it from the Orientall Indias By this you shall vnderstande that Syr Frauncis de Mendosa a worâ—hy Knight when hee came from the newe Spayne and Peru shewed to mee a greate Roote and other little rootes who asked mee what rootes they were I aunswer â—o that they were rootes of the China but that they seemed to mee to bee very freshe Hee sayde to mee that so they were and that it was not longe since that they had beene gathered and brought from the new Spaine I maruelled that they had it there for I did beleeue that in the China only it had growen he said vnto mee that not only there was in the newe Spaine the China but that also wee shoulde see brought greate quantitie of Spicerie from the place which that China came from And I beleued it when I saw the contract that he made with his maiestie to bring into Spaine great quantitie of spicerie that hee had begon to set and to plante and I saw greene Ginger brought from thence as also the China This China is a roote lyke to the roote of a cane with certaine knottes within it whyte and some with the whytenesse hath an alborne colour it is red without the best is the freshest that which hath no holes if it bee weightie and not worme eaten and that it haue a fatnes as if it were congeled and it hath an vnsauery cast This Roote doeth growe in the China which is the Orientall Indias neere to Siria and Sirciana It groweth neere to the Sea onely with the roote they helpe themselues with the which the Indians bee healed of grieuous diseases And therfore they haue it in great estimation they do heale al maner of large diseases therewith and also the sharpe diseases especially Agues with the Water of it prouoking Sweats and by this way they heale many It prouoketh sweat maruellously It is wel neere xxx yeeres since that the Portingales brought it to these parts with great estimatioÌ„ for to heale al manner of diseases and especially the disease of the Poxe in the which it hath wrought greate effectes and the Water is giuen in this forme The sicke person beeing purged as is most conuenient must take one of the Rootes and cut them small vnto the thicknesse and greatnes of a three penny peece and so being cut shall way one ounce and cast it into a newe Pot and thereupon shall poure three Pottels of Water and so shall lye a sleeping there xxiiii houres and the Pot beeing stopt let it seeth at a soft fire of kindled Coales vntill half be sodden away one Pottel half remaine and this is to be knowen by the order of the Measure as aforesaid in the water of the Wood. And after that it is colde let it bee strained and kept in a glassed vessel There must be care taken that it stande in some hotte or warme place neere to the fire for that therwith it doeth preserue the vertue the better and dureth longer tyme before it be corrupted The sicke man being lodged in a close conuenient Chamber must take in the morning fasting tenne ounces of the sayde water as hotte as he can suffer it and he shall procure sweat keepe it two houres at the least After the sweat hee shal bee made cleane and shall take a Shirte and cleane clothes warme them and shall lye downe againe twoo or three houres in the bed quietly after hee hath swet And afterwarde let him apparell himselfe and beeing well warmed remayne in his Chamber in the which he shal be kept from cold the open ayâ—e with all the pleasure of good company and conuersation he shal eate at xi of the clocke halfe a Chicken sodden or a quarter of a Henne with a little Salt At the beginning of dinner he shal drinke a dishfull of Broth and foorthwith eate of the Pullet eating at the beginning a little and hee shal ende with Marmelade His drinke shal bee of the water hee tooke in the morning for that heere is no more then one water hee may at the beginning after the Broth is taken begin too eate Reasinges without theyr little Graynes or Prunes without theyr stones theyr bread must bee Crustie well baked or Bisket If hee will drinke in the day tyme hee may doe so with taking of a little Conserua and drinke of the same water and beeing â—ight houres past his Dinner let him lye downe in his Bedde and take other tenne ounces of the same water the which being hotte hee may drinke and procure sweate two houres after he hath sweat let him be made cleane and take a cleane shirte and cleane clothes warme and after one houre let him sup with CoÌ„serua Reasinges and Almondes with some Bisket and drinke of the selfe same water and last of all eate Marmelade vpon the which he may not drinke Thus he may continue xxx dayes continually without neede of any more Purgation then the first and hee may sit vp so that he go wel cloathed vsing in this tyme all content and mirth and keeping him selfe from al that may offend him After that he hath taken this water in this sort hee must keepe good order and good gouernement for fortie dayes continually And hee must drinke no Wine but water made of the China that was before sodden the which hee shall keepe after it is sodden setting it to dry in a shadowie place and that China being dry must be kept to make water for other 40. dayes to drinke after the taking of the first water seething one ounce thereof in three Pottels of water vnâ—il one halfe be sodden away and this water let him drinke continually And aboue all thinges let him keepe himselfe from women and he must alwayes haue care that as well in the water of xxx dayes as in the water of the fourty daies that the China be steeped in the water xxiiii houres before it be sodden There be many diseases healed with this water al kinds of euill of the Poxe all olde Sores it resolueth all swellinges and knobbes it taketh away the paynes of the ioyntes which they call the Arthetica Goute and any other kinde of Goute that is in any particular member or place and especially the Sciatica it taketh away olde paynes of the head and of the stomake It healeth all manner of runninges of Rewmes it dissolueth Opilations and healeth the Dropsie It maketh a good colour in the face it taketh awaie the Iaundies and all euill complexion of the Liuer rectifieth it and in this it hath a greate prerogatiue And by this meanes these infirmities are healed It healeth the Palsey all infirmities of the Sinewes it healeth all diseases of Urine it taketh away Melancholy and all infirmities comming of colde diseases It doth comfort the stomake it doth dissolue windes meruellously and also Agues long and sharp as quotidians the taking of this water as it is conuenient so doth
euery yeere it bringeth foorth yellow flowers out of the which is ingendered a round fruite with litle kernelles within it of the greatnesse of a Medler of these Trees there is greate aboundance in Sancto Domingo And after this they haue founde an other Tree of the kind of this Guaiacan in Saint Iohn de Puerto Rico which is an other Ilande neere to that of Sancto Domingo such an other tree as that is sauing that it is lesse the body of the tree and the bowes are smaller it hath scarsely any harte or if it haue any it is very little and that is in the body of the tree for that the bowes haue none at all It is of more sweete smel and more bitter then the Guaiacan that is nowe vsed in our tyme I meane that of Sancto Domingo and for his maruellous effectes they call it the holy Woode surely with reason for that it is of a better working then that of Sancto Domingo which is seene by experience but euen aswell the one the other is a maruellous remedy to cure the disease of the Poxe of the which and of euery one of them a water is made and is taken for this infirmitie and for many others in this forme They take twelue ounces of the wood made small and twoo ounces of the Rinde of the same woodde broken and they cast it to steepe in three Pottels of Water in a newe pot that will holde somwhat more for the space of xxiiii houres and the pot being well stept they seeth it ouer a soft fire of kindled Coales vntill the twoo Pottels bee sodde away and one remayning And this is to be noted at the time the water is put to it putting therein one Pottle they dip in a little Rodde and doe marke howe high the water of one Pottle reacheth and by that measure and marke they shall see when the twoo are sodde away and the one Pottell remayneth After the water is sodden they set it to coole straine it and keepe it in a glassed vessell and forthwith vppon the said sodden woodde they poure foure Pottels of water and seeth it till one bee sodden away and this water must bee strayned and kept apart and it must bee taken in this forme After that the sicke man is purged by the counsell of a Phisition let him be put into a warme Chamber and kept from the colde and from ayre and beeing laied in his bedde let him take early in the morning tenne ounces of Water of that which was first made wel warmed and let him bee couered so that he may sweate wel let him kepe his sweat at the least two houres after he hath swet let him be made cleane from his sweat take a warme Shirt and the rest of his Linen clothes foure houres after he hath swette let him eate Reasings Almonds and Bisket and that in reasonable quantitie Then let him drinke of the water that was made at the second tyme the quantity that he hath need of and of the selfe same let him drinke in the day time eight houres after hee hath eaten let him returne to take the first water and let him take other tenne ounces well warmed and then sweate other two◠houres and after his sweate let him bee made cleane and then bee couered againe with warme cloathes and one houre after hee hath swet let him make his supper of the same Reasings Almonds and Bisket and drinke of the second Water This order he must obserue the first fiftiene daies except hee haue some notable weaknesse and in such case her must bee succoured with geuing him to eate of a young Chicken iointly with the rest of the Diet and in them that be leane that cannot beare so precise Diet it is sufficient that they take it for nine dayes and at the end of them they may eate a little Chicken rosted if in case the sicke person be debilited and that he cannot suffer the Diet let him haue from the beginning a very small Chicken going forwarde increasing in the proces of tyme and beeing past the 15. dayes let him returne to purge himselfe at the sixtiene dayes end let him take the waight of fiue shillinges of the substaunce of Canafistola taken out by Strayner or other thing respondent thereunto and that day let him drinke no strong Water but of the simple and the next day after the Purgation let him returne to the aforesayde order taking in the morning and euening the strong water with his sweatinges and eating and drinking the same Sauing that in place of a Chicken hee may eate halfe a rosted Pullet or somwhat more and this seconde tyme let him take it for other xx daies in the which tyme hee may ryse and walke about his chamber being apparelled and kept warme And at the end of them hee shall returne to purge him selfe an other tyme and must haue a speciall care to keepe good order and after hee hath takē the water for other fortie dayes must keepe himselfe from women and from wyne especially and in place of wyne hee must drinke the simple water of the woodde which if he wil not doe then let him drinke of water sodden with Anise seede or Fenell seede supping little at night and eating no flesh This is the best way that the water of the wood ought to be taken which doeth heale many infirmities incurable where other Medicines could not worke the same effect this water is the best remedy that is in the worlde to heale the disease of the Poxe whatsoeuer or of what kinde soeuer it bee for that it rooteth it out for euer without any more comming againe and in this it hath his principal prerogatiue and excellencie This water is also good for the Dropsy for the shortnes of breath for the Falling sicknes for the diseases of the Bladder and of the Raynes for the paynes of the Ioynts for all euils caused of cold humors for ventositie and other dangerous and importunate diseases where the ordinary benefites of Phisicions haue not profited Chiefly it excelleth where the euil dispositions be that haue proceeded at any tyme from the disease of the Poxe There be many that with this wood haue made sundry mixtures making Syropes therof and surely with good effect But my iudgement and opinion is that he which shall take the water of the wood ought to take it in the maner as is aboue saide without any mingling thereof for that by expeperience it hath beene seene so to make the better woorke This water is good for the teeth making them white and fastning them by continual washing of them therewith it is hot and dry in the second degree Of the China THe Second Medicine that commeth from our Indias is a roote called the China It seemeth that I should slaunder it to say that the China groweth in our Occidental Indias since commonly the Portingales doe bring
which Syrupe doth not heate nor inflame but with great temperature according to the graduation woorketh his good effects The first for whom this thing was ordayned and deuised was for Pantelion de Negro Ienoues who was had in cure by many Phisitions and hauing taken the water of the Wood and other Medicines was well neere consumed and with a grieuous swelling sore vppon his shinne bone and great paynes in it hee tooke it and was healed very well This sirupe I haue vsed in many people for the infirmitie that the Sarcaparilla doth profite for and the wood and for many other and it hath a good effect in woorking by degrees for that the drinesse of the wood is taken away and the heate of the Sarcaparilla and it is made in this forme There must bee taken two ounces of Sarcaparilla and foure ounces of Paulo Sancto which is the holie Wood prepared as it is saide and three Doozen of Acoseifas a fruite of Spayne without their stones and two Doozen of Prunes without their stones and halfe an ounce of the flowres of Borage and an other halfe ounce of Uiolettes and some graynes of Barley made cleane that is too say the huskes taken away All these thinges let them bee cast into three Pottles of water and lette them bee sodden on a soft fire vntill it come to one Pottell and then let it be strayned and vnto tenne ounces of this decoction let there be put one ounce of the Sirupe of Uiolettes Let it be taken hotte in the morning and at night in the order aboue sayde In the rest of the water keeping sweet if ther bee any and although there come little yet they bee healed They may eate a little Chicken from the first day with the rest of the diet drinke the simple water of the Sarcaparilla which is to be made with halfe an ounce of Sarcaparillia sodden in foure Pottâ—ls of water vntill one or somewhat more be sodden away This order doeth heale all kinde of euill of the Poxe and all the infirmities that we haue spoken of that the water of the Wood doeth heale and the China and the Sarcaparillia Which to repeate it shall be too long and too prolixious because it it is sufficieÌ„tly declared before For surely in this simple water and in the foresaide decoction I haue found great effectes aâ— well in the infirmities wherein is suspected the euill of the Poxe as in large and importunate diseases in the which the common remedies of Phisicâ—e haue not profited which although they proceeded not of the French Poxe yet doeth it cure and heale them as it is seene by the woorke of him that vseth it There is an other Sirupe to bee made of the Sarcaparillia which is taking eight ounces of Sarcaparillia being broken or cutte and seething it in foure pottelles of water vntill three be sodden away and the one remaine and into the water that shall remayne to put to foure pounde of Sugar and make a perfect Sirupe And of this Sirupe too take three ounces in the morning and three at night eating good meates and to suppe litle and drinke onely the simple water of the Sarcaparillia and goyng abrâ—ade out of the house and doyng his buisinesse There are healed therwith many diseases without geuing any molestation in the healing of them And this must be taken till the Sirupe bee all consumed Also this Sarcaparillia is taken in pouder in this maner They take the Sarcaparillia and plucke awaie from it the heare within it and dry it and grynde it and then sifte it through a syue of silke and make it in Pouder Of this Pouder is taken in the infirmity of the Poxe or spice of them the weight of sixe pence drinking it with the simple Water of the Sarcaparillia taking it in the Morning and as night as much when he goeth to bedde Hee must eate good meates and drinke no Wine but the simple water thereof It shall doe well he be purged that shall begin to vse it And although that this pouder doth heale many diseases large and temporall one cure it doth meruellously which is the salte Fleume of the handes and feete in this forme The sicke man being purged and also without purging if he cannot otherwise doe hee shall take the Pouder as it is sayde and vpon the salt Fleume he shall lay with a Feather a little of the water of Sublimatum delayed with Rosewater that it be very simple and after it is layed on all partes where the salt Fleume is then let there be put vpon it a plaister that is called of William Serâ—eâ—tis or Dia Palma spread abroade thin vpon Sattin or Taffeta too bee applied in all parts where the simple water of Sublimatum was put This must be done euery day for that in fifteene daies he shall be perfectly whole This doth mundifie and incarnate and skin without hauing need of any other medicine ioyntly with the Pouder and the simple water of Sarcaparillia which wee haue spoken of This is of so great effect and experimented as they shall see by the worke that shall vse it for surely they shall be whole thereby The vse of the water of the Sarcaparillia is so greate at this day in this forme as is sayd that it is applied in anie disease it is come into so much credit that in anie maner of Reumes or runnings or windinesse the euill of Women of the Mother or any other cause or occasion whatsoeuer so that it bee not in Feuers or other sharpe diseases men take the vse of the simple Water of the Sarcaparillia and this is at this day so put in vse that in like sort you shall finde the simple sodden Water of Sarcaparillia in manie houses as ordinary water in yearthen vessels and surely it woorketh greate effectes and doeth remedie large and importunate diseases Trueth it is that the persons that bee hotte of complexion it doeth beate them more then is conuenient and so they cannot drinke it and moste of all if that their Liuer be very hotte for that it heateth too much In womens diseases as well of the Mother as of colde humours it woorketh good effectes and doeth mâ—ruellously dissolue windes And in persons that bee subiect to manie euilles and especially of Reumes and olde greeffes and diseases caused of the euill humours if they runne this course with the continuance thereof they shall receiue manifest profite and benefite and it doeth heale all deseases whiche they neuer thought to be healed of The complexion thereof iâ— hotte and drie well neere in the seconde degree All these waters must be giuen in Sommer or in the ende thereof it is better that the season exceede in heate then in colde ¶ Of the blood Stone and of the Stone for the diseases of the Stone of the Kidneies and Reines THEY doe bring from the new Spaine twoo stones of greate vertue the one is called the
it roote them out and take them away The which thing it doeth by prouoking of sweat in this it doth exceede all other Medicines and some will say that in Pestilent Agues by prouoking sweat it healeth them It is dry in the second degree with very litle heate the which is seene by the other waters of the wood And as Sarcaparillia which doth heate and drie so this doth not nor leaueth any impression of heate Surely it is a notable Medicine in the which I haue founde greate effectes for the Diseases which I haue spâ—ken of Of the Sarcaparillia THE Sarcaparillia is a thing brought into our partes since the China It is xx yeeres since that the vse thereof came to this city It first came froÌ„ the new Spaine the Indians did vse it for great medicine with the which they did heale many and diuers diseases It is a plant which doth cast many rootes vnder the ground being of a yeard long of the colour of a cleere Tawny sometimes the rootes shoote so deepe that to take them out all it is needfull to dig a Mans length It casteth foorth certaine bowes full of knottes that quickly do drie and we know not that they haue carried flowers or fruite at all After that the Sarcaparillia of the newe Spayne was founde there was also found in the Hunduras an other sort that was better and of better effectes it is knowne to be of the Hunduras because that it is of colour Tawnie and grosser than that of the newe Spayne the which is white and somewhat like to yellowe and more small and so the Sarcaparillia that is most like to blacke is best It ought to be freshe and in this is all the goodnes therof it is knowne to be fresh by not beyng Worme eaten For that at the freshe breaking of it long wise in the middest it maketh a running out to the end and casteth out no dust and the heauier it is the better it is The Spaniardes did call it Sarcaparillia when they saw it for the great likenes that it hath with the Sarcaparillia of these partes I haue it for certayne that the Sarcaparillia of these partes and of the Indias is all one and the verie same that ours is The which I haue experimented manie times ours worketh the effect that the Sarcaparillia of the new Spaine doth it is like vnto that of the Hunduras but it is of a bitter tast and not very sharpe and the water that it yeeldeth hath no more sauour then barley water hath The vse of this hearbe at the first did differ muche from that which is now in experiment for that they gaue it as the Indians did in the healing of their sicke folkes and surely it did worke very great effects But the delicatenesse of our time doth require that it should be vsed and geuen as the water of the wood is At the beginning they took of the Sarcaparilla much quantitie more then halfe a pounde did cut it small and breake it and cast it into a quantitie of water and being well wet they beate it in a Morter a good while in suche sorte that it was made like a Iellie and then did straine it pressing it very well for there came out of it the likenesse of a thicke drinke And of that they tooke in the morning hot one good Cup full and then the Pacient clothed him selfe well And sweete two houres and if in the day time they woulde drinke any thing it should bee of the selfe same thicke drinke so made by expression hot and then they swete as much in the morning This order they obserued for three dayes continually without eating or drinking of other meate sauing onely that thicke drinke taken out by pressing or straining of the Sarcaparillia after this sort I gaue it at the beginning many times and surely it wrought great effects and many sicke people did better recouer then they doe nowe with this other fashion After there was inuented an other forme and manner to geue it and is that which is now vsed in this sort They take two ounces of Sarcaparillia and wash it and cut it small and then they put it into a newe earthen pot and there vppon they poure three Pottâ—ls of water and sette it in the water to steepe twentie and foure houres and afâ—er the Pot being well stopte it must seeth on a soft fire of kindled coales vntill the two Pottels bee sodden away and the one remaine the which may be knowne by the order of the measure that we spake of and when it is colde let it be strained into a glassed vessel and vpon the selfesame Sarcaparillia that is soddeÌ„ let there be so much water powred in agayne that the pot be filled let it boyle a reasonable time and kept in a vessel glassed Nowe the sicke Man beeyng purged as it seemeth most conuenient and placed in a warme Chamber he must take in the morning ten ounces of the first water of the Sarcaparillia and must sweate at the least twoo houres and after sweate he must be made cleane from his sweate and take a warme shirt and warme clothes and the like hee must doe at night eight houres after he hath eaten his Dinner changing his shirt and hot apparrell He must dine at eleuen of the clocke and suppe one houre after he hath sweat at night eating nothing but Reasinges Almondes and Bisket and drinking of the second water Let him keepe this order fifteene daies and if he be weake geue him a little rosted chicken increasing it in processe of time at the least hee must keepe his bed niene dayes at the first beginning and the rest of the time in his chamber kept from colde and from ayre and on the fifteene day he must be purged with a soft and an easie medicine and likewise on the thirty day in such sorte that all the order that we haue prescribed be kept as in the manner of the taking of the water of the wood is already declared And likewise after the 30. daâ—es he must haue good gouernment for other fourty dayes not drinking any wine but simple water made of the said Sarcaparillia and keeping himselfe from women This is the ordinarie manner in taking of the water of Sarcaparillia which at this day is vsed And because I haue experience of other wayes that bee of great secret and of great effectes I will write them heere to the end that all the vertues which are in the Sarcaparillia may be set downe and declared seeyng it is the Medicine that is moste vsed and that wee doe see in it so greate and rare effectes I doe make a Sirupe that many yeeres hath been celebrated and had in estimation in this citie and in all Spaine for that it is xxvi yeres since I vsed it first for the disease of the Poxe for other infirmities
content with one euâ—cuation but with many digesting by little and little and auoyding out by little and little seeing that the auoyding out is done with such assuraunce by this Medicine so blessed He that hath neede of it must haue a good hart and with trust that it will profite him much which hetherunto wee haue experimented in so many that with iust title all credit may be giuen to the good workes therof We see with how much easines without any accideÌ„ts it worketh the effects that we haue spoken of it is looked for that euery day will bee discouered greater matters that may bee added vnto these The Rule and order that must be kept in the administration and geuing of the Pouders made of the roote of Mechoacan was learned of the Indian Phisition that wee haue spoken of and since it hath beene vsed in diuers and sundrie fashions The first thing that is requyred of him that shal take this Pouder is that he do prepare himself with good diet good order keeping himselfe from all thinges that may offende health and to vse these meates which are most conuenieÌ„t for him to dispose the humor that principally hee pretendeth to auoyde out with some Syrope that may haue the same respect that the humor is disposed vnto the way to be prepared where he may go out And for this it is good that he take the counsel of a PhisitioÌ„ he must vse Glisters if the Belly be not obedient at the least the day before he shal take it and if by chaunce he shal neede letting blood he shall doe it with the iudgement and opinion of a Phisition The body so prepared and ready to be purged he shal take this roote chosen as we haue said and it must be grounde making Pouder of it of an indifferent sinenesse and way of it the quantitie that must bee taken as wee shall speake of and put it into whyte Wyne which is Sacke as much in quantitie as is needful for to drinke and it must be tâ—ken in the morning Wyne is the best licour that it can bee taken withall and so it is vsed generally in the Indias for the Wyne as wee haue sayde doeth corroborate and geue strength to these Pouders and because there be some that can drink no wine in such case they may geue it in sodden water wherein Synamon hath beene boyled or Anis or Fenell seede and if the pure wine doe offend them it may be delayed with any manner of Water but the quantitie of the Wine that shall be taken is so little that it canâ—ot offende nor molest anie person It may be delaied with Endife or Langdebeefe water and because this medicine is not geuen in sharpe Agues but in large and temperate diseases it doth heare the Wine better then any other licour Also they geue these Pouders with Conserua of Uiolets and with Syrope of Uiolets and it is a good practise for with his colde and moysture it doeth correct the litle heate and drought that the Patient hath and let them drinke vpon it Wine watered or some water as aforesaide There is made of this Pouder Pilles formed with electuary of Roses and surely they make a very good worke and purge well Also they doe put it in paste of Wafer bread or in Marchpaines and as it hath no euill sauour so they doe not feele it It serueth much for children and for them that cannot take the like thinges The Pilles that must be made of this pouder must be very little somewhat greater then Coriander seede that they may dissolue the rather and not heat and so they work more quickly and better They may be geuen in the morning and at night these pouders be receiued with most prosperous successe beeing made vp with Syrope of Roses of nine infusions mingling the quantity that thereof shal be taken in two ounces of Syrope and surely this mixture doeth make a meruellous woorke for that it doth strengthen and inforce much the worke of the pouders It auoydeth Cholerike grosse and fleugmatike humors and permixt and the fearcenes of the blood and so it is a greate Medicine and of maruellous woorke It auoydeth also most strongly the Citrine water of them that haue the Dropsie frequenting it many tymes giuing betweene one purge and another that which may corroborate and make strong the Liuer in Broth it is taken many tymes and maketh good woorke This Medicine or purge must bee taken in the morning early and after it is taken they may sleepe halfe an houre vppon it before it doe purge for that the sleepe doeth slaye the Uomit and the natural heate shal make a better worke in the Medicine Hee that shall take these Pouders if he do feare them or any other Medicine purgatiue and if he feare Uomit may vse this one remedy of the which I haue large experience and is when hee hath taken this purge or any other let him take the Yolke of an Egge rosted hot broken betweene his Fingers and put into a course Linen Cloth and so rounde let him put it into the Throate Pit and let him holde it there vntill that hee doe beginne to purge for that surely it will slaye the Uomiting and also the Fumes that doe ryse of the purge and this is no small content After that hee hath somwhat slept if hee can at the tyme that it beginneth to woorke let him not sleepe nor eate nor drinke any thing but bee in place where the ayre doe not offende him nor with much company for that all the intent shall bee for to purge staying all thinges that may let the auoyding out And he shall be aduertised that one of the greatest excellencies that this purge hath is that it is in the handes of the sicke person to auoyde out what quantitie of humour hee will the which is a thing that they of olde tyme did consider much of And waying which was surest of purging or the letting of blood they doe not aleage any other cause more principall than that the letting of blood is more sure Forasmuch as in the letting of blood wee may take out what quantity of blood we lust not in the purge which once being taken it is not in the handes of the PhisitioÌ„ nor the sicke person to let it to doe his woorke which quality is not in this our purge of the roote of Mechoacan seeing that with taking of a little Broth or eating any maner of thing the working of it seaseth and it worketh no more and so it cannot exceede nor hurt the patient Surely it is to be holden of much price that there is fouÌ„de a kinde of purge with so much assurance and that so mightily doeth his woorke and is at the will of him that doth take it After it hath done what to the patient seemeth good and sufficient then with a little Broth which
hee eateth it shall worke and purge no more After that the sicke person or Phisition perceyueth that it hath made an ende of his working and hath purged that which is conuenient then they must giue him somewhat to eate taking at the beginning of his Dinner a Disheful of Broth and after a little whyle let him eate of a Hen and in the rest let him gouerne himself as one that is purged as wel in his drinke as in his meate as also in the keeping that hee shall haue of his person For that day that he doeth take it let him take heede that hee sleepe not in the day tyme nor drinke till Supper the which Supper shall bee light and of some good meates The next daye let him take a washing Medicine and some Conserua and from that tyme forwarde let him keepe good order and good gouernement in al that is conuenient for him And if that with once taking of these pouders the sicke man doe not heale nor auoyde from him that which is needful for to bee voyded hee may take it again as many tymes as the Phisition shall see conuenient wherein he shall haue care after that the sicke man is purged to comfort and to alter the principal members And in this I can holde no precise opinion for that there be diuers and variable diseases and it is needful for them to haue diuers remedies my intent is no more then to wryte the vse of the Roote of Mechoacan as a thing of so greate importaunce and of a purge and remedy so excellent as nature hath giuen vnto vs. And if processe of tyme haue taken froÌ„ vs the true Myrre and the true Balsamo and other Medicines that they of old tyme had of the which in our tyme there is no memorie and with the tyme are lost yet tyme it selfe in place of them hath discouered and giuen so many and so sundry thinges as wee haue spoken of as our Occidental Indias do sende vs. In especially the Mechoacan a purge most excellent and gentle which doth his work with such assurance being white in colour pleasant in sauour and in smel easie to take without any lothsomnes in working and without that horriblenes that other purges haue and without those accidents fayntnes that come at the tyme that they be taken without that disquietnesse which it maketh when it woorketh This Roote hath ouer and aboue that which is sayde other properties and hidden workes that wee doe not reach vnto which with the tyme and vse of them shal bee knowen and discouered euery day The waight or quantitie that is giuen of the Pouder made of the Roote of Mechoacan is conformable to the obedience of the belly of him that shall take it Some there be that doe purge with little quantity I knowe a Gentleman of this Realme that with the waight of halfe a Ryall which is iii. d. doth purge very wel and there are other that haue neede of the waight of xii d. and others of the waight of xviii d. And in this euery one ought to measure the quaÌ„titie as he hath his belly in obedience more or lesse Euen so they ought to limit the quantity conformably to the age of the Patient For that the Childe hath neede of little the Boye of more and the strong man of much more and the Leane of lesse and for this cause the Phisition must measure the quantitie as hee seeth it conuenient Because to the Childe he shal giue the waight of iii. d. and to the Boy the waight of vi d. and to the Man the waight of xii d. which is commonly so taken but to the Woman it is not conuenient to giue lesse then the waight of twelue pence in this there may be had a consideration seeing that it is in the hande of the Phisition to take away his worke when hee doth see that it excedeth it is better to giue a litle too much considering that with taking of a fewe suppings of broth if it doe exceede the excesse may be remedied This is the summe which I haue vnderstoode vnto this day of the Roote which they bring from the Prouince of Mechoacan and when I shall know more of it I will wryte as the tyme and the vse therof shall giue occasion Of the quicke Sulphur WHen I made an end of wryting of these last lynes Barnadine of Burgus the Poticarie a man learned and expert in his arte did shewe mee in his shop a peece of quicke Sulphur brought from our Indias a thing most excellent as euer I sawe and in our tyme the lyke hath not beene seene It was bright lyke Glasse of the colour of fine gold taking a little of it and casting it into the Fyre it doeth cast from it a very greate smell of Brimstone lyke to greene smoke and the peece it selfe smelling therunto hath no smell They brought it from Quito with is a place in the prouince of Peru from a Mine that there was founde in certayne Hâ—lles nere vnto the Mines of gold And it is not in vayne that the Alcumistes doe say that the matter of Gold is the Quickesiluer and the Sulphur that is to say the Quickesiluer the matter and the Sulphur the former and maker And so this which I saw was like to a peece of golde most fine They bring from Nicaraga other Sulphur but it is russet like to Ashes congeled without colour or brightnâ—sse which is found nigh vnto the Uolcan of Nicaraga the which being cast into the fire doth cast from it the smell of Brimstone but it is a peece of earth and in nothing is like to that of the Prouince of Quito more then in the smell neyther hath it that colour of Golde nor that brightnesse that the other hath which is of Quito The same beyng applyed in things that are conuenient for medicine worketh meruellous effectes chiefly beeyng grounde and dissolued with wine and applied in the night to them that haue their face redde inflamed that bee like to Lepers vsing it certayne nightes after they haue beene at the stoole it taketh the rednesse away and healeth it maruellously of the which I haue greate experience It healeâ—h the Skabbes beyng dissolued with oyle of Roses Taking the weight of sixe pence in an Egge it healeth the Colike and the Palsey It is good for the payne of the Stone and beyng taken it healeth the Iaunders It is hotte and drie excessiuely which appeareth by the friendship that it hath with the fire for being touched with it it inflameth and maketh a flame It is the principal matter of that Diuelishe inuention of Gunpouder which hath beene the cause of so many euils and hurtes ¶ Of the wood Aromatike ALso the sayde Barnardino de Burgus shewed mee a Wood which to my seeming I thought too haue beene the holy wood that I meane of Saint Iohn dâ— Puerto Rico the which was
sides of it taking away that which is superfluous then powre into it the Iuyce of this hearbe lay vpon it the stamped leaues and being well bound it shal coÌ„tinue on vntil the next day that thou shalt returne to dresse it After the same fashion the patientes shall keepe good order in their meate vsing the diet necessary and if it be needful of any euacuation by stoole the cause being greate let it be done what shal be conuenient And with this order they shal be healed without any neede of any more Surgerie theÌ„ this hearbe only Here in this Country in this City they know not what other to doe hauing cut or hurt themselues but to runne to the Tabaco as to a most readie remedie It doth maruellous workes without any need of other Surgery but this only hearbe In restrayning the fluxe of blood of the wounds it procureth most maruellous workes for that the Iuyce and the Leaues being stamped are sufficient to restraine any fluxe of blood In olde Sores it is maruellous the woorkes and the effects that this hearbe doeth for it healeth them wonderfully making cleane and mundifying them of all humors that are superfluous and of the rottennes that they haue bringeth vp the flesh reducing them to perfite health the which is so common in this Citie that euery man doeth knowe it and I hauing ministred it to many people as well men as women in great number and being grieued of tenne and of twentie yeeres haue healed olde rotten sores in legges and other partes of the body with this remedy only to the great admiration of all men The order of the Cure that is to bee wrought with this hearbe is this following For the olde rotten sores although they bee cankered let the sicke man bee purged with the counsell of a Phisition and let him blood if it be needfull and then take this hearbe and pounde it in a Morter and wring out the Iuyce and put it into the Sore and then after the maner of a Plaister laie the stamped leaues vpon it which are the Leaues that the Iuyce is taken out of and this doe once euery day eating good Meates and not exceeding in any disorder for otherwyse it will not profite And doing this it wil make cleane the euil flesh that is rotten and superfluous vntil it come to the whole flesh and it is not to be maruelled at if the wounde bee made very greate For the euil must bee eaten vp vntil it come to the good and in the same cure putting in lesse quantitie of iuyce it wil incarnate and reduce it to parfit health in such sort that it accomplisheth al the workes of Surgery that all the Medicines of the worlde are able to doe without hauing neede of any other maner of medicine This woorke doeth cure olde Sores with very great admiration and not onely in men but in brute beastes also As at this day in all partes of the Indias where there are any cattel hauing woundes or gaules and the countrie beeing hotte and moyst ouer much doeth soone rotte them and very quickly they come to bee cankered and for this cause much great cattel doe dye To remedy this and the wormes that doe increase in the sores they had for remedy to put into the sores Sublimatum for that in this remedy they did â—â—â—de more benefite than in any other that they had vsed And for that the Sublimatum beares there so high a price mâ—â—y tymes it was more woorth then the cattel that it healâ—â— For this cause and for hauing founde in the Tabaco so much vertue too heale newe woundes and rotten they did accorde and agree together to vse the Tabaco in the healing of beastes as they had done in the cure and remedy of men powring the Iuyce of the Tabaco into the woundes washing them therwith laying vpon them the stamped leaues of the Tabaco after that the Iuyce is taken from them And it is of so greate efficacie and vertue that it killeth the wormes and maketh cleane the sore eating away the euill fleshe and ingendering newe vntill it be whole as in the other thinges which wee haue spoken of The like it doth in the gaules of the beasts of Cariege the iuyce being powred in the beateÌ„ leaues wherout the iuyce commeth of the Tabaco as it is sayde although they be cankered it doeth make them cleane and incarnate them and cureth and helpeth them And so the Indians doe carry it when they iourney for this purpose and effect and it procureth the like profite that the iuyce doeth I sawe a man that had certayne olde sores in his nose wherby he did cast out from him much matter which dayly did rotte and canker inwarde and I caused him to take at his nose the iuyce of this Tabaco and so he did and at the seconde tyme hee cast out from him more then twenty little wormes and afterwarde a fewe more vntill that he remayned cleane of them and vsing it so certayne dayes hee was healed of the sores that hee had in the inner part of his nose and if he had taried any longer I thinke that there had remayned nothing of his nose but al had bene eaten away as it happeneth to many which we see without them And beeing wryting of this a daughter of a Gentleman of this Citie had many yeres a certaine kinde of drieskabbes or wel neere skuruie in her head I had her in cure and did vnto her many benefits vniuersal and particular and also Maisters of Surgerie had done their diligence and al did not profite And a Gentlewoman which had the charge of her as sâ—e heard me speake one day much good of the Tabaco that 〈◊〉 did good and profitable for so many infirmities shâ—e sent for it and did rubbe hard the disease that the wench had that day shee was very euill and as though she had bene fooliâ—h and the gentlewoman did not let in seing her after that sorâ— to rubbe her harder and then the wench did not feele so much griefe but the dry skabbes begâ—n to fall and the whyte scurffe of her head in such sorte that it made cleane and healed her head with dooing so certaine dayes so that shee was healed of her scuruie disease very well without knowing what she did One of the meruâ—lles of this hearbe and that which bringeth most admiration is the maner howe the Priâ—stes of the Indias did vse it which was in this manner when there was emongest the Iâ—dians any manner of businâ—sse of greate importaunce in the which the chiefe Gentlâ—men called Casiques or any of the principall people of the countrie had necessitie to consult with their Priestes in any businesse of importance then they went and propounded their matter to their chiefe Priest foorthwith in their presence he tooke certayne leaues of the Tabaco and cast them into the fire and did
or fiue foote In hot countries it is nyne or tenne monethes in the yeere laden in one selfe tyme with leaues flowers Coddes full of rype graynes which is when they are waxed blacke and to be ripe which is when they are yet greene It sproutes foorth neere the roote much and reuyueth by a greate quantitie of buddes notwithstanding the grain is the least seede in the worlde the rootes be like small threeds Nicotiane doth require a fat grounde finely digged and in colde Countreys very well dounged that is to say a grounde in the which the doung must be so wil mingled and incorporated that it be altogether turned into earth that there appeare no more doung It requireth the south Sunne and to be planted by a wal which may defende it against the North winde recouering the heate of the Sunne against it being a warrant vnto the said hearbe against the tossing vp of the winde because of the weaknes and highnes thereof It groweth the better being often watered and reuiueth it selfe by reason of the water in tyme of droughts It hateth the cold therefore to preserue it from dying in the Winter tyme it must either be kept in Caues made of purpose within the said gardens or els couered with a double Matte and a Penthouse of Reede made on the Wall ouer the hearbe and when the South Sunne shyneth the dore of the place must bee opened where the hearbe is on the Southside For to sowe it there must bee made a hole in the ground with your finger as deepe as your finger can teache then cast into that hole 40. or 50. graines of the sayde Seede together stopping againe your hole for it is so small a Seede that if there bee put in the hole but three or foure graynes thereof the earth would choke them and if the weather bee dry the place must be watered lightly during the tyme of fiftiene dayes after the sowing thereof it may also be sowen like vnto Lettis and other such hearbes And when the hearbe is out of the grounde for so much as euery Grayne thereof will bring foorth his twigge and that the little threeds of the Roote are the one within the other you must make with a great knife a greate compasse within the earth rounde about the saide place and lift vp the earth together with the Seede and cast it into a payle of water so that the earth bee separated that the little twigges may swimme aboue the water then shal you take them without breaking the one after the other The Sassafras ¶ Of the tree which is brought from the Florida called Sassafras FRom the Florida which is the firme Land of our Occidental Indias lying in xxv degrees they bring a wood and roote of a tree that groweth in those partes of great vertues and greate excellencies healing therewith grieuous and variable diseases It may be three yeres past that I had knowledge of this Tree a French man which had bene in those partes shewed me a peece of it and tolde me meruels of the vertues therof how many and variable diseases were healed with the water which was made of it I gaue at that tyme no credit to him for that in these things of Plantes and hearbes which are brought from other places they say much and knowe little vnlesse it bee by a man that hath experience of them with care and diligence The tree and the partes thereof lyked mee well and I iudged that which nowe I do finde to be true and haue seene by experience He tolde me that the Frenchmen which had beene in the Florida at that tyme wheÌ„ they came into those parts had beene sicke the most of them of grieuous and variable diseases and that the Indians did shewe them this tree and the manner how they should vse it and so they did and were healed of many euilles which surelâ— bringeth admiration that one only remedy should worke so variable and so meruellous effectes After that the Frenchmen were destroyed our Spaniardes beganne to waxe sicke as the Frenchemen had doone and some which remayned of them did shewe it to our Spaniardes and howe they had cured themselues with the water of this meruellous Tree and the manner which they obserued in the vsing of it shewed to them by the Indians who vsed to cure themselues therewith when they were sicke of any griefe Our Spaniards began to cure themselues with the water of this Tree and it wrought in them great effectes that are almost incredible for with the naughtie meates drinking of the rawe waters sleeping in the dewes the most parte of them fell into continuall Agues of the which many of them came into opilations and from the opilations they began to swell and when the euil came first immediatly it began to take away the lust that they had to their meate and then happened to them other accidents and diseases as such like Feuers are accustomed to bring and hauing there no remedie to bee healed they did what the Frenchemen had counsailed them doing that which they had done which was in this forme They digged vp the roote of this tree and tooke a peece thereof such as it seemed to them best they cutte it small into very thinne and little peeces and cast them into water at discretion as much as they sawe was needfull little more or lesse and they sodde it the tyme that seemed sufficient for to remaine of a good collour and so they dranke it in the morning fasting and in the day tyme and at dinner and supper without keeping any more waight or measure then I haue sayde nor more keeping nor order then this and by this they were healed of so many griefes and euil diseases that to heare of them what they suffred and how they were healed it bringeth admiration they which were whole dranke it in place of wine for it doeth preserue them in health as it appeared very well by them that haue come from thence this yeere for they came all whole and strong and with good colours which doeth not happen to them that come from those partes and from other conquestes for they câ—me sicke and swâ—lne without collour and in short space the most of them diâ— And these Souldiers doe trust so much in this Wood that I beeyng one day amongest many of them informing any selfe of thâ— thinges of this Tree the most parte of them tooke out of their Pockets a good peece of this Wood and sayde Maister doe you see here the Wood that euery one of vs doeth bring to heale vs withall if we fall sicke as we hauâ— beene there and they began to prayse it so much and to confirme the maruellous workes of it with so many examples of them that were there that surely I gaue great credite vnto it and they caused me to beleeue all that thereof I haâ— hearde and
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
monethes after I was payned therewith This is the effect that I haue obtayned of this Carlo Sancto which being so little tyme knowen is sufficient The tyme will discouer the rest and as wee shal vnderstande more of it so so wee wil giue notice thereof Of Beades which bee called the Beades of Sainct Elen. FRom the Florida they bring certayne rounde Rootes which are called the Beades of Sainct Elen. And they take this name by reason that they grow in a place of that Country that is so called they are greate large Rootes deuided into seueral peeces and cuttinges euery peece by it selfe they remaine rounde as Beades which being bored in the midst they make of them Beads for to pray vpon which the Souldiers do hang about their necks for a thing of great estimation They dry them and they are as haâ—de as a bone on the outwarde part they are blacke and within white and the Rinde is ioyned in such sorte that the harte and it is made alone they are wrought after they bee dry and this Roote beeing tasted hath a sweete smel with a good taste And it seemeth by the taste that it is a kinde of Spyce for it iâ— lyke to Galanga they are of the thickenesse of a mans thombe somwhat lesse the Plant hath a great stalke the Bowes doe spread by the grounde and cast out the leaues broade and greate and very greene It groweth commonly in moyst places the complexion thereof is hot in the ende of the second degree and more drie theâ— in thâ—â—irâ—t thâ— verâ—ues thereof are these The Indians vse tâ—e hearbe beaten betweene tâ—â—o stâ—nes â—hen they pretend to wash themselues â—ubbing â—â—l their body with it for they say that iâ— knitâ—eth their flâ—â—h tâ—gâ—tâ—er and comforteth them with his good smell And this they doe for the most part euery day for the great profit that they fâ—nde in it In griefes of the Stomacke the Indians doe vse it by taking the Pouder of it and our Spaniaâ—ds also take it for the same purpose receiuing it in wine being grounde smal of the which I haue seene notable experience in some In the griefe of the Stone of the Ridneis or Reines the Pouder of this Roote woorketh a knowen effect For that some haue taken this roote made into Pouder in wyne hauing the grief and it hath taken it away And I maruell not at al that his manifest quaÌ„titie is sufficient to worke the like effectes In griefes of the Uryne of them that cannot pisse wel by taking the Pouder it doth profite and expel it A thing vsed of many that haue come from those partes for that they haue proued it in the lyke euilles and here hath bin seene the same experience And one that had a stone which hâ—e coulde not auoyde from him vsed certaine dayes the pouder of this roote and did easily auoyde the same A â—â—uldier brought Beades at his Necke made of these rootes and mâ—t with meâ— one day and asked mee if I knew thoâ—e Beades and of what they were made he saide it was told him that they wâ—re â—ooteâ— of Gentiana But I declared vâ—to him that the â—â—â—des â—ere made of certayne rootes that 〈…〉 of â—aint Elen that they were not made of Gentiana aâ—d then he tolde me great vertues of them â— tâ—e 〈◊〉 vâ—râ— rare that the vse of theÌ„ had wrougâ—t â—hiâ—h I did beleeue for it seemâ—th well in the roote that they haâ—e greate Medicinal vertues according to their fashion and sweete smell and by that which I had experimented of them ¶ Of the Guacatane THey haue brought in these Shippes â—n hearbe from the newe Spayne that the Indians cal Guacatane and it is lyke to our wilde tyme sauing that it hath no smel it is a litle hearbe whitish I know not whether it carry Flower or fruyte the hearbe I haue without the roote the name that it hath amongst the Indians is as aforesaid and the same name the Spaniardes also haue geuen it The Indians doe vse it for their infirmities whereof we wil speake and for the same the Spaniards doe vse it likewise there in the Indias and they also which haue brought it hither with notable profite In griefe of the Pyles they vse it in this manner they grinde or stampe the hearbe very small and wash the Piles with wine in the which there is sodden this hearbe and if there bee heate in them they seeth it in water with that hot seething they wash them and then they dry them softly and cast the Pouder of this hearbe vpon them surely the effect that it worketh is maruellous Thus after I saw the good efects therof I much esteemed the hearbe Whensoeuer you haue any griefe of colde or of windines in any parte of the body wheresoeuer it bee apply Turpentine vnto all partes wheresoeuer the griefe is and cast the pouder of this hearbe being smal ground vppon it and lay a Linnen cloth vpon that that it may cleaue fast as a Plaister in such sorte that it be not taken away vntil the griefe bee gone And of this there is manifest experience by them of the Indias and also by vs of Spayne The pouder of this hearbe cast vpon little sores and especially in the secret places doeth mundifie and heale them Of a certaine kinde of Barley THey bring lykewyse from the newe Spaine a kinde of Barley which they cal smal Barley they giue it this name for the likenesse which it hath vnto our Barley for it casteth out an eare like vnto it and in the vaynes the seede is shut but it is different from it in qualities vertues for that this smal Barley is the strongest poyson which at this day in hearbe or plant hath beene seene insomuch that it woorketh the same effect which Sublimatum doeth And wheresoeuer it is needful to burne or eate away dead or rotten flesh putting the pouder of this seed thertoo it wil doe the like worke that any burning Iron shal doe It extinguisheth and killeth any canker howe strong soeuer it bee it killeth and expelleth Wormes wheresoeuer they bee it eateth fleshe which is naught and rotten taking it from the sores and making them cleane from such euill fleshe The Indians for that they had no Sublimatum nor other remedies which wee haue when they shoulde vse the lyke they had and haue this seede most strong and surely so it is and they doe vse it as a remedy most strong and of great efficacie This pouder must bee layde too by little and little more or lesse conformably to the greatnesse of the euil applying things defensiue which is vsed to be laid too when as the lyke remedies are vsed In olde sores and filthy where it is needfull that naughty rotten fleshe bee eaten away with taking of this Seede and grinding it and dissoluing it well with water of Planten or of Roses weating
or beast doe eate it hee dieth forthwith without remedie as though he had eaten any manner of venom corsiue as Sublimatum or any other Poyson In the Towne of Posco where I dwelt certaine yeeres there was an Indian which did cure the Indians and the Spaniards of any maner of grief or disease that they had with anointing their Iointes and the partes which did grieue them with the iuyce of a certain hearbe forthwith he wrapped theÌ„ in many clothes they did sâ—eate at the ioynts pure blood And also in the sick part where he did lay the iuyce and as they went sweating he made cleane the blood with a Linen cloth vntil hee perceyued that they had sweat sufficieÌ„tly with this he healed many diseases that were incurable And I am able to say that many did thinke that they had waxed yong againe and were more strong and yong than they were before Hee fel sicke for al that wee could do with giftes and faire words and fierce words and threatnings he woulde neuer tel vs what hearbe it was nor shewe it to any man in this country There is found a kind of tree that is of soft Timbâ—r the Indians wil make no fire of it although you kil them For that they say if any of them come neere to the fire that is made of this tree or receiue the smooke of it he remaineth impotent for women And they haue this so certain in persuasion and it is so verified that you shal not make them to come neere the fire that is made of that tree for any thing in the worlde for they are so carnal that they wil none of this They heale in these countries any swellings which are in thee feete or legges caused of colde humors with an hearbe called Centella which being stamped and laid to the swelling there arise certaine Blisters by the which there commeth forth great quaÌ„titie of water humors vntil it leaue thâ— Foote or the legge dry I haue seene great experience by these euacuations amongeÌ„st the Indians for they vse them much I haue seene some Spaniards vse it and were healed of thâ— lyke diseases In the yere 1568. in the Prouince of Chile they did cut of froÌ„ certain Indians being prisoners the calues of their legs to eate them they rosted them for that purpose that which is of more admiration they applied vnto the place where they were cut leaues of certain hearbes there came not out a drop of blood and many did see it And this was done in the Citie of S. Iames in the presence of the Lord Don Garcia de Mendosa which was a thing that made al men maruell at it There are to be found here very few hearbes and trees like vnto those of Spaine for that the earth doeth not beare them but in the newe Spaine there are more of them than in any other parte of the Indias For when it was conquered they found many trees and hearbes and Plantes like vnto those of Castile and birdes and beastes likewise We haâ—e heere snakes which bring admiration to such as see theÌ„ for they be as greate as men which are for the most parte tame do no hurt Here are Spyders as great as Oranges very venomous It raineth Todes as greate as those of Spaine which the Indians doe eate rosted for they are a people which eate al kinde of venomous beastes There bee so many buytres which breede in many Ilandes that are in the sea neere to the lande that they eate vp the Cattel and such numbers of them that it is wonderful and as the keepers of them be black so they care litle for them One thing doeth make mee maruel that the kine which are bread in the mouÌ„taines being brought to the plaine ground doe al dye I sawe a friend of mine that brought 300. Kine to be weayed they staid a tyme before they were wayed and by litle litle in one moneth there remained not one but al died And that which is more to bee maruelled at is that they died al trembling and consumed Some there be that do attribute it to the mountaines which is a countrie most cold and it raineth euery day and in the plaine countrie where there is no raine but it is hotte and as they moue from one extremitie to an other they dye that trulie is a thing worthy of consideration to see howe that in the space of eight Leages little more or lesse which are of plaine grounde from the coast to the mountaine by a long vale of more then one thousande Leages it neuer raineth in them and in the mountaines it rayneth euery day Your worship shall vnderstande that the eight day of October in this yere there came hither a Cosin of mine called Alonso Garcia a good Souldiour who tellâ—th vs that he hath found an hearbe which is good against the venomous hearbe which the wild people do vâ—e Which hearbe doeth kil without remedy and these valiant people of the Indias doe vse it in their warres And likewyse those that dwâ—l from the Charcas towardes Chile and liue like vnto wilde people mainteining themselues only by hunting and fleshe of mankinde who haue killed with their arrowes which are poysoned with these venemous hearbes an infinite number of Spaniardes which they say bee not good to eate for that their fleshe is hard so that when they kil them they kepe them to wax tender three daies or foure daies But with this hearbe that is now found the hurt shal be much remedied that they doe make Howbeit our people doe not much feare them but only the hearbe which they shoote withal for that it maketh them to dye by madnesse without any remedy And now with the recouÌ„tering hearbe which they haue founde they are al gladned They say it is an hearbe that carrieth very broade leaues which are like to the leaues of Planten of Spaine which being beaten layd to the wound that is poysoned kill the venome and immediatly take away the accidents which the venome of the hearbe procureth They take it for a greate matter in that country that they haue found such a remedy And you shal vnderstand that the couÌ„ter hearbe was found in the same country where the hearbe of poyson was I thinke it be also in other parts but there where the hurt is done our Lords wil was to discouer the râ—medy I note vnto your worship these things to the â—nde by them yee may consider howe many more hearbes and planteâ— of greate vertues lyke to those this our Indias haue which we haue not yet attained vâ—to for as the Indians are a naughty kinde of pâ—ople and our enemiâ—s so and beeing tasted and vsed betweene the teeth they are pure Earth The stone hath neither sauour nor tast rather it doth coole then heate and they be ordinarily as great as beanes or bigger For the most part there are both greate
this matter what Ambar shoulde bee made of which are confuted all and it is to bee vnderstoode that it is a kinde of Pitche which springeth from Fountaines that there are in the deapth of the Sea in particular partes of it as wee see there bee of Petrolio of Napta of Sulphur and of many other things as in our Occidental Indias of diuers other Licors the best Ambar is that which is most like to a red colour the whyte is not so good and the worst of al is the blacke Ambar hath great vertues and serueth in the world for many thinges and so it is a substance of great price for that which is good is worth at this day twyce more theÌ„ the most fine Gold For the contentment of man and for the delicatenesse of the worlde it serueth for many thinges with it they make Beades and fine perfumes and odorous smelles and water of Angels of most sweete smell in diuers formes and fashions with it they dresse gloues of diuers sortes make Oyles and licors of most sweete and delectable smelles it serueth for meates drinkes in diuers and sundry formes which to reporte would be a large processe In medicinal thinges the vertue thereof is greate and it profiteth very much in our Medicines for it entereth into the most principall matters of Phisicke which are compounded in the Poticaries Shoppes as well Electuaries as ConfectioÌ„s pouders pilles Preparatiues OintmeÌ„ts plaisters many other thinges that receiue great vertues therby of the name of it there is made a confection called Dia-Ambar The vertues which it hath in particular are great and of great effects for that with it are healed diuers and sundry diseases And this the Arabiens did teach vs for of the Greekes onely Simeon and Actio wrote a fewe woordes of it and also Actuario made the lyke mention of it These three authours beeing Greekes liued after the tyme that the Arabiens did wryte and they made some recorde of the Medicines and thinges which they wrote of wherof the ancient wryters made no mention one of them is Ambar which the olde Phisitions knewe not before the Arabiens for they made no mention of it The vertue therof is to heale dissolue coÌ„fort any maner of way wherin it is applyed For that the coÌ„plexion thereof is hot and dry with some fatnes and it hath vertue to mollifie make soft with other vertues that it hath besides And beeing applied to the Braines in the manner of an oyntment and melting it with the Pestel of a Morter being hot and mingled with the oyle of the flowers of Orenges in this sorte it taketh away the griefe of the head it comforteth the Sinewes it dissolueth any maner of colde which is in them with a great prerogatiue and helpe aswel in it own forme as in making a plaister of Alâ—pta Mâ—scata which is made of certaine compoundes that it bee applied continually to that part Smelling vnto it in the peece or making a Pomander of it mingled with Muske and Lign'aloe it comforteth the braynes and openeth the vnderstanding in the one sorte or the other beeing applyed vnto it it maketh a good memorie and helpeth the vnderstanding that it may bee better and more perfite And it is conuenient that wee vse it more then women for the hurte which the good smell doeth vnto them which bee grieued with the Mother for they ought not to vse it if there be not a descending of the Mother to the lower partes for in such case it were conuenient to smell much to it for it causeth the Mother to ryse vp to his place with the good smell taking some euil sauour by the inferior partes And lykewyse by smelling vnto it it comforteth the harte and maketh the Spirites valiant and strong and for this purpose it profiteth being carried about one and smelling to it in the tyme of the Pestilence and in corrupt ayres to resist the corruption and malice of them with the vertue and sweete smel thereof It is a maruellous thing to vnderstande howe muche the Ambar doeth profite and succour them which be olde in what maner or sort soeuer they vse it although with it excellent smel it comforteth the spirites and the braynes of the head yet it maketh thinne also Flegmatike humours which doe continually abounde And some say that the vse of it holdeth back age and conserueth that it goe not forward and it is good that such doe vse it in their meates and in sweete smelles for their apparel and Chambers and applied to the braine and harte and that they holde it to smell in their handes continually and that it bee put into the wyne wherewith they shall wash their handes and face for it is a maruellous thing howe much it comforteth and giueth strength wherein I haue seene maruellous effectes they which are old and crooked and doe vse it shal perceiue what great good it wil doe them In paines of women it is a maruellous remedie mingled with the Lode stone and Galuano made in little plaisters layd vpon the nauil to keepe the Mother in his place and for the rest of the paines of it Chiefly by smelling to it continually it profiteth women that the moother may come downe And if it ryse vp putting into it a Tente of Cotten woll dissolued with oyle of Liquid Ambar it maketh it come downe And being put into the mouth of the mother in women which doe not bring forth children for the coldnesse that is in them it is most excellent I vse to take this confection which is compounded with Ambar twoo partes and the scraping of Iuory one part grounde small halfe a parte of Lignaloe made into pouder and a little Muske of the which make Pilles and they must take three that may way three pence from three to three daies applying moreouer the little plaister which is spoken of to the nauill and the tent into the mouth of the mother surely it doeth profite much the vniuersal euacuations beeing made and it must be vsed many dayes The Ambar profiteth much in the diseases of the stomacke and for the coldnes of it if there bee a plaister made thereof and of Alipta Muscata and of Storacke after the maner of a brest plate and laid to the stomacke and likewise of the self same thing Pilles being made and mingled with wine of sweete smell and taken in the morning fasting For it dissolueth windes it taketh away any maner of colde which is in the stomacke it helpeth disgestion it giueth appetite and lust to meate and this is conuenient for him that is colde of complexion or for that which causeth the hurte of the stomacke that commeth of colde and therefore it shoulde bee conuenient for them that be old and cold of stomacke It comforteth the harte and healeth the diseases thereof principally if they come of windinesse or of cold humors
done with speed before the hurt doe enter the inner partes for if it once doe come to the harte the cure will goe harde and this must bee vniuersally in al prickinges or bytings of venomous beastes And if the wound bee smal it is needful to open it with a smal cut or some other way and if it be newe let the cuttinges bee smal and if it bee of a long tyme then let the incision bee deepe for that with the much blood that geeth out thereof there goe out a greate parte of the venom also And after the cutting let there bee applyed such things as may drawe out strongly the venom still adding thereunto that as shal be needful Some there bee that doe sucke out the venom of the prickes or woundes with their mouth but it is dangerous to them that so doe for some haue dyed therof it is better to râ—medie it with ventosities or to put too it the hinder parte of a Cocke or a Chicken or a Pigeon beeing aliue vppon the pricke or wâ—unde the fethers being plucked fâ—om the hindâ—r part therâ—of and vse it so often as shal bee needful vntill yâ—u perceiue that they haue taken out the venom that is in the wounde and euery one of them must be applyed thereto so long tyme vntil that you may perceiue that hee doeth waxe faynt or vntill he bee readie to dye Also it is a good remedie to put them that bee a liue opened at the back and let thâ—m be there as long time as they haue any heate and beginning to waxe colde then take them away put others to and the venom being taken out by these meanes let there bee put vpon the wouâ—d a medicine that hath vertue to keepe the wounde open Some do vse in the cuttinges or incisions an actuall thing to burne called a cauterie which doth very much good extinguishing the venom and comforting the hurte The same â—ffect doâ—th the cawterie potentiall in killing the venâ—me but it is not so good as the actuall but thereby it doeth cause that the wounde doe not close which is very necessary for the cure The iuyce of the herbe Escuerçonera doeth profit very much being put on venomous â—ytings or prickings by it selfe or mingled with other medicines that haue vertue to take away the streÌ„gth of the venom as treacle methridato other medicines like to these and if the Bezaar stone might be had casting the pouder therof vpoÌ„ the wound it wil worke a maruellous effect While they are in this case they must be kept with good order good gouernement in al thinges that are contrary to them and vsing euacuations such as is conuenient with wholesome medicines and there must bee mingled with them medicines that are against venom and when time serueth vse letting of blood and in the rest to goe to the cure of the disease and vnto euery one of them as it is conuenient vniuersally and particularly hauing alwayes care to giue to them that are sicke in the morning fasting the conserua of the roote of the Escuerçonera and his water or the Bezaar stone or the pouder as it is said or Bolearmenike prepared hee must haue care to annoynt the harte with things which are temperate that may comforte with pouders and cordiall waters amongest the which let there bee put the herbe Escuerçonera And besides the vertues that the herbe Escuerçonera hath against the bytinges of these beastes in particular and for the remedie of all in vniuersal it hath also other particular vertues the vse whereof hath beene shewed vnto vs it is very good against sowndinges of the harte and for them that haue the falling sicknes and for women whose matrix are suffocated or stopped by taking the conserua made of the roote and drinking the iuyce of the hearbe clarified or the water of it distilled It doeth profit much when the soundinges are come but much more before they doe come when they feele that they begin to sownde let them take the roote therof with the water and it doeth hinder the comming therof and if it do come it is much lesse and it doeth not woorke so vehemently as when it is taken after Unto them that haue the gidinesse in the head it doeth good and being continually taken it maketh the hart merrie it doeth take away the sadnes which is the cause therof the iuyce taken out of the leaues and clarified and set in Sunne for certaine dayes taking the cleerest thereof and put into the eyes doeth clarifie the sight and taketh away the dimnesse therof if it be mingled with a litle good hony it is good for them that feare themselues to bee poysoned The conserua of the roote beeing taken and the water in the morning that day by Gods grace they shal bee safe The vse and experience of this hearbe hath bin taught without any auctor for to this day we knowe not with what name the authors doe terme it Iohn Odoricus Mechiorius an Almayne PhisitioÌ„ doth wryte in an Epistle to Andrew Mathiolo saying that Peter Carniser a Catalan Phisition sent to him the herbe Escuerçonera dry into Germany this Phisition did aske of Mathiolo what herbe it was Mathiolo did not know what hearbe it was neither did any other vntil now that it hath bin spoken or written of Some that are curious wil say that it is the CoÌ„drillia a spice of Succory which Dioscorides doth make mention of in the second booke in the 122. chapter although that it hath some likenesse therof it differeth much in the roote for the Condrillia hath it very wooddie and vnprofitable and very smal and in the flowers but they differ not in their vertues for both of them are good for the bytings of adders And whatsoeuer that our Escuerçonera is wee see that his effectes are greate as well against the bytinges of the Escuerços which is so euill a beast and venomous as for other diseases which we haue spoken of which seeing that in so fewe yeres there hath bene so much thereof discouered I do trust that much more wil be hereafter by wise men that there may be added to this which I haue discouered and written of it And seeing that we haue treated briefly and the best that we can of these twoo medicines so precious to wit the Bezaar stone and the hearbe Escuerçonera which are twoo things so precious and of so greate effectes against venom now haue we to treate of the last parte which wee promised to doe â—nd how we ought to keepe and preserue our selues not to fal into so greate a danger as of them is declared for that it is better to keepe our selues from daunger theÌ„ to fal therein Heerein the ancient wryters haue bin very circumspect Amongest the rest it hath beene an ancient custome in Princes Courts other greate estates to haue their tasters as wel of their meate as of their drinke for the eschewing of poyson and so by
them that do regard their health It is good to haue a peece of a right Unicornes horne in a smal cheyne of golde that it may bee swilled continually in the water that shal bee dronke It would doe well for not onely it taketh away the suspition of the venom but doeth put to the drinke a meruellous cordiall vertue Also you must not stand by the fire that is made with venomous wood for the smoke doeth poyson as if you should take poyson and to set in the chamber coales when they doe begin to kindle many haue dyed therwith let your apparell be kept by such as you haue trust in for in them may bee put things that may do notable hurte and for al that as is said it doeth much profit to haue trustie seruants and that they bee such whome you may trust and that they be of a good parentage and sticke not to reward them wel And aboue al other let the Phisition that hath the charge of your health bee learned and experimented discrete and of a good iudgemeÌ„t and that he be riche and of a good kinred and beeing such a one he wil not doe any thing that he ought not to doe seing that in his handes is the life and health of the Mayster and Lorde FINIS THE DIALOGVE OF YRON WHICH TREATETH OF THE greatnesse thereof and howe it is the most excellent metall of all others and the thing most necessary for the seruice of man and of the greate Medicinall vertues which it hath An Eccho for the Doctor Monardes Phisition of Seuill In Seuill in the House of Alonso Escriuano ¶ To the most Excellent Lorde the Duke of Alcala c. my Lorde the Doctor Monardes your Phisition wisheth health c. FOrasmuch as the metall called yron is of so great importance in the worlde and so necessary for the seruice of man it moued me to make this Dialogue which doeth treate of the greatnesse and maruellous workes thereof Which if they be well considered they will bring admiration vnto all that shall reade them by reason it is so necâ—ssary for all states and manners of liuing It hath also greate and mediâ—inall vertues and likewise with worthinesse and greatnesse it is an Instrument and meane whereby the most worthy haue gotten great Titles and fame as we see many of those which in times past haue attayned vnto among whom the Predecâ—ssors of your excellencie with theyr noble mindes and strong armes the Sâ—eare in the fist and the sworde in the hande by ouercomming battels by getting townes and places the name and fame of them haue byn immortall to this day And for to augment and increase this the more and to geue to your excellencie and to your chiâ—dâ—â—n and successours gâ—eater glory you tooke to wise the excellent Duches the Ladie Iuâ—na Curtes that at this day doeâ—h beautifiâ— the whole worlde with â—er woorthinesse eâ—timation qualitie and grâ—atâ—esse daughter to that valiaunt and reâ—owmed Prince Don â—ernando Curtes who with his greatnâ—sse and infinite Labours is a shorter way and fewe people will be there It seemeth to mee that the greate hall of the treasurie house is sâ—utt â—t may bee that whiles I go vp to see the sicke person they will open it Burgus Your worship may go in Gods name I will tarrye here for you and seeing the great hall is not opened I will sitt downe vppon the benche and will see what doeth passe vntill you come Doctour Master Burgus I praye you pardon mee if I haue tarryed long for the qualitie of the cause hath caused mee to tarry Burgus Rather I woulde haue beene glad that you had tarryed longer because I would haue seene more Doctour What haue you seene whiles I was absent Burgus The great hall being shutt and the parde full of people and I looking vppon them earnestly it seemeth to mee that they are people of estimation but to my iudgement full of cares for in them I haue seene so variable and diuerse likenesses of countenance that I maruel at it Some of them talking to them selues others being alone with their heads hanging downe and with great imagination Others talking by two and two together Others in clusters treating of the sales of their merchaundize Maryners and souldiours carrying for their paymentes Others carrying away their porcions of siluer which they had taken out running with it as though they had stolen it Others there were with the Notaries about their suites Others in the office of the treasourer amongest the Registers There was also a greate noyse of much people deliuering and receiuing parcels of siluer but they were in a great strife therevppon The Iudges were in counsell and many people tarrying for them in such sort that I was in greate admiration I being there onely to beholde and all the rest to do their businesse And it was to mee as one that did beholde them without greefe as a comedye with many Pageants And that which did make mee maruell more was to see that none were merrye nor content rather they seemed to haue great care and troubles Doctour Master Burgus I am glad you haue seene what doeth passe in that house with so much attention for all that which you haue seene that Gold and siluer is cause thereof which with so great good will you came to see and this is it which is the cause of their troubles and cares and not onely it bringeth such as you sawe there amazed and astonied but many others for they are at this daye the instrument of all these things Some they put downe others they rayse vp whereby they haue rule and dominion in the worlde These mortall men haue put so much felicitie in them that they haue and do procure them by the losse of their lyues and shedding of their bloud and after they haue them they conserue them with much labour and with greater care keepe them and with much misery they spend them and with great euill fortune they lose them These are they that take away quietnesse and rest They take awaye sleape and many passe the day to keepe them and to increase their afflictions and cares In the night also they rest with feare and care there are in them so many snares and hazardes as wee see euery day Burgus For all this I woulde see the Golde the siluer and the Emeraldes Doctour What master Burgus haue you neuer seene Golde siluer and Emeraldes Burgus Yea I haue seene them but in little quantitie Doctour What do you thinke is there in seeing of little or much but to see much earth or little earth and moste of all without the profite of man of as many as nature hath created And if you haue so great desire to see precious metals I will carrye you to a place where you shall see one metall much more of price of greater estimation then the golde siluer yâ— you were so desirous to see better of more profit beginning and
inner partes Galen sayth that the vse therof healeth the dropsie and doeth euacuate the grosse humors Serapio saieth that being taken with water and hony it looseth the belly chiefly grosse humors many doe prayse it for the dropsie with water and hony I vnderstand that the loâ—â— stone ought to be prepared in such sorte that iâ— may bet vsed as wee haue saide of the preparing of the yron B. Doth your woorship minister any time the rust of yron prepared'â— for I haue prepared it by commandement of a Phisition being a stranger and geue the pouder thereof vnto such as had opilations and hee saide to mee that they did better woorke then the pouders of steele D. We haue spoken of Plateario and of Mathew Siluatico howe they say that the rust of the yron and the yron it selfe and the filing of it and the steele haue al one maner of vertue and therfore the rust of the yron prepared wil profit as much for the said purpose as the rust doth and I haue vnderstood for to consume and dry vp the moysture of the stomake and the slimy humours therof it wil make greate effectes for the rust of the yron and of the steele is the most hot partes the dryest parts of them And so Galen doeth command it to be prepared with vineger and that there bee made of it pouder most small the which dryeth extreemely as hee saieth in the nienth of simples and in the fifth of his Methodo Mesue in that of the vlcers of the eares hee doeth put a confection for them wherein in is conteined the preparing of the rust and before that hee putteth the same rust prepared in vineger and made in small pouders hee maketh of them a liniment for the eares that are troubled with vlcers Rasis in the nienth chapter of those thinges that doe comforte the stomake after hee hath shewed of many compound medicines saieth if they doe not profit let there bee giuen the skales of yron with wyne and hee saieth the same in the bookes of the Deuisions in the chapter of the diseases of the moyst stomake hee commandeth to giue a composition called Trifera Minor and after that the rust of yron And in the same chapter before for the weakenes of the stomake and the debilitation of the natural heate hee commandeth that there bee giuen Trifera and after that the rust of yron and at the end of the sayde chapter for such as do eate earth clay and coales hee commandeth them to bee purged with Acibar and after that they eate Trifera made with the rust of Iron B. You haue spoken very wel Maister Doctor but I pray you shew vs how wee shoulde minister the pouders of these things D. seeing that there with wee shal make an end I wil shew it in short tyme considering that the time doeth no longer giue place The cause and original of the disease being knowen the sicke person ought to bee let blood and purged if it seeme good to the Phisition to bee so and if the sicke person hath strength therefore for there are some so leane that it is not conuenient to vse of any euacuations in them This beeing done they shal take of the pouders that shal seeme most conuenient for them of the three thinges which are spoken of the yron the steele or the rust of them the quantity that shal seeme good to the Phisition according to the age vertue strength I do giue to them of a meane age a dramme and from thence I ryse or fal as the age and strength or the continuance of the disease requyreth and that it may not be lesse then twoo graynes of waight nor more then a dram halfe I giue it many kinde of wayes either mingled with suggar of Roses or with conserua of violettes or with a syrope of Coriander or of the roote or made in pilles with a syrope made for the purpose casting them into the mouth or any maner of these wayes that they bee taken there must bee dronke after them a little sacke that it be not cold nor very strong And if the person that taketh it drinke no wine then he may drinke water sodden with Cinamon although the wine be the better it must be taken fasting in the morning and immediatly after it be taken they must goe and exercise their bodies twoo houres after if they haue strength therefore and if there bee not strength to doe it one is sufficient or the tyme that they may possibly The going must bee in such sort that the partie bee not ouerwearied and if he be let him sit downe now and then and by reason such as do take them haue stoppings or opilations of any maner of exercise although it bee little they are foorthwith wearie and all the payne is for the first dayes for afterward they shal goe very wel and shal not be so much wearied This exercise is better to bee vsed out of the house and by the streetes and in the fieldes it doeth importe very much by the going whereby these pouders do make their woorke and doe good that if they bee not well gone with all they doe not the effect that is desired and the exercise being made let him take rest in his house or in the place where hee commeth vnto not vnclothing himselfe but euen so apparelled let him lye downe vpon his warme bed and rest himselfe one houre and let him eate foure houres at the least after hee hath taken these pouders or when hee perceyueth his stomake to bee cleere of them hee shall eate of a Hen or of another Byrde without any sauce with some dry fruite or some conseruas and not to eate any greene thing Let the drinke be according to the disposition that hee hath wine watered if it bee conuenient for him to drinke it or water sodden with Cinamom let him refraine to that day from al thinges that may offend him let him not drinke betweene meales let him make a light supper with that as may dry vp moysture I will not counsell that they take these pouders euery day but euery third day and chiefly these first dayes and especially such which are leane and delicate for in taking of them euery day they wil bee much wearied and one day that they rest betweene they will be restored and take strength for the next day The day that it is not taken if there doe appeare any feuer it would doe well that there were taken a good vessel or great cup full of whey made of goates milke hot whot with suggar if it be not to be had then take a smal table of rosade of a sweete smel this day their liuer shall bee anoynted with some oyntment made for the purpose and their lungs with some thing that may vnstoppe them and the stomake with some thing that may comfort This shal bee done in the morning
when he is on his bed and after the oyntmentes are ended a little tyme one houre or twoo after that they are anoynted receiue a common medicine with thinges that haue vertue to euacuate and this medicine shal not lacke euery day when the pouders are not taken for it doeth much import except if there bee not many stooles in such sorte it will bee better that it bee a washing medicine The day which they take not the pouders they may eate sodde meate with some sauce and greene thinges and in the one day and the other drinke little These pouders are giuen many or fewe dayes according to the necessitie of the partie that is sick and as it doth him good for to some 15. dayes are sufficient and to others 20. and to others 30. some there be which do vomit them vp the first twoo or three dayes and they cast vp much choler with them whereby they are notably lightened and doeth iâ— this sort they giue contentmeÌ„t gladnes I know no other medicinall benefite it can do to them There are many Phisitions which doo coÌ„mande to carrie to the mony house which is the house where the money is made a pot of water corporall and spirituall and after he hath done this he doeth moderate it in this manner saying But such which haue not these eates and drinketh without them when they are idle and in pleasure and doe not exercise themselues these people as they haue not heate to constrayne them to drinke colde let them not doe it neither is it conuenient for them to drinke it let them content themselues with colde water as nature hath brought it foorth without putting it too coole in any other thing seeyng that they haue not neede of that which is most colde And foorthwith he sayeth Although they liue idlely and doe no exercise and also without cares if the time were warme or very whot they may drinke the water colde I doe meane that in Countries where it is not colde they may put it too bee made colde so that it bee not vâ—ry colde The selfesame is confirmed by Galen himselfe in his thirde booke of meates and in the booke of the disease of the raynes where hee saith That the vse of colde water cooled with Snowe vnto suche as are very whot and such as are fattâ— and suche as doe excercise themselues and labour muche that suche may drinke very colde chiefly if they be vsed therevnto for such as are accustomed to drinke it doe suffer and carrie yt better and more without hurte then suche as doe not vse it for such ought to drinke it with more respect and consideration And albeit the water hath so greate benefite in it as wee haue sayde for the conseruation of health it hath greater too heale Feuers and other diseases and therevppon Hipocrates and Galen treated very particularly inespecially Galen in the nienth of his Methodâ— doeth reprehende there Erasistratâ— and suche as doe followe him which did forbid the vse of colde water vnto such as were sicke of the Feuers And in his first booke of his Methodo by the like reason doeth reprehende Tesalo and in the seuenth booke he doeth shewe that hee himselfe hath healed many sicke persons that had the griefe of the stomake with most cold water and also made cold with Snow And in the eight nienth tenth and eleuenth of the same Methodo he healeth the Feuers and other diseases with water that is most colde And it is an excellent remedy taken with the conditions that is conuenient In the xl he saith that the sharpe Feuers are cured with letting blood and colde water especially the Feueâ—s of blood or that haue much mixture thereof By that which is said is seene how conuenient it is that water be made cold with snowe where there is not to be founde any so colde as is conuenient for our conseruation contentment for to heale vs of many infirmities Al the which wee haue treated of in briefe whereby it may be a beginning of our pretence that shall follow which is to shew the manner how to make tolde with snow and because that which shall be made colde is the water and vnder is also to be vnderstood the wine al the rest that shal be made cold we will speake of that which shall be treated vnder the water The water is cold two maner of waies one naturally as it commeth forth of the springes and this is as cold as it is conuenient and hath no neede to coole it if it hath as muche coldnesse as will satisfie our necessitie without hauing neede too seâ—ke any thing that may make it colder There is an other water which is not so colde as is conuenient for vs as wel for our conseruation health as for our satisfaction and by reason it is not so colde as it ought to be it is the cause of the hurts it doth that before we haue spoken of Some waters are not so colde as they ought to bee by nature by reason they are in whot countries Now our intent is to treate of them how they ought to be made colde because with their heate they hurte vs and beyng made cold as much as neede requireth they doe satisfy vs so that wee may drinke them and vse them without any hurt that they can doe vs so we wil shew of al the meanes that we may haue to make cold which are vsed at this day in all the worlde and of them wee will choose the best and most sure setting downe the inconuenience that is in euery one There are foure maner of waies to make colde which at this day are vsed in all the worlde that is to say with the aire in the well with salt Peter and with snow euery one of these is vsed at this day The first is to make colde with the ayre although it bee a common thing and vsed in all places yet it hath beene and is most vsed of the Egyptians by reason they haue neither wels nor snowe and that of the salt Peter they neuer knewe Galen maketh a large relation of the manner howe to make cold with the aire and saith thus they of Alexandria and Egypt for to make their water colde that they may drinke it in time of whot wether doe warme it first or doe seeth it then they put it into earthen vessels and set it in the colde aire or deaw in the night in windowes or in the gutters of houses and there they set it all the night and before the Sunne riseth they take it away and washe the saide earthen vesselles in the outside with colde water and then they roule them with the leaues of a Uine tree and of lettice and other fresh herbes and they put them in the grounde in the most colde part of the house that there the cold may conserue it This maner of making colde is vsed at this