nancy; and in the other, cold and dry.

Notwithstanding that it is hard to be believed, that in one and the
same substance, and so little of the _Cacao_, it can have substances
so different: To the end that it may appeare more easie, clear, and
evident, first we see it in the _Rubarbe_, which hath in it hot and
soluble parts, and parts which are Binding, Cold and Dry, which have a
vertue to strengthen, binde, and stop the loosenesse of the Belly: I
say also, that he that sees and considers the steele, so much of the
nature of the earth, as being heavy, thick, cold, and dry; it seemes
to be thought unproper for the curing of Opilations, but rather to be
apt to encrease them; and yet it is given for a proper remedy against
them.

This difficulty is cleared thus, that though it be true, that it hath
much of the Earthy part; yet it hath also parts of Sulphur, and of
quick silver, which doe open, and disopilate; neither doth it so,
untill it be helped by Art, as it is ground, stirred, and made fine,
in the preparing of it; the Sulphurous parts, and those of
quick-silver, being thinne, active, and penetrative, they mingle, at
the last with those parts, which are Earthy and astringent: Insomuch,
that they being mingled after this manner one with another, we cannot
now say, that the steele is astringent, but rather, that it is
penetrative, attenuating and opening. Let us prove this Doctrine by
Authorities; and let the first be from _Gallen_, _l. 3._ of the
qualities of Simples, _c. 14._ Where, first of all he teacheth, that
almost all those Medicines, which, to our sence, seeme to be _Simple_,
are notwithstanding naturally _Compounded_, containing in themselves
contrary qualities; and that is to say, a quality to expell, and to
retaine; to incrassate, and attenuate; to rarifie, and to condense.
Neither are we to wonder at it, it being understood, that in every
fore-said Medicine, there is a quality to heat, and to coole; to
moisten and to dry. And whatsoever Medicine it be, it hath in it,
thick, and thinne parts; rare, and dense; soft, and hard. And in the
fifteenth Chapter following, in the same Book, he puts an example of
the Broth of a Cock, which moves the Belly; and the flesh hath the
vertue to bind. He puts also the example of the _Aloes_, which if it
be washt, looseth the Purgative vertue; or that which it hath, is but
weake.

That this differing vertue, and faculty, is found in divers
substances, or parts of simple