A Treatise, wherein is de­clared the sufficiencie of English Medi­cines, for cure of all diseases cured with Medicine.

ALTHOVGH I be not igno­rant that truth oft purchaseth hatred, not of her own nature, (then which nothing is more amiable and gratious, but by reason of the great corruption of mankinde, whereby, as men are plunged in blindnes & errour, so they dasle with their eyes at the light of truth, & sauour the things onely which agree with their corruption) although I say this hath beene alwaies the condition of truth in the world, and such euill grace findeth it with the most of men, especially when it first offereth it selfe to be acknowledged for that which it is indeede: yet for the loue I beare it, being a Philosopher by profession, and for the publike benefit, being borne vnder that condition of men, whereby one is bound to imploy his gifts for the benefite of another: I haue ventured vpon the displeasure and disgrace of men, and haue taken some paines to bring to light one daughter of Truth, of Time, seeming to haue beene forgotten, which if she be receiued and em­braced [Page 2] of thee gentle Reader, as she deserueth, shall requite thee with no lesse pleasure and profit, then many of her elder sisters. For what can bee more pleasant vnto thee, then the inioying of medicines for cure of thine infirmities out of thy natiue soyle, and countrie, thy Field, thy Orchard, thy Garden? and what more profitable vnto thee, then thereby to avoide the infinite charges rising vpon the vse of straunge and foreigne medicines, whereby not one­ly thy substance is wasted, but thy health oft times greatly impaired? This is then that truth which I commend vnto thee. As England aboundeth plen­tifully with all things necessary for thy maintenance of life, and preseruation of health; so needeth it not, partly through natures instinct, partly by the indu­strie of men, sufficiencie of medecine to cure the sicknesses and infirmities, whereunto our nation is subiect: which my opinion and iudgement, consi­dering the vse and custome hath long bene to place greatest value in strange medecines, and the practise of the most doth ratifie the same, I knowe must needs seeme strange vnto thee, but read, consider, and then iudge, and at the least let me enterchange my paines with thy attentiue waying of that which thou shalt reade, preiudice set aside: and that a way may bee made for the playner handling of this matter, I briefly define a remedie, a medicine, a dis­ease after this sort as followeth. First beginning with a remedie, which I call the work of the Physician, whereby health may be repaired. Physicke is an art which taketh charge of the health of man, preser­uing and mainteining it present by the right vse of meate, drinke, and exercise, with other such helpes [Page 3] of nature: and restoring the same decayed, by diet, medicine, helpe of hand, or surgerie instrument seuerally vsed, or by ioynt force applied. Which three are Physicke instruments, whereby the ac­tion of curing is performed, which action I call a re­medie. And the second of these instruments name­ly a medicine, I define an aduersarie force of some naturall thing, equally matching the proper or next cause of the disease. Of which medicines, Hearbes, Trees, Stones, Mineralls and metally, Barthes, Wa­ters, and all Fruites, are matter onely, and not the verie medicines them selues: for as Physicke it selfe is an art, and the action artificiall, and not of na­ture, so are the instruments of the same action arti­ficiall, and not naturall. And as nature affourdeth not to vs of her owne worke, either garments, or houses, or any kinde of instrument, but onely the matter whereof such instruments may bee made, leauing with vs an industrie rightly to frame them, and wisedome to vse them: so, no more is Lettis, Poppie, Rhewbarb, or Scammonie a medicine, then an Oake a Table or Ship, or a quarrie of stones, an house. Moreouer, all medicines standing in a kinde of relation to the disease which by meanes of the patients age, sexe, time of the yeare, custome, and such like occasions greatly varie, no nature which alwaies keepeth constant in the own kind can there­fore either bee a medicine, or properly beare the name thereof: which I wish to be noted, least it be thought the simples, and such other naturall things were medicines, because commonly they carry the names of them. And thus much shall bee sufficient to haue said of the nature of a medicine.

[Page 4]Now a disease (which remaineth last to be defined) is such state of the body, as thereby it is vnabled to performe aptly the actions thereto belonging, or those actions which the soule doth accomplish, by the instrument of the bodie.

Thus much briefly concerning the explication of the tearmes wherein this trueth is propounded.

Now the reasons, whereby both I am moued to be of this iudgement, and am so hardie as to pro­pound it to others to be receiued, whereof the first riseth from the Christian doctrine of Gods proui­dence, which as it serueth greatly to establish the chief [...] points of Philosophie, so being drawne and more particularly applyed to the maintenance of mans life, carieth with it as a sufficient prouision for maintenance and preseruation of health, a like fur­niture, and as aunswerable to the necessitie of the patient, health being decayed; I will not stand to inireate of prouidence being well knowne to Chri­stians: and being a truth in Diuinitie, and Christi­anitie, cannot be false in Philosophie. Although the best of the auncient Philosophers and Poets haue alwaies kept it as a sure ground, who as they serue little to establish vs, hauing a surer foundation, yet may they iustly condemne the Atheist of this age, who so farre hath quenched those remnants of the light of the first creation, that all things seeme to him Fortune and Chaunce.

There is no nation vnder heauen so poore and de­stitute, but it hath of the owne countrie soyle suffi­cient to content nature with, of foode and apparell, which as they be two pillars of life, so from them are taken the means of preseruation of health, which [Page 5] as to beasts are applied by naturall instinct, so are they vsed of man by reason, the temperer of appe­tite and affection.

This prouision of sustenance is most agreeable with the goodnes of the Creator, who as he is au­thor of being to the Creature, so fayleth hee not to maintaine and preserue the same Creature the whole terme of the being thereof: and because the neces­sitie of the Creature is perpetuall, his wisedome hath also foreseene, and prouided a perpetuall sup­plie of such sustenance, as is fit for that nature which standeth in neede thereof: and because the neede is not once for all, but parted into times, varying, ac­cording to the diuers disposition and nature of that for which this prouision is made, he hath also so be­stowed his goodnes in this point, that at all times to all things, necessarie sustenance should not be to seeke; and this extended not to men onely, but euen to brute beasts, and all things which require nourish­ment. The end of this prouision is the preseruation of the Creature, which Nature most carefully stu­dieth (if it might be perpetuall and eternall) there­to to bring it, the goodnesse of the Creator, will nothing wanting, his wisedome will haue it waite vpon the necessitie of the Creature: wherefore as the Earth is called the mother of all things, not because it bringeth them forth onely, but yeeldeth them perpetuall nourishment, so is the countrie of all people to them named, the parent of all parents. Then by natures lawe, all things being abundantly ministred vnto vs for the preseruation of health at home in our owne fieldes, pastures, riuers, &c. how can the wisedome of God, and his goodnesse [Page 6] stand with the absence of Medicines and remedies necessarie for the recouerie of health, the neede be­ing as vrgent of the one as of the other: and so as great an occasion of practise of the same goodnes and wisedome in the one as in the other? which be­ing most plaine and euident, it followeth necessarily that the medicine should be as reade for the sicke, as meate and drink for the hungry and thirstie: which except it be applied by the natiue countrie, can not be else performed. It is knowne to such as haue skil in nature, what wonderfull care she hath of the smal­lest of creatures, not onely giuing to euery part of them a carefull discharge of sundrie duties, as of at­traction, retention, concoction, expulsion of ex­crements, distribution, and such like, but also to the whole creature, a knowledge of medicine to helpe themselues, if haply diseases annoy them: nei­ther out of India, nor Arabia, but from their verie haunt: which being not denied to them, much more is graunted to vs, in so much as (the worke of na­ture being most excellent in man) she is more vigi­lant ouer mankinde then ouer other creatures, as by the shape thereof most plainely appeareth. The Swallow cureth her dimme eyes with Celendine: the Wesell knoweth well the vertue of Hearbgrace: the Doue the Veruen: the Dogge dischargeth his mawe with a kind of Grasse: the Spider is Triacle to the Munkey: the Hippopotamus dischargeth the a­boundance of his bloud by opening a veine: and Ib [...] is said to haue shewed the vse of the Clyster: and too long it were to recken vp all the medicines which the beasts are knowne to vse by natures direc­tion onely, and those not so farre fetched as our [Page 7] drugges, but familiar with them, and taken from the place of their foode: it being very probable she hath bestowed this gift euen vpon all, one hauing interest in natures care as well as another. By this then may wee gather, if nature faile not the verie beasts in this behalfe, neither sendeth them to bor­rowe a farre of, much more is that performed vnto vs the Lords of all the creatures, and for whose vse all things were created: except we be thought lesse subiect to diseases then they, wherein we be so little priuiledged, that no creature in that respect is so fraile as we, and those most subiect to infirmities which are gouerned and dieted by vs. So that wee of all creatures haue greatest neede of Natures libe­rall hand in this behalfe. For be it for the most part, we are more healthfull then sickly, and so haue grea­ter vse of the meanes of keeping health, then of re­storing, yet hardly can a man say which of them is more necessarie to be readie and prest at hand, the daunger of diseases being alwaies imminent, al­though diseases themselues be not alwaies present. Now if to any the reason seeme weake from that which should be to inferre a being thereof, we are to vnderstand in the workes of God, whatsoeuer should be, is; hee being a workman of an absolute pow­er and cunning. But saith one, the East and West Indies Arabia, Barbarie, the red Sea, are the Mines, as it were, and the fountaines of medicines; and Spaine, Protugale, and Venice, the vents of such things, and Nauigation the meanes to obtaine them.

It cannot be denied, but those countries yeelde many straunge things, whereof wee take vse with [Page 8] great delight, and Nauigation serueth greatly for communicating of commodities and enterchange of merchandise: but how farre, and of what com­modities? Verely of such as if our delicacie would giue vs leaue, we might well spare, being things ra­ther of superfluous pleasure then necessarie reliefes, and seruing rather for a certaine pompe, then for maintenance of life: and which without great wor­king of the wittes, might be proued to bring more harme to our countriemen, then commoditie: both in respect of the diuersitie in complexion of our bodies from those of straunge nations to whome they properly belong, the corruption of their outlandish wares, the selling of one thing for an o­ [...]er, & the withholding from vs the best of choyce: but of this hereafter. Moreouer, Nauigation being of a later inuention then the necessitie of medicine, neither practised of many nations at this day, cannot supply this want, or if men beganne then first to be diseased, when they began to find waies in the Sea to those far countries, doth it not greatly detract from that prouidence wherby all things are guided, to lay the recouerie of mans health vpon the adventures of Merchants? & the disease being in the one part of the World, to haue the medicine in the other, yea, as farre distant as the East is from the West, and the life and death of a man to stand vpon a halfepe­nie weight of Scammonie, or a dramme or twaine of Rhewbarb?

Nay, which is yet more absurd, that the health of so many Christian nations should hang vpon the courtesie of those Heathen and barbarous nations, to whome nothing is more odious then the very [Page 9] name of Christianity? And who of malice do with­holde from vs such medicines as they knowe most for our vse? Whereupon the Turke denieth vnto the Christians at this day the Terra Lemnia, a medicine to be preferred before the chiefe of those wee per­swade our selues to enioy. The corruption of their drugges, is it not so great, that in this light of all knowledge, scarce is one able to discerne the right Bolus Armena, from the Ocre of Apulia, or to disco­uer the adulterating of Ambergreece, & Muske, with a number of other corruptions, which haue got­ten strength by custome of errour? Thamarinds, are counterfeited with Prunes, Scammonie with the milk of Spurge, Manna with Suger and the leaues of Sene, Aspalathum with the inward part of the roote of an Olue tree, Frankencense with Rosin, Bdellium and Sar­cocalla with goomes: for Bolus Armena is sold a red earth out of Apulia, for Malabatheum a leafe of a Li­mon or Orange, for Turpeth some other other roote dipped at both ends in Goom. Which bee as like in vertue to the simples whereof the bear they visard & maske, as Chalke to Cheese, according to the pro­uerbe. And greatly thou art deceiued to thinke our Nauigations store vs with ancient Medicines, wher­with Physicke in olde time hath beene furnished. For at this day neither is Balme known vnto vs, nei­ther Xylobalsamum, nor Cardamomum, nor Amomum, neither Costus, neither Calamus odoratus, Aspalathus, Agallocum, Narcaphthum, with the most of the no­ble ancient Medicines: so that Nauigation hath not at any time supplied this want vnto vs, and how it should hereafter I knowe not, except Galen take paines againe to saile into Cyprus, into Palestine, and [Page 10] Lemnos, to gather and make choice with his owne hands. For what hope is there to be had of the pro­uision made by Merchants? who buy to sell onely, and thereof to reape gaine; and by reason they be vnlearned, if they should be faithfull, yet must they faile greatly in this poynt, and then must wee vse such medicines as wee can come by, and the patient recouer such health as he may.

For the most part these drugs come out of Spaine or Portugale, eyther fetched of vs or brought of them, yet neither of them hath borne name of yeelde of the best simples, so that if they bee of those countries, then they are not such as they should be: If Spaine and Portugale fetch them else where, then lyeth the assurance vpon their credite. Or let me know how they discerne the Coriander of Ethio­pia, the blacke Helleborus of Cyrene, the Amomum of Scythia, the Myrrha Trogloditica, the Opium of A­pulia, (which are counted the best) from the same growing in other places, which neuer carried name of commendation for such simples.

The Coloquintida growing alone vpon the plant, is much suspected of good Physitians, the Squilla that hath no fellows, is thought to sauour of a vene­mous nature, likewise the Thymelea: now, when these are gathered to the Merchants hand, who shall tell him how they grewe, or who shall inquire but the Philosopher that knoweth what may come ther­by to these simples, neither is the daunger lesse in the manner of laying them vp, and keeping them ouerlong: besides the iust time of gathering being either ouerpassed, or preuented, greatly diminisheth the vertues of the Medicines. As the vse of Euphor­bium [Page 11] is perillous before it bee a yeare olde, and after three yeeres it is nought worth, so Agaricke gathered before it be ripe, or kept past two yeeres, becommeth vnwholsome. And as the Peonie roote is to be gathered in the wane of the Moone, and the Crayfish to be taken after the rising of the Dog starre, the Sun entering into Leo, so are there ma­ny other, which if they misse their due time of ga­thering, faile greatly in their vertues. To these cor­ruptions moreouer may bee added the washing of the sea, the long iourneys they are brought, where­by it should seeme nature had denyed vnto vs the vse of them, as to whome they were not of her yeel­ded; with such difficultie, and as it were, by con­straint, they come to vs. Then if the best of anci­ent simples be partly vnknowne and wanting, partly adulterated, partly by age and other meanes spent before they come to our vse, what shall wee say to our compounds and mixtures, which rise of these simples? Can the temper mend them? or a quid pro quo, as they call them, serue the turne? No ve­rily, not our turnes, to whome the substitute Me­dicines, as I may call them, were not appointed, be­ing in great part as hard to come by, as the Medi­cines whose substitutes they are, and as much vn­knowne vnto vs. As for Agallocum Calamus odoratus, for Amomum Acorus, for Castorium, Bilphium, for Crocamagmo, Agallocus, with a number of the same sorte, which these fewe leaues of paper will not ad­mit. Neither is it to bee thought these Lieutenant Medicines serue at all turnes in the place of the right Medicines, for so should Ginger serue the turne of Folesoote to purge by vomit, which it can no more [Page 12] then curds of Cowe milk can soften and supple like butter, or the dung of the stocke Doue purge like Euphorbium, or the Dock root draw flegm from the head like Pellitorie, which Galene notwithstanding maketh substitutes of these medicines which haue such operation. I conclude therefore, seeing Na­uigation can not affoord vs either the simples which wee seeme to neede, and those which it doth, both corrupt and counterfet in the greatest part, we haue neither to craue thereof in this point aide, much lesse to trust thereunto. Now the simples being (but for the most part) bastard ware, how can the com­poundes that amount of the same bee other then counterfet? Whereupon as Cardanus saith in his Methode of curing, the wise Magistrates of Venice haue often times forbidden the making of Triacle and Mithridatum, because the simples could not be had, whereby they should be compoūded: which if Venice, the greatest Mart in this part of the world of such wares can not auouch, what can we hope for from other places? that a man would maruell to see the great store of them in all shops of Apothecaries vnder the names of Triacle and Mithridatum of An­dromachus: and it being required in Triacle before it be vsed, it should haue a time, as it were, of mel­lowing, which of Galene in his booke of Triacle to Piso is extended to 12. yeares, and of Paulus Egine­ta in his 7. booke by 7. yeares, for those that are bitten or stong of venemous beasts, or haue drunke poyson, or are infected with the pestilence, and in o­ther diseases, from ten yeares till it be 20. of age; I maruell what assurance we haue of the age of this Triacle, which is ordinarie in vse; or if we haue none, [Page 13] how we dare vse it at aduenture, knowing by age the vertue thereof hath no small alteration. I would these inconueniences were the smallest, which I haue but briefly, and as it were, for a taste run ouer, yet were euen they sufficient to stay our ouer hastie vse of such strange Merchandise, and to moue vs to betake vs to those wee knowe both in the blade, and in the seede, in the roote, & in the fruite, & know the aire, the hill, the valley, the medowe or Marish ground where they growe. But this trust vppon outlandish Medicines hath much more neerely tou­ched vs then so. If a man would say by this ouerha­stie embracing whatsoeuer straunge nations doe as it were, purge ouer vnto vs, we drinke diuers times ranke poyson in steede of wholesome medicine, I trow it would iustly moue vs to bee aduised, and not to passe ouer the enquirie of a reason, why such a one should thinke so, being one whose vocation tendeth to the charge of the health of mens bodies. The right Hermodactils are commended for excel­lent medicines against all paines in the ioynts, as the Gout, the Schiatica, and such like, from which they purge grosse flegme. Doronicum Romanum hath great commendation for comforting the heart, expel­ling poyson, against the Cough, for auoyding of humors which ouercharge the Chest, which are great vertues doubtlesse in them both. Now if they in the shops, as they beare the name of these medi­cines, so caried not with them in steed of these ver­tues daungerous poyson, then should I haue lesse cause to exhort our nation to betake them to their Gardens, and Fields, and to leaue the banks of Nilus, and the Fens of India. The common Her­modactils [Page 14] being a kinde of poyson called Epheme­rum, so named, because with such swiftnesse it char­geth and ouerchargeth our vitall spirits, that it kil­leth him that hath taken it in one day. The other commonlie called Doronicum Romanum, and vsed for an especiall cordiall, so that it hath place in the electuarie of pretious stones, in the electuarie of Amber, in the cordiall pouder, this Doronicum, I say, called of Mathiolus Demoniacum, that is to say, diuelish, noting there by the vertues thereof, is no baser poyson then a verie kinde of Aconitum, by Mathiolus experience, which he confesseth himselfe (before hauing bin abused by the common errour) first to haue learned of Iacobus Antonius Cortusus, a man verie skilfull in the nature of simples, which Iacobus taught him the experience by giuing it to dogs, which it killeth. Now if by reason no such daunger hapneth to vs, by the vse of them, they seeming not so daungerous: wee are to vnderstand they bee giuen in small quantitie, and mixed with diuers remedies against poyson, the good proui­dence of God prouiding so, that otherwise they should not be ministred, as in the purging electu­ary of Diacnicu, Hermodactils are bridled with Cina­mon, and the pouder of Diatragatanthum frigidum, where indeede it hath somewhat too large scope, being better tempered in Benedicta, with Cloues, Parsely seede, Galanga, and Mace, and in the pilles of Hermodactils with Aloe, Mirobalans, Bdellium, the seede of Herbgrace, which haue force against poyson, the which small quantitie of them being bridled, & dulled with other medicines, especially such as resist the force of poisōs, is not deadly to vs, although great hurt therof must needs ensue. I haue [Page 15] stood the longer vpon this point of strange medi­cines, in answering the supplie by Nauigation, the rather, because it seemes most to make against vs in the maintenāce of our home medicines, & breedeth, as it were, a lothsomnes of those blessings of God, which we may daily at commandment enioy. But hi­therto hath only bin shewed the corruptions & coū ­terfeting of foreigne medicines which belongeth to certaine only, & not to all▪ (although those certaine be the chiefe, & of greatest price) & that being fore­seene, the prouision out of strange & far distant nati­ons, may seeme well to stand with that prouidence we speak of: and except they be in respect of their strangenesse hurtfull or vnprofitable vnto vs. the skill of sayling being a meanes to present them at our need, natures care should seeme no whit to be blemished. The reasons which I haue before alledg­ed, I leaue to the indifferent Reader to consider of: & because I am so far vrged, I easily sticke not to hold, we receiue no smal hurt from all the kinds of strange medicines, whereof I yeeld these fewe reasons which followe.

Our English bodies, through the nature of the re­gion, our kind of diet & nourishment, our custom of life, are greatly diuers from those straunge nations, wherby ariseth great varietie of humours, and excre­ments in our bodies from theirs, and so the causes of diseases rising vpon breach of diet, the (diet being of an other sort) must needes bee vn­like. Wherevpon, although their humors bee in kinde, and in a generalitie agreeable to ours, as bloud, choler, flegm, melancholie, and such like, yet rising vpon other matter then the same in vs: and [Page 16] otherwise framed by a farre other state of bodie, by reason of a diuers kinde of life, the Medicines which helpe them must needs hurt vs, not finding the like causes to striue with: and this no doubt is the cause why wee are not able to beare such dose or quantitie of their Medicines as those nations are to whome they be natiue. Besides, they worke in our bodies after a farre more vnkind manner then they report them to doe in theirs: nay, they destroy vs, and helpe them, which is an argument to me, that euery Medicine hath a relation to the diseases of the inhabitant, which if it be profitable to straungers, yet doeth it by a constraint and not halfe so kindely. The Greekes, as it may appeare by Dioscorides in his fourth Book & a hundreth & two & fiftie Chapter, entreating of Scammonie, are able to beare a greater quantitie, yea, double, then we of Scammonie, which is an ordinarie purger with vs. Who saith, thirtie graines thereof may be giuen with 20. of blacke Helleborus, and 60. of Aloe to make a iust purgati­on, & of Scammonie alone 60. graines. Now com­mon experience teacheth vs the great oddes betwixt Scammonie rawe, as they call it, and the same cor­rected, which we name Dacrydium, both in vehe­mencie of purging, and tormenting the bodie: yet hardly dare we passe aboue 20. graines of the same, and this mixed with Cordialls, and stomach Medi­cines. Moreouer, their slender correcting of it, doth argue it to be farre lesse noisome to them then to vs, who correct it onely, or at the least, are con­tented with the correction thereof by a little Salt and Pepper, or a little Ginger: who for the plenty of excellent simples, which we both want and know [Page 17] not, and for their skill in the nature of those wee correct with, might as well haue qualified it as we, whoe first wash it in Rose-water, wherein Cytrea Myrobalanus, Spike, and Cinamon haue beene boiled: in which also we let it steep foure & twentie houres, then drie it, then mixe it againe with oyle of sweet Almonds, and some Goom for Tragacantha, and last of all bake it in a Quince ▪ couered round with paste. Who hath not horror of the torments which both the Hellebores bring to the body? yet sayth Pau­lus Egineta in his seauenth Booke, and fourth Chapter, the blacke Helleborus purgeth yellow choler from the whole bodie without paine: which cannot bee verified of our bodies, howsoeuer it be in theirs, and therefore we feare to minister the pouder thereof in any sort, but the steeping onely of the barkes of the roots, from [...]0. graines to 6. they being bold to take a whole dramme there­of in substance which is more then treble the quan­titie, for one dose. These strange workings of these foreigne drugges in our bodies, and a more gentle and kinde working in theirs, doth it not manifestly declare vnto vs, that they were not created for vs? doe they not force vs of­tentimes with perill of our liues to giue them o­uer? that the patient knoweth not diuers times whether he should stand rather to the courtesie of his disease, then of his potion? There is a simple which hath not many yeeres beene in vse, brought out of India, and highly commended, called Mechoaca, it purgeth gently say they, without vexing or grieuing the bodie, without annoying the stomacke greatly, and ce [...]seth purging at your [Page 18] pleasure, with a little supping. These be great ver­tues doubtlesse, and I wish wee could finde them in Mechoaca. For experience the touchstone hath bewrayed it in our bodies, to bee of a farre o­ther operation: it tormenteth the body, it an­noyeth the stomacke much, neyther doth a sup­ping stay the vehemencie of purging, and this haue I pa [...]tly by mine owne experience found in Mechoaca, & partly by the experience of my friends, who vpon the vse thereof haue much complai­ned of these accidents. That iuice or rather milk of Poppie, which is brought out of Asia named O­pium, it is not vnknowne to all the world, what a maruellous force it hath in benumning the sense of feeling, and vtterly extinguishing the naturall heate of the body, so that we feare to giue there­of into the body aboue the weight of two graines; and those corrected with Safforn, Castorium, and such like, least it cast the patient into such asleep, as hee needeth the trumpe of the Archangell to awake him. Now, the same Opium beeing taken of the Turkes, Moores, and Persians, bring­eth to their wearied and ou [...]r [...]rauelled bodies, a maruellous recreation, in such sort, as they or­dinarily vse it therefore as a present remedie, not in the quantitie of two graines or twentie, but euen an whole ounce or twaine at once. And Hol­lerius in his Scholia vpon his Chapter of Phren­sey, saith, that Kon [...]elet a learned [...]hysitian, and the French Kings professour at Montpellier, re­ported vnto him, that hee had seene a Spaniard take thereof into his bodie halfe an ounce at one time, without hurt.

[Page 19]Wherefore if the difference of our bodies from those of strange nations bee so great, that the thing which helpeth them, destroyeth vs, that cureth them without annoyance, doth vehement­ly torment vs: I would wish vs to bee better ad­uised, then to bee so readie to embrace them, a [...] to contemne in comparison of them, the medi­cines which receiue, a [...] it were a taming, and are broken vnto vs by our own soyle: neither art thou heere to looke the wisedome of the physi­cian should consider the varietie and diuers dis­positions of the bodies by age; complexion, re­gion, sex, &c. and thereafter to [...]emper these medicines, and so to avoide the daungers; for the question is not of the manner of vsing these things, for then should such consideration haue place, but euen of the verie nature, which no manner of vse can alter. Yet are these simples ex­cellent creatures of God, made for the vse of men, but not for all men: and although we may receiue helpe from them, by a certaine generall commu­nitie that our bodies haue with those of Arabia. Bar­barie, and the rest, yet no doubt as I haue shewed in a fewe, so we receiue by the vse of them so much the lesse good by them, as we most d [...]ffer from them, and that which wanteth of the performance of good to vs, must needs turne vs to much harme, the vn­helping part, (as I may call it) alwaies working, & so euer harming. Neither doe I see why the medi­cines of India ▪ or Aegypt should be laide vpon vs, more then the Indian or Aegyptian diet, which is to eate Lizards, Dragons, and Crocodiles: for if the proper medicine doth alwayes regard his proper [Page 20] aduersarie, which causeth the disease (as no doubt it should doe) then there being a great difference be­twixt our humors and theirs, a [...] much in a manner as is betwixt the flesh of a Crocodile and of a ten­der C [...]pon, our medicines which are to fit vs, must needes be of another kinde then theirs, which in our bodies not finding such humours & excrements, as that strange diet doth ingender, must neede seize vpon the very substance of our bodies to haue some­what to worke on: which painefull working espe­cially of the purgers, causeth the common saying among the people, to the great discredit of our art: There is not a purgation but it hath a smack of poy­son. Truth it is, no purgation can worke without natures annoyance, being in part a pricke of nature to auoyd her excrements: but when she is so prouo­ked that shee sweateth colde sweates, that shee giueth ouer, that the patient swouneth not by the excesse of purging onely, but for the most part through the euill qualitie of the medicine, it is surely an argument, it wanted his proper sub­iect to worke in. If needes wee will take vn­to vs the practise of such strange medicines, (I call them medicines according to the common phrase, else properly bee they matter onely) it were to bee desired (which in part is performed) that such medicines as bee so perillous, might be planted in our naturall countrie, that through the familiaritie of our soyle, they might first growe into acquaintance with vs, before wee entertaine them not into our bosomes, but into our hearts, and chamber them with our vitall spirits. And as it is saide of the tree P [...]rsea, which in Per­sia [Page 21] beeing poyson, translated into Egypt, be­commeth wholesome, bearing fruite to be eaten, and good for the stomake: to those natures re­ceiuing such mitigation of our soyle, might in time better [...]itte vs then they doe. Which as it can not alter their nature beeing impossible to bee done by change of place, so doubtlesse might it purge away that euill qualitie which annoyeth vs, and seemeth rather to bee an euill complexion, and as it were a cachochimie and disease of the thing, then any necessarie propertie belonging to the nature. This which hath beene said of Persea, is also to be seene in other simples, which in other places are poyson, and kill with the verie sha­dowe, yet brought into England and pl [...]nted with vs, cleane change that venemous qualitie. Vgh called Taxus, of Dioscorides is said to bee so dan­gerous, and of such venemous nature, that in Nauarre the verie shadowe thereof poysoneth him that sleepeth vnder it: and Egineta saith, being ta­ken inward, it strangleth and swiftly killeth. This Taxus notwithstanding, being so perillous in other places, our English soile hath so reformed, that boldly our children doe eate of the fruit thereof without danger: the like may bee verified of our Hemlocke, which although it bee to bee numbred among the poysoning hearbes, yet it is farre be­hinde that which groweth in Candie, or Megara ▪ or Cilicia, scarce to bee accounted poyson in com­parison of that in those countries. Now if thou shalt thinke (gentle Reader) as the change of re­gion altereth some qualities, so all, and thereby empayreth the vertue of the medicine: thou maist [Page 22] easily bee deceiued. For as they depend not one vpon another, so may the one bee well without the other, though by one common forme, they seeme to be linked together to make one nature. Rhewbarb is knowne to haue two qualities, one contrarie to an other, of purging the bodie, and stopping: yet by steeping may the one bee sepa­rated from the other, the purging vertue beeing drawne out by steeping, and the stopping still re­maining in the substance steeped: so likewise may the noysome qualitie of the medicine bee es­chewed, the wholesome and medicinable vertue notwithstanding, being in full force, yea grea­ter retained, in so much as the hurtfull qualitie would hinder the operation of the healthfull, which being freed, and vnyoked from the other, doth farre better accomplish his worke. Of all kinds of Honie that of Greece, and namely of Attica and H [...]ble are most commended, the next price is giuen to the Honie of Spaine and Nauarre: yet it is certainely knowne by experience, that the Eng­lish Honie is most agreeable to our English bo­dies, and greater quantitie thereof may be taken, with lesse annoyance, yea none at all to those which are not of too hot a temper; the other kindes beeing more sie [...]e, more apt to ingender choler, and to infl [...]me the bloud, and more vn­fit to loose the body. Whereby wee may euident­ly see, that Nature vseth not one shooe for eue­rie foote, but either ministreth a diuers commodi­tie in kinde, or else by the countrie, aire, and soyle, doth so temper it, that greater vse may bee thereof to the inhabitant of the same countrie. By this [Page 23] then which hitherto hath beene said, it is mani­fest wee receiue great hurt by the vse of strange medicines, and not vpon reason onley, but from plaine experience, euen with hurt to our owne bodies, which as it is the greatest price of know­ledge, so therefore ought wee the more to sette thereby, and more carefully to seeke to auoyde the daunger. Againe it is euident, that the plan­ting of strange simples frameth them more to our vse. Wherefore as there bee many excellent Gardens in England, especially in London repleni­shed with store of strange and outlandish simples, it were to bee wished such indeuours were of others followed, that so we might acquaint vs better with these strangers, and by vsu capio make them our owne. But what soyle will brooke all things' It is true, yet no doubt of those that it will brooke, which I dare say are foure or fiue hundreth, this fru­galitie of nature towards vs as it is thought, might beare a greater shewe, and we more safely vse them, especially the purgers, which carie with them grea­test annoyance. Now if it be obiected, the force of outlandish simples are thereby more feeble, as wee finde the Organ of Candie surpassing ours in strength, I meane the same kind with that of Can­die planted in our Gardeins, which may bee saide also of other strange hearbes planted by vs: It can not be denied but they are so, neither can the strange simple in all poynts bee equall with his kind kee­ping his natiue soyle, yet is the difference scarce halfe a degree vnder: or if it were a degree full out, what reason were it to fetch that one de­gree with much perill, and charge, as far as Candie, [Page 24] Spaine, or Venice, or from another world: where­as a little increase of the quantitie of the thing, would easily suppli [...] the want, though I mention not the gaine of the freshnesse of the same, which maketh no small recompence of wanting in the force: neither is the nature or vertue of a medi­cine to bee esteemed by taste or smell, neither by the force it hath against the disease, the nature of a medicine lying in an equall matching of the cause of the disease: which if it ouer-match, so far off it is from the praise of an wholesome medicine, that it becommeth a cause of a contrarie disease. Wherefore the commendation of a medicine lyeth not in force, but in such force. And therefore the counsell of the best Physitians is, if the disease will beare any delay, as the most doe, rather to apply a medicine of a weaker force, then at once with a vehement one, to shake the frame of nature. And the weaker medicine being weake, either in respect of the nature of the simple, or the small quantitie, they counsell rather to vse that kinde of curing which is by the feebler medicine in kinde, then by reason of the vnder quantitie. For what skilfull Physician would cure a small distemper of heate, and as it were in the first degree, with a small quan­titie of Opium, or Mandrake or Henbane, beeing colde in the fourth degree, rather then with the just quantitie of Endiue, or Succorie? or diminish a small excesse of humors, with an vnderquantitie, of Coloquintida or Scammonie, rather then with the iust quantitie of a feebler medicine? Wherefore vpon good reason they conclude it to bee farre sa­fer for the patient, to cure with contraries of feebler [Page 25] force, either often repeated, or in a greater quan­titie applyed, then with a maine force of a medi­cine of equall strength at once to expell the disease, nature abhorring all vehement and souden eyther emptying or filling, heating or cooling, or any o­ther kinde of souden alteration: which being groun­ded vpon good reason, the delaying of the force of strange medicines by our soyle, serueth greatly for the commendation both of planting them with vs, and of the medicines them selues planted; The simple still keeping within the compasse of mat­ter of a medicine, neyth [...]r beeing so diminished, but that by increase of the quantitie it may match with the disease, which no man with reason can denye. Now, if the greatnesse of the quantitie happely procure loathsomnesse to the patient; by extraction, that inconuenience may easily bee avoyded: by which me [...]nes a pound may bee brough to an ounce, an ounce to a dramme, and a dramme to a fewe graines, to please the patient with. Such of strange medicines as will not brooke our climate, thereby declare the euill disposition they haue to cure the infirmitie of our bodyes. Euery Medicine is as it were a meane betwixt nourishmentes and poysons, excepting those medicines which are applied outwardly, which may both bee of nourishments and poysons. In this meane betwixt these extremes, there is such a scope and breadth, that some medicines incline to the one, and some to the other. Now, the best are such as rather incline to nourishments then poysons, which as they doe fight against the dis­ease, so haue they a certaine token and pledge [Page 26] of agreement betwixt our bodyes and theirs: where­by they acknowledge vs for friendes, and not common enemies with the disease; the other me­dicines which haue no such token and earnest, being apt, as well to destroy vs, as to take away the disease, and so ioyne fellowship with ranke poy­sons.

Then our natiue soyle beeing by the ordinance of God the fittest to yeelde vs nourishment, from which our cattell and fruites haue a nutritiue or nourishing iuice, which render the same againe to vs, what canne wee thinke of those medicines to whome our soyle hath not a droppe of iuice to yeelde vnto, and giueth no entertainement? Ve­rily wee are both to learne thereby, that nature doeth furnish vs otherwayes, and also greatly to suspect them to bee of an extreme kinde of me­dicines, the spices onely excepted, and such as are saide to bee sympatheticall to certaine partes of our bodies. Which notwithstanding▪ lesse serue that vse, the more str [...]nge and foreigne they be. What should I speake of the vnmea [...]urable charge and cost these strange medicines put vs vnto? in my opinion, if it were but that, wee might bee stirred vp to this or such like consideration: Hath God so dispensed his blessings, that a medicine to cure the iawndies, or the greene sicknesse, the rheume, or such like, should cost more often­times then one quarter of the substance that the pa­tient is worth? and the prouision of an whole yeere, whereof wife and children, and the whole familie, should with things necessarie bee mainteined in health, be wasted vpon the curing of a Palsey, or [Page 27] a Cholike, or a swimming of the brain, or any other disease whatsoeuer? is Physicke only made for rich men? and not as well for the poorer sort? doth it onely waite vpon Princes palaces, and neuer stoope to the cottage of the poore? doth it onely receiue gifts of the king, and neuer thankes & prayers from him that hath but thanks and p [...]a [...]rs to bestowe? or doth the Lord [...] goodnesse passe ouer them of low degree? hath hee respect of persons? yea, hath God giuen the beast a remedy out of his owne food and pasture (as it is most certainely knowne) with a skill to vse it, and hath hee set a iourney as farre as from the Sunne rising to the going downe, as it were a wall of Brasse, and the fierie sword of a Cherubim to keepe vs from the attei­ning of salues for our sores? iustly may wee thus complaine, especially those of the poorer sort. And if Physicke (as it is in deed) bee an art common to all kinde of men, all sorts of nations, all estates, and conditions of men: I would knowe why the meanes also of performing the actions belonging to the same art should not bee as common? And if it be ordinarie to all nations to fetch their medi­cines farre, let me know why, as we cease not to tra­uell for to store vs with outlandish d [...]ugges, we carie not thither also our countrie medicines for change, or they of those nations giue not the like aduenture for ours? but they are contented with their owne store, and so ought we with ours. If it be not ordina­rie, why should it bee more extraordinarie to one then to an other. The most of our Apothecarie w [...]re is brought from the most vile and barbarous nations of the world, and almost all from the [Page 28] professed enemies of the Sonne of God: shall wee say the Lord hath more care, or setteth more store by them then by his owne people? that hee so furnisheth them, and leaueth vs destitute? or shall we rather condemne the vanitie of our owne mindes, who vnsatiably desire strange things, lit­tle regarding, or rather loathing that which is alwaies at commandment. But God (saith one) hath not bestowed all things vpon all nations, but hath left some thing to bee supplied by the com­modities wherewith one nation aboundeth, and an other wanteth, that thereupon mutuall dutie [...] arising, the societie of men might bee vphol­den. Which obiection, if it carried with it what things they were, and of what kinde, that one nation supply [...]th to an other, and what sort of commodities they bee that one nation needeth the helpe of another in, a more direct answere might bee made then otherwis [...] I may hitte vpon: But I ghesse it is neyther of water nor fire, nor of aire, nor of any thing necessarie for mainte­nance of life, otherwise should the natiue coun­trie of each one bee rather a stepdame to vs then a naturall mother: but it is of those things only which with healthfull, and lustie bodies we might bee without, if custome had not too much pre­uailed with vs. And to goe no further then to the vse of Wine in England, in many respects it greatly hurteth vs, yet our ordinarie vse there­of hath giuen vs such a longing thereafter, that we thinke if wee should want it, many of our daies were thereby abridged. Whereby notwithstanding [...]hewmes are mightily increased, the sinewes fee­bled, [Page 29] the naturall moisture and heate of the bo­die ouerhastily wasted, and swift olde age brought vpon vs, with an infinite number of discommo­dities besides. Which the nations finding where wee haue it, do so delay it, that rather they seeme to drinke wined water, then watred wine, except the Aged or such as are feeble stomached, And di­uers nations which may haue of the best, because they would be sure to banish the vse of it, count it sacriledge, to taste it: as the Turkes at this day, who vse in steede thereof a distilled water of Rice steeped in Milke, thereby supplying the vse of wine. Neyther doe wee finde this discommoditie of wine by the abuse of drunkennesse or surfeting onely▪ but euen keeping within the three cuppes that Eu [...]ulus powreth out to wise men; whereof the first is of health, and nourishment: the second of myrth, and ioy of heart: and the third of sleep, so that a draught or twaine doth maruellously dis­temper our bodies: which inconuenience wee finde not by our ordinarie drinke, yea, though it bee stronger then wine. If I should compare our Mede with the best wine, and the Metheglin of the Welch­men, with Malme [...]ey, I could take great argu­ments from the nature of Honie to proue it; es­pecially beeing tempred with certaine wholesome hearbes, which haue vertue to strengthen the parts of the body. And by experience it is knowne, that Honie mixed with water, turneth in time to a wholesome liquor, in taste much like to wine. Whereupon Pena in his Chapter of Honie, folio [...]2. doubteth not to affirme, that the Mede of the P [...]lonians and Muscouites, and the Metheglin of the [Page 30] Welchmen, are more wholesome and pleasant, then many of the best kindes of wines, hee him selfe beeing a French man, and therefore in his iudgement lesse partiall. Wherefore to conclude this argument, seeing wine (which is the glorie of strange merchandise) is but an hurtfull superflu­itie, the rest must needes hee farre other then necessaries. But medicines being such as without which our health and l [...]fe runneth into infinit perills, by causes inward and outward, through breach of diet, vnwholesomenesse of meate, woundes, bi­tings of venemous beasts, infections of the aire, and such like, it followeth necessarily, that they bee not such as God would haue one nation grati­fie another with: which if they were, greater rea­son were it to charge the neighbour nations there­with, that thereby their mindes might with per­formance of such mutuall dutyes so necessarie, bee in straighter amitie and peace linked, who cea [...]e not for the enlarging of limites to vexe one another, rather then the nations so faire distant, who haue neither fellowship of loue, nor quarrell of hatred equall with the borderers. Neyther would I be so taken, as though I knew not at some times that one nation hath neede of an other, euen in things necessary, as the supplie made by Ioseph to his father Iacob, and other nations out of the store of Aegypt: but the controuersie is of an ordinarie course, which the Lord vseth in bestowing his bles­sings, wherewith he doth fully satisfie the neede of all nations with things necessarie, sauing when he punisheth with famine or want of victualls, which is extraordinary in respect of his accustomed course [Page 31] of preseruing his creatures. Now if the strange medicines (for the most part hotte) should seeme rather in the whole kinde, then by reason of a­boundance, superfluous to them, and so more fit for vs, beeing of a colder temper: we are to con­sider the vse of them is manifolde to the inhabi­tants, and not onely to warme them: as the Aethi­opians called Troglodites, although they bee par­ched with vehement heate of the Sunne, are said to liue with Pepper, not to correct the distemper of their bodies, which would rather increase it then diminish, but to correct their euill waters, and watrish fruites, wherewith they in part do liue. Againe, wee are to vnderstand, that the dis­ease which is most agreeable with age, s [...]xe, re­gion, custome, complexion, is alwaies most daungerous, as ingendered by an exceeding ve­hemencie of the cause, whereto nature hath yeel­ded, and so requireth a like vehement medicine: wherefore if the Arabian, the Indian, the Spani­ard, fall into colde diseases▪ or such as follow colde: no maruell though nature hath ministred vnto them plentie of strong wines and spices, which the Nor­thren nations neede not. Who as they bee more apt to fall into such diseases then they, their temper thereto agreeing, the aire and region furthering the same, so are they not thereof so dangerously sicke as they of the South countries, and therefore re­quire not so forcible a medicine. But I minde not to stand to shewe the vse which foreigne nations haue of their commodities, let them see to it. Hitherto hath beene shewed, both that they be hurtfull vnto vs, and that it is not absurde for hot [Page 32] region, to abound with hot simples, the vse of them being diuers, both in respect of curing their bodies, and other vses without the compasse of Physicke. These be the reasons which mooue mee to suspect the vse of strange drugges, and driue me to thinke, that Nature hath better prouided for vs: and as the Indian, Arabian, Spaniard, haue their Indish, Arabian, and Spanish medicines, so also the Germane hath his, the French man his, and the English man his own proper, belonging to each of them. I know gentle reader nothing doth more hinder the accepting of truth diuers times. (especi­ally with such as see w [...]th other mens eyes) then the person of him who first propoundeth the matter, be­ing taken rather to bee an opinion of one, then an vndoubted truth to be cherished of all, as who haue interest therein. Wherefore that such might be sa­tisfied, I will adde to my former reasons taken from the nature of the thing, the authoritie of moe doc­tours then one, who agreeing with this which I holde, may be a meanes to drawe the gentle reader the more seriously to consider of this matter, and truth may take some strength thereby, and winne the more credit▪ Plinie in his foure and twentie Booke of his historie, and first Chapter, hath this sentence, thus much in English: Nature would that such onely should be medicines, that is to say, which easily might be come by of the common people: easie to be found out, without charge, taken from the things whereby we liue: but in processe of time, the craft of men, and sleighte [...] of their wits, found out these shoppes of strange drugges, in which a sale of mens liues is offered, whereupon confec­tions, [Page 33] and infinite mixtures beganne to bee extol­led, India and Arabia a man would thinke he were in them, and for a little gall or small vlcer, a me­dicine must be fetched from the redde Sea: where­as euerie day the poorest doe suppe with true me­dicines. And in his two and twentie Book and foure & twentie Chapter, We doe not meddle (saith he) with the medicines taken from the marchandise of India or Arabia, or of the new world, they are not fit for medicines and remedies, they growe too farre off, they are not for vs, no, not for the nations where they growe, else would they not sell them away. If wee shall needes vse them (saith hee) let them bee bought for sweete per­fumes, and sweete oyles, and dainties, or to serue superstition, because when we pray we burne Fran­kensence and Costus. And thus much out of Plinie, whose iudgement as it is auncient of a 1000. yeares, so is it of him, who most diligently sought out the mysteries of nature, and published them for the vse of posteritie. Now if haply it bee obiected, that Plinie might well verifie that of Italie which Eng­land can not performe, wee must vnderstand, that Plinie reasoneth from nature, which serueth for all nations of the world as well as for Italie, and direc­teth his penne not onely against the medicine [...] strange to Italie, but euen against all that are farre fetched and dearely bought, as appeareth plaine­ly by his words. To this sentence of Plinie, I wil [...] adde the iudgement of two Physitians of late time, least Plinie beeing no physitian, should be thought an vnsufficient testimonie. Fuchsiu [...] in his first Book of compounding of medicines and 76. Chapter, [Page 34] thus agreeth with Plinie. If we were not so carried a­way with the admiration of strange things, and were not fooles (saith hee) who had rather vse medi­cines fetched from strange and farre countries, con­temning our natiue Medicines) then such as grow in our gardens: we might make Honie serue in steed of Manna. But with the exceeding cost and charge which those medicines put vs vnto, wee are wor­thily punished for our folly. Loe, heere two wit­nesses, the one a great Philosopher, and the o­ther both a Philosopher and a Physician, compara­ble with the best of late daies.

The third witnesse with Plinie and Fuchsius, is Martine Rulandus, to whome the students of Phy­sicke owe much for his Medicina practica, and o­ther workes. This Rulandus in his preface to Me­dicina practica, hath these words: thus in English: Wee haue simple medicines (easily had, homely, of our owne countrie of Germanie, to be bought with little monie or none at all): ready (saith he) and intreated of in writing, by which onely all kinds of diseases are certainely and vndoubtedly cured, oftentimes better and much more easily (beleeue reason and experience saith hee) (and that with no hurt or danger) then with the long compoundes of the Aposthecaries, which are costly, euill gather­ed without knowledge of the Physician, oftentimes vnperfectly mixed, and vnskilfully confused, and as vnskilfully boyled, oftentimes putrefied, and by age of force wasted, slouenly and with great negligence confected. In which words Rulandus briefly hath comprehended in a manner all the dis­commodities of strange medicines.

[Page 35]These testimonies I rather haue alledged, gen­tle reader, that thou mayest knowe this my opini­on is not mine onely, and new sprung vp from the leasure of a student, who might easily be ouertaken with a speculation which neuer could be showne in vse and practise, but hath with it the voice of autho­ritie, and suffrages of excellent Philosophers and Physitians, although they haue not of purpose and an a sette treatise handled this argument, as thou seest: which notwithstanding contayneth in­deede the matter of a great volume. Hitherto hath beene shewed the great inconueniences and dangers which rise of the vse of strange medi­cines, by reason, by experience, by authoritie of Philosophers and Physitians. If my reasons bee euill gathered, the experience false, the au­thoritie not authenticall, what haue I lost there­by▪ a fewe houres meditation, and a fewe lines writing, or my credite impaired will some say. If my credite could eyther buy such vertues to strange medicines as they carrie the name, or purge the shops of counterfet stuffe, or redeeme the harmes they haue done, I would verily esteem as much of the chaunge, as hee which made exchange of brasse for golde. Although I weene it be a pro­prietie to mans weaknesse vnauoidable of any, to erre, and therefore if obstinacie be not therwith coupled alwaies found pardon. But if my arguments rise from the causes and effects of these foreig­ners, and causes and effects of our bodies, which are of all arguments the most forcible to establish or ouerthrowe any thing to bee decided by rea­son, and the authorities such, as iustly exception [Page 36] cannot bee taken against: blame mee not (gen­tle reader) though I bee carried into this perswa­sion my selfe, and of a loue and zeale to benefite thee, haue published that which I haue conceiued of this Argument. If I bee deceiued in my iudge­ment of strange drugges, (which I wish with all my heart I were) these reasons, the woefull experi­ence, the authoritie of such men haue induced me. All which if they may bee answered, that which seemed more th [...]n doubtfull before, shall by this controuersie shine most cleare, and truth as it were wrought with the fire of reason, receiue greater strength [...]nd perfection. Thus much touching the vnablenesse of strange merchandise to performe vnto vs sufficiencie, yea, any measure of medi­cines, as belonging vnto vs properly, and the discommodities of them. Now if strange medi­cines serue not our turnes, and all medicines bee eyther strange or home borne, it must needs fol­lowe, that the home medicines are most naturall and kinde to vs, except a man would say all medi­cines bring harme vnto vs, which is not of the nature of a medicine, being an instrument of per­fourming remedies vnto vs: or if it were so, yet haue wee this by experience, that strange medi­cines doe more annoy vs then strangers, yea, de­stroy vs, and restore them: wherefore home me­dicines and of our countrie yeelde, of equitie must necessarily performe the same to vs, which their medicines doe to them. Else I would knowe why we should bee inferior vnto them, or one nati­on more priuiledged that way then an other, the neede beeing common, and the prouidence of God [Page 37] all one, yea such as rather then remedie should neede the chariot of the Sunne to fetch it from one end of the world to the other, or be so farre to seek as our common drugges are, he hath linked the remedie in many things so streightly to the cause of our hurt, that euen the selfe same which har­med vs, carieth with it amendes. As the Scorpion rubbed vppon his stinging, cureth the same. Like­wise the Ranie diuided & applyed hot to the wound, cureth her venemous biting, and so the Pastinaca marina as it bringeth most d [...]ngerous hurt, it re­fuseth not (being thereto applyed) to minister re­medie. Which practise of nature might veri [...]ie moue vs to thinke her meaning is not to send vs either into Arabia or India for aide of our griefes, but thereby to commend her care vnto vs, and giue occasion of praising Gods prouidence, and stirring vs vp to make diligenter search into our owne prouision, and to take better triall then wee were wont of the same. Wherein the great libera­litie of God appeareth in such large measure, that rather superfluitie then spating may be noted here­in; in that both one simple nature carrieth with it the vertue of many medicines; and many simples, remedies against such diseases as wee might bee thought like neuer to bee subiect vnto: and such things as in respect of their nature might seemevile vnto vs, affoord vs (beeing skilfully applied) most souereigne medicine: whereof for a taste I giue two or three examples: Milk is either to be considered in all the parts together, or them seuered. All kind of Milke boyled, especially burned with stones token from the sea shore, helpeth all inward vl­cers, [Page 38] chiefely of the iawes, the lungs, the gu [...]tes, the bladder, and the kidneyes, it is good against the itch and wheales, and it helpeth bloudie flixes. New Milke is good against frettings made with poysons receiued inward: as of Cantharides and such like: it is profitably gargled against swellings and frettings in the rawes. The whay of Milke is good to pulge the bodie, especially of such as bee melancholike, and disposed to the falling sickenesse, leprosie and breaking out with scabbes. The cheesie part of it, as curds, fresh without salt, softneth the bellie which pressed and broyled stayeth the laxe. Cheese laide on, helpeth the inflammation of the eyes. The but­ter of Milke drunke, softneth the belly, and ser­ueth against poyson for want of oyle; rubbed vp­on their gooms with honie, helpeth the toothing of children, and cureth the itching of their gooms and soares of their mouthes, It helpeth such as are bitten of the serpent called Aspis. The soote of butter is very effectuall against watering eyes, and swiftly skinneth sores.

Thus thou leest reader what treasure is hid in Milke (euen an excrement) beeing vsed both whole and in partes. That which I haue said of Milke, belongeth also to most of creatures, which both all serue for medicine, and each of them for sundrie purposes. Whereby Natures endeuour to furnish vs with all helpe of medicine may euidently appeare, yea, most of all when shee seemeth to bee so iea­louse ouer our health, that shee prouideth against Dr [...]inus, against the Scorpion; the viper, and Ce­rastes, and the most of venemous bitings of Ser­pents, wherewith notwithstanding we are not as o­ther [Page 39] nations encombred, and those not common, medicines onely, but euen proper vnto them. As the venome of Drysmus is abated and vtterly extin­guished with the Trifolie, and with all kinde of mast, be it of the Beech, o [...] the Oake, or of any kinde of tree that beareth Acornes. Peneriall cureth the Scor­pions sting: against the byting of a viper, Garlike, Onyons, and Leekes newe gathered, are principall triacles: wherwith also the venom of Cerastes is ouer­matched. Ergo, if Nature faile vs not against the ve­nomes of strange Serpents, from which we be freed by reason of the temper of our region, repugnant to their natures, (All things beeing done in the actions of nature in exquisite wisedome, & by a precise rule of Gods prouidence) much more are we furnished against the diseases bred in our bowels. What hath been said of venemous beasts, may also bee shewed in the cure of strange diseases, wherein nature see­meth to be as carefull as in the other. The French Pockes is an Indian disease, and not knowne to this part of the world within this hundreth yeares, be­fore that voyage of Charles the Emperour, which he tooke against Naples, where being brought ouer with the Spaniards which returned with Christopho­rus Columbus, who first discouered the West Indies, it hath since infected the whole worlde. Now this strange & Indian disease hath nature prouided reme­die against, not only out of India, as the Guaicum, & Salsa Parilla, but euen out of Europe as effectuall: as the Smilax aspera, wherewith Fallopius saith at Pis [...] he cured diuers of the French pockes. And La Riui­ere in French his Apologie, affirmeth the same to be done with the essence of the Primrose and Couslip.

[Page 40]The anoyntings with Mercurie are knowne by daily practises what force they haue, against this most grieuous disease, which although some doe mislike, because vndiscreetly vsed, it is somewhat daungerous: yet Antonius Chalmeteus, a skilfull Surgion, in the fift Booke of his Enchiridion and 5. Chapter, affirmeth, that therewith hee hath per­fectly cured diuers without daunger, and if it hath otherwise fallen out with some, that it hath rather proceeded of vnskilfull vsing, then by the nature of Mercurie. Now, gentle reader, thou art to vnderstand the Pockes in India, being the same disease with that wee call the French Pockes, is there a gentle disease, not much differing from the Scabbe, voyde of such grieuous symptoms as it bringeth to these quarters, corrupting not only the fleshie partes of our bodies but euen the verie bones also. This testifieth Fallopius in his Booke of the French Pockes. Yet neede not our medi­cines craue the helpe of India for the cure thereof, no, not although it rage farre more fiercely (as it doeth) against vs then against them. Which be­ing euident, let vs consider how iustly nature may bee blamed to fayle in the prouision of medicines. Scarce would a man looke for any great vertue of medicine in the wormes of the earth, being a creature so abiect: yet ioyne they, and cleaue toge­ther wounded sinewes, they cure tertians, they help the paines of the eares, the toothache, and the pouder of them dronke prouoketh vrine. The little vermine called Sowes, which being touched runne together round like a pease, who would thinke they cured the difficultie of making water, the lawnes, [Page 41] the Quinsey, for which purposes they be of great force, and for to discharge stuffed lungs, with tough and grosse humorus, nothing may be com­pared. Likewise the cornes of horse legges called Lichenes, although they bee base and v [...]le excre­ments, yet helpe they such as are taken with the falling sickenesse. The decoction of Frogges with salt and butter, is a triacle against the bitings, sting­ings, and poysons of all serpents, and the ashes of them burnt, stayeth the flux of bloud being thereto applyed. These base creatures the rather I propound, that beeing knowne, the treasures which Nature hath hid and layde vp in them, with such varietie of vertues, wee might, the better esteeming of her benefites, and the blessings of our owne countrie, both acknowledge them, accept them, and bee more thankfull vnto God for them. The which base creatures the viler they seeme to be, the more commend they the goodnesse of the Crea­tor, who would not the abiectest thing that is, should altogether bee without wherewith to serue, and doe homage to his Lord and maister: which if these things affoord vs, what may wee iustly promise to our selues, and require of the rest more excellent creatures? Let not the reason seeme strange and weak to thee reader, who art a Christian, which is taken from the prouidence and wisedome of God, to proue the sufficiencie of his execution and performance of the same. For if Galene thought it reasonable, (as it is most rea­sonable.) to gather the wisedome and prouidence of the Creator by his work in the Creature & main­tenance thereof, which he in the end of his bookes [Page 42] of the vse of parts, calleth a poynt of diuinitie, farre to bee preferred aboue the whole Art of Phy­sicke: much more reasonable is it for mee, and the reason sounder which is drawne from that di­uine prouidence, to the practise thereof. And if Galene had that religion in him, beeing a Gen­tile; and groping onely in the mist of naturall knowledge of God▪ could not satisfie himselfe with a Psalme or Hymne (as hee himselfe cal­leth it) of seuenteene staues, euery staffe contay­ning a whole booke (for thus hee himselfe calleth his Bookes of the vse of parts) of the wisedome of the most wise God, esteeming that dutie more ac­ceptable vnto him then sacrifices of an hundreth Oxen, or the most costly perfumes and incense; let it not bee harsh in thine eares gentle reader, to heare now and then the goodnesse of our God, his wisedome and prouidence, to bee both intreated of and aduanced of a Christian Physitian, and to Christians, to whome the sunne of righteousnesse hath shined and scatterred those mists of naturall darkenesse, and hath giuen the earnest of immor­talitie. And bee assured there is no truth in Philo­sophie, but may stand with, yea rather may rest, and bee vpholden of Christianitie. But let vs proceede. Iulius Bassus, Nicerates, and Petronius Niger, as saith, Dioscorides, thought their countrie medicines, and those which their natiue soyle yeelded, most worthy to bee exactly intreated of by them, be­like either thinking them sufficient for the inhabi­tants, or more agreeable with them. Which homely practise of the na [...]ions where he trauelled, Dioscorides confesseth to haue beene the matter [Page 43] whereof he compounded his golden book of medi­cines, which at this day remaineth a rich storehouse to all Physitians. Now then I would know why we should more bee prouided of medicine against one disease then another, of our countrie yeeld? is it be­cause such diseases which require strange medicines are more daungerous, or lesse? if more daungerous then should the remedy for them be more at hand, then for other: if lesse, why are then the strange me­dicines esteemed as most forcible? and if we be lesse subiect to such diseases as are cured with them, & so the absence of them may seeme tolerable, why then are tertian agues chiefly cured with Thamarines and Rhewbarbe? wherof the one commeth out of India, & the other for the most part out of Barbarie. What so euer nature is yeelded to any nation, it serueth either for nourishment or medicines, or being ney­ther nourishment nor medicine, is plaine poy­son. Now a subducction beeing made of each of these, one from the other, what part shall we thinke wil nourishments leaue to medicines? a far greater doubtless then they them selues be: & as they exceed nourishments, so greatly do they & beyond al com­parison exced the poisons. Wherefore if the most of creatures in euery nation, be a fit matter of medicine, greatly no doubt are all nations stored with them: which store declareth, that as diseases partly rise of breach of diet, & partly through poisons, so Nature would furnish vs with medicines in nūber answera­ble to the causes of both: which being not sufficient, argueth that Nature misseth of her purpose, hauing sufficiently declared her endeuour: but Nature alwaies bringeth her workes to perfection, ex­cept in case of monsters, which are not ordinary. [Page 44] Wherefore her will, (she being an instinct of Gods) euer going with the execution thereof, must needs performe that to vs which she pretendeth in the varietie. But that thou maist (gentle reader) haue better holde and greater assurance of the sufficiency of thy countrie medicines. I will set downe brief­ly according to the variety and sorts of all diseases cured with medicine, medicines taken from our natiue soyle aunswerable vnto them, and effectu­all to cure them. And because medicines haue relation to diseases, I will first touch the diseases, and thereto ioyne the medicicines. All diseases are either in the complexion, or frame of the bodie, such as are in the complexion are all cured by medi­cine; which I named in the beginning of this trea­tise one of the instruments of Physicke. Of disea­ses in the frame, these onely are cured with medi­cines; Quantitie superfluously increased, or dimi­nished: obstructions, ouerstraightnesse or ouer­largnesse of passages in the bodie. These are one­ly the diseases properly to bee cured with medi­cine: other diseases which rise of these, either of their owne accord vanishing by the cure of these, or else to bee cured by surgerie, as euill figure and shape through want of proportionall quantitie, that beeing restored, the figure forthwith returneth; or if not, [...]ather is to be cured with helpe of hand. And luxation of ioynts, and euill coupling of partes, if they rise of distemper onely, that beeing taken a­way with medicines, returneth oftentimes with it good situation of partes. Likewise, the situation peruerted through distemper, the complexion be­ing restored, the other consequently do followe.

[Page 45]Now, hauing declared in generall the diseases which onely require medicine; that euerie disease may haue his proper one, I will subdiuide them more particularly, ioyning to euery disease that medicine which thereto belongeth▪ The diseases in the complexion are either in all the parts of the temper thereof, or else in one or twaine. In the whole complexion are such as are ingendred of venemous causes: and those either ingendred in the body, or happening thereto outwradly they which are ingendered in the bodie, are Cankers, Leprosies, falling sicknesse, Suffocation of the matrix through nature corrupted, Swounings through corruption of Wormes ingendred in the body. And these bee the diseases of venemous causes bred in the bodie. Such as happen there­to by outward occasions, are either by poyson taken into the bodie, or by outward touching procured: taken into the bodie, as the poyson of Toades, Henbane, Nightshade, Hemlocke, Rats­bane, Quicksiluer, and such mineralls, and last of all infected aire [...] causing pestilence, and Carbun­cles. Such as are outwardly procured, are either without woundes or with woundes: without wounds, infection passing from one to another, as the French pockes. With wounds, venemous bitings and stingings of beasts, as of Serpents and madde Dogges. And these are all the diseases said to bee in the whole temper of the bodie, which ha­uing first shewed to be sufficiently cured by home medicines, in like man [...]er will I prosecute the rest. And heerein (gentle reader) thou art not to looke I should set downe all medicines which our natiue [Page 46] soyle is knowne to bestow vpon vs for cure of these diseases, which would growe to an infinite vo­lume, I heerein referring thee to the workes of those who of purpose haue written of the nature of simples, and are authors of practise, but it shall I hope suffice for this purpose to picke out amongst a great many, those of choise for these diseases. And first to begin with Cankers, which being not exulcerated but remayning humors, are cured (if with any medicine) by the iuyce of Nightshade, all the sortes of Endiue and Succorie, with Agri­monie, with Saint Iohns wort, wilde Clarie, called Oculus Christi, the flesh of Snayles boyled, Cray­fishes, greene Frogges, and to conclude, with all kinde of metalls and mineralls; and among them Leade, how so euer it be vsed, is most souereigne. If it bee exulcerated, then heerein haue the mine­ralls and metalls the chiefe place. [...]o the exulcerate Canker belongeth the Woolfe (which is nought else, but a Canker exulcerated.) The Gangrene and Speacelus, are cured by the remedies of the Canker and Woolfe, the one beeing a degree of an Vlcer in which the partes begin to bee morti­fied, the other when they haue now lost life altoge­ther. The leprosie is an vniuersall Canker, and for outward medicines requireth no other: among the inward, Plantine, Whay, Hedgehogs dryed and drunke, helpe greatly. And thus much for Cankers and Leprosies, which as they be disea­ses hard to bee cured by any medicine, so receiue they as great helpe by these our home medicines, as by any of strange countries. The falling sicke­nesse, if it be in such as are aged, and haue beene [Page 47] long diseased therewith, is a disease hardly or not at all to be cured. But where it is curable, these medi­cines bee comparable with the best: the roote of the Missleto of the Oake, the runnet of an Hare, the Peonie roote, Enula campana, the scalpe of a Man, an Asse hoose, Hyssope, the mylt of an Horse, the stones which are found in the mawes of the first broode of Swallowes, fiue leaued grasse, the iuice of the Couslippe, the iuice of Horehound with Hon [...]. All suffocations of the Matrix are cured with Plan­tine, P [...]eriall, Herbgrace, and by an infinite num­ber of home medicines. Wormes and that infection, is taken away by Coriander seed, Colewort seed, Gar­like, Wormwood, & in a manner with all bitter hearbs, with the iuice of Purslane, with the fylings of Stags horne, little inferiour in vertue to that which is commonly taken for the Vnicornes horne. Peach leaues, Hyssope, Mints, Purslane seed. Thus much tou­ching medicines against diseases ingendred of vene­mous causes within the bodie. Now touching such as happen by outward occasions: and first of those that by mouth are taken into the body. Against which generally it helpeth greatly to drinke store of butter in steed of oyle, with warme water or the de­coction of Flaxe seed, Fenigreeke, or Mallowes, and the [...]upon a vomit: which done, Sothernwood, the root of Seahuluer, the seed of Nep, the iuice of Horehound, the seed of wild Ru [...], Walnut [...], Turnops, Herbgrace, [...]i [...]e leaued grasse, with an infinite number of natiue me­dicines, expell the poyson, and restore the patient. More properly to the poyson of Cantharides, belong Peneriall, to Buprestu all kinds of Peares, and wo­mans milke: to the Salamander, Chamepitis, Seaholy [Page 48] rootes: to the wormes of the Pine tree, such as cure the poyson of Cantharides: against the poyson of of the Toad, the rootes of R [...]edes and Cyperus: against the Chameleon, radish roots and Wormwood: against Ephem [...]rum Asses milke or Cowes milke, hot: against Doryc [...]m, Goats mike, Asses milk, Cockles, and Cray fishes: against the poyson of Aconitum, Organ, Hearbgrace, Horehound, the de­coction of Wormwood. Against [...]hriander, Worm­wood, salt b [...]oth made with a Goose or Hen, which expell also the poyson of Flewort: the poyson of Hem [...]ocke is cured with Mint, Hearbgrace, Nettle seed, [...]ay leaues, which [...] cure the po [...]son of Vgh, and Carpasus. The poyson of that kinde of Crowe­ [...]oote, called Sardonia, is cured with drinking store of Mede, and Milke: [...] me with Nettle seede, wilde Endiue, Mustard s [...]ede, and Rock [...]: Cearuse, with Mede, hot milke: Peach stones, with the de­coction of Barley, with the decoction of M [...]llows: Quicksiluer, with store of Milke drunke. Mercu [...]ie sublimed with Crystall: Lime, Orpiment, [...]ars­ [...]ane, and such like, wit [...] the decoction of Flaxe [...]ede, and Milke with M [...]de. And to conclude this point, there is no [...]ind [...] of poyson, but it findeth cure by ou [...] countrie medicines without borrowing. Th [...]s much for the cure of poysons taken into the bodie by eating or drinking of them: Pestilences are cu [...]ed (if with any medicine) with Angelica, Car­duus benedictus, Ars [...]ke, worne about the bodie, the roote of Pimpinell, of [...]ormentil, Hearbgrace, Setwall, Walnuts, the pouder of S. Iohns wort, [...]uniper berries, Ve [...]uen, and the chiefe of all, the [...]oble s [...]mple water Germa [...]der, and the Duarfgen­tian. [Page 49] For pestilent sores and Carbuncles, Scabi­ous, Ofbit, Lousestrife, and the Marigolde: to the pestilence may bee referred the small pockes and such like, which agree in medicine also with the pestilence. And thus much for the cure of poi­sons. Against bitings and stings of venemous beastes, and poysoned weapons, there are also both generall and particular remedies. The gene­rall are these: the ashes of the cuttings of the Vine and of the Figge tree, with Lee, Leekes, Onions, Garlicke, the Sea water, mustard seede, Endiue, Heth, the roote of the Sea Huluer, Bay berries, Hearbgrace, Dill, Sowse breade, Fe­nell, Peneriall, the runnet of an Hare, the We­sell, and these generall: particulars, are such as follow. Against the bitings of Phalangium, the seede of Sothernwood, Aniseede, the seede of Tri­folie, the fruite of Tamariske. Against the Scolo­pendra, wilde Rewe, Thyme, Calamint: against the Scorpion, Basil seed: against the biting of a Vi­per, Adder, Snake, &c. Sothernwood, Bayes, green Organ, the Bramble, the braines of an Hen, Cole seede. Against the bitings of a madde Dogge, Crowe garlike, the riuer Crabbe, Balme, an actuall cauterie, the liuer of the madde Dogge broyled, the bloud of a Dogge drunke. And thus much for the bitings and stingings of venemous beasts, which also serue against poysoned wounds, else to be cured with the medicine which respecteth properly the poyson wherewith the weapon hath beene infected. The infection without wound is the French pocke, whereof (sufficient hauing beene saide before) I will heere say nothing.

[Page 50]This then shall suffice to haue written of the cure of all diseases rising of venomous causes, wherein (if Nature of her owne accord as it were, and in this great neglect of our Country & natiue medicines) hath shewed her selfe so liberall, how large would shee be▪ if with sette purpose and carefull endeuour greater triall of things were had, and proofe made by learned and discreet men. Now follow the dis­eases which are by the excesse or defect of one or two parts of the temper, which are hot, cold moist, and drie, simple or compounded: which if they be not procured by euill humours, then require they altering onely by contrary qualities. If by them, as fleame, choler, melancholie: then are these hu­mors first to be auoided and diminished.

Such as require altering, are cured by natures of contrarie qualitie, not onelie generally, but euen answerable to all degrees of excesse. And first to be­ginne with hot diseases of the first degree, they are cured with such contraries as follow: Barley, sowre Gr [...]pes, Roses, Violets, the Oake, Quinces, Dam­sings, Pellito [...]y of the vvall, Docks, Peares, Apples, Hartshorne, the flowers and whole he [...]rbe of Mal­lowes.

Of the second degree; the vvater Lillie, Ducks­meat, Knotgrasse, Vine leaues, the Bramble, Plan­t [...]ne, Cheries, Lead, C [...]russe, Barberies, Covv­combe [...]s, Mellons, Courds, Citralls, whites of Egges, Medlers, and Seruices.

Of the third; Purslane, Housleeke, Mandrake, Henbane.

Of the fourth; Hemlock, Poppie. Thus much for hot diseases.

[Page 51]Medicines for cold diseases, are these hot which follow. Of the first degree; Buglosse, Borage, Fu­mitorie, Sage, Horsehoofe, Maydenhaire, Butter, Lillies, Flaxe-seede, marrow and fat, Chamomile, Fenigreek, &c.

Of the second; Dill dry, Mugwort, Parseley, Saffron, Honie, Balme, Salt, &c.

The third; Anise, [...]olefoote, Calamint, Com­mine, Fenell, Hyssope, Mints, &c. The fourth; Garlicke-cresses, mustard, Celendine the great.

For moist diseases these medicines are good; Of the first degree dry: Cabbage, Beetes, Chamomile, Fenel, Beanes, Fenigreek, &c. Of the second; Dill, Mugwort, Shepheards-pouch, Doddard, Lint [...]ls, Hony, Rosemary. Of the third; Wormevvood, Germander, Hyssope, Iuniper, Fiue leaued grasse, Organ, Horehound, &c. Of the fourth; Garlick-cresses, mustard-seed, wilde Rue.

Dry diseases haue these medicines, Buglos, Ma­lowes, Turnops, Endiue, for the first degree. The second; Violets, Water-lillie, Lettice, Purselaine, &c. The third, and fourth degrees, as these are e­uill supplied by strange simples; so are they re­compenced by increase of quantities of moyst in the two first degrees. And thus much touching medi­cines belonging to the cure of diseases in one part of the temper, which beeing in two parts, and with­out humour, require either temperings the simple qualities aforesaid, in diuerse simples, or natures vvherein such two do exceede; vvhich because they be as plentifull as those I haue before mentioned, and that heereof none makes doubt, I vvill not touch. If this double distemper rise of humor, as for [Page 52] the most part of it doth: Then is that humor to bee diminished or altogether to bee voyded out of the bodie, and then the distemper remai­ning to bee altered. The humors are properly to bee voyded by purgation, other waies there bee diuerse: as exercise, fastinges, sweating, vrine & such like. But properly the vacuation of fleme, cho­ler, melancholie, which are the causes of this dou­ble distemper, belongeth to purging medicines: which purgations, as the greatest doubt is of na­tures prouision in them, so they beeing suppli­ed by our countrie soyle, the greatest part of this controuersie may seeme to bee decided.

Purgations are eyther by vomit, or by stoole: by vomit our natiue soyle ministreth great choice, as, verie gentlie, the radish rootes with the seed; the pepon roote and nettle seede: with more ve­hemencie, solefoote, leafe and roote, the middle barke of the wall nutte tree, and the long blos­somes thereof: and yet most vehemently the seedes of broome and the flowers thereof: and these for vomit. By the stoole, and first to purge choler: the flowers and leaues of the Peach tree▪ Violets flow­ers and seedes comparable with Rheubarbe, the great garden docke called the Munkes Rheubarbe, Damaske roses, wilde Saffron, the pouder of Fe­the [...]fewe, all the kindes of spurges, the root of the wilde Cowcumber, the roote of Bryonie, and Coloquintida. Melancholie is purged with Co­loquintida, the oke fearne, the iuice of Man­drake, the flowers of broome, bearefoote, and Antimonie. Fleame and water are purged with Co­loquintida, the iuice of Rhineberries, the grosse [Page 53] barke of the Elme, the iuice of the root of Wal­worte, of Elder, the gardine Flowerdeluce roote iuyced. The dry leaues of Laurell, the seawythwind, scurby weede. These are a showe of our Enlgish store of purgers: which if they bee too strong, then are they to bee ministred in smaller quanti­tie mixed with those of feebler working; if too weake, then are they to bee sharpened with quic­ker. If they offend any part, they are to be cor­rected partly with cordialls, and partly with me­dicines respecting such partes as they annoy. Which wantes are not onely to bee charged vpon our countrie medicines, seeing euen the best of fo­reyne purgers are to bee touched with the same. As scammonie is corrected with quinces, other­wise troubleth it the stomach with a griping and gnawing, it purgeth ouer vehemently, it hurteth the liuer, and is enemie to the heart, and doth exulcerate where it passeth, and procureth dysente­ries, that is to say, vlcers in the guts. Turpeth is cor­rected with ginger and long Peper, Mastich with oyle of sweete Almonds, and Suger, else ouerthrow­eth it the stomach, troubleth, & ouerdrieth the bo­dy. Coloquintida with oyle of sweet almonds, goom, tragacant, or mastich, else troubleth it vehemently the whole bodie, procureth the bloudie flixe, and miserably tormenteth the guts. So, Agaricke requi­reth to be steeped in wine with ginger & cloues, yet scarce abstaineth it from ouerthrowing the sto­mach. Cassia marreth the stomach, and requireth to bee mixed therewith stomach medicines. The excessiue drinesse, and binding of Rheubarbe is corrected with some moystening syrope. Aloe re­quireth [Page 54] Mastich and Goome Trageacanth to mi­tigate the fretting thereof. Sene marreth the sto­mach, and either through windiness, or through ve­hemency of scouring, tormenteth the body, and therefore needeth Ginger, Cinamon, or Spike, sweet Prunes, fatte broth, and Raisins.

Hermodactiles offend the stomach, & cause winde, and require Ginger, Cumine, or Spike: and to be short; there is no purger of strange drogues which requireth not correction of great faults; which cor­rection is taken frō such medicines as respect those parts chiefely which the purgation dooth annoy, whereof such is our store, that in all parts we be suf­ficiently armed therewith. But of these shall heere­after be spoken.

Now, if any man thinke, for want of Cassia, Man­na, Sene, Rheubarb, these humours cannot be voy­ded, or not so well; let mee then knowe how the Grecians wanted them, and yet found no lack, vsing onely Scammonie, Helleboru [...], and Colocynthis, Aloes, and Agaricke, for their chiefe purgations: The o­ther beeing brought in of late in comparison, by the Arabians; vvho both in knowledge of Physick, and in the works thereof, were farre inferiour to the Gre­cians, to whom I say (I meane the ancient of them in Galens time and before) neither Manna, nor Cassia, nor Sene, nor Rheubarbe, nor Hermodactiles, vvere known either at all, or at the vttermost for purgers. And as for Manna, Fuchsius saith, that certaine ha­uing beene about the Mount Libanus, made report that the inhabitants of that mountaine, hauing ea­ten their fill thereof, neither feele themselues any whit troubled there-with, nor their bodies loosed, [Page 55] but vse it for an ordinary sustenance. Whereby again appeareth a great diuersitie of working of strange medicines according to the variety of countries. But what should wee say of the nature of purgers, it is doubtlesse one of the hardest points at this day in all naturall Philosophie, neither minde [at this present to deale therein: but this may I say, as by preparation, one nature may according to the vari­etie thereof, receiue diuerse, yea contrary vertues; so seemeth it to me that this vertue of purging may be procured to natures of themselues destitute ther­of, by preparation.

Diuerse and in a manner all the metalls, and mi­neralls, beeing burnt and washed, giue ouer their fretting nature, and quicksiluer (which of it selfe it is not sublimed, or precipitated) becommeth a ve­hement scouring medicine: so likewise Antimonie, before it be turned into glasse or oyle, is not known to purge the bodie: vvhich beeing done, is greatly commended against the Dropsie, the French pocks, melancholie, and diuerse other diseases, vvhich it cu­reth by purging. So that it seemeth, art of preparati­on, as it maketh no nature (that beeing a vvorke of the vniuersall nature) so may it not onely bee a preparer, but euen a maker of medicines: vvhich medicines are not natures, euen as health, and sick­nes are not of the nature of mans body, but euen ac­cidents thereto.

Which being certaine, let vs then consider what an infinite variety of medicines wold arise of things, the same being vsed not only entire, but diuersly prepar'd & euen corrupted: wherin the industry of Alchmists [Page 56] is verily greatly to bee commended, and farre more excellent then the common Pharmacopolla rather so to bee called then Pharmacopolya, by the skill whereof diuerse natures in one thing are so exactly seuered, euery one hauing a diuerse o­peration. Now of [...]times because the humor to bee purged is grosse and tough and so hardly yeeldeth to the medicine, or hath some other euill qua­litie wherewith it might greatly hurt the partes, whereby it passeth; nature not forgetting this point, hath as aboundantly supplyed such helpes in this behalfe, as neede requireth: as for the pre­paring of choler, Plantaine, Roses, the verdiuice of the grape, endiue, suchorie, sorel, sperage, &c. For melancholie: violets, borage, buglosse, baulme, [...]umitory, doddar, ceterach, or fingerfearne, &c. For fleme: fenel, persely, be [...]onie, neppe, penetial, thyme, sauerie, germander, &c. Of these I lesse stand vpon, because the preparers of humors are least in controuersie, although from hence may an argu­ment bee drawne not lightly to bee passed ouer, to proue the store of purgers, seeing nature hath miniistred sufficiencie of preparers, and as it were harb [...]ngers to the purgers of countrie yeelde. But I wil drawe to an end: and thus much shall suf­fice for this present purpose to haue said of medi­cines, belonging to the cure of all diseases in com­plexion. The other kinde of diseases are in the frame of the body: and of those, if quantity bee superfluously increased, and that in the whole body, medicines which do vehemently waste, as those of the third degree hot, diminish the same. If in the part onely, medicines which we call eaters, and fret­ters, [Page 57] dispatch the same: as coperous, the ashes of spurge, burntalum, mercurie sublimed and precipi­tate, verdigrece, burnt salt, &c. If measure be di­minished, and that without losse of substance, the glewing medicines bring cure: whereof our natiue soile is so stored, that for wounds, the Surgions need neither to send into Barbarie, nor India: as Plan­tane, Hounds tonge, the flowers and leaues of wil­lowes, yarrow, carduus benedictus, betony, sca­bious, veruen, elme leaues, adders tonge, moone worte, hearbe turpence, Selfe heale, and these if the wounds bee in the fleshie partes. If it be breaking of bones, such are ioyned with fine flower, the brayne of a dogge, with woll, and the white of an egge, the holyhocke roote, the mosse of the oke, glewe, roses, worme woode, &c. If there be losse of substance in the fleshie parts either by wound, or vlcer, Incarnatiues fayle vs not: as barlie meale, fenegreeke flower, fighene meale, and to bee short all such as bee of the first degree hot and drie, with­out egernes or felnes. Now the diseases in straight­nes of passages or obstructions, if they arise of the humors afore said, and in those places whereto the medicine may conueniently come, then are they to be sette free by purging. If vpon other causes, or in such places wherto the force of the medicine which purgeth cannot come, or hardely entereth, or of such causes as be no humors, but through some o­ther strange matter, or by straightnes of the ves­sells, where though the passage is, then are other remedies to be vsed whereof we haue great plentie, as softners, loosers, and such as doe enlarge tho pores of the bodie, of which sorte are such a [...] bee [Page 58] not aboue the first degree hote: as Chamomile, Lil­lies, new butter, Swines greace, Linseed, Fenigreek, Brionie root, all marrowes: Also medicines which make the matter thin, or cut it, and diuide it into sun­dry parts, of which sort are they of the second de­gree hot to the third degree, as Dill, Peneriall, Sa­uerie, Organ, Thyme, Marioran, Saint Iohns wort, Worme-wood, &c. Now, if the humour prepared be to be voided by place medicine, then salt, salt wa­ter, Lie, Ashes, Alume, and Lime, take place; and if more vehemencie bee needfull, Calamint, vvild Cresses, Triacle, mustard, Garden Cresses, Mustard seed, nettles, dragons, all the spurges are to be num­bred among the best: and if these serue not, the root of Crowfoot will make the supply. If the humour cannot be voided conueniently, except it be altered into another matter, of which sort is pent bloud out of the veines, then are ripening medicines first to be applyed: as butter, wheat-flower, Sorel, Horsehoof, Lillies, Marchmallowes, Onyons rosted; which all are singular ripers. If the matter be rough & clam­mie, these scourers auoyd that inconuenience; En­diue, Suchorie, Red-roses, Plantaine, Houseleeke, Agr [...]monie, Betony, Hony, Horchound, Worme-wood, Baulme, Pimpernell, Watergermander, &c. Now, if the matter which stoppeth be the stone, as in the kidneyes, or bladder, then are these medi­cines most conuenient for that vse: Grummell seed, Goates bloud, the iuyce of Mugwort, Seahuluer­root, the stones found in the great snayles heads, ra­dish roots, Saxifrage, &c. If any hard matter be in other parts, the softners and wasters, & dissoluers are to be applyed.

[Page 59]Thus much touching the cure of obstructions and straight passages, which according to the varie­tie of place where they light, cause sundry diseases, or rather take to thē sundry names. As in the braine, the Apoplexie; in the bladder of Gall, the yellovve Iawnes; in the Splene, the black: in the synewes of motion, the palsey or trembling; in the lungs Asthma, and so foorth.

Now, if these passages be too large, they are to be stopped and streightned with cooling and drying medicines, of which sort in a manner are all of sharp and sowre taste; as Vine-leaues, the Brier, and the Bramble, Barbaries, Medlers, and Seruices, Quin­ces, & such as are of themselues, or by mixture with liquor clammie, as wheat flower, beane flower, the white of an egge, plaister, washed lime, Litharge, and Ceruse.

Now moreouer, because in all good cure, not onely the cause of the diseases is to bee oppugned, but the part also to bee strengthened, which must needs (partly by the cause of the disease, and partly euen by the conflict of the same cause with the me­dicine) befeebled; that nothing be wanting vnto vs for the restoring of health, nature hath prouided e­uen speciall munition for euery part of the body, that the whole furniture against all diseases might be complete. As for the head, Aniseedes, Folefoot, Betony, Calamint, Eyebright, Lauender, Bayes, Marioran, Piony, Sage, Rew, or herbgrace, Lettise, the leaues and flowers of vvater Lillies, Roses, gar­den nightshade. For the lungs, calamint, dragons, li­coras, Enula campana, hissop, linseed, horehound, the lūgs of a fox, scabious, water germander, barly, gardē [Page 60] poppe violets, horsehoofe. For the heart, bu­glosse, borage, saffron, baulme, basill, rosema­ry, violets, the bone of a stagges harte, roses. For the stomach, wormewood, mints, betonie, baulme, mint, quinces, medlers, Sorell, purselane. For the Liuer, Dartspine, or chamepitys,, ger­mander, agrimonie, fenell, endiue, suchorie, liuer worte, barbaris. For the splene: Maiden heare, sperage, fingerfearne, dodder, dodder of thyme, hoppes, the barke of the ash tree. For the kid­nies: Sea huluer, Grumel, Parseley, Knecolme, saxifrage, Mallowes, Plantane, Pellitorie of the walle. For the wombe: mugwort, peneriall, fe­therfewe, sauine, walwort, Iuniper. For the Ioynts: chamomile, saint Iohns wort, organ, rue, multen, and coweslips, the lesse centaurie, and chamepitys.

Thus haue I (gentle reader) briefely run ouer the diseases cured by medicine, hauing passed by those which eyther rise of these, as euill figure by immo­derate excesse, or defect of quantitie, vnequally in­creasing or wanting, or number, euill situation for want of good couplance through distemper, & such like, as also the compounde of those, which require (onely composition excepted) the same medicines. Whereby euidently maist thou see, the goodnes of God towards thee, in so plentifully furnishing thine owne soyle with such varietie of medicines: which if it yeeld thee such plenty in this neglect & lothing of our countrie remedies, what fruite wert thou to looke for, if diligence and paines were vsed? Ve­rily right well might wee both auoyde the daun­gers before declared, ease our selues of immoderate charge, and haue better assurance of our medicines [Page 61] then wee haue: yea verie well satisfie our dainti­ness euen with strange simples, or finde out such as should not only in vertues match with the spices of India (which is a plaine case) as Rosemarie match­eth Cinamon: Basill, Cloues: Sage, the Nutmegge: Safforn Ginger: Thyme, Muske: Sauerie, the leafe called Malabathrum, but euen in pleasantnes of rast expresse the same. And as Auens doth most liuely re­present the taste of cloues vnto vs, so likelie is it if search were made, and this enterprise of exami­ning and trying our natiue simples taken in hand by men of wisedome, and vnderstanding, wee should no more be destitute of spices then India or Arabia, although neither Indish, nor Arabicke: and as the small iagges of the rootes of Auens, faile little from cloues in taste, so might wee as likely find that which were little inferiour to Cinamon, ginger, nut­megges, and mace, not onely in likenesse of wor­king, but euen in similitude of nature: but I will re­ferre this to that time, when either men shall bee more carefull for publike benefit then priuate gaine, or sufficient allowance bestowed on such men as shold spend their daies only in searching out the ver­tues of natures, which at this time is greatly wan­ting, euen as for all other professions of artes. Our English soyle is greatly commended, as it iustly deserueth, for temper of the aire: & of such as haue experience thereof, of strangers, and great masters of simples, for varietie of excellent medicines car­rieth great praise, who report they finde such sim­ples in the valleys and woodes of our North parts, as they finde in the toppes of mountaines in the South countries. So that certaine gardine [...] in Eng­land, especially in London, are able to affourd great [Page 62] varietie of medicines euen of forraine simples to all diseases. And if the Dittany of Candie, the Cipres [...]ree, the Nicotian out of India, Coloquintida, the Almon tree, the Pomegranate tree, will brook our soyle, and flourish therein, as they doe, wee need not doubt, but certaine and sufficient prouision of all medicines, (I meane all kindes, but not all of euery kind, which were vnnecessary, neither can any coun­try challenge the same) might bee made partly of a voluntary yeeld of the same, partly by planting, and sowing, with iust temper of the mould, and situation of the plant, out of our own country, both with lesse charge and lesse danger, for all diseases.

Now, if it bee demaunded, vvhy then both the practise is, and hath been hitherto otherwise; I will onely say thus much for answere, although much more might be said: The whole art of Physick hath been taken partly from the Greekes, and partly from the Arabians. And as the precepts of the Art, so like­wise the meanes and instruments wherewith for the most part the precepts of the same art are executed: which hath bred this errour in times past, now by a tradition receiued, that all dutie of the Physician touching restoring health, is to bee performed by the same remedies, not in kinde onely, but euen specially with those which the Grecian and Arabian Masters vsed, who wrote not for vs, but for their Greekes and Arabicks, tempering their medicines to their estates, although their rules be as common as reason to all nations.

Galen saith in his first booke of preseruing health, he giueth the rules therof no more to Germans, then to Boares and Beares, but to the Grecians. Which [Page 63] declareth, they respected their owne nation both in rule and medicine; whom also the Arabians in the same poynt followed.

Now, we receiuing the same medicines with the rule, must needs fall into the absurdities afore-saide: Much like to the euill Musitian, which playeth one­ly vpon the instrument whereon his Master taught him, which if he assay vpon another, committeth diuerse discords among other euill graces in mu­sick. But the wise and learned Physitian, being fur­nished with other arts more generall then his owne, whereto naturall philosophie most nighly approa­cheth, beeing a knowledge of all naturall things not of Arabia, or India, or Greece, but vniuersally, find­eth in all Countries medicines for diseases, nature yeelding sufficiencie of contraries to all sorts of them, wherto the inhabitants are subiect, at the least, in all quarters, which rise not of a blinde tradition, but from a certaine knowledge of nature. This then I take to be the chiefe cause of this custome in vsing strange medicines, which ignorance of nature doth feele, & nourish daily. I blame none, neither tax I a­ny man, & I dare say there is not a learned Physitian in this land, who is not able to performe this poynt with English medicines, if they would take the mat­ter in hand: whereto I rather exhort them, then in­struct them, beeing a thing sufficiently known vnto them. For it is not the Nutmegge, or the Mace that strengtheneth the braine, and cureth cold disea­ses, and moyst diseases thereof: but a drying and warming vertue, with a secret agreement which they haue with the braine to preserue the same, which being found as sufficient in Sage, in Rosemary, in [Page 64] Betony and such like, the nutmegge and the mace, with such other spice, for that turne may bee dis­charged. The same may bee said of all strange na­tures, which although wee want, yet haue we such as are as sufficient to serue in st [...]ede: for as euerie nation hath a peculiar condition of the same disea­ses, so must the medicine also needes bee of another sort: and as the medicine varieth, so why the mat­ter of the same medicine should not also varie I knowe not. The medicine varieth in respect of the complexion of the patient being other in one coun­try, then in an other: which medicine is as it were seated in nature, which hath many qualities besides the medicinable, which qualitie if the medicine be good, must agree with the patients complexion▪ if not, then hurteth it greatly. If it agreeth with the complexion of a Moore, an Indian, or Spanyard [...], then must it needes disagree with ours, which dis­agreement and want if it bee patched vp vnto vs by correctours, yet declareth that patching, that the medicine is rather by force constrained, then naturally yeeldeth it selfe to the remedie, and so of it selfe vnmeet. Wherefore as well the matter ther­of is to be changed, as the medicine it selfe. And if those correctors neede also correction, what then? I will not say that all simples neede their correctors, although it be auouched of some, and such as car­rie great authoritie for their skill in Physicke. Thus haue I (gentle reader) for thy benefite I hope, made a way to the greater vse of our home medicines, wherin if I haue said freely my mind against strange drogues, thou maist vnderstand that otherwise the way were stopped to our English medicines, and [Page 65] blame me not, if I say asmuch for ours, as the stran­gers say for theirs. And if as yet by custome it seeme hard to alter the common course, let each practicer looke to that, I set no lawes to any, onely I craue li­bertie in this point, both pleasant and profitable to English men. Wherein I haue examples of excellent Philosophers & learned Physitians, neither broach I any idle conceites of my owne. Of this mind is Plinius Secundus, Fuchsius, Rulandus, Symphorianus, Campegnis, Octauianus Horatianus, Physitian to Va­lentinian the Emperor, that all countries haue suffi­cient medicines for all diseases. I know much more might be said of this point. But this I thought suffi­cient for the present time, breaking as it were the yse I hope to others, who hereafter shall more copiously deale in the same argument, or at the least, drawing the first lines (of a more large treatise to my selfe which as leasure, and opportunitie shall serue may hereafter be accomplished) this gentle reader I de­sire thee to accept in such sort, as I offer it vnto thee euen with a minde to spend my daies according to my small talent, for thy benefite. God keepe thy soule and bodie for euer.