The triall of tabacco Wherein, his worth is most worthily expressed: as, in the name, nature, and qualitie of the sayd hearb; his speciall vse in all physicke, with the true and right vse of taking it, aswell for the seasons, and times, as also the complexions, dispositions, and constitutions, of such bodies, & persons, as are fittest: and to whom it is most profitable to take it. By E.G. Gent. and practicioner in physicke.

The triall of tabacco Wherein, his worth is most worthily expressed: as, in the name, nature, and qualitie of the sayd hearb; his speciall vse in all physicke, with the true and right vse of taking it, aswell for the seasons, and times, as also the complexions, dispositions, and constitutions, of such bodies, & persons, as are fittest: and to whom it is most profitable to take it. By E.G. Gent. and practicioner in physicke.

Table of contents

Title page

§

To the right Worshipfull Sir Edmond Carey Knight.

The names of all those authors and learned men, whose authorities are cited in this present Worke.

In commendation of the Author.

Edward Michaell, In commendation of his learned friend Master Edmund Gardiner.

The triall of Tabacco.

[Page]

The triall of Tabacco.

MAny men haue, many times, sette foorth to the publike viewe of the world, diuers books entreating specially of one subiect, and those either in praise or dispraise of the matter they wrote of but yet amongst all writers or exscriptors there haue beene in my iudgement no treatises so often divulged, so greatly discoursed of, and presented to the eies of the world (especially of late time) as those, that discourse of Indian Tabacco, one liking, another discommending and dispraising, according to the seuerall whirles of their affections, either in part or in whole, this famous plant: so that a man may not inaptly say of it, as Virgill the Poet doth concerning the diuersitie of opinions for the admission of the Graecian deuised horse into the walles of Iroy. Virgilius Aeneid. [...]

Scinditur incertum studia in contraria vulgus.

The wauering multitude, as each man findes,

Consists of many and contrary mindes.

And in respect of the Writers, Patrons, and defendants of this rare plant on both sides, I may not vnfitly vse this saying of Horace:

[Page]

Caedimur, & totidem plagis consumimus hostem.

Horat. li. 2 epist. 2. 29.

We by our forces are beaten, if not slaine,

We with as many stroakes waste them againe.

There is such hard hold and tough reasoning on both sides.

Now although I be Medicorum minimus, yet you must remember it was said of old: Scribimus indocti, doctique poëmata passim, seeing no other to vndergoe this taske, I haue boldly aduentured to vnbuckle my selfe (for you know who is so bold as blinde Bayard) I haue I say not being thereto commanded or compelled, as the answer to the booke called Worke for the chimney Sweeper was, but of my owne forwardnesse, and the desire I had to satisfie the world heerein in some sort: protesting, (as in the inferiournes of the stile may well appeare) that neither vanitie of glorie, nor selfe presumption, (being of many the most vnworthy to haue enterprised this taske) nor other priuate respect, then duty to my good friends (that haue requested this at my hands) and zeale to my louing country men, hath made me to publish this booke. For I saw the discourses heerein in my poore vnderstanding to be faultie, defectiue and halting, considering that one side too much extolled the vertue of this plant, and another side as much on the contrarie abased contened & reiected it. So to giue some satisfaction to both sides, I haue made choice of the middle, being as I take it, the more secure way, though it be a very hard matter to keep right in the mid-path, and to decline neither to the right nor to the left hand.

Iust a pari premitur veluticum pondere libra,

Tibul. li 4 heroi [...]. ver. 4.

Prona nec haec plus parte sedet, ne [...] surgit ab illa.

In English thus:

As when an euen scale with equall weight is peized,

[Page]Nor falles it downe this way, or is it that way raised.

Wherefore to performe that precisely which I haue promised solemnly, & seeing this discourse must be sent abroad & cōmitted to the hāds, the eies, the noses, the ears, the mindes & the iudgements of a great nūber of all sorts, I will first beginne with one that is furthest off it, Monardus a Spaniard of Siuill, who hath written verie largely of it in his treatise of the west Indian Simples: but because he is already translated into English, I wil (lest I should seem actum agere) referre that which he hath very large, to his owne volume. For that which hee hath gathered is likewise found in other Authors, wherof heereafter you shall heare more, when we come to discourse of the vertues of Tabacco. Charles Stephen, and Iohn Liebault, & Andrew Theuet all three Frenchmen, haue writ of this plant, and so hath Aegidius Eurartus. Carolus Clusius likewise in his comment vpon Garcaeas, Destirpibus et Aromaticis Indicis, and Iohannes Baptista porta in his eight booke, and eleuenth chapter of his Natural Magick doe highly commend this plant, as a thing most excellent and diuine. But amongst them all, and from them all for his admirable knowledge in plants, our owne Countrie-man Master Iohn Gerard Citizen and Chirurgion of London hath caried away the palme, as best deseruing it, to whome I may well apply that saying of Lucretius:

Qui genus humanum ingen [...]o superauit & omnes,

Lucret. l. 3

Praes [...]rinxit stellas, exortus vti aetheriussol.

Who from all mankinde, bare for wit the prize,

And dimm'd the s [...]arres, as when skies sunne doth rise.

Another likewise of our countriemen, calling himself Philaretes, hath lately writ a booke against Tabacco, entituled Worke for Chimney-sweepers: which booke, another [Page] hath friendly and modestly answered. In the beginning of Philaretes booke on [...] [...]. H. hath made these discommendatorie verses against Tabacco.

Pitie it is such smoaking vanitie,

Is Englands most esteemed curtesie.

Oft haue I heard it as an old said saw,

The strong digesting hungry Camels maw

Brookes stinging nettles, and the vilest weedes,

That stinking dunghils in ranke plentie feedes:

But [...] a to [...], to mocke an Ape indeede,

That English men should loue a stranger weede.

To whome E. G. maketh answer.

Fie, fume at fumigation,

And fret at thy owne nation,

It wants not approbation,

That drugs should worke purgation,

Oft times more worth in vilest weede,

Then in manured Garden seede.

It is no toy, but truth indeed

That one soile should another need.

Philaretes seemeth to inferre in his second reason and some other places of his book, that by the frequent vse of Tabacco, wee ought iustly to suspect and feare the same to bee a mightie drier, decaier and witherer of our radical and vnctuous moisture: and in respect thereof breedeth consumptions: But yet it seemeth (by his leaue) not so much to breede hec [...]ike feuers and consumptions, as appoplectike and cephalical passions, because many abusers thereof haue died sodenly: and wee see that the braine [Page] doth suffer from it by protopa [...]hie, rather then by deuteropa [...]hy▪ he organ whereby it is receiued being so neere a neighbour [...] the braine. I wonder it is not discussed how it p [...]ffeth vp & plumpeth some, when he concludeth that it wasteth and dissipateth the vnctuous moisture, & substantiall nourishment, by dissipation of naturall heat, and decay of spirits in our bodies.

The same Author likewise (though a man of excellent learning, exact iudgement and reading) seemeth to vrge too farre, when in his seauenth reason against Tabacco, he sticketh not to affirme, that this hearb seemed to bee first found out and inuented by the diuell, and first vsed and practised by the d [...]uels priests, and therefore not to bee vsed of vs Christians. But I will both answer him and the Spaniard Monardus (from whome hee hath fetch [...] his ground) at one word thus; that it is certaine that the diuell did not finde it, but Nature gaue it, and Nature doth nothing in vaine, according to that protrite axiome in Philosophy, Natura nihil fecit frustrà. If the diuell did finde it, yet we may esteeme it as well as hidden treasures descried by spirits at the request of wicked mē. But in my opinion we ought to iudge of the infinite power of Nature with more reuerence, and with more acknowledgement of our owne ignorance and weakenes. For, that it was a plant created by God, when first euen by the word of his mouth all things were framed, I iudge it not amisse for any man to say and thinke: and there is no scholler so meanely learned, but will by reason conuince them both, and read a lecture of contradiction against them vpon the progresse of Natures workes; hauing his vertues and faculties infused into it from aboue, whereby many finde great ease and comfort as well as by other other plants & Simples. For vnlesse God himself had bene [Page] the author of it, why should it be endued with such noble and excellent properties: for

Ni Deus affuerit, viresque infuderit herbis,

Quid, rogo dictamnus, quid panacea iuvent?

If God helpe not, and into herbes infuse

A workingpower, in vaine we medicines vse.

Aristotle (the monarch of our moderne learning) seemeth not to speake awry, when he saith: Multa sciri posse, quae nondum scita sunt. Many things may be heereafter knowne, which as yet lie hidden in the deepe dungeon of obscuritie, not manifested; as the quadrature of the circle, and the manie vertues both of this and other herbes, not yet knowne to the world: which hidden and secret vertues though at this present they are not reuealed to Natures interpretors, yet hereafter they may: so that we may rightly conclude: Maximam partem corum quae nescimus, minimam partem eorum quae scimus aut scire possumus, to which purpose Cardinall Cusanus hath writ a booke De docta ignorantia: Wherfore I suppose none will bee so mad to imagine that such a noble plant could come by chance, or bee inuented by the diuell, whose excellent vertues the profoundest can scarse perfectly vnderstand. By this wee may see the wonderfull workes of God, how that he can make things strange, great, and incomprehensible and wonderfull to mans indgement. Therefore it is a thing impertinent, to seeke out the causes and reasons of some things, as many men doe, and daily goe about to doe, for there are many secrets in Nature, the knowledge whereof is reserued and kept to the onely creator: also of many other that might bee heere alleadged: but for that it is not my argument, I omit it to come to the rest.

Philaretes my good friend saith, that Tabacco is hurtfull [Page] because it is hot and drie in the third degree, which Monardus (saith hee) and others haue affirmed to come neere to the third degree of excesse in either qualitie. But it seemeth not so hot because it blistereth not, nor yet exceedingly heateth, and that deletery malignity which he adscribeth to it may be quintessentiall, although not elementarie. And with him I will not deny, but that some malignitie (out of question) is in Tabacco, yea, I wil adde further, that there is in it some poison also, as there is in some other strong and vehement purgers, but yet it may bee with cordiall and cephalical aromatikes alaied as wel as Scammony, Elaterium, Euphorbium, Coloquintida, turbith and some others. Besides, diuers medicines doe either retaine, loose, or change their force and power, according to the diuers constitutions of those natures to whome they are giuen. For it is a hard matter to finde any remedy that may doe absolute good, without some slight touch of harme, vnlesse by art it be refined. Thus you see I haue beene a little bold to trump in my friend Philaretes way, where I thought hee tripped, esteeming him yet for no lesse then a louer of vertue and honestie, as his name importeth, and a man of good iudgement and learning. But I will come into my path againe, and acquaint you first with the diuersities of names & titles giuen to this herbe, and so will I passe to his vertues and properties.

This herbe with the Franks or frenchmen hath beene most commonly knowne by the name of Nicotiana, because one Nicot a French Embassadour to the king of Portugall, sent this hearb first into France, and so gaue it his name.

Others againe, that by tradition haue noted the meanes frō whence they receiued this herb, haue called it Herba [Page] Reginae, and Queene mother herbe, for that when Monsieur Nicot had first knowledge thereof, hee sent and commended it to Katherine de Medices, the Queene mother of France, (who died before she had reeled vp her spindle) and shee first caused it to bee planted in that kingdome.

Others there bee that do tearm it Hyoscyamus Peruuianus, Henbane of Peru, Herba Sancta, or Sacra, and Sana sancta Indorum: but vpon what ground I know not, vnlesse it be for the singular vertues and faculties that are found in this plant▪ as by the same reason Lignum Indicum or Guiacum is called sanctum, because it is so helpfull, and restoreth to cure a great many sicknesses and griefes; as the learned in Physicke doe very well finde. Wee know indeed by practise, that an infinite number of diseases are cured by Tabacco, euen à capite ad imos vsque pedes, from the crowne of the head to the verie feete: so that in regard of his noble vertues, it was thought necessarie that it should bee entituled with some glorious name, as we also see done to others. For Philon the Physitian called his Alexipharmacal medicines, Deorum manus: and at this day Physitians haue graced & nobilitated some of their compositions with splendidous titles; calling one Manus Christi, another Benedicta Laxatiua, Catholicon a third, and some others by the strange and superstitious names of Puluis sanctus, Gratia Dei, Apostolicon, vnguentū Paulinum and the like, as Vlrichus de Hutten, a Knight of Germany hath writ in his book De Morbo Gallico, & the 6. chap. It is also entituled Petū: & Lobelius, & Peter Pena do make it a kinde of Symphitum: and other while a kinde of Hyoscyamus luteus: but yet they stick somewhat at that. So hauing discoursed of his seuerall names, we will make [Page] a step to his description, his secret and rare qualities; and not forgetting by the way, to tell besides of the hurt some receiue thereby, with the true and right vse also. And first you shall heare what Carolus Clusius saith.

Nicotian (saith he) so tearmed of the French, of the Spaniards Tabacco, of the Brasilians Petum, hath beene long vsed of the Indians, especially of the inhabitants of Hispania Noua, for the curation of woundes. It was brought but a few yeares since into Spaine, rather for the decking vp of their gardens, as being a strange plant and seld seen, more then for the hidden vertues of the hearb: but now it is much more famous by reason of his rare qualities then for his elegancie and beauty that it carrieth in a garden. The common people of India vsually tearme it Picielt: for the name of Tabacco first came from the Spaniards, because there was such plentie of it grew in a certain Iland called Tabacco, according to the name wherof they haue christned it.

Andrew Theuet saith, that the Americans haue a secret herbe which they name in their language Petum, the which most commonly they beare about them, for that they esteeme it marueilous profitable for many things: this herbe is like to our buglosse. They gather this herbe very charily, and drie it within their little cabanes or houses. Their manner to vse it is this: they wrap a quantitie of this herbe being drie, in a leafe of a Palme-tree which is very great, & so they make rolles of the length of a candle, and then they fire the one end, and receiue the smoak thereof by their nose, and by their mouth: they say it is verie wholesome to cleanse and consume the superfluous humors of the braine. Moreouer, being taken after this sort, it keepeth the parties from hunger and thirst for a [Page] time, therefore they vse it ordinarily. Also when they haue any secret talke or counsell among themselues, they draw this smoake, and then they speake. The which they doe customably one after another in the warre, whereas it is very needful. The women vse it by no meanes. If that they take too much of this perfume, it will make them light in the head, as the smell or taste of strong wine. The Christiās that do inhabite there, are becom verie desirous of this perfume, although that the first vse thereof is not without danger, before that one be accustomed thereto: for this smoke causeth sweats and weakenes, yea, foaming at the mouth, suddaine falling downe, and conuulsions, as I haue seene in some. And this is no such strange thing as it seemeth, for there are many other herbs and fruits that offend the braine, though that the taste of them bee pleasant and good to eate.

Plinie sheweth, that in Lyncest is there is a fountaine that maketh the people drunke, that take thereof: Likewise another of Paphlagonia, which as Ouid saith in the 15 booke of his Metamorphosis will cause a man to bee no lesse drunke then if he had copiously quaffed a great deale of wine. His words be these:

Quem quicunque parùm moderato gutture traxit,

Haud aliter titubat, quàm si mera vina bibisset.

This I know will not be receiued of all men for truth, and yet Philosophers doe witnesse that there is in Esclauonie by Apollonia, a fountaine comming out of a rock, wheras is seene to proceed a flame of fire, whereby al the waters adiacent are as boyling. They haue in diuers places of Hisp. Noua many hot springs of water, as aboue all other I haue seen in the Prouince of Mec [...]uacan. In a plain field without any mountaine, there is a spring which hath [Page] much water, and it is so hot, that if a whole quarter of beefe, be cast into it, within one halfe houre, it will bee as well sodden, as it will bee ouer a fire in halfe a day. I haue seen half a sheep cast in, & immediatly it hath been soddē, & I haue eaten part of it: & this hath the learned Hackcluit set down in his booke discoursing of the voiages of the English nation, by the relation of Henrie Hawkes a marchant, who liued three yeares in Noua Hispania. I will proceede a little further in relating strange things in nature. In Bactria in the Citie of Boghar, there is a litle riuer running through the midst of it, but the water is vnholesome, for it breedeth sometimes in men that drinke thereof, and specially in them that are there borne, a worme of an elle long, which lieth commonly in the legge betwixt the flesh and the skinne, and is pluckt out aboue the ankle with great art and cunning.

Diodorus Siculus reporteth, that in Egypt there was a poole, the colour of whose water was vermilion, which being drunke would reueale secrets. Strabo speaketh of a fountaine in the Citie Leuc [...], of a most horrible smell. Besides, this is verie strange, that there is a fountaine besides Haslea, which neuer riseth but early in the morning, at high noone, and at the shutting of the euening. And if therein any euill thing bee cast that may corrupt the same, Theodorus Zuingerus mentioneth, that for certaine daies after it will not rise at all. There is a fountaine in Salmac in the countrey of Caria, which as Strabo writeth, maketh men effeminate and lither. That of Aphrodosium in Pyrrhea, causeth barrennesse, as Plinie noteth: and such like a man man may easily finde, if any will take paines to read ouer the booke, entituled Britannia, written by that most learned and famous gentleman master [Page] Wil. Camden (the best antiquary of our age) he shal there I say, haue plenty wherat to admire, & peraduēture to giue satisfaction to that which here I haue set down for truth.

Some, I doubt not, but will imagine this not to bee true, but altogether false, the which I haue spoken touching the natures and strange qualities of these waters, and of this herbe Tabacco, as though Nature could not giue such power to things; yes truely and farre greater, as shee hath also giuen to beasts according to the diuersities of countries and regions. Wherefore then should it leaue this countrey of America, (wherein God included the greatest gulfe of mankind) void of such a benefite, being naturally proper to it, and being temperate without comparison more then others? As in generalitie, Africke yeeldeth the best Mules; Europe the best Lions, (as Herodotus and Plinie make report) onely to be found between the riuers Nestus and Achelous: the one coasting Abdera a citie of Thracia, the other being a floud of Epyrus, separateth Acarnania from Aetolia. So in particular, we find England yeeldeth the greatest store of good sheepe, wooll, tinne, and lead: Muscouia the best Bees, yeelding honie and waxe in plentie, and the best furres. Wherefore a learned Physician is to obserue, what store of vegetables, either of woods, trees for fruite, or plants, the countrie yeeldeth: for euerie country hath his commodities and singularitie of them, fitted by the prouidence of the eternall God. As we read of in Asia and Virginia, singular Cedars and Pine trees: So we haue experience, that for firre and Deale trees, Denmarke, Bohemia, Pomerania, Russia, Norway, and the New-found land, are notorious. For Vines, France: for apples, peares, plums, and such ordinarie fruit the realme of England. For oranges, lymons, [Page] pomgranates, and such like, Spaine and other hot countries: for Oyle and Oliues, Candia, &c.

As for the second, concerning things hid in the veines and wombe of the earth (for what shall we neede to enlarge this discourse with the huge woods to bee found in Germanie, Bohemia, Muscouia, and Ireland, or with the notorious vegetables of other nations) namely, the mines of mettals, and fossiles, wherof there are such sundry species, as it may seeme impertinent of vs to be further touched, considering so soone as they are discouered, they be committed to writing.

Some besides will not grant this to be true, but altogether false, that Andreas Theuetus writeth, that Tabacco keepeth the Indians from hunger, and thirst, for a certain time, although that our Epicureall Tabbacconists will sufficiently refute the contrarie: for they will say, and for a need sweare to it, that they can liue a whole weeke together, neither eating nor drinking any other sustenance. And if they wil not be cōtented with this our witnessing and affirmation, let them read Herodotus, which in his second booke, maketh mention of a people in Africa, liuing onely with hearbes. Apian rehearseth, that the Parthians being banished, and driuen out of their countrey by Marcus Anthonius, liued with a certaine herbe that tooke away their memorie: neuerthelesse they had opinion that it did nourish them, though that in a short time after they died. Master Stephen Burrough did see some Lappians eat rocke weedes as hungerly, as a cowe doth grasse when she is hungry. I saw them also (saith hee) eateCleanly. fowles egges raw, and the young birds also that were in the egges. The Indians will liue seuen or eight moneths in the warre with meale made of certaine hard and drie [Page] rootes, in the which some would iudge that there were no nourishment or sustenance at all. And they will tell strangers, who arriue in their coasts, that they haue heard say of their fathers, that before they had the knowledge of the best rootes, they liued but with hearbs, and wilde weeds, & roots like brute beasts. There was they say, in their country a great Charaiba, that is to say, a Prophet, the which came to one of their young maidens, and gaue her certaine great roots, named Hetich, shewing her, that she should cut them in peeces, and then plant them in the earth: the which she did, and since they haue alwaies continued from father to sonne: the which roots haue so well prospered, that now they haue so great aboundance that they eat little other food, and it is as common with them, as bread is with vs.

The old Poets and ancient people of the world did conceit, that the Gods themselues did feede vpon nothing but Nectar and Ambrosia; yea, and that some of them had worse cōmons, & meaner meats, as they write of Romulus (who being a God as they say) liued vpon turneps. But, I thinke, that they rather alluded vnto the pouertie and simplicitie of feeding that was vsed in former ages, wherewith Romulus was so well acquainted. The Poet Martialis seemeth couertly to insinuate, that they eat the same meats in heauen, wherwith in earth they were inured to feede vpon, in these verses:

Haec tibi brumali gaudentia frigore rapa

Quae damus, in coelo Romulus esse solet.

Therefore ought not the Storie of this Gentleman Tabacco, bee thought so strange, for men to liue withall, as though the like had neuer been heard or read of in histories, and times forepassed. The people of the East [Page] and West India haue diuers kindes of fruits proper only to those regions, as Nature bringeth them forth, and yet they liue long, and well disposed, being strong and of robustious constitutions: yea, they will liue (I meane the people of America) a whole weeke together with one groat, which neither the Spanyard, nor any nation in the world can doe, as Petrus Martyr saith. And for their long liues, we may read in the learned Hackluit, discoursing of the voiages of the English nation in farre distant parts of the world, who introduceth the example of the King of Balloboam, being one hundred and threescore yeeres of age, when captaine Candish arriued at the Iland of Iaua Minor, and yet he was liuing after that many yeares, at that time when the Hollanders trauailed thither to the towne of Bantam, which is the furthest part in the world from this realme of England, being measured geometrically. There be many who thinke it strange▪ that some nations liue onely with fish: and yet he that is but meanly trauailed in Histories knoweth, that the poorest sort among the West Indies, liue more with sea-fish, and other like meats than with flesh. The same is true in this our Isle of [...]ritaine, especially among the Cornish men and Scots: yea, our elders in times past liued onely with fish, as many sects in religion both in these dayes, and in former ages did. The lawes of Triptolemus (as Xenophon writeth) did defend and forbid the Athenians the vse of flesh. Therefore it is no strange thing to liue with fish onely. First, in our Europe, and before that the ground was tilled, men liued more hardly without flesh or fish, hauing not the meane to vse them, and yet notwithstanding they were stronger, and liued the longer, being nothing so effeminate, as now in our age.

[Page] Americus Vespusius, one of the best Pilots that euer was, coasted almost from Ireland vnto the cape of Saint Augustine, by the comandement of the King of Portingale, the yeare 1501. And since another Captain the yeare 1534. sayled vnto the region named of Giants. In this Region between the riuer of Plate, and the streight of Magellane, the Inhabitants are verie mightie, named in their language Patagones, Giants, because of their hie stature, and forme of bodies. They which first discouered this countrey tooke one of them finely, being twelue foot long, who was so vneasie to hold, that 25. men had inough to doe about him: and for to keep him, it behooued them to binde his feet and hands in their shippe, notwithstanding they could not keepe him long aliue, but for sorrow and thought (as they say) he died for hunger. Thus you see I haue plainely shewed that people dwelling in some regions, though faring hardly, and poorely nourished, yet notwithstanding are men both of good complexions, of personable and heroical, nay Giant-like statures, and long liued. And this may seeme to bee a little beside, though not altogether out of the way.

Trinidada Tabacco hath a thicke, tough and fibrousDescription of Tabacco, or Sana sancta Indorum. roote, from which immediately rise vp long broad leaues, and smooth, of a greenish colour, among which riseth vp a stalke, diuiding it selfe at the ground into diuers branches, whereon are set confusedly the like leaues, but lesser: at the top of the stalkes, stand vp long necked hollow flowres of a pale purple, tending to a blushe colour; after which succeed the coddes or seed vessels, including many small seeds, like vnto the seede of marierome. The whole plant perisheth at the first approach of winter: in hot countreys it is sowen all times of the [Page] yeare, but when it first sprouteth vp, it must be defended and preserued from cold, and planted neere vnto a wall for the beautifying thereof; for, in such hot Regions as Spaine, Naples, and Africke, it continueth green a whole yeare together, as Buglossum semper virens, Telephi [...]m minus semper virens, Rosemarie and the Bay-tree with vs in England doe.

It was first brought into Europe out of the prouincesThe place. of America, which of some (though I know no reason for it) is called the West Indies, in wich is the prouince or countrey of Peru: but being now planted in the gardens of Europe, it prospereth very well, and cometh from seed in one yere to beare both floures & seed. The which I take to be the better for the cōstitution of our bodies, then that which is brought from India, and that growing in the Indies, better for the people of the same countrey; notwithstanding it is not so thought nor receiued of our tabackians: for according to the English prouerbe, Farre fetcht, and deere bought, is good for Ladies.

Tabacco must be sowen in the most fruitfull groundsThe time. that may be found, and carelesly cast abroad in the sowing, without raking it into the ground, or any such paine or industrie taken as is requisite in the sowing of other seedes, as I my selfe haue found by proofe, who haue experimented euery way to cause it quickly to grow: for I haue committed some to the earth in the end of March, some in Aprill, and some in the beginning of May, because I durst not hazard all my seede at one time, least some vnkindly blast should happen in the sowing, which might be a great enemie thereunto.

It is hot and drie, & that in the second degree, as Monardus The temperature. thinketh, and it is withall of power to discusse or resolue, [Page] and to cleanse away filthy humours, hauing also a a certaine small adstriction, and a stupefying, or benumming qualitie, and purgeth by the stoole. And Monardus thinketh that it hath a certaine power to resist poyson. And to prooue it to be of hot qualitie and temperature, the byting qualitie of the leaues doth shew, which is easily pereiued by taste. Also the greene leaues layed vpon vlcers, draw out filth and corrupt matter, which a cold simple would neuer doe. The leaues likewise being chawed, draw forth fleagm & water, as doth also the fume takē when the leaues are dried: which things declare that this is not a little hot. For what things soeuer being chewed, or held in the mouth, bring forth fleagm & water, the same be al accounted hot, as the root of pellitory of Spain, Saxifrage, master-wort, betony, and hyssop, with other things of like power. Moreouer, the benumming qualitie hereof is not hard to be perceiued: for vpon the taking of the fume at the mouth, there followeth an infirmitie like vnto drunkennes, & many times sleep, as after the taking of Opium, which also sheweth in the taste a byting qualitie & therefore is not without heat; which when it is chewed and inwardly taken, it doth forth with shew, causing a certaine heat in the chest, and yet without troubling of wits, as Petrus Bellonius in his third book of singularities doth declare: where also he sheweth, that the Turkes doe oftentimes vse Opium, and take one dram and a halfe thereof at one time, without any other hurt following, sauing that they are thereupon taken, as it were, with a certaine light drunkennesse, vertiginie, or giddinesse in their braines. And Hollerius in his practise telleth vs, that hee knew a Spaniard take halfe an ounce of Opium, and yet neither death, nor deaths hat me followed. So also this Tabacco [Page] being in taste byting, and in temperature hot, hath notwithstanding a benumming qualitie.

Hereupon it seemeth to follow, that not only this henbane of Peru, but also the iuyce of poppie, otherwise called Opium, consisteth of diuers parts, some byting and hot, and others extreame cold, that is to say, stupefying and benumming: if so bee that this benumming qualitie proceede of extreame colde (as Galen, and all the old Physitians hold opinion:) but if the benumming qualitie, or facultie, doth not depend of an extreame cold temper, and that in the fourth degree, but proceedeth of the essence of the substance; then may Tabacco be both cold, and also benumming; of temperature, hot and benumming, not by reason of his temperature, but through the propertie of his substance, otherwise then a purging medicine, which hath his force, not from the temperature, but from the essence of the whole substance.

Before I proceede any further to shew against what sicknesses this herbe Tabacco most preuaileth, I will first briefly declare, what sicknesse is, and how many sorts or kinds therof there be, that I may be the better vnderstod in the discourse following. Sicknesse (then) is an euill affect contrarie to Nature, hindring of it selfe some action of the bodie. Of sicknesse there be three generall kinds, whereof the first consisteth in the parts similar. The second in the parts instrumentall. And the third in both parts together.

The first kind is called of the Latines, Intemperies, that is to say, euill temperature: which is either simple or compound. It is simple, when one qualitie only doth abound or exceed too much, as to be too hot, or too cold. It is cō pound, whē many qualities do exceed, as when the body [Page] is too hot and too drie, or too cold and too moist. The secōd kind is called Mala constitutio, that is to say, an euill state or composition: which is to be considered, either by the shape, number, quantitie, or site of the member, or part euill affected or diseased. The third kind is called, vnitatis solutio, that is to say, the loosing or diuision of the vnitie: which as it may chance diuersly, so it hath diuers names accordingly. For if such solutiō or diuision be in a bone, then it is called a fracture. If in any fleshie part, then it is called a wound or vlcer; in the veines a rupture; in the nerues or sinewes, a conuulsion or crampe; and in the skinne, an excoriation. Againe of diseases, some be called Long, and some Sharpe and Short, tearmed of the Latines Morbiacuti, which be perilous, and doe quickly kill the bodie. The Long do carie a greater time with it. And yet moreouer there is sicknesse by it selfe, and sicknesse by consent. Sicknesse by it selfe, is that, which being in some member, hindreth the action thereof by it selfe. Sicknesse by consent, is deriued out of one member into another through the neighbour-hood and communitie that is betwixt them: as the paine of the head, which commeth from the stomack, because they commnnicate and impart their dammages from one to another by certaine sinewes, passing and being common to either of them.

Thus the learned Physitians which write of mans bodie doe diuide sicknesse. Now if any man will curiously diue and search into the nature of these, Tabacco being giuen in his due time yeeldeth no small releefe and comfort; for according to the old saying:

Temporibus medicina valet: data tempore prosunt:

Et data non apto tempore vina nocent.

[Page]

Physicke at times doth helpe: giue wine in season,

It also helpes: too much brings out of reason.

And Seneca saith: In morb [...]s n [...]hil est magis per [...]culosum quàm [...]mmatura medicina: in disea [...]es there is nothing worse or more dangerous then vntimely giuing of medidicines, and out of due season. And againe, this saying of Liu [...]e agreeth thereto. Et scio medicos, plus interdum quiete, quàm mouendo atque agendo proficere. For according to the times and seasons of the yere, the qualities of medicines are to be considered. For some are more familiar to some bodies at some seasons of the yeare, then at othersome againe and fitter applyed to amend and correct the distemper of parts, and to expell euill iuyces. For who knoweth not that the spring is accounted the holesomest: which Galen calleth temperate, but Paulus Aegineta (his Ape) Aetius and the Peripatetikes affirme to encline rather to hot and moist (for there is nothing in Nature absolutely temperate) and this season is most agreeable to the best habite.

It is for the most part good for sickly constitutions, or at leastwise, it hurteth not: for as Hippocrates in his third booke, Aphorisme the twentieth, saith, it causeth madnesse and blacke Iaundise, leprosie, coughes, ringwormes, morphues, or staynings of the skin, and many vlcerous pustules, and breakings out with paines of the ioynts: not so much through the fault of the aire, but through the strength of Nature, being then fortified and made more liuely by the temperate heat of the spring to expel superfluities, and to separate naughtie humors, & to thrust thē forth to the more ignoble parts. The same heat helpeth likewise Nature, being readily disposed & willing to make a secret and insensible transpiration thorow the [Page] bodie, by which it ought to bee expurged and auoided. So that the nature of this season ought to be regarded, as well in the often taking of this medicine Tabacco, as in others also: so that I iudge it not the safest to vse Tabacco at this time, vnlesse by the aduise of the learned: for to take it without difference and immeasurably as some abusers doe, must needes doe hurt, and I am sure a great deale in some of these fore-recited griefes.

Summer is hot and drie, subiect to bilious or cholerick diseases. The beginning of the summer admitteth the diseases of the spring: but the midst breedeth vsually, continuall and burning feuers, bleareyednesse, tertian agues, vomiting of yellow choler, cholericke fluxes of the belly, paines of the eares, and vlcerations of the mouth: putrefactions of the lower parts; especially when the summer besides his heat, is enclined to ouermuch moisture, and that no windes blow, and the weather bee darke, fowle, close & rainie, or that pincerna pluviarū, I mean the south winde, which bringeth much raine, doth much blow. And redde and angrie wheales by meanes of much and often sweating, being either cholericke, sharpe, or byting, doe abound. For they sting and gnaw the skinne, making it ytchie, angring, and exasperating it after the fashion of some sore. So that in this season, and for these remembred griefes, no man, I trust, will grant Tabacco to bee verie holesome. But if any spitting Tabacconist bee so much bewitched, as that hee still must long after it, and cannot refraine, he shall heare the Epigram of the noble Poet Hercules Strozza, which hee wrote against a great Gourmandizer or belly God. Let the Tabacconist be his owne interpretor, or make what morall he please, and thus it is.

[Page]

Saepèbibis, quò saepèvomas, & saepèvoracem

Distendas miseri corporis ingluviem.

Quin si fortè tenax stomacho cibus haeserit, hunc vel

Dextra, vel in fauces indita penna ciet:

Tanquam sis genitus perdenda ad vina, nec vlli

Te natura alij finxerit officio.

O dignum laqu [...]o facinus; quodcunque voratur,

Turpiter ingeritur, turpiùs egeritur.

Thou quaffest oft, to vomit much: by which thy riotous guise,

Thy bursten belly strouteth out, in strange and monstrous wise.

And if by chance thy meat within thy stomacke sticketh still,

Thou streight doest seeke to force it vp, with finger or with quill:

As though (belike) Nature thee made onely to drinke downe wine,

Beast as thou art, and to no other thing did thee assigne.

Hang such a slaue: what ere goes in tis filthy out of doubt,

And cramd into his greedie gorge, must needs goe filthy out.

Autumn is drie and somwhat cold, very vnequall, that is somtimes hot and somtimes cold. It is euill for those (as the spring is) that haue any consumptions or putrefaction of the lungs, (for cùm folia decidunt & germinant, moriuntur tabidi:) It causeth for the most part verie deadly griefs and diseases, yea and many of those that were rife in summer, likewise quartane agues, and wandring swellings, [Page] and hardnesses of the spleene, dropsies, stranguries, fluxes of the belly, paines of the hip or hanch, squinsies, shortnesse of breathing, Iliaca passions, epilepsies, frenzies, and melancholicall passions. So that in this season which we call the fall of the leafe, we must not too often vse Tabacco, vnles with great warinesse & aduise of the learned: and for this season, a man may say of Tabacco in some sense, as Hesiodus speaketh of his fathers dwelling place or the village called Ascra, that it was [...]. Hyeme mala, aestate molesta, nunquam bona. Euill in winter, bad in summer, but neuer good.

The winter quarter is cold and moist and flegmaticke, verie subiect to destillations, plurisies▪ inflammations of the lungs, lethargies, stuffings in the head, murres and pose, coughes, paines of the breast, sides and loynes, vertiginies▪ swimming or giddinesse of the braine, and apoplexies. So that in most of these, it must of necessitie bee concluded, that Tabacco is a noble medicine, and fit to be vsed. For you see that in complexions and mens natures, some are well and indifferently affected, and others againe either well or ill in winter. And so much for this.

Now as good regard and consideration is to be obserued, and kept in Tabacco taking, concerning the seasons of the yeare, so likewise the same precise order is to bee obserued for complexions. All they therefore that either of the nature of their own bodily state, are of a drie complexion, or by any defect in their parents at their birth & procreation; or finally, by any accidentall mishap or custome of liuing, as by want of foode, thought, watchings, heauinesse of minde, or immoderate labour haue commonly bodies slender and thinne: and their skinne (where [Page] drinesse is great) scuruy, rugged, vnseemely and lanke, swart and yelow, that are faced like Death, and leane as a rake: and to conclude, that are in all respects resembling the physiognomie and shape of Enuie, described by Ouidius, must in any wise banish Tobacco farre from them, as a thing most pernicious.

Pallor in ore sedet, macies in corpore toto,

Ouid lib. 2▪ Metam.

Nusquam recta acies: liuent rubigine dentes:

Risus abest, nisi quem visi mouere dolores:

Nec fruitur somno vigilantibus excita curis,

Sed videt ingratos, intabescitque videndo

Successus hominum, carpitque ac carpitur vnà.

In English thus.

A face like ashes pale and wanne, A bodie scraggie leane,

A leering looke, and teeth all furr'd with drosse and filth vncleane:

Her stomacke greenish is with gall, her tongue with venome fraught:

And neuer laughes, but when mishap or harme hath others caught.

No winke of sleepe comes in her eyes: and rest she none can take;

For fretting carke and cankred care her watchfull still doth make.

Full sore against her will it is that any man should thriue,

Or prosper in his businesse: for that doth her depriue

Of all her rest and quietnesse: there [...]t the hellish Else

[Page]Doth stampe and stare, doth fret and fume and pines away her selfe,

And to her selfe a torment is: for, seeking to annoy

The wealth and state of other folkes, her selfe she doth destroy.

So then as the case standeth, seeing that Tabacco is so hurtfull to drie complexions, it must of necessity be verie good and holsome for those men that are of moist constitutions: for he that is of this temperature, hath a bodie soft, not rugged and rough, white skinned; his veines and ioynts not standing out, nor greatly appearing; his haire plaine and flat, and for the most part thick withal. Their taste and smelling, and other obiects of their senses be blunt and grosse. And if withall they be cold, they are for the most part, in minde and wit doltish and dull, slouthfull and lumpish: finally, neither by nature, neither by vse, forecastfull, sharpe witted, nor craftie: by reason their naturall heat is languishing and feeble, and drowned with moist and cold humors: and therefore also their memorie is verie faileable, obliuious, & nothing at all (in a manner) retentiue. Their speach, as likewise their pulses, and manner of gate, slowe and dull. And because commonly they be assailed with many and sundrie diseases, for that they be giuen to sit still, louing their ease and idlenesse, whereby many crude and raw humors are heaped vp in their bodies, i [...]must needs bee graunted that Tabacco being hotand drie in qualitie, must of necessitie do them much good: and euen no lesse than labour and exercise doth in wasting waterish and cold superfluities. For sluggishnesse and slouth [...] witnesseth [Page] Cornelius Celsus) dulleth the bodie, but labour and exercise maketh it firme and lustie: the one bringeth old age before the time, and the other making youth to last long. And therefore strong motions and exercises, and likewise taking Tabacco are more requisite for these persons: for otherwise cold and moist humours would too much increase, and heat quaile and be enfeebled.

But I purpose now briefly by the way, to shew the nature and conditions of a hot and drie complexion, and of cholericke persons, and finally by what markes and tokens they are to bee perceiued, discerned, found out, and knowen, to see whether Tabacco be fitting these kinde of people or no. And first to speake of the outward signes. A bodie of this constitution is hot, slender, leane, musculous, of decent bignesse, and meane stature: of colour they be brownish, aburne, or somewhat ruddie, specially when their angrie mood is vp, or their bodies set in a heat with exercise: and some bee pale and yellowish. Their skinne rough: their heart-strings and veines bigge and apparant, and not lying hidden vnder the flesh: their tongue rowling at pleasure, readie and flowing in vtterance: their haire blacke, and in some curled and naturally frizled, whereas the heat and drinesse is very great and vehement: their noses (for the mostpart) are crooked like a Haukes bill, they haue tongue at will, and are as Iuuenalis the Poet fitly saith in his 3. Satyr.

Ingenium velox, a [...]dacia perdita, serm [...]

Promptus & Isae [...] torrentior, obiter illos

Esse putes quemuis hominem; tum dicier aptè

Grammaticus rhetor, geometres, pictor, aliptes,

Augur, schenobates, medicus magis omnia nouit.

[Page]In English thus:

Of dapper wit, and desperate bolde, fine phras'd with gallant grace:

More eloquent than Isaeus, for euerie time and case.

Ech person can they aptly play, At ech art can they aime,

At Grammar, Rhetricke, Geometri [...], Painting, and for the game,

At Sooth-saying, and cunningly▪ vpon a rope to dance;

At Physicke, Magicke, ripe are they and free of euery Haunce.

And therefore sithence those persons are of hot complexion, and that in their bodies yellow choler is praedominant, which is compared very aptly to fire, it must needs fal out, that tabacco being a hot plant, is very hurtful to them, & in no wise to be vsed; for this is not the way to subdue and alter, but rather make one more cholericke and hot. For if a man should still cherish and nourish it with his like in temperature, hee should doe nothing else but Flammam [...]leo extinguere, as the prouerbe is, quench the flame with oyle, and adde fire to flaxe by exasperating the distemperance, and increase the tyrannie of this hot humor, by making it the more vehement. So that in dry & hot bodies we must haue no refuge or succor to tabacco, considering tha [...] in constitutions that be quite contrarie, we finde that it doth much good. For we see that if men haue their stomackes surcharged with aboundance of loathsome, clammie, and tough fleagme, Tabacco doth scoure and cleanse it away more than any other, and (if tabacconists [Page] say no more than may bee warranted for truth) than all other helpes, and meanes whatsoeuer. Tabacco consequently doth much good vnto all such, whose heads are filled with moistish vapours: for those fumes or reekes, striking vpwards as in a stillatorie, grow into a thicke, and sniuelly fleagme, whereby through coldnesse of the braine, the parties become subiect and open to sundry diseases, as the poze, murre, hoarsnesse, cough, & many others; of which sort is the rheume or destillation of humours from the head, where with in Romney marsh, and diuers places of Essex, Kent, and the Isle of Ely, both rich and poore, high and lowe in winter season are much troubled, and finde by experience to be true, and yet many of them be very healthy, and as sound as a bell.Horat. li. 1. Epist. 1.

Praecipuè sanus, nisi quum pituita molesta est.

In English thus:

In perfect health and throughly sound,

But when that fleagme doth much abound.

In so much that I am sometimes driuen into an admiration, to consider how such abundance of filthy humors should rest in the head, which Nature one while at the mouth, another while at the nose and throat, expelleth and purgeth.

Because the colde complexion is cleane opposite and contrarie to the hot constitution: and for that this is the worst of all others, and furthest from that state which is best: I will addresse my next speech to speake somewhat of it; to the end, I would haue men resolued whether Tabacco be holsome for them or no. And because colde [Page] is cleane contrarie to heat, it must of necessitie be concluded, that Tabacco is very holesome for colde complexions seruing as a helpe in the office of concoction and digestion, considering that in this state of bodie there lacketh heat sufficient, and the other powers and faculties natural, are not able for the weaknes of the instruments and organes, to attract and digest that nourishment that is moist, nor to make it like and consubstantiall with the bodie and members.

I haue known many of this complexion, that through grosse and clammie glewish flegme, haue gotten the Lethargie, or drowsie euill, the Apoplexie, the crampe, palsey, and wrie mouthes. There is none of these persons, but hee aboundeth, and is repleat with much fleagme, and flegmatick excrements, which maketh them lumpish and sleepie, forgetfull, slow of bodie and minde, and pale coloured, except sometimes at the comming of their especiall friends they bee heated with wine or good Tabacco, and therby haue dumps driuen out of their minds: for by this meanes their colour is made fresher, and all drowsinesse banished and chased out of their minds.

As the time of the yeare, and different complexions; so likewise the custom and frequent vse of Tabacco is to be regarded. Some haue reported, that it little auaileth, and that it profiteth a hot complexion nothing at all: but experience (the mistresse of wisdome) hath not shewed it to be iniurious to either. For if a man haue been often inured to the taking of it, it can doe no such great harme, as it doth in a man that taketh it seldome; for, Consueta mala minùs sunt infensa: accustomed euils are the lesse hurtfull or offensiue: and Custome is another Nature; and we ought, as Hyppocrates saith, to haue no lesse regard vnto [Page] it, than to our owne proper and engraffed temperament. Gaudent natura consuetis semper. And againe, Consuetudo plurimum potest, repentiná (que) ab ea digressio non parùm obl [...]dit corpora. Com. 2. in prognost. Cap. 11. Consuetum quod est, bonum est, vel saltem minùs nocet ijs, quae naturâ quidem innoxiâ sunt, sed nunquàm in consuetudinē peruenerunt. For, as the same Galen in another place saith of meats, we may likewise say of medicines: Ciborum vim & naturam ab experientia quisque sua magis quàm à ratione dijudicet, Com. 4. de v. r. in c. 89. And againe, Ventriculus amplexatur ea & longè faciliùs concoquit, quaecun (que) cum vol [...]ptate assumit, auersatur autem ea quae displicent: vnde nauseae, flatus & fluctuationes subsequuntur. Com. in Aph. 38. lib. 2. For wee finde by experience, that if a man in time of health haue acustomed himselfe to the continuall drinking of cold water, and hath felt no offence nether in his liuer, bladder, stomach, nor any other part, it is manifest that he findeth ease and reliefe by that which another not acquainted withall possibly cannot: yea, Physicians which proceede by reason and experience doe confesse, that there is a great force and vertue in Custome, liuely shewing the nature of euery particular body, which, as I said euen now, Hippocrates himselfe expresly auerreth, writing that a moist diet is best fitting for those persons that haue any Feuer; adding yet further, Especially (saith he) to children, & such as haue been long vsed and acquainted themselues by custom to such a diet: and consequently we must yeeld somewhat to custome; for he saith, that bad meats and drinkes being accustomably taken, are farre safer than others, if a man should sodainely alter old custom, and take others farre holesomer. F [...] if one di [...] ▪ which ha [...]h not v [...]ed himselfe to it, hee is [Page] by & by made weaker, heauy, dul, lumpish, lazie, & sickish: and if besides this he take his supper, hee shall soone feele windinesse, sowre belchings, and loosenesse of the belly; for the stomacke being repleat and ouercharged with such an vnusuall burthen, which before was wont to bee drie and emptie, now swelleth, distendeth, and with paine stretcheth it selfe out. So yet againe there be some laboring men, which hauing stomacks like Estriches will disgest yron, and fall to their victuals thrice in a day without any bones at all: for, Ieiunus stomachus rarò v [...]lgaria temnit. Hungry dogges will eat thirtie puddings, [...]s the Irish man said. There be others found, which will make a good large dinner, but take no suppers at all, (and contrariwise) so that if contrarieto custome they do [...]suppe, they shall finde themselues to be troubled with heauinesse in the belly, so that they cannot sleep without much tumbling and tossing. So then my conclusion is, that if one haue but accustomed himselfe to take Tabacco, hee must not sodainely leaue it, but by degrees. So that it is no maruell, if any not acquainted with taking the fume of this hearbe, if it cause a vertiginie or giddinesse in the braine, epilepticall accessions, inclinations to fainting and sounding, head-ach, dimnesse of sight, and other different effects, as I haue often seene. We may say the like of wine, ale, beere, and the like, to which diuers men are not inured but by long custome.

How great the force & power of this cruell tyrant Custome is, that creepeth in by little & little, insinuating and cōueighing himself slily into our natures, so that at length he will be so malepart, as to vendicate the whole rule and gouernment of our bodies, prescribing and limiting new lawes, euen such as it selfe pleaseth, and abrogating olde [Page] ancient orders, constitutions, and fashions, Theophrastus in his 9. booke de Histor. Plantar. Cap. 18. plainly sheweth by the example of one Thrasias, who durst venture to eat whole handfuls of Helleborus albus: and of Eudemus Chius, who sitting one day in the open mercate, tooke two and twentie potions of the same Helleborus, and after that went to supper, and dispatcht his other ordinarie affaires & busines, without any vomiting or perturbation of stomacke or bodie. Hee had by degrees accustomed his bodie to it, by first taking a little at once, & afterwards he encreased the quantitie by little and little, vntill at length he durst take so much thereof as was incredible, and neuer felt hurt.

Sithence therefore that neither reason nor Philosophie can bridle or ouer-rule the power and force of custome, it is no maruell though mans bodie be ouer-mastred therwith: which in my conceit ought to be a good lesson to many Physicians, to regard and marke well the proper constitution and state of euerie mans bodie, & to what he hath bin most inclined or accustomed, being withall very diligent and carefull to administer nothing rashly, and at aduenture (as many blinde medicine-giuers and receitmen doe) neither yet any desperate or vnknowne thing vnto any; for such, are no better than murtherers before God, if their Patients prooue not well vnder them. Neither let couetousnesse ouer-rule them, as those Physicians and Surgeons that dally with mens bodies to get much money: but let euery one account it his dutie to doe good to all. And in so doing, they shall finde God their Phisician, not onely of their bodies, but of their soules: whereas otherwise the saying of our nation may be applied fitly vnto them, Physicians cure your selues.

[Page]The leaues of Tabacco at this day bee onely in vse (although for want of them, some doe make vse of the seeds) and because they would haue them in a readinesse, they thrust them thorow with a needle and thread, and so haue them to drie in the shadow: and afterwards at their pleasure, vse them either whole, or being brought into powder. Because of his heat and drinesse, it must needs make hot, resolue, mundifie, & a little adstringe, as one may easily iudge by his vertues that hereafter follow.

The drie leaues of Tabacco are good to be vsed, taken in a pipe set on fire, and suckt into the stomacke, and thrust forth againe at the nostrels against the paines of the head, rheumes, aches in any part of the body, whencesoeuer the originall doth proceede, whether from France, Italie, Spaine, Naples, India (being all pockie hot countreys) or from our familiar and best knowne diseases. Those leaues doe palliate and ease for a time, but neuer performe any cure absolutely: for although they emptie the bodies of humours, yet the cause of the griefe cannot be so taken away. But some haue learned this principle, that repletion requireth euacuation, that is, fulnesse craueth emptinesse, and by euacuation assure themselues of health: but this doth not take away so much with it this day, but the next bringeth with it more; as for example, a Well doth neuer yeeld such store of water▪ as when it is most drawne and emptied. My selfe speake by proofe, who haue cured of that infectious disease a great many, diuers of which had couered or kept vnder the sicknesse by the helpe of Tabacco as they thought; yet in the end▪ haue been constrained, to haue vnto such a hard knot a crabbed wedge, or else had vtterly perished.

Fleagme in mans bodie, as it is diuers; so diuersly it [Page] must be altered: for being by nature cold and moist, it easily is conuerted into thicknesse, or hard & tough sliminess, and in regard of his tenacious qualitie, it is verie difficult to be remooued: for it doth not very easily giue place, either to the vertue expulsiue, or yeeld to an attractiue medicine. And to cause it to be pliable and yeelding, there be fiue things required; namely, heat, siccitie, attenuation, abstersion, and cutting or diuiding, which wee call incision: all which properties Tabacco is furnished withall, and adiudged fit to be vsed in all tough and viscous humours wherewith the bodie is ouer-charged.

Mercurius Fritannicus in his third booke De terra Australi an [...]hac semper incognita, in the description of a certaine countrey, tearmed Morouia (where none but fooles dwell) I suppose that it lyeth nere Portugall, for that countrey is reported to abound with fooles, as England is said to sauour of vanitie; he wondered (I say) at one thing and mused aboue the rest, and that not without iust cause, that many of the Inhabitants there do li [...]e neither vpon bread nor meat, as other nations for the most part doe, but only on the smoke of a certaine vnholesome hearbe, which they taking at their mouthes, forthwith againe thrust forth at their nostrels, seeming as it were, so many smoakie chimneys. Many men stand in doubt, neither can it be fully resolued whether the cockscombly Morouians learned this fashion frō the poor naked Indians, or the Indians from them. There be some hold opinion, that certain Indians dwelling neere vnto Torrida Zona, were the first inuentors and finders out of this smokie medicine, that inwardly also they might turne blacke: for you must imagine, that their Morian-black hue pleased them wondrous well, and they iudged it no reason that the inward [Page] parts should any whit differ or varie from the outward.

How soeuer it be, this is certaine, that when their noses are filled, their purses many times are emptied, and the patrimonies of many noble young Gentlemen, haue been quite exhausted, and haue vanished cleane away with this smoaky vapour, and hath most shamefully and beastly flyen out at the masters nose. But yet this may seeme verie strange, yea as strange as the rich mans kitchen in Cheap-side, which had no fire in it for sixteene yeeres together, that whilest these lustie yonkers and tabacconists eleuate their noses on high, snuffing vp the fume verie gallantly, that their kitchens in the meane space haue beene key-colde. They that choppe away their patrimonies for the vanishing smoake of Tabacco, are scarse so wise as Glaucus, who was so madde headed, as that hee would needs change and giue away his armour of gold, which was prised to be worth one hundred Oxen, with the yron armour of Diomedes, that was scarse worth nine Oxen. The famous Poet Homer maketh mention of this bartering in the sixth of his Iliades, in these words; [...]. Id est, Aurea areis, centenaria nouenarijs: or as Alciatus hath translated it, lib. 2. Pr [...]termiss.

Proqúenouem [...]ntum▪ proferro tradidit aurum.

He gaue away one hundred for nine, and gold for yron.

Some vse to drink Tabacco (as it is tearmed) for wantonnes, or rather Custom, & cannot forbeare it, no, not in the midst of their dinner or supper: which kind of taking is vnholsome, & very dangerous, if not slouenly; although to take it seldom, and that physically may do some good, [Page] and is to be tolerated. Othersome there bee that spend whole daies, moneths, times and yeares (for the most part) in Tabacco-taking, not sparing to take it euen in their bed, seeking by all meanes possible to hinder and peruert the course of Nature, and naturall order: which thing is both a great misspending of precious time, and a great empairer of bodily health, accelerating by these disorders their owne deaths, before either Nature vrge, Maladie enforce, or Age require it.

Wherefore wee ought euer to remember that golden A phorisme of reuerend Hippocrates; Non satietas, non fames, non aliud quidquam bonum est, quod modum excedit. And againe, [...]. Hoc est: adeoque in vniuersum▪ nimium, Naturae bellum indixit. A man may haue too much of his mothers blessing. It was death for any magistrate, or any one placed in high authority and office amongst the people of Locris, to drinke any wine; vnlesse for healths sake, the Physitian had prescribed to the contrarie: so I could wish the like lawe to our huffsnuffe Tabacconists, that misspend the flowre of their youth in this smoaking vanitie. Thus you see that Tabacco is a fantasticall attracter, and glutton-feeder of the appetite, rather taken of many for wantonnesse, when they haue nothing else to doe than of any absolute or necessarie vse, which is much to bee discommended: but I commend the syrupe aboue this fume or smoakie medicine.

Surely, if wee did obserue time, and the golden meane (so much spoken of) Tabacco it selfe is no more to be disliked or reiected, thā Boleti esculenti, because the emperor Claudius Casar died with eating of them; whereof both [Page] Plinie in his two and twentie booke, chap. 22. Cornelius Tacitus in his twelfth booke, Suetonius Tranquillus in Claudio. cap 44. and Dio in his 58. booke make large mention. The Storie is this: There was in times past, as there is now adaies, a kinde of Fungus esculentus, a kinde of Mushrom, which was thought to be a dish fit for Princes in regard of their delicate taste and holesomnesse, yet at length it grewe infamous, because Agrippina the Empresse poysoned Claudius Caesar her husband with them, either hee surfeiting through his greedie eating, as King Iohn did with eating of Lampries, as some of our histories report, (for both these Princes took a singular delight in either of these meats) but somesay, the King died with peares; some, with plums; but most hold that he was poysoned by the hands of a pole-shorne Monk of Swinsted Abbey in Lincolneshire: the like is supposed, that the wicked woman added a little poyson to these mushroms, because she would be rid of her husband the Emperour, to the intent to settle the goúernment, and to set the crowne vpon her owne sonnes head Nero, who indeed succeeded Claudius in the Romane Empire. Hence proceeded those quips and taunts of Iuuenalis the famous Poet, who liued in those daies, against these kindes of mushroms, called of the, ancients, Boleti: in his first Satyre.

Vilibus ancipites fungi ponentur amicis,

Boletus domino: sed qualem Claudius edit

Ante illum vxoris, post quem nil amplius edit.

And in the sixt Satyre:

—minus ergo nocens erit Agrippinae

Boletus: siquidem vnius pr [...]cordia pressit

[Page]Ille senis▪ trem [...]lumqúe caput descendere iussit

In coelum.—

Hence also proceeded that bitter taunt of wicked Nero his successour, tearming Boletus [...], hoc est Deorum ci [...]um, the meat of the Gods; because Claudius Caesar died with eating of them, and the superstitious gentilisme imagined that their Caesars or Emperours after their deathes were translated into the number of the Gods.

From hence likewise it was, that Martialis vttered this imprecation:

Boletum, qualem Claudius edit, edas.

And this common versicle is not yet quite forgotten:

Boleti lethi caussa fuêre mei.

But it is a thing not so much to bee wondred at, that poysons haue been foisted amongst mushroms, and mixed also with other meats; for wee read in histories, that they haue been giuen in Sacrifices. For Victor the third Bishop of Rome was killed with poyson that was conueighed into the chalice, whereof hee dranke when Masse was celebrated, not without the scoffes and mockerie of his enemies, who said, It was a verie diuine draught that sent Victor in such post haste without much adoe to the ioyes euerlasting.

In this point therfore, I would frame vnto our Tabacconists this hortatorie admonition, that they keepe a moderation in receiuing the fume thereof, and that likewise they take it not, in case it be infected with som poysonous qualitie, as it many times is, lest this Epitaph be inscribed on their graues:

Here lieth he had liued longer, if

He had not choakt himselfe with a Tabacco whi [...].

[Page]Tabacco of all men is concluded to be a verie holsome medicine, for rheumes, paines of the head, &c. and yet in the vse of Tabacco, and such hot medicines there must be a great discretion that all be done in due season, and rationally: for if so bee, that one vse hot medicines verie much, and a long time in passions of the braine, hee shall doe more hurt than good, inducing a neshnesse, softnesse, or flagginesse of the muscles and fleshie parts; their fibres being relaxed, the proper nutriment of the muscles being dissipated and exhausted, and another excrementitious and waterish humour comming in place, that is nothing apt to nourish, so that many times weaknesse of the sinewes doe proceede from these causes: for the strength of the sinewes consisteth in a mediocritie of siccitie. Furthermore it bringeth an astonishment, benumming or senselesnesse of the braine, causing as it were a resolution both of sense, motion, and of all the actions of the braine, besides fluxes of bloud at the nose, the veines being loosened, faintings or swounings by a dissipation and wasting of the spirits, and resoluing of the membranes.

The Priests and enchanters of the hot countreys, doe take the fume thereof till they be drunken, that after they haue lien for dead three or foure houres, they may tell the people what wonders, visions, or illusions they haue seene, and so giue them a propheticall direction, or foretelling of the successe of their businesse: but the Diuell is a liar, and the father of that facultie, his end is horrour, his meane abuse, and his intent mischiefe.

The weight of foure ounces of the iuyce of Tobacco being drunke, purgeth both vpwards and downewards, and procureth after a long and sound sleep, as I haue learned of a friend by obseruation, affirming that a strong [Page] countrey-man of a middle age, hauing a dropsie, tooke of it, and being wakened out of his sleepe, called for meat and drinke, and after that became perfectly whole.

Here, since we haue begun to speake of purging, I think it not besides the way, and our businesse in hand, if I tell you that which most concerneth purgatiue medicines. First therefore it must bee certainely knowne, whether those bodies that are to be purged bee first rightly prepared, or not. There must therefore regard be had, if you will haue them rightly purged, you must first giue them some gentle preparatiue. And for this purpose it is required, that the bodie abound not with crude & indigested humours; that the liuer, spleene, lungs, and other noble inward parts haue no inflammation, and the like; as when the veine is exceeding hot burning and red, and the Patient haue a strong Feuer: for in these and the like cases, purging medicines must not rashly be giuē. So that there are three things necessarily to be obserued in euery right purgation of the bodie: the freenesse and libertie of the passages, preparation of the matter offending, & the power and strength of nature.

Nicolaus Monardus saith, that the leaues of Tabacco, being made hot, are a present remedie for the paine of the head, for an inueterate head-ache, and for the paine of the head called the megrim, that hath beene of long continuance, if so be the paine proceede of any cold, windie or waterish humours: and they must be often applied and layed to, vntill the griefe be cleane gone. Before the application of this kinde of remedie, some vse to anoint the head with oile made of the flowers of oranges: & not hauing that, I think, Oleum costinū, irinum, oleū Euphorbij, Oleum anethi, and Chamamelinum, or some chymicall oile [Page] of thyme, or f [...]nnell [...]eede, or calamint were not amisse. It ought to be taken physically (not foolishly) in a pipe, for the same purpose once in a day at the most, and that in the morning fasting, against paines of the h [...]ad, stomack, and griefes in the breast and lungs: against cata [...]rhes and rheumes, and such as are troubled with coldes, mur [...]es, the pose, and hoarsnesse.

The same hea [...] be and fume, is proo [...]ed to be singular good against the tooth-ache: for it doth not onely cease the paines of the teeth, which proceed of any cold cause, the tooth being first cleansed and scoured with some linnen cloth, dipped in the iuyce of this herb, and a pill made of the leafe being put into the tooth, but also hindreth and restraineth corruption and rottennesse of the same from any further increase. And this standeth with good reason: for if the paine either of the head or teeth proceed of colde, and this hearbe being of a hot and drying qualitie, must needs make against it, prouoking, stirring, and moouing thereby the expulsiue facultie, or melting the humour contained and bred in the braine; or else drawing to it especially from the former ventricles of the braine into that part, which by reason of the vse, is called Infundibulum (which is nothing but a deepe cauitie in the forepart of the third ventricle of the braine, which at length goeth aboue the seat of Sphenoides:) we may not vnfitly tearme it, the braine tonnell, for from thence the humours fall into the mouth, and by that meanes are purged, and voided away.

I my self know a man yet liuing in Northhāptonshire, being verie much and a long time vexed with paine and coldnesse, especially in the hinder part of his head, who hauing tried the skill and medicines of many Physicians, [Page] and nothing at all preuailing, he was at length counselled to take Tabacco in fume; which hee yeelding vnto, after a while all the paine vanished away. And this standeth with good reason: for the Tabacco looseneth the fleagme, and those pituitous humours that are bred in the head and breast, drying and coroborating the braine verie notably. And if this man had taken Tabaco, with vngula caballina, iris, thus▪ or sulphur in fumigation, nothing could haue been deuised more excellent.

For confirmation of this, Iohn Heurnius in the first booke of his method, ad praxin, telleth a storie of himselfe, how plentifuly it draweth slimie and pituitous humours from the mouth and nostrels, by taking the fume in a narrow pipe: for (saith he) it searcheth euerie corner of the braine, and is caried into the eares: and I dare boldly auouch, that this hearbe is specially and peculiarly appropried to the braine, being by a most easie passage caried thither, washing, purging, and clearing the braine from all corruption and filthinesse: for about a yere since being much pained with the tooth-ache, I boyled this hearb in water, adding to it some chamomile floures, and holding a spoonful of this warm decoction in my mouth, I did presently spit it forth, and so doing certaine times together, about two houres after, the paine somewhat abated. The next day following, when (as my maner was) I went to a garden I had in the suburbs, and there bending downe my head to pull vp some grasse or weedes, there dropped, and flowed downe in great quantitie from my nose a great deale of moisture, as yellow as saffron, or a Kites foot, hauing the verie sent of Tabacco, and forthwith all the paine of my teeth ceased. In all my life, I cannot call to remembrance, that either bloud, or any [Page] other superfluous humour, besides flegmaticke and waterish superfluities, euer came out at my nostrels; but neuer in all my life did I see any thing more yealow, then this moist humour was that issued from me at that time.

So this being granted, I can see no reason, but that one may safely vse this as a Suffîtus, or a holsome hot perfume, as well as we doe myrrhe, masticke, pitch, Styrax, frankensence, turpentine, Castoreum, Ladanum, the gum of Iuniper, cloues, and the like being cast vpon the coles, and vsed for the griefes abouesaid. But peraduenture some will obiect and say, that Tabacco is of an ingrate & vnpleasant sent, so that many therby are brought to fainting or swouning, euen by the smell thereof. To whom I answere, that it is true: and yet notwithstanding, I thinke a Calfe with one eie may easily see, that some of these forerecited medicines haue a farre more noysome, I may say loathsome smell, than this Gentleman Tabacco hath.

The iudgement concerning sweet sents in diuers men, is diuers; nothing almost being common one with another: so that quot capita, tot sensus, looke how many sundrie different visages and faces, so many discrepant iudgments, concerning the excellencie of this or that odour. For with one, the sent of Cinamon is more fragrant than that of muske. With another, cloues seeme to surpasse them both. To another, a Rose is held more odoriferous than any of them all. So that concerning the diuersitie of sweet smels and sauours, you shall euer haue diuersitie of iudgements: so that when all the cards are cast vp, this must be the full decision, and finall determination, that those things must be chosen, which be most familiar to euery mans nature, whether meats or medicines, and those to be refused that be contrarie.

[Page] Galen the Prince of Physitians, in his Method of curing, doth affirme, that there be certaine medicaments, which by the proprietie of their nature & vertues, do more properly respect one part thā another: as for example, Agrimony, Hepatica nobilis, absinthiū, and all kinds of Endiue or Succorie, direct their ver [...]ues more specially to the liuer, then to any other part or particle of the bodie. Glans vnguentaria▪ germander, capers, Scolopendriū, & Ceterach called milt waste for his effects, tamariske, Cortex salicis, dancus, scordiū, calamint, asarabacca, & som others respect the spleen peculiarly. Saxifrage, betonie, calcifraga Anglorum, otherwise called Perchepier, polygonū selinoides, the roots of Smallach, of Da [...]cus, fennell, berries of Iuniper, and the seeds of melones, the reines, and vreters. The fit and proper medicines for the breast and lungs, are, the roots of fennell, of horehound, hastula regia, Scabious, Reisins of the sunne, figges, Hyssop, thyme, oke of Ierusalem, licorice, barley, and fussilage, called of some blinde Physicians farfara. Mints, cynamon, wormewood and galangall, are excellent for the stomacke. For the Heart, saffron, bugloss, borage, balme, roses, basill, saunders, pearle, the Bezoar stone, and gold it selfe: for as old Chaucer the English Poet saith of one of his Pilgrims a Physician, that trauailed among the rest to Saint Thomas of Canturburie, and that verie truly;

For Gold in Physicke is a cordiall:

Wherefore he loued Golde in speciall.

Penirial, mugwort, sauin; calamint, peony, mir [...]h, saffrō, borax, are medicines fit for some womens griefes. Celandine & eie-bright respect the eies. The fea onyō, Chamepithis, psillium, and hermodactils, direct their vertue chiefly [Page] to the ioynts. Staechas, laurus, rosemarie, the male pionie, misseltoe of the oke, galangall, Castoreum, betonie, margerome, sage, and our Tabacco, doe especially respect the braine.

Wee must also know that there bee some medicines which of their owne proper nature are offensiue to some particular parts, either by some manifest qualitie that is in them, or by some hidden propertie. For the often vse of Thus, Mel Anacardinum, and the hearbe called balme (wherewith Bees are so much delighted) doe offend the braine, perturbing the rationall facultie. Vineger is hurtfull to the lungs and vterus. Fat things offend and subuert the stomacke, causing a loathing or detestation of meats and drinkes. Sweet meats and fruits cause tumors and swellings in the liuer and spleene. Colewort, parsley, and hempe-seede hurt the eyes. Teuksburie mustard, and all sharpe things will haue a man verie soone by the nose: the Virginians, and other people of America, cannot endure it, for if the eat any mustard with fish or flesh, they will make many a sowre face at it. Quick siluer, as it is thought, is a great enemie to the braine of man, but more properly to the eares. The often eating of leeks, will corrupt the teeth, & lytharge hurteth the tong. The fume of Harts or Goates horne being burnt, causeth a conuulsion to any that is troubled with the falling sicknesse: and the same is reported for a truth, if any epilepticall person be wrapped in a Goate or Deeres skinne, and some say that the fume of Sulphur worketh the same effect.

Neither is it to be pretermitted, that there be some medicines, which being externally applied, doe bring both speedie, and certaine helpe and health, which being taken into the bodie, doe much hurt, and endanger the life. For [Page] example sake, the vse of verdigrease, aes vstum, squama aeris, Cadm [...]a, Pompholyx, litharge, ceruse, & the like all these are vsed with good successe to outward vlcers & sores: which notwithstanding must not be taken inwardly, for any vlcer within the bodie, but in stead of them, Hyposistis, the flowers and ryndes of Pomgranates, balaustians, galles, Terra Lemnia, Sumach, the iuyce of Roses, Acacia, and the like, which are of great vertue for the curation of inward vlcers, neuer offending the stomacke, liuer, or any other of the inward parts.

It would be too long to set down all things that might here in this place be inserted: and although my eiesight be not so good as Linxius, who from the promontorie of Lillibey in Sicilia, did discerne and see the ships in the port of Carthage; yet I am sure, by that which I haue introduced, one may plainly see, that a true Physitian ought to haue the facultie and naturall knowledge of euery thing concerning diseases, or wounds in the bodie or minde of man. For the remedying of all which, there are two things requirable; namely, the simple knowledge of euerie liuing and inanimate thing, whether of minerals, vegetables, sensible Animals or of man, and the experience how each of these in seuerall countreys, and bodies haue their certaine operations. And seeing without doubt, God hath planted in the worlde meanes (either of Simples or of Compounds) to remedie any sicknesse, or cure any wound, although the knowledge or meanes doe not alwaies sort to ones desire, yet is not the true meanes to be neglected. And though God haue fitted euerie climate and countrey with good meanes, to relieue the ordinarie diseases, and grieuances of men: yet we see for want of knowledge in Physitians, either how to vse the [Page] Simples of their owne countries, or how to compound them aright, according to the dose of euery bodie naturall, they are enforced to search into other countries for ayde.

For, though we haue, as other countries, manie singular thinges to remedie the decay or disquiets of Nature; yet seeing the Simples of other countries, for some particular bodies and griefes, are more naturall then many Compoundes of our owne, and the skill is lesse to applie them, why should not Necessitie make Physitians trauell for knowledge, as the olde wife for neede. We see the artificiall Bezoar-stone to be lesse profitable for some bodies, then the naturall. The fayned Sanguinis Draconis, then the right which is brought from Africa: and our owne Tabacco in England or Europe, then that which naturallie groweth in America; for the difference of climates and soyles alter much the natures of euery thing. And so of such like adulterate resemblances, which necessitie and mens gaines haue laboured and arted. But lest I should seeme to wander too farre in the wildernesse of Nature, I will now returne to Tabacco againe.

The suffumigation of Tabacco being taken, is a good medicine for the starknesse or stiffnesse of the neck, called Tetanus, and for any paines or aches in the bodie, proceeding of the cause that Tetanus doth.

The iuyce or distilled water, is very good against Catarrhes, the dizzinesse of the head, and rheumes that fall downe to the eyes, for stuffing in the head or nose by meanes of colde, against the paine called the meagrim, if either you apply it vnder the temples, or take one or two greene leaues, or a drie leafe moistened in wine, and [Page] dried cunningly vpon the embers, and laid thereto.

Sternutatories, especially those which are made of Tabacco, being drawne vp into the nostrels, cause sneesing, consuming and spending away grosse and slimie humors from the ventricles of the braine. These kind of remedies must needs doe good where the brain is repleat with many vapours, for those that haue a lethargy or vertiginy, in all long geiefes, paines and aches of the head, in continuall senselesses, orbenumming of the braine, and for a hicket that proceedeth of repletion.

Rec.

Piperis,

Zinziberis, ana ℈i.

Pyrethri,

Foliorum siccorum tabaci, ℈ij.

Trita naribus inspirentur ante cibum.

Another Sternutamentorie.

Rec.

Foliorum siccorum tabaci, ℈ijss.

Zingiberis,

Pyrethri, ana ℈iss.

Radicum Hellebori albi, grana 6.

Puluerisata commisceantur, & fiat sternutamentorium.

Ex fistula naribus parùm infletur.

Those sternutatories which are very forcible, vehement & strong, as E [...]phorbiū, Helleborus albus, & the like to these, must not be blown vp into the head, but rather put into a boxe, the same being a little shaken, & so holding it to the nose, to draw vp a little at once. But Tabacco is not so violent, and therefore may in my iudgement bee safely put [Page] in practise. Besides, sternutaments are not so fitting, where the braine or head, the breast and lungs, doe abound with verie crude or raw humours and superfluities; by reason that they doe mooue, trouble, and shake those parts too much, and too vehemently, which ought rather to be moderately comforted, warmed, and suffred to bee let alone quietly, that those crude iuyces might the sooner come to better digestion, and then afterwards to be spent and carried away. For otherwise the braine and chest with this preposterous proceeding will be the more stufsed and ouer-charged. But when the humours there setled, are come to some concoction, then sneesing medicines are taken with good successe, and doe preuaile very much.

It is therefore euer the safer course, rather to vse Simples then cōpounded medicines, because of their exceeding force and violence. To end in a word, sneesing, as Cornelius Celsus (our Latine Hippocrates saith) in diseases of the lungs is verie dangerous.

Thus then you plainely see, that all medicines, and especially Tobacco, being rightly and rationally vsed, is a noble medicine; & contrariwise not in his due time with other circumstances considered, it doth no more than a Noblemans shooe doth in healing the gout in the foot, or a precious Ring a crampe in the finger, nor a Diademe the paine in the head, or as Lucretius the Poet saith;

Nec calidae citiùs decedunt corpore febres,

Textilibus si in picturis ostró (que) rubenti

[...]acteris, quàm si plebeia in veste cubandum est.

Feuers no sooner from thy bodie flie,

If thou on arras or red scarlet lie

[Page]Tossing, then if thou rest

On couerlets home drest.

Tabacco cleareth the eie-sight, and taketh away the webbes and spots thereof, being anointed with the iuyce bloud-warme.

The oyle or iuyce dropped into the eares, and the fume likewise receiued into the eares, is good against deafnesse: a cloth dipped in the same, and laide vpon the face, taketh away the lentils, rednesse and spots thereof.

An Errhine or Nasale for stuffing in the nose, and for defect of smelling.

Rec.

Piperis.

Pyrethri,

Tabaci ana ʒi.

Olei naturalis balsami q. sufficit ad incorporandū.

Cum melle q. s. fiat Nasale.

Another Errhine.

Rec.

succi Tabaci, ℥i.

Olei amygdalarum amararum ʒi.

Masticis subtiliter pulverisatae ℈i. misce.

Trahatur naso dum ore reddatur.

This that followeth is good for an old pain in the head, and sharpeneth the eye-sight.

Rec.

Succi tabaci vel sanae sanctae Indorum,

Cicl [...], betonicae, ana ℥i.

Bulliant cum vini albi ℥ij.

Oxym. scillitic. ℥ss. Fiat errhinum.

[Page]Another.

Rec.

Sinapi. gr. 5.

Pul: fol. sicc. tabaci.

Piperis albi, ana ℈ss.

Ladani,

Cer [...], ana ʒiss, misce. Fiat Nasale, pyramidis vel tent. forma.

When wee are to vse strong Errhines or Nasales, the mouth must be full of water. If after the taking of these kindes of medicines, the nostrels do smart or suffer much paine, then may it bee taken away or diminished, either with womans milke, oyle of violets, or vnguentum Rosatum. They that haue sore eyes, must not deale with them, nor yet they that either haue, or are subiect to vlcerations in the nose, or such persons who suffer much head-ache caused by the French pockes: for if they bee too busie with them, their noses perhaps may in the meane space be in danger of falling downe flat. Neither must these Errhines, or Nasales be compounded of any venomous matter: for so there may growe vlcers, and filt hie sores in that part. Lastly, when you take them, there must care be had that the nose bee not filled too full; least that respiration, and drawing in of the breath, bee thereby letted or hindred: nor yet to bee vsed (especially in deafnesse or dulnesse of hearing) but when the bodie aforehand sufficiently is prepared and purged, as Alexander Trallianus the learned Physician saith.

The leaues of this hearb being decocted in water, are good against the paines of the breast, an olde cough, [Page] asthma (the nature of which disease is to stoppe the passage of the winde and make vs breath vneasily) and the griefes which arise of colde and waterish humors.

In like manner an [...]clegma, linctus, or lohoch, made of the decoction of the hearbe is excellent good against the same griefes. Sometimes the fume cureth those that be asthmatike, but then it is necessarie that the bodie first be cleansed, if occasion so require.

A sirupe made of the decoction of this hearbe with sufficient sugar, and so taken in very small quantitie, dischargeth the breast from rotten and phlegmaticke matter.

But heere in these cases we must prouide carefully aforehand, and well see to it, and beware that we vse not these Suffumigations and smoaking perfumes of Tabacco, where there is any spitting of bloud; for the small veines thorough the acrimonie of suffimentes are opened: neither yet are they to be vsed in drie diseases of the breast: and when they are to be most vsed, the whole body ought first to be purged.

Now for my owne conceite, I haue proued that Tabacco being taken with styrax, calamita, and the powder of tussilago or coltes foote, helpeth these fore-remembred griefes. And to this, besides mine owne experience, you shall haue the testimonie and attestation of Mathias De Lobel and of Peter Penor, two learned men, in their Herball entituled, Stirpium aduersaria noua, expressly affirming that there is not a more effectuall or speedie remedie against the consumption of the lungs, and such as be asthmaticall, and such griefes also as proceede from plentie of tough and viscous humours. And And thus would I prescribe it:

Rec.

[Page]Foliorum sanae sanctae Indorum.

Styracis.

Sandaracha.

Terebinthinae.

Mastiches. ana partes aequ [...]les.

This medicine being rightly vsed, will deserue due commendation, in regard it helpeth those which are short winded, or haue any slimie and flegmaticke humours growne to matter or suppuration. It also doth much good to pleuriticall persons, and likewise for the cough. For a verie moist breast, the leaues of Tabacco applied, are prooued to bee singular, without any other thing added to them. For those medicinall meanes that doe adstringe, or be of a verie drying qualitie, are not rashly to be layed vpon the breast.

I knew my selfe a verie learned Gentleman dwelling at Buckworth in Huntingtonshire who had long languished of an Orthopnoea; so that by reason of too many slimy and waterish humours which distilled downe from the braine into the chest, his lungs were so choaked, that hee could not breath, but by holding his necke vpright, insomuch that many times, especially in the night season, he was in danger to be suffocated: by meanes of which, and his extreame cough, together with an extenuation of the whole bodie, he was adiudged Tabidus of most Physicians that visited him, yea and to be almost past all hope of recouerie, and one of the Physicians being first asked his opinion, concerning the sicke Patient, cast out these words:

[Page]

Virtus lassa cadit, soluuntur frigore membra,

Vitáque tartare as fugit indignata per vmbras.

Faint fals his courage, and his limbs doe faile for want of heat.

His life disdaining, packes to hell, where Pluto hath his seat.

And because I being his familiar friend, and one that was best acquainted with his whole course, and order of Physicke & diet, which was both rationally prescribed, and diligently taken and obserued, yet nothing taking effect that was administred, when al men thought he would haue died, he was at length counselled to take Tabacco in fume: which he daily did, and onely by this way by little and little, he recouered his former health and strength of bodie, His friend before spoken being a Doctor of Physick, and he who had cast forth the two former verses, seeing the sodaine mutation, and wondring at the good successe, he thus againe pleasantly and conceitedly answered.

Mors aderat, cymbám (que) Charon remós (que) parabat:

Asseruit medicina senem iam aetate trementem,

Restituit (que) no [...]as effoeto in corpore vires.

In English thus:

Now death appeares, and Charon ready stands

To giue him passage with his boat and oares:

But Physicke frees the old man from his hands,

And him afresh to life and strength restoares.

They that haue seene the proofe hereof haue credibly reported that when the Moores and Indians haue fainted [Page] either for want of food or rest, this hath been a present remedie vnto them, to supply the one, and help the other.

The vse of masticatories or apophlegmatisms, are much commended, and fitly practised against the affects and passions of the head, teeth, and wind-pipe: and specially they correct inueterate hurts and maladies, and such as be of long continuance, such as be dulnesse or dimnesse of the eye-sight, deafnesse, pustules of the face & head, & when the nostrels haue any vlceration in them, to auert and take away their fluxe of humours. And to effect this, these that follow are much commended, videlicet, Hyssope, the rootes of Iris, acorus, gentian, ginger, and galingall, but chiefly Tabacco: I will set downe some sorm of these masticatories, that you may take your choyse where you please.

Rec.

Zingiberis,

Caryophillorum a [...]a ℥j.

Sanae sanctae Indorum,

Piperis ana ʒss.

Staphisagriae ʒij.

Mastiches, ℥j.

Fi [...]nt pastilli addita cera, vel ʒij. cortic. cappar. adddu [...]tur.

Another Apophlegmatisme.

Rec.

S [...]ae sanctae Indorum,

Mastiches, ana ℥j.

Ex cera in pastill [...]s avellanae magnitudinis formentur.

[Page]An Apophlegmatisme is also made of moist things, whē as the decoction of sharpe things is held in the mouth, as thus:

Rec.

Sanae sanctae Indorum,

Thymi,

Origani, ana p. j.

Vuarum passarum,

Staphisagrie, ana ʒij.

Cubebarum, ʒiij.

Sinapi, ʒj.

Coquantur ex aqua.

Gargarismes also are much vsed for all passions of the mouth, and the Almonds, for inflammations, and to deterge and cleanse slimy and flegmaticke humours, and for vlcers: and for these causes, Tabacco must of necessitie bee commended, and put in the first ranke.

A Gargarisme to cleanse tough and viscous fleagme.

Rec.

Fol. tabaci, m. j.

Flo. st [...]chados.

Flo. rorismarini, ana p. j.

Glycyr [...] hiz [...] rasa, ℥j.

Passularum,

Ficuum, ana paria decem.

Coquantur in aqua hordei integri.

In colat. liss. dissolue mellis r [...]s. col. [...]iiij.

Misce.

[Page]Another Gargarisme for putride, rotten, and filthie vlcers of the mouth.

Rec.

Foliorum tabaci, ligustri,

Rosarum rubrarum,

Rubi bati,

Rubi saxatilis,

Fragariae sterilis, ana q. v.

Coquantur omnia in vase sictili nouo ex aqua, & fiat gargarisma.

Another Gargarisme for the Almonds of the throat that are inflamed.

Rec.

Foliorum rubi Idai,

Foliorum tabaci,

Trifolij acetosi, ana q. s.

Coquantur in aq. q. s. ad tertias.

Iuri colato adde syr. aceto. Simplicis, ℥ss.

Syrupi myrtillorum, ℥jss. Misce.

These gargarismes are of notable force and vertue to intercept, and stay the fluxion of humours into any part, to hinder inflammations, to cease paine, to cleanse, deterge, and bring to curation all vlcers, and soares in the mouth or iawes.

A gentle Gargarisme for these intentions.

Rec.

Sana sanct [...] Indorum,

Serpilli, ana m. ss.

[Page]Caricarum ping [...]ium, ℥ij.

Aqua q. sufficit. Fiat coctio.

Rec.

Huius decocti, l. ss.

Oxymelitis simplicis, ℥ij.

Misce.

If you will haue it a little stronger, then mixe some spices with it, mustard-seede, and the like: or in stead of water, take the iuyce of sage, calamint, hyssope, or costmarie, with Oxymel scilliticum.

But here lest I should seem to be too prodigal inthe praises of Tabacco, I must (by the way) aduise you to be very warie & circumspect in the vsing of it in masticatories, and such medicines as be Saliuā ducentia: and first that if you mix any other ingredient with it, you must be verie carefull that they bee all of a pleasing odour and smell, that they may be held in the mouth the longer time without any loathing detestation, or irksomnesse. And secondarily, wee must be verie precise in altogether abstaining from Tabacco, in case there bee any vlcers of the mouth or throat, likewise in inflammations of the lungs, and in hot sharpe rheumes and catarrhes, that destill or drop downe right into the lungs: so that Tabacco must not bee prescribed to any that is subiect, aptly disposed, or in danger to fall into any these fore-rehearsed griefes and passions, neither yet is it righ [...]ly vsed in vlcers of the lungs, least the humor through an euill custome might fall down thither; but in this case, errhines for diuersion sake are fitter, which are a forme of medicines, ordained to purge the braine at the nose. And this I take to bee the chiefest, and most safe course to be obserued in the administration of this [Page] famous Tabacco, for these griefes aboue repeated.

If after the vsing of these Masticatories, or any Apophlegma [...]ismes, any thing cleaue [...]h to the roofe of the mouth or palate, it is to bee washed or rinsed with some warme water, or rather in some decoction of licorice and barley.

There is also another thing especially to bee obserued, concerning masticatories and errhines, that they all ought to be of a hot and sharpe qualitie and nature, and besides that, of a pleasant taste and sent, because therby the spirits animall, may the better bee refreshed and comforted, and likewise that the expulsiue facultie may the more readily and liuely be stirred vp, and prouoked with such things as be of a sharpe and piercing operation and vertue, to fetch away that tough slime, or other thicke humours and grosse superfluities contained in the head. Neither ought they to haue any malignitie, or euill qualitie in thē, such as be coloquintida, scammonie, & turpethū: for the membrane of the mouth is all one, & of the very selfe-same substance with the [...]unicle of the stomack; the mouth therfore and the Oesophagus being hurt, and offended, they doe easily communicate their dammages to the stomack. And hence it proceedeth, that such persons wil complain oftentimes that their meats which they haue receiued, do seem vnto them to bee both bitter, and of a stinking and vnsauourie taste.

Galen saith that we must altogether refraine from these errhines and masticatories, vnlesse necessitie vrge thereto. And doe you not thinke there is an extreame necessitie, when through an intollerable and vehement paine of the head, there is danger feared of an apoplexie, epilepsie, blindnesse, or the like? Will not a greater danger and hurt [Page] redound to the whole body by means of any of these, thē there will by offending the mouth with any distastful sent or ingrate odor? Wherfore I conclude, that euen of necessity, wee must sometimes bring them into vse.

We must abstain from such things as be very ingrate & vnpleasant, as staphisacre, iuyce of Tithimals, of the wilde cucumber, & Tabacco, being to many the worst of thē al. So then when al the reckoning is cast vp, as Galen in the seuenth of his Method affirmeth, the properties, qualities, & natures of euery particular mans cōstitution & temperature, ought throughly to be considered & sifted. You shal find some men, that if they go about to dispatch any busines in the night, to which they haue not bin accustomed, they cannot by any means fal to any rest or sleep. Some again there be, that if they tast of any thing that carieth but the bare name of a medicine, forthwith they will so abhor & loath it, as they cannot chuse, but must needes disgorge themselues, reiecting al that is in the stomack: which thing (saith he in the first book of Alimē [...]s) is partly to be referred to custom & partly to be attributed to the proper & peculiar nature of euery mans tēperament. And he introduceth an exāple of Arias the Peripatetike, who being by nature of a thin & slēder body, & hauing the mouth of his stomack very cold, so that vpō euery litle occasion of cooling it, he would straight waies be taken with an hicket, & by means thereof, durst neuer be so hardy as to drinke or taste cold water, at length being taken with a feuer, & constrained of som physicians cōtrary to his custom to drink cold water, hee presently died. And yet with others again, we see it falleth not out so▪ for vnles you boldly giue them to drink some colde liquor fit for them you shall very speedily bring their life into great danger: For

[Page]

Hic satus ad pacem; hic castrensibus vtilis armis.

Naturae sequitur semina quisque suae.

For as I haue touched a little before, there are some men found, who can by no meanes brooke, or away with sugar, honie, oyle, or vineger, and the like, wherewith notwithstanding a great many doe feed full sauourly, and are thereby well nourished and refreshed. The selfe-same thing is to bee obserued in taking this or that medicament.

I know some of such diuers and different natures, that they are more offended with Cassia fistularis, than with Rubarb or Agarick. Others again there be that can more easily away with Diagredium, being corrected, then with Rhubarbe; at whose smell, yea, and many times, at the very naming of it, they are so disquieted and moued, as they are readie to cast vp all in their stomacks. In some persons a Glister worketh very strangely, causing such a garboile, rumbling and rowling, that it many times (ascending vpwards) commeth out the wrong way, I meane at the mouth: and yet you shall haue the same persons nothing squeamish at the taking of any Purge, though neuer so bitter or loathsome in taste. Othersome cannot endure a Suppositorie, which will easily admit a Glister. We shall see some in other matters, and enterprises, to contend euen with the most valiant, that dare venture life and limbe, that cannot yet endure the letting of bloud; and euen before the instrument touch them, their hearts will turne into liuers, and so fall downe in a swoune: whereas weaklings, milke-sops, and spider-catchers, corner-creepers, and cowards in other matters, and meacockly women [Page] wil suffer and endure a verie large quantity of bloud to bee taken from them, without any shrinking, the least paine, trouble or disquiet that may be.

By all which it is plaine and manifest, that the nature of euerie sick Patient is to be wel considered, and the proper curation to be fitted to him; and againe, because the proprietie of each mans nature and complexion is ineffable, and cannot aptly in words bee vttered, nor in any exact science bee comprehended or described, I pronounce and adiudge him to be the best Physician of euery griefe, and sicknesse, which hath already acquired, and attained vnto such a certain way or method, by which he can both readily know and discern the temperaments, and natures of men one from another, and by a good and rationall coniecture, prescribe fit and conuenient remedies. For, to thinke that there is but one common and beaten hie way to cure all persons alike, as blocke-headed and dunsticall Empiricks, and quacksaluers imagine, is meere madnesse. For why? a common and generall man is not cured, but each one particularly: one hauing one distinct temperature, and another man being endued with another particular nature, and different constitution. So then to draw to an end of this discourse, because I haue been caried beyond my compasse futher than I thought, our chiefe studie and care must be, to know certainely of what temper euery mans bodie is. For medicines do [...] either retaine, lose, or alter their vertue and qualities according to the diuers natures of each seuerall constitution, to whom they are giuen. And this, besides our owne practise, may be further confirmed by Hippocrates; l. 3. de Morb. Ac. where he flatly telleth vs, that melicratum in some persons is diuretike, with others diaphoretike, and [Page] with some againe it causeth purging. And so may wee say of our Tabacco, that with some it is accounted and esteemed to be of an excellent sent; but others againe cannot endure it. And thus I will stop my course a while in my full careere.

The leaues of Trinidada Tabacco, being warmed vnder the embers, neuer shaking off the ashes, and applyed and laide often warme to the stomacke, doe much helpe the great shiuering, or exceeding shuddering coldnesse thereof, and windinesse in the same.

Some for the coldnesse and winde in the stomacke, vse to take the greene leaues, and bruise them in their hands (prouided that first they bee a little anointed, or dipped in oyle) and then make application to the stomacke.

The leaues of Tabacco being bruised, and put to steep in vineger and applyed as an vnguent vpon the stomacke, are found by experience to bee very good against the obstructions of the stomacke and spleen: on which parts againe the leaues warmed, or a linnen cloth dipped in the warme iuyce thereof, must bee laide on: but in defect of the leaues, the powder of Tabacco being made, and wrought vp with some common vnguent that is aperient or opening the obstructions of these parts is much commended, if so be that the obstructed and swelled parts be therewith a good while anointed.

Then women of America, commend this hearbe in all crudities, rawnesse, and ill digestion of the stomacke, especially in children, and such also as be of riper yeares: and they vse first to anoint the lower parts of the belly with cōmon oile, & then the leaues being rosted vnder the embers, to be applied to the same forepart of the stomack, and also to the back directly against the same. These leaues [Page] thus rosted and applyed, doe much soften, and gently purge the belly, prouided alwaies that you doe renew, and refresh them, so often as neede is.

An Vnguent for a colde stomacke.

Rec.

Oleorum, Macis,

Menthae,

Absinthij, ana ʒij.

Gaelangae,

Garyophyllorum, ana ℈j.

Corticum citri,

Calami aromatici, ana ℈j.

Sanaesanctae Indorum, ʒss.

Cerae nouae quod sufficit.

Fiat vnguentum.

You may to this vnguent adde a little muske if you please. But if windinesse and colde haue much preuailed and proclaimed open warre to the stomacke: then for surenes sake, after the application of the former vnguent, it will not be amisse to lay on it this or the like Scutum.

Rec.

Sanae sanctae Indorum,

Absinthij,

Maioranae siccae, ana ʒjss.

Caryophyllorum,

Ligni aloes, ana ʒj.

Seminum foeniculi,

Baccarum lauri, ana ℈ijss. with a little cotton [...]titched, quilted, or interbasted between two fine linnen clothes or silkes, with laces or strings tied or sowed to it, [Page] (as will be fittest) let it bee applyed to the region of the stomacke:

Or this Sacculus to be thus prepared for the coldnesse, and windinesse in the stomacke and spleene.

Rec.

Foliorum sanae sancta Indorum,

Florum chamomillae, ana m. j.

Foliorum pulegij regalis,

Centaurij minoris,

Absinthij, ana ℈iiij.

Seminum Rutae,

Sem. Erucae,

Nasturtij hortensis,

Barbareae, ana ʒjss.

Beat them all into grosse powder, and of these make a Sacculus, as before applying it to the place affected.

Another Sacculus which is good to resolue and mollifie, fit to be vsed in a drie and schyrrous spleene.

Rec.

Salis communis,

Seminis cumini parùm torrefacti, anam. ss.

Florum meliloti, m. j.

Fol. san [...] sanctae Indorum, m. j. ss.

Radicum ebuli, ℥j.

Seminis thysselij, ʒ. v. Misce. Siccētur in tegul [...], & tenui include linteo, fiat Sacculus ad formā splenis, qui, vsus tempore, acerrimo aceto, in quo candent is molaris lapidis frustum extinctum sit, rigetur. Of these make two bagges, to be applied to the spleene, one after another.

In making of any Sacculus to bee applyed to the stomacke, [Page] the powders must not exceede one ounce and a halfe; for oftentimes ʒvj. are sufficient.

This plant then, as you heare, by the testimonie of M Iohn Gerard, Carolus Clusius, and other learned men, cureth winde, coldnesse, and stopping of the stomacke and spleene; in regard that as all men by sound experience finde, it consumeth moist and waterish humours in all parts of the body, taking away, and cleansing the superfluous sliminesse, and such other like tough and congealed matter, which caused loathing of meat, and other oppilations: so that this hearbe rightly vsed, must needes disperse winde, in regard of his hot qualitie, stirring vp an appetite, and desire to meat, by reason of that milde and gentle adstriction, and cleansing vertue it hath. So that he which is well acquainted with the noble qualities, and hath made true grounded experience, concerning the right vse of this plant, needs not be so sollicitous to run, and gad in all haste to the good towne, when his belly aketh or is griped, for a pinte of maluesie, a penie pot of sheric-sacke, hippocras, aquavitae, rosa-solis, or Doctor Stephens water, to heat their mawes, when they are a little troubled with gripings in the bellie by meanes of winde: Or yet to haue readie in their closets and studies, nutmegs, or ginger condite, diatrion pipereon, sugarcakes and jumbles, manus Christi, aromaticum rosatum, and the like, much lesse to buy plaisters, or vnguents. And yet we must, as I haue praemonished, not bee too knackhardy in the vse of it: but withall this prouiso must be caried in minde, that in the imbecillitie & weaknes of the stomacke, we doe euer commixe withall such things as doe strengthen the liuer, either because from thence the naturall splrits be diffused, scattered, or let run into the whole [Page] bodie, or at leastwise because it is the shop of bloud. And when by meanes of a verie hot liuer, a colde fluxe of humours annoyeth, wee must by all meanes possible refrigerate the liuer as the cause, and then the stomacke will so much the more easily returne into his owne temper and nature. So that in this case, Tabacco is not so excellent as many suppose. Lastly, in the application of hot remedies to the stomacke, moderate adstringents must be commixed.

Tabacco is giuen with good successe to such as are accustomed to swoune, and are troubled with the colicke and windinesse, against the dropsie, the wormes in children, the piles, & the sciatica or gowt in the hanch, or hip.

Some will thinke it strange, that it will cure panting and beating at the heart, and Syncope stomachica, as I haue found by practise, that it hath remedied these griefes: and yet others I haue knowne, that found so little ease thereby, that euen by comming into the place, where the fume is receiued, they will bee ready to faint, and fall into a swoune, or vtter failing of strength. Well then, for resolution hereof, we must moreouer consider, and adde to my former discourse, that by the particular nature of each singular indiuiduall vnder the species of man, is manifestly to bee discerned the incertainty of the accidents; yea, and in some sort of the humane senses also: for who would not wonder, that Demophon one of the Squires that was Caruer to Alexander the Great, how that contrarie to the nature of all other men, hee would grow hot and warm in the shadow, and would shake & quiuer for cold in the sun? And Andron the Argiue would trauel thorow out the most dry, & barren sandy places of the desart [...] of Lybia and Afrike, without enduring of any thirstinesse.

[Page]Others there haue beene, who onely by seeing, yea, and by smelling of Coloworts, onions or garlicke, haue sallen into a swoune, and some againe by the onely fume and smell of Tabacco. And Matthiolus that learned Physician in his Commentaries vpon Dioscorides, doth assure vs, that he himselfe knew a man in whom this was natural. And albeit it be most certaine, that the hemlock be a most strong poison, and that the noble Socrates was poysoned there with in the citie of Athens; yet doth Galen assure vs (in the third booke De Simpl. med. fac.) that there was an old woman in that same towne which did feed, & liue vpon the same hearbe. And I my selfe know many country-people that wil not stick to giue the posset-drink thereof without any curious respect of quantitie to any their friends that are vexed with hot or burning feuers. What flower is more pleasant and odoriferous, than the Rose? and yet Auratus Lusitanus telleth vs, how he knew a man, who by the onely sight of a Rose, would fall into a swoune: and of this nature also, as I am credibly informed by men of no small reputation and grauitie, was the late Lady Henneage: yea, her skinne (as some say) would blister, if any part of her body had been lightly touched with a Rose, either damaske, red, or white.

Some there be that doe not loue flesh, others cannot away with fish, and another whom [...] was well acquainted with, dwelling at Ashdon in Essex, could neuer abide the taste either of fish or flesh. Some doe abhorre cheese; and there bee some men, to whome fruit is so hatefull, that if they doe but see any to eat thereof, they will bee enforced to fall a vomiting. Some againe haue an excellent quicke and shape fight in the night, and in the darke, as had Tiberius Caesar, and Ieronimus Cardanus, [Page] and they can see but very little and badly in the day. Others bee that will swallow glasse, mettall, wooll, bricks, and other such like things, and (which is almost incredible) by the heat of their stomacke, will bee able to digest them.

There be three things generally which do make meats, and nourishments, which of their owne nature are hurtfull, to be more pleasant, and lesse offensiue: that is to say, vse and custome, the pleasure and delight that one is possessed with, and a strong and firme stomacke: for good and holesome meats, if the stomacke cannot away with them doe subuert, and cause a loathing, and abhorring in it: and againe, if the stomacke bee verie weake, it easily refuseth and reiecteth meats of quicke and easie digestion. In like maner concerning odours and smels, with all men, nor yet with the most, the sauour of Tabacco cannot be vnpleasant, nor produce such strange and fearefull effects.

A Cerote against wormes.

Rec.

Myrrhae,

Aloes, ana ʒj.

Pul. fol. sanae sanctae Indorum,

Sem. abrotani, ana ℈ss.

Cerae, resina, an q. s.

Fiat ceratum.

A liniment against the wormes in children.

Rec.

Succi foliorum sanae sanctae Indorum, ʒiij.

Pulueris scordij,

[Page]Aloes, ana ℈ij.

Olei communis, ℥j.

C [...]rae parum.

Misce & fiat linimentum.

Now follow such other medicines as are made of Tabacco, & first concerning the Sciatic [...]. For it is found by experience of the learned, that it mitigateth the pain of the gout, if the leaues be rosted in the hot embers, and applyed to the agrieued part. For paines likewise of the ioynts the tender leaues of Tabbacco, or Nicotiana, being bruised and applied to the place, vntill it beginne to looke red, are singular. In like sort a Cataplasme performeth the same effect, and is more effectuall then the former, being thus made.

Rec.

Radicum Althae [...],

Rad. liliorum,

Iridis, ana ℥j.

Foliorum sanae sanctae Indorum, m j.

Florum chamaemeli,

Melil [...]ti,

Summitatum anethi, ana p: j.

Seminum lini,

Foenugraeci, ana ℥ss.

Cymini,

Baccarum lauri, ana ʒiij.

Croci, ʒss.

Axungiae anserin [...].

Medullae vituli,

B [...]yri,

Olei liliorum quantū sufficit. Fiat Cataplasma.

[Page]This Cataplasme is emollient, and softneth tumours, it digesteth and asswageth paine, and resolueth and discusseth winde. These Cataplasmes are seldome administred but where the body is first purged.

A Fomentation that addeth strength to the weakned parts.

Rec.

Foliorum sanae sanctae Indorum, m. j.

Foliorum rosmarini,

St [...]chados,

Chamaepiteos,

Hyssopi,

Nasturtij, ana m. ss.

Coquantur ex vino austero, & cum spongijs fiat Fotus.

For paine in the ioynts or hippe-bone, an excellent Cataplasme.

Rec.

Lact is, l. j.

Micas duas panis albi.

Coquantur, et adde

Pulueris tabaci, m. ss.

Croci, ℈j.

Vitellos duos ouorum,

Olei rosarum,

Olei Chamaemeli, ana ʒvj.

Fiat Cataplasma: et bis die appplicetur calidè.

[Page]A Suffumigation to be taken when the ioynts are much loosened, or relaxed with too much moisture.

Rec.

Foliorum sanae sanctae Indorum, m. ij.

Foliorum lauri,

Fol. Saluiae, ana m. j. ss.

Hyssopi, Betonicae.

Verbasci, ana m. j.

Coquantur ex vino: lapides igniti hoc conspergantur.

Manè & vesperi admittat hunc vaporem loco calido.

After hee hath receiued the fume or vapour of these hearbes a good while, so soone as the Patient is ready to come forth, let him straight waies goe to his warme bed, and take one dram of excellent treacle in hot posset-ale: so being couered very warme with clothes, let him sweat one houre, two or three after it, as his strength will endure.

Experience by some persons a fewe yeares since hath brought to light, that Tabacco resisteth and breaketh the force of poysons, and especially that most dangerous venome, wherewith the Cannibals doe anoint their darts, and arrowes: for before the vertue of this was knowne, they were wont to cast the powder of Sublimatum on their wounds. Now the Spaniards knew well, that it would ouer-master and infringe the power of poyson, and that by these meanes: It fortuned that certaine Cannibals sayled in their canowes to S. Iohn de Porto Rico, of purpose to kill those Indians and Spaniards they found [Page] there, with their inuenomed sh [...]fts. So arriuing at the place appointed, they forthwith slew the Indians, and some Spaniards, wounding many other: and wanting sublimate to cure their wounds, a certain Indian taught them to wring and presse out the iuyce of this Tabacco, and to apply it to their wounds, and after they had done this, to take the leaues being br [...]ised, & so to lay vpō the wounded place: which being done, straight waies the paines abated, and all those symptomes, accidents, passions or effects which doe vsually accompany such inuenomed wounds, the poyson and venome thereof (I say) was by this ouercome and vtterly vanquished, and the wounds perfectly cured.

So from that time forwards, men began to put in practise the leaues of this plant against strong & deadly poysons. And the Catholicke King himselfe (I speak as a Romist) hauing a desire to trie the vertues of this hearbe, caused a dog to be wounded in the throat, & with the poison that hunters vse, the place to be rubbed and anointed, and within a while after, good store of the iuyce of Tabacco to be dropped into the sore, & the leaues also being beatē or bruised to be layed ouer, and bound close to the wounded place, and by this meanes the poore dogge escaped the danger, not without the amazement, and wondrous admiration of all that saw or knew it. In like maner, it being applied to venomous and pestilent carbuncles, botches, or sores, it bringeth a hard crust vpon the place, and so absolutely cureth them. And against the bitings or stingings of poysonous beasts, or any venomous liuing creature they are a present remedie.

They affirme and holde for certaine moreouer, that a man in France (hauing a sore vlcer or apostume, caused by [Page] the euill of Naples or Spaine, (chuse which you will, all is but one, for the best of them is but Hydra malorum, as Auger Ferner saith) that wee in plaine good English call, the great Pockes, or, the French something, by the applicatiof the leaues of this plant, was immediatly cured thereof. This is Morbus contagiosus, though not Pestilentialis: & I must confes, that I am somwhat backward in belieuing of this, and therfore I will leaue euery man to his owne liberty of beleeuing or refusing this. But for the former example, I dare boldly say: for besides a Kings testimonie, you shall haue the attestation of sundry good merchants of this Citie of London to confirme as much. And I can see no reason why, but that the decoction of our owne countrey Tabacco should as well, and to as good successe be vsed in the plague, & other poisonous sicknesses, as tormentill, burnet, the wilde Angelica, and that of the garden, dictamnus, marigolds, butter burre, Carduus benedictus, S. Iohns wort, Morsus diaboli, Scabiose, gentian eye bright, water germander, vinca peruinca, Iuniper, and bay-beries, with a hundred the like. And a medicine in the plague thus prepared, I should iudge to be verie effectuall.

Rec.

Pulueris radicis Angelicae Hortensis vel syluestris, ʒj.

Theriacae optimae, ʒj ℈ss.

Aquae stillatitiae, sanae sanctae Indorum, ℥iiij.

Aceti optimi, ℥ss. Misce.

This is to be taken warme at one time, and presently to go to bed and to mooue sweat: let the sweat be continued gently and easily foure or fiue houres, or more if strength will endure, and keep warme after for two daies.

If a sore doe appeare, then make a pultes with wheaten bread, two handfuls, sweet butter ℥ij. of the leaues of Tabacco, and the hearbe called Diuels bit, of either halfe a [Page] handfull, with sufficient water make a pultes. After it is made, put to the pultes vj. onions roasted vnder the embers, and mingle them. Lay of this hot to the place, and shift it twise or thrise in a day.

An Vnguent for a pestilent Carbuncle.

Rec.

Foliorum sanae sanctae [...]ndorum, m. j.

Contundantur addendo vitel. Oui vnius

Cum salis, ʒss.

Vnguent. Basilisco. ʒij. Mis [...]e.

Fiat instar vnguent. & applicetur super Carbunculos.

Aqua Theriacalis ad Pestem.

Rec.

Liquoris stillatitij sanae sanctae Indorum, l. viij.

Antidoti Mithridatics Damocratis, ℥vj.

Carduibenedicti,

Scordij,

Galegae, ana▪ m. ij.

Macerentur simul per noctem, poste [...] destillentur, s. a.

Cap. ℥iiij. pro vice.

But heere a great doubt and controuersie may arise, whether as sometimes we see one poyson to be the expeller of another poyson; so in like sort, whether one stinking sauour, and graueolent or ill odour, and vapour of some pestilent breath or ayre, may bee the proper amulet or preseruati [...]e against any such poyson, to bee hanged about the necke: for at this time let it bee granted (to [Page] please some) that Tabacco is of no good smell or sent and that it is a little poysonous. For wee see some daily in the time of any generall or grieuous infection of the plague, for auoidance thereof, and for preseruation sake, will smell vnto the stinking sauour of some loathsome Priuie, or filthy Camerine and sinke; and this they make reckoning is one of the best counter-poysons, that may bee deuised against any pestiferous infection: for their nature being inured to these, they will afterwards not seeme to passe for any pestilent malignitie of the ayre, and dare boldly aduenture without any preiudice, or impeachment to their health, into any place or companie whatsoeuer. And to perswade vs the more easily to this, they obiect to vs for example sake, those women that spend their daies continually in hospitals for Pilgrims, & for poore trauellers, who are accustomed to euery ab [...]ominable sauour of the sicke; whereof we shall neuer see or very seldome, any of them either to be taken, or die with any pestiferous infection, though neuer so dangerous. In like manner, there be some that in time of the greatest heat and rage of the Pestilence, doe kill dogges, cats, and other like creatures, suffering them to be cast, and lie rotting and stinking in corners of streets, crosse pathes, and where many waies meete, thinking that by these meanes, the rotten, stinking and euill vapour that from them is carryed vpwards, filleth the ambient ayre, and so either drinketh vp, consumeth, or else quite altereth the pestilent infection thereof. After which sort we read, that in times past a certain Physician freed S [...]ythia, now called Tartaria, from the mischiefe of a most dangerous pestilence.

I am not ignorant, how that sometimes one poyson is the preseruatiue against another poyson, and the flesh of [Page] vipers (which entreth into the famous composition of Mithridatum) to resist and quell, not onely his owne, but euen the venenositie of other Serpents. There is not a presenter remedie for one that is dangerously strooke of a venomous Scorpion, than the oyle of Scorpions it selfe. There be many liuing creatures that haue certain hid properties against diuers euils: and so we see that experience hath giuen the knowledge of many medicines, of the which none can giue any certaine reason. Wherefore I would that some would experiment those of our owne countrey, and compound some Theriaca or Alexipharmacall medicine of our own plants, which the euerlasting God hath giuen to our owne vse: the which to my iudgement would proue more excellent, farre better, and more sure than vipers (though neuer so wel corrected) of whose flesh partly, is made and composed the famous electuary, called Theriaca magna; knowing that it is not sure to vse vipers, because of their deadly poison that they beare, whatsoeuer others say.

But to returne from whence I haue a little digressed, I will not deny, but that such persons as haue been acquainted and accustomed to a bad and vnholsome stinking aire, or any pestilent malignity, but that they will smell vnto, & easily endure any thing that may be imagined worse then any stinke it selfe or carion-like smel, without either danger, trouble, or any displeasure at all, and doe recke so little of the plague when it rageth most, as I haue seen some, & known moe, euen fasting and without fencing their heart or spirits with any antidote, to haue buried moe than two hundred, whom the plague had bereft of life. And yet this I say, that Tabacco is not so perillous as som would make the world beleeue, but that amongst the proper curations [Page] and alexiteries against any pestilent infection, this obtaineth not the last place.

Galen in his third book De Alimentorum facultatibus, plainely sheweth, that in his daies there were Egyptians that fed as sauourly on Serpents, as othersom did of Eeles. The new-found world nourisheth great store of Serpents and Lyzards of a maruellous greatnesse, the which are easily taken of those countrey people without danger: yea the Neigers eat these Lyzards, so doe the Indians of America, both these and also the lesser ones which are of the bignesse of a mans legge. And who hath not read (though from long iourneys large lies are afforded) what Peter Martyr of Angleria in his Decades hath written? And L [...]urētius Ioubertus, de Cutis capitis affectibus, wil resolue vs, that the Americans, and their neighbours doe the same.

About three degrees and a halfe from the equinoctiall, there is found a riuer that cometh from the mountaines of the country named Camia, and another more lesse named Rh [...]gium, the which beare and bring forth verie good fish, also Crocodiles very dangerous: as the riuers of Nilus and Senega, and they eate them as wee doe venison, as Iohn Leo in his description of Africa saith: And Andrew Theuet in his description of the new found world, agreeeth with him saying, that the Americans food for the most part, is roasted after their maner, as rats of diuers kindes, and great ones, a certaine kinde of toades greater than ours, Crocodiles, and others that they rost al whole, with the skinne and the bowels, and this they vse without any difficultie: yea these Crocodiles, and great Lyzards bee as great as a pigge of a moneth old, the which is a fine meate (as they say that haue eaten thereof.) [Page] These Lizards of America are so priuie, that they will come neere vnto you, & take their repaste, if that you wil take it without all feare or difficultie. Their flesh is like a chickens flesh, and they kil them with shooting at them with their arrowes. And if tabacco were halfe so bad as any of these, I trow the dispraisers thereof might then with full mouthes, and full cheekes except against it.

It cannot be denied, but that Tabacco hath some malignitie, yea, some naughtie and venemous qualitie in it, in respect that it produceth such a strange swimming, vertiginie or giddinesse like drunkennesse in the braine, with foaming at the mouth and swouning, yea, lying as it were dead, or in a traunce for a certaine time, when any almost hath first taken it, and yet at length after their bodies haue been acquainted and inured to it, there hath no such passion or effect followed, though it hath been taken by them in a verie large quantitie.

Whereupon doubtlesse, wee must conclude, that euen of strong poysons, some men may very well be nourished, and conueniently fedde, especially if they bee assumed moderately, and by degrees a little at once: as Lewes Vertoman writeth of the King of Calecut, whose father so inured him to take poyson, that hee was fed and nourished therwith, and with nothing else all his life time: so that when he intended to put any of his noblemen to death, he would but cheaw, and bite in his mouth a certaine fruit there growing, called Chofolos; which being done, hee would spit them in the face of him with whom hee was offended: who presently after being poysoned with this stinking breath, would goe home and die. This King (as the forenamed author saith) had foure thousand wiues, but he neuer lay with any of them but one night: [Page] for the next day day shee was found dead, onely with the poisonous breath of the King. So that hereby, by these examples we may learne, that poysons and strong medicines may by degrees bee ouercome by the vertue and strength of nature, & be cōuerted into a profitable norishment of the whole bodie, as al Physicians alleage; sithence there is nothing that nourisheth, but that which is first concocted, & digested, by the power & benefit of nature.

Custome is of great force in our meats: and that many haue been fed onely with poysons, Iohn Bruyerni, de re cibaria, lib. 1. cap. 22. plainely sheweth. So in times past the people called Psylli, and the Marsi would without danger, both handle, and eat Serpents. Hollerius reporteth of a Spaniard that would eate halfe an ounce of Opium at one time: we in England must not exceed twelue graines, and in Poland two graines onely will kill a strong man so that he shal neuer arise, till the trumpe of the Archangell awake him. Iohannes Heurnius saith, that hee hath seene diuers slaues at Naples in Italy, which would deuoure a verie great deale of Meconium: and others againe would as fast eate poppie without any sensible hurt thereby. And as I haue partly touched before, wee read of one Tharsias an Apothecary, and many shepheards in Greece, who would take into their stomacks whole handfuls of Helleborus albus, or Neesewort, without any danger at all, digesting thē very well. Eudemus of the Iland of Chios, would do the same, without any purging downwards, as Theophrastus assureth vs: & yet with others we know, that it procureth vomiting mightily, & that with extream danger, & hazard of life, if it be not well corrected, & giuen to strong complexions, and robustious constitutions, and not to nice and delicate persons.

[Page]Wee reade in histories of a maide of excellent beautie, that was onely fed and brought vp with the deadly poyson of Napellus, who was presented to Alexander the great by the king of India, to the intent he should bee ensnared in the inextricable labyrinth of her beautious physnomie: whome when Aristotle his master had throughly viewed and beheld, hee forewarned the king of the danger, and the bait that was laid to insnare him. Neither was he therein deceiued in his iudgement, for though the king refused her companie, manie other sprightfull laddes and lustie-bloudes being allured and bewitched with her companie, they all died by that abominable poysonous and destroying vapour or hurtfull breath which came from her body, as Iohannes Langius in his Medicinall epistles hath also remembred. This maide did well enough with this hearbe Napellus: and yet the force and facultie thereof is so deadly both to man, and also to all kindes of beastes, that if any doe eate thereof, their lippes and tounges swell forth-with, their eyes hang out, their thighes are stiffe and their wittes are taken from them, as Auicen [...]a writeth in his fourth book. Yea the force of this poyson is such, that if the pointes of speares, dartes, or arrowes bee touched or annointed with the same, they bring deadly hurt to those that are wounded therewith. So that if strong poysons through custome may bee turned into the profitable nourishment of our bodies; howe much more, such Simples, that bee but as it were a little hurtfull as Tabacco is.

The like may bee said of meates and medicines: some men will eate and continue with feeding on Cassia, as familiarly as if all their life time they had neuer taken delight in any other thing: and yet with others againe it is [Page] accounted verie loathsome, and bringeth gripings, wringing, and much torment to the whole bodie. In some persons Manna turneth wholly in choler: and it gently looseneth the belly in others. Some will very easily digest beefe, or any meats of harder digestion, whose stomacks againe doe abhorre the flesh of hens, rabbets, and the like: & if they chance to eat of them, they turne into sower belchings, and are quickly corrupted in their stomacks, lying there stinking, as in a filthy puddle. Therefore what soeuer is familiar to any particular mans nature, and wherewithall he is most delighted, neuer bee afraide to giue the sicke, although in others it may not be tollerated. But to returne againe into my path from whence I haue a little digressed.

Although all men, and all countreys are not alike subiect to, and hurt by the pestilence (for China which is the greatest part of the habitable world, in which there are (as some Histories report) seuenty millions of people, being scarse so many in all Europe, wherein (as I suppose) God hath included the greatest gulfe of mankinde, is not subiect to this dangerous disease, nor yet many parts of Africa, as Iohn Leo a Moore borne in the Kingdome of Granada saith) yet we know and feele, that all those countreys that lie open to the sea, or bee situated right against the South, or lie much open to that point, are more dangerously infected than others that haue not the same site of place for their dwelling. And likewise those that dwell in hot and moist places, poysoned with filthy or mistie exhalations, are more vexed and plagued, than more open and champain countreys, or those that be more mediterrane. And againe, amongst men they are more cruelly handled, which being of a hot and moist temperature, [Page] and such as be full of grosse and corrupt humours, hauing such bodies as be ready to run ouer with plenty thereof, are more subiect to putrefied agues, than colde and drie complexions, and such as haue but small store of humors, and the same very fine and pure. For ouermuch loosenesse and largenesse of body, euen as too much adstriction maketh a way for the pestilence.

But it will be necessary, and to our purpose in hand, and worthy the labour and paines taking, more deepely to enter into, and to make a larger rehearsal into this discourse, and leasurely by peece-meales, as it were to cut and minse the same. Although therefore the pestilent poison without exception, no lesse violently setteth vpon, as well the richer as the poorer sort, and assoone dispatcheth those of st [...]rdy and able bodies, as meacocks, milk-sops, and weaklings, and such as be great, strong, quarrie, bigge, well set, handsome timbred, and such as well call well proportioned and of a iust temperature and making (neither too slender nor too grosse) as well as those that are sickly, queasie, and abounding with cacochy micall humours, and vpon men as women, old and young, hot complexions as cold, moist as dry (for to all alike it proclaimeth open war:) yet neuerthelesse it often commeth to passe, that vpon some it sooner layeth holde, and killeth more speedily, than it doth vpon others. For first in respect of ages, wee finde by common experience, that Infants are more endangered thereby, and take it sooner than children, and these sooner than young men, and younger more than those of riper yeares, and women are more often subiect to this griefe than men, and chiefely those that bee with childe, and such as are not monethly expurged.

[Page]Of complexions likewise, that temperament which is hot and moist, or cold and moist, is oftener and easilyer ouerthrowne, than either the hot and drie, or the cold and drie complexions. And for the same reason, the sanguine, and the phlegmatique constitution are most in danger, and are more subiect vnto this griefe, than either cholericke, or melancholike persons, and doe sooner die withall. The cause of this varietie is the superabundant, corrupt, or filthy humours subiect to putrefaction, or corrupt and filthy bloud, which is easily infected with the contagion of the ayre receiuing pestilence. And this is the cause, that those who are much subiect to sicknesse (although that some will falsly maintaine, that either the French Pockes, or the quartane ague, is a Supersedeas to the plague) and cacochymicall bodies, doe sooner feele the hurt thereof, and are put into further hazard than such as bee exquisitly sound, and in perfect health: and those that vse nourishments which breede euill iuyces and humours in the bodie, than the contrarie, or such as bee of easie concoction; and such as surfet, pamper, or cocker themselues too much, more than those that behaue themselues temperately, and vse a moderation in their expences and manner of liuing, as some say they doe at Florence in Italy.

To shut vp all in a word, those that keepe good rule liuing continently, are freer from this plaguy infection, then such as liue after their owne pleasure, wilfully, and luxuriously: and they that keepe home, lesse than such as gad abroad, being accounted good fellowes, louing to frequent much company, do lesse feele this poisonous disease. Now although by this that I haue said, one may easily [Page] gather, why Tabacco should be good in some constitutions, (I meane in hot and moist, and colde and moist) and why not in othersome so holesome: yet for all that, this must be taken warily, namely, that wee vse not Tabacco (for purgation sake especially) nor yet any purging medicine in the beginning of the plague, or yet if they be taken with any fluxe or loosenesse of the belly; for of these thus affected, there is scarse the hundreth person that escapeth with life. I know well what Fracastorius, Palmarius, and many others haue written, and enforced themselues somtimes too farre concerning these points, & as they imagin they haue attained the truth. As for me, it is not my purpose at this time to censure others in this iudging world, but only I thought good to speak thus much by the way, seeing it is not quite besides my intended scope, as touching our Tabacco.

The iuyce of Tabacco boyled in sugar to the forme of a syrupe, and inwardly taken, driueth forth worms of the belly, if withall a leafe bee layed to the nauell. It cureth also the Piles, and the Dropsie.

An Vnguent for a Dropsie.

Rec.

Succorum sanaesanctae Indorum, ℥viij.

Cortic. med. Sambuci,

Chamomillae,

Tithymali, ana ℥ij.

Succi violarum,

Radicum Cucumeris agrestis,

Mercurialis macis,

Laureolae,

Colchici Anglici,

[Page]Fellis tauri,

Aloes hepaticae, ana ℥iij.

Diagredij, vnc. jss.

Cum olei oliuar. lib. iij. & Cerae albae. lib. j.

Fiat vnguentums. art [...]m.

An Emplaster for the same.

Rec.

Stercoris vaccini,

Sterco. Caprini, ana ℥viij.

Macerentur per horas vj. in [...]ceto vini albi & siccantor.

Tum Rec. aluminis rochae,

Salis nig. torrefac.

Sulphuris flaui, ana ℥ij.

Succitabaci, ℥vj.

Foliorum Soldanellae, vnc. jss.

Seminum Anisi,

Foeniculi,

Carui, ana vnc. j.

Farin [...]lupinorum,

Orobi, ana vnc. j.

Terebinthinae, vnc. ij.

Picis naualis, vnc. xij.

Axungiae porcinae, vnc. iiij.

Fiat Emplastrums. artem.

Syrupus optimus ad Hydropicos.

Rec.

Foliorum sanaesanctae Indorum. [...]. vj.

Hyssopisicci,

Pulegij reg [...]lis,

Ceterach (se [...] asplenij) ana. m. j. ss.

Calamenti minoris, p. ij.

[Page]Seminum Anisi,

Seminum vrticae,

Sem. Anethi, ana ʒiij.

Ga [...]angae,

Hellebori albi, ana ʒiiijss.

Asari,

Agarici, ana ʒij.

Rad. Angelicae hortensis,

Rad. iridis,

Costi,

Amomi,

Polipodij quercini, ana ℥j.

Let all these be beaten to powder, and infused in six pintes of the sharpest wine vineger for three daies space in the open sunne, in a glasse vessell. Afterwards boyle them in a double vessell with a gentle fire to the consumption of the halfe, then straine them, and adde to them of Mel rosarum l. j. Sacchari l. ss.

Boyle them againe to the consumption of the vineger, and aromatize it with saffron, ginger, and mace, ana ℈ij.

Fiat Syrupus secundum artem.

A conuenient purge in a Dropsie.

Rec.

Seminum sanaesanctae Indorum, ʒj.

Rhabarb. ʒss.

Diagridij, gr. ij.

Syrupi ros. sol. cum agarico ℥j. cum aqua destillati tabaci, quantum sufficit.

Fiat potio. Detur post digestionem conuenientem.

[Page]An excellent Sacculus to discusse winde, to remooue the colicke, and is very effectuall in a tympanie.

Rec.

Foliorum san. sanct. Indorum, p. iiij.

Florum Chamaemelorum,

Summitatum anethi, ana p. j.

Cymini,

Cari, ana ℥ss.

Baccarum Lauri, ʒiij. Make two bagges of all these being quilted or interbasted, so that they may couer the most part of the belly.

Tabacco is a present remedy for the fits of the mother, it mitigateth the paine of the gout, if the leaues bee roasted in hot embers, and applyed to the agreeued part, and likewise a Cataplasme made onely of the leaues of Tabacco being boyled in milke with a little comin-seede with the yolkes of two egges and saffron, ℈j.

An Vnguent to take away all paines of the Gout.

Rec.

Succifoliorum san. sanct. Indorum, ℥viij.

Axung. porcimasculi,

Axung. caponis, ana vnc. ij. Misce.

Put all these into a glasse, stopping and luting it close with paste, and set it in the ouen for eight or nine houres, make an Vnguent. This also helpeth such as bee troubled with crampes and conuulsions.

[Page]A Cataplasme also or Pultes made of the roots of marsh mallowes, Tabaoco leaues, some line-seede, and crums of bread is much commended in the gout: and if a little oile of wormes be added to it, nothing can bee deuised better. Some doe also greatly praise a medicine thus prepared, for the gout.

Rec.

Olei cannabini l. ss.

Vini albi, l. j.

Foliorum sanae sanctae Indorum, m. ij.

Bulliant ad consumptionem mediae partis.

The leaues of Tabac. in the low coūtreys are vsed against scabs, & filthnesse of the skin, & for the cure of wounds: but some hold opinion, that they are to be vsed onely but for the cure of wounds, and to hot and strong bodies: for they say, that the vse of Tabacco is not safe in weake and old folke: and for this cause (as it seemeth) the women in America, as Theuetus saith, abstaine from the hearbe Petum or Tabacco, and can in no wise endure it.

Against rednesse of the face.

Rec.

Lithagyri argentei, ʒj.

Cerusae albissimae, ʒiij.

Caphurae, ℈ij.

Aquae stillatitiaesan. sanct. Indorum, ℥ix.

Aceti albi, ℥ij.

Let them settle fixe houres together at least, then filter them, and euery day twise or thrise wette the face withall.

[Page]Another against cancerous vlcers, and rednesse of the face.

Rec.

Plantaginis,

Circaeae Lutetianae,

Sanae sanctae Indorum,

Albumin. ouorum no. xij,

Aluminis, l. ss.

Mixe them together, and let them bee destilled: but it is best, first to infuse them together for twelue houres space.

There is an oyle to bee taken out of the leaues of Tabacco, that healeth merrie galles, kibed heeles, and such like. Tabacco doth likewise scoure and cleanse olde and rotten vlcers, and bringeth them to perfect digestion, as Nicolaus Monardis saith.

The oyle or iuyce dropped into the eares is good against deafnesse: a cloth dipped in the same, and layed vpon the face, taketh away the lentils, rednesse, and spots thereof, as thus:

Rec.

Olei sanae sanctae Indorum, ℥j.

Sulphuris in pollinem redacti, ℈ij.

Misce sine foc [...].

Ad guttam rosaceam, or a sawce fleagme face.

Rec.

Cerusam q. v. & ponatur cum aqua stillatitia tabaci ad solem, vel cum succo eiusdem herba: qua sicca adijciatur alia, dum fiat albissima & [Page] fiant pilulae. Soluatur vna cx aqua tabaci, et illinatur facies.

For an olde or inueterate sawce-fleagme face.

Rec.

Caphurae, ʒij.

Boracis, ʒij.

Pulueris subtilissimi foliorum san. sanct. Indorum, vnc. ss.

Misce cum succo limonum et melle despumato.

Sovse it as an ointment daily.

It is vsed against poyson, and taketh away the malignitie thereof, if the iuyce bee giuen to drinke, with some Theriaca or Mithridatum, or the wounds of venemous beasts be washed therewith.

Tabacco preuaileth against all apostumes, tumors, inueterate vlcers, botches, and such like, being made into an vnguent or salue, as followeth.

Take of the greene leaues of Tabacco l. iij. ss. Stampe them very small in a stone mortar.

Olei oliuarum l. ij.

Set them to boyle in a brasse panne, or such like vpon a gentle fire, continually stirring it, vntill the hearbes seeme blacke, and will not bubble, nor boyle any more: then shal you haue an excellent greene oyle: which being strained from the dreggie refuse or f [...]ces, put the cleare and strained oyle to the fire againe, adding thereto of

Waxe, l. ss.

Rosin, ℥iiij.

Turpentine, ℥ij.

Melt them together, and keepe it in pots for your vse [Page] to cure inveterate vlcers, apostumes, burnings, greene wounds and all cuts, and hurts in the head.

Tabacco is also good in burnings and scaldings with fire, water, oyle, lightning, or such like, being boyled with hogges grease in forme of an Vnguent, which I haue often prooued and found most true, adding a little of the iuyce of Pomum spinosum, or thorne apple leaues, spreading the same vpon a cloth, and so applying it.

Ronsseus, in his ninth Chapter, hath stoutly striued to shew al the Indications verie exactly, for the curation of al vlcers in the legges, and other parts that happen to those persons, which are troubled with the scuruy, or rather scorbute. And although that these vlcers are happily remedied with sudoriferous medicines, especially with wine extracted from the flowers of Antimonie, and with Sanguis Antimonij, with Turbith Minerall, and other spagiricall liquors (for by these, that redundant humour which feedeth, and causeth the vlcer, is not onely dried vp, but also perfectly conglutinated and souldered) yet the businesse would more happily proceede, and the cure be sooner perfected, if there were in my iudgement certaine vulnerarie hearbes added to them, such as bee Sana sancta Indorum, Pyrola, Alchimilla, Consolida Sarrasenica, cochlearia, sanicula, Nummularia, and others of the same vertue. And thus would I make a Balsamum, for the curation of filthie vlcers comming by meanes of the scorbute.

Rec.

Foliorum Nicotianae sine Peti Brasilianorum,

Consolidae Regalis,

Betonicae Pauli,

Ophiogl [...]ssi, anam. iiij.

[...][Page]Nummulariae,

Persicariae maculosae,

Chelidoniae maioris, ana m. j.

Florum fug. d [...]monum, m. j. ss.

Centaurij minoris,

Flo: Chamaemeli, ana m. j.

Radicum consolid. maioris &

Rad. althaeae recentium, ana ℥ viij.

Lumbricorum terrestrium vino maluatico lotorum, vnc. x.

Incisa et cont [...]sa circulentur, Pellicano Hermeticè ferruminato inclusa, in libris duabus olei vetustissimi, et l. j. terebinthinae abietin. per tempus trimestre. After these three moneths space, destill them in a Retort with a milde and gentle fire. In the destilling adde vnto it, Tegularum, ℥xx.

Rec.

Huius destillati, l. j. ss.

Vernicis, vnc. vj.

Axung. human. vnc. viij.

Mumm. communis contrit. vn. vj.

Mastiches,

Myrrh.

Aloes,

Thuris,

Styracis liquidi, ana vnc. vj.

Destillentur adhuc semel, cum laterum in puluerum redactorum l. j. Postea adde

Oleorum petrolei,

Olei è terebinthina,

Olei è granis Iuniperi, ana ʒiij.

[Page]Puluer. aeruginis, vnc. j.

Fiat Balsamus artificialis viridis.

And of the same vertue is this that followeth.

Rec.

Terebinth. vnc. ij.

Thuris vnc. ij.

Aloes,

Mastiches,

Caryophyllorum,

Galang.

Cinnamomi,

Croci,

Nucis mosch.

C [...]bebarum, ana vnc. j.

Aquae. stillattit. san. sanct. Indorum, et

Aquae Hordei, ana l. j. Destillentur.

An excellent Iniection to deterge and cleanse vlcers, especially those that happen in the scorbute.

Rec.

San. sanct. Indorum, m. ij.

Ligni sancti subtilissimè puluerisati, et

Corticis eiusdem, ana vnc. ij.

Aristoloch. long.

Centaurij minoris,

Absinthij,

Equiseti,

Eupatorij,

Saniculae.

Foliorum myrti,

[Page]Pimpinellae, et

Consolidaemed. vulnerariorum, ana, m. j.

Corticum thuris,

Myrrhae,

Sarcocollae, ana ℥v.

Vinirubri odoriferi, l. iij.

Mellis despumati, ℥iiij.

Boyle all these together, and when it is strained, make an iniection into the vlcer, adding to it of the best Aqua vitae ℥j. for euery time that you vse the iniection. Or else, if to the former decoction, you adde of aqua vitae l. ij. & destill them all together in a glasse limbecke in [...]alneo Mariae, you shall haue an excellent water, to deterge, cleanse and conglutinate filthy, hollow, stinking, or sordidous vlcers.

This ointment also following, will performe the same effect.

Rec.

Succi san sanct. Indorum, lib. 5.

Mellis electi, ℥iiij.

Farinae hordei, vnc. ij.

Myrrhae elect. ʒij.

Terebinth. vnc. j. ss.

Boile all these together, and make an Vnguent to dippe, or arme your tents withall, that shall be put into the cauities of any vlcers.

Paracelsus the fuliginous Alchimist, in his first booke, Chirurgiae Mag. tract. 2. cap. 9. plainly describeth the same vertues to bee in that oyle which hee there calleth, Oleum [Page] antimonij rubicundum. In like sort Oleum aeris, Oleum Saturni but chiefly Sal Saturni album brought into powder, destilled in a retort with a very cleare fire, vntill all the spirits be vanished, and the water after that separated from the oyle per Balneum: for within a few dayes it perfectly cureth those vlcers, which of som are esteemed for incurable, especially those that follow any scorbuticall sicknesse.

Master Iohn Gerard the most learned [...]erbarist of this age, in his great Historie of plants, describeth an excellent balsame, surpassing in my conceit all the fore-recited: which here in this place I purpose to set downe, in regard of the many and notable vertues that are in it. I doe make (saith he) of Tabacco an excellent balsame to cure deepe wounds, and punctures, made by some narrow, sharpe, and sharpe pointed weapon: which balsame doth bring vp the flesh from the bottome very speedily, and also heale simple cuts in the flesh according to the first intention, that is to say, to glew or soulder the lippes of the wound together, not procuring matter or corruption vnto it, as is commonly seen in the healing of wounds. The Receit is this:

Rec.

Oleirosarum,

Olei Hypericonis, ana l▪ j.

Foliorum tabaci in mortario contusorum, l. ij.

Boyle them together to the consumption of the iuyce, then straine it, and put it to the fire againe, adding thereto of

Venice Turpentine ℥ij.

Olibani,

Masticis, ana ℥ss.

in most fine & subtile powder, the which you may at al times make into an Vng [...]or salue by putting thereto wax and rosin to make it a stiffe body, which worketh exceeding wel in malign & virulēt vlcers, [Page] as in wounds & punctures. I send this Iewell to you women of all sorts, especially to such as cure and helpe the poore and impotent of your countrey without reward. But vnto the beggerly rabble of witches, charmers, imposters, and such like cozeners that regard more to get monie, than to helpe for charitie, I wish these few medicines farre from their vnderstanding, and from those deceiuers, whom I wish to be ignorant herein. But courteous Gentlewomen, I may not for the malice that I doe beare vnto such, hide any thing from you, of such importance: and therefore take one more that followeth, wherewith I haue done verie many and good cures, although of small cost, but regard it not the lesse for that. And thus it is:

Rec.

Foliorum tabaci, l. ij.

Axungiae porcinae, l. j.

Stampe the hearbe small in a stone mortar, putting thereto a small cup-full of redde or claret wine, stirre them well together, couer the mortar from filth, and so let it rest vntill morning, then put it to the fire againe, and let it boyle gently, continually stirring it vnto the consumption of the wine, then straine it, and set it to the fire againe, put thereto of the iuyce of the hearbe l. j.

Terebinthinae venetae, ℥iiij.

Boyle them together to the consumption of the iuyce, then adde thereto of the roots of Aristolochia rotunda, or birth-wort in most fine powder, ℥ij. Sufficient waxe to giue it a bodie, the which keep for thy wounded poore neighbour. This also helpeth & healeth the old and filthy vlcers of the legges and other parts.

Tabacco is vsed of many men in outward medicines, [Page] either the hearbe boyled with oyle, waxe, rosin, and turpententine, as before I haue set downe; or the extraction thereof, with salt, oyle, balsame, the destilled water, and such like, against tumors, apostumes, olde vlcers of hard curation, botches, scabbes, stinging with netles, carbuncles, poysoned arrowes, and wounds made with gunne, or any other weapon.

Thus haue you heard what the learned & skilfull Chirurgion, and Herbarist Master Iohn Gerard, a man of vnreprooueable authoritie, saith of Tabacco, and yet I think he will not say, that it fitteth all persons alike: for I suppose, that it is nought for Alchymists, Brewers, Bakers, Smithes, cookes, furnace-men, more than for fisher-men, and such waterish people. All things haue their season.Iuuenal Satyr. 6.

Imponit finem sapiens & rebus honestis.

A wise man may vse moderation,

Euen in things of commendation.

And I may say my Pater noster out of season:

Diuersos diuersaiuuant, non omnibus annis

Cat. eleg. 1.

—omnia conueniunt.

Diuers delights to diuers men: Nor to all,

Doe all things at all yeares conuenient fall.

The leaues of Tabac. being applied vpon green wounds, staieth the flux of bloud, & soldereth & glutinateth them: and if the wounds be verie great, they must first bee washed with white wine, and so the lippes of the wound bee ioyned together, the iuyce of the leaues must be sprinkled or cast on, and the drie leaues being bruised belayed all [Page] ouer vpon the wounded place. And the next day following, and from day to day, this order must bee strictly obserued, vntill it be perfectly brought to cure, obseruing withall a true regiment in our diet▪ and order of liuing.

Doubtlesse, this is a rare miracle of Nature, and a wonderful vertue, that is in this cotemptible little plant, or rather esteemed to be so vilde, base, and contemptible. [...]or if any one be newly and dangerously wounded, and that the miserable partie feeleth a bleeding vnto death, what is a more noble medicine, or more readie at hand, then Tabacco, to binde hard vpon the wound, to stay the inordinate effusion of bloud? Questionlesse, if wee were as diligent and greedie to search out the true properties and vertues of our owne domesticall remedies, which we buy of others so dearely, wee would not enforce our selues with such eager pursute after those of forraine countreys, as though things farre fetcht off, were better than our owne neere at hand; or as though nothing were good and holesome, vnlesse it came from Egypt, Arabia, China, or India. Surely, vnlesse there were some wilde worme in our braines, or that we we were bewitched, and possessed with some furie, we would not so farre be in loue with forraine wares, or be so much besotted, as to seeke for greedy new Physicke, and physicall meanes, considering that one poor plant, tabacco, wil (being rightly vsed) do more good for the stanching of bloud, the curation of wounds and vlcers, the hindring of sanies, slime or slough to grow in any sore, to abate and quench swellings and paines, to conglutinate, and consolidate wounds, more than a cart-load of Bole fetched out of Armenia, Sarcocolla, Sandaracha, or that earth which is so much nobilitated by the impresse of a seale, and therefore called Terra Sigillata, the clay of [Page] Samos, the durt of Germanie, or the loame of Lemnos. For Tabacco hath a moderat adstriction, it soldereth, ioyneth and closeth vp wounds, nor suffering any rotten or filthy matter to remaine long in them.

And in regard of these excellent vertues and qualities, it quickly cureth bleeding at the nose, the Haemorrhoides and other bloudie fluxes, whether of the opening of the mouthes of the veines, their apertions, breakings▪ or any other bloody euacuation that too much aboundeth, being either giuen by it selfe, alone in some wine either inwardly, or outwardly, or commixed with the bloud-stone, Crocus Martis, and other the like remedies fit for the same intentions.

Laurentius Ioubertus describeth an Vnguent, which is of singular force, made of Tabacco, for the curation of wounds, scabbes, and the disease called Scrophules, or the Kings euill: yea, for that same knottie scourge of rich men, and the scorne of Physicians, I meane the gowt, which as som learned men hold opinion, can by no means be remedied, yet feeleth mitigation and diminution of paine, and curation also onely by this admirable medicine, whose description in this place, I will rightly set downe, and thus it is.

Rec.

Foliorum san. sanct. Indorum, l. ij.

Axungiae porcinae recentis diligenter lota, l. j.

The hearbe being stamped or brused, let it be infused a whole night in red wine, in the morning boyle it with a gentle fire with the axunge to the consumption of the wine. Then straine it very hardly: and that being done, adde to it of the iuyce of Sana sancta Indorum, l. ss▪

[Page]Resinae abiegnae. vnc. iiij.

Boyle them againe to the consumption of the iuyce, and toward the end of the boyling, adde to it of

The roots of Aristolochia rotunda in powder, vn. ij.

New wax so much as is sufficient.

So make it vp into the forme of an vnguent.

If you would haue this Vnguent in the forme of a Cerote, then encrease the weight of the waxe, and you haue your desire.

Truth the daughter of Time hath brought to light, that Tabacco strangely cureth olde vlcers or sores, and mortifications or gangrenes, if the iuyce of the leaues bee dropped vpon the places, and the leaues first bruised, and applyed thereon, without any other curious application or anxious mixture; the bodie being first purged, and the redundant peccant humours, being first duly euacuated, by the aduise of some learned Physician, and a veine opened, if so be it be thought needfull, with keeping of a strict and orderly kinde of diet: for Nullum est tam potens medicamentum, quod pr [...]stare eam quam pollicetur opem potest, si ratione victus aut perturbetur aut non adiuuetur. There is no medicine so effectuall or of such sufficient vertue onely by it selfe, to cure any disease, and to expell sicknesse, and restore to health, if by the order of diet, & regiment of life, it bee either hindred, or not somewhat helped.

Furthermore, it is found by long practise, that it is very auaileable and effectuall, not onely for the cure of [...]lcers in men, but also in brute beasts: for throughout all India strange and many sores doe plague their oxen, and other cattell, which by reason of the exceeding and super-abundant [Page] moisture of the countrey, doe putrefie and swarme with wormes: on which poore beasts they were wont heretofore to insperge sublimatum, being destitute of better remedies: and because the price of this was at a verie hie rate in those places, it oftentimes so fell out, that the medicine cost more, than the silly beast which was to bee cured was adiudged to be worth. Wherefore hauing experimented the faculties and properties of Tabacco in men, they transferred the vse thereof to the curation of rotten, stinking, and such corrupt soares of beastes as were full of crawling wormes, and they quickly found that the iuyce of the hearb being dropped into the place, did not onely kill worms, but also clense and mundifie the vlcers, and afterwards bring them to perfect cicatrization: and for the same cause the Americans euer carrie about them some of the powder of it.

I know a certain man that had an vlcer in his nose, out of which there issued forth a virulent or filthy matter or sanies, not without great suspicion of some contagion, or infectious sicknesse, who by mine aduise dropped in [...]om of the iuyce of the leaues of Tabacco, and when hee had done so twise together, a great many wormes first came forth, and after that fewer, and lastly after a fewe dayes the sore was absolutely cured, and no wormes neuer after that issued forth: yet the parts that were consumed, and eaten away could neuer againe by any art bee throughly restored.

This plant being hot and drie in the second degree, as some would haue it, doth by meanes thereof vndoubtedly purge and cleanse: and so it may heale either vlcera putrida ac corrosiua in naribus, and Noli me tangere, so named because it resembleth (as some imagine) a curst shrew that [Page] must not be touched when she is angrie, for then she will be, alcataimmitior hyd [...]â: therefore I suppose it is not good to wake an angrie dog; and when a mischiefe is well quieted and brought asleep, it is good to goe your waies, and say neuer a word.

The new-found Alchymists of our time take vpon them to make quidlibet ex quolibet, weauing and vnweauing daily the lucklesse webbe of Penelope: without either reason for their misterie, or great reward for their labour: and yet Iohannes Liebaultius writeth that there are which destill water of the greene leaues of Tabacco in alymbecke of glasse, which water is no lesse singular in all effects, and passions, then the verie iuyce, helping all wounds, soares, and bruses, euen restoring to men which by some aduenture, or by some poysonous malignitie and vapour, haue lost their nailes, new ones by washing that part with the water destilled, and after wrapping them vp in fine linnen clothes dipt in the water. So that it is no maruaile if the people of the new-found world, which we commonly call the West Indies, doe make such hie reckoning of this hearb: for there are found diuers populous nations in farre differing clymates, that liued for the most part vpon filthy and loathsome poysonous Spiders, as also of grashoppers, pissemires, lyzards, and night-bats; and an ougly toade was solde for sixe crownes in a time that al such meats were scarse amongst them, which they boyle, roste, bake and dresse with diuers kinds of sawces. Albertus Magnus mentioneth a maid, who accustomed her stomacke to liue onely vpon spiders. I should iudge that Tabacco were good for these kinde of people. But yet this seemeth more strange, that some of these people haue been found among these nations, to whome our vsuall [Page] flesh, and other meats were mortall and venemous. Great is the force of custome: Hunts-men will watch all night in the snow, and endure to be scortched on the hils: Fencers brused with sand-bagges or cudgels, and doe not so much as groane. Aristotle speaketh of one Andron the Argine, that he would trauel all ouer the scorching sands of Lybia without drinking, which is impossible for any other to doe.

In like maner may we say of our Tabacco: for as vse is the most effectuall master of all things; so we see that Tabacco breedeth such passions in some, as though they had receiued some strong poyson, & yet others that are poisoned, do find it to be a good preseruatiue against poison In som it causeth fainting & swouning; with another, vtter deiection of the strength: with others againe it worketh a contrarie effect. I may say, it is like wine. For many other ouer shoot thēselues with fuming wines, & yet the liquor may be all one, and yet not worke the same effect in all: for some sigh, others smile, some are dum and silent; others attentiue, and full of words: some embrace, others fight: some sleep, others sing, according to the diuers humors of their bodies, and instincts of nature. So the fuming vapor of tabacco will cause some to be drunke, & to haue a reeling giddinesse in their heads: others again on the contrary, say, that it expelleth drunkennesse, & all swimmings in the brain. In some, tabacco causeth vomiting; in others again that I haue known, it performeth the contrary effect by strengthening the stomacke, staying vomiting, & causing a good appetite. Some, if they take Tabacco much, are transported with rage and choler, so that you shall see & heare, inflammation & fiery rednes of the face, vnwonted othes, chafing, vnquietnesse, and rash precipitation.

[Page]

Oratument ira, nigrescunt sangaine venae,

Lumina Gorgon [...]o saeuiùs igne micant.

In English thus:

The face through anger swels, the veines grow blacke with blood,

The eyes more fiercely shine than Gorgons fierie mood.

Yea, in some great Tabacconists, you shall see them staringly wilde, their face troubled, their voyce frightfull and distempered. They foame at the mouth, they startle and quake, rage and ruffle, and wordes escape them, that they afterwards repent. But in others againe it causeth a pleasant humour, and cleane contrarie vsages, humours, and passions. Tabacconists and Tabacco-companie keepers haue in my opinion, but slightly harpt vpon this string, no more than they haue vpon others of the like or greater consequence: so that by their varietie of conceits, and instabilitie of their humours, and opinions, they do (as it were) lead vs closely by the hand to this resolution of their irresolution.

Some there are also, who (to speak like a Chymist) doe destill oyle of Tabacco, per descensum, which oyle these authors (agreeing with the Paracelsians) preferre before all other applications, eithers of leaues, iuyce or powder, because the quintessences (quintessence is no other thing but a qualitie, wherof we cannot with our reason find out the cause) and extractions drawne out of the simples, are the subtile spirit, and haue the purest vertue, and facultie of the substance from the which they are drawne.

This oyle is much commended against the tooth-ache, [Page] the coughs, and the rawnesse or coldnesse of the stomack, and the disease called the Mare.

Many of the Africans are tormented with the toothache, which as some thinke) they are the more subiect vnto, because immediatly after hot pottage, they drinke colde water: as Iohn Leo in his first booke saith.

In Africa likewise, those which are of a sanguine complexion, are greatly troubled with the cough, because that in the Spring time, they sit too much vpon the ground. And vpon Fridaies I had no small sport, and recreation (saith the same Iohannes Leo) to goe and see them. For vpon this day the people flocke to Church in great numbers to heare their Mahumetan sermons. Now, if any one in the sermon fals a coughing, or a neezing, all the whole multitude will doe the same for companie, and so they make such a noise, that they neuer leaue, till the sermon be quite done: so that a man shall reape but little knowedge at any of their sermons. I should thinke it good that these kinde of people would take either the fume, powder or destilled oyle of Tabacco for their vntimely and vnreasonable coughing, and neezing: and since they are so much subiect to the tooth-ache (as I saide before) there is no man but will deeme it farre better for them than for vs who are vexed with none of these maladies, and yet take it excessiuely.

The powder of Tabacco is an excellent dentifrice, or cleanser of fowle and rustie teeth, making them to looke verie white, by scowring away all that sordes, clammie, & stinking matter that sticketh vnto them. There be nations who indeuour to make their teeth as blacke as jeate, and scorne to haue them white, and in other places they die them redde, and these sorts of people neede not any Tabacco [Page] for this intent.

For stinking and rotten gums in the disease called the scorbie, and in sore mouthes, there is nothing better than Nicotiana, being taken in a gargarisme, which is published by Iulius Palmarius, and it is also set forth not many yeares since by Maister [...]anister in a booke, which he calleth his Antidotarie Chirurgicall.

Rec.

Hordei integri, p. ij.

Sanae sanct a Indorum,

Morsus gallinae,

Eupatorij,

Plantaginis,

Rosarum rabrarum, ana m. j.

Boyle all these together in aquae lib. iiij. till the one part be consumed, then adde thereto

Mellis rosacei,

Serapij rosarum siccarum, ana ℥iij.

Aluminis vsti,

Calchanti [...]sti, ana ℥ss.

Boyle all these with a walme or two, and so let it coole, and then keepe it to your vse.

Because I haue made mention of a strange disease, called in English the Mare, of the Grecians Ephialtes, and of the Latines Incubus, which (as I said) the extracted oyle of Tabacco cureth: I will declare briefely what is meant thereby.

Ephialtes then, or the Mare, so called of Physicians, is [Page] a disease of the stomack, concerning which read Paulus Aegineta. lib. 3. cap. [...]6. Many, which are taken with this disease, imagine that a man of monstrous stature sitteth on them, which with his hand violently stoppeth their mouth, that they can by no meanes crie out, and they striue with their arms and hands to driue him away, but all in vaine. Some ledde with vaine fantasie, thinke him who oppresseth them, to creepe vp by little and little on the bed, as it were to deceiue them, and anone to runne downe againe. They seeme also to themselues to heare him. This disease of the night-Mare, is also called by another name, Puigalion, or Puigamon. It commeth by meanes of certaine grosse and thicke vapours, which doe partly intercept, and hinder the free passage of the spirits animall: by which meane, difficultie of speaking and breathing, doe proceede, with a perturbation of the sense and motion of the whole bodie. Now this dreadfull griefe (which some being much deceiued, thinking that it must onely proceede of witchcraft) is chiefely remedied with the extracted oile of Tabacco, a fewe drops taken in sacke or maluesie, after the stomacke bee first accordingly, by the rules of art, expurged from those superfluous humours, which are the true cause of the disease.

The oyle of Tabacco for a colde and moist stomacke, is farre better than oyle of pepper, oyle of Anniseeds, the extracted oyles of Fennell, Commin, Masticke, Cloaues, or Calamint: and if an Electuarie were made for this disease called the Mare, I suppose this to be excellent.

[Page]An Electuarie for an ouer-cold and moist stomacke.

Rec.

Puluer is aromat. ros. maioris ex descriptione Gabrielis, ʒij.

Puluer is electuar. diacalaminthes, ʒj.

Diatrion piperij, ℈ij.

Conseruae anthos & rosarum Damascenarum, ana ℥ss.

Sacchari optimi, vnc. j. ss.

Serapij de mentha quod sufficit, vt fiat elect. liquidum. Adde

Olei tabaci chymici guttas aliquot.

Dosis vnc. ss. per horam vnam aut alteram ante pastum.

I haue discoursed sufficiently (as I iudge) of the vertues of Tabacco for inward diseases of mans bodie: now will I proceede to his effects in curing those that happen outwardly: and first there is prescribed vnto vs this Vnguent.

Rec.

Of the choysest, and most substantiall leaues of Tabacco, lib. j.

Beat them in a mortar of marble, and after that take of Axungia porcina, lib. ss.

Let it be refined and clarified, and without falt: so this being melted, adde to it the Tabacco, and set it ouer a soft fire to seeth deliberately, and leasurely, vntill such time as you finde the waterish humiditie of the Tabacco to be vapoured away, and that the mingled substances retaine [Page] the force of a perfect Vnguent. Reserue this for a singular and medicinable good Vnguent for sores, vlcers, carbuncles, tetters, and likewise to dissolue tumours.

There is also another in vse, which is this that followeth.

Rec.

Terebinthinae,

Resinae,

Cerae nouae, ana vnc. iij.

Melt them together, and then adde to them of Tabacco prepared as before, lib. j. mixe them together, and after with a slow fire set them to incorporat, seething together fiue or sixe houres, vntill the waterish humour of the Tabacco be cleane euapourated. After this is done, straine it through a coorse linnen cloth, that may be very strong. After all this, take of Venice Turpentine l. ss. infusing it into these things before said, without any more boyling of it, but yet stirring it cōtinually til it be cold, afterwards preserue and keepe these as precious Vnguents. This surpasseth the former in all colde griefes, to amend and ease the swelling paines and aches of the gowt, Sciatica, and the like, helping and comforting weake and resolued sinewes, and cicatrizeth.

Master William Clowes, a skilfull Chirurgeon of London in his booke of obseruations for curing gun-shot, describeth an excellent Vnguent of Nicotiana verie like vnto the former, which he learned, as hee affirmeth, of a verie learned man both in Physicke and Chirurgerie, which he said had wrought wonders aboue beliefe, but I (saith Master Clowes) found not that excellencie in it, which he promised, and I looked for: neuerthelesse, I acknowledge it a medicine not to be disallowed: and this is the order of [Page] making of it, as the Physician appointed.

Rec.

Foliorum Nicotianae, l. j.

Let the leaues be well stamped, and after strained out as strongly as possible may bee, then adde thereto

Ceraenouae,

Resinae,

Olei communis, an [...] ℥iij.

Let all these boyle together vnto the consumption of the iuyce, then adde thereunto terebinthinae venetae, ℥iij. boyle alla little together, and reserue it to your vse. But this Vnguent since it was first knowne, is greatly bettered, chiefely by Iosephus Quercetanus, and others also.

Moreouer with the foresaid descriptions, there is also another in vse, and more necessarie for wounds made with gunshot: and I haue approoued it in many other cures: and thus it is truely prescribed, and published.

Rec.

Succi de Peto, lib. vj.

Adipis ouini, lib. ij.

Olei communis, lib. xij.

Terebinthinae venetae, ℥xij.

Resinae pini, lib. j.

Masticis, ℥ij.

Colophoniae, lib. ij.

Cerae, lib. j.

Vini albi, l. j.

Misce & fiat Vnguentum secundum [...]rtem.

Let not the Succus of Petum be put in, before all the rest be well relented together, and then strained into a cleane panne: and being molten, put in the iuyces to the rest, and boyle it till the iuyces bee all consumed. Then straine it [Page] againe, and reserue it to your vse. This Vnguent doth notably incarne and mundifie.

You shall here, in the closing vp of this my discourse, haue prescribed two singular oyntments of my owne inuention, wherewith I haue performed many great cures, and thereby haue wonne both crownes and credit.Vnguentum Sa [...]ans nostrum.

Rec.

Herbarum, sanae sanct a Indorum, m. iij.

Quinqueneruiae,

Saniculae, [...]na m. ss.

Consolidae mediae vulnerariorum,

Bagulae,

S [...]lidaginis Saracenicae, ana m. j.

Beat and temper them all with barrowes grease, l. j. and of the best oyle oliue, l. ss. and adde to them Vini albi. l. jss. to be boyled the space of one houre. Afterwards straine them, and adde to them of waxe, l. ss.

Resinae,

Terebinthinae, ana ℥iiij.

Misce & fiat Ceratum.

This doth notably heale.

This other that followeth is both sanatiue and mundificatiue, and this is the true description of it.

Rec.

Terebinthinae, ℥ss.

Vnguc [...] tum nostrum Sanans & mundi [...]icans.

Vnguenti aurei,

Vnguenti tabaci priùs descripti, [...]na ℥ss.

Myrrhae,

Mastiches▪

[Page]Sarcocollae, ana ʒij.

Succi Tab [...]ci, ℥jss.

Cerae,

Resinae, ana ʒiij.

Mellis, ʒij.

Olci Hyperici q. sufficit.

Cum vitell. ouorum no. ij. Fiat Vnguentum.

Thus much as touching Tabacco, though not so much as others perhaps might, and I could haue done; but yet so much as I thought worthy to be noted and written, for to satisfie and content the gentle good will of the louing and curteous readers, i [...] that it please them to take as great pleasure, and patience to read it, as I haue taken paines after my long endurance in prison of the kings Bench, to set it forth. Which thought neuer to haue done, had it not been for the earnest sollicitations and importunities of my best and deerest friends. I am sure that some will finde this my discourse too long, others too short and trifling, and peraduenture vpbraide and cast in my dish the saying of the famous Poet Terentius in his Comedie entit [...]led Heautont. Act. 4. sce. 1.

Nae iste magno conatu magnas nugas dixerit.

This fellow sure with much adoo,

Hath told great tales and trifles too.

But if there be any such fault-finders, quarrell-pickers, corner-creepers, or spider▪catchers, I will leaue both them and their figuratiue flowts, wherewith they are accustomed to hit men ouer the shinnes, and end this my discourse [Page] with the Poet Martialis, lib. 13. Epigram. 21. against all such detractours.

Nasutus sis vsque licèt, sis denique nasus,

Quantum noluerit ferre rogatus Atlas:

Et possis ipsum tu deridere Latinum,

Non potes in nugas dicere plura meas,

I [...]se ego quàm dixi: quid dentem dente juuabit

Rodere? carne opus est, si satur esse velis.

Ne perdas operam, quise mirantur, in illos

Virus habe, nos haec nouimus esse nihil.

In English thus:

Suppose you were long nos'd, suppose such nose you weare,

As Atlas, if you should entreat him, would not beare:

That you in flowting olde Latinus can be fine,

Yet can you say no more against these toyes of mine,

Than I haue said: what boot is't, tooth with tooth to whet?

You must haue flesh, if you to glut your selfe be set.

Loose not your paines, gainst them who on themselues are doating:

Keepe you your sting? we know these things of ours are nothing.

FINIS.

§

§

[Page]

[Page]

THE TRIALL OF TABACCO.

Wherein, his worth is most worthily expressed: as, in the name, nature, and qualitie of the sayd hearb; his speciall vse in all Physicke, with the true and right vse of taking it, aswell for the Seasons, and times, as also the Complexions, Dispositions, and Constitutions, of such Bodies, & Persons, as are fittest: and to whom it is most profitable to take it.

By E. G. Gent. and Practicioner in PHYSICKE.

[figure]

Imprinted at London, by H. L. for Mathew Lownes, and are to be solde at his shop in Paules Church-yard, at the signe of the Bishops-head, 1610

§

§

[Page]

[figure]

To the right Worshipfull Sir Edmond Carey Knight.

[Page]

YOu may peraduenture wonder (most worthy Sir) or if not your selfe, yet many others (I am sure) will, why I, being an old man, and in my declining age long since, would be so inconsiderate as to set pen to paper, and write a discourse of Tabacco. But I pray you giue me leaue to speak for my selfe and to answer both the one and the other. Isocrates (the famous Orator) wrote the sweetest and most eloquent Oration of his, called Panathenaica, after hee was fourescore yeares of age: and the same is reported of the diuine Plato, who continually studied, and wrote of diuers points in Philosophy when he likewise had passed the Eighty yeere of his age, and so continued to his dying day, as Iohn Pierius in Oloris Hieroglyphico saith. The famous lawyer Baldus began to study the ciuil Law at three of the clocke in the afternoon (at what time king Deiotarus began to build a Ciuity) I mean, when he was an old man: and yet hauing an excellent, prompt, and praegnant wit, and a natural inclination to that kind of study, he became the most excellent man of his time. And although you will grant old men to bee subiect to many imperfections and weaknesses, yet on the other side you must confesse, that yong men are much tainted with lightnesse, inconstancy of mind, and ouermuch folly. Indeed old men are not so strong, quick, sprightfull, and deliuer as [...]

The names of all those authors and learned men, whose authorities are cited in this present Worke.

[Page]

ARistoteles.

Alciatus.

Andreas [...]heuetus.

Aegidius Eurartus.

Auicenna.

Augerius Ferrerius.

Alexander Trallianus.

Apianus.

Aetius.

Andreas Matthiolus Semensis.

Amatus Lusitanus.

Albertus Magnus.

Banisterus.

Carolus Clusius.

Cardinalis Cusanus.

Cornelius Celsus.

Carolus Stephanus.

Cornelius Tacitus.

Catullus.

Dion.

Diodorus Siculus.

Galenus.

Guido Pancirollus.

Garceas ab Horto.

Galfridus Chaucerus.

Dioscorides.

G [...]ilielmus Camdenus.

Fracastorius.

Hesiodus.

Homerus.

Hippocrates.

Hieronimus Cardanus.

Hercules Strozza.

Herodotus.

Guilielmus Clusius.

Vl [...]ichus de Hutten.

Laurentius [...]oubertus.

Horatius.

Iohannes Langius.

Iohannes Leo Afer.

Iohannes Gerardus Anglus.

Iohannes Li [...]baultius.

Iohannes Heurnius.

Iohannes Baptista Porta.

Iohannes Hollerius.

Iohannes Bruerinus.

Iuuenalis.

Lucretius.

Iosephus Quercetanus.

Ludouicus Vertomanus.

Petrus Bellonius.

Titus Liuius.

Terentius.

[Page]Ronssaeus.

Paul [...]s Aegineta.

Iulius Palm [...]rius.

Theodorus Zuingerus.

St [...]abo.

Publius Ouidius.

Martialis.

Parac [...]lsus.

Suetonius Tranquillus.

Mercurius Britannicus.

Richardus Hackluit.

Nicolaus Monardus.

Petrus Pena.

Matthias de Lobell.

Seneca.

Vergilius.

Pli [...]ius.

Theophrastus.

Philon.

Philaretes.

Xenophon.

Tibullus.

In commendation of the Author.

[Page]

AS farre as Boreas clappes his brasen wings,

So farre thy fame graue Gardin [...]r sh [...]ll flie.

Pleasure and profit both thy rare Worke brings.

Who rightly reads, will say as much as I;

That thou of all doest yet deserue the praise,

And to be crowned with a crowne of [...].

One, with disgracefull and despightfull words,

This soueraigne Simple basely discommends:

A second, loftie glorious tearmes affords,

And grace too great vnto this Simple lends.

Both are extreames. The golden meane is best:

Which here thou keep'st: thy Worke excels the rest.

Reioyce, O Britaine, that thou hast brought▪forth

A Gardiner of such admired skill.

Thou showest the vertue, the effect and worth,

Of this rare Simple, the good vse and ill.

Then vse it well, for Gardiners good sake:

And from his Garden a choise flower take.

Io: Serle.

Edward Michaell, In commendation of his learned friend Master Edmund Gardiner.

THe Author well deserues the Tipe of fame,

To be conioyned to his honest name,

For setting forth (vnto his Countreys view)

Tabaccoes praise now in his brightest hue.

In lieu whereof, the guerdon he doth craue,

Is but a kinde respect of him to haue.

For, all his paines, taken for your delight,

Is for to shew Tabaccoes vse aright.

Read then his worke, with iudgements brightest eie:

And thank him kindly: Thus with me replie;

Gardiner Adieu: thy Work deserues such praise,

As few men giue, in these our latter daies.

Information about this book

Title statement

The triall of tabacco Wherein, his worth is most worthily expressed: as, in the name, nature, and qualitie of the sayd hearb; his speciall vse in all physicke, with the true and right vse of taking it, aswell for the seasons, and times, as also the complexions, dispositions, and constitutions, of such bodies, & persons, as are fittest: and to whom it is most profitable to take it. By E.G. Gent. and practicioner in physicke.

Gardiner, Edmund.

Edition statement

1610

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

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Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2004-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A01444

ID [STC]

STC 11564

ID [STC]

ESTC S105693

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99841419

ID [PROQUEST]

99841419

ID [VID]

6000

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(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A01444)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 6000)

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Source

— The triall of tabacco Wherein, his worth is most worthily expressed: as, in the name, nature, and qualitie of the sayd hearb; his speciall vse in all physicke, with the true and right vse of taking it, aswell for the seasons, and times, as also the complexions, dispositions, and constitutions, of such bodies, & persons, as are fittest: and to whom it is most profitable to take it. By E.G. Gent. and practicioner in physicke., Gardiner, Edmund..

Extent

[6], 58 leaves

By H[umphrey] L[ownes] for Mathew Lownes, and are to be solde at his shop in Paules Church-yard, at the signe of the Bishops-head,. Imprinted at London :: 1610.. (Dedication signed: Edmund Gardiner.) (Printer's name from STC.) (Reproduction of the original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery.)

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