SAINT PAUL'S POTION, PRESCRIBED BY Doctor Commons, Being very sick of a dangerous FULLNESS. WITH The great effects it wrought. Printed in the year, 1641. Doctor's Commons Potion prescribed to Paul's Quire. Doctor's Commons. HOW do you Paul's Choir? methinks that your countenance is much changed? Why look you so wan? Paul's Quire. Truly there is cause, since the sweat hath so issued from both our sides, to the so great fouling of our Surplices, that the sent thereof hath so much offended our curious Laundresses, they will not come near to wash them clean: no marvel then though we look wan? Doct. But I know you are not well, you have some dangerous disease, therefore be advised, and look to it in time. Paul's. I pray you will you look upon my water▪ see there it is, tell me your opinion by that. Doct. Truly Sir, let me tell you, your water is very high and dangerous, you have a great distemper, you are very ill I see. Paul's. Indeed I have been much troubled of late; but I pray what do you conceive to be the cause of my distemper? Doct. You are troubled with a disease called Plenitude: the disease lieth much in the head, the Archbishops, Bishops▪ etc. Paul. But can you tell me what hath bred and nourished this disease in me? Doct It hath been caused by fullness of blood, abounding al●ne over the other humours, as it did wh●n three m●ns blood surcharged their stomaches, dropping from their ears in one day, as also by the increase of the four humours altogether in their proportion, which in your head were sored to mighty violence. Paul's. What caused this disorder in the humours so to b●und? Doct. The cause ariseth from pride and fullness of bread, neglect, and omitting of exercises of the Ministerial function, and closing with Popery and Popish rites: which disease hath increased by those natural and artificial vacuations which the said Archbishops, Bishops etc. have fomented and established. Paul. What signs do you see in me of any such disease? Doct. Your face and your eyes be ruddy; that is to say, your Pictures, Altar. Cop●s, Candles, Bowings, etc. look not like, he eyes or face of a protestant Church: for even such practices are this d●y at Rome. Paul. What other signs do you see? Doct. Your veins, that is to say, your Organ pipes, are swollen, the smallest vein whereof doth not become a Protestant Church, but rather the jews Synagogues. Paul. What say you to my Pulse? I pray you Doctor feel. Doct. Your pulse is great and vehement, whilst all the life of your Religion consists in dumb shows and ceremonies. Paul. I pray you tell me what signs you find in my water of this disease. Doct. The disease is easily discerned by your urine, which is reddish and thick, an infallible sign, proceeding from your well fed body, daily full gorged with wi●e both French and Spanish. Paul. Oh! Master Doctor, I am very full of pain▪ of a sudden, the veins in my temples do beat extremely. Doct. That ariseth from the nature of the dis●a●●, especially since your head is possessed with such a giddiness, Lambeth pillow lies now very uneasily. Paul. I am very heavy, good Mr. Doctor prescribe something to comfort me. Doct. In the first place, you must remove away all Popery and Popish innovations from about you, that so you may freely and fully receive the Protestant air▪ for that is very wholesome. 2. Remove away all infected idolatrous persons, and offices from about you. 3. Remove the stinking sent of all scandalous members out of their places. 4. Avoid all such nourishing diet as may strengthen Popery in you. 5. Use. Ptisan, mixed with nothing but what is gathered out of God's word. 6. Use Repentance, made up of cooling herbs. 7. Avoid wine and women and drink only the clear water of the well of life. 8. Lastly, exercise the word of God truly and constantly. Paul. But what will you prescribe for the cure? Doct. The cure must be begun with blood letting as loon● as may be; thou must have an experienced Chirurgeon to open the uttermost vein within the Arm, called Humeralis, on the High-commission and spiritual Court side, for there the grief is most vehement, this vein is so annexed to the head, the Bishops, etc. that by it you shall not only pull bacl blood, into a contrary part, but you shall also empty out that by it, as s●ith, Hypocrates, Galen, Rhases, etc. Paul. But alast●, I am old, and weak, such bleeding m●y be dangerous to me. Doct. Then you must have boxing glasses, which the Chirurgeon must use, not to your head itself only, but to the parts adjoining, as the shoulders, and breast, all upholders and maintainers of Popery, and Popish innovations. Paul. But what physic will you prescribe me? was I not best to take a potion first? Doct. Let me see pen and ink and paper, and I will prescribe a potion, and let it be sent for to the Apothecaries speedily, that you may take it this morning before I go from you. A Copy of the Receipt. Take of God's threats against Idolatry, two dragms, and pick off as many flowers of the promises of the gospel as you can find, of each an handful, with 12. drams of the splinters of the Bishop's last Canons, and half an ounce of their last articles, and a●d t● it 3. scruples of the sweat of a furious Proctor's grease, and an ounce of the Pastor's fees: Add more 20. drops of the tears of oppressed Clients, & 3. scruples of a Lamb's tongue, with 2. Duck's feathers chopped very small, and the fragments of an old Record; put all these together into an Organ pipe, and seethe them in a sufficient quantity of the water of repentance, until the greatest part be consumed; then strain it all through a Bishop's lawn sleeves, and press it hard; add to the decoction as much of a Lent Licence, as will serve to sweeten it, then purify it with the white of a Duck egg, and make a potion. Paul. I have taken the potion M● D●ctor, but it makes me monstrous sick. Doct. Walk upon it, it will work by and by. Paul. Oh, M. Doctor hold my head, something comes up; what is it? Doct. A great wax-candle, it is well, hold your head still it may be something else will follow. Paul. Oh! something comes that will kill me I doubt; it sticks by my ribs, I think, and will not come away; oh, it's almost up now, hold my head hard I pray you; so now it is up, I am glad of it; what is it? Doct. A great Altar penned about with Rails, the strangest vomit that ever I saw before. Paul Oh! hold me, hold me, help good M. Doctor; something sticks in my throat, oh th●t it were pulled away; pull oh pull hard, I am almost d●ad with it; so, now it is almost up, one pull more doth it; so, I am glad it is up, it hath eased me well, what was it M. Doctor? Doct. See here what it is, a great bundle of golden Copes rapt up in linen Surplices, no marvel though they were so troublesome to you to bring them up. Paul. There is something yet that rumbles in my st●mack●, I would it were up; it stirs as if it were alive. Doct. Strive with it do what you can, it will not stay, I see the Potion works well, and will trouble you, fear not; so well done, see what it is, a Musician wi●h an organ pipe, it is well it is up; how do you now? Paul. A great deal better methinks than I was, but very soar and weary with straining, may I not now lie down, and sl●●pe a while? Doct. Yes by and by, but I wou●d advise you to s●●y a little; I must crave leave of you to dep●r● a while, I will be with you again presently, in the me●n●●●● I pray you have a care of yourself, and 〈…〉 other be always by you to look well to y●● Paul. I thank you M. Doctor; I pray be no● long from me. Doct. I will not, Sir, God willing; far you well. FINIS.