last is called Romanum The Arabians call it Kuman and Ruman the Italians Melo granata and Pomogranato the Spaniards Granadas and Romanas the French Grenadier the tree and Pâ—â—e de Grenade and Migraine the fruite the Germanes Granatoepffel the Dutch Grannetappel and we in English Pomegranet or Pomegarnet The Vertues All the sorts of Pomegarnets breed good blood but nourish little and are helping to the stomacke yet those that are sweete please best but that they somewhat heate it and breede winde and therefore forbidden in agues because they breede choller the sower doe binde and are fit for an hot fainting stomacke and stay casting and provoke urine and are somewhat offensive to the teeth and gummes in the eating those that are of a meane or winy taste are indifferent to each part the seedes within the fruite or the rinde thereof doe binde very forcibly either the pouther or the decoction taken and stay casting the bloody flixe womens courses either red or white the spitting of blood and the running of the reynes it is said also that they are good for the dropsie the flowers worke the same effects the fruite is good against the bitings of the Sea Hare and the bitings of the Scorpion and stayeth the immoderate longings of women with childe the decoction of the rinde or seedes of the fruite with a little Syrope put to it is good against Cankers in the mouth and ulcers in the privy parts the fundament or any other part of the body and is good against the rupture it helpeth also the ulcers or running sores in the eares or nose or rheumes in the eyes to be dropped or injected and fastneth loose teeth destroyeth the flat wormes in the body and helpeth to take away wens or the like out-growings in the flesh with the rinde of Pomegarnets instead of Gaules or else with the Gaules also is made the best sort of writing incke exceeding the ordinary both for blackenesse and durability CHAP. LXXX Prunus The Plume tree OF Plummes there is so great variety as I have shewed elsewhere that it were but actum agere to repeate them here againe I will therefore give you a generall description of the tree I meane the manured kinde for the wilde kinde which is our Blacke thorne or Sloe is extant in another Classis of this Worke before and that the fruite differeth in forme colour and taste one from another with the best properties they are serviceable unto Vnto the Family of the Plummes belong both Apricockes Peaches and Nectarins all of them being Plummes but of severall kindes I will therefore place the Apricocke in this Chapter as nearest to them and the rest in the next Chapter following 1. Prunus vulgaris The ordinary Plumme tree The Plum tree for the most part riseth to be a great tall tree whose body and armes are covered with a rugged barke more or lesse the younger branches being smooth in all the leaves are somewhat long and broad and rounder in most then those of Cherryes yet differing much among themselves some being longer larger or rounder then others the flowers are white and small made of five leaves a peece the fruite is very variable in forme some being ovall or Peare fashion or Almond like or round in colour some being white or yellow red greene or blacke and in taste some being soft and waterish others firmer and not so moist some sweete some sower and others of a meane taste betweene both or harsh or of a taste differing from all these wherein is contained a small smooth flattish stone with a white bitter kernell within it Flore duplici Mr. Tradescant had a sort that bore doubleflowers but perished not long continuing with him Prunâ— The Plumme tree Armeniaca malus sive Pracocia The Apricocke tree 2. Malus Armeniaca sive praecocia The Apricocke tree The Apricocke tree if it stand by it selfe as a standard tree like other Plumme trees which it seldome doth in our Country for that it would hardly beare fruite in that manner will rise to be as great as a Plumme tree with great broad and almost round leaves but pointed at the ends and finely dented about the edges the flowers are white and like the former but larger the fruite that followeth is round with a cleft or open furrow in the middle somewhat like unto a Peach of a pale yellowish colour on the outside as well as on the inside and a little reddish on a side in most yet whiter in some and of differing sizes also some smaller or greater of a firmer or faster close substance then any of the Plummes a smooth flattish stone in the middle great or little according to the fruite which is ripe with or before the earlier sort of Plummes and likely long before any of our earely sorts were knowne in former times which was the cause of the name and a sweete kernell within it Nucleo 〈◊〉 yet it is said there is one that hath a bitter kernell which I have not seene The Place and Time All the sorts of them are planted none of them growing naturally in our Country and either in Orchards for their private possessours or in the Hedges or other places of the Fields Woods or Parkes abroad and flower before eyther Apple or Peare and the Apricocke before any Plumme by a moneth or more and is ripe by St. Iames tide usually the other sorts of Plummes comming on every one in their degree some earlier and some later The Names The Plume as it is thought is in Greeke the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Theophrastus lib. 4. c. 3. and the fruite 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Prunus and Prunum but I much doubt of it because beside other things not correspondent he saith the leaves doe alwayes abide on the tree Ingens Prunorum turba saith Pliny even in his time but I thinke more then twice so many now Bellonius lib. 2. c 91. saith that the Damasco Plummes that he saw dryed at Damasco were bigger then a Wallnut of a firme substance and sweete taste a little tart with a stone within it rather long and flat then thicke and round and were deare sold even there The Apricocke is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Chrysomela i. e. Mala aurea Malus Armeniaca and Praecocia by all Authours yet some call it Baracocca The Plumme is called by the Arabians Anas Avas and Hagias by the Italians Prune and Succine by the Spaniards Prunas Audrinas and Amexcas by the French Prunier and Prunes by the Germanes Pflaumenboom by the Dutch Pruymbonen and we Plummes The Apricocke is called by the Arabians Mex and Mirmex by the Italians Armoniache Moniache Bachoce and Grisomels by the Spaniards Alhiricoques Alvaricoques and Albarchigas by the French Abricot and Carmaignoles by the Germanes Sir Iohan Pffersich and by us Apricocke The Vertues There is much diversity in the faculty of Plummes for some that are sweete
ancients because he saith it was so called by some in his dayes and some the Mandragoras of Theophrastus to be this Circaea and have attributed the vertues thereof unto it but assuredly none of these herbes nor that in the former Chapter is answerable unto the description of Dioscorides his Circaea for although he saith the leaves of Circaea are like Nightshade yet the flowers are many and blacke and the seede like unto Millet growing in small hornes the roote also he saith is almost a foote long three or foure together being white sweete in smell and of an heating or warming property so that as I said none of these answer unto this description in all things for the seede of none of them is contained in hornes or crooked cods although Tragus saith the Amaranthus is yet the rootes are not sweete nor heating nor of any use when as the chiefest property of Dioscorides his Circaea consisted in the roote applyed for many purposes It is called in English of Gerard Inchanters Nightshade derived from Circes the great Enchantresse mentioned by the ancient writers but why he should call it also Bindweede Nightshade and his corrector letteth it so passe I see no cause for that name doth better agree unto the wood Nightshade set forth in the former Chapter because it doth climbe like a Bindweed The Vertues There hath not beene any of the moderne writers either Tragus Gesner Thalius Lobel and Pena or Tabermontanus that have set downe any property wherewith any inward or outward diseases may be helped thereby but have overpassed them as though none of all the Country people where they grow made any use thereof but assuredly by the temperate qualityes of cold and moisture therein they may not unfitly nor peradventure without good effect be applyed in hot griefes as the Nightshade is although it be moist and not astringent as it is I doe not here set downe any of the vertues of Dioscorides his Circaea because this is not it neither doe we know what it is CHAP. IX Solana Pomifera Applebearing Nightshades VNto the kindes of Nightshade I must as divers other good authors doe joyne some other plantes which for their qualities either more or lesse dangerous or for their outward forme and proportion doe somewhat agree with the former set done 1. Solanum pomiferum herbariorum Lobelij Lobels red berried Nightshade It groweth like common Nightshade but greater the leaves are like small Tobacco leaves the flowers are white like the ordinary sort the berryes are small and round of an orient reddish colour with white seedes within them of an insipide taste almost without any heate or sharpenesse and perisheth every yeare as Nightshade doth this differeth from Mala Aethiopica although Bauhinus make them to be one for this hath no prickes or thornes on stalkes or leaves nor is the fruite hard or crested Solanum fruticosum Americanum dictum Amomum Plinij The Winter Cherry Tree This is described in my former Booke 2. Mala Insana Syriaca Madde Apples of Syria This raging or madde Apple riseth up with a great hard round purplish or brownish greene stalke two foote high divided from the bottome into divers branches whereon are set many hairy broad rough leaves somewhat unevenly cut in on the edges and somewhat like the Thorne apple leaves at the joynts with the leaves come forth severall large flowers consisting of six large pointed leaves in some plants white in others of a pale but deadish purple colour with yellow threds in the middle which being past there succeedeth large somewhat long and round fruite in the warme countries as bigge as a Cowcumber but in others seldome bigger then a large great egge set in the same cup or huske that contained the flower before whose colour on the outside is usually according to the flower it bore either of a whitish greene more yellowish or of a grayish ash colour or of a pale or wanne purplish colour with a very thinne skinne or barke and full of a whitish pulpe and juice within having many small flat whitish seedes within it somewhat greater then those of the Apples of love the roote is composed of many strings some great others small not thrusting downe deepe into the ground nor abiding but perishing with the first frosts 3. Mala Ethiopica Madde Apples of Ethiopia The Madde apples of Ethiopia are somewhat like the former but that it groweth not so high nor spreadeth so much but having one upright stalke about halfe a yeard high set here and there with divers small prickes not very hard or long and at severall joynts with jagged leaves both lesser and lesse cut in on the edges then the former especially the lowermost having some prickes also in the middle rib on the backeside but those leaves that grow higher toward the toppes of the stalkes and branches are much lesser divided on the edges the flowers stand dispersed on the branches at the joynts consisting of sixe white white short leaves with a yellow pointell in the middle of divers threds joyned together 1. Solanum pomiferum herbariorum Lobelij Lobels red berried Nightshade after which commeth the fruite which is round and a little pointed at the end smaller and harder then the greater kinde of Love apples and straked and furrowed withall in divers places of an excellent red colour and turning more deepe when it is ripe having sometimes small bunches on them like unto other small apples growing unto them and containing a juicye pulpe within it somewhat more sharpe then the former but nothing so moist as the love apples with such like flat yellowish white seede within it the roote is a tuft of threds perishing likewise every yeare and seldome in these colder countryes commeth to maturity to shew his beautifull colour or give good seede 4. Mala Insana Europaea Madde apples of Europe This kinde of madde Apples groweth with an upright round stalke to the bignesse of ones finger a foote and a halfe high from whence spring forth at severall joynts sometimes on the one side and sometimes on the other divers long and somewhat broad greene leaves unevenly cut in on the edges and ending in a long point three for the most part comming together each of them upon a short footestalke at the tops of the stalke grow the fruite which are round reddish berryes or apples of the bignesse of a Plum full of seede within them 5. Poma amoris majora media minora Apples of Love of a greater lesser and middle size These sorts of Love Apples doe in all things so neerely resemble one another both in the long trayling branches the winged and divided leaves the yellow flowers and the red berries or fruite as I have shewed in my former booke that I can adde no more thereunto The Place The first was brought out of Spaine the second groweth plentifully wild in Egypt as divers doe report as also in Solâ— fruticosum America um dictum Amoâ—tum Plinij
hungry if you will beleeve them Divers herbes have beene taken for Halimus by divers writers as the Atriplex marina by divers the Ligustrum or Frivet by Lacuna and Periclymenum rectum upright Woodbino by Tragus Lugdunensis setteth forth a plant by the name of Halimus vera Dalechampij the true Halimus of Dioscorides and saith it better agreeth thereto then those of Clusius or any other to whom Clusius scarse giveth credit in that hee saith hee sheweth the fruit thereof to bee like unto Ribes whom Bauhinus followeth and saith that he knew not what plant it should be but reading the place in Lugdunensis I finde Clusius to be much mistaken for in the description thereof he setteth downe these words Semen producit latum candicaâ—s in summis ramis copiosum which broad white seede can no wayes agree with Ribes And for Lugdunensis to make it a different plant from Clusius his second Halimus whereunto himselfe saith it is like I see no such great cause more then that it grew in the upland countries and that his Figure sheweth the leaves to grow many clustering together at a joynt I have you see set the Portulaca marina with the Halimus for in my judgement it differeth not so much from it neither in forme of leaves or seede which is with me a chiefe note of agreement or difference nor yet in place but that it may very well be accounted the Halimus of our countrey and other these Northerne parts the climates chiefly making the distinction if any be and hereunto I am the more induced because Matthiolus his first Portulaca and Clusius his last be by them called Halimus which Dodonaeus and Bauhinus call Portulaca marina Lobel and Pena affirme that the discription of Portulaca marina doth better agree with the Crithmum of Dioscorides then the Faeniculum marinum doth first for that the leaves of Crithmum are sayd to be white which in Sampire are greene next they are compared to Garden Purslane leaves but thicker longer and broader which cannot agree to Sampire being small long and somewhat round and againe Crithmum of Dioscorides is said to be of a cubits height but Sampire is little above an handbreadth or two high these things considered did put some doubt in them and some others since whether our Sampire which is generally supposed to be the right Crithmum of Dioscorides be so or no but hereof I shall entreate more hereafter when I shall speake of Sampire in the Classis of Sea Plants Ruellius Lib. 1. Cap. 85. taketh that plant to be Halimus with which the French in divers places make their hedges and call it Blanche putain but he is therein much deceived that being Viburnum for I thinke he doth not make the Viorne to be it which yet they so call also Matthiolus saith that the Arabians call Halimus Molochia and that Serapio speaking thereof saith that in Babylon it is carried by handfulls and cryed in the streets but I thinke Matthiolus is herein deceived for it is the true Molochia and not this herbe that Serapio saith they cryed in the streets the last is called Halimus minor in his Pinax and Prodâ— The Italians as Matthiolus and Lugdunensis say call it Bidone and Clusius saith the Spaniards call it Marisma and the Portugalls Salguideiras and the French especially about Tholonso L'herbe du Masclou id est Herba Câ—lica the Collicke herbe for the properties sake we call it Sea Purflane as the Dutch doe so likewise The Vertues The Halimus or Portulaca marina for as their formes so their properties are alike is used to be eaten as other Sallet Herbes are in all the places of their growing for tasting somewhat saltish of the naturall soyle being transplanted into other grounds it much pleaseth the pallate having a little astringent rellish withall whereby it is found as Galen saith to bee of different qualites as well temperately hot sufficient to dissolve winde in the lower belly and guts and the paines of the Collicke speedily by drinking of the decoction of the leaves in wine or of the juice put into wine and being boyled and eaten with oyle or butter looseneth the body and yet by the astringent qualitie doth strengthen the loose or fluxible parts the same also helpeth those that are troubled with Crampes or are bursten inwardly it causeth also plenty of milke not onely to Nurses for their children but in Cattle also that seede thereon or to whom it is given it encreaseth also naturall seede but that which Dioscorides attributeth to the roote is found sufficient effectuall in the leaves the roote in these dayes being seldome used that I know CHAP. III. Telephium sive Crassula Orpine THere be divers herbes exhibited by divers authors for the true Telephium of Dioscorides some great some small some tall some low some of one fashion and some of another and yet none doth truly answer in all things the discription thereof but because all or most of them have given the name of Telephium to these herbes here expressed let mee also if they have erred erre with them and yet I shall shew you which of them commeth nearest unto the truth or true Telephium 1. Telephium sive Crassula major Hispanica The great Spanish Orpine The great Spanisp Orpine hath divers weake round sappie stalkes rising two foote high whereon are set at distances two large and thicke broad leaves very like unto the common Orpine but much larger and browner of colour oftentimes and somewhat unevenly dented about the edges at the toppes of the stalkes stand tufts of flowers larger and more spread then in the ordinary sort which consist of five small whitish leaves a peece after which come small chaffie huskes with seede like dust in them the rootes are thick white and tuberous bigger and longer then those of the ordinary Orpine which abide all the Winter with the greene leaves on their stalkes that have not as yet flowred 2. Telephium sive Crassula major vulgaris Common Orpine Common Orpine riseth up with divers round brittle stalkes thicke set with flat and fleshy leaves without any order and little or nothing dented about the edges lesser then the former and of a paler greene colour the flowers grow in lesser tufts and are white or whitish in all that ever I saw which afterwards beare such like seedes as the former the rootes are divers thicke round white glandulous or tuberous clogges like the former but lesser Minus sylvestre This proveth smaller in divers fields and woods sides where it is found wilde 3. Telephium floribus purpureis Purple flowred Orpine This Orpine differeth little from the last in manner of growing but that the stalkes are more flexible and weake and the leaves which stand without order are more finely dented about the edges and the tufts of flowers at the toppes of the stalkes are of a reddish purple colour consisting of five small leaves a peece like the former the roote is also tuberous like the last
Iâ—ica laciniatis foliis Italian jagged Lettice This Italian Lettice also differeth not from the ordinary sort but in the leaves which are cut into many small parts of a pale greene colour very tender and pleasant to eate The Place These sorts come from Ialy and are there noursed up in the Gardens of the curious but scarse knowne to us aâ— yet Lactuca sativa Garden Lettice 1. Lactuca oblongo folio 〈◊〉 Sharpe pointed Garden Lettice Lactuca aguina Lambes Lettice or Corne Sallet The Time Their time of flowring seeding and spending is the same with the common sort The Names Lettice is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Thridax in Greeke and in Latine Lactuca a lactis copia The first is taken by Bauhinus to bee the Lactuca Gallica of Castor Durantes and calleth it himselfe Lactuca folio oblongo acuto the other also is called by him Lactuca Italica laciniata and we in English thereafter Italian jagged Lettice the Arabians call Lettice Chas and Cherbas the Italians Lattuga the Spaniards Lechuga and Alfalsa the French Laittue the Germans Lattik the Dutch Lattouwe and we in English Lettice The Vertues Although these sorts of Lettice doe differ in forme from the other each of them also one from another in the forme of their leaves yet in qualitie they are alike and acceptable to an hot stomacke troubled with choller yeelding good nourishment to the body as both Serapio and Galen testifie of the experience thereof on themselves and Pliny also sheweth that the learned Physition Musa did by Lettice ease Augustus of the violence of his disease Galen sheweth that the eating of boyled Lettice at night when hee went to bed procured him rest and sleepe who should have had none if hee had beene without it having used himselfe to watching from his yonger dayes the same is found effectuall also with divers or the juice thereof mixed or boyled with oyle of Roses and applied to the forehead and temples both to procure rest and sleepe and to ease the headach of any hot cause being eaten raw or boyled it helpeth to loosen the belly and the boyled more then the raw which eaten last performeth it the better and was generally so used in ancient dayes which made the Poet Martiall move this question seeing the contrary course held in his time Clandere quae caenas Lactuca solebat avorum Dic mihi cur nostras inchoat illa dapes Which may be thus Lettice that earst our Grandsires meales did close Why it begins pray tell me whence it growes It helpeth digestion quencheth thirst helpeth to encrease milke in Nourses and easeth all griping paines of 〈◊〉 stomacke or bowels that come of Choller it abateth bodily lust and therefore both it and Rue are commended for Moâ—kes Nunnes and the like sort of people to eate and use to keepe them the chastes it represseth also venerom dreames and applyed outwardly to the Cods with a little Camfire abuteth the pride and heare of lust which some call the Colterevill applyed also in the same manner to the region of the Heart Liver or Reynes or by bathing the said place with the juice or distilled water wherein some white Saunders and red Roses are put also is not onely a repercussive medicine to stay and represse the heate and inflammations therein but doth also comfort and strengthen those parts the same also tempereth the heate of Vrine Galen adviseth old men to use it with spices to conserve the radicall moysture and that where spices are wanting to adde Mintes Rocket and such like hot Sallet herbes or else Citron Lemon or Orrenge seedes or the young shootes of them to abate the cold of the one and the heate of the other The seede and the distilled water of the Lettice worke the like effects in all things but the use of the Lettice is chiefly forbidden those that are short winded or have any imperfection in their Lungs or doe use to spit blood Galen saith it did hurt his teeth and some say it hurteth the sight CHAP. XLIIII Lactuca sylvestris Wilde Lettice OF the wilde Lettice there are two or three sorts to bee declared in this Chapter wherewith I shall close and finish this Classis of cooling herbes 1. Lactuca sylvestris Endiviae folijs odore viroso Broad leafed wilde Lettice This wilde Lettice riseth up with foure or five somewhat long and large leaves smaller at the bottome and broader at the ends being round pointed unevenly dented about the edges but not cut in or torne at all of a pale or whitish greene colour and very like unto the Garden Lettice or Garden Endive leaves so that it will soone deceive one that never saw it before which doe soe abide the first winter after the sowing whether in the Spring or Autumne of the shed seede but in May following it beginneth to rise up to a stalke and then those lower leaves will have the middle ribbe on the backe side set full of small sharpe prickes the stalke hath risen in my Garden to be eight foote high at the least and as bigge as the thumbe of any mans hand at the lower joynt somewhat browne and spreading into divers very long branches whereon are set large leaves like the other but more crumpled the lower and so to the middle of the stalke set with prickes in the manner of the bottome leaves but lesser and higher somewhat more jagged or divided on the edges all and every part yeelding plenty of milke being broken which smelleth strong very like unto Opium or bitter in taste the flowers are very small and single somewhat like unto Lettice but smaller and paler yellow scarse opening themselves and scarse abiding also halfe a day open but turne into downe with small blacke seede therewith very like unto seeke Lettice seede and is carryed away with the winde the roote is white long and wooddy when it beareth 〈…〉 2. Lactuca sylvestris 〈…〉 Wh◠〈◊〉 with jagged leaves This other wilde Lettice groweth like the last but not so high or great the first leaves are of a grayer greene colour smaller and narrower then the other which so 1. Lactuca sylvestris Endiviae folijs odore viroso Broad leafed wilde Lettice abide and afterwards gaine thornes or prickes on their backsides as the other hath those that follow are much more jagged then the others and set with sharpe prickes also yelding milke as plentifull being broken and as bitter as the former but doth smell as strongly of Poppie or Opium as the other the flowers and seede are like it flying away with the winde but the roote hereof abideth after seede when as the other doth not 3. Lactuca sylvestris purpureo flore Wilde Lettice with purple flowers This great plant sometimes in moyst grounds riseth up to be foure or five cubits high but usually two or three with a strong great stalke set on each side with leaves smallest at the bottome and larger as they rise up higher being largest about the middle of the
it warmeth the coldnesse of any part whereunto it is applied and digesteth raw or corrupt matter being boyled drunk it provoketh womens monthly courses expelleth the dead child and after-birth and stayeth the disposition to vomit taken in posset that is water and vineger mingled it allayeth the gnawing of the stomack being mingled with Honey and Aloes and drunke it causeth flegme to be avoyded forth of the lungs and helpeth crampes which place is observed by Cornarius in his third Booke and 31. Embleme to be erroneous for who ever used Aloes in any medicine that was to expectorate flegme but in stead of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it should be written 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so Pliny expresseth it in lib. 20. cap. 14 Hepaticis cum melle sale bibendum datur pulmonum vitia excreabilia facit with honey and salt it is a safe and good medicine for the lunges it avoydeth melancholy by the stoole drunke with wine it helpeth such as are bitten or stung with venemous beasts applyed to the nostrils with vineger it reviveth those that are fainting or sounding being dryed and burnt it strengthneth the gums it is helpfull to those that are troubled with the gowt applyed of it selfe to the place untill it wax red applyed in a cerot or a plaister it taketh away spots or markes in the face it much profiteth those that are spleenetick or livergrowne being applyed with salt the decoction helpeth those that have itches if the places affected bee washed therewith being put into bathes for women to sit therein it helpeth the swelling and hardnesse of the mother and when it is out of its place Some copies doe adde that if the greene hearbe be bruised and put into vineger it clenseth foule ulcers and causeth the matter to digest it taketh away the markes or bruises of blowes about the eyes which we call blacke and blue eyes and all discolourings of the face by the fire yea and the leprosie being drunke and applyed outwardly being boyled in wine with honey and salt it helpeth the toothach it helpeth the cold griefes of the joynts taking away the paines and warming the cold parts being fast bound to the place after a bathing or having beene in a hot house Pliny addeth hereunto that Mints and Penny-royall agree very well together in helping faintings or swonings being put into vineger and put to the nostrils to be smelled unto or a little thereof put into the mouth It easeth the head-ach and the paines of the breast and belly stayeth the gnawing of the stomack and the inward paines of the bowels being drunke in wine provoketh vrine and womens courses and expelleth the after-birth and dead child it helpeth the falling-sicknesse being given in wine put also into unwholsome and stinking waters that men must drinke as at Sea in long voyages it maketh them the lesse hurtfull it lesneth the fatnesse of the body being given with wine but here Pliny is supposed to have mis-interpreted the Greeke word translating it Salsitudines corporis for the thought to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is anxietates which Hippocrates in Aphorism 56. lib. 7. saith is taken away by drinking it in an equall proportion of wine and water it helpeth crampes or the convulsions of the sinewes being applyed with honey salt and Vineger It is very effectuall for the cough boyled in milke and drunke and for the ulcers or sores of the mouth Thus saith Pliny Galen saith that being sharpe and somewhat bitter it heateth much and extenuateth also And in that it heateth much may be knowne by this that it maketh the place red where it is applyed and raiseth blisters if it be suffered to lie long upon it And that it doth extenuate is sufficiently seene by this that it doth cause thick and tough flegme to be avoyded forth of the lungs and chest and that with ease as also that it procureth the feminine courses Matthiolus saith and so doth Castor Durantes also that the decoction thereof drunke helpeth the jaundise and dropsie and all paines of the head and sinewes that come a cold cause and that it helpeth to cleare and quicken the eye-sight It was used as Durantes saith in stead of Dictamus Cretensis for it should seeme in his time also the true Dictamus was not knowne which was in A◠1585. who saith that bruised and with vineger applyed to the nostrils of those that have the falling-sicknesse or the lethargie or put into the mouth helpeth them much and applyed with barly meale it helpeth burnings by fire it bringeth the loosned matrix to its place and dissolveth the windinesse and hardnesse thereof easeth all paines and inflamations of the eyes and comforteth and quickneth the eye-sight being put therein as also put into the eares easeth the paines of them CHAP. XIII Mentha Mintes THere are many sorts of Mints some chiefly nourished up in Gardens others growing wilde either on the mountaines which for their rarity and diversitie are brought also into Gardens or the wet and overflowne marishes or the Water it selfe 1. Mentha Romana angustifolio sive Cardiaca Hart Mint or Speare Mint This Mint hath divers round stalkes and longer and narrower 1. Mentha Romana angustifolio sive Cardiaca Hart Mint or Speare Mint leaves set thereon than the next Mint and groweth somewhat lower and smaller and of a darker greene colour than it the flowers stand in spiked heads at the tops of the branches being of a pale blush colour the smell or scent hereof is somewhat neere unto Basill It encreaseth by the root underground as all the others doe 2. Mentha Cruciata Crosse Mint The Crosse Mint hath his square stalkes somewhat hoary and the leaves thereon hairy also rougher broader and rounder than the former which stand on all sides thereof one against another two at a joynt so that they represent a crosse thereby giving it the name the flowers stand in spiky heads of a purplish colour somewhat deeper than it 3. Mentha fusca sive vulgaris Red or Browne Mints This Mint hath square brownish stalkes with somewhat long and round pointed leaves nicked about the edges of a darke greene and sometimes reddish colour set by couples at the joynts and of a reasonable good scent the flowers are reddish standing by spaces about the tops of the stalkes the roots runne creeping in the ground as the rest doe and will as hardly be extirped as the rest 4. Mentha Crispa Crispe or Curld Mint The greatest difference in this kinde of Mint from the last consisteth first in the leaves which are almost as round as the last but more rough or crumpled or as it were curld then in the flowers which are purplish standing in rundles about the toppes of stalkes and in the smell hereof which commeth neerest unto Balme 5. Mentha Crispa Danica aut Germanica speciosa The great Curld Mint of Germany This brave Mint creepeth with his rootes as the others doe having divers high stalkes
it answereth very well thereunto although Lobel saith it is all one with the Mentha cruciata The seventh is called by Lobel Mentastrum aliud Mentastrum Campense of Lugdunensis it is the Sysimbrium sylvestre of Matthiolus very well set forth in his small Icoâ—es The eighth and ninth Clusius hath set forth calling the eighth Montanum or Pannonicum and the other Mentastrum tuberosa radice but referreth it rather to a kinde of Cattaria tuberosa and by that name I have often received it among other seeds from Italy and other places whereunto it doth most fitly agree The tenth Bauhinus hath written of and set the description thereof in his Prodromus by the name of Mentha geniculata radice and saith hee received it both by the name of Mentha tuberosa and Nepeta angustifoliá odorata from severall places The eleventh is called by Lobel Calamintha tertia Dioscoridis Mentastrifolia aquatica hirsuta by Lugdunensis Mentastrum minus spicatum by Camerarius Mentastrum aliud hirsutum and by Bauhinus Mentha palustris folio oblongo The last is called by Bauhinus Mentha rotundifolia palustris minor The Vertues The garden Mints in generall yet the sweeter sorts that is the Speare Mint and Hart Mint are more usually taken for all the uses whereunto Mints doe serve Dioscorides saith it hath an heating binding and drying quality and therefore the juyce taken with vinegar stayeth bleeding It stirreth up venery or bodily lust and as hee saith killeth the round wormes which hath not usually beene knowne to take effect with any two or three branches thereof taken with the juyce of sowre Pomegranats staieth the hickock vomitings and allaieth choller it dissolveth impostumes being layed to with barly meale it is good to represse the milke in womens breasts when they are swolne therewith or otherwise for such as have swollen flagging or great breasts applyed with salt it helpeth the byting of a mad Dogge with Meade or honied water it easeth the paines of the eares applyed to the privie parts of a woman before the act of generation hindreth conception which is contradicted as you may read a few lines below and rubbed upon the tongue taketh away the roughnesse thereof It suffereth not milke to curdle in the stomack if the leaves hereof be steeped or boyled in it before yee drinke it Briefly it is very profitable to the stomack and in meates is much accepted It is of especiall use to stay the feminine courses when they come too fast as also to stay the whites for which purpose no other hearbe is more safe and powerfull for by taking it often it hath cured many Applyed to the forehead or the temples of the head it easeth the paines thereof It is also good to wash the heads of young children therewith against all manner of breaking out therein whether sores or scabs and healeth the chaps of the fundament It is profitable also against the poison of venemous creatures The distilled water of Mints is availeable to all the purposes aforesaid yet more weakely but if a spirit thereof bee rightly and chimically drawne it is more powerfull than the hearbe it selfe in regard the spirit and strength of a great deale is brought into a small proportion foure ounces thereof taken as Matthiolus saith doth stay bleeding at the nose which may be thought incredible to a great many It is much commended to be available in venereous causes although Pliny in his lib. 20 cap. 14. doth write to the contrary but Galen in his sixt Booke of Simples doth render a reason of the faculty hereof very worthily where he saith some doe call that Mentha odorata sweet Mint which by others is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hedyosmos but there is another Mint which is not sweet which they call Calamintha both of them are sharpe in taste and hot in quality yea even in the third degree of heat but Mentha odorata is weaker and lesse heating so that I may well say that the one seemeth to be as it were the tame and the other the wild wherefore by that humidity it hath gained by manuring it provoketh to Venery which thing is common to all hearbes that have in them an humidity halfe digested and windy by reason of which temperature being mingled with Barley meale it is used to ripen impostumes which you cannot doe with Calamint because it heateth and digesteth more then such things as should ripen impostumes doe require It hath also in it a little bitternesse and some tartnesse by reason of the bitternesse it killeth the long wormes of the belly and by the tartnesse it stayeth the vomiting of blood while it is fresh if it bee taken with Oxycratum which some take to be sower milke and others to be Posca that is vineger and water mingled together It is of as great tenuity as any hearb whatsoever these are Galens words Simeon Sethi saith it helpeth a cold liver and strengtheneth the stomack and belly causeth digestion stayeth vomitings and the hickock is good against the gnawings of the heart and stirreth up the appetite it taketh away the obstructions of the liver and stirreth up bodily lust but thereof too much must not be taken because it maketh the blood thin and whayish and turneth it into choler yea and causeth the blood which is of very thin parts after it is separated to become thick and melancholick and therefore cholerick persons must abstaine from it it is a safe medicine for the byting of a mad Dogge being bruised with salt and laid on the powder of it being dryed and taken after meate helpeth digestion and those that are splenetick taken with wine it helpeth women in their hard and sore travels in child-bearing it is also thought to be good for bleare eyes applyed to them and that the decoction of them being drunke doth helpe the bleedings at the mouth speedily or presently It is good against the gravell and stone in the kidneys and strangury It is also comfortable for the head and memory not onely to be smelled unto but chiefly to be applyed unto the head and temples and easeth the head-ach the decoction thereof cureth the gums and mouth that is sore if it bee gargled therewith and mendeth an ill favoured breath as also with Rue and Coriander causeth the uvula or palate of the mouth that is downe to returne to its place againe the decoction thereof being gargled and held in the mouth Aristotle and other in the ancient times forbade Mints to be used of Souldiers in the time of warre because they thought it did so much incite to Venery that it tooke away or at least abated their animosity or courage to fight Divers have held for true that Cheeses will not corrupt if they be either rubbed over with the juyce or the decoction of Mints or they laid among them And some againe that if the juyce of Mints be put into the milke whereof you meane to make Cheese that although yee put
aquatica exigua Pulegium sylvestre and by Bauhinus Calamintha arvensis verticillata The Vertues Calamint is very hot and sharpe the hearbe onely is used the root is unprofitable The decoction thereof drunke bringeth down womens courses and provoketh urine It is profitable for those that are bursten and those that are troubled with convulsions or crampes with shortnesse of breath and with cholerick torments and paines in their bellyes and stomacks it helpeth the yellow-jaundise also and stayeth vomiting being taken in wine taken with salt and honey it killeth all manner of wormes in the body It helpeth such as have the lepry either taken inwardly drinking Whey after it or the greene hearbe applyed outwardly if it bee applyed in wooll as a pessary to the privie parts of a woman it draweth downe the courses and easeth paines of the mother but killeth the birth and therefore to bee refused of women with child It driveth away venemous Serpents being either burned or strewed in the chamber It taketh away black and blue spots and markes in the face and maketh black scarres to become well coloured if the greene hearb and not the dry be boyled in wine and laid to the place or the place washed therewith being laid to the huckle-bone or haunch where the paine of the Sciatica resteth by continuance of time it so healeth the place that it draweth forth and spendeth the humours that were the cause of the paine This was a course held in Dioscorides time but our Physicians and Chirurgians doe not so use it now adayes It killeth the wormes of the eares if the juyce be dropped into them the leaves boyled in wine and drunke provoketh sweat and openeth the obstructions both of the liver and spleene it helpeth also them that have a tertian ague the body being first purged by taking away the cold fits that goe before it the decoction hereof with some Sugar put therto afterwards is very profitable for those that be troubled with the overflowing of the gaule and that have an old cough that are scarce able to breath by the shortnesse of their winde that have any cold distemperature in their bowels and are troubled with the hardnesse of the spleene for all which purposes both the powder called Diacalamenthes and the compound Syrupe of Calamint which are to be had at the Apothecaries are most effectuall CHAP. XV. Nepeta Neppe or Calamint THere are divers sorts of Neppe some vulgar and others more rare which I intend to bring to your knowledge which are these 1. Nepeta major vulgaris Common Garden Nep. The Common garden Neppe shooteth forth hard foure-square stalkes with an hoarinesse on them a yard high or more full of branches bearing at every joynt two broad leaves for forme and largenesse somewhat like unto Balme but longer pointed softer whiter and more hoary â—nicked also about the edges and are of a strong sweet scent not offensive to any but very pleasing to Cats who will rub themselves thereon all over the flowers grow in large tufts at the toppes of the branches and underneath them likewise on the stalkes many together of a whitish purple colour the rootes are composed of many long strings and fibres fastning themselves strongly in the ground and abide with greene leaves thereon all the Winter 2. Nepeta media Middle sized Neppe This other Nep hath likewise square hard stalkes not so great as the former but rather more in number and sometimes as high the leaves are smaller by almost the halfe harder greener and nothing so strong in scent set by couples upon the stalkes which branch not in that manner the flowers are fewer smaller and growing onely by spaces along them up to the toppes of a faint purplish colour gaping like the other and after them such like small round seed in the huskes the rootes are greater longer and more wooddy abiding many yeares in the ground but holding no greene leaves thereon in the winter 3. Nepeta minor Small Neppe 3. Nepeta minor Small Neppe This small Neppe hath divers foure-square hard and hoary stalkes rising from the root which dye not after seed-bearing but shoote fresh branches not above a foote high with two small long and narrow leaves snipt or dented about the edges and hoary also of a stronger scent than the common and of a hotter taste the stalkes shoote forth into many branches at the toppes whereof stand many small gaping white flowers spike fashion like the ordinary after whicn come small blacke seed like the other Casper Bauhinus in his Prodromus Theatri Botanici setteth downe a small Neppe which he saith doth differ from this of Clusius but the description thereof doth so neerely resemble it that I am more than halfe perswaded it is the very same 4 Mentha Cataria minor Alpina Small Mountaine Neppe or Catmint In the same place he setteth downe another Neppe smaller than his former with square brownish stalkes of a foot height branching forth whereon are smaller leaves set then the former being somewhat broad almost three square and hoary the flowers are small and whitish set or placed spike fashion at the tops like unto the common kinde 5. Nepeta peregrina latifolia Strange Neppe with broad leaves This strange Neppe hath a square hoary stalke spreading into branches on all sides from the bottome to the toppe set with two leaves at every space which are broader than the next that followeth but yet are not much broader but longer than the ordinary Neppe dented about the edges and of an hoary greene colour the flowers stand in spaces about the toppes of the stalkes almost of a pure white colour like in forme unto the common Neppe but larger after which commeth the seed which is blacke like it also the smell of the whole plant is stronger and sharper but more pleasing than it 5. Nepeta peregrina latifolia Strange Neppe with broad leaves 6. Nepeta peregrina angustifolia Strange Neppe with narrow leaves This other Neppe is of the same kind with the former and differeth from it onely in that the leaves are smaller and narrower but neither in colour or smell or any other thing differing The Place The first and second growe wild in other Countries but are nursed up onely in Gardens in ours as all the rest are the third the fift and the sixt doe grow in Spaine for from thence the seed came that brought foorth these goodly plants The fourth Bauhinus saith groweth upon some hilly grounds about Naples from whence hee received seed The Time They doe all flower in Iuly or thereabouts with the ordinary sort The Names The ordinary garden sort is called of some Cataria and Cattaria and of others Mentha Cataria and Mentha felina because as I said before Cats delight both to smell and eate thereof and gladly rub themselves against it but of most with us Nepeta Gerard saith that our Nepeta is called Pulegium sylvestre but hee is therein much mistaken for Dioscorides saith that the
it is the common Gallitricum in Italy Tabermontanus calleth it Sclarea sylvestris And some would make it to be Pliny his Alectorolophus and others to be a kinde of Verbenaca recta upright Vervaine and of Bauhinus Horminum pratense folijs serratis The sixth is called by Clusius Horminum sylvestre 4. niveo flore and is the other sort of his fourth wild kinde in his History of plants Gerard his figure of Horminum sylvestre is the true figure of this plant Tabermontanus calleth it Sclarea sylvestris flore albo and the great Booke of Eysterensis Salvia agrestis flore albo in English hoary wild Clary with a white flower The seventh is the fourth sort of the fourth kinde of wild Clary by Clusius of Bauhinus Horminum majus folijs profundius incisis in English Italian Clary with a red flower The eight is Clusius his first sort of the fourth kind of wild Clary which hee had from Spaine by the name of Baccharis and groweth at Greenewich also Tabermontanus calleth it Sclarea Hispanica and Gerard Gallitricum alterum of Bauhinus Horminum sylvestre lavendulae flore and Clusius saith it is the Sideritis quernofolio of Lugdunensis in English wild Clary with spike flowers The ninth is the Horminum sylvestre of Matthiolus Caesalpinus Castor Durantes and Lugdunensis Tragus calleth it Salvia sylvestris adulterina of Lobel it is called Verbascum nigrum salvifolium purpureo flore and so also of Lugdunensis it is Dodonaeus his Orvula altera and Clusius his fift kinde of wilde Clary whereof there are two sorts the one greater than the other as is set downe in the descriptions Bauhinus calleth them Horminum sylvestre salvifolium majus minus The tenth is Clusius his sixth kinde of wilde Clary which he called Horminum minus supinum Creticum and in English Candy Clary The eleventh is called by Bauhinus Horminum angustifolium laciniatum folijs Scolopendriae at Mompelier it was as hee said sent him likewise by the name of Horminum Creticum album The twefth is called by Lobel Clusius Camerarius Lugdunensis Eystetensis and Gerard Colus Iovis Dodonaeus calleth it Orvala tertia Caesalpinus Melinum Dalechampius and Lugdunensis Galeopsis lutea and is Clusius his second wild Clary Some call it Camphorata some Sphacelus and others thinke it to be Stachys Plinij Bauhinus calleth it Horminum luteum glutinosum Some others also call it Horminum luteum and Horminum Tridentinum The thirteenth is of two sorts the one called Aethiopis and the other Aethiopis altera and by Bauhinus who onely hath written thereof Aethiopis laciniato folio which I have called in Latine Sclarea Aethiopica laciniata as I doe the other Aethiopis sive Sclarea Aethiopica non laciniata for the reasons before alleaged in English Plaine and jagged Ethiopian Clary The Italians call Garden Clary Sclarea Sclareggia Schiaria and herba di S. Giovanni and thereon in Latine herba S. Ioannis and the white Clary Horminis the French call the garden kinde Orvale toute bonne and the wilde sort Orvale Sauvage the Germanes call the one Scarlack and the other wilder Scarlack the Dutch Scarley and wild Scarley in English Clary and wild Clary and Oculus Christi The Vertues Our garden Clary as I said before that Dodonaeus thinketh to be the right wilde Clary of Dioscorides because it is of greater scent and vertue than any of the other sorts which are called wild Clary for Dioscorides saith that the wild kind is more effectuall than the tame or garden kinde is of most use in all Christian Countries I thinke for any inward cause for the true kinde of Dioscorides and the rest of the wild kindes here set downe are lesse are used as I thinke and to lesse effect but the seed thereof chiefly as well as of our garden Clary is used to be put into the eyes to cleare them from any moates or other such like things are gotten within the liddes to offend them as also to cleare them from white or red spots in them The Muccilage of the seed of either sort made with water and applyed to tumors or swellings disperseth and taketh them away and also draweth forth splinters thornes or other things gotten into the flesh the leaves used with vineger either by it selfe or with a little honey doth helpe hot inflammations as also Biles Felons and the hot inflammations that are gathered by their paines if it be applyed before they be growne too great The powder of the dryed leaves put into the nose provoketh neesing and thereby purgeth the head and braines of much rheume and corruption It provoketh to venery either the seed or the leaves taken in wine It is in much use with men or women that have weake backes to helpe to strengthen the reines either used by it selfe or with other hearbes that conduce to the same effect and in tansies often or the fresh leaves fried in butter being first dipped in a batter of flower egges and a little milke served as a dish to the Table is not unpleasant to any but specially profitable for those for whom as I said it is convenient Lobel and Pena saith that some Brewers of Ale and Beere in these Northerne regions I thinke they meane the Netherlands for so Dodonaeus meaneth doe put it into their drinke to make it the more heady fit to please drunkards who thereby according to their severall dispositions become either dead drunke or foolish drunke or madde drunke It bringeth downe womens desired sicknesse and expelleth the secondine or after birth It is used in Italy to bee given to women that are barren through a cold and moist disposition to heate and dry up that moisture and to helpe them to be fruitfull and stayeth the whites it helpeth also a cold stomacke oppresse with cold flegme purgeth the head of rheume and much corruption the overmuch use hereof offendeth the head and is hurtfull for the braine and memory Yellow Clary or Iupiters distaffe is hot and drying and the juyce is of especiall good use to clense and heale foule ulcers The Ethiopion Clary is commended for the roughnesse of the throat and to helpe to expectorate the rotten and purulentous matter in the Pluresie or in other coughes either the decoction of the roote drunke or made into an Electuary with honey Dioscorides saith also it is good for those that are troubled with the Sciatica CHAP. XXI Verbascum Mullein MAny of the Verbasca Mulleins that are properly so called doe grow wild in divers and severall places in our owne Country and therefore are not usually brought into gardens yet because some of them are more rare and seldome met withall I thinke it not amisse to shew you all of them here with those also that have beene sent us from beyond Sea 1. Verbascum album vulgare sive Tapsus barbatus communis Common Mullein 1. Verbascum album vulgare sive Tapsus barbatus communis Common Mullein The common white Mullein hath many faire large woolly white leaves
to supply the place of the right Hisope seeing it hath a place of it owne even among the sorts of wild Origanum or Marjerome whereunto it is like but somewhat altered by manuring from that which is common But this their Hisope or Pot-Marjerome hath no corymbi tufts or umbells they are rather a heape of flowers gathered together as the wild Origanum or Marjerome hath for no man did ever attribute any such heads or tufts as are called corymbi unto any of them This knot being untied it followeth saith he that we try whether the Staechas Citrina be Chrysocome In this their plant there is no likenesse of leaves of neither of the sorts of Hisope to bee seene to wit either of the long or of the round leafed sort besides the bushy toppe of leaves and stalkes of flowers of this Staechas Citrina loosely set together is not a close tuft of heads such as Corymbus which is a close umbell or tuft of heads or seeds such as the Ivie hath is usually said to bee but are onely a few yellow golden round shining bullets or heads at the toppes the roote also thereof hath no thicke and small strings as Helleborus niger hath nor is like to Cyperus nor hath an austere sweet taste all which Chrysocome hath He therefore I meane the foresaid Molinaeus saith that hee hath often in revolving these doubts suggested to those Herbarists that have knowledge in plants that hearbe which the French call Targon and some in Latine Targun Tarchon Tragum and Dracohortensis in English Tarragon and which Ruellius too credulous of fables thought was produced from the seed of Flaxe put into the roote of an Onion to bee very agreeable to the description of Chrysocome in the toppes set with many corymbi or tufted heads in the leaves like unto the ordinary long leafed Hisope and in the roote branching as Helleborus niger of the colour of Cyperus of a taste not unpleasant which is somewhat austere with the sweetnesse by which quality it is profitable to the diseases of the liver and lungs This saith he seemeth probable to me and therefore I could not bee silent therein setting forth the nature of Chrysocome leaving it to the judgement of those that are more learned I have I confesse beene a little too prolixe or tedious in this narration but I was rather willing to set forth the whole minde of the man then to abridge any of his reasons that comparing both his negatives and affirmatives yee may agree or discent from them For my owne part seeing Clusius and others doe account the Staechas Citrina to be Chrysocome of Dioscorides and mis-like of this opinion of Targum I can doe no lesse and thinke there is farre lesse reason in any to suppose Targum to be Chrysocome than Staechas Citrinae for Dioscorides in the description thereof mentioneth no likenesse of leaves but of the toppes of tufted heads to be like unto Hisope and the small rootes unto those of Helleborus niger equalling Ciperus The Arabians call Staechas Astochodos and Astochodes the Italians Staecha and Staechade the Spaniards Cantuesso the French Stichades the Germanes Stichas kraut the Dutch Stichas cruijt and we in English Sticadove Cassidony and French Lavender The Staechas citrina is called by the Italians Amarantho giallo by the Germanes Motten blumen and Rhein blumen The Vertues The decoction of our garden Cassidony is as effectuall as Hisope for the diseases of the breast that is for coughs and colds It is put into Antidotes that is such medicines as are remedies against infection and poison It is of a mixt temperature as Galen saith to wit of a small earthly cold essence from whence it hath the quality of binding and of another more earthly extenuated from whence it is bitter by the mixture of both which it openeth obstructions and freeth the body from them it extenuateth cleanseth and strengthneth all the inward parts and bowels as also the whole frame of the body Mesues saith it cleanseth purgeth and resolveth all obstructions of the liver spleene and of the other inward parts it hindereth putrefaction and correcteth their intemperature by that small astringent quality that is in it it strengthneth the braine and sinewes the heart and all the other inward parts It purgeth black choller and flegme as well from the head and braine as the sinewes and other the instruments of the sences and comforteth them also It is very effectuall in all cold griefes used in drinkes baths or fomentings An oyle made therewith and fomented giveth as it were life to the braines and sinewes by warming and comforting them Taken with vineger of Squilles it helpeth the falling sicknesse and swimming of the head and is helpfull for all other paines of the head and stomack with Lapis Cyaneus or Sal Indicum it helpeth those that are melancholick whom feares and terrours doe accompany Taken with the juyce of Buglosse and of Pipins it helpeth the sadnesse of the heart and melancholy it easeth the paines of the sinewes arteries muscles and joynts taken in what manner you will the fumes thereof taken into the nostrils openeth them when they are closed Taken in a Syrupe or any other forme it helpeth the quartane ague and all other day agues especially in those that are flegmatick It is especially hurtfull to those that are hot dry and cholerick because it troubleth the stomack and provoketh both thirst and fainting but because it worketh slowly some Sal gemma is added unto it to quicken it or else sometimes the Myrobalani Indi or Chebuli to make it the more forcible and sometime Squilles are added especially in the griefes of the head It is made the stronger if it be steeped or boyled in whey it is the lesse hurtfull if it be boyled with wine the juyce of Pipins and a few Raisons of the Sunne Cassidony and a little Spike or Lavender steeped in old oyle is of much good use and of great effect for all the cold causes aforesaid The heads of Cassidony are of more force than the leaues Pliny saith it provoketh womens monethly courses and urine It is of especiall good use for the cold griefes of the mother and for women with child The other yellow Staechas or Cassidony is much about the same temperature and vertues serving very well for most of the affects before specified as you shall heare It is somewhat bitter and binding and therefore it warmeth dryeth openeth and cleanseth where cause requireth The toppes or flowers steeped or boyled in wine openeth all obstructions of the liver and gall and therefore helpeth the jaundise and dropsie and is very profitably taken of those that have the falling sicknesse and for all other the diseases of the braine proceeding of a cold cause as catarrhs rheumes and distillations and also all old griefes of the head that are continuall and the Palsie also whether yee take the decoction of the hearbe or the powder thereof in Oxymel or
Nieswurtz and Christwurtz the Dutch Swe rt Niescruit and we in English as it is in their titles The Vertues The true blacke Hellebore is used for most of the griefes and diseases whereunto the white is available but is nothing so violent or dangerous the leaves shred small or the juice of the leaves made up with flower into small cakes and baked hath been used to good purpose to helpe the Dropsie Iaundies and other evill dispositions of the Liver and Gall The leaves sometimes also are used to purge and open the body in some cases as well as the rootes which are of greatest use and greatest effect against all melancholike diseases long lingring Agues as the quartaine and the like the Meagrime and the old paines in the head the blacke as well as the yellow Iaundies the Leprosie falling sicknesse Consumption eyther of the Lungs or whole body or paines in the belly Sciatica Crampes Convulsions or shrinking of sinewes and all other griefes paines and aches of the joynts or sinewes if the roote be taken in pouder in infusion or decoction or in broth being first prepared in vinegar as is sometimes used to bee done that is steeped in vinegar for a day and a night and after dryed up againe which manner of preparation is according to the antient custome then used but wee have not found that the roots of this blacke Hellebore growing in our owne Country to be deadly to cattle if they eate it or any of the other sorts or that this hath any such strong or churlish operation in working as the ancients doe attribute to theirs of the hotter Countries that thereby such preprations should neede to qualifie the malignitie thereof for wee have never seene ours I thinke the moisture and temperature of our climate abating and correcting the violence thereof to worke any troublesome fit or passion in any that hath taken it without any of that preparation aforesaid the remedy if any danger be thereby is to drinke Goates milke yet Matthiolus doth much commend his Elleborismus the receipt whereof is in the third booke of his Epistles namely in that to Hauntschius whose preparation is to steepe the rootes and take out their pith and dry the barke againe and preferreth the rootes of that true blacke Ellebor that beareth red flowers before those that beare white but in want of the one as he saith himselfe the other may be to as good effect taken for that kind if it be a kind of it selfe that will not degenerate and not the quality of the climate onely causing the colour wee have not seene growing in our land although such an one hath beene sent me from beyond sea but perished quickly after he commendeth it for all the griefes aforesayd yet if an extract be made of the rootes it will serve upon all accasions being ready at hand to be used the rootes applyed in a pessarie mightily prevaile to bring downe womens courses the powder of the roote strowed upon foule Vlcers although they be fistulous doth quickly heale them and if there be any callous or hard flesh growne in the Fistula the roote left in it for two or three dayes will consume it quite Galen remembreth this in 6. de simpl med facult and Iulius Alexandrinus saith he often tryed it to be true the rootes boyled in vinegar and any place washed therewith troubled with scabbes wheales or pushes the lepry or any other such like breaking out yea although they be gangrenous or eating sores by staying their eating or spreading preserveth the flesh from putrefaction the same decoction also helpeth the Toothach if the mouth be gargled therewith as also dropped into the eares easeth the noyse and helpeth the deafenesse The Second kind which is the lesser bastard Hellebor or Beares foot for any thing that ever I could finde by the severall tryalls made thereof is more forceable and churlish in working and purging then the former a dram of the rootes steeped in wine all night and drunke in the morning assuredly prevaileth powerfully against all the diseases appropriate unto the former kind therefore I shall not neede to repeate the same things againe but besides the things before remembred the powder of the dryed leaves thereof doth helpe to kill the wormes in children more effectually a little thereof given in drinke or broth or in a Fig or Raysins or strowed upon bread spread with Hony it is sayd also to resist any poyson that is taken to expell it or cause that it shall not hurt the use hereof likewise in outward causes is the like with the former as for foule sores and Fistulaes Scabs c. An idle conceit possessed many in ancient times that he that would digge up the rootes hereof had neede to eate Garlicke before hand least the evill vapours that should arise from it in the digging up did not offend the head and braine The greater Bastard Hellebor or Setterworte was held by Dodonaeus as I sayd before to be a venemous Aconite not to be dealt with and that it would kill Woolves Foxes Dogs c. I have knowen little use thereof unlesse in great necessity where the other sorts are not to be had and onely among country people whose strong robustious bodies are able to abide the working thereof but is onely or chiefly used to rowell cattell withall as Pliny lib. 25. c. 5. saith that a peece of the roote of blacke Hellebor being drawne through a hole made in the eare of a beast troubled with the cough or having taken any poisonous thing cureth it if it be taken out the next day at the same howre Absyrtus and Hierocles declare the same thing and Columella also this manner of curing is used with us but the place is changed from the eare to the dewlap of Oxen and to the foreleg or hinderleg of an horse above the pasterne It is thought also by divers of good judgement that not onely all the Hellebors both white and blacke will doe the like if any cure be performed hereby but many other sorts of herbes yet as the name Lowsewort importeth the herbe made into an oyntment or the decoction of the leaves killeth Lice if the places be eyther washed or annointed that are chiefly troubled with them The sixt here set forth which I call purging Sanicle hath beene often found by good experience to open and purge the body of melancholy humours that safely without such perturbation thereto as is sayd to be in the other sorts of blacke Hellebor Dodonaeus likewise supposing this to be Dioscorides his black Hellebor appropriateth all the vertues thereto that Dioscorides saith they of Anticyra used their Elleborus Sesamaceus the other sorts are not used or very seldome in Physick now adayes CHAP. XXVI Helleborus Albus White Hellebor or Neesewort OF the white Hellebores there are two principall varieties as greater and lesser the greater being accounted with us manured or of the garden and the other wilde 1. Helleborus albus
vulgaris Ordinary white Hellebor or Neesing roote The first great white Hellebor riseth at the first out of the ground with a great round whitish greene head which growing up openeth it selfe into many goodly faire large greene leaves plaited as it were with eminent ribbes all along the leaves compassing one another at the bottome from the middle whereof riseth up a strong round stalke with divers such like leaves but smaller to the middle thereof from whence to the top it is divided into many branches having many small yellowish or whitish green star like flowers all along upon them which after turne into small long threesquare whitish seede standing naked without any huske to containe them although some have written otherwise the roote is reasonable thicke and great at the head Alter flore albo having a number of great white strings running downe deepe into the ground whereby it is strongly fastened Some doe make a varietie in the flowers hereof to be whiter and so would make a differing sort thereof for that cause onely but I doe not thinke it worth the name of a differing sort 2. Helleborus albus praecox sive atro-rubente flore The early white Ellebor with darke red flowers This other Hellebor is very like the former but that it springeth up a moneth at the least before it and that the leaves are longer thinner no lesse plaited foulding themselves backwards oftentimes and sooner perish falling away from the plant the stalke hereof is higher then the former with fewer leaves thereon bearing such starry flowers but of so darke or blackish a red colour that they are scarce discernable but at a neere distance the seede is very like the former the roote hath no such tuberous head as the other but as it were a long bulbous scaly head from whence shoote as many long white strings as the other both these lose their leaves wholly and gaine fresh every spring 1. Elleborus albus vulgaris Ordinary white Ellebor or Neesewort 2. Helleborus albus vernus atrorubentibus floribus The early white Ellebor with darke red flowers 3. Calceolus Mariae Our Ladyes slipper 3. Elleborine major sive Calceolus Mariae The great wilde Hellebor or our Ladyes Slipper The greater of these sorts of wilde white Hellebors riseth up with one two or more stalkes a foote and halfe high at the most bearing broad greene leaves on each side one by one somewhat like those of the former white Hellebor but smaller and not so ribbed and each compassing the stalke at the lower end at the top of the stalkes standeth sometimes but one flower yet sometimes two or three at the most one above another upon small short footestalkes with a small leafe at the foote of every one each of these flowers are of a long ovall forme and hollow withall especially at the upper part the lower being round and swelling like a belly at the hollow part there are small peeces like eares or flippers that at the first doe cover that hollow place and after stand apart one from another all which are of a fine pale yellow colour in all that I have seene yet it is reported that some are found of a browner colour or tending to purple there are likewise fowre long narrow and darke coloured leaves at the setting on of the flower unto the stalke wherein as it were the flower at the first was enclosed the whole flower is of a pretty sweet sent the seede is very small and like unto that of the Orchides or Satyrions and contained in like pods the roote is composed of a number of strings enterlacing themselves one within another lying within the upper crust of the earth and not spreading deepe of a darke brownish colour Americanus A sort thereof hath beene brought from the North parts of America differing onely in being greater both in stalkes leaves and flowers which are not yellow but white with reddish strakes through the bellies of them 4. Elleborine minor flore albo The small wilde Hellebor with a white flower This smaller Hellebor groweth up in the like manner and not much lower bearing the like leaves but smaller and of a white greene colour like those of Lilly Convally the top of the stalke hath many more flowers but lesser growing together spike 4. Elleborine minor flore albo Small wilde white Ellebor 8. Elleborine angustifolia Variable wilde white Ellebor fashion with small short leaves at the stalke of every flower which consisteth of five small white leaves with a small close hood in the middle without any sent at all the seede is alike and so are the rootes but smaller 5. Elleborine minor flore purpurante The small wilde white Hellebor with blushflowers The leaves hereof are narrower than the last the stalke and flowers are alike but smaller and of a pale purplish or blush colour 6. Elleborine flore viridante Wild white Hellebor with whitish greene flowers This differeth not much from the last but in the colour of the flower which is greenish on the outside and somewhat white within 7. Elleborine flore atro-rubente Wilde white Hellebor with darke red flowers This wilde kinde groweth somewhat bigger and higher and with larger leaves than any other of these small wild sorts the flowers likewise are more in number and of a deepe purple colour 8. Elleborine angustifolia spicata versicolor Variable wilde white Hellebor This also riseth somewhat high having narrower leaves on the stalke yet ribbed somewhat like unto the ribwort Plantaine the stalke endeth in a long spike of fine purple coloured flowers in fashion like the rest but the opening hoodes with their labels are white spotted on the inside with purplish spots the leaves and rootes are alike The Place Both the first sorts grow in sundry places of Germany and Austria as Clusius saith as also in some of the Ilands about Russia where a good ship might be fraighted with the rootes of the ordinary sort as Master Tradescante the elder affirmed the other sorts grow many of them in our owne land as well as beyond sea namely the third fourth and sixth especially the third in a wood called the Helkes in Lancashire neere the border of Yorkeshire The Time The first flowreth before the second although it spring earlier out of the ground being not in flower untill the end of Iuly the rest flower about May some earlyer or later than others The Names I have shewed you in the chapter before that it is called Elleborus or Helleborum c. The first is generally called Helleborus albus and by Dodonaeus Cordus upon Dioscorides and others Veratrum album Guilandinus took it to be the Helleborus candidus of the Grecians but is assuredly the Consiligo of Vegetius Absyrtus Columella and Plinye Gerard tooke this for the next to call it praecox Bauhinus to distinguish them calleth this flore subviridi and the second flore atro-rubente other writers ex purpura nigricante Lobel addeth praecox vnto it the
ordinary small Centory 3. Centaurium minus spicatum album Small spiked Centory 4 Centaurium minus luteum vulgare Small yellow Centory 5.7 Centaurium minus luteum perfoliatum minimum luteâ— The small yellow thorough leafed and branched Centory and the least yellow greater the stalke sendeth forth sometimes diverse long branches from the joynts and sometimes but onely at the toppe at the joynts whereof stand two somewhat broad and long pointed leaves so compassing the stalke about the bottome and making it seeme as if it ranne thorough them that they will hold the dew or raine that falleth upon them the flowers that stand at the toppes of the small branches are somewhat larger than those of the ordinary sort composed of sixe or eight leaves of a fine pale yellow colour and sometimes deeper after which come bigger heads and somewhat greater seede than the other the roote is small and white like the former this is not so bitter as the former 6. Centaurium minus luteum non ramosum Small yellow unbranched Centory These is another of this kind of yellow Centory found that differeth not in leafe or flower from the former but the stalke bearing perfoliated leaves brancheth not forth but beareth onely one flower at the toppe which hath made it noted to be a different kinde from the other 7. Centaurium minimum luteum The least yellow Centory The least yellow Centory differeth not much from the last described saving that it is lesse in every part and beareth two or three or more small flowers at the toppe of each stalke The Place Most of those Centories are found in our owne country in many places the ordinary sort almost every where in fields pastures and woods yet that with the white flower more sparingly by much than the first the spiked kinde groweth about Mompelier and upon the Euganean hills neare Padoa The first yellow Centory groweth in many places of Kent as in a field next unto Sir Francis Carew his house at Bedington neare Croydon and in a field next beyond South-fleete Church towards Gravesend and in many other places where the other sorts are sometimes found The Time They doe all flower in July or there abouts and seede within a moneth after The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Centaurum parvum minus Pliny maketh three sorts his Centaureae Chironia is Dioscorides his Centaurium majus his Centaurium is this little Centory and his third he nameth Centauris triorchis mistaking Theophrastus his meaning lib. 9. cap. 9. where he speaketh of that kinde of Hawke called in Latine Buteo a Bussard and in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of whom they that did gather this Centory should take heed to be hurt Gesner and Dalechampius doe both note Pliny of this his errour herein of some Centaurea and for the excessive bitternesse fel terrae and for the qualitie febrifuga of some also Multi radix but for what cause I know not Dioscorides saith it was called Limnesion and Pliny Libadion because it loveth to grow in moist places It is thought to be that herbe that Theophrastus counted among the Panaces and called Leptophyllum Pliny saith it was called of the Gaules in his time Exacon because it did purge by the belly all other evill medicines out of the body It is called in Italian Biondella because women did with the lye thereof cleare and whiten their haire as Matthiolus saith but Lugdunensis saith it doth make the haire yellow Bauhinus calleth the third Centaurium minus spicatum album Lugdunensis calleth the sixt Centaurium luteum alterum and Fabius Columa the last Centaurium minus luteum non descriptum or Centaurium luteum novum The yellow Centory is called by Mesues Centaurium floribus luteis sive citreis pallidis and is thought by some to be the Achylleos vera that Pliny mentioneth in his 35. Booke and 5. Chapter and therefore Gesner in hortis calleth it Perfoliata Achyllea The Arabians call it Kantarion sages Canturion sege or Segir the Italians as is before said Biondella Cantaurea minore the Spaniards Cintoria felde tierra the French Petite Centoire the Germans Tausent guldenkrant and Fieberkraut the Dutch Kâ—in Santory unde Eerdegall and we in English small Centory The Vertues Dioscorides Pliny Galen Mesues and the other Arabian Physitions with diverse others doe all agree that the lesser Centory being boyled and drunke purgeth chollericke and grosse humors and helpeth the Sciatica and yet Dodonaeus seemeth to averre that it hath no purging qualitie in it that he could finde by much experience thereof which words and saying Gerard setteth downe as if himselfe had made the experience when as they are the very words of Dodonaeus it is much used with very good effect to be given in agues for it openeth the obstructions of the liver gall and spleene helping the jaundise and easing the paines in the sides and hardnesse of the spleene used also outwardly making thinne both the bloud and humors by the clensing and bitter qualities therein it helpeth also those that have the dropsie or the greene sicknesse as the Italians doe affirme who much use it for that purpose in pouder it is of much use to be boyled in water and drunke against agues as all know it killeth the wormes in the belly found true by daily experience it helpeth also to drie up rheumes as Galen saith being put with other things for that purpose the decoction thereof also the toppes of the stalkes with the leaves and flowers are most used is good against the chollicke and to brring downe womens courses helpeth to avoid the dead birth and easeth the paines of the mother and is very effectuall in all old paines of the joynts as the gout crampes or convulsions a dramme of the pouder thereof taken in wine is a wonderfull good helpe against the biting and poison of the Adder or Viper the juice of the herbe taken while it is greene as is used in other herbes and dried in the Sunne or by decoction and evaporation by the fire as was used in ancient times worketh the same effects but the distilled water of the herbe as it is more pleasant to be taken so it is lesse powerfull for any the purposes before spoken of because it wanteth that substance and bitternesse that is in the herbe the juice thereof with a little hony put to it is good to cleare the eyes from dimnesse mistes or cloudes that offend and hinder the sight it is singular good both for greene or fresh wounds and also for old ulcers and sores to close up the one and clense the other and perfectly to cure them both although they be hollow or fistulous the greene herbe especially being bruised or laid too the decoction thereof dropped into the eares clenseth them from wormes clenseth the foule ulcers and spreading scabbes of the head and taketh away all freckles spots and markes in the skinne being washed therewith The yellow
in wine or in milke doth mervellously help all the diseases of the chest and lungs that proceede of hot causes as excoriations the ptisicke plurifie and the rest if it be continued for some time together the leaves and the rootes worke the same effects let any one take which of them they thinke best or most ready at hand agreeing to their disposition they helpe much also in the excoriations of the guts and bowells and hardnesse of the mother and in all hot and sharpe diseases thereof as also the Alcea fruticosa pentaphyllea the juyce drunke in wine or the decoction of them in wine doth help women to a speedy easie delivery the common Alcea or Vervaine Mallow is thought to be most effectuall for burstings or ruptures and the bloudy flixe and also for the shrinking of sinewes and the crampe the distilled water of them when they are in flower worketh to the same purposes but more weakely yet it is much commended to be used in hot agues or severs Pliny saith that whosoever shall take a spoonefull of the juyce of any of the Mallowes shall that day be free from all diseases that may come unto him and that it is especiall good for the falling sicknesse The syrupe also â—d conserve made of the flowers are very effectuall for the same diseases and to open the body when it is coâ— or bound by accident or a naturall disposition the young leaves are often eaten with salt as a sallet the leaves bruised and laid to the eyes with a little hony taketh away the impostumations of them which by sufferance might grow to a Fistula the leaves bruised or rubbed upon any place stung with Bees Waspes or the like yea of the Scorpion and the biting of the deadly Spider called Phalaegium and is said presently to take away paines rednesse and swellings that rise thereupon and keepeth them from stinking if they be rubbed therewith aforehand and as Dioscorides saith the decoction of the leaves and rootes helpeth all sorts of poyson so as the poyson be presently voided by vomite a pultis made of the leaves of Mallowes boyled and bruised whereunto some Beane or Barley flower and oyle of Roses is put is an especiall remedy against all hard tumours and inflammations of impostumes and swellings of the coddes and other parts and easeth the paines of them as also against the hardnesse of the spleene or liver to be applied to the places the juyce of Mallowes boyled in old oyle and applied taketh away all roughnesse of the skinne as also the falling of the haire the scurfe dandruffe or drie scabbes in the head or other parts if they be anointed therewith or washed with the decoction the same also is effectuall against the scaldings by water and burnings by fire and to helpe also the disease called Saint Anthonies fire and all other hot red and painefull swellings in any part of the bodie the flowers of Mallowes boyled in oyle or water as every one is disposed whereunto a little hony and allome is put is an excellent gargle to wash any sore mouth or throate for it clenseth and healeth them in a short space if the feete be bathed or washed with the decoction of the leaves rootes and flowers it helpeth much the defluxions of rheume from the head which rose out of the stomack if the head be washed therewith it stayeth the falling and shedding of the haire thereof the greene leaves saith Pliny beaten with niter and applied draweth out thornes or prickes in the flesh The French and curled Mallowes and the Hollihocks are of the same nature and quality and work to the same effect that the other do The Marsh Mallow is the chiefest Mallow of all other and most effectuall in all the diseases before specified and therefore as I said before it was called Bismalva for that it was twise as good in effect as the other the leaves are likewise used in stead of the common Mallowes to loosen the belly gently and are effectuall in decoctions of glisters for to ease all the paines of the body opening the straight passages and making them lubricke whereby the stone may descend the more easily and without paine out of the reines and kidnies and the bladder and to ease the torturing paines comming thereby but the rootes are of more especiall use for those purposes as well as for the diseases of the breast and lunges as coughes hoarsenesse of the throate and voyce wheesings and shortnesse of breath c. being boyled in wine or honied water and drunke the rootes boyled in water very well and after they be strained forth the decoction being boyled againe with Sugar to a just consistence and thereof made into rowles or trochisces or the like are a Polychreston and much used for all the purposes aforesaid the rootes and seedes of the Marsh Mallow boyled in wine or water is with good effect used by them that have any excoriations in the guts or the bloudy flixe not so much by any binding qualitie in them as by qualifying the violence of the sharpe cholericke fretting humors that are the cause thereof and by the fliminesse easing the paines and healing the sorenesse and in some sort staying the further eruption of bloud therefrom at that time or any other after it is profitably taken of them that are troubled with ruptures crampes or convulsions of the sinewes and boyled in white wine for the impostumes of the throate called the Kings evill and of those kernells that rise behind the eares and inflammations or swelings in womens breasts the dried rootes boyled in milke and drunke are specially good for the chin cough Hippocrates used to give the decoction of the rootes or the juyce thereof to drinke to those that were wounded and were ready to faint thorough the expense and losse of bloud and applied the same mixed with hony and rosen unto the wounds the rootes boyled in wine he gave also to drinke to those that had received hurt by bruises or falls or by blowes and stripes to those that had any bone or member out of joynt and to those that had any swelling paine or ach in the muscles sinewes or arteries of the body it is good also to be used in all the ulcers and sores that happen in any cartilaginous place The Muccilage of the rootes and of lineseede and fenegreâ—e put together is much used in pultises ointments and plaisters that serve to mollifie and digest all hard tumors and the inflammations of them and to give ease of the paines in any part of the body the seede either greene or drie mixed with vinegar clenseth the skinne of the morphew and all other discolouring thereof whatsoever being bathed therewith in the Sunne the seede of the yellow Mallow hath beene tried even as the seede of the Marsh Mallow hath beene also to be of singular good effect against the stone if a dramme or a dramme and a halfe at the most being made into pouder be
bitterish sweet taste like unto juice of Licoris but the roots of this Mechinus are of an aromaticall sharpe biting taste the joynts in the roots of the ordinary Doronicum very likely might cause the later age of the world to erre in taking it to be the right but leave we these controversies and attend the varietie of names and properties of these sorts of Doronicum which may better perswade us of the good to be reaped from them The first is as I said the most common both in the Gardens of our country and others and is most usually called Doronicum Romanum of all writers or with a sweete roote The second Clusius and others call Doronicum minus and Angustifolium Bauhinus calleth it Doronicum plantaginis folio The third Matthiolus calleth Aconitum Pardalianches Plinij Dodonaeus Pardalianches alterum Pena and Lobel Doronicum Brachiata radice but Clusius setteth out the figure more truely calleth it his second Doronicum Austriacum The fourth is Clusius his first Doronicum Austriacum sive minus and Bauhinus Doronicum longifolium hirsutie asperum The fift is Clusius his fourth Doronicum which he calleth Stiriacum and Bauhinus Doronicum latifolium flore magno The sixt is called diversly by divers Matthiolus calleth it Alysma or Damasonium and thinketh it to be the right Alysma of Dioscorides and so doe Camerarius and Gesner who calleth it also Caltha Alpina Fena and Lobel call it Nardus Celtica altera as Rondeletius did take it to be Lugdunensis setteth it forth under the name of Ftarmica montana as divers did call it there abouts as he saith and yet setteth it forth againe under the title of Alysma Matthioli Gerard likewise hath set it forth in two severall places under two severall titles the one under Calendula Alpina the other under Chrysanthemum latifolium Clusius calleth it Doronicum Germanicum and saith his Pannonicum or Doronicum sextum is the same or very like for both he and divers others doe set it forth with smooth and hairy leaves also as it is found so growing in divers and sundry places The seventh is Clusâ—us his Doronicum Austriadum tertâ— which Bauhinus calleth Doronicum maximum foliis caulem amplexantibus The eighth and ninth Bauhinus setteth forth in his Prodomus and Pinax under the same titles they doe here beare the tenth Robinus of Paris called Aconitum Americanum and Cornutus Aconitum Helianthemum Canadense but the upper leaves on the stalke with the flowers and roote declare it to come nearer to the sorts of Doronicum the last are as the titles declare them They may all be called in English either Doronicum according to the Latine name for so doe both Italians Spaniards French Germanes and Dutchmen or as I have entituled them supposed Wolfes banes both that the name may differ from the former Wolfes banes and to give you to understand that they are but supposed to be dangerous because as I said before the outward forme of the rootes like unto Shrimpes or Scorpions and the leaves round like unto the leaves of Sow bread or Cowcumbers have caused many to thinke them to be the Aconites of Theophrastus and Dioscorides but Columna hath treated very learnedly hereof in the 18. Chapter of his Booke of Plants whereunto I referre you for it were too tedious to relate his sayings in this place The Vertues The true Doronicum is said to be a soveraigne Cordiall and to resist the poyson both of beasts and other deadly medicines to clense the breast and to helpe the cough and to rid those humors that cause paines in the sides but our Doronicum although it be not the true of Serapio and Avicen yet it is no Aconite as Matthiolus and others have supposed for as is before said both Gesner tooke it often and a good quantitie at a time even two drammes in powder that he might find the operation of it yet found no harme thereby and Vroede as Lobel saith tooke of it many times without any harme but what especiall good they found by it is not remembred for Gesner maketh not any mention thereof yet the juyce thereof is found to be good for those eyes that be hot and red and full of paine by reason of hot and sharpe rheumes falling into them to allay the heate to take away the rednesse and to give ease of the paines and prickings in them Clusius saith that the hunters and shepheards that live in the mountaines of Austria doe no lesse use and commend the rootes of the third and fourth sorts here set forth which grow with them more frequently than the others at the least best known unto them then they doe the rootes of the yellow Auricula ursi against the swimming or turning in the head which is a disease subject to those places rising from the feare and horrour of such steepe downefalls and dangerous places which they doe and must continually passe in seeking for and hunting the wild Goates and therefore they there call them Gensswurtz that is Rupicapraria radix as Clusius doth interpret it and there hath beene found is their mawes a certaine stone called by Bauhinus in his Treatise thereof Bezoar Germanicum in the middest of which stones some of the rootes have beene found almost whole which sheweth that they feede thereon willingly without taking any harme thereby and that the stones bred thereon are Cordiall and so used And I doe not thinke but any of the other sorts seeing they are all in forme and places of growing one so like unto another if triall were sufficiently made would performe the same effect For the sixt sort here expressed which as I said is called Caltha Alpina of some Alysma or Damosonium of others and Doronicum Geranicum of others of the people in the Alpes Mutterwurtz as Iosias Simlerus saith in his Commentarie of the Alpes that is Matricaria Mother wort which they have found and do continually use to procure womens courses and to ease the paines and diseases of the mother is very effectuall against the poyson of the fish called Lapus marinus as also the venemous biting of the Shrew and the poyson of a Toade and is also profitable for them that have eaten Opium in any dangerous quantitie it is given with good successe to them that have the bloudy flixe or any other paines or gripings in their body or bowells by reason of sharpe humours gathered therein it is also helpefull to those that have convulsions or crampes and ach or paines in the joynts and sinewes and is very powerfull to be taken with some wilde Carrot seede to expell gravell or the stone in the reines or kidnies if the decoction thereof in wine or water or the powder of the herbe and rootes be taken it is applied also outwardly to ease the paines and inflammations of apostumes and sores the flowers hereof doe procure neesings CHAP. IV. Ranunculus Crowfoote THere are so many sorts of Crowfeete some of the Woods some of the Medowes some of the Mountaines some of the Water some
to be taken inwardly the juyce also clarified and mingled with a little vinegar is good to wash the mouth and throate that is inflamed but outwardly the juyce of the herbe or berries with oyle of Roses and a little vinegar and cerusse laboured together in a leaden Morter is very good to anoint all hot inflammations Saint Anthonies fire all other grieved places that are molested with heate as the head ache and frenzies anointing the temples and forehead therewith as also the heate and inflammation in the eyes it doth also much good for the shingles ringwormes and in all running fretting corroding ulcers and in weeping or moist Fistulaes if the juice be made up with some hens dung and applied thereunto a pessary dipped in the juyce and put up into the matrixe stayeth the immoderate fluxe of womens courses a cloth wet therein and applied to the testicles or cods upon any swelling therein giveth much ease as also to the goute that commeth of hot and sharpe humours the juyce dropped into the eares easeth those paines that arise of heat or inflammation Pliny saith moreover that it is good for hot swellings under the throate the sleepie Nightshade of both sorts are of one and the same qualitie being cold in the third degree and drie in the second comming neere unto the propertie of Opium to procure sleepe but somewhat weaker if a dramme of the barke of the roote be taken in wine but not to exceede that proportion for feare of danger the seede drunke doth powerfully expell urine and is also good for the dropsie but the often taking thereof in too great a quantite procureth frenzie the remedy whereof is to take good store of warme honied water the roote boyled in wine and a little thereof held in the mouth easeth the paines of the tooth ache Pliny saith it is good to fasten loose teeth the juyce of the roote mingled with hony is good for the eyes that are weake of sight It is more effectuall in all hot swellings and inflammations than the former in regard it is colder in qualitie the juyce of the herbe or rootes or the distilled water of the whole plant being applied the deadly Nightshade is held more dangerous than any of the other for it is thought to be cold in the fourth degree the juyce of the leaves and a little vinegar mixed together procureth rest and sleepe when upon great distemperature either in long sicknesse or in the tedious hot fits of agues rest and sleepe is much hindered if the temples and forehead be a little bathed therewith as also taketh away the violent paine of the head proceeding of a hot cause the leaves bruised or their juyce may be applied to such hot inflammations as Saint Anthonies fire the shingles and all other fiery or running cankers to coole and stay the spreading the danger is very great and more in the use of this inwardly than in any of the former and therefore there had neede of the more heed and care that children and others doe not eate of the berries hereof least you see the lamentable effects it worketh upon the takers thereof as it hath done both in our owne land upon sundry children killed by eating the broth wherein the leaves were boiled or the berries and beyond the sea in the same manner yet some doe hold that two ounces of the distilled water hereof is effectuall to be taken inwardly without any danger against the heart burning and other inflammations of the bowells and against all other hot inflammations of the skinne or eyes giving ease to the paines It hath beene often proved that one scruple of the dried roote hereof infused in a little wine sixe or seven hoares and then strained hard through a cloth that if this wine be put into a draught of other wine whosoever shall drinke that wine shall not be able to eate any meate for that meale nor untill they drinke some vinegar which will presently dispell that qualitie and cause them fall to their vlands with as good a stomacke as they had before this is a good jest for a bold unwelcome guest The Virginia Nightshade is a familiar purger with them in Virginia New England c. where they take a spoonefull or two of the juyce of the roote which worketh strongly but we having tried to give the dried roote in powder have not found that effect CHAP. VII 1. Solanum lignosum sive Dulcamara Wood Nightshade or Bitter sweete ALthough this plant hath no dangerous quality therein nor yet is properly any Nightshade more than the outward conformitie in some sort yet because many learned Authours have reckoned it as a sort thereof and called it by that name let me also place it with them and shew it you in this place thus it groweth up with many slender winding brittle wooddy stalkes five or sixe foote high without any claspers but foulding it selfe about hedges or any other thing that standeth next unto it covered with a whitish rough barke and having a pith in the middle shooting out many branches on all sides which are greene while they are young whereon grow many leaves without order somewhat like unto the leaves of Nightshade but that they are somewhat broad long and pointed at the ends with two small leaves or rather peeces of leaves at the bottome of most of them somewhat like the Sage with eares and many of them likewise but with one peece on the one side sometimes also those peeces are close unto the leaves making them seeme as it were jagged or cut in on the edges into so many parts and sometimes separate there from making the leaves seeme winged or made of many leaves and are of a pale greene colour at the toppes and sides of the branches come forth many flowers standing in fashion of along umbell upon short foote stalkes one above another which consist of five narrow and long violet purple coloured leaves not spread like a starre or very seldome but turning themselves backwards to the stalkes againe whereon they stand with a long gold yellow pointell in the middle sticking forth which afterwards turne into round and somewhat long berries greene at the first and very red soft and full of juyce when they are ripe of an unpleasant bitter taste although sweete at the first wherein are contained many flat white seedes the roote spreadeth it selfe into many strings under ground and not growing into any great body the barke also of the branches being chewed tasteth bitter at the first but sweeter afterwards 2. Dulcamara flore albo Wood Nightshade with white flowers Of this kinde there is another that differeth not from the former more than in the flowers whose outer leaves are white and the pointell yellow Dulcamara seâ— Solanum lignosum Wood Night shade The Place This groweth usually by ditches sides and hedges where they may climbe up upon them the first almost every where the second is very rare and seldome to be met
in Narcoticke medicines and is an ingredient of much respect in those great compositions of Theriaca and Mithridatium c. whereof a small quantity hath beene gathered in some Christian Countryes and my selfe and others in our owne land have gathered a little from the greene heads as they stand and are but halfe growne ripe slit or cut with a knife in two or three places that the milke issuing forth may be gathered into some convenient thing and hardned afterwards in the Sunne but not at the fire which will not be so blacke as that Opium that commeth usually to us which is rather Meconium as Dioscorides setteth it downe which is made of the juice of both leaves and heades pressed forth of the white as well as of the blacke Poppy for the true best Opium is somewhat of a whitish yellow or brownish colour and giveth no such yellow tincture as that which is sophisticate and made with Glaucium which is the yellow juice of an herbe with leaves like unto horned Poppy but divers have thought Glaucium to be the juice of Chelidonius majus others of Pomum amâ— majus and lastly Bauhinus and some others thinke it to be of this thorny Poppy because it giveth a yellow juice but as Bellonius writeth that to have any quantity of true Opium it rather consisteth in the multitude of gatherers for it must be both speedily gathered and in the heat of the day then in the great quantity of ground sowen therewith it being a tedious worke for a very small quantity can be but gathered by any one in a day in that every head yeeldeth but little and must be attended to be taken from them before it be dryed too much upon them The Vertues All the sorts of Poppyes are cold in the fourth degree but especially Opium or the condensate juice as Galen and divers other authours doe affime yet Matthiolus sticketh thereat thinking it rather to be hot by the sharpenesse and bitternesse thereof and is Anodinum medicamentum that is such a medicine that by procuring sleepe easeth many paines for the present which indeede it doth but palliate or cause to be quiet for a time the continuall use whereof bringeth very often more harme and a more dangerous disease then it hath allayed that is an insensiblenesse or stupefaction of a part or member which commeth to be the dead palsie for although Dioscorides Galen and others write that the white seed is familiarly taken in bread and made into cakes and eaten with pleasure and Matthiolus and divers others have observed that in our dayes the white Poppy seede is sowen in Italy and other places and much used yea and the blacke seede also although as they all agree it is stronger in operation and onely medicineable or onely to be used in Physicke to helpe diseases for Matthiolus writeth that the inhabitants about Trent doe sow the blacke seede in their fields and grounds among Beanes and other pulse which they familiarly eate being made into cakes that are made of many foldes the seede being cast in betweene the folds and so kneaded together and yet hee saith they are no whit more sleepy or drowsie then those that eate none of them as also that in Stiria and the upper Austria the inhabitants doe eate the oyle pressed out of the blacke seede in their meates familiarly in the stead of Sallet oyle and finde no inconveniency of drowsinesse at all thereby which made him as he saith venture to give the creame of the seede made up with Barly water oftentimes and in great quantity in the hot fits of agues and burning feavers both to aswade thirst and to procure rest and hereby as he saith he shooke of that feare of Poppy that his wise Masters had by their grave admonitions seasoned him withall in former times the Garden Poppy heads with seedes made into a Syrupe is both frequently used in our dayes and to very good effect to procure rest and sleepe in the sicke and weake and to stay catarrhes and defluxions of hot and thinne rheume from the head into the stomacke and upon the lungs causing a continuall cough the forerunner of a consumption but hath not halfe that force in those that are stronger for the strength or debility of nature worketh divers effects as you see as well in this as in all or most other things the same also helpeth the hoarsenesse of the throate and when one hath lost their voyce which the oyle of the seede doth likewise the blacke seed boyled in wine and drunke is said also to stay the fluxe of the belly and the immoderate course of womens sickenesse the empty shels of the Poppy heades are usually boyled in water and given to procure rest and sleepe so doe the leaves in the same manner as also if the head and temples be bathed with the decoction warme or with the oyle of Poppyes the greene leaves or heads bruised and applyed with a little vinegar or made into a pultis with Barly meale and Axungia cooleth and tempereth all inflammations as also that disease called Saint Anthonyes fire The Opium but I may rather say the Meconium which is the juice of the Poppy thickned that is commonly used in the Apothecaries shops and is much weaker by the judgement of all both moderne and ancients then the true Opium is much colder and stronger in effect than any other part of the plant but if we may know the temperature and qualities of things by their taste and effect we may rather judge Opium to be hot then cold or at the least to have very hot parts in it witnesse the bitternesse thereof the heate and sharpenesse that is felt in the mouth upon the tasting and keeping it in the mouth a while that it is ready to blister both tongue and pallate as also the grievous or heady heavy smell as well in it as in the whole plant but it may be saith Matthiolus the bitternesse heate and sharpenesse in Opium or Meconium is rather accessory then innate and is therein by the mixture and adulterating of it with Glaucium and to give a yellow juice for our Opium if it be dissolved doth shew a brownish yellownesse yet by his leave I may say that even the fresh milke with us is bitter and strong in smell like the Meconium or Opium but because our ancients who have found out the qualities of things and left them for our knowledge have so found and judged of Opium I must as Matthiolus saith leave it for others to descant theron as reason and experience shall direct them It is generally used as I said before in Treakle and Mithridatum and in all other medicines that are made to procure rest and sleepe and to ease paines in the head as well as in other parts as I said before or rather to palliate them it is used also both to coole inflammations agues or frensies and to stay defluctions which cause a cough or consumption as
the joynts with the leaves on both sides of the stalke three for the most part standing together except the uppermost of all where they stand five together each of them with a short footestalke under them consisting of five small pointed leaves spread like a starre of a pale blew colour finely spotted with many small blacke prickes on the inside having a small umbone in the middle and five small threds tipt with yellow standing about it the seede that follweth is enclosed in such heads or huskes as the Gentians have the roote is small and yellow with many fibres annexed unto it Hereunto I may referre another very like unto it found in the North parts of this land namely in Lancashire by Mr. Hesket a Gentleman in his life time very skilfull in the knowledge of Plants whose figure I here exhibit that some other may be stirred up to finde it out againe that we may have further knowledge thereof Centiana dubia Anglica 2. Gentianella aestiva cordata Small Heartlike Sommer Gentian This Sommer Gentian hath a small long fibrous but wooddy yellowish roote and thereby may be judged to be but annuall and not abiding from whence arise small leaves somewhat round pointed with a greenish yellow â—ibbe in the middle of them two alwaies set one against another the stalke is square about halfe a foote high with the like leaves at the joyntes and divided from the middle upwards into divers small short branches on the toppes whereof stand very large flowers in comparison to the smallnesse of the Plant which is of a whitish blew colour before it be open and writhed together like to many of the flowers of the small Bindeweeds but being opened consisteth of a long hollow round huske ending in five hard leaves somewhat broad and pointed like a starre of as brave a deepe blew colour as any of the former betweene those greater leaves there are other smaller leaves set each of them round at the ends and dented in making them seeme like unto a heart as it is painted from whence the name in the title cordata heart-like was imposed upon it the like forme being not observed in any of the other the seede vessell after the flower is past groweth to have a small long necke and bigger above which being ripe openeth it selfe at the head contrary to the rest containing within it much blacke seede but twise as bigge and as long as the other 3. Gentianella aestiva purpuro-caerulea Small purple Sommer Gentian This purple Sommer Gentian shooteth forth a reasonable strong stalke a foote and a halfe high with divers joynts and two leaves at every one of them somewhat broad at the bottome where it joyneth to the stalke not having any footestalke to stand on growing smaller to the end and long pointed the stalke at the toppe hath some short branches whereon are set five or six or more small purplish blew flowers ending in five small pointed leaves after they are fallen and past come up small long cornered pods or seede vessels containing much small seede the roote is slender long and fibrous and perisheth after bearing raising it selfe againe from its owne sowing and if it spring before Winter it will endure it well and flower the next yeare else if it rise in the Spring it will abide all the first yeare and flower and seede the next 4. Gentianella aestiva flore lanuginoso Sommer Gentian with a cottony flower This Sommer Gentian springeth up with many long and narrow leaves lying in compasse upon the ground with three veines in every one of them as is usuall in all or most of the Gentians from among which riseth up a square stalke about a foote high or more bearing at every joynt two such like leaves as grow below but lesser and longer pointed at the joynts with the leaves toward the toppes of the stalkes shoote forth two or three short branches bearing every of them three or foure flowers larger then the former and bigger bellyed ending in five points or leaves of a paler purple colour having a small purplish cottony downynesse at the bottome of each of the leaves where they are divided on the inside after the flowers are fallen there appeare small long huskes like hornes full of small round seede the roote is small and long of a pale colour somewhat wooddy perishing as all the Sommer kindes doe 5. Gentianella aestiva flore breviore Sommer Gentian with short flowers This kinde of Gentian is somewhat like unto the last but that the leaves are broader by the halfe two alwaies standing at a joynt of a deeper greene colour the stalke is square and branched at the toppe in the same manner bearing divers flowers on every of them which are both shorter and greater then they and of a pale blewish colour the seedes and rootes are much alike all these kinds as well as the former are very bitter which cause them to be referred to Gentian 6. Gentianella aestiva minima Neapolitana The small Sommer Gentian of Naples This small Gentian hath small square stalkes little more then halfe a foote high but fuller of branches and flowers then the last the leaves thereon are somewhat long and narrow the stalkes are branched from the bottome with many small flowers on them standing in small huskes which are long like a cuppe the brimmes ending in foure parts somewhat distant one from another making the ends to seeme the longer of a purplish colour enclining to rednesse with a small woollinesse at the bottome of each of the foure leaves where they are divided and white also on the inside at the lower part of them and of a paler purple about the edges after which come up small long heads forked at the toppe wherein is contained small round shining yellowish seed yet bigger then any of the former the roote is longer and more full of threds or fibres then the last spreading much under ground The Place The first as Clusius saith Dr. Penny of London shewed him the figure and gave him the description and told him that he gathered it upon Bockmut a hill of the Switzers and the other of that kinde as is said in some places of Lancashire but we know not where Columna saith he found the second upon the hils Aequicoli in Naples The third and fourth groweth in the meddowes at the foote of hills in many places of Germany as Clusius saith The fifth groweth on the toppes of hills onely in many places of Austria And the last on the hils in Naples as Columna saith The Time These doe all flower in the Sommer Moneths of Iuly and August and not before the seede growing ripe soone after which shedding themselves continue their kinds but will hardly endure transplantation or rise of the seed sowen in a Garden as both Camerarius and others have observed and my selfe can say the same The Names These are called Gentianellae aestivae and are mediae inter Gentianas Centaurias minores as
undergrowth or Excressence of the Cistus to produce the like plant as the berries of the Misletoe are being as it is but an excrescence growing as I sayd from superfluitie of moisture and putrefaction That which riseth from the rootes of the female Cistus especially that with Sea Purslane leaves is of a yellow colour And that which springeth from the Ledum or sweete gum Cistus is of divers colours being intermixt with purplish and greene stalkes or veines in the pale coloured stalkes of leaves and flowers as Clusius hath observed and set it downe but such as Dioscorides relateth to bee some white or greene especially greene hee observed not in any The Place It alwayes groweth from the rootes of the Cistus in the naturall places and not in any Gardens whereunto they are transplanted The Time It abideth fresh many Winters after it is risen but is in its chiefest beauty at the Spring and in his full strength in the beginning of Summer when is the fittest time to gather the juice The Names It is usually called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hypocistiâ— but Dioscorides saith that some called it in his time Rhabethrum and Cytinus Clusius calleth that kind which groweth on the Ledum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sive Cynomorij genus and Dodonaeus Limodori quoddâ— genus the Latines keepe the Greeke name and call both the plant and the juice drawne from it Hypocistis but aâ— Matthiolus saith the Arabians were the cause of the errour of the Apothecaries and others in former times who calling Cistus by the name of Goatesbeard induced them to beleeve that Hypocistis was made of the juice of the rootes of Tragâ—pogon called Rarba Hirci or Goatesbeard so that such counterfeit Hypocistis was usually sold for true untill they came to understand the true Hypocistis and to gather the juice from it which is performed two manner of wayes The best way is to expresse the juice from the fresh herbe when it is in full strength the other is to steepe the dryed stalks and boyle them which after they are pressed is to be condensate eyther juice or decoction by evaporation in the Sunne or by the fire in the same sort that Lycium was wont to be made as Dioscorides saith Fuchsius tooke the Hypocistis to be a Fungus or Mushrome but Matthiolus taxeth him for it and sheweth how it springeth The Vertues The hardned juice called Hypocistis is much more binding then any other part of any Cistus it is a most certaine sure and safe medecine to stay all fluxes of blood or humours that is to say the spitting of blood womens extraordinary courses the laske and blooddy flux it is mixed with those things that are applyed to the stomacke to stay vomitings and to strengthen it when it is growen weake as also with those things that strengthen the Liver to be used eyther inwardly or outwardly it is also availeable for clammy moist humours that fall upon the joynts or sinewes thereby causing a weakenesse of nerves and a solution of them to use this therefore in pilles inwardly doth wonderfully helpe to dry and binde and corroborate the parts it is put into great Antidotes against poyson and the pestilence not for any speciall propertie it hath to resist the venome but to contemperate and strengthen the body it is held to be a very good substitute for Acacia which all Christian countries doe much want through their owne negligence for if they would not so much affect substitutes they might have the true but it is binding and drying more then it CHAP. LXXXIX Jacobaea Ragwort WEe have two sorts of Ragwort growing wilde with us in many places but Clusius hath found out some other plants which he referreth thereunto and there are also some of this sort growing by the Sea side which I thinke fit to adjoyne to the rest 1. Iacobaea vulgaris major The greater common Ragwort The greater common Ragwort hath many large and long darke greene leaves lying on the ground very much rent and torne on the sides into many peeces from among which riseth up sometimes but one and sometimes two or three square or crested blackish or brownish stalkes three or foure foote high sometimes branched bearing divers such like leaves upon them at severall distances unto the toppes where it bracheth forth into many stalkes bearing yellow flowers consisting of divers leaves set as a pale or border with a darke yellow thrum in the middle which doe abide a great while but in the end growing full ripe are turned into downe and with the small blackish gray seede carryed away with the winde the roote is made of many fibres some greater and others lesser whereby it is firmely fastned into the ground and abideth many yeares 2. Iacobaea vulgaris minor The lesser common Ragwort This Ragwort is very like the precedent so that many that are not skilfull or curious in the observation of plants do overpasse it as judging it but the same with the former the chiefest differences are these it usually riseth not so high the leaves are not so finely jagged nor of so sad a greene colour but rather somewhat whitish soft and woolly and the flowers are usually paler yet in many alike 3. Iacobaea latifolia Pannonica prima The first Hungarian broad leafed Ragwort The first leaves of this Ragwort that lye next the roote upon the ground are round almost and larger this those that grow upon the stalke which have many small peeces or jagges at the bottomes of them whose ends are longer and not so round and still more jagged as they grow up higher and the highest most jagged very like unto the highest leaves of the Ragwort yet all of them notched or dented about the edges at the top of the stalke which is about two foote high breake forth many branches of flowers greater then in the former but yellow in the same manner and give such seede that is carried away with downe the roote is great and white with many fibres abiding as well as the first 1. Iacobaea vulgaris Common Ragwort 5. 3. Iacobaea angustifolia latifolia Pannonica Hungarian Ragwort of two sorts 6. Iacobaea volundifolia incana Round leafed hoary Ragwort 7. Iacobaea marina sive Cineraria vulgaris The comman Sea Ragwort 8. Iacobaea marina altera seu minor The lesser Sea Ragwort 9. Iacobaea maritima sive Cineraria latifolia Broad leafed Sea Ragwort 4. Iacobaea latifolia Pannonica altera The other broad leafed Hungarian Ragwort This Ragwort is somewhat like the other as Clusius saith but greater having larger leaves and more pointed whitish or hoary underneath and with fewer peeces of leaves or eares at the bottome of them and more finely dented about the edges the flowers are large and yellow like the other 5. Iacobaea angustifolia Pannonica non laciniata Smooth leafed Ragwort This unjagged Ragwort hath somewhat broad and long leaves lying next the roote not jagged or divided at all but slightly dented on
a peece of a darke or brownish yellow colour red like an Anemone and therefore called of some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Dioscorides and those that follow his Text onely on the outside and yellow on the inside after which come small poddes thicker and shorter then those of Radix Cava or Fumaria bulbosa Hollow roote else somewhat like as the whole plant doth in some sort resemble it with small round seede therein The Place It groweth in the fields about Aleppo in Syria in Graecia also Candy and Naples the roote and seede have beene sent sometimes to us but we could seldome have it to live above a Summer or the greater roote once to winter with us The Time It flowreth in the Winter time in Candy as Bellonius saith but very late if at all with us The Names The Greekes call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Latines Leontopetalon also for the cause shewed in the description as I thinke divers other Greeke names it hath needelesse to be remembred here and Latine also as Rapeium Papaverculum Semen Leoninum Brumaria and Pes Leoninus and Pata leonis but yet there is another Pata leonis called Alchymilla as wee have shewed before Camerarius from Raâ—wolfius saith that they about Aleppo call it Aslab Apuleius calleth it Leontopodium and so doth Aetius also in ascribing the same qualities to his Leontopodium that Dioscorides and Galen doe unto the Leontopetalon Oribasius also saying that Leontopetalon was called Leonâ—podium in his time We may call it in English either as it is in the title or according to the forme Blacke Syrian Codded or Syrian blacke bulbed Fumiterry for both Anguilara and Caesalpinus doe make the Radix Cava or Fumaria bulbosa to be Leontopetalum alterum and Leontopetali genus quibusdam hand planè ineptè to distinguish it from the next that is like it also The Vertues Galen saith it is hot and dry in the third degree and that it hath a digesting quality therein also Dioscorides saith that it is the most powerfull remedy speedily to helpe those that are bitten by any Serpent if the roote bee taken in wine the same also is very effectuall to helpe the Sciatica not onely to be put into glisters that are made for that purpose but also to be applied outwardly and by the digesting faculty is effectuall to clense and heale old and filthy Vlcers Rauwolfius in his Hoedoporico or Iournall of the East Countries reporteth that the inhabitants about and in Aleppo doe use the powder of the old and greater roots of this herbe to take out spots out of their garments by rubbing them therewith CHAP. XCVII Chrysogonum Oaken leafed blacke Turnep THis Plant so like unto the last hath caused me to joyne it next unto it whose description according to the best authors that have seene it and set it forth and mine owne observation of their figures you shall have in this manner It hath a tuberous roote like unto Leontopetalon or the Earth Chesnut called Balanocastanon or Bulbcoastanum of a browne colour on the outside and very red within sending forth three or foure long winged leaves lying on the ground Rauwolfius saith he never observed so few as three standing upon a very small and slender Chrysogonum Oaken leafed blacke Turnip stalke or ribbe and are made of many leaves standing opposite one unto another at spaces or joynts and some at the ends every one whereof is small at the bottome and broad at the point where it is cut into some divisions making them seeme like unto Oaken leaves but much lesser Rauwolsius figure thereof seemeth to expresse but two leaves at a space Alpinus figure five or six yet smaller of a very darke greene from among which leaves riseth up a stalke a cubit high without any leafe upon it divided at the toppe into many small sprigs or branches bearing every one a yellow flower made of five leaves a peece larger then those of the last after which come small short pods small at the further end with a little round knobbe wherein lye the seede like the other as I thinke The Place It groweth in the fields among the corne in Syria as Rauwolfius saith who there found it The Time The time of the flowering is not expressed but it is likely it being so like the former should flower about the same time The Names Dioscorides onely of the ancient Greeke Authors maketh mention of it and calleth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysogonum which the Latines also follow and if wee descant upon the name or Etimologie it is a yellow knee or joynt which it is likely although it be not expressed in the description the stalkes have Rauwolfius onely and Pona in his Italian Baldus of the late writers have set forth the figure of it for Durantes hath nothing but the text of Dioscorides Lugdunensis in his Appendix hath the Text of Rauwolfius and Bauhinus hath it from them and Pona who had it from Padre Malocchio President of the Garden at Pisa I have in this as in the former given it an English name according to the forme that in my minde it beareth eyther of which may stand untill a more proper may be given it The Vertues This as the former is appropriated by Dioscorides for I cannot finde that Galen hath made mention of it to heale the bitings of venemous beasts and especially the Shrew or poysonfull Mouse and thereby may bee conjectured to bee of the same facultie in the other things with the former CHAP. XCVIII Leontopodium Lyons foote or Mountaine Cottonweede BEcause the Leontopetalon was called Leontopodium also by divers I thinke it fittest to bring it 〈◊〉 to consideration and because it is a kind of Cottenweede or Cudwort I will in the next Chapter speake of the other sorts of Cudworts Golden Tufts and Mouseare as being nearest in forme and vertues one unto another 1. Leontopodium majus The greater Lyons foote or Mountaine Cottenweede This greater for so I call it in regard of the next which is smaller then it Lyons foote or Mountaine Cottonweede hath divers small and somewhat narrow leaves lying upon the ground hoary or woolly all over yet more hairy white underneath then above the stalkes rise up about halfe a foote or more high set with such like leaves thereon unto the toppes where standeth one great browne head a peece compassed about with many woolly or hoary white leaves representing the hairy foote of a Lyon Hare or Dove or such like beast whereof it tooke the name out of which head come forth many short threds which make the flowers seeme to have 〈◊〉 therein wherein lyeth afterwards small brownish seede wrapped in so much downe that it is hardly to bee found or scene the roote is small and long and somewhat wooddy with divers strings and fibres thereat 2. Leontopodium minus The lesser Lyons foote The lesser Lyons foote riseth up with one small stalke for the most part with divers leaves
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Polygonatum and so in Latine also A radicis geniculorum frequentibus nodis of the many nodes and knots in the roote it is usually called Sigillum Salamonis for the causes set downe in the description of the first and of some Scala coeli Ioannes Monardus tooke it to bee Secacul of the Arabians but without all shew of reason almost the Italians in some places call it Polygonato and Ginochietto in others and in Hetruria or Florence Frassinella but for what respect I know not not having any likenesse or affinitie with Fraxiâ— from whence the name should be derived the French Genicoliere of somâ— and Seau or Signet de Salomon of others the Germans Weisswurtz id est radix alba of the Dutch Salomons Seghel and wee in English Salomons Seale most usually but in some countries the people call it Ladder to Heaven according to the Latine name Scala caeli which was anciently knowne in the Apothecaries shoppes from the forme of the stalke of leaves one being set above another The first is called Polygonatum generally by all writers almost some calling it Latifolium some majus and some vulgare and some Sigillum Salomonis Anguilara Caesalpinus and Castor Durantes following their owne country name call it Frassinella confounding it with the Dictamum albus which is called Fraâ—ciâ—ella the second is the first Polygonatum latifolium of Clusius which Camerarius in horto calleth Polygonatum Pannonicum the third is Clusius his second Polygonatum latiore folio which Cordus in his History of plants calleth Polygonatum angulosam the fourth is the third Polygonatum Latiore folio of Clusius which Bauhinus calleth Polygonatum latifolium Ellebori albi folijs the fift Bauhinus in his Pinax and Prodromus calleth PolygonatuÌ„ latifoliuÌ„ minus flore majore The sixt is diversly called Matthiolus setteth it forth for Laurâ— Alexandrina whom Camerarius â—th and Clusius reproveth in that it answereth not thereunto as you shall heare more amply in the next Chapter both by the description and explication Iohannes Mollinaeus that set forth the great Herball of Dalechampius generally called Lugdunensis taketh it to be Hippoglossum of Dioscorides whom Clusius also taxeth for it shewing that howsoever the Text of Dioscorides if corrupted be amended yet this cannot be it because it wanteth those ligulae small tongues that are growing upon the leaves of Hypoglossum as you shall heare by and by and that this is not perpetually greene as the Hypoglossum but dyeth downe to the roote every yeare shooting sooth new stalkes in the Spring and therefore Clusius saith that it cannot be better referred then unto the kinds of Polygonatum unlesse as he saith it might be the Idaea radix of Dioscorides wherein as he saith because he is so briefe nothing can be affirmed for certaine yet I certainely thinke it answereth very fitly thereunto both in face an vertues Lobel calleth it in his observations Polygonato Assinis planta and Caesalpinus Rusco affinis tertia Gerard hath two figures hereof and two descriptions as if they were two severall plants which are his fourth and fift by the name of Polygonatum ramosum and acutum the one being the figure of Matthiolus his Laurus Alexandrina and the other of Clusius for they expresse but one plant no other diversitie thereof to bee found that I can learne Bauhinus calleth it Polygonatum latifolium ramosum the seventh is as I sayd of mine owne nursing and naming the eighth and tenth are so called by Cornutus as they are in the titles the ninth Bauhinus in his Pinax and Prodronius calleth Polygonatum latifolium perfoliatum Brasilianum the eleventh is called Polygonatum minus by divers and generally Polygonatum angustifolium and tenuifolium by all others Thalius calleth this Polygonatum tâ—nnifolium majus as he doth the last tenuifolium minus which Clusius and Bauhinus call Polygonatum angustifolium ramosum The Vertues The roote of Salomons Scale is of chiefest use and hath a mixt property as Galen saith having partly a binding and partly a sharpe or biting quality as also a kinde of loathsome bitternesse therein hardly to be expressed whereby it is of little use in inward medecines which sharpenesse and loathsomenesse we hardly perceive in those that grow with us yet some authors doe affirme that the powder of the herbe or of the seede purgeth flegme and viscous humors very forcibly both upward and downeward it is said also that the roote chewed in the mouth draweth downe much rheume out of the head and put up into the nostrills causeth sneesing but it serveth as he and Dioscorides both say and all experience doth confirme for wounds hurts and outward soâ—es to heale and close up the lippes of those that are greene and fresh made and to helpe to dry up the moisture and restraine the flux of humors of those that are old it is singular good to stay vomitings and also bleedings wheresoever as also all fluxes in man or woman whether it be the whits or reds or the running of the reines in men also to knit any joynt that doth grow by weakenesse to be often out of place or by some cause stayeth but small time therein when it is set as also to knit and joyne broken bones in any place of the body the roots being bruised and applyed to the place yea it hath by late experience beene found that the decoction of the roote in wine or the bruised roote put in wine or other drinke and after a nights infusion strayned hard forth and dranke hath holpen both man and beast whose bones have beene broken by any occasion which is the most assured refuge of helpe to the people in divers countries of this Land that they can have it is no lesse effectuall to helpe râ—pâ—es and burstings to be both inwardly taken the decoction in wine or the powder in broth or drinke and outwardly applyed to the place the same also is availeable for inward or outward bruises falls or beatings both to dispell the congealed blood and to take away both the paines and the blacke and blew markes that abide after the hurt the same also or the distilled water of the whole plant used to the face or other part of the skinne cleâ—seth it from morphew freckles spots or markes whatsoever leaving the place fresh faire and lovely which the Italian dames as it is said doe much use CHAP. CIIII. Laurus Alexandrina The Laurel of Alexandria THere hath beene so great varietie of opinions among our moderne writers concerning the Laurell of Alexandria what plant should be the right of Dioscorides some shewing one and some another and scarse one the true that I much doubt whether this that I shall here shew you in this Chapter will be taken and judged to be the genuine plant by many who peradventure contemning my opinion may thinke me sooner to erre and be deceived then so many learned men before me that have had contrary opinions but
first as I said groweth plentifully in many places of our Land in Woods and Wood sides where they may be moist and shadowed and in other places that are not too much open to the Sun the other groweth in divers shadowie places about Sevill in Spaine and in Gardens at Mompelier The Time The first flowreth early in Aprill and May the other after Midsommer and so continueth in flower untill the Autume colds perish it and the seede is ripe in the meane time The Names It is generally taken to be the Oxys of Pliny whereof he speaketh in his 27 Booke and 12. Chapter but not the Oxytriphyllum although Tragus and Lacuna did so call it because the name did somewhat agree thereto but that it is an other herbe whose sharpe pointed leaves and not the sharpe taste caused this name for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Greeke word doth signifie both sharpenesse in forme and in taste It is called Trifolium acetesum of divers which is the same in signification as I said with Oxytriphyllum and of some Panis Cuculi Cuckowbreade eyther because the Cuckowes delight to feede thereon or that it beginneth to blossome when the Cuckow beginneth to utter her voyce it is called by the Apothecaries in their shoppes Alleluja and Lujula the one because about that time it is in flower when Alleluja in antient times was wont to bee sung in the Churches the other came corruptly from Iuliola as they of Calabria in Naples doe call it as Scaliger upon Theophrastus de causis plantaruâ— saith yet it is there set downe Alleluja but I thinke it rather should be Lujula The other is called Oxys flore luteâ— of Clusius and Oxys lutea corniculata repens of Lobel and of Bauhinus Trifolium acetosum corniculatum The Italians call it Trifolio acetosâ— Pan cuculi and Alleluja the French Pain de coqu the Germans Sawerklee the Dutch Coeckcoâ—breâ—t and we in English Wood Sorrell Wood sower Stabbewort and Sorrell dubois The Vertues Wood Sorrell is cold and dry as the other Sorrells are and serveth to all the purposes that they doe being as effectuall if not more especially in hindring the putrefaction of blood and ulcers in the mouth and body and in cooling and tempering distempered heats and inflammations to quench thirst to strengthen a weake stomacke to procure an appetite to stay vomiting and most singularly excellent in any contagious sicknesse or pestilentiall Feaver the Syrupe made of the juice is effectuall in all the causes aforesaid and so is the distilled water of the herbe also Spunges or linnen clothes wet in the juice and applyed outwardly to any hot tumors and inflammations doth exceedingly coole and helpe them the same juice taken into the mouth and there gargled for some time and after spit forth and fresh taken will wonderfully helpe a stinking foule Canker or Vlcer therein it is also singular good in wounds punctures thrusts and stabbes into the body to stay the bleeding and to clense and heale the wounds speedily and helpeth well also to stay any hot defluxions or catarrhes upon the Throat and Lungs CHAP. XII Atriplex sylvestris Wilde Arrache THe two sorts of garden Arrache are already set forth in my former booke there remaine divers other sorts to be declared as well such as for their raritie and beauty wee nurse up in our Gardens as grow wilde whereunto I would also joyne the Sea plant to set them all together 1. Atriplex baccifera rubra The red berried Arrache This beautifull small plant sendeth forth divers slender branches somewhat wooddy about a foote high or more or lesse as the place where it groweth will produce with a small cornered leafe like the broad leafed wilde Arrache set at the joynts one above another and at every of the said joynts with the leafe from the lowest almost standeth a small red berry cluster fashion that is many small graynes set together like a Mulberry cleare and almost transparant full of an excellent juice as red as blood or Claret wine which being bruised upon the backe of the hand while it is fresh will seeme as if you had drawne blood out thereof which berry being dry groweth blackish and containeth within it small blackish seede and will still spring up every yeare if it be suffered to shed the roote is small and fibrous perishing after seede time 2. Atriplex sylvestris lappulas habens Wilde Arrache with small berries This Arrache likewise is small even smaller then the other whose branches doe not exceede an hand breadth or halfe a foote at the most set with such like small cornered and pointed leaves as in the other every one standing upon a short footestalke at every joynt with the leafe even almost from the bottome commeth forth two very small berries or burres of the bignesse of a Coriander seede containing therein small blacke seede like the last the roote is small and wooddy perishing every yeare after seedetime Of this kind there is another that beareth greater burres leaves and stalkes not differing in any thing else 3. Atriplex sylvestris fructu compresso roseo Wilde Arrache with flat Roselike berries This other wilde Arrache hath a whitish hard round stalke about a foote and a halfe high spreading forth into many the like branches and they againe shooting forth other smaller ones which bow themselves downe a little whereon are placed small hoary or mealy leaves no bigger then the nayle of ones finger waved and cut into corners on the edges like the wilde Arrache called Goosefoote every one closing the stalke and branches without any footestalke at every of these leaves commeth forth a most dainty broad and flat coloured fruite made as it were of leaves raysed up a little in the middle having foure other eminences at the brims or edges yet so set as that the brims or edges are betweene them somewhat like unto the folding of the leaves in a Rose as it is painted in every one of which foure aforesaid eminences is contained one flat seede of a reasonable bignesse 4. Atriplex marina repens Creeping Sea Arrache This Sea Arrache creepeth upon the ground with many hoary white branches and mealy white leaves set on them without order cut in on the edges or nere at the bottome and pointed at the ends somewhat like unto a small Goosefoote leafe at the toppes of the branches grow divers slender hoary yellowish spikes of seede set close together like clusters the roote is great with many strings and perisheth not and is of a saltish taste although bred up in a Garden sometimes it will turne reddish like the Garden red Arrache and sometimes nothing so â—aly but rather greene 5. Atriplex maritima angustifolia Narrow leafed Sea Arrache It groweth up with an hoary and wooddy stalke a foote high spread at the toppe into many small branches spotted with blacke spots which end in long yellow spikes of clustering seede like the former the leaves that grow below are somewhat long
longer than two houres and then to be washed with salt or sea water warmed it is used likewise being dissolved into an ointment with good effect to the sides or breast for the griefes therein or for the paines in the feete or joynts it serveth also to gather againe the prepâ—ce in whom it is naturall to want it by raysing a tumour and after mollified and supplied with flat things supplieth the part of a prepuce it serveth likewise to cause haire to grow apace where the places wanted it or were deprived thereof The rootes of the second and third but of the last especially in former times were gathered by impostors in Italy and Spaine and dressed like Turbith that is pared and pithed and so sold instead thereof untill diligence add experience to know the right and restise the false had prevented the future deceit and Matthiolus declaiming against Fuchsius who tooke these rootes to be the true Turbith sheweth it was so taken in Germany but I have shewed you before in the Chapters of Alipâ—â— the Tithmalls and Scamony the many errors that former times came into concerning the true Turbith the old women Leeches of Salamanca in Spaine saith Clusius use the rootes of the third or greatest Spanish kinde of Thapsia to procure womens courses and to purge the body which it doth with that violence both upward and downeward that they are 〈◊〉 brought into great danger that take it CHAP. III. Peucedanum Sow-Fennell WEe have three sorts of Sow-Fennell to offer to your consideration in this Chapter 1. Peucedanum majus Italicum Great Sow-Fennell of Italy The great Sow-Fennell hath divers long branched stalkes of thicke and somewhat long leaves three for the most part joyned together at a place among which riseth a crested straight stalke neare as bigge as Fennell with some joynts thereon and leaves growing thereat and towards the toppe some branches issuing from thence likewise on the toppes of the stalke and branches stand divers tufts of yellow flowers where after grow somewhat flat thinne and yellowish seede twise as bigge as Fennell seede the roote groweth great and deepe with many other parts and fibres about them of a strong sent like hot brimstone and yeelding forth a yellowish milke or clammy juyce almost like a Gum. 2. Peucedanum vulgare Common Sow-Fennell The common Sow-Fennell groweth in the same manner that the former and hath no other difference but that this is lower and smaller by a fourth part and the smell thereof as strong as the former 3. Peucedanum minus Small Sow-Fennell As the first Sow-Fennell was larger then the second so this is lesse then it having smaller and shorter leaves of a blewish greene colour of a little bitter taste but almost no smell the stalke is slender and round about halfe a yard high parted into divers branches whereon stand small tufts of white flowers in an umbell which are succeeded by thicke short seede almost like to Parsley but of an ash colour and bitter sharpe taste the roote is of the bignesse of ones thumbe sometimes greater or lesser with a bush of haires at the toppe blackish or brownish on the outside with a thicke barke of a pleasant sweet taste at the first and afterward sharpe The Place and Time The first groweth naturally in Italy in divers places the second in good plentie in the salt low Marshes a little by Feversham in Kent the last was found on Saint Vincents Rocke by Bristow by Lobel as hee setteth it downe in his Adversaria pag. 331. and in Hungarie and Austria by Clusius They all flower and seede in the end of Sommer that is in Iuly and August The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latine Peucedanus and Peucedanum some take it of the pitchy sent it 1. Peucedani majoris Italicum sâ—â—itat The toppes of the Italian Sow-Fennell 2. Peucedanum vulgare Common Sow-Fennell carryeth and others of the Pine tree whose leaves are like it Apuleiâ— calleth it Pinastellum the first is the Peucedanum of Matthiolus Anguilara and others and Peucedanum majus Italicum by Lobel and Lugdunnensis the second is called by Bauhinus Peucedanum Germanicum and Peucedanum simply without any other addition by Tragus Fuchsius Dodonaeus and others it is called also Foeniculum porcinum but by Tabermontanus Cauda porcina the last is called by Lobel Peucedani facie perpusilla planta it is called by Clusius Peucedanum Pannonicum and is probable as Clusius and Bauhinus say to be the second Saxifrage of Matthiolus the Arabians call it Harbatum the Italians Peucedano and vulgarly Finocchio porcino and by some also Pinastello by the Spaniards Fenicho del porco by the French Feâ—il de Pourceaus by the Germans of some Harstrang but commonly Sewfenchel or Schebelwurts of the Dutch Verkens Venekell and we in English Sow-Fennell Hog-Fennell Sulphurwort and Horstrange The Vertues The juice of Sow Fennell say Dioscorides and Galen used with Vinegar and Rosewater or the juice with a little Eppâ—orbium put to the nose helpeth those that are troubled with the Lethargie the Phrensie the turning of the braine or dissinesse in the head the Falling sicknesse long and inveterate Headach the Palsie the Sciatica and the Crampe and generally all the diseases of the Nerves and Sinewes used with oyle and Vinegar the juice dissolved in wine or put into an Egge is good for the Cough or shortnesse of breath and for those that are troubled with winde and tormenting paines in the body it purgeth the belly gently and dissolveth the winde and hardnesse of the Spleene it giveth case to those women that have sore travaile in child birth and easeth the paines both of the bladder and reines and wombe also a little of the juice dissolved in wine and dropped into the eares easeth much of the paines in them and put into an hollow tooth ceaseth the paines thereof The roote worketh to the like effect but more slowly and lesse and is to be boyled in water and the decoction thereof drunke the dryed powder of the roote being put into foule Vlcers of hard curation clenseth them throughly remooveth any splinters of broken bones or other things in the flesh healeth them up perfectly likewise bringeth on old and inveterate sores to cicatrising it is also put into such salves as serve to heate and warme any place the roote is hot in the second degree and dry in the third but the juice is stronger Pliny recordeth the vertues hereof in divers places the roote being drunke in wine with the seede of the Cypresse tree in powder easeth the strâ—gling of the mother but some use to burne it and by the smell thereof give ease thereunto the juice helpeth the burstings of children and their Navells when they sticke forth the roote is of so great force in greene wounds and sores that it draweth out the quitture from the very bones CHAP. IIII. Libanotis Herbe Francumsence THere be divers sorts of Libanotides as both the old
as also the barke of the fresh rootes boyled tender and afterwards beaten into a Conserve with Sugar worketh to the like effect the powder of the rootss strowed upon the hard callous brims of ulcers or the said powder mixed with any other convenient thing and applyed doth consume the hardnesse and cause them to heale the better it is recorded that in former times the young shoots and tender stalkes before they became prickly were picled up to bee eaten as a meate or sawse wonderfully commended against a stinking breath and to take away the smell of wine in them that had drunke too much Pona in his Italian Baldus saith that divers Apothecaries with them there in Italy doe use the flowers of the yellow Rest Harrow in stead of Mellilot eyther through want or ignorance CHAP. XVIII Tragacantha Goates Thorne I Cannot but dissent from Bauhinus who dissenteth from Clusius and others that make Poterium another or lesser sort of Tragacantha and differing from the Pimpinella spinosa for I must doe contrary to him and thinke I have good reason for it as shall be shewed by and by and speake of the Pimpinella spinosa in a Chapter by it selfe because I finde the difference betweene Poterium Tragacantha and Pimpinella spinosa to consist in many things 1. Tragacantha vera The true Goats thorne The true Goats thorne is a small bushie plant rising up with many tough plyant or flexible wooddy stemmes not much above a cubit or two foote high divided into many slender branches covered with a white hoarinesse set with divers long white thornes in a double row among which rise up divers winged leaves that is many small long and round leaves set on each side of a middle ribbe which abide on all the winter long and fall not off untill the spring doe bring on fresh and then fall away at the toppes of the branches and among the leaves come forth the flowers which are of a whitish yellow colour fashioned somewhat like unto the flower of a Trefoile after which come small short upright white cods wherein are conteined small whitish cornered seede the roote is very great and long spreading much and farre in the ground which being broken or wounded yeeldeth a tough pure shinig white gumme Altera non gummifera in small crooked peeces tasting somewhat sweete There is another sort hereof whose stalkes and branches are blackish and wooddy having small thinne leaves all set on one side and not opposite as in the former the flowers and seede is somewhat like but the roote yeeldeth no gumme 2. Tragacantha altera seu minor Poterion forte Dioscoridis The small Goates thorne This other Goats thorne is so like the first that it is often mistaken for it growing lower and smaller then the former yet spreading and shooting forth pliant flexible stalkes covered as it were with scales about a foot high from whence springeth up a cottony or woolly head which breaketh into sundry winged leaves in the spring of the yeare made of many small and almost round leaves being set on both sides of a middle ribbe which are very hoary and as it were woolly at the first budding forth which the former hath not and so continue hoary as long as they abide on the ribbe which proveth a thorne very cruell sharpe and prickly at the end when they are fallen away so that all the winter long no leafe is seene on any and the thornes that have cast their leaves never have any more growing on them but abide bare and naked thornes ever after the bush seeming all the winter long nothing but long sharpe white thornes from the upper parts of the stalkes come forth two or three whitish flowers standing together made of two leaves a peece an under and an upper both formed somewhat like hoods each flower in a hoary huske or hose the pod that followeth is hoary white thicke short and somewhat broad ending in a point wherein is contained whitish seede somewhat like unto a Medica seede the roote is great long and tough blackish on the outside and white within some what sweet and gummy yet yeelding but little gumme and that more yellowish There is another sort hereof whose branches are very sharpe not rising much above the ground Poteâ—iam aâ—ud but they are many and thicke growing together the roote being wounded yeeldeth a gumme like unto Tragacantha 3. Tragacantha Syriaca flavescens The yellow Syrian Goates thorne This Syrian thorne differeth very little from the last but in the flowers which are yellow standing in round yellowish huskes and that the whole plant groweth lower 4. Tragacantha Syriaca purpurascens Purple Syrian Goates thorne This other Syrian kinde is as low as the last having many browne thicke stalkes thicke set with leaves and many white heads at the toppes out of which come purple flowers like the former which are very beautifull The Place Both the former sorts with their varieties have beene found as well in Candy as about Marselles and Mompelier the first anciently knowne both there and in other places sufficient plentifully but the other was also found by Clusius in the kingdom of Granado a more exact figure whereof was sent unto him after his death from Aquassextias which is not farre from Mompelier and is published in his Curae posteriores in quarto pag. 113. the other two last sorts Rauwolfius and Lugdunensis from him in his Appendix setteth forth to grow in Syria 1. Tragacantha vera The true Goates thorne 2. Tragacantha altera seu minor Poterion forte Dioscoridis Small Goates thorne The Time All these sorts are very tender to keepe with us not enduring the cold of these cold climates without extraordinary care and provision but in their naturall places flower and seede in the beginning of Autumne The Names The first is undoubtedly knowne to be the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tragacantha of the ancients id est Hirci spina not from any strong sent of a Goate as the Tragium and Tragoriganum have but from the sharpe forme of the bush with thornes as it groweth representing a Goates beard the gumme likewise that is gathered from the rootes when they are cut or broken in the heate of the yeare is called Gummi Tragacantha and in the shoppes of Apothecaries in France c. Gumdragant the varietie thereof is mentioned by Alpinus in Libro de exoticis plantis the second is adjuged by the best herbarists in these times to be the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Poterion of Dioscorides which as hee saith some called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Neuras quod nervis amica sit Poterium quod potrix herba paludosum riguumque solum amat as some say Pliny saith it was called also Phrynium this differeth from the Tragacantha but yet commeth nearer thereunto then unto the Pimpinella spinosa as you shall heare in the next Chapter the chiefest difference betweene the Tragacantha and Poterium consisting in that it keepeth no greene leaves in
drinesse the gumme is hot and dry in the first degree The leaves and young tender branches of the Iuniper tree or the juice of them or of the berries or the berries themselves taken in wine are very effectuall against the biting of a Viper or Adder as also against the Plague or Pestilence or any other infection or poyson the Germanes use it much for their Treakle is made of the condensate juice of the berries which they commend in all diseases almost both for inward and outward remedies the same also is profitable against the Strangury and stopping of the Vrine and so powerfull against the Dropsie that as Matthiolus saith hee hath knowne divers to avoyd so much water by Vrine by taking foure or five ounces at a time of the Lye made of Iuniper ashes that they have beene holpen thereby it doth also provoke womens courses being stayed and doth helpe the rising and other paines of the mother the berries are good for the stomacke and to dissolve the swellings and windinesse thereof and are likewise profitable for the cough and shortnesse of breath and other diseases of the Chest and Lungs and to ease the griping paines and torments in the belly they are also prevailent to helpe Ruptures Convulsions and Crampes to procure a safe and easie delivery unto women with child for which purpose Matthiolus adviseth to take seven Iuniper and seven Bay-berries halfe a dramme of Cassia lignea and a dram of Cinamon these being grossely bruised put them into the belly of a Turtle Dove to be rosted therewith let it be basted with the fat of an Hen whereof they are to eate every other evening The scrapings of the wood saith Dioscorides being eaten doth kill men which clause both Matthiolus and Tragus before him finde much fault with seeing it is contrary to the former part of the Text and thrust thereinto by others for as he saith neither the best copies have it therein neither doe Galen Paulus Aegineta nor Serapio who wrote wholly after Dioscorides his Text word for word make any such mention of the properties of the wood and more saith he it is found false by tryall made thereof but Scaliger in his 15. Booke and 18. exercise maintaineth the Text of Dioscorides in that although the decoction of the wood is wholesome yet the scraping or course powder by the drinesse thereof sticking to the guts doth suffocate in the same manner as Colocynthis which to bee rightly prepared must bee beaten and finely sifted least it cleave to the bowells and blister them the berries are very comfortable to the braine and strengthen the memory and sight and all the senses and the heart also being eyther drunke in wine or the decoction of them in wine taken the same also is good against a quartane and dissolveth the winde in the belly and in generall is effectuall for all diseases as well outward as inward proceeding of any cold cause if they shall take of the berries two or three times a weeke three or foure at a time in wine which must bee gathered in the fit time of the ripenesse moystned with and after fairely dryed upon a cloth the Salt made of the ashes of the Iuniper wood is a singular remedy for the Scurvey the putrefied and spongy gums and generally resisting all putrefaction The Chymicall oyle drawne from the berries while they are greene is as effectuall if not more to all the purpose aforesaid there is an oyle also drawne out of the Iuniper wood per descensum as they call it which is very good against the toothach and for the Goute Sciatica and resolution of the Nerves or Sinewes comming of cold The gumme of Iuniper is used like as Amber is to stay cold rheumaticke distillations defluxions and Catarrhes upon the eyes or Lungs c. the fumes thereof upon the burning on coales being taken into a cappe the head also holden in the meane time over the said fumes at night and to lie covered therewith or the powder thereof with other things fit for the purpose strewed upon Flax and to be quilted into a cappe to bee worne in the night chiefely and in the day also as neede shall require the said gumme in powder taken in wine doth stay vomitings inward bleedings and spitting of blood womens courses also and all other the fluxes of the belly and of the hemorrhoides or piles the same also killeth the wormes in children and mixed with some oyle oâ— Roses and Myrtles healeth the chappes of the fundiment kibes also and chilblanes on the hands and feet the powder of the gumme mixed with the white of an Egge and applyed to the forehead stayeth the bleeding at the nose the same also burned upon quicke coales and the fumes thereof taken thorough a funnell upon as akiâ— tooth taketh away the paine it is effectuall in moist Vlcers and Fistulaes and weeping running sores to dryâ— the moisture in them which hindereth their cure the liquid Varnish is an especiall remedy against scaldings with water or burnings with fire and to helpe the painefull and bleeding Piles and Palsie Crampes Convulsions 〈◊〉 the Nerves and Sinewes The smoake of Iuniper wood being burned besides that it yeeldeth a good sent to peâ—fume any house it is of good use in the time of infection and driveth away all noysome Serpents Fliâ— Waspes c. the ashes of the wood or barke made into a Lye with water doth cure all itches scabbes pustules or other eruptions in the skinne yea and the Lepry also if the places be bathed therewith The Germanes Treakle of Iuniper berries is made in this manner Take what quantitie you will of fresh but ripe Iuniper berries bruise them and boyle them in a reasonable quantitie of water untill they be well boyled straine and presse them hard in a presse which pulpe and liquor set to the fire againe in a glased earthen vessell and evaporate away so much of the humiditie stirring of it continually as untill it become of the thicknesse of an Electuary which then put into pots or glasses to be kept for your use whereof a small quantitie taken morning and evening doth wonderfully helpe them that are troubled with the stone in the Reines or Kidneyes with the Chollicke with the paines of the mother and the stoppings of their courses is good against Catarrhes and rheumes the shortnesse of breath and winde the straightnesse of the breast the cough the cruditie rawnesse and indisposition of the stomacke against the Plague and other infectious diseases for it preserveth and defendeth the heart and vitall spirits from infection and venome and against swownings and faintnesse the paines swimming and giddinesse in the head against frensie also and madnesse for inflammations and rheumes into the eyes and preserving the sight deasenesse in hearing and stench of the gums mouth or breast helpeth the Dropsie Jaundies Falling sicknesse Palsie and Goute healeth inward Impostumes in briefe it not onely helpeth all diseases wherewith the body is possessed
it yearely springeth againe The Place and Time The most of these are declared by their titles or after their descriptions where they grow their times of flowring and seeding are in the Summer seasons The Names 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke and Lotus in Latine is of two kindes for there is Lotus arbor the Lote tree and there is Lotus herba the herbe Lotus which as Dioscorides Galen and Pliny doe all agree is a Trefoile or like a Trefoile and yet not the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Trisolium whereof he had made mention before and whereof Dioscorides and Galen make two sorts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 urbana Lotus and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sylvestris of the Lotus urbana as it is generally taken to be I have spoken before in the end of the fift Classis of this Worke but this kinde of sylvestris is more controverted divers writers supposing that which they bring and shew forth to be the right The first here expressed was sent by Honoriâ—â— Betus from Candy where the people call it Hieranzuni Pona in his Italian Baldus calleth it Lotopisum and by Bauhinus Lotus cretica the second is called Lotus siliquosus rubro flore by Clusius and Lotus tetragonolobus by Camerarius and Sandalida Cretica and usually with us Pisum quadratum the third is mentioned by Alpinus lib. de platis Aegypti by the name of Absus which Bauhinus calleth Loto affinis Aegyptiaca the fourth the Italian Pona calleth Lotus sylvestris Dioscoridis and was sent out of Candy for a Melilote but as he thinketh is the true Lotus sylvestris of Dioscorides and is called by Camerarius Lotus peculiaris siliquosus and as he saith by some Cicer sylvestre and Dorychnium but both erroniously the fift is the Lotus pratensis siliquosus of Clusius called by Lobel Lotus trifolia pratensis siliquosa Monspeliensium and Lotus trifolia corniculata by Gerard the sixt is so called by Lobel and Lugdunensis as is in the title the seaventh Clusius saith he found in the kingdomes of Granado and Valentia and is the same or very like unto that Lobel and they of Mompelier called Lotus sylvestris and by some thought to be the Oxytriphyllum Scribonij Largi but Lobel thinketh the Trifolium bituminosum to bee the true Oxytriphyllum and that this may be the Oxytriphyllum alterum Scribonij Largi Clusius also saith hee received this out of Italy by the name of Lotus fruticosus and that Plasa tooke it to bee Perempsana Arabum whereof hee saith there are two sorts the one with a white and whiter branches the other with a red roote and reddish branches which the Moores of Granado called in their language Euziua and of the rootes of both which were somewhat great and astringent but especially of the red they made a Syrupe singular good for the disenterie or bloody flux the eight is called Trifolium Haemorrhoidale by those of Mompelier for the causes mentioned in the description whereunto I have added majus by the same authority for they doe account the ninth which is the Lotus Lybica of Dalechampius to bee the lesser sort of the former the tenth and eleventh is the 22. and 21. Trifolium of Bauhinus in his Propius the twelfth is usually called with us Trifolium Corniculatum vulgatissimum the last we had from Boel in Portugall by the name of Trifolium siliquosum rubrum Lusitanicum The Vertues The wilde Lotus as Dioscorides and Galen say is of an heating and drying quality and thereby effectuall against the paines in the bladder if it be taken of it selfe or with Mallow seede drunke in wine the powder of the herbe mixed with some Hony and annointed taketh away the markes and blemishes in the face c. the eight sort here expressed as I said before is held about Mompelier to be of singular good effect against the Piles or Hemorrhoides for it hath a manifest astringent taste without any manifest heate or acrimony the usuall dose of the dryed herbe but the seede is much better made into powder and the quantitie of a dram or halfe a dram according to the age and disposition of the Patient taken in red wine which effect the learned there knowing have much reasoned the case among themselves whether it worketh this effect by any hidden propertie or by the astringent facultie to either of which opinion some have inclined the Lotus Lybica as Galen saith is in the second degree of heate and doth a little clense the rest have no especiall propertie recorded by any or knowne to us CHAP. XXIX Trifolia montana Mountaine Trefoiles THe next Trefoiles that are to bee entreated of are those that grow on hills and the dryed grounds whereof there are sundry varieties 1. Trifolium montanum majus purpuroum The greater purple Mountaine Trefoile This greater Trefoile groweth scarse a foote high with divers leaves thereon which are large and three inches long sometimes three alwayes together on long footstalkes sharpe pointed and a little â—ly snipped about the edges at the toppes stand large and somewhat long heads of gallant purple flowers like 〈◊〉 the medow Trefoile but greater This is also found with longer and narrower leaves and a longer spiked 〈◊〉 of flowers 1. 2. Trifolium montanum majus flore purpures albo The great purple and white mountaine Trefoile 4. Trifolium augustifolium Alpinum Narrow leafed Trefoile of the Alpes 2. Trifolium montanum majus albo flore The great white mountaine Trefoile The stalke hereof is not so great or high the leaves are smaller yet somewhat long and dented about the edges growing many below and few and smaller on the stalke at the toppe whereof grow one or two short branches with each a spiked head of small white flowers somewhat sweete the roote is long and about a fingers thicknesse brownish on the outside and white within with some fibres thereat 3. Trifolium montanum obtuso crenato folio purpurascens The blush mountaine Trefoile This Trefoile is fuller of leaves on the stalkes then the last which are long and narrow not sharpe but round at the ends and dented round about but up higher on the stalkes they are very narrow the flowers are fewer that stand at the toppes and of a pale purple colour 4. Trifolium augustifolium Alpinum Narrow leafed Trefoile of the Alpes This mountaine Trefoile hath a long roote somewhat hairy or scaly toward the toppe and ending in some long fibres whitish on the outside and somewhat hard and wooddy of a sweete bitter taste like unto Licoris from whence some have called it Spanish Licoris but farre unfitly as most of the vulgar appellations bee from whence rise divers long small slender stalkes of leaves bowing downe to the ground with two or three small narrow shreads of leaves on them towards the bottome and three long narrow leaves at the ends of them with small dents at the edges sensibly to be felt from among these leaves rise
bladders thereon as the former the wood or timber of this is not so tough as the former but is more short and will bee more easily cleft 3. Vlmus folio glabro Smooth leafed Elme or Witch Elme The Witch Elme groweth more like to the last then the first in the bending boughes and great body the blooming and seede also is like though lesse but the leaves hereof are nothing so large as the last but neerest in bignesse unto the first yet not rough or crumpled but smooth and plaine and without any blisters on them as the former two have the timber hereof is as strong and as tough as the first or rather more and is accounted of workemen the stronger and more serviceable kinde 1. Vlmus vulgaris cum samâ—rtis sive seminibus suis Our Common Elme with his seede 2. Vlmus latiore folio Broad leafed Elme or witch Hasell 3. Vlmus folio glabro Smooth leafed Elme or Witch Elme 4. Vlmus minor The lesser Elme 4. Vlmus minor The lesser Elme There is in some places of this land found a sort of Elme somwhat differing from those before in that it groweth lower and lesser and with smaller leaves that are as rough on both sides as the first and easie to be distinguished if they be heedefully observed The Place and Time All these sorts are as is said found in our owne Country yet the first is the most frequent and the second in some Countries as much or rather more then the first the third is to be seene in many woods in Essex they all blossome as is said before the leaves come forth and the seede not long after their first spreading at large The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Vlmus Theophrastus and Columella as I said mention but two kindes Theophrastus Montiulmus or montosa Vlmus and campestris Vlmus Columella hath Vlmus Gallica and Vernacula which is Italica Pliny hath foure sorts Attinia Gallica Nostras and Sylvestris which will thus be reduced into the two sorts his Attinia and Gallica are both one sort as Columella plainely setteth downe and is the same with Theophrastus his montosa which is excelsissima Pliny his nostras and sylvestris are both one likewise and the same with Columella's Vernacula which as I said is called Italica and the same also with Theophastus his Vlmus campestris so that our third sort with smooth leaves was knowne to none of them nor yet scarse to any of our moderne Writers unlesse they put it for the Carpinus as it is usually called or for Ornus as Tragus calleth it as shall be shewed in the next Chapter so that our first here set downe agreeth with the Attinia of Pliny Galica of Columella and Montosa Vlmus of Theophrastus and our second with the campestris of Theophrastus Vernâ—cula of Columella and nostras sylvestris of Pliny and called also latifolia by divers but Bauhinus in my judgement hath much confounded them putting one for another the seede of the Elme is called Samarra The Arabians call it Didar Dirdar and Luzach the Italians Olmo the Spaniards Vlmo the French Orme the Germanes Rustholtz Vlmerbaum Iffenholtz and Lindbast as Tragus saith the Dutch Olboom and we in English the Elme tree The Vertues All the parts of the Elme are of much use in Physicke both leaves barkes branches and rootes the leaves while they are young were wont to be boyled or stewed and so eaten by many of the common people Marcellus saith that the leaves hereof beaten with some pepper and drunke in Malmesie doth helpe an old rotten cough to be taken fasting both Dioscorides and Galen upon his owne experience say that greene wounds are healed by applying some bruised leaves thereto and bound upon with the barke of the Line or Linden tree or with it owne barke the leaves used with vinegar cureth the scurfe and lepry very effectually so doth the barke also in vinegar as Galen saith Dioscorides and Columella do both say that the outer bark of the Elme drunk in wine hath a property to purge flegme which I know of none in our time hath tryed to confirme it the decoction of the leaves barke or roote being bathed healeth broken bones that moisture or water that is found in the bladders on the leaves while it is fresh is very effectually used to cleanse the skinne and make it faire whether of the face or of any other place Matthiolus saith he hath sufficient tryall that the water in the blisters on the leaves if clothes often wet therein and applyed to the ruptures of children will helpe them and they after well bound with a trusse The said water put into a glasse and set in the ground or else in dung for 25. dayes the mouth thereof being close stopped and then the bottome set upon a lay of ordinary salt that the feces may settle and the water become very cleare is so singular and soveraigne a balme for greene wounds that it is a wonder to see how quickly they will be healed thereby being used with soft tents the decoction of the barke of the roote fomented mollyfieth hard tumours and the shrinking of the sinewes the rootes of the Elme boyled for a long time in water and the fat rising on the toppe of the water being cleane scummed off and the place annointed therewith that is growne bald and the haire falne away will quickly restore them againe the said barke ground with brine or pickle untill it come to the forme of a pultis and laid on the place pained with the gout giveth a great deale of ease It hath been observed that Bees will hardly thrive well where many Elmes doe grow or at least if they upon their first going abroad after Winter doe light on the bloomings or seed thereof for it will drive them into a loosenesse that will kill them all if they be not helped speedily CHAP. XII Ostrys sive Ostrya Theophrasti The Horne beame tree THis tree which as I said before is so like unto the Elme but notably differing from it riseth up to be a reasonable great tree with a whitish rugged barke spreading well and bearing somewhat longer and narrower leaves then the ordinary Elme and more gentle or soft in handling resembling in some sort the Beech leaves turning yellow before they fall for which cause some have taken it as a kinde of small Beech at the end of the branches hang downe a large tuft of whitish greene narrow and long leaves being almost three square set together amogn which rise small round heads wherein are contained small yellowish seede like unto barley cornes the timber or wood hereof is whitish like the Beech but tougher and stronger then any Elme and more durable in any worke growing as hard is Horne whereon came our English name Caesalpinus seemeth to set forth another sort differing in the heads of seede which in Italy are smaller and closer Altera Italica
former times was much used to be put into sweete oyntments and commended by Gulen and others to bethe best next unto that of the Codar tree 4. Populus Lybica The Aspen tree The Aspe is somewhat like unto the blacke Poplar for the growing but lesser then either it or the white and with a darker coloured barke the leaves are also blacker harder and rounder then those of the other and a little unevenly dented about the edges and in some places spotted with white spots hanging by longer and slenderer footestalkes which by their continuall shaking and striking one against another make a noyse although the aire be calme the catkins hereof are longer and of a brownish ash colour which continue a while and then fall away with the seede in it the wood is white but nothing so tough This tree saith Pliny hath the best Mushromes growing under it 5. Populus rotundifolia Americana The round leafed Indian Poplar tree The branches onely of this tree were brought from the West Indies unto Mr. Morgan who was Queene Elizabeths Apothecary and by Doctor Lobel caused to be drawne to the life which he exhibited in his Adversaria and Dutch Herball the branches were a little crooked full of joynts at three or foure inches distance and at each a large perfect round leafe without any dent on the edges but where it is set on the short footestalke being thicke rougher and broader then the leaves of Arbor Iudae at the setting to of every which leafe commeth forth a small long catkin like a thong compassed with many small graines much resembling those of the Poplar for which cause he called it a Poplar the taste whereof was very astringent somewhat heating and saltish The Place and Time The foure former sorts grow in moist woods and by waters sides in sundry places of the land yet the white is not so frequent as the other The last is declared of what Country breeding it is their time is likewise expressed that the catkins come forth before the leaves and ripen in the end of Summer but it should seeme that the last hath leaves and catkins altogether The Names The white Poplar is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because of the whitenesse in Latine Populus alba and Farfarus of the Ancients the blacke is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Populus nigra but with Tragus it is his first Populus alba the Aspe is taken by many good Authours to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Theophrastus because he joyneth it next unto the two former lib. 3. c. 14. saying it is like unto the white Poplar which may breede some doubt whether he meaneth the Aspe or no which hath no such divided leaves as the white hath Gaza translateth it Alpina which it seemeth he doth from Pliny who called it montana as well as Lybica the other are expressed to be of Lobel his declaration and of none before him Homer in his fifth Iliad calleth the white Poplar 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab Acheronte because wheen Hercules had overcome Cerberus he came crowned with this Poplars branches which he found growing by the river Acheron in triumph of that victory and from his example all that with glory have conquered their enemies in fight were wont to weare a garland of the branches thereof their errour that Suceinum yellow Amber was the gum of the blacke Poplar is so ridiculous that but to name it is sufficient confâ—tation especially seeing Matthiolus hath done it before The Arabians call the white and blacke Poplar Haur and Haur româ— the Italians Popolo bianco and nero the Spaniards Alamo blanco and nigrilâ—io the French Abeau and Peuplier and Tremble the Germanes Bellen Poppelbaum and Sarbaum the Dutch Abeelboom and Popelier worâ— and we in English the white and blacke Poplar tree and the other the Aspe or Aspen tree The Vertues The white Poplar saith Galen is of a mixt temper that is of an hot watery and of a thinne earthy essence and therefore it is of a clensing property the weight of an ounce in pouther of the barke of the white Poplar being drunke saith Dioscorides is a remedy for those that are troubled with the Sciatica or the Strangury and thereupon Serenus hath these Verses Saepius occultus victa coxendice morbus Perfurit gressus diro languore moratur Populus alba dabit medicos de cortice potus The juyce of the leaves dropped warme into the eares easeth the paines in them the young bourgeons or eyes before they breake out into leaves bruised and a little honey put to them is a good medicine for a dull sight The blacke Poplar is held to be more cooling then the white and therefore some have with much profit applyed the leaves bruiâ—ed with vinegar to the places troubled with the gout the seede is held good against the falling sickenesse to be drunke in vinegar the water that droppeth from the hollow places of the blacke Poplars doth take away warts pushes wheales and other the like breakings out in the body the young blacke Poplar buds saith Matthiolus are much used by women to beautifie their haire bruising them with fresh butter and strayning them after they have beene for some time kept in the Sunne the oyntment called Populeon which is made of this Poplar is singulas good for any heate or inflammation in any part of the body and doth also temper the heate of wounds it is much used to dry up the milke in womens brests after their delivery or when they have weyned their children The Aspen leaves are in the like manner cooling and are used for the same purposes that the blacke is but are in all things farre weaker Tragus it seemeth putteth the blacke Poplars instead of the white and the Aspen instead of the blacke as his descriptions and figures declare CHAP. XVII Taxus The Yew tree THe Yew tree groweth with us in many places Taxus The Yew tree to be a reasonable great tree spreading many large branches which make a goodly shadow covered with a reddish rugged barke the body and elder boughes being more grayish and the younger redder whereon grow many winged leaves that is many long and narrow darke greene leaves somewhat soft in handling and not hard as the Firre tree leaves are whereunto they are compared by many set on both sides of a middle stalke alwayes abiding greene and not falling away in Winter the flowers are small and yellow growing along close to the branches where afterwards the berries come forth of the bignesse and colour of the Holly or Asparagus berries sweete with a little bitternesse and procuring no harme to them that eate them for any thing that I have heard the wood hereof is reddish tough and strong The Place and Time This groweth in many places of this Land but planted in all whether at home or abroad it flowreth usually in Aprill or May and the berries be ripe in Semptember and October The Names It is called
of the mouth the hardnes and shrinking of the sinews and lamenes in the feete through cold and wet CHAP. XL. Myrrha Myrrhe MYrrhe is the gum of a certaine tree growing in Arabia Aethiopia and other places as it is thought Theophrastus and Pliny declare the various reports of the face or shew it beareth one contrary to another so that it may be doubted whether any of them be true seeing they be but guesses at the likelyest report I have not heard or read that any now adayes hath seene the tree that beareth it Dioscorides saith that it is not unlike to the Egiptian Thorne meaning Acacia without mentioning any report and is gotten by cutting or wounding the tree that the gumme may flow forth in the canicular dayes as other gummes are gotten We have many sorts thereof in goodnesse some better or worse then others as in great and small peeces fat and dry pulverilentous like pale and more red all alike or else discoloured with some whitish peeces in it which is the best for whereas Dioscorides commendeth that which is somewhat greene I have not seene any such nor read that any hath ever seene it and it is very likely that the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which Dioscorides useth may be used pro colore pallescente as well as subviridi and so Rondeletius noteth it in his Chapter de Gobio pisce and to be taken here in the former sence Myrrhe as I said before is in sight so like unto Bdellium that they are soone mistaken by those that are not expert but hath these notes and differences it is extreame bitter and so is not Bdellium it is paler fatter easier to be broken and of a more quicke sharpe sent so that the best Myrrhe may be both knowne of it selfe and hereby from Bdellium that it is of a purplish browne colour in great peeces and fattish for the greater peeces retaine their fatnesse longer and are not so soone dryed by the ayre with some whitish peeces or veines therein extreame bitter in taste and smelleth somewhat sharpe and bitter withall Divers have diversly thought of Myrrhe some supposing Myrrhe to be Benzoin and Bdellium to be Myrrhe and that we had no true Myrrhe e contra that we had Myrrha truncus cum Gummi Mirrhe and no true Bdellium because so little that was good was formerly brought to be used that they might be plainely distinguished and the rather because that Galen saith Myrrhe will be sometimes changed into Opocalpasum which is venemous and deadly and is so like it that as he saith in his time many were killed therewith who yet finding it to be very effectuall for sundry diseases of the eyes thought it might be as effectuall for inward diseases the notes of which Opocalpasum as Galen calleth it or Opocarpasum the juyce of Carpasum as Dioscorides calleth it in his sixth Book and 13. Chapter among the venemous plants but maketh no description thereof in any of his former Bookes as I finde them set down in Weckers Antidotarie in the examination of Myrrhe are these because saith Wecker true Opocalpasum is not usually to be seene to compare it with Myrrhe yet if you shall perceive in Myrrhe some peeces to be much differing both in sent and taste from true Myrrhe you may wel not without good reason judge that it is changed into Opocalpasum for although both in colour and substance it be like to the best Myrrhe with whitish veines therein like unto the nailes of ones hand yet examining it more thoroughly it will be found not to be Myrrhe and that there will likewise some reddish cleere spots appeare therein it behoveth therefore to be cautelous in the choyse of Myrrhe that you be not deceived with the shew or likenesse but observe that it have all the true notes of true Myrrhe least while you thinke you have all the true Myrrhe you have this poyson if it be inwardly taken which consumeth the corrupt mattering and watering of the eyes to be used outwardly which metamorphosis if it be true or that Galbanum should be changed into Sagapenum or Cassia into Cinamon were very miraculous yet herein the old Authours are very frequent but I thinke of these miracles which are the conversions of substances as I doe of their transmigration of soules Dioscorides maketh no mention of it but saith that the juyce of Carpasum whether herbe or tree was venemous as Taxus Cicuta and many other was and to be cured with the same remedies that Cicuta was Dioscorides saith that out of the fattest Myrrhe called Pediasimos being pressed is taken Stacte yet Pliny saith that the trees doe sweate out Stacte of their owne accord before they be cut which is accounted to be the Styrax liquida of our shoppes both by the Arabians and other later writers as Matthiolus saith himselfe also being of that opinion whereof I cannot but mervaile that he or any other duely considering our Styrax liquida both the forme and sent so farre differing from Mirrhe should thinke it to be pressed out of fat Myrrhe being of so fine a sharpe bitter aromaticall sent and the Styrax liquida rather loathsome then pleasant Dioscorides maketh mention of one sort of Myrrhe called Aminnea which Galen calleth Minea Matthiolus taking them to be divers and not one sort of Myrrhe which some thinke to be the Gumme Anime called by the Portugalls Gum Anijmum comming from Ethiopia for there is another of the West Indies whereof I shall intreate hereafter but herein I thinke they are deceived Galen saith that Myrrhe is hot and dry in the second degree and therefore is good for wounds in the head and by the bitternesse which is not little it killeth the wormes in the belly and the living childe expelling the dead it hath in it also a binding quality whereby being mingled with eye medicines it helpeth ulcers and great scarres and for the same cause is good to be put among those things are good for an old cough and shortnesse of breath the bitternesse not harming the winde pipe or throate but gently clensing and heating it helpeth the roughnesse of the winde pipe or throate saith Dioscorides and those that are hoarse and have lost their tongue as we call it it is good also against the paines of the sides the laske and bloody flix and rheumaticke destillations it speedily procureth womens courses and mollifyeth the hardnesse of the matrix it also taketh away the shivering fits of agues being taken two houres before it come but Matthiolus saith that by taking a dramme of Myrrhe in Muscadine using it three times an houre before his fits he was cured of a quartaine ague but he did therewithall presently after the taking thereof sweat moderately in his bed pilles likewise saith he made with it and Treakle is effectuall for the same purpose to take one at a time as bigge as a pease an houre before the fits for many dayes together it is also a
great preservative in the Plague or pestilence and against the venome or poyson of Serpents and harmefull creatures and therefore is put into Antidotes and counter poysons it is a singular remedy for a stinking breath fasteneth loose teeth and stayeth the shedding of the haire being used with Ladanum and the wine of Mirtles it helpeth mattering eares and watering eyes and taketh away the filme or skinne that beginneth to grow over and darken the sight it helpeth to breede flesh in deepe wounds and to cover naked bones Matthiolus commendeth it as a singular fucus for the face to take away wrinckles that come by age and to make it smooth and youthfull to be made into an oyle as it is called or rather the liquour of Myrrhe which is made with egges boyled hard cut in the middle the yolkes taken forth and filled up with pouther of Myrrhe then put into a glasse and set in a Wine celler or moist place and with this liquour to be bedewed As also another way that is by sprinckling with white wine a new iron dish or pan made hot in the fire and taking first the fumes thereof unto the face being covered over with a cloth and then the fumes of Myrrhe in pouther afterwards cast on it being heated againe and the head covered as before and this still to be used before bed time for eight dayes together CHAP. XLI Nardus Indica sive Spica Nardi Spicknard GArcias ab Orta intreating of this Spikenard testifieth that there is but one sort knowne and used as well by the Indian and Turkish as the Persian and Arabian Physitions and although some would intimate that this is not that was used by the Ancients in that Pliny setteth it downe lib 12. c. 12. that it was not to be had but at an excessive price yet that hindereth not in regard both all the Countryes of the Indies are better husbanded then heretofore and especially that since the Portingalls had opened the way by Sea all sorts of Drugges were provided better and better cheape by much the charge of Caravans being excessive chargeable by their long journey and travaile but I thinke both the Drugges and the Indies by being more sought by Venetians and other Christians was the beginning of the reformations for when Arabians and the like were the chiefe Merchants Nardus Indica Spicknard much bad Merchandize was dearely sold howsoever cheapely bought and I thinke much more adulterated both by them and Iewes and the Indians also were not behind to sophisticate whatsoever they could which the Christians I verily suppose did somewhat alter when they became great Merchants for Europe and since is rectified more and more when onely the sincere and pure is bought and the other left on their hand to mend if they can but yet it falleth out that the blinde eateth many a flye I meane the ignorant is often deluded who through covetousnesse oftentimes letteth passe the better to take the worser at cheaper rates but to the purpose in hand This Spicknard groweth not in many places and where it doth it is not very plentifull it is a roote yet called a Spike because it shooteth up hairy stalkes of hairy like Spikes many set together of a brownish colour and whereas Dioscorides saith the roote is of no use yee must understand the word in a double sense the rootes that Dioscorides meant be the short fibres whereby it draweth its nourishment and encrease from the earth and these indeed be unprofitable and of no use but the rootes that Galen speaketh of are the Spikes themselves or Spicknard for so he calleth them both lib. 1. De Antidotis thus saying Iubet Andromachus adijcere Nardum Indicam ea vero est quam spicam vocant non quod spica fit radix enim est sed quod spicae formam referat And in lib. 9. de comp med sec locos He useth somewhat neere the same words but in that some object it is not of a sweet sent such as Dioscorides recordeth of it Garcias saith while it is fresh it is sweete but time may decay some part of the sent and besides sweete smells were otherwise taken with the Auncicients then with us witnesse many things as Galbanum Allium c. were reckoned sweete much differing from the opinions now received but thus I have shewed you the acception of the roote and Spike of this Nardus and the sweetnesse Both Dioscorides and Pena have recorded that it doth beare a stalke and leaves yet have not mentioned what flowers it hath neither is the other bastard or French Spikenard of Lobel shewed to have any which I have exhibited in the first Classis of this Worke but the like was found in Virginia by Master Iohn Tradescant the younger with such like long greene leaves as is desciphered in that the roote also answering so neere unto the French Nardus but of a paler blackish colour and without any sent that I could perceive and besides all this he found it with the spike of flowers and seed at the toppes of the stalkes which were turning or winding the head standing on a small naked stalke somewhat like I meane in the turning unto the Scorodo prassum anguinum or Convoluto capite the great Turky Garlicke with a twined head consisting of two or three rowes of small bright brownish chaffie huskes hairy as it were at their ends and standing all on one side of the stalkes for foure or five inches long This bastard kinde bearing such an head doth perswade me to thinke this Indian kinde to have also some other whether the like or no is not to be determined but by sight The properties of this Indian Spikenard are these It is of an heating and drying quality provoking urine and staying laskes and both the reds and whites in Women it taketh away the loathing to meate and the gnawing of the stomacke usually called the heart-burning it conduceth helpe to swellings to the stone in the kidneyes and to the Kings Evill the decoction helpeth the inflammations of the mother if they sit therein it helpeth to bring haire on the baire eye lids it is not onely an ingredient into the two famous Antidotes Theriaca Andromachi and Mithridatium but into sundry other compositions appointed by the Ancients but because I would not make a double repetition of the same things having declared the properties hereof at large in the 42. Chapter of the first Classis of this worke I must referre you thereunto CHAP. XLII 1. Palma sive Nux Indica vulgaris ferens Coccos The ordinary Indian Cokar Nut. THere cannot be found in the world a tree that hath so many necessary commodities for mens uses to be had from it as this Cokar Nut the tree groweth to be huge great and vaste whose body or stem is covered with a smooth barke bare or naked without any branch to a great height for which cause the Indians doe either bore holes therein at certaine distances and knocke
men and the whites in women applyed also to Maides or womens great brests mixed with the juyce of Puâ—slane abateth their greatnesse and represseth their overmuch growing CHAP. XLVIII Pseudosantalus Cretica Abolicea dicta Bastard red Saunders of Candy THis tree groweth in Candy and made Pseudosantalus Cretica Abolicea dicta Bastard red Saunders of Candy knowne to Alpinus whose figure was sent him as I here shew it you with this description following It is a tree that groweth to a reasonable great height straight upright furnished with many armes and branches very beautifull to behold set with faire greene leaves one at a place like unto those of Alaternus but rounder and deeplier endented about the edges the flowers were not observed what forme or colour they bore but the fruite was round and of the biggenesse of Pepper cornes of a darke greenish colour which were not perfectly ripe when this tree was found The wood it selfe is somewhat sweete hard and reddish so that it seemed like red Saunders especially being made into pouther from whence I thinke saith he it may not unfitly be called Bastard red Saunders of Candy some of the wood saith Pona hath beene brought into Italy and there sold for Saunders but it differs from it in that it is nothing so heavy as the true red Saunders is CHAP. XLIX Sassaphras The Sassafras or Ague tree THe first knowledge of this Sassafras or Ague tree came by the French to our Christian world and to the Spaniards by driving out the French who had seated themselves somewhat neere the Florida which they claimed for themselves for they having gotten Agues and swellings in their legges and other diseases by lying on the ground in the open aire by bad victualls and raw drinke of water as the French before them had by a French man that remained among them were taught the use of this tree which he and his Country men had learned before of the Natives to helpe themselves in these extremities some Indians call the tree Pavame and some Winanke but the French whom the Spaniards and all other Nations since that use it follow Sassafras upon what ground or cause is not knowne The tree groweth great and tall bare of branches unto a reasonable height covered with a grayish browne barke somewhat thicke being in taste hotter and quicker then the wood or roote by much towards the toppe it spreadeth forth many goodly armes and branches into a round compasse or forme having large darke greene leaves growing thereon one at a place standing on the contrary side each to other tasting like the roote but more weakely some cut into three divisions somewhat resembling Figge tree leaves but lesser by the halfe for the most part with a middle ribbe running through each division and two others to the inner cuts with veines besides and some with little or no division at all upon them for both sorts wee have seene growing on the same tree smooth also and not dented about the edges the flowers are small and yellow made of threds very like to the Male Cornel tree as Master Iohn Tradescant saith and the fruite small blackish berries set in small cups upon Sassafras The Sassaphras or Ague tree long footestalkes many clustring together the rootes are not very great nor grow deepe in the like manner as all other sorts of Indian trees doe but are covered with the like brownish barke that the trunke and branches are but somewhat redder which are most in use being of greater force and efficacy then any other part of the tree and taste somewhat spicelike rellishing Fennell seede withall but Clusius compareth the taste thereof unto the herbe Tarragon and is hot and dry in the beginning of the third degree The decoction whereof is familiarly given in all cold diseases and obstructions of the Liver and spleene as also in cold rheumes and defluxions of the head on the teeth eyes or lunges warming and drying up the moisture and strengthning the parts afterwards and therefore is availeable in coughes and other cold diseases of the brest stomacke and lungs and restraineth castings and helpeth digestion breaketh and expelleth winde the gravell and stone in the kidneyes and provoketh urine and womens courses it also warmeth heateth and dryeth up the moisture of womens wombes which is in most the cause of barrennesse and causeth them to be the more apt to conceive it is of especiall good use in tertian and quotidian agues that come of humours or are of long continuance it is thought also to be good in the time of the pestilence to weare some thereof continually about them that the smell of it may expell the corrupt and evil vapours of the pestilence it is generally used in all the diseases that come of cold and raw thin and corrupt humours the French disease and other of the like foule nature the Indians use the leaves being bruised to heale their wounds and sores of whatsoever quality they be CHAP. L. Spermacaeti Parmasitty SPermacaeti that is the spawne of the Whale usually called in English Parmasitty is found in the head of one onely sort of Whale fish called Trumpa which hath no finnes in his mouth but teeth about a spanne long and as thicke as ones wrist it lyeth in a hole therein as it were a Well which is taken out and brought home after their fishing for Whales in barrels and is afterwards pressed in a presse that the thinne oyle may runne from the thicker substance which is that Parmasitty we use and the more it is pressed the whiter it will be and of little or no smell yet the oyle is somewhat strong this sort of Whale hath but one hole in the head whereby it spouteth out water all other sorts having two his head is bigger then others and bigger then his whole body besides which is also of a more gray colour in this Whales entralls Ambergreise is said often to be found in more plenty then in other which it is more likely that they swallow as food finding it swimming on the Sea water then that it should breed in them as diverse have supposed for I have here shewed you the generation of Ambergreese this Whale also yeeldeth a kind of oyle as other Whales doe but it groweth both white and hard when it is cold when as all other are liquid like oyle and never glow hard like it and therefore it is alwayes kept by it selfe and not put to others CHAP. LI. Tacamahaca The Gum Tacamahaca THis Gum which the West Indians call Tacamahaca the Spaniards and all other Nations retaining the same name is said to be gathered from a great tree like unto a Poplar that is very sweete having a red fruite or berry like unto those of the Peony more we cannot as yet learne of it The Gumme is of good and much use for outward remedies not being knowne to be given inwardly for any infirmity although I doubt not but that it might safely and to good purpose
then Pine trees and straight growing up like the Cypresse towards the toppe of these trees grow certaine bladders or skinnes some greater and others smaller which being broken this admirable liquour droppeth forth which the Indians carefully doe gather into shells but with a great deale of labour and trouble and but a little in a great time The use hereof is as effectuall as Balsamum for all the causes for which Balsamum is used for it excellently healeth all sorts of wounds and easeth all paines and griefes rising from cold or flatulent matter it is also singular good against the paines or winde in the stomacke and bowels to take some in white wine A third sort of liquid substance is called Liquor Ambia and came to him in the hollownesse of a cane or Reede and was taken out of a spring or fountaine in the ground Liquor Ambia farre from the sea being thin and yellow like hony and smelling like Tacamahaca which was signified unto him to be of excellent vertues especially in cold inveterate griefes and aches in any part of the body and taketh away the cold shivering fits of agues it resolveth also all kindes of hard tumours and performeth whatsoever either Caranha or Tacamahacca can doe it is of so sticking and cleaving a substance that it will not be pulled from the place whereon it is set untill by time the vertue is spent and it growne dry Gum Colliman or Caramam is a kinde of blacke gum almost as blacke as pitch that Sir Walter Raleigh first brought from Guiana and those parts and brought it also first into use for a cold moist and rheumaticke braine and giddinesse thereof and for defluxions of humours as aches in the joynts or other parts into the shoulders or other parts of the body or for windinesse in them running from place to place eyther by it selfe or sometimes mixed with Caranha Of it selfe it is very hard and smelleth sweete but being distilled is much sweeter especially the last part that commeth forth after the two first stinking oyles and is used by some perfumers as an excellent perfume It is good also for resolutions or as some call it the dead palsie and for the paines of the mother and the lower part of womens backes which must be spread upon leather as a plaister and laid thereon and not taken away till it fall of it selfe it is also singular good to ease the paines of the gout and of excellent vertue in the cure of wounds all these properties have beene found certaine by good experience Barratta is a most soveraigne Balsamum farre excelling all others yet knowne which by true experience is found to be of especiall operation in the cure of greene wounds and being burned upon coales is a most sweet perfume And thus to finish this whole Worke and bring it to a period let me onely shew you some of those things not spoden off before in this volume which have beene made knowne to us to grow in our severall plantations of Virginia the Barmudas New England or elsewhere among our owne peoples habitations and first The poysoned weed is like our English Ivy. The purging Beane is a kinde of Woodbind running on trees neere the Sea side The Mancinell tree beareth a small apple like fruite sweete in smell but poyson to eate The Guane tree beareth a fruite as bigge as a Peate and good to eate They have also Apple trees differing from ours Cherryes likewise as bigge as Damsons and yellow Plummes divers from ours There is a bush like unto a Bramble that hath long yellow fruite within a hard shell Another tree they have that groweth great like a Pine tree that beareth fruite as great as a Muske Melon is alwayes greene and hath both blossomes greene fruite and ripe all at a time Wilde Figge trees likewise they have wherewith they feede their swine Then have they small red berryes which they call red Pepper Goodly great trees which they call Cedar because the wood is red like Cedar but the berryes are small like unto Iuniper berryes Fusticke trees which give a yellow colour fit for Dyets A great tree with whose leaves they make Mustard A kinde of roote which they tooke to be Sarsa parilla but is not although somewhat like it being hard and wooddy and hath no use that we know Mucca nuts grow close to the ground like unto Hazell Nuts Penimaw is a kinde of silke grasse Woghsâ—can with the roote they cure their hurts and diseases Messaminus are Grapes as great as Cherries but with little juyce in them Rawcomens are like to our Gooseberryes Ocoughtawmins are berries like unto Capers Checinkamins like to Chesnuts Tockabough is the Cassada roote whereof they make bread Pappaw is a fruite as bigge as an Apple of an Orenge colour and good to eate And now unto God Almighty Triuno and Vuo in Trinitate who I hope hath beene at the beginning of this Worke and holpen me through all the passages thereof notwithstanding the multa discrimina rerum mortaliam whereof I have felt my part to bring it to the end for the benefit of others who that they may make good use thereof and not pervert it to any sinister course is my earnest desire be given all the praise honour and glory for I am but like the Bee that workes out waxe and hony for others not his owne good his instrument to accomplish it receiving all from Him Amen FINIS THEATRO BOTANICO APPENDIX An Appendix to the Theater of Plants or Addition of those things have beene overslipt mistaken or to be amended in the Worke Precedent to be referred as the number of the Pages declare Where observe that p. standeth for Page 15. Hyssopus Gracorum so called by Alpinus is that fifteenth sort in page the third there called Hissopus folijs Origani Round leafed Hysope 6. Thymbra Legitima Alpiro The true Savory by Alpinus Page 5. â— Thymbra Legitima Alpino The true Savory by Alpinus The differing forme and face that Alpinus giveth this small herbe from the former hath made me insert it here to be referred to the other sorts it so be it be another It is very like unto the true Tyme as he saith but hath smaller and slenderer branches and Tyme like leaves many being set on them by couples but thinner and softer and of an herby greene colour the flowers are purple like Tyme and grow in spikes it groweth lower then Tyme smelleth very like it and tasteth as sharpe as Tyme when it is dryed 10. Marum Aegyptiorum Alpino The Egiptians Marum by Alpinus to be referred to p. 13. 10. Marum Aegyptiorum Alpino The Egyptians Marum by Alpinus without sent This plant saith Alpinus accounted a Marum with the Egiptians and growing among rubbish and in dry places doth somewhat resemble a wild Clâ—ry in the leaves and growing being voyd of taste or savour especially the lowest yet those that rise up with the stalke and flowers are strong and not unpleasant the leaves