Of the Anime and Copall.

THey do bring from the new Spaine 2. kinds of Ro­sine, that be both much alike one to the other, Of the Copal. the one is called Copall, and the other Anime. The Copall is a Rosine verie white, and of muche brightnesse, it is [Page] brought in certaine great peeces, which are like too pee­ces of Diacitron very cleare, it hath an indifferent smell, but not so good as the Anime: with this Copall, the Indi­ans did make perfumes in their sacrifices, & so the vse there­of was frequented in the Temples, by their Priestes.

And when the first Spaniardes went too those partes, the Priestes went out to receiue them, Hi [...]torie. with little firepots, burning in them this Copall, and geuing to them the smoke of it at their noses: wee doe vse heere to perfume with it in diseases rising vpon coldenesse of the head, in the place of Incence, or Anime: it is hotte in the seconde degree, and moyst in the first, it is resoluatiue, and softneth by some wa­trish partes, that it hath.

The Anime is a gumme or Rosine of a greate Tree, it is white, What A­nime is. it draweth neere to the coulour of Incence, it is more oyly then the Copall is, it commeth in graines, as the Incence doeth, although somewhat greater, and beyng bro­ken, it hath a yellowe collour, as Rosine hath: it is of a ve­ry acceptable and pleasaunt smell, and put vppon burning coales, it doth consume very quickely.

It differeth from our Anime, that is brought from Leuante, H [...]w it di [...]fe­reth from ours. Of the con­geled amber. which is not so white, nor so bright, insomuche that some doe say, that it is spice of Charabe or Succino, which is called Amber congeled, wherwith they doe make Beades, but it is not so, for that the Charabe is a kinde of Pitche, that is founde in the Germayne Sea, and it is ta­ken out of the Sea in great peeces, with a dragge of Iron, so that it seemeth to come foorth of some Fountaines, into the Sea, after the maner of pitch, and beeing come foorthe vnto the colde ayre, it congeleth, for because there is s [...]ene in the same, peeces of stickes, & other superfluities of the Sea, cleaning vnto it, and in this they shall see the errour of them, that say that it is Gumme of Alamo; and of others, that it is of the Pinetree.

He [...]m [...]au [...].Of our Anime Hermolaus Barbarus, a man most excellently [Page 3] learned doeth saie, that it is gather [...]d about the place where Incence is founde, and that lande or soile, A [...]arba [...]ian auth [...]ur. A place that is call [...]d Ani­mitin, where our A [...]ime is gathered. The ve [...]tue therof. is called Amintin and therefore the thing is called Anime.

That which is brought from the newe Spaine, is ga­thered from certaine Trees, of a reasonable greatnesse, by way of incision, as the Incence, and Almasiga are ga [...]he­red: we do vse thereof for many infirmities, and principally for the griefe of the head, and paines therof, caused of hu­mours, or of colde causes, and for sluffyng in the head, that thereof doeth proceede, after euacuation, perfuming there­with the chambers in the Winter season: and where as are generall infirmities, it doeth purifie and correct the Aire, and they doe perfume therewith their head kerchers, when that they doe goe to sleepe: for them that doe suffer paines in the head, and occasions thereof, it doeth profite to per­fume the head of him that is so diseased, it doeth comforte the head vnto such as haue it debilited, or weakened, and doe suffer paines by occasion thereof: they doe put it also in plaisters, and in seere clothes, where as is neede of com­fort, and to dissolue, especially cold humours, or windinesse: they doe vse it also in place of Incence, as well in the per­fumes, as in the aforesaide.

It doeth comfort the braine, The comple­xion that it hath. applied in the forme of a plaister, and euen so likewise the stomacke, and all partes being full of Sinewes, made after the fashion of a Sere cloth with the third parte of Waxe: it taketh out the cold of any member, whatsoeuer, being applied therevntoo for a long time, with refreshing it. It is hotte in the second de­gree, and moist in the first.

Of the gumme called Tacamahaca.

AND also they doe bring out of the newe Spaine an other kinde of Gumme or Rosine, Of the Taca­mahaca. which the Indians doe call Tacamahaca, and the same name did our Spaniardes giue it, it is Rosine [Page] taken out by incision of a tree, being as great, as a Willow tree, and is of a verie sweete smell, it bringeth foorth a red fruite, as the seede of Pionia.

How the In­dians vse it.This Rosine or Gumme, the Indians doe much vse in their infirmities, chiefly in swellinges in any part of the bo­die, wheresoeuer they bee ingendred, for that it dissolueth, ripeneth, and maruellously desolueth them. And euen so, it taketh awaie any manner of greefe, that is come of a colde cause: as humours, and windinesse: this the Indians doe vse very commonly, and familiarly. And for this effect the Spa­niardes hath brought it.

The propertie that it hath.The colour is as the colour of Galuano, and some doe say that it is the same, it hath white partes like to Amoni­aco, it is of a good smel, and the tast is like, insomuch that be­ing cast vpon hotte burning coles, and giuing the smoke thereof at the nose of a woman that doth swoone, or els hath lost her feeling by suffocation of the Mother, it doeth cause her to come quickely, and easily to her selfe. And the Rosine putte to her n [...]uell, Good for the diseases of the Mother. after the manner of a plaister, causeth the Mother to keepe in her place: and the vse thereof is so much amongest women, that the most parte which is spent thereof, is for this effect, for that they doe finde themselues very much eased by it, taking awaie from them all manner of chokinges of the Mother, and comforting the stomacke. Some that bee curious doe adde thereuntoo Amber and Muske, and so it is better then alone. It is alwaies fixed, without melting of it selfe, vntill that it bee al wholie wa­sted.

And where it doeth most profite, is for to take awaie any manner of griefe, caused of colde humours and windie, and beeing applied vnto them in manner of a plaister, In any man­ner of grief. it ta­keth them away, and dissolueth them with greate admira­tion: it doeth cleane in such sorte, that vntill it hath done, and wrought his effect, it can not bee taken away, and the selfe same it doeth, being laide vppon swellinges, for that it [Page 4] consumeth and desolueth them, and if there bee any desire to ripen them, it doeth it, and that very quickly.

It is also a remedie verified, and experimented, The vertue therof. that it doeth profite much in Reumes, and Runnings, wheresoeuer they goe, for it taketh them awaie, put­ting a small peece of linnen cloth with this Rosine, be­hinde both the eares, or the eare on the parte which run­neth, for that it doeth restraine the running of them: and ap­plied vnto the temples of the head, in manner of a plaister, it doeth withholde the runnings and the fluxe, that runneth to the eyes, and to the partes of the face: In the tooth­ache. it takethaway the tothe ache, although that the tothe bee hollowe, by putting a little of this Rosine into the hollowe, and if therewith the rotten tothe be burned, it maketh that the corruption goeth no further: and being laide after the maner of a plaister in the hollownesse of the necke, or griefe of the shoulders, it taketh away the paynes: mingled with the thirde parte of storax, and a little Amber made in a plaister, for the sto­macke, it doeth comfort it, and causeth appetite to meate, It cōforteth the stomack. it helpeth digestion, and dissolueth windines: after the same sort put vpon the moulde of the head, it comforteth, and ta­keth away the paines thereof. In the Sciatica, or paynes of the hippes put therevnto, the effect thereof is greate: In the griefe of the h [...]ad. In the Scia­tica. and likewise it is so in all paynes of the ioyntes: and in any payne of the body whersoeuer it be, chiefly if it come of cold humours, or mixt: For because with his resolution, it hath partes of binding, which doe giue a maruellous comfor­ting in ioyntes, or in hurtes of Sinewes, In the griefe of the ioints. putting that a­lone, it doeth heale and cure them, for greate is the expe­rience, that wee haue of it, i [...]genderyng foorth with matter: it taketh away an extreeme colde: In the hurtes of Sinewes. ordinarily it is applyed to all griefes: I doe mingle therewith the thirde parte of yellowe Waxe, for that will be applied the better, and the vse thereof is so celebrated, that the people knowe no other remedy for any grief, but only the vse of this Rosine, In al griefes. so that [Page] it bee not inflamations very hotte, and also in them after the first furie is past, The comple­xion therof. and the fearcenesse thereof, it doth pro­fite much for to dissolue the rest: it is hotte in the beginning of the third degree, and drie in the second.

Of the Gumme Caranna.

THey doe bring from the firme Lande, by the waie of Cartagena, Caranna. and number de Dios, A Rosin of the coulour of Tacamahaca, somewhat cleare, and thinne, called in the Indians language, Caranna, and this woorde and name our Spaniardes haue geuen it, and it hath in maner the smel of the Tacamahaca, although it bee somewhat more strong of smell, it is very oylie, and it cleaueth fast without melting, for the clamminesse that it hath. It is a newe Medicine, and brought hither about a tenne yeeres past, and the Indians doe vse it in their infir­mities against swellinges, and in all manner of griefes, and now in our partes it is much esteemed, for the great effects that it doth worke.

It doth profit and heale the same infirmities, that the Ta­camahaca doth, The vertues. but it woorketh more speedily, so that many infirmities, wherein the Tacamahaca doth not so much ef­fect, the Caranna doth easily heale. There was one that did suffer paines in his shoulders, the w ^c paines hee had suffered a long time, It healeth an olde griefe of the shoulder. in such sort, that he could not stirre his Armes, & hauing vsed a great time the Tacamahaca, yet hee was not healed, vntil hee had put thereunto the Caranna, and there­by in three daies he was made whole. In the griefes of the Iointes, In the griefes of the ioints. and the Go [...]t Arthetica, it hath a maruellous ef­fect, being applied vnto the grief, so that it be not an inflam­mation, of very hotte humour, for it taketh it awaie, with much easinesse. In old swellinges, as well in humours as in windes, In swellings. it dissolueth, in griefes caused by defluxe or run­ning [Page 5] of cold humours or mixed, it worketh a meruellous [...]f­fect: in all paines of the Sinowes, and griefes of the head, and griefes that thereof do proceede, it profiteth much. In griefes of Sinewes. Surely, it is a medicine to dissolue and to take away griefs of great efficacie, and doth make his worke with great cer­taintie in new greene wounds, especially of the Sinewes: it doeth much profit, and greatly in ioyntes, In newe woundes. in the which I haue seene done only therewith very great workes: it is an intercepting to state the fluxe and running of the eyes, and other partes applied behinde the eares, It staieth the running of the eyes Note. and in the temples of the head. It is very fattie and oylie, and hot more then in the second degree.

And it is to be noted, that all these Rosines the Indians doe gather by way of Incision, by geuing cuttes in the Trees, of which forthwith the licour doth droppe out, and from thence they gather it.

Of the Oyle of the Figge tree of Hell.

FRom Gelisco, a Prouince in the newe Spaine, they bring an Oyle or Licour, Oyle of the Figge tree. that the Spaniards haue called, oyle of the Fig tree of Hell, for that it is taken from a tree that is no more nor lesse thē our Fig tree of Hel, aswel in the Leafe, as in the Fruite: it is the same that wee doe commonlie call Chatapucia, or Cherua, it is also mil­kish as ours is, for that it is more burning in the Indias for the grosnes of the earth.

The Indians doe make this oyle, as Dioscorides doeth shewe, in the first booke, the xxx. Chapter, that is, How this oyle is made. do pounde the seede, & seeth it in water, and after it is sodden, then they gather the Oyle that swimmeth vppon it, with a Spoone, and this is the maner to make Oyle of fruite and Seedes, and Bowes of trees: It is verie much frequented and vsed of the Indians. As for expression or wringing out the iuice, [Page] they doe not knowe how to doe it, for lacke of knowledge, this kind of oyle principally is better drawen out this way, than by expression. The vertues and effectes. This Oyle hath greate vertues, as by the vse thereof hath beene seene, as well in the Indias, as in our partes, and all that I will say, is of very greate experience, and much vse thereof in many persons: it doeth heale and cure all infirmities caused of cold humours, Cures in ge­nerall. and windines, it doth dissolue al hardnes with mollification, and all inflammations being windie: it taketh away all manner of paine in what parte soeuer it bee, chiefly if it come of any colde cause, It taketh a­way paine. or windines, for that in this, it maketh a mer­uellous woorke, dissoluing greate windinesse, wheresoeuer it bee, and especially in the belly: and with this they do heale a windy Dropsie, It healeth a windy dropsy. & lykewyse al kinds therof, annoyu­ting there withal the Belly, and Stomacke, taking some droppes therof with wine, or other licour appropriated, that it may auoyde the citrine water, and make the winde to be expelled: and if they doe put it in any maner Glister, or Me­dicine, geuen so it doeth auoyde out the citrine water, and doth expell Windes with more assuraunce than any other Medicine. In griefes of the stomacke and Colike. In the griefes of the Stomacke of cold humors, and windes, and Colicke, it worketh great effect, anointing therewith, and taking some droppes thereof, and principal­ly they do this in that mortall disease called the Ileon, which is a cetrayne filthines that purgeth at the mouth. It doeth auoyde fleame principally, In griefes of the Iointes. in griefes of the Iointes certain droppes of this oyle taken with the broth of some fat foule, it doeth empt away the humour that causeth the paine, it doeth heale the olde sores of the head, It healeth soares. Historie. that doth yelde much matter.

A Gentleman that did vomit his meate the space of ma­ny yeeres, did anoynt his stomack with this oyle, and there­with did recouer & neuer v [...]mitted again: It vndoeth o­pilations. It doth vndoe O­pilations of the inner parts of the body, & of the stomacke, & of the Mother, anoynting it therewith. And vnto yong chil­dren [Page 6] and Boyes, that cannot goe to the Stoole, It maketh them goe to the stoole. anoynting the lower parte of the Nauill with this oyle, it doeth pro­uoke them to the stoole: and if they haue wormes, it doeth expell and kille them, chiefly if they giue them a droppe or twoo with milke, or with some fat grosse thing. And for those that haue lost their hearing, For thē that haue lost their hea­ring. In griefes of the Ioyntes. For the members drawen together. It taketh a­way the Morphewe, markes or signes of the face. The cōplexiō therof. it causeth it to be restored to them, with a maruellous worke, as it hath beene seene by many experiences. In griefes of Iointes, and in griefes of swellinges, so that they come not of a very hotte cause, it ta­keth them away and doeth dissolue them: any of the mēbers beeing drawen together, and annoynted with this Oyle, they doe extende and the Sinowes are mollified with it, ta­king away the griefe if that there bee any: it taketh away any markes or signes, wheresoeuer they bee in the face, principally, and the Morphewe which women many tymes bee troubled withall, the anoynting with this Oyle, doeth take it away, and consumeth it, not with litle contēt to them that vse it. It is hotte in the first parte of the thirde degree, and moyst in the second.

Of the Bitumē which is a kind of pitch.

THere is in the Islande of Cuba, Bitumen. certaine Fountaines at the Sea side, that do cast from them a kinde of blacke Pitch of a strong smell, which the Indians doe vse in their cold infirmities. Our people doe vse it there to pitche theyr Shippes withall, for it is well neere lyke vnto Tarre, and they doe mingle therewith Tallowe, to make it Pitch the better. I doe beleeue that this is Napta, Napta. which the auncient wryters doe speake of. Possidonio sayeth, that there are twoo Fountaynes thereof in Babylon, one whyte and the other blacke.

That which is brought frō the Indias, The vertues. we do vse against [Page] griefes of the Mother, for that it doeth reduce the Mother to her place. And if it rise on high, then put it to the Nose­thrilles, and if it come downe to the lower partes, putting thereto a wet tent with this Pitche, it causeth it to go vp­warde, to her place: and likewise it doeth profite, being ap­plied to cold Infirmities, as the other Medicines do which we haue spoken of. It is hotte in the second degree, & moist in the first.

Of liquid Amber, & the Oyle therof.

FRom the newe Spaine they doe bring a Rosine that we call Liquid Amber, and one like Oyle that wee call Oyle of Liquid Amber, that is to say, a thing that wee doe most set by, and as precious as Amber, or Oyle thereof, both of them being of sweete smell & of good sauour, and especially the Oyle of Liquid Amber, which is of sa­uour more delicate and sweete than Amber. What liquid Amber is. A Rosine taken out by incision from certaine trees very great and faire, and full of leaues, which are like to Iuie, and the Indians doe call them Ococol. They carrie a thicke rinde, of the colour of Ashes, this rinde being cut, doth cast out the Liquid Am­ber thicke, and so they doe gather it, and because the rinde hath a smell very sweete, they do breake and mingle it with the Rosine, and when it is burned, it hath a better smell, in so much, wheresoeuer the trees are, there is a most sweete smell through all the fields.

Historie.When the Spaniardes came the first time, to that place where it groweth, and did feele such a sweete smell, they thought that there had beene spices, and trees thereof.

There is brought much quantitie of Liquid Amber into Spaine, The vse of it. insomuch that they do bring many Pipes, and Barelles full thereof to sell for Merchaundise, for heere they raise profite thereof, to perfume in thinges of sweete [Page 7] smelles, wasting it in place of Storax, for that the smoke and smell doeth seeme to be the same: and also they doe put it into other confections of sweete smelles to burne, and suche like thinges. It casteth from it so muche smell without bur­ning of it, that wheresoeuer it be, it cannot be hidden, but doth penetrate many houses and streetes with the sweete smell, when there i [...] quantity of it.

It serueth much in medicine, & doth therein greate effect, for that it healeth, comforteth, dissolueth, The workes and effectes of it. and mittigateth payne applied vnto the Moulde of the heades by it selfe, or mingled with other thinges Aromaticall, it doth comfort the braines, and taketh away the paines of any manner of griefe, proceeding of a coulde cause layed after the manner of a Playster therevnto, it doeth also mitigate, and take a­way the paynes, & griefes of the stomake, wherein it doth a marueilous [...]ffect, applied after the maner of a Stoma­cher. For that it doth comfort the Stomake, A meruel­lous plaister. and doeth dis­solue windes, and helpe digestion, and take away rawnesse it causeth the meate to be well digested, it geueth lust to eate: it is made of Liquide Amber, spreade abroade vpon a sheeps skinne, in the forme of a breastplate, mingled with a little Storax, Amber and Muske, it is a Playster which doeth profite muche in all that I haue sayed. There is knowne of this playster very great experience, in this Citie, for the good effect that it worketh: it is hot in the ende of the second degree, and moyst in the first.

Out of this Liquid Amber, is taken the Oyle that is cal­led the oyle of Liquide Amber, Of the Oyle of Liquide Amber, and how it is takē. the which in his smel is more sweet, it is taken out of the Liquide Amber when it is newly gathered, putting it in parte where it may distill of it selfe, (the more subtill) is the perfectest and best of all.

Others there be 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.

[Page]It is vsed in Medicine for many diseases, and it is of greate vertue to heale colde diseases, The vse of it in medicine. 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, Note. 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 [Page 8] the trees, which is a common vse amongst them is this: th [...]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, The estima­tion that it i [...] had in. 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, Note. it is not so muche esteemed beeyng the s [...]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, Note. the labour had been wel employed which our Spani­ardes [...] [Page] 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 head [...] 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 d [...]y partes and comfor [...]atiue that it hath: it is hot and dry in the second degree.

Of the berbe Iohn I [...]fante for wou [...]des.I will not let to write of a certayne Hearbe, which the Conq [...]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 th [...]ir troubles, and it was discou [...]red by [Page 10] 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 Hea [...]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 fl [...]she, it doth cause it to growe together, and heal [...]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 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 frō ours, I wil say what is to be said herafter when we do speak thereof. And therefore let vs beginne with Guaiacan, as of [...] remedie that first came from the Indias, and as first of the [Page] best of all, as experience hath shewed, and the vse thereof in so many yeares.

Of the Guaiacan and of the holie Wood.

The wood of the Indias. THe Guaiacan, that is called the wood of the Indias was discouered forthwith, whē the first Indias were foūd, 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, b [...]t his seruant being out of the Phisitions of that countrie [...] vnto him the wa­ter of Guaiacā, wherewith not onely his grieuous paynes were taken away that he did suffer, but he was heal [...]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 gi [...]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, [Page 11] 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 names that they gaue to th [...] euil tre [...]. 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 [Page] Skabbe, and other called it the Measelles of the In­dias, and that very truely, seing that from thence came the euill in the beginning.

Opinions of this euill.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. Guaiacan an Indian name. 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.

The descrip­tion of the Guaiacan.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: [Page 12] 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, How the wa­ter of the woodde i [...] made. 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.

[Page]After that the sicke man is purged by the counsell of a Phisition, The manner of taking it. 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 [Page 13] 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, The diseases that this wa­ter doth heale. 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 [Page] 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 wor [...]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 [...]o that they were rootes of the China, but that they seemed to mee to bee very freshe. China of our Indias. 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. Historie. 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 [Page 14] 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 estimatiō, Historie. 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, The manner how to giue the water of the China. 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, Howe it must be taken. 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 [Page] afterwarde let him apparell himselfe, and beeing well warmed remayne in his Chamber, in the which he shal be kept from cold & the open ay [...]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 [...]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 Cōserua, 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.

Note.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: [Page 15] seething one ounce thereof in three Pottels of water vn [...]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, The disease that be hea­led by 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 it roote them out, and take them away. The which thing it doeth by prouoking of sweat, in this it doth exceede all other Medicines, and some will say that in Pe­stilent Agues, by prouoking sweat it healeth them. It is dry in the second degree with very litle heate, The comple­xion thereof. the which is seene by the other waters of the wood. And as Sarcaparillia which doth heate and drie, so this doth not, nor leaueth any impres­sion of heate.

Surely it is a notable Medicine, in the which I haue founde greate effectes for the Diseases which I haue sp [...] ­ken of. Note.

Of the Sarcaparillia.

THE Sarcaparillia is a thing brought into our partes since the China. The tyme since that the Sarcapillia, came vnto vs. It is xx. yeeres since y ^t the vse thereof came to this city. It first came frō the new Spaine, & the Indians did vse it for great medicine, with the which they did heale many and diuers diseases.

It is a plant which doth cast many rootes vnder the ground, being of a yeard long, & of the colour of a cleere Tawny, The descrip­tion, of the Sarcaparillia & sometimes the rootes shoote so deepe, that to take them out all, it is needfull to dig a Mans length. It casteth foorth certaine bowes full of knottes, that quickly do drie, and we know not that they haue carried flow­ers or fruite at all.

After that the Sarcaparillia of the newe Spayne was founde, Sarcaparillia of the Hun­duras. there was also found in the Hunduras, an other sort that was better, and of better effectes: it is knowne to be of the Hunduras, because that it is of colour Tawnie, and gros­ser than that of the newe Spayne, the which is white, and somewhat like to yellowe, and more small, and so the Sar­caparillia that is most like to blacke is best.

It ought to be freshe, and in this is all the goodnes ther­of, The choosing of it. it is knowne to be fresh by not beyng Worme eaten. For that at the freshe breaking of it long wise, in the middest it maketh a running out to the end, and casteth out no dust, and the heauier it is, the better it is.

The Spaniardes did call it Sarcaparillia when they saw it, Of the name. for the great likenes that it hath with the Sarcaparillia of these partes. I haue it for certayne, that the Sarcaparillia of these partes, and of the Indias, is all one, and the verie same that ours is. The which I haue experimented manie times, & ours worketh the effect that the Sarcaparillia of the [Page 16] new Spaine doth, & it is like vnto that of the Hunduras, but it is of a bitter tast, and not very sharpe, and the water that it yeeldeth hath no more sauour then barley water hath.

The vse of this hearbe at the first did differ muche from that which is now in experiment, H [...]w it was vsed in the beginn [...]g. for that they gaue it as the Indians did, in the healing of their sicke folkes, and surely it did worke very great effects. But the delicatenesse of our time doth require that it should be vsed and geuen as the wa­ter of the wood is. At the beginning they took of the Sarca­parilla much quantitie, more then halfe a pounde, & did cut it small and breake it, and cast it into a quantitie of water, and being well wet they beate it in a Morter a good while, in suche sorte that it was made like a Iellie, and then did straine it, pressing it very well, for there came out of it the likenesse of a thicke drinke. And of that they tooke in the morning hot, one good Cup full, and then the Pacient clo­thed him selfe well. And sweete two houres, and if in the day time they woulde drinke any thing, it should bee of the selfe same thicke drinke, so made by expression hot, and then they swete as much in the morning. This order they obserued for three dayes continually, without eating or drinking of other meate, sauing onely that thicke drinke, Take this for three daies. taken out by pressing or straining of the Sarcaparillia: & after this sort I gaue it at the beginning many times, and surely it wrought great effects, and many sicke people did better recouer, then they doe nowe with this other fashion.

After there was inuented an other forme and manner to geue it, and is that which is now vsed, in this sort. The [...]s [...]on how it is now vsed and ge­uen. They take two ounces of Sarcaparillia, and wash it and cut it small and then they put it into a newe earthen pot, and there vp­pon they poure three Pott [...]ls of water, and sette it in the water to steepe twentie and foure houres, and af [...]er the Pot being well stopte, it must seeth on a soft fire of kin­dled coales, vntill the two Pottels bee sodden away, and [Page] the one remaine, the which may be knowne by the order of the measure, that we spake of, and when it is colde, let it be strained into a glassed vessel, and vpon the selfesame Sarca­parillia that is soddē, let there be so much water powred in a­gayne that the pot be filled, & let it boyle a reasonable time, and kept in a vessel glassed.

Nowe the sicke Man beeyng purged, as it seemeth most conuenient, The maner how to geu [...] [...]t. and placed in a warme Chamber, he must take in the morning ten ounces, of the first water of the Sarcapa­rillia, and must sweate at the least twoo houres, and after sweate he must be made cleane from his sweate, and take a warme shirt, and warme clothes, and the like hee must doe at night, eight houres after he hath eaten his Dinner, chan­ging his shirt and hot apparrell. He must dine at eleuen of the clocke, and suppe one houre after he hath sweat, at night eating nothing but Reasinges, Almondes, and Bisket, and drinking of the second water. Let him keepe this order fif­teene daies, and if he be weake, geue him a little rosted chic­ken, increasing it in processe of time, & at the least hee must keepe his bed niene dayes at the first beginning, and the rest of the time in his chamber, kept from colde, and from ayre, and on the fifteene day he must be purged, with a soft and an easie medicine, and likewise on the thirty day, in such sorte, that all the order that we haue prescribed, be kept, as in the manner of the taking of the water of the wood is already de­clared. And likewise after the 30. da [...]es, he must haue good gouernment, for other fourty dayes, not drinking any wine, but simple water made of the said Sarcaparillia, and keeping himselfe from women. This is the ordinarie manner in ta­king of the water of Sarcaparillia, which at this day is vsed. And because I haue experience of other wayes that bee of great secret, and of great effectes, I will write them heere, to the end that all the vertues which are in the Sarcaparil­lia, may be set downe and declared, seeyng it is the Me­dicine that is moste vsed, and that wee doe see in it so [Page 17] greate and rare effectes.

I doe make a Sirupe, that many yeeres hath been cele­brated, and had in estimation in this citie, A Sirupe or drink of Sar­caparilla most excellēt. and in all Spaine for that it is xxvi. yeres since I vsed it first for the disease of the Poxe, & for other infirmities: 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, The descrip­tion of the Sirupe or drinke. 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, [Page] which is to be made with halfe an ounce of Sarcaparillia, sod­den in foure Pott [...]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, The diseases that this drinke doeth profit in. 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 sufficiētly declared before. For surely in this sim­ple water, and in the foresaide decoction, I haue found great effectes, a [...] 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 Phisic [...]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, Another drinke 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, The diseases that this drinke hea­leth. and goyng abr [...]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, Sarcaparillia in pouder. 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 [Page 18] 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, The Salte Fleume is cu­red herewith. 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 Ser [...]e [...]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, The vertue of the water of Sarparil­lia. 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 [Page] 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 m [...]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 i [...] 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.

Of the blood stone. 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. [Page 19] 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, The stone for the disease of the grauel & stone in the kidnies or reine [...]. 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 stoma [...]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 [Page] paines of the saide disease, who putting it to them, doe forth­with expell the sande and the little stones, [...]d remain cleare thereof.

A propertie hidden.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 [Page 20] 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, The diseases which it cu­reth. and for the paines of the Reines, and of the stone, and for them that do pisse wi [...]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, How the wa­ter is made. and then put thē into faire water of the Foūtaine, & 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, Of the Indiā Peper. 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 [Page] that it hath plentie thereof in it, for the fairenesse of the fruite that it bringeth foorth.

The descrip­tion of the Plante.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, and with a gracious and good col­lour.

The vse of it.All the sortes are vsed in al manner of meates and pot­tages, for that it hath a better tast then the common Peper hath. Beaten in peeces, and cast into broth it is an excellent sauce, they doe vse it in al thinges that the aromatike spices are vsed in, which are brought from Maluco, and Calicu [...]. It doeth differ from that of the East Indias, for that costeth many ducates, & this other doth cost no more but to sowe it, for that in one plant you haue spice for one whole yere, with lesse hurte and more profite.

The vertues that it hath.It doeth comforte much, it doeth dissolue windes, it is good for the breast, and for them that be colde of com­plexion: it doth heale and comforte, strengthening the prin­cipall members. It is hotte and dry, well neere in the fourth degree.

They doe bring from diuers partes of our Indias many purgatiue Medicines, Note. that haue beene found and discouered by continuance, whose workes and effectes are great: of the which I wil giue here a short relation, that it may be an en­trance for to entreate of the roote of Mechoacan, which was our principal intent now to wryte of.

Of the Cannafistola.

[Page 21]THere doeth come from the Ilandes of Sancto Do­mingo, Canafistola. and from Sancte Iohn de Puerto Rico greate quantitie of Canafistola, and it is so much, that not only all Spayne is prouided of it, but all Europe, and well neere all the worlde: for that vnto Leuant, from whence it was accustomably brought, now there goeth moe Shippes loden with it, then come with Iron from Biskeye. That which commeth from our Indias, is much better in comparison then that which is brought from the East In­dias to Uenis, and that which the Galleons do carry from thence to Genoua, and from Genoua to Spayne, for when the Merchantes brought it hither, it could not bee good, for that it was very small, and also it was not type, and with so long tyme & continuance it became so corrupted, that it did profite little.

This of ours that they bring from Sancto Domingo and Saincte Iohn is rype, great, full, weightie, honilyke, The descrip­tion of it. and fresh. In so much that many tymes it commeth in sixtie dayes after it is gathered, and beeing freshe, it is of a gra­tious and good tast, and not of so horrible smell, as that of Leuant is, and so it doeth his woorke farre better, & with more facilitie.

This Canafistola, and the woorke thereof is of greate securitie, it purgeth gently, without any alteration. The vertue of the Cana­fistola. And doeth auoyde principally Choller, and after Fleume, and that which is in the wayes and the Guttes. It doeth temper them much that take it, also it purifieth the blood, it doeth many good woorkes in all kinde of diseases, in espe­cially in the paines of the Reines, and of vryne, being taken twoo houres before supper. And in reumes it doeth much profite, being taken twoo houres after Supper, and easily it doeth cure the euilles of the breast, which haue be [...]ne of long continuance, & griefes of the side, being taken with Syropes for the breast: and being applied outwardly with the Oyle of sweete Almondes, it taketh away the grieuous [Page] diseases of the Lunges, and griefes of the Reynes. It is good in hotte Feuers, and vsing it continually before supper or dinner, it stayeth the ingendring of the stone, it taketh a­way the drieth. it is moist in the first degree, it declyneth to heate, although it be little, it is dissoluatiue, it clarifieth the blood, and delayeth the sharpnesse therof, and of the red col­lour. There haue beene in the Indias since it was discoue­red some thereof so weightie, that one codde waieth fiue shil­linges, being taken out by the Seene, and foure ounces in weight the whole cane.

Of the Purgatiue Nuttes.

AT the beginning when they discouered the Indias, they brought from Sancto Domingo, Of the purgatiue Nuttes. certaine Nuttes being three cornered, with the which the Indians did purge themselues, and were vnto them a familiar purgation. And afterwardes the Spaniardes, for necessi­tie did purge themselues with them, with hazarde ynough of some of their liues, for with the vse therof, many thought to lose their liues, for that it is a strong purge. And although that it doeth make a great excesse of stooles, yet doeth it al­so prouoke vomitte very strongly, and with much vio­lence, with greate faintnesse and heauinesse. Afterwarde some did rectifie them by costing of them, and then they be not so violent, nor so strong, neyther woorke with so much cause of fayntnesse. What these Nuttes doe purge. They do purge Fleume very strongly, & after colour. It is an excellent Medicine for the Colike, it doeth dissolue windes, and putte in a glister it doeth eua­cuate reasonably.

The maner & colour of them is as of our Nuttes, with a thinne rinde, The d [...]scrip­tion o [...] [...]he N [...]es. of the colour of a cleare Baye, they are three cornerd, the carnell within is whyte, and sweete, inso­much that for their sweetnesse, many haue beene m [...]e­ked [Page 22] therwith. The Phisitions doe call them commonly Ben, Ben. of which there are twoo sortes, one they call greate, and the other little. The great Ben bee these purgatiue Nuttes, the little Beu bee as great as our Peason, of the which in Italy they make that oyle of sweete smel, which they call Oyle of Ben, with the which they do annoynt their heare, and beards for dilicatenesse. Their complexion is hotte in the beginning of the third degree, and dry in the second. Their weight is of halfe a dragme vnto one, but they must bee tosted.

Of the purgatiue Pinions.

THey doe bring from the newe Spayne certain Pinions or Carnels wherewith the Indians did purge themselues: The descrip­tion of them. they be like to our Pinions, which do growe out of our trees, being great after the fa­shiō of the wheate of the Indias, the shale is not so hard as ours is, they are some­what more blacke, they be round, and within very white, fat­tie, and sweete in tast. They do purge valiantly Fleame and Colour, and any maner of waterishnes, they are more easie Medicine, then the Nuts be, they do purge by stoole, How they purge. and by vomit, and if they be tosted they doe not purge so much, nor with so much faintnes. They doe purge of their own nature grosse Humors: it is a Purgation much vsed amongest the Indians, being grounde and dissolued with Wyne, ha­uing first taken preparatiues that do attennuate the humor, How they bee taken. that a man doeth pretende to euacuate, and vsing a conueni­ent Diet. They take of them fiue or sixe more or l [...]sse, confor­mably to the obedience of the stomacke, of him that shall take them.

Ordinarily they do tost them: for so they be more gentle and lesse furious. It is needefull that hee which doeth take [Page] them, be kept as one being purged.

They be geuen in large infirmities, and where there bee grosse humors: they be hot in the thirde degree, and dry in the seconde with some fatnes, which doeth take away some­what of the drynes.

Of the purgatiue Beanes.

FRom Cartagena, and numbre de Dios, they bring cer­taine Beanes lyke to the fashion of ours, Beanes like to ours. sauing that they be somewhat lesse, and of the colour and making of ours, they haue in the middest of the Beane that doth deuide the two halues, one little thinne skinne, lyke to the skinne of an oynion.

How they bee t [...]ken.They doe take them from theyr shale, and from the in­ner thinne skinne, and toste them and make them into pou­der, and take them [...] Wyne: and beeing made into pou­der and mingled with Sugar, one sponeful of the pouder is taken, and vppon that a little draught of wyne. They doe purge without molestation Choler and Fleame, and grosse mixt humors. And amongst the Indians they are of great e­stimation, for the easinesse that they haue in the taking of them. Many Spaniardes doe purge with them with much securitie, and it is a Medicine more easie and gentle than that aforesaide.

Historie.I haue seene many that haue come from those partes, purge them therewith, and it succeedeth with them very well, and purgeth without griefe.

Note.But they must be aduysed that there be taken from them that little skinne that is in the middest of the twoo halfes of the Beanes. For if they take that, the strength of it is so much greater and vehement of Uomites and stooles, that they put in great hasarde him that shall take them And also they must haue care to coste them, for that it doeth prepare th [...]m, and delayeth much of the sharpenes, and fearsenes, [Page 23] which is generall in this Medicine, and in all the rest, for that to tost them is the true preparation of them. After the ta­king of any of the foresaide Medicines the patient must not sleepe at al: it is needful that he keep great watch being pur­ged, and in all thinges which in a man purged may be con­uenient.

The Beanes be geuen prepared, in Feuers being large and importunate, and in diseases of mixt humours, Their work [...] and effectes. beeyng grosse and in the paynes of the ioynts, & they are an vniuer­sall Purgation: they be hotte in the second degree, & dry in the first, there bee geuen of them from foure too sixe, tos [...]ed more or lesse, as the obedience and sufferance of the bellie is of him that shall take them.

Of the milke Pinipinichi.

IN all the coast of the firme land they take out a certaine kind of milke, frō little trees. Of the Pin [...] ­pinichi. like to Apple trees, which the Indians cal Pinipinich [...], of the which cutting one bough, ther commeth forth whereas it is cut, a certayne kind of milke somewhat thicke & clammy, and taking three or foure drops therof, it doth purge valiantly by the stoole principal­ly Cholerike Humors, and Citrine water, and it doth work with much vehemencie and force.

It must be taken in Wyne, or dried into pouder in little quantitie, for that the worke thereof is of most strength. How it is ta­k [...]n. It hath one property, that in eating or drinking of broth or wine or other thing foorthwith it woorketh no longer, and he that doth take it, hath need to keepe good watch, and good order, It is hot and dry in the third degree.

All these Medicines which we haue spoken of, be violent [Page] and of great force, & they haue not beene muche vsed sithence the Mechoacan hath come, for that in it there is founde a woorke more sure, Note. and vnto this not onely we, but all the In­dians haue runne, as vnto a purge most excellent, of the which we will treate now.

Of the Mechoacan.

THe Mechoacan is a root, that it may bee about xxx. yeeres that it was discouered, Mechoacan. in the prouince of the new Spain, in the Indias, of the Occean Seas, it is brought from a Country that is beyonde the greate city of Mexico, more then 40. leagues, & is called Mechoacan the which Sir Fernando Curtes did conquere, in the yeere of our Lorde, 1524. This is a countrie of much riches, of Gold and chief­ly of siluer, The riches and increase. and it is vnderstoode that in all that Countrie is, much siluer. For more then 200. leagues, here those Mynes be so celebrated, and of so great riches, that they bee called the Cacatecas, & euery day they discouer in the lande verie riche mines of siluer, and some of Golde. It is a countrie of good and holesome ayre, and doeth bring foorth health­full hearbes for to heale many diseases, insomuch that at the time the Indians had the gouernment therof, the inhabiters there rounde about that Prouince, came thither too heale their diseases and infirmities. For the said causes, it is a coū ­trie very fruitfull, and of great abundance of bread, wilde foule, and fruites. It hath many fountaines, and some of sweet waters, which haue much abundance of fish, the Indi­ans of that countrie are of a tauller grouth, The s [...]ation of Mechoa­can. & of better faces than the Borderers are, and much more healthfull.

The Principall place of that Prouince the Indians doe [Page 24] cal in their language Chincicila, and the Spaniardes do cal it as they cal that Realme Mechoacan, & it is a great towne of Indians, situated neere to a lake, which is of sweete wa­ter, abounding with very much Fish. The same Lake is in fashion of the making of an horseshoe, and in the midst ther­of standeth the Towne, the which at this d [...]y hath greate trade of buying and selling, for the great Mynes of Plate that are in all that countrie.

As soone as that Prouince was gotten from the Indi­ans, Historie. there went thither certain Friers of Sainct Frances order, & as in a Countrie so far distaunt from theyr naturall soyle, some of them fell sicke, amongest whom the Warden, who was the chief Fryer of the house was one, with whome Caconcin Casique an Indian Lorde, a man of great power in that Countrie, had very great friendship, who was Lorde of al that Countrie. The father Warden had a long sicknes and was brought in great danger of life: the Casique as hee sawe his disease proceede forwarde, saide that hee woulde bring him an Indian of his, which was a Phisition, with whome he did cure himself, & it might be, that he would giue him remedy of his disease. The which being hearde of the Frier, and seing the little helpe that hee had there, and the want of a Phisition, with other thinges of benefite, he than­ked him, and desired him, that hee woulde bring him vn­to him: who beeing come, and seeing his disease, sai [...]e to the Casique, that if hee tooke a pouder, that he would giue him of a roote, that it woulde heale him. The which bee­ing knowen to the Fryer, with the desire that he had of health, he accepted his offer, and tooke the pouder that the Indian Phisition gaue him, the nexte day, in a little wyne: with the which hee did purge so much, and wi [...]h­out paynes, that the same day hee was much lightned, and much more from that tyme forward, in such sort that he was healed of his infirmitie. The rest of the Fryers which were sicke, and some Spaniardes that were sicke also, did fol­low [Page] the father Wardens cure, & tooke of the selfesame pou­der once or twise, & as oft as they had neede of it, for to heale them. The vse of the which went so well with them, that all they being healed, the Friers did send relation of this, to the father prouincial to Mexico wher he was, who did cōmu­nicate it with those of the countrie, geuing to thē of the roote and comforting them that they shoulde take it, because of the good relation, that hee had from those Friers of Mechoa­can. The which beyng vsed of many, and seeyng the mer­uellous woorkes that it did, the fame of it was extended all abroad, so that in short time, all the Country was full of the good workes and effectes thereof, vanishing the vse of Rui­barbe of Barberie, and taking the name thereof calling it Ruibarb [...] of the Indias, as all men doe now commonly call it. And also it is called Mechoacan, Ruibarbe of the Indias. for that it is brought from thence, & gathered in the Prouince called M [...]choacan. And not onely in Mexico, and in that Countrie it doth take it as the most excellent purgation, and best of all other, but also in Peru, and in all other partes of the Indias, they vse no o­ther thing, neyther purge they with any other purge, and they take it with so much trust and easinesse, that when they take it, they thinke to haue certaynly theyr health, & so they carrie it from the newe Spayne, as Merchaundise of very great price.

Historie.I [...] is about thirty and foure yeeres past, when I sawe it heere the first tyme, when one Pasquall Catano a Genoues, came from the newe Spayne, who fell sicke at his com­ming, and as I did cure him, at the time that I woulde purge him, he sayde to me that he brought a Ruibarbe from the newe Spayne, that was a very excellent Medicine, with the which all they of Mexico did purge themselues, saying, that it was called Ruibarbe of Mechoacan, and hee had beene purged many times therewith, and it had succeeded very well with hym, and if he shoulde take any purge, he woulde take that, of the which he had experience. [Page 25] But I caused him vtterly to forsake the vse of suche like n [...]w Medicines, of the which there was nothing written nor knowne. And did perswade with him to purge with the Me­dicines that we had heere, of the which there was so greate experience and knowledge, in written Authors. And he did graunt to my woordes, and purged himselfe with a purga [...]i­on that I gaue him, euē as it was conu [...]nient for his disease. By the which although that there did followe vnto him nota­ble lightnesse, and profite: yet hee was not cleare of the dis­ease in such sort, but that it was necessary to purge him an o­ther time. And when we came to the second purgation, hee woulde take none other but his owne Ruibarbe of Mechoa­can, with the which he did purge so well, that he remayned whole, and without any disease. And although that this [...]ffect did like me well, neuerthelesse I did not remaine satisfied, vntill many other that came at the same time, and fel sicke, did purge with the sayde Mechoacan, and it went verie well with them, because they were accustomed to purge therewith in the newe Spayne: and seeyng the good works and so many thereof. I began to consider of it, and to purge many therewith, geuing credite to the good effectes that it wrought.

And so with these that I did make experience of here, The vse in all partes of the Mechoacās. as also with the relation, and great credite of them, that came out of the newe Spayne (insomuch that the vse thereof hath spread abroade, that it is a common thing in all the worlde, and they doe purge therewith not onely in the newe Spaine, and the Prouinces of the Peru, but also in our Spayne, all Italie, Almaine, and Flaunders) I haue sent relation ther­of, well neere to all Europe, as well in Latine, as in our natiue tongue.

The vse thereof is so muche, The gr [...]ate quantity of Mechoacan that is vsed. that they bring it for chiefe Merchaundise, in great quantitie, and it is solde for greate summes of monie: Insomuch that a seller of Drugges tolde me, besides that which he had sold for the Citie, he had solde [Page] foorth of the citie the last yeere, more than ten kintalles of it, which is a thousand pound weight, so that nowe they aske for Ruibarb of the Indias, for that it is so familiar, that ther is no husband man that doeth not vse it, as a most sure me­dicine, and of great effects, because for that kinde of pur­gation, there is no neede of a Phisition, as being that, vnto which all men geue most credite, as a thing determined and approoued for good.

I haue talked with many of them that haue come from the newe Spayne, and in especially with them that haue beene in Mechoacan, concerning the fashion of the plant that this roote is of, and what forme and figure it hath, the which they doe bring from the Countrie, within 40. leages of beyonde Mechoacan, from a countrie which is called Co­lima, and they haue so little care therein, seeyng that their principall intent is vnto theyr interest and gaine, that they know no more thereof, but that the Indians in Mechoacan doe sell it them, the rootes beyng drie and cleane, as hither they doe bring them, and the Spaniardes doe buy them, as a kind of Merchandise, and so send them to Spaine.

And surely in this we are woorthy of great reprehension▪ that seeyng that there are in the newe Spayne, so mani [...] Hearbes, and Plantes, and other thinges Medicinable, of so much importaunce, there is not any that writeth of them, nor is it vnderstood, what vertues and formes they haue, for to accord them with ours: so that if men had a desire to search out, and experiment so many kinde of medicines, as the In­dians doe sell in their Market places and Fayres, it would be a thing of great profite, and vtilitie to see and to knowe their propertie [...], and to experiment the variable and greate effectes, which the Indians doe publishe, and manifest with great proofe amongest themselues, which they haue of them: wee of our parte without any consideration doe re­fuse it, and suche as doe knowe their effectes, will not giue [Page 26] vs relation, nor knowledge what they are, nor write the ef­ficacie and manner of them.

And goyng too searche after the Place of the Roote Mechoacan, Historie of the Plant of Mechoacan. a Passenger that was come from that Pro­uince, did aduertise me that a Fraunces Frier, that was come from that Countrie, had brought in the shippe where he came, the proper Hearbe of Mechoacan greene, in a great barrell, and with muche care, which hee brought from beyonde Mechoacan, and that hee had it in the Frierie of S. Frances of the City. And hearing thereof I did receyue greate contentment, and so I went foorthwith to the Frie­rie, and at the doore of Infirmerie, or house for the sicke people of this Frierie, there was a thing like too halfe a Pipe, in the which there was an hearbe very greene, which they saide was the Mechoacan, that the Frier had brought from the new Spayne, not with little labour. The descrip­tion of the Mechoacan. It is an 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, The manner of the roote. 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, [Page] 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, The electiōs of the Me­choacan. 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, That it be fresh. 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, The comple­ction thereof. 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.

[Page 27]It is giuen at all tymes and in all Ages, Easie to take and easie to work [...]. 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 cānot 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, It is giuen to children and olde people. 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 colo [...]rs: The woork [...] and effectes be meruel­lous of this roote. 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 d [...]ssolueth windinesse, and with easin [...]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 t [...]e head, and mundifieth the brayne and t [...]e Sinewes, and emp [...]ieth out the humors that bee in the head, or p [...]r [...]es thereof. In the disease called the Lampa [...]ones, which is the Ringes Euill, it maketh a good woorke: in olde gri [...]fe [...] of the head called the Megrim, and the Falling sicknesse, and in all Distillations, or olde runninges, in paynes of [...]he Ioyntes, both particular and vniuersal, as in the [...]ou [...] Ar­thetica, [Page] in paynes of the stomacke, emptying the cause, and consuming windines. Also in paynes of the Uryne & Blad­der, In griefes of Women. 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.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, Note. 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 eu [...]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.

In agewes.This roote doeth maruellously empty foorth the cause of the l [...]rge Feuers, and importunate, and all Feuers com­pounded, and chiefly in olde Feuers, as Tertians, Quotidi­ans, flegmatike, and in s [...]ch diseases as commonly come of opilacions, vsing thereof at the tyme that is needefull, for that in the lyke large and importunate diseases, the Phisiti­on must not bee content with one eu [...]cuation, Note. but with ma­ny, digesting by little and little, and auoyding out by little and little, seeing that the auoyding out is done with such as­suraunce [Page 28] by this Medicine so blessed.

He that hath neede of it must haue a good hart, Note. and with trust that it will profite him much, which hetherunto wee haue experimented, in so many, that with iust title all credit may be giuen to the good workes therof. We see with how much easines & without any accidēts, it worketh the effects that we haue spoken of. & it is looked for, that euery day will bee discouered greater matters, that may bee added vnto these.

The Rule and order that must be kept in the administra­tion, and geuing of the Pouders, The order that ought to be kept in ta­ki [...]g of it. made of the roote of Me­choacan, was learned of the Indian Phisition that wee haue spoken of, and since it hath beene vsed in diuers and sundrie fashions.

The first thing that is requyred of him that shal take this Pouder is, that he do prepare himself with good diet, It is conueni­ent that there be a preparatiue for him that shal take it. & good order, keeping himselfe from all thinges that may offende health, and to vse these meates which are most conueniēt for him, & to dispose the humor that principally hee pretendeth to auoyde out, & with some Syrope, that may haue the same respect that the humor is disposed vnto the way to be prepa­red where he may go out. And for this it is good that he take the counsel of a Phisitiō: & he must vse Glisters, if the Belly be not obedient at the least the day before he shal take it, and if by chaunce he shal neede letting blood he shall doe it with the iudgement and opinion of a Phisition. The body so pre­pared and ready to be purged, he shal take this roote chosen as we haue said, and it must be grounde, Howe these pouders shall be taken. making Pouder of it, of an indifferent sinenesse, and way of it the quantitie that must bee taken, as wee shall speake of, and put it into whyte Wyne, which is Sacke, as much in quantitie as is needful for to drinke, and it must be t [...]ken in the morning. Wyne is the best licour that it can bee taken withall, and so it is vsed generally in the Indias, for the Wyne as wee haue sayde, doeth corroborate and geue strength to these [Page] Pouders, and because there be some that can drink no wine, in such case they may geue it in sodden water, wherein Sy­namon hath beene boyled, or Anis or Fenell seede, and if the pure wine doe offend them, it may be delayed with any manner of Water, but the quantitie of the Wine that shall be taken, is so little, that it can [...]ot offende, nor molest anie person. It may be delaied with Endife, or Langdebeefe wa­ter, and because this medicine is not geuen in sharpe Agues, but in large and temperate diseases, Otherwise to geue it. it doth heare the Wine better then any other licour.

Also they geue these Pouders with Conserua of Uiolets, and with Syrope of Uiolets, and it is a good practise: for with his colde and moysture, it doeth correct the litle heate, and drought that the Patient hath, and let them drinke vpon it Wine watered, or some water as aforesaide.

There is made of this Pouder Pilles formed with elec­tuary of Roses, There are made pils of it. and surely they make a very good worke and purge well.

Also they doe put it in paste of Wafer bread, or in Marchpaines, and as it hath no euill sauour, so they doe not feele it. In Wafer bread. It serueth much for children and for them that can­not take the like thinges.

The Pilles that must be made of this pouder must be ve­ry little▪ Note. somewhat greater then Coriander seede, that they may dissolue the rather, and not heat, and so they work more quickly and better.

They may be geuen in the morning and at night, these pouders be receiued with most prosperous successe, When they shall be giuē. beeing made vp with Syrope of Roses of nine infusions, mingling the quantity that thereof shal be taken in two ounces of Sy­rope, and surely this mixture doeth make a meruellous woorke, Wh [...]t hu­m [...]rs the M [...]choaca [...] doth auoyde. for that it doth strengthen, and inforce much the worke of the pouders.

It auoydeth Cholerike, grosse and fleugmatike humors [Page 29] and permixt, and the fearcenes of the blood, and so it is a greate Medicine, and of maruellous woorke: It auoydeth also most strongly the Citrine water of them that haue the Dropsie, frequenting it many tymes, giuing betweene one purge and another, that which may corroborate and make strong the Liuer: in Broth it is taken many tymes, and ma­keth good woorke.

This Medicine or purge must bee taken in the morning early, and after it is taken, Whē it should be taken. they may sleepe halfe an houre vppon it, before it doe purge, for that the sleepe doeth slaye the Uomit, and the natural heate shal make a better worke in the Medicine.

Hee that shall take these Pouders, if he do feare them, or any other Medicine purgatiue, and if he feare Uomit, Note. may vse this one remedy, of the which I haue large experience, and is, when hee hath taken this purge or any other, let him take the Yolke of an Egge rosted hot, broken betweene his Fingers, and put into a course Linen Cloth, and so rounde let him put it into the Throate Pit, and let him holde it there, vntill that hee doe beginne to purge, for that surely, it will slaye the Uomiting and also the Fumes, that doe ryse of the purge, and this is no small content. After that hee hath somwhat slept, if hee can, at the tyme that it beginneth to woorke, let him not sleepe nor eate, nor drinke any thing, but bee in place where the ayre doe not offende him, nor with much company, for that all the intent shall bee for to purge, staying all thinges that may let the auoy­ding out. And he shall be aduertised, that one of the greatest excellencies that this purge hath, is, that it is in the handes of the sicke person to auoyde out what quantitie of humour hee will, the which is a thing that they of olde tyme did consider much of. And waying which was surest of pur­ging or the letting of blood, they doe not aleage any other cause more principall, than that the letting of blood is more sure. Forasmuch as in the letting of blood wee may take [Page] out what quantity of blood we lust, & not in the purge, which once being taken, it is not in the handes of the Phisitiō, nor the sicke person to let it to doe his woorke, which quality is not in this our purge of the roote of Mechoacan, seeing that with taking of a little Broth, or eating any maner of thing, the working of it seaseth, and it worketh no more, and so it cannot exceede nor hurt the patient.

Note.Surely it is to be holden of much price, that there is foūde a kinde of purge with so much assurance, and that so mighti­ly doeth his woorke, and is at the will of him that doth take it. After it hath done what to the patient seemeth good, and sufficient, then with a little Broth which hee eateth, it shall worke and purge no more.

After that he hath pur­ged.After that the sicke person or Phisition perceyueth that it hath made an ende of his working, and hath purged that which is conuenient, then they must giue him somewhat to eate, taking at the beginning of his Dinner a Disheful of Broth, and after a little whyle let him eate of a Hen, and in the rest let him gouerne himself as one that is purged, as wel in his drinke as in his meate, as also in the keeping that hee shall haue of his person. For that day that he doeth take it, let him take heede that hee sleepe not in the day tyme nor drinke till Supper, the which Supper shall bee light and of some good meates.

What hee must doe the next day.The next daye let him take a washing Medicine, and some Conserua, and from that tyme forwarde let him keepe good order and good gouernement, in al that is conuenient for him.

And if that with once taking of these pouders, the sicke man doe not heale, nor auoyde from him that which is need­ful for to bee voyded, hee may take it again, as many tymes as the Phisition shall see conuenient, wherein he shall haue care after that the sicke man is purged, to comfort and to al­ter the principal members.

Note.And in this I can holde no precise opinion, for that there [Page 30] be diuers and variable diseases, and it is needful for them to haue diuers remedies, & my intent is no more then to wryte the vse of the Roote of Mechoacan, as a thing of so greate importaunce, and of a purge and remedy so excellent, as na­ture hath giuen vnto vs.

And if processe of tyme haue taken frō vs the true Myrre, A good di­gression. and the true Balsamo, and other Medicines that they of old tyme had, of the which in our tyme there is no memorie, and with the tyme are lost: yet tyme it selfe in place of them hath discouered and giuen so many and so sundry thinges as wee haue spoken of, as our Occidental Indias do sende vs. In especially the Mechoacan, a purge most excellent and gentle, which doth his work with such assurance, being white in colour, pleasant in sauour, and in smel easie to take, with­out any lothsomnes in working, and without that horrible­nes, that other purges haue, and without those accidents & fayntnes that come at the tyme, that they be taken, & with­out that disquietnesse which it maketh when it woor­keth.

This Roote hath ouer and aboue that, which is sayde, o­ther properties, and hidden workes, that wee doe not reach vnto, which with the tyme and vse of them shalbee knowen and discouered euery day.

The waight or quantitie that is giuen of the Pouder, made of the Roote of Mechoacan, The quantity that is giuen of it. is conformable to the o­bedience of the belly, of him that shall take it. Some there be that doe purge with little quantity. I knowe a Gentle­man of this Realme, that with the waight of halfe a Ryall, which is iii. d. doth purge very wel, and there are other that haue neede of the waight of xii. d. and others of the waight of xviii. d. And in this euery one ought to measure the quāti­tie, as he hath his belly in obedience, more or lesse. Euen so they ought to limit the quantity conformably to the age of the Patient. For that the Childe hath neede of little, the Boye of more, and the strong man of much more, and the [Page] Leane of lesse, and for this cause the Phisition must mea­sure the quantitie as hee seeth it conuenient. Because to the Childe he shal giue the waight of iii. d. and to the Boy the waight of vi. d. and to the Man the waight of xii. d. which is commonly so taken, but to the Woman it is not conuenient to giue lesse then the waight of twelue pence, & in this there may be had a consideration, seeing that it is in the hande of the Phisition to take away his worke when hee doth see that it excedeth, it is better to giue a litle too much, considering that with taking of a fewe suppings of broth, if it doe exceede, the excesse may be remedied.

This is the summe which I haue vnderstoode vnto this day of the Roote, which they bring from the Prouince of Mechoacan, and when I shall know more of it, I will wryte as the tyme and the vse therof shall giue occasion.

Of the quicke Sulphur.

WHen I made an end of wryting of these last lynes, Barnadine of Burgus the Po­ticarie, Quicke Sul­phur. a man learned and expert in his arte, did shewe mee in his shop a peece of quicke Sulphur brought from our Indias, a thing most excellent as euer I sawe, and in our tyme the lyke hath not beene seene. It was bright lyke Glasse, of the colour of fine gold, taking a little of it, and casting it into the Fyre, it doeth cast from it a very greate smell of Brimstone lyke to greene smoke, As it is. and the peece it selfe (smelling therunto) hath no smell.

They brought it from Quito, w ^t is a place in the prouince of Peru, Brought frō Quito. from a Mine that there was founde in certayne H [...]lles, nere vnto the Mines of gold. And it is not in vayne that the Alcumistes doe say, that the matter of Gold, is the Quickesiluer, Note. and the Sulphur, that is to say, the Quicke­siluer [Page 31] the matter, and the Sulphur the former and maker. And so this which I saw, was like to a peece of golde most fine.

They bring from Nicaraga, other Sulphur, but it is rus­set, like to Ashes, congeled without colour or brightn [...]sse, Euill Sul­phur. which is found nigh vnto the Uolcan of Nicaraga, the which being cast into the fire doth cast from it the smell of Brim­stone, but it is a peece of earth, and in nothing is like to that, of the Prouince of Quito, more then in the smell, neyther hath it that colour of Golde, nor that brightnesse that the other hath, which is of Quito.

The same beyng applyed in things, that are conuenient for medicine, worketh meruellous effectes: The thinge [...] that i [...] profi­teth in. chiefly beeyng grounde, and dissolued with wine, and applied in the night to them, that haue their face redde inflamed that bee like to Lepers, vsing it certayne nightes, after they haue beene at the stoole, it taketh the rednesse away, and healeth it mar­uellously, of the which I haue greate experience. It heale [...]h the Skabbes, beyng dissolued with oyle of Roses. Taking the weight of sixe pence in an Egge, it healeth the Colike. and the Palsey. It is good for the payne of the Stone, and beyng taken, it healeth the Iaunders.

It is hotte and drie excessiuely, which appeareth by the friendship, that it hath with the fire, The comple­ction thereof. for being touched with it, it inflameth, and maketh a flame. It is the principal mat­ter, of that Diuelishe inuention of Gunpouder, which hath beene the cause of so many euils, and hurtes.

¶ Of the wood Aromatike.

ALso the sayde Barnardino de Burgus shewed mee a Wood, which to my seeming, I thought too haue beene the holy wood, that I meane of Saint Iohn d [...] Puerto Rico, the which was of this manner, and [Page] forme.

Beeyng in the house of a principal Merchant of this city, making a Medicine in a Chimney, where they did burne of that wood, the smoke that came out of the wood did smell much, The smell of the wood. and gaue a very sweet sauour, of the which he maruelled much, and asked from whence they had cast thither that good smell. They of the house tolde him, that the good smel was of the wood that they did there burne, and it was that which did cast that good smell. He tooke a sticke of the Wood, and from it plucked a slip of the same, which had no smell nor sauour, more than other common wood had, then he tooke a­way a little of the rinde, and smelled vnto it, and tasted it, and he founde a sweete smell most excellent in it, and a Sa­uour no more nor lesse then of Maces, or Nutmegges, and much more sharpe, and more sweete, and of a more plea­sant smell and tast, then any Cinamom that is in the world, and with more liuelinesse, and sharpnesse of tast then the Pe­per. I tasted it at the taking away of the rinde from the said wood, of the which he had a great peece of timber, and surely there is not any thing of so sweet smell and tast, of any thing which we haue that with so much pleasantnesse of smell, and with such liuelinesse seadeth forth a flauour as this did peni­trate me, insomuche that tasting a little of it, I carried all that day the sweete smell and sauour in my mouth, beeyng meruellous, as though I had carried there a peece of Nut­megge.

Histori [...].Of this wood they saide, that a Maister of a Shippe of his, did cut a great quantitie, comming by the Hauana, and in a mountayne, they cut much of it, for the shippes prouisi­on, and that which did remayne they carried to the Owners howse, & there wast it, as I haue said. Wherby I do cōsider howe many trees and plantes there be in our Indias, that haue great vertues for medicines, that in the fuell of the Chimney they spend wood, of sweet odoriferous sauour, the rynde of the which being made into pouder, there might bee [Page 32] done very great effects with it, for comforting the heart and the stomake, and principall members, without seeking after the spicerie of Maluca, and the medicines of Arabia, and them of Persia. Seeing that in the fieldes vntilled, and in the Mountaines and Desertes, our Indias do yeeld them vnto vs, the fault is ours that we doe not follow after them, nor seeke to doe the diligence that is conuenient, for to pro­fite our selues in these meruellous effectes, the which I trust that Time beeing the discouerer of all thinges, and good diligence and experience withall will discouer vnto vs to our greate pro­fite.

¶ Of the Tabaco, and of his great vertues.

THIS Hearbe which com­monly is called Tabaco, is an Hearbe of muche anti­quitie, and knowen amongst the Indians, and in especi­ally among them of the new Spayne, and after that those Countries were got­ten by our Spaniardes, be­yng taught of the Indians, they did profite themselues with those things, in the wounds which they receiued in their Warres, healing themselues therewith to their great benefite.

Within these few yeeres there hath beene brought into Spayne of it, more to adornate Gardens with the faire­nesse thereof, and too geue a pleasaunt sight, than that it was thought to haue the meruellous medicinable vertues, which it hath, but nowe wee doe vse it more for his vertues, than for his fairenesse. For surely they are such which doe bring admiration.

It is growing in many partes of the Indias, but ordi­narily in moyst and shadowie places, Howe it is sowne and how it grow­eth. and it is needefull that the grounde wh [...]re it is sowen, bee well tilled, and that it be a fruitefull grounde, and at all times it is sowen, in the hot Countries. But in the colde Countries it must bee sowen in the Moneth of Marche, for that it may defende it selfe from the frost.

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The proper name of it amongest the Indians is Picielt, for the name of Tabaco is geuen to it by our Spaniardes, The name of it. by reason of an Island that is named Tabaco.

It is an hearbe that doth growe and come too bee verie greate: many times to bee greater then a Lemmon tree. The descrip­tion of it▪ It casteth foorth one steame from the roote which groweth vpright, without declining to any parte, it sendeth foorth many Bowes, straight, that wel neere they bee equall with [...] [Page] and at the tyme as the hearbe is in the Morter a stamping, let there be put to it a fewe droppes of Uineger, that his worke may be made the better, and after the place is rubbed where the paine is, then lay vpon it one leafe or twoo leaues of the Tabaco being hotte, and so let it alone til the next day, and then doe the like againe, or in place of the leaues vse a Linen cloth wette in the hotte Ioyce. Some there bee, that after they haue rubbed it with the stāped leaues, do annoynt it with oyntments, made for the like euils, and vpon it they lay the leaues or the ioyce of the Tabaco. And surely with this cure they haue dissolued great and harde opilations, and very old swellings. In the griefe of the stone, of the Kidneis and Reines, In the griefe of the stone. this hearbe worketh great effectes, by putting the leaues into Ashes, or Embres, hotte, that they may warme wel, and then being layde vpon the griefe, multiply­ing the vse of it as often as it is needefull. It is necessary in the seethinges that are vsed to bee made for Glisters to put into them with the other things, To put them [...]n Glisters. the Leaues of this hearbe, for that they shal profit much: and likewise for Fomentati­ons and Plaisters, that they shall make.

In griefes of winds.In griefes of windes they worke the like effect, taking away the paines that come of the windinesse, applying the leaues after the same sorte as is aboue saide.

The euill of the Mother.In the griefe of women, which is called the euill of the Mother, laying too one leafe of this hearbe Tabaco very hotte, in the manner as it is sayde, it doth manifestly profite and it must bee layde vppon the Nauell. And vnder it some doe vse to put first of al, thinges of good smell vpon the Na­uel, and then vpon that they lay the leafe. In that which they finde most profit, is to lay the Tacamahaca, or the oyle of li­quid Amber, and Balsamo, and Caranna, or any of these vnto the Nauel, and to kepe it too it continually, that it may cleaue vnto it, and this worketh manifest profit in griefes of the Mother.

[Page 36]In one thing, the women that dwel in the Indias doe ce­lebrate this hearbe, that is, For an euill breath. in the euill breathing at y ^e mouth of children, when they are ouer filled with meate, and also of olde people, anoynting their bellies with lampe oyle, and laying some of those leaues, in ashes hotte to their bellies, & also to theyr shoulders, for it doeth take away ther naugh­ty breathing, and maketh them goe to the stoole, applying it vnto the fundement at what tyme it is needfull, and if the leaues bee ashed it is the better.

Wormes, of all kindes of them, it killeth, For Wormes. and expelleth them maruellously, the seething of the hearbe made into a Syrope delicately, beeing taken in very little quantitie, & the ioyce thereof put on the nauel. It is needful after this be done to giue a Glister, that may auoyde them, and expell them out of the guttes.

In griefes of the Iointes comming of a colde cause it maketh a maruellous worke, In euill of the Ioyntes. the Leaues of this Tabaco be­ing laid hotte vpon the griefe: the lyke doth the Ioyce layde vpon a little cloth hotte, for that it doeth dissolue the humor, & taketh away the paines therof. If it come of a hot cause it doth hurt, sauing when the humor hath bene hot, and the sub­til part is dissolued, and the grosse remayneth, then it doeth profite as if the cause were colde, and it is to be vnderstood, that the leaues being layde, where as is griefe of the sayde cause, in any part of the body, it profiteth much.

In swellings or in cold Impostumes, it doth dissolue and vndoe them, washing them with the hotte Iuyce, In cold s [...]el­lings. and laying the beaten leaues, after they be stampt, or the leaues beeing whole of the sayde Tabaco, vpon it.

In the Toothache when the griefe commeth of a colde cause, or of colde Rumes, For the t [...] ­ache. putting to it a little ball made of the leafe of the Tabaco, washing first the tooth with a small cloth wet in the Iuyce, it taketh away the payne, and stay­eth it, that the putrifaction goe not forwarde: in hot causes [Page] it doth not profite, and this remedy is so common that it hea­leth euery one.

For C [...]il­blaines.This hearbe doth maruellously heale Chilblaines, rub­bing them with the stamped leaues, and after putting the handes and Feete in hot water, with Salt, and keping them warme: this is done with great experience in many.

In Venom & venomous woundes.In Uenom and venomous wounds our Tabaco hath great commendation, which hath beene knowne but a shorte tyme since, for when the wilde people of the Indias, which eate mans fleshe doe shoote their Arrowes, they annointe them with an hearbe or Composition made of many poysons, with the which they shoote at all thinges that they would kill, and this Uenom is so strong, and pernicious, that it killeth with­out remedie, and they that bee hurte dye with great paynes and accidents, and with madnes, vnlesse that their be found remedie for so great an euill. A fewe yeeres past they laid to their wounds Sublimatum, Sublimatum in venomed woundes. and so were remedied, and surely in those partes they haue suffered much with this vexation of poyson.

A little whiles past, certaine wild people going in their Bootes to S. Iohn De puerto Rico, to shoote at Indiās, or Spaniards, if that they might find thē, came to a place and killed certain Indians, & Spaniards, & did hurt many, & as by chaunce there was no Sublimatum at that place to heale them, they remembred to lay vpon the wounds the Ioyce of the Tabaco, & the leaues stamped. And God would, that lay­ing it vpon the hurtes, the griefs, madnes, & accidents wher­with they dyed, were mittigated, and in such sort they were deliuered of that euill, that the strength of the Uenom was taken away, and the wounds were healed, of the which there was greate admiration. Which thing being knowen to thē of the Ilande, they vse it also in other hurtes and woundes, which they take when they fight with the wilde people, nowe they stande in no feare of them, by reason they haue [Page 37] founde so great a remedy, in a case so desperate.

This Hearbe hath also vertue against the hearbe called of the Crosseboweshooter, Against the hearbe of the Crossebow­shooter. which our hunters doe vse to kil the wilde beastes withall, which heathe is Uenom most strong, and doeth kill without remedie, which the Kinges pleasure was to prooue, and commaunded to make experi­ence thereof, and they wounded a little dogge in the throate, and put foorthwith into the wound the hearbe of the Crosse­boweshooter, and after a little while, they powred into the selfe same wounde that they had annoynted with the Crosse­bowe shooters hearbe, Historie. a good quantitie of the Iuyce of Ta­baco, and layde the stamped leaues vpon it, and they tied vp the dogge, and hee escaped, not without great admiration of al men that sawe him. Of the which, the excellent Phisiti­on of the Chamber of his maiestie, Doctor Bar­narde. Doctor Barnarde in the margent of this booke, that sawe it, by the commaun­dement of his Maiestie, wryteth these wordes: I made this experience by the commaundement of the kinges Maiesty. I wounded the dogge with a knife, & after I put the Crosse­bowe shooters hearbe into the wounde, and the hearbe was chosen, and the dogge was taken of the hearbe, and the Ta­baco and his Iuyce being put into the wounde, the dogge e­scaped and remained whole.

In the venomous Carbuncles, In venomous Carbuncles. the Tabaco being applied in maner as is aforesaid doth extinguish the malice of the ve­nom, & doth that which al the woorkes of Surgery can doe, vntil it be whole. In bitinges of venomous beastes. The same effect it worketh in bytinges of venomous beastes, for it killeth and extinguisheth the malice of the venom and healeth them.

In woundes newely hurt, and cuttes, strokes, prickes, In woundes newly hurte. or any other manner of wounde, our Tabaco worketh mar­uellous effectes, for that it doeth heale them and maketh them sou [...]d. The wound must be washed with wine, & pro­cure to annoynt the sides of it, The manner of healing. taking away that which is superfluous, & then powre into it the Iuyce of this hearbe, & [Page] lay vpon it the stamped leaues, and being well bound it shal cōtinue 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. Note. And with this order they shalbe healed, without any neede of any more Surgerie thē 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 y ^e Iuyce and the Leaues being stamped, are sufficient to re­straine any fluxe of blood.

In olde sores.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. 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 [Page 38] 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, It cureth best the woundes that be rotten & cankered. 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, Sublimatum doth heale the soares of beastes that bee cankered. they had for remedy to put into the sores, Sublimatum, for that in this remedy they did [...]de more benefite than in any other, that they had vsed. And for that the Sublimatum beares there so high a price, m [...]y tymes it was more woorth then the cattel that it hea­l [...]. 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 beatē leaues wherout the iuyce [Page] 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, Historie. 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, Historie. 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 s [...]e heard me speake one day much good of the Tabaco, that [...] did good, and profitable, for so many infirmities, sh [...]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 fooli [...]h: and the gentlewoman did not let, in seing her after that sor [...], to rubbe her harder, and then the wench did not feele so much griefe, but the dry skabbes beg [...]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 meru [...]lles of this hearbe, and that which [Page 39] bringeth most admiration, is, the maner howe the Pri [...]stes of the Indias did vse it, which was in this manner: The man [...] how the Prieste [...] of the Ind [...]as do vse th [...] Ta­baco. when there was emongest the I [...]dians any manner of busin [...]sse, of greate importaunce, in the which the chiefe Gentl [...]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 receiue the smoke of them at his mouth, and at his nose with a Cane, and in taking of it, hee fell downe vppon the ground, as a Dead man, and remayning so, ac­cording to the quantitie of the smoke that he had taken, when the hearbe had done his woorke, he did reuiue and awake, and gaue them their answeares, according to the visions, and illusions which hee sawe, whiles hee was rapte in th [...] same manner, and he did interprete to them, as to him see­med best, or as the Diuell had counselled him, geuing them continually doubtfull answeares, in such sorte, that howsoe­uer it fell out, they might say that it was the same, which was declared, and the answeare that he made.

In like sort the rest of the Indians for their pastime, doe take the smoke of the Tabaco, too make themselues drunke withall, and to see the visions, and thinges that repr [...]sent [...] to them that wherein they doe delight: and other times they take it to knowe their businesse, and successe, because confor­mable to that, which they haue seene beyng drunke there­with, euen so they iudge of their businesse. And as the Deuil is a deceauer, & hath the knowledge of the vertue of hearbes, so he did shew the vertue of this Hearb, that by the meanes thereof, they might see their imaginations, and visions, that he hath represented to them, and by that meanes de­ceiue them.

Too haue Hearbes that haue the like vertue, Hearbe [...] which ha [...] is a com­mon [...] [Page] I [...]ias but is also a common thing in the Orientall Indias. And also in the Portug [...]ll Indias, for this effect, they doe sell the Opi [...] in their Shoppes, euen as they sell Conser­ [...], with the which the Indians vse to ease themselues, of their labour that they take, and to bee merie, and not to feele paynes of any greate labour of the bodie, or minde that may come vnto them, and they call it there amongst themselues Aphi [...]. This Aphion the Turkes doe vse for this effect. The [...]o [...]l [...]iers and Captaynes that goe to Warres, when they labour much, after the time that they be lodged, that they may take their rest, they receiue Aphi­on, and sleepe with it, and remayne lightened of their la­bour: The most principall people take Bague, and it hath a better cast, and a better smell, for there is put to it muche Amber, and Muske an [...] Cloues, and other spices. And sure­ly it is a thing of admiration, [...]o see howe these Barbarous people doe take such Medicines, and how many of them doe take them, and that they doe not ki [...] them, but rather they take them for health and reme [...]ie, for their necessities.

[...]istorie.I sawe an Indian of those partes, that in my presence did aske an Apothecarie for a quart of Opi [...], and I deman­ded of him wherefore he woulde haue it, and he tolde me that he took it to put away wearinesse, when he felt himselfe ouer much greeued, and afflicted with labour, and hee tooke the halfe of that which he carried, for the Apothecary gaue him more then a pi [...]te for twelue pence, and therewith he slepte so soundly, that when he awoke from sleepe, hee founde him­selfe very muche eased of his wearinesse, in suche sorte, that hee might continue his labour. I meruelled at it, and it seemed to me a thing of Mockerie, seeyng that fiue or sixe graynes, bee the most that wee can giue to [...] sicke Person, howe strong soeuer hee bee, which beeyng verie well prepared, doeth cause many times Accidentes of Death. And many yeeres after standing in the Shoppe of [Page 41] an other Apothecary of this Citie, there came an other In­dian, of the same Orientall Indias, and he asked of the A­pothecarie, for some Opio called Aphion, the which Apo­thecarie vnderstoode him not. And I remembring my selfe of the other Indian, caused him to shewe vnto the Indian Opio, and in shewing it to him, he sayd that it was that which he asked for, and he bought a quarter of a Pinte of it, and I asked of the Indian, wherefore hee woulde haue it, and he tolde me the same that the other Indian did, that it was be­cause he might labour, and ease himselfe of his wearinesse for that hee did beare burdens, and shoulde helpe to discharge a shippe: wherefore he sayde he woulde take the one halfe that he might therewith labour, and the other halfe after he had laboured, that therwith he might take ease, and rest. Then I gaue credite to the first Indian, of that he sayd vnto me, and since I haue beleeued that which I haue seene and read, in those partes to be a thing in common vse, for the like effectes. And truely it is a thing worthy of greate consideration, that fiue graines of Opio doe kill vs, and three­score doe geue them health and rest.

The Indians doe vse the Tabaco, for to suffer drieth, and also to suffer hunger, The Tabaco taketh away drought. and to passe dayes without hauing neede to eate or drinke, when they shall trauell by any desert, or dispeopled countrie, where they shall finde neither water, nor meate. They receiue thereof little balles, which they make of the Tabaco. For they take the leaues of it, and chew them and as they goe chewing of them, they goe mingling with them certayne pouder, Little balles for hunger and drought. made of the shelles of Cockels burned, & they mingle it in the mouth altogether, vntil they make it like dowe, of the which they frame certayne little Balles, little greater then Peason, and lay them to drie in the shadow, and after they keepe them, and vse them in this forme following. The maner how to vse them.

When they vse to trauell by the waies, where they finde [Page] no water nor meate, they take a little hall of these, and put it betweene the lower lippe and the teeth, and goe chewing it all the time that they trauell, and that which they chewe, they swallowe downe, and in this sore they iourney, three or foure dayes, without hauing neede of meate, or drinke, for they feele no hunger drieth, nor weakenesse, nor their trauell doth trouble them. I thinke that to iourney after this sort, is [...]he cause they goe chewing continually the little balles: for they bring Fleume into the mouth, and swallowe it into the stomake, the which doeth retayne the naturall heate, which it doth confirme, and so they mainteyn themselues therby, the like whereof wee see to happen in many beastes, for that a great part of the Winter, they be shut vp in their Caues, & hollowe places of the earth, and passe their time there with­out any meate, for that they haue to c [...]nsume the naturall heate, of the f [...]mes, which they had gotten in the Summer. The Beare being a great and fierce beast, much time in the Winter remayneth in his Caue, and liueth without meate or drinke, with onely chewing his pawes, which perhaps he doeth for the said cause. This is the substance which I haue gathered of this hearbe, so celebrated & called Tabaco, for that surely it is an hearb of great estimation, for the excellent vertues that it hath, as we haue sayde.

Hereafter followeth a further additi­on of the Hearbe called Tabaco, otherwise called by the Frenchmen Nicotiane. Which hearbe hath done great cures in the Realme of Fraunce and Portugall, as heereafter at large may appeare in thistreatise following. Nicotiane. Chap. 76.

NICOTIANE, Nicotiane the chiefest amōg other medicinable hearbes. although it bee not long since it hath beene knowne in France, not­withstāding deserueth palme and price, and among al other medicinable hearbs, it deser­ueth to stand in the first rank, by reason of his singular ver­tues, and as it were almost to bee had in admiration, as hereafter you shall vnderstand. And for that none suche as of auncient time, or of late dayes, haue written the nature of plantes, did neuer make mention thereof, I haue therefore learned the whole historie touching the same, which I lear­ned of a gentleman my very friend, the first authour, inuenter, and bringer of this hearb into France: wherfore I thought good to publish it in writing for their sakes, that haue so often hearde speaking of this saide hearbe, and yet neyther knew the hearbe nor the effectes thereof.

This Hearbe is called Nicotiane, Nicotiane wherefore so named. of the name of him that gaue the firste intelligence thereof vnto this Realme, as many other plantes haue taken their names of certayne Greekes and Romaynes, who hauing beene in straunge Countries, for seruice of their common Weales, The Queen [...] Mothers hearbe. haue brought into their countries many plants, which were before vnknowne. Some haue called this Hearbe the Queenes Hearbe, because it was firste sent vnto her, as heereafter [Page] shalbe declared by the Gentleman, that was the first inuen­ter of it, and since was by her geuen to diuers for to sowe, whereby it might bee planted in this lande. Others haue na­med it the great Priors hearbe, The graund Priors hearb. for that he caused it to mul­tiply in Fraunce, more then any other, for the greate reue­rence that he bare to his hearbe, for the Diuine effectes ther­in contayned. Many haue geuen it the n [...]me, Petum, which is indeede the proper name of the Hearbe, Petum. as they which haue tra [...]elled that Countrie can tell. Notwithstanding, it is better to name it N [...]cotiane, by the name of him that sent it into Fraunce first, to the ende that hee may haue the honour thereof, according to his desert, for that hee hath en­riched our Countrie, with so singular an Hearbe. Thus much for the name, and nowe hearken further for the whole Historie.

Maister Iohn Nicot, Counsell [...]r to the King, being Embassadour for his Maiestie in Portugall, Maister Ni­cot Ambas­sadour for the king in Portugall. in the yeere of our Lorde. 1559.60.61. went one day to see the Pry­sons of the King of Portugall: and a Gentleman beeyng the keeper of the sa [...]e Prisons presented him with this hearb, as a strange Plant brought from Florida. The same Maister Nicot, hauing caused the said hearb to be set in his Garden, where it grewe and multiplied maruellously, was vppon a time aduertised, by one of his Page [...], that a young man, of kinne to that Page made a s [...]ye of that hearbe brused both the hearbe and the Iuice together vppon an vlcer, which he had vpon his cheeke neere vnto his nose, comming of a Noli me tangere, which began to take roote already at the griffles of the Nose, wherewith hee founde himselfe meruellously eased. Therefore the sayde Maister Nicot caused the sicke young man to bee brought before him, and causing the saide hearb to be continued to the sore eight or ten daies, this saide Noli me tangere, Experience of the Noli me tangere. was vtterly extinguished and healed: and he had sent it, while this cure was a woorking to a cer­teine Phisition of the king of Portugall one of the greatest fame [Page 43] to examine the further working and effect of the said Nico­tiane, and sending for the same young man at the end of ten dayes, the sayde Phisition seeing the visage of the said sicke yong man, certified, that the sayde Noli me tangere was vt­terly extinguished, as in deede he neuer felt it since.

Within a while after, one of the Co [...]kes of the sayde Embassadour hauing almost cutte off his thombe, Experienc [...] for woundes. with a greate chopping knyfe, the Stew [...]rd of the house of the sayde Gentleman ran to the sayde Nicotiane, and dressed him therewith fiue or sixe tymes, and so in the ende thereof hee was healed: from that tyme forward this hearbe began to bee famous throughout Lishebron, L [...]shebron. where the court of the kyng of Portugall was at that presone, and the vertue of this sayde hearbe was extolled, and the people began to name it the Ambassadours hearbe. The Ambas­sadours hearbe. Wherefore there came certaine dayes after a Gentleman of the Countrie, Father [...]o one of the P [...]ges of the Ambassadour, who was trou­bled with an vlcer in his Legge, hauing had the same twoo yeeres, and demaunded of the sayde Ambassadour for his hearbe, and vsing the same in such order as is before written, at the end of tenne or twelue daies hee was healed. Experienc [...] of an olde vlcer. From that tyme forth the fame of that same hearbe increa­sed in such sort, that many came from al places to haue some of it. Among al others there was a woman that had her face couered with a Ringworme rooted, Experience for the Ring­wormes. as though she had a Ui­sour on her face, to whome the saide L. Embassadour caused the hearbe to be giuen, and told how she should vse it, and at the ende of eight or tenne daies, this woman was throughly healed, who came and presented her selfe to the Ambassa­dour, shewing him of her healing.

After there came a Captaine to present his Sonne sick of the kinges euill to the sayde L. Ambassadour, Experience for the king [...] euill. for to send him into France, vnto whome there was a saye made of the sayde hearbe, which in fewe dayes did begin to shewe [Page] great signes of healing, and finally he was altogether hea­led therby of the kings euill.

The Lady of Montigue dead of a No­li me tangere in her Br [...]st.The L. Ambassadour seeing so great effects proceeding of this hearbe, and hauing heard say that the Lady Monti­gue that was, dyed at Saint Germans, of an vlcer bread in her brest, that did [...]rne to a Noli me tangere, for the which there could neuer remedy hee fo [...]nde: [...]nd lykewyse that the Countesse of Ruffe, had sought for al the famous Phisitions of that Realme, for to heale her face, vnto whom they could giue no remedy, How the Ni­cotiane was brought into Franc [...]. he thought it good to communicate the same into France, and did sende it to king Frauncis the seconde, and to the Q [...]eene Mothe [...], and to many other Lords of the Cou [...] [...] the m [...]ne [...] of ministring th [...] same, and howe to apply it vnto the said diseases, [...]uen as he had found it by ex­perience, and chiefly to the Lorde of Iarnac gouernour of Rogel, with whom th [...] saide Lord Ambassadour had greate amitie for the seruice of the king. The which Lord of Iarnac told one day at the Queen [...]s table, Distilled wa­ter of Nico­tiane, singu­lar good for short breath [...]. The figure of Nicotiane. y ^t he had caused the sai [...]e Nicotian [...] to be distilled, and the water to bee dr [...]nke, min­gle [...] with water, of Euphrasio otherwise called eyebright, to one that was short breathe [...], who was therewith healed.

This hearbe hath the stalke greate, bearded and slymie, the leafe large and long bearded slymie, it groweth in branches halfe foote to halfe foote, and is very ful of leaues, and groweth in height foure or fiue foote. In hot countries it is nyne or tenne monethes in the yeere laden, in one selfe tyme, with leaues flowers, & Coddes full of rype graynes, which is when they are waxed blacke, and to be ripe, which is when they are yet greene. It sproutes foorth neere the roote much, and reuyueth by a greate quantitie of buddes, notwithstanding the grain is the least seede in the worlde, & the rootes be like small threeds.

Groūd fit for Nicotiane. Nicotiane doth require a fat grounde finely digged, and in colde Countreys very well dounged, that is to say, a [Page 44] grounde, in the which the doung must be so wil mingled and incorporated, that it be altogether turned into earth, & that there appeare no more doung.

It requireth the south Sunne, and to be planted by a wal, The Sunne fit for Nico­tian [...]. which may defende it against the North winde recouering the heate of the Sunne against it, being a warrant vnto the said hearbe against the tossing vp of the winde, because of the weaknes and highnes thereof.

It groweth the better being often watered, and reuiueth it selfe by reason of the water in tyme of droughts. To water Nicotiane. It hateth the cold, therefore to preserue it from dying in the Winter tyme, it must either be kept in Caues made of purpose with­in the said gardens, or els couered with a double Matte, How to keep [...] Nicotiane in Winter. and a Penthouse of Reede made on the Wall ouer the hearbe, and when the South Sunne shyneth, the dore of the place must bee opened where the hearbe is on the Southside.

For to sowe it, The sowing of Nicotian [...]. there must bee made a hole in the ground with your finger, as deepe as your finger can teache, then cast into that hole 40. or 50. graines of the sayde Seede to­gether stopping againe your hole, for it is so small a Seede, that if there bee put in the hole but three or foure graynes thereof, the earth would choke them, and if the weather bee dry, the place must be watered lightly during the tyme of fiftiene dayes after the sowing thereof: it may also be sowen like vnto Lettis and other such hearbes.

And when the hearbe is out of the grounde, for so much as euery Grayne thereof will bring foorth his twigge, To remoue Nicotiane. and that the little threeds of the Roote are the one with­in the other, you must make with a great knife a greate compasse within the earth rounde about the saide place, and lift vp the earth together with the Seede, and cast it into a payle of water, so that the earth bee separated, & that the little twigges may swimme aboue the water, then shal you take them without breaking, the one after the other,

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¶ Of the tree which is brought from the Florida, called Sassafras.

FRom the Florida which is the firme Land of our Occidental Indias, lying in xxv. degrees, The Histori [...] of the Sassa­fras. they bring a wood and roote of a tree that groweth in those partes, of great vertues, and greate excellencies, healing therewith grieuous and varia­ble diseases.

It may be three yeres past, that I had knowledge of this Tree, & a French man which had bene in those partes, shewed me a peece of it, and tolde me meruels of the vertues therof, & how many and variable diseases were healed with the water, which was made of it. I gaue at that tyme no credit to him, for that in these things of Plantes, and hearbes, which are brought from other pla­ces, they say much, and knowe little, vnlesse it bee by a man that hath experience of them, with care and diligence. The tree and the partes thereof lyked mee well, and I iudged that, which nowe I do finde to be true, and haue seene by ex­perience. He tolde me that the Frenchmen, which had beene in the Florida at that tyme, whē they came into those parts, had beene sicke the most of them, of grieuous and variable diseases, and that the Indians did shewe them this tree, and the manner how they should vse it, and so they did, and were healed of many euilles, which surel [...] bringeth admiration, that one only remedy should worke so variable, and so mer­uellous effectes.

After that the Frenchmen were destroyed, Historie. our Spa­niardes beganne to waxe sicke, as the Frenchemen had doone, and some which remayned of them, did shewe [Page] it to our Spaniardes, and howe they had cured themselues with the water of this meruellous Tree, and the manner which they obserued in the vsing of it, shewed to them by the Indians, who vsed to cure themselues therewith, when they were sicke of any griefe.

Our Spaniards began to cure themselues with the wa­ter of this Tree, and it wrought in them great effectes, that are almost incredible: for with the naughtie meates & drin­king of the rawe waters, & sleeping in the dewes, the most parte of them fell into continuall Agues, of the which many of them came into opilations, and from the opilations they began to swell, and when the euil came first, immediatly it began to take away the lust that they had to their meate, and then happened to them other accidents, and diseases, as such like Feuers are accustomed to bring: and hauing there no remedie to bee healed, they did what the Frenchemen had counsailed them, doing that which they had done, which was in this forme.

They digged vp the roote of this tree, and tooke a peece thereof, such as it seemed to them best, they cutte it small into very thinne and little peeces, and cast them into water, at discretion, as much as they sawe was needfull, little more or lesse, and they sodde it the tyme that seemed suf­ficient for to remaine of a good collour, and so they dranke it in the morning fasting, and in the day tyme, and at din­ner, and supper, without keeping any more waight, or mea­sure, then I haue sayde, nor more keeping, nor order then this, and by this they were healed of so many griefes, and euil diseases, that to heare of them what they suffred, and how they were healed, it bringeth admiration, & they which were whole, dranke it in place of wine, for it doeth preserue them in health: They which we [...]e whole dranke it. as it appeared very well by them that haue come from thence this yeere, for they came all whole and strong, and with good colours▪ which doeth not happen to them that come from those partes, and from [Page 47] other conquestes, for they c [...]me sicke and sw [...]lne, without collour, and in short space the most of them di [...]. And these Souldiers doe trust so much in this Wood, that I beeyng one day amongest many of them, informing any selfe of th [...] thinges of this Tree, the most parte of them tooke out of their Pockets, a good peece of this Wood, and sayde: Maister, doe you see here the Wood, that euery one of vs doeth bring to heale vs withall, if we fall sicke, as we hau [...] beene there? and they began to prayse it so much, and to con­firme the maruellous workes of it, with so many examples of them that were there, that surely I gaue great credite vn­to it, and they caused me to beleeue all that thereof I ha [...] hearde, and gaue mee courage to experiment it, as I haue done, and as wee shall see in the maruelles, which wee shall write of it. And nowe we come to shewe the description, and forme of this Tree.

The Tree from whence they cut this Wood, The descrip­tion of this Tree. 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 b [...]e white, and neere like to Tawny. The tree and bowes are ver [...] 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 sharp­n [...]sse [Page] of t [...]st▪ the inner part hath little smell, the higher part that co [...]t [...]yneth the bowes hath leaues, the which be green, after the [...]u [...]mer of a Figge tree, with three poyntes, an [...] when they are little, they be like to the leaues of a Peare tree, in onely shewing theyr poyntes. They be of collour a sad [...]e Greene, and of a sweete smell, and muche more when they be drie. The Indians vse to lay them beaten or stampe [...] vpon br [...]ises, or when any man is beaten with drie blowes, and being dried they are vsed in Medicinable thinges. They l [...]se no [...] 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, The rootes. they bee light, but not so much as the body of the Tree, and the bowes, but for the greatnesse it is notable light.

Note.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 Tree [...] of the Indias, tha [...] moste of them haue their rootes of small depth, and if they carry any plant [...]s from Spayne to plante elsewhere, if they do not set them of smal depth in the ground, they beare no fruite.

The best is the roote.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 [Page 48] Mountaynes growing full of them, and they caste foorth a most sweet smel, so that at the beginning when they saw th [...]m first, they thought that they had beene trees of Cinamon, and in parte they were not deceiued, for that the rinde of thi [...] tree [...]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, The S [...]ssa­fras as good a [...] the Cina­mon. 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, The c [...]mpl [...] ­ction & tem­perature of the tree. 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 tre [...] is the roote, & [...]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 tha [...] shall neede of it, must procure to haue the rootes or bowes, which haue the rinde, for that which is without it, doth no [...] woorke so good effectes.

The name of this Tree, as the Indians terme it, i [...] cal­led Pauan [...]e, and the Frenche Men call it Sassafras. The name. 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, The vse [...]y seething. or of the Wood of this Tree the which w [...]e haue treated of heere, is by the way of see­thing, [Page] & 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: Variety of seething. 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, How the au­thour doth order it. 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 mo [...]e parte they keepe the vse of the diet & gouernment which is necessary for the disease 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, [...]t shall do vn­to them much hurt: wherby it seemeth to me that when this water shalbe 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 [Page 49] 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, cōsidering 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, Historie. vnto whom for certaine i [...]dispositions of the Mother, proceeding of greate colde that she had taken, I coūselled 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, T [...]e vertues thereof. doe vse this afore­saide water sodden at their discretion, for all manner of dis­seases, without making exception of any. An [...] beeyng sicke of any manner of euill which commeth vnto th [...]m, sharpe, or long, hot, or colde, greeuous or otherwise, they [...]ure them all by one maner of fashion, & they heale all with o [...]e maner of [Page] 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, It healeth opilations. 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, It comfor­teth the Li­uer and the stomake, and doth disopi­late. 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 Sassafra [...] hath a maruellous propertie, to comfort the Liuer, and to dissolue the Opilations, in such sort that it doth ingender alowable blood.

I healed [...] young man which had an opilation of cer­t [...]yne Tertians. H [...]storie. And thereof he was all swolne, in such sort that he was well neere full of Dropsie And with purging [Page 50] him many times with Pilles of Ruibarbe, and by taking of Dialaca amongest the said Purgations, and drinking the water of this Sassafras, cōtinually 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, Peter Mel­lendis. 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, How this wa­ter must be g [...]uen. 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 [Page] 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, Digression. 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, & th [...]y found themselues well with it.

In one thing it was seene greately to profite, which is in the vse of this water, To giue appe­tite to eate. 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 cōmend 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, How a Phisi­tion of the Hauana doth vse it. 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 [Page 51] 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, In the h [...]ad­ache. 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. In euils 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, In grie [...]es of the Stomake. ta­king this water in the morning strong, & as it is s [...]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 [Page] 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, For the weaknes of the Stomake of them which do not disgest their meate, and for them which do vo­mit their meate. In the griefe of the Stone. 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. It causeth to cast out gra­uel & stones. 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.

For whome the vse of this water is not conueni­ent. Of the wood for the stone.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 [Page 52] 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, The wood of the Vrine wil 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 th [...] good and wel seasoned w [...]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. [...]alse Me­choacan.

That which is very whyte, is not such as the yellowe is, in myne opinion, for that which is yellowe, wee see that it m [...]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 prouo [...]eth Vners. it pro­uoketh Urine, it maketh them to Uryne well, which haue the impediment of it, chiefly if it come by humors of col [...]e [Page] causes. I did knowe a Priest, which came in this fl [...]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 w [...]ter of this wood ordinarily, and watering his wy [...]e therewith. Many doe drinke of this water for the same purpose, and they cast out much Sande, and doe finde themselues cured therewi [...]h.

In thē which be lame.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 shalbe 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.

[Page 53]In the toothache, this wood beeing broken and chewed with the tooth that is grieued, In the tooth­ach [...]. 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, 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. The simple water. 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, In thē which haue the gout and the euil o [...] the Ioyntes. 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 win [...]inesse, & to giue them some lust to their meate, & the rest of the benefite that it bringeth, is to them that h [...]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 hur­te [...]h them, infl [...]ming and causi [...]g them to haue greater paynes.

[Page]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, For them that haue foule 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.

The water h [...]t maketh a man goe to the stoole.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 certif [...]ed mee, and prooued it, with others of his companie, For the going to the stoole by indigestiō. that hauing stooles by indis­gestion and rawnesse of stomacke, for want of heate, it tooke them away, with taking of one good cupfull of this water euery morning fasting, and so with drinking it continually, but that which he dranke euery morning, he dranke it cold, and y [...]t neuerthelesse hee was healed very well of the flixe, which he had many yeeres. I [...] the euil of W [...]n. The eu [...]ll o [...] the Mo [...]h [...]r & [...].

I [...] griefes of women the water of Sassafras doeth great­ly profite, and in especially in that which is called the euil of the Mother: and where there is windinesse, it consumeth & diss [...]eth it, and also any maner of colde of the bel [...]y, and it [Page 54] dissolueth the swelling of it, curing any manner of disease which proceedeth of the Mother. And this is so experimen­ted, and so put in vse, that many haue beene healed with this water, that neuer thought to haue recouered health. And in the withhelding the Monethly course that commeth, not to women, this water maketh a meruellous woorke, by prouo­king and making it come in them that wholie doe lacke it, In stopping the courses of Women. taking one Cuppe ful of this water in the morning: & drin­king it ordinarily at dinner, and at supper, and in the day tyme being more simple, then that in the morning, vsing good regiment, and dooing other thinges which may helpe the water, that it may bee prouoked. And vnto them also to whome it doeth not come wel, it bringeth manifest profite, taking the water in forme as is aforesaide, keeping them the tyme that they take it, from such thinges as may of­fende them: and beeing vsed it doeth disopilate, and make a good colour in the face, as it is seene by the experience of them that doe vse it, hauing need of it. Let them beware if they haue much heate, or bee of a hotte complexion, Where as i [...] much heate this water i [...] not conueni­ent. in such case let them moderate the quantitie of the wood, and the seething of the water, as is conuenient, and this is easie to be done, by seing howe it goeth with them at the beginning, with the vse of it, and according thereunto they may ryse or fal, as it seemeth to be necessarie.

Some women doe vse of this water, for to make them with childe, To ma [...]e wo­men with childe. and in some it hath wrought the effect as it is wel knowen. That which I can say, is that a gentlewoman, beeing many yeeres married, without hauing children, tooke this water, for that her husbande vsed it for certayne euilles of Opilations, and of an agewe that helde h [...]m, with certayne sittes of a double tercian which he had, and hee continued with the taking of it in the Morning hotte, and at Dinner simple, and at Supper, and in the day tyme, keeping a good gouernement, whereby it came to passe, [Page] that she was with childe, and brought foorth a sonne.

And I vnderstande, that one of the principall vertues that this water hath, Note. is to dryue away the Mother for this effect, for the most parte of women that haue no children, is for the greate colde that is ingendered within the Mother, which doeth hinder the cause of generation, and as the wa­ter ryseth it consumeth it, comforting the place and dissol­uing the windes, that are the let of it: I am sure that it will manifestly profite, as we haue seene in them which doe not bring forth childrē, for hauing too much heate and drieth, to whome permit not the vse of this water, for because it will not profite them, and if they do take it and feele hurt thereof, let them not put the fault in the water, but in their complexi­ons, seing that it is not conuenient for them.

This water doeth make fatte.The vse of this water doeth make fatte, and this is cer­tainly knowen, for we haue seene many leane and sicke, that haue taken it, and haue healed of their euils, and haue reco­uered much more flesh, & better colour, as those people that come from the Florida, do praise it very much: & they they al say, that the vse of this water doeth make fat, and it happe­neth so to many, and not onely it healeth them of their disea­ses, but also maketh thē remaine with a good colour. And so it seemeth by thē that come from that country, for that they come al fatte, and of a good colour, who I beleeue as they w [...]re very sick, so that they were very leane & yellow, when as they were healed of their infirmities which they had, they gathered fleshe, and became of a good colour, ingendering in the Liuer good blood, by the which the members were [...]etter maintayned, than when they were sicke. And surely it i [...] a greate thing that this water shoulde woorke this effect, co [...]sidering that it is hot and [...]rye, if it were not for the cau­ses that are aboue sayd. And I haue seene many that entered i [...], to ta [...]e the water of the wood, leane, and with an euil colour, to come foorth strong and fatte, and of a good [Page 55] colour, eating no ot [...]er thing then Res [...]nges, Almondes, and Bisket.

In pestilent and contagious diseases, which we haue seen▪ In P [...]stil [...]n [...] and corru [...] ay [...]es. in the time of the Pestilence past, there were many that desi­red to drinke it, to preserue them from that euill. And we did see that none of them which vsed it, were wounded of the disease, that then reigned. Many did vse to carry a peece of y ^e Roote of the Wood with them to smell to it continually, as to a Pomander. For with the smell so acceptable it did re­ctifie the infected ayre: I carried with mee a peece a great time, and to my seeming I found great profite in it. For with it & with the chewing of the rind of the Cidron nor of the Lemmon in the morning, and in the day time, to preserue health it ha [...]h a great strength and property. And it seemeth to me, that I was deliuered by the helpe of God from the fire, in the which wee that were Phisitions went in, blessed be our Lord GOD that deliuered vs from so great euill, and gaue vs this most excellent tree called Sassafras, which hath so great vertues, and worketh such maruellous effectes as we haue spoken of, and more which Time wil shewe vs, which is the discouerer of all thinges. It shall doe well to shewe the quantitie of the wood, and also the quantitie of wa­ter, wherein it shall be sodden, & to prescribe a rule in waight and measure, in effectes, and temperatures, for them that are hot, and others that are colde.

I will tell you the order that ought to bee kept in ta­ [...]ing the water of this excellent wood, How [...] wa­ter ought to be ma [...] in generall. which must bee made conformably to the disease of him that shall take it, and ac­cordin [...] to the quantitie and comp [...]exion of the sicke bodie. For v [...]to the Cholerike Person the water ought to bee ge­uen lesse sodden, and with lesse quan [...]itie of wood, and to the flegmatike more sodden and with more quantitie, of woode. So the diseases should be considered of. U [...]to them that are very cold the water ought to be geuen more sodden and with more quantitie of Wood. And vnto them th [...]t [Page] be not so col [...]e, but doe participate of some heate: the water ought to be geuen lesse sodden, & with lesse quantity of wood. The like shall be done in the hot or cold times, & in the age of the person, or the most causes making to this respect and pro­portion. And for the more light, I will here set downe the ma­ner how this water ought to be vsed, the which shall serue to shew how that they may rise or fal therein, cōformably to the opinion which shall seeme good to euery one. For in these in­firmities that be very cold, they must set vp the water in quil­lates, both in seething and also in quantity of the wood. And in the diseases that are not so colde, or that doe participate of any heate, they must set the water lower, in Quillats, see­thing it lesse, & putting in lesse wood, the maner and order of the preparing it is this.

You shall choose the freshest wood that may be had, and that which hath a rynde. The maner to make it in particular. For that wood which hath not the rinde, is not good, nor taketh effect, you must procure that it be of the roote, for that is the best of the tree for these ef­fects and cures, and for the diseases which we haue spoken of. And if in case there be no roote, then the bowes are the best that growe in the higher part of the Trees, and in case the bowe [...] lacke, then is the tree good, & if so be that the one and the other haue the rinde of the roote, let there be taken lesse in quantity therof, & more of the bowes, & much more of the tree, which must be double to the quantitie of the roote. Nowe let vs speake of the bowes as of a thing in the middest, be­tweene the roote and the tree, beeyng that which continu­ally they doe bring, of the which you shall take halfe an Ounce, and cut it as small as may be. And it must be put into three Pottelles of water in a newe Earthen pot, The order ho [...] to make the strong water. and there lie a steeping two howres: and after it must bee sodden at a fire of Coales, vntill the two partes bee con­sumed, and t [...]e one rem [...]yne. And after it is colde, let it be strayned and kepte in a glassed vessell, The [...]im [...]le wat [...]r. and vpon those small cuttinges of wood that haue beene already sodden, let there [Page 56] be poured other three Pottels of water, and let it seeth vntil halfe a Pottell bee consumed, and no more, after that it is colde, let it be strayned and kept in a glassed vessell. Let the first water be taken in the morning fasting, halfe a Pint hot, and then keepe your selfe warme, and procure sweate, then change your selfe into hot clothing, and wipe your selfe from the sweate. And eate of a Hen rosted, & dry fruite, and Con­serua, and drinke of the second water at Dinner and Sup­per, and in the day time. And then rise and goe well clothed, and flie from all things which may offend you. And at night make a light Supper, and eate drie fruite and Conserua, but eate no flesh at night, and drinke of the second water. And this you may doe for as many dayes as you finde your selfe greeued: and if you finde your selfe well with the vse of this water taken in this maner, proceed forward vntill you be whole, & if not, then cōtinue in taking of the strong water euery third day, & drink of the simple water cōtinually. After this order it may be geuen in all diseases, that we haue trea­ted of, and it will profite. But many will not submit them­selues to this labour, which truely is the best of all others, & that which is most conuenient. They may make [...]he simple water in this forme.

Let there be taken halfe an ounce of the wood, little more or lesse, with the conditions aforesaide, The s [...]mp [...]e water. and let it be made in­to small peeces, and seeth it in three Pottels of water, vntill halfe be sodden away, rather more then lesse. And of this water you may drinke continually, at Dinner and at Sup­per, and in the day time, and surely taken in this order it doeth and hath done mauellous woorkes, and moste grea [...]e Cures, in long diseases, and importunate, taking it and [...]eeping a good gouernem [...]nt in y [...]ur Meate and other thinges prohibited. And howsoeuer it bee, beyng drunke so simple, it procureth great profite. They that cannot forbeare t [...]e drinking of wine, may water their wine therewi [...]h, [Page] for it will rather make it of a better tast and sweetnesse, for this water hath a most sweete smell, and tast, and aboue all, it worketh maruellous effectes, as we haue seene and do see in diuers and sundrie diseases, in the which ordinary remedies of Phisicke doe not profit, with the greate examples which we haue hereof.

Note.And it is to be considered, that principally it doeth profite in longe and colde diseases, and where there is wyndines, & other euils, that run this course, which shalbe knowne foorth­with by him that shall haue need of it, & vse it. And one thing is to be vnderstoode, that vsing it in the order as is aforesaid, although that he which taketh it haue no neede thereof, it can doe him no hurte, but rather if it be well considered, it wil ma­nifestly profite him in the time that he shall take it, yea, al­though he leaue the taking of it when he seeth that he findeth not the profite which hee desireth, nor that it hath done him any hurt or harme during the time that hee hath ta­ken it.

CARLO SANCTO

¶ Of the Carlo Sancto, a roote brought from the new Spaine.

THey bring from the newe Spayne within this three yeeres a mauellous roote & of great vertues, The roote of Carlo San­cto. which is called Carlo Sancto, the which a fa­ther of S. Francis order dis­cou [...]red and published in the prouince of Mechoacan, be­yng taught by an Indian of that countrie that was verie wise in such thinges, and a man of greate [...]xperience, in the vertues of them. In the fir [...]te parte wee haue de­cla [...]ed that there bee many Medicinadle H [...]ar [...]es, which haue greate secretes, and vertues. Where it gro [...]eth▪ This [...]ur Carlo San­cto groweth in that Prouince, in places which are v [...]rie [Page] t [...]mperate, which [...]e not drie nor ver [...] moyst. The forme and figure thereo [...] is like to our wilde Hop [...] of Spaine, The [...]rme [...]. for it c [...]rrieth a Lease as they doe, and it r [...]nn [...]th vp by any ot [...]er t [...]ing that is neere vnto it, and if it haue nothing to lea [...]e v [...]to, then it c [...]eepeth all along vppon the grounde: the co­lo [...]r is a sadde gr [...]ene, it car [...]ieth neither flow [...]e nor fru [...]t, the smell that it hath is little, The col [...]r. The sm [...]. and acceptable to some. Out of the Roote s [...]ri [...]geth a grosse tree, and it casteth foorth other Rootes of the greatnesse of a finger: it is white in colour, The ro [...]te. and hath a Rinde which falleth from the inner parte, the hearte of it is meruellously wrought: for it is com­pounded of certayne small boordes very thinne, The heart is marue [...]us. and they may be deuided by one and one, the roote hath a pleasant smell, and beeyng chewed, it hath a notable bitternesse, wi [...]h some sharpnesse of tast: T [...]e vertue is in the rin [...]e of the r [...]ote. this roote hath his vertue in the Rinde.

In the ships that he now come, there c [...]me the satin: p [...]e of it, and now there is more knowledge of the vertues t [...]erof then before there was. Many of them that came in this flee [...]e from the newe Spayne, doe speake much good of this roote. But he that speaketh most of it, is a Gentleman that came from Mechoacan, & brought a good quantity of it with him. That as he reporteth, & also what we haue experimented of it, we wil speake of, and also of the complection and tempe­ra [...]ure thereof, which is hot, & drie, in the first part of the se­cond degree.

[...].The principall effect that this Roote doth profite in, is in [...]mes and runninges of the head, for it causeth them to flo [...]e out of the mouth, and [...]ringeth them from the head, [...]y [...] a little of the Rind of the Roote, a good time, but it [...] be t [...]ken in t [...]e mor [...]ing fasting, & it boydeth out much [...], [...] h [...]mors from y ^e head, that would go to the stoma [...]e, [...] othe [...] partes, but before this be done, it is conuenient, that [...] be purged. [...].

[...] [...]hat chew it, w [...]ich can eas [...]ly vomite, doe vomite [Page 58] with chewing of it, & it causeth them to cast out much Cho­ler and fleume, and much more it maketh them vomite, if they take the decoction of it, for it maketh the humour to come vp, which is in the stomake with much easinesse. The roo [...]e comforteth the stomake, and also the gummes by chew­ing of it, and it fortifieth the teeth, It comforteth the teeth, [...], & keepe them from worme ea­ting. In diseases of women it prouoketh Purgation. It dissolueth windes and comforteth the stomake, and doeth preserue them from woormes, and that they rotte not, nor corrupt. It maketh a good smell in the mouth, and because it is bitter, it is conuenient after that you haue chewed it, that you wash your mouth with wine, that the bitternesse may be taken away.

In the infirmities of women chiefly, where opilations are, and lacke of purgation, the pouder of the rynde of the Roote doeth dissolue them, and taketh them away, and ma­keth their purgation to come downe well with the vse there­of. It must be taken with wine, or with water, sodden with Coriander, and Cinamon, which they must drinke, whiles they doe take it: it dissolueth windes, and comforteth the stomake, whiles they vse it, they must annoynt their Bel­lie with the oyle of Liquide Amber, and Dialtea of equall partes, and first they must bee purged, and take heede that they keepe all good order, and good gouernment.

In the euils of the hearte, In the euill of the hearte. chiefly beeyng ioyned with the Mother, the saide pouders and the water sodden with the rynde of the Roote, doe woorke very greate effectes. They must take the pouder in the order as is aforesaide: and the weight of twelue pence of the roote, cut small and sod­den in one Pottell and a halfe of water, vntill halfe bee sod­den away: and then they must cast into it the waight of two shillinges of the ryndes of Cidrous beeyng [...]rie, and the weight of twelue pence of Cinamom made in pouder, and geue it certayne seethinges with them, and then strayne it: and they must take euery morning a small vess [...]l of sixe Ounces of this seething with Sugar, because it is some­what [Page] what bitter, or without it as you please: and it is to be noted, that before you begin to vse it, you must make the vniuersall euacuations, which shall be conuenient.

This Gentleman sayeth which brought this Roote, t [...]at it profiteth muche, in the disease of the Poxe, In the euill of [...]e Poxe. taking it in Pouder, or the seething of it: which I haue not ex­perimented, for that wee haue so many remedies for this euill, that wee haue made no experience thereof: he saith that it is to be taken without keeping, more, then when they be taking the water, or pouder, and that then they keepe good order and good gouernment in their meates, and in all other thinges.

In the falling sicknesse, a strong disease, and well neere incurable, they say that it hath a great propertie, and wor­keth greate effectes: In the falling sickenesse. taking the pouder of the rinde of the roote, with wine or with water, as is most conuenient for him that shall take it. I counselled one heere, who was more then fourtie yeeres of age, and had had it of long time, to take it, and hitherto he hath not felte more then to vomite with the pouder, when he taketh it, and he casteth vp much Choler, and his faintnesse is not so great as it was wont to be. It seemeth to me, that it cannot take it away. For it shoulde worke that effect in them, that doe not passe twenty and fiue yeeres, who vnto that time haue remedy. I will proue it vp­pon such: it woulde be no little good, that it might worke the effect that is spoken of it.

In griefes of the Head, they vse this roote in those partes, In griefes of the head. as a great and sure remedy. I will tell what hath passed. The first time that I sawe this roote, was in the power of one which was sicke, who came from Mexico, and he brought it for a greate thing, saying: that he healed there with and tooke away the paynes of the head, which he had certayne dayes, and he asked me if that he shoulde vse it. I tasted of the roote, and it seemed to me as I haue sayde, [Page 59] and I counselled him that he shoul [...] vse it, as they had willed him to doe in Mexico, and so he did chewe it in the morning, and it tooke away the paines of the head, which a long tyme had molested him.

After this, a passenger tolde mee, which came in the Shippe, where the Gentleman was that brought a quanti­tie of this roote, and he chewed it wel, & did disfleume there­with, and immediatly it tooke away the payne, & he shewed me a little that remained therof, which was the same that I sawe, and since that, some haue vsed it, and it hath done very wel with them.

In the toothache, they that haue brought it into Spaine do much esteeme of it. In the tooth­ache. And being in the lodging where this man was which brought the roote, the host of the house cer­tified me, that hauing the toothache very grieuous, it tooke it away from him with chewing the rinde of the roote, on the same side where the tooth was which grieued him, disfleming therewith as much as he could. And I being one day in the Custome house curing a Genoues which was there, an other of the same Nation complained vnto mee of the toothache, and wee caused to be brought some of the said Roote, and in the presence of as many as were there, hee chewed the rinde of this roote, hauing very greate paynes, and he auoyded much Fleume, and in disfleming it began to take away the paynes, and before he went from thence hee was throughly cured. Certaine dayes past I had a grief in one tooth, so that it pained me all one Night, and parte of one day, and I gathered in a garden which I haue in my house, c [...]rtaine leaues of Tabaco, and also the aforesaid roote, and I chewed both together, and disfleumed, and the paines went from me, and returned no more to me, being more then sixe monethes after I was payned therewith. This is the effect, that I haue obtayned of this Carlo Sancto, which being so little tyme knowen, is sufficient. The tyme will discouer the rest, and as wee shal vnderstande more of it, so [Page] so wee wil giue notice thereof.

Of Beades, which bee called the Beades of Sainct Elen.

The Beads of the rootes of sainct Elen. FRom the Florida they bring certayne rounde Rootes which are called the Beades of Sainct Elen. And they take this name by reason that they grow in a place of that Country that is so called: they are greate large Rootes, deuided into seueral peeces, The forme of them. and cuttinges, euery peece by it selfe, they remaine rounde as Beades, which be­ing bored in the midst, they make of them Beads for to pray vpon, which the Souldiers do hang about their necks, for a thing of great estimation. They dry them, and they are as ha [...]de as a bone, on the outwarde part they are blacke, and within white, and the Rinde is ioyned in such sorte, that the harte and it is made alone, they are wrought after they bee dry, and this Roote beeing tasted, hath a sweete smel, with a good taste. And it seemeth by the taste that it is a kinde of Spyce, for it i [...] lyke to Galanga, they are of the thickenesse of a mans thombe, somwhat lesse, the Plant hath a great stalke: the Bowes doe spread by the grounde, The [...]lant. and cast out the leaues broade and greate, and very greene. It groweth [Page 60] commonly in moyst places, the complexion thereof is hot in the ende of the second degree, and more drie the [...] in th [...] [...]ir [...]t, th [...] ver [...]ues thereof are these.

The Indians vse t [...]e hearbe beaten betweene t [...]o st [...]nes [...]hen they pretend to wash themselues, [...] [...]ubbing [...]l their body with it: for they say that i [...] knit [...]eth their fl [...]h t [...] ­g [...]t [...]er, and comforteth them with his good smell. And this they doe for the most part euery day, for the great profit that they f [...]nde in it.

In griefes of the Stomacke, the Indians doe vse it, In griefe [...] of the [...]ma [...]ke. by taking the Pouder of it, and our Spania [...]ds also take it, for the same purpose, receiuing it in wine, being grounde smal, of the which I haue seene notable experience in some.

In the griefe of the Stone of the Ridneis or Reines, the Pouder of this Roote woorketh a knowen effect. In the [...]rief [...] of the [...]tone in t [...]e [...] or [...]eines. For that some haue taken this roote made into Pouder in wyne, ha­uing the grief, and it hath taken it away. And I maruell not at al that his manifest quātitie is sufficient, to worke the like effectes.

In griefes of the Uryne of them that cannot pisse wel, In griefes of the V [...]i [...]. by taking the Pouder, it doth profite, and expel it. A thing v­sed of many that haue come from those partes, for that they haue proued it in the lyke euilles, and here hath bin seene the same experience. And one that had a stone which h [...]e coulde not auoyde from him, vsed certaine dayes the pou­der of this roote, and did easily auoyde the same. A [...]ul­dier brought Beades at his Necke, made of these rootes, and m [...]t with me [...] one day, and asked mee if I knew tho [...]e Beades, and of what they were made, & he saide it was told him that they w [...]re [...]oote [...] of Gentiana. But I declared v [...]to him, that the [...]des [...]ere made of certayne rootes, that [...] of [...]aint Elen, & that they were not made of Gentiana ▪ a [...]d then he tolde me great vertues of them, [...] t [...]e [...] v [...]r [...] rare that the vse of thē had wroug [...]t [...]hi [...]h I did beleeue: for it seem [...]th well, in the roote that they ha [...]e [Page] greate Medicinal vertues, according to their fashion, and sweete smell, and by that which I had experimented of them.

¶ Of the Guacatane.

THey haue brought in these Shippes [...]n hearbe from the newe Spayne that the Indians cal Guacatane, The descrip­tion of the Guacatane. and it is lyke to our wilde tyme, sauing that it hath no smel, it is a litle hearbe, whitish, I know not whether it carry Flower or fruyte, the hearbe I haue without the roote: the name that it hath amongst the Indians, is as aforesaid, and the same name the Spaniardes also haue geuen it. The In­dians doe vse it for their infirmities whereof we wil speake, and for the same the Spaniards doe vse it likewise there in the Indias, and they also which haue brought it hither, with notable profite.

In the disease of the Piles.In griefe of the Pyles they vse it in this manner: they grinde or stampe the hearbe very small, and wash the Piles with wine, in the which there is sodden this hearbe, [Page 61] and if there bee heate in them, they seeth it in water, & with that hot seething they wash them, and then they dry them softly, and cast the Pouder of this hearbe vpon them, & sure­ly the effect that it worketh is maruellous. Thus after I saw the good efects therof, I much esteemed the hearbe.

Whensoeuer you haue any griefe of colde or of windines in any parte of the body wheresoeuer it bee, In griefes of colde and windines. apply Turpen­tine vnto all partes, wheresoeuer the griefe is, and cast the pouder of this hearbe being smal ground vppon it, and lay a Linnen cloth vpon that, that it may cleaue fast as a Plai­ster, in such sorte, that it be not taken away, vntil the griefe bee gone. And of this there is manifest experience, by them of the Indias, and also by vs of Spayne. The pouder of this hearbe cast vpon lit­tle sores, and especially in the se­cret places doeth mundifie, and heale them.

Of a certaine kinde of Barley.

[Page 62] THey bring lykewyse from the newe Spaine, a kinde of Barley, which they cal smal Barley: they giue it this name, for the likenesse which it hath vnto our Barley: for it casteth out an eare like vn­to it, and in the vaynes, the seede is shut, but it is different from it in qualities & vertues: for that this smal Barley, is the strongest poyson, It is most strong and mighty poy­son. which at this day in hearbe, or plant hath beene seene, inso­much that it woorketh the same effect, which Sublimatum doeth. And wheresoeuer it is needful to burne, or eate away dead or rotten flesh, putting the pouder of this seed thertoo, it wil doe the like worke that any burning Iron shal doe. It extinguisheth and killeth any canker, howe strong soeuer it bee, it killeth and expelleth Wormes, It killeth th [...] Canker. It killeth wormes. wheresoeuer they bee, it eateth fleshe which is naught and rotten, taking it from the sores, and making them cleane from such euill fleshe.

The Indians for that they had no Sublimatum, nor o­ther remedies which wee haue, It eateth rotten fl [...]sh. when they shoulde vse the lyke, they had and haue this seede most strong, and surely so it is, and they doe vse it, as a remedy most strong, and of great efficacie. This pouder must bee layde too, by little and little, more or lesse, Howe it must be ministred. conformably to the greatnesse of the euil, applying things defensiue, which is vsed to be laid too, when as the lyke remedies are vsed.

In olde sores and filthy, where it is needfull, In olde filthy sores where it is needful that they bee cleansed. that naughty rotten fleshe bee eaten away, with taking of this Seede, and grinding it, and dissoluing it well with water of Planten, or of Roses, weating in the cleare wa­ter that shall remayne vppon it, some small clothes, or in place of the smal clothes, lint of fine Linen cloth, weate in the water, it cleanseth the sore, eating the euil fleshe in such sorte: for howe euill, olde, and filthy soeuer that the sore [Page] 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, In Beastes it woorketh the same effect, and better. 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, Historie. 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.

An hearbe which hea­leth the euill o [...] the brest. An hearbe which maketh a wo­man to cast from her a dead childe. Two maru [...]l­lous herbes.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 [Page 63] 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, Blacke Ele­boro. and woorking the like effect.

Certaine dayes past, a young man which tooke counsell of me, that came from the Prouice of Quito, Historie. 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▪

¶ Of the Dragon.

[Page]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, The vertue of the blood of Drago. 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 tempe­r [...]te. 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, Gumme to purge them which haue the Goute. wherewith they purge them, which haue the Goute in those partes, they put of it as much as a Nut into distil [...]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 go [...]d tast in the [Page 73] 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.

[Page]waight then two pound: hollowe in some partes, and very white: For the grief of the stone in the Kidneies. they are al somwhat heauie. Of these stones they haue in the Indias great [...]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, Turpentine of Cartage­na. Better then ours. a certayne Turpētine, 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, Maruellous for woundes. & of Legges, wherein I haue seene gre [...]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, 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, Mechoacan of the firme Land [...]. brought very good Mechoacan, better then that of the new Spaine, gathered in the Coast of Ni­caraga, and in Quito: yea, since the Mechoacan was dis­couered, in the new Spaine, they haue founde the selfsame hearbe and roote in those partes which I doe speake of. And they vse it to purge, and it doth maruellous works, and they vse it in those countries and in al the firme land, as they did vse that which was brought from the newe Spaine, with maruellous successe.

From the Cape of Saint Elen, Furious Me­choacan. which is in the same coast, they bring another kind of Mechoacan, but it is very strong, and beeing taken it causeth great accidentes of vo­mites and faintnesse, with many stooles, and for this cause they cal it Escamonea, & no man vseth it, bicause it bringeth [...] [Page] by incision, which commeth foorth like to a whyte teare or drop, most cleare, with a maruellous sweete smel, declaring wel the maruellous effectes, and Medicinal vertues that it hath, of the which wee haue treated in the first parte. And that Balsamo which is made by seething, as wee doe there showe, we see the maruellous effectes that it worketh, with so great and maruellous vertues, that it bringeth admirati­on to the whole worlde, with many other maruels which he­therunto we haue seene, that be there spoken of. And greater wil these woorkes bee, that shal bee done with the Balsamo which they nowe bring, made by incision: seeing that one drop of this is more woorth then twoo Gallons of the other, as it is manifestly seene by vsing of it.

The Balsamo of the Indias which is made by inci­sion, is better then that which was in Aegipt.And surely that which was in Egypt, and failed so ma­ny members of yeeres past, I beleeue that it had not more vertues then this. And I am sure that this is of greater ver­tue and effectes then euer that was of. I haue the fruite of this tree, which is little, according to the greatnesse of the tree, and it is a grayne as great as a white Pease, the taste of it is a little bitter, it is shut into the end of a little [...]od of the length of a finger, beeing narrowe, whyte, and thinne, of the thicknesse of vi. d. It carieth no more but one graine in the ende, which is the fruite that the Indians doe vse, to perfume them withal, in griefes of the head, and in Reumes. Surely the Balsamo is a maruellous thing, and it sheweth well in it selfe what it is, In griefes of the head. according to the workes therof.

They bring moreouer from the firme land a Turpētine, or Licor, Turpentine or O [...]le of Deabeto. which is called Deabeto, and it is gathered from certaine trees of mixture, they be not Pine trees, nor Ci­pres, for they bee higher then our Pine trees, they are as straight as Cipresses trees. In the highest part of the tree, it bringeth forth certaine bladders of two sortes, the which are great and smal, and being broken, there cometh foorth of them a maruellous licour, which falleth drop after [Page 77] droppe, and the Indians gather them with great delibera­tion, and they receiue the same droppes which bee in the bladder into a shel, and alwayes haue shelles lying vnder the bladders, whereou [...] they distill, and it is a thing done with such leasure, that many Indians doe gather very little al the whole day.

The Licor serueth for all things that the Balsamo doeth, The vertue therof. it healeth very well woundes, it taketh away colde griefes, and windie. Some do take it for the griefs of the stomacke, caused of colde humors, or for windines, with a little white wyne. And it is to be vnderstood, that the Balsamo which is made by seething, or that which is made by incision, Note. and this or any other manner of Licour of these of the Indias, which is to bee taken by the mouth, ought to bee taken but in little quantitie, which must not bee more then foure or fiue droppes, and it must not be taken in the Palme of the hand as it is sayde, but putting a litle wine or Rose water into a spoone, and pouring vpon that the droppes of Balsamo, & putting the spoone wel into your mouth, and letting the Li­cor fal in, so that it touch not the tongue. For taken with it, or touching it, the sauour and tast is not remoued away in a long time: & it procureth an euell tast, in such sort, that for this onely cause many doe abhorre it, and wil not take it, and from others it hath taken away the lust of their meate, by re­ceiuing it and touching it with the tongue.

Of long Peper.

Long Peper. ALso they bring from Cartagena, and from the coast of the firme lande, from Nata neere to Veraga, a certain kinde of Peper, which they cal long Peper, which hath a sharper taste, then the Pe­per which is brought from the Oriental Indias, and biteth more then it, and is of more sweete taste, and of better smell, then that of Asia, or the Peper of the East India: it is a gentle spyce, to dresse meates withall, and for this purpose al the people in that country doe vse it.

Historie.A Gentleman gaue me a platter full of it, for he brought a great quantitie of it for the seruice of his Ritchin, because [Page 83] they vse it in place of blacke Peper, and they take it to be of a better tast, and more healthfull. I haue tasted it, and it by­teth more then the blacke Peper doeth, and it hath a more sweete taste then it hath. I haue caused it to be put into drest meates, in place of the Oriental Peper, & it giueth a more gentle taste vnto the meates that are drest therewith.

It is a fruite that casteth out a high plante, of the great­nesse of a grosse Packethreed, The descrip­tion of it. and the lower parte neere to the roote, is as great as a litle sticke, that is very small: and vpon it are ioyned the little graines, very neere together, as though they were wrested one within the other, which cau­seth the greatnesse whereof wee spake: and beeing ta­ken away from the litle sticke, the stick remaineth bare and whole: and it is greene being fresh, but the Sunne ripeneth it, and doeth turne it blacke, and so they bring it into these partes. It groweth in the coast of the firme lande in Nata and in Cartagena, and in the newe kingdome: in all these partes they vse it, as I haue saide. It hath the Medicinall vertues, which the Orientall Peper hath that we vse. The complexion thereof is hotte in the third degree.

And going to visite a childe, the sonne of this Gentle­man, Historie. which gaue mee this Peper, being diseased of the fire in the face, I commanded him to bee let blood, and that to his face they should apply some litle cloth with Rose water, and the hearbe Mora: hee saide to me that hee liked the let­ting of blood well, because the boye was of Sanguine com­plexion, but as for that which should be laid to his face, hee had wherewith to heale it in short tyme: and he commanded to bee brought foorth, a thing lyke vnto a cake, as great as a meane platter, the outside was blacke, and within yeal­lowe, and beeing brought wel neere twoo thousand Leages, it was moyst, and hee dissolued a little of it with Rose Water, and layde it to the boyes face. I was desirous to know what it was, & he said, that when the worke was seene what it would do, he would tel me whereof it was compoun­ded. [Page] The next day I returned to the sicke, and his face was so amended, that I maruelled at it, and immediatly he was washed with Rose water, a little warme, and hee remayned as though he had not had any euil therein at all.

The cake was made of certaine Wormes, which the Indians take out of the grounde, Of what it was made. and they make them fatte, giuing them to eate leaues of a certaine kinde of corne, that they haue there called Maiz, and after they are fatte, they put them into a frying panne of earth, and seeth them there­in, and as they take of the skumme, they strayne it, and seeth it stil, vntil it be thicker then an oyntment, after the fashion and manner as he had it there.

They bring also from the Charcas certaine Rootes, that bee like to the Rootes of flower de Luce, Rootes a­gainst venom & venomous things. sauing that they are smaller and they smell much lyke the leaues of Figge tree: they call these Rootes in the Indias, a re­medy against the venemous hearbe, for beeing made into pouder, and taken with whyte wyne, it is a thing of great strength, and of the greatest vertue, that is there against venome, of what manner or qualitie soeuer it be, so that it be not corsiue as Sublimatum, M [...]lke good a­gainst poyson. or the lyke: and as for that kinde of poyson, with only drinking of much Milke they bee re­medied.

This Roote beeing taken, causeth the venome to bee cast out, which is eaten or drunken, or any manner vene­mous humour, comming of any euill degree, or cause what­soeuer, which is as wel done by vomit, as by sweate. If th [...]re bee any small Wormes, or long Wormes in the body, it killeth, and expelleth them: and if you haue any suspicion, that there haue beene giuen you any venomous morsel, whe­ther it bee venome or witchecraft, it expelleth it: in which there is so much trust in those partes, that they take it for a meruellous remedy, for the thinges afore­sayde. The roote being tasted, it hath a sweete relishe, with [Page 79] some sharpnes. It seemeth to be hot in the second degree.

From the coast of Nicaraga, and of Nata, they which come in these last ships, from the firme land, bring a certaine kind of purge with them, that surely by the tast is easie to be taken, and it worketh well, and without any payne, & princi­pally it purgeth Choler. It is the fruite of a tree very great, after the maner of Thornish Chestnuts, which haue within them Chestnuts, sauing that they pricke not, but be playne▪ within those prickles there be some like to Chestnuts, made cleane without shale, well neere square, which deuide them­s [...]lues asunder, by meanes of a little skin, euery one into two partes, and so they are couered with it, and when they be ta­ken & occupied, that little skin is plucked away, & they are made cleane frō it, for that beyng taken with it, it procureth most dangerous accidentes, and vomites, & much faintnesse and infinite stooles: and without it the Chestnut is a purga­tion very gentle, and they purge easily, and without paines: if they be tosted, then they will purge lesse: if they be greene they eate them: or being beaten in a Morter, they take them with wine, or with the broth of a henne: if [...]hey bee drie, they make pouder of them, any manner of fashion. They doe their worke well, and with much assurance, keeping the order that ought to be kept, by them which be purged, and the humors beyng prepared, as is conuenient. They are hot in the first degree.

¶ Of the Sarcaparillia of Guaiaquill.

IN the first part wee declared, howe that they brought Sarcaparillia from Pe­ru: Of the Sar­capari [...]lia of Guaiaquill. which wee vse in some persons, and it worketh greate effectes. And be­cause there was but little of it and soone done, we returned to that of the H [...]nduras which is that we haue spen [...] hi [...]herto. And [Page] ning as much as they can drinke at once, or at diuers times, and after they cast themselues into a sweate, and they sweate so much, that it runneth by the Bedde in great quantitie. Af­ter that, they take cleane cloathes, and eate of a Henne, but they drinke of no other thing but of that iuyce which they tooke out of the rynde of the Sarcaparillia, as well at Din­ner, as at Supper, and they must eate very little at Supper, & likewise at Dinner. And they must procure to keepe them­selues from the Ayre and from the colde all that they can, although in that Uillage of Guaiaquill, wherein bee about fiftie houses, or few more, the most of them are Cotages, & of little safegarde, and the Walles be made of Canes, and there be no Chambers on high, but onely belowe: they dwel all in places of little defence. Being in this order and small comforte for lacke of Conserua and drie fruite, which were necessary, yet in eight or nine dayes they are made whole of all the diseases, that are healed with the Sarcapa­rillia, and of many others which shoulde be very large to speake of. It is sufficient that there goe no Man from thence which returneth not whole, although he had ne­uer so greeuous a disease, so that they bee not sharpe A­gewes: For in that case the cure hath no place, or in any other sharpe disease. All other diseases it healeth with maruellous successe, as it is seene by the great number of people which come thither, and goe away whole of the diseases, which they bring thither. But it is needfull that he which doth enter into this cure, bee strong and not weake, for if he be weake, he cannot suffer so great sweate, without great perill of his person.

Another way to take it.For these euilles they haue another manner of Wa­ter, that is, taking foure ounces of Sarcaparillia, rather more then lesse, for that there they vse neyther wayghte nor measure, but doe put all at discretion, and they take away the rynde from the Sarcaparillia, and breake it, without putting it in Water, if it bee greene, and if [Page 81] if it be drie, then they breake it & put it in water, vntill it bee made soft: this rynd beyng without the heart, they seeth in 4. Pottels of water, little more or lesse, and they seeth it vntill halfe the water be diminished, rather more then lesse: and of that Water they drinke as muche as they can in many times, or at one time, and forthwith they betake themselues to sweat, and although they sweat not so much, as they sweat with the first water, yet they will heale, they moue their clothes, they eate of a Pullet, they keep themselues from the colde and ayre, and at Dinner and Supper, they vse the self same water, for that in one day they consume one seething: this people take it in this manner fifteene or twentie dayes, & in this sort also they are healed of all their euils & diseases, to the great admiration of the people. And for the vse of this Sarcaparillia they do not except any disease, vnles it be feuers or sharpe diseases: these people purge not at the beginning, as we doe heere, nor in the middest, nor in the ende of the cure, for there is no other Phisition nor medicine, but cer­tayne women which be there, that giue the water: they are women Phisitions, and therefore they take away, and put to as it seemeth good vnto them.

That which I doe note in this businesse, is that they seeth the Sarcaparillia without the heart: & that they vse not but of the rynde, which seemeth to be very well done, & verie con­formable to good Phisicke, for the parts of the roots which bee harde, should be taken away, as things superfluous, and without vertue & profite, which rather do let and disturbe, that it cannot worke that effect which is desired in it, & the vertue is in the rynde: and this is that which we doe commonly vse when we will profite our selues by it. And so from hencefor­ward, The manner how to ma [...]e the water of the rynde of Sarcaparillia when I shall ordaine this water for any that haue need of it, I will vse the rynde onely.

And thus I ordayne it at this present. Which is to take foure ounces of Sarcaparillia, and too take away the hearte,

[Page] BEing in company with Iohn Gotierres Telo, a gentlemā very excellēt, & Treasurer of y ^e Con­tratatiō house, a passenger which came frō the Florida, gaue him a peece of Ambar Grese, very ex­cellent, saying that he brought it from the Florida. I took it, & brake it, & it was perfect grese, of a very good colour, and in the vttermost part it was blacke, and I asked him that brought it, where he had it: he sayd, that he gathered it in the coast of Florida, and that they haue it commonly of the Indians, that gather it in that Coast, and they take much pleasure in it with great delight, and contentment annoynting their fa­ces with it, and other partes, for the good smell which it hath. And surely it maketh mee maruell to see, that in our Occidentall Indias, there is so excellent Ambar, and that the time hath discouered it vnto vs, and that there hath come from those partes not onely so greate riches, of Siluer and Golde, Pearles, and other precious stones, but that also nowe they bring vs suche excellent Ambar Grise, a thing so esteemed in the world, & so muche vsed for the health of the body, and so necessary to cure and to heale withall, so many and diuers infirmities, as we will speake of beeing a thing which for the delicacy of mankind, is an ornament, & cōtentment w ^t very much serueth for vse. I do vnderstand also that other Passengers brought of the like Ambar, and some in much quantitie, of which I was very glad, and the first peece that I saw was very suspicious vnto me, and after that I had seen more, Ambar is not the seede of the Whale, but a Gūme. then I beleeued that there was of it, in those parts, which is found cast vp vnto the coast.

Some there bee which thinke that it is the seede of a Whale, as it hath beene an auncient opinion, which is false, [Page 83] as Simeon Archiatros a Greeke author doeth shew, saying that the Ambar in diuers places doeth spring, Simeon a Greeke au­tor. they bee his fountaynes from whence it doeth spring, as those of Pitch Licor: the worst is that which these fishes doe taste, and swallowe downe, &c. The same it seemeth Serapio doth vn­derstande, and besides this Simeon a Greeke, and Actio, I finde no other Greekes that make mention thereof, but it is treated of by the Arabies with as great ignorance and con­fusion as may bee seene. Whosoeuer by them will verifie what Ambar is, it is to bee determined vppon, that it is a kinde of Pitch, that cometh forth of springs & Fountaines, that are made in the deapth of the Sea, and comming forth to the ayre, the Licor being grosse doth congele, and waxe hard, and is made the Ambar which we see, as many things else which are in the lower part of the Sea, are soft & ten­der, but being brought out into the aire are made harde. As we see in the Coral, which in the lower partes of the Sea is soft and tender, Coral. and by bringing it into the ayre is turned in­to a stone: and the Ambar whereof the Beades are made, in the lowe parts of the Sea is whyte, and being come foorth into the aire, turneth hard and stony, and is Pitch, Ambar con­geled. which co­meth foorth of a fountaine, which is in the Germaine Sea, wherby the barbarous opinions are confounded, that say the Ambar is the seede of the Whale. And the cause whereof this ignorance came, was this, for that Ambar was founde in the Whales, and other fishes, Amb [...]r foūd in the Whales Mawe. and therefore men said that it grewe of it own nature in their mawes, and as this Pitch riseth vp to the highest partes of the Sea by reason of the lightnes therof, the Whales do deuoure it, thinking that it is a thing to bee eaten, and so men finde it in their Mawes. For if it were seed, it would be found in other parts of their bodies, where it is natural to al beasts. In my tyme was ta­ken a Whale, in the coast of the Canaria that had more thē one hundred pound waight of Ambar within him, and after [Page] that they killed many, and found none.

They that come from the Florida say, that there bee Whales by those coastes, Whales of the Coast of the Ambar. and that they haue killed some of them, and founde neither Ambar nor other thing in theyr Mawes, more then fishes: & also in the yong Whales which are very greate, although they haue killed them, that they found nothing in them, for that the Indians doe fishe for thē. and take them with the greatest cunning that may bee ima­gined, which is after this maner. One Indian taketh a long cord, and strong, made with certaine ginnes, and shippeth himself in a litle Boate, and maketh towarde the Whale where he seeth him comming with his yong Whales, and goeth to one of them and leapeth vppon him, and casteth his snare vpon his snow [...]. The strong young Whale when hee feeleth this, he goeth downe to the deapth of the Sea & the Indian hampered fast with him, for they are greate swim­mers, and can abide long in the water: and the yong Whale as hee hath neede to breath, returneth vp to the height of the Sea. And in the tyme that hee cometh vp warde, the Indian carrying with him a sharpe wedge, and putting it through his nose where he breatheth, he striketh the wedge into him with his fist, in such sorte, that the yong Whale cannot cast it from him, and when hee commeth vpp on heigh, the Indian giueth him corde, and taketh his boate, and goeth after the yong Whale, and as he cannot breath, he ch [...]keth him easi­ly, and he commeth to the lande. It is surely a delicate and maruellous hunting, wherein they haue so much cunning, that a great Lizard or Crocodil of xxiiii. foote, the most hor­rible and cruel beast that is in the Sea, one Indian doeth kil. Some say, that the Ambar is made of certaine fruite growing by the Sea side, where Whales bee, and in the Moneth of April and May, when it is in season, & of sweete smell, the Whales doe eate it, and of that the Ambar is made, as if the fruite so eaten, would be conuerted into an o­ther [Page 76] thing then into blood and flesh. There bee many other opinions, concerning this matter what Ambar shoulde bee made of, which are confuted all: and it is to bee vnderstoode, that it is a kinde of Pitche which springeth from Foun­taines that there are in the deapth of the Sea, in particu­lar partes of it, as wee see there bee of Petrolio, of Napta of Sulphur, and of many other things, as in our Occidental In­dias, of diuers other Licors: Which is best Ambar. the best Ambar is that which is most like to a red colour, the whyte is not so good, and the worst of al is the blacke.

Ambar hath great vertues, and serueth in the world for many thinges, and so it is a substance of great price: The vertues of the Am­bar. for that which is good is worth at this day, twyce more thē the most fine Gold. For the contentment of man, and for the delicate­nesse of the worlde, it serueth for many thinges: The medici­nal vertues therof. with it they make Beades, and fine perfumes, and odorous smelles, and water of Angels of most sweete smell, in diuers formes and fashions: with it they dresse gloues of diuers sortes, & make Oyles and licors of most sweete and delectable smelles: it serueth for meates & drinkes, in diuers and sundry formes, which to reporte, would be a large processe.

In medicinal thinges the vertue thereof is greate, and it profiteth very much in our Medicines, for it entereth into the most principall matters of Phisicke, which are com­pounded in the Poticaries Shoppes, as well Electuaries, as Confectiōs, pouders, & pilles, Preparatiues, Ointmēts, plaisters, & many other thinges, that receiue great vertues therby: & of the name of it, there is made a confection called Dia-Ambar. The vertues which it hath in particular are great, and of great effects, for that with it are healed diuers and sundry diseases. And this the Arabiens did teach vs: for of the Greekes onely Simeon, and Actio wrote a fewe woordes of it, and also Actuario made the lyke mention of [Page] it: These three authours beeing Greekes, liued after the tyme that the Arabiens did wryte, and they made some re­corde of the Medicines, and thinges which they wrote of, wherof the ancient wryters made no mention & one of them is Ambar, which the olde Phisitions knewe not before the Arabiens, for they made no mention of it.

The vertue therof is to heale, dissolue, & cōfort any maner of way, The comple­xion thereof. wherin it is applyed: For that the cōplexion thereof is hot and dry, with some fatnes, and it hath vertue to molli­fie, & make soft, with other vertues that it hath besides.

And beeing applied to the Braines, in the manner of an oyntment, It cōforteth the braine & Sin [...]wes. and melting it with the Pestel of a Morter being hot, and mingled with the oyle of the flowers of Orenges, in this sorte it taketh away the griefe of the head, it comfor­teth the Sinewes, it dissolueth any maner of colde which is in them, with a great prerogatiue and helpe, aswel in it own forme as in making a plaister of Al [...]pta M [...]scata, which is made of certaine compoundes, that it bee applied continu­ally to that part.

What the smel of the Ambar doth.Smelling vnto it in the peece, or making a Pomander of it, mingled with Muske, and Lign'aloe, it comforteth the braynes, and openeth the vnderstanding: in the one sorte, or the other, beeing applyed vnto it, it maketh a good memorie, and helpeth the vnderstanding that it may bee better and more perfite. And it is conuenient that wee vse it more then women, for the hurte which the good smell doeth vnto them, which bee grieued with the Mo­ther, for they ought not to vse it, if there be not a descending of the Mother to the lower partes: for in such case it were conuenient to smell much to it, for it causeth the Mother to ryse vp to his place, with the good smell, taking some euil sauour by the inferior partes. And lykewyse by smel­ling vnto it, it comforteth the harte, and maketh the Spi­rites valiant and strong: and for this purpose it profiteth, be­ing carried about one, and smelling to it, in the tyme of the [Page 85] Pestilence, and in corrupt ayres, to resist the corruption, and malice of them, with the vertue and sweete smel thereof.

It is a maruellous thing to vnderstande howe muche the Ambar doeth profite and succour them, which be olde, The Ambar is a great re­medy for thē that be old. in what maner or sort soeuer they vse it: & although with it excellent smel it comforteth the spirites, and the braynes of the head, yet it maketh thinne also Flegmatike humours, which doe continually abounde. And some say, that the vse of it holdeth back age, and conserueth that it goe not forward, and it is good that such doe vse it in their meates, and in sweete smelles for their apparel and Chambers, and appli­ed to the braine and harte, and that they holde it to smell in their handes continually: and that it bee put into the wyne, wherewith they shall wash their handes and face: for it is a maruellous thing howe much it comforteth, and giueth strength, wherein I haue seene maruellous effectes, & they which are old and crooked, and doe vse it, shal perceiue what great good it wil doe them.

In paines of women, it is a maruellous remedie, In paynes of women. min­gled with the Lode stone, and Galuano, made in little plai­sters layd vpon the nauil, to keepe the Mother in his place, and for the rest of the paines of it. Chiefly by smelling to it continually, it profiteth women that the moother may come downe. And if it ryse vp, putting into it a Tente of Cotten woll, dissolued with oyle of Liquid Ambar, it maketh it come downe. And being put into the mouth of the mother in women which doe not bring forth children, for the coldnesse that is in them, it is most excellent. I vse to take this confe­ction: which is compounded with Ambar twoo partes, and the scraping of Iuory, one part grounde small, halfe a parte of Lignaloe made into pouder, and a little Muske: of the which make Pilles, and they must take three, that may way three pence, from three to three daies: applying moreouer the little plaister, which is spoken of, to the nauill, and [Page] the tent into the mouth of the mother: surely it doeth profite much, the vniuersal euacuations, beeing made, and it must be vsed many dayes.

For the euils of the sto­macke.The Ambar profiteth much in the diseases of the sto­macke, and for the coldnes of it, if there bee a plaister made thereof, and of Alipta Muscata, and of Storacke, after the maner of a brest plate, and laid to the stomacke: and like­wise of the self same thing Pilles being made and mingled with wine, of sweete smell, and taken in the morning fa­sting. For it dissolueth windes, it taketh away any maner of colde which is in the stomacke, it helpeth disgestion, it gi­ueth appetite, and lust to meate, and this is conuenient for him that is colde of complexion, or for that which cau­seth the hurte of the stomacke, that commeth of colde: and therefore it shoulde bee conuenient for them that be old, and cold of stomacke.

It comforteth the harte, and healeth the diseases thereof, principally if they come of windinesse, For the euill of the harte. or of cold humors, being taken by it self, or mingled with Lignaloe & Muske, in maner of pouders, or pilles. For that the Muske, as A­nerois sayeth, comforteth more then al other sweete smelles that are in the worlde, for that the sweete fauour, and com­forting smell thereof preuayleth more, then al other smelles. In what maner of way soeuer the Ambar is applyed, by it self, or with other things, in infirmities of the harte, it pro­fiteth, much applyed thereunto outwardly, and in any maner of sorte taken, it doeth comfort and strengthen, and dissolue any humour that is in the body.

I doe cause Ambar to bee ground, which being wel min­gled with yeallowe wax molted, and made into a thynne cake, and layde to the harte, doeth profite much in the e­uilles of the harte, Of them that be Melan­cholike. chiefly if they come first of windinesse, Melancholie, or of any other cause whatsoeuer, so that it be not hotte.

The Ambar is very profitable for them that be Melan­cholike, [Page 86] for it maketh them very merie, taking awaye the causes of the euill, and dissoluing the windinesse thereof which there are very many grieued with al: and vnto such it is good to bee ministered, and to vse it after the manner of Medicine, mingled as we haue saide, in the morninges: and also to vse it laide vpon the harte, and vpon the braines, and in meates, for surely I haue seene great effectes wrought in them that haue frequented it.

Where there is corruption of ayre, It rectifieth the ayre. the Ambar doeth rectifie it by it self, or mingled with things of sweete smel, the place beeing perfumed with it, where men shoulde re­maine, principally in the tyme of winter, and vnto such as doe suffer colde Rewmes, in cold tymes: chiefly perfuming their kercheifes, wherein they sleepe, with it, or with some mixture thereof, perfuming the Chamber likewise, for it is a maruellous thing to see the good woorke it doeth make.

And likewise it doeth good to them, which haue the pal­sey, For thē that haue the Palsey. For them that haue the falling sicknesse. or weakenesse of Sinewes, perfuming themselues with it, or with the mixture therof.

Those that haue the Falling sicknesse, by giuing to them at their noses, when they bee in their traunce or paroxismos, the smoke thereof, it maketh to awake: and wearing it a­bout them, & smelling to it continually, the traunce doth not come so quickly, nor so strong. And vnto those which suffer the disease of the Palseye, by anoynting their head with it, and all the vpper part of the skull, it bringeth manifest pro­fite: for that the Ambar is a thing that comforteth the Si­newes and brayne, more then any thing that wee knowe.

One propertie the Ambar hath, that bringeth admiratiō, The Ambar doeth make dronke. and Simeon Secto a Greeke authour doeth reporte, that if any smell to it before hee drinke wyne, it maketh him stand as if he were dronken▪ and if it bee put into the wine, it maketh him dronke indeede, in such sorte that a little [Page] wyne mingled with Amb [...]r, causeth dronkennesse, which I haue seene by experience, in the house of a great Lorde of this Realme, where for delicatenesse, and daintinesse, they had a S [...]lte seller of Ambar, as also Salte to cast into meates: and to a Iester there was Ambar cast into his wyne, and hee was made very dr [...]nke with it. Many other things [...]here were to treate of Ambar, but because I would not passe the limites of my purpose, I leaue [...] wryte of them, and the r [...]ther, for that in the thirde parte wee wil declare that which we meane farther to say of them.

¶ Of the Cinamon of our Jndias.

IN the yeere of our Lorde 1540. Francis Pissarro proui­ded to make towarde his bro­ther Gonsalo Pissarro gouer­nour of the prouince of Quito, & the Spaniards wēt thither with a good will, & they went also vnto the coūtrie that was called the country of the Cina­mō, w ^t is an other prouince be­yond Quito, and the Cinamon was much spoken of amongst the Spaniardes, for it was vnderstood of the Indians that it was a thing of great riches,

Gonsalo Pissarro departed with 200. Spaniards, and it happened to him euil in his iorney, The history of the cōquest of the coun­trie, where the Cinamon groweth. for it was a sharpe coun­trie, & without vittaile, & with great trauel they came to that prouince called of the Indians Somaca, where the Cinamon groweth, which is right vnder the Equinoctiall line.

The trees which beare it, are of reasonable greate­nesse, they carrie a Leafe like to Laurel, they be al the y [...]re greene, and they neuer loose the leafe, which is a thing com­mon to all the trees of the Indias. The descrip­tion of the trees, and of the fruite. They beare their fruite vnto the likenesse of a little Hatte, that hath his Cup and sides as greate as a peece of eight Rialles of Siluer, which is foure Shillinges, and some greater, it is of the colour of a darke tawnie, as well without as within, it is smooth in the inner parte, and sharpe in the vtter, in the highest part of the Cuppe it hath a stalke, whereby it hangeth in the tree, it is as thicke in the side, as a peece of eight Rialles of Siluer, and the vppermost parte is fuller of bodie, and being tasted, it hath the same pleasauntnesse of tast that the same Cinamon hath, which they bring from the India of Portugall, and in like sorte there r [...]mayne [...]h in the [Page] mouth the same sweete smell, and tast, that the same Cina­mon of the East India hath, & there remayneth in the mouth the same sweete smell and tast, with some drinesse: the selfe-same it doeth being ground, respiring out from it the same smell, which the most fine Cinamon hath. And in the meates wherin it is put▪ it geueth the same tast & sauour that the Ci­namon of the East India hath. The trees haue a grosse rynd, but without tast, sauour or smell of the Cinamon. I cannnot tell if the little inner rynd haue any, onely the rynde I haue seen with the fruite, as it is described: they say that the leaues beyng beaten, geue out s [...]me smel of Cinamon, onely the ver­tue, sweet smel and tast, is in the fruite, which is contrary to [...]he Cinamon, that is brought from the Orientall Indias, for onely the Rynde of the tree is that which hath the sweete sa­uour and pleasant smell, as we doe all see. And true it is, that some is better and of more sweete smell and tast, than othersome is. For although that they are all one sorte of trees, which bring forth the Cinamon, yet some haue the rinde thinne, and that is the best Cinamon, and others haue it grosse, and this is not so good: and thereof it hath come, that there bee some which doe distinguish the Cinamon into di­uers kindes. For one sort they call Cassia, and an other Ci­namon, and an other Cassia lig [...]a, and it is all one kinde of tree, that bringeth them foorth: but that the diuersity of the place bringeth forth one more fine than another, and so Cassia and Cinamon are al one, Cassia & Ci­namō all one. for that they differ not, but onely in the names, for all is Cinamon, thinne, and fine, and whereas you find written Cassia, may be put Cinamon; and where you doe find Cinamon, Cassia.

This our fruite that is called Cinamon, profiteth in Medicine for many thinges: Vertues which it hath in medicine. beeyng taken and made into pouder, it comforteth the stomake, and it dissolueth winds, it taketh away the euill smell of the mouth, & it is an impor­tant remedy for the griefe of the stomake, it is cordiall, it [Page 89] maketh a good colour in the face, and Cassia in drest meates is vsed euen as Cinamon is, because it woorketh the like ef­fect, that it doeth: by taking the Pouder of this fruite with wine, or water made for the nonce, it prouoketh the purgatiō of women. It is hot in the thirde degree, and drie in the first, but with notable comforting, by reason of the drie parts that it hath.

¶ Of the Ginger.

DOn Francis de Mendosa, Don Francis de Mendosa, Sonne vnto the vice Roy Don Anthony de Mendo­sa, did sow in the new Spayne Cloaues, Peper, Ginger, and other spices, of those which are brought from the Oriental In­dias, and that which by him was begun, was lost, by reason of his death, onely the Ginger did remayne, for it grew very well in those partes, and so they bring it greene from the new Spayne, and other partes of our Indias, and some they bring drie, after the ma­ner of that of the East India.

The Ginger is a Plant which carrieth his Leafe like to L [...]rio, somewhat more narrowe, with the same greenesse: The descrip­tiō of Ginger. the Roote is as it seemeth, some greater than other, and when it is greene, it burneth not in the mouth, wherefore beeyng made small into peeces, it is put into Sallettes, for because it geueth them both tast and smell. They sow it, of the seede that it bringeth foorth or of the same little Roote, and of the one sorte and of the other it waxeth greate: and after the Roote is growen greate, they take it foorth, and drie it in the shadowe, where no moysture doeth come, for that is it which doeth corrupt him, and for this cause they bring it in drie earth and made in Conserua, although that here it may bee verie well made of that which is drie, burying the Roote at the foote of a place where many [...] [Page] led Emperiall, beyng abroade below and narrow aboue, and by the mouth of them there groweth out certayne Buddes, which are his Leaues, which cause him to shewe verie faire, and these Buddes are sowen, and of them growe the Plantes, which carrie the Pinnas, and one Plant carrieth not more than one Pinna, in the highest part therof: it grow­eth greene, and as it ripeneth, it turneth yeallowe. They take from it the Rynde, which is verie thinne, for to eate, that which it hath within it is white, and softe, and melteth in the mouth, with a very good tast, and sweete sauour: sa­uing that it hath many small karnels rounde about it, which it is needefull that you cast from you when you eate them, which are of a Purple colour. The smell thereof is like to a kinde of Quince, and where there is a Pinna rype, he smelleth like to a Quince ouer all the House where he is.

The vertues thereof.They take them to bee good for the stomake, and like­wise for the hearte, and to restore the appetite lost: it is a generall fruite in all partes of the Indias, and much estee­med. They are to be eaten at the beginning of meate, & they vse to eate them in the hot after Noones: for they say that they do refresh: they are cold in my iudgement: they brought two sorts of them, the one drie, & the other in Conserua. The dry did serue for no other purpose, but to see the figure and the forme of them: in Conserua, they haue a good tast, although somewhat sharpe: they ought to be made in Conserua when they are greene.

Of the Guaiauas.

The descrip­tion of the tree which doth carry the Guaia­ [...]as.THey brought mee from the firme Lande the seede of the Fruite which is so muche esteemed by the Indians, as also by the Spaniardes, which they call Guaiauas. The trees which carrie this fruite are of a reasonable greatnesse, they cast out their bowes [Page 91] dispersed. They carie a leafe like to the manner of Laurell, the flower of it is whyte, according to the fashion of the flower of Orenges, sauing that it is somewhat greater, it is of a sweete smell. This tree yeldeth much fruite, where­soeuer it be sowen, and doeth multiply and spred so much a­broade, that they take it to bee euil for the grounde where it groweth, for that in many pastures the people doe loose the feeding of their cattle by reason of them. And they weue themselues one togither with an other like Bryers: the fruite which they carie is like to our Apples, of the great­nesse of a Pippin, it is greene when it beginneth first to appeare, and as it ripeneth, it turneth yeallowe. In the in­ner parte it is whyte, and in colour russet, and being cut, hath foure places deuided, where it hath the seede, which is lyke to the seede of Medlers, being very harde, and of colour tawnie, al the stones within haue no karnel, they are without any sauour. And to eate these Apples, they pare them from the Rind, the fruite is holsome, and of good digestion: when they be greene they are giuen to them that haue the Laske, for they restraine and binde much, and when they bee very rype, they make the belly very laxaatiue when they bee of a good seasonable age. They are good rosted for them that be whole, and for the sicke, for beeing so rosted they are more healthful: and better, and of pleasanter taste. And the best of them growe in trees which are tilled. The Indians vse the leaues in seething, with the which washing their feete that are swollen, they cause them to abate, and the inner parts of the body being stopt or opilated, being washt with this seating, doe disopilate. It seemeth to bee a colde fruite, and therefore they giue them rosted to them which haue hot A­gewes. It is a very com­mon frute in all the Indias.

Of the Cachos.

ALso they did sende mee the Seede of a plante or hearbe, The descrip­tion of the Cachos. which the Indians doe much esteeme, which they cal Cachos. The Cachos is an hearbe very reddish in colour, it carieth a rounde leafe & thinne, it casteth out a fruite like to a Berengena of Spayne, where the seede doth growe: it is very small, and of a Russet colour, it hath a taste with­out any sharpnesse, onely in the mountaines of Peru this hearbe is found,

The Indians doe much esteeme it, for the medicinal ver­tues that it hath, The vertues therof. it maketh one to pisse wel where the lack of Uryne is, it doeth expell the Sande and Stones, which growe in the reines. And moreouer they say, that the vse of it doeth breake the stone from the bladder, if the Stones bee soft, that they may bee dissolued, with taking very little quantitie of it, and of this they haue so many examples, that they cause mee to maruell at it, because I thinke that the stone in the bladder cannot bee expelled, but onely to cut it out is the remedie, for that no Phisicke can dissolue him. They say that taking the seede grounde with some water, made for the purpose, causeth it to bee cast out in Clay, and being come foorth it returneth to be congeled, and turneth it self into a stone.

Only to a yong man I sawe this happen who had a stone in the bladder, Historie. and I beeing certified of it by the Maister Surgions that had felt him, and of the accidents which hee had, caused him to bee caried at the beginning of the Som­mer, vnto the Fountaine of the stone, and in twoo monethes after that hee was there, hee came whole from thence, and brought in a paper all the clay which hee had voyded from him at tymes, being of stone dissolued into peeces. We wil sowe the seedes, although very little, onely to see the effect [Page 92] wrought by them, which as they say is in a cause so greate, and if it doe growe, we wil vse of it.

Of the flowres of blood.

I Sowed a seede which they brought mee from the Peru, The descrip­tion of the hearbe, and the flower. more to see the fairenesse thereof, then for any Medicinall vertues that it hath. The hearbe commeth to bee of the height of twoo spannes, litle more or lesse, bowes it casteth out straight with certaine rounde leaues, very greene and thinne, in the hiest of the bowes there groweth a flower being yeallow, very high in colour, and onely it beareth fiue leaues, and in the middest of euery leafe there is figured a droppe of blood, so red and so firmely kindled in colour, that it can not be more. This flower hath at the foote of it a stalke very long, which commeth out a good space from the flower. It is a flower very beautifull, which doeth adornate gardens, & it groweth very wel of the seede, or of the plante, and beeing tasted, it hath the same sauour and taste that the Mastuesso hath: it is notable hotte.

A rinde of a tree for the Rewme.

AMongst the thinges w ^t they sent mee frō the Peru, there is a thicke rinde, which seemeth to bee of a great tree, and being tasted, hath a sharpnes of tast with some drynesse: the trees growe at the side of a riuer, where this rinde is taken of, which is twentie and sixe Leagues from Lima, and they are not [Page] founde in other partes of the Indias, but onely there. The tree is after the fashion of an [...]ime, as wel in the greatnes, as in the leafe. The Indians when they feele themselues la­den with Reumes, The vse thereof. or haue the Cough, or any paynes of the head, they make pouder very small of the rinde of the tree, and take it in at their noses, and it causeth them to purge much at them, and with this they cleare themselues of the e­uil: which we haue experimented, by taking the pouder in at the nose, and it maketh them to purge notably. It seemeth to be more then hot in the second degree.

Of the Pacal.

IN the same Riuer there groweth an o­ther tree, The vse therof. which the Indians call Pacal, which tree is lesser then that wee haue spoken of before: the Indians doe vse it made in Ashes mingled with Soye, it taketh away any maner of sore or skabbe in the head, howe grieuous soeuer it bee, as wel those which growe in the head, as in the bodie: as also it taketh away the markes of the sayde skabbes or sores being neuer so olde. Hether they sent mee a little of the wood, wherewith the Ashes are made, that we might make experience of it.

Of the Paico.

THey sent mee an hearbe which in the Peru they call Payco: they bee certaine leaues after the manner of the leaues of Planten, of that making and great­nesse, and as they come dry they are ve­ry thinne: and being tasted, they haue a notable bityng, so that thereby they seeme to bee very hotte. And being made into pouder and ta­ken [Page 93] in wyne, they take away the griefe of the stone in the kidneis, which commeth of windinesse or cold causes: The vertue [...] thereof. and being sodden and made into a plaister, and laide vpon the griefe, they take it away also.

An hearbe for the euill of the Reines.

LIkewise they sent mee ano­ther hearbe, which profiteth much in the euill of the reines, when it commeth of a hotte cause. The vertue [...] therof. The Iuyce min­gled with the oyntment of Roses amongst it, and one of the leaues or more, if it bee needful, laide vpon it, is good for an inflāmation, the iuyce thereof being put, and it profiteth much, for it doth resist the inflammation, and mittigate the payne. The leaues which they sent me, bee lyke to small Lettice, with the same great­nesse, and being tasted they are of an euill savour: it seemeth to be some hearbe notable cold.

¶ Of a fruite which groweth vnder the ground.

THey sent me from the Peru, a fruite very good, that groweth vnder the earth, and very faire to beholde, and of a very good taste in eating. This fruite hath no roote, nor doeth produce any plante, The descrip­tion of it. nor plante doth produce it, but that it groweth vnder the ground as the Turmas doe grow vnder the earth, which are called the Tur­mas of the earth. It is of the greatnesse of halfe a finger rounde, and rounde about it is wrought with a very fayre worke, it is of a bay colour: It hath within it a little kernel, which when it is dry, maketh a sounde within, lyke to an [Page] Almonde: the rinde of it is tawny, and somwhat white, par­ted into twoo partes lyke vnto an Almonde. It is a fruite of goood sauour and taste, and eating of it, it seemeth that you eate Nuttes.

Where it groweth.This fruite groweth vnder the earth, in the coast of the Riuer of Maronnon, and it is not in any other part of al the Indias. It is to be eaten greene and dry, and the beste way is to toste it. It is eaten alwaies after meates, as fruite eaten last of all, because it dryeth much the stomacke and leaueth it satisfied, but if you eate much of it, then it brin­geth heauinesse to the head. It is a fruite in great reputati­on, as wel amongst the Indians, as the Spaniardes, and with greate reason, for I haue eaten of them, which they haue brought mee, and they haue a good taste. It seemeth to be a temperate fruite.

Of the fruite called Leucoma.

THey brought mee likewyse a fruite of a tree which the Indians call Leucoma, It is like to Chestnuttes. which is like vnto a Chestnutte of these of ours, as wel in colour as in the great­nesse, as also in the whytenesse that the Chestnutte hath. It seemeth that within it is another thing. I did not breake it to see what it was, because they brought me but twoo of them, the one I haue sowen, and the other I haue for to sowe at an other tyme. This fruite doeth beare a tree of much greatnesse, for it is of timber strong and harde, it casteth foorth the leaues lyke to Madronno, which is a redde berie, growing in the Mountaines of Spaine. This frute serueth to be eaten, for that they say it is of a good taste, & good for the laske, because it is very dry: they say it is a temperate fruite.

Of the Beades stones to washe withal.

THey sent mee a little Cheste made of Corke full of rounde beades stones and blacke, of greate beautie, so that they seeme to be made of the wood Ebano: and they bee a fruite which a small treee beareth, How it is fruite. beeing more crooked then straight, after the manner of bryers: and it carieth a round fruite as great as a Nut, couered with a certaine fleshinesse clong therevnto, which being taken away, there remaineth a round Bead stone, and so rounde that it cannot be rounder, of blacke colour, most harde, that it can not be broken.

This fruite serueth in place of Sope, in such sorte, that twoo or three of these with hotte water are of more effect to wash withal, and to make cleane cloathes, Sope. then one pounde of Sope: and so it rayseth the fome, and woorketh al the ef­fectes that Sope doth, and so they proceed washing by litle and little, vntil onely the Beadstone doe remaine, which is that which this fruite is foūded on, & al are pearced through: and there are made of them Beades to pray vpō, which see­meth to be made of Ebano. They dure a long tyme, for as they are Beades so hard, that they breake not: this fruite is so bitter, that neither beast nor byrd commeth too it, for the bitternesse thereof. I haue sowen some of the Beades, and they haue growne, and they cast out from them faire leaues very great. I trust that they wil bring forth fruite, for nowe the plants are very litle, but in tyme I hope they wil yeld it.

Of the Crabbes of that Country.

[Page] A Gentleman which came from the firme lande certified mee, that hauing had cer­taine continuall Agues in that countrie, Historie. he came to be in a consumption, and was counsailed to goe to certaine Ilandes, which are betweene Puerto Rico and the Margareta, for that there is in them greate quantitie of Crabbes, and they are the best of the worlde, because they are maintained by Pigeons Egges, which goe thither to lay, and of the yong Pigeons that are there, & that he should eate no other thing but these crabbes sodden, and he was healed very wel: and although he had ea­ten much fleshe of Popingeies for that purpose, they did not him so much good, as the Crabbes did: and in them that are consumed, they haue a great property, as Auenzoar saith, and not only they profit such by manifest qualitie or degree, but also by their particular propertie which they haue, for the same purpose.

Of the Cardones.

BIcause I shoulde see the straungenesse of this Hearbe which is the Cardones of the greatnes of a torche of eight square, and wreathed like vnto it, they brought them vnto me. It hath a Medicinal ver­tue, The medici­nal vertues thereof. that being newly beaten in a Mor­ter and put into Sores, it healeth and so­dereth them forthwith. And well neere I my selfe had neede of it, for this purpose, for that one of the thornes that it hath, did pricke me. They are strong as Needles which did hurt mee. It seemeth to be a strange hearbe.

Of an hearbe for such as are broken.

[Page 95] THey sent me a little of an hearbe, and by reason it was so drie it came smal broken in peeces, so that the figure of it could not be seene, which they wrote was maruel­lous for them that are broken, whether they bee children or men that haue that kinde of griefe, and in those partes they haue it for a sure thing, and it is vsed by one Indian, by ap­plying this hearbe greene, vpon that which is broken, being men or children. And it maketh thervpon a certayne binding very strange, without neede of any maner of Brich, made for the purpose, for they may goe so fast and so swift being bound therwith, as though they had a paire of Briches, as one told me that had byn healed of the like disease, with the hearbe, and with the maner of bynding. I haue vnderstood that if the maner of binding be as good as this man speaketh of, it is sufficient to heale without the hearbe, or any thing els, by reason that I saw a man of C [...]rdona which healed all persons that were broken with onely the bynding that bee made of them, without vsing vnto them any maner of brich. And this is certayne, that there be some here that were healed and cu­red by him.

Of the Veruaine.

ALso the same Gentleman wrote vnto me from the Peru, that in the Riuers of the Mountaynes of that Countrie neere vnto them, there groweth a greate quanti­tie of Veruaine, like vnto that of Spaine, with the which the Indians doe profite themselues in their cures, The vertues thereof. for many in­firmities, and in especially agaynst all kinde of poyson, and [Page] for such as say that there hath beene geuen them a morsell, or the like thing.

I spake heere with a Ladie which came from the Peru, and she certified me that hauing beene many yeeres sicke, Historie. and being in cure with many Phisitions, she went to an In­dian, that was knowen to bee a man that knewe muche of herbes, Wormes. vnto whom the Indians did put themselues in cure, & hee gaue her to drinke the iuyce clarified of Veruaine, which shee her selfe made, and within a fewe dayes after that shee had taken it, she cast out from her a worme, shee sayd it was a vearie Snake, of more then two spannes long, and verie greate, and his tayle was parted, and after she had cast him out from her, she was well and whole. And shee counselled a Gentleman which was in the Peru, that was continually sicke to take it, and he tooke it in the morning with Sugar, for so she had taken it, because of the bitternesse that it hath, and he cast out a great number of long and small woormes. and one like to a white long girdell, and since that time hee hath very well his health. And this shee counselled other Persons which were sicke, to doe, that had suspicion, too haue woormes, and with the vse of the sayde iuyce they cast from them many, and they were healed. And it was so cer­tainly, and shee shewed mee a Seruaunt of hers, and it was sayd that according to the greeuousnes of a disease, which hee had, there was geuen vnto him certayne thinges of witchcraft, and with the iuyce of the Veruaine that he tooke, he cast by vomite many thinges out of his stomake, of di­uers colours, and it was said that it was that wherewith he was bewitched, which being cast foorth, he remayned whole, and of that which toucheth witchcraft I will speake what I haue seene. Witchcraft

I sawe a seruant of Iohn de Quinatna Duenas, beeyng Aburgales, A notable historie. who did cast out at his mouth in my presence a greate bundell of [...]eare, of a browne colour, very small, and [Page 96] hee had in a Paper more then twice as much, which hee had cast vp two houres before, and he remained as though he had cast vp nothing at all, more then the alteration that hee had, to see, that he had cast vp such stuffe.

Iohn Langins an Almayne Phisition, Iohn Langi­us historie. and verie well learned, saith that he sawe a woman that complayned much of payne in her stomake, did cast out many peeces of glasse, and peeces of Earthen Platters, and of fish bones wherwith she remayned whole.

An other case like vnto this Beneuenius speaketh of in his book de morbis mirandis, but that which I do most maruel at, Beneuenius historie. was, that a labouring man suffering great paines in his bel­lie, so that no medicine coulde profite him, did cut his owne throate with a knife, and after that he was dead, they opened him & foūd in his belly great quantity of heare, the like wher­of he that I haue spokē of did vomit, with many other peeces of yron. These things I do attribute to y ^e works of the Diuel, for that they cānot be reduced vnto natural causes. The Uer­uaine is like that of Spaine, & all the yeere it is greene.

Of the Mastuerco.

I haue an hearbe brought from the Peru, which they call Mastuerco, The vertues. it is a little hearbe, & doth carry certain small leaues that are round, which beeing beaten in a morter, and the iuyce of them put into any maner of wound, doth refresh, comfort and heale, curing it foorthwith, and the vse of it is not more nor lesse then the vse of the Tabaco, in woundes which he freshly made washing them with the iuyce, and lay­ing the beaten leaues to them, and being tasted it semeth that it is notable hot.

Of the small wild Lettice.

[Page] LIkewise they brought mee from the same partes an other hearbe, which they call wilde Lettice: the leaues bee like to Let­tice, the colour is a sadde greene, it hath vertue too take away the Tooth­ache, It taketh a­way the toothache. receyuing the seething which is made of the leaues, and holding it in the parte where the griefe is, and putting a little of the iuyce in the tooth, which is greeued, for so it taketh away the paines, & y ^• leaues which are stāped, after the iuyce is taken out, must be laid vpon it, & being tasted it is most bitter. It seemeth to be hot in more then the first degree.

Of the licour which is called Ambia.

IN a great Cane they sent me a Licour which springeth out of a fountaine that is neere to the Sea side, it is of the colour of honie, & as thin, the smel is like the Taca­mabaca, they say and also they write, that it hath great medicinall vertues, The medici­nall vertues thereof. chiefly in the healing of olde diseases, and those which come of colde causes. It taketh away the paines in any parte of the bodie, proceeding of colde or of windinesse. It ta­keth away the colde in what part soeuer it be, it doth comfort and dissolue any maner of swelling, and it worketh all the ef­fectes that the Tacamabaca and the Caranna doe, and so they vse it in those parts, in steede of them: you may not touch nor handle it with your hands, vnlesse you haue them wet, and wheresoeuer it be put, it sticketh fast, that it cannot be taken away, vnlesse it be wasted with long time. They sent me this little for a shew, bicause they doe esteem it greatly, & therfore they sent it as a thing very precious. It seemeth to me hot in the third degree, with notable clammines.

¶ Of the tree that sheweth whether one shall liue or die

IN the yere of our Lord, 1562. Whē the Earle of Nieba was in the Peru, he had there a gen­tlewomā w ^c was married that serued him, & her husband wax­ed sicke of a grieuous disease, & an Indian of great reputatiō seeing her to be in much sorow, saide to her, if she would know whether her husbande shoulde liue or die of that disease, he woulde sende her a Bowe of an hearbe, that shee should take in her left hand, and hold it fast, for a good while: and if he should line, then she shoulde shewe much gladnesse, with holding the Bowe in her hande: and if he should die, then she should shew much sadnesse. And the In­dian sent her the Bow, and she did as he had willed her to do: and the bowe being put into her hand, she tooke so much sad­nesse and sorrowe, that she threw it away from her, thinking that she should haue died thereof, and so he died within a fewe daies. I was desirous to know if that it were so, and a Gen­tleman of the Peru that had beene there many yeeres, did certifie me and sayd that it was of truth, that the Indians did this with their sicke people. It hath put me in admiration, and in much consideration.

¶ Of the Granadillia.

FRom the firme Lande they brought mee certayne Fruites which are herbes which they call in the hils of the Peru where they grow, Gra [...]a [...]illias, The descrip­tion of [...]he Granadillias▪ and this name the Spaniards did giue them, for the likenes & fashion that they haue to our Grana [...]as, which wee call [...] [Page] they sent me, is of a red colour, somewhat darke, and it hath a good smell.

Of the Bezaar stones of the Peru.

ALthough in the second parte I treated of the Bezaar stones, that haue been founde in the mountaines of the Peru, for that they haue beene sent me by the first disco­uerer of them, the best of as many as from those partes haue come, yet I would say in this thirde parte some thing of them, which he sent me for knowledge, saying: that because I wrote of them they had kno [...]ledge of them: and the booke which I wrote of them, was the guide to finde and discouer them, as we haue sayd, as he sheweth by his letter, which we haue set in the second parte,

Those which hee sent mee too prooue bee verie ex­cellent in their coullour, making, and greatenesse, whereof I haue broken some, and finde them as excellent as those of the East India: and so they prooue in pouder, or in one little graine as the other doe, and in coullour well neere they are the same. Truth it is, that those which haue this qualitie and goodnesse, and haue all the qualities that the Bezaar stones ought to haue which are fine, shoulde bee those that are taken out of the beastes, that are fedde in the Moun­taynes, for those which are taken out of them that are bredde in the playne groundes, are not so good, nor haue any Medicinall vertues, because the Beastes a [...]e not mayntayned by those healthfull Hearbes, whereby these stones are ingendered, for as they bee Beastes and chewe tha [...] which they eate of the iuyce, that proceedeth from the herbs, the stones are ingendered. Which thing that Gentle­man gaue well to vnderstande, who was the first discouerer [Page 99] of them, who did see where they lay, and were bred within the beast, and with his owne handes made the Anatomy of him, Where thes [...] stones doo growe. 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.

How ther are set in order.

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, They of the Oriental In­dias. 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 [...] [Page] yet it taketh away the accidentes of it, the faintnesse & sadnesse, In quarterne Agewes. 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, In long euils. 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, A custome of the Orientall Indians. 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, Pouders to be meruelled at for the wormes, and al kindes of them. 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 [Page 101] 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. Spyders. 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, [Page] 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, w ^c they sow and till with much care, and diligence, because they vse it for their plea­sures, which wee wil speake of. The descrip­tion of the Coca. 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, is put into Canes and other things, that they may dry, that they may be kepte and caried to other partes. For that they cary them from the high Mountaines, to other places, as marchādise [Page 102] to be solde, they barter and change them for Mantelles, and Cattel, and Salt, and other things which runne like money amongst vs they plant the seede in Almaciga, and from that they take them vp and set them in other places, into Earth that is wel laboured or tilled, and made conuenient to set them in by their lines and order, as we do set here a Garden of Beanes, or of Peason.

The vse of it amongst the Indians is a thing generall, for many things, for when they trauell by the way, The vse of i [...]. for need and for their content when they are in their houses, they vse it in this forme. They take Cokles or Oysters, in their shelles, and burne them and grinde them, and after they are burned they remaine like Lyme, very small grounde: then they take the Leues of the Coca, and chewe them in their Mouthes, and as they chawe it, they mingle with it some of that pouder made of the shelles in such sorte, that they make it lyke to a Paste, taking lesse of the Pouder then of the hearbe, and of this Paste they make certaine small b [...]wles rounde, and lay them to dry, and whē they wil vse them, they take a little Ball in their mouth, and chawe it, rowling it from one place to an other, procuring to conserue it all that they can, and that being done, they take another, and so they goe, vsing it al the time that they haue need, which is when they trauell by the way, and especially if it bee by wayes where is no meate, nor plentie of water. For the vse of these litle Balles taketh the hunger and thirst from them: & they say that they receiue substance thereby, as though they did eate meate. At other times they vse them for their pleasure, although they labour not by the way, and they vse the same Coca alone, chewing it & tossing it in their mouths, from one side to another, vntil there be no vertue remaining in it, and then they take another.

When they will make themselues dronke, Note. and bee out of iudgement, they mingle with the Coca the leaues of the [Page] Tabaco, and chewe them all together, and goe as they were out of their wittes, or as if they were dronke, which is a thing that doeth giue them great contentment, to bee in that sort. Surely it is a thing of great consideration, to see howe desirous the Indians are to be depryued of their wittes, and to bee without vnderstanding, seeing that they vse thus the Coca with the Tabaco, and al to this end, that they would be without vnderstanding, and haue their wittes taken from them, as wee sayde in the second parte, when wee treated of the Tabaco.

Of the diuers colours of the grounde.

A Maruellous thing it is, and well to be considered, the diuers colours of the groundes which are in the fieldes, in the countries of the Peru: for that looking a farre of you shall see many partes of groundes of diuers colours, which seeme to bee clothes of diuers colours layde to dry in the Sunne: for you shall see one parte of the grounde Greene, and an other Blewe, and foorthwith an other yeal­low, and whyte, and blacke, and red, and so of other colours, all which are Mineries of diuers Earths. Of the blacke I can say that they sent mee a little that there with I might make Inke, which beeing cast into water or wyne there is made there of very good Inke, wherewith one may wryte very wel, but it is somewhat blewe, which maketh it of a better shewe.

The red grounde hath beene a thing of great riches, for that which hath beene taken out of it, for it is a Minery most excellent, Quick siluer. of which is made quicke Siluer, and there out is taken such quantitie of it, that there are carried to the newe Spayne, Shippes laden with it, which is a riches [Page 103] so greate, that it is not knowen vnto the Indians. It serueth them for no other vse then to mingle it with certain gummes, to paint themselues withall, which they vse to doe when they goe to their warres to shewe themselues gallant, and fierce. Euery day they discouer in those countries great Mineries of metals, & such like things, for they haue found out a moun­taine of Oker, & a myne of Allom, & an other of Brimstone & many other things which they doe daily discouer.

Of the Casany.

I Haue caused them to bring me from Sancto Domingo a leafe of that plant wherof they make the Casani, and they brought it me. The Casani is the bread, which the Indians so many multitudes of yeeres haue maintained themselues withall, Casani [...]s bred in the Indias. and doe yet maintaine themselues, & likewise many Spaniardes. It is made of an herbe that the Indians doe call Yuca, which is of fiue or sixe spannes of height, T [...]e descrip­ti [...]n o [...] the hearbe and the f [...]u [...]t [...]. it car­rieth certaine Leaues open, spreade abroade like to the fin­gers of an hand, and euery one carrieth seuen or eight points, they are alwayes greene, they are set in a ground well tilled, of peeces cut of from the same plant, the fruit is after the ma­ner of grosse Turnepes, they are of colour Tawnie without, onely in the body, for within they are white, & they par [...] them to vse them: and of this fruite they make Breade in this forme.

They make it cleane from the Rynde, and grate it in certayne Graters, which are made of Nedles, How they ma [...]e [...]read of the fruite. and being so grated they put it into a sliue of palme, & vpon it they hang thinges of waight, which are great stones, which make the iuyce run out of it, and being well pressed it remaineth as Al­mondes beaten: th [...]y cast this into a playne frying panne of [Page] Earth, that they haue put to the fire, and there they knede it, and make it like to a little cake of Egges, turning it from one side to an other, and after it is well kneded, it remayneth like a Cake, of the thicknesse of a peece of siluer of foure shil­linges, or little more, which they lay in the Sunne, that it may drie, and these Cakes they vse for Bread, which are of muche substaunce. These Cakes continue long time without corrupting, and they bring them in the shippes which come from those partes, into Spayne without beyng corrupted, and serue for Bisket too all the peo­ple. It eateth as a thing sharpe, and so it serueth, and they lay it to soake in water, or in broth, or in Pottage, for after this manner they serue themselues better with it, then to eate it drie. It is needefull to haue a vessel with wa­ter, for to soake it in.

It is a mauellous thing of the iuyce which commeth out of this fruite, Note the maruelles of the iuyce. which is spoken of, that if any Man or beast doe drinke it, or any part of it, incontinently he dieth, as with the most strong venome that is in the worlde: but if this iuyce doe 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 [Page 104] 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, Colum [...]la. 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, Ma [...]is or poyson, but rather is healthful, and maketh a good stomake. There is bread made of it, as of the Casani, Bread of Ma [...]i [...]. 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, Batatas. 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, [Page] 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, For faintnesse or shortnesse of breath. with it I haue seene expel, & cast out this rot­tennes, by taking a little Tabaco green, & chewing the iuyce of it, w ^t although it be lothsome, it doth them much good to ex­pell the rottennesse & fleumes, which are retained within the [Page 105] 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, The vertues thereof. 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, Historie. 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 [...] [Page] from twoo to three Ounces of it, it purgeth well and easily, and euen as it is good to take, so it is good to worke, for that I haue purged many people with it, and it maketh a very good woorke, and purgeth without paynes. One thing they doe euill in those partes, which is, that they ne­uer bring them hither made with good Sugar, if they come so, they woulde be the better, and of better tast. They bee purges for delicate people, they euacuate the same humor that the Canafistola doth. Of the Canes of the small Canafistola there is made an other Conserua verie good, which is an excellent purge, Of the Canes in Conser [...]. and delicate: for they take the small Canes, which are growing of a small time, and seeth them in Sugar, and with the seething and Su­gar, is taken from them the sharpenesse and the drinesse which they haue, and they are made tender and softe, and of a very good sauour. These beyng taken, make a very good woorke, and purge without griefe or molestati­on, and without all accidentes and faintnesse that purges are vsed to procure, for that they are full of good tast, at the taking of them, and light of woorking. They are geuen from two Ounces to three, I haue geuen them many times with very good successe, and haue taken them beyng sicke, and they haue wrought verie well with mee. Of these Conseruas they bring hither euery yeere from Sancto Do­mingo, and Puerto Rico many Barrelles full. The Ca­nafistola that is perfect and rype, is the moste excellent Medicine for to purge withall, of as many as haue been knowne to this day, and that doeth his woorke best in that which it serueth for, and with most assuraunce, as it is wel knowne not onely to Phisitions, but also to all the world, and doeth his worke without the hurtes and accidents which other Purgatiue Medicines are vsed too doe, and it is a generall Medicine, and amongst them that are called blessed, is the most blessed of all, whose vertues and properties wee doe treate of particularly, in the first part, and that which we [Page 107] haue spoken heere, hath beene to geue relation of the leaues, and flowers of it, which they haue now brought mee.

One thing I would they should be aduertised of, Note. that when we are commanded to geue Canafistola, to lighten and sof­ten the bellie, and that the common matters may bee voyded downe, is ment that they shoulde take it a smal tyme before meate be eaten, at the most halfe an houre before, for the meate being mingled ioyntly with it, worketh with it, and in this order it maketh a very good woorke, and purgeth ve­ry wel, & without paines: which is not done with that which is taken any long time before meate, as two or three houres before, as now many doe vse it, for that the meate beeing di­lated, it maketh an ende of woorking. And as it is a thing without strength and weake, it goeth al into vapours, and so sheadeth it selfe abroade throughout al the body: & if it tarry long, it is conuerted into meate, and substaunce, which I haue seene by experience many yeeres wherein I haue practised, that alwayes as I gaue it halfe an houre before meate at the most, it maketh a good worke, and if it be giuen many houres before meate, it purgeth, and euacuateth little. Concerning mingling of medicines, which doe purge, with the meate, Hipocrates treateth of it in many partes, and Galene in his Commentaries. And trueth it is, that when we wil that the Canafistola should not euacuate, but that the vapours shoulde bee spred abroade by the reines, and all the body, wee geue it many houres before meate, and then not working, it performeth the effect that wee haue spoken of.

Of the Balsamo of Tolu.

THey newly bring now from the Firme lande, from a Prouince which is betweene Cartagena, & Numbre de Dios, which the Indians call Tolu, a Balsa [...]o, or licour, that is the best thing, and of greatest vertues, [Page] of as many thinges as come from these partes. They ga­ther it from certaine trees, What trees they are whereof it is gathered. which are after the manner of litle Pines, which cast out many bowes to al partes. It car­rieth the leafe lyke to Algarrona, al the yeere it is greene, they are the best which growe in a softe grounde well tilled.

How it is ga­thered.This Bals [...]mo the Indians doe gather by way of in­cision, gy [...]ing certaine cuttes in the rinde of the tree, for it is thinn [...] and soft, and they set vnderneath it, neere vnto the tree, thinges like to dishes made of waxe, which is in that country blacke, which they take out of Hiues, that certaine blacke Bees doe make in the chappinges of the grounde, & I haue seene brought much of this Waxe into Spain [...], Black waxe. and it was spent in Torches, but it was forbidden that none of it should be spent, for the smoke which it cast from it, had so euil a smel, that it coulde not bee suffered. They did vse this waxe in matters of Medicine, for therof were made Cere­cl [...]thes, which wrought very good effects, in mittigating griefe of any colde cause, it dissolueth any maner of swel­linges, and woorketh many other good effectes. Of this waxe the Indians doe make vessels lyke to a spoone, and set them close to the tree, that they may receiue the licour that commeth out of it, by the places where the cutting [...] are made, and from thence they receyue it into those ves­selles: and it is needfull that it be done in tyme of great heate, that the cuttinges may cast out the licour, and in this tyme lykewyse, there soketh out of the ioyntes of the sayde tree some licour, and it is lost because it is so little, and falleth into the grounde: in the night time there commeth forth none.

This licour, or Balsamo is very much esteemed amongst the Indians, and is of greate value, and with the notable woorkes which therewith are done, and the Spaniardes haue learned, and by seeing the great woorkes which it ma­keth, [Page 108] they haue brought it hether, as a thing of great estima­tion, and such a thing as they buy there for a great price: and they haue reason so to doe: for one of the best thinges that haue come from those partes, which haue beene brought for Medicine, is this Balsamo, which seemeth to be better then that of the newe Spaine, and in it selfe appeareth to haue more vertues.

It is of an Alborne colour, very neere lyke to a thing that is gilt, it is not very thinne, nor very thicke, The colour & maner of it. it clyn­geth faste wheresoeuer it bee layde, and it hath the taste and sauour sweete, and although it bee taken, it maketh not any horriblenesse, as the other Balsamo doeth: it hath a most excellent smell, lyke to Limons, insomuch that wheresoeuer it bee, the good smell thereof giueth greate content­ment, and it can not bee hidden, The workes & effectes of this Balsa­mo. How they cure with it. for a little of it smelleth much: and if you rubbe your hande therewith, there remay­neth a maruellous smel. The woorkes thereof are excellent and very greate, for that it is licour which is taken out by incision, as they tooke out in olde tyme the Balsamo in E­gypt: and for al those diseases for which that was good, this of ours is as good.

It healeth al fresh woundes, comforting the partes, and ioyning them without making any matter, and without lea­uing any signe of them. The superfluitie that is in the woūd must be taken away of what sort soeuer it be, & washed with wine, & ioyned wel in the lippes & parts therof, and then the Balsamo laid to it, when the coldnesse is out of it, and forth­with a double linnen cloth vpon it, wette in the same Balsa­mo, and so bounde that the lippes goe not a sunder, and kee­ping diet, and vsing letting of blood if it be needful, and not vnbinding it vntill the fourth day, and they shall finde the wounde comforted, except that there bee any acci­dent, which causeth it to bee vndone before. And when the cause is such, that it requireth to bee dressed [Page] euery day, by reiterating the wette Linnen cloth in the Bal­samo, it wil bee healed: for the vertue of this Balsamo is to cause that there bee no matter engendered in the woundes, and especially this Balsamo doeth profite in woundes, where there hath beene cuttinges of bones, taking them out that haue beene diuided one from another, and not tou­ching the rest, for that the vertue of the Balsamo will caste them out, and hauing so done, wil heale the wounde. One of the thinges wherein this Balsamo worketh greate effectes, is in woundes, and ioyntes, and in cuttinges of Sinewes, & in al prickes: for in all these kindes of woundes it maketh a maruellous woorke, curing and preseruing them from ex­treame colde, and from running together of Sinewes, that they remayne not lame. The woundes which doe penetrate, are healed with this Balsamo, being mingled with whyte wyne, and spouting it into them, and after three houres ta­king it out again. This must be done in wounds or prickes, once euery da [...], that it may goe with a moderate heat. Like­wyse this Balsamo serueth to be applied, where haue beene giuen dry blowes, or brusinges, and for al workes of Surge­rie, where is no notable inflammation, which beeing taken away with the Medicines, that are conuenient for it, the Balsamo may then bee vsed.

In diseases that belong not to Surge­ry.In euilles which belong not to Surgerie this Balsamo doth profit much, as in him that hath the shortnes of breath, by taking a fewe droppes in whyte wyne it profiteth him much: it taketh away the grief of the head cōming of a colde cause, and a litle Plaister being laide vpon the griefe, and wette therewith to the Temples of the head, taketh away all runnings by those partes, and in especially the euilles of the eyes, and Reumes that runne into them, beeing layde to the foreparte of the head, and it must be good and hot. It ta­keth away the paynes of it, and comforteth it, and remedi­eth the Palsie. Some that haue beene in a Consumption [Page 109] haue vsed it, taking some droppes in the morning, licking them out of the Palme of the hande, and they haue felt nota­ble profit. And it maketh cleane the brest very wel, it is good to take some droppes with Aqua vitae, hot, before any maner of colde in a Quarterne Ague, or of a long importunate ter­tian Ague, annoynting with the same Balsamo, mingled with Oyle of Ruda, the Temples of the head, good and hot before the colde doeth come. If with the Balsamo they an­noint themselues from the mouth of the stomacke to the Nau [...]l, it comforteth the stomacke, it giueth a lust to meate, it helpeth digestion, it dissolueth Windes, it taketh away the paines of the stomacke, and it worketh farre better these effects, if the halfe of the Balsamo be mingled with another halfe of Oyle of Spike Nard [...] compounded or simple, and so it is better applyed. There is great experience of it in the Indias, for Swellinges that are in the maner of Dropsies: and mingling it with oyntment, disopilatiue of equal parts, and annointing the belly therewith, chiefly the parte neere y ^e Lunges, there are seene wrought therewith great effects: it dissolueth any maner of swelling or hardnes that is in any parte of the body, and being laide vpon any paine that com­meth of a colde cause, although it be of long continuance, it taketh it away, bringing it to be so smal vntil it fal of it self, the same it doeth wheresoeuer is any winde. And if it bee in the belly, or in any parte of the body, wetting a Linen cloth hot in Aqua vitae of the best, and applying it to the place, where the griefe of the Stone is, and mingled with Oyle made for the purpose, it maketh a great woorke, it taketh a­way the paynes of the Sinewes, and when they bee shronke together, in a very hot weather, rubbing them with it, it dis­solueth them. The euil called the Lamparones that are open or shutte, it healeth. Many other effectes this maruellous li­cour worketh which I haue not knowen, but these which I haue knowen I doe manifest to al the worlde, that they may [Page] take profite by so maruellous a Medicine, which hath so many vertues as you haue hearde, and euery day the tyme wil discouer other greater.