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
heath that groweth creeping vp by certaine little Canes it hath a sadde greene colour it carrieth certayne leaues that the greatnesse of them may be of the greatnesse of a good Porenge dish which are in compasse round with a little point the leafe hath his little Sienewes it is small well neere without moysture the stalke is of the colour of a cleere Tawnie. They say that it casteth foorth certayne Clusters with little Grapes of the greatnesse of a Coriander seede which are the fruite and doe waxe rype by the Moneth of September it casteth out many Bowes which doth stretche a long vppon the Earth and if you put any thing neere to it it goeth creeping vpon it The Roote of the Mechoacan is vnsauerie and without byting or anie sharpenesse of tast That which wee doe see at this present of our Mechoacan is a roote which they bring from the new Spayne from the Prouince of Mechoacan made in greate and little peeces of them cutte in peeces of them broken with their handes It is a white Roote somewhat strong and mighty it appeareth that the peeces be of a great roote without any heart The conditions or elections that it must haue for to be good and perfect is that it be freshe which may be knowne if that it be not worme eaten nor blacke and that it be somewhat white but the very white is not so good and if it bee somewhat russet so that it be the vttermost parte of the root for that the inner parte is somewhat white In the tasting or chewing of it it is without sauour or any manner of byting tast It importeth to make his worke the better if so be that it be freshe for that the fresher it is the better it is and the greater the peeces are the better they are conserued And it is true that that which is brought in pouder is not so good for that it doeth putrifie and lose much of the vertue and operation As also we doe see if we make pouder and keepe it it doeth not make so good woorke as when the roote is ground and then forthwith taken The roote beyng old doth turne blacke and it will be worme eaten with holes and become very light It will keepe well rouled in Sere cloth It is gathered in the moneth of October and it neuer loseth his leafe The Complection thereof is hot in the first degree and drie in the seconde for that it hath subtill partes with some bynding whereby it seemeth that his woorke beyng done it leaueth the interiour Members strengthened without debilitation and weakenesse which the other Purgatiue Medicines doe leaue them in but rather those that doe purge themselues therewith doe remayne after they be purged more strong and harde then before they were purged It hath no neede of rectification for that wee doe not see in this roote any notable hurt onely the Wine is vnto it a corroboration for the woorke for being taken with Wine it maketh a better worke then with any other Licour for that it doth not cause vomite and it woorketh the better It is giuen at all tymes and in all Ages it doeth his woorke without molestation and without the accidentes that the other Medicines soluatiue are woont to procure It is a Medicine easie to bee taken for that it hath no euil cast Onely it hath the sauour of that with the which it is taken for that it is of it selfe without sauour and so it is easie for Children for that they may take it without feeling what it is it is so lykewyse for persons that caÌ„not take Medicines for it hath neyther smell nor taste I haue purged therewith many Children and many very olde persons haue giuen it to men of more then 80. yeeres of age and it maketh in them very sure and good woorke with no maner of alteration nor chaunge of body and without being debilited or weakened This Roote doeth auoyde cholerike humors grosse mixt and also flegmatike Humors of what kind soeuer they be and humors putrified and rotten and of both coloâ—rs it doeth euacuate the Citrine water of them that haue the Dropsie with much easines The principall respect thereof is to the Liuer making it cleane and comforting it and the Members neere adioyning to it as the stomacke and the inner partes It doeth cure all Opilations of the same partes and all diseases caused of them As the Dropsie the Iaundies and ioyntly with his good woorke it rectifieth the euill complexion of the Liuer it dâ—ssolueth windinesse and with easinâ—sse it expelleth it and doeth open all the hardnesse of the Liuer and of the Lunges and of the stomacke It taketh away olde griefes of tâ—e head and mundifieth the brayne and tâ—e Sinewes and empâ—ieth out the humors that bee in the head or pâ—râ—es thereof In the disease called the Lampaâ—ones which is the Ringes Euill it maketh a good woorke in olde griâ—feâ— of the head called the Megrim and the Falling sicknesse and in all Distillations or olde runninges in paynes of â—he Ioyntes both particular and vniuersal as in the â—ouâ— Arthetica in paynes of the stomacke emptying the cause and consuming windines Also in paynes of the Uryne Bladder in paynes of the stone and Colicke of what kynde soeuer it bee it maketh a meruellous woorke It cureth the paynes of women and especially the Mother by emptying and taking away the cause as namely those causes which come of cold humors windinesse and in the griefes of the brest as of an olde cough shortnes of breath for vsing this roote oftentymes it taketh it away and healeth it Also in griefes of the Reynes caused of grosse Humors for it doeth emptie and expell them In griefes of the Poxe it maketh a greate worke And it seemeth that for these griefes our Lord did ordaine it emptying the humors of them which for the moste parte are colde and especially when they be waxen olde of long tyme it purgeth them and doeth expel them without any paynes by multiplying the taking thereof as many tymes as is necessarie for that in these infirmities that bee olde and of long continuance one euacuation is not sufficient but it is necessary to haue many euacuations which may be done without daunger with this Roote and it is not to bee maruelled at if that with one euâ—cuation therewith doeth not follow the health that is wished for but that many tymes it is needful to make often repetition to the intent to roote vp and expel the euil and naughtie humors that are the cause of the saide disease This roote doeth maruellously empty foorth the cause of the lâ—rge Feuers and importunate and all Feuers compounded and chiefly in olde Feuers as Tertians Quotidians flegmatike and in sâ—ch diseases as commonly come of opilacions vsing thereof at the tyme that is needefull for that in the lyke large and importunate diseases the Phisition must not bee
sides of it taking away that which is superfluous then powre into it the Iuyce of this hearbe lay vpon it the stamped leaues and being well bound it shal coÌ„tinue on vntil the next day that thou shalt returne to dresse it After the same fashion the patientes shall keepe good order in their meate vsing the diet necessary and if it be needful of any euacuation by stoole the cause being greate let it be done what shal be conuenient And with this order they shal be healed without any neede of any more Surgerie theÌ„ this hearbe only Here in this Country in this City they know not what other to doe hauing cut or hurt themselues but to runne to the Tabaco as to a most readie remedie It doth maruellous workes without any need of other Surgery but this only hearbe In restrayning the fluxe of blood of the wounds it procureth most maruellous workes for that the Iuyce and the Leaues being stamped are sufficient to restraine any fluxe of blood In olde Sores it is maruellous the woorkes and the effects that this hearbe doeth for it healeth them wonderfully making cleane and mundifying them of all humors that are superfluous and of the rottennes that they haue bringeth vp the flesh reducing them to perfite health the which is so common in this Citie that euery man doeth knowe it and I hauing ministred it to many people as well men as women in great number and being grieued of tenne and of twentie yeeres haue healed olde rotten sores in legges and other partes of the body with this remedy only to the great admiration of all men The order of the Cure that is to bee wrought with this hearbe is this following For the olde rotten sores although they bee cankered let the sicke man bee purged with the counsell of a Phisition and let him blood if it be needfull and then take this hearbe and pounde it in a Morter and wring out the Iuyce and put it into the Sore and then after the maner of a Plaister laie the stamped leaues vpon it which are the Leaues that the Iuyce is taken out of and this doe once euery day eating good Meates and not exceeding in any disorder for otherwyse it will not profite And doing this it wil make cleane the euil flesh that is rotten and superfluous vntil it come to the whole flesh and it is not to be maruelled at if the wounde bee made very greate For the euil must bee eaten vp vntil it come to the good and in the same cure putting in lesse quantitie of iuyce it wil incarnate and reduce it to parfit health in such sort that it accomplisheth al the workes of Surgery that all the Medicines of the worlde are able to doe without hauing neede of any other maner of medicine This woorke doeth cure olde Sores with very great admiration and not onely in men but in brute beastes also As at this day in all partes of the Indias where there are any cattel hauing woundes or gaules and the countrie beeing hotte and moyst ouer much doeth soone rotte them and very quickly they come to bee cankered and for this cause much great cattel doe dye To remedy this and the wormes that doe increase in the sores they had for remedy to put into the sores Sublimatum for that in this remedy they did â—â—â—de more benefite than in any other that they had vsed And for that the Sublimatum beares there so high a price mâ—â—y tymes it was more woorth then the cattel that it healâ—â— For this cause and for hauing founde in the Tabaco so much vertue too heale newe woundes and rotten they did accorde and agree together to vse the Tabaco in the healing of beastes as they had done in the cure and remedy of men powring the Iuyce of the Tabaco into the woundes washing them therwith laying vpon them the stamped leaues of the Tabaco after that the Iuyce is taken from them And it is of so greate efficacie and vertue that it killeth the wormes and maketh cleane the sore eating away the euill fleshe and ingendering newe vntill it be whole as in the other thinges which wee haue spoken of The like it doth in the gaules of the beasts of Cariege the iuyce being powred in the beateÌ„ leaues wherout the iuyce commeth of the Tabaco as it is sayde although they be cankered it doeth make them cleane and incarnate them and cureth and helpeth them And so the Indians doe carry it when they iourney for this purpose and effect and it procureth the like profite that the iuyce doeth I sawe a man that had certayne olde sores in his nose wherby he did cast out from him much matter which dayly did rotte and canker inwarde and I caused him to take at his nose the iuyce of this Tabaco and so he did and at the seconde tyme hee cast out from him more then twenty little wormes and afterwarde a fewe more vntill that he remayned cleane of them and vsing it so certayne dayes hee was healed of the sores that hee had in the inner part of his nose and if he had taried any longer I thinke that there had remayned nothing of his nose but al had bene eaten away as it happeneth to many which we see without them And beeing wryting of this a daughter of a Gentleman of this Citie had many yeres a certaine kinde of drieskabbes or wel neere skuruie in her head I had her in cure and did vnto her many benefits vniuersal and particular and also Maisters of Surgerie had done their diligence and al did not profite And a Gentlewoman which had the charge of her as sâ—e heard me speake one day much good of the Tabaco that 〈◊〉 did good and profitable for so many infirmities shâ—e sent for it and did rubbe hard the disease that the wench had that day shee was very euill and as though she had bene fooliâ—h and the gentlewoman did not let in seing her after that sorâ— to rubbe her harder and then the wench did not feele so much griefe but the dry skabbes begâ—n to fall and the whyte scurffe of her head in such sorte that it made cleane and healed her head with dooing so certaine dayes so that shee was healed of her scuruie disease very well without knowing what she did One of the meruâ—lles of this hearbe and that which bringeth most admiration is the maner howe the Priâ—stes of the Indias did vse it which was in this manner when there was emongest the Iâ—dians any manner of businâ—sse of greate importaunce in the which the chiefe Gentlâ—men called Casiques or any of the principall people of the countrie had necessitie to consult with their Priestes in any businesse of importance then they went and propounded their matter to their chiefe Priest foorthwith in their presence he tooke certayne leaues of the Tabaco and cast them into the fire and did
and were bred within the beast and with his owne handes made the Anatomy of him and wrot vnto mee that the Bezaar stones are growing in those beastes after the manner of a garde made of flesh of the length of twoo spannes little more or lesse and of three fingers breadth which is ioyned neere vnto the Mawe of the inner parte and in the garde the stones are set in order one after an other like vnto button holes in a coate in this forme And they open that garde of flesh being closed and take out the stones that surely it is a maruellous thing to see what Nature hath created there for our health remedie of our euils And as I haue vnderstoode that these which are brought from the East India be founde after the same maner so I speake the truthe for they bring very many which are false that amongest one hundred there are not to bee founde tenne that are true and their wryters of the East India doe confesse that there be made many indeed which are false The people of the East India take them cut also of a certaine kinde of Goates that bee for the most parte redde as ours be they are the best stones which are takē out of y◠cattel which goe in the Mountaines of Persia and likewise they take them out of other Goates that goe in the playne Countries of Malaca and these are not had in such estimation nor haue the goodnesse nor the vertues that they of Persia haue because those Goates of Malaca doe serue for cattell to bee eaten and they be not maintained by healthful hearbes of the mountaines as they that yet it taketh away the accidentes of it the faintnesse sadnesse and the griefe of the harte which in these Feuers are common Surely they feele with the vse of it notable profite in al long and importunate diseases I do geue it they finde profite in it chiefly those which stand in feare of any malice of disease or windinesse whatsoeuer it bee For I haue seene that in this it hath a greate propertie and of this it commeth that it is good to cast into pourges some graines of it that if the Pourge doe carry venomous qualities it may rectifie them and amende them and if not it giueth force and strength to the harte and they woorke the better In the oriental Indias they haue a custome to purge themselues twyce euery yere and especially the noble people of estimation and after they haue purged themselues they take euery morning fasting foure graines of the Bezaar stone with Rose water or with water made for the purpose and they say that this doeth conserue their youth and strengthen the members and preserue them from diseases and it is a good vse for it cannot choose but doe them much good For Wormes they geue this Stone with most happy successe and surely I haue giuen it to many people and especially to Children and Boyes that are tormented with this euill and I haue seene such workes as are not to be beleeued if they were not seene I geue it by it selfe and also mingled with this pouder in this forme I doe take hearbe Lumbrigera the wayght of twelue pence the seede of Santonico the wayght of sixe pence the Horne of a Harte burned and the seede of Verdolagas and Carlina of euery one the waight of three pence and the Bezaar Stone of the Peru the waight of three pence of these thinges let there be small Pouder made and let them bee wel mingled These Pouders are maruellous and of greate effect to expell Wormes and very much experimented in many people and they haue wrought in this case greate effectes and they must be giuen in the morning fasting as to the Phisition shal seeme good according to the age of him that shall take them vsing some Medicine of Milke and Sugar twoo houres after they bee taken And vnto children being sicke of it wee geue this stone mingled with milke and without it if they doe sucke and it doeth a maruellous worke and to them that be in yeeres by it selfe or mingled with other thinges appropriated for the disease In conclusion we geue this stone in al long diseases and importunate where the ordinary medicines haue not profited in which it doeth manifest profite and if it doe no profit yet it can doe no hurte Of the Fig trees of the Peru. FIgge trees beeing caried from Spaine to the Peru haue increased so wel in that Countrie that there is great plentie of them where they cary many and very good Figges of all sortes And you shal vnderstande that in that countrie there are certaine kindes of Uermyn which are called Spyders and wheresoeuer they bee they doe spinne and make Nettes as they of Spaine doe These kinde of Uermyn bee greate and come to bee as great as Orenges and they are so ful of poyson that wich one stinging they kill vnlesse there bee vsed great remedie And if it bee long tyme without remedie and that the Poyson goe vp to the hart there is nothing that can bee done that will benefite but he must die without remedie and for this there is founde a remedy in the Figge trees which is a maruellous thing that as soone as the Indians or the Spaniardes doe feele themselues bitten by this euill Spyder they goe to the Figge trees and put vnto it the Milke which commeth foorth of the Leaues of them two or three times to the place that is bitten and this worketh so great effect that it remedieth it which is so poysoned with the venom that the Uermine did cast into the sore and the accidentes be remitted which they suffer to wit great griefs and soundings remaining only to heale the place bitten and as it is little so it healeth forthwith although they procure to keepe it open a long tyme. And Gods wil is that at all tymes this remedie shoulde not lacke for the Figge trees neuer loose their leaues throughout all the yeere they are alwayes greene Of the Coca I Was desirous to see that hearbe so celebrated of the Indiās so many yeres past which they call the Coca which they sow and till with much care and diligence because they vse it for their pleasures which wee wil speake of The Coca is an hearbe of the height of a yerd little more or lesse it carieth leaues lyke to Arraihan somewhat greater and in that Leafe there is marked an other leafe of the lyke forme with a line very thinne they are softe and of colour a light greene they carry the seede in clusters and it commeth to be red when it is rype as the seed of Arraihan when it is type And it is of the same greatnesse when the hearbe is seasoned that it is to be gathered it is knowen in the seede that it is rype when it is of some rednes lyke to a blackish colour and the hearbe beeing gathered
seeth and bee consumed the one halfe and so set out too coole it serueth for very good Uineger and it is vsed as if it were made of Wine and if you seeth it vntill it be throughly purged and thicke it serueth for Honie and becommeth sweete you may see how much the seething auayleth in these thinges seeyng that of mortal venome it maketh meate and healthfull drinke And I will say an other thing which bringeth admiration that all this kynde of Corne which groweth in the firme Lande which is like to that of Sancto Domingo which they call Cacani is healthfull and the Fruite thereof is eaten and the Water that commeth of it is drunke without hauing any venomous qualitie and that of Sancto Domingo howsoeuer it be eaten and the iuyce therof vnles it be sodden it killeth And that the disposition of the place is so greate a cause that that which is healthfull and allowable sustenance in the firme lande the same is mortal venome in al the Islandes as Columela writeth of the Peache that it was venome most mischeeuous which in Persia did kil men and being brought into Italy it lost that malice and propertie that it had to kill and geueth vnto vs health and a sweete iuyce Howsoeuer it be hauing in the Indias so much Mayes and so common in all partes thereof I woulde not eate Casani seeyng that the Mayes are of as good substaunce as our Wheate and in no parte hath eyther venome or poyson but rather is healthful and maketh a good stomake There is bread made of it as of the Casani for they grinde it and with water they knede it and in a Frying panne of Earth they bake certayne Cakes which they make of it and it must be eaten freshe assoone as it is made for beyng dry it is sharpe and trouble some to swallowe downe and doeth offende the teeth The Batatas which is a common fruite in those Countries I take for a vittayle of muche Substaunce and that they are in the middest betweene fleshe and Fruite Trueth it is that they be wyndie but that is taken from them by rosting chiefly if they bee put into fine Wyne there is made of them Conferna very excellent as Marmolade and small Morselles and they make Potages and Brothes and Cakes of them very excellent they are subiect that there be made of them any maner of Conserua and any maner of meat ther be so many in Spaine that they bring from Velez Melaga euery yeere to Seuill tenne or twelue Caruelles laden with them They be sowen of the same Plantes that are sette the smallest of them or peeces of the greatest in the Earth that is well tilled and they growe very well and in eyght Monethes the rootes waxe very grosse so that you may eate of them They be temperate and beeyng rosted or otherwise drest they soften the Bellie and beyng raw they are not good to bee eaten because they are wyndie and hard of disgestion Of the Canes which are good for the shortnesse of breath THey bring from the newe Spayne great Canes of a Cane that are couered within without with a certain gūmme to me it seemeth that it is mingled with the iuyce of Tabaco it is heauy It seemeth that the Cane is annoynted as a thing that the clingeth fast it is clunged wel to the said Cane and it is of a blacke colour and being hard it clingeth not they kindle the Cane at that part where the gumme is and the other parte of it they put in the mouth and they receiue that smoke and with it they cast out from them all fleume and rottennesse that is in the breast and this they do when they finde themselues greeued with the shortnesse of winde so that they be all ready to choke I haue seene it done by a Gentleman who is much payned with it many times and receiueth by it great profite and did it first with the Tabac◠taking the smoke of it and it brought to him the like benefit And for this cause I say that it seemeth to carry with it the iuyce of the Tabaco mingled with the one and with the other It is done with al assurance for that we do see it experimented with manifest assurance in many Some beeing sicke of the shortnesse of breath that come frō the Indias with it I haue seene expel cast out this rottennes by taking a little Tabaco green chewing the iuyce of it with although it be lothsome it doth them much good to expell the rottennesse fleumes which are retained within the brestes so that they be lightened with it notably It is a maruellous thing the greate vertues and sundrie and diuers effectes that they doe discouer of the Tabaco for besides that which I haue written of it in the second parte of the maruellous vertues therof I determined to make further triall of it as I haue vnderstood and seene since that time ¶ Of the Carlo Sancto IN the second parte wee entreated of the vertues of a Roote that then they had brought from the newe Spayne which they cal Carlo Sancto now in these ships they haue brought it with great veneration and estimation and the roote is called Indica and they bring written many vertues of it more then they are woonte too reporte of the Rosemarie Nowe that which hath beene experimente◠and seene since that I wrote of it I will speake of this Roote which being made into Pouder geuen to women that newly brought Children who for euill keeping haue taken greate colde and be numbe it profiteth muche to prouoke them to sweate and maketh them remayne cleere it profiteth muche geuen with Wine or water of the floures of Orenges vnto them that haue a harde labour There was a Frier which had paynes of the Stomake and no tast of his Meate but had an euill breath and much windynesse and all did proceede of colde that hee had taken and little natural heate He sodde of these Rootes in water at his discretion as the water of the Sarcaparillia is sodden and so he dranke it continually at dinner supper for a long time and it did so well with him that he amended his stomake and increased the heate of it whereby hee did digest and consume his meate very well and tooke from him his euill breath and consumed the windes and in taken from twoo to three Ounces of it it purgeth well and easily and euen as it is good to take so it is good to worke for that I haue purged many people with it and it maketh a very good woorke and purgeth without paynes One thing they doe euill in those partes which is that they neuer bring them hither made with good Sugar if they come so they woulde be the better and of better tast They bee purges for delicate people they euacuate the same humor that the Canafistola doth Of
in payne so that from the tyme that hee receyued it his soundings came not to him so continually as they did before This being perceiued I saide one day to my Lady that it was the doctrine of Phisitions that the medicines which doe not heale diseases cannot preserue that wee fall not into them but that it seemed good to mee that wee shoulde giue vnto him euery morning the pouder of the Bezaar stone that with the continuall vse thereof the vapour might bee consumed which did ryse vp to the braynes so that what seemeth to be venomous and hurtfull the stone woulde extinguish and kil and would consume the vapour that riseth vp froÌ„ all the body and from A Childe did eate a certaine venomous thing whereby hee was in danger of death and seing that the common remedies did not profit I caused to bee giuen to the childe the Bezaar stone and immediatly it was well And for children that haue wormes it is lykewyse very good for that it causeth them to be expelled by dissolution meruellously taking away the accidents that are wont to happen to childreÌ„ And this it worketh wheresoeuer you feare any griefe or venomous humour In the thinges that it hath done most good hath bene in the pestilence for that there was in Germany a greate Plague and vnto all such as had the Bezaar stone giuen them immediatly was seene the greate effect that it did in them that toke it And in an Hospital were foure persons infected with this euill and it was giuen to twoo of them and not to the other and they that tooke it escaped and the other twoo dyed And then it was giuen to many that were infected with this euill and some of them had twoo sores and some had three and yet they escaped and of this were witnesses many people of greate credit that sawe it and other meaner persons as it is very well knowne to all the Court. This stone doeth profit much to them that be sad and melancholike the Emperour toke it many tymes for this effect and it is taken of many persons that are melancholike for it taketh it away and maketh him glad and mery that vseth it and to bee of a good disposition Many I haue seene that haue beene much diseased with fayntnesse soundinges and melancholie and taking the waight of three graynes of this stone with the water of Oxtongue they haue bin healed presently In feuers of an euill qualitie and most pestilent it is meruellous the good woorke that it doeth for that it taketh away the malice thereof extinguishing and killing the euil qualitie of the venom which is the first and principall thing that the Phisition should doe for if that this bee not taken away first the cure is in vaine Many do vse this stone holding a peece thereof in theyr mouth in the suspected time of a Pestilence and whereas venom is feared or any thing that is venomous and also it dooth profite much taking it in water to them that are sicke of pestilent Feuers A Gentleman had all his seruantes sicke of Agewes that are commonly called Modorras and he put into a pot of water a Bezaar stone that hee had of the which he caused the sicke people to drinke and they all escaped and were deliuered from death And many people for this cause haue this stone layde in water continually that they may drinke thereof being sicke for it profiteth much to take away the Agewe and geueth strength to the hart and not onely this stone doth profite in venomous thinges and venomes but in other diseases as it hath byn proued being geuen to them that haue the gidines in the head it doth much profit and also against opilations And it happened that a Nunne that had sowndinges and greate opilations by taking the Bezaar stone was healed and likewise of the opilations and being long time without her customed termes they came very well too her and aboundantly This stone profiteth much to them that haue taken Arsenike or other corsiue venome for that it dooth kill and consume the force of the venome and taketh away the accidentes thereof Milke hath in this a great prerogatiue and doth woorke effectually by taking much quantitie and continually vsing the same for although that it be a meruellous remedie it must be vsed in corsiue venomes for that it maketh the venomes to be expelled by vomit and doth extinguish the mallice It is the true Antidote against corsiue venome and after the vse thereof the stone may be giuen or the pouder or any of the sayde medicines that haue vertue against venome Also this stone doth profit muche against feuers that bringe certaine red spots in the bodie like to Flea-bytinges that commonly doe appeare in their shoulders and in their archter parts of the bodie these doe come in sore Agewes that doe expell the humours out of the bodie and so it is conuenient that it bee so vsed that it may come out well and this muste bee done by putting bentositâ—es and other like helpes that may expell the humour whereby nature is holpen forbidding oyntmentes and other things that may disturbe the comming out of these thinges An other thing which is conuenient is to geue to the sicke when these small spottes doe beginne to appeare those thinges which doe extinguish and kill the venome of the which we haue treated very largely hauing respect not to let blood after that they haue appeared if it come not of too muche replection and fulnesse of blood One thing I haue founde for these redde Spottes and for Feuers of muche profite and notable experience in many which is our Bolearmenike prepared in a dishe of earth with Rose water geuen in all medicines that are too bee taken and in the meates that are too bee eaten and surely in it I haue founde great effect chiefly in one yeere wherein reygned many Pestilent Agues called Moderâ—as and many were deliuered from them with the vse of it for that this our Bolearmenike doth differ little from that of the East partes and this shall bee where the Bezaar stone is not to bee had for that it doth exceed all as I saw in a principall Gentleman of this citie which had a sore Feuer with soundinges Uomites and other Accidentes of an Ague vpon whom did appeare spottes which before I haue spoken of on his shoulders and in geuing him the Bezaar stone with a little of the Uâ—â—cornes horne foorthwith the Accidentes did cease and began to be better for that it did extinguishe and kill the force of the Agewe which caused all the hurte And after this sorte I coulde speake of many heere in Spayne that for the space of this fourteene yeeres I haue vsed it and many haue beene deliuered therewith from many diseases with the vse thereof that surely it seemeth a thing of woonderfull effectes that a stone taken out of the bellie of a beaste like to a wilde Harte or Goate
¶ IOYFVLL NEWES out of the newfound world wherein are declared the rare and singular vertues of diuers and sundrie Herbs Trees Oyles Plants Stones with their applications aswell to the vse of Phisicke as Chirurgery which being wel applied bring such present remedy for all diseases as may seeme altogether incredible notwithstanding by practize found out to be true Also the portrature of the sayde Herbes very aptly described Englished by Iohn Frampton Merchant Newly corrected as by conference with the olde copies may appeare Wherevnto are added three other bookes treating of the Bezaar stone the herbe Escuerçomera the properties of yron and steele in Medicine and the benefite of snowe Imprinted at London in Paules Churchyard at the signe of the Quenes Armes by William Norton 1580. ¶ To the right worshipfull Maister Edwarde Dier Esquier Iohn Frampton wisheth much health with prosperous and perfite felicitie REturning right worshipful home into Englande out of Spaine and now not pressed with the former toiles of my olde trade to passe the tyme to some benefite of my country and to auoyde idlenes I tooke in hande to translate out of Spanish into English the three bookes of Doctor Monardes of Seuil the learned Phisition treating of the singular and rare vertues of certaine Hearbes Trees Oyles Plants Stoner Drugges of the West Indias for that the same booke is of high commendation in Spaine and other countries in such sorte that in deede it might bring in tyme rare profite to my Country folkes of Englande by wonderful cures of sundâ—â— great diseases that otherwise then by these râ—â—edies were incurable And hauing finished â—he same translation I determined to dedicate my trauaile therein to some rare louer of knowledge for the worthinesse of the woorke and not finding any Gentleman of myne acquaintance that was more studious and more delighted with learned works or that more cherished trauellers and louers of all good knowledge determined to dedicate the same to your woorshippe before al others requesting your woorshippe to accept the worke and to be a patron of the same and to take it into your protection since the matter is of good substance and of much value and of me truly fâ—ithfully translated into English And since the aforesaid Medicines mentioned in the same worke of Doctoâ— Moâ—ardes are now by Marchants others brought out of the West Indias into Spainâ— and from Spaine hither into England by such as doe dâ—ily traffickâ— thither and that the excellencie of these Hearbes Trees Oyles Plants stones c. haue bin knowen to be so precious a remedie for all manner of diseases and hurtes that may happe vnto Man Woman or Childe they haue leâ—t of and forsaken very much the olde order and maâ—ner of Phisicke which was vsed before that this was knowen as thinges not of so present remedie for all manner of diseases as these nowe late founde owt are which by greate experience made in Spayne and other Countries were throughly and effectuously prooued and experimented to woorke the effectes which are contayned in this Booke And thus I leaue your woorshippe to the Almightie beseeching him to gyue you long lyfe and for the Common-wealthes sake that aduauncement that your good nature and rare vertues doe wel deserue From London the first of October 1577. Your worships during lyfe to commaunde Iohn Frampton THE FIRST PART OF THIS BOKE TREATETH OF THE thinges that are brought from the Occidentall Indias which serue for the vse of Medicine and of the order that must be kept in taking the roote called Mechoacan wherein are discouered great secretes of Nature and great experiences made and compiled by Doctor Monardus Phisition of Seuill IN the yere of our Lord God a thousaÌ„d foure hundreth ninetie two our Spaniards were gouerned by sir Christopher ColoÌ„ being naturally born in the couÌ„trie of Genoua to discouer the OccideÌ„tal Indias that are called at this day the newe world and they discouered the first land thereof the xi day of October of the said yere from that time vnto this they haue discouered many sundry Islandes and muche firme land as wel in that couÌ„trie which they cal the new Spaine as in that which is called the Peru where there are manie Prouinces many Kingdomes and many Cities that haue contrary and diuers customes in them in which there haue beene founde out thinges that neuer in these partes nor in any other partes of the worlde haue beene seene nor vnto this day knowen and other thinges which nowe are brought vnto vs in greate abundance that is to say Gold Siluer Pearles Emeraldes Turkeies other fine stones of great value Yet great is the excesse and quantitie that hath come and euery daie doeth come and inespecially of Golde and Siluer that it is a thing woorthy of admiration the great number of Melons which haue come from thence besides the great quantity of pearles which haue stored the whole world also they doe bring fâ—om those partes Popingaies Griffons Apes Lions Gerfaucons other kinds of Haukes Tigers wool Cotton wool Graine to die colouâ—es with al Hides Sugars Coppar Brasill the wood Ebano Anill and of all these there is so great quantity that there commeth euery yeere one hundred ships laden therewith that it is a great thing and an incredible riches And besides these great riches our Occidentall Indias doe send vnto vs many Trees Plants Hearbes Rootes Iuices Gummes Fruites Licoures Stones that are of great mâ—dicinall vertues in the which there be founde and haue been found in them very great effectes that doe exceede much in value and price all the aforesayde thinges by so muche as the corporall health is more excellent and necessary then the temporall goodes the which thinges all the world doth lacke the want whereof is not a little hurtefull according to the greate profite which wee doe see by the vse of them to follow not onely in our Spayne but also in all the world And this is not too bee meruelled at that it is so for the Philosophâ—r doeth say that all Countries doe not yeelde Plantes and Fruites alike for one Region yeeldeth such Fruites Trees and Plantes as an other doeth not wee doe see that in Creta onely groweth the Diptamo and the Incence onely in the region of Saba and the Almaciga onely in the Islande of Chio and the Sinamom Cloues and Peper and other spices onely in the Islands of the Maluca and many other thinges you haue in diuers partes of the worlde which were not knowne vntill our time and the people of olde time did lacke them but Time which is the discouerer of all thinges hath discouered them vnto vs greatly to our profite considering the greate neede that wee hâ—d of thâ—m And as there are discouered new regions newe kingdomes and newe Prouinces by our Spaniardes so they haue brought vnto vs newe Medicines and newe Remedies wherewith they doe cure many infirmities which if we did lacke them
that do presse it because the more quantitie thereof may be taken out they bring it for merchaundise for that they vse to dresse Gloues therwith for the common people and in this trade there is much spent It is vsed in Medicine for many diseases and it is of greate vertue to heale colde diseases for it healeth excellently well al partes wheresoeuer it be applied it dissolueth and mollifieth any maner of hardnes taking away the paynes it dissolueth the hardnesse of the Mother and openeth the opilations thereof It prouoketh the Monethly course in women and it maketh soft any maner of hard thing It is hotte welneere in the third degree And it is to be noted that many doe bring this Storax very thin from the Indias which is not so good for because that they make it of the bowes of the trees cut in peeces and sodden and they gather the fatnes that swimmeth vpon and the Indians doe sell the buddes of the trees whereout the Liquid Amber is taken made in handfulles doe sell it in their market places for to put amongst their clothes which causeth them to smell as of the water of Angels for this purpose the Spaniards doe vse it Of the Balsamo THey doe bring from the newe Spayne that licour most excellent which for his excellencie and meruellous effectes is called Balsamo an imitation of the true Balsamo that was in the land of Egypt and for that it doeth such great workes and remedie so many infirmities there was geuen to it such a name It is made of a tree greater than a Powngarnet Tree it carrieth leaues like to Nettles the Indians doe call it Xilo and we doe call the same Balsamo It is made two maner of waies the one is by the way of incision cutting the rynd of the Tree which is thinne geuing many small cuttinges out of the which there commeth a clammish licour of colour white but it is little and moste excellent and very perfect The other fashion is whereby the Indians doe vse too take out licour of the trees which is a common vse amongst them is this thâ—y take the bowes and the great peeces of the trees and make them as small as they can and then cast them into a greate kettle with a good quantity of water so boyle them vntill they see it sufficiently done and afterwarde they let it coole and gather vp the oyle that doeth swimme therevppon with certayne shelles and that is the Balsamo that commeth too these partes and that commonly is vsed the colour therof is Alborne which is likened to blacke it is of most sweet smel and very excellent It is not conuenient nor it ought to bee kept in any other vessel then in siluer Glasse or Tinne or any other thing glassed it doeth penitrate and doeth passe through the vse thereof is onely in thinges apperteining to Medicine and it hath been vsed of long time well neere since the new Spaine ws discouered for that incontinent the Spaniardes had knowledge of it because they did heale therewith the woundes that they did receiue of the Indians being aduised of the vertue thereof by the same Indians and they did see the saide Indians heale and cure themselues therewith When it first came into Spayne it was esteemed as much as it was reason it shoulde be for that they did see it make meruellous woorkes one ownce was woorth tenne Duccates and vpwardes and now it is better cheape the first time that they carried it to Rome it came to be woorth one ounce one hundreth Duccats after that they brought so much and such great quantity that it is nowe of small value this commeth of the abundance of thinges And when it was very deere all men tooke profite of the profite of it and since it came to bee of so lowe a Price it is not so muche esteemed beeyng the sâ—lfe same Balsamo that it was then when it was woorth one hundreth Duccates the ounce Surely if the Indias had not beene discouered but onely for the effecte to send vs this meruellous licour the labour had been wel employed which our Spaniardes vntill the woundes be whole and for this cause the vse therof is a common medicine in all surgery for poore folkes seeing that as with one medicine all effectes are wrought therewith that are necessary it is a common thing to say that when one is hurt let Balsamo be put therevnto and so they doe it doth heale them In the woundes of Sinewes it woorketh a meruellous effect for that it doeth both cure heale It healeth better then any other medicine doeth it resisteth colde the wounds of the head it healeth very well not hauing the Skull broken nor perished Any manner of woundes beyng freshe it doeth heale in any parte of the bodie wheresoeuer they bee so that there be no more in it but a simple wounde In ioyntes what manner of wounde soeuer it bee it doeth make a maruellous woorke The vse thereof is very common in this Citie in woundes For that you haue fewe houses but you haue Balsamo in them for this effect so that in wounding of any person foorthwith they goe to the Balsamo for with little quantitie thereof they doe cure and heale and many times with putting of it once euery thirde day they finde the wounde whole In olde sores applied by it selfe or with any other oyntment it doeth mundifie and fill them vppe with fleshe In large feuers Paroxismales beyng layde halfe an houre before the colde doeth come vppon the moulde of the headâ— very hot the patient being very well couered with clothes and taking forthwith 〈◊〉 or sixe droppes thereof in wine it taketh away the colde in three or foure times doing it It is of a sharpe sauour and somewhat bitter wherby are seen the dâ—y partes and comforâ—atiue that it hath it is hot and dry in the second degree I will not let to write of a certayne Hearbe which the Conqâ—erours of the newe Spaine doe vse for the remedy of their wounds and shottes of arrowes which vnto them was a great remedie in thâ—ir troubles and it was discouâ—red by an Indian which was Seruaunt too a Spaniarde called Iohn Infant He was the first that vsed it they did call it and doe call it at this present day the Heaâ—be of Iohn Infant this hearbe is little they gather it greene and beate it and so they lay it simply vpon the wound it doth restraine and stoppe the blood and if it be a wounde in the flâ—she it doth cause it to growe together and healâ—th it by glewing the partes The woundes of the Sinewes and other partes it doth comfort mundifie and ingendreth flesh in them vntill they be whole and because they doe not find this hearb in all places they bring it made into pouder for that it woorketh the same effect as well as being greene and the pouder as some say doth it
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
gaue mee courage to experiment it as I haue done and as wee shall see in the maruelles which wee shall write of it And nowe we come to shewe the description and forme of this Tree The Tree from whence they cut this Wood which they newly brought from the Florida called Sassafras is a Tree that groweth to bee very greate there be of a middle sort and lesser sorte The greater sorte is of the bignesse of a Pine Tree of a meane height and well neere to the making of it for it is straight casteth out no more but one branche of Bowes after the manner of a Palme Tree onely in the highest part or sendeth out bowes after the maner of a Pine Tree made cleane making of the Bowes which it casteth forth a forme of roundnes It hath a grosse rinde of a Tawny colour vpon that an other thin rinde of the colour of ashes and vpon the inner parte thereof the Trees and bowes bâ—e white and neere like to Tawny The tree and bowes are verâ— light the rinde beeing tasted hath an excellent sweete smell and it is somewhat like to the smell of Fenell with much sweetenesse of taste and of pleasaunt smell insomuche that a little quantity of this Wood being in a chamber filleth the ayre conteined in it and the rinde hath some sharpnâ—sse of tâ—st the inner part hath little smell the higher part that coâ—tâ—yneth the bowes hath leaues the which be green after the â—uâ—mer of a Figge tree with three poyntes anâ— when they are little they be like to the leaues of a Peare tree in onely shewing theyr poyntes They be of collour a sadâ—e Greene and of a sweete smell and muche more when they be drie The Indians vse to lay them beaten or stampeâ— vpon brâ—ises or when any man is beaten with drie blowes and being dried they are vsed in Medicinable thinges They lâ—se noâ— their leanes they are alwayes greene if any doe dry and fall there springeth other it is not knowen that it hath any flowre or fruite The rootes of this Tree be grosse or slender conformably to the greatenesse of the Tree they bee light but not so much as the body of the Tree and the bowes but for the greatnesse it is notable light The roote of this Tree is very superficiall spreading in the vpper face of the soyle or grounde 〈◊〉 so they dygge them vp easily and this is a common thing in the Treeâ— of the Indias thaâ— moste of them haue their rootes of small depth and if they carry any plantâ—s from Spayne to plante elsewhere if they do not set them of smal depth in the ground they beare no fruite The best of all the Tree is the roote and that woorketh the best effect the which hath the rinde cleauing very fast to the inner part and it is of colour Tawnie and muche more of sweete smell then all the tree and his Braunches the rinde tasteth of a more sweete smell then the tree and the water being sodden with the roote is of greater and better effects then of any other parte of the tree and it is of a more sweete smell and therefore the Spaniardes vse it for that it woorketh better and greater effectes It is a tree that groweth neere vnto the Sea and in temperate places that haue not much drouth nor moysture There be Mountaynes growing full of them and they caste foorth a most sweet smel so that at the beginning when they saw thâ—m first they thought that they had beene trees of Cinamon and in parte they were not deceiued for that the rinde of thiâ— tree â—ath as sweete a smell as the Cinamon hath and doth imitate it in colour and sharpnesse of tast and pleasantnesse of smell and so the water that is made of it is of most sweete smell and taste as the Cinamon is and procureth the same workes and effects as Cinamon doeth The tree groweth in some partes of the Florida and not in others for that it is in the porte of Saint Elen and in the Port of Saint Mathew and not in any other partes but when the Souldiers did waxe sicke in places where this tree grew not either they carried them to bee healed to the sayde places or they sent them the trees or their Rootes chiefly and therewith did heale them The best of the treâ— is the roote â—fter them the bowes and nexte the tree and the best of all is the rindes The complection and temperature of the tree and of his bowes is hot drie in the seconde degree the rinde is somewhat more hot then the rest for that it entreth into the thirde degree of heate and drieth and this is manifestly seene in the water and so they thaâ— shall neede of it must procure to haue the rootes or bowes which haue the rinde for that which is without it doth noâ— woorke so good effectes The name of this Tree as the Indians terme it iâ— called Pauanâ—e and the Frenche Men call it Sassafras I knowe not wherefore our Spaniardes call it after the same manner beeyng taughte by the Frenche Men although that some doe corrupte it and call it Sassafragia by the name that we haue from thence they of these partes doe call it Sassafras The vse of the Roote or of the Wood of this Tree the which wâ—e haue treated of heere is by the way of seething in this forme the Indians did shew it to the French men and they vnto vs and as the Indians haue neither weight nor measure they haue not kept in those partes any order in the making of the water of this wood for that they doe no more there than put a peece of the wood or of the root at their discretion made in peeces into the water as they doe thinke best And they seeth it after their maner without consuming more quantitie then when they see that the seething is sufficient so that all they which haue come from those partes are very variable in their manner of seething which is no small confusion to them that shall vse it and likewise to the Phisition that shall minister it That which I do herein I will write I looke vpon the complection and temperature of the sicke person that shall take and vse this water as also the manner and qualitie of the disease and conformably I make the water and geue it to the sicke person geuing to the Cholerike lesse seething and lesse quantity of Wood and to the Flegmatike more seething and more quantitie of Wood and to the Sanguine meanably and so after this sorte too their infirmities according too the qualities of them for that if it bee not done according to this order they cannot choose but make many errours in the vse of this water and also it is conuenient that for the moâ—â—e parte they keepe the vse of the diet gouernment which is necessary for the disease
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
and little of them and it seemeth wel by them that they haue medicinal vertues many persons bring them which are now come in this Fleete who come to mee as though I were the first discouerer of them They declare maruellous effects of theÌ„ that iâ— seemeth wonderful I brake one and gaue it made into pouder to a boye of whome it was sayde that venom had bene giuen to him I cannot tel whether any other benefites done vnto him or that healed him but hee was well recouered I wil vse it in other infirmities and what I find of their operation and the rest of the medicines which shal be newly discouered I wil shew in the thirde volume which I wil wryte of this Medicinall historie wherein shal bee expressed thinges maruellous and greate secretes of Phisicke that may giue contentation to al men and much more to the sick that shal be healed with them Of one thing you must bee aduertised that which is heere written part of it we haue learned of them that haue come from those partes and brought knowledge of them hither and parte is attributed to theyr complexion and qualities what they may doe and part wee haue experimented and in all haue this consideration that al these things which are brought from our Indias bee for the most parte hotte and see that you vse them in this qualitie in all causes wherein they shal bee needful And it is needful that there bee some aduertisement giuen heereof since the vse of the things doeth so import it ¶ Of the Dragon the other the blood of Drago in bread The one and the other haue vertue to retayne any maner of the fluxe of the bellie layde vppon the bellie or geuen in glisters or taken by the mouth Made into pouder it staieth the running of the head and to the lower parts applied in any maner of fluxe of blood it doeth retaine and slanch it It sodereth and gleweth woundes together which be fresh and new made It letteth that the teeth fall not out and it maketh the flesh to grow on the bare gummes It is a meruellous colour for Painters And besides this it hath many other vertues I do meane to sow some of the seed to see if it wil grow in these partes It is thought that the blood of Drago is temperate with little heate There was a gumme geuen vnto me which they bring from the firme lande of the Peru wherewith they purge them which haue the Goute in those partes they put of it as much as a Nut into distilâ—ed water and let it stande all the night in steepe and in the morning they strayne and wring it and take that water which must be the quantity of two Ounces and the patient must remayne without meate till the middest of the day and therewith they purge the humour which causeth the Goute I saw a Gentleman who came in this last Fleete vse it which hee brought for remedie of this euill who was full of the Goute and with vsing this euacuation he findeth himselfe well and the Goute doeth not come to him as it was woont to doe for that it came to him very cruelly and often and he gaue mee as muche as a small Nutte and would geue me no more and I gaue it in the order aforesaide to one which had the Goute and hee had three stooles with it I know not how it will proue it were needfull to haue more quantitie for to proceede forewarde in more experience thereof but it will bee brought hither by others as they haue done many other thinges It hath a goâ—d tast in the taking for that it hath neither smel nor sauour it maketh his worke without paynes It is hot in my opinion in the first degree I know not what manner of thing the Tree is wherout they take it for hee which brought it knoweth not so much himselfe Of the Armadilio THis beasts portraiture I tooke out of an other naturally made which was in the Counting house of Gonsalo de Molina a Gentleman of this Citie in the which there is greate quantitie of Bookes of diuers Authours and the fashion and fourme of many kindes of Beastes and Birdes and other curious thinges brought from the Orientall Indias as also from the Occidentall and from other partes of the worlde And great variety of coynes and stones of antiquity and differences of armes which with greate curiositie and with a noble minde he hath caused to be brought thither waight then two pound hollowe in some partes and very white they are al somwhat heauie Of these stones they haue in the Indias great â—xperience geuing them made into pouder vnto those that suffer the griefe of the stone in the Kydneies and to them that cannot pisse and to them that cannot cast out the stone of the Reines and of the Bladder beeyng of such greatnesse that it may not passe out This is a thing amongst the Indians very common and well knowne and likewise amongest the Spaniardes which dwell in those partes and they which come hither auerre it plainly and affirme it to be so I haue tasted it and it seemeth a thing vnsauorie but I haue not proued it nor applied hitherto in time it shal be done we wil geue some reason thereof They bring also from the newe Kingdome and from the prouince of Cartagena a certayne TurpeÌ„tine very cleare of sweet smel much better then that they call de Vetae which they bring from Venice it hath all the vertues that the good Turpentine hath it worketh the selfesame effectes better and with greater efficacie and readinesse Here hath beene vsed of it in woundes and it is a thing maruellous to see the good worke which it doeth especially in wounds of ioyntes and Sinewes of Legges wherein I haue seene greâ—t works done with it And it doth mundifie being mingled with other thinges all kind of olde soares it is an excellent thing washed prepared for the faces of Ladies which haue neede of it Moreouer they bring from the selfesame parts Caranna of Cartagena purified so cleare that it is like to Cristal and surely it is better it is applied vnto much better effect then that which hithervnto hath come and maketh better works and is of a more sweet smel and more excellent in operation Of the Flower of Mechoacan MAny persons of them which came now in this last Fleate from the firme land brought very good Mechoacan better then that of the new Spaine gathered in the Coast of Nicaraga and in Quito yea since the Mechoacan was discouered in the new Spaine they haue founde the selfsame hearbe and roote in those partes which I doe speake of And they vse it to purge and it doth maruellous works and they vse it in those countries and in al the firme land as they did vse that which was brought from the newe Spaine with maruellous successe From the