woulde bee incurable and without anye remedy of which thinges although that some haue knowledge yet they be not common too all people for which cause I did pretend to treate and to write of all things that they bring from our Indias apperteyning to the arte and vse of Medicine and the remedie of the hurtes and diseases that wee doe suffer and endure whereof no small profite doeth followe to those of our time and also vntoo them that shall come after vs in the bewraying whereof I shall be the first that the rather the followers may adde herevnto with this beginning that which they shal more knowe and by experience hereafter finde out And as in this Citie of Seuill which is the Porte and skale of all the Occidentall Indias we doe knowe of them more then in any other partes of all Spayne for bicause that al things come first hither where by better intelligence and greater experience it is learned so doe I with practice and vse of them this fourtie yeeres that which I doe cure in this Citie where I haue informed my selfe of them that haue brought these thinges out of those partes with muche care and I haue made experience thereof with many and diuers persons with all diligence and foresight possible and with much happy successe Of the Anime and Copall THey do bring from the new Spaine 2. kinds of Rosine that be both much alike one to the other the one is called Copall and the other Anime The Copall is a Rosine verie white and of muche brightnesse it is brought in certaine great peeces which are like too peeces of Diacitron very cleare it hath an indifferent smell but not so good as the Anime with this Copall the Indians did make perfumes in their sacrifices so the vse thereof was frequented in the Temples by their Priestes And when the first Spaniardes went too those partes the Priestes went out to receiue them with little firepots burning in them this Copall and geuing to them the smoke of it at their noses wee doe vse heere to perfume with it in diseases rising vpon coldenesse of the head in the place of Incence or Anime it is hotte in the seconde degree and moyst in the first it is resoluatiue and softneth by some watrish partes that it hath The Anime is a gumme or Rosine of a greate Tree it is white it draweth neere to the coulour of Incence it is more oyly then the Copall is it commeth in graines as the Incence doeth although somewhat greater and beyng broken it hath a yellowe collour as Rosine hath it is of a very acceptable and pleasaunt smell and put vppon burning coales it doth consume very quickely It differeth from our Anime that is brought from Leuante which is not so white nor so bright insomuche that some doe say that it is spice of Charabe or Succino which is called Amber congeled wherwith they doe make Beades but it is not so for that the Charabe is a kinde of Pitche that is founde in the Germayne Sea and it is taken out of the Sea in great peeces with a dragge of Iron so that it seemeth to come foorth of some Fountaines into the Sea after the maner of pitch and beeing come foorthe vnto the colde ayre it congeleth for because there is sâ—ene in the same peeces of stickes other superfluities of the Sea cleaning vnto it and in this they shall see the errour of them that say that it is Gumme of Alamo and of others that it is of the Pinetree Of our Anime Hermolaus Barbarus a man most excellently learned doeth saie that it is gatherâ—d about the place where Incence is founde and that lande or soile is called Amintin and therefore the thing is called Anime That which is brought from the newe Spaine is gathered from certaine Trees of a reasonable greatnesse by way of incision as the Incence and Almasiga are gaâ—hered we do vse thereof for many infirmities and principally for the griefe of the head and paines therof caused of humours or of colde causes and for sluffyng in the head that thereof doeth proceede after euacuation perfuming therewith the chambers in the Winter season and where as are generall infirmities it doeth purifie and correct the Aire and they doe perfume therewith their head kerchers when that they doe goe to sleepe for them that doe suffer paines in the head and occasions thereof it doeth profite to perfume the head of him that is so diseased it doeth comforte the head vnto such as haue it debilited or weakened and doe suffer paines by occasion thereof they doe put it also in plaisters and in seere clothes where as is neede of comfort and to dissolue especially cold humours or windinesse they doe vse it also in place of Incence as well in the perfumes as in the aforesaide It doeth comfort the braine applied in the forme of a plaister and euen so likewise the stomacke and all partes being full of Sinewes made after the fashion of a Sere cloth with the third parte of Waxe it taketh out the cold of any member whatsoeuer being applied therevntoo for a long time with refreshing it It is hotte in the second degree and moist in the first Of the gumme called Tacamahaca AND also they doe bring out of the newe Spaine an other kinde of Gumme or Rosine which the Indians doe call Tacamahaca and the same name did our Spaniardes giue it it is Rosine taken out by incision of a tree being as great as a Willow tree and is of a verie sweete smell it bringeth foorth a red fruite as the seede of Pionia This Rosine or Gumme the Indians doe much vse in their infirmities chiefly in swellinges in any part of the bodie wheresoeuer they bee ingendred for that it dissolueth ripeneth and maruellously desolueth them And euen so it taketh awaie any manner of greefe that is come of a colde cause as humours and windinesse this the Indians doe vse very commonly and familiarly And for this effect the Spaniardes hath brought it The colour is as the colour of Galuano and some doe say that it is the same it hath white partes like to Amoniaco it is of a good smel and the tast is like insomuch that being cast vpon hotte burning coles and giuing the smoke thereof at the nose of a woman that doth swoone or els hath lost her feeling by suffocation of the Mother it doeth cause her to come quickely and easily to her selfe And the Rosine putte to her nâ—uell after the manner of a plaister causeth the Mother to keepe in her place and the vse thereof is so much amongest women that the most parte which is spent thereof is for this effect for that they doe finde themselues very much eased by it taking awaie from them all manner of chokinges of the Mother and comforting the stomacke Some that bee curious doe adde thereuntoo Amber and
Muske and so it is better then alone It is alwaies fixed without melting of it selfe vntill that it bee al wholie wasted And where it doeth most profite is for to take awaie any manner of griefe caused of colde humours and windie and beeing applied vnto them in manner of a plaister it taketh them away and dissolueth them with greate admiration it doeth cleane in such sorte that vntill it hath done and wrought his effect it can not bee taken away and the selfe same it doeth being laide vppon swellinges for that it consumeth and desolueth them and if there bee any desire to ripen them it doeth it and that very quickly It is also a remedie verified and experimented that it doeth profite much in Reumes and Runnings wheresoeuer they goe for it taketh them awaie putting a small peece of linnen cloth with this Rosine behinde both the eares or the eare on the parte which runneth for that it doeth restraine the running of them and applied vnto the temples of the head in manner of a plaister it doeth withholde the runnings and the fluxe that runneth to the eyes and to the partes of the face it takethaway the tothe ache although that the tothe bee hollowe by putting a little of this Rosine into the hollowe and if therewith the rotten tothe be burned it maketh that the corruption goeth no further and being laide after the maner of a plaister in the hollownesse of the necke or griefe of the shoulders it taketh away the paynes mingled with the thirde parte of storax and a little Amber made in a plaister for the stomacke it doeth comfort it and causeth appetite to meate it helpeth digestion and dissolueth windines after the same sort put vpon the moulde of the head it comforteth and taketh away the paines thereof In the Sciatica or paynes of the hippes put therevnto the effect thereof is greate and likewise it is so in all paynes of the ioyntes and in any payne of the body whersoeuer it be chiefly if it come of cold humours or mixt For because with his resolution it hath partes of binding which doe giue a maruellous comforting in ioyntes or in hurtes of Sinewes putting that alone it doeth heale and cure them for greate is the experience that wee haue of it iâ—genderyng foorth with matter it taketh away an extreeme colde ordinarily it is applyed to all griefes I doe mingle therewith the thirde parte of yellowe Waxe for that will be applied the better and the vse thereof is so celebrated that the people knowe no other remedy for any grief but only the vse of this Rosine so that it bee not inflamations very hotte and also in them after the first furie is past and the fearcenesse thereof it doth profite much for to dissolue the rest it is hotte in the beginning of the third degree and drie in the second Of the Gumme Caranna THey doe bring from the firme Lande by the waie of Cartagena and number de Dios A Rosin of the coulour of Tacamahaca somewhat cleare and thinne called in the Indians language Caranna and this woorde and name our Spaniardes haue geuen it and it hath in maner the smel of the Tacamahaca although it bee somewhat more strong of smell it is very oylie and it cleaueth fast without melting for the clamminesse that it hath It is a newe Medicine and brought hither about a tenne yeeres past and the Indians doe vse it in their infirmities against swellinges and in all manner of griefes and now in our partes it is much esteemed for the great effects that it doth worke It doth profit and heale the same infirmities that the Tacamahaca doth but it woorketh more speedily so that many infirmities wherein the Tacamahaca doth not so much effect the Caranna doth easily heale There was one that did suffer paines in his shoulders the which paines hee had suffered a long time in such sort that he could not stirre his Armes hauing vsed a great time the Tacamahaca yet hee was not healed vntil hee had put thereunto the Caranna and thereby in three daies he was made whole In the griefes of the Iointes and the Goâ—t Arthetica it hath a maruellous effect being applied vnto the grief so that it be not an inflammation of very hotte humour for it taketh it awaie with much easinesse In old swellinges as well in humours as in windes it dissolueth in griefes caused by defluxe or running of cold humours or mixed it worketh a meruellous â—ffect in all paines of the Sinowes and griefes of the head and griefes that thereof do proceede it profiteth much Surely it is a medicine to dissolue and to take away griefs of great efficacie and doth make his worke with great certaintie in new greene wounds especially of the Sinewes it doeth much profit and greatly in ioyntes in the which I haue seene done only therewith very great workes it is an intercepting to state the fluxe and running of the eyes and other partes applied behinde the eares and in the temples of the head It is very fattie and oylie and hot more then in the second degree And it is to be noted that all these Rosines the Indians doe gather by way of Incision by geuing cuttes in the Trees of which forthwith the licour doth droppe out and from thence they gather it Of the Oyle of the Figge tree of Hell FRom Gelisco a Prouince in the newe Spaine they bring an Oyle or Licour that the Spaniards haue called oyle of the Fig tree of Hell for that it is taken from a tree that is no more nor lesse theÌ„ our Fig tree of Hel aswel in the Leafe as in the Fruite it is the same that wee doe commonlie call Chatapucia or Cherua it is also milkish as ours is for that it is more burning in the Indias for the grosnes of the earth The Indians doe make this oyle as Dioscorides doeth shewe in the first booke the xxx Chapter that is do pounde the seede seeth it in water and after it is sodden then they gather the Oyle that swimmeth vppon it with a Spoone and this is the maner to make Oyle of fruite and Seedes and Bowes of trees It is verie much frequented and vsed of the Indians As for expression or wringing out the iuice they doe not knowe how to doe it for lacke of knowledge this kind of oyle principally is better drawen out this way than by expression This Oyle hath greate vertues as by the vse thereof hath beene seene as well in the Indias as in our partes and all that I will say is of very greate experience and much vse thereof in many persons it doeth heale and cure all infirmities caused of cold humours and windines it doth dissolue al hardnes with mollification and all inflammations being windie it taketh away all manner of paine in what parte soeuer it bee
the vse of it as often as it is needefull It is necessary in the seethinges that are vsed to bee made for Glisters to put into them with the other things the Leaues of this hearbe for that they shal profit much and likewise for Fomentations and Plaisters that they shall make In griefes of windes they worke the like effect taking away the paines that come of the windinesse applying the leaues after the same sorte as is aboue saide In the griefe of women which is called the euill of the Mother laying too one leafe of this hearbe Tabaco very hotte in the manner as it is sayde it doth manifestly profite and it must bee layde vppon the Nauell And vnder it some doe vse to put first of al thinges of good smell vpon the Nauel and then vpon that they lay the leafe In that which they finde most profit is to lay the Tacamahaca or the oyle of liquid Amber and Balsamo and Caranna or any of these vnto the Nauel and to kepe it too it continually that it may cleaue vnto it and this worketh manifest profit in griefes of the Mother In one thing the women that dwel in the Indias doe celebrate this hearbe that is in the euill breathing at the mouth of children when they are ouer filled with meate and also of olde people anoynting their bellies with lampe oyle and laying some of those leaues in ashes hotte to their bellies also to theyr shoulders for it doeth take away ther naughty breathing and maketh them goe to the stoole applying it vnto the fundement at what tyme it is needfull and if the leaues bee ashed it is the better Wormes of all kindes of them it killeth and expelleth them maruellously the seething of the hearbe made into a Syrope delicately beeing taken in very little quantitie the ioyce thereof put on the nauel It is needful after this be done to giue a Glister that may auoyde them and expell them out of the guttes In griefes of the Iointes comming of a colde cause it maketh a maruellous worke the Leaues of this Tabaco being laid hotte vpon the griefe the lyke doth the Ioyce layde vpon a little cloth hotte for that it doeth dissolue the humor taketh away the paines therof If it come of a hot cause it doth hurt sauing when the humor hath bene hot and the subtil part is dissolued and the grosse remayneth then it doeth profite as if the cause were colde and it is to be vnderstood that the leaues being layde where as is griefe of the sayde cause in any part of the body it profiteth much In swellings or in cold Impostumes it doth dissolue and vndoe them washing them with the hotte Iuyce and laying the beaten leaues after they be stampt or the leaues beeing whole of the sayde Tabaco vpon it In the Toothache when the griefe commeth of a colde cause or of colde Rumes putting to it a little ball made of the leafe of the Tabaco washing first the tooth with a small cloth wet in the Iuyce it taketh away the payne and stayeth it that the putrifaction goe not forwarde in hot causes it doth not profite and this remedy is so common that it healeth euery one This hearbe doth maruellously heale Chilblaines rubbing them with the stamped leaues and after putting the handes and Feete in hot water with Salt and keping them warme this is done with great experience in many In Uenom and venomous wounds our Tabaco hath great commendation which hath beene knowne but a shorte tyme since for when the wilde people of the Indias which eate mans fleshe doe shoote their Arrowes they annointe them with an hearbe or Composition made of many poysons with the which they shoote at all thinges that they would kill and this Uenom is so strong and pernicious that it killeth without remedie and they that bee hurte dye with great paynes and accidents and with madnes vnlesse that their be found remedie for so great an euill A fewe yeeres past they laid to their wounds Sublimatum and so were remedied and surely in those partes they haue suffered much with this vexation of poyson A little whiles past certaine wild people going in their Bootes to S. Iohn De puerto Rico to shoote at IndiaÌ„s or Spaniards if that they might find theÌ„ came to a place and killed certain Indians Spaniards did hurt many as by chaunce there was no Sublimatum at that place to heale them they remembred to lay vpon the wounds the Ioyce of the Tabaco the leaues stamped And God would that laying it vpon the hurtes the griefs madnes accidents wherwith they dyed were mittigated and in such sort they were deliuered of that euill that the strength of the Uenom was taken away and the wounds were healed of the which there was greate admiration Which thing being knowen to theÌ„ of the Ilande they vse it also in other hurtes and woundes which they take when they fight with the wilde people nowe they stande in no feare of them by reason they haue founde so great a remedy in a case so desperate This Hearbe hath also vertue against the hearbe called of the Crosseboweshooter which our hunters doe vse to kil the wilde beastes withall which heathe is Uenom most strong and doeth kill without remedie which the Kinges pleasure was to prooue and commaunded to make experience thereof and they wounded a little dogge in the throate and put foorthwith into the wound the hearbe of the Crosseboweshooter and after a little while they powred into the selfe same wounde that they had annoynted with the Crossebowe shooters hearbe a good quantitie of the Iuyce of Tabaco and layde the stamped leaues vpon it and they tied vp the dogge and hee escaped not without great admiration of al men that sawe him Of the which the excellent Phisition of the Chamber of his maiestie Doctor Barnarde in the margent of this booke that sawe it by the commaundement of his Maiestie wryteth these wordes I made this experience by the commaundement of the kinges Maiesty I wounded the dogge with a knife after I put the Crossebowe shooters hearbe into the wounde and the hearbe was chosen and the dogge was taken of the hearbe and the Tabaco and his Iuyce being put into the wounde the dogge escaped and remained whole In the venomous Carbuncles the Tabaco being applied in maner as is aforesaid doth extinguish the malice of the venom doth that which al the woorkes of Surgery can doe vntil it be whole The same effect it worketh in bytinges of venomous beastes for it killeth and extinguisheth the malice of the venom and healeth them In woundes newely hurt and cuttes strokes prickes or any other manner of wounde our Tabaco worketh maruellous effectes for that it doeth heale them and maketh them souâ—d The wound must be washed with wine procure to annoynt the
contentment to heale onely with the drinking of a water it beyng of a sweete smel and good of sauour which is taken and drunk without any maner of griefe and so to doe that woorke which sharpe medicines and sirupes of euill sauour and tast cannot doe And such as did drinke wine did water their wine with it thâ—y found themselues well with it In one thing it was seene greately to profite which is in the vse of this water in them that haue lost the lust of their meate insomuch that it is restored to them the lothsomnesse taken from them by the vse of it so that many did amende come to their health quickely And the vse of this water doth cause lust to meate The Souldiers doe coÌ„mend it with suche admiration that some came to leaue it and not to drinke it for because that it caused them to haue so great hunger that they coulde not withstand it And because there was no suche abundance of meates wherwith they might satisfie their hunger which the water was cause of they would not drinke it as not hauing sufficient for their maintenaunce for they did all vse it for a drinke in steede of wine and it was a great remedie for them that by it they became whole as appeareth by them which came from those partes whereas they doe vse it In the Hauana there is a Phisition whom they take for a Man of good vnderstanding in these causes who did cure many of them which came in the Fleete from the newe Spayne sicke with onely the vse of this water without geuing or making for them any other Medicine And it did very well with them for that many were healed therewith and he gaue them to drinke as much as they would all the day and at Dinner and Supper and in the morning he gaue a Cuppe full warmed to them that coulde not goe to stoole with a little Sugar not very white and it wrought very well with them for their going to stoole And to other he gaue Medicines of this water only and Hony it made a good worke I cured heere some that were in cure in the Hauana And being ordered in this maner they which came not wel healed thence were heere fully healed In griefes of the head and in paines thereof being very olde which proceed of any cold cause the taking of this water hot in the morning wel sodden and at dinner and supper and in the day tyme simple with good gouernement as well in the meate that is eaten as in the rest of all other thinges and doing this for many dayes it cureth and healeth them maruellously It is conuenient for him that shal do this that he purge himself first and in the tyme that hee must take it that he receiue certaine Pilles of Hiera simplex he hath no need to keepe himselfe close neither in his chamber nor in his bedde He that shal take this it is ynough that he go wel clothed and that he keepe himselfe from the colde and ayre and that he vse to eate good meates In griefes of the brest caused of colde humors this water doth profite much and openeth the waies of the brest It consumeth moysture and fleames it stayeth the fluxe the running which cometh from the head to the brest It must be taken in the morning hot and drinke continually simple for besides the ordinary drinking in the morning it must bee drunke simplie for a long tyme. For these simple waters as they doe their worke by little and little so it is needful that they be continued for a long season It is good that there be put some suggar too it that it may make the better woorke In griefes of the Stomacke when the cause is colde or windie after that the vniuersal euacuations bee made taking this water in the morning strong as it is sâ—id simple at other tymes it taketh them away and healeth them chiefly if there bee any olde griefe for that I haue giuen it for this effect to men that many yeeres did suffer most grieuous paynes in the stomacke and with taking the water in the morning hot for certaine dayes and continuing with the simple water for a long tyme and taking once euery weeke pilles of Hiera simplex many people were healed therof very wel And thus we haue declared howe that the vse of this water restoreth the appetite lost and giueth lust to meate In the weakenes of the stomacke and in the lacke of natural heate where that which is eaten is not consumed it worketh great effectes and helpeth digestion It consumeth windes which are the cause of indigestion it taketh away a stinking breath and from them that do vomit their meate it taketh away that euil custome so that they eate little and vse continually to drinke this water without wyne And aboue al other thinges it maketh a good breath and a good smel at the mouth In the disease of the stone of the Ridneis and reines the vse of this water hot when they haue this griefe doth greatly profit and much more vsing it continually simple by it self or with wine for that it doeth preserue that the paine come not so continually nor so grieuously And also it maketh him that doeth vse it to cast out much Sande where the stones bee ingendred And also it causeth the stones that are in the reynes to be cast out and staieth the ingendering of them for that it consumeth the fleames of the which they be principally ingendered and the windes that be many tymes the causes of the paines To them which haue the burning of the Urine to such as haue great burning at the tyme that they make their water doe feele great heat vnto such is not conuenient the vse of this water for bicause it is hot Al such should vse of that wood which I haue written of in the first part of this Historie which is excellent for such as suffer the lyke burninges and paines For the stones and sandes for al such euils comming of heate the work is meruellous that it doeth sauing that if there bee any stone in the Bladder from which place proceedeth the lyke burning for in such a case none of these waters doe take effect but only the Surgions Raser when the Stone is greate is that which doeth profite as I haue seene in many And whyle it is sayd it is a stone it is no stone death hath come vnto them that had it whome if they had beene opened in time might haue liued many yeres as we haue seene in diuers of sixtie yeres and more who haue bin opened and liued vntill they came to eighty yeres and more And I aduertise you that this wood which I call of the Uryne and the stone doeth make the water blewe for if it doe not make the water blewe it is not the right wood And now they bring
Cape of Saint Elen which is in the same coast they bring another kind of Mechoacan but it is very strong and beeing taken it causeth great accidentes of vomites and faintnesse with many stooles and for this cause they cal it Escamonea no man vseth it bicause it bringeth by incision which commeth foorth like to a whyte teare or drop most cleare with a maruellous sweete smel declaring wel the maruellous effectes and Medicinal vertues that it hath of the which wee haue treated in the first parte And that Balsamo which is made by seething as wee doe there showe we see the maruellous effectes that it worketh with so great and maruellous vertues that it bringeth admiration to the whole worlde with many other maruels which hetherunto we haue seene that be there spoken of And greater wil these woorkes bee that shal bee done with the Balsamo which they nowe bring made by incision seeing that one drop of this is more woorth then twoo Gallons of the other as it is manifestly seene by vsing of it And surely that which was in Egypt and failed so many members of yeeres past I beleeue that it had not more vertues then this And I am sure that this is of greater vertue and effectes then euer that was of I haue the fruite of this tree which is little according to the greatnesse of the tree and it is a grayne as great as a white Pease the taste of it is a little bitter it is shut into the end of a little â—od of the length of a finger beeing narrowe whyte and thinne of the thicknesse of vi d. It carieth no more but one graine in the ende which is the fruite that the Indians doe vse to perfume them withal in griefes of the head and in Reumes Surely the Balsamo is a maruellous thing and it sheweth well in it selfe what it is according to the workes therof They bring moreouer from the firme land a TurpeÌ„tine or Licor which is called Deabeto and it is gathered from certaine trees of mixture they be not Pine trees nor Cipres for they bee higher then our Pine trees they are as straight as Cipresses trees In the highest part of the tree it bringeth forth certaine bladders of two sortes the which are great and smal and being broken there cometh foorth of them a maruellous licour which falleth drop after droppe and the Indians gather them with great deliberation and they receiue the same droppes which bee in the bladder into a shel and alwayes haue shelles lying vnder the bladders whereouâ— they distill and it is a thing done with such leasure that many Indians doe gather very little al the whole day The Licor serueth for all things that the Balsamo doeth it healeth very well woundes it taketh away colde griefes and windie Some do take it for the griefs of the stomacke caused of colde humors or for windines with a little white wyne And it is to be vnderstood that the Balsamo which is made by seething or that which is made by incision and this or any other manner of Licour of these of the Indias which is to bee taken by the mouth ought to bee taken but in little quantitie which must not bee more then foure or fiue droppes and it must not be taken in the Palme of the hand as it is sayde but putting a litle wine or Rose water into a spoone and pouring vpon that the droppes of Balsamo putting the spoone wel into your mouth and letting the Licor fal in so that it touch not the tongue For taken with it or touching it the sauour and tast is not remoued away in a long time it procureth an euell tast in such sort that for this onely cause many doe abhorre it and wil not take it and from others it hath taken away the lust of their meate by receiuing it and touching it with the tongue Of long Peper ALso they bring from Cartagena and from the coast of the firme lande from Nata neere to Veraga a certain kinde of Peper which they cal long Peper which hath a sharper taste then the Peper which is brought from the Oriental Indias and biteth more then it and is of more sweete taste and of better smell then that of Asia or the Peper of the East India it is a gentle spyce to dresse meates withall and for this purpose al the people in that country doe vse it A Gentleman gaue me a platter full of it for he brought a great quantitie of it for the seruice of his Ritchin because they vse it in place of blacke Peper and they take it to be of a better tast and more healthfull I haue tasted it and it byteth more then the blacke Peper doeth and it hath a more sweete taste then it hath I haue caused it to be put into drest meates in place of the Oriental Peper it giueth a more gentle taste vnto the meates that are drest therewith It is a fruite that casteth out a high plante of the greatnesse of a grosse Packethreed and the lower parte neere to the roote is as great as a litle sticke that is very small and vpon it are ioyned the little graines very neere together as though they were wrested one within the other which causeth the greatnesse whereof wee spake and beeing taken away from the litle sticke the stick remaineth bare and whole and it is greene being fresh but the Sunne ripeneth it and doeth turne it blacke and so they bring it into these partes It groweth in the coast of the firme lande in Nata and in Cartagena and in the newe kingdome in all these partes they vse it as I haue saide It hath the Medicinall vertues which the Orientall Peper hath that we vse The complexion thereof is hotte in the third degree And going to visite a childe the sonne of this Gentleman which gaue mee this Peper being diseased of the fire in the face I commanded him to bee let blood and that to his face they should apply some litle cloth with Rose water and the hearbe Mora hee saide to me that hee liked the letting of blood well because the boye was of Sanguine complexion but as for that which should be laid to his face hee had wherewith to heale it in short tyme and he commanded to bee brought foorth a thing lyke vnto a cake as great as a meane platter the outside was blacke and within yeallowe and beeing brought wel neere twoo thousand Leages it was moyst and hee dissolued a little of it with Rose Water and layde it to the boyes face I was desirous to know what it was he said that when the worke was seene what it would do he would tel me whereof it was compounded The next day I returned to the sicke and his face was so amended that I maruelled at it and immediatly he was washed with Rose water a little warme and hee remayned as
though he had not had any euil therein at all The cake was made of certaine Wormes which the Indians take out of the grounde and they make them fatte giuing them to eate leaues of a certaine kinde of corne that they haue there called Maiz and after they are fatte they put them into a frying panne of earth and seeth them therein and as they take of the skumme they strayne it and seeth it stil vntil it be thicker then an oyntment after the fashion and manner as he had it there They bring also from the Charcas certaine Rootes that bee like to the Rootes of flower de Luce sauing that they are smaller and they smell much lyke the leaues of Figge tree they call these Rootes in the Indias a remedy against the venemous hearbe for beeing made into pouder and taken with whyte wyne it is a thing of great strength and of the greatest vertue that is there against venome of what manner or qualitie soeuer it be so that it be not corsiue as Sublimatum or the lyke and as for that kinde of poyson with only drinking of much Milke they bee remedied This Roote beeing taken causeth the venome to bee cast out which is eaten or drunken or any manner venemous humour comming of any euill degree or cause whatsoeuer which is as wel done by vomit as by sweate If thâ—re bee any small Wormes or long Wormes in the body it killeth and expelleth them and if you haue any suspicion that there haue beene giuen you any venomous morsel whether it bee venome or witchecraft it expelleth it in which there is so much trust in those partes that they take it for a meruellous remedy for the thinges aforesayde The roote being tasted it hath a sweete relishe with some sharpnes It seemeth to be hot in the second degree From the coast of Nicaraga and of Nata they which come in these last ships from the firme land bring a certaine kind of purge with them that surely by the tast is easie to be taken and it worketh well and without any payne principally it purgeth Choler It is the fruite of a tree very great after the maner of Thornish Chestnuts which haue within them Chestnuts sauing that they pricke not but be playne within those prickles there be some like to Chestnuts made cleane without shale well neere square which deuide themsâ—lues asunder by meanes of a little skin euery one into two partes and so they are couered with it and when they be taken occupied that little skin is plucked away they are made cleane froÌ„ it for that beyng taken with it it procureth most dangerous accidentes and vomites much faintnesse and infinite stooles and without it the Chestnut is a purgation very gentle and they purge easily and without paines if they be tosted then they will purge lesse if they be greene they eate them or being beaten in a Morter they take them with wine or with the broth of a henne if â—hey bee drie they make pouder of them any manner of fashion They doe their worke well and with much assurance keeping the order that ought to be kept by them which be purged and the humors beyng prepared as is conuenient They are hot in the first degree ¶ Of the Sarcaparillia of Guaiaquill IN the first part wee declared howe that they brought Sarcaparillia from Peru which wee vse in some persons and it worketh greate effectes And because there was but little of it and soone done we returned to that of the Hâ—nduras which is that we haue spenâ— hiâ—herto And ning as much as they can drinke at once or at diuers times and after they cast themselues into a sweate and they sweate so much that it runneth by the Bedde in great quantitie After that they take cleane cloathes and eate of a Henne but they drinke of no other thing but of that iuyce which they tooke out of the rynde of the Sarcaparillia as well at Dinner as at Supper and they must eate very little at Supper likewise at Dinner And they must procure to keepe themselues from the Ayre and from the colde all that they can although in that Uillage of Guaiaquill wherein bee about fiftie houses or few more the most of them are Cotages of little safegarde and the Walles be made of Canes and there be no Chambers on high but onely belowe they dwel all in places of little defence Being in this order and small comforte for lacke of Conserua and drie fruite which were necessary yet in eight or nine dayes they are made whole of all the diseases that are healed with the Sarcaparillia and of many others which shoulde be very large to speake of It is sufficient that there goe no Man from thence which returneth not whole although he had neuer so greeuous a disease so that they bee not sharpe Agewes For in that case the cure hath no place or in any other sharpe disease All other diseases it healeth with maruellous successe as it is seene by the great number of people which come thither and goe away whole of the diseases which they bring thither But it is needfull that he which doth enter into this cure bee strong and not weake for if he be weake he cannot suffer so great sweate without great perill of his person For these euilles they haue another manner of Water that is taking foure ounces of Sarcaparillia rather more then lesse for that there they vse neyther wayghte nor measure but doe put all at discretion and they take away the rynde from the Sarcaparillia and breake it without putting it in Water if it bee greene and if if it be drie then they breake it put it in water vntill it bee made soft this rynd beyng without the heart they seeth in 4. Pottels of water little more or lesse and they seeth it vntill halfe the water be diminished rather more then lesse and of that Water they drinke as muche as they can in many times or at one time and forthwith they betake themselues to sweat and although they sweat not so much as they sweat with the first water yet they will heale they moue their clothes they eate of a Pullet they keep themselues from the colde and ayre and at Dinner and Supper they vse the self same water for that in one day they consume one seething this people take it in this manner fifteene or twentie dayes in this sort also they are healed of all their euils diseases to the great admiration of the people And for the vse of this Sarcaparillia they do not except any disease vnles it be feuers or sharpe diseases these people purge not at the beginning as we doe heere nor in the middest nor in the ende of the cure for there is no other Phisition nor medicine but certayne women which be there that giue the water they are women Phisitions and therefore they take away and put
forthwith a double linnen cloth vpon it wette in the same Balsamo and so bounde that the lippes goe not a sunder and keeping diet and vsing letting of blood if it be needful and not vnbinding it vntill the fourth day and they shall finde the wounde comforted except that there bee any accident which causeth it to bee vndone before And when the cause is such that it requireth to bee dressed euery day by reiterating the wette Linnen cloth in the Balsamo it wil bee healed for the vertue of this Balsamo is to cause that there bee no matter engendered in the woundes and especially this Balsamo doeth profite in woundes where there hath beene cuttinges of bones taking them out that haue beene diuided one from another and not touching the rest for that the vertue of the Balsamo will caste them out and hauing so done wil heale the wounde One of the thinges wherein this Balsamo worketh greate effectes is in woundes and ioyntes and in cuttinges of Sinewes in al prickes for in all these kindes of woundes it maketh a maruellous woorke curing and preseruing them from extreame colde and from running together of Sinewes that they remayne not lame The woundes which doe penetrate are healed with this Balsamo being mingled with whyte wyne and spouting it into them and after three houres taking it out again This must be done in wounds or prickes once euery daâ— that it may goe with a moderate heat Likewyse this Balsamo serueth to be applied where haue beene giuen dry blowes or brusinges and for al workes of Surgerie where is no notable inflammation which beeing taken away with the Medicines that are conuenient for it the Balsamo may then bee vsed In euilles which belong not to Surgerie this Balsamo doth profit much as in him that hath the shortnes of breath by taking a fewe droppes in whyte wyne it profiteth him much it taketh away the grief of the head coÌ„ming of a colde cause and a litle Plaister being laide vpon the griefe and wette therewith to the Temples of the head taketh away all runnings by those partes and in especially the euilles of the eyes and Reumes that runne into them beeing layde to the foreparte of the head and it must be good and hot It taketh away the paynes of it and comforteth it and remedieth the Palsie Some that haue beene in a Consumption haue vsed it taking some droppes in the morning licking them out of the Palme of the hande and they haue felt notable profit And it maketh cleane the brest very wel it is good to take some droppes with Aqua vitae hot before any maner of colde in a Quarterne Ague or of a long importunate tertian Ague annoynting with the same Balsamo mingled with Oyle of Ruda the Temples of the head good and hot before the colde doeth come If with the Balsamo they annoint themselues from the mouth of the stomacke to the Nauâ—l it comforteth the stomacke it giueth a lust to meate it helpeth digestion it dissolueth Windes it taketh away the paines of the stomacke and it worketh farre better these effects if the halfe of the Balsamo be mingled with another halfe of Oyle of Spike Nardâ— compounded or simple and so it is better applyed There is great experience of it in the Indias for Swellinges that are in the maner of Dropsies and mingling it with oyntment disopilatiue of equal parts and annointing the belly therewith chiefly the parte neere the Lunges there are seene wrought therewith great effects it dissolueth any maner of swelling or hardnes that is in any parte of the body and being laide vpon any paine that commeth of a colde cause although it be of long continuance it taketh it away bringing it to be so smal vntil it fal of it self the same it doeth wheresoeuer is any winde And if it bee in the belly or in any parte of the body wetting a Linen cloth hot in Aqua vitae of the best and applying it to the place where the griefe of the Stone is and mingled with Oyle made for the purpose it maketh a great woorke it taketh away the paynes of the Sinewes and when they bee shronke together in a very hot weather rubbing them with it it dissolueth them The euil called the Lamparones that are open or shutte it healeth Many other effectes this maruellous licour worketh which I haue not knowen but these which I haue knowen I doe manifest to al the worlde that they may take profite by so maruellous a Medicine which hath so many vertues as you haue hearde and euery day the tyme wil discouer other greater The ende of the thirde and last parte The Table of the thinges that these three bookes doe containe In the first Booke OF the Anime Copal fol. 1. Of the Tacamahaca fol. 2. Of the Caranna fol. 4. Of the oyle of the Figge tree fol. 5. Of the Gumme fol. 6. Of the Liquid Ambar and the oyle thereof fol. 6. Of the Balsamo fol. 7. Of GuaiacaÌ„ holy wood 12. Of the China fol. 13. Of the Sarcaparillia fol. 15. Of the blood stone and the stone for the disease of the stone fol. 18. Of the woode for the Urine fol. 19. Of the Peper of the Indias fol. 20. Of the Canafistola fol. 21. Of the Purgatiue Nuttes fol. 21. Of the Purgatiue Pinons fol. 22. Of the Purgatiue Beanes fol. 22. Of the Milke of Pinipinichi fol. 23. Of the Mechoacan fol. 23 Of the Quicke Sulphure fol. 30 Of Arromatike wood 31 In the second Booke OF the Tabaco fo 34 Of the Sassafras Of the Carlo Sancto fol. 57. Of saint Elens Bedes 59. Of the Guacatane fol. 60. Of the smal Barlie fol. 62. The Epistle from the Peru. fol. 64. Of the blood of Drago 71. Of the Armadilio fol. 73. Of the flower of Mechoacan fol. 75. Of the Fruite of Balsamo fol. 76. Of the long Peper fol. 77. Of the Sarcaparillia of Guaiaquil fol. 79. Of Ambar grise fol. 82. In the thirde Booke OF the Cinamon of our Indias fol. 88 Of the Ginger 89. Of the Ruibarbe of the Indias fol. 89 Of the Pinnas fol. 90 Of the Guaiauas fol. 90 Of the Cachos fol. 91 Of the flowers of blood 92 Of the Rinde of a tree for Reumes fol. 92 Of the Pacal ibid. Of the Paico ibid. Of an hearbe for the euill of the Raines ibid. Of the fruite which groweth vnder the ground 93 Of a fruite called Leucoma fol. 93 Of the washing Bead stones fol. 94 Of the Crabbes of that couÌ„trie fol. 94 Of the Cardones fol. 94 Of an hearbe good for them that are broken fol. 95 Of the Ueruaine fol. ibid. Of the Masluerso fol. 96 Of the wilde Lettise fol. 96 Of the licour called Ambia fol. 96 Of a Tree which sheweth whether one shall lyue or die fol. 97 Of the Granadillia fol. 97 Of the hearbe of the Sunne fol. 98 Of a Gumme that is taken out froÌ„ vnder the ground fol. 98 Of the Bezaar
that some Phisitions either for ignoraÌ„ce or for malice do speak euil of her not perceiuing what so many lerned meÌ„ haue treated said of the great vtility profit which she doth to many as experience doth shew all people doe vnderstand chiefly when they doe drinke their drink most cold with the benefit which doth remaine to them thereof they do praise extol her Moreouer she saith that she forceth no persoÌ„ to vse her but if any wil vse her shee can geue such order maner to make cold the drinke as is coÌ„uenient for al persons geuing the degrees of coldenesse which euery one would haue which doeth best appertayn to them this with all assurance with onely leauing or placing the vessel whâ—rein the drinke is ioyned nere to her the which none of the olde writers nor of the late did speake against or forbid And especially let this maner of making cold not be done with stinking water of a well nor with the most burning Saltpeter but with pure water beyng cleane and cleare These coÌ„plaintes many other the faire lillie white Snow hath vttered vnto me in the end she lastly saide to me that since that I had praysed her so much and taken in hande to fauour hâ—r that I should ly the fire hath no mixture of other Elementes and amongest these Elements the ayre is very principall which is deuided into three parts one is the supreame and neere to the Râ—gion of the efire which is whotte and drie for the felowshippe that it hath therewith taking muche of his qualitie which is cleere and pure from whence doe not proceede anye wyndes nor cloudes and this they call the celestiall Region and the partes more lowe which are neere too the water and earth be greaâ— and troubled full of Uapours pearced and visited with the beames of the Sunne whereby it commeth too bee whotte and the supreame and middle Region of the ayre doeth come too bee very colde because it standeth in the middest of the twoo extremities beeyng so whotte And in it is increased the colde as in the middle parte fleing from the extreme partes of heate as we haue spoken of before This middle parte hath partes more or lesse colde for the parte that is ioyning neere vnto vs is not so cold as that which is neere to the superiour partes of the fire And how much more the vapours do rise vp on height the more they doe congele and hold fast In the middle region of the ayre doe ingender the clowdes the small raynes the droppes the frost the rayne the Snowe the Hayle and other impressions as the Thunder lightnings and sharpe showers and comets The Clowdes be the principal matter which doe ingender the Rayne the Snowe and the Hayle and the other impressions which wee haue spoken of that are made of many Uapours which doe rise vp from the lower partes vnto the middle Region of the ayre and so being ioyned they make one body and they waxe thicke with the colde of the saide place and for this the clowd is like to a mother and is the common matter of all the impressions that are made in the ayre And so it is of the snowe as a thing ingendred of it in the middle Region of the ayre And the Snowe is no other thing but a Uapour colde and moyst which came into the middle Region of the ayre beeing ingendred in the bodie of the Clowde with a meane coldenesse which is not so strong as that which doeth cause the Hayle nor so soft as that which doeth cause the water and in the like Uapour before it be made water it both congeale and freese and doeth fall broken in peeces and are white because there doe rayne in them more colde then in the water The which Galen doeth shewe vnto vs in the booke of the Philosophicall hystory of Anaximenes the Philosopher Of the congealed ayre he saieth that the cloudes are made and of the same beeyng more thicke the rayne is ingendred and the same is congealed and frosen and by the coldenesse of the Ayre it is made Snowe and beeyng more congealed it is made Hayle And the same Galen doeth say in his booke de Vtilitate respirationis the Clowdes congealed are made Snowe which is the matter that the rayne is made of the Snowe doeth fall in the highe places which of their owne nature are colde places and thereby it is muche conserued and very seldome it falleth in the Ualleyes and if it doe fall there it is very smal foorthwith it dissolueth It falleth in the Sea but seldom times by reason of the heat which it hath for the winds that are continually in it for heat moisture are coÌ„traries much more the wind accoÌ„panied with the sunne Galen in the nienth of his simples saieth that there were Philosophers that saide the snow had hot parts for being takeÌ„ in the hand it heateth burneth like to fire And so the saide Galen in the 4. of the sayd Bookes sayeth as he went vpon snow his feet did burne the cause of this is not that the snow is whot nor that it hath whot parts but with his cold it doth shut the pores of the handes or feete and causeth that the heate which is in the inner partes haue not wher to come forth so being shut in do cause so great a kindlying that seemeth to burne the which we see contrary if the handes doe burne be put into whot water as the pores drinking of the coldest water they were healed as Galen sayth in the 7. of his Methodâ— that he sawe in one day yeâ— in one houre with a draught of colde water many diseases were healed and some of these were weake of stomake not only with colde water of a fountaine but with water cooled in snowe and in Roâ—â—e it is vsed And so Cornelio Celso in his first booke vnto such as were weake of stomake commanded them to drinke after they had eaten the coldest water they could get and in cholerike stooles should be dronke water that was most cold and in runnings of whot humors it shoulde bee vsed for to stay the fluxe Auicen in the sayde chapter saith that the cold water doth coÌ„fort all the â—ertues in his workes that is to say the vertue disgestiue attractiue reteÌ„tiue and expulsiue And so he goeth declaring euery one of them giuing vs to vnderstand how much the colde water doth corroborate and make strong al these vertues whereby they doe their workes the better And the said Auicen in the second of his first treatie of water saieth the colde water is the best of all waters and it is conuenient for them which are whole for it giueth lust to meate maketh the stomake strong And a little before hee saieth that which is not colde doeth corrupt disgestion and causeth the meate to swim in the stomake it taketh not away the
chiefly if it come of any colde cause or windines for that in this it maketh a meruellous woorke dissoluing greate windinesse wheresoeuer it bee and especially in the belly and with this they do heale a windy Dropsie lykewyse al kinds therof annoyuting there withal the Belly and Stomacke taking some droppes therof with wine or other licour appropriated that it may auoyde the citrine water and make the winde to be expelled and if they doe put it in any maner Glister or Medicine geuen so it doeth auoyde out the citrine water and doth expell Windes with more assuraunce than any other Medicine In the griefes of the Stomacke of cold humors and windes and Colicke it worketh great effect anointing therewith and taking some droppes thereof and principally they do this in that mortall disease called the Ileon which is a cetrayne filthines that purgeth at the mouth It doeth auoyde fleame principally in griefes of the Iointes certain droppes of this oyle taken with the broth of some fat foule it doeth empt away the humour that causeth the paine it doeth heale the olde sores of the head that doth yelde much matter A Gentleman that did vomit his meate the space of many yeeres did anoynt his stomack with this oyle and therewith did recouer neuer vâ—mitted again It doth vndoe Opilations of the inner parts of the body of the stomacke of the Mother anoynting it therewith And vnto yong children and Boyes that cannot goe to the Stoole anoynting the lower parte of the Nauill with this oyle it doeth prouoke them to the stoole and if they haue wormes it doeth expell and kille them chiefly if they giue them a droppe or twoo with milke or with some fat grosse thing And for those that haue lost their hearing it causeth it to be restored to them with a maruellous worke as it hath beene seene by many experiences In griefes of Iointes and in griefes of swellinges so that they come not of a very hotte cause it taketh them away and doeth dissolue them any of the meÌ„bers beeing drawen together and annoynted with this Oyle they doe extende and the Sinowes are mollified with it taking away the griefe if that there bee any it taketh away any markes or signes wheresoeuer they bee in the face principally and the Morphewe which women many tymes bee troubled withall the anoynting with this Oyle doeth take it away and consumeth it not with litle conteÌ„t to them that vse it It is hotte in the first parte of the thirde degree and moyst in the second Of the BitumeÌ„ which is a kind of pitch THere is in the Islande of Cuba certaine Fountaines at the Sea side that do cast from them a kinde of blacke Pitch of a strong smell which the Indians doe vse in their cold infirmities Our people doe vse it there to pitche theyr Shippes withall for it is well neere lyke vnto Tarre and they doe mingle therewith Tallowe to make it Pitch the better I doe beleeue that this is Napta which the auncient wryters doe speake of Possidonio sayeth that there are twoo Fountaynes thereof in Babylon one whyte and the other blacke That which is brought froÌ„ the Indias we do vse against griefes of the Mother for that it doeth reduce the Mother to her place And if it rise on high then put it to the Nosethrilles and if it come downe to the lower partes putting thereto a wet tent with this Pitche it causeth it to go vpwarde to her place and likewise it doeth profite being applied to cold Infirmities as the other Medicines do which we haue spoken of It is hotte in the second degree moist in the first Of liquid Amber the Oyle therof FRom the newe Spaine they doe bring a Rosine that we call Liquid Amber and one like Oyle that wee call Oyle of Liquid Amber that is to say a thing that wee doe most set by and as precious as Amber or Oyle thereof both of them being of sweete smell of good sauour and especially the Oyle of Liquid Amber which is of sauour more delicate and sweete than Amber A Rosine taken out by incision from certaine trees very great and faire and full of leaues which are like to Iuie and the Indians doe call them Ococol They carrie a thicke rinde of the colour of Ashes this rinde being cut doth cast out the Liquid Amber thicke and so they doe gather it and because the rinde hath a smell very sweete they do breake and mingle it with the Rosine and when it is burned it hath a better smell in so much wheresoeuer the trees are there is a most sweete smell through all the fields When the Spaniardes came the first time to that place where it groweth and did feele such a sweete smell they thought that there had beene spices and trees thereof There is brought much quantitie of Liquid Amber into Spaine insomuch that they do bring many Pipes and Barelles full thereof to sell for Merchaundise for heere they raise profite thereof to perfume in thinges of sweete smelles wasting it in place of Storax for that the smoke and smell doeth seeme to be the same and also they doe put it into other confections of sweete smelles to burne and suche like thinges It casteth from it so muche smell without burning of it that wheresoeuer it be it cannot be hidden but doth penetrate many houses and streetes with the sweete smell when there iâ— quantity of it It serueth much in medicine doth therein greate effect for that it healeth comforteth dissolueth and mittigateth payne applied vnto the Moulde of the heades by it selfe or mingled with other thinges Aromaticall it doth comfort the braines and taketh away the paines of any manner of griefe proceeding of a coulde cause layed after the manner of a Playster therevnto it doeth also mitigate and take away the paynes griefes of the stomake wherein it doth a marueilous â—ffect applied after the maner of a Stomacher For that it doth comfort the Stomake and doeth dissolue windes and helpe digestion and take away rawnesse it causeth the meate to be well digested it geueth lust to eate it is made of Liquide Amber spreade abroade vpon a sheeps skinne in the forme of a breastplate mingled with a little Storax Amber and Muske it is a Playster which doeth profite muche in all that I haue sayed There is knowne of this playster very great experience in this Citie for the good effect that it worketh it is hot in the ende of the second degree and moyst in the first Out of this Liquid Amber is taken the Oyle that is called the oyle of Liquide Amber the which in his smel is more sweet it is taken out of the Liquide Amber when it is newly gathered putting it in parte where it may distill of it selfe the more subtill is the perfectest and best of all Others there be
which they pretend to cure Let none thinke that to take this water without order good consideration as many doeth there shall followe health but vnto them rather taking it without measure without order â—t shall do vnto them much hurt wherby it seemeth to me that when this water shal be ministred as well in the diseases that it cureth as in any other whatsoeuer they be it is necessary that they goe to some learned Phisition that may dispose the manner and making of the Water and the order which they shall obserue in taking of it for that in the Winter it shoulde bee taken otherwise than in the Sommer And otherwise it must be geuen to the leane person than to the strong and in an other manner it must bee taken of the Cholerike than of the fleugmatike one order is required in the cold region an other order in the hot Wherby it appeareth that it is conuenient to keep order measure forme in the taking of it for that there goeth no lesse with it then health life coÌ„sidering that we see it haue no price in the world not to let it alone to the iudgement of him that knoweth it not It happened to a gentle woman vnto whom for certaine iâ—dispositions of the Mother proceeding of greate colde that she had taken I couÌ„selled her that she should take this water of the wood of Sassafras And I gaue her the order that shee should vse in making and taking of it which was asmuch as was conuenient for her disease and seeming for her But she tooke muche of the wood more then I willed her seething the water more then I commaunded her she thought that she should heale the sooner And as shee tooke it certayne dayes with this strength she was burdened in such sort with a very great Ague that not onely it stood her vpon to leaue the water but it was needefull to let her blood fiue times and put her life in aduenture so procured infamy to the remedie After she was whole and had preuayled she returned tooke the water with the order that I had first tolde her and she healed very well of her disease It is time nowe that wee come to the vertues of this wood so excellent whereof let vs speak particularly of euery one of them as we haue knowne and experimented them In generall our Spaniardes in those partes of the Florida where they haue beene and now are doe vse this aforesaide water sodden at their discretion for all manner of disseases without making exception of any Anâ— beeyng sicke of any manner of euill which commeth vnto thâ—m sharpe or long hot or colde greeuous or otherwise they â—ure them all by one maner of fashion they heale all with oâ—e maner of water without making any difference and the best is that al be healed therewith in this they repose so much trust that they feare not the euils which are present nor haue any care of them that be to come so they vse it for an vniuersal remedie in all manner of diseases In one of the thinges that they haue founde moste profite in this water was in Opilations in the interiour partes of the which they came to bee swolne and to bee full of the Dropsie the most parte of them For of the long and large heates which they had taken they came well neere generally to haue these diseases And with this water both the swelling and the opilation went away and therewith they came to be made whole of the Quotidian Agues which the most parte of them had For in goyng thither the most parte of them fell sicke of these long and importunate Feuers in the which I haue experience by this Water beyng taken as it ought too bee for it woorketh maruellous effectes and haue healed many therewith For the principall effect that it hath is to comfort the Liuer and to dissolue Opilations and to comfort the stomake which are the two principall thinges that are most conuenient for the Phisition to doe that the sick may be healed of the like diseases For in these euils it is not to be feared that the humors be corrupted And if the principal members be hurt one of the things that these medicines which are brought from our Indias do principally when the water of any of them is taken is to comfort the Liuer and to amende it that it may ingender good humors for if this be not done the cure is in vaine And so our Sassafraâ— hath a maruellous propertie to comfort the Liuer and to dissolue the Opilations in such sort that it doth ingender alowable blood I healed â— young man which had an opilation of certâ—yne Tertians And thereof he was all swolne in such sort that he was well neere full of Dropsie And with purging him many times with Pilles of Ruibarbe and by taking of Dialaca amongest the said Purgations and drinking the water of this Sassafras coÌ„tinually without drinking of any other thing he came to be healed very well and was cleere of his swellings and opilations And he did not let to drinke it vntill he remayned perfectly whole The manner of curing with this water made of the Sassafras for the Tertian Agewes long Feuers I will shewe you and what hath passed in this yeere that I wrote this There haue beene many people diseased with the tertiane Agewes so importunately that no manner of medicine was sufficient to take them away and to roote them out insomuch that we let many alone with onely good order and good gouernment without helping them any more They were opilated and had euill colour of the face and some of them were swolne And at that time it was when the Captayne generall Peter Mellendis came from the Florida and brought him in common this wood of the Sassafras and when euery man did so much prayse it many of them that had Tertians tooke water of the Sassafras keeping the order that the Souldiers gaue them and surely I saw in that greate maruelles for that they healed many with the vse thereof Not onely of the tertians that so much did molest them but also of the Opilations and euill colour that they had And seeing this I caused other to take it that without counsel durst not doe it And it did very wel with them but it must be wel seene vnto how it shoulde bee geuen and to whom that the cause may carrie with it both order and measure That which ordinarily was done was to geue one cuppe full of the Water well sodden in the morning with Sugar or without it and after to drinke the water continually that which was more simple then the firste and as the Phisition shall iudge to be most conuenient for him that is sicke keeping the conditions in the takyng of this water that we shall speake of And surely it is a thing that geueth great
a wood which maketh the water yellowe and this is not it which doeth profite but that which maketh the water blewe and this hath the couetousnesse of them caused that bring it because they haue seene that it is wel solde in this citie for the manifest profites that it doeth in these griefes of the Urine by tempering the Reines and the Liuer and procuring many other benefits they bring of all the wood that they finde and sell it for wood of the stone The same hath happened in the Mechoacan which when it came to be worth twentie Ducates the pounde they laded so much from thence of it some not being rype other not being right that when it is come hither it woorketh not the effect that thâ— good and wel seasoned wâ—s wont to doe Wherefore it is needfull to see to that which is taken that it bee the same and that it bee well seasoned That which is very whyte is not such as the yellowe is in myne opinion for that which is yellowe wee see that it mâ—keth the better woorke it may bee that the very whyte is not of it or hath not the perfection that the good hath And comming to our water of Sassafras it prouoketh Urine it maketh them to Uryne well which haue the impediment of it chiefly if it come by humors of colâ—e causes I did knowe a Priest which came in this flâ—ete from the Florida who being in those parts did make water very euil and cast from him stones some tymes with very much griefe and some of them did put him in hazard of his life when hee was in the Florida as hee dranke of the water of Sassafras ordinarily as many other did in the place of wyne hee auoided many great smal stones without any paines and after that hither vnto hee hath founde himselfe whole and very well of this euill by drinking the simple wâ—ter of this wood ordinarily and watering his wyâ—e therewith Many doe drinke of this water for the same purpose and they cast out much Sande and doe finde themselues cured therewiâ—h In them that bee lame or creeples and in them that are not able to goe nor to moue themselues as for the most part that infirmitie commeth of colde humours by taking this water hot in the morning and procuring sweate all that hee can eating things of diet and drinking the simple water continually and vsing it many dayes wee haue seene many healed And it is to bee noted that in taking of this water there is nothing to bee obserued as in other waters but when they shal take it hotte if any sweate come to keepe it and after this they may ryse and goe well clothed it is not needefull of any thing els but of this and good order and to eate good meates and if they sweate not it maketh no greate matter but if they sweate not they shal be healed I knowe a Captaine one of them which came from the Florida and hee certified mee that hee was so weake in all his body that his Soldiours carried him vppon their shoulders for that in any other manner he coulde not stirre and hee was in a place where the tree of Sassafras was not and he sent for it and toke the water and therewith sweate for certaine dayes and afterward he tooke it simply and hee was restored to his perfect health and I did see him whole and well In the toothache this wood beeing broken and chewed with the tooth that is grieued and leauing that which is chewed in the hole of the tooth which is grieued if it haue any hollownesse and although that it haue none yet it taketh away the paines meruellously with experience done vpon many In the euil of the Poxe it worketh the same effectes that the rest of the waters of the holy wood the China and the Sarcaparillia doeth taking it as these waters bee taken with sweates putting vp more or lesse the decoction of the water and the quantitie of the wood as the complexion is and the disease of him that shall take it For that in colde humours Flegmatike it maketh a better woorke then in them that bee Cholerike and so in the Poxe that bee of a long tyme it maketh a better and greater woorke than in them that be of smal continuance and more where there bee knobbes and moisture of matter old griefes of the head with the order as is aforesayd And in these euils the simple water is continually taken for a great tyme and it worketh greate effectes chiefly in them that bee leane which be altogether weakened debilited with the vse of many Medicines Many which haue the Gout haue vsed and doe vse to drinke of the Water of this tree some of them taking it hotte as wee haue sayde and others simple continually by it self and watering their wyne therewith That which I haue seene is that which in the olde kinde of Goutes doeth neither good nor euil and if it doe any good it is to comfort the stomacke and to dissolue winâ—inesse to giue them some lust to their meate the rest of the benefite that it bringeth is to them that hâ—ue bin sicke but short time if the cause proceede of cold vnto whome it procureth notable profite but if the humour and cause be hot it doth them no good but hurteâ—h them inflâ—ming and causiâ—g them to haue greater paynes In one thing I haue seene it in many people to bring notable profit with the continual vse of this water and it is in them which haue foule diseased handes which cannot exercise them as they were wont to doe I healed a Gentleman which could not write that when he went to write his hande fell downe by little and little and the penne also after hee had begon to write not past fiue or sixe letters And hee toke a Cuppe full of that which was last sodden in the morning and after he dranke it hee continued twoo houres in his bedde and after he rose and went about his businesse And he did eate at his dinner good meates and at his Supper vsed diet and dranke the simple water of the self same Sassafras and he was healed very wel hauing spent a great somme of money on Phisitions and Medicines which did not profite him any thing vntil he came to be remedied in the order as is aforesaide Many did certifie mee that which nowe I finde by experience and learned of them that were sicke in the Hauana and could not goe to the stoole that the Phisition which is there did cause them to take in the morning fasting a good Cuppe full hotte of the water of the Sassafras and it did soften the belly and they went to the stoole very well which we haue seene heere to bee true by experience And there was a Soldiour which certifâ—ed mee and prooued it with others of his companie that hauing stooles by
to as it seemeth good vnto them That which I doe note in this businesse is that they seeth the Sarcaparillia without the heart that they vse not but of the rynde which seemeth to be very well done verie conformable to good Phisicke for the parts of the roots which bee harde should be taken away as things superfluous and without vertue profite which rather do let and disturbe that it cannot worke that effect which is desired in it the vertue is in the rynde and this is that which we doe commonly vse when we will profite our selues by it And so from henceforward when I shall ordaine this water for any that haue need of it I will vse the rynde onely And thus I ordayne it at this present Which is to take foure ounces of Sarcaparillia and too take away the hearte BEing in company with Iohn Gotierres Telo a gentlemaÌ„ very excelleÌ„t Treasurer of the ContratatioÌ„ house a passenger which came froÌ„ the Florida gaue him a peece of Ambar Grese very excellent saying that he brought it from the Florida I took it brake it it was perfect grese of a very good colour and in the vttermost part it was blacke and I asked him that brought it where he had it he sayd that he gathered it in the coast of Florida and that they haue it commonly of the Indians that gather it in that Coast and they take much pleasure in it with great delight and contentment annoynting their faces with it and other partes for the good smell which it hath And surely it maketh mee maruell to see that in our Occidentall Indias there is so excellent Ambar and that the time hath discouered it vnto vs and that there hath come from those partes not onely so greate riches of Siluer and Golde Pearles and other precious stones but that also nowe they bring vs suche excellent Ambar Grise a thing so esteemed in the world so muche vsed for the health of the body and so necessary to cure and to heale withall so many and diuers infirmities as we will speake of beeing a thing which for the delicacy of mankind is an ornament coÌ„tentment with very much serueth for vse I do vnderstand also that other Passengers brought of the like Ambar and some in much quantitie of which I was very glad and the first peece that I saw was very suspicious vnto me and after that I had seen more then I beleeued that there was of it in those parts which is found cast vp vnto the coast Some there bee which thinke that it is the seede of a Whale as it hath beene an auncient opinion which is false as Simeon Archiatros a Greeke author doeth shew saying that the Ambar in diuers places doeth spring they bee his fountaynes from whence it doeth spring as those of Pitch Licor the worst is that which these fishes doe taste and swallowe downe c. The same it seemeth Serapio doth vnderstande and besides this Simeon a Greeke and Actio I finde no other Greekes that make mention thereof but it is treated of by the Arabies with as great ignorance and confusion as may bee seene Whosoeuer by them will verifie what Ambar is it is to bee determined vppon that it is a kinde of Pitch that cometh forth of springs Fountaines that are made in the deapth of the Sea and comming forth to the ayre the Licor being grosse doth congele and waxe hard and is made the Ambar which we see as many things else which are in the lower part of the Sea are soft tender but being brought out into the aire are made harde As we see in the Coral which in the lower partes of the Sea is soft and tender and by bringing it into the ayre is turned into a stone and the Ambar whereof the Beades are made in the lowe parts of the Sea is whyte and being come foorth into the aire turneth hard and stony and is Pitch which cometh foorth of a fountaine which is in the Germaine Sea wherby the barbarous opinions are confounded that say the Ambar is the seede of the Whale And the cause whereof this ignorance came was this for that Ambar was founde in the Whales and other fishes and therefore men said that it grewe of it own nature in their mawes and as this Pitch riseth vp to the highest partes of the Sea by reason of the lightnes therof the Whales do deuoure it thinking that it is a thing to bee eaten and so men finde it in their Mawes For if it were seed it would be found in other parts of their bodies where it is natural to al beasts In my tyme was taken a Whale in the coast of the Canaria that had more theÌ„ one hundred pound waight of Ambar within him and after that they killed many and found none They that come from the Florida say that there bee Whales by those coastes and that they haue killed some of them and founde neither Ambar nor other thing in theyr Mawes more then fishes also in the yong Whales which are very greate although they haue killed them that they found nothing in them for that the Indians doe fishe for theÌ„ and take them with the greatest cunning that may bee imagined which is after this maner One Indian taketh a long cord and strong made with certaine ginnes and shippeth himself in a litle Boate and maketh towarde the Whale where he seeth him comming with his yong Whales and goeth to one of them and leapeth vppon him and casteth his snare vpon his snowâ— The strong young Whale when hee feeleth this he goeth downe to the deapth of the Sea the Indian hampered fast with him for they are greate swimmers and can abide long in the water and the yong Whale as hee hath neede to breath returneth vp to the height of the Sea And in the tyme that hee cometh vp warde the Indian carrying with him a sharpe wedge and putting it through his nose where he breatheth he striketh the wedge into him with his fist in such sorte that the yong Whale cannot cast it from him and when hee commeth vpp on heigh the Indian giueth him corde and taketh his boate and goeth after the yong Whale and as he cannot breath he châ—keth him easily and he commeth to the lande It is surely a delicate and maruellous hunting wherein they haue so much cunning that a great Lizard or Crocodil of xxiiii foote the most horrible and cruel beast that is in the Sea one Indian doeth kil Some say that the Ambar is made of certaine fruite growing by the Sea side where Whales bee and in the Moneth of April and May when it is in season of sweete smell the Whales doe eate it and of that the Ambar is made as if the fruite so eaten would be conuerted into an other thing then into blood and flesh There bee many other opinions concerning
Cassia ligâ—â—a and it is all one kinde of tree that bringeth them foorth but that the diuersity of the place bringeth forth one more fine than another and so Cassia and Cinamon are al one for that they differ not but onely in the names for all is Cinamon thinne and fine and whereas you find written Cassia may be put Cinamon and where you doe find Cinamon Cassia This our fruite that is called Cinamon profiteth in Medicine for many thinges beeyng taken and made into pouder it comforteth the stomake and it dissolueth winds it taketh away the euill smell of the mouth it is an important remedy for the griefe of the stomake it is cordiall it maketh a good colour in the face and Cassia in drest meates is vsed euen as Cinamon is because it woorketh the like effect that it doeth by taking the Pouder of this fruite with wine or water made for the nonce it prouoketh the purgatioÌ„ of women It is hot in the thirde degree and drie in the first but with notable comforting by reason of the drie parts that it hath ¶ Of the Ginger DOn Francis de Mendosa Sonne vnto the vice Roy Don Anthony de Mendosa did sow in the new Spayne Cloaues Peper Ginger and other spices of those which are brought from the Oriental Indias and that which by him was begun was lost by reason of his death onely the Ginger did remayne for it grew very well in those partes and so they bring it greene from the new Spayne and other partes of our Indias and some they bring drie after the maner of that of the East India The Ginger is a Plant which carrieth his Leafe like to Lâ—rio somewhat more narrowe with the same greenesse the Roote is as it seemeth some greater than other and when it is greene it burneth not in the mouth wherefore beeyng made small into peeces it is put into Sallettes for because it geueth them both tast and smell They sow it of the seede that it bringeth foorth or of the same little Roote and of the one sorte and of the other it waxeth greate and after the Roote is growen greate they take it foorth and drie it in the shadowe where no moysture doeth come for that is it which doeth corrupt him and for this cause they bring it in drie earth and made in Conserua although that here it may bee verie well made of that which is drie burying the Roote at the foote of a place where many led Emperiall beyng abroade below and narrow aboue and by the mouth of them there groweth out certayne Buddes which are his Leaues which cause him to shewe verie faire and these Buddes are sowen and of them growe the Plantes which carrie the Pinnas and one Plant carrieth not more than one Pinna in the highest part therof it groweth greene and as it ripeneth it turneth yeallowe They take from it the Rynde which is verie thinne for to eate that which it hath within it is white and softe and melteth in the mouth with a very good tast and sweete sauour sauing that it hath many small karnels rounde about it which it is needefull that you cast from you when you eate them which are of a Purple colour The smell thereof is like to a kinde of Quince and where there is a Pinna rype he smelleth like to a Quince ouer all the House where he is They take them to bee good for the stomake and likewise for the hearte and to restore the appetite lost it is a generall fruite in all partes of the Indias and much esteemed They are to be eaten at the beginning of meate they vse to eate them in the hot after Noones for they say that they do refresh they are cold in my iudgement they brought two sorts of them the one drie the other in Conserua The dry did serue for no other purpose but to see the figure and the forme of them in Conserua they haue a good tast although somewhat sharpe they ought to be made in Conserua when they are greene Of the Guaiauas THey brought mee from the firme Lande the seede of the Fruite which is so muche esteemed by the Indians as also by the Spaniardes which they call Guaiauas The trees which carrie this fruite are of a reasonable greatnesse they cast out their bowes dispersed They carie a leafe like to the manner of Laurell the flower of it is whyte according to the fashion of the flower of Orenges sauing that it is somewhat greater it is of a sweete smell This tree yeldeth much fruite wheresoeuer it be sowen and doeth multiply and spred so much abroade that they take it to bee euil for the grounde where it groweth for that in many pastures the people doe loose the feeding of their cattle by reason of them And they weue themselues one togither with an other like Bryers the fruite which they carie is like to our Apples of the greatnesse of a Pippin it is greene when it beginneth first to appeare and as it ripeneth it turneth yeallowe In the inner parte it is whyte and in colour russet and being cut hath foure places deuided where it hath the seede which is lyke to the seede of Medlers being very harde and of colour tawnie al the stones within haue no karnel they are without any sauour And to eate these Apples they pare them from the Rind the fruite is holsome and of good digestion when they be greene they are giuen to them that haue the Laske for they restraine and binde much and when they bee very rype they make the belly very laxaatiue when they bee of a good seasonable age They are good rosted for them that be whole and for the sicke for beeing so rosted they are more healthful and better and of pleasanter taste And the best of them growe in trees which are tilled The Indians vse the leaues in seething with the which washing their feete that are swollen they cause them to abate and the inner parts of the body being stopt or opilated being washt with this seating doe disopilate It seemeth to bee a colde fruite and therefore they giue them rosted to them which haue hot Agewes It is a very common frute in all the Indias Of the Cachos ALso they did sende mee the Seede of a plante or hearbe which the Indians doe much esteeme which they cal Cachos The Cachos is an hearbe very reddish in colour it carieth a rounde leafe thinne it casteth out a fruite like to a Berengena of Spayne where the seede doth growe it is very small and of a Russet colour it hath a taste without any sharpnesse onely in the mountaines of Peru this hearbe is found The Indians doe much esteeme it for the medicinal vertues that it hath it maketh one to pisse wel where the lack of Uryne is it doeth expell the Sande and Stones which growe in the reines And moreouer they say that
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
propertie against venom but these which I haue spoken of are the most principal and found most true by experience The simple medicines bee many the most principall is the earth Lemnia so celebrated of the olde wryters in especially of Galen who only to see it and to see how the priests did make it saylâ—d to the Ilande of Lemnos that at this day is called Estalimene which is the most principal simple medicine that the Greekes knewe The true Diptamo is another which â—roweth in the Iland of Creta which at this day is called Candia wherevnto the people of the Isle doe runne when they feele themselues in vayne Lykewyse it is to be giuen to them that are bitten wâ—th venomous beastes or pricked of them bycause it may extinguish and kil the malice of the venome And although that these pouders are of so much vertue as aforesayde the Bezaar stone is of greater vertue and excellencie for that in it alone is founde all the vertues and properties that are in all medicines which we haue already spoken of by his own propertie hidden and by grace from heauen infused into it against venomes which you shall find to bee the best and most present remedy of all others as wee wil shewe in that which followeth Of the Bezaar stone THis Bezaar stone hath many nâ—mes for the Arabiens do cal it Hagar the Persians Bezaar the Indians Bezar the Hebrewes Belzaar the Greekes Alexipharmâ—cum the Latinistes Against venom the Spaniardes the stone against venom sounding Conrado Gesnero in his booke that he made of beastes speaking of the Goate of the mountayne sayth that this name Belzaar is an Hebrew name for that ben in Hebrewe is as much to say as Lord and zaâ— venom as if ye would say Lord of the venomes and by good reason it is so named seeing that this stone is Lady of the venomes and doeth extinguish and destroy theÌ„ as being Lady and mistresse ouer them And of this it commeth that al thinges that are against poyson or venomous thinges are called Bezaarticas for theyr excellencie This stone is ingendered in the inner part of a beast that is commonly called a Goate of the mountaine The ingendering of stones in beastes is a common thing and also in man chiefly there is no partâ— in his body wherein they bee not ingendred and lykewyse in byrdes and fishes rattes of the field Plinie in his 28. booke the 9. chapter sayeth that the wilde hartes goe to the hollow places where snakes and serpents are and with their breath doe bring them foorth and eate them And this is gathered heereby that they doe it eyther to heale them of some disease or to wax yong againe that they may liue many yeeres The Arabiens doe amplifie this cause and say that the wild hartes by eating of these serpents come to ingender the Bezaar stone and they declare it in this manner In these East parts are bred certaine beastes which are called hartes which for the great heate of the Sommâ—r goe into the â—aues and hollowe places where the adders and snakes and other vermin being of poyson are which in that country be many and very venomous bycause the countrie is so hot and with their breath they driue them out and tread vpon them and kill them and eate them and after they are filled with them they goe as speedily as they can where water is and they plundge themselues therin in such sorte that they leaue no part of their bodies out but their snowt for to fetch their breath and this they doe that with the coldnes of the water they may delay the greate heate of the venome which they haue eaten and there they remayne without drinking a droppe of water vntil they haue alayed and cooled that feruent heate wherein they were by feeding vppon the venomous vermine And being in the water there doeth ingender in the places wâ—ere the droppes of water coÌ„meth foorth of their eyes a stone which being come foorth of the water falleth from them and it is gathered vp for the vse of medicine This is thaâ— in effâ—ct which the Arabiens doe wryte of the manner howe the Bezaar stone is ingendered I haue procured and with great diligence sought to find out by such as haue come froâ— tâ—e India of Portingal and such as haue past beyond the China to knowe the trueth of this matter and it is thus In the greatest India where Ptolomeo doth write to bee founde so much goods and so greate riches before the Riuer Ganges in certayne mountaynes which doe ioynâ— with the Countrie of China there doe breede certaine beastes lyke to Hartes as well in greatnesse as in swiftnesse and are very much lyke vnto hartes sauing in some respect they doe participate with goates as well in their hornes which they haue lyke a goate beeing turned backewarde as in the making of the body whereby they giue them the name of goates of the mountayne wherein in my opinion they are deceiued for they rather ought to bee called harte goates in that they haue the partes and likenesses of both which is of a harte and of a goate These harte Goates in those partes doe vse themselues lyke to the hartes that Plinie speaketh of in these places as is aforesaid that goe to the dennes of wilde venomous beastes and with their breathing cause them to come foorth and eate them and afterwarde doe goe whereas water is and doe plundge themselues therein vntill they perceiue that the furie of the venom which they haue eaten bee past and vntill then they dare not drinke a droppe And beeing come foorth from thâ—nce they goe into the fieldes and there they eate many healthfull herbes of greate vertue which are against venom which they by their naturall instinct doe know that there doe aryse as wel of the venom which they haue eateÌ„ as of the herbes which they haue fed on being ingendred by meanes of the naturall heate and by that vertue which is declared being infused at the tyme of the generation in the inner parts of the bowelles in other parts of their bodies certaine stones of the greatest and of the smallest sort which is a thing of greate admiration of the greatest vertue that to this day is knowen against venom It is vnderstoode of that venom which is so pernicious and â—urtful that they did eate of those herbes being so healthful that they fed vpon by a meruellous woorke the Bezaar stone is ingendered And as they say which come from those partes and haue seene this beast from whom they take out these stones hee is of the greatnesse of a harte and well neere of this making hee hath onely twoo broade hornes with the pointes sharpe turned and falling much backewarde his hayre is thicke and grosse of a mingled colour for the most parte and reddishe and of other colours you haue many of them in those mountaines
in payne so that from the tyme that hee receyued it his soundings came not to him so continually as they did before This being perceiued I saide one day to my Lady that it was the doctrine of Phisitions that the medicines which doe not heale diseases cannot preserue that wee fall not into them but that it seemed good to mee that wee shoulde giue vnto him euery morning the pouder of the Bezaar stone that with the continuall vse thereof the vapour might bee consumed which did ryse vp to the braynes so that what seemeth to be venomous and hurtfull the stone woulde extinguish and kil and would consume the vapour that riseth vp froÌ„ all the body and from A Childe did eate a certaine venomous thing whereby hee was in danger of death and seing that the common remedies did not profit I caused to bee giuen to the childe the Bezaar stone and immediatly it was well And for children that haue wormes it is lykewyse very good for that it causeth them to be expelled by dissolution meruellously taking away the accidents that are wont to happen to childreÌ„ And this it worketh wheresoeuer you feare any griefe or venomous humour In the thinges that it hath done most good hath bene in the pestilence for that there was in Germany a greate Plague and vnto all such as had the Bezaar stone giuen them immediatly was seene the greate effect that it did in them that toke it And in an Hospital were foure persons infected with this euill and it was giuen to twoo of them and not to the other and they that tooke it escaped and the other twoo dyed And then it was giuen to many that were infected with this euill and some of them had twoo sores and some had three and yet they escaped and of this were witnesses many people of greate credit that sawe it and other meaner persons as it is very well knowne to all the Court. This stone doeth profit much to them that be sad and melancholike the Emperour toke it many tymes for this effect and it is taken of many persons that are melancholike for it taketh it away and maketh him glad and mery that vseth it and to bee of a good disposition Many I haue seene that haue beene much diseased with fayntnesse soundinges and melancholie and taking the waight of three graynes of this stone with the water of Oxtongue they haue bin healed presently In feuers of an euill qualitie and most pestilent it is meruellous the good woorke that it doeth for that it taketh away the malice thereof extinguishing and killing the euil qualitie of the venom which is the first and principall thing that the Phisition should doe for if that this bee not taken away first the cure is in vaine Many do vse this stone holding a peece thereof in theyr mouth in the suspected time of a Pestilence and whereas venom is feared or any thing that is venomous and also it dooth profite much taking it in water to them that are sicke of pestilent Feuers A Gentleman had all his seruantes sicke of Agewes that are commonly called Modorras and he put into a pot of water a Bezaar stone that hee had of the which he caused the sicke people to drinke and they all escaped and were deliuered from death And many people for this cause haue this stone layde in water continually that they may drinke thereof being sicke for it profiteth much to take away the Agewe and geueth strength to the hart and not onely this stone doth profite in venomous thinges and venomes but in other diseases as it hath byn proued being geuen to them that haue the gidines in the head it doth much profit and also against opilations And it happened that a Nunne that had sowndinges and greate opilations by taking the Bezaar stone was healed and likewise of the opilations and being long time without her customed termes they came very well too her and aboundantly This stone profiteth much to them that haue taken Arsenike or other corsiue venome for that it dooth kill and consume the force of the venome and taketh away the accidentes thereof Milke hath in this a great prerogatiue and doth woorke effectually by taking much quantitie and continually vsing the same for although that it be a meruellous remedie it must be vsed in corsiue venomes for that it maketh the venomes to be expelled by vomit and doth extinguish the mallice It is the true Antidote against corsiue venome and after the vse thereof the stone may be giuen or the pouder or any of the sayde medicines that haue vertue against venome Also this stone doth profit muche against feuers that bringe certaine red spots in the bodie like to Flea-bytinges that commonly doe appeare in their shoulders and in their archter parts of the bodie these doe come in sore Agewes that doe expell the humours out of the bodie and so it is conuenient that it bee so vsed that it may come out well and this muste bee done by putting bentositâ—es and other like helpes that may expell the humour whereby nature is holpen forbidding oyntmentes and other things that may disturbe the comming out of these thinges An other thing which is conuenient is to geue to the sicke when these small spottes doe beginne to appeare those thinges which doe extinguish and kill the venome of the which we haue treated very largely hauing respect not to let blood after that they haue appeared if it come not of too muche replection and fulnesse of blood One thing I haue founde for these redde Spottes and for Feuers of muche profite and notable experience in many which is our Bolearmenike prepared in a dishe of earth with Rose water geuen in all medicines that are too bee taken and in the meates that are too bee eaten and surely in it I haue founde great effect chiefly in one yeere wherein reygned many Pestilent Agues called Moderâ—as and many were deliuered from them with the vse of it for that this our Bolearmenike doth differ little from that of the East partes and this shall bee where the Bezaar stone is not to bee had for that it doth exceed all as I saw in a principall Gentleman of this citie which had a sore Feuer with soundinges Uomites and other Accidentes of an Ague vpon whom did appeare spottes which before I haue spoken of on his shoulders and in geuing him the Bezaar stone with a little of the Uâ—â—cornes horne foorthwith the Accidentes did cease and began to be better for that it did extinguishe and kill the force of the Agewe which caused all the hurte And after this sorte I coulde speake of many heere in Spayne that for the space of this fourteene yeeres I haue vsed it and many haue beene deliuered therewith from many diseases with the vse thereof that surely it seemeth a thing of woonderfull effectes that a stone taken out of the bellie of a beaste like to a wilde Harte or Goate
hath vertue to heate to coole and to dry vp And of this it commeth that some doe say it is hot bycause they see that it maketh workes of heate and others saie that it is colde bycause they see that it doeth workes to make colde the reason whereof is that it is compounded of twoo contrarie beginninges the one hot and the other colde and thereby it seemeth that they may very wel defend themselues who sayde that yron is colde and worketh cold effectes And lykewyse they that sayde it was hot and doth hot effects Whereby it doth appeare that which the one and the other haue spokeÌ„ and treated therof to be true B. Maister Doctor hath very wel ended the controuersie and contrariety that is in this matter discretly and wisely wherby wee are satisfied but there remayneth a doubt if the quicksiluer bee colde as he sayeth that some doe say that it is and to prooue it they say that it sheweth by his strength colour and taste and the effectes which it doeth to make colde seeing that such as doe vse of it it maketh impotent they suffer weakenesse and trembling of sinewes and are vtterly voyde of the vse of their members and many dye all togither of a disease called Apoplexie and all this doeth come of cold causes They which say that the quicksiluer is hot doe prooue it with his effectes for anoynting the iointes and other partes of the body therwith it maketh great workes and effects of heat it inflameth their mouth and throte their gummes rooffe of their mouth with great heat and burning it prouoketh sweat most vehement we see that therof is made that most strong thing like to fire that is called Sublimatum which is most strong fire and burneth wheresoeuer it bee put and all that it taketh it consumeth and fiereth Of it is made that corsiue poyson called pouder Precipitatos in such sorte that the cause is doubtful seeing it hath and doeth the workes so contrary to make colde and to make hot D. The same doubt we haue of it as of the yron and what is that which Maister Burgus wil now haue B. Now that you brought vs out of the first doubte we pray you that you wil bring vs out of the second D. It semeth vnto me that Maister Burgus doth take the matter so earnestly that I must needs do it bicause I meane to content him in al things it shal bee done very quickly the euening commeth vpon vs. The quicksiluer is a metal coÌ„pounded of diuers parts the watery parts that it hath are mingled with earthy things which is thaâ— that giueth it substance and strength It hath also mingled with it fulfery parts which seemeth to be very bright for in chafing the quicksiluer betweene the hands there remaineth in them the perfit smel of brimstone so the quicksiluer iâ— câ—mpounded of diuers things The watery earthy parts giueth it vertue to make colde by meanes whereof is done the vertue which we haue spoken of and by meanes of the sulfure which hath ayery parts it heateth penetrateth openeth and maketh thin and by them it prouoketh sweat it causeth to expel by the mouth and by stooles the humour that doeth abounde by hearing and doing other effectes of heate And therfore it is not to be maruelled that the quicksiluer doth contrary effects seing it hath diuers operations which is the selfesame that we haue spoken of the yron and so the doubt remaineth discouered which was propouÌ„ded by M. Burgus D. I remaine sufficiently satisfied of that which is saide but not so satisfied that there doeth not remaine for me to aske of M. Doctor another thing which is of more weight then all that is saide which is to knowe the vertues that the yron and steele haue in the vse of medicine for their works and effects as I haue hard it reported are many D. It wil be a trouble for me to recken and tel of so many ancient authors as also of late written authors which doe treate of the vertues of yron and of the steele by reason they are many and doe treat of great things And seing that it shal be declared let vs loose no tyme wherby we may the rather make an ende By that which is sayde you haue vnderstood howe the yron and steele are one kinde of metall sauing that the steele is more cleane yron and more fine for this cause it is hard and strong They of old tyme knewe not the steele but onely treated of the yron and to it they attributed the medicinal vertues that wee will speake of and vnder our talke of yron we wil comprise the steele seeing that it differeth not from it in more then in being purer cleaner from superfluities and for this cause the steele doth make cold and dryeth more then the yron For where it is needful to heate and to open the yron hath more force bycause it is not cleane of the sulpherie partes for there is lost much thereof when the steele is made in the forme as it is aboue sayde It is needful before we proceed forwarde whereby wee may the better treate of the vertue of yron that wee vnderstand how it ought to be prepared For if it be not prepared neither can it be administred nor yet wil it worke it effeâ—tâ— bycause â—t is a hard metal and strong And seeing that wee haue M. Burgus here who in his arte is one of the excellentest men of al Spain he may declare vnto vs how it may bee vsed and prepared bicause wee may goe forwarde in this matter B. I haue receiued great pleasure with â—hâ—t as I haue hearde treated of yron and of steele and thought that wee shoulde haue made an ende and not treated any longer of them but seeing that it seemeth good to Maiâ—â—er Doctor that I shoulde speake of the preparing of these metâ—lles I will doe it bycause I woulde say some thing as well for my parte But if Maister Doctor woulde take paynes hee might speake thereof as wel as most men that are in the world seeing he knoweth it and that there is nothing in medicine hidden vnto him but seeing that wee haue of him a good Censor if any thing doe lacke he may speake and supply it The metalles if they bee not corrected and prepared euery one as it is conuenient for them cannot serue in medicine nor worke the effects and vertues which they haue in them bycause they are grosse of substance and strong The Alcumistes haue knowen and do knowe much in correcting and preparing of them seeing that wee see they vse the golde and the siluer in broths that they may be droâ—ke and doe reduce them into pouders as also they do the like with the lead and copper and of other minerals and meâ—als which they doe correct and prepare for to make them into pouders that they may serue in medicyne They doe correct and prepare particularly the yron for this
the Piles doeth remedie the soares of them It healeth sort cheekes casting the pouders vpon them it is a great remedy worthy of estimation He that doeth cause it to be made doth put it vpon a Playster called Higre the which doeth profite to take away and make cleane the soares and to take away the Fistula and too eate away the Braunches and too cause that the sores bee filled with fleshe all this is of Plinie in the Chapter of yron Galen in the Booke of Triacle to Piso declareth much the necessitie of yron for the life of mankinde and for the seruice of man and doeth account it for a most excellent remedy for to dry vp the moystures teares of the eyes In that of continuall dissolution he sayeth that peeces of burning IroÌ„ cast into milke by taking away that waterishnes which the milke hath is good for ouer much stoles and especially for the bloody flix Anâ— in the tenth of the simple medicines he commaundeth that milke be giuen where in peeces of Iron haue beene quenched and sayth that such kinde of milke doth good vnto them which haue the bloodye flix And in the like case it is better to vse of Iron then of stones or pebble stones by reason the Iron doeth leaue more drithe in the milke Alexander Traliano adding to this treatetâ— how milke shoulde be vsed in stooles He commauÌ„deth to seeth milke with a quarter part of water vntill the one halfe be consumed and in this sort it may be giuen to them which haue the ague with stooles and it is better in the place of small pebble stones wherewith they do commaund it to be soddeâ— that there be cast into it small peeces of burning Iron Paulo well neare sayeth that which Galen hath sayed and that the powder of Iron mingled with vinegre profiteth mâ—ch to such as haue matter comming forth of their eares although that it hath beene of a long continuance And also it is a great remedy for such as haue taken â—enom that is called Aconito And forthwith he treateth of the vertues of the water that haue cooled hot Iron and sayth that it doeth good to such as do suffer the payne of the belly and such as haue any cholerike disease and such as haue hot stomakes and such as haue the stopping of the lunges Dioscorides in the chapter where hee treateth of the rust of yron saieth that the water or the wyne that hath quenched a peece of burning yron is good for them that haue the fluxe of the stomake and the bloody fluxe it desolueth the hardenesse of the lungs and serueth in cholerike stooles and in the loosenesse of the stomake Accio treating of certaine rowles which are very excellent for the opilations of the inner partes saieth that it is a moste conuenient remedie for the Lunges and inner partes of the Bodie that the water that hath quenched whotte yron bee taken for a long time but suche as haue a whotte disease must vse of the water and such as are colde if they be weake of wine that hath quenched yron Oribacio sayeth that the water which hath quenched whot stile is an excellent remedie for suche as are sicke of the lunges Scribonio an auncient Phisition sayth that the water which hath quenched whot steele is a greate remedy for such as are swollen and for suche as haue sores and griefes of the bladder chiefly if they vse it continually Rasis in his Continent treating of yron saieth the same as Galen doth And Paule adding this the yron doth take away the fluxe beyng ouermuche of the menstruous and conceauing with child it healeth the little soares that are betweene the finger and the nayle it taketh away the Pearle in the eye and the hardnesse of the eye lid it healeth the piles outwardly it remedieth rotten gummes it taketh away the Goute from the feete and from the handes it maketh heare growe where it lacketh although there haue none growne a long time The water that hath quenched yron is good for the fluxe of the bellie although that it hath beene of a long continuance and for stooles of blood which doth auoyd from the bodie and the meate which is eaten and not consumed and for stooles of blood it also dissolueth the hardnesse of the lunges it remedieth the runninges and weakenesse of the stomake And Macerico an auncient Phisition saith if the pouder of yron be taken with sodden Wine called Cute it comforteth the weakenesse of the stomake he taketh for his Authour Mese a Phisition And Rasis concludeth the same saying I say and certifie by great experience that the yron doeth profite in the disease of the Piles and for the fluxe of Urine and for ouermuche fluxe of the menstrues this sayeth Rasis Scrapio reciteth all that Rasis saith word for worde and because I woulde not say it twice together I let it alone Auicen followeth Rasis in all that he hath sayd adding this thaâ— followeth to it The water wherin yron is quenched maketh strong the inner members by his owne propertie and manifest qualitie it comforteth the stomake for the water which doeth quench whot yron strengtheneth the vertue and consumeth the superfluities of the stomake and the superfluous moysture thereof for those are the things that take away appetite by the loosenesse of the mouth of the stomake and they are those which extinguish and kill the natural heat and the yron by reason of the coldnesse and drithe helpeth the knitting which is made in the mouth of the stomake wher the appetite is ingendred it comforteth the Liuer and the rest of the interiour members it strengtheneth naturall heat the sinewes and powers of the bodie and in such sorte it doth geue them strength and they take such vertue thereby that they caste from them the opilations by reason of which causes the Lunges are consumed It comforteth the vertue of generation and this it doeth by consuming the moysture which is that which letteth troubleth naturall heate which is necessary therefore and if it be not done by his qualitie yet it is done by his accidents All this is spoken by Auicen in the second of his first as also he sayeth in the seconde Canon where hee prayseth the yron greately for Ring wormes and for swellings and for the Goute and mingled with Uineger and put into the eares that of long time haue cast out matter it healeth them for the sharpnes of the eye liddes and to take away a webbe or the whitenesse of the eyes and hee saieth moreouer that the Wyne which doeth quenche â—he Iron dooth profite for the Apostumations in the Lunges and for the loosenesse of the stomake and for the weakenesse thereof it taketh away the superfluous Flute of the Mother it drieth the piles it taketh away olde stooles and the blooddie Flixe it doeth good to such as theyr fundament commeth forth and
of need by the way of medicine for the vse of the sayde snowe dronke in water or in wyne or putting the snowe into them doth ingender many kind of diseases which if presently they bee not felt they come to be felt in age Of the which Galen doeth make a large relation in the booke of diseases of the raynes and in the booke of good and euil meates And bycause that Auicen did expound them I wil shew what he wryteth in the third part of the first booke in the 8. chapter He which doth drinke snow and the water that doth proceed out of the same snowe if hee doe vse it continually there will followe much hurt thereby it doth offend the sinewes and it is naught for the brest and for the inner members and especially for the breathing and there is none that doe vse to drinke it but it wil do them hurte vnlesse hee be of a sanguine complection which if hee doe not feele hurt presently hee shall feele it afterwarde Whereby it appeareth howe euill the vse of the sayde snowe is and the water which doeth come out of it if it bee not by the way of medicine onely so it may bee vsed to coole therewith for in such sorte it doeth not offende as is sayde For in this neither the auncient wryters did put any doubt of hurt nor any scruple and nowe wee see that it hurteth not but bringeth health and benefit as wee haue sayde And as Plinie also sayth of the delight and dayntinesse of the colde without offence of any malice of the Snowe And Martiall doeth shewe the same in the 4. booke where hee sayth the snowe must not be dronke but that licor which is made very colde with it And this was shewed and taught vnto vs by the most ingenious drithe And vnto such as are very colde it commeth not well to pas for them to drinke that which is made cold with snow or that which is very colde if hee bee not accustomed theretoo for by custome they may vse and drinke it without any offence to them but it is good that they moderate themselues in drinking that which is very colde and that they conâ—ent themselues that it bee made colde after a meane sorte although it bee with snowe Also it is not conuenient for children nor boyes that their drinke be made cold with snowe for the weakenes of the sinewes and interiour parts and for the tendernesse of their age and chiefly they may drinke no wyne but water for that their age doeth not suffer that they may drinke it and drinking water very colde it doeth them very much hurte The wyne which is made colde with snowe doeth not offende so much as the water which is made colde one of the things which taketh away the fury and strength of the Wyne is the making of it colde And so there are three thinges which doe abate the fury of the wyne that is to water it a good tyme before you drinke it Also to cast a peece of bread into it that it may sucke the vapours and subtiltie of the wyne The third is to put it to coole some reasonable time in water that is most colde or in snowe for the more it is cooled the more the strength and vapours are repressed and so it will lesse offend the head and it will lesse penetrate the ioyntes which is seene in the sayde wyne and beeing made colde there is abated much of his strength in so much that if it bee very colde it seemeth as though that it were water Some people there are which doe say and publish much euil of the cooling with snowe without knowing if it be good or euill and as it is a newe thing and especially in this Countrie they feare that there will come hurt to them by the vse of it And I beeing at the table of a Lorde there was brought a platter full of Cheries with snowe vppon them and there was a Gentleman that durst not take any one of them saying that they would hurt him bycause that they were made colde with Snowe And as it was a thing vsed a long time to cast snowe vppon fruite as Galen doeth say that it was cast vpon the Mulbery the cause of this is for lacke of the vse thereof by reason it hath not bene vsed nor seene in these partes and alwayes they take it for suspicious And heere are none that doe vse it but the noble men and not al but such as haue beene Courtiers and such as haue proued the benefit and commodity that doth followe of it for the rest say that without know they haue loued and without it they wil pas on their tyme. And they do not consider that to liue they may passe with Beefe and Garlyke and Leekes but these kinde of meates doe ingender euil humours for it is one thing to eate the partridge the veale at his time and mutton byrds at another tyme. And there is differiÌ„ce to eate the flesh with sauce the partridge with a Lemon for the one is to eate without taste rustically and the other is to eate as men doe choycely and delicately And so it is in the drinking of cold or whot for of the drinke that is made colde with snow there foloweth health taste contentment and of the drinke that is whot commeth euill diseases distylâ—ing discontentment Let vs consider vow the old wryters tooke great felicitie to drinke colde and chiefly that which was made cold with snow and they were people both wyse and discrete and with much care that preserued their health For in this and in their estimations in their maner of subtile liuing they did put their whole felicitie seeing that they with so much care as we haue before declared did drinke that which they made colde with snowe in countries that was of lesser heate then this wherfore shoulde we not inioy this benefit and contâ—ntment seing that therof cannot followe vnto vs but greate benefit of health vsing therof as I haue said Let euery one looke to that it is conuenieÌ„t for his health age vse and custome and let him haue respect to that which doth agree with him for the vse wil shew him what hee shall do seeing that of the hurt or benefit he may soone perceiue if it ought to be vsed or no he must be aduised that at the beâ—inning when he doth vse to drinke cold that which is made cold with snow the first daies hee shal feele in the day tyme drithe but being past 7. or .8 dayes it is taken away rather they goe betweene dinner and supper without drith without hauing any need to drinke They do bring the snow to this countrie from the mouÌ„tains wheras is much snow 6. leagues beyond Granado The snow hath many things to preserue it because the way is long and it commeth by a whot country by reason whereof