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

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

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 ( lest I should seem actum agere ) referre that which he hath very large , to his owne volume . For that which hee hath gathered is likewise found in other Authors , wherof heereafter you shall heare more , when we come to discourse of the vertues of Tabacco . Charles Stephen , and Iohn Liebault , & Andrew Theuet all three Frenchmen , haue writ of this plant , and so hath Aegidius Eurartus . Carolus Clusius likewise in his comment vpon Garcaeas , Destirpibus et Aromaticis Indicis , and Iohannes Baptista porta in his eight booke , and eleuenth chapter of his Natural Magick doe highly commend this plant , as a thing most excellent and diuine . But amongst them all , and from them all for his admirable knowledge in plants , our owne Countrie-man Master Iohn Gerard Citizen and Chirurgion of London hath caried away the palme , as best deseruing it , to whome I may well apply that saying of Lucretius :

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 on●… ●… . 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 hec●…ike 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 protopa●…hie , rather then by deuteropa●…hy ▪ he organ whereby it is receiued being so neere a neighbour 〈◊〉 the braine . I wonder it is not discussed how it p●…ffeth vp & plumpeth some , when he concludeth that it wasteth and dissipateth the vnctuous moisture , & substantiall nourishment , by dissipation of naturall heat , and decay of spirits in our bodies .

The same Author likewise ( though a man of excellent learning , exact iudgement and reading ) seemeth to vrge too farre , when in his seauenth reason against Tabacco , he sticketh not to affirme , that this hearb seemed to bee first found out and inuented by the diuell , and first vsed and practised by the d●…uels priests , and therefore not to bee vsed of vs Christians . But I will both answer him and the Spaniard Monardus ( from whome hee hath fetch●… his ground ) at one word thus ; that it is certaine that the diuell did not finde it , but Nature gaue it , and Nature doth nothing in vaine , according to that protrite axiome in Philosophy , Natura nihil fecit frustrà . If the diuell did finde it , yet we may esteeme it as well as hidden treasures descried by spirits at the request of wicked 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 other plants & 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 corum quae nescimus , minimam partem eorum quae scimus aut scire possumus , to which purpose Cardinall Cusanus hath writ a booke De docta ignorantia : Wherfore I suppose none will bee so mad to imagine that such a noble plant could come by chance , or bee inuented by the diuell , whose excellent vertues the profoundest can scarse perfectly vnderstand . By this wee may see the wonderfull workes of God , how that he can make things strange , great , and incomprehensible and wonderfull to mans indgement . Therefore it is a thing impertinent , to seeke out the causes and reasons of some things , as many men doe , and daily goe about to doe , for there are many secrets in Nature , the knowledge whereof is reserued and kept to the onely creator : also of many other that might bee heere alleadged : but for that it is not my argument , I omit it to come to the rest .

Philaretes my good friend saith , that Tabacco is hurtfull 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 Guiacum is called sanctum , because it is so helpfull , and restoreth to cure a great many sicknesses and griefes ; as the learned in Physicke doe very well finde . Wee know indeed by practise , that an infinite number of diseases are cured by Tabacco , euen à capite ad imos vsque pedes , from the crowne of the head to the verie feete : so that in regard of his noble vertues , it was thought necessarie that it should bee entituled with some glorious name , as we also see done to others . For Philon the Physitian called his Alexipharmacal medicines , Deorum manus : and at this day Physitians haue graced & nobilitated some of their compositions with splendidous titles ; calling one Manus Christi , another Benedicta Laxatiua , Catholicon a third , and some others by the strange and superstitious names of Puluis sanctus , Gratia Dei , Apostolicon , vnguentum 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 Lyncest is there is a fountaine that maketh the people drunke , that take thereof : Likewise another of Paphlagonia , which as Ouid saith in the 15 booke of his Metamorphosis will cause a man to bee no lesse drunke then if he had copiously quaffed a great deale of wine . His words be these :

This I know will not be receiued of all men for truth , and yet Philosophers doe witnesse that there is in Esclauonie by Apollonia , a fountaine comming out of a rock , wheras is seene to proceed a flame of fire , whereby al the waters adiacent are as boyling . They haue in diuers places of Hisp. Noua many hot springs of water , as aboue all other I haue seen in the Prouince of Mec●…uacan . In a plain field without any mountaine , there is a spring which hath 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 lieth commonly in the legge betwixt the flesh and the skinne , and is pluckt out aboue the ankle with great art and cunning .

Diodorus Siculus reporteth , that in Egypt there was a poole , the colour of whose water was vermilion , which being drunke would reueale secrets . Strabo speaketh of a fountaine in the Citie Leuc●… , of a most horrible smell . Besides , this is verie strange , that there is a fountaine besides Haslea , which neuer riseth but early in the morning , at high noone , and at the shutting of the euening . And if therein any euill thing bee cast that may corrupt the same , Theodorus Zuingerus mentioneth , that for certaine daies after it will not rise at all . There is a fountaine in Salmac in the countrey of Caria , which as Strabo writeth , maketh men effeminate and lither . That of Aphrodosium in Pyrrhea , causeth barrennesse , as Plinie noteth : and such like a man man may easily finde , if any will take paines to read ouer the booke , entituled Britannia , written by that most learned and famous gentleman master 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 Marcus Anthonius , liued with a certaine herbe that tooke away their memorie : neuerthelesse they had opinion that it did nourish them , though that in a short time after they died . Master Stephen Burrough did see some Lappians eat rocke weedes as hungerly , as a cowe doth grasse when she is hungry . I saw them also ( saith hee ) eate Cleanly . fowles egges raw , and the young birds also that were in the egges . The Indians will liue seuen or eight moneths in the warre with meale made of certaine hard and drie 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 , wherwith in earth they were inured to feede vpon , in these verses :

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