A SHORT REPLY TO THE Postscript, etc. of H. S.  
Showing his many Falsities in matters of Fact; the impertinencies of his promised Answers to some Physicians that have written against the Apothecaries: his conspiracy with Apothecaries to defame them, the R. S. and many Learned men of our Nation.  
Made by Christopher Merrett Dr. of Physic and Fellow of the College of Physicians.  
LONDON, Printed by T. R. for James Allestry, and are to be Sold at his Shop in St. Paul's Churchyard 1670.   

TO THE READER.  
THere coming to my hands a Pamphlet entitled Campanella revived; with a Postscript concerning the quarrel depending betwixt H. S. and Dr Merret, and wondering there should be a quarrel depending betwixt myself, and any other person, having never wrote, or said any thing against any single person, I soon run over his Epistle to the Reader, and found Henry Stubbs subscribed to it, who in other Papers styles himself a Physician at Warwick. A person whom I never saw, but have seen Books of his writing against very learned and worthy persons, and whose best parts have been employed in wrangling with men far better than himself, and therefore amongst all knowing persons his Pen is no slander; Wherefore my resolution was not to return any answer at all. But upon second thoughts, and by the advice of some other learned Friends and Colleagues I soon dispatched these Papers, which had come abroad three weeks ago, had our Presses been at leisure.  
Before I come to speak particularly to his Postscript, I shall mention several falsities and untruths delivered in this Pamphlet against the R. S. and myself, and Secondly shall offer my reasons to impartial men to make it plain, that the Apothecaries are the Authors, Fomentors, or adjutors in it. Thirdly I shall detect their cunning contrivances, in defending themselves from having their Books (especially this Pamphlet) made Libels.  
As for the Falsities in matter of Fact; in his preface to the reader he saith the Royal Society would have incorporated the College of Physicians into their Society, but that the prudent and grave did decline, a thing never dreamt on; 'tis true Mr. Colwell my Countryman, a very noble Benefactor to the R. S. and myself, considering the College of Physicians was consumed by Fire, and that the R. S. also wanted a convenience for their meetings, we both judged it meet to propose to each Society, that a common place of meeting might be erected at the common charges of them both; which design none of our College but judged to be much for their advantage, and most of the Council of the R. S. approved at first, but upon second thoughts rejected; urging that both the name of the place and honour would be wholly the Physicians, and therefore never endeavoured to incorporate the Physicians into their Society, a thing very incongruous and absurd in itself; because his Majesty had established them as two Corporations with distinct Laws and Government. When this conjunction of purses only was first proposed at a College meeting, one only prudent and grave person did not decline (as Mr. Stubs saith) but thought fit, we should consider on it, but since upon more mature deliberation the same prudent person would have brought it on again.  
A second falsity is, that the R. S. promoted the Anti-College of Pseudo-Chymists encouraging Odowde and his adherents in opposition to the Physicians. This I confess is news to Physicians here who are sure never any thing was proposed, or endeavoured by the Society to that purpose. Who have been observant enough of whatsoever they have seemed at least to entrench on our Faculty.  
Thirdly, H. S. hath four falsities complicated together in these words. Nor would I have any man to believe that there are so many eminent Physicians of the R. S., for neither is the number of those admitted considerable: few of note but have deserted it again, the rest approve not of it, so that all they talk of will not amount to three understanding Persons. To which I reply that in the List of the last year 1669, I find 34 Physicians to be members of the R. S. and that the number of them is considerable, will appear by having yearly four or five or more of the Council, the whole number amounting but to 21. And that none of the Physicians have deserted them is manifest, because they have not signified in writing their mind to the Precedent as their statutes require. But that those that remain approve not of it is most false, and will be so, till the Physicians find them invadors of their Faculty, prejudicial to the Arts, Church, or State, and if there be but two understanding Physicians (as you deny there are more.) You may be sure the rest of the Faculty persuaded by the reasons of these two and their own interest will soon leave them.  
Fourthly, In the Postscript H. S. affirms, That all the books written on that subject (the Apothecaries) proceeded from them, (the Royal Society.) I perceive Mr. Stubbe hath not read all Books (a great accusation against the R. S. all along his papers) or else extremely prevaricates, I am sure Bartholinus who published in Latin two treatises, written by two several Physicians, entitled the frauds and abuses of Apothecaries, nor Dr. Hodges nor Dr. Manwaring. nor a very late writer (who is Anonymus) were ever members of the R. S. And for myself I do affirm that not one member of the R. S. but those that were of the College of Physicians also, joined with some others that were never of the R. S. did know any thing concerning the Publication of my View; so far are they from being principal incendiaries in this affair, as H. S. most falsely allegeth they were.  
Fifthly, He affirms, that there wanted not some of them (the R. S.) who purposed to erect a Laboratory, and Shop whence all should be furnished cheaper and better than now, as to general Medicines, etc. This also is wholly false, and will be believed so till he names the persons that thus act.  
Sixthly, H. S. makes me confess that this quarrel betwixt the Physicians and Apothecaries was of no longer continuance than that of the R. S. Whereas in my View p. 21. I affirm the Apothecaries have continually traduced the College, troubled them at the Council board, Parliaments, etc. and that Anno 1639. a Quo Warranto was granted against them, besides I now say this open Contest had its rise some years before, and not long after their Corporation was erected in the 15th year of K. James, by the procurement of some of our College, and whosoever shall read over our Annals (as I have done twice) will find the Apothecaries to have been constant underminers and enemies to our Profession and Corporation.  
Seventhly, His Postcript falsely affirms that I made him the Author of Lex Talionis. For thus he gins his Postscript. Sir, the news you writ me about Dr. Merrett did at first a little surprise me, and had I not during this last year been accustomed to the puny stratagems of the Virtuosos, I should have wondered much to understand that I was entitled to the Lex Talionis, or that Apology for Apothecaries to practice Physic. But the Comedians finding their anger insignificant against me, by reason the advantages their ignorance had given me over them; have ascribed unto me a Book which admits of an easy reply, and which interferes with the College of Physicians, that so they might seem to baffle, and inodiate me at once in the judgement of that profession for which I seemed concerned: I cannot make any defence not having seen his Book. Whereupon observe another false accusation of the R. S. in his making them Authors of it; whereas none of them before the Publication saw line of it: Secondly what honest and fair intelligence this Physician at Warwick hath, for in that Book I clearly absolve him of being the Author of it, for in page the first I only say that I was informed, (and say so still) that the Apothecaries gave out Mr. Stubbe was the Author of Lex Talionis, and though common fame long since said that he intended somewhat to that purpose against Dr. Goddard, and myself; and though this report was strong, yet it could never enter into my thoughts, he had the least finger in a piece so illogical, and absurd both as to Matter and Language; whereby the Reader may plainly see how clearly and too honourably I vindicate him from being the Author of that Book, and upon what grounds and informations Mr. Stubbes raiseth his reviling discourses, and this I writ contrary to the opinion of some persons of quality and parts. Because said they he cares not what he writes against the R. S. and each member of it, and that the reviling Language well suited his usual writing.  
In the next place I shall take notice of some mistakes (to speak more gently) in his Pamphlet, and whereon he intends to rear his Fabric. In his Preface. In Opposition to Dr. Merret, I deduce the Original of the Apothecaries, from the times of Hypocrates and Aristotle, through the Roman and Greek Empires, etc. which he repeats in his Postscript. In my view p. 27. I only speak negatively of the Apothecary's antiquity in England, and p. 28. I prove out of my Lord Cook that K. Henry the sixth had none. How impertinent then will his discourse be, and quite besides the purpose? (a practice much used by him in his writings.) However I will be content he shall show that he is well versed in Lexicons and Indices, etc. but shall mind him in that impertinent discourse, that he fetcheth not their antiquity as the Apothecaries ridiculously do from the Holy Scripture, wherein indeed the name of an Apothecary is four times found; but those texts being examined, will carry no other sense than of perfumers and makers of sweet Ointments, trades to this day familiar in the Luxurious Eastern parts of the World. Secondly Whether amongst the Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth not primiraly signify Poison, and secondarily, Spices, dying things, etc. and whether the word simply used was not taken in an ill sense, and consequently, whether Pharmacopaeus doth not properly signify a Maker of Poisons. Thirdly, In what good company, and for what good acts they are recorded in Authors, because in Horace I find them ranked with the basest of men, Ambubeiarum Collegia Pharmacopolae. I find also in Cicero, pro A. Cluentio, mention made of a Pharmacopola Circumforaneus, who in one night poisoned a Citizen's Wife of Rome, and ran away, but he was no Roman. But whereas you say that you will prove that there were in these elder times such Apothecaries as now there are (I do not mean Incorporated, which by your promise you are obliged to do:) You will do somewhat, though little to the purpose, as I have said, if you can prove, that they made and sold Medicines in Shops before the time of Avicen, and were not perfectly Servants, and subordinate to Physicians.  
The second thing proposed was, that the Apothecaries have a hand in all things written against the R. S. and in this Postscript: As to the former, I am informed by one that is of the Apothecary's Club, that all the Papers against the R. S. were sent by Mr. Stubbe to this Club to have them Printed and dispersed abroad, and that they sent him intelligence: Besides his bitter expressions against the R. S. in the Postscript; most whereof is a Letter written to some of that company; where he saith, I advised them to reflect on our common Enemies the R. S. and see if they were not the principal Incendiaries, and that I looked upon it as a design of theirs to aggrandise themselves upon the ruin of the College, (a thing they have always endeavoured) and the Apothecaries. And p. 22. The Writings of the Virtuosos have been the principal cause of all those Controversies, and which if they be not refuted, 'tis in vain to attack Medela Medicina, Manwaring, etc. I have been informed also by several other persons of Credit, and worth, beyond any of this Junto, that F. B. an Apothecary, and active against the R. S. and who long since vapoured he would answer my Book, shown them H S. Manuscripts against the R. S. and he, with his Brethren the Apothecaries, derided the R. S. talked over what Mr. Stubbe hath since published; and much more, in a ridiculous manner, to the great dishonour of the Society, in their Clubs and Coffee Houses, places where men talk any thing, and belie, and bespatter whom they please, and surprise with falsities, and ridicule the ignorant and unwary. Now, whether those Apothecaries were not the learned Persons he mentions in his Preface to the Legend, he sent to, to experiment their judgement, that his several parcels and fragments were joined together with some alterations and new connexion's, without any review of his at London; in fine, had not some public spirited Gentlemen there undertook to transtate the Italian pieces, and to see the work transcribed, and the insertions made, and the connexion in some measure supplied, I could never had leisure to finish my intendments; to which I add from the same Persons, that several passages in H. S. Papers were blotted out, some added, other where interlinings, and alterations made. I say upon this passage, that 'tis very evident that this Club of Apothecaries, convey false Intelligence to H. S. and have correspondence with him; and further, that they misinformed him of my entituling H. S. to be Author of Lex Talionis, and were the cause of publishing this present Postcript at this unreasonable time: Since he saith in the forecited place, The passages now Printed out of Campanella were to follow his Vindication of Aristotle, etc. (which hath not yet been made public) and the breach that Piece hath made, in some other Papers, as he affirms in this Postcript. By which it appears the Apothecaries were the Authors or Adjutors in this scandalous Pamphlet. Add hereunto the many falsities alleged in these Papers, agreeable to what I often accuse them elsewhere. And lastly, considering what power these Apothecaries, my implacable Adversaries, have over his Papers, and what thereof they have used I leave to indifferent Readers, whether the Apothecaries were the Contrivers, or Makers of this Libel against me; and if so, than the credit of it will of itself fall to the ground, but if it came purely from H. S. 'twill find little repute from any learned, pious, or sober Person. By all which it appears, that the said Company is in perfect opposition to the R. S. As for myself, I think no rational man will deny, that the false news concerning my entituling Mr. Stubbe to Lex Talionis did give occasion to this Postcript, and did proceed from an Apothecary, for who else could be so malicious as to inform him of so great an untruth without sending him the Book? And how honestly Mr. Stubbes deals, in saying, he never saw that Book, since his Postcript wad dated from Ragley, June the 14th. several weeks after the publication of my Book, in which time he might have been easily informed of the falsity of his information in this particular.  
The next thing is, the unfair ways they have in publishing their Papers against me: The Author of Lex Talionis was proved in my Answer to it to be a Libel without name of Author, Printer, or Licenser. This great Goliath of the Apothecaries, hath so Printed his, that I can neither find Printer, Licencer, nor prove H. S. to be the Author of it, though his Name be affixed to it; nor will the prime disperser of it, nor some of his correspondents acknowledge him to be so.  
And thus having dealt with the Author as with Lex Talionis, in first rehearsing his untruths, and then briefly refuting him; so having done with Mr. Stubbe as to the first part, I shall come to what is remaining in the Postscript, and I shall speak next to two heads, the one wherein we agree, the other wherein we seem to differ. I agree with him in this clause writ to the Apothecaries, in the following words, his own, That I could never invent or meet with any arguments that could induce me to allow of practising Apothecaries, and that I understood so well the extent, and difficulty of my Profession, that however they might in some cases prosper; and page 21. But I protested against any encouragement for Apothecaries to practice.  
And in this also we are of the same mind, that there were many defaults needing regulation in them; moreover, that they (the Apothecaries) would not delude themselves, that they could prosecute their Trades long; if that famed Body of men (the College of Physicians) did resolve against them, with whose determinations, I did not doubt, but all intelligent Practitioners in the Country, and Counties, would comply: And elsewhere he professeth, He will write against the Divines, Mountebanks, Emperics, and Apothecaries, and such idle Experimentators that practice Physic. As to the practice of Apothecaries, the whole drift, and all the arguments in my Book, as also those other that have writ against them aim at that mark only, but Mr. Stubbe saith farther, He cannot invent, nor meet with any arguments for it, and doubtless would have written more bitterly then us all, if he had rightly considered the interest of the Profession: Besides, I wish that the Apothecaries might thrive and prosper as long as they keep themselves within the Laws of reason, and of the Land, which are directly against their practice; I assert also that the College have resolved against them, in Voting it honourable for their Members to make their Medicines. I say with him, and prove that there are many faults in them needing regulation, which defaults I have reduced to several heads, and enumerated them, and I think Mr. Stubbe will not countenance them in destroying and dishonouring that famed Body of Men, the Corporation of Physicians, which I have fully proved they have always endeavoured to do by Overt Acts, as also the intolerable affronts, tricks, and devices they use against them in their practice. I have acted also for many years together for what he hopes for in page 21. That Physicians would consider their common interests, in opposition to the Thompson's and Odowds, etc. and act with that moderation which became wise men, and who were tender of continuing the renown of their Faculty, which would suddenly else devolve into the hands of Emperics, and demean themselves with that moderation which might end in an accord with the Apothecaries. How I have acted in this Your hope, I shall briefly relate, and how I have prosecuted for many years together by the College Order: All the Trigs, Barkers, Odowds, etc. and forced many Mountebanks from this City, and have published in Print, by their Order and for their Use, all that relates to their Privileges, and whatsoever hath been disputed in Law concerning their Rights, since their first foundation; so that things are now so well settled, that Emperics may be prosecuted without miscarriages. I have upon all occasions awaited the College Council, and spent much time with them upon their Charters and Law affairs; I have also spent many hours with the best of the Apothecaries, to compose all differences betwixt them and us, I have answered all their Objections, consulted and endeavoured to secure them from their petty fears, and all pretended inconveniencies which might arise from our Charter to their Company; told them, The College would grant them whatsoever they could in reason desire, if they would confine themselves to their Trades, and not usurp on our Faculty; and I think none of them but will say how civilly I have entertained them at my House, and with what moderation I have endeavoured to make an accord between them and us, but what prevarications, inconstant resolutions they used with me in this affair, I hope I shall have no occasion farther to declare, and that my Book tended to the continuing the renown of my Faculty, I frequently say, and I think no rational man can doubt thereof. Since therefore I have really and publicly acted what Mr. Stubbe owns (as is before recited) I wonder with what face he can say, He hath answered all in my Book, or this which followeth, As for Dr. Goddard who hath writ more warily and with greater prudence, I only dissented from him in the Antiquity of Apothecaries, and treated him as a Physician, whom I pitied for being mixed with so illiterate a company, which words imply Dr. Merret writ warily and prudently, for sure every comparative must have its positive, besides the same reasons and almost all the same arguments are urged by us both against the Practising Apothecaries, and we concur also in most of our arguments, for the necessity and usefulness of Physicians making their own Medicines; only my Learned Colleague recites Hypothetically, the abuses of Apothecaries, which every rational man may easily make affirmative, and that this is his wary way of writing. Besides all the arguments and designs of us both, are to limit the Apothecaries in their Practice. Lastly, we agree in this, That it was the interest of Physicians to imply Apothecaries as a distinct Profession, and that it was the prudence of States that it should be so; all this I fully assent to, and say in my View, that it would save the Physician a great deal of money, time, and charges, which those that make their own Medicines are necessarily put unto, supposing still the Apothecaries kept themselves within their bounds, as to Physicians, and made their Medicines honestly, and dealt justly in their Trade, and I cannot think but all Physicians will be of the same mind with me, if the Apothecaries fail in either or both, or act according to what I have said in my View, so that if Mr. Stubbe makes this an universal proposition, he must prove it lawful (which he denied before) That the Apothecary may practise Physic, and cheat the Customer; which certainly no State will allow.  
And so much for what we agree in. We seem, and perhaps but seem to differ only in this which he affirms, p. 19 That the reasons to be alleged against the Physicians preparing their own Medicaments, were such as admitted of no Answer nor Evasion among understanding men: and page 20. Upon this account I did largely handle that Question, Whether Physicians ought to make their own Medicines, which I resolved in the Negative, and urged all those arguments (with several illustrations) which have hitherto persuaded with prudent Governors and Physicians to establish the received Usage. And in his Preface to the Reader, I show with what prudence both Physicians, and the civil Magistrates concurred to their Institution, and I have largely entreated on that Question, which the Virtuosos, in order to the ruin of the Faculty of Physician, and of the Trade of Apothecaries, to the great alteration of the practice of Physic, and aggrandizing of themselves, have started, and with much confidence and more ignorance handled. Which great brags and vapours of his, and his performances herein, will amount to just nothing if the Question be stated as we put it, and it ought to be, for we say and prove that Physicians were established in all Nations before the Apothecaries, and that Physicians did in all places first make their own Medicines by their own Servants; and that in process of time by the Physician's connivance, multitude of business, and to save themselves both trouble and charges, did permit and perhaps assist them (as hath been proved in England they did) to procure them liberty of the States, to make and compound Medicines and that the Apothecaries are every where subordinate to the Physicians, and that the Physicians have been by no state restrained from making their own Medicines, and have inspection and correction over them; we farther prove that as affairs now stand betwixt the Physicians and Apothecaries in England, that they ought to make their own Medicines if they intent to support their own Faculty and the honour of it, and to wipe of all those false aspersions unjustly cast upon them by the Apothecaries of London: and that this is the only way to advance their skill in their own profession and in all Natural knowledge, as also the avoiding the unsufferable charges imposed upon our Patients by the high Bills of the Apothecaries, and the uncertainties of our successes by reason of their detracting, substituting, putting in false, decayed and unwholesome ingredients into our receipts, to the great discredit of our Faculty, and the unavoidable danger to the lives and healths of the Sick. I say this is the true state of the present question, and therefore all Mr. Stubbe's promised answer and triumph before his reasons alleged, will be as impertinent to the present business, as his promised discourse concerning the Antiquity of Apothecaries: for the question is not as he proposeth it, what arguments have swayed prudent Governors and Physicians to establish the received usage at such times, I say when Apothecaries were bounded by the Laws and their own civility and interest, and where the Apothecaries were limited to a certain number from usurping our faculty: but whether as things now stand in England, we ought not (I think Mr. Stubbe will not say de Jure we ought not) in prudence, and for the public good to make our own Medicines, for if he doth, I am sure there are few of his mind, and the undertaking of many in this City, and very many more in the Country, and many gratulatory Letters to me will, clearly evince the contrary.  
In the next place I will consider his advice given to the Apothecaries in his Letter to them, in these words; I did therefore earnestly recommend unto their considerations an Union: Which recommendation whether the Apothecaries have followed or no by tendering the Committee of the College some propositions, and whether the project he saith is not difficult, and which he would not intimate that the College would join effectually therein, I say whether they were the effect of this Letter let every man judge, and whether inferiors ever offered their superiors propositions with such boldness, and incivility; for having disputed amongst themselves about an hour, whether they should deliver their proportions before the College delivered theirs to them, or whether both should deliver them interchangeably (such punctilios have Princes with Princes, Ambassadors with Ambassadors, viz. equals with equals) at last they did deliver theirs first, without either Title, or Date, rudely written, and interlined. Their proposals or humble desires were as they Phrase it. First that the Physicians would not prepare, or compound Medicines as Apothecaries, to their prejudice, and secondly that they would not deprive them of their friends and acquaintance, by pretence of any private Arcanum, or otherwise. And then they humbly offer two things; First, that the Physicians would not only join together with them in a frequent search of all that keep Apothecaries shops, and Secondly, in the procuring of an Act of Parliament for the regulating of Physic, whereby to suppress all Empirics and illegal practisers, and makers of Physic, as common enemies to both. Now let the considerate Reader judge by reflection on what I have collected from Mr. Stubbs, whether these are not the result of his project, Secondly how their humbly desire, and humbly offer suits with their dispute about the manner of their delivery, and whether their implying of Physicians abilities to prepare and compound Medicine, Crosseth not what they every where object against us, and for which they have traduced us in Parliaments. And again whether they imply not by their frequent search of Apothecary's Shops, the increasing frauds of Apothecaries, because they desire that this search may be frequent, having been formerly but once a year, and of late years none at all, and withal the abilities of Physicians for this search, quite contrary to (their privately cried up to unwary people, though disowned by them to all understanding persons) Lex Talionis, who saith in express terms, p. 4. the Law might as well have set two Shoemakers as Censors, to be judges of the Apothecary's Medicines, those Censors for the most part not understanding the Tithe of the Medicines, and drugs in the Apothecary's shops, and p. 8. most of the Doctors not understanding the tithe of what is commonly used.  
Now to pass by their tautology of Private Arcanum as much as to say red scarlet, or Apothecary Pharmacopoeus; I will briefly consider the absurdity of the matter itself. They desire that Physicians will not prepare and compound Medicines as Apothecaries to their prejudice; to which I say, we never intended to make them as Apothecaries, which I have showed in my View to be done slovenly Fulsomely of unsound and unwholesome simples: But I suppose their meaning is, we should not make them for our own Patients, and compound them, this being to their prejudice, though it be never so much for our patient's advantage, for without this preparing and compounding, I see not how our Art can make any Farther progress. For I have showed in my view, that the want hereof hath been the cause our Art hath been at a stand, and gained no progress for some hundreds of years; besides by this desire they would have the College renounce their former vote, that it was honourable for their members so to do, and also to divest ourselves of one of the principal parts of our faculty mainly relating to the improvement of our Art, and immediately concerning the lives and healths of our Patients. Again if they mean the College should tie their members from doing so, they desire that which neither Law, common sense, nor reason will allow and which they cannot do; as well may the Surgeons desire that Physicians would not dissect bodies themselves, to their prejudice and so deprive themselves of two main branches of their profession Anatomy and Pharmacy. Besides this word (to their prejudice) is of so large extent that it may be stretched out to deny a Physician power to make Medicines for himself, Family and Relations, than which there's nothing more absurd.  
A second desire is, that the Physicians will not deprive them of their friends and acquaintance by the pretence of any private Arcanum, or otherwise. I am glad to see that my view hath wrought them out of one piece of nonsense, viz. the calling the sick their patients; but yet observe how they Pride it above the rest of the Citizens of London, of much better rank than themselves, by disdaining to call them Customers.  
As to the depriving them of their customers, I have treated largely in my Postscript in answer to Lex Talionis, and farther say that if the pretence of a private Arcanum were the only cause thereof, I should not wholly (all circumstances rightly put) allow of it. But for their otherwise closeing up this (as to our prejudice did the former) I have elsewhere proved by many reasons this desire to be frivolous, and uncivil. For 'tis strange if a Physician finds an Apothecary to be faulty in honesty or skill or both, or to act quite contrary to the prescription of the Physician, or the Life and Health of the Patient, or that he hath not a good Medicine in his shop, or that he endeavours to disgrace the Physician and remove his Patient to a good Apothecary's Physician; that in these cases, and in many other such as these a Physician should not deprive them of their acquaintance. Next they humbly offer that we would join with them in a frequent search of the shops: this alone hath some pretence for the public good, but in reality endeavours an advancing themselves into an equality with the College. For whereas in the Act of Parliament the power is granted to the Physicians alone to destroy bad Medicines, and only to take with them the Master and Wardens of the Apothecary's Company; By'r here they humbly offer that Physicians and Apothecaries may be joined together, and be hail fellows well met. But if they refer this only to a frequent search we are beholding to them for putting more trouble, charge, loss of time and business upon us; it being impossible for us to act by others, as they do by their Servants. Besides our Corporation never gained any thing by their searches, but troubles, and Suits of Law and the particular Censors revile, for performing their duties according to their Oaths in destroying bad Medicines. But doubtless in a short time the Censors will more effectually perform the trust herein, and with more boldness and a greater neglect of revile, or other prejudices can arise to them from so doing. Nor is it to be expected that this search will be performed as it ought to be, till the Company of the Apothecaris shall bid open defiance to our College, as they have, and do by clear consequence, or till this search shall be made by such Censors as prepare their own Medicines.  
As to our conjunction with them for the procuring an Act of Parliament for the regulating of Physic. I suppose the Apothecaries mean not to be sharers with us in this regulation, being a business beyond their Sphere and capacity, and only proper to our College, but if these words whereby to suppress all Empirics and illegal practisers and makers of Physic, etc. explain the former, than I say we need no Act of Parliament for this: Nor in our late addresses to this present Parliament desired any such power, and their Word illegal implies as much, and therefore 'twere foolish to desire that we have already; Nay, as I have elsewhere proved, that practising Apothecaries are illegal practisers, by the express Letters of our Charter, and Empirics, having no lawful calling thereunto, but surely they mean not so; so that all this seems to be but a blind to that which follows, viz. makers of Physic; this is the Alpha and Omega of their desires, the Alpha excludes Physicians only, the Omega is Universal, makers of Physic; which whether it extends to Surgeons who by the Apothecary's Charter are allowed to make their own Medicines, and by all Laws have right thereunto: and whom his Majesty and the Merchants trust before the Apothecaries to furnish their Fleets and Ships, and also to Confectioners, Chemists, Distillers, to Ladies and Charitable persons, that make Medicines for the poor and their families, etc. I leave all those that are concerned to judge, and the Apothecaries to explain, all this being to their prejudice, however this I say, it concerns not Physicians at all who make Medicines, but who practice with them; neither have I heard of any Law in any Country forbidding persons to make Medicines, nor I think will it ever be forbid: the Laws only provide who shall direct them, or who shall dispense them in Shops. But how these makers of Medicines are prejudicial to both I understand not. I confess with their Hector H. S and their little Lex Talionis 'twill be mainly prejudicial to the Apothecaries, but till I understand by Physicians themselves how it will be prejudicial to them, I shall say no further here, having proved it in my view to be to their great advantage: and shall only add that these Overtures were highly resented by the whole College at their meeting as in reason they ought to be.  
Upon the whole I shall remark two things. First, that they endeavour to engross and monopolise to themselves all the power of making Medicines, and thereby depriving Physicians of what is essential to their profession, and their very Birthright, and to suffer one of their hands to be cut off in the acting part of their Faculty; and that in some things they endeavour to gain a power equal to that of Physicians, but not a word to gain the only thing we want, an ability to punish delinquents for ill practice, which will light most heavily on them if duly executed. Secondly, observe that there is nothing in their desire but what was prompted by their Patron H. S.  
I shall now probably conjecture at the reason of Mr. Stubbs beginning this quarrel. I understand by several persons and also by some Letters of his written to a Noble person, that civil women about Warwick, will not advise with him, so that he must shortly leave that Town; add hereunto his restless nature and frequent shift from place to place, no where settled nor quiet may induce him to repair to London, in expectation of some practice from the Apothecaries, and that he useth several insinuations to the College of Physicians, perhaps in hope to procure of them a Licence to practice there, which very wise men suggest he designs to do, the former is very probable, and that he might become a good Apothecary's Physician here, and that when he comes to Town he may have use of their Wives especially Lex Talionis Urgente necessitate, and in the next Edition of his Book set H. S. after it instead of P. O. As for his design on the College I suppose 'twill never take, for he tacitly grants (by his supposition and not confronting it) that heats and indignities had passed from the College to the Apothecaries. Besides above 20 of their Society are members of the Royal Society also, all which H. S. calls Coxcombs, Illiterate, Impertinents, Comediants, Ignorants, Ridiculous, etc. And more particularly that the number of Physicians in the R. S. will not amount to three understanding persons, besides elsewhere he nameth but three persons of the R. S. of any worth, whereof the learned Dr. Wallis is one against whom when he was Library keeper he railed in most invective language; so that there he excludes all Physicians from learning or parts, and therefore 'twill be as ridiculous in him to address himself to them as he doth to make the R. S. to address themselves to the Physicians. And now I come to the bottom of the Plot, betwixt him and the Apothecaries against myself, as may appear by what hath been said before; and this clause proves in the 22 page. The passage of Campanella being taken out thence, hath occasioned that breach in it, which I have not now leisure to redress.  
Now why he should maim that piece that he cannot redress, cannot appear to any soberf man to have any other intendment, then to bring in his railing Postscript stuffed with so many falsities, and slanders; and if this common traducer had had any Sobriety, Prudence, or Religion: (neither of which all I have conversed with say he hath a grain of) he would not have premised such a Libel before his promised treatise.  
I shall now rehearse what ignominy he throws upon me. I answer saith he all that Dr. Merrett had alleged, and shown his intolerable ignorance in that Book, and if we might take an estimate of his parts from that writing, 'twas manifest he might better employ his time in studying the method of Physic, then composing Medicaments, that after 30 years' practice 'twas evident he understood not the rudiments of that Noble Science nor could state a case therein. As to your answer of my Book it appears by what I have said a little before, that H. S. hath nothing to allege against Dr. Merrett; and for showing his intolerable ignorance in that Book, I only say that I have discoursed it over with knowing persons of all conditions, well skilled in all kinds of learning, the ablest in my own Faculty; nay with the Apothecaries themselves, yet never had the least reflection of ignorance cast upon it, a considerable part whereof consists in matter of fact, known by all Physicians of this City of any eminence; and all objections made by the Apothecaries (as to matter of fact) clearly evinced in my Postscript of the second Edition, the rest of the Books being clear undeniable, deductions will free me from ignorance in it. But how well H. S. infers, is apparent by many other places of this Postscript, p. 21. His words are these, the disasters of the late Dutchwars, the Plague, and Fire of London were less inconveniencies than the perpetuity of the R. S. that these Calamities admitted of some remedies hereafter, but the evils they are likely to occasion us will never be corrected by any humane prudence, and I doubted whether God would support us by his providence, when they had debauched the Nation from all piety and honesty, as well as civil wisdom, H. S. every where pretends piety though he be proved in print to have preferred a little gain before his Religion, and said to a person of honour, it was not half a crown difference in what Religion he bred his Children, and for his Morality how he hath debauched some younger persons, 'tis too long for me to recite. Besides his inference out of Campanella that the R. S. are bringing in Popery, is so absurd that no fresh man of the University would own for fear of being ridiculous. But to infer such a conclusion out of my Book, which hath neither a case stated, nor a word of the Rudiments of Physic, plainly proves his extreme malice and the exceeding weakness of his judgement. But H. S. goes on and if we might take an estimate of his parts from that writing. If H. S. had pleased, or doth read Books of real learning and that on several subjects, he might have taken notice that my labours have some esteem with the learned pens of this age, and would have made another estimate of my parts, and that the Doctors can compose medicaments better than the whole Company of Apothecaries; his offer not accepted of by them doth clearly evince, and hath been thought by his contemporaries, and colleguesto have not only studied, but fully understood the method of Physic, and that above 30 years ago he understood the rudiments of that Noble Science, and could state a case therein, or else the Universities are to be blamed for admitting of him to his degrees, and hereby our College also is highly accused and slandered for admitting one thus ignorant 20 years ago; much more to have chosen him for so many years to be one of their Censors, and to read a Public Anatomy Lecture amongst them 15 years since: in which he had some opportunity to show his skill in both, and I may modestly say those Pathological Lectures found some applause, as both the College Register, and several importunities for the Printing of them make manifest, and perhaps the publication of them shall declare. Add hereunto that the immortal Dr. Harvey was to blame in nominating with some Eulogy such a pitiful Physician to be his Library keeper, who necessarily was to converse with learned foreigners and travellers in the Art of Physic. Lastly my conversation hath been, and frequent consultations with ablest of my profession. But I am too large on this subject, especially finding too worthy Divines Dr. Sprat and Mr. Glanvil traduced in their own profession by this person (whose mouth nothing less than a Sergeant can stop.) His words of them are these, p. 22. Whose abilities in matters relating to their profession are so contemptible that 'twere folly, etc. But this detraction cannot much prejudice these Divines as being fixed in their employment, but his abominable scandal cunningly driven on by the Apothecaries, may do me; and for which end only this Postscript was writ who Candestinely may use this slight to my disadvantage to tell ignorant people not versed in men nor books, or to such who are propagators of false news, that Dr. Merrett hath been proved in Print, and that by a very learned writer, not to understand the very rudiments of Physic, and to add more what their malice can invent, and doubtless this was the sole reason of contriving and unseasonably publishing this Libel, as all circumstances may evidence to understanding men.  
Aug. 3. Since this Pamphlet was in the Press, I Received a note enclosed in a Letter from Mr. John Starkey a Bookseller near Temple-Barr, the propagator of H. SH' s. Postscript, who denied not to me nor my Servant, that it came from the said H. S. The words sent me by said Mr. Starkey were these. When you see him next you may tell him. That if he please know the ground of the supposition, 'tis the case of the Apothecary, giving a strong purge before the fit of a Quartan, mentioned in his Book. He hath neither given us an account of the habit of the patient's body, the time of the year, the Type and time of the quartan, whether beginning or inveterate with or without signs of connextion, (I suppose it should be concoction) nor of the Purge itself, nor how long ministered before the fit, all which are requisite to the true state of a case, as every Physician knows, and yet would have us condemn the Apothecary, for doing that which (whatever the event may have been) for aught I can see, no understanding Physician can condemn, as I shall demonstrate out of a multitude of eminent Physicians; so that if we may judge by that case no man can make any other collection. Before I animadvert on this passage, I shall recite it as 'tis in my view, p. 45 of the first, and p. 62 of the second Edition; 'tis in these words. As for their skill in practice we daily see their gross errors and omissions, (which I now add some Physicians and in Print too call murders) being called where they have given Medicines. I shall instance only in one that happened at the writing hereof, viz. that an Apothecary gave strong purging Pills on the fit day of a gentle quartan Ague, which turned it into a violent Fever, to the great hazard of the Patient's life. Observe first, how fairly H. S. citys me, I say strong purging pills, H. S. a strong purge; just as Lex Talionis, I say on the fit day of a gentle quartan Ague, H. S. before the fit of a quartan. For this his misreciting of my words may much vary them and alter much my sense.  
Secondly, take notice of his intolerable ignorance (to use his own words) in saying the type of a quartan. For type is joined with a Fever in general, distinguisheth the species of Fevers into Quotidian, Tertian, Quartan. And when a Physician asketh what type a Fever hath, the Answer a Quotidian, double Tertian, etc. Because type is as Galen, etc. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 (i. e.) the order of intention and remission. So that I might hence conclude and deservedly too, that H. S. understands not the Terms, and consequently not the very Rudiments of that noble Science he seems so much concerned for.  
Thirdly, observe his Logic. He saith I have neither given an account of the habit of the Patient, etc. and thence concludes that Dr. Merret understands not the Rudiments of Physic, nor can state a case therein, H. SH' s Logic right, and such as is used at Billingsgate. I do not state this case in my Book, and therefore he infers can state none at all, excellent reasoning. Any man may better Collect from Mr. Stubbes his plum ultra p. 148. that he caused himself to bleed october 20 being not well at Warwick, by reason of a violent defluxion into the glandules of the throat, that he knows not how to put a case in Physic, because he doth not set it down with all the circumstances belonging to the disease itself. And ib. 138. Amongst other preparatives to the Bath I caused myself to be let blood for my health. But to conclude, H. S. understands cannot put a case in Physic, because he doth not fully state the two present cases I judge to be very hard, and less to the purpose to demonstrate out of a multitude of Eminent Physicians the badness of his practice in both cases, which is easy enough to do in his way. Certainly no man but would think this inference to be more concluding that H. S. is a subverter of the Monarchy of England, and of the repute of the Clergy, because he saith in his Preface to the History of the R. S. there were times wherein he thought it our interest to do both. But then supposing (but not granting) the case had been stated (as 'twas not by his own confession) and Stated too amiss; Certainly from one particular to reason universally to a whole Science is most brutish. I think H. S. would judge so if a man should conclude by his rendition of good nature in English by un homme de bonne nature, & l'homme d'un box naturel, in French, which signifies no more than a man of good natural parts, or of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. I say if a man should conclude by H. S. mistake in this said case that he understands neither French nor Greek and is no Critic, I should confess such a concluder to be a foolish and malicious adversary to him. And who would not laugh at a person that should conclude a Smith or other Tradesman to be wholly ignorant in his whole Trade and every part thereof, because he mistakes in putting one case in his Art. But I trifle as well as he.  
Fourthly, His inference seems by himself to be far fetched, and unknown to me (as indeed it was) or else why should he say to his correspondent? if he (meaning myself.) please to know the ground of the supposition, ' it's the case, etc.  
Fifthly, I answer the nature of my Book required not the putting down the case and all the circumstances thereunto belonging. And 'twould have been judged absurd in a treatise of that nature to have put a case of practice understood only by Physicians. If the Apothecary complained of, had found himself aggreived, and had urged it, than indeed to have put the case fully might have been expected, but not otherwise. But if H. S. will arraign every Physician, as he doth me, for accusing Apothecaries (who are Empirics) of ill practice, without putting the case home, few Physicians would avoid this censure of intolerable ignorance. Nay if Mr. Stubbes or any other had desired to have had the case put, I should not have refused to have done it.  
Sixthly, whereas H. S. requires an account of many things, I say, when I put that case to a Physician I shall add several material things (whereof he seems ignorant) to put it full, and as it ought to be.  
Seventhly, I say Physicians daily do, and lawfully may speak in general, that such a man was killed by such an Apothecary, by not letting him blood, giving an Opiate, Vomit, or Purge in such a disease, without relating all the circumstances of it; and though some ignorant people may judge him malicious for saying so: yet neither Physician nor these ignorants will traduce him for ignorance in that case, much less in his whole Art.  
Eighthly, H. S. concludes Dr. Merrett would have us condemn the Apothecary for doing that which (whatever the want were) for aught I can see, no understanding Physician can condemn, as I shall demonstrate out of a multitude of Physicians.  
To this I reply that all civil men of the faculty would have thought a Fellow of the College of Physicians affirmation had been sufficient enough against a practising Apothecary, without putting the case at all; and examples enough may be shown Physicians so doing. And though I rest not wholly on the event with the vulgar, which I have sufficiently confuted elsewhere, yet to make a judgement on ill success from bad practice is rational. H. S. proceeds, for aught I can see (modestly said.) Why he confesseth he knows nothing of the Case, neither the habit of the Patient, & c. and therefore he is to demonstrate out of a multitude of Eminent Physicians, that 'tis lawful to give strong purging Pills on the fit day of a gentle quartan, let the circumstances and symptoms of the disease, and the condition of the Patient be what they will, or else H. S. opposeth not at all what the view affirmeth; and he here puts himself on as wild a task as Lex Talionis, who would prove out of Hippocr. that the old Medicines were better than mine. The Reader may plainly fee, that H. S. undertakes to confute a Story he knows nothing of, and to demonstrate out of Authors, he knows not what himself: And so let H. S. pass with his third impertinence not yet Printed, for I am weary with this pitiful stuff.  
H. S. in the said note appeals to some of our College, and permits me to choose whom I please to be as judges in the case. Bravely said, were H. S. in London he would soon find the Censors of the College, and the whole body severe judges against him, and that this young Physician at Warwic were impudent to appeal to them in so notorious a scandal, besides the accused, not the accuser appeals; and too be sure their sentence would be against him, not only for so bruitishly traducing one of their members, (their statute of civil conversation where of H. S. hath none requiring the contrary to what he acts) but also for maintaining so their fellows, and his promised Support of them would make them (as it doth) very good sport.  
H. S. concludes his letter to the Apothecaries thus, p. 22. This was the subject of that Book, which I doubt not but will be approved by all judicious persons; and the College will see I can write against Dr. Merret, without derogating from them; or rather that my intendments were to SUPPORT them and not disserve the APOTHECARIES in the least. I intent to make it public in Michaelmass term.  
I shall make a short commentary on this Epiphonema of H. S. setting out his confidence of judicious persons approving this Book, which sober men would have left to the Censure, and opinion of the Readers; and not have so long before hand triumphed and sung the praises on his own undertake. Of which I shall say in general what the most learned, and indifferent persons judge of his writings, that they are wholly void of judgement, reason and Logic, and consist only of rail, impertinent readings, and contain little but Pedantic learning, Antiquity and Grammar, of little use to such as write of things. But to the particulars. This was the subject of that Book. And was this all? The Title page mentions a Postscript concerning the quarrel depending betwixt H. S. and Dr. Merret, and yet the Postscript its self hath the least part of this quarrel. The greater part whereof directly opposeth the R. S. only, much of it relates to the College and Apothecaries, something to Dr. Goddard and not much to myself besides the falsity in the beginning, so that the whole Postscript seems to be written only to defame me: so well doth the Title and Postscript answer one another. Besides this, you will doubtless run an impertinent Risco for the old Medicines, and against the new discoveries in your Pedantic way, and no man knows whether H. S. goes on. I doubt not this Book will be approved by all judicious persons. Surely scarcely by any, not by the learned persons the Apothecaries you sent your Papers to, to experiment them, etc. For you restrain them from practice, tell them many things needed regulation in them, that the College resolving against them would destroy their trade; that you in your intendments were to Support the College; you rank them in the lowest place of Emperics and Quacksalvers. Certainly none of these things will the Apothecaries approve, nor Physicians neither; you oppose their vote, that 'tis honourable for their members to make their own Medicines: you suppose that indignities and heats had passed from the College toward the Apothecaries, you recommend to the Apothecaries an union with the College, and as they apply it to make them our Peers, you say of 20 of their Society members also of the R. S., that they are Coxcombs, Impertinents, etc. as before. You here proudly take upon you to be their support as if they were not able, or willing to support themselves, but an extraneous person ignorant of their affairs, so infamous and notorious must do it for them, you would deprive all Physicians of their Essential privilege, nay which is common for all persons to do, viz. making their own Medicaments, you call some of the Fellows of the College principal incendaries. And therefore you may very well doubt whether Physicians really so, and who are the most proper judges of this matter will approve your Book at all, I am sure none I have conversed with, will in the least, you profess yourself an implacable adversary to the R. S. threaten each Virtuosos there, and surely not one member of that illustrious body will approve your Book.  
As for Divines you have written against them in general and endeavoured to destroy their very order, and particularly against the learned Dr. Wallis, Dr. Sprat, and Mr. Glanvil, and say of the two latter, 'twere folly to expect much from them where they profess; and if they displease you, you will say of all of them as you do of the two latter, that their abilities in matters relating to their profession are contemptible.  
As for Gentlemen of the long Robe, and all persons Loyal to the King, few of them either read or value your writings, and several of these are members of the R. S. also. And on good grounds think you would act over again your former disloyalties.  
And if none of the three professions will approve of your Book, then certainly neither will either of the Universities, as neither do they disapprove of Dr. Merretts view, I am sure many foreigners Dutch and French besides judicious persons of all orders have given the Author thanks for it; and more especially such as have found double advantage by it, as well to their healths as purses.  
Besides 'tis strange this Physician at Warwic should conceive so well of his Book, founded wholly either on falsities or impertinencies, as hath been proved, and also on defamations so gross, and deductions so absurd and ridiculous as hath been said.  
H. S. proceeds. And the College will see that I can write against Dr. Merrett, without derogating from them; or rather that my intendments were to SUPPORT them, and not disserve the Apothecaries in the least.  
Here you sinned H. S. performing some wonders, first he can write against Dr. Merrett, and not derogate from the College, if he means he can rail at, and misrepresent Dr. Merrett, and not in express terms the College, perhaps H. S. can out of his rich magazine of both perform his promise. But doubtless the College cannot conceive but that the writing against one or more of their members will derogate from them, especially acting but their duties according to their faith given, and asserting their Honours, Rights, Privileges, Statutes, and Votes, and speaking their own private Language and Discourses. And surely no man can judge otherwise then that Dr. Merrett in his Book intended the good and welfare of the College, and hath industriously prosecuted that end before his own profit, and undergone all tasks though never so ungrateful in order thereunto. How then H. S. can write against Dr. Merrett and not derogate from the College, I think none of them can see. And farther H. S. will be hard put to it, to bring one instance to prove any Corporation ever thought themselves not derogated from, when one of their members, hath been traduced for asserting their rights. And H. S. if displeased, will then call them the College of insensaty for so doing, as he doth the R. S. and consequently a consequently a considerable number of them already.  
But here he not only professeth he will not derogate from them, (a great kindness in him towards learned men, though in many places he hath diminished and decried many of them) but rather (saith he) that my intendments were to support them (the College) and not disserve the Apothecaries in the least. Behold here the intendments of this man of might, doing wonders if not impossibilities. He intends to do more than the established Laws and Charters, orders of the Council board, proclamations of the King; judgements of Courts, the understanding labour industry and expenses of the College, and all their interest ever could effect. Behold here this Hoghen Moghen PATRON and SUPPORT of the College, nay which is more for all this he will not disserve the Apothecaries in the least. He can blow in one breath hot and cold, he can support the College, and reserve to them alone the practice of Physic (which is all the support they crave) and yet not disserve the Apothecaries in the least, whose only aim and endeavour is, and hath been to supplant and depreciate the Physicians; whereby to gain all the practice into their own hands, and without which (they say) they cannot gain a livelihood.  
So that if H. S. take from them the practice of Physic (which he twice doth in this Postscript) he doth them the greatest disservice imaginable; but if he means to support the College, he must take out of their hands the practical part of our faculty, and so consequently (as the Apothecaries confess themselves) undo them, and certainly this is not to disserve them in the least, but in the whole. So that (as matters now stand) 'tis impossible to support the one, but he must disserve the other. And if his project (he saith is not difficult) can secure the Physicians in their practice from the usurpation of the Apothecaries, and not do the latter disservice (the sole intendment and end of our Books) we shall confess him the only seeing person, and that he seethe more at a distance than we do upon the place, and shall for working this admirable and incredible wonder both admire and thank him.  
Lastly, the support of Physicians implies the securing them from the frauds and abuses committed in remedies, and the chargeableness of their Bills, the removing whereof (a thing impossible) must needs be disservice at least to the Apothecaries, and he is bound to make good and justify, or deny all those complaints mentioned in my view, or else he doth disserve them. But perhaps he means by not disserve them, he will do them no harm in the least, though positively he will not serve them in the least, and then they are but a little beholding to him, unless he will say that two negatives not and dis make an affirmative and so reserve to himself by this ambiguous expression a power of doing them no prejudice, or doing them real service if occasion, and his advantage prompt him to it.  
Now here I shall make a very short Apology for speaking and treating so harshly and personally (contrary to my genius and reply to LexTalionis) the Author of this Postscript; had he not maliciously, conspiringly, and upon no provocation given, nor upon any grounds raised such a defamation upon me in my own profession, I should not have made the least reflection upon him.  
Secondly, because many ignorant and vain persons understand not, or at least take little or no notice of what is substantial; 'twas but just to take off by this way the scandal designedly cast upon me, and to invalidate his conclusion, as Lawyers do the testimonies of their adversaries by a lawful recrimination. Neither have I said more than was necessary for my own defence. The rest, and what I have said will shortly be made public concerning his life, and more fully, and if I am not misinformed, will render him the most notoriously ill natured, as well as ill mannered man in this Nation; especially in one that pretends to learning, and who hath had University education. He hath his hand against every man, and therefore cannot in reason but expect that every man's hand will be against him. And did I not confine myself to his Postscript, I could show multitude of absurdities, impertinences, falsities, weak inferences wanton expressions, and mistakes of his in some other writings of his, I have read since the publication of his Campanella, and this Postscript. All which I doubt not but Mr. Glanvil will effectually and shortly perform. And now I leave him to make public what he pleaseth at Michaelmas Term, when he is like to have other Irons in the fire. Besides he may now perceive by a third Author, a worthy member of our College and of the R. S. also, who this day published some papers writ in the year 1664. at the request of several Fellows of the College of Physicians, that many of us now have, and have had the same thoughts touching the practice of Physic in England, and invasion of our Art by Apothecaries; and that they are more dangerous Enemies to our practice then all the others you mention Divines, Quacks, and Mountebanks, etc. I have seen several other treatises on the same subject, which in time may come abroad too, writ long since by those which are not members of the R. S. but of our College only; so that he will have work enough to derogate from the College, and that this writing against me, is written at least against many of the College, and those not the meanest of that Corporation, or famed body of men.  
Whereas H S. doth in his last page so confound things and persons, that I cannot tell to whom some passages relate: Yet 'tis manifest what ever he faith throughout, hath reference to the Virtuosos; and that therefore I may give full answer to all his Postscript: I shall take notice of two things, in the one he saith their Medicines are delusory, and their new discoveries we very well knew before. But this is said most insensibly and blindly, (in his own Language) for how can any man know or judge of those Medicines made privately by a single person, that they are delusory or were known before. When 'tis scarcely possible any man can know any of the ingredients themselves, much less of the preparing and compounding them. And how can H. S. tell who have or have not been conversant with the practice of the most eminent Physicians, or read their Books, when they intent not to tell him what their new discoveries are?  
As to the second where he affirms, Ordinary prudence would have foreseen the issue of those kinds of writings. I speak thus in my view, knowing that hereby a whole Company of men, (who by their number, noise, and tricks) may be able to decry and Physician, will become my implacable adversaries, etc. but not fearing the utmost their malice can invent or proclaim, etc. This I expressly foresaw, that the Apothecaries were not able to answer the Book, unless by the railing pen of a Lex Talionis, which H. S. himself dislikes, and 'twas easy also for me to see that the Apothecaries would procure some mercenary pen to act their part of falsities and rail, and that you were the only person likely to perform this task for them, all this I say I foresaw and foretold, and much more concerning these writings; as well as I did foretell in print the Fall of your Patron, under the name of Hen. Vanus, when he was in the prime of his prosperity, a considerable time before the King's return. You conclude with a performance too great for the Merretts and the sydenham's, and never say, what this performance is? what you mean by the sydenham's I know not, but this I may modestly say, that the Merretts can perform as much as the H SH' ss. or the Talion asses.  
Observe Reader I will not any more be diverted by the Pens of either of them, or their accomplices; all whose notorious and illiterate malice, their forgeries and falsities or impertinent answers: I shall here after pass over without any other reply, then that of a scornful silence, as H. S. phraiseth it; permitting him or them to ramble up and down in their impertinencies, and pretended answers, as he doth to the Plus Vltra, and the History of the R. S. cavilling only at some few passages in a large Book; and sometimes setting up himself a man of clouts, and so fight with it, and that is all you are to expect of him at Michaelmas Term against Dr. Goddard and myself. One thing I had almost forgot to mention, wherein perhaps he might assault my Book, not spoken of in his Postscript; but in his plus ultra, viz. his commendation of the ancient Medicines, for this time let the Learned Zwelfer often commended by himself answer for me, and when he hath answered him (which is impossible to be done) I shall in few sheets of paper make some Additions to what Zwelfer hath said on that Argument; and for the future shall think it no disiepute to be detracted from by this Physician at Warwic, who hath endeavoured to diminish my most honoured friends, the ever renowned Dr. Harvey, Mr. Boyl, Dr. Willis, Dr. Lower, and the inquisitive sober and discreet persons Mr. Henshaw, Mr. Evelyn, etc. and many other Famous men of our Nation: And shall conclude with an admonition to the Apothecaries, that 'tis convenient for them to vindicate their reputation from the base titles of Wittols and Cuckolds cast upon their Company, and to vindicate the College also from the slanders of their Lex Talionis, and to give him just punishment and that they may have some ground for their search, I shall give them some directions to find him out; my information was by a person of Quality well acquainted with his hand writing, who saw his directions for the Printing of it; and hath often heard him speak the same Language comprised in that Book: together with the merry and feigned stories in it, if this be sufficient light for them to ground their discovery on, he is a Brother Apothecary, and shall be named unto them, if the Company desire it by their Master and Wardens.   

POSTSCRIPT.  
DESIRETH the Reader to read in my view pag. 48. l. 17. Silver-smith, and acquaints him (that since there's no end of Libelling) he is to expect from me no more on this subject, unless the Company of the Apothecaries or any other person or persons for them shall write upon the whole or any part of the view; and transmit in writing under his, or their hands, objections or answers to some third person of known integrity, who shall soon receive Dr. Merretts answer thereunto, and shall publish all together, and both parties conform to his instructions in the managery of this controversy, so that some end may be put thereunto. Which is the only fair way can in my opinion be taken in this affair.  
July 14th 1670.  
FINIS.   

ERRATA.  
PAg. 20. l. 28. r. propositions, p. 26. l. 13. r. importunings; p. 29. l. 11. r. understands not and p. 31. l. 12. r. the event, p. 33. l. 27. ●. whither H. S. p. 36. l. 22. r. insensati.