Philip II of Spain

Peyote has been used in tribal ceremonies by indigenous cultures in North America since 1000 bc. In the year 1560, Spanish priest Bernardino de Sahagun wrote about the use of peyote and hallucinogenic mushrooms by the Aztecs. The first proper botanical description of peyote was made by Hernandez, the naturalist of Philip II of Spain, in 1638. Dried peyote buttons were processed and distributed by Parke Davis and Company in 1887. By 1930, over a dozen states in the United States had outlawed the possession of peyote and in 1967 peyote was banned nationwide by the federal government. 

It was written in Latin language by the Spanish physician and naturalist Francisco Hernandez (15177-1587) during his stay in Mexico (formerly New Spain) from 1571 to 1577. Hernandez was specially sent by King Philip II of Spain to investigate the medicinal plants of the New World. He also served as a "Protomedico," the highest medical authority under the Viceroy. 

This Patagonian was brought to Spain, and presented to Philip II at Badajos. Fitz Roy says that Sarmiento is the only person on record who has communicated with the natives in the neighbourhood of Cape Monmouth. 

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