DIACATHOLICON AUREUM: Or A general powder of Gold, purging all offensive humours in man's BODY: Good in general for all diseases, where there needeth any Purgation: As also for any sickness yearly incident, or which is feared to approach by the increase of any evil humour, distemperature of diet, or otherwise how so ever growing towards any disease, to prevent the same, and keep the body in health.  
It may safely be taken of all manner of people, of what age soever, sucking Children, old men and women, in the quantity of two, three, or four Grains, according to the age, strength, and disease of the party.  
Whosoever stand in need of this powder, may have it at the sign of the Hand and Pistall, near unto ivy Bridge, for two shilling six pence the Grain.  
Hordea cui cordi demum serit hordea, ne tu  
Nunc aliunde pares auri primordia, in auro  
Semina sunt auri: quamuis abstrusa recedant  
Longius, & nobis multo quaerenda labour.  
LONDON Printed for john Flasket. 1602.   

To the right worshipful Doctors and professors of Physic of the College in London, authorized by ancient Charter: and the rest of the Doctors, professors and Students of the same learned faculty, either resident in the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford: Or elsewhere dispersively placed, and authorized in any cities or towns through this Realm of England: Increase of knowledge, and prosperous success in your several affairs and cures, to the glory of God, good of his people, and advancement of your profession.  
EVery Art and faculty (Right worshipful Doctors, professors and Students in the necessary and honourable faculty of Physic) whose foundation is not laid on demonstration, but only on probable and physical conjectures, is in itself so hidden and intricate, that even about the principles, elements and grounds thereof, there are divers and almost contrary opinions: from whence in every such faculty spring up divers heads of sects, which in time infinitely multiply, and as this proposition we see by experience true in all generalities, so in this faculty of Physic it is daily verified. Hence in Galens' time (as he witnesseth in his book Desectis) there were three sorts of Physicians: the first which were called Emperici and Memores: the second, Dogmatici and Rationales: the third, Methodici and Abbreviatores: to these three, this age hath added a fourth, called Paracelsians, but they themselves would be called the ancient Physicians, the true Philosophers, the Chemists, and the Spagerists, to set down the grounds of either of their professions, the opinions on either sides: their arguments to maintain those opinions, would be to enter into a large field of discourse, which at this time is not mine intent to do, left I might say with the Poet, Ante diem clauso componet vesper Olympo: this only hath here moved me to mention them, thus to show mine opinion of them in brief, that whereas some do attribute so much to distillations and preparations of Minerals, Animales, and Vegetables, that they firmly hold both the parts of Physic as well Hygeinen as Therapeyticen to be completely performed only by them, and others so much wilfully bend or ignorantly seduced against the true intended perfection of Physic, do contrarily hold, that it is only desperate and dangerous Physic which is attempted by minerals, prepared by the spagirical art, and that it had been far better, that it had slept in silence and never been known to the world. Betwixt these two extremes I think it best to hold a mean, so that I neither allow the extremity of the one, nor embrace the defects of the other: but mine opinion is, that both the sorts of medicinable preparation of simples, as well that which is done by the Apothecary's craft, as also by the spagirical art, I say, both of them have their proper place and necessary uses in Physic, (amicus Plato, amicus Aristoteles, sed magis amica veritas) so that I judge this latter age of the world much bound to the careful searchers out of those hidden secrets of nature, which are so bound up in minerals and vegetables, and outwardly do not appear but by extraction and magistery, and great folly it were utterly to reject them as many wilfully do. Let them but attentively read Hypocrates book De art, and see how he there deciphereth out a wise man, and a mad malicious fool, the wisdom of the one consisting in the finding out in arts, those things which are not yet found out, and in the bringing imperfect things to a perfect end, but the malicious foolishness of the other being seen in railing on those things which are already found out, controlling, but not correcting any thing amiss. The words of Hypocrates are these, Eorum aliquid quae nondum inventa sunt invenire, quodque invenisse quam non invenisse praestiterit, similiterque imperfecta ad finem deducere id mihi videtur illius esse munus, qui intelligens exiflimari expetit: qui vero ea quae ab aliis sunt inventa inhonestorum verborum artificio contaminare contendit, neque quicquam corrigit, sed a pervis inventa apud imperitos traducit, is sane prudentiae existimationem tueri velle non videtur, sed potius naturam suam at ignorantiam malitiose prodere. By which words it is manifest, that Hypocrates did not so ambitiously presume upon his own knowledge and absolute perfection in this faculty of Physic: but that he did confess, & as it were intimate, that the time would be, when as it would be bettered by far, and brought to more perfection, which Hypocrates himself did prophesy of in his book De prisca medicina, acknowledging there, that only an entrance was found out to Physic, but more excellenter things by far in process of time should be: the words are these: In medicina principium & via inventa est, per quam praeclara multa longo temporis spatio sunt inventa, & reliqua deinceps invenientur si quis probe comparatus fuerit, ut ex inventorum cognitione ad ipsorum investigationem feratur. Which Galen also affirmeth in the conclusion of his book entitled, Quod optimus medicus idem sit & philosophus, affirming there, that if we diligently apply ourselves to the study of Philosophy, and seek to be true emulators of Hypocrates, so doing we may become not only like to him, but far excelling, truly understanding those things which are delivered by him, & finding out by our own industry, those things which remain in the faculty of Physic, unknown by the words: therefore both of Hypocrates and Galen, there were many things in Physic which were unknown to them, and in their time not found out, Galen himself witnessing in the ninth book De simplicium medicamentorum facultate, that he had never tried whether Quicksilver, being applied outwardly or taken inwardly, would kill or no. So by both their judgements those were worthy of praise and not discredit, which by the true grounds of natural philosophy, and by the help of those things truly delivered and set down by those two pillars of Physic, did by all labour endeavour to find out more excellent things for the curing of diseases. Yea, which is more, we are enforced (lest open scandal and reproach should redound to the art) to seek out new remedies for some diseases which were unknown both to Hypocrates and Galen, as the French Pox, the Measils', and the English sweat, and others of the like kind, otherwise Physic would hardly be deemed an art.  
These two grave and reverend fathers of Physic I have therefore alleged (though necessity and common good had been a sufficient shield for this mine enterprise) that under the coverture of their wings, tanquam sub Palladis aegide, I might be shadowed from reproach & blame, and having two such strong Atlases, I might the better bear the burden of that province which I have undertaken, namely, to publish to the world, and present to your Worship's good considerations, trial and equal censures, an universal purging powder made of gold, silver, and mineral water by art and sire to that perfection decocted, whose operation and virtues I have briefly set down in the small Treatise following, referring the particular use of it to the judgement of every Physician, to specificate it at his own discretion with any other purging simple, that it may work the effect speedier, and be more properly directed to any humour afflicting, or peculiar member afflicted: and although in the publishing of a true secret, I neither use dialectical arguments to enforce, rhetorical persuasions to allure, Lawyers il-loquence to urge, Poets fictions to delight, Painter's colours to deceive, all which may make that seem to be which is not, and that which is, seem not to be: yet this I humbly entreat, that as I nakedly deliver an approved truth, so it may courteously be censured, as it shall be found by perfect trial: for truths ancient Hieroglyphic, is a virgin bare and naked, and having no deformity, being from top to toe pure, unspotted and beautiful, needeth no borrowed or counterfeit colours. This powder I present unto your Worships, and make known unto the world, for the love and increase of the desired perfection of Physic, and the general good of the diseased, and withal for mine own commodity, being thereunto animated by the granted authority of Hypocrates, and Galen, and divers other of our neotericke classicke Physicians, lest such a secret in Physic should be buried in his own ashes, the publishing whereof, I hope, shall not give any offence to the learned, but will rather be allowed and gladly accepted: which done, I rest humbly at your Worship's pleasures and command, devoting unto you the fruits of all my hopes and studies.  
Thomas Russel.   

G. N. Gentleman.  
LEt Antioch keep their raging Scammony,  
And send that cankered bane to Barbary.  
Let deadly Colocinthis bitter gall,  
On great Armenia's craggy mountains fall.  
Let Tithimal make Persian widows weep,  
And India still their harmful Turbith keep:  
Since England's happy Isle small stands in need,  
Of any such farre-set outlandish weed.  
For here the sun's fair beams do shine so bright,  
As lesser Stars are like to lose their light.   

G. P. Philosophiae chimisticae Studiosus.  

TIme lays in dust the monarch of each age,  
When all their pomp doth cease, and princely grace.  
Time made strong Milon weep, and Helen rage,  
He for weak arm's, she for her wrinkled face.  
Time caused Pyramids in Memphis plain,  
Lowly to kiss their mother earth again.   

The heart, long'st-liued of every beast in field,  
The oak, the flint, the steel by sturdy strength,  
And each thing else under the Moon, doth yield  
To dint of death, and change of time at length.  
Only this glorious shining Sun on earth,  
At whose celestial frame, and wondrous birth,   

Nature did equalize, fire, water, air,  
With purest yellow earth, most duly mixed:  
No time, nor means, can utterly impair,  
But still remaineth uniform, and fixed.  
Then since no time the subject can deface,  
How then can any time thy name outrace?    

G. K. in Artibus magister.  
EAch wit for wished health makes best invention:  
Some post a ship to fetch home Indian weed's.  
Some heap a mass of drugs, whose silly mixion  
May blindly hap to cure, yet oft the grief it feeds.  
But all that love to try some certain remedy,  
Apply and taste this true, much laboured mystery,  
Extracting health from Gold, in whose centre,  
Of all four element's, there's perfect temper.   

In Zoilum.  
TO praise the Author's worth, that craves his trial,  
Were of his own intent a flat denial.  
The Sophies of the world do claim the Art,  
The matters influence rules every heart.  
Therefore to praise his skill or matter done,  
Were but to light a candle in the Sun.  
And if some Momus be so mad to chide,  
He hath his due, to rest unsatisfide.  
So for advantage, and for trials fame,  
I cease, till he give cause himself to shame.  
And if by him in secret it be hist,  
Who but a Cow doth shun the open list?  
S. W. Medicus.   

DIACATHOLICON AUREUM: Or A general powder of Gold, purging all offensive humours in man's BODY.  

Chap. I. Whereof the powder is made, and of the Philosophical preparation of it.  
Whatsoever the Almighty disposer of universal nature, hath dispersively infused in the generality of natural things, either celestial or terrestrial, the same is collectively found in one particular of the same kind; as for example, what virtue, quality, or influence is dispersively placed in every Star, Orb, or body celestial under the first mover, the same is found united in one Sun. What animal faculties are dispersed in all several living creatures, are gathered together in one man. What hidden virtue soever, is dispersively infused in minerals, is collectively united in one metal, which is Gold, and this is the principal material whereof this powder consisteth. But for abbreviation of time and labour, since it is hard to make a perfect calcination of Gold by itself, I have therefore, following the opinion of Avicen, and won with his reasons, added a due proportion of the other perfect metal, that thereby their agent might make a better subtiliation of them, which agent in the composition, is the third ingredient, being a spiritualized metal in the form of mineral water. These three ingredients only enter this powder and no more: which I term by the name of Diacatholicon Aureum, because that the chiefest thing, and most in quantity in the composition is Gold, being brought to that wondrous active quality by the true mineral fire, which is the agent and long continual decoction: neither do I use either in my preparation or decoction, any thing but those three ingredients; that this is true, I can make manifest to any man by demonstrative practice before his eyes, on which I will engage goods, life, and credit, that there never came either common Quicksilver prepared or unprepared, Antimony, Stibium, mean mineral, uttriall, salts, powder, strong water, imperfect metal, or any other such like thing whatsoever, but only those three ingredients before named. How I came by this powder, what time I spent in the speculative part of the magistery, what labour and cost in the experimental performance of it, how often I miss in the practice before I could attain to the perfection of it, if I should here declare, would but weary the reader, trouble the Printer, wast much paper, seem to sharp censurers, affected and self conceited discourses, in mine own censure needless circumstances, and in the end little to the purpose. Omitting therefore all such vain and needless discourses, I will proceed to show the virtues and operation of it.   

CHAP. 2. Of the nature and quality of this Catholicon Aureum.  
HIppocrates in the second Apho. of his first book, and the 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. and 9 Aphor. of the fourth book, maketh mention of two sorts of purging medicines, the one by vomit, the other by siege: Of purging medicines by vomit, Mesue in his first book, De simplicibus medicamentis Purgantibus, the first Theorem, maketh a threefold difference, taken from their faculty more or less. The first he termeth vehement, which extremely disturb nature, as white Hellebor, and Tithimal, etc. The second mean, as Nux vomica and Nitrum. The third mild, as Onion séed and Radish. But of simple medicines which purge by siege, he maketh a fourfold difference. The first, are such as purge by dissolution of the humours, and being dissolved by attraction of them from the upper parts, or eradication from the lower parts, not that the medicine being received into the stomach, doth penetrate the veins or the solid parts of the body to evacuate the humour, but by a certain attractive quality, doth draw his choice and familiar humour through the veins and passages of the body, into the stomach and bowels, even as we see jet or Amber draw little straws, or the Loadstone Iron, though they touch them not: of this kind, are Scammony, Colocinthis and Turbith. The second kind of purging simples, are such as do not draw, but only purge by driving and pressing out, drying and consuming the putrid excrements, and afterward binding the body as Mirabolanes, and tamarinds. The third sort purge by mollifying the humours within the stomach and bowels, as Cassia fistula and Manna. The fourth and last, by making them slippery, as the Mucilage of Psillium and Mallows: these three latter kinds of purgers have a weak faculty, and therefore scarce perspicuous, evacuating only those humours within the stomach and bowels, which there they meet withal, not passing the liver or working any thing by attraction. The first kind of purging medicines which work by attraction, Galen in his book entitled, Quos purgare oportet, doth pronounce that they are all of a hot quality. Omnia medicamenta purgantia facultate sunt calida, which in natural Philosophy must needs be granted, for there are but two active qualities, heat & cold, as Aristotle witnesseth in his fourth book of his Meteorologickes', the first Chapter.  
Now it is manifest, that it is the nature of heat alone to draw, for cold cannot do it: therefore whatsoever purgeth by attraction, must needs be of a hot temperature. This being well known and considered, let us see how all these kind of purgers work, and the reason why, and then come to show the nature and operation of this Catholicon Aureum. Galen in the fift book of the faculty of simple medicines, affirmeth, that whatsoever purgeth, hath a faculty to work on his peculiar and proper humour, some on one, some on two, and some on more; and that which is proper to any one humour, never worketh on another, unless the malignity of the medicine, or the quantity of the dose do too much exceed, which Galen also witnesseth in his book, De purgantium Medicamentorum facultate. Hypocrates also confirmeth it in his book, De natura humana, saying there, That if a medicine be administered to bring forth phlegm, it only bringeth out phlegm: if to purge choler, it only purgeth choler: if to evacuate melancholy, it only evacuateth that humour: to whom Mesue consenteth in his first book, De simp. medi. purge. the first Theorem, affirming more plainly, that if a medicine be given to purge melancholy, though choler and phlegm abound much more in the body, yet it leaveth them, and purgeth melancholy, his own peculiar and destinate humour: whence, they have this strange faculty, the same Author's opinion is, that it proceedeth not from the temperature of the medicine (meaning the first qualities) nor from one contrary working on another, nor from like drawing his like, nor as a light medicine upward, a heavy downward, stirring the matter to be purged: but Quia talem coelitus est sortitum facultatem: That the faculty of every purging medicine, proceedeth from an heavenly quality and hidden influence.  
Now having showed the nature and differences of purging simples, after what sort they work, and by what means out of their Theoric, it remaineth after perfect investigation both by cause and effect, to set down the nature and operation of this Catholicon Aureum, or general purging powder of Gold. Then, whereas I said before in the beginning, that all purges work either by vomit it or siege, this powder of Gold worketh both up vomit and siege: yet let not this derogate any thing from the excellency of it, that it worketh by vomit: for although I must needs confess, that every action of any part made against the first ordinance of nature, is improsperous and unfit, and so seeing nature did at first ordain the Gula for attraction, and the Pilorum for expulsion: therefore by consequent, all vomits made by contrary motion to nature, are improsperous and hurtful: although I say, this be simply true and cannot be denied, yet respectively & by accident, vomits are not only not hurtful, but very commodious, and necessary as well for the curing of diseases, as for the regiment of health. For when there is abundance of light Choler, thin water, and phlegm swimming on the top of the stomach, the expulsive faculty cannot drive them downward, by reason of their lightness, neither is nature able to digest them, so they must of necessity be evacuated by vomit, and so of two evils the less must be chosen, this way of purging being allowed and commended by Galen and Hypocrates, and mightily confirmed by the Academy of Salerne, prescribing for the regiment of health to vomit once a month. To which of the four differences of purging medicines to refer this powder, is a matter very difficult, seeing it was never yet truly and Philosophically determined by any Paracelsian, whether Mercury or any mineral purge did work Attrahendo humores, by drawing the humours together into the stomach. But my assertion is, that this powder of Gold doth not work Attrahendo, or Comprimendo, and Exprimendo, but Leniendo, and Lubricando, which I prove thus.  
There is no cold medicine which doth purge by Attraction; but the outward quality in the superficies of this powder, from whence the purging faculty proceedeth (as is plainly showed in the end of the sixth Chapter) is cold, therefore ꝑ conclude, that it cannot draw any humours into the stomach. My proposition was proved before by the natural effects of heat and cold, and by the authority of Galen before cited, in his book entitled: Quos purgere oportete and in his fift book, De simp. medi. facul. the sixteen Chapter. My assumption I prove thus: as is the effect, so is the cause: but the effect which Mercury worketh is cold, and therefore Mercury itself is cold: My proposition in the Philosopher's maxim, the assumption is proved by instance in the disease called the Palsy, and relaxation of the Sinews, which we see daily happen to those that deals much with Quicksilver, as our Gilders with rich Gold, being caused by the sin of the Quicksilver. Now that the Palsy is a cold disease, Galen witnesseth in his fourth book De causis pulsuum. My second instance is taken from another effect of Mercury, which is this, When any hath taken a great quantity, as much as will poison a body, during all the time of the working of it, the party shall never thirst, which if it were hot, it would inflame the blood and vital spirits, and cause intolerable thirst, as it happeneth after the taking of all hot poisons, for the party will thirst even to the death, which is proved by an example cited of Conciliator, in his book De venenis, of an Apothecary, who thirsting in the extreme heat of Summer, in the night time took a Pitchard of Quicksilver in stead of some drink or other, and drank of it, forthwith it cooled his thirst, congealed the blood, and destroyed the vital spirits, and being found dead in his bed in the morning, his body by the advice of a Physician was cut up, and there was found in his stomach one pound of Quicksilver, the blood in his heart being congealed: by which the same Author concluded, that it was of a cold quality.  
To these instances may be added, that it is in the form of water altogether without taste, not bitter, sharp, sour, salt, sweet, or having any stiplicitie or corrosivenesse. Besides these probable inductions, the authority of divers of our modern Authors may be added, who have diligently both by speculation and proof investigated the nature of it, whatsoever Paracelsus through vain subtleties and trifling arguments, goeth about to persuade the world that it is of a hot quality: then since the superficial purging quality of this powder is cold, it manifestly proveth that it doth not purge by attraction. The second reason which proveth that this powder doth not purge by attraction, is taken from a sure demonstration by certain experience, which is this. The first time that it is administered unto any body, it will work his effect duly as it ought to do, evacuating the humours, but if it be administered again the next day, it will then very little work by siege or vomit, or nothing at all, by reason the first day it did evacuate all the humours within the stomach and bowels, which it then met withal: now all other purges attractive being taken again the second day, will work afresh, because they still draw more humours out of the veins and fleshy parts of the body, and if there be none to draw, they dissolve and melt the flesh itself, draw blood out of the veins, & spirits out of the arteries, and so by consequent life itself: which vice would also be incident to this powder of Gold, if it did work any whit by attraction, which seeing it doth not, it cannot hold with the natural possibility of this powder, to produce any such fatal event: and as it worketh not Attrahendo, so neither doth it work Comprimendo, because it leaveth the body after always soluble, sometimes a week, a month, yea, a quarter of a year: by which may be noted the excellency and pre-eminence that this purge hath above all other purging medicines in the world: for this must needs be granted, which Galen himself confesseth in his book entitled, Quos purgare oportet, That all purging medicines which work by attraction, are very offensive to the stomach, and noisome to all parts of the body, divers symptoms and great inconveniences following them, by reason when there is such a sudden violent and unnatural pulling, and riving the humours from blood wherein life consisteth, nature can hardly endure, this separation being before so firmly united together, without her great detriment and loss of many spirits, the inconveniences and vices whereof, I will show at large in the sixth Chapter.  
Now this purge of Gold, seeing it worketh not by attraction, cannot be scandalised with any of those blots, neither can any such symptoms follow it. But happily some may here object, that if it only purge Leniendo and Lubricando, and not Attrahendo; how can it remove and purge stubborn and rebellious humours, out of the veins and solid remote parts of the body, and then not being able to remove them, how can it be good almost for any disease: and to conclude, it were as good to take a glister, or eat a little Cassia, Manna, or stewed Prunes, as to take this golden purge. To this I answer, that though it purge not the humours within the veins and fleshy parts by attraction: yet it doth either help nature to digest them, or expel them by sweat and Urine, which is a direct course according to natures own proceedings: so you see that it doth work by vomit, siege, sweat, and urine, according as nature is burdened and overladed: for if the stomach be oppressed with light choler, water, and phlegm, it purgeth them by vomit: if the intestines and lower parts be overcharged with choler, water, or phlegm, it worketh by siege: if either stomach or bowels be overladen with melancholy, it evacuateth always that humour by siege: if the blood and the solid parts of the body be oppressed with any of those humours, it dissolveth them and openeth their passage, and purgeth them by sweat and insensible expiration. If the Emulgent veins or reins of the back be burdened with choler, phlegm, or melancholy, or have any obstructions, it openeth the passages, dissolveth the humours, and bringeth them out by Urine; for it purgeth all the vicious and offensive humours alike, not having any humour destinate to it, but as the body is most overcharged, on that it worketh first. In the answering this objection, a greater may arise among the learned, and that is this: Whereas I say that this powder of Gold doth purge by sweat and Urine, how can that agree with natural Philosophy and experience, that a cold quality (which I affirmed before this powder had) can open, dissolve, sweat, and expel by Urine. To this I answer, that though the outward superficial quality of this powder of Gold be cold, from the Mercurialitie, yet inwardly there is a subtle acrious heat, from the Aureitie, which is stirred up and animated by the natural heats of our bodies, and brought in Energian.  
Nature being always wise in her working, making separation of the cold quality in the superficies of the medicine, to work by vomit and siege: and selecting the subtle inward medicinable virtue, drawing it into the veins to help herself to work away all that offendeth her, she being always prone to her emendation and perfection. And thus I have showed in general the nature and working of this powder of Gold; but fearing lest I have exceeded those strait limits I allotted myself, I am enforced to omit many things that were expedient to be spoken of this matter: only touching these things, as brief as I could, which are necessary; but if there be any that rests not contented with that which here is said, I will by conference fully satisfy him at any occasion.   

CHAP. 3. How and in what quantity this powder is to be taken.  
COmmonly for a sucking child two grains will suffice, for youth three grains, for middle age and most sort of people four grains, for strong folks and stubborn diseases five grains. It may be taken in a spoonful of drink, Aquavitae, or spirit of Wine, in the pap of an Apple, or a Quince, in the pulp of raises or Prunes, in a little broth, in conserve of Roses or Barberies, or in any such like thing: Or if it please the Physician in any syrup, powder, electuary or potion, proper to that disease, or especial humour which he doth intend to purge, which I leave to the learned discretion of every Physician, who may well determine of every particular patient, which in generality it is impossible for me to do: but particularly I can direct any that shall require it for what intent so ever, either in Pill, Potion, Lezenge or Electuary, according as shall best fit the disease, and the Patient's content.   

CHAP. 4. Of the preparation of the body, and time when this powder is to be taken, to the intent that any man may use it, that hath not the Physician always at hand.  
SInce there are divers that inhabit in the Country far from any Physician, which cannot easily resort to one when they stand in need: and divers of the poorer sort of people, that are not of sufficient ability to pay the Physician for his counsel, and the Apothecary for his drugs, therefore I thought it convenient to signify thus much unto them, or to any other that are determined to take it, how they shall take it, and how to prepare their body and make it fit, for what purpose so ever they would have it. If there be any therefore which to the intent to keep their bodies in health, or to prevent any usual sickness incident unto them, or having already any Ague, weakness of the stomach, or molested with superfluity of humours, or any disease mentioned in the Chapter following, by the opinion of the Physician; I say, if any of these be determined to take of this powder, let them first consider, whether they do intend to sweat much or little, at the time of the working of it: if much, let them keep them warm in their bed; if little, let them sit up by a fire in their Chamber: Then let them consider whether they would have it work more by vomit then siege, or more by siege then by vomit. If they would have it work more by vomit; first, let them eat a great meals meat overnight: but if they would have it work more by siege, let them eat overnight very little or fast altogether. Secondly, if they would it work more by vomit then by siege, let them a little after they have taken it, drink five or six spoonfuls of warm water, and saliet Oil, or warm water alone. But if they would have it work by more siege, let than presently after they have taken it, drink five or six spoonfuls of cold water: but whether they would have it work by vomit or siege, let them overnight take before supper, if they sup at all, or in stead of their supper, as many of these Prunes as they please. Take water, or Rhenish wine, or both together, and dissolve pure English Honey in it, or Sugar, as much as will make Mead, or syrup of it, and in this syrup, let the best damask Prunes be stewed.  
Take overnight of these Prunes and the syrup, as much as you will; or take syrup of the infusion of Roses, or syrup of Vinegar, or any such gentle soluble thing to prepare the body before: but after they have taken the powder, during all the time of the working of it, drink the whereof Posset drink, made with clarified Mace, & Ale. And at dinner, eat some breath made with light meat at supper, and afterward use your ordinary diet, but sparingly at first.   

CHAP. 5. For what diseases this powder is good.  
SEeing that this powder doth purge all offensive humours to man's nature, as well simple as mixed: therefore I conclude, that this Catholicon is good for all diseases, when as there needeth any Purgation of any humour, either upward, downward, by sweat, or Urine; for the cause removed, the effect must needs cease, and in this kind it may have the pre-eminence above all other purging medicines, which ever Art or invention till this day found out: and although it may justly challenge this pre-eminence both by art and nature, namely by the matter whereof and the means whereby it is made, yet are other simples and confections ne'er the worse, nor less to be regarded, for even they in their due place and time may be mixed with this, to make a more peculiar purging medicine, more specificate to any member affected or humour exceeding. Moreover it far excelleth them all in these properties, namely in the smallness of the quantity, the aptness of the receipt, the not offensivenesse in taste; soon, safe and pleasantly working his effect, and in the wholesomeness of it to man's body, even by the testimony of Mesue himself, affirming those to be the wholesomest purges which are sweet or without taste: For this being administered in the quantity of two, three, four, or five grains at the most, may as well be taken as a piece of bread, or spoonful of drink, and having no taste, never offendeth the Patient, as shall be showed hereafter; for here with brevity, I intent to set down the chief diseases for which this powder is specially good, and leave the rest to the good censtoeration of the Physician.  

1 Headache proceedeth from choler, phlegm, or melancholy, or mixed humour.  
2 Headache from an evil stomach.  
3 Megrim.  
4 Vertigo or Turnabout.  
5 Dead sleep.  
6 Apoplexy.  
7 Frenzy.  
8 Loss of memory.  
9 Noli me tangere, Cancer.  
10 Erisipelas.  
11 Carbuncle.  
12 Elephantiasis.  
13 Pustles.  
14 Scabs and Itch.  
15 Leprosy, or any tumours against nature.  
16 Cough.  
17 Asthma, or difficulty of breathing.  
18 Inflammation of the Lungs.  
19 Spitting of matter.  
20 Phthisic.  
21 pleurisy.  
22 Spitting of blood.  
23 Swooning.  
24 Weakness of the stomach.  
25 Vomiting.  
26 Great thirst.  
27 Loss of appetite.  
28 Doglike appetite.  
29 Surfeiting.  
30 Sighing.  
31 The night Mare.  
32 The Colic.  
33 Iliaca passio.  
34 Windiness in the body.  
35 All sorts of Worms.  
36 Fluxes, Lienteria, Dissenteria, and diarrhea, because in the beginning it is good to purge away the vicious humour.  
37 The Emmorrhoids or Piles.  
38 Obstructions and distemperature of the Liver.  
39 jaundice, yellow and black.  
40 The Green sickness.  
41 The Dropsy, Anasarcha, Vposarcha, and Timpanites.  
42 The obstructions of the Spleen.  
43 Flatus melancholicus hypoc.  
44 ulceration of the reins.  
45 The Stone or gravel in the reins.  
46 Strangury.  
47 Difficulty of pissing.  
48 Pissing of blood.  
49 For bringing down women's Flowers.  
50 Sterility or barrenness.  
51 The quotidian Ague.  
52 The Tertian.  
53 The burning Fever.  
54 The quartan.  
55 The Pestilence.   
In all these diseases it is good to take of this powder, yet imagine not that this of itself will cure them perfectly, yet many of them it will, as most sort of Headaches, & weakness of the stomach, all sorts of worms, the three Fluxes with an other simple after the body is purged, the Stone in the reins, women's terms, & all manner of Agues (the Fever Hectic, and Marasmus excepted) whether the humours be inflamed within the veins or without, in all manner of people, sucking children and other, commonly at once taking, but for the Quartan it will ask longer time. Also I presume it will cure that Pestilence if it be taken in any time, & not past all help.  
Finally, for the French Pox▪ or any simptome thereof beginning, it is the most singular medicine that ever was found out, for without hothouses, loathsome diet drinks, bathing in Cornelius Tub, any other Purgations, annoyntments, fumes, or Suffumigations with Quicksilver, making most loathsome Excoriations and painful Exulcerations, eating the teeth out of the head, and dissolving the Sinews, and other simptomes, this only of itself, if it be taken before the desperate symptoms do appear, will cure them, and doubtless excelleth all other that art or nature can this day afford.  
In like manner it may be probably conjectured, by the authority of divers Authors, and reasoning from the materials whereof it is made, that it may cure the Gout, if it be not already grown to a desperate period. Now that I have showed for what diseases this powder is good, some may expect that I should set down the particular experiences that I have made of it, to wit, the Cures which it hath performed, with the names of the parties, the time when, & the place of their abode, to the intent it might the better persuade the hard believing world, of the good effects of it, & give greater credit to my words. But for these causes I have wittingly & willingly omitted them: first, in regard that many of the parties are not willing to have their names come in print, nor the diseases known of which they have been cured. Secondly, the rehearsal of these cures performed by myself and my friends which have administered it, would ask a longer discourse than all my treatise beside. Lastly, I might haply be condemned of too much arrogancy & vainglory, seeming to incline for the most part to the empirical sect. To avoid therefore imagined arrogancy, tediousness in discourses, and displeasure to my friends, I have purposely neglected that which might well here have been spoken of this large subject.   

CHAP. 6. What symptoms and accidences happen after the taking of this powder.  
I Think it not impertinent to this purpose, first to show what symptoms and inconveniences follow and happen to the body after usual purgations, that thereby the difference between them & this powder of gold may be plainly perceived.  
Galen in his book entitled, Quos oportet purgare, giveth a general and true proposition of all purging medicines: Omnia purgantia medicamenta ventriculum vitiant, praecipueque os ipsius, etc. which Mesue largely confirmeth in his first book De simp. medic. purga. the first theorem, whereto all other Physicians with one consent agree, and by experience we see it daily verified: and they do not only hurt the stomach in particular, but are also grievous to nature itself, offending the principal parts of the body, so that the diligent searchers out of their faculties and operations have noted these symptoms which usually follow the taking of them. The first is, Agues, because they do inflame the humours. The second, Cephalalgia, by reason of their vapours fuming up into the head. The third, Vertigo, caused by the circumaction of vapours raised up into the brain within his ventricles and arteries. The 4. imbecility of sight, by reason of too much dryness of the parts of the eyes, which follow superfluous evacuation, or of the humour within the nerve optic, which those purges dissolve and cannot evacuate. The 5. weakness of the stomach, caused divers ways by the distemperature which the medicine bred. The 6. immoderate thirst, caused by the saltness, sharpness, heat and bitterness of the medicine. The 7. sighing, caused either of immoderate heat and acrimony of the medicine gnawing the stomach, or by his dryness drawing it together. The 8. pain of the stomach, caused of the unequal distemperature or exulceration which the purge made. The 9 excoriation of the bowels, through the corrosive and fretting quality of the medicine. The 10. inflammation of the reins, proceeding from the heat of the medicine. 11. The stone of the reins, by reason of abundance of slimy matter brought to that place, and by heat baked into a stone. 12. Voiding of blood, provoked by the ulceration of the bowels. 13. Tenasmus, or a vain desire to go to stool, by reason the spincter or muscle of the fundament is ulcerated through the acrimony of the medicine or humour voided. 14. The Emmorrhoids or Plies caused by such medicines as open the veins. 15. Imbecility or weakness of the whole body, by reason of the general disturbance of nature, caused by the violence of the medicine. 16. Convulsion, caused of much matter stirred up and drawn together, but not evacuated, which after having recourse to the sinews and muscles, causeth convulsion. 17. Costivenesse, the body being left hot and dry after the purge, and then baketh the excrements, which doth happen in sundry purgations, & most Patients complain of it. All which diseases do happen to them that take purgations for three especial causes, being three main vices incident to most of usual medicines that purge. The first, when they do move, dissolve, and draw together offensive humours, and nature not able to evacuate them. The second, when humours are evacuate illegitmately and with molestation of the Patient, which happeneth when they are ministered for those humours which they ought not. The third, when they do too much evacuate, working too violently, making excoriation of the stomach and bowels, and drawing the blood out of the veins. For the correction of these symptoms, the learned Physicians in all ages, having especial care of their Patient's health, laboured by all means possible to find out Antidotes and correctors to withstand their inconveniences, and break their malice: and in regard each purging medicine had some manifest vice or other, they did not only invent general correctors to avoid such capital vices, but also particular for every such medicine. Hence Aloes had Mastic, Bdellium, and Tragagant, to keep it from opening of the veins & drawing blood out of them, and causing the Emmorrhoids. Mirabolanes were prepared with oil of sweet Almonds, and administered with juice of Fumitary, Wormwood, Agarick, and Spikenard, and Diuretics, to hinder them from causing obstructions. Scammony was corrected with juice of Quinces and vinegar, to break his malice, and given with aromatics and comforters of the principal parts, to overcome his enmity to the whole body. Turbith was corrected with Ginger, to avoid windiness: and so in like manner every one had his particular correcter, director, and helper to work duly, & qualify their vices. This known and well considered, it resteth to show whether there be any such vice in this Catholicon Aureum or no; & herein is the difference seen between this and all other purges, that whereas all of them need correctors to break their malice, Aromatickes to take away their loathsomeness and help their working, admixture of contraries to stay their violent and immoderate operation, and Cordials to comfort & defend the principal parts: So that if the ill effects they work, be weighed in an equal balance with their good, the good will scarce counterpoise it. This powder only hath this grace, that it never offendeth any of the principal parts, never draweth blood out of the veins, never worketh too violently, evacuating more than is burdensome to nature, never inflameth the blood, or any part of the body, never maketh exulceration of the stomach & bowels, never violently draweth humours, but after a direct course helpeth nature to digest them or expel them by sweat, urine, and expiration, never needeth any corrector, nor hath any such inconvenience: therefore by consequent, never raiseth any such symptoms which usually follow the taking of the other purges, but contrariwise I affirm that it strengtheneth the heart, the liver, the brain, and the whole body, purifieth the blood, reviveth the spirits, making them fit and apt to do all their functions natural. That this is true, I give the learned thus much to consider. The materials whereof this powder consisteth in general are two, for in it are two corporeal substances mixed and united together, not as Elementa in composito mixta inseperabilia, but as salt dissolved and mixed with water, or sugar in wine per minima as far as that mixion and unition may be, yet with more fixation and very hard (yet possible) separation. One of the substances is Metalline fixed, the other Mercurial fixed agent & patiented. Of these two united together is this powder made; from these two in one, proceed two several qualities, the one purging by siege Leniendo and Lubricando; by vomit Os stomachi aperiendo, and Naturam fortiter movendo. The other comforting from the Aureity, and helping natural heat to dissolve open, and expel whatsoever is offensive either within the vessels, or without, by sweat and expiration: and as neither Mercury itself without his incorruptible patient can safely purge or work any good effect, so neither Gold without his Mercurial agent the true mineral fire, can be so subtiliate as to comfort nature & expel offensive humours, but both Philosophically circulate together make this perfect purge. From these reasons it may be gathered, why it both purgeth and comforteth, from the one quality leaving the body long after soluble, from the other quality strengthening the vital spirits and animal faculties, restoring also natural heat and radical moisture to the temperature thereof.   

CHAP. 7. The conclusion.  
Courteous Reader, I have thus briefly and truly showed the materials whereof this powder consisteth, the preparation of it, the qualities and operation, the differences between this and all other purges, and in what diseases it is good to take it; yet imagine not that it will cure them of itself alone, but only serving for a preparation to their cures, wheresoever there needeth any purging in stead of all other, yet many of those diseases as I noted before, it will of itself cure, with divers others which time and experience shall make manifest, and the ingenious Reader may easily gather from the instance of those, and that with more effectual, safe, pleasant, and speedice working, than any other at this day known and invented: and if any hereafter require farther satisfaction of the natural possibility hereof, either by authority, reason, or experience, I shall be ready at any occasion to do it, either by word or writing; in the mean time commending these first fruits of my labours to his indifferent and equal censure, Et hic me Plato sistere jubet.   
FINIS.