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THE THIRD PARTE OF THE ME∣dicinall Historie, which trea∣teth of the thinges that are brought from our Occidentall Indias, seruing for the vse of Me∣dicine. Wherein there is mention made of many things Medicinall, that haue great secrets and vertues:
¶ Nowe newely set foorth by the sayde Doctor Monardes, after that he had made the first and second partes.
IN the yeere of our Lorde 1540. Francis Pissarro proui∣ded to make towarde his bro∣ther Gonsalo Pissarro gouer∣nour of the prouince of Quito, & the Spaniards wēt thither with a good will, & they went also vnto the coūtrie that was called the country of the Cina∣mō, wt is an other prouince be∣yond Quito, and the Cinamon was much spoken of amongst the Spaniardes, for it was vnderstood of the Indians that it was a thing of great riches,
Gonsalo Pissarro departed with 200. Spaniards, and it happened to him euil in his iorney,* 1.1 for it was a sharpe coun∣trie, & without vittaile, & with great trauel they came to that prouince called of the Indians Somaca, where the Cinamon groweth, which is right vnder the Equinoctiall line.
The trees which beare it, are of reasonable greate∣nesse, they carrie a Leafe like to Laurel, they be al the y••re greene, and they neuer loose the leafe, which is a thing com∣mon to all the trees of the Indias.* 1.2 They beare their fruite vnto the likenesse of a little Hatte, that hath his Cup and sides as greate as a peece of eight Rialles of Siluer, which is foure Shillinges, and some greater, it is of the colour of a darke tawnie, as well without as within, it is smooth in the inner parte, and sharpe in the vtter, in the highest part of the Cuppe it hath a stalke, whereby it hangeth in the tree, it is as thicke in the side, as a peece of eight Rialles of Siluer, and the vppermost parte is fuller of bodie, and being tasted, it hath the same pleasauntnesse of tast that the same Cinamon hath, which they bring from the India of Portugall, and in like sorte there r••mayne••h in the
mouth the same sweete smell, and tast, that the same Cina∣mon of the East India hath, & there remayneth in the mouth the same sweete smell and tast, with some drinesse: the selfe-same it doeth being ground, respiring out from it the same smell, which the most fine Cinamon hath. And in the meates wherin it is put▪ it geueth the same tast & sauour that the Ci∣namon of the East India hath. The trees haue a grosse rynd, but without tast, sauour or smell of the Cinamon. I cannnot tell if the little inner rynd haue any, onely the rynde I haue seen with the fruite, as it is described: they say that the leaues beyng beaten, geue out s••me smel of Cinamon, onely the ver∣tue, sweet smel and tast, is in the fruite, which is contrary to ••he Cinamon, that is brought from the Orientall Indias, for onely the Rynde of the tree is that which hath the sweete sa∣uour and pleasant smell, as we doe all see. And true it is, that some is better and of more sweete smell and tast, than othersome is. For although that they are all one sorte of trees, which bring forth the Cinamon, yet some haue the rinde thinne, and that is the best Cinamon, and others haue it grosse, and this is not so good: and thereof it hath come, that there bee some which doe distinguish the Cinamon into di∣uers kindes. For one sort they call Cassia, and an other Ci∣namon, and an other Cassia lig••••a, and it is all one kinde of tree, that bringeth them foorth: but that the diuersity of the place bringeth forth one more fine than another, and so Cassia and Cinamon are al one,* 1.3 for that they differ not, but onely in the names, for all is Cinamon, thinne, and fine, and whereas you find written Cassia, may be put Cinamon; and where you doe find Cinamon, Cassia.
This our fruite that is called Cinamon, profiteth in Medicine for many thinges:* 1.4 beeyng taken and made into pouder, it comforteth the stomake, and it dissolueth winds, it taketh away the euill smell of the mouth, & it is an impor∣tant remedy for the griefe of the stomake, it is cordiall, it
maketh a good colour in the face, and Cassia in drest meates is vsed euen as Cinamon is, because it woorketh the like ef∣fect, that it doeth: by taking the Pouder of this fruite with wine, or water made for the nonce, it prouoketh the purgatiō of women. It is hot in the thirde degree, and drie in the first, but with notable comforting, by reason of the drie parts that it hath.
DOn Francis de Mendosa,* 1.5 Sonne vnto the vice Roy Don Anthony de Mendo∣sa, did sow in the new Spayne Cloaues, Peper, Ginger, and other spices, of those which are brought from the Oriental In∣dias, and that which by him was begun, was lost, by reason of his death, onely the Ginger did remayne, for it grew very well in those partes, and so they bring it greene from the new Spayne, and other partes of our Indias, and some they bring drie, after the ma∣ner of that of the East India.
The Ginger is a Plant which carrieth his Leafe like to L••rio, somewhat more narrowe, with the same greenesse:* 1.6 the Roote is as it seemeth, some greater than other, and when it is greene, it burneth not in the mouth, wherefore beeyng made small into peeces, it is put into Sallettes, for because it geueth them both tast and smell. They sow it, of the seede that it bringeth foorth or of the same little Roote, and of the one sorte and of the other it waxeth greate: and after the Roote is growen greate, they take it foorth, and drie it in the shadowe, where no moysture doeth come, for that is it which doeth corrupt him, and for this cause they bring it in drie earth and made in Conserua, although that here it may bee verie well made of that which is drie, burying the Roote at the foote of a place where many 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉
led Emperiall, beyng abroade below and narrow aboue, and by the mouth of them there groweth out certayne Buddes, which are his Leaues, which cause him to shewe verie faire, and these Buddes are sowen, and of them growe the Plantes, which carrie the Pinnas, and one Plant carrieth not more than one Pinna, in the highest part therof: it grow∣eth greene, and as it ripeneth, it turneth yeallowe. They take from it the Rynde, which is verie thinne, for to eate, that which it hath within it is white, and softe, and melteth in the mouth, with a very good tast, and sweete sauour: sa∣uing that it hath many small karnels rounde about it, which it is needefull that you cast from you when you eate them, which are of a Purple colour. The smell thereof is like to a kinde of Quince, and where there is a Pinna rype, he smelleth like to a Quince ouer all the House where he is.
* 1.7They take them to bee good for the stomake, and like∣wise for the hearte, and to restore the appetite lost: it is a generall fruite in all partes of the Indias, and much estee∣med. They are to be eaten at the beginning of meate, & they vse to eate them in the hot after Noones: for they say that they do refresh: they are cold in my iudgement: they brought two sorts of them, the one drie, & the other in Conserua. The dry did serue for no other purpose, but to see the figure and the forme of them: in Conserua, they haue a good tast, although somewhat sharpe: they ought to be made in Conserua when they are greene.
* 1.8THey brought mee from the firme Lande the seede of the Fruite which is so muche esteemed by the Indians, as also by the Spaniardes, which they call Guaiauas. The trees which carrie this fruite are of a reasonable greatnesse, they cast out their bowes
dispersed. They carie a leafe like to the manner of Laurell, the flower of it is whyte, according to the fashion of the flower of Orenges, sauing that it is somewhat greater, it is of a sweete smell. This tree yeldeth much fruite, where∣soeuer it be sowen, and doeth multiply and spred so much a∣broade, that they take it to bee euil for the grounde where it groweth, for that in many pastures the people doe loose the feeding of their cattle by reason of them. And they weue themselues one togither with an other like Bryers: the fruite which they carie is like to our Apples, of the great∣nesse of a Pippin, it is greene when it beginneth first to appeare, and as it ripeneth, it turneth yeallowe. In the in∣ner parte it is whyte, and in colour russet, and being cut, hath foure places deuided, where it hath the seede, which is lyke to the seede of Medlers, being very harde, and of colour tawnie, al the stones within haue no karnel, they are without any sauour. And to eate these Apples, they pare them from the Rind, the fruite is holsome, and of good digestion: when they be greene they are giuen to them that haue the Laske, for they restraine and binde much, and when they bee very rype, they make the belly very laxaatiue when they bee of a good seasonable age. They are good rosted for them that be whole, and for the sicke, for beeing so rosted they are more healthful: and better, and of pleasanter taste. And the best of them growe in trees which are tilled. The Indians vse the leaues in seething, with the which washing their feete that are swollen, they cause them to abate, and the inner parts of the body being stopt or opilated, being washt with this seating, doe disopilate. It seemeth to bee a colde fruite, and therefore they giue them rosted to them which haue hot A∣gewes. It is a very com∣mon frute in all the Indias.
ALso they did sende mee the Seede of a plante or hearbe,* 1.9 which the Indians doe much esteeme, which they cal Cachos. The Cachos is an hearbe very reddish in colour, it carieth a rounde leafe & thinne, it casteth out a fruite like to a Berengena of Spayne, where the seede doth growe: it is very small, and of a Russet colour, it hath a taste with∣out any sharpnesse, onely in the mountaines of Peru this hearbe is found,
The Indians doe much esteeme it, for the medicinal ver∣tues that it hath,* 1.10 it maketh one to pisse wel where the lack of Uryne is, it doeth expell the Sande and Stones, which growe in the reines. And moreouer they say, that the vse of it doeth breake the stone from the bladder, if the Stones bee soft, that they may bee dissolued, with taking very little quantitie of it, and of this they haue so many examples, that they cause mee to maruell at it, because I thinke that the stone in the bladder cannot bee expelled, but onely to cut it out is the remedie, for that no Phisicke can dissolue him. They say that taking the seede grounde with some water, made for the purpose, causeth it to bee cast out in Clay, and being come foorth it returneth to be congeled, and turneth it self into a stone.
Only to a yong man I sawe this happen who had a stone in the bladder,* 1.11 and I beeing certified of it by the Maister Surgions that had felt him, and of the accidents which hee had, caused him to bee caried at the beginning of the Som∣mer, vnto the Fountaine of the stone, and in twoo monethes after that hee was there, hee came whole from thence, and brought in a paper all the clay which hee had voyded from him at tymes, being of stone dissolued into peeces. We wil sowe the seedes, although very little, onely to see the effect
wrought by them, which as they say is in a cause so greate, and if it doe growe, we wil vse of it.
I Sowed a seede which they brought mee from the Peru,* 1.12 more to see the fairenesse thereof, then for any Medicinall vertues that it hath. The hearbe commeth to bee of the height of twoo spannes, litle more or lesse, bowes it casteth out straight with certaine rounde leaues, very greene and thinne, in the hiest of the bowes there groweth a flower being yeallow, very high in colour, and onely it beareth fiue leaues, and in the middest of euery leafe there is figured a droppe of blood, so red and so firmely kindled in colour, that it can not be more. This flower hath at the foote of it a stalke very long, which commeth out a good space from the flower. It is a flower very beautifull, which doeth adornate gardens, & it groweth very wel of the seede, or of the plante, and beeing tasted, it hath the same sauour and taste that the Mastuesso hath: it is notable hotte.
AMongst the thinges wt they sent mee frō the Peru, there is a thicke rinde, which seemeth to bee of a great tree, and being tasted, hath a sharpnes of tast with some drynesse: the trees growe at the side of a riuer, where this rinde is taken of, which is twentie and sixe Leagues from Lima, and they are not
founde in other partes of the Indias, but onely there. The tree is after the fashion of an ••ime, as wel in the greatnes, as in the leafe. The Indians when they feele themselues la∣den with Reumes,* 1.13 or haue the Cough, or any paynes of the head, they make pouder very small of the rinde of the tree, and take it in at their noses, and it causeth them to purge much at them, and with this they cleare themselues of the e∣uil: which we haue experimented, by taking the pouder in at the nose, and it maketh them to purge notably. It seemeth to be more then hot in the second degree.
IN the same Riuer there groweth an o∣ther tree,* 1.14 which the Indians call Pacal, which tree is lesser then that wee haue spoken of before: the Indians doe vse it made in Ashes mingled with Soye, it taketh away any maner of sore or skabbe in the head, howe grieuous soeuer it bee, as wel those which growe in the head, as in the bodie: as also it taketh away the markes of the sayde skabbes or sores being neuer so olde. Hether they sent mee a little of the wood, wherewith the Ashes are made, that we might make experience of it.
THey sent mee an hearbe which in the Peru they call Payco: they bee certaine leaues after the manner of the leaues of Planten, of that making and great∣nesse, and as they come dry they are ve∣ry thinne: and being tasted, they haue a notable bityng, so that thereby they seeme to bee very hotte. And being made into pouder and ta∣ken
in wyne, they take away the griefe of the stone in the kidneis, which commeth of windinesse or cold causes:* 1.15 and being sodden and made into a plaister, and laide vpon the griefe, they take it away also.
LIkewise they sent mee ano∣ther hearbe, which profiteth much in the euill of the reines, when it commeth of a hotte cause.* 1.16 The Iuyce min∣gled with the oyntment of Roses amongst it, and one of the leaues or more, if it bee needful, laide vpon it, is good for an inflāmation, the iuyce thereof being put, and it profiteth much, for it doth resist the inflammation, and mittigate the payne. The leaues which they sent me, bee lyke to small Lettice, with the same great∣nesse, and being tasted they are of an euill savour: it seemeth to be some hearbe notable cold.
THey sent me from the Peru, a fruite very good, that groweth vnder the earth, and very faire to beholde, and of a very good taste in eating. This fruite hath no roote, nor doeth produce any plante,* 1.17 nor plante doth produce it, but that it groweth vnder the ground as the Turmas doe grow vnder the earth, which are called the Tur∣mas of the earth. It is of the greatnesse of halfe a finger rounde, and rounde about it is wrought with a very fayre worke, it is of a bay colour: It hath within it a little kernel, which when it is dry, maketh a sounde within, lyke to an
Almonde: the rinde of it is tawny, and somwhat white, par∣ted into twoo partes lyke vnto an Almonde. It is a fruite of goood sauour and taste, and eating of it, it seemeth that you eate Nuttes.
* 1.18This fruite groweth vnder the earth, in the coast of the Riuer of Maronnon, and it is not in any other part of al the Indias. It is to be eaten greene and dry, and the beste way is to toste it. It is eaten alwaies after meates, as fruite eaten last of all, because it dryeth much the stomacke and leaueth it satisfied, but if you eate much of it, then it brin∣geth heauinesse to the head. It is a fruite in great reputati∣on, as wel amongst the Indians, as the Spaniardes, and with greate reason, for I haue eaten of them, which they haue brought mee, and they haue a good taste. It seemeth to be a temperate fruite.
THey brought mee likewyse a fruite of a tree which the Indians call Leucoma,* 1.19 which is like vnto a Chestnutte of these of ours, as wel in colour as in the great∣nesse, as also in the whytenesse that the Chestnutte hath. It seemeth that within it is another thing. I did not breake it to see what it was, because they brought me but twoo of them, the one I haue sowen, and the other I haue for to sowe at an other tyme. This fruite doeth beare a tree of much greatnesse, for it is of timber strong and harde, it casteth foorth the leaues lyke to Madronno, which is a redde berie, growing in the Mountaines of Spaine. This frute serueth to be eaten, for that they say it is of a good taste, & good for the laske, because it is very dry: they say it is a temperate fruite.
THey sent mee a little Cheste made of Corke full of rounde beades stones and blacke, of greate beautie, so that they seeme to be made of the wood Ebano: and they bee a fruite which a small treee beareth,* 1.20 beeing more crooked then straight, after the manner of bryers: and it carieth a round fruite as great as a Nut, couered with a certaine fleshinesse clong therevnto, which being taken away, there remaineth a round Bead stone, and so rounde that it cannot be rounder, of blacke colour, most harde, that it can not be broken.
This fruite serueth in place of Sope, in such sorte, that twoo or three of these with hotte water are of more effect to wash withal, and to make cleane cloathes,* 1.21 then one pounde of Sope: and so it rayseth the fome, and woorketh al the ef∣fectes that Sope doth, and so they proceed washing by litle and little, vntil onely the Beadstone doe remaine, which is that which this fruite is foūded on, & al are pearced through: and there are made of them Beades to pray vpō, which see∣meth to be made of Ebano. They dure a long tyme, for as they are Beades so hard, that they breake not: this fruite is so bitter, that neither beast nor byrd commeth too it, for the bitternesse thereof. I haue sowen some of the Beades, and they haue growne, and they cast out from them faire leaues very great. I trust that they wil bring forth fruite, for nowe the plants are very litle, but in tyme I hope they wil yeld it.
A Gentleman which came from the firme lande certified mee, that hauing had cer∣taine continuall Agues in that countrie,* 1.22 he came to be in a consumption, and was counsailed to goe to certaine Ilandes, which are betweene Puerto Rico and the Margareta, for that there is in them greate quantitie of Crabbes, and they are the best of the worlde, because they are maintained by Pigeons Egges, which goe thither to lay, and of the yong Pigeons that are there, & that he should eate no other thing but these crabbes sodden, and he was healed very wel: and although he had ea∣ten much fleshe of Popingeies for that purpose, they did not him so much good, as the Crabbes did: and in them that are consumed, they haue a great property, as Auenzoar saith, and not only they profit such by manifest qualitie or degree, but also by their particular propertie which they haue, for the same purpose.
BIcause I shoulde see the straungenesse of this Hearbe which is the Cardones of the greatnes of a torche of eight square, and wreathed like vnto it, they brought them vnto me. It hath a Medicinal ver∣tue,* 1.23 that being newly beaten in a Mor∣ter and put into Sores, it healeth and so∣dereth them forthwith. And well neere I my selfe had neede of it, for this purpose, for that one of the thornes that it hath, did pricke me. They are strong as Needles which did hurt mee. It seemeth to be a strange hearbe.
THey sent me a little of an hearbe, and by reason it was so drie it came smal broken in peeces, so that the figure of it could not be seene, which they wrote was maruel∣lous for them that are broken, whether they bee children or men that haue that kinde of griefe, and in those partes they haue it for a sure thing, and it is vsed by one Indian, by ap∣plying this hearbe greene, vpon that which is broken, being men or children. And it maketh thervpon a certayne binding very strange, without neede of any maner of Brich, made for the purpose, for they may goe so fast and so swift being bound therwith, as though they had a paire of Briches, as one told me that had byn healed of the like disease, with the hearbe, and with the maner of bynding. I haue vnderstood that if the maner of binding be as good as this man speaketh of, it is sufficient to heale without the hearbe, or any thing els, by reason that I saw a man of C••rdona which healed all persons that were broken with onely the bynding that bee made of them, without vsing vnto them any maner of brich. And this is certayne, that there be some here that were healed and cu∣red by him.
ALso the same Gentleman wrote vnto me from the Peru, that in the Riuers of the Mountaynes of that Countrie neere vnto them, there groweth a greate quanti∣tie of Veruaine, like vnto that of Spaine, with the which the Indians doe profite themselues in their cures,* 1.24 for many in∣firmities, and in especially agaynst all kinde of poyson, and
for such as say that there hath beene geuen them a morsell, or the like thing.
I spake heere with a Ladie which came from the Peru, and she certified me that hauing beene many yeeres sicke,* 1.25 and being in cure with many Phisitions, she went to an In∣dian, that was knowen to bee a man that knewe muche of herbes,* 1.26 vnto whom the Indians did put themselues in cure, & hee gaue her to drinke the iuyce clarified of Veruaine, which shee her selfe made, and within a fewe dayes after that shee had taken it, she cast out from her a worme, shee sayd it was a vearie Snake, of more then two spannes long, and verie greate, and his tayle was parted, and after she had cast him out from her, she was well and whole. And shee counselled a Gentleman which was in the Peru, that was continually sicke to take it, and he tooke it in the morning with Sugar, for so she had taken it, because of the bitternesse that it hath, and he cast out a great number of long and small woormes. and one like to a white long girdell, and since that time hee hath very well his health. And this shee counselled other Persons which were sicke, to doe, that had suspicion, too haue woormes, and with the vse of the sayde iuyce they cast from them many, and they were healed. And it was so cer∣tainly, and shee shewed mee a Seruaunt of hers, and it was sayd that according to the greeuousnes of a disease, which hee had, there was geuen vnto him certayne thinges of witchcraft, and with the iuyce of the Veruaine that he tooke, he cast by vomite many thinges out of his stomake, of di∣uers colours, and it was said that it was that wherewith he was bewitched, which being cast foorth, he remayned whole, and of that which toucheth witchcraft I will speake what I haue seene.* 1.27
I sawe a seruant of Iohn de Quinatna Duenas, beeyng Aburgales,* 1.28 who did cast out at his mouth in my presence a greate bundell of ••eare, of a browne colour, very small, and
hee had in a Paper more then twice as much, which hee had cast vp two houres before, and he remained as though he had cast vp nothing at all, more then the alteration that hee had, to see, that he had cast vp such stuffe.
Iohn Langins an Almayne Phisition,* 1.29 and verie well learned, saith that he sawe a woman that complayned much of payne in her stomake, did cast out many peeces of glasse, and peeces of Earthen Platters, and of fish bones wherwith she remayned whole.
An other case like vnto this Beneuenius speaketh of in his book de morbis mirandis, but that which I do most maruel at,* 1.30 was, that a labouring man suffering great paines in his bel∣lie, so that no medicine coulde profite him, did cut his owne throate with a knife, and after that he was dead, they opened him & foūd in his belly great quantity of heare, the like wher∣of he that I haue spokē of did vomit, with many other peeces of yron. These things I do attribute to ye works of the Diuel, for that they cānot be reduced vnto natural causes. The Uer∣uaine is like that of Spaine, & all the yeere it is greene.
I haue an hearbe brought from the Peru, which they call Mastuerco,* 1.31 it is a little hearbe, & doth carry certain small leaues that are round, which beeing beaten in a morter, and the iuyce of them put into any maner of wound, doth refresh, comfort and heale, curing it foorthwith, and the vse of it is not more nor lesse then the vse of the Tabaco, in woundes which he freshly made washing them with the iuyce, and lay∣ing the beaten leaues to them, and being tasted it semeth that it is notable hot.
LIkewise they brought mee from the same partes an other hearbe, which they call wilde Lettice: the leaues bee like to Let∣tice, the colour is a sadde greene, it hath vertue too take away the Tooth∣ache,* 1.32 receyuing the seething which is made of the leaues, and holding it in the parte where the griefe is, and putting a little of the iuyce in the tooth, which is greeued, for so it taketh away the paines, & y• leaues which are stāped, after the iuyce is taken out, must be laid vpon it, & being tasted it is most bitter. It seemeth to be hot in more then the first degree.
IN a great Cane they sent me a Licour which springeth out of a fountaine that is neere to the Sea side, it is of the colour of honie, & as thin, the smel is like the Taca∣mabaca, they say and also they write, that it hath great medicinall vertues,* 1.33 chiefly in the healing of olde diseases, and those which come of colde causes. It taketh away the paines in any parte of the bodie, proceeding of colde or of windinesse. It ta∣keth away the colde in what part soeuer it be, it doth comfort and dissolue any maner of swelling, and it worketh all the ef∣fectes that the Tacamabaca and the Caranna doe, and so they vse it in those parts, in steede of them: you may not touch nor handle it with your hands, vnlesse you haue them wet, and wheresoeuer it be put, it sticketh fast, that it cannot be taken away, vnlesse it be wasted with long time. They sent me this little for a shew, bicause they doe esteem it greatly, & therfore they sent it as a thing very precious. It seemeth to me hot in the third degree, with notable clammines.
IN the yere of our Lord, 1562. Whē the Earle of Nieba was in the Peru, he had there a gen∣tlewomā wc was married that serued him, & her husband wax∣ed sicke of a grieuous disease, & an Indian of great reputatiō seeing her to be in much sorow, saide to her, if she would know whether her husbande shoulde liue or die of that disease, he woulde sende her a Bowe of an hearbe, that shee should take in her left hand, and hold it fast, for a good while: and if he should line, then she shoulde shewe much gladnesse, with holding the Bowe in her hande: and if he should die, then she should shew much sadnesse. And the In∣dian sent her the Bow, and she did as he had willed her to do: and the bowe being put into her hand, she tooke so much sad∣nesse and sorrowe, that she threw it away from her, thinking that she should haue died thereof, and so he died within a fewe daies. I was desirous to know if that it were so, and a Gen∣tleman of the Peru that had beene there many yeeres, did certifie me and sayd that it was of truth, that the Indians did this with their sicke people. It hath put me in admiration, and in much consideration.
FRom the firme Lande they brought mee certayne Fruites which are herbes which they call in the hils of the Peru where they grow, Gra••a••illias,* 1.34 and this name the Spaniards did giue them, for the likenes & fashion that they haue to our Grana••as, which wee call 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉
they sent me, is of a red colour, somewhat darke, and it hath a good smell.
ALthough in the second parte I treated of the Bezaar stones, that haue been founde in the mountaines of the Peru, for that they haue beene sent me by the first disco∣uerer of them, the best of as many as from those partes haue come, yet I would say in this thirde parte some thing of them, which he sent me for knowledge, saying: that because I wrote of them they had kno••ledge of them: and the booke which I wrote of them, was the guide to finde and discouer them, as we haue sayd, as he sheweth by his letter, which we haue set in the second parte,
Those which hee sent mee too prooue bee verie ex∣cellent in their coullour, making, and greatenesse, whereof I haue broken some, and finde them as excellent as those of the East India: and so they prooue in pouder, or in one little graine as the other doe, and in coullour well neere they are the same. Truth it is, that those which haue this qualitie and goodnesse, and haue all the qualities that the Bezaar stones ought to haue which are fine, shoulde bee those that are taken out of the beastes, that are fedde in the Moun∣taynes, for those which are taken out of them that are bredde in the playne groundes, are not so good, nor haue any Medicinall vertues, because the Beastes a••e not mayntayned by those healthfull Hearbes, whereby these stones are ingendered, for as they bee Beastes and chewe tha•• which they eate of the iuyce, that proceedeth from the herbs, the stones are ingendered. Which thing that Gentle∣man gaue well to vnderstande, who was the first discouerer
of them, who did see where they lay, and were bred within the beast, and with his owne handes made the Anatomy of him,* 1.35 and wrot vnto mee that the Bezaar stones are grow∣ing in those beastes, after the manner of a garde made of flesh, of the length of twoo spannes, little more or lesse, and of three fingers breadth, which is ioyned neere vnto the Mawe of the inner parte, and in the garde the stones are set in order one after an other, like vnto button holes, in a coate, in this forme.
And they open that garde of flesh being closed, and take out the stones, that surely it is a maruellous thing to see, what Nature hath created there, for our health & remedie of our euils And as I haue vnderstoode, that these which are brought from the East India, be founde after the same ma∣ner, so I speake the truthe, for they bring very many which are false, that amongest one hundred there are not to bee founde tenne that are true, and their wryters of the East India doe confesse, that there be made many indeed which are false.
The people of the East India take them cut also of a certaine kinde of Goates,* 1.37 that bee for the most parte redde as ours be: they are the best stones which are takē out of y• cattel, which goe in the Mountaines of Persia: and like∣wise they take them out of other Goates, that goe in the playne Countries of Malaca, and these are not had in such estimation, nor haue the goodnesse nor the vertues that they of Persia haue, because those Goates of Ma∣laca doe serue for cattell to bee eaten, and they be not main∣tained by healthful hearbes of the mountaines, as they that 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉
yet it taketh away the accidentes of it, the faintnesse & sadnesse,* 1.38 and the griefe of the harte, which in these Feuers are common. Surely they feele with the vse of it notable profite, in al long and importunate diseases I do geue it, & they finde profite in it,* 1.39 chiefly those which stand in feare, of any malice of disease, or windinesse, whatsoeuer it bee. For I haue seene, that in this it hath a greate propertie, and of this it commeth, that it is good to cast into pourges, some graines of it, that if the Pourge doe carry venomous qua∣lities, it may rectifie them, and amende them, and if not, it giueth force, and strength to the harte, and they woorke the better. In the oriental Indias they haue a custome to purge themselues twyce euery yere, and especially the noble peo∣ple of estimation, and after they haue purged themselues, they take euery morning fasting foure graines of the Be∣zaar stone,* 1.40 with Rose water, or with water made for the purpose, and they say that this doeth conserue their youth, and strengthen the members, and preserue them from dis∣eases: and it is a good vse, for it cannot choose, but doe them much good. For Wormes they geue this Stone with most happy successe, and surely I haue giuen it to many people, and especially to Children, and Boyes, that are tormented with this euill, and I haue seene such workes as are not to be beleeued, if they were not seene. I geue it by it selfe, and also mingled with this pouder, in this forme.
I doe take hearbe Lumbrigera the wayght of twelue pence,* 1.41 the seede of Santonico the wayght of sixe pence, the Horne of a Harte burned, and the seede of Verdolagas, and Carlina, of euery one the waight of three pence, and the Bezaar Stone of the Peru, the waight of three pence: of these thinges let there be small Pouder made, and let them bee wel mingled. These Pouders are maruellous and of greate effect, to expell Wormes, and very much experi∣mented in many people, and they haue wrought in this case
greate effectes, and they must be giuen in the morning fa∣sting, as to the Phisition shal seeme good, according to the age of him that shall take them, vsing some Medicine of Milke, and Sugar twoo houres after they bee taken. And vnto children being sicke of it, wee geue this stone mingled with milke; and without it, if they doe sucke, and it doeth a maruellous worke: and to them that be in yeeres, by it selfe, or mingled with other thinges appropriated for the disease. In conclusion, we geue this stone in al long diseases, and im∣portunate, where the ordinary medicines haue not profited, in which it doeth manifest profite, and if it doe no profit, yet it can doe no hurte.
FIgge trees beeing caried from Spaine to the Peru, haue increased so wel in that Countrie, that there is great plentie of them, where they cary many and very good Figges, of all sortes. And you shal vnderstande, that in that countrie there are certaine kindes of Uermyn, which are called Spyders, and wheresoeuer they bee, they doe spinne, and make Nettes as they of Spaine doe.* 1.42 These kinde of Uermyn bee greate, and come to bee as great as Orenges, and they are so ful of poyson that wich one stin∣ging they kill, vnlesse there bee vsed great remedie. And if it bee long tyme without remedie, and that the Poyson goe vp to the hart, there is nothing that can bee done that will benefite, but he must die without remedie: and for this there is founde a remedy in the Figge trees, which is a mar∣uellous thing, that as soone as the Indians or the Spani∣ardes doe feele themselues bitten by this euill Spyder, they goe to the Figge trees, and put vnto it the Milke which commeth foorth of the Leaues of them, two or three times to the place, that is bitten, and this worketh so great effect,
that it remedieth it which is so poysoned, with the venom that the Uermine did cast into the sore, and the accidentes be remitted which they suffer, to wit, great griefs and soun∣dings, remaining only to heale the place bitten, and as it is little, so it healeth forthwith, although they procure to keepe it open a long tyme. And Gods wil is, that at all tymes this remedie shoulde not lacke, for the Figge trees neuer loose their leaues, throughout all the yeere they are alwayes greene.
I Was desirous to see that hearbe so celebrated of the Indiās, so many yeres past, which they call the Coca, wc they sow and till with much care, and diligence, because they vse it for their plea∣sures, which wee wil speake of.* 1.43 The Coca is an hearbe of the height of a yerd, little more or lesse, it carieth leaues lyke to Arraihan, somewhat greater, and in that Leafe there is marked an other leafe of the lyke forme, with a line very thinne: they are softe, and of colour a light greene, they carry the seede in clusters, and it commeth to be red when it is rype, as the seed of Arraihan, when it is type. And it is of the same greatnesse, when the hearbe is seasoned, that it is to be gathered, it is knowen in the seede, that it is rype when it is of some rednes lyke to a blackish colour, and the hearbe beeing gathered, is put into Canes and other things, that they may dry, that they may be kepte and caried to other partes. For that they cary them from the high Mountaines, to other places, as marchādise
to be solde, they barter and change them for Mantelles, and Cattel, and Salt, and other things which runne like money amongst vs they plant the seede in Almaciga, and from that they take them vp and set them in other places, into Earth that is wel laboured or tilled, and made conuenient to set them in by their lines and order, as we do set here a Garden of Beanes, or of Peason.
The vse of it amongst the Indians is a thing generall, for many things, for when they trauell by the way,* 1.44 for need and for their content when they are in their houses, they vse it in this forme. They take Cokles or Oysters, in their shelles, and burne them and grinde them, and after they are burned they remaine like Lyme, very small grounde: then they take the Leues of the Coca, and chewe them in their Mouthes, and as they chawe it, they mingle with it some of that pouder made of the shelles in such sorte, that they make it lyke to a Paste, taking lesse of the Pouder then of the hearbe, and of this Paste they make certaine small b••wles rounde, and lay them to dry, and whē they wil vse them, they take a little Ball in their mouth, and chawe it, rowling it from one place to an other, procuring to conserue it all that they can, and that being done, they take another, and so they goe, vsing it al the time that they haue need, which is when they trauell by the way, and especially if it bee by wayes where is no meate, nor plentie of water. For the vse of these litle Balles taketh the hunger and thirst from them: & they say that they receiue substance thereby, as though they did eate meate. At other times they vse them for their pleasure, although they labour not by the way, and they vse the same Coca alone, chewing it & tossing it in their mouths, from one side to another, vntil there be no vertue remaining in it, and then they take another.
When they will make themselues dronke,* 1.45 and bee out of iudgement, they mingle with the Coca the leaues of the
Tabaco, and chewe them all together, and goe as they were out of their wittes, or as if they were dronke, which is a thing that doeth giue them great contentment, to bee in that sort. Surely it is a thing of great consideration, to see howe desirous the Indians are to be depryued of their wittes, and to bee without vnderstanding, seeing that they vse thus the Coca with the Tabaco, and al to this end, that they would be without vnderstanding, and haue their wittes taken from them, as wee sayde in the second parte, when wee treated of the Tabaco.
A Maruellous thing it is, and well to be considered, the diuers colours of the groundes which are in the fieldes, in the countries of the Peru: for that looking a farre of you shall see many partes of groundes of diuers colours, which seeme to bee clothes of diuers colours layde to dry in the Sunne: for you shall see one parte of the grounde Greene, and an other Blewe, and foorthwith an other yeal∣low, and whyte, and blacke, and red, and so of other colours, all which are Mineries of diuers Earths. Of the blacke I can say that they sent mee a little that there with I might make Inke, which beeing cast into water or wyne there is made there of very good Inke, wherewith one may wryte very wel, but it is somewhat blewe, which maketh it of a better shewe.
The red grounde hath beene a thing of great riches, for that which hath beene taken out of it, for it is a Minery most excellent,* 1.46 of which is made quicke Siluer, and there out is taken such quantitie of it, that there are carried to the newe Spayne, Shippes laden with it, which is a riches
so greate, that it is not knowen vnto the Indians. It serueth them for no other vse then to mingle it with certain gummes, to paint themselues withall, which they vse to doe when they goe to their warres to shewe themselues gallant, and fierce. Euery day they discouer in those countries great Mineries of metals, & such like things, for they haue found out a moun∣taine of Oker, & a myne of Allom, & an other of Brimstone & many other things which they doe daily discouer.
I Haue caused them to bring me from San¦cto Domingo a leafe of that plant wherof they make the Casani, and they brought it me. The Casani is the bread, which the Indians so many multitudes of yeeres haue maintained themselues withall,* 1.47 and doe yet maintaine themselues, & likewise many Spaniardes. It is made of an herbe that the Indians doe call Yuca, which is of fiue or sixe spannes of height,* 1.48 it car∣rieth certaine Leaues open, spreade abroade like to the fin∣gers of an hand, and euery one carrieth seuen or eight points, they are alwayes greene, they are set in a ground well tilled, of peeces cut of from the same plant, the fruit is after the ma∣ner of grosse Turnepes, they are of colour Tawnie without, onely in the body, for within they are white, & they par•• them to vse them: and of this fruite they make Breade in this forme.
They make it cleane from the Rynde, and grate it in certayne Graters, which are made of Nedles,* 1.49 and being so grated they put it into a sliue of palme, & vpon it they hang thinges of waight, which are great stones, which make the iuyce run out of it, and being well pressed it remaineth as Al∣mondes beaten: th••y cast this into a playne frying panne of
Earth, that they haue put to the fire, and there they knede it, and make it like to a little cake of Egges, turning it from one side to an other, and after it is well kneded, it remayneth like a Cake, of the thicknesse of a peece of siluer of foure shil∣linges, or little more, which they lay in the Sunne, that it may drie, and these Cakes they vse for Bread, which are of muche substaunce. These Cakes continue long time without corrupting, and they bring them in the shippes which come from those partes, into Spayne without beyng corrupted, and serue for Bisket too all the peo∣ple. It eateth as a thing sharpe, and so it serueth, and they lay it to soake in water, or in broth, or in Pottage, for after this manner they serue themselues better with it, then to eate it drie. It is needefull to haue a vessel with wa∣ter, for to soake it in.
It is a mauellous thing of the iuyce which commeth out of this fruite,* 1.50 which is spoken of, that if any Man or beast doe drinke it, or any part of it, incontinently he dieth, as with the most strong venome that is in the worlde: but if this iuyce doe seeth, and bee consumed the one halfe, and so set out too coole, it serueth for very good Uineger, and it is vsed as if it were made of Wine: and if you seeth it vntill it be throughly purged and thicke, it serueth for Honie, and becommeth sweete: you may see how much the seething auayleth in these thinges, seeyng that of mortal ve∣nome, it maketh meate, and healthfull drinke. And I will say an other thing which bringeth admiration: that all this kynde of Corne, which groweth in the firme Lande which is like to that of Sancto Domingo, which they call Cacani, is healthfull, and the Fruite thereof is eaten and the Water that commeth of it is drunke, without ha∣uing any venomous qualitie, and that of Sancto Domingo, howsoeuer it be eaten and the iuyce therof vnles it be sodden, it killeth. And that the disposition of the place is so greate
a cause, that that which is healthfull and allowable suste∣nance in the firme lande, the same is mortal venome in al the Islandes: as Columela writeth of the Peache, that it was venome most mischeeuous,* 1.51 which in Persia did kil men and being brought into Italy it lost that malice and propertie that it had to kill, and geueth vnto vs health, and a sweete iuyce.
Howsoeuer it be, hauing in the Indias so much Mayes, and so common in all partes thereof, I woulde not eate Casani, seeyng that the Mayes are of as good substaunce as our Wheate, and in no parte hath eyther venome,* 1.52 or poyson, but rather is healthful, and maketh a good stomake. There is bread made of it, as of the Casani,* 1.53 for they grinde it, and with water they knede it, and in a Frying panne of Earth they bake certayne Cakes, which they make of it, and it must be eaten freshe, assoone as it is made: for beyng dry, it is sharpe and trouble some to swallowe downe, and doeth offende the teeth.
The Batatas, which is a common fruite in those Coun∣tries, I take for a vittayle of muche Substaunce,* 1.54 and that they are in the middest betweene fleshe and Fruite. Trueth it is, that they be wyndie, but that is taken from them by rosting, chiefly if they bee put into fine Wyne: there is made of them Conferna very excellent, as Mar∣molade, and small Morselles, and they make Potages and Brothes, and Cakes of them very excellent: they are subiect that there be made of them any maner of Conserua, and any maner of meat: ther be so many in Spaine, that they bring from Velez Melaga euery yeere to Seuill, tenne or twelue Caruelles laden with them. They be sowen of the same Plantes that are sette, the smallest of them, or pee∣ces of the greatest in the Earth that is well tilled, and they growe very well, and in eyght Monethes the rootes waxe ve∣ry grosse, so that you may eate of them: They be temperate, and beeyng rosted, or otherwise drest, they soften the Bellie,
and beyng raw, they are not good to bee eaten, because they are wyndie, and hard of disgestion.
THey bring from the newe Spayne great Canes, of a Cane that are couered within & without with a certain gūmme, & to me it seemeth that it is mingled with the iuyce of Tabaco, & it is heauy. It seemeth that the Cane is annoynted, & as a thing that the clingeth fast, it is clunged wel to the said Cane, and it is of a blacke colour, and being hard it clin∣geth not, they kindle the Cane at that part where the gumme is, and the other parte of it they put in the mouth, and they receiue that smoke, and with it they cast out from them all fleume and rottennesse, that is in the breast: and this they do when they finde themselues greeued with the shortnesse of winde, so that they be all ready to choke. I haue seene it done by a Gentleman, who is much payned with it many times, and receiueth by it great profite: and did it first with the Ta∣bac••, taking the smoke of it, and it brought to him the like be∣nefit. And for this cause, I say, that it seemeth, to carry with it the iuyce of the Tabaco, mingled with the one and with the other. It is done with al assurance, for that we do see it experi∣mented with manifest assurance in many.
Some beeing sicke of the shortnesse of breath, that come frō the Indias,* 1.55 with it I haue seene expel, & cast out this rot∣tennes, by taking a little Tabaco green, & chewing the iuyce of it, wt although it be lothsome, it doth them much good to ex∣pell the rottennesse & fleumes, which are retained within the
brestes, so that they be lightened with it notably. It is a mar∣uellous thing, the greate vertues, and sundrie and diuers ef∣fectes that they doe discouer of the Tabaco: for besides that which I haue written of it in the second parte, of the maruel∣lous vertues therof, I determined to make further triall of it, as I haue vnderstood, and seene since that time.
IN the second parte wee entreated of the vertues of a Roote, that then they had brought from the newe Spayne, which they cal Carlo Sancto, & now in these ships they haue brought it, with great venerati∣on and estimation: and the roote is called Indica, and they bring written many ver∣tues of it more then they are woonte too reporte of the Rosemarie. Nowe that which hath beene experimente••, and seene since that I wrote of it, I will speake,* 1.56 of this Roote, which being made into Pouder, geuen to women that newly brought Children, who for euill keeping haue taken greate colde and be numbe, it profiteth muche to pro∣uoke them to sweate, and maketh them remayne cleere: it profiteth muche geuen with Wine, or water of the floures of Orenges, vnto them that haue a harde labour. There was a Frier which had paynes of the Stomake,* 1.57 and no tast of his Meate, but had an euill breath, and much windynesse, and all did proceede of colde that hee had ta∣ken, and little natural heate. He sodde of these Rootes in wa∣ter at his discretion, as the water of the Sarcaparillia is sod∣den, and so he dranke it continually, at dinner & supper for a long time, and it did so well with him, that he amended his stomake, and increased the heate of it, whereby hee did digest, and consume his meate very well, and tooke from him his euill breath, and consumed the windes, and in ta∣ken 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉
from twoo to three Ounces of it, it purgeth well and easily, and euen as it is good to take, so it is good to worke, for that I haue purged many people with it, and it maketh a very good woorke, and purgeth without paynes. One thing they doe euill in those partes, which is, that they ne∣uer bring them hither made with good Sugar, if they come so, they woulde be the better, and of better tast. They bee purges for delicate people, they euacuate the same humor that the Canafistola doth. Of the Canes of the small Canafistola there is made an other Conserua verie good, which is an excellent purge,* 1.58 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 Su∣gar, 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 molestati∣on, 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 Do∣mingo, and Puerto Rico many Barrelles full. The Ca∣nafistola 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,* 1.59 that when we are commanded to geue Canafistola, to lighten and sof∣ten 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 ve∣ry 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 di∣lated, 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.
THey newly bring now from the Firme lande, from a Prouince which is betweene Cartagena, & Numbre de Dios, which the Indians call Tolu, a Balsa••o, or licour, that is the best thing, and of greatest vertues,
of as many thinges as come from these partes. They ga∣ther it from certaine trees,* 1.60 which are after the manner of litle Pines, which cast out many bowes to al partes. It car∣rieth the leafe lyke to Algarrona, al the yeere it is greene, they are the best which growe in a softe grounde well tilled.
* 1.61This Bals••mo the Indians doe gather by way of in∣cision, gy••ing certaine cuttes in the rinde of the tree, for it is thinn•• 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 Spain••,* 1.62 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 Cere∣cl••thes, which wrought very good effects, in mittigating griefe of any colde cause, it dissolueth any maner of swel∣linges, 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 cutting•• are made, and from thence they receyue it into those ves∣selles: 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 ma∣keth,
they haue brought it hether, as a thing of great estima∣tion, 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,* 1.63 it clyn∣geth 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 where¦soeuer it bee, the good smell thereof giueth greate content∣ment, and it can not bee hidden,* 1.64 for a little of it smelleth much: and if you rubbe your hande therewith, there remay∣neth 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 E∣gypt: 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 lea∣uing any signe of them. The superfluitie that is in the woūd 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 forth∣with a double linnen cloth vpon it, wette in the same Balsa∣mo, and so bounde that the lippes goe not a sunder, and kee∣ping diet, and vsing letting of blood if it be needful, and not vnbinding it vntill the fourth day, and they shall finde the wounde comforted, except that there bee any acci∣dent, which causeth it to bee vndone before. And when the cause is such, that it requireth to bee dressed
euery day, by reiterating the wette Linnen cloth in the Bal∣samo, it wil bee healed: for the vertue of this Balsamo is to cause that there bee no matter engendered in the woundes, and especially this Balsamo doeth profite in woundes, where there hath beene cuttinges of bones, taking them out that haue beene diuided one from another, and not tou∣ching the rest, for that the vertue of the Balsamo will caste them out, and hauing so done, wil heale the wounde. One of the thinges wherein this Balsamo worketh greate effectes, is in woundes, and ioyntes, and in cuttinges of Sinewes, & in al prickes: for in all these kindes of woundes it maketh a maruellous woorke, curing and preseruing them from ex∣treame colde, and from running together of Sinewes, that they remayne not lame. The woundes which doe penetrate, are healed with this Balsamo, being mingled with whyte wyne, and spouting it into them, and after three houres ta∣king it out again. This must be done in wounds or prickes, once euery da••, that it may goe with a moderate heat. Like∣wyse this Balsamo serueth to be applied, where haue beene giuen dry blowes, or brusinges, and for al workes of Surge∣rie, where is no notable inflammation, which beeing taken away with the Medicines, that are conuenient for it, the Balsamo may then bee vsed.
* 1.65In euilles which belong not to Surgerie this Balsamo doth profit much, as in him that hath the shortnes of breath, by taking a fewe droppes in whyte wyne it profiteth him much: it taketh away the grief of the head cōming of a colde cause, and a litle Plaister being laide vpon the griefe, and wette therewith to the Temples of the head, taketh away all runnings by those partes, and in especially the euilles of the eyes, and Reumes that runne into them, beeing layde to the foreparte of the head, and it must be good and hot. It ta∣keth away the paynes of it, and comforteth it, and remedi∣eth the Palsie. Some that haue beene in a Consumption
haue vsed it, taking some droppes in the morning, licking them out of the Palme of the hande, and they haue felt nota∣ble profit. And it maketh cleane the brest very wel, it is good to take some droppes with Aqua vitae, hot, before any maner of colde in a Quarterne Ague, or of a long importunate ter∣tian Ague, annoynting with the same Balsamo, mingled with Oyle of Ruda, the Temples of the head, good and hot before the colde doeth come. If with the Balsamo they an∣noint themselues from the mouth of the stomacke to the Nau••l, it comforteth the stomacke, it giueth a lust to meate, it helpeth digestion, it dissolueth Windes, it taketh away the paines of the stomacke, and it worketh farre better these effects, if the halfe of the Balsamo be mingled with another halfe of Oyle of Spike Nard•• compounded or simple, and so it is better applyed. There is great experience of it in the Indias, for Swellinges that are in the maner of Dropsies: and mingling it with oyntment, disopilatiue of equal parts, and annointing the belly therewith, chiefly the parte neere ye Lunges, there are seene wrought therewith great effects: it dissolueth any maner of swelling or hardnes that is in any parte of the body, and being laide vpon any paine that com∣meth of a colde cause, although it be of long continuance, it taketh it away, bringing it to be so smal vntil it fal of it self, the same it doeth wheresoeuer is any winde. And if it bee in the belly, or in any parte of the body, wetting a Linen cloth hot in Aqua vitae of the best, and applying it to the place, where the griefe of the Stone is, and mingled with Oyle made for the purpose, it maketh a great woorke, it taketh a∣way the paynes of the Sinewes, and when they bee shronke together, in a very hot weather, rubbing them with it, it dis∣solueth them. The euil called the Lamparones that are open or shutte, it healeth. Many other effectes this maruellous li∣cour worketh which I haue not knowen, but these which I haue knowen I doe manifest to al the worlde, that they may
take profite by so maruellous a Medicine, which hath so many vertues as you haue hearde, and euery day the tyme wil discouer other greater.
The history of the cōquest of the coun∣trie, where the Cinamon groweth.
The descrip∣tion of the trees, and of the fruite.
Cassia & Ci∣namō all one.
Vertues which it hath in medicine.
Don Francis de Mendosa,
The descrip∣tiō of Ginger.
The vertues thereof.
The descrip∣tion of the tree which doth carry the Guaia∣••as.
The descrip∣tion of the Cachos.
The vertues therof.
Historie.
The descrip∣tion of the hearbe, and the flower.
The vse thereof.
The vse therof.
The vertue•• thereof.
The vertue•• therof.
The descrip∣tion of it.
Where it groweth.
It is like to Chestnuttes.
How it is fruite.
Sope.
Historie.
The medici∣nal vertues thereof.
The vertues thereof.
Historie.
Wormes.
Witchcraft
A notable historie.
Iohn Langi∣us historie.
Beneuenius historie.
The vertues.
It taketh a∣way the toothache.
The medici∣nall vertues thereof.
The descrip∣tion of ••he Granadillias▪
Where thes•• stones doo growe.
How ther are set in order.
They of the Oriental In∣dias.
In quarterne Agewes.
In long euils.
A custome of the Orientall Indians.
Pouders to be meruelled at for the wormes, and al kindes of them.
Spyders.
The descrip∣tion of the Coca.
The vse of i••.
Note.
Quick siluer.
Casani ••s bred in the Indias.
T••e descrip∣ti••n o•• the hearbe and the f••u••t••.
How they ma••e ••read of the fruite.
Note the maruelles of the iuyce.
Colum••la.
Ma••is
Bread of Ma••i••.
Batatas.
For faintnesse or shortnesse of breath.
The vertues thereof.
Historie.
Of the Canes in Conser••••.
Note.
What trees they are whereof it is gathered.
How it is ga∣thered.
Black waxe.
The colour & maner of it.
In diseases that belong not to Surge∣ry.