The apologie, or defence of a verity heretofore published concerning a medicine called aurum potabile that is, the pure substance of gold, prepared, and made potable and medicinable without corrosiues, helpfully giuen for the health of man in most diseases, but especially auaileable for the strenghning [sic] and comforting of the heart and vitall spirits the perfomers of health: as an vniversall medicine. Together with the plaine, and true reasons ... confirming the vniversalitie thereof. And lastly, the manner and order of administration or vse of this medicine in sundrie infirmities. By Francis Anthonie of London, doctor in physicke.

MIstres Cicely Boulstred, a worthie gentlewo∣man,* 1.1 and virgine, attending in neere seruice our gracious Queene, in good fauour and ac∣count, fell sicke, and had greiuous passions. Vnto whome diuers of the most famous Physitions of the Colledge were called. Who with great care, and their vtmost skill, sparing no cost (as was fitting in such a place) administred all kinds of conducing Medicines, both Cordials, and other respectiuely to the cause of her disease, and passions: both such as be ready in the

shoppes, as others by some singularitie of Art prepa∣red. Her passions still continued, if not encreased. Continuall vomiting, and reiection of whatsoeuer she tooke, meate, drink, medicines: with swoundings, torture, torments of euery part of her body. A mise∣rable and pitifull spectacle, much lamented of many very honourable persons. Shee could not rest nor sleepe night nor day. So that sinking vnder the bur∣den of this affliction, with the violence and continu∣ance thereof, her strength vtterly failed. Shee could not retaine so much as one drop of any broth or o∣ther nourishment. Her Stomacke by coniecture of all Physitions, was drawen together and shut vp, without any power or faculty to performe the offices of nature. In this miserable estate, this distressed gentlewoman languished two whole monthes, with∣out any ease or releefe by the vse of any the Medi∣cines giuen her by the aduise of the said Physitions: all things tending to a more desperate and Imme∣dicable estate. Whereupon the mother of this gen∣tlewoman demanded of these said Doctors, whether they had any hope to giue helpe, or at least wise ease to her daughter; else she said she would send for Do∣ctor Anthony. Those Doctors hereupon limited them∣selues to a certaine time, which they spent in their vt∣termost habilities to perform, to the intēt I shold not be called. To which purpose they commanded an A∣pothecary to attend in the Chamber of the patient all the next day and night, and euery third houre to giue her a Cordiall. Then voluntarily they said to the mo∣ther, Send for Doct. Anthony if you will, and God send him good successe with your daughter. Then was I sent for, and finding this gentlewoman in so despe∣rate a case, left and giuen ouer by all the Doctors of

the Colledge as not to be recouered, (for besides the aduise of these Six, there had beene publike consulta∣tions in the Colledge, as is requisite in such like cases which sildome come in vse) I desired God to blesse my endeauours, and to continue his blessings in the administration of this my happy medicine. After a small time, vpon due and mature consideration of all things, I gaue her at the first, not a whole spoonfull of my Aurum potabile, as in other cases, but much lesse, scarce a quarter so much; which she cast vp againe with a vehement force and torture of her body. A lit∣tle while after I gaue her as much more, which she cast vp in the same manner as she did the first. Againe I gaue it the third time, some part of which shee also cast vp, but kept some, with a kind of strife or conflict betweene the medicine and the maladie. Then I ad∣uised, that she should not further be troubled for a sea∣son, but to try if shee could now take a little rest or sleepe: So she disposed her selfe thereunto, and slept soundly a whole houre; which diuers of great ac∣count then present can witnesse. For she snored that we all heard: Which seemed strange to all: conside∣ring for a long time before shee had taken no rest. When she waked, she said that she found her selfe somewhat better at ease. Then (which was the fourth time) I gaue her halfe a spoonful, which she kept with∣out any contending or trouble to her body. This gaue me, and many worthy gentlewomen there pre∣sent, great hope of a good recouerie. Wherein (God be praised) we were not deceiued. For in all the other administring of this Medicine, orderly, as she was a∣ble to beare, increasing the quantitie, her spirits were releeued, she daily recouered strength, all the passi∣ons, symptomes and accidents of her diseases ceased,

her sicknesse fully left her, and she recouered perfect health. Thus with the vse of this happy Medicine, this gentlewoman was recouered, and cured of that dangerous disease, wherein those other Doctors had wearied themselues, and forsaken her; at which her friends wondred, mine reioyced, and other malicious aduersaries fretted: for which God be praised. If they will call these the effects of Iugling, and of a corro∣siue Medicine, they will hardly finde any Cordiall a∣mongst all their Dispensatories and Magistrall pre∣scriptions. The cause and effect are Essentiall Rela∣tiues.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Extreme vo∣miting.