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.

[Footnote 28: George Buchanan, the Scotch Philosopher
and poet tutor of James I., had a strong aversion to
Catherine of Medicis, and in one of his Latin epigrams,
alludes to the herb being called _Medicie_, advising all
who valued their health to shun it, not so much from its
being naturally hurtful, but that it needs must become
poisonous if called by so hateful a name.]

"The Spaniards call it Tobaco, it were better to call it
Nicotiana, after the name of the Lord who first sent it into
France, to the end that we may give him the honor which he
hath deserved of us, for having furnished our land with so
rare and singular an herbe: and thus much for the name, now
listen unto the whole historie: Master John Nicot, one of
the king's counsell, being ambassador for his Maiestie
(Majesty) in the realme of Portiugall, in the yeere of our
Lord God, 1559. 60. and 61. went on a day to see the
monuments and northie places of the said king of Portiugall:
at which time a gentleman keeper of the said monuments
presented him with this herbe as a strange plant brought
from Florida. The nobleman Sir Nicot having procured it to
growe in his garden, where it had put forth and multiplied
very greatly, was aduertifed (notified) on a daie by one of
his pages, that a yoong boie kinsman of the said page, had
laide (for triall sake) the said herbe, pressed, the
substance and juice and altogether, upon an ulcer which he
had upon his cheeke, neere unto his nose, next neighbor to a
_Noli me tangere_, (a cancer) as having already seazed upon
the cartilages, and that by the use thereof it was become
marvellous well: upon this occasion the nobleman Nicot
called the boie to him, and making him to continue the
applying of this herbe for eight or ten days, the _Noli me
tangere_