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
Iohannes Mauritius Aliud SAlve Salve venerande Senex Qui genius corculum medulla coryphaeus Botanicorum cluis Quem natura tuusque genius In haec studia impulit Imo vi traxit Jndustria laborque indesessus perfectum dedit Ne vero tibi musilque solis caneres Sed nostrae simul posteraeque aetati pie prospiceres Opus hoc doctum Jupiter laboriosum Summo studio laboreque improbo de dolasti Spretis interim insuper habitis vitae omnibus fere delinimentis Tanquam Vlysses alter Obstructis auribus ad Syrenum cantum Scyllam Charybdimque voluptatis lucrique preternavigasti Quae vere sunt mortalium in hoc vitae solo Scopuli Syrtes Symplegades Vt totum te hisce studiis immergeres Tanquam Alexander alter Controversiarum Botanicarum nodos plusquam Gordios Aut foeliciter enodasti Aut fortiter saltem dissecuisti Hinc merito vivus volitas per ora virum J perge perge Florae supreme mysta De re literaria bene porro mereri Studia haec ad metam evehere Perenne nomen decusque tuum ultra supraque invidiam provehere Qui priscis palmam eripuisti Jnvidiam aequalium posterorum haut facile vitabis Deopere ut de Demostbene olim antiquitas Quo longius eo melius jure dixerim Cujus unica laus admiratio Jdque tui maximum Elogium Amico de his studijs de Patria de se B M. D. D. C. L M. Iohannes Mauritius To my good Friend Mr. Iohn Parkinson MY Age of Verse is out what then shall I Be silent and not open in this cry And generall applause that have more cause Then some that crowded in nor shall the lawes Of friendship draw me from the rigide way Of bare and naked truth and force me say In Court civility more then what I thinke Such compliment is on the very brinke Of flattery and destroyes the very soule And essence of true friendship makes't a foule Commerce of mutuall sordid ends which is The Panacea of humane miseries But whether now my Muse 't was not my end To treate of friendship but to praise a friend This weary worke of thy unwearyed braine Shall doe 't for me and save my further paine But soft that 's onely for the Authour shall I give nought to the Worke which gives thee all Whatsoere th' hast here from us because 't is such As like good wine it doth require no bush It were indeed not needfull if that all Would enter in and taste without a call And gentle invitation as in trade Chapmen passe by nor enter if not made And ply'd yea rudely with a violent hand To such thy Customers which come and stand As 't were at gaze I promise here good ware And cheape all trees all shrubs all herbes that are In the voluminous Dioscorides Theophrastus Galen or Hipocrates Cratevas or th'acute Arabians who Retriv'd this Art first and all th' other too After the generall Deluge of the Goths And swarme of other barbarous Nations moths And cankers of good Letters nor here wants Whatsoere the diligent Modernes have of Plants Omitted by the ancients out of which Gleanings thou here hast made a pretty rich And fruitfull harvest neither dost thou spare T'insert whatsoere the other world doth beare Nor temperaments or vertues dost thou misse Names faculties or properties and this With such a perspecuity the while Order and method that it does beguile The readers paines so charmingly that he Thinkes it compendious though so vast it be And calls for London measure and he has't And I my purpose too saying this at last If any in this subject seeke more now Nature must adde to what th' hast done not thou John Morris Ad Amplissimum doctissimum virum D. Parkinsonium S. R. Magnae Britanniae Botanographum quum absolutissimum Herbarium suum ederet INter res quibus in divina potentia ludit Mira modis merito primas quis dixerit herbas Quis varias formas vires discrimina causas Explicet aut cunctos usus distinguere possit Tentatum multis quorum monumenta supersunt Sudarunt Graij atque Itali Germania Galli Angligenae Belgae nullis labor improbus illo Gentibus intactus Lucem * Parkinsonius Parsonius adfert Jngentem posset jam perfecisse videri Jn queis deficiunt alij paucissima restant Quid tibi pro meritis tantis vir magne precemur Alma Ceres tibi farra dicat tibi dulcia vin◠Bacchus omnimodos fructus Pomona ministret Caetera que spondet jam Nomen Rex tuus addet Posteritas famam quantam mernisse fatetur Tui observantissimus I. D. Leet Lugdum Batavorum To my old Friend and the Kings Herbarist Mr. Iohn Parkinson in praise of his Theatrum Botanicum PHoebus hath fifty times lash't through the signes Since thou intend'st this Iubile of lines And now 't is extant and shall swiftly scou're Through darke oblivion to the worlds lust houre From fragrant ashes of Antiquitie Phoenix-like sprung this is the last shall dye And if old Dodon were alive againe Heere would he wonder hence more knowledge gaine Caspar th' Helvetian and Mathiolus The Tuscan by thy Booke shall vaile to us Heere 's more then growes in the Botavian ground And more then 's in Patavian Garden sound Or vernant Oxfords Plat neere Rivers side By which brave Maudlens Charwell still shall glide Montpeliers flow'ry meadowes yeeld to thee More in thy leaves then on their beds we see Yet thy rich Worke which we peruse and use Th' unwary vulgar rashly may abuse This was not thy intent yet thy good paines Prostitutes noble Physique unto Swaines Yet still enjoy thy Ground and we thy Booke on which Posterity shall ever looke Lodge in the high-bed and at thy beds feete Thy Plants in their moist pallets all shall meete From them to Thee J will transplant that name Semper vivum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for such must bee thy same Keepe thy Hesperides may thy herbes with thee Still bloome by Prester never blasted bee And seeing by thy hands the day is wonne No night of Age shall cloude bright Parke-in-sunne Scripsit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 IOANNES HARMARV◠Oxoniensis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Classes or Tribes contained in this Worke are these 1 PLantae Odoratae Sweete smelling Plants 2 Catharticae sive Purgantes Purging Plants 3 Venenosae Narcoticae Nocivae Alexipharmacae Venemous Sleepy and Hurtfull Plants and their Counterpoysons 4 Saxifrage Plantae Nephriticae sive Calculum frangentes Saxifrages or Breakestone Plants 5 Plantae Vulnerariae Ferruminantes id est Consolidantes Vulnerary or Wound Herbes 6 Plantae Refrigerantes Intubaceae Cooling and Succory-like Herbes 7 Plantae Calidae Acres Hot and sharpe biting Plants 8 Vmbelliferae Vmbelliferous Plants 9 Cardui Spinosae Plantae Thistles and Thorny Plants 10 Filices Herbae Capillares Fearnes and Capillary Herbes 11 Legumina Pulses 12 Cerealia Cornes 13 Gramina Iunci Arundines Grasses Rushes and
IIII. Cucumis agrestis sive Asininus The wilde or spirting Cowcumber THis wilde Cowcumber as well as the former wilde or bitter Gourde differing from all the rest of their families is fit to be entreated of apart by it selfe as also to be next remembred being as violent in all the qualities thereof as the former or rather more It creepeth on the ground like unto the former with many rough trailing branches whereon are set very rugged and rough ill coloured greene leaves somewhat whitish underneath little or nothing divided or parted at the edges at the joynts betweene the branches and the leaves come forth small pale yellow flowers opening into five leaves at the end of small greene heads for the most part as all other sorts of Gourds Cowcumbers c. doe but those that have flowers onely without such heads fall away quickly without fruite for that greene head as in all others groweth to be the fruite which is small rough round and long and somewhat of a grayish greene when they are ripe the short rough foote stalkes being crooked and bending the fruite downewards which with a little touch when they are throughly ripe will quickely open at the end next the stalke and sprirt out the juyce and some seede into their faces or hands or other places against it that touched it the seede being ripe is blackish and somewhat Cucumis Sylvestris The Wilde Cowcumber rugged but otherwise white lying in a greene moyst substance very bitter and loathsome to taste the roote is white and firme thicker and shorter than in any other sort of Gourde or Cowcumber with some fibres thereat very bitter as is all the rest of the plant The Place It groweth naturally wilde in Italy as Matthiolus saith in many places by the way sides and in untilled and moorish places we onely preserve it in gardens throughout the whole Land where it is used The Time The roote hereof doth often abide in the ground all the winter long if it stand reasonably defended or the ground be rich with soyling shooting then forth leaves betimes in other colder grounds not defended they perish every yeare the fruite is usually ripe in August The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Cucumer Cucumis agrestis or asininus as many writers doe or anguinus as Turner and Cordus but not properly Matthiolus Trag◠Dodonaeus and some others call it Cucumis sylvestris The dryed or hardned juyce of the fruit is called Elaterium Gaza translating Theophrastus calleth it Agitatorium The Vertues The rootes hereof and the dryed juyce of the fruite artificially and not rudely prepared which is called Elaterium are chiefely used in medicines and scarse any other part Concerning Elaterium there is difference betweene Theophrastus and Dioscorides of the age and durability and in extinguishing or encreasing the flame of a lampe or candle Theophrastus in the ninth booke and foureteenth chapter of his history of Plants saith Elaterium is the most durable medicine of all others and that the best is the eldest for as he saith a Physition of sufficient credit kept by him some Elaterium that was 200 yeares old which he received of one as a gift which notwithstanding the age was of wonderfull vertue and untill it was 50 yeares old it was so aboundant in humidity that put to the flame of a lampe or candle it would put it out And Dioscorides saith that Elaterium is fit to be used as a purging medicine from two yeares old untill it be tenne and that is the best which being put to the flame of a lampe or candle will make it burne the more bright Vnto Theophrastus Pliny subscribeth the same thing and saith that it is found true by experience that untill it be 50 yeares old it will cause a lampe or candle to spertle hither and thither before it put it out whereupon Matthiolus giving credit to the testimonies of Theophrastus and Pliny is perswaded that the text of Dioscorides is corrupted but I verily beleeve they both say true the reconciliation of their repugnancy being onely in the manner of making of Elaterium Theophrastus his Elaterium being greene as I suppose and made of the substance of the inner pulpe of the fruite yet in the tenth chapter of his fourth booke he saith it is made of the seede which I never saw or heard of any to be so made with us and that of Dioscorides being white which as he saith himself is the best and condemning the greene made onely of the more thinne watery and wheyish part Mesues also saith that the best is white my selfe having made of both sorts can testifie that Elaterium made of the substance of the fruite although very gently pressed through a fine five will be greene and continue moyst many yeares after it is evaporated and dryed up hard relenting with the ayre and will require many yeares to consume the humidity therein when as the other sort made of the whitish wheyish liquour that droppeth through the sive of it owne accord in the cutting of the fruite without any touch of pressing will be white when it is dryed and so remaine white hard and drye for many yeares unlesse it be left open to the moyst ayre or stand in a moyst place to cause it to relent the greene sort likewise is not of halfe that force or violence to purge either upward or downeward as the white Elaterium whereof one graine weight dissolved in liquor worketh forceably in any tender body yea I have oftentimes seene that halfe a graine weight put into a purging medicine to quicken the weakenesse thereof hath troubled the stomacke very much by castings and much disquiet and working also downeward with more violence then it could bee thought the whole graine given of it selfe could doe This narration although somewhat tedious I was the more willing to declare because I thinke none hath shewed it before and my little experience may set an edge unto others to polish that which I have here shewed you but rough hewen The dose or quantitie thereof taken at a time Dioscorides saith is a whole obolus and the least quantitie halfe an obolus some take the obolus to weigh 12 graines but the most usuall is but 10 graines which sheweth as I sayd before the great doses which the ancients were wont to give of purgers in their medicines which we dare not follow It purgeth choler and flegme from all parts of the body and as he saith is the best medicine to purge those that are pursie and short winded to procure a vomit he adviseth to dissolve it in water and with a fether dipped therein to touch the lower part of the tongue as low as you can but milke or rather creame which is more unctuous is fitter to give it in for it will not suffer it to sticke to the tunicles of the stomacke but will cause it slippe away the more speedily it helpeth also the falling sicknesse
and roote prepared helpeth the dropsie being carefully and with good advise taken the leaves sleeped a while in vinegar and afterwards dryed and made into powder which is the preparation of them may be given to the weight of three drammes saith Dioscorides which I hold proportionable to the reâ— of the great quantities of purgers given by the ancients whereof I have spoken before which is over large to be given to any in our time or at least nation the roote prepared in the manner aforesaid is given likewise to the weight of two drammes saith Dioscorides in meade or honeyed water but one dramme is so strong that it is not fit to be taken but with caution and by a strong body the seede saith Dioscorides may be taken to the weight of a dramme but seeing 9 or 10 seedes of the garden Spurge is a sufficient strong medicine I thinke so many of those seedes are too many by much and of the juyce or milke a spoonefull Dioscorides appointeth being made into pills with flower which is the strongest of them all an extract made artificially out of the rootes is much commended by many in the dropsie and other diseases before named but it had neede of an artist as well in the preparing as giving The Pills of Esula set downe in the 16 chapter before doe properly belong unto this place being to be made more properly of this Esula than of that The small annuall spurge is in purging like the other sorts but is not so strong for the diseases aforesaid as the former are The seede of Peplus or the round Esula being beaten and drunke in hydromel or honyed water purgeth flegme and choller The leaves are used to bee pickled up and kept to be used in meates and the powder of them saith Dioscorides strewed upon meate troubleth the belly The small purple Sea Spurge hath the same properties and is used to be pickled and eaten with the like effect that the former is The Petty or Tyme Spurge is used for paines of the mother if the young branches and leaves be bruised with a little wine and put up as a pessary The same boyled and taken doe purge the belly even as the milke or juyce doth also and is good against the stinging or biting of serpents and taketh away all manner of warts and excrescences of the like nature It is very effectuall for the dimnesse or mistinesse of the eyes to cleere the sight and also for watering or running eyes and to take away filmes or scarres that grow upon them used with a little honey The tuberous or knobbed Spurge saith Dioscorides purgeth downewards if the lower parts be taken and upwards if the upper parts be taken but the juyce to the quantity of halfe a dramme purgeth both wayes and so doth the plant being taken wholly together The manner of drawing out the juyce thereof is somewhat rude in regard of the exquisite manner of preparing extracts chymically in our dayes as Dioscorides setteth it downe is thus Beate the rootes and put them into a vessell full of water stirre them well therein and with a fether gather the upermost upon the water which being dryed and kept serveth for the uses aforesaid and for those that have the dropsie All these clense the skinne from discolouring even as the former doe and with as good successe There is none of them but are strong and violent and therefore great caution and advise is to be had in taking of them inwardly and therefore some appoint to put diverse cold hearbes to them in the taking but for outward applications there is the lesse feare of danger because if the skinne be any thing exulcerated and the parts inflamed helpe may sooner be had and applyed thereto than within the body CHAP. XIX Hippophaes Hippophaestum Hippomanes Thornie Milkewort or Fullers thorne BEcause Dioscorides speaketh of Hippophaes and Hippophaestum making them both Thornie plants yeelding milke and purging before Ricinus and the Tithymales and Theophrastus in his ninth booke and fifteenth chap. saith that Hippomanes is made of Tithymalus or lactaria Milkewort the best as hee saith was knowne to be made in Tegea and was held to be of great worth yet my Theophrastus in Latine which is very ancient without name of the Printer or yeare of the Printing hath in that place Hippophaes although I confesse I have seene Greeke copies which have had Hippomanes but surely Hippomanes being declared by other authors to bee a kinde of poyson made of the nature or thinne sperme of Mares as you shall heare by and by could not in my minde be so unknowne to Theophrastus that he should say it was made of the Tithymalls or Milkeworts but rather that Hippophaes was a Milkewort or made thereof for in his 6. booke and 4. chapter at the latter end he numbreth Hippophyon which Gaza translateth lappago among those plants that beare thornes at the leaves and in the same booke and 5. chapter he nameth Hippopheos which Gaza translateth lappago likewise to have gentle smooth leaves not like unto the Capers which have sharpe leaves as well as stalkes and in his 9 booke and 15 chapter maketh no mention either of forme having declared it before or of purging or poysonfull quality therein but numbreth it among other things the best whereof grow in Arcadia and nameth it next after the Elaterium made of the Wilde Cowcumbers so that it is probable his Hippophyon Hippopheos Hippophaes or Hippomanes whether you will for diverse doe thinke diversly was an herbe or roote that bore thornes as is before declared whose condensate milke or juyce was of much worth being made in Tegea I thinke it not a misse somewhat to declare both what I thinke Dioscorides his Hippophaes and Hippophaestum are and the derivation of the name and what Anguillara and others say of it also that say they have found it to incite some industrious to attaine it also if that which I shall shew you in my opinion be not it and likewise to shew what diverse authors doe report of Hippomanes that thereby the diversity of things might cleere Theophrastus from imputation of want of knowledge what Hippomanes was or variety from others and that his Hippopheos and Dioscorides Hippophaes was one and the same thing This therefore is the text of Dioscorides concerning Hippophaes Hippophaes wherewith fullers doe refresh garments groweth in gravelly grounds and neere the sea It is abushing plant thicke of leaves or well spreade having long leaves like unto the Olive tree but smaller and longer and betweene them many whitish hard thornes distant one from another The flowers stand in clusters like unto those of Ivye but smaller and more gentle somewhat reddish or blush out of a white the roote is thicke and tender full of juyce like milke and bitter in taste from whence as from Thapsia a juyce is taken which being dryed up either by it selfe simply or with the flower of Orobus or the bitter
not a winter with us being more tender as comming out of a hotter Country where it abideth many yeares and it may be that it is but a degeneration by reason of the climate as it hapeneth in sweete Fenell seede and divers other things which change by transplantation 3. Solanum Sommiferum Sleepy Nightshade Sleepy Nightshade riseth up with divers thicke round soft woolly stalkes divided into other branches whereon grow many soft woolly but greene broad round leaves very like unto Quince leaves two alwayes set at a joynt one against another of somewhat a hot taste as Clusius saith the flowers come forth at the joynts with 1. Solanum vulgare Common Nightshade 3. Solanum Somniferum Sleepy Nightshade 5. Solanum Somniferum alterum Sleepy Nightshade of another sort 6. Solanum Laethale Dwale or deadly Nightshade the leaves all along the stalkes and branches three or foure together round about them which are long and hollow ending in foure somewhat long and pointed leaves of a pale white colour which being past there rise up in their places small yellowish red berries yet bigger then those of the former set in woolly huskes the roote is thicke long and hard and of a brownish colour on the outside 4. Solanum somniferum antiquorum verum The true sleepy Nightshade of the ancient writers This Nightshade riseth up with three or foure or more thicke round straight whitish stalkes about a yard high or more parted into some other branches hard to 8. Solanum magnum Virginianum rubrum The great Virginia Red Nightshade breake set with somewhat broad leaves very like unto Quince leaves with small footestalkes under them not alwayes two at a joynt but many standing singly at the joints with the leaves from the middle of the stalkes upwards come forth diverse reddish flowers together consisting of foure leaves a peece after which follow small striped and pointed greenish huskes but red when they are ripe very like unto the bladders of the Winter Cherries but much lesse with a red berry within it in like manner the roote is somewhat great and wooddy covered with a whitish barke not very thicke of a foule sent and insipide taste Because that kinde of Solanum which Matthiolus first and Clusius after him set forth for the true Somniferum of the ancients doth not beare bladder like huskes or fruite as Theophrastus saith lib. 9. c. 12. it hath it cannot be the right but this onely which hath such 5. Solanum Somniferum alterum Sleepie Nightshade of another sort The other sleepy Nightshade hath an upright crested or cornered stalke with many leaves thereon being longer and narrower than the last and more inclining downeward to the ground full of veines running long wise and traverse therein at the joynts of the stalke from the middle part upward come forth severall pendulous flowers hanging by very long stalkes being long and hollow like unto a Bell flower of a purplish colour each of them set in a large greene huske dented or cut into five parts at the edges but not very deepe wherein after the flower is past standeth a round berry of a deepe blackish purple colour enclosed therein to the middle and having like a Crowne at the head of the berry which is full of a winelike juice and many small white seeds within it the roote is great and spreadeth many great branches with small fibres also under the ground 6. Solanum laethale Dwale or deadly Nightshade Deadly Nightshade groweth sometimes to the height of a man but usually it riseth not up above three or foure foote high having round green stalkes set with divers large leaves much greater than any of those before smooth and of a darke greene colour set upon very short footestalkes among which at the joynts with the leaves come forth severall long hollow flowers dented at the brims of a faint deadish purple colour standing in a greene huske which after the flower is fallen containeth a great round berry greene at the first but of a shining blacke colour like shining or polished jet when it is ripe full of a purplish juice and many whitish seeds lying therein the roote is great growing downe deepe into the ground and spreading great branches therein and besides creepeth under ground rising up in severall places distant quickely spreading over a ground the plant hath no good sent nor taste but unsavory and bitter and very pernicious Of this kinde there is another sort whose leaves are lesser and of a darker greene colour standing upon longer footestalkes and the flowers are not so great and large as the other 7. Solanum Indicum umbelliferum hirsutum Hoary Indian Nightshade Clusius in his fourth booke of Exotickes declareth that one Dr. Cole or Coolmans going with Dutch Merchant Ships to Bantam and other places in the East Indies but dying by the way in comming home had gathered some herbes and put them up into a booke of papers which being viewed by Clusius hee found among many others this dryed plant without leaves which yet he referreth to the kinds of Nightshade the slender stalkes being about five inches long and hoary white bearing many shrivelled berryes hanging downe out of five pointed huskes or cuppes of a brownish red colour of the bignesse of pepper cornes standing in a tuft or umbell wherein were white seedes like to those of Nightshade but not ripe 8. Solanum magnum rubrum Virginianum Red Nightshade or Red weed or Virginia This great Virginian plant which from the likenes of the leaves we have called a Solanum and referred thereunto riseth up with a great thick round reddish stalke of the thicknes of ones thumbe at the least 4. or 5. foote high or more set without order with many very large fresh greene leaves full of veines some greater and some smaller and sometimes turning reddish from the joynts where the leaves stand from the middle of the stalke upwards come forth severall smal stalkes bearing the flowers which are very small consisting of foure leaves a peece of a pale red or blush colour divers standing together as it were in a small long cluster which after bring forth small blackish round seede foure usually set in one huske yet it seldome commeth to ripenesse in our country the roote is white and groweth great with us but perisheth if it be not defended from the frosts in winter which usually rot it but in the naturall places it groweth as big as a mans legge for such hath beene sent me with many circles to be seene in the middle when it was cut like unto a Bryonye roote and above a foote long 8. Solanum Mexicanum parvo flore sive Mirabilis Peruana minor The small Mervaile of Peru. This small Mervaile of the world or of Peru groweth in the same manner that the greater kinde shewed you in my former booke doth but nothing so great or high having such like leaves set on the stalkes but much lesser and rounder the flowers likewise being of
a red colour for the most part and made of one leafe opening into five parts at the brimes like the other are so small that the whole flower of this is scarce so bigge as the one part or division of the greater flower the seed that followeth and the roote likewise are answerable in proportion to the rest of the plant The Place The first groweth wild with us under old walles and in rubbish the common paths and sides of hedges and fieldes as well as in other countryes either hot or cold as also both in their and our gardens without any planting The second groweth onely wild in the hotter countries of Spaine Italy c. The third Clusius saith he found not farre from Malaga in Spaine and Matthiolus saith in Italy also The fourth Alpinus saith groweth in Candye The fifth as Matthiolus saith groweth on the hill Salvatino in the County of Goritio in Italy hard by Trent and as some thinke in Syria and the East Countries thereabouts The sixth groweth wilde not onely in many and divers woods of Germany but in divers places of our owne Land as in the Castle yard of Framingham in Suffolke under Iesus Colledge wall in Cambridge and in many places of that Country also at Ilford in Essex at Croydon among the Elmes at the end of the Towne in Moore Parke in the Parke of Sir Percivall Hart at Lâ—lling stone in Kent on the Conny burries in Burling Parke likewise as also in the way that leadeth from S. Mary Cray to Footes Cray over against the gate of a great field called Wenaell The seventh is declared in the description The eighth groweth in Virginia New England c. from whence the seed and Plants were first brought to us The last came as the greater sort did from the West-Indies The Time They doe all dye downe to the ground in winter although some doe shoote a fresh in the spring as the 3.4.5.7.8.9 doe yet the third being more tender as comming out of a warmer Country doth hardly endure but perisheth utterly by the extremities of our winters especially if it be not housed or well defended and even the two first that dye every yeare and rise of their owne sowing doe not spring out of the ground untill it be late in the yeare as not untill the latter end of Aprill at the soonest The Names It is called in Greeke of some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but more usually 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod viteum capreolum vitem vel acinum vel tale quiddam signet ait Pena in Solanorum classe quibus cunctis proprium acinos plures vel panciores habere nisi quis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theophrasto suspicari malit aut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mutatum In Latine Solanum Solatrum Vna lupina Vna vulpis Pliny saith it was called also Strumum and Cucubalus but they are thought to be rather bastard names and not to be proper to this plant the Arabians call it Hameb alhomaleb Hameb alchaick and Hameb althaleb the Spaniards Yerva Mora and Morella the Italians Solatro The French Morelle The Germans Nachtschadâ— and the Dutch Nascaye and Natchscade In English Nightshade Morrell Petty Morrell and in some places Honnds berries Dioscorides reckoneth up foure sorts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hortense 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vesicarium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 somniferum and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 furiosum or manicum Theophrastus in his 7 booke and 14. chapter maketh but three sorts solanum edule fructum veluti mitem velacinosum ferens Sunt alia duo quorum alterum somnium alterum insaniâ— adfert The first is generally called by all writers Solanum simply or vulgare or hortense because it is most usuall and generally every where to be had and was planted in gardens as other herbes for foode but now is no where used but Physically the second is called of Cordus in his History of Plants Solanum puniceum and of Gesner in hortis Germaniae Solanum rubrum luteum and is remembred by others also The third is generally taken to be the true Solanum somniferum of Dioscorides for so Matthiolus Gesner Guilandinus Lacuna Clusius Dodonaeus Lobel Caesalpinus Castor Durantes Camerarius and Lugdunensis doe set it downe Prosper Alpinus only contesteth against it and sheweth that the fourth here set downe which in his booke de plantis exoticis he saith hath red bladders and small red berryes in them is the right sort as Dioscorides Theophrastus and Pliny doe describe their Solanum somniferum to be The fifth Matthiolus calleth Solanum somniferum alterum and so doe Camerarius Gesner and Lugdunensis Dodonaeus calleth it Solani laethali aliud genus The sixth is generally by the Italians called Bella Donna either per Antiphrasin because it is blacke or as the Moores doe account them fairest that have the finest blacke skinne or as some have reported because the Italians Dames use the juice or distilled water thereof for a fucus peradventure by the excessive cold quality to take away their high colour and make them looke paler Matthiolus calleth it Solanum majus and so doe Caesalpinus and Camerarius Tragus Solanum â—ortense nigrum Fuchsius Lobel and Lugdunensis Solanum somniferum Dodonaeus and Clusius Solanum laethale and so doth Thalius Gesner Solanum sylvaticum Anguillara Guillandinus Dodonaeus Fuchsius Cordus and others doe take it to be Mandragoras morion of Theophrastus but not of Dioscorides for they are so much differing one from another as though they had lived in two severall worlds to give names to herbes the one not knowing of the other The Germanes call it Schlaffbeere and Dolwurtz it is called in English Dwale or deadly Nightshade The seaventh Clusius maketh mention of in the fourth booke of his Exotickes by the name of Solani Indici geâ— and Bauhinus thereupon calleth it as I doe in the title Solanum Indicum hirsutum corymbiferum The eighth we have referred as I said before to the kindes of Solanum for the likenesse of the leaves although much larger and call it rubrum both for the colour of the stalke and from the colour that it giveth for the Indians therewith doe both colour their skinnes and the barkes of trees wherewith they make their baskets and such like things as we are informed the Indians themselves call it and our English people that live in Virginia call it Red weede but we according to the Latine name red Nightshade of Virginia The last Bauhinus setteth fort in his Prodomus and Pinax under the title here expressed not being mentioned by any other writer The Vertues The ordinary or common Nightshade is wholly used to coole all hot inflammations either inwardly or outwardly being no way dangerous to any that shall use it as most of the rest are yet it must be used moderately for being cold and binding in the second degree the distilled water onely of the whole herbe is fittest and safest
rattle indeed but this noyse it maketh stirre it selfe never so little yet usually it is so quicke and wary in leaping at any that it doth it not but suddenly Now the manner of the using hereof is this God of his goodnesse providing a remedy out of the same place and ground from whences the evill doth proceed as soone as any is bitten by that creature for oftentimes it happeneth that some are bitten before they can avoid the Serpent the manner of them being to leape suddenly upon one that the rattle cannot be heard before they be bitten they take of this herbe and chaw it in their mouthes and swallow downe the juice thereof and also apply of the herbe to the wound or bitten place which instantly cureth them for being taken quickly after they be bitten it doth so defend the inward parts that the party feeleth not so much almost as any outward paine much lesse any of those inward Symptomes are incident to those that doe not presently use this remedy this is the present helpe of the present hurt but if it so happen that any being bitten cannot get of this herbe in any reasonable time he dyeth certainely yet if within twelve houres after the biting he doe use this remedy it will assuredly recover him but with more trouble and paine and with longer time before it hath wought a perfect cure for it is evident that the poyson of this Serpent pierceth the blood which runneth with all the speed it can unto the heart the chiefest fortresse of life and health which being infected death must necessarily and speedily follow but if it be defended by the vertue and force of any medicine it preserveth the one and expelleth and untterly defeateth the intent of the other The powder of the herbe and roote taken in wine or other drinke hath beene found a certaine and present cure for the biting of a madde dogge as also to cure both the quartaine ague within three times taking viz. halfe a dramme or if neede be a whole dramme at a time before the accesse of the fit and any other ague or pestilentian feaver or the pestilence it selfe CHAP. XXXV Alexipharmacum Indicum sive Contrayervae Hispanorum The Indian Spanish Counterpoyson BEcause the roote of this herbe also is of as certaine a cure to helpe all sorts of venome and poyson as well of hurtfull beasts as of herbes rootes c. wherewith the Indians by dipping their arrow heads therein did kill whomsoever they wounded as the former Virginian Plant I thought fit to joyne it thereunto although we have no more knowledge thereof then what we may gather from seeing and observing the dryed rootes and from the relation thereof by Monardus out of Petrus de Osma his letter to him which is extant in his booke of the simple that are brought out of the new world which Clusius translated out of the Spanish into the Latine tongue and hath published it with other of his workes and joyned it to his booke of Exotickes Contrayerva Hispanorum sive Drakenaradix Clusij The Indian Spanish Counterpoyson It hath saith Monardus the roote of a Flower-deluce and is of the smell of a Figgetree leafe this is all the description that Monardus hath made of it but Osma in his Epistle maketh mention of the leaves to be like the Ribbewort Plantaine Iosua Ferrus also wrote thereof as he saith to Monardus to Dr. Tovar and to Valdes and in his booke of secrets maketh mention thereof in two Chapters the one is of Contrayerva the other he entituleth de Contrayerva Bezoar whereby he meaneth the herbe or roote that is found in the middle of a Bezoar stone when it is broken which he accounteth to be of more vertue then the stone it selfe whereon it is engendred but we in viewing many dryed rootes that came from Spaine unto us have observed no good forme of any Flower-deluce in the roote nor have seene any roote to exceed the bignesse of ones thumbe and not one of many to be so great but for the most part of the bignesse of a finger or lesse and not any so long but usually no longer then a joynt or two at the most not so smooth on the outside as the roote of white Orris or the Flowerdeluce but more rugged in all in some more knobbed that is with small knobs or bunches sticking out all along the roote then in others which are of an even sise and some againe are greater at the one end and smaller at the other divided as it were by little spaces in the growing almost like the greater Figgewort roote or the roote of Dentaria Coralloides being of a yellowish browne colour on the outside and in some more blacke but whâ—e on the inside with many fibres or strings growing from them thâ— roote lyeth or creepeth under the upper crust of thâ—â—d like as the Flower-deluce Tormentill Bistort and 〈◊〉 like doe and doth not grow downe right like other sorts of rootes and are a little warme or hot in taste upon the tongue drawing water as Pellitory of Spaine but nothing so hot nor sharpe or drawing rheume so much which is not well perceived unlesse heedfully observed neither doth the heate abide any long time after the chewing but is soone gone leaving the roote almost like a dry chippe without any manifest stipticity astringency or aromatirity that I could perceive although Monardus saith it hath and judgeth it to be hot and dry in the second degree The Place It groweth saith Monardus in Charcas and as Ferrus aforesaid saith in Tonsaglia provinces in Peru in the West-Indies and in some other places there and from thence brought into Spaine and so to other Countryes The Time We must abide the time to know further hereof before we can declare it to any other The Names Monardus first wrote hereof from the intelligence he had by Osmus Letter to him and called it Radices Venâ—nis adversantes and said the Spaniards called it Contrayerva which is as much as Alexipharmacum a counterpoyson or rootes resisting venome and poyson especially of that wherewith the Indians by dipping their arrow heads therein killed both the Spaniards and other their enemies in their warres and the wild beasts whom they hunted and is the same also that Clusius calleth Drakena radix I have given it the title of Alexipharmacum Indicum sive Contrayerva Hispanorum and in English the Indian Spanish Counterpoyson from both places and properties The Vertues The rootes hereof saith Monardus Petrus de Osma and Iosua Ferras made into powder and taken in white Wine is a most present remedy against all manner of venomes and poysons of what kinde soever they be excepting Mercurie Sublimate onely which is to be cured by drinking of no other thing but milke by forcing the poyson upward by vomit and avoiding and expelling it by sweating the powder drunke in the same manner they say resisteth such charmes or the like witchery that is used
spinosa or Poterion but I forbeare any farther to speake thereof in this place The first of these here set downe is called by Clusius Staebe Salamantica prima by Dodonaeus Aphyllanthes prima by Bauhinus Staebe major folijs Cich raceis mollibus lanuginosis The second is called by Clusius Staebes Salamanticae primae altera species by Lobel Staebe argentea incana Aldroandi by Dodonaeus Aphyllanthes tertia by Bauhinus Staebe major folijs Erucae mollibus lanuginosis The third is called by Clusius Staebe Salamantica altera vel tertia by Lobel Staebe argentea Salamantica minor by Dodonaeus Aphyllantes quarta by Bauhinus Staebe calyculis argenteis The fourth is called by Clusius Staebe Gallica and Austriaca elatior by Bauhinus Staebe major calyculis non splendentibus The fifth is called by Clusius Staebe Austriaca humilis by Gesner in collectione stirpium Centaurij majoris species minor and by Bauhinus Staebe incana Cyano similis tenuifolia The sixth is called by Taberna ontanus and Gerard Iacea flore albo and by Bauhinus Staebe calyculis argenteis minor The seaventh is called by Alpinus lib. de plantis exoticis as it is in the title The eighth is called by Pona in his Italian Baldus Cyanus spinosus Creticus and so also by Alpinus in lib. de exoticis plantis Clusius in his Auctuarium to the other Appendix to his history of plants calleth it Staebe peregrina and saith that Iacobus Plateau who sent him a branch of the plant with the figure thereof drawne having gathered it in the Garden of the Duke of Areschote in Bellomonte called it Staebe spinosa fruticans The ninth I have joyned with these Staebes as I said before rather then with the Storax trees as Bauhinus doth calling it Frutex rotundo argenteo folio Cyani flore for Pona in the same place above said calleth it Cyanus fruticosus Creticus and is the same plant that Honorius Bellus in his second Epistle to Clusius as he saith could not learne by what name they of Candy called it and therefore he onely called it Pulcherrimus frutex I have as you see set it and the last with the Jacea's being nearest in likenesse to them in regard these have all scaly heads as the Iaceas have which are not seene in any Scabions The last Pona in the description of Mount Baldus first called Stâ—bo capitata Rosmarini folijs but after in his Italian booke he calleth it Chamaepitys fruticosa Cretica Belli and by them of Candy called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est lignum faetidum and by Bauhinus Iacea fruticans Pinifolio and is thought to be the Chamaepence Plinij of Anguilara The Spaniards as Clusius saith call the first by the name Cabesuela id â—st capitulum a little head and usually make broomes thereof to sweepe their houses the learned Phisitions there â—s he saith use the third sort instead of Scabious for all the purposes thereof The Vertues The most of these sorts but especially the three first do come somewhat nigh unto the qualities of Scabions and therefore I must referre you thereunto to know both what remedies may be had from these plants and in what manner and to what purpose to be used for as Scabions fitteth the parts whereunto it is applyed so doe these also CHAP. VII Ptarmicae non vulgares Vnusuall Sneesewort I Have here as I promised before brought to your knowledge those other plants that comming neerest unto the Iacea's and Staebes and yet being none of them were fittest to be entreated of in a Chapter peculiar by themselves for as I said although Bauhinus doth put these two sorts under the title of Iacea oleae folio and reciteth their authors for them who are chiefely Lobel and Clusius yet I cannot finde by the same authors as well as by mine owne sight and knowledge but that they are offering plants from both Iacea and Staebe but I would not have you conceive that any of these Ptarmica's is 〈◊〉 which groweth wild with us in divers places for I meane to bring it into that Classis that is fit for it namely â—at of hot sharpe and biting herbes the double kinde whereof I have set forth in my former booke 1. Ptarmica Austriaca Clusij sive major Clusius his Sneesewort of Austria The Sneesewort of Austria sendeth forth many leaves from the rootes lying on the ground being soft and smooth somewhat long and narrow greene on the upper side and hoary on the under of a little sower relish or taste among which riseth up an hoary stalke about two foote high or better having divers such like leaves thereon but lesser spreading into some few slender branches with every one for the most part a small scaly white silver like head on them from whence spring forth a dozen or foureteene hard and small long pointed leaves as a border or pale about a number of small short thrummes in the middle almost like as if they were made of parchment whitish at the first appearing but afterwards being come to their full maturity of a most faire bleake blewish purple colour without any sent to commend it pleasant onely by the prospect of forme and colour and by the durability for being gathered in his perfection it withereth not or looseth colour but abideth in the same colour without changing for many yeares together being put into a paper booke otherwaies being let stand upon the stalkes they become somewhat brownish having many small blackish long seedes lying among a deale of white downe the roote is hard and blacke with some fibres at it but perisheth every yeare 2. Ptarmicâ— Imperati sive minor The smaller Sneesewort of Spaine or Naples This smaller Sneesewort hath such like long and narrow soft hoary leaves but not fully so large as the former the stalke riseth not so high but is divided into more and more slender hard branches at the toppes whereof stand such like scaly heads but not so white or silver like from whence shoot forth such like stiffe hard leaves as the pale or border but neither so large nor so many being seldome above eight or tenne neither are they of so faire a blewish purple colour but of a pale delayed colour having many thrummes in the middle the seede that followeth is like the former and so is the roote but smaller both of them and perisheth in the same manner every yeare this plant being a little rubbed or handled sendeth forth a reasonable sweete sent or at least not to be misliked The Place The first Matthiolus saith groweth in Italy and Clusius saith he found it in Austria and afterwards in divers parts of Hungary Lobel saith it groweth about Mompelier for I suppose his incana altera Iacea to be this Ptarmica himselfe also saying that some did so call it although he describeth it to have rougher leaves The second we having received the seede from Italy under the name of Ptarmica Imperati have thought good to expresse it by the same title we
have spoken in my former booke yet I meane not to speake of any of them in this Chapter but of Helenium sive Enula Campana Elecampane the most ordinary sort even the first of Dioscorides which is most usually called Enula campana Elecampane and of that which is thought to be Dioscorides his HeleniuÌ„ Aegyptium in the next the description of which you shall have in this manner It shooteth forth many large leaves lying neare the ground which are long and broad small at both ends somewhat soft in handling of a whitish greene on the upper side and gray underneath each set upon a short footestalke from among which rise up divers great and strong hairy stalkes three or foure foote high with some leaves thereon compassing them about at the lower ends and are branched towards the toppes bearing divers great and large flowers like unto those of the Corne Marigold both the border of leaves and the middle thrumbe being yellow which turne into downe with some long small brownish seede among it and is carryed away with the winde the roote is great and thicke branched forth divers wayes blackish on the outside and white within of a very bitter taste but good sent especially when they are dryed no part else of the plant having any smell The Place It groweth in the moyst grounds and shadowy places oftner then in the dry and open borders of fields and lanes and in other waste places almost in every countrey of the Land The Time It flowreth in the end of Iune and Iuly and the seede is ripe in August the rootes are gathered for use as well in the Spring before the leaves come forth as in Autumne or Winter The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Helenium also in Latine and of some Inula and Enula and Enula Campana some thinke it tooke the name from the teares of Helen from whence it sprung which is a fable others that shee had her hands full of this herbe when Paris carried her away others say it was so called because Hellen first found it availeable against the bitings and stingings of venemous beasts and others thinke that it tooke the name from the Island Helena where the best was found to grow the Arabians call it Iasin and Rasen the Italians L'ella and Enola and Enoa the Spaniards Raiz de alla the French Aunee and herbe Alaine the Germans Alant and Alantwurtz the Dutch Alantwurtel and Galantwurtel and we in English Elecampane generally yet in some countries of this kingdome Sâ—wort and Horseheale Anguilara and Cordus tooke it to be Panax Chironium Theophraste The Vertues The fresh rootes of Elecampane preserved with Sugar or made into a syrupe or conserve are very effectuall to warme a cold windy stomack and the pricking and stitches therein or in the sides caused by the Spleene and to helpe the cough shortnesse of breath and wheesing in the Lungs the dryed rootes made into powder mixed with Sugar and taken serve to the same purposes and is also profitable for those that have their urine or their menstrues stopped those that are troubled with the mother or are pained with the stone in their reines kidneys or bladder it resisteth poyson and stayeth the spreading of the venome of Serpents c. as also of putrid and pestilentiall Fevers and the Plague it selfe for which purpose it is put into Treakles and other medecines for that disease Iulia Augusta as Pliny writeth in his 19. Booke and 5. Chap. let no day passe without eating some of the rootes of Enula condited which it may be shee did to helpe digestion to expell melancholy and sorrow and to cause mirth and to move the belly downewards for all which they are also effectuall the rootes and herbe beaten and put into new Ale or beare instead of wine as they use in Germany Italy and other places and daily drunke of them that have weake and dim fights cleareth strengthneth and quickneth the sight of the eyes wonderfully the decoction of the rootes in wine or the juice taken therein killeth and driveth forth all manner of wormes in the belly stomacke or mawe and gargled in the mouth or the roote chewed fastneth loose teeth and helpeth to keepe them from putrefaction the same also drunke is good for those that spit blood helpeth to remoove Crampes or Convulsions and the paines of the Goute and the huckle bone or hip-goute called the Sciatica the loosenesse and paines in the joynts or those members that are out of joynt by cold or moisture happening to them applyed outwardly as well as inwardly and is good also for those that are bursten or have any inward bruise the rootes boyled well in vinegar beaten afterwards and made into an oyntment with Hogs Suet or oyle of trotters a little salt and vinegar in powder added thereto is an excellent remedy for any scabs or itch in young or old the places also bathed or washed with the decoction doth the same the same also helpeth all sorts of old putrid or filthy sores or Cankers wheresoever In the rootes of this herbe lyeth the chiefe effect for all the remedies aforesayd yet the leaves are sometimes also used to good purpose And the distilled water of them and the rootes together is used also in the like manner and besides is very profitable to clense the skinne of the face or other parts from any morphew spots or blemishes therein and causeth it to be cleare CHAP. LXXXIIII Helenium alterum Dioscoridis sive Helianthemum Dwarfe Cistus or small Sunflower ACcording as many good Authors doe I account this herbe for the second Helenium of Dioscorides although it hath received other names by divers writers and therefore joyne it next thereunto and because it much resembleth some other sorts of Cistus I thinke it fit to entreate of them in the succeeding Chapters and not mingle them together for of these kinds there are many sorts some whereof I have set forth in my former booke which are the Camaecistus Frisicus the Dwarfe Holly Rose of Freezeland and Cistus ananus the Holy Rose of a yeare which I shall not neede to describe againe in this place but referre you thither where you shall finde them yet I will here give you their figures 1. Helianthemum vulgare sive Chamaecistus flore luteo Flos solis quorundam The ordinary yellow Dwarfe Cistus or small Sunflower This low or Dwarfe Cistus sendeth forth from a hard wooddy brownish root growing in time to be somewhat great but not very long and divided into small branches at the lower end sundry small and weake yet hard and almost wooddy branches lying for the most part round about the head of the roote upon the ground whereon are set by couples many small and somewhat long leaves a little soft or hairy with other small leaves also growing betweene them at the toppes whereof stand three or foure small pale yellow and sometimes gold yellow flowers consisting of five round
is the Thlaspâ— of Tabermontanus and Gerard which Bauhinus first setteth forth by the name of Thlaspi arvense Vaccarie lâ— lavique folio but afterwards in his Errata appointed it to be amended made Acetosaefolio in stead thereof the fourth is called by Bauhinus Thlaspi Vaccariae folio bursae pastoris siliquis the fift is also called by him Thlaspi Vaâ—câ— inâ— folio minus the sixt is also called by him Thlaspi villosuÌ„ capsulis hirsutis the seventh is called by Lugdunensis Thlaspi primum Dalechampij by Tabermontanus Thlaspi oleraceuÌ„ because it is almost without taste by Bauhinus Thlaspi arveâ—se perfoliatum majus who quoteth it to be Columna his Thlaspi alterum minus rotundifolium bursae pastoris fractu and yet Columna in his discription thereof maketh no mention of persoliating in the leaves Gerard also hath mistaken this in calling it Thlaspi incanum which belongeth to incanum Mechliniense the eight is called by Clâ—siâ— Thlaspi pumilum and Thlaâ—pi montanum minus but by Bauhinus Thlaspi perfoliatum minus the ninth is called Alyssâ— by Matthiolus and Anguilara Alyssum Matthioli by Lugdunensis and Camerarius by Lobel Thlaspi Graâ— by Lugdunensis Alyssum minus Dalechampij by Tabermontanus Thlaspi minus clypeatum by Beslerus in bâ— Eystetâ—si Polium Alpinum flore luteo Bauhinus maketh two sorts thereof calling them Thlaspi Alexandrinum campestro majus minus and yet saith they are so like that they may be both accounted one sort You see I have referred it rather to the Thlaspi than any other as nearest resembling it and to this ranke of field Thlaspi which is the proper place of the growing the tenth is so called by Cornutus in his history of Canada plants the last is called by Clusius Eruca peregrina and so doth Lugdunensis but Lobel inverteth the name calling it Leucoium marinum Patavinum but Clusius misliking it holdeth still his owne and Bauhinus more enclining to Lobel than him for his loves sake to Padoa as it seemes calleth it Leucoium incanum utriculo rotundo but because both herbe and seede is hot and sharpe and so are not the Leucoia generally I have thought it more fit to joyne it to the Thlaspies The Vertues The most of these sorts of Mustards are hot and drie in the fourth degree or very neare like unto Cresses for they are sharpe and quicke in taste and are heating rarefying attracting and purging It is set downe by some authors to purge the body both upward and downewards and that if any exceede a due proportion it will scoure unto bloud but how truly I know not in that I never heard of any to make triall thereof in that manner it is said to procure womens courses so forcibly that it suffocateth the birth being taken inwardly it breaketh inward apoflums and used in glisters helpeth the Sciatica the seede applied outwardly doth the same It is an especiall ingredient into Mithridatum and Treakle for it is held to be of it selfe an antidote resisting poyson venome and putrefaction besides the acrimony it addeth to the composition It is also availeable in many of those causes that Mustard is used but somewhat weaker CHAP. XIII Thlaspi Vmbellatum Vmbelliferons Treakle-Mustard ANother kind of Treakle-Mustard beare their flowers in tufts and round umbells and not in spikes of some whereof I have spoken in my former booke that is the Thlaspi Candiae Candy tufts both with white and purplish flowers as also a Spanish kinde not set forth by any before 1. Thlaspi Creticum album umbellatum majus Great white Candy Mustard This Candian plant hath divers hard and small stalkes bearing a few long and narrow pointed smooth leaves set on them one above another up to the toppes where the white flowers grow in broad round tufts somewhat larger than in that sort is expressed in my former booke the seede vessels that follow are greater also with a pointell in the middle of them the roote is small and threddy and endureth divers yeares not dying as the other doth 2. Thlaspi umbellatum arvense Iberidis folio Variable flowred Mustard The leaves hereof are somewhat long and narrow cut in or deepely dented about the edges more than those of Candy Mustard the flowers grow in tufts or umbells like thereunto but of mixed colours that is white and purple usually and sometimes wholly white and in others yellowish but much more rare the seede is like the Candie kinde 3. Thlaspi umbellatum Creticum flore albo odorato Sweete Treakle Mustard with a white flower This white Candy Mustard is smaller and groweth lower than the first bushing thicke with smaller and narrower leaves dented onely at the ends the flowers are white but smaller than they and smelling very sweete after which follow such like powches with yellowish seede in them the roote perisheth yearely 4. Thlaspi umbellatum Nasturtij folio Monspelianum Mompeliers umbâ—lleferous Mustard The stalkes of this Mustard are many and greater than in the other before bearing many more jagged leaves on them resembling those of the common garden Cresses the flowers are white in spikie rundles or umbells at the toppes which give smaller seede than the others but as sharpe as any of them The Place Some of these grow about Mompelier and the greater number in Candy and but in gardens with us 1. Thlaspi Creticum album umbellatâ— majus Great white Candy Mustard 2. Thlaspi umbellatum arvense Iberidis folio Variable flowred Mustard 3. Thlaspi umbellatum Creticum flore albo odorato Sweete Treakle-Mustard with a white flower 4. Thlaspi umbellatum Nasturtij folio Meâ—pet Mompeliers umbilliferous Mustard The Time They flower and seede about the same time that the Candy kindes doe expressed in my former booke which is usually not untill Iuly The Names The first Bauhinus calleth Thlaspi Creticum flore albo majus and I thinke it to be the Thlaspi Narbonense Centâ—lifolio of Lobel which as he saith the Italians and Matthiolus accounted an Alyssum the second is taken to be the Thlaspi Allobrogicum of Clusius and the Thlaspidij aliud genus vel tertium Trugi the Thlaspi amarum of Tabaâ— and the Nasturtium sylvestre of Lugdunensis which Bauhinus entituleth Thlaspi umbellatum arvense Iâ—oridâ— folio as I doe the third is the fourth Thlaspi of Clusius called parvum odorato flore which Bauhinus calleth Thlaspi umbellatum Creticum flore albo odore minus the last is called by Lobel Thlaspi alterum minus umbellatum Nâ—stâ—ij hortensis folio Narbonense which Lugdunensis and Tabermontanus doe both remember the one by the name of Thlaspi aliud umbellatum Pona and the other by the name of Thlaspi Narbonense umbellatum The Vertues The vertues of these herbes are to be referred to the former for being almost as sharpe they cannot but worke the like effects yet in a weaker manner and therefore thus much shall be sufficient for them CHAP. XIIII Thlaspi Montanum Mountaine Treakle-Mustard THe next kinde of Treakle-Mustards that are to be spoken of are those that
the heate of the Liver breaketh the stone in the kidneyes and stayeth womens courses the decoction of the leaves worketh the same effects The water that is found in the hollow places of old Okes is very effectuall against any foule or spreading scabbe the Ackornes saith Galen being eaten are hard of digestion breede windinesse cause headache and a kinde of giddinesse to avoid such inconveniences they are boyled or roasted before they be eaten and thereby they become lesse windy and more pleasant yet it is extant by the testimony of Historians and Poets that the elder age before it knâ—w the use of corne and bread thereof lived upon Ackornes and were sustained thereby yea they had the Oke in that honour that they dedicated it to Iupiter especially that kinde called Esculus because that Iupiter himselfe 〈◊〉 thereon and was nourished by them and the use of them is not every where yet utterly extinguished for that as I said before the poore people in Spaine in some places make these Ackornes a part of their feeding and the 〈◊〉 have them served to their Tables for an after course as with us is used with Apples Nuts and such like fruites as the seasons require There is said to be a great Antipathy betweene the Oke and the Olive as also betweene the Oke and the Walnut the 〈◊〉 not to grow neere where the other is planted the cuppes of the sweete Oke or Acorne as Bellonius saith in his Booke of Observations are used in Greece and Asia the lesse and Naâ—ollâ—â— to tanne or thicken their 〈…〉 as our Tanners use to doe with Oken barke and I doe not 〈◊〉 but the cuppes of our Ackornes would doe as much if any would make the tryall He also saith that the Turkes in 〈◊〉 and other places in Turkie use the leaves of Sumach for the same purpose and they of Aegypâ— and Arabia use the cods of Acacia the prickly binding tree they of Phrygia and 〈◊〉 the barke of the Pitch tree and they of Illyria the leaves of the Mirtle tree that beareth blacke berries so that it seemeth many things may worke that effect seeing every Country taketh that which is familiar to it CHAP. II. Excressentia Quercuum The Excressences of these Okes. THere are a great many things that breede upon sundry of these Okes some of one fashion some of another and so in substance likewise soft or hard besides the Oke Apple and the Gall whereof I intend to speake first I have given you the description of the tree in the Chapter last going before this I will but onely shew you here the diversities of the Galles and the good uses they are put unto for medicine or other purposes and I cannot understand that any of the other former kindes doe beare Galles but those that are here set downe by the name of Robur which is the second sort for although divers of them have a shew of Galles which made Pliny to say that all Ackorne bearing trees bring Galles likewise yet they are but spungy balls for the most part and none so good and hard Galles as they The Galles are of two sorts smooth and rugged or knobbed both of them round and hard almost as wood but all a little hollow within Dehis vide Bauhini and when they are dry are either whitish or yellowish but while they are greene and fresh upon the trees they are somewhat soft and tender and reddish towards the Sunne side all of them stand close to the branches and stalkes without order and sometimes one joyning close to another without any stalke under them 1. Galla quodam laevis â—patia viridis 2. Pâ—lulae quercus There is also a blacke Gall as bigge as an apple sometimes full of a Rossin like fatnesse which will flame being set on fire The Oke apple groweth upon sundry sorts of these trees and not on any one alone for although in our Country ours are for the most part round and soft being fresh and full of waterish substance but being dryed do shrinke and are wrinckled yet in other places some are found sticking to the backe of the leaves and containe in them a cleere water and flyes therein and are white and as it were transparent before they be dry and grow hard 3. Aquosa 4. Capillatae 5. Echinatae 6. Lunatae Others are called Capillatae because they are all hairy and containe within them a hony like liquor in the Spring time yet not put to any use One I had out of Virginia with round hard rough or prickly balls on the leaves Others are called Lanatae for that within an hard huske or shell they containe certaine flockes of wooll whichâ— are fit for Lampes but not without oyle or other unctuous matter as Pliny saith it will They that are called Sessiles grow under the joynts at the setting to of the leaves close to them without any stalke 7. Sessiles the navell being white and a little swelling forth and sometimes of sundry colours and sometimes blacke and shining red in the middle being hollow within with a putride vacuity They are called Foliaceae 8. Foliosae or Foliosae that are made as it were of scaly leaves like unto the head of the Knapweed that groweth wild abroad in the fieldes 1. Quercus cum pilula sive suâ—â—goso suo excremento The Oke with the Oke Apples Quercum Excrementa The Okes Excressences Another thing groweth on the branches under the leaves 9. Calix that is like unto the cuppe or huske that containeth the flower of the Pomegarnet or such like 19. Vva quercina The Oke grape A round thing also hath beene found 11. Morum which Theophrastus calleth Sycaminodes and is somewhat like unto a Mulberry differing onely in the colour hardnesse to be broken and the harsh taste Another thing also like to the privy members of a man both the yard and the testicles 12. Genitale virile There is againe another thing found growing thereon like a pricke in the beginning called by him _____ but afterwards growing hard 13. Capâ—t Tauri taketh the forme of a Bulles head with a hole in it and being broken hath like an Olive stone within it Nitar also as Theophrastus saith is made of the ashes of the Oke which Pliny altereth in this manner It is certaine that the ashes of the burnt Oke is like unto Nitar Nitar he saith Cinerem nitrosum and Gaza translateth it after Plâ—ny in the same words 14. Lapides The Acornes of Esculus the sweete Oke and of Cerrus faemina the female bitter Oke have certaine small stones sometimes found in them either at the end of the Acorne or on the shell and sometimes in the nut it selfe The Oke also beareth a Cachrys which Theophrastus in his third Booke and seventh Chapter expoundeth to be a round conception or gathering together of leaves 15. Cachryâ—â— growing betweene the last yeares shoote and the young bud for the next
bending downewards which and the long leaves that come from them on both sides are flat and plaited or braided as it were like a braided lace of a darke yellowish greene colour soft and not hard or pricking abiding greene alwayes smelling without falling away and tasting somewhat strong and resinous not pleasing to many but ready to provoke casting Arbor Vitae The tree of life yet very cordiall and pectorall also to them that can endure it at the ends of the branches come forth small mossie yellowish flowers which turne into small scaly yellowish heads wherein lie small and long brownish seede the wood is firme and hard and of a brownish colour The Place and Time It first was brought from Canada by the French in King Francis the first his time and presented to him and from the encrease thereof is spread sufficiently through all the Countries neere it and flowreth in Aprill and May and the fruite is ripe in August and September The Names This being a new found tree hath no true auncient Greeke or Latine name to call it by for although most that have written of it referre it to the Thuja of Theophrastus lib. 5. c. 5. which he compareth both in branches leaves and fruite unto the Cipresse tree yet Omne simile non est idem and although it hath some likenesse in the leaves yet so it is not in the fruite and I verily beleeve that it is proprium sui genus not to be parallelled or made the same with any other we have as most of the trees and herbes of America are not equall to those that grow in Europe the hether part of Africa and of Asia the lesse as experience sheweth Lugdunensis maketh it to be his Thuyae tertium genus Some would make it a kinde of Cedrus Lycia but that beareth red berries which this doth not Some also have called it Arbor Paradisea but it was presented to the French King by the name of Arbor Vitae but upon what reason or ground I know not but ever since it hath continued that name of the tree of life Clusius and Bauhinus say that some would referre it to the Bruta arbor Plinij but that as he saith hath whitish branches and sweete being burned The Vertues Although we have no forraigne experience to report unto you yet upon tryall of the leaves by some in our owne Land we have found that they that were long time troubled with a purulentous cough and shortnesse of breath have beene much releived and holpen thereof by the use of the leaves taken fasting with some bread and butter as the most familiar way for some few dayes together thereby expectorating the flegme stuffing the lungs and so cleering the passages as they found much good by it and doubtlesse the resinous smell and taste abiding dryed as well as fresh doth evidently declare the tenuity of parts therein and a digesting and clensing quality which if any would put into action they should soone see the effect CHAP. LVIII Tamariscus The Tamariske tree I Have three or foure sorts of Tamariske to bring to your consideration one whereof was never published or made knowne to the world before I gave you a hint thereof in my former Booke which I meane to ranke with the rest here 1. Tamariscus folio latiore The Germane or broader leafed Tamariske The broader leafed Tamariske groweth but low in sundry places over that it doth in other for I have observed it growne in some places where it hath stood very many yeares to be a reasonable great tree whose barke was somewhat thicke and rugged of a darke reddish colour the younger shootes being reddish at the first greene after and blackish when they are dry beset all about with fine long darke greene leaves as it were criâ—ped because they are so small and short that stand Myaica sive Tamariscus specierum Tamariske of three sorts about the longer yet are they greater and broader then the French kinde at the end of the young shootes come forth a long spike of flowers and leaves among them each flower being made of five purplish leaves like threds divers of them standing in a greene huske together in which huskes when the flowers are past grow seede lying among them which together are carryed away with the winde the leaves fall away every Autumne and spring anew in the Spring 2. Tamariscus folijs albidis White Tamariske Of this kinde I have seene another sort very beautifull and rare brought me by Master William Ward the Kings chiefe servant in his Granary from his house at Boram in Essex whose branches were all red while they were young and all the leaves white abiding so all the Summer without changing into any shew of grâ—ene like the other and so abideth constantly yeare after yeare yet shedding the leaves in Winter like the other 3. Tamariscus folio tenniore The French or finer leafed Tamariske This finer leafed Tamariske doth in many places grow but into a small shrubbe also but in others into a great thicke and tall tree with many spreading armes and branches whose leaves are set in the same manner and grow after the same fashion but finer and smaller like unto Heath of a grayish greene colour the flowers are smaller and grow spike fashion like the other being purplish at the first but white when they are blowne open consisting of five leaves apeece which turne into downe with the small seede in them and falleth away as the Willow and Poplar doe but Lobel saith they turne not into downe but the fruite is round like Ollive stones which as he saith being laid in the Sunne have stirred to and fro for three dayes together having a worme within them which was the chiefe cause of the motion and having made a hole in the graine commeth forth which of these is truest seeing both affirme the matter as eye-witnesses of the relation I know not never having seene the tree beare out his fruite or seede with us 4. Tamariscus Aegyptia gallâ—â— ferens The Egiptian Tamariske This tree groweth in Egipt and other places of Syria Arabia and Turkie as Bellonius saith who observed it to be a wondrous great and high tree growing as well in dry ground as in moist whole woods of them growing together in each soile whose kind is of this last described but besides it beareth small hard excressences like unto great Gaules of divers formes some longer some shorter some broad others thicke or slender The Place and Time The first groweth naturally in Germany in divers places and as Cordus saith he observed two sorts one growing neere the River of Rhine with a finer leafe and firmer wood and a little pith and another about the Danubius or Danow with broader leaves and not so firme wood The second is declared in the description The third groweth not onely in Narbone and about Mompelier but in Spaine in divers places as Clusius setteth it downe the last in Arabia Egypt and the
Indian Molle somewhat like it The Place and Time The first groweth as well in Provence of France as in divers places of Italy and in Candy also and in many places of Graecia but yeeldeth little gumme there but especially in the Isle of Chio now called Sio they tend pruine and manure it with as great paines and care as others doe their Vines which goeth beyond them in the profit of the gumme It flowreth iâ— Aprill and the berryes ripen in September and not at severall times as these Verses of Aratus would intimate Jam vero semper viridis semperque gravata Lentiscus triplici solita est grandescere faetu Ter fruges fundens triatempora monstrat arandi As it is there set downe The second was brought from America and grew as Bauhinus relateth it in Cardinall Columna his Garden at Rome where it grew great which also as it is likely was the same that Clusius saith Everardus Verstius saw there and as he saith likewise Doctor Tovar of Sivil in Spaine sent him such like branches with the unripe fruite in clusters to see but as he saith called Molle by Tovar Lobel also exhibiteth a branch hereof with the next that is dented at the beginning of his tractate de Balsamo Clusius himselfe also having gained a branch hereof from some place not specifyed setteth it downe as taken from a tree growne old The last is mentioned likewise by Clusius in his Annotations upon Monardus to grow as all the Chronicles or Writers of the West Indians say in all the Vallies and Champion grounds of Peru and especially Cieza Petrus de Osma also in his Letter to Monardus saith it grew at Lima in Peru. The Names The Masticke tree is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is Iuncus odoratus quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fissilis quod facile frequenter in dentiscalpia findatur and the berries 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as some coppies have it in Latine Lentiscus a foliorum lentore fortasse by which name all Authours call it and the gumme Resina Lentiscina and Mastiche and Mastix by some by the Arabians Gluten Romanum Dioscorides maketh mention of a greene gumme as well as a white and Galen of a blacke sort that was of Egypt both which are not knowne in these dayes in Candy and some other places their trees yeeld a yellowish bitter Masticke but no where so good and so plentifull in all the world as in the Isle of Sio in the Egean Sea there is another sort of Masticke which is called Acanthice or Spinalis as Gaza translateth it because it is gathered from a prickly thistle as I have shewed among the Thistles in the Chapter of Chamaeleon and Carlina In former times our Apothecaries shops were furnished with no other Xylobalsamum then the sprigs of Lentiscus I would the errour might not be continued The second is called Molle by Tovar as I said before and by Clusius in his Curae posteriores but by Bauhinus Lentiscus Pervaâ—â— and following Clusius saith that it beareth the leaves according to the growth being dented while it is young and without dents growing older which how dissonant me thincks this is to reason in this plant let others judge upon my judgement the forme of the growing the one from the other for the one that is dented hath an end leafe bigger and longer then all the rest which sheweth I am perswaded a manifest difference in specie from this that is not dented for I cannot be perswaded that any plant should so much differ in forme from it selfe in the time of age and youth The last is also as I shewed called Molle by the Indian Writers whose sent is like Fennell when as the other is not so and is for the likenesse referred to the Lentiscus Pervana by Bauhinus in his Matthiolus c. following Clusius therein to be both one by Lobel joyned with the former and the Balsamum verum making it to agree with the properties therof in many things Baptista Ferrarius also in his Flora mentioneth it by the name of Tereanithus angustifolia pag. 372. citing the third Book and 15. Chapter of that great Book of the West Indian plants beasts c. begun to be Printed more then twenty yeares ago at Rome whose title is Thesaurus rerum medicarum novae Hispanae c. The Arabians call the Lentiske tree Daru the Italians Lentisco the Spaniards Mata and Arveria the French Lentisque and those of Narbone Restiucle the Germanes Masticbaum the Dutch Mastickboom and we in English the Lentiske or Masticke tree The Vertues The Lentiske tree is binding in the second degree or in the beginning of the third and temperately hot all the parts thereof are binding that is both roote and branch both barke and leafe both fruite and gumme and doe binde and stop all fluxes and spittings or castings of blood and is good to strengthen a weake stomacke and helpe the falling downe of the mother or fundament the decoction fomented healeth up hollow sores and sodereth broken bones fasteneth loose teeth and stayeth creeping sores and doth as much as Acacia or Hypocistis and even the juyce of the leaves is as good a substitute for Acacia as any other the oyle that is pressed out of the berries helpeth the itch the leprosie and scabbes both in men and beasts the gumme Masticke doth binde and stay fluxes in like manner taken any way in pouther or if three or foure graines be swallowed whole at night when you goe to bed it not onely easeth all paines in the stomacke but keepeth it from the like afterwards the pouther of Masticke with Amber and Turpinte is good against the running of the reines and for both whites and reds in women the pouther thereof mixed with Conserve of red Roses helpeth to stay the destillations of thinne rheume on the lungs causing a continuall cough and spitting of blood and if some white Francumsense in pouther be mixed with it also it worketh the more effectually the same also comforteth the braine procureth an appetite to meate in moist fluxible stomackes stayeth castings and maketh a sweete breath the same being heated in Wine and the mouth gummes and teeth washed therewith clenseth and fasteneth the corruption and loosenesse both of gummes and teeth it is also much used in salves and plaisters to mundifie and heale ulcers and sores to stay the fretting fluxes of humours to them to dry them up and to fill up the hollownesse it strengthneth and bindeth also the parts whereunto it is applyed and comforteth the aking joynts and sinews wonderfully The oyle that is made of Masticke by infusion and ebullition secundum artem Pharmaceuticam is singular good in all the aforesaid diseases moderately comforting mollifying and binding and is effectuall against all the aforesaid diseases of the mother against all paines in the belly colon the chollick and the stomacke the
of the stalke or by a naturall antipathy unto the Sunne not to abide the shining face thereof for some of the flowers doe abide on these branches that are most shadowed from the Sunne the following fruite they give is flat somewhat like a Lupine with a thicke skinne it must be but small store for what quantitie of fruite can this tree beare if all or the most of the flowers doe fall away yet heart fashion and of a greenish ash colour with a division in the middle in each part whereof is contained small flat beanes or kernells like unto those of the sweet beane or Carob tree heart fashion likewise and covered with a greenish skinne or peeling the inner kernell being white and somewhat bitter This tree hath been much desired to be transplanted into our Christian world but as some have sayd it would not abide notwithstanding all the care of earthen and woodden vessells wherein it was planted to be brought into Spaine or Portugall neither ever would the seede spring as it is affirmed but I have lately understood by a catalogue of the Plants growing in the garden of Signor Corvino of Rome that it groweth there being one of the plants named therein It plentifully groweth in Malabar and brought thence to Goa and sundry other places of the Indies where every branch being put into the ground will take roote and grow It is called in Malabar Mogli in Malayo Singadi in Decan Pul of the Arabians Guart of the Persians and Turkes Gul but at Goa and Canarin Parizataco from a certaine Nobleman so called as the Natives thinke and therein very neare intimating one of Ovids fabulous metamorphosis whose faire daughter the Sun having espyed fell in love withall and having deflowred her forsaken for another she slew her selfe from whose ashes of her burnt carkisse rose up this tree which is ever since ashamed to behold the face of the Sunne In many places of the Indies they distill the flowers for their sweet sent sake and keepe it for use which in Malabar they call the water of Mogli after the trees name the said water is good for sore eyes to coole their heate and rednesse if linnen cloathes being dipped therein be layd upon them the Indian Phisitions doe hold opinion that both flowers and fruite doe comfort the heart and refresh the fainting spirits thereof for they have some bitternesse in them it hath not beene observed that the Indians apply this tree to any other use then is formerly expressed and the colouring of their meates like as Saffron is used for the same purpose in Spaine and other countries CHAP. CXIX Arborfolijs ambulantibus Walking leaves NEare unto the I le of Cimbubon and in the I le it selfe there groweth a tree bearing leaves like unto those of the Mulberry tree having two small short and prickly feete as it were set on eyther side of them which falling to the ground doe seeme as it were to creepe as if it were some living creature and being touched by any will presently move it selfe Master Anthony Pigafetta saith that he kept one of these leaves in a continuall motion in a platter for eight dayes the motion whereof is likely to come by the ayre and then it ceased CHAP. CXX Arbor aquam fundeus The fountaine tree of water IN one of the Ilands of the Canaries called Ferro there groweth a reasonable great but faire spread tree bearing leaves like unto Wallnut tree leaves but larger abiding thereon and ever greene it beareth fruite like unto an Ackorne hanging downe from the branches which hath a kernell within of a very pleasant taste and almost like spice In some parts of the world besides are found the like tree the leaves whereof and branches doe perpetually droppe water Arbor aquam fundeus The fountaine tree of water in the whole Iland there being no other water to be had a thicke mist as it were or cloud encompawng it continually except when the Sunne shineth bright thereon which water being kept as it were in a fountaine made for the purpose to retaine it serveth the whole Iland for their use Our Countrey man Master Lewis Iackson dwelling in Holburne told Master Purchas as he hath set it downe in his seventh booke of Pilgrimages Fol. 1639 that in the yeare 1618. he had beene in the said Iland Ferro and had seene that tree and saith it is as bigge as an Oake of a middle size the barke white like Hardbeame six or seven yards high with ragged boughes the leafe like that of of the Bay white underneath and green above it beareth neither fruit nor flower thus saith he but it hath some other different relations which who so would see let them reade the place before recited the Ilanders call this tree Garoe the Spaniards Arbor Sancta but the ancient Historians call it Til. It is thought that Solinus and Pliny in his lib. 6. c. 32. meant this Iland under the name of Ombriom and Pluvialis for hee there saith that in the Iland Ombrion grow trees like unto Ferula from whence water is wronge out from the blacke ones commeth bitter water water and from the white that which is sweete and pleasant to drinke I might here insert the Barnacle tree but that it is found to be a fable Arâ—â—r tifer The Barnade tree of the Goose and that the Geese hatch their young as other Birds and fowles doe and therefore I forbeare to speake of it CHAP. CXXI Quercus natalitijs Divirens The Christtide greene Oake IN the new Forrest in Hampshiere neare a place called the Castle of Malwood groweth an old great doating Oake which by the relation of the neare Villagers is alwayes observed to shoot forth fresh but small greene leaves every yeare a little before Christide which abide not long thereon after that time but fall away others springing out in the due time that other Oakes doe bearing both leaves and fruit as usually other Oakes doe in their season King Iames in his time understanding of this tree went and saw it and caused it to be paled about and benches made thereat both for people to sit and contemplate the wondrous workes of God therein and to keepe unruly persons from breaking and spoyling it but nitimur invetitum semper the more it was intended to be preserved the more wilfull people were bent to breake and spoyle it being the more famoused by that provision and breake downe the pales and carry them away I have had both leaves and Ackornes brought me from this tree taken by Master John Goodier each in their season CHAP. CXXII Arbor Venereos stimulos domans The Chaste making tree PEtruâ— de Osina in his letter to Monardus maketh mention of a certaine tree growing there in the West Indies whose â—mber was of a spongie substance whereof the Indians would never take a sticke to burne neither by any meanes although they were treatned to death could be brought to burne it or abide
where it was burned for they said that whosoever came neare the fire or flame thereof or whomever the smoake onely touched was made utterly impotent and unabled to any venereous acts CHAP. CXXIII Arbor Farinifera The Bread tree SOme that accompanied Sir Francis Drake in compassing the whole world did relate that in the Iland of Ternate which is neare the Equinoctiall line towards the North pole groweth a strange kinde of tree about ten foot high whose toppe is formed like unto a Cabbidge in the middle whereof is found a fine white meale which the poore Ilanders gather and by putting a little water thereto and letting it ferment they make past or dough whereof they make thinne flat square Cakes and bake them in certain long earthen pans with fire put round about them which they eate while they are hot for when they are growne older and hard they steepe them in warme water and bring them to a kinde of pultage and so eate them but this Cake or bread is in a manner without taste or rellish but when some Pepper or Cinamon with Sugar is put thereto it is a pleasant food to many but Marcia Poâ—us Venetus recordeth a more strange bread tree growing in the kingdome of Fanfur Arbor vâ—sta saâ—iâ—fera whose trunke two men could scarse fadome the barke whereof being thicke and taken away the wood thereof about three inches thicke in compasse is as hard as Iron being so heavy thaâ— it sinketh instantly in water whereof the natives make them short pikes or speares sharpening and burning them at the end so that they will be able to pearce Armour but the whole middle of this tree is soft like unto a meale which putting in water and stirring it to take away all the drosse that swimmeth above they mould up the residence into cakes and divers other sorts of viands fit to be eaten and whereof as hee saith he brought some with him to Venice CHAP. CXXIIII Arbor sive Palma saccifera The Bagge bearing Nut tree CErtaine Dutch Marriners having by a casualtie lost their shippe wherein they with others were sayling to the West Indies in their returne home in their shippe boate lighted on a desart Iland called Coronopez wherein they found whole woods full of these kindes of strange trees and others growing among them whose fruits being round Nuts as bigge as Wallnuts with their greene outer shell and within them other smaller Nuts so round as a ball and with so hard a shell yet not very thicke that they could hardly be broken with an Iron hammer and a white hollow kernell in the middle tasting like Pease at the first but a little bitter afterwards Arbor sive palma saccifera The bagge bearing Nut tree like a Lupine were inclosed in a long sheathe or hollow hose resembling an Hipocras or Syrupe bagge some being twenty two inches long others two foot and a halfe long yet all being very small at the end and growing larger up to the toppe where they were about seven inches wide and composed of a number of brownish threds or haires dispersed all over the case some running at the length and some crossewise by a wonderfull worke of nature CHAP. CXXV Arbor metrosideros The Iron hearted tree SCaliger maketh mention of a certaine small tree is reported to grow in the I le of Iava major whose heart or core is as impenitrable as Iron from the bottome to the toppe and the fruit which it beareth is likewise as hard but the report saith he is of so little credit and so neare a falsitie as I am from beleeving it yet Nicholaus Costinus in his Iournall doth report the same thing CHAP. CXXVI Arbor Gehuph The Splene tree of Sumatra IN the I le of Sumatra anciently called Trapobana Arbor Gehuph The Splene tree of Sumatra or Taprobana as Thevet relateth it groweth a tree not very great called there Gehuph and in the Indies Cobbam whose leaves are many smal ones set on a rib together somewhat like unto the Cassia solutiva or purging Cassia leaves set on short branches covered with a yellowish barke the fruit is somewhat thicke and as round as a ball where under is contained a Nut as big as an hasel Nut with a very bitter kernel within it yet tasting like an Angellica roote they use the fruit to quench thirst but the bitter kernell is the most effectuall in the diseases of the Liver and Spleene wherewith they are much afflicted and therefore draw an oyle out of the kernells of the Nuts which they take for eight dayes together in which time the disease is much abated and quickly after cured those that cannot by reason of the bitternesse take it so willingly as women and children it is appointed unto them to be annointed with the oyle on the belly back bone and sides which worketh the cure alike the said oyle is in much use with them also and of great account for the singular helpe and remedy it giveth to all joynt aches gouts and the like the gum likewise of this tree being dissolved with a little oyle and spread plasterwise is applyed to the grieved places with good effect The inhabitants doe plant this tree neare their Houses in their Orchards and Gardens for to have the benefit thereof nigh at hand CHAP. CXXVII Beretinus fructus The Beretine Ackorne CLusius in his second booke of Exoticks and seventeenth Chapter maketh mention that he obtained some of these fruites from those that accompanied Sir Francis Drake in his Circumnavigation of the world returning in the yeare 1580. by the meanes of some of his friends here as Beretium fructus The Beretine Acorne Master Garth and Master Morgan which were affirmed to be gathered in some Islands whereinto they put both for fruit and victuall standing in neede of both from very great and tall trees bigger then Oakes whose leaves were like unto Bay leaves not dented at all about the edges but thicke and shining the fruit were like the Ackornes of the Ilex or evergreene Oake but without any cup for as hee saith he enquired thereof of some of them whose outer rinde was thinne and of an ash colour and some blackish the inner kernell being somewhat long and white without any manifest taste within but covered with a thinne skinne which they found good to be eaten without any harme following and therefore in their want being taught by the Ilanders they boyled them like Pulse or Pease and so eate them or beate them to pouther and boiled them like Rice or Wheat untill it became a pultage and so eate them for hunger yet afterwards they found the like trees and fruit to grow in the Islands of the Moluccas as they affirmed But with what other propertie they were indued neyther they nor any other hath manifested to any that I know CHAP. CXXVIII Vhebebasou The Indian Hony tree THevet maketh mention of this tree among his other American singularities to be very tall spreading the branches so uniformely
likely having received of the same seeds from Paludanus sowed some seed that was eight yeares old sent him by the name of Acacalis and called in the Syriack tongue Kisnisen and Sisime from whence rose a tender plant somewhat like unto the Carob tree upon the first springing of it having gained that yeare onely foure round leaves set by couples each opposite to other on the middle rib whose stalke was somewhat hairy This perished also at the beginning of Autumne so that no more can be said thereof but that the seed was somewhat broad and round at the one end and pointed at the other But although this bore the name of Acacalis yet did it not answer to Dioscorides Text and pointed at the other But although this bore the name of Acacalis yet did it not answer to Dioscorides Text or Aegineta that transcribed it from him that saith it is the fruite of an Egiptian plant that is somewhat like unto Tamariske Cordus commenting on Dioscorides saith it was not knowne in his time unlesse some would referre it to the Elmblick or Bellirick Myrobolanes which is as farre from truth as an Oake from an Apple Bellonius also remembreth it but giveth no description of it So that neither being perfectly described by Dioscorides nor certainely knowne of our Modernes I can say no more thereof 2. Myrobolani Chebuli ut fartur Icon vera A true figure of the purple Myrobalane or purging Indian Plumme Veslingius in his survay of Alpinus his Egiptian 2. Myrobolani Chebuli ut fartur Icon vera A branch of the true Chebull Myrobolane or purple purging Indian Plume as it is thought to be referred to p. 246. plants saith that he often saw in the Orchard of a certaine chiefe Turke a tree growing which the keeper therof called Dileg el chabul growing to be as bigge as a Plume tree with a smooth pale coloured barke the wood being whitish and somewhat sweet the branches spread fairely and thicke bending easily and hardly breaking armed with sharpe long thornes the leaves are set by couples together on a short footestalke being somewhat long with the roundnesse and a little round pointed nothing like unto Peach leaves as is formerly set downe the lower ones being larger then those upward on the same branch and without any dent on the edge The fruite is of a reasonable greatnesse bigge in the middle and small at both ends and of a darke or blackish red colour and somewhat sapide They use to preserve them and so impart them to those of the greatest ranke and have a purging quality in them 8 Rubia sylvestris argentea Cretica Silver-like wilde Madder of Candy This small Candy white Madder from a small long slender roote shooteth forth divers stalkes not halfe a foote long with sundry small long soft and silver coloured leaves set by spaces some times but two other whiles foure at a space and with them upwards to the toppe small yellowish flowers it is without any other taste then a little astringent and is said to be profitable for fluxes in man or woman 8. Rubra sylvestris argentea Cretica Silver like wild Madder of Candy p 277. Capnos fabacca radice Bconkens Holaâ—ortel or small round roored Fumiterry p. 288. Page 380 Line the sixteenth put out Panaces Carpimon sive racemosum Canadense but why Panax being no wound herbe I see no cause unlesse it be for want of a better name put out as I said all this because it pertaineth to another place Page 380. Line the sixteenth put out those three last lines in the Names and instead of them put Aconitum baccis nibeiâ— rubris but I thinke I have more truely referred it to the Christophoriana In the Vertues likewise put out the Panaces Carpinon and all that followeth and in the place thereof set these lines Coruntus saith they gave it the name of Aconitum rather from the likenesse unto an Aconite then from any deliteriall quality they knew to be in it and supposeth that the white berries should rather portend good then harme Page 387. Lines part of the 18 19 and part of the 20. are to be strucke out not being intended for that place as may plainely be discerned by the relation And in the stead thereof read these lines The fourth is called by Clusius Apocynum Syriacum Falaestitrum forte Aegyptium because he referreth it to the Beidelsar of Alpinus in his Booke of Egiptian plants and to the Ossar frutex of Honorius Bellus in his third Epistle to him saying withall that Doctor Christopher Weixius gave him the dryed branch which he set forth and that as he told him he gathered it neere the River Iordan in Palâ—stina where it grew and the people there called it Beidsar this is Clusius his relation and judgement thereof I have said somewhat hereof in my former Booke page 444. But I would to explaine it the better adde somewhat more thereunto First that it is not probable to me that this plant which Clusius setteth forth and is without all question the very same that rose with me from the seed was brought out of New England upon the first discovery thereof both stalkes leaves and flowers agreeing so exactly thereunto and both forme and colour of the flowers answering it in every point onely the pods white seed answereth not unto this which I doubt therefore is but mistaken should be found naturall to those parts seeing as I said it is naturall to Virginia or New England and especially that the name Beidsar should be given to it which is most probable belongeth to that of Alpinus and Bellus which is quite a differing plant from this as I shewed in my former Booke both from the growing hereof which dyeth downe every yeare and from the milke it giveth which is not causticke like the Ossar and in the rootes which are running under ground which the other doth not And thirdly they say that the Ossar or Beidelsar beareth yellow flowers and not expressed to grow in clusters as this doth and Lastly that the pods of this Apocynum are crooked according to the forme expressed in the figure when as those of Ossar are round like Testicles and those that Clusius setteth forth are not crooked like unto these Bauhinus in following Clusius sheweth that he never saw the plant and therefore taketh it for graunted whatsoever he said or Weixius informed him when as by this that I have here delivered it is probable Weixius was mistaken and that hath caused all these errours as also that of Bauhinus that would make it a kinde of Docke calling it Lapathum Aegyptiacum lactescens siliqua Asclepiadis which hath so little correspondence with reason and judgement that I wonder that so famous an Herbarist as Bauhinus was should relye upon anothers foolish opinion in the denomination thereof and so divulge it to the world whereof I have formerly said something The fifth is remembred by Cornutus among his Canada plants Ranunculus sylvarum sive Anemone