mouth and tongue must be often washed with the same decoction and sometimes a little vineger mixed therewith This disease is thought to be vnknowne to the old writers but notwithstanding if it be conferred with that which Paulus Aegineta calleth Erysipelas 〈◊〉 an inflammation of the braine then will it not be thought to bee much differing if it be not the very same CHAP. 202. Of the great Daisie or Maudelen woort 1 Bellis maior The great Daisie ¶ The Description 1 THe great Daisie hath very many broad leaues spred vpon the ground somewhat indented about the edges of the breadth of a finger not vnlike those of groundswell among which rise vp stalkes of the height of a cubit set with the like leaues but lesser in the top whereof do grow large white floures with yellow thrums in the middle like those of the single field Daisy or Mayweed without any smell at all The root is full of strings ¶ The Place It groweth in Medowes and in the borders of fields almost euery where ¶ The Time It floureth and flourisheth in May and Iune ¶ The Names It is called as we haue said Bellis maior and also 〈◊〉 media vulnerariorum to make a difrence betweene it and Bugula which is the true Consolida media notwithstanding this is holden of all to bee Consolida medij generis or a kinde of middle Consound in High Dutch as Fuchsius reporteth 〈◊〉 in English the Great Daisie and Maudelen woort ¶ The Temperature This great Daisie is moist in the end of the second degree and cold in the beginning of the same ¶ The Vertues The leaues of the great Maudleine woort are good against all burning vlcers and apostemes against the inflammation and running of the eies being applied thereto The same made vp in an vnguent or salue with wax oile and turpentine is most excellent for wounds especially those wherein is any inflammation and will not come to digestion or maturation as are those weeping 〈◊〉 made in the knees elbowes and other ioints The iuice decoction or distilled water is drunk to very good purpose against the rupture or any inward burstings The herbe is good to be put into Vulnerarie drinks or potions as one simple belonging thereto most necessarie to the which effect the best practised do vse it as a simple in such cases of great effect It likewise asswageth the cruell torments of the gout vsed with a few Mallows and butter boiled and made to the sorme of a pultis The same receipt aforesaid vsed in Clysters profiteth much against the vehement heat in agues and ceaseth the torments or wringing of the guts or bowels CHAP. 203. Of little Daisies ¶ The Description 1 THe Daisie bringeth forth many leaues from a threddy root smooth fat long and somwhat round withall very sleightly indented about the edges for the most part lying vpon the ground among which rise vp the floures euery one with his owne slender stem almost like those of Camomill but lesser of a perfect white colour and very double 2 The double red Daisie is like vnto the precedent in euery respect sauing in the colour of the floures for this plant bringeth forth floures of a red colour and the other white as aforesaid ‡ These double Daisies are of two sorts that is either smaller or larger and these againe either white or red or of both mixed together wherefore I haue giuen you in the first place the figure of the small and in the second that of the larger 3 Furthermore there is another pretty double daisie which differs from the first described only in the floure which at the sides thereof puts forth many foot-stalkes carrying also little double floures being commonly of a red colour so that each stalke carries as it were an old one and the brood thereof whence they haue fitly termed it the childing Daisie ‡ 1 Bellis minor multiplex flore albo vel rubro The lesser double red or white Daisie 2 Bellis media multiplex flore albo vel rubro The larger double white or red Daisie 4 The wilde field Daisie hath many leaues spred vpon the ground like those of the garden Daisie among which rise vp slender stems on the top whereof do grow small single floures like those of Camomill set about a bunch of yellow thrums with a pale of white leaues sometimes white now and then red and often of both mixed together The root is threddy 5 There doth likewise grow in the fields another sort of wilde Daisie agreeing with the former in each respect sauing that it is somewhat greater than the other and the leaues are somwhat more cut in the edges and larger ‡ 3 Bellis minor prolifera Childing Daisie 4 Bellis minor syluestris The small wilde Daisie 5 Bellis media syluestris The middle wilde Daisie 7 The French blew Daisie is like vnto the other blew Daisies in each respect sauing it is altogether lesser wherein consisteth the difference ‡ There were formerly three figures and descriptions of this blew Daisie but one of them might haue serued for they differ but in the tallnesse of their growth and in the bredth and narrownesse of their leaues ‡ ¶ The Place The double Daisies are planted in gardens the others grow wilde euery where The blew Daisies are strangers in England their naturall place of abode is set forth in their seuerall titles 6 Bellis coerulea siue Globularia 〈◊〉 The blew Italian Daisie 7 Bellis coerulea Monspeliaca Blew French Daisies ¶ The Time The Daisies do floure most part of the Sommer ¶ The Names The Daisie is called in high-Dutch Maszlieben in low Dutch Margrieten in Latine Bellis minor and Consolida minor or the middle Consound of Tragus Primula veris but that name is more proper vnto Primrose of some Herba Margarita or Margarites herbe in French Marguerites and Cassaudes in Italian Fiori di prima veri gentili In English Daisies and Bruisewort The blew Daisie is called Bellis coerulea of some Globularia of the round forme of the floure it is also called Aphyllanthes and Frondislora in Italian Botanaria in English blew Daisies and Globe Daisie ¶ The Temperature The lesser Daisies are cold and moist being moist in the end of the second degree and cold in the beginning of the same ¶ The Vertues The Daisies doe mitigate all kinde of paines but especially of the ioynts and gout proceeding from an hot and dry humor if they be stamped with new butter vnsalted and applied vpon the pained place but they worke more effectually if Mallowes be added thereto The leaues of Daisies vsed amongst other Pot-herbes doe make the belly soluble and they are also put into Clysters with good successe in hot burning feuers and against inflammations of the intestines The iuyce of the leaues and roots snift vp into the nosthrils purgeth the head mightily of foule and filthy slimie humors and helpeth the megrim The same giuen to little dogs with milke keepeth them
from his force of driuing away Agues ¶ The Temperature Feuerfew doth manifestly heat it is hot in the third degree and drie in the second it clenseth purgeth or scoureth openeth and fully performeth all that bitter things can do ¶ The Vertues It is a great remedie against the diseases of the matrix it procureth womens sicknes with speed it bringeth forth the after birth and the dead childe whether it bee drunke in a decoction or boiled in a bath and the woman sit ouer it or the herbes sodden and applied to the priuie part in manner of a cataplasme or pultis Dioscorides also teacheth that it is profitably applied to Saint Anthonies fire to all hot inflammations and hot swellings if it be laid vnto both leaues and floures The same Author affirmeth that the pouder of Feuerfew drunke with Oxymell or syrup of Vineger or wine for want of the others draweth away flegme and 〈◊〉 and is good for them that are pursie and haue their lungs stuffed with flegme and is profitable likewise to be drunke a gainst the stone as the same Author saith Feuerfew dried and made into pouder and two drams of it taken with honie or sweet wine purgeth by siege melancholy and flegme wherefore it is very good for them that are giddie in the head or which haue the turning called Vertigo that is a swimming and turning in the head Also it is good for such as be melancholike sad pensiue and without speech The herbe is good against the suffocation of the mother that is the hardnesse and stopping of the same being boiled in wine and applied to the place The decoction of the same is good for women to sit ouer for the purposes aforesaid It is vsed both in drinks and bound to the wrests with bay salt and the pouder of glasse stamped together as a most singular experiment against the ague CHAP. 211. Of Poley or Pellamountaine 1 Polium montanum album White Poley mountaine 2 Polium montanum 〈◊〉 Yellow Poley mountaine ¶ The Description 1 THe first kinde of Polium or in English Poley of the mountain is a little tender and sweet smelling herbe verie hoarie whereupon it tooke his name for it is not onely hoary in part but his hoarie flockinesse possesseth the whole plant tufts and all being no lesse hoarie than Gnaphalium especially where it groweth neere the Sea at the bending of the hils or neere the sandie shores of the Mediterranean Sea from his wooddie and somewhat threddie root shooteth forth straight from the earth a number of small round stalkes nine inches long and by certaine distances from the stalke proceed somewhat long leaues like Gnaphalium which haue light nickes about the edges that stand one against another inclosing the stalke in the toppe of the stalkes stand spokie tufts of floures white of colour like Serpillum This plant is stronger of sent or sauour than any of the rest following which sent is somewhat sharp and affecting the nose with his sweetnesse 2 The tuftes of the second kinde of Polium are longer than the tuftes or floures of the last before mentioned and they are of a yellow colour the leaues also are broader otherwise they are very like 3 From the wooddie rootes of this third kinde of Polium proceed a great number of shootes like vnto the last rehearsed lying flat vpright vpon the ground whose slender branches take hold vpon the vpper part of the earth where they creepe The floures are like the other but of a purple colour 4 The last kinde of Polium and of all the rest the smallest is of an indifferent good smell in all points like vnto the common Polium but that it is foure times lesser hauing the leaues not snipt the floures white ‡ 5 This sends vp many branches from one root like to those of the first described but shorter and more shrubbie lying partly vpon the ground the leaues grow by couples at certain spaces somewhat like but lesser than those of Rosemarie or Lauander greene aboue and whitish beneath not snipt about their edges their taste is bitter and smell somewhat pleasant the floures grow plentifully vpon the tops of 〈◊〉 branches white of colour and in shape not vnlike those of the other Poleyes they grow on a bunch together and not Spike fashion the seed is blackish and contained in small vessels the root is hard and wooddie with many fibres Clusius calls this Polium 7. albo flore It is the Polium alterum of Matthiolius and Polium recentiorum foemina Lavandulae folio of Lobel I here giue you as Clusius also hath done two figures to make one good one the former shews the floures and their manner of growing the other the seede vessels and the leaues growing by couples together with a little better expression of the root ‡ 3 Polium montanum purpureum Purple Poley ¶ The Place These plants do grow naturally vpon the mountaines of France Italie Spaine and other hot regions They are strangers in England notwithstanding I haue plants of that Poley with yellow floures by the gift of Lobel ¶ The Time They floure from the end of May to the beginning of August 4 Polium montanum minimum Creeping Poley ‡ 5 Polium 〈◊〉 folio flore 〈◊〉 Lavander leaued Poley Another figure of the Lauander leaued Poley ¶ The Names Poley mountaine is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of his hoarinesse and in Latine also Polium Diuers suspect that Polium is 〈◊〉 and that Dioscorides hath twise intreated of that herbe vnder diuers names the kindes the occasion of the name and likewise the faculties do agree There bee two of the Leucades one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is of the mountaine the other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is that with the broader leafe it is called Leucas of the whitish colour and Polion of the hoarinesse because it seemeth like to a mans hoarie head for whatsoeuer waxeth hoarie is said to be white ¶ The Temperature Poley is of 〈◊〉 drie in the third degree and hot in the end of the second ¶ The Vertues Dioscorides saith it is a remedie for them that haue the dropsie the yellow iaundice and that are troubled with the spleene It prouoketh vrine is put into Mithridate treacle and counterpoisons It profiteth much against the bitings of venomous beasts and driueth away all venomous beasts from the place where it is strewed or burnt The same drunke with vineger is good for the diseases of the milt and spleene it troubleth the stomacke and afflicteth the head and prouoketh the loosenesse of the bellie CHAP. 212. Of Germander ¶ The Kindes THe old writers haue set downe no certaine kinds of Germander yet we haue thought it good and not without cause to intreat of mo sorts than haue been obserued of all diuiding those vnder the title of Teucrium from 〈◊〉 although they are both of one kind but yet differing very notably ¶ The Dèscription 3 THe first
taste of Wormewood and a red floure but ours if my memorie faile me not hath a whitish floure it is a tender plant and must be carefully preserued from the extremitie of Winter I first saw this Sage with Mr. Cannon and by him it was communicated to some others 3 Saluia Indica Indian Sage 4 Saluia Alpina Mountaine Sage ‡ 8 Saluia Cretica 〈◊〉 Apple-bearing Sage of Candy ‡ 8 Saluia Cretica non 〈◊〉 Candy Sage without Apples 8 This which we here giue you hath pretty large leaues and those also very hairy on the vnder side but rough on the vpper side like as the ordinarie Sage The stalkes are rough and hairie foure square below and round at their tops The floures in their growing and shape are like those of the ordinarie but of a whitish purple colour and fading they are each of them succeeded by three or 〈◊〉 seeds which are larger than in other Sages and so fill their seed-vessels that they shew like berries The smell of the whole plant is somewhat more vehement than that of the ordinarie the Jeaues also haue sometimes little eares or appendices as in the smaller or Pig-Sage and in Candy the naturall place of the growth it beares excrescences or Apples if we may so terme them of the bignesse of large 〈◊〉 or Oke-Apples whence Clusius hath giuen you two figures by the same titles as I here present the same to your view Matthiolus Dodonaeus and others also haue made mention hereof ‡ ¶ The Place These kindes of Sage grow not wilde in England I haue them all in my garden most of them are very common ‡ The fine or elegant painted Sage was first found in a countrey garden by Mr. Iohn Tradescant and by him imparted to other louers of plants ‡ ¶ The Time These Sages floure in Iune and Iuly or later they are fitly remoued and planted in March ¶ The Names Sage is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Apothecaries the Italians and the Spaniards keepe the Latine name Saluia in high-Dutch Salben in French Sauge in low-Dutch Sauie in English Sage ¶ The Temperature Sage is manifestly hot and dry in the beginning 〈◊〉 the third degree or in the later end of the second it hath adioyned no little astriction or binding ¶ The Vertues Agrippa and likewise Aetius haue called it the Holy-herbe because women with childe if they be like to come before their time and are troubled with abortments do eate thereof to their great good for it closeth the matrix and maketh them fruitfull it retaineth the birth and giuerh it life and if the woman about the fourth day 〈◊〉 going abroad after her childing shal drink nine ounces of the iuyce of Sage with a 〈◊〉 salt and then vse the companie of her husband she shall without doubt conceiue and bring forth store 〈◊〉 children which are the blessing of God Thus far Agrippa Sage is singular good for the head and braine it quickneth the sences and memory strengthneth the sinewes restoreth health to those that haue the palsie vpon a moist cause takes away shaking or trembling of the members and being put vp into the nosthrils it draweth thin flegme out 〈◊〉 the head It is likewise commended against the spitting of bloud the cough and paines of the sides and bitings of Serpents The iuyce of Sage drunke with honey is good for those that spit and vomit bloud and stoppeth the flux thereof incontinently expelleth winde drieth the dropsie helpeth the palsie strengthneth the sinewes and cleanseth the bloud The leaues sodden in water with Wood-binde leaues Plantaine Rosemary Honey Allome and some white wine make an excellent water to wash the secret parts of man or woman and for cankers or other sorenesse in the mouth especially if you boyle in the same a faire bright shining Sea-cole which maketh it of greater efficacie No man needs to doubt of the wholesomnesse of Sage Ale being brewed as it should be with Sage 〈◊〉 Betony Spikenard Squinanth and Fennell seeds The leaues of red Sage put into a woodden dish wherein is put very quicke coles with some ashes in the bottome of the dish to keepe the same from burning and a little vineger sprinkled vpon the leaues lying vpon the coles and so wrapped in a linnen cloath and holden very hot vnto the side of those that are troubled with a grieuous stitch taketh away the paine presently The same helpeth greatly the extremitie of the pleurisie CHAP. 266. Of French Sage or wooddie Mullein 1 Verbascum Matthioli French Sage ‡ 2 Verbascum angustis Saluiae folijs The lesser French Sage ‡ 3 Phlomos Lychnites Syriaca Syrian Sage-leaued Mullein ¶ The Description 1 WIld Mullein wooddie Mullein Matthiolus his Mullein or French Sage groweth vp like a small wooddie shrub hauing many wooddie branches of a woollie and hoarie colour soft and downie whereupon are placed thicke hoarie leaues of a strong ponticke 〈◊〉 in shape like the leaues of Sage whereupon the vulgar people call it French Sage toward the top of the branches are placed roundles or crownets of yellow gaping floures like those of dead Nettle but much greater The root is thicke tough and of a wooddie substance as is all the rest of the plant †2 There is another sort hereof that is very like the other sauing that the leaues euery other part of this plant hath a most sweet and pleasant smell and the other more strong and offensiue the leaues also are much lesser and narrower somewhat resembling those of the lesser Sage ‡ 3 I thinke it not amisse here to insert this no lesse rare than beautifull plant which differs from the last described in the manner of growing shape of the floures which resemble those of the 〈◊〉 Chalcedonica or None-such but are of a yellow colour The leaues are hairy narrow and sharp pointed the stalkes square and root wooddie Lobel to whom we are beholden for this figure and description calls this Phlomos 〈◊〉 altera Syriaca ‡ ¶ The Place These wilde Mulleins do grow wilde in diuers Prouinces of Spaine and also in 〈◊〉 vpon drie bankes and stony places I haue them both in my garden and many others likewise ¶ The Time They floure in Iune and Iuly ¶ The Names They are called of the learned men of our time Verbasca Syluestria the first is called of the Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Elychnium or after others Elychinium because of the Cottonie substance thereof matches or weeks were made to keep light in lamps Verbascum Lychnitis as Dioscorides himselfe testifieth is named also Thryallis or Rose Campion but the floure of Thryallis is red of colour as Nicander in his Counterpoisons doth shew but the floures of these are yellow therefore they are neither Thryallis nor Lychnitis but Syluestre Verbascum or wilde Mullein as we haue already taught in the Chapter of Rose Campion that Thryallis is Lychnitis satiua or Rose Campion There is
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Marathrum and Foeniculum in high Dutch Fenckell in low-Dutch 〈◊〉 in Italian Finocchio in Spanish Hinoio in French Fenoil in English Fennell and Fenckell ¶ The Nature The seed of Fennel is hot and dry in the third degree ¶ The Vertues The pouder of the seed of Fennell drunke for certaine dayes together fasting preserueth the eye-sight whereof was written this Distichon following Foeniculus Rosa Verbena Chelidonia Ruta Ex his fit aqua quae lumina reddit acuta Of Fennell Roses Veruain Rue and Celandine Is made a water good to cleere the sight of 〈◊〉 The greene leaues of Fenneil eaten or the seed drunken made into a Ptisan do fill womens brests with milke The 〈◊〉 of Fennell drunke easeth the paines of the kidnies causeth one to auoid the stone and prouoketh vrine The roots are as effectuall and not onely good for the intents aforesaid but against the dropsie also being boyled in wine and drunken Fennell seed drunke asswageth the paine of the stomacke and wambling of the same or desire to vomit and breaketh winde The herbe seed and root of Fennell are very good for the Iungs the liuer and the kidneyes for it openeth the obstructions or stoppings of the same and comforteth the inward parts The seed and herbe of sweet Fennell is equall in vertues with Annise seed CHAP. 412. Of Dill. ¶ The Description DIll hath a little stalke of a cubit high round and ioynted whereupon doe grow leaues verie finely cut like to those of Fennell but much smaller the floures be little and yellow standing in a spokie 〈◊〉 or rundle the seed is round flat and thin the whole plant is of a strong smell the root is threddy ¶ The Place It is sowne in gardens and is also sometimes found wilde 〈◊〉 Dill. ¶ The Time It bringeth forth floures and seed in August ¶ The Names Dil is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine likewise Anethum and Anetum in high-Dutch Dyllen in low-Dutch Dille in Italian Anetho in Spanish Eneldo in French Anet in English Dill and Anet ¶ The Temperature Dill as Galen saith is hot in the end of the second degree and dry in the beginning of the same or in the end of the first degree ¶ The Vertues The decoction of the tops of dried Dil and likewise of the seed being drunke 〈◊〉 milke in the brests of nurses allayeth gripings and windinesse prouoketh vrine increaseth seed stayeth the yeox hicket or hicquet as Dioscorides teacheth The seed likewise if it be smelled vnto stayeth the hicket especially if it be boyled in wine but chiefely if it be boyled in Wormewood Wine or Wine and a few branches of Worme-wood and Rose leaues and the stomacke bathed therewith Galen saith that being burnt and layd vpon moist vlcers it cureth them especially those in the secret parts and likewise those sub Praeputio though they be old and of long continuance Common oyle in which Dill is boyled or sunned as we do oyle of Roses doth digest mitigate paine procureth sleepe bringeth raw and vnconcocted humors to perfect digestion and prouoketh bodily lust Dill is of great force or efficacie against the suffocation or strangling of the mother if the woman do receiue the fume thereof being boyled in wine and put vnder a close stoole or hollow seat fit for the purpose CHAP. 413. Of Caruwaies ¶ The Description CAruwaies haue an hollow stalke foure square of two cubits high full of knots or ioynts from which proceed sundry other small branches set full of leaues very finely cut or iagged like vnto those of Carrots or Dill at the top of the stalkes grow spokie white tufts like those of Dill after which commeth the seed sharpe in eating yet of a pleasant taste the root is like that of Parsley often white seldome yellow and in taste like vnto the Carrot ¶ The Place It groweth almost euery where in Germanie and in Bohemia in fat and fruitfull fields and in medowes that are now and then ouer-run with water it groweth also in Caria as Dioscorides sheweth from whence it tooke his name ¶ The Time It floureth and seedeth from May to the end of August Carum siue Careum Caruwaies ¶ The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Carum and Careum in shops Carui Simeon Zethy calleth it Carnabadion in high-Dutch Kym and Kymmel in low-Dutch Caruy saet in French du Caruy in Italian Caro in Spanish Carauea and an article being ioyned vnto it Alkarauea in English Caruwaie and the seed is called Caruwaie seed ¶ The Temperature The seed of Caruwaies as Galen saith is hot and dry in the third degree and hath a moderate biting qualitie ¶ The Vertues It consumeth winde it is delightfull to the stomacke and taste it helpeth concoction prouoketh vrine and is mixed with counterpoysons the root may be sodden and eaten as the Parsenep or Carrot is The seeds confected or made with sugar into Comfits are very good for the stomacke they helpe digestion prouoke vrine asswage and dissolue all windinesse to conclude in a word they are answerable to Anise seed in 0-peration and vertues CHAP. 414. Of Annise ¶ The Description 1 THe stalke of Annise is round and hollow diuided into diuers small branches set with leaues next the ground somewhat broad and round those that grow higher are more iagged like those of yong Parsley but whiter on the top of the stalkes do stand spokie rundles or tufts of white floures and afterward seed which hath a pleasant taste as euerie one doth know ‡ 2 This other Annise whose vmbels Clusius had out of England from Master Morgan the Queenes Apothecarie and Iames Garret and which were brought from the Philippines by Mr. Tho. Candish in his voyage when he incompassed the world is thus described by Clusius The vmbels were large no lesse than those of the Archangelica made of diuers thicke stiffe foot-stalks each whereof carried not double seed as the common Annise but more in a round head some inch ouer made of cods set star-fashion six 8 or more of a dusky colour wrinkled diuided into two equall parts and open aboue most of these huskes were empty yet some of them contained one smooth shining ash-coloured seed of the bignesse of that of Orobus the taste and smell was the same with our common Anise seed wherefore they which sent it to Clusius called it Anise yet in the place where it grew it was called Damor for Mr. Candish had the name so written in the China characters after their manner of writing ‡ ¶ The Place It groweth plentifully in Candy Syria Egypt and other countries of the East I haue often sowne it in my garden where it hath brought forth his ripe seed when the yeare hath fallen out to be temperate 1 Anisum Anise ‡ 2 Anisum Indicum 〈◊〉 Starry headed Anise ¶ The Time It is to be sowne in these cold regions in the moneth
another saith the same Author almost like to the former but lower and diuided into more branches with lesser leaues more thick and salt of taste and whiter also than the former the floures are like in all things but their colour those of the former which in this are 〈◊〉 2 This hath more flexible stalks and branches and these also set with thornes the leaues are narrow and not so thicke or fleshie as those of the former yet remaine alwaies greene like as they do the floures are small and mossie of a greenish colour growing thicke about the branches and they are succeeded by a round fruit yellowish when it is ripe and remaining on the shrubbe all the ‡ 1 Rhamnus 1. Clusij flo albo White floured Ram-thorne ‡ 2 Rhamnus 2. Clusij Sallow-Thorne ‡ Rhamnus alter 〈◊〉 flore purpureo Purple floured Ram-thorne 3 Ramnus tertius Clusij Ram or Harts-Thorne 3 To these may be added another growing with many branches to the height of the Sloe-tree or blacke Thorne and these are couered with a blackish barke and armed with long prickles the leaues as in the first grow forth of certaine knots many together long narrow sleshie greene and continuing all the yeare their taste is astringent somewhat like that of Rhabarb the floures shew themselues at the beginning of the Spring of a greenish colour growing thicke together and neere the setting on of the leaues in Summer it carries a blacke fruit almost like a Sloe round and harsh of taste ¶ The Place The first of these growes in sundry places of 〈◊〉 Portugall and Prouince the other varietic thereof Clusius saith he found but onely in one place and that was neere the citie Horivela called by the Antients Orcellis by the riuer Segura vpon the borders of the kingdome of Valentia the second growes in many maritime places of Flanders and Holland and in some vallies by riuers sides The third growes in the vntilled places of the kingdome of Granado and Murcia ‡ ¶ The Time This Ram is euer greene together with his leaues the fruit or berries remaine on the shrub yea euen in Winter ¶ The Names The Grecians call this thorne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latines also Rhamnus and of diuers it is also named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Spina alba or white Thorne Spina Cerualis or Harts-thorne as we finde written among the bastard words Marcellus nameth it Spina salutaris and Herba salutaris which hath saith he as it were a grape It is called in Italian Marruca and 〈◊〉 in Spanish Scambrones in English Ram or Harts Thorne ¶ The Temperature The Ram saith Galen doth drie and digest in the second degree it cooleth in the later end of the first degree and in the beginning of the second ¶ The Vertues The leaues saith Dioscorides are layed pultis wise vpon hot cholericke inflammations and Saint Anthonies fire but we must vse them whilest they be yet but tender as Galen addeth ‡ The leaues and buds or young shoots of the first are eaten as sallads with oile vineger and salt at Salamanea and other places of Castile 〈◊〉 they haue a certaine acrimonie and 〈◊〉 which are gratefull to the taste A decoction of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the third is good to foment relaxed and weake or paralyticke members and to ease 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the gout as the Inhabitants of Granado told Clusius ‡ CHAP. 29. Of 〈◊〉 Thorne ¶ The Description CHrists 〈◊〉 or Ram of Lybia is a very tough and hard shrubby bush growing vp sometimes vnto the height of a little tree hauing very long and sharpe pricklie branches but the thornes that grow about the leaues are lesser and not so prickly as the former The leaues are small broad and almost round somewhat sharpe pointed first of a darke greene colour and then somwhat 〈◊〉 The floures grow in clusters at the top of the stalks of a yellow colour the husks wherein the seeds be contained are flat and broad very like vnto small bucklers as hard as wood wherein are contained three or foure thin and flat seeds like the seed of Line or Flax. ¶ The Place This Thorne groweth in Lybia it is better esteemed of in the countrey of Cyrene than is their Lote tree as Pliny 〈◊〉 Of this shrub Diphilus Siphnius in 〈◊〉 in his foureteenth booke maketh mention saying that hee did verie often eat of the same in Alexandria that beautifull Citie Petrus Bellonius who trauelled ouer the Holly Land saith that this shrubbie thorne Paliurus was Paliurus Christs Thorne the thorne wherewith they 〈◊〉 our 〈◊〉 Christ his reason for the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is this that in Iudaea there was not any 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 common so pliant or so fit for to 〈◊〉 a crown or garland of nor any so full of cruell 〈◊〉 prickles It groweth throughout the whole countrey in such aboundance that it is their common fuell to burne yea so common with them there as our Gorsse Brakes and broome is here with vs. Iosephus in his first booke of Antiquities and 11. chap. saith that this Thorne hath the most sharpe prickles of any other and therefore that Christ might be the more tormented the Iewes rather tooke this than any other Of which I haue a small tree growing in my garden that I haue brought forth by sowing of the seed The Time The leaues fall away and continue not alwaies green as do those of the Rams it buddeth forth in the Spring as Pliny testifieth ¶ The Names This Thornie shrubbe is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latines and Italians retaire the same name Paliurus for want of an English name it may be termed Ramme of Lybia or Christs Thorne Pliny reporteth that the 〈◊〉 is called Zura ¶ The Temperature The leaues and root of Christs 〈◊〉 doe euidently binde and cut ¶ The Vertues 〈◊〉 vertue of this cutting quality the seed doth weare away the stone and cause tough and slimy humors to remoue out of the chest and lungs as Galen saith The decoction of the leaues and root of Christs Thistle as Dioscorides writeth stoppeth the belly prouoketh vrine and is a remedy against poisons and the bitings of serpents The root doth waste and consume away Phymata and Oedemata if it be stamped and applied The seed is good for the cough and weareth away the stone in the bladder CHAP. 30. Of Buck-Thorne or laxatiue 〈◊〉 ¶ The Description 1 BVck-thorne groweth in manner of a shrub or hedge tree his trunke or body is often as big as a mans thigh his wood or timber is yellow within and his barke is of the colour of a Chestnut almost like the bark of a Cherry tree The branches are beset with leaues that are somewhat round and finely snipt about the edges like the leaues of the Crab or Wilding tree among which come forth Thornes which are hard and prickly the floures are white and smal which being vaded there succeed little round berries greene at the first but afterwards black wherof
it to be the Sycomore tree and they as much that would haue it to be the Lote or Nettle tree it may be named in English Bead tree for the cause before alledged The other is altera species Zizyphi or the second kinde of Iuiube tree which Columella in his ninth booke and fourth chap. doth call Zizyphus alba or white 〈◊〉 tree for difference from the other that is syrnamed Rutila or glittering red Pliny calleth this 〈◊〉 Cappadocica in his 〈◊〉 booke ninth chapter where he entreateth of the honour of Garlands of which he saith there be two sorts whereof some be made of floures and others of leaues I would call the floures saith he brooms for of those is gathered a yellow floure and Rhododendron also Zizypha which is called Cappadocica The 〈◊〉 of these are sweet of smell and like to Oliue floures Neither doth Columella or Pliny vn 〈◊〉 take this for Zizyphus sor both the leaues and floures grow out of the tender and yong sprung twigs as they likewise do out of the former the floures are very sweet of smel and cast their sauor far abroad the fruit also is like that of the former ¶ The Temperature Auicen writing and intreating of Azadaraeth saith that the floures thereof be hot in the third degree and dry in the end of the first Zizyphus Cappadocica is cold and dry of complexion ¶ The Vertues The floures of Zizyphus or Azadaraeth open the obstructions of the braine The distilled water thereof killeth nits and lice preserueth the haire of the head from falling especially being mixed with white wine and the head bathed with it The fruit is very hurtfull to the chest and a troublesome enemie to the stomacke it is dangerous and peraduenture deadly Moreouer it is reported that the decoction of the barke and of Fumitorie with Mirobalans added is good for agues proceeding of flegme The iuice of the vppermost leaues with honey is a remedie against poison The like also hath Rhasis the Beade tree saith he is hot and dry it is good for stoppings of the head it maketh the haire long yet is the fruit thereof very offensiue to the stomacke and oftentimes found to be pernitious and deadly Matthiolus writeth that the leaues and wood bringeth death euen vnto beasts and that the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is resisted by the same remedies that Oleander is 〈◊〉 Cappadocica preuaileth against the diseases aforesaid but the decoction thereof is verie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whose water scaldeth them with the continuall issuing thereof as also 〈◊〉 such as haue the running of the reines and the exulcerations of the bladder and priuy parts A looch or licking medicine made thereof or the syrrup is excellent good against spitting of bloud proceeding of the distillations of sharpe or salt humors CHAP. 123. Of the Lote or Nettle tree Lotus arbor The Nettle tree ¶ The Description THe Lote whereof we write is a tree as big as a Peare tree or bigger and higher the body and armes are very thicke the barke whereof is smooth of a gallant green colour tending to blewnesse the boughes are long and spread themselues all about the leaues be like those of the Nettle sharpe pointed and nicked in the edges like a saw and dasht here and there with stripes of a yellowish white colour the berries be round and hang vpon long stalkes like Cherries of a yellowish white colour at the first and afterwards red but when they be ripe they be somewhat blacke ¶ The Place This is a rare and strange tree in both the Germanies it was brought out of Italy where there is found store thereof as Matthiolus testifieth I haue a small tree thereof in my garden There is likewise a tree thereof in the garden vnder London wall sometime belonging to Mr. Gray an Apothecary of London and another great tree in a garden neere Coleman street in London being the garden of the Queenes Apothecarie at the impression hereof called Mr. Hugh Morgan a curious conseruer of rare simples The Lote tree doth also grow in Africke but it somewhat differeth from the Italian Lote in fruit as Pliny in plaine words doth shew in his thirteenth booke seuenteenth chapter That part of Africke saith he that lieth towards vs bringeth forth the famous Lote tree which they call Celtis and the same well knowne in Italy but altered by the soile it is as big as the Peare tree although Nepos Cornelius reporteth it to be shorter the leaues are full of fine cuts otherwise they be thought to be like those of the Holme tree There be many differences but the same are made especially by the fruit the fruit is as big as a Beane and of the colour of Saffron but before it is thorow ripe it changeth his color as doth the Grape It growes thicke among the boughes after the manner of the Myrtle not as in Italy after the manner of the Cherry the fruit of it is there so sweet as it hath also giuen a name to that countrie and land too hospitable to strangers and forgetfull of their owne countrey It is reported that they are troubled with no diseases of the belly that eate it The better is that which hath no kernell which in the other kinde is stony there is also pressed out of it a wine like to a sweet wine which the same Nepos denieth to endure aboue ten daies and the berries stamped with Alica are reserued in vessels for food Moreouer we haue heard say that armies haue been fed therewith as they haue passed too and fro thorow Africke The colour of the wood is blacke they vse to make flutes and pipes of it the root serueth for kniues hafts and other short workes this is there the nature of the tree thus farre Pliny In the same place he saith that this renowmed tree doth 〈◊〉 about Syrtes and 〈◊〉 and in his 5. booke 7. chapter he sheweth that there is not far from the lesser Syrtis the Island Menynx surnamed Lotophagitis of the plenty of Lote trees Strabo in his 17. booke 〈◊〉 that not onely Menynx but also the lesser Syrtis is said to be 〈◊〉 first saith he lieth Syrtis a certaine long Island by the name Cereinna and another lesser called Circinnitis next to this is the lesser Syrtis which they call Lotophagitis Syrtis the compasse of this gulfe is almost 1600. furlongs the bredth of the mouth 600. By both the capes there be Islands ioined to the maine land that is Circinna and Menynx of like bignesse they thinke that Menynx is the countrey of the Lotophagi or those that feed of the Lote trees of which 〈◊〉 Homer maketh mention and there are certaine monuments to be seen and 〈◊〉 Altar and the fruit is selfe for there be in it great plenty of Lote trees whose fruit is wonderful sweet thus saith Strabo This Lote is also described by Theophrastus in his 〈◊〉 booke he saith that there be very many kindes which be seuered by the fruit the fruit is of
In Spanish Mijo in Italian Miglio in High-Dutch 〈◊〉 in French Millet in Low-Dutch 〈◊〉 in English Mill or Millet ¶ The temper It is cold in the first degree as Galen writeth and dry in the third or in the later end of the second and is of a thinne substance ¶ The vertues The meale of Mill mixed with tarre is laid to the bitings of serpents and all venomous beasts There is a drinke made hereof bearing the name of Sirupus Ambrosij or Ambrose his syrup which procureth sweat and quencheth thirst vsed in the city of Milan in Tertian agues The receit whereof Henricus Rantszonius in his booke of the gouernment of health setteth downe in this manner Take saith he of vnhusked Mill a sufficient quantitie boile it till it be broken then take fiue ounces of the hot decoction and adde thereto two ounces of the best white wine and so giue it hot vnto the patient being well couered with clothes and then he will sweat throughly This is likewise commended by Iohannes Heurneus in his booke of Practise Millet parched and so put hot into a linnen bag and applied helpes the griping paines of the belly or any other paine occasioned by cold CHAP. 61. Of Turkie Corne. 1 Frumentum Asiaticum Corne of Asia 2 Frumentum Turcicum Turkie Corne. ¶ The kindes OF Turkie cornes there be diuers sorts notwithstanding of one stocke or kindred consisting of sundry coloured graines wherein the difference is easie to be discerned and for the better explanation of the same I haue set forth to your view certaine eares of different colours in their full and perfect ripenesse and such as they shew themselues to be when their skinne or filme doth open it selfe in the time of gathering The forme of the eares of Turky Wheat 3 Frumenti Indici spica Turkie wheat in the huske as also naked or bare ¶ The Description 1 COrne of Asia beareth a long great stem or stalke couered with great leaues like the great Cane reed but much broader and of a darke brownish colour towards the bottome at the top of the stalkes grow idle or barren tufts like the common Reed somtimes of one colour and sometimes of another Those 〈◊〉 which are fruitfull do grow vpon the sides of the stalkes among the leaues which are thicke and great so couered with skins or filmes that a man cannot see them vntill ripenesse haue discouered them The graine is of sundrie colours sometimes red and sometimes white and yellow as my selfe haue seene in myne owne garden where it hath come to ripenesse 4 Frumentum 〈◊〉 luteum Yellow Turky wheat 5 Frumentum Indicum rubrum Red Turky wheat 6 Frumentum Indicum Caeruleum Blew Turky wheat 2 The stalke of Turky Wheat is like that of the Reed full of spongie pith set with many ioynts fiue or six foot high bigge beneath and now and then of a purple colour and by little and little small aboue the leaues are broad long setwith vaines like those of the Reed The eares on the top of the stalke be a spanne long like vnto the feather top of the common Reed diuided into many plumes hanging downward empty and barren without seed yet blooming as Rie doth The floure is either white yellow or purple that is to say euen as the fruit will be The Fruit is contained in very bigge 〈◊〉 which grow out of the ioynts of the stalke three or foure from one stalke orderly placed one aboue another couered with cotes or filmes like huskes and leaues as if it were a certaine sheath out of which do stand long and slender beards soft and tender like those laces that grow vpon Sauorie but greater and longer euery one fastned vpon his owne seed The seeds are great of the bignesse of common peason 〈◊〉 in that part whereby they are fastned to the 〈◊〉 and in the outward part round being of colour sometimes white now and then yellow purple or red of taste sweet-and pleasant very closely ioyned together in eight or tenne orders or rankes This graine hath many roots strong and full of strings ¶ The place These kindes of graine were first brought into Spaine and then into other prouinces of Europe not as some suppose out of Asia minor which is the Turks Dominions but out of America and the Islands adioyning as out of Florida and Virginia or Norembega where they vse to sow or set it and to make bread of it where it groweth much higher than in other countries It is planted in the gardens of these Northerne regions where it commeth to ripenesse when the sommer falleth out to be faire and hot as my selfe haue seene by proofe in myne owne garden ¶ The time It is sowen in these countries in March and Aprill and the fruit is ripe in September ¶ The Names †Turky wheat is called of some Frumentum Turcicum and Milium Indicum as also 〈◊〉 and Maiz or Mays It in all probabilitie was vnknowne to the antient both Greeke and Latine Authors In English it is called Turky corne and Turky wheat The Inhabitants of America and the Islands adioyning as also of the East and West Indies do call it Mais the Virginians Pagatowr ¶ The temperature and vertues Turky wheat doth nourish far lesse than either wheat rie barley or otes The bread which is made thereof is meanly white without bran it is hard and dry as Bisket is and hath in it no clamminesse at all for which cause it is of hard digestion and yeeldeth to the body little or no nourishment it slowly descendeth and bindeth the belly as that doth which is made of Mill or Panick We haue as yet no certaine proofe or experience concerning the vertues of this kinde of Corne although the barbarous Indians which know no better are constrained to make a vertue of necessitie and thinke it a good food whereas we may easily iudge that it nourisheth but little and is of hard and euill digestion a more conuenient food for swine than for men CHAP. 62. Of Turkie Millet Sorghum Turky Millet ¶ The Description TVrky Millet is a stranger in England It hath many high stalkes thicke and jointed commonly with some nine ioynts beset with many long and broad leaues like Turky Wheat at the top whereof groweth a great and large tuft or 〈◊〉 like the great Reed The seed is round and sharpe pointed of the bignesse of a Lentill sometimes red and now and then of a fuller blacke colour It is fastned with a multitude of strong slender roots like vnto threds the whole plant hath the forme of a Reed the stalkes and eares when the seed is ripe are red ¶ The place It ioyeth in a fat and moist ground it groweth in Italy Spaine and other hot regions ¶ The time This is one of the Sommer graines and is ripe in Autumne ¶ The Names The Millanois and other people of Lombardy call it Melegua and Melega in Latine Melica in Hetruria Saggina in other places of Italy
top of the stalkes of a red colour with some small blacknesse toward the bottome The seed is small contained in little round knobs The seed is small and threddy 2 The second is like the first sauing that the cods hereof be long and the other more round wherein the difference doth consist ¶ The Place These plants do grow in the corne fields in Somersetshire and by the hedges and high-wayes as yetrauell from London to Bathe Lobel found it growing in the next field vnto a village in Kent called Southfleet my selfe being in his company of purpose to discouer some strange plants not hitherto written of ‡ Mr. Robert Lorkin and I found both these growing in Chelsey fields as also in those belonging to Hamersmith but the shorter headed one is a floure of a more elegant colour and not so plentifull as the other ‡ 1 Argemone capitulotorulo Bastard wilde Poppy 2 Argemone capitulo longiore Long codded wilde Poppy ¶ The Time They floure in the beginning of August and their seed is ripe at the end thereof ¶ The Names The bastard wilde Poppy is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Argemone Argemonia 〈◊〉 Concordalis and Herba liburnica of some Pergalium Arsela and Sacrocolla Herba in English Wind rose and bastard wilde poppy ¶ The Temperature They are hot and dry in the third degree ¶ The Vertues The leaues stamped and the iuyce dropped into the eyes easeth the inflammation thereof and cureth the disease of the eye called Argema whereof it tooke his name which disease when it hapneth on the blacke of the eye it appeares white and contrariwise when it is in the white then it appeareth blacke of colour The leaues stamped and bound vnto the eyes or face that are blacke or blew by meanes of some blow or stripe doth perfectly take it away The dry herbe steeped in warme water worketh the like effect The leaues and roots stamped and the iuyce giuen in drinke helpeth the wringings or gripings of the belly The dry herbe infused in warme water doth the same effectually The herbe stamped cureth any wound vlcer canker or fistula being made vp into an vnguent or salue with oile wax and a little turpentine The iuyce taken in the weight of two drammes with wine mightily expelleth poyson or venome The iuyce taketh away warts if they be rubbed therewith and being taken in meate it helpes the milt or spleene if it be wasted CHAP. 76. Of Winde-floures ¶ The Kindes THe stocke or kindred of the Anemones or Winde-floures especially in their varieties of colours are without number or at the least not sufficiently knowne vnto any one that hathwritten of plants For Dodonoeus hath set forth fiue sorts Lobel eight Tabernamontanus ten My selfe haue in my garden twelue different sorts and yet I do heare of diuers more differing very notably from any of these which I haue briefely touched though not figured euery new yeare bringing with it new and strange kindes and euery countrey his peculiar plants of this sort which are sent vnto vs from far countries in hope to receiue from vs such as our countrey yeeldeth 1 Anemone tuberosa radice Purple Winde-floure 2 Anemone coccinea multiplex Double Skarlet Winde-floure ¶ The Description 1 THe first kinde of Anemone or Winde-floure hath small leaues very much snipt or iagged almost like vnto Camomile or Adonis floure among which riseth vp a stalke bare or naked almost vnto the top at which place is set two or three leaues like the other and at the top of the stalke commeth forth a faire and beautifull floure compact of seuen leaues and sometimes eight of a violet colour tending to purple It is impossible to describe the colour in his full perfection considering the variable mixtures The root is tuberous or knobby 〈◊〉 very brittle 3 Anemone maxima Chalcedonica polyanthos The great double Winde-floure of Bithynia 4 Anemone Chalcedonica simplici flore The single Winde-floure of Bithynia 5 Anemone Bulbocastani radice Chesnut Winde-floure 2 The second kind of Anemone hath leaues like to the precedent insomuch that it is hard to distinguish the one from the other but by the floures onely for those of this plant are of a most bright and faire skarlet colour and as double as the Marigold and the other not so The root is knobby and very brittle as is the former 3 The great Anemone hath double floures vsually called the Anemone of Chalcedon which is a city in Bithynia and great broad leaues deeply cut in the edges not vnlike to those of the field Crow-foot of an ouerworne greene colour amongst which riseth vp a naked bare stalke almost vnto the top where there stand two or three leaues in shape like the others but lesser sometimes changed into reddish stripes confusedly mixed here and there in the said leaues On the top of the stalke standeth a most gallant floure very double of a perfect red colour the which is sometimes striped amongst the red with a little line or two of yellow in the middle from which middle commeth forth many blackish thrums The seed is not to be found that I could euer obserue but is carried away with the winde The root is thicke and knobby 4 The fourth agreeth with the first kind of Anemone in roots leaues stalks and shape of floures differing in that that this plant bringeth forth faire single red floures and the other of a violet colour as aforesaid 5 The fifth sort of Anemone hath many small iagged leaues like those of Coriander proceeding from a knobby root resembling the root of Bulbocastanum or earth Chesnut The stalke rises vp amongst the leaues of two hands high bearing at the top a single floure consisting of a pale or border of little purple leaues somtimes red and often of a white colour set about a blackish pointall thrummed ouer with many small blackish haires 6 Anemone latifolia Clusij Broad leaued Winde-floure ‡ 7 Anemone latifolia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The double yellow wind-floure 6 The sixt hath very broad leaues in respect of all the rest of the Anemones not vnlike to those of the common Mallow but greene on the vpper part and tending to rednesse vnderneath like the leaues of Sow-bread The stalke is like that of the last described on the top whereof growes a faire yellow star-floure with a head ingirt with yellow thrums The root saith my Author is a finger long thicke and knobby ‡ 7 There is also another whose lower leaues resemble those of the last described yet those which grow next aboue them are more diuided or cut in amongst these leaues riseth vp a stalke 8 Anemone Geranifolia Storkes bill Winde-floure 9 Anemone Matthioli Matthiolus white Winde-floure 10 Anemone trifolia Three leaued Winde-floure 11 Anemone Papaueracea Poppy Winde-floure 8 The eighth hath many large leaues deeply cut or iagged in shape like those of the Storks bil or Pinke-needle among which riseth vp a naked stalke set about toward the top with
soporiferous and therefore the greater care must be had in the administration thereof lest in prouoking sleepe you induce a drow sinesse or dead sleepe CHAP. 30. Of Reeds ¶ The kindes OF Reeds the Ancients haue set downe many sorts 〈◊〉 hath brought them all first into two principall kindes and those hath he diuided againe into moe sorts The two principall are these Auleticae or Tibiales Arundines and Arundo vallatoria Of these and the rest we will speake in their proper places 1 Arundo vallatoria Common Reed 2 Arundo Cypria Cypresse Canes ¶ The Description 1 THe common Reed hath long strawie stalkes full of knotty joints or knees like vnto corne whereupon do grow very long rough flaggy leaues The tuft or spoky eare doth grow at the top of the stalkes browne of colour barren and without seed and doth resemble a bush of feathers which turneth into fine downe or cotton which is carried away with the winde The root is thicke long and full of strings dispersing themselues farre abroad wherby it doth greatly increase ‡ Bauhinus reports That he receiued from D. Cargill a Scottishman a Reed whose leaues were a cubit long and two or three inches broad with some nerues apparantly running alongst the leafe these leaues at the top were diuided into two three or foure points or parts as yet I haue not obserued it Bauhine termes it Arundo Anglica 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 dissectis ‡ 1 The Cypresse Reed is a great Reed hauing stalkes exceeding long sometimes twenty or thirty foot high of a woody substance set with very great leaues like those of Turky wheate It carrieth at the top the like downie tuft that the former doth 3 Arundo farcta Stuffed Canes 4 Calamus sagittalis Lobelij Small stuffed Reed 5 Nastos Clusij Turky walking staues 6 Arundo scriptoria Turky writing Reeds 3 These Reeds Lobelius hath seene in the Low countries brought from Constantinople where 〈◊〉 it 〈◊〉 said the people of that countrey haue procured them 〈◊〉 the parts of the Adriaticke sea side where they do grow They are full stuft with a spongeous substance so that there is no hollownesse in the same as in Canes other Reeds except here and there certaine small pores or passages of the bignesse of a pinnes point in manner such a pith as is to be found in the Bull-Rush but more firme and solid 4 The second differeth in smalnesse and that it will winde open in fleakes otherwise they are very like and are vsed for darts arrowes and such like 5 This great sort of Reeds or Canes hath no particular description to answer your expectation for that as yet there is not any man which hath written thereof especially of the manner of growing of them either of his owne knowledge or report from others so that it shall 〈◊〉 that yee know that that great cane is vsed especially in Constantinople and thereabout of aged and wealthy Citisens and also Noblemen and such great personages to make them walking staues of caruing them at the top with sundry Scutchions and pretty toyes of imagerie for the beautifying of them and so they of the better sort do garnish them both with siluer and gold as the figure doth most liuely set forth vnto you 6 In like manner the smaller sort hath not as yet beene seene growing of any that haue beene curious in herbarisme whereby they might set downe any certaintie thereof onely it hath beene vsed in Constantinople and thereabout euen to this day to make writing pens withall for the which it doth very fitly serue as also to make pipes and such like things of pleasure ¶ The place The common Reed groweth in standing waters and in the edges and borders of riuers almost euery where and the other being the angling Cane for Fishers groweth in Spaine and those hot Regions ¶ The time They flourish and flower from April to the end of September at what time they are cut down for the vse of man as all do know ¶ The Names The common Reed is called Arundo and Harundo vallatoria in French Roseau in Dutch 〈◊〉 in Italian Canne a far siepo of Diosc. Phragmitis in English Reed Arundo Cypria or after Lobelius Arundo Donax in French Canne in Spanish Cana in Italian Calami a far Connochia In English Pole reed and Cane or Canes ¶ The nature Reeds are hot and dry in the second degree as Galen saith ¶ The vertues The roots of reed stamped smal draw forth thorns and splinters 〈◊〉 in any part of mans body The same stamped with vineger ease all luxations and members out of ioynt And likewise stamped they heale hot and 〈◊〉 inflammations The ashes of them mixed with vineger helpeth the scales and scurfe of the head and helpeth the falling of the haire The great Reed or Cane is not vsed in physicke but is esteemed to make slears for 〈◊〉 sundry sorts of pipes as also to light candles that stand before Images and to make hedges and pales as we do of laths and such like and also to make certaine diuisions in ships to diuide the sweet oranges from the sowre the pomecitron and lemmons likewise in sunder and many other purposes CHAP. 31. Of Sugar Cane ¶ The Description 1 SVgar Cane is a pleasant and profitable Reed hauing long stalkes seuen or eight foot high ioynted or kneed like vnto the great Cane the leaues come forth of euerie joynt on euery side of the stalke one like vnto wings long narrow and sharpe pointed The Cane it selfe or stalke is not hollow as other Canes or Reeds are but full and stuffed 〈◊〉 a spongeous substance in taste exceeding sweet The root is great and long creeping along within the vpper crust of the earth which is likewise sweet and pleasant but lesse hard or woody than other Canes or Reeds from the which there doth shoot forth many yong siens which are cut away from the maine or mother plant because they should not draw away the nourishment from the old stocke and so get vnto themselues a little moisture or else some substance not much worth and cause the stocke to be barren and themselues little the better which shoots do serue for plants to set abroad for encrease Arundo Saccharina Sugar Cane ¶ The place The Sugar Cane groweth in many parts of Europe at this day as in Spaine Portugal Olbia and in Prouence It groweth also in Barbarie generally almost euery where in the Canarie Islands and in those of Madera in the East and West Indies and many other places My selfe did plant some shoots thereof in my garden and some in Flanders did the like but the coldnesse of our clymate made an end of mine and I thinke the Flemings will haue the like profit of their labour ¶ The time This Cane is planted at any time of the yeare in those hot countries where it doth naturally grow by reason they 〈◊〉 no frosts to hurt the yong shoots at their first planting ¶ The Names
he hated his knife poysoned with the iuyce of this Hemerocallis for to cut his meate withall he suspecting no treachery cut his victuals therewith and so eat them the other abstaining therefrom and saying that he had no stomacke Some few dayes after he that did eate the victuals died which shewed the strong and deadly qualitie of this plant which therefore as Clusius saith cannot be the Scilla Epimenidia of Pliny which was eatable and without malignitie ‡ CHAP. 95. Of Leekes 〈◊〉 Porrum capitatum Headed or set Leeke ‡ 2 Porrum sectivum aut tonsile Cut or vnset Leeke ¶ The Description 1 THe leaues or the blades of the 〈◊〉 be long somewhat broad and very many hauing a keele or crest in the backside in smell and taste like to the Onion The stalks if the blades be not often cut do in the second or third yeare grow vp round bringing forth on the top floures made vp in a round head or ball as doth the Onion The seeds are like The bulbe or root is long and slender especially of the vnset Leeke That of the other Leeke is thicker and greater ‡ 2 Most Writers distinguish the common Leeke into Porrum capitatum 〈◊〉 and Lobel giues these two figures wherewith we here present you Now both these grow of the same seed and they differ onely in culture for that which is often cut for the vse of the kitchen is called Sectivum the other which is headed is not cut but spared and remoued in Autumne ‡ ¶ The Place It requireth a meane earth fat well dunged and digged It is very common euery where in other countries as well as in England ¶ The Time It may be sowne in March or Aprill and it to be remoued in September or October ¶ The Names The Grecians call it 〈◊〉 the Latines Porrum The Emperour Nero had great pleasure in this root and therefore he was called in scorne Porrophagus But Palladius in the masculine gender called it Porrus the Germanes 〈◊〉 the Brabanders 〈◊〉 the Spaniards Puerro the French Porrean the English-men Leeke or Leekes ¶ The Temperature The Leeke is hot and dry and doth attenuate or make thinne as doth the Onion ¶ The Vertues Being boyled it is lesse hurtfull by reason that it loseth a great part of his sharpenesse and yet being so vsed it yeeldeth no good iuyce But being taken with cold herbes his too hot quality is tempered Being boyled and eaten with Ptisana or barley creame it concocteth and bringeth vp raw humors that lie in the chest Some affirme it to be good in a loch or licking medicine to 〈◊〉 the pipes of the lungs The iuyce drunke with honey is profitable against the bitings of venomous beasts and likewise the leaues stamped and laid thereupon The same iuyce with vineger frankincense and milke or oyle of roses dropped into the eares mitigateth their paine and is good for the noyse in them Two drams of the seed with the like weight of myrtill berries drunk stop the spitting of bloud which hath continued a long time The same ingredients put into Wine keepe it from souring and being alreadie soure amend the same as diuers write It cutteth and attenuateth grosse and tough humors ‡ Lobel commends the following Loch as very effectuall against phlegmatick Squinances and other cold catarrhes which are like to cause suffocation This is the description thereof Take blanched almonds three ounces foure figges soft Bdellium halfe an ounce iuyce of Liquorice two ounces of sugar candy dissolued in a sufficient quantitie of iuyce of Leekes and boyled in 〈◊〉 to the height of a 〈◊〉 as much as shall be requisit to make the rest into the forme of an Eclegma ‡ ¶ The Hurts It heateth the body ingendreth naughty bloud causeth troublesome and terrible dreames offendeth the eyes dulleth the sight hurteth those that are by nature hot and cholericke and is noysome to the stomacke and breedeth windinesse CHAP. 96. Of Ciues or 〈◊〉 and wilde Leekes ¶ The Kindes THere be diuers kindes of Leekes somewilde and some of the garden as shall be declared Those called Ciues haue beene taken of some for a kinde of wilde Onion but all the Authors that I haue beene acquainted with do accord that there is not any wild Onion 1 Schoenoprason Ciues or Chiues 2 Porrum vitigineum French Leekes or Vine Leekes 3 Ampeloprason siue porrum siluestre Wilde Leeke ¶ The Description 1 CIues bring forth many leaues about a hand-full high long slender round like to little rushes amongst which grow vp small and tender stalkes sending forth certaine knops with floures like those of the Onion but much lesser They haue many little bulbes 〈◊〉 headed roots fastned together out of which grow downe into the earth a great number of little strings and it hath both the smell and taste of the Onion and Leeke as it were participating of both 2 The Vine Leeke or French Leeke groweth vp with blades like those of Leekes the stalke is a cubit high on the top whereof standeth a round head or button couered at the first with a thinne skinne which being broken the floures and seeds come forth like those of the Onion The bulbe 〈◊〉 headed root is round hard and sound which is quickly multiplied by sending forth many bulbes ‡ 3 The wilde Leeke hath leaues much like vnto those of Crow-garlicke but larger and more acride The floures and seeds also resemble those of the Crow-garlicke the seeds being about the bignesse of cornes of wheat with smal strings comming forth at their ends ‡ ¶ The Time and Place 1 Ciues are set in gardens they flourish long and continue many yeares they suffer the cold of Winter They are cut and polled often as is the vnset Leeke 2 The Vine-leeke groweth of it selfe in Vineyards and neere vnto Vines in hot regions wherof it both tooke the name Vine-Leeke and French Leeke It beareth his greene leaues in Winter and withereth away in the Sommer It groweth in most gardens of England ‡ Thus farre our Author describes and intimates to you a garden Leeke much like the ordinarie in all respects but somewhat larger But the following names belong to the wilde Leeke which here we giue you in the third place ‡ ¶ The Names Ciues are called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shoenoprasum in Dutch 〈◊〉 as though you should say Iunceum Porrum or Rush Leeke in English Ciues Chiues Ciuet and Sweth in French Brelles 2 The Vine-leeke or rather wild Leeke is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the place where it naturally groweth it may be called in Latine Porrum Vitium or Vitigineum Porrum in English after the Greeke and Latine Vine Leeke or French Leeke ¶ The Temperature Ciues are like in facultie vnto the Leeke hot and dry The Vine leeke heateth more than doth the other Leeke ¶ The Vertues Ciues attenuate or make thinne open prouoke vrine ingender hot and grosse vapours and are
containing the seed The root is small and full of fibres ¶ The Place Cow-Basill groweth in my garden but Ephemerum is a stranger as yet in England ¶ The Time They floure in May and Iune 1 Vaccaria Cow-Basill 2 Ephemerum Matthioli Quicke-fading floure ‡ ¶ The Names 1 Cow-Basill is by Cordus called Thamecnemon by some according to Gesner Lychnis Perfoliatarubra Lobel termes it 〈◊〉 syluestris and Vaccaria the last of which names is retained by most late Writers 2 This by Lobel is said to be Ephemerum of Matthiolus yet I thinke Matthiolus his figure which was in this place formerly was but a counterfeit and so also doe Columna and 〈◊〉 iudge of it and Bauhine thinkes this of 〈◊〉 to be some kinde of Lysimachia ‡ ¶ The Nature and Vertues I finde not any thing extant concerning the Nature and Vertues of Vaccaria or Cow-Basill 〈◊〉 as Dioscorides writeth boyled in wine and the mouth washed with the decoction thereof taketh away the tooth-ache CHAP. 135. Of Sesamoides or Bastard Weld or Woade ¶ The Description 1 THe great Sesamoides hath very long leaues and many slender toward the stalk and broader by degrees toward the end placed confusedly vpon a thicke stiffe stalke on the top whereof grow little foolish or idle white floures which being past there 〈◊〉 small seeds like vnto Canarie seed that birds are fed withall The root is thicke and of a wooddy substance ‡ 2 This lesser 〈◊〉 of Salamanca from a long liuing white hard and prettie thicke root sends vp manv little stalks set thicke with small leaues like those of Line and from the middle to the top of the stalke grow many floures at first of a geeenish purple and then putting forth yellowish threds out of 〈◊〉 midst of which appeare as it were foure greene graines which when the floure is fallen grow into little cods full of a small blackish seed It growes in a stony soile vpon the hills neere Salamanca where it floures in May and shortly after perfects his seed ‡ 1 Sesamoides Salamanticum magnum Great bastard Woade 2 Sesamoides Salamanticum parvum Small Bastard Woade 3 Sesamoides parvum Matthioli Bucks-horne Gum-Succorie ‡ 3 Our Author formerly in the Chapter of Chondrilla spoke in Dodonaeus his words against the making of this plant a Sesamoides for of this plant were the words of Dodonaeus which are these Diuers saith he haue taken the plant with blew floures to be Sesamoides parvum but without any reason for that Sesamoides hath borrowed his name from the likenesse it hath with Sesamum but this herbe is not like to Sesamum in any one point and therefore I thinke it better referred vnto the Gum Succories for the floures haue the form and colour of Gum Succory and it yeeldeth the like milky juyce Our Authour it seemes was either forgetfull or ignorant of what he had said for here hee made it one and described it meerly by the figure and his fancie Now I following his tract haue though vnfitly put it here because there was no historie nor figure of it formerly there but both here though false and vnperfect This plant hath a root somewhat like that of Goats-beard from which arise leaues rough and hairy diuided or cut in on both sides after the manner of Bucks-horne and larger than they The stalke is some foot high diuided into branches which on their tops carry floures of a faire blew colour like those of Succorie which stand in rough scaly heads like those of Knapweed ‡ ¶ The Place These do grow in rough and stony places but are all strangers in England ¶ The Time These floure in May and Iune and shortly after ripen their seed ‡ ¶ The Names ‡ 1 〈◊〉 thinke none of these to be the Sesamoides of the Antients The first is set forth by Clusius vnder the name we here giue you it is the Muscipula altera muscoso flore of Lobel Viscago maior of Camerarius 2 This also Clusius and Lobel haue set forth by the same name as we giue you them 3 Matthiolus Camerarius and others haue set this forth for Sesamoides parvum in the Historia Lugd. it is called Catanance quorundam but most fitly by Dodon Chondrillae species tertia The third kinde of Gum-Succory ‡ ¶ The Temperature Galen affirmeth that the seed containeth in it selfe a bitter qualitie and saith that it heateth breaketh and scoureth ¶ The Vertues Dioscorides affirmeth that the weight of an halfe-penny of the seed drunke with Meade or honied water purgeth flegme and choler by the stoole The same being applied doth waste hard knots and swellings CHAP. 136. Of Dyers Weed Luteola Dyers weed or yellow weed ¶ The Description DYers weed hath long narrow and greenish yellow leaues not much vnlike to woad but a great deale smaller and narrower from among which commeth vp a stalke two cubits high beset with little narrow leaues euen to the top of the stalke come forth small pale yellow floures closely clustering together one aboue another which doe turne into small buttons cut as it were crosse-wise wherein the seed is contained The root is very long and single ¶ The Place Dyers weed groweth of it selfe in moist barren and vntilled places in and about Villages almost euery where ¶ The Names Pliny lib. 33. cap. 5. maketh mention by the way of this herbe and calleth it Lutea Vitruvius in his seuenth booke Lutum it is the Anticarhinum of Tragus Pseudostruthium of Mathiolus Virgill in his Bucolickes Eglog 4. cals it also Lutum in English Welde or Dyers weed ¶ The Time This herbe flourisheth in Iune and Iuly ¶ The Nature It is hot and dry of temperature ‡ ¶ The Vertues The root as also the whole herbe heates and dries in the third degree it cuts attenuates resolueth opens digests Some also commend it against the punctures and bites of venomous creatures not onely outwardly applied to the wound but also taken inwardly in drinke Also it is commended against the infection of the Plague some for these reasons terme it Theriacaria Mat. ‡ CHAP. 137. Of Staues-acre Staphis-agria Staues-acre ¶ The Description STaues-acre hath straight stalkes of a 〈◊〉 colour with leaues clouen or cut into sundry sections almost like the leaues of the wilde Vine The floures do grow vpon short stems fashioned somewhat like vnto our common Monks hood of a perfect blew colour which being past there succeed welted huskes like those of Wolfs-bane wherein is contained triangular brownish rough seed The root is of a wooddy substance and perisheth when it hath perfected his seed ¶ The Place It is with great difficultie preserued in our cold countries albeit in some milde VVinters I haue kept it couered ouer with a little Ferne to defend it from the iniury of the March winde which doth more harme vnto plants that 〈◊〉 forth of hot Countries than doth the greatest frosts ¶ The Time It floureth in Iune and the seed is ripe the second yeare of his sowing
thin parts hot and dry in the later end of the third degree especially the purest spirits thereof for the purer it is the hotter it is the dryer and of thinner parts which is made more pure by often distilling This water distilled out of wine is good for all those that are made cold either by a long disease or through age as for old and impotent men for it cherisheth and increaseth naturall heate vpholdeth strength repaireth and augmenteth the same it prolongeth life quickeneth all the senses and doth not only preserue the memory but also recouereth it when it is lost it sharpeneth the sight It is fit for those that are taken with the Catalepsie which is a disease in the braine proceeding of 〈◊〉 and cold and are subject to dead sleepes if there be no feuer joined it serueth for the weakenesse trembling and beating of the hart it strengtheneth and heateth a 〈◊〉 stomacke it consumeth winde both in the stomacke sides and bowels it maketh good concoction of meate and is a singular remedy against cold poisons It hath such force and power in strengthening of the hart and stirreth vp the instruments of the senses that it is most effectuall not onely inwardly taken to the quantitie of a little spoonefull but also outwardly applied that is to say set to the nosthrils or laid vpon the temples of the head and to the wrests of the armes and also to foment and bath sundry hurts and griefes Being held in the mouth it helpeth the tooth-ache is is also good against cold cramps and convulsions being chafed and rubbed therewith Some are bold to giue it in quartaines before the fit especially after the height or prim of the disease This water is to be giuen in wine with great iudgement and discretion for seeing it is extreme hot and of most subtill parts and nothing else but the very spirit of th wine it most speedily peirceth through and doth easily assault and hurt the braine Therefore it may be giuen to such as haue the apoplexie and falling sicknesse the megrim the headach of long continuance the Vertigo or giddinesse proceeding through a cold cause yet can it not be alwaies safely giuen for vnlesse the matter the efficient cause of the disease be small and the sicke man of temperature very cold it cannot be ministred without danger for that it spredeth and disperseth the humours it filleth or stuffeth the head and maketh the sicke man worse and if the humours be hot as bloud is it doth not a little increase inflammations also This water is hurtfull to all that be of nature and complexion hot and most of all to cholericke men it is also offensiue to the liuer and likewise vnprofitable for the kidnies being often and plentifully taken If I should take in hand to write of euery mixture of each infusion of the sundry colours and euery other circumstance that the vulgar people doe giue vnto this water and their diuers vse I should spend much time but to small purpose ¶ Of Argall Tartar or wine Lees. The Lees of wine which is become hard like a crust and sticketh to the sides of the vessell and wine casks being dried hard sound and well compact and which way be beaten into powder is called in shops 〈◊〉 in English Argall and Tartar These Lees are vsed for many things the siluer-Smiths polish their siluer herewith the Diers vse it and it is profitable in medicine It doth greatly dry and wast away as Paulus Aegineta saith it hath withall a binding facultie proceeding from the kinde of wine of which it commeth The same serueth for moist diseases of the body it is good for them that haue the greene sicknes and the dropsie especially that kinde that lieth in the flesh called in Latine Leucophlagmatica being taken euery day fasting halfe a penny weight or a full penny weight which is a dram and nine graines after the Romanes computation doth not onely dry vp the waterish excrements and voideth them by vrine but it preuaileth much to clense the belly by siege It would worke more effectually if it were mixed either with hot spices or with other things that breake winde or else with diuretickes which are medicines that prouoke vrine likewise to be mixed with gentle purgers as the sicke mans case shall require The same of it selfe or tempered with oile of Myrtles is a remedy against soft swellings as Dioscorides teacheth it staieth the laske and vomiting being applied outwardly vpon the region of the stomacke in a pultis and if it be laid to the bottome of the belly and secret parts it stoppeth the whites wasteth away hot swellings of the kernels in the flankes and other places which be not yet exulcerated it asswageth great brests and dryeth vp the milke if it be annointed on with vineger These Lees are oftentimes burnt if it become all white it is a signe of right and perfect burning for till then it must be burned being so burnt the Grecians terme it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Aegineta saith the Apothecaries call it Tartarum vstum and Tartarum calcinatum that it to say burnt or calcined Tartar It hath a very great causticke or burning qualitie it clenseth and throughly heateth bindeth eateth and very much drieth as Dioscorides doth write being mixed with Rosin it maketh rough and ill nailes to fall away Paulus saith that it is mixed with causticks or burning medicines to increase their burning qualitie it must be vsed whilest it is new made because it quickly vanisheth for the Lees of wine burned do soone relent or wax moist and are speedily resolued into liquor therefore he that would vse it dry must haue it put in a glasse or glassed vessell well stopped and set in a hot and dry place It melteth and is turned into liquor if it be hanged in a linnen bag in some place in a celler vnder the ground The Apothecaries call this liquor that droppeth away from it oile of Tartar It retaineth a causticke and burning quality and also a very dry facultie it very soon taketh away leprie scabs retters and other filth and deformitie of the skin and face with an equall quantitie of Rose water added and as much Ceruse as is sufficient for a liniment wherewith the blemished or spotted parts must be anointed ouer night ¶ The briefe summe of that hath been said of the Vine THe iuyce of the greene leaues branches and tendrels of the Vine drunken is good for those that vomit and spit bloud for the bloudy flix and for women with childe that vomite ouermuch The kernell within the grapes boyled in water and drunke hath the same effect Wine moderately drunke profiteth much and maketh good digestion but it hurteth and distempereth them that drinke it seldome White wine is good to be drunke before meate it preserueth the body and pierceth quickely into the bladder but vpon a full stomacke it rather maketh oppilations or stoppings because it doth swiftly driue downe
leaues together with the roots and stalkes do perish ¶ The Names Clusius calleth it Battata Camotes Amotes and Ignames in English Potatoes Potatus and Potades ¶ The Temperature The leaues of Potatoes are hot and dry as may euidently appeare by the taste The roots are of a temperate 〈◊〉 ¶ The Vertues The Potato roots are among the Spaniards Italians Indians and many other nations common and ordinarie meate which no doubt are of mighty and nourishing parts and do strengthen and comfort nature whose nutriment is as it were a meane betweene flesh and fruit but somwhat windie but being tosted in the embers they lose much of their windinesse especially being eaten sopped in wine Of these roots may be made conserues no lesse toothsome wholesome and dainty than of the flesh of Quinces and likewise those comfortable and delicate meats called in shops 〈◊〉 Placentulae and diuers other such like These Roots may serue as a ground or foundation whereon the cunning Confectioner or Sugar-Baker may worke and frame many comfortable delicate Conserues and restoratiue sweete meates They are vsed to be eaten rosted in the ashes Some when they be so rosted infuse them and sop them in Wine and others to giue them the greater grace in eating doe boyle them with prunes and so eate them And likewise others dresse them being first rosted with Oyle Vineger and salt euerie man according to his owne taste and liking Notwithstanding howsoeuer they bee dressed they comfort nourish and strengthen the body procuring bodily lust and that with greedinesse CHAP. 350. Of Potatoes of Virginia ¶ The Description VIrginia Potato hath many hollow flexible branches trailing vpon the ground three square vneuen knotted or kneed in sundry places at certaine distances from the which knots commeth forth one great leafe made of diuers leaues some smaller and others greater set together vpon a fat middle rib by couples of a swart greene colour tending to rednesse the whole leafe resembling those of the Winter-Cresses but much larger in taste at the first like grasse but afterward sharpe and nipping the tongue From the bosome of which leaues come forth long round slender foot-stalkes whereon do grow very faire pleasant floures made of one entire 〈◊〉 leafe which is folded or plaited in such strange sort that it seemeth to be a sloure made of 〈◊〉 sundry small leaues which cannot easily be perceiued except the same be pulled open The whole floure is of a light purple colour striped downe the middle of euery fold or welt with a light shew of yellownesse as if purple and yellow were mixed together in the middle of the floure 〈◊〉 forth a thicke flat pointall yellow as gold with a small sharpe greene pricke or point in the middest thereof The fruit succeedeth the floures round as a ball of the bignesse of a little Bullesse or wilde plum greene at the first and blacke when it is ripe wherein is contained small white seed lesser than those of Mustard The root is thicke fat and tuberous not much differing either in shape colour or taste from the common Potatoes sauing that the roots hereof are not so 〈◊〉 nor long some of them are as round as a ball some ouall or egge-fashion some longer and others shorter the which knobby roots are fastened vnto the stalkes with an infinite number of threddie strings Battata Virginiana siue Virginianorum Pappus Virginian Potatoes ¶ The Place It groweth natnrally in America where it was first discouered as reports C. Clusius since which time I haue receiued roots hereof from Virginia otherwise called Norembega which grow and prosper in my garden as in their owne natiue countrey ¶ The Time The leaues thrust forth of the ground in the beginning of May the floures bud forth in August The fruit is ripe in September ¶ The Names The Indians do call this plant Pappus meaning the roots by which name also the common Potatoes are called in those Indian countries We haue the name proper vnto it mentioned in the title Because it hath not onely the shape and proportion of Potatoes but also the pleasant taste and vertues of the same we may call it in English Potatoes of America or Virginia ‡ Clusius questions whether it be not the Arachidna of Theophrastus Bauhine hath referred it to the Nightshades and calleth it Solanum tuberosum 〈◊〉 and largely figures and describes it in his Prodromus pag. 89. ‡ ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The temperature and vertues be referred vnto the common Potatoes being likewise a food as also a meate for pleasure equall in goodnesse and wholesomenesse vnto the same being either rosted in the embers or boyled and eaten with oyle vineger and pepper or dressed any other way by the hand of some cunning in cookerie ‡ Bauhine saith That he heard that the vse of these toots was forbidden in Bourgondy where they call them Indian Artichokes for that they were persuaded the too frequent vse of them caused the leprosie ‡ CHAP. 351. Of the Garden Mallow called Hollihocke ¶ The Kindes THere be diuers sorts or kindes of Mallowes some of the garden there be also some of the Marish or sea shore others of the field and both wilde And first of the Garden Mallow or Hollihocke 1 Malua hortensis Single Garden Hollihocke 2 Malua rosea simplex peregrina Iagged strange Hollihoeke ¶ The Description 1 THe tame or garden Mallow bringeth forth broad round leaues of a whitish greene colour rough and greater than those of the wilde Mallow The stalke is straight of the height of foure or six cubits whereon do grow vpon slender foot-stalks single floures not much vnlike to the wilde Mallow but greater consisting only of fiue leaues sometimes white or red now and then of a deepe purple colour varying diuersly as Nature list to play with it in their places groweth vp a round knop like a little cake compact or made vp of a multitude of flat seeds like little cheeses The root is long white tough easily bowed and groweth deepe in the ground 3 Malua purpurea multiplex Double purple Hollihocke 2 The second being a strange kinde of Hollihocke hath likewise broad leaues rough and hoarie or of an ouerworne russet colour cut into diuers sections euen to the middle ribbe like those of Palma Christi The floures are very single but of a perfect red colour wherein consisteth the greatest difference ‡ And this may be called Malua rosea simplex peregrina folio Ficus Iagged strange Hollihocke ‡ 3 The double Hollihocke with purple floures hath great broad leaues confusedly indented about the edges and likewise toothed like a saw The stalke groweth to the height of foure or fiue cubits The floures are double and of a bright purple colour 4 The Garden Hollihocke with double floures of the colour of scarlet groweth to the height of fiue or six cubits hauing many broad leaues cut about the edges The stalke and root is like the precedent ‡ This may be called Multea
obscuritie and darknesse of the same CHAP. 421. Of Burnet 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Garden Burnet 2 Pimpinella syluestris Wilde Burnet ¶ The Kinds Bvrnet of which we will intreat doth differ from Pimpinella which is also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Burnets is lesser for the most part 〈◊〉 in gardens notwithstanding it groweth in barren fieldes where it is much smaller the other greater is 〈◊〉 wilde ¶ The Description 1 GArden Bumet hath long leaues made vp together of a great many vpon one stem euery one whereof is something round nicked on the edges somwhat 〈◊〉 among these riseth a stalke that is not altogether without leaues something chamsered vpon the tops whereof grow little round heads or knaps which bring sorth small floures of a 〈◊〉 purple colour and after them cornered seeds which are thrust vp together The root is long the whole plant doth smell something like a Melon or Cucumber 2 Wilde Burnet is greater in all parts it hath wider and bigger leaues than those of the sormer the stalke is longer sometimes two cubits high the knaps are greater of a darke purple colour and the seed is likewise cornered and greater the root longer but this Burnet hath no pleasant smell at all ‡ 3 There is kept in some gardens another of this kinde with very large leaues stalkes and heads for the heads are some inch and halfe long yet but slender considering the 〈◊〉 and the floures as I remember are of a whitish colour in other respects it differs not from the precedent it may fitly be called Pimpinella sanguisorba hortensis maxima Great Garden 〈◊〉 ‡ ¶ The Place The small Pimpinell is commonly planted in gardens notwithstanding it doth grow wilde vpon many barren heaths and pastures The great wilde Burnet groweth as Mr. Lyte saith in dry medowes about Viluord and my selfe haue found it growing vpon the side of a causey which crosseth the one halfe of a field whereof the one part is carable ground and the other part medow lying between Paddington and Lysson 〈◊〉 neere vnto London vpon the high way ¶ The Time They floure 〈◊〉 Iune vnto the end of August ¶ The Names The later herbarists doe call Burnet Pimpinella sanguisorba that it may differ from the other and yet it is called by seuerall names 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Gesner had rather it should be called 〈◊〉 of the smell of Melons or Pompious to which it is like as we haue said of others it is named Pimpinella or Bipennyla of most men Solbastrella in High Dutch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in French Pimpennelle 〈◊〉 in English Burnet It agreeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say with Dioscorides his second Iron-woort the leafe and especially that of the lesser sort which we haue written to consist of many nicks in the edges of the leaues and this may be the very same which Pliny in his 24 book chapter 17. 〈◊〉 to be named in Persia Sissitiepteris because it made them merry he also calleth the same Protomedia and Casigneta and likewise 〈◊〉 for that it doth 〈◊〉 agree with wine to which also this Pimpinella as we haue said doth giue 〈◊〉 pleasant sent neither is that repugnant that Pliny in another place hath written De Sideritibus of the Iron-woorts for it osten falleth out that he intreateth of one and the selfe same plant in diuers places vnder diuers names which thing then 〈◊〉 sooner when the writers themselues do not well know the plant as that Pliny did not well know Sideritis or Iron-woort it is euen thereby manisest because he setteth not downe his owne opinion hereof but other mens ¶ The Temperature Burnet besides the drying and binding facultie that it hath doth likewise meanly coole and the lesser Burnet hath likewise with all a certaine superficiall sleight and temperate sent which when it is put into the wine it doth leaue behind it this is not in the dry herbe in the iuice nor in the decoction ¶ The Vertues Burnet is a singular good herb for wounds which thing Dioscorides doth attribute to his second Ironwoort and commended of a number it stancheth bleeding and therefore it was named Sanguisorba as well inwardly taken as outwardly applied Either the iuice is giuen or the decoction of the pouder of the drie leaues of the herbe beeing 〈◊〉 it is outwardly applied or else put among other externall medicines It staieth the laske and bloudy flix it is also most effectuall to stop the monthly course The lesser 〈◊〉 is pleasant to be eaten in sallads in which it is thought to make the heart 〈◊〉 and glad as also being put into wine to which it yeeldeth a certaine grace in the drinking The decoction of Pimpinell drunken cureth the bloudy flix the spitting of bloud and all other fluxes of bloud in man or woman The herbe and seed made into pouder and drunke with wine or water wherein iron hath beene quenched doth the like The leaues of Pimpinell are very good to heale wounds and are receiued in drinkes that are made for inward wounds The leaues of Burnet steeped in winc and drunken comfort the heart and make it merry and are good against the trembling and shaking thereof CHAP. 422. Of English Saxifrage ¶ The Description 1 THis kinde of Saxifrage our English women Physitions haue in great vse and is familiarly knowne vnto them vouchsafing that name vnto it of his vertues against the stone it hath the leaues of Fennel but thicker and broader very like vnto Seseli pratense Monspeliensium which addition Pena hath bestowed vpon this our English Saxifrage among which riseth vp a stalke of a cubit high or more bearing at the top spokie rundles beset with whitish yellow floures the root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thicke blacke without and white within and of a good sauour 1 Saxifraga Anglicana facie Seseli pratensis English Saxifrage ‡ 2 Saxifraga Pannonica Clusq Austrian Saxifrage ‡ 2 Clusius hath set forth another plant not much different from this our common Saxifrage and called it Saxifraga Pannonica which I haue thought fit here to insert the leaus saith he are much 〈◊〉 than those of Hogs-Fennell and somewhat like those of Fumitorie the stalkes are some soot high slender hauing some few small leaues and at the top carrying an vmbel of white floures the root is not much vnlike that of Hogs-Fennel but shorter and more acride it is 〈◊〉 at the top thereof whence the stalkes and leaues come forth it growes vpon some hils in Hungarie and Au stria and floures in Iuly ‡ ¶ The Place Saxifrage groweth in most fields and medowes euery where through out this our kingdome of England ¶ The Time It floureth from the beginning of May to the end of August ¶ The Names Saxifraga Anglicana is called in our mother tongue Stone-breake or English Saxifrage 〈◊〉 and Lobel call it by this name Saxifraga Anglicana for that it groweth more plentifully in England than in any other countrey ¶ The Nature Stone-breake is hot
and drie in the third degree ¶ The Vertues A decoction made with the seeds and roots of 〈◊〉 breaketh the stone in the bladder and kidneies helpeth the strangurie and causeth one to pisse freely The root of Stone-breake boiled in wine and the decoction drunken bringeth downe womens sicknesse expelleth the secondine and dead childe The root dried and made into pouder and taken with sugar comforteth and warmeth the stomack cureth the gnawings and griping paines of the belly It helpeth the collicke and driueth away ventosities or windinesse Our English women vse to put it in their running or rennet for cheese especially in 〈◊〉 where I was borne where the best cheese of this Land is made CHAP. 423. Of Siler Mountaine or bastard Louage 1 Siler montanum Officinarum Bastard Louage 2 Seseli pratense 〈◊〉 Horse Fennell ¶ The Description 1 THe naturall plants of Seseli being now better knowne than in times past especially among our Apothecaries is called by them Siler montanum and Sescleos this plant they haue retained to very good purpose and consideration but the errour of the name hath caused diuers of our late writers to erre and to suppose that Siler 〈◊〉 called in shops Seselcos was no other than 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Dioscorides But this plant containeth in his substance much more acrimony sharpenesse and efficacy in working than any of the plants called Seselios It hath stalkes like Ferula two cubits high The root smelleth like Liguslicum the leaues are very much cut or diuided like the leaues of Fennell or Seseli 〈◊〉 and broader than the leaues of Peucedanum At the top of the stalkes grow spoky tufts like Angelica which bring forth a long and lcafie seed like Cumine of a pale colour in taste seeming as though it were condited with sugar but withall somewhat sharpe and sharper than Seseli pratense 2 There is a second kinde of Siler which Pena and Lobel set forth vnder the title of Seseli pratense Monspeliensiam which Dodonaeus in his last edition calleth Siler pratense alterum that is in shew very like the sormer the stalkes thereof grow to the height of two cubits but his leaues are somewhat broader and blacker there are not so many leaues growing vpon the stalke and they are lesse diuided than the former and are of little sauour The seed is smaller than the former and sauouring very little or nothing The root is blacke without and white within diuiding it selfe into sundry diuisions ¶ The Place It groweth of it selfe in Liguria not far from Genua in the craggy mountaines and in the gardens of diligent Herbarists ¶ The Time These plants do floure from Iune to the end of August ¶ The Names It is called commonly Siler Montanum in French and Dutch by a corrupt name Ser-Montain in diuers shops Seseleos but vntruly for it is not Seseli nor a kinde thereof in English Siler mountaine after the Latine name and bastard Louage ‡ The first is thought to be the Ligusticum of the Antients and it is so called by Matthiolus and others ‡ ¶ The Nature This plant with his seed is hot and dry in the third degree ¶ The Vertues The seeds of Siler drunke with Wormewood wine or wine wherein Wormewood hath been sodden mooueth womens diseases in great abundance cureth the suffocation and strangling of the matrix and causeth it to returne vnto the naturall place againe The root stamped with hony and applied or put into old sores doth cure them and couer bare and naked bones with flesh Being drunke it prouoketh vrine easeth the paines of the guts or entrailes proceeding of cruditie or rawnesse it helpeth concoction consumeth winde and swelling of the stomacke The root hath the same vertue or operation but not so effectuall as not being so hot and dry CHAP. 224. Of Seselios or Harte-worts of Candy ¶ The Description 1 THis plant being the Seseli of Candy and in times past not elsewhere found tooke his surname of that place where it was first found but now adaies it is to be seen in the corne fields about Narbon in France from whence I had seeds which prosper well in mv garden This is but an annuall plant and increaseth from yeere to yeere by his owne sowing The leaues grow at the first euen with the ground somewhat hairy of an ouerworne greene colour in shape much like vnto Cheruill but thicker among which riseth vp an hairy rough stalke of the height of a cubit bearing at the top spokie tufts with white floures which being vaded there followeth round and flat seed compassed and cunningly wreathed about the edges like a ring The seed is flat like the other ioyned two together in one as you may see in the seed of Ferula or Angelica in shape like a round target in taste like Myrrhis Matthiolus did greatly mistake this plant 2 There is a kinde of Seseli Creticum called also Tordylion and is very like vnto the former sauing that his leaues are more like vnto common Parsneps than Cheruil and the whole plant is biggerthan the former 1 Seseli Creticum minus Small Seseleos of Candie ‡ 2 Seseli Creticum maius Great Seselios of Candie 3 There is likewise a kinde of Seseli that hath a root as big as a mans arme especially if the plant be old but the new and young plants beare roots an inch thicke with some knobs and tuberous sprouts about the lower part the root is thicke rough and couered ouer with a thicke barke the substance whereof is first gummie afterward sharpe and as it were full of spattle from the vpper part of the root proceed many knobs or thicke swelling roots out of which there issueth great and large wings or branches of leaues some whereof are notched and dented round about growing vnto one side or rib of the leafe standing also one opposite vnto another of a darke and delaid green colour and somewhat shining aboue but vnderneath of a grayish or ashe colour from amongst these leaues there ariseth a straked or guttered stalke a cubit and a halfe high sometimes an inch thicke hauing many ioints or knees and many branches growing about them and vpon each ioint lesser branches of leaues At the top of the stalkes and vpper ends of the branches grow little cups or vmbels of white floures which being vaded there commeth in place a seed which is very like Siler montanum ‡ I take this here described to be the Seseli montanum 1. of Clusius or Ligusticum alterum Belgarum of 〈◊〉 and therefore I haue giuen you Clusius his figure in this place ‡ There is also a kinde of Seseli which Pena setteth forth for the first kinde of Daucus whereof I take it to be a kinde growing euery where in the pastures about London that hath large leaues growing for a time euen with the earth and spred thereupon and diuided into many parts in manner almost like to the former for the most part in all things in the round
root hereof as Galen saith containeth in it a deadly qualitie it is also by Nicander numbred among the poysonous herbes in his booke of Treacles by Dioscorides lib. 6. and by Paulus Aegineta and therefore it is vsed only outwardly as for scabs morphewes tetters and to be briefe for all such things as stand in need of clensing moreouer it is mixed with such things as doe dissolue and mollific as Galen saith CHAP. 484. Of Sea Holly ¶ The Kindes DIoscorides maketh mention onely of one sea Holly Pliny lib. 22. cap. 7. seemes to acknowledge two one growing in rough places another by the fea side The Physitians after them haue obserued more ¶ The Description 1 SEa Holly hath broad leaues almost like to Mallow leaues but cornered in the edges and set round about with hard prickles fat of a blewish white and of an aromaticall or spicie taste the stalke is thicke aboue a cubit high now and then somewhat red below it breaketh forth on the tops into prickly or round heads or knops of the bignesse of a Wall-nut held in for the most part with six prickely leaues compassing the top of the stalke round about which leaues as wel as the heads are of a glistring blew the floures forth of the heads are likewise blew with white threds in the midst the root is of the bignesse of a mans finger very long and so long as that it cannot be all plucked vp vnlesse very seldome set here and therewith knots and of taste sweet and pleasant 2 The leaues of the second sea Holly are diuersly cut into sundry parcels being all ful of prickles alongst the edges the stalke is diuided into many branches and bringeth sorth prickly heads but lesser than those of the other from which there also grow forth blew floures seldome yellow there stand likewise vnder euery one of these six rough and prickly leaues like those of the other but thinner and smaller the root hereof is also long blacke without white within a finger thicke of taste and smell like that of the other as be also the leaues which are likewise of an aromaticall or spicie taste which being new sprung vp and as yet tender be also good to be eaten 1 Eryngium marinum Sea Holly 2 Eryngium mediterraneum Leuant sea Holly ¶ The Place Eryngium marinum growes by the sea side vpon the baich and stony ground I found it growing plentifully at Whitstable in Kent at Rie and Winchelsea in Sussex and in Essex at Landamer lading at Harwich and vpon Langtree point on the other side of the water from whence I haue brought plants for my garden Eryngium Campestre groweth vpon the shores of the Mediterranean sea and in my garden likewise ¶ The Time Both of them do floure after the Sommer solstice and in Iuly ¶ The Names This Thistle is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and likewise in Latine Eryngium and of Pliny also Erynge in shops Eringus in English Sea Holly sea Holme or sea Huluer The first is called in Latine Eryngium marinum in low-Dutch euery where Cryus distil Eindeloos Meerwortele in English sea Holly The second is named of Pliny lib. 22. cap. 8. Centum capita or hundred headed Thistle in high-Dutch 〈◊〉 Branchendistell Radendistel in Spanish Cardo corredor in Italian Eringio and Iringo this is syrnamed Campestre or Champion sea Holly that it may differ from the other ¶ The Temperature The roots of them both are hot and that in a mean and a little dry also with a thinnesse of substance as Galen testifieth ¶ The Vertues The roots of sea Holly boyled in wine and drunken are good for them that are troubled with the Collicke it breaketh the stone expelleth grauell and helpeth also the infirmities of the kidnies prouoketh vrine greatly opening the passages being drunke fifteene dayes together The roots themselues haue the same propertie if they be eaten and are good for those that be 〈◊〉 sicke and for such as are bitten with any venomous beast they ease cramps convulsions and the falling sicknesse and bring downe the termes The roots condited or preserued with sugar as hereafter followeth are exceeding good to be giuen vnto old and aged people that are consumed and withered with age and which want naturall moisture they are also good for other sorts of people that haue no delight or appetite to venerie nourishing and restoring the aged 〈◊〉 amending the defects of nature in the younger ¶ The manner to condite Eryngos Refine sugar fit for the purpose and take a pound of it the white of an egge and a pint of cleere water boile them together and scum it then let it boile vntill it be come to good strong syrrup and when it is boiled as it cooleth adde thereto a saucer full of Rose-water a spoone full of Cinnamon water and a graine of Muske which haue been infused together the night before and now strained into which syrrup being more than halfe cold put in your roots to soke and infuse vntill the next day your roots being ordered in manner hereafter following These your roots being washed and picked must be boiled in faire water by the space of foure houres vntill they be soft then must they be pilled cleane as ye pill parsneps and the pith must bee drawne out at the end of the root and if there be any whose pith cannot be drawne out at the end then you must slit them and so take out the pith these you must also keepe from much handling that they may be cleane let them remaine in the syrrup till the next day and then set them on the fire in a faire broad pan vntill they be verie hot but let them not boile at all let them there remaine ouer the fire an houre or more remoouing them easily in the pan from one place to another with a woodden slice This done haue in a readinesse great cap or royall papers whereupon you must straw some Sugar vpon which lay your roots after that you haue taken them out of the pan These papers you must put into a Stoue or hot house to harden but if you haue not such a place lay them before a good fire In this manner if you condite your roots there is not any that can prescribe you a better way And thus may you condite any other root whatsoeuer which will not onely bee exceeding delicate but very wholesome and effectuall against the diseases aboue named A certaine man affirmeth saith Aetius that by the continual vse of Sea Holly he neuer afterward voided any stone when as before he was very often tormented with that disease It is drunke saith Dioscorides with Carrot seed against very many infirmities in the weight of a dramme The iuice of the leaues pressed forth with wine is a remedie for those that are troubled with the running of the reines They report that the herbe Sea Holly if one Goat take it into her mouth it causeth her first to stand still and
sommer it sheddeth his old leaues when new are come by meanes whereof it is neuer void of leaues it floureth early in the spring and the fruit is ripe in Autumne Cassia fistula Pudding Pipe tree ¶ The Names This tree was vnknowne to the old writers or so little accounted of as that they haue made no mention of it at all the Arabians were the first that esteemed of it by reason they knew the vse of the pulpe which is found in the Pipes and after them the later Grecians as Actuarius other of his time by whom it was named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say in Latine Casia nigra The fruit thereof saith Actuarius in his fist booke is like a long pipe hauing within it a thicke humour or moisture which is not congealed all alike thorow the pipe but is separated and diuided with many partitions being thin wooddy skins The Apothecaries call it Casia 〈◊〉 and with a double ss Cassia 〈◊〉 it is called in English after the Apothecaries word Cassia fistula and may also be Englished Pudding Pipe because the cod or Pipe is like a pudding but the old Cassia fistula or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke is that sweet and odoriferous barke that is rolled together after the manner of a long and roundpipe now named of the Apothecaries Cassia lignea which is a kinde of Cinamon ¶ The Temperature The pulpe of this pipe which is chiefely in request is moist in the later end of the first degree and little more than temperatly hot The Vertues The pulpe of Casia 〈◊〉 extracted with violet water is a most sweet and pleasant medicine and may be giuen without danger to all weak people of what age and sex soeuer they be yea it may be ministred to women with childe for it gently purgeth cholcricke humours and slimie flegme if it be taken in the weight of an ounce Cassia is good for such as be vexed with hot agues pleurisies iaundice or any other inflammation of the liuer being taken as afore is shewed Cassia is good for the reines and kidneies driueth forth grauell and the stone especially if it bee mingled with the decoction of Parsley and Fennell roots and drunke It purgeth and purifieth the bloud making it more cleane than before breaking therewith the actimonie and sharpnesse of the mixture of bloud and choler together It dissolueth all phlegmons and inflammations of the brest lungs and the rough artery called Trachea arteria easing those parts exceeding well Cassia abateth the vehemencie of thirst in agues or any hot disease whatsoeuer especially if it be taken with the iuice of Intybum Cichoreum or Solanum depured according to Art it abateth also the intemperate heat of the reines if it be receiued with diureticke simples or with the 〈◊〉 on of Licorice onely and will not suffer the stone to grow in such persons as do receiue and vse this medicine The best Cassia for your vse is to be taken out of the most ful most heauy fairest cods or canes and those which do shine without and are full of soft pulpe within that pulpe which is newly taken forth is better than that which is kept in boxes by what Art soeuer Cassia being outwardly applied taketh away the roughnesse of the skin and being laid vpon hot swellings it bringeth them to suppuration Many singular compounded medicines are made with this Cassia which here to recite belongs not to my purpose or history CHAP. 84. Of the Lentiske or Masticke tree ¶ The Description 〈◊〉 The Masticke tree ¶ The Description THe Mastick tree groweth commonly like a shrub without any great body rising vp with many springs and shoots like the Hasell and oftentimes it is of the height and bignesse of a meane tree the boughes thereof are tough and flexible the barke is of a yellowish red colour pliable likewise and hard to be broken there stand vpon one rib for the most part 8 leaues set vpon a middle rib much like to the 〈◊〉 of Licorice but harder of a deepe greene colour and oftentimes somewhat red in the brims as also hauing diuers vains running along of a red colour and somthing strong of smel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be mossie and grow in clusters vpon long 〈◊〉 after them come vp the berries of the 〈◊〉 of Vetches greene at the first afterwards of a purple colour and last of all black fat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with a hard black stone within the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of is white of which also is made 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 witnesseth it bringeth forth likewise cods besides the fruit which may be rather 〈◊〉 an excrescence than a cod writhed like a 〈◊〉 in which lieth at the first a liquour and 〈◊〉 when this waxeth stale little liuing things like vnto gnats as in the Turpentine hornes and in the folded leaues of the Elm tree There commeth forth of the Mastick tree a Rosin but dry called Masticke ¶ The Place The Masticke tree groweth in many regions as in Syria Candy Italy Languedocke and in most Prouinces of Spaine but the chiefest is in Chios an Island in Greece in which it is diligently and specially looked vnto and that for the Masticke sake which is there gathered from the husbanded Masticke trees by the inhabitants euery yeare most carefully and is sent from thence into all parts of the world ¶ The Time The floures be in their pride in the spring time and the berries in Autumne the Mastick must be gathered about the time when the Grapes be ¶ The Names This tree is named in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Lentiscus in Italian Lentisque in Spanish 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 in English Masticke tree and of some Lentiske tree The Rosin is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Lentiscina Resina and likewise 〈◊〉 in shops 〈◊〉 in Italian 〈◊〉 in high and low Dutch and French also Mastic in Spanish 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 in English Masticke Clusius writeth that the Spaniards call the oile that is pressed out of the berries 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Mata ¶ The Temperature The leaues barke and gum of the Masticke tree are of a meane and temperate heate and are drie in the second degree and somewhat astringent ¶ The Vertues The leaues and barke of the Masticke tree stoppe the laske the bloudy flixe the spitting of bloud the pissing of bloud and all other fluxes of bloud 〈◊〉 are also good against the falling sickenesse the falling downe of the mother and comming forth of the fundament The gum Masticke hath the same vertue if it be relented in wine and giuen to be drunke Masticke chewed in the mouth is good for the stomacke staieth vomiting increaseth 〈◊〉 comforteth the braines staieth the falling downe of the rheumes and watery humors and maketh a sweet breath The same infused in Rose water is excellent to wash the mouth withall to fasten loosete eth and to comfort the iawes The same spred vpon a piece of leather or veluet and
which I drew as soone as I receiued it and it is marked with this figure 1. The figure 2. sheweth the shape of one particular fruit with the lower side vpwards 3. The same cut through the middle long wayes 4. The same cut side wayes I haue been told but how certaine it is I know not that the floures which precede the fruit are bell-fashioned and of a blew colour I could obserue no seed in the fruit it may be it was because it had been cut from the stocke so long before it came to 〈◊〉 This Plant is found in many places of Asia Africke and America especially in the hot regions you may find frequent mention of it amongst the sea voyages to the East and West Indies by the name of Plantaines or Platanus Bannanas Bonnanas Bouanas Dauanas Poco c. some as our Author hath said haue iudged it the forbidden fruit other-some the Grapes brought to Moses out of the Holy-land ‡ Musae fructus exactior Icon. An exacter figure of the Plantaine fruit ¶ The Place This admirable tree groweth in Egypt Cyprus and Syria neere vnto a chiefe city there called Alep which we call Aleppo and also by Tripolis not far from thence it groweth also in Canara Decan Guzarate and Bengala places of the East Indies ¶ The Time From the root of this tree shooteth forth yong springs or shoots which the people take vp and plant for the increase in the Spring of the yeare The leaues wither away in September as is aboue said ¶ The Names It is called Musa by such as trauell to Aleppo by the Arabians Musa Maum in Syria Mose The Grecians and Christians which inhabit Syria and the Iewes also suppose it to be that tree of whose fruit Adam did taste which others thinke to be a ridiculous fable of Pliny Opuntia It is called in the East Indies as at Malauar where it also groweth Palan in Malayo Pican and in that part of Africa which we call Ginny Bananas in English Adams Apple tree ¶ The Temperature Dioscorides and Serapio iudge that it heateth in the end of the first degree and moistneth in the end of the same ¶ The Vertues The fruit hereof yeeldeth but little nourishment it is good for the heate of the breast lungs and bladder it stoppeth the liuer and hurteth the stomacke if too much of it be eaten and procureth loosenesse in the belly whereupon it is requisit for such as are of a cold constitution in the eating thereof to put vnto it a little Ginger or other spice It is also good for the reines or kidnies and to prouoke vrine it nourisheth the childe in the mothers wombe and stirreth to generation CHAP. 137. Of the Date tree Palma The Date tree Palmarum fructus flores cum Elate The fruit and floures of the Date tree ¶ The Description THe Date tree groweth very great and high the body or trunke thereof is thicke and couered with a scaly rugged barke caused by the falling away of the leaues the boughes grow onely on the top consisting of leaues set vpon a wooddy middle rib like those of Reeds or Flags the inner part of which rib or stalke is soft light hollow and spongie Among the leaues come forth the floures included in a long skinny membrane as it were a sheath or hose like that which couereth the Floure de-Luce before it be blowne which being opened of it selfe white floures start forth standing vpon short and slender foot-stalkes which are fastened with certaine small filaments or threddy strings like vnto little branches after which spring out from the same branches the fruit or Dates which be in fashion long and round in taste sweet and many times somewhat harsh of a yellowish red colour wherein is contained a long hard stone which is in stead of kernell and seed the which I haue planted many times in my Garden and haue growne to the height of three foot but the first frost hath nipped them in such sort that soone after they perished notwithstanding my industrie by couering them or what else I could doe for their succour ¶ The Place The Date trees grow plentifully in Africa and Egypt but those which are in Palestina and Syria be the best they grow likewise in most places of the East and West Indies where there be 〈◊〉 sorts as well wilde as tame or manured ¶ The Time The Date tree is alwaies green and floureth in the Spring time the fruit is ripe in September and being then gathered they are dried in the Sunne that they may be the better both 〈◊〉 into other countries far distant as also 〈◊〉 from rotting at home ¶ The Names The tree is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Palma in English Date tree The fruit is named in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say Glans Palmarum or the fruit of the 〈◊〉 trees and by one word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Palmula in shops Dactylus in high-Dutch Dattelen in low-Dutch Dadelen in Italian Dattoli in French Dattes in Spanish Tamaras and Dattiles in English Date The cod or sheath wherein the floures and Dates are wrapped is called 〈◊〉 and of some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ¶ The Temperature and Vertues All manner of Dates whatsoeuer are hard of digestion and cause head-ache the worser sort be those that be dry and binding as the Egyptian Dates but the soft moist and sweet ones are lesse hurtfull The bloud which is ingendred of Dates in mans body is altogether grosse and somewhat clammy by these the liuer is very quickly stopped especially being inflamed and troubled with some hard swelling so is the spleene likewise The Dates which grow in colder regions when they cannot come to perfect ripenesse if they be eaten too plentifully do fill the body full of raw humors ingender winde and oft times cause the leprosie The drier sorts of Dates as Dioscorides saith be good for those that spet bloud for such as haue bad stomacks and for those also that be troubled with the bloudy flix The best Dates called in Latine Caryotae are good for the roughnesse of the throat and lungs There is made hereof both by the cunning Confectioners and Cookes diuers excellent cordiall comfortable and nourishing medicines and that procure lust of the body very mightily They do also refresh and restore such vnto strength as are entring into a consumption for they strengthen the feeblenesse of the liuer and spleene being made into conuenient broths and physicall medicines directed by a learned Physitian Dry Dates do stop the belly and stay vomiting and the wambling of womens stomackes that are with childe if they be either eaten in meates or otherwise or stamped and applied vnto the stomacke as a pectorall plaister The ashes of the Date stones haue a binding qualitie and emplastick facultie they heale pushes in the eyes Staphylomata and falling away of the haire of the eye lids being applied together with Spikenard
wherein he most shewed his weakenesse for that hee doth confound it with the Manihot or true Yuicca which all affirme to haue a leafe like that of hemp parted into seuen or more diuisions and also in that he puts it to the Arachidna of Theophrastus when as he denies it both floure and fruit yet within some few yeares after our Author had set forth this Worke it floured in his garden This some yeares puts forth a pretty stiffe round stalke some three cubits high diuided into diuers vnequall branches carrying many pretty large floures shaped somewhat like those of Fritillaria but that they are narrower at their bottomes the leaues of the floure are six the colour on the inside white but on the out side of an ouerworne reddish colour from the stalke to the middest of the leafe so that it is a floure of no great beautie yet to be esteemed for the raritie I saw it once floure in the garden of Mr. Wilmot at Bow but neuer since though it hath been kept for many yeares in sundry other gardens as with Mr. Parkinson and Mr. Tuggy This was first written of by our Author and since by Lobel and Mr. Parkinson who keepe the same name as also Bauhine who to distinguish it from the other calls it Yucca folijs Aloes ‡ ¶ The Place This plant groweth in all the tract of the Indies from the Magellane straights vnto the cape of Florida and in most of the Islands of the Canibals and others adioyning from whence I had that plant brought me that groweth in my garden by a seruant of a learned and skilfull Apothecary of Excester named Mr. Tho. Edwards ¶ The Time It keepeth greene both Winter and Sommer in my garden without any couerture at all notwithstanding the iniurie of our cold clymat ¶ The Names It is reported vnto me by Trauellers that the Indians do call it in some parts Manihot but generally Yucca and Iucca it is thought to be the plant called of Theophrastus Arachidna and of Pliny Aracidna ¶ The Temperature This plant is hot and dry in the first degree which is meant by the feces or drosse when the poisonous iuice is pressed or strained forth and is also dry in the middle of the second degree CHAP. 156. Of the fruit Anacardium and Caious or 〈◊〉 ¶ The Description THe antient writers haue been very briefe in the historie of Anacardium the Grecians haue touched it by the name of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taking the name from the likenesse it hath of an heart both in shape and colour called of the Portugals that inhabit the East Indies Faua de Malaqua the bean of Malaca for being greene and as it hangeth on the tree it resembleth a Beane sauing that it is much bigger but when they be dry they are of a shining blackish colour containing between the outward rinde and the kernell which is like an Almond a certaine oile of a sharpe causticke or burning qualitie called Mel Acardinum although the kernell is vsed in meates and sauces as we do Oliues and such like to procure appetite Anacardium The Beane of Malaca Caious The kidney Beane of Malaca The other fruit groweth vpon a tree of the bignesse of a Peare tree the leaues are much like to those of the Oliue tree but thicker and fatter of a feint greene colour the floures are white consisting of many small leaues much like the floures of the Cherry tree but much doubled without smell after commeth the fruit according to Clusius of the forme and magnitude of a goose egge full of iuice in the end whereof is a nut in shape like an Hares kidney hauing two rindes between which is contained a most hot and sharp oile like that of Anacardium whereof it is a kind The Beane or kernell it selfe is no lesse pleasant and wholsome in eating than the Pistacia or Fisticke nut whereof the Indians do eate with great delight affirming that it prouoketh Venerie wherein is their chiefest felicitie The fruit is contained in long cods like those of Beans but greater neere vnto which cods commeth forth an excrescence like vnto an apple very yellow of a good smell spongious within and full of iuice without any seeds stones or graines at all somewhat sweet in taste at the one end narrower than the other Peare fashion or like a little bottle which hath bin reputed of some for the fruit but not rightly for it is rather an excrescence as is the oke Apple ¶ The Place The first growes in most parts of the East Indies especially in Cananor Calecute Cambaya and Decan The later in Brasile ¶ The Time These trees floure and flourish Winter and Sommer ¶ The Names Their names haue been touched in their descriptions The first is called Anacardium of the likenesse it hath with an heart of the Arabians Balador of the Indians Bibo The second is called Caious and is thus written Caiöüs and Caius of some Caiocus ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The oile of the fruit is hot and dry in the fourth degree it hath also a causticke or corrosiue qualitie it taketh away warts breaketh apostumes preuaileth against leprie alopecia and 〈◊〉 the paine of the teeth being put into the hollownesse thereof The people of Malauar do vse the said oile mingled with chalke to marke their cloathes or any other thing they desire to be coloured or marked as we do vse chalke okar and red marking stones but their colour will not be taken forth againe by any manner of art whatsoeuer They also giue the kernell steeped in whay to them that be asthmaticke or short winded and when the fruit is yet green they sticke the same so steeped against the wormes The Indians for their pleasure will giue the fruit vpon a thorne or some other sharpe thing and hold it in the flame of a candle or any other flame which there will burne with such crackings lightnings and withall yeeld so many strange colours that it is great pleasure to the beholders which haue not seene the like before CHAP. 157. Of Indian Morrice Bells and diuers other Indian Fruits 1 〈◊〉 Theueti Indian Morrice Bels. 2 Fructus Higuero Indian Morosco bels ¶ The Description THis fruit groweth vpon a great tree of the bignesse of a Peare tree full of branches garnished with many leaues which are alwaies greene three or foure fingers long and in bredth two when the branches are cut off there issueth a milky iuice not 〈◊〉 to the fruit in his venomous qualitie The trunke or body is couered with a grayish barke the timber is white and soft not fit to make fire of much lesse for any othervse for being cut and put to the fire to burne it yeeldeth sorth such a loathsome and horrible stinke that neither man nor beast are able to endure it wherefore the Indians haue no vse thereof but onely of the fruit which in shape is like the Greeke letter 〈◊〉 of the bignesse of a Chestnut
of a brownish colour and smooth the barke of the yongest shoots is whitish and rough the leaues which grow vpon footstalkes some two inches long are somewhat like Vine leaues but smaller by much and lesse cornered being cut into three and sometimes but seldomer into fiue parts somwhat thicke with many veines running ouer them greener aboue than they are below out of the branches in Spring time grow stalkes hanging downe some six inches in length carrying many little greenish floures which are succeeded by little red berries cleare and smooth of the bignesse of the Whortle berries of a pleasant tart taste Of this kinde there is another onely different from this in the fruit which is twice so big as that of the common kind 2 The bush which beares the white Currans is commonly straighter and bigger than the former the leaues are lesser the floures whiter and so also is the fruit being cleare and transparent with a little blackish rough end 1 Ribes vulgaris fructu rubro Red Currans 2 Ribes fructu albo White Currans 3 Besides these there is another which disfers little from the former in shape yet grows somwhat higher and hath lesser leaues the floures are of a purplish green colour and are succeeded by fruit as big againe as the ordinary red but of a stinking and somewhat loathing sauour the leaues also are not without this stinking smell ¶ The Place Time and Names None of these grow wild with vs but they are to be found plentifully growing in many gardens especially the two former the red and the white The leaues and floures come forth in the Spring and the fruit is ripe about Midsommer This plant is thought to haue been vnknowne to the antient Greekes some thinke it the Ribes of the Arabian Serapio Fuchsius Matthiolus and some other deny it notwithstanding Dodonaeus affirmes it neither is the controuersie easily to be decided because the Author is briefe in the description thereof neither haue we his words but by the hand of a barbarous Translator Howeuer the shops of late time take it the faculties consenting thereto for the true Ribes and of the fruit hereof prepare their Rob de Ribes 〈◊〉 calls it Ribesium grossularia rubra Grossularia transmarina and they are distinguished into three sorts Rubra Alba Nigra 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 white and blacke Currans the Germans call them S. 〈◊〉 traubell or traublin and S. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Dutch 〈◊〉 ouer Zee the Italians Vuetta rossa the French Groisseles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Bohemians 〈◊〉 S. 〈◊〉 the English Red Currans yet must they not be confounded with those Currans which are brought from Zant and the continent adioyning thereto and which are vulgarly sold by our Grocers for they are the fruit of a small Vine and differ much from these The Temperature and Vertues The berries of red Currans as also of the white are cold and dry in the end of the second degree and haue some astriction together with tenuitie of parts They extinguish and mitigate feuerish heates represse choler temper the ouer-hot bloud resist putrefaction quench thirst helpe the deiection of the appetite stay cholericke vomitings and scourings and helpe the Dysenterie proceeding of an hot cause The iuice of these boiled to the height of honey either with or without sugar which is called Rob de Ribes hath the same qualities and conduces to the same purposes CHAP. 3. Of Parsley Breake-stone and bastard Rupturewort 1 Percepier Anglorum Lob. Parsley Breake-stone 2. Polygonū Herniariae facie Bastard Rupture-wort ¶ The Description 1 I Thought it was not altogether inconuenient to 〈◊〉 these two Plants together in one Chapter first because they are 〈◊〉 one stature and secondly taken 〈◊〉 of one and the 〈◊〉 History of Plants to wit the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 and Lobel The first of these which the Authors of the 〈◊〉 set sorth by the name of 〈◊〉 and rather assert than affirme to be the Scandix of the Antients is by 〈◊〉 called Scandix minor and by 〈◊〉 Columna 〈◊〉 montana minima it hath a small wooddy yellowish fibrous root 〈◊〉 which rise vp one two or more little stalks seldome exceeding the height of an handfull and these are round and hairy and vpon them grow little roundish leaues like the tender leaues of Cheruill but hairy and of a whitish green colour fastned to the stalkes with short foot-stalkes and hauing little eares at their setting on the floures are small greene and fiue cornered many clustering together at the setting on of the leaues the seed is small smooth and yellowish the stalks of this plant grow sometimes vpright and otherwhiles they lean on the ground it is to be found vpon diuers dry and barren grounds as in Hide Parke Tuthill fields c. It floures in May and ripens the feed in Iune and Iuly It seemes by the Authors of the Aduersaria that in the West countrey about Bristow they call this Herbe Percepier but our herbe women in Cheapside know it by the name of Parsley Breakestone This is hot and dry and of subtil parts it vehemently and speedily moues vrine and by some is kept in pickle and eaten as a sallad The distilled water is also commended to be effectuall to moue vrine and clense the kidnies of grauell 2 The historie of this by the forementioned Authors Aduers pag. 404. is thus set forth vnder this title Polygonium Herniariae folijs facie perampla radice 〈◊〉 Neither say they ought this to be despised by such as are studious of the knowledge of Plants for it is very little knowne being a very small herbe lying along vpon the ground and almost ouerwhelmed or couered with the grasse hauing little branches very full of ioints the little leaues and seeds are whitish and very like those of Herniaria or Rupture-wort the whole plant is white hauing a very small and mossie floure the root is larger than the smalnesse of the plant seemeth to require hard branched diuersly turning and winding and therefore hard to be plucked vp the taste is dry and hottish It growes vpon a large Plaine in Prouince betweene the cities Arles and Selon Thus much Pena and Lobel I am deceiued if some 〈◊〉 yeares agone I was not shewed this plant gathered in some part of this kingdome but where I am not able to 〈◊〉 CHAP. 4. Of Heath Spurge and Rocke Rose ¶ The Description 1 THese Plants by right should haue followed the historie of Thymelaea for in shape and facultie they are not much vnlike it The first is a low shrub sending from one root many branches of some cubit long and these bending flexible and couered with an outer blackish barke which comprehends another within tough and which may be diuided into fine threds the leaues are like those of Chamaelea yet lesser shorter and thicker a little rough also and growing about the branches in a certaine order if you chew them they are gummie bitter at the first and afterwards hot and biting the floures grow amongst
in stalkes 〈◊〉 or floures the fruit hereof is for the most part fashioned like a bottle or flagon wherein especially consisteth the difference 1 Cucurbita anguina Snakes Gourd 2 Cucurbita lagenaria Bottle Gourds ¶ The Place The Gourds are cherished in the gardens of these cold regions rather for pleasure than for profit in the hot countries where they come to ripenesse there are sometimes eaten but with small delight especially they are kept for the rindes wherein they put Turpentine Oyle Hony and also serue them for pales to fetch water in and many other the like vses ¶ The Time They are planted in a bed of horse-dung in April euen as we haue taught in the planting of cucumbers they flourish in Iune and Iuly the fruit is ripe in the end of August ¶ The Names The Gourd is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Cucurbita edulis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Pliny Cucurbita Cameraria because it climeth vp and is a couering for arbours and walking places and banqueting houses in gardens he calleth the other which climeth not vp but lyeth crawling on the ground Cucurbita 〈◊〉 in Italian Zucca in Spanish 〈◊〉 in French Courge in high Dutch 〈◊〉 in low-Dutch 〈◊〉 in English Gourds ¶ The Temperature The meate or inner pulpe of the Gourd is of temperature cold and moist and that in the second degree ¶ The Vertues The iuyce being dropped into the eares with oyle of roses is good for the paine thereof proceeding of a hot cause The pulpe or meate mitigateth all hot swellings if it be laid thereon in manner of a pultis and being vsed in this manner it taketh away the head-ache and the inflammation of the eyes The same Author affirmeth that a long Gourd or else a Cucumber being laid in the cradle or bed by the young infant whilest it is asleepe and sicke of an ague it shall be very quickely made whole The pulpe also is eaten sodden but because it hath in it a waterish and thinne iuyce it yeeldeth small nourishment to the body and the same cold and moist but it easily passeth thorow especially being sodden which by reason of the slipperinesse and moistnesse also of his substance mollifieth the belly But being baked in an ouen or fried in a pan it loseth the most part of his naturall moisture and therefore it more slowly descendeth and doth not mollifie the belly so soone The seed allayeth the sharpnesse of vrine and bringeth downe the same CHAP. 348. Of the wilde Gourd 1 Cucurbita lagenaria syluestris Wilde Bottle Gourd 2 Cucurbita syluestris fungiformis Mushrome wilde Gourd ¶ The Description 1 THere is besides the former ones a certaine wilde Gourd this is like the garden Gourd in clymbing stalkes clasping tendrels and soft leaues and as it were downy all and 〈◊〉 one of which things being farre lesse this also clymbeth vpon Arbours and banquetting houses the fruit doth represent the great bellied Gourd and those that be like vnto bottles in forme but in bignesse it is very farre inferiour for it is small and scarse so great as an 〈◊〉 Quince and may be held within the compasse of a mans hand the outward rinde at the first is greene afterwards it is as hard as wood and of the colour thereof the inner pulpe is moist and very full of iuyce in which lieth the seed The whole is as bitter as Coloquintida which hath made so many errors one especially in taking the fruit Coloquintida for the wilde Gourd 2 The second wilde Gourd hath likewise many trailing branches and clasping tendrels wherwith it taketh hold of such things as be neere vnto it the leaues be broad deepely cut into diuers sections like those of the Vine soft and very downy whereby it is especially knowne to be one of the Gourds the floures are very white as are also those of the Gourds The fruit succeedeth growing to a round forme flat on the top like the head of a Mushrome whereof it tooke his syrname ¶ The Place They grow of themselues wilde in hot regions they neuer come to perfection of ripenesse in these cold countries ¶ The Time The time answereth those of the garden ¶ The Names The wilde Gourd is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Cucurbita syluestris or wilde Gourd Pliny lib. 20. cap. 3. affirmeth that the wilde Gourd is named of the Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is hollow an inch thicke not growing but among stones the iuyce whereof being taken is very good for the stomacke But the wilde Gourd is not that which is so described for it is aboue an inch thicke neither is it hollow but full of iuyce and by reason of the extreme bitternesse offensiue to the stomacke Some also there be that take this for Coloquintida but they are far deceiued for Colocynthis is the wilde 〈◊〉 Cucumber whereof we haue treated in the chapter of 〈◊〉 ¶ The Temperature The wilde Gourd is as hot and dry as Coloquintida that is to say in the second degree ¶ The Vertues The wilde Gourd is extreme bitter for which cause it openeth and scoureth the stopped passages of the body it also purgeth downwards as do wilde Melons Moreouer the wine which hath continued all night in this Gourd likewise purgeth the belly mightily and bringeth forth cholericke and flegmaticke humors CHAP. 349. Of Potato's Sisarum Peruvianum 〈◊〉 Batata Hispanorum Potatus or Potato's ¶ The Description THis Plant which is called of some Sisarum Peruvianum or Skyrrets of Peru is generally of vs called Potatus or Potatoes It hath long rough flexible branches trailing vpon the ground like vnto Pompions whereupon are set greene three cornered leaues very like vnto those of the wilde Cucumber There is not any that haue written of this planthaue said any thing of the floures therefore I refer their description vnto those that shall hereafter haue further knowledge of the same Yet haue I had in my garden diuers roots that haue flourished vnto the first approch of Winter and haue growne vnto a great length of branches but they brought not forth any floures at all whether because the Winter caused them to perish before their time of flouring or that they be of nature barren of floures I am not certaine The roots are many thicke and knobbie like vnto the roots of Peionies or rather of the white Asphodill ioyned together at the top into one head in maner of the Skyrrit which being diuided into diuers parts and planted do make a great increase especially if the greatest roots be cut into diuers goblets and planted in good and fertile ground ¶ The Place The Potatoes grow in India Barbarie Spaine and other hot regions of which I planted diuers roots that I bought at the Exchange in London in my garden where they flourished vntil Winter at which time they perished and rotted ¶ The Time It flourisheth vnto the end of September at the first approch of great frosts the
Athenaeus citing Diphilus for his Author saith that the Carrot is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it serueth for loue-matters and Orpheus as Pliny writeth said that the vse hereof winneth loue which things be written of wilde Carrot the root whereof is more effectuall than that of the garden and containeth in it as Galen saith a certaine force to procure lust ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The seed of this wild Carrot and likewise the root is hot and drie in the second degree and doth withall open obstructions The root boiled and eaten or boiled with wine and the decoction drunke prouoketh vrine expelleth the stone bringeth forth the birth it also procureth bodily lust The seed drunke bringeth downe the desired sicknesse it is good for them that can hardly make water it breaketh and dissolueth winde it remedieth the dropsie it cureth the collick and stone being drunke in wine It is also good for the passions of the mother and helpeth conception it is good against the bitings of all manner of venomous beasts it is reported saith Dioscorides that such as haue first taken of it are not hurt by them CHAP. 409. Of Candie Carrots Daucus Cret ensis verus Candie Carrots ¶ The Description THis Daucus Cretensis being the true Daucus of Dioscorides doth not grow in Candy only but is found vpon the mountaines of Germany and vpon the hills and rockes of Iura about Geneua from whence it hath beene sent and conuied by one friendly Herbarist vnto another into sundrie regions it beareth leaues which are small and very finely iagged resembling either Fennel or wild Carrot among which riseth vp a stalke of a cubit high hauing at the top white spokie tufts and the floures of Dill which being past there come great plentie of long seed well smelling not vnlike the seed of Cumin saue that it is whitish with a certaine mossinesse and a sharpe taste and is in greater vse than any part of the plant The root also is right good in medicine being lesser than the root of a Parsnep but hotter in taste and of a fragrant smell ¶ The Time This floures in Iune and Iuly his seed is ripe in August ¶ The Names There is sufficient spoken in the description as 〈◊〉 the name ¶ The Nature These plants are hot and drie especially the seed of Daucus Creticus which is hot and drie in the third degree but the seed of the wilde Carrot is hot and drie in the second degree ¶ The Vertues The seed of Daucus drunken is good against the strangurie and painfull making of water it preuaileth against the grauell and stone and prouoketh vrine Itasswageth the torments and gripings of the belly dissolueth windines cureth the collick and ripeneth an old cough The same beeing taken in VVine is verie good against the bitings of beasts and expelleth poison The seed of Daucus Creticus is of great efficacie and vertue being put into 〈◊〉 Mithridate or any antidotes against poison or pestilence The root thereof drunke in wine stoppeth the laske and is also a soueraigne remedie against venome and poison CHAP. 410. Of stinking and deadly Carrots ¶ The Description 1 THe great stinking Carrot hath very great leaues spread abroad like wings resembling those of Fennell gyant whereof some haue taken it to be a kinde but vnproperly of a bright greene colour somewhat hairie among which 〈◊〉 vp a stalk of the height of two cubits and of the bignesse of a mans finger hollow and full of a spungious pith whereupon are set at certaine ioints leaues like those next the ground but smaller The floures are yellow standing at the top of the stalkes in spokie rundles like those of Dill after which commeth the seed flat and broad like those of the Parsnep but much greater and broader The root is thicke garnished at the top with certaine capillaments or hairy threds blacke without white within full of milkie iuice of a most bitter sharpe and lothsome taste and smell insomuch that if a man do stand where the wind doth blow from the plant the aire doth exulcerate and blister the face and euery other bare or naked place that may be subiect to his venomous blast and poisonous qualitie 1 Thapsia 〈◊〉 Clusij Stinking Carrots 2 Thapsia tenuifolia Small leafed stinking Carrot 2 This small kind of stinking or deadly Carrot is like to the last described in each respect sauing that the leaues are thinner and more finely minced or iagged wherein consists the difference 3 The common deadly Carrot is like vnto the precedent sauing that he doth more neerely resemble the stalkes and leaues of the garden carrot and is not garnished with the like bush of haire about the top of the stalks otherwise in seed root and euill smell taste and qualitie like ¶ The Place These 〈◊〉 plants delight in stonie hills and mountaines they are strangers in England 3 Thapsia vulgaris Deadly 〈◊〉 ¶ The Time They floure in August or somewhat after ¶ The Names The French Physitians haue accepted the root of Thapsia for a kinde of Turbith calling it 〈◊〉 Cineritium notwithstanding vpon better consideration they haue left the vse thereof especially in purging for it mightily hurteth the principall parts and doth often cause cruell gripings in the guts and belly with 〈◊〉 and cramps neuerthelesse the venomous qualitie may bee taken away with those correctiues which are vsed in mitigating the extreme heate and virulent qualitie of Sarcocolla Hammoniacum and Turpetum but where there be so many wholesome Simples and likewise compounds they are not to be vsed Of some it is called Turpetum Griseum it is called Thapsia as some thinke of the Island Thapsus where it was first found or as we deeme of the likenesse it hath with Carrots Of the people of Sicilia and Apulia it is called 〈◊〉 where it doth grow in great aboundance ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The temperature and faculties in working haue been touched in the description and likewise in the names CHAP. 411. Of Fennell ¶ The Description 1 THe first kinde of Fennell called in Latine Foeniculum in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is so well knowne amongst vs that it were but lost labour to describe the same 2 The second kinde of Fennell is likewise well knowne by the name of Sweet Fennell so called because the seeds thereof are in taste sweet like vnto Annise seeds resembling the common Fennell sauing that the leaues are larger and fatter or more oleous the seed greater and whiter and the whole plant in each respect greater Foeniculum vulgare Common Fennell ¶ The Place These herbs are set and sowne in gardens but the second doth not prosper well in this 〈◊〉 for being sowne of good and perfect seed yet in the second yeare after his sowing it will degenerate from the right kinde and become common Fennell ¶ The Time They floure in Iune and Iuly and the seed is ripe in the end of August ¶ The Names Fennell is called in Greeke
Names The Artichoke is called in Latine Cinara of Cinis Ashes wherewith it loueth to be dunged Galen calleth it in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but with k and v in the first syllable of some it is called Cactos it is named in Italian 〈◊〉 Archiocchi in Spanish Alcarrhofa in English Artichoke in French Artichaux in low-Dutch Artichoken whereupon diuers call it in Latine Articocalus and Articoca in high-Dutch Strobidorn The other is named in Latine commonly not onely Spinosa cinara or prickly Artichoke but also of Palladius Carduus of the Italians Cardo and Cardino of the Spaniards Cardos of the French men Chardons Leonhartus Fuchsius and most writers take it to be Scolymus Dioscoridis but 〈◊〉 Dioscoridis hath the leafe of Chameleon or Spina alba with a stalke full of leaues and a prickly head but neither is Cinara the Artichoke which is without prickles nor the Artichok with prickles any such kinde of herbe for though the head hath prickles yet the stalke is not full of leaues but is many times without leaues or else hath not past a leafe or two Cinara doth better agree with that which Theophrastus and Pliny call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cactus and yet it doth not bring forth stalkes from the root creeping alongst the ground it hath broad leaues set with prickles the middle ribs of the leaues the skin pilled off are good to be eaten and likewise the fruit the seed and down taken away and that which is vnder is as tender as the braine of the Date tree which things Theophrastus and Pliny report of Cactus That which they write of the stalkes sent forth immediately from the root vpon the ground which are good to be eaten is peraduenture the ribs of the leaues euerie side taken away as they be serued vp at the table may be like a stalke except euen in Sicilia where they grew only in 〈◊〉 time It bringeth forth both certaine stalks that lie on the ground and another also standing straight vp but afterwards being remoued and brought into Italy or England it bringeth forth no more but one vpright for the soile and clyme do much preuaile in altering of plants as not onely Theophrastus teacheth but also euen experience it selfe declareth and of Cactus Theophrastus writeth thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cactus groweth onely in Sicilia it bringeth forth presently from the root stalkes lying along vpon the ground with a broad and prickly leafe the stalkes being pilled are fit to be eaten being somewhat bitter which may be preserued in brine it bringeth forth also another stalke which is likewise good to be eaten ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The nailes that is the white and thicke parts which are in the bottome of the outward scales or flakes of the fruit of the Artichoke and also the middle pulpe whereon the downy seed stands are eaten both raw with pepper and salt and commonly boyled with the broth of fat flesh with pepper added and are accounted a dainty dish being pleasant to the taste and good to procure bodily lust so likewise the middle ribs of 〈◊〉 leaues being made white and tender by good cherishing and looking to are brought to the table as a great seruice together with other junkets they are eaten with pepper and salt as be the raw Artichokes yet both of them are of ill iuyce for the Artichoke containeth plenty of cholericke iuyce and hath an hard substance insomuch as of this is ingendred melancholy iuyce and of that a thin and cholerick bloud as Galen teacheth in his book of the Faculties of nourishments But it is best to eate the Artichoke boyled the ribbes of the leaues are altogether of an hard substance they yeeld to the body a raw and melancholy iuice and containe in them great store of winde It stayeth the inuoluntarie course of the naturall seed either in man or woman Some write that if the buds of yong Artichokes be first steeped in wine and eaten they prouoke vrine and stir vp the lust of the body I finde moreouer that the root is good against the ranke smell of the arme-holes if when the pith is taken away the same root be boyled in wine and drunke for it sendeth forth plenty of 〈◊〉 vrine whereby the ranke and rammish sauor of the whole body is much amended CHAP. 480. Of Golden Thistles ¶ The Description 1 THe stalkes of Golden Thistle rise vp forthwith from the root being many round and branched The leaues are long of a beautifull green with deepe gashes on the edges and set with most sharpe prickles the floures come 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of the leaues set in a 〈◊〉 chaffie knap very like to Succorie floures but of colour as yellow as gold in their places come vp broad flat and thin seeds not great nor wrapped in downe the root is long a finger thicke 〈◊〉 soft and good to be eaten wherewith swine are much delighted there issueth forth of this thistle in what part soeuer it is cut or broken a iuyce as white as milke ‡ There is some varietie of this Thistle for it is found much larger about Montpelier than it is in Spaine with longer branches but fewer floures the leaues also are spotted or 〈◊〉 with white like as the milke Thistle whence Clusius whom I here follow hath giuen two figures thereof the former by the name of Scolymus Theophrasti H spanicus and the other by the title of 〈◊〉 Theophrasti Narbonensis This with white spots 〈◊〉 saw growing this yere with Mr. 〈◊〉 at South Lambeth ‡ 1 Carduus Chrysanthemus Hispanicus The Spanish golden Thistle ‡ Carduus Chrysanthemus 〈◊〉 The French golden Thistle 2 The golden Thistle of Peru called in the West Indies 〈◊〉 del Inferno a friend of mine brought it vnto me from an Island there called Saint Iohns Island among other seeds What reason the inhabitants there haue to call it so it is vnto me vnknowne vnlesse it be because of his fruit which doth much resemble a fig in shape and bignesse but so full of sharpe and venomous prickles that whosoeuer had one of them in his throat doubtlesse it would send him packing either to heauen or to hell This plant hath a single wooddy root as big as a mans thumbe but somwhat long from which ariseth a brittle stalke full of ioynts or knees diuiding it selfe into sundry other small branches set full of leaues like vnto the milke Thistle but much smaller and straked with many white lines or streakes and at the top of the stalks come 〈◊〉 faire and goodly yellow floures very like vnto the sea Poppy but more elegant and of greater beauty hauing in the midst thereof a small knop or boll such as is in the middle of our wild Poppy but full of sharpe thorns and at the end thereof a stainc or spot of a deepe purple after the yellow floures be fallen this foresaid knop groweth by degrees greater and greater vntill it come to full maturitie which openeth it selfe at
the vpper end shewing his seed which is very blacke and round like the seeds of mustard The whole plant and each part thereof doth yeeld verie great aboundance of milkie iuyce which is of a golden colour falling and 〈◊〉 from any part thereof if it be cut or bruised the whole plant perisheth at the approch of Winter The vertues hereof are yet vnknowne vnto me wherefore I purpose not to set downe any thing thereof by way of coniecture but shall God willing be ready to declare that which certaine knowledge and experience either of myne owne or others shall make manifest vnto me ¶ The Place The golden Thistle is sowne in gardens of the Low Countries Petrus Bellonius writes That it groweth plentifully in Candy and also in most places of 〈◊〉 Clusius reporteth that he found it in the fields of Spaine and of the kingdome of Castile and about Montpelier with fewer branches and of a higher growth The Indian Thistle groweth in Saint Iohns Island in the West Indies and prospereth very well in my garden ¶ The Time They floure from Iune to the end of August the seed of the Indian golden Thistle must be sowne when it is ripe but it 〈◊〉 not grow vp vntill May next after ¶ The Names This Thistle is called in Latine Carduus Chrysanthemus in Greeke of Theophrastus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for those things which he writeth of Scolymus in his sixth and seuenth bookes doe wholly agree with this Thistle Chrysanthemus which are these Scolymus doth floure in the Sommer solstice brauely and a long time together it hath a root that may be eaten both sod and raw and when it is broken it yeeldeth a milky iuyce Gaza nameth it Carduus Of this Pliny also makes mention lib. 21. ca. 16. Scolymus saith he differs from those kindes of Thistles viz. Acarna and Atractilis because the root thereof may be eaten boyled Againe 〈◊〉 22. Cap. 22. The East Countries vse it as a meate and he calleth it by another name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which thing also Theophrastus seemeth to affirme in his sixt booke for when he reckoneth vp herbes whose leaues are set with prickles he addeth Scolymus or Limonia Notwithstanding Pliny maketh mention likewise of another Scolymus which hee affirmeth to bring sorth a purple 〈◊〉 and betweene the middle of the prickes to wax white quickely and to fall off with the winde in his twentieth booke cap. 23. Which Thistle doubtlesse doth not agree with Carduus Chrysanthemus that is with Theophraslus his Scolymus and with that which we mentioned before so that there be in Pliny two Scolymi one with a root that may be eaten and another with a purple 〈◊〉 turning into downe and that speedily waxeth white Scolymus is likewise described by Dioscorides but this differs from Scolymus Theophrasti and it is one of those which Pliny reckoneth vp as we wil more at large declare hereaster But let vs come againe to Chrysanthemus This the inhabitants of Candy keeping the marks of the old name do call Ascolymbros the Italians name it Anconitani Rinci the Romans Spinaborda the Spaniards Cardon lechar and of diuers it is also named Glycyrrhizon that is to say dulcis Radix or sweet Root it is called in English 〈◊〉 Thistle some would haue it to be that which 〈◊〉 in Arte Veterinaria calls Eryngium but they are deceiued for that Eryngium whereof Vegetius writeth is Eryngium marinum or sea Huluer of which we will intreat The golden Thistle of India may be called Carduus Chrysanthemus of his golden colour adding thereto his natiue countrey Indianus or Peruanus or the golden Indian Thistle or the golden Thistle of Peru the seed came to my hands by the name Fique del Inferno in Latine Ficus infernalis the infernall fig or fig of hell ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The root and tender leaues of this Scolymus which are sometimes eaten are good for the stomacke but they containe very little nourishment and the same thinne and waterie as Galen teacheth Pliny saith that the root hereof was commended by Eratosthenes in the poore mans supper and that it is reported also to prouoke vrine especially to heale tetters and dry scurse being taken with vineger and with Wine to stir vp fleshly lust as Hefiod and Alcaeus testifie and to take away the stench of the arme-holes if an ounce of the root the pith picked out be 〈◊〉 in three parts of wine till one part be wasted and a good draught taken fasting after a bath and likewise after meat which later words Dioscorides likewise 〈◊〉 concerning his Scolymus out of whom Pliny is thought to haue borrowed these things CHAP. 481. Of white Carline Thistle of Dioscorides ¶ The Description 1 THe leaues of Carline are very full of prickles cut on both edges with a multitude of deepe gashes and set along the corners with stiffe and very sharpe prickles the middle ribs whereof are sometimes red the stalke is a span high or higher bringing forth for the most part onely one head or knap being full of prickles on the outward circumference or compasse like the Vrchin huske of a chesnut and when this openeth at the top there groweth forth a broad floure made vp in the middle like a flat 〈◊〉 of a great number of threds which is compassed about with little long leaues oftentimes somewhat white very seldome red the seed 〈◊〉 is slender and narrow the root is long a finger thicke something blacke so chinked as 〈◊〉 it were split in sunder sweete of smell and in taste somewhat bitter ‡ 1 Carlina caulescens magno flore Tall Carline Thistle 2 Carlina seu 〈◊〉 albus Dioscoridis The white Carline Thistle of 〈◊〉 with the red floure ‡ 3 Carlina 〈◊〉 minor flore purp Dwarfe Carline Thistle ‡ 3 This small purple Carline Thistle hath a prety large root diuided oft times at the top into diuers branches from which rise many green leaues lying spred vpon the ground deeply cut and set with sharpe prickles in the midst of these leaues come vp sometimes one but otherwhiles more scaly heads which carry a pretty large floure composed of many purple threds like that of the 〈◊〉 but larger and of a brighter colour these heads grow vsually close to the leaues yet sometimes they stand vpon stalkes three or foure inches high when the floure is past they turne into downe and are carried away with the winde the seed is small and grayish This growes vpon Blacke-Heath vpon the chalky hills about Dartford and in many such places It floures in Iuly and August Tragus calls it Chamaeleon albus vel exiguus Lobel Carduus acaulis Septentrionalium and 〈◊〉 albus Cordi Clusius Carlina minor 〈◊〉 flore and he saith in the opinion of some it seemes not vnlike to the Chamaeleon whereof 〈◊〉 makes mention lib. 6. cap. 3. Hist. plant ‡ ¶ The Place They both grow vpon high mountaines in desart places and oftentimes by high way sides but that which
branches a cubit high wheron 〈◊〉 grow leaues diuided or 〈◊〉 of sundry other small leaues like the wilde Vetch ending at the 〈◊〉 rib with some clasping tendrels wherewith it taketh 〈◊〉 of such things as are neere 〈◊〉 it among these come sorth little brownish floures mixed with white which turne into small 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 little browne slat seed and sometimes white 1 Lens maior Great Lentils 2 Lens minor Little Lentils ¶ The Place These Pulses do grow in my garden and it is reported vnto me by those of good credit that about Watford in Middlesex and other places of England the husbandmen do sow them for their cattell euen as others do Tares ¶ The Time They both floure and wax ripe in Iuly and August ¶ The Names They are called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Lens and Lenticula in high-Dutch 〈◊〉 in French Lentille in Italian Lentichia in Spanish Lenteia in English Lentils ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Lentils as Galen saith are in a meane betweene hot and cold yet are they dry in the second degree their skin is astringent or binding and the meate or substance within is of a thicke and earthy iuyce hauing a qualitie that is a little austere or something harsh much more the skin thereof but the iuyce of them is quite contrarie to the binding qualitie wherefore if a man shal boile them in faire water and afterwards season the water with salt and pickle aut cum ipsis oleo condiens and then take it the same drinke doth loose the belly The first decoction of Lentils doth loose the belly but if they be boyled againe and the first decoction cast away then doe they binde and are good against the bloudy flixe or dangerous laskes They do their operation more effectually in stopping or binding if all or any of these following be bovled therewith that is to say red Beets Myrtles pils of Pomegranats dried Roses Medlars Seruice berries vnripe Peares Quinces Paintaine leaues Galls or the berries of Sumach The meale of Lentils mixed with honey doth mundifie and clense corrupt vlcers and rotten 〈◊〉 filling them with flesh againe and is most singular to be put into the common digestiues vsed among our 〈◊〉 Surgeons for greene wounds The Lentil hauing the skin or coat taken off as it loseth that strong binding qualitie and those accidents that depend on the same so doth it more nourish than if it had the skin on It in gendreth thicke and naughty iuyce and slowly passeth thorow the belly yet doth it not stay the loosnesse as that doth which hath his coat on and therefore they that vse to eat too much thereof do necessarily become Lepers and are much subiect to cankers for thicke and dry nourishments are apt to breed melancholy Therefore the Lentill is good food for them that through waterish humours be apt to fall into the dropsie and it is a most dangerous food for dry and withered bodies for which cause it bringeth dimnesse of sight though the sight be perfect through his excessiue drinesse whereby the spirits of the sight be wasted but it is good for them that are of a quitecontrarie constitution It is not good for those that want their termes for it breedeth thicke bloud and such as slowly passeth through the veines But it is singular good to stay the menses as Galen in his booke of the faculties of nourishments 〈◊〉 It causeth 〈◊〉 dreames as Dioscorides doth moreouer write it hurteth the head sinewes and lungs It is good to swallow downe thirty graines of Lentils shelled or taken from their husks against the 〈◊〉 of the stomacke Being boyled with parched barly meale and laid to it asswageth the paine and ach of the gout With honey it filleth vp hollow sores it breaketh aschares clenseth vlcers being boyled in wine it wasteth away wens and hard swellings of the throat With a 〈◊〉 and Melilot and oyle of Roses it helpeth the inflammation of the eyes and fundament but in greater inflammations of the fundament and great deep 〈◊〉 it is boyled with the rinde of a pomegranat dry Rose leaues and honey And after the same maner against 〈◊〉 sores that are mortified if sea water be added it is also a remedie against pushes the shingles and the hot inflammation called S. Anthonies fire and for kibes in such manner as we haue written being boyled in sea water and applied it helps womens brests in which the milke is cluttered and cannot suffer too great aboundance of milke CHAP. 514. Of Cich or true Orobus Orobus receptus Herbariorum The true Orobus ¶ The Description THis Pulse which of most Herbarists is taken for the true Orobus and called of some bitter Fitch is one of the Pulses whose tender branches traile vpon the ground as 〈◊〉 saith and whose long tender branches spred far abroad whereon doe grow leaues like those of the field Vetch among which grow white floures after which come long cods that appeare bunched on the outside against the place where the seeds do lie which are small round russet of colour and of a bitter taste the root is small and single ¶ The Place It prospereth best in a leane 〈◊〉 according to Columella it groweth in woods and copses in sundry places of Spaine and Italy but here only in gardens ¶ The Time This is sowne early and late but if it be sowne in the spring it easily commeth vp and is pleasant and vnpleasant if it be sowne in the fall of the leafe ¶ The Names This is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the shops of Germanie haue kept the name Orobus the Italians cal it Macho the Spaniards Yeruo and Yeruos in English it is called bitter Vetch or bitter Fitch and Orobus after the Latine name Of some Ers after the French name ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Galen in his first booke of the Faculties of nourishments saith That men do altogether abstaine from the bitter Vetch for it hath a very vnpleasant taste and naughty iuyce but Kine in Asia and in most other countries do eate thereof being made sweet by steeping in water notwithstanding men being compelled through necessitie of great famine as Hippocrates also hath written do oftentimes feed thereof and we also dressing them 〈◊〉 the manner of Lupines vse the bitter Vetches with honey as a medicine that purgeth thicke and grosse humors out of the chest and lungs Moreouer among the bitter Vetches the white are not so medicinable but those which are neere to a yellow or to the colour of Okar and those that haue beene twice boyled or sundrie times soked in water lose their bitter and vnpleasant taste and withall their clensing and cutting qualitie so that there is onely left in them an earthy substance which serues 〈◊〉 nourishment that drieth without any manifest bitternesse And in his booke of the Faculties of simple medicines he-saith That bitter Vetch is dry in the later end of the
second degree and hot in the first moreouer by how much it is bitter by so much it clenseth cutteth and remoueth stoppings but if it be ouermuch vsed it bringeth forth bloud by vrine Dioscorides writeth that bitter Vetch causeth head-ache and heauy dulnesse that it troubles the belly and driueth forth bloud by vrine notwithstanding being boyled it serueth to fatten Kine There is made of the seed a meale fit to be vsed in medicine after this maner the full and white graines are chosen out and being mixed together they are steeped in water and suffered to lie till they be plumpe and afterwards are parched till the skinne be broken then are they ground and searsed or shaken thorow a meale sieue and the meale reserued This looseth the belly prouoketh vrine maketh one well coloured being ouermuch eaten or drunke it draweth bloud by the stoole with gripings and also by vrine With honey it clenseth vlcers taketh away freckles sun-burnes blacke spots in the skinne and maketh the whole 〈◊〉 faire and cleane It stayeth running vlcers or hard swellings and gangrens or mortified sores it sosteneth the hardnesse of womens breasts it taketh away and breaketh eating vlcers carbuncles and sores of the head being tempered with wine and applied it healeth the bitings of dogs and also of venomous beasts With vineger it is good against the strangurie and mitigateth paine that commeth thereof It is good for them that are not nourished after their meat being parched and taken with hony in the quantitie of a nut The decoction of the same helpeth the itch in the whole body and taketh away kibes if they be washed or bathed therewith Cicer boyled in fountaine water with some 〈◊〉 doth asswage the swelling of the yard and priuie parts of man or woman if they be washed or bathed in the decoction thereof and the substance hereof may also be applied plaisterwise It is also vsed for bathing and washing of vlcers and running sores and is applied vnto the 〈◊〉 of the head with great profit CHAP. 515. Of the Vetch or Fetch ¶ The Description 1 THe Vetch hath slender and foure squared stalkes almost three foot long the leaues be long with clasping tendrels at the end made vp of many little leaues growing vpon one rib or middle stem euery one whereof is greater broader and thicker than that of the Lentil the floures are like to the floures of the garden beane but of a blacke purple colour the cods be broad small and in euery one are contained fiue or six graines not round but flat like those of the Lentil of colour blacke and of an vnpleasant taste ‡ 2 There is another of this kinde which hath a creeping and liuing root from which it 〈◊〉 deth forth crested stalkes some cubit and halfe high the leaues are winged commonly a dozen growing vpon one rib which ends in a winding tendrel each peculiar leafe is broader toward the bottome and sharper towards the top which ends not flat but somewhat round Out of the 〈◊〉 of the leaues towards the tops of the stalkes on short foot-stalkes grow two three or more pretty large pease-fashioned blewish purple floures which are succeeded by such cods as the former but somewhat lesser which when they grow ripe become blacke and fly open of themselues ‡ 1 Vicia Tare Vetch or Fetch 2 Vicia maxima 〈◊〉 Bush Vetch ‡ 3 Vicia syl flo albo White floured Vetch 4 Vicia sylue stris siue Cracca maior Strangle Tare Tine or wilde Fetch ‡ 5 〈◊〉 siue Cracca minima Small wilde Tare 3 This also hath a lasting root which sendeth vp round crested branches a foot and somtimes a cubit high whereon grow such leaues as those of the former but more white and downie the floures which grow on short foot-stalkes out of the bosomes of the leaues towards the top of the stalks are of a whitish colour with veines of a dusky colour diuaricated ouer the vpper leafe the cods are like those of the common Fetch Clusius found this in some wilde places of Hungarie it floured in May 〈◊〉 he calls it Vicia syluestris albo flore ‡ 4 Strangle Tare called in some countries Tine and of others wilde Vetch is a ramping herbe like vnto the common Tare 〈◊〉 and clymbing among corne where it chanceth that it plucketh it downe to the ground and ouergroweth the same in such sort that it spoileth and killeth not only wheat but all other graine whatsoeuer the herbe is better known than desired therefore these few lines shall suffice for the description ‡ This groweth pretty long with many slender weake branches the leaues are much smaller than the former and end in clasping tendrels the floures are of a purple colour and commonly grow but one at a ioint and they are succeeded by flat sharpe pointed cods which containe some nine or ten seeds apiece 5 This also growes a good height with slenderer stalks than the former which is diuided into sundry branches the leaues grow foure or six vpon foot-stalkes ending also in clasping tendrels the floures grow vpon pretty long but very slender foot-stalkes sometimes two or three otherwhiles more very small and of a whitish colour inclining to blewnesse which are succeeded by little short flat cods containing commonly foure or fiue little seeds of a blackish colour this is the Arachus siue Cracca minima of Lobel but I question whether it be that which Bauhine in his Pinax hath made the same with it calling it Vicia segetum cum siliquis plurimis hirsutis for that which I haue described and which exactly agrees with this figure of Lobel and that description in the Aduers hath cods very smooth without any hairinesse at all This floures most part of Sommer and growes in most places both in corne fields and medowes ‡ ¶ The Place The Tare is sowne in any ground or soile whatsoeuer ¶ The Time It floureth in May and perfecteth his seed toward September ¶ The Names It is called in Latine Vicia à vinciendo of binding or wrapping as Varro noteth because saith he it hath likewise clasping tendrels such as the vine hath by which it crawles vpward vpon the stalks of the weeds which are next vnto it of some Cracca and Arachus and also Aphaca it is called in high-Dutch 〈◊〉 in low-Dutch Uitsen in French Vesce in most shops it is falsely termed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Fruum for Eruum doth much differ from Vicia it is called in English Vetch or Fetch The countrey men lay vp this Vetch with the seeds and whole plant that it may be a fodder for their cattell ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Notwithstanding I haue knowne saith Galen some who in time of famin haue fed hereof especially in the spring it being but greene yet is it hard of digestion and bindeth the belly Therefore seeing it is of this kinde of nature it is manifest that the nourishment which comes thereof hath in it no good iuyce at all