Paracelsus, his Archidoxis comprised in ten books : disclosing the genuine way of making quintessences, arcanums, magisteries, elixirs, &c : together with his books of renovation & restauration, of the tincture of the philsophers, of the manual of the philosophical medicinal stone, of the virtues of the members, of the three principles, and finally his seven books of the degrees and compositions, of receipts and natural things / faithfully and plainly Englished, and published by J.H., Oxon.

Theophrastus Bombast of Ho∣henheim, an Hermite; Doctor and Professor of both Medicine.

To the Studious of the Medicinal Art, Health.

WHereas of all Disciplines Medicine one∣ly, as being a certain divine gift, is prai∣sed with the honorable title, and name of Necessity, by the testimony both of Sacred Writ, and also of Prosane; and whereas the number of Doctors that do at this day prosperously exercise it, is most exceeding small, it seemed good to recall it to the former praise of its Au∣thority, and Credit: the which wee will purge and cleanse from the Dregs of the Barbarous, and from their most grievous Errors. We do not addict or lind our selves to the Precepts of the Antients, but to such onely, as partly from the Indication of the na∣ture of the thing, and partly from our own labors, we have found out, and have by the long use and experi∣ence of the things, made proof of. For who knows not,

but that most of the Doctors in this Age, have (to the exceeding great hazard of the sick) most foully erred? because that they have anxiously adhered to the sayings of Hipocrates, Gallen, Avicen, and others, just as if they had been so many Oracles, proceeding forth out of Appollo's Tripode; and such, as from which it would be unlawful to depart even a fingers bredth. By these Authors we may doubtlesly be made most gallant Doctors, (if fates so favour) but not Physicians. 'Tis not Title, nor Elo∣quence, nor knowledge of the Tongues, nor the read∣ing of many Books, (though those things are a come∣ly ornament) that are to be required in a Physician; but an excellent and deep knowledg of Things, and Mysteries; which one bare knowledg, doth easily supply the room of all the rest. The Rhetoricians part is to be able, Eloquently to speak, and perswade, and to draw the Judge to be of his opinion: But the Physicians part is to know the Kinds, Causes, and Symptoms of Affects, and withall (by his pier∣cing quick-sightedness and industry to apply Medi∣cines, and to heal even all, according as the nature and occasion of every one requires. But that I may in a few words trace out to you the manner of teaching, but especially as concerning my own particular; know, that I being invited by the large stipend of the Lords of Basil, do (for two hours space, daily) publickly interpret, with most accurate diligence, the Books of both the Active, and also Inspective Medicine, both of Physick, and Surgery, (which said Books

my self am the Author of) to the great fruit and pro∣fit of the hearers: But yet I have not begged them from either Hipocrates, Galen, or any else, as the custom of others is; but these of mine are such as I have obtained by Labour and Experience, the chiefest Instructress: Therefore when I would prove any thing, Experiments and Reason, are (instead of Authors) my Spokes-men; Wherefore, honest Readers, if the Mysteries of this Apollinean Art are delight∣ful to any of you, and that a love and desire after them possess you, and that you covet throughly to learn in a short space of time, whatsoever pertains to this Discipline, come forthwith unto us at Basil, and you shall find far other and greater things then I can de∣scribe in these few Lines. But that my intention may appear the more clearly to the studious; I am not a∣shamed to put you in mind (by way of Example) that we do not in the least imitate the Antients, as to the Account of Complexions and Humours, for they have falsly attributed to them, all kinds of sicknesses; Whence it happens, that none, or at leastwise a ve∣ry, very few Doctors have even at this day exactly known, the Diseases, Causes, and Judicial daies. Lastly, let these things thus demonstrated, through (as 'twere) a Lattice suffice; but yet I do not allow ye rashly to judge of these things, till you have first heard Theophrastus. Fare yee well; and take in good part this our indeavouring the Reformation of Medi∣cine. Dated at Basil, in the Nones of June, MDXXVII.