An exact collection of the choicest and more rare experiments and secrets in physick and chyrurgery (both cymick and Galenick) viz. of Leonard Phioravant, Knight and doctour in physick and chyrurgery, his Rational secrets and chyrurgery &c. : whereunto is annexed Paracelsus's One hundred and fourteen experiments : with certain excellent works of G.B. áa ortu Aquitano ; also Isaac Holandus, his secrets concerning his vegetal and animal work : with Quercetanus his Spagyrick antidotary for gun-shot : also certain collections out of some manuscripts of Dr. Edwards and other physitians of note ...

A Fragment out of the Theoricks of John Isacacus Hollandus.

AMongst all things that were created of God, water was the first, whereunto God joyned his proper earth, and of earth, whatsoever hath essence or life, hath his originall. Therefore there are two manifest elements, that is, Water, and Earth; in which the two other lye hid, the Fire in the Earth, and the Aire in the Water: and they are so knit together, that they cannot be separated. Two of them are fixed, as the Earth and Fire, two are flying, as Water and Aire. Therefore every element doth participate within other elements. More∣over,

over, in every element are two other elements, one decaying, Putrifying and combustible, the other eternall and incorrupti∣ble, as the heaven: besides, in these natures lieth hid another nature which is called by the name of stinking Pheces, which hinder and take away the strength of the rest, so as they have very little force or none, and thereby make the other elements stinking and subject to putrefaction. There is also two kinds of Waters, the one elementall, the other of rain and river∣waters; as there is also two kinds of Earths, one elementall, clear, shining, and white, the other black, stinking, and com∣bustible. Like as also there be two Fires, one elementall and naturall, the other stinking and combustible; the like is also to be said of the aire. The base things are so mingled with the rest, that by and by they corrupt all things, so that nothing can continue long, for they bring death, and weaken all nature be it never so noble. This is to be understood of all things both vegetall, animall, and minerall. Therefore it is necessary by Art to separate the elementall nature from the corruptible, that the matter may be brought to a medicinall qualitie. There be three most subtle spirits in all things, that is, colour, taste, and smell, these fly away invisibly, the Philosophers call them wild spirits, because they are not fixible, yet the industry of the Artificer may fix them. They alwaies grow in the bodily substance untill they come to perfection and end. The hearb therefore is to be taken when it is fully grown, and take heed that you loose none of those three spirits, as the ignorant use to do with their putrifactions and separations of elements. For none of those spirits consisteth of the three elementall elements: but God hath adorned elements with those three spirits, and of them the Fire is animall, the Water, aire ele∣mentall, and no man, but God can separate them asunder. But the water of the clouds may be separated from them. Also all the feces may be separated from them which are mingled with them, which are the stinking and corurptible elements, and the four elementall elements may be brought to a christa∣line shining: but these three elements, Fire, Aire, and Earth, are unseparable. My son, know this, that Mercurie is the first of all things, for before time there was water, And the spirit of the

Lord rested upon the water, but what was that water; the water of the Clouds, or a moisture which might be poured out? No, but it was a dry dustie water, and God hath joyned his earth unto it which is his sulphur, and so the earth congealeth the water, and thereof sprung the four elements included in these two, by the will of God. Therefore Mercurie congeal∣eth sulphur, and sulphur Mercurie; neither can one of these be without the other, as also they cannot be without their salt, which is the chiefest meanes, by whose help nature ingende∣reth and bringeth forth all vegetals, minerals, and animals. Wherefore these three, Mercury, Salt, and Sulphur, cannot be one without another, for where the one is found, there the other are found also, neither is there any thing in nature where∣in these three are not found: and of these three, whatsoever is in nature hath his originall, and are so mingled with the four elements, that they make one body, and the salt is drowned in the bottome of the elements, for it is necessary that the salt should keep them united by his sharpnesse and drinesse, notwithstanding it is a flying spirit, but because it sticketh in the bottome of the mixture, and is overcome of the fatnesse and combustible oyle, in which it is found: as the yolk within the white of the egg, and the combustible oyle liveth of earth with the salt and feces, and the salt is buried in the bottome of the feces of the combustible oyle and earth, but by great force of fire. These three spirits whereof we have spoken, are said first to be separated from the mixture of the elements, which is the soul of all things, or their Quintessence, which houldeth together the whole mixture of the elements; for when the spirits are gone out, then the mixture is dissolved by it self and divided, neither is there need of fire to expell the salt from the earth; when the elements are separated from the feces, then is the salt also separated with it. This salt is unknown to the ignorant. Therefore salt is the meanes be∣tween the grosse earthly parts, and the three flying spirits rest∣ing in the naturall heat, that is, the taste, moist smell, and co∣lour: which three are the life, soule, and quintessence of every thing, neither can these three spirits be one without the other, as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are one, yet three

persons, and one is not without the other. The ignorant laugh, neither understand they these three spirits, when as they are tied to the grosse, earthly fixed parts, and are made subtile, and their salt is joyned and mingled with them, it must transform them altogether, and fix them into a Cristaline body, Diaphanes, and red of colour, whereof we will speak hereafter; he that knoweth not this salt, shall never bring any to passe in Art. The Philosophers call this salt a dry water, and a lively salt, but the ignorant thought they meant Mercurie, but the Philosophers called the three spirits Mercurie, and the earth Sulphur, which the ignorant understand not. Either of them cannot be without the other, neither is there any thing in nature, in which these three are not, and they are so mixed with the four elements, that they make one body and mixture. Whatsoever God hath created is in these three stones, where∣fore all may be reduced into a Cristalline clearnesse by Art, given by God unto the Philosophers, for in the latter daies God will separate all the unclean feces and corruption that is in the elements, and bring them to a Cristaline clearnesse, and rednesse of a Carbuncle. Afterward there shall be no more corruption, but they shall endure for ever. Do you think that all things, which God hath created in these lower parts, should utterly perish in the latter day? No, not the least haire of those things which God hath created, no more then the incorruptible Heaven, but God by his Will will change all things, and make them Cristalline, and the four elements shall be perfect, simple, and fixed in themselves, and they shall be all a quintessence. Demonstration of these things may be made here upon earth by Art, for whatsoever God hath crea∣ted may be brought to a Cristalline clearnesse, and the ele∣ments gathered together into a simple fixed substance, which being done, no man can alter them, neither the fire it self burn or change them, but they shall continue perpetually as those things which have attained eternitie.