Ioyfull newes out of the newfound world wherein are declared the rare and singular vertues of diuers and sundrie herbs, trees, oyles, plants, [and] stones, with their applications, aswell to the vse of phisicke, as chirurgery: which being wel applied, bring such present remedy for all diseases, as may seeme altogether incredible: notwithstanding by practize found out, to be true. Also the portrature of the sayde herbes, very aptly described: Englished by Iohn Frampton merchant. Newly corrected as by conference with the olde copies may appeare. Wherevnto are added three other bookes treating of the Bezaar stone, the herbe escuerçonera, the properties of yron and steele, in medicine and the benefite of snowe.

Of the Peper of the Jndias.

I Will not let to speake of the Peper that they bring from the Indias,* 1.1 which serueth not onely for Medicine, but it is otherwise most excellent, the which is knowen in all Spayne, for there is no Gardeyne, nor Orcharde, but

that it hath plentie thereof in it, for the fairenesse of the fruite that it bringeth foorth.

* 1.2It is a greate Plante, insomuch that I haue seene in this Citie some that was equall with many Trees. It doeth cast foorth the leaues greene, after the fashion of Basill of the biggest sort. And it casteth foorth certain white flowers, out of the which commeth the fruite, the which is of di∣uerse formes: some Peper is long, other rounde, others of the making of Mellons, others of Cherries, but all is at the beginning when it is not type very greene, and beeing rype very redde, and with a gracious and good col∣lour.

* 1.3All the sortes are vsed in al manner of meates and pot∣tages, for that it hath a better tast then the common Peper hath. Beaten in peeces, and cast into broth it is an excellent sauce, they doe vse it in al thinges that the aromatike spices are vsed in, which are brought from Maluco, and Calicu••. It doeth differ from that of the East Indias, for that costeth many ducates, & this other doth cost no more but to sowe it, for that in one plant you haue spice for one whole yere, with lesse hurte and more profite.

* 1.4It doeth comforte much, it doeth dissolue windes, it is good for the breast, and for them that be colde of com∣plexion: it doth heale and comforte, strengthening the prin∣cipall members. It is hotte and dry, well neere in the fourth degree.

They doe bring from diuers partes of our Indias many purgatiue Medicines,* 1.5 that haue beene found and discouered by continuance, whose workes and effectes are great: of the which I wil giue here a short relation, that it may be an en∣trance for to entreate of the roote of Mechoacan, which was our principal intent now to wryte of.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Of the Indiā Peper.
• * 1.2

  The descrip∣tion of the Plante.
• * 1.3

  The vse of it.
• * 1.4

  The vertues that it hath.
• * 1.5

  Note.