TOBACCO. 201 



and the Mexicaine Kings, there were many great personages LlB - IV - 

 expert in curing of diseases with simples, and did goodly 

 cures, having the knowledge of the many vertues and pro 

 perties of hearbes, rootes, woodes, and plants which grow 

 there, and whereof the Ancients of Europe have had no 

 knowledge. There are a thousand of these simples fit to 

 purge, as the rootes of Mechoagan, the pinones de la Puna, 

 the conserve of Guanuco, the oyle of Fig-trees, and 

 many other things, the which being well applied, and in 

 time, they hold to be of no lesse efficacie then the drugges 

 that come from the East. The which may be seene in 

 reading the discourse which Monardes hath made in the 

 first and second Part, where he treates amply of Tobacco, 

 whereof they have made notable experiences against 

 poison. Tobacco is a small tree or plant, common enough, 

 the which hath in it rare vertues, as amongst others 

 it serves for a counterpoison, like to many and divers 

 other plants : for the Creator of all things hath imparted 

 his vertues at his pleasure, not willing that any thing should 

 grow idle. But it is another soveraigne gift to man, 

 to know them and their proper vses, the which the 

 same Creator gives to whome hee pleaseth. Dr. Francisco 

 Hernandez hath made a goodly worke vppon this subiect, 

 of Indian plants, liquors, and other medicinal things, by the 

 Kings expresse commission and commaundement, causing 

 all the plants at the Indies to be lively painted, which they 

 say are above a thousand two hundred ; and that the worke 

 cost above three score thousand ducats : out of which 

 worke the Doctor Nardo Antonio, an Italian Physician, 

 hath made a curious extract, sending him to the foresaid 

 bookes that desires more exactly to knowe the plants at 

 the Indies, especially for physicke. 



