A breefe aunswere of Iosephus Quercetanus Armeniacus, Doctor of Phisick, to the exposition of Iacobus Aubertus Vindonis, concerning the original, and causes of mettalles Set foorth against chimists. Another exquisite and plaine treatise of the same Iosephus, concerning the spagericall preparations, and vse of minerall, animall, and vegitable medicines. Whereunto is added diuers rare secretes, not heeretofore knowne of many. By Iohn Hester, practicioner in the spagericall arte.

A BRIEFE ANSVVERE OF Iosephus Quercitanus Armeniacus, Doctor of Physicke, to the exposition of Iacobus Aubertus Vindonis: Concer∣ning the originall and causes of Mettalles.

ANOTHER EXQVISITE AND plaine treatise of the same Iosephus, concer∣ning the Spagericall preparation, and vse of Minerall, Animall, and Vegeta∣ble medicines.

AND FIRST AN ANSWEARE TO his slaunderous Epistle, wherein he goeth about to ouerthrow certaine medicines of those whom hee calleth Paracelsians.

MInding to answeare the little booke of Aubertus, concerning the origi∣nall of mettals, and their causes, although it be not greatly worthie of answere, yet I neither can, or may passe ouer this: greatlie mar∣uelling at the rashnes of those mē which dare curse and condemne this arte, approued by the authoritie of so many ancient and great men, especiallie Hermes▪Trismegistus, Geber, Lullus, Arnoldus, Villanouanus, and our Auicen himselfe, Whose testimonies, confirmed with authoritie and argu∣ments, yea and with practise it selfe, are of more waight, then that they should so easily be shakē of, with the slen∣der reasons, & t••unts of such mē. But this truely I grant, that through the fault and deceits of some ignorant and

wicked men, that the Chymistes are euill spoken of: but to condemne thinges for their abuse, specially of so great weight (as I know and defend this to be) truely it neither can, or ought to be so. For it openeth vnto vs so many works of the almightie God, it laie••h open so many se∣cretes of nature, and preparations of herbes, beastes, and mineralies hetherto vnknowen, and sheweth the vses al∣most of all things, which were hidden and laid vp in the bosom•• of Nature, that they shew themselues vnkinde toward man that would haue this art buried.

As touching Paracelsus, I haue not taken vpon mee the defence of his diuinitie, neither did I euer thinke to agree with him in all points, as though I were sworne to his doctrine: but besides the testimonie wherewith Eras∣mus adorneth him in certaine Epistles, I dare be bolde to say and defend, that he teacheth many things almost di∣uinely, in Phisicke, which the thankfull posteritie can ne∣uer commend and praise sufficientle: whereof I trust oc∣casion shall be geuen to speake in another place. But that all men may know with what discretion (thou Au∣bertus) hast taken in hand to oppugne these things: goe to, we will reason of those two points, which in the Pre∣face of thy little book thou hast taken vpon thee to han∣dle. But thou art a man truelie (as I perceuie) of a verie sharpe witte. The one of thy points which thou handlest, is concerning Laudanum, accounted verie perilous: the other of the burnt eyes of a crabbe, which you also think to be ridiculous.

And first, because you thinke it not to be the Laudanum of Dioscorides, you demaund what it should be. Learn then this of ine, that this laudable medicine is so called of the Chymical Physicians, and that it doeth plainlie answeare vnto his name, if you call it Lawdanum. But you say it is made of Opium, Is that it that bringeth such a maze into your minde? Indeede Opium is put into it, but of a farre better preparation then is commonlie in vse: not with∣out the spirite of wine, or the infusion of Diambrae, by cer∣taine

monethes, not without the essence of Safferon, Ca∣storeum, Coralles, Perles, Mumia, and the oiles of C••namon, Cloues, Mace, and Anniseedes: of all which, being right∣ly mingled (as it is the manner of arte) is made that most excellent medicine, to put away all vnkinde heates, to stay all fluxes, and to asswage in marueilous sort all man∣ner of greefes: yet so, that it doeth not extinguish the na∣turall heate, but rather preserue and defende it by stren∣thening the spirites, much lesse that it doeth benumme them, or take away the motions from the parts (which is ridicular to be spoken) but with a certeine marueilous qualitie wherewith it excelleth, it helpeth the powers, as by the description of the foresaid things, and their due and not common preparation and mixture may easilie be gathered.

What will you say if I adde more, that there is put into it the true essence of golde, which is so commended in olde time, by the writings of learned Philosophers and Physicians? I beleeue you would laugh at this essence, which is vnknowen vnto you, yet familiar vnto many phi∣losophers. But I affirme that golde to be a most tempe∣rate and effectuall remedie to helpe the strength of na∣ture, against melancholike affections, weake stomackes, passions of the heart, and such as be extreamly sadde.

Truelie you may worthe lie beleue, that there is much more force in his essence, then in your leafe golde. And this you will graunt (my friend Aubertus) that there is greater force of secrete qualities in that most fine golde, then in your brothes sodden with golde. Neither yet doe I thinke you doe beleeue (for that were too absurde) that golde which cannot be wasted or burned with the heate of the fire, can be so digested or ouercome by naturall heare, but that it may by some meane streng hen the hart the substance remaining whole, when as the opinion of the Philosophers is this, that all earth is dead, and that it is only the spirites of things that can worke in bodies. But Laudanum it selfe, although it be opiat, yet is it not so

to be reprehended. For if it were not so corrected afore, it were very dangerous, & for his extreame coldnes dead∣lie, as the Paracelsians which are the folowers of the true and auncient phisicke, doe well vnderstand. For nei∣ther doeth any of them doubt, but that Opinm, to take away his venemous force, is corrected of many, only with safferon, castoreum and mirre, which correction doeth nothing hinder, but that it may be done with a better pre¦paration: for Aloes also is washed, that it frette not the veines with his sharpnes: and blacke Elebore is made so commodious for vse, with the spirite of wine, and oile of Anieseedes, (that you may learne also of the Chymicke Phisicians) that it may be safelie geuen to children a∣gainst the dropsey, and all melancholie affections. There∣fore opiat medicines are not so rashlie and vnaduisedlie to be condemned, of which are made sundrie medicines to asswage the vehement paines of the collicke, reines, plurisies, and goutes: to prouoke sleepe, to ease the cough, to stoppe spitting of bloud, and to stay all reumes, such as is that Philonium which is allowed of all auncient Physi∣cions.

Also opiat things are necessarie in medicines that ex∣pell poison, Antidotes▪ to strengthen the principall partes, to withstande the malignitie of any poison, and infinite other affects, as may be seene in that excellent triacle, described by Andromachus the elder, into which 3. ounces of Opium is put▪ Likewise in the fourth and last preparati∣on of Mitridate, which Galen, Aetius, and other Greekes, haue drawen from the ancient Phisicians, Antipater and Cleophantus, whose qualities they haue described to be most like vnto the triacle. Peraduenture you will except, that the composition of this our Laudanum, is not so tem∣perate, as this composition of triacle. Therefore you should know it first before you reprehende it, which not∣withstanding, both reason doeth commend, and experi∣ence shewe••h to be very profitable. Which onely medi∣cine it were much better for you and such like to haue,

for the curing of many diseases, then those sundrie deco∣ctions of herbes, wherwith many are most miserably tor∣mented. * 1.1Plinius writeth, that Licinius the father of Ce∣cinna, killed himselfe with Opium, being wearie of his life. But I am assured, that there can none be found that hath been hurt by the vse of our Laudanum, which you not∣withstanding falsly and shameleslie doe write: yea many learned and godlie men will auouch, that it is not with∣out reason geuen, but with most happie successe, and pro∣fite to the sicke, in all manner of rewmes, and to swage inflammations, and all other griefes aforesaid. The com∣position of which most excellent medicine, and the pre∣paration described, which is vnknowen to you, and such as you are: I had put in print if your writings had not for∣ced me to consider, whether it were expedient to caste pearles before euery one to treade vpon.

Now I come to the other medicine, which you call a iest, and laugh because we minister the eies of Crabs cal∣cined, to those that are sicke of a quartane: and specially because we prescribe for one dose. ʒ. i. ss. of this powder, and his mixture, for the cure of the quartane: and you conclude, that the whole Lacus Lemanus will scarce yeld so many eies of Crabbes, which certeinly is most true: for there be no crabbes in that lake, but many Creuises, which you (my Aubert) haue not well noted. For there be foure kindes of those shell fishes, which the Greekes call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The one is called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, a Lo∣cust. Another they call Gamarum, which Galen calleth 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The thirde 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which they call Squilla. The fourth is the Crabbe, which the Greekes call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉▪ All these the learned know to be sundrie kindes.

The Astachi which you supposed to be Crabbes, and of the Frenchmen are called Escreuises, are like vnto Lo∣custes, and doe little or nothing differ, but onely by a va∣rietie of certaine forepartes and armes: for they haue a long bodie, and a long taile, whereupon there are founde fiue sinnes. Only the Crabbes haue a round bodie, and

no taile, for they haue little vse of it, because they liue neere the earth, and creepe into hollowe places, & swim not much. But for your better vnderstanding, you maie consult with Aristotle, Pl••nie, and speciallie with Edwarde * 1.2Wottonne in his tenth booke of the difference of beastes, also the Commentaries of Matheolus vpon Dioscorides, which altogether will teach you, that there is very great difference betweene the Astachum, whereof you vndis∣creetlie speake, and the riuer or sea crabbe. But you will say, there is no great regard to be geuen vnto words, and that these kindes of shell fish, for the most parte, are con∣founded among them selues. Let it be so, this I would al∣so speake by the way, because I see you doe lacke them, and that our disputation might be both more euident, you thinke it two waies absurd, that the eies of crabbes calcined, should be prescribed in a quartane, because that by their drith and sharpenes they increase the dis∣case. O subtile argument, and worthie of such a Phisici∣on. We are not ignorant (my Aubertus) that the continent cause or matter of the quartane ague, is the very iuice of melancholie, which by his proper causes being gathe∣red much together, that it cannot be ruled by the natu∣rall heate, at length putrifieng, it inflameth this feuer. This melancholie humor the Phisicians make double: the one naturall, which is as the fex and slime of bloud: the other adust, which is as it were, the congeled tartar or ashes of certaine burnt h••mors: and that commeth spe∣ciallie of yellowe coller, and melancholie adust, although sometime it come of burnt flegme, if we credite the Ara∣bians. Therefore seeing that the melancholicke humor which is colde and drie, is the matter of these feuers, we will confesse with you, the couse of them to be partly cold and drie: but that it is increase•• by the vse of all drie and sharp things, we denie as false. For whereas this humor by nature is gro••se, sh••••e and tough and that abounding speciallie in the spleene Mesenterium, and vseth to be ga∣thered about the Hipochondria or sides, and by successe of

time to be indurate: truel••e there is no learned Physician that doubteth, but that it is to be mollified, digested, ra∣refied, made thinne, and cutte: but those thinges which for this purpose are of least force, are mollifying, which the Greekes call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and those which are o•• a greater force, whotte and thinne, to the seconde o•• thirde degree, are called of the Greekes 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of the Latinists, rarifying, which with their heate and meane drith, doe dissolue and disperse, mollifie and digest all the hardnes of the spleene, and greeued bowels. The timelie vse of which medicines, chieflie is both requisite and greatlie commended in quartanes. So the barke of the Ashe, and of Cappars▪ the roote of Brionia, the wilde Cowcumber▪ Walwort, and Ireos, all whotte and drie some euen in the third degree, being taken, they mollifie and driue away all hardnes, or being applied outwarde, doe dissolue and consume the harde spleene: So may I fay of Amoniacum, bdellium, opoponax, galbanum, which although they be all whotte and drie, euen Barbers know that they haue a great force to mollifie and digest. Seeing then mollifying and rarefying things are conuenient to cure the quartane, as all men confesse being taken in season, thinke it not so absurde or ridiculous (my Iacobus) if ani•• doe also vse the ashes of the eyes, or sometimes of the heads of Crabbes, or for lacke of them, Creuisses. For the ashes of those shell fishes, speciallie of the eyes, haue great force to extenuate and dissolue that fex of the me∣lancholie humor, which those (whom you call Paracelsi∣ans) doe name tartar congealed. But if you doe so much abhorre these calcinations, which we often vse, and doe aske why we doe it, learne this Auberius, out of Galen, in the eleuenth booke de simpl. medic. faculs. whereas spea∣king of salt, he vseth these words: Salt burned, digesteth * 1.3more stronglie then vnburned, by how much the bodie is made more subtile, rcceiuing his qualities of the fire. Also he writeth in the same book those medicines which consist of thinne partes, haue more force then they of

grosse partes, although they had like qualitie, because they pearce better: for which cause onely wee vse calci∣ned Crabbes, to loose those feces, and tartarous humors. For by calcination, the salt of things is drawen out, and salt must be dissolued with salt onely, if you doe well vn∣derstand it, and so you shall learne that diseases are not to be cured with cōtraries, but like with like, although as yet you perceiue not the reason. Otherwise, how could you say that the stones of spunges, burnt glasse, Goates bloud dried, the ashes of Cocles, Lapis Iudaicus calcined, or the bone of a cuttle, with so great force coulde helpe the stone, or grauell of the reines. I know you will flie to the Asses sacred anchore, namelie, of secrete qualities, which notwithstanding, reason it selfe teacheth to be done with the salt which doeth dissolue them, and expel them by vrine, what will you then say of the hedge spar∣row, that laudable medicine of auncient Physicians, for the same disease, whereof Paul Aeginet. lib. 3. cap. 45. where he leaueth it thus written: This (saith hee) pouthered whole with salt, and often eaten rawe, driueth out the stones that are alreadie growen by vrine, and letteth thē not to growe againe afterward: but if it be burned whole with his feathers, & all his ashes, by it selfe, or with a little pepper dronk with old wine & hony, it worketh the same effect. Thus you see how the ancient Physiciās did vse the ashes, which you call absurd, and in what diseases: euen in curing the stone of the reines, whose matter is also such a grosse humor, that with heat it groweth to a stone. How much more Crabbes calcined preuaile against that disease, is noted of Hollerius & Mathiolus, and a thousand times hath beene proued by certain experience. Neither will I passe ouer (among other medicines which are vsed for this disease) Christall, which is the chiefe: Christall (I say) calcined, in a reuerberatorie, out of which after is drawen his salt, of whose dissolution, in a moist place, is made a most excellent oile, very profitable to put away all obstructions of the bowels. Wherefore you may not

thinke it so ridiculous, that a medicine should be taken out of the calcined eyes of Crabbes, neither so to spue out your bitter poison against it. This will I also adde out of Galene, and the opinion of all the auncientest, that the Crabs them selues calcined, euen by the propertie of their whole sub∣stance, are marueilous effectuall against the biting of mad * 1.4dogges. And Galens wordes which he reporteth of his ma∣ster Pelope, doe shewe that madnes to be a most drie infecti∣on▪ It is not without cause (saith hee) that the Crabbe (be∣ing a waterie creature) should helpe them that are bitten of a mad dog, in whom it is to be feared, least they should fall into a most drie disease, that is, madnesse. Nowe there re∣maineth that I should speak of the sharpnes which you finde in the calcination of Crabbes: which (as you say) doeth in∣crease the quartane. But I feare least by those wordes the learned may thinke you vtterly ignorant what a sharpe tast is. For it is easie for vs to shewe, that the ashes of Crabs are not sharpe: for al sharpe thinges (as it is knowen to Physici∣ans) are verie hote, of which Phisicians make two sortes. The one sorte may be eaten, the other vnapt to be eaten. These haue a certaine sweete, although obscure qualitie * 1.5mixed. The other are deadly (if we beleue Galen) or at the least being laid vpon the skin, do quickle raise a blister. And those truelie are to be called sharpe when they are not min∣gled with strange qualities, whose proper terme and ende is to burne, as it is the qualitie of sower things to cleanse, of sweete, to nourish. And that the ashes of Crabbes worke not that effect, Galens wordes doe shewe, where hee disputeth of * 1.6the differences of bitter and sharpe taste: for the sharpe (saith he) hath certaine moisture mingled with it, but the bitter he confesseth to haue a hotte and drie qualitie, and saith they are like (as a man may well compare them) vnto ashes. By which reason you should better haue saide, that the ashes of the eies of crabbes are rather bitter then sharp, whose moisture being consumed and vapored away by hear, they are made drith and ashes: whereby they get not •• sharpe, but a bitter qualitie: and although an earthlie sub∣stance, yet thinne, by how much the bodie is made more

subtile, taking his qualitie of the fire, as before wee shewed * 1.7out of Galen, and of necessity is made hot and drye, and therefore bitter, to clense, breake asunder, and cut grosse and viscose humors, as no doubt ashes and nitre doth (as * 1.8Galen teacheth) whom at an other time you may better cō∣sult withall, least you appeare plainly ignorant of your first principles. But because I see some thinges must be pardo∣ned you, go to, I willingly grant you that the calce of crabbes is sharpe: but that with his sharpnes, it doth increase the quartane, I vtterly deny. For I pray you (good Sir) is not Mustard, Peper, and Garlike, so far forth granted vnto him that is sicke of the quartane, by all the learned Greekes, A∣rabians and of Paul Aegineta himselfe, that they are also prescribed them for a diet. And the Diatrion Pipereon, or that they call Diospoliticon, are they not reckoned amongest the remedies for the quartane? neither is it besides the pur∣pose * 1.9to shew the words of the famous Phisition Hollerius vp∣pon this point, where he writeth of the diet of the sicke of the quartane. As touching the diet (saith he) at the begin∣ning of a mean matter, & by spaces frō the beginning to the force of the disease, you may vse sharpe thinges as mustard, and salt meates, and after the force of the fitte the vse of them is necessarie, towards the end he addeth. Therefore are salt meates commended, because salt doth extenuat and driue away the excrementes, dryeth them vp, gathereth strength and comforteth.

By this I thinke you and all other do sufficiently perceiue how greatly you are deceaued in contemning our remedy taken out of the true doctrine of the learned. But because you know not the other simples which are put into this me∣decine, or at the least passe them ouer with silence, beholde I will gratify you and shew you the composition. It taketh the roote of Aron, or Cockow-pintell prepared, also the rootes of common Acorus, and Pimpinella, prepared and dried, the eies of the Crabbe calcyned (of which for one dose, there is vsed not halfe a scruple) with semē nastortij & su∣ger a mixture is made of all. The dose is one spoonful in the morning for to comfort the weake stomacke, to put away all

obstructions of the bowels, and hardnes of the splene, an ex∣cellent medicine often proued, and at this day in vse, with most learned Phisitions. I thinke there is no Doctor wil say this to be so absurd & hurtfull for the quartane. You should therefore if you reproue Paracelsus medicines, haue chosen some other more speciall thinges, wherein you might haue exercised the greatnes of your witte and proued your cun∣ning. For these thinges (although you enuiously call them Theophrasticall) are both agreeable to reason, and to bee al∣lowed of euery learned Phisition. But peraduenture you will say these thinges haue not beene knowen to the diuine Hippocrates, nor vnto Galen, and therefore you will cōclude that they are to be reiected: but that is onely by your owne iudgement, and not by any reason, wee do not despise their excellent knowledge and diuine learning, neither violate their lawdable memory, when as we say they were the first that florished in Phisicke: yet therewithall we affirme that they had not tried all kinde of medecines, or knew the properties of them all. Life is short saith Hippocrates, & this * 1.10art which is occupied about this perillous practise is ouer long: Neither was Galen ashamed to confesse where he wri∣teth of Hydrargyrū, or quickesiluer 9. of simp. cap. 19. that he had neuer made any tryall, neither that it would kill if it were eaten, neither if it were applyed outwardly: nor is it to bee thought that Theophrastus was the first and onely inuenter of so many remedies, the knowledge whereof (he himselfe confesseth in his bookes) he attained by the conference of diuerse learned Philosophers and Phisitions, both Egypti∣ans and Arabians, amongest whom for learning sake, he re∣mayned certaine yeares captiue, from whom at the length he brought away so many faire prises of remedies, all which are takē partly out of the true oiles drawne of spices, herbes, fruites, flowers, and seedes, and thessence of all laxatiues, whereof one drop will profit more, then so many drammes and ounces: which also (that they may worke by their whole substance) may bee sowed and cast vpon their proper salt, which in many may be done, as in other the earth is to bee cast away as vtterly dead and contrary to purgation. Also

of diuers rosins, gummes, and other kindes of vegetables are drawen many faire and very profitable preparations: as also of diuers partes of sundrie beastes, of which rightly pre∣pared are made many verie holsome medicines, as by the true preparations of Mumia onely knowen vnto the Para∣celsians is made a most laudable medecine in all pestilent infections. Of the oile and salt of a mans scull not buried for the epilepsye: of the oile of honie and wax for the to∣phy: of greases and other preparations the better to mol∣lify and dissolue. So also of Muske, Ciuet, Castoreum, the Vnicornes horne, Iuorie, the horne and bone of the Hart, of a Stagge, and infinite other thinges are made many extrac∣tions for the paines of the hart and such like. Of all which the Chimicall art hath taught the true preparations which you do condemne. For the Paracelsian remedies are not onely taken out of the metalliyne bodies, perles, and preti∣ous stones, as many foolishly thinke and perswade the whole world: neither are they sharpe and violent (as the ignorant and vnskilfull prattle) but most sweete and familier to our nature, which through the excellencie of the spirites they often preserue, quicken and clense from all impurities onlie by sweates: and finallie are not a little profitable by their whole substance, as many learned men daily (with great successe) doe practice: but of these thinges more then e∣nough. Therefore now we will goe forward to those thinges which you write tou∣ching mettalles.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Plin. lib. 20 nat hist. cap. 18.
• * 1.2

  Plin. lib. na•• hist. 6. cap. 71.
• * 1.3

  Cap. 11.
• * 1.4

  De simpl. med facult. cap. 30. lib. 7.
• * 1.5

  De simpl. med. facul. lib. 2. cap. 17.
• * 1.6

  De simpl. med. facul. cap. 18.
• * 1.7

  Simpl. 11. cap. 51
• * 1.8

  Simpl. 4. cap. 18.
• * 1.9

  Lib. de fe∣bribus.
• * 1.10

  Aphor. 1.