yet dilute but alike in all parts which besides its sweetness participates of the acrimonious sapour of Thyme but no perceptible part thereof in odour according to Oribasius c. 62. l. 2. collect And as Honey by long coction so by long keeping i will grow bitter for Galen saith c. 11. l. 1. de antidot that he kept Athenian Honey which we account the best so long as in amaritude it resembled that which the Bees collect in Pontus It were supervacaneous to treat any more of Honey since we have abundantly spoken thereof in the third Chapter of the third Book of our Institutions CHAP. VII Of Manna MAnna is the most excellent and divine gift of Nature and not onely that which God preternaturally bestowed on the Israelites but this also which like Honey or Sugar-dew distills upon leaves and daily offers it self for our use For our vulgar Husbandmen do no less admire their small Manna than the Israelites did their Sugar-hail whil'st exulting they sing Jupiter rains Honey down whence it is called Areomel by the Arabians Terenjabin and in the sacred Scriptures Manna with which our Manna or Manna Thuris accords onely in name which is produced by the elision of two bundles one against another for therby certain small fragrancies are congested which is collected for Manna Thuris There is also another kinde they call Manna Larigna collected of the broken boughs of the Larix tree but both these too licentiously usurp this title for Manna properly so called which is used by Physicians for I do not speak of the Man-hâ— or Manna of the Hebrews is celestial dew sweet and gratefull delabing about the day-spring upon the boughs and leaves of trees and herbs which speedily concretes into the consistency of a gum That is best which is collected of leaves and is called Manna de folio and that worst which is called Manna de terra Now the Calabrian Manna especially that which comes out of a certain part of Oenotria is thought the best where it descends every Summer and is gather'd of all Brassavel in exam fimpl Brassavelus tels us Historia how the Neopolitan Kings once occluded this place that none might assume it without toll or tribute but the Manna thereupon ceased to descend the tribute being taken off and the hindrances removed the Manna again descended the place being again occluded it ceased the inclosure or hedge being again taken away it descended so that the Kings were glad to leave it free and permit any to collect it that would The same is storied of the Tragasaan of Salt in Epirus up 〈◊〉 which when Lysimachus imposed a tribute there was none to be found when the tribute was contra-decreed the Salt redounded c. 12. l. 9. Rhod. Cal. But that I may not further rove there is a kâ—â—de of Manna in France commonly called Manna Briansonnensis which Medicks sometimes use for want of Calabriensis but it is not near so good There is another kinde round called Manna Mastichina Manna mâ—sichina which beaten from the boughs and leaves of trees by the impetuousness of the winde which delabes like hail but neither from Heaven nor from the Air which is improperly called Manna being the tears of trees or their juice concreted Manna is moderately hot it lenifies the throat asper-artery and breast it benignly moves the belly and purges watry humours especially the small Manna as that which comes from Calabria not Terenjabin which the Arabians say is like Honey which we use not because we want it CHAP. VIII Of Cordial Flowers and first of Violets A Violet which the Greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 grows in opake and rough places at the foundations of walls or margins of gardens and sometimes in meadows it is green all the year long and flourishes sometimes in February most frequently in March whence it is called Mars his Flower and sometimes in Autumn if it be cultivated it leaves are like Ivy leaves but less and thinner of a short stalk in the end whereof grows a Flower of a ceruleous purple colour and odour like Flower de luce It brings forth a small seed in little round leaves about the end of Summer Now Violets are multifarious and different in colours for some are white some blew and other in a mean betwixt both There are some also which stand upon longer and harder stalks whose flowers are like a purple colour others which are tricolorous and grow upon quadrate slender succulent and reptile stalks in dry places whose leaves are more angust long and lascivious than others from its three-fold colour some call it the herb Trinity others the flammeous Violet and the vulgar Frenchmen the Minute pensea Other small stocks of Violets have got names which because Phyficians seldome use we omit But the martial Violets are wholly used for their flowers being endued with an exhilarating faculty Vires are mixed with Cordials their seeds and leaves being malactical ingrede the decoction of Glysters and confection of Cataplasms All men conclude that their Flowers are refrigerative yet that acrimony they leave in the mouth by mastication speaks them to participate of some calour But because that calour is fugitive being overcome by their exuberant frigidity the Medicks judge them to be frigid CHAP. IX Of the Flowers of Bugloss BUgloss so tearmed from its similitude to an Oxes tongue because it is eximious in inducing hilarity is by Dioscorides and Pliny called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it hath long broad rough leaves like Cumfrey but straiter shorter and not of so obscure a green Its stalks are bicubital brachiate rough its flowers replenished with spots like stars ceruleous shining in the bottome whereof is a long obscure pithy seed It s root is long crass black without white within succubent sweet it grows in gardens in fandy and also in plain places There is no variety neither in nature nor shape amongst the Hortensian Buglosses onely the flowers of some are white of others purpureous and vulgarly ceruleous But the wild ones differ much for some are alwayes green which will like in any region others are very sharp whose leaves are rigid with prominent pricks which by some are mistaken for Anchusa so named from the blood wherewith its root infects the tangent Bugloss is of a hot and moyst or rather a middle temperature whence it is reckoned amongst the exhilarative Plants which Galen was not ignorant of when c. 80. l. 6. de simpl med he wrote that Bugloss immerged in Wine would cause joy and hilarity CHAP. X. Of Borrage flowers BOrrage is an herb notorious enough its leaves and faculties bear an affinity with Bugloss for both their leaves are long resembling a Neats tongue but Borrage leaves are shorter and broader which the rigour of the winter soon corrupts and kills but Bugloss bears it out and grows but especially its root and those leaves that are next ground flourish It bears broad ceruleous flowers and sometimes white larger
not in effigies yet much in qualities so that Thlaspi is commonly called Countrey Species or Treacle-Mustard There are many kinds of Thlaspis whereof three are most noted one greater another lesser and another mean whereunto all the rest of that name are referred The first grows plentifully both in cultivated and incultivated Fields with large long crisped leaves acute towards the end its caul is about half a foot long emitting boughs circumcinged with flowers at first white which are frequent at the beginning of Summer not unlike Shepherds-purse which convolving themselves into two valvuls produce a blackish hot and sharp seed in sapour like Mustard or Nasturtium The second hath a ramous caul of a foot high its leaves are lesser angust acuminated and subverted its flowers white seed small sharp and hot like Nasturtium The third and less Thlaspi is an Herb with angust leaves of a fingers length converting themselves downwards and a little incided in their extremities its flowers are whitish caul slender and ramous of a foot high whereon many small plain husks like little Lentils on small pedicles do depend in an excellent series wherein a small seed affecting the mouth and tongue with a sharp sapour like Mustard is enclosed It grows in incultivated stony mountainous hot and dry places as on many walls and houses whence some Herbalists call it Tectorium Nasturtium and sometimes Countrey-Mustard It s seed is used in Antidotes yet he shall not much erre that in defect thereof usurps other seeds Many referr many more Plants bearing sharp and servent seed to the Thlaspi but feeing they dissent much in effigies others referr them rather to Plants more affine in form for the Thlaspi of Crateva which seems to be a latifolious Violet called Bolbonac as also Draba by some called Thlaspi have little or no affinity with the rest of that name Vires It s seed is not and dry in the fourth degree it breaks impostumes moves flowers kills the young in the uterus helps the sciatical infunded at the fundament it evacuates blood and pollicitates many more commodities if rightly and opportunely usurped It is mixed with some Antidotes CHAP. IV. Of Rockett ROcket which the Greeks call Euxomon is sown in Gardens for Condiments sake for it is both good and usefull in Sallets and Pottage for such whose internal calâ—ur languishes and whose lust to venery is dull for Rotlet revokes venery and accelerates the husband slow to congress whence Poets call it Herba salas the Salacious Herb. It rises a cubit high with angust long leaves lacinated on both sides with deep but rare incisures with palid and sometimes hueous and quadrifolious flowers seed like Turnep seed and a white and dure root it grows sometimes spomaneously among branches and other rough and incultivated places There is also erratical and wild Rocket which grows in squalid places near high wayes and town walls with leaves like Sow-thistles but more slender and small with flowers of a luteous colour like them of Brassica which erupt in the middle of Summer Bank-creffes which some call Iriâ— others Tâ—rtela do so much resemble Rocket both in gust and form that they call it Rocket yet seeing Galen reposes Erysimum amongst alimental Plants I will scarce enumerate it among wild Rockets Eruca is also the name of a certain Insect as well as an Heth whereof there are many differences desumed from their dissidency in colour and magnitude whereof we neither will nor ought now to treat it being our purpose to speak onely of such Simples as are Ingredients necessary to Compositions in Pharmacopolies Rocket calefies and siccates in the third degree Vires extenuates the spleen cures the bitings of Mice and Spiders excites venery moves urine deleates black skars if illited with Oxe-gail and emaculates freckles CHAP. V. Of Nettle THere are two general differences of Nettles Species one whose leaves are improbously mordacious and surcle hurting the contrectants hands with its pungent down the other innoxious which may be handled without molestation The former is by the Greeks called sometimes Acalyphe because it is injucund to the tact sometimes Cnide because it punges mordaciously commonly called Quick-Nettle the other is called Lamiâ—us and Anonium as also white or dead Nettle There be also three sorts of quick Nettles the two greater and one lesser all wild and spontaneous Some call these wild ones masculine and seminine Nettles as superating one another in procerity The Romanes call that Masculine in the first place which emits round surcles of half a cubits height and sometimes longer cave and hollow with broad mucronated simbrious crisped leaves rough and mordaceous on both sides which by their contact excite lumps and ustion and rubefy the skin The seed is included in small pills round and hispid which proceed out of the root of the leaves That Feminine in the second which produces seed not globularly but racemously like Grape clusters after the manner of the feminine Mercury its caul is higher and more ramous its â—eaâ—es broader and all its parts mordacious The third sort is the least and yet most ramous mordacious and graveolent producing its seed racemously but not after the manner of the former for many grains erupt out of the surcie at the foot of the leaves together but each one hath a pedicle like the masculine Nettle This third sort is called Dog-Nettle and is most of all mordaeious They all grow in incultivated places about hedges dams and old walls and sometimes in Gardens and in fat soyls All Nettles siccate exceedingly but calefie not so much for though Urtica be ab urendo Nettle from burning yet they are not ustive from their heat but by cansing such a pain from their pungent down for Macer c. 2. l. 2. Nettles decocted are very ignavely hot they help the orthopnoical moves urine and flowers their feed stimulates to venery and is a present Antidote against the poyson of Hemlock It helps also against the malignant quality of Henbane Mushromes and Quick-filver as also the bitings of Serpents and poysonous Beasts The seed of the mascussine Nettle is thought best Here we may not omit To help those that are slung with Nettles that Oil conduces much to the ease of those pustuls and dolours excitated by Nettles as also Elder leaves bruised and adhibited which by a special propriety respect this affection Many other Plants are reposed amongst Nettles which are sometimes called Lamia sometimes dead Nettles whereunto another Plant is referred which the Romanes call Labio which some think is Agripalma or Cardiack others Galeopsis and Galeobdolon The first sort of these dead Nettles are those that assurge to a cubital procerity with Nettle leaves soft and crisped sometimes of a whitish sometimes reddish colour The second very like the former but not so ramous with flowers like Spurge but purpureous issuing out of the genicles of its surcles The third is lesser more imbecil and fetid with rounder
other Plants which first emit leaves then prolong their Caules in Scilla the Caule first erupts then the Leafes Scilla calefies in the second degree and is very incisive Galen saith it is best to take it boiled or rosted for so its vehement quality will be castigated duely praepared it helpes against the frigid affections of the braine and Nerves Galen repurged one cut it small demerged it in a melitery insolated it forty dayes and gave it to a boy infested with the Epilepsy CHAP. XXII Of Bulbus or the Sea Bulb BUlbus is either Coronative medicative or esculent among the Coronative are enumerated the innumerable varieties of Daffadills Lilionarcisses Tulips and Hyacinths among the medicative Scilla Hermodactylls Pancratium and the vomitory Bulbus and among the esculent which are also desumed to many eximious medicinall uses Leeke the Onyons of Ascalon and such as by a certain antinomasy are called regall Onions as praecelling the rest which excite venery and which come in frequent use among the ancients for meat instead whereof we use common Onions which are the true bulbus and pollicitate the same effects being also alike described with the ancients Bulbi so that when Bulbus seed is praescribed Onion or Scallyons seed may be usurped Bulbus is a certain root corticous short round and tunicated with many membranes the most external whereof is greatest it often growes out of the earth producing some slender radicles like capillaments which keeping in the earth attract convenient succe for the nutriment of the whole Bulbus Its fronts are like them of Onyons round angust inane and mucronated its caulicles of nine inches heighth in whose summity little purpureous flowers emicate to which succeeds seed black without white within All sorts of Bulbus are acrimonious Vires they excalefie excite venery suppeditate Aliment cause inflation and stiffnesse of the yard but two large plenty of them should not be used in meats because they trouble the nerves Of all the Bulbuses I think Satyrium most excites venery the rest are more ignave causing it by their flatuosity CHAP. XXIII Of Satyrion or the True Dogs-stones SOme plants from the effigies of their roots are called Testicls from their effect Satyria because they make men Satyrs-like prone to venery amongst Bulbous roots such as have but one bulb are properly called Satyria that which hath two Cynosorchis that which hath three Triorchis Of every of which there are many differences some desumed from the form of their bulbes How to know the Best others from the number of their leafs others from the colour of their flowers and their positure yet are all alike in facultres and friends to Venus but that is most approved whose root is singular round about the magnitude of an Apple yellow without white within turgid with carnosity sweet to the gust and grateful to the mouth Three leafs emerge out of this root which are depressed towards the ground in figure and colour like Lillies leafs but lesser from which three it is called Trifoile its caul is of a foot heighth its flowers small and white the roots of this praecels the rest for conditure and this I think is the true Satyrium Condited Satyria are analeptical and restaurative they are good for such as are tabid and such as frequently exercise venery for the root of Satyrium is thought so potent in exciting venery that by retension in ones hand it will stimulate them to congresse whence the Greeks design all plants by the nomenclature of Satyrion which excite venery CHAP. XXIV Of Leeks LEeks are sowen in gardens for culinary uses for the plant is rather esculent then medicinal as Cooks well know yet its succe is sometimes usurped in medicinal remedies as in coacting the powders of foetid pills and sometimes in extinguishing or rather educing of Empyreums for though it be calid yet it hath an excellent faculty in attracting and expelling the impressed vestigium of colour Leck is either sative or spontaneous and both are twofold Species the first sort of the sative is called the headed Leek the second the sective Leek the first because it consists of a round root like an Onyon the later because its root is longer and oftner sected one sort of the spontaneous is called Schoen oprasum which bears tenuious leafs like a bulrush the other is called Ampeloprasum which growes spontaneously in vineyards and other places Dioscorides makes mention of one to wit the headed Leek whose head or rather root that it might greatly increase and dilate it self the ancients covered it with a tile or slate and so they obtained their end many other wayes are invented whereby Leeks may acquire a prodigious magnitude but these we leave to Gardners All Leeks calefie extreamly ezsiccate extenuate open incide Vires resolve and help against the bitings of Serpents and Ustions It s seed brayed and drunk in passum or white Wine helps against the difficulty of urine and diduces its passages some write that Leek eaten excites venery and discusses ebriety but its frequent use causes tumultuous sleeps hurts the sight and begets aeruginous bile CHAP. XXV Of Radish root and Rape or wild Navew THere is much affinity betwixt radish root rape root and wild Turnep Radish root is so notorious that it needs not much explication for the vulgar are so delighted therewith that they sustain themselves with this root bread and salt nay all Nations make meat thereof Rephani Species There are three sorts hereof one is the greater which is an enemy to Vines another lesser the third is black radish which some call wild radish the Gardeners Reforum Rape root Rapiumunde dicitur Bunias is from its tumescent figure called Bunias from its round figure Gonzylon or rather Strongylon vulgarly Nape its root is very crasse carnous tuberous white and not capillated its leafes long sharp green deeply incided on both sides its Caule bicubitall and ramous its flowers luteous to which Cods succeed praegnant with seeds like Colewort feeds but greater which ingrede the confection of Mithridate whose faculty is eximious in expugning venenate diseases Some suspect that Bunias differs from Nape and that the seed of Bunias and not of Nape ingredes the composition of Mithridate but each may be substituted in defect of the other There are three differences of Napes or Rapes desumed from their Roots the first is orbiculated turbinated and short the second crasse and long the third lesse and vulgar which the vulgarity call Nape Napes or Turneps as they acquire their magnitude so also their bonity from the condition of the Heavens and of the soyl those that grow in the fields about * * * ATownin France Caen are so sweet and grateful that they are justly preferred before the rest Rapistrum is a certain wild rape root not at all bulbous Rapistrum which germinates in every field with broad green leafs and luteous flowers whose seed the women call Navet
covers them with the earth which it makes even and so sits upon it till its young ones be excluded Solinus saith That in the Indian Sea there are Tortoises of so great a magnitude that their shells open at the bottom and joyned at the top make so large houses for the vulgar Indians that a numerous family may dwell therein Yea some use them in stead of Boats wherein they sayl from one Isle to another in the Red-Sea With the Troglodites they are cornigerous but less then the Indian Tortoises are of much use Vires both in Cibaries and Medicine for their decoction helps such as are consumed and attenuated and therefore they usefully ingrede the confecture of the resumptive Syrupe Many delight in their flesh but it is such a deformed Animal in head tail feet form colour and spots resembling the Serpentine kinde that nature seems to note it as offensive and unwholesome which they also confess who love it but that its dressing and condiments make it less noxious for else it were horrid CHAP. 28. Of Frogs MYropolists use whole Frogs in the composition of Vigonius his salve which the Author described for the cure of a disease proper to his own Nation Sylvius also saith Their decoction will ease the Tooth-ache if the mouth be washed therewith their ashes with Pitch according to Dioscorides or rather with Honey according to Pliny will bring again fallen hairs The Emplaisters wherewith they are mixed are thence siccative and discussive especially in the dolours of the junctures They are Antidotal against Serpentine poysons according to Dioscorides if they be decocted eaten with Salt and Oyl and their broth supped But all Frogs are not edible whereof there are many varieties for some delight solely in water and live there ordinarily others on the dry soyl others also are amphibious living equally on the water and earth Some of the watery Frogs live in Fenny and muddy places and are pernicious acceding near the nature of Toads others live in limpid and fountain water and are wholesome and reposed among Cibaries Some of those that feed on dry soyls live amongst reeds others amongst bryars and thorns the former which are least of all are called Calamitae and the latter Rubetae by the Latines by the Greeks Phrynoi which are as pernicious as the Palustrian Frogs those they call Dryophites which climb up Oaks and live in or about them and the Diopetes which fall with storms and warm showers out of the air are no better then the rest All of them are mute in winter except the watery Frogs which at the end of Winter and beginning of the Spring begin to croak to wit when Tadpoles are procreated in putrid waters which some falsly call Frogs-sperm or Frogs-egges Arist Hence many have derided the Medicament of a certain Alchymist who prescribes the water of Frogs-sperm to the Pimples and swellings of the face eyes and the whole body whereas he might hunt exenterate dissect exhaust and search the seminals of all the Frogs in France and never get so much sperm as would wet the bottome of his Metal-pan Experience also shews and learned Rondeletius hath averred That Tadpoles come of Mud and turn not into Frogs All Frogs besides the watery ones are pernicious and malign as also those of them also that are maculated with black spots like Toads of whose nature they participate and those that use them for meat are infected with a plumbeous colour Wherefore they should not be taken save for Physick for they putrifie the body Yet some put Palustrian Frogs others Rubetae to the confection of Jo. de Vigo his salve but I think amphibious Frogs are better For the Rubetae which live among bryars thorns and dry soyls being venenate and acrimonious impart a certain quality to the Medicament whereby it vellicates the skin and raises lumps and the water are not so efficacious therefore those that live partly in water and partly on the land must be elected as best CHAP. 29. Of Crab-fishes THere are innumerable varieties of shelled fishes some whereof have long bodies as Locusts and Lobsters others round as all the troop of Sea-Crabs and fresh-water Crabs whereof there are fewer varieties As some of Sea-Crabs are greater as those we call Maeae and Paguri and others lesser which we call Pinnophylaces so some of the fresh-water Crab-fishes are great broad-footed like the Sea-Crabs but greater others little ones which we use in Meats and Medicaments as by Avicenna's counsel to refresh such as labour in the Hectick Feaver and such as are bitten by mad Dogs as also to ingrede some mundificative Unguents Rondeletius hath largely described the whole kinde of Crabs Lib. 18. de Piscibus Lib. particulari de fluviatilibus as also Matthiolus upon Dioscorides For it is enough for us to mention these and to treat more copiously of such things as do but sometimes accede to Medicine CHAP. 30. Of Vipers VIpers flesh siccates Vires and digests potently and califies moderately its faculty hastens it to the skin propelling the excrements and poyson of the body if any thither whence we make it into Theriacal Trochisks as we have shewed in our Antidotary and of them we make that famous Theriacal confection so much commended against venenated affections Now those are call'd Theriacal Medicaments which cure the poysonous bitings of venenate Animals or heal such as have received harm by the biting breathing licking or touching of venenate Animals They are also called Alexipharmacal Medicaments which arceate peril by poyson but others will have them onely so called which by introsumption at the mouth cure poysons Now Theriacal comes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is from wilde and venenate Animals rather then from some certain sort of Serpents though a Viper whose Male is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Female 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be sometimes by the Greeks called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for it being the most notorious of Serpents and wilde Beasts it vendicates this name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Medicament which admits of its flesh is nevertheless denominated Theriacal from its efficacy in curing the bites and poysons of wilde beasts and not because of that ingredient A Viper is ordinarily of a cubits length and often longer of a subflave colour maculated with many round spots the male is by the Greeks called Echis its head is angust and acute its neck crasser and body slenderer then the Female its tail like that of other Serpents grows more gracile by degrees and not on a sudden as that of the Female it hath sharper scales at the end of its tail which when moved it erects just as an angry Cock doth his Plumes in fighting He hath two Canine teeth the Female more according to that of the Poet Huic gemini apparent dentes in carne venenum Fundentes verubus sed Foemina pluribus atrox He also hath a passage in his tail neerer his belly then that of the
be made either with Honey or Sugar but that is better and more suave which admits of Sugar whereof Fernelius addes twice the quantity to the succe but the more usual way of confecting the compound admits of onely two pounds of Sugar as Mesue hints who in his own idiome calls Dulcoacid and Semi-mature fruits Muzae that is pleasant for then their sapour arrides the stomack He that hath the compound needs not the simple But if the Mint be dry its quantity is greater for it is enough that one pound ten ounces be cocted in the succes and as much Sugar added to this Colature for it will be very insuave if made as Mesue describes it It roborates the ventricle hinders heart-aches vomiting Vires sighing and belly-flux but the more compounded is better SECT II. Of Syrupes which may be made at any time IN the first Section we described in order such Syrupes as should be confected in the Spring Summer and Autumn for the end of the precedent season being one with the beginning of the consequent those Syrupes which are made in the end of the Spring may as well be made in the beginning of Summer so that I would not disterminate the former Thirty Syrupes into exact Sections yet we have given their description in such order as the collection of the Simples required placing those first which are made of the first flowers of the Spring those last which are made of fruits in Autumn and those in the middle which are made of flowers roots succes and decoctions in Summer But in this Section we shall onely exhibit such as are or may be made in Winter or other seasons CHAP. 1. Syr. Rosar siccan or Syrupe of dry Roses D. Fernel ℞ of dryed * * * Red Roses Roses lb j. Infuse them 24 hours in hot boyling water lb iiij in the expression mix of the finest sugar lb ij boyl it up to the corsistency of a syrupe The COMMENTARY Every one confects this syrupe after his own arbitration one while augmenting another while lessening the quantity of Roses sometimes iterating their maceration twice and sometimes oftner But no description can be more exact then this of Fernelius wherein is observed a due proportion of Roses to the water and of both to sugar and this syrupe confected with one maceration is all out as efficacious as any but red Roses must be selected not white or pale ones It stayes the belly-flux Vires roborates the internal parts gently deterges and agglutinates Ulcers asswages vomiting and cohibits Rheumatism CHAP. 2. Syrupus Reg. sive Alexand. c. or The Princely or Alexandrian Syrupe of old called The Julep of Roses ℞ of Damask Rose-water lb iij. Loaf-sugar lb ij boyl it gently to a Syrupe The COMMENTARY He that considers this syrupe's perspicuity would with Mesue call it a Julep its consistence a Syrupe and its suavity a syrupe for Alexander or some Prince for both Kings and delicate persons delight to use it It is easie to make and may be made at any time and no Pharmacopoly can well be without it though our Ancestors knew not of it being not of skill to elicite Rhodostagme or Rose-water Mesue describes another Julep of Roses made of their infusion after which manner two syrupes may be made one of pale Roses which is purgative and another of dry ones but neither of them are justly called Juleps This syrupe is cordial bechical roborative and alterative Vires helping the breast liver ventricle thirst and all ardour CHAP. 3. Syrupus de Absinthio or Syrupe of Wormwood D. Mes ℞ of dryed Roman Wormwood lb ss Roses ℥ ij Spikenardʒ iij. old white-wine Juyce of Quinces of each lb ij ss macerate them a whole day upon hot embers afterwards boyl them till half be consumed and to the Colature adde clarified honey lb ij to make it into a Syrupe The COMMENTARY Dry Pontian or Roman Wormwood must be taken and minutely incided that it may be infunded with Roses and Spikenard in generous Wine as Muskadine or the like in an Earthen vessel leaded 24 hours upon the hot ashes that done they must be fervefied once or twice afterwards honey or rather sugar must be added some make two sorts one of honey and vulgar wormwood the other of sugar and lesser wormwood Some make this syrupe of one half pound of green wormwood in three pounds of water cocted to the third adding to the colature clear generous and ancient white-wine and the best white honey of each one pound and coct them to the consistence of a syrupe Which-ever of these wayes it is made it is very ingrateful and thence many rightly diminish the quantity of the wormwood and augment the sugar for those things that would roborate the ventricle if ingrateful subvert it This syrupe roborates the stomack Vires helps concoction excites appetite discusses flatuosity opens the veins and moves urine CHAP. 4. Syrupus de Stoechade or Syrupe of Stoecados D. Fernel ℞ of the flowers of Stoecados ℥ iiij Thyme Calamint Origanum of each ℥ j. ss Sage Betony the flowers of Rosemary of each ℥ j. ss the seeds of Rue Piony and Fennel of eachʒ iij. boyl them in lb x. of water till half be consumed and to the Colature adde sugar and heney of each lb ij make it into a syrupe aromatize it with Cinemon Ginger sweet-Cane of each 〈◊〉 tyed up in a linen rag The COMMENTARY Mesue gives two descriptions of this syrupe in both which he puts Pepper and Bartram which being hotter are rejected by Fernelius and he addes certain cephalical Medicaments to wit Sage Betony Poeony and Rosemary that it may acquire the effect the Author intends This syrupe is cognominated from its Basis to wit Staecados whereunto the rest are adjoyned to acquire more cephalical and noble faculties Sylvius permits it to be made with sugar and not honey for the more delicate It conduces to many affections of the brain Vires as Mesue attests to which it would nothing confer if it were made after his description for Stoechas which he puts for its Basis is more hepatical or splenical then cephalical therefore Fernelius addes many cephalicals which make his syrupe conduce to the Epilepsie Cramp Trembling and all cold affections of the brain CHAP. 5. Syrupus de Glycyrrhiza or Syrupe of Liquorice D. Mes ℞ of Liquorice scraped and bruised ℥ ij white Maiden-hair ℥ j. dryed Hyssop ℥ ss macerate them a whole day in lb iiij of rain-water then boyl them till half be consumed to the Colature adde of the best honey penidees and sugar of each lb ss Rose-water ℥ vj. and so boyl them into a syrupe The COMMENTARY Many do right in not cocting dry Liquorice long lest it grow bitter but put it in in the end of the coction they clarifie the Colature with Penidia Sugar and Honey then coct it to a syrupe adding thereunto some Rose-water before it be perfectly cocted which
from their crudity These condited are of great potency to arceate and cure the Epilepsie if they be moderately taken in the morning fasting and at the hour of sleep CHAP. 12. Radices Eryngiorum conditae or The condited Roots of Sâ—â—-holly â„ž of the Roots of Sea-holly cut sloping and purged from its inward pith lb j. boyl them in water till they become soft dry them in a shade Sic Radices Buglossi condiuntur then let Sugar be dissolved in the same decoction and boyled to the spissitude of an Electuary to which adde the Roots and again gently cocted that their aqueous humidity may be dissipated 〈◊〉 epose them afterward 〈◊〉 Gally pot and preserved The COMMENTARY The Roots of Sea-holly being sweet needs undergo but one materation before conditure and then be cocted in the same water â—ill they be soft then condited with Sugar as the form shews Mesue addes some Aromata's as Cinamon and Ginger wherewith be would have the Roots stuck and he boyls them with a portion of Honey and Sugar or else Honey onely thrice the quantity of the Roots But the form I have exhibited is more usual and better We everywhere in the Aarabian writings meet with Secacul which is hitherto taken for Sea-holly But its description given by Avicenna and Serapio shew that it is another Plant dissimilar in face if not faculties It grows in India and is there condited and is kept and given for venereous matters as also our Sea-holly which some do perperously call Secacul though their vertues be afâ—â—â—e for both of them are â—or and moist in the end of the first and beginning of the second degree They move Venery Therefore they do right who for defect of the Indian Secacul substiture our Sea-holly and let such cease to be angry at this substitution who must have something of that nature and cannot get the true Secacul Sea-holly is of the kinde of aculeated Plants whose leaves are tender not spinous and rigid and fit for cibaries Dioscorides saith they are broad asperated about their ambient aromatical to the gust and when perfectly grown aculeated with many horrid spines Its heads also are circumvalled with aoute spines its roots long black without white within tender sweet and grateful to the gust It is more largely described in our first Book of Medicinal Matter It s Root condited noâ—â—shes augments seed Vires excites venery moves urine and expels the sand of the Reins and Bladder CHAP. 13. Radices Symphiti condita or The condite Roots of Comfrey â„ž of the roots of the greater Comfrer slieed lb j. macerate and boyl them in a sufficent quantity of water till they become soft dry them in a shade for a whole day Let them Sugar be put to the decoction and boyled to the 〈◊〉 situde of an Electuary to which adde the roots and again let them be boyled till the aqueous superfluity be evaporated and when they begin to be condited repose them in a vessel for use The COMMENTARY The roots of Comfrey as also many other which by cocture become easily soft are rightly condited after this prescript yet some had rather prepare and condite them thus First they coct the washed and cleansed roots then they bray them then they transmit thâ—â— through a fieve then put twice their quantity of Sugar to them and coct them to the consistence of an Electuary then they recalifie them and recond the conditure in Boxes And thus they do with all other crasser roots for thâ—â— they may be better pâ—rged from their fibres and more perfectly confected in every part They stay the running of blood from any part Vires cohibit the delapse of homours and agglutinate wounds in the internals CHAP. 14. Radices Enâ—â—â— conditae or The condited roots of Enâ—â—a-campane â„ž of the roots of Enâ—â—a-campane washed purged and sliced lb ij infuse them in warm water for the space of four dayes the water being daily changed then boyl them till they grow tender then dry them in a shade afterwards take the like weight of Sâ—gar which dissolve in the aforesaid decoction and boyl it up to the consistency of an Electuary then adde the aforesaid roots and coct them together gently which afterwards repose in boxes The COMMENTARY The roots of Enula must be macerated more or less as their insuavity requires and if it may be emended by two or three macerations they need no longer immersion lest their whole vertue be deposed in the water They roborate the stomack Viret recreate the heart discuss flaâ—â—lenty help concoction resist poysons and pestiâ—ent viâ—ulâ—â—â— diseases CHAP. 15. Radices Satyrii conditae or The condite roots of Satyrion â„ž of Satyrion roots washed and picked lb j. boyl them in water till they become tender then let them be dryed in the shade covering them with a cloth when they are dryed ningle them with the like preportion of Sugar dissolved in the abovesaid decoction and â—oyled to a good consistence which coct a little that the humidity of the water may be dissipated The COMMENTARY The whole roots of Satyrion should be condited for their mole hinders not but that sugar may pervade their whole substance We have adjoyned no Aromata's that they may be more safely exhibited to such as labour under Hectick Fevers they are indued with like faculties with Diasatyrium but more imbecilely as we shall shew in its due place Many other roots are condited after the same manner with these which for brevities sake I omit We have no fresh Ginger but it comes all condited to us from Bengala a countrey in India SECT VIII Of Eclegms that must be preserved in Pharmacopolies EClegms do by good right challenge place amongst the Preparative Medicaments for they prepare the humours contained in the breast for expulsion by vomit or impact them into another place for eduction by stool For seeing they are either acid or sweet they incide viscid humours and make them easie to be separated from the parts whereunto they adhere The sweet ones concoct the same and make them sit for exclusion by spittle If they be of a mixt sapour and dulcoacid they both attenuate and concoct But thâ—se that the Ancients kept in their Shops are now almost out of use And now when some prave affection of the highest region of the Breast or Asper Artery requires a Lohoch or Eclegm they are quickly made for present use being both for vertue and sapour at the best So that the Ancients Eclegms as they are less grateful so they seem to be less useful Yet lest our Shop should be quite void of them we shall select a few of more easie confecture and particular use As CHAP. 1. Eclegma Scilliticum or Eclegm of Squills D. Mes â„ž of the Juyce of Squills Honey despumed of each lb ij boyl them together according to Art to the consistency of Honey The COMMENTARY This Eclegm is most easie to confect and most simple consisting onely of the
than Bugloss in the midst whereof as in its center is defixed a certain dusky crown whose end is acuminated It grows in any ground but it is more florid in humid and fat soyl It is fresh all Summer and also all Autumn if it be sown later its seed is black in all other things it responds to Bugloss Its flowers put into broth give a special taste and subduce the belly and taken in Wine they cause great joy and pleasure according to that old saying Ego Borrago gaudia semper ago Its flowers in Condiments recreate the eyes and jaws and in Medicaments augment their cordial faculties There is another Plant very like this Borrago semper virens which they sometimes call Bugloss sometimes Borrage alwayes green for it resembles both their form and nature and is thought to prepoll in the same faculties It grows in Plains and is sown and kept in Gardens by such as delight in variety of Simples CHAP. XI Of the four common Emollitives and first of Mallows THere are four common emollitive Herbs Mallows Marsh-mallows black Violet and Bears-breech or brank Ursine whereunto other four less famous are adjoyned to wit Mercury Pelitory of the wall Sicla commonly called Bete and Arach whose use is celebrated in making the decoctions of mollitive Glysters and Cataplasms Now Mallows is so denominated from its mollifying quality Malva unde dicta and it is either Hortensian which by culture and mangony will grow to a tree and acquire great procerity or Sylvestrian which is well enough known to all for it abounds every where with thick cireinated and angulous leaves it puts forth flowers all Summer long of a pale purple colour its roots are small long and lignous its seed small smooth and orbicular There are many sorts of Mallows Malvarum differentiae The first of that name is that which importunely germinates in every way side or court The second is not so copious which is smaller with lesser boughs growing about rude and incultivated places near Villages with flowers of a pale purple colour The third is called the Mallow tree Arborescens which like a shrub sprouts up to the height of six or eight cubits The fourth is called Althea by the Latines Bis-malva and Ibiscus because of the multiplicity of its faculties for it hath malvaceous smooth long hoary and somewhat clipped whiter flowers and seeds like other wilde Mallows Its roots are crass long round divaricated into many circles and pregnant with much juice its sprigs that grow besides it put forth malvaceous long hoary and tomentaceous leaves white flowers and small plain and round seeds like other Mallows It calefies in the first degree it hath a digestive and laxative faculty and will coct mucaginous excrements The fifth is called Alcea Alcea which is like Mallows in its original and stalk but deeper cut out of its root proceeds abundance of shrubs half a cubite long adorned with red flowers which fallen off we may see a round seed like other Mallows The sixth is called Transmarina Transmarina and Rosacea from the elegancy of its flower like a Rose It is known in all parts for it is sown and cultivated almost in every Garden it puts forth its branches at the beginning of the Spring Some sorts of Ibiscaes are referred to the kinds of Mallows to wit the Althea that grows like a tree the Althea that grows like a fen and the Althea of Theophrastus which bears yellow flowers There are also as many sorts of Alcea to wit the common forreign and shrubby which is Cinquefoil All Mallows is mollitive Vires and thence it is denominated and its leaves decocted are good for the shingles and it is good against poysonous stings and the dolours excited by Bees or Wasps CHAP. XII Of Acanthus or brank Vrsine THE name Acanthus is not onely referred to such Plants 〈◊〉 are spinous as Carduus but also to such as prick not as to the Artichoke and brank Ursine which the Shopmen call Acantha many Marmoraria because its leaves are engraven in marble Chapiters Dioscorides saith it grows in Gardens and moyst places and puts forth long broad smooth fat blackish leaves cut like a nettle its stalk is of two cubits length smooth about the thickness of a finger and on every side from the middle upwards involved with little long leaves accuminated like nucaments but not spinous out of which a white flower proceeds its seed is long and dusky its top is like the top of a sprig Its roots are juicy long red and glutinous which are of little or no use in Physick though made into a Liniment they are good for burnings and drunk move urine and conduce to the good of such as are tabid for their leaves onely are desumed to the decoction of Glysters and Cataplasms to which use solely the whole Plant is destinated and got by Apothecaries Some say it is called brank Ursine because its leaves resemble the fore feet of Bears We finde it also called Paederota and Melaniplyllâ—m We have abundantly before treated of Violets which are also reckoned among the mollitive Plants in the first degree and shall not need to superadde any more CHAP. XIII Of other Mollitives and first of Mercury THis Herb derives its name from Mercury its Inventor whence the Greeks call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but more frequently Linozostis There are two kinds of it the first is called the masculine the second the feminine Mercury the branches of both are round light rough with some genicles a cubite high brachiate there are many long leaves cut about like a Saw like sweet Basil all about the stem In the leaves of the masculine there are two seeds joyned together which cohere with little feet like Goose-grass Small ears come out of the feminine with mossy flowers thereon which if they wither no seed follows It is green all Summer dead in Winter springs again in the Spring its faculty is chiefly to exonerate the belly And there is a Honey made of its juice they call the Mercurial Honey which will excite the drowsy expulsive faculty and deterge the belly There is also a third kinde of Mercury called Cynocrambe or wilde masculine Mercury which grows all over by high wayes and humid places which because it hath much affinity with the masculine it hath pleased learned Authors to denote it by that name CHAP. XIV Of Pelitory of the Wall THE many names that Pelitory of the wall hath put upon it hath caused learned men to doubt which is the true Herb or it due name It is most frequently by Apothecaries called Helxine of which name Dioscorides describes two Plants The first is firnamed Cissampelos and it is a kinde of convolvulus which grows in hedges and circumeats the vicine Plants the other in walls and maceries whence it is called Parietaria or mural Herb as also Helxine because it adheres to ones cloaths it emits small