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
they doe differ from them of the East India for in all the rest they are the same The 15. day of Iune in this yeere of 1568. I certain geÌ„tlemen my freends went to the mountaines to huÌ„t we were a hunting fiue dayes and we killed some of those beasts which I haue spoken of And as we went for this purpose thinking that they were of the kind of theÌ„ of the East India we carried your booke with vs we opened one of them the greatest that we hunted and oldest we colde finde we found no stones in his belly nor in any other part of him nor any other thing wherby we belâ—eued that they were not the same kind of beasts with those of the East India And we asked of certaine Indians that went to serue vs where these beasts had their stones as they are our enimies would not that we should knowe their secrets they answered vs that they knew nothing of these stones vntil one boy which was amongst them being an Indian of the age of 12. yeres seeing that we were so desirous to know the same shewed vs the secrete of the haue byn vsed since that hunting that I haue spoken of which were the first that haue bin discouered in the world for the vse to heale diseases we do trust that with them wil be done maruellous woorkes according as they haue begun to do theÌ„ all this is owing to your worship seing that by your book we had knowledge to seek them to discouer them to take them out of these beastes which had them so hidden within them that surely ther is much owing to your worship for discouering vnto vs so great a treasure as this is which is the greatest that hath bin fouÌ„d in these parts wherby our nation is much bound to you likewise al the world because al men shal profit by theÌ„ the rest of the secrets which you haue set down in your book which bringeth vnto vs great profit And in recompence of the benefit which I haue receiued I send here to your woorship a dosen of stones by the returne of Iohn Anthony Corso the rich Merchant which if they come thither your worship may make experience of them in many infirmities for you shal find great effectes in them By the same returne also your worship may aduise me of them any thing that shal please you to commaund me I wil do it as one that is most affectioned to you because you are curious and learned for doing so much good to the world in those thinges which you haue written published Heerewithall I send you a small Chest in the which come certaine Frisoles which you may command to be sowen in the beginning of Marche that the colde doe not hurte them which send foorth a plant like vnto beanes but somewhat lesse which haue certaine vaines where the seed is Halfe a dozen of them eaten with salt being of the tast of green beanes they purge valiantly euacuate the water of him which hath the dropsie without paynes The selfe same effect it worketh if that they be dry making theÌ„ into pouder taking theÌ„ with wine it is needful that meat be made in a redines for if they work to much by taking more then they should be with eating any thing incontinent the worke wil cease Also I sende you an hearbe which groweth in these plaine countries clounge to the ground like vnto grasse which is of great vertues for many infirmities chiefly for them which are grieued with Reumes and Fleumes in the throate taking them away easily with great benefite and in this griefes of the head Reumes chewing it they do dissleume very much they call this hearbe after my name because I vse it for the like euils for that an Indian did teach it me which knew much of the vertue of hearbes Also I send your worship a fruite of a tree which is of great profit these trees be not founde in any countrie but in this they are of the greatnesse of an Oke of those in Spain it hath many vertues for the rinde being made in pouder and cast into any sore which is needful to bee made cleane it maketh it cleane afterward causeth the flesh to grow healeth it And rubbing the teeth with this pouder it maketh theÌ„ cleane very wel being laid vpon the gummes if the flesh be taken away it doeth incarnate them if the teeth be loose it maketh theÌ„ fast Seething the leaues of this tree well in water washing with the water thereof any manner of swelling which hath any sore or that is therof cankered it taketh away the swelling and impostume And making some small linen clothes weate in this seething laying them warme vpon the medicine which is laide vpon the sore or vpon the pouder that is made of the rinde it maketh the sores to heale more quickly causing that there come no humour to them Out of the saide tree commeth a Rosine which is of sweete smel and serueth to perfume in many diseases of the head to make plaisters for many eâ—ils and heere I send it to your worship Of the fruite the Indians make a certaine drinke which is for them very healthâ—ul Your worshippe may commande them to bâ—e sowen for I would be glad that they should grow for it will bee a thing of much delight for the profite that it bringeth in Phisicke and for the noueltie of the tree for at al tymes it hath a very good smel I brought into this country a blacke woman which I bought in Xerez de la Frontera and there did appeare vpon her when we came hither certain olde sores in her legs which were of long continuance and comming to the Ilande of the Margareta and beeing very sorowefull for the sores which my blacke woman had an Indian tolde me that hee woulde heale her and seeing that she had no other remedy I deliuered her to the custodie of the Indian that he might heale her for me and immediatly he toke a fruite which is common in that country and al people ingeneral doe eate it which is of the greatnes of an Orenge it hath a stone like vnto a Peach This stone the IndiaÌ„ did burne and made it into pouder for the stone is hard can not be grounde without burning of it and he cast the pouder of it into the sores which she had ful of much rotten flesh and very filthy which with the pouder were made cleane and very well and it tooke out al the rotten flesh to the bone and after it was cleane with lint and a litle pouder laid too it they began to be filled with newe flesh vntil they were ful of flesh and she was healed very wel And it is to be considered that the little kernel of the stone hath so much venom malice in it that if any person
the flower The vse thereof The vse therof The vertueâ— thereof The vertueâ— therof The description of it Where it groweth It is like to Chestnuttes How it is fruite Sope. Historie The medicinal vertues thereof The vertues thereof Historie Wormes Witchcraft A notable historie Iohn Langius historie Beneuenius historie The vertues It taketh away the toothache The medicinall vertues thereof The description of â—he Granadillias Where thesâ— stones doo growe They of the Oriental Indias In quarterne Agewes In long euils A custome of the Orientall Indians Pouders to be meruelled at for the wormes and al kindes of them Spyders The description of the Coca The vse of iâ— Note Quick siluer Casani â—s bred in the Indias Tâ—e descriptiâ—n oâ— the hearbe and the fâ—uâ—tâ— How they maâ—e â—read of the fruite Note the maruelles of the iuyce Columâ—la Maâ—is Bread of Maâ—iâ— Batatas For faintnesse or shortnesse of breath The vertues thereof Historie Of the Canes in Conserâ—â— Note What trees they are whereof it is gathered How it is gathered Black waxe The colour maner of it The workes effectes of this Balsamo How they cure with it In diseases that belong not to Surgery The hearbe Escuerconera Dioscorides The Emperor Marco Antonio To knowe what venom it was Euill signes To knowe what venom 〈◊〉 was The cure Venome of his oâ—ne propertie Triacle Methridatâ— and compouÌ„ded medicines Medicineâ—-simples Lemnia Diptamo The names of the stone Conraâ—o Where they are ingendred Plinie Historie How the Bezaar stone is â—ngendered The figure of the beaste Historie His figure The forme of the stones His coulour It is light Which are fine Guido de Lanazaris In great estimation Andrewe Belunensiâ— Serapio The old Writers wrote of this stone Serapio of his vertue Note Rasis Simia of Gâ—len The king of Cordiua Auensoar Aueroiâ— Haliabas Rabbi Moâ—ses Phisitions of late time Mathiolus Andrew de Laguna Valescus Amato Lucitano That as I haue seene by experience For them that are sad and melanchâ—lie Historie Historiâ— How this herbe was discouered Why it is called Escuerâ—onera The vertue of the herbe Historie Trimegist Plinie Calisthenes Calcidonâ—â— Anaxagoras and Hermes A common opinion Auicen Geber Raymond Arnold Almayne Flandâ—rs Biskey Italie Mâ—nâ—â—agoâ— The mannâ—â— how they make Steele in Italie Steeâ—e In what thinges Iron Steele are spent The sowing needle The needle for nauigation Who fâ—rst found thiâ— needle Disâ—â—â—â—ed That rust come not Remedies when the rust hath taken it Money madâ— of fruite of Treeâ— That the Yron is cold Galen Idem Aueroys Alberto Maegno Conciliador Idem Herculano Iacobus de partibus Auicâ—n Menardo Albucasis Brasauola Sanauarola A concorde of the diâ—ference Sublimatum Of the preparation of Iron and Steele To correct Metalles Bulcasis Aueroies Christâ—pher de honestiâ— Clemenâ— Clementinâ— The prepâ—ration The vertueâ— of Iron and Steele Galeâ— Aâ—xander Traliano Paulo Dioscorides Actio Oribacio Scribonio Rasis Scrapio Auicen Auicen Aliabas Albucariâ— Alzarania Isaacâ— What the late Writers say Vitalis de Furno MontenÌ„â—na Saâ—anarola Galen Nicolas Florentine Bartholmew an English man Saliceto Platerio Matthew Siluatico Galen Galen Serapio The rust of the Iron and his vertues Plateario Matthew Siluatico Galen Mesue Rasis How these pouders are ministred The quantitâ— When they should be taken That which the going doth import The order that he shall haue The dayes that they shal take them Note Galen Of colde mater Foure waies to make cold The first with the ayer in the colde of the night â—alen To make cold with hanging in the ayre The hurte to to coole in the ayre Auicen The seconde manner howe to make colde which is in wels and the hurt that commeth thereof Galen In the well the vessell ought to be well stopped and in the ayre vnstopped and not full To coole in metall iâ— euill The best maner how to make colde with the water of a well The thirde way or manner howe to â—ake cold with saltpeter Galen The hurt it doeth Other waies to make cold Snowe and rayne water doeth differ in little Atheneo Pericrates Euticles Sciates Xenophon Plinie Plinie Reliogabalo Chares Militineus Snowe is kept by many people The colde which dooth proceede of Snowe dooth not offend as oâ—her colde dooth How carâ—les â—eople are that they haue not had Snowe in Sâ—â—uill An exhortation Note The good that drinking colde doeth Auicen Rasâ—â— Ideâ— Galen Anaximenes Galen â—alen Cornelio Celso Auicen Auicen Auicen Isaak Allabos Rasit Auiâ—en Who drinke colde let them driâ—ke little and little You must â—ot driâ—ke colde at the beginning of meate He doth counsell to drinke colde Galen Galen Galen Galen How it ought to be vsed Plâ—nie Martial Three things which abaâ—e the fury of the wyne History Snowe vpoâ— fâ—uite Galen The old wryters did vse much to coole with snow Note FroÌ„ whence they bring the snowe Mountaines of Snow The conseruation of the Snowe Charles Militineus Saint Augustiâ—e The properties of straw With a little platter In a caue
receiue the smoke of them at his mouth and at his nose with a Cane and in taking of it hee fell downe vppon the ground as a Dead man and remayning so according to the quantitie of the smoke that he had taken when the hearbe had done his woorke he did reuiue and awake and gaue them their answeares according to the visions and illusions which hee sawe whiles hee was rapte in thâ— same manner and he did interprete to them as to him seemed best or as the Diuell had counselled him geuing them continually doubtfull answeares in such sorte that howsoeuer it fell out they might say that it was the same which was declared and the answeare that he made In like sort the rest of the Indians for their pastime doe take the smoke of the Tabaco too make themselues drunke withall and to see the visions and thinges that reprâ—sent â—â—to them that wherein they doe delight and other times they take it to knowe their businesse and successe because conformable to that which they haue seene beyng drunke therewith euen so they iudge of their businesse And as the Deuil is a deceauer hath the knowledge of the vertue of hearbes so he did shew the vertue of this Hearb that by the meanes thereof they might see their imaginations and visions that he hath represented to them and by that meanes deceiue them Too haue Hearbes that haue the like vertue is a common Iâ—â—ias but is also a common thing in the Orientall Indias And also in the Portugâ—ll Indias for this effect they doe sell the Opiâ— in their Shoppes euen as they sell Conserâ—â— with the which the Indians vse to ease themselues of their labour that they take and to bee merie and not to feele paynes of any greate labour of the bodie or minde that may come vnto them and they call it there amongst themselues Aphiâ—â— This Aphion the Turkes doe vse for this effect The â—oâ—lâ—iers and Captaynes that goe to Warres when they labour much after the time that they be lodged that they may take their rest they receiue Aphion and sleepe with it and remayne lightened of their labour The most principall people take Bague and it hath a better cast and a better smell for there is put to it muche Amber and Muske anâ— Cloues and other spices And surely it is a thing of admiration â—o see howe these Barbarous people doe take such Medicines and how many of them doe take them and that they doe not kiâ—â— them but rather they take them for health and remeâ—ie for their necessities I sawe an Indian of those partes that in my presence did aske an Apothecarie for a quart of Opiâ— and I demanded of him wherefore he woulde haue it and he tolde me that he took it to put away wearinesse when he felt himselfe ouer much greeued and afflicted with labour and hee tooke the halfe of that which he carried for the Apothecary gaue him more then a piâ—te for twelue pence and therewith he slepte so soundly that when he awoke from sleepe hee founde himselfe very muche eased of his wearinesse in suche sorte that hee might continue his labour I meruelled at it and it seemed to me a thing of Mockerie seeyng that fiue or sixe graynes bee the most that wee can giue toâ— sicke Person howe strong soeuer hee bee which beeyng verie well prepared doeth cause many times Accidentes of Death And many yeeres after standing in the Shoppe of an other Apothecary of this Citie there came an other Indian of the same Orientall Indias and he asked of the Apothecarie for some Opio called Aphion the which Apothecarie vnderstoode him not And I remembring my selfe of the other Indian caused him to shewe vnto the Indian Opio and in shewing it to him he sayd that it was that which he asked for and he bought a quarter of a Pinte of it and I asked of the Indian wherefore hee woulde haue it and he tolde me the same that the other Indian did that it was because he might labour and ease himselfe of his wearinesse for that hee did beare burdens and shoulde helpe to discharge a shippe wherefore he sayde he woulde take the one halfe that he might therewith labour and the other halfe after he had laboured that therwith he might take ease and rest Then I gaue credite to the first Indian of that he sayd vnto me and since I haue beleeued that which I haue seene and read in those partes to be a thing in common vse for the like effectes And truely it is a thing worthy of greate consideration that fiue graines of Opio doe kill vs and threescore doe geue them health and rest The Indians doe vse the Tabaco for to suffer drieth and also to suffer hunger and to passe dayes without hauing neede to eate or drinke when they shall trauell by any desert or dispeopled countrie where they shall finde neither water nor meate They receiue thereof little balles which they make of the Tabaco For they take the leaues of it and chew them and as they goe chewing of them they goe mingling with them certayne pouder made of the shelles of Cockels burned they mingle it in the mouth altogether vntil they make it like dowe of the which they frame certayne little Balles little greater then Peason and lay them to drie in the shadow and after they keepe them and vse them in this forme following When they vse to trauell by the waies where they finde no water nor meate they take a little hall of these and put it betweene the lower lippe and the teeth and goe chewing it all the time that they trauell and that which they chewe they swallowe downe and in this sore they iourney three or foure dayes without hauing neede of meate or drinke for they feele no hunger drieth nor weakenesse nor their trauell doth trouble them I thinke that to iourney after this sort is â—he cause they goe chewing continually the little balles for they bring Fleume into the mouth and swallowe it into the stomake the which doeth retayne the naturall heate which it doth confirme and so they mainteyn themselues therby the like whereof wee see to happen in many beastes for that a great part of the Winter they be shut vp in their Caues hollowe places of the earth and passe their time there without any meate for that they haue to câ—nsume the naturall heate of the fâ—mes which they had gotten in the Summer The Beare being a great and fierce beast much time in the Winter remayneth in his Caue and liueth without meate or drinke with onely chewing his pawes which perhaps he doeth for the said cause This is the substance which I haue gathered of this hearbe so celebrated called Tabaco for that surely it is an hearb of great estimation for the excellent vertues that it hath as we haue sayde Hereafter followeth a further addition of the Hearbe called Tabaco otherwise called
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
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
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
de Quinatna Duenas beeyng Aburgales who did cast out at his mouth in my presence a greate bundell of â—eare of a browne colour very small and hee had in a Paper more then twice as much which hee had cast vp two houres before and he remained as though he had cast vp nothing at all more then the alteration that hee had to see that he had cast vp such stuffe Iohn Langins an Almayne Phisition and verie well learned saith that he sawe a woman that complayned much of payne in her stomake did cast out many peeces of glasse and peeces of Earthen Platters and of fish bones wherwith she remayned whole An other case like vnto this Beneuenius speaketh of in his book de morbis mirandis but that which I do most maruel at was that a labouring man suffering great paines in his bellie so that no medicine coulde profite him did cut his owne throate with a knife and after that he was dead they opened him fouÌ„d in his belly great quantity of heare the like wherof he that I haue spokeÌ„ of did vomit with many other peeces of yron These things I do attribute to the works of the Diuel for that they caÌ„not be reduced vnto natural causes The Ueruaine is like that of Spaine all the yeere it is greene Of the Mastuerco I haue an hearbe brought from the Peru which they call Mastuerco it is a little hearbe doth carry certain small leaues that are round which beeing beaten in a morter and the iuyce of them put into any maner of wound doth refresh comfort and heale curing it foorthwith and the vse of it is not more nor lesse then the vse of the Tabaco in woundes which he freshly made washing them with the iuyce and laying the beaten leaues to them and being tasted it semeth that it is notable hot Of the small wild Lettice LIkewise they brought mee from the same partes an other hearbe which they call wilde Lettice the leaues bee like to Lettice the colour is a sadde greene it hath vertue too take away the Tooth-ache receyuing the seething which is made of the leaues and holding it in the parte where the griefe is and putting a little of the iuyce in the tooth which is greeued for so it taketh away the paines yâ— leaues which are staÌ„ped after the iuyce is taken out must be laid vpon it being tasted it is most bitter It seemeth to be hot in more then the first degree Of the licour which is called Ambia IN a great Cane they sent me a Licour which springeth out of a fountaine that is neere to the Sea side it is of the colour of honie as thin the smel is like the Tacamabaca they say and also they write that it hath great medicinall vertues chiefly in the healing of olde diseases and those which come of colde causes It taketh away the paines in any parte of the bodie proceeding of colde or of windinesse It taketh away the colde in what part soeuer it be it doth comfort and dissolue any maner of swelling and it worketh all the effectes that the Tacamabaca and the Caranna doe and so they vse it in those parts in steede of them you may not touch nor handle it with your hands vnlesse you haue them wet and wheresoeuer it be put it sticketh fast that it cannot be taken away vnlesse it be wasted with long time They sent me this little for a shew bicause they doe esteem it greatly therfore they sent it as a thing very precious It seemeth to me hot in the third degree with notable clammines ¶ Of the tree that sheweth whether one shall liue or die IN the yere of our Lord 1562. WheÌ„ the Earle of Nieba was in the Peru he had there a gentlewomaÌ„ which was married that serued him her husband waxed sicke of a grieuous disease an Indian of great reputatioÌ„ seeing her to be in much sorow saide to her if she would know whether her husbande shoulde liue or die of that disease he woulde sende her a Bowe of an hearbe that shee should take in her left hand and hold it fast for a good while and if he should line then she shoulde shewe much gladnesse with holding the Bowe in her hande and if he should die then she should shew much sadnesse And the Indian sent her the Bow and she did as he had willed her to do and the bowe being put into her hand she tooke so much sadnesse and sorrowe that she threw it away from her thinking that she should haue died thereof and so he died within a fewe daies I was desirous to know if that it were so and a Gentleman of the Peru that had beene there many yeeres did certifie me and sayd that it was of truth that the Indians did this with their sicke people It hath put me in admiration and in much consideration ¶ Of the Granadillia FRom the firme Lande they brought mee certayne Fruites which are herbes which they call in the hils of the Peru where they grow Graâ—aâ—illias and this name the Spaniards did giue them for the likenes fashion that they haue to our Granaâ—as which wee call they sent me is of a red colour somewhat darke and it hath a good smell Of the Bezaar stones of the Peru. ALthough in the second parte I treated of the Bezaar stones that haue been founde in the mountaines of the Peru for that they haue beene sent me by the first discouerer of them the best of as many as from those partes haue come yet I would say in this thirde parte some thing of them which he sent me for knowledge saying that because I wrote of them they had knoâ—ledge of them and the booke which I wrote of them was the guide to finde and discouer them as we haue sayd as he sheweth by his letter which we haue set in the second parte Those which hee sent mee too prooue bee verie excellent in their coullour making and greatenesse whereof I haue broken some and finde them as excellent as those of the East India and so they prooue in pouder or in one little graine as the other doe and in coullour well neere they are the same Truth it is that those which haue this qualitie and goodnesse and haue all the qualities that the Bezaar stones ought to haue which are fine shoulde bee those that are taken out of the beastes that are fedde in the Mountaynes for those which are taken out of them that are bredde in the playne groundes are not so good nor haue any Medicinall vertues because the Beastes aâ—e not mayntayned by those healthfull Hearbes whereby these stones are ingendered for as they bee Beastes and chewe thaâ— which they eate of the iuyce that proceedeth from the herbs the stones are ingendered Which thing that Gentleman gaue well to vnderstande who was the first discouerer of them who did see where they lay
stones of the Peru. fol. 98 Of the Figge trees of the Peru. fol. 100 Of the Coca fol. 100 Of the Colours of diuers groundes fol. 102 Of the Casaui fol. 103 Of the Canes for shortnesse of breath fol. 104 Of the Carlo Sancto 105 Of the Stone for the Mother fol. 105 Of Canafistola in Conserua fol. 160 Of the Balsamo of Colu. fol. 170 A Booke which treateth of two medicines most excellent agaynst all Venome which are the Bezaar stone and the Herbe Escuerconera Wherein are declared their maruellous effects great vertues with the manner how to cure the said venoms and the order which is to be vsed for to be preserued from them Where shall be seene greate secretes in medicine and many experiences Newly compyled by Doctor Monardes of Seuill 1574. Translated out of Spanish into English by Iohn Frampton 1580. eases of the bodie from the toppe of the head to the soale of the foot may be cured by the same so as no drugge in the worlde is thought to be comparable to the same The third book sheweth the mischiefes that growe by drinking of drinkes whot and what Benefite doeth followe by drinking our drinkes colde c. And Sir finding many thankfully to take my sayde former simple trauell too you heretofore dedicated and your Woorship aboue all desert of my parte too recompence the same and beyng earnestly and often exhorted by the lerned Phisitiō Maister Doctor Hector Nones to translate these said 3. Bookes also the remanent of Monardes works to make my Countrymen of England Partakers of the benefit of the same I tooke it in hand as inflamed with the great commendations that this Learned Man made of the sayde three Bookes and especially of the Booke treating of the benefite of yron and steele in phisicke And hauing now thus finished the whole work I dedicate the same to your woorship as to the man to whom I am most bound and that doeth of many best deserue the same requesting you too take it in good part to beare with the base doing of the same And calling to remembraunce of what moment in somtimes A man of value may be to a common Weale and howe common in the worlde the practize of poyson is what malice raignes now among men how needful it is that some kind of persōs should feare prouide for the worst and weying that by our Persian merchants and by other meanes the Bezaar stone this great Iewel is brought into the realme and may be compassed in this our tyme for a litle money And withal weying that Iron and steele be things tending so much to the cure of al diseases and bee the natural home commodities of England and such as are commō and that are both easily and cheaply to bee had by euery poore subiect I haue the rather for the ready benefit that might ensue taken the dispatch of the translation in hande with purpose no longer to keepe the same out of print and so I most humbly take my leaue from London the xv of Iune MDLXXX Your worships most bownden Iohn Prampton bewayle him heereof in that so little a Hearbe can offende him and so small a fruite or stone may destroy him Against al these venomes as well in general as in particular the Phisitions as wel Greekes as Arabiens Latinistes wrote effectual remedies as wel generall as particular Amongest the which they put one in practise that in tymes past was had in greate estimation and taken for a present remedie for the greate vertues and meruellous effectes which it wrought against all venoms and accidentes thereof which they called the Bezaar stone But as tyme is the discouerer of all thinges so is it the destroyer and consumer of euery thing for in hauing bene hid so long from vs wee knewe no more what the Bezaar stone was then as if it had neuer beene and the name thereof was so strange and vnknowen vnto vs euen as the Townes in Scitia Time it selfe willing to restore againe vnto vs this precious stone hidden from vs so many yeeres not onely discouered the same vnto vs but iointly therwith hath descried vnto vs an hearbe which hath the lyke vertues and effectes against all manner of venom which hearbe is called Escuerconera hauing bene discouered but a fewe yeres past to our exceeding great profit and commoditie And because these twoo thinges to wit the Bezaar stone and the Hearbe Escuerconera bee so lyke in operation and haue so many and the selfe same vertues against venom that I determined to wryte of them both together and to shewe the proper vertues of these twoo thinges so excellent in medicine it is needfull first to knowe and therefore treate of the venomes as a beginning of the woorke and to declare what Uenom is and the cause of such as haue taken Uenom and then the remedies thereof and howe they may bee preserued from them and therefore we wil treate first of Uenom for that it will serue not a little for the intent of that which we minde to write of the Bezaar stone and the Hearbe Escuerconera Uenom is a thing which beyng taken at the mouth or applied outwardly doeth ouercome our bodies by making them sicke or by corrupting of them or by killing them and this is founde in one of these foure thinges in plants in minerals in beasts or in mixtures the which worketh their effectes eyther by manifest qualitie or by hidden propertie or both These venoms partly doe kill vs partly we vse them for our profite and bodily health and partly the people of auncient tune did vse them for a remedie against their great labours That which doeth offend vs as well in generall as in particular Dioscorides in his sixth booke of his history of Plantes doeth treate of very exactly putting in generall these remedies and in particular that which is conuenient for euery one of them and the same did other Greekes Latinistes and Arabians which are to be seene who will more particularly know of them These did write of many Medicines with the which euery one may preserue themselues from poyson for the malice of mankinde is very greate and many haue procured for their interest and reuenge not onely with venome to offende and kill the common sorte of people but also Emperoures Kinges great Princes and Lords the which in how much more high estate they are appoynted and placed so much the more daunger they are in And many notable men of the olde Writers fearing this did compounde many and diuers Medicines that by meanes of them they might not bee hurte by venom or venemous thinges that might be geuen them As for example the Emperour Marco Antonio did vse suche thinges who fearing to be poysoned tooke euery morning a little Triacle and Methridate Sometimes his confection Methridatica other times certayne Leaues of Rue with Nuttes and Figges and so they did vse the like medicines because
¶ IOYFVLL NEWES out of the newfound world wherein are declared the rare and singular vertues of diuers and sundrie Herbs Trees Oyles Plants Stones with their applications aswell to the vse of Phisicke as Chirurgery which being wel applied bring such present remedy for all diseases as may seeme altogether incredible notwithstanding by practize found out to be true Also the portrature of the sayde Herbes very aptly described Englished by Iohn Frampton Merchant Newly corrected as by conference with the olde copies may appeare Wherevnto are added three other bookes treating of the Bezaar stone the herbe Escuerçomera the properties of yron and steele in Medicine and the benefite of snowe Imprinted at London in Paules Churchyard at the signe of the Quenes Armes by William Norton 1580. ¶ To the right worshipfull Maister Edwarde Dier Esquier Iohn Frampton wisheth much health with prosperous and perfite felicitie REturning right worshipful home into Englande out of Spaine and now not pressed with the former toiles of my olde trade to passe the tyme to some benefite of my country and to auoyde idlenes I tooke in hande to translate out of Spanish into English the three bookes of Doctor Monardes of Seuil the learned Phisition treating of the singular and rare vertues of certaine Hearbes Trees Oyles Plants Stoner Drugges of the West Indias for that the same booke is of high commendation in Spaine and other countries in such sorte that in deede it might bring in tyme rare profite to my Country folkes of Englande by wonderful cures of sundâ—â— great diseases that otherwise then by these râ—â—edies were incurable And hauing finished â—he same translation I determined to dedicate my trauaile therein to some rare louer of knowledge for the worthinesse of the woorke and not finding any Gentleman of myne acquaintance that was more studious and more delighted with learned works or that more cherished trauellers and louers of all good knowledge determined to dedicate the same to your woorshippe before al others requesting your woorshippe to accept the worke and to be a patron of the same and to take it into your protection since the matter is of good substance and of much value and of me truly fâ—ithfully translated into English And since the aforesaid Medicines mentioned in the same worke of Doctoâ— Moâ—ardes are now by Marchants others brought out of the West Indias into Spainâ— and from Spaine hither into England by such as doe dâ—ily traffickâ— thither and that the excellencie of these Hearbes Trees Oyles Plants stones c. haue bin knowen to be so precious a remedie for all manner of diseases and hurtes that may happe vnto Man Woman or Childe they haue leâ—t of and forsaken very much the olde order and maâ—ner of Phisicke which was vsed before that this was knowen as thinges not of so present remedie for all manner of diseases as these nowe late founde owt are which by greate experience made in Spayne and other Countries were throughly and effectuously prooued and experimented to woorke the effectes which are contayned in this Booke And thus I leaue your woorshippe to the Almightie beseeching him to gyue you long lyfe and for the Common-wealthes sake that aduauncement that your good nature and rare vertues doe wel deserue From London the first of October 1577. Your worships during lyfe to commaunde Iohn Frampton THE FIRST PART OF THIS BOKE TREATETH OF THE thinges that are brought from the Occidentall Indias which serue for the vse of Medicine and of the order that must be kept in taking the roote called Mechoacan wherein are discouered great secretes of Nature and great experiences made and compiled by Doctor Monardus Phisition of Seuill IN the yere of our Lord God a thousaÌ„d foure hundreth ninetie two our Spaniards were gouerned by sir Christopher ColoÌ„ being naturally born in the couÌ„trie of Genoua to discouer the OccideÌ„tal Indias that are called at this day the newe world and they discouered the first land thereof the xi day of October of the said yere from that time vnto this they haue discouered many sundry Islandes and muche firme land as wel in that couÌ„trie which they cal the new Spaine as in that which is called the Peru where there are manie Prouinces many Kingdomes and many Cities that haue contrary and diuers customes in them in which there haue beene founde out thinges that neuer in these partes nor in any other partes of the worlde haue beene seene nor vnto this day knowen and other thinges which nowe are brought vnto vs in greate abundance that is to say Gold Siluer Pearles Emeraldes Turkeies other fine stones of great value Yet great is the excesse and quantitie that hath come and euery daie doeth come and inespecially of Golde and Siluer that it is a thing woorthy of admiration the great number of Melons which haue come from thence besides the great quantity of pearles which haue stored the whole world also they doe bring fâ—om those partes Popingaies Griffons Apes Lions Gerfaucons other kinds of Haukes Tigers wool Cotton wool Graine to die colouâ—es with al Hides Sugars Coppar Brasill the wood Ebano Anill and of all these there is so great quantity that there commeth euery yeere one hundred ships laden therewith that it is a great thing and an incredible riches And besides these great riches our Occidentall Indias doe send vnto vs many Trees Plants Hearbes Rootes Iuices Gummes Fruites Licoures Stones that are of great mâ—dicinall vertues in the which there be founde and haue been found in them very great effectes that doe exceede much in value and price all the aforesayde thinges by so muche as the corporall health is more excellent and necessary then the temporall goodes the which thinges all the world doth lacke the want whereof is not a little hurtefull according to the greate profite which wee doe see by the vse of them to follow not onely in our Spayne but also in all the world And this is not too bee meruelled at that it is so for the Philosophâ—r doeth say that all Countries doe not yeelde Plantes and Fruites alike for one Region yeeldeth such Fruites Trees and Plantes as an other doeth not wee doe see that in Creta onely groweth the Diptamo and the Incence onely in the region of Saba and the Almaciga onely in the Islande of Chio and the Sinamom Cloues and Peper and other spices onely in the Islands of the Maluca and many other thinges you haue in diuers partes of the worlde which were not knowne vntill our time and the people of olde time did lacke them but Time which is the discouerer of all thinges hath discouered them vnto vs greatly to our profite considering the greate neede that wee hâ—d of thâ—m And as there are discouered new regions newe kingdomes and newe Prouinces by our Spaniardes so they haue brought vnto vs newe Medicines and newe Remedies wherewith they doe cure many infirmities which if we did lacke them
of this manner and forme Beeyng in the house of a principal Merchant of this city making a Medicine in a Chimney where they did burne of that wood the smoke that came out of the wood did smell much and gaue a very sweet sauour of the which he maruelled much and asked from whence they had cast thither that good smell They of the house tolde him that the good smel was of the wood that they did there burne and it was that which did cast that good smell He tooke a sticke of the Wood and from it plucked a slip of the same which had no smell nor sauour more than other common wood had then he tooke away a little of the rinde and smelled vnto it and tasted it and he founde a sweete smell most excellent in it and a Sauour no more nor lesse then of Maces or Nutmegges and much more sharpe and more sweete and of a more pleasant smell and tast then any Cinamom that is in the world and with more liuelinesse and sharpnesse of tast then the Peper I tasted it at the taking away of the rinde from the said wood of the which he had a great peece of timber and surely there is not any thing of so sweet smell and tast of any thing which we haue that with so much pleasantnesse of smell and with such liuelinesse seadeth forth a flauour as this did penitrate me insomuche that tasting a little of it I carried all that day the sweete smell and sauour in my mouth beeyng meruellous as though I had carried there a peece of Nutmegge Of this wood they saide that a Maister of a Shippe of his did cut a great quantitie comming by the Hauana and in a mountayne they cut much of it for the shippes prouision and that which did remayne they carried to the Owners howse there wast it as I haue said Wherby I do coÌ„sider howe many trees and plantes there be in our Indias that haue great vertues for medicines that in the fuell of the Chimney they spend wood of sweet odoriferous sauour the rynde of the which being made into pouder there might bee done very great effects with it for comforting the heart and the stomake and principall members without seeking after the spicerie of Maluca and the medicines of Arabia and them of Persia. Seeing that in the fieldes vntilled and in the Mountaines and Desertes our Indias do yeeld them vnto vs the fault is ours that we doe not follow after them nor seeke to doe the diligence that is conuenient for to profite our selues in these meruellous effectes the which I trust that Time beeing the discouerer of all thinges and good diligence and experience withall will discouer vnto vs to our greate profite ¶ The end of the first parte God be praysed The Seconde Part of this Booke is of the things that are brought from our Occidentall INDIAS which serue for the vse of Medicine wherein is treated of the Tabaco and of the Sassafras and of the Carlo Sancto and of many other hearbes and plantes seedes and licoures that newly are brought from those partes of great vertues and meruellous effectes Written by Doctor Monardus Phisition of Seuill Catholike Roiall Maiestie THese daies past I wrote a booke of all thinges which come froÌ„ your Occidentall Indias seruing for the vse of medicine and surely it hath been taken in that estimation that the things which in it are intreated of doe deserue And seeing the profite that it hath done and howe many haue been remedied and healed with those remedies I did determine to proceede forwardes to write of the thinges which after that the first part was written haue come from those countries of the which I haue vnderstood that no lesse vtilitie and profite shal come then of those which are past for there shal be discouered newe thinges secrets which will bring admiration neuer to this day seene nor knowne before And seeing that these medicinall things which we do treate of the Realmes and Countries from whence they come belong vnto your maiestie and he also that writeth of them is your Maiesties subiect I doe desire your Maiestie to receiue this trauell into your protection and that the reward may be such as for the like workes dedicated to your Maiestie is accustomed to be geuen Your Maiesties Subiect Doctor Monardes ¶ Of the Tabaco and of his great vertues THIS Hearbe which commonly is called Tabaco is an Hearbe of muche antiquitie and knowen amongst the Indians and in especially among them of the new Spayne and after that those Countries were gotten by our Spaniardes beyng taught of the Indians they did profite themselues with those things in the wounds which they receiued in their Warres healing themselues therewith to their great benefite Within these few yeeres there hath beene brought into Spayne of it more to adornate Gardens with the fairenesse thereof and too geue a pleasaunt sight than that it was thought to haue the meruellous medicinable vertues which it hath but nowe wee doe vse it more for his vertues than for his fairenesse For surely they are such which doe bring admiration It is growing in many partes of the Indias but ordinarily in moyst and shadowie places and it is needefull that the grounde whâ—re it is sowen bee well tilled and that it be a fruitefull grounde and at all times it is sowen in the hot Countries But in the colde Countries it must bee sowen in the Moneth of Marche for that it may defende it selfe from the frost The proper name of it amongest the Indians is Picielt for the name of Tabaco is geuen to it by our Spaniardes by reason of an Island that is named Tabaco It is an hearbe that doth growe and come too bee verie greate many times to bee greater then a Lemmon tree It casteth foorth one steame from the roote which groweth vpright without declining to any parte it sendeth foorth many Bowes straight that wel neere they bee equall with and at the tyme as the hearbe is in the Morter a stamping let there be put to it a fewe droppes of Uineger that his worke may be made the better and after the place is rubbed where the paine is then lay vpon it one leafe or twoo leaues of the Tabaco being hotte and so let it alone til the next day and then doe the like againe or in place of the leaues vse a Linen cloth wette in the hotte Ioyce Some there bee that after they haue rubbed it with the staÌ„ped leaues do annoynt it with oyntments made for the like euils and vpon it they lay the leaues or the ioyce of the Tabaco And surely with this cure they haue dissolued great and harde opilations and very old swellings In the griefe of the stone of the Kidneis and Reines this hearbe worketh great effectes by putting the leaues into Ashes or Embres hotte that they may warme wel and then being layde vpon the griefe multiplying
the vse of it as often as it is needefull It is necessary in the seethinges that are vsed to bee made for Glisters to put into them with the other things the Leaues of this hearbe for that they shal profit much and likewise for Fomentations and Plaisters that they shall make In griefes of windes they worke the like effect taking away the paines that come of the windinesse applying the leaues after the same sorte as is aboue saide In the griefe of women which is called the euill of the Mother laying too one leafe of this hearbe Tabaco very hotte in the manner as it is sayde it doth manifestly profite and it must bee layde vppon the Nauell And vnder it some doe vse to put first of al thinges of good smell vpon the Nauel and then vpon that they lay the leafe In that which they finde most profit is to lay the Tacamahaca or the oyle of liquid Amber and Balsamo and Caranna or any of these vnto the Nauel and to kepe it too it continually that it may cleaue vnto it and this worketh manifest profit in griefes of the Mother In one thing the women that dwel in the Indias doe celebrate this hearbe that is in the euill breathing at the mouth of children when they are ouer filled with meate and also of olde people anoynting their bellies with lampe oyle and laying some of those leaues in ashes hotte to their bellies also to theyr shoulders for it doeth take away ther naughty breathing and maketh them goe to the stoole applying it vnto the fundement at what tyme it is needfull and if the leaues bee ashed it is the better Wormes of all kindes of them it killeth and expelleth them maruellously the seething of the hearbe made into a Syrope delicately beeing taken in very little quantitie the ioyce thereof put on the nauel It is needful after this be done to giue a Glister that may auoyde them and expell them out of the guttes In griefes of the Iointes comming of a colde cause it maketh a maruellous worke the Leaues of this Tabaco being laid hotte vpon the griefe the lyke doth the Ioyce layde vpon a little cloth hotte for that it doeth dissolue the humor taketh away the paines therof If it come of a hot cause it doth hurt sauing when the humor hath bene hot and the subtil part is dissolued and the grosse remayneth then it doeth profite as if the cause were colde and it is to be vnderstood that the leaues being layde where as is griefe of the sayde cause in any part of the body it profiteth much In swellings or in cold Impostumes it doth dissolue and vndoe them washing them with the hotte Iuyce and laying the beaten leaues after they be stampt or the leaues beeing whole of the sayde Tabaco vpon it In the Toothache when the griefe commeth of a colde cause or of colde Rumes putting to it a little ball made of the leafe of the Tabaco washing first the tooth with a small cloth wet in the Iuyce it taketh away the payne and stayeth it that the putrifaction goe not forwarde in hot causes it doth not profite and this remedy is so common that it healeth euery one This hearbe doth maruellously heale Chilblaines rubbing them with the stamped leaues and after putting the handes and Feete in hot water with Salt and keping them warme this is done with great experience in many In Uenom and venomous wounds our Tabaco hath great commendation which hath beene knowne but a shorte tyme since for when the wilde people of the Indias which eate mans fleshe doe shoote their Arrowes they annointe them with an hearbe or Composition made of many poysons with the which they shoote at all thinges that they would kill and this Uenom is so strong and pernicious that it killeth without remedie and they that bee hurte dye with great paynes and accidents and with madnes vnlesse that their be found remedie for so great an euill A fewe yeeres past they laid to their wounds Sublimatum and so were remedied and surely in those partes they haue suffered much with this vexation of poyson A little whiles past certaine wild people going in their Bootes to S. Iohn De puerto Rico to shoote at IndiaÌ„s or Spaniards if that they might find theÌ„ came to a place and killed certain Indians Spaniards did hurt many as by chaunce there was no Sublimatum at that place to heale them they remembred to lay vpon the wounds the Ioyce of the Tabaco the leaues stamped And God would that laying it vpon the hurtes the griefs madnes accidents wherwith they dyed were mittigated and in such sort they were deliuered of that euill that the strength of the Uenom was taken away and the wounds were healed of the which there was greate admiration Which thing being knowen to theÌ„ of the Ilande they vse it also in other hurtes and woundes which they take when they fight with the wilde people nowe they stande in no feare of them by reason they haue founde so great a remedy in a case so desperate This Hearbe hath also vertue against the hearbe called of the Crosseboweshooter which our hunters doe vse to kil the wilde beastes withall which heathe is Uenom most strong and doeth kill without remedie which the Kinges pleasure was to prooue and commaunded to make experience thereof and they wounded a little dogge in the throate and put foorthwith into the wound the hearbe of the Crosseboweshooter and after a little while they powred into the selfe same wounde that they had annoynted with the Crossebowe shooters hearbe a good quantitie of the Iuyce of Tabaco and layde the stamped leaues vpon it and they tied vp the dogge and hee escaped not without great admiration of al men that sawe him Of the which the excellent Phisition of the Chamber of his maiestie Doctor Barnarde in the margent of this booke that sawe it by the commaundement of his Maiestie wryteth these wordes I made this experience by the commaundement of the kinges Maiesty I wounded the dogge with a knife after I put the Crossebowe shooters hearbe into the wounde and the hearbe was chosen and the dogge was taken of the hearbe and the Tabaco and his Iuyce being put into the wounde the dogge escaped and remained whole In the venomous Carbuncles the Tabaco being applied in maner as is aforesaid doth extinguish the malice of the venom doth that which al the woorkes of Surgery can doe vntil it be whole The same effect it worketh in bytinges of venomous beastes for it killeth and extinguisheth the malice of the venom and healeth them In woundes newely hurt and cuttes strokes prickes or any other manner of wounde our Tabaco worketh maruellous effectes for that it doeth heale them and maketh them souâ—d The wound must be washed with wine procure to annoynt the
by the Frenchmen Nicotiane Which hearbe hath done great cures in the Realme of Fraunce and Portugall as heereafter at large may appeare in thistreatise following Nicotiane Chap. 76. NICOTIANE although it bee not long since it hath beene knowne in France notwithstaÌ„ding deserueth palme and price and among al other medicinable hearbs it deserueth to stand in the first rank by reason of his singular vertues and as it were almost to bee had in admiration as hereafter you shall vnderstand And for that none suche as of auncient time or of late dayes haue written the nature of plantes did neuer make mention thereof I haue therefore learned the whole historie touching the same which I learned of a gentleman my very friend the first authour inuenter and bringer of this hearb into France wherfore I thought good to publish it in writing for their sakes that haue so often hearde speaking of this saide hearbe and yet neyther knew the hearbe nor the effectes thereof This Hearbe is called Nicotiane of the name of him that gaue the firste intelligence thereof vnto this Realme as many other plantes haue taken their names of certayne Greekes and Romaynes who hauing beene in straunge Countries for seruice of their common Weales haue brought into their countries many plants which were before vnknowne Some haue called this Hearbe the Queenes Hearbe because it was firste sent vnto her as heereafter shal be declared by the Gentleman that was the first inuenter of it and since was by her geuen to diuers for to sowe whereby it might bee planted in this lande Others haue named it the great Priors hearbe for that he caused it to multiply in Fraunce more then any other for the greate reuerence that he bare to his hearbe for the Diuine effectes therin contayned Many haue geuen it the nâ—me Petum which is indeede the proper name of the Hearbe as they which haue traâ—elled that Countrie can tell Notwithstanding it is better to name it Nâ—cotiane by the name of him that sent it into Fraunce first to the ende that hee may haue the honour thereof according to his desert for that hee hath enriched our Countrie with so singular an Hearbe Thus much for the name and nowe hearken further for the whole Historie Maister Iohn Nicot Counsellâ—r to the King being Embassadour for his Maiestie in Portugall in the yeere of our Lorde 1559.60.61 went one day to see the Prysons of the King of Portugall and a Gentleman beeyng the keeper of the saâ—e Prisons presented him with this hearb as a strange Plant brought from Florida The same Maister Nicot hauing caused the said hearb to be set in his Garden where it grewe and multiplied maruellously was vppon a time aduertised by one of his Pageâ— that a young man of kinne to that Page made a sâ—ye of that hearbe brused both the hearbe and the Iuice together vppon an vlcer which he had vpon his cheeke neere vnto his nose comming of a Noli me tangere which began to take roote already at the griffles of the Nose wherewith hee founde himselfe meruellously eased Therefore the sayde Maister Nicot caused the sicke young man to bee brought before him and causing the saide hearb to be continued to the sore eight or ten daies this saide Noli me tangere was vtterly extinguished and healed and he had sent it while this cure was a woorking to a certeine Phisition of the king of Portugall one of the greatest fame to examine the further working and effect of the said Nicotiane and sending for the same young man at the end of ten dayes the sayde Phisition seeing the visage of the said sicke yong man certified that the sayde Noli me tangere was vtterly extinguished as in deede he neuer felt it since Within a while after one of the Coâ—kes of the sayde Embassadour hauing almost cutte off his thombe with a greate chopping knyfe the Stewâ—rd of the house of the sayde Gentleman ran to the sayde Nicotiane and dressed him therewith fiue or sixe tymes and so in the ende thereof hee was healed from that tyme forward this hearbe began to bee famous throughout Lishebron where the court of the kyng of Portugall was at that presone and the vertue of this sayde hearbe was extolled and the people began to name it the Ambassadours hearbe Wherefore there came certaine dayes after a Gentleman of the Countrie Father â—o one of the Pâ—ges of the Ambassadour who was troubled with an vlcer in his Legge hauing had the same twoo yeeres and demaunded of the sayde Ambassadour for his hearbe and vsing the same in such order as is before written at the end of tenne or twelue daies hee was healed From that tyme forth the fame of that same hearbe increased in such sort that many came from al places to haue some of it Among al others there was a woman that had her face couered with a Ringworme rooted as though she had a Uisour on her face to whome the saide L. Embassadour caused the hearbe to be giuen and told how she should vse it and at the ende of eight or tenne daies this woman was throughly healed who came and presented her selfe to the Ambassadour shewing him of her healing After there came a Captaine to present his Sonne sick of the kinges euill to the sayde L. Ambassadour for to send him into France vnto whome there was a saye made of the sayde hearbe which in fewe dayes did begin to shewe great signes of healing and finally he was altogether healed therby of the kings euill The L. Ambassadour seeing so great effects proceeding of this hearbe and hauing heard say that the Lady Montigue that was dyed at Saint Germans of an vlcer bread in her brest that did â—â—rne to a Noli me tangere for the which there could neuer remedy hee foâ—nde â—nd lykewyse that the Countesse of Ruffe had sought for al the famous Phisitions of that Realme for to heale her face vnto whom they could giue no remedy he thought it good to communicate the same into France and did sende it to king Frauncis the seconde and to the Qâ—eene Motheâ— and to many other Lords of the Couâ—◠〈◊〉 the mâ—neâ— of ministring thâ— same and howe to apply it vnto the said diseases â—uen as he had found it by experience and chiefly to the Lorde of Iarnac gouernour of Rogel with whom thâ— saide Lord Ambassadour had greate amitie for the seruice of the king The which Lord of Iarnac told one day at the Queenâ—s table that he had caused the saiâ—e Nicotianâ— to be distilled and the water to bee drâ—nke mingleâ— with water of Euphrasio otherwise called eyebright to one that was short breatheâ— who was therewith healed This hearbe hath the stalke greate bearded and slymie the leafe large and long bearded slymie it groweth in branches halfe foote to halfe foote and is very ful of leaues and groweth in height foure
indisgestion and rawnesse of stomacke for want of heate it tooke them away with taking of one good cupfull of this water euery morning fasting and so with drinking it continually but that which he dranke euery morning he dranke it cold and yâ—t neuerthelesse hee was healed very well of the flixe which he had many yeeres Iâ— griefes of women the water of Sassafras doeth greatly profite and in especially in that which is called the euil of the Mother and where there is windinesse it consumeth dissâ—â—â—eth it and also any maner of colde of the belâ—y and it dissolueth the swelling of it curing any manner of disease which proceedeth of the Mother And this is so experimented and so put in vse that many haue beene healed with this water that neuer thought to haue recouered health And in the withhelding the Monethly course that commeth not to women this water maketh a meruellous woorke by prouoking and making it come in them that wholie doe lacke it taking one Cuppe ful of this water in the morning drinking it ordinarily at dinner and at supper and in the day tyme being more simple then that in the morning vsing good regiment and dooing other thinges which may helpe the water that it may bee prouoked And vnto them also to whome it doeth not come wel it bringeth manifest profite taking the water in forme as is aforesaide keeping them the tyme that they take it from such thinges as may offende them and beeing vsed it doeth disopilate and make a good colour in the face as it is seene by the experience of them that doe vse it hauing need of it Let them beware if they haue much heate or bee of a hotte complexion in such case let them moderate the quantitie of the wood and the seething of the water as is conuenient and this is easie to be done by seing howe it goeth with them at the beginning with the vse of it and according thereunto they may ryse or fal as it seemeth to be necessarie Some women doe vse of this water for to make them with childe and in some it hath wrought the effect as it is wel knowen That which I can say is that a gentlewoman beeing many yeeres married without hauing children tooke this water for that her husbande vsed it for certayne euilles of Opilations and of an agewe that helde hâ—m with certayne sittes of a double tercian which he had and hee continued with the taking of it in the Morning hotte and at Dinner simple and at Supper and in the day tyme keeping a good gouernement whereby it came to passe that she was with childe and brought foorth a sonne And I vnderstande that one of the principall vertues that this water hath is to dryue away the Mother for this effect for the most parte of women that haue no children is for the greate colde that is ingendered within the Mother which doeth hinder the cause of generation and as the water ryseth it consumeth it comforting the place and dissoluing the windes that are the let of it I am sure that it will manifestly profite as we haue seene in them which doe not bring forth childreÌ„ for hauing too much heate and drieth to whome permit not the vse of this water for because it will not profite them and if they do take it and feele hurt thereof let them not put the fault in the water but in their complexions seing that it is not conuenient for them The vse of this water doeth make fatte and this is certainly knowen for we haue seene many leane and sicke that haue taken it and haue healed of their euils and haue recouered much more flesh better colour as those people that come from the Florida do praise it very much they they al say that the vse of this water doeth make fat and it happeneth so to many and not onely it healeth them of their diseases but also maketh theÌ„ remaine with a good colour And so it seemeth by theÌ„ that come from that country for that they come al fatte and of a good colour who I beleeue as they wâ—re very sick so that they were very leane yellow when as they were healed of their infirmities which they had they gathered fleshe and became of a good colour ingendering in the Liuer good blood by the which the members were â—etter maintayned than when they were sicke And surely it iâ— a greate thing that this water shoulde woorke this effect coâ—sidering that it is hot and â—rye if it were not for the causes that are aboue sayd And I haue seene many that entered iâ— to taâ—e the water of the wood leane and with an euil colour to come foorth strong and fatte and of a good colour eating no otâ—er thing then Resâ—nges Almondes and Bisket In pestilent and contagious diseases which we haue seen in the time of the Pestilence past there were many that desired to drinke it to preserue them from that euill And we did see that none of them which vsed it were wounded of the disease that then reigned Many did vse to carry a peece of the Roote of the Wood with them to smell to it continually as to a Pomander For with the smell so acceptable it did rectifie the infected ayre I carried with mee a peece a great time and to my seeming I found great profite in it For with it with the chewing of the rind of the Cidron nor of the Lemmon in the morning and in the day time to preserue health it haâ—h a great strength and property And it seemeth to me that I was deliuered by the helpe of God from the fire in the which wee that were Phisitions went in blessed be our Lord GOD that deliuered vs from so great euill and gaue vs this most excellent tree called Sassafras which hath so great vertues and worketh such maruellous effectes as we haue spoken of and more which Time wil shewe vs which is the discouerer of all thinges It shall doe well to shewe the quantitie of the wood and also the quantitie of water wherein it shall be sodden to prescribe a rule in waight and measure in effectes and temperatures for them that are hot and others that are colde I will tell you the order that ought to bee kept in taâ—ing the water of this excellent wood which must bee made conformably to the disease of him that shall take it and accordinâ— to the quantitie and compâ—exion of the sicke bodie For vâ—to the Cholerike Person the water ought to bee geuen lesse sodden and with lesse quanâ—itie of wood and to the flegmatike more sodden and with more quantitie of woode So the diseases should be considered of Uâ—to them that are very cold the water ought to be geuen more sodden and with more quantitie of Wood. And vnto them thâ—t be not so colâ—e but doe participate of some heate the water ought to be geuen lesse sodden
with lesse quantity of wood The like shall be done in the hot or cold times in the age of the person or the most causes making to this respect and proportion And for the more light I will here set downe the maner how this water ought to be vsed the which shall serue to shew how that they may rise or fal therein coÌ„formably to the opinion which shall seeme good to euery one For in these infirmities that be very cold they must set vp the water in quillates both in seething and also in quantity of the wood And in the diseases that are not so colde or that doe participate of any heate they must set the water lower in Quillats seething it lesse putting in lesse wood the maner and order of the preparing it is this You shall choose the freshest wood that may be had and that which hath a rynde For that wood which hath not the rinde is not good nor taketh effect you must procure that it be of the roote for that is the best of the tree for these effects and cures and for the diseases which we haue spoken of And if in case there be no roote then the bowes are the best that growe in the higher part of the Trees and in case the boweâ— lacke then is the tree good if so be that the one and the other haue the rinde of the roote let there be taken lesse in quantity therof more of the bowes much more of the tree which must be double to the quantitie of the roote Nowe let vs speake of the bowes as of a thing in the middest betweene the roote and the tree beeyng that which continually they doe bring of the which you shall take halfe an Ounce and cut it as small as may be And it must be put into three Pottelles of water in a newe Earthen pot and there lie a steeping two howres and after it must bee sodden at a fire of Coales vntill the two partes bee consumed and tâ—e one remâ—yne And after it is colde let it be strayned and kepte in a glassed vessell and vpon those small cuttinges of wood that haue beene already sodden let there be poured other three Pottels of water and let it seeth vntil halfe a Pottell bee consumed and no more after that it is colde let it be strayned and kept in a glassed vessell Let the first water be taken in the morning fasting halfe a Pint hot and then keepe your selfe warme and procure sweate then change your selfe into hot clothing and wipe your selfe from the sweate And eate of a Hen rosted dry fruite and Conserua and drinke of the second water at Dinner and Supper and in the day time And then rise and goe well clothed and flie from all things which may offend you And at night make a light Supper and eate drie fruite and Conserua but eate no flesh at night and drinke of the second water And this you may doe for as many dayes as you finde your selfe greeued and if you finde your selfe well with the vse of this water taken in this maner proceed forward vntill you be whole if not then coÌ„tinue in taking of the strong water euery third day drink of the simple water coÌ„tinually After this order it may be geuen in all diseases that we haue treated of and it will profite But many will not submit themselues to this labour which truely is the best of all others that which is most conuenient They may make â—he simple water in this forme Let there be taken halfe an ounce of the wood little more or lesse with the conditions aforesaide and let it be made into small peeces and seeth it in three Pottels of water vntill halfe be sodden away rather more then lesse And of this water you may drinke continually at Dinner and at Supper and in the day time and surely taken in this order it doeth and hath done mauellous woorkes and moste greaâ—e Cures in long diseases and importunate taking it and â—eeping a good gouernemâ—nt in yâ—ur Meate and other thinges prohibited And howsoeuer it bee beyng drunke so simple it procureth great profite They that cannot forbeare tâ—e drinking of wine may water their wine therewiâ—h for it will rather make it of a better tast and sweetnesse for this water hath a most sweete smell and tast and aboue all it worketh maruellous effectes as we haue seene and do see in diuers and sundrie diseases in the which ordinary remedies of Phisicke doe not profit with the greate examples which we haue hereof And it is to be considered that principally it doeth profite in longe and colde diseases and where there is wyndines other euils that run this course which shal be knowne foorthwith by him that shall haue need of it vse it And one thing is to be vnderstoode that vsing it in the order as is aforesaid although that he which taketh it haue no neede thereof it can doe him no hurte but rather if it be well considered it wil manifestly profite him in the time that he shall take it yea although he leaue the taking of it when he seeth that he findeth not the profite which hee desireth nor that it hath done him any hurt or harme during the time that hee hath taken it CARLO SANCTO ¶ Of the Carlo Sancto a roote brought from the new Spaine THey bring from the newe Spayne within this three yeeres a mauellous roote of great vertues which is called Carlo Sancto the which a father of S. Francis order discouâ—red and published in the prouince of Mechoacan beyng taught by an Indian of that countrie that was verie wise in such thinges and a man of greate â—xperience in the vertues of them In the firâ—te parte wee haue declaâ—ed that there bee many Medicinadle Hâ—arâ—es which haue greate secretes and vertues This â—ur Carlo Sancto groweth in that Prouince in places which are vâ—rie tâ—mperate which â—e not drie nor verâ— moyst The forme and figure thereoâ— is like to our wilde Hopâ— of Spaine for it câ—rrieth a Lease as they doe and it râ—nnâ—th vp by any otâ—er tâ—ing that is neere vnto it and if it haue nothing to leaâ—e vâ—to then it câ—eepeth all along vppon the grounde the coloâ—r is a sadde grâ—ene it carâ—ieth neither flowâ—e nor fruâ—t the smell that it hath is little and acceptable to some Out of the Roote sâ—riâ—geth a grosse tree and it casteth foorth other Rootes of the greatnesse of a finger it is white in colour and hath a Rinde which falleth from the inner parte the hearte of it is meruellously wrought for it is compounded of certayne small boordes very thinne and they may be deuided by one and one the roote hath a pleasant smell and beeyng chewed it hath a notable bitternesse wiâ—h some sharpnesse of tast this roote hath his vertue in the Rinde In the ships that he
and little of them and it seemeth wel by them that they haue medicinal vertues many persons bring them which are now come in this Fleete who come to mee as though I were the first discouerer of them They declare maruellous effects of theÌ„ that iâ— seemeth wonderful I brake one and gaue it made into pouder to a boye of whome it was sayde that venom had bene giuen to him I cannot tel whether any other benefites done vnto him or that healed him but hee was well recouered I wil vse it in other infirmities and what I find of their operation and the rest of the medicines which shal be newly discouered I wil shew in the thirde volume which I wil wryte of this Medicinall historie wherein shal bee expressed thinges maruellous and greate secretes of Phisicke that may giue contentation to al men and much more to the sick that shal be healed with them Of one thing you must bee aduertised that which is heere written part of it we haue learned of them that haue come from those partes and brought knowledge of them hither and parte is attributed to theyr complexion and qualities what they may doe and part wee haue experimented and in all haue this consideration that al these things which are brought from our Indias bee for the most parte hotte and see that you vse them in this qualitie in all causes wherein they shal bee needful And it is needful that there bee some aduertisement giuen heereof since the vse of the things doeth so import it ¶ Of the Dragon the other the blood of Drago in bread The one and the other haue vertue to retayne any maner of the fluxe of the bellie layde vppon the bellie or geuen in glisters or taken by the mouth Made into pouder it staieth the running of the head and to the lower parts applied in any maner of fluxe of blood it doeth retaine and slanch it It sodereth and gleweth woundes together which be fresh and new made It letteth that the teeth fall not out and it maketh the flesh to grow on the bare gummes It is a meruellous colour for Painters And besides this it hath many other vertues I do meane to sow some of the seed to see if it wil grow in these partes It is thought that the blood of Drago is temperate with little heate There was a gumme geuen vnto me which they bring from the firme lande of the Peru wherewith they purge them which haue the Goute in those partes they put of it as much as a Nut into distilâ—ed water and let it stande all the night in steepe and in the morning they strayne and wring it and take that water which must be the quantity of two Ounces and the patient must remayne without meate till the middest of the day and therewith they purge the humour which causeth the Goute I saw a Gentleman who came in this last Fleete vse it which hee brought for remedie of this euill who was full of the Goute and with vsing this euacuation he findeth himselfe well and the Goute doeth not come to him as it was woont to doe for that it came to him very cruelly and often and he gaue mee as muche as a small Nutte and would geue me no more and I gaue it in the order aforesaide to one which had the Goute and hee had three stooles with it I know not how it will proue it were needfull to haue more quantitie for to proceede forewarde in more experience thereof but it will bee brought hither by others as they haue done many other thinges It hath a goâ—d tast in the taking for that it hath neither smel nor sauour it maketh his worke without paynes It is hot in my opinion in the first degree I know not what manner of thing the Tree is wherout they take it for hee which brought it knoweth not so much himselfe Of the Armadilio THis beasts portraiture I tooke out of an other naturally made which was in the Counting house of Gonsalo de Molina a Gentleman of this Citie in the which there is greate quantitie of Bookes of diuers Authours and the fashion and fourme of many kindes of Beastes and Birdes and other curious thinges brought from the Orientall Indias as also from the Occidentall and from other partes of the worlde And great variety of coynes and stones of antiquity and differences of armes which with greate curiositie and with a noble minde he hath caused to be brought thither waight then two pound hollowe in some partes and very white they are al somwhat heauie Of these stones they haue in the Indias great â—xperience geuing them made into pouder vnto those that suffer the griefe of the stone in the Kydneies and to them that cannot pisse and to them that cannot cast out the stone of the Reines and of the Bladder beeyng of such greatnesse that it may not passe out This is a thing amongst the Indians very common and well knowne and likewise amongest the Spaniardes which dwell in those partes and they which come hither auerre it plainly and affirme it to be so I haue tasted it and it seemeth a thing vnsauorie but I haue not proued it nor applied hitherto in time it shal be done we wil geue some reason thereof They bring also from the newe Kingdome and from the prouince of Cartagena a certayne TurpeÌ„tine very cleare of sweet smel much better then that they call de Vetae which they bring from Venice it hath all the vertues that the good Turpentine hath it worketh the selfesame effectes better and with greater efficacie and readinesse Here hath beene vsed of it in woundes and it is a thing maruellous to see the good worke which it doeth especially in wounds of ioyntes and Sinewes of Legges wherein I haue seene greâ—t works done with it And it doth mundifie being mingled with other thinges all kind of olde soares it is an excellent thing washed prepared for the faces of Ladies which haue neede of it Moreouer they bring from the selfesame parts Caranna of Cartagena purified so cleare that it is like to Cristal and surely it is better it is applied vnto much better effect then that which hithervnto hath come and maketh better works and is of a more sweet smel and more excellent in operation Of the Flower of Mechoacan MAny persons of them which came now in this last Fleate from the firme land brought very good Mechoacan better then that of the new Spaine gathered in the Coast of Nicaraga and in Quito yea since the Mechoacan was discouered in the new Spaine they haue founde the selfsame hearbe and roote in those partes which I doe speake of And they vse it to purge and it doth maruellous works and they vse it in those countries and in al the firme land as they did vse that which was brought from the newe Spaine with maruellous successe From the
Cape of Saint Elen which is in the same coast they bring another kind of Mechoacan but it is very strong and beeing taken it causeth great accidentes of vomites and faintnesse with many stooles and for this cause they cal it Escamonea no man vseth it bicause it bringeth by incision which commeth foorth like to a whyte teare or drop most cleare with a maruellous sweete smel declaring wel the maruellous effectes and Medicinal vertues that it hath of the which wee haue treated in the first parte And that Balsamo which is made by seething as wee doe there showe we see the maruellous effectes that it worketh with so great and maruellous vertues that it bringeth admiration to the whole worlde with many other maruels which hetherunto we haue seene that be there spoken of And greater wil these woorkes bee that shal bee done with the Balsamo which they nowe bring made by incision seeing that one drop of this is more woorth then twoo Gallons of the other as it is manifestly seene by vsing of it And surely that which was in Egypt and failed so many members of yeeres past I beleeue that it had not more vertues then this And I am sure that this is of greater vertue and effectes then euer that was of I haue the fruite of this tree which is little according to the greatnesse of the tree and it is a grayne as great as a white Pease the taste of it is a little bitter it is shut into the end of a little â—od of the length of a finger beeing narrowe whyte and thinne of the thicknesse of vi d. It carieth no more but one graine in the ende which is the fruite that the Indians doe vse to perfume them withal in griefes of the head and in Reumes Surely the Balsamo is a maruellous thing and it sheweth well in it selfe what it is according to the workes therof They bring moreouer from the firme land a TurpeÌ„tine or Licor which is called Deabeto and it is gathered from certaine trees of mixture they be not Pine trees nor Cipres for they bee higher then our Pine trees they are as straight as Cipresses trees In the highest part of the tree it bringeth forth certaine bladders of two sortes the which are great and smal and being broken there cometh foorth of them a maruellous licour which falleth drop after droppe and the Indians gather them with great deliberation and they receiue the same droppes which bee in the bladder into a shel and alwayes haue shelles lying vnder the bladders whereouâ— they distill and it is a thing done with such leasure that many Indians doe gather very little al the whole day The Licor serueth for all things that the Balsamo doeth it healeth very well woundes it taketh away colde griefes and windie Some do take it for the griefs of the stomacke caused of colde humors or for windines with a little white wyne And it is to be vnderstood that the Balsamo which is made by seething or that which is made by incision and this or any other manner of Licour of these of the Indias which is to bee taken by the mouth ought to bee taken but in little quantitie which must not bee more then foure or fiue droppes and it must not be taken in the Palme of the hand as it is sayde but putting a litle wine or Rose water into a spoone and pouring vpon that the droppes of Balsamo putting the spoone wel into your mouth and letting the Licor fal in so that it touch not the tongue For taken with it or touching it the sauour and tast is not remoued away in a long time it procureth an euell tast in such sort that for this onely cause many doe abhorre it and wil not take it and from others it hath taken away the lust of their meate by receiuing it and touching it with the tongue Of long Peper ALso they bring from Cartagena and from the coast of the firme lande from Nata neere to Veraga a certain kinde of Peper which they cal long Peper which hath a sharper taste then the Peper which is brought from the Oriental Indias and biteth more then it and is of more sweete taste and of better smell then that of Asia or the Peper of the East India it is a gentle spyce to dresse meates withall and for this purpose al the people in that country doe vse it A Gentleman gaue me a platter full of it for he brought a great quantitie of it for the seruice of his Ritchin because they vse it in place of blacke Peper and they take it to be of a better tast and more healthfull I haue tasted it and it byteth more then the blacke Peper doeth and it hath a more sweete taste then it hath I haue caused it to be put into drest meates in place of the Oriental Peper it giueth a more gentle taste vnto the meates that are drest therewith It is a fruite that casteth out a high plante of the greatnesse of a grosse Packethreed and the lower parte neere to the roote is as great as a litle sticke that is very small and vpon it are ioyned the little graines very neere together as though they were wrested one within the other which causeth the greatnesse whereof wee spake and beeing taken away from the litle sticke the stick remaineth bare and whole and it is greene being fresh but the Sunne ripeneth it and doeth turne it blacke and so they bring it into these partes It groweth in the coast of the firme lande in Nata and in Cartagena and in the newe kingdome in all these partes they vse it as I haue saide It hath the Medicinall vertues which the Orientall Peper hath that we vse The complexion thereof is hotte in the third degree And going to visite a childe the sonne of this Gentleman which gaue mee this Peper being diseased of the fire in the face I commanded him to bee let blood and that to his face they should apply some litle cloth with Rose water and the hearbe Mora hee saide to me that hee liked the letting of blood well because the boye was of Sanguine complexion but as for that which should be laid to his face hee had wherewith to heale it in short tyme and he commanded to bee brought foorth a thing lyke vnto a cake as great as a meane platter the outside was blacke and within yeallowe and beeing brought wel neere twoo thousand Leages it was moyst and hee dissolued a little of it with Rose Water and layde it to the boyes face I was desirous to know what it was he said that when the worke was seene what it would do he would tel me whereof it was compounded The next day I returned to the sicke and his face was so amended that I maruelled at it and immediatly he was washed with Rose water a little warme and hee remayned as
though he had not had any euil therein at all The cake was made of certaine Wormes which the Indians take out of the grounde and they make them fatte giuing them to eate leaues of a certaine kinde of corne that they haue there called Maiz and after they are fatte they put them into a frying panne of earth and seeth them therein and as they take of the skumme they strayne it and seeth it stil vntil it be thicker then an oyntment after the fashion and manner as he had it there They bring also from the Charcas certaine Rootes that bee like to the Rootes of flower de Luce sauing that they are smaller and they smell much lyke the leaues of Figge tree they call these Rootes in the Indias a remedy against the venemous hearbe for beeing made into pouder and taken with whyte wyne it is a thing of great strength and of the greatest vertue that is there against venome of what manner or qualitie soeuer it be so that it be not corsiue as Sublimatum or the lyke and as for that kinde of poyson with only drinking of much Milke they bee remedied This Roote beeing taken causeth the venome to bee cast out which is eaten or drunken or any manner venemous humour comming of any euill degree or cause whatsoeuer which is as wel done by vomit as by sweate If thâ—re bee any small Wormes or long Wormes in the body it killeth and expelleth them and if you haue any suspicion that there haue beene giuen you any venomous morsel whether it bee venome or witchecraft it expelleth it in which there is so much trust in those partes that they take it for a meruellous remedy for the thinges aforesayde The roote being tasted it hath a sweete relishe with some sharpnes It seemeth to be hot in the second degree From the coast of Nicaraga and of Nata they which come in these last ships from the firme land bring a certaine kind of purge with them that surely by the tast is easie to be taken and it worketh well and without any payne principally it purgeth Choler It is the fruite of a tree very great after the maner of Thornish Chestnuts which haue within them Chestnuts sauing that they pricke not but be playne within those prickles there be some like to Chestnuts made cleane without shale well neere square which deuide themsâ—lues asunder by meanes of a little skin euery one into two partes and so they are couered with it and when they be taken occupied that little skin is plucked away they are made cleane froÌ„ it for that beyng taken with it it procureth most dangerous accidentes and vomites much faintnesse and infinite stooles and without it the Chestnut is a purgation very gentle and they purge easily and without paines if they be tosted then they will purge lesse if they be greene they eate them or being beaten in a Morter they take them with wine or with the broth of a henne if â—hey bee drie they make pouder of them any manner of fashion They doe their worke well and with much assurance keeping the order that ought to be kept by them which be purged and the humors beyng prepared as is conuenient They are hot in the first degree ¶ Of the Sarcaparillia of Guaiaquill IN the first part wee declared howe that they brought Sarcaparillia from Peru which wee vse in some persons and it worketh greate effectes And because there was but little of it and soone done we returned to that of the Hâ—nduras which is that we haue spenâ— hiâ—herto And ning as much as they can drinke at once or at diuers times and after they cast themselues into a sweate and they sweate so much that it runneth by the Bedde in great quantitie After that they take cleane cloathes and eate of a Henne but they drinke of no other thing but of that iuyce which they tooke out of the rynde of the Sarcaparillia as well at Dinner as at Supper and they must eate very little at Supper likewise at Dinner And they must procure to keepe themselues from the Ayre and from the colde all that they can although in that Uillage of Guaiaquill wherein bee about fiftie houses or few more the most of them are Cotages of little safegarde and the Walles be made of Canes and there be no Chambers on high but onely belowe they dwel all in places of little defence Being in this order and small comforte for lacke of Conserua and drie fruite which were necessary yet in eight or nine dayes they are made whole of all the diseases that are healed with the Sarcaparillia and of many others which shoulde be very large to speake of It is sufficient that there goe no Man from thence which returneth not whole although he had neuer so greeuous a disease so that they bee not sharpe Agewes For in that case the cure hath no place or in any other sharpe disease All other diseases it healeth with maruellous successe as it is seene by the great number of people which come thither and goe away whole of the diseases which they bring thither But it is needfull that he which doth enter into this cure bee strong and not weake for if he be weake he cannot suffer so great sweate without great perill of his person For these euilles they haue another manner of Water that is taking foure ounces of Sarcaparillia rather more then lesse for that there they vse neyther wayghte nor measure but doe put all at discretion and they take away the rynde from the Sarcaparillia and breake it without putting it in Water if it bee greene and if if it be drie then they breake it put it in water vntill it bee made soft this rynd beyng without the heart they seeth in 4. Pottels of water little more or lesse and they seeth it vntill halfe the water be diminished rather more then lesse and of that Water they drinke as muche as they can in many times or at one time and forthwith they betake themselues to sweat and although they sweat not so much as they sweat with the first water yet they will heale they moue their clothes they eate of a Pullet they keep themselues from the colde and ayre and at Dinner and Supper they vse the self same water for that in one day they consume one seething this people take it in this manner fifteene or twentie dayes in this sort also they are healed of all their euils diseases to the great admiration of the people And for the vse of this Sarcaparillia they do not except any disease vnles it be feuers or sharpe diseases these people purge not at the beginning as we doe heere nor in the middest nor in the ende of the cure for there is no other Phisition nor medicine but certayne women which be there that giue the water they are women Phisitions and therefore they take away and put
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
and were bred within the beast and with his owne handes made the Anatomy of him and wrot vnto mee that the Bezaar stones are growing in those beastes after the manner of a garde made of flesh of the length of twoo spannes little more or lesse and of three fingers breadth which is ioyned neere vnto the Mawe of the inner parte and in the garde the stones are set in order one after an other like vnto button holes in a coate in this forme And they open that garde of flesh being closed and take out the stones that surely it is a maruellous thing to see what Nature hath created there for our health remedie of our euils And as I haue vnderstoode that these which are brought from the East India be founde after the same maner so I speake the truthe for they bring very many which are false that amongest one hundred there are not to bee founde tenne that are true and their wryters of the East India doe confesse that there be made many indeed which are false The people of the East India take them cut also of a certaine kinde of Goates that bee for the most parte redde as ours be they are the best stones which are takē out of y◠cattel which goe in the Mountaines of Persia and likewise they take them out of other Goates that goe in the playne Countries of Malaca and these are not had in such estimation nor haue the goodnesse nor the vertues that they of Persia haue because those Goates of Malaca doe serue for cattell to bee eaten and they be not maintained by healthful hearbes of the mountaines as they that yet it taketh away the accidentes of it the faintnesse sadnesse and the griefe of the harte which in these Feuers are common Surely they feele with the vse of it notable profite in al long and importunate diseases I do geue it they finde profite in it chiefly those which stand in feare of any malice of disease or windinesse whatsoeuer it bee For I haue seene that in this it hath a greate propertie and of this it commeth that it is good to cast into pourges some graines of it that if the Pourge doe carry venomous qualities it may rectifie them and amende them and if not it giueth force and strength to the harte and they woorke the better In the oriental Indias they haue a custome to purge themselues twyce euery yere and especially the noble people of estimation and after they haue purged themselues they take euery morning fasting foure graines of the Bezaar stone with Rose water or with water made for the purpose and they say that this doeth conserue their youth and strengthen the members and preserue them from diseases and it is a good vse for it cannot choose but doe them much good For Wormes they geue this Stone with most happy successe and surely I haue giuen it to many people and especially to Children and Boyes that are tormented with this euill and I haue seene such workes as are not to be beleeued if they were not seene I geue it by it selfe and also mingled with this pouder in this forme I doe take hearbe Lumbrigera the wayght of twelue pence the seede of Santonico the wayght of sixe pence the Horne of a Harte burned and the seede of Verdolagas and Carlina of euery one the waight of three pence and the Bezaar Stone of the Peru the waight of three pence of these thinges let there be small Pouder made and let them bee wel mingled These Pouders are maruellous and of greate effect to expell Wormes and very much experimented in many people and they haue wrought in this case greate effectes and they must be giuen in the morning fasting as to the Phisition shal seeme good according to the age of him that shall take them vsing some Medicine of Milke and Sugar twoo houres after they bee taken And vnto children being sicke of it wee geue this stone mingled with milke and without it if they doe sucke and it doeth a maruellous worke and to them that be in yeeres by it selfe or mingled with other thinges appropriated for the disease In conclusion we geue this stone in al long diseases and importunate where the ordinary medicines haue not profited in which it doeth manifest profite and if it doe no profit yet it can doe no hurte Of the Fig trees of the Peru. FIgge trees beeing caried from Spaine to the Peru haue increased so wel in that Countrie that there is great plentie of them where they cary many and very good Figges of all sortes And you shal vnderstande that in that countrie there are certaine kindes of Uermyn which are called Spyders and wheresoeuer they bee they doe spinne and make Nettes as they of Spaine doe These kinde of Uermyn bee greate and come to bee as great as Orenges and they are so ful of poyson that wich one stinging they kill vnlesse there bee vsed great remedie And if it bee long tyme without remedie and that the Poyson goe vp to the hart there is nothing that can bee done that will benefite but he must die without remedie and for this there is founde a remedy in the Figge trees which is a maruellous thing that as soone as the Indians or the Spaniardes doe feele themselues bitten by this euill Spyder they goe to the Figge trees and put vnto it the Milke which commeth foorth of the Leaues of them two or three times to the place that is bitten and this worketh so great effect that it remedieth it which is so poysoned with the venom that the Uermine did cast into the sore and the accidentes be remitted which they suffer to wit great griefs and soundings remaining only to heale the place bitten and as it is little so it healeth forthwith although they procure to keepe it open a long tyme. And Gods wil is that at all tymes this remedie shoulde not lacke for the Figge trees neuer loose their leaues throughout all the yeere they are alwayes greene Of the Coca I Was desirous to see that hearbe so celebrated of the Indiās so many yeres past which they call the Coca which they sow and till with much care and diligence because they vse it for their pleasures which wee wil speake of The Coca is an hearbe of the height of a yerd little more or lesse it carieth leaues lyke to Arraihan somewhat greater and in that Leafe there is marked an other leafe of the lyke forme with a line very thinne they are softe and of colour a light greene they carry the seede in clusters and it commeth to be red when it is rype as the seed of Arraihan when it is type And it is of the same greatnesse when the hearbe is seasoned that it is to be gathered it is knowen in the seede that it is rype when it is of some rednes lyke to a blackish colour and the hearbe beeing gathered
seeth and bee consumed the one halfe and so set out too coole it serueth for very good Uineger and it is vsed as if it were made of Wine and if you seeth it vntill it be throughly purged and thicke it serueth for Honie and becommeth sweete you may see how much the seething auayleth in these thinges seeyng that of mortal venome it maketh meate and healthfull drinke And I will say an other thing which bringeth admiration that all this kynde of Corne which groweth in the firme Lande which is like to that of Sancto Domingo which they call Cacani is healthfull and the Fruite thereof is eaten and the Water that commeth of it is drunke without hauing any venomous qualitie and that of Sancto Domingo howsoeuer it be eaten and the iuyce therof vnles it be sodden it killeth And that the disposition of the place is so greate a cause that that which is healthfull and allowable sustenance in the firme lande the same is mortal venome in al the Islandes as Columela writeth of the Peache that it was venome most mischeeuous which in Persia did kil men and being brought into Italy it lost that malice and propertie that it had to kill and geueth vnto vs health and a sweete iuyce Howsoeuer it be hauing in the Indias so much Mayes and so common in all partes thereof I woulde not eate Casani seeyng that the Mayes are of as good substaunce as our Wheate and in no parte hath eyther venome or poyson but rather is healthful and maketh a good stomake There is bread made of it as of the Casani for they grinde it and with water they knede it and in a Frying panne of Earth they bake certayne Cakes which they make of it and it must be eaten freshe assoone as it is made for beyng dry it is sharpe and trouble some to swallowe downe and doeth offende the teeth The Batatas which is a common fruite in those Countries I take for a vittayle of muche Substaunce and that they are in the middest betweene fleshe and Fruite Trueth it is that they be wyndie but that is taken from them by rosting chiefly if they bee put into fine Wyne there is made of them Conferna very excellent as Marmolade and small Morselles and they make Potages and Brothes and Cakes of them very excellent they are subiect that there be made of them any maner of Conserua and any maner of meat ther be so many in Spaine that they bring from Velez Melaga euery yeere to Seuill tenne or twelue Caruelles laden with them They be sowen of the same Plantes that are sette the smallest of them or peeces of the greatest in the Earth that is well tilled and they growe very well and in eyght Monethes the rootes waxe very grosse so that you may eate of them They be temperate and beeyng rosted or otherwise drest they soften the Bellie and beyng raw they are not good to bee eaten because they are wyndie and hard of disgestion Of the Canes which are good for the shortnesse of breath THey bring from the newe Spayne great Canes of a Cane that are couered within without with a certain gūmme to me it seemeth that it is mingled with the iuyce of Tabaco it is heauy It seemeth that the Cane is annoynted as a thing that the clingeth fast it is clunged wel to the said Cane and it is of a blacke colour and being hard it clingeth not they kindle the Cane at that part where the gumme is and the other parte of it they put in the mouth and they receiue that smoke and with it they cast out from them all fleume and rottennesse that is in the breast and this they do when they finde themselues greeued with the shortnesse of winde so that they be all ready to choke I haue seene it done by a Gentleman who is much payned with it many times and receiueth by it great profite and did it first with the Tabac◠taking the smoke of it and it brought to him the like benefit And for this cause I say that it seemeth to carry with it the iuyce of the Tabaco mingled with the one and with the other It is done with al assurance for that we do see it experimented with manifest assurance in many Some beeing sicke of the shortnesse of breath that come frō the Indias with it I haue seene expel cast out this rottennes by taking a little Tabaco green chewing the iuyce of it with although it be lothsome it doth them much good to expell the rottennesse fleumes which are retained within the brestes so that they be lightened with it notably It is a maruellous thing the greate vertues and sundrie and diuers effectes that they doe discouer of the Tabaco for besides that which I haue written of it in the second parte of the maruellous vertues therof I determined to make further triall of it as I haue vnderstood and seene since that time ¶ Of the Carlo Sancto IN the second parte wee entreated of the vertues of a Roote that then they had brought from the newe Spayne which they cal Carlo Sancto now in these ships they haue brought it with great veneration and estimation and the roote is called Indica and they bring written many vertues of it more then they are woonte too reporte of the Rosemarie Nowe that which hath beene experimente◠and seene since that I wrote of it I will speake of this Roote which being made into Pouder geuen to women that newly brought Children who for euill keeping haue taken greate colde and be numbe it profiteth muche to prouoke them to sweate and maketh them remayne cleere it profiteth muche geuen with Wine or water of the floures of Orenges vnto them that haue a harde labour There was a Frier which had paynes of the Stomake and no tast of his Meate but had an euill breath and much windynesse and all did proceede of colde that hee had taken and little natural heate He sodde of these Rootes in water at his discretion as the water of the Sarcaparillia is sodden and so he dranke it continually at dinner supper for a long time and it did so well with him that he amended his stomake and increased the heate of it whereby hee did digest and consume his meate very well and tooke from him his euill breath and consumed the windes and in taken from twoo to three Ounces of it it purgeth well and easily and euen as it is good to take so it is good to worke for that I haue purged many people with it and it maketh a very good woorke and purgeth without paynes One thing they doe euill in those partes which is that they neuer bring them hither made with good Sugar if they come so they woulde be the better and of better tast They bee purges for delicate people they euacuate the same humor that the Canafistola doth Of
the Canes of the small Canafistola there is made an other Conserua verie good which is an excellent purge and delicate for they take the small Canes which are growing of a small time and seeth them in Sugar and with the seething and Sugar is taken from them the sharpenesse and the drinesse which they haue and they are made tender and softe and of a very good sauour These beyng taken make a very good woorke and purge without griefe or molestation and without all accidentes and faintnesse that purges are vsed to procure for that they are full of good tast at the taking of them and light of woorking They are geuen from two Ounces to three I haue geuen them many times with very good successe and haue taken them beyng sicke and they haue wrought verie well with mee Of these Conseruas they bring hither euery yeere from Sancto Domingo and Puerto Rico many Barrelles full The Canafistola that is perfect and rype is the moste excellent Medicine for to purge withall of as many as haue been knowne to this day and that doeth his woorke best in that which it serueth for and with most assuraunce as it is wel knowne not onely to Phisitions but also to all the world and doeth his worke without the hurtes and accidents which other Purgatiue Medicines are vsed too doe and it is a generall Medicine and amongst them that are called blessed is the most blessed of all whose vertues and properties wee doe treate of particularly in the first part and that which we haue spoken heere hath beene to geue relation of the leaues and flowers of it which they haue now brought mee One thing I would they should be aduertised of that when we are commanded to geue Canafistola to lighten and soften the bellie and that the common matters may bee voyded downe is ment that they shoulde take it a smal tyme before meate be eaten at the most halfe an houre before for the meate being mingled ioyntly with it worketh with it and in this order it maketh a very good woorke and purgeth very wel without paines which is not done with that which is taken any long time before meate as two or three houres before as now many doe vse it for that the meate beeing dilated it maketh an ende of woorking And as it is a thing without strength and weake it goeth al into vapours and so sheadeth it selfe abroade throughout al the body if it tarry long it is conuerted into meate and substaunce which I haue seene by experience many yeeres wherein I haue practised that alwayes as I gaue it halfe an houre before meate at the most it maketh a good worke and if it be giuen many houres before meate it purgeth and euacuateth little Concerning mingling of medicines which doe purge with the meate Hipocrates treateth of it in many partes and Galene in his Commentaries And trueth it is that when we wil that the Canafistola should not euacuate but that the vapours shoulde bee spred abroade by the reines and all the body wee geue it many houres before meate and then not working it performeth the effect that wee haue spoken of Of the Balsamo of Tolu THey newly bring now from the Firme lande from a Prouince which is betweene Cartagena Numbre de Dios which the Indians call Tolu a Balsaâ—o or licour that is the best thing and of greatest vertues of as many thinges as come from these partes They gather it from certaine trees which are after the manner of litle Pines which cast out many bowes to al partes It carrieth the leafe lyke to Algarrona al the yeere it is greene they are the best which growe in a softe grounde well tilled This Balsâ—mo the Indians doe gather by way of incision gyâ—ing certaine cuttes in the rinde of the tree for it is thinnâ— and soft and they set vnderneath it neere vnto the tree thinges like to dishes made of waxe which is in that country blacke which they take out of Hiues that certaine blacke Bees doe make in the chappinges of the grounde I haue seene brought much of this Waxe into Spainâ— and it was spent in Torches but it was forbidden that none of it should be spent for the smoke which it cast from it had so euil a smel that it coulde not bee suffered They did vse this waxe in matters of Medicine for therof were made Cereclâ—thes which wrought very good effects in mittigating griefe of any colde cause it dissolueth any maner of swellinges and woorketh many other good effectes Of this waxe the Indians doe make vessels lyke to a spoone and set them close to the tree that they may receiue the licour that commeth out of it by the places where the cuttingâ— are made and from thence they receyue it into those vesselles and it is needfull that it be done in tyme of great heate that the cuttinges may cast out the licour and in this tyme lykewyse there soketh out of the ioyntes of the sayde tree some licour and it is lost because it is so little and falleth into the grounde in the night time there commeth forth none This licour or Balsamo is very much esteemed amongst the Indians and is of greate value and with the notable woorkes which therewith are done and the Spaniardes haue learned and by seeing the great woorkes which it maketh they haue brought it hether as a thing of great estimation and such a thing as they buy there for a great price and they haue reason so to doe for one of the best thinges that haue come from those partes which haue beene brought for Medicine is this Balsamo which seemeth to be better then that of the newe Spaine and in it selfe appeareth to haue more vertues It is of an Alborne colour very neere lyke to a thing that is gilt it is not very thinne nor very thicke it clyngeth faste wheresoeuer it bee layde and it hath the taste and sauour sweete and although it bee taken it maketh not any horriblenesse as the other Balsamo doeth it hath a most excellent smell lyke to Limons insomuch that wheresoeuer it bee the good smell thereof giueth greate contentment and it can not bee hidden for a little of it smelleth much and if you rubbe your hande therewith there remayneth a maruellous smel The woorkes thereof are excellent and very greate for that it is licour which is taken out by incision as they tooke out in olde tyme the Balsamo in Egypt and for al those diseases for which that was good this of ours is as good It healeth al fresh woundes comforting the partes and ioyning them without making any matter and without leauing any signe of them The superfluitie that is in the wouÌ„d must be taken away of what sort soeuer it be washed with wine ioyned wel in the lippes parts therof and then the Balsamo laid to it when the coldnesse is out of it and
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
propertie against venom but these which I haue spoken of are the most principal and found most true by experience The simple medicines bee many the most principall is the earth Lemnia so celebrated of the olde wryters in especially of Galen who only to see it and to see how the priests did make it saylâ—d to the Ilande of Lemnos that at this day is called Estalimene which is the most principal simple medicine that the Greekes knewe The true Diptamo is another which â—roweth in the Iland of Creta which at this day is called Candia wherevnto the people of the Isle doe runne when they feele themselues in vayne Lykewyse it is to be giuen to them that are bitten wâ—th venomous beastes or pricked of them bycause it may extinguish and kil the malice of the venome And although that these pouders are of so much vertue as aforesayde the Bezaar stone is of greater vertue and excellencie for that in it alone is founde all the vertues and properties that are in all medicines which we haue already spoken of by his own propertie hidden and by grace from heauen infused into it against venomes which you shall find to bee the best and most present remedy of all others as wee wil shewe in that which followeth Of the Bezaar stone THis Bezaar stone hath many nâ—mes for the Arabiens do cal it Hagar the Persians Bezaar the Indians Bezar the Hebrewes Belzaar the Greekes Alexipharmâ—cum the Latinistes Against venom the Spaniardes the stone against venom sounding Conrado Gesnero in his booke that he made of beastes speaking of the Goate of the mountayne sayth that this name Belzaar is an Hebrew name for that ben in Hebrewe is as much to say as Lord and zaâ— venom as if ye would say Lord of the venomes and by good reason it is so named seeing that this stone is Lady of the venomes and doeth extinguish and destroy theÌ„ as being Lady and mistresse ouer them And of this it commeth that al thinges that are against poyson or venomous thinges are called Bezaarticas for theyr excellencie This stone is ingendered in the inner part of a beast that is commonly called a Goate of the mountaine The ingendering of stones in beastes is a common thing and also in man chiefly there is no partâ— in his body wherein they bee not ingendred and lykewyse in byrdes and fishes rattes of the field Plinie in his 28. booke the 9. chapter sayeth that the wilde hartes goe to the hollow places where snakes and serpents are and with their breath doe bring them foorth and eate them And this is gathered heereby that they doe it eyther to heale them of some disease or to wax yong againe that they may liue many yeeres The Arabiens doe amplifie this cause and say that the wild hartes by eating of these serpents come to ingender the Bezaar stone and they declare it in this manner In these East parts are bred certaine beastes which are called hartes which for the great heate of the Sommâ—r goe into the â—aues and hollowe places where the adders and snakes and other vermin being of poyson are which in that country be many and very venomous bycause the countrie is so hot and with their breath they driue them out and tread vpon them and kill them and eate them and after they are filled with them they goe as speedily as they can where water is and they plundge themselues therin in such sorte that they leaue no part of their bodies out but their snowt for to fetch their breath and this they doe that with the coldnes of the water they may delay the greate heate of the venome which they haue eaten and there they remayne without drinking a droppe of water vntil they haue alayed and cooled that feruent heate wherein they were by feeding vppon the venomous vermine And being in the water there doeth ingender in the places wâ—ere the droppes of water coÌ„meth foorth of their eyes a stone which being come foorth of the water falleth from them and it is gathered vp for the vse of medicine This is thaâ— in effâ—ct which the Arabiens doe wryte of the manner howe the Bezaar stone is ingendered I haue procured and with great diligence sought to find out by such as haue come froâ— tâ—e India of Portingal and such as haue past beyond the China to knowe the trueth of this matter and it is thus In the greatest India where Ptolomeo doth write to bee founde so much goods and so greate riches before the Riuer Ganges in certayne mountaynes which doe ioynâ— with the Countrie of China there doe breede certaine beastes lyke to Hartes as well in greatnesse as in swiftnesse and are very much lyke vnto hartes sauing in some respect they doe participate with goates as well in their hornes which they haue lyke a goate beeing turned backewarde as in the making of the body whereby they giue them the name of goates of the mountayne wherein in my opinion they are deceiued for they rather ought to bee called harte goates in that they haue the partes and likenesses of both which is of a harte and of a goate These harte Goates in those partes doe vse themselues lyke to the hartes that Plinie speaketh of in these places as is aforesaid that goe to the dennes of wilde venomous beastes and with their breathing cause them to come foorth and eate them and afterwarde doe goe whereas water is and doe plundge themselues therein vntill they perceiue that the furie of the venom which they haue eaten bee past and vntill then they dare not drinke a droppe And beeing come foorth from thâ—nce they goe into the fieldes and there they eate many healthfull herbes of greate vertue which are against venom which they by their naturall instinct doe know that there doe aryse as wel of the venom which they haue eateÌ„ as of the herbes which they haue fed on being ingendred by meanes of the naturall heate and by that vertue which is declared being infused at the tyme of the generation in the inner parts of the bowelles in other parts of their bodies certaine stones of the greatest and of the smallest sort which is a thing of greate admiration of the greatest vertue that to this day is knowen against venom It is vnderstoode of that venom which is so pernicious and â—urtful that they did eate of those herbes being so healthful that they fed vpon by a meruellous woorke the Bezaar stone is ingendered And as they say which come from those partes and haue seene this beast from whom they take out these stones hee is of the greatnesse of a harte and well neere of this making hee hath onely twoo broade hornes with the pointes sharpe turned and falling much backewarde his hayre is thicke and grosse of a mingled colour for the most parte and reddishe and of other colours you haue many of them in those mountaines
of Uenomous beastes extinguishing and taking away the grounde and euill qualitie that the venomes doe infuse into the bodies deliuering them from death that shall vse it It is geuen in Pouder and they say that it doth the same effect by chewing of it or holding of it in the Mouth for after it is taken it doeth prouoke sweate and doeth expell the venome and maketh the woorke sure saying that beeyng carried about any person that it touch the flesh and bringing it ouer the left parte it doeth preserue him that shall so carrie it about him that no venome or venomous thing shall offende him for beyng applyed to the bodie it resisteth venom that it may not offende him and them that bee infected therewith it healeth And this it doeth not onely to them that haue taken venome but vnto suche that haue had it put into their Syrope apparrell or letter or other parte that may offende them The same Serapio sayeth that this Stone doeth profite muche agaynst bytinges of beastes that are venemous and in their Prickes takyng the Pouder thereof at the mouth and prouoking sweate it expelleth it from the inner partes it profiteth muche too cast the pouder of this stone in Prickes or in woundes made by these venomous beastes for it destroyeth and taketh away the mallice of the venome and although that the soares beeyng so made by these beastes doe beginne to corrupt it cureth and healeth them and the pouder of this stone beeyng put vppon the venemous beasts doth take away their strength and if it be put in place where they doe wound any although they make a sore yet the malice of the venom doth not take holdâ— And this is seene by experience in the venomous beastes called Adders and Snakes for the pouder beeyng put in place where they doe byte all theyr venemous strength is taken away and nothing doeth remayne but the signe thereof Three graynes of this pouder wee with some licour beyng cast vpon snakes and adders they dye foorthwith Thus muche Serapio sayeth Rasis Simia of Gallen a man amongest the Arabiens moste learned in the booke which hee wrote called Continent saieth thus the Bezaar stone is that which seemeth some what yellowe and soft without any manner of taste the which hee sayeth that he hath experimented two times and hath found in it vertue of great efficacie agaynst Napelo the strongest of all venomes He sayth also that he hath seene in this stone the most maruellous effectes agaynst all venome that euer he saw in any Medicine that was against vâ—nome eyther simple or compounde or any composition made against venome as Triacles or other compositions for that the Bezaar stone is of more efficacie and vertue then any of them The same doeth agree with the bookes he made to the King Almasor saying The euill Uenoms that doe offende the heart and woorke theyr effect O how little profite doeth any cure proue in them if the Bezaar be not taken for that doeth resist it and he sayeth Moreouer I my selfe saw that it did resist the venome called Napelo which is the Uenome that doeth penetrate more then all venoms thus much of Rasis An other Moore very learned and a great Astronomer that wrote of stones figured vnder Signes and Planets and the vertues they haue was called Hamech Benreripho he in his booke that hee wrote of the vertue of Plantes and of stones and of beastes that serue for the vse of Medicine sayeth the Bezaar stone is agaynst all venome and it hath besides this particular propertie taken in pouder agaynst the bytinges of Scorpions and beyng carried about one and grauen vppon he is safe against all the bytinges of venemous beastes An other Moore called Abdala Narache a learned man in medicine sayeth that the Bezaar stone is agaynst all Uenome he saw it as a precious thing in the hands of the King of Cordoua called Miramamolim vnto whom was geuen strong venome and hauing geuen vnto him the Bezâ—ar stone by meanes wherof he was deliuered wholly of the venome foorthwith the King gaue his royall Pallace to him that gaue him the stone which deliuered him from this imminent death and surely it was a greate gift of a king the chiefe Pallace of Cordoua at this day day beyng a thing so notable and of suche great value and the stone was much estemed for that so great a price was geuen for it Auensoar a Phisition of the Moores but a naturall Spaniarde of Penaflore a place lying betweene Cordoua and Seuill gaue vnto one who was very much lamented by reason he had taken very euill Uenom of the Bezaar stone the waight of 3. graines with the water of Goords for that it was hot venom because it did seeme to be so For assoone as he had taken it there did appeare vppon him the Iaundice very yeallow and he was very well deliuered and saued from it Aueroiz a Phisition and a Philosopher very excellent being a Spaniarde and borne in Cordoua saieth that the Bezaar stone is in great estimation and very profitable agaynst all venomous bytinges and especially against the bitinges of Scorpions Haliabas doeth make mention of the Bezaar stone in three places where he treateth of Uenomes but he passeth it ouer lightly onely shewing that it is soft and saith that it must be scoured in water and that the water of it must be geuen to them that are poysoned Rabbi Moises of Egypt but borne in Spayne a most cunning Phisition who followed Gallen in all his woorkes in the booke he made of venomes in the first thing that hee treated of in the thirde Chapter speaking of simple Medicines and the vse of them which are conuenient for the bytinges of Uenomous beastes sayeth the simple Medicines that wee haue amongst vs of most profite and greatest experience which are of many approoued are the seede of the Cidron c. And the other is the Emeralde a maruellous medicine agaynâ—t all venome c. Gallen made mention of the third which is the Bezaar stone that is taken out of a beast the which stone is like to an akorn the colour therof is green and doth ingender by little and little making it selfe grosse for that they finde in it oâ—e skale vpon another some doe say that they are ingendred in the corners of the eyes of certaine sheepe that are in the East partes othere doe say that they are ingendred in the purse of the gall of the sayd sheep which poysoned I caused him to take thereof diuers Morninges the waight of three graynes of the same Bezaar stone with the water of Oxetongue and hee was therewith very wel healed Many Phisitions of late time and in our dayes haue made mention of this Bezaar stone and doe very much extoll the same in theyr bookes with great Prerogatiues against all kinde of venome and agaynst many other diseases which we minde to treate of
in so little quantitie geuen shoulde woorke so greate effectes as wee haue written of And for that it is already time to treate of the Herbe Escuerçonera because wee haue beene long and treating of the Bezaar stone I will speake what is knowen of it ¶ Of the herbe Escuerçonera THe Herbe Escuerçonera the which wee haue promised to treate of is an herbe knowen and found within these thirtie yeeres For time hath discouered it too vs as it hath done many other thinges as wee see which they bring from the West Indias and they are so many thinges as wee see euery day as were neuer seen by those that were before vs nor yet by vs as we haue written oâ— in a Treatise that we made of these things which doe treate of all the things that they bring from our Indias that doeth serue for the vse of medicine So it is that in the Countrie of Cataluina in the Countie of Vrgell in a towne called Mâ—mblanâ— was the place where yâ— herb Escuerçonera was first discouered found out as al that countrie iâ— molested toubled of certaine venomous beastes which are called Escuerços and likewise of many other and although that they are very Uenomous and full of poyson there are also many in number as well in the tilled fieldes as amongest trees and grasse and especially in the Corne fieldes in such sort that they are to them in steede of a Plague and an vncurable mischiefe by reason that the people cannot labour in their Uines nor reape their Corne nor doe their businesse in the fieldes by meanes that they are so cruelly hurt by them whose venome and poyson is such that wheresoeuer they byte it swelleth foorthwith with greate paynes and the swelling riseth vp to the hearte immediatly and if they be not remedied and suckered foorthwith they die presently their Triacle and other benefites which they had did serue them to little purpose And seeyng that in this time this Plague was so without remedie it fortuned that they brought to that place from Africa a young man Captiue which did heale them that were bitten with these so venemous beastes with geuing them to eate of a roote and the iuyce of an herbe that hee knewe which did them so much good that it healed the bytinges and poyson very easily For the which there came so many people to the Moore that they did not onely make him free but also rich and the young man in all this tyme with all the promises and giftes that they coulde geue and make vnto him woulde neuer tell them what roote and herbe it was wherewith he healed so great a Plague Two Persons of the Towne beeyng very desirous to knowe the same by reason it stoode them so muche vppon too knowe what Herbe it was went after him and dogged him so politikely that at length they sawe where hee gathered the hearbe and tooke out of the grounde the rootes thereof The Moore beeyng gone they wente too the place where hee gathered it and they founde the lacke of the grasse that the Moore had gathered of the which they tooke out a good quantitie because there was muche there in that place and they went therewith too the Towne and so to the house of the Moore where they found him taking out the herbe of a Bagge that hee brought it in and the one herbe and the other beeyng seene they sawe that it was all one whereby the Moore coulde not denie but the thing which had beene by himselfe long time hidden was now discouered and the herbe that he had gathered and geuen and that which the other brought were all one And from that time forwarde all the people began to know it and such as had neede of it went to geather it and vsed it for the bytinges of these venemous beastes as I haue sayde They call this herbe Escuerçonera because it doeth heale and remedy the bytinges of this beast called Estorçu in the Catalan tongue and the same roote is like too the sayde beast and the beast like too the roote in figure This beast or vermin commonly is a Spanne and a halfe long hee is small in the tayle and is greater and greater towardes the heade his head is greate and square with a great mouth his tongue blacke and sharpe his teeth small like to a shee Adder with the which hee doeth byte and with his tongue hee doeth pricke like to a Scorpion his colour is full of blacke spottes with diuers colours hee goeth euill fauouredly and is continually among Plantes and Uines and byteth other beastes as hee doeth men hee goeth continually by the grounde and therefore all men looke warily too theyr feete where they are Hee is a fierce beast and vglie too beholde and full of mischiefe his byting is woorser and more dangerous than the byting of a shee Adder of that Countrie Onely this Herbe is contrary too him which is called of his name Escuerçonera for if they cast the iuyce vppon him it maketh him fowle and if they put it into his mouth and that hee swallowe it downe he dyeth If any man seede and the seede beeyng gone then the Leaues of the Plantes doe fall The Roote is like too the roote of a Sanahoria fleshie and waightie and leaueth with a poynt and waxeth greater towardes the leaues it hath a thinne rynde ioyned too the roote and is of a russet colour somewhat blackishe and somewhat sharpe and beyng cut or broken it doeth cast from it a certayne clammie waterishnesse like to milke it is all white within sweete and fattie it groweth for the moste parte in hitlie places where some moisture is the complection therof is whot and moyst in the first degree The Uertues that it hath bee suche as wee haue spoken of the principall vertue is agaynst the Escorçu a beast so venemous and doeth so much hurt that in this surelie it seemeth to bee a thing of great vertue It is good when the iuyce is taken out of the leaues and clarified and that the roote also bee taken which is a thing of greater vertue And it is to be considered that although you take the iuyce and the roote of this Herbe agaynst the Poyson that proceedeth of this beast which is so pernicious it is conuenient that great diligence be vsed as we haue aforesayde for the remedie of them that are venomed whereby it woulde doe very well that in the meane time that the iuyce bee a prouiding or the Roote of the sayde Herbe that foure or fiue fingers breadth aboue the sore it bee bounde fast that the force of the Uenome doe not passe too the reste of the partes of the body and this is too bee done in the Legge or arme And if the byting bee in any suche place where it cannot bee bounde then there must bee laide too it plaisters of dry and strong thinges that may dissolue the furie of the venom and this must be
done with speed before the hurt doe enter the inner partes for if it once doe come to the harte the cure will goe harde and this must bee vniuersally in al prickinges or bytings of venomous beastes And if the wound bee smal it is needful to open it with a smal cut or some other way and if it be newe let the cuttinges bee smal and if it bee of a long tyme then let the incision bee deepe for that with the much blood that geeth out thereof there goe out a greate parte of the venom also And after the cutting let there bee applyed such things as may drawe out strongly the venom still adding thereunto that as shal be needful Some there bee that doe sucke out the venom of the prickes or woundes with their mouth but it is dangerous to them that so doe for some haue dyed therof it is better to râ—medie it with ventosities or to put too it the hinder parte of a Cocke or a Chicken or a Pigeon beeing aliue vppon the pricke or wâ—unde the fethers being plucked fâ—om the hindâ—r part therâ—of and vse it so often as shal bee needful vntill yâ—u perceiue that they haue taken out the venom that is in the wounde and euery one of them must be applyed thereto so long tyme vntil that you may perceiue that hee doeth waxe faynt or vntill he bee readie to dye Also it is a good remedie to put them that bee a liue opened at the back and let thâ—m be there as long time as they haue any heate and beginning to waxe colde then take them away put others to and the venom being taken out by these meanes let there bee put vpon the wouâ—d a medicine that hath vertue to keepe the wounde open Some do vse in the cuttinges or incisions an actuall thing to burne called a cauterie which doth very much good extinguishing the venom and comforting the hurte The same â—ffect doâ—th the cawterie potentiall in killing the venâ—me but it is not so good as the actuall but thereby it doeth cause that the wounde doe not close which is very necessary for the cure The iuyce of the herbe Escuerçonera doeth profit very much being put on venomous â—ytings or prickings by it selfe or mingled with other medicines that haue vertue to take away the streÌ„gth of the venom as treacle methridato other medicines like to these and if the Bezaar stone might be had casting the pouder therof vpoÌ„ the wound it wil worke a maruellous effect While they are in this case they must be kept with good order good gouernement in al thinges that are contrary to them and vsing euacuations such as is conuenient with wholesome medicines and there must bee mingled with them medicines that are against venom and when time serueth vse letting of blood and in the rest to goe to the cure of the disease and vnto euery one of them as it is conuenient vniuersally and particularly hauing alwayes care to giue to them that are sicke in the morning fasting the conserua of the roote of the Escuerçonera and his water or the Bezaar stone or the pouder as it is said or Bolearmenike prepared hee must haue care to annoynt the harte with things which are temperate that may comforte with pouders and cordiall waters amongest the which let there bee put the herbe Escuerçonera And besides the vertues that the herbe Escuerçonera hath against the bytinges of these beastes in particular and for the remedie of all in vniuersal it hath also other particular vertues the vse whereof hath beene shewed vnto vs it is very good against sowndinges of the harte and for them that haue the falling sicknes and for women whose matrix are suffocated or stopped by taking the conserua made of the roote and drinking the iuyce of the hearbe clarified or the water of it distilled It doeth profit much when the soundinges are come but much more before they doe come when they feele that they begin to sownde let them take the roote therof with the water and it doeth hinder the comming therof and if it do come it is much lesse and it doeth not woorke so vehemently as when it is taken after Unto them that haue the gidinesse in the head it doeth good and being continually taken it maketh the hart merrie it doeth take away the sadnes which is the cause therof the iuyce taken out of the leaues and clarified and set in Sunne for certaine dayes taking the cleerest thereof and put into the eyes doeth clarifie the sight and taketh away the dimnesse therof if it be mingled with a litle good hony it is good for them that feare themselues to bee poysoned The conserua of the roote beeing taken and the water in the morning that day by Gods grace they shal bee safe The vse and experience of this hearbe hath bin taught without any auctor for to this day we knowe not with what name the authors doe terme it Iohn Odoricus Mechiorius an Almayne PhisitioÌ„ doth wryte in an Epistle to Andrew Mathiolo saying that Peter Carniser a Catalan Phisition sent to him the herbe Escuerçonera dry into Germany this Phisition did aske of Mathiolo what herbe it was Mathiolo did not know what hearbe it was neither did any other vntil now that it hath bin spoken or written of Some that are curious wil say that it is the CoÌ„drillia a spice of Succory which Dioscorides doth make mention of in the second booke in the 122. chapter although that it hath some likenesse therof it differeth much in the roote for the Condrillia hath it very wooddie and vnprofitable and very smal and in the flowers but they differ not in their vertues for both of them are good for the bytings of adders And whatsoeuer that our Escuerçonera is wee see that his effectes are greate as well against the bytinges of the Escuerços which is so euill a beast and venomous as for other diseases which we haue spoken of which seeing that in so fewe yeres there hath bene so much thereof discouered I do trust that much more wil be hereafter by wise men that there may be added to this which I haue discouered and written of it And seeing that we haue treated briefly and the best that we can of these twoo medicines so precious to wit the Bezaar stone and the hearbe Escuerçonera which are twoo things so precious and of so greate effectes against venom now haue we to treate of the last parte which wee promised to doe â—nd how we ought to keepe and preserue our selues not to fal into so greate a danger as of them is declared for that it is better to keepe our selues from daunger theÌ„ to fal therein Heerein the ancient wryters haue bin very circumspect Amongest the rest it hath beene an ancient custome in Princes Courts other greate estates to haue their tasters as wel of their meate as of their drinke for the eschewing of poyson and so by
not bene found they had neuer bin discouered When they wanted it the nauigation was very little and short they fayled onely casting about by the bankes of the Sea coastes and nowe by the meanes of it they do ingulfe them selues and do sayle in such sort that the shippe called the Uictorie sayled all the rounde worlde ouer as the Sunne goeth euerye day that it is sayde shee sayled at one time twelue thousande leagues And that which is more to be maruelled at that the shippe being in a gulffe of 800. or 1000. leagues by meanes of the Needle they came to the porte which they preteÌ„ded to go vnto without any other knowledge more theÌ„ by the meanes of the Needle or as we cal it the compasse the which is of steele and they do râ—bbe ouer one parte of it with the lode stone and forthwith by particular vertue which God hath giuen vnto it by that parte which they did rubbe ouer with the lode stone it looketh towardes the Pole which is neare to the North and perpetually it doeth this being in the Sea or on the land eyther by the day or by the night with the Sunne or without it alwayes it looketh towardes the North. With the which Needle and with the carde of Nauigation wherein is placed a distincâ—ion for the knowledge of the wyndes and the description of the portes they sayle so many milleons of leagues as at this day wee see and it is done so easily that it is very wonderfull The inueÌ„tion of this maruelous Needle was founde by a Marriner who was borne in the citie of Melsiâ—n Italy Also the Iron Steele do serue to make clockes which is a thing of greate art very necessary to liue with rule order for by them shall be knoweÌ„ the works that are to be made the time that shal be spent in them they serue for all states of people whereby they may liue wisely discrâ—tely where is no clocke they liue like beasts they are made at tâ—is day with so much art curiousnesse that they make great admiration they purifie and make cleane these two metals that they make them as bright as any other they gyld them they siluer them there is giuen to them other coulorâ— are made very fayre as we see that there are made cheynes â—f Steele very delicate and fyne and there are giuen to thâ—m dyuâ—â—se sâ—apes aâ—d coulours and are more esâ—â—emed then those which are made of Golde or Silâ—er Thâ—se metals aâ—e disâ—illed â—y tâ—â— wâ—â—e of Alcumiste and thâ—re is maâ—e of them Quinta â—ssâ—ncia as of Golde and Silâ—er â—he Alcumisâ—es too saye tâ—at the metall moâ—â—e apâ—e fâ—r thâ—ir câ—uses and efâ—â—ctes is the Iron The Iron doeth suffer a â—riâ—uous disease â—hich doâ—th consume and make an ende of it wâ—ich is callâ—d rust and because it may not come to it there are many remedies that the things which are made of Iron and of Steele may be continually cleane principally that they bee put into no moyst place and that they be occupyed and vsed gilding them or siluering them in so doing they be kepte cleane from the aforesayde rust or annoynting them with common oyle or with the marrowe of a Deare or with the fatt of birdes or with white lead and vineger when they are taken with the rust for to take it away they must be filed of and put into vineger and after into the fire for with this it is taken away vnlesse when they be so much eaten that they are not to be remedyed with these benefites I doe not speake of the finesse and delicatenesse that there is in sodering of it and closing of it together and of the vsing of it in the forge because I am wery I let it passe with many other things that I should say thereof and do conclude that these two things Iron and Steele are the moste necessarye things for the seruice of maÌ„ of as many as are in the world Doctour I am very glad with that which master OrtunÌ„o hath spoken for all is to confirme the excellencies greatnesse which I haue vnderstoode of these two mettales wherby I do take them to be more necessarye then the golde and siluer if we do consider well of it The golde doth not serue vs principally for any other thing but for money which is to buy any thing therewith and for the trade of things the which any other metall might serue or any other thing For in the olde tyme as there was no money they did barter and change one thing for another and by reason in this bartering and changing there could not be vsed any equalitie and iustification betweene parties the wise and discreete men of common wealthes did agree together to make a thing which might serue the lacke that might be of the one partye to the other that with it the thinges might be made equall and there might be a iustification of both partes And for this reason and effect there was inuented and made the first mony which was neither of golde nor siluer but of yron and of metall as wee see in the mony of old tyme. And after that the Romaynes made it of golde and siluer for the fayrnesse thereof but it is sufficient that the firste which was made was of yron and of metall seeing that the Indians haue it to this day of fruites of trees and especially of the Cacao which is the fruite of a tree lyke to an Almond this hath serued and doeth serue them for money to buy and to sell and to vse all playnesse in their buzinesse And in all Ginea the blacke people called Negros doe vse for money for the same effect certayne little snayles which they finde in the Sea as also other nations doe vse of thinges lyke to this B. I haue helde my peace harkening to your woorshippes with greate attention and surely you haue treated in thinges of greate importance and of greate learning and seeing you goe treating so effectually the matter of yron and so delicately and with so greate learning I woulde that Maister Doctor might satisfie vs one thing that I haue seene decyded of learned men vppon the complection of yron for some doe say it is colde and vppon this I haue had so many alterations that they haue amased me and seeing that Mayster Doctor can certifie vs concerning this matter wee shall take greate pleasure if that hee will declare it vnto vs. D. I thought to haue made an ende with this saying and that I had accomplished my promise with Maister Burgus but nowe hee will dryue mee to a question the most harde and difficulte that is in al Phisicke and surely it were neede of more tyme then that wee haue to determine it B. Your woorship may not escape by that meanes for to morrowe you may make an ende of that which you cannot doe this day OrtunÌ„o I shal receiue great pleasure in
the Piles doeth remedie the soares of them It healeth sort cheekes casting the pouders vpon them it is a great remedy worthy of estimation He that doeth cause it to be made doth put it vpon a Playster called Higre the which doeth profite to take away and make cleane the soares and to take away the Fistula and too eate away the Braunches and too cause that the sores bee filled with fleshe all this is of Plinie in the Chapter of yron Galen in the Booke of Triacle to Piso declareth much the necessitie of yron for the life of mankinde and for the seruice of man and doeth account it for a most excellent remedy for to dry vp the moystures teares of the eyes In that of continuall dissolution he sayeth that peeces of burning IroÌ„ cast into milke by taking away that waterishnes which the milke hath is good for ouer much stoles and especially for the bloody flix Anâ— in the tenth of the simple medicines he commaundeth that milke be giuen where in peeces of Iron haue beene quenched and sayth that such kinde of milke doth good vnto them which haue the bloodye flix And in the like case it is better to vse of Iron then of stones or pebble stones by reason the Iron doeth leaue more drithe in the milke Alexander Traliano adding to this treatetâ— how milke shoulde be vsed in stooles He commauÌ„deth to seeth milke with a quarter part of water vntill the one halfe be consumed and in this sort it may be giuen to them which haue the ague with stooles and it is better in the place of small pebble stones wherewith they do commaund it to be soddeâ— that there be cast into it small peeces of burning Iron Paulo well neare sayeth that which Galen hath sayed and that the powder of Iron mingled with vinegre profiteth mâ—ch to such as haue matter comming forth of their eares although that it hath beene of a long continuance And also it is a great remedy for such as haue taken â—enom that is called Aconito And forthwith he treateth of the vertues of the water that haue cooled hot Iron and sayth that it doeth good to such as do suffer the payne of the belly and such as haue any cholerike disease and such as haue hot stomakes and such as haue the stopping of the lunges Dioscorides in the chapter where hee treateth of the rust of yron saieth that the water or the wyne that hath quenched a peece of burning yron is good for them that haue the fluxe of the stomake and the bloody fluxe it desolueth the hardenesse of the lungs and serueth in cholerike stooles and in the loosenesse of the stomake Accio treating of certaine rowles which are very excellent for the opilations of the inner partes saieth that it is a moste conuenient remedie for the Lunges and inner partes of the Bodie that the water that hath quenched whotte yron bee taken for a long time but suche as haue a whotte disease must vse of the water and such as are colde if they be weake of wine that hath quenched yron Oribacio sayeth that the water which hath quenched whot stile is an excellent remedie for suche as are sicke of the lunges Scribonio an auncient Phisition sayth that the water which hath quenched whot steele is a greate remedy for such as are swollen and for suche as haue sores and griefes of the bladder chiefly if they vse it continually Rasis in his Continent treating of yron saieth the same as Galen doth And Paule adding this the yron doth take away the fluxe beyng ouermuche of the menstruous and conceauing with child it healeth the little soares that are betweene the finger and the nayle it taketh away the Pearle in the eye and the hardnesse of the eye lid it healeth the piles outwardly it remedieth rotten gummes it taketh away the Goute from the feete and from the handes it maketh heare growe where it lacketh although there haue none growne a long time The water that hath quenched yron is good for the fluxe of the bellie although that it hath beene of a long continuance and for stooles of blood which doth auoyd from the bodie and the meate which is eaten and not consumed and for stooles of blood it also dissolueth the hardnesse of the lunges it remedieth the runninges and weakenesse of the stomake And Macerico an auncient Phisition saith if the pouder of yron be taken with sodden Wine called Cute it comforteth the weakenesse of the stomake he taketh for his Authour Mese a Phisition And Rasis concludeth the same saying I say and certifie by great experience that the yron doeth profite in the disease of the Piles and for the fluxe of Urine and for ouermuche fluxe of the menstrues this sayeth Rasis Scrapio reciteth all that Rasis saith word for worde and because I woulde not say it twice together I let it alone Auicen followeth Rasis in all that he hath sayd adding this thaâ— followeth to it The water wherin yron is quenched maketh strong the inner members by his owne propertie and manifest qualitie it comforteth the stomake for the water which doeth quench whot yron strengtheneth the vertue and consumeth the superfluities of the stomake and the superfluous moysture thereof for those are the things that take away appetite by the loosenesse of the mouth of the stomake and they are those which extinguish and kill the natural heat and the yron by reason of the coldnesse and drithe helpeth the knitting which is made in the mouth of the stomake wher the appetite is ingendred it comforteth the Liuer and the rest of the interiour members it strengtheneth naturall heat the sinewes and powers of the bodie and in such sorte it doth geue them strength and they take such vertue thereby that they caste from them the opilations by reason of which causes the Lunges are consumed It comforteth the vertue of generation and this it doeth by consuming the moysture which is that which letteth troubleth naturall heate which is necessary therefore and if it be not done by his qualitie yet it is done by his accidents All this is spoken by Auicen in the second of his first as also he sayeth in the seconde Canon where hee prayseth the yron greately for Ring wormes and for swellings and for the Goute and mingled with Uineger and put into the eares that of long time haue cast out matter it healeth them for the sharpnes of the eye liddes and to take away a webbe or the whitenesse of the eyes and hee saieth moreouer that the Wyne which doeth quenche â—he Iron dooth profite for the Apostumations in the Lunges and for the loosenesse of the stomake and for the weakenesse thereof it taketh away the superfluous Flute of the Mother it drieth the piles it taketh away olde stooles and the blooddie Flixe it doeth good to such as theyr fundament commeth forth and
to such as theyr water doth auoyd from them not feeling it it taketh away the ouermuch Fluxe of the menstrues of women and comforteth lustinesse in man or woman all this is taken out of Auicen Aliabas in the fifth of his Theorica sayeth the water that cooleth the yron doeth detayne the bellie it hardeneth and comforteth the Members if you bathe your selfe with it it doth good too the Paynes and Apostumations of the Lunges Albucasis sayeth that the vse of yron prepared taketh away the naughtie colour of the yellow face that is of the colour of Saffron and the vse thereof doeth make fat and it shoulde be vsed as the sicke man doeth heale who being well and whole doeth waxe fat Well neere all that which I haue sayde Alzananio and Isack do say which I doe leaue to relate because it is shewed already B. Haue there been any late writers that haue sayd any thing touching this matter I thinke there be none that considereth howe that the Auncient Writers haue written muche therevppon D. Yes many and very learned B. it woulde doe well that you woulde so muche pleasure vs as to shewe who they are and what they say seeyng you haue begunne and that they remayne not vnknowen D. I will shewe you for some of them with care and particularly haue written of yron and the vse thereof and of the great vertues which it hath and the like they say of the steele A Phisition which was a Cardinall called Vitalis de Furno treating of yron in a particular Chapter saith the filinges of yron haue vertue to drie vp and to make thin and therefore it openeth and healeth opilations of the lungs it healeth the bloodie Fluxe and anie manner of Fluxe of the Bellie taken in meate or drinke The Iron that is quenched manie tymes in Wyne is good for the stoppinges of the Lunges and Inner partes and the milke is good wherein the Steele hath beene quenched The yron obeyeth nothing but the Diamont for it cannot doe more then yron for it doeth consume it altogeather There is no mettall which doeth receiue so much hurt with the rust as the Iron dooth and much more if it be cankered with the bloode of mankinde and also after you haue made it cleane againe if you annoint it with the marrow of the deere called the hart or with Oyle oliue or with Uineger mingled with Alom This the Cardinall saith MontenÌ„ana in his Counsell a hundreth sixtie one doeth put for a great secrete to kill or quenche fiftie times a peece of steele in strong Uineger and in that Uineger beyng made whot to wet a course Linnen cloth and put it vpon the lungs and inner partes that are stopped many dayes together Michael Sauanarola in the booke he made of Bathes doth say the yron maketh colde and drieth vp whereby it is bynding and therefore it doeth deteyne and the water that killeth or quencheth the yron hath the sayde vertues and all the reft that the yron hath for the water receiueth into it his quatities and vertues as Galen saith that the water receiueth the qualities vertues of the thinges that we put into them or sodde in them and they doe the same woorkes that the said thinges themselues will doe the water which killeth or quencheth the yron or steele doeth deteyne it causeth that the fluxe or runninges doe cease â—nd being put to the ruptures it doeth sodder them together and shutteth them it consumeth the olde matter of the eyes The pouder made of yron doeth loose the swollen eye liddes it taketh away the Rime from the eye and doeth make fast the gummes that are losse When there is a tent made and wet in this pouder prepared and put into the mouth of the Mother it witholdeth anie maner of fluxe of it and the loke it doeth by putting it into the fluxe of bloâ—d that commeth from the Piles This Pouder is good agaynst the Uenome called Acâ—zâ—to The Wine that quencheth yron or the steele doeth profit for the hardnesse of the lungs and the weake stomake and laxatiue any maner of fluxe chiefly if it be cholerike it doeth profit much Such as haue the dropsie and the fluxe of the vryne and such as haue the menstrues ouermuch and such as their water goeth from them without perceiuing thereof and such as their fundament goeth out hetherunto Sauanarola hath sayde Nicholas Florentine prayseth infinitely steele for opilations of the inner partes of the body and lykewise the water of the steele Bartholomew Anglicus greatly prayseth the vse of yron of steele and saieth that they are a more excellent medicine then gold or siluer for the seruice of a man for that by them these twoo metalles that are so greatly esteemed of all men are kept in safetie bycause they do defend and sucker them from such as continually doe persecute them They defende iustice they conserue the commonwealthes by them the euill doers are chastened and the good are conserued and defended in all offices of handycraftes they are necessarie they labour and worke and fieldes with them whereby wee are maintained it hath medicinal vertues more then any other metal for the filing which doeth proceede of it hath vertue to dry vp and to make thin It vndoeth opilations of the lungs it taketh away any maner of flux of stooles although they bee of blood and it profiteth for many other things Al this the English learned man sayth William of Saliceto in the cure of opilations of the lunges doeth commande to take the pouder of steele for to loose opilations and hee taketh it for a great secrete Platerio in the chapter of yron sayeth the yron and the scales of it and his rust the steele euery one of them hath the lyke vertue and propertie taking twoo partes of a drâ—m of the fyling of yron prepared as it is conuenient with hot wyne it healeth the opilations of the liuer and the lungs although they be very olde Mathew Siluatico saith the same that the rust and the scales of the yron haue the same vertue that the steele hath either of them were the lade stone it selfe and al this it doeth by reason of the greate lykenesse and friendshippe which it hath with the yron together in one with the hidden propertie which it hath therfore For this vertue that it hath to drawe vnto it yron either it is for the lykenes it hath or for the propertie and in this stone ought to bee the one and the other The diamond is his enemie insomuch as it is sayde that in his presence it draweth not the yron vnto it Galen speaketh of greater power that the loade stone hath then the yron seing that it draweth the yron to him being of his owne kind and therfore the ancient wryters do giue it the same vertue that they giue to the yron in curing the opilations of the lungs and other
there be a preparatiue for him that shal take it Howe these pouders shall be taken Otherwise to geue it There are made pils of it In Wafer bread Note When they shall be giueÌ„ Whâ—t humâ—rs the Mâ—choacaâ— doth auoyde WheÌ„ it should be taken Note Note After that he hath purged What hee must doe the next day Note A good digression The quantity that is giuen of it Quicke Sulphur As it is Brought froÌ„ Quito Note Euill Sulphur The thingeâ— that iâ— profiteth in The complection thereof The smell of the wood Historiâ— Howe it is sowne and how it groweth The name of it The description of it In the griefe of the stone To put them â—n Glisters In griefes of winds The euill of the Mother For an euill breath For Wormes In euill of the Ioyntes In cold sâ—ellings For the tâ—â—â—ache For Câ—ilblaines In Venom venomous woundes Sublimatum in venomed woundes Against the hearbe of the Crossebowshooter Historie Doctor Barnarde In venomous Carbuncles In bitinges of venomous beastes In woundes newly hurte The manner of healing Note In olde sores The order of the Cure It cureth best the woundes that be rotten cankered Sublimatum doth heale the soares of beastes that bee cankered Historie Historie The manâ—â—â— how the Priesteâ— of the Indâ—as do vse thâ—â— Tabaco Hearbeâ— which haâ—â— â—istorie The Tabaco taketh away drought Little balles for hunger and drought The maner how to vse them Nicotiane the chiefest amoÌ„g other medicinable hearbes Nicotiane wherefore so named The Queenâ— Mothers hearbe The graund Priors hearb Petum Maister Nicot Ambassadour for the king in Portugall Experience of the Noli me tangere Experiencâ— for woundes Lâ—shebron The Ambassadours hearbe Experiencâ— of an olde vlcer Experience for the Ringwormes Experience for the kingâ— euill The Lady of Montigue dead of a Noli me tangere in her Brâ—st How the Nicotiane was brought into Francâ— Distilled water of Nicotiane singular good for short breathâ— The figure of Nicotiane GrouÌ„d fit for Nicotiane The Sunne fit for Nicotianâ— To water Nicotiane How to keepâ— Nicotiane in Winter The sowing of Nicotianâ— To remoue Nicotiane The Historiâ— of the Sassafras Historie They which weâ—e whole dranke it The description of this Tree The rootes Note The best is the roote The Sâ—ssafras as good aâ— the Cinamon The câ—mplâ—ction temperature of the tree The name The vse â—y seething Variety of seething How the authour doth order it Historie Tâ—e vertues thereof It healeth opilations It comforteth the Liuer and the stomake and doth disopilate Hâ—storie Peter Mellendis How this water must be gâ—uen Digression To giue appetite to eate How a Phisition of the Hauana doth vse it In the hâ—adache In euils of the brest In grieâ—es of the Stomake For the weaknes of the Stomake of them which do not disgest their meate and for them which do vomit their meate In the griefe of the Stone It causeth to cast out grauel stones For whome the vse of this water is not conuenient Of the wood for the stone The wood of the Vrine wil make the water blewe â—alse Mechoacan It prouoâ—eth Vners In theÌ„ which be lame In the toothachâ— In the euil of the Poxe The simple water In theÌ„ which haue the gout and the euil oâ— the Ioyntes For them that haue foule handes The water hâ—t maketh a man goe to the stoole For the going to the stoole by indigestioÌ„ Iâ— the euil of Wâ—â—â—n The euâ—ll oâ— the Moâ—hâ—r 〈◊〉 In stopping the courses of Women Where as iâ— much heate this water iâ— not conuenient To maâ—e women with childe Note This water doeth make fatte In Pâ—stilâ—nâ— and corruâ—â— ayâ—es How 〈◊〉 water ought to be maâ—â— in generall The maner to make it in particular The order hoâ— to make the strong water The â—imâ—le watâ—r The sâ—mpâ—e water Note The roote of Carlo Sancto Where it groâ—eth The â—â—rme 〈…〉 The colâ—â—r The smâ—â—â— The roâ—te The heart is marueâ—â—â—us Tâ—e vertue is in the rinâ—e of the râ—ote 〈…〉 〈…〉 It comforteth the teeth 〈◊〉 keepe them from worme eating In diseases of women it prouoketh Purgation It dissolueth windes and comforteth the stomake In the euill of the hearte In the euill of â—â—e Poxe In the falling sickenesse In griefes of the head In the tooth-ache The Beads of the rootes of sainct Elen. The forme of them The â—lant 〈…〉 In griefeâ— of the â—â—â—maâ—ke In the â—riefâ— of the â—tone in tâ—e 〈◊〉 or â—eines In griefes of the Vâ—iâ—â— The description of the Guacatane In the disease of the Piles In griefes of colde and windines It is most strong and mighty poyson It killeth thâ— Canker It killeth wormes It eateth rotten flâ—sh Howe it must be ministred In olde filthy sores where it is needful that they bee cleansed In Beastes it woorketh the same effect and better Historie An hearbe which healeth the euill oâ— the brest An hearbe which maketh a woman to cast from her a dead childe Two maruâ—llous herbes Blacke Eleboro Historie How they haue found the Bezaar stones An hearbe for the Reumes A fruite of a tree of grâ—at vertuâ—s A cure with the sweate of blood Centella an hearbe good for the swelling of the feete or legâ— Against the heâ—rbe whicâ— the Indianâ— doe vse The vertue of the blood of Drago It is temperâ—te Gumme to purge them which haue the Goute For the grief of the stone in the Kidneies Turpentine of Cartagena Better then ours Maruellous for woundes Caranna of Cartagena Mechoacan of the firme Landâ— Furious Mechoacan The Balsamo of the Indias which is made by incision is better then that which was in Aegipt In griefes of the head Turpentine or Oâ—le of Deabeto The vertue therof Note Long Peper Historie The description of it Historie Of what it was made Rootes against venom venomous things Mâ—lke good against poyson Of the Sarcapariâ—lia of Guaiaquill Another way to take it The manner how to maâ—e the water of the rynde of Sarcaparillia Ambar is not the seede of the Whale but a GuÌ„me Simeon a Greeke autor Coral Ambar congeled Ambâ—r fouÌ„d in the Whales Mawe Whales of the Coast of the Ambar Which is best Ambar The vertues of the Ambar The medicinal vertues therof The complexion thereof It coÌ„forteth the braine Sinâ—wes What the smel of the Ambar doth The Ambar is a great remedy for theÌ„ that be old In paynes of women For the euils of the stomacke For the euill of the harte Of them that be Melancholike It rectifieth the ayre For theÌ„ that haue the Palsey For them that haue the falling sicknesse The Ambar doeth make dronke The history of the coÌ„quest of the countrie where the Cinamon groweth The description of the trees and of the fruite Cassia CinamoÌ„ all one Vertues which it hath in medicine Don Francis de Mendosa The descriptioÌ„ of Ginger The vertues thereof The description of the tree which doth carry the Guaiaâ—as The description of the Cachos The vertues therof Historie The description of the hearbe and