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
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
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
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
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
Casia Poetica Monspeliensium Clusius calleth it Casia quorundum and saith that Placa a Phisition and professor in Valentia called it Polygonum Plinij and so doth Dalechampius upon Pliny call it Polygonum 4. Plinij Lugdunensis calleth it Casia lignea maritima Caesalpinus Casia lignea and Genista rubra because the stalkes and the leaves will sometimes grow red towards the end of Summer and Bauhinus Osyris frutescens baccifera numbring it among the Linarias because of the leaves and that he would make it to be the Osyris of Pliny lib. 27. cap. 12. as they of Mompelier at the first did which hee there saith hath small gentle or pliant branches with blacke leaves thereon like Lin and a seede blacke at the first and becomming red afterward and citing Galen in his eigh Booke of Simples that saith of Osyris is made 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for women which some interpret Smegmata but Pliny saith Scopas alij 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but in my mind Pliny hath not truely related the words of Dioscorides and Galen who both say that the leaves of Osyris are first black and then red which he inverteth to the berries which make a great alteration of sense and Bauhinus to make this pliant his Osyris taketh him thus corrupted which yet is not found that the berries should be blacke before they be red The Vertues We have little recorded of any especiall cure this hath performed or that it is applied to those that are sicke of any disease for although all doe agree that it is of a drying glutinous and astringent taste and might no doubt be effectuall for laskes and fluxes of bloud and humours in men and women and to performe whatsoever the astringent and drying propertie might as in Polygonum promise to performe yet there is nothing determined and therefore I dare not play the Phisition to invent new receipts for the cure of old diseases it is sufficient to declare the temperature and what others have used or approinted when I have no new thing to shew CHAP. XIX 1. Asperula repens Gesneri sive Saxifraga altera Caesalpini Breakestone Woodroofe THis small plant which is accounted a kinde of Saxifrage in some places of Italy resembling in the outward face and forme Rubia minor Asperula Gallium and such other like herbes doth cause me to joyne it with them as being a congener of one tribe and family how therefore to know this plant is in this manner It spreadeth upon the ground for the most part and yet in some places standeth more upright divers small tender stalkes separated into other smaller branches of about a foote high full of joynts at which come forth three foure or more sometimes small and narrow smooth leaves the flowers stand at the toppes of the branches many set together 3. Iuncaria Saâ—maticeusis Small stone Woodroofe of Spaine in a tuft which are long small and reddish and after they are past groweth rough crooked seede which is small and blackish the roote is small and threddie and brownish on the outside 2. Rubia Cynanchica saxatilis Stone Woodroofe This other small Woodroofe is very like unto the former but that it is smaller and lower not past an hand breadth high and the leaves much smaller the flowers also of a pale red colour many tufting together and every one standing upon a short foote stalke the seedes and rootes are like the other 3. Iuncaria Salmaticensis Small stone Woodroofe of Spaine This small plant is likewise very like unto the first growing more upright with square rough rushlike branches spreading forth into many small sprayes almost like unto an Horsetaile grasse full of joints with two leaves and sometimes with more at a joint somewhat long narrow like unto Line or Flaxe but rough at the toppes of the branches come forth many small white flowers set in spikes and foure or five standing upon a short foote stalke together which stand in rough huskes wherein commeth the seede which is blacke and small the roote is white and threddy like the other The Place The first groweth in shady Woods in many places of Italy and Germany the second about Valentia in Daulphine in France the last about Salamanca in Spaine as Clusius saith but I found it on the right hand of Bradford bridge at the lower end of Grayes Iuâ— Lâ— by London neare the water course that passeth along thereby The Time They doe all flower and seede in the end of Sommer The Names The first is called by Gesner in libello de collectione stirpium Asperula herha repens and is the second Saxifrage of Caesalpinus Bauhinus referreth it to the Syâ—chyca of Ludgunensis and to the Gallium montanum latifolium cruciatum of Columna and calleth it himselfe Rubia Cynanchica the second he setteth forth in his Prodromus under the title I have here expressed it the last is called by Clusius Inucaria Salmaâ—icensis and Synanchicae species of Lugdunensis by Tabermontâ— Inucaria but by Bauhinus Rubia linifolia aspera The Vertues The Italians as I said in divers places of their countrie doe use the first kinde to helpe those that are troubled with the stone or gravell in their kidneyes by provoking urine which washing or puffing by the uritories carrieth with it small gravell and fretting the stone into gravell sendeth it forth with the urine it conferreth likewise much helpe to those that are troubled with the Quinsie which is an inflammation of the kernells of the throat which by the extreme paine thereof is ready to stoppe the breath and doth sometimes suddenly happen so indeede it is a disease that Dogges and Wolves are much subject into for it is derived from the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 laqueus in that we usually hang up such Dogges that are troubled therewith or else that the disease is as a gibbet to hang them or from the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod spiritum continendo respirationem inhibeat Of the other two sorts there is not any that hath mentioned any use they are put to in Physicke or otherwise CHAP. XX. Asparagus Asperagus or Sperage I Have in my former Booke set forth those sorts of garden Sperage or Asparagus whose young buds are most usually eaten with us as a sallet herbe of great esteeme whereof I shall not neede to make any repetition but proceede and shew you the rest of that kinde whereof there are three or foure sorts more 2. Asparagus marinus crassiore folio Sea or wild Asparagus with thicker leaves This kinde of sea or wild Asparagus riseth up with many but shorter stalkes then the garden kindes doe stronger also and thicker branching forth in the same manner and having such like winged leaves but shorter thicker harder and of a blewish greene colour the blossomes are like the other and so are the berries or seede that follow but greater than they and not of so fresh a red colour the roote spreadeth in the ground 3. Asparagus sylvestris folijs
acutis Wilde Asparagus with sharpe leaves This Asparagus with sharpe leaves riseth up from a head of rootes whose strings are thicker and shorter than any of the former kindes with three or foure stalkes which are shorter stronger and whither then the other diversly spread and branched into many wings whereon are set at severall distances many small short hard and sharpe pointed leaves five or sixe standing at a joint together at these joints likewise with the leaves come forth the flowers many set upon a long stalke which are yellow consisting of sixe leaves apeece smelling as sweete as a March Violet after which come small berries greene at the first and of a blackish ash colour when they are ripe wherein is contained a hard blacke seede 4. Asparagus petraeus sive Corruda aâ—uleata Prickly rocke Asparagus This kinde of thorny Asparagus that groweth in stony and rockie places hath very thicke and short rootes or strings many jointed together at the head from whence rise sundry branched greene stalkes having three or foure sharpe greene thornes more likely than leaves they are so hard small long and sharpe pointed set together all along the stalkes and branches whereat come forth small mossie yellowish greene flowers and after them store of berries greater than in the former and of a blackish greene colour when they are ripe full of a greenish pulpe wherein lieth usually but one blacke hard seede or at the most two having a white kernell within it 2. 3. Asparagus marinus crassis folijs acutis Asparagus with thicke and with prickly leaves 4 Asparagus petraeus sive corruda aculeata Prickly rocke Asparagus 5. Asparagus spinosus sive Corruda spinis horrida Asparagus with cruell sharpe thornes This thorny Asparagus shooteth out from such a short thicke stringy roote as the last but yellowish on the outside two or three white crooked or bended stalkes 5. Asparagus spinosus sive Corruda spinis horrida Asparagus with cruell sharpe thornes branched forth on every side and at every joynt there where the branches are bending and divided and whereof the leaves are set also standeth a most cruell sharpe thorne growing downeward and together with the thorne upon the younger branches stand five or sixe small long narrow and soft leaves clustering together which are of a sweetish clammie or gummie taste at the joints likewise with the leaves come forth the flowers of a yellowish greene colour each of them standing upon a long and slender foote stalke hanging downeward after which come in their places large roundish berries red when they are ripe seeming to be three square full of a tough or clammie juyce containing with it one blacke graine or seede and seldome two The Place This first kinde by transplanting is thought to become the garden kinde and groweth in many low medowes that are nere the sea as also in many other places further of the coasts as I doe heare for it is thought that it is this kinde that groweth in the Marshes of Tidnam neare Chipstoll and in Apleton medow in Glostershire which is about two miles from Bristow from whence the poore people doe gather the buddes or young shootes and sell them in the markets of Bristow much cheaper then our garden kinde is sold at London the second groweth in stony and rockie places neare unto Salamanca in Spaine and not onely under the hedges but in the very fields also in Castile and Gaenado and about Narbone and Mompelier in France and in Candy also the third groweth both by hedges side and in many stony and ragged places both in Spaine and Portugall and in Candy also as Bellonius saith the last groweth also in rough uneven places very plentifull about Lishborne in the common wayes and by the river Tagus and in many other places both in Spaine and Portugall and in Candy likewise but it will hardly endure our cold climate The Time They doe for the most part all flower and beare their berries late in the yeare and scarse at all with us although they be housed in Winter The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Asparagus and Aspharagus Varro saith quia ex asperis virgultis ligetur Pompeius Grammaticus quod in aspera virgulta nascitur but as Galen saith the first budding of any herbe that was used to be eaten after it was sprung from the seede was called A sparagus as in Cabbage Lettice and the like buddes or shootes of herbes but in speciall and as most deserving this hath kept the name peculiar to it selfe It is called also in Latine Corruda quod ubi adolevit facile corruat decidatque Pliny saith the Athenians called it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Horminion 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod est ruo say some but others thinke it to be derived 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 nam decoctum semen Veneris causa bibitur the Arabians call it Halion or Helion the Italians Asparago the Spaniards Asparagos the French Asparge the Germans Spargen the Dutch Corallcraut in English Sperage or Asparagus the first sort is to be understood of that kind which is set forth in my former Book the second is called by Matthiolus Anguilara and Tabermontanus Asparagus palustris by Lobel and Pena in their Adversaria Asparagus maritimus Dioscoridis by Clusius and Camerarius Asparagus marinus and by Bauhinus Asparagus maritimus crassiore folio the third is generally thought to be the Asparagus petraeus of Dioscorides and Galen which he saith is also called Myacanthus in his sixth Booke of Simples or simple medicines and of Pliny Corruda or sylvestris Asparagus Theophrastus in his sixth Booke and first Chapter saith that Asparagus without giving it any another Epithite which it must be understood of this kinde and Scorpio are nothing but thornes for they have no leaves Matthiolus and Tabermontanus call it Asparagus petraeus and Corruda Gesner Dodonaeus Camerarius and others call it Asparagus sylvestris Clusius Corruda prior Cordus Lobel Lugdunensis and others Corruda and Bauhinus as I doe Asparagus folijs acutis the fourth is called by Clusius Corruda altera by Lobel Corruda Hispanica and so doe Lugdunensis and Tabermontanus by Dodonaeus Asparagus sylvestris and by Bauhinus Asparagus aculeatus alter tribus an t quatuor spinis ad eundem exortum the last is called by Clusius Corrudatertia Bellonius in his first Book of Observations and 18. Chapter saith that they of Creete called it Polytricha by Dodonaeus Asparagus sylvestris tertius Lobel and Lugdunensis call it as Clusius doth Corruda tertia and Bauhinus aculeatus spinis horridus The Vertues The young buds or shootes or branches of any of these sorts of Asparagus boyled are more powerfull in Physicke to helpe diseased persons then the Garden kinde the buddes or branches boyled in ones ordinary broth helpeth to open the belly and to make it soluble and either they or the rootes boyled in wine provoke urine being stopped and is good also
Marjerome but somewhat lesser and with a thicker ribbe on the backe of every leafe two together as it usuall in the rest the flowers are small and white composed of five round pointed leaves with a darke purplish spot at the bottome of every leafe with divers yellow threds in the middle the seede hereof is grayish that followeth in small three square heads 4. Cistus faeminae Lavendula folio Lavender leafed Cistus The chiefest difference in this Cistus from the last is in the leaves being small and long like unto Lavender yeâ— so like that as Clusius saith he verily thought them plants to be Lavender that he first saw and so neglected them untill seeing the flowers upon them which were wholly white without any spot in them he plainely then saw that it was a kind of Cistus 5. Cistus faemina folio Thymi Time leafed Cistus The stalkes of this Cistus are brownish and wooddy rising a foote high for the most part without any leaves Cistus famina vulgaris The ordinary female Cistus 1. Cistus faemina Halimi folio major The greater Sea Purslane leafed female Cistus 2. Cistus Halimi folio minor The lesser Sea Purslane leafed female Cistus Cistus annuus flore gultato Spotted annuall Cistus 6. Cisto similis frutex exoticus The Cistus like strange shrubbe 7. Cistus annuus folio Salicis Willow leafed annuall Cistus upon them but toward the toppes there stand many small greene leaves at a joynt very like unto those of Time the flowers are smaller then in the other and wholly white like unto the rest 6. Cisto similis frutex exoticus The Cistus like strange shrubbe I must needes joyne this shrubbe unto the rest seeing Lobel who first set it out did so account it and all others that have mentioned it since him doe referre it thereto although 8. Cistus annuus folio Ledi Ledum leafed annuall Cistus it have small likenesse but in the leaves unto any of them for as I have sayd before and the rule is most certaine the flowers and seede of any plant doe best demonstrate under what genus any species is to be referred which in this is farthest remote having round woolly heads and I thinke none of us ever saw the plant but as Lobel saith it hath wooddy branches like unto a Cistus with rugged long leaves thereon like unto those of Sage or Mints and round woolly heads at the toppes like unto Plane tree heads 7. Cistus annuus folio salicis Willow leafed annuall Cistus The Willow leafed Cistus of a yeare for I have given another of this sort in my former booke whose figure I here give you hath divers small hairy leaves lying upon the ground somewhat like in forme to Ollive or Willow leaves but much smaller among which rise up hairy stalkes about a foote and a halfe high set with two leaves at a joynt much smaller then those below at the toppes whereof grow many small pale yellow flowers and sometime more white one above another without any spots on the leaves as in that other is set forth already which do scarse abide a day but suddenly fall the seede vessell that are skinny and three square containing small seede appeare quickly after 8. Cistus annuus folio Ledi Ledum leafed annuall Cistus This other Cistus riseth higher with greater stemmes but not lesse hairy then the other having two or three leaves set at the severall joynts longer and narrower then the last and smaller pointed somewhat rough and of a deeper greene colour the flowers fade as quickly and grow singly towards the toppes with the leaves as large as the last and of a faire pale yellow colour with heads and seede succeeding in the like manner and yearely perishing also yet it hath sometimes abidden a Winter in my Garden when it hath not flowred with me in the Summer before The Place Some of these grow in Spaine and some upon the cold Alpes and Mountaines in Germany The Time They flower some in Aprill and May or sooner in their naturall places but not untill Iune with us or in Iuly The Names Their names are sufficiently expressed in their titles as they are used to be called of those that have written of them onely I would give you to know thus much that the Spaniards as Clusius and Lugdunensis from Mâ— doe say doe call the annuall Cistus as well that which hath spots â—s that which hath none on the flowers by the name of Turmera from Turmas which signifieth Tubera those Spanish or outâ—dish puffes that are edible or fit to be eaten because where that shrub groweth they usually finde those puffes doe breede and therefore Lugdunensis calleth it Tuberaria and both Clusius and he doe thinke it may be the Hydnophyllus of Pamphylus in Athenaeus because it shewed where those puffes doe grow The Vertues The female Cistus are no lesse drying and astringent then the male and are used with as good successe for all the purposes before recited whereunto the male kinds are applied and therefore it shall not neede to repeate the same things againe CHAP. LXXXVII Cistus Ledon The sweete Gum Cistus THere are more varieties of this sweete or Gum Cistus then of both the other sorts before chiefly differing in growth leaves yet all of them smelling somewhat sweet of that viscous or clammy dewines that is upon them Vnto them also are to be referred some other plants for the likenesse and nearenesse some whereof I have expressed in my former booke and therefore neede not here againe describe them 1. Cistus Ledon latifolium Broad leafed sweete Cistus The broad leafed sweete Cistus riseth up with divers wooddy branches five or six foote high spreading many other smaller branches whereon are set two leaves at a joynt one against another somewhat broader than that in my former booke comming neare to the forme of Bay leaves of a darke shining greene colour on the upper side and grayish underneath which are clammy in feeling as the young shoots and stalkes are also and of a strong sweet sent to be felt a great way off especially in the hot Summer time in the naturall places much more then in these countries at the toppes of every branch come forth single white flowers made of five broad round pointed leaves sometimes without any spots in them as is also to bee seene in that other with narrow leaves formerly described and sometimes having a darke purple spot at the bottome of every leafe pointed upwards which in some are greater in others lesser with divers yellow threds in the middle after the flowers are past there come in their places somewhat round great hard heads conteining within them small brownish seede the root is wooddy and spreadeth many branches but not very deep Myrtifolium feu Latifolium Lobelij Lobel maketh mention of a sort hereof which hee calleth Latifolium or Myrtifolium which hath sundry leaves comming forth together in other things little differing from the former 2. Cistus
Parsley hath and smelling so like unto Parsley as both Lugdunensis and Columna doe say that if any should smell it when it is a little bruised that were blinde and did not see it or having his sight did not plainely perceive a difference in the leaves hee would surely say it were very Parsley at the toppes of the stalkes stand small umbells of pale reddish or blush coloured flowers after which follow small seede like unto that of Parsley somewhat blackish furrowed or guttered like unto Cumin seede of a very sharpe taste almost burning the mouth and of a sweete sent but so bitter withall that it may well bee accounted the most bitter of all the kindes of Parsley The Place and Time The 〈◊〉 is thought originally to come from Candy unto Venice where they have sowen it and taking it to be the 〈◊〉 Parsley have used it in their dispensations for Mithridatum and Thiriaca Andromachi and have so 〈◊〉 esteemed of it that they are loâ—th to let any good seede come from them that might grow in any other place besides the unreasonable price hath beene set upon it hath made it the more esteemed and sought after yet I have had it growing in my garden and from it have gathered good store of seede in one yeare but the first 〈◊〉 perishing I could not get againe any to spring from the seede that I gathered being as it should seeme not sufficient ripe nor could I get any outlandish seede since to grow with me againe the other groweth as Lugdunensis saith on the rockie hills of Gratianopolis and as Columna saith on the hills of Campoclarensis and Aequicoli they seede late with us The Names Fabius Columna hath much commented upon those two kindes of Parsley concerning the first hee laboureth to prâ— to be the second Dancus of Dioscorides from the forme of the leaves thereof like unto Apium agreste as he 〈◊〉 his second unto and not to the seed as the qualities of sweetnesse sharpenesse and heate might import but in the description of this Parsley Columna assimilateth the leaves unto Apium vulgare and not to Apium agreste as Dioscorides doth which is that herba Sardinia called Apium rusus for other Apium agreste is not set downe by Dioscorides in any place that I can finde our common Parsley which although it doe yet other authors have as likely herbes as this and as agreeable to the second Daucus of Dioscorides in all things I thinke but because neither Dioscorides nor any other ancient author hath given any description of the leaves c of the Petroselinum 〈◊〉 more then of the seede and that Pliny saith it differeth in the kinde it is a hard matter to determine any certâ—â—tie upon so short a relation all being but conjectures that can be said in it which may as likely misse as 〈◊〉 Concerning the other he saith that the Neapolitans where it groweth call it Anethum sylvestre and others Sacriâ—â— from the effects But that the first should be Petroselinum MacedonicuÌ„ Matthiolus Lobel Dodonaeus Castor Dâ— Lugdunensis and Tabermâ—ntanus doe all call it as it was in their time held to be and still continueth the same opinion and not undeservedly as I thinke both the forme of the leaves flowers and seed so nearely resembling the other kinds of Selinon or ApiuÌ„ declaring it but especially the qualitie of the seed being answerable to the properties that Galen doth appropriate it And for the other it also commeth neare unto that relation of Pliny concerning Petroselinum that it was another kinde differing from the other Apia Parsleys as this doth in the forme of the leaves being finer cut then any of them but somewhat more like in the sharpenesse and bitternesse of the seed and therefore saith Columna it may be used in the want of a better in stead of the true Petroselinum Macedonicum or 〈◊〉 a truer may be had out of Macedonia or Epirus But Bauhinus calleth it Apium montanum folio tenniore The Vertues The true Petroselinum saith Dioscorides provoketh urine and womens courses and is profitable against the winde and belchings of the stomacke and against the winde Collicke also and easeth the griping paines and torments of the belly as also the paines in the sides and the raines and in the bladder being taken in drinke it is put also into those medicines that provoke urine The seede of this stone Parsley saith Galen is most in use the herbe and roote also is used alike but are of a weaker propertie but the seede is very sharpe in taste and bitter also hot in qualitie and of a cutting propertie withall and hereby it mightily provoketh urine and womens courses and driveth forth winde and is therefore hot and dry in the third degree This saith Galen in lib. 8. simplicium mediâ— but in his first booke de antidotis he doth prosecute this subject more fully which although it bee somewhat large yet I am the more willing to insert it here for young students sake that they might be acquainted with Galens minde who was in his facultie almost absolute in this matter As concerning Petroselinum stone Parsley saith he the best is knowne to all to be that of Macedonia which some call also Estreaticum imposing that name from the place wherein it groweth yet it is but very little that groweth there the place being very dangerous by rocks and small in compasse withall and therefore this Macedonian stone Parsley that is of Estriâ—â—â— and carried unto all nations is but small in quantitie to be had in the countrey of Macedonia it selfe but it happeneth to this stone Parsley of Macedonia in the like manner that falleth out with the hony of Athens and the wine of Falerus For as the Merchants doe export into all countries of the world the Athenian hony and the Falerâ—â— wine so doe they this stone Parsley of Macedonia when as there doth not grow such a quantitie thereof in Macedonia as may suffice all nations but there groweth much of this Parsley in Epirus as there is much hony gathered in the Ilands called Cyclades or Sporades which are in the Aegean Sea and as the hony is carried from the 〈◊〉 to Athens so is this stone Parsley first brought out of Epirus into Macedonia and much of it if not all into 〈◊〉 and from thence is carried forth as if it were of Macedonia the same thing happeneth to the wine 〈◊〉 for growing in a small peece of ground in Italy called Falerno yet cunning Marchants doe so prepare 〈…〉 that they carry to all the subject Nations of the Romane Empire that they make it seeme the very same 〈◊〉 If you therefore at any time shall want this Estreaticum Petroselinum doe not esteeme the Treakle the 〈◊〉 if you shall put thereinto others for although another is not so fit against deadly poysons or the bitings of 〈◊〉 beasts yet against other diseases it may be not a little profitable such as are the paines and