stones of the Peru. fol. 98 Of the Figge trees of the Peru. fol. 100 Of the Coca fol. 100 Of the Colours of diuers groundes fol. 102 Of the Casaui fol. 103 Of the Canes for shortnesse of breath fol. 104 Of the Carlo Sancto 105 Of the Stone for the Mother fol. 105 Of Canafistola in Conserua fol. 160 Of the Balsamo of Colu. fol. 170 A Booke which treateth of two medicines most excellent agaynst all Venome which are the Bezaar stone and the Herbe Escuerconera Wherein are declared their maruellous effects great vertues with the manner how to cure the said venoms and the order which is to be vsed for to be preserued from them Where shall be seene greate secretes in medicine and many experiences Newly compyled by Doctor Monardes of Seuill 1574. Translated out of Spanish into English by Iohn Frampton 1580. eases of the bodie from the toppe of the head to the soale of the foot may be cured by the same so as no drugge in the worlde is thought to be comparable to the same The third book sheweth the mischiefes that growe by drinking of drinkes whot and what Benefite doeth followe by drinking our drinkes colde c. And Sir finding many thankfully to take my sayde former simple trauell too you heretofore dedicated and your Woorship aboue all desert of my parte too recompence the same and beyng earnestly and often exhorted by the lerned Phisitiō Maister Doctor Hector Nones to translate these said 3. Bookes also the remanent of Monardes works to make my Countrymen of England Partakers of the benefit of the same I tooke it in hand as inflamed with the great commendations that this Learned Man made of the sayde three Bookes and especially of the Booke treating of the benefite of yron and steele in phisicke And hauing now thus finished the whole work I dedicate the same to your woorship as to the man to whom I am most bound and that doeth of many best deserue the same requesting you too take it in good part to beare with the base doing of the same And calling to remembraunce of what moment in somtimes A man of value may be to a common Weale and howe common in the worlde the practize of poyson is what malice raignes now among men how needful it is that some kind of persōs should feare prouide for the worst and weying that by our Persian merchants and by other meanes the Bezaar stone this great Iewel is brought into the realme and may be compassed in this our tyme for a litle money And withal weying that Iron and steele be things tending so much to the cure of al diseases and bee the natural home commodities of England and such as are commō and that are both easily and cheaply to bee had by euery poore subiect I haue the rather for the ready benefit that might ensue taken the dispatch of the translation in hande with purpose no longer to keepe the same out of print and so I most humbly take my leaue from London the xv of Iune MDLXXX Your worships most bownden Iohn Prampton bewayle him heereof in that so little a Hearbe can offende him and so small a fruite or stone may destroy him Against al these venomes as well in general as in particular the Phisitions as wel Greekes as Arabiens Latinistes wrote effectual remedies as wel generall as particular Amongest the which they put one in practise that in tymes past was had in greate estimation and taken for a present remedie for the greate vertues and meruellous effectes which it wrought against all venoms and accidentes thereof which they called the Bezaar stone But as tyme is the discouerer of all thinges so is it the destroyer and consumer of euery thing for in hauing bene hid so long from vs wee knewe no more what the Bezaar stone was then as if it had neuer beene and the name thereof was so strange and vnknowen vnto vs euen as the Townes in Scitia Time it selfe willing to restore againe vnto vs this precious stone hidden from vs so many yeeres not onely discouered the same vnto vs but iointly therwith hath descried vnto vs an hearbe which hath the lyke vertues and effectes against all manner of venom which hearbe is called Escuerconera hauing bene discouered but a fewe yeres past to our exceeding great profit and commoditie And because these twoo thinges to wit the Bezaar stone and the Hearbe Escuerconera bee so lyke in operation and haue so many and the selfe same vertues against venom that I determined to wryte of them both together and to shewe the proper vertues of these twoo thinges so excellent in medicine it is needfull first to knowe and therefore treate of the venomes as a beginning of the woorke and to declare what Uenom is and the cause of such as haue taken Uenom and then the remedies thereof and howe they may bee preserued from them and therefore we wil treate first of Uenom for that it will serue not a little for the intent of that which we minde to write of the Bezaar stone and the Hearbe Escuerconera Uenom is a thing which beyng taken at the mouth or applied outwardly doeth ouercome our bodies by making them sicke or by corrupting of them or by killing them and this is founde in one of these foure thinges in plants in minerals in beasts or in mixtures the which worketh their effectes eyther by manifest qualitie or by hidden propertie or both These venoms partly doe kill vs partly we vse them for our profite and bodily health and partly the people of auncient tune did vse them for a remedie against their great labours That which doeth offend vs as well in generall as in particular Dioscorides in his sixth booke of his history of Plantes doeth treate of very exactly putting in generall these remedies and in particular that which is conuenient for euery one of them and the same did other Greekes Latinistes and Arabians which are to be seene who will more particularly know of them These did write of many Medicines with the which euery one may preserue themselues from poyson for the malice of mankinde is very greate and many haue procured for their interest and reuenge not onely with venome to offende and kill the common sorte of people but also Emperoures Kinges great Princes and Lords the which in how much more high estate they are appoynted and placed so much the more daunger they are in And many notable men of the olde Writers fearing this did compounde many and diuers Medicines that by meanes of them they might not bee hurte by venom or venemous thinges that might be geuen them As for example the Emperour Marco Antonio did vse suche thinges who fearing to be poysoned tooke euery morning a little Triacle and Methridate Sometimes his confection Methridatica other times certayne Leaues of Rue with Nuttes and Figges and so they did vse the like medicines because
in the cleare water that shall remayne vppon it some small clothes or in place of the smal clothes lint of fine Linen cloth weate in the water it cleanseth the sore eating the euil fleshe in such sorte for howe euill olde and filthy soeuer that the sore bee it leaueth it cleane and being laide to the flesh it doeth soder and heale them and after this is done you must vse the Medicines which haue vertue to ingender flesh And the effect of this seede is no more then to mundifie make cleane and to take away the superfluitie of the wounde The self same effect that this seede worketh in vs it worketh in beastes also which for the most part haue very euill sores that bee cankered and full of Wormes the seede being laide vnto them if the cause bee so great that it doth requyre it or the water of it as it is sayde maketh the lyke woorke as wee haue spoken of and better vsing alwayes the defensiues as is conuenient where such Medicines bee applyed for that it is a Medicine most strong and it hath neede of them all I wil shewe you what happened to me with it An Indian brought me this seede with many other hearbes and going about to discouer them and being come to this seede I tooke a graine and put it into my mouth to proue it He that brought it as one which knew it wel kept back my hand would not suffer me to proue it for all that I parted with my teeth one graine which is no greater then one grayne of hempe seede but some deale lesser and beareth some likenes of it at the tyme that it came to the point of the tongue the seede being parted made me a blister vpon it which dured with me certaine dayes I commended it to the Deuil and then I beleeued what they had certified me of it I began to make experience of it and it wrought more effectually then was spoken of it It is hot in the fourth degree and more if there be any more degrees Also I haue an Hearbe which being sodde and the water of it taken hot healeth the euils of the brest I know not the name of it but in the remembrance of them which came it was written And an other which enforceth to cast out the dead childe of the belly of thi◠the Indians haue great experience for this effect and once in these countries it hath profited They brought me two drie hearbes which I would haue been glad to haue seene greene the one of these being in the field in all his force if a man or woman doe put their handes vpon him forthwith he falleth downe dead vpon the ground And the other lying abroade vpon the ground in touching it to gather it it shutteth it self together as a Cabadge of the Countrie of Murcia Thinges meruellous and of much consideration I haue blacke Eleboro brought from the Prouince of Mechoacan like to that of Spayne and woorking the like effect Certaine dayes past a young man which tooke counsell of me that came from the Prouice of Quito and beeyng with me there came vnto me a neighbour of mine saying that his daughter was verie sicke of the Flixe and I had her in cure and her disease increased with blood requesting me that I shoulde goe to visite her The Indian which was with me asked me if they were stooles of blood I said yea and he sayd vnto me that he woulde geue her a thing that beyng made into pouder and taken woulde take them away forthwith that in the Prouince of Quito it had been experimented many times The Father of the sicke maiden went with him to his house and he gaue him certayne peeces of a fruite which seemed to be of a greate tree of the one parte they were very smooth and of colour yeallowe and of the other they were very sharpe and very redde insomuch that they seemed of a purple colour They were ground smal and he gaue the pouder to the sicke womā with the water of the hed of Roses once that Euening an other time in the Morning and immediatly the Flixe did cease from tha◠time waxed better whereby she came to be whole And as for the man I neuer saw him after he gaue it to her ¶ To the right Worshipfull Maister Doctor Monardus Phisition in Seuill RIght worshipfull famous Doctor it will seeme a newe thing to your worship that I being not learned not of your profession doe write to you in things of your faculty being a Souldier that haue followed the warres in these Countries al my life I haue done this because I am affectioned to your worship by reason of a book which you haue cōpiled of the medicines which are in these partes of the vertues benefits that by thē haue byn receyued which are so great that I cannot declare thē as they deserue And by means of your book we haue order how we should vse the remedies which we haue here for before we did vse thē without rule or measure so that neyther they did work effect nor with them the people were wel remedied which now is to the cōtrary by meanes of your books there hath been people remedied that neuer thought to haue had remedy nor health It is more then 28. yeeres vnto this day that I haue gone wādring by al these Indias where are many things of those which your worship doth write of in your book other things also which haue not byn brought thither for bicause the Phisitions that come to these parts are nothing curious They apply not their eye to the vniuersal wealth but to their owne particular for they come onely to enrich thēselues for the most part they be ignorāt people which passe to those Indias they doe not esteeme of the good which they might doe And though that I haue no learning I am affectioned to men of learning so I am to your worship for that I vnderstood of your bookes and for the same that you haue in these partes which is great although I knowe you not yet I was willing to take these paines which is a contentment to m◠You write in your book geuing knowledge of the Bezaar stone set down the signes of the beasts which haue thē which being cōsidered we haue happened vpon a kind of beasts that liue in the moūtaines of this country which are much like to sheep or kiddes which your woorship speaketh of which are in the Indias of Portugal which breede haue these stones of the which there are many in this country in the mountaines colde countries They are for the moste of a darke red colour they are fed with healthful herbes wherof is greate plentie in the mountaines where these beasts do feed they be very swift insomuch that they cannot bee hunted but with the hande Gun they haue no hornes and in that onely
effect but with greate difference from all other metalles as Bulcasis sheweth very learnedly being a Phisitiâ—n and a Moore who in particular doth shew the manner which ought to bee had for to prepare the yron and hee sayeth in this manner the fyling of the yron which is most pure must bee taken without other mixture for if it bee mingled with Copper or Lead or Glasse and if it bee giuen so mingled to any person for to drinke it wil kill them you may take the quantity you list of that which is fyled being most pure and let it be wâ—shed and after it is wel washed let it be put into a cleane vessell And let there bee put to it vineger and put it vnder some thing so that it bee well couered let it so remayne thirty dayes or at the 〈◊〉 seâ—en and after that tyme take it foorth and you shall finde that which is filed of the coullour of Uerdegrece the which must be dryâ—d and after it is drye it must be grounde and being well ground you may vse thereof Some there bee that do washe it with fresh water or with vineger and do strayne it through a linnen cloth and then put it vnder a vessell vntil it waxe rotten and after they â—ash it and keepe it That which this Moore doeth say seâ—meth to be of Aueroyes in the fifth of his gathering where he setteth downe the preparation thereof in this forme After the Iron is ground very small let it be put many tymes in to vineger or into Gotes milke when it is cruddye This he would should be the preparation And Christopher de honestis following this in the commentaries which he made vpon Mesue sayeth Let the fyling of the Steele be put into vinegre many dayes for in any other wise the vse of it will not profite although that some do put it into milke of Gotes and some into oyle of sweete Almondes and in this sort they take it The same preparation Clement Clementino doth giue It seemeth a harde thing to beleeue that the Iron or Steele is penetrate and doth waxe soft with any of these things onely the strong vinegre is that which doth penetrate and soften it whereby it may be well grounde for to vse of it And for the more certeintie I will shewe howe I do prepare it I do take of Steele the purest and whitest I can get as also Iron and do cause it to be fyled as small as may be and when it is so fyled I cause it to be washed in water many times vntill the water do come foorth cleare and then I put it into a cleane glassed vessell and do cast to it as much strong white vinegre as may be sufficient to wet thorough the sayde fyling and the vâ—ssell being stopped put iâ—to a close place I do let it stande xx dayes stirryng it well twice euery weeke and putting to it some vineger if it bâ—e needefull and after the twentie dayes when it is well sâ—kened I take it out of that and put it into some other brodeâ— vessell or vppon a table that it may dry in the shadowe and after it is drie I doe grynde it in a morter of metall sifting it twise through a thicke siue of silke and so beeing made into Pouder I put it into a fine earthen paynted pot then with a Pestle I beate it small agayne in suche sort that being taken betweene the fingers it seemeth not too haue anie maner of substance neither is it felt between theÌ„ And if it be not done in this sort they are neuer well grounâ—e for it is a thing that they take most care of so that therby it may worke the effect the better And beyng made into pouder in this sort it ought to be kept in a glassed vessel Some doe wet it with Gumme Dragagaunt and make it in rowles and it liketh mee very well because they be the better conserued and the gumme Dragagant taketh away some parte of their drithe And seeing that I haue made an ende of the preparing of the steele and Iron that it doeth the effect when it is needâ—ful as though it were the steele it selfe let Maister Doctor shewe vnto vs the woorkes and vertues that it doeth D. I doe reioyce very much to heare the good order of the preparation that Maister Burgus hath geuen and set downe to be vsed with these metals And seeyng that I am bound to declare the vertues and medicinal works which they haue I wil speake of it the best that I know as well that which I haue knowen and read as that which experience hath taught me and the vse of so many yeeres These two metalles doe serue in medicine two manner of wayes the one is that of them may be made instrumentes to worke with in causes of Surgery without the which the Surgions cannot worke their works and effectes nor the Barbours without them cannot do their occupations To declare what instrumentes those are which serue for the one and for the other occupations it wil be to tedious The yron and steele doe serue in medicine with great effectes and maruellous workes by curing and healing diuers diseases and so Plinie in his booke of the naturall historie treting of this matter of yron after he wrote great things of it as well in that which doeth profite in the seruice of man as other curious thinges hee treateth of â—he vertâ—es and woorkes which it doeth in medicine shewing first the qualities of it saying The yron hath vertue too drie vp too retayne and too holde fast it is good for suche as doe lacke theyr heare that it may growe beeyng prepared and mingled with some licour prepared and made for the same purpose it taketh away the roughnesse of the cheekes mingled with Uineger and beyng made in an oyntment with oyle of of Myrtiles and waxe it taketh away the blisters of all the vodie the pouder of it mingled with Uineger doeth heale the disease called Saint Anthonies fire as also all maner of skabbes it healeth the little sores between the nayle and the finger the pouders therof being applyed thervnto with a linnen cloath It healeth also the fluxe of women of what sorte soeuer it be beyng put therevnto with wooll or with â—otton wool and also if they be applied therevnto after the mannâ—r of a Tent in the lower partes the pouder beeyng mingled with mirrhe and put to the sores or wounds newe hurte doeth soder them and healeth them and beeyng mingled with Uineger and put vpon the pilâ—s it dissolueth them It is a great remedy for such as are gowtie beeyng applyed with thinges made for the purpose vpoÌ„ the griefe It stenâ—heth the blood of such as are wounded which is for the most part made of Iron It is geuen to be drunke to suche as are diseased of the lungs for it consumeth the disease and healeth him that is sicke it stayeth any manner of fluxe
¶ IOYFVLL NEWES out of the newfound world wherein are declared the rare and singular vertues of diuers and sundrie Herbs Trees Oyles Plants Stones with their applications aswell to the vse of Phisicke as Chirurgery which being wel applied bring such present remedy for all diseases as may seeme altogether incredible notwithstanding by practize found out to be true Also the portrature of the sayde Herbes very aptly described Englished by Iohn Frampton Merchant Newly corrected as by conference with the olde copies may appeare Wherevnto are added three other bookes treating of the Bezaar stone the herbe Escuerçomera the properties of yron and steele in Medicine and the benefite of snowe Imprinted at London in Paules Churchyard at the signe of the Quenes Armes by William Norton 1580. ¶ To the right worshipfull Maister Edwarde Dier Esquier Iohn Frampton wisheth much health with prosperous and perfite felicitie REturning right worshipful home into Englande out of Spaine and now not pressed with the former toiles of my olde trade to passe the tyme to some benefite of my country and to auoyde idlenes I tooke in hande to translate out of Spanish into English the three bookes of Doctor Monardes of Seuil the learned Phisition treating of the singular and rare vertues of certaine Hearbes Trees Oyles Plants Stoner Drugges of the West Indias for that the same booke is of high commendation in Spaine and other countries in such sorte that in deede it might bring in tyme rare profite to my Country folkes of Englande by wonderful cures of sundâ—â— great diseases that otherwise then by these râ—â—edies were incurable And hauing finished â—he same translation I determined to dedicate my trauaile therein to some rare louer of knowledge for the worthinesse of the woorke and not finding any Gentleman of myne acquaintance that was more studious and more delighted with learned works or that more cherished trauellers and louers of all good knowledge determined to dedicate the same to your woorshippe before al others requesting your woorshippe to accept the worke and to be a patron of the same and to take it into your protection since the matter is of good substance and of much value and of me truly fâ—ithfully translated into English And since the aforesaid Medicines mentioned in the same worke of Doctoâ— Moâ—ardes are now by Marchants others brought out of the West Indias into Spainâ— and from Spaine hither into England by such as doe dâ—ily traffickâ— thither and that the excellencie of these Hearbes Trees Oyles Plants stones c. haue bin knowen to be so precious a remedie for all manner of diseases and hurtes that may happe vnto Man Woman or Childe they haue leâ—t of and forsaken very much the olde order and maâ—ner of Phisicke which was vsed before that this was knowen as thinges not of so present remedie for all manner of diseases as these nowe late founde owt are which by greate experience made in Spayne and other Countries were throughly and effectuously prooued and experimented to woorke the effectes which are contayned in this Booke And thus I leaue your woorshippe to the Almightie beseeching him to gyue you long lyfe and for the Common-wealthes sake that aduauncement that your good nature and rare vertues doe wel deserue From London the first of October 1577. Your worships during lyfe to commaunde Iohn Frampton THE FIRST PART OF THIS BOKE TREATETH OF THE thinges that are brought from the Occidentall Indias which serue for the vse of Medicine and of the order that must be kept in taking the roote called Mechoacan wherein are discouered great secretes of Nature and great experiences made and compiled by Doctor Monardus Phisition of Seuill IN the yere of our Lord God a thousaÌ„d foure hundreth ninetie two our Spaniards were gouerned by sir Christopher ColoÌ„ being naturally born in the couÌ„trie of Genoua to discouer the OccideÌ„tal Indias that are called at this day the newe world and they discouered the first land thereof the xi day of October of the said yere from that time vnto this they haue discouered many sundry Islandes and muche firme land as wel in that couÌ„trie which they cal the new Spaine as in that which is called the Peru where there are manie Prouinces many Kingdomes and many Cities that haue contrary and diuers customes in them in which there haue beene founde out thinges that neuer in these partes nor in any other partes of the worlde haue beene seene nor vnto this day knowen and other thinges which nowe are brought vnto vs in greate abundance that is to say Gold Siluer Pearles Emeraldes Turkeies other fine stones of great value Yet great is the excesse and quantitie that hath come and euery daie doeth come and inespecially of Golde and Siluer that it is a thing woorthy of admiration the great number of Melons which haue come from thence besides the great quantity of pearles which haue stored the whole world also they doe bring fâ—om those partes Popingaies Griffons Apes Lions Gerfaucons other kinds of Haukes Tigers wool Cotton wool Graine to die colouâ—es with al Hides Sugars Coppar Brasill the wood Ebano Anill and of all these there is so great quantity that there commeth euery yeere one hundred ships laden therewith that it is a great thing and an incredible riches And besides these great riches our Occidentall Indias doe send vnto vs many Trees Plants Hearbes Rootes Iuices Gummes Fruites Licoures Stones that are of great mâ—dicinall vertues in the which there be founde and haue been found in them very great effectes that doe exceede much in value and price all the aforesayde thinges by so muche as the corporall health is more excellent and necessary then the temporall goodes the which thinges all the world doth lacke the want whereof is not a little hurtefull according to the greate profite which wee doe see by the vse of them to follow not onely in our Spayne but also in all the world And this is not too bee meruelled at that it is so for the Philosophâ—r doeth say that all Countries doe not yeelde Plantes and Fruites alike for one Region yeeldeth such Fruites Trees and Plantes as an other doeth not wee doe see that in Creta onely groweth the Diptamo and the Incence onely in the region of Saba and the Almaciga onely in the Islande of Chio and the Sinamom Cloues and Peper and other spices onely in the Islands of the Maluca and many other thinges you haue in diuers partes of the worlde which were not knowne vntill our time and the people of olde time did lacke them but Time which is the discouerer of all thinges hath discouered them vnto vs greatly to our profite considering the greate neede that wee hâ—d of thâ—m And as there are discouered new regions newe kingdomes and newe Prouinces by our Spaniardes so they haue brought vnto vs newe Medicines and newe Remedies wherewith they doe cure many infirmities which if we did lacke them
they doe differ from them of the East India for in all the rest they are the same The 15. day of Iune in this yeere of 1568. I certain geÌ„tlemen my freends went to the mountaines to huÌ„t we were a hunting fiue dayes and we killed some of those beasts which I haue spoken of And as we went for this purpose thinking that they were of the kind of theÌ„ of the East India we carried your booke with vs we opened one of them the greatest that we hunted and oldest we colde finde we found no stones in his belly nor in any other part of him nor any other thing wherby we belâ—eued that they were not the same kind of beasts with those of the East India And we asked of certaine Indians that went to serue vs where these beasts had their stones as they are our enimies would not that we should knowe their secrets they answered vs that they knew nothing of these stones vntil one boy which was amongst them being an Indian of the age of 12. yeres seeing that we were so desirous to know the same shewed vs the secrete of the haue byn vsed since that hunting that I haue spoken of which were the first that haue bin discouered in the world for the vse to heale diseases we do trust that with them wil be done maruellous woorkes according as they haue begun to do theÌ„ all this is owing to your worship seing that by your book we had knowledge to seek them to discouer them to take them out of these beastes which had them so hidden within them that surely ther is much owing to your worship for discouering vnto vs so great a treasure as this is which is the greatest that hath bin fouÌ„d in these parts wherby our nation is much bound to you likewise al the world because al men shal profit by theÌ„ the rest of the secrets which you haue set down in your book which bringeth vnto vs great profit And in recompence of the benefit which I haue receiued I send here to your woorship a dosen of stones by the returne of Iohn Anthony Corso the rich Merchant which if they come thither your worship may make experience of them in many infirmities for you shal find great effectes in them By the same returne also your worship may aduise me of them any thing that shal please you to commaund me I wil do it as one that is most affectioned to you because you are curious and learned for doing so much good to the world in those thinges which you haue written published Heerewithall I send you a small Chest in the which come certaine Frisoles which you may command to be sowen in the beginning of Marche that the colde doe not hurte them which send foorth a plant like vnto beanes but somewhat lesse which haue certaine vaines where the seed is Halfe a dozen of them eaten with salt being of the tast of green beanes they purge valiantly euacuate the water of him which hath the dropsie without paynes The selfe same effect it worketh if that they be dry making theÌ„ into pouder taking theÌ„ with wine it is needful that meat be made in a redines for if they work to much by taking more then they should be with eating any thing incontinent the worke wil cease Also I sende you an hearbe which groweth in these plaine countries clounge to the ground like vnto grasse which is of great vertues for many infirmities chiefly for them which are grieued with Reumes and Fleumes in the throate taking them away easily with great benefite and in this griefes of the head Reumes chewing it they do dissleume very much they call this hearbe after my name because I vse it for the like euils for that an Indian did teach it me which knew much of the vertue of hearbes Also I send your worship a fruite of a tree which is of great profit these trees be not founde in any countrie but in this they are of the greatnesse of an Oke of those in Spain it hath many vertues for the rinde being made in pouder and cast into any sore which is needful to bee made cleane it maketh it cleane afterward causeth the flesh to grow healeth it And rubbing the teeth with this pouder it maketh theÌ„ cleane very wel being laid vpon the gummes if the flesh be taken away it doeth incarnate them if the teeth be loose it maketh theÌ„ fast Seething the leaues of this tree well in water washing with the water thereof any manner of swelling which hath any sore or that is therof cankered it taketh away the swelling and impostume And making some small linen clothes weate in this seething laying them warme vpon the medicine which is laide vpon the sore or vpon the pouder that is made of the rinde it maketh the sores to heale more quickly causing that there come no humour to them Out of the saide tree commeth a Rosine which is of sweete smel and serueth to perfume in many diseases of the head to make plaisters for many eâ—ils and heere I send it to your worship Of the fruite the Indians make a certaine drinke which is for them very healthâ—ul Your worshippe may commande them to bâ—e sowen for I would be glad that they should grow for it will bee a thing of much delight for the profite that it bringeth in Phisicke and for the noueltie of the tree for at al tymes it hath a very good smel I brought into this country a blacke woman which I bought in Xerez de la Frontera and there did appeare vpon her when we came hither certain olde sores in her legs which were of long continuance and comming to the Ilande of the Margareta and beeing very sorowefull for the sores which my blacke woman had an Indian tolde me that hee woulde heale her and seeing that she had no other remedy I deliuered her to the custodie of the Indian that he might heale her for me and immediatly he toke a fruite which is common in that country and al people ingeneral doe eate it which is of the greatnes of an Orenge it hath a stone like vnto a Peach This stone the IndiaÌ„ did burne and made it into pouder for the stone is hard can not be grounde without burning of it and he cast the pouder of it into the sores which she had ful of much rotten flesh and very filthy which with the pouder were made cleane and very well and it tooke out al the rotten flesh to the bone and after it was cleane with lint and a litle pouder laid too it they began to be filled with newe flesh vntil they were ful of flesh and she was healed very wel And it is to be considered that the little kernel of the stone hath so much venom malice in it that if any person
and little of them and it seemeth wel by them that they haue medicinal vertues many persons bring them which are now come in this Fleete who come to mee as though I were the first discouerer of them They declare maruellous effects of theÌ„ that iâ— seemeth wonderful I brake one and gaue it made into pouder to a boye of whome it was sayde that venom had bene giuen to him I cannot tel whether any other benefites done vnto him or that healed him but hee was well recouered I wil vse it in other infirmities and what I find of their operation and the rest of the medicines which shal be newly discouered I wil shew in the thirde volume which I wil wryte of this Medicinall historie wherein shal bee expressed thinges maruellous and greate secretes of Phisicke that may giue contentation to al men and much more to the sick that shal be healed with them Of one thing you must bee aduertised that which is heere written part of it we haue learned of them that haue come from those partes and brought knowledge of them hither and parte is attributed to theyr complexion and qualities what they may doe and part wee haue experimented and in all haue this consideration that al these things which are brought from our Indias bee for the most parte hotte and see that you vse them in this qualitie in all causes wherein they shal bee needful And it is needful that there bee some aduertisement giuen heereof since the vse of the things doeth so import it ¶ Of the Dragon the other the blood of Drago in bread The one and the other haue vertue to retayne any maner of the fluxe of the bellie layde vppon the bellie or geuen in glisters or taken by the mouth Made into pouder it staieth the running of the head and to the lower parts applied in any maner of fluxe of blood it doeth retaine and slanch it It sodereth and gleweth woundes together which be fresh and new made It letteth that the teeth fall not out and it maketh the flesh to grow on the bare gummes It is a meruellous colour for Painters And besides this it hath many other vertues I do meane to sow some of the seed to see if it wil grow in these partes It is thought that the blood of Drago is temperate with little heate There was a gumme geuen vnto me which they bring from the firme lande of the Peru wherewith they purge them which haue the Goute in those partes they put of it as much as a Nut into distilâ—ed water and let it stande all the night in steepe and in the morning they strayne and wring it and take that water which must be the quantity of two Ounces and the patient must remayne without meate till the middest of the day and therewith they purge the humour which causeth the Goute I saw a Gentleman who came in this last Fleete vse it which hee brought for remedie of this euill who was full of the Goute and with vsing this euacuation he findeth himselfe well and the Goute doeth not come to him as it was woont to doe for that it came to him very cruelly and often and he gaue mee as muche as a small Nutte and would geue me no more and I gaue it in the order aforesaide to one which had the Goute and hee had three stooles with it I know not how it will proue it were needfull to haue more quantitie for to proceede forewarde in more experience thereof but it will bee brought hither by others as they haue done many other thinges It hath a goâ—d tast in the taking for that it hath neither smel nor sauour it maketh his worke without paynes It is hot in my opinion in the first degree I know not what manner of thing the Tree is wherout they take it for hee which brought it knoweth not so much himselfe Of the Armadilio THis beasts portraiture I tooke out of an other naturally made which was in the Counting house of Gonsalo de Molina a Gentleman of this Citie in the which there is greate quantitie of Bookes of diuers Authours and the fashion and fourme of many kindes of Beastes and Birdes and other curious thinges brought from the Orientall Indias as also from the Occidentall and from other partes of the worlde And great variety of coynes and stones of antiquity and differences of armes which with greate curiositie and with a noble minde he hath caused to be brought thither waight then two pound hollowe in some partes and very white they are al somwhat heauie Of these stones they haue in the Indias great â—xperience geuing them made into pouder vnto those that suffer the griefe of the stone in the Kydneies and to them that cannot pisse and to them that cannot cast out the stone of the Reines and of the Bladder beeyng of such greatnesse that it may not passe out This is a thing amongst the Indians very common and well knowne and likewise amongest the Spaniardes which dwell in those partes and they which come hither auerre it plainly and affirme it to be so I haue tasted it and it seemeth a thing vnsauorie but I haue not proued it nor applied hitherto in time it shal be done we wil geue some reason thereof They bring also from the newe Kingdome and from the prouince of Cartagena a certayne TurpeÌ„tine very cleare of sweet smel much better then that they call de Vetae which they bring from Venice it hath all the vertues that the good Turpentine hath it worketh the selfesame effectes better and with greater efficacie and readinesse Here hath beene vsed of it in woundes and it is a thing maruellous to see the good worke which it doeth especially in wounds of ioyntes and Sinewes of Legges wherein I haue seene greâ—t works done with it And it doth mundifie being mingled with other thinges all kind of olde soares it is an excellent thing washed prepared for the faces of Ladies which haue neede of it Moreouer they bring from the selfesame parts Caranna of Cartagena purified so cleare that it is like to Cristal and surely it is better it is applied vnto much better effect then that which hithervnto hath come and maketh better works and is of a more sweet smel and more excellent in operation Of the Flower of Mechoacan MAny persons of them which came now in this last Fleate from the firme land brought very good Mechoacan better then that of the new Spaine gathered in the Coast of Nicaraga and in Quito yea since the Mechoacan was discouered in the new Spaine they haue founde the selfsame hearbe and roote in those partes which I doe speake of And they vse it to purge and it doth maruellous works and they vse it in those countries and in al the firme land as they did vse that which was brought from the newe Spaine with maruellous successe From the
de Quinatna Duenas beeyng Aburgales who did cast out at his mouth in my presence a greate bundell of â—eare of a browne colour very small and hee had in a Paper more then twice as much which hee had cast vp two houres before and he remained as though he had cast vp nothing at all more then the alteration that hee had to see that he had cast vp such stuffe Iohn Langins an Almayne Phisition and verie well learned saith that he sawe a woman that complayned much of payne in her stomake did cast out many peeces of glasse and peeces of Earthen Platters and of fish bones wherwith she remayned whole An other case like vnto this Beneuenius speaketh of in his book de morbis mirandis but that which I do most maruel at was that a labouring man suffering great paines in his bellie so that no medicine coulde profite him did cut his owne throate with a knife and after that he was dead they opened him fouÌ„d in his belly great quantity of heare the like wherof he that I haue spokeÌ„ of did vomit with many other peeces of yron These things I do attribute to the works of the Diuel for that they caÌ„not be reduced vnto natural causes The Ueruaine is like that of Spaine all the yeere it is greene Of the Mastuerco I haue an hearbe brought from the Peru which they call Mastuerco it is a little hearbe doth carry certain small leaues that are round which beeing beaten in a morter and the iuyce of them put into any maner of wound doth refresh comfort and heale curing it foorthwith and the vse of it is not more nor lesse then the vse of the Tabaco in woundes which he freshly made washing them with the iuyce and laying the beaten leaues to them and being tasted it semeth that it is notable hot Of the small wild Lettice LIkewise they brought mee from the same partes an other hearbe which they call wilde Lettice the leaues bee like to Lettice the colour is a sadde greene it hath vertue too take away the Tooth-ache receyuing the seething which is made of the leaues and holding it in the parte where the griefe is and putting a little of the iuyce in the tooth which is greeued for so it taketh away the paines yâ— leaues which are staÌ„ped after the iuyce is taken out must be laid vpon it being tasted it is most bitter It seemeth to be hot in more then the first degree Of the licour which is called Ambia IN a great Cane they sent me a Licour which springeth out of a fountaine that is neere to the Sea side it is of the colour of honie as thin the smel is like the Tacamabaca they say and also they write that it hath great medicinall vertues chiefly in the healing of olde diseases and those which come of colde causes It taketh away the paines in any parte of the bodie proceeding of colde or of windinesse It taketh away the colde in what part soeuer it be it doth comfort and dissolue any maner of swelling and it worketh all the effectes that the Tacamabaca and the Caranna doe and so they vse it in those parts in steede of them you may not touch nor handle it with your hands vnlesse you haue them wet and wheresoeuer it be put it sticketh fast that it cannot be taken away vnlesse it be wasted with long time They sent me this little for a shew bicause they doe esteem it greatly therfore they sent it as a thing very precious It seemeth to me hot in the third degree with notable clammines ¶ Of the tree that sheweth whether one shall liue or die IN the yere of our Lord 1562. WheÌ„ the Earle of Nieba was in the Peru he had there a gentlewomaÌ„ which was married that serued him her husband waxed sicke of a grieuous disease an Indian of great reputatioÌ„ seeing her to be in much sorow saide to her if she would know whether her husbande shoulde liue or die of that disease he woulde sende her a Bowe of an hearbe that shee should take in her left hand and hold it fast for a good while and if he should line then she shoulde shewe much gladnesse with holding the Bowe in her hande and if he should die then she should shew much sadnesse And the Indian sent her the Bow and she did as he had willed her to do and the bowe being put into her hand she tooke so much sadnesse and sorrowe that she threw it away from her thinking that she should haue died thereof and so he died within a fewe daies I was desirous to know if that it were so and a Gentleman of the Peru that had beene there many yeeres did certifie me and sayd that it was of truth that the Indians did this with their sicke people It hath put me in admiration and in much consideration ¶ Of the Granadillia FRom the firme Lande they brought mee certayne Fruites which are herbes which they call in the hils of the Peru where they grow Graâ—aâ—illias and this name the Spaniards did giue them for the likenes fashion that they haue to our Granaâ—as which wee call they sent me is of a red colour somewhat darke and it hath a good smell Of the Bezaar stones of the Peru. ALthough in the second parte I treated of the Bezaar stones that haue been founde in the mountaines of the Peru for that they haue beene sent me by the first discouerer of them the best of as many as from those partes haue come yet I would say in this thirde parte some thing of them which he sent me for knowledge saying that because I wrote of them they had knoâ—ledge of them and the booke which I wrote of them was the guide to finde and discouer them as we haue sayd as he sheweth by his letter which we haue set in the second parte Those which hee sent mee too prooue bee verie excellent in their coullour making and greatenesse whereof I haue broken some and finde them as excellent as those of the East India and so they prooue in pouder or in one little graine as the other doe and in coullour well neere they are the same Truth it is that those which haue this qualitie and goodnesse and haue all the qualities that the Bezaar stones ought to haue which are fine shoulde bee those that are taken out of the beastes that are fedde in the Mountaynes for those which are taken out of them that are bredde in the playne groundes are not so good nor haue any Medicinall vertues because the Beastes aâ—e not mayntayned by those healthfull Hearbes whereby these stones are ingendered for as they bee Beastes and chewe thaâ— which they eate of the iuyce that proceedeth from the herbs the stones are ingendered Which thing that Gentleman gaue well to vnderstande who was the first discouerer of them who did see where they lay
of Uenomous beastes extinguishing and taking away the grounde and euill qualitie that the venomes doe infuse into the bodies deliuering them from death that shall vse it It is geuen in Pouder and they say that it doth the same effect by chewing of it or holding of it in the Mouth for after it is taken it doeth prouoke sweate and doeth expell the venome and maketh the woorke sure saying that beeyng carried about any person that it touch the flesh and bringing it ouer the left parte it doeth preserue him that shall so carrie it about him that no venome or venomous thing shall offende him for beyng applyed to the bodie it resisteth venom that it may not offende him and them that bee infected therewith it healeth And this it doeth not onely to them that haue taken venome but vnto suche that haue had it put into their Syrope apparrell or letter or other parte that may offende them The same Serapio sayeth that this Stone doeth profite muche agaynst bytinges of beastes that are venemous and in their Prickes takyng the Pouder thereof at the mouth and prouoking sweate it expelleth it from the inner partes it profiteth muche too cast the pouder of this stone in Prickes or in woundes made by these venomous beastes for it destroyeth and taketh away the mallice of the venome and although that the soares beeyng so made by these beastes doe beginne to corrupt it cureth and healeth them and the pouder of this stone beeyng put vppon the venemous beasts doth take away their strength and if it be put in place where they doe wound any although they make a sore yet the malice of the venom doth not take holdâ— And this is seene by experience in the venomous beastes called Adders and Snakes for the pouder beeyng put in place where they doe byte all theyr venemous strength is taken away and nothing doeth remayne but the signe thereof Three graynes of this pouder wee with some licour beyng cast vpon snakes and adders they dye foorthwith Thus muche Serapio sayeth Rasis Simia of Gallen a man amongest the Arabiens moste learned in the booke which hee wrote called Continent saieth thus the Bezaar stone is that which seemeth some what yellowe and soft without any manner of taste the which hee sayeth that he hath experimented two times and hath found in it vertue of great efficacie agaynst Napelo the strongest of all venomes He sayth also that he hath seene in this stone the most maruellous effectes agaynst all venome that euer he saw in any Medicine that was against vâ—nome eyther simple or compounde or any composition made against venome as Triacles or other compositions for that the Bezaar stone is of more efficacie and vertue then any of them The same doeth agree with the bookes he made to the King Almasor saying The euill Uenoms that doe offende the heart and woorke theyr effect O how little profite doeth any cure proue in them if the Bezaar be not taken for that doeth resist it and he sayeth Moreouer I my selfe saw that it did resist the venome called Napelo which is the Uenome that doeth penetrate more then all venoms thus much of Rasis An other Moore very learned and a great Astronomer that wrote of stones figured vnder Signes and Planets and the vertues they haue was called Hamech Benreripho he in his booke that hee wrote of the vertue of Plantes and of stones and of beastes that serue for the vse of Medicine sayeth the Bezaar stone is agaynst all venome and it hath besides this particular propertie taken in pouder agaynst the bytinges of Scorpions and beyng carried about one and grauen vppon he is safe against all the bytinges of venemous beastes An other Moore called Abdala Narache a learned man in medicine sayeth that the Bezaar stone is agaynst all Uenome he saw it as a precious thing in the hands of the King of Cordoua called Miramamolim vnto whom was geuen strong venome and hauing geuen vnto him the Bezâ—ar stone by meanes wherof he was deliuered wholly of the venome foorthwith the King gaue his royall Pallace to him that gaue him the stone which deliuered him from this imminent death and surely it was a greate gift of a king the chiefe Pallace of Cordoua at this day day beyng a thing so notable and of suche great value and the stone was much estemed for that so great a price was geuen for it Auensoar a Phisition of the Moores but a naturall Spaniarde of Penaflore a place lying betweene Cordoua and Seuill gaue vnto one who was very much lamented by reason he had taken very euill Uenom of the Bezaar stone the waight of 3. graines with the water of Goords for that it was hot venom because it did seeme to be so For assoone as he had taken it there did appeare vppon him the Iaundice very yeallow and he was very well deliuered and saued from it Aueroiz a Phisition and a Philosopher very excellent being a Spaniarde and borne in Cordoua saieth that the Bezaar stone is in great estimation and very profitable agaynst all venomous bytinges and especially against the bitinges of Scorpions Haliabas doeth make mention of the Bezaar stone in three places where he treateth of Uenomes but he passeth it ouer lightly onely shewing that it is soft and saith that it must be scoured in water and that the water of it must be geuen to them that are poysoned Rabbi Moises of Egypt but borne in Spayne a most cunning Phisition who followed Gallen in all his woorkes in the booke he made of venomes in the first thing that hee treated of in the thirde Chapter speaking of simple Medicines and the vse of them which are conuenient for the bytinges of Uenomous beastes sayeth the simple Medicines that wee haue amongst vs of most profite and greatest experience which are of many approoued are the seede of the Cidron c. And the other is the Emeralde a maruellous medicine agaynâ—t all venome c. Gallen made mention of the third which is the Bezaar stone that is taken out of a beast the which stone is like to an akorn the colour therof is green and doth ingender by little and little making it selfe grosse for that they finde in it oâ—e skale vpon another some doe say that they are ingendred in the corners of the eyes of certaine sheepe that are in the East partes othere doe say that they are ingendred in the purse of the gall of the sayd sheep which poysoned I caused him to take thereof diuers Morninges the waight of three graynes of the same Bezaar stone with the water of Oxetongue and hee was therewith very wel healed Many Phisitions of late time and in our dayes haue made mention of this Bezaar stone and doe very much extoll the same in theyr bookes with great Prerogatiues against all kinde of venome and agaynst many other diseases which we minde to treate of
to see what we finde written by euery one of them Amongest whom Andrewe Mathiolus of Siena a man very well learned in the Commentaries which hee wrote most learnedly vppon Dioscorides in the sixth booke declaring the Medicines that are agaynst venome by speciall propertie doeth write of the Bezaar stone very geeat vertues and doeth approoue it to be a medicine and remedie most principall that at this day is knowen in the Worlde agaynst venome and he doeth referre that as is sayd vnto the Authours which wee haue alleaged Andrewe de Laguna borne in Segouia who amongest the learned was named Galen the Spaniarde for the Commentaries which he made vpon the sixth book of Dioscorides in the Spanish tongue where he treateth of venomes he sheweth how present a remedie the Bezaar stone is agaynst all kinde of venome and agaynst the bytinges of venomous beastes and agaynst pestilent Agewes of euill qualitie and also that it is a greate remedie agaynst the falling sickenesse that it doeth expell the stone of the Raynes and beeyng geuen with Wyne it breaketh the stone in the Bladder There hee noteth howe this Stone is engendred in certayne Goates of the Mountaynes of Persia and howe the stones that are the best bee bright and skaley and softe of the colour of a Fruite of Spaine called Beringena which is a remedie muche commended amongest Princes and great lords for the effects aforesaide Valescus de Taranto a Phisition and borne in Milan the scholler of Tornamira in the 7. booke of his experiments praiseth very much this Bezaar stone to be of great force against venom and other diseases for his effectes and for the great fame that was of his woorkes in this tyme against al venom Saint Ardonius of Pesauris Phisition in a booke which hee made of venomes exceedingly prayseth the Bezaar stone preferreth it before all other medicines as wel simples as compoundes which haue vertue against venom or byâ—inges of venomous beastes and sayeth that hee sawe it and prooued it by great experience Amato Lucitano a learned man of our tyme being now resident in Ragosa in his commentaries which hee wrote vppon Dioscorides in the seconde booke of Ceruigenitale did treate of this Bezaar stone very learnedly as a man of Portingal who did much enforme himselfe of those of his nation that came from the East India and he sayeth that the Bezaar stone is of the making of an acorne full of spottes declining to the colour of a sad blewe compounded with many shales the which they call Bezaar as a present remedie against al maner of venom and they take them out of certaine beastes which are lyke to wilde hartes that are in the East India and are called goates of the mountaines they are founde in their bowelles and inner partes of the which being giueÌ„ 3. graynes with the waters of the flowers of Orenges it is the present remedy against all Uenom killing and extinguishing the venomes and force thereof it killeth the wormes giueÌ„ with water of Verdolagas where the feuer is and where there is no feuer with whyte wine he saieth that he hath experience and hath cured therewith the pluâ—esie being very sore rooted it is conuenient that it be giuen to them that haue taken venom in vomittes and it wil expel the venom and being giuen to them that haue vomitted of beastes speaking of the goate doeth much commend this Bezaar stone to be against al venoÌ„ Other authors there be that make mention of this stone but they passe it lightly ouer only praysing it to be good against venom in generall and in particular the which at this present I lightly passe ouer for it is sufficiently spoken of by those before rehearsed wherby it may haue authoritie with al those that therof wil profite themselues That which I haue seene by experience I wil now speake of for the more confirmation of the sayde cause and of the meruellous vertues which it hath wherby it may bee vnderstoode what is written by these authors aforesayd with manifest examples It is about 14. yeres past that my Lady the Duches of Bâ—jar was aduertised by the Lorde don Iohn Mauriques that in the Court was vsed for such as did sound a stone that was called the Bezaar for that my Lady the Duches had a sonne very sicke of the sayde disease wel neere since the tyme of his byrth and shee beeing desirous of his health did procure to know what remedy might be had and seeing the ordinary remedies of Phisicke which they had ministred vnto him beeing many and diuers by the wysest Phisitions of Spayne and yet not preuailed any thing and hearing of the greate vertue of this Bezaar stone they had communication with mee thereof yet was it to mee somewhat straunge for that I had no other knowledge thereof then by bookes and I thought that it had not beene in these partes then I requested that the stone might be sent for being desirous to ease this Lorde for his vertues deserued the same and his great knowledge in al kinde of learning and in al things that a noble man might haue knowledge in as also to see the stone which was a thing of mee much desired The stone was sent for to Lishebron by meanes of a Genoues and there was brought twoo of them very fayre wrought in gold and eche of them as great as a Date stone and somewhat greater of colour greene and blackishe lyke to a Beringena which is a fruit of Spayne and the stone being brought not a little to our contentment euery one gaue their iudgement it was agreed that at such time as he should sownde it shoulde presently be giuen him and the sownding being come in the euening hee toke foorth with the appointed order which was brought from the court that hee should take foorthwith the waight of three graines of the pouder of the stone and it should bee cast in water of Oxetongue so much as might be sufficient for him and so it was done Opening his mouth hee swallowed it downe the which he did with much difficultie within the space of halfe a quarter of an houre after hee had taken it hee recouered as easilie as though hee had not had it And seeing the vertue that was in the stone wee did esteeme it much and the more for that wee sawe that euery tyme it toke him he came to himselfe so easily and when he toke not the stone the sounding did continue long and hee returned from it with greate paynes and in long tyme it seased not but when the stone was giuen him he came quickly to himselfe and with greate easinesse as though he had not had any sownding at all My Lady the Duches caried the stone in her purse and had the quantitie that he shoulde take alwayes in a readinesse bycause when the sownding came to him it might bee giuen him with more speede bycause hee shoulde not bee long
are most colde They which drinke that which is made colde with snowe saye that it doeth not offende them as that which is made cold with the weather for it is seene that a cuppe of colde water beeing dronke that commeth foorth of a well or of a colde fountayne hurteth such as doe drinke it and drinking that which is made colde with snow they feele no such hurte I doe much maruell at one thing that this Citie of Siuill beeing one of the most famous of the Worlde wherein alwayes haue liued many greate personages of very high estate and many people of greate estimation as well of the naturall people of the Country as strangers that ther hath byn none which haue brought thither snowe in the time of whot weather for to make colde that which they drinke seeyng that the heate of this countrie from the beginning of Sommer vntil it be well neere towardes Winter is so great that it is not to be suffered and all the waters are most whot that they cannot scarcely be drunke And besides that the moste parte of the people of this Citie are people of much businesse and cares And seeyng that in a Countrie so whot where businesse and cares doe abounde where the water is whot and nothing wherewithall to coole it with iust Title it may be admitted and vsed that it may be cooled with snowe seeyng that the coldnesse is so sure as we haue sayd and it doth make the benefites which Galen and Auicen haue shewed vnto vs. Let euery one looke vppon his disposition that beeing whole although hee bee not altogether in health in time of whot wether he may drinke colde more or lesse as it is conuenient for him For the drinking colde doeth temper the Liuer it mitigateth the heate it geueth appetite to meate it comforteth the stomake it geueth strength too all the foure vertues that may doe theyr woorkes the better the meate is eaten with appetite and with gladnesse it taketh away the drithe in the day time it causeth that the stone doth not ingender in the raynes by keeping temperate the heate of them it taketh away lothsomnesse and likewise it doeth many other good effectes that the vse and thereof experience ode shewe vs. And because it is the best manner too make colde with Snowe as we haue sayde let vs aâ—â—we thereof with graue Authours and let Auicen bee the first in the thirde of the first where he saith The water that is made cold with snow vnto such as are of a temperate complection whereas coldenesse hath beene made with Snowe yea although the snow be fowle and not cleane then it serueth to make colde the water without and that as is good and cleane is to be put in to that which shal be dronke as Auicen himselfe sheweth in the second parte of the first booke the 16. chapter where hee sayth the snowe and the frosen water when it is cleane and that the Snowe hath not fallen vppon euill plantes or that it be not mingled with earth or other superâ—â—uâ—ties and the frost not made of euill infected waters but that the water which come foorth of the snow bee cleere and cleane and the water that commeth foorth of the frost be also good and cleane if any parte of the water of the snowe or of the frost bee put into the water that must bee dronke or with them the water be made cold without dout it is good for the waters which come foorth of them bee not straunge from other waters This doth Auicen say giuing to vnderstande that these waters which doe proceed of snow and of frost being cleane doe not differ from the goodnesse of other waters onely the difference is that the water of the snowe and of the frost are grosser then other waters by reason that the vapour is congeled in the middle region of the ayre as wee haue declared Rasis amongest the Arabiens the best learned in the thirde booke of those which hee wrote to the King Almasor sayeth thus The water of snowe cooleth the Liuer that is whot beeing taken after meate it strengtheneth the stomake it giueth appetite and lust to meate but that which is dronke may not be much And immediatly after he sayth the water which hath not so much coldnesse that it giueth not contentment to him that drinketh it filleth the belly taketh not away the drithe it destroyeth the appetite it taketh away the lust of the meate it consumeth the body and concludeth in saying that it is not a thing conuenient to bee dronke I do vnderstand it for the preseruation of the health of man of the which Rasis treating in that booke himselfe in the 4. of Almasor speaking of the preseruation from the and there commeth to him hurt and poyson which destroyeth and corrupteth him beleeue you mee and suffer not such which are sicke to spende their mony to cast golde in medicines which they take nor let them quenche golde that is whot in wyne nor in water for of the one and of the other there remayneth no medicinal vertue that wil remedy their euilles Only the golde being made mony hath greate vertues and properties for that is it that maketh the hart glad and taketh away sadnesse and melancholy and repaireth al the vertues and strength of man it giueth strength whereas is none it is an vniuersal remedy of al thinges vnles it bee of death for against that nothing can preuayle And seeing that night is come and tyme giueth not vnto vs any longer liberty and although that it gaue vs yet age doeth his office for I feele my selfe weary God bee with you Maister OrtunÌ„o and likewyse to you Maister Burgus and I goe to take rest The end of the Dialogue of Yron THE BOKE WHICH TREATETH OF THE SNOW AND OF the properties vertues therof And of the maner that should be vsed to make the drink cold therwith of the other wayes wherewith drinke is to be made colde Wherof is shewed partly in the latter parte of the seconde Dialogue of yron With other curiosities which will geue contentment by other auncient thinges woorthy too bee knowen which in this treatise shal bee declared Written by Doctor Monardes Phisition of Seuill 1574 To the excellent Lord the Earle of Barajas assistent of the citie of Seuill c. the Doctor Monardes your Phisition wisheth health MOst excellent Lorde the faire white snow doeth complaine vnto mee saying that she being so auncient and of so many ages celebrated of so many Princes Kinges wise and valiant mâ—n and beyng had in so greate estimation and price that with greate care they seeke after her with greater care they doe conserue her for to geue health contentment to all persons yet for all this many people with little consideration not knowing what they say doe persecute her putting vndecent names to her and that which doeth most greeue her is