Rosins saith Galen that haue this kinde of moisture and clamminesse ioined with them do as it were binde together and vnite dry medicines and because they haue no euident biting qualitie they doe moisten the vlcers nothing at all therefore diuers haue very well mixed with such compound medicines either Turpentine Rosin or Larch Rosin thus far Galen Moreouer Larch Rosin performeth all such things that the Turpentine Rosin doth vnto which as we haue said it is much like in temperature which thing likewise Galen himselfe affirmeth Agaricke is hot in the first degree and dry in the second according to the old writers It cutteth maketh thin clenseth taketh away obstructions or stoppings of the intrailes and purgeth also by stoole Agaricke cureth the yellow iaundice proceeding of obstructions and is a sure remedie for cold shakings which are caused of thicke and cold humors The same being inwardly taken and outwardly applied is good for those that are bit of venomous beasts which hurt with their cold poison It prouoketh vrine and bringeth downe the menses it maketh the body well co loured driueth forth wormes cureth agues especially quotidians and wandring feuers and others that are of long continuance if it be mixed with fit things that serue for the disease and these things it performes by drawing forth and purging away grosse cold and flegmaticke humors which cause the diseases From a dram weight or a dram and a halfe to two it is giuen at once in substance or in pouder the weight of it in an infusion or decoction is from two drams to fiue But it purgeth slowly and doth somewhat trouble the stomacke and therefore it is appointed that Ginger should be mixed with it or wilde Carrot seed or Louage seed or Sal gem in Latine Salfossilis Galen as Mesue reporteth gaue it with wine wherein Ginger was infused some vse to giue it with Oxymel otherwise called syrrup of vineger which is the safest way of all Agaricke is good against the paines and swimming in the head or the falling Euill being taken with syrrup of vineger It is good against the shortnesse of breath called Asthma the inueterate cough of the lungs the ptysicke consumption and those that spet bloud it comforteth the weake and seeble stomacke causeth good digestion and is good against wormes CHAP. 45. Of the Cypresse tree Cupressus satiua syluestris The Garden and wild Cypresse tree ¶ The Description THe tame or manured Cypresse tree hath a long thicke and straight body whereupon many slender branches do grow which do not spred abroad like the branches of other trees but grow vp alongst the body yet not touching the top they grow after the fashion of a steeple broad below and narrow toward the top the substance of the wood is hard sound well compact sweet of smell and somewhat yellow almost like the yellow Saunders but not altogether so yellow neither doth it rot nor wax old nor cleaueth or choppeth itself The leaues are long round like those of Tamariske but fuller of substance The fruit or nuts do hang vpon the boughes being in manner like to those of the Larch tree but yet thicker and more closely compact which being ripe do of themselues part in sunder and then falleth the seed which is shaken out with the winde the same is small flat very thin of a swart ill fauoured colour which is pleasant to Ants or Pismires and serueth them for food Of this diuers make two kindes the female and the male the female barren and the male fruitfull Theophrastus reporteth that diuers affirme the male to come of the female The Cypresse yeelds forth a certaine liquid Rosin like in substance to that of the Larch tree but in taste maruellous sharpe and biting The wilde Cypresse as Theophrastus writeth is an high tree and alwaies greene so like to the other Cypresse as it seemeth to be the same both in boughes body leaues and fruit rather than a certaine wilde Cypresse the matter or substance of the wood is sound of a sweet smell like that of the Cedar tree which rotteth not there is nothing so crisped as the root and therefore they vse to make precious and costly workes thereof ‡ I know no difference betweene the wilde and tame Cypresse of our Author but in the handsomnesse of their growth which is helped somewhat by art ‡ ¶ The Place The tame and manured 〈◊〉 groweth in hot countries as in Candy Lycia Rhodes and also in the territorie of Cyrene it is reported to be likewise found on the hills belonging to Mount Ida and on the hills called Leuci that is to say white the tops whereof be alwaies couered with snow Bellonius denieth it to be found vpon the tops of these hills but in the bottoms on the rough parts and ridges of the hills it groweth likewise in diuers places of England where it hath beene planted as at Sion a place neere London sometime a house of Nunnes it groweth also at Greenwich and at other places and likewise at Hampsted in the garden of Mr. Wade one of the Clerkes of her Maiesties priuy Councell The wilde kinde of Cypresse tree groweth hard by Ammons Temple and in other parts of the countrey of Cyrene vpon the tops of mountaines and in extreme cold countries Bellonius affirmeth that there is found a certaine wilde Cypresse also in Candy which is not so high as other Cypresse trees nor groweth sharpe toward the top but is lower and hath his boughes spred flat round about in compasse he saith the body thereof is also thicke but whether this be Thya of which Theophrastus and Pliny make mention we leaue it to consideration ¶ The Time The tame Cypres tree is alwaies greene the fruit may be gathered thrice a yeare in 〈◊〉 May and September and therefore it is syrnamed Trifera The wilde Cypres tree is late and very long before it buddeth ¶ The Names The tame Cypres is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine 〈◊〉 in shops Cypressus in Italian Cypresso in French and Spanish Cipres in high-Dutch Cipressenbaum in low-Dutch Cypresse boom in English Cypres and Cypres tree The fruit is named in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Pilulae Cupressi Nuces Cupressi and Galbuli in shops Nuces Cypressi in English Cypres nuts or clogs This tree in times past was dedicated to Pluto and was said to be deadly whereupon it is thought that the shadow thereof is vnfortunate The wilde Cypres tree is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from this doth differ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being a name not of a plant but of a mortar in which dry things are beaten Thya as Pliny writeth lib. 13. cap. 16. was well knowne to Homer he sheweth that this is burned among the sweet smells which Circe was much delighted withall whom he would haue to be taken for a goddesse
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that may be found carlesly cast abroad in the sowing without raking it into the ground or any such paine or industrie taken as is requisite in the so ving of other seeds as my self haue found by proofe who haue experimented euery way to cause it quickly to grow for I haue committed some to the earth in the end of March some in Aprill and some in the beginning of May because I durst not hasard all my seed at one time lest some vnkindely blast should happen after the sowing which might be a great enemie thereunto ¶ The Names The people of America call it Petun Some as Lobel and Pena haue giuen it these Latine names Sacra herba Sancta herba and Sana Sancta Indorum and other as Dodonaeus call it Hyoscyamus 〈◊〉 or Henbane of Peru Nicolaus Monardus 〈◊〉 it Tabacum That it is Hyoscyami species or a kind of Henbane not onely the forme being like to yellow Henbane but the qualitie also doth declare for it bringeth drowsinesse troubleth the sences and maketh a man as it were drunke by taking of the fume onely as Andrew Theuet testifieth and common experience sheweth of some it is called Nicotiana the which I refer to the yellow Henbane for distinctions sake ¶ The Temperature It is hot and dry and that in the second degree as Monardis thinketh and is withall of power to discusse or resolue and to cleanse away filthy humors hauing also a small astriction and a stupifying or benumming qualitie and it purgeth by the stoole and Monardis writeth that it hath a certaine power to resist poyson And to proue it to be of an hot temperatute the biting qualitie of the leaues doth shew which is easily perceiued by taste also the greene leaues laid vpon vlcers in 〈◊〉 parts may serue for a proofe of heate in this plant because they do draw out filth and corrupted matter which a cold Simple would neuer do The leaues likewise being chewed draw forth flegme and water as doth also the fume taken when the leaues are dried which things declare that this is not a little 〈◊〉 for what things soeuer that being chewed or held in the mouth bring forth flegme and water the same be all accounted hot as the root of Pellitorie of Spaine of Saxifrage and other things of like power Moreouer the benumming qualitie hereof is not hard to be perceiued for vpon the taking of the fume at the mouth there followeth an infirmitie like vnto drunkennesse and many times sleepe as after the taking of Opium which also sheweth in the taste a biting qualitie and therefore is not without heate which when it is chewed and inwardly taken it doth forthwith shew causing a certaine heat in the chest and yet withall troubling the wits as Petrus Bellonius in his third Booke of Singularities doth declare where also hee sheweth that the Turkes oftentimes doe vse Opium and take one dramme and a halfe thereof at one time without any other hurt following sauing that they are thereupon as it were taken with a certaine light drunkennesse So also this Tabaco being in taste biting and in temperature hot hath notwithstanding a benumming qualitie Hereupon it seemeth to 〈◊〉 that not onely this Henbane of Peru but also the iuice of poppie otherwise called Opium 〈◊〉 of diuers parts some biting and hot and others extreame cold that is to say stupifying or benumming if so bee that this benumming qualitie proceed of extreme cold as Galen and all the old Physitions doe hold opinion Then should this bee cold but if the benumming facultie doth not depend of an extreme cold qualitie but proceedeth of the effence of the substance then Tabaco is not cold and benumming but hot and benumming and the latter not so much by reason of his temperature as through the propertie of his substance no otherwise than a purging medicine which hath his sorce not from the temperature but from the essence of the whole substance ¶ The Vertues Nicolaus Monardis saith that the 〈◊〉 hereof are a remedy for the paine in the head called the Megram or Migraime that hath beene of long continuance and also for a cold stomacke especially in children and that it is good against the paines in the kidneies It is a present remedie for the fits of the Mother it mitigateth the paine of the gout if it bee rosted in hot embers and applied to the grieued part It is likewise a remedie for the tooth-ache if the teeth and gums be rubbed with a linnen cloth dipped in the iuice and afterward a round ball of the leaues laid vnto the place The iuice boiled with Sugar in forme of a sirrup and inwardly taken driueth forth wormes of the bellie if withall a leafe be laid to the Nauell The same doth likewise scoure and clense old and rotten vlcers and bringeth them to perfect digest ion as the same Author affirmeth In the Low Countreyes it is vsed against scabbes and filthinesse of the skinne and for the cure of wounds but some hold opinion that it is to bee vsed but onely to hot and strong bodies for they say that the vse is not safe in weake and old folkes and for this cause as it seemeth the women in America as Theuct sayth abstayne from the hearbe Petun or Tabaco and doe in no wise vse it The weight of foure ounces of the iuice heereof drunke purgeth both vpwards and downewards and procureth after a long and sound sleepe as wee haue learned of a friend by obseruation affirming that a strong Countreyman of a middle age hauing a dropsie tooke of it and being wakened out of his sleepe called for meat and drinke and after that became perfectly whole Moreouer the same man reported that he had cured many countriemen of agues with the distilled water of the leaues drunke a little while besore the fit Likewise there is an oile to be taken out of the leaues that healeth merry-gals kibed heels and such like It is good against poison and taketh away the malignitie thereof if the iuice be giuen to drink or the wounds made by venemous beasts be washed therewith The drie leaues are vsed to be taken in a pipe set on fire and suckt into the stomacke and thrust forth againe at the 〈◊〉 against the pains of the head rheumes aches in any part of the body whereof soeuer the originall proceed whether from France Italy Spaine Indies or from our familiar and best knowne diseases those leaues doe palliate or ease for a time but neuer performe any cure absolutely for although they emptie the body of humours yet the cause of the griefe cannot be so taken away But some haue learned this principle that repletion requireth euacuation that is 〈◊〉 craueth emptinesse and by euacuation assure themselues of health But this doth not take away so much with it this day but the next bringeth with it more As for example a Well doth neuer yeeld such store of water as when it is most drawne and emptied
and haue thought it to be Plinie's Britannica because they finde it in the same place growing and endued with the same qualities Which excellent plant Caesars soldiers when they remooued their camps beyond the Rhene found to preuaile as the Frisians had taught it them against that plague and hurtfull disease of the teeth gums and sinewes called the Scuruie being a depriuation of all good bloud and moisture in the whole bodie called Scorbutum in English the Scuruie and Skyrby a disease happening at the sea among Fishermen and fresh-water souldiers and such as delight to sit still without labour and exercise of their bodies and especially aboue the rest of the causes when they make not cleane their bisket bread from the floure or mealines that is vpon the same which doth spoile many But sith this agrees not with Plinies description and that there be many other water plants as Nasturtium Sium Cardamine and such others like in taste and not vnlike in proportion and vertues which are remedies against the diseases aforesaid there can be no certaine argument drawne therefrom to prooue it to be Britannica For the leaues at their first comming forth are somewhat long like Pyrola or Adders tongue soone after somewhat thicker and hollow like a nauell after the manner of Sun-dew but in greatnesse like Soldanella in the compasse somewhat cornered in fashion somewhat like a spoone the floures white and in shape like the Cuckow floures the seed reddish like the seed of Thlaspi which is not to be seen in Britannica which is rather holden to be Bistort or garden Patience than Scuruie grasse In English it is called Spoonewort Scruby grasse and Scuruie grasse ¶ The Temperature Scuruie grasse is euidently hot and drie very like in taste and qualitie to the garden Cresses of an aromaticke or spicie taste ¶ The Vertues The juice of Spoonewoort giuen to drinke in Ale or Beere is a singular medicine against the corrupt and rotten 〈◊〉 and stench of the mouth it perfectly cureth the disease called of Hippocrates Voluulus Hematites of Pliny Stomacace of Marcellus Oscedo and of the later writers Scorbutum of the Hollanders and Frisians Scuerbuyck in English the Scuruie either giuing the juice in drinke as aforesaid or putting six great handfuls to steepe with long pepper graines annise-seede and liquorice of each one ounce the spices being braied and the herbes brused with your hands and so put into a pot such as is before mentioned in the chapter of bastard Rubarbe and vsed in like maner or boiled in milke or wine and drunke for certaine daies together it worketh the like effect The juice drunke once in a day fasting in any liquor ale beere or wine doth cause the foresaid medicine more speedily to worke his effect in curing this filthy lothsome heauy and dull disease which is very troublesome and of long continuance The gums are loosed swolne and exulcerate the mouth greeuously stinking the thighes and legs are withall very often full of blew spots not much vnlike those that come of bruses the face and the rest of the body is oftentimes of a pale colour and the feet are swolne as in a dropsie There is a disease saith Olaus magnus in his historie of the Northerne regions haunting the campes which vexe them that are besieged and pinned vp and it seemeth to come by eating of salt meates which is increased and cherished with the cold vapors of the stone walls The Germanes call this disease as we haue said Scorbuck the symptome or passion which hapneth to the mouth is called of Pliny 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Stomacace and that which belongeth to the thighes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Marcellus an old writer nameth the infirmities of the mouth 〈◊〉 which disease commeth of a grosse cold and tough bloud such as malancholy juice is not by adustion but of such a bloud as is the feculent or drossie part thereof which is gathered in the body by ill diet slothfulnesse to worke laisinesse as we terme it much sleepe and rest on ship-boord and not looking to make cleane the bisquet from the mealinesse and vncleane keeping their bodies which are the causes of this disease called the scuruie or scyrby which disease doth not onely touch the outward parts but the inward also for the liuer oftentimes but most commonly the spleene is filled with this kinde of thicke cold and tough juice and is swolne by reason that the substance thereof is slacke spungie and porous very apt to receiue such kinde of thick and cold humors Which thing also Hippocrates hath written of in the second booke of his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gums saith he are infected and their mouthes stinke that haue great spleenes or milts and whosoeuer haue great milts and vse not to bleed can hardly be cured of this malladie especially of the vlcers in the legs and blacke spots The same is affirmed by Paulus Aegineta in his third booke 49. chapter where you may easily see the difference between this disease and the black jaunders which many times are so confounded together that the distinction or difference is hard to be known but by the expert chirurgion who oftentimes seruing in the ships as wel her Maiesties as merchants are greatly pestered with the curing thereof it shall be requisite to carrie with them the herbe dried the water distilled and the juice put into a bottle with a narrow mouth full almost to the necke and the rest filled vp with oile oliue to keep it from putrifaction the which preparations discreetly vsed will stand them in great stead for the disease aforesaid The herbe stamped and laid vpon spots and blemishes of the face will take them away within six houres but the place must be washed after with water wherein bran hath been sodden CHAP. 87. Of Twayblade or herbe Bifoile ¶ The Description 1 HErbe Byfoile hath many small fibres or threddy strings fastened vnto a small knot or root from which riseth vp a slender stom or stalke tender fat and full of juice in the middle whereof are placed in comely order two broad leaues ribbed and chamfered in shape like the leaues of Plantaine vpon the top of the stalke groweth a slender greenish spike made of many small floures each little floure resembling a gnat or little gosling newly hatched very like those of the third sort of Serapias stones 2 Ophris Trifolia or Trefoile Twaiblade hath roots tender stalkes and a bush of flours like the precedent but differeth in that that this plant hath three leaues which do clip or embrace the stalke about and the other hath but two and neuer more wherein especially consisteth the difference although in truth I thinke it a degenerate kinde and hath gotten a third leafe per accidens as doth sometimes chance vnto the Adders Tongue as shall be declared in the Chapter that followeth ‡ 3 This kind of Twaiblade first described in the last edition of Dodonaeus hath leaues floures and stalkes like to the
them let fresh Lauander and store Of wild Time with strong Sauorie to floure Yet there is another Casia called in shops Casia Lignea as also Casia nigra which is named Casia 〈◊〉 and another a small shrubbie plant extant among the shrubs or hedge bushes which some thinke to be the Casia Poetica mentioned in the precedent verses ¶ The Temperature Lauander is hot and drie and that in the third degree and is of a thin substance consisting of many airie and spirituall parts Therefore it is good to be giuen any way against the cold diseases of the head and especially those which haue their originall or beginning not of abundance of humours but chiefely of a cold quality onely ¶ The Vertues The distilled water of Lauander smelt vnto or the temples and forehead bathed therewith is a refreshing to them that haue the Catalepsie a light Migram to them that haue the falling sicknesse and that vse to swoune much But when there is abundance of humours especially mixt with bloud it is not then to be vsed safely neither is the composition to be taken which is made of distilled wine in which such kinde of herbes floures or seeds and certaine spices are infused or steeped though most men do rashly and at aduenture giue them without making any difference at all For by vsing such hot things that fill and stuffe the head both the disease is made greater and the sicke man also brought into danger especially when letting of bloud or purging haue not gone before Thus much by way of admonition because that euery where some vnlearned Physitions and diuers rash and ouerbold Apothecaries and other foolish women do by and by giue such compositions and others of the like kinde not only to those that haue the Apoplexy but also to those that are taken or haue the Catuche or Catalepsis with a Feuer to whom they can giue nothing worse seeing those things do very much hurt and oftentimes bring death it selfe The floures of Lauander picked from the knaps I meane the blew part and not the huske mixed with Cinamon Nutmegs and Cloues made into pouder and giuen to drinke in the distilled water thereof doth helpe the panting and passion of the heart preuaileth against giddinesse turning or swimming of the braine and members subiect to the palsie Conserue made of the floures with sugar profiteth much against the diseases aforesaid if the quantitie of a beane be taken thereof in the morning fasting It profiteth them much that haue the palsie if they bee washed with the distilled water of the floures or annointed with the oile made of the floures and oile oliue in such manner as oile 〈◊〉 roses is which shall be expressed in the treatise of Roses CHAP. 180. Of French Lauander or Stickeadoue ¶ The Description 1 FRench Lauander hath a bodie like Lauander short and of a wooddie substance but slenderer beset with long narrow leaues of a whitish colour lesser than those of Lauander it hath in the top bushy or spikie heads well compact or thrust together out of the which grow forth small purple floures of a pleasant smell The seede is small and blackish the roote is hard and wooddie 2 This iagged Sticadoue hath many small stiffe stalks of a wooddy substance whereupon do grow iagged leaues in shape like vnto the leaues of Dill but of an hoarie colour on the top of the stalkes do grow spike floures of a blewish colour and like vnto the common Lauander Spike the root is likewise wooddie ‡ This by Clusius who first described it as also by Lobel is called Lavendula multisido folio or Lauander with the diuided leafe the plant more resembling Lauander than Sticadoue ‡ 3 There is also a certaine kind e hereof differing in smalnesse of the leaues onely which are round about the edges nicked or toothed like a saw resembling those of Lauander cotton The root is likewise wooddie ‡ 4 There is also another kinde of Stoechas which differs from the first or ordinarie kind in that the tops of the stalkes are not set with leaues almost close to the head as in the common kinde but are naked and wholly without leaues also at the tops of the spike or floures as it were to recompence their defect below there growe larger and fairer leaues than in the other sorts The other parts of the plant differ not from the common Stoechas ‡ †1 Stoechas sive spica hortulana Sticadoue and Sticados 2 Stoechas multisida Iagged Sticados 3 Stoechas folio serrato Toothed Sticadoue ‡ 4 Stoechas summis cauliculis nudis Naked Sticadoue ¶ The Place These herbes do grow wilde in Spaine in Languedocke in France and the Islands called Stoechades ouer against Massilia we haue them in our gardens and keepe them with great diligence from the iniurie of our cold clymate ¶ The Time They are sowne of seed in the end of Aprill and couered in the Winter from the cold or els set in pots or tubs with earth and carried into houses ¶ The Names The Apothecaries call the floure Stoecados Dioscorides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Galen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the dipthong in the first syllable in Latine Stoechas in High Dutch Stichas kraut in Spanish Thomani and Cantuesso in English French Lauander Steckado Stickadoue Cassidonie and some simple people imitating the same name do call it Cast me downe ¶ The Temperature French Lauander saith Galen is of temperature compounded of a little cold earthie substance by reason whereof it bindeth it is of force to take away obstructions to extenuate or make thinne to scoure and clense and to strengthen not onely all the entrails but the whole bodie also ¶ The Vertues Dioscorides teacheth that the decoction hereof doth helpe the diseases of the chest and is with good successe mixed with counterpoisons The later Physitions affirme that Stoechas and especially the floures of it are most effectuall against paines of the head and all diseases thereof proceeding of cold causes and therefore they be mixed in all compositions almost which are made against head-ache of long continuance the Apoplexie the falling sicknesse and such like diseases The decoction of the husks and floures drunke openeth the stoppings of the liuer the lungs the milt the mother the bladder and in one word all other inward parts clensing and driuing forth all cuill and corrupthumours and procuring vrine CHAP. 181. Of Flea-wort ¶ The Description 1 PSyllium or the common Flea-wort hath many round and tender branches 〈◊〉 full of long and narrow leaues somewhat hairy The top of the stalkes are garnished with sundrie round chaffie knops beset with small yellow floures which being ripe containe many little shining seeds in proportion colour and bignesse like vnto sleas 2 The second kinde of Psyllium or Flea-wort hath long and tough branches of a wooddy substance like the precedent but longer and harder with leaues resembling the former but much longer and narrower The chaffie tuft which
exprest the whole manner of the growing of the Nutmeg together with both the sorts of Nutmegs taken forth of their shells ‡ ¶ The Place The Nutmeg tree groweth in the Indies in an Island especially called Banda and in the Islands of Molucca and in Zeilan though not so good as the first ¶ The Time The fruit is gathered in September in great aboundance all things being common in those countries ¶ The Names The Nutmeg tree is called of the Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Latines Nux 〈◊〉 and Nux Myristica in Italian Noce Moscada in Spanish Nuez de escetie in French Noix Muscade in high-Dutch Moschat Nurz of the Arabians Leuzbane or Gianziban of the countrey people where they grow Palla The Maces Bunapalla In Decan the Nut is called Iapatri and the Maces Iaifol of Auicen Iausiband i. Nux Bandensis The Maces he calleth Befbase in English Nutmeg ¶ The Temperature The Nutmeg as the Mauritanians write is hot and dry in the second degree complete and somwhat astringent ¶ The Vertues Nutmegs cause a sweet breath and amend those that do stink if they be much chewed and holden in the mouth The Nutmeg is good against freckles in the face quickneth the sight strengthens the belly and feeble liuer it taketh away the swelling in the spleene stayeth the laske breaketh winde and is good against all cold diseases in the body Nutmegs bruised and boiled in Aqua vitae vntill they haue wasted and consumed the moisture adding thereto of Rhodomel that is honey of Roses gently boiling them being strained to the forme of a syrrup cure all paines proceeding of windie aud cold causes if three spoonfulls be giuen fasting for certaine dayes together The same bruised and boyled in strong white wine vntill three parts be sodden away with the roots of Mother-wort added thereto in the boyling and strained this liquor drunke with some sugar cureth all gripings of the belly proceeding of windinesse As touching the choice there is not any so simple but knoweth that the heauiest fattest and fullest of iuice are the best which may easily be found out by pricking the same with a pinne or such like CHAP. 152. Of the Pepper Plant. ¶ The Kindes THere be diuers sorts of Pepper that is to say white blacke and long Pepper one 〈◊〉 and longer than the other and also a kinde of Ethiopian Pepper 1 Piper nigrum Blacke Pepper 2 Piper album White Pepper ¶ The Description 1 THe Plant that beareth the 〈◊〉 Pepper groweth vp like a Vine among bushes and brambles where it naturally groweth but where it is manured it is sowne at the bottome of the tree Faufel and the Date trees whereon it taketh hold and clymbeth vp euen to the top as doth the Vine ramping and taking hold with his clasping tendrels of any other thing it meeteth withall The leaues are few in number ‡ growing at each ioint one first on one side of the stalke then on the other like in shape to the long vndiuided leaues of luy but thinner sharpe pointed and sometimes so broad that they are foure inches ouer but most commonly two inches broad and foure long hauing alwaies fiue pretty large nerues running alongst them The fruit grow clustering together vpon long stalks which come forth at the ioints against the leaues as you may see in the figure the root as one may coniecture is creeping for the branches that lie on the ground do at their ioints put forth new fibres or roots We are beholden to Clusius for this exact figure and description which he made by certaine branches which were brought home by the Hollanders from the East Indies The curious may see more hereof in his Exotickes and notes vpon Garcias ‡ 3 Piper longum Long Pepper 4 Piper Aethiopicum siue Vita longa Pepper of Ethiopia 2 The Plant that brings white Pepper is not to be distinguished from the other plant but only by the colour of the fruit no more than a Vine that beareth blacke Grapes from that which bringeth white and of some it is thought that the selfe same plant doth sometimes change it selfe from black to white as diuers other plants do ‡ Neither Clusius nor any other else that I haue yet met with haue deliuered vs any thing of certaine of the plant whereon white Pepper growes Clusius only hath giuen vs the manner how it growes vpon the stalkes as you may see it here exprest ‡ There is also another kinde of Pepper seldome brought into these parts of Europe called Piper Canarium it is hollow within light and empty but good to draw flegme from the head to helpe the tooth-ache and cholericke affects ‡ 5 Piper Caudatum Tailed Pepper 4 This other kinde of Pepper brought vnto vs from Aethiopia called of the country where it groweth Piper Aethiopicum in shops Amomum and also Longa Vita It groweth vpon a small tree in manner of an hedge bush whereupon grow long cods in bunches a finger long of a browne colour vneuen and bunched or puft vp in diuers places diuided into fiue or six lockers or cels each whereof containeth a round seed somewhat long lesser than the seeds of Paeony in taste like common Pepper or Cardamomum whose facultie and temperature it is thought to haue whereof we hold it a kinde 5 Another kinde of Pepper is sometimes brought which the Spaniards do call Pimenta de 〈◊〉 that is Pepper with a taile it is like vnto Cubebes round full somewhat rough blacke of colour and of a sharpe 〈◊〉 taste like the common Pepper of a good smell it groweth by clusters vpon small stems or stalkes which some haue vnaduisedly taken for Amomum The King of Portingal forbad this kinde of Pepper to be brought ouer for feare least the right Pepper should be the lesse esteemed and so himselfe hindered in the sale thereof ¶ The Place Blacke and white Pepper grow in the kingdome of Malauar and that very good in Malaca also but not so good and also in the Islands Sunde and Cude there is great store growing in the kingdome of China and some in Cananor but not much Pepper of Aethiopia groweth in America in all the tract of the country where Nata and Carthago are situated The rest hath been spoken of in their seuerall descriptions The white Pepper is not so common as the blacke and is vsed there in stead of salt ¶ The Time The plant riseth vp in the first of the spring the fruit is gathered in August ¶ The Names The Grecians who had best knowledge of Pepper do call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latines Piper the Arabians Fulfel and Fulful in Italian Pepe in Spanish Pimenta in French Poiure in high-Dutch 〈◊〉 in English Pepper That of Aerhiopia is called Piper Aethiopicum Amomum Vita longa and of some Cardamomum whereof we hold it to be a kinde I receiued a branch hereof at the hands of a learned Physition of London called Mr. Steuen
leaues mixed together the shorter leaues are obtuse as if they were clipt off They are wholly yellow ‡ ‡ 19 Narcissus Iuncifolius reflexus minor The lesser reflex Iunquilia ‡ 20 Narcissus juncifolius multiplex The double Iunquilia 21 The Persian Daffodill hath no stalke at all but onely a small and tender foot stalke of an inch high such as the Saffron floure hath vpon which short and tender stalk doth stand a yellowish floure consisting of six small leaues of which the three innermost are narrower than those on the out side In the middle of the floure doth grow forth a long stile or pointall set about with many small chiues or threds The whole floure is of an vnpleasant smel much like to Poppy The leaues rise vp a little before the floure long smooth and shining The root is bulbed thicke and grosse blackish on the out side and pale within with some threds hanging at the lower part 22 The Autumne Daffodill bringeth forth long smooth glittering leaues of a deepe greene colour among which riseth vp a short stalke bearing at the top one floure and no more resemling the floure of Mead Saffron or common Saffron consisting of six leaues of a bright shining yellow colour in the middle whereof stand six threds or chiues and also a pestell or clapper yellow likewise The root is thicke and grosse like vnto the precedent ‡ 23 To this last may be adioyned another which in shape somewhat resembles it The leaues are smooth greene growing straight vp and almost a fingers breadth among which riseth vp a stalke a little more than halfe a foot in height at the top of which groweth forth a yellow floure not much vnlike that of the last described Autumne Narcisse it consisteth of sixe leaues some inch and halfe in length and some halfe inch broad sharpe pointed the three inner leaues being somewhat longer than the outer There grow forth out of the middest of the floure three whitish chiues tipt with yellow and a pestell in the midst of them longer than any of them The root consists of many coats with fibres comming forth of the bottome thereof like others of this kinde It floures in Februarie ‡ 21 Narcissus Persicus The Persian Daffodill 22 Narcissus Autumnalis major The great Winter Daffodill 24 Small Winter Daffodill hath a bulbous root much like vnto the root of Rush Daffodil but lesser from the which riseth vp a naked stalke without leaues on the top whereof groweth a small white floure with a yellow circle in the middle sweet in smell something stuffing the head as do the other Daffodils ¶ The Place The Daffodils with purple coronets do grow wilde in sundry places of France chiefly in Bourgondie and in Suitzerland in medowes The Rush Daffodill groweth wilde in sundry places of Spaine among grasse and other herbes Dioscorides saith That they be especially found vpon mountaines Theocritus affirmeth the Daffodils to grow in medowes in his nineteenth Eidyl or twentieth according to some editions where he writeth That the faire Ladie Europa entring with her Nymphs into the medowes did gather the sweet smelling Daffodils in these Verses 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Which we may English thus But when the Girles were come into The medowes flouring all in sight That Wench with these this Wench with those Trim floures themselues did all delight She with the Narcisse good in 〈◊〉 And she with Hyacinths content But it is not greatly to our purpose particularly to seeke out their places of growing wilde seeing that we haue them all and euery of them in our London gardens in great aboundance The common white Daffodill groweth wilde in fields and sides of Woods in the West parts of England ¶ The Time They floure for the most part in the Spring that is from the beginning of Februarie vnto the end of Aprill The Persian and Winter Daffodils do floure in September and October ‡ 23 Narcissus vernus praecocior 〈◊〉 flore The timely Spring yellow Daffodill 24 Narcissus Autumnalis minor Small Winter Daffodill ¶ The Names Although their names be set forth in their seuerall titles which may serue for their appellations and distinctions notwithstanding it shall not be impertinent to adde a supply of names as also the cause why they are so called The Persian Daffodill is called in the Sclauonian or Turkish tongue Zaremcada Persiana and Zaremcatta as for the most part all other sorts of Daffodils are Notwithstanding the double floured Daffodill they name Giul catamer lale Which name they generally giue vnto all double floures The common white Daffodil with the yellow circle they call Serin Cade that is to say the kings Chalice and Deuebohini which is to say Camels necke or as we do say of a thing with long spindle shinnes Long-shankes vrging it from the long necke of the floure The Rush Daffodill is called of some Ionquillias of the similitude the leaues haue with Rushes Of Dioscorides Bulbus Vomitorius or Vomiting Bulbe according to Dodonaeus Generally all the kindes are comprehended vnder this name Narcissus called of the Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Dutch 〈◊〉 in Spanish Iennetten in English Daffodilly Daffodowndilly and Primerose peerelesse Sophocles nameth them the garland of the infernal gods because they that are departed and dulled with death should worthily be crowned with a dulling floure Of the first and second Daffodill Ouid hath made mention in the third booke of his Metamorphosis where hee describeth the transformation of 〈◊〉 faire boy Narcissus into a floure of his own name saying Nusquam corpus erat croceum pro corpore florem Inueniunt folijs medium cing entibus albis But as for body none remain'd in stead whereof they found A yellow floure with milke white leaues ingirting of it round Pliny and Plutarch affirme as partly hath been touched before that their narcoticke quality was the very cause of the name Narcissus that is a qualitie causing sleepinesse which in Greekes is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or of the fish Torpedo called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which benummes the hands of them that touch him as being hurtfull to the sinewes and bringeth dulnesse to the head which properly belongeth to the Narcisses whose smell causeth drowsinesse ¶ The Nature The roots of Narcissus are hot and dry in the second degree ¶ The Vertues Galen saith That the roots of Narcissus haue such wonderfull qualities in drying that they consound and glew together very great wounds yea and such gashes or cuts as happen about the veins sinewes and tendons They haue also a certaine cleansing and attracting facultie The roots of Narcissus stamped with honey and applied plaister-wise helpeth them that are burned with fire and ioyneth together sinewes that are cut in sunder Being vsed in manner aforesaid it helpeth the great wrenches of the ankles the aches and pains of the ioynts The same applied with hony and nettle seed helpeth Sun burning and the morphew The same stamped with barrowes grease
or of the colour of 〈◊〉 bunched or swollen vp about the edges as it were a peece of leather wet and broiled on a gridiron in such strange sort that I cannot with words describe it to the full The floures grow at the top of the stalkes of a bleake yellow colour The root is thicke and strong like to the other kindes of Coleworts 11 Sauoy Cole is also numbred among the headed Colewoorts or 〈◊〉 The leaues are great and large very like to those of the great Cabbage which turne themselues vpwards as though they would embrace one another to make a loued Cabbage but when they come to the shutting vp they stand at a stay and rather shew themselues wider open than shut any neerer together in other respects it is like vnto the Cabbage 12 The 〈◊〉 Sauoy Cole in euery respect is like the precedent sauing that the leaues hereof doe somewhat curle or crispe about the midle of the plant which plant if it be opened in the spring time as sometimes it is it sendeth sorth branched stalks with many small white floures at the top which being past their follow long cods and seeds like the common or first kinde 〈◊〉 13 This kinde of Colewoort hath very large leaues deepely iagged euen to the middle rib in face resemblinggreat and ranke parsley It hath a great and thicke stalke of three 〈◊〉 high whereupon doe grow floures cods and seed like the other Colewoorts 11 Brassica Sabanda Sauoy Cole 12 Brassica Sabauda crispa Curled Sauoy Cole 13 Brassica Selinoides Parseley Colewoort 15 Brassica marina Anglica English sea Colewoorts 14 The small cut Colewoort hath very large leaues wonderfully cut hackt and hewen euen to the middle rib resembling a kinde of curled parsley that shall be described in his place which is not common nor hath not beene knowne nor described vntill this time very well agreeing with the last before mentioned but differeth in the curious cutting and iagging of the leaues in stalke floures and seed not vnlike 16 Brassica syluestris Wilde Colewoorts 15 Sea Colewoort hath large and broad leaues very thicke and curled and so brittle that they cannot be handled without breaking of an ouerworne greene colour tending to graynesse among which rise vp stalkes two cubits high bearing small pale floures at the top which being past their follow round knobs wherein is contained one round seed and no more blacke of colour of the bignesse of a tare and a fetch ‡ And therefore Pena and Lobell called it Brassica marina monospermos ‡ 16 The wilde Colewoort hath long broad leaues not vnlike to the tame Colewoort but lesser as is all the rest of the plant and is of his owne nature wilde and therefore not sought after as a meate but is sowen and husbanded up on ditch bankes and such like places for the seeds sake by which oftentimes great gaine is gotten ¶ The Place The greatest sort of Colewoorts doe grow in gardens and doe loue a soile which is fat and throughly dunged and well manured they doe best prosper when they be remooued and every of them grow in our English gardens except the wilde which groweth in fields and new digged ditch banks The sea Colewoort groweth naturally vpon the bayche and brims of the sea where there is no earth to bee seene but sand and rowling pibble stones which those that dwell neere the sea doe call Bayche I found it growing betweene Whytstable and the I le of Thanet neere the brinke of the sea and in many places neere to Colchester and elsewhere by the sea side ¶ The Time Pertus Crescentius saith that the Colewoort may bee sowen and remooued at any time of the yeere whose opinion I altogether mislike It is sowen in the spring as March April and oftentimes in May and sometimes in August but the speciall time is about the beginning of September The Colewoort saith Columella must be remoued when it attaineth to six leaues after it is come vp from seed the which must be done in April or May especially those that were sowne in Autumne which afterwards flourish in the winter moneths at what time they are fittest for meate But the Sauoy-Cole and the Cole florey must be sowne in Aprill in a bed of hot horsedung and couered with straw or such like to keepe it srom the cold and frosty mornings and when it hath gotten six leaues after this sort then shall you remoue him as aforesaid otherwise if you tarry for temperate weather before you sow the yeare will be spent before it come to ripenesse ¶ The Names Euery of the Colewoorts is called in Greeke by Dioscorides and Galen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so named not only because it driueth away drunkennesse but also for that it is like in colour to the precious stone called the Amethyst which is meant by the first and garden Colewoort The Apothecaries and the common Herbarists doe call it Caulis of the goodnesse of the stalke in the Germane tongue it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in French des Choux in English Colewoorts Cole-florey is called in Latine Brassica Cypria and Cauliflora in Italian Caulifiore it seemeth to agree with Brassica 〈◊〉 of Pliny whereof he writeth in his 19. booke and 8. chapter ¶ The Temperature All the Colewoorts haue a drying and binding facultie with a certaine nitrous or salt quality whereby they mightily cleanse either in the iuice or in the broth The whole substance or body of the Colewoort is of a binding and drying faculty because it leaueth in the decoction this salt quality which lieth in the iuyce and watry part thereof the water where in it is first boyled draweth to it selfe all the quality for which cause the decoction thereof looseth the belly as doth also the iuyce of it if it be drunke but if the first broth in which it was boyled be cast away then doth the Colewoort dry and binde the belly But it yeeldeth to the body small nourishment and doth not ingender good but a grosse and Melancholicke bloud The white Cabbage is best next vnto the Cole-florey yet Cato doth chiefly commend the russet Cole but he knew neither the white ones nor the Cole-florey for if he had his censure had beene otherwise ¶ The Vertues Dioscorides teacheth that the Colewoort being eaten is good for them that haue dim eyes and that are troubled with the shaking palsie The same author affirmeth that if it be boiled and eaten with vineger it is a remedie for those that be troubled with the spleene It is reported that the raw Colewoort being eaten before meate doth preserue a man from drunkennesse the reason is yeelded for that there is a naturall enmity betweene it and the vine which is such as if it grow neere vnto it forthwith the vine perisheth and withereth away yea if wine be poured vnto it while it is in boyling it will not be any more boiled and the colour
Greece and also in the 〈◊〉 of the Mediterranian sea as in Crete which now is called Candy Rhodes Zant others neither is Spainc without it for as 〈◊〉 Clusius witnesseth it groweth in many places of Portingale otherwise it is cherished in earthen pots In cold countries and such as 〈◊〉 Northward as in both the Germanies it neither groweth of it selfe nor yet lasteth long though it be carefully planted and diligently looked vnto but through the extremitie of the weather and the ouermuch cold of winter it perisheth ¶ The Time The stalke of the first doth at length flourc after the Summer Solstice which is in 〈◊〉 about Saint Barnabies day and now and than in the moneth of August but in Aprill that is to say after the aequinoctiall in the spring which is about a moneth after the spring is begun there grow out of this among the leaues small strings which are the ground-work of the circles by which being at length full growne it spreadeth it selfe into very many circles 2 Housleeke that groweth like a tree doth floure in Portingale at the beginning of the yeere presently after the winter Solstice which is December about S. Lucies day ¶ The Names The first is commonly called Iovis barba or Iupiters beard and also Sedum maius vulgare the Germanes call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they of the Low-countries Donderbaert the Hollanders 〈◊〉 the French-men Ioubarbe the Italians 〈◊〉 maggiore the Spaniards 〈◊〉 yerua pentera the English-men Housleeke and Sengreene and Aygrcene of some Iupiters eie Bullocks 〈◊〉 and Iupiters beard of the Bohemians Netreske Many take it to be 〈◊〉 altera Disocoridis but we had rather haue it one of the Sengreenes for it is continually greene and alwaies flourisheth and is hardly hurt by the extremity of winter The other without doubt is 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Semperuivum magnum or Sedum majus great Housleek or Sengreen Apulcius calleth it Vitalis and Semperflorium it is also named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ¶ The Temperature The great Housleeks are cold in the third degree they are also dry but not much by reason of the watery essence that is in them ¶ The Vertues They are good against Saint Anthonies fire the shingles and other creeping vlcers and inflammations as Galen saith that proceed of rheumes and fluxes and as Dioscorides teacheth against the inflammations 〈◊〉 fiery heate in the eyes the leaues saith Pliny being applied or the juice laid on are a remedy for rheumatike and watering eies They take away the fire in burnings and scaldings and being applied with Barly meale dried do take away the paine of the gout Dioscoridcs teacheth that they are giuen to them that are troubled with a hot laske that they likewise driue forth wormes of the belly if they be drunke with wine The juice put vp in a pessary do stay the fluxes in women proceeding of a hot cause the leaues held in the mouth do quench thirst in hot burning feauers The juice mixed with Barly meale and vineger preuaileth against S. Anthonies fire all hot burning and fretting 〈◊〉 and against scaldings burnings and all inflammations and also the gout comming of an hot cause The iuice of Housleeke Garden Nightshade and the buds of Poplar boiled in Axungia porci or hogs grease maketh the most singular Populeon that euer was vsed in Chirurgerie The iuice hereof taketh away cornes from the toes and feet if they be washed and bathed 〈◊〉 and euery day and night as it were implaistered with the skin of the same Housleeke which certainly taketh them away without incision or such like as hath beene experimented by my very good friend Mr. Nicholas Belson a man painefull and curious in searching forth the secrets of Nature The decoction of Housleeke or the iuice thereof drunke is good against the bloudie flixe and cooleth the inflammation of the eies being dropped thereinto and the bruised hearbe layed vpon them CHAP. 143. Of the Lesser Housleekes or Prickmadams 1 Sedum minus haematoides Pricke-madame 2 Sedum minus Officinarum White floured Prickmadam ¶ The Description 1 THe first of these is a very little herb creeping vpon the ground with many slender stalks which are compassed about with a great number of leaues that are thicke ful of ioints little long sharpe pointed inclining to a greene blew There rise vp among these little stalkes a handful high bringing forth at the top as it were a shadowie tuft and in these fine yellow floures the root is full of strings ‡ 3 Sedum minus aectivum Small Sommer Sengreene ‡ 4 Sedum minus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Small large 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ‡ 5 Sedum medium teretifolium Small 〈◊〉 ‡ 6 〈◊〉 Scorpioides Scorpion Sengreene ‡ 7 Sedum Portlandicum Portland Sengreene ‡ 8 Sedum petraeum Small rocke Sengreene 3 There is a small kinde of Stonecrop which hath little narrow leaues thicke sharpe pointed and tender stalkes full of fattie iuice on the top whereof doe grow small yellowe floures Starre fashion The roote is small and running by the ground 4 There is likewise another Stonecrop called Frog Stonecrop which hath little tufts of leaues rising from small and and threddie rootes creeping vpon the ground like vnto Kali or Frog-grasse from the which tufts of leaues riseth a slender stalke set with a few such like leaues hauing at the top prettie large yellow floures the smalnesse of the plant beeing considered ‡ 5 This is like that which is described in the second place but that the stalks are lesser and not so tall and the floures of this are star fashioned and of a golden yellow colour ‡ 6 There is another Stonecrop or Prickmadam called Aizoon Scorpioides which is altogether like the great kinde of Stonecrop and differeth in that that this kinde of Stonecrop or Prickmadam hath his tuft of yellow floures turning again not much vnlike the taile of a Scorpion resembling Myositis Scorpioides and the leaues somewhat thicker and closer thrust together The root is small and tender 7 There is a plant called Sedum Portlandicū or Portland Stonecrop of the English Island called Portland lying in the South coast which hath goodly branches and a rough rinde The leaues imitate Laureola growing among the Tithymales but thicker shorter more fat and tender The stalke is of a wooddy substance like Laurcola participating of the kindes of Crassula Semperviuum and the Tithymales whereof wee thinke it to bee a kinde yet not daring to deliuer any vncertaine sentence it shall be lesse preiudiciall to the truth to account it as a 〈◊〉 degenerating from both kindes ‡ Pena and Lobel who first set this foorth knewe not verie well what they should say thereof nor any since them wherefore I haue onely giuen you their figure put to our Authours description ‡ 8 There is a plant which hath receiued his name Sedum Petraeum because it doth for the most part grow vpon the rocks mountains such like stonie places hauing very smal leaues comming
narrower the plant growing sometimes but an handfull and otherwhiles a foot high Gesner called this Gratiola minor and Camerarius Hyssopoides and Bauhine onely hath figured it and that by the name of Hyssopifolia siue Gratiola minor Cordus first mentioned it and that by the Dutch name of Grasse Poley which name we may also very fitly retaine in English ‡ 3 Broad leaued 〈◊〉 Hyssope hath many small and tender branches foure square and somewhat hollow or surrowed beset with leaues by couples one opposite against another like vnto the former but somewhat shorter and much broader among which grow the floures of a purple colour spotted on the inside with white and of a brighter purple than the rest of the floure fashioned like the smallest Antirrhinum or least Snapdragon which being past there succeed little seed vessels fashioned like the nut of a crossebow which containe small yellowish seed extreame bitter of taste The whole plant is likewise bitter as the common or well knowne Gratiola The root is compact of a great number of whitish strings entangled one within another which mightily encreaseth and spreadeth abroad ‡ This plant is onely a lesser kinde of the Lysimachia galericulata of Lobell which some haue called Gratiola Latifolia our Authors figure was very ill wherefore I haue endeauoured by the helpe of some dried plants and my memory to present you with a better expression thereof ‡ ¶ The Place The first groweth in low and moist places naturally which I haue planted in my Garden ‡ The second was found growing by my oft mentioned friend Mr. Bowles at Dorchester in Oxfordshire at the backe side of the enclosed grounds on the left hand of the towne if you would ride from thence to Oxford in the grassie places of the Champion corne fields ‡ The third groweth likewise in moist places I found it growing vpon the bog or marrish ground at the further end of Hampstead heath and vpon the same heath towards London neere vnto the head of the springs that were digged for water to be conueied to London 1590. attempted by that carefull citizen Iohn Hart Knight Lord Major of the City of London at which time my selfe was in his Lordships company and viewing for my pleasure the same goodly springs I found the said plant not heretofore remembred ¶ The Time The first floureth in May the second in Iune and Iuly the third in August ¶ The Names in generall Hedge Hyssope is called in Latine Gratiola and Gratia Dei or the Grace of God notwithstanding there is a kind of Geranium or Storkes bill called by the later name Of Cordus Limnesium and Centauroides of Anguillaria it is thought to be Dioscorides his Papauer spumeum or Spatling Poppy but some think Papauer spumeum to be that which we call Behen album in Dutch it is called 〈◊〉 gratie in Italian Stanca cauallo because that horses when they haue eaten thereof dowax leane and languish thereupon and in English Gratia Dei and Hedge Hyssope The seed hereof is called Gelbenech which name the Arabians retaine vnto this day ‡ ¶ Names in particular ‡ 1 Matthiolus 〈◊〉 and others haue called this Gratiola Anguillara Gratia Dei Cordus Limnesium Centauroides he also thought it but vnfitly to be the Eupatoreum of Mesue Gesner thinks it may be Polemonium palustre amarum of Hippocrates that write of the diseases of cattell ‡ 2 Cordus called this Grasse Poley Gesner Gratiola minor Camerarius Hyssopoides and Bauhine Hyssopifolia 3 This is not set forth by any but our Author and it may fitly be named Lysimachia galericulataminor as I haue formerly noted ‡ ¶ The Temperature Hedge Hyssope is hot and dry of temperature And the first is onely vsed in medicine ¶ The Vertues Who so taketh but one scruple of Gratiola brused shall perceiue euidently his effectuall operation and vertue in purging mightely and that in great abundance waterish grosse and slimy humors Conradus Gesnerus experimented this and found it to be true and so haue I my selfe and many others Gratiola boiled and the decoction drunke or eaten with any kinde of meate in manner of a sallade openeth the belly and causeth notable loosenes and to scoure freely and by that meanes purgeth grosse flegme and cholericke humors Gratiola or Hedge Hyssope boiled in wine and giuen to drinke helpeth feuers of what sort soeuer and is most excellent in dropsies and such like diseases proceeding of cold and watery causes The extraction giuen with the powder of cinamon and a little of the juice of Calamint preuaileth against tertian and quotidian feuers set downe for most certaine by the learned Ioachimus Camerarius CHAP. 179. Of Lauander Spike ¶ The Description 1 LAuander Spike hath many stiffe branches of a wooddie substance growing vp in the manner of a shrubbe set with many long hoarie leaues by couples for the most part of a strong smell and yet pleasant enough to such as doe loue strong sauours The floures grow at the top of the branches spike fashion of a blew colour The roote is hard and wooddie 2 The second differeth not from the precedent but in the colour of the floures For this Plant bringeth milke white floures and the other blew wherein especially consisteth the difference 3 Wee haue in our English gardens a small kinde of Lauander which is altogether lesser than the other ‡ and the floures are of a more purple colour and grow in much lesse and shorter heads yet haue they a farre more gratefull smell the leaues are also lesse and whiter than those of the ordinarie sort This did and I thinke yet doth grow in great plentie in his Maiesties priuate Garden at White hall And this is called Spike without addition and sometimes Lauander Spike and of this by distillation is made that vulgarly known and vsed oile which is termed Oleumspicae or oile of Spike ‡ 1 Lavandula flore caeruleo Common Lauander 2 Lavandula flore albo VVhite floured Lauander ¶ The Place In Spaine and Languedocke in France most of the mountaines and desert fields are as it were 3 Lavendula minor sive Spica Lauander Spike couered ouer with Lauander In these cold countries they are planted in gardens ¶ The Time They floure and flourish in Iune and Iuly ¶ The Names Lauander Spike is called in Latine 〈◊〉 and Spica in Spanish Spigo and Languda The first is the male and the second the semale It is thought of some to be that sweet herbe Casia whereof Virgil maketh mention in the second Eclog of his Bucolicks Tum Casia at que alijs intexens suavibus 〈◊〉 Mollia luteola pingit vacinia Caltha And then shee 'l Spike and such sweet herbs infold And paint the Iacinth with the Marygold And likewise in the fourth of his Georgicks where hee intreateth of choosing of seats and places for Bees and for the ordering thereof he saith thus Haec circum Casiae virides 〈◊〉 late Serpilla grauiter spirantis copia Thymbrae Floreat c. About
them little ill iuyce especially when they be thorow ripe Grapes may be kept the whole yeare being ordered after that manner as Ioachimus Camerarius reporteth You shall take saith he the meale of mustard seed and strew in the bottome of any earthen pot well leaded whereupon you shall lay the fairest bunches of the ripest grapes the which you shall couer with more of the foresaid meale and lay vpon that another sort of Grapes so doing vntill the pot be full Then shall you fill vp the pot to the brim with a kinde of sweete Wine called Must. The pot being very close couered shall be set into some Cellar or other cold place The Grapes you may take forth at your pleasure washing them with faire water from the powder ¶ Of Raisins OF Raisins most are sweet some haue an austere or harsh taste Sweet Raisins are hotter austere colder both of them do moderately binde but the austere somewhat more which doe more strengthen the stomacke The sweet ones do neither slacken the stomacke nor make the belly soluble if they be taken with their stones which are of a binding qualitie 〈◊〉 the stones taken forth they do make the belly loose and soluble Raisins do yeeld good nourishment to the body they haue in them no ill iuyce at all but doe ingender somewhat a thicke iuyce which notwithstanding doth nourish the more There commeth of sweet and fat Raisins most plenty of nourishment of which they are the best that haue a thin skin There is in the sweet ones a temperate and smoothing qualitie with a power to clense moderately They are good for the chest lungs winde-pipe kidneyes bladder and for the stomacke for they make smooth the roughnesse of the winde-pipe and are good against hoarsenesse shortnesse of breath or difficultie of breathing they serue to concoct the spittle and to cause it to rise more easily in any disease whatsoeuer of the chest sides and lungs and do mitigate the paine of the kidneyes and bladder which hath ioyned with it heate and sharpenesse of vrine they dull and allay the malice of sharpe and biting humors that hurt the mouth of the stomacke Moreouer Raisins are good for the liuer as Galen writeth in his seuenth booke of medicines according to the places affected for they be of force to concoct raw humors and to restrain their malignitie and they themselues do hardly putrifie besides they are properly and of their owne substance familiar to the intrals and cure any distemperature and nourish much wherein they are chiefely to be commended for Raisins nourish strengthen resist putrifaction and if there be any distemperature by reason of moisture or coldnesse they helpe without any hurt as the said Galen affirmeth The old Physitians haue taught vs to take forth the stones as we may see in diuers compositions of the antient writers as in that composition which is called in Galen Arteriaca Mithridatis which hath the seeds of the Raisins taken forth for seeing that Raisins containe in them a thicke substance they cannot easily passe through the veines but are apt to breed obstructions and stoppings of the intrals which things happen the rather by reason of the seeds for they so much the harder passe through the body and do quicklier and more easily cause obstructions in that they are more astringent or binding Wherefore the seeds are to be taken out for so shall the iuyce of the Raisins more easily passe and the sooner be distributed through the intrals Dioscorides reporteth That Raisins chewed with pepper draw flegme and water out of the head Of Raisins is made a pultesse good for the gout rottings about the ioynts gangrens and mortified vlcers being stamped with the herbe All-heale it quickly takes away the nailes that are loose in the fingers or toes being laid thereon ¶ Of Must. MVst called in Latine Mustum that is to say the liquor newly issuing out of the grapes when they be trodden or pressed doth fill the stomacke and intrals with winde it is hardly digested it is of a thicke iuyce and if it do not speedily passe through the body it becommeth more hurtfull It hath onely this one good thing in it as Galen saith that it maketh the body soluble That which is sweetest and pressed out of ripe Grapes doth soonest passe through but that which is made of soure and austere grapes is worst of all it is more windy it is hardly concocted it ingendreth raw humors and although it doth descend with a loosenesse of the 〈◊〉 notwithstanding it oftentimes withall bringeth the collicke and paines of the stone but if the belly be not mooued all things are the worse and more troublesome and it oftentimes brings an extreame laske and the bloudy flix That first part of the wine that commeth forth of it selfe before the Grapes be hard pressed is answerable to the Grape it selfe and doth quickly descend but that which issues forth afterward hauing some part of the nature of the stones stalks and skins is much worse ¶ Of Cute OF Cute that is made of Must which the Latines call Sapa and Defrutum is that liquor which we call in English Cute which is made of the sweetest Must by boyling it to a certain thicknesse or boyling it to a third part as Columella writeth Pliny affirmeth That Sapa and Defrutum do differ in the manner of the boyling and that Sapa is made when the new wine is boyled away till onely a third part remaineth and Defrutum till halfe be boyled Siraeum saith he in his fourteenth booke cap. 17. which others call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and we Sapa a worke of wit and 〈◊〉 of nature is made of new wine boyled to a third part which being boiled to halfe we call Defrutum Palladius ioyneth to these Caroenum which as he saith is made when a third part is boiled away and two remaine 〈◊〉 in his Geoponicks sheweth that Hepsema must be made of eight parts of new wine and an hundred of wine it selfe boyled to a third Galen testifieth that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is new wine very much boyled The later Physitians do call Hepsemae or Sapa boyled wine Cute or boyled wine is hot yet not so hot as wine but it is thicker yet not so easily distributed or carried through the body and it slowly descendeth by vrine but by the belly oftentimes sooner for it moderately maketh the same soluble It nourisheth more and filleth the body quickly yet doth it by reason of his thicknesse sticke in the stomacke for a time and is not so fit for the liuer or for the spleene Cute also doth digest raw humors that sticke in the chest and lungs and raiseth them vp speedily It is therefore good for the cough and shortnesse of breath The 〈◊〉 of the Low-countries I will not say of London doe make of Cute and Wine mixed in a certain proportion a compound and counterfeit wine which they sell for Candy wine commonly called Malmsey
of the stems of a yellow colour after which come vp little flat pouches or purses couered ouer or contained within a little bladder or flat skin open before like the mouth of a fish wherein is contained flat yellowish seed which being ripe and drie will make a noise or ratling when it is shaken or moued of which propertie it tooke the name yellow Rattle Crista Galli Yellow Rattle or Coxcombe ¶ The Place It groweth in drie 〈◊〉 and pastures and 〈◊〉 to them a great 〈◊〉 ¶ The Time It floureth most part of the Sommer ¶ The Names It is called in low Dutch Ratelen and Geele Ratelen commonly in Larine 〈◊〉 Galli and Gallinacca Crista in English Coxcombe Penie grasse yellow or white Rattle in High Dutch it is called geel Rodel in French Creste de Coc diuers 〈◊〉 it to be the old writers Alectorolophos ‡ Some thinke it to be the Mimmulus or as others that more fitly reade it Nummulus mentioned by Pliny lib. 18. cap. 28. ‡ ¶ The Temperature and Vertues But what temperature or vertue this herbe is of men haue not as yet beene carefull to know seeing it is accounted vnprofitable CHAP. 437. Of red Rattle or Lousewoort ¶ The Description Pedicularis Lousewoort or red Rattle REd Rattle of Dodonaeus called Fistularia and according to the opinion censure of Carolus Clusius Pena others the true Alectorolophos hath very small rent or iagged leaues of a browne red colour and weake small and tender stalkes whereof some lie along trailing vpon the ground within very moorish medowes they grow a cubit high and more but in moist and wet heathes and such like barren grounds not aboue an handful high the floures grow round about the stalke from the middest thereof euen to the top and are of a brown red colour in shape like the floures of dead Nettle which being past there succeed little flat pouches wherin is contained flat and blackish 〈◊〉 in shew very like vnto the former the root is small white and tender ¶ The Place It groweth in moist and moorish medowes the herbe is not onely vnprofitable but also hurtfull and an infirmitie of the medowes ¶ The Time It is found with his floures and stalkes in May and Iune ¶ The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 in High Dutch Braun Rodel in Latine Pedicularis of the effect because it filleth sheep and other cattel that 〈◊〉 in medowes where this groweth full of lice diuers of the later 〈◊〉 call it 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Crista Galli and diuers take it to be Mimmulus herba in English Rattle-grasse Red Rattle grasse and Louse-woort ¶ The Temperature It is cold and drie and astringent ¶ The Vertues It is held to be good for Fistulaes and hollow vlcers and to stay the ouermuch flowing of the menses or any other flux of bloud if it be boiled in red wine and drunke CHAP. 438. Of Yarrow or Nose-bleed ¶ The Description 1 COmmon Yarrow hath very many stalkes comming vp a cubit high round and somewhat hard about which stand long leaues cut in the sides sundry wise and as it were made vp of many small iagged leaues euery one of which seeme to come neere to the slender leaues of Coriander there stand at the top tufts or spoked rundles the floures whereof are 〈◊〉 white or purple which being rubbed do yeeld a strong smell but vnpleasant the root sendeth downe many strings 1 Millefolium terrestre vulgare Common Yarrow 2 Millefolium flore 〈◊〉 Red floured Yarrow 2 The second kinde of Milsoile or Yarrow hath stalkes leaues and roots like vnto the former sauing that his spokie tufts are of an excellent faire red or crimson colour and being a little rubbed in the hand of a reasonable good sauour ¶ The Place The first groweth euery where in drie pastures and medowes red Milfoile groweth in a field by Sutton in Kent called Holly-Deane from whence I brought those plants that do grow in my Garden but it is not common euery where as the other is ¶ The Time They floure from May to the end of October ¶ The Names Yarrow is called of the Latine Herbarists Millefolium it is Dioscorides his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine 〈◊〉 and Achillea siderit is which thing he may very plainely see that will compare with that 〈◊〉 which Dioscorides hath set downe 〈◊〉 was found out saith Pliny in his 25. booke chap. 〈◊〉 by Achilles Chirons disciple which for that cause is named 〈◊〉 of others 〈◊〉 among vs 〈◊〉 yet be there other Sideritides and also another Panaces 〈◊〉 whereof we will 〈◊〉 in another place Apuleius setteth downe diuers names hereof some of which are also 〈◊〉 among the bastard names in Dioscorides in Latine it is called 〈◊〉 Supercilium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Acorum syluaticum of the French-men Millefucille in high Dutch Garben 〈◊〉 in low Dutch Geruwe in Italian Millefoglio in Spanish Milhoyas yerua in English Yarrow Nose-bleed common Yarrow red Yarrow and Milfoile ¶ The Temperature Yarrow as Galen saith is not vnlike in temperature to the Sideritides or Iron worts that is to say clensing and meanely cold but it most of all bindeth ¶ The Vertues The leaues of Yarrow doe close vp wounds and keepe them from inflammation or fiery swelling it stancheth bloud in any part of the body and it is likewise put into bathes for women to sit in it stoppeth the laske and being drunke it helpeth the bloudy flixe Most men say that the leaues chewed and especially greene are a remedy for the tooth-ache The leaues being put into the nose do cause it to bleed and ease the paine of the megrim It cureth the inward excorations of the yard of a man comming by reason of pollutions or extreme flowing of the seed although the issue do cause inflammation and swelling of those secret parts and though the spermaticke matter do come downe in great quantity 〈◊〉 the juice be injected with a syringe or the decoction This hath been prooued by a certain friend of mine sometimes a Fellow of Kings Colledge in Cambridge who lightly brused the leaues of common Yarrow with Hogs-grease and applied it warme vnto the priuie parts and thereby did diuers times helpe himselfe and others of his fellowes when he was a student and a single man liuing in Cambridge One dram in powder of the herbe giuen in wine presently taketh away the paines of the colicke CHAP. 439. Of yellow Yarrow or Milfoile 1 Millefolium luteum Yellow Yarrow 2 Achillea siue Milsefo lium nobile Achilles Yarrow ¶ The Description 1 YEllow Yarrow is a small plant seldome aboue a span high the stalkes whereof are couered with long leaues very finely cut in the edges like feathers in the wings of little birds the tufts or spokie 〈◊〉 bring forth yellow floures of the same shape and forme of the common Yarrow the root consisteth of threddy strings 2 Achilles Yarrow or noble Milfoile hath a thicke and tough root with strings fastened thereto
time and wither away at the approch of Winter ¶ The Names It is called both in Greeke and Latine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Euphorbium Pliny in one place putteth the herbe in the feminine gender naming it Euphorbia the iuyce is called also Euphorbion and so it is likewise in shops we are faine in English to vse the Latine word and to call both the herbe and iuyce by the name of Euphorbium 〈◊〉 other name we hauenone it may be called in English the Gum Thistle ¶ The Temperature Euphorbium that is to say the congealed iuvce which we vse is of a very hot and as Galen testifieth causticke or burning facultie and of thinne parts it is also hot and dry in the fourth degree ¶ The Vertues An emplaister made with the gumme Euphorbium and twelue times so much oyle and a little wax is very singular against all aches of the ioynts lamenesse palsies crampes and shrinking of sinewes as Galen lib. 4. de 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 genera declareth at large which to recite at this present would but trouble you ouermuch Euphorbium mingled with oyle of Bay and Beares grease cureth the scurfe and scalds of the head and pildnesse causing the haire to grow againe and other bare places being anointed therewith The same mingled with oyle and applied to the temples of such are very sleepie and troubled with the lethargie doth awaken and quicken their spirits againe If it be applied to the nuque or nape of the necke it bringeth their speech againe that haue lost it by reason of the Apoplexie Euphorbium mingled with vineger and applied taketh away all foule and ill fauoured spots in what part of the body soeuer they be Being mixed with oyle of 〈◊〉 floures as Mesues saith and with any other oyle or ointments it quickly heateth such parts as are 〈◊〉 cold It is likewise a remedie against 〈◊〉 paines in the huckle bones called the Sciatica 〈◊〉 Paulus 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 doe report That if it be inwardly taken it purgeth by siege water and 〈◊〉 but withall it setteth on fire scortcheth and fretteth not onely the throat and mouth but also the stomacke liuer and the rest of the intrals and inflames the whole bodie For that cause it must not be beaten smal and it is to be tempered with such things as allay the heate and sharpenesse thereof and that make glib and slipperie of which things there must be such a quantitie as that it may be sufficient to couer all ouer the superficiall or outward part thereof But it is a hard thing so to couer and fold it vp or to mix it as that it will not burne or scortch For though it be tempered with neuer so much oyle if it be outwardly applied it raiseth blisters especially in them that haue soft and tender flesh and therfore it is better not to take it inwardly It is troublesome to beate it vnlesse the nostrils of him that beats it be carefully stopped and defended for if it happen that the hot sharpnesse thereof do enter into the nose it presently causeth 〈◊〉 and moueth neesing and after that by reason of the extremitie of the heate it draweth out aboundance of flegme and filth and last of all bloud not without great quantity of 〈◊〉 But against the hot sharpnesse of Euphorbium it is reported that the inhabitants are remedied by a certaine herbe which of the effect and contrarie faculties is named Anteuphorbium 〈◊〉 plant likewise is full of iuyce which is nothing at all hot and sharpe but coole and 〈◊〉 allaying the heate and sharpnesse of Euphorbium We haue not yet learned that the old writers haue set downe any thing touching this herbe notwithstanding it seemeth to be a kinde of Orpine which is the antidote or counterpoyson against the poyson and venome of Euphorbium ‡ CHAP. 493. Of soft Thistles and Thistle gentle ‡ THere are certaine other plants by most writers referred to the Thistles which being omitted by our Author I haue thought fit here to giue you ‡ Cirsium maximum Asphodeli radice Great soft bulbed Thistle 2 Cirsium maius alterum Great soft Thistle ¶ The Description 1 THe first and largest of these hath roots consisting of great longish bulbes like those of the Asphodill from whence arise many large stalkes three or foure cubits high crested and downy the leaues are very long and large iuycie greenish and cut about the edges and set with soft prickles At the tops of the stalkes and branches grow heads round and large out whereof come floures consisting of aboundance of threds of a purple colour which flie away in downe This growes wilde in the mountainous medowes and in some wet places of Austria I haue seene it growing in the garden of Mr. Iohn Parkinson and with Mr. Tuggye It floures in Iuly Clusius hath called it Cirsium maximum mont incano folio bulbosa radice But he gaue no figure thereof nor any else vnlesse the Acanthium peregrinum in Tabernamont which our Author formerly as I before noted gaue by the name of 〈◊〉 lutea 〈◊〉 were intended for this plant as 〈◊〉 verily thinke it was I haue giuen you a figure which I drew some yeares 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the plant it selfe 2 The root of this is long yet sending forth of the sides creeping fibres but not 〈◊〉 the leaues are like those of the last mentioned but lesse and armed with sharpe prickles of a 〈◊〉 colour with the middle rib white the heads sometimes stand vpright and 〈◊〉 long downe they are very prickly and send 〈◊〉 floures consisting of many 〈◊〉 purple threds The stalkes are thicke crested and welted with the setting on of the leaues This growes wilde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sea 〈◊〉 of Zeeland Flanders and Holland it floures in Iune and Iuly it is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and Cirsium maius of Lobel 3 This whose root is fibrous and liuing sends forth lesser narrower and 〈◊〉 leaues than those of the former not iagged or cut about their edges nor hoary yet set about with prickles the stalkes are crested the heads are smaller and grow three or foure together carrying such purple floures as the former This is that which Matthiolus 〈◊〉 and others haue set forth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Cirsium 2. and Clusius hath it for his 〈◊〉 quartum or Montanum secundum ‡ 3 Cirsium folijs non hirsut is Soft smooth leaued Thistle ‡ 4 Cirsium montanum capitulis paruis Small Burre Thistle 4 The leaues of this are somewhat like those of the last described but larger and welting the stalkes further at their setting on they are also set with prickles about the edges the stalks are some two cubits high diuided into sundry long slender branches on whose tops grow little rough prickly heads which after the floures come to perfection doe hang downewards and at the length turne into downe amongst which lies hid a smooth shining seed This groweth wilde in diuers wooddy places of Hungarie and Austria It is the Cirsium of 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 2. or
branches a cubit high wheron 〈◊〉 grow leaues diuided or 〈◊〉 of sundry other small leaues like the wilde Vetch ending at the 〈◊〉 rib with some clasping tendrels wherewith it taketh 〈◊〉 of such things as are neere 〈◊〉 it among these come sorth little brownish floures mixed with white which turne into small 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 little browne slat seed and sometimes white 1 Lens maior Great Lentils 2 Lens minor Little Lentils ¶ The Place These Pulses do grow in my garden and it is reported vnto me by those of good credit that about Watford in Middlesex and other places of England the husbandmen do sow them for their cattell euen as others do Tares ¶ The Time They both floure and wax ripe in Iuly and August ¶ The Names They are called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Lens and Lenticula in high-Dutch 〈◊〉 in French Lentille in Italian Lentichia in Spanish Lenteia in English Lentils ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Lentils as Galen saith are in a meane betweene hot and cold yet are they dry in the second degree their skin is astringent or binding and the meate or substance within is of a thicke and earthy iuyce hauing a qualitie that is a little austere or something harsh much more the skin thereof but the iuyce of them is quite contrarie to the binding qualitie wherefore if a man shal boile them in faire water and afterwards season the water with salt and pickle aut cum ipsis oleo condiens and then take it the same drinke doth loose the belly The first decoction of Lentils doth loose the belly but if they be boyled againe and the first decoction cast away then doe they binde and are good against the bloudy flixe or dangerous laskes They do their operation more effectually in stopping or binding if all or any of these following be bovled therewith that is to say red Beets Myrtles pils of Pomegranats dried Roses Medlars Seruice berries vnripe Peares Quinces Paintaine leaues Galls or the berries of Sumach The meale of Lentils mixed with honey doth mundifie and clense corrupt vlcers and rotten 〈◊〉 filling them with flesh againe and is most singular to be put into the common digestiues vsed among our 〈◊〉 Surgeons for greene wounds The Lentil hauing the skin or coat taken off as it loseth that strong binding qualitie and those accidents that depend on the same so doth it more nourish than if it had the skin on It in gendreth thicke and naughty iuyce and slowly passeth thorow the belly yet doth it not stay the loosnesse as that doth which hath his coat on and therefore they that vse to eat too much thereof do necessarily become Lepers and are much subiect to cankers for thicke and dry nourishments are apt to breed melancholy Therefore the Lentill is good food for them that through waterish humours be apt to fall into the dropsie and it is a most dangerous food for dry and withered bodies for which cause it bringeth dimnesse of sight though the sight be perfect through his excessiue drinesse whereby the spirits of the sight be wasted but it is good for them that are of a quitecontrarie constitution It is not good for those that want their termes for it breedeth thicke bloud and such as slowly passeth through the veines But it is singular good to stay the menses as Galen in his booke of the faculties of nourishments 〈◊〉 It causeth 〈◊〉 dreames as Dioscorides doth moreouer write it hurteth the head sinewes and lungs It is good to swallow downe thirty graines of Lentils shelled or taken from their husks against the 〈◊〉 of the stomacke Being boyled with parched barly meale and laid to it asswageth the paine and ach of the gout With honey it filleth vp hollow sores it breaketh aschares clenseth vlcers being boyled in wine it wasteth away wens and hard swellings of the throat With a 〈◊〉 and Melilot and oyle of Roses it helpeth the inflammation of the eyes and fundament but in greater inflammations of the fundament and great deep 〈◊〉 it is boyled with the rinde of a pomegranat dry Rose leaues and honey And after the same maner against 〈◊〉 sores that are mortified if sea water be added it is also a remedie against pushes the shingles and the hot inflammation called S. Anthonies fire and for kibes in such manner as we haue written being boyled in sea water and applied it helps womens brests in which the milke is cluttered and cannot suffer too great aboundance of milke CHAP. 514. Of Cich or true Orobus Orobus receptus Herbariorum The true Orobus ¶ The Description THis Pulse which of most Herbarists is taken for the true Orobus and called of some bitter Fitch is one of the Pulses whose tender branches traile vpon the ground as 〈◊〉 saith and whose long tender branches spred far abroad whereon doe grow leaues like those of the field Vetch among which grow white floures after which come long cods that appeare bunched on the outside against the place where the seeds do lie which are small round russet of colour and of a bitter taste the root is small and single ¶ The Place It prospereth best in a leane 〈◊〉 according to Columella it groweth in woods and copses in sundry places of Spaine and Italy but here only in gardens ¶ The Time This is sowne early and late but if it be sowne in the spring it easily commeth vp and is pleasant and vnpleasant if it be sowne in the fall of the leafe ¶ The Names This is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the shops of Germanie haue kept the name Orobus the Italians cal it Macho the Spaniards Yeruo and Yeruos in English it is called bitter Vetch or bitter Fitch and Orobus after the Latine name Of some Ers after the French name ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Galen in his first booke of the Faculties of nourishments saith That men do altogether abstaine from the bitter Vetch for it hath a very vnpleasant taste and naughty iuyce but Kine in Asia and in most other countries do eate thereof being made sweet by steeping in water notwithstanding men being compelled through necessitie of great famine as Hippocrates also hath written do oftentimes feed thereof and we also dressing them 〈◊〉 the manner of Lupines vse the bitter Vetches with honey as a medicine that purgeth thicke and grosse humors out of the chest and lungs Moreouer among the bitter Vetches the white are not so medicinable but those which are neere to a yellow or to the colour of Okar and those that haue beene twice boyled or sundrie times soked in water lose their bitter and vnpleasant taste and withall their clensing and cutting qualitie so that there is onely left in them an earthy substance which serues 〈◊〉 nourishment that drieth without any manifest bitternesse And in his booke of the Faculties of simple medicines he-saith That bitter Vetch is dry in the later end of the
and biting inflameth and setteth the tongue on fire and with his slimie and clammy substance doth so draw together shut and glue vp the guts as that there is no passage for the excrements which things are mentioned among the mischiefes that Ixia bringeth ‡ I can by no meanes approue of or yeeld to this opinion here deliuered out of Dodonaeus by our Author which is That the Bird-lime made of the berries of Misseltoe is poyson or that Ixia set forth by Dioscorides and Nicander for a poyson is meant of this for this is manifestly treated of in Dioscorides lib. 3. cap. 103. by the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when as the other is mentioned lib. 6. cap. 21. by the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Also dayly experience shewes this plant to haue no maligne nor poisonous but rather a contrarie facultie being frequently vsed in medicines against the Epilepsie Such as would see more concerning Ixia or Ixias let them haue recourse to the first chapter of the first part of Fabius Columna de Stirpib min. cognitis rarioribus where they shall finde it largely treated of ‡ ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The leaues and berries of Misseltoe are hot and dry and of subtill parts the Bird-lime is hot and biting and consists of an airy and waterie substance with some earthy qualitie for according to the iudgement of Galen his acrimony ouercommeth his bitternesse for if it be vsed in outward applications it draweth humors from the deepest or most secret parts of the body spreading and dispersing them abroad and digesting them It ripeneth swellings in the groine hard swellings behinde the eares and other impostumes being tempered with rosin and a little quantitie of wax With Frankincense it mollifieth old vlcers and malicious impostumes being boyled with vnslaked lime or with Gagate lapide or Asio and applied it wasteth away the hardnes of the spleene With Orpment or Sandaraca it taketh away foule ill fauoured nailes being mixed with vnslaked lime and wine lees it receiueth greater force It hath been most credibly reported vnto me that a few of the berries of Misseltoe bruised and strained into Oyle and drunken hath presently and forthwith rid a grieuous and sore stitch CHAP. 39. Of the Cedar tree ¶ The Kindes THere be two Cedars one great bearing Cones the other small bearing berries like those of Iuniper Cedrus Libani The great Cedar tree of Libanus ¶ The Description THe great Cedar is a very big and high tree not onely exceeding all other resinous trees and those which beare fruit like vnto it but in his tallnesse and largenesse farre surmounting all other trees the body or trunke thereof is commonly of a mighty bignesse insomuch as foure men are not able to fathome it as Theophrastus writeth the barke of the lower part which proceedeth out of the earth to the first yong branches or 〈◊〉 is rough and harsh the rest which is among the boughes is smooth and glib the boughes grow forth almost from the bottome and not farre from the ground euen to the very top waxing by degrees lesser and shorter still as they grow higher the tree bearing the forme or shape of a Pyramide or sharpe pointed sleeple these compasse the body round about in maner of a circle and are so orderly placed by degrees as that a man may clymbe vp by them to the very top as by a ladder the leaues be small and round like those of the Pine tree but shorter and not so sharp pointed all the cones or clogs are far shorter and thicker than those of the Firre tree compact of soft not hard scales which hang not downewards but stand vpright vpon the boughes whereunto also they are so strongly fastned as they can hardly be plucked off without breaking of some part of the branches as Bellonius writeth the timber is extreme hard and rotteth not nor waxeth old there is no wormes nor rottennesse can hurt or take the hard matter or heart of this wood which is very odoriferous and somewhat red Solomon King of the Iewes did therefore build Gods Temple in Ierusalem of Cedarwood the Gentiles were wont to make their Diuels or Images of this kinde of wood that they might last the longer ¶ The Place The Cedar trees grow vpon the snowie mountaines as in Syria vpon mount Libanus on which there remaine some euen to this day saith Bellonius planted as is thought by Solomon himselfe they are likewise found on the mountaines Taurus and Amanus in cold and stony places the merchants of the factorie at Tripolis told me that the Cedar tree groweth vpon the declining of the mountaine Libanus neere vnto the Hermitage by the city Tripolis in Syria they that dwel in Syria vse to make boats thereof for want of the Pine tree ¶ The Time The Cedar tree remaineth alwaies greene as other trees which beare such manner of fruit the timber of the Cedar tree and the images and other workes made thereof seeme to sweat and 〈◊〉 forth moisture in moist and rainy weather as do likewise all that haue an oylie iuyce as 〈◊〉 witnesseth ¶ The Names This huge and mighty tree is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine likewise Cedrus in English Cedar and Cedar tree Pliny lib. 24. cap. 5. nameth it Cedrelate as though he should say Cedrus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cedrina abies Cedar Firre both that it may differ from the little Cedar and also because it is 〈◊〉 like to the Firre tree The Rosin hath no proper name but it may be syrnamed Cedrina or Cedar Rosin The pitch which is drawne out of this is properly called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 yet Pliny writeth that also the liquor of the Torch Pine is named Cedrium The best saith Dioscorides is fat thorow shining and of a strong smell which being poured out in drops vniteth it selfe together and doth not remaine seuered ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Cedar is of temperature hot and dry with such an exquisite tenuitie and subtiltie of parts that it seemeth to be hot and dry in the fourth degree especially the Pitch or Rosin thereof There issueth out of this tree a Rosin like vnto that which issueth out of the Fir tree very sweet in smell of a clammy or cleauing substance the which if you chew in your teeth it will hardly be gotten forth againe it cleaueth so fast at the first it is liquid and white but being dried in the sun it waxeth hard if it be boiled in the fire an excellent pitch is made thereof called Cedar Pitch The Aegyptians were wont to coffin and embalme their dead in Cedar and with Cedar pitch although they vsed also other meanes as Herodotus recordeth The condited or embalmed body they call in shops 〈◊〉 but very vnfitly for Mumia among the Arabians is that which the Grecians call Pissasphalton as appeareth by Auiccn cap. 474. and out of Serapio cap. 393. I le that interpreted and translated Serapio was the cause of
Salix marina or Salix Amerina and Piper Agreste in high Dutch Schaffmulle 〈◊〉 in low Dutch and also of the Apothecaries Agnus Castus the Italians Vitice Agno Casto in Spanish Gattile casto in English Chaste tree Hempe tree and of diuers Agnus castus ‡ The name Agnus Castus comes by confounding the Greeke name Agnos with Castus the Latine interpretation thereof ‡ ¶ The Temperature The leaues and fruit of Agnus castus are hot and drie in the third degree they are of very thin parts and waste or consume winde The Vertues Agnus Castus is a singular medicine and remedie for such as would willingly liue chaste for it withstandeth all vncleannesse or desire to the flesh consuming and drying vp the seed of generation in what sort soeuer it be taken whether in pouder onely or the decoction drunke or whether the leaues be carried about the body for which cause it was called Castus that is to say chaste cleane and pure The seed of Agnus Castus drunken driueth away and dissolueth all windinesse of the stomacke openeth and cureth the stoppings of the liuer and spleen and in the beginning of dropsies it is good to be drunke in wine in the quantitie of a dram The leaues stamped with butter dissolue and asswage the swellings of the genitories and cods being applied thereto The decoction of the herbe and seed is good against pain and inflammations about the matrix if women be caused to sit and bathe their priuy parts therein the seed being drunke with Pennyroiall bringeth downe the menses as it doth also both in a fume and in a pessary in a Pultis it cureth the head-ache the Phrenticke and those that haue the Lethargie are woont to be 〈◊〉 herewith oile and vineger being added thereto The leaues vsed in a fume and also strowed driue away serpents and beeing layed on doe cure their bitings The seed laied on with water doth heale the clifts or rifts of the fundament with the leaues it is a remedie for lims out of ioint and for wounds It is reported that if such as iourney or trauell do carry with them a branch or rod of Agnus Castus in their hand it will keep them from Merry-galls and wearinesse Diosc. CHAP. 55. Of the Willow Tree ¶ The Description 1 THe common Willow is an high tree with a body of a meane thicknesse and riseth vp as high as other trees doe if it be not topped in the beginning soone after it is planted the barke thereof is smooth tough and flexible the wood is white tough and hard to be broken the leaues are long lesser and narrower than those of the Peach tree somewhat greene on the vpper side and slipperie and on the nether side softer and whiter the boughes be couered either with a purple or else with a white barke the catkins which grow on the toppes of the branches come first of all forth being long and mossie and quickly turne into white and soft downe that is carried away with the winde 1 Salix The common Willow 2 Salix aquatica The Oziar or water Willow 2 The lesser bringeth forth of the head which standeth somewhat out slender wands or twigs with a reddish or greene barke good to make baskets and such like workes of it is planted by the twigs or rods being thrust into the earth the vpper part whereof when they are growne vp is cut off so that which is called the head increaseth vnder them from whence the slender twigs doe grow which being oftentimes cut the head waxeth greater many times also the long rods or wands of the higher Withy trees be lopped off and thrust into the ground for plants but deeper and aboue mans height of which do grow great rods profitable for many things and commonly for bands wherewith tubs and casks are bound 3 The Sallow tree or Goats Willow groweth to a tree of a meane bignesse the trunke or body is soft and hollow timber couered with a whitish rough barke the branches are set with leaues somewhat rough greene aboue and hoarie vnderneath among which come forth round catkins or aglets that turne into downe which is carried away with the winde 4 This other Sallow tree differeth not from the precedent but in this one point that is to say the leaues are greater and longer and euery part of the tree larger wherein is the difference ‡ Both those last described haue little roundish leaues like little eares growing at the bottoms of the foot-stalkes of the bigger leaues whereby they may bee distinguished from all other Plants of this kinde ‡ 3 Salix Caprearotundi folia The Goat round leafed Willow 4 Salix Caprea latifolia The Goat broad leafed Sallow 5 Salix Rosea Anglica The English Rose Willow 6 The low or base Willow groweth but low leaneth weakly vpon the ground hauing many small and narrow leaues set vpon limber and pliant branches of a darke or blackish greene colour amongst which comeforth long slender stems full of mossie floures which turne into a light downie substance that flieth away with the winde 7 The dwarfe Willow hath very small and slender branches seldome times aboue a foot but neuer a cubit high couered with a duskish barke with very little and narrow leaues of a greene colour aboue and on the vpper side but vnderneath of a hory or ouerworne greenish colour in bignesse and fashion of the leaues of garden Flax among which come forth little duskish floures which doe turne into downe that is carried away with the winde the root is small and threddy of the bignesse of a finger and of a blackish colour 6 Salix humilis The low Willow 7 Chamaeitea siue Salix pumila Thedwarfe Willow ‡ 8 Salix humilis repens Creeping dwarfe Willow ¶ The Place These Willowes grow in diuers places of England the Rose-Willow groweth plentifully in Cambridge shire by the riuers and ditches there in Cambridge towne they grow aboundantly about the places called Paradise and Hell-mouth in the way from Cambridge to Grandchester I found the dwarfe Willowes growing neere to a 〈◊〉 or marish ground at the further end of Hampsted heath vpon the declining of the hill in the ditch that incloseth a small Cottage there not halfe a furlong from the said house or cottage ¶ The Time The willowes do floure at the beginning of the Spring ¶ The Names The Willow tree is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Salix in high-Dutch 〈◊〉 in low-Durch 〈◊〉 in Italian 〈◊〉 Salcio in French Saux in Spanish Salgueiro Salzer and Sauz in English Sallow Withie and Willow The greater is called in Latine Salix perticalis common Withy Willow and Sallow especially that which being often lopped sendeth out from one head many boughs the kinde hereof with the red barke is called of Theophrastus blacke Withy and the other white Pliny calleth the black Graeca or Greeke Withie the red being the Greeke Withy saith he is easie to be cleft and the whiter 〈◊〉 Theophrastus
of an ouerworne greenish colour in these bladders are contained two little nuts and sometimes no more but one lesser than the Hasell nut but greater than the Ram Cich with a wooddie shel and somewhat red the kernell within is something green in taste at the first sweet but afterwards lothsome and ready to prouoke vomit ¶ The Place It groweth in Italy Germany and France it groweth likewise at the house of sir Walter Culpepper neere Flimmewell in the Weild of Kent as 〈◊〉 in the Frier yard without Saint Paules gate in Stamford and about Spalding Abbey and in the garden of the right honourable the Lord Treasurer my very good Lord and Master and by his house in the Strand It groweth also in my garden and in the garden hedges of sir Francis Carew neere Croydon seuen miles from London ¶ The Time This tree floureth in May the Nuts be ripe in August and September ¶ The Names It is commonly called in high Dutch 〈◊〉 which signifieth in low Dutch 〈◊〉 diuers call it in Latine Pistacium Germanicum we thinke it best to call it Nux vesicaria 〈◊〉 in his Epistles doth iudge the Turks 〈◊〉 and Hebulben to agree with this Gulielmus 〈◊〉 affirmeth Coulcoul to be vsed of diuers in Constantinople for a daintie especially when they be new brought out of Egypt This plant hath no old name vnlesse it be Staphylodendron 〈◊〉 forwhich it is taken of the later writers and Pliny hath written of it in his 16. book 16. chap. There is also saith he beyond the Alpes a tree the timber whereof is very like to that of white Maple and is called Staphylodendron it beareth cods and in those kernels hauing the 〈◊〉 of the Hasel nut It is called in English S. Anthonies nuts wilde Pistacia or Bladder nuts the Italians call it 〈◊〉 Saluaticke the French men call it Baguenaudes a patre nostres for that the Friers do vse to make 〈◊〉 of the nuts ¶ The Temperature and Vertues These nuts are moist and ful of superfluous raw humours and therefore they easily procure a readinesse to vomite and trouble the stomacke by reason that withall they be somewhat binding and therefore they be not to be eaten They haue as yet no vse in medicine yet notwithstanding some haue attributed vnto them some vertues in prouoking of Venerie CHAP. 89. Of the Hasell tree ¶ The Description 1 THe Hasell tree groweth like a shrub or small tree parted into boughes without ioints tough and pliable the leaues are broad greater and fuller of wrinckles than those of the Alder tree cut in the edges like a saw of colour greene and on the backside more white the bark is thin the root is thicke strong and growing deep in stead of floures hang downe catkins aglets or blowings slender and well compact afterwhich come the Nuts standing in a tough cup of a greene colour and iagged at the vpper end like almost vnto the beards in Roses The shell is smooth and wooddie the kernel within consisteth of a white hard and sound pulpe and is couered with a thin skin oftentimes red most commonly white this kernell is sweet and pleasant vnto the taste 1 Nux Auellana sive Corylus The Filberd Nut. 2 Corylus syluestris The wilde hedge Nut. 2 Corylus syluestris is our hedge Nut or Hasell Nut tree which is very well knowne and therefore needeth not any description whereof there are also sundry sorts some great some little some rathe ripe some later as also one that is manured in our gardens which is very great bigger than any Filberd and yet a kinde of Hedge nut this then that hath beene said shall suffice for HedgeNuts ‡ 3 The small Turky Nut tree growes but low and the leaues grow without order vpon the twigs they are in shape like those of the former but somewhat longer the chiefe difference consists in the fruit which is small and like an Hasell Nut but shorter the huske wherein somtimes one otherwhiles more Nuts are contained is very large tough and hard diuided both aboue and below into a great many iags which on euery side couer and hold in the Nuts and these cups are very rough without but smooth on the inside 〈◊〉 first set this 〈◊〉 hauing receiued it from Constantinople by the name of Auellana pumila 〈◊〉 ‡ 3 Auellana pumila 〈◊〉 cum suo 〈◊〉 The Filberd Nut of Constantinople ¶ The Place The Hasell trees do commonly grow in Woods and in dankish vntoiled places they are also set in Orchards the Nuts whereof are better and of a sweeter taste and be most commonly red within ¶ The Time The 〈◊〉 or aglets come forth very timely before winter be fully past and fall away in March or Aprill so soone as the leaues come forth the Nuts be ripe in August ¶ The Names This shrub is called in Latine Corylus in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is 〈◊〉 Pontica or Ponticke Nut in high-Dutch Hasel strauck in low-Dutch Haseleer in English Hasel tree and Filberd tree but the Filberd tree is properly that which groweth in gardens and Orchards and whose fruit is commonly wholly couered ouer with the huske and the shell is thinner The Nut is named in Latine Nux Pontica 〈◊〉 Nux 〈◊〉 Nux it is also called Nux Praenestina Nux 〈◊〉 and commonly Nux auellana by which name it is vsually knowne to the Apothecaries in high-Dutch Hasel Nusz in low-Dutch Hasel Noten in Italian Nocciuole 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in French 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Spanish Auellanas in English Hasell nut and Filberd These Nuts that haue their skinnes red are the garden and planted Nuts and the right Pontick Nuts or Filberds they are called in high-Dutch Rhurnusz and Rotnusz in low-Dutch Roode Hasel Noten in English Filberds and red Filberds The other Nuts which be white are iudged to be wilde ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Hasell Nuts newly gathered and not as yet dry containe in them a certaine superfluous moisture by reason whereof they are windie not onely the new gathered Nuts but the dry also be very hard of digestion for they are of an earthy and cold essence and of an hard and sound substance for which cause also they very slowly passe thorow the belly therefore they are troublesome and clogging to the stomacke cause head-ache especially when they be eaten in too great a quantitie The kernells of Nuts made into milke like Almonds do mightily bind the belly and are good for the laske and the bloudy flix The same doth coole exceedingly in hot feuers and burning agues The catkins are cold and dry and likewise binding they also stay the lask ‡ The kernels of Nuts rather cause than cure the bloudy flix and lasks wherefore they are not to be vsed in such diseases ‡ CHAP. 90. Of the Wall-nut tree Nux Iuglans The 〈◊〉 tree ¶ The Description THis is a great tree with a thicke and tall body the barke is somewhat greene and tending to the colour of ashes and oftentimes