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 Purgatiue Nuttes.

AT the beginning when they discouered the Indias, they brought from Sancto Domingo,* 1.1 certaine Nuttes being three cornered, with the which the Indians did purge themselues, and were vnto them a familiar purgation. And afterwardes the Spaniardes, for necessi∣tie did purge themselues with them, with hazarde ynough of some of their liues, for with the vse therof, many thought to lose their liues, for that it is a strong purge. And although that it doeth make a great excesse of stooles, yet doeth it al∣so prouoke vomitte very strongly, and with much vio∣lence, with greate faintnesse and heauinesse. Afterwarde some did rectifie them by costing of them, and then they be not so violent, nor so strong, neyther woorke with so much cause of fayntnesse.* 1.2 They do purge Fleume very strongly, & after colour. It is an excellent Medicine for the Colike, it doeth dissolue windes, and putte in a glister it doeth eua∣cuate reasonably.

The maner & colour of them is as of our Nuttes, with a thinne rinde,* 1.3 of the colour of a cleare Baye, they are three cornerd, the carnell within is whyte, and sweete, inso∣much that for their sweetnesse, many haue beene m••e∣ked

therwith. The Phisitions doe call them commonly Ben,* 1.4 of which there are twoo sortes, one they call greate, and the other little. The great Ben bee these purgatiue Nuttes, the little Beu bee as great as our Peason, of the which in Italy they make that oyle of sweete smel, which they call Oyle of Ben, with the which they do annoynt their heare, and beards for dilicatenesse. Their complexion is hotte in the beginning of the third degree, and dry in the second. Their weight is of halfe a dragme vnto one, but they must bee tosted.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Of the purga¦tiue Nuttes.
• * 1.2

  What these Nuttes doe purge.
• * 1.3

  The d••scrip∣tion o•• ••he N••••••es.
• * 1.4

  Ben.