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
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
better than the hearbe As this hearbe so likewise haue you many other in all the other partes of the Indias that haue the same and other properties doe woorke meruellous effects and to write of euery one of them particularly it were needefull to make a greater volume then wee doe pretende of this that we shall entreate of Three thinges they bring from our Occidentall Indias which at this day bee celebrated in all the worlde and with them they haue made doe make the greatest workes that euer were made in medicine there were neuer the like made by any other medicine that vnto this day hath beene knowen for that the nature of al three is to cure infirmities which without this remedy be incurable and to woorke the effectes that doe seeme to bee thinges of woonder and these are notorious not onely in these parts but in all the worlde the which thinges are the wood that is called Guaiacan the China and the Sarcaparillia And for that it seemeth that the China doth come from Portingall and that the Portingales doe bring it from their Orientall Indias and not froÌ„ ours I wil say what is to be said herafter when we do speak thereof And therefore let vs beginne with Guaiacan as of â— remedie that first came from the Indias and as first of the best of all as experience hath shewed and the vse thereof in so many yeares Of the Guaiacan and of the holie Wood. THe Guaiacan that is called the wood of the Indias was discouered forthwith wheÌ„ the first Indias were fouÌ„d which was the Island of Sancto Domingo where is great quantity thereof There was an Indian that gaue knowledge thereof to his Maister in this maner Ther was a Spaniard that did suffer great paines of the Poxe which he had taken by the company of an Indian woman bâ—t his seruant being out of the Phisitions of that countrie 〈◊〉 vnto him the water of GuaiacaÌ„ wherewith not onely his grieuous paynes were taken away that he did suffer but he was healâ—d verie well of the euill with the which many other Spaniardes that were infected with the same euill were healed also the which was communicated immediatly with them that came from thence hither to Seuill and from thence it was diuulged throughout all Spaine and from thence through all the world for that the infection was sowen abroade throughout all partes thereof and surely for this euill it is the best the most chiefe remedy of as many as hitherto haue been found and with most assuraunce and most certeintie it healeth and cureth the sayde disease if they be wel handled and this water giâ—en as it ought to be it is certaine that it healeth it most perfectly without turning to fall againe except the sicke man doe returne to tumble in the same bosome where he tooke the first infection Our Lord God would from whence the euill of the Poxe came from thence shoulde come the remedy for them Since it is knowne that they came into these parts from the Indias and first of all from Sancto Domingo The Poxe bee as common amongest the Indians and as familiare as the Measelles bee vnto vs and well neere the most part of the Indians both men and women haue them without making thereof any scruple and they came first in this sorte In the yeere of our Lorde God 1493. in the warres that the Catholike King made in Naples with King Charles of France that was called Greathead in this time sir Christofer Colon returned from the discouerie that hee had made of the Indias which was Sancto Domingo and other Ilands he brought with him from Sancto Domingo a great number of Indians both men and women which he carried with him to Naples where the Catholike king was at that tyme who had then concluded the warres for that there was peace betweene the twoo Kinges and the hostes did communicate together the one with the other And Colon being come thither with his Indians the most part of them brought with them the fruite of their countrie which was the Poxe And the Spaniardes began to haue conuersation with the Indian women in such sorte that the men and women of the Indias did infect the Campe of the Spaniardes Italians and Almaines for the Catholike king had then of all these Nations and there were many that were infected with the euill And after the hostes commoned together the fire did kindle in the campe of the king of Fraunce of which it folowed that in short tyme the one and the other were infected with this euill seede and from thence it hath spred abrode into all the worlde At the beginning it had diuerse names the Spaniards did thinke that it had beene giuen them by the Frenchmen and they called it the Frenche euil The Frenchemen thought that in Naples and by them of the Countrie the euill had beene giuen them and they called it the euil of Naples And they of Almaine seing that by conuersation with the Spaniardes they came by it they called it the Spanishe Skabbe and other called it the Measelles of the Indias and that very truely seing that from thence came the euill in the beginning Amongest the great Phisitions of that tyme there were sundry great opinions of the cause and originall of the infirmitie The one sorte sayde that it came of the euil melancholie meates that the hostes of necessitie had eaten as wilde hearbes and many gardeine hearbes and rootes of hearbes Asses and Horses and other lyke things that ingender such lyke infirmities corrupting and burnyng the blood Others there were that did attribute it to the coniunctions of Saturne and Mars and they did apply it to the heauenly influence and gaue thereuntoo diuers and sundry names Some called it the Leprosie others Swine Poxe other Mentegra others the Deathly euill others Elephansia without certaine assurance what disease it was For they were ignoraunt that it was a newe disease and they would reduce it to some already knowen and written of And nowe we come to our Guaiacan whose name was giuen by the Indians and of them very well knowen and so they haue called it and do call it in all the world calling it also the woodde of the Indias Of this woodde many haue written and much one sort sayeng that it was Ebano others that it was a kinde of Boxe with many other names wherby they haue named it It is a new tree and neuer seene in our partes nor in any other of the discoueries as the country is newe so is the tree a newe thing also Whatsoeuer it be it is a great tree of the greatnesse of an Oke it casteth out many vowes the rinde it doth cast from it being dry greate and full of Gumme the hart thereof is very great it is well neere lyke to blacke all is very hard as much and more then Ebano is It casteth forth a little leafe and hard and
euery yeere it bringeth foorth yellow flowers out of the which is ingendered a round fruite with litle kernelles within it of the greatnesse of a Medler of these Trees there is greate aboundance in Sancto Domingo And after this they haue founde an other Tree of the kind of this Guaiacan in Saint Iohn de Puerto Rico which is an other Ilande neere to that of Sancto Domingo such an other tree as that is sauing that it is lesse the body of the tree and the bowes are smaller it hath scarsely any harte or if it haue any it is very little and that is in the body of the tree for that the bowes haue none at all It is of more sweete smel and more bitter then the Guaiacan that is nowe vsed in our tyme I meane that of Sancto Domingo and for his maruellous effectes they call it the holy Woode surely with reason for that it is of a better working then that of Sancto Domingo which is seene by experience but euen aswell the one the other is a maruellous remedy to cure the disease of the Poxe of the which and of euery one of them a water is made and is taken for this infirmitie and for many others in this forme They take twelue ounces of the wood made small and twoo ounces of the Rinde of the same woodde broken and they cast it to steepe in three Pottels of Water in a newe pot that will holde somwhat more for the space of xxiiii houres and the pot being well stept they seeth it ouer a soft fire of kindled Coales vntill the twoo Pottels bee sodde away and one remayning And this is to be noted at the time the water is put to it putting therein one Pottle they dip in a little Rodde and doe marke howe high the water of one Pottle reacheth and by that measure and marke they shall see when the twoo are sodde away and the one Pottell remayneth After the water is sodden they set it to coole straine it and keepe it in a glassed vessell and forthwith vppon the said sodden woodde they poure foure Pottels of water and seeth it till one bee sodden away and this water must bee strayned and kept apart and it must bee taken in this forme After that the sicke man is purged by the counsell of a Phisition let him be put into a warme Chamber and kept from the colde and from ayre and beeing laied in his bedde let him take early in the morning tenne ounces of Water of that which was first made wel warmed and let him bee couered so that he may sweate wel let him kepe his sweat at the least two houres after he hath swet let him be made cleane from his sweat take a warme Shirt and the rest of his Linen clothes foure houres after he hath swette let him eate Reasings Almonds and Bisket and that in reasonable quantitie Then let him drinke of the water that was made at the second tyme the quantity that he hath need of and of the selfe same let him drinke in the day time eight houres after hee hath eaten let him returne to take the first water and let him take other tenne ounces well warmed and then sweate other two◠houres and after his sweate let him bee made cleane and then bee couered againe with warme cloathes and one houre after hee hath swet let him make his supper of the same Reasings Almonds and Bisket and drinke of the second Water This order he must obserue the first fiftiene daies except hee haue some notable weaknesse and in such case her must bee succoured with geuing him to eate of a young Chicken iointly with the rest of the Diet and in them that be leane that cannot beare so precise Diet it is sufficient that they take it for nine dayes and at the end of them they may eate a little Chicken rosted if in case the sicke person be debilited and that he cannot suffer the Diet let him haue from the beginning a very small Chicken going forwarde increasing in the proces of tyme and beeing past the 15. dayes let him returne to purge himselfe at the sixtiene dayes end let him take the waight of fiue shillinges of the substaunce of Canafistola taken out by Strayner or other thing respondent thereunto and that day let him drinke no strong Water but of the simple and the next day after the Purgation let him returne to the aforesayde order taking in the morning and euening the strong water with his sweatinges and eating and drinking the same Sauing that in place of a Chicken hee may eate halfe a rosted Pullet or somwhat more and this seconde tyme let him take it for other xx daies in the which tyme hee may ryse and walke about his chamber being apparelled and kept warme And at the end of them hee shall returne to purge him selfe an other tyme and must haue a speciall care to keepe good order and after hee hath takē the water for other fortie dayes must keepe himselfe from women and from wyne especially and in place of wyne hee must drinke the simple water of the woodde which if he wil not doe then let him drinke of water sodden with Anise seede or Fenell seede supping little at night and eating no flesh This is the best way that the water of the wood ought to be taken which doeth heale many infirmities incurable where other Medicines could not worke the same effect this water is the best remedy that is in the worlde to heale the disease of the Poxe whatsoeuer or of what kinde soeuer it bee for that it rooteth it out for euer without any more comming againe and in this it hath his principal prerogatiue and excellencie This water is also good for the Dropsy for the shortnes of breath for the Falling sicknes for the diseases of the Bladder and of the Raynes for the paynes of the Ioynts for all euils caused of cold humors for ventositie and other dangerous and importunate diseases where the ordinary benefites of Phisicions haue not profited Chiefly it excelleth where the euil dispositions be that haue proceeded at any tyme from the disease of the Poxe There be many that with this wood haue made sundry mixtures making Syropes therof and surely with good effect But my iudgement and opinion is that he which shall take the water of the wood ought to take it in the maner as is aboue saide without any mingling thereof for that by expeperience it hath beene seene so to make the better woorke This water is good for the teeth making them white and fastning them by continual washing of them therewith it is hot and dry in the second degree Of the China THe Second Medicine that commeth from our Indias is a roote called the China It seemeth that I should slaunder it to say that the China groweth in our Occidental Indias since commonly the Portingales doe bring
it from the Orientall Indias By this you shall vnderstande that Syr Frauncis de Mendosa a worâ—hy Knight when hee came from the newe Spayne and Peru shewed to mee a greate Roote and other little rootes who asked mee what rootes they were I aunswer â—o that they were rootes of the China but that they seemed to mee to bee very freshe Hee sayde to mee that so they were and that it was not longe since that they had beene gathered and brought from the new Spaine I maruelled that they had it there for I did beleeue that in the China only it had growen he said vnto mee that not only there was in the newe Spaine the China but that also wee shoulde see brought greate quantitie of Spicerie from the place which that China came from And I beleued it when I saw the contract that he made with his maiestie to bring into Spaine great quantitie of spicerie that hee had begon to set and to plante and I saw greene Ginger brought from thence as also the China This China is a roote lyke to the roote of a cane with certaine knottes within it whyte and some with the whytenesse hath an alborne colour it is red without the best is the freshest that which hath no holes if it bee weightie and not worme eaten and that it haue a fatnes as if it were congeled and it hath an vnsauery cast This Roote doeth growe in the China which is the Orientall Indias neere to Siria and Sirciana It groweth neere to the Sea onely with the roote they helpe themselues with the which the Indians bee healed of grieuous diseases And therfore they haue it in great estimation they do heale al maner of large diseases therewith and also the sharpe diseases especially Agues with the Water of it prouoking Sweats and by this way they heale many It prouoketh sweat maruellously It is wel neere xxx yeeres since that the Portingales brought it to these parts with great estimatioÌ„ for to heale al manner of diseases and especially the disease of the Poxe in the which it hath wrought greate effectes and the Water is giuen in this forme The sicke person beeing purged as is most conuenient must take one of the Rootes and cut them small vnto the thicknesse and greatnes of a three penny peece and so being cut shall way one ounce and cast it into a newe Pot and thereupon shall poure three Pottels of Water and so shall lye a sleeping there xxiiii houres and the Pot beeing stopt let it seeth at a soft fire of kindled Coales vntill half be sodden away one Pottel half remaine and this is to be knowen by the order of the Measure as aforesaid in the water of the Wood. And after that it is colde let it bee strained and kept in a glassed vessel There must be care taken that it stande in some hotte or warme place neere to the fire for that therwith it doeth preserue the vertue the better and dureth longer tyme before it be corrupted The sicke man being lodged in a close conuenient Chamber must take in the morning fasting tenne ounces of the sayde water as hotte as he can suffer it and he shall procure sweat keepe it two houres at the least After the sweat hee shal bee made cleane and shall take a Shirte and cleane clothes warme them and shall lye downe againe twoo or three houres in the bed quietly after hee hath swet And afterwarde let him apparell himselfe and beeing well warmed remayne in his Chamber in the which he shal be kept from cold the open ayâ—e with all the pleasure of good company and conuersation he shal eate at xi of the clocke halfe a Chicken sodden or a quarter of a Henne with a little Salt At the beginning of dinner he shal drinke a dishfull of Broth and foorthwith eate of the Pullet eating at the beginning a little and hee shal ende with Marmelade His drinke shal bee of the water hee tooke in the morning for that heere is no more then one water hee may at the beginning after the Broth is taken begin too eate Reasinges without theyr little Graynes or Prunes without theyr stones theyr bread must bee Crustie well baked or Bisket If hee will drinke in the day tyme hee may doe so with taking of a little Conserua and drinke of the same water and beeing â—ight houres past his Dinner let him lye downe in his Bedde and take other tenne ounces of the same water the which being hotte hee may drinke and procure sweate two houres after he hath sweat let him be made cleane and take a cleane shirte and cleane clothes warme and after one houre let him sup with CoÌ„serua Reasinges and Almondes with some Bisket and drinke of the selfe same water and last of all eate Marmelade vpon the which he may not drinke Thus he may continue xxx dayes continually without neede of any more Purgation then the first and hee may sit vp so that he go wel cloathed vsing in this tyme all content and mirth and keeping him selfe from al that may offend him After that he hath taken this water in this sort hee must keepe good order and good gouernement for fortie dayes continually And hee must drinke no Wine but water made of the China that was before sodden the which hee shall keepe after it is sodden setting it to dry in a shadowie place and that China being dry must be kept to make water for other 40. dayes to drinke after the taking of the first water seething one ounce thereof in three Pottels of water vnâ—il one halfe be sodden away and this water let him drinke continually And aboue all thinges let him keepe himselfe from women and he must alwayes haue care that as well in the water of xxx dayes as in the water of the fourty daies that the China be steeped in the water xxiiii houres before it be sodden There be many diseases healed with this water al kinds of euill of the Poxe all olde Sores it resolueth all swellinges and knobbes it taketh away the paynes of the ioyntes which they call the Arthetica Goute and any other kinde of Goute that is in any particular member or place and especially the Sciatica it taketh away olde paynes of the head and of the stomake It healeth all manner of runninges of Rewmes it dissolueth Opilations and healeth the Dropsie It maketh a good colour in the face it taketh awaie the Iaundies and all euill complexion of the Liuer rectifieth it and in this it hath a greate prerogatiue And by this meanes these infirmities are healed It healeth the Palsey all infirmities of the Sinewes it healeth all diseases of Urine it taketh away Melancholy and all infirmities comming of colde diseases It doth comfort the stomake it doth dissolue windes meruellously and also Agues long and sharp as quotidians the taking of this water as it is conuenient so doth
which Syrupe doth not heate nor inflame but with great temperature according to the graduation woorketh his good effects The first for whom this thing was ordayned and deuised was for Pantelion de Negro Ienoues who was had in cure by many Phisitions and hauing taken the water of the Wood and other Medicines was well neere consumed and with a grieuous swelling sore vppon his shinne bone and great paynes in it hee tooke it and was healed very well This sirupe I haue vsed in many people for the infirmitie that the Sarcaparilla doth profite for and the wood and for many other and it hath a good effect in woorking by degrees for that the drinesse of the wood is taken away and the heate of the Sarcaparilla and it is made in this forme There must bee taken two ounces of Sarcaparilla and foure ounces of Paulo Sancto which is the holie Wood prepared as it is saide and three Doozen of Acoseifas a fruite of Spayne without their stones and two Doozen of Prunes without their stones and halfe an ounce of the flowres of Borage and an other halfe ounce of Uiolettes and some graynes of Barley made cleane that is too say the huskes taken away All these thinges let them bee cast into three Pottles of water and lette them bee sodden on a soft fire vntill it come to one Pottell and then let it be strayned and vnto tenne ounces of this decoction let there be put one ounce of the Sirupe of Uiolettes Let it be taken hotte in the morning and at night in the order aboue sayde In the rest of the water keeping sweet if ther bee any and although there come little yet they bee healed They may eate a little Chicken from the first day with the rest of the diet drinke the simple water of the Sarcaparilla which is to be made with halfe an ounce of Sarcaparillia sodden in foure Pottâ—ls of water vntill one or somewhat more be sodden away This order doeth heale all kinde of euill of the Poxe and all the infirmities that we haue spoken of that the water of the Wood doeth heale and the China and the Sarcaparillia Which to repeate it shall be too long and too prolixious because it it is sufficieÌ„tly declared before For surely in this simple water and in the foresaide decoction I haue found great effectes aâ— well in the infirmities wherein is suspected the euill of the Poxe as in large and importunate diseases in the which the common remedies of Phisicâ—e haue not profited which although they proceeded not of the French Poxe yet doeth it cure and heale them as it is seene by the woorke of him that vseth it There is an other Sirupe to bee made of the Sarcaparillia which is taking eight ounces of Sarcaparillia being broken or cutte and seething it in foure pottelles of water vntill three be sodden away and the one remaine and into the water that shall remayne to put to foure pounde of Sugar and make a perfect Sirupe And of this Sirupe too take three ounces in the morning and three at night eating good meates and to suppe litle and drinke onely the simple water of the Sarcaparillia and goyng abrâ—ade out of the house and doyng his buisinesse There are healed therwith many diseases without geuing any molestation in the healing of them And this must be taken till the Sirupe bee all consumed Also this Sarcaparillia is taken in pouder in this maner They take the Sarcaparillia and plucke awaie from it the heare within it and dry it and grynde it and then sifte it through a syue of silke and make it in Pouder Of this Pouder is taken in the infirmity of the Poxe or spice of them the weight of sixe pence drinking it with the simple Water of the Sarcaparillia taking it in the Morning and as night as much when he goeth to bedde Hee must eate good meates and drinke no Wine but the simple water thereof It shall doe well he be purged that shall begin to vse it And although that this pouder doth heale many diseases large and temporall one cure it doth meruellously which is the salte Fleume of the handes and feete in this forme The sicke man being purged and also without purging if he cannot otherwise doe hee shall take the Pouder as it is sayde and vpon the salt Fleume he shall lay with a Feather a little of the water of Sublimatum delayed with Rosewater that it be very simple and after it is layed on all partes where the salt Fleume is then let there be put vpon it a plaister that is called of William Serâ—eâ—tis or Dia Palma spread abroade thin vpon Sattin or Taffeta too bee applied in all parts where the simple water of Sublimatum was put This must be done euery day for that in fifteene daies he shall be perfectly whole This doth mundifie and incarnate and skin without hauing need of any other medicine ioyntly with the Pouder and the simple water of Sarcaparillia which wee haue spoken of This is of so great effect and experimented as they shall see by the worke that shall vse it for surely they shall be whole thereby The vse of the water of the Sarcaparillia is so greate at this day in this forme as is sayd that it is applied in anie disease it is come into so much credit that in anie maner of Reumes or runnings or windinesse the euill of Women of the Mother or any other cause or occasion whatsoeuer so that it bee not in Feuers or other sharpe diseases men take the vse of the simple Water of the Sarcaparillia and this is at this day so put in vse that in like sort you shall finde the simple sodden Water of Sarcaparillia in manie houses as ordinary water in yearthen vessels and surely it woorketh greate effectes and doeth remedie large and importunate diseases Trueth it is that the persons that bee hotte of complexion it doeth beate them more then is conuenient and so they cannot drinke it and moste of all if that their Liuer be very hotte for that it heateth too much In womens diseases as well of the Mother as of colde humours it woorketh good effectes and doeth mâ—ruellously dissolue windes And in persons that bee subiect to manie euilles and especially of Reumes and olde greeffes and diseases caused of the euill humours if they runne this course with the continuance thereof they shall receiue manifest profite and benefite and it doeth heale all deseases whiche they neuer thought to be healed of The complexion thereof iâ— hotte and drie well neere in the seconde degree All these waters must be giuen in Sommer or in the ende thereof it is better that the season exceede in heate then in colde ¶ Of the blood Stone and of the Stone for the diseases of the Stone of the Kidneies and Reines THEY doe bring from the new Spaine twoo stones of greate vertue the one is called the
Stone of the Bloode and the other is a Stone for the desease of the Stone in the Kidneis and Raines The Blood Stone is a kinde of Iasper of diuers colours somewhat darke full of sprincles like to blood being of colour redde of the which stones the Indians doe make certaine Hartes both greate and small The vse thereof bothe here and there is for all fluxes of blood in what partes soeuer it bee of the Nose or of the Menstrues or of the Piles and of Woundes or of that which is cast out at the mouth The stone must bee wette in colde water and the sicke Man must take it in his right hande and from time to time wette it in colde water In this sort the Indians doe vse them And as touching the Indians they haue it for certayne that touching the same stone in some parte where the blood runneth it doeth restrayne it and in this they haue greate trust for that the effect hath beene seene It doeth profite also hauing it holden hanged or tyed in the same parte where the blood runneth so that it touch the fleshe Of this stone wee haue seene great effectes in staunching of blood And some that doe suffer the Hemeroidall fluxe haue remedied themselues with making Ringes of this stone and wearing them continually vpon theyr fingers And likewyse in the Menstruall fluxe of women The other Stone which is for the disease of the stone in the Kidneies or Reines the finest of them are like vntoo Plasma of Esmeraldes which are lykened to greene with a Milkishe colour the greatest are the best they bring them made in diuers formes and fashions for so the Indians had them in old tyme some lyke to fishes other like to the heads of byrds other like to billes of Popingaies other lyke to round Beadstones but all pearsed through for that the Indians did vse to weare them hanging for the effect to take away the grief of the stone or stomaâ—ke for in those twoo sicknesses it sheweth maruellous effects The chief vertue that it hath is in the paine of the stone in the Kidneis and Reines and in expelling of Sande and stone In so much that a Gentleman which had one of them heere the best of them that I haue seene hauing laid it to his arme it made him to expell and cast out much sande insomuch that many tymes hee doeth take it away for that hee thinketh that it doeth hurte him for to voide so much and in taking it away hee ceaseth to voyde any from him and when hee feeleth the paine of the stone laying it too againe it doeth take it away incontinent with expelling of much Sande and small stones I haue seene it carried to persons that haue beene afflicted with greate griefe and paines of the saide disease who putting it to them doe forthwith expell the sande and the little stones â—â—d remain cleare thereof This stone hath a property hidden by the which meanes it woorketh great effectes to preserue men that they fall not into the paine of the sayd disease and after it is come to take it away or diminish it It doeth make the sande to bee expelled in great abundance and likewyse stones It taketh away the heate from the reines of the backe it profiteth in griefs of the stomake layde vnto it and aboue all it preserueth from the sayde grief My Ladie the Duchesse for that shee had in short space three tymes exceeding paynes of the stone shee made a bracelet of them and vsed to weare it on her arme and sithence she put them to her arme she neuer had more paynes of the Stone and so it hath happened to many other that founde the lyke benefite for the which these stones are much esteemed and now they be not so soone had as at the beginning for that the gentlemen and rich men haue them onely and with reason because they do worke such maruellous effects An other stone there is that doth heale the salt fleume the which I knowe by hearesay only but I haue seene none of them Of the VVoodde for the euils of the Reines and of the Vrine ALso they bring from the newe Spaine a certayne woodde that is lyke vnto the woodde of a Peare tree grosse and without knottes the which they haue vsed many yeeres in these partes for the paynes of the Reynes and of the Stone and for the infirmities of the Urine The first tyme that I sawe it vsed may bee about xxxv yeeres past There was a Pilot that was sicke of the Urine and of the Reines and after that hee had vsed it hee was whole and very well And sithence that tyme I haue seene that many haue brought it from the new Spaine and they doe vse it for these diseases following For them that cannot pisse liberally and for the paines of the Reines and of the stone and for them that do pisse wiâ—h paine and for them that doe pisse little And nowe the thing hath extended vnto opilations for that the water therof doth cure and heale them both of the Lunges and the Liuer and this hath beene founde within these fewe yeres and they doe finde in it notable profite The water is made in this forme They take the wood and make it into smal peeces very shinne and small as it is possible and then put theÌ„ into faire water of the FouÌ„taine leaue it so vntil the water be sokened into it and by putting the wood into the water within halfe an houre the water doeth beginne to change it selfe into a blewe colour very cleare and the longer that it lyeth in the water so much the blewer it turneth although that the wood bee of a white colour Of this water they doe drinke continually and therewith they vse to water their wyne and it worketh maruellous and manifest effectes without any alteration so that it needeth but onely good gouernement and regiment The water hath no more sauour then if there were nothing cast into it for that the wood doeth chaunge nothing The complexion thereof is hotte and drye in the first degree Of the Peper of the Jndias I Will not let to speake of the Peper that they bring from the Indias which serueth not onely for Medicine but it is otherwise most excellent the which is knowen in all Spayne for there is no Gardeyne nor Orcharde but that it hath plentie thereof in it for the fairenesse of the fruite that it bringeth foorth It is a greate Plante insomuch that I haue seene in this Citie some that was equall with many Trees It doeth cast foorth the leaues greene after the fashion of Basill of the biggest sort And it casteth foorth certain white flowers out of the which commeth the fruite the which is of diuerse formes some Peper is long other rounde others of the making of Mellons others of Cherries but all is at the beginning when it is not type very greene and beeing rype very redde
which they pretend to cure Let none thinke that to take this water without order good consideration as many doeth there shall followe health but vnto them rather taking it without measure without order â—t shall do vnto them much hurt wherby it seemeth to me that when this water shal be ministred as well in the diseases that it cureth as in any other whatsoeuer they be it is necessary that they goe to some learned Phisition that may dispose the manner and making of the Water and the order which they shall obserue in taking of it for that in the Winter it shoulde bee taken otherwise than in the Sommer And otherwise it must be geuen to the leane person than to the strong and in an other manner it must bee taken of the Cholerike than of the fleugmatike one order is required in the cold region an other order in the hot Wherby it appeareth that it is conuenient to keep order measure forme in the taking of it for that there goeth no lesse with it then health life coÌ„sidering that we see it haue no price in the world not to let it alone to the iudgement of him that knoweth it not It happened to a gentle woman vnto whom for certaine iâ—dispositions of the Mother proceeding of greate colde that she had taken I couÌ„selled her that she should take this water of the wood of Sassafras And I gaue her the order that shee should vse in making and taking of it which was asmuch as was conuenient for her disease and seeming for her But she tooke muche of the wood more then I willed her seething the water more then I commaunded her she thought that she should heale the sooner And as shee tooke it certayne dayes with this strength she was burdened in such sort with a very great Ague that not onely it stood her vpon to leaue the water but it was needefull to let her blood fiue times and put her life in aduenture so procured infamy to the remedie After she was whole and had preuayled she returned tooke the water with the order that I had first tolde her and she healed very well of her disease It is time nowe that wee come to the vertues of this wood so excellent whereof let vs speak particularly of euery one of them as we haue knowne and experimented them In generall our Spaniardes in those partes of the Florida where they haue beene and now are doe vse this aforesaide water sodden at their discretion for all manner of disseases without making exception of any Anâ— beeyng sicke of any manner of euill which commeth vnto thâ—m sharpe or long hot or colde greeuous or otherwise they â—ure them all by one maner of fashion they heale all with oâ—e maner of water without making any difference and the best is that al be healed therewith in this they repose so much trust that they feare not the euils which are present nor haue any care of them that be to come so they vse it for an vniuersal remedie in all manner of diseases In one of the thinges that they haue founde moste profite in this water was in Opilations in the interiour partes of the which they came to bee swolne and to bee full of the Dropsie the most parte of them For of the long and large heates which they had taken they came well neere generally to haue these diseases And with this water both the swelling and the opilation went away and therewith they came to be made whole of the Quotidian Agues which the most parte of them had For in goyng thither the most parte of them fell sicke of these long and importunate Feuers in the which I haue experience by this Water beyng taken as it ought too bee for it woorketh maruellous effectes and haue healed many therewith For the principall effect that it hath is to comfort the Liuer and to dissolue Opilations and to comfort the stomake which are the two principall thinges that are most conuenient for the Phisition to doe that the sick may be healed of the like diseases For in these euils it is not to be feared that the humors be corrupted And if the principal members be hurt one of the things that these medicines which are brought from our Indias do principally when the water of any of them is taken is to comfort the Liuer and to amende it that it may ingender good humors for if this be not done the cure is in vaine And so our Sassafraâ— hath a maruellous propertie to comfort the Liuer and to dissolue the Opilations in such sort that it doth ingender alowable blood I healed â— young man which had an opilation of certâ—yne Tertians And thereof he was all swolne in such sort that he was well neere full of Dropsie And with purging him many times with Pilles of Ruibarbe and by taking of Dialaca amongest the said Purgations and drinking the water of this Sassafras coÌ„tinually without drinking of any other thing he came to be healed very well and was cleere of his swellings and opilations And he did not let to drinke it vntill he remayned perfectly whole The manner of curing with this water made of the Sassafras for the Tertian Agewes long Feuers I will shewe you and what hath passed in this yeere that I wrote this There haue beene many people diseased with the tertiane Agewes so importunately that no manner of medicine was sufficient to take them away and to roote them out insomuch that we let many alone with onely good order and good gouernment without helping them any more They were opilated and had euill colour of the face and some of them were swolne And at that time it was when the Captayne generall Peter Mellendis came from the Florida and brought him in common this wood of the Sassafras and when euery man did so much prayse it many of them that had Tertians tooke water of the Sassafras keeping the order that the Souldiers gaue them and surely I saw in that greate maruelles for that they healed many with the vse thereof Not onely of the tertians that so much did molest them but also of the Opilations and euill colour that they had And seeing this I caused other to take it that without counsel durst not doe it And it did very wel with them but it must be wel seene vnto how it shoulde bee geuen and to whom that the cause may carrie with it both order and measure That which ordinarily was done was to geue one cuppe full of the Water well sodden in the morning with Sugar or without it and after to drinke the water continually that which was more simple then the firste and as the Phisition shall iudge to be most conuenient for him that is sicke keeping the conditions in the takyng of this water that we shall speake of And surely it is a thing that geueth great
contentment to heale onely with the drinking of a water it beyng of a sweete smel and good of sauour which is taken and drunk without any maner of griefe and so to doe that woorke which sharpe medicines and sirupes of euill sauour and tast cannot doe And such as did drinke wine did water their wine with it thâ—y found themselues well with it In one thing it was seene greately to profite which is in the vse of this water in them that haue lost the lust of their meate insomuch that it is restored to them the lothsomnesse taken from them by the vse of it so that many did amende come to their health quickely And the vse of this water doth cause lust to meate The Souldiers doe coÌ„mend it with suche admiration that some came to leaue it and not to drinke it for because that it caused them to haue so great hunger that they coulde not withstand it And because there was no suche abundance of meates wherwith they might satisfie their hunger which the water was cause of they would not drinke it as not hauing sufficient for their maintenaunce for they did all vse it for a drinke in steede of wine and it was a great remedie for them that by it they became whole as appeareth by them which came from those partes whereas they doe vse it In the Hauana there is a Phisition whom they take for a Man of good vnderstanding in these causes who did cure many of them which came in the Fleete from the newe Spayne sicke with onely the vse of this water without geuing or making for them any other Medicine And it did very well with them for that many were healed therewith and he gaue them to drinke as much as they would all the day and at Dinner and Supper and in the morning he gaue a Cuppe full warmed to them that coulde not goe to stoole with a little Sugar not very white and it wrought very well with them for their going to stoole And to other he gaue Medicines of this water only and Hony it made a good worke I cured heere some that were in cure in the Hauana And being ordered in this maner they which came not wel healed thence were heere fully healed In griefes of the head and in paines thereof being very olde which proceed of any cold cause the taking of this water hot in the morning wel sodden and at dinner and supper and in the day tyme simple with good gouernement as well in the meate that is eaten as in the rest of all other thinges and doing this for many dayes it cureth and healeth them maruellously It is conuenient for him that shal do this that he purge himself first and in the tyme that hee must take it that he receiue certaine Pilles of Hiera simplex he hath no need to keepe himselfe close neither in his chamber nor in his bedde He that shal take this it is ynough that he go wel clothed and that he keepe himselfe from the colde and ayre and that he vse to eate good meates In griefes of the brest caused of colde humors this water doth profite much and openeth the waies of the brest It consumeth moysture and fleames it stayeth the fluxe the running which cometh from the head to the brest It must be taken in the morning hot and drinke continually simple for besides the ordinary drinking in the morning it must bee drunke simplie for a long tyme. For these simple waters as they doe their worke by little and little so it is needful that they be continued for a long season It is good that there be put some suggar too it that it may make the better woorke In griefes of the Stomacke when the cause is colde or windie after that the vniuersal euacuations bee made taking this water in the morning strong as it is sâ—id simple at other tymes it taketh them away and healeth them chiefly if there bee any olde griefe for that I haue giuen it for this effect to men that many yeeres did suffer most grieuous paynes in the stomacke and with taking the water in the morning hot for certaine dayes and continuing with the simple water for a long tyme and taking once euery weeke pilles of Hiera simplex many people were healed therof very wel And thus we haue declared howe that the vse of this water restoreth the appetite lost and giueth lust to meate In the weakenes of the stomacke and in the lacke of natural heate where that which is eaten is not consumed it worketh great effectes and helpeth digestion It consumeth windes which are the cause of indigestion it taketh away a stinking breath and from them that do vomit their meate it taketh away that euil custome so that they eate little and vse continually to drinke this water without wyne And aboue al other thinges it maketh a good breath and a good smel at the mouth In the disease of the stone of the Ridneis and reines the vse of this water hot when they haue this griefe doth greatly profit and much more vsing it continually simple by it self or with wine for that it doeth preserue that the paine come not so continually nor so grieuously And also it maketh him that doeth vse it to cast out much Sande where the stones bee ingendred And also it causeth the stones that are in the reynes to be cast out and staieth the ingendering of them for that it consumeth the fleames of the which they be principally ingendered and the windes that be many tymes the causes of the paines To them which haue the burning of the Urine to such as haue great burning at the tyme that they make their water doe feele great heat vnto such is not conuenient the vse of this water for bicause it is hot Al such should vse of that wood which I haue written of in the first part of this Historie which is excellent for such as suffer the lyke burninges and paines For the stones and sandes for al such euils comming of heate the work is meruellous that it doeth sauing that if there bee any stone in the Bladder from which place proceedeth the lyke burning for in such a case none of these waters doe take effect but only the Surgions Raser when the Stone is greate is that which doeth profite as I haue seene in many And whyle it is sayd it is a stone it is no stone death hath come vnto them that had it whome if they had beene opened in time might haue liued many yeres as we haue seene in diuers of sixtie yeres and more who haue bin opened and liued vntill they came to eighty yeres and more And I aduertise you that this wood which I call of the Uryne and the stone doeth make the water blewe for if it doe not make the water blewe it is not the right wood And now they bring
a wood which maketh the water yellowe and this is not it which doeth profite but that which maketh the water blewe and this hath the couetousnesse of them caused that bring it because they haue seene that it is wel solde in this citie for the manifest profites that it doeth in these griefes of the Urine by tempering the Reines and the Liuer and procuring many other benefits they bring of all the wood that they finde and sell it for wood of the stone The same hath happened in the Mechoacan which when it came to be worth twentie Ducates the pounde they laded so much from thence of it some not being rype other not being right that when it is come hither it woorketh not the effect that thâ— good and wel seasoned wâ—s wont to doe Wherefore it is needfull to see to that which is taken that it bee the same and that it bee well seasoned That which is very whyte is not such as the yellowe is in myne opinion for that which is yellowe wee see that it mâ—keth the better woorke it may bee that the very whyte is not of it or hath not the perfection that the good hath And comming to our water of Sassafras it prouoketh Urine it maketh them to Uryne well which haue the impediment of it chiefly if it come by humors of colâ—e causes I did knowe a Priest which came in this flâ—ete from the Florida who being in those parts did make water very euil and cast from him stones some tymes with very much griefe and some of them did put him in hazard of his life when hee was in the Florida as hee dranke of the water of Sassafras ordinarily as many other did in the place of wyne hee auoided many great smal stones without any paines and after that hither vnto hee hath founde himselfe whole and very well of this euill by drinking the simple wâ—ter of this wood ordinarily and watering his wyâ—e therewith Many doe drinke of this water for the same purpose and they cast out much Sande and doe finde themselues cured therewiâ—h In them that bee lame or creeples and in them that are not able to goe nor to moue themselues as for the most part that infirmitie commeth of colde humours by taking this water hot in the morning and procuring sweate all that hee can eating things of diet and drinking the simple water continually and vsing it many dayes wee haue seene many healed And it is to bee noted that in taking of this water there is nothing to bee obserued as in other waters but when they shal take it hotte if any sweate come to keepe it and after this they may ryse and goe well clothed it is not needefull of any thing els but of this and good order and to eate good meates and if they sweate not it maketh no greate matter but if they sweate not they shal be healed I knowe a Captaine one of them which came from the Florida and hee certified mee that hee was so weake in all his body that his Soldiours carried him vppon their shoulders for that in any other manner he coulde not stirre and hee was in a place where the tree of Sassafras was not and he sent for it and toke the water and therewith sweate for certaine dayes and afterward he tooke it simply and hee was restored to his perfect health and I did see him whole and well In the toothache this wood beeing broken and chewed with the tooth that is grieued and leauing that which is chewed in the hole of the tooth which is grieued if it haue any hollownesse and although that it haue none yet it taketh away the paines meruellously with experience done vpon many In the euil of the Poxe it worketh the same effectes that the rest of the waters of the holy wood the China and the Sarcaparillia doeth taking it as these waters bee taken with sweates putting vp more or lesse the decoction of the water and the quantitie of the wood as the complexion is and the disease of him that shall take it For that in colde humours Flegmatike it maketh a better woorke then in them that bee Cholerike and so in the Poxe that bee of a long tyme it maketh a better and greater woorke than in them that be of smal continuance and more where there bee knobbes and moisture of matter old griefes of the head with the order as is aforesayd And in these euils the simple water is continually taken for a great tyme and it worketh greate effectes chiefly in them that bee leane which be altogether weakened debilited with the vse of many Medicines Many which haue the Gout haue vsed and doe vse to drinke of the Water of this tree some of them taking it hotte as wee haue sayde and others simple continually by it self and watering their wyne therewith That which I haue seene is that which in the olde kinde of Goutes doeth neither good nor euil and if it doe any good it is to comfort the stomacke and to dissolue winâ—inesse to giue them some lust to their meate the rest of the benefite that it bringeth is to them that hâ—ue bin sicke but short time if the cause proceede of cold vnto whome it procureth notable profite but if the humour and cause be hot it doth them no good but hurteâ—h them inflâ—ming and causiâ—g them to haue greater paynes In one thing I haue seene it in many people to bring notable profit with the continual vse of this water and it is in them which haue foule diseased handes which cannot exercise them as they were wont to doe I healed a Gentleman which could not write that when he went to write his hande fell downe by little and little and the penne also after hee had begon to write not past fiue or sixe letters And hee toke a Cuppe full of that which was last sodden in the morning and after he dranke it hee continued twoo houres in his bedde and after he rose and went about his businesse And he did eate at his dinner good meates and at his Supper vsed diet and dranke the simple water of the self same Sassafras and he was healed very wel hauing spent a great somme of money on Phisitions and Medicines which did not profite him any thing vntil he came to be remedied in the order as is aforesaide Many did certifie mee that which nowe I finde by experience and learned of them that were sicke in the Hauana and could not goe to the stoole that the Phisition which is there did cause them to take in the morning fasting a good Cuppe full hotte of the water of the Sassafras and it did soften the belly and they went to the stoole very well which we haue seene heere to bee true by experience And there was a Soldiour which certifâ—ed mee and prooued it with others of his companie that hauing stooles by
in the cleare water that shall remayne vppon it some small clothes or in place of the smal clothes lint of fine Linen cloth weate in the water it cleanseth the sore eating the euil fleshe in such sorte for howe euill olde and filthy soeuer that the sore bee it leaueth it cleane and being laide to the flesh it doeth soder and heale them and after this is done you must vse the Medicines which haue vertue to ingender flesh And the effect of this seede is no more then to mundifie make cleane and to take away the superfluitie of the wounde The self same effect that this seede worketh in vs it worketh in beastes also which for the most part haue very euill sores that bee cankered and full of Wormes the seede being laide vnto them if the cause bee so great that it doth requyre it or the water of it as it is sayde maketh the lyke woorke as wee haue spoken of and better vsing alwayes the defensiues as is conuenient where such Medicines bee applyed for that it is a Medicine most strong and it hath neede of them all I wil shewe you what happened to me with it An Indian brought me this seede with many other hearbes and going about to discouer them and being come to this seede I tooke a graine and put it into my mouth to proue it He that brought it as one which knew it wel kept back my hand would not suffer me to proue it for all that I parted with my teeth one graine which is no greater then one grayne of hempe seede but some deale lesser and beareth some likenes of it at the tyme that it came to the point of the tongue the seede being parted made me a blister vpon it which dured with me certaine dayes I commended it to the Deuil and then I beleeued what they had certified me of it I began to make experience of it and it wrought more effectually then was spoken of it It is hot in the fourth degree and more if there be any more degrees Also I haue an Hearbe which being sodde and the water of it taken hot healeth the euils of the brest I know not the name of it but in the remembrance of them which came it was written And an other which enforceth to cast out the dead childe of the belly of thi◠the Indians haue great experience for this effect and once in these countries it hath profited They brought me two drie hearbes which I would haue been glad to haue seene greene the one of these being in the field in all his force if a man or woman doe put their handes vpon him forthwith he falleth downe dead vpon the ground And the other lying abroade vpon the ground in touching it to gather it it shutteth it self together as a Cabadge of the Countrie of Murcia Thinges meruellous and of much consideration I haue blacke Eleboro brought from the Prouince of Mechoacan like to that of Spayne and woorking the like effect Certaine dayes past a young man which tooke counsell of me that came from the Prouice of Quito and beeyng with me there came vnto me a neighbour of mine saying that his daughter was verie sicke of the Flixe and I had her in cure and her disease increased with blood requesting me that I shoulde goe to visite her The Indian which was with me asked me if they were stooles of blood I said yea and he sayd vnto me that he woulde geue her a thing that beyng made into pouder and taken woulde take them away forthwith that in the Prouince of Quito it had been experimented many times The Father of the sicke maiden went with him to his house and he gaue him certayne peeces of a fruite which seemed to be of a greate tree of the one parte they were very smooth and of colour yeallowe and of the other they were very sharpe and very redde insomuch that they seemed of a purple colour They were ground smal and he gaue the pouder to the sicke womā with the water of the hed of Roses once that Euening an other time in the Morning and immediatly the Flixe did cease from tha◠time waxed better whereby she came to be whole And as for the man I neuer saw him after he gaue it to her ¶ To the right Worshipfull Maister Doctor Monardus Phisition in Seuill RIght worshipfull famous Doctor it will seeme a newe thing to your worship that I being not learned not of your profession doe write to you in things of your faculty being a Souldier that haue followed the warres in these Countries al my life I haue done this because I am affectioned to your worship by reason of a book which you haue cōpiled of the medicines which are in these partes of the vertues benefits that by thē haue byn receyued which are so great that I cannot declare thē as they deserue And by means of your book we haue order how we should vse the remedies which we haue here for before we did vse thē without rule or measure so that neyther they did work effect nor with them the people were wel remedied which now is to the cōtrary by meanes of your books there hath been people remedied that neuer thought to haue had remedy nor health It is more then 28. yeeres vnto this day that I haue gone wādring by al these Indias where are many things of those which your worship doth write of in your book other things also which haue not byn brought thither for bicause the Phisitions that come to these parts are nothing curious They apply not their eye to the vniuersal wealth but to their owne particular for they come onely to enrich thēselues for the most part they be ignorāt people which passe to those Indias they doe not esteeme of the good which they might doe And though that I haue no learning I am affectioned to men of learning so I am to your worship for that I vnderstood of your bookes and for the same that you haue in these partes which is great although I knowe you not yet I was willing to take these paines which is a contentment to m◠You write in your book geuing knowledge of the Bezaar stone set down the signes of the beasts which haue thē which being cōsidered we haue happened vpon a kind of beasts that liue in the moūtaines of this country which are much like to sheep or kiddes which your woorship speaketh of which are in the Indias of Portugal which breede haue these stones of the which there are many in this country in the mountaines colde countries They are for the moste of a darke red colour they are fed with healthful herbes wherof is greate plentie in the mountaines where these beasts do feed they be very swift insomuch that they cannot bee hunted but with the hande Gun they haue no hornes and in that onely
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 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
are most colde They which drinke that which is made colde with snowe saye that it doeth not offende them as that which is made cold with the weather for it is seene that a cuppe of colde water beeing dronke that commeth foorth of a well or of a colde fountayne hurteth such as doe drinke it and drinking that which is made colde with snow they feele no such hurte I doe much maruell at one thing that this Citie of Siuill beeing one of the most famous of the Worlde wherein alwayes haue liued many greate personages of very high estate and many people of greate estimation as well of the naturall people of the Country as strangers that ther hath byn none which haue brought thither snowe in the time of whot weather for to make colde that which they drinke seeyng that the heate of this countrie from the beginning of Sommer vntil it be well neere towardes Winter is so great that it is not to be suffered and all the waters are most whot that they cannot scarcely be drunke And besides that the moste parte of the people of this Citie are people of much businesse and cares And seeyng that in a Countrie so whot where businesse and cares doe abounde where the water is whot and nothing wherewithall to coole it with iust Title it may be admitted and vsed that it may be cooled with snowe seeyng that the coldnesse is so sure as we haue sayd and it doth make the benefites which Galen and Auicen haue shewed vnto vs. Let euery one looke vppon his disposition that beeing whole although hee bee not altogether in health in time of whot wether he may drinke colde more or lesse as it is conuenient for him For the drinking colde doeth temper the Liuer it mitigateth the heate it geueth appetite to meate it comforteth the stomake it geueth strength too all the foure vertues that may doe theyr woorkes the better the meate is eaten with appetite and with gladnesse it taketh away the drithe in the day time it causeth that the stone doth not ingender in the raynes by keeping temperate the heate of them it taketh away lothsomnesse and likewise it doeth many other good effectes that the vse and thereof experience ode shewe vs. And because it is the best manner too make colde with Snowe as we haue sayde let vs aâ—â—we thereof with graue Authours and let Auicen bee the first in the thirde of the first where he saith The water that is made cold with snow vnto such as are of a temperate complection whereas coldenesse hath beene made with Snowe yea although the snow be fowle and not cleane then it serueth to make colde the water without and that as is good and cleane is to be put in to that which shal be dronke as Auicen himselfe sheweth in the second parte of the first booke the 16. chapter where hee sayth the snowe and the frosen water when it is cleane and that the Snowe hath not fallen vppon euill plantes or that it be not mingled with earth or other superâ—â—uâ—ties and the frost not made of euill infected waters but that the water which come foorth of the snow bee cleere and cleane and the water that commeth foorth of the frost be also good and cleane if any parte of the water of the snowe or of the frost bee put into the water that must bee dronke or with them the water be made cold without dout it is good for the waters which come foorth of them bee not straunge from other waters This doth Auicen say giuing to vnderstande that these waters which doe proceed of snow and of frost being cleane doe not differ from the goodnesse of other waters onely the difference is that the water of the snowe and of the frost are grosser then other waters by reason that the vapour is congeled in the middle region of the ayre as wee haue declared Rasis amongest the Arabiens the best learned in the thirde booke of those which hee wrote to the King Almasor sayeth thus The water of snowe cooleth the Liuer that is whot beeing taken after meate it strengtheneth the stomake it giueth appetite and lust to meate but that which is dronke may not be much And immediatly after he sayth the water which hath not so much coldnesse that it giueth not contentment to him that drinketh it filleth the belly taketh not away the drithe it destroyeth the appetite it taketh away the lust of the meate it consumeth the body and concludeth in saying that it is not a thing conuenient to bee dronke I do vnderstand it for the preseruation of the health of man of the which Rasis treating in that booke himselfe in the 4. of Almasor speaking of the preseruation from the and there commeth to him hurt and poyson which destroyeth and corrupteth him beleeue you mee and suffer not such which are sicke to spende their mony to cast golde in medicines which they take nor let them quenche golde that is whot in wyne nor in water for of the one and of the other there remayneth no medicinal vertue that wil remedy their euilles Only the golde being made mony hath greate vertues and properties for that is it that maketh the hart glad and taketh away sadnesse and melancholy and repaireth al the vertues and strength of man it giueth strength whereas is none it is an vniuersal remedy of al thinges vnles it bee of death for against that nothing can preuayle And seeing that night is come and tyme giueth not vnto vs any longer liberty and although that it gaue vs yet age doeth his office for I feele my selfe weary God bee with you Maister OrtunÌ„o and likewyse to you Maister Burgus and I goe to take rest The end of the Dialogue of Yron THE BOKE WHICH TREATETH OF THE SNOW AND OF the properties vertues therof And of the maner that should be vsed to make the drink cold therwith of the other wayes wherewith drinke is to be made colde Wherof is shewed partly in the latter parte of the seconde Dialogue of yron With other curiosities which will geue contentment by other auncient thinges woorthy too bee knowen which in this treatise shal bee declared Written by Doctor Monardes Phisition of Seuill 1574 To the excellent Lord the Earle of Barajas assistent of the citie of Seuill c. the Doctor Monardes your Phisition wisheth health MOst excellent Lorde the faire white snow doeth complaine vnto mee saying that she being so auncient and of so many ages celebrated of so many Princes Kinges wise and valiant mâ—n and beyng had in so greate estimation and price that with greate care they seeke after her with greater care they doe conserue her for to geue health contentment to all persons yet for all this many people with little consideration not knowing what they say doe persecute her putting vndecent names to her and that which doeth most greeue her is
that some Phisitions either for ignoraÌ„ce or for malice do speak euil of her not perceiuing what so many lerned meÌ„ haue treated said of the great vtility profit which she doth to many as experience doth shew all people doe vnderstand chiefly when they doe drinke their drink most cold with the benefit which doth remaine to them thereof they do praise extol her Moreouer she saith that she forceth no persoÌ„ to vse her but if any wil vse her shee can geue such order maner to make cold the drinke as is coÌ„uenient for al persons geuing the degrees of coldenesse which euery one would haue which doeth best appertayn to them this with all assurance with onely leauing or placing the vessel whâ—rein the drinke is ioyned nere to her the which none of the olde writers nor of the late did speake against or forbid And especially let this maner of making cold not be done with stinking water of a well nor with the most burning Saltpeter but with pure water beyng cleane and cleare These coÌ„plaintes many other the faire lillie white Snow hath vttered vnto me in the end she lastly saide to me that since that I had praysed her so much and taken in hande to fauour hâ—r that I should ly the fire hath no mixture of other Elementes and amongest these Elements the ayre is very principall which is deuided into three parts one is the supreame and neere to the Râ—gion of the efire which is whotte and drie for the felowshippe that it hath therewith taking muche of his qualitie which is cleere and pure from whence doe not proceede anye wyndes nor cloudes and this they call the celestiall Region and the partes more lowe which are neere too the water and earth be greaâ— and troubled full of Uapours pearced and visited with the beames of the Sunne whereby it commeth too bee whotte and the supreame and middle Region of the ayre doeth come too bee very colde because it standeth in the middest of the twoo extremities beeyng so whotte And in it is increased the colde as in the middle parte fleing from the extreme partes of heate as we haue spoken of before This middle parte hath partes more or lesse colde for the parte that is ioyning neere vnto vs is not so cold as that which is neere to the superiour partes of the fire And how much more the vapours do rise vp on height the more they doe congele and hold fast In the middle region of the ayre doe ingender the clowdes the small raynes the droppes the frost the rayne the Snowe the Hayle and other impressions as the Thunder lightnings and sharpe showers and comets The Clowdes be the principal matter which doe ingender the Rayne the Snowe and the Hayle and the other impressions which wee haue spoken of that are made of many Uapours which doe rise vp from the lower partes vnto the middle Region of the ayre and so being ioyned they make one body and they waxe thicke with the colde of the saide place and for this the clowd is like to a mother and is the common matter of all the impressions that are made in the ayre And so it is of the snowe as a thing ingendred of it in the middle Region of the ayre And the Snowe is no other thing but a Uapour colde and moyst which came into the middle Region of the ayre beeing ingendred in the bodie of the Clowde with a meane coldenesse which is not so strong as that which doeth cause the Hayle nor so soft as that which doeth cause the water and in the like Uapour before it be made water it both congeale and freese and doeth fall broken in peeces and are white because there doe rayne in them more colde then in the water The which Galen doeth shewe vnto vs in the booke of the Philosophicall hystory of Anaximenes the Philosopher Of the congealed ayre he saieth that the cloudes are made and of the same beeyng more thicke the rayne is ingendred and the same is congealed and frosen and by the coldenesse of the Ayre it is made Snowe and beeyng more congealed it is made Hayle And the same Galen doeth say in his booke de Vtilitate respirationis the Clowdes congealed are made Snowe which is the matter that the rayne is made of the Snowe doeth fall in the highe places which of their owne nature are colde places and thereby it is muche conserued and very seldome it falleth in the Ualleyes and if it doe fall there it is very smal foorthwith it dissolueth It falleth in the Sea but seldom times by reason of the heat which it hath for the winds that are continually in it for heat moisture are coÌ„traries much more the wind accoÌ„panied with the sunne Galen in the nienth of his simples saieth that there were Philosophers that saide the snow had hot parts for being takeÌ„ in the hand it heateth burneth like to fire And so the saide Galen in the 4. of the sayd Bookes sayeth as he went vpon snow his feet did burne the cause of this is not that the snow is whot nor that it hath whot parts but with his cold it doth shut the pores of the handes or feete and causeth that the heate which is in the inner partes haue not wher to come forth so being shut in do cause so great a kindlying that seemeth to burne the which we see contrary if the handes doe burne be put into whot water as the pores drinking of the coldest water they were healed as Galen sayth in the 7. of his Methodâ— that he sawe in one day yeâ— in one houre with a draught of colde water many diseases were healed and some of these were weake of stomake not only with colde water of a fountaine but with water cooled in snowe and in Roâ—â—e it is vsed And so Cornelio Celso in his first booke vnto such as were weake of stomake commanded them to drinke after they had eaten the coldest water they could get and in cholerike stooles should be dronke water that was most cold and in runnings of whot humors it shoulde bee vsed for to stay the fluxe Auicen in the sayde chapter saith that the cold water doth coÌ„fort all the â—ertues in his workes that is to say the vertue disgestiue attractiue reteÌ„tiue and expulsiue And so he goeth declaring euery one of them giuing vs to vnderstand how much the colde water doth corroborate and make strong al these vertues whereby they doe their workes the better And the said Auicen in the second of his first treatie of water saieth the colde water is the best of all waters and it is conuenient for them which are whole for it giueth lust to meate maketh the stomake strong And a little before hee saieth that which is not colde doeth corrupt disgestion and causeth the meate to swim in the stomake it taketh not away the
the meanes thereof they assure themselues to be out of peril for that matter the which surely is allowable and a good custome and necessary for the safegard and health of any Prince or Lorde for if there be any hurte in the meate or in the drinke it shal light first vppoâ— theÌ„ that doe eate or drinke thereof and not vpon the Prince or other high estate in whose life and health greate matters doe depende Trueth it is that in these dayes it is done more for a ceremony and estate then for health safety of life this order is vsed amongst great estates more for custome then for any thing else for this purpose the common people haue it in estimation so that at this present it is vsed contrary to that end and purpose it was ment for they vse nowe taking of a little bred and bringing it with the meate and so taste it that done they cast it away and lykewyse they drinke a drop of wyne or water if it should be vsed as it ought to bee they should eate and drinke thereof throughly for otherwyse the poyson if there be any caÌ„not be discerned before it come in to the Princes mouth Also the lord ought to command that there be prepared for him diuers meates for that if hee mislyke of one he may tast of another for being of diuers sorts he may tast of eache a little and eating little at once of any that were infected it would doe lesse hurte then if he shoulde eate of one dish being infected filling himself therwithal for being either of them infected and eating much therof it shal doe the more hurte And note this wel that many times a maÌ„ is not giuen alwaies to eate of one meate nor to see it alwayes tasted before he eate it and afterwarde there appeareth in it notable hurte therefore it is good to take your meate with a forke or a spoone and that they be made as Ierome Montuo a learned man in Phisike had appoynted for king Henry of Fraunce which was made to knowe if that he had eateÌ„ any venom there must be made a little forke and a spoone of one mixture of gold and siluer that the olde wryters called Eletrum and it must bee 4. partes golde and one of siluer they must bee smooth cleane well burnished with the forke or holder let him eate his meate and with the spoone his broth for putting them in the meate or in the broth if that there bee any venom therein foorthwith the golde will haue an euil colour appearing tawnie blewe or blacke and loosing the beautie that before it had the which wil cause them to looke better to the meate and this is done for trial therof and to make further experieÌ„ce by some beast that may eate thereof and so to see the effect thereof for that is the greatest experience the lyke may bee done with the drinke to make a cuppe therof or a broade vessel well burnished For if the wine or water that is put into it haue any venom the vessel wil take some colour therof as aforesaide and if it haue no poyson therein it will remaine in his owne colour And surely it is a gallant and a delicate secrete when you begin to eate any manner of meate the first morsell that you take let it be wel chewed and marke wel if it do byte or haue any euil taste or if it burne your mouth or your toÌ„gue or that your stomacke abhorre it for in perceiuing or feeling any thing of these signes cast it forth and wash your mouth with wyne or water and leaue that meate and fal to other it woulde doe very wel to giue it to some beast to see the effeâ—t therof it is good to haue in the house some beast to whome it might giuen for to make experience thereof And the effect so appearing they haue to iudge therof And this is to be vnderstoode when the venomes come of corsiue thinges you shal feele a notable sharpenes and they byte and burne forthwith the best is for them that haue suspicion to eate meate that is rosted or sod that they eate neither brothes nor pottages for in them there may be greater hurte and if any bee made let them not bee made with things of smell as Amber muske and sweete spyces and let them not haue ouermuch sharpenes for in broth or pottage the poyson wil sooner lurke then in rosted or sodden and vse no meates which haue much sweetnesse therein all poyson will lurke the more Hee that hath any suspition when hee goeth to his meate let him not bee to greedie to eate foorthwith very hastily but let him refraine himselfe and let him eate with leasure by litle and litle The lyke he must do in his drinking being very thirsty hee feeleth not what he drinketh and so many people beeing very dry haue dronke in lie lye and also water of arsenike not feeling the same vntil they haue hurt their body and therefore it is conuenient to drinke leysurely by litle and litle tasting his drinke as he drinketh surely if men woulde be ruled by this order they should easily finde if there were any euil thing in that they eate and drinke You haue to consider the colour of your meate for thereby will somewhat appeare For it wil looke otherwyse then it ought to doâ— see that your vessels wherein you eate or drinke bee cleane newe and glistering and if your abilitie be such let them bee of siluer being cleane burnished for if you haue venom in the drinke it is easily espied and the siluer doth turne blacke or tawney Not many dayes past a Gentleman of great riches by drinking in a plaine cuppe of siluer perceiued the cup stayned of a sad tawney colour and did maruel thereat hee only tasted the wyne and it made his tongue rough his mouth also hee looked wel on the wyne that was put into the cup it had not that quicknes in drinking that it ought to haue had and hee looked on the water and in the bottome of the ewre there were many graines of arsenyke with as yet were not dissolued I was called I gathered out of the ewre more then xx smal graines of arsenike within certain dayes after the Gentleman fell sicke wherby I did conâ—ectâ—re that it was not the first tyme that they pretended to poyson him since that he hath bin sicke a long time And thus much I affirme that if the cup had not bin altered of his colour â— bin infected it had not bin perceiued Therefore it is necessary that the vessels and tinages where wyne water are kept be stopt for feare least any venomous thing fall therein as spyders Sallamanquesas and other lyke venomous beâ—sts and therefore it is nought to drinke with vessels or cuppes that haue narrow mouths for it is best to see what one drinketh in a cleere vessel and broade for it is good for
them that do regard their health It is good to haue a peece of a right Unicornes horne in a smal cheyne of golde that it may bee swilled continually in the water that shal bee dronke It would doe well for not onely it taketh away the suspition of the venom but doeth put to the drinke a meruellous cordiall vertue Also you must not stand by the fire that is made with venomous wood for the smoke doeth poyson as if you should take poyson and to set in the chamber coales when they doe begin to kindle many haue dyed therwith let your apparell be kept by such as you haue trust in for in them may bee put things that may do notable hurte and for al that as is said it doeth much profit to haue trustie seruants and that they bee such whome you may trust and that they be of a good parentage and sticke not to reward them wel And aboue al other let the Phisition that hath the charge of your health bee learned and experimented discrete and of a good iudgemeÌ„t and that he be riche and of a good kinred and beeing such a one he wil not doe any thing that he ought not to doe seing that in his handes is the life and health of the Mayster and Lorde FINIS THE DIALOGVE OF YRON WHICH TREATETH OF THE greatnesse thereof and howe it is the most excellent metall of all others and the thing most necessary for the seruice of man and of the greate Medicinall vertues which it hath An Eccho for the Doctor Monardes Phisition of Seuill In Seuill in the House of Alonso Escriuano ¶ To the most Excellent Lorde the Duke of Alcala c. my Lorde the Doctor Monardes your Phisition wisheth health c. FOrasmuch as the metall called yron is of so great importance in the worlde and so necessary for the seruice of man it moued me to make this Dialogue which doeth treate of the greatnesse and maruellous workes thereof Which if they be well considered they will bring admiration vnto all that shall reade them by reason it is so necâ—ssary for all states and manners of liuing It hath also greate and mediâ—inall vertues and likewise with worthinesse and greatnesse it is an Instrument and meane whereby the most worthy haue gotten great Titles and fame as we see many of those which in times past haue attayned vnto among whom the Predecâ—ssors of your excellencie with theyr noble mindes and strong armes the Sâ—eare in the fist and the sworde in the hande by ouercomming battels by getting townes and places the name and fame of them haue byn immortall to this day And for to augment and increase this the more and to geue to your excellencie and to your chiâ—dâ—â—n and successours gâ—eater glory you tooke to wise the excellent Duches the Ladie Iuâ—na Curtes that at this day doeâ—h beautifiâ— the whole worlde with â—er woorthinesse eâ—timation qualitie and grâ—atâ—esse daughter to that valiaunt and reâ—owmed Prince Don â—ernando Curtes who with his greatnâ—sse and infinite Labours is a shorter way and fewe people will be there It seemeth to mee that the greate hall of the treasurie house is sâ—utt â—t may bee that whiles I go vp to see the sicke person they will open it Burgus Your worship may go in Gods name I will tarrye here for you and seeing the great hall is not opened I will sitt downe vppon the benche and will see what doeth passe vntill you come Doctour Master Burgus I praye you pardon mee if I haue tarryed long for the qualitie of the cause hath caused mee to tarry Burgus Rather I woulde haue beene glad that you had tarryed longer because I would haue seene more Doctour What haue you seene whiles I was absent Burgus The great hall being shutt and the parde full of people and I looking vppon them earnestly it seemeth to mee that they are people of estimation but to my iudgement full of cares for in them I haue seene so variable and diuerse likenesses of countenance that I maruel at it Some of them talking to them selues others being alone with their heads hanging downe and with great imagination Others talking by two and two together Others in clusters treating of the sales of their merchaundize Maryners and souldiours carrying for their paymentes Others carrying away their porcions of siluer which they had taken out running with it as though they had stolen it Others there were with the Notaries about their suites Others in the office of the treasourer amongest the Registers There was also a greate noyse of much people deliuering and receiuing parcels of siluer but they were in a great strife therevppon The Iudges were in counsell and many people tarrying for them in such sort that I was in greate admiration I being there onely to beholde and all the rest to do their businesse And it was to mee as one that did beholde them without greefe as a comedye with many Pageants And that which did make mee maruell more was to see that none were merrye nor content rather they seemed to haue great care and troubles Doctour Master Burgus I am glad you haue seene what doeth passe in that house with so much attention for all that which you haue seene that Gold and siluer is cause thereof which with so great good will you came to see and this is it which is the cause of their troubles and cares and not onely it bringeth such as you sawe there amazed and astonied but many others for they are at this daye the instrument of all these things Some they put downe others they rayse vp whereby they haue rule and dominion in the worlde These mortall men haue put so much felicitie in them that they haue and do procure them by the losse of their lyues and shedding of their bloud and after they haue them they conserue them with much labour and with greater care keepe them and with much misery they spend them and with great euill fortune they lose them These are they that take away quietnesse and rest They take awaye sleape and many passe the day to keepe them and to increase their afflictions and cares In the night also they rest with feare and care there are in them so many snares and hazardes as wee see euery day Burgus For all this I woulde see the Golde the siluer and the Emeraldes Doctour What master Burgus haue you neuer seene Golde siluer and Emeraldes Burgus Yea I haue seene them but in little quantitie Doctour What do you thinke is there in seeing of little or much but to see much earth or little earth and moste of all without the profite of man of as many as nature hath created And if you haue so great desire to see precious metals I will carrye you to a place where you shall see one metall much more of price of greater estimation then the golde siluer yâ— you were so desirous to see better of more profit beginning and