Thesaurus & armamentarium medico-chymicum, or, A treasury of physick with the most secret way of preparing remedies against all diseases : obtained by labour, confirmed by practice, and published out of good will to mankind : being a work of great use for the publick / written originally in Latine by ... Hadrianus à Mynsicht ...; and faithfully rendred into English by John Partridge ...

THE EPILOGUE.

THus at length, benevolent Reader, by the favour of God I have finished this new Edi∣tion of my Medico-Chymical Compositions, increased and inriched with many Additions, and this with much diligence used in revising, correcting and amending (where perhaps any thing amiss, or less fit for Publick use had casually slipt in) which Edition so revised, corrected and amended is such, as not in Title only, but in very deed it proves it self a real Treasury and Store-house of Medico-Chymical Preparations, most efficacious in expelling all Dis∣eases of humane Bodies: Yet I doubt not, but I shall find some Hadriano-Mastiges, like Dogs, barking and biting at, sometimes this and sometimes that in this my Work, and not only at the Work, but the Author himself also. And if perhaps they cannot disparage the Work as being good in it self, and already enough praised by the most expert Physicians, yet will they calumniate me the Author, (I say next to God) me the Author of this Work. And these, as I have already found, snarling and biting, are not of one sort, but of divers. Some of them not having any thing like it, much less better; (therefore it is plain, either they are wholly unwilling to excel, be∣ing hindred perhaps by Envy, if not Idleness, or which is most probable, a non-ability) and what is my real Work, by the Grace of God, they ascribe

to the borrowed Labours of others, lest the proper Author should injoy the Reputation due to his Merit, (which he himself denies to none who deserves it) and already set up in the Temple of Fame (by all good men) as a token of Gratitude. Which that they may throw down, or at least asperse with blots of suspi∣cion, they use their best endeavour, casting abroad divers suggestions, but those vain and frivolous. The chiefest, and which they think will carry the Prize, is this: Art is long and tedious in attaining, mans life short; How then can it be (say they) that these so many singular Experiments diffused through the whole Art of Physick (struggling with a most long Experience and Practice) can be the work of one man? I could here, if I would, make long Recitals, what, and how much others before me have perfor∣med singly and alone, both in this and other Faculties not only to their own praise, but to the admiration of others, and not in any extraordinary number of years neither; but letting them pass, I will now speak to my own Work, performed by the Blessing of God, that when I am dead, my Labours may speak for me. I confess I found the Work difficult and toilsom; but yet (by Gods assistance) so at∣tainable, that by the Light of Grace and Nature, and with great Cost, I have found out and discover∣ed such things, as have been happily used and ap∣proved, in the many and divers cures of great Prin∣ces and others in the current of my life, which I am not now afraid (desiring to promote the Publick Good) to expose to the whole World. Which things thus published by me, if they shall enviously proceed in denying them to be mine alone, let them go on, and shew by what other persons they have been found out, and by whom communicated to me.

But this demonstration being likely to fail, another sort worse than the first, supplying their places, and aiding their Malice, whenas whatever is performed in this Treatise, is neither in it self, nor otherwise discommendable, being like good Wine, its own Bush, they ascribe all to a familiar Spirit. They did well, if by this Spirit they chiefly meant him by whom all things are wrought in all, from whom and in whom, and by whom all things are, in whom we are, live, and move, i. e. the Divine and Omnipo∣tent Spirit, familiar to all good men, of whom a Heathen Poet, acknowledging his gifts, says:

Est Deus in nobis, agitante calescimus illo, Sedibus aethereis Spiritus ille venit.

God moves in us, seen by our vital heat, Sent from above from his Aethereal seat.

To whom alone, as Giver and Mover of all things, whatsoever is good I ascribe as received from him, and that he may still remain in communion, and be merciful and propitious to me, is always my daily prayer: Again, if in a secondary and subordinate respect, they intended or designed under the Name of a familiar Spirit, the Spirit given me by the gift of the Omnipotent, whereby as a subservient and instrumental Cause, it being moved and instructed by its Principle, I was enabled to take this Labour upon me, and bring it to effect, I mean the Power, Genius and Faculties of my Mind, informed, in∣lightned and confirmed by Art, Use and Experience: which Spirit, unless I should have always familiar to me, and never separated from my actions, sayings and thoughts, there would be but little difference be∣twixt me and a Brute, a Trunk, or a Stock: I say, if they

meant this Spirit, they meant right. But whereas by apparent signs it appears what Spirit they point at, i. e. that, which committing it self to the service of rash impious men, desiring his privy suggestions, permits it self to be kept sometimes in Crystals, sometimes in Rings, and other sorts of Inclosures, nay to be bought and sold (to the great danger both of Soul and Body) to the Possessors, and that indeed deservedly: but injoying the testimony of God the Searcher of hearts, and of a good Conscience void of those impious Accusations, I account these my Traducers and Detractors, attributing to an evil Daemon the gifts of God divinely bestowed upon me, and which I have used to his Glory and the good of Mankind, worthy of no other Title than what our Lord Christ gave the Pharisees, A genera∣tion of Vipers, who ascribed his Divine Works to Beelzebub, who being totally evil himself, and Au∣thor of all that is bad, can do nothing but ill, a••d if he seems to do any thing under the appearance of good, his design is for mischief. They therefore who through Envy and Malice ascribe to the Devil and Satan Gifts divinely given for the good of Man∣kind, and as they deserve with their Patron a Sata∣nical and Diabolical Name and Title, so also, unless they repent seriously, they shall not escape a punish∣ment worthy their wicked offence. Besides these, I have experience of the sawciness and audacious boldness of some (whom I may call Catapancritons) who according to their custom and Dog-like impu∣dence wherewith they bark at, inveigh against, and bite at every thing, and esteem nothing but what is their own, all things else, even the Arts and Liberal Sciences, with their Founders and Favourers (altho' themselves have scarce tasted them) they look on

them with a disdainful frown; neither do they en∣tertain them only with derision and mocks, but with scurrilous reproaches, terming them vain Trifles, nay Dung and Dross. Without doubt with the same temerity and boldness will they handle me, un∣mindful in the mean time, poor wretched Fellows, unseasoned, parboiled, Medicasters and Mountebanks, or to speak more plainly, Asses in Folio, how meanly they themselves are furnisht with the knowledge of Phy∣sick and all other Arts and Sciences. But as the Pro∣verb is, The more ignorant, the more impudent: so is it customary with these acute Zoilus's and Aristarchus's (forsooth) that when they cannot become known by their own Worth and Virtue, they endeavour it ano∣ther way, that is, by detracting the Fame of others, and crying up themselves and their own Deeds, they hope for Esteem and Repute, and this chiefly among the ignorant and simple; but remember the Pro∣verb, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, It is easier to carp than to copy. But alas what a pitiful Fame and a vain empty Glory is that, which when it comes to the Touch, what they so Thrasonically boast of plain∣ly comes to nothing, and so runs the fortune of Icarus, and undergoes the like disgrace, having ar∣rogantly emulated his temerity, that it becomes sub∣ject to Horace his Scoff, Risum teneatis amici. The Disease which by such an ignominious Event, this affected Glory and repulse draws upon it self (I speak both what I have known and seen) finds no Cure by Chickens boiled over and over again, much less by Sigils, Amulets, Characters, Superstitions, Incantations, Rites, Ceremonies, Figures, Cabali∣stical Tables, Magical Cures, and a thousand o∣ther vanities, which as it self is mightily pleased in, so it imposeth upon others, under the name of

a more secret sort of Physick. But as to this Thra∣sonical Tribe of Censors, admiring only themselves and their own Works according to the supercilious Authority and Licence which they arrogate to them∣selves, Marking (as the Proverb is) with a black Coal the Works of others; but whatever they be, why make I many words? Rats betray themselves by the mark they leave behind them, so our Censors do themselves by their own rash and insipid Judgments: For which they deserve no other reward, than what Midas had for his Judgment against Apollo, as the old By-word goes, King Midas wears the Asses Ears: But Ovid expresseth it more fully in Lib. 11. Fab. 4. of his Metamorphosis.

——Nec Delius aures Humanum patitur stolidas retinere figuram; Sed trahit in spacium, Villis{que} albentibus implet, Instabilés{que} illas facit, & dat posse moveri. Caetera sunt hominis, partem damnatur in unam Induitúr{que} aures tardè gradientis aselli.

Which is thus translated by our Country-man Sandys,

——Phoebus for this gross abuse Transforms his ears his folly to declare, Stretcht out in length, and covered with gray hair, Unstable, and now apt to move. The rest The former figure of a man possest Punisht in that offending part, who bears Upon his skull a slow-pac'd Asses ears.

And let not this reward be envied, our Midas lets them please themselves, that they are conspicuous, when compared with others, let them live after their

own wishes, let them abound in their own sense, and perswade themselves that they only know, and are able to do what others may admire. In the mean time, candid Reader, I shall not desist to improve the Talent that is given me, but improve all my en∣deavours for the service of the Physical Republick, and promote whatsoever may accommodate thee. Upon which account I had rather obey the desires of my friends, Princes and Great men, both in pub∣lishing this and my former Piece, than fear the Cur∣rish Censures of barking Zoilus's. First of all I col∣lected these things for my own Use and private Pra∣ctice, as a Store-house always at hand, where-ever I should be, at home or abroad, and had no thoughts of publishing them; but the Authority of the chief∣est Physicians of almost all Germany, being impor∣tunate with me, and perswading me to a Publica∣tion, prevailed with me to change my mind, and to make those things publick, which were collected only for private use, considering also, that I was not born for my self alone, but also for such as should need my Labours. To such then do I willingly com∣municate these things of mine, and not to those 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 self-conceited Aristarchus's, of whose Judgments (whenas they themselves are as yet ignorant of the Fundamentals of Physick, or pre∣possest with natural defect, or perhaps newly come out of the Barbers Shop or Stable, unpreparedly rushing upon these our Labours, precipitately judge them either imperfect, unprofitable, or more than needs, and yet themselves produce nothing of more Wit, Excellency, or Safety) I make no reckoning nor account. I was unwilling enviously to keep any thing secret, to the end, that he who pleaseth, may to the Glory of God and good of his Neighbour, put

them in practice; and that any one being in peril of Health and Life, and want help, may come hi∣ther as to a Sanctuary, and take hence, as from a well-furnisht Armory, wholesom Weapons and Re∣medies against all Diseases and Distempers whatso∣ever, the various and manifold use of which, as it abundantly affords, so it evidently approves them to those who make tryal, which all Fundamental and Dogmatical Physicians and safe Practitioners confess with open mouth. Try you that please, the Event will administer Praise and Commendation enough; if they cannot please and satisfie all, it is enough that they content the Good, Skilful and Experienced.

Sincere Reader, let these things suffice, spoken by way of Epilogue, concerning this our Physico-Chymi∣cal Treasury and Store-house, a Work of great Labour and Toil, and now enriched with not a few Addi∣tions promised in my former Edition, use it and enjoy it, till such time, as by Licence of the Fates, other things perhaps more secret (and no less my own Inventions than the former) may be made pub∣lick for the Eternal benefit of the Physical Repub∣lick: In the mean time farewel.

FINIS.