CULPEPER REVIVED FROM THE GRAVE, To discover the Cheats of that grand Impostor, CALL'D AƲRƲM POTABILE. Wherein is declared the grand Falsities thereof, and abuses thereby.

Published to undeceive the people, and to stop the vio∣lent current of such a mischievous Designe.

Printed in the moneth of August 1655.


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Culpepper Revived.
TAntara rara, Tantara rara, Pray Gentlemenwalk in and sen the beginning, A very fine shew upon my credit. Here is a woman that cures all Diseases with a strange miracu∣lous thing call'd Aurum Potabile; and truly she is not much unlike the—of Babylon who with her curious golden Potion, hath endeavoured the delusion of many people. But in the mean time Gentlemen, what will become of them that call Hypocrites Golden Outsides, for it may be now their fortune to have golden insides also. Troth 'twas a rare project to enrich the Nation, to make every man a walking West Indies; or else because every man is said to be a Microcosm, to take care that they should not want golden Mines in their bellies. But, can a poore silly woman doe all this? No, she hath two Apple-squires, both fellow∣workes, sharers with her: the one, a Gentleman Physitian, who hath no more wit, but to defile his name with such a Quacking Bill as he hath fix'd them to; and to venter all his credit to get a be∣liefe in others of such a Legendary story as this woman tells. The other calls himselfe by the name of F. of whom it is reported, that he was grown such a Chymical Mercurialis, that he began a practise of extracting out of peoples houses by force, but being discover'd is fled from the punishment of his crime, which makes me of opinion that when the stock of Gold which he pil∣fer'd is spent then the Trade will faile. But as for you Dr. Aurum Potabile, or whatever other name you are or shall be known by, and laught at, pray take heed, for though the woman be not so strong as Samson, yet she will certainly pull down your credit if you let her lean any longer upon your shoulders. But heark what a noise it makes; sure 'tis boyling: The vertues, use, and variety of operations of the true and Philosophical AƲRƲM POTABILE pray stir um a little, lest these vertues seeth over. But what a
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coile is here about nothing; as much as to say the vertues and of a true and Philosophicall thing that never was in being. I thought where we should find Aurum Potabile among the Metaphysicks. They begin Curteous and Friendly Reader, and truly he must be much their courteous friend that credits them. And are not they in a pitiful case, that he that believes them must doe them a curtesie.

For how can that be Philosophical which being known by the ef∣fect hath need of Testimonies to prove it. A Philosopher ought to enquire out the fit causes, constitute his axioms, adjoyn the proper∣ties and run over all the first parts of invention before he come to the effects, much lesse ought he to make use of Testimony which is with∣out the limits of his Art. So that this Aurum Potabile can be no means be said to be Philosophical whose cheifest argument no way depends upon Phylosophy. Besides there is no impartial man for us who hath view'd your volumes both of Philosophical and Phisical Authors, both ancient and modern but he will so far give his verdit as to bear witness how many of these famous and learned men have never dreamt of any such matter, how many of them have exploded and condemn'd it as a thing wholly destructive and pernicious, who cer∣tainly had they found it convenient would not have conceal'd so great a benefit to mankind. And Crollius a famous Author doth re∣port that of that he made trial of many of those Aurum Potabiles but still after the expence both of time and money alwaies found his la∣bour lost. These that have brought up this rare invention, what are they? in a word Chymists, of whom a man may say as St. Paul spake of the Cretians, that they are evil beasts, alwayes liars, regarding no∣thing but their bellies; they are great boasters, but small perfor∣mers, and like Taylors eminent for nothing but their long bills, who if they come once to be known, vanish into ayre like the smoak of their own furnaces. There is now a kinde of conspiracy in Spittle-Fields, being a small Congregation of three, for the third of these rare Phoenixes though he have left his nest holds correspondence, who have enter'd into a combination, like Fate, Subtle, and Dol Com∣mon in Ben. Johnsons Alchymist to cheat those fools that they think will be catched with a golden bait. To this end they bring you a long list of many diseases which it hath cured. But so absurdly set together that any man not blind may easily discern the impostures.
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For what is this but the common custome of all Mountebanks; to delude and amuse, the vulger sort of people are their patients; a very rare project against Bartholmew Faire.

They goe on this precious jewel Aurum Potabile, as they have confest their Aurum Potabile to be nothing but a stone; Now Gentlemen you know stones are very apt to be potabiles. But I have found the trick ont, they take their Gold and by an art which they have they turn this Gold into Pearl then they dissolves this Pearl in Vinegre and so make Aurum Potabile.

But they tell you it cures all Diseases in generall, and thus they furnish it with contrary and contradictory qualities making one and the same thing to have a power both to heat and to coole, to bind and loosen, to cause a man to sleep and to wake; a folly which must of necessity be laught at by every porter.

If strengthens women in childbed, A thing very likely, being com∣pos'd of Wine and Vineger, both which torment and inflame those parts. It cures the Paralytic. And thus that which was counted a miracle to performe in Christ himself, These Audacious Quacks dare ascribe as familiar to their Aurum Potabile. If they should say that the vehicles of their Aurum Potabile are various, thence follows this absurdity, that there must of necessity be a greater force in the vehicle then in the Gold it self. They bring an example of a great cure; and we can bring an example of one more strangely cured of a consumption by Galens method who was before almost destroy'd by the use of this Aurum Potabile. Having shew'd you the folly of this Counterfeit bill we now shall bring you some arguments against the use of Gold.

First, we finde in the bookes of Ancient Physitians many other things set down much more agreeable to the temper of man then Gold.

Secondly, we firde in Pliny a great Philosopher and sercher of na∣ture, little said in the praise of Gold, but much spoken concerning the hurt and inconveniences that attend it.

Thirdly we find that Gold doth defile the hands of those that ouch it by reason of the sulphur which is mixt with it.

Fourthly, All metals are of an ill tast and sulphurous smell, which an be no way agreeable to the body's of sick persons.

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Fifthly, No metals can nourish because they cannot be concocted and turn'd into blood, and therefore unapt for Physical uses. It is also the opinion of Borasavolus, Erastus, Fallopius, and others, that which is said of Potable Gold is altogether fabulous, and the use of it dange∣rous, for which they bring this reason, for if these waters which are disolv'd out of Brasen and Leaden stills doe contract the venome of these metals, how much more will Gold which being made Potable, sucks the venome with a greater force of heat, Besides it is to be fear'd that the gluttinous matter of this Potable Gold may all at length oppilate or stop up the mouth of the stomach and so destroy the appetite. If they say it is hermetically prepar'd, we must affirm that the preparation of Gold by fire doth rather augment then dimi∣nish, noxious humour causing it to retain and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or inflaming quality; neither can they so prepar'd by fire also be void of hurt; for by the Confession of Paracelsus himself, fire sends forth more sub∣tle poysons then minerals doe; therefore saith Crollius, it is better to eate the eyes of a Bsiliske mixed with burning fire then to take the venome of Potable Gold. It is the opinions also of other learned Physitians that there is no disease which is not fed by a salt and vi∣trioled spirit, which is rather increas'd and formed then taken away by that spirit of salt by which Potable Gold is made. Now suppose that Gold in it self were harmeless: Yet let us consider what be∣comes of it after their Chymical preparation, First it is calcinated, to Purifie that which they say is the Purest of all metals and without a∣ny ill quality already. But Calcinated it is, that is, reduc'd to ashes.

Then what becomes of the Gold, or at least of the vertue of the Gold? It is by Praecipitation, or cementing brought back again, both which are perform'd by corrofives or by Amalguma which is done with Mercurie, and with what danger ask the Gold Smiths? If they say it may be dissolved; perhaps it may; but by no other way then by corrosive waters as Aqua Regis &c. which are compounded of Aqua fortis and Sal Amoniack, and other such like ingredients, which being thus incorporated into the Gold without any possibility of se∣paration doubtless do make their Potable Gold not so useful as they imagine to the body's of weak and sick persons. Neither is this all which is done by their Chymistry, for they impurely separate that which was so purely compos'd before, and by so doing they doe not
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onely soften the hard mass or boyle out the matter which is the force and quality, but they destroy the Metallic forme it self, so that the Gold ceaseth to be that which it was, for the form of the Gold being destroy'd the Gold must of necessity be destroyed. Where is then this Potable Gold so much talkt of? Thus have we discover'd to you the abominable fraud of these impostors, who instead of their useful tincture sell you nothing but meer colours and painting stuffe, and instead of Potable Gold a mixture of Mercurie, Vinegre, Sal am∣moniack, and Tartar, things that of all others as they prepare them are the most destructive to humane body's.

But they say that they will referre to a Treatise which being now coming forth from a silly and confident woman & others, the Reader may be assur'd to be no other then the borrow'd and translated Li∣bells of these bragging Mountebanks who have been so often confu∣ted by the most learned Authors. How many hundred persons the thing it self hath destroyed their are enough to witness. And there∣fore we cannot chuse but testifie to the world the unspeakable Dammage of such a book as would intice men under such Golden pretences into their utter ruine. How much the thing and book it self is a grand abuse may appear by the persons that carry it on; such whom partly despare of livelihood, and partly a continual habit of Deluding hath hardened to an Impudence so destructive to the Na∣tion, neither will they stick to defile the fame of the dead so they may gain their ends. Thus are they now obtruding upon Culpepers name their pernicious libel to gain credit upon the people, where∣as there is nothing more false then that he made it, as is manifest by the copie, which was never writ by his hand, though it were the cu∣stome of that laborious Author alwaies so to do. Since then the book is so notorious a fraud, what may we then think of that Aurum Pota∣bile which it treats of. These are therefore to give notice to the peo∣ple how they buy their own destruction from the hands of any Mountebank, whether in Spittle-Fields or else where, Hoping they will be as little deluded by any specious pretences, which the Statio∣ner not farre from Leaden-Hall shall cast over this Illegitimate Libel to the injurie of the dead; not suffering him to rest quiet in his grave, though by his oppressive practises and hard imprisonment he
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had so soon brought him hither; after he had got the most part of his estate by his Label, yet still intends to obtrude printed papers in∣to the world which he never writ. If this suffice not we shall give a further account of him and the rest of them hereafter. Thus we have given a faithful account of this imposture of Aurum Potabile which we desire the people to believe for no other reason but for their own good.

Philaretes, Tantarara, Tantarara, Spittlefield.
FINIS.