Text.Anthony.1610-01.G2v
Back to Authors | Back to Texts by Thomas Lewkner; Henry Cary, 1st Viscount Falkland; Walter Hastings; Ludovicus Lewkner
Source: Francis Anthony, Medicinae chymicae, et veri potabilis auri assertio, Cambridge: Cantrell Legge, 1610, sig. G2v–H1r = pag. 52–57 [BP.Anthony.1610-01]
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Tui studiosissimus Tho[mas] Leuknerus Medicinæ Doctor.
Grassatur hic inter nos (egregie Doctor) Morbus quidam novus ortus, qui Caput, Stomachum, & ossa totius corporis ita afficit, vt alios in Phrenesim, alios etiam in Maniam adigat. Nonnullis in domo patris mei hoc Morbo correptis, Aurum tuum potabile propinavi: quo quidem & citò & indubitò liberantur. Si quidem Morbus invaluerit, paulò tardius restituit. Si statim post accessum Morbi sumatur, vim eius ita retundit, vt graviora symptomata non sentiant. Vtcunque se Morbus habet, Medicina tamen terto aut quartò hausta, illum profligat. Hisce experimentis penum omnem exhausi. Peto igitur à te vt penuriam meam resartias. Cursori isto vncias trade quatuor, in quas ab illo accipies solidos viginti.
Vale, Barkhamsteed. 13. August[i] 1609.
Tuus fidelis H[enricus] Cary.
[p. 55] Post tuum nuper à me discessum, pauperem quendam è villa nostra solo auro tuo potabili restitui, qui diè Solis vltimò in aurorâ subitâ Paralysi mutus remanserat per totum illum diem. Sub noctem autem, & sensus omnis, & motus tibias eius vsq́ue ad genua deseruerat. Vtinam ita cum mea filiola operetur, vt saluam identidem & valentem restituat. Vale.
August[i] 31. 1609.
Tui amantissimus H[enricus] Cary.
Servavi apud me, vti pretiosum aliquem thesaurum, aquam illam quam Aurum potabile nominas, quam termino Trinitatis à te acceperam. Servavi (inquam) donec coactus eam necessitatibus amicorum condonavi. Erant enim hic duæ nobiles Dominæ adhuc à partu languidæ decumbentes: quarum vna in Causonem inciderat: ambabus dubia salus; erant etiam prorsus insomnes. Hausto autem tuo liquore aureo, & somnum, & solitas corporum vires, & animorum lætitiam recuperaverant. Et cùm tantas eius vires deprehenderim, nollem eo planè destitui. Peto igitur vt vncias mihi duas illius ipsissimi liquoris transmittas, Nuncius iste pecunias numerabit. Et cum proximè [p. 56] Londinum accessero, & te videbo, & tibi de Medicamento hoc, gratias, vt meritus es, agam. Kirbiæ, Decemb[ris] 10. 1609.
Tui amantißimus Walterus Hastings.
Dici vix potest (reuerende D[octo]r Antoni quantâ animi lætitiâ perfusus sum, quòd tàm fœliciter Auro tuo potabili Comitissa Dorcestriæ vsa fit. Eoque magis lætor, quòd vxoris meæ suasu illud assumpserit. Hac ipsa quâ scribo aurorâ dignissimo Comiti Marito eius in Aurla Regia fiebam obvius. Hic mihi retulit quàm mirabiliter, quàm celeriter aqua illa Dominæ suæ vires labefactatas recuperasset, adeò languenti antea & insomni, magnasq́ue tuo nomine vxori meæ gratias habuit, quod te adduxerat. Hoc ego arripui, & indicavi quanta anteà præstiteras eo solo liquore in vxoris meæ sanatione, illâ admodum insolenti quide,, & de qua te plurimùm amem. Dixi quos angores perpessa est: dixi quanta vitalium spirituum consternatione percussâ: dixi quàm fuit vicino morti, è cuius faucibus ita erepta est, vt cum aquam tuam ter gustasset, & quies, & cibi appetentia, & cætera signa sint consequuta salutis: quam etiam infra quinque aut sex dies integram [p. 57] & illæsam recuperavit. Huic autem tanto tuo beneficio id reddam quod habe, summum nempe vt illud prælustribus meis amicis prædicem, qui tuâ operâ imposterum vsuri, maiora tuis studijs præmia rependant, quam meæ fortunæ tenuitas patietur. Rogo te vt huic tabellario vncias quatuor firmiter clausas ad me des: has rus mittam. Si eo successu quo priorem meam copiam in vrbe distibui, nonnullas (certò scio) gratias merebor. Nulli enim (audeo dicere) nulli adhuc medicamentum illud impertivi, cui mirificissimè opem & salutem non attulerit. Nominibo tantùm duos: filium meum & malo & Medicamentis tabescentem, & dilectum fratrem Tho[mam] Lewknerum. Perplures filebo, & famulos meos & vicinos. Vale. Ianuarij. 7. 1609.
Tibi vere amicus Lodovicus Lewknerus.
Modern English Raw Translation
Your most devoted Thomas Lewkner, Doctor of Medicine.
Here among us (distinguished Doctor) a certain new disease has arisen, affecting the Head, Stomach, and bones of the entire body so that it drives some into Frenzy, others even into Mania. With some in my father's house seized by this Disease, I administered your Drinkable Gold: by which they are quickly and undoubtedly freed. If the Disease has strengthened, it restores a bit more slowly. If taken immediately after the onset of the Disease, it so blunts its force that they do not feel the more severe symptoms. However the Disease presents itself, the medicine, taken the third or fourth time, defeats it. With these experiments, I have exhausted my entire supply. I therefore ask you to replenish my stock. Give the courier four ounces, for which he will pay you twenty shillings.
Farewell, Berkhamsted. August 13, 1609.
Your faithful Henry Cary.
After your recent departure from me, a poor man from our village was restored solely with your Drinkable Gold, who last Sunday morning had suddenly become mute from Paralysis for that entire day. However, by evening, all sense and movement had left his legs up to his knees. If only it could work so with my little daughter, to restore her safe and healthy again and again. Farewell.
August 31, 1609.
Your most loving Henry Cary.
I have kept with me, as a precious treasure, that water which you call Drinkable Gold, which I received from you at Trinity term. I have kept it (I say) until compelled by the needs of friends to give it away. For here were two noble ladies still languishing in bed from childbirth: one of whom had fallen into a Causon: both in doubtful health; they were also completely sleepless. But having taken your golden liquid, they recovered sleep, their usual bodily strength, and joy of spirit. And having discovered its great powers, I would not want to be completely without it. I therefore ask you to send me two ounces of that very same liquid, this messenger will pay the money. And when I next come to London, I will see you and thank you for this medicine, as you deserve. Kirby, December 10, 1609.
Your most loving Walter Hastings.
It can hardly be expressed (reverend Dr. Francis Anthony) with how much joy I am filled, that the Countess of Dorchester has used your Drinkable Gold so successfully. And I am all the more delighted because it was at my wife's persuasion that she took it. This very morning on which I write, I happened upon her most worthy Count husband in the Royal Hall. He told me how wonderfully, how quickly that water had restored his lady's weakened strength, previously so languishing and sleepless, and he expressed great thanks to my wife in your name, for having brought you to her. I seized upon this, and told him how much you had previously achieved with that same liquid in healing my wife, who was very unusual, and whom I love very much. I told of the torments she suffered: I told of how she was struck with a great consternation of the vital spirits: I told of how close to death she was, from whose jaws she was so snatched away, that after tasting your water three times, rest, appetite for food, and other signs of health followed: and how within five or six days she recovered completely and unharmed. For this great benefit of yours, I will return what I have, namely to proclaim it to my most illustrious friends, who by your work in the future may repay greater rewards to your studies than my meager fortune would allow. I ask you to give this messenger four ounces securely sealed for me: I will send these to the countryside. If they are distributed in the city with the success that my previous supply was, I will certainly (I know) earn some thanks. For I dare say, to no one (I dare say) have I imparted that medicine, to whom it has not brought wondrous help and health. I will name only two: my son, wasting away from illness and medicines, and my beloved brother Thomas Lewkner. I could name many more, both my servants and neighbors. Farewell. January 7, 1609.
Truly your friend, Ludovicus Lewkner.