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

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

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

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

In English thus :

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

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

To whome E. G. maketh answer .

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Plinie sheweth , that in Lyncestis there is a fountaine that maketh the people drunke , that take thereof : Likewise another of Paphlagonia , which as Ouid saith in the 15 booke of his Metamorphosis will cause a man to bee no lesse drunke then if he had copiously quaffed a great deale of wine . His words be these : Quem quicunque parùm moderato gutture traxit , Haud aliter titubat , quàm si mera vina bibisset .

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

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

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

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

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

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