Section 5

CHAP.
of the RofecTHciins. 45
Chap. VH.
hufes in Akdicine cenfuredi, as the long hills for ofientation^ that the rhyfiti^n msy not feeme an Etnpe^ rickjy and for the Afothecarks gdiUy vpithoHt reffeS to the benefit and purfe of the difeafed^ when a fevp choice Stmples might do the cure.
ft TTTE daily fee how many weeds VV fprung from Gold, have and do Bill overrun the whole World; it hath not onely overthrown Cities, deftroycd Common- wealthesjbut alfo hath corrup- ted the Arcs, and of Liberal made them almoft Servil.
Let us a little (pading by the refi^ caft our eyes upon Medicine, whofe ftreames die further they have ran from the Foun- cain^ the more dke and mire they haVe
drunk
4^ ^he Myjhriei andL/twes
drunk np, and now at laft they are ful ^^' of ftanch and filthineire, Wc before hav "^l 4aid *hat NatiM=€ir contented with a lit f tic, which holds good as well in ficknefl *^' as in health; for the more fimple diet is ''' the eaiier it is djgtfled.becaufe it is har to turn many heterogeneous things int one fubftance; fo likewife in difeafesJ'^^' the variety of Ingredients diftrai9:s, if noij*' totally hinders Nature in her operation in regard (lie ftruggles not oncly with the " infirmity bat the very remedy ; and how can thole things which are oppofice and ''"^ fight amongft themf elves, procure aiic^^^ maintain peace ? Ta
We contefle that a judioiftus coropofi* i^ tion is necefTary, becaufe one iiaiple i\^t* ^i^^ cifick cannot confer to the cure of com-"' {)licat€d diftempers ; fo that morefic^ks ^^^ united may efied that which one Coi/Id 'ffi not; neither would we be thought fo^tj; abfurd as toqutftion fogood and requi* iite a Method.
That which wecomplain of is the great multitude of (7w«ittw;^ ther of Hearbs, Roots, Seeds, Flowers,^ Fruits, Barkes, hot or cold, in the firft, '^^ fecond, and third, degree j fo that you "^ (hall have thirty, fort/f or more Ingre- ^*
dients
of the Kofecrucians'^ 47
fSi ntsin one Receipt, to fhew theMe- ry and Art of a dull and blockilh yfiuanjand tohel^ the knavifli Apo-;,
.^icaryj who extolis his gain for lear^
Incffej -the quick utterance of his dr4gs
experimental knowledge.
On the contrary, if any one making
nfcience of what he undertakes ftiali
fcribe a few rare and approved
mples ( as that famous Crato did , Phy-
ian to three Cdfars') he (hall be thought
Ignora}7Jus^ if not a meer Empyrick 5
,i( hough he exceil thofe Recciptraon- rs by far in all parts or learning. Take notice how the Apothecaries
3J ^hta (hort though effeAual Bill, • be- ufe it brings in little profit , but if they ceive one a Cubit long, they blefle
jjemfelves; and thus the Patient pays r his ficknefle, when if he recovei:s,his irfe will be iick,
Confider how injurious thefe ,are to ich pcrfon and the Common- wealth j y deftroying the one they diminilh the tbcri for if they remain, yet are they- Jt poor members thereof 5 the dife^fe is rotraded by the contrariety of Medi- neS) and Nature weakned : We account abfurd i^htn a firaight way leads to
the
48 7h€ Mjjkrief and LatPes
the wood, for hafte to countermarch and ^ make windings which may cbnfoUndl and not further ; multitude bretds in ''i>i moft things Confufion, but efpeciallj in £ Medicine^when ihe tflences of Simples are ^rd not known, '«1
Wenuy fetch examples to confirme w this from a Court, where if every one at iw the fame time 3liay plead and declare his lOJ opinion, the cafe would be made more m intricate, fo far would they be from deH ^^ ciding the coftti overfy : Wherefore a lO) few wife Couniellers on each fide will w clearly iiate the Cafe, and bring it to a It (bdden and faie determination. The it famedifcord will appeareih Phyfick, i( n each Simple in the fame difeafe (hould at have its operation, when a few felcdt onef hi may quickly do the bufineile. ii.
It is therefore an expedient coUrfe ii out of many things to chufe a few, ouc in ofthofethat are good to pick the beft, tl tivhich may ailifi and ftrengthen Nature in her confiift y if thefe obfervationS were taken notice of, a Pbyfician would Dot be reputed able for his large rude Bills, but for the Quality of hislngre* dients; the Apothecary would have more cuftomeibccaufc men woulcTnot be fr igh*
ted
of the RofecrHcians. 49
rd with the charge, and dye to fave ex- enccs, but willingly fubmit to ancafy nd honeft cure.
Every thing is not to be cfteem^d ac-
Drding to its bulk ; we fee that brutei
eafts in body and quantity exceed a
»an5 but yet the leffe being Rational and
lei ife doth govern the other i a little
ih rold is more worth then an heap of
101 jnesj then a Mine of bafc mettals ; fo
di Medicine, a fniall quantity may have
re ore VertUe in it then a great meafure of
wi any Simples.
to Itis fufficiently known to wife men. Til at the fame hearbs do alter under fe- kj ral Climates ; and that which is inno- oul It in one may be poifon in another 5 Qn( lerefore it is not fafe to Compound //>, Arabia^ America^ Germanji^ and jflri s^land together 5 for the Sun and 01) mets have a different influxe upon this .y that Country, and accordingly alter j(yr ! Planets 5 Nay we cannot be ignorant jion! it the fame feild abounds, as with ouli olefome fo with venemous hearbs 5 .fOiii have examples of this truth in Mine- jjgrf s ; for common fait alone is harme- jjQd Fe, asalfoyour vulgar Mercury; buc ^ hcfe two be fublimsd together they t{J E becoHV
!tO
50 ibe Myfieries and Lawes
become venemous and ranke poifon :
but perhaps iome may think that this
proceeds from Mercury 5 which indeed is
falfe; for ic may be brought by Art to
run againjand then its innocency returns
fo likewilc the fpiric of Vitriol may be
taken without danger mixed with anoi j
ther liquor, and the water of Salt-Petei
raay be received into the body 5 but
thtfe two be diftilled together, the]
make a water that will eat any mettl
except Gold, and certain death to an;
one that {hall take it 5 but if yoM add
to the former Armoniacks, its ftrength i
incrcafed, and it will reduce Gold in
a wairy and fluid fubftance, yet its natui
is pure and perfeft-
It may be objected that Treacle, M thridate, and Confeftion of Hamec with others were compounded of roar Simples, which bdng after longferme tar ion well drgefted became moft fov "' raign remrdies, and have been in ufe a moil 6cc. years, and have helped mai j thoufands of people. d
We deny not but thefe compofitio ± are txctllenc, and have been in gr dUme in foregoing and latter Ages; ' J likcwife approve perhaps of fijchundi .
ox '
re \ i/k1 'roi
iiri'
lori k
4
of the Kofecrucians^ % I
more y if they are grounded upon expe- rience ; for they who firft invented thefe Medicines did not confider whether tho. Qualities were hot or cold, but to their ' .^ Nature and Eflence, as they either re(ifled r poifon, or conduced to the Evacuation "f^ Df ill Humours in the body^ as in Treacle ^^^ here is vipers flelh, and many others of 'f' :he fame vercuc. Our difcourfe is againft ^'J he vain extemporary oftentation in pre- bribing of Medicines compounded of ^iants hot, dry, cold, and moiftj in thU 7)d that degree J ' "' 'V' We knew aPhyfitFin v/fe'^^s Wont to oaft that he knew not any one particu- ir experiment, but all remedies were like to him refpcclive, thefii'ft, fecond , nd third Qualities : and this furely ^'^'^ roceeded from his ignorance of what ^^^ »a^ to be known 5 but a wife aixl prudent iro^)trif fearches more narrowly^ and de- :eads to particulars ; For indeed it is »ore eafly by general rules to paflca i ^ tdgement of Sitiiples,then by experience ^. ► firtde out the proper verttife of Sped- )li^^:fcs; and the reafon is becaufc each n^mplehath a peculiar property which esjj fting.ui(heth itfrpm another, audfome- iPf IKS contrary 5 riay the Qualities do ^^- E2 noe
1"1
52 The Myjierks and tavoes
not oncly differ in refpeft of others, but the fame Simple may have effef^s diffe- ring in it felfe, as it appears inRubarb, which in refpeft of its firft Qualities, hot and dry,itdoth encreafe Gholcr in mans body 5 but in refpeft of its effence andfpecifick nature it purgethit. To paflc by Opium and Vinegar with many othersjwe fee how the fame thing in their firft, fccondj and third Qualities have many times contrary operatioms; fo Runnet makes thinne thickncd blood ofli the hare, but if it be very fluid it thic kens it 5 fo alfo Vitrioll according to its nature doth penetrate and is aftringent, 'U yet it doth repel and difperfe Lead out- m wardly applyed to it : though Quick iilvcr is mofl weighty, yet by the fifc u i fublimed and afcends ^ and though it i^ a thick grofle body, it may yet by Art « be made to pcirce any body, and after- b ivards be r/e^uced to \ts ,own luuivrpU' m
rity. ♦ -!••' • 7^ n^ '^ '. \-^' l; ..■
Many morcproofes might be brought for their is nothing in the World ho^ sibjcdi and low foever but it hath a ftamp upon it, as a fure feale of its proper vcr tue, of which he that is ignorant hath hitherto attained but the husk
and
4
of the BjofecnuUnsi, 53
and (hell, the outfide of knowkdge.
Left therefore this errour in judgement ftould corrupt pradjce, and men« Jives hereby (hou Id be in danger, we thought t a good peice of fervice to defire thofe nice tvho bend and employ their ftudies in ;he Honorable faculty of Medicine, to ick more after a few rare and certain lidi Spccificks, then to follow gener4ls which b commonly deceive. We ought not K :o (hew ourfelves fo impious and undu- dol :iful, as being in honour^having encreafe ^ic )f riches, to fcorne our poor parents; fo }i;! experience is the mother of Art 5 and tni ball we now contemn her as having no )ii( leed of her ? Experience hath been fti- . icii ed the Miftreffe of Fooles, and Reafoa \(\ he Queen of Wife men jbut in a diHerenc hi *efpe6: they ought not to be feparated ; h IS many Experiments beget Reafon, fo \K\ leafon maintains and adornes Expe- pu ience.
.01
DP
i
t\ '-^ _ E $
CHAP.
54 '^he Myfieries and LatPes
Chap. VIIL
iii(
ihdt many Medicines hecaufe of their high titles^ and the fend opinion of ■ |! menjofho thinkjhat heji vphich cojif j^| nfofi^ are in great efteem 5 thovigh others of Ujje price^ proper to the Country^arefar above them in excel* \ lency and worth, J''
i\
BEfides the abufes mentioned in the foregoing Chapter, another is crept )f| in 5 the former were cheats in refpe^l of Quantity and Quality ^ here by this the Ik purfe is emptied ; for they fill in with \ mens humours, who then think a thing he good when they have well bought it. jv,
Hence Galen concealed his Golden Umplaifter for the Squtnaftcyy by which he m got an hundred Crownes, which indeed was in it felfe of little worth ; for there [|]( are many things of excellent ufe which if la
they
m
of the RofecmcianT. 5 5
hey were divulged, would be foolifhly lefpifed, becaufe vulgar hands pollute jrhatever comes into them ; fome reafon lay be why after they arc not fo Tuccef- L1I5 becaufe the Imagination and Fancy /orks not fo ftrongly, and defpond? as o the cure from fuch (light meaner, and
0 hinders the operation ; (or although nother mans imagination hath little Dree upon mcjyct mine own much alters he body, and either hinders or furthers
remedy in its working. As this is cleare in many difeafes, fo fpecially in Hypocondriack Mclancho- y, called the flianie of Phy fitians, becaufe arely cured; wherein the non*efiefting f the cure depends upon the prejudiced ih^nagination of the Patient, who defpairs f help j for cares , greife, and defpair, ,0 al ter and change the blood, corrode ihfjhe heart, overwhelmethe fpirits^ that id hey cannot performe their offices; if injberefore thefe can firft be removed, there
1 vei y great hope of recover y. Under this Cloak many cover their
navery and covetoufnefle, who feek no* hing but gain by their praftice; for hey call their Medicines by great names, hat the imagination of the Patient E 4 clofing
56 ^he My^trks and tamf
clofing with fo rich apd precious remc- '«
dies may promote the cure ; and there- m
fore they compound their Medicines of 1 k
rare Ingredients, as Gold, Silver, Pearls, 8
Eezoar, Ambergreafe, Musk, and many 1 jci
more; and then they chriften themac- Ifi
cording to their birth. They call them o(
the Balfome ofLifeythe Great E//Jf/fr, theiie
Reftorative of Li/ip, Potable Golds Butter. I
and Ojle of the Sim : and who indeed: p]
can reckon up their tricks by which they iai
draw in and delude fuch multitudes o£ [fii
ignorant pcpple f yet their great names ili
are not altogether infignificant 3 for by ^
their Baljom of Life^ they meanethai ai
which maintains and keeps thcmfelves |
alive.
But grant thefe coftly Medicines to bfl good and ufeful, yet they muft confeffe that others not fo chargeable have grea- ter vertues in them.
We may alfo queftion whether they deale honeftly, and do not fellalittlt fait for Gold, and ranke poifon for the Balfom of life-^ we have known fomeat deaths door by their Mercury : I fpeak this that others may be cautious h chink what would come of it, when one mifta- king adniiniftred Ofium for /4pium oi
Parfly
rls
of the Kofecrucians. 57
arfly : thus they try experience upon lens bodies, and kill one tofaveano- ler. Be(ides, though thefe may be very Accllent Cordials or Antidotes, y e tae at hey not appropriated to the difeafe, and CD 0 confequently little conducing to the ilitreife.
Confidcrthen the abufe ; the Patient eAays a great price for that which is of mall advantage to him, and fcornes 5 0 hofe mcanes which are at an eafty rate 5 iDi vherein alio there is no danger, as being rbj >y experience confirmed, and by all hfiands receiv€d.
It is not hard to prove that each Coun-
ry abounds with Simples fuitable to the
Oireafes of that Country, and that we
•ej leed not go Indiay or ufe Exotick
Drugs.
This Queftion hath been handled by
li(] many learned men ; at prefent we will
not Ipend much time about it. We deny
tti not men the ufe in Food and Phyfickof
\lndta and Arabicke Spices j neither do we
condemn other mod excellent gifts of
God, but here we finde fault with the
price; let us therefore ufe them in thei^
place and time : Perhaps fuch precious
thingj^
>v(
58 The Myjierief andLawei I
things were intended for great perfonfie] but yet great care nmft be uled in thi ^ti preparation that they benotSophiftica^ !/« ted. 1 fay rich men may afford to pay ^iw forthefe Medicines, who delight to eaiirti ind drink Gold^and hope as by that the]^ k1 can purchafe all earthly things, fo they SI may buy health. %
Neither would we be thought ignorant 01 of the great vertoes and rare efficacy oiin Gold ; but we fpeak againft the abule of m thofe Impoftors who inftead thereof do J cheat and robbe ; and we can aflure all| iff that there is no worth in the boiling and (t reboilingof Gold ; They indeed gvi^% their menftruous ftuffcs for diflblvecli! Gold, which being reduced to a fpiriliw may corrode ; and let all men beware of hi it; imitating a carekfle Cook, who if K he hath loft the broth in which the meat ri hath been boiled, fets new upon the l Table which hath no heart nor ftrength b in it ; So they when they haveconfumed :ei and loft thefr Gold with Salts and other i wayes, they fell that which remaines ; (« when the Bird is gone they fell the Ncft 5 1( and this they call Potable Gold fpiritu-, i( alized becaufe invifible : it may be they t( put Gold into tkeir furnace; but that >!
they
cf the Kofecrucians* $9
((^ cy by thofe means can produce fuch dicines we deny .- There were many
^^exanders^ many called by the name of [i//«f, but yet but one kUaandir the r^at, one Julius Cdfar, the others agree aely in name.
Should any one enquire into the exccl- ncy of our own Countries Simples, he
rai ould hive work enough upon his nds. We ihall leave this to another me and place.
But befides the price^may we not Juflly ifpeft the preparation, that they inHead
an F true may fell fahc comp'ofitions fail- ig in their Art and Profeflion .«? for the
T(( iallanceof Humane frailty befng at the lie end by Juftice, at the other by Profit,
c( le laft overweighs ; becaufe honefty lay be an hinderance to us, but profit
f2 rings plealure and delight along with
tb ;. So now Merchants count it part of heir Trade to Icarne and skill the adul- crating of their Commodities; when he Ihebans would admit nofuch per- onsto the Magiftracy, unleflTe they had eft cff their Trade at leaft ten y«ir«be- bre, by which time they might forget o cozen 5 but 1 U'ill not herecenfurc ill of that Calling : the fame may be