drinesse the gumme is hot and dry in the first degree The leaves and young tender branches of the Iuniper tree or the juice of them or of the berries or the berries themselves taken in wine are very effectuall against the biting of a Viper or Adder as also against the Plague or Pestilence or any other infection or poyson the Germanes use it much for their Treakle is made of the condensate juice of the berries which they commend in all diseases almost both for inward and outward remedies the same also is profitable against the Strangury and stopping of the Vrine and so powerfull against the Dropsie that as Matthiolus saith hee hath knowne divers to avoyd so much water by Vrine by taking foure or five ounces at a time of the Lye made of Iuniper ashes that they have beene holpen thereby it doth also provoke womens courses being stayed and doth helpe the rising and other paines of the mother the berries are good for the stomacke and to dissolve the swellings and windinesse thereof and are likewise profitable for the cough and shortnesse of breath and other diseases of the Chest and Lungs and to ease the griping paines and torments in the belly they are also prevailent to helpe Ruptures Convulsions and Crampes to procure a safe and easie delivery unto women with child for which purpose Matthiolus adviseth to take seven Iuniper and seven Bay-berries halfe a dramme of Cassia lignea and a dram of Cinamon these being grossely bruised put them into the belly of a Turtle Dove to be rosted therewith let it be basted with the fat of an Hen whereof they are to eate every other evening The scrapings of the wood saith Dioscorides being eaten doth kill men which clause both Matthiolus and Tragus before him finde much fault with seeing it is contrary to the former part of the Text and thrust thereinto by others for as he saith neither the best copies have it therein neither doe Galen Paulus Aegineta nor Serapio who wrote wholly after Dioscorides his Text word for word make any such mention of the properties of the wood and more saith he it is found false by tryall made thereof but Scaliger in his 15. Booke and 18. exercise maintaineth the Text of Dioscorides in that although the decoction of the wood is wholesome yet the scraping or course powder by the drinesse thereof sticking to the guts doth suffocate in the same manner as Colocynthis which to bee rightly prepared must bee beaten and finely sifted least it cleave to the bowells and blister them the berries are very comfortable to the braine and strengthen the memory and sight and all the senses and the heart also being eyther drunke in wine or the decoction of them in wine taken the same also is good against a quartane and dissolveth the winde in the belly and in generall is effectuall for all diseases as well outward as inward proceeding of any cold cause if they shall take of the berries two or three times a weeke three or foure at a time in wine which must bee gathered in the fit time of the ripenesse moystned with and after fairely dryed upon a cloth the Salt made of the ashes of the Iuniper wood is a singular remedy for the Scurvey the putrefied and spongy gums and generally resisting all putrefaction The Chymicall oyle drawne from the berries while they are greene is as effectuall if not more to all the purpose aforesaid there is an oyle also drawne out of the Iuniper wood per descensum as they call it which is very good against the toothach and for the Goute Sciatica and resolution of the Nerves or Sinewes comming of cold The gumme of Iuniper is used like as Amber is to stay cold rheumaticke distillations defluxions and Catarrhes upon the eyes or Lungs c. the fumes thereof upon the burning on coales being taken into a cappe the head also holden in the meane time over the said fumes at night and to lie covered therewith or the powder thereof with other things fit for the purpose strewed upon Flax and to be quilted into a cappe to bee worne in the night chiefely and in the day also as neede shall require the said gumme in powder taken in wine doth stay vomitings inward bleedings and spitting of blood womens courses also and all other the fluxes of the belly and of the hemorrhoides or piles the same also killeth the wormes in children and mixed with some oyle oâ— Roses and Myrtles healeth the chappes of the fundiment kibes also and chilblanes on the hands and feet the powder of the gumme mixed with the white of an Egge and applyed to the forehead stayeth the bleeding at the nose the same also burned upon quicke coales and the fumes thereof taken thorough a funnell upon as akiâ— tooth taketh away the paine it is effectuall in moist Vlcers and Fistulaes and weeping running sores to dryâ— the moisture in them which hindereth their cure the liquid Varnish is an especiall remedy against scaldings with water or burnings with fire and to helpe the painefull and bleeding Piles and Palsie Crampes Convulsions 〈◊〉 the Nerves and Sinewes The smoake of Iuniper wood being burned besides that it yeeldeth a good sent to peâ—fume any house it is of good use in the time of infection and driveth away all noysome Serpents Fliâ— Waspes c. the ashes of the wood or barke made into a Lye with water doth cure all itches scabbes pustules or other eruptions in the skinne yea and the Lepry also if the places be bathed therewith The Germanes Treakle of Iuniper berries is made in this manner Take what quantitie you will of fresh but ripe Iuniper berries bruise them and boyle them in a reasonable quantitie of water untill they be well boyled straine and presse them hard in a presse which pulpe and liquor set to the fire againe in a glased earthen vessell and evaporate away so much of the humiditie stirring of it continually as untill it become of the thicknesse of an Electuary which then put into pots or glasses to be kept for your use whereof a small quantitie taken morning and evening doth wonderfully helpe them that are troubled with the stone in the Reines or Kidneyes with the Chollicke with the paines of the mother and the stoppings of their courses is good against Catarrhes and rheumes the shortnesse of breath and winde the straightnesse of the breast the cough the cruditie rawnesse and indisposition of the stomacke against the Plague and other infectious diseases for it preserveth and defendeth the heart and vitall spirits from infection and venome and against swownings and faintnesse the paines swimming and giddinesse in the head against frensie also and madnesse for inflammations and rheumes into the eyes and preserving the sight deasenesse in hearing and stench of the gums mouth or breast helpeth the Dropsie Jaundies Falling sicknesse Palsie and Goute healeth inward Impostumes in briefe it not onely helpeth all diseases wherewith the body is possessed
eate the Beete The first here is called of most men Lapathum sativum Patientia Rhabarbarum Monachorum meaning those that commented upon Mesues The second Hippolapathum rotundi folium to put a difference betweene it and the former garden Docke which is also called Hippolapathum it is also called of Lobel and others Pseudo Rha recentiorum of Clusius and Camerarius Lapathum rotundifolium and of Cordus in histor Plantar lib. 4. fol. 201. Rhabarbaricum in English great round leafed Dock or bastard Rubarb The third Alpinus calleth Rhaponticum Thracicum because as is aforesaid it was brought him out of that Country of Thracia and in his tractate thereupon he will by no meanes bee perswaded that it is true Rubarbe but so entituleth it and the rather because be onely saw the rootes while they were young as his figure sheweth but not so great as the true Rubarbe such as I have expressed neither do I think he pared away the outer barke or skin of the rootes to make the inside appeare the fairer but as a great many with us also have done dryed the roots as they tooke them out of the ground and then they shewed both blacke and small Master Doctor Lyster also sent it me by the name of Rhaponticum verum but because the roote is so like both in colour forme and quality unto the true Rubarb and the smal long roots unto the Rha Ponticum or Rubarbe of Pontus I account it true Rubarbe and Anguilara saith they are both one the difference consisting chiefely in the greater or lesser long peeces and to the climate which giveth the true Rubarbe or Rubarbe of Pontas a more solid and firme substance a more bitter taste and aromaticall smell and an astringent or corroborating quality after the purging all which are the effects from the climate as being hotter and dryer and therefore giving unto the rootes firmenesse bitternesse and astriction which are all wanting in some sort in the rootes of this Rubarbe growing with us yet it hath the purging quality onely in a double proportion and the forme and colour so like the true as may be which causeth it to be had in respect and good use besides the beauty of the plant it selfe and may well be called English Rubarbe to distinguish it from that which cometh from China The fourth is thought by the most and best writers to be the Rha or Rheum of Dioscorides Galen and the other ancient writers which was diversly named in our former times as Rha Barbarum Rha Turcicum Rha Ponticum and Rha Scenicum or Sceniticum many thinking them to be severall things because of the names imposed as comming from severall places when as the goodnesse or badnesse newnesse or oldnesse of the rootes might cause this variation For the Arabians did call it Raved or Raiwand Sceni or Seni as some write but I finde it should be rather Cini which corruptly the Portugalls first pronounced Chini according to their Language and from them all our parts of the world doe call that Country China which was formerly called Sinarum regio Much controversie there is among writers concerning the name Rhabarbarum or Barbaricum First for the name Rha barbarum the Rha of Barbaria what this name of Barbaria should signifie some thinking it to be that part of Africa where old Carthage stood as Fuschius who saith lib. 1. de compositione medicamentorum that the souldiers that went with the Emperour Charles to Tunis brought true Rubarbe of that Country home with them others thinke that it was brought from Barbarum a City in India above the River Indus and that Rha-Indicum and Barbaricum were all one and others thought that it came from an Island in the red Sea called Barbaria whereunto shippes for Merchandise doe much resort but Matthiolus refusing all these opinions would faine induce his owne that Barbaria being often mentioned in Galen as lib. 4. c. 6. de tuenda sanitate that Ginger was brought out of Barbaria which Dioscorides and Plinye say groweth among the Troglodites and from them brought to us and againe he saith that Glans Vnguentaria or Nux Ben is brought out of the Country of Barbaria which Dioscorides saith groweth in Aethiopia in which Country the Troglodites doe inhabite and Plinye lib. 12. c. 21. saith it groweth with the Troglodites Plinye also in the same booke and 19 chapter shewing the causes of the scarsity of Cinamon in his dayes saith it was because the Barbarians in their furie burnt the woods where it grew whereby as Matthiolus saith it may plainely appeare that the name Barbaria can signifie no other Country than the Troglodites of Ethiopia which as Strabo in his fifteenth booke of Geography saith is as plentifull in spices as the South parts of India but by the trafficke of our Merchants in these times there is no Rubarbe growing in those parts that they can heare of and if I might ghesse as formerly others have done I would say that the name Barbarum was joyned with Rha in that both Graecians and Romanes accounted all remote nations from them to be Barbarians Now for the names Scenicum and Sceniticum Mesues saith it is all one with Indicum whose saying Matthiolus contradicteth saying it should be rather Sinicum which is a Country of India for the Scenitae be a people of the desart of Arabia and are utterly destitute of all manner of Spice and drugges of worth The name of Rha Turcicum and Ponticum is thought also to be all one because some Turkish Merchants brought it from Pontus and for the word Rha it tooke the name as some suppose from the River Rha now sayd to be called Volga in Pontus where those rootes did grow but I rather thinke it came from the Arabians Reiwand or Raiwand whether the Rha Barbarum and Rha Fonticum be one thing or diverse is next to be spoken of Matthiolus contendeth against Ruellius and others with many words and reasons to proove them differing First that Rha Fonticum as Dioscorides and Galen describe them are without sent then that Rubarbe hath in it a purging quality by nature which Rha Ponticum hath not being sayd by Dioscorides and Galen to have rather an astringent quality therein and that it is not bitter as Rubarbe but rather somewhat sharpe quicke it is not solide and heavie but spongie and light it is not drye but tough or pliant it is not yellow as Rubarbe but blacke by which reasons he is perswaded that they differ and that Ruellius was in a great error to say that they differed onely in the sent which hapned by the coldnesse of the Country where Rha Ponticum grew Matthiolus also saith that Manardus Ferrariensis having beene formerly of that opinion was afterward otherwise perswaded upon sight of the true Rha Ponticum that was brought out of Muscovia agreeing in all things with that of Dioscorides as the sayd Manardus relateth in the last Epistle of the first booke written to Leonicenus
saith likewise groweth in many untilled grounds in the Kingdome of Naples neare the sea side and so doth the fourth neare the sea side but particularly in what countrie is not expressed the last groweth every where almost round about London in any moist ground or the foote of bankes where there is any low trench or rill that is not continually filled with water The Time They all flower and seede in May Iune and Iuly and their greene leaves abide fresh in a manner all the Winter The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Coronopus a corvino pede quem effigiant folia saith Pena that is Crowfoote whereunto the leaves are like which name the Latines doe hold as also Cornu cervi or cervinum and Herba Stella both of them from the posture of their leaves Some also call it Hurenaria and Sanguinaria or Sanguinalis the one from the place of his growing the other from the effects or properties There hath beene much doubt formerly what herbe should be the true Coronopus of Dioscorides for the name signifying a Crowes foote deceived many and led them into that errour to thinke that the herbe called Pes corvinus and Pes gallinaceus should be it among whom are not onely the Comentators upon Avicen but Brunfelsius also of late dayes who carried away rather with the currant of the time and the signification of the name than with the opinion of others that contradicted it and without the due examination of the herbe it selfe held this opinion whom Matthiolus justly reprehendeth therefore shewing that it was a species of Ranunculus that was generally called Pes corvinus and Pes gallinaceus which is an exulcerating herbe and not this Coronopus which Dioscorides maketh a sallet herbe familiarly eaten and alloweth of Monardus Ferrariensis his judgement that set downe this Herba stelle or Cornu cervinum to be the true Coronopus of Dioscorides Matthiolus contesteth also against Lonicerus that tooke a kinde of grasse called gramen Manne esculentum and Pentadactylon which hee saith was called by his countrimen Capriola and Sanguinella in Matthiolus countrie to be the Coronopus of Dioscorides which grasse as he saith although it hath five small spikes growing at the toppes of the stalkes which being opened resemble in some manner the foote of a Crow or other bird as thereupon tooke the name Pentadactylon of five fingers of a spread hand yet this hath no divided leaves neither is a sallet herbe for men to eate but onely being a grasse serveth as hay for beastes there is also another controversie among divers what herbe Theophrastus should meane by his Coronopus which Gaza translateth Solidago and which hee placeth among the prickly plants whom Pliny also herein followeth in his 21. Booke and 16. Chapter and yet in his 22. Booke making mention thereof doth not speake of any prickles it hath following peradventure Dioscorides text therein but Motthiolus to excuse Theophrastus his prickles in Coronopus supposeth that the jagges or divisions of the leaves of Corum Corvinum might be taken or mistaken by Theophrastus to be thornes he might as well say hornes or prickles although they be not hard nor sharpe and therefore judgeth the Coronopus both of Dioscorides and Theophrastus to be one palnt which thing although with Matthiolus I thinke to be true yet doe I not thinke his reason therefore to be true but if I may give my judgement thereof I thinke it more probable that Theophrastus might see such a Coronopus as Fabius Columna calleth Insulae Prochytae which hath sharpe and prickly edges as is before said in the description thereof and therefore placed it inter aculeatas and Dioscorides such as we usually have which grew in milder places and is a tender herbe used to be eaten and hereby as I thinke they may be reconciled together The first is called Coronopus sativus by Cordus Gesner Camerarius and others and hortensis by Bauhinus because it was familiarly sowen in gardens for meate and Herba Stella as I said before by Lobel Dodonaeus and others and Cornu cervi and Cornu cervinum yet the same herbe is also called sylvestris being found wild by divers both the same and other Authors the second is as I said called Coronopus Insulae Prochytae by Fabius Columnae and by Bauhinus Coronopus sylvestris hirsutior the third the same Columna calleth Coronopus Neopolitanus tenuifolius minimus and minimus tenuifolius maritimus the fourth Bauhinus setteth forth under the name expressed in the title the last is thought by some to be the Coronopus of Dioscorides but called by some Nasturtium verrucarium yet is generally called Coronopus repens Ruellij but Dodonaeus thinketh it fitter to be called Pseudo coronopus or else Cornu cervi alterum vulgi the upright plant is Matthiolus his Ambrosia and Lobels Ambrosia spontanea strigosior and Bauhinus himselfe putteth it for a second Ambrosia because it is figured upright by Matthiolus and Lobel The first is called by the Italians Herba stella and Coronopo by the Spaniards Guiabella by the French Corne de Cerf and pied de cornolle by the Germans Krauwen fuss by the Dutch Hertzharren we in English call it Bucks horne Harts horne and Bucks horne Plantane and of some Herbe Ivye and Herbe Eve Gerard calleth it Swines Cresses but I do rather call it Wart Cresses according to the Latine name that some give from the forme of the huskes of seede The Vertues Buckshorne Plantane boiled in wine and drunke is an excellent remedy for the biting of a Viper or Adder for I hold our English Adder to be the true Viper both by the forme thereof the teeth it hath with poison in the gummes being deadly and dangerous upon the biting and by the breeding which is of quicke young ones and not by egges as snakes c. by laying some of the herbe to the wound the same also being drunke helpeth those that are troubled with the stone in the reines and kidneyes not that it breaketh the stone or expelleth it but by cooling the heate of the parts and strengthening the backe and reynes it stayeth likewise all bleedings and eruptions of bloud whether at the mouth or nose either by urine or the stoole and helpeth the laske of the belly and bowells and the disentery or bloudy fluxe it helpeth much also those that have weake stomackes and are much given to casting not containing their meate and this the herbe doth well but the roote more effectually Paulus Aegeneta in his seventh Booke writeth that it helpeth those that are troubled with the collicke of which some make a doubt that it might be an errour of the Writer in mistaking the word but that he in the same place presently after that he hath shewed that the Larke is a remedy for the collicke adioyneth this also that the rootes also of Coronopus doth helpe the cholicke it hath beene held profitable for agues to weaken their fits and to take them away to
Bastard Dittany Bastard Dittany riseth up much higher than the former the branches are a foote and a halfe long many times as I have observed in mine owne Garden whereon are set such like hoary and round leaves as the true hath but neither so thick in handling nor so thick set on the branches but more sparsedly yet two alwayes together one against another from the middle of these branches to the toppes of them come forth the flowers round about the stalkes at the joynts with leaves which are gaping like the former and as Penny-royall Mints Calamint and divers the like hearbs have of a delayed purplish colour standing in hoary huskes after which come the seed which is greater and blacker than the former the root hereof is not so black but more hard and wooddy shooting downe deepe into the ground with divers sprayes spreading from it this hearbe is somewhat hot and sharpe but not by halfe so much as the former this doth well endure with us in our Gardens if the Winter be not too violent sharpe and long or if there be some care taken of it at such a time it groweth very well also of the slips being put into the ground about the middle of Aprill and a little defended from the heate of the Sunne for a time after the setting and now and then watered in the meane time 3. Pseudodictamnus alter Theophrasti Pona Another Bastard Dittany This other bastard Dittany riseth up with many square hoary stalkes more than a foote high set with two leaves at a joynt like the other but somewhat larger and longer toward the toppes whereof with the leaves come forth hoary huskes like unto those of Melissa Molucca laevis the great Assirian Balme but shallower out of which starte gaping flowers mixed of white and red the foote spreadeth many fibres this smelleth reasonable sweet and abideth the Winter as the other and is in like manner encreased by slipping As for that hearbe which is called by many Dictamnus albus and Dictamnum album and by Matthiolus Bauhinus and others placed with these kindes of Dittany together although they doe all acknowledge that it hath no face or resemblance unto them and is called Fraxinella which hath some diversitie therein as I shall shew you in another place The Place The I le of Creete or Candy hath beene thought by the elder Writers to be the onely place in the whole world where the true Dittany did grow and that not generally through the whole I le but in one corner of Mount Ida called Dictaea which supplyed the uses of all parts as Theophrastus at large hath set downe in his ninth Booke and sixteenth Chapter the knowledge whereof was utterly lost and perished with our fore-fathers and but within a small space of time or few yeeres since revived and restored to us againe for Monardus of Ferrara writeth that in his time it was not knowne as he setteth it downe in his ninth Booke and third Epistle his words are these Dictamno nisi rursus Venus ab Ida sylva deportet omnino deficimus but Clusius saith in his Appendix altera which is joyned with his bookes of Exoticks that it was signified unto him that it was found also in the I le of Sardinia having lesser and whiter leaves than that of Candy and exceeding sweet 2. Pseudodictamnus Bastard Dittany 3. Pseudodictam nu◠alter Ponae Another Bastard Dittany withall The first Bastard Dittany groweth in many places as Dioscorides saith and as Lobel saith he understood by some Italians on Monte negro neere Pisa and Ligorne in the Florentine Dominions It is sufficient frequent in many places of Italy in their Gardens for we have had the seed thereof among others very often from thence and abideth well in our Gardens also the last as Pona in his Italian Baldus saith groweth in the Iland Cerigo and brought from thence to Signor Contareno to Padoa to furnish his Garden The Time The true Dittany as I said hardly flowreth with us at all and when it doth it is very late not bringing any seed but Dioscorides as it is found in the old Copies extant writeth that it beareth neither flower nor seed even as he had said before of Nardus montana but Matthiolus defendeth him saying that it was most likely to be the slippe or errors of the Writers that set downe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is fert or profert for confert as thus nec flores nec fructum vel semen fert or profert for nec flores nec fructum vel semen confert for Theophrastus saith lib. 9. cap. 16. Vsus foliorum non ramorum nec fructus est and Virgil and others although Pliny following the corrupted text of Dioscorides saith it beareth no flowers nor seed nor stalke whereof it is a wonder having borrowed so much out of Theophrastus which acknowledgeth it doe remember the flowers of Dittany and so doth Galen also in the Emplastrum de Dictamno whereof Damocrates as he saith gave him the receit The first Bastard Dittany flowreth with us all the latter part of the Summer but seldome giveth us any good seed The last hath not as yet beene seene in England The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pulegium sylvestre by Dioscorides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by Theophrastus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine also Dictamus and Dictamnum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cornario dici videtur quod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mulierum faciles partus promittat aut dolores penitus sedat Dioscoride Theophrasto the first is called by all Writers Dictamus or Dictamnus Creticus or Dictamum or Dictamnum Creticum the second likewise is called by all Writers Pseudodictamnus or Pseudodictamus or Pseudodictamum Anguilara saith it is called by the Greekes now a dayes Calixi mathia Pona would make it to be the Gnaphalium of Dioscorides the last is onely set out by Pona who taketh it to bee the Dictamnum alterum of Theophrastus and Dioscorides The Arabians call it Mescatramsir Anegen Araba or Buri the Italians Dittamo and other Nations much thereafter according to their Dialect and we in English Dittany but not Dittander as some too foolishly would make it The Vertues It is availeable as Dioscorides saith for all the purposes that the planted or garden Penny-royall is used but with farre more efficacy for it not onely expelleth the dead child being drunke but being applyed unto the place as in a Pessary or the fumes thereof taken hot or burnt and taken underneath the juyce hath a purging quality applyed with Barley meale It draweth forth thornes out of the feete or any other part of the body being applyed to the place for as it is reported that the wild Goates in Candy being wounded by the Hunters with arrowes doe by eating this hearbe drive them forth and are thereby cured It is
it warmeth the coldnesse of any part whereunto it is applied and digesteth raw or corrupt matter being boyled drunk it provoketh womens monthly courses expelleth the dead child and after-birth and stayeth the disposition to vomit taken in posset that is water and vineger mingled it allayeth the gnawing of the stomack being mingled with Honey and Aloes and drunke it causeth flegme to be avoyded forth of the lungs and helpeth crampes which place is observed by Cornarius in his third Booke and 31. Embleme to be erroneous for who ever used Aloes in any medicine that was to expectorate flegme but in stead of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it should be written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so Pliny expresseth it in lib. 20. cap. 14 Hepaticis cum melle sale bibendum datur pulmonum vitia excreabilia facit with honey and salt it is a safe and good medicine for the lunges it avoydeth melancholy by the stoole drunke with wine it helpeth such as are bitten or stung with venemous beasts applyed to the nostrils with vineger it reviveth those that are fainting or sounding being dryed and burnt it strengthneth the gums it is helpfull to those that are troubled with the gowt applyed of it selfe to the place untill it wax red applyed in a cerot or a plaister it taketh away spots or markes in the face it much profiteth those that are spleenetick or livergrowne being applyed with salt the decoction helpeth those that have itches if the places affected bee washed therewith being put into bathes for women to sit therein it helpeth the swelling and hardnesse of the mother and when it is out of its place Some copies doe adde that if the greene hearbe be bruised and put into vineger it clenseth foule ulcers and causeth the matter to digest it taketh away the markes or bruises of blowes about the eyes which we call blacke and blue eyes and all discolourings of the face by the fire yea and the leprosie being drunke and applyed outwardly being boyled in wine with honey and salt it helpeth the toothach it helpeth the cold griefes of the joynts taking away the paines and warming the cold parts being fast bound to the place after a bathing or having beene in a hot house Pliny addeth hereunto that Mints and Penny-royall agree very well together in helping faintings or swonings being put into vineger and put to the nostrils to be smelled unto or a little thereof put into the mouth It easeth the head-ach and the paines of the breast and belly stayeth the gnawing of the stomack and the inward paines of the bowels being drunke in wine provoketh vrine and womens courses and expelleth the after-birth and dead child it helpeth the falling-sicknesse being given in wine put also into unwholsome and stinking waters that men must drinke as at Sea in long voyages it maketh them the lesse hurtfull it lesneth the fatnesse of the body being given with wine but here Pliny is supposed to have mis-interpreted the Greeke word translating it Salsitudines corporis for the thought to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is anxietates which Hippocrates in Aphorism 56. lib. 7. saith is taken away by drinking it in an equall proportion of wine and water it helpeth crampes or the convulsions of the sinewes being applyed with honey salt and Vineger It is very effectuall for the cough boyled in milke and drunke and for the ulcers or sores of the mouth Thus saith Pliny Galen saith that being sharpe and somewhat bitter it heateth much and extenuateth also And in that it heateth much may be knowne by this that it maketh the place red where it is applyed and raiseth blisters if it be suffered to lie long upon it And that it doth extenuate is sufficiently seene by this that it doth cause thick and tough flegme to be avoyded forth of the lungs and chest and that with ease as also that it procureth the feminine courses Matthiolus saith and so doth Castor Durantes also that the decoction thereof drunke helpeth the jaundise and dropsie and all paines of the head and sinewes that come a cold cause and that it helpeth to cleare and quicken the eye-sight It was used as Durantes saith in stead of Dictamus Cretensis for it should seeme in his time also the true Dictamus was not knowne which was in A◠1585. who saith that bruised and with vineger applyed to the nostrils of those that have the falling-sicknesse or the lethargie or put into the mouth helpeth them much and applyed with barly meale it helpeth burnings by fire it bringeth the loosned matrix to its place and dissolveth the windinesse and hardnesse thereof easeth all paines and inflamations of the eyes and comforteth and quickneth the eye-sight being put therein as also put into the eares easeth the paines of them CHAP. XIII Mentha Mintes THere are many sorts of Mints some chiefly nourished up in Gardens others growing wilde either on the mountaines which for their rarity and diversitie are brought also into Gardens or the wet and overflowne marishes or the Water it selfe 1. Mentha Romana angustifolio sive Cardiaca Hart Mint or Speare Mint This Mint hath divers round stalkes and longer and narrower 1. Mentha Romana angustifolio sive Cardiaca Hart Mint or Speare Mint leaves set thereon than the next Mint and groweth somewhat lower and smaller and of a darker greene colour than it the flowers stand in spiked heads at the tops of the branches being of a pale blush colour the smell or scent hereof is somewhat neere unto Basill It encreaseth by the root underground as all the others doe 2. Mentha Cruciata Crosse Mint The Crosse Mint hath his square stalkes somewhat hoary and the leaves thereon hairy also rougher broader and rounder than the former which stand on all sides thereof one against another two at a joynt so that they represent a crosse thereby giving it the name the flowers stand in spiky heads of a purplish colour somewhat deeper than it 3. Mentha fusca sive vulgaris Red or Browne Mints This Mint hath square brownish stalkes with somewhat long and round pointed leaves nicked about the edges of a darke greene and sometimes reddish colour set by couples at the joynts and of a reasonable good scent the flowers are reddish standing by spaces about the tops of the stalkes the roots runne creeping in the ground as the rest doe and will as hardly be extirped as the rest 4. Mentha Crispa Crispe or Curld Mint The greatest difference in this kinde of Mint from the last consisteth first in the leaves which are almost as round as the last but more rough or crumpled or as it were curld then in the flowers which are purplish standing in rundles about the toppes of stalkes and in the smell hereof which commeth neerest unto Balme 5. Mentha Crispa Danica aut Germanica speciosa The great Curld Mint of Germany This brave Mint creepeth with his rootes as the others doe having divers high stalkes
goodnesse of the place injoying the commodity of a free and cleare ayre and other things correspondent then by the nature of the hearbe it selfe Then for the scent that it is more aromaticall than others yet hereby they intimate that others are sweet although not so much which is well knowne likewise to be the benefit of the place where it groweth for some hearbes are more or lesse sweet or more or lesse stinking which transplanted doe alter as Agrimony and divers others are sweet in some place and nothing at all in others Then the leaves have troubled many learned men for they thinke it is a fault in the transcribers to set downe lesser for greater or longer as it often hapneth in Theophrastus But more often in Dioscorides as in the Chapters of Helenium Meum and others may be also in Galen not by his owne fault but by the transcribers but Galen himselfe in his Chapter of Abrotanum taketh away all these doubts where he saith thus there are three species or differences put under the name of one kinde of Wormewood that which is called Ponticum the second Santonicum and the third Seriphium Seriphium and Santonicum are enemies to the stomacke and trouble it Wormewood onely among them named Ponticum that is growing in Pontus is pleasing to the stomacke From which place we may well gather that the strife is appeased concerning this matter that our common Wormewood is that Wormewood of Dioscorides the best whereof as he saith is that which groweth in Pontus without naming either species or genus so that it is for certaine that our common or Romane kinde is not another from the Ponticum and by reason of the place is more vigorous and effectuall but not differing in property Galen acknowledgeth that in this there is bitternesse and an astriction gratefull to the stomacke necessary for cholericke vometings and to clense it from obstructions by which it giveth strength and comfort thereunto which things we see by infinite and daily experiments even of the common people as well as of Physitians to be effected by our common Wormewood used either inwardly or outwardly none findeth fault with the smell for it is of an aromaticall scent and is very fit and apt to refresh the spirits of any Galen in appointing that of Pontus to be used doth it rather to exclude the Santonicum and Seriphium then that which he simply calleth Absinthium Thus much I thought good to relate out of Pena and Lobel referring the rest to the learned to be further satisfied if they please to read the whole tractate but by this is said you see that the vertues of our common Wormewood are so excellent that we need not seeke for another kinde to performe those that are commended in Wormewood and therefore I the more mervaile at our Apothecaries that take the Sea Wormewood in stead of the Romane or Ponticke and use it rather than the common onely because there is lesse bitternesse therein than in the common and therefore more pleasing to the taste when as the properties are no way answerable Neither can I commend the use of that fine leafed Wormewood which is commonly called Romane Wormewood to bee used in stead of the Ponticke not having either that bitternesse or that astriction which are both so comfortable to the liver and stomacke Our common Wormewood hath beene observed to grow in Pontus and the Countries there abouts by Bellonius in his travels as he setteth it downe in his 76. Chapter of his first Booke of observations and elsewhere and brought to Constantinople for their use there And it is generally held that the Arabian Physitians did first name it Romane which Dioscorides named Ponticke and from them all others since have held it in so great account imagining it to be a sort differing from the common The Arabians call it Affinthium the Italians Assenzo the Spaniards Assentios the French Alvine and Absinse or Absinthe the Germanes Wermuet the Dutch Alssem and wee Wormewood The Vertues Dioscorides saith that Wormewood is of an heating and binding property that it purgeth choller that cleaveth to the stomacke or belly that it provoketh urine that it helpeth surfeits and that taken with Seseli and Spica Celtica it easeth the paines of the stomacke and the hard swellings of the belly the decoction or the infusion thereof taken doth take away the loathing to meate and helpeth those that have the yellow jaundise for which purpose Camerarius in his hortus medicus giveth a good receite Take saith hee of the flowers of Wormewood Rosemary and blacke thorne of each alike quantity of Saffron halfe that quantity all which being boyled in Renish-wine let it be given after the body is prepared by purging c. A small draught thereof taken for some few dayes together bringeth downe womens monethly courses being taken with vinegar it helpeth those that by Mushroms are almost strangled being taken in wine it is a remedy against the poison of Ixia which as I said before is the roote of the blacke Chamaeleon and with Pliny translated viscum Misletoe or Birdlime of Hemlocke the biting of that small beast or Mouse which we call a Shrew and of the biting of that Sea fish called Dracomarinus which is called a Quaviver it helpeth the Quinsie being annointed with it and Niter mixed together and taketh away wheales and pushes used with water it taketh away the black and blue markes in the skinne that come after bruising or beating if it be mingled with honey and annoynted as also it helpeth the dimnesse of the eyesight being used in the same manner it helpeth sore and running eares as also easeth the paines of them if the hot vapours of the decoction bee taken in thereat by a funnell or otherwise it easeth the toothach a decoction made thereof with cute or boyled wine and annointed easeth the paines of the eyes it helpeth the paines of the heart and liver being beaten and mixed with the Ceratum Cyprinum and applyed to the place affected as also applyed to the stomacke with Rosewater it giveth much comfort to those that have lien long sicke it helpeth those that are troubled with the swelling and hardnesse of the spleene or those that have a hot sharpe water running betweene the flesh and the skin if it be used with figges vineger and the meale of Darnell The wine that is made thereof called Wormewood wine is availeable for all these purposes restoring many to health that have beene troubled with those diseases so that they have no agues that take thereof Being put into Chests or Presses or Wardrobes it preserveth them from wormes and mothes c. and driveth away Gnats or Waspes and such like from any part of the body if the skin be annoynted with the oyle thereof the juyce is of like effect but is not used so much in drinkes for it troubleth the stomacke and causeth headach being put into the Inke wherewith Bookes are written
wherein are conteined sometime two or three hard blacke stones like also unto those of Asparagus the roote is slender white and long in hard dry grounds not spreading farre but in the looser and moyster places running downe into the ground a pretty way with diverse knots and joynts thereat and sundry long rootes running from thence 2. Smilax aspera fructa nigro Prickly Bindweede with blacke berryes This other prickly Bindeweede is like the former for the manner of growing in all points his branches being joynted in like manner with thornes on them but nothing so many climing as the former the leaves are somewhat like it but not having those forked ends at the bottome of every leafe like it but almost wholly round and broad at the bottome of a darker greene colour also and without any or very seldome with any thornes or prickes either on the backe or edges of the leaves with tendrells like a Vine also the flowers come forth in the same manner and are starre fashion consisting of sixe leaves a peece like the other but they are not white as they are but of an incarnate or blush colour with a round red umbone in the middle of every one which is the beginning of the berry that when it is ripe will be blacke and not red being more sappie or fleshie than the other with stones or kernells within them like unto it the rootes hereof are bigger and fuller than the former for the most part and spreading further under the ground 3. Smilax aspera Pernana Sarsaparilla of America The Sarsaparilla that cometh from America into Spaine and from thence into other Countries hath beene seene fresh even the whole plant as it hath beene brought from Spaine to the Duke of Florence Lutas Ghinus his Physitian being by as a witnesse that in all things it did resemble the prickely Bindweede and differed in 1. 2. Smilax aspera spinoso non spinoso follo Prickely Bindweede with red and with blacke berries 3. Sâ—ilax aspera Peruana sive Sarsaparilla West India Sarsaparilla Buenas noches Hispanis The heades with seedes of the true Sarsaparilla as it is supposed nothing from it Matthiolus setteth downe this relation in his Commentaries in the 111. chapter of his first booke of Dioscorides speaking of Sarsaparilla what plant it should be and agreeeth with Ghinus that the Smilax aspera with red berries for in not speaking of the other he declareth that he knew it not was the true Sarsa which both Ghinus and others likewise had proved by many trialls to be as effectuall to cure the French disease as the Sarsa of the Indies Prosper Alpinus likewise in his booke of Egyptian plants declareth that he found in the Island Zacynthus the rootes of Smilax aspera whose leaves he setteth forth to bee without prickles growing by a running river side to be greater larger and fuller of substance than ever he had seene them in any other place in Italy before and being so like the true Sarsa of the Indies that he was fully perswaded the Sarsaparilla that commeth from Peru was the rootes of Smilax aspera the difference betweene them in greatnesse or goodnesse if any be to be onely in the climate and soyle and saith that an Apothecary in that Isle had gotten much money thereby both by his owne practise and the sale of them to others for Sarsa and saith moreover that he saw himselfe in some bundles of the Indian Sarsa some of the rootes that had the knots at them as the Smilax aspera hath and some leaves therein also like it which my selfe have sometimes seene in them likewise Gabriel Fallopius likewise in the booke that he wrote of the cure of the French disease in the chapter of Sarsaparilla saith thus I was perswaded saith he and stood in that opinion along time that the Sarsaparilla was the roote of Ebulus or Wall worte untill a Spaniard that brought the whole plant unto the Duke of Florence made my errour knowne unto my selfe for I saw it to be the roote of that Smilax aspera that Dioscorides and other the ancients make mention of in their writings and was better confirmed in my opinion by the experience I had thereof in curing diverse about Pisa as perfectly of the French disease by the rootes of this Smilax aspera which I caused to bee digged up for my use growing on the hill of S. Iulian as with the rootes of Sarsaparilla for two yeares while I stayed there to practise Physicke which opinion also Amatus Lusitanus a Physitian of good note although a Iew confirmeth in the fift booke of his Centuries Alpinus also sheweth another note of difference in the rootes of Smilax aspera whereat many in his time stumbled for they saw the rootes of Smilax aspera growing in Italy to be short and full of knots with small fibres at the end and the rootes of the other to be long and smooth without any knots to enforme you therefore throughly herein and take away this doubt he sheweth that the first rootes of Smilax aspera are downe right short and full of joynts or knots from which joynts or knots shoote other rootes or strings which in dry grounds are but small and short fibres and in the more moyst and mellow are greater and longer without any joynt at all in them as is to be seene in the rootes of many other plants whose rootes have many strings and that these rootes are they which are like the Sarsaparilla and not the first which are short and full of joynts and that the smalnesse of the rootes of Smilax aspera growing in Italy or other dryer Countries must be rather imputed to the climate and soyle rather than any thing else by this narration you may perceive the judgement of the elder times and likewise their practise to use Smilax aspera instead of Sarsaparilla for the diseases whereunto Sarsaparilla is proper but I verily beleeve that the plant of Sarsaparilla that groweth in Peru and the West Indies is a peculiar kind of it selfe differing from the Smilax aspera as notably as the Mechoacan from our Brionye and may very well be that plant that Simon de Tovar chiefe Physitian of Sevill in Spaine sowed the seedes of and had it growing with him and of the seed that he sent to Clusius under the name of Convolvulus peregrinus did one plant likewise spring for a yeare with Honestus Lopes in the low Countries to whom Clusius had imparted some of Tovars seede but perished at the first approach of winter the descriptions of both Tover and Clusius in their manner of growing are set forth by Clusius in the second booke and 18 chapter of his Exotickes or strang things which I thinke not amisse here to relate unto you yet contracted into one least it should bee too tedious to set them downe both particularly Having put the seede into the ground the first two leaves that sprung say Tover and Clusius were very like the first two
de methodo medendi Mesues againe saith that Turbith is the roote of an herbe that giveth milke whose leaves are like unto Thapsia or Ferula Fennell giant and there upon diverse have taken the rootes of Thapsia to be true Turbith Serapio taketh the roote of Tripolium or Sea Starwort to be the true Turbith and lastly the roote of Scammonye iâ— taken of some to come neerest the true Turbith as hath beene shewed in the chapter of Scammonye here before Matthiolus saith that all the sorts of Tithymall were indifferently taken and used for Esula by Physitions and Apothecaries in his time but assuredly the Turbith officinarum which is most likely to be the same of the ancients is not the roote of any of the Tithymalls or Spurges because all of them are hot and sharpe whether fresh or dryed and the true Turbith is almost insipid and because they being dry break short without any of those long threds that are in the true Turbith neither can it be Alypum or Esula for they are hot likewise It cannot be the roote of Thapsia which besides the heate and sharpenesse is too white also and the roote of the true Turbith is somewhat blackish on the outside and not so white within as Thapsia is That Tripolium cannot be it Dioscorides and Galen declare sufficiently who say it is sharpe in taste and hot in the third degree which qualities are not to be found in Turbith Lastly that Turbith should be the roote of Scammomye I cannot thinke because they doe quickly grow greater than the rootes of Turbith are ever seene to be The Arabians call Tithymall Xanxer Ethutia Mesues Scebran Alscebran the Italians Titimalo Tortumaglio the Spaniards Leche nersna Leche tregna the French Herbe au laict the Germanes Wolffs milke the Dutch Wolfs milck and we in English Milkewort or Spurge in generall and particularly Sea Spurge Wood Spurge c. as is extant in the titles The Vertues All these Spurges except the last are heating and exulcerating the skinne if they be outwardly applyed and are vehement and excoriating purgers taken inwardly without great care and caution for as Mesues saith in his booke of purging Herbes they are all offensive to the heart liver and stomacke they breake the veines shave the guts and heate the whole body so much that thereupon they raise fevers many times the first ill qualities therefore he saith are taken away if those things be put thereto in the taking that doe strengthen the heart liver and stomacke The second and third are taken away by putting thereto such things as have a glutinous quality and such are gum Tragacant Bdellium and the muccilage or expression of the seedes of Fleaworte and Purslaine The fourth evill quality is taken away by mixing cold and moyst things with it and such are the juyces of Sowthistle Endive Purslaine Nightshade or the seedes of Quinces well beaten with Vinegar These Tithymals or Spurges doe purge with great violence both upward by vomits and downeward by the stoole flegmaticke humors both from the stomacke and from the joynts as also blacke choller melancholy and the dropsie but they wast and macerate the body and consume generation 3 or 4 droppes of the milke taken fresh is often put into a dry figge which is taken by strong Country people to purge them but it requireth some caution in gathering of the milke that they stand with their backes and not their faces to the winde and especially that they touch not their face or eyes with their hands The milkie juyce of them is the strongest worker the seedes and leaves are next in quality thereto and the rootes of most are of the same operation but not so strong yet they being boyled in Vinegar helpe the toothach especially if they be hollow and the milke put into them so as it touch not any of the other teeth or gummes doth worke more effectually and speedily the same milke layd also upon any hairy place taketh away the haires but it is necessary that it lye not long at a time that the places be anointed with oyle of roses and Nightshade quickly after the same also taketh away callous knots and all other callous or hard kernels or cornes of the feete or other parts of the body if they be first pared to the quick and some thereof dropped on or layde to the same also boyled in some oyle of bitter Almonds clenseth the skinne of the markes or scarres that come of sores as also other deformities and discolouring of the skinne and the scabbes and scurfes of the head The Myrtle leafed Spurge is effectuall in all these diseases excepting vomiting wherein it is weaker The rest are all of a like quality but the Helioscopius is the weakest yet the leaves of the greater sorts in generall although some attribute it to the broad leafed Spurge onely cast into the water causeth the fish therein to rise up to the toppe thereof which lying thereon as halfe dead for a while may be easely taken with ones hand or otherwise A lye made of the ashes of them and the ashes themselves also are answerable to the same effects before set downe in many things The sweete Spurge as Tragus saith doth strongly provoke vomitings if the roote thereof be taken inwardly The outer barke of the roote being steeped a day and a night in Vinegar and then taken forth dryed and powdered halfe a dramme of that powder taken in wine or honyed water doth purge all waterish humors downewards as also choller and is very profitably given to those that have the dropsie the roote also wonderfully sodereth and healeth all manner of greene wounds Tragus also sheweth the manner of making certaine pills that are very effectuall for the dropsie and those that are short-winded which may be taken as he saith without either paine or danger Take of the rootes of Esula prepared as aforesayd halfe an ounce of aloes one ounce of Masticke one dramme these being beaten into powder each by it selfe are to be made up with Fennell water into great or small pills CHAP. XVII Lathyris sive Cataputia minor Garden Spurge VNto these greater Spurges I must adjoyne this other kinde of Spurge which by all authors both before and since Galens time was accounted to be neerest unto them and yet differing from them and therefore fittest to be expressed in a Chapter by it selfe yet hereof there are two or three sorts observed one greater than another as shall be presently shewed 1. Lathyris major hortensis The greater garden Spurge The greater of these garden Spurges riseth up but with one hollow straight whitish stalke as big as a finger shaddowed as it were over with browne on which grow up to the toppe for the first yeare many thicke fat long and somewhat narrow leaves of a blewish greene colour on the upperside and more whitish underneath somewhat like unto Willow leaves for the forme yeelding milke as plentifull as any of the rest
hath it taken therefrom which thing Iunius Solinus Polyhister confirmeth in the 48 chapter of his booke onely he varyeth from Aristotle in saying it is of a brownish yellow colour which hee said was blacke And Plinye writeth also the same thing in his 8 booke and 42 chapter although he said also it was an other thing as you have heard before Virgill in his third booke of Georgickes hath these verses to shew what it is and whereto used taken as it should seeme from Aristotle Hinc demum Hippomanes vero quod nomine dicunt Pastores lentum distillat ab inguine virus Hippomanes quod saepe male legere novercae And Tibullus the Poet in his 2. booke and 4. Elegie hath the same also in effect in these verses Et quod ubi indomitis gregibus Venus afflat amores Hippomanes cupidae stillat ab inguine equae Anguillara is of opinion that the Hippomanes of Theocritus is the lesser Stramonium or thorne apple and the Cratevas whom Theocritus his interpreter doth cite saith that it is a plant whose fruite is like the wilde Cowcumber fruits but full of thornes Now if the ancients have left these doubts whether Hippomanes be an herbe or made of an hearbe and shew not certainely what the hearbe is or doe not all agree that it is the sperme of mares how shall we in these times compound the controversie The Vertues Dioscorides saith that the pure juyce of Hippophaes it selfe being dryed and the weight of halfe a scruple thereof taken or the weight of two scruples if it be made up with the meale of the bitter Vetche taken in meade or honyed water purgeth downewards flegme choller and water the whole plant rootes and all being bruised and put into meade and about a quarter of a pint thereof taken worketh in the same manner the juyce taken from both the plant and the roote as it is used to be done with Thapsia a dramme thereof taken at a time is a purgation of it selfe for the same purposes The juyce pressed out of the rootes leaves and heads of Hippophaestum is to be dryed and halfe a dramme thereof given to whom you will in meade or honyed water draweth forth flegme and water principally and chiefely this purgation is fit or convenient for those that are troubled with the falling sickenesse shortnesse of breath and aches in the joynts and sinewes CHAP. XX. Alypum Monspelâ—â—sium sive Herba terribilis Narbonensium Herbe Terrible BEcause this herbe is of a most violent purging quality sharpe and exulcerating withall very like unto the former Tithymalls I thinke it fittest to joyne it next unto them and another with it which by Pena his judgement is very like thereunto both for face and quality 1. Alypum Monspeliensium Herbe Terrible This terrible herbe hath many wooddy stalks rising two or three foote high dividing itselfe into smaller branches covered with a thinne barke the elder branches being of a darke purplish colour and the younger more red thicke set with small hard and dry leaves without order from the bottome to the toppe which are somewhat long and small at the setting on broader in the middle and sharpe pointed somewhat like unto small Mirtle leaves of a greenish colour on the upperside and whitish underneath at the top of every branch standeth a round flower in a scaly head consisting of many purplish thrummes or threds paler in the middle than round about somewhat like unto the head of a Scabious or rather Knapweede the roote is of a fingers thicknesse long wooddy and of a brownish colour somewhat salt if it grow neere the sea shore where it may drinke any of the Sea water or else not salt at all but bitter if it grow further off the leaves also tasting after the same manner 1. Alypum Monspeliensium sive Herba Terribilis Herbe Terrible Hippoglossum Valentinam Clusie 2. Tarton raire Massilicusium Gutworte or Trouble belly 2. Tarton raire Massiliensium Gutwort or Trouble belly The herbe Gutworte or Trouble belly hath very many hoary or silver white slender and very tough branches two foote high divided into many other smaller whereon grow many small white hoary leaves round about them smaller than those of Alypum the flowers are white and small set close together in a long tuft but so covered with the white woollinesse that they can scarse bee perceived after which come small blacke seede bitter and unpleasant and so fiery hot that if any shall either chew of them or the leaves a little in their mouth they will so heate the mouth lippes and jawes that no washing will for a long time take it away the roote is small long and wooddy with many fibres at it yellowish on the outside and white within nothing so hot bitter or unpleasant as the leaves or seede yet leaving a small hot taste at the end without any sent and not giving any milke it is saith Pena very like unto the Turbith of Alexandria or of the shoppes in the forme thereof The Place The first groweth on the mountaine or hill called Cestius or Cap de ceste and in other rockes and stony places hard by Marseilles in France as also in diverse places in Spaine as Clusius saith The second doth likewise grow neere Marseilles by the Seaside on a small hill neere thereunto called Mondrond as Pena saith and all a long the coast of Liguria and the Isles of Corsica and Sardinia as Lugdunensis saith The Time They flower not untill it be late with us but Clusius found the first in flower in the moneths of February and March as he saith in Spaine The Names 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke quasi indolens inoffensumque remedium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 per contrarium enim se habet quemadmodum in aliis Grace scilicet fella 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sive dulcia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Holostium tota ossea cum herba sit tenera appellans except it might rather be said to come from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est salsum vel maritimum because it groweth neere the sea in Latine it is called also Alypum herba terribilis according as the common people of Provence doe call it from the effects it worketh It is called also Alypias by Actuarius yet some thinke that his Alypias which as he saith purgeth flegme doth differ from his Alypum which purgeth blacke choller but Paulus reconcileth this doubt in his seaventh booke and fourth chapter where hee saith that the seede of Alypum purgeth downewards blacke choller taken with a little salt and Vinegar in the same quantity that Epithymum doth but if we credit Dioscorides saith he it doth lightly exulcerate the guts but is the same in my judgement saith Paulus which is now called Alypias the roote hereof as I sayd in the chapter of Tithymalls is called by Actuarius Turpetum album as that of Esula minor Turpetum nigrum There is some doubt with many whether we have the true
with yet it groweth by Saint Margates Church in Rumney Marsh and neere unto Bermonsie house on Southwarke side when Gerard wrote thereof but now is not there to be found The Time The branches abide dispoiled of leaves all the Winter yet perish not but shooteth forth new leaves in the Spring and flowreth about Iuly the berries are ripe in August The names This hath not beene remembred by any of the ancient Greeke Authours although some of the moderne Wririters have imposed Greeke names upon it calling it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Strychnodendron which is Solanum arborescens and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Glycypicron that is Dulcamara or Amaradulcis diverse doe thinke it to be Melothron of Theophrastus Matthiolus tooke it to be Vitis sylvestris of Dioscorides lib. 4. cap. 183. Others in referring it to the Nightshades call it Solanum lignosum or fruticosum or rubrum It is called of the Germans Ielenger ie lieber and Hynschkraut because the shepheards use it for their cattell when they are troubled with that disease they call Hynsch of the Dutchmen Alfrank of the French Morelle du bois and we in English Bitter sweete wood Nightshade and Fellonworte of some Tragus would referre it to the Hedera Cilicia or Smilax of Theophrastus in his third Booke and last Chapter or unto the Smilax laevis of Dioscorides set forth in his fourth Book and 140. Chapter Dodonaeus thinketh that that kinde that beareth white flowers may be Cyclaminus altera of Dioscorides Guillandinus tooke it to be Salicastrum of Pliny lib. 22. cap. 1. but all erroniously the learned of Mompelior as Pena and Camerarius say called it Circaea whereunto it as little agreeth as the Circaea set forth in the next Chapter as you shall there understand Bauhinus calleth it Salanum scandens seu Dulcamara The Vertues Both leaves and fruit are hot and drie astringent and clensing Tragus sheweth the manner of making a medicine for the yellow Iaundise and for the dropsie saith Dodonaeus although it be inveterate by driving it forth gently both by urine and the stoole in this wise Take saith he a pound of the wood of wool Nightshade cut it small and put it into a new earthen pot whose cover hath an hole in the toppe with three pints of white wine close the joynts of the pot with paste and set it on the fire to boyle gently untill a third part be consumed which afterwards being strained forth take a draft thereof morning and evening The juyce of the leaves and berries is thought to be good for them that have beene bruised by blowes or falls to dissolve and avoid the congealed bloud and heale the part affected afterwards it is held also effectuall to open the obstructions of the liver and spleene but so often as I have given it by appointment I have knowne it to purge very churlishly Some also use the drinke before prescribed against putride feavers or agues The countrie shepheards of Germany as Tragus reporteth doth use to hang it about their cattells neckes when they are troubled with the disease they call Die Hynsch which is a swimming in the head causing them to turne round diverse countrie people doe use the berries bruised and laid to the finger that hath a Felon thereon to cure it CHAP. VIII 1 Circaea Lutetiana major The greater Inchanters Nightshade THE likenesse also of this plant in some part thereof hath caused it to be referred unto the Nightshades by diverse and so must I untill a fitter place may be knowne the description whereof is that It riseth up with diverse small round pointed stalkes most usually standing upright yet sometimes leaning downe to the ground and taking roote at the jointes about a foote or more high especially if it grow in a moist shadowie place with two leaves set at every joynt each of them set upon a prettie long foote stalke which are broad and round almost at the bottome and very long pointed at the end somewhat dented about the edges some compare them unto the leaves of Nightshade others unto those of Pellitory of the wall being of a shining greene colour on the upperside and tender soft or gentle in the handling although it be a little hairy and of a darke grayish colour underneath from the middle of the stalke almost upwards doe the flowers grow Spike fashion many set together one above another which shew to be of a darke brownish colour while they abide buddes unblowne open but being blowne are small white five leafed starre flowers dasht over especially at the brimmes or edges with a light shew of blush with many brownish yellow threds in the middle where after they are past came small rough round heads like unto small burres sticking unto garments in the like manner wherein are included small shining blacke round seede somewhat like unto the seed of Pellitorye of the wall but lesser the roote is small very white and full of joynts from whence it shooteth forth and creepeth every way under ground quickly spreading a great compasse the taste hereof is somewhat sweetish and waterish withall 2. Circaea lutetiana minor Small Inchanters Nightshade This small Nightshade is in all things like the former but that it groweth much smaller in every part although it grow in the same places with it The Place 1. Circaea lutetiana major The greater Inchanters Nightshade They grow in moist and shadowye places and sometimes at the rootes of old rotten trees in woods and sometimes by the hedgesides or borders of fields The Time They spring up in Aprill are in flower in Iune give their seede in August and perish downe to the ground afterwards the rootes abiding safe in the ground The Names Thse were not knowne to any of the ancient writers that we can finde but are usually in these dayes called by all Herbarists Circaea because in the outward forme it is like the Circaea of Dioscorides Lobel and Pena call the greater Circaea Lutetiana not knowing the lesser we adde major for a distinction between them the former is called also Circaea Monspeliensium Tragus calleth it Lappa sylvestris because the small heads of seed are rough like small burres for he judgeth the Amaranthus minor purpureus to be the Circaea of Dioscorides and Pliny Iohannes Thalius in Harcynia sylva which is joyned with Camerarius his hortus Medicus calleth them Helxine sylvestris sive fluviatilis major minor and saith that they are like in leaves unto the Helxine that is called Parietaria Gesner in hortis Germaniae calleth it Ocimastrum verrucarium not being before knowne by any name because the leaves as he saith are like Bassill and the rough heades like unto rugged warts Tabermontanus calleth it herba Di. Stephani Bauhinus calleth the greater Solanifolia Circaea dicta major as hee doth the lesser Solanifolia Circaea Alpina which Fabius Columna calleth Circaea minima Many also have taken the Mandrake of Theophrastus to be Circaea of the
village called Abbar and in the midway from Denâ—igh to Guider the house of a worthy Gentleman Sir Iohn Guin as also neere a woodden bridge that giveth passage ouer the River Dee to a small village called Balam which is in North-Wales and in going up the hill that leades to Banghor as also nere Anglesey in the way to the said Sir Iohn Guin his house The Time All of them doe flower about the end of Iune and in Iuly and the seed is ripe in August in some places earlier and in others later The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quia argemas id est oculorum nubeculas tollit in Latine also Argemone after the Greeke word Pliny in his 25. booke and 9. Chapter calleth it Argemonia and saith that they in his time made three sorts hereof whereof the best was that whose roote did smell like Francumsence but in some places he maketh mention of foure sorts as in his 21. book 23. chap. he saith that Anemone is called Argemone in his 24. book 19. chap. he saith that Lappa Canaria whose roote smelleth of Francumsence was called Argemone and in his 26. book 6. chap. he saith Inguinaria was called Argemone in former times our ordinary Agrimâ—ny was taken for Argemone but now a daies all our moderne writers do agree that our Argemone is the same that Dioscorides wrote of notwithstanding that he giveth to it a round roote which ours hath not some copies have another sort of Argemone which most doe not hold right the first of these is called by Lobel Argemone capitulo torulis canulato Bauhinus calleth it Argemone capitulo breviore and thinketh it to be the same that Lobel and Pena in their Adversaria call Anemone minor Coriandri folio flore Fulsatillae capitulis hirsutis noc ut Papatur corolla donatis The second is called by Lobel Argemone capitulo longiore as Bauhinus doth also but he maketh it also to be the Anemone Narbonensis major corniculata of Lobel and Pena in their Adversaria when by the judgement of the best that Anemone of theirs is Papaver corniculatum violaceum of Clusius Dodonaeus and others and doth much differ from this Argemone both in bignesse and colour of the flower and in the head of seede that being much longer and smaller then this Cordus in his History of Plants and 46. Chapter setteth this forth by the name of Argemone which Gesner who set him forth knew not because Cordus saith it giveth a yellow juice like Celondine The third is set forth by Pena in his Italian Baldus and by Bauhinus in his Prodromus and Pinâ—x under two titles as two sorts when as assuredly they are both but one The last was found as I shewed you before in many places of Wales by Lobel in his life time and therefore entituled justly according to the Country The Vertues Dioscorides and Galen give unto this kinde of Poppie a clensing qualitie and sharpe that it is able to cleare the spots that happen in the eyes and such mistes filmes and cloudes that grow in them to hinder the sight as also to asswage any inflammations but others say that it helpeth the bloudy fluxe the decoction thereof being made in water and drunke as also if it be boyled in wipe and drunke is a present remedy against the stinging or biting of any venemous bâ—ast and that two drammes thereof taken in wine wasteth the spleene that is swollen being beaten while it is fresh and applied to cuttes and wounds healeth them speedily applied also to any member vexed with crampes or convulsions to any sores cankers or fistulas to any blacke and blew spots in the face or on the eyes by strokes or falles doth helpe and heale them all being bruised and applied with vinegar to the throat healeth the quinsie and applied to the place grieved with the gout taketh away the paine thereof quickly being rubbed upon Wartes it doth in a short time consume them and take them away There is no propertie remembred belonging to any of the two last sorts CHAP. XVI Hypecoum The Hypecoum of Dioscorides herbe ALthough Camerarius Dodonaeus Lobel and others doe reckon this small plant as a species or sort of wild Cumin and have referred it to with them yet I dare not so call it because I doe not finde either the face or outward resemblance there of nor yet the temperature and qualities to be any way answerable thereunto but rather unto the Poppies I have therefore thought it fittest to joyne it next unto them and doe rather incline to the judgement of Clusius to account this plant to be the true Hypeocum of Dioscorides unto which I will also adjoyne another small plant reckoned also by Lobel to be of the kindes of wild Cumin which I must call another Hypeocum in that it is so like unto the other And let me crave leave with all to insert here as in an extravagant place that kinde of wild Cumin which is so accounted of most Writers as not having a fit place to set it alone in regard it may not be joyned with the true Cumin which must be intreated of among the umbellifers and because this is in other Authors joyned with the former 1. Hypecoum legitimum Clusij The true Hypecoum of Dioscorides according to Clusius This small plant hath diverse long leaves lying on the ground very much divided and cut into many parts of a pale or whitish greene colour so like unto Fumiterry in the colour of the leaves as also somewhat neere in the many divisions and parts thereof that it will soone deceive one that doth but slightly regard it but is smaller and thinner and more gentle in handling yet is larger in Spaine than with us as Clusius recordeth in the middle of them riseth up a stalke or two with some leaves thereon and divided towards the toppe into diverse branches at the toppes whereof stand small yellow flowers consisting of sixe leaves two whereof are larger than the rest and stand one opposite unto another the rest being very small and scarse discerned but when the flower is blowen open after which doe arise long crooked flat huskes or cods full of joints somewhat like unto the huskes of the Scorpioides of Matthiolus but greater and longer in the severall joints whereof lye severall square yellowish seede very hardly to be taken forth and separated from the huskes or skinnes the roote is small and a little stringy dying every yeare at the first approach of Winter and is very hardly made to spring but by an Autumne sowing the taste of the plant is unpleasant 2. Hypecoum alterum Another Hypecoum This other sort for so I make it is very like unto the former but that the leaves hereof are not so broad and long being more finely divided somewhat like unto the Seseli or Hartwort of Marseilles or wild Chervill the stalkes are smooth full of leaves and branches whereat come forth yellow
bursten or have a rupture also for them that have beene bruised by a fall or otherwise the powder of the rootes or leaves is no lesse effectuall to clense all putride rotten and filthy ulcers and sores wheresoever then the rootes of Aristolochiae or Birthwort and may safely be used in all salves Vnguents and lotions made for such purposes in the stead thereof the one for the other the leaves and flowers boyled and made into a pultis and applyed to the hard tumours or swellings of womens breasts cureth them speedily as also such evill sores as happen in the matrix although they be inveterate or hard to be cured the downe that is found in the cods of these herbes as well as in the Dogs bane doe make a farre softer stuffing for cushions or pillowes or the like then Thistle downe which is much used in some places for the like purposes CHAP. XXII Herba Paris Herbe True love or one berry BEsides the usuall and knowne Herba Paris I have two other herbes like thereunto to bring to your consideration which I thinke is fit to take up the roome here The ordinary Herba Paris or Herbe true love hath a small creeping roote of a little binding but unpleasant loathsome taste running here and there under the upper crust of the ground somewhat like a Couch grasse roote but not so white and not much lesser then the roote of the white wild Anemone and almost of as darke a colour but much like thereunto in creeping shooting forth stalkes with leaves some whereof carry no berries and others doe every stalke being smooth without joynts and blackish greene rising to the height of halfe a foote at the most if it beare berries for most commonly those that beare none doe not rise fully so high bearing at the toppe foure leaves set directly one against another in manner of a crosse or a lace or ribben tyed as it is called in a true Loves knot which are each of them a part somewhat like unto a Nightshade leafe but somewhat broader yea in some places twice as broad as in others for it will much vary sometimes having but three leaves sometimes five and sometimes sixe and sometimes smaller and sometimes larger either by a quarter or halfe or as I said before twise as great I have seene it also degenerate that the foure leaves being twise as large as the ordinary have beene dented in both at the edges and points which have beene parted or forked and have borne greater berries then the ordinary all which are of a fresh greene colour not dented about the edges in the middle of those foure leaves there riseth up a small slender stalke about an inch high bearing at the toppe thereof one flower spread open like a starre consisting of foure small and narrow long pointed leaves of a yellowish greene colour and foure other lying between Herba Paris Herbe true love or one berry 2. Herba Paris Canadensis rotunda radice Herbe true love of Canada with a round roote them lesser then they in the middle whereof standeth a round darke purplish button or head compassed about with eight small yellow mealy chives or threds which three colours make it the more conspicuous and lovely to behold this button or head in the middle when the other leaves are withered becommeth a blackish purple berry full of juice of no hot nor evill nor yet of any sweetish taste of the bignesse of a reasonable grape having within it many white seedes the whole plant is almost insipide without any manifest taste and by the effects in repressing humours and inflammations is accounted as cold as the Nightshade 2. Herba Paris triphyllos Brasiliano Herbe true love of Brasill The roote of this herbe is small and creepeth like the other sending forth a slender stalke of foure or five inches high having three broader and longer leaves set thereon then are in the former the stalke riseth about three inches above them bearing at the top three much narrower leaves as it were the huske to the flower standing in the middle consisting of three white leaves having some veines in them and are about three inches long and one broad 3. Herba Paris Canadensis rotunda radice Herbe true love of Canada with a round roote This herbe groweth with three large leaves like the last and at the toppe of the upper stalke one flower consisting of sixe leaves three whereof are greene and small which are as it were the huske to the other three leaves which are larger and longer of a darke purple colour and in some white in the middle whereof groweth a small round blackish berry full of small seedes like Nightshade seede the roote hereof creepeth not as the former but groweth into a small round tuber The Place The first groweth in our woods and copses as also sometimes in the corners and borders of fields and waste grounds in very many places of this land for besides those places which Gerard hath set downe which are almost all wasted and consumed every one running thereunto that is next him and gathering it it is found in Hinbury wood three mile from Maidestone in Kent in a wood also called Harwarsh neere to Pinnenden heath one mile from the said Maidestone in a wood by Chisselhurst in Kent called Long wood and in the next wood thereunto called Iseets wood especially about the skirts of a hoppe garden bordering thereon in a wood also over against Boxly Abbay a mile from Maidestone in great abundance not farre from the hedge side of that Meddow through which runnes a rivelet related by Mr. George Bowles a young Gentleman of excellent knowledge in these things The second was found as Bauhinus saith in the woods of Brasil but I had the knowledge thereof given me from Mounsier Loumeau of Rochell Preacher who had it out of Canada The last was brought out of Canada and mentioned by Coruntus in his booke of Canada plants The Time They spring up in the middle of Aprill or May and are in flower soone after the berries are ripe in the end of May and in some places in Iune The Names This herbe Paris hath not beene knowne to either antient Greeke or Latine Writers that wee can finde by their writings It hath found therefore divers names by divers of the moderne Authours every one according as his opinion and judgement led him for although Matthiolus Caesalpinus Anguillara Camerarius Dodonaeus and Lugdunensis following them doe call it Herba Paris as it is now generally termed of all Herbarists yet in the former times Fuschius tooke it to be Aconitum Pardalianches and to be deadly or at least dangerous whom Matthiolas contradicteth and Cordus in his History of plants seemeth to be of Fulschus opinion calling it Aconitum sive Pardalianches monococcon but because it was found by good experience not to be hurtfull but helpefull Tabermontanus calleth it Aconitum salutiferum Some called it Vva versa Tragus not knowing any Latine
in the name The third and fourth by their title and place are expressed whereupon they tooke their names the last Lugdunensis calleth Alopocurus montana which hath Betony like leaves and therefore Bauhinus as is before said referred it thereunto One thing more I would advertise you that Vetonica and Betonica are diversly taken in divers Authors for Vetonica although it be set downe in some Authors for Betonica yet more properly and usually it is understood to bee the Caryophyllus our Gilli-flower and then it is denominated Vetonica altilis The Vertues Betonie is hot and dry almost in the second degree it is saith Pliny ante cunctas Laudatissima and to have others also set it forth with admirable and yet not undeserved praises Antonius Musa the Emperour Augustus his Physition who who wrote a peculiar booke hereof saith of it that it preserveth the lives and bodies of men free from the danger of diseases and from witchcrafts also but it is found by dayly experience as Dioscorides formerly wrote thereof to be good for innumerable diseases as Matthiolus termeth it for it helpeth those that either loath or cannot digest their meate those that have weake stomackes or have sower belchings or continuall rissings in their stomacke if they use it familiarly either greene or dry either the herbe the roote or the flowers in broth drunke or meate made into conserve syrupe electuary water or powder as every one may best frame themselves unto or as the time or season requireth taken any of the foresayd wayes it helpeth the jaundise falling sickenesse the palsie convulsions or shrinking of the sinewes the goute and those that are enclining to dropsies as also those that have continuall paines in their heads yea although it turne to freâ— it is no lesse availeable the powder mixed with pure honey for all sorts of coughes or colds wheesing and shortnesse of breath distillations of thinne rheume upon the lungs which causeth consumptions the decoction made with Meâ—â— and a little Pennyroyall added thereunto is good for those that are troubled with putride agues whether quotidiane tertian or quartinâ— that rise from the stomack and to draw down and evacuate the blood and humors that by falling into the eyes do hinder the sight the decoction thereof made in wine taken killeth the wormes in the belly is good to open the obstructions both of the liver spleene for stitches or other paines in the sides or back the torments also griping paines of the bowels and the wind Collick and with honey helpeth to purge the belly the same also helpeth to bring down womens courses and is of especiall use for those that are troubled with the falling downe of paines of the mother and to cause an easie and speedy deliverâ— for those inâ—â—â—ile of childbirth it helpeth also to breake and expell the stone either in the Kidnies or bladder the decoction with wine gargled easeth the toothach it is commended against the sting or biting of venemous Sâ—â—pents and mad dogs both used inwardly and applyed outwardly also to the hurt place it is sayd also to hinder drunkennesse being taken before hand and quickely to expell it afterwards a dramme of the powder of Betonic taken with a little hony in some Vinegar doth wonderfully refresh those that are overwearied by travaileâ— it stayeth bleedings at the mouth or nose as also those that spit or pisse blood it helpeth those that are bursten and have a rupture and is good for those that are bruised by any fall or otherwise the greene herbe bruised or the juyce applyed to any inward hurt or outward greene wound in the head or body will quickely heale it and close it up as also any veines or sinewes that are cut and will also draw forth any broken home or any splinter thorne or such other thing gotten into the flesh it is no lesse profitable for old filthy sores and ulcers yea though they be fiâ—lous and hollow but some doe advise to put a little salt thereto for this purpose being applyed with a little Hogges Lard it helpeth a Plague sore and other biles and pushes the fumes of the decoction while it is warme received by a funnell into the eares easeth the paines of them estroyeth the wormes and cureth the running sores in them the juyce dropped into them doth the same likewise the roote of Betony is found to be of much differing quality from the leaves and flowers as being much displeasing both to the taste and stomacke procuring loathing vomitings and belchings whereas the leaves and flowers by their sweete and spicie taste are comfortable both in meate and medicine CHAP. LXX Chelidonium Celandine FOrmerly there were two sorts of Celandine generally knowne as Dioscorides and others make mention which differ in outward face very much one from another whereof I entend to entreate in this Chapter but unto them I must adioyne some other sorts of the greater which are of â—er in◠〈…〉 â—ention 1. Chelidonium majus vulgare Common great Celandine Common Celandine hath divers tender round whitish greene stalkes with greater joynâ— th◠〈◊〉 other herbes as it were knees very brittle and easie to breake from whence grow branches with large 〈◊〉 long leaves much divided into many parts and each of them cut in on the edges set at the joynts upon both sides of the branches of a darke blewish greene colour on the upperside like unto Colâ—mbideâ— and more pale blewish greene underneath full of a yellow sappe or milâ— when any part is broken of a bitter taste and strong 〈◊〉 at the toppes of the branches which are much divided grow gold yellow flowers of foure leaves a 〈◊〉 after which come small long pods with blackish seede therein the roote is somewhat great at the 〈…〉 forth divers other long rootes and small fibres reddish on the outside and yellow within full of a yellow 〈◊〉 therein 2. Chelidonium majus laciniatum Iugged Celandine This other great Celandine groweth in all things like the former but theâ— the leaves are thither and the division slenderer and more cut in on the edges the flowers likewise 〈◊〉 of the same gold yellow colour and consisting of foure leaves somewhat larger than the other and are each of them cut in on the edges as the greene leaves are this as the other by the shedding of the seede 1. Chelidonium majus vulgare Common great Celandine 2. Chelidonium majus lacintatum Iâ—gged Celandine 3. Chelidonium minus Small Celandine or Pilewort riseth againe before winter and so abideth flowring the next spring and seeding in sommer 3. Chelidonium maximum Canadense 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Great Celandine of Canada This strange Celandine hath a fleshie roote full of a yellow juyce smelling strong like the ordinary from whence rise onely three large blewish greene leaves cut in after the manner of Vine leaves without any foote stalke under them or with very short ones from among which rise a short reddish foote stalke with a white flower
this Land so that you shall hardly misse it in any salt Marsh in some place or other if you looke well for it the second groweth as Lobel saith neare the mouth of the River 1. Tripolium vulgaris Sea Starrewort Pâ—o the third saith Cordus groweth in the salt Marshes that are nigh unto the Lake of brackish water which is by Staffurt in Germany and so doe the other two as hee saith also The Time They flower in Iune and Iuly for the most part The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tripolium which name the Latines keepe and change not and as Dioscorides relateth was so called because the flowers did change their colours three times a day which was but a false information or a negligent consideration Serapio called it Turbith but Lobel and Pena disprove it as I sayd before in the Chapter of Tithymales or Spurges for the roote of this purgeth not say they either the juice or decoction Pliny in mistaking Tripolium maketh Polium to have the same facultie that Theophrastus in his ninth Booke and 21. Chap. giveth to Tripolium and Gaza following Pliny his errour translateth it Polium also the first is called Tripolium of all that have written thereof except Cordus who in Observationum sylva calleth it Anthyllis major as he doth the second Anthyllis minor and the last Anthyllis brevior and Columna who calleth the first Amelli species palustris as Lobel before him gave him the occasion who saith it doth more significantly expresse the Amellus of Virgil then that Aster Italorum or montanus purpureus which we doe account to be it yet I may say by Lobels leave that the Aster before said doth more properly grow prope flumina as Virgil saith his Amellus doth then in aquis vel scrobâ—bus as Tripolium doth The Vertues Dioscorides saith that the roote is sweete in smell and hot in taste that two drammes thereof given in wine to drinke purgeth the belly which as is before sayd Pena and Lobel doe deny from watery humours and by Vrine Galen saith the roote is sharpe in taste and hot in the third degree Dioscorides further addeth that it is put into Antidotes against venome and poyson It is found by later experience to be singular good to heale all fresh wounds the leaves onely bruised and bound to the place or the juice dropped into them as also for other hurts or inward bruises and as effectuall also as any other wound herbe almost whatsoever for any old Vlcers or sores CHAP. XCII Verbena Vervaine THis herbe hath bred much doubt among many of our moderne writers what it should be that Dioscorides Galen and Pliny make mention of some supposing one herbe some another as you shall heare by and by but unto those two sorts that Dioscorides speaketh of and Pliny calleth mas and faemina and others recta and supina wee are to adde one or two more knowne in these later times and set forth by some 1. Verbena mas seu recta vulgaris Common or upright Vervaine The common Vervaine that is familiar to our Countrey hath divers somewhat long and broad leaves next the ground deepely gasht at the bottome of them the other part being deepely dented about the edges and some onely deepely dented or cut all alike of a blackish greene colour on the upperside and somewhat gray underneath the stalke is square and branched into divers parts rising to bee about two foote high especially if yee put thereto the long spike of flowers at the toppes which are set on all sides thereof one above another and sometimes two or three together being small and gaping of a purplish blew colour and white intermixt after which come small round seede in small and somewhat long heads the roote is small and long and of no use 2. Verbena supina sive faemina Bending or female Vervaine This other Vervaine hath divers smaller and weaker square stalkes leaning or bending downe to the ground and almost lying thereon not standing upright like the other parted into many more and smaller branches and having such like leaves growing on them at the severall joynts but much smaller and more divided or cut in making them seeme to be many leaves set on both sides the middle ribbes of a grayish greene above and more gray underneath the flowers grow in the same manner that the other doth in small long spikes being of a deeper blew colour them the other otherwise in forme not unlike the seeds that follow is like it also and so is the roote both perishing after seede time and raising it selfe of its owne sowing 3. Verbena Pernana Vervaine of Feru This Vervaine is like unto the last Vervaine but growing greater and abiding greene in Winter as well as Summer as many of those Accidentall plants doe which will not in these European parts yea it hath beene observed that those plants that naturally abide not greene 1. Verbena vuâ—gaâ—is Common Vervaine 2. Verbena supina sea faemina Bending or female Vervaine 4. Verbena repens nodiflora Round headed Vervaine a Winter in these parts being carried thither have contiâ—ued greene all the Winter contrary to their course here 4. Verbena repens nodiflora Round headed Vervaine The round headed Vervaine hath from a small fibrous roote a small square smooth trayling joynted stalke whereat grow small leaves almost round yet pointed at the ends and dented from the middle of them forwards at each joynt also with the leaves come forth other small branches and a bare small stalke bearing at the toppes a scaly round head from whence start forth such like small flowers as are in the other sorts and such like seede also following them The Place The first groweth generally throughout the Land in divers places by the hedges and way sides and other waste grounds the second is not found in our Land although Gerard saith so for it will not indure a Winters blast before it seede with us the third is of the West Indies and the last is naturall of Naples The Time The first flowreth about Iuly and the seede is ripe soone after and so doth the last sometimes but the other as I sayd doth seldome flower before the Winter with us and therefore cannot bring his seede to perfection for in the naturall places it flowreth not untill the end of Iuly and in August The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hiera botane id est herba sacra and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Peristereon quod Columbae inâ—a libenter versantur and sacra herba teste Plinio quod en oliâ— apud Romanos dâ—mus purgabuntur familiae lustrabantur Iovis mensa ad sacrificium epulas verrebatur faeciolis in sacris legationibus illa coronabatur velâ—uâ— Dioscorides inquit quod in expiationibus suspensa illigatur mire utilis sit It was also called Sagminalis herba hoc est gramen vel herba sic arce cum sua terra a
all the west parts of this land upon stone and mud walls upon rockes also and in stony places upon the ground at the bottome of old trees and sometimes on the bodies of them that are decayed and rotten the other of that sort in Portugall as is sayd the second on the Pyrenian hills the other two grow upon the rockes and among the very stones where there is scarse any earth for the rootes to abide on the Alpes of the Helvetians or Switzers and upon the hill called Hortus Dei neare Mompelier The Time The first doth usually flower sooner then the other as at the beginning of May and the seede ripening quickly after sheddeth it selfe so that about the end of May usually the leaves and stalks are withered dry and gone untill September that the leaves spring up againe and so abide all Winter the second about the middle of May the other two sometime flower not untill Iune and Iuly and their seede is ripe in August those heads that bare stalks usually perishing together and the other that bare not abiding all the extremity of the Winter The Names The first is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cotyledon ab acetabuli sive umbilici figura and therefore the Latines call it Acetabulum as well as Cotyledon or Vmbilicus Veneris it hath also divers other names as Scatum caeli Scutellum Terra Vmbilicus Hortus Veneris and Herba Coxendicum the Italians call it Ombilico di Venere and some Cupartivole that is pot covers the Spaniards Scudetes that is Shields the French Escueilles and Nombrill du Venus the Germanes Loffelkraut and Navelkraut the Dutch Navelcruijt and we in English of some Navelwort or great Navelwort Wall Pennywort Hipwort Kidneywort Venus-Navell and Navell of the earth The other is called of some in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cotyledon alter 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cymbalion and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Scytalium but they are rather referred to the former great Houseleeke which I have shewed you before and is the true Cotyledon alter of Dioscorides by the judgement of Clusius and others the second is usually called Sedum serratum with most Herbarists I have as you see joyned it here as fittest I thinke but the other two last sorts have obtained that name of Cotyledon from Matthiolus who first called them so and is still kept and held currant with many yet confounded also with many others for the likenesse unto Sedum minus as with Cordus Gesner Camerarius Dodonaeus and Bauhinus who often call them Seda and very properly for there is no herbe can so properly be called a Sodum as that which hath the leaves placed circle wise one within another as they have but because the Cotyledon is of that fashion it is I said justly termed a Sedum The Vertues The Wall Pennywort as Galen saith is of mixt qualities that is of moist and cold somewhat astringent and a little bitter withall whereby it cooleth repelleth clenseth and discusseth and is very effectuall for all inflammations and unnaturall heates either inwardly to coole a fainting hot stomacke or an hot Liver or the bowels or the mother to drinke the juice or the distilled water or else outwardly for pimples rednesse Saint Anthonies fire and the like heates and inflammations to apply the bruised herbe or to bathe the place with the juice or the distilled water the said juice or water helpeth much also to heale sore kidneys torne or fretted by the stone or exulcerated within and easeth the paines it provoketh Vrine likewise and is availeable for the dropsie it helpeth also to breake the stone and to coole the inflamed parts by the paines thereof and other wringing paines of the bowels and the bloody flux it is singular good for the painefull piles or hemorroidall veines to coole and temper their heate and the sharpenesse of blood in them and to ease their paines to use the juice as a bathe unto them or made into an oyntment by it selfe or with Myrrhe or other things conducible thereunto it is no lesse effectuall to give ease of paines to the hot goute the Sciatica and the inflammations and swellings in the cods and bringeth againe the prepuce it likewise helpeth the Kernells or knots of the necke and throate called the Kings Evill it healeth Kibes and Chilblanes if they be bathed with the juice or annointed with an ointment made thereof and some of the skinne of the leafe laid upon them it is used also in greene wounds to stay the blood and to heale them quickly The lesser sorts are held to be cooling and somewhat more binding then the greater and thereby availeable for those diseases whereunto those qualities are proper CHAP. X. Acetosa sive Oxalis Sorrell SOrrell is accounted a Docke and called the soure Docke and therefore might have beene brought under the generall title of the Dockes but because none of the other Dockes are so cooling nor planted in Gardens I shall speake of those sorts severally hereafter that I have not made mention of either before in this Worke or in my former Booke The sorts of Sorrell are many more found out of late by the industrious searchers of Natures varieties than formerly hath beene knowne some growing naturally in our fields some in our woods some also in other countreis Of the ordinary Sorrell nursed in Gardens which yet groweth also wilde in our fields and medowes throughout the Land I have already entreated of in my former Booke and shall not neede to speake thereof againe here but of the other sorts yet of the wood Sorell I shall speake in the next Chapter although for their forme sake they might have beene joyned with the rest of the Trefoiles whereof they are species 1. Acetosa maxima Germanica Great Sorrell of Germany The great Sorrell of Germany groweth in the same manner that the ordinary Garden sort doth but the leaves thereof are much larger and sometime a little curled at the edges the joynts of the stalkes are great and tuberous sticking out like knots which being taken from the stalke and put into the ground will take roote and bring forth leaves like the mother plant the seede and so all other things are large answerable to the proportion of the leaves Joannis Thalius in Hircynia sylva maketh mention of a greater sort of Sorrell than ordinary Camerarius in horto of a great one received from Spaine but neither of them speake of any tuberous joints they should beare so that it is probable it is but onely the climate and soyle that produceth the tubers 2. Oxalis sativa Franca sive Romanarotundifolia Round leafed Sorrell In the leaves of this Sorrell consisteth a cheefe difference which are short and almost round in some and in others they will have somewhat round pointed peeces on both sides of a paler greene colour then the former the stalkes are weaker not standing upright but the flowers and seede differ not from the ordinary sort the
minimus The small Thistle of Candy The Time They doe all flower in Iuly and August and their seede is ripe quickly after The Names 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acanus in Greeke in my judgement is most properly Carduus in Latine for from thence be all the 〈◊〉 called Acanacea the prickly heads whereof being called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Echinus the Latines call Echiâ—â—â—a capita and 〈◊〉 Theophrastus in his first booke and sixteenth Chapter mentioneth Acanos with Acarna and Drypis as an especiâ—â—â— kinde of Thistle Some would thinke that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Theophrastus should better agree to denominate the 〈◊〉 kinds of Thistles written as well with Ypsilon as Iota because Gaza doth alwayes translate it simply Caâ—â—duus and generally all the Latines to which opinion Lugdunensis seemeth also to encline in the Chapter of Scolâ—â—mus The first here set forth is the Carduus pratensis of Tragus of Gesner in hortis and Lobel by Lugdunensis 〈◊〉 sylvestris and is thought to be the Leimonia of Theophrastus lib. 6. c. 3. which he putteth among the Thistles wiâ—â— prickly leaves but Gaza hath very evilly translated the word to call it Beta sylvestris the second Anguilara 〈◊〉 Lugdunensis doe set forth under the name Erisithales taking it to be that of Pliny in his 26. Booke and 13. Chaâ—ter which Bauhinus calleth Carduus pratensis Acanthifolijs laciniatis the third Lobel saith the learned of Mâ—â—pâ—lier called Carduus bulbosus he thereupon called it Carduus bulbosus Monspeliensium but Clusius calleth it Cirâ—â—quinto congener and Anguilara Leueacantha Bauhinus calleth it Carduus pratensis Asphodeli radice 〈◊〉 the fourth is called by Lugdunensis Acanthus sylvestris alter Dalechampij by Tabermontanus Iacâ—a 〈◊〉 sive tubâ—â—rosa and by Gerard which followeth him Iacea tuberosa but by Bauhinus Cardanus pratensis Asphodeli radice 〈◊〉 profundè tenuiter laciniatis the fift is called by Bauhinus Carduus polycephalos the sixt likewise is set forth bâ— Bauhinus by the name of Carduus palustris the seventh is taken to be the Ceanothâ—s of Theophrastus lib. 4. cap. 1â— both by Anguilara Lugdunensis and Columna by Bauhinus Carduus vinearum repens folio Sâ—â—chi The last Tragâ—â— calleth Carduus sylvestris in avena and Thalius Carduus Avenarius Tabermontanus Carduus 〈◊〉 and Geraâ—â— Carduus muscatus and by Bauhinus Carduus in avena proveniens which Lugdunensis maketh to be Drypis 〈◊〉 and would have to be Scolymus The Vertues All these Thistles are temperate in heate and drinesse and are good to provoke urine and to amend the stinkâ—ing smell thereof as also the ranke smell of the arme holes or of the whole body to be boyled in wine and drunk the same also is said to helpe a stinking breath and to strengthen the stomacke Pliny saith that the juice being bathed on that place which wanteth haire or is fallen of will cause it to grow againe speedily CHAP. II. Carduus mollis Cirsium dictus The soft Melancholy Thistle OF this Thistle there is much varietie some growing in medowes some on mountaines some with broad leaves others with narrow some greater others smaller as you shall finde them here expressed 1. Cirsium maximum montanum The greatest mountaine Cirsium or Melancholy Thistle This great mountaine Cirsium hath divers large whitish greene leaves lying on the ground somewhat broad and long pointed at the ends as also dented about the edges or as it were a little jagged set aboâ—â— with small short prickles among the which the stalkes that rise up being great hoary and straked or crested are three or foure foote high bearing sundry such like leaves but lesse up almost unto the toppe where upon long and naked stalkes stand gentle prickly scaly whitish greene heads nothing so great as the largenesse of the plant might promise from the middle whereof thrust forth divers small purplish threds as is usuall in most Thistles which when they are past the head openeth being full of downe having very small whitish seede even smaller then in any other Thistle almost lying therein which are carried away together with the winde the roote is composed of many whitish great tuberous long clogs like unto those of the Asphodill which abideth all winters with a few greene leaves at the head thereof 2. Cirsium majus latifolium The great soft Melancholy Thistle with broad leaves This great Melancholy Thistle hath large and long leaves larger and broader then those of Borage dented and set with soft prickles about the edges the stalke which is tender brittle or easie to breake and cornered hath such like large leaves thereon as the lower are but somewhat more rent or torne on the edges branched towards the toppe and bearing on each of them from among a tuft of small prickly leaves a small prickley Thistle-like head out of which spring many purple threads which passe into downe the roote is small and long with divers fibres annexed to it 3. Cirsium aliud montanum Another soft Melancholy Thistle This other Melancholy Thistle riseth up with divers stalkes about a foote high winged as it were or set with filmes from the bottome and leaves growing thereon which are somewhat like the first but narrower dented about the edges set with prickes and of a pale or blewish greene colour at the toppes of the stalkes upon long naked stemmes stand small scaly prickly single heads with purple thrums or threads in the middle which when they passe into downe hang downe their heads and conteine within them larger shining and browner seede then the formost that fall downe or are blowen away into the winde the root is composed of many long strings of the thicknesse of ones finger which shooteth forth heads for encrease at the toppe on all sides whereby it lasteth long 4. Circium Anglicum primum The first English Cirsium The former of these English Thistles riseth up with a tender single hoary greene stalke bearing thereon foure or five long hoary green leaves dented about the edges the points whereof are little or nothing prickly at the top usually but one head yet sometimes from the bosome of the uppermost leafe there shooteth forth another smaller head which are scaly and somewhat prickly with many reddish purple thrume or threadâ— in the middle which being gathered fresh will keepe the colour a long time and standing on the stalke falleth not in a long 2. Cirsium majus latifolium The great soft Melancholy Thistle 3. Cirsium aliud montanum Another soft Melancholy Thistle 4. Cirsium Anglicum primum The first English Cirsium 5. Cirsium aliud Anglicum The other English Cirsium time while it perfecteth the seede which is of a meane bignesse 7. Cirsium montanum capitulis compactis Mountaine Cirsium with tufted heads lying in the downe the roote hath many long strings fastned to the head or upper part which is blackish and perisheth not 5. Cirsium aliud Anglicum The other English Cirsium This other English Cirsium
Cuscuta groweth upon Staebe but whereas Theophrastus in his sixt book and third Chapter seemeth to make it peculiar to Phleos Capparis and Tribulus to have not onely a thorny stalke but a prickly leafe also hee differing herein much from himselfe for in the same booke and fift chapter hee saith that Phleos and Hippopheos which Gaza translateth Lappago have gentle leaves and not prickly as Inturis or Capparis hath but Pliny in his 21. booke and 15. Chapter not rightly considering what Theophrastus had written of Staebe hath not onely erred himselfe but hath beene the cause of many other mens errours Now concerning Phleum that it is a plant farre differing from Staebe and reckoned alwayes by the Greeke writers among the marsh plants and not among the thorny these things may sufficiently induce First Plutark in his second booke of naturall questions saith thus Laytus must know that all marsh plants such as Tipha Phleum and Vlna doe neither spring nor grow if the raines fall not in their proper season Aristophanis also saith the same in his Comedy of Frogs where the quire saith we have beene skipping among the Cypirus and Phleum rejoycing in their songs and Theophrastus lastly in his fourth booke and eleventh Chapter numbreth Phleum among the plants of the lake Orchomenius and appointeth two kindes the male that beareth fruit and the female that is barren serving onely to binde things withall and saith also that the fruit of this Phleum is called Anthella whereof they use to make a lye and is a certaine flat thing like a Cake soft and reddish which plant is yet unknowne to the best herbarists of these times Anguilara tooke this Pimpinella to bee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chalceios sive Aecaria Theophrasti and Clusius doth so entitle it also Ranwolfius saith that the Moores of the country about Libanus call it Bellan and saith it may well be the Sanguisorba spinosa of others Clusius and Camerarius call it Pimpinella spinosa and Bauhinus Poterio affinis folijs Pimpinellae spinosae as though there were another Pimpinella spinosa and that this had leaves but like unto it The Vertues This is of a very drying and binding qualitie and therefore is taken to stay laskēs and fluxes of the body the herbe being boyled and the decoction taken fasting which Honorius Bellus saith that they of Candy doe account to be a sure medicine to helpe them whensoever they neede for that purpose CHAP. XX. Aspalathus Spalatos thorny Bush or Broome DIoscorides maketh mention of two sorts of Aspalathus the one reddish or purplish under the upper barke the other white both which are almost unknowne to the most judicious at these times yet Pona in his Latine and Italian Baldus hath expressed the figure of the first Aspalathus and in his Italian the figure also of the second differing from those of Clusius and others growing with Signor Contarini all which I thinke fit to shew you here 1. Aspalathus alter Monspeliensis Dioscoridis his second Aspalathus according to those of Mompelier This Aspalathus or thorny bush of Mompelier where the learned did judge to be the second Aspalathus of Dioscorides is a small low bush or shrubbe not rising much above a 1. Aspalathus alter Monspeliensis Dioscorides his second Aspalathus according to those of Mompelier 4. Aspalathus secundus Dioscoridis legitimus Pona Dioscorides his true second sort of Aspalathus according to Pona 5. Aspalatus primus Dioscoridis odoratus The first and sweete Aspalathus of Dioscorides cubit high stored with divers branches and sharpe short crooked thornes bending downewards set on them as also many small greene leaves divers set together on both sides of the middle ribbe no bigger then Lentill leaves and such likewise the young branches have but smaller the flowers stand on the stronger thorny branches three or foure or more standing together of the fashion of Broome flowers sometimes more yellow and sometimes paler after which come small seedes in small pods 2. Aspalathus alter secundus Clusij Clusius his other sort of Aspalathus This other Aspalathus of Clusius groweth greater higher and stronger then the former and set with sharpe crooked thornes as plentifully as it with small leaves on them in the same manner at the toppes whereof grow the flowers like the other but alwayes of a paler colour in the rest there is little difference to be discerned betweene them 3. Aspalathus alter tertius hirsutus Small Aspalathus with hairy leaves This small Aspalathus groweth usually lower then the first as not exceeding a foote in height furnished with more slender yet prickly stalkes but divided into many such smaller branches that they seeme almost as small as those of Southernwood being hard and prickly from the elder branches shoote forth in the Spring of the yeare other smaller stalkes bearing many hoary leaves like those of Lentills but softer and larger then those of the first sort the flowers likewise being yellow like the other are greater then they by a little the seede likewise keepeth a proportion like unto the rest 4. Aspalathus secundus Dioscoridis legitimus Ponae Dioscorides his true second sort of Aspalathus according to Pona The true Aspalathus alter Dioscoridis first described by Honorius Bellus of Candy in his first Epistle to Clusius and the figure thereof afterwards exhibited by Pona in his Italian Baldus wherein is many more rare plants set forth then is in the Latine and received from Signur Contarini who hath a Garden stored with the rarest plants that can bee gotten from all parts is as the said Bellus saith generally knowne through all Graecia reteining yet the old name wherewith they not onely make hedges and fences to their grounds but in some places whole Groves are found stored therewith and is a small hedge bush rising up with many upright stemmes branched forth into many parts set full of small sharpe white thornes on all sides without order and at every thorne on the young and tender branches one trefoile pale greene leafe upon a long footestalke whose ends are round and dented in in the middle the flowers stand at the toppes divers set together which are fashioned like unto Broome flowers at some times and places wholly yellow and at other more reddish or inclining to purple of so sweete a sent that with the winde it is felt a good way of when the flowers are fallen there come up in their places small pods conteining within them foure or five small round seede like Vetches lesser then those of Acacia altera the roote is wooddy and brancheth forth in the ground sending forth suckers whereby it is plentifully encreased the substance of the wood is very hard heavy and white the heart or core whereof is blackish and utterly without any sent while it is greene but dry senteth better 5. Aspalathus primus Dioscoridis odoratus The first and sweete Aspalathus of Dioscorides Although this plant be not throughly described and set forth as the former is with the
therof as Alpinus first and Vestingius since hath amended it It riseth up above the water from a reede like roote with many fibres thereat with sundry three square stalkes sometimes seven cubits high or more with a pith in the middle with leaves both above and below it the greater that are at the bottome are large and three square as Alpinus saith but Vestingius saith nothing thereof bending downeward like to the Burre reede or Cyperus the lesser are under the tufts at the toppes which are composed of divers long and upright threds set thicke together and small flowers at the toppes of them which passe away without seede as it is thought for none hath beene observed This is their exact description of it so that by comparing them both together we may say that the roote is like other Reedes but much greater that is as bigge as ones wrist or arme yet not of ten cubits long for that size I thinke is more proper to the stalke from the roote to the toppe of the tuft the stalke it selfe cannot be of foure cubits greatnesse for that compasse exceedeth a great tree but are about foureteene or fifteene inches compasse which may very well agree to the naturall largest breadth of Paper which was thirteene inches as Pliny recordeth it which was after it was wetted with the water of Nilus and smoothed out and thereby enlarged each fold cloven out from the stalke those inward being lesser and lesser The plant say the ancients is sweete and used by the Egyptians before that bread of Corne was knowne unto them for their food and in their time was chewed and the sweetenesse sucked forth the rest being spit out the roote serveth them not onely for fewell to burne but to make many sorts of vessels to use for it yeelded much matter for the purpose Papyrus ipse say they that is the stalke as I translated it before is profitable to many uses as to make Ships and of the barke to weave and make sailes mats carpets some kindes of garments and ropes also 2. Papyrus Siciliana The Paper Reede of Sicily This other Paper Reede which may be the Sari of Theophrastus mentioned by him next unto the Papyrus lib. 4. histor c. 9. which as he saith is very like it but lesse being three square also riseth sixe or seaven cubits above the water having many three square and soft leaves broader and longer then those of Cyperus or Sparganium the stalkes are many full of pithy wooll smooth and naked without any leafe unto the toppe where it beareth a faire large thicke tuft of close set slender stalkes with small Mossie flowers on the heads of them and a few short leaves under the tufts which become fruitelesse not bearing any seede the roote is somewhat long like a reede with many fibres thereat The Place and Time The places of both these Reedes are expressed in their titles the former properly in Egipt and Syria as Theophrastus saith and in Euphrates also neere Babylon as Pliny saith The other groweth in Sicilia and as it is thought in Italy and other places being in growth much lesse then the former and flourish in the end of Summer The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latine Papyrus also the stalk was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whereof were made 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which the Latines call Chartae or libri because the translators set liber or câ—rtex for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not knowing otherwise the property of the word but as Pliny sheweth there was no Charta leaves of Paper made of the barke but of the inner foulds which they divided into thinne flakes whereinto it naturally parteth then laying them on a Table and moistening them with the glutinous water of the river they prest them and after dryed them in the Sunne and according to the largenesse thereof was the greater prise but because the later times of that old age grew so copious in writing and transcribing Bookes that they could not at any price get sufficient for their use Attalus as it is thought first at Pergamus invented the skinnes of beasts to be dressed and dryed fit to serve that purpose which ever since have beene called Pergamenae sheetes or Bookes of Parchment for it is said that Attalus furnished his Library at Pergamus with 200000. volumes written on this Parchment This by Eustachius Guillandinus de Papyro is called Papyrus Aegyptia sive Biblus Aegyptia The second is called by Eustachius Biblus secunda by Guilandinus Papyri altera species quae Paperus in Sicilia vocatur by Lobel Papyrus Nilotica and by Bauhinus Papyrus Syriaca and Siciliana and is likely to be that Papyrus that Alpinus saith groweth now in Egipt and called Berd or Bardi by the Egiptians and as I said before is most likely to be the Sari of Theophrastus which some doe thereupon call Pseudo papyrus The Vertues The rootes of the ancient Papyrus was much used to be eaten as is before said either raw boyled or roasted by the people of Egipt in former times sucking the juice and spitting out the rest as Theophrastus Dioscorides and Pliny doe shew it was used as Dioscorides saith to open the closed mouthes of Fistulaes being put into them the manner whereof is to take the dryed stalkes of Paper and to lay them in soake which being bound about close with a thred is to be dryed againe and then being unbound is to be put into those Vlcers whose mouthes are too suddenly closed thereby not easily to be cleansed and healed which this being put thereinto by the heate and moisture of the Vlcer is caused to swell to that bignesse it had when it was greene or soaked making a fairer way for the cure in which manner also Guilandinus in Papyro saith that the Chirurgions in Italy used the pith in the stalkes of the Milium Indicum Indian Millet The burnt ashes thereof were used to stay running Vlcers in any place of the body but especially those in the mouth But the ashes of the writing Paper it selfe that was made of the stalkes performed it better but whereas now adayes many by mistaking the ancient word Charta doe use the ashes of our Paper which is made of linnen cloutes for the same purposes aforesaid they erre grossely and besides doe no good at all therewith but in the stead thereof divers learned men doe advise to take the dryed stalke of Typha to performe the same effect Theophrastus declareth that they formerly used to burne the rootes hereof instead of fewell as also applyed them to make many sorts of utensils or houshold vessels for they yeelded much wood and very good for as he saith they made Ships thereof and of the Biblos which I shewed the Translators not knowing the true meaning of the word did turne it into Cortex the barcke the stalke they made sailes and coverlets a kinde of garment also mats and ropes Alpinus saith that the
Egiptians use the ashes of the burnt stalkes of this their sort in the same manner and to the same purposes that the formed was used to be put unto And besides saith that the distilled water of the stalkes is very profitably used to take away the pin and web and other mists and darknesse happening to the eyes CHAP. XL. Harundo The Reede OF Reedes there are two principall kindes the one sweete called Calamus aromaticus or odoratus whereof I have spoken in the end of the first Classis of this Booke the other not sweete whereof there are many sorts Dioscorides numbreth up five Nastos sive farcta Thely sive Faemina Syringias sive sistularis Donax sive Cypria and Phragmites sive Vallatoria Theophrastus hath many more and Pliny numbreth up five and twenty most of which being knowne onely to us by the dry Canes I shall give you the figures of some here and speake of those that are proper to these neerer climates in this Chapter 1. Harundo Vallatoria sive vulgaris Our Common Reede Our Common Reede shooteth forth with many great round hollow stalkes full of joynts somewhat closely set one unto another to a great height in some places more then in others with long and somewhat broad hard greene leaves at each of them sharpe on both edges and somewhat compassing the stalke at the bottomes bearing a long and broad spread soft brownish pannickle at the toppe whose chaffie or downy seede flyeth away with the winde the roote is white hard round long and with divers knobbed joynts therein running aâ—â—ope but not deepe and shooting up stalkes from divers of the joynts the whole stalke dyeth and perisheth every yeare yet is usually cut downe before Winter when as it is growne white to serve for many purposes 2. Harundo Anglica multifida Finger Reede This rare Reede is like the former in the manner and greatnesse of growing differing onely in the leaves which are each of them halfe a yard long and two or three inches broad with sundry great ribbes or veines running along them and parted at the ends into three or foure parts some what like unto the Finger Harts-tongue 3. Harundo Donax The Spanish Reede or Cane The Spanish Reede differeth not in the manner of growing from the former but in the greatnesse the canes or stalkes being harder thicker and rising unto two mens height sometimes whose joynts are more seperate in sunder with larger leaves at them and a larger pannickle at the toppe Very like here unto are the Reedes that grow in the Indies but by reason of the greater heate they grow 1. Harundo Vallâ—torâ—a sive vulgaris Our common Reede both taller and greater so that they serve in stead of timber both to build their houses and to cover them 4. Harundo Indica versicolor The stript or party coloured Reede This Reede is in the growing like unto the last growing in its naturall place as great and as high although it be not so with us the chiefest difference herein consisteth in the arge long leaves which are pâ—rted with white green like the Ladies Laces or painted grasse but with larger stripes There is another sort hereof growing in Bengala which is smaller and more pliable and apt to bend whereof they make Baskets and many other such pretty things 5. Harundo Saccharifera The Sugar Cane or Reede The Sugar Cane or Reede groweth naturally both in the East and West Indies but planted in sundry warme countries to bee seaven or eight foote high whose Canes are bigger then ones thumbe full of a sweete pith thicke set with joynts and very long but narrow leaves at them with divers great ribbes in them the tuft or pannickle at the top is like unto the other but shorter the roote is not so hard or wooddy but spreadeth knobbed joynts and heads at them whereby it may be encreased and is almost as sweete as the Canes In the naturall places this yeeldeth forth of it selfe oftentimes or else being cut a certaine white juice or liquor which being dryed and hardned in the Sunne was called by the ancient writers Sal Indum and Saccharum Indum which was used before Sugar was made out of the Canes by boyling 6. Harnudo ramosa sive Epigeios Lugdunensis Low branched Reede The branched Reede hath the lower part of the stalke with short joynts onely without any branches covered with a yellowish barke but upwards it shooteth forth branches on all sides and they againe other lesser branches up to the toppe almost at every joynt and all of them 3. Harundo Donax The Spanish Reede 4. Harundo Iudica Laconica versicolor The party coloured Reed 5. Harundo Saccharifera The Sugar Cane or Reede 6. Harundo ramosa sive Epigtios Low branched Reede 7. Harundo Elegia Sagittalis farcta The small writing Reede the Arrow or Dart Reede and the greater and lesser solid Reede 8. Arundo graminea aculeata The thorny Reede striped athwart with lines and scales thicke set on them without any leaves that were seene on it being onely found by chance in a lacke full of Costus and Ginger as it was brought from Arabia 7. Harundo minor sive Elegia The small writing Cane This small Reede may seeme to be the same with the last recited and so Lugdunensis doth take it correcting Pliny where he mentioneth the Reede Elegia that it groweth not high but spreadeth about the ground like a bush bâ—ing pleasant to cattle while it is fresh saying it should be rather Epigeios but Bellonius in his first booke of Observations and 47. Chapter saith he found this Reede growing in a valley on mount Athos which the Greeke that was with him called Flegia whereof they made writing pens as also lib. 2 c. 86. in the River Iorden knowing it their as seene before for throughout all Turkey they use no pens made of Goose quills as we doe and those writing pens which we have seene have beene brought us out of Turkey doe declare it to bee a small Cane with joynts like unto other Reedes hollow like a quill whereas that Epigeios of Theophrastus and Lugdunensis have greateâ— stâ—alâ—es and thicker joynts then that thereof can be made any quill or pen to write withall wee have yet no further knowledge thereof this onely let me adde hereunto that none may mistake thie for the Harundo Sagittaria which is bigger and solid not hollow 8. Arundo graminea aculeata The thorny Reede This Reede shooteth forth thicke and short rootes with fibres at them from whence extend on the ground many joynted round Reede-like stalkes about a finger thicknesse spreading out into branches with small and long leaves set on both sides at distances whose lower parts being broad compasse the joynts growing narrow to the end which is very sharpe hard and thorny yet it hath neyther flower nor seede that ever could be observed and is almost without taste or but a little acrimony therein it groweth in moist grounds
heate and outward aire pierced the places effected with the disease and cured it for after the same manner doth the Succus Cyrenaicus that is the best Laser or Laserpitium cure the uvula or palate of the mouth as we call it when it is falne downe or swolne through rheume or as Nigella seede being fryed and bound in a thinne warme linnen cloath doth dry up the thinne and troublesome destillations of rheumes by the hot breath thereof rising through the nostrils as also if divers threds dyed in the purple fish colour be bound about a Viper or Adders necke and it thereby strangled and they afterwards bound about their neckes that have swellings or other diseases in their neckes and throates doe marvailously helpe them these be Galens words but our age hath not onely found Galens experiments true on children the roote of the male rather then the female yea the male not the female and that fresh and not dry if you meane it should doe good is to be hanged about their neckes and that the decoction thereof is to be taken inwardly to make it the more availeable and that also in older persons if the disease be not growne too old and past cure for whom the roote of the male kinde washed cleane stamped somewhat small and laid to infuse in a sufficient proportion of Sacke for twenty foure houres at the least after strained and given first and last a good draught for sundry dayes together before and after a full moone cureth that sickenesse if there be a due and orderly preparation of the body afoâ—ehand with poset drinke made of Betony c. as the learned Physitian can best appoint the roote also is effectuall for women that are not sufficiently cleansed after child-birth and for such also as are troubled with the mother for which likewise the blacke seed being beaten to powder is given in wine the red seedes being taken for fluxes the blacke also taken before bed time and in the morning also is very effectuall for such as are in their sleepe troubled with the disease called Ephialtes or Incubus which Pliny calleth suppessio nocturna we usually call it the night mare which is a suppressing both of voice and breath and oppressing the body as it were with some heavy burthen striving to be eased thereof but seeming not to be able nor to call for helpe Melancholly persons being for the most part subject to this disease it is also good against melancholly dreames Matthiolus doubteth whether our Peony be that which Galen used because many Physitians as he saith in his time failed in the tryall thereof on young children and I am in doubt that Tragus his male Peony spoken of here before was that which they used and then no marvaile if it proved not effectuall as they expected yet saith Matthiolus our Peony seedes is availeable to restore speech to those that have lost it if thirty graines husked be made into powder and given in Wine it is also saith he good against the bitings of Serpents not onely to be drunke but to be laid on the bitten place which thing Tragus saith of his male Peony which as I shewed you before is the Fraxinella The destilled water or Syrupe made of the flowers worketh to the same effects that the roote and seede is applyed before although more weakely The male kinde being so scarse a plant and possessed but by a few and those great lovers of rarity in this kinde and the Female being more frequent the one is usually put instead of the other CHAP. XXIX Pappas sive Battatas Potatoes THere are divers sorts of rootes that are called Potatoes with us serving for foode or delight more then for medicine whereof all that are truely knowne to us what face or forme of leaves and flowers they beare are expressed in my former booke there are many more of the same quality besides others that serve in stead of bread familiar to the Natives both of the East and West Indies whose names onely are extant in those Authours Workes that have written of them without any further declaration either of forme or any property but that the rootes are eaten by them some being of better taste then others longer lasting among whom as I take it the Igname or Inhame is a principall one whereof Scaliger first and Clusius afterwards have given us the best information Clusius saying it is also called by some Camotes Amotes and Aies All he saith of it is this that some Portugall Ships that were taken by the Hollanders had divers of these rootes in them some bigger then others for some as he saith were as bigge as ones arme and of a foote long or more others lesser and some thicke and short having some small tubers thrusting out at the lower parts of them but all of them covered with an uneven and rugged barke with many fibres at them the substance of the roote within being white soft sappy tender and as it were kernelly and of no unpleasant taste that is the raw roote for he saith he tasted it at the first but a little rough and sharpe afterwards but being rosted under the embers it tasteth more tender then any Chesnut and somewhat like a Peare but saith he what stalke or leafe it bore hee could not understand of any onely he saith he received one that was sent him that had a sprout at the head of it which was broken off in the carriage as the figure here expresseth it unto you but Lobel in his Adversaria saith he understood that those rootes of the Inhame that were brought from Aethiopia and Guincy bore Mallow-like leaves and differeth from those of Spaine and the Canary Islands which are our ordinary great Potatoes and such like leaves doth Lugdunensis give to an American plant called Hotich whose roote is somewhat like it and edible Clusius also speaketh of another sort of these Inhames which as he saith some called Yeam Peru but the Portugals Jnhame as the former which although it were like the other yet the barke was more uneven and some as it were some knobbes thereon with small fibres going from them and from the head of the roote went but hard great stringes of a foote long which were prickly for the most part Clusius seemeth to referre the Virginia Potatoes to the Arachidna Theophrasti and Lugdunensis saith some did the Manihot and that this Jnhame was Battatas de Canada The Frenches Battatas or Hierusalem Artichokes Battatas Virginiana Potatoes of Virginia Battatas Occidentalis Indiae Inâ—ume Orientalis Lusitanorum The West Indian and the Negros Potatoes referred to Theophrastus his Araco similis But Bauhinus his Ovingum or Vingum and Oetum by Pliny so variable are mens conceites especially in things obscure or unknowne or when they doe raptim without due consideration sententium proferre But Scaliger Exercitat 181.17 seemeth to know three other sorts besides the ordinary which will abide good without perishing for a whole yeare and
in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but of Dioscorides and Galen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Smilax yet as Dioscorides saith some called it in his time Thymalum in Latine Taxus and so all Latine Authours call it except Cordus on Dioscorides that calleth it Mâ—lax and others Smilax because it was generally taken to be either deadly or dangerous to eate thereof or under it or to sleep under it also which in our land is found contrary by many men children eating of the berries without harme it is thought that all poysons became to be called Taxica and by time called Toxica from hence the Italians cal it Tasso the French If the Germans Eibenbaum the Dutch Ibenboom and Bogenhout and we in English Yew The Vertues The opinion of harme that this tree worketh or peradventure some accidentall harme by distemperature either by the climate wherein it is bred or of the persons that take it hath caused that there is nothing of any good property recorded by any ancient or moderne Writer hereof but still said by most to be deadly to beasts and dangerous to men and therefore Matthiolus calleth the matter into question whether it be hot or cold for Dioscorides and those that follow him saying it is cold appoint those remedies for it that they appoint for Hemlocke that is to drinke much wine but Matthiolus contesteth there against in that the berries are sweete with some bitternesse neither of which qualities portend any coldnesse to be in them and that birds that feede thereon become blacke besides the evergreenenesse of the tree as Pines Firres c. all which shew a temperate heate to be therein and the more because as he saith men that have beene drawne on by the sweetenesse of the berries to eate of them have beene driven into fevers and laskes by enflaming the spirits and blood which effects come not from any cold quality Of this tree formerly long bowes were wont to be made which were of great account as well with us as with other nations long agoe for Virgil Georg. 2. saith Ityreos Taxi torquentur in â—cus CHAP. XVIII Nux Iuglans The Wallnut VNto the Wallnut that we have usually growing in our Land I must adde some others sought out both neerer home and farre abroad as out of Virginia two sorts one white and another blacke 1. Nux Iuglans vulgaris Our ordinary Wallnut This Wallnut groweth to be a very high and great tree spreading large armes and boughes so that they make a goodly shadow but by reason of the strong sent that the leaves send forth few are delighted to rest thereunder the barke of the body and greater armes is of a darke greenish ash-colour cleft or chapped in divers places that on the younger branches being more greene the leaves are large and great consisting of five or seaven leaves set one against another with an odde one at the end somewhat reddish and very slender while they are young and of a weake sweete sent but when they grow old and more hard are of a stronger smell and somewhat offensive at the joynts with the leaves come forth small and long yellowish catkins which open into small flowers and falling away the Nux Iuglans vulgaris cum fructu Virginianâ— The ordinary Wallnut and a fruite of Virginia round Nuts come in their places two or three usually set together which are covered with a double huske the outermost thicke soft and green the inner shell hard wherein is a white sweete kernell contained covered with a thin yellowish bitter peeling which easily parteth from it while it is fresh but will not peele â—â—owing old the wood or timber hereof is â—ard and close of a blackish browne colour with divers waved veines therein which maâ—eth it much used in joynets workes c. being â—ery durable being kept dry but is soone rotted 〈◊〉 the weather Because I said in my former Booke that the many differences of Wallnuts did arise in my opinion from the climate and soyle wherein they grow let mee shew you their varieties â—omewhat more largely here without any further descriptions of the tree for therein is litâ—â—e diversity which if any be it shall be shewâ—d 2. Nux Iuglance caballina The greatest Wallnut Wee usually call these French Wallnuts which are the greatest of any within whose â—ll are oftentimes put a paire of fine gloves â—ately foulded up together that the shell may â—dole being tyed together and carried wheâ—â—er one will and of the outer rinde whereof 〈◊〉 have made childrens purses 3. Nux Iuglans putamine fragili The thin shelled Wallnut The difference in this consisteth chiefly in the 〈◊〉 whose shell is so tender that it may easily 〈◊〉 broken betweene ones fingers and the nut it 〈◊〉 very sweete 4. Nux Iuglans folio serrato The long Wallnut Clusius as I said first set forth the difference this Wallnut to bee longer although not much greater then the ordinary sort and the shell much tenderer and brittle which being planted grew and bore leaves like unto it but much tenderer and dented about the edges 5. Nux Iuglans bifera The double bearing Wallnut The twise bearing in a yeare of this Wallnut maketh the onely difference from the common sort for thereof there is no further mention made 6. Nux Iuglans fructu serotino St. Iohns Wallnut or the late ripe Wallnut This Wallnut shooteth not forth any leaves untill it be Midsommer or Saint Iohns day as it is said so that the tree seemeth as dead others having had greene leaves thereon long before the leaves and fruite differre not from others but that the nuts ripen not untill October and then are fresh when others are past and dry the shell of this is harder and the kernell sticking closer thereto that it is more hardly taken out they taste not so sweet as the ordinary sort but more Wallowish 7. Nux Iuglans alba Virginensis The white Wallnut of Virginia The tree hereof groweth more upright and spreadeth lesse the leaves are alike and the nut is rounder smaller much thicker and whiter in the outer hard shell then any of the former sort and the kernell within much lesse also but white and as sweete 8. Nux Iuglans nigra Virginensis The blacke Wallnut of Virginia The blacke Wallnut differeth little in the tree from the white but the nut is blacke and round very rugged or chapped on the outside and so hard and thicke a shell that it can very hardly be broken with great strokes of an hammer having a very small kernell within it The Place and Time It is thought that the Wallnut first came out of Persia for it is not knowne to grow naturally any where but still have beene planted of the Nuts put into the ground for I have not heard that they can be produced by any other meanes wheresoever they grow excepting onely the Virginia kindes they blossome earely before the leaves come forth and the
more slender and pliant branches then the former not covered with so rugged a barke nor spreading so much the leaves are very slender shorter and not so hard the Cones are likewise lesser and slenderer and so are the kernels also and covered with a blacke skinne 8. Pinaster pumilio montanus The dwarfe mountaine Pine tree This dwarfe Pine riseth to a mans height branching forth from the ground into somewhat large armes and covered with a thicke rugged barke spreading about the leaves stand by couples as in divers of the other sorts but thicker shorter and blunter pointed and of a sadder greene then in the first wild kinde the cones are small little above an inch long not much bigger then the Larch tree cones but more round at the head and smaller at the end standing upright and not hanging downe as all the others the shell of the nut within is winged as many are but the kernell is small and hard 9. Pinaster tenuifolius julo purpurascente The crooked mountaine Pine with thin leaves The body and branches hereof are crooked or writhed and not streight the leaves thereon are very thinne and shorter then many others two joyned together round about the branches at the ends whereof come forth certaine small scaly catkins of a purplish colour which fall away into a small pouther and after them come in the middle a new sprout of leaves inclosed in a certaine skin the cones hereof are small and blunt pointed 10. Pinaster niger latiore folio julis pallescentibus The crooked mountaine Pine with broader leaves This other crooked Pine hath such a like body and branches as the last spreading much and with a sadder barke the leaves are broader also sharper pointed and shorter then they and of a darker greene colour the catkins comming forth at the ends of the branches like the last are of a yellowish greene colour and not purple as they are after which come new leaves in the like manner the cones are smaller then they The Place and Time The first tame kinde is found planted in sundry places of divers Countries for the beauty of the tree with his ever greene leaves yet are they found also wild about Ravenna towards the Sea side The other sorts grow both in Spaine Italy and Germany and the parts neere adjoyning and the Sea kindes neere the Sea in many places and upon the Land also as Clusius hath observed the catkins of many come forth in the Winter and fall away in the Spring others spring not untill May the fruite of some of them being ripe in the end of Autumne and others not of a yeare after the springing The Names The Pine tree is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Pinus the Cones are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Coni and the auncienter Greekes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but now the kernels are so called the kernels within them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pityides as Dioscorides saith who calleth both those of the Pine and of the Pitch tree by that name whereof Matthiolus is in some doubt that the place is erronius the word Pitch tree being thrust into the Text without any ground of reason for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pinorumfructus and the kernells onely of the Pine tree are edible and not the Pitch tree That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which Theophrastus Dioscorides and Galen sheweth should be the Pine tree and not the Pitch tree may be shewed in divers places out of Galen and others although Pliny doth mistake them from the likenesse of Peuce to Picea and Pitys to Pinus as also Peuce to Larix and Bellonius from him doth so also and Gaza sometimes translateth them right and sometimes wrong but there may be as much doubt what tree Dioscorides and Theophrastus meant by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whether the Pitch as it is thought by the most judicious or some sort of Pine because Dioscorides putteth them both together in the title of the Chapter as if they were both of one kinde and yet saith some held them to be divers sorts and nameth the fruite of them both by one name as is shewed here before when as it is plainely knowne to all that have observed them that the Pitch tree doth more resemble the Firre then the Pine as being no other difference betweene them the Pitch and the Firre then betweene male and female as I shall shew you after a while and there is greater difference betweene the Pitch and the Pine tree then there is of the Pines among themselves and Theophrastus also in many places of his Bookes nameth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if there should be two sorts of Pitch trees a tame and a wild which is not found in him to be so distinguished as he doth of the Pine I know to mend this matter that Lugdunensis sheweth the reading of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be understood picea oquifolium two words in hiâ— judgement but how those two words should be so often joyned together in him I see not unlesse they were meant one thing Matthiolus findeth much fault with Pliny that maketh Teda his sixth kinde of Pine tree 〈◊〉 him for errour for it for that Theophrastus and others make Teda to be but the peculiar fault or corruption 〈◊〉 the Pine tree of what kinde soever that is suffocated and killed with the abundance of it owne fatnesse not suffering the sappe to rise that should nourish it and then serveth for lights as Torches slived out into shivers the cause whereof Theophrastus sheweth lib. 6. caus cap. 15. as he did lib. 3 hist c. 10. what Teda is but other good Authours shew that although Teda be so taken with Theophrastus and others yet that letteth not but that there might be also a tree peculiar that boâ—e the name of Teda it being homonomia a word of divers significations and that else Pliny was not in his eight senses to appoint it a peculiar kinde and knew it was appropriated to corrupt trees also as himselfe declareâ—h in many places of his Bookes The first here set downe is called Pinus urbana domestica sativa and vulgatissimo by all Authours that have written thereof The second is called Pinus sylvestris fructifera or montana or Pinaster likewise by all Authours The third is the Pinus sylvestris Cemâ—râ— of Matthiolus which Lugdunensis calleth Teda arbor Plinij as he maketh the computation and his Pinus Tarâ—â—tiâ—a also The fourth is Matthiolus his Mugo and the Pinus tubulus Plinij also of Lugdunensis The fifth is the Pinus sylvestris sterilis of Lugdunensis but is not the Pinus maritima Theophrasti or Lobel nor the maritima major of Lugdunensis for these are the next or sixt that is Pinus maritima major although Bauhinus putteth them all under one title and the other of this kinde is another sort thereof that Clusius hath set forth
sharpe thornes Palma Hairi The thorny American Palme tree bearing fruite as bigge as an hand-ball but pointed at one end having within it a fine snow white kernell the wood of this tree is as blacke as blacke marble and sincketh in water because of the heavinesse and therefore some have thought it to be Ebony but Thevet contradicteth that opinion with these reasons first that Ebony is a wood more blacke or shining and then that Ebony beareth no thornes and lastly Ebony is not found in America but in Ethiopia and the East Indies about Calecut c. The Indians of this wood make them swords which for the massinesse give a mighty blow and will breake both scull and bones where it lighteth on any although it doth not cut as our swords doe they make also arrowes of them which by reason of their hardnesse like iron and the points of them burned to make them so penitrable that they will be able to pierce a good corselet CHAP. CXLV Palma scriptoria aliae arbores cujus folia cortices chartae vicem praebent The writing Palme tree and sundry others whose leaves and barkes have supplyed the office and want of Paper THere are sundry sorts of trees growing both in the East and West Indies although none of the Nations of the West Indians except the Mexicanes know any use of writing or Letters before the Spaniards first entrance among them but the Spaniards there made use of divers in the want of paper whose leaves and barkes have beene used to write on besides the ancient paper Reed which served the former Greekes and Latines to that purpose for many ages whereof Pliny hath largely intreated and Guilandinus as largely commented upon him Palmeta humilia scriptoria and whereof I have entreated also in another place of this Worke as namely sundry dwarfe Date trees whose leaves have so smooth a surface that they served them very finely to write on that is with a small pointed iron to engrave their characters therein There is also growing in the Country of Mangi Tal. which is neere the Tartars and Chineses a certaine tree called Tal and Vguetal whose leaves are very large and through all those Countries are used to be written on it beareth fruite like unto great Turneps whose meate under the outer rinde or barke is tender sweete and edible Oviedus maketh mention of two certaine trees growing in Hispaniola Guajabara the lesser called Guajabara by the Indians and by the Spaniards Vuero because the fruite thereof are like Grapes the wood whereof is reddish sound and thicke and fit to make coales it beareth the fruite more loosely separate in sunder then the Grape and of the colour of the Mulberry or Rose having little substance thereon to be eaten for they be as great as an Hasell Nut and a stone within it is almost as great the leaves of this tree are broad and round as bigge as the palme of ones hand as thicke as two Ivy leaves and greene and sometimes reddish whereon the Spaniards used to write with an iron pen or pointell on both sides of the leaves but they must be fresh gathered and presently written upon which Letters then will appeare white in the greene or reddish leaves that they may be easily read notwithstanding the middle ribbe and the other veines therein in that they will not hinder ones hand very much Copâ—y The other tree they call Copey growing greater and taller whose leaves are round like unto the other but twice as large and thicke as they and therefore better to write on the middle ribbe and veines being also smaller and thereby Copey Thicke writing leaves or Printed Cards Guiahara New Spaines thin writing leaves hindering the pointell from the graving thereon so much the lesse these leaves also the Spaniards made use of for playing cards engraving the formes of Kings Arboris solia sex brachiorum Queenes c. thereon and would not easily be broken Nicholaus Costinus in his journall setteth downe that neere the City Cael where pearles are found there groweth a tree whose leaves are so large that two or three men may be kept dry in their journeyes having one of them spread to cover them for they are of sixe braces or fathomes in length and as many in breadth which leaves also serve them very fitly to write upon each of them being so thinne and plyable withall that being foulded up handsomely together one may carry one of them in their hand Metl sive Maguey Mexicanorum Duret also among his admirable plants remembreth the Melt or Mangey of the Mexicanes or rather Metl and Maguei which is the Aloe Americana set forth in the second Classis of this Worke of whose leaves they made use to write or engrave what Records they would keepe Papyrisera arbor clusij prima or what else they thought good Clusius also maketh mention in his first Booke of Exotickes and fourth Chapter of two sorts of barkes of trees fit to write on the one white and like unto the thinnest parchment which was gotten in Iava by those that returned home with Sir Francis Drake in his long voyage over the world which by tryall was found fit to write on And as he saith it might be was taken from that tree that Antonius Pigafetta maketh mention of in his journall that in the Island Tidore the women cover their privy parts with a certaine cloath made of the barke of a tree in this manner after it hath beene steeped so long in water that it is growne soft they beate it with woodden mallets unto what length and breadth they please making it so thinne as silke having the crosse veines running through it And it may as likely be such as the Chineses make their paper some Bookes of herbes being brought into the Low Countries as Clusius saith having both the figures of the herbes in them and the descriptions Secunda and vertues also peradventure for they had Chineses Characters on the sides of the figures The other barke of the tree was not white but somewhat reddish but of so smooth and fine a polished surface as no paper could be smoother and plainer and was not thicke or grosse but without any difficulty might be parted into six leaves each of them very well enduring to be written on with our ordinary incke and yet not sinke any whit through it which barke as he saith might have beene separated into more leaves if one would have been curious about them CHAP. CXLVI Palma pinus sive Conifera The Pine or Conebearing Palme tree THis strange kinde of tree being brought by certaine English Merchants or Marriners from the parts of Guinea where they traded was of a wonderfull composure for the toppe bough with the fruite thereon was as it were mixed of the nature of the Date and Pine tree together the wood being light and spongy and wholly made of threds or haires the outside or barke being
Water Hempe or Water Agrimony 596 Bastard Hempe 599. Hempe tree or Chaste tree 1437 Henbane and the sorts 362 Yellow Henbane or of Peru is English Tobacco 712 Henbit or Chickweede 759 Good Henry or English Mercury 1226 Heps or Hawes of the Hawthorne 1025 Herbe Robert 710. Herbe Trinitie 756 Herbe Terrible 198. Herbe Trefoile 1111 Herbe Aloes 149. Herbe Christopher 379 Herbe Bennet or Avens 135. Herbe Bifoile or Twayblade 504 Herbebane is Limodoion or Orobanche 1362 Herbe Carpenter 380. Herbe Francumsence 951 Herbe Ive or Ivie 503. Herbe of grace 132 Herbe of life or love 1617 Herbe Gerard or Goutwort 943. The Mimicke or Mocking Herbe 1617 Herbe true love or Herbe Paris 389 Herbe Twopence 554. Herbe William is Bishops weede 912 Herbe Willow or the Willow Herbe is Lysimachia 543 Holy Herbe or Vervaine 674 Hercules his Woundworkel 945 Hermodactiles 1587. Higtaper or Mullein 60 Hindberry or Windberry 1015. Hipworte or Pennyword 741 Turkie Hirse or Millet 1137 Hedge Hyssope 220. Marsh Hyssope 222 Hyssope and the severall sorts 1.2 c. 1673 The West India Hiucca with Hempelike leaves 1624 Hockes or Holihockes 300. Hogs Fennell 880 Holme or Holly bush 1466 Holme or Hloly Oake 1394 Holly Thistle or Cardus benedictus in my former Booke Holly seede or Wormeseede 102. Holly Rose 658 Sea Holly and bastard sea Holly 985 The Hollow leafed strange Plant of Clusius with the flowers and beads of seede 1235 Holworte or Hollow roote and the sorts 288 Beonkens Holwortell 1679 Homlocke or Hemlocke 932. Honewort 932 Small Honesty or Pinckes Honesty or Gerards Travellers Joy 384. Honewort 931 Honywort or Cerintheâ— 520. the Indian Honey tree 1648 Honisuckles 1460. Field Honisuckles 1112 French Honisuckles 1081. Virginia Honisuckle 386 Vpright Honisuckle 1462. Hops and the sorts 176 Horehound and the sorts 44. Base Horehound 47 Marsh base Horehound 1231. Thorny base Horehound 47 Blacke Horehound 1230. Water Horehound ibid. Hornebeame is Hardbeame tree 1405 Horned Poppy 261. Horestrong or Horestrange is Hogges Fennell 880 Horseheale is Elecampane 655. Horse Mint 34 Horshooe Fetch 1092. Horsetaile and the sorts 1200 Sea Horsetaile 1302 Horsetongue 702 Great Houseleekes 730. Small Houseleekes 733 Sea Houseleeke 149. Water Houseleeke 1249 Hounds tongue 511. Hundred handed Thistle 981 The Hypecoum of Dioscorides 371 I. IAcke by the hedge 112. Iames wort or Ragworte 678 Iasmine and the sorts 1464. Yellow ordinary Iasmine 1466 The great Orenge coloured Iasmine of Virginia 1679 Iewes thorne or Christs thorne 1006 Incense worte is the great Lavender Cotton 95. Indian Cresses 1378 The Indian leafe or folium Indum 1584 Indian Millet 1139. the Indian mourner Jndian Panicke 1â—41 Indian Poplar 1411 Indian Reede 1209. Iudian Spikenard 1595 Iobes teares 430. Iohn the Infants herbe 1622 S. Iohns breade or Locust 236. S. Iohns wort and the sorts 572 Sweete Iohns in my other booke Ione silver Pinne is Poppy 367 Iosephs flowers is goe to bed at noone or Goates beard 413 Iron worte and the sorts 584.1681 The Iron hearted tree 1647. An other Sage leafed sea Ironwort 1681 Iucca or Yucca 133. Iudas tree 1554 Iudas Elder or Iagged Elder 210. Iunoes teares is Vermaine 676 Ivy and the severall sorts 678 Ground Ivy. 284.676 The Ivy like leafe or Cymbalaria 681 The Iuniper tree and the sorts 1028. The Jujube tree 250 The white Iujube tree 1441. Iupiters distaffe 57 Ivray or Darnell 1144. Iupiters beard or eye is great Houseleeke 730 K. KAli or Glassewort 279.1244 St. Katherines flower is Nigella 1377 Kedlocke or Charlocke 862. Kexes or Hemlocke 932. and wilde Angelica by some 941 Kernellwort or Figgewort 612 Kidney Beanes or French beanes is Phasiolus 1056 Kidney wort or Vmbilicus Veneris 740 Kidney Vetch or Anthilis leguminosa 1039. King cups is Crowfeete 333 Kings speare is the yellow Asphodill Kippernuts 862 Knapbottle 263. Knapweede and the severall sorts 468 Silver Knapweede is Stoebe 475. Knawell 448 Knee Holme or Butchers Broome 253. Killherbe or herbebane 1362 Knights spurs or Larkes spurs 1376. Goldknaps or Crowfeete Germane Knotgrasse or Knawell 448 Knotgrasse and the sorts 448. Climing Knotgrasse 451 Lobels Knotgrasse with Mother of time leaves 1880 Gum Lacca or Lake 1588. Ladies Laces or painted grasse L. LAced Time Savory c. is Dodder growing on them Ladyes bedstraw 564. Ladies bower 382 Ladies Combe 916 Ladies or Venus looking-glasse 1331 Ladies gloves is Fleabane 115. Ladies baire or Maidenhaire 1050 Ladies mantle or great Sanick 538. Ladyes seale or blacke Bryony 179. Ladies slippers 217 Ladies smockes 825. Ladder to heaven is Solomons seale 690 Lambs Lettice 812. The Scythian Lambe 1618 Langedebeefe 800. Lake or gumme Lake 1588 and Painters Lake ibid. Larckes heeles or spurres 1376. The Larch tree 1533 Laserwort and the sorts 937.1685 Lavender spike and the sorts 72.73 Lavender Cotton and the sorts 95.96 Sea Lavender 1234 Stone Lavender Cotton 1302. French Lavender 67 Launce for a Lad or Cats taile 1169. Lawrel or Bay tree 1488 Lawrell or wilde Bay 206. Lawrell of Alexandria 700 Great Lawrell or Lauro Cerasus 1516 Spurge Lawrell or wilde Lawrell 205 Leekes and Vine Leekes c. 870. Leade worte is French Dittander or Scarre wort 855 The Indian Leafe 1584. Lentils great and small 1067 Indian Leaves to stanch blood 1622. Virginia Lentils 1088 Water Lentils 1262. Lentiske or Masticke tree 1524 Indian Lentiske tree ibid. Leopardes bane or Aconite 317 Garden Lettice and Italian jagged Lettice 811. Wild Lettice 813. Indian like Lettice for the backe 1614 Lambes Lettice 812. Sea Lettice 1294. Indian Lettice for the toothach 1622. Libsticke is Sermountaine of Liguria 909 Lichwale is Gromell 433. Licoris 1099 Life everlasting or Cudweede of America in my other booke The herbe of life or love or the sensitive Plant. The tree of life 1478 Lignum Aloes or the wood of the Aloe tree 1564 Lignum vite 1586. Another like it ibid. Lilly Convally in my other booke Bastard Lignum vite 1587. Water Lilly white and yellow c. 1251 The Limon or Lemmon tree and the sorts 1507. Line or Linden tree male and female 1406. Linge or Heath 1480 Lingewort or Neesewort 216 Lyons leafe 682. Lyons foote or paw is Ladyes mantle 538. and Leantepodium 501.684 Liqueris or Liquoris 1099. Liry confancy or Lilly Convally in my former booke Liquid ambar 1590 Live in idlenes is Heartsease 756 Livelong is Orpine Noble or three leafed or golden Liverwort is Hepatica 1368 Ground or stone Liverwort and the sorts 1314 Locker goulons is globe Crowfoote 333 The Locus tree or St. Iohns bread 237 The Prickly Locust tree of Virginia 1550 Venus Looking glasse 1331 London tufts or London pride is speckled sweete Williams Loose strife or Willow herbe 543 The Lote or Nettle tree 1522 The Egyptian foure leafed herbe Lotus 1100 Love is Gerards Travellers joy 384 Love in idlenesse is Pansyas 756 Lovage 936. Louswort is Stavesacre 222.215 Andalse great bastard blacke Hellebor and Cocks combe Lowrie or Spurge Lawrell 205 The greater and
1686 Yellow Rattle and red Rattle 713. The Indians Ratling god 1666 Redweede or wilde Poppy 365. Red weede of Virginia 347 Reedes and the divers sorts 1208. Indian Red staves 1029 The Burre Reede 1205. The Aromaticall or sweete Reede 138 Strange Reedes 1630. Sugar Reede 1209. Painted or striped Reede 1209 Thorny Reede of Peru. Great or tree Reede 1630 Wâ—iting Reedes 1210. Paper Reede 1208 The winged thorny Reede 1629 Reede Mace 1203. Ray or Darnell 1045 Rest harrow 993. Rhaponticke 155 Ribwort Plantane 495. Wake Robin 372 Rocket tame and wilde the sorts 816 Sea Rocket 820. Water Rocket 1242 Winter Rocket 819. Italian Rocket 823. Base wilde Rocket 822 Shepherds Rodde is wilde Tansie Rogation flowers 1333. Rosa rubie is red Maithes Roses and the severall sorts 1017 The appellations of the Ancients compared with the moderne knowne Roses 1019. Wilde Roses and their sorts 1016 The sundry Compositions made of Roses 1021.1022 Rose Bay or Oleander 1460. Apple Rose the greater and lesser 1020 Dwarfe Rose Bay 78. Corne Rose or Poppy 365 Cotton Rose 692. Holly Rose or Sage Rose and the sorts 858 Rose Elder or gelder Rose 208. The sweete Mountaine Rose 77 Rose Willow 1431. Rosasolis 1052 Rosewort or Roseroote 729 Rose Champion 629. Beyond sea Roses or Winter Roses be Hollihocks 300 Water Rose is the white Water Lilly 1251 Rosemary of divers sorts 75 White Rot. 534. Red Rot. ibid. 1053 Rossins of divers kinds 1542. West Indian Rossins 1670 Rubarbe the true as it groweth with us 154 Bastard Rubarbe or Monkes Rubarbe ibid. English Rubarbe 158. White Rubarbe of America 180 Monckes Rubarbe or Patience 154 West Indian Rubarbe 1618. English bastard Rubarbe is Thalictrum 263 Ruddes he Marigolds Medow Rue 263 Garden Rue Mountaine Rue and wilde Rue 132 Goates Rue 417. Wall Rue 1050 Rupture wort 448. Indian Rupture wort 1616 Rushes and their sorts 1191 The sweet Rush 144. Rush nut 146. Rush grasses 1188 Ryce 1135. Germane Ryce 1134 Rye and the sorts 1128. Rye grasse 1146 S. SPanish Saffron or wilde Saffron 259 Wilde bastard Saffron 964 Sage and the severall sorts 49. c. French Sage 53. Wood Sage 110 Sage of Ierusalem or Cowslips of Ierusalem in my former booke Sage of vertue or small eared Sage 49 Saligot or Water Caltrops or Nuts 1247 Salomons seale amd the severall sorts 694 Saltwort or Kali and the sorts 279. and 1284 Sallow or broade leafed Wiâ—low 1431 Sampier and the sorts 1286 Sandiver 280. Sanicle and the sorts 532 Spotted Sanicle 534. Sarsa parilla 173 Sarasens Confound 539 Sarasens Birthwort is the ordinary 292 Sassafras or the Ague tree 1606 The White Sattinflower 1366 The true Satyrium of Dioscorides is the Tulipa 1341 Common Satyrium is the handed Orchis 1343 Sauce alone or Iacke of the hedge 112 Summer and Winter Savoury 5.6 Savine and the sorts 1026 Sanders white red and yellow 1605 Bastard Sanders of Candy 1606 Sommer and Winter Savory c. 5.6.1673 White Saxifrage 423. English Saxifrage 968 Burnet Saxifrage 9â—6 Golden Saxifrage 425 Rocke Saxifrage 424 Matthiolus his true Saxifrage 426 Saxifrage of Candy Bavaria and Naples 428 Scabious of severall sorts 484 Scabwort is Elecompane 655 Long rooted Scamony of Candy 1677 True Scamony 163. Bastard Scamony 166 Scarlet Oake 1395. The Scarlet graine 1396 Scarre wort 855. Sciatica Cresses 853 Close Sciences 628 Single and double Sciney ibid. Scordium or Water Germander 110 Thorny sweete Scordium 1676 Scorpions grasse 1117. Scorpions thorne 1003 Scurvie grasse and the sorts 285 Scottish Scurvy grasse is Soldanella 168 The Scythian Lambe 1618 Sea bulbe 1288. Sea Colewort 270 Sea Holme or Hulver 989. The Sea Feather 1296 Sea Fearne 197. The Sea prickly plant 1034 Sea Sempervivum is Aloe the herbe 1140 Sebesten or the Assyrian Plume 151 Selfe heale and the sorts 526.1680 The Sena tree or bush 225. Bastard Sena 226 Sengreene is great Houseleeke 730 Water Sengreene or water Houseleeke 1249 The Sensitive plant 1617 Senvy or Mustard 830. Serpents or Adders tongue 506 The Service tree and the sorts 1420 Indian Services 1638 Sesamum or the oily graine 254 Seseli or Hartwort 903. Divers sorts of seseli ibid. c. The true Setwall or Zedoaria 1612 Garden Setwall is the Garden Valerian 124 Mountaine Setwall or Nardus Celtica 116 Setterwort is the greater wild blacke Helloborre 218 Sharewore is the Starre wort or Aster Italorum 131 Shavegrasse is Horsetaile 1200 Shepheards needle 916. Shepheards purse 866 Shepherds staffe 985 The sweete Indian Sea fish shells 1573 Sheregrasse is Reedegrasse 1180 The Shrincking shrubbe 1618 The true Sicamore tree 1492. The false Sicamore or great Maple tree 1425 Silken Cicely 389. Sicklewort is Bugle and selfe heale The silver bush 1459. The silver Thistle is the white Cotten Thistle 979 Silverweede is wilde Tansie 593 Sinkefoild or Sinkefoile is five leafed grasse Skirrat or Skirwort 945. Ladyes Slipper 217 The sloe bush or blacke Thorne 1033 Smallage 926. Garden Smilax is French beaxes 1056 Snaile Claver and the sorts 1116 Garden Snakeweede is Bistort 391 Rattle Snakeweede or Snakeroote 420 Snakes or Vipers Buglosse 413. Snakewood of divers sorts 1665 Snakes Garlike or Crow Garlike 870 Snapdragon and the sorts 1333. Sneesewort 479 Souldiers yarrow 695. Mountaine Soldanella 167 Sopewort and the sorts 1384. The water Souldier 1249 The Sorbe or Service tree 1420 Sorrell and the sorts 742. Wood Sorrell or Sorrell dubois 747. The Sorrowfull tree 1644 Sharpe Sowthistles and the sorts 803 Soft or gentle Sowthistles and the sorts thereof 804 Sow bread and the sorts 1364. Sow Fennell Southernewood and the sorts 92.93 Sparrowes tongue is Knotgrasse The Kings speare 1218. Spearewort Crowfoote 1214 The male Speedewell or Paules Betony 549 The femâ—ll Speedewell 553. Speltcorne 1124 Spetgrasse 1143. Sperhawke is Hawkeweede Sperage or Asparagus 454. Sperage beane is Kidneybeane Spermacity 1607 Spicknell or Spignell is Meum 888. Bastard Spignell 884 Indian Spiderwort 418. Water spike is Pondweede The true Indian Spicknard 1595. Bastard French Spicknard 145 Mountaine French Spicknard 116. Italian Spicknarde ibid. Knobbed mountaine Spicknard ibid. Vnsavory Spicknard ibid. Long tuberous rooted spicknard 1â—8 Virginia Spikenard 1595. Sinage 750 Spindell tree or Prickwood 241. Rough Spleenewort 1042 Smooth Splenewort or Miltwaste 1045 The Spene tree of Sumatra 1647. Bastard Splenwort 1043 Sea Sponges 1303. Sponewort is Scurvigrasse 285 Great Spurge is Palma Christi 182 Spurge and the severall sorts thereof from 184. to 196 Spurge Olive and Spurge Flaxe is Chymelea 200 Flowring Spurge or Dwarfe Bay is Mesereon 201 Spurge Lawrell 205. Square berried tree is Dogwood 242 Squinaut 144. Stabbewort is Southernwood 95 The staffe tree 1448. Stagerwort is Ragwort 670. Stabwort 7473. Starch wort is Arum 372. Starrewort is Aster from 138. to 133 Starrewort of Virginia 1676 Starre of Bethlem and starre of Ierusalem 413 Starre Thistle 988. Stavesacre 222 Stechus or Cassidony 69. Stichwort 1325 Golden Staechas ibid. Stocke Gilloflowers vide Gilloflowers Stone Liverwort vide
it downe call it Dudaim but I thinke that name better agreeeth to the Mandrake Of the Arabians Serapio and Avicen Mauz Musa Amusa and Maum of the Moores Muz and Gemez of some Greekes and Latines Margraita they of Brassile call the tree Paquonere and the fruite Pacova Oviedus and Acosta call it Platanus for what cause is not knowne unlesse the largenesse of the leaves enforced that title but from thence I thinke hath risen the name of Plantaines whereby our English in all places call them by The Italians Spaniards French and others follow the Latine name Musa and so would J it should be called or the Indian clusterfigge to distinguish it from the other sorts of Figges that they be not confounded but not Adams Apple as Gerard doth from the superstitious conceits of Brocard or others for wee might as well follow that foolish Franciscane that would tranferre it to the Muses as gratefull to them The Portugals have a conceit that if this fruite be cut either thwart or aslope there will appeare the forme of a crosse therein and therefore they will not cut any but breake them all that they eate which vaine conceit it is likely they have taken from the Maronite Christians as Linschoten saith The Vertues It is generally held that no man ever tooke harme by eating the fruite hereof onely by the much eating of them they have become loose and soluble in their bodies but that they comfort the heart and refresh the spirits they are also good for coughes and hoarsenesse and to lenifie the sharpenesse of humours descending on the lungs it is also profitable for those whose urine is hot and sharpe and to provoke it being stopped stirring up also bodily last but they that have any feaver or ague must forbeare them but are good for women with childe to nourish the birth although this may seeme to be somewhat hard of digestion to weake bodyes and stomackes yet to stirring and able persons it is not so the fruite being cut in the middle long wise and dryed in the Sun is then more delicate then a Figge being baked in an oven it is no lesse pleasant or boyled in broth yet it will not abide any long boyling The leaves being soft are commended to coole such as shall lye upon them and keepe them temperate in the great heates some also with good effect apply the juyce of the leaves to places burnt with fire CHAP. LXX Ficus Indicus spinosus The prickely Indian Figge WE have observed two sorts of this Indian Figge the one greater not to be preserved a Winter in our Country without a great deale of care and conveniency for it the other lesser abiding reasonable well with us they that set forth the Pervan History doe say that there is two sorts of wilde one bearing no fruite and another so prickely that it serveth to no use besides the manured which beareth the graine but with these I must declare the breeding of the Cochenille which is that graine which the Dyers use and is said to be gathered from of these plants or one of them 1. Ficus Indicus spinosus major The greater Indian Figge This greater Indian Figge groweth in some parts of the West Indies to have a body or trunke as bigge as ones arme or thigh and from thence shooteth forth his leaves but in other places it groweth from a leafe first set into the ground and there shooting 1 2. Ficus Indica spinosa major vel minor The greater or lesser prickely Indian Figge forth rootes and others rising out thereof on all sides and others out of them and so one out of another being formed into branches of such leaves like unto branches of other trees each of these leaves are very large and as thicke as ones hand and larger in many beset with small sharpe and somewhat long white prickes or thornes dangerous if â—â—dadvisedly they be handled but in Europe they are not so thicke set nor so sharpe but in many places of the leaves the knots or places where they stood are void the flowers come forth at the toppe of the fruite which is at the first like unto a leafe it selfe and breake out on the side of the greater leaves sometimes as well as on the tops composed of eight or twelve pale yellow leaves set in a double row with certaine yellow threds tipt with red in the middle after the flower is withered yet still abiding on the head of the fruite it groweth greater and sheweth it selfe to be long and rounder then the leaves and flatter at the head and like unto a Figge which fruite also is armed with prickes as well as the leaves and is whitish which is taken to be the better or of a reddish or yellowish colour on the out side or greenish and very red within full of a watery substance tasting sweete and pleasant with diverse seedes therein and by eating them will cause the urine to be tincted like blood it selfe the roote groweth neither deepe nor farre abroad 2. Ficus Indicus spinosus minor The lesser prickely Indian Figge This lesser Figge groweth more often with us from leaves as farre as I can learne yet J have knowne it rise from the sowne seede and never into a body or stocke like the former and is in all the rest as like it as may be with out any difference but onely the greatnesse which in this is neither halfe so great or thicke or the growth halfe so high and this declaration may be sufficient to describe it by comparing the former discourse herewith that I doe not make a double repetition of one thing 3. Cochenille sive Fici Indici grana The Dyers graine called Cochenille There hath beene much doubt and many variable opinions concerning the breeding of the Cochenille some taking it to be the Coccognidium verum others to be the Chermes Arabum and that it differeth not from the Coccus Baphicus of the Grecians Fragosus would seeme to know more then others and in his third Booke and 15. Chapter saith that they are Fici ejusdem Indâ—ci fructis The fruite of either of the Indian Figge trees certaine graines that grow in Peru at the rootes of certaine small plants that are like unto the common Burnet Saxifrage cleaving to the rootes of it like wild Grapes but is utterly erronious for Peru his opinion as it seemeth being taken from Anguilara and Lacuna who say that there are certaine graines found in some places here with us growing on the rootes of the Burnet Saxifrage whose inner pulpe doth give a crimson dye and is therefore called Coccus radicum that is the roote graine some have taken them to be flyes or such like covered with a small thin skin or case and sticking under the leaves of this Indian Figge but Ioannes de Laet of Antwerpe in his fifth Booke and third Chapter page 229. of his description of the West Indies sheweth us the truth hereof more exactly then Oviedus
or many other that have written thereof I thinke and saith that besides the two wild sorts whereof one giveth no fruite and the other so prickely that it is of no use and the tame or manured sort that beareth fruite that is very sweete and of a most pleasant taste and either white which is esteemed the best or red or purple which dyeth the hands with a blooddy colour even as Mulberryes will doe and being eaten coloureth the urine also into the same blooddy colour There is saith he another sort called by the Indians Nochezcli Nopalli or Nopall Nocheztli which although it beareth not such like fruite yet it is more accounted of and husbanded with more care and diligence because it beareth that precious graine Cochinille so called by the Spaniards as a diminitive from the Coccus of the auncients so much sought after and used by Dyers for the excellency of the colour This plant loveth those places that are temperate Herrera describeth the manuring and ordering thereof and de Laet from him in this manner The graine Cochenille is bred on the tree which is called Tuna in very many of the Countries of the West Indies and new Spaine which hath most thicke leaves whereby it is encreased in those places that are open and yet defended from the North It is a living creature or rather a kinde of Insect or flye not much differing but comming neere unto a punie or wall louse being somewhat lesse then a flea when it first getteth to the plant and bred from a seed no bigger then an hand worme and doe so loade the trees and fill the whole Garden that they must gather them twice every yeare from the trees which they set in order and tend like their Vines and free them from weedes or what else may hurt them the younger the trees be the more plentifully will they beare and the better graine but especially it is necessary for them to cleere them from the other sorts of flyes and no lesse keepe away their hens who will devoure the graine and to cleare their trees from the encrease of these other sorts of flyes they use Foxetailes and when they are growne full ripe they gather them with great care and kill them by casting cold water on them and dry them in the shaddow and keepe them in pots some kill them by casting ashes amongst them and afterwards wash them and others choke or kill them by some other wayes but it is the best way to kill them with cold water But now this graine is adulterated by the Merchants after divers manners for there are foure sorts to be found hereof the one giveth a colour of no great worth as being a wilde sort and not manured another is blacker which groweth also of it selfe without care or husbandry a third is a mountainous sort called Chichimeca and of a meaner regard all which they mingle together with the fourth that is the best and manured The divers sorts hereof among the Merchants have severall names according as the Spaniards call them every sort according to the goodnesse hath a name whereby they know it as Silvester and Tuskaliobe the two worst sorts being of a blacke dull colour yet the largest graine Musteko is a gray sort and is the most ordinary we have but the Golhaca is in colour betweene both in sise no bigger but in goodnesse much excelleth them all and is not much inferiour to the Rosetta which is the reddest in shew and the richest in use of all And Tlaxcala giveth the best sort of graine by far Franciscus Ziâ—enez writeth that this plant bringeth forth a certaine gumme which doth temper the heate of the reines and of the urine and that the juyce or water distilled from it is a wonderfull remedy against pestilentiall and chollericke feavers The Chochenille or graine it selfe is held to be very cordiall and to drive infection from the heart for it is familiarly given both to the infected with Plague Small poxes or other infections or dangerous sickenesse The Place and Time Both these sorts grow in the West Indies the greater sort all the Indies over from Florida and the other on this side it where the greater is not found as being a colder Country then that the greater can live in it and flowreth with us about the end of May or in Iune and the fruite ripeneth not with us kindly at all but abideth on all the Winter and the next Summer too and yet will be greene on the outside and waterish or unsavoury although somewhat reddish within but more red within than without and sweete also in the naturall places The Names Divers Authours have given divers names unto these plants for Matthiolus Dodonaeus Lacuna Lobel Caesalpinus and others call it Ficus Indica divers of the Indians that be Islanders call it Tuna or Tunal they of Mexico and thereabout Nochtli and as I shewed before Nochezcli Nopalli or Nopall Nocheztli and in some places also Cardi but that I thinke is by the Spaniards and thereupon it was called Cardaus Indicus and Ficus Indiae diverse did take it to be the Opuntia of Theophrastus and Pliny but erroniously for they both say it is an herbe fit and sweete to be eaten but the leaves of these are not used to be eaten neither is it an herbe or plant naturall to any of the nations of Europe Africke or Asia but a peculiar kinde of it selfe but Opuntia is an herbe growing naturally about Opuns and is usually eaten and therefore this cannot be it but another herbe as I have shewed in the Chapter of Opuntia marina among the Sea plants some also call it Pala arbor Plinij as Bellonius and Anapallus also The lesser sort is called by Lobel Indorum ferrumi natrix and Opuntja Ostocollos and by Bauhinus Ficus Jndica folio spinoso fructu minore The Vertues It is said that the Indians use to lay these leaves bruised upon places that are put out of joynt or the sinewes or Arteryes over stretched and to helpe those that are bursten or broken to knit up the places againe the juyce oâ— the leaves is with good successe used in foule ulcers or sores The vertues of the graine are set downe a little before at the end of the declaration thereof CHAP. LXXI Ficus Indica arenata The arched Indian Figge tree Ficus Indica Arenata The arched Indian Figge tree THis admirable tree for so it is called by many groweth to be a great tree and tall spreading many armes all about and very long which by reason of the slendernesse and length bend downe to the ground shooting forth certaine yellowish stringes at their ends which as soone as they come to the ground doe thereinto thrust themselves as strongly as the first which againe send forth other branches after a while that they are well growne in the same manner as the first for they also in time grow great and spread their branches which likewise bending downe take roote