euery yeere it bringeth foorth yellow flowers out of the which is ingendered a round fruite with litle kernelles within it of the greatnesse of a Medler of these Trees there is greate aboundance in Sancto Domingo And after this they haue founde an other Tree of the kind of this Guaiacan in Saint Iohn de Puerto Rico which is an other Ilande neere to that of Sancto Domingo such an other tree as that is sauing that it is lesse the body of the tree and the bowes are smaller it hath scarsely any harte or if it haue any it is very little and that is in the body of the tree for that the bowes haue none at all It is of more sweete smel and more bitter then the Guaiacan that is nowe vsed in our tyme I meane that of Sancto Domingo and for his maruellous effectes they call it the holy Woode surely with reason for that it is of a better working then that of Sancto Domingo which is seene by experience but euen aswell the one the other is a maruellous remedy to cure the disease of the Poxe of the which and of euery one of them a water is made and is taken for this infirmitie and for many others in this forme They take twelue ounces of the wood made small and twoo ounces of the Rinde of the same woodde broken and they cast it to steepe in three Pottels of Water in a newe pot that will holde somwhat more for the space of xxiiii houres and the pot being well stept they seeth it ouer a soft fire of kindled Coales vntill the twoo Pottels bee sodde away and one remayning And this is to be noted at the time the water is put to it putting therein one Pottle they dip in a little Rodde and doe marke howe high the water of one Pottle reacheth and by that measure and marke they shall see when the twoo are sodde away and the one Pottell remayneth After the water is sodden they set it to coole straine it and keepe it in a glassed vessell and forthwith vppon the said sodden woodde they poure foure Pottels of water and seeth it till one bee sodden away and this water must bee strayned and kept apart and it must bee taken in this forme After that the sicke man is purged by the counsell of a Phisition let him be put into a warme Chamber and kept from the colde and from ayre and beeing laied in his bedde let him take early in the morning tenne ounces of Water of that which was first made wel warmed and let him bee couered so that he may sweate wel let him kepe his sweat at the least two houres after he hath swet let him be made cleane from his sweat take a warme Shirt and the rest of his Linen clothes foure houres after he hath swette let him eate Reasings Almonds and Bisket and that in reasonable quantitie Then let him drinke of the water that was made at the second tyme the quantity that he hath need of and of the selfe same let him drinke in the day time eight houres after hee hath eaten let him returne to take the first water and let him take other tenne ounces well warmed and then sweate other two◠houres and after his sweate let him bee made cleane and then bee couered againe with warme cloathes and one houre after hee hath swet let him make his supper of the same Reasings Almonds and Bisket and drinke of the second Water This order he must obserue the first fiftiene daies except hee haue some notable weaknesse and in such case her must bee succoured with geuing him to eate of a young Chicken iointly with the rest of the Diet and in them that be leane that cannot beare so precise Diet it is sufficient that they take it for nine dayes and at the end of them they may eate a little Chicken rosted if in case the sicke person be debilited and that he cannot suffer the Diet let him haue from the beginning a very small Chicken going forwarde increasing in the proces of tyme and beeing past the 15. dayes let him returne to purge himselfe at the sixtiene dayes end let him take the waight of fiue shillinges of the substaunce of Canafistola taken out by Strayner or other thing respondent thereunto and that day let him drinke no strong Water but of the simple and the next day after the Purgation let him returne to the aforesayde order taking in the morning and euening the strong water with his sweatinges and eating and drinking the same Sauing that in place of a Chicken hee may eate halfe a rosted Pullet or somwhat more and this seconde tyme let him take it for other xx daies in the which tyme hee may ryse and walke about his chamber being apparelled and kept warme And at the end of them hee shall returne to purge him selfe an other tyme and must haue a speciall care to keepe good order and after hee hath takē the water for other fortie dayes must keepe himselfe from women and from wyne especially and in place of wyne hee must drinke the simple water of the woodde which if he wil not doe then let him drinke of water sodden with Anise seede or Fenell seede supping little at night and eating no flesh This is the best way that the water of the wood ought to be taken which doeth heale many infirmities incurable where other Medicines could not worke the same effect this water is the best remedy that is in the worlde to heale the disease of the Poxe whatsoeuer or of what kinde soeuer it bee for that it rooteth it out for euer without any more comming againe and in this it hath his principal prerogatiue and excellencie This water is also good for the Dropsy for the shortnes of breath for the Falling sicknes for the diseases of the Bladder and of the Raynes for the paynes of the Ioynts for all euils caused of cold humors for ventositie and other dangerous and importunate diseases where the ordinary benefites of Phisicions haue not profited Chiefly it excelleth where the euil dispositions be that haue proceeded at any tyme from the disease of the Poxe There be many that with this wood haue made sundry mixtures making Syropes therof and surely with good effect But my iudgement and opinion is that he which shall take the water of the wood ought to take it in the maner as is aboue saide without any mingling thereof for that by expeperience it hath beene seene so to make the better woorke This water is good for the teeth making them white and fastning them by continual washing of them therewith it is hot and dry in the second degree Of the China THe Second Medicine that commeth from our Indias is a roote called the China It seemeth that I should slaunder it to say that the China groweth in our Occidental Indias since commonly the Portingales doe bring
it from the Orientall Indias By this you shall vnderstande that Syr Frauncis de Mendosa a worâ—hy Knight when hee came from the newe Spayne and Peru shewed to mee a greate Roote and other little rootes who asked mee what rootes they were I aunswer â—o that they were rootes of the China but that they seemed to mee to bee very freshe Hee sayde to mee that so they were and that it was not longe since that they had beene gathered and brought from the new Spaine I maruelled that they had it there for I did beleeue that in the China only it had growen he said vnto mee that not only there was in the newe Spaine the China but that also wee shoulde see brought greate quantitie of Spicerie from the place which that China came from And I beleued it when I saw the contract that he made with his maiestie to bring into Spaine great quantitie of spicerie that hee had begon to set and to plante and I saw greene Ginger brought from thence as also the China This China is a roote lyke to the roote of a cane with certaine knottes within it whyte and some with the whytenesse hath an alborne colour it is red without the best is the freshest that which hath no holes if it bee weightie and not worme eaten and that it haue a fatnes as if it were congeled and it hath an vnsauery cast This Roote doeth growe in the China which is the Orientall Indias neere to Siria and Sirciana It groweth neere to the Sea onely with the roote they helpe themselues with the which the Indians bee healed of grieuous diseases And therfore they haue it in great estimation they do heale al maner of large diseases therewith and also the sharpe diseases especially Agues with the Water of it prouoking Sweats and by this way they heale many It prouoketh sweat maruellously It is wel neere xxx yeeres since that the Portingales brought it to these parts with great estimatioÌ„ for to heale al manner of diseases and especially the disease of the Poxe in the which it hath wrought greate effectes and the Water is giuen in this forme The sicke person beeing purged as is most conuenient must take one of the Rootes and cut them small vnto the thicknesse and greatnes of a three penny peece and so being cut shall way one ounce and cast it into a newe Pot and thereupon shall poure three Pottels of Water and so shall lye a sleeping there xxiiii houres and the Pot beeing stopt let it seeth at a soft fire of kindled Coales vntill half be sodden away one Pottel half remaine and this is to be knowen by the order of the Measure as aforesaid in the water of the Wood. And after that it is colde let it bee strained and kept in a glassed vessel There must be care taken that it stande in some hotte or warme place neere to the fire for that therwith it doeth preserue the vertue the better and dureth longer tyme before it be corrupted The sicke man being lodged in a close conuenient Chamber must take in the morning fasting tenne ounces of the sayde water as hotte as he can suffer it and he shall procure sweat keepe it two houres at the least After the sweat hee shal bee made cleane and shall take a Shirte and cleane clothes warme them and shall lye downe againe twoo or three houres in the bed quietly after hee hath swet And afterwarde let him apparell himselfe and beeing well warmed remayne in his Chamber in the which he shal be kept from cold the open ayâ—e with all the pleasure of good company and conuersation he shal eate at xi of the clocke halfe a Chicken sodden or a quarter of a Henne with a little Salt At the beginning of dinner he shal drinke a dishfull of Broth and foorthwith eate of the Pullet eating at the beginning a little and hee shal ende with Marmelade His drinke shal bee of the water hee tooke in the morning for that heere is no more then one water hee may at the beginning after the Broth is taken begin too eate Reasinges without theyr little Graynes or Prunes without theyr stones theyr bread must bee Crustie well baked or Bisket If hee will drinke in the day tyme hee may doe so with taking of a little Conserua and drinke of the same water and beeing â—ight houres past his Dinner let him lye downe in his Bedde and take other tenne ounces of the same water the which being hotte hee may drinke and procure sweate two houres after he hath sweat let him be made cleane and take a cleane shirte and cleane clothes warme and after one houre let him sup with CoÌ„serua Reasinges and Almondes with some Bisket and drinke of the selfe same water and last of all eate Marmelade vpon the which he may not drinke Thus he may continue xxx dayes continually without neede of any more Purgation then the first and hee may sit vp so that he go wel cloathed vsing in this tyme all content and mirth and keeping him selfe from al that may offend him After that he hath taken this water in this sort hee must keepe good order and good gouernement for fortie dayes continually And hee must drinke no Wine but water made of the China that was before sodden the which hee shall keepe after it is sodden setting it to dry in a shadowie place and that China being dry must be kept to make water for other 40. dayes to drinke after the taking of the first water seething one ounce thereof in three Pottels of water vnâ—il one halfe be sodden away and this water let him drinke continually And aboue all thinges let him keepe himselfe from women and he must alwayes haue care that as well in the water of xxx dayes as in the water of the fourty daies that the China be steeped in the water xxiiii houres before it be sodden There be many diseases healed with this water al kinds of euill of the Poxe all olde Sores it resolueth all swellinges and knobbes it taketh away the paynes of the ioyntes which they call the Arthetica Goute and any other kinde of Goute that is in any particular member or place and especially the Sciatica it taketh away olde paynes of the head and of the stomake It healeth all manner of runninges of Rewmes it dissolueth Opilations and healeth the Dropsie It maketh a good colour in the face it taketh awaie the Iaundies and all euill complexion of the Liuer rectifieth it and in this it hath a greate prerogatiue And by this meanes these infirmities are healed It healeth the Palsey all infirmities of the Sinewes it healeth all diseases of Urine it taketh away Melancholy and all infirmities comming of colde diseases It doth comfort the stomake it doth dissolue windes meruellously and also Agues long and sharp as quotidians the taking of this water as it is conuenient so doth
it roote them out and take them away The which thing it doeth by prouoking of sweat in this it doth exceede all other Medicines and some will say that in Pestilent Agues by prouoking sweat it healeth them It is dry in the second degree with very litle heate the which is seene by the other waters of the wood And as Sarcaparillia which doth heate and drie so this doth not nor leaueth any impression of heate Surely it is a notable Medicine in the which I haue founde greate effectes for the Diseases which I haue spâ—ken of Of the Sarcaparillia THE Sarcaparillia is a thing brought into our partes since the China It is xx yeeres since that the vse thereof came to this city It first came froÌ„ the new Spaine the Indians did vse it for great medicine with the which they did heale many and diuers diseases It is a plant which doth cast many rootes vnder the ground being of a yeard long of the colour of a cleere Tawny sometimes the rootes shoote so deepe that to take them out all it is needfull to dig a Mans length It casteth foorth certaine bowes full of knottes that quickly do drie and we know not that they haue carried flowers or fruite at all After that the Sarcaparillia of the newe Spayne was founde there was also found in the Hunduras an other sort that was better and of better effectes it is knowne to be of the Hunduras because that it is of colour Tawnie and grosser than that of the newe Spayne the which is white and somewhat like to yellowe and more small and so the Sarcaparillia that is most like to blacke is best It ought to be freshe and in this is all the goodnes therof it is knowne to be fresh by not beyng Worme eaten For that at the freshe breaking of it long wise in the middest it maketh a running out to the end and casteth out no dust and the heauier it is the better it is The Spaniardes did call it Sarcaparillia when they saw it for the great likenes that it hath with the Sarcaparillia of these partes I haue it for certayne that the Sarcaparillia of these partes and of the Indias is all one and the verie same that ours is The which I haue experimented manie times ours worketh the effect that the Sarcaparillia of the new Spaine doth it is like vnto that of the Hunduras but it is of a bitter tast and not very sharpe and the water that it yeeldeth hath no more sauour then barley water hath The vse of this hearbe at the first did differ muche from that which is now in experiment for that they gaue it as the Indians did in the healing of their sicke folkes and surely it did worke very great effects But the delicatenesse of our time doth require that it should be vsed and geuen as the water of the wood is At the beginning they took of the Sarcaparilla much quantitie more then halfe a pounde did cut it small and breake it and cast it into a quantitie of water and being well wet they beate it in a Morter a good while in suche sorte that it was made like a Iellie and then did straine it pressing it very well for there came out of it the likenesse of a thicke drinke And of that they tooke in the morning hot one good Cup full and then the Pacient clothed him selfe well And sweete two houres and if in the day time they woulde drinke any thing it should bee of the selfe same thicke drinke so made by expression hot and then they swete as much in the morning This order they obserued for three dayes continually without eating or drinking of other meate sauing onely that thicke drinke taken out by pressing or straining of the Sarcaparillia after this sort I gaue it at the beginning many times and surely it wrought great effects and many sicke people did better recouer then they doe nowe with this other fashion After there was inuented an other forme and manner to geue it and is that which is now vsed in this sort They take two ounces of Sarcaparillia and wash it and cut it small and then they put it into a newe earthen pot and there vppon they poure three Pottâ—ls of water and sette it in the water to steepe twentie and foure houres and afâ—er the Pot being well stopte it must seeth on a soft fire of kindled coales vntill the two Pottels bee sodden away and the one remaine the which may be knowne by the order of the measure that we spake of and when it is colde let it be strained into a glassed vessel and vpon the selfesame Sarcaparillia that is soddeÌ„ let there be so much water powred in agayne that the pot be filled let it boyle a reasonable time and kept in a vessel glassed Nowe the sicke Man beeyng purged as it seemeth most conuenient and placed in a warme Chamber he must take in the morning ten ounces of the first water of the Sarcaparillia and must sweate at the least twoo houres and after sweate he must be made cleane from his sweate and take a warme shirt and warme clothes and the like hee must doe at night eight houres after he hath eaten his Dinner changing his shirt and hot apparrell He must dine at eleuen of the clocke and suppe one houre after he hath sweat at night eating nothing but Reasinges Almondes and Bisket and drinking of the second water Let him keepe this order fifteene daies and if he be weake geue him a little rosted chicken increasing it in processe of time at the least hee must keepe his bed niene dayes at the first beginning and the rest of the time in his chamber kept from colde and from ayre and on the fifteene day he must be purged with a soft and an easie medicine and likewise on the thirty day in such sorte that all the order that we haue prescribed be kept as in the manner of the taking of the water of the wood is already declared And likewise after the 30. daâ—es he must haue good gouernment for other fourty dayes not drinking any wine but simple water made of the said Sarcaparillia and keeping himselfe from women This is the ordinarie manner in taking of the water of Sarcaparillia which at this day is vsed And because I haue experience of other wayes that bee of great secret and of great effectes I will write them heere to the end that all the vertues which are in the Sarcaparillia may be set downe and declared seeyng it is the Medicine that is moste vsed and that wee doe see in it so greate and rare effectes I doe make a Sirupe that many yeeres hath been celebrated and had in estimation in this citie and in all Spaine for that it is xxvi yeres since I vsed it first for the disease of the Poxe for other infirmities
hee eateth it shall worke and purge no more 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 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 And in this I can holde no precise opinion for that there 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 froÌ„ vs the true Myrre 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 shal bee knowen and discouered euery day The waight or quantitie that is giuen of the Pouder made of the Roote of Mechoacan 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 quaÌ„titie 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 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 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 and the peece it selfe smelling therunto hath no smell They brought it from Quito with is a place in the prouince of Peru from a Mine that there was founde in certayne Hâ—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 and the Sulphur that is to say the Quickesiluer 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 brightnâ—sse 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 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 healeâ—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 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 dâ— Puerto Rico the which was
or fiue foote In hot countries it is nyne or tenne monethes in the yeere laden in one selfe tyme with leaues flowers Coddes full of rype graynes which is when they are waxed blacke and to be ripe which is when they are yet greene It sproutes foorth neere the roote much and reuyueth by a greate quantitie of buddes notwithstanding the grain is the least seede in the worlde the rootes be like small threeds Nicotiane doth require a fat grounde finely digged and in colde Countreys very well dounged that is to say a grounde in the which the doung must be so wil mingled and incorporated that it be altogether turned into earth that there appeare no more doung It requireth the south Sunne and to be planted by a wal which may defende it against the North winde recouering the heate of the Sunne against it being a warrant vnto the said hearbe against the tossing vp of the winde because of the weaknes and highnes thereof It groweth the better being often watered and reuiueth it selfe by reason of the water in tyme of droughts It hateth the cold therefore to preserue it from dying in the Winter tyme it must either be kept in Caues made of purpose within the said gardens or els couered with a double Matte and a Penthouse of Reede made on the Wall ouer the hearbe and when the South Sunne shyneth the dore of the place must bee opened where the hearbe is on the Southside For to sowe it there must bee made a hole in the ground with your finger as deepe as your finger can teache then cast into that hole 40. or 50. graines of the sayde Seede together stopping againe your hole for it is so small a Seede that if there bee put in the hole but three or foure graynes thereof the earth would choke them and if the weather bee dry the place must be watered lightly during the tyme of fiftiene dayes after the sowing thereof it may also be sowen like vnto Lettis and other such hearbes And when the hearbe is out of the grounde for so much as euery Grayne thereof will bring foorth his twigge and that the little threeds of the Roote are the one within the other you must make with a great knife a greate compasse within the earth rounde about the saide place and lift vp the earth together with the Seede and cast it into a payle of water so that the earth bee separated that the little twigges may swimme aboue the water then shal you take them without breaking the one after the other The Sassafras ¶ Of the tree which is brought from the Florida called Sassafras FRom the Florida which is the firme Land of our Occidental Indias lying in xxv degrees they bring a wood and roote of a tree that groweth in those partes of great vertues and greate excellencies healing therewith grieuous and variable diseases It may be three yeres past that I had knowledge of this Tree a French man which had bene in those partes shewed me a peece of it and tolde me meruels of the vertues therof how many and variable diseases were healed with the water which was made of it I gaue at that tyme no credit to him for that in these things of Plantes and hearbes which are brought from other places they say much and knowe little vnlesse it bee by a man that hath experience of them with care and diligence The tree and the partes thereof lyked mee well and I iudged that which nowe I do finde to be true and haue seene by experience He tolde me that the Frenchmen which had beene in the Florida at that tyme wheÌ„ they came into those parts had beene sicke the most of them of grieuous and variable diseases and that the Indians did shewe them this tree and the manner how they should vse it and so they did and were healed of many euilles which surelâ— bringeth admiration that one only remedy should worke so variable and so meruellous effectes After that the Frenchmen were destroyed our Spaniardes beganne to waxe sicke as the Frenchemen had doone and some which remayned of them did shewe it to our Spaniardes and howe they had cured themselues with the water of this meruellous Tree and the manner which they obserued in the vsing of it shewed to them by the Indians who vsed to cure themselues therewith when they were sicke of any griefe Our Spaniards began to cure themselues with the water of this Tree and it wrought in them great effectes that are almost incredible for with the naughtie meates drinking of the rawe waters sleeping in the dewes the most parte of them fell into continuall Agues of the which many of them came into opilations and from the opilations they began to swell and when the euil came first immediatly it began to take away the lust that they had to their meate and then happened to them other accidents and diseases as such like Feuers are accustomed to bring and hauing there no remedie to bee healed they did what the Frenchemen had counsailed them doing that which they had done which was in this forme They digged vp the roote of this tree and tooke a peece thereof such as it seemed to them best they cutte it small into very thinne and little peeces and cast them into water at discretion as much as they sawe was needfull little more or lesse and they sodde it the tyme that seemed sufficient for to remaine of a good collour and so they dranke it in the morning fasting and in the day tyme and at dinner and supper without keeping any more waight or measure then I haue sayde nor more keeping nor order then this and by this they were healed of so many griefes and euil diseases that to heare of them what they suffred and how they were healed it bringeth admiration they which were whole dranke it in place of wine for it doeth preserue them in health as it appeared very well by them that haue come from thence this yeere for they came all whole and strong and with good colours which doeth not happen to them that come from those partes and from other conquestes for they câ—me sicke and swâ—lne without collour and in short space the most of them diâ— And these Souldiers doe trust so much in this Wood that I beeyng one day amongest many of them informing any selfe of thâ— thinges of this Tree the most parte of them tooke out of their Pockets a good peece of this Wood and sayde Maister doe you see here the Wood that euery one of vs doeth bring to heale vs withall if we fall sicke as we hauâ— beene there and they began to prayse it so much and to confirme the maruellous workes of it with so many examples of them that were there that surely I gaue great credite vnto it and they caused me to beleeue all that thereof I haâ— hearde and
a wood which maketh the water yellowe and this is not it which doeth profite but that which maketh the water blewe and this hath the couetousnesse of them caused that bring it because they haue seene that it is wel solde in this citie for the manifest profites that it doeth in these griefes of the Urine by tempering the Reines and the Liuer and procuring many other benefits they bring of all the wood that they finde and sell it for wood of the stone The same hath happened in the Mechoacan which when it came to be worth twentie Ducates the pounde they laded so much from thence of it some not being rype other not being right that when it is come hither it woorketh not the effect that thâ— good and wel seasoned wâ—s wont to doe Wherefore it is needfull to see to that which is taken that it bee the same and that it bee well seasoned That which is very whyte is not such as the yellowe is in myne opinion for that which is yellowe wee see that it mâ—keth the better woorke it may bee that the very whyte is not of it or hath not the perfection that the good hath And comming to our water of Sassafras it prouoketh Urine it maketh them to Uryne well which haue the impediment of it chiefly if it come by humors of colâ—e causes I did knowe a Priest which came in this flâ—ete from the Florida who being in those parts did make water very euil and cast from him stones some tymes with very much griefe and some of them did put him in hazard of his life when hee was in the Florida as hee dranke of the water of Sassafras ordinarily as many other did in the place of wyne hee auoided many great smal stones without any paines and after that hither vnto hee hath founde himselfe whole and very well of this euill by drinking the simple wâ—ter of this wood ordinarily and watering his wyâ—e therewith Many doe drinke of this water for the same purpose and they cast out much Sande and doe finde themselues cured therewiâ—h In them that bee lame or creeples and in them that are not able to goe nor to moue themselues as for the most part that infirmitie commeth of colde humours by taking this water hot in the morning and procuring sweate all that hee can eating things of diet and drinking the simple water continually and vsing it many dayes wee haue seene many healed And it is to bee noted that in taking of this water there is nothing to bee obserued as in other waters but when they shal take it hotte if any sweate come to keepe it and after this they may ryse and goe well clothed it is not needefull of any thing els but of this and good order and to eate good meates and if they sweate not it maketh no greate matter but if they sweate not they shal be healed I knowe a Captaine one of them which came from the Florida and hee certified mee that hee was so weake in all his body that his Soldiours carried him vppon their shoulders for that in any other manner he coulde not stirre and hee was in a place where the tree of Sassafras was not and he sent for it and toke the water and therewith sweate for certaine dayes and afterward he tooke it simply and hee was restored to his perfect health and I did see him whole and well In the toothache this wood beeing broken and chewed with the tooth that is grieued and leauing that which is chewed in the hole of the tooth which is grieued if it haue any hollownesse and although that it haue none yet it taketh away the paines meruellously with experience done vpon many In the euil of the Poxe it worketh the same effectes that the rest of the waters of the holy wood the China and the Sarcaparillia doeth taking it as these waters bee taken with sweates putting vp more or lesse the decoction of the water and the quantitie of the wood as the complexion is and the disease of him that shall take it For that in colde humours Flegmatike it maketh a better woorke then in them that bee Cholerike and so in the Poxe that bee of a long tyme it maketh a better and greater woorke than in them that be of smal continuance and more where there bee knobbes and moisture of matter old griefes of the head with the order as is aforesayd And in these euils the simple water is continually taken for a great tyme and it worketh greate effectes chiefly in them that bee leane which be altogether weakened debilited with the vse of many Medicines Many which haue the Gout haue vsed and doe vse to drinke of the Water of this tree some of them taking it hotte as wee haue sayde and others simple continually by it self and watering their wyne therewith That which I haue seene is that which in the olde kinde of Goutes doeth neither good nor euil and if it doe any good it is to comfort the stomacke and to dissolue winâ—inesse to giue them some lust to their meate the rest of the benefite that it bringeth is to them that hâ—ue bin sicke but short time if the cause proceede of cold vnto whome it procureth notable profite but if the humour and cause be hot it doth them no good but hurteâ—h them inflâ—ming and causiâ—g them to haue greater paynes In one thing I haue seene it in many people to bring notable profit with the continual vse of this water and it is in them which haue foule diseased handes which cannot exercise them as they were wont to doe I healed a Gentleman which could not write that when he went to write his hande fell downe by little and little and the penne also after hee had begon to write not past fiue or sixe letters And hee toke a Cuppe full of that which was last sodden in the morning and after he dranke it hee continued twoo houres in his bedde and after he rose and went about his businesse And he did eate at his dinner good meates and at his Supper vsed diet and dranke the simple water of the self same Sassafras and he was healed very wel hauing spent a great somme of money on Phisitions and Medicines which did not profite him any thing vntil he came to be remedied in the order as is aforesaide Many did certifie mee that which nowe I finde by experience and learned of them that were sicke in the Hauana and could not goe to the stoole that the Phisition which is there did cause them to take in the morning fasting a good Cuppe full hotte of the water of the Sassafras and it did soften the belly and they went to the stoole very well which we haue seene heere to bee true by experience And there was a Soldiour which certifâ—ed mee and prooued it with others of his companie that hauing stooles by
content with one euâ—cuation but with many digesting by little and little and auoyding out by little and little seeing that the auoyding out is done with such assuraunce by this Medicine so blessed He that hath neede of it must haue a good hart and with trust that it will profite him much which hetherunto wee haue experimented in so many that with iust title all credit may be giuen to the good workes therof We see with how much easines without any accideÌ„ts it worketh the effects that we haue spoken of it is looked for that euery day will bee discouered greater matters that may bee added vnto these The Rule and order that must be kept in the administration and geuing of the Pouders made of the roote of Mechoacan was learned of the Indian Phisition that wee haue spoken of and since it hath beene vsed in diuers and sundrie fashions The first thing that is requyred of him that shal take this Pouder is that he do prepare himself with good diet good order keeping himselfe from all thinges that may offende health and to vse these meates which are most conuenieÌ„t for him to dispose the humor that principally hee pretendeth to auoyde out with some Syrope that may haue the same respect that the humor is disposed vnto the way to be prepared where he may go out And for this it is good that he take the counsel of a PhisitioÌ„ he must vse Glisters if the Belly be not obedient at the least the day before he shal take it and if by chaunce he shal neede letting blood he shall doe it with the iudgement and opinion of a Phisition The body so prepared and ready to be purged he shal take this roote chosen as we haue said and it must be grounde making Pouder of it of an indifferent sinenesse and way of it the quantitie that must bee taken as wee shall speake of and put it into whyte Wyne which is Sacke as much in quantitie as is needful for to drinke and it must be tâ—ken in the morning Wyne is the best licour that it can bee taken withall and so it is vsed generally in the Indias for the Wyne as wee haue sayde doeth corroborate and geue strength to these Pouders and because there be some that can drink no wine in such case they may geue it in sodden water wherein Synamon hath beene boyled or Anis or Fenell seede and if the pure wine doe offend them it may be delayed with any manner of Water but the quantitie of the Wine that shall be taken is so little that it canâ—ot offende nor molest anie person It may be delaied with Endife or Langdebeefe water and because this medicine is not geuen in sharpe Agues but in large and temperate diseases it doth heare the Wine better then any other licour Also they geue these Pouders with Conserua of Uiolets and with Syrope of Uiolets and it is a good practise for with his colde and moysture it doeth correct the litle heate and drought that the Patient hath and let them drinke vpon it Wine watered or some water as aforesaide There is made of this Pouder Pilles formed with electuary of Roses and surely they make a very good worke and purge well Also they doe put it in paste of Wafer bread or in Marchpaines and as it hath no euill sauour so they doe not feele it It serueth much for children and for them that cannot take the like thinges The Pilles that must be made of this pouder must be very little somewhat greater then Coriander seede that they may dissolue the rather and not heat and so they work more quickly and better They may be geuen in the morning and at night these pouders be receiued with most prosperous successe beeing made vp with Syrope of Roses of nine infusions mingling the quantity that thereof shal be taken in two ounces of Syrope and surely this mixture doeth make a meruellous woorke for that it doth strengthen and inforce much the worke of the pouders It auoydeth Cholerike grosse and fleugmatike humors and permixt and the fearcenes of the blood and so it is a greate Medicine and of maruellous woorke It auoydeth also most strongly the Citrine water of them that haue the Dropsie frequenting it many tymes giuing betweene one purge and another that which may corroborate and make strong the Liuer in Broth it is taken many tymes and maketh good woorke This Medicine or purge must bee taken in the morning early and after it is taken they may sleepe halfe an houre vppon it before it doe purge for that the sleepe doeth slaye the Uomit and the natural heate shal make a better worke in the Medicine Hee that shall take these Pouders if he do feare them or any other Medicine purgatiue and if he feare Uomit may vse this one remedy of the which I haue large experience and is when hee hath taken this purge or any other let him take the Yolke of an Egge rosted hot broken betweene his Fingers and put into a course Linen Cloth and so rounde let him put it into the Throate Pit and let him holde it there vntill that hee doe beginne to purge for that surely it will slaye the Uomiting and also the Fumes that doe ryse of the purge and this is no small content After that hee hath somwhat slept if hee can at the tyme that it beginneth to woorke let him not sleepe nor eate nor drinke any thing but bee in place where the ayre doe not offende him nor with much company for that all the intent shall bee for to purge staying all thinges that may let the auoyding out And he shall be aduertised that one of the greatest excellencies that this purge hath is that it is in the handes of the sicke person to auoyde out what quantitie of humour hee will the which is a thing that they of olde tyme did consider much of And waying which was surest of purging or the letting of blood they doe not aleage any other cause more principall than that the letting of blood is more sure Forasmuch as in the letting of blood wee may take out what quantity of blood we lust not in the purge which once being taken it is not in the handes of the PhisitioÌ„ nor the sicke person to let it to doe his woorke which quality is not in this our purge of the roote of Mechoacan seeing that with taking of a little Broth or eating any maner of thing the working of it seaseth and it worketh no more and so it cannot exceede nor hurt the patient Surely it is to be holden of much price that there is fouÌ„de a kinde of purge with so much assurance and that so mightily doeth his woorke and is at the will of him that doth take it After it hath done what to the patient seemeth good and sufficient then with a little Broth which
sides of it taking away that which is superfluous then powre into it the Iuyce of this hearbe lay vpon it the stamped leaues and being well bound it shal coÌ„tinue on vntil the next day that thou shalt returne to dresse it After the same fashion the patientes shall keepe good order in their meate vsing the diet necessary and if it be needful of any euacuation by stoole the cause being greate let it be done what shal be conuenient And with this order they shal be healed without any neede of any more Surgerie theÌ„ this hearbe only Here in this Country in this City they know not what other to doe hauing cut or hurt themselues but to runne to the Tabaco as to a most readie remedie It doth maruellous workes without any need of other Surgery but this only hearbe In restrayning the fluxe of blood of the wounds it procureth most maruellous workes for that the Iuyce and the Leaues being stamped are sufficient to restraine any fluxe of blood In olde Sores it is maruellous the woorkes and the effects that this hearbe doeth for it healeth them wonderfully making cleane and mundifying them of all humors that are superfluous and of the rottennes that they haue bringeth vp the flesh reducing them to perfite health the which is so common in this Citie that euery man doeth knowe it and I hauing ministred it to many people as well men as women in great number and being grieued of tenne and of twentie yeeres haue healed olde rotten sores in legges and other partes of the body with this remedy only to the great admiration of all men The order of the Cure that is to bee wrought with this hearbe is this following For the olde rotten sores although they bee cankered let the sicke man bee purged with the counsell of a Phisition and let him blood if it be needfull and then take this hearbe and pounde it in a Morter and wring out the Iuyce and put it into the Sore and then after the maner of a Plaister laie the stamped leaues vpon it which are the Leaues that the Iuyce is taken out of and this doe once euery day eating good Meates and not exceeding in any disorder for otherwyse it will not profite And doing this it wil make cleane the euil flesh that is rotten and superfluous vntil it come to the whole flesh and it is not to be maruelled at if the wounde bee made very greate For the euil must bee eaten vp vntil it come to the good and in the same cure putting in lesse quantitie of iuyce it wil incarnate and reduce it to parfit health in such sort that it accomplisheth al the workes of Surgery that all the Medicines of the worlde are able to doe without hauing neede of any other maner of medicine This woorke doeth cure olde Sores with very great admiration and not onely in men but in brute beastes also As at this day in all partes of the Indias where there are any cattel hauing woundes or gaules and the countrie beeing hotte and moyst ouer much doeth soone rotte them and very quickly they come to bee cankered and for this cause much great cattel doe dye To remedy this and the wormes that doe increase in the sores they had for remedy to put into the sores Sublimatum for that in this remedy they did â—â—â—de more benefite than in any other that they had vsed And for that the Sublimatum beares there so high a price mâ—â—y tymes it was more woorth then the cattel that it healâ—â— For this cause and for hauing founde in the Tabaco so much vertue too heale newe woundes and rotten they did accorde and agree together to vse the Tabaco in the healing of beastes as they had done in the cure and remedy of men powring the Iuyce of the Tabaco into the woundes washing them therwith laying vpon them the stamped leaues of the Tabaco after that the Iuyce is taken from them And it is of so greate efficacie and vertue that it killeth the wormes and maketh cleane the sore eating away the euill fleshe and ingendering newe vntill it be whole as in the other thinges which wee haue spoken of The like it doth in the gaules of the beasts of Cariege the iuyce being powred in the beateÌ„ leaues wherout the iuyce commeth of the Tabaco as it is sayde although they be cankered it doeth make them cleane and incarnate them and cureth and helpeth them And so the Indians doe carry it when they iourney for this purpose and effect and it procureth the like profite that the iuyce doeth I sawe a man that had certayne olde sores in his nose wherby he did cast out from him much matter which dayly did rotte and canker inwarde and I caused him to take at his nose the iuyce of this Tabaco and so he did and at the seconde tyme hee cast out from him more then twenty little wormes and afterwarde a fewe more vntill that he remayned cleane of them and vsing it so certayne dayes hee was healed of the sores that hee had in the inner part of his nose and if he had taried any longer I thinke that there had remayned nothing of his nose but al had bene eaten away as it happeneth to many which we see without them And beeing wryting of this a daughter of a Gentleman of this Citie had many yeres a certaine kinde of drieskabbes or wel neere skuruie in her head I had her in cure and did vnto her many benefits vniuersal and particular and also Maisters of Surgerie had done their diligence and al did not profite And a Gentlewoman which had the charge of her as sâ—e heard me speake one day much good of the Tabaco that 〈◊〉 did good and profitable for so many infirmities shâ—e sent for it and did rubbe hard the disease that the wench had that day shee was very euill and as though she had bene fooliâ—h and the gentlewoman did not let in seing her after that sorâ— to rubbe her harder and then the wench did not feele so much griefe but the dry skabbes begâ—n to fall and the whyte scurffe of her head in such sorte that it made cleane and healed her head with dooing so certaine dayes so that shee was healed of her scuruie disease very well without knowing what she did One of the meruâ—lles of this hearbe and that which bringeth most admiration is the maner howe the Priâ—stes of the Indias did vse it which was in this manner when there was emongest the Iâ—dians any manner of businâ—sse of greate importaunce in the which the chiefe Gentlâ—men called Casiques or any of the principall people of the countrie had necessitie to consult with their Priestes in any businesse of importance then they went and propounded their matter to their chiefe Priest foorthwith in their presence he tooke certayne leaues of the Tabaco and cast them into the fire and did
by the Frenchmen Nicotiane Which hearbe hath done great cures in the Realme of Fraunce and Portugall as heereafter at large may appeare in thistreatise following Nicotiane Chap. 76. NICOTIANE although it bee not long since it hath beene knowne in France notwithstaÌ„ding deserueth palme and price and among al other medicinable hearbs it deserueth to stand in the first rank by reason of his singular vertues and as it were almost to bee had in admiration as hereafter you shall vnderstand And for that none suche as of auncient time or of late dayes haue written the nature of plantes did neuer make mention thereof I haue therefore learned the whole historie touching the same which I learned of a gentleman my very friend the first authour inuenter and bringer of this hearb into France wherfore I thought good to publish it in writing for their sakes that haue so often hearde speaking of this saide hearbe and yet neyther knew the hearbe nor the effectes thereof This Hearbe is called Nicotiane of the name of him that gaue the firste intelligence thereof vnto this Realme as many other plantes haue taken their names of certayne Greekes and Romaynes who hauing beene in straunge Countries for seruice of their common Weales haue brought into their countries many plants which were before vnknowne Some haue called this Hearbe the Queenes Hearbe because it was firste sent vnto her as heereafter shal be declared by the Gentleman that was the first inuenter of it and since was by her geuen to diuers for to sowe whereby it might bee planted in this lande Others haue named it the great Priors hearbe for that he caused it to multiply in Fraunce more then any other for the greate reuerence that he bare to his hearbe for the Diuine effectes therin contayned Many haue geuen it the nâ—me Petum which is indeede the proper name of the Hearbe as they which haue traâ—elled that Countrie can tell Notwithstanding it is better to name it Nâ—cotiane by the name of him that sent it into Fraunce first to the ende that hee may haue the honour thereof according to his desert for that hee hath enriched our Countrie with so singular an Hearbe Thus much for the name and nowe hearken further for the whole Historie Maister Iohn Nicot Counsellâ—r to the King being Embassadour for his Maiestie in Portugall in the yeere of our Lorde 1559.60.61 went one day to see the Prysons of the King of Portugall and a Gentleman beeyng the keeper of the saâ—e Prisons presented him with this hearb as a strange Plant brought from Florida The same Maister Nicot hauing caused the said hearb to be set in his Garden where it grewe and multiplied maruellously was vppon a time aduertised by one of his Pageâ— that a young man of kinne to that Page made a sâ—ye of that hearbe brused both the hearbe and the Iuice together vppon an vlcer which he had vpon his cheeke neere vnto his nose comming of a Noli me tangere which began to take roote already at the griffles of the Nose wherewith hee founde himselfe meruellously eased Therefore the sayde Maister Nicot caused the sicke young man to bee brought before him and causing the saide hearb to be continued to the sore eight or ten daies this saide Noli me tangere was vtterly extinguished and healed and he had sent it while this cure was a woorking to a certeine Phisition of the king of Portugall one of the greatest fame to examine the further working and effect of the said Nicotiane and sending for the same young man at the end of ten dayes the sayde Phisition seeing the visage of the said sicke yong man certified that the sayde Noli me tangere was vtterly extinguished as in deede he neuer felt it since Within a while after one of the Coâ—kes of the sayde Embassadour hauing almost cutte off his thombe with a greate chopping knyfe the Stewâ—rd of the house of the sayde Gentleman ran to the sayde Nicotiane and dressed him therewith fiue or sixe tymes and so in the ende thereof hee was healed from that tyme forward this hearbe began to bee famous throughout Lishebron where the court of the kyng of Portugall was at that presone and the vertue of this sayde hearbe was extolled and the people began to name it the Ambassadours hearbe Wherefore there came certaine dayes after a Gentleman of the Countrie Father â—o one of the Pâ—ges of the Ambassadour who was troubled with an vlcer in his Legge hauing had the same twoo yeeres and demaunded of the sayde Ambassadour for his hearbe and vsing the same in such order as is before written at the end of tenne or twelue daies hee was healed From that tyme forth the fame of that same hearbe increased in such sort that many came from al places to haue some of it Among al others there was a woman that had her face couered with a Ringworme rooted as though she had a Uisour on her face to whome the saide L. Embassadour caused the hearbe to be giuen and told how she should vse it and at the ende of eight or tenne daies this woman was throughly healed who came and presented her selfe to the Ambassadour shewing him of her healing After there came a Captaine to present his Sonne sick of the kinges euill to the sayde L. Ambassadour for to send him into France vnto whome there was a saye made of the sayde hearbe which in fewe dayes did begin to shewe great signes of healing and finally he was altogether healed therby of the kings euill The L. Ambassadour seeing so great effects proceeding of this hearbe and hauing heard say that the Lady Montigue that was dyed at Saint Germans of an vlcer bread in her brest that did â—â—rne to a Noli me tangere for the which there could neuer remedy hee foâ—nde â—nd lykewyse that the Countesse of Ruffe had sought for al the famous Phisitions of that Realme for to heale her face vnto whom they could giue no remedy he thought it good to communicate the same into France and did sende it to king Frauncis the seconde and to the Qâ—eene Motheâ— and to many other Lords of the Couâ—◠〈◊〉 the mâ—neâ— of ministring thâ— same and howe to apply it vnto the said diseases â—uen as he had found it by experience and chiefly to the Lorde of Iarnac gouernour of Rogel with whom thâ— saide Lord Ambassadour had greate amitie for the seruice of the king The which Lord of Iarnac told one day at the Queenâ—s table that he had caused the saiâ—e Nicotianâ— to be distilled and the water to bee drâ—nke mingleâ— with water of Euphrasio otherwise called eyebright to one that was short breatheâ— who was therewith healed This hearbe hath the stalke greate bearded and slymie the leafe large and long bearded slymie it groweth in branches halfe foote to halfe foote and is very ful of leaues and groweth in height foure
which they pretend to cure Let none thinke that to take this water without order good consideration as many doeth there shall followe health but vnto them rather taking it without measure without order â—t shall do vnto them much hurt wherby it seemeth to me that when this water shal be ministred as well in the diseases that it cureth as in any other whatsoeuer they be it is necessary that they goe to some learned Phisition that may dispose the manner and making of the Water and the order which they shall obserue in taking of it for that in the Winter it shoulde bee taken otherwise than in the Sommer And otherwise it must be geuen to the leane person than to the strong and in an other manner it must bee taken of the Cholerike than of the fleugmatike one order is required in the cold region an other order in the hot Wherby it appeareth that it is conuenient to keep order measure forme in the taking of it for that there goeth no lesse with it then health life coÌ„sidering that we see it haue no price in the world not to let it alone to the iudgement of him that knoweth it not It happened to a gentle woman vnto whom for certaine iâ—dispositions of the Mother proceeding of greate colde that she had taken I couÌ„selled her that she should take this water of the wood of Sassafras And I gaue her the order that shee should vse in making and taking of it which was asmuch as was conuenient for her disease and seeming for her But she tooke muche of the wood more then I willed her seething the water more then I commaunded her she thought that she should heale the sooner And as shee tooke it certayne dayes with this strength she was burdened in such sort with a very great Ague that not onely it stood her vpon to leaue the water but it was needefull to let her blood fiue times and put her life in aduenture so procured infamy to the remedie After she was whole and had preuayled she returned tooke the water with the order that I had first tolde her and she healed very well of her disease It is time nowe that wee come to the vertues of this wood so excellent whereof let vs speak particularly of euery one of them as we haue knowne and experimented them In generall our Spaniardes in those partes of the Florida where they haue beene and now are doe vse this aforesaide water sodden at their discretion for all manner of disseases without making exception of any Anâ— beeyng sicke of any manner of euill which commeth vnto thâ—m sharpe or long hot or colde greeuous or otherwise they â—ure them all by one maner of fashion they heale all with oâ—e maner of water without making any difference and the best is that al be healed therewith in this they repose so much trust that they feare not the euils which are present nor haue any care of them that be to come so they vse it for an vniuersal remedie in all manner of diseases In one of the thinges that they haue founde moste profite in this water was in Opilations in the interiour partes of the which they came to bee swolne and to bee full of the Dropsie the most parte of them For of the long and large heates which they had taken they came well neere generally to haue these diseases And with this water both the swelling and the opilation went away and therewith they came to be made whole of the Quotidian Agues which the most parte of them had For in goyng thither the most parte of them fell sicke of these long and importunate Feuers in the which I haue experience by this Water beyng taken as it ought too bee for it woorketh maruellous effectes and haue healed many therewith For the principall effect that it hath is to comfort the Liuer and to dissolue Opilations and to comfort the stomake which are the two principall thinges that are most conuenient for the Phisition to doe that the sick may be healed of the like diseases For in these euils it is not to be feared that the humors be corrupted And if the principal members be hurt one of the things that these medicines which are brought from our Indias do principally when the water of any of them is taken is to comfort the Liuer and to amende it that it may ingender good humors for if this be not done the cure is in vaine And so our Sassafraâ— hath a maruellous propertie to comfort the Liuer and to dissolue the Opilations in such sort that it doth ingender alowable blood I healed â— young man which had an opilation of certâ—yne Tertians And thereof he was all swolne in such sort that he was well neere full of Dropsie And with purging him many times with Pilles of Ruibarbe and by taking of Dialaca amongest the said Purgations and drinking the water of this Sassafras coÌ„tinually without drinking of any other thing he came to be healed very well and was cleere of his swellings and opilations And he did not let to drinke it vntill he remayned perfectly whole The manner of curing with this water made of the Sassafras for the Tertian Agewes long Feuers I will shewe you and what hath passed in this yeere that I wrote this There haue beene many people diseased with the tertiane Agewes so importunately that no manner of medicine was sufficient to take them away and to roote them out insomuch that we let many alone with onely good order and good gouernment without helping them any more They were opilated and had euill colour of the face and some of them were swolne And at that time it was when the Captayne generall Peter Mellendis came from the Florida and brought him in common this wood of the Sassafras and when euery man did so much prayse it many of them that had Tertians tooke water of the Sassafras keeping the order that the Souldiers gaue them and surely I saw in that greate maruelles for that they healed many with the vse thereof Not onely of the tertians that so much did molest them but also of the Opilations and euill colour that they had And seeing this I caused other to take it that without counsel durst not doe it And it did very wel with them but it must be wel seene vnto how it shoulde bee geuen and to whom that the cause may carrie with it both order and measure That which ordinarily was done was to geue one cuppe full of the Water well sodden in the morning with Sugar or without it and after to drinke the water continually that which was more simple then the firste and as the Phisition shall iudge to be most conuenient for him that is sicke keeping the conditions in the takyng of this water that we shall speake of And surely it is a thing that geueth great
with lesse quantity of wood The like shall be done in the hot or cold times in the age of the person or the most causes making to this respect and proportion And for the more light I will here set downe the maner how this water ought to be vsed the which shall serue to shew how that they may rise or fal therein coÌ„formably to the opinion which shall seeme good to euery one For in these infirmities that be very cold they must set vp the water in quillates both in seething and also in quantity of the wood And in the diseases that are not so colde or that doe participate of any heate they must set the water lower in Quillats seething it lesse putting in lesse wood the maner and order of the preparing it is this You shall choose the freshest wood that may be had and that which hath a rynde For that wood which hath not the rinde is not good nor taketh effect you must procure that it be of the roote for that is the best of the tree for these effects and cures and for the diseases which we haue spoken of And if in case there be no roote then the bowes are the best that growe in the higher part of the Trees and in case the boweâ— lacke then is the tree good if so be that the one and the other haue the rinde of the roote let there be taken lesse in quantity therof more of the bowes much more of the tree which must be double to the quantitie of the roote Nowe let vs speake of the bowes as of a thing in the middest betweene the roote and the tree beeyng that which continually they doe bring of the which you shall take halfe an Ounce and cut it as small as may be And it must be put into three Pottelles of water in a newe Earthen pot and there lie a steeping two howres and after it must bee sodden at a fire of Coales vntill the two partes bee consumed and tâ—e one remâ—yne And after it is colde let it be strayned and kepte in a glassed vessell and vpon those small cuttinges of wood that haue beene already sodden let there be poured other three Pottels of water and let it seeth vntil halfe a Pottell bee consumed and no more after that it is colde let it be strayned and kept in a glassed vessell Let the first water be taken in the morning fasting halfe a Pint hot and then keepe your selfe warme and procure sweate then change your selfe into hot clothing and wipe your selfe from the sweate And eate of a Hen rosted dry fruite and Conserua and drinke of the second water at Dinner and Supper and in the day time And then rise and goe well clothed and flie from all things which may offend you And at night make a light Supper and eate drie fruite and Conserua but eate no flesh at night and drinke of the second water And this you may doe for as many dayes as you finde your selfe greeued and if you finde your selfe well with the vse of this water taken in this maner proceed forward vntill you be whole if not then coÌ„tinue in taking of the strong water euery third day drink of the simple water coÌ„tinually After this order it may be geuen in all diseases that we haue treated of and it will profite But many will not submit themselues to this labour which truely is the best of all others that which is most conuenient They may make â—he simple water in this forme Let there be taken halfe an ounce of the wood little more or lesse with the conditions aforesaide and let it be made into small peeces and seeth it in three Pottels of water vntill halfe be sodden away rather more then lesse And of this water you may drinke continually at Dinner and at Supper and in the day time and surely taken in this order it doeth and hath done mauellous woorkes and moste greaâ—e Cures in long diseases and importunate taking it and â—eeping a good gouernemâ—nt in yâ—ur Meate and other thinges prohibited And howsoeuer it bee beyng drunke so simple it procureth great profite They that cannot forbeare tâ—e drinking of wine may water their wine therewiâ—h for it will rather make it of a better tast and sweetnesse for this water hath a most sweete smell and tast and aboue all it worketh maruellous effectes as we haue seene and do see in diuers and sundrie diseases in the which ordinary remedies of Phisicke doe not profit with the greate examples which we haue hereof And it is to be considered that principally it doeth profite in longe and colde diseases and where there is wyndines other euils that run this course which shal be knowne foorthwith by him that shall haue need of it vse it And one thing is to be vnderstoode that vsing it in the order as is aforesaid although that he which taketh it haue no neede thereof it can doe him no hurte but rather if it be well considered it wil manifestly profite him in the time that he shall take it yea although he leaue the taking of it when he seeth that he findeth not the profite which hee desireth nor that it hath done him any hurt or harme during the time that hee hath taken it CARLO SANCTO ¶ Of the Carlo Sancto a roote brought from the new Spaine THey bring from the newe Spayne within this three yeeres a mauellous roote of great vertues which is called Carlo Sancto the which a father of S. Francis order discouâ—red and published in the prouince of Mechoacan beyng taught by an Indian of that countrie that was verie wise in such thinges and a man of greate â—xperience in the vertues of them In the firâ—te parte wee haue declaâ—ed that there bee many Medicinadle Hâ—arâ—es which haue greate secretes and vertues This â—ur Carlo Sancto groweth in that Prouince in places which are vâ—rie tâ—mperate which â—e not drie nor verâ— moyst The forme and figure thereoâ— is like to our wilde Hopâ— of Spaine for it câ—rrieth a Lease as they doe and it râ—nnâ—th vp by any otâ—er tâ—ing that is neere vnto it and if it haue nothing to leaâ—e vâ—to then it câ—eepeth all along vppon the grounde the coloâ—r is a sadde grâ—ene it carâ—ieth neither flowâ—e nor fruâ—t the smell that it hath is little and acceptable to some Out of the Roote sâ—riâ—geth a grosse tree and it casteth foorth other Rootes of the greatnesse of a finger it is white in colour and hath a Rinde which falleth from the inner parte the hearte of it is meruellously wrought for it is compounded of certayne small boordes very thinne and they may be deuided by one and one the roote hath a pleasant smell and beeyng chewed it hath a notable bitternesse wiâ—h some sharpnesse of tast this roote hath his vertue in the Rinde In the ships that he
the Canes of the small Canafistola there is made an other Conserua verie good which is an excellent purge and delicate for they take the small Canes which are growing of a small time and seeth them in Sugar and with the seething and Sugar is taken from them the sharpenesse and the drinesse which they haue and they are made tender and softe and of a very good sauour These beyng taken make a very good woorke and purge without griefe or molestation and without all accidentes and faintnesse that purges are vsed to procure for that they are full of good tast at the taking of them and light of woorking They are geuen from two Ounces to three I haue geuen them many times with very good successe and haue taken them beyng sicke and they haue wrought verie well with mee Of these Conseruas they bring hither euery yeere from Sancto Domingo and Puerto Rico many Barrelles full The Canafistola that is perfect and rype is the moste excellent Medicine for to purge withall of as many as haue been knowne to this day and that doeth his woorke best in that which it serueth for and with most assuraunce as it is wel knowne not onely to Phisitions but also to all the world and doeth his worke without the hurtes and accidents which other Purgatiue Medicines are vsed too doe and it is a generall Medicine and amongst them that are called blessed is the most blessed of all whose vertues and properties wee doe treate of particularly in the first part and that which we haue spoken heere hath beene to geue relation of the leaues and flowers of it which they haue now brought mee One thing I would they should be aduertised of that when we are commanded to geue Canafistola to lighten and soften the bellie and that the common matters may bee voyded downe is ment that they shoulde take it a smal tyme before meate be eaten at the most halfe an houre before for the meate being mingled ioyntly with it worketh with it and in this order it maketh a very good woorke and purgeth very wel without paines which is not done with that which is taken any long time before meate as two or three houres before as now many doe vse it for that the meate beeing dilated it maketh an ende of woorking And as it is a thing without strength and weake it goeth al into vapours and so sheadeth it selfe abroade throughout al the body if it tarry long it is conuerted into meate and substaunce which I haue seene by experience many yeeres wherein I haue practised that alwayes as I gaue it halfe an houre before meate at the most it maketh a good worke and if it be giuen many houres before meate it purgeth and euacuateth little Concerning mingling of medicines which doe purge with the meate Hipocrates treateth of it in many partes and Galene in his Commentaries And trueth it is that when we wil that the Canafistola should not euacuate but that the vapours shoulde bee spred abroade by the reines and all the body wee geue it many houres before meate and then not working it performeth the effect that wee haue spoken of Of the Balsamo of Tolu THey newly bring now from the Firme lande from a Prouince which is betweene Cartagena Numbre de Dios which the Indians call Tolu a Balsaâ—o or licour that is the best thing and of greatest vertues of as many thinges as come from these partes They gather it from certaine trees which are after the manner of litle Pines which cast out many bowes to al partes It carrieth the leafe lyke to Algarrona al the yeere it is greene they are the best which growe in a softe grounde well tilled This Balsâ—mo the Indians doe gather by way of incision gyâ—ing certaine cuttes in the rinde of the tree for it is thinnâ— and soft and they set vnderneath it neere vnto the tree thinges like to dishes made of waxe which is in that country blacke which they take out of Hiues that certaine blacke Bees doe make in the chappinges of the grounde I haue seene brought much of this Waxe into Spainâ— and it was spent in Torches but it was forbidden that none of it should be spent for the smoke which it cast from it had so euil a smel that it coulde not bee suffered They did vse this waxe in matters of Medicine for therof were made Cereclâ—thes which wrought very good effects in mittigating griefe of any colde cause it dissolueth any maner of swellinges and woorketh many other good effectes Of this waxe the Indians doe make vessels lyke to a spoone and set them close to the tree that they may receiue the licour that commeth out of it by the places where the cuttingâ— are made and from thence they receyue it into those vesselles and it is needfull that it be done in tyme of great heate that the cuttinges may cast out the licour and in this tyme lykewyse there soketh out of the ioyntes of the sayde tree some licour and it is lost because it is so little and falleth into the grounde in the night time there commeth forth none This licour or Balsamo is very much esteemed amongst the Indians and is of greate value and with the notable woorkes which therewith are done and the Spaniardes haue learned and by seeing the great woorkes which it maketh they haue brought it hether as a thing of great estimation and such a thing as they buy there for a great price and they haue reason so to doe for one of the best thinges that haue come from those partes which haue beene brought for Medicine is this Balsamo which seemeth to be better then that of the newe Spaine and in it selfe appeareth to haue more vertues It is of an Alborne colour very neere lyke to a thing that is gilt it is not very thinne nor very thicke it clyngeth faste wheresoeuer it bee layde and it hath the taste and sauour sweete and although it bee taken it maketh not any horriblenesse as the other Balsamo doeth it hath a most excellent smell lyke to Limons insomuch that wheresoeuer it bee the good smell thereof giueth greate contentment and it can not bee hidden for a little of it smelleth much and if you rubbe your hande therewith there remayneth a maruellous smel The woorkes thereof are excellent and very greate for that it is licour which is taken out by incision as they tooke out in olde tyme the Balsamo in Egypt and for al those diseases for which that was good this of ours is as good It healeth al fresh woundes comforting the partes and ioyning them without making any matter and without leauing any signe of them The superfluitie that is in the wouÌ„d must be taken away of what sort soeuer it be washed with wine ioyned wel in the lippes parts therof and then the Balsamo laid to it when the coldnesse is out of it and
done with speed before the hurt doe enter the inner partes for if it once doe come to the harte the cure will goe harde and this must bee vniuersally in al prickinges or bytings of venomous beastes And if the wound bee smal it is needful to open it with a smal cut or some other way and if it be newe let the cuttinges bee smal and if it bee of a long tyme then let the incision bee deepe for that with the much blood that geeth out thereof there goe out a greate parte of the venom also And after the cutting let there bee applyed such things as may drawe out strongly the venom still adding thereunto that as shal be needful Some there bee that doe sucke out the venom of the prickes or woundes with their mouth but it is dangerous to them that so doe for some haue dyed therof it is better to râ—medie it with ventosities or to put too it the hinder parte of a Cocke or a Chicken or a Pigeon beeing aliue vppon the pricke or wâ—unde the fethers being plucked fâ—om the hindâ—r part therâ—of and vse it so often as shal bee needful vntill yâ—u perceiue that they haue taken out the venom that is in the wounde and euery one of them must be applyed thereto so long tyme vntil that you may perceiue that hee doeth waxe faynt or vntill he bee readie to dye Also it is a good remedie to put them that bee a liue opened at the back and let thâ—m be there as long time as they haue any heate and beginning to waxe colde then take them away put others to and the venom being taken out by these meanes let there bee put vpon the wouâ—d a medicine that hath vertue to keepe the wounde open Some do vse in the cuttinges or incisions an actuall thing to burne called a cauterie which doth very much good extinguishing the venom and comforting the hurte The same â—ffect doâ—th the cawterie potentiall in killing the venâ—me but it is not so good as the actuall but thereby it doeth cause that the wounde doe not close which is very necessary for the cure The iuyce of the herbe Escuerçonera doeth profit very much being put on venomous â—ytings or prickings by it selfe or mingled with other medicines that haue vertue to take away the streÌ„gth of the venom as treacle methridato other medicines like to these and if the Bezaar stone might be had casting the pouder therof vpoÌ„ the wound it wil worke a maruellous effect While they are in this case they must be kept with good order good gouernement in al thinges that are contrary to them and vsing euacuations such as is conuenient with wholesome medicines and there must bee mingled with them medicines that are against venom and when time serueth vse letting of blood and in the rest to goe to the cure of the disease and vnto euery one of them as it is conuenient vniuersally and particularly hauing alwayes care to giue to them that are sicke in the morning fasting the conserua of the roote of the Escuerçonera and his water or the Bezaar stone or the pouder as it is said or Bolearmenike prepared hee must haue care to annoynt the harte with things which are temperate that may comforte with pouders and cordiall waters amongest the which let there bee put the herbe Escuerçonera And besides the vertues that the herbe Escuerçonera hath against the bytinges of these beastes in particular and for the remedie of all in vniuersal it hath also other particular vertues the vse whereof hath beene shewed vnto vs it is very good against sowndinges of the harte and for them that haue the falling sicknes and for women whose matrix are suffocated or stopped by taking the conserua made of the roote and drinking the iuyce of the hearbe clarified or the water of it distilled It doeth profit much when the soundinges are come but much more before they doe come when they feele that they begin to sownde let them take the roote therof with the water and it doeth hinder the comming therof and if it do come it is much lesse and it doeth not woorke so vehemently as when it is taken after Unto them that haue the gidinesse in the head it doeth good and being continually taken it maketh the hart merrie it doeth take away the sadnes which is the cause therof the iuyce taken out of the leaues and clarified and set in Sunne for certaine dayes taking the cleerest thereof and put into the eyes doeth clarifie the sight and taketh away the dimnesse therof if it be mingled with a litle good hony it is good for them that feare themselues to bee poysoned The conserua of the roote beeing taken and the water in the morning that day by Gods grace they shal bee safe The vse and experience of this hearbe hath bin taught without any auctor for to this day we knowe not with what name the authors doe terme it Iohn Odoricus Mechiorius an Almayne PhisitioÌ„ doth wryte in an Epistle to Andrew Mathiolo saying that Peter Carniser a Catalan Phisition sent to him the herbe Escuerçonera dry into Germany this Phisition did aske of Mathiolo what herbe it was Mathiolo did not know what hearbe it was neither did any other vntil now that it hath bin spoken or written of Some that are curious wil say that it is the CoÌ„drillia a spice of Succory which Dioscorides doth make mention of in the second booke in the 122. chapter although that it hath some likenesse therof it differeth much in the roote for the Condrillia hath it very wooddie and vnprofitable and very smal and in the flowers but they differ not in their vertues for both of them are good for the bytings of adders And whatsoeuer that our Escuerçonera is wee see that his effectes are greate as well against the bytinges of the Escuerços which is so euill a beast and venomous as for other diseases which we haue spoken of which seeing that in so fewe yeres there hath bene so much thereof discouered I do trust that much more wil be hereafter by wise men that there may be added to this which I haue discouered and written of it And seeing that we haue treated briefly and the best that we can of these twoo medicines so precious to wit the Bezaar stone and the hearbe Escuerçonera which are twoo things so precious and of so greate effectes against venom now haue we to treate of the last parte which wee promised to doe â—nd how we ought to keepe and preserue our selues not to fal into so greate a danger as of them is declared for that it is better to keepe our selues from daunger theÌ„ to fal therein Heerein the ancient wryters haue bin very circumspect Amongest the rest it hath beene an ancient custome in Princes Courts other greate estates to haue their tasters as wel of their meate as of their drinke for the eschewing of poyson and so by
which Syrupe doth not heate nor inflame but with great temperature according to the graduation woorketh his good effects The first for whom this thing was ordayned and deuised was for Pantelion de Negro Ienoues who was had in cure by many Phisitions and hauing taken the water of the Wood and other Medicines was well neere consumed and with a grieuous swelling sore vppon his shinne bone and great paynes in it hee tooke it and was healed very well This sirupe I haue vsed in many people for the infirmitie that the Sarcaparilla doth profite for and the wood and for many other and it hath a good effect in woorking by degrees for that the drinesse of the wood is taken away and the heate of the Sarcaparilla and it is made in this forme There must bee taken two ounces of Sarcaparilla and foure ounces of Paulo Sancto which is the holie Wood prepared as it is saide and three Doozen of Acoseifas a fruite of Spayne without their stones and two Doozen of Prunes without their stones and halfe an ounce of the flowres of Borage and an other halfe ounce of Uiolettes and some graynes of Barley made cleane that is too say the huskes taken away All these thinges let them bee cast into three Pottles of water and lette them bee sodden on a soft fire vntill it come to one Pottell and then let it be strayned and vnto tenne ounces of this decoction let there be put one ounce of the Sirupe of Uiolettes Let it be taken hotte in the morning and at night in the order aboue sayde In the rest of the water keeping sweet if ther bee any and although there come little yet they bee healed They may eate a little Chicken from the first day with the rest of the diet drinke the simple water of the Sarcaparilla which is to be made with halfe an ounce of Sarcaparillia sodden in foure Pottâ—ls of water vntill one or somewhat more be sodden away This order doeth heale all kinde of euill of the Poxe and all the infirmities that we haue spoken of that the water of the Wood doeth heale and the China and the Sarcaparillia Which to repeate it shall be too long and too prolixious because it it is sufficieÌ„tly declared before For surely in this simple water and in the foresaide decoction I haue found great effectes aâ— well in the infirmities wherein is suspected the euill of the Poxe as in large and importunate diseases in the which the common remedies of Phisicâ—e haue not profited which although they proceeded not of the French Poxe yet doeth it cure and heale them as it is seene by the woorke of him that vseth it There is an other Sirupe to bee made of the Sarcaparillia which is taking eight ounces of Sarcaparillia being broken or cutte and seething it in foure pottelles of water vntill three be sodden away and the one remaine and into the water that shall remayne to put to foure pounde of Sugar and make a perfect Sirupe And of this Sirupe too take three ounces in the morning and three at night eating good meates and to suppe litle and drinke onely the simple water of the Sarcaparillia and goyng abrâ—ade out of the house and doyng his buisinesse There are healed therwith many diseases without geuing any molestation in the healing of them And this must be taken till the Sirupe bee all consumed Also this Sarcaparillia is taken in pouder in this maner They take the Sarcaparillia and plucke awaie from it the heare within it and dry it and grynde it and then sifte it through a syue of silke and make it in Pouder Of this Pouder is taken in the infirmity of the Poxe or spice of them the weight of sixe pence drinking it with the simple Water of the Sarcaparillia taking it in the Morning and as night as much when he goeth to bedde Hee must eate good meates and drinke no Wine but the simple water thereof It shall doe well he be purged that shall begin to vse it And although that this pouder doth heale many diseases large and temporall one cure it doth meruellously which is the salte Fleume of the handes and feete in this forme The sicke man being purged and also without purging if he cannot otherwise doe hee shall take the Pouder as it is sayde and vpon the salt Fleume he shall lay with a Feather a little of the water of Sublimatum delayed with Rosewater that it be very simple and after it is layed on all partes where the salt Fleume is then let there be put vpon it a plaister that is called of William Serâ—eâ—tis or Dia Palma spread abroade thin vpon Sattin or Taffeta too bee applied in all parts where the simple water of Sublimatum was put This must be done euery day for that in fifteene daies he shall be perfectly whole This doth mundifie and incarnate and skin without hauing need of any other medicine ioyntly with the Pouder and the simple water of Sarcaparillia which wee haue spoken of This is of so great effect and experimented as they shall see by the worke that shall vse it for surely they shall be whole thereby The vse of the water of the Sarcaparillia is so greate at this day in this forme as is sayd that it is applied in anie disease it is come into so much credit that in anie maner of Reumes or runnings or windinesse the euill of Women of the Mother or any other cause or occasion whatsoeuer so that it bee not in Feuers or other sharpe diseases men take the vse of the simple Water of the Sarcaparillia and this is at this day so put in vse that in like sort you shall finde the simple sodden Water of Sarcaparillia in manie houses as ordinary water in yearthen vessels and surely it woorketh greate effectes and doeth remedie large and importunate diseases Trueth it is that the persons that bee hotte of complexion it doeth beate them more then is conuenient and so they cannot drinke it and moste of all if that their Liuer be very hotte for that it heateth too much In womens diseases as well of the Mother as of colde humours it woorketh good effectes and doeth mâ—ruellously dissolue windes And in persons that bee subiect to manie euilles and especially of Reumes and olde greeffes and diseases caused of the euill humours if they runne this course with the continuance thereof they shall receiue manifest profite and benefite and it doeth heale all deseases whiche they neuer thought to be healed of The complexion thereof iâ— hotte and drie well neere in the seconde degree All these waters must be giuen in Sommer or in the ende thereof it is better that the season exceede in heate then in colde ¶ Of the blood Stone and of the Stone for the diseases of the Stone of the Kidneies and Reines THEY doe bring from the new Spaine twoo stones of greate vertue the one is called the
the meanes thereof they assure themselues to be out of peril for that matter the which surely is allowable and a good custome and necessary for the safegard and health of any Prince or Lorde for if there be any hurte in the meate or in the drinke it shal light first vppoâ— theÌ„ that doe eate or drinke thereof and not vpon the Prince or other high estate in whose life and health greate matters doe depende Trueth it is that in these dayes it is done more for a ceremony and estate then for health safety of life this order is vsed amongst great estates more for custome then for any thing else for this purpose the common people haue it in estimation so that at this present it is vsed contrary to that end and purpose it was ment for they vse nowe taking of a little bred and bringing it with the meate and so taste it that done they cast it away and lykewyse they drinke a drop of wyne or water if it should be vsed as it ought to bee they should eate and drinke thereof throughly for otherwyse the poyson if there be any caÌ„not be discerned before it come in to the Princes mouth Also the lord ought to command that there be prepared for him diuers meates for that if hee mislyke of one he may tast of another for being of diuers sorts he may tast of eache a little and eating little at once of any that were infected it would doe lesse hurte then if he shoulde eate of one dish being infected filling himself therwithal for being either of them infected and eating much therof it shal doe the more hurte And note this wel that many times a maÌ„ is not giuen alwaies to eate of one meate nor to see it alwayes tasted before he eate it and afterwarde there appeareth in it notable hurte therefore it is good to take your meate with a forke or a spoone and that they be made as Ierome Montuo a learned man in Phisike had appoynted for king Henry of Fraunce which was made to knowe if that he had eateÌ„ any venom there must be made a little forke and a spoone of one mixture of gold and siluer that the olde wryters called Eletrum and it must bee 4. partes golde and one of siluer they must bee smooth cleane well burnished with the forke or holder let him eate his meate and with the spoone his broth for putting them in the meate or in the broth if that there bee any venom therein foorthwith the golde will haue an euil colour appearing tawnie blewe or blacke and loosing the beautie that before it had the which wil cause them to looke better to the meate and this is done for trial therof and to make further experieÌ„ce by some beast that may eate thereof and so to see the effect thereof for that is the greatest experience the lyke may bee done with the drinke to make a cuppe therof or a broade vessel well burnished For if the wine or water that is put into it haue any venom the vessel wil take some colour therof as aforesaide and if it haue no poyson therein it will remaine in his owne colour And surely it is a gallant and a delicate secrete when you begin to eate any manner of meate the first morsell that you take let it be wel chewed and marke wel if it do byte or haue any euil taste or if it burne your mouth or your toÌ„gue or that your stomacke abhorre it for in perceiuing or feeling any thing of these signes cast it forth and wash your mouth with wyne or water and leaue that meate and fal to other it woulde doe very wel to giue it to some beast to see the effeâ—t therof it is good to haue in the house some beast to whome it might giuen for to make experience thereof And the effect so appearing they haue to iudge therof And this is to be vnderstoode when the venomes come of corsiue thinges you shal feele a notable sharpenes and they byte and burne forthwith the best is for them that haue suspicion to eate meate that is rosted or sod that they eate neither brothes nor pottages for in them there may be greater hurte and if any bee made let them not bee made with things of smell as Amber muske and sweete spyces and let them not haue ouermuch sharpenes for in broth or pottage the poyson wil sooner lurke then in rosted or sodden and vse no meates which haue much sweetnesse therein all poyson will lurke the more Hee that hath any suspition when hee goeth to his meate let him not bee to greedie to eate foorthwith very hastily but let him refraine himselfe and let him eate with leasure by litle and litle The lyke he must do in his drinking being very thirsty hee feeleth not what he drinketh and so many people beeing very dry haue dronke in lie lye and also water of arsenike not feeling the same vntil they haue hurt their body and therefore it is conuenient to drinke leysurely by litle and litle tasting his drinke as he drinketh surely if men woulde be ruled by this order they should easily finde if there were any euil thing in that they eate and drinke You haue to consider the colour of your meate for thereby will somewhat appeare For it wil looke otherwyse then it ought to doâ— see that your vessels wherein you eate or drinke bee cleane newe and glistering and if your abilitie be such let them bee of siluer being cleane burnished for if you haue venom in the drinke it is easily espied and the siluer doth turne blacke or tawney Not many dayes past a Gentleman of great riches by drinking in a plaine cuppe of siluer perceiued the cup stayned of a sad tawney colour and did maruel thereat hee only tasted the wyne and it made his tongue rough his mouth also hee looked wel on the wyne that was put into the cup it had not that quicknes in drinking that it ought to haue had and hee looked on the water and in the bottome of the ewre there were many graines of arsenyke with as yet were not dissolued I was called I gathered out of the ewre more then xx smal graines of arsenike within certain dayes after the Gentleman fell sicke wherby I did conâ—ectâ—re that it was not the first tyme that they pretended to poyson him since that he hath bin sicke a long time And thus much I affirme that if the cup had not bin altered of his colour â— bin infected it had not bin perceiued Therefore it is necessary that the vessels and tinages where wyne water are kept be stopt for feare least any venomous thing fall therein as spyders Sallamanquesas and other lyke venomous beâ—sts and therefore it is nought to drinke with vessels or cuppes that haue narrow mouths for it is best to see what one drinketh in a cleere vessel and broade for it is good for
not bene found they had neuer bin discouered When they wanted it the nauigation was very little and short they fayled onely casting about by the bankes of the Sea coastes and nowe by the meanes of it they do ingulfe them selues and do sayle in such sort that the shippe called the Uictorie sayled all the rounde worlde ouer as the Sunne goeth euerye day that it is sayde shee sayled at one time twelue thousande leagues And that which is more to be maruelled at that the shippe being in a gulffe of 800. or 1000. leagues by meanes of the Needle they came to the porte which they preteÌ„ded to go vnto without any other knowledge more theÌ„ by the meanes of the Needle or as we cal it the compasse the which is of steele and they do râ—bbe ouer one parte of it with the lode stone and forthwith by particular vertue which God hath giuen vnto it by that parte which they did rubbe ouer with the lode stone it looketh towardes the Pole which is neare to the North and perpetually it doeth this being in the Sea or on the land eyther by the day or by the night with the Sunne or without it alwayes it looketh towardes the North. With the which Needle and with the carde of Nauigation wherein is placed a distincâ—ion for the knowledge of the wyndes and the description of the portes they sayle so many milleons of leagues as at this day wee see and it is done so easily that it is very wonderfull The inueÌ„tion of this maruelous Needle was founde by a Marriner who was borne in the citie of Melsiâ—n Italy Also the Iron Steele do serue to make clockes which is a thing of greate art very necessary to liue with rule order for by them shall be knoweÌ„ the works that are to be made the time that shal be spent in them they serue for all states of people whereby they may liue wisely discrâ—tely where is no clocke they liue like beasts they are made at tâ—is day with so much art curiousnesse that they make great admiration they purifie and make cleane these two metals that they make them as bright as any other they gyld them they siluer them there is giuen to them other coulorâ— are made very fayre as we see that there are made cheynes â—f Steele very delicate and fyne and there are giuen to thâ—m dyuâ—â—se sâ—apes aâ—d coulours and are more esâ—â—emed then those which are made of Golde or Silâ—er Thâ—se metals aâ—e disâ—illed â—y tâ—â— wâ—â—e of Alcumiste and thâ—re is maâ—e of them Quinta â—ssâ—ncia as of Golde and Silâ—er â—he Alcumisâ—es too saye tâ—at the metall moâ—â—e apâ—e fâ—r thâ—ir câ—uses and efâ—â—ctes is the Iron The Iron doeth suffer a â—riâ—uous disease â—hich doâ—th consume and make an ende of it wâ—ich is callâ—d rust and because it may not come to it there are many remedies that the things which are made of Iron and of Steele may be continually cleane principally that they bee put into no moyst place and that they be occupyed and vsed gilding them or siluering them in so doing they be kepte cleane from the aforesayde rust or annoynting them with common oyle or with the marrowe of a Deare or with the fatt of birdes or with white lead and vineger when they are taken with the rust for to take it away they must be filed of and put into vineger and after into the fire for with this it is taken away vnlesse when they be so much eaten that they are not to be remedyed with these benefites I doe not speake of the finesse and delicatenesse that there is in sodering of it and closing of it together and of the vsing of it in the forge because I am wery I let it passe with many other things that I should say thereof and do conclude that these two things Iron and Steele are the moste necessarye things for the seruice of maÌ„ of as many as are in the world Doctour I am very glad with that which master OrtunÌ„o hath spoken for all is to confirme the excellencies greatnesse which I haue vnderstoode of these two mettales wherby I do take them to be more necessarye then the golde and siluer if we do consider well of it The golde doth not serue vs principally for any other thing but for money which is to buy any thing therewith and for the trade of things the which any other metall might serue or any other thing For in the olde tyme as there was no money they did barter and change one thing for another and by reason in this bartering and changing there could not be vsed any equalitie and iustification betweene parties the wise and discreete men of common wealthes did agree together to make a thing which might serue the lacke that might be of the one partye to the other that with it the thinges might be made equall and there might be a iustification of both partes And for this reason and effect there was inuented and made the first mony which was neither of golde nor siluer but of yron and of metall as wee see in the mony of old tyme. And after that the Romaynes made it of golde and siluer for the fayrnesse thereof but it is sufficient that the firste which was made was of yron and of metall seeing that the Indians haue it to this day of fruites of trees and especially of the Cacao which is the fruite of a tree lyke to an Almond this hath serued and doeth serue them for money to buy and to sell and to vse all playnesse in their buzinesse And in all Ginea the blacke people called Negros doe vse for money for the same effect certayne little snayles which they finde in the Sea as also other nations doe vse of thinges lyke to this B. I haue helde my peace harkening to your woorshippes with greate attention and surely you haue treated in thinges of greate importance and of greate learning and seeing you goe treating so effectually the matter of yron and so delicately and with so greate learning I woulde that Maister Doctor might satisfie vs one thing that I haue seene decyded of learned men vppon the complection of yron for some doe say it is colde and vppon this I haue had so many alterations that they haue amased me and seeing that Mayster Doctor can certifie vs concerning this matter wee shall take greate pleasure if that hee will declare it vnto vs. D. I thought to haue made an ende with this saying and that I had accomplished my promise with Maister Burgus but nowe hee will dryue mee to a question the most harde and difficulte that is in al Phisicke and surely it were neede of more tyme then that wee haue to determine it B. Your woorship may not escape by that meanes for to morrowe you may make an ende of that which you cannot doe this day OrtunÌ„o I shal receiue great pleasure in
running vnto the inner partes of that which it doeth make colde for the excessiue heate which the saltpeter hath the which is done with the strong force of the saltpeter with the water which the saltpeter beeing entered into the inner partes maketh to bee colde comming from the heate of the saltpeter working vpon the strong force thereof Other say that the water doeth make it selfe grosse with the saltpeter and being made more thicke and grosse it hath more colde vertue the which beeing holpen with the heate of the saltpeter the cold maketh a greater pearâ—ing through the water for al thinges that are cold the more thicke partes that they haue the more they coole And so Galen saith in the bookes of the simple medicines that nothing caÌ„ be very cold which hath subtil thin partes by the which howe more thicke the things are the more force they are of Other there be which say that the saltpeter hath an actual vertue very colde and woorking with the water is made more cold as is seene by the bryne that after the salt is very much stirred in the water it is most cold The selfsame is seene in the water of Allom and of saltpeter This maner of making cold doth cause many diseases it doeth heate the liuer it causeth continuall heate and a hot burning it inflameth the lungs it taketh away the lust of meate and other euilles which woulde be tedious to treate of There are other wayes to make cold which are in riuers and most colde fountaines whereof Galen speaketh of the which it is not needefull to treate of for whereas are most cold waters it is not needful to put them to bee made colde but to vse of them as they are Wee haue shewed howe the water that shoulde be made rayne with the coldnesse of the middle region of the ayre did freese and was made snowe and therfore is little difference from the rayne water and that which commeth foorth of the snowe for both of them are ingendred of one manner of matter sauing that the water which proceedeth of the snowe is somewhat more grosse for the compultion it hath of the coldnes of the ayre in such sort that it is not so euil as they say it is And we see the Scithians doe drinke it continually as Hypocrates sayth We see that of the snowe which doeth melt are made great and mighty riuers of the which the people that inhabit neere to them drinke continually without doing to them any maner of hurt or benumming of them And of these are many in Spaine Almanie and many more in the west Indias where most of the riuers are of snowe which doeth melte from the hilles and mountaynes and al people in general drinke of them for there is no other water in al the Countrie The Romaynes for delight and curiositie dranke the water that came foorth of the snowe the which they strayned through stones to make it more thin Atheneo doeth rehearsâ— certaine verses of Sopita an ancient Poet in the which he saith that in his tyme they dranke snowe and the water which came foorth of the snowe Pericrates Historiographer being a Greeke most famous saith that in his tyme they dranke snow not only in the Cities but in the campes Euticles a man very learned in one of his epistels doeth reprehende those that were in his tyme that they did not content themselues to drinke that which was made cold with snow but that they dranke the snow it selfe Sciates maketh mention of the snowe vsed at tymes conuenient with much care and delite Xenophon in the thinges of memory which hee wrote maketh mention of many people that did not onely drinke snowe but the water therof continually The Romanes did vse it much and so Plinie in the 31. booke of his history saith that Nero was the first that sodde wâ—ters to coole it in Snowe The which Galen in the seuenth of his Methodo doth recite of him saying Nero was the first that sodde the waters and afterwarde cooled them with Snowe for the water being made colde in this sorte receiueth more quickly the colde and more effectually And it is a water more healthfull for by the seething of it is auoyded the earthly partes from the water and it remayneth more subtile and more thin and so it descendeth more speedily from the stomacke Plinie in his naturall historie in the nineteenth booke complayneth of the care that those of his time had in keeping the Snowe of the Winter for the hote weather in Summer saying that they did ouerthrow the mountaines by keeping the snowe from warme weather making it to peruert the order of nature that in the monthes which are most whot in the which there is nothing but heate drithe that the curiositie of the people is so much that at that time there is such aboundance of snowe as in the monthes in the which there doeth naturally fal vpon the grounde great quaÌ„tity thereof This Plinie saieth for in his tyme and after it was a common thing to keepe the snow of the winter for the summer Heliogabalo Emperour had made a great caue in a litle mountayne from a garden of his owne where hee gathered in the winter very greate quantitie of snowe bringing it from the mountaynes that were neerest to Rome whereof they vsed in tyme of heate in their bankettes Chares Militineus in the history that hee wryteth of King Alexander sayeth that in the Citie of Petra a most populous Citie in Asia there was ordinarily thirty caues that in the winter tyme were filled with Snowe for the whot weather for the seruice of Alexander such as were retayners to him At this day it is done not onely in Asia but also in many partes of Africa and in all Europe chiefly in all the Countries which are vnder the dominions of the greate Turke and especially in Constantinople where the snowe is so much vsed that all the yeere it is solde in publike market and they vse of it al the yeere The selfe same is done at this day in all the states of Almanie and of Flaunders Hungary and Bohemia and other places where they keepe the Snowe in houses and bawâ—es in the Winter for to make their drinke colde therewith in the summer They carry from Flaunders to Paris the water that is frosen which is more then three score leages distance Lykewyse in our country of Castile it is kept in houses and they gather it in the winter and when winter is past they conserue it for the whote weather And there are many Lordes and great men which haue in the mountaynes particular houses where they commande that it bee put in the winter for this effect and many of them doe vse it and doe make colde therewith as well in the winter as in the summer as there are chiefly in Castile in the tyme of winter waters that
drithe it causeth the dropsie by reason it corrupteth the first disgestiâ—n consumeth the body with his heate Auicen himselfe confirmeth this in the thirde of the first part saying the colde water is conuenient for them that haue a temperate complection for being whot it causeth the stomake to be sicke Isaac Aliabas and Rasis say the same that Auicen saith the which he did let to wryte of bycause hee woulde not bee long in his sayings One thing Auicen would haue in the thirde of the first parte that hee which shoulde drinke very cold must first make a good foundation eating first a good portioÌ„ of meate before he drinke Also he saith that the cold drinke may not be dronke much at one draught but by litle and litle by reason it doth bring two benefits which is that there is taken more taste in that which is drâ—nke and it doâ—th not kill the natural heat as it is seene by the pot that boyleth if you cast into it much water at one tyme it doeth cease boyling but if it be cast by litle and litle it ceaseth not his working And therfore Auicen himselfe sayeth when that you will drinke colde that you drinke with a vessell which hath a straight mouth that the drinke run not in hastily the said vessel beeing a limet or a yewre with a poynt surely it is a greate benefit for them which are affectioned to drinke with the lyke â—esselles if they ought first to take out the winde or not I do remit me to the Doctor Villalabos who treateth largely of this matter And by that it is seene howe Auicen woulde that those which woulde drinke very colde they shoulde not drinke foorthwith at the beginning of their meate For sâ—me there bee that as soone as they begin to eate foorthwith they will drinke that as is very colde the stomacke beeing empty without meate which cannot choose but hurte and so the hurt which doth come to them by this they doe attribute it foorthwith to the colde of the drinke and not to their euil order the which Auicen sayth speaking of cold water that to drinke it without order is the cause of many diseases if it be dronke in order as wel in time as in quantity it profiteth as he hath said Therfore let euery one loke to that which is conuenient for him and let him make experience in himself and if that it be conuenient for him to drinke colde that hee may beare it without that it doe offende him that doe it for therof wil follow the benefites which we haue spoken of but if he bee sicke and fall into any disease whereby hee saith that the drinking of colde drinke doeth offende him in such case let him not vse it for my intent is to shâ—w and perswade them that doe drinke colde that if it doe them no hurt nor offende them that they drinke it so aâ—d such as doe vse it of custome and haue experience that it doe not offende theÌ„ vnto such iâ— they drinke not that which they drinke cold the lust of their meate is taken away from theÌ„ for they take no taste in that which they eate and they eate it with grief and with an euil wil for that which they drinke doth not satisfie them the whot drinke doth fil the stomake full of windinesse and cannot make therewith a good disgestion But what is hee that hath a reasonable health being in the tyme of great heate or in the whot summer that comming to eate being weary of exercyse or of greate labour hauing the tongue dry the breath shorte that doeth let to drinke colde seeing that to doe it there doe followe the benefites that I haue sayde and doeth succor his necessity and remayne content and glad without hauing offended his disposition and health Unto the which Galen doeth animate and exhorte vâ— in the booke which hee made of good and euil meates saying In the tyme of hot weather when our bodies are whot and somtymes inflamed then we must vse of thinges that may refreshe vs although that they bee euill meates as Plummes Apples Cheries Melons Goords of other colde fruytes in these lyke tymes Galen saith that wee may vse colde meates as the feete of a pigge or hogge sodden in vinegre and crudded milke and the same meates must be made colde and likewyse the drinke must bee made colde as the water and the wyne watered with colde water or made cold in snowe the one and the other must be made colde in the most cold water of a fountaine and if it be not to be had let it bee made colde in snow chiefly the drinke And after that Galen hath made a large digression as it is conuenient so much in the tyme of greate heate to eate and to drinke colde things hee doeth describe who they are that should drinke colde and saith in this sorte those that should drinke cold are such as haue much buzines and haue care of many things as those which are gouerners of cities and common wealthes and the ministers which doe helpe them and doe participate of such cares and troubles and those that are much exercised in bodily buzines in especially the sowldierlyke exercises or other great exercises and they which doe iorney and inespecially long iorneyes giuing to vnderstand all corporal exercises Here I doe see many being sicke and hauing great occasions of sicknes after that they drinke cold they are whole and when they vse it not they become sicke agayne And although experience doe shewe it yet Galen doeth teach it vs in many places being the Prince of Phisicke For in the thirde degree of the substance of meates he saith that vnto them which are whot of stomake it is conuenient that their drinke be made colde with snowe the same he doth confirme in the booke of good and euil meates And in the 7. of his Methodo it hath beene seene as he saith that diseases haue beene healed and the griefes of the stomake with colde water made colde with snowe and in the 6. of the Epidimias hee doeth vse much of water first sodden and after cooled with snow and in many partes hee doeth put to coole in snowe the medicines which he doeth vse of and the same doe the Arabiens for that as it is sayde it doeth seeme that the snowe was had in reuerence by the ancient wryters and that they did vse of it in the preseruation of their health and in the healing of their diseases for that it was the best maner how to nake it cold more cleane and more without scruple For the cold that proceedeth of snow is healthful without receyuing hurt by that which is cooled with it nor causeth any alteration bycause it is a very good congeled water and doeth make cold Truthe it is that it is not conuenient to vse of the sayde snowe continually if it be not in tyme