The Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1870-1871, 1871-04-27
ORIGIN OF THE USE OF TOBACCO.

"Maister John Nicot Counsellor to
the Kyng, beeyng Embassadour for the
Kyng in Portugal in the yeres of our
Lorde, 1859, GO, 81, wente one daye to
see the PRISONS of the Kyng of Portugal
and a gentleman beeyng the keeper Of
the saide PRISONS presented hymn this
hearbe, as a strange Plant brought from
Florida; the same Master Nicot, hauyng
caused the saide hearbe to be set in his
garden, where it grewe and multiplied
marveillously, was vpon TYNE aduer-
tised, by one of his Pages, that young
man, knne to that Page, made saye
of that hearbe bruised, both the herbe
and the joiee together upon an ulcer,
whiche had vpon his cheeke mere vnto his
nose, coming Of Noli me tangere whiche
bega to take roote already at the gristles
of the Nose, wherewith he founde hymn
self marveillously eased. Therefore the
said Master Nicot caused the sickle yong
man to be brought before hymn, causing
the sadie herbe to be continued to the
sore eight or tenne daies, this saide Noli
me tangere, was Utterly extinguished and
healed: and he had sent it, while this
cure was working to certain Physition
of the Kyng of Portugal of the moste
fame, for to see the further WORKING and
effect of the said Nicotiane, and sending
for the same yong man at the end of
tenne daies, the said Phisition seeyng the
usage of the said sickle yong man certified,
that the sadie Noli me tangere was utterly
extinguished, as in decide he never felt it
since. Within o while after, one of the
Cookies of the said Embassadour hapying
almost cut off his Thombe, with great
choppyng knife, the steward of the house
of the sadie gentleman ranne to the sside
Micotiane, and dressed him there with
FIVE or sixe times, and so in the ende
thereof he was healed: from that time
forwarde this hearbe began to bee famous
throughout all Lisborne, where the court
of the Kyng Of Portugal was at that
presente, and the vertue OF this saide
hearbe was preached, and the people
beganne to name it the Ambassadours
hearbe! Wherefore there came certaine
daies after, gentleman of the country,
Father to one of the Pages Of the AM
bassadour, who was troubled with al
vlcer in his Legge, hauyng had the same
two yeres, and demanded of the saide
Ambassador for his hearbe, and vsing
the same in suche order as is before writ
ten, at the ende of tenne or twelve daies
lie was healed. From that time fourth
the fame of that hearbe increased in such
sorte, that manye came from all places to
have that same herbe. Emong all others
there was q woman that had her face
covered with Ringworme rooted, a.
though she had Visour on her face, to
whom the sadie L: Ambassador caused
the herbe to be given her, and told how
she should vse it, and at the ende of eight
or tenne daies, this woman was thor
oughleye healed, she came and showed
herself to the Ambassador, showing him
of her healyng. After there came cap
tain to presente his some, sick Of the
Hinges euill to the sadie L: Ambassador,
for to send him into France, VITO whom
there was ssye made of the saide hearbe,
whiche in fewe daies did beginne to
shewe create Ggnes of healing, and
finally was altogether healed Of the
HINGES euil. The L: Ambassadors Sec
ing so great efectes proceeding of this
hearbe, and hauing heard say that the
Lady Montigny that was, dyed at Saint
Germans, of an vlcer bredde in her
breast, that did turn to Moli me tangere,
for which there could never be remedey
bee founde, and likewise that the Count
esse of Ruffe, had sought for al the
famous Phisitions of that Realme, for to
heale her face, unto whom they could
give no remedy, he thought it good to
communicate the same into Fraunce, and
did send it to Kyng Frances the seconde;
and to the Queen Mother, and to many
other Lords of the Courte with the maner
of governing the same: and how to ap-
pile it vnto the said diseases, even as he
had found it by experience; and chiefly
to the lorde of Jarnac governour of
Rogell, with whom the sadie Lorde Am