereof conveyed into the nostrils, purgeth the head, openeth the sense of smelling, and worketh stoutly against the Apoplex, the palsy, and such other diseases of the head ii or iii drops poured in to the ear, cleareth, the sense of herring, and breaketh apostemations in the head if any such be; the two temples, and the noddle of the head, once in a week annointed with it, causeth good & fresh memori.  
Against the sciatica, which is a great pain in the hip: against all old and new aches, in the shoulders, arms, joints, legs, feet; old bruises, both within & withoutfurth; against the Morpheu, the lepry, serpigo, saltslegm in the face, with many other infections of the skin: Against old sores, Fistulas, the stinking exulcerations of the french pocks, with an infinite number of other Infirmities, to long here to be recitid, it is so excellent, that to declare them one by one, and to show the particular use of this gracious oil with all circumstances, were sufficient to occupy a great volume: Wherhfore to avoid farther prolixity, with this small declaration, the gentle readers for this time shall hold them contented: leaving the rest to the judgement of the discreet & learned in Phisicck.  
FINIS.