Bezoar, or Bezaar: First Aid for Poisoning

Poisoning?

The passage is more than a bit long, however it presents an interesting glimpse into an age when the New World was scarcely explored, and the marvels it contained were having a strong effect on European science. After this is we also include Monardes' discussions of the the Bezaar. These will provide a fuller background on a drug which was once very highly regarded.

The following is Dr. Monardes' discussion about the Bezaar stone from: Joyfull Newes Out Of The Newe Found Worlde: The Third Parte.

Of The Bezaar Stones Of The Peru

ALTHOUGH that in the seconde part I did treate of the Bezaar stones, that hath been founde in the Mountaines of the Peru, for that thei have been sent me by the firste discoverer of theim, the beste of as many whiche from those partes hath come, I would saie in this thirde parte some thyng of theim, whiche he sente me for knoweledge, saiyng : for because I wrote of them thei had knoweledge of them, and the booke whiche I wrote of them, was the guide to finde and discover them, as we have saied, and he doe shewe it by his letter, whiche we putte in the second parte.
Those whiche he sent me, dooeth prove to bee verie excellent in their couller, makyng, and greatnesse, the whiche I have broken some of theim, and finde theim as excellente as those of the Easte India : and so thei doe ende, in pouder or in one little graine as thei doe, and in coullour well nere the same : truthe it is, that those whiche have this qualitie and goodnesse, and have all the qualities that the Bezaar stone ought to have whiche are fine should bee those that are taken out of the beastes, that are fedde in the Mountaines, for those whiche are taken out of theim that are bredde in the plaine groundes, thei are not so good, nor have any Medicinall vertues, because the beastes are not maintained of these healthful hearbes, where these stones are ingendered, for as thei bee beastes and dooe chewe that whiche thei doe feede, of the juice that doeth procede of the Hearbes, the stones are engendered : Whiche that gentle man gave well to understand, who was the first discoverer of them, who did see how thei stoode, and were bredde within the beaste, and with his owne handes he made Anothomie of hym, and he writeth me that the Bezaar stones are growyng in those beastes, after the maner of a garde made of fleshe, of the length of two paumes, little more or lesse, and of three fingers breadth, whiche is joyned nere unto the Mawe of the inner parte, and in the garde the stones are putte in, one after an other, like unto button holes, in a coate in this forme.

And thei doe open that garde of fleshe beyng closed, and dooe take out the stones, that surely it is a marveilous thyng, that Nature hath created there, for our healthe and remeadie of our evilles. And as I have understoode that these whiche are brought from the Easte India, be founde after the same maner, I doe speake the truth, for thei bryng so many whiche are false, that emoagest one hundred there are not to be founde tenne that are true, and their writers of the Easte India doe confesse it, that there bee made many whiche are false.
The people of the Easte India doe take theim out also of a certaine kinde of Goates, that bee for the moste parte redde as ours bee, thei are the beste stones taken out of the cattell, whiche goeth in the Mountaines of Persia : and like wise thei doe take them out of other Goates, that goeth in the plaine Countries of Malaca, and these are not had in suche estimation, nor thei have the goodnesse nor the vertues that thei of Persia have, because those Goates of Malaca doe serve for cattell to bee eaten, and thei be not maintained of healthfull Hearbes of the moantaines, as thei that goeth in theim are, the like is in our Occidentall Indias, for those whiche are brought up in the Mountaines of the Peru, thei have the stones fine and true, and have the marveilous Medicinall vertues, for thei that are in the plaine grounde, are like to these of Malaca, that goeth in flockes as cattell dooeth, whiche serveth for the Butcherie, and of these thei dooe take out many stones, but thei are without profite, because thei are not maintained of the healthfull hearbes of the Mountaines, as we have saied.
If I would put here the greate effectes and the deseases whiche the stones of the Peru have healed, that they which doe come from thence doe tell mee, and that Gentlemanne doeth write me, it woulde make a greate booke. I will put that onelie whiche I have experimented, and the effectes that I have understoode, that they doe, and these that have past by my handes, whereby all credite maie be geven unto it, and as a thing certaine, seeyng that there is experience of it, with all assuraunce and truste, it may be used.
Our Occidentall Bezaar stones have greate vertues, principally they doe remedie manye persones, whiche bee sicke of the Harte. For the whiche I have geven greate quantitie of theim, that have beene brought mee, and they have made marveilous effectes, so muche that to many persones whiche did suffer soundynges by takyng it awaye from them, they were delivered from death, it must bee geven when they doe sounde, and before it come, taking it in the mornyag fastyag, with Rose Water, if the partie have greate heate : if not, then with the water of the flowers of Orringes, the quantity of foure graines every tyme, made in Pouder, in all kinde of Venom, it is the moste principall remedie that we knowe nowe, and that whiche hath doone best effect, in many that have been poysoned, whiche have taken it as well by Venome taken at the mouthe as by bitinges of venomos wormes, whiche are full of poyson. It doth truely a marveilous and a manifest worke, unto them that have dronke water standyng in a stinkyng lake, beyng infected with beastes or varmentes whiche are full of poyson, and beyng swollen imediatly after that thei had dronke it : by takyng of this stone twoo or three tymes, they were remedied, as I have seen them after this did happe, whole and well.
ln Pestilente Fevers I have geven it manie tymes, and surely it doth extinguishe and kill the malice of them, which is the principall thing that the Phisitions shoulde procure in the like deseases, and although hee doeth take awaie the cause, and doeth withdrawe the putrefaction, and if hee doe not extinguish and take awaie the malice, the cure is never at an ende. For that is it whiche killeth, and doth the principall hurte, and where there is certain spottes in the body like to Flee bitynges, whiche doe appere in the like fevers the Bezaar stone of our Indias doeth make marveilous effectes. Of those whiche thei have brought me, I have spent the most parte, geving them in the like deseases, and surely it hath remedied many with marveilous successe, and in that whiche some of them have been spente by me, hath been in soundinges, and surely I have seen in these stones the effectes so great, that it semeth a thing of wonder. And especially I have seen these causes more remedied in women then in men, it is a marveilous thing to be taken, and it hath doen manifest effectes where there is a Melancholie humor, it doth repaire him muche, and it doth in him and in all thinges whiche doe resulte of him, a greate woorke, bee it universall or perticular, in the head or that as they call Mirarchia, and also in them that have leprosie : of the Arabiens or Elephanciacis, of the Greekes, it doeth profite muche in Scabbes, in Itchings, in Scurvinesse, and in all partes of the bodie, that is infected, it maketh a verie good woorke, and doeth remedie these evilles manifestly. For that this stone hath propertie to heale them, I have geven it in quarterne Agewes, and although it taketh not awaie the quarterne : it taketh awaie the accidentes of it, the faintnesse and sadnesse, and the griefe of the harte, whiche in these Fevers are common. Surely they doe feele with the use of it notable profite, in all large and importunate deseases, I do geve it, and they finde profite in it, chiefly in those whiche have feare, of anie malice of desease, or windinesse, whatsoever it be. For I have seen, that in this it hath a greate propertie, and of this it commeth, that it is good to caste in to Pourges, some graines of it, that if the Pourge doe carry venomos medicines, it maie rectifie them, and amend them, and if not it geveth force, and strength to the hart, and they woorke the better. In the orientall Indias they have a custome to pourge themselves twoo times everie yeare, and especiallie the Noble People of estimation, and after they have pourged themselves, they take every morning fasting foure graines of the Bezaar stone, with Rose water, or with water made for the purpose, and they saie that this doeth conserve the youth, and doth strengthen the Members, and doth preserve them from deseases, and it is a good use for it can not let, but to doe them muche good. For Wormes thei geve this Stone with moste happie suceesse, and surely I have geven it to many people, and especiallie to Children, and Boyes, that are tormented with this evill, and I have seene suche woorkes as are not to bee beleved, if they were not seen. I doe geve it by it self, and I doe geve it mingled with this pouder, in this forme.
I dooe take Hearbe Lumbrigera the waighte of twelve pence the Seede of Santonico the waight of sixe pence, the Horne of a Harte burned, and the Seede of Verdo and Carlina, of everie one the waight of three pence and the Bezaar Stone of the Peru, the waight of three pence : of these thinges let there be small Pouder made, and let them bee well mingled. These Pouders are marveilous and of greate effecte, for to expell Wormes, and very muche experimented in manye people, and they have doen in this case greste effectes, and they muste bee given in the mornyng fastyng, as to the Phisition shall seeme good, accordyng to the' age of him that shall take them, using of some Medicine of Milke, and Sugar twoo houres after thei be taken, and unto children beyng sicke of it, we doe geve this stone mingeled with Milke, and without it, if they dooe sucke, and it doth a marveilous woorke, and to them that be in yeres, by it selfe, or mimgled with other thynges appropriated for the desease. In conclusion wee doe geve this stone in all large deseases, and importunate, where the ordinarie medicines have not profited, in the whiche it doth manifeste profite, and if it do no profite, it can do no hurte.

From: Joyfull Newes Out Of The Newe Founde World: A Booke Which Treateth Of Two Medicines Excellent Against All Venome, Which Are The Bezaar St one, And The Herbe Escuronera. Werein Are Declared Their Marvellous Errectes And Great Vertues With The Manner How To Cure The Sayd Venome And The Order Which Is To Be Used For To Be Preserved From Them. Where Shall Be Seene Greate Secrets In Medicine And Many Experiences. Newly Compiled By Doctor Monardus Of Seville, 1574. Translated Out Of Spanish Into English By John Frampton, 1580.

To the Ryght Woorshipfull Mayster
Edward Dyer Esquire
John Frampton wisheth increase of all
woorship with perpetuall felicitie.

FINDING heretofore, Ryght Worshipfull, my former translation out of Spanish into Englysh, of the woorke of Doctor Monardus of Sevyll, treating of thinges of the Weaste Indias, to bee something painefull to mee, not before accustomed in translations, in tongues so farre differing in Phrase of speech : I was forced to cutte off, and to leave three Bookes of the whole worke undone, dedicated unto three honourable Persons whereof the first Booke doeth shewe as well the great and rare Vertues of the Bezaar stone of the East India against Poyson, hotte, or colde, as also his wonderfull force agaynste the Plague and Pestilence, and many other diseases : as hath in olde time beene written by the most excellent Phisitions, and as Doctor Monardus and others the learned of this our tyme, nowe in thys age finde by present proofe. The seconde of these three bookes dooeth open the unspeakesble vertue in Phisicke of yron and steele, and howe all the diseases of the bodie from the toppe of the heade to tbe soale of the foote may be eured by the same, so as no drugge in the worlde is thought to bee comperable to the same. The thyrd book sheweth the mischiefes that growe by dry of drinkes whotte, and what Benefite dooeth followe by drinking our drynkes colde, etc. And Syr, finding many thankfullye to take my sayde former simple travell too you heeretofore dedycated : and your Woorshippe above all desert of my parte to recompence the same, and beeyng earnestlye and often exhorted by the learned Phisition Maister Doctor Hector nonnes to trans- late these saide 8 Bookes also, the remanent of Monsrdus woorkes, and to make my Country men of Englande pertakers of the benefite of the same, I tooke it in hande, as inflamed with the great commendations that this learned man made of the sayde three Bookes, and especially of the Booke treating of the benefite of yron and steele in Phisicke. And having nowe thus finished the whole Woorke, I dedicate the same to your Worship, as to the man to whome I am moste bound, and that dooth of manye best deserve the same, requesting you too take it in good parte and to beare with the base doing of the same. And calling to remembraunce of what moment in sometimes a man of value may be to a common Weale, and howe common in the worlde the practise of Poyson is, and what malyce raignes nowe among men, and how needfull it is that some kinde of persons should feare and provide for the worst, and weighing that by our Persian Marchants and by other meanes the Bezaar stone this greate Jewell is brought into the Realme, and may bee compassed in this our time for a little money : And withall, weighing that Iron and steele bee thinges tending so much to the cure of all diseases, and bee the naturall home commodities of England and such as are common, and that are both easily and cheaply to bee had by everie poore subject, I have the rather for the ready benefite that might ensue, taken the dispatch of the translation in hande with purpose no longer to keepe the same out of printe : and so I most humbly take my leave, from London the xv. of June, MDLXXX.
Your worships most bounden
John Frampton.

To the right excellent Ladie
The Duches Of Beiar
Marquesa of Ayemontey and of Gibraleon, Countesse of Benalcasar and of Banares, Lady of the townes of Burguillos, Capilla, and Curiell and their Jurisdictions, and my verie good Lady, Doctor Monardus your Phisition wisheth health, etc.

SUCH as are accustomed to write any worke, right eccellent Lady, dedicate the same to some great Prince, or Lord that it may be read of him with more respect and better will. So I most excellent Lady have more reason to do this : the one, by reason your excellencie is so great a Princesee, and the other, because I am servant to your excellencie, and that by your meanes I had knowledge of the Bezaar stone, and of the hearbe Eseuerconera, of the whichh I meane to treat in his booke. The which are two thinges of great importance and verie necessarie for the life of mankinde, seeing that they cure and heale so many and divers diesases, as in the process of the worke shall bee seene. And seeing that by meanes of your excellencie I attained to the full knowledge of these two thinges : even so I doe dedicate them to to you, that by meanes of the favour of your excellencie, all the great vertues and mavellous effectes of these two notable medicines may be knowen, and they shal take in good part the good work and labour that heerein hath bin taken.
The which I desire ypur excellencie to receive, as of a servant that desireth to employ his life in the service of your excellencie, as also procureth that yours may be encreased verie many yeares.

The Booke Which Treateth Of Twoo Medicines
MOST excellent against all venome, to say, the Bezaar stone, and the Herb Escuerconera. Whereupon are written dyvers marvellous effectes nowe newly compiled by Doctor Monardes Phistion of Sevill

Plinie verye muche complayneth in his Booke of the naturall historye, saying that all thinges in this life are contrarie to man, and that onely to Beastes Nature is a mother. For there is given them strength and instinct of nature, wherby they know, howe to choose that whiche is good, and eschewe that whiche is evill: whereas Man onely, beeing left destitute thereof, not knowing what is convenient for himselfe, neither shunneth or avoydeth that thing which doth anoye him. Which if hee bee not taught to knowe: or of hys owne understanding hee dooth not weigh: it commeth to passe that hee suffer many troubles, and that suddenlye there happeneth unto him an unfortunate ende. And amongst those mischiefes wherin he standeth so often in danger, and which every houre hang over his head: those things which bring him soonest to an ende, and which woorke him most hmt, are the venomes which are founde in manye little hearbes, and in divers minerals, and in many kindes of vermin. Besides those which the mallice of men hath invented against themselves, there are manye whiche by Nature are in Plantes, trees, stones, and vermin or Beastes: so that man can have no cause too be proude of his owne dignitye: but rather maye bewayle him heereof: in that so little a Hearbe can offende him, and so small a fruite or stone may destroye him.
Against all these venomes as wel in general as ia particular, the Phisitions as wel Greekes as Arabiens and Latinistes wrote effectual remedies as well general as particular. Amongest the which they put one in practise, that in tymes past was had in great estimation, and taken for a present remedy, for the greate vertues and marvellous efectes, whiche it wrought against all venomes and accidentes thereof, which they called the Bezaar stone. But as tyme is the discoverer of all thinges: so is it the destroyer and consumer of every thing: for in having been hid so long from us, wee knewe no more what the Bezaar stone was, then as if it had never beene: and the name thereof was so strange and unknowne unto us, even as the townes in Scitia. Time it selfe willing to restore again unto us this precious stone hidden from us so many yeeres: not onely discovered the same unto us, but jointly therwith hath descried unto us an hearbe, which hath the like vertues and effectes against all manner of venome, whiche hearbe is called Escuerconera, hsving beene discovered but a fewe yeeres past to our exeeeding great profit and commoditie.
And because these twoo thinges, to wit, the Bezaar stone, and the Hearbe Escuerconera, bee so lyke in operation, and have so many and the selfe same vertues, against venome, that I determined to write of them both togeather, and to shewe the proper Vertues of these twoo thinges so excellent in Medicine: it is needefull first to knowe, and therefore treate of the Venomes as a beginning of the woorke: and to declare what Venome is, and the cause of suche as have taken Venome, and then the remedies thereof, and howe they may bee preserved from them: and therefore we wil treate first of Venom, for that it will serve not a litle for the intent of that which we minde to write of the Bezaar stone, and the hearbe Escuercouera.
Venom is a thing, which beeing taken at the mouth, or applyed outwardly, dooth overcome our bodies, by making them sicke, or by corrupting of them, or by killing them: and this is founde in one of these foure thinges: in plants, in minerals, in beasts, or in mixtures, the which worketh their effectes, eyther by manifest qualitie, or by bidden propertye, or both. These venoms partly do kill as: partly we use them for our profite and bodily health, and partely the people of suncient time did use them for a remedy against their great labours. That which doth offend us as well in generall, as in particular, Dioscorides in hys sixth booke of his history of Plantes doeth treate of very exactly, putting in generall these remedies, and in particular, that which is convenient for every one of them: and the same did other Greeks, Latinistes, and Arabians, which are to be seene, who will more particularly know of them.
These did write of many medicines, with the which every one may preserve themselves from poyson: for the malice of mankinde is very great, and many have procured for their interest, and revenge, not onely with venome to offend and kill the common sorte of people: but also Emperours, Kinges, great Princes and Lords: the which in how much more high estate they are appointed and placed, so much the more danger they are in.
And manye notable men of the olde Wryters fearyng this, did compounde many and divers medicines, that by meanes of them they might not be hurte by venom or venemous thinges that might be given them. As for example, the Emperour Marco Antonio did use suche thinges, who fearing to be poysoned, tooke every morning a little Triacle and Methridate. Sometimes his confection Methridatica, other times certeyne leaves of Rue, with Nuttes and Pigges: and so they did use the like medicines because they would not be offended with venome, if any were given unto them.
Others there bee which doo use venome too remedye and heale many diseases: and likewyse the Phisitions abounde over muche in our Bodies: for that this cannot bee doone effectually, unlesse there bee used violence against nature, and so the purgative medicines beeing strong, doo not wante Venome: trueth it is that it is procured with all dylygence too correcte and prepare them, but although that thys bee doone, yet alwayes there dooth remayne venome wherewith that woorke is made so strong. Also they use venomes in Surgerie, with the which they doo roote out and eate the naughtye fleshe and the superfluitye of woundes, and doo open and serve to burne. Where it is needefull lykewise the venomes doo preserve from diseases: as Quicksylver beeyng carryed about, one dooeth preserve Children from the evill of the eye: and the Sublimatum from the Plague. I knewe one that kepte sicke people in an Hospitall, where they dyd heale manye that were sicke of the Plague: And with carreying continually a peece of Sublimatum neere unto his hearte, it never came to hym, neyther was hee sycke of anye sache disease.
Others in olde times being Infidels did use venoms, wherewith they delivered themselves from evill Deathes, Injuries, or perpetuall Slaverye, whiche have beene taken alyve they shoulde have suffered. As Demosthenes, whom they woulde have put to a moste cruell death and notorious, prevented them by taking veaome that hee carried with hym continuallye a little Cane under hys hayre behynde his eare. The lyke dyd Democrito with venome whyche he carried in a ring: and Hanniball when hee sawe him selfe overcome: lykewyse Cleopatra because Pompeio shoulde not tryumphe over her: and manye others for to deliver themselves from vile Death, whych they looked for, had rather to take it with their own hands, then too suffer their Enemies tyrannous tryumphe over them.
The principall tokens whereby it is knowen when one , is venomed, or hath taken Venome after he hath eaten or drunke, are: if hee doe feele foorthwith very great heavinesse ; and bee overladen as it were in all the bodie, with greate faintnesse ; or doe vomite, and that out of his stomacke, there doeth come an horible savour: the colour of his face to chaunge sometymes yellowe, other times pale ; or else too bee of the colour of Earth, and of these colours they doe chaunge their lippes, their nsyles, and all the bodie: they are so disquieted that they cannot stand neither on their feete, nor lye in their bedde, but rather with fayntnesse and griefe they tumble in their bedde, and on the grounde ; they doe feele at their heart greate fayntnesse, and are subjecte too soundinges, and are driven too vomite, yet they cannot ; the whyte of the eyes doe turne too the colour of bloode and are inflamed ; they looke with a furious countenaunce and horrible ; their Pulses beate out of order ; and lykewise their bresthing ; and above all, an universall Colde, throughout all their bodie:
And chiefly in the lower partes, and this is conformable to the venome they have taken: for if the venome were colde, all the body woulde waxe colde, especially their Feete, Handes, and Face and breathing out colde ; they are foolishe and well neere wythout Judgement: if the venome bee hotte, they are troubled and vexed wyth greate Dryeth, and inward and outward burning, that it seemeth to them they are fired. It is also necessarie (to know what venome they tooke) for too see the vomite, and what they doe caste up withall, to judge by the colour what Venome it was: and beeyng knowen by this way, or by Relation, or otherwaies beyng apparsunt, it must be remedied by his contrarie, for to extinguish and kill the malice thereof, as all the suncient Phisitions have sufficiently written of, as well in generall agaynst all, as in particular against everie one of them, for that everie one hath his contrarie effectes for to remedie the malce thereof.
The tokens that be most evill in them that have taken Venome, by often soundinges, and to cast up the white of their eies, they doe waxe verie red, and put out their tongue verie great, and blacke, and the pulse fall, colde sweet universally throughout all their bodie, chiefly in the extreame parts, and in their breastes, and they are desirous to vomit, but cannot, and they have their understanding troubled: and this is in allkinde of venom being taken, or by bitings of venomous beastes, in so much that they talke ydlely as though they had the frensie which is a mortall signe.
It is needfull, for the better knowledge what Venom it was, that it bee seene if there did remaine any thing of that which they had eaten or drunken, and to see what was that which was mingled therewith, judging it by the colour, the smell and the taste, or giving it to a Dogge, a Hen, or a Cat, and marke how it worketh with them. For if any of them waxe sadde or heavy, it is a token that there is venom: and if they die, it is a token that the venom was strong.
And being knowen to bee venomed the first thing that is to bee procured, is, that he which is sicke doe vomite, which is the thing that doth most profit, bycause there should be no time for the venom to enter, by the vaines, and arteires, for to come to the heart, for if it come thither, it is past all mans helpe: and therefore it is convenient that this remedye of Vomite be done with all speede, that it may be expelled, before it passe from the Stomacke. And for to cause Vomite, there must bee procured thinges that in very shorte time will provoke it, as to put the fingers in hotte water, and the moste common thinge is sweete Oyle, drinking muche quantitie thereof in suche sorte, that they fill their Bellies therewith: that it may the better bee expelled: the whych having received, they shall with their Fyngers, or feather provoke them to vomit, which must be done untill that you perceive that all that be expelled, and caste out which was eaten or drunken, which did hurte. And if the Oyle bee not sufficient too dooe this, there may be made thinges for to cause vomite, beginning by the moste Weake, as the seething of Dill, the Seede of Radishe of Camamell, and other like thinges that dooe provoke Vomits, adding to the seething, if it be needful, a Dramme of Agarico, the which although it doe provoke vomite strongly, it hath also the propertie to breake the strength of the venome. Some for a grete secrete doe give a Pinte of Water of the Flowers of Orenge warme, which although it dooeth provoke Vomite, it hath also a particular vertue too extingushe, and kill the strength of the Venome, it muste bee given hotte the quantitie of a Pinte. And heereof it commeth that the Water taken out of the Flowers of Orenges which is a kinde of Cydron, hath greate vertue againste Venome, as we have written in a little Booke which is printed with others of mine in Latine, that doeth treate of Orenges. It is very good that with the thinge waich provoketh vomite, there bee mingled thinges that have vertue against venome, as Triacle, Methridato, and other like thinges, the which heereafter wee will treate of.
In our time there hath beene compounded and drawen out an Oyle, which they call Oyle-of Vitrioll, or Coporace, and it is taken to bee that onely whych is moste excellent for to expell and caste out Venome, and for too extinguishe the malice of as many thinges as are nowe knowne too bee venomous: by taking sixe droppes thereof with some Cordiall water, for that it maketh the Venome too bee vomited out, extinguishing the malice of the venome. And not onely this Oyle of Vitryall dooeth profite us for any manner of Venome, but also it is founde out to bee an effectuall remedy for many other infirmities, as Evonimus dooeth shewe beeyng a greate Alcumiste, and also verie well learned in all kinde of Medicinall Distillations.
Hee that shall cure them that have taken Venome muste have a speciall care at the firste too procure Vomits, for that it is the principall and first grounde, for to go about to cure and heale them of venom, to minister such medicines that will provoke vomite.
And the Vomite beeing pronmed, there must bee given afterwarde too him that is sicke, medicines that have particular vertue for too take away, and kill the force that the Venome hath lefte in his Stomacke and other principall Members. And foorthwith it must be procured to knowe what manner of Venome in particular the sicke Person hath taken: for that beeing knowen, goe foorthwith too Dioscorides, Galen, Paulo, Avicen, and other Authours: for they prescribe the remedies in particular against everie one of the saide venomes, of the which they doe write at large. If so bee that any of the Venome have stayed so long in the bodie that it be descended downe to the Guttes, so that it cannot bee expelled by vomite, let them use a gentle glistere, that they may avoyde by Stoole the vennme that wente to those partes.
If they knowe not what Venome the sicke person tooke, it must bee seene by the Accidentes of the Venome which will shew whether it be hot or cold: for if the venome be hot, the face wilbe inflamed, and great heate wilbe inwardly, and beating outwardly over al the bodie, the eies red, the nailes swollen, an extreame drieth with some heate, with burnyages, and beatiages in the Stomacke ; then it is certayne that the Venome is hotte, and according thereunto the remedyes muste bee gyven. And although they have greate vertue agaynst Venome, and doo alter and take away the evil heate that is imprest in the members being receyved. inwardely, with these Medicines that bee against Poyson, and whiche are very colde and Cordiall: yet must they bee applyed oatwardley uppon these Members most principall, joyntlye with the use of good Meates easye and dissolvative, altered with colde Cordial thinges which are of a contraxye disposition in operation agaynste the heate, and that may extinguishe the malice and force of the Venome.
But if the Accidentes bee in suche sorte that you perceyve the Venome too bee colde as though the sicke Persoa were in a Dreame or in a Traunce after the manner of a Lethargie and hath his members colde, and hys Face pale, then they muste use Medicines more then these thynges, that are agsynst Venome, that they may have vertue too heate and too take awaye the colde as well inwardely as outwardely, by heating the Bodie and principall members with medicines that have vertue therfore, and using divers varieties and remedies that do give heate, extinguishing the malice of the Venome being colde, joyntlye with those Meates, which have vertue therefore. And in thys there ought too bee consideration, that there must bee gyven the remedyes, that are too bee doone for the Cures and Diseases that the Venome is cause of: not foregetting the principall cause whiche is to kill and to destroye the malice, that is the cause thereof, with the medicines and Remedies that I wyll speake of heereafter.
If hee that hath taken Venome do not perceive nor knowe what manner of Venome it was that he tooke, nor the Accidentes thereof doo shewe: It is to bee thought that it was of the Venomes whiche doo theyr woorke of theyr owne propertie whiche is the woorste of all kynde of Venomes: then it is convenient that there bee had more care procuring vomytte, and that it bee effectually doone, as it is aforesayde. And if any bee desended into the Guttes, let him have a gentle Glister that in all properties hath a knowne vertue agaynst Venome, whiche remedies are called Bezaarticas, the whiche muste bee used at all tymes with his meate, and drynke, procuring the inwarde and outwarde comforting of the principall members, and using Meates of Substaunce, that maye gyve great strength, taken out by a small Presse and in anye other sorte that is needefull, in the which there muste bee put thinges that have Vertue agaynste all kinde of venome, of the whiche wee will treate of heereafter.
And thys muste bee done, not onely in them that bee Venomed with unknowne Venome whiche worketh the malice of its owne propertye, but in suche as have taken knowne Venome whiche woorketh by qualitie: for that the Venome is a thing that dooth moste of all pull downe and weaken Nature, makyng leane verye quickly, and overthrowing the Vertue and strength thereof. These Medicines which have this vertue and speciall propertye agaynste these Venomes, are many: some bee simples and other compoundes: and because there are many of the one and of the other, I will speake of them that are most used, and wher is seen greater experience of them which are compounded. The principall is the triacle that Andromacho mete of the whiche if it bee well made, is the moste principall Medicine of as many as ever have beene compounded against al kinde of venome. And although it bee of a true composition, yet there lacketh some Medicines alwaies to doo that which is possible, we doo see that in thys case it dooth marvellous effectes, and not onely being taken with some water made for the purpose, but also beeyng put into prickes or bytinges of venemous beastes, and likewise in Apostomes full of poyson, which are made in the time of the plague.
The Methridate is of a very great effect in this case and doth serve sometymes for triacle. That of Cidrons and Emraldes doo make a marvellous woorke, in all venome. The Earth Sigillato, hath a prerogative above them, especially in fevers which have an evil qualitie. The triacle Diathesaron, is for the purpose in colde venoms and in bytiages of venemous Beastes, and in especially in the bytyng of a beast that is madde. And so you have many other compounded Medicines that have vertue and propertye against venom: but these which I have spoken of, are the most principal and found most true by experience.
The simple Medicines bee many, the most principall is the earth Lemnia so celebrated of the olde wryters, in especially of Galen, who only to see it, and to see how the priestes did make it, sayled to the Ilande of Lemnos that at this day is called Estalimene, whiche is the most principal simple medicine that the Greekes knewe.
The true Diptamo is another which groweth in the Iland of Creta, which at this day is called Candia, whereunto the people of the Isle doo runne, when they feele themselves hurte by any venomous hearbes, for by eating thereof they. are healed.
The Escordeon is of so greate vertue in preserving from corruption, that in a Battaile the dead bodies whiche were fallen downe uppon this hearbe, were long time preserved without any putrefaction: and the others which fell not on this hearbe, were found very rotten and in peeces.
The seede of the Cydron are of marvellous effecte agaynst venom, as Atheneo doth shewe, in a large historie treating therof. The same vertue have the small grains of Orenges, seing that they are neere to the nature of Cidrons. The bone of the hart, of the Deere called the Hart, is of great vertue against venom and soundings of the heart, the same dooth the Ivory, it doth heale marvellously the Jaundise of the which I have seene greate experience in many. All precious stones have the same vertue against venom, in especially, the Jasint, and the pearles, and much more the Emraldes of the whiche being taken nine graines, it doth resist al venom, and in the infirmities that are of poyson, chiefly wher there are pricks of venemous beastes, and in stooles of blood being venemous, and in fevers of an evill qualitie. The true Unicornes horn is a thing of most effecte above all others, and wherein moste experience is founde, whereof there is but lyttle wrytten. Onely Philostrato in the lyfe of Apolonio, sayeth that it is agaynst Venome, the whiche the late wryters did amplifie. It is convenient that it bee the true Unicornes horne, by reason there is much false and fayned. I sawe in this Cittie a Venetian that brought hither a peece verye greate, and, he asked for it fyve hundreth Crownes, and in my presence hee made experience of it. Hee tooke a threede and dyd annoynte it well with the Hearbe of the Crosseboweshooter and dyd passe it through the Crestes of twoo Chickens: unto one of them hee gave a lyttle of the Unicornes horne stamped in a little common water, and to the other hee gave nothing at all: this died within one quarter of an houre, the other that tooke the Unicornes horne, dured out two daies, but he woulde not eate, and at the ende of them hee died as dry as a sticke. I dooe beeleeve if it had beene given to a man that hee had not dyed, bycause hee hath the wayes more broade, and thereby hee may expell from him the poyson, and to hym myght bee given other remedies, by meanes whereof with the Unicornes horne hee might have beene delivered. Of all these medicines I doe compounde certaine pouders, that are well knowen by their msnifest qualitie, as also by their hidden properties, which have great vertues and are of great efficacie againste all venomes, and for Pestilent fevers, or if they hsve any evill qualitie, or wheresoever there bee an evill humour or a cause venomed, they take of the earth Lemnia or our Belearmenike prepared, the waight of eighteene pence, the seede of Cidrons, Escordeon, Diptamo, pearles prepared of everie one the waight of twelve pence, the bones of a Deere called a Harte, Ivorie, the waight of six pence of everie one, the Unicornes horne, and the Bezaar stone, if it bee to bee had the waight of xx. graines, let them be made in smal pouders, and let there be mingled with them ten leaves of golde, of the which there shall bee used the waight of three pence, with some water made for the same purpose. For the effecte that it muste bee ordained it must be taken many daies fasting, and it must bee put into the meates and suhstance that shall bee taken for that it worketh verie greate effectes, by taking away the strength of the venome, and pressing downe the force thereof, comforting the hearte: and the rest of the principall members, takng away the evill disposition of the venome that had taken roote in the bodie. And lykewyse they used them in Pestilent Fevers that have an evill disposition, for it taketh away the venomous mallice of them, the which if it bee not done, the cure is in vayne. Likewise it is to be given to them that are bitten with venomous beastes, or pricked of them, because it may extinguish and kil the malice of the venome. And although that these pouders are of so much vertue as aforesaide, the Besaar stone is of greater vertue and excellencie, for that in it alone is founde all the vertues and properties that are in all medicines which we have already spoken of, by his own propertie hidden and by grace from heaven infused into it against venomes: which you shal find to be the best and most present remedie of all others, as we wil shew in that which followeth.


Of The Bezaar Stone
THIS Bezaar stone hath many names: for the Arabiens doe call it Hagar, the Persians Bezaar, the Indians bezoar, the Hebrewes Belzar, the Greekes Alexi-pharmacicum, the Latinistes against venom, the Spaniardes the stone against venom and sounding. Conrado Gesnero in his booke that he made of beastes, speaking of the Goate of the mountaine, saith that this name Belzaar is an Hebrew name, for that (ben) in Hebrew is as much to say as Lorde, and (zaar) venom, as if ye would say, Lord of the venomes, and by good reason it is so named, seeing that this stone is Lady of the venomes, and doeth extinguish and destroy them as being Lady, and mistresse over them. And of this it commeth that all thinges that are against poison, or venomous things are called Bezaarticas, for their excellencie.
This stone is ingendred in the inner part of the beast, that is commonly called a Goate of the mountaine. The ingendering of stones in beastes is a common thing, and also in man chiefly, there is no parte in his body, wherem they bee not ingendred: and likewise in byrdes, and fishes, and rattes of the field.
Plinie in his 28 booke the 9 Chapter, saieth that the wilde harts goe to the hollow places where snakes and serpents are, and with their breath doe bring them foorth and eate them. And this is gathered hereby, that they doe it eyther to heale them of some disease, or to waxe yong againe, that they may live many yeeres. The Arabiens doe amplife this cause and say, that the wild Harts by stone: and they declare it in this manner.
In these East parts are bred certaine beastes, which are called Harts, which for the great heat of the Sommer goe into the caves and hollowe places, where the adders and snakes and other vermin being of poyson are, which in that country be many, and verie venomous, bycause the country is so hot: and with their breth they drive them out, and tread upon them, and kill them, and eate them, and after they are filled with them, they goe as speedily as they can where water is, and they plunge themselves therein, in such sort that they leave no parts of their bodies out, but their snowt, for to fetch their breath: and this they do, that with the coldnes of the water they may delay the greate heate of the venome, which they have eaten: and there they remaine without drinking a droppe of water, until they have alayed and cooled, that fervent heat, wherein they were by feeding uppon the venomous vermine. And being in the water there doth ingender in the places where the drops of water commeth foorth of their eyes, a stone, which being come foorth of the water, falleth from them, and it is gathered up for the use of medicine. This is that in effect which the Arabiens doe write of the manner howe the Bezaar stone is ingendered. I have procmed and with great diligence sought to find out by such as have come from the India of Portingal, and such as have past beyond the Chins to knowe the trueth of thys matter: and it is thus.
In the greatest Indis, (where Ptolomeo doth write to bee founde so muche goodes, and so greate riches before the River Ganges in certaine Mountaines which dooe joyne with the Country of China) there dooe breede certayne beastes like to Hartes, as well in greatnesse as in swiftnesse, and are verie much like unto Hartes, saving in some respecte they doe participate with goates, as well in their hornes which they have like a goate, beeing turned backewarde, as in the making of the bodie: whereby they give them the name of Goates of the mountaine, wherein in my opinion they are deceived, for they rather ought to bee called Hartegoates, in that they have the partes and likenesses of both, which is of a Harte and of a Goate. These Hartgoates in those partes dooe use themselves lyke to the Hartes, that Plinie speaketh of, in these places as is aforesaid, that goe to the dennes of wilde venomous beastes, and with their breathing cause them to come foorth and eate them: and afterwarde doe goe whereas water is, and do plundge themselves therein, untill they perceive that the furie of the venome which they have eaten bee past, and untill then they dare not drinke a droppe. And beeing come foorth from thence, they goe into the fieldes, and there they eate many healthfull hearbes, of greate vertue, which are against venome, which they by their naturall instincte dooe know that there doe aryse as wel of the venom which they have eaten, as of the herbes which they have fed on, being ingendred by meanes of the naturall heate, and by that vertue which is declared, beeing infused at the time of the generation in the inner parts of the bowelles, and in other parts of their bodies, certaine stones, of the greatest and of the smallest sort, which is a thing of great admiration, and of the greatest vertue that to this day is knowen against venom. It is understoode of that venom which is so pernicious and hurtfull that they did eate, and of those herbes being so healthful that they fed upon it, by a marvellous worke, the Bezaar stone is ingendered.
And as they whiche come from those partes, and have seene this beast from whom they take out these stones, hee is of the greatnesse of a Harte and well neere thys making, hee hath onely twoo broade hornes, with the pointes sharpe, turned and falling muche backewarde, his hayre is thicke and grosse of a mingled colour, for the moste parte, and reddishe, and of other colours: you have many of them in those Mountaines. The Indians doo hurte thern and kill them with weapons and with snares and ginnes: and they bee so fierce, that sometymes they kill some of them: they are very swift on foote, and leape very much, they live in hollowe places of the grounde, they goe in companies, there bee males and females, their voyces are roarings: they take out the stones from the inner parte of their bowelles, and of other hollowe partes of the bodye, and they use muche diligence in the taking out of them by reason the Portingales that doo trade thither, gyve muche for these stones, that they doo so take out, and they carrye them to the China, to sell: and from thence to Maluco, and from Malaco to Calicut for there is the greatest utterance of them, and they do esteeme so much of them, that one is woorth there, beeing fine, fiftie crownes as they are here.
And as I was wryting this treatise I went to see a beast, that shoulde seeme to bee the same, by reason he hath all those markes which those of that partes have, which I sawe in the house of the Archdeacon of Mebla, beeing a woorthie Gentleman, which was sent him from very farre Countries, by the way of Africa, and is in thys forme and fashion: Hee is a Besste of the greatnesse of a wild Harte, hee hath the same hayre, colour and horne, that a Harte hath, he hath the face, the head, and the tayle like a Harte, hee is swift in running, like to a Harte, his snowt is like to the Hartes, and lykewise his countenance, his bodye is lyke to a Goate, for hee is lyke to a greate hee Goate, and hath twoo hornes turned backwarde, somewhat falling with the pointes wrested, that hee seemeth to be lyke a he goat, and all the rest like to a Harte. There is one thing in this besst which is greatly to bee marvelled, for if hee fall from a Towre downe to the grounde, hee lyteth uppon hys hornes, and receyveth no hurte thereby, but rather dooth rebounde as a ball of Winde in the ayre: hee eateth grasse, breade, and all that you give him, hee is of great strength, and is alwayes tyed with a Chayne, because he breaketh and byteth a sunder the cordes. I doo looke stil when he will dye, or that they will kill him, to see if hee have the Bezaar stone.
The making and fashion of the stones bee of dyvers maners for that some bee long as the stones of Dates, others bee lyke to Chestnuttes, others like to rounde pellettes, of earth, suche as are shot in Crossebowes, others like to the egges of Pigions, I have one lyke to the kidney of a Kidde, there are none that be sharpe pointed. And as these stones bee divers in their makinges so they doo varie in their colours, some have the colour of a darke baye, others bee of an Ashe colour, commonly they bee of a Greene colour, and with blacke spottes, such spottes as the Cattes of Algallia have, of a sadde gray colour, al which are finely compounded of certeyne thynne skales, or rindes, one uppon an other, lyke to the skales of an Onion, verye artificially set, and those rindes are so excellent and so glistering, that it seemeth as though every one of them were burnished by Arte, and so taking awaye that whiche is uppermost of all, that whiche remayneth is muche more g1istering, and shyning, then that whiche was taken awaye: and heereby they are knowne to bee fine, and true, and onely for this I tooke away from that whiche I have, the uttermost skale, that was upon him, and that which remayned was as glistering and more then the first, these skales are greater or smaller according to the greatnesse of the stone, it is a light stone and easie to bee scraped or cutte, lyke to Alabaster, because it is softe: if it bee loag in the water, it dissolveth. It hath no heart nor foundation in the inner parte, whereuppon hee is formed, but rather is somewhat hollowe, and the hollownesse is full of Powder of the same substaunce that the stone is of, whiche is the best. And this is the best way to knowe whether the stone be fine and true when it hath that pouder, for they which are false, have it not, and by thesc twoo thinges they whiche are fine and true, may well bee knowne from those which are false and counterfayt. In them that are moste true bee these thinne skales and rindes glistering and shining one upon another, and the inner parte hath that powder which I have spoken of: and those whiche are not true have neither the one nor the other. For I sawe one that was broken, to see if it were fine and it had skales, and in the inner parte it had a graine or seede wherby the Indian deceived many.
Guido de Lanazaris, a man naturally borne in this Citie, which travelled all the rounde worlde over, and was in those partes of the China, sayde unto mee, that there were Indians that counterfeyted them with a composition that they use and knowe, but the twoo thinges which is aforesayde they coulde never bring to passe: to wit, the glistering skales, and the powder, that is in the inner parte. And hee sayde to me, that they were there much more esteemed then amongest us, because they bee healed with them of manye diseases.
Andrew Belunensis doth alledge of Tipthas Arabien, in a booke that hee wrote of stones, and sayeth that the Bezaar stone is a Minerall, and that it is taken out after the same manner as the other particuler stones are, of hys mineries as the Diamondes, Rubies, Emeraldes, and Agates: and it seermeth that Serapio dooth so understande it, when hee spake of this stone. He sayde that the Minerall of this stone is in the lande of Syria, and of the India, and East Countries, in the whiche they were deceived ; for that it is cleerely seene that they are taken out of the sayd beasts, which the Indians do take out with great diligence as we have sayde: and there is seene in them the woorke and manifest effect which we will speake of.
Serapio dooth shewe, that in his tyme there were likewise of these counterfayte stones which hee sayth have not the vertue against Venome as the true Bezaar hath. Of this stone I finde no Greeke Authour which hath written of it, nor Latinest: onely amongest the Arabiens this matter is treated of, and in some late Writers whiche wee will speake of heereafter, and for this cause onely the Auncient Wryters, beeyng Arabiens that wrote of it, and the late Writers Latinistes and those of our time, amongst the Arabiens, hee that dyd moste largely write of it, was Serapio a learned man, in hys Medicinall Hystorie in the 806 Chapter where hee writeth many thinges of the Bezaar stone woorthie to bee knowne, the which of his owne authoritie he sheweth how great excellencie this stone hath against all kinde of Venome, of what manner and qualitie soever it bee, and agaynste the bytinges of Venemous beastes, extinguishing and taking away the grounde, and evill qualitie, that the venomes doo infuse into the bodies, delivering them from death that shall use it. It is given in Pouder, and they say that it doth the same effect by chewing of it, or holding of it in the Mouth: for after it is taken, it dooth provoke sweate and dooth expell the Venome, and maketh the woorke sure, saying that beeyng carried about any person, and that it touch the fleshe, and bringing it over the left parte, it dooth preserve him that shall so carrie it about him that no venome or venomous thing shall offende him: for being applied to the bodie, it resisteth venome that it may not offende him: and them that bee infected therewith it healeth. And this it doeth not onely to them that have taken venome, but unto suche that have had it put into their Syrope, apparrell, or letter, or other parte that may offende them. The same Serapio sayeth, that this Stone dooeth profite muche againste bytinges of beastes that are venomous, and in their Prickes taking the pouder thereof at the mouth, and provoking sweate, it expelleth it from the inner partes: it profiteth much, too cast the pouder of this stone in Prickes, or in woundes made by these venomous beastes, for it destroyeth and taketh away the malice of the venome, and although that the sores beeing so made by these beastes dooe beginne to corrupt, it cureth and healeth them, and the pouder of this stone being put upon the venornous beasts doth take away their strength, and if it be put in place where they do wound any, although they make a sore, yet the malice of the venom doth not take holde. And this is seene by experience in the venomous beastes called Adders and Snakes, for the pouder beeing put in place where they doe byte, all their venemous strength is taken away and nothing doth remaine but the signe thereof. Three graines of this pouder wet with some licour, beeing cast upon snakes and adders, they die foorthwith Thus much Serapio saieth.
Rasis, Simia of Gallen a man amongest the Arabiens most learned in the booke, which hee wrote called Continent, saieth thus: the Besaar stone is that which seemeth sometimes yellowe and softe, without any manner of taste, the which hee saieth that he hath experimented two times, and hath found in it vertue of great efficacie againste Napelo the strongest of all venornes. He sayeth also that he hath seene in this stone the most marvellous effectes against all venome that ever he saw in any medicine, that was against venome either simple or compounde, or any composition made against venome, as Triacles, or other compositions, for that the Bezaar stone is of more efficacie and vertue then any of them. The same doeth agree with the bookes he made to the King Almasor, saying, The evill Venoms that doe offende the heart and woorke their efecte, 0 how little profite doeth any cure prove in thern, if the Bezaar be not taken, for that doeth resist it: and he sayeth, moreover I myselfe saw that it did resist the venome called Napelo which is the venome that doeth penetrate more then al venoms: thus much of Rasis.
An other Moore verie learned and great Astronomer that wrote of stones figured under signes and Planets and the vertues they have, was called Hamech Benreripho: hee in his booke that he wrote of the vertue of Plantes and of stones and of beastes, that serve for the use of medicine, sayeth the Bezaar stone is against all venome, and it hath besides this particular propertie taken in pouder againste the bytinges of Scorpions, and being carried about one, and graven uppon, he is safe against all the bytinges of venemous besstes.
An other Moore called Abdala Narache, a learned man in Medicine, saieth, that the Bezaar stone is against all venome, hee sawe it is a precious thing in the handes of the King of Cordova called Miramamolim unto whome was given strong venome: and having given unto him the Bezaar stone, by meanes whereof he was delivered wholly of the venome: foorthwith the King gave his roiall Pallace to him that gave him the stone, which delivered him from this imminent desth: and surely it was a great gift of a king, the chiefe Pallace of Cordova, at thys day beeing a thing so notable and of suche greate value: and the stone was much esteemed, for that so great a price was given for it. Avensoar a Phisition of the Moores, but a naturall Spaniarde of Penaflore a place lying betweene Cordova and Sevill, gave unto one, who was verie much lamented, by reason he had taken very evill Venome, of the Bezaar stone the waight of 3 graines with the water of Goords, for that it was hot venom, and because it did seeme to be so. For assoone as he had taken it, there did appeare uppon him the Jaundies very yeallow, and he was very wel delivered and saved from it.
Averoiz a Phisition and a Philosopher very excellent, beeing a Spaniarde, and borne in Cordova, saieth that the Bezaar stone is in great estimation, and verie profitable against all venomous bitings, and especially against the bytinges of Scorpions.
Haliabas dooeth make mention of the Bezaar stone in three places where he treateth of venomes, but he passeth it over lightly, onely shewing that it is soft, and saith that it must be scoured in water and that the water of it must be given to them that are poysoned.
Rabbi Moises of Egipt, but borne in Spaine, a most cunning Phisition, who followed Gallen in all his woorkes, in the booke he made of venomes, in the first thing that he trested of in the thirde Chapter speaking of simple medycines and the use of them which are convenient for the bytinges of venomous beastes, saieth the simple Medicines that we have amongst us of most profite and greatest experience which are of many approoved, are the seede of the Cidron etc. And the other is the Emeralde a marvellous medicine against all venome etc. Gallen made mention of the third which is the Bezaar stone that is taken out of a beast, the which stone is like to an akorn the colour therof is green and doth ingender by little and litle making it selfe grosse: and for that they find in it one skale upon another, some do say that they are ingendred in the corners of the eyes of certain sheepe that are in the East partes: othen doe say that they are ingendred in the purse of the gall of the said sheep which is of most certaintie and trueth. There is an other Bezaar, that is a Minerall stone in the lsnde of Egypte of divers colours, of the which, they that have heretofore written, have declared great marvelles thereof in their bookes, hut wee have prooved nothing of this Minerall stone: I have experimented them, but they have profited nothing. But the Bezaar stone that is taken out of the beasts which we have spoken of before, we have tryed the vertue thereof by experience.
And beeing given to him that hath beene bytten of a venomous beast, and being spplied to the place, he shall be healed and delivered therof by the help of God. These three kinde of Medicines have been proved in al kinde of venoms that are in the worlde, that is to say, the seede of the Cidrons, the Emeraldes and the Bezaar stone of the beast. The same is recited in the 4 Chapter. Two thinges doe shew that they are of importance as wel as their vertues: that these stones are ingendred in the gawles of the beasts, it seemeth that it carrieth great reason, for that wee see in many beastes that stones are ingendred in their gawls: the other is as they say that they doe ingender by little and little, the which appeareth by the skales that they are compounded of.
Avicen a man very wel learned, wrote not of this stone in particular, as of many other things, and being borne in Persia of the Citie of Bocara, he should have had more knowledge then the Moores beeing Spsniardes, which doe particularly write thereof, onely hee dooeth touche it in the second Canon in the fourth Chapter saying, that the medicines which of their owne propertie do worke against the malice of venome, dooeth exemplifie in Triacle and in the Bezaar stone: and hee speaketh more afterwarde, that the Triacle and the Besaar stone are twoo thinges, which doe conserve the health and the vertue of the spirites, that they may expell the venome from them: and in the fourth booke and the fourth Chapter, and in the fifth Booke in three partes he prayseth the Bezaar stone to be effectuall against Venome: and likewise hee doeth the same in the cure with the gall of the Adder, hee sayeth that it is an excellent thing, in the which places he maketh a short rehearsal, and doth as it were but passe them over by the way, and also hee tooke not this of himselfe, for hee had it of Rasis in the eyght part that he treated of.
In the same Chapter hee sayeth, the thyng that dooth most profyte, is the Bezaar Stone if it were to bee founde: but with howe muche dificultie is it to be had: the Stone is called the Bezaar, beeyng a darke redde, and approoved good against Venome: and thus much for them that were in his time.
These are the auncientest Authours that I finde to be amongest the Arabiens, whiche have written of this Bezaar stone, whiche were not fewe that shoulde have knowledge in their time thereof, by reason of the greate trade and traffike which the Kinges of Marnecos had with the East India, and especially with those of Persia, unto which place came the Merchsundise and precious Jewelles of the India, the which a Gentleman did certifie mee, who was Governour there for the Kyng of Portugall a long time, and had knowledge of the Stone and of the fashion thereof, and howe the Indians dyd take them out of the Beastes, and the fashion of them who gave mee greate knowledge thereof, as I have dedared: and hee did experiment the same and dyd see experience made of it in many of their great effectes. I made experience thereof by one that had the greatest and the best that I have seene in my life, who having had long time a very greevous disease, wherewith hee was broughte into a Melancholie Passion, and also fearing hymselfe to bee poysoned, I caused him to take thereof divers Morninges the weight of three graynes of the same Bezaar stone with the Water of Oxetongue, and hee was therewith very wel healed.
Many Phisitions of late time and in our dayes have made mention of this Bezaar stone and doo very much extol the same in their books with great Prerogatives, against al kinde of venome and against many other diseases, which wee minde to treate of, to see what we finde written by every one of them. Amongest whom Andrewe Mathiolus of Siena, a man very well learned, in the Commentaries whiche hee wrote most learnedly uppon Dioscorides in the sixth Booke, declaring the Medicines that are agaynst venome, by speciall propertie dooth write of the Bezaar stone very great vertues, and dooth approove it to be a medicine and remedie most principall that at this day is knowen in the Worlde agaynst venome, and he dooth referre that, as is sayd, unto the Authours which wee have alleaged.
Andrewe de Laguna borne in Segonia, who amongst the learned was named Galen the Spaniarde for the Comrnentaries which he made upon the sixth book of Dioscorides in the Spanish tongue, where hee treateth of Venomes, he sheweth how preyent a remedy the Bezaar stone is agaynst all kinde of venome and against the bytinges of venomous Beastes, and agaynst Pestilent Agewes of evill qualitie, and also that it is a greate remedie agaynste the fallyng Sicknesse, that it dooeth expell the Stone of the Reynes, and beeyng given with Wyne, it breaketh the Stone in the Bladder. There hee noteth howe this Stone is engendered in certayne Goates of the Moantaines of Persia, and howe the Stones that are the best bee bright, and skaley and soft, of the colour of the Fruite of Spaine called Beringena, whiche is a remedy muche commended amongest Princes and great Lords for the effects aforesaide.
Valescus de Taranto, a Phisition and borne in Milan, the Scholler of Tornamira, in the V Booke of his experiments, praiseth very much this Bezaar stone, to bee of great force against venom and other diseases for his effectes, and for the great fame that was of his woorkes, in this tyme against al venom. Saint Ardonius of Pesamis, Phisition, in a booke which hee made of venomes, exceedingly prayseth the Bezaar stone and preferreth it before al other medicines, as well simples as compoundes, which have vertue against venome or bytinges of venomous beastes: and sayeth, that he sawe it and prooved it by great experience.
Amato Lucitano, a learned man of our tyme, beeing now resident in Ragosa, in his Commentaries whiche he wrote uppon Dioscorides in the seconde Booke of Cervigenitale, dyd treate of this Bezaar Stone verie learnedly, as a man of Portingall, who did muche enforme himselfe of those of his nation that came from the East India, and hee sayeth that the Bezaar stone is of the making of an Acorne, full of spottes, declining to the colour of a sadde blew, compounded with many skales, the which they call Bezaar, as a present remedy against al maner of venom, and they take them out of certaine beastes which are like to wilde Hartes, that are in the East India, and are called goates of the mountains: they are founde in their bowelles and inner partes, of the which being given 8 graynes with the waters of the flowers of Orenges, it is the present remedy against all Venome, killing and extinguishing the venomes, and force thereof, it killeth the wormes given with water of Verdolages, and where the Fever is, and where there is no fever with white wine: he sayeth that he hath experience, and hath cured therewith the Pluresie being very sore rooted, it is convenient that it be given to them, that have taken venom, in vomittes, and it wil expel the venom, and being given to them that have vomitted, it causeth it to be expelled by sweate or by stoole: and beeing given in fevers, the day that they bee accustomed to come, it provoketh sweate, whereby many times they are delivered thereof. And in his thirde centuria the 74 cure and the 83 cure, in curing certeyne Pestilent Fevers, hee sayeth, that having taken the weight of three graynes of the Bezaar stone with water made for the purpose, it extinguisheth and killeth the malice of the venom of such agues, and he giveth it as a most present remedie, and sayeth, that the King of the East India hath this stone in great estimation, and it seemeth to bee so, seeing that in a present, at the tyme of the first conquest that was made there, the Kyng of Cochin sent to the King of Portingall, and amongst many precious Jewelles which hee sent him was a Bezaar stone, as a thing of greatest pryce and estimation, which was little bigger then a nut and was heere much esteemed by reason of the great vertues that it had: and this was the first that the Portingales brought to Spaine, and after they brought many other, they seeing the great effectes that the Indians did with them, and since that time they bring them with Diamants, Rubies and other precious things of great value, which they bring from those parts: and they sell thern for great summes of mony.
Nicholas Florentine amongst them of his time the wisest, in his fourth Sermon where he treateth thereof and in the nienth chapter, doth highly commend the Bezaar stone, and agreeth with Averoiz and Serapio.
John Agricola an Almaine, who wrote of the simple medicines of our time, in his second booke, and speaking of the Bezaar stone, sayeth that it is a most sure Antidote againste venome, and that it is a divine medicine and a remedye of most efficacie against Venome and bytinges of Venemous beastes.
Jerome Montuo a French Phisition of King Henries, in the treaty which he wrote of the remedies of surgery, and of the remedies of those that had taken venome, he doeth preferre the Bezaar stone for the greatest remedie of al others, which in our time hath been founde, by great experience that therof he had experimented upon many Lordes.
Anthoni Musa Brasavola a learned Phisition of Ferrara in the prologe which hee wrote upon the antidotes of Mesue, declareth of a marvellous matter that happened in Ferrara of many persons that had taken venom which were remedied by vomitting of the venom with the oyle of Vitriol and by taking the bezaar stone.
The counseller Peter of Abano borne in Padua, a man lerned amongst other of his time, in a treaty which he wrote of venoms in the 81 chap. spake of a certain stone called Bezaar, whose propertie and speciall vertue is against deadly venom, delivering from death with all speede without having need of other helpe or benefite of any other Medicine or any Phisition, and so for his excellencie is called Bezaar, which is as much to say, as the medicine that delivereth from al venom, and from death, and from other grievous diseases. And whosoever hath this stone with him, let him bee sure that with it hee shall bee cleare of all mortall venom.
And a King of England called Edward, was delivered by meanes thereof from a poisoned mortall wound that the greate Soldan with a venomed glaive gave him in a battaile that they fought beyonde the seas neere to the Citie of Aaron.
When hee was almost dead, there was given to him the Bezaar stone, by one who was the greate maister of the Templers, which was an order in those daies of great estimation, and verie riche. And hee saieth moreover that hee sawe in his time another Bezaar stone very light in waight and that it might bee scraped upon it as easily as uppon harde lyme, and was much esteemed.
Conrada Gesaero Tigurion in the booke which he wrote of beastes speaking of the goate, doeth much commend this Bezaar stone to be against all venom. Other authors there be that make mention of this stone, but they passe it lightly over, only praising it to be good against venom, in generall and in particular, the which at this present I lightly passe over, for it is suffciently spoken of by those before rehearsed, wherby it may have authoritie with al those that therof wil profite themselves.
That which I have seene by experience I wil now speake of for the more confirmation of the saide cause, and of the marvelous vertues which it hath, wherby it may be understoode what is written by those authors aforesaid, with manifest examples. It is about 14 yeres past that my Lady the Duches of Bejar was advertised by the Lorde don John Maurigues that in the Court was used for such as did sound a stone that was called the Bezaar, for that my Lady the Duches had a sonne very sicke of the said disease, wel neere since the time of his birth, and shee beeing desirous of his health did procure to know what remedy might be had, and seeing the ordinarie remedies of Phisicke, which they had ministred unto him beeing many and divers by the wysest Phisitions of Spaine, and yet not prevailed any thing, and hearing of the greate vertue of this Bezaar stone, they had communication with mee thereof: yet was it to me somewhat strange, for that I hadde no other knowledge thereof then by bookes, and I thought that it had not beene in these partes: then I requested that the stone might be sent for being desirous to ease this Lorde, for his vertues deserved the same, and his great knowledge in al kinde of learning, and in al things that a noble man might have knowledge in, as also to see the stone which was a thing of mee much desired. The stone was sent for to Lishebron by meanes of a Genoves, and there was brought twoo of them verie faire wrought in gold, and each of them as great as a Date stone and somewhat greater, of colour greene and blackishe, lyke to a Berimgena which is a fruit of Spaine, and the stone being brought not a little to our contentmeat, every one gave their judgement, and it was agree'd that at such time as he should sownde, it should presently be given him: and the sounding being come in the evening he tooke foorth with the appointed order, which was brought from the court, that he should take foorthwith the waight of three graines of the pouder of the stone, and it should bee cast in water of Oxetongue so much as nught be suffcient for him, and so it was done. Opening his mouth hee swallowed it downe, the which he did with much difficultie: within the space of halfe a quarter of an houre, after hee had taken it, he recovered as easily, as though he had not had it. And seeing the vertue that was in the stone, we did esteeme it much: and the more for that we sawe, that every time it tooke him, he came to himselfe so easily, and when he tooke not the stone, the sounding did continue long, and hee returned from it with greate paines, and in long time it seased not: but when the stone was given him he came quickly to him selfe, and with great easinesse, as though he had not had any sounding at all My Lady the Duches carried the stone in her purse, and had the quantity that he should take alwaies in a redinesse, because when the sounding came to him, it might bee given him with more speede, bycause hee shoulde not bee long in paine: so that from the time that he received it, his soundinges came not to him so continually as they did before. This being perceived, I saide one day to my Lady, that it was the doctrine of Phisitions, that the medicines which doe not heale disesses, cannot preserve that we fall not into them, but that it seemed good to mee that wee shoulde give unto him everie morning the pouder of the Bezaar stone, that with the continuall use thereof, the vapour might bee consumed which did ryse up to the braines, so that what seemeth to be venomous and hurtful, the stone would extinguish and kil, and would consume the vapour that riseth up from all the body, and from some particular member, the roote and originall beeing taken away of the disease, he should bee healed: so everie morning it was given him fasting the waight of three graines, of the pouder of the stone, with the water of Oxetongue, and it plessed God that it should woorke so effectually, that from the dey that he began to take it, until he died of another disease after, which was more then x. yeeres, there never came to him any soundings, the which stone he tooke vi. monethes together, and never missed day.
This effect being proved so great and manyfest, I having in cure a young Gentlewoman called the Lady Maria Catano and was sicke of certaine soundings of long tyme, and beeing in cure by learned Phisitions, her disease of soundings was perillous for that it held her x. or xii. houres and those were well neere everie day: she was in such case that many daies she rose not from her bed. I was called to cure her, seing the smal helpe that the other Phisitions had done to her, I did not meddle with the common medicines which other Phisitions had used many yeeres: but I caused to be brought from Lishebron a Bezaar stone, and after shee was purged, I gave it her by the order aforesaide: and from the day that shee beganne to take it unto this day shee never hadde more sowndinges, which is more then twelve yeares: there was spent a whole stone as great as a Date.
In this time the Doctor Lewes de Cueva, a man learned in his facultie: as he was eating, unwares a venomous thing did put him to so mortall paines, and was tormented with such accidents of venom which he had taken, that it was thought hee would have died in short time: and although hee tooke vomittes, and Triacle and other remedies against venom, when I came to see him, he was so evill that there was little hope of his life. And as I sawe that his disease proceeded of venome, and the little helpe that the remedies whiche had beene given to him dyd: I my selfe wente to seeke for remedie which was the Bezaar Stone: and beeing searched for, at length was found in the handes of the sayde Lady Mary Catano, for that the Powder of the inner parte of the stone remained with her: and thinking that shee shoulde not have taken it, shee kept it, the whiche I tooke, and it was about sixe Graynes of weight, and I devyded it into twoo papers, and greatlie to his comforte I founde remedye for hys greefe. I returned to hys House, and founde him as full of payne as might bee, I gave him foorthwith the three Graynes of Powder that I carried in the one Paper with the Water of Oxetongue, and in the space of halfe an houre or lesse, hee was marvellouslye eased, in such sorte that when night came hee was in good disposition, and out of daunger of Death, whiche was so neere him, in such sorte that the next day in the morning hee remayned well, for as muche as touched the daunger of death, but he remayned in such sorte that in many moneths hee could not throughly overcome the great evill whiche he had past.
The sayd Doctor Lewes de Cueva going by the way with a Lord a hunting, one of his pages being a tall young man, layde him downe to drinke of a poole of standing water, being nought, and full of venomous Woormes, and after hee had drunke it, hee felt himselfe so cutte, and in suche sorte, that hee coulde not moove from thence, and hys bellie so swollen and all his body in so greate a fayntnes, and sowndinges, with greate vomittes and sweate, that they carried him upon a horse to a Village that was neere at hande, and after they had made some remedies for him, they gave to him the Bezaar Stone that hys Maister carried with him for the lyke purpose, if any thing shoulde happen, and it dyd him so much good, that the next daye he was able to journy with his maister.
A Childe did eate a certeine venomous thing, whereby hee was in danger of death, and seing that the common remedies did not profit, I caused to bee given to the Childe the Bezaar stone, and immediatly it was well And for children that have wormes, it is lykewise verie good, for that it causeth them to be expelled by dissolution, marvellously taking away the accidents, that are wont to happen to children. And this it woorketh wheresoever you feare any griefe or venomous humour. In the thinges that it hath doone rnost good, hath been in the pestilence, for that there was in Germsny a great Plague, and unto all such as had the Bezaar stone given them, immediatly was seene the great effecte that it did in them that tooke it. And in an hospital were foure peisons infected with this evill, and it was given to twoo of them and not to the other, and they that tooke it escaped, and the other twoo died. And then it was given to manie that were infected with this evill, and some of them had twoo sores, and some had three, and yet they escaped and of this were witnesses many people of greate credit that sawe it and other meaner persons, as it is very well knowne to all the Court. This stone dooth profit much to them that be sad and melancholike, the Emperour tooke it many times for thys effect, and it is taken of many persons that are melaacholike: for it taketh it away, and maketh him glad and merry that useth it and to bee of a good disposition. Many I have seene that have beene much diseased with faintnesse, soundynges and melancholie, and taking the weight of three graines of this stone with the water of Oxtongue they have bin healed presently. In fevers of an evill qualitie and most pestilent, it is marvellous the good woorke that it dooth: for that it taketh away the malice therof, extingushing and killing the evill qualitie of the Venome, which is the first and principal thing that the Phisition should doo, for if that this bee not taken away first, the cure is in vaine. Many do use this stone holding a peece thereof in their mouth in the suspected time of a Pestilence, and where as venom is feared, or any thing that is venomous, and also it dooth profit much taking it in water to them that are sicke of pestilent Fevers.
A Gentleman had al his servantes sicke of Agewes that are commonly called Modorras, and he put into a pot of water a Bezaar stone that hee had, of the whiche hee caused the sicke people to drinke, and they al escaped and were delivered from death. And many people for this cause, have thys stone layde in water continually, that they may drinke therof beeing sicke, for it profiteth much to take away the Ague, and giveth strength to the hart, and not only this stone doth profit in venomous things and venomes, but in other diseases, as it hath bin prooved: and being given to them that have the giddines in the head, it doth much profit, and also against opilations. And it happened that a Nunne that had soundinges and greate opilations, by taking the Bezaar stone was healed, and likewise of the opilations: and being long time without her customed termes, they came very well to her and aboundantly. This stone profiteth much to them that have taken Arsenike or other corsive venom, for that it doth kill and consume the force of the venome, and taketh away the accidentes thereof. Milke hath in this a great prerogative, and dooth worke effectually, by taking much quantity, and continually using the same, for although that it be a mervellous remedy, it must be used in corsive venomes, for that it maketh the venomes to be expelled by vomit, and doth extinguish the mallice. It is the true Antidote against corsive venome, and after the use thereof the stone may be given or the pouder, or any of the saide medicines, that have vertue against venome. Also this stone doth profite much against fevers that bring certeine red spots in the bodie like to Flea-bytinges, that commonly doo appeare in their shoulders, and in their arthier parts of the bodie: these do come in sore Agewes, that doo expell the humours out of the bodie, and so it is convenient that it bee so used that it may come out well, and this must bee doone by putting ventosities, and other like helpes, that may expell the Humour, whereby nature is holpen, forbidding oyntments and other thynges that may disturbe the comming out of these thinges. An other thing which is convenient, is to give to the sick, when these small spottes doo begynne to appeare, those thynges which doo extinguish and kill the venome: of the which we have treated very largelyhaving respecte not to let blood, after that they have appeared, if it come not of too muche replection and fulnesse of Blood. One thyng I have founde for these redde Spottes and for Fevers of muche proftt and notable experi- ence in many, which is our Bolearmenike prepare in a dishe of earth with Rose water given in all Medicines that are to bee taken, and in the meates that are to bee eaten, and surely in it I have founde great effect, cheefelie in one yeare, wherein raigned manie Pestilent Agewes, called Moderras, and many were delivered from them, with the use of it, for that thys our Bolearmenike dooth dyffer little from that of the East partes, and thys shall bee where the Bezaar Stone is not to be had, for that it dooth exceede al, as I saw in a principall Gentleman of this Cyttie whiche had a sore Fever, with soundinges, Vomittes and other Aecidentes of an Agewe uppon whome did appeare Spottes, whiche before I have spoken of on his shoulders, and in gyving hym the Bezaar Stone with a lyttle of the Unicornes horne, foorthwith the Accidentes did cease and began to bee better, for that it dyd extinguishe and kill the force of the Agewe, whiche caused all the hurte. And after thys sorte I coulde speake of manie heere in Spayne, that for the space of these fourteene yeeres I have used it, and manie have beene delivered therewith from many diseases with the use thereof, and surely it seemeth a thing of wonderfull effectes, that a stone taken out of the belly of a beaste like to a wilde Harte or Goate in so little quantitie given, shoulde worke so great effectes as we have written of.