gaue mee courage to experiment it as I haue done and as wee shall see in the maruelles which wee shall write of it And nowe we come to shewe the description and forme of this Tree The Tree from whence they cut this Wood which they newly brought from the Florida called Sassafras is a Tree that groweth to bee very greate there be of a middle sort and lesser sorte The greater sorte is of the bignesse of a Pine Tree of a meane height and well neere to the making of it for it is straight casteth out no more but one branche of Bowes after the manner of a Palme Tree onely in the highest part or sendeth out bowes after the maner of a Pine Tree made cleane making of the Bowes which it casteth forth a forme of roundnes It hath a grosse rinde of a Tawny colour vpon that an other thin rinde of the colour of ashes and vpon the inner parte thereof the Trees and bowes bâ—e white and neere like to Tawny The tree and bowes are verâ— light the rinde beeing tasted hath an excellent sweete smell and it is somewhat like to the smell of Fenell with much sweetenesse of taste and of pleasaunt smell insomuche that a little quantity of this Wood being in a chamber filleth the ayre conteined in it and the rinde hath some sharpnâ—sse of tâ—st the inner part hath little smell the higher part that coâ—tâ—yneth the bowes hath leaues the which be green after the â—uâ—mer of a Figge tree with three poyntes anâ— when they are little they be like to the leaues of a Peare tree in onely shewing theyr poyntes They be of collour a sadâ—e Greene and of a sweete smell and muche more when they be drie The Indians vse to lay them beaten or stampeâ— vpon brâ—ises or when any man is beaten with drie blowes and being dried they are vsed in Medicinable thinges They lâ—se noâ— their leanes they are alwayes greene if any doe dry and fall there springeth other it is not knowen that it hath any flowre or fruite The rootes of this Tree be grosse or slender conformably to the greatenesse of the Tree they bee light but not so much as the body of the Tree and the bowes but for the greatnesse it is notable light The roote of this Tree is very superficiall spreading in the vpper face of the soyle or grounde 〈◊〉 so they dygge them vp easily and this is a common thing in the Treeâ— of the Indias thaâ— moste of them haue their rootes of small depth and if they carry any plantâ—s from Spayne to plante elsewhere if they do not set them of smal depth in the ground they beare no fruite The best of all the Tree is the roote and that woorketh the best effect the which hath the rinde cleauing very fast to the inner part and it is of colour Tawnie and muche more of sweete smell then all the tree and his Braunches the rinde tasteth of a more sweete smell then the tree and the water being sodden with the roote is of greater and better effects then of any other parte of the tree and it is of a more sweete smell and therefore the Spaniardes vse it for that it woorketh better and greater effectes It is a tree that groweth neere vnto the Sea and in temperate places that haue not much drouth nor moysture There be Mountaynes growing full of them and they caste foorth a most sweet smel so that at the beginning when they saw thâ—m first they thought that they had beene trees of Cinamon and in parte they were not deceiued for that the rinde of thiâ— tree â—ath as sweete a smell as the Cinamon hath and doth imitate it in colour and sharpnesse of tast and pleasantnesse of smell and so the water that is made of it is of most sweete smell and taste as the Cinamon is and procureth the same workes and effects as Cinamon doeth The tree groweth in some partes of the Florida and not in others for that it is in the porte of Saint Elen and in the Port of Saint Mathew and not in any other partes but when the Souldiers did waxe sicke in places where this tree grew not either they carried them to bee healed to the sayde places or they sent them the trees or their Rootes chiefly and therewith did heale them The best of the treâ— is the roote â—fter them the bowes and nexte the tree and the best of all is the rindes The complection and temperature of the tree and of his bowes is hot drie in the seconde degree the rinde is somewhat more hot then the rest for that it entreth into the thirde degree of heate and drieth and this is manifestly seene in the water and so they thaâ— shall neede of it must procure to haue the rootes or bowes which haue the rinde for that which is without it doth noâ— woorke so good effectes The name of this Tree as the Indians terme it iâ— called Pauanâ—e and the Frenche Men call it Sassafras I knowe not wherefore our Spaniardes call it after the same manner beeyng taughte by the Frenche Men although that some doe corrupte it and call it Sassafragia by the name that we haue from thence they of these partes doe call it Sassafras The vse of the Roote or of the Wood of this Tree the which wâ—e haue treated of heere is by the way of seething in this forme the Indians did shew it to the French men and they vnto vs and as the Indians haue neither weight nor measure they haue not kept in those partes any order in the making of the water of this wood for that they doe no more there than put a peece of the wood or of the root at their discretion made in peeces into the water as they doe thinke best And they seeth it after their maner without consuming more quantitie then when they see that the seething is sufficient so that all they which haue come from those partes are very variable in their manner of seething which is no small confusion to them that shall vse it and likewise to the Phisition that shall minister it That which I do herein I will write I looke vpon the complection and temperature of the sicke person that shall take and vse this water as also the manner and qualitie of the disease and conformably I make the water and geue it to the sicke person geuing to the Cholerike lesse seething and lesse quantity of Wood and to the Flegmatike more seething and more quantitie of Wood and to the Sanguine meanably and so after this sorte too their infirmities according too the qualities of them for that if it bee not done according to this order they cannot choose but make many errours in the vse of this water and also it is conuenient that for the moâ—â—e parte they keepe the vse of the diet gouernment which is necessary for the disease
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 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
in the cleare water that shall remayne vppon it some small clothes or in place of the smal clothes lint of fine Linen cloth weate in the water it cleanseth the sore eating the euil fleshe in such sorte for howe euill olde and filthy soeuer that the sore bee it leaueth it cleane and being laide to the flesh it doeth soder and heale them and after this is done you must vse the Medicines which haue vertue to ingender flesh And the effect of this seede is no more then to mundifie make cleane and to take away the superfluitie of the wounde The self same effect that this seede worketh in vs it worketh in beastes also which for the most part haue very euill sores that bee cankered and full of Wormes the seede being laide vnto them if the cause bee so great that it doth requyre it or the water of it as it is sayde maketh the lyke woorke as wee haue spoken of and better vsing alwayes the defensiues as is conuenient where such Medicines bee applyed for that it is a Medicine most strong and it hath neede of them all I wil shewe you what happened to me with it An Indian brought me this seede with many other hearbes and going about to discouer them and being come to this seede I tooke a graine and put it into my mouth to proue it He that brought it as one which knew it wel kept back my hand would not suffer me to proue it for all that I parted with my teeth one graine which is no greater then one grayne of hempe seede but some deale lesser and beareth some likenes of it at the tyme that it came to the point of the tongue the seede being parted made me a blister vpon it which dured with me certaine dayes I commended it to the Deuil and then I beleeued what they had certified me of it I began to make experience of it and it wrought more effectually then was spoken of it It is hot in the fourth degree and more if there be any more degrees Also I haue an Hearbe which being sodde and the water of it taken hot healeth the euils of the brest I know not the name of it but in the remembrance of them which came it was written And an other which enforceth to cast out the dead childe of the belly of thi◠the Indians haue great experience for this effect and once in these countries it hath profited They brought me two drie hearbes which I would haue been glad to haue seene greene the one of these being in the field in all his force if a man or woman doe put their handes vpon him forthwith he falleth downe dead vpon the ground And the other lying abroade vpon the ground in touching it to gather it it shutteth it self together as a Cabadge of the Countrie of Murcia Thinges meruellous and of much consideration I haue blacke Eleboro brought from the Prouince of Mechoacan like to that of Spayne and woorking the like effect Certaine dayes past a young man which tooke counsell of me that came from the Prouice of Quito and beeyng with me there came vnto me a neighbour of mine saying that his daughter was verie sicke of the Flixe and I had her in cure and her disease increased with blood requesting me that I shoulde goe to visite her The Indian which was with me asked me if they were stooles of blood I said yea and he sayd vnto me that he woulde geue her a thing that beyng made into pouder and taken woulde take them away forthwith that in the Prouince of Quito it had been experimented many times The Father of the sicke maiden went with him to his house and he gaue him certayne peeces of a fruite which seemed to be of a greate tree of the one parte they were very smooth and of colour yeallowe and of the other they were very sharpe and very redde insomuch that they seemed of a purple colour They were ground smal and he gaue the pouder to the sicke womā with the water of the hed of Roses once that Euening an other time in the Morning and immediatly the Flixe did cease from tha◠time waxed better whereby she came to be whole And as for the man I neuer saw him after he gaue it to her ¶ To the right Worshipfull Maister Doctor Monardus Phisition in Seuill RIght worshipfull famous Doctor it will seeme a newe thing to your worship that I being not learned not of your profession doe write to you in things of your faculty being a Souldier that haue followed the warres in these Countries al my life I haue done this because I am affectioned to your worship by reason of a book which you haue cōpiled of the medicines which are in these partes of the vertues benefits that by thē haue byn receyued which are so great that I cannot declare thē as they deserue And by means of your book we haue order how we should vse the remedies which we haue here for before we did vse thē without rule or measure so that neyther they did work effect nor with them the people were wel remedied which now is to the cōtrary by meanes of your books there hath been people remedied that neuer thought to haue had remedy nor health It is more then 28. yeeres vnto this day that I haue gone wādring by al these Indias where are many things of those which your worship doth write of in your book other things also which haue not byn brought thither for bicause the Phisitions that come to these parts are nothing curious They apply not their eye to the vniuersal wealth but to their owne particular for they come onely to enrich thēselues for the most part they be ignorāt people which passe to those Indias they doe not esteeme of the good which they might doe And though that I haue no learning I am affectioned to men of learning so I am to your worship for that I vnderstood of your bookes and for the same that you haue in these partes which is great although I knowe you not yet I was willing to take these paines which is a contentment to m◠You write in your book geuing knowledge of the Bezaar stone set down the signes of the beasts which haue thē which being cōsidered we haue happened vpon a kind of beasts that liue in the moūtaines of this country which are much like to sheep or kiddes which your woorship speaketh of which are in the Indias of Portugal which breede haue these stones of the which there are many in this country in the mountaines colde countries They are for the moste of a darke red colour they are fed with healthful herbes wherof is greate plentie in the mountaines where these beasts do feed they be very swift insomuch that they cannot bee hunted but with the hande Gun they haue no hornes and in that onely
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
Cassia ligâ—â—a and it is all one kinde of tree that bringeth them foorth but that the diuersity of the place bringeth forth one more fine than another and so Cassia and Cinamon are al one for that they differ not but onely in the names for all is Cinamon thinne and fine and whereas you find written Cassia may be put Cinamon and where you doe find Cinamon Cassia This our fruite that is called Cinamon profiteth in Medicine for many thinges beeyng taken and made into pouder it comforteth the stomake and it dissolueth winds it taketh away the euill smell of the mouth it is an important remedy for the griefe of the stomake it is cordiall it maketh a good colour in the face and Cassia in drest meates is vsed euen as Cinamon is because it woorketh the like effect that it doeth by taking the Pouder of this fruite with wine or water made for the nonce it prouoketh the purgatioÌ„ of women It is hot in the thirde degree and drie in the first but with notable comforting by reason of the drie parts that it hath ¶ Of the Ginger DOn Francis de Mendosa Sonne vnto the vice Roy Don Anthony de Mendosa did sow in the new Spayne Cloaues Peper Ginger and other spices of those which are brought from the Oriental Indias and that which by him was begun was lost by reason of his death onely the Ginger did remayne for it grew very well in those partes and so they bring it greene from the new Spayne and other partes of our Indias and some they bring drie after the maner of that of the East India The Ginger is a Plant which carrieth his Leafe like to Lâ—rio somewhat more narrowe with the same greenesse the Roote is as it seemeth some greater than other and when it is greene it burneth not in the mouth wherefore beeyng made small into peeces it is put into Sallettes for because it geueth them both tast and smell They sow it of the seede that it bringeth foorth or of the same little Roote and of the one sorte and of the other it waxeth greate and after the Roote is growen greate they take it foorth and drie it in the shadowe where no moysture doeth come for that is it which doeth corrupt him and for this cause they bring it in drie earth and made in Conserua although that here it may bee verie well made of that which is drie burying the Roote at the foote of a place where many led Emperiall beyng abroade below and narrow aboue and by the mouth of them there groweth out certayne Buddes which are his Leaues which cause him to shewe verie faire and these Buddes are sowen and of them growe the Plantes which carrie the Pinnas and one Plant carrieth not more than one Pinna in the highest part therof it groweth greene and as it ripeneth it turneth yeallowe They take from it the Rynde which is verie thinne for to eate that which it hath within it is white and softe and melteth in the mouth with a very good tast and sweete sauour sauing that it hath many small karnels rounde about it which it is needefull that you cast from you when you eate them which are of a Purple colour The smell thereof is like to a kinde of Quince and where there is a Pinna rype he smelleth like to a Quince ouer all the House where he is They take them to bee good for the stomake and likewise for the hearte and to restore the appetite lost it is a generall fruite in all partes of the Indias and much esteemed They are to be eaten at the beginning of meate they vse to eate them in the hot after Noones for they say that they do refresh they are cold in my iudgement they brought two sorts of them the one drie the other in Conserua The dry did serue for no other purpose but to see the figure and the forme of them in Conserua they haue a good tast although somewhat sharpe they ought to be made in Conserua when they are greene Of the Guaiauas THey brought mee from the firme Lande the seede of the Fruite which is so muche esteemed by the Indians as also by the Spaniardes which they call Guaiauas The trees which carrie this fruite are of a reasonable greatnesse they cast out their bowes dispersed They carie a leafe like to the manner of Laurell the flower of it is whyte according to the fashion of the flower of Orenges sauing that it is somewhat greater it is of a sweete smell This tree yeldeth much fruite wheresoeuer it be sowen and doeth multiply and spred so much abroade that they take it to bee euil for the grounde where it groweth for that in many pastures the people doe loose the feeding of their cattle by reason of them And they weue themselues one togither with an other like Bryers the fruite which they carie is like to our Apples of the greatnesse of a Pippin it is greene when it beginneth first to appeare and as it ripeneth it turneth yeallowe In the inner parte it is whyte and in colour russet and being cut hath foure places deuided where it hath the seede which is lyke to the seede of Medlers being very harde and of colour tawnie al the stones within haue no karnel they are without any sauour And to eate these Apples they pare them from the Rind the fruite is holsome and of good digestion when they be greene they are giuen to them that haue the Laske for they restraine and binde much and when they bee very rype they make the belly very laxaatiue when they bee of a good seasonable age They are good rosted for them that be whole and for the sicke for beeing so rosted they are more healthful and better and of pleasanter taste And the best of them growe in trees which are tilled The Indians vse the leaues in seething with the which washing their feete that are swollen they cause them to abate and the inner parts of the body being stopt or opilated being washt with this seating doe disopilate It seemeth to bee a colde fruite and therefore they giue them rosted to them which haue hot Agewes It is a very common frute in all the Indias Of the Cachos ALso they did sende mee the Seede of a plante or hearbe which the Indians doe much esteeme which they cal Cachos The Cachos is an hearbe very reddish in colour it carieth a rounde leafe thinne it casteth out a fruite like to a Berengena of Spayne where the seede doth growe it is very small and of a Russet colour it hath a taste without any sharpnesse onely in the mountaines of Peru this hearbe is found The Indians doe much esteeme it for the medicinal vertues that it hath it maketh one to pisse wel where the lack of Uryne is it doeth expell the Sande and Stones which growe in the reines And moreouer they say that
forthwith a double linnen cloth vpon it wette in the same Balsamo and so bounde that the lippes goe not a sunder and keeping diet and vsing letting of blood if it be needful and not vnbinding it vntill the fourth day and they shall finde the wounde comforted except that there bee any accident which causeth it to bee vndone before And when the cause is such that it requireth to bee dressed euery day by reiterating the wette Linnen cloth in the Balsamo it wil bee healed for the vertue of this Balsamo is to cause that there bee no matter engendered in the woundes and especially this Balsamo doeth profite in woundes where there hath beene cuttinges of bones taking them out that haue beene diuided one from another and not touching the rest for that the vertue of the Balsamo will caste them out and hauing so done wil heale the wounde One of the thinges wherein this Balsamo worketh greate effectes is in woundes and ioyntes and in cuttinges of Sinewes in al prickes for in all these kindes of woundes it maketh a maruellous woorke curing and preseruing them from extreame colde and from running together of Sinewes that they remayne not lame The woundes which doe penetrate are healed with this Balsamo being mingled with whyte wyne and spouting it into them and after three houres taking it out again This must be done in wounds or prickes once euery daâ— that it may goe with a moderate heat Likewyse this Balsamo serueth to be applied where haue beene giuen dry blowes or brusinges and for al workes of Surgerie where is no notable inflammation which beeing taken away with the Medicines that are conuenient for it the Balsamo may then bee vsed In euilles which belong not to Surgerie this Balsamo doth profit much as in him that hath the shortnes of breath by taking a fewe droppes in whyte wyne it profiteth him much it taketh away the grief of the head coÌ„ming of a colde cause and a litle Plaister being laide vpon the griefe and wette therewith to the Temples of the head taketh away all runnings by those partes and in especially the euilles of the eyes and Reumes that runne into them beeing layde to the foreparte of the head and it must be good and hot It taketh away the paynes of it and comforteth it and remedieth the Palsie Some that haue beene in a Consumption haue vsed it taking some droppes in the morning licking them out of the Palme of the hande and they haue felt notable profit And it maketh cleane the brest very wel it is good to take some droppes with Aqua vitae hot before any maner of colde in a Quarterne Ague or of a long importunate tertian Ague annoynting with the same Balsamo mingled with Oyle of Ruda the Temples of the head good and hot before the colde doeth come If with the Balsamo they annoint themselues from the mouth of the stomacke to the Nauâ—l it comforteth the stomacke it giueth a lust to meate it helpeth digestion it dissolueth Windes it taketh away the paines of the stomacke and it worketh farre better these effects if the halfe of the Balsamo be mingled with another halfe of Oyle of Spike Nardâ— compounded or simple and so it is better applyed There is great experience of it in the Indias for Swellinges that are in the maner of Dropsies and mingling it with oyntment disopilatiue of equal parts and annointing the belly therewith chiefly the parte neere the Lunges there are seene wrought therewith great effects it dissolueth any maner of swelling or hardnes that is in any parte of the body and being laide vpon any paine that commeth of a colde cause although it be of long continuance it taketh it away bringing it to be so smal vntil it fal of it self the same it doeth wheresoeuer is any winde And if it bee in the belly or in any parte of the body wetting a Linen cloth hot in Aqua vitae of the best and applying it to the place where the griefe of the Stone is and mingled with Oyle made for the purpose it maketh a great woorke it taketh away the paynes of the Sinewes and when they bee shronke together in a very hot weather rubbing them with it it dissolueth them The euil called the Lamparones that are open or shutte it healeth Many other effectes this maruellous licour worketh which I haue not knowen but these which I haue knowen I doe manifest to al the worlde that they may take profite by so maruellous a Medicine which hath so many vertues as you haue hearde and euery day the tyme wil discouer other greater The ende of the thirde and last parte The Table of the thinges that these three bookes doe containe In the first Booke OF the Anime Copal fol. 1. Of the Tacamahaca fol. 2. Of the Caranna fol. 4. Of the oyle of the Figge tree fol. 5. Of the Gumme fol. 6. Of the Liquid Ambar and the oyle thereof fol. 6. Of the Balsamo fol. 7. Of GuaiacaÌ„ holy wood 12. Of the China fol. 13. Of the Sarcaparillia fol. 15. Of the blood stone and the stone for the disease of the stone fol. 18. Of the woode for the Urine fol. 19. Of the Peper of the Indias fol. 20. Of the Canafistola fol. 21. Of the Purgatiue Nuttes fol. 21. Of the Purgatiue Pinons fol. 22. Of the Purgatiue Beanes fol. 22. Of the Milke of Pinipinichi fol. 23. Of the Mechoacan fol. 23 Of the Quicke Sulphure fol. 30 Of Arromatike wood 31 In the second Booke OF the Tabaco fo 34 Of the Sassafras Of the Carlo Sancto fol. 57. Of saint Elens Bedes 59. Of the Guacatane fol. 60. Of the smal Barlie fol. 62. The Epistle from the Peru. fol. 64. Of the blood of Drago 71. Of the Armadilio fol. 73. Of the flower of Mechoacan fol. 75. Of the Fruite of Balsamo fol. 76. Of the long Peper fol. 77. Of the Sarcaparillia of Guaiaquil fol. 79. Of Ambar grise fol. 82. In the thirde Booke OF the Cinamon of our Indias fol. 88 Of the Ginger 89. Of the Ruibarbe of the Indias fol. 89 Of the Pinnas fol. 90 Of the Guaiauas fol. 90 Of the Cachos fol. 91 Of the flowers of blood 92 Of the Rinde of a tree for Reumes fol. 92 Of the Pacal ibid. Of the Paico ibid. Of an hearbe for the euill of the Raines ibid. Of the fruite which groweth vnder the ground 93 Of a fruite called Leucoma fol. 93 Of the washing Bead stones fol. 94 Of the Crabbes of that couÌ„trie fol. 94 Of the Cardones fol. 94 Of an hearbe good for them that are broken fol. 95 Of the Ueruaine fol. ibid. Of the Masluerso fol. 96 Of the wilde Lettise fol. 96 Of the licour called Ambia fol. 96 Of a Tree which sheweth whether one shall lyue or die fol. 97 Of the Granadillia fol. 97 Of the hearbe of the Sunne fol. 98 Of a Gumme that is taken out froÌ„ vnder the ground fol. 98 Of the Bezaar
original Trimegisto sayde that the earth was the mother of the metals and the heauen the Father And Plinie saith these wordes The inner parte of the earth is a thing most precious for into it and through it doe goe and pearce all the influences of heauen ingendring therein thinges of greate pryce as stones and metals and this is done as Calcidonio Platonico doeth say by reason of the greate heate that is in the inner parte of it Calisthenes vnderstood that the forme of metals were all one Anaxagoras and Hermes sayde that the metalls had one forme in the inner parte and an other in the outwarde parte one secret and an other manifest after the manner as the lead hath within it gold and the gold lead and so of al the rest of the metals See you my maisters howe many and howe variable opinions there are among wise men There is another opinion which is that which is common and which for the most certayne we doe followe which Auicen wrote in his bookes of Metheurous and in the bookes hee made of Alcumisto which were confirmed by Geber and Raymond Lullio and Arnolde de Villa noua and all the rest that haue treated of these matters euen vnto our tyme doe say that the true matter of all metals is ingendred of brimstone and quicksiluer the brimstone as the father and the quicksiluer as the mother and the heat of the brimstone doeth incorporate and congele with the quicksiluer in such sorte that of these twoo thinges are made the metals which are in the bowelles of earth and of the variation of these twoo beginninges they come to differ the one from the other and of the purenesse of these twoo beginnings some doe come to be more excellent then other and for this the golde is more profitable more fayre then all other metalles for bycause it is formed of his beginning cleane and pure which was the cause and originall of his perfection And there were Philosophers which said that al metals should haue bin gold if it had not bin for the imperfection of the sulphur and the quicksiluer And al other metals besides the golde they call imperfect mineralles bycause they had not their purenesse and concoction that the gold had with that maruellous friendshippe which nature gaue vnto it And of this it commeth that the Alcumistes for to make golde doe pretende to make cleane and purifie these twoo beginninges of the which all the metalles are made and beeing put into their perfection the golde is made by of them which is the metall most pure and cleane of all other Thus they dâ—e woorke with their distillations and limbecks and howe harde it is to doe let them report and speake that haue spent their goods and also their patrimonies therevppon and yet in the end haue performed nothing at all Such as doe wryte against them making impossible their woorkes and effectes doe say that in the bowels of the earth the metals are not ingendred nor made of brimstone and quicksiluer as they thinke and holde it for certayne so they cannot make of them by arte for if it were so that of brimstone and quicksiluer they were ingendred there would be some â—ase of them in the mynes of golde and siluer and of the other metals for it is seene that there is no signe or vayne of them in any of those mynes howe deepe so euer they bee but rather they are mynes of themselues as wee see that neyther in them are founde metalles nor in the mynes of the metals are foundâ— sulphur nor quickesiluer And if it were so as they say that the metalles doe breede and are newly ingendred of these twoo beginnings it must bee of force that one metall were alreadie made and the other shoulde goe a making for that all coulde not bee made alyke but rather they take out all metalles ready made and perfectioned and in the meltinges the Iron doeth fall downe into the lowest parte and so is made a great cake the which being deuided into peeces they carry them to the forge where are certeine great hammers or sledges of Iron which the water dryueth and they beate them and there they are forged and doe make these planches that you see there leaning Trueth it is that there are mynes where some Iron is more strong then other some and likewise harder and stronger to labour The Iron of Almayne is softer and gentler to worke That of Flaunders is harde and naught and therefore it is that manye things are soone broken that are made of it In Italy you haue all sortes that of Biskey is the best by reason it is good to worke and it is more mightie and strong then all other and for the goodnesse it hath it is carryed to all partes Doctour Do they bring Steele from Biskey as they do from Italy OrtunÌ„o They do bring a certeine kinde of Iron so harde and strong that being wrought it serueth for Steele cheefely with a temperature that is giuen to it that doeth make it very strong although that it be wrought with great labour There is great difference betweene this and â—he Steele which they bring from Italy and cheefely from Milan for this is verye pleasant to worke and softe and is farre better and the craftes men that doe worke it for this cause are desirous of it and do vse it more then any other Doctour Some will say that the Steele is a myne aâ—one of it selfe distant froÌ„ the Iâ—on OrtunÌ„o It is not so foâ— all are mynes of Iron but that some is more strong then other some and the stronger and harder it is for the strength and haâ—dnesse thereof wee call it Steele and there are countries which haue no other Iron but this which is harde and strong as all the countrey of Mondragon where all the mâ—nes that are in it are of this Iron strong harde whereby it is called Steele all that is taken out of them the disposition of the place doeth cause it but that which they bring from Italy is of another sorte In that countrie are diuers mynes of yron some of soft yron easie to woorke and other of hard strong yron not easie to worke And for to make the steele which they sende vs they vse it in this sorte they take of the soft yron the quantitie they seeme good and they make it in â—â—â—aine small thinne planches then they take marble ground small and also the rust of the yron grounde smal and mingling it al togither they put it into a furnace to melâ— prepared for this purpose with much quantitie of kindled coale they cast al together into it geueth it a strong fire and after they cast to it some of that hard Iron that is so hard that it cannot bee wrought and with a strong fire it is al melt and they make it one peece
effect but with greate difference from all other metalles as Bulcasis sheweth very learnedly being a Phisitiâ—n and a Moore who in particular doth shew the manner which ought to bee had for to prepare the yron and hee sayeth in this manner the fyling of the yron which is most pure must bee taken without other mixture for if it bee mingled with Copper or Lead or Glasse and if it bee giuen so mingled to any person for to drinke it wil kill them you may take the quantity you list of that which is fyled being most pure and let it be wâ—shed and after it is wel washed let it be put into a cleane vessell And let there bee put to it vineger and put it vnder some thing so that it bee well couered let it so remayne thirty dayes or at the 〈◊〉 seâ—en and after that tyme take it foorth and you shall finde that which is filed of the coullour of Uerdegrece the which must be dryâ—d and after it is drye it must be grounde and being well ground you may vse thereof Some there bee that do washe it with fresh water or with vineger and do strayne it through a linnen cloth and then put it vnder a vessell vntil it waxe rotten and after they â—ash it and keepe it That which this Moore doeth say seâ—meth to be of Aueroyes in the fifth of his gathering where he setteth downe the preparation thereof in this forme After the Iron is ground very small let it be put many tymes in to vineger or into Gotes milke when it is cruddye This he would should be the preparation And Christopher de honestis following this in the commentaries which he made vpon Mesue sayeth Let the fyling of the Steele be put into vinegre many dayes for in any other wise the vse of it will not profite although that some do put it into milke of Gotes and some into oyle of sweete Almondes and in this sort they take it The same preparation Clement Clementino doth giue It seemeth a harde thing to beleeue that the Iron or Steele is penetrate and doth waxe soft with any of these things onely the strong vinegre is that which doth penetrate and soften it whereby it may be well grounde for to vse of it And for the more certeintie I will shewe howe I do prepare it I do take of Steele the purest and whitest I can get as also Iron and do cause it to be fyled as small as may be and when it is so fyled I cause it to be washed in water many times vntill the water do come foorth cleare and then I put it into a cleane glassed vessell and do cast to it as much strong white vinegre as may be sufficient to wet thorough the sayde fyling and the vâ—ssell being stopped put iâ—to a close place I do let it stande xx dayes stirryng it well twice euery weeke and putting to it some vineger if it bâ—e needefull and after the twentie dayes when it is well sâ—kened I take it out of that and put it into some other brodeâ— vessell or vppon a table that it may dry in the shadowe and after it is drie I doe grynde it in a morter of metall sifting it twise through a thicke siue of silke and so beeing made into Pouder I put it into a fine earthen paynted pot then with a Pestle I beate it small agayne in suche sort that being taken betweene the fingers it seemeth not too haue anie maner of substance neither is it felt between theÌ„ And if it be not done in this sort they are neuer well grounâ—e for it is a thing that they take most care of so that therby it may worke the effect the better And beyng made into pouder in this sort it ought to be kept in a glassed vessel Some doe wet it with Gumme Dragagaunt and make it in rowles and it liketh mee very well because they be the better conserued and the gumme Dragagant taketh away some parte of their drithe And seeing that I haue made an ende of the preparing of the steele and Iron that it doeth the effect when it is needâ—ful as though it were the steele it selfe let Maister Doctor shewe vnto vs the woorkes and vertues that it doeth D. I doe reioyce very much to heare the good order of the preparation that Maister Burgus hath geuen and set downe to be vsed with these metals And seeyng that I am bound to declare the vertues and medicinal works which they haue I wil speake of it the best that I know as well that which I haue knowen and read as that which experience hath taught me and the vse of so many yeeres These two metalles doe serue in medicine two manner of wayes the one is that of them may be made instrumentes to worke with in causes of Surgery without the which the Surgions cannot worke their works and effectes nor the Barbours without them cannot do their occupations To declare what instrumentes those are which serue for the one and for the other occupations it wil be to tedious The yron and steele doe serue in medicine with great effectes and maruellous workes by curing and healing diuers diseases and so Plinie in his booke of the naturall historie treting of this matter of yron after he wrote great things of it as well in that which doeth profite in the seruice of man as other curious thinges hee treateth of â—he vertâ—es and woorkes which it doeth in medicine shewing first the qualities of it saying The yron hath vertue too drie vp too retayne and too holde fast it is good for suche as doe lacke theyr heare that it may growe beeyng prepared and mingled with some licour prepared and made for the same purpose it taketh away the roughnesse of the cheekes mingled with Uineger and beyng made in an oyntment with oyle of of Myrtiles and waxe it taketh away the blisters of all the vodie the pouder of it mingled with Uineger doeth heale the disease called Saint Anthonies fire as also all maner of skabbes it healeth the little sores between the nayle and the finger the pouders therof being applyed thervnto with a linnen cloath It healeth also the fluxe of women of what sorte soeuer it be beyng put therevnto with wooll or with â—otton wool and also if they be applied therevnto after the mannâ—r of a Tent in the lower partes the pouder beeyng mingled with mirrhe and put to the sores or wounds newe hurte doeth soder them and healeth them and beeyng mingled with Uineger and put vpon the pilâ—s it dissolueth them It is a great remedy for such as are gowtie beeyng applyed with thinges made for the purpose vpoÌ„ the griefe It stenâ—heth the blood of such as are wounded which is for the most part made of Iron It is geuen to be drunke to suche as are diseased of the lungs for it consumeth the disease and healeth him that is sicke it stayeth any manner of fluxe