is observed by Matthiolus that halfe a dramme of the pouder of the dryed leaves of Lavender Cotton taken in a little of the distilled water of Fetherfew every morning fasting for ten dayes together at the least and afterwards every other day is a very profitable medicine for women troubled with the whites to stay them Pliny saith that his Chamaecyparissus which as I said before is taken by some to be this Lavender cotton is good against the poison of all venemous Serpents and Scorpions being taken in wine The seed is generally in all our Country given to kill the wormes either in children or elder persons and accounted to be of as great force as Wormeseed the leaves also are good when seed cannot be had but are not of so great vertue Clusius saith that in Spaine they use the decoction of the Spanish kindes to take away the itch and scabbes in whomsoever have them but he adviseth there should be caution used in giving it CHAP. XXXVI Absinthium Wormewood ALthough Dioscorides and Galen also make mention but of three sorts of Wormewood the one a common sort well knowne as he saith the best growing in Pontus and Cappadocia The other Sea Wormewood or Seriphium and the third Santonicum of the Country beyond the Alpes in France yet there hath since beene found out many hearbes accounted to be kindes or sorts of them for some likenesse of face or vertues or both as shall be declared hereafter 1. Absinthium vulgare Common Wormewood Common Wormewood is well knowne to have many large whitish greene leaves somewhat more hoary underneath much divided or cut into many parts from among which rise up divers hard and wooddy hoary stalkes 1. Absinthium vulgare Common Wormewood 3. Absinthium Ponticum sive Romanum vulgare Common Roman Wormewood two or three foote high beset with the like leaves as grow below but smaller divided at the toppes into smaller branches whereon grow many small buttons with pale yellow flowers in them wherein afterward is conteined small seed the roote is hard and wooddie with many strings thereat the stalkes hereof dye downe every yeare but the roote holdeth a tuft of greene leaves all the winter shooting forth new againe which are of a strong scent but not unpleasant Arborescens and of a very bitter taste There is a Tree Wormewood like hereunto but growing greater and higher in the warme Countries 2 Absinthium Ponticum verum True Roman Wormewood This Wormewood hath more slender and shorter stalkes by a foote at the least than the former and reasonable large leaves yet smaller and more finely cut in and divided then it but as white and hoary both leaves and stalkes the flowers also are of a pale yellow colour standing upon the small branches in the same manner so that but that it is smaller in each part it is altogether like it the rootes likewise are smaller lesse woody and fuller of fibres the smell thereof is somewhat aromaticall sweete and the bitternesse is not so loathsome to taste Vnto this answereth the Absinthium Ponticum Creticum of Bauhinus but that it is in his owne Country more sweet in scent and little or nothing bitter in taste but somewhat altereth in another soyle 3. Absinthium Ponticum sive Romanum vulgare Common Romane Wormewood This is a small low hearbe if I may call it a Wormewood with much more slender short stalkes than the last whereon grow very smal and fine short hoary white leaves smaller and finer than those of the fine Sothernwood which grow at severall joynts many comming forth together at the tops of the stalkes grow small yellowish flowers neither so many nor so great as the last the roote from a short head shooteth forth many long fibres whereby it is nourished in the ground sending forth divers sprouts round about it whereby it is much encreased the smell hereof is faint and farre weaker than the other the taste thereof much lesse bitter 4. Absinthium tenuifolium Austriacum Five leafed Wormewood of Austria This small Wormewood hath many small hard and stiffe hoary stalkes whereon are set without order small and somewhat long hoary leaves very like unto the leaves of Sea Wormewood which stalkes are divided towards the toppes into many other small and slender branches rising from the joynts where the leaves doe grow with many small heads which shew forth many small whitish flowers 5. Absinthium inodorum Vnsavory Wormewood The Vnsavory Wormewood is in leafe so like the first common Wormewood both for the whitenesse largenesse and divisions thereof that it cannot be knowne from it at all unlesse you make your nose the judge of the scent which in this is so small that it is generally said to be without any at all yet it hath in the heate of Summer a small weake smel such as is found in some of the Sothernwoods the flowers and all things else are alike but this is somewhat more tender to be preserved in the Winter than the former 6. Absinthium album sive Vmbelliferum White tufted Wormewood This white Wormewood hath his roote composed of many small blacke fibres which shooteth forth many heads of long somewhat thick and broad hoary white leaves cut in about the edges in some places more than in others narrower at the bottome and broader at the point made somewhat like unto the leaves of the great field Daisie but smaller from some of these heads doe shoot forth slender hoary stalkes about a foote and a halfe high set here and there with such like leaves as grow below but smaller at the tops whereof stand many scaly silver white and greene heads in a tuft together out of which breake forth silver white small 4. Absinthium tenuifolium Austriacum Fine leafed Wormewood of Austria 6. Absinthium album sive Vmbelliferum White tufted Wormewood 7. Absinthium umbelliferum tenuifolium White tufted Wormewood with fine leaves flowers made of many leaves standing in a double row in the middle tipt with a little yellow the whole tuft of flowers doth somewhat resemble the flowers of Yarrow but much more pleasant to behold which stand a great while in flower and afterwards turne into small chaffy seed this holdeth some heads on the leaves all the Winter but are very small untill the Spring begin to come on which then shoote forth and become as large as is expressed before having little or no smell at all but exceeding bitter 7. Absinthium umbelliferum tenuifolium White tufted Wormewood with fine leaves This other white Wormewood hath much smaller and finer cut leaves than the former but as hoary white as the other the stalkes are shorter not rising so high the umbell or tuft of flowers is somewhat smaller also but as white so that it differeth in nothing from the former but in the smalnesse of the plant and in the small and fine divisions of the leaves neither hath it any more smell or lesse bitter taste Bauhinus maketh two sorts more of this
upon Mount Baldus because he had sent him many plants that grew there but because this is not mentioned in all the description of Mount Baldus it is more likely that Calzolarius had it from Constantinople or some other place in Turkie and sent it him as a raritie The fift sixt are called Arisarum or Aris as Pliny saith and distinguished by the titles of latifolium and angustifolium The Spaniards call it Frailillos that is little Friers because the hose doth represent the forme of a Friers Cowle the latifolium Dalechampius upon Pliny calleth Calla alterū genus Plinij yet Tragus thinketh that this Arisarū should be more properly the Arum of Dioscorides which is usually eaten for our Arum is so hot and sharpe that it is not to be endured whereunto some others doe reply and say that the Arum of the hotter countries is more mild and yet the same in specie The seventh is called by the Spaniards Manta de nuestra senora from the largenesse of the leaves and diversely by divers late Latine Writers some as I said contesting earnestly that it is the Faba Egyptia and Colocasia of Dioscorides or Colocasion of Nicandar others flatly denying it and calling it Arum Aegyptium which terme Pliny useth but it is not knowne from whom he had it those that hold and maintaine the former opinion are Bellonius Alpinus Camerarius Lugdunensis and lastly Clusius who doe all conclude that this plant which the Egyptians call Culcas can be no other plant then the Faba Egyptia of Dioscorides and Theophrastus although it beare neither flower not fruit and thereupon doe much suspect the truth of their descriptions because there was never heard or found as they say any other that did answer in all things unto their descriptions and that this did most nearely approach thereunto both for that the name of Culcas so nearely drawing to the Greeke name Colocasia and was so antiently continued among those Nations of Egypt Syria Arabia and Affricke and that the daily use of the roote to be dressed or eaten raw for their food and meate as they said their Faba was but the fruit or nuts was their foode and not the rootes time having inverted both name and use it is also called Talusse by the inhabitants of Iava but Lalade in the Malaia tongue which soundeth somewhat neere Culcas as it is recorded in the Dutch Navigation thither in Anno 1595. before spoken of where it is said also to beare neither flower nor fruit but those that hold the contrary opinion that it is but Arum Aegyptium and not the true Colocasia although commonly so called are Anguillara Guillandinus Maranta Causabonus Matthiolus Gesner in hortis Germaniae Dodonaeus Lobel and Columna who have all of them in their times testified it most of them having seene the flower or fruit or both that it beareth which plainely declareth it to be a kind of Arum and that it is not the Faba Aegyptia whose roote was called Colocasia but Fabius Columna lastly and most fully to the purpose doth shew the truth setting forth the description of this Arum Aegyptium amply in every part to beare leaves flowers hose or huske with a pestle or clapper therein and berries afterwards agreeing in all those parts to the vulgar Arum and Arisarum although somewhat in a different manner as every species of a Genus doth and with all doth defend the veritie of Dioscorides and Theophrastus descriptions thereof against all gainesayers wondering that so many learned men should not discerne the truth but be led away so grossely into errour against so plaine declarations that they make of the plant and every part thereof that is of roote stalke leafe flowers and fruit the roote to be like the roote of the Reede but greater and not bulbous like the Arum to be armed with prickles or thornes when as the roote of this Arum or supposed Colocasia is not so then that it beareth a stalke a cubite or more high which this doth not and that it carrieth a flower thereon bigger than that of the Poppie and of a Rose colour which this hath no resemblance thereunto and lastly that it beareth a head like a Waspes combe with many cells or divisions therein in every one wherof groweth a fruit or nut begger than an ordinary Beane whereunto this Arum hath no likenes I might adde also the name of the head called Ciborion or Cibotion which as I said signifieth a small casket from the similitude of the places wherein the fruit standeth as also from the forme of the head with the fruit like unto a drinking cuppe used among the ancient Graecians as also the fruite or Beane it selfe so notably knowne to all the Nations both Greekes and others that it was as a standard for a certaine weight whose true proportion was certainely knowne and constantly maintained the place also of the growing being in the waters is differing from that of Arum the vertues and qualities as different from it all which I have therefore shewed you that every one may plainely see the truth and hereafter be better perswaded if they have erred in their opinion and judgement And to shew the originall of this errour as it is most probable first I may say that the revolution of time which bringeth on with it many slippes and errours hath beene the cause thereof which therefore wise men and judicious must still be carefull to finde out and reforme Bellonius in the 28. Chapter of his second Booke of Observations thinketh that Herodotus was the first that was the cause of that errour but I verily suppose it to be more antient for Dioscorides saith in his Chapter of Arum among the diverse names thereof that those of Cyprus did call Arum by the name of Colocasion and therefore it is most probable that diverse Nations eating the rootes of this Arum as well as the rest which were not hot and sharpe in taste in those countries as they are in these colder did from the Cyprians call it Colocasia because the roote of the Egyptian Beane being also called Colocasia was boyled and eaten as those of Arum were and thus this errour spreading and the use of them encreasing by being peradventure both more plentifull to be had by encrease and more acceptable to the taste than the fruite of the Egyptian Beane it became of lesse esteeme and in time to be so much neglected that it was no more looked after and planted whereby it became to be utterly unknowne at the last and the name Culcas was still maintained and imposed on those rootes of Arum as if they had beene the rootes of the Egyptian Beane Thus much I thought good out of my simple judgement to declare which if it doe not agree with truth and reason I submit it to those that can bring better The Vertues Tragus reporteth that a dramme weight or more if neede be of the roote of that
stayeth the hickock being boyled in wine and but smelled unto tyed in a cloth and dulleth the eye sight and being much taken extinguisheth venery for it mightily expelleth wine and dryeth up naturall sperme the seede is of more use then the leaves although they bee much used to rellish condiments and is more effectuall to digest raw and viscous humors yet more unpleasant then Fennell and is used in all medicines that serve to expell winde and ease torments and paines thereof the seede being roasted or fryed and used in oyles or plaisters dissolveth the Impostumes in the fundament and dryeth up all moyst Vlcers especially in the secret parts the oyle made of Dill is effectuall to warme to resolve humours and Impostumes whether soft or hard tumors to ease paines and to procure rest CHAP. VII Cuminum Cumin CVmin is not knowne to most of our best latter writers and Herbarists to be of any more sorts then one but wee have had the relation of other sorts but not those of the ancients as eyther Syriacum Aegyptium or Africum which are but one and the same as many good Authors thinke and but onely differing by the soyle and climate where they grew as shall be shewed 1. Cuminum vulgare Ordinary Cumin Ordinary Cumin groweth up with slender and low stalkes 1. Cuminum vulgare Ordinary Cumin not above halfe a yard high growing white at the last and brancheth out more having store of leaves which are small and long like unto Fennell the flowers are somewhat reddish at the tops of the stalkes which turne into small whitish yellow seed somewhat long and almost round crested or straked on the rounder side and smelling strong the roote is small long and white perishing yearely 2. Cuminum Melitense dulce Small sweete Cumin of Malta This small Cumin whose seede is small and like unto Anneseede but as sweete as sweete Fennell is usually sowen in the I le of Malta to put into their bread or other meates as also to trade with to other parts for exchange of other commodities is as I am given to understand as small and low a plant as the Cumin and much like it in leaves and growing the seede onely is observed to be differing 3. Cuminum satiuum acre Melitense Great sharpe Cumin of Malta This other hath greater seedes then the ordinary Cumin longer also and pointed at both ends crested likewise on the rounder side and of a deader colour smelling more unsavourly and tasting hot quicke and sharpe almost like Cubebes or Pepper and it is probable for we never saw it greene groweth greater then the ordinary although like it in all other parts The Place and Time All these sorts grow familiarly in the hot countries as Spaine Italy the Iles in the Mediterranean Sea whereof Malta is one and in Syria and the other East countries where it is sowen in our Land it seldome commeth to good unlesse in a kindly yeare and sowen in the middle of the Spring so that it must be late with us though nothing so with them before it can be ripe The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latine also Cuminum and Cyminum the ancient authors as Dioscorides Theophrastus c. made hereof many kinds calling them by the sundry countries where they grew as Egyptium Galatium Syriacum c. when as it is confidently held they were not differing in specie but in loci praerogativa for although one sort of seede was rough or hairy and white and called Cuminum Aethiopicum which Hippocrates called Regium as the best another not rough or hairy called Aegyptium yet they were not severall sorts but one was better than another according as the countrey gave it goodnesse or excellencie As for Dioscorides his wilde kinds of Cumin I have entreated of them before in the third Classis of this worke The first is called by most writers Cuminum sativum or Cyminum yet Caesalpinus taketh it to be Cumini sylvestris primum genus Dioscoridis Guilandinus calleth it Cuminum Aethiopicum and Cordus in Dioscor Cyminum Râ—num The two last are onely touched by Bauhinus in his Pinax and called by those of Malta Cuminagero that iâ— wilde Cumin and the sweete kinde Cuminagero dolce The Arabians call it Camum or Kemum the Indians Cuminâ— the Spaniards Cominohos the French Comin the Grmans Kimmell the Dutch Comijn and we Cumin and the seede Cuminseede The Vertues The seede of Cumin is not onely most used with us who have little or none of the herbe growing but every where else also and both was and yet is in sundry places used both in bread and meate to give a rellish to them as we doe with Pepper and was pleasing as well to the stomack as the taste Galen saith it is in the third degree of heate and in the same degree almost of drynesse and as Dioscorides saith it heateth bindeth and dryeth but Dodâ—us insisteth thereagainst shewing that Cumin seede by attenuating and digesting doth discusse humors and doth not represse them by binding or astruction as in the swellings of the cods by winde or a waterish humor Cuminseede used in a Foulâ— doth quickly take it away and so it doth all other paines and swellings being boyled and Barley meale put unto it and so used it also dissolveth winde in the body and easeth the paines and torments thereof by the Collicke being boyled in wine and drunke and is iâ— used as a corrector of any windy meats in the same manner also taken it helpeth those that are bitten by Serpents the seede also taken in broth or drinke or Polcaâ— Dioscorides hath it is good for those that are short winded or are otherwise troubled with an old cough or the disease of the breast to boyle the seede with Figges in wine the same seede beaten and mixed with Viâ—â—â— and applyed to the nose that bleedeth doth stay the bleeding and boyled in water and the lower parts bathed therewith stayeth the abounding courses of women Cumin seede bruised and fryed with an hard Eâ— and bound to the backe part of the head easeth an old head-ach and stayeth the rheume that falleth into the eyes or are blood shotten or else the powder mixed with wax into the forme of a plaister and applyed warme to the eyes will soone helpe it and take it away Cumin seede is sayd to make any one looke pale that useth it inwardly or applyeth it outwardly CHAP. VIII Meum Spignell OF Meum the ancients likewise knew and described but one kind although it was entitâ—led by divers names of the places where the best grew but we have in these latter times beene acquainted with three or foure other plants which may not unfitly be referred also thereunto as by their descriptions you shall soone understand 1. Meum vulgatius Common or ordinary Spignell The rootes or common Spignell doe spread much and deepe in the ground many strings or branches growing from one head which is hairy at the
in most they flower towards the end of Summer and seede also The Names These Plants have not beene knowne to any of the ancient Greeke or Latine Authors that we know The first is diversly named by diverse of our moderne Writers Dodonaeus calleth it Anthyllis prior and Anthyllis Lentisimilis Lobel Clusius and others Anthyllis leguminosa by Tabermontanus Lagopodium by Thalius Arthetica Saxâ—num by Gesner in hortis Vulneraria rustica because his Country husbandmen called it Wundkraut or Klein Wundkraut and those of Berne Guichheil and Bauhinus Loto affinis Vulneraria pratensis the second Camerarius as I said called Auricula muris and Boel that brought it us as it is in the title and so likewise the third which Camerarius as I said although hee called it Trifolium Halicacabum as Alpinus did Trifolium vesicarium yet judged it rather a Lotus the fourth is onely mentioned by Alpinus lib de exoticis by the title of Trifolium falcatum Creticum which with the former I have rather thought fit to referre hither the fift is called by Lobel Stella leguminosa and as Bauhinus thinketh the Vicia Sesamacea of Columna but is much mistaken therein as I shewed you before in the Chapter of Astragalus the sixt is called by Clusius Glanx Hispanica and thinketh that no others so called came so neare that of Dioscorides as this it is very likely to be the Glanx maritima of Alpinus lib. de exoticis Dodonaeus calleth it Anthyllis altera lentisimilis Bauhinus maketh it to be the Cicer sylvestre minus of Thalius or very like it the seventh is called by Lobel Scorpioides leguminosa but both this and the Stella leguminosa are referred by Bauhinus to the Orinthopodia calling them Orinthipodio affines Bauhinus among the Polygalas doubteth whether Anguilara his Polygala should not be the Polygala Valentina prima Clusij which he saith hath leaves like Lentills but fatter a yellow flower and seede in pods which I thinke more likely to be this Scorpioides than any kinde of Polygala The Vertues The first is of much use among the Germans for their wounds and hurts inward and outward and so doe both wayes apply them whence came their name Thalius also sheweth by his name imposed thereon that it was used for the gout CHAP. XXV Foenum Graecum Fenugreeke THe ancient Writers made but one sort of Fenugreeke the latter have added some others unto it and although some have set them among the Trefoiles whereunto they are somewhat like yet because Galen and others say that they were eaten as Lupines and the Egyptians and others eate the seedes yet to this day as Pulse or meate and that Bauhinus thereupon as I guesse placed them among the Pulse I am content to doe so likewise 1. Foenum Graecum sativum Manured Fenugreeke The tame Fenugreeke riseth up sometimes but with one sometimes with two or three hollow greene stalkes parted into divers branches whereon grow at severall spaces many leaves but three alwayes set together on a foote stalke almost round at the ends a little dented about the sides greene above and grayish underneath from the joynts with the leaves come forth white flowers and after them crooked flattish long hornes small pointed with yellowish cornered seedes within them smelling somewhat strong and loathsome the roote is made of many fibres perishing still before Winter 2. Foenumgraecum sylvestre Wild Fenugreeke This wilde Fenugreeke hath the like one or more stalkes branched the leaves stand three together and are some what like the former dented about the edges the flowers likewise are whitish but stand more together at the end and so doe the long cods somewhat like unto them with smaller and darker seede in them 3. Foenumgraecum alium sylvestre Another wilde Fenugreeke This other Fenugreeke hath but one slender stalke seldome branched of a foote high and scaly as it were at the bottome whereon grow such like leaves as the former and at the joynts flowers like unto the manured standing single and lesser but broader hornes afterwards more flat and ending in a small thread the seede within is likewise lesse The Place and Time The first is manured every where that I can heare of the others grow wilde in Spaine and other countries they flower with us in the beginning of Iuly and give their seede in the end of August and September 1. Foenum graecum sativum Manured Fenugreeke 2. Foenum Graecum sylvestre Wilde Fenugreeke The Names It is alled in Greeke by Dioscorides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and by other Greekes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but Theophrastus calleth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a corun similitudine sive sit capri vel bovis the crooked seede vessells being so like unto hornes in Latine Foeumgraecum because that as Columna saith it had two times of sowing the one before Winter to be fodder or cattle the other in February sot seede and simply calleth it Siliqua Varro calleth it Silicula and Pliny Silicis all other now adayes call the first Foenumgraecum or sativum and the second Foenumgrecum sylvestre and Bauhinus Foenumgraecum sylvestre alterum polyceration and thinketh it is the Hedysarum minimum of Lugdunensis the Arabians call it Olba Hebbe and Helbe the Italians Fiengreco the Spaniards Alfornus the Germanes Bocksburs the French Dutch and English Fenugreeke The Vertues The seede of Fenugreeke is onely in use with us the herbe it selfe never used that I know because it is seldome seene growing with us and as Galen saith is hot in the second degree and drie in the first it clenseth digesteth dissolveth and mollifieth the powder of the seede taken with a little hony driveth forth many noysome humors out of the body mollifieth inward Impostums and Vlcers in the Lungs and breasts and easeth the griping paines of the intralls but it doth overturne and breede a loathing in some stomackes especially if they bee tender but may well serve to robustious and countrey people invred to strong labour for I know no Physitions in our dayes doe use it inwardly yet Alpinus saith that the Egyptian women doe use to eate the seed which Galen and divers authors said was used in their times being buried a little in earth to make them sproute whereof many Sacke fulls are sold in the markets daily to make them grow fat But outwardly applyed it hath many good uses of familiar and daily experience for the meale thereof heated with Vinegar and applyed outwardly to the Region of the Spleene doth mollifie and waste the hardnesse thereof as also other hard tumors and swellings the decoction thereof mollifieth likewise the hardnesse and other paines or heate of the mother and openeth the obstructions of it if they sit therein as in a bathe or receive the hot fumes by sitting over it the decoction thereof clenseth the head and haire from scurfe dandraffe and the running sores thereof it helpeth the disease called tenasmus that is an often
and watery places as other Reedes doe The Place and Time All these sorts of Reedes delight to grow in waters or watery overflowne grounds the severall countties are specified in their titles or descriptions and are all ripe about the end of September The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latine Calamus and Harundo or Arundo as some writes it whereof the mas according to Theophrastus is the Nastos farcta the solid or stuffed Reede and the faemina the hollow The first is Phragmatis as Ruellius and Dodonaeus calleth it and Vallaris or Vallatoria as Lobel Dodonaeus Lugdunensis and others doe call it and Arundo palustris as Matthiolus and Tabermontanus doe but Anguilara calleth it Câ—nda faemina Dioscoridis and Cordus Calumus vulgaris the second hath beene onely found with us the third is called Arundo domestica by Matthiolus and others and Donax sive Cypria by Dodonaeus Lobel and others and Italica major by Camerarius for indeede it is one and the same sort whether it grow in Italy Spaine or else where although one country greater and higher then in another according to the soile and climate the fourth is probable to me to be the same that Theophrastus calleth Laconica although it was entituled Indica by them that sent it the fift is generally called Arundo Saccharifera and Saccharata by all that have written of it the sixs is as I sayd the Arundo Epigeios of Theophrastus by Lugdunensis which Bauhinus calleth Arundo repens for what cause I know not and Chamaecalamus and thinketh it to be that which Gesner in hortis calleth Arundo humilis and Copia Elegia as it was termed by them that had it but surely the Epigeios is differing from the true Elegia as I have before shewed the seaventh is called as I sayd before Arundo Elegia by the Graecians with whom it groweth The last last is so called by Alpinus as it is here The Arabians call it Casab the Italians Canna the Spaniards Cannas the French Canne and Rosean the Germans Korh the Dutch Riet and we Reede The Vertues Galen saith that the rootes have a cleansing quilitie but not sharpe and the leaves also The fresh leaves bruised or the rootes applyed to those places that have thornes splinters or the like in the flesh doe draw them forth in a short space the same also applyed with vinegar helpeth members ouâ— of joynt and easeth the paines in the loines the fresh leaves also bruised and applyed unto hot impostumes inflammations or S. Antâ—â—â—ies 〈◊〉 easeth them the ashes made of the outer rinde of the stalke mingled with Vinegar helpeth the falling of the haire the same things doe the other sorts of Reedes as well the flower or woolly substance if it happen into the eares it sticketh therein so fast as that by no meanes it will be gotten forth againe but will procure deafenesse withall Some have as it is sayd observed that the Ferne and the Reede are at perpetuall enmitie the one not abiding where the other is as also the amitie betweene the Asparagus and the Reede to thrive wonderous well being planted among Reedes They are also put to many very necessary matters both to thatch houses to serve as walles and defence to gardiners in the cherishing of their plants to Watermen to trim their Boates to Weavers to winde their yarne on and divers others uses The Sugar that is made of the Sugar Reede hath obtained now a dayes so continuall and daily use that it is almost not accounted Physicall because of the tempatenesse of heate and moisture therein nourishing much and helping coughes and hoarsenesse of the throate and is used to be put into cooling as well as heating and warming medecines PLANTAE PALVDOSAE AQVATICAE ET MARINAE MVSCI ET FVNGI MARSH WATER AND SEA-PLANTS VVITH MOSSES AND MVSHROMES CLASSIS DECIMAQVARTA THE FOVRETEENTH TRIBE CHAP. I. HAving declared all the Grasses of Trifolium paludosum Marsh Trefoile the Vplands with Rushes and Reeds in the last foregoing Tribe I thinke it fittest to joyne those other Herbes Grasses that grow either in the Marshes or Waters or neere the Sea side before I entreate of the other Maritime Plants then follow on ut supra Trifolium Paludosum Marsh Trefoile The Marsh Trefoile riseth up with a spongious flexible stalke halfe a yard high or more with sundry smooth thicke and somewhat broad darke greene leaves set thereon at farre distances three alwayes joyned together and standing on a long footestalke from the middle of the stalkes up to the toppes where commeth forth a long bush or spike of fine pale blush flowers each of them consisting of five round pointed leaves with a long thicke pointed umbone in the mâ—ddle which tâ—gether with the leaves thereof are covered with a fine hairy downe or frize which addeth the greater beauty to it after which are past come small round heads in their places containing in them brownish yellow seede and bitter the roote is long and white creeping in the mud all about and shooting afresh at the joynts The Place and Time It groweth onely in wet and moorish grounds and will not abide out of it for the stalke doth quickely grow lancke and withered being broken off from it it flowreth in Iuly and the seede is ripe in August The Names It is generally called Trifolium palustre or paludosum and is the Menianthes of Theophrastus which he saith groweth in watery plashes whereupon it is called by Lugdunensis who giveth two figures being all one Menianthes palustre Theophrasti which differeth from the Menianthes of Dioscorides being the Trifolium Asphalitites or â—ituminosum Dodonaeus taketh it to be Isapyrum of Dioscorides by correcting his Text and yet it will not be and besides saith that some called it Trifolium hircinum and others Fibrinum as Tabermontanus also doth who maketh two sorts thereof majus and minus and both names made from the Dutch appellations The Germanes calling it Biberâ—â—ee a Castore And the Low Dutch Boex boonen hoc est faselum hircinum We call it in English generally Marsh Trefoile yet some Marsh Claver The Vertues We know of no property in it to be applyed as a remedy for any disease but if you will take it to be Isopyrum because the seede is bitter as Isopyrum is then Dioscorides sheweth that the seede is good against the cough and other griefes of the brest or chest for as Galen saith it clenseth and cutteth tough and grosse humours and maketh them the easier to be expectorate or spit forth it is also good to purge or clense the liver and helpeth those that spit blood CHAP. II. Caltha palustris vulgaris simplex Common single Marsh Marigold THe single Marsh Marigold for I have spoken of the double in my former Booke although I give you the figure of it here againe hath divers great broad round deepe greene shining leaves a little dented about the edges every one on
his Mahaleb and the Chamaecerasus Syriaca of Gesner which is the true Mahaleb to be both one when as this fifth onely is the true kinde as the sweete smelling fruite doth plainely declare besides the diversity of the tree as is before declared The sixt came as a rarity from the Indies whereof no more can as yet be said The last is onely remembred by Gesner in hortis and by Lugdunensis who saith that Gesner sent a branch thereof to Dalechampius by the name of Chamaecerasus montis Generâ—si The Arabians call the Cherry Sarasie the Italians Ciregie the Spaniards Cerazas and Guindas the French Cerises and Guines the Germanes Kirsen and Kirschen the Dutch Kriken And we in English Cherry The Vertues Cherryes as they are of divers tastes so they are of divers qualities the sweete are more lubricke and passe through the stomacke and belly more speedily but are of little nourishment the tart or sowre are more pleasing to an hot stomacke and procure an appetite to meate and helpe to cut tough flegme and grosse humours but when these are dryed they are more binding the belly then being fresh and doe give a fine rellish to broths and drinkes wherein they are boyled being cooling in hot diseases and welcome to the stomacke and provoke urine The Gum of the Cherry tree dissolved in Wine is good for a cold cough and hoarsenesse of the throate helpeth to give one a better colour in the face sharpeneth the eye-sight stirreth up an appetite and helpeth to breake and expell the stoue the blacke Cherryes being bruised with the stones and distilled the water thereof is much used to breake the stone expell the gravell and breake the winde the true Mahaleb of Syria was mistaken by Serapio to be the Phyllyrea of Dioscorides when as the properties are much differing for Mahaleb doth heate and mollifie even by the testimony of Mesues and Rasis and as Avicen saith doth clense attenuate and resolve and ease paines The oyle drawne from the kernels doth much more ease the paines in the bowels and backe being annoynted then the kernels themselves which some use for the said purpose and for soundings and faintings to be taken with Mede or honyed water and doe helpe the chollicke and stone in the kidneyes kill the wormes in the belly and provoke urine also CHAP. LXXXIV Cornus The Cornell tree THe Cornell is divided into male and female the male is of two sorts one bearing red berryes like Cherries and another whitish the female hath no diversity 1. Cornus mas fructu rubro The male red Cornell tree The Cornell or Cornellian Cherry tree groweth to be a reasonable tall and great tree the body and branches are covered with a rugged barke and the younger smooth whereon grow smooth leaves and plaine not dented at all about the edges the flowers are many small yellow tufts as it were short threds set together which come forth before any leafe and so fall away likewise before the leaves appeare much open the fruite are somewhat long round berries of the bignesse of small Ollives with a small hard stone within them like unto an Ollive stone reddish when they are ripe somewhat like a Cherry of a reasonable pleasant taste Fructu magis rubro humâ—la somewhat austere withall the wood is hard like an horne and groweth slowly Of this kinde Clusius maketh another sort with redderberries little differing in any thing else and another that groweth low but yet hath beene observed upon the transplanting to grow much greater 2 Cornus mas fructu albo The white male Cornell tree This other Cornell differeth not from the first in any other more notable matter then in the fruit which becommeth not so red but whitish when it is ripe 3. Cornus faemina The Dogge berry or Gatten tree This never riseth to be a tree of any bulke or body with us but Clusius saith that he saw in the Woods of Austria as bigge trees hereof as of the male and Bellonius saith the same lib. 1. c. 56 but usually abideth as an hedge bush with many pithy strong twiggy stemmes rising from the roote of a brownish colour and the sprigges more reddish with a pith within them like unto Elder having leaves thereon somewhat like the former but a little shorter and broader standing upon reddish footestalke and the middle rib reddish likewise the flowers are white and stand at the end of the branches many growing together in a tuft or umbell upon reddish footestalkes which turne into small berries green at the first and shining blacke when they are ripe of a most unpleasant bitter taste provoking casting The Place and Time The first is found wild in many places of Germany and the other sorts hereof also but the second is more 1 Cornus mas fructu rubro The male red Cornell tree 3. Cornus faemina The Dogge berry or Gatter tree rare the last groweth in every Country of the Land serving for a hedge bush the first flowreth very earely as is before said in March and sometimes in February the fruite is ripe in August The last flowreth not untill May and the fruite ripeneth not untill September be well over The Names The first is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Cornus and mas to distinguish it from the other which is called by Theophrastus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cornus faemina There is much doubt and question among many of our later Writers about this female Cornell for of the male there is no doubt all calling it Cornus mas or sativa whether it should be the Virga Sanguinea of Pliny or the Hartriegell or Tragus or his Faulbaum some referring it to the one some to the other but the generall tenet of the most is that in most things it answereth both to the Thelycrania of Theophrastus and may well enough agree with the Virga sanguinea of Pliny Cordus calleth it Pseudocrania quasâ— falsa Cornus and Dodonaeus besides that he calleth it Cornus faemina taketh it to be the Opulus Columellae Bellonius saith in the 56. Chapter of his first Booke of Observations that he found that shrub which the French in imitation of the Latines call des Sanguins and the auncient Greeke Cornus faemina betweene Philoppos and Bucephala to be little inferiour unto our greatest male Cornellian trees thereby esteeming them to be both one The Italians as Matthiolus saith call it Sanguineo and Sanguinello but whether it be Tragus Hartriegel we are not well assured for he saith that the wood thereof is so hard that it can very hardly be bored and therefore serveth for many Country instruments and long lasting for the hardnesse which we can not say so of this we for the most part call it the Dogge berry tree because the berries are not fit to be eaten or to be given to a dogge I heare they call this in the North parts of the Land the Gatter tree and the berries Gatter berries yet some
wherein are conteined sometime two or three hard blacke stones like also unto those of Asparagus the roote is slender white and long in hard dry grounds not spreading farre but in the looser and moyster places running downe into the ground a pretty way with diverse knots and joynts thereat and sundry long rootes running from thence 2. Smilax aspera fructa nigro Prickly Bindweede with blacke berryes This other prickly Bindeweede is like the former for the manner of growing in all points his branches being joynted in like manner with thornes on them but nothing so many climing as the former the leaves are somewhat like it but not having those forked ends at the bottome of every leafe like it but almost wholly round and broad at the bottome of a darker greene colour also and without any or very seldome with any thornes or prickes either on the backe or edges of the leaves with tendrells like a Vine also the flowers come forth in the same manner and are starre fashion consisting of sixe leaves a peece like the other but they are not white as they are but of an incarnate or blush colour with a round red umbone in the middle of every one which is the beginning of the berry that when it is ripe will be blacke and not red being more sappie or fleshie than the other with stones or kernells within them like unto it the rootes hereof are bigger and fuller than the former for the most part and spreading further under the ground 3. Smilax aspera Pernana Sarsaparilla of America The Sarsaparilla that cometh from America into Spaine and from thence into other Countries hath beene seene fresh even the whole plant as it hath beene brought from Spaine to the Duke of Florence Lutas Ghinus his Physitian being by as a witnesse that in all things it did resemble the prickely Bindweede and differed in 1. 2. Smilax aspera spinoso non spinoso follo Prickely Bindweede with red and with blacke berries 3. Sâ—ilax aspera Peruana sive Sarsaparilla West India Sarsaparilla Buenas noches Hispanis The heades with seedes of the true Sarsaparilla as it is supposed nothing from it Matthiolus setteth downe this relation in his Commentaries in the 111. chapter of his first booke of Dioscorides speaking of Sarsaparilla what plant it should be and agreeeth with Ghinus that the Smilax aspera with red berries for in not speaking of the other he declareth that he knew it not was the true Sarsa which both Ghinus and others likewise had proved by many trialls to be as effectuall to cure the French disease as the Sarsa of the Indies Prosper Alpinus likewise in his booke of Egyptian plants declareth that he found in the Island Zacynthus the rootes of Smilax aspera whose leaves he setteth forth to bee without prickles growing by a running river side to be greater larger and fuller of substance than ever he had seene them in any other place in Italy before and being so like the true Sarsa of the Indies that he was fully perswaded the Sarsaparilla that commeth from Peru was the rootes of Smilax aspera the difference betweene them in greatnesse or goodnesse if any be to be onely in the climate and soyle and saith that an Apothecary in that Isle had gotten much money thereby both by his owne practise and the sale of them to others for Sarsa and saith moreover that he saw himselfe in some bundles of the Indian Sarsa some of the rootes that had the knots at them as the Smilax aspera hath and some leaves therein also like it which my selfe have sometimes seene in them likewise Gabriel Fallopius likewise in the booke that he wrote of the cure of the French disease in the chapter of Sarsaparilla saith thus I was perswaded saith he and stood in that opinion along time that the Sarsaparilla was the roote of Ebulus or Wall worte untill a Spaniard that brought the whole plant unto the Duke of Florence made my errour knowne unto my selfe for I saw it to be the roote of that Smilax aspera that Dioscorides and other the ancients make mention of in their writings and was better confirmed in my opinion by the experience I had thereof in curing diverse about Pisa as perfectly of the French disease by the rootes of this Smilax aspera which I caused to bee digged up for my use growing on the hill of S. Iulian as with the rootes of Sarsaparilla for two yeares while I stayed there to practise Physicke which opinion also Amatus Lusitanus a Physitian of good note although a Iew confirmeth in the fift booke of his Centuries Alpinus also sheweth another note of difference in the rootes of Smilax aspera whereat many in his time stumbled for they saw the rootes of Smilax aspera growing in Italy to be short and full of knots with small fibres at the end and the rootes of the other to be long and smooth without any knots to enforme you therefore throughly herein and take away this doubt he sheweth that the first rootes of Smilax aspera are downe right short and full of joynts or knots from which joynts or knots shoote other rootes or strings which in dry grounds are but small and short fibres and in the more moyst and mellow are greater and longer without any joynt at all in them as is to be seene in the rootes of many other plants whose rootes have many strings and that these rootes are they which are like the Sarsaparilla and not the first which are short and full of joynts and that the smalnesse of the rootes of Smilax aspera growing in Italy or other dryer Countries must be rather imputed to the climate and soyle rather than any thing else by this narration you may perceive the judgement of the elder times and likewise their practise to use Smilax aspera instead of Sarsaparilla for the diseases whereunto Sarsaparilla is proper but I verily beleeve that the plant of Sarsaparilla that groweth in Peru and the West Indies is a peculiar kind of it selfe differing from the Smilax aspera as notably as the Mechoacan from our Brionye and may very well be that plant that Simon de Tovar chiefe Physitian of Sevill in Spaine sowed the seedes of and had it growing with him and of the seed that he sent to Clusius under the name of Convolvulus peregrinus did one plant likewise spring for a yeare with Honestus Lopes in the low Countries to whom Clusius had imparted some of Tovars seede but perished at the first approach of winter the descriptions of both Tover and Clusius in their manner of growing are set forth by Clusius in the second booke and 18 chapter of his Exotickes or strang things which I thinke not amisse here to relate unto you yet contracted into one least it should bee too tedious to set them downe both particularly Having put the seede into the ground the first two leaves that sprung say Tover and Clusius were very like the first two
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
Woundwort of America This 〈◊〉 is so like the former in shew that it cannot better be referred then unto the former abiding greene all 〈…〉 whose leaves are thicke somewhat long and narrow but not halfe so great as the former and 〈◊〉 paler greene colour esse for forme very like them the stalkes which are many and rise not to halfe that height are 〈◊〉 and for the most part leane downe not being able by the multitude of flowers and leaves 〈◊〉 to stood upright which flowers stand upon longer and greater greene scaly heads then the former 〈◊〉 are themselves also greater and more laide open with many small long narrow leaves which turne into a white mossie downe and is carryed away with the winde the roote is composed of many blackish fibres 3. Consolida aurea nemorum The golden Consound This golden herbe 〈◊〉 divers long and narrow sharpe pointed leaves standing at the toppe of the roote very like unto Dorias Woundwort but not so great yet thicke like them and of a darker greene colour the stalkes rise not much above foote high having here and there narrower long leaves on them then below the flowers that stand at the toppes of them are larger then of the former having many narrow long yellow leaves thereon laide open like a starre flower with divers thrummes in the middle the rootes are many small white fibres like unto the Daisies the taste thereof is somewhat sharpe and aromaticall and astringent or binding withall The Place The first as Lobel saith groweth neare the bankes of Rivers in Provence and Narbone of France The second came from the French Colony in America into France for from Vespasian Robin of Paris I had it The best in the thicke woods neere Orleance as Lobel also saith they doe all well abide in Gardens The Time The first and the last doe for the most part flower a moneth before the second which is not in flower before August at the soonest The Names The first is thought to have beene found out by Andreas Doria the Generall of the Emperour and the French Kingsfleete or at least commended or commanded to be used for the reliefe of his Souldiers and Marriners although Lobel seemeth to invert the name from the French L' herbe Dorea herba Dorea quasi aurea herbe and thinketh it may be the Panax Chironium of Theophrastus which he describeth in the 12. Chapter of his 9. Booke whose forme and properties there related doe very fitly answer hereunto yet some doe rather referre the Bupleuron Hares eare unto it or else as he saith is one of those Panaces of Theophrastus which Pliny in his 23. Booke and 4 Chapter speaketh of found by Chiron and called Centaurium 〈…〉 also Phaâ—ceum of the King Pharnaces who is said also to finde it Gesner in hortis Germania 〈…〉 called of seene Panaces Chironium and Tabermontanus also calleth it Panax Chironium Theophrastus 〈◊〉 that Dâ— aliud that Lugdunensis saith was so called of some Herbarists setting it forth in the Chapter of Leâ—dâ—m and yet is the same that he set forth for the Dorea Narbonensium of Pena and Lobel in the Chapter of Virga aurea although it seemeth he did not know so much which kinde of error is very frequent in him Bauhinus calleth it Virga aurea major vel Doria The second came to me under the same name that is in the title which because it can be no waies bettered I thinke not fit to alter The last Pena and Lobel doe onely make mention of in their Adversaria by the name of Consolida aurea nemorum Limonij folijs and Bauhinus calleth it Virga aurea maâ— flore The Vertues The properties of healing greene wounds and old sores is proper hereunto being accounted as a meane in the vertues betweene the former Consounds and the golden rods that follow and therefore it needeth not any further repetition or amplification of the same things but if it be the Panax Chironicum of Theophrastus as aforesaid it should then be availeable against the bitings of the viper and the Phalangium and other venemous Creatures being given in wine inwardly and annointed therewith and the oyle outwardly as also for old or foule ulcers used with wine and oyle and with hony for excrescences in the flesh and to destroy the moths of garments unto all which properties both the smell and taste so aromaticall in leaves and rootes like unto that of wild Angelica may very well conduce us to beleeve for many both Physitions and Chirurgion in France doe much esteeme thereof and use it both inwardly and outwardly in many medicines for their Patients and to good effect CHAP. XXXIII Virga aurea Golden Rod. VNto the two sorts of golden Rods that are knowne and set forth by many writers we have another sort not yet knowne publikely whose originall was in America 1. Virga aurea vulgaris The ordinary Golden Rod. This Golden Rod that is most common to our Country riseth up with brownish small round stalkes halfe a yard or two foote high but higher 2 Virga aurea serratis folijs Golden Rod with dented leaves if it grow in a fat soile or in a Garden having thereon many narrow and long darke greene leaves very seldome with any nickes or dents about the edges and as seldome with any strakes or white spots therein and yet sometimes and in some places they are so to be found divided at the tops into many small branches with divers small yellow flowers on every one of them which are turned one way not looking sundry waies as all the flowers of the former kindes doe which likewise being ripe doe turne into downe and are caried away with the winde the roote consisteth of many small fibres which grow not deepe into the ground but abideth all the Winter therein shooting forth new branches every yeare the old ones dying downe to the ground 2. Virga aurea serratis folijs Golden Rod with dented leaves The stalkes of this Golden Rod rise not up so high as the former but are as great bearing larger but shorter leaves thereon and dented about the edges the branches beare such like flowers facing one side of their stalkes as the former doth and are turned into downe flying away in the same manner the roote is like the other 3. Virga aurea Americana Golden Rod of America The leaves of this Golden Rod before it runne up to stalke are as great as the last being but narrow and long yet broadest in the middle and very sharpe pointed at the ends somewhat dented also about the edges but lesse then the former and of a darke greene colour the stalke is a little hairy rising higher then the last or about a foote and a halfe high at the most bearing yellow flowers all on one side like the former and flye in the winde with the downe as the rest the roote is not much unlike the other and abideth under ground in winter in the same manner losing
whole plant both leaves flowers and seede are of a strong and grievous sent and of a very sharpe and quicke taste 3. Camphoratae congener sive Anthyllis altera Italorum Ground Pine not stinking The other Ground Pine that smelleth not so strong as the former sorts doe groweth upright in the same manner with divers upright slender stalkes and many small leaves set at the joynts some of them being longer and some shorter then others all covered with a small woollinesse the flowers are very small standing many together at the toppes of the branches of a pale yellowish colour and of an astringent and drying taste The Place The first groweth neare unto Mompelier and Nemausium especially out of the rifts and chinkes of the old walls of the Amphitheater there and seldome in any other part of France or Italy as Pena saith yet Lugdunensis saith it prospereth better in fertile and moyst places then in such as are barren and dry The second groweth both in sandy dry grounds and in rotten moorish grounds likewise The last groweth in many places of Italy but whether naturally of that country or no is not signified but they there keepe it in their gardens where most usually it is to be seene The Time All these flower very late or not at all with us and are very hardly preserved in the winter being tender comming from so hot and dry places The Names None of these plants were knowne to the antient writers eyther Greekes or Latines by any the names of their herbes knowne to us now a dayes the name Camphorata is taken from Camphora because the sent is thought to be so like unto Camfire as divers doe imagine but surely then it smelleth otherwise in the hotter countries then they doe in ours for with us the former two have a grievous heady sent yet nothing so fierce and quicke in my judgement as Camfire is Anguillara first and others afterwards as also Pena and Lobel referre the former unto the Chamaepeuce of Pliny whereof he maketh mention in his 24. Booke and 15. Chapter saying that Chamaepeuce hath leaves like unto the Larche tree but Lugdunensis saith that divers did rather referre this to the Selago of the sayd Pliny mentioned in his 24. Booke and 11. Chapter where he saith that Selago is like unto Savine Divers also tooke it to bee the Cneorum nigrum of Dioscorides and Theophrastus but the learned of Mempelier called it Camphorata major and so doth Lobel call it Camphorata Monspeliensium Bauhinus calleth it Camphorata hirsuta when as according to Lugdunensis his description the roughnesse belongeth rather to the second in the stalkes and leaves and not unto this first Divers also tooke it to bee Ericae prius genus a kind of Heath others to be Hyssopus nemorensis and some also to be that Musci terrestris genus that Tragus doth set forth by the name of Sabina sylvestris Our London dispensatorie or pharmacopaeia Londinensis in the description of Vnguentum Marciatum maketh Camphorata to be Abrotanum which is utterly untrue yet I think it may very well be the substitute or succedanium thereof for that oyntment and Lugdunensis also saith that divers did referre the second which he calleth Champhorata minor Dalechampij to the Chamaepeuce of Pliny aforesaid but Bauhinus calleth it Camphorata glabra as though this were smooth which as I sayd before is contrary The last is called Anthyllis altera by Anguillara and others The learned in Italy as Lobel in his observations saith referre it to the second sort of Anthyllis of Dioscorides but because as he there saith it is not sweet as that second Anthyllis of Dioscorides should be hee doth rather judge the Iva Moschata Monspeliensium to be the truer Anthyllis altera then this Anthyllis Italorum Gerard hath much erred in calling this Anthyllis lentifolia and yet his figure doth expresse this Anthyllis Italorum and not Anthyllis lentifolia although his description doth Bauhinus calleth it as Lobel and others before him have done Camphoratae congener Tabermontanus Camphorata altera The Vertues These herbes are all of them of a drying faculty and are very profitably used inwardly to stay defluxions from the head that fall into the eyes and upon the Lungs and outwardly in bathes to stay running humours that rest in the joynts as the Goute Crampes Palsies and Aches it is no lesse effectuall for the Nerves and Sinewes to comfort and strengthen them to be made into a salve or oyntment and is availeable both in fresh wounds and old running ulcers and sore and therefore divers doe account it of the same propertie with Southernwood for all the purposes whereunto it is used CHAP. XLIX Coris The faire Heath Low Pine THere are three sorts of herbes called Coris the one Matthiolus first set forth and made knowne the other Honorius Bellus of Candy and Pena and Lobel set out the last which are as followeth 1. Coris Matthioli Matthiolus his faire Heath Low Pine This springeth up to the height of a foote or more with divers hard wooddy reddish stalkes full of joynts and many small and long thicke fat leaves set together at every of them somewhat like unto the Spergula or Francke Spurry at the toppes of the stalkes stand divers flowers each of them upon a short foote stalke consisting of five or sixe leaves somewhat like unto Hypericum S. Iohns woâ— or Ornithogalum Starre of Bethelem as Lobel compareth them but of a whitish red colour with yellow threds in the middle yet Matthiolus and others say the flowers are all yellow like Hipericum smelling somewhat sweete the seede is enclosed in round heads the roote is somewhat long and wooddy with many threddy fibres thereat this keepeth his greene leaves all the winter but turne somewhat of a yellowish red colour towards Autumne or seede time 2. Coris legitima Cretica Belli The Candye faire Heath Low Pine This Candiot as Bellus saith groweth to be a cubit and a halfe high in good ground branching forth many wayes and bearing many small leaves like unto Heath on the woody stalkes and branches the flowers at the toppes are not unlike to S. Iohns wort and yellow which passe into seede enclosed in huskes like it also the roote is long spreading and wooddy abiding with greene leaves thereon all the winter 3. Coris Monspeliensium The purple faire Heath Low Pine This faire Heath Low Pine riseth up likewise with many round wooddy and reddish stalkes not so high as the former having many small long thick roundish leaves set thereon without order most commonly yet sometimes conformable one unto another somewhat like unto the great kinde of Heath the tops of the stalkes are stored with a great spiked tuft or bush of purplish blew flowers but pale red with us smelling somewhat sweete each consisting of foure leaves a peece double forked as it were at the ends two whereof that stand uppermost are greater than the other two that are
shape like Wheate or Barley which maketh blacke bread and of an ill taste as Mnesitheus told Galen The Place and Time The first was anciently sowen in Greece Asia and the East countries and accounted by them to bee next in goodnesse unto the finest Wheate being a Winter Corne the second is sowen in many places of Italy and France and will abide in a moist ground holding firme the Winters injuries yet prospereth best in a more fruitfull dry soile and is a Winter Corne sowen in September and October and reaped in Iuly The last is a Summer Corne growing in many places of Italy c. where but in want of better they make no bread of it The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine also Zea which Gaza translateth Semen taking it as it is likely from Pliny who before him said that Zea was Far or Adoreum which was called also Semen as the most singular Corne of any other The second is thought by many to be the Zea of Theophrastus and Galen but as I said it is more likely to bee the Zea of Dioscorides for these two authors have in many things given names to Plants the one farre differing from the other as may bee knowne by the Mandragores the one so farre differing from the other as though they had not lived in one and the same countrey or rather in one and the same world and is therefore generally called by most writers Zea dicoccos and peradventure was the old Romanes Far and Ador or semen Adoreum of the later Romanes and is now called Spelta the last is variably called by divers For Matthiolus calleth it Zea simplex and referreth it to Dioscorides his second Zea which most do call Monococcos and is thought to be that Briza of Galen which he saw in the fields of Thracia and Macedonia and tooke it to be Zea which is a forcible argument in my judgement that Zea is bearded and called Spelta by Dodonaeus Lobel and Lugdenensis as also by Tragus and Casalpinus or Frumentum Monococcum by Dodoneus the French call the second Espeaute the Germanes Spelt Welsche Weyson and Romsche Weysen and the last S. Peters Kern and Eiâ— Kern the Italians Pirra and in some places Biadaas Matthiolus saith and by that name have I received such a Corne out of Italy as you shall finde it set downe at the end of the description of the second sort of Barley The Vertues Galen saith his Zea is in a meane betweene Wheate and Barley and Dioscorides saith it nourisheth not so much a Wheate yet more then Barley yet is acceptable to the stomacke CHAP. IIII. Tipha sive Triticum Tiphinum Light Wheate TIpha riseth up with a single and slender stalke or straw the eare is long and round bearded with long hard sharpe aunes somewhat closely set together the graine is small and light but hard and of a redder colour then Wheate inclosed in divers chaffie huskes hard to be beaten out this groweth well in a leane soyle and desireth not a ritch or fat ground as Zea doth 2. Triticum Tiphinum alterum sive Hispanicum Spanish Light Wheate This other light Wheate differeth from the former in 1.2 Tipha Dodonaei Triticum Tiphinum Hispanicum Dodonaeus his Light Wheate and that of Spaine these particulars the stalkes are shorter then Wheate and slenderer the eare is small and bearded with long and sharpe aunes like Barley the Graine or Corne is somewhat like Wheate but lesser and yellower and is inclosed but in single huskes easie to be beaten out which sheweth it to be differing The Place and Time Trogus saith that the first is most sowen in the mountainous places of Alsatia and seldome in any other of the countries of Germany and especially because their wilde Swine that will bee feeding upon and destroying any other Corne will not touch this or very hardly because the sharpe aunes will pricke them and if they should take much of it it would quickly hurt them and oftentimes choake them the other groweth in Spaine and in the Canaries as Lugdunensis saith for it is often found among the Canary seede that is brought from thence and are both Summer Cornes that is sowen in the Spring and reaped in the end of Summer The Names It is called is Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Tipha in Latine but of our later writers Tipha cerealis and Triticum Tiphinum that it may bee distinguished from the other Tipha the marish plant called Reede Mace The first is not knowne to any in our Land but remembred by Dodonaeus and Tragus as his third sort of Wheate Lugdunensis saith that Dodonaeus is much deceived in thinking this Tipha was that which the French men called Meteil and they of Lyoâ—s de la Mescla that is our Maslin being a mixture of Wheate and Rie sowen together The Vertues Galen sheweth that the bread that is made of Tipha is pleasant and much desired both by countrey men and citizens if it be eaten hot is better then that which is made of Olyra yet if it grow to be two or three dayes old and then eaten it will lye heavie on the stomacke and hard to bee digested some doe thinke that this is the sweete Corne that Homer sheweth Hector speaking to his Horses promiseth to give them for as it is said it may bee given Horses without any harme when as Wheate cannot CHAP. V. Olyra Soft Wheate THis soft Wheate or Amelkern as Dodonaeus saith the Germanes called it groweth as great and high as wheate the eare is sharpely bearded like Barley whose graines or cornes being inclosed in chaffie huskes like unto Zea are being clensed like unto Wheate The Place and Time This groweth saith Galen as well as the other in Asia c. and Pliny saith in Egypt Syria c. as also in France and Italy but Matthiolus saith he knew of none growing there in his time It is saith Dodonaeus sowen in divers places of Germany and is a Summer Corne as many thinke Olyra Soft Wheate yet saith himselfe Olyra and Far Clusinum are Winter Cornes The Names 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke is called Olyra also in Latine Gaza translateth it Siligo which Pliny saith maketh the sweetest bread and hee altered it to Siligo which maketh the finest white bread yet Pliny doth not say that it is Siligo although Hermolaus Budaeus and Ruellius did so thinke for Lugdunensis saith he can finde no such thing in Pliny who saith it is the Arinca of the Gaules being proper to their country Dodonaeus calleth it Amyleum frumentum from the Germanes Amelkern as is said before and thinketh it also to bee the Far Halicastrum of Columella and not much to differ in any thing from the Oriza Germanica of Tragus who called it also Far candidum and Tragus cerealis thinking Tragus to bee a kind of graine of it selfe when as it is but a kinde of meate or pultage made of Corne as
Ethiopia and Africa and from thence hath beene brought into Syria Egypt Italy c. wheresoever it is seene to bee sowen and loveth onely to grow in moist grounds or such as may be overflowen in the Summer time and the waters let out againe being but a Summer Corne and is yearely sowen and gathered in the middle or end of Autumne with us but twise a yeare in divers places of the East Indies whose goodnesse chiefely consisteth in the largenesse and whitenesse which the hotter countries onely produce The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so in Latine Oryza by all authors yet some doe call it Italica for a difference to the Oryza Germanica which Cordus on Dioscorides saith is called Schwaden with them or being a kinde thereof at the least although lesser having the same taste and use and the same proportion in stalkes leaves and spikes with a juba like Milium growing also in marish and plashy places as Rice doth yet Hermolaus Ruellius and some other have thought it to bee the Hordeum Galaticum of Columella but I have shewed you what that is in the Chapter of Barly why Galen should account Rice inter legumina potius quam inter cerealia as he did before of Oates and of Panick afterwards many doe wonder seeing their formes are so different but himselfe I thinke rendereth the reason because it was not made into bread as the rest of the other Cornes are The Arabians call it Arz and Arzi the Italians Rizo the Spaniards Arroz the French Rys the Germanes Reiss the Dutch Rijs and we Rice The Vertues Rice is chiefely used medecinally to stay the Laskes or fluxes of the stomacke as well as of the belly especially if it be a little parched before it be used and Steele quenched in the milke wherein it shall be boyled being somewhat binding and drying it is thought also to encrease seed being boyled in milke and some Sugar and Cinamon put thereunto the flower of Rice is of the same propertie and is sometimes also put into cataplasmes that are applied to repell humors from flowing or falling to the place and is also conveniently applyed to womens breasts to stay inflammations when they begin CHAP. XXIII Milium Millet OF Millet there are divers sorts some familiarly growing in Europe others brought out of the more remote countries as shall be declared 1. Milium vulgare album Common white Millet This Millet groweth with many hard joynted tall stalkes full of a white Pith yet soft and a little hairy or downy on the outside with long and large Reede-like leaves at them compassing one another the toppes of the stalkes are furnished with a number of whitish yellow long sprigges like feathers bowing downe their heads set all along with small seede inclosed in a whitish huske which being taken forth are of a shining pale yellowish or whitish colour somewhat hard little bigger then the seede of Fleawort the roote busheth much in the ground but perisheth yearely 2. Milium nigrum Blacke Millet This other Millet differeth little from the former being somewhat lesse with us saying that as the juba or tuft is brownish so is the seede also blackish and shining very like else to the other 3. Melica sive Sorghum Indian Millet This Millet is in all the parts thereof larger greater and higher then the former rising to be five or six foot high or more the stalkes are full of joynts and large long leaves at them the juba or tuft standeth upright and boweth not downe the head as the other whereon stand the seede as big but not flat as Lentills somewhat round and eyther whitish yellow red or blackish hard and shining the roote busheth more then the other yet perisheth also The Place and Time Millet of all the sorts came first into Europe out of the Easterne countries the two first sorts long before the last kinde and the sortes of it and require a strong ground well watered for they soone empoverish a ground if it be not still enriched nor will it prosper in leane drie soile it is to be sowne in Aprill and the graine in the hotter climates will be ripe in August or September 1. 2. Milium vulgare album vel nigrum Common Millet with white seede or blacke 3. Melica sive Sorghum Indian Millet The Names 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke is called Milium in Latine a miliaria summa derivatum ait Festus Galen calleth it Paspales and others Paspale Varro thinketh it is Meline but Dioscorides and Galen make Meline to be Panicum All Authors call the two first sorts Milium with their distinctions of blacke and white the last is called Milium Iudicum by Matthiolus and others and Sarasenicum by Fuchsius and Melica by Dodonaeus Sorghum also and Sugho Italorum by Lobel Gesner calleth it Panicum Indicum and Tragus Panicum Dioscoridis and Plinij Bellonius also saith that in Cilicia they call it Hareomen as the Arabians doe whereof they make their Bread or Pultage and of the stalkes their fire in want of other fewell it is called Mazzo di Congo by the Portugalls finding it in that Kingdome the Arabians call it Gegners and Giavers the Italians Miglio and Sorgho the Spaniards Milho and Migo the French Mill and Millet the Germanes Hirsz the Dutch Hirs and wee is English Millet and the last Turkie or Indian Millet and of some Italian Millet The Vertues Galen saith it cooleth in the first degree and dryeth in the third almost and hath withall a little tenuitie of parts the graine saith Theophrastus if it be kept from winde and weather will ever last and abide it is sometimes made into bread but it is very brittle not having any tenacitie in it whereby it nourisheth little but dryeth up moist humors yet is it much used in Germany boyled in milke with some Sugar put unto it Matthiolus saith that at Veroâ—a the bread thereof is eaten with great delight while it is hot by reason of the sweetenesse but being old it is hard and utterly unpleasant the gruell or pultage saith Dioscorides bindeth the belly and provoketh urine the Apozeme made thereof called Syrupus Ambrosianus or as Wecker hath it Syrupus Ambrosij taken warme with a little white Wine procureth sweating mightily being covered in bed and is effectuall to coole hot Fevers and to quench thirst being put into a bag and fryed hot caseth the griping paines of the Collicke and of the sides if it be applyed the paines also in the joynts and sinewes in Italy and other places they give the graine to their Pullen and Pigeons to fatten them The Indian Millet stalkes saith Matthiolus are good to helpe those that are troubled with Kernells under the eares or else where in this manner Take the pith out of ten of the joynts of the stalkes of this Millet which being burned with a new red sponge take the powder of them with twelve graines of Pepper and an ounce of
from this last errour would invert the Text and say that the Bay leaves are the hottest the Poplar the coldest and the Chaste tree leaves a meane betweene them both CHAP. XXXV Olea The Ollive tree THe Ollive is distinguished into the tame or manured Ollive and into the wild sort for although the old Writers aâ— Pliny Columella and others set downe ten sorts which they called by severall names which whether it were in these as in the diversities of Vines wee know not our climate not fitting their growing or according to Wines which according to the severall climates and soyles gave sweeter or harsher weaker or stronger Wine one then another and so greater or lesser Ollives and sweeter or stronger oyle one then another for divers doe account them to be differing in specie one from another as our Apples Peares and Cherries doe 1. Olea sativa The manured Olive tree The manured Ollive tree riseth in some place to be very tall and very great like a great Wallnut tree in others not of halfe that height and greatnesse with divers armes and branches not very thickely set together whereon grow somewhat long and narrow leaves like the Willowes but lesser and shorter thicke fat and sharpe pointed with short footestalke under them greenish above and whitish underneath never falling off the tree of a bitter taste and somewhat sharpe withall the blossomes are many set together at the joynts with the leaves small and of a greenish white colour made of foure leaves a peece after which come round and somewhat long berries greene at the first and changing pale afterwards and then purplish and lastly when they are full ripe of a deepe blacke and some white when they are ripe as Clusius saith he observed some are great others are small and some of a meane sise betweene both some are longer and some rounder then others some are fitter to eate and yeeld not much oyle others are not so fit to eate and are smaller yeelding more store of oyle some againe are gathered unripe and pickled up in brine which are the Ollives we use to eate with meate others are suffâ—red to grow ripe and then pickled or dryed and kept all the yeare to be eaten as every one list Of those Ollives whereof oyle is made some oyle will be delicate sweete and neate others more fatâ—y or full and strong some upon the taste will leave no bitternesse or heate in the mouth but will taste as sweete as butter others againe will be more or lesse hot and unpleasant in taste the wood is faire firme and solid full of curld veines and as apt to burne when it is greene as dry and will not rotin a long time 2. Oleaster sive Oâ—ea sylvestris The wild Ollive tree This wilde Ollive tree groweth somewhat like unto the manured but that it hath harder and smaller leaves and thicker set on the branches with sundry sharpe thornes among the leaves the blossomes and fruite come 1. Olea sativa The manured Ollive tree 2. Olea sylvestris The wild Ollive tree forth in the same manner that the other doe and in as great plenty yet much lesser and scarse comming at any time to ripenesse even in the naturall places but where they doe being ripe they are small with crooked pointes and blacke Of the Ollives hereof is sometimes made oyle which is colder and more astringent in property then the other and harsher in taste and greenish in colour but the Ollives are much also respected and gathered to be eaten The Place and Time Both these grow in the warmer Countries onely neither will they beare fruite in any cold climate or rather scarse live out their Winters the manured as I said before is wholly planted wheresoever it groweth where according to the soyle and climate come greater or lesser Ollives and more or lesse store sweeter oyle also or more strong in taste Many doe thinke saith Columella that the Ollive tree will not grow or at the least not beare fruite if it doe grow above three score miles from the Sea For from the Isles in the Mediterrenean Sea as Zante and Cerigo c. is brought the finest and sweetest oyle and from Majorca c. a fuller or fatter oyle from Protine in France a stronger and hotter tasted oyle then either of them or some others the wilde Ollive groweth naturally in Spaine Portugall Italy and many other Countries They flower in Iune and Iuly and have not their fruite ripe untill November or December and as Clusius in Granado not untill February the wilde in Ianuary and after Virgil sheweth in these Verses that the Ollive being planted needeth no further dressing Non ulla est Olivis cultura neque illae Procurvam expectant falcem rastrosque tenaces Cum semel haeserunt arvis anrasque tulerunt The Names The manured Ollive is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Olea sativa in Latine the wilde Ollive 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is in Latine Oleaster or Oleasylvestris Cotinus and Olea Aethiopica as Dioscorides hath it the fruite is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Oliva in Greeke and Latine and when they are neere ripe Drupae and Drupetes and Colymbades when they are pickled or dryed to be eaten yet the Greekes at this day call them Dermatia The manner to make Oyle as Matthiolus relateth is thus after the Ollives are gathered they are laid a little to wither and afterwards ground in a Mill and then put into a strong presse with some hot water powred on them to yeelde out the oyle which after it hath stood and is settled the pure oyle is drawne off from the foote or bottome and kept for use The manner to pickle Ollives to have them keepe their greene colour is saith Matthiolus to take six pound of quicke Limestones made into pouther which dissolved in so much water as may make it thinne you are to put thereto twelve pounds of fine sifted Oke ashes dissolved in as much water as will be sufficient into which you are to put 25. pounds of fresh gathered greene Ollives and let them lye therein eight or ten houres at the most to take out their bitternesse stirring them a little and afterwards washed in many waters shifted for five dayes together which are lastly to be put into brine or pickle wherein some Fennell stalkes and leaves have beene put into the boyling and then put up into woodden or earthen vessels as you list The foote of the oyle is called Amurca in Latine The gum saith Dioscorides that the Ethiopian or wilde Ollive doth yeelde is yellow somewhat like unto Scammony being in small droppes and is hot or sharpe biting upon the tongue but that saith he which is blackish resembling Gum Ammoniacum or other gum and burneth not upon the tongue is adulterate and false but saith Matthiolus this gum is neither brought us now adayes nor is in use yet some thinke that our Gum Elemi is it
parted very much and somewhat resembling Savine of a resinous sent and strong taste some trees are seene in some places to be more spreading in their branches and not abiding so close especially when they grow old and doe beare their small yellow flowers and their fruite or nuts as they are called afterwards which grow here and there among the boughs cloven or opening into divers parts growing ripe but close and hard while they are young of a russet browne colour wherein are contained small brownish seede but not so small as motes in the Sunne as Matthiolus and others make them to be the roote spreadeth much but not very deepe the wood is reddish very firme and durable not subject to corruption or wormes but defending all other things by the strong heady sent it hath from all mothes and wormes it yeeldeth out of the body of the tree a kinde of liquid Rossen like unto that of the Larche and Turpentine trees of a very quicke and sharpe taste 2. Cupressus Americana The Cipresse tree of America Although I doe not take this to be a true Cipresse tree yet because it hath obtained that name by all our travellers into the hether or Northerne parts of America where it is found in sundry Countries thereof let me joyne it here untill by a better regard I may place it in a fitter It groweth in some places to be a very goodly tall tree fifty sixty yea eighty foote high without any branch and neere three fathome compasse at the lower end and then spreadeth sundry large armes and branches beset with many winged leaves which are very fine small smooth plaine and not square crumpled or plaited as the true Cipresse is and somewhat longer also set on both sides of the stalkes without any certaine order being not alwaies opposite the nuts are somewhat like those of the Cipresse but greater with thicker more open scales and greater seede within them The wood smelleth somewhat what sweete which in part caused it to be termed a Cipresse 1. Cupressus major sive sativus The Cypresse tree Whether this should be that Thuja of Theophrastus lib. 8. c. 15. that is both in stocke branches leaves and fruite like unto the wild Cipresse it were somewhat worthy to be scanned whose fruite it is likely is that Habhel that Paludanus brought home with him in his returne from his travailes and said it was so called in the East Countries the figure whereof I here give you with this branch the nut it selfe doth much resemble the nut of this both for forme and large thickenesse of the scales This looseth his leaves in Winter The Place and Time The ordinary Cypresse tree groweth in sundry of the warme Countries of the Levant â—astwards and in many of the Isles likewise in the Mediterranean Sea as Rhodes and Candy where it is so familiar to the soile that it springeth up every where of it owne accord in the Mountaines Ida and Leuce if the ground be stirred a little and that nothing else be sowne thereon and beareth ripe fruite from September almost all the Winter The other is as is said in sundry Countries of the North America whose seede was brought by Master Tradescant from Virginia and sown here doe spring very bravely The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est a partu parilium ramorum in Latine Cypressus and Cupressus also The Arabians call it Suro and Seru the Italians Cypresso the Spaniards El Cypres the French Dutch and English Cypres and the Germanes Cypressen The Vertues The Cypresse cooleth bindeth and dryeth without either heate or biting sharpenesse but so much as may put the acerbity in action yet it doth resolve and consume humidities in putride ulcers the pouther of the leaves with a little Myrrhe and wine helpeth those fluxes that fall on the bladder and provoketh urine being stopped and without Myrrhe the fluxes also of the belly 2. Cupressus Americana an Thuja Theophrasti Cupresso similis cujus fructus Habhel huâ—c assimilatur The American or Virginia Cypresse with the fruite Habhel of Clusius which is like unto this or stomacke bleedings and spittings of blood the decoction of them performeth the same likewise it helpeth also the cough and shortnesse of breath by taking fasting a small draught and if the like draught be taken every morning for many daies together it will helpe the rupture so as some of the fresh leaves be applyed also to the place and well bound on which things the nuts do performe more effectually and in all fluxes of blood and humours the small chips or rasping of the wood taken in Wine provoketh womens courses and helpeth the biting of the Scorpion as also procureth a good colour to the whole body the leaves bruised and laid unto fresh wounds that bleede much doth stanch the bleeding and so consolidateth the wound being used by themselves or with fine Barley meale it helpeth Saint Anthonies fire creeping ulcers and carbuncles and the sores and ulcers of the privy parts in man or woman and helpeth the inflammations of the eyes and applyed with a cerote to the stomacke doth much comfort and strengthen it against castings and other the passions thereof upon defluxions of sharpe humours thereon the leaves beaten with some dry figges doe mollifie the hardnesse of tumours and of the testicles and consumeth the Polypus of the nose which is an excressence or peece of flesh growing therein the same also boyled in vinegar and made up with the meale of Lupines causeth rugged nailes to fall away and helpeth the tooth ache the mouth being often washed therewith the same also taketh away the Morphew freckles spots and the like in the skinne the nuts boyled in Wine and the haire washed therewith causeth them to grow black and if the ashes of them be mixed with the pouther of a Mules hoofe and oyle of Myrtles it will stay the falling of them the branches and nuts of the Cypresse being burned driveth away gnats and other such like troublesome slyes the leaves being laid among seedes of any sort will keepe them from being eaten with wormes and the wood in Wardrobes will preserve garments from Mothes the wood it selfe is in no age subject to the worme neither will the sent decay in many yeares and therefore much desired in chests and boxes Theves reporteth that he saw at Damiate in Egypt a Cypresse chest that was digged ten foote deepe out of a moorish ground and found uncorrupt in any part which as was likely had lyen there since Sultan Selim subdued Egypt in the yeare 1512. CHAP. LVII Arbor Vitae The tree of life THis tree being in some sort like unto the Cypresse I thought good to joyne next thereunto It riseth to be a reasonable great and tall tree standing long in a place covered with a darke reddish barke on the body but more red on the branches spreading many branches and many small twigges