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
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
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
heath that groweth creeping vp by certaine little Canes it hath a sadde greene colour it carrieth certayne leaues that the greatnesse of them may be of the greatnesse of a good Porenge dish which are in compasse round with a little point the leafe hath his little Sienewes it is small well neere without moysture the stalke is of the colour of a cleere Tawnie. They say that it casteth foorth certayne Clusters with little Grapes of the greatnesse of a Coriander seede which are the fruite and doe waxe rype by the Moneth of September it casteth out many Bowes which doth stretche a long vppon the Earth and if you put any thing neere to it it goeth creeping vpon it The Roote of the Mechoacan is vnsauerie and without byting or anie sharpenesse of tast That which wee doe see at this present of our Mechoacan is a roote which they bring from the new Spayne from the Prouince of Mechoacan made in greate and little peeces of them cutte in peeces of them broken with their handes It is a white Roote somewhat strong and mighty it appeareth that the peeces be of a great roote without any heart The conditions or elections that it must haue for to be good and perfect is that it be freshe which may be knowne if that it be not worme eaten nor blacke and that it be somewhat white but the very white is not so good and if it bee somewhat russet so that it be the vttermost parte of the root for that the inner parte is somewhat white In the tasting or chewing of it it is without sauour or any manner of byting tast It importeth to make his worke the better if so be that it be freshe for that the fresher it is the better it is and the greater the peeces are the better they are conserued And it is true that that which is brought in pouder is not so good for that it doeth putrifie and lose much of the vertue and operation As also we doe see if we make pouder and keepe it it doeth not make so good woorke as when the roote is ground and then forthwith taken The roote beyng old doth turne blacke and it will be worme eaten with holes and become very light It will keepe well rouled in Sere cloth It is gathered in the moneth of October and it neuer loseth his leafe The Complection thereof is hot in the first degree and drie in the seconde for that it hath subtill partes with some bynding whereby it seemeth that his woorke beyng done it leaueth the interiour Members strengthened without debilitation and weakenesse which the other Purgatiue Medicines doe leaue them in but rather those that doe purge themselues therewith doe remayne after they be purged more strong and harde then before they were purged It hath no neede of rectification for that wee doe not see in this roote any notable hurt onely the Wine is vnto it a corroboration for the woorke for being taken with Wine it maketh a better worke then with any other Licour for that it doth not cause vomite and it woorketh the better It is giuen at all tymes and in all Ages it doeth his woorke without molestation and without the accidentes that the other Medicines soluatiue are woont to procure It is a Medicine easie to bee taken for that it hath no euil cast Onely it hath the sauour of that with the which it is taken for that it is of it selfe without sauour and so it is easie for Children for that they may take it without feeling what it is it is so lykewyse for persons that caÌ„not take Medicines for it hath neyther smell nor taste I haue purged therewith many Children and many very olde persons haue giuen it to men of more then 80. yeeres of age and it maketh in them very sure and good woorke with no maner of alteration nor chaunge of body and without being debilited or weakened This Roote doeth auoyde cholerike humors grosse mixt and also flegmatike Humors of what kind soeuer they be and humors putrified and rotten and of both coloâ—rs it doeth euacuate the Citrine water of them that haue the Dropsie with much easines The principall respect thereof is to the Liuer making it cleane and comforting it and the Members neere adioyning to it as the stomacke and the inner partes It doeth cure all Opilations of the same partes and all diseases caused of them As the Dropsie the Iaundies and ioyntly with his good woorke it rectifieth the euill complexion of the Liuer it dâ—ssolueth windinesse and with easinâ—sse it expelleth it and doeth open all the hardnesse of the Liuer and of the Lunges and of the stomacke It taketh away olde griefes of tâ—e head and mundifieth the brayne and tâ—e Sinewes and empâ—ieth out the humors that bee in the head or pâ—râ—es thereof In the disease called the Lampaâ—ones which is the Ringes Euill it maketh a good woorke in olde griâ—feâ— of the head called the Megrim and the Falling sicknesse and in all Distillations or olde runninges in paynes of â—he Ioyntes both particular and vniuersal as in the â—ouâ— Arthetica in paynes of the stomacke emptying the cause and consuming windines Also in paynes of the Uryne Bladder in paynes of the stone and Colicke of what kynde soeuer it bee it maketh a meruellous woorke It cureth the paynes of women and especially the Mother by emptying and taking away the cause as namely those causes which come of cold humors windinesse and in the griefes of the brest as of an olde cough shortnes of breath for vsing this roote oftentymes it taketh it away and healeth it Also in griefes of the Reynes caused of grosse Humors for it doeth emptie and expell them In griefes of the Poxe it maketh a greate worke And it seemeth that for these griefes our Lord did ordaine it emptying the humors of them which for the moste parte are colde and especially when they be waxen olde of long tyme it purgeth them and doeth expel them without any paynes by multiplying the taking thereof as many tymes as is necessarie for that in these infirmities that bee olde and of long continuance one euacuation is not sufficient but it is necessary to haue many euacuations which may be done without daunger with this Roote and it is not to bee maruelled at if that with one euâ—cuation therewith doeth not follow the health that is wished for but that many tymes it is needful to make often repetition to the intent to roote vp and expel the euil and naughtie humors that are the cause of the saide disease This roote doeth maruellously empty foorth the cause of the lâ—rge Feuers and importunate and all Feuers compounded and chiefly in olde Feuers as Tertians Quotidians flegmatike and in sâ—ch diseases as commonly come of opilacions vsing thereof at the tyme that is needefull for that in the lyke large and importunate diseases the Phisition must not bee
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
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
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
the vse of it doeth breake the stone from the bladder if the Stones bee soft that they may bee dissolued with taking very little quantitie of it and of this they haue so many examples that they cause mee to maruell at it because I thinke that the stone in the bladder cannot bee expelled but onely to cut it out is the remedie for that no Phisicke can dissolue him They say that taking the seede grounde with some water made for the purpose causeth it to bee cast out in Clay and being come foorth it returneth to be congeled and turneth it self into a stone Only to a yong man I sawe this happen who had a stone in the bladder and I beeing certified of it by the Maister Surgions that had felt him and of the accidents which hee had caused him to bee caried at the beginning of the Sommer vnto the Fountaine of the stone and in twoo monethes after that hee was there hee came whole from thence and brought in a paper all the clay which hee had voyded from him at tymes being of stone dissolued into peeces We wil sowe the seedes although very little onely to see the effect wrought by them which as they say is in a cause so greate and if it doe growe we wil vse of it Of the flowres of blood I Sowed a seede which they brought mee from the Peru more to see the fairenesse thereof then for any Medicinall vertues that it hath The hearbe commeth to bee of the height of twoo spannes litle more or lesse bowes it casteth out straight with certaine rounde leaues very greene and thinne in the hiest of the bowes there groweth a flower being yeallow very high in colour and onely it beareth fiue leaues and in the middest of euery leafe there is figured a droppe of blood so red and so firmely kindled in colour that it can not be more This flower hath at the foote of it a stalke very long which commeth out a good space from the flower It is a flower very beautifull which doeth adornate gardens it groweth very wel of the seede or of the plante and beeing tasted it hath the same sauour and taste that the Mastuesso hath it is notable hotte A rinde of a tree for the Rewme AMongst the thinges with they sent mee froÌ„ the Peru there is a thicke rinde which seemeth to bee of a great tree and being tasted hath a sharpnes of tast with some drynesse the trees growe at the side of a riuer where this rinde is taken of which is twentie and sixe Leagues from Lima and they are not founde in other partes of the Indias but onely there The tree is after the fashion of an â—ime as wel in the greatnes as in the leafe The Indians when they feele themselues laden with Reumes or haue the Cough or any paynes of the head they make pouder very small of the rinde of the tree and take it in at their noses and it causeth them to purge much at them and with this they cleare themselues of the euil which we haue experimented by taking the pouder in at the nose and it maketh them to purge notably It seemeth to be more then hot in the second degree Of the Pacal IN the same Riuer there groweth an other tree which the Indians call Pacal which tree is lesser then that wee haue spoken of before the Indians doe vse it made in Ashes mingled with Soye it taketh away any maner of sore or skabbe in the head howe grieuous soeuer it bee as wel those which growe in the head as in the bodie as also it taketh away the markes of the sayde skabbes or sores being neuer so olde Hether they sent mee a little of the wood wherewith the Ashes are made that we might make experience of it Of the Paico THey sent mee an hearbe which in the Peru they call Payco they bee certaine leaues after the manner of the leaues of Planten of that making and greatnesse and as they come dry they are very thinne and being tasted they haue a notable bityng so that thereby they seeme to bee very hotte And being made into pouder and taken in wyne they take away the griefe of the stone in the kidneis which commeth of windinesse or cold causes and being sodden and made into a plaister and laide vpon the griefe they take it away also An hearbe for the euill of the Reines LIkewise they sent mee another hearbe which profiteth much in the euill of the reines when it commeth of a hotte cause The Iuyce mingled with the oyntment of Roses amongst it and one of the leaues or more if it bee needful laide vpon it is good for an inflaÌ„mation the iuyce thereof being put and it profiteth much for it doth resist the inflammation and mittigate the payne The leaues which they sent me bee lyke to small Lettice with the same greatnesse and being tasted they are of an euill savour it seemeth to be some hearbe notable cold ¶ Of a fruite which groweth vnder the ground THey sent me from the Peru a fruite very good that groweth vnder the earth and very faire to beholde and of a very good taste in eating This fruite hath no roote nor doeth produce any plante nor plante doth produce it but that it groweth vnder the ground as the Turmas doe grow vnder the earth which are called the Turmas of the earth It is of the greatnesse of halfe a finger rounde and rounde about it is wrought with a very fayre worke it is of a bay colour It hath within it a little kernel which when it is dry maketh a sounde within lyke to an Almonde the rinde of it is tawny and somwhat white parted into twoo partes lyke vnto an Almonde It is a fruite of goood sauour and taste and eating of it it seemeth that you eate Nuttes This fruite groweth vnder the earth in the coast of the Riuer of Maronnon and it is not in any other part of al the Indias It is to be eaten greene and dry and the beste way is to toste it It is eaten alwaies after meates as fruite eaten last of all because it dryeth much the stomacke and leaueth it satisfied but if you eate much of it then it bringeth heauinesse to the head It is a fruite in great reputation as wel amongst the Indians as the Spaniardes and with greate reason for I haue eaten of them which they haue brought mee and they haue a good taste It seemeth to be a temperate fruite Of the fruite called Leucoma THey brought mee likewyse a fruite of a tree which the Indians call Leucoma which is like vnto a Chestnutte of these of ours as wel in colour as in the greatnesse as also in the whytenesse that the Chestnutte hath It seemeth that within it is another thing I did not breake it to see what it was because they brought me but twoo of them the one I haue sowen
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