Note Back to Main Text — Chapter IV

"Nicotiana though it have (has) beene but a while knowne in France yet it holdeth the first and principall place amongst Physicke herbs, by reason of his singular and almost diuine (divine) vertues, such as you shall heare of hereafter, whereof (because none either of the old or new writers that have written of the nature of plants, have said anything), I am willing to lay open the whole history, as I have come by it through a deere friend of mine, the first author, inventor, and bringer of this herb into France: as also of many both Spaniards, Portugals, and others which have travelled into Florida, a country of the Indians, from whence this herbe came, to put the same in writing to relieve such griefe and travell, as have heard of this herbe, but neither know it nor the properties thereof. This herbe is called Nicotiana of the name of an ambassador which brought the first knowledge of it into this realme, in like manner as many plants do as yet retaine the names of certaine Greekes and Romans, who being strangers in divers countries, for their common-wealth's service, have from thence indowed their own countree with many plants, whereof there was no knowledge before. Some call it the herbe of Queen mother, because the said ambassador Lord Nicot did first send the same unto the Queen mother,[28] (as you shall understand by and by) and for being afterwards by her given to divers others to plant and make to grow in this country. Others call it by the name of the herbe of the great Prior, because the said Lord a while after sailing into these western seas, and happening to lodge neere unto the said Lord ambassador of Lisbone, gathered divers plants thereof out of his garden, and set them to increase here in France, and there in greater quantitie, and with more care than any other besides him, he did so highly esteeme thereof for the exceeding good qualities sake.