that place Ego quasi Libanus non inci∣sus. And some men meane that Liba∣nus 〈…〉〈…〉 Arabia, like to the Lau∣reit tree in leaues, and beareth fruite twice in one yeare in springing time, & in harvest▪ And the gum that droppeth thereof by itselfe in the beginning of Summer is the better: the which, in Summer when the rinde is slit is com∣pelled to come out some and some. What droppeth in haruest, is not so white nor so pure: but that that first cleaueth to boughes and twigs▪ That Thus is best that is white fast and sounde, and euen¦long as the gendring stones; and is cal∣led therefore Masculinum. And Thus that commeth out in haruest, or in the beginning of winter, when the rinds be slit, is not like to the other in vertue, nor in colour for that is white & cleere and bright, and full cléere, with full good smell: and the secondary I had is thin and scabbed, as Isido saith before. The Countrey where Thus groweth, is fast of mountaines and hard to come to for high rockes and crags, as the Glose sai∣eth super Eccle. And Plin. saith all this lib. 15. cap. 10. There he saith, that in A∣rabia is a countrey, and Thus groweth therein, Saba is a Prouiuce of the same countrey that beareth most plentye of Thus, and is a lande that vnneth men may come to, for it is closed in the one side with rockes of the sea and in the other side with mountaines and crags & and so the tree that beareth Thus gro∣weth with out tilling, and loueth claye lande. And the Arabians tell that. Thus shall not be gathered, nor the tree therof pared, but of holy men & religious, that be not defiled by touching of women, in time of gathering: and so they suppose; that méede shall increase by obseruaunce of religion. Also he saieth there cap. 16. that the first kinde Haruest and gather∣ing thereof as about the rising of the starre Canis, in the most strong heate. For then the rinde thereof is right thin and slaketh and out thereof woseth fat fome, and is gathered togethers, and hardeneth where the kinde of the place asketh: and this is most pure and white.
And the second gathering thereof is when it draweth to winter, when the rende be slit, and this commeth out red, and is not pure to the first.
Men déeme that the gumme of the young trée is most white, but the gum of an olde trée is most vertuous: And some déeme, that the best gum groweth in Ilandes, and other donie and say, that no ginuine groweth in Ilands, Thus is gathered and brought on Camels backs, to the Citie that is called Sabocriam, & there is a gate opened therefore. And if is not lawful to lead it by another way, and there it is fyed to the God that they worship. There the Priests take there∣of by measure and not by weight; and it is not lawfull to begge neither to sell thereof before due portion be offered to God •• and is assayed by witnesse if it burrieth anon•• to coales, and wexeth on light on high, if it how not togethers the téeth when it is bitten, but breaketh a∣〈…〉〈…〉 and falleth to pouder. Huc vsque Plenius.
And Diosco•• and Platearius meane, that. thus is the gum of a certaine tree in Alexandria, and the best & most pure is called Olibanum Alexandrinum.
And the other is found beside Damas∣cus, and is not so good nor so pure as the first, and is hot and dry with wel smel∣lyng ••ight•• fat and gleymie; and comfor∣teth by good smell thereof, and soudreth, b〈…〉〈…〉, and gleweth, and restrayneth & stinteth mightely by vertue of gummi∣nesse feares and ranning humours, that runne downward from the head, and namely when they runne by the vtter veynes of the face, and namely if pow∣der thereof be layd in a plaister to the temples with white wine and the white of an egge, and abateth also and staun∣cheth tooth ache of the gumers. And Thus chewed letteth the running of hu∣moures from the head to the spirituall members, that be the breast and lungs, and helpeth against feéble digestion, and sower bolking. And Wine in which Thus is sodden, helpeth, and com∣forteth, and cleanseth the Mother: and the smoake thereof helpeth greatlye to conception.