❧
The
opinion
of
Peter
Turner
Docter
in
Phisicke
,
concerning
Amulets
or
Plague
cakes
;
whereof
perhaps
some
holde
too
much
,
and
some
too
little
.
IT
is
very
true
gentle
Reader
,
that
Arsenicke
,
Orpiment
,
Sublimate
praecipitate
,
Quick-siluer
,
Todes
and
Adders
,
are
in
some
sorte
rancke
and
deadlye
poysons
in
the
highest
degree
.
For
dayly
experience
might
teach
it
,
though
no
learned
writer
had
once
mentioned
it
.
But
it
followeth
not
therefore
that
there
is
no
vse
of
them
in
Phisick
or
curing
of
diseases
.
For
,
to
omit
all
the
probable
arguments
taken
from
sweete
Kirnels
in
bitter
shels
,
precious
Diamonds
in
the
middest
of
course
stones
,
and
Pearles
in
base
Oysters
,
alledged
both
by
Philosophers
and
Phisitians
,
to
prooue
that
in
most
poysoned
subiects
may
be
the
noblest
remedies
,
it
is
euident
by
the
practise
both
of
learned
and
vnlearned
,
that
they
are
often
vsed
both
inwardly
and
outwardly
.
My selfe
I
haue
diuers
times
and
yet
not
without
the
warrant
of
good
Authors
both
old
and
new
,
cured
sundry
extreame
coughes
and
impostumated
lungs
with
the
fume
of
Orpiment
administred
by
the
mouth
.
My selfe
also
had
the
rebellious
rootes
of
a
Wen
(
after
I
had
vsed
Sublimate
and
Praecipitate
,
in
vaine
)
well
taken
away
with
Arsenick
.
The
place
of
the
Wen
being
close
by
the
ridge
bone
ouer-against
the
hart
.
I
haue
also
many
times
both
giuen
,
and
seene
giuen
Crude
Mercurie
,
that
is
Quicksiluer
vnto
children
for
the
wormes
,
and
that
with
good
successe
.
As
for
Sublimate
and
Praecipitate
,
I
referre
me
to
any
man
of
any
reading
or
experience
,
whether
they
bee
not
dayly
and
vsually
administred
both
within
and
without
,
and
that
with
good
successe
,
especially
being
brought
as
chymicall
writers
call
it
into
Turbittes
:
Toades
dried
and
giuen
in
powder
inwardly
prouoake
vrine
exceedingly
,
and
outwardly
applyed
they
stay
bleeding
most
miraculously
,
and
drawe
forth
the
matter
of
the
plague
into
themselues
,
without
breaking
of
the
parties
skin
,
or
any
other
harme
.
Concerning
Adders
,
who
knoweth
not
that
from
them
the
Triacles
haue
their
names
in
Greeke
,
because
they
are
the
Basis
or
most
principall
ingredient
whereof
they
are
compounded
.
Now
if
the
fume
of
Orpiment
may
be
taken
inwardly
,
and
the
substance
of
Arsenick
applyed
to
Vlcers
and
raw
wounds
,
wherein
is
as
much
danger
of
poysoning
as
by
swallowing
of
it
,
as
may
appeare
by
the
speedie
death
of
wilde
beasts
vpon
the
least
raising
of
their
skinnes
with
Arrow-heads
dipped
in
Toxicum
and
such
like
poysons
:
I
know
no
cause
why
a
man
should
be
afraide
to
weare
them
(
especially
inclosed
in
silke
)
vpon
the
whole
skin
.
Neither
how
they
can
be
perpetually
opposite
to
mans
nature
.
Nay
if
that
be
a
true
and
sufficient
definition
of
poyson
At
no
time
to
agree
with
nature
.
I
see
not
how
these
things
may
simply
be
called
poysons
,
that
sometimes
and
in
some
cases
as
hath
bin
shewed
agree
with
nature
as
well
as
a
man
would
wish
.
As
for
that
point
that
somtimes
they
blister
the
skin
,
and
cause
angry
wheales
or
pumples
to
arise
,
seeing
that
inconuenience
may
be
both
easily
preuented
and
as
easily
cured
,
&
commeth
onely
but
by
the
wearers
default
it
needeth
not
to
terrisie
any
man
from
the
vsing
of
them
.
For
if
the
wearer
of
these
Amulets
or
plague
cakes
,
assoone
as
they
begin
to
sweat
,
either
take
away
the
Cake
,
or
put
linnen
enough
betweene
it
&
the
skin
,
or
sew
it
in
thicker
stuffe
,
or
anoint
the
place
with
oyle
or
any
vnctuose
thing
,
they
may
be
free
enough
from
that
inconuenience
.
And
if
assoone
as
it
beginneth
to
breede
any
itching
,
or
raise
any
pimple
,
they
remooue
the
cake
for
a
day
or
two
,
and
annoint
the
place
with
a
little
creame
or
Vnguentum
album
Camphoratum
,
they
shall
not
neede
to
complaine
of
any
deepe
or
foule
holes
or
vlcerations
.
And
yet
it
may
be
a
question
worth
the
considering
,
whether
to
haue
such
things
arise
,
be
not
rather
a
benefit
where
they
appeare
,
then
a
harme
.
For
seeing
the
same
effect
or
accident
hapneth
not
to
all
that
weare
them
,
nor
to
all
that
sweate
,
it
may
seeme
that
only
they
are
subiect
to
such
blisterings
in
whome
there
is
some
venemous
matter
,
which
nature
by
the
helpe
of
the
medicine
laboureth
to
expell
.
And
as
worthy
the
consideration
it
is
,
now
we
talke
of
blistering
and
corroding
,
to
call
to
remembrance
,
how
Garleeke
,
Mustart
,
and
Rosa
solis
,
the
hearbe
,
being
greatblisterers
of
the
skinne
,
are
not
for
that
condemned
for
poysons
,
nor
refused
to
be
taken
into
the
stomach
.
The
ioyce
of
a
Limon
will
graue
vpon
a
knife
as
well
as
Aqua
fortis
or
strong
water
,
and
yet
who
euer
had
any
harme
by
taking
of
it
inwardly
.
To
blister
therefore
or
corrode
the
skinne
,
is
not
a
sufficient
argument
to
proue
a
thing
a
poyson
.
It
is
also
very
euident
both
by
experience
and
reason
,
that
things
outwardly
applyed
haue
action
,
and
worke
into
the
body
by
communicating
their
spirituall
qualities
(
as
I
may
call
them
)
to
the
spirites
of
our
bodyes
,
by
the
meanes
of
the
warmth
that
openeth
our
pores
,
and
rarefying
the
subtill
parts
of
the
medicine
,
is
the
cause
of
a
reciprocate
action
and
passion
,
as
may
appeare
by
purging
simples
and
plaisters
.
And
herevpon
,
notwithstanding
what
hath
beene
aboue
saide
,
and
perhaps
not
sufficiently
wayed
,
it
may
seeme
strange
to
some
how
Arsenick
&
such
like
strong
poysons
,
hauing
so
strong
poysoning
spirits
,
should
not
also
poyson
our
spirits
wheresoeuer
they
meete
.
For
the
better
satisfaction
of
such
as
are
not
carryed
away
with
former
praeiudice
,
and
are
capeable
of
these
matters
,
this
is
in
briefe
my
answer
.
Arsenick
and
Orpiment
are
no
wayes
poysonus
or
hurtfull
to
nature
,
but
by
their
corrosiuenes
or
fretting
qualities
:
otherwise
they
are
as
good
,
if
not
better
,
both
preseruatiues
and
curers
as
any
other
most
in
vse
:
and
therefore
so
long
as
they
are
kept
from
corroding
or
fretting
,
they
can
doe
no
harme
,
but
may
doe
much
good
in
that
kinde
,
which
they
respect
:
That
is
to
say
,
in
all
Arsenicall
diseases
,
as
the
Plague
,
the
Plurisie
,
Noli
me
tangere
,
Canckers
and
Fistulas
,
and
all
of
that
kinde
.
If
thou
desire
this
to
be
confirmed
vnto
thee
by
example
or
experience
,
to
wit
,
that
they
may
be
kept
from
corroding
:
Beholde
the
Mounte-bankes
or
Quacksaluers
of
Germany
and
Italy
,
who
before
they
play
their
parts
before
the
people
,
drinke
first
in
their
lodgings
for
that
purpose
halfe
a
pinte
or
more
of
Sallat-oyle
,
and
then
comming
to
their
stage
,
take
inwardly
in
all
mens
sight
incredible
quantities
of
these
poisons
,
and
then
taking
nothing
after
them
but
their
Triacles
which
they
haue
to
sell
,
make
their
beholders
beleeue
that
by
them
they
be
preserued
from
all
harme
.
(
Of
this
thou
mayest
see
more
at
large
in
Mathiolus
in
his
Commentaries
vpon
Dioscorides
)
whereby
it
appeareth
as
I
saide
before
,
that
they
may
be
kept
from
fretting
or
corroding
of
the
inwarde
parts
,
which
granted
,
it
followeth
that
the
like
may
be
done
outwardly
,
and
so
be
worne
safely
vpon
the
bare
skin
,
notwithstanding
their
corrosiue
qualities
be
no
wayes
taken
away
.
But
if
they
may
be
cleane
taken
away
,
as
all
that
are
well
practised
in
chimicall
praeparations
do
affirme
,
I
see
no
reason
why
they
should
be
so
feared
,
especially
to
be
applied
outwardly
.
And
why
should
it
not
be
as
possible
to
remooue
the
corrosiue
qualities
of
minerals
from
their
bodies
,
as
well
as
to
remooue
the
burning
quality
of
Aron
rootes
,
called
in
English
Starch-worte
,
or
Wake-Robin
from
them
,
which
I
haue
seene
done
,
&
then
as
pleasant
bread
made
of
them
as
of
any
other
graine
:
or
as
well
as
to
remooue
the
bitternesse
of
the
gall
of
an
Oxe
,
which
my selfe
haue
done
,
and
brought
it
to
be
as
sweete
as
the
ioyce
of
Liquorice
,
and
then
administred
it
with
good
successe
in
the
yellow
Iaundisse
.
But
suppose
that
this
were
impossible
:
why
may
there
not
be
as
sure
a
way
to
correct
that
qualitie
by
minerall
meanes
as
there
is
to
correct
the
offending
qualities
of
Scammony
,
Agarick
,
Helleborus
,
Euphorbium
and
such
like
by
their
like
,
that
is
by
Vegitables
?
Is
it
absurd
,
nay
is
there
not
great
probabilitie
to
thinke
that
God
hath
in
nature
appointed
minerall
Alexipharmaca
praeseruatiues
or
remedies
against
the
greatest
poisons
in
that
kinde
,
when
we
see
that
in
vegitables
he
hath
in
his
great
mercy
and
prouidence
created
an
Antithora
for
a
Thora
,
and
an
Antieuphorbium
for
Euphorbium
,
I
thinke
not
.
And
if
neede
were
I
can
name
some
,
but
that
such
secrets
ought
alwayes
to
remaine
with
them
that
know
them
.
Now
if
any
man
not
satisfied
with
that
which
hath
beene
saide
,
obiect
yet
farther
,
that
I
haue
proued
but
the
halfe
of
that
which
they
expected
.
That
is
,
that
these
Amulets
may
be
safly
worne
without
any
harme
,
not
shewing
the
other
more
necessary
part
,
that
they
may
do
any
good
.
For
satisfying
all
such
,
(
although
there
is
enough
said
to
those
that
hold
them
dangerous
,
which
is
the
question
now
in
controuersie
,
)
I
will
farther
yet
briefly
tell
you
my
opinion
of
that
point
also
,
vpon
that
small
knowledge
(
yet
dearly
bought
)
which
I
imagine
I
haue
in
chimicall
matters
,
partly
by
my
own
experience
,
&
partly
by
reading
of
the
professors
of
that
arte
:
I
assure
my selfe
that
there
is
in
these
minerals
which
the
Alchimists
cal
their
spirits
good
store
of
gold
,
or
to
speake
a
little
plainer
of
the
spirits
of
golde
:
and
from
thence
in
my
opinion
it
hath
that
incredible
and
admirable
operation
in
preseruing
of
our
spirits
from
infection
.
For
the
better
confirmation
of
this
my
supposition
,
to
wit
,
that
minerall
spirits
are
not
without
parte
of
the
mettals
from
which
they
come
;
If
you
will
demaund
of
the
refiners
or
meltars
downe
of
mettals
,
what
the
reason
is
why
many
times
they
cannot
get
the
golde
or
other
mettals
which
they
know
to
be
in
their
Ores
or
Owres
,
they
will
answer
you
that
the
aboundance
of
the
wilde
spirites
that
are
in
them
when
they
bring
them
to
the
blast
,
carry
away
all
the
metall
with
them
,
which
they
doe
by
eating
of
them
vp
as
strong
waters
vse
to
doe
.
But
if
thou
haddest
rather
heare
what
the
learneder
sorte
that
deale
with
such
things
holde
of
these
matters
.
Then
read
what
is
written
in
a
treatise
of
Arsenick
by
Theoprastus
Paracelsus
,
who
was
absolutly
the
most
learnedst
chimicall
writer
and
worker
that
euer
wrote
:
And
if
thou
hast
any
insight
in
this
kind
of
Philosophie
,
whereby
to
vnderstand
him
,
he
will
satisfie
thee
of
the
natures
of
these
things
to
the
full
.
As
for
the
authorities
of
such
Phisitians
or
Philosophers
which
are
not
acquainted
neither
with
the
chymicall
theory
nor
practise
,
I
holde
their
censures
as
insufficient
,
for
want
of
knowledge
of
those
things
which
they
dislike
:
&
therefore
how
many
soeuer
they
be
in
number
,
so
long
as
they
vnderstand
not
what
they
reprehend
,
it
maketh
no
great
matter
:
and
yet
if
this
controuersie
were
to
be
debated
by
authorities
,
my
opinion
should
not
be
lesse
assisted
then
any
others
.
But
seeing
it
would
be
both
tedious
and
needlesse
for
the
readers
to
be
troubled
with
such
allegations
,
I
wil
not
take
that
course
at
this
time
,
in
which
my
intent
is
only
to
let
them
know
what
my
opinion
and
practise
is
of
these
things
.
Yet
least
it
might
be
thought
that
I
haue
none
but
poore
Paracelsus
on
my
side
,
I
will
translate
for
them
that
vnderstand
no
Lattin
,
a
fewe
lines
concerning
these
Amulets
and
Plague
cakes
,
out
of
a
little
Treatise
of
the
Plague
of
Iohannis
Pistorius
a
learned
Phisition
of
Germanie
;
his
wordes
are
these
.
Many
Italian
Phisitions
are
of
that
opinion
,
that
there
was
neuer
a
more
excellent
thing
(
speaking
of
these
Amulets
)
graunted
to
mortall
men
by
God
,
to
preserue
them
from
the
Plague
,
and
therefore
call
it
a
diuine
medicine
inuented
by
God
,
and
take
it
vpon
their
oathes
that
neuer
any
fell
sicke
that
wore
them
,
and
so
much
the
more
and
the
better
I
like
of
them
,
saith
Pistorius
,
because
their
notable
profit
or
vertue
is
confirmed
by
experience
and
made
manifest
to
the
senses
,
and
a
few
lines
after
he
saith
further
.
And
so
much
the
more
am
I
mooued
to
like
of
them
,
because
in
the
yeare
64.
in
Zurick
,
I
neuer
knew
any
amongst
a
great
many
that
wore
them
to
get
any
harme
by
them
,
or
dye
of
the
Plague
,
notwithstanding
the
great
conuersation
that
the
sound
had
with
the
sicke
,
according
to
the
custome
of
that
place
.
And
at
Basill
the
like
was
obserued
.
As
these
things
(
gentle
reader
)
moued
the
foresaid
Pistorius
to
allowe
and
prescribe
these
Amulets
to
his
patients
,
so
haue
the
same
(
together
with
my
owne
long
obseruations
)
done
the
like
with
me
,
and
so
hauing
as
I
promised
brieflie
,
set
downe
my
opinion
,
I
commit
thee
to
the
head
Physition
,
who
send
thee
health
both
of
soule
and
body
.
Maledictus
qui
ponit
carnem
brachium
suum
:
that
is
in
effect
;
Accursed
be
he
that
putteth
his
whole
confidence
in
secondary
meanes
,
for
it
is
neither
hearbe
nor
salue
,
nor
any
thing
els
that
healeth
,
but
onely
the
blessing
of
the
head
Physition
.
And
herevpon
it
may
fall
out
sometimes
that
they
who
commit
superstition
or
Idolatrie
(
as
I
may
cal
it
)
in
wearing
of
these
Amulets
,
may
now
and
then
notwithstanding
miscarry
,
but
it
were
pittie
for
that
cause
to
derogate
from
the
credite
of
so
noble
and
generall
a
medicine
,
for
a
few
perticular
instances
.
FINIS
.