Mataeotechnia Medicinae Praxews. The Vanity of the Craft of PHYSIC. Or, A NEW DISPENSATORY. Wherein is dissected the Errors, Ignorance, Impostures and Supinities of the SCHOOLS, in their main Pillars of Purges, Blood-letting, Fontanels or Issues, and Diet, etc. and the particular Medicines of the Shops. With an humble Motion for the Reformation of THE UNIVERSITIES, And the whole Landscap of PHYSIC, And discovering the Terra incognita of CHYMISTRIE. To the PARLIAMENT of ENGLAND.  
By NOAH BIGGS, Chymiatrophilos.  
Pauca vigent hodie prisci vestigia veri.  
Vae his qui nesciunt experiri nisi in hominibus.  Rog. Bacon. 
Dii vendunt sudoribus, non lectionibus solis, Artes.  
London, Printed for Edward Blackmore, at the sign of the Angel in Paul's Churchyard 1651.   

To the PARLIAMENT.  
THe report that I received from the sound of your own Act, Parliament of England, of the high pitch of noble erterprises, and undaunted courage and resolution, your vast and renowned Genius, moved by a lusty wheel, beard ye to make us a Commonwealth; and that both in the right Constitution, and in the right Reformation of a Real Commonwealth, the things that I now move for, did call for speedy redress; and considering your active endeavours in seeking to wipe off the imputation of intending to discourage the progress of true Learning; and now taking notice (than which was nothing more) that that gallant and victorious Commander, the Lord General Cromwell, desires in his late Letter to yourselves, Noble Senators, as a signal and acknowledgement of thankfulness to God for the late victory over the Scot, That ye would reform the abuses of all Professions; Your actions also manifestly tending to exalt the Truth, and to depress the Tyranny of Error and ill Customs, both Religious and Civil; whereof to this day ye have done well, whereof not to repent, were the cardinal motives that induced me to present your worthy notice with a discourse, conscious to itself of nothing more than of diligence, and firm affection to the Public good. And that ye would take it so, as wise and impartial men, obtaining through the good hand of God so great power & dignity, are wont to accept in matters both doubtful and important what they think offered them well meant, and from a rational ability, I had no less then to persuade me. By the same nourishment then, by which they first took life, I seek to preserve them, from which Sea this rivulet took its rise; on the swinge and rapt of which most potext alliciences, I dare to expose as freely what fraughtage I conceive to bring of no trifles. And having had an experimentate opportunity to know, that the public Head hath always an ear open, and stands ready to salute and receive every glimpse and dawning of knowledge, or at least cherish those that do so, and looks every ingenuous Head should strike and veil, and commands the best of every man's thoughts; what can be expected but that I should dedicate▪ not according to the swelling Epidemic custom, though not the Punctilios, yet the punctas, the full points, and marginal hands in the folio of my burdened thoughts? Dedications▪ I confess, though of themselves they be of little worth, and by me esteemed light and vain, as being the adulatory prodromes for a mendicant assistance of a shoulder, or serene brow to the ensuing ma●ter, yet they have that command in the respects of 〈◊〉 by reason of that which they use to signify, by reason of their impression, that like brass farthings, the stamp of the Royal Arms and Crown makes them go the curranter, though the matter a●baseth them; that some whose minds are below the performance of nobler endowments, that look no further than bark and outside, do seek reputation by the Patronage of a great Personage; yet in things of so high a nature, and general concernment, as the redress of old neglected grievances and customs, never enough to be lamented; yea, the Reformation of the body of a whole Art that has lain long eclipsed and deformed, so worthily and so nearly concerning your knowledge, I fear to be so unnaturally cruel to my own reputation, and the Minerva of my labours, as to neglect the tenders of my endeavours to your high notice. 'tis true, I have long travelled with a desire humbly to remonstrate to you Worthies in Parliament, but have had all along the unhappy indisposition from various affected thoughts, to fear to disturb and call you from your emergent occasions, the capital Remora that I have not adventured to l●nch forth: but considering that public actions are commonly uncertain, which do put on several countenances according to the variety of occasions; and considering that it is always a feasible opportunity, and no time lost nor ill spent in assuming th●se thoughts in the midst of your most urgent dangers, to lay a model and draw the lines of happiness and security for all posterity; and seeing that without presumption, I may confidently believe the contents considered, shall not want the just length of your, either ●ars, or faith; nor have I whither to appeal, but to the concourse of so much Piety, Wisdom, Learning and Prudence housed in this place; or who more concerned in it, and so much the more to be urged then the healths of such as you who sit at the Helm, on whom, as on our Deliverers, all our grievances and cures by the merit of your eminence and fortitude are devolved? Or to whom could I better declare the loyalty which I owe to that Supreme and Majestic Tribunal, and the opinion which I have of the high entrusted judgement, and personal worth assembled in that place, then to your own selves? He whose civil and serious accomplishments and desires has led him forth to await to obtain any thing from the public, it is not enough to be so penurious to blurt out an occasional word of it in his Dedication or Preface of his book, not praying, or absolutely saying that he desires it and expects it; nor giving them proofs not only that he deserves it but that they ought for their own sakes and posterity to grant it, in regard they may expect great profit by it. For it is an error extremely disadvantageous to the enlargement of the Empire of Truth, and an error of weakness, rather than a becoming shamfac'dness and modesty, yea, a vicious humility, which will prove a kind of baseness and weakness, for a man to neglect his virgin thoughts, and the impetus of his sparklie inclinations, or withhold through faintness his worthy requests, or conceal Meridian-truths, which would so much conduce and disseminate to an universal benefit, under the covert and eclipse of a bashful silence: and if he know and well consider the gentleness and freeness of those to whom he addresses to hear reason speak, he hath no reason to be ashamed of any, unless they degenerate into irregularities, and exorbitancies, being such as he makes merely for his own peculiar benefit, to those from whom in Justice he ought not to exact any.  
That it is not thus with me (Honoured States) in my harmless, innocent and humble requests, though otherwise according to your high exalted dignity and renowned merits variously asserted, let the Series and purport of this discourse bear witness; which, if necessity be not to pass unconsidered, and charity be not quite shut out of doors, cannot, at the threshold, be over-looked. Charity therefore begs, desire seeks, commiseration melts necessity requires the whole people of the earth (chiefly heads of a larger siz●e than the vulgar) emulously to contribute to this undertaking (of which only a hint shall yet be offered) namely, to the reformation of the stupendious body of Universal Learning Languages Arts and Sciences especially this of Physic, as to the most important thing in the world, wherein they have all an equal interest. And I hope it may happily alight into the hands of some, who have both power and will to make this desire and expedient effectual. Let not England forget her precedence of teaching other Nations how to live; let her have the honour and happiness, as in all great assertions and undertake she has been, to be the leading Card, and her first turned up practice, to be Trumpets to all the world; for it seems as her alone Charter before any other, that out of her should be proclaimed, and sounded forth the first tidings and Trumpet of Reformation to all Europe.  
What was't ye intended, Worthies in Parliament, by Reformation? Was it the Reformation of some Roman Prelatical abuses, and violences to Religion, and the Consciences of men? Was it the Reformation of Pluralities of Benefices, (when Fellowships need as much) the unfrocking of a Priest and the paring of a Presbyters mills? Or was it more General Reformation? That that shall deserve the name, and look like Reformation; as of things Moral, Oeconomical, and Political; and as of things for the health of the soul, so this of the body, except your heads be amused by same unexperienced Dictator, frozen Sadduces, or some others 〈◊〉 worse name, who are lethargically content to snore and please ●selves with the reverend nothings, follies, and dreams of 〈◊〉 Forefathers, thou all is well enough: such being fit to be rank●● among these who say, that this of Physic and health of the body, is the proper tendence and Metropolitan work of School-Doctors and the College. It's true, though it may be answered, That the Reformation in Divine things, in Religion, in Worship, was the Cardinal work of School-Divines and Ministers; (yet we are not of opinion that the tenth part of Learning stood or fell with the Clergy) yet we see Yourselves, honoured Patriots, gave heat, warmth, motion, and life to the same, or else, in Humane Reason, it might have proved abortive: They were the Door to show the way, but ye the Hinges on which it turned: 'Tis not denied, but gladly confessed, we have cause to send our thanks and vows to heaven louder than most of Nations, for that great measure of Reformation and Truth which we enjoy: but he who thinks we are to pitch our te●ts here, and have attained the utmost prospect of Reformation, That man, by this very opinion, declares himself to be far short of the banks of it, and of what the desires and thoughts of good and ingenuous men look for. Let England then keep that honour which hitherto she hath had vouchsafed her from heaven, to be the Cathedral to other Nations, to be the Foreman to lend and give out Reformation to the world, both in Religion and Arts: it is great pity she should now flag in the Rear, and thereby have her metempseuchosed Genius transmigrate into another People, to carry away the Garland of Honour that for above a demi-Myr●ad of years she has sat crowned with, and now become the latest and backwardest Scholar, of whom God offered to have made her the Teacher. 'Tis as true, renowned Parliament, that through long Custom radicated in the nonage of People, revolutions of Ages do not oft recover the loss of a rejected Truth, for the want of which whole Nations fare the worse. That I therefore, among others, may pay the duty that is tributary to the Frame and right Constitution of that present Government, under which we now have the leisure (which God continue) to revolve what may make it famous, and will tend to the Weal of it, have not refused the pains to be so studious and diligent to show some Grievances and Abuses in that Science, a thorough Reformation of which, I have laid out my best wishes and poor endeavours not to lose, for the want of a seasonable and well-grounded speaking. And, to exercise the natural endowment of your wont gentle-brooking spirit, in acknowledging and harkening to the voice of Reason, from what quarter soever it be heard speaking, let me tell you, in that plainness, yet with that seriousness as becomes one speaking to so great and grave an Assembly of Censors and Senators sitting in Parliament, That the common allowed Plysick, which is at this present day prescribed and practised in this Nation, the Inventors of it, some of them, were such whom ye will be loath to own, and of whom one day, and perhaps not long, we shall be perfectly ashamed. As though our souls and heads were not our own; as though there were no Smith in England, but we must thus Foot it over to the Times of Trajan, and City of P●rgamus; to the Romances and Directories of such uncircumcised Philistims, is such Barbarism and Rudeness to the lofty Genius of this Nation, worse than Indian. That we should pin our faith and knowledge upon the Cabin of an Amen-corner, when the Rialto, or Palace Royal of Galenical Physic, where they have crowned him with the Title of Parent and Monarch thereof, stands unhung with any experiment of real good, and devested of all real, solid and substantial virtue of Medicine. Certainly the Father of lights hath given a divine and singular testimony of this gift of healing, that it is worth the laying to heart: That he which hath created all things, yet singularly glories to be the Creator of the Physician; and he to whom all glory and honour is due, hath yet commanded to be honoured only our parents, and the Physician by him created. When I consider the slow progress has been made in Physics, and how it hath stood at a stay for these many Decades of years; and been obscured and eclipsed, and see how other Arts daily have sensible increases, and receive new additions, new light, and further perfections, (as to the proportion of things as they now are) and the healths and lives of you our Governors considered also, and so much the more I press it, noble Senators, could do no less than urge me to call to you, honoured and memorable Parliament, as to a hand to help, as to an arm to uphold, hold out, and give command to an undertaking of that lasting memory, that shall speak loud, and be a stately Parliamentary Monument of your magnanimous example to succeeding Ages: and the annuary Registers of aftertimes, shall insert it in their Ephemeris, and in their Catalogue of notable things; and though not the Dominical, yet is such Capital letters, that they shall compute, and reckon, From suc● a time, so long. I know you know, that notwithstanding the man overtures that have been made, and stout lists have been given towards this main design, yet there are many things left to your hands to do; and I wish it were in my power to show, and your patience to hear them, or view them in their large particularities, which must be set down in a general draught only. And a high enterprise (worthy Sirs) a high enterprise it is, and a hard, and such as every seventh son of a seventh son does not venture on; yet in the boldness of Truth, I shall proceed fearless. Wherein is our Universities reform, or what amendment of her Fundamental Constitutions? How ill disposed are those few Colleges in this Land, that should be collateral or subservient to this design? Or wherein do they contribute to the promotion or discovery of Truth? Where have we Professors and Lectures of the three principal Faculties, and how cold and lazily are they read, and carelessly followed? Where a serious disquisition of all the old Tenants? Where have we any thing to do with Mechanic Chymistrie the handmaid of Nature, that hath outstripped the other Sects of Philosophy, by her multiplied real experiences? Where is there an examination and consecution of Experiments? encouragements to a new world of Knowledge, promoting, completing, and actuating some new Inventions? Where have we constant reading upon either quick or dead Anatomies, or an ocular demonstration of Herbs? Where a Review of the old Experiments and Traditions, and casting out the rubbish that has pestered the Temple of Knowledge? How are Mechanics countenanced and encouraged, in the concrete, but not in the abstract, when the illiterate, rude, and the dregs of men, and but a farraginous Syndrome of Knaves and Fools huddled together, their habilities not being tempered, nor consistent to enlarge the Territories of Truth and Learning, whose unqualified Intellectuals unable to rectify the errors of their Reason, cannot reach unto half the advantage of their Knowledge, and are only fit to maintain Error and their present Practice, of which many of them can give no reason, and commonly but the apish Prentices of some old dotard Citizen, who have as much wit as their Masters, and that, like knotty and crabbed blocks has been writhed into them, being tawed open by wedge after wedge, and know only what has been hammered into them by ill Methods and thumping Tutors, are the only white boys, while the rare Founders and Inventors, whose labours have been salt unto them, who have spent much sweat and oil, or persons as well in every degree qualified and seasoned with sprightly industrious endowments, who carry Mines and Forges in their heads, and have a greater vivacity of more sublime and refined spirits, and understandings above theirs that taught them what they know, are dejected, as being disengaged from ingenious inquiries, and proofs of their towardly and manlike abilities and endowments, by a cold requital of their several redemptions of Truth, and dismission of their Intellectual and Rational or Mechanic Manufactures, with censure and obloquy of Singularities; or a cold encouragement to perfect their begun Idaea's into actual existence and real entities and substantialities. That this is not then (Honourable Heroes) the disburdening of a particular fancy, or the humorous complaint of one so addicted to the made of Melancholy, as to render him distracted, testy, or troublesome, but the common grievance (and I do but now make their suspirations articulate) of all those who have prepared their minds and studies, and took their flight above the low pitch of Vulgarity, to advance Truth in others, and from others to entertain it, thus much may evince and satisfy. And in their name I shall for neither friend nor foe conceal what the general murmur is, That Truth, and the once-lovely body of Learning, is become a deformed and ill-favoured Medusa, with her tresses full of Adder's, and her limbs, like that of Osiris' King of Argives mangled body, lies torn and scattered in as many pieces; and that they are as hard to find and reunite as his was. That there is no public encouragement given to the sad friends of Learning, such as dare appear in a day of need, those gallant industries, imitating the careful search that Isis made for her Osiris violated form, that go up and down and endeavour to gather them up limb by limb as they can find them, and as much as may be, re-compose them. This were the near utter disheartening and discontentment, not of the mercenary crew of false pretenders to Learning, but of the free and ingenuous sort of such as evidently were constellated to Study, and love Virtue and Learning for itself, not for lucre, or any other end, but the service of Truth and their Country, if they were not really prejudged and possessed, and easily assured of your gallant intentions and enterprises, with your active endeavours in seeking to wipe off the imputation of intending to discourage the progress and advance of Learning, and to confute all the scandals of your deadly adversaries, who have been stout Subjects to the Anarchy of Detraction, and have took all liberty to speak you worse than Goths and Vandals, and the utter destroyers of all civility and Literature, by the serious composing yourselves to the design of cherishing of either. And when we make reflection back of what great things you have done for us, equal to what hath been done in any Nation, either stoutly or fortunately, and what steps you have made forward in this great design, we are led to believe a gallant progress you will make, and bring us back from that great distance we have run in a line from the first point of error, to almost its largest latitude and dissomination from the Aequator of Truth, into the true Causeway, and unto our journey's end. Now, how this may be effected, I have neither vanity nor impudence enough to direct you. But he whose heart can bear him to the high pitch of your noble enterprises, it cannot but tell him that the power which he addresses himself unto, cannot not only do it in a better manner than he can think of, but in a fuller; and may easily assure himself that the prudence and laudable far-judging industrious diligence of so grave a Magistracy sitting in Parliament, who have before their eyes the ruins of Learning, and cannot be insensible of the cruelties and unsuccesfulness of the Medical profession, on● main limb of Universal Learning, cannot reject the cleanness of these reasons, and these allegations both here and within offered them, nor can overlook the necessity that there is of reforming this piece of Knowledge, and studying more probable means, and finding out more whole, some, expert, and rational ways of Healing. Conceive it, I pray, worth your patience and notice to consider, that those Arts we speak of, are Theotechnal, the Arts of God, or the handiworks of that Protoplast, in his Counter-type, or Second, Nature: not those petty Rattles or ●up●etri●●, nor th●se laborious industrious Trifles proceeding from the Ar●s publicly professed, and to the disadvantage of Truth allowed, whose effects are false, and fit for nothing but corrupt and violent ends, or to be Quacked forth in Bartholmew-Fayr, among the numerou●●●y of those serious Babbles, the spawn of the Head or Hand, which are no Subjects to the prudent Sceptre of Nature, nor of her Fundamentals, or the Retinue to her Commonwealth, but only the wild, violent, irregular productions of the Anarchy of Fancy. Give me leave to tell you, and I will henceforth labour to obtain to have it believed, That the Art which in the simplicity of Nature God has revealed, is true and natural, truly Physical, Nature's Autergie, not a whit below herself, though they seem never so mean, by the which we may attain to all the secrets and mysteries in Nature. And this is the Art, the centre of the Physics of the ancient Philosophers; because Natural Philosophy is the Basis or main Fundamental of Medicine: for where Philosophy ends, there Medicine is to be enterprised, whence it's clear, that such as is the insight of a Physician into natural things, (namely, whether it be superficial, or profound) such also will his perfection be in Medicine. For He who is ignorant of the mystical Arcana's of Physics, of necessity it will follow, that the more occult secrets of Medicine shall be hid from his eyes. This is not in the spurious productions, and Colossian Library of Galen, that God should turn it over to him and the Apothecaries. Insecta ex putredine Galeni. It's a base unworthy, and terrible thing truly, to prefer Aristotle to Emepht, and condemn the Truth of God, to justify the Opinions and Traditions of Man. This is an Humour that runs not in their Euphrates, and they are wholly unacquainted with any of its Tackling. Their Writings are so superficial, and so remote and alien from the Centre, and true Marrow of this Science, that the mysteries and secrets of Physics being omitted, or by ignorance neglected, we catch at only painted Butterflies, and speculate not the Magnesia or substantiality of Physics, but rather its umbrage; not the Body, but the Bark, and superficial outside. 'Tis not rare, but very frequent with them, (and surely they are taught from their own experimental unsuccessfulness) to admire, and mouth out the supposed perfection of their Art; and yet they have nothing in their mouths but Ars longa, Vita brevis; and true enough: for they cure either late, or never, which makes their Art long: but they kill quickly, which makes life short; and so ploughing with their heifer, the Riddle is expounded. A Sect there are of people in this Nation, who make a great famous buzz of the Spirit, but it is but like some Dor; who say, they see God in all and every thing. I wish it were true; but let me deal plainly, An evil spirit is gone out, to seduce them to lie unto themselves, and to the Truth of God. For those things they see, hear, taste, and handle, they know not what they are, neither without nor within themselves. He is too inward in the private Cells and Recesses of his Creatures for their shallow and unhallowed eyes to penetrate; and none of them all can see him without fire, not the Chemist's Kitchin-fire, but the true Philosophical fire, 
Or that which freely encompasseth all,  
And makes but one bare Individual.   
There's none sees him, but he who as if he were looking steadfastly on him when he was about his hebdomadal work of the Hexameron Fabric, can face him in his several operations and productions. And if yonder Sun ride sure, so shall he know all things that Art and Nature can tutor him in. The God of all grace and good gifts grant then, that we may seriously compose ourselves to apply to the declarations of Himself in his works of the Creation, and lead me by the hand to receive Truth from himself, and give it out to others. What I have to offer then, must be but short, (and like a Mercury, only point) yet to the purpose, because I have but something to say.  
Be pleased therefore not only to make some steps forward, wherein ye do well, but a sound progress in setting upon the effectual advancement, not the bare permissive propagation of Learning, and to that end to promote an Academy of Philosophic freedom, to call together the wise counsels of prudent and well-instructed men, of what Liberal Profession soever, of eminent spirit and breeding, joined with a diffusive and various knowledge of Divine and Humane things, able to balance, and deputed to define Good and Evil, Right and Wrong, that they may make it their design, and join their counsels, and lay out their endeavours to work off the inveterate blots and obscurities wrought upon our minds, and brought upon the Literary Republic of Universal Learning, Languages, Arts and Sciences, by the subtle insinuating of Error and Custom.  
Secondly, That you would call forth some, and enable them with Authority to see the Universities reform and laboriously rummiged in her stupendious bulk of Learning, that so the great Ocean of Universal Knowledge flowing from those two Promontories, may run pure and fair in this Nation; and that they may be reduced to their primitive Constitution, and serve to a nobler end than to water and nurture the young Nursery of green sprigs only, but the Oaks also, and well-accomplished Subjects of the Commonwealth of Literature: That so our Youth may not be trained up, or instructed, nor receive in their Pupillage the seeds of Error, and the destruction of men. For so long as they are tutored in those untrue Notions, and corrupt Elements, Doctrines, Opinions, and Principles of Naturalities, and that of Pagans and Infidels too, till the body of Physic be changed and reform, there's little hopes that a better Sanation of Diseases, or a Melioration of the languid condition of men and women will follow, than what has been hitherto▪ and what that has been, let the clamours of the Sick, and standers by, the cries of Widows and Orphans, and the ocular unsuccessfulness of Physicians in their own practice, decide, whether the things that I now move for, chiefly as to this, and the promises within considered, do not groan for a Reformation; therefore deserve not to be overlooked, if the most urgent and excessive grievances, happening in the Medicinal Profession, be worth the laying to heart, which, unless Charity be far from us, cannot be neglected.  
Thirdly, That you would reform, as was hinted before, the abuses of all Professions.  
Fourthly, That the Temple of Aesculapius might like that of Janus, with his two controversal faces, be set open. And that it may be allowed and granted for the glory of this Nation, and the good of the people thereof, that the whole Systeme of Practical, as well as Theorical Physic, may be calculated by the Astrolabe of clear Reason and Experience, to see if the Light and Knowledge thereof cannot square to a greater measure and perfection, beyond the Lines of Galens degrees and complexions, or the Peripatetics Elements, or the constituted discipline of Coe: or whether the Cruse of the knowledge and power of Healing, can run no other Oil then what is sublimed and drawn off by an Alembick of a Colledge-Dispensatory.  
Fifthly, I would obtain to have it appear, that the daily insight of Physicians into the unsuccessfulness of their own practice from that vessel of Physic, which was not long ago broached, and exhibited from their new and late polished Pharmacopoeia, do not deserve to be thought worth our patience to expect, and study and labour to attain to a richer liquor of knowledge, of more refined spirits then what the Sympos●cks, or Galenical brewage, and dry banquets of the College (whose-fashion it is, like the belly-Priests, not to take notice of any that's beneath them in clothes) have sewred in, and ushered to us in the Cratera of their Dispensatory; and that a life wholly addicted to studies and practice in the mechanic operations of Pyrotechnal Science, aught to open the windows of its Intellect Eastward, if he expect a greater light in Physic then what Galen has beaconed up to us, and comes Occidental in at the Colleges Casements.  
Sixthly, That the most excellent and natural Art of Chemistry, scarce yet beyond seeming uncouth, and unheard of, as being the Terra incognita in the old world of Physic, may be called from her Ostracism, and may with eye open and allowed be called to the bar, to the touch, and her readings revived, and operations gratified with your countenance; for they whom this thing concerns, will not receive these things from a private instruction, whereby it easily appears that it is not reason now adays that satisfies and suborns the common credence of men. Perhaps in time to come, others that respect a public good, and have not their understandings devoured and made insensible by the itch of gain, will know how to esteem what is not every day put into their hands, when they have marked events, and better weighed how hurtful and unwise it is to hide a pernicious rupture under the ill counsel of a bashful silence. If no body will after me thus second their own occasions, they may sit hereafter and bemoan themselves, to have neglected through faintness the only remedy of their heavy sufferings. What have I left to say, but your own goodness to essay, and to attend when you shall be invited from those poor reflections to take the advice of more noble thoughts and vast considerations? It remains, that I express▪ myself to wait for the accomplishing of these things wrought into me by your own designations and consequencies from your laudable endeavours, by making good wishes, and breathing after these huge attempts, the pursuance whereof shall embalm your memories to all posterity. And now I draw towards an end, I feel myself (as those who at the beginning of no mean endeavour are heightened and depressed) variously affected, and might have rested nameless, but that an undertaking of that nature, not inferior to the highest pitch of a truebred manliness, and the very attempt of this address thus made, and the thought of whom it hath recourse to, hath got the power within me to a passion, (though otherwise retired) far more welcome than incidental to a Preface, which hath excited me to pray, That the fate of Learning may tarry for no other Reformers, and hath nurtured me to that growth of gratitude and due respects in acknowledging by whose indefatigable virtues, extraordinary prudence, and laudable actions and resolutions, I have the freeness, quiet leisure and good will to subscribe myself  
The Honourer and strict studious Observer of their noble Worth and Goodness, Noah Biggs.   

COgnitio Naturae & essentiae, non sumitur ab effectibus impropri●s adjacentibus, & accident●libus; sed à cognitione Principiorum, & Seminibus rerum, quae hactenus Schola Peripatetica ignoravit.  
Nam ut ut naturale ingenium & acumen judicii Philosophus habeat, nunquam tamen ad rerum naturalium radicem, aut radicalem scientiam admittitur nisi igne.  
Per nostram Mechanicam scientiam intellectus est rectificatus, vi experientiae, respectu oculi, & verae notitiae mentalis. Imò experientiae nostrae stant supra probationes phantasticas conclusionum, ideóque nec eas tolerant: sed omnes alias scientias ostendunt vivaciter intrare in intellectum; unde deinceps intelligimus per naturam, intus illud, quod est, & quale est. Quin per talem scientiam, Intellectus stat denudatus superfluitatibus & erroribus, qui ipsum ordinariò removent à veritate, propter praesumptiones, & praejudicata, credita in conclusionibus. Hinc enim nostri se direxerunt ad intrandum per quamlibet scientiam in omnem experientiam, per Artem, juxta Naturae cursum, in suis univocis principiis. Raymundus Testamenti, c. 26.  
Per hoc genus demonstrandi, fugiet à te omnis obscuritas, & acquiretur tibi omnis fortitudo fortis vincens omnia subtilia, & solida penetrans. Tabula Smaragdina.   


To his honoured Friend, The Learned AUTHOR.  
THy youthsyouths adorned much like an ancient Sage,  
And Plato's spirit flows through every page.  
I much admire thy virtue, Heroic soul,  
That dares so many Anakims control;  
Whose hoary-headed Custom well might stay  
Thy well-tuned Spheres, until a springing ray  
Of Truth approach, exposing forced Disguise  
To the perspicuous view of vulgar eyes:  
Then mightst thou calmly pass, and in thy zeal,  
Free from all lets, thy active fires reveal.  
But since thouart fearless, go forth, noble Heart,  
Virtue's Emblem, Elia Lelia's Art.  
W. R. Mystica-Physophilos.   

To his honoured and well-accomplished friend, on his Mataeotechniatria, vulgaris.  
HOw like the morn the Harbinger of Day,  
Thy Lines i' th' blushing East their rays display!  
And ancient Hyle in form, appeareth light,  
The great Preserver of all earthly Might:  
Whereby we know that in the Centre sleeps  
A quick'ning Spirit, which, allseeing, keeps  
Bodies sweet consort: yet the darksome mind  
Of most's to Outward Remedies inclined:  
Compositions crude, and undigested,  
As Nature's sole Guardians, are invested.  
But seeing they do break the sacred Bound  
God set to Creatures, and their folly sound  
Th'rowout the Earth, I'll sum their fate, and call  
This Book, as it shall prove, Impostures Fall.  
Abusers must be whipped when once they awe  
Natures own Edicts by a Colledge-Law.  
That Simple honesty they scorn, has Fame,  
And dares meet any that hath breath or name  
In Reason's Lists: and for fond Ignorance,  
Time turns the Wheel, till Wisdom up advance.  
Scandal in Print, by them on others cast,  
Shall come to nought; 'tis Truth can only last.  
Whose child this is, will own it: let them say,  
'Tis neither Truth's nor Errors, Night nor Day,  
Lest by Conclusions they too soon declare  
Who's ignorant, and who the knowing are.  
Humours are natural in them; their skill  
In Physics runs in Elements. My Quill  
Is to seek the Seminalty of things  
That's covered in these Lines; the pleasant Springs  
That lead unto the Fountain's bubbling head,  
Whose bleeding tears drop after drop hath fed  
The flames of her Jove's fires, till one in one  
Sprouts forth, mantled by all, though seen by none.  
A mystic Birth. Dame Nature in a cloud.  
A midnight-sun; but not without a shroud.  
How unlike are the Potions most do hug,  
Which flow from corrupt Roots, and mortal Drug  
That invade Sols own Throne, with dismal fear!  
Which if reduced to th' ONE, would truly cheer  
The wearied parts with rest, and quickly lend  
Such unseen fires, Corruptions veil should rend.  
Nature's sweet Parent, that in thy first Dress  
Send'st forth such Sweets, as all that know, possess.  
What's for the vulgar eyes unfit, here Thou  
In shades to wise men, secrets dost allow  
To be expressed: most happy is that heart  
Seeks without vanity to bear a part  
In thine own Choir: for Mysterie's music's sweet;  
(So silent groans with Heavens Echoes meet.)  
Where Virgin-earth modestly doth cover  
Male and Female, Loving and a Lover.  
These shadowed glories do here represent  
The image of thy Mind, so much intent,  
That from one Principle, already past,  
Does to the acmie Light with speed make haste,  
And from the Mother, to the Father high:  
For Lamps burn dim, to him who Sol does spy.  
Damn not these Glories then, ye ostents of Pride,  
Who leidger lie at Censures; nor deride:  
Whose Brains wear midnight, ne'er shall see those showers  
Of sweet Perfumes that spring from Nature's Bowers;  
Where Cab'nets unlocked stand, that would benight  
Critic spectators with redundant light,  
And lead men through the clouds, unto a Sun  
Shall never set till Nature's course be run.  
Which Burnings no man sees, that can depart  
Till in those flames he sacrifice his heart.  
Who seeth this, will soon, with me, allow  
This Work, and to the Author's Spirit bow.  
James Villwiers, Jes. Coll. Cantab.   

To his ingenious Friend, N. B. On his MATAIOTEXNIA.  
'TWas boldly ventured 'gainst the Idol (Art)  
Thus, since you meant to strike, to pierce to th' heart:  
Nor less discreetly in you to despise  
Old reverend Errors for Truth's Novelties.  
You've undeceived the world; reduced in one  
What once lay scattered in confusion;  
Taught single preparations to supply  
mixed monster-Forms of multiplicity:  
Not in so large nor nauseous Dose to state  
A succedaneum to Mithridate;  
But more successful (in whose Extract lies  
No lurking drugs of discord qualities.)  
Yours in Life's lowest Ebb might raise a flood,  
And resublime the spirits of the blood:  
Or (Phoenixlike) Man's ashes seem to turn  
Into New Man, calcined in his own Urn.  
Our baffled Maxims now at last may tell  
Us, we mistook them for infallible;  
As if whole Nature had in pupillage been  
Unto one Galen or an Avicen.  
The Act for such observance we repeal,  
As void, void never signed with Hermes Seal.  
But what needs all this Train? which doth but run  
Like Lucifer before the rising Sun;  
And with our dimmer Tapers strive in vain  
To show thy Lustre i'th' Meridian,  
Who shinest best by thy own light, whilst we  
Shadow thy praise with our obscurity.  
'Tis only our Ambitions hither clime  
T'inrol our names, and bind them up with thine.  
The honour's great enough for us, if we  
Are only read by such as admire Thee.  
Our memories might else been drowned i'th' dark,  
Had they not swum for refuge to thy Ark.  
R. B. jatrophilos.    

The SUMMARY.  
1. THe difficulty of discourse without the knowledge of the Mind, without which, it's but a discursion only.  
2. The Author pressed with abundance of matter, and the thoughts of being tedious in this work.  
3. Some reasons of his Appeal to the Magistr●e.  
4. A natural disposition, and unnatural distemper in us to swallow implicitly those things which are as poison to us, and with a nauseous reluctance to kick at good food.  
5 The common fate already adjudged of the Author's intentions, and this his undertaking, by ignorant and unadvised pretenders.  
6 His being tempted to be silent, and leave these things to time.  
7 The Author's protestation.  
8 Every point in Physic, cannot in this work be touched; and more, is a work too low for the Author.  
9 The Science of Physic at this Day, found to be a mere imposture.  
10 Its authority is more from our deluded credulity, than its own real verity.  
11 The two grand Sectaries in Physic, and their clashing described.  
12 They have made it a hard uneven path, and dangerous way.  
13 Some had rather be not good, than not great Physicians.  
14 Those twins, grave obstinacy, and formal ignorance, are the cause of the slow progress in Physic to this very day, and of all the misery attends and follows it.  
15 The profession of the Author, why he fell ●ight down on the practic part of Physic.  
16 The Studies, Books, Counsels and practices of Physicians sound of nothing but trifles.  
17 A brief Summary of the grand helps, and universal remedies of Physicians at this day.  
18 The Author's shame, that we should both in Philosophy and Physic be the Apes and Zanies of ignorant fellows in Nature.  
19 The Archetype not being good, in the understanding, our imitation of it, must be as bad.  
20 Nature loathes the impurities and crudities of our common medicines at this day in the shops.  
21 The diseases of the medicines are first to be cured.  
22 Custom and her adherents, another reason of the little profit in Physic, especially the pharmacentick part.  
23 The respect had to Antiquity, another error extremely prejudicial to the advancement of Sciences.  
24 The necessity of acquiring new knowledge in, and perfecting the Art of Physic, is demonstrable from the defect thereof.  
25 Physic a Science which should teach a man so perfectly to understand Nature, that it might be ease for him to exempt himself from all kinds of diseases.  
26 It ought to be the subject of our lamentation, that other Arts and Professions every day receive new light and further perfection, and this of Physic little or none at all.  
27 The tedious Lectures of Anatomy for these two thousand years, with the curious inspections, have not bettered the Physicians of this day, one jot in the sanation of diseases.  
28 The Author desires this may not be published, to the dishonour of this Nation, for the faults of some few.  
29 The time is a coming, when it shall be a byword and shame to be a good Physician.  
30 Reading no way conducible to knowing.  
31 Galen not at all known in Pyrotechnal Philosophy, nor never saw Rose-water.  
32 The falsity of that saying, The D●sease known, it's half way to the Cure.  
33 The vanity of the Physicians applying themselves to the Galenical temperaments of heat and cold, in the vulgar Physic of the shops.  
34 All the medicines of the shops in Antipodaean position to our bodies, and the diseases of our Country.  
35 The Schools ignorant of the Quiddities and Dihoties of things.  
36 The Schools have introduced, and Physicians know only a palliative Cure of Diseases.  
37 The bald shifts of the schools in rendering diseases as incurable, and turning them over to the simple rules of diet.  
38 Physicians begin to be sensible of their own delusions, their unsuccessfulness, and infelicity of curing.  
39 The Galenical Physicians fear to be outgone by the Chemists.  
40 Speculation has darkened the glory of practice, and is the pattern of idleness.  
41 The effects of Physic, more like a Shambles, than a Sanctuary.  
42 Among all Arts, none more inhuman than Physic.  
43 The Author's study.  
44 Too much of opinion in the intellectual Art of Chemistry, as 'tis handled.  
45 The Author not troubled at either the difficulty or censure of this work.  
46 The Conclusive proposition.  
47 This work, though strange and paradoxical, yet honourable.  
48 He that shall attain to restore Physic, (such as is declared in figure 25) to it's pristine glory, shall deserve to be thought the highest and chiefest Benefactor of humane life.  
49 Two Hydra's of several oppositions, discovered.  
50 The Authors requests of his Judges.  
51 That he might not be mistaken, but that the reformation in Physic may be orderly and legal.  
53 A distinction between the gray-haired Physic of the Ancients, and the old scurf of Galen.  
54 The dotage of them who dwell upon Antiquity.  
55 Who are the only Cathedral Doctors and Physicians of the times.  
56 What kind of honour is due to the Physician.  
57 A fourfold ignorance of Physicians.  
58 The Authors excuse for his roundness and plain dealing.  
59 A Metamorphosis in the whole System of diseases.  
60 A censure of a rash kind of men, who ●oldly rush into Physic, of whom the Magistrate ought to take care, or a description of several Physicians or Sects.  
61 Galen, an Empiric, and his Master Quintius.  
62 Every disease Curable.  
63 All things cry out for revenge against the Galenical contemners of Pyrotechny.  
64 The preparation of true medicine is not proper, nor doth not belong to our Apothecaries or Pharmacopolists.  
65 The original of Dispensatories, and the medicining at this day.  
66 A touch of the describers of Simples.  
67 Indians and Barbarians excel the Europaeans in the matter of berbs.  
68 The custom of Galen in stealing privily from others inventions.  
69 The Sexes of Herbs brought upon the stage.  
70 Signature of Herbs ridiculously cast upon Chyromancy.  
71 Endowments of Simples from the Creation.  
72 A foolish invention to refer Herbs to the Zodiac, and their virtues to positions of Heaven.  
73 A discourse touching the causes of Sympathy and Dyspathy, that in them lies all the knowledge of occult properties. Examples of the same. Why a Drum made of a Sheep's pelt, will not sound if another Drum of a Wolf's hide be beaten a pretty distance.  
74 That is least looked into, which ought to be most considered.  
75 A shameful thing to measure the endowed gifts of Simples from the degree of heat.  
76 The stumbling of Herbalists.  
77 No remedy against the defects of Simples as yet found out, besides the contemptible decoctions of the shops.  
78 The true deputation of Simples hath remained hitherto raw and undiscovered.  
79 Cruor and Sanguis differ also in Plants.  
80 Quercetane deceived in Ice. The Father of lights the only giver of knowledge infused without the observance of effects. The means to the knowledge of the virtues of Simples vain.  
81 A specific sapor in some things, besides acid, sharp, bitter, salt, etc. that is appropriate to the Seed.  
82 What things are required in the knowledge of Simples.  
83 Pyrotechny opens and discovers the way.  
84 The diversity of Agents in Nature.  
85 The curious activity of Spagyric medicines.  
86 Balsam preserving juices of herbs from putrefaction, without the alteration of propriety.  
87 An opinion of extracts and magisteries.  
88 The strange and ridiculous confusion and plurality of Simples.  
89 The shameful practice of Physicians in their S●cced●neums.  
90 Dispensatories are good for nothing but expedition: not, appropriation.  
91 Patients gulled, the Authority of the Magistrate not preventing.  
92 God composes something which man may not separate, nor add a third to them.  
93 When is Conjunction or Composition to be admitted.  
94 The Author's opinion of the value of Dispensatories. That they have more hurt than good in them.  
95 The virtues and strength of many things are dulled by sweet things.  
96 An answer to the objections for sweet things.  
97 The vanity of Syrrups.  
98 Chemistry preferred before all other Professions.  
99 The use of Transmarine things.  
100 The importation of Transmarine Drugs inculcated against by an instance of the matter of that foul vice of drunkenness being taken away.  
101 The weakness and defaults of decoctions.  
102 The defects in Electuaries, Pills, and Consections.  
103 Against the confusions of simples.  
104 An Examination of Purgers, and Solutives.  
105 The first confession of the Schools of their Purges.  
106 The fraud of Correctives.  
107 Another Confession.  
108 A third.  
109 The excuses of Physicians.  
110 A fourth confession.  
111 A deceit and cheat in the name.  
112 It's explained what it is to give a Laxative, while the humours are turgid, and how full of fraud it is.  
113 Nine notable things to the damage of the Schools.  
114 A fifth Confession.  
115 The vain and beastly subterfuge of the schools.  
116 An Argument of poison from their stink.  
117 An experimental proof.  
118 The same out of Galen.  
119 A probation from the effects.  
120 The Schools impugn their own Theorems.  
121 The Schools Hypotheses being firm, no man should ever die by Fevers, and, it would be false that Purges are not to be given at the beginning of Fevers.  
122 That this Aphorism includes deceit, and the inadvertency of Hypocrates.  
123 What a true Luxative is.  
124 Objections concerning Soluives, answered.  
125 A threefold Character of a true and good Purge.  
126 What kind of preparation of simples is to be despised.  
127 The boiling of odoriferous things to be condemned.  
128 The burning of Heart's Horn ridiculous.  
129 The fatal correction of many things.  
130 The faults of Simples, and absurd Miscellanies in the confection Lithontri●on, Aurea Alexandrina, and those two pillars, Mithridate and Treacle.  
131 The whole Earth hath poisons.  
132 Under poisons lurks most powerful Arcana's.  
133 An error in the Castration of Asarum. And another of his crudity.  
134 No true poison in ens primum.  
134 An examination of Vipers.  
135 Arsenicals by what means they are the remedy of ulcers.  
136 How poisons may be made wholesome remedies.  
137 The Chemic medicines of the shops. And an examination of gold and gems in healing.  
138 An Objection of the Solution of Pearls and Coral.  
139 How the things dissolving are separated from the dissolved in the Stomach.  
140 To precipitate, what it signifies in Chemistry.  
141 The objection repeated, a subterfuge to the softer tophes or stones of animals. What is the action of gems in us. What it is that operates in a softer stone, its powder remaining whole.  
143 Mechanic experiments.  
144 An examination of Bezoar stone.  
144 The Galenists beat with their own weapons.  
145 An unknown danger in the Schools by the use of Pearls dissolved.  
146 Mechanic demonstrations of some abuses of the same.  
147 An Axiom founded upon verity.  
148 The Pearls which are dissolved in the shops, are not Pearls.  
149 The restaurative virtue of an old Cock, an old woman's dream.  
150 Clysters why an enemy to the Intestines.  
151 Clysters never reach to the Ileon.  
152 Poisons are hurtful under what title or way of reception soever they be ingested.  
153 Fevers are never drawn forth by Clysters.  
154 Nourishing Clysters a sottish opinion. The use of Oils.  
155 What goes away in clarified Sugar. The manner of applying externals.  
156 The gathering of Simples.  
157 An examination of Simple distilled waters of the Apothecaries. Great light come unto Physic by true distillation.  
151 A description of our distillation.  
159 The great ignorance and error of the College that is committed in the making of extract. Rudii.  
160 A shameful, yet a common saying in Physicians.  
161 An objection of the clouted-shooe Distillers, for cold herbs to be distilled in a cold Still.  
162 The Authors answer.  
163 There is in all things lumen vitate, and in Cychory, Plantain, etc. as well as any hot herb.  
164 All vegetation is from the spirits.  
165 An Analysis of Cychory. A great error in Physicians concerning opium and anodynes.  
165 An excellent Medicine made 〈◊〉 Cychorie in the Jaundice.  
166 Vegetables draw Mineral and metallic spirits unto them.  
167 An examination of Vinegar in its generation or production.  
168 What Tartar is.  
169 Distilled Vinegar very bad.  
170 The foolishness of Physicians in their Preparatories.  
171 That rule of the schools concerning the activity of Simples, is concisely argued.  
172 A paradox is proved against the schools.  
173 The explication of virtues, by what means it is made.  
174 Whence it comes to pass that the virtues of medicines are alienated from the schools.  
Fol. 136. Fig. 195. The grand help of Phlebotomy or blood-letting is examined.  
178 Blood-letting was at first learned from a Horse.  
179 An universal proposition for Phlebotomy according to Galen.  
180 A Syllogism against the same. A Logical probation.  
183 That a Plethora of good blood is impossible. Cannot be said to be in a neutral state of blood.  
184 Phlebotomy cannot be demonstrated from the Theses of the schools.  
185 What a cacochymy is properly in the veins.  
186 The endixes or coindications of the schools in the place of proper indication, and opposite to contra-indication, do but badly agree.  
187 A proposition against blood-letting in a Fever.  
189 The schools do infame their laxatives by their probations of Phlebotomy. The end of Coindications.  
190 An advertisement of the Author,  
191 The Turks and a great part of the world know not Phlebotomy, and yet are cured.  
192 How blood-letting doth refrigerate.  
193 A lamentable story of the hurt by blood-letting.  
195. The essential state of Fevers.  
195 An explanation of the precedent argument of refrigeration, and the subtersuge of the schools.  
197 That, not to go from one extreme to another, is badly urged in Physic from demonstration  
198 An Elenche, or sophistication in healing.  
199 The argument of the Thesis of the Schools is opposed.  
201 Nature the sole Aesculapius of diseases, and the strength, the Lord paramount of indications.  
202 Hypocrates is urged concerning Athletic bodies, but perversely understood.  
203 The differences of depletions.  
204 The Fever hurts less than blood-letting.  
205 An obligation of Physicians.  
206 The general intention in Fevers, and to it, blood-letting is opposite.  
207 Mathematical demonstrations to prove that Phlebotomy greatly hurts.  
208 The inconstancy and instability of Physicians argues the defect of principles.  
209 Phlebotomy cannot take away, nor diminish the cause of Fevers.  
210 An argument from a sufficient ennumeration.  
211 Another from the quality of blood.  
212 Whither are the Schools hurried.  
213 The vain hope in the mutations of the blood being let out.  
214 That fictum impossibile of the Schools, the putrefaction and corruption of the blood in the veins, strictly arraigned.  
215 The proposition, That the blood never putrefies in the veins.  
216 Putrefaction what it is, according to the Peripatetics.  
218 The native property of the veins.  
219 Either Nature, or the Doctrine of the Schools is ruined.  
220 A Paradigme of the diversicoloration of the blood.  
221 The ridiculous Table of blood emitted.  
222 An argument from the Plague against the custom of the Schools.  
223 Another from the Pleurisy.  
224 The turbulence and effervescency of the blood do not declare its vitiosity.  
225 The blue deceptions of the Schools.  
226 An example that the blood putrefies not.  
227 Corruption whence.  
228 The haemorrhoidal blood not putrid.  
229 A wonderful remedy against the Hemorrods.  
230 The so much magnified successes of Phlebotomy examined. The vain Co-indication of Phlebotomy as well in a Fever a Menstrua's.  
230 Derivation sometimes is useful in To pick diseases, but in the Topick of Fever's impertinent.  
231 Blood-letting hurtful in the Pleurisy.  
232 Revulsion a rule in Fevers.  
233 Revulsion considered.  
234 What the Physicians may learn from this Head.  
235 An examination of Fo●tanels or Issues.  
236 Cauteries or Issues nothing but permanent wounds.  
238 The name of a Fontanel a cheat.  
239 What God saw was good to be whole, is commended by the Schools to be divided.  
240 The childish and ridiculous promises of a Fontanel.  
241 The denegation of the improbability of Catarrhs, denies the use of Fontanels.  
243 What is excreted or purged by a Fontanel. Nine conclusions against the institution of a Fontanel.  
244 The vain and foolish desires in a Fontanel:  
245 To whom Fontanels are hurtful.  
246 The indistinction of the Schools  
247 The scope or end of Fontanels vanishes.  
248 The world is basely cheated by Fontanels.  
249 A Fontanel has no sympathy or communion with the Brain.  
250 Absurd consequences about the doctrine of Fontanels.  
251 The only sanctuary and refuge of the Schools.  
252 An answer to that.  
253 Fontanels driven upon Rocks.  
254 What the Schools answer when they are driven to difficulties.  
255 The multiplication and election of a Cautery, by what boldness it hath risen and been usurped.  
256 Some facete jesting trifles of the Schools.  
257 The Gout makes a mere mockery of Physicians.  
258 Fontanels are foolish and ridiculous.  
259 Wholly frustraneous in their desperate cases.  
260 The Schools have not yet concluded in what cases Fontanels are helpful.  
261 The cases in which Fontanels may be helpful.  
262 The cruel and filthy remedy of Cauteries and Fontanels how they may be prevented.  
263 A Fontanel an unworthy thing to a Physician.  
264 The examination of Diet.  
265 They prescribe a Diet in diseases, who are ignorant of diseases.  
266 Diet suspected to be an imposture.  
267 Some errors about the rules of Diet.  
268 Sanation is not under Diet, nor an effect of the Kitchin.  
269 An opinion of the Author.  
270 The object of Diet.  
271 A proof from common event.  
272 Oblique and sinister ends.  
273 From an enumeration of the parts.  
274 Diet doth secretly accuse an ignorance of better means.  
275 The just complaint of the poor.  
276 The ridiculousness of Diet.  
277 Bread is not so much Cibus as obsontum.  
278 Why Bread is mingled with meats.  
279 The main point of Diet.  
280 A certain rule.  
281 Why the Rules or Commands of Diet are faithless and treacherous.  
282 Ten Theses or positions of the Author.  
283 How far the virtue of Parsimony and temperance extends itself.  
284 The necessity of Mastication.  
285 Whence is the variety of things digested.  
286 An examination of Ptisans.  
287 Some precautions.  
288 A question of the Ferment of of the Stomach.  
289 Digestions prescribe the Rules of Diet.  
290 There is in no Art or Science in the world such trifles and fopperies as in that of Physic.  
291 An examination of that universal intention of healing by Contraries.  
292 Which is not found but in irascible entities.  
293 Why any one nauseates Cheese, and how it comes to pass.  
294 Heat is not contrary to cold, nor fire to water.  
295 An examination of another universal intention of healing by simility, or things like.  
296 Of medicine made out of the Chemist's Ternary of Sal, Sulphur and Mercury.  
297 What was the ancient and primitive method of healing.  
298 When Chemic Medicines may justly take place.  
299 Two sorts of people are out of the way concerning Chemistry.  
300 Objections against Chemical medicines.  
301 Answers to them.  
302 The essential oil in aromatics, or the crasis of the same, how it may be made an Elixir, by a hundred times more powerful.  
303 Most of the common used Chemical medicines of the shops adulterated, and nothing worth.  
304 The old way and method of Poysick called Galenical, good for nothing but to fill the world with impudent Q●acks.  
305 The Conclusion and desires of the Author concerning the Reformation of the Universities in all its Sciences and body of learning, and of the chief subject of this Book, Physic.   

The PRINTER to the Reader.  
REader, you are to take Notice, that by reason of some Accident happening while the Book was under the Press, and the Author's absence, some faults have escaped; and particularly, the transposition of the Figures, which must be read as they are set down and directed in the Summary. Other faults mend as followeth.   

ERRATA.  
In the Epistle. page 4. line 5. read affected. p. 5. l. 18. r. lead.  
In the Book. Page 5. line 20. read precipice. p. 11. l. 14. r. For he. p. 37. l. 7. r. a species. p. 43. l. 2. r. denudate. p. 60. l. penult. r. morbific. p. 101. l. 11. r. saline. p. 103. l. ult. r. circumvolution. p. 119. l. 22. r. empyreumate. p. 156. l. 16. r. veins. p. 169. l. 1. r. themselves. p. 190. l. 28. r. of a Fontanel. p. 196. l. 29. r. sanation. p. 197. l. 15. r. of the.   

Mataeotechnia Medicinae. THE Vanity of the craft of Physic: OR A NEW DISPENSATORY, Discovering the errors and weakness of the Grand universal remedies of the Schools; as Blouding, Purging, Issues, Diet, etc. And the particular Medicines of the Shops.  
AS the defection of our Natures is such, we cannot look upon Nature with a full eyed penetrative aspect, but by the paralytic glances and touches of our dull & imperfect Optics except our eyes be anointed with the true eyesalve; such also is our shameless prostitution to that habituated Custom to the wild discursions only of our tongue and pen, that we cannot fix to any real discourses, but what the wanton and inconstant womb of putation hath generated, and what the Labirynth of weak fancy hath coined, or what hath been forged and circulated in the Poniterium or Laboratory of our running, rambling Invention, being wyer-drawn and obtruded upon us by the frighted remains of that caduce, specious and seductive chameleon, Reason; So that it is now a difficulty, not barely to think, not to talk and prate; the greater difficulty to discourse solidly, except our tongues be touched with a coal from the Altar of God; and our Cognition of objects in the verity of their essences be indubitate, flowing from the serene and omni-lucent fountain, the Intellect: yet as to this my Undertaking, I must in sober verity, and in all humility; without offence to any, seriously profess, That, that which is the only discommodity of speaking in a clear matter, the abundance of argument that presses to be uttered, and the suspense of Judgement what to choose, and how in the multitude of Reason to be not tedious, is the greatest difficulty which I expect here to meet with.  
Mine Appeal is fair, and not a whit derogatory from the honour or Credit of the Schools or College, except they will stand to vie with the high Tribunal of this Nation, chiefly when things of this Nature, bulk and size, are worthy of the high notice of that supreme Court and power, and is their due by that grand Charter of Philantie and selfe-concernment; more especially, when some of them have undergone the lash of miserable experience; and Physicians themselves must volent nolent subscribe to their own unsuccesfulnesse. And lastly the slow progress they have made for these many years together in the principles and practice of Physic, wherein as much refractoriness also is observed, as of former ages; and which is to be pitied, an Antipathy of their spirits for the most part to this present government: all which, with much more may be said, gives us small hopes of ever effecting our design with any good success, without the help of them, to whom, as to all humane affairs, our addresses and redresses are to be had.  
Those that are come to that unnatural D●scrasie, as to digest poison, and keck at wholesome food, it is not for any sober head to feed with them any longer; which, hath led me out among others, to reform and oppose the utmost that study and true labour can attain: which new overture I know will have the common fate, to be sinisterly received, and disrelished by those, whose gust cannot digest any thing, that hath the face or tendance to a general good; which will appear on all hands very undeservedly in this, in that it undertakes the Cure and remove of an inveterate disease, crept into the greatest part of the world, and the best part of humane society.  
For alas! what shall I get by this undertaking? It is better for me to be silent, and leave the discovery of these things with others of the like nature, unto the revolution of time the Midwife rather than the mother of truth, who is justified of her children; when she shall take these infant-issues out from the open field into her bosom, to keep them warm and raise up their spirit and life, when she hath washed them and salted them, declared them legitimate, and churched the father of the young Minerva from the needless causes of his purgation.  
Neither mine ear nor thoughts have, I may safely obtest the highest, been courted with the tickling affectations of praise, or deterred by dispaise or to be accounted unworthy, evil, not knowing or rash, for the good of the Creation of God, and so be my Neighbour feel not detriment by the common Physic: In the explosion of which, I do not intend to unbind or meddle with that farrago, that bulky and unwieldy part of blind learning, as to distect each artery, vein, and nerve of the whole Edifice of physic: For every principle is not fatal to be throughly sifted, neither have I vowed my life or pawned my studies to cleanse this Augaean stable by an Herculean interpreting and detecting others dreams and dotages, a work too low, and too hard for me; but yet perhaps such, as shall do more than whisper to the next Ages. It is calculated for the Meridian of fifty two degrees, Northern latitude, but may indifferently serve for the greatest part of the European World.  
The entire series or method of Physic is like the Polyus' head, wherein there are observed to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yea, more with pity, than rashness we speak it, we find it to be a mere imposture, & scarce an Oedipus in the world able to understand this knotted Sphynx, to which man's credulity, through a conceived hope; hath easily subscribed; and so, that religio medica, hath begotten it authority; because for the most part, we too easily believe, what we too greedily wish or desire for; but yet it may as readily be made appear, that our confidence in the Theorem's of physic at this day, stands more upon our concessions then its patrons confessions.  
It is not unworthy our thoughts to consider how hotly like a Lady, Physic is courted and cringed to, at this day. Her chief courtiers & contenders, are the old stercoratian & snail creeper the Galenist, & the upstart single fangled Paracelsian; these two, like Peter and John, seek to outrun one another, till they have outrun their Breath, their Books and the Constable, their Reason; if the good man o'er take them to see the peace kept, he bids them, with his staff his alone Charter and prerogative, stand; at which, like Paul and Barnabas, the contention's so hot, they evaporate in fumo, and one takes one way; and the other▪ another, so that they come no agreement, but this, that 'tis all the mode d' Physic, every one to follow his own Jnventions, & kill cum Privilegio.  
These two between them, would precipitate and drive away the rationality in physic, from out the open-common, and upper region of Ingenuity and light of Nature, into the low marish puddle enclosures of their own particular modes; and thereby have made it like a percipice, or razors edge, to walk on: In which game there are some of that temper, the pulse of whose art, skill and learning, beats after the old rugged mode of Galen, who had rather be not good than not great Physicians; so that through an imbecility of mind, not knowing how to make a departure from the gravity of their usual pace, do oftentimes meet with and undergo the lash of miserable experimentate miscarriage, by those twins, their grave obstinacy and formal ignorance.  
Hence is that flow progress in Physic! hence the lamentable and dreadful effects! that men are either fatted up for the slaughter, or live walking ghosts, a life of languishment and misery; who think it mercy to knock them on the head, and cry out for an exit from the tragedy and more th●n back-burden of cruelties, their bloody butcher, act, and load upon their carcases, the scene of all their blue experiments and trials: which hath cast me perpendicular on the pharmaceutical part of Physic: Quae enim in schola & Cathedra aliquando praeter rationem, plerunque ad acuenda ingenia Juventutis in theoria proponuntur, sunt toleranda: Quae verò ●n praxi in perniciem aegrorum praeser buntur potius execranda & damnanda, quam admutenda esse, existimo. For unto us, and any Judgement that is not of a cast with those subjected to the tyranny of Custom and Prescription, it seems very grievous, that the studies, books, Orations, Counsels, Conversations Chairs and practices of Physicians sound of nothing but trifles and anxtious disputes; So that the whole huge bulk of the art of healing, seems now adays to be moved upon the slender hinges of purgations, phlebotomy or blouding, scaring scarifications, boxing, cupping, bath, sweatings, fontanels, Cauteries; and in short, upon no other than the diminution of strength, and emaciations of the body, and abbreviations of the life, or exsiccation of Rheums, the only compliment in Physic now adays.  
To me seriously it is an amusement, not much on this side a wonder, that our European world, hath not had one sober consult with thought, to consider what postern-door for evasion or any escape there will be left, that for so many hundred years down to posterity they have been the apes and monkeys, the mimes and zanies of poor heathenish literalism, both in Philosophy and Physic, that they have sat like the dull praecisian poedagogues to the ferula and pedantic Tyranny of the Stagirite, and ethnic Dispensatories, the moths and Scarabe's of Physic: For if the Archetype be not good which is in the understanding, the imitation of it will hardly prove capable of success, or perpetuity; and if the constitution of remedies, in their bulk, in their entity, in their horizon, do square to an ill-affected, or ill-aspected position; what will not the diseases of them too, in their crudities, heterogenieties & impurities, add to the affliction and grief of our languishing brother? It's against the hair for Nature to seek help from an Enemy, from a second disease, excentricke, as bad, and sometime worse than the Inherent, the foul disease of the medicine; whereby she must needs fall into a greater peril, then if she were to try the combat only with the sickness: but she despiseth these dreams of Physicians, and doth loathe them and fly from them: Insomuch it appears, that the errors ignorance and implicit confidence in Physics is not the disease, or hectic of this age, but our very constitution: and not so much the constitution and temper of our remedies, and medicines, but the diseases of them, & sic è diametro, are to be complained of, and worth our serious tears: all which we can refer justly to no other Author than Custom and her Adherents, which hath been extremely disadvantageous to the whole round of Physic, and in nothing more, then in the Pharmapoietick part. It's an error tributary to the Customhouse of most men's opinion to think there can be nothing found in the Sciences, better than what hath been found out by the Ancients, and some conceive not so much as what the meaning of Physic is, or what they are good for. Now I know, I shall be sooner destitute of leisure, then of proof sufficient to evince, that the too great Reverence born to Antiquity, is an error extremely prejudicial to the advancement of Sciences, yea, so prejudicial, that till it be rejected, it is impossible any new learning can be acquired; which may be one reason to prove, that we are far from knowing all we are capable of. But there is nothing wherein our necessity of acquiring new knowledge, is more apparent then in physic: for although that no man doubts that God hath furnished this Earth with all things necessary for man to conserve him therein, in perfect health, until an extreme old age; and although there be nothing in the world so desired as these things, so that heretofore it hath been the studies of Kings and Sages; yet experience, and a few papers show, we are so far from having it wholly, that oftentimes a man is chained to his bed by small diseases, which the most learned Physicians understand not, and only make them rage more by their remedies, when they undertake to expel them; wherein the defect of their art, and the necessity of perfecting it, is so evident, that for those who understand not what the meaning of Physic is, it is enough to tell them, that it is the Science which should teach so perfectly to understand the nature of man, and all things, that may serve him for nutriments or remedies, that it might be ease for him, thereby to exempt himself from all kinds of diseases.  
It is to be lamented seriously, and the subject of our serious sorrow it is, but more of our wonder, when we consider, how ingeniously elaborate they are in other professions and mechanic arts, and how they daily receive advancement, and ascend by the degrees of new discoveries, nearer towards their perfection; but in this of Physic, how cold, and dull they are in their most serious disquisitions hitherto, though charity towards our neighbour be p●enally commended, that it is now in its Apogaeo, or retrogradation, except it meet in Cazimi, in conjunction with the body of the sun of truth: for all things have remained most obscure, and for the most part, most false, and those things which should chiefly conduce to the scope of healing, are not touched with so much as a finger.  
To what end tends the Anatomy of these two thousand years, with those tedious lectures, if the Sanation of diseases, be not more happier at this day, then of old? what means that tearing and Cadaverous dissection of bodies, with that curious inspection and inquisition into the capillary veins, if we may not learn by the Errors of the Ancients, and if we may not make an emendation of those things that are past?  
Let it not be told in Gath, nor publishd in Askelon that the Genius of the English Nation, now made a Commonwealth, should be so low, so base, and so beggarly, to dance after the pipe of mere whifflers, to be the Henchboys of Aristotle, and confine themselves to the principles of those, who are as a dark lantern in a thick night; as if we had no brick to make, without raking the straw, and stubble of Galen, Hippocrates, Mesine and other huddle of tongue Physicians; or as if the whole batch of medicines would be dowe, without the Leaven of these Tare-gatherers. Have we no Smith in England that we must thus foot it over to the land of such uncircumcised Philistims? It's reported of Caesar, that he on a day seeing wealthy strangers have little dogs and monkeys in their arms, and that they made marvellous much of them, he asked them if the women of their Country had no Children? wisely reproving them by his question, in that they bestowed their natural love and affection upon bruit beasts, which they should have bestowed upon rational Creatures. Antisthenes' answered one very wisely, that told him Ismenias was an excellent player on the flute, but he is a naughty man, said he, or else he could not be so cunning at the flute. I shall leave the application to whom it concerns. So Philip King of Macedon, said to his son Alexander, when at a feast he sung passing well, and like a Master in Music; and art thou not ashamed son, to sing so well? And thereto we hope, and are not overbold to suppose, that a time will undoubtedly come, when it shall be a byword, and ignominy to be a good Physician, that is, well read in Galen, and to be a proficient Galenist. Knowledge and learning without experience, is like the statue of Polyphemus, which wants an eye. The hand is the instrument of skill, and all contemplation. Such, (says an Author) as speak of matters of state and government, but especially of matters of war, say we, chiefly of matters of Physic, by the book, speak but as book-knights, as the French proverb termeth them, after the manner of the Grecians, who call him a book-Pilot, which hath not the sure and certain knowledge of the things that he speaks of; meaning thereby, that it is not for a man to trust to the understanding he hath gotten by reading in things that consist in the deed doing where the hand is to be set to the work: no more than the often hearing of men talk and reason of painting, or the disputing upon Colours, without taking the pencil in hand, can stand a man in any stead at all, to make him a good Painter. Let silence in the Galenists then, be accounted as a sacrament, seeing their Parent in Physic, was not at all known in pyrotechnal Philosophy: or The poor man had never in all his life the happiness to see so much as Rose-water. His ambition to be Principate in Physic, in such a poverty of knowledge, had been a little excusable, if once at least, he had had the knowledge and skill, to extract any real principle out of any thing, and so might have proceeded, and been cringed to, as Monarch of Physic; and not so easily exposed himself, to be a laughingstock to posterity and ingenious heads of his time, by his huge volumes and blue Comments on diseases.  
I wish I had not occasion to bewail, when in the concentrations of my mind, I am led to consider the falsity of that saying, not less vain and unsuccesful, then common; that when the Disease is known, it's half way to the cure; so that the other half, is left as the alone, and proper work of medicines, but how unable, lamentable experience will testify. This is that hath amused me, that the Schools in the Remedies of Diseases, both of simples and their mortarian labour of Compositions, have applied themselves to the threadbare and short-coated descriptions and discourses of Heat and Cold; both in the Crasis of things, with the Nature, Elements, temperament, humours, powers; that as out of the Monocracy and single-soled intemperature of the Liver, they have rendered us perhaps two hundred Diseases; so out of this Binary of Heat and Cold, they have builded their indispensable Dispensatory, and uttered to us a thousand medicines, in antipodaean position to the diseases of our Country. What more gross and palpable thick darkness, and ignorance? As if the whole make of the universe, with such an infinity and alterity of Natures, were to be patched up with the two fig-leaves, of Heat and Cold: As the preposterous ignorance of the Constitution of man in general, and of the quiddities, and Dihoties of things, as of that one the essence of the blood, with that Diananizing of those Terra del' fogoes or incognitas, the scene of humours, beyond the line and America of Nature, and solid truth, hath obtenebrated the whole table of Physic, by undue indistinction; so hath it been a means to usher in that incongruous form of unadaequat remedies, and thereby to become a laborious cherisher, to devolve and heap up one huge half of all the languishing miseries and Calamities on man since Adam.  
Behold, what can any of the whole system, or batch of medicines of the shops do to that copious company of incurables, that they have ranged and reckoned, as desperate: For of them they have given but a slight touch, and made a little and maiden-like bashful mention, and introduced only a palliative cure, and left the rest to the providence, protection and completing of Nature, and kitchen-physic: so that in the end it appears, how full of Calamity and desperation their engines are, too contemptible and weak to defend nature, or make any assault and battery upon the Eenemy; when they shall bring almost all diseases into the Catalogue of incurables, or turn them over to serve out their prenticeship, with the number of them, who are to be cured by change of Air, diet and kitchen-physic; that for the most part some of those 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or treacle sellers, or some old woman must cure, whom the great learning and skill of Physicians have left as uncurable, and then go about to excuse their ignorance and temerity, with a salva inobedientia aegrorum circa dietae regulas non strictè servatas. Ah alas! how many absurdities and abuses are committed with these deceits, which to the world are not yet sufficiently known.  
But we have just cause to hope, at least to wish, that Thysitians will now at length suffer themselves to be instructed, from the autopticall unsuccessfulness of their own practice, what straw devices, what lean, idle sleights their thoughts have suggested to flatter their starved hopes: And to me it is an Argument not to be slighted, that the schools, and Physicians of our days, begin to be sensible of the ignominy cast upon them, and their art, by the sling of vulgar tongues, from their infelicity of curing; that they now are persuaded, to look a little back to chemic remedies; that now there is a bridge from Galen to Paracelsus, and they can easily remove their Landmarks, and neglecting the foundations of their own art, they can as indifferently and promiscuously use any chemic remedies, and most miserable poisons, as those, which their Dispensatories have described, and taken upon trust; insomuch the Galenists fearing to be outgone, what by the Collier Chemist and the Chymaericall contemplative Chemist, and perceiving the dulness both of the remedies, and Theorems of their Patron, can a little bend the hams suppled with the oil of smooth and implicit credulity, and an idle lazy subscription, and have now stooped to that infatuated principle of Tartars of Paracelsus his own coin.  
This makes me see, that the Corrupt opinion and endeavour of Politics, have cast no little darkness on the glory of gray-haired experience; have forsaken her standard principles, and have reduced man's mind from the greatness of works to the smallness of oblique and circulatory way of intelligence, speculation, the alone Patron of idleness, and laziness, which weakly understood, and violently put in practice, hath made a Shambles, rather than a Sanctuary, to butcher men violently, and devour and destroy them insensibly, then give ease or succour.  
For there is nothing more hard, more inhuman and full of Cruelty, among all humane Arts, through so many ages undertaken and usurped, than that art, which by a concentric subscription doth make new experiments by the deaths of men, where the Earth covers the vices, the errors & fraud of its professors; who having never touched so much as to the bark & utter shell of knowledge, and although they creep on their bellies all days of their lives, and feed upon the dust of the earh apt to be blown away by every puff of solid truth, yet think they are in the third heaven of Physic, and light of nature, and by reading of Galen and Aristotle, conceit they have rifled her rich Treasuries, traced her footsteps to a hair, and exactly surveyed the whole field and round of Nature. But verily they who think so, if they be such as have a mind large enough to take into their thoughts a general survey of natural and humane things, would soon prove themselves in that opinion, far deceived, and would soon tie up their tongues, discerning themselves all this while, like the high flown, self-conceited Laodicea. For while they presume and deem they keep the keys of the science, do yet neither themselves enter into the Closet and inner parlour of Nature, nor will they admit willingly others that would.  
I thought once to have becalmed this Sea of distraction by the golden Trident of chemical Theorem's, whom as a Lady of honour I have courted, and devoutly kissed, and to whom, I am not ashamed to profess I owe my strict observance; but alas and alack for woe! I could find no rest here: I found too much of the leaven of Chrysippus, who was the first that pulled Physic out of experience, & put it into opinion: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, were a generation of men, in Plato's days, and the line it seems is not yet extinct. Because therefore I cannot fool my own credulity so far, as to sit down to an implicit conformity, cooped up and immured within these paper walls; and finding it a slaughter-house of humanity, and to conspire to the extirpation of whole families and Commonwealths, (the best part of the world,) and seeing I plough in the same field, I shall endeavour, and am resolved by the knife of chiropona● pyrotechny to cut the throat of these Pe●ty-toggers and let ●ut the heartblood of the blind Physic of this Nation, who deserves to be the leading card and do humbly conceive it nothing above my du●y, either for the difficulty, or the censure that may pass thereon, ●o communicate the sense and revolution of my thoughts, and Collections, and do offer them now in this general labour of reformation, to the candid view of all good Christians, to the Schools, and all ingenious heads; especially because I see it the hope of a handful of good and learned men, that this Crocodile, who seems to weep for, and offer help to, the afflictions and languishing miseries of men, and yet destroys them, might spend its utmost date in this Commonwealth; and that there might be some course taken in the body of Physic, in this Nation, that the squalid diseases of Physic and medicines might be cured; without which, no hopes of ever curing the sicknesses of the body of man: this therefore shall be the steerage, the task and period of this discourse, to prove,  
That the whole mode, method and body of Physic, as it is now prescribed and practised, with the desires of good men, groans for a reformation.  
I think, I shall have no just Cause to complain of any thing but that it is indeed too copious to be the matter of a dispute, or a defence, rather to be yielded, as in the best ages, a thing of common reason, not of controversy.  
To write in that in which there is no beaten path, is most honourable, for he that leads, hath this advantage above others, if others follow him, he hath the glory of it, if not, he hath the excuse of prejudice.  
He therefore who by adventuring shall be so happy, as with success to light the way of such an expedient liberty and truth, as this, shall restore the much abused, overwronged, and eclipsed glory and renown of Physic: and shall deserve of all apprehensive men (considering the ruins, the dangers and dreadful effects, the ignorance, errors, abuses, impieties and cruelties of Physicians, in a thing of so great price, whose loss is irreparable, and most perilous to humane estate, which, for want of insight into, and reformation in the practice of Physic, have been committed in this, as well as other Commonwealths) shall deserve I say to be reckoned among the public Benefactors of civil and humane life, equal, nay above the Inventours of wine and oil: for this, namely, health, is a far dearer, far nobler and more desirable cherishing to man's life, unworthily and unmercifully exposed to ruin and danger.  
In which work, he whose courage can serve him to give the first onset, must look for two Hydra's of several oppositions; the one, from them, who would exact the tonnage and poundage of all knowledge and skill, and excise all ingenuity and Autergie; who have sworn themselves to long custom, and the affected tedious scribble of Galen; whose whole sphere of reason, art, skill and practise, turns in Galens Zenith, and his accomplices, will not out of the road: The other from those, whose formal ignorance gross and vulgar apprehensions, together with their grave obstinacy, ('twixt whom an entire league hath ever been held) conceit but low of Physic, whose cloudy and imperfect optics, could never endure to pry into the Mysteries of Nature, and in the work of healing, think they have all. This only is desired of them who are minded to judge hardly of thus maintaining, that they would be still, and hear all out, nor think it equal to answer deliberate reason, with sudden heat and noise; remembering this, that many truths, now of reverend esteem and Credit, had their birth and beginning once from singular and private thoughts, while the most of men were otherwise possessed, and had the fate at first to be generally exploded and exclaimed on, by many violent opposers: Nevertheless it shall be here sought by due ways and means to reclaim, and bring it from under the rubbish of gentilish and anarchical principles, into the Monarchy of pyrotechnall experience. Yet would we not be mistaken, to be thought for stiff pleading for a confused abolishing of these things, as the Rabble demolish Images, in the zeal of their hammers oft violating the sepulchers of good men; or rudely break up, not go through open doors.  
The Apollinian science then, or art of Physic, is every where brought upon the Stage; and made the laughingstock of the sick-brained vulgar; because Physicians, who have heterodogmatized, and deviated from the ancient beaten path of clear reason and experience, put no distinction between the venerable grey-haires of ancient Physic, and them who wear her honourable silver livery, from the old scurff of Galen and his accomplices, benighted to the clouds of ignorance, and that Tatterdemalion Lanostema of Peripatetical & Galenical predicaments of qualities; whereby, to heads of a larger size, they seem to have put out their own eyes, and willingly subject themselves, like Mill-horses to grind in the Mill-house of custom and Tradition, and aforehand, to have staked themselves to a resolution to confine to the Custom of the Schools, and sit down to a precise Conformity, to lap up the prodigious vomits of Aristotle, Galen and other illiterate Ethnics, and in effect to prescribe all the heads of the present age, as Pupils to the dull and doting advisoes of the ancient, precedent Paperstuffers; and then no less to say, as in supernatural things they are wont, so in natural, to make it a kind of blasphemy, at least presumption, to step one hairs breadth from the cried up and vulgar received way: So hardly in good sooth can the dotage of those who dwell upon antiquity, allow present times any share of wisdom or skill. For we are not overbold to suppose what they read, they believe, and what they believe, they leave to the confection of an Apothecary and family, without any manual or mechanic experiment. For who among the foremost of them, can justify their positions and rules by practice; not by their hands, but fancies. Hence it is that every druggist and old woman, with Mother Midnight, and of every occupation sally forth, and dare to intrude themselves into the practice of Physic, putting an affront upon Physicians, because oftimes in many things they excel them. For of old they are wont to reserve somethings to themselves, as a pledge of their fame and family: But after that the slothful and lazy disquisitions of Physicians prevailed, & the itch of Gain turned Physic into a plough, to make long furrow's on the backs of poor mortals, by the just judgement of God all things went to wrack.  
The Schools will have the shuffling and cutting of the Cards, and the College draws the choice of physicians, so that the whole pack of those that by them are accounted worthy, are they who have subscribed to the ignorance and unskilfulness of Ethnics; that the Cathedral of all reason, learning, skill, Philosophy and all judgement, might veil to them, and they keep the keys; and man's life itself should be committed to them. So that if he be but an Academic, though a mere mammothrept, and perhaps a Midas, if they can but hide his two ambitious ears, which they can easily do, by his implicit conformity, he shall pass for Cathedral Doctor, a Physician in folio, with an imprimatur on his back, as if he were the microcosmall Council of State's chief Physician, cum privilegio custod, salutis populi: so that upon the posts, and frontispeice of the medical conclave is written like that of Plato's Academy, with a Nemo huc ingrediatur nisi etc. Whereby all others are like a pawn at Chess, fill up a Room, and that's all. This is now handed down to us Europaeans, and is in possession and practice among English men, that hath carried away the bays from all others, that they will not be befooled of their liberties, nor blinded in their understandings, by any devise: so that charity is grown cold, and sloth introduced under a more fafer seal, and long use hath confirmed this begotten ignorance, pretending the right of prescription. And we wish it do not prove a kind of staple merchandise, to be sealed and stamped like our Broadcloth, or Woolpacks; and that Art and Ingenuity become not tributary to the Customhouse of error, opinion and Customs, and that the Factors or Farmers thereof, do not so monopolise, or monarchize, to put truth at the bottom of the sack, and their own inventions at the sack's mouth; whereby God should withdraw his gifts, and those which he hath given to others, continued. The Apostle Paul would have widows to be honoured, that were widows indeed, in good works; according to the command, which hath ordained the Physician to be honoured, who shall truly be a Physician in good works, and so shall testify that he is created, and chosen of God; whose works shall follow him, worthy of his vocation, as letters patents, as signs and merits of his honour: which text being considered we find honour to be appointed to the Physician because of necessity; which necessity doth presuppose bringing forth fruit, otherwise in vain: not that the force of the precept, runs so in necessity, as, that when a sound man doth not need a Physician, that then he is to be honoured: For then a Judge, Counsellor, Lawyer, Soldier, Husbandman, Weaver; etc. should be prescribed to be honoured, by the same right of necessity. Honour therefore is ordained to the Physician, created by the goodness of the highest for the necessity of the sick, to heal them: But the necessities of a soldier, Judge, Executioner, weaver, etc. are not considered, as chosen by God, but as promoted by men, to execute those offices, that are requisite, and that from the malice of men.  
There is a four fold missed of ignorance, hath entered all at once, into the medical profession, and hath lef● it without honour▪ namely, the ignorance of causes, the remedy, the manner of making it, and coaptation of it. Truly as pyrotechny doth open bodies before our eyes, that are locked; so also it opens the gate unto natural Philosophy Under the ignorance and sloth of the Schools, the true medicine hath lurked so depressed, that that which should have brought the greatest light unto the Physician, seeing the whole work is accounted mechanic, the want whereof is his blindness, and unskilfulness, that through pride and long Custom, is transferred out of his own hands, into the hands of an Apothecary and his servants; that now he sees not with his own eyes, nor handles with his own hands, nor understands with his own Intellect and judgement, so that here lies the mystery of iniquity.  
Our pardon for this plain-dealing, is sued out in forma R. P. both in the very name, nature, right constitution and right reformation of it; as also from the effect of the disputation, when it comes in competition with life, with diseases, with my neighbour, my Friend, my brother, my vocation, with the truth, with good, with hurt, with things so truly serious, and of such moment. For I propound not to myself the thanks or favour of any man, having also learned to run thorough good report, & evil report. For my own understanding tells me, that the Art of Physic hath stood a long time at a stay, as is a shame to think; without any progress made; because we had rather stand to, and bring honour to, and deck and polish the Inventions of Foreigners, Greeks, Barbarians and Ethnics. In the mean while there's a metamorphosis in the whole system of diseases; new diseases arise, which Galen and Hypocrates never knew; and the old ones with stranger and crueler symptoms; for they rise again disguised, therefore appear illegitimate, not answering to the descriptions of the former: And that such a thing as this should stand at a stay, without any progress, is both shame and lamentation; while our healths and lives call greatly for an increase of the knowledge of healing. How much, and to what end hath that lazy, dull and ungenerous kind of Physicians hindered the light of Physic, from breaking forth, who are wise only from an another's Comment, and deny, that the art can increase above what they know: And therefore what they know not, they drive with a certain desperation, into the Catologus of incurable. As if our Ancestors resting places, were to be like Hercules pillars, inscribed with a Ne plus ultra; as if they had attained to the Meridian of all knowledge, by the fixed North-pole of all perfection; and on that Axletree must turn the whole Globe of posterities knowledge, with the whole Hierarchy of lesser and greater increasings: as if the wits and spirits of the present times would serve for nothing, but to go a woolgathering in the wilderness or wild fields of the foregoing sheep-shearers; or were fit for nothing, but to sit with their hands in their pockets, in a lazy, and implicit conformity to this medical statue of Aesculapius; and rather than to correct, add, increase, perfect, purge and reform the present mode and practice, had rather subscribe to it, and be an obedient son of the former Physick-fathers', believe it cannot be amended, orits very difficult to go about, and the way is not clear, and such like obstacles as these they put; as if the inventions of our Grandfathers had rammed up the way of our own industry, and had occluded the Treasuries of wisdom; or as if she had now forsaken the thirsty and laborious inquirer, to dwell against her nature with the arrogant and shallow babbler. Such is the sweetness of gain, that every one brags of, and with love admires their confusions and miscellanies of medicines, which they call magistral Receipts: But the more secret things, which in times past rendered Physicians that were lovers of labour very famous, by the stupefied drowsiness of Physicians, contracted by the opium of dull ignorance and sloth, are now slipped into the hands of Apothecaries, and old women.  
The first that we meet with, who will needs be Physicians are those, who truly are not educated and instructed to this, but prompt of nature, whose Genius leads them to it, say they, and are cut out, and are configurated for it, whose bare inclination, and the tickling itch of gain is the Ascendant, daring any thing, which they have heard to have profited others, without any disquisition, cognition, and discrimination of causes: For thence have almost all the experiments of the Schools flowed forth: which Galen hath confirmed by the example of his master Quintius. For making experiments by the deaths of men, the Schools call their graduates most expert. Others, that are vulgar Physicians, had rather heal vulgar only, and to these they give their Counsels: some also of favour only, and being asked; but the most part for the ambition of honour that they might be esteemed as wise men, possess this innate kind of vice. Of the same sort are those deceivers, who would seem to be rich, and therefore give all their ministrations gratis, to the destruction or casual health of people. To these succeed they, who covet not moneys, but gifts, lest they should seem below the condition of great and noble men, and deserve nothing they say, but do it for a common good. The like to these are they, who confess truly that they are not Physicians, but have great skill in Physic, and have their secrets and receipts from Kings, Emperors, Queens and great Ladies: For these are wont to suborn the middle sort of people, which do extol the price of the medicine. Others there are who turn themselves into Physicians, who have been old Soldiers, and now left the wars, brag of, and show their wounds, and thereby think, and persuade themselves they have got great experience. Some of the Clergy also, Priests and poor Scholars, that have nothing else to do must now turn Physicians. Some silenced ministers and outed of their benefices, lay hold upon Physic, and commit force and violence to her body, that if one fails, t'other may hold, and think their Latin, and their Coat, the grand Charter, to entitle them to the practice in Physic. There are a generation also who pretend to Astrology, Chiromancy, (and why not to Coscinomancy) to Physiognomy too, dare tamper with Physic, and by schemes, Angles, and Configuraions predict not only diseases, but the Cure also, and so think themselves able Physicians, and the rather, because they are now masters of Art, in, and instituted by, the heavenly Academy, and College of stars. Others scribble upon paper, (not the innoxious words of Solomon,) but Characters, charms as they call them, whereby Diseases, as well as Devils are chased away, and cross themselves before and behind, lest the Devil should take him away, writing powerful words. There are also, who are well known in divers Idioms, and pretend to speak Chaldiack, Arabic or Dalmatick, and are laden with many arts; at last vaunt only de mathesi or historiis: Many of these know nothing less than to make the Philosophers stone, and carry about them propagable mines, with a perpetual ferment. There are they again who pretend to be baptised Jew's (more wicked than the not baptised) who have learned from the Kabala to mortify mercury divers ways, and also to prepare poisons variously, which are good against all diseases, and many more. They brag of the Hebrew tongue to contain the fundaments of all sciences, and the grand secrets of States, and Commonwealths, and are big with the foreknowledge of future's: They often cite their Rabbins, the book of Nebolohu, with the little key of Solomon, from whence they can read things past, as well as to come. Others also assert the medical art to be hereditary, and to run in the line of their own progeny although they be all fools or Knaves. And then at last if these cannot be accounted of among men, they have a sure Card they think to play, and to be sure they will be received among women; and to that end brag of the cosmetick faculty, of sweet ointments, oils and perfumes; and the art to preserve their beauty, or repair it if ruin'd: And a hundred to one, if they have not a fling at the Celestial stone too, of Armenia, whereby they can cure a large catalogue of diseases: for these are cut out of the same hide with Greeks and Jews; any thing wil●●erve, to cheat the credulous vulgar of their money, when it's known to all that know any thing of Physic, that that divine blue stone, is but Roman vitriol, that is to be had at every Druggist and Apothecaries shops, and is used by every horseleech. There is also a fugitive kind of men from the family of the Chemists, who while they brag of select and precious things, sell nothing less than poisons, and take all liberty of lying to the deluded ignorants: These fugitives being apostate Idiots from the Chemist's furnaces. But the Schools do with greater security, and above all, with a most liberal authority impose their things upon mortals. For when we shall come to show by the inevitable determination of truth, that they have been hitherto ignorant of the knowledge of diseases, and their remedies, not knowing the essence of a remedy, in its true nature, end and use; as also ignorant of the knowledge of simples▪ (as we shall show anon) their preparation, conjunction, and appropriation: In the mean time, they promote their Scholars: This man because he hath Latin and Greek, a Doctor or Chirurgeon to his Father: Another because he is made a master of Arts, hath heard and read lectures: Another also because he holds to Euclid's elements, and brags he is for him; or that he hath learned to dispute or rather scold from Aristotle: Another hath his call to practise Physic, from his daily reading of books, and subtle problematical disputing upon every proposition; so that in three years they are changed into very learned men: Wherefore they read the voluminous books of Galen, Avicen and the interpreters. Then they revolve herbals, wherein the shapes of herbs are deciphered to the life; the which if they have not yet known very well, they are sent to the shops, and gatherers of simples, with this mandate, that when they have well known the effigies of the simples, they may return to their lections, which, with much and long study they have collected out of divers Authors, that they may learn the powers of simples and compounds together with their applications: They see also cadaverous sections, and hear and learn the galenical Lurrey, the method of healing, the use of the parts and differences of pulses, and then when they have thus learned to sol▪ fa, they launch forth into the sea of diseases to cure them, with that confidence and presumption, as if they had been at it a score of years, and look for salutations 12 score off. We pity the miserable condition of mankind obnoxious to so many internal calamities, and exposed to so many external outrages and violences of such ignorant pretenders; who when they have cruelly killed any Magistrate or great man, under the black and dismal rules of the Schools, they fly to their Sanctuary, and take the liberty and boldness, as of law, to bring him to, and call it the incurableness of his disease, and every where have their patrons and accomplices: So much the more miserably do poor mortals trust to them, because they hide their ignorance among the vulgar, under the cloak of promotion and swearing; because they swear they will faithfully help infirmities, which alas they are wholly ignorant of, as also of the remedy; yea, that Hercules of Physic, Galen, their Prince, hath not shown one medicine, that is not borrowed from Empirics, howsoever he triumphs in his blue, and childish Throry of complexions and degrees, tam secundum genera, quam loca. For Quintius Galens master, was wholly an Empirick, and every where implored by his Scholar. Let not the Schools than contemn practise and experience; but fling away their pride and sloth, and it's easy to cure that disease among them, namely, the uncurablenesse of diseases. By this means shall the power and virtue of healing stand upright under every weight; that is, all diseases with her are of one price, and no diminution can be made by any disease. For God as he hath not made death, so neither doth he rejoice in the perdition of the living: For he made all Nations of the world easy to be cured, nor is there an exterminating medicine. It may be granted, that sometimes some alimentary diseases may be healed by the remedies of the shops, to wit, they which admit of spontaneous consumptions, and easy resolutions: but in dangerous, difficult, strong diseases, in which are fixed and chronical roots, the use of them does more hurt then good. Hypocrates truly left to posterity, the inquisition of higher remedies; because our Ancestors lived in more happy Ages. But the Schools and Physicians of an idle and lazy nature, have not respected the greater necessities of mortals, but content with Galen and his Quintius, have not perceived the defects of mortals, seeing gain hath carried them away and they are sure to have it, whatsoever the event be. To this carelessness and sloth of theirs is witness, that they have not yet once thought of a medicine for the stone, nor a poor Ague, or pain of the teeth.  
The powers of things, as well as the thundering accusations of the sick, do bespeak their ignorance: as if the powers and virtues of medicine, were put into things by Nature, and the God of Nature, only as a box to contain them, and not to be opened, and their excellencies to be communicated. That Science then, which enables men to look thorough the shop of medicine, the topic tabernacle of natural powers, and teaches to unlock bodies that are shut, and to draw forth their hidden virtues, is not peculiar to the family of Pharmacopolists, nor truly is the Pharmaceutick part a handmaid to it (as is the talk of ignorants) but is a powerful Tecmarsis of natural history.  
For Pharmacy truly began at first from the Merchants of simples, and collectors of herbs; but then when the Physicians perceived, that it was not fit for every one to boil, condite and prepare simples therefore that business also, was committed to the seller of simples. In the mean while the more choice and secret things, Physicians kept to themselves, whereby they purchased honour to their posterity. But at length the sloth of Physicians increasing, they were content to run thorough the streets, from house to house, to make a feat of gain, by their frequency of visitations: Then at length chopped in Dispensatories, and select forms, that they should be kept in the shops, and set to sale, rather for expedition then propriety: whence at last Physicians joining compounds with compounds, they administered to the sick sometimes a miscellany of a thousand simples, that if one would not help, another should; at least, they would be sure to excuse themselves, because they had carried on the cure of the sick, according to prescribed rules. This is the medicining at this day, from which how much the chemic Philosophy differs, they know who have but saluted the same at the threshold, and but warmed at the hermetick fire.  
Before the threshold of the shop, we cannot choose but have a fling at the Describers of Simples. For though there be no field more spacious, plentiful and pleasant on the whole face of the Earth, nor where the mind may be more intent or delighted, then in the matter of herbs and vegetables, the Earth's Embroidery, and dame-natures' revels, when in her Virgin vernal beauty, she bids Holiday and rants it in her great silken simple wardrobe of sundry vestments, bestudded with the Pearls and Diamonds of lovely Flowers, yet notwithstanding less progress hath hardly been made elsewhere. For the Arabians, Gentiles, Barbarians, savages, and Indians, do more vigilantly and judicially observe their simples and things growing among them, than all the European world besides. Since, even from the days of Plato (wherein Dioscorides a military man lived) there hath almost nothing been added to the vegetable Commonwealth, or matter of herbs, but very much taken away, and the Tyranny of we know not what strange Monsters of Physic introduced. Galen like a Plagiary and sneaking Filcher▪ suppressing the name of Dioscorides, makes use of his words, which Pliny in the mean time besprinkles with many trifles, as being of a poor and shallow judgement▪ and unable to distinguish that which is likely from that which is true, and that which is false; by which means he heaped up a multitude of things, that by the bulk of his book, he might equalise the fullness of his name. But to this very day, even the more learned and leading part of Physicians, do as yet hold a logomachy and anxiously dispute only about the shapes and names of Herbs. As if when the Countenance were known, we should think the Powers did not openly speak unto them; the powers I say, first delivered by Dioscorides: so that the medical power, seemeth to have arrived at her perfection, in the first Author. In the mean time those things that were of greatest moment have been neglected hitherto.  
But the neoterics and more modern Authors, have begun to distinguish Herb● into sexes, and thinking that thereby they have discovered many things, they have yet complained that these things have been veiled: As if Nature did labour in jest, and not in earnest, being solicitous of the sex, whereas she contenteth herself with that which is androgynous and promiscuous. For the sex respects nothing but generation, and not the operation and relation of pairs: Wherefore to the end that she who wholly referred herself to certain ends, known to her Creator, might not frame one jot or title in vain, wheresoever there was no need of the marks of sexes for generation in the composure of things, she quite omitted them. But if of two simples the one is stronger or rougher than the other, that denoteth not the sex, but the degree of rougher or gentler motion; for by longsoft motion, and circulation that is moderate; heat, sharpness, roughness, or what ever else is presented to the Pentarchy of senses, as extreme and violent, is taken away; and becometh a subject wholly subdued to the sceptre of our Nature, and yields a sweet smelling favour: for a fragrant smell is nothing else then a sharp smell, when it is moderate. Example of Pepper and Euphorbium; of ●ough and violent motions, and therefore have no fragrant smell. While therefore the same simple rotteth, and is changed into little animals, these are not of one, but of both sexes; which truly would not come to pass if those simples had already a sex or sexuall powers within them. For of the same numerical herb, infects, as well of the male, as of the female sex, are promiscuously bred.  
There hath also arisen other sects afterwards, who observed the signatures, as it were a kind of Palmistry in Herbs; and this conceit hath been very much promoted by the root of Satyrion: And by means of this chiefly have they introduced scientia signata, or Anatomia essata; that is, new-fangled names, and swelling titles, to gloze their fopperies. For me, I am assured by faith, that neither is man the Image of Nature, nor Nature the Image of man. God out of the eternal providence of his Goodness and wisdom, hath enough and more then enough provided for necessities to come. He made and endowed simples to the designed uses of all necessities; that is, he composed and directed them to the end and scope of necessities: And therefore we may very lawfully and deservedly be excused, if we conceive the whole business of the Conquest of diseases, lies upon the shoulders and single stock of simples in their right preparation for Physic; nay, we are bound to believe that simples in their simplicities, are sufficient for the Cure of all diseases: wherefore we ought, and more becoming it is to us of this Nation, to employ more study in the enquiry of their virtues, then in discussion of problems concerning them, since in simples, that is, in their right knowledge and Philosophical preparation, is the perfect cure and remedy of all diseases; and consequently Dispensatories, the monument of the lazy Liturgy of Physicians, and other Ethnic Directories, endeavouring to compound, confound and confect many medicines, make but a Hodge-potch though sewed in with sweet broth, their syrups; and though they start, and hotly pursue the Game of simples, yet they lose their scent, grow lazy, undo all, and with a secret kind of blasphemy go about to supply the divine insufficiency: And let us be excused to pause a little, and bethink us every way round ere we lay such a flat Solecism upon the gracious and most benign bounty of God. Hence Paracelsus writeth to the Chirurgeons; to what purpose do you superadd vinegar to the root of Comfrey, or bowl, or such like baleful additaments, while God hath composed this simple sufficient to cure the fracture of the bones? Whatsoever thou shalt add to it, is done as it were to make God subject to thy correction. Thou art foully mistaken. In like manner we conceive that God hath sufficiently and perfectly composed in simples the complete remedies of whatsoever diseases.  
Finally upon sure grounds we know that we have no anatomical kindred with the Archaeus of vegetables, whether we respect the whole or the parts: For the endowments of simples are from the Creation, and not from the usurpation of possession. For the proprieties were in herbs, before sin, death and necessity. Besides we believe that God doth give the knowledge of simples to whom he will, out of supernatural grace, and not by the signs of Nature. For what Chiromantick kindred with the Pleuresy hath a boars-tusk, goats-bloud, bulls-pizle, horse-dung or the herb daisy? Or what signature have those simples common to them? Indeed I praise my Lord, who primarily created all things to his glory, before there were any diseases, nor did he mark the simples by reason of the diseases that might afterwards happen, but for the beauty of the Universe, whence ariseth honour to the Lord.  
There have not likewise been wanting, who have comprised the immense Catalogue of diseases, in the signs of the Zodiac, as Bartholomaeus Carichterus for one, whose number being too narrow, they enlarged every one of the signs into a triple section; so that they divided all the powers of Herbs into thirty six, and enclosed them in a narrow room. There are they also who square the powers, virtues, aspects and applications in the Horizon of herbs to diseases, from certain positions of Heaven, emitting some virtue which moveth everything in the kind, which yet is divers from the circular motion itself; or else they make them less efficacious, that is, in plain English ineffectual: And so they have denominated some herbs solar and some lunar, and such like toys put into great words, as that mechanic experimentator hath it in his Sylva Sylvarum. It is manifest, that there are some Flowers that have respect to the sun, in two kinds; The one by opening and shutting; and the other by bowing and inclining the head. For Marygolds, Tulippa's, Pimpernell, and indeed most Flowers, do open or spread their leaves abroad, when the sun shineth serene and fair. And again (in some part) close them, or gather them inward, either towards night, or when the sky is overcast. Of this there needeth no such solemn Reason to be assigned; as to say, that they rejoice at the presence of the sun; and mourn at the absence thereof: For it may be nothing else, but a little loading of the leaves, and swelling of them at the bottom, with the moisture of the air; whereas the dry air doth extend them: And they make it a piece of the wonder, that Garden-claver will hide the stalk when the sun showeth bright; which is nothing but a full expansion of the leaves. For the bowing and inclining the head it is found in the great flower of the sun, in Marygolds, Wart-wort, Mallow-flowers, and others. The Cause is somewhat more obscure than the former▪ but I take it to be no other, but that the part against which the sun beateth, waxeth more faint and flaccid in the stalk, and thereby less able to support the Flower.  
The like trifling wonder make they of Rosa solis, or as others admit it Ros solis, with which if Purselan or some other herb were observed to do the like, it would scarce be of half nine days, unless they think that it is like gideon's Fleece of Wool, that the Dew should fall upon that, and no where else. It were well truly that this member of the Commonwealth of universal knowledge was more studied, namely, this of Sympathies and Dyspathies, for in this Angle (note Reader) lies all the abstruse knowledge of occult properties; which thing the Schools have openly proclaimed by their dull hammering upon and toiling about it, and which they have banished by their fetters and gins, desisting where they should have begun. There is then in inanimate things inhabitant as species of sense, fantasy, yea and election: yet in an analogous' consideration, according to the capacity and degree of every thing. We speak not here of plant-animalls which things might seem ridiculous to many: but this our paradox will offend no man, though but meanly knowing. In the first place then without doubt, there are some flowers that are the Lackeys of the sun; as well in lucid days, in which the sun shines not, as in the nights; witnessing that they have both motion, sense, and love of the sun; so much, as without which, its impossible they should accompany the clouded Sun. And also as in the evening they lose the Sun, in his setting (who until he hastens to the East, doth not operate among us dwelling in the darkness or shadow of the earth) yet nevertheless whether the night be hot, or cold, or serene, or rainy, the flowers do face about equally from the west, and bend themselves and salute the rising Sun. Which chiefly doth denote they have the knowledge of the rising and solar circuit, and in what part he is about to be orient or occident. Call it the instinct of nature, or what you will. Names shall not change the thing. It's a matter of fact, and the thing done hath his cause in the flower, in his own propriety, and not from any analogy, concord or positionall influx; do not borrow this solissequous perambulation extra●●, but it is their domestic and innate virtue. These things happen in plants vegetably animate. The less wonder. But that they have place in minerals also, I thus prove. There is almost nothing made in Nature, without his proper motion: and there is nothing moved of its own accord, or by himself, but by reason of the propriety put into it by the Creator, which the Ancients call self-love, and will have philautie to be nature, firstborn, innate and given for the custody of its self. And where this is present, its necessary also there be Sympathy and Antipathy, in respect of the diversity of objects. To this I will bring a pregnant example. Take a drum made of a sheep's skin, or ass' skin, and let another hard by be beaten, that's made of a wolves hide, and upon that motion and sound, the other shall wax dumb, and not found at all. Such is the proprieties of natural things that they must act and yield to the dominion and donation of the virtues implanted in them from the Creation, and which they enjoy and put forth from their own domicilium; and not from any imaginary house of heaven. We would have all sects confine themselves to a mediocrity in opinioning, and not ramble over the whole wild of Fancy: For a very little patience, ere you hear, that the Earth hath of herself a seminal virtue of producing herbs, which she therefore beggeth not from heaven. For the whole propriety of herbs is from the seed, and the seminative power is taken from the Earth, according to holy writ, and not from the faces of the Lights of Heaven. For suppose that sixteen or twenty stars make a Constellation, or one of the twelve Houses, and is extended thirty degrees: in what manner can so few stars contain the essences, seeds, faces and properties of five hundred plants, differing in kind and inward properties? Besides a thousand other attributes of so many things as well humane as political: Away with these trifles. Every Plant enjoys the capacity of vegetation according to the virtue of its peculiar and domestic ferment originally inoculated into its principles. And the Scripture intimates to us, that God created every plant of the field before it was in the ground, and every herb in the field before it grew. It's a base thing truly then in Christians to follow him hitherto as patron in Physics, when of faith we believe that plants germinated, before the stars were, with a seminal virtue. For there is always found in nature an agent, matter, and product or effect, instrument and disposition. And the operation of generation depends on Nature, and proper organs.  
The proprieties are in the seeds of herbs, not in the heaven or stars. Those powers of the stars which have been fictitiously imposed on heats, colds and complexions by that Patron of chymaericall fictions, are now grown out of date. For the stars, whatsoever way they be taken, do much more differ from Plants, than herbs from Clouds and hoar-frosts, or fishes from precious stones. Wherefore let it be a sophism to attribute effects to causes, which possess in them no causality at all: That is to dream whilst one is awake, if he believe such a thing, or by his own thinking to rove into madness: But we shall supersede this theme, least being too busy in it, we should seem to those who have false or thick eyes, to demolish the fabric of Astrology, or be found great with a sarcasme.  
Mathiolus, Tabernamontanus, Brassavolus, Ruellius, Fuchsus, Tragus, d' Allichamp●us and other Herbalists, have hitherto been busied only about the features, and visual knowledge of Plants, but all of them in like manner describe the virtues out of Dioscorides. They also constrain them to the predicaments of qualities, to degrees of heat and cold, as demonstrating something from the foundation: Certainly it is a shameful thing to fetch the temperature of simples from heat, and not from the fountains of the seeds. Dodonaeus, Friso, Tabernamontanus with some few others, although they insisted in the same footsteps of degrees, have yet subjoined certain additions from their own or others experiences: but without doubt as yet they are confused, uncertain and rudely distinguished, as being noted not from science, but either from the discovery of the vulgar, or drawn from casual experiments. There is none amongst all of them that hath scientiously described the properties of simples. as he who treated of all, from the hyssop to the Cedar of Libanus; which is a certain sign that true sciences are not to be drawn from any other than the Father of Lights. To come therefore to the purpose.  
We believe there is no member in the vegetable Commonwealth, or province of herbs, but may be easily admitted and enroled in the journall-book or Catalogue of fit subjects to be reduced to the wholesome advisoes of digestion, and may be wholly subdued to the sceptre of our stomach; unless those who are out of the line of communication, and listed in the bills of mortality, excepted against in the list of non-compounders with the State of our vital Oeconomy, who have a certain adhaesion of malignity to them, and are adjudged by the Parliament of our Intellects (where Reason sits sole Epistates) and openly declared by the tyranny of their own actions and powers, to be desperate malignants and Traitors to the present government and Republic of our Body. Small truly is the number of potherbs, and things belonging to food in the Crasis of herbs: which paucity surely doth accuse some certain malignity, which rightly sequestered, then, and not before, do they give forth their powers, as the end and scope of their mission, whom poisonous keepers did hide under themselves. Truly vegetables do work but a little in us; and the stomach is busied about them. Nor do they go farther, before they compound and pay the fine of their sequestration; before they first deposit their whole estate, that is, almost all the strength of their remedy. For otherwise the whole Fabric of our peaceable Commonwealth might be undermined, and it might go ill with us, and we should feel and smart under their tyranny, if the stomach, not being able to make a repulse and tame the vegetable taken in, cannot subdue and bring it under the rules and governments of his own Archaeus. For otherwise, if a vegetable should go on, as Cu●iasseer, strongly fortified, and with his whole strength, he would also be made a companion of excrements, or trouble the whole oeconomy of sanguification. For else, that which would have withstood the action of the stomach, now accustomed to crude simples; how could it transmute and tame, in the second digestion, the unaccustomed, in crude meats. The effect of such remedies likewise would be of greater difficulty, and more laborious work, than thence to expect fruit. Lastly, this being granted, the indistinction, confusion and perpetual turbulence of our Oeconomy, should be condescended to; for if any thing be not first rightly subdued in the stomach, and thence the ex crement first sequestered, it would march on to our very vitals. It is necessary therefore, that vegetables suffer digestions and formal transmutations: and the digestive faculties themselves also in working, do ordinarily suffer from the foreign faculties of vegetables: a thing truly perilous, and of difficult experiment and judgement. Then finally over and above, all things being weighed exactly, every virtue of the vegetables is restrained and limited to his own degree. It's enough truly that most of them have annexed their own cruelties infamy, immaturities, scabbiness, rottenness, exantlation of their powers, besides their manifold filth and impurities; forasmuch as they should be taken away with the emunctories dedicated to the evacuation of excrement, it's unavoidable but that their whole aliment is full of excrement: It is exceeding cruel therefore in the Schools, that there hath not been considered and found out a remedy against these defects, besides the simple and contemptible decoctions of the shops. At length, saving the censure of these, the injuries of plants being sequestered (the burnden of which our nature without great ruin cannot bear) so great is the debility of them beside their unusual protervity, that scarce any thing praiseworthy can be hoped for, out of the bosom of vegetables; when not only they are compelled to lay aside their fierceness, if they be admitted further within; but also formally to be denthduate from all the benignity of themselves, before the Citizens of our Republic can entertain them.  
An entire and live animal cannot be bruised without his dung: It is therefore to be lamented that it hath not yet been so consulted with thought and experience to consider, that herbs have much dung, who never yet made any egestion thereof; and are therefore to be purged, not with the common depuration, but with greater Caution. Finally, in man we by many marks distinguish blood from gore; but in plants it is enough to have said, That plant in subject consists of divers and opposite properties: Here we stop without making further progress then by some common sapours, and uncertain events. For from the stalk of Poppy being wounded, distilleth opium. Celandin weepeth a golden juice, and spurge a milky one: From Butter-burre floweth Gum, from Chameleon birdlime; which simples if they be bruised, they yield another far inferior juice, namely, dung and gore mingled with blood, although they be clarified: For Beginners must learn to distinguish the blood of plants, from their gore and Parenchyma or garbage; and also to separate them, if they think even to attempt any thing praiseworthy by means of simples. For hence it cometh to pass, that although you labour stoutly in extracting after the manner introduced by Neotericks, yet one dram of crude Rhubarb given in powder, will effect more, than whatsoever you shall extract out of a dram and a half: For the stomach by its ferment resolveth more, than the juice cometh to, which is drawn out by the Extractors, who without distinction resolve the dregs and vile liquor of the Parenchyma or garbage: For Quercetane, when he had observed that by the Chiromancy and Anatomy usually called signata, the inward powers of things were not sufficiently examined, he called Pyromancy into his aid, but fails in the way. His device was, out of the ashes of a Nettle, to draw a weak Lixivium, which being put into an earthen vessel, and by chance, frozen a little (for if the lixivium had been stronger, it would not have been frozen) in the morning admiring at it, he cries out, Aha! I behold in the ice the figure of the leaves of the Nettle; and rejoicing founded an Axiom; namely, that in ashes, the seminal substance which figureth herbs, remains unconquered by the fire. But this good man declareth his ignorance of principles; not knowing in the first place, that all ice beginning, maketh jagged pikes, after the fashion of a Nettle-lease. Next that the Archaeus is the figurer of the thing to be generated, which is long since burnt with fire, before the coal or ashes be made. Thirdly if the seminal substance of herbs were wrung from the lixivium, it ought to resemble not the leaves, but the root, stalk, flowers, and fruit. But the figurative power of seeds lies hid in the Archaeus, the Vulcan of herbs and generable things, who being not subject to fleshly eyes, it is to be impetrated of God alone, that he would vouchsafe to open the eyes of the mind which to Adam and to Solomon, at first sight demonstrated the proprieties of things; which power and optic virtue to some few of late days hath been bestowed, St. Theresa having once mentally seen a Crucifix, perceived that there were eyes of her mind, which he afterwards kept open during his whole life, and that the flesh shutteth them by the corruption of Nature.  
For neither do we otherwise know natures à priori, nor do we know the alterities, and diversities of the Archaeus but by bare observation. Indeed many of the simples are bequeathed to us, but for the most part false and incongruous. Nor doth the reading of books make us skilful in knowing the properties, but by observation: no otherwise then a Child that sings a song, yet doth not compose it, as neither doth he know the first grounds of Harmony, for which the tones were so to be disposed. If this happen in sensible things known by the sense, the reason whereof the hearing measures; what shall not be done in matter of Physic, wherein the powers of simples can be traced by no sense? Now the descriptions of all sorts of Medicines, may be read in shops, with a defect of the knowledge of the properties and agreement. For we speak of the optic notion, falling under the sight, such as the soul, separated from the body, enjoyeth, and such as God bestoweth in this life on whomsoever he pleaseth, and hath hitherto removed it far away from the Conclave of those, who give all veneration to Heathen books. Wherefore the Father of Lights is to be prayed, that he would vouchsafe to give us knowledge, as he gave to Bezeliel and Aholiab, and to that famous society, and community of R. C. unto the glory of his name, and the mere love of our neighbours: For by this means the Art of Physic would stand in us upright under every pressure. But it is to be feared, lest he who suffered to perish the books of Solomon, reserve this knowledge of simples till the Age of Elias the Restorer. For the schools by the stairs of Tastes have promised an entrance into the throne of the knowledge of simples, by sharp, bitter, salt, sweet, astringent, acid, and unsavoury, they say, they measure heats and colds, as the Artists of all properties: And they have been so rash of judgement, that they have taken upon them to judge of the nature and faculty of simples by their taste and relish, and thereby discern and determine their first, second, and thirdqualities, to the which afterwards all the virtue of the said simples was attributed. But because they found not this an universal rule always and in all things, and that it did deceive; they fled to that back door of evasion for their ignorance & laziness, to the secret and hidden properties, arising from the form and totality of substance. But these proud ostentations have by experience been made a folly beyond ridiculous. These and such like startingholes and subtleties have made of Physic a Meander, a Wilderness, and wild labirynth of incertainty and unstable formalities. We desire the linguacious Chemistry of these heads to tell us, how many bitter things there are in taste, which nevertheless (according to the edict of that rule) are not hot at all? For Opium and cychory which hitherto they have held to be hot, yet they teach to be very cold. But what virtue so cold I pray you is there in Opium, which shall make me sleep though unwilling, and hot enough? If the coldness of the vapours, why do wines after dinner provoke to sleep? whether therefore is there one identity of heat and cold to the procuring of sleep? why therefore is cold singularly attributed to Opium? why are not hot things equally reckoned narcotick and dormitive? how doth opium amaricate? and amaritude in the schools predominating is accounted hot? Therefore it is of unavoidable necessity, that the schools should choose one of these; to wit, either that the coldness of opium is not exceeding, and by consequence that Opium doth not produce sleep by his cold: or that bitterness in the schools is a fallacious indicative of heat. For why is not cold purslane somniferous, by reason of his third degree? why is not a manipule of Purslane equivalent to two grains of opium, when the cold is more plentiful, and doth more powerfully refrigerate in such a portion, then in so little of Opium? wherefore doth Nightshade make one mad, and not rather by his Cold produce sleep? But we find in opium a sharp salt, and sudorific, also a bitter oil, far receding from the odour of opium, yet saporiferous. Again, how many sour things are there which by their saporall rules should be most cold, which notwithstanding are most hot: as spirit of Nitre etc. Thus sharp Camphire, which by their rules ought to be hot, yet notwithstanding they affirm without controversy to be cold. In like manner Chrysulca, oil of vitriol, sulphur etc. being sour, according to the rules of sapours ought to be very cold. Thus also many sweet things there are in outward taste, which in their internal substance, are nothing at all contempered. How many things that excentrically and at the threshold or first beginning of taste, are altogether unsavoury, and without relish, which in the parlour, intrinsically and in faculty, are most sharp and biting. Honey, Cassia and Sugar are in their concentric substance so hot and violent, that out of them may be prepared such dissolvers, as are wont to be made of Aqua fortis and Regis, which can dissolve gold and silver as speedily as the other. Thus lead in its belcony or frontispiece yieldeth out no taste to the tongue: and yet in his chamber and internal substance, dwelleth a certain sugared delightful sweetness, as is notoriously known and confessed by th●se but meanly instructed in the famous art of Chymis●ry. Let not us then lean upon that broken reed of qualities and temperament of things, but more inwardly and exactly perpend, then by that superficiary and slight manner of tasting and experimenting; but let their inward bowels, each sinew be dissected, by the acute knife of Pyrotechny, where they shall be found far otherwise, and oftentimes different, not only in taste, but also in odour, and in their whole substance. But we will at length show in its due place, either in this our work, or in the next, when we come to perpend, detect and sum up the dotages of our Physic squarers by the impartial Arithmetic of Reason and mechanic experiments of Pyrotechny, that the schools have not yet so much as looked into the bark of the faculties of things, and have therefore passed over the fountains of seminal properties.  
There is at length a specifical sapor in each thing, which ought to teach the property, if at least any of the outward things that are signed do so. For example, there is in Cinnamon besides sharpness, a peculiar grace in the sapor, which you shall hardly find in any other simple else. So Gentian, Enula-Campana etc. besides common bitterness, have a specifical sapor, which by reason of the singularity to every simple, cannot be brought under rules, and is the sole distinguisher of every property. Now that simples are to be chosen when they are in their state and chief vigour, this is common to rustics, to the schools, and to me. Namely the seeds when they are almost dry; but the stalks and leaves while they are succulent and full of sap; but the roots while they swell with virtue, and are not yet exantlate and exhausted with generating and concocting: which after they have along time lain still, the Archaeus being awakened they begin to think of, sprouting. Some advice to take the Autumn; but we for the most part love the spring, which we have learned by experience in Polypody, Bryony etc. For the juice of herbs is gore which being more & more ripened, is either collected and thickened, or endeth in the nature of fibres, or dischargeth itself while the vital power thinks of propagating seed: Wherefore in searching out and choosing simples, nothing hath been more neglected, then that which was most repuisite, and wherein even from the beginning down hitherto, there hath been no progress made. For the powers of simples, and their immediate subjects have remained unknown.  
For they, besides the clear, and as it were optic knowledge of them, require an exact praeparation, and appropriation; especially the knowledge of sciences, which presupposeth not traditions delivered at pleasure, and passed over from one to another: But praeparation doth require not only the boilings of the shops, or pounding, but the whole business of Pyrotechny, or art of working by fire: At length adaptation, application, or appropriation requireth a Theory founded in the light of Nature concerning man, his diseases and affections; and then the dependences, mutations, and alterations: It is therefore no marvel that the single-sold doctrine of simples hath stood deserted, and forlorn.  
In the mean time amidst so great sloth and clamours of men, the Almighty hath been pleased to stir up Chemists, who might deservedly take in hand the consideration of the transmutation, maturity, tincture and promotion of powers, and so progressing by degrees to the unisone of Physic, their followers became partakers of what they wished for. For they went not to the immeasurableness of the imaginary feigned humours; their strife, and Chimaera of defluxions; nor to the products or fruits of diseases (by taking away of which they know there followed nothing but palliations of diseases, which are attended usually with apostate and direful recidivations) but they converted their study to those things, that had the priority of the former; knowing that the potestative basis of many defects was imprinted in the Archaeus of life. Wherefore by the purity, simplicity and subtlety of remedies, that Symbolise, they endeavoured to enter into the middle life; that so if any of them do not penetrate to those things whereof we are first constituted, yet at least in the threshold of them they open and expose their endowment, by exciting our powers by their grateful salutation.  
For Nature doth not only acknowledge the action of such agents as seem in a manner to be justly ranked in the number of Patients; (and only a corporal action is of this sort, and the obedience of the nutritive faculty:) but there is also an other authority of agents not to be slighted, which is the exposal of the native endowment upon the very midst of the life of the Archaeus, by reason of the sequestration from the delinquency of mortality, seculency and turbulence; by means of which superiority, such kind of agents do not suffer from their patients, much less are altered by resistance or reaction. For some remedies thus prepared by the embosoming and secret insinuation of themselves, do so refresh our faculties, that they ascertain us that they came for this purpose in the world. For some recreate us with their fragrancy: There are others also which being enclosed are hindered from showing their good will towards us; as Gold and Jewels. Others, their bands being loosed and emancipated from the fetters of corporiety, the alone Remora and clog of their activity, are brought into play, and having gained the liberty and authority of their powers, to act in their own Horizon, diradiate their virtues, erect us from falling, and solace us, with as strong and vigorous embracements, as rank and lethiferous poisons are wont to trip up and prosternat our strength. For they drive out the venom of the body wherewith it is as it were leavened; yea truly, both the corporal and fermental poison; yet not that any medicine can refect or restore anew the extinct, abolished and exhausted powers implanted in the parts. But it hath been all along an error of the Schools not to ferment the juices of herbs together with their Parenchyma, before the segregation of the best parts can possibly be made.  
Next they neglect to inquire how the juice of things being pressed out by the mere odour of a sulphureous fire, continueth afterwards uncorrupted, without that Barbarian Condiment, sugar, or any other Additament; by favour of which, it acquires a balsamic quality, and transfers the aetherial virtue, which is incorporated with it, to a high and perfect Entelechy.  
We are now come within ken of our expected port, and now will we descend to the weak and pigmy labours of the shops. In the first place, though Extracts may seem to ease the weak stomach of labour, yet do we not much esteem them, or salute them with that magnifying, as they do their Hector and Ajax, those two Alexipharmicall Colossi, 
* Mit hridate and Treacle.  hewed out of ethnic Dispensatories, and that for the above noted errors. But we willingly put Magisteryes in the room of Extracts; in which the whole substance of the thing is reduced into its primitive juice: Which manner of preparation will for ever remain unknown to vulgar Physicians. In which iteration or going back of solution, the heterogenerous juices are of their own accord separated, for the most part with divers sediments or bottoms, one swimming over the other, and one master-juice settles, notable for its diversity, containing a seminal entity or substance.  
In the next place we pity in Physic Warehouses, the miscellaneous mixture, and confused jumblings together of so many simples, betraying both ignorance and uncertainty. For that cardinal Engine of uncertain succedaneums, doth screw the Schools to hope, that if one thing do not help, another will; Oh the shame of men! And so they associate many things together by the commendation of the common Council of Herbalists, extolled, even to an enacting, for the same purpose. To which are added those fripperies of vulgar heads, stewed in the Hypocaust of ignorance, boiling and conditing, or seasoning, the twin-born sisters of Cookery.  
To which purpose Dispensatories are commended, being set forth by the Schools, and used by Physicians, only for expedition and readiness, but not for propriety and exigence; as having only general and universal Intentions, with the substitution and dispensation of one instead of another; whence they are called Dispensatories, or the Colleges poud'ring Tub, wherein are barreled up many mixtures, neither of their own, and which is worse without Salt. As though Men had not brick of their own to make, but they must gather the straw and stubble of Galen and his Fodder-eaters; a servitude worse, and base than Egyptian: what do we else then make their's the light of Goshen, and our own the thick darkness of Egypt. That there should be bread enough in our Father's house, in our own Land, which is not a wilderness, & yet that we should have such trunk-hosed appetites, be so parsimonious as to diet ourselves, & be tied up to the manger; and feed upon the husks, and chaff of Ethnic and barbarian longwinded compositions, that have no footing in nature or art; nor any analogy among themselves, or to our bodies. But suppose them good, suppose them Manna itself; yet if an Omer shall be allotted us; if they shall be barreled up from age to age, from the first gathering to this last Century, while God and Nature every morning reins down new, instead of being fit to use, they will be found like reserved Manna, rather to breed worms and stink. Well may they be called Dispensatories; as of dies, and penso, things hard of digestion, or hardly considered or weighed in the balance of clear Reason or experience. In all and every of which, the concourse and mixture of crude simples makes the issue conjectural. For the patient is every ways cheated for his money, both by the fraud of the Druggist, and oath of the Doctor; thinking that he can neither err, deceive nor be deceived that swears he will admit none to the degrees of Physic, but him that is skilful and able. We could wish and and pray the Magistrate would prevent so great mistaking of the patients, and fraud of the Physicians.  
For our own part we chiefly admire in simples a sincere composition which is made according to the composure of God. In Comfrey we find a full remedy for broken bones, having all things that are needful; wherewith if you mingle bowl, vinegar, or other foreign things, as we before hinted out of Paracelsus, you then corrupt the mixture ordained by God. But as oft as the things have not by themselves what is intended, than we admit additions, if the things acquire that by being coupled together, which they have not apart: Which thing is to be confirmed by an experiment. And indeed we have a most pregnant instance hereof in Ink and Tinctures.  
Oftentimes under the penance of studies we have considered that since there was in Nature a certain proportion of matter to matter, and form to form, that there was the same observed in properties to properties, and consequently in effects to effects. But the composition of simples did by and by teach our understandings, the defect of these; where alterations presently enter upon the mixture of seed, and for the most part destroy one another; no otherwise then the seeds of many things pounded together and blended, elude the expectation of increase. Afterwards we knew by much sweat and oil, that the matters of remedies, exalted to a higher dignity by mere preparation, ascend to the top of perfection, liberty, subtlety, and purity; and would far excel the decoctions, syrups, and honeyed powders of the Shops. For whosoever is well skilled in the mechanic practise of Pyrotechny, doth clearly perceive with me, that there is no medicine found in Dispensatories, that containeth not in it more hurt then good. For the Schools, which profess Hypocrates, if they acknowledge diseases to arise from a humour that is sharp, bitter, salt, or acid, they yet palliate, and season all their remedies with honey, or sugar; thereby abating the properties of them, though of themselves they be feeble enough; as if the only cure and top of all diseases consisted in that which is sweet. For their answer is, that laxatives work never the worse, although sugared; then, that they are more grateful to the Palate; and thirdly that they are by this means kept from mouldiness and putrefaction. As to the first, we admit that poisons have equal force whether they be swallowed with, or without sugar: For the power of laxatives showeth itself wholly in the melting of the body, and the putrefaction of that which is melted, and so ought to be infamous for poison Wherefore the answer of the Schools is impertinent, by poisons, to the question, touching the remedies of diseases, as they are bitter, sharp, etc.  
To the second we say, that the answer is frivolous as long as the first is not satisfied. So that they are as yet ignorant, that the militia of remedies are too contemptible to charge a disease, and that the force and fort-royal of them are changed and abated by sugar.  
That to many, the taste of Aloes is more pleasant than the drinking of honey. Finally, though they desire to soothe the tongue, yet they cannot soothe the stomach, which turns at the very sight of medicines covered with the Leger-demain of sugar: of the same size of foppery is that bauble for babies, gilded pills. Notorious it is, that a thing of ●ew drops is more easily taken in some vehicle, or liquor, and is more willingly entertained within, then if it were sweetened with much sugar. In a word, that being mixed with a convenient liquor, they insinuate themselves more deeply, and more friendly combine, then if they were daubed with much sugar. That sugar though pleasing to them that are in health, doth yet quickly grow distasteful to such as are sick, and is an utter enemy in most diseases of the stomach and womb; but in others, it often makes the help of the medicine added, to become ridiculous. For sugar is diametrically opposite, is the antarctic pole, and at enmity with the acid ferment of the stomach, and therefore makes the digestions more difficult. For sugar is clarified with a lixivium of unstalked lime and potter's clay: And if Physicians had known the sharpness of the spirit of honey, and the filthy dregs of sugar, Charity being not quite graded, we have the freeness to think, they would have been content, to have used it more sparingly about the sick.  
To the third, we say, that the Schools do herein confess their ignorance, that they know not how to preserve medicaments from corruption, without saucing, and castration of their vigour; wherefore the fraud of beastly syrups, Loches, Eclegm's, and other the Tribe of daubing medicines, hath been sufficiently detected; which are made only of simples decocted, with the additament of honey or sugar: and it makes for this, that vegetables being boiled in water, and frighted out of their wits, only lay down their juice and mucilage; which being crude and impure, cause trouble to the stomach, until being digested with honey, they make us heirs of their virtue; especially in that the gummosity of herbs, which are fried with honey and sugar, is very ingrateful and displeasing to the stomach, and in boiling, there is made a great waist of the virtues. I praise God who hath been so bountiful to me, as to call me to the practice of Chemistry, out of the dregs of other Professions: Since Chemistry hath principles not drawn from fallacious reasonings, but such as are known by nature, & conspicuous by fire; and she prepareth the Intellect to penetrate, not the upper deck or surface of things, but the deep hold, the concentric and hidden things of nature; and maketh an investigation into the America of nature, farther than the whole Heptarchy, yea, than the whole Commonwealth of sciences, all put together, and peirceth unto the utmost confines and profundities of real truth. For she admits an Artist to the radical entities or primitive roots of those things, with the dearticulation of the operations of nature, and the powers of art, and with the maturation of seminal virtues. For besides the manifest entity and creation of things, there is an anatomical lecture of the various creations and entities of them, to be read of us, and understood by us: Besides the general and manifest creation of things, the particular form of things, not the Peripatetics forms, is to be examined, and much to be read and learned from the variousness, and that, not only of the general form, but every single and particular form of the Individual. And we must note, that the anaglyphe or exterior Cortex and figure of things is the Hieroglyphic of an essential, true, real, powerful spirit; beyond all the artificial, superficial, pyramidal Hieroglyphics of the Egyptians: For in those dead leaves, is written in folio, in large Characters, a living power or spirit of life; for besides its own spirit, it hath another, which is the wheell or primum mobile of it. Every ens beside its own particular heaven or firmament hath the heaven of sidereal and vital light. Hence also the essence, property, and virtue of every particular Individual is as well, if not rather, occult, then manifest; and the true medicinal part in vegetables, as in all other things, which is the essence, propriety, virtue, strength, efficacy, life and soul of the Compositum and every specific part, is not contained in the external coat or form: For Physic, to speak to be understood of them, who know not what they speak themselves, or medicine, the essence of the thing, is not extern, to be seen with Physiognomisticall corporal eyes, but intern, and to be sensibly perceived by the eye of the Intellect. For the Sun of every ens, concentred in its own firmament, doth not so diradiate its beams of virtue, and strength, to its Earth, the exterior Cortex, as to have her vestal virgin beauty prostitute and lie open to the foul rape of an impure Tact, and embracement; or contaminated by the cloudy emissions, of our basilisk corporal eyes; but is to be gently handled, and drawn forth by Philosophic Pyrotechny. For the most High is to be praised for his transcendent glory, who hath given this art to little ones gratis.  
Neither are we of a cast with those praecisians in the lady like humours of far fetched, and dear bought Gewgaws: For we seldom use remedies that are transmarine, that come from beyond the seas, and are fetched from the furthest parts of the East; knowing that it is not need, makes our old wife to troth; but that the Almighty hath made all Nations of the Earth easy to be cured: Nor would he have us such Trugs to expect Barbarian Drugs from the Indian shore. What an absurd consequence, and what a shame it is to think that God was less favourable to mortals before the Indies were known. Such is the Trade, habit, and iterate Custom and Practices of our Indian Drug-merchants and Physick-mongers; such is the zealous and ignorant affectation, stupidity and perverse covetous nature of some; the hammer of whose desires, beats on the anvil of completing and filling up the measure of the vices and miseries of their native Country, by the importation of foreign and heathenish drugs. What is this but to nose the high and sagacious Genius of the English Nation, and to lay them open to the scorn and derision of other Nations, and give them just cause to play and descant upon the poverty and improvidence of Nature in our own Country, to furnish us with remedies, for our maladies; as if we had no smith in England, but must per mare, per terras, ultra Garamantes & Indos, run to supply her deficiency. And the iniquity hereof shall be further shown by a familiar instance, though the luxury and pride of those who sacrifice to the grapy God, open their mouths wide, and gnash their teeth against me. What more foul and common sin among us then drunkenness, and who can be ignorant, that if the importation of wine, and the use of all strong drink were forbid, it would both clean rid the possibility of committing that most odious vice, and men might afterwards live happily and healthfully, without the use of those intoxicating liquors. Yet who is there the severest of them all, that ever propounded to lose his Sack, his Ale, toward the certain abolishing of so great a sin, who is there of them the holiest, that less loves his rich Canary at meals, though it be fetched from places that hazard the Religion of them who fetch it, and though it make his neighbour drunk out of the same Tun? While they forbid not therefore the use of that liquid merchandise, which forbidden would utterly remove a most loathsome sin, and not impair either the health, or the refreshment of mankind, supplied many other ways: what can be expected in such a field of riot, but the tares and thistles of mortifick distempers and maladies, and a course and custom of easiness, and boldness to rush into all manner of debaucheries? He to remove a national vice, will not pardon his Cups, nor think it concerns him to forbear the quaffing of that outlandish grape, in his unnecessary fullness, though other men abuse it never so much, nor is he so abstemious as to intercede with the Magistrates, that all matter of drunkenness be banished the Commonwealth; we have the less cause to hope, so long as a thing of as much, if not greater Concernment, and of as little, if not less inconvenience, will not be forbidden, as this of forbearing the fetching of all exotic, Indian and Barbarian drugs, and heathenish Compositions for Physic, which would not worse, but much better our condition, is a thing so little regarded, and hath hitherto lain so undiscerned, and undemanded. What is this, but to use the mouth of our general Parent, the first time it opens, when he said or saw that all things he had made were very good, to an arrogant opposition, and correcting of God's wisdom, freeness and bounty; as if he were more careless and less regarding us, than other Nations, though sinners of the Gentiles; or that Nature was more improvident, insufficient, and deficient towards us in her good things; or that the things of our Country were not good, or not good enough (lamentabile dictu) for the Cure of our home-bread dlseases, but must be beholding to others to supply the defects of God and nature, both as supplement, and Correctives. No, no, we with serious tears speak it, that it is Man's perverse cooking, who hath turned this bounty of God into a scorpion, either by weak and shallow commenting with their numerous, voluminous and impertinent amplifications and modifications; or by proud arrogance, covetousness, envy, and cruelty to them, who neither in their purposes, nor in their actions have offended against the due honour of Physic, especially Pyrotechnall: For to our common and underfoot Chemistry and jumblings of Apothecaries, is the tendence of them, who have the leisure to be industriously idle; and he who shall be tediously studious in it, argues a dulness little less than fatal, and hardly on this side sorcery, or enchantment, not to be undone by charms, or prayers: Insomuch that the fears which some men may have of an invasion and innovation into the Eutopian Empire of Galenical heathenish Physic, and constituting more clear, natural and experimental foundations and principles, perhaps exceed the hopes that can be in others of ever introducing it with any great success. And that such a thing ought to be done, and cheerfully gone about, and settled, enough hath been urged, and yet shall further; since we are clearly of that opinion, that it will be a harder Alchemy than Lul or Paracelsus ever knew, to extract or sublimate any sure real foundations of Physic out of Galen, and his Taskmasters. So that we see, without the help of further light, Salomon's ships are more welcome that bring apes and peacocks, and I know not what monsters both of principles and practice; then the Gold of Ophir. Nothing now adays is more degenerately forgotten then the true dignity of Man, almost in every respect, but especially in this, and which is the aggravation, so nearly concerning himself. Indeed man's disposition though prone to search after vain curiosities, yet when points of difficulty and danger are to be discussed, appertaining to the removal of some unreasonable wrong, burden, injury and abuse from the perplexed life of our Brother, it is incredible how cold, how dull, and far from all fellow-feeling we are: but when neither the spur of Philautie and self-concernment, as this of our dear life and health, brought into unworthy snares, without which we are useless and spiritless to ourselves and the Commonwealth, shall not stir us up to consider and bethink of an expedient to get from under them, into a more generous, easy, safe and exquisite way, both to preserve and obtain our healths; either not to plead for it, or nor to see it, argues a coldness, dulness and dotage little less than incurable, or a stark deadness, contracted by the Opium and Lethargy of epidemic ignorance: Indignities that merit a Lucan's spirit to lay open and explode them. And seriously by this and other of the like bulk and size, if the Genius of English men must thus go a fishing on t'other side to have a draught, must be sent a pilgrimage to the World's End, and fetch home the Apes and Peacocks of Foreigners, and their chimaerical humours, and all the way strike topsail, stand bare and veil with reverence, to the statue of Dispensatories of others ignorance and unexperienced formalities, and suffer these spurious brats to take the wall of all the free spirit of clear reasoning, and the sons of Art and Ingenuity, we are no better than slaves and fools, and of desert to be reckoned with the sons of Cham, and to work in the Laboratory of the Gibeonites. Let us resolve then like Men humble in the sight of God, and with no less faith and a serious judgement apply ourselves to the freeness And bounty of God in our own native Country: and know all the world, that the Divine goodness hath persuaded me that homebred diseases have their remedies likewise at home. And Chemical conclusions have taught me, that a little liquor may be provided, which will keep the tempers of simples uncorrupted, without any foreign condiment. They boil therefore herbs in water, Wine, or distilled liquor, (the absurdity, vanity and iniquity of which shall further be shown anon) even till the third part, or half be consumed, in a double vessel under a double Cover, and so make a decoction, or anti-Chimicall porridge; wherein if the chiefest powers do not perish, or are not evirate; yet is there nothing drawn from thence, but an ill pleasing and distasteful slime of herbs, to be digested by the stomach; although the decoctions and juices be clarified with whites of Fgges, and palliated with sugar. For they are drunk without separation of that which is pure, from that which is strengthless; without unlocking the hidden powers by the Turn-key of Pyrotechny; without the root and participation of the life, or emendation of the defects, crudities, excrements, and violent powers, whose activities we have no Opium to dead, nor our nature cannot without great prejudice endure.  
Within the same list are marshaled Electuaries, Confections, or Pills, either to comfort, or to loosen; who abound with greater miseries than the syrups; for without boiling, with mere pounding or poud'ring they are ridiculously, ignorantly and unadvisedly framed of many simples, which for the most part are in antipodaean position, and diametrally opposite one to another; so that they cannot conjoin the mutual help which they owe unto us. For it is not in Nature as it is in Numbers, where the powers all meet in one, because they agree by unities. For in natute every thing is singular, and lives of itself not delighting in conjunction. Thus far likewise the operations of Physic proceed into the midst of the life of the Archaeus; which by confusions and blending, if it do not altogether perish, yet is it at least manifestly evirate. For the frustrated successes of many seeds compacted together, and the autopticall unsuccesfulness of Physicians, by these weak and contemptible engines ought to have given sufficient warning to the Schools, that they should forbear from blending so many and different simples together. How much more when in that multitude, many counterfeit, opposite, useless, (but otherwise for the most part ponderous) impertinent, vain, improper, and therefore faint, overworn, evil, and dead things are added, or at least made: For although the adulterating of drugs are more justly charged upon the merchant then the druggist; yet not to garble them, is the part of a sluggish, ignorant, or covetous Apothecary. In the mean time it is certain that almost all the ingredients are taken crude, hard, unripe, shut, poisoned, impure, bound, and unapt to the communication of their powers, and are more depraved by mixture. And because the stomach of sick persons is hard-by, and in the threshold, therefore it is first offended, because it is feeble and unfit to extract the middle life, beset with so many difficulties: Wherefore we ought in our labours and singular care, to be beforehand, that we may prepare all things for the languishing stomach, if we hope with delight to attain unto the conceived and wished ends. Wherefore the use of all Confections is harsh, nauseous and tedious: Hence came the proverb, take that away, for it smells like a medicine.  
Likewise if you take from solutives, Scammony and Coloquintida, the whole Edifice of the shops in Solutives, will fall to the ground, those two pillars being removed, whereon it rested. For solutives besides Scammony, Coloquintida, euphorbium elaterium, esula and manifest poisons, and those beside adulterated, sordid and horrid; the source of the diminution of our forces and strength, contain nothing else, unless the same poisons be supposed to be allayed with aloes, rhubarb, seen, agaric, manna and the like, and so the more liable to imposture.  
The schools acknowledge that their purges down to Agarick, have need of correction, to the intent, that they may bring in their very mouths strength unto Nature: But ah would to God such lame Corrections were not idle and unprofitable, were not foolish; and that they might serve rather to compare the innocence of the medicine than his castration or gelding his powers: Because castration of powers, concludes and carries deceit in the very face; lest, as who should say, the sick might understand the poison, that is in it. The baleful remedies also of the shops, are like a Crocodile, or domestic wolf; who seeing his occasion, whilst he is trusted to, returns to his wont fierceness and cruelty of Nature: Hence neither dare they call their so corrected medicines by their proper Etymon: that is to say, they hide Scammony, under the name of diagredium, as also Colocynthis, they disguise under Alhandal. At length the compound laxatives in the Dispensatories, do war under a feigned and counterfeit title of Dux. In the mean while they cannot deny, but that in all, and every of their solutives, Scammony and Coloquintida, are the two pillars, on whom, the whole Edifice of purging doth rest and lean; in the collision of which, all, whatsoever is built thereon, doth fall to the ground. Their more gentle solutives then, as Manna, Cassia, Seney, rhubarb etc. have given up their names to those two burley standard leaders.  
The schools confess that a laxative medicine being exhibited, is no longer in the power of the Physician; yea, and that more is, they by this means defame the Laxatives, and therefore esteem them less and set them behind phlebotomy. For if the laxative hath committed any thing too cruel, they are wont to accuse either the dose, or the correction, or the sluid nature of the sick, or the Apothocary, or the servants, or the wife, or some body, or something, lest otherwise the name and fame of a solutive medicine should perish: yet notwithstanding in the mean while they confess, will they nill they, that all solutives contain in them a corrupting, wasting poison, and only Aloes alone, they have made a proverb, and call it innocuous. But the rest are administered with additament, correction and circumspection, and not preposterously, nor overhastily. Of late, a certain learned man to preserve his health, took the usual pill, ex aloe lota, (castrata potius) and not finding the effect, he goes to round another Physician in the ear, and tells him of it, who blames the sluggishness of Aloes, and moreover turns Picron sive amarum, into pigrum: I'll prescribe you, says he, gelded pills; which being taken, he miserably perishes, because he had laboured a whole week in vain, that he might reform the disordered effect of the laxative medicine. He therefore that he might free himself from a future disease, perishes by the deceit of the Physician, and leaves behind him eleven children. Whence first it is manifest, that it's as free in a laxative to rage fierce in one, that is well in health, as in one that is sick; for this thing may go on raging against the life of Magistrates and chiefest Governors, and that scot-free, without danger of punishment, under those two cheats, the name of a Physician, and the deceit of a medicine; because the Earth covers the cruel ignorance and unskilfulness of the Physicians.  
It's a specious title truly that of purgation or depuration, but full of deceit God knows. Ah! would to God that the Physicians purge could expiate diseases. Would to God as touching this, it may not be, that the sick would expect purges from the hands of a Physician, or his prescription. It's worth our serious sorrow surely that they say, a loosning medicine administered before the concoction of the disease, brings forth those humours (for they will have laxatives have eyes, like that Epidaurean serpent, to bring forth by selection one humour and not another) which otherwise, after the aforesaid concoction of the disease, would be unuseful, yea, and hurtful. Notwithstanding neither will they learn hitherto from hence, that the humours brought out by laxatives, are not humours, nor things offending; (for otherwise, in either station of a disease, and with one only laxative, they should necessarily help equally, if they bring out the same peccant matter) but mere putrefaction, and mere rotten consumed melted matter through the poison of the laxatives. So much the more unhappily is the enemy received, in regard he may exercise this cruel raging and ravening within, in the flesh and in the blood.  
To prosecute the deciphering of those cruelties and outrages which are committed by laxatives, it will not be besides our purpose, to relate a story of our friend in this business, which he mentions of himself; and it is that acute Philosopher and ingenious Helmont, who when he was young, put on the glove of a certain damosel infested with a dry itch or scab; where he had contracted, first on that hand, then on the other, an unlucky scabbiness, of a Purulent constitution, and with pustules. The signior Physicians of the City being called, they commanded, first a vein to be opened for the cooling of the liver: then, with an apozeme for three days, they addressed themselves to prepare for the deduction of yellow torrid Choler, and salt phlegm; and at length they intent the Purgation of the aforesaid humours, by the pills of fumitory, and they abundantly provoked many sieges. And he was therewith glad, that he had excreted such a heap of stinking matter. They advise therefore the same medicine to be taken the third day after, and again also after three days with the like success: And says he, if all had been put together, it would have easily filled two buckets of filthy rotten and stinking stuff; which he did then think to be humours. He then who before was sound and lusty, in his full strength, light and ●imble in leaping and running; was now made macilent, his knees trembling, his cheeks were fallen, and his voice hoarse. I said (relates he) and that too late. In what chamber of this my peaceable Inn, did this crowd of s●i●king and unworthy guests lodge and take up quarters? For I found not, neither in the Crown office, my head; nor in the white-Hall of my breast, or uncle Johns-House of my body the belly, any place for so great a Farrago. For although all my bowels should be taken away, yet could not the whole jakes or cavity contain scarce half the quantity. I conclude therefore with myself, that those humours were not preexisting▪ but made in me. And I knew, that that rotten stinking melted stuff, was made by the medicine I had taken; which same thing would have come to pass as often as I had taken it: But it seems he was still troubled with his guest, the scrubadoe, and that the same scab had possessed him as before. Whence may be known.  
1. That this our porous velame, that is obtended like a scarf over the whole frame of the body is the topic habitaculum of that contagion the f●b, and is a disease of the pellis, and scarce enters beyond the confines of the membrana carnosa, and not an intemperature of the liver.  
2. That the vicious temper of those humours in the scab, are false and feigned, which were produced by the only tact of the glooe.  
3. That laxative medicines do not at all purge or mundify, but putirfie.  
4. That they eliquate the vivid substance of the body, and resolve it into corruption.  
5. That they indifferently contaminate whatsoever by any means they can come unto; whether it be the Blood, or the living flesh itself; and that they do not, nor cannot selectively separate and draw forth one humour, from another.  
6. That the contaminated doth denote his contaminating to be mere poison, and doth effect only the liquefaction and putrefaction of the body.  
7. That the contaminated matter, nature driving forth, will flow out until the whole strength of the medicine be exantlate.  
8. That this cometh to pass as well in a sound man, as in a sick.  
9 And therefore that a solutive medicine▪ is full of danger, before Nature is victrix in diseases: For afterwards, it doth not so manifestly show its hurt. Which things having so seriously weighed with myself unto satiety of conviction and satisfaction, gave me ample cause to suspect the use of laxatives, especially those of the shops now in common use.  
A woman in Sepulchers parish near snow-hill, of a laudable constitution, strong and lusty, took a potion of my own prescription, and it was only of the common infusion of Senna and Rhubarb; to whose streining was added only one ounce of syrup of Cychory with Rhubarb; and she confessed, with others, it gave her above forty stools, and might have gone very near to have done violence to her life, had not I with much industry applied myself to stay it; which was done with good success. A certain man also took a Scammoniate medjoine, and in one day, it gave him above forty stools, which together with his piss that he made that day, was weighed, and they weighed eighteen pounds and seven ounces of stinking yellow stuff. Now in sooth, if that rotten melted stuff, be Choler, and one of the four; then the residue of fleam in the body, (exceeding choler by one third part, according to Galen) shall weigh twenty seven pounds and ten ounces; and by the same compute, there shall exceed nine pounds, and three ounces of pure black choler; that is, of fleam and melancholy not mingled with yellow choler, thirty six pound and thirteen ounces. It's clear therefore that in a purge there is no purification of the body, but rather a distemperature of the remaining humours if there be any such things. Then, that the aforesaid solution, is not a selective mundation of the choler, or a freeing of the body from superfluous choler: but a mere putrefactive eliquation of the blood. Because while the blood is in the veins, it doth not stink; but by and by, it stinks in the guts, in the same instant, when it falls out of the veins: But I pray you, what house of office or Close-stool is there in the body, that can contain thirty seven pounds of fleam, and the remnants of black choler? chiefly when from a purge, the veins which before were full, are now fallen, and appear no more: for the following morning, the wretched man who trusted to the Physician's judgement, and thought himself so well purged and cleansed, speaks now with a small, sharp and hoarse voice; his hands tremble, his knees shake, his eyes hollow, his veins exhausted his look ghastly, and pressed with an unreasonable thirst, and dejected appetite, thought he should never recover: And certainly if the dose of the laxative had been greater, it would have had his due, and might have made but an ill business of it. By this strong purgation then, may be guessed, nay doth clearly appear the virulent propriety of solutives.  
The Physicians having their excuse ready, and to salve up the business and their ignorance say, it was the easy nature of the man, in obeying the medicine too much, thereby shunning the aforesaid Colluvies of the remaining humours, and also the disproportion of the same. The which Scammoneats, doth not only draw forth choler out of propriety; but of the blood itself, or the compound out of the four, there is made up that one liquamen, that heap of stinking resolved matter: Whence we again conclude it an imposture and cheat, which supposes to bring forth choler or fleam, or avouches, that purges, so called, are the Gold-finders, or like the City Night-men, do cleanse and mundify the body of its filth and impurities by the bosom of laxation or appropriate and selective deduction; or that they can single out one humour from another, and fall foul upon it, and like a special Bailiff, arrest one humour from all its fellows, without bail or mainprize, though they are all, subsidy entities according to the Galenists) and of the grand Jury at the Assizes of life and death held in the Guild-hall or Court of our body▪ which to affirm is a madness and dotage beyond the power of hellebore; when themselves confess that all are eliquated together: And according to Galen, when the blood begins to putrefy there is made choler: and it's false that a cholagogall medicine (verbi gratia) will cure bilious diseases. And that it is a deceit in them, who say, they bring out choler, when the other three being first corrupted, are also cast forth. There is no man that is studious of Truth who doth not understand this thing presently, that the Basis of healing of the Ancients is overthrown, as well in respect of the humours, as of the selection of solutive medicines. To me seriously it's a wonder not much on this side an astonishment, that the world hath not yet considered the perniciousness of laxatives, who otherwise can so quickly sent and perceive any vile arts bordering upon their own purse or profit. It's out of doubt truly, but that laxatives may carry an occult poison, which hath made so many thousands of poor widows and orphans. Nor do they bring forth a singular humour after them, which things never were in Nature, unless in the books of Physicians. For truly, increase the dose of the laxative, and it betrays itself to be a deadly poison.  
Well, go to yet, I pray you, why doth that your choler following with such a swift flux, stink so abominably, which but one quarter of an hour before, did not stink at all? For the celerity of the flux, takes away the occasion of putrefaction, and so also of stink. For 'tis a Cadaver or dead body that stinks, & not the turd: Neither could it so suddenly borrow, or be impregnated with such a savour of a strong stinking turd from the guts. Therefore stink smells of poison, and indicateth an efficient poison, and cadavorous matter taken from the living: which I do thus experimentally prove. If any one have drunk a dram of white vitriol, dissolved in wine, by and by it provokes vomit. But if presently upon the drinking of it, he takes down a draught of beer, water, etc. he shall truly have most stools, and yet verily without stink. Scammony therefore and vitriol do equally liquate the mesaraick blood: This truly, with the violent ponticity of itself; but that, with the putrefactive and stinking strong poison of the laxatives. For which consideration alone, a purgation, aught to be suspected as a cruel and stupid invention. For if according to Galen, while the blood begins to putrefy there is made choler, then that same stinking, and yellow melted matter driven out by laxatives, and counterfeiting choler, is generated of putrefied blood: And by consequence the laxatives themselves are resolvers and putreiyers of the blood: which is easily gathered out of Galen, against the schools wills. For he chiefly commends treacle, forasmuch as it powerfully resists poisons: also he asserts it, to be the most knowing sign of the best treacle, that if treacle be taken, together with laxatives, undoubtedly there will not follow any sieges. Do not these words of Galen convince, that laxatives are mere poisons? To which suspicion, the effects also do agree. For a purging medicine being taken, both the sick man and the sound do equally cast out resolved matter, of the same colour, smell and condition: wherefore it doth not expel the peccant humour, before the non-peccant, but doth indifferently contaminate whatsoever it comes to. Moreover the schools do impugn this selective liberty which they attribute to laxatives. For if any humour of the four be putrid in fevers, it doth naturally betoken the ablation of it: But Laxatives may selectively draw out the humour out of the blood; yea, in sound folks, as they list they liquefie the sound flesh; that thence they may obtain their scope, which is to pour down the stinking rotten resolved matter, into the common-shore of the Oeconomy, of which the womb makes ejectment. Verily laxatives will not have the like liberty in fevers, to the drawing forth of the peccant and putrid excrement. For the putrid hath no more its pristine essence and properties, which it had before its putrefaction. For although the loadstone may draw iron; it will not therefore draw rust. Therefore though a purging medicine may resolve the flesh and blood, that thence it may draw forth choler, which by a specific propriety, being o'ercome, doth draw unto itself: it doth not therefore in like sort draw the putrid and putrefied matter included in the veins, which would be the cause of fevers. There is no man truly should ever die by fevers, if those two axioms of the schools were true: To wit, if putrid humours be the cause of fevers; and also, if they yield selectively to purges: It would over and beside be mad caution, that purging medicines should not be given in the beginning of fevers, before the matter grew turgid; that is to say, before a maturity and concoction of the peccant matter, whence is sufficiently manifest, that the black and dismal use of laxatives are hardly on this side the banks of phlegetontal and direful evils. But if they should be given after that the matter of the disease is rightly subdued, the aforesaid caution contains an imposture too, forasmuch as the effect procured of its own accord and by the benefit of nature, is attributed to the solvent medicine: from which also truly the good and honest Physician should more justly abstain; because else it may perturb the crisis, and induce the danger of confusion and recidivation: verily a true and perfect purge, which is to say, a cleanser of the body, aught to work only upon impure, unsound bodies. Here it ought to be a Herculean actor in the Augaean stables or Dunghill of impurities, and not in the Seraglio or fresh and fair garden of healthy and sound persons. And because of this it's most perfect, which first of all insensibly lulls asleep and pacifies the Archaeus, which afterwards (seeing Nature is sola medicatrix) mows down the weeds, the thorns and thistles of Diseases, and morbific distempers, and the occasional causes of them.  
But they object for their purgers, that it's nothing, though a laxative medicine casts forth the laudable juice out of the veins, chiefly because it drives out with a stronger power and shorter cut the morbific faeces. Nor is it greatly to be regarded, though solutives do make a little diminution of the strength, with the more crude blood. But it may be made appear unto ample satisfaction by the consent of experience, that laxatives do not take away the noxious humours, or any disease lodged in them. Then, that there are no such things in Nature; nor was ever this meridian of humours ever touched or come nigh to, by those, who, Drake-like, have compassed the whole Globe and round of Nature, and taken all her dimensions by the jacob's staff of perspective reason and experience; but hangs only (like castles in the air) in the Utopia of vulgar Physicians brains, or in the narrow creek of their base-born books, and no where else: neither do any diseases respond or go a pilgrimage to lodge in the Newfoundland of Americall or Prestor-John humours. Then also, that whatsoever the cathartics profligate, banish, and cast out from the Independency of our vital Oeconomy, is not one of the three humours which they say offends, is become malignant, and endeavours to settle a commission of array, to plunder not the petty suburbs but the Westminster-Hall of our sanity and strength, and hath been found, not only pleading for the monarchy and tyranny of diseases and distempers, but in actual arms against the Republic; for which he is adjudged a Delinquent and Traitor, and to be sequestered and thrust out of the lines of Communication, by the backdoor or port esquiline of our healthful City: but is only the honest round-head, a true and peaceable Commonwealthsman; the blood who is chosen and ordained to be one of the Keepers of the liberties, life and health of our bodies, now slain by the laxative medicine, and sacrificed as a Holocaust on the Altar of its virulency and poison. Therefore neither dare they give purges in acute fevers, unless it be after the matter grows turgid, which is as much as to say, after Nature hath returned Conqueress▪ For when the diseased guest is o'ercome and now of his own accord about to retreat, would fall out, with other filth brought to pass by the Physic! unless the Archaeus being pricked with indignation by an hostile impression of the virulent medicine cast in, stirs up a fresh assault or recidivation of the disease; which thing we have observed to happen frequently. Every laxative therefore is absolutely noxious, and also frustraneous, we should therefore be guilty before God, and uncharitable to man, if we did not persuade to abstain altogether from purges. For let but a virulent solutive be a little while detained in the stomach, and it doth putrefy, and contaminate whatsoever was deposited in the mesentery to better uses: and draws in place of the putrefied treasury, the depurated blood from the vena cava, and doth leisurely contaminate it with a virulent contagion, and eliquate it with the stinking ferment of the cadaver. Hence is that loss and overthrowing of the strength by laxatives, and perturbation of the vital monarchy, without hope of sanation from thence. And this rage of the laxatives doth endure, not only when they are present, but after they are gone, they leave such a tincture behind them, as causeth the body to work till it's wholly spent, and hath sufficiently sated itself on the living substances thereof; for the poison hath tainted with its contagion both the stomach and intestines. For so in some persons an artificial Diarrhaea hath arisen, which thence forwards hath continued until their dying day, and laughed at the promised help, and inefficacious tried means of astringents. The use of laxatives therefore are altogether to be disallowed and forbidden: Repetitions of purgations are more wicked and hurtful; and indeed every purge is both frustraneous and hurtful, in respect, they level their power only against the productions or effects, and not against the Causes; chiefly when viscid excrements are seated remotely from the stomach, they are too stubborn and refractory to yield to the laxative operation of Purgers. If any please to add, that although Laxatives may seem to have afforded ease and relief, for a day or two after their use insomuch as the mass of crude and inconfected blood in the mesaraick veins being voided by stool, there must of necessity succeed the more sparing dispensation of blood through the body, and penury of nourishment in the lungs, and by consequence a less quantity of excrement be rejected: yet do they, by substracting from the necessary aliment of the whole, and by leaving behind them an evil tincture in the instruments of common digestion, every day more and more infringe the universal Oeconomy of the body, and impugn the conserving vigour of nature. Wherefore we conclude with Hypocrates ad Democritum that every solutive works with the deprae'dation of the strength, and very substance of our bodies.  
Wherefore there is no Physician, that can faithfully or dares freely promise health; by any laxatives of the shops. But true solutives, as they neither putrefy, nor bring forth selectively any feigned humours; nor resolve the vitals, so do they discover themselves by a threefold character.  
First, That they bring forth nothing out of a sound body, nor do they move, alter, or make it ●m. Then that they thrust not any thing out; but what offends: and therefore do not aggravate but lighten the burden, and then by and by the sick feels himself well. Then thirdly, that they draw not forth the disease neither by sweat, vomit, or siege; but insensibly resolve, in whatsoever part the disease is lodged, the rest nature being busied about. Laxatives of this sort do not selectively bring out humours (which are feigned in themselves) but (seeing that we are not nourished but with one only juice, namely, blood, therefore we intent the propulsion, not of blood, but of morbific exerements) do resolve whatsoever exotic or alien guest is inserted within the Inn of life, but not the vitals: unless they be taken in an indiscreet dose or too often: otherwise they only respect excrements, Nature with in lending help to this purpose.  
Thus than the compound laxatives of the shops have appeared in their colours, that they are an imposture, mere poisons, resolvers of the flesh and blood, diminishers of our strength and substance, and themselves diminished, and enervated of their powers by their correctives. Wherefore we hate the preparation of simples, as oft as lotion, boiling, roasting, association, or calcination wasteth the powers thereof. For Aloes by ablution looseth the juice, and there remaineth a mere resin, which by its adhaesion to the entrails, stirreth up gripe and hemorroids.  
In a word whereas the genial and chief virtue of spices, is chiefly in that which carrieth the scent, if this of its own accord vanish, and of its non accord strike the smell, what at length will not be effected by boiling and roasting, especially when a degree is added? which our distillations of odoriferous things do teach us.  
Finally, what can be said more absurdly in the schools, then to reduce hartshorn into ashes, which are altogether unsavoury and without virtue, for great purposes? And instead of preparation to substitute castration, or rather privation? For we have had the leisure to learn that most remedies with their odour and sapour, as well within, as without, do help our infirmities; and therefore we have detested the mixtures of simples in that if you add another odour to a sanative one, that may drown the other, palliate, or turn it into itself, or raise up a neuter out of both together, we know that the sanative virtue will be abolished, and the effect wished for by the patient, be made void. Therefore the association of spices and sweet things is by us suspected.  
Moreover we for the most part hate the other Confections of the shops, because they are without virtue, wherein they endeavour with certain ridiculous things to palliate and allay the excessive and violent power of things, yea in the mean time they give out that the innate benefit of such a medicine is as much promoted, as there is power taken away by the addition of other strong things. For with the greatest part they mix some grains of Cinnamon, or other vain things, that they may quell the fury of the more violent ingredients; as if the madness of the laxatives were 〈◊〉 with some grains of spices. Besides who is there, though meanly instructed in Chemical matters, who knoweth not that in aromatical confections, the chiefest fault is committed by the plurality of the ingredients? Next that most of them offend in crudity, hardness, chausure, choice and substitution. Again that they are put in with an uncertain dose? By which means the hoped effect is disappointed, and that by the error of each. And to wind up all in one example: what is there in the confection Lithon-tribon, or stone break that is answerable to the promises of the etymon or derivation of the word? For to what purpose is Cinnamon, Cloves, the 3 peppers, acorns, costus, rhapentick, Cassia, idly, mastic, amomum, peucedanum, spike, ginger, the wood and juice of balsam, tragacanthum, germander, euphorbium, the oils of nard and moschelinum? Do every one of these conspire to the end proposed in the denomination of the medicine? Or from them being blended, and marring the intentions of each other, will a new virtue arise, to perform the promised Cure? Can it powerfully break the stone in the kidney and bladder? And presently lose all the defects of the urine? Or rather will not the juice of balsam perish among the other grolleries and trifles? But in opiate confections the same absurdity is observed as in the aromatic ones. Which we will also dispatch in one example.  
For to what purpose in the Aurea Alexandrina Nicolai is there a blending of sixty five Ingredients? Of which simples there is none of kin with Opium, and Mandrake, the pillars of the Confection. Of the like calculation are those cardinal columns of Galeni●●ll Physic▪ Mithidate and treacle, the beloved Minerva's of our Physicians and Fools, at this day, deified as little Indian Deiries, or he when superstitious Moors salute his li●ht; so do those heads, who being ignorant of all things, foolishly admire all things so easily entertain them, and with that infatuated reverence, worse than moorish: as if they were Dame Natures second or herself, her chief friend, her true Celestial balsam, her life, power and activity, the only refiner and sequestrator General of all her impurities, when in sober truth, both to themselves and nature, they are in direct antipathy, as the Zenith to the Nadir; and little less than a stark and dead congèalment of wood and hay & stubble forced together; the totality of whose number, nature, essence and property is but a mere olla podrida, not a whit convenient, nor effectually prepared by any art, industry or dexterity; and they have caught pro Junone Nubem. Medicines are like unto actors in the body of man, the soene: The Epitasis or main end of them, aught to be homogeniety in themselves and to nature, that so both may play their parts, before they make their exit, or quietus est.  
Truly the combining of simples, made according to the pleasure of some ignorant fellow, is of as idle cordage, as his, who went about to twist a rope of sand, which was a task, they say, that posed the Devil; that, that hath infatuated the schools, exanimated and tortured the sick; having put them in hope, they have failed them, and by uncertain conjectures have set to sale the opportunities of curing, which are ready to slip away every moment, and causeth them to pass over. Wherefore the compositions of the shops, if you examine them with a single eye, and unprejuced mind, will every where in the syrups, electuaries, pills, Loches, Troshiscks and other like, fill you with a profitable admiration to observe how the world by the prattle of Physicians and fooleries of the Schools, and their vain presumptions is deluded and baffled▪ For we Christians believe with the Stoics that the World was created for the use of man: which we having heretofore diligently pondered in the concentrations of our mind, the result was, that the use of man might very commodiously have been without so many poisons. For we found that these more cold climates of ours, were herein more happy, that they had no creeping things that were both monstrous and poisonous, wherewith the hotter Zone abounded. Certainly we have not much need of poisons, or familiarity with, or abundance of them, neither will their use any ways compensate so many calamities arising from them: yea if the Earth bring forth thistles and thorns for the curse of sin, certainly she bears far greater calamities on her back as well in the tribe of living creatures, as vegetables, which are hurtful to the life of man. Wherefore the text threateneth the least part by thistles and thorns, of those evils which by the subtlety of the Serpent, man hath felt. Certainly if it be well searched out, Nature hath hardly any thing free which hath not its poison secretly mingled with it. For we have no Roses and Violets which do not cozen us, and under so great fragrancy of smell do not hide the contagions of poison; namely, the signs of Putrefaction, the colliquation of our body, and stealing away our strength. Wherefore making a list of the simples, we shall find but few of them hurtless; yea, if you behold the fields, the whole globe of the earth, is but one contiguous spider's web. Moreover if we look narrowly into it, there seems to be at this day the same face of things, as was before the first sin. And consequently perhaps from the beginning, there were more hurtful and noisome poisons then good things on the earth, yet was there no exterminating medicine for man, because Paradise wanted such poisons, although Serpents were there, or perhaps for immortalities' sake, poisons would have been nothing to man in Eden. But on the contrary, the Almighty saw, that whatsoever things he had made even in the world without Paradise, were good in themselves, and to their ends. wherefore we must confess a while ago we doted, thinking that poisons were unworthy to be; both because the honour of God required not their existence, as also that man would have more willingly been without many poisons whereupon we thought that poisons were neither conducible to the glory of God, nor to the use of man. For there are but few harmless ones, which one may use without caution, but the greatest part contend against us with horrid Tyranny. Others gnaw us while they burn with their sharpness. But the greatest part under a friendly and fair show do beguile us, and hide within a destructive enemy. In a word, every thing is full of filth, and is horrid with impurities, and consisting of crudities, disproportionablenesse and invincible pertinacy of perversity. For though man were brought into Paradise, yet did the Creator know from eternity that the world should be a dwelling for him; and as he gave the earth to the Children of men, so he created the same with all the contents thereof for man. At length taking a view of all things by Chemistry, and seeing them more clearly, we repented of out rastinesse, and former foolish ignorance. For in both we adored in suppliant wise with admiration the immense Clemency and wisdom of the Architect. For he would not have poisons be poisons, or prejudicial to us. For he made not death; nor any exterminating medicine in the earth, but rather that by a little industry of ours they might be changed into great pledges of his love, for the use of mortals, against the rage of future diseases. For in them lieth hid that help, which more kind and familiar simples do otherwise deny. For the greater and heroic uses of Physicians such horrid poisons are reserved. For brutes scarce feed upon them, either that they intuitively know the poison, which otherwise is not discovered by the smell or taste: or that some spirit governing bruits, doth keep those poisons for greater uses, as being heirs of the greatest virtues. It is at least sufficient that the bruits leave to us the chiefest remedies, as it were by the Command of the most High, who taketh more care of us then of beasts. For crude Asarum, with what anguish is it vomited up, being a present poison, the stomach doth sufficiently testify? as also how it is mitigated with boiling, and the poison changed into an opening diuretic, the remedy of slow fevers, which thing discovers the aroma that was hidden therein.  
Thus Aron boiled with vinegar becometh mild, and is the cure of great Symptoms. Wherefore the Schools have set on foot Corrections and we could wish they were not ridiculous ones, and such as gold and take away the force and virtue of simples: for they think that the laxative part flieth away from Asarum, by boiling, no otherwise then in length of time, everything putrefieth with its own mould. Yet at least the root of Asarum doth not alike grow mild being sodden with wine, as if it be boiled in water; yet in alike degree of fire the laxative part thereof would in like manner expire. Others therefore think that the crudity in Asarum is the cause of Solution; but these neglect the herbs that are more crude than Asarum, and consider not that hellebore would not be brought to maturity by boiling, if vomiting arose from crudity. They boil Scammony in sour things, that they may mitigate it, but ordinary Physicians know that Scammony is by this means gelded, so that if it be exposed to the sour vapour of Sulphur, it will be wholly deprived of its virtue; so that so much sourness as it takes, so much of its own property is lost.  
But we desiring with a fatherly mind to correct the raging force of medicines, well understand that the ancient powers of things ought to remain, and in their root to be turned inward, or under their simplicity, to be transmuted into other properties there privily lurking under the guard of the poison, or gotten anew by reason of the perfection added: by which means Coloquintida turneth inward its laxative and noxious quality, and there ariseth from the bottom a resolutive power, that excellency cureth chronical diseases. For Paracelsus in the tincture of the Lily of Antimony, did with praise attempt that; yet he concealed it, or was ignorant that the same cometh to pass in all the venoms of animals and vegetables, by their circulated salt. For all their venom perisheth, if they return into their first entities. This high pitch, not the schools, but Gods chosen Physicians, whom the Almighty hath elected from their mother's womb, shall know in the age to come, and it shall make a difference between the sheep and the goats, between them who enter into the medical Temple by the door of the light of Nature, and the expert mechanic practices of Philosophy; and those who climb up by the window of their own pride, self-conceit and the darkness of Ethnic books. Wherefore the simples that are of great powers are not to be castrated, nor to be mortified, but to be meliorated by art, for the extraction of the things that lie hid, or by the suspension of the virulency, or substitution of one for another, by adding strong specificals.  
Thus much let this serve for them, to whom it hath not been given to taste the power of the greater circulated salt. For some things laying down their wildness, grow mild by the addition of other things, and become neuters, partaking of the powers on both sides. Neither is it therefore lawful to borrow such kind of additions from the received Dispensatories of the shops, which do not teach the melioration, or corrections, but the destruction of things, either altogether, or else afford but trifling Correctives. For example, the marquis Charles Spinelli General of the Tuscans; when he had walked on foot about the City of Florence, and viewed all the walls, commanded the Physicians to be called, and said unto them, that he had sometimes been sick of an Epilepsy, and was cured by Helmont, but afterwards was ever and anon troubled with a dizziness: after that he passed over the sea from Aquitane to Tuscany the College of Physicians, on the morning following prescribe him a scruple of white hellebore, and for a corrective add as much Anniseeds: Half an hour after he vomits, and in vain implores the help of his Physician being absent, accusing his murderers and saying: Helmonte mio, voi me lo dicesti gli medici tuccideranno: my Helmont, you told me the Physicians would kill me. He held his peace, and after two hours, his stomach first suffering a convulsion, and then his whole body, he dieth in a swound. The Physicians seek excuses, and the earth covered their fault. For thus the Confections of the Schools by their foolish corrective Dispensatories, take up many things to fill up the load. The Opiates have chiefly hot things added to them; but laxatives for the most part ginger, mace, anise; and whatsoever things ease gripe, which follow from the laxatives. Oh with what licence doth ignorance rage uncontrolled amongst men! How little do they understand their Hypocrates: If those things be taken away which ought, (that is, such things as are hurtful and burdensome) the patient mends, and easily beareth it. For since those things that hurt within, do ofttimes not weigh a dram, all the purgation that ends in health, must be an evacuation either imperceptible, or at least very moderate, and with a restauration of the strength. For these are the things which patients easily endure with content. Wherefore the correctives of medicines are unprofitable loads, and without knowledge of things described by the Schools, and so destructive to the medicines at least, if not to the Patients. This part of Physic requires a skilful and exact secretary of Nature; because therein, the ample riches of medicines, and the golden householdstuff of Glanra is found. The Schools had heretofore learned of our Philosophers, that most excellent virtues dwell in simples, that were guarded with destructive poisons. This made way for the rashness of the Schools, who mingled the poisons drawn out by expression, and the corrosives opened with their antidotes: hoping that by the goodness and quantity of the adjuncts, the malignity of the poison would be overcome; as if it were agreeable to health, to have a pestilent glove brought to guests into a chamber replenished with wholesome air. For we do not here accuse the viper in treacle, without which it would but be as it were a cadaverous heap of simples. For the flesh of vipers is in itself unhurtfull and without poison, yea an Antidote against it. But the Troshiscks made thereof, by being boiled, leave all their virtue in the broth, which the raw flesh did conserve. Concerning Arsenic in this place we complain, being Magisterially, as they call it, put into Antidotes. For the Schools presume for the rarity of their boldness to deserve belief, and to place the glory of studies in the authority of possession. Neither is it perpetual that the most excellent virtues attend about poisons in the same subject, so that they are covered by the poisons. For Arsenic, Orpiment etc. though they be fixed and dulcorated, are yet never to be taken inwards, although others persuade the contrary: they are only good applied outwards, and kill other poisons of ulcers, and tame them if they themselves be first tamed. Wherefore the corrections of medicines, are without the knowledge of properties, parts and Consonancies. For what doth a spice weigh in respect of a poison? If the whole body being lusty and full of life doth presently fall down being smitten with the tooth of a viper? will Napelles grow mild with the admixture of cloves? Will Coloquintida cease to cause putrefaction with his torsions, if it be joined with Tragacant? Therefore corrections in Dispensatories are grievances, and dull additaments, which do not mitigate the virulencies, but wast the powers of medicines. For as poisons have a fermental quickness of working, so care should be taken that the strength and quickness of medicines might be conserved, and they by the applications of Art be directed against the necessities of chronical and remote diseases. This only thing remained in this business, that we infringe and subdue the violence of the thing, with a fermental propagation. Wherefore as we in general pity the Compositions and Corrections of the shops, so we yet more detest the precipitations, vitrifications, and preparations of Mercury, Antimony, Tuty, Sulphur etc. And also the adulterations of Spirits from Aromaticks: hot seeds, of vitriol, of sulphur etc. For they are prepared for gain by our fugitive servants, and furnish Apothecaries shops, rather in comtempt of Chemistry, than the defect of patients. In like manner we deplore the shameful simplicity of those, who with great hope prescribe to patients those painted butterflies of leafe-gold, and pounded Jewels; selling their ignorance, if not their fraud, at agreat rate. As if the stomach could thence expect the least help. More subtle and therefore more to be condoled is the error of those, who corrode gold, silver, Coral, pearls and the like with sour liquors, and think they dissolve them, so that they will be easily admitted into the veins, truly communicating their properties to us. For they are ignorant, alas! ignorant that sourness is an enemy to the veins, and therefore that the foreign sourness of the dissolvents being overcome and transmitted, such metals and stones are powder, as before. Which though it be brought into a most fine flower, yet cannot the same be subdued by the stomach, or impart its strength to us. Which that it may be apparent to the sight, pour salt of Tartar on the things dissolved, in some pontic corrosive liquor, and presently being dissolved, it will fall to the bottom in form of powder. For if aqua fortis change not metals in the substance, although those things become transparent, that were before opacous: nothing hinders but that silver may be thence again recovered. With what blindness therefore do they prescribe stones and pearls, as though by corrosives they left their former essence of stone or metal? For it was the invention of a subtle deceiver, that he might before his patients set a high rate on his potions. Because ignorant deceivers think, if the thing dissolving be not by the sight distinguished from the thing dissolved, that the thing dissolved is truly and substantially transmuted. They urge, that pearls, Coral etc. are not dissolved in acid liquors, but only as it were calcined by the salts of the things dissolving. And this they prove by silver dissolved in Aq. fortis or regis, which from thence is brought back again whole; therefore hath not lost its pristine essence: and this they wrest to the aforesaid stones, and urge it, because by the salt of the alkali of Tartar, the same stone is again precipitated to the bottom, which before was an invisible powder; forasmuch as the alcaal salt doth drink up the acetous salt, which did contain in itself the powder of the stones. But they perceive not, first of all, that their own principles do both teach and extol dissolutions of this sort: Then also, that the stomach wants this salt of Tartar, that she may precipitate the dissolved powders, and separate them from the thing dissolving, and therefore they propose a ridiculous thing. And by consequence, that the matter of Pearls, Coral, etc. once dissolved after this manner, remains dissolved, and is admitted into the veins with the liquors of the Chime, and moreover is transmuted into urine or blood, and performs what is promised. To which we subjoin an answer. That Nature hath no need of the salt of Tartar, to the separating of this powder, from the thing dissolving: Because she is taught as well by means of the aliment received, as of her own proper digestion, to sequester this powder. For there are very many things amongst food, which do show forth this effect. Such as are potherbs and Vulnerary-herbs etc. which for the most part have a lixivial volatile salt. Moreover the digestion itself of the stomach ordinarily doth transmute acid vegetable spirits substantially into a faline volatile salt of urine: which when she may no longer enjoy her pristine power of dissolving, which she at first had in acidity; by and by she relinquisheth (that is precipitates) the powder, which before she had dissolved under her own acidity: and therefore before the mouths of the mesaraick veins doth precipitate, and cast off the aforesaid powder.  
But the Galenists go on and urge saying, that Bezoar-stones, and Crabs-stones (erroneously called Crabs-eyes) etc. as well taken in powder, as dissolved in some acid dissolving thing, do notably help in the plague, fevers, stone, wounded persons, and bruised from on high. Wherefore it savours of simplicity to deny the same in pearls, Coral, etc. To which we answer, That Gems, stones, and things of a saxatile substance do differ much among themselves. For first of all Gems, flints, marbles, and whatsoever have a crystalline hardness, do not at all act or suffer in us, or by us, unless per modum appensi & periapti; and that but a little while, only until they pass from the mouth thorough the excrements. Very languid therefore is the virtue of these, because it lies hid and shut up in too dense a body. But pearls and Coral, and whatsoever else hath a saxatile hardness of shellfish, must give place truly to gems for hardness; and yet they are not therefore digested in the Athanor of our Oeconomy, so well as in the stomach of some birds. But the stones of Bezoar and of Crabs etc. not so hard as pearls, are not of a saxatile nature: but are rather made of a lacteous semi-caseate & semi-petrified juice, and have a neutral nature of a tophe, between a Cartilege and a stone. To this that hath been said, for the better understanding of the truth we take leave to add, That though Bezoar stones, and the stones of Crabs etc. as touching the solid matter of their powder, are in no wise digested in the Balneum of our stomach; although they carry in their breasts a lacteous and mucilaginous juice, of great virtue, yet of an exiguous quantity; such as happens to be drawn forth also by the decoction of hartshorn rasped. If therefore you boil the powder of the aforesaid stone in rain or distilled water, and streining the decoction by a filter you separate it from the powder, & this also draw off by distillation per Balneum, you shall then find somewhat of the aforesaid muccilage. But the rest of the powder, as it is not overcome by elixation, so it continues in a permanency of indigestion in the stomach, not to be subdued by charms, or won to the sceptre of subjection, neither by entreaties, nor by the whole power of the Archaeus. And moreover from the small quantity of the aforesaid liquor the reason's manifest, why one dram of the aforesaid powder of bezoar stone taken in some vehicle, effects more than one scruple of the same.  
Here it will not be impertinent, nor beside the Cushion, if we speak of (not as falling foul upon it, but taking in our way) that scarecrow of imaginary and panic fear of the numerous vulgar and pusillanimous Physicians, concerning the dose or quantity to be taken at a time of Bezoar-stone. We intent not to make it our design to beat down, or make apocryphal the praecipitous opinion of the common people, in their obstinate creed and implicit confidence in the goodness of this stone, from the incredible number of them in this Country, and in all Europe; whereby it's impossible that that country of India (and but a spot of that neither) can furnish so many Countries by a thousand parts of these stones, that is every where so common: when it's eported by those of the Country, and by Authors of good esteem and credit, That all the stones there must be brought to the King of that Country: And Garcias ab Horto says, that it is very difficult to get any there; whence seeing they are now so familiar and frequent among us, and how it comes to pass, and that we have any good, is almost a miracle, at least as rare as the white stone. Mathiolus also in Libro epistolar. tertio ad Quacelbenum, says, That the stones the Emperor had, were not good. Vallesius again, a learned and chief Physician to Philip the second, King of Spain, in his fourth book, believes the King himself had not, nor in all Spain was not a true stone. Moreover the Physicians themselves of that Country confess that these stones are very rare, and besides are so dear, that they are kept very precisely by the Indians themselves for their own proper use. We dare believe, that above the hundred part of these Bezoar-stones so called, are sorged and sophisticate: such a cunning cast of subtle and deceiving merchants are there here in England, after the Italian mode, who can so exactly counterfeit them, that themselves cannot know the one from the other, the true from the false, but by a certain eminent sign of notifying them. Josephus Acosta in lib. 4. cap. 42. confesses that the simple Indians themselves know very well to adulterate them, and do it with a wonderful accurate artifice, and very frequently; and no wonder, nor unlike to verifimility, when this cozenage is wont to happen very often in medicines of a lesser price. Lastly upon sure grounds we know, that there is not much to be trusted to this stone; because they do not answer to those effects written of by Authors. For they will have it to move sweat powerfully, and sometimes vomit, sometimes as alexipharmacal; and again as cardiacal; and therefore fly to it as to the last refuge, as to the Anchora spei, and Sanctuary of life. But alas poor ignorant deluded vulgar: who will rather snore in the lethargy of their stupid ignorance, then awake to the disquisition of Truth. They err first, in their too good opinion of this stone. Secondly, in their too great ignorance of the quality of it. And thirdly, in their too little knowledge of the quantity. Which last is greatly feared among the common people, and the same is evident from the Physician's prescriptions. We will suppose now we have the true genuine Bezoar stone, because the wild belief of the wildernessed vulgar runs a madding after this stone more, then seeking to be baptised with the new name, or have the Evangelicall illegible stone. The most are wont to fear the quantity of it, thinking it to be a most hot medicine, and powerfully vigorous: and therefore dare not exceed above four or five grains at most; Seeing it causes large sweat. Now sudorificks seem to be begotten under the torrid Zone, to be hot, because they attenuate and cut the Line of humours▪ and expel them out of the Centre of the body, unto the confines bordering upon the Territories of the Epidermis by the Nilus of profuse sweat that rills through the creeks of the Pelt, the pores. But first it is to be noted that at this day we seldom find Be●oar-stone to be the Midwife of evil humours, or impregnated with a virtue to deliver and purge the body of vicious excrements, by the menstruum of sweat, as daily experience testifies. Secondly, that whosoever takes this stone in the maximity or greatest quantity of it, shall not therefore perceive himself to be e'er the hotter; which every sound man may bring to the Test of experience in himself. Thirdly, they who have written hitherto o● this stone, & have sailed and coasted into the furthest parts of the knowledge of it, have steered by the compass or Landscape only of others petragraphy and description. Some calculate and will have it to dwell under the temperate Zone. Others under the frigid. But no man who hath traveled into the Indies or America of its qualities and virtues, by the fixed North-pole of experience will say, that it is an inhabitant under the summer solstice or more hotter Zone; but is a naked substance living in the Autumn or wilderness of insipidity, having no elevation of either of those two poles of odour or sapour in it; which is a wonder that for all this, it should attain to the meridian of that degree of heat, as is computed and ascribed to it; whereby it's feared as a Harry-Cain, lest the deluge of sweat it may procure by its hot sudorific quality, might drown and wash away our vital powers: Therefore they get into the Ark of a small dose or quantity, and save themselves. But it is more nigh unto the Israel of verisimility, that it acts by an occult, and not manifest property, namely, Corroborating and fortifying the Canaan of the Heart, against the Egyptian Garlic and onions of malignant powers; whence we may infer by the way. That the militia of this stone is useless and unprofitable to draw a Line of fortification, about the breast-works of the heart, except there be an hostile incursion and invasion of malignant distempers, to settle the barbarous tyranny of evil and venomous humours, to subvert and overthrow the actions and powers of the Commonwealth of our vitals. And so although it may do no harm, yet to be sure it doth no good, and is administered in vain. Fourthly, They who write of this stone, do not agree in the latitude, degree, or dose of it: For as in their petragraphicall character of the qualities of it, they make many a voyage wide of the Aequator, and beyond the line of Truth; so in their description of its dimensions or quantity, they come short of it; and at the Landsend fall foul, and split upon the sands of a small and common dose, of three or four grains. But Mathiolus prescribes at least seven grains. Garcius ab Horto unto thirty grains, and confesses that more may be taken without hurt. And we verily believe and from the premises we before hinted do affirm, that one main reason why this stone is so little effectual, is because it is taken in too small a quantity. And it is recorded, that to Edward the Confessor was given a dram weight at one time of this stone in powder, which is sixty grains. Fumanellus also commends a dram of it to be given in the plague. And certainly if the stone be innoxious, a good quantity also will be innoxious. Thus therefore the magnified virtue of this childish Rattle, like that precious trifle of the Countess of Kent's powder, with those serious fopperies of Pearls, Coral and Crabs-stones, either in powder, or dissolved in some acid liquor, crumbles away, and vanishes like a morning dew, before the sun of Truth. Again, it's worth our noting that if wine or vinegar be drunk in the same draught with the aforesaid powders, they do not dissolve one sixth part of the powder, and leave not the rest changed, but whole. The which will be manifest from this experiment. That if any one drinks the stone of crabs, not in powder, but broken in little bits, and after excretion it be washed, you shall find the same weight of it as before, and truly nothing of it brought under subjection to the stomach, nor it to partake any thing of those stones by digestion. And here we advise the Galenists to consider how they are beaten with their own weapon. For if the aforesaid stones or pearls being taken in powder, do melt in us; they in vain attempt to dissolve them in the acid salnie vitriolated qualities of wine, vinegar or juice of Lemons. For there is nothing of the indigestible dissolved thing conveyed into us, but that it contains its own digestible part, as we before have said of the lacteous mucilage of animated stones. But if otherwise the dissolved should make progress, and march into the Garrison of the veins (which never happens) that he might offer and communicate his gifts unto us (suppose it be pearls, or the aforesaid stones) it would stir up a mutiny, and consecution of more miseries and anxieties from this sour enemy and alien, then helps or profit. For in the first place, seeing they have refused to answer and subscribe to the engagement of the Common-Hall of our oeconomy, the stomach, (who is made Lord paramount and Surveyor-Generall over all things that's to be received in) and have not submitted to the present power of digestion, (as was proved even now) that's conferred on it by the Parliament of our Interiours, in their totality and full session: it is therefore adjudged and voted that they shall not be preferred any further, nor admitted to compound, or be concocted in the second digestion: because they do not go to the elysium of the second, but by the purgatory of the first. And therefore secondly, continue and are looked upon as Delinquents, and never are converted into true Commonwealth's men, blood, but into an other recrement of the veins.  
Vain and fruitless are the blue promises of Physicians of their cordial, exhilarating, fortifying and corroborating medicines, prepared of gold, gems, etc. of like stupidity with the rest. For although they be reduced into most fine po●der, yet they that suffer nothing from the fire, how much less can they be transmuted by the digestive virtue. For first they are powdered in a brass or iron mortar; and the gems s●rape off, and carry away part of the brass with themselves, because they are harder than my file. And this we have showed sometimes to the shops, when we have macerated that their powder of pearls in Aq. fortis. For indeed by and by the gre●● colour hath betrayed itself, and the Apothecary confesses that in stead of his cordial and fortifying medicines of pearls and gems which should act powerfully, he hath communicated to the sick the green rust of br●sse or verdigrease. Then if afterwards the gems be more curiously ground upon a stone or marble, (far more soft than themselves) they increase in weight, and the marbles and stones become confortative, beyond the original gems.  
All which at length being summed up by an impartial and mature judgement the total product must amount to this. That the powder of peals profit no more than flint-stones or glass-pouder taken inwardly. And to this will subscribe all those, who apply themselves to the serious disquisitions and scrutinies of Nature in examining of bodies by Analysis, and who with me pity the deplorable ignorance and foolishness of Physicians, and the unlucky tutelage of the sick. It is not denied, but worthy of all due acknowledgement, that pearls, not of the same hardness with crystalline gems, but members of the animal Commonwealth, do contain most precious virtues and riches of good; yet cannot bestow any notable help; much less in their powder or dissolved as afore. For we have had the opportunity and happiness to learn, and now divulge to the world, that they may take notice in the first place, that whatsoever Physicians prate and babble, and largely promise concerning them, it is but mere vain boasting. Then that a true margarite or pearl, hath not within a farinaceous powder, and dissimilar from its Cortex; but the whole system or globe of the pearl, with all the whole round of spheres, from the surface to the centre, is homogeneal, hath a Syzygia, a conjunction or revolution of mere pellicles, lying on one another, as the involved pills of onions encompass one another. The which thing they can testify with me, who know how to reduce pearls of oval figures, into orbicular ones. But the aforesaid firmament or Region of pellicles or conticities are in no wise resolved and fixed into a Caput mortuum or alcool powder by the Crucible or reverberium of acidity as aforesaid. The which only grinds the meal of falls pearls in the mill of its acid f●rment. And moreover, that although the aforesaid circumvoltuion of corticities should be dissolved, (which is not) yet were it but as a terra damnata or pulverata, and the whole batch, but the same meal or dust of the pearl as before.  
Doth it not then on all hands appear very ridiculous, and worthy of hissing, that they will comfort, fortify and corroborate with their Alkermes, gems, leaf-gold, powder of pearls, etc. when an enemy in the bowels and heart of the City of our vitals rages and tyrannizeth within, by the prerogative of routing our forces and remaining Conqueror, and precipitates the life itself into all disorder and confusion of dissolution? For such an enemy who could lay siege to our oeconomy, and dares to attempt the scaling of our fort-rampant, beat all the Commanders and Officers from their works, and cause Nature not only to sound a Retreat, but quite quit the Garrison: how will he not grapple, within push of pike, with all her Auxiliaries, blow up the sconces and bull-workes of fortifications, the strongest of them all, despise their contemptible militia, and hang out the flag of defiance to all the Recruits the Physician can make, and let down the portcullis, to stake out their Cordial cups. He that can subdue and bring under subjection the health of the soundest man, and despises the strength of the strongest; what cannot he do to him being overcome, though he hath the advantage of the sun, wind and hill of corroborating cordial medicines? Chiefly when these Auxiliaries have no good cause, no good ground or footing in Nature; seeing they are wholly exotic, not at all agreeing in union of symbol with the spirits. Will such an enemy, such a Samson care for these cardiacal Phylistims? Or think they to lull him a sleep or bind him with these cords? will he not rouse up, and shake his locks like a Giant, and break in pieces their bands as thread. As he neither fears nor cares for any Committee of sequestrations, their purges, so neither will he be bribed or laid asleep with their cordials. In vain therefore is the ease or lightning of Symptoms intended, if a conquering power of healing be not present, which can compescate and procure the consopition of the confusion of the vital Archaeus: which truly is an essential and principal efficient of healing.  
And here we are fallen upon the detection of two other collateral errors of Physicians, concerning the story of an old cock, and that pitiful poor invention of Clysters. In the first place, Physicians, Midwives', and others given to Physic, crack much of the virtues of Cock-broth. But this will vanish away in fumo, like an old-wifes-dream; Broth of an old cock joined with herbs, is a particular of the Lady Ignorances' housewifery. For first a young Cock, hath more life, spirit and virtue than the old decrepit ones. Concerning this, let judgement be committed to the Hens. These Physic broths are very ingrateful to the stomach and troublesome, and therefore are easily let fall into, and made the companion of excrements. But we pass lightly over this mess.  
And now it will be expedient and comes within compass of our course, to speak of that piece of Tripery, of washing the guts with a Clyster; though I am led to believe, I shall be cried out on, by the common Physicians and their besotted admirers the rabble of distracted vulgar, who are unacquainted with the more rational ways of healing, who make it their design to cry up any way or opinion that hath the least plausibility in it; and on the other hand to cry down what ever comes by the oblique line of their dark crooked and common understandings: as if the womb of teeming truth must be closed up, if she presume to bring forth ought that suits not with their unchewed notions and suppositions. As for the last, it is not my task or design, neither do I seek or care to supplant them from their pater-noster or All-gospel, being such as my soul abhors.  
Quo semel imbuta recens servabit odorem.  
Testa diu.  
Yet seeing this sink-scourer, the use of Clysters is so generally and easily believed to be such a safe and familiar practice, that he is accounted no better than an Ass that speaks against it; I shall adventure to leave them a hint, that fools are not constellated to a capacity of medicinal principles, and that they stumble and err in nothing more than in this their so much magnifying of Clysters. Which common unworthy and shameful help of Physicians, is to be abhorred as a cruel and beastly remedy, taught us (as they say) from a Bird. Hence upon rational deductions we conclude, That every Clyster is naturally an enemy to the Intestines. Afterwards it will easily appear, That all things are received for the manner and respect of the Recipient. Which we thus further explain. The tears of the eyes, although saltish, yet are indolent, because familiar and natural to the eye. But simple water pains the eye; and so doth any other thing else. The urine also, though salt, doth not mordicate or fret the bladder. But any decoction or liquor whatsoever conveyed within by Cathaeter or other pipe, although very sweet, doth yet grieve and pain the body. But if the pisso hath drawn but the least acidity from new-beer, or otherwise, by and by there follows a very great strangury and guttation of urine. The ordure or turd therefore, seeing it is the natural and domestic content of the guts, doth not prick or gnaw, nor is not felt, until it comes to the fleshy parts of the Intestinum rectum, as executing the office of doorkeeper, they do both feel and urge the protrusion of the excrement. Whence we conclude, That every Clyster seeing it is an exotic guest and alien to the guts, it cannot choose but be troublesome and ingrateful to them. Then, that a Clyster never ascends to the Ileon. For if you cast in eighteen ounces of decoction, either the greatest part is left in the pipe, or falls out in the delivery, and so it attains only to the beginning of the Colon. And lastly, if there be laxatives in the Clyster (for so for the most part the sick is deceived, fearing laxatives) as with the one hand even now we exploded the poison of purgatives, so by the same rule we throw down the use of a laxative Clyster also. we confess a Clyster is less hurtful: forasmuch as the mouth of the stomach is always exercised in the most noble business of life, and the life is hurt with the laxative poison. But at least it cannot be denied by no man, but that it is a hateful thing to admit poisons within, though never so specious, or by what name or title soever dignified or distinguished, or under what administration soever or manner of reception: because a purgative enema resolves the blood in the mesentery. No man ever yet brought out fevers by Clysters: because they attempt not, nor come to the places encompassed with the feavorish matter; nor are they ever eased or comforted by them. Moreover there is another Imposture called a nourishing clyster, the ultimate scope of a clyster: because they cast in broths of liquated flesh, with the hope of nourishing, which truly is an argument of intolerable stupidity. For the liquors being injected, first of all, they mingle themselves with the turd found in the same place; then they are poured into those parts, to whom it's proper to change all things into turd or excrement; and thirdly, it is clear by experience, that such broths, if they be cast forth again, two hours afterwards, they smell not only of a turd, but in a manner of cadaverous matter. For seeing there is nothing goes to the second or third, unless it be by the first: it follows, that out of meats undigested in the stomach, and not changed into true and laudable chyle, there cannot in no wise be made any blood. Hence it's manifest also, that the injected broths are cadaverized, and can never pass into aliment. Nor doth it argue any thing, that such broths carry the resolved flesh in the manner of chyle. For there is as good as nothing done, unless they have first taken the fermental proprieties of the first digestion, preparatory to life, not to be found any where without the stomach. For whatsoeves falls out of the stomach undigested, is very troublesome, and stirs up diarrhaeas, tortures and also sour and unsavoury belchings, and breeds worms. But those things which are injected beneath, because they partake not of the least benefit of the first digestion, they unavoidably become cadaverous. Because they have tried the heat of the place, but are deprived of the true ferment of vital digestion. An old woman's invention than is a nourishing ●●yster, and a laxative, a cruel one.  
Having now had a clear and uninterrupted prospect into the field of the vulgar medicines of the shops. We now descend and take the chair on the stage of Topics, the scene of oils and suets, which are but mutes, and of no value for ointments and plasters, Dramatis personae, unless perhaps to give consistence (the Epitasis of their action) to the medicine, and bring the heterogeneal parts into a chorus of mixture by their emplastic quality. For first a great part of men suffer not ointments applied to the skin, because they excite itchings and whelks with swelling. Next because the oils aforesaid are for the most part made of herbs whose virtue lieth hid in a mucilaginous and gummy juice, but that juice by boiling is drawn out into the porridge, or wrung out by the press, which is not truly combined with the oils, but at length being fixed, groweth hard. But we collect the balsams of flowers more rightly in honey. And we much more admit the simplicities of simple, then of compound oils. Wherefore we chiefly explode the unmeet and absurd compositions of unguents and plasters sold in shops; in that nothing is more foolish than that the powder, of vegetables under divers suets and fat's ignorantly mixed, should by being fixed, harden, and so become good for nothing. Which if it be mineral, will not mingle with the fat, but is rather so drowned therein, and imprisoned, that it is worth nothing, and oneiy increaseth the weight. For nothing is to be mingled with oils, ointments, and plasters, which cannot in them be wholly homogeneously resolved. It is also worthy of laughter that the most white sugar is commended, not because it is sweeter and in its vigour more worthy; but because it is dearer, and oftentimes hath been boiled with a lixivium of unslaked lime. Where the very name of purity hath made the cheat. The contused flowers of herbs &c. being mingled with the whitest sugar grow dull, which by means of sweeter sugar contract a ferment, and by heating, draw out the powers of the simple. But afterwards by the enclosed digestion of the heat, the ferment is checked and they become more powerful by far. But the diversity of the ferment dependeth on the lixivium which one sugar hath, and another wanteth. We are likewise wont outwardly to apply ointment with choice. For in such maladies, whose cure proceedeth from the centre outwards, as in wounds, contusions, combustions, etc. We advise that they be applied warm; but where the inward malady requires outward help, as the dysentery, Colic or nephritick Convulsions, schirrhus, etc. ointments should be cherished from without, with a stone heat, or with hot sand. And we have learned by viewing Chaff in a kettle of warm water walking to and fro, as it were from the heat kindled underneath; and therefore that by a powerful heat ointments applied, are quickened, and join their spirit with our blood; We first guessed and after found by experience, that the malady is by this means drawn out, and the violence of the Symptoms stayed. And whatsoever Baths do in the whole, the same is done in part without prejudice of the whole, by ointments being heat and cherished. For a fomenting tile, drives the smell of the plaster inwards, and draweth out those things which otherwise do stick more closely. In like manner the spirit enforcing itself is drawn together with the blood, and is dispersed with heat, another succeeding in its place, exhausts the force of the medicine, and as it were boiling within, is reverberated.  
Likewise about the gathering of simples it is not Certainly agreed upon. They conclude that roots are to be gathered about Autumn. But for the most part simples afford the more powerful roots at spring. The Polypodium of the spring is chiefly green and flourishing. In the Autumn it exhibits a hoary and black root, being worn out and useless. We conceive that each is to be gathered immediately before the state of maturity: for full maturity is the beginning of declination. Wherefore let each fruit flower, root, leaf, bark, etc. have its determinate space of maturity: for even the juice in plants first floweth up, which in many afterwards drieth up, or is consumed and spent into leaves, so that the variety of maturities begetteth variety of gatherings. For thus some leaves, after the flowers are more vegetous; but others are more juicy before them. There are also others, which are stronger before the growth of the fruit; and there are others that perpetually persist. Wherefore they more rightly determine, who gather simples according to the exigency of their scope and design.  
Hitherto hath my employment been to make us men, and to bring us from under the fraud, Errors, Ignorance and other rubbish of that, which the folly and vanity of the Schools have falsely called a Science and Art. what art I pray you? Except the art to cloak their defects and Ignorance with impostures, and only palliate diseases, and that as beastly as can be wished? For as the case stands, they have made of a lovely beautiful and bountiful virgin, an ill favoured penurious Harlot, dressed and tricked up with Gew-gaw's; with whom the whole European world hath committed most abominable fornication. We will now wade lightly over, and that with a dry foot, this shallow brook, of simple distilled waters of the Apothecaries in the common leaden stills, and hope with the Torrent of current truth, and rational deductions, to rinse away this into the common-shoare of errors; and with the Index expurgatorius of acute demonstrations, to wipe it out of the journall-book of Physic.  
How great and meridian light is come unto Physic only by true distillation, as it is used of all men, so it is known but of a few; and daily experience teacheth, how great commodity hath redounded thereby unto the sick; so that by it hath more glory and renown been reflected on Physic, and more additions made, and perfections acquired, then by all the whole rabble of galenical and heathenish traditions. We shall not stand to show whence the word distillation is derived; let it be their tendance who have the Art to be industriously idle; nor the manner of distillation or what instruments serving thereunto; nor how many sorts of distillation, as per Ascensum, Descensum & latus; or how many ways as per Balneum Mariae, per Cineres, per arenam, per campanam, per patinam; it being besides my purpose, and requires a peculiar Tractate. But it shall be here sought, whether that product, by the vulgar and rustic distillation of Apothecaries in the common leaden stills, be any other, than an insipid, aequeous humour, frighted out of the whole merely by the violence of the fire, without the Counter-magick of the still or instrument for that purpose, without any artifice, and without the elemental, true, genuine, homogeneal entity of the compositum; without its spirit, life, or the domestic balsam inhabiting in the whole. Destillatio tunc est operatio, qua quod in Corpore est humoris totum illud vaporis specie ab eo separetur, qui postea à frigido ambiente congelatus in liquorem ab excipulo recipitur. This is but a short and cold definition and description of distillation; but such as well will serve and suit with the common distillation. It's confessed on all sides, that in simple distilled waters out of herbs, there may be the strength and virtue of the whole. I'll take the leave to add; That out of herbs plants or any vegetable may be drawn forth a water by art, if they be distilled as they ought to be, (not in the common leaden stills,) which shall equal, if no● surpass the herb as it is whole. For there is a terra damnata in all externals, whether animal, vegetal, mineral or metalline, which must pass the Chemics Limbus or Purgatory, before it enjoys its own Astrum or sidereal firmament.  
This is the deciphering of our distillation. The topic or domestic astrum in the horizon of its own ens or orb, is excited and awakened by the enormantick power of an exotic motor from the Lethargy of gross inactivity, inoculated, contracted, and fast luted by the crude and cadaverous opium of corporeity and circumferential lumber, gets a habeas corpus from under the arrest of its own domestic luggage, emancipated from the gabardine of corporeality, by the sub-poena or turn-key of Pyrotechny, and subtiliated into a jubilee of spiritual Aporhaea's or evaporations, sallies a broad hand in hand, emitting a continual steam of most subtle effluviums, homogeneous and consimilar, that is, of the same identical nature with itself, wafted on the wings of its own hydromantick vehicle, being sufficiently sublimated, condenses into a material water by the Deliquium of the stills Cranium periwigged, and seeks the nose or portal of the stillatories Cranium, at length is saluted by the cold embracements of the Recipient.  
What more foolish can distil from the cracked Retort of whymsical or obtuse sculls, than the insipid and unsavoury prescriptions of the Apothecaries common stills cookery: since we are of opinion that no man who hath but Philosophy, ingenuity enough to examine the whole scheam of natural endowments of each single ens, how upon the small stock of the smallest piece of the hexameron fabric is inoculated several azimuths meeting in the Zenith of its own Horizon; and hath but so much understanding to know what true distillation is in the nature, use and end; and how the several epicycles may be drawn forth from the own individual meridian, by the Equinoctial line of Pyrotechny, must of unavoidable necessity confess and acknowledge, That simple waters of Apothecaries, as they are commonly distilled, are but the stagnant, aqueous humour, and insipid snivel of the rheumatic vehicle or menstruum of the Compositum, castrated and excised of its vitality and energy, and is no better than that water which is the Cingulum macrocosmi, wherein the pulse of the great world beats. For let it be considered in all its stages by our Pharmacopropaeans, we mean, this vulgar operation of simple waters, by our Chemic mimes and counterfeits, and we shall find: That the whole scene of still pissing, all the journey, is nothing but the insipid, effeminate, cold shivering and aguish exudations, the stewed steams of the Lady Ignorances' housewifery, so that the Catastrophe or last exit of drop into the stills chamber-pot, when it comes to the atrophy of a caput mortuum, doth epiloguise and confess, that it is but the sceleton, a lean, starved anonymous thing, scared out of its wits, not endued with any formal transmutation, nor nothing differs from that thin-legged Gentleman-Usher, the fleam, as they call it, that comes forth in the prologue or first act. If the blind lead the blind, they both fall into the ditch, into this standing pool, or puddle of simple waters. What epidemic blindness and ignorance hath possessed us of this age, in these common leaden stills, that it is got into every corner of the Land, with those who can go to the charges of keeping one at work, and think themselves not well till they have one; then they cannot do a miss, when they shall have ready at hand the waters out of all herbs growing amongst them. But they will from hence learn, when they shall know, That nature loathes to pick straws, yet is never idle; and that this trifle so universally practised is no issue or product of her generous endeavours. It is neither the elemental, or seminal water, or radical moisture of the compound, but a crude, raw, and phlegmatic matter, partaking little or nothing of vitality, For first such waters are destitute of savour and taste; for water of Wormwood neither smelleth like Wormwood▪ nor is bitter; yea, the more wonder it is sometimes somewhat sweet. Manarde in his Epistles lib. 15. Cap. 15. saith, That the common waters distilled out of herbs by fire, neither the smell no● taste remain, but many times the contrary; whereby is easily perceived, that the simple waters have not the same virtues which the whole herb had. And why should one main principle, the Earth, the faeces or ground after distillation ●e thrown away as a terra damnata: like that of the College of Physicians bidding in their dispensatory the Apothecary to fling away the faeces in their extract. Rudy, (their best pill the most purgative and cordial part and so in other of their extracts also) when there lies ambuscadoed in it a main principle of vitality, and if not ligamentum, yet Conservatum tatius, which cannot be destroyed; which is wanting in the simple distilled waters, and therefore worth little, and ub● sapiunt: as that great Master once said▪ who was the salt of sacrifices, and the light of the world, and his Scholars the salt of the earth. This is clear out of the ashes of vegetables; for although their weaker exterior elements may expire by violence of the fire, yet their Earth cannot be destroyed, but vitrified. If this be true, as without and beyond the doubt of any the most pyrrhonian incredulity may be evinced, what a sympathy then, and harmony there is between it, the humane earth, and his mother; in which are principles homogeneal with his life, such as can restore his decays, and reduce his disorders to a harmony. But say they, if they do no good they do no harm. To which we reply, as good never a whit, as never the better: what are we to jest in Physic? Play the antic? play the Trevant? Shall not the compunction of this, call blood into their faces, and imprint such a tincture, the character of shame so deep, as shall stand for ever a statue of unworthy un-medical baseness and ignominy, or be left, as only fit for the practice of Quacks.  
To which we subjoin, that the vulgar simple waters distilled out of herbs by the Seplastaries or Apothecaries out of the common leaden stills, are not only nothing worth, nor retain not the force, strength and virtue of the whole herb, but are noxious, evil, and pernicious, and destructive to the nature of Man in general, nauseous to the stomach, and loathsome to the sick, wholly different from the nature of the herb of which they are distilled, and partaking of an exotic, heterogene quality and nature.  
Distillation in the hands of such is as ratsbane in the hands of a Child, who wanting judgement and discretion, not distinguishing it from sugar puts it to his mouth, and kills himself. For besides their ignorance, a great error is committed, not only in not knowing what distillation is, but their persuading themselves, and making the people believe, they are the true essences, nature, strength and virtue, of the herbs out of which they are drawn; not perceiving the strange, foreign nature and quality they partake by assimilating an other nature contrary to their own, and the nature of Man. For not only they are altogether devoid of all odour and sapour, both smell and taste, except in some few whose sulphur lies in the utter and superficial part of the herb; but they are wanting both of quality and virtue; for we may as well believe a fifth Gospel, as that the quality or virtue of the herbs is drawn forth in the waters, except like savour, or smell, or both, be in the same. For without doubt the quality is wanting, when out of herbs that are hot, a cold phlegmatic moisture is drawn, unworthy the name of distilled water, except to those who have a tendence to christian things improperly, and barbarously, or barbarously improper: But if we grant them this, it is a water; it is not the elemental, seminal or radical water of the thing, as we hinted before; and we may very lawfully be allowed to conclude, Such a water to partake nothing of vitality, essence, or nature of the herb, and to be little or nothing differenc'od from common well-water, and is as obnoxious to corruption and putrefaction as others: yea also, by reason of their crudities to congelation or conglatiation: witness the intent diligence of Aothecaries to stop their glasses close, and care to preserve them from the cold in winter, from whose arrest they cannot be bailed or secured, though by the subsidy of double glass and stopple: Again that although there be a manifest difference between the herb of mint and lettuce, that the one is hot, and the other cold, yet the water of mints may very warrantably be said to be cold, when its calefactive, and confortative part remains in his oil, and his balsamic part in his salt, neither of which ne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quidem in the text, ascends not in the distillation that is common and usual.  
Waters distilled in glassen, or glazed vessels after the manner of our distillation, and is known to some Apothecaries by our direction, which enjoies its grand principiative fundamina, and the most radical and inmost nature and balsom, do so far pass those that are made simply by the fire in leaden stills, as gold passeth Iron: such a distillation as shall give forth the natural odour, savour and taste of the herbs and flowers whereout they be taken, absque impyreumate, without any noisome smell or taste of smoke or burning, enjoing its saline balsamic conservatory of vitality, and from, putrefaction and corruption; which cannot be performed to a moiety in the common leaden stills. For the waters that are drawn off in them, are seldom, especially while they be new, without notable loathsomeness of smoke and burning. For they acquire a sensible empyreumatick acidity, and inherit any foreign quality or tincture devolved from the churlish saturnine vitiosity of the still; which unto sick men that drink of them, either by themselves, or in their sauced Julaps, are not only nauseous and very grievous, but also hurtful, and pernicious: For the malign and evil quality of the lead, endamageth both the stomach, the breast, and all the entrails; so likewise doth the quality of brass, which Physicians perceiving, left them, and only used decoctions; which things also, may easily be made appear, with less ado than a volume, how frivolus and fruitless they are; also how pernicious and evil. For in herbs, or any other matter of a vitriolated ferment, that have an acid sapor or spirit, being decocted in brazen vessels, yield a decoction very ungrateful, and partaking of a canckerous and aeruginous quality: therefore have our London College of Physicians wisely and advisedly forbidden the decocting of acid things in brass: in the 54 fol. of their Pharmacopaeia or Dispensatory, where they command that Berberries, of a tart vitriolate ferment, be boiled in vase vitreato terreo, and they give the reason, quod acida ab aereo ingratum sapiunt: And from whence they had this we need not be solicitous in searching to know. If the vessel alter so much in the decocting, why not as well in distillation? For if the decoctions may partake of a canckerous aeruginous quality from the brazen vessel, why also may not the distilled waters in the leaden stills with peuter-heads partake of a saturnine cerussal quality, not to be digested by the most struthiocameline Athanor of the microcosmical aeconomy. Such things then as are destilled after the common manner of distillation, are altogether to be disallowed, because of the Ceruse, and other malicious qualities of the lead: for water also that is conveyed by pipes of lead Galen condemneth; for it breedeth diseases in the entrails: and in this case it is worth a man's tenth reading: for if he affirm, That mere water only conveyed in leaden pipes doth breed diseases of the bowels; how much more ought we to fear our waters distilled in a leaden still; for no small Ceruse remaineth cleaving to the inner side of a leaden head, as in distilling of vinegar is gathered: so by the force of the heat, or burntnesse ascending up with a vapour, many times also acid and tart, of a vitriolated nature and quality, doth infect and tinct the waters with a saturnine cerussall evil quality. For how comes it to pass else that simple water devoid of all its salt, and so of all taste, should at any time wax sour, and of evil taste, except it did partake of the evil qualities of the spirits contained in the lead; which sourness could never happen in simple waters by reason of their coldness. But, well may they with such devout confidence, even to superstition, administer such waters as partake an evil quality of the lead in which they be distilled, when they shall plead the tyranny of prescription and Custom, and with no less temerity, and as much unsuccesfulnesse they shall not stick to administer those rattles and scurf of their brains, the scales of brass and Iron, inwardly.  
But a hard task think they we have to contest against, and answer the following objection. For say these cold stomaches and understandings, that can very hardly digest this doctrine or any other save the crude salads gathered out of the galenical elysium; that cold herbs as Roses, Succory, plantain, borage, etc. must be stilled in a cold still, that is, a leaden still they mean. But what hitherto hath been spoke touching the invalidity and inefficacious remedy of distilled waters, he who will deny to have been argued according to reason and all equity of demonstration from the rules of Pyrotechny, we profess we cannot edify how, or by what rule of proportion that Man's genius calculates, what his elements are, nor what his analytics: confidently to those who have read good books, and to those whose reason is not an illiterate book, to themselves we appeal, whether they would not confess all this to be true, were it not for that afore-recited cold and dull objection of them, who like a lame dog must be helped over the stile, cannot get over this adamantine Alpe of frigidity.  
But give me leave to propound, whether the activity, application, or accommodation of Cychory, (or any other cold vegetable) to the Liver, be in his body, in his cold, unactive, elementary quality, or in his spirit, (except we hold he hath none in him) or some other innate, peculiar disposition or balsam, which hath power to work, and which things Hypocrates calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉.  
That there is life, virtue, and strength in waters, (if the whole have any, and they be drawn off by an expert Artist in Pyrotechny) is confessed of all, except those whose obstinacy in incredulity confesses their benightment to the black paths of ignorance and error: for if as Christ says my Father worketh hitherto and I work, and it is God that clothes the Lily of the field, who toil not, nor spin their own garments, but God in Nature's Loom hath wrought both wa●p and woof: what does he then clothe them with? with only the naked fig-leaves of their anaglyphe or exterior texture or vestment? yes certainly, he cloaths them with spirit, full of spirit and life, quick and living. Besides the texture of them, the several, perpetual productions, their multiplication, augmentation are manifest and infallible arguments of life.  
There is then in all things lumen quoddam vitale, whereby they act that which they are accommodate to act. Támque in pisce vitale est, quam in leone; támque in Cychoreo & papavere quam pipere, which is extinguished, obstructed, or diminished in this clouted-shoe, hobnailed Chemistry of Apothecaries.  
If this be true, as to satiety of satisfaction may be clearly evinced, that every plant or herb enjoies vegetation according to the seminal virtue of its domestic ferment, originally inoculated into its principles, by natural consequence from hence we may understand, That all vegetation is from the spirits. And that so all activity, capacity and power to work proceeds from them: as also that all debility to perform their original inhaerent and ●mplantate vigour, power and virtue in the body, doth depend upon the obstruction, violation or diminution of the spirits and their peculiar appropriate ferment. Cychory having a bitter taste, cometh from sal gem, its natural ferment according to the Chemists. So opium much more colder, hath in it a bitter and nitrous salt: yet in him besides his soporiferous quality, there is connexed virus aliud. unde let halia papavera somno, decantantur à Poetis. And anodynes although they stupefy, instar frigoris; yet they are erroneously reckoned by the Schools, chiefly among cold things. For neither is it soporiferous sulphur in opium that doth cool; but greatly amaricate, and his salt is sharp and sudorific; and bitterness in the Schools is a notable Indicative of heat. Out of opium we say separated from his narcotick sulphur, may be made a notable purger. The like may be done of Cychory, Centaury, Fumitory and Gentian: Salt of a cleansing nature; Therefore is a medicine out of succory made by fire, excellent in the Ictericall tincture to expel it.  
Certainly if we be not moles to our own understandings, and do not wilfully shut the eyes of our reason, but do so much right to our own judgements as to perpend what quality there is in the elemental Crasis of succory, we shall find most manifestly a sharp bitter taste in it, which proceeds chiefly from his salt gem, which is not cold, but of an active quality, which is the true hepatick medicine in it, and the chief specific part that aspects the Liver: is the Ascendant and Almuten in its own Horizon, that radically applies to the Liver: But the water of it, that is drawn off in a cold still so called, is void of course, and peregrine, that is, stripped stark naked of its virtues, and is not in reception with his original, and hath lighted in the via combusta; nor this balsamic hepatick salt, without which the whole is a nullity, is not in exaltation, ascends not in the common distilling, nor can by no means be translated thereto by the leaden stills. The Caput mortuum after every distillation, in which is ambuscadoed the salt, is only in the combust way, and is not aspected of the water, that is, partakes not one grain of the salt, without which it is an unsavoury medicine. For if the aqueous humour, the chariot of the other inhaerent virtues, be drawn by these dull saturnine leaden-heeled horses, the common stills, and be driven naked into the world, rifled of all its force and virtue, and carries not in its belly neither wind nor fire; how can it be applied with honesty or conscience, as medicinal for the Liver; when to the most gross and vulgar heads it confesses its invalidity, as being pillaged and robbed of its efficacy, spirit and life. And how all along it hath been handed down to posterity, and reckoned among the rhapsodies of medicines, as a prime instrument to correct and condemn the distempers of Man's body to a ne ultra, seems not so much a riddle as ridiculous, except to the serious trifling gravity of such, who having as cold and dull a pace, as pate, in the scrutinies of Nature and her excellencies, have little else to do; whose tendence seems to verify the tenor of that proverb, better play at small game then stand out.  
Such herbs then as partake of a vitriolated quality, and an acid sharp spirit, though cold, ought not to be distilled in a leaden still. Of a vitriolate nature we say, seeing vegetables may draw mineral and metallic spirits unto them. And let not other men think themselves free, and the thing equitable and rational, to call choler aeruginous, vittelline and porraceous, for the likeness and affinity of those things from whence the name is borrowed; and go about to debar me from conceiving myself tied by the same duty. We have the same reason then, and as lawful it is for us to say, that either the humours of the body so called, or the topical ferment of any part, may partake of a vitriolated nature and quality: so also vegetables may assume a vitriolate energy, as Lujula, Lemons, succory, vinegar, (which doth represent the tart qualities of vitriol) etc. who have a sharp, piercing, powerful spirit, and therefore not fit to be distilled in lead or pewter.  
Hitherto the childish, ignorant and unadvised self-contradicting error of Physicians hath been exploded, and may much more be made manifest by their rash, simple and common practice in bidding and prescribing distilled vinegar in the common leaden stills. Unto so low a pitch of stupid ignorance hath vulgar Physicians fallen, that so easily and implicitly entertain the customs and traditions of their predecessors, without any examination or due disquisition of the things.  
Let us therefore take this to pieces, dissect the concentrals of it, and see if those stills be the true, natural and genuine engines to draw forth the nature, essence and privy property resient in it. Vinegar then, the circumferential round or cadaver of wine, whose acidity proceeds not, nor is not caused by elemental frigidity, but is ambuscadoed in those occult and acid spirits of salt, lurking in the conclave or shop of the spirits of wine. This is perceived in the whole field of wines, though never so generous, (before the spirits retire to their garrison, or concentrals, as in the making of vinegar) when in the drinking is perceived a certain grateful punction, striking most pleasantly upon the palate, from the singular temper of the vitriolated acidity, being mixed with sweet and sulphureous spirits placed in the wine by the Archaeus of nature. Hence is it that some vinegers are made sharper than others, as they contain in them more or less of the nature of salt armoniac. For simple water devoid of all salt, by no frigidity can grow acid. Tartar then is nothing but the acid vitriolate crystalline salt of the wine. Moreover vinegar is both mineral and vegetable. But the vegetable excels the others: seeing not only art produces it, but also nature in acid fruit, chiefly in Citrons, lemons, oranges: also in Goose-berries, barberries, etc. in herbs sorrel, trifolium, acetosum, nasturtium Indicum, etc. Every acidum then is not cold as the dull disquisitions of vulgar Physicians hath left to us, and as to ample satisfaction is elsewhere demonstrated. Nor is vinegar made by the total separation of the sulphureous spirits from the wine; when of wine from which the spirits are divorced, or which is corrupt, and hath lost his spirit, no vinegar can be made: But the more generous and rich the wines are, so much the more strong is the vinegar made of them. Of wine also expressed from omphacine grapes, and which is almost devoid of all spirit, is no vinegar made. And not only out of wine is vinegar made, but also out of Beer, Ale, Hydromel, and the juices of some fruits abounding with spirit; and out of which a spirit like unto the spirit of wine may be drawn, but out of others which want such a spirit, it cannot be. Is not then that lean flat and cadaverous product out of vinegar by the common stills not only ridiculous, but abominably, and horridly hurtful? since every acidum by reason of its corroding energy, doth operate in a perpetual ebullition. The acid spirit in the round or verge of the mass of wine is of a vitriolated energy, powerfully insinuating and piercing into a proper subject. For an absolute impossibility it is that there can be any the least acidity, which having once met with a proportionate object, does not immediately begin to operate on it. This is sober verity, as by example may be made manifest. Vinegar how weak soever, put into a pewter saucer, and suffering it to stand a while, by and by begins to put forth its active, acid corroding spirit; and in the vinegar you shall perceive clearly a certain white mother as it were swimming in the vinegar; and the bottom of the saucer, shall be damasked with white streaks, yea, shall be white and rough all over the bottom, and a certain substance like Ceruse shall be scraped off, and crumbled between the fingers: This by practice may be observed, as by ocular experiment we have tried, and it is so trivial and common a business, that it is known to all Kitchen wenches, but is not regarded by the most Ladylike stomach. If it be thus, I may be sooner destitute of leisure than proof sufficient to evince, That such vinegar cannot be good for the stomach. Besides it makes it more flat and dead, when it hath sated itself on its proportionate subject, the pewter saucer. It partakes then of a sordid saturnine evil quality, pernicious to the tender tunicles of the stomach. If it please you then Ladies and Gentlewomen; and all of all sorts, lay aside your pewter saucers, and no more eat vinegar out of them, but instead thereof, you may use saucers made of fine Earth, or silver plate.  
As clear again, vinegar, how flat and cadaverous soever, having once touched upon the stone concreted in the head or stomach of a Crea-fish, vulgarly (but erroneously) called Crabs eye, can by no means contain itself, but must immediately act in a frenzy of inquietude by oblique and circular motion to the dissolution of it, and resolve it into a clear, diaphanous liquor. But what I pray you of this acid spirit is drawn off in the distillation of vinegar, by the common stills? Any thing but a bare fleam, as jejune as the crude and black ignorance of such phlegmatic heads. When shall we awaken from the Lethargy of this supine neglect?  
Unsuccesseful and deplorable are the prescriptions of simple distilled waters as the remedies and militia against the hostility of any disease or distemper, either in the head, as by cephalick waters, of sage, betony, etc. In the lungs, by pectoral and pulmoniack, as of hyssop, Colts-foot, etc. In the Liver, by hepatick waters of Agrimony, Endive or Succory, etc. And so of the whole vegetable Monarchy. Vain are the drinks of cooling ptisans. Vain are the liqorish sweet Julaps of distilled waters, in fevers. Vain are the decoctions or Apozems, whose menstrue are distilled waters. The like is to be said of the whole myr●ad of medicaments drawn from the poor and thin Commonwealth of cold and crude salads, without oil or salt. To which we may subjoin, that the same altitude is taken by the Astrolabe of perspective reason of those ABCdarian Nuntii, the forlorn hope of further sickness, their preparatories, as they have god-fathered them, except it be of as bad, if not worse remedy than the disease. What can they lay the mountains low? Can they exalt the valleys? Can they make the crooked path strait in the body of Man? Can they do any job of journeywork for their cathartics that are to succeed? Can they attenuate that which is gross, viscid and thick, or thicken the fluid and thin? Can they fix and nail that which is volatile? Can they humect the parts possessed with an atrophy, or aridura membrorum? Unless it be with their waterish parts, and in analogy to common well-water? Can they exsiccate or dry up the superfluous humidities of the body? Yes, even as if dutch Windmills should drain the fens upon New-market heath; so as little power and virtue have they to do any of these: for nil dat, quod non habet. The propounders themselves seem to have mills in their brains, that thus grind the grift of the dotages and dreams of their predecessors turned about with the epidemic vertigo, the current of distilled waters of vegetables. As if our bread would be dough, and the whole batch of medicines spoiled, without the unsalted and unlea'vned prescriptions of simple waters. Ah! alas can these, as well real, as nominal, simple waters serve as a breast-work▪ or pallisadoes to stake out the hostile invasion of a disease? Or barricadoe and damn up the receptory vessels, and all the passages of the body from the least entrance or footing of any malignant distemper into our Commonwealth? or drive out any Goliath, or Pigmy distemper with these pebbles taken out of this shallow brook of waters? Once more, will the radical indisposition of the Lungs, Liver, or any other more or less noble part be hereby rectified, or defended from a second assault by this poor contemptible Chambermaid militia? No sure, their forces are scattered, totally routed, never more like to ralley again. March boldly on then the enemies and invaders of our health; be not retrograde nor stationary, but with a full career charge nature through and through, while your adversaries forces are weak, and routed. For their General and Lord Nature cannot receive any recruit or assistance from her auxiliaries, or make any safe retreat back to her primitive strength, but must be enforced to resign to the tyranny of the Conqueror, and cry for Quarter.  
And to me seriously by this and such ammunition, if the whole train of artillery be no better, nor those mortarpieces and granadoes of Physic, Herculean actors so accounted, I make no doubt (the providence and power of that grand Archiatros, the Almighty, not resisting) but such a devastation and depopulation may be quickly made, as shall unhinge this huge fabric, and calcine the world to ashes by the Chemistry of death. All these things, some Physicians with whom I have talked, I have observed have both seen, known, confessed and contended for, and yet in their practice, and among their prescriptions, are so negligently forgetful, or desperately obstinate and wilful as to commend and command in their Recipes the Apothecary to mingle some of these simple distilled waters in a leaden still, and that with such serious gravity, as if they were to be saluted Doctor with four feet. Nay, what Physician is there almost that by his practice does not confess his incogitant infatuation, whose easy and incircumspect credulity can drink down, even to a deluge, this torrent of simple distilled waters? Nor could I hitherto sufficiently admire how possibly our European world could be so grossly circumvented by the grey-haired traditional dreams of their predecessors, in a business so vain, simple and inefficacious; that men whose clear reason doth entitle them to plenipotentiaries, should thus prostitute their credulities to the legends and Romances of ignorant paperstuffers and scribblers. See then with what a full and swelling tide the insolent torrent of custom bears all afore it when even the best and understanding part of man, the crown and strength of all his faculties floats like a dead drowned body on the stream of vulgar apprehensions, drinking down even to gorging this puddle of simple waters, and other ridiculous fictions: and how possibly they should inhabit thus long, unless they be the lowest lees of an epidemic infection, liver-grown to their sides, which perhaps will never uncling without the strong abstersive of some heroic magistrate, whose high office dares lead him both to know and to do without any frivolous case-putting.  
We will now at length come to show the fallacy of the schools, and their ignorance in the prerogative of simples and medicines; in their proposing such a tedious interval of time between the reception of the medicine, and the working, or demonstration of his activity: by which means they have cloaked their defects, and more lightly set off among the common people their large time of curing diseases. The schools teach that the cadaveriety, and dull lethargy of medicines, is contracted by the Opium of a frigidal temper and constitution; and that they are altogether idle, fruitless and dead, unless first by our heat, as by a Cook; they are prepared and being excited are by it acuated: This they have concluded and ratified; in as much as medicines taken or applied, do not by and by explode their faculties in us, instar ignis: but they have need of a certain space of time, whereby to produce their effects, by praevious disposititions. Nevertheless if a space may be required, that an alteration may be made, which is an effect of the medicine; that truly doth not a whit argue the action of the medicine to be by our heat, otherwise then necessary, that the medicine might acquire the donation of his activity or liberty of working, which he hath obtained and was granted him from the creation whole and sound, full and free. Moreover the effects of medicines are not produced, unless first there be a diligent and skilful preparation and due application, and then with a more exquisite appropriation they imprint their powers in us. Wherefore be it foolish, that pepper, vinegar, etc. aught to borrow their activities and gifts, [ad agendum suscepta] from our heat: as if the monarchy of one alone heat, should be the fountain and primary cause to give life to so divers and manifold effects. Wherefore in good sooth that matter may act in us, as touching this, she hath no need of any other extrinsical thing, extrase: but as primarily; so also without delay, she puts forth her powers by the importance of dispositions, if it be duly applied. But because the sensitive Anima (which the schools have basely confounded with their Calor) doth apply the received powers, and then doth make a certain new and proper action to herself, and truly vital. Therefore the powers which the sensitive Anima hath received from the medicine, are only occasional effective causes, and she can if she will pass them by, and neglect them, which is manifest in robust bodies, who digest without trouble violent laxatives tanquam Cibos. And in dying men; in whom there is an application of medicines, but not an appropriation; by reason of the neglect or defect of the sensitive faculty. For in strong bodies the exciting heat is not wanting, and yet no effect.  
Moreover if delay must intercede between the medicine that is applied and his effect; that doth not happen because of the defect or exigence of the activity of things; but by reason of the necessity of the vital, emergent and subsequent activity through an impression made, by the medicine. For a virulent force is not wanting in the biting of a Serpent, although sometimes it doth not show its effect, by reason of some impediment: so many have so accustomed themselves to purges and laxatives, that at length they work not a whit, not because heat is wanting in the man; or that the laxatives have lost their pristine strength: but the Anima hath contracted a certain familiarity by the frequent use of them, insomuch that at length it doth more slowly inflame by those poisons, then by the first Course.  
Lastly it's true and perpetual that all sensation, consists rather in action and vital judgement, then in a passion. Whether that sensation happens in the exterior sense; or in some passion of the mind: or in the natural and sympathetick sense of inanimate things. At least it is clear, that medicines do not need the praegression of our heat, that they may act simply: but a sensitive power, which is the principal actor, hath need of agents, and sensible objects, that she may perceive, and in perceiving may act. Therefore the action of sensible things, doth occupy herself on both sides by the mean of an occasional cause, in respect of the sensitive Anima. For that cause neither do medicines work in a dead body, by reason of the defect of the principal and immediate agent, which is the life or soul. Whence also it is sufficiently manifest how preposterously hitherto the virtues of remedies are attributed to an agent, or principal and vital efficient, and how neglected the principal agent hath stood as well in healing as effecting diseases. Verily if a medicine should be actuated by our heat, as such, it must come to pass, that every medicine always, and everywhere, should equally work in every humane object, actually hot. But a laxative exhibited in the same dose, loosens in one terribly, in another not a jot; and yet on both sides sufficiently excited by our heat: yea, the same which in stronger bodies is without effect; in weaker bodies for the most part rages most violently. But we pass lightly over this scene, and resign it to others.  
Thus by this plain and evident demonstration we have good encouragement to trust, where it shall meet with intelligible perusers, some stay at least of men's thoughts will be obtained, to consider and promote this prudent and manly expostulation; and not give away their birthrights for a mess of this cold pottage of not daring or not willing to speak.  
We now willingly come according to our promise, which is due, to arraign and examine the naturalities of the other universal main pillars of curing, namely phlebotomy, fontanelles or issues, and Diet, as three other props of healing, which being shaken, the whole edifice falls down of its own accord as rubbish, and being taken away, Physicians do desert their patients, having no remedies but such as purging and blood-letting, the only publicans which by an insupportable excise impoverish the whole body and make Nature bankrupt by exhausting the stock of aliment from the vasa and viscera. All which we will touch particularly.  
These things are practised and prescribed, as designed for the evacuation and consuming the stock of morbific distempers. We have done then with one manner of evacuation of evil humours, purgation, and that by a twofold Instrument, viz. Cathart●cks or purges, taken in at the mouth, the Arctic pole, and a laxative Clyster, at the port Aesquiline the antarctic pole. The second manner of evacuation follows, which is the going out of the tide of blood, by the sluice of phlebotomy or blood-letting; which also wears the Fool's Coat or Livery of the Lady Ignorance, and well may be reputed free of the Company of Physicians other, not more erroneous, then foul, mischievous practices.  
As the Invention of Clysters was learned from a Bird, so blood-letting from a Horse. Good Teachers. Maid's children and Horses scholars shall be well disciplined; better fed, then taught. Verily by the consent of Galen, In every fever (the hectic excepted,) phlebotomy is requisite. To the schools therefore and the destructive custom of this giddy-headed Age we do frame this syllogism; and that from fevers, the most acute Index of all their grounds for blood-letting.  
Phlebotomy is unuseful wheresoever it is demonstrated not to be necessary: or where the indication, proper to it is wanting.  
But in fevers, it is not demonstrated to be necessary.  
Therefore phlebotomy in fevers is unuseful.  
The major is proved: because the end is the first director of causes, and disposer of the means unto itself. Therefore in what thing soever the end doth not point out a necessity of the means, they are in vain fitted and related to it, not being requisite thereto; especially where it is clear by reflection from the glass of Contra-indication, That blood is not drawn out of the rivulets, the veins, without the fall or loss to the whole ocean of strength. Such means therefore are badly instituted which the end shows to be in vain, unuseful and to be done with the diminishing of the strength.  
The minor is proved by Haratius Augenius de moute sancto, in his three books Ex Professo. Teaching with the consent of the Academies That a plethora alone, or too great a plenitude of the veins, that is, a nimiety of redundance of blood, is the only Gn●mon in the table of directions for phlebotomy. And that it doth not run in a direct line to the sanation of favers, but to the oblique angle of slackening the full blown sails of abundance of blood, and becalming the puffs and gusts of too much plenitude, by the Trident of phlebotomy, the Midwife to deliver only the ingravidate and bigge-bellyed veins from the Tympany of a Plethora. But a Plethora hath no subsistence under the torrid Zone of Fevers: Therefore in the hot spur of Fevers the cooling card of phlebotomy is never turned up, and consequently is not trump, is not requisite, but dealt about as always unuseful.  
The conclusion indeed may seem to come out of the Utopia of novelty and the Arabia of paradoxes, yet liveth in the Eden of sober verity. Which shall therefore be further proved, Galen himself proveth the subsumption teaching, That there is more choler sattered in every poroxysmo of a fever, then in two day's space is generated. In the mean time the rest of the members of our public state adjourn not, nor supersede from receiving (according to the Isonomy or pari-formall laws of Republics) nouristment of the accustomed blood. That is, besides the lavish expenses and exhaustion of the common stock of aliment that is expended by this new Tenant and Inne-houlder, the Fever, who hath now taken livery and seizin, they consume their own patrimony, the fat of the ordinary blood. Wherefore then from this advantage, it genuinely and necessarily follows, that if in a healthy person there be an allowance of eight ounces of blood for a daily portion, that then so many also should be transmuted into nutriment, or otherwise the man should strait protuberate into an excessive huge bulk, more deformedly corpulent than any Garagantua. Therefore if in a sound person there is diminution made of eight ounces of blood: Certainly the greedy fever will consume no less. Seeing then there is little or no appetite of food, digestion or sanguification, of unavoidable necessity, within two days, the full sea of a plethora (if there was any in the new Moon or beginning of the fever) will shift its tides into a low ebb, and in the wane of its fall and decrease, the false and dangerous shoal or quicksands of indication for springing a leak in the vein by phlebotomy, will appear as a mare mortuum, and accordingly vanish into the Stygian Gulf of errors. But that there is no plethora in Fevers, they see; who suffer ulcers by an Is- or Cautery: which truly are presently dried up by the solstice of Fevers, nor make no effluxion, according to the accustomed manner of their purulent excretion. But it is chiefly and deservedly to be noted, that the strength cannot offend, and deserves not to be blamed for its abundance, no, not in Methusalem: neither also doth good blood become peccant by nimiety, because the vital powers and blood are Correlatives: seeing according to Scripture, the soul or vital strength, rides in the Chariot of the blood. Therefore by consequence a plethora can never be in good blood.  
We shall show by and by, that bad and corrupt blood doth never run in the canal of the veins.  
If therefore the extreme of a Plethora of the veins, can ever be possible, it ought to consist in a mediety, betwixt corrupt and very sound blood: Whether we consider the same state of falling off and neutrality, or only, as mixed of both, at least, the Galenists should remember, that good proceedeth from its Trunk, an entire cause; but evil from the racemation of several defects: and so that this state should not be called plethorical: but cacochymical. Neither to desire phlebotomy but rather purgation, which may selectively expel the bad, and leave the good. And surely these their contradictory Theses being conceded, it will be a genuine illation, that the indication of phlebotomy is not yet in no wise proved. For according to the truth of the matter we before showed, the Anarchy of a cacochymia keeps not court in the veins, the effect of whose Reign is only the perturbation of the blood. For the appeasing of which mutiny, the grand design is not taken so much, from the exhaustion and arraignment of the well-affected blood, before the Bar of phlebotomy, as the prescribing a medicine, which shall be as a High Court of Justice, with the power of Oyer and Terminer suddenly to take away and cut off this grand Delinquent, the sole troubler and his Tyranny. Especially seeing that it is the purer blood, which passing by the centre of the heart, obtaineth its own depuration: therefore that which is drawn from the divarications of the cubit, and first let out, shall be purer; but the more impure shall be left within. Moreover seeing it is already so clear, as it can escape the observation of no man, that there is no plethora in fevers, which may require blood-letting; and this the Schools surrounded with shame, have somewhat smelled, and have substituted in the place of Indication, some C●oindications or Counter-Indications, in aequitality. and as aequiponderant or aequipollent to Indication adequate in Nature, and praeponderant to Contra-indication; which otherwise truly, seeing it is desumed from the conservation of strength, ought wholly to obtain the chiefest place, for this cause seriously, That every fever is quickly, safely and perfectly curable without blood-letting. For in good sooth they use presently but one only remedy, and serve all their so multifarious and divers putrefactions of their Clients, the humours, and fevers flowing from thence, with one writ of ejectment by the habeas Corpus or turn-key of Phlebotomy: Because it helps abundantly (as they say) and is stopped at pleasure.  
By which distinction truly they do in some sort disgrace their laxatives. For they say, although phlebotomy may seem requisite for a Plethora, by a natural and singular indication of itself; yea, neither properly doth it take away the putrefied humours: yet it refrigerates, exonerates the burden of the veins, it recreates the powers, takes away part of the evil humour together with the good; and stops the current or catarrh of humours, at the dam or nest of putrefaction, by derivation and revulsion, and also assuageth and removeth them. Wherefore nature feeling comfort, is busied about, and finishes the rest more successfully and easily. These are good words (and we wish to be true) says the sow, eating penitential psalms; but avail nothing to my hunger. These are the Endixes or Coindications, by which they persuade to continue men's mischiefs; which we shall touch particularly.  
And first of all we admonish, That although in a stronger and fuller body there may be no great hurt by blood-letting, yea, oftentimes the sick may seem to be eased presently; yea cured: yet phlebotomy cannot scape scot-free, seeing it hath run upon the score of many evils; nor go away uncondemned, forasmuch as fevers may more successfully be ●ured without it. For howsoever, phlebotomy at the first or reiterated courses, oftentimes may seem to be as it were a pyromastix, and to usher in a power to tame and assuage the intense heat and acuteness of fevers. Yet it falls out no otherwise then that the Archaeus being driven into an horrid ecstasy by this unexpected unnatural extravenation, greatly fears the sudden depletion of the powers, and undue and impertinent refrigeration, and so forgetting the duel or conflict with the disease, neglects to expel the feavorish matter, and excercise its function. But they who even now seemed to be lenifyed by blood-letting, and thought the disease overcome, are now put to their shifts, notwithstanding their weak engine of phlebotomy. For the enemy ralleys again, and the Archaeus is a new charged by the fresh Alarm of elusory recidivation, and they now know it was but an Ambuscado retreat of the disease, and that the mount Aetna of fevers is too hard to be removed by the infirm fingers of pigmy phlebotomy; at least they are benighted to a later and weaker valetudinary state. Which assertion the Turks and a great part of the world confirm, not owning with us the reasons nor use of phlebotomy, which was never read, that God ever ordained it in Nature, nor to approve of it, nor yet to have made any mention of it. Under the Ottoman Empire, the greatest part of the Indies, phlebotomy is not used, nor so much as heard of; yet the strength of these Nations, their agility, readiness, vigilancy, and constancy of labour, as well in action as sufferance, you may learn out of the Histories. Now concerning the first scope of Co-indication, which is called refrigeration.  
In earnest, blood-letting doth no otherwise refrigerate, then as it steals from the vital heat: but hath not the northern pole of frigefactive and positive power for its Horizon, by which means truly such a refrigeration becomes nocivous. Why forsooth are they so cautelous, that they do not; nor dare not open a vein in the Hectic? doth not the fever need refrigeration? Or doth it cease to be a fever? But the deficiency of blood is apparent in Hectics, wherefore in the system of Hectics, and in the defect of blood and strength, there's an easy calculation and illation of the hurt made by Phlebotomy; which otherwise is latitant under stronger powers. In the consideration of which, we shall bring a remarkable story of Prince Ferdinand, Brother to the King of Spain, who in Anno. 1641. was opened: for being agitated with a tertian fever eighty nine days, died in the two and thirtieth year of his age. His heart, Liver and Lungs being taken away, and the veins and arteries dissected, such a paucity of blood was found, that a conflux of scarce a spoonful of blood, issued in the cave of his Thorax: for his liver appeared altogether exanguious, and the flaccid crumenation of his heart, contracted an atrophy, and demonstrated a penury of blood also. For two days before his death he had eaten more, if more had been given him. For he was so exhausted by bloodlettings, purgations and hirudinall blood-suckings, as we said, that his sceletantall fabric appeared as a pale statu● of exanguinality; yet for all this the cruel Tertian did not forget to keep its paroxysmal course and return. What profited therefore so great an evacuation of the blood? Or what may be observed by a judicious perpension, from that refrigeration, but the illation of vanity to be clearly demonstrated from such evacuations, which do not take the least punctilio, from the latitude of fevers? The same degrees, and as bad and worse occurences of desperate evils and mischiefs, we find here at home, by this inveterate and deplorable practice of Blood-letting.  
Ah alas, is this the method of healing which makes a Physician, whom the most High hath created and commanded to be honoured for the necessity of him? If it know not to cure a Tertian in a young man, to what purpose is that method? Is this the Art that the whole needeth not but the sick? Let this therefore teach Physicians to fear how they expose their febrile patients to the congress of cold things, in which they should be largely and presently experienced, and by a manifest token know the virtue of their refrigeratives, because they may not much confide in their Anomalies of heat and cold. For seeing it is clear that the whole meridian, swinge and irradiation of heat in the province of fevers, is of the latitude, and Empire of the very vital spirit itself: it follows also, That the breath of refrigeration by the Boreas of phlebotomy, is a mere exhausting and impoverishing of the Commonwealth of the vital spirits and blood together. For if the fever be to be cured as an intemperature by phlebotomy, as a refrigerating remedy, (contrarium heu constat!) and by cold alone, and others intent the cure even in a quotidian (which they have subscribed to be an inflammation of putrid fleam) they would obtain at least that refrigeration far more easy, by exposing their patients half naked to the breath of the north wind, or hanging him in water, or in a deep well, until he should confess himself sufficiently cooled, for so presently and largely they should absolve the cure, if their conscious ignorance within, did not condemn their febrilous essence of heat. We cannot therefore so readily submit our belief, that the commotion of our bodies in a fever, is but a reverberium of heat, an impetuous agitation, and only a bare tempest of heat: but there is also the interposure of an occasional vitiated matter of known hostility against the native oeconomy of the parts, the protrusion of which the Archaeus is labouring and busied about, in which concertation, their enterferes an adventitious accension, the symbol of its indignation. Which Theory so long as it shall be neglected in the Schools, the cure of fevers will be preposterous, pernicious and conjectural, and so all not worth thanks to the Physician, seeing they may be cured by the spontaneous and merciful goodness of nature: and we wish and with submission advise hat Physicians would not tamper with them so much as they do.  
But to make haste to the argument of curing by the subitaneous precipitancy of cold▪ the Schools will respond, It is a dangerous it●●●ry to go from one extreme to another. By which salve of their ignorance, they endeavour to stop the mouths of people, as if they spoke some thing worth our cares and faith: not being sensible of their rash inadvertency, how in the intertrigation of their own hypotheses they contradict themselves, when they encomiate Phlebotomy chiefly for that end, and dextralize and prefer it before their laxatives, that it presently and abundantly helpeth by refrigeration; and therefore in their nomenclature, have presumed to give it the appellation of an easy, quick and universal help. For its own impotency grounded in ignorance, they distort and strain to the arbitrement of an ill understood and worse applied axiom: Because truly there is not the least question to be made, but that one may presently cut the rope of a man hanged, that being deprived of air, he might enjoy it more quickly. Again, that one may place a drowned man in a prone posture, that he may cast forth the water out of his lungs. One may, I say, drag out some certain body to the bankside: and may presently free a wound from that exotic miasme and indisposition, that hath possessed it, and bring it to a circatrice. For very many such wounds are closed in one day: because the solution of continuity wants nothing but its reunition; one may presently set a fractured or dislocated bone. The sick may likewise be restored in the Epilepsy, Syncope, lipothymy and Cramp much sooner, the belly loosed presently and the detention of excrements absolved and may presently stop the muliebrall flux. For it is not to be supposed that nature rejoiceth in its own destruction, and that weary of a sound and lovely state of health, is willing to open the gates and let in grimfaced repentinous Death, and should refuse a Remedy of that noble entelechy, which should suddenly expel and drive out the malignant disease, except she loves to be thought not to do that, which in possibilities is best of all, nor to desire that every thing should have a being, and be conserved. In demonstration indeed, it is accounted impossible to go on from one extreme to another, without a mean, and that mean wholly deny all interjacency: which if we have granted in naturalities with a certain latitude, we shall deserve to be adjudged hitherto to have done very well, and whereof not to repent. Verily we may not screw and urge that of demonstration, unto sanation. We confess indeed that the Dropsy may not be drawn forth by Paraco●tesis all at a time: as also to eliciate all the purulent matter at once out of an Aposteme, is not good; neither to carry one frozen with cold, immediately to an Hypocaust, nor to feed one abundantly who is almost starved with famine. But truly the slow and necessary incession of mediocrity, or the progression from one extreme to another, doth not constrain that, as such, as if nature should make aversation from speedy opitulation.  
Seeing that this indication is peculiar, natural, medullary and entirely proper to it. But these things are forbidden, because the exolution of the powers thence depending, would not bear those swift motions. The schools therefore by sophistication of a cause not as a cause, do drive the sick from a speedy remedy which they have not; that they may veil their ignorance, and introduce their enthymemes among the common people, under certain Axioms badly directed. For as often as nature effects, and with a Trine, aspects the perfect sanation of disseases, which may be genuinely accomplished in her own terms, without loss or detriment to the powers, (for the constellation of powers hath the Ascendand and first house, the metropolitan place in the system of indications,) whereby it's the sooner obtained, and manumitted into a greater Jubilee of Nature, as we have often observed in Fevers, with much pleasure, and profitable admiration.  
Therefore (in plain terms) if a mere heat above or against nature be the Ascendant in the Horizon of Fevers, and every cure ought to be performed by the monomachy or civil wars of debellative contraries: there is required therefore a praeternatural refrigeration, namely that contraries may stand sub eodem genere. That is every Fever should necessarily be cured with the conclamate could of the ambient: and chiefly because the cold of the circum-ambient air doth collect, not dissipate the powers. But the consequent is false; and therefore the Antecedent. The schools therefore do not intend to persuade into a gentle calmness, their only impetum faciens, the heat in fevers, by the ventilating Rhetoric of Phlebotomy: but they chiefly respect the ablation of the blood and mitigation of accidents, which ushers in and procures the debilitated powers, or the diminution of the blood and strength, is the only beam in their eye, and which they primarily intent. Whereby with a more colourable deceit they may call that a freer respiration of the arteries. But we very much esteem the indication which concerns the real conservation of the powers, & is opposite to the miserable and anormous depletion of the veins whatsoever, because in the diminution and prosternation of the powers and strength, being outed of their vigour, and now exanimated into a dull and faint mycropsychie, no disease can in the least degree, or largest latitud of intention be profligated from the confines of vitality, nor doth any thing remain to be done by the Physician, but to stand for a cipher.  
Hypocrates therefore concludes Nature to be the only Aesculapius of diseases; because the indication which is desumed from conserving the powers, should moderate the whole scope of the cure. Therefore as the keeping of the powers, is the prime indication perpendicular to health, and conducible to perfect restauration, and this to be persuaded from the convincing arguments of reason; so also its correlative the blood, because it containeth them.  
Hypocrates indeed it's confessed, commands to let blood presently and abundantly in the strenuous plethora of Athletic bodies: and that the schools every where thunder out for phlebotomy. But their allegations for that in the cure of fevers and diseases, is extremely ridiculous and worthy the blushes of learned men. For he commands not that for fear of the plethora, although their veins might sufficiently abound with blood: but only lest the full-stuffed vessels should strain and burst in the exercise of their strength: otherewise, what intercalation or advent is there that is common to sound Athletic Enterprisers, with the cure of Fevers? For there is no fear of a plethora in one afflicted with a Fever, nor that a vein should be broke by exercise. Yet it is to be noted, that the depletions of blood, do so behave themselves, and are at such a pass: Forasmuch as the luxuriant exhaustion of the powers accrueing upon the libidinous sacrifices to the Cyprian Dame, is irreparable, because it takes away from the innate spirit of the heart. With semblable reason and in proximity to this, is the destructive exhaustion made by phlebotomy, forasmuch as it readily and privily steals away and that plentifully the influent Archaeus. But although the malignant tincture and influence of a disease doth perpendicularly also oppugn the sysygia of powers; yet because it doth it not affatim, sed sensim, therefore the cardinal effect, is rather a concussion and attrition of the powers, than a real exhaustion.  
The restauration therefore of the strength from the disease of attrition doth more easily and readily bend and follow the auxiliary hand of the Physician then from that of exhaustion, by phlebotomy. For those who in any disease are debilitated by blood-letting, are oftentimes disappointed of the Crisis, and if in the dilatory expergefaction from a disease, and raising its siege, they begin to recruit, and nature is not put upon such hard duty, but they now become a little better; yet they pass out at the postern gate and narrow way of many anxieties, and a long flux of time it is, ere these valetudinarists arrive at the broad and pleasant way of perfect convalescence, and not without fear of the fresh alarm of elusory recidivation. But they who take their decumbiture in a disease without phlebotomy, are easily restored, and by and by attain to their pristine state of sanity. And if they are destitute of remedies, and sometimes are driven to great extremities; yet Nature endeavours the Crisis and doth refect them, because although their strength suffer a conquassation by a disease, yet they perish not, because no exhaustion by Blood-letting.  
Wherefore a Physician is bound by the peculiar dictates of conscience and charity to heal the sick, not by a subitaneous expoliation of the powers, as neither by the dangers flowing from thence, nor yet by abreviation of life, according to that in the Psalms, my spirit shall be attenuated, and therefore my days shortened. And seeing according to Holy writ, the life lurks in the blood, therefore a plentiful profusion of blood, cannot but be a considerable prejudice to life.  
For precisely the perpetual intention of Nature in curing fevers, is per 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, per sudores.  
And therefore the reflux or periodical exacerbations for the most part are checked and ended by the profluvium of sweats. But phlebotomy is the antarctic pole, is diametrically opposite to this intention. For truly it vellicates the blood inwards, to replete the vessels empty of blood: But seriously the motion of Nature requisite to the sanation of fevers, proceeds from the centre to the circumference, from the Regalia of the noble parts and entrails, to the line of this our garrison, the Region of the Pelt. But that blood-letting does hurt unavoidably, by the dependent necessity of its debilitation, we need no strong inducements to charm our belief, although stronger and plethoric bodies, may seem to them, who to pass by the trouble of a judicial and serious pensitation, are inclined to believe, that they find and witness the contrary: if that holy writ which tells us, that the life dwells in blood, hath not weight sufficient to engage our credence; at least it may be made manifest by the barbarous logic of Phlebotomy, please you to suffer the easy trouble and experiment of opening a vein and bleeding largely. For presently the conclusion and evidence given in will be, That the strength or powers & the sick are faint and fall together. Therefore if in demonstration six things may notably hurt: three then cannot but hurt, though not so sensibly.  
far therefore from the rules of sober verity and equity must his ano●mall intentions and practice wander, who being delegated to cure and restore nature, invents and tries ways to hurt her, for which he hath not the least permission, if nature be her own Aesculape, and so much the more happy and successful, as she is stronger. For let it be but seriously weighed in the balance, and by the weighty motive of the pressing necessities and mischiefs that follow, and it will evidently appear that Physicians may deservedly suffer the lash and feel compunction for their inhuman languifying practices. For is it not enough to a Physician that the sick pines and begins to grow faint, under the burden of an inexcusable weakness by a deplorable disease, hunger, loss of appetite, inquietude, pains, anxieties, waiching, sweat, & c? Nor ought a faithful Adjuvant or helper to lay load upon load, & add weakness to weaknesses. Deceitful is that help which phlebotomy brings and his remedy so uncertain, that no Physician hitherto durst promise from thence future sanation.  
In earnest it is worthy our most serious consideration, when we take notice how every Artificer performs what he promises, to wit, the Image-maker his Image, the Builder his edifice, the Shoemaker fashions his shoes, and all this ad unguem. But alas only a Physician, in a cold spasme of inconstancy, dares promise nothing of his Art: because the infirm nerves of his ground work & grand foundation leans on the broken reed of uncertain principles; by accident only, and most times deceitfully profitable: because however the matter is handled, it is full of ignorance to intend cure by procuring weakness, that is, by a sudden depletion of the blood, largely made; nature being driven into the wild field of confusion, sounds a retreat, and neglects the expulsion of her enemy. Which expulsion notwithstanding, needs no volume to confirm, that being the Epitasis or heart of the business, or the Epilogue and winding up of the matter, contains the whole scene of fevers and nature. Farther, it's an indubitate and irrefragable truth, That the febrile matter doth not take up its lodging in the vein above the heart: and by consequent, that the seminal fomenting or occasional matter, is in no wise exhausted or let out by the key of phlebotomy, or effectuously cures, by the direct and perpendicular intention of healing.  
Finally, if blood-letting be concluded for the refection of the arteries through the facility of perspiration, it is wholly frustraneous while the fever is yet in Balneo, and in its ascension by the Climax of aggravation, before it comes to the fire of sublimation, and hath not yet mounted the Apogaeum of conflagration. And seeing that not in its fixation or stationary position, nor also in its retrogradation or declension, bloudletting is no whit necessary. Therefore never. But not in the state, is proved: because the Crisis is hindered, seeing nature (as they write) is most opposed and impedited in her reluctation and conflict with the foreign invasion of the disease, and for the most part returns conqueror, then would it be inconsiderate and invincible dotage, to flank her files and fall foul upon her in the rear, by a rash attempt of violating her force: then would she least of all be able to suffer the loss of strength, and retreat from the duel. But if in the State Nature be forced to resign to the tyranny of the Conqueror, what shall blood-letting be, any other then mere homicide? If therefore in the state it is not convenient to open a vein, while the heat is in its Zenith, the anxiety and powerfullest respiration of the arteries is exagitated: far less convenient surely will it be, in the beginning and augmentation. Especially seeing that in the first days, the fear of a plethora vanishes away, and so without doubt the perspiration of the arteries is easy enough. But that diseases in Perigaeo or declination, have not the least latitude or intention for blood-letting, and do neither require it, nor suffer it, is confessed by the common consent of all, and is so clear as needs no Apoixis, nor cannot escape the most bleareyed and regardless observation, that no man will ever essay phlebotomy in the declination of a disease.  
Moreover consider we that in the meridian of fevers, the blood that runs in its ecliptic, the veins, is either good, or bad, or neuter. If good, that it will be good to keep good, there's none so devoid of his reason to appear we believe so much a sceptic, to dispute against it: because it adds to the strength. For (as elsewhere we have showed) the fear of a plethora even strait at the beginning, if there was any, ceased. But because in the Apotheosis of phlebotomy they will have good blood emitted, for ventilation and difflation of putrefaction, when both the one and the other is taken away well enough; and that imaginary good, which they suppose in the Chimaera of their own brains, hath no other real Idea, or footing, but in the distracted imaginations of the contrivers and abettors of this fable, and brings nothing but loss of strength.  
Moreover the schools teach, that phlebotomy in a fever, is not commanded because of the goodness of blood, which negative Thesis supposes evil and putrid. But they will otherwise learn when we come to show that there is no corrupt thing in the Canals of the veins unto the last period of animation; and consequently this drift of phlebotomy will be cashiered. Let them therefore demonstrate to us the malignity of the blood, which is without and before the corruption of the same. Next, how the bad blood is kept in the vein, from the heart unto the Cubit, if they will have this their device of phlebotomy ratified. Let them tell us, I say, how that the bad blood is not in the first receptacles, and the blood being brought out by the vei● of the Cubit, a worse is not drawn to the heart, where the vena Cava makes the right sinus of the heart. Let them inform us likewise that the superior veins being depleted, there is not greater liberty and impunity for both noxia and ●ebrilia to come to the heart, than before: yea, that in the place of difflating corruption (which in severity of truth we have proved to be none at all) there is not occasioned rather a freer passage of the putrid air to the heart, towards which place seriously, the vacuity of the depleted veins doth attract the blood beneath. Let them show I say, how the effluvium of blood, and diminution and excise of the strength by the Cubit, will be such a convenient mother, to own such a production as will impede corruption, or import the correction and redintegration of the putrid. Let them also explain themselves what they mean, when they say, that phlebotomy should be made, that the arteries may more freely respire, when that putrefaction (if there were any possibility of it in the veins) would not affect the arterial blood, the steward of whole Nature. Moreover let them prove that the good blood and strength being diminished, proportionably, there is a greater power to the remaining impure and inquinated by corruption, (as they suppose) of preserving itself from the putrefaction that is imminent. Let them instruct us likewise contrary to Scripture, that the life and soul are rather, and more delectably in the remaining contaminated blood, then in the purer that is taken away by phlebotomy. Otherwise we may have freedom enough to conclude, that the letting forth of the good, doth necessarily and regularly include the augmented stock & proportion, & unbridled licence of the remaining evil blood. What if then in the fever and veins the blood be bad, and they say it is good (as a sign and effect) which in phlebotomy flows forth bad: and should they esteem so much at least of the taking away of bad blood; to which we find no grounds for our belief to incline. For, first let them prove, whereby, that their incrimination and arraignment of the blood to be noxious, may appear by the verdict of apodictical evidence and demonstration to be so indeed, as we before have, and by and by shall fully acquit and find not guilty. And then let them indoctrinate us how by such a sudden and large emission of the bad blood, no prejudice is made to the powers and strength: and that the remaining inquinated blood, the strength being now diminished, and a depletion made of the blood, shall be the cause why the corruption of the rest of the blond is less able to proceed? And whether they can hope, the blood being, after what manner soever, once putrified in the veins, that from such a privation there can be in nature any regression: And also let them show, not to contradict, how it is proper to the fever to inquinate the blood itself, and this property to be taken away à posteriori, to wit, with the removing of the putrefyed humour? For if at first the impurer blood be drawn out of the vein, they iterate the opening of a vein, and in the interim consternate and perturb the powers, and thereby take away all hope of the Crisis, which if it come out redder than ordinary, they cry out with that magnifying esteem, as if the whole heap of evil were taken away at once, and as if the seat of fevers had been extended in a parallel line, only from the continent of the heart, unto the Isthmus of the flexure of the Arm: but the good had been residentiall about the parenchymatick laboratory of the Li●er. But we have known fearful evacuations of the last excrements always in the Dropsy, much more therefore in the bare taking away of blood, which in a direct line takes away the vital spirits, from the centre of the heart to the circumference, by the orifice of the vein, whether the blood be good, or bad, or neither.  
And here seeing we are fallen upon it so directly, we have a fair opportunity to inquire into the putrefaction of the blood or corruption of the same, and now strictly to arraign and examine its naturalities, and see if there be any possibility for it to outlive the faith of them who seek to bear it down. And therefore not only simply heterodoxicall, but a very rough-hewed paradoxical asseveration it will seem unto inflexible ears, if we say, That the blood putrefies not in the veins, and perhaps to some as deeply heretical and of as high a Tincture, as comes not short of the transubstantial migration of the grapy juice of the papal Sacramentarians.  
The opinion of bad and corrupt humours, and worse blood, hath been the Cantharideses to phlebotomy, and of bloody disadvantage in the method of healing. Let the schools therefore know, That the blood never putrefies in the veins, but (like Gemini in the Zodiac, or Hypocrates twins,) its line or Ecliptic it runs in, the vein itself putrefies also, as in the Tropic of Gangrenes and mortifications. Moreover like precarious mendicants, they beg the question, who let out the blood, lest by the magnet of its stagnancy it should attract and be impregnated with the puddle of putrefaction. Also who assert, A synochus or Ca●sus to be generated from the embryo of putrefyed blood in the womb of the veins. Also who say, that when Mercury the blood putrefies in the Balneum of the veins, it is transmuted into choler. If we suppose that some excrementitious, foreign and alien humours and seminalities, may impress a seminal miasme in the parts, by a breath or blast of contagion or other inquinating ferment, and thereby disorder and pervert the functions, yet will it not therefore follow, that they are capable of corruption or putrefaction. For putrefaction, according to the faith of that great Elementarist, Aristotle, Is a corruption of the proper heat secundum naturam, in every humidum, by another heat that is ambient. Here Aristotle requires three things necessary unto corruption. First the subject or matter of putrefaction, which is, unumquodque humidum. Secondly, the form and essence of putrefaction, namely, the corruption of the proper heat from its own natural state, so that of a natural state, it is made praeter naturam. And lastly, the efficient cause, to wit, the heat of the ambient. The which if one of these be wanting, corruption cannot then be made.  
In conformity and analogy to this, Alexander lends us his suffrage, in lib. 12. cap. 2. where he proves, The humours do not putrefy in the veins, but that they are rather congealed extra vasa, then putrefy. If they putrefy in the veins, worms would be generated, because that there the heat is more vigorous, then in the Intestines, where animals are begotten of corruption. Joubertus also is not far from us, thinking, That all corruption is made cum faetore. But in the veins there is no faetor; Therefore no corruption. Joubertus also adds, That all things are conserved in there proper places: but the veins are the proper Conservatories of the blood and humours, therefore putrefy not. Capriolus responds to this, That although every thing is conserved in his proper place, yet the same may putrefy from causes proceeding some other way. He brings an example of wine, which although it should be conserved almost always in its proper vessels, yet sometimes it is corrupted in them, and putrefies by other causes. But because it is indecorum to the regularities of philosophy to deny Theorems, we constantly assert, every thing to be conserved in his proper receptacle or native conservatory. To the example of Capriolus which he brings of wine, we shall only say, That wine is not in the Hogshead or vessel, as in his proper natural place, nor hath it a proper place, when it is not contained in his proper term or boundary; for the wine is detained in the vessel against his nature. And those bodies which are taken away by external force and injury, have not a proper and natural place. Man for this cause is mortal.  
We remain also doubtful in the general Theory of putrefaction; for we find it not an unusual (nor laudable) custom for fluctuating spirits, whose lenity of belief inclines, or obstinacy of will constreins them, to dilate the notions of things beyond the proprieties of their natures. The schools they supponere quodlibet, ut probetur quidlibet, In their Theorems of putrefaction, which we thus prove: The blood is kept fluid even in a Cadaver or dead body, in its Trunk, the veins, as appear, by the consent of all Anatomy, but once let out by the key of phlebotomy doth presently by the deliquium of the Ambient, condense and coagulate into colchotar sanguinis, clods. Now the coagulation of the blood is the prodromus and Alpha only of putrefaction. Therefore if the veins by their proper balm, (not short of that of Memphis,) preserve the blood from corruption in a dead body, much more will they in the living.  
It's an argument a minori ad majus. It's true some foreign excrements may perturb the blood in the veins, as we before hinted, to wit, the surplusage, or mean retinue as well of their own, as another digestion, but never the Lord chief Treasurer of life, the blood. Because according to scripture, it is the seat, the chamber and magazine of life. If therefore the grand signior himself, the life, cannot preserve his own throne and Treasury in the metropolis or Royalty of the veins, from the invasion or treacherous undermining of that petty Rebel, corruption, from becoming competitor or Tenant thereto, when then will he keep it? And how can it be ever free from the same? And also if the life cannot save harmless & keep indemnified from the charge of putrefaction, the blood, custos vitae, in which she sits enthroned and grows and increases in glory and vigour, how will then the bones he preserved?  
The veins therefore are ordained by the high court and Council of Heaven to be Lord Commissioners deputed to keep the blood from corruption: because the life is confermented to the blood of the veins, and therefore both are cast out by the lease of ejectment of blood-letting; they both together have their current through the sluice of phlebotomy, and make their exit at one door, the orifice of the vein. Under this question therefore the glory and destination of Nature doth come to ruin: or the whole course of healing hitherto adored by Physicians. But put the case that it be so▪ By what signs do the schools judge of putrid blood? Is it not from the colour, whiter, blacker, yellow, greenish, or brownish? From the matter viscous, thick, waterish, thin, & c? And at last from the consistence, not febrous, or not hanging together? But we declare under the penalty of being convicted of a lie or supposed thing, if any one please to try and examine the blood of two hundred common sound persons emitted in one day, which though many of them may be very unlike in aspect, colour, matter and consistence; and let many of these be distilled, yet they shall be found to be equally useful and profitable in healing. For although many of them should seem putrid; some aeruginous or atrabilious: yet in the first place, these persons whence the blood flows forth, are all supposed to be sound. Wherefore we have slighted the table of judgements from the Haemascopy or sight of the extravenated blood, and have concluded, that the blood commanded by the Physicians to be kept, was chiefly for this reason, that they might find out one visitation in the sick.  
Verily if putrefaction of blood hath any place, and doth demonstrate its emission from that title, it takes place in the plague. But phlebotomy in the plague is deadly; Therefore there is never no putrefaction in the blood.  
Suppose also there be thirty men alike afflicted with the Pleuresy, and ten of them give forth blood apparently vitiated: (for the blood of pleuretick persons is like to red wine mixed with curdled milk) the other twenty I'll undertake to cure without blood-letting. Certain it is, that those twenty have their blood no otherwise affected then those ten, who were let blood. And again that those twenty that are cured, if a vein were opened, their blood shall be found rectified, restored to its pristine perfection, and far differing from the blood of pleureticks. Therefore the blood of pleuretick persons is not corrupted, although it may seem so: because from the black paths of corrupted blood, there is no return to the way of life and sanity. Black blood therefore or livid, green, etc. do not signify the corruption of it: but are symbolizations of only its effervescence, or fermental turbulence. For in the first place, if the more waterish and yellow blood doth denote its vitiosity, the arterial blood should be far worse than the blood in the veins; which is false. For the Tree of life, the blood, is no otherwise distinguished from the aforesaid racemations, then as the wine is troubled, when the vine flowers, yet is not therefore corrupted; for take away the trouble, and it returns again to its pristine serenity and clarity. So likewise a fever doth variously affect and perturb the blood, and discolorate it with sundry and divers faces. But these larvations vanish, the fever being taken away. Verily these Haematognomists or diviners by the Phaenomena's in the blood, in their Gnomologies may be compared to those who calculate and think to pass judgement on the Radix or scheam of Spanish wine, by the ascendant of their pisspot; who will judge of good or bad Canary by looking on their urine. But they go on to say. That if putrefaction be not lodged in the blood, and on the score of being a troublesome guest, why doth it therefore the third time, and not the first, or the first, and not the third time, spring forth with a blush purely red out of the vein? But this argument doth only demonstrate one part of the blood to be more and sooner troubled then the other, not the whole or altogether. And if it be putrefied, it avails to avert the putrefaction, then in vain to mitigate the fever by refrigeration. But surely those things whatsoever, that resist putrefaction, are hot. For myrrh now two thousand years preserves the embalmed Egyptian Carcases; which otherwise with succory, plantain, and your cooling things had long ago putrefied. The putrefaction therefore of the humours, of the blood also and the spirits are fabulous stories, & a warring against them more ridiculous than a fight in Quixot. We add one thing more, whatsoever has once apostatised into an exotic Diathesis of corruption in the body, neur returns again into unity or favour: But the blood of the veins howsoever it may seem corrupted returns again into favour. Therefore it hath not been once corrupted: The Major is proved, because corruption in us, is an effect of the sequestration of the vital dispositions. The Minor is proved by those cured of the Plague, pleuresy & fevers without bloudletting. Also, if the blood is everjudged to be putrid or corrupt, existing in the veins, it is that chiefly, which is haemorrhoidal: but this is not corrupt, although it be almost as it were extravenated. Therefore the blood is never to be judged putrid in the veins. The Major the whole practice of Chirurgery, proves, by ulcers begotten of the haemorrhoides. The Minor is proved, because we make a mettle, a ring of which being worn, takes away the pain of the haemorrhoides in a little space, and in twenty four hours the haemorrhoides as well intern as extern vanish away, although they be greatly swelled. Therefore that blood, is received into pristine favour, and they feel themselves well.  
What hinders now, if taken up and committed to the managery of a judicious and deliberate perpension, but that this fabulous scene of putrid blood will appear on all hands worthy the hiss off the stage of medical Theorems for phlebotomy; and to account it but in the list of nothing. Wherefore in serious verity we have always found that the help produced by the forcible taking away the powers and strength, to be full of deceit; that for a little ease, the powers, which are the Atlas of diseases, should be enervated. For even as a drink in the infancy of a fever should be an adipson, and seem to refresh the thirst a little by the dugs of humification: but who is so mad that would then drink, if he knew that it would take away his necessary strength. False therefore, deceitful, and but a momentary help is that, which advenes by phlebotomy.  
But they go on, and of some (and they not a few, nor meanly wise, or so accounted) with whom I have talked, it hath been their last pin to shut up their tedious discourse, and with others, the Hercules, and main pillar of their faith in the premises of phlebotomy, to justify it from the good successes usually attends and follows it. And the schools themselves go about to work it upon our belief by the Rhetoric of its good effects. Certainly it is an injurious method unto Philosophy and Physics, and a perpetual promotion of ignorance, in points of obscurity to fall upon a present refuge of that restless ill success and events. And to speak truly an hazardable determination it is unto fluctuating and indifferent effects to affix a positive type. For in effects of far more regular causalities, difficulties do often arise. And we can with a little pains make appear what miserable, bloody, destructive and languifying effects hath followed it, that shall outvie and bear down all the mountains of good they can heap up. For what though the cruel and barbarous practices of these pseudo-medici by diminishing the requisite quantity of blood, life and strength, to the great and almost irreparable detriment of the patient, do by exhausting the veins and emaciating the body, bring a little ease, do they therefore strike at the root of the disease, and destroy the cardinal efficient thereof? Nothing less. Now concerning blood neither good nor bad, it is not worth speaking of in respect of phlebotomy: seeing it is denied disjunctively, it may also be denied copulatively. For whether it be natural, which consists in a commixture of good with the depraved (supposing depraved which is not) or that, to which there is a neutral alteration introduced, in each event the aforesaid do satisfy.  
At length we come to cut off the Cable of that Anchora spei of revulsion, and so to take away alike all the lesser tackling of Coindications, that as in a map may appear the dangerous rock of these their unleavened Heterodoxes, as the miserable and tenacious subterfuges of Pertinacy. It is a mad help in theorical or practical phlebotomy (for they commonly draw out and exact a plenty of it for this end) in shunning the Scylla of fevers to fall into the Charybdis of menstruas; and either in the first, or only in the last to let blood for revulsion: because that the feavorish matter doth not swim in the blood, or fluctuate in the veins, as a fish in the water: but is fixed to the vessel within. And in the menstruas likewise: because that the separation of it is made out of the whole, and not without the separating hand of the Archaeus. But phlebotomy verily separates nothing of things separable, because it acts without any precognition of an end, and so without election. But the innoxious blood, and in vicinity or proximity to the apertion of the vessel, perpetually flows forth: the which, because afterward in a continued thread, or undulation, other follows hard at the heels, for fear of vacuity. Therefore the whole retinue of menstruas, about that peculiar monarchy of the womb, that have been collected by the study and labour of nature are then segregated by the destructive knife of phlebotomy, and make their retroition into the whole. But if phlebotomy sometimes in a plethoric and euchymous woman, may have the plaudite and Elegy to happen successfully, yet really in many others, it procures but a lamentable Catastrophe. For if by its only quantity the menstrue (being now gathered and dispersed in the uterine veins) should offend, we will grant the individual indication of phlebotomy, and in this only supposed Accidentality willingly admit it. But if the menstrue flows in a womb of a laudable constitution, it abundantly satisfies its own ends, and so forth revulsion is in vain, although their Hypothesis supposes it impossible. For phlebotomy is nothing else but a mere and indistinct depletion of blood. For the veins being now unnaturally and unaccustomably emptied, they do attract to selves forthwith, from every place, and any blood whatsoever. Because as they are the greedy Capsulaes' of blood; so they are impatient of vacuity. But Derivation, because it is a parsimonious effusion of blood, (so that it be done out of congruous veins,) it hath profited in many topic diseases, but is wholly impertinent in fevers.  
But they urge with that confidence and instance blood-letting to be so necessary in the pleuresy, that it is enjoined, not under capital offence. For they say, That unless the confluent blood, avelling the pleura or thin membrane lining the chest, be reveled by a large effusion of blood, there is danger, that the pleuresy would kill a man by suffocation. But their Theory is wholly besides the mark, and they levelly only at the productions and effects of diseases, and not the causes. For they are ignorant of the Nature of a pleuresy in the material cause of its Generation, place for its conception, Conduits for its Traduction, Receptories for its customary admission, and its penetrative corroding activity impregnated with that immanity to avell the pleura or lining of the Thorax from the ribs, which is firmly annexed and immediately adheres unto them, by the mediatory ligation of numerous solid fibres. Wherefore we have no weighty engagement lies upon our reason to conclude, that in the pleuresy, phlebotomy hath no place, nor is of no use for revulsion and derivation: but for the mere exhaustion and diminution of the blood and strength: so that truly Nature greatly fearing that evacuation, doth supersede, and desists to send plenty of blood about the pleura. 'Tis not nuworthy their notice taking, and substantial determination whether this, with such a notable and sudden loss of strength (in a disease wherein the whole burden lies upon the shoulders of the strength and powers) be not to be cured, à posteriori, by precaution and prevention of the increase? And whether that be a proceeding to the connexed and fomenting cause, while they convert their whole work not ad faciens, sed ad factum esse? For mine own part and in me it's neither vanity nor pride to say, and let it not be a grief or offence to any of their grave obstinacies and vulgarities, I let no man blood in the pleuresy; nor have not since my peda●tisme and junior practice in the medical profession, as many can witness, especially those who have had a constant opportunity for some length of time to see into, and be inwardly intimate in my practice and cures: and such a cure is both safe, sure, profitable and solid. None of them have miscarried, whereas those that are let blood, after a long Tabes, and lingering death perish most of them, and have a quotannall recidivation. For according to Galen, whosoever within forty days are not perfectly cured, grow tabid. But there are many alive in several parts of this Nation, who can testify, That I cure perfectly within few days; nor do they find relapses.  
Now it is to be considered if there be any use of Revulsion in fevers. For in sooth, seeing primarily there is no other need of revulsion, than phlebotomy, to which the succeeding blood that is about to flow, is hoped for, by accident, and by the benefit of which, it will not flow to the place affected. According to which Thesis it follows, That by such an evacuation the peccant feavorish blood, dispersed in the veins will be drawn; (conniventer loqui) which otherwise, latent in its own nest, far from the heart, would not communicate the ferment of its hurt so hastily and fiercely to the heart. Which is as much as to say, That by such a revulsion, the peccant humour would be drawn from the ignoble part, to the more noble. For more crude and feculent is the blood in the maze and Labyrinth of the mesaraick veins; but more defecate which comes to the palace of life, the heart. For otherwise the first weapons of mischief had been placed by indiscreet nature near the fountain of life. Therefore seeing the stream of the feavorish matter flows not in the veins, nor takes up quarters near the heart: far be it from any sober head to fall into that dotage to believe, That it can be drawn forth, or caused to shift its quarters, by the rude hand of phlebotomy, however oftentimes a multicolorate blood by the Courtship of iterated blood-letting may be sent forth. It's a cruel remedy also, if unto the place of the emitted blood, some other shall come from more remote places. For so the tincture of labefaction of one place, should be communicated to the whole and to the more noble parts.  
Finally if once the old Troops of errors of the Ethnics were disbanded and cashiered the Regiment of knowledge, the pretended Reformades, or part new modelled Moderns would have more tender regard to the life of their neighbour; and would likewise know, that the childish Theory of revulsions are but vain and ridiculous comments; and that the loss of the Treasury of blood and strength is pernicious; and that there is no hurt from the blood within the veins; but only from hostile and alien Excrements: and also that God hath ordained sufficient Emunctories for any filth whatsoever; nor is there any need of incising the veins for the cure of fevers. Thus having evidenced, at least made dubious the litigious Theory and supinity of this practice of blood-letting we think, and have some grounds to be confident, that the ingenuity and rationality of it will prevail more than our slender performances; whereby to fix as a very large discouragement, and disservice to the activity of those spirits who are the patrons and Champions of this practice. Herein we have been more elaborate, and the longer insisted, because the error is material, and a wicked and bloody practice, and concerns oftimes the life of man; an error to be taken notice of by State, if they will make good that title and divine attribute to be merciful like Gods as they are called. And thus we could not but think it our duty, (according to our capacity,) wholly to subvert and disrobe this bloody mantle of the exsecrable, and destructive Theorems and Epidemic practice of blood-letting; the second manner of evacuation. We have assigned the precedency and priority to purges from regular Idionomy and propriety of natures with their appellatives. The 3 manner of evacuation of evil humours follows.  
Now it will be seasonable for us to come to the 3 manner of evacuation of the schools; which is Fontanels or Issues, another universal main pillar of healing: and to examine it by the fire of truth, and subdichotomise it by the severe incision knife of rational argumentations. Which of all these general remedies hath the principality of verity and virtue, and the optimacy in sanation, is not worth the dispute. But this we believe. That this Trichotomy or Ternary of Racemations or branches of the medical Root, is like the Taxus of India, which the first year bears fruit, the second, leaves, and the third year, poison: and conclude, that but a mean apprehension any thing well palated, will find no pleasant taste in this practice neither; except he have it brawn'd and made ingustible, as being paved with the freestone of Custom, and the blue Theory of the schools. We shall therefore endeavour a full delivery hereof; declaring the grounds of doubt, and reasons of denial; which rightly understood, may, if not overthrow, yet shrewdly shake the security of this invention. Wherefore we will declare the ends and the effects of fontanelles and Cauteries.  
Cauteries in the first place are made by fire, and that either actual, as by a red hot Iron: or potential, by an escharoticall caustick: fontanelles also by a razor, or incision knife cutting something away. Of late, they have a trick of paring away, (palpably laniarious) & wounding the membrana Carnosa. But others prefer a wound by fire, or Caustick fitted to it, which is laid open by incision: because that by the actual heat and siccity, they are led to think the flux of humours is better impeded & stopped in their descent. As if in such a tantillation or moment of time, the fire should burn something besides the Eschar; or exsiccate some other thing, which they feign is about to flow to the wound. And on both sides, these dreams are magnifyed by the schools. Vain therefore are the Canteries or fontanelles, for the Revulsion and Exhaustion of humours, which have no real existence in nature. For the adored fontanel (for so they have christened their wounds made in the flesh, that the poor deluded vulgar may believe, that thereby diseases are exhausted, as by a fountain) helps nothing, before the crustous eschar be taken away; and the vestigiaries of heat and dryness be first removed. Because the protoplast or primitive ordainment of a Cautery, had excretion for its object; which takes not the chair, nor flows not, till the ebb or decidency of the eschar: and in its exsudation can less transpire through the obdurate obstructed eschar, then thorough the integral porous pelt. Hence therefore the mod●r● Pyhsitians have determined that howsoever the fontanel was made, at least they would make solution of continuity, and keep it divided. For what God hath made and ordained in its integrality, to be kept untouched, and adjudged to be best, seems unto the controlling ignorance of the schools, better to be vulnerated and divided, and so kept. To be wounded therefore, and keep wounds open, avails much to the health of the schools. And seriously it is worth our notice, but more our wonder, that they have not put wounding among their Canons of conserving health: forasmuch as Cauteries or permanent wounds are thought to be so nearly related to it. But the difference betwixt wounding and burning is only this, that there happens an emission of blood: which one would think, under that title, should excel with the schools, unless the deceitfulness of phlebotomy had discovered itself. They presume and positively conclude forsooth, That a Cautery or new imposed fontanel is a new Emunctory, by which Physicians may compel Nature with a wet finger to exonerate herself. All which I say the schools have drawn into practice, upon the design of evacuation and exsiccation of superfluities, wildly imagining to comprehend the competent quantity of blood, Generation of the exotic excrement, and easy expulsion of the same under the single synonyma of fontanelles or Issues: whereby they can cite or summon the Catarrhall s●minalities and radicities to make personal appearance before the Bar of the wounds orifice, at the pleasure of the Physician. So that at this sluice of fontanelles is expulsed the Nilus of defluxions, and particuliar streams of gleeting humours, and it is now become a Cardinal point in the medical compass a main pillar of healing, and a Catarragogall Remedy cried up even to pulpitising, and has so far prevailed, that now also they are applied unto children who have not yet attained unto 3 solar revolutions▪ yea that universality it hath acquired, that it is the only remedy and refuge not only of very many Internal, but also of most external and Cutany defects. But for our own part in the first place, we look upon fontanelles to contain implicit blasphemy, whereby they openly accuse the Creator of insufficiency in composing Emunctories. And also we have suffered above two hundred fontanelles or Issues to dry up, and have advised to incarnate them, and bring them to a Cicatrize, which hitherto, so far as we know, none have had cause to repent. And lastly we have considered the childish presumption of Physicians, in that they so seriously persuade themselves, they can engage nature in her passive auscultatory faculties to follow their commands, and expel the catarrh or defluxion at the hole that they have made in the flesh. That fictum impossibile of catarrhs, hath been a very convenient mother indeed to bring forth the production of fontanelles: which Theory being denied, the ground of fontanelles is a vain thing. For the schools teach, That by fontanelles, evil, yea exitious humours are forced out of the body, which otherwise would be either sent to another place, or by its declive tendency would voluntarily flow downwards. It's well truly, that Nature with a loose rain, against her will must dance attendance and wait upon the pleasure of Physicians, and the apertion of the skin; that by that way she may exonerate herself of that unprofitable burden, which otherwise would decline towards a more noble member. As if Dame nature by her Mercuries or Emissaries should denounce her open and just anger, and threaten thus. Woe be unto you, unless you keep open for me the membrana carnosa with a wound, when it shall seem good unto you, that ye may appease my fury by Revulsion, and avert me from the opinion of dimission. For otherwise, that which by a subcutaneous expurgation, should be sent out by the high way and sink of all sordid excrements, I will now retract, in revenge, by the privy Garden of some noble member. But I pray you, would it not amuse the activity of any sophistical head to tell us, from what centre, or ample source or head of the fountain, this corrupt stream of evil humours is delapsed, and comes to make this progress? what is there in the liver, the Shop and Forge of the four humours, as they are pleased to have it? In earnest 'tis a Quaerie not below a solid determination, how the channel of this evil humour, having so hard, long and salebrous way, so many creeks and intricate windings and turnings in its passage from the Metropolis of the liver thorough the Strand of the vena cava, and so thorough the Westminster of the Heart, wildly ranging, into the America and untravelled parts of the body can be carried unto the utmost confines of the Epidermis or scarf skin of the Arm, Leg, or neck, not in the least contaminating the blood, but the humour itself keeping its primitive virginity, and all this while remaining purely sincere? 'Tis a very cruel Emunctory truly which leads an evil humour thorough the Fountain of life. And so a cruel Physician▪ and more cruel Schools which commands a noxious humour to be carried thorough the heart.  
The schools they teach, That the greatest part of mankind is in subjection to the Tyranny of a Cold Distemper of the stomach, & an hot distemper of the liver, and that from the stomach, during the whole act of Concoction, (as absurd as the former) doth sublime and ascend whole clouds of vapours (the antecedent matter of Catarrhs) into the Basis or lowest part of the brain, and there fix upon a plane: and that the Brain by its native Temperament, being Cold, and set like a cover over a boiling pot, or the head of an Alembick, in the highest Region of the Body; and so all those vapours that mount into it. by the help of the local cold of the Brain, are again condensed into water, the vehiculum or material cause of all erratic pains, the which, fontanels adopted by the paedantick schools as their Minerva, is the only midwife to deliver. Now what can smell more of stupidity and a dull phlegmatic opinion, than this wild irregular Thesis of the schools? But we will descend to suppose, that this current of evil humours at this day unknown, may challenge the Brain (one of the most noble parts of the body) for its origination and Fountain: But where I pray you? Whether or no, is it generated in any sink of the Brain? either in the ventricles? Or in the Pelvis, or brain tunnel? Not truly in the first: for the ventricles of the brain cannot be the magazine and nest of this foul evil humour, without prseent danger of death; or the ineviteable introduction of an Apoplexy, or universal Palsy: if the doctrine of the schools, concerrning the origination of these diseases, stand firm: Or in the pelvis of the brain, can this ill humour, which before was good, be created? For in the basis of the brain is a narrow place called the Pelvis, or brain tunnel, which sendeth two small tubes, or outlets, toward the nostrils, and as many backward toward the neck. Which Cavities only could the Ascendant vapour insinuate itself into; and those are ever repleted with a muccous or viscid excrement, and perpetually by a kind of guttulous distillation, discharge it down of their own accord into the palate, and Nostrils, as the proper Emunctories or dreignes of the brain, destined to the evacuation of the slimy redundant humours: and therefore need no other vent or exit, as that unnecessary one of a fontanel or Cautery. But what a destructive man is he, and what an unworthy depraved quality it is, to maleficiate a humour in any part of the Head, which before was good, that he may from thence bring a malignant one to some intercutaneous part, which the Physician commands to be wounded? And how obedient is that, which being an evil humour (and doubtless over and besides but a dead excrement) will suffer itself to be wracked and hurried to another place, which at another time, and another place, not a whit solicitous of the oeconomy of life, by its own single declivity conforms to the laws of its situation! Lastly these things though conceded, yet it would want the essence and Etymon of a humour, and by consequence of an evil humour, namely, fleam, one of the four. For whatsoever doth once steam up from the furnace of the stomach in a vapour, and concretes into drops, is neither thick, nor viscous or tenacious, nor one of the four imaginary humours made in the Utopia of the Liver: but should be a posthume guttulous liquor. Wherefore if the depraved impression of the evil humour, the final cause of a fontanel, be not forged neither in the Liver, Brain, nor Stomach, what then shall be the mint of these evil humours for Catarrhs? Or what part and how high is it that hurls it forth, whereby it may be carried more readily, and downward, according to its tendency, unto the hole of the Fontanel.  
Thus the schools being on all sides compressed in such a straight of trifles, are forced to confess, That there is not any evil humour sent down to the Issue or hole of the fontanel: but that the blood turns Apostate in the wound itself, and sides ill disposed. For this is genial to all wounds which lack balsam. Certainly if the schools would condescend to a serious examination of that Aphorism, Dum pus ●it, major dolour, labour, & febris, quam facto pure: they should know that the Pus is materially produced of blood, by the labours of the faculties, and consequently, that for the same ends purulent matter is coveted in a fontanel. Which being so, the Thesis falls down, which supposes bad humours are brought forth by a Cautery or fontanel.  
2. That the expulsion of the pus made in the wound, is not out of the centre of the body.  
3. That it is not an excrement of the defluent Catarrh.  
4. That fontanelles do not purge bad humours, which transmutes the elixir of good blood, into a Caput mortuum of an excrement, by the Athanor of the digestive faculty.  
5. fontanelles avail nothing to the precaution of a malignant humour, which is topically made in the sides of the wound.  
6. Pus and Sanies cannot retreat from the Turn-pike, or orifice of the ulcer, and fall into the Quarters of a noble part, much less good blood, of which the Pus is made.  
7. If the blood, of good, be made an evil humour, before it advenes to the fontanel; then Nature designs to send some evil from the mass of blood, unto the wounded part only, that she may nourish it; or this is ordinary in every part: Then Nature is delapsed into that dotage and folly, that shall outdo Him, who to the end his Horse back might not bear too heavy a burden, took it off and laid it on his own neck, and so road upon him in that equipage.  
8. 'Tis ridiculous, when that there is store of pus made, to say, the fontanel is well purged. Seeing that foul error, and aberration into pus, demonstrates the Apostasy of the good blood into corruption. And moreover if he who hath a fontanel, or Issue as it is called, be not well, in the stead of pus of a laudable constitution, there doth weep forth the lachrymations of an ichorous substance.  
9 If therefore at the port hole, or scupper of the fontanel, there is a pumping out or evacuation of ill humours, it unavoidably follows, that the man should feel himself better, when the stream of ichorous matter flows out, then when pus is made: which is false in the Thesis.  
Hence therefore there is a genuine illation, That it is no select evil humour or pernicious excrement, which in its irresistible decidency would violate another part, that is expulsed by the fontanel: but the totality of substance, whether it be pus, or a thin virulent matter, is no other thing then mere blood, deputed to the nourishing of the cauterised or wounded part, and there corrupted by the distemper of the part: and so the corruption of it, to measure the benignity and malignity of digestion, in the place of the fontanel. And therefore whilst the whole Archaeus after what manner soever labours, there is also the greater infirmity of digestion in the fontanel, and the pus is nearer to putrefaction. And hitherto the Fontanel by reason of the more powerful hurt of digestion than is accustomed doth weep forth an Ichor. Therefore it's the desire of the schools that of innocuous blood store of pus may be made, and of a laudable colour, white. And that they are pleased to say hath purged well, if any plenty of blood be corrupted in the last digestion. The which, if it were strictly considered, then would it be made manifest, that a Cautery or fontanel is not set to the expurgation of a malignant humour, nor that there is any existence of an ill humour: but only to the diminishing of the redundancy of blood; and so in the beholding of a plethora alone. Whence we have a fair opportunity to collect, that they are to be expunged out of the list of remedies convenient to youth, or emaciated bodies, or oppressed with any disease: so neither to moderate Livers and least of all to abstemious persons, are they (without danger) to be applied. But they have not yet discovered themselves to be so well learned to distinguish, whether the pus in the Fontanel be generated of blood alone, or of one of the four conceited humours; or of a commixture of the four. If the evidence of truth go on the first's side, than the pus should not be of a bad, but of the best of the four humours, and so the Fontanel shall be in vain, and the best pus or effect of the Fontanel shall be worst, seeing it is nothing but the corruption of the best. But if they are pleased so well to opinion, and had rather comment, That the blood was not evil before, but may be made bad in its range and straggling from his other three comrades. But the other three, in this tripartatory secretion shall even then be worse naughty packs then the solitary blood, and a fontanel that corrupts the good and innocent blood, may not be made for every event without a bad end. But if they will have the pus to be made out of a Tetra●yncrasy or commixture of the humours, than a Fontanel er in the end: seeing the Fontanel avails not to the expurgation of malign humours, but corrupting the good, sent unto it daily by unerring Nature, for aliment. Finally, a Fontanel cannot be adjudged the Institution, as the precaution of a Catarrh: for otherwise the matter of a Catarrh should not be a vapour, nor fleam, but the blood itself, which the Fontanel corrupts in itself. For pus is not made of pituitous matter; but of the blood only, as is sufficiently taught in the schools. Therefore by the serious indagation of the essence of pus in its matter and efficient, the ends of Cauteries and Fontanels, and expurgation of Catarrhs and bad humours would vanish away. Yea truly, any symptom of wounds being removed, in Caveries or Font●●●lls, and a valetudinary state supposed, it is necessary, that the solution of continuity bring pus into the Fontanel; and that may not flow from some other place; but be generated in the part itself. The Archaeus also doth daily dispense proportionably so much blood to the parts, as may serve for their nutrition. Therefore Pus is nothing but the vitiated blood in that part which is wounded, and the effect of vitiated digestion in the same place. The violation therefore of the integrity, continuity and digestion of the parts, and the transmutation of blood into matter, is reputed by the schools, as the only Achilles of Catarrhs, to obstruct and impede their progress: whether from the head, which they have farmed as the warehouse for the generation and transportation of this liquid merchandise of Catarrhs, to extract an excrementitious humour (which otherwise threatened to fall down to a noble part) by the hole of the fontanel, or whether or no, there be a Deuteropathy or consent of the head with the part wounded? for it is all one, so be that the skin may be kept wounded, whether that excrementitious humour be blood, or whether there be made pus or sanies, it comes all to a pass, so that the easy credulous vulgar be gulled with the fooleries and threadbare names of Catarrh, precaution, derivation, Revulsion and fontanel. We will take the Line at length, and view the whole series of distempers that afflicts an Infant of a year old, who is dentien● and febrient, with foaming at the mouth and indefinent salivation. Then followeth pitiful ejulations and yelling through the torments in his belly, with sieges green and yellow. Certainly that tooth is a part of the head: wherefore a Diarrhea shall be a Catarrh of the head. But what consent is there, or how comes to pass the agreement of the budding or shooting tooth, and tumified gum, with the Intestines? Or what power is there of generating and sending the Catarrh out of the stomach of the Infant, into its head? and then into the Ileon? By what law shall the vapour that stills up from the Alembick of the stomach be condensed and transmuted into aeruginous choler in the retort of the head? peradventure the Shop of choler from the very threshhold of life, hath Pythagorized into the private warehouse of the head. Could the Fontanel (if the tender Infant were capable of suffering it) like a sponge suck into itself the diarrheall porraceous flux? And compensate and fob off whole pounds of porraceous choler with a few grains or minutulous drops of pus? Wherefore doth the ●ul●an of the Infant's stomach forge the Catarrh for the odontalgie or pain of the tooth? why is it sent into the intestine & not unto the aching tooth? Doth not the Reader yet perceive that a Diarrhea is not a Catarrh? But the incensed Archaeus is ready to transmute the alimentary cremor into excrements, which by the schools are thought to be choler, fleam, etc. If therefore a Diarrhea be not a Catarrh, and the enraged Archaeus can transmute any thing into a noxious liquor, if only the gum be afflicted; whether or no she could not discharge herself on every side by the ordained Emunctories? nor need not to wait for the porthole or aperture of the skin by a Caustick? Nor do they consider that in women, and gross and fat bodies the membrana carnosa about the ordinary places of the fontanel is mere fat, at least two Inches thick, to which persons notwithstanding Fontanels are more frequently, and more successfully applied: wherefore the extreme or bottom of the fontanel shall scarce reach half way of the fat: Therefore there is no Causeway by which the evil fictitious excommunicated humour rushes out of the brain, or glides between the Cranium and the skin, by the means of fat. But what then is that solitary humour which profligated from the part sending for its default, descending unmixed by the substance of the fat, doth degenerate into pus? If it be a steaming up of vapours from the boiling pot of the stomach, why is it not more frequent in the younger fry, and hot stomaches, then in weak persons, old men, and cold dyspeptick stomaches? By what means shall this gross vestment of water, falling off from the Tiffany and thinner dress of a vapour (if the exhalation of any such from the stomach be possible) who by enquiring out and pitching upon the Chambermaid, the Brain, as most handy and accommodate to fashion her into the tire and mode of a water, now wantonly put off her lawn sleeves, that's like an old Almanac or wrinkled Bishop out of date, and as if endowed with sense and arbitrary power of election, and by synaerisis, put on the white Sarsenet bag of pus, and take up quarters in the Cabin of the Cautery or Fontanel? How shall it in its eager Quest of strange and unfrequented lodgings wildly range through the very body of the Brain, and the seered Cells and Chambers thereof▪ its Membranes, Sutures, f●ul, and Periostion or Coat environing the scull, to find out and court this new Guest the orifice of the Fontanel, that by that way only, as the alone Ro●d, it may glide down and enjoy his embraces and be purged? Why doth not the vapour a hundred times sooner vanish into air by transpiration, before it arrive at the place assigned to the Cautery or Fontanel? How shall the water mounting up from the Trench of the stomach and scaling the Rampire of the Head, by and by appear in the scarlet Robes of blood, and the mother to produce the white flag of pus? How shall blood (the matter of pus, according to Galen) be the matter of Catarrh? Why is the blood reduced into the series of ill humours, which not as yet contaminated, is dispensed by nature unto the wounded place? Wherefore will nature (the wound being made) supersede from thrusting forth the noxious matter by, and into the places accustomed to her? For what, the skin being unlocked by a Cautery or incision knife at the pleasure of the Physician, shall she lose or grow ignorant of the way? Or labours she only that she might find an exit in any place? And that being done, will she afterwards become the obsequious Lackey of the wonder? Unsufferable fallacies therefore and falsities are couched under these four, namely, That pus is the matter of the Catarrh; that a Catarrh is materially from vapours out of the stomach; that a fontanel is Remedium Catarrhagogum, or an adequate means to excrete the Catarrhous matter; and that this matter would be diverted to a noble part unless it were repelled out at another sluice or exit.  
The schools now surrounded in a Phylactery and heap of straits, being too hard pinched, have yet one subterfuge left, to wit, That fontanels and Cauteries in chronical diseases, and also in more obese and plethoric bodies have been known not seldom to profit. Therefore it is necessary that, at least, the evil humour, the wound being made, be purged, and the body exonerated. At which paper-wals and broken reed we discharge and reply, That whatever the schools foppishly prattle concerning their whimsy of Catarrhs and fontanelles of their own christening, it will appear, that a Catarrh, its material Cause, Essence, Nativity, Place of conception, Efficient, manner of Generation, receptory, progress, and collection, and also an evil Humour, and ends of fontanelles are more ridiculous pedleries than the pageantries or puppetries of Bartholomew Fair; and let all pass but for a Christmas Tale, or old Beldames dream, and as the veil of their base unworthy laziness and Ignorance. What, shall the unconstant tide of events o'erflow the banks of Truth? To this shuttlecock, and example of restless ill, Success and Events, we refer you to what we have said of the same in our examination of Phlebotomy, and hope with ingenious heads, it shall not have power to destroy or abate the prerogative and sovereignty of verity.  
But what if the adored Fontanel hath proved to hit sometimes and profit some; that truly hath not been from the root and essence of the Catarrh, in itself wholly nothing: Therefore if they have profited, the schools may confess that Fontanels help by means and ends, to them unknown: and that they extol with so great encomiums only a conjectural, uncertain and accidental remedy: For no otherwise can we speak of it till our knowledge shall better direct us; till then, they are such as our ignorance (we profess) is well content it knows not. For what if any one distemper of its own accord, or in process and maturity of time should moulder away; what therefore do they think it equitable, and that they have the same freedom and authority, lamentably to torture two hundred in vain, if a Fontanel to one hath not by Accident been dismal and unfortunate? Certainly it's a dangerous point to annex a constant property unto any practice, and much more to this of fontanelles, But what if on the other side the History of many might be brought and compared, in whom Fontanels have had but a bad Catastrophe: they presently cry out, we are not Empirics, nor are we moved by examples. For the schools are rational, and moreover do lean upon the authority of the Ancients. And that, they thunder out so highly, as often as they are destitute of reasons, and convicted by experience, they cease to be most expert masters, nor will they be drawn by experiences contrary to their own: but fly unto the reasons of their predecessors. For truly when the schools had perceived that some by haphazard had help and benefit after a Fontanel then by and by a Seton or cord of twisted thread or silk is run through on both sides the skin of the neck, which is believed to be a remedy for an ophthalmie, Lippitudo▪ yea and for Catarrhs themselves, and the vitiated digestion of the eyes. Manifest presumption and as ridiculous is that lame opinion, That a fontanel on the opposite Leg, is a help for the sciatick pain. They have made a great deal of do about nothing, have stoutly played the Vulcan's, and have made a great deal of smith's work, and have appointed also Arabic ustions (to wit, not excepting goat's dung fried in a frying-pan) for the sciatica, and Arthritick pains. Verily the schools have misspent their sweat and oil every where in the medical profession, in fripperies, childish pageantries, and have set to sale for solid substantial verity, as ridiculous toys as ever the Piazza Bordello, or loose stage-player, Balladier, or blind harper could express, and such as deserve only the sponge, and the contrivers or Abettors the hiss. But at last, it cannot be less than any's wonder, that one poor Gout accounted for Catarrhs, like a subtle fox hath eluded and baffled out all the Theorems and Fontanels of the schools: namely, hath shown it to be false, that a defluent Podagra should be by a Catarrb, and that a fontanel, is a vain and fruitless comment of derivation and revulsion for an humour flowing down, & are so thin and light, as set by Philetas in Athenaeus might be blown away by the least breath from the Aeolus of truth. As intolerable and whimsical also are fontanelles in Tabes, or Consumptions, distempers of the lungs, head, eyes, kidneys, yea in their idle catarrhall defects, so that we more admire their cruel butchery, with their impostures, then imitate and follow their vain essays and endeavours. So also they of Patavie, Hetruria, & Montpe●●en do drive a hot iron unto the very future of the Cranium in the epilepsy, without hope of cure, and do promise that the epileptic fumes shall come that way out of the brain; not that they may break the fit, but that they may suspend the rest. But these things the sick hold by a poor Tenure, that have no more assurance than what comes in thus by their tortures, and suffer them with an insensible hope of health; at least wise without example. Nor do they once consider, that those feigned vapours do not afflict the brain for want of an exit: but on the contrary, they stir up the tempest of the diseases causation, before they can come to the hairy scalp. Wherefore it is a blue business, & vain is the work and help a fontanel, which begins à posteriori in curing diseases.  
For the schools have not yet determined, in what infirmities fontanelles are convenient, because they do but seldom help, and that by accident only: so that it is impossible their Hypotheses being conceded, that fontanelles should be profitable, and therefore impossible also to find their manner, means and ends. But laying aside these positions of the schools concerning Catarrhs and fontanelles, we come now to prove, that it is easy to find out the case wherein fontanelles are said to help, and that if all the demands of the schools hitherto mentioned, be freely granted them, yet could they be of no advantage, as to the manifestation of the Cardinal point in controversy, viz. the manner, reasons, and ways of the fontanel and the transmutation and progress of the pus, that hath its egress out at the hole of the said fontanel. For in sooth, by reason of the necessary innovations of blood in every station of the moon, namely, whatsoever of the old blood shall be left beyond the period of the foregoing moon, in a plethoric body, that aught to be converted either into fat, or into an excrement of the last digestion; which because it is dissipated upon a daily evaporation, and brought forth by the fontanel, therefore fat and gross bodies, high feeding, plethoric and sedentary, do now and then feel a little help by a fontanel, and none other. Because that the swelling mass of blood is reduced towards its just weight and requisite proportion: for otherwise there would be an oppression and burden to the Archaeus, and the parts, and the digestions and distributions of these, by its nimiety and redundancy. For thus far the fear of an instant evil may be shunned. Therefore all the extorted or hoped for benefit of a fontanel is placed in a contemperation of abundance of blood, by a daily and minutulous diminution of it. Otherwise a fontanel is a cruel and beastly remedy, because by exercise, just parsimony, and due moderation and temperance may easily be prevented whatsoever the Fontanel can divert or expel. For let none be so absurd as to think, That whatsoever the sober rules of moderate and spare diet cannot cure, any help is to be expected to be brought by a fontanel. For those same things which have regard to a long and sound life, do excuse Fontanels.  
At the best a Fontanel is always but a palliative cure, and but in some neither, and hitherto far below and very unworthy the venerable medical schools. I know it's usually said, That if a Fontanel be once made, unless it be continued, there's the fear of a greater evil incumbent. But we have known no such thing as we before have declared. Therefore be it the mere ignorance of the schools, who apply a fontanel not unto the original, or to the cause or root of the disease, but unto the effects or products, which never were worthy of such a serious application of cure, as they pretend, and make the world believe. It's unknown therefore as yet to the schools in what disease this palliative cure of fontanelles avails. Because by chance, and the Lady Ignorance the mother of fools being Leader, they have, and still do try all things. So that their prescriptions are alternatim, and they command one thing after another, that if this thing nor that, nor here nor there, or repeated fontanel do not help, nor much pus, nor sames excreted. Let the fontanelles be advisedly closed up. Thus therefore the general Theory of fontanelles, being suspected; since they dilate the notions of it beyond the propriety of its nature or ends; since 'tis not verifiable by observation; since the grounds are feeble that should establish it; and lastly since if all were true, yet are the reasons alleged for it of no sufficient satisfactory inducement to maintain it.  
Now it becomes our method of exploring verity, & the course we at first propounded to ourselves to look into the Physician's Pantry or cubboard, to see what good house they keep, and if we can find any real substantial food here, beyond their chaff and husks which we have scattered by the breath of Truth. Now we have done with their languid and ineffectual main pillars of healing by evacuations, viz. purgers, phlebotomy and fontanelles, we shall now sift and examine their anonary or Kitchen Physic, their grave rules of Diet, which they prescribe with so much seeming seriousness, as they would be looked upon as nursing or feeding fathers. For let those ears that have the patience to hear, and the openness to receive truth, know, That when Physicians see they have afforded no benefit to their patients, by the lavish expenses of the laudable juices of the body, and the diminution of natural vigour, when blood-letting, purging, cupping, rubbing, (ostler-like) and other grievous and ineffective remedies have done no good; they at length remit them to the sober rules of Diet, and think to turn out the disease at the back door and childish evasion of their Kitchen Aphorisms, as the only hopeful means and Cardinal point of their recovery, and so leave them by the painful use of fontanelles, and reiterated moderate purges, to spin out the weak thread of their remaining life, Diaetetice, by a medical, that is, a miserable course of diet. This is but the thin-chopt Skeleton, the Anatomy of the other burley bundle of Physicians not more erroneous than torturous remedies, but the dead corpse of Physic, without any life or soul of truth, the Limbus or Physician's purgatory, to which the venial, as well as rebellious and strong-headed disease must be turned over to be crushed and crumbled away by this raw-boned fury, famine or strict Diet. So that by this Rearguard of diet, you may judge & give the word for the forlorn hope of a lingering continuing disease to draw up, and appear in its colours. Whence we may deduce, That if any thing hath happened to succeed by the auxiliary hand of the Physician's conjectures, it hath b●en by the proper goodness of nature. For presently after their universal helps (for so they have christened phlebotomy and purgations) they turn over and enrol the other half of the cure to serve another master, namely a precise rule of Diet and life; which for the most part they estimate by heats, colds, and the temperance of these, for the regard to laudable juice. Well may they in much seriousness prescribe this reverend nothing of diet▪ to an end wholly unknown to themselves, when they wallow in the threadbare heats and colds of the Elements. For to speak soberly, besides their gross errors, threadbare Theorems, languid and invalid remedies, they blush not to veil over their bloody ignorance by their specious Kitchen Canons, which may be made in dubious to the most prejudicated, that it is but a pitiful sly imposture and subtle Tyranny of Physicians, and grievous servitude of the patients, prescribed not much on this side the penalty of capital punishment, and wrought into the heads of the sick, whose lenity of belief inclines them further than they have force from rational deductions to persuade, so that now it puts on the habit to exact their faith and confidence.  
For in the first place, whatsoever is far fetched and dear bought, is good for those gay things, called Ladies: and that, like so many frenchifyed Apes, (the Protaean monkeys of the world) we praise and commend as best. And in medicines, leaf gold, powdered pearls, scarlet grain, cuchineel, crude silk, etc. (and perhaps spiders also, if they were brought from far out of a strange country, would be dear and greatly esteemed, as crocodiles turd) in meats also; for whatsoever is pleasant to the tongue, nor very harsh to the stomach, that generally & presently is cried up as euchymous, sound and wholesome: forasmuch as those things which pleasantly court the palate, aught to be most grateful and healthful. Therefore they vary these things according to the palate of the Physician. For (according to the vulgar proverb, we have cibus anceps, one man's meat is another man's poison,) that which is praised by one and cried up as good, by another, to whom it is less pleasing, it is decried and nauseated. For by this means Pheasants, Partridges, Stairs, Blackbirds, and fat Capons, are preferred before Quadrupedes: although that these together with us are viviparous, and hitherto more familiar to us, than birds, fishes, and animals oviparous. So also fishes of stony or gravelly places are set before marine piscations; and manchet or white bread, before brown. For these Capon-eaters being very dainty, and many a sweet tooth in their heads, advance their endeavours and studies in the Kitchen trade, or art of cookery, that they may please the sick, (like children and fools with rattles,) who being destitute of knowledge and remedies, have subjected themselves to a barren profession, who forsooth, do become master-cooks in time. How they traverse out of one hole into another, and how diligently and narrowly do they look into all things in Kitchins, butteries and dining chambers, that they may exercise their imperious jurisdiction, that they may seem to all, to have made a very sedulous provision, and thereby the more ready and fitted to exercise their cruelty on the sick. Even as though meats and drinks were the Nurslings of Apollo, and the Aesculapius of great sicknesses. Certainly they may leave off their journeys to wait at the temple of Aesculapo, when culinary prescriptions, and Kitchen Aphorisms shall lay siege, and be the militia to encounter the hostility of a disease. Truly this is the shame of Physiti●ns, and they tacitly confess? that wholesome and moderate diet is to be preferred to most of those unfaithful medicaments of the shops: and, upon the testimony of their own unhappy unsuccessfulness, conclude, that the patient aught to abstain from them, as hurtful, and at best but rarely to be used. Senation verily is the lovely effects of a Laboratory, and medicine, not of the Kitchin. Wherefore as we have had just cause to suspect the languid and contemptible weak engine of meats: so also not to guess, but conclude, that a precise conformity to the dietetical rules, as well in the commander, as observer, do insinuate an implicit ignorance of a true and adequate remedy; or a smooth imposture.  
But on the other side, he which carrieth fire, can burn; and he who hath a knife, can cut. So he, who hath so far been followed, courted, and favoured by the benefit of his labours, and industrious performances to attain to a medicinal secret, graduated into the Zenith of a Noble Entelechie, whose balsam cannot be known from Natures own, He can cure in spite of all Accidentalities and irregularities of diet, kick at their rules, and in this business slight and pass by the idle and needless industry and adulations of the schools. For those tares, enormities, and other racemations of irregularities, that may grow up by the course manurement of diet, are with ease eruncated, and anticipated by the Energy & prepotent signiory and goodness of the remedy qualified thereto. For if Hippocrate● prefers meats in their afluefaction, though less commodious for esculency and sanity, yet not simply bad, before unaccustomed; and that diet is not to be altered easily, safely nor quickly from our accustomed cibations: what then may be judged as the aberrations of particular distinctions, customary elections, ●optations and desiderations of meats and drinks? Considering that Nature following her own peculiar inward dictates, hath been observed oftentimes to excel a medicine, to the deserved shame of Physicians, when they had precisely forbidden it before.  
First of all diet doth not treat clearly of things hurtful: For it is not disputed whether it is wholesome to eat Poison or potshards, etc. nor whether it be healthful for the sick to stuff himself with much meat and drink, although of laudable juice; or whether crapulency, ebriety and an inordinate life be the actions of a sound state, or fit helps to the conservation or recuperation of health: but diet is wholly busied about the particular distinctoins and selections of meats and drinks, which notwithstanding, as indifferent nutriments, do consist within the bounds of goodness, and are differenced only in the latitude of neutrality. And therefore we have always looked upon the medical Diet, as the discloser of the ignorance of causes, of true medicine, and powerful remedy.  
How many non-Conformists are there to the Kitchen Canons, who do repudiate the rules that is prescribed them, will be no obsequious dietetical slaves, will observe no bounds, and yet often recover and are well? The Physician is his own encomiaste chants forth the praise of the cure, and rings out a panegyrics to his rules; and the refractory disobedient patient laughs in his sleeve, to see his Doctor so transported with the honour of his diet, as having the capital energy, which yet had no finger in it. Hence hath this Art of Physic been brought upon the stage and fallen under the facete reprehension of Comedians, because the Kitchen or diaeteticall Aphorisms and rules do manifestly declare the slenderness, of judgement as well in the Physician, as sick. Whence the Physicians oftentimes hope to get an occasion of excuse of their murder upon the poor allegation of the disobedience of the sick, about the rules of diet not strictly observed. Ah alas how many and great absurdities are committed by this deceit, which in the world are not yet sufficiently brought to light! What, while they know nothing, nor have wherewith to assault, propell, and rout the conturmations of the disease, or constrain into a precisianism of conformity, yet shall be adjudged that they would take away with much care and industry the bag and baggage of a further increase by the blandishments of Culinary prescriptions?  
To proceed, if a conformity to the observance of diet were useful, it would be serviceable either in sickness or convalescency. But in sickness how importune, irksome and impertinent is it, is testified from their own unwilling subscriptions and acknowledgements? When commonly the edge of the appetite is dulled, and its vigour consternated, and which then is induced to its own complacency, lest it wholly perish? Whose conservation is of as great a moment as is the indication of life. For in the state of an unconstant appetite, nature doth oftentimes minister convenient food to herself; and that not so often, as then chiefly, when she stands most in need of help. Then do Physicians in their concertations with this good pleasure of nature most afflict her by their irksome dietetical rules: from which let the sick abstain, if he would not have all the cause of his destruction imputed to a faithless and treacherous helper. For than doth the Archaeus symptomatically rage, and then follows a perversion of its functions, because she perceius a denegation of that, to which she hath had a strong optation, and it may be, some familiar longed for meat, or other accustomed food, and so they stir up and accumulate strife upon strife. Even as if a horse passing thorough water, and not being suffered to drink that which is sufficient for him, retaineth afterward a difficulty of breathing, troublous to life. But diet after sickness, or under convalescency, is also wonderful troublesome, if not in vain: seeing nature now is willingly very diligent, and greatly busied about other matters. For in severity of truth a medical course of diet, and Kitchen operations, cannot but accuse the defect of a sufficient remedy, and so an implicit confession of a false and treacherous sanation. Let Physicians no more attempt by these fruitless means, to dreigne the hopes, bodies, veins, strength, and purses of the sick; but let them cure as they ought, and becomes them, worthy their name and profession, and as nature moves and inclines, and if not go along with, yet to follow her, for the security and assurance of restauration.  
It is not to be scrupled that the omnipotent and wise Creator saw and judged all things that he had made to be good. That is, whatsoever he had ordained for food, was good. And whatsoever he had decreed to be poison, was good poison, qualified to its purpose. For else the poor man, might with much right, and justly complain, that God in his distributions and largesses had dealt very unequally and less fatherly to him, because he had denied him the means which should recover his health; for being poor, he was incapable to answer the costly and sweet-lipped rules of diet: but to the rich he had been more bountiful, and with their wealth he had also bestowed health upon him; considering that he enjoyed the means, whereby to balance the charges of diet.  
For in earnest the chiefest part of the diet of Physicians is rich and delicate, fitted to the adulation of the sick and plausibility of the Physician most commonly excepting wine. Also Physicians do cry up those things for most hurtful, which do most please themselves. And lest this should be suspected to be a kind of soothing, they enjoin a strict obedience, that by this severity and preciseness of rules, they might be thought to moderate the exorbitancies of life.  
First of all, bread is accounted the primary food; but other things as only Concibi or obsonia. But on the contrary we call other aliments veros cibos; but bread only obsonium. For many are found to have lived a long while with milk only. Irish people also, swift, and naturally strong of body, do in some part of the Country use only shamroch or threeleaved grass, instead of bread. And some Northern people do attain to a very old age, who do live upon fish only without bread, & stand stiff and firm against piercing colds and insinuating diseases. The stuffing with bread is bad in the Adage: not only, because it is a token of poverty; but because truly it is very burdensome in a weak stomach. Seeing bread by reason of the ferment (for else it is nothing but a barepaste) dissolving into a cream, constreins the herbs and meats with which it is masticated to colliquate, (which we daily experiment in the digestion of dung) and for this consideration only we have given it the name of obsonium rather then Cibus. But lest we should dwell too long upon notions and nominalities, it shall be sufficient to us, whatsoever it be called, so that the use and necessity of bread be known to be conducible and most powerful in the liquefaction of meats.  
Moreover we greatly esteem sobriety as the Cardinal point of all diet. The intention being not medical, but ethical or moral, and the symbol of a well informed judgement: yea further, if the Appetite be strongly carried out after any object, we freely admit it, but yet with the rule of mediocrity. And yet I am not He, who knows not to prefer one meat or dainty bit before another, which may be more convenient for my patient: but it's no great matter which of the two the sick should take, so that he hath gotten but some good and sure remedy.  
For in strict reason, if a remedy be invalid and not able to charge a disease, or oppose the forcible assault of a disease, and hinder it in its progress by less convenient food, far less able will it be to discomfit, overcome and expel diseases. It's further discovered therefore, that the benefits which are with so much confidence hoped for, and with as much vanity answered from a medical course of diet, is but a wild, languid, invalid, treacherous, and indeed desperate kind of remedy; and culinary cookeries too contemptible a militia to encounter so formidable an Adversary, already entered upon the borders of life. For as it is in the proverb, It is easier to hold out, then get out, a guest. So in the correlative. Whosoever presumes to overcome a disease by the virtue of a powerful remedy, let him be sure, that by that remedy, he shall far more easily overcome all things arising from the incongruities of aliments. 'Tis not therefore an inference in our opiniotry only, nor undeserving to be ranked much on this side a positive conclusion, if we express, that it is an eminent sign of weakness and diffidency in a Physician as often as his needless and fruitless prescriptions are to be cooked in the kitchen, before they ascend the stairs, and pass thorough the long Gallery of the OEsophagus, into the great Hal of the patient's stomach; for he wanting a worthy and powerful medicine, that in the mean time he may seem to do something, and not to take his fees in vain, he makes the critical day the Atlas of his hopes, and by his pe●uinary defraudations gulls his patient by his culinary prescriptions, and choice of Diet. Whence from semblable reason may be deduced,  
1. That Nature in us is wiser than any Physician whatsoever, and is more knowing of her own profit and damage then the whole Conclave of Aesculapes, or all the wits of the schools.  
2. That Nature therefore chooseth and desireth those things, that are most convenient & fit for her.  
3. That a beast never died, because he satisfied his thirst, unless perhaps he had swallowed down poison, or had fallen and miscarried by excessive eating, because drink in fevers doth subvert many inconveniencies of drought.  
4. That to drink in thirst, would not be less natural, then for a man to pisle that hath need to piss.  
5. And therefore seeing this doth not postulate or require the Physician's consent: it needs not his counsel.  
6. That when I give together with drink a few drops of a thing, which facilly penetrating, specially in thirst, I have oftentimes strangled and killed many fevers together with their thirst, to the pleasant and profitable admiration of the sick.  
7. That a great appetite to a thing, in the rules of diet apparently noxious, for the most part is created and acuated from the dictates of Nature, who hath marked and observed her own remedy, but not in the vain paper-works of the schools books.  
8. That therefore we ought not to be much troubled about things desired and longed for, little hurtful, and less accustomed.  
9 That if a remedy ought to be Lord paramount, and like a Cedar to o'retop the disease, the lesser shrubs, or meaner retinue of meat and drink, in their latitude, cannot contain the strength of a Pharmaceutick entity.  
10. That if aliments contain not an energetic remedy, so neither scarce any hurt in them, speaking of nutriments, as such, that is, indifferent. Thus we persuade ourselves from the direction of our own knowledge, and thus we prescribe these things to others. Namely that the wholesome rules of abstinence & temperance, hath the optimacy above the dietetical ones: and chiefly when any thing is eaten with a vigorous appetite according to the will of the sick: as that Adage hits it, Quod sapit, nutrit. That which savours, nourisheth. For the appetite is satisfied by quality, not quantity. And if fullness loads and burdens the stomach of sound persons, much more the sick and weak.  
2. Moreover let them eat, not truly to gorging, or stuffing the cavity of the stomach, nor to the sensual humour and dictate of their Gust: but as much as easily suffices to sustain a sound life. And this, although at first it may seem a hard task to fresh men, and but beginners to accustom themselves to it; yet it will not be so to those who are beaten to it. For how ridiculous is it for one lamenting himself by his disease, to wish that he had not made such a Hogshead of his belly, by his ingurgitations, or that he had not gorged and crammed the stowage of his body so much, whereby to surfeit.  
Yet we would not have any man so far please himself with the opinion, that this sobriety of life can prevent or secure any body from the plague, from a fall, wound, lightning, etc. For it's a clear case, that external incidencies do contemn the oeconomy of digestion, and distributions, because they exuperate them.  
3. Seeing that all aliment ought to pass into a liquid reduction or tendance to chilification, and that exquisite mastication is that which facilitates chilifactive mutation, or alimental conversion, therefore thorough mastication is to be highly commended. For truly one morsel being not throughly subjected to the laws of the Dentimolary operations, not well and duly masticated or chewed, brings more work and difficulty to the Vulcan of the stomach, than three sound chewed. Therefore rostrous animals, as birds, because they want teeth, have need of a double stomach, though otherwise they are most powerful in digesting. Also every ruminating animal, as it was greatly esteemed in the Law; so also in favourable reason, it implies seriously to us the necessity of mastication, not to be extenuated. Yea, for that cause the ruminating brute in Scripture is chosen for clean.  
4. Lastly, whatsoever is taken in a surfeit, above the native power of the stomachical ferment, do wax hot truly within: and do putrefy, but are not until then digested: as is most evident in fevers: But how much of more tenellous meats is swallowed in a surfeit, is digested ●ruly, but being delapsed out of the stomach, draws down with it a great quantity of ●de and indigested matter, as well by reaso● of the extension of the vessel, as the carelessness of Nature being oppressed. But if that which is very tender hath been digested, and should tarry in the stomach longer than is necessary, it would unavoidably wax died beyond its due bounds and temper, or plainly putrefy: and migrates into a bitter excrement, which in its virgin matutine courtship salutes the nose with an acid 〈◊〉, and is oftimes cast forth by vomit: 〈◊〉 which the schools rudely and falsely impose the name of choler.  
5. Whatsoever accustomed thing is taken in, that is 〈◊〉 ●y desired, nor of any malignant seminality or impression; that also absent sa●iet a●●) is facilly digested, and in the disease safely admitted if it be taken soberly and moderately: because that the whole batch of accustomed things, especially, as I said, if desired, is leavened, transmuted and subdued by the mediation of the Local and appropriate Ferments. For Hypocrates also persuades to use a slender diet in acute diseases, until an edge shall be set on the appetite, and it rise from the opium of its dull inactivity. We do not Magisterially obtrude it as a definite position, but in the due freedom of opinion, and as experimentally enlarged, we commend small drink, as far as we discommend sweet drinks, and ptisans, having a reflection on the words of Galen: Barley (says he) a little boiled, doth cause ventosities: but better boiled, obstructions. Wherefore our Ancestors firmly believing, that boiled barley can by no means be innoxious, by procuring its germination, have meliorated its qualification, which then they call Malt; by which means both ventosities and crudities are hindered. 'Tis most industrious idleness to press any to Cook-brothes, Jelly of meats well decocted and stamped, or to stuff the sick with eggs, etc. if he be infested with an acute fever, being mindful of that precept: Corpora impura quo plus nutris, eo magis laedis. For although in acute fevers the patient should live by only drink, without mear, yet would there be no danger of life imminent: yea, they the sooner mend, and by far less difficulty the strength and appetite return again. Doubtless as often as any putrefactible or cadaverizable thing is ingested into the stomach, wanting its digestive ferment: the digestible putrefyes, and is not digested. And this we conceive is the genuine and true explication of that Aphorism. For we never desired, that the sick should come out of fevers fat and crammed, but we chiefly intended this one thing: namely that they might quickly recover, and not suffer much detruncation or diminution of their strength.  
We cannot omit to declare what would not pass undiscovered, that the chiefest part of Diet in diseases of the stomach we have drawn out of that Aphorism: Quod ructus acidus superveniens nidor●sis, sit bonum. That an acid ructation, of a reparable ferment, superinduced upon a nidorous one, is good. For nidorous ructations, the aversion of spontaneous nauseousness, flesh, fish, and eggs, yea the loadings and oppressions of the stomach itself, do call for and command, that the sick be nourished with only potables: for otherwise by things cadaverable you may expect strange accidents, defects of the mind, and other incommodities of that kind. Because potations than do humect, and in the refection of thirst, do refrigerate, and dispel the fuliginous aridities and debilities flowing from thence. But under the notionality of Potables is not to be understood here, jusculous sorbitions, abundantly nourishing, to wit, of those things, which in a hot stomach are of their own accord cadaverized, without the digestive ferment: but altogether of those, which do not putrefy: such as Panadas, and also Beer damaskd with wine, to which a crumb of bread may also be mixed, that may be both meat and drink. We might here not impertinently ampliate what we hinted before in our Tractick of simple waters, of the digestion, or chilifactive transmutation of the stomach, whether it be pepsis or sepsis, digestion by heat or other quality: but cannot laudably bring it in as a member of this practical, rather than speculative or Theorical argumentative therapeutic Tractate, Yet we shall not I hope dull the edge of the stomach's vigour, though perhaps we may invigorate the testy mood of the Aristotelicans if we say, That digestion or alimentary conversion into a Chilifactive liquid reduction, is made by a specific appropriate ferment, and not by that fictuminane of heat. This though Peripatetical Problems approve not, yet Philosophical disquisitions and experimental observations will evince. Therefore as often as there is an aversation or opposition to flesh, and nidorous ructations Ascendant in the arched part of the highest orb in the system of our bodies, the mouth, it's the significator of the presentiality of heat, and the acid ferment in its detriment. Consider also this, how easily recent flesh if bound to the foot or hot head, would putrefy and presently stink. In a feavorish stomach therefore being very hot, wise Nature fears to make a Cadaver within her vital incommunicable world, and therefore presently there follows an aversation from flesh.  
Whether then is the ferment of the stomach gone in a feavorish person? What hath it demigrated to another place? Or is it extinct? For whether would the ferment go, that is not welcome nor acceptable but in her own private ●ecesses? Nor hath it perished: because it is vital; and whatsoever that is truly vital hath once degenerated from the concordant rules and harmony of that vital spark, which at first entitled it to Animation, and now is blown into a luculent flame, never remigrates again from the winter of its privation. But the ferment is redintegral and redivivous. Thus therefore it happens. For either the discharging of the ferment out of the spleen, sometimes doth not extend to the stomach, by reason of some defect of either of the precedents or Archaeus of the stomach, or spleen; or the ferment being entertained in the stomach is obvolved with an alien and feavorish odour. Which understand thus exemplified. A hungry man, and well in health, tarrying long in the inconvenient smoke of coals, presently perceives a nauseousness to arise within him, and aversation from meats, than also a pain of his head, and at length he vomits. The ferment of the stomach therefore as it is covered with the noxious odour of the coals: so likewise with the virulent breath and nidorous contagion of the exagitated fever, so that there presently happens an aversation from meat, forasmuch as the indigenary ferment in the stomach is covered with that favour.  
Wherefore now whatsoever suffers an alimentary conversion in the stomach, in the form of a liquid diaphanous reduction, by the virtue of its ferment, that hath entered the threshhold, and is admitted into the entry of a vital juice, although not yet into the essence of life: and for that cause doth not so naturally and freely putrefy. But whatsoever is not dissolved, or if in itself it be dissolved, and yet doth not admit the ferment, as the serum of the blood so called, and brine, etc. it is either an excrement, or is facilly made so, and is obvious to corruption: Therefore in dietetical prescriptions the chief regard is to be had to the diseases and food, which in respect of the disease the sick nauseous, or desires. For nature is to be served, not forced, and it is her office to serve also, not command. That is to say, let the ferment, which ought to be the Caterer, prescribe them, and not the Physician according to his appetite and pleasure, nor let him not make one last fit all sizes.  
Lastly exercise, labour, rest, sleep and air do depend on the rules which the importance of other digestions do dictate to us. Thus to conclude this is the true diet which Nature of her own accord and naturally doth show and teach unto us. And let this one thing remain as a firm truth that shall outlive & bear away its unhappy pressures, that whosoever by the sweat and dust of his sober endeavours, and rifling the rich Treasury of Nature hath lighted on such choice remedies that are grand and powerful Arcana's, enriched with that sublime energy, that can presently restore the sick, and free him from any disease whatsoever: he need not prescribe any other diet to the sick, than what the sound are familiarly acquainted with. For to the sound all things are adjudged sound and wholesome; because that the digestive ferment does powerfully draw and constrain every thing into its own power and dominion. And so let digestions indigitate and prescribe the rules of diet.  
Thus than we have seen the main Axes or poles of the whole system of the general and particular remedies of the schools, and present practice of Physicians shaken: it remains then, that that health or cure holds but by a poor Tenure that hath no more assurance than what is wafted in by the frigid north-pole and narrow door of blood-letting, purges, fontanelles and Diet, etc. With these, such toys and rattles as that of their Aurea Alexandrina, pill aureae, ung. aurcum, Confectio ●e Hyacintho, Requies Nicolai may pass for substantial and peculiar means: gold-Titles to set to sale their fopperies; and no wonder when we all know that brass farthings bear the stamp of the royal Arms and Crown. But and if their Shoot Anchors fail, than the stream of their Advice is such, that frights one more, than Lord have mercy upon a door. For if the former answer not their doubtful hopes, Quid tum nisi vota super sunt: and so the Doctor bids his patient goodnight, and He the world. And which is most remarkable, and none can plead Ignorance in though the sick are emaciated to living Skeletons or walking Ghosts by their torturous and murderous means and remedies the Physicians have used to them, yet the disease remits not, nor discontinues the execution of its fury, but comes on with a rampant vigour, more heated and heightened by their seeming oppositions. Truly the acousations of the sick when they thunder it out against the supinities, falsities, impostures, temerities, and the false merchandise of Physicians, whereby their lives & healths are spoiled, or brought into unworthy misery and languishment, hath caused us to cry out for an active endeavour of a thorough reformation in the medicinal part, that there may be a better preparation and conjunction of medicines, if that be good and needful, that so there may be a better sanation. If any man can match in all the world, in any Art or Science the like trifles and fopperies in decimo sexto, or the like mischiefs in folio, we profess we dare venture to have our judgement burned in the Ear for a Felon, or bored for a slave to their principles and practices, yea, mortgaged, and benighted to eternal dulness. We are ashamed seriously not for own individual singularity and egoity so much, as for the sake of our Neighbour and Brother, that Physicians are so careless, and seem to study only for lucre of gain; and what it should mean we profess not to know, unless it be of divine ordering that the schools shall so long grope in the dark, and stumble, till they are got clear and have quitted themselves like men from the errors of the Ancients, and come to sharpen their own Axes and Coulters at the forge of Nature. These things have been sooner, and rather found out by our eyes, than thoughts and meditations: yet at this bone Cape we would willingly touch and unlade our mind to the notice of the sons of wisdom, that the errors and ignorances' which have been here discovered by familiar and pregnant demonstrations, have not been sucked and elaborated (like the Bee) so much out of, either the poison of sums dotages and uncertain principles, or others Florilege and Analect, as from an inward teaching of the minds heightening and enlightening by an invisible and yet sensible glorious emanation of light, truth, God, Intellect and Intelligible objects. For they have not come in at a crevise or hole of the door, or opened themselves by little and little, and entered gradually into our mind, so as that we have conceived, meditated, and found them out one after another. For if in this Discovery one thing after another had come to our knowledge, we should have esteemed the whole progress to be the enfeebled and wier-drawn inductions of Reason, and fantasy obtruded in the species of Intelligibilities.  
Lastly we have one thing more to propound and examine, which we have thought worthy a general notice, and cannot let pass undiscovered, that is, the two general intentions and indications of healing, promoted and abetted by the schools and most practitioners in Physic in the whole world, namely, by contrariety and simility. Some attempt to scale the Fort royal of diseases, and rout them in their strong holds per contraria, and so by Contentions, strifes, jarrings and clashings endeavour a mutiny; then comes the Crisis, as they call it, in diseases, whereby judgement is given of the victor, either the disease or Nature to o'ercome. This plausible and stupid Doctrine, which will persuade no further than the lenity of belief in people inclines them, easily pleases all, who are prone to run into the way of sloth, and facilly induced to subscribe by an implicit credulity to what first hath chopped into their understandings, and possessed their too flexile natures. All the schools of the Christian world have taught and subscribed to this, that Contraries have their remedy from Contraries. By which truly every excess (marked with the nomenclation of a disease) should be reduced into perfect symmetry. As if a medicine should not work Physically, but mechanically, mathematically or demonstratively only.  
Whether we look upon substances, or only Accidents, we judge there is no contrarieties but between irascible entities, that is, in the irascible faculty of sensitives, and no where else. Whence perhaps by a Metaphor or improper Hyperbole, contrariety is wrested to all Individuals in the world. When I take meat, I never find a contrariety in myself, nor in the meats: but if quantity or quality offends me; I find truly a deficiency in me: but not a contrariety. If any one nauseats cheese, it doth not argue a contrariety or Antipathy; but a seminal disposition, a certain noxious thing operating. For, because of the necessary vicissitude in things, it hardly can be admittible to call every or any noxious qualities in us, hostilities, and enmities of things. Because in Philosophy we must confine to proper speaking: where words change the sense, and alter the essences of things; and chiefly when the whole Crasis of healing is distorted to the destruction of Mankind. For the schools reduce all sanation to the means of Contrariation in their vain and ridiculous Comments of heat and Cold. And yet when they are dashed upon rocks in these their lecturers, they will stoop to concede, that heat and Cold may dwell under one Roof, and yet not as contrary Guests or Inmates: seeing that in the least drop or smallest Atom of simples, heat and cold may be connexed: as in Opium a deep cold, and high heat also they discover in his amaritude. But we have in our Lecture of sapours, and examination of the medicines of the shops, when we discoursed of Opium, discovered, that the knowledge of the schools from sapours, was ridiculous and fruitless: because seminal and specific faculties by the schools is basely confounded and traduced into Elemental qualities. For cold in Opium, though it be declared by no judgement of our senses, but supposed from its effects, because they have strained a dormitive seminality in a ridiculous dream to cold. As if God when he cast Adam into a sleep, had stirred up cold in him: And as if after dinner a notable cold in us should steal up into our heads.  
To what hath been said of Contraries, that there is no intentions in Nature of contrariety in those things, in whom there is no pretention of hatred, variance, victory, or superiority, we add; that unity is not contrary to Duality. Nor upwards to downwards, nor high to low, nor East to West are not contrary. Nor is the right car contrary to the left, although opposite. Nor is a volatile contrary to a Reptile. For the same silkworm is both. Nor is Generation contrary to corruption. So likewise neither great is contrary to little, nor strait to crooked. When one & the same may be now small now great, strait & crooked. The same is to be said of sweet and bitter; hard and soft: heavy and light: sharp and blunt: Coagulate and resolved: or white and black. The like is to be said of water and fire: Heat and cold, which are not contrary. This the schools own Theorems do despise: the which so often as they list they will not follow. For in the plague and malignant Fevers, they administer Treacle, and other things not obscurely hot; as also sudorificks, the indication of heat being neglected. An Erysipilas also, of all Apostems most fiery (as they say) they will heal by putting on it some of the best Aqua vitae. So that it appears these things are limitable, alterable, & by themselves not regarded, and so not fit for principles; and therefore no contrariety, hatred, discord, war, strife of victory or superiority in natural things, but that they act without intention or precognition of an end: and so although there be Phila●tie, Sympathy, Antipathy, Election, yea, and a kind of sense attributed to inanimate things: yet let it be a certain Analogy shining rather in effects and causes, then in the direction of the creator, or distinction of ends: because that they are deprived of proper sense, election, intention of acting, and precognition of ends: The schools therefore and Physicians are exceedingly out of the way who will admit only those as remedies of diseases, which by a hostile contrary property, encounter and war against them, as if there were a power of sense and an arbitrary power of Election in them.  
Others go more amicably to work, and cure diseases by simility. Paracelsus himself hath too effeminately stooped to this opinion, and says, that all Sanation must be shut up and finished by assimilation, admitting sometime otherwhiles the velitations and tempests of Contraries. And although simility doth proximely include familiarity, and facility of reception and entertaining the remedy, union, ingress, and penetration by reason of the conformity of the Symbol: yet the abettors hereof know not that these are not Agents sufficiently endowed, nor capable or requisite to Sanation: but occasional means, extern, or medicines procuring favour or help: such as is the purity and subtlety of a medicine. Wherefore we conceive that a medicine properly, immediately, and efficiently consists in its competent or appropriate habilities: By which Nature stands upon her own legs again, and rises from her fall. There are truly natural endowments, specifica and dotata, which differ from their simility. And they are those things in which our Archaeus finds delight. As for example. Bulimia or Famine, is as it were morbus peracutus, which by the sufferance of a few days, cruelly kills. Now it is not healed by its contrary, meat, nor by simility. Neither doth famine accuse or declare a defect of blood being taken away. For than Dysenteries and Phlebotomy or blood-letting should necessarily make us hungry: But in famine there is a devastation of the nutriment, and that of the stomach itself, not by the intense peptick quality, but by the vigour of the digestible, esurine and depascent ferment. For as often as the ferment of the stomach is well disposed, not having an object whereon to work and sat its appetite, it consumes the proper aliment of the stomach. Famine therefore supersedes from raging and hath his quietus est, by meat; not as it's contrary to the ferment, nor that it is like to the same: but because it is an appropriate remedy. The like is in the healing of all diseases whatsoever, namely, there is required an adaequation of the remedy to the indisposition of the Archaeus, and taking away the occasional cause. Which appropriate conveniency of the remedy or the dose, presupposes a proportion as well in the degree, as quantity, as also adaptation and application, with a specific adaequation of conformity. Thus far also it includes an indication and cognition of the end: the habitude and exigency of our faculties and the accord of them with the remedy, in which again the dose is supposed. For so remedies would not only respond to the parity of objects, but also to the determinations of the ferments.  
Others there are again who think to make medicine out of the Chemists Ternary of new principles, Sal, Sulphur and Mercury; and thereby think themselves Nature's Zanies and imitators. To this do many of this Age subscribe: but it is to be wished that they did know otherwise, and might come to learn that digestion of Nature never tends to those three principles, and that we never are nourished by them: but with one only and the same congenerous or consimilar liquor, whereby we consist and have our Individuum entirely preserved. Many things by their first bullition depone their pristine virtues. For so Asarum of a vomitive evades into a diuretic: And for the most part the unisone and specific propriety of a thing is destroyed, by running division into those three principles. For although they will keep some of the Crasis of the Concrete: yet notwithstanding they are new created things, brought to pass by fire. For to speak severely and truly, the common Chemistry of this day, is not productio rei nova, but an alteration or transmutation by an exotic motor.  
Happy sure was he constellated, who knew how to take away diseases both safely and readily on the shoulders of crude simples. For it is the primitive method of healing noted in scripture. That the Highest had created medicine out of the Earth. Truly, as the Spagyric art draws forth & invigorates many things with a degree of a greater and higher energy, inasmuch as it excites a new ens: so on the other side again it doth debilitate many things by a privy and insensible suffuration. It's a bold attempt to accuse nature of sluggishness, dulness and imperfection, whosoever supposes she can perfect nothing without Pyrergy. Let the semination of things bear testification to this. For in vegetable productions there are somethings which spring up of themselves. Such is the propriety of plants, which multiply within themselves and have no sexuall distinguishments, but the power of the species contained in their individual seminalities and productions: according to the Law of the Creation, Gen. 1. Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed is in itself. Which is indeed the natural way of plants: but some there are, which want sation and occatory operations. But yet their potestative inhaerencies which proximely and immediately dwell in the bosom of Nature, do emit their virtues by an emanative and influential manner, nor will they willingly conform and submit to the Tyranny of fire. But those which are not immediately in the forms of the simple in its Individuum, but of the heterogene parts: are very often more dilucidate in their abstracted part. For so Mace, Turpentine and Asparagus, do delineate and describe their symbol in the piss excreted. But the powers which do rise out of things by fire, although they may owe something to their concrete, as pledges and tokens of that Family: but yet truly they are new and transplanted germinations, and commonly the vassals of another Monarchy. We have always greatly esteemed the destination of God in the virtues and gifts of simples: forasmuch as he hath endowed them with excellent qualifications, natural, specific and gifted to an end, without contrariety or simility. Yet in this Panegyric of simples, we do not vilify, or detract from the due praises of Pyrotechny: but well serves only for a lecture to those, who admit nothing but those three principles, as they are pleased to opinion.  
But when a disease hath all ready entered the borders of life, and hath risen to some height, almost seen in the meridian of life, and is marched up to the walls of the palace of vitality, and hath almost fatally foiled Nature, than there is required higher medicines, of a more noble Entelechie than those which Nature produceth of her own accord; and then the Physician will know that he needs a greater light than what Galen and the schools have beaconed up unto him. And to speak freely what cannot be concealed, and will daily break out more and more, all this is to be accomplished by the exact benefit and exquisite operations of pyrotechny. Concerning which we cannot but ingeniously confess that it now begins to be looked into; great capacities that are constellated to be something more than ordinary, being wearied out of the old fruitless unsuccessful way. Yet two sorts of people we find are culpable of Hyperbolical deviations. One in their Encomiums of Chemical preparations attributing too much we fear, more than they possess: the other; we know, less than they deserve. A degree beyond the latter goes a sort, who rail, revile and speak evil of those things they know not. For in that thing, wherein they deny the verity of the science, they manifest that they are ignorant of it. others again in a panic fear, but more friendly, yet equally ridiculous, say, that chemic medicaments are not without empyre●ma: that they are hot, virulent, and but little used, and less safe. Secondly, that they are basely sophisticated, and adulterated by Chemists faithless selves, and careless servants. Thirdly, That they are virulent medicines, powerfully poisonous, and very dangerous. That they must either cure or kill, and therefore desperate remedies: and with this face obtrude their pusillanimous and untrue notions and Mola's or false conceptions on the vulgar.  
To the first we shall briefly say, that we believe the resentment of the powerful virtues and exquisite operations of Spagyric remedies, is a sore temptation upon them to make many a voyage beyond the Equinoctial line of Truth, to fetch Apes and Peacocks; which makes them so content to gather the stubble of falsities, to make their brick withal. It is not therefore true, that all Chemical medicines are prepared by the strongest degree of fire. For oftentimes but a gentle breath is felt, and sometimes scarce distinguishable. But to this Galen himself will answer, who teaches that by a strong fire most medicines do depone all their acrimony & mordacity. And beyond all doubt, and by common experience it appears, that by this Spagyric art the fiercest medicines are tamed, and by it medicines that are otherwise poisonous, their deletory parts being taken away, are transmuted into cardiacal. Moreover though the essences of vegetables and aromatics are hot: yet their volatile salts (which few have seen) are temperate, so that if thou knowest to transmute oil of Cinnamon, Cloves, Lavender, etc. into a volatile salt, you have then attained a temperate medicine, effecting as much as can be hoped for from those simples, in an old vertigo, palpitation, Apoplexy, and the like. As for example. If oil of Cinnamon, etc. be mingled with his alkaal salt, and progressing by a most artificial and occult circulation for three months without any water, till the whole be changed into a volatile salt, you have then a real temperate medicine of a great value; and than it will truly translate the essence of its simple into us, and bear it into our first constitutive principles. Verily the admirable powers of most excellent things cry aloud to heaven, as if they had come in vain; when there is scarce any man can emancipate them from their fetters, and loosen their bonds, and free them into a Jubilee of liberty to act, and pay that benevolence which they owe unto mortals. And to conclude this objection the Contrivers may be compared to the Fox, that despised the grapes for their sourness, when in Truth they hung too high for him, and so were out of his reach.  
To the second, that they are sophisticated and adulterated, we reply, That we have to do with things and not words: we have to do with medicines, and not with things nothing related to an expert Artist; with their right preparations, not sophisticated or careless preparation. Shall the abuse of a thing take away the use? And to come nearer to themselves, what greater cozenage and sophistication is there in their magnified cardiacal stone of Bezoar? Will they therefore not use it at all? We confess we cannot but acknowledge that there is much baseness and fraud used in the common Chemistry of the shops. For it is certain that fraud is the adjunct, and is always connected to gain, and so to the adulteration of medicines. But how this does square to the opprobry of Chemists and their remedies, we leave to the decision of impartial and ingenious heads.  
It is no great thing to deceive the ignorant in things which themselves profess to be unskilful in. Yea, those gentle things which their demure modesties dare close with, as their essential oils, which are sold for a dear price, are all and every one of them adulterated: if nine parts of oil of Almonds be mixed to one part of the essential oil, the experiment is easily made. For cast it into a spoonful or more of Aquavitae, and whatsoever swims a top, is of the essential oil; but the rest Amygdaline. And this more safely and clearly may be made manifest, if you experiment it in Balneo. Oil of Sulphur is half rain water: But the acid water of vitriol, wholly a cheat. Which with a simple examination in Balneo will presently appear, that scarce the sixth part is pure. And thus many more medicines which are gotten into familiar acquaintance now with Galenical Physicians, and are commonly used and prescribed, may in time when the Spagyric art shall come to be refined and sublimed, appear very ridiculous and worthy their blushes, being such as they will be ashamed to own. This than may serve to wipe away that dirt which they have endeavoured to cast on the lovely face of Chemistry, and conclude this objection, desiring them to take notice that dogs bark not at the spots, but light of the moon.  
To the 3d. That they are virulent medicines, powerfully poisonous, as appears by the small dose or quantity given: That they either kill or cure, therefore desperate remedies, we reply, that these things proceed from their ignorance in this art, and the presumption and audaciousness of some knaves, who use only most vehement things, and prepared with a preposterous operation. But this doth verify that Adage, that knowledge hath no other enemy but the Ignorant; which is manifest by this, that these Corrosives and manifest poisons, by Art may become sweeter than sugar. Moreover their own septicall and escharoticall medicines, their ●lammula, Crowfoot, smallage, etc. do lay down their vesicatory quality by distillation, as any vitriol vegetable as juice of Citrons its acidity, and water pepper its acrimony. Nor doth it avail any thing to say that chemic medicines are administered in a small dose. For that doth not accuse its virulency, but declares its high entelechie of acting; and that they are more familiar and friendly to Nature. Besides it is more familiar to those Physicians that are called Galenical, who follow the old doctrine and way to use those strong medicines, which the chemists bring seldom into use, at least they better prepare them.  
And which is a thing very observable, in the common and allowed way of Physic at this day, the sink and scum of the world, the very draff of men and women; all of all sorts, humours, professions and Sect; any knave, whore, Bawd, old woman; or any that have the impudence dares boldly rush into the Galenecall way of Physic, without control: dare play with and dandle the lives of men and women in their hands: and unto so high a pitch of impudence have they flown, that they dare build their nests in the Colleges Turrets, and use their highest medicines▪ and plead prescription, Custom and present practice of the most eminent Physicians: which yet they dare not sore, nor so much as hover about the Air where chemic preparations breath: it being too high a region and the tenth sphere above their wild Astronomy. And in a word we verily believe, and have some reasons for it, that some rash unadvised ignorant pretender hath been too busy in tampering with chemic medicines, and like the fly about the flame of the candle, have burnt their fingers, and so like the Beggar, that because the sieve deceived him, would not trust his dish with his drink any more, they inveigh against the powerfullest and surest remedies of Nature.  
Thus have we at last digested our thoughts, and drawn our hints, and the impetus of our inolinations to a period; wherein if our weak performances afford no satisfaction unto others, I hope our well meaning, attempts and essays will be adjudged laudable, & shall not bring any condemnation upon ourselves: si non laudatur, tamen excusatur. Swarms there are of many other things, in which we could enlarge, if we were willing, and thought it worthy our pens taking notice and run over the whole Rabble; errors so obvious as needs no Candle, that cannot deceive a mean capacity, nor needs not the Collyrium of Albertus, nor no Argus to descry them: some of the chief of which our industry may collect, and in the futurities of our performances ampliate and dilucidate: but other again, and especially now, we shall not disparage our Reader so much as to mention them; much more we shall forbear the enquiry into, and dispute of them, lest we should have no defence lest us from seeming to challenge him of most impossible ignorance, and ourself of as palpable pride and presumption.  
It hath somewhat whet our thoughts to consider what fabric others have already reared: for some that have gone before us, have been diligent in the exploration not only of vulgar errors (as our own Country man Doctor Brown:) but medical ones; as the Teutonick Jacobus Primrosius, and the Belgic Helmont; but the most of other writers have dealt with us either like part of gideon's men, or as a Dog touches Nilus. But least this our impress should be suspected of novelty by those who smell rank of Antiquity, and as for such who list themselves under, and follow Authority, which to stronger heads Testimony is but a weak kind of proof, and only accommodate to junior indoctrinations, it being but a topical probation, and an argument in Logic rightly termed inartificial, and doth not solidly fetch the truth by multiplicity of Authors, nor argue a thing false by the paucity that hold so; yet we will say thus much, if they be such who list not to be malicious, but will be so ingenious as to do so much right to their own understandings to take notice, may find, or hear related to them, that the thoughts of wisest heads, and hearts no less reverend for devotion, have tended this way, and contributed their lot in some good measure towards this which hath been urged for: who have loudly sighed and groaned (and we do but now make them articulate) for the errors, abuses, supinities, and deplorable cruelties, nor couched, but embodied in the stupendous bulk of the medical Art; with the desires and Pressures for a speedy and thorough reformation; and also that these Advisoes which we here bring have been favoured, and by some of those affirmed, who in their time were able to carry what they delivered, had they urged it, through all Christendom, or to have left it such a credit with all good men, as they who could not boldly use it, would have feared to censure it. But the ocular testimonies of our present times, in the unsuccessefullnesse in this medical profession will clearly evince against all the clamours, though of the general part of the whole Nation: and seeing it savours of p●dan●ery; and withal we have scattering here and there in our progress nominated some; and knowing that if all the Testimonies in the world were brought, yet these things would not be redressed, and this would be no way capable of reducing the precipitancy and obstinacy of the vulgar, we omit to declare them. Henceforth then let them who condemn the assertion of this book for new and preposterous, be sorry, lest while they think to be of the graver sort, and take on them to be Doctors, they prove but Cymbals, and expose themselves rather to be pledged up and down by men who intimately know them, to the discovery and contempt of their ignorance and presumption.  
Having now attended that which was comprised in our thoughts, with a diligence not drowsy, we shall now come to our prayer and desires, and fix we hope with some advantage; and by a short view backward gather up the ground, and sum up the strength we have into one main body, with that organic force, that the premises considered proffers us. Henceforth therefore let it be considered nay rather let it no longer be considered (for in re t●m justa non est deliberandum:) seeing the longer we travel from the first point or beginning of error, we shall in futurity I fear come to the largest latitude or distance from the Aequator of truth, and be so totally o'erwhelmed and lost in its dissemination, unto discomposure into error itself. What shall we do then? the schools in a cold spasme of scruple, continue ignorant of the causes, ignorant of the remedies, and wavering 'twixt negligence and uncertainty suspend all farther enquiry, snoring in the Lethargy of their idleness like drones in the hive of their pedantic Brotherhoods; contracted by the opium of a warm fellowship and their present Revenues whereupon they now surfeit, whereby they are at Hercules Pillars, and thereby have choked abundance of active Industries, and souls more towardly and capable are kept out. Shall we therefore sit still, and expect that those in whose hands the keys of the Temple of knowledge is should quietly resign them up, or new mould it themselves, or some fine chance should do it to our hands? no, but let us wait early and late at the door of Authority, and move them again and again for an assistance to this undertaking, to scatter those mists and clouds of vapours that have infested, eclipsed and o'erwhelmed the Horizon of learning; that its old hoary and despised head may be raised up again by that Arm that hath upheld and stoutly maintained our liberties, worthy of praises that shall outlive time.  
It's our sober utinam therefore and we would obtain, that there may be a thorough and early ploughing up the fallow ground of the universities, that she may be laboriously rummiged in her stupendous bulk of blind learning, and her rubbish cast out, and no longer be a Quagmire of pitiful learned idleness, to serve for no nobler end than to nurture a few raw striplings, come out of some miserable country school, with a few shreds of Latin, and to maintain the frothy lectures and mutterings over a few stolen impertinencies & wracked disputations of industrious scold and bawl of a few youngster Pedanticks, whose teeth are as long as their beards, and understandings as wier-drawn as their strutting bodies, who understand that which they profess as little as any thing else, & know as much of what they coldly deliver and mumble over, as their pupils, or as Coriats' horse his masters greek and perhaps no more, though in harder words, than the postulated principles of Nature, born with us, and what they had heard their mother's talk by the fireside at home in a Chimney-Corner Lecture, in a language no finer spun then their Russet-grey. That a fair prospect may be taken of the whole Landscap of Physic, both in the dry ground of it, the vain speculative part or Theory, overgrown with thorns and brambles; and as large in the moorish and fennish part of it, the practic; that those parts of it which have not been justly measured, nor indeed scarce yet discovered, as the Terra incognita of Chymistric, which in the known small spot and portion of it, and habitable part, lies uncultivated and unmanured, may be all taken in, not into particular enclosures, but leveled into the open common of experience and real truth, may be adjoined to the large field and continent of knowledge, and have Nature in her largest latitude for its meridian.  
That they may make of this ill-favoured Medusa with her Tresses full of Adders, in a barren wilderness, a fair Damosel. That we may be acquainted with more rational ways of healing: and that it may be brought to those few rules and sure as afore.  
That there may be a luxuriant farming of experiments, a review of the old experiments and traditions, which have guled so many junior beliefs, and serve for nothing but to make and fill the world with impudent and detestable quacks. Also that the Body of Physic may be studded and embossed (not as jewels and pendants to hang in her ear) with new acquests and experiences. That they may take care and be intent to find out medicine that shall be grand and universal Arcana's magnalia Dei, that shall be so homogene, essential and specific to the Centre of diseases, where they first take up quarters, where the immediate cause lodges, where the nest is, the fountain and original of all vital faculties and actions whatsoever, that shall conserve, preserve, plant and build up the life, in that fountain of life, no less the Author of death and diseases, as of health. Surely medicine is not a naked word, the very word is not idle here: a mere word without a sense, much less a fallacious word, signifying contrary to what it pretends; but faithfully signifies healing, not by the chance-medley of fortune, accident and Nature's work; nor by contrariety or simility. Therefore that such medicines may be found out and prepared as are specific, and such sure cards, that they may never leave them, ●ut play their parts so surely, as they may bring glory to God, honour to themselves, and good to their patients. For it is not enough, nor is there any such thing, as to chalk out the way, and say to a medicine, go thou to such a vein, or to this or that place: but a Physician should be so ably and generally qualified, that his medicine may be sure to eradicate the disease, and respect the proper Archaeus of Nature, and the intricate semanalities or roots of the diseases & not the racemations or products. And it should be the whole study of the Physician to find out remedies, with which all diseases secundum loca and secundum genera (that is of that which he hath to deal with) may be of one value, and the same price: and not to direct his study and intentions to things that come afterwards, or the alterations in the Archaeus, or Symptoms concomitant. For in diseases all things depend upon an occasional cause inoculated in the field of life because diseases have not in themselves an essential radicity of permanency and stability, as other entities have, which abide and subsist in their seminalities.  
And finally to conclude, that our Reason like Solomon● virtuous woman may set all her maidens at work, about this laudable attempt and design, and not to make some step● but go through stitch to the journey's end, that our knowledge may thrive by exercise, as well as our limbs and complexions, that so although we cannot attain unto perfection, yet that we may come to those things most probable. We fear to be more elaborate in such a perspicuity as this lest we should seem not to inform, but to upbraid the dulness of an age; this only, and not the want of more to say, is the limit of our discourse.  
FINIS.