hould befal them for using such worthless practisers; but
if under the hands of a known Physician he shall be sure to be named,
and sometimes his attendance falsly fathered on him, when Mountebanks
only have been employed: but to besure if an Empiric hath first been
made use of, and afterwards an able Physician called in (when all
opportunity of doing good was past) and the Patient dy, the Mountebank
hath never been mentioned, but the Physician perhaps condemned though
he hath done whatsoever could have been thought on, rational in that
Case.

Add to the former reasons, the bold and confident brags, and promises
of Empirics, that they have cured worse diseases, and will in few
hours free them from their maladies, especially where sober Physicians
have pronounced doubtfully of the event. No wonder that these pleasing
promises to persons in danger and distress bring them into employment
even with a rejection of the former sober Physician.

Besides, a foolish opinion prevails with some ignorant persons, that
they will deal only with such as will undertake the Cure, (that is)
contract with them for a sum of money, one half whereof to be payed in
hand, and the other the Cure being done, and so are usually cheated of
one half of their money; and such people will have nothing to do with
such Physicians as will not undertake them in this sence.

Another Stratagem is, to give strange and hard names to their
Medicines, such as are Pilulae radiis Solis extractae, and in English is
no more then Pills dryed to that consistence by the Sun-Beams, which
ignorant people have thought were made of the Sun Beams. Others
commend their Extract of the Soul of the Heathen Gods. One sets up
with a receipt received from Van Helmonts own hands; Another hath
received from a Jew the shining of Moses Face; nay I have heard a
Pseudochymist blasphemously brag, he saw in the making of a grand
Elixir, the Quintessence of the Trinity in Unity, and infinite other
pitiful captivations of silly people, to be seen on every Gate and
Post of this City; such as are the Spirit of the Salt of the World,
Panchymagogon, and other ten-footed Greek names, and some other
Mongrel non-sensical ones compounded of several Languages; promising
certain, speedy, and concealed Cure of incurable Diseases.

And no less ridiculous and absurd to considering persons are, their
cantings of themselves, wherewith they no less befool, amuse, and
beguile the people; as that by long