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 quicke Sulphur.

WHen I made an end of wryting of these last lynes, Barnadine of Burgus the Po∣ticarie, 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, w^t is a place in the prouince of Peru, from a Mine that there was founde in certayne H••lles, nere vnto the Mines of gold. And it is not in vayne that the Alcumistes doe say, that the matter of Gold, is the Quickesiluer, and the Sulphur, that is to say, the Quicke∣siluer

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 rus∣set, like to Ashes, congeled without colour or brightn••sse, which is found nigh vnto the Uolcan of Nicaraga, the which being cast into the fire doth cast from it the smell of Brim∣stone, 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 mar∣uellously, of the which I haue greate experience. It heale••h the Skabbes, beyng dissolued with oyle of Roses. Taking the weight of sixe pence in an Egge, it healeth the Colike. and the Palsey. It is good for the payne of the Stone, and beyng taken, it healeth the Iaunders.

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

Notes

• Quicke Sul∣phur.
• As it is.
• Brought frō Quito.
• Note.
• Euill Sul∣phur.
• The thinge•• that i•• profi∣teth in.
• The comple∣ction thereof.