Ht tforie of the Indies lib . j ; z o ? 



this lad end. Who fo would confider of things created, 

 and difcourfe according to this Philofbphie, might 

 draw fome fruite from the knowledge and confidera- 

 tion thereof, making vie of them toknovvandglorifie 

 their Author.But he that would pafleon farther to the 

 knowledge of their properties and profits , and would 

 curioufly fearch them out, hee dial] finde in thefe crea 

 tures, that which the Wifeman faies 5 that they arefnares 

 and pitfaltes to thcfeeteof fooles & ignorant, into the $ 4 *. I4f 

 which thefifMlahd loofc themf elves daily. To this in- 

 tent thereforc,and that the Creator may DC glorified in 

 his creatures,! pretend to fpeake of fome things in this 

 Bookc, whereof there are many at the Indies worth the 

 report, touching mcttalls,plants,and hearts, which are 

 i proper and peculiar in thofe parts.Bu t for that it were a ; 

 great worke to treate thereof exadly^nd requires grea 

 ter learning and knowledge; yea, much more Irifure 

 then! have, my intent is only to treate of fome things 

 fuccin&ly, the which I have obferved , as well by expe- 

 ! riencc>as the report of men of crcdite, touching thefe 

 three things which I have propounded, leaving ta 

 i men more curious and diligent to treate more amply 

 of thefe matters, 



of the aioundanctAndgreAt quwtitie efMettatlatthe 

 T(/?Indies. CHAP. 2. 



THe wifedome of God hath nade mettalls for phi- 

 ficke,and for defence,for ornament and for inftru- 

 ments for the worke of men, of which foure things we 

 may eafilyyeelde examples, but theprincipallendof 

 matalk ? and the laft thereof, is, for that the life of man: 



hath 



