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-hu 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 upon 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 kinde 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 â—â—â—â—china 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 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
and extinguishes the venereous poyson The Indians use its juice to cure the venereous disease which to them is natural and endemial CHAP. XXVI Of Chyna root I May not omit this other Antidote against the Indian disease to wit that excellent Root which as also the whole Plant hath its name from Chyna but in its native foyl retains its Countryes name to wit Lompatau It grows in the vast region of Chyna which terminates upon the East-Indies and Scythia not in mountainous and dry ground as some have conjectured but in fens and moyst places like a reed as about the sea-shore or head of some fountain It s root is crass and nodous as red 〈◊〉 hard also and tuberous like the Brambles root and rubeous and tortuous like Bistorts root Slender and imbecil cauls crupt out of its root which are circumcinged with very rare leaves which though low require fulciments that they may be strait This root is now vulgar which the Antients either knew not or oscitantly pretermitted but now it is so notorions that no Barber or young Apprentice but he will talk thereof The Indians use this Medicament as panpharmacal to all diseases and especially to such as cannot be cured by other remedies It is very prevalent in curing the Indian Pox Vires it helps the Vertigo cures the pain of the stomack helps the hydroptical cures the colical colour and affections of the uterus removes obstructions opens the passages moves urine causes sudour helps in convulsions and palsey and eases the dolour of the articles for Charles the fifth Emperour of that name found no ease from other Medicaments but much from Chyna against the Gout which handled him very ill Some say that it is good for such as are tabid but I think too hot to cure the consumption to emend a dry distemper and resarciate it Garcias used it against the heat of the liver so long that his body was almost wholly inflamed It s use is now more rare than formerly it hath been SECTION IV. Of Indigenous Calefactives The Preface WE have many hot Plants which will not grow in forreign Countryes of which we intend to speak distinctly in this fourth Section And they are such as either grow spontaneously in the Fields or by culture in Gardens Wherein we shall observe this method first touch upon those that are hottest then such as are hotter and lastly those that are moderately hot all which we shall run over with brevity yet not so but that their qualities may be distinctly known And therefore we shall begin with such as have a fiery kinde of quality as CHAP. I. Of Bartram or Pellitory BArtram or Pyrethrum is so called from that igneous quality which its chewed root leaves in the gustative organ the Vulgar call it Alexander's foot the Latines from the abundance of spittle it causes in the mouth call it Herba salinaris It is an herb of a cubits height or more in its caul and leaves emulating the wild Daucus or vulgar Carret are multifariously divided and sected into small capillaments like Fennel its flower that erupts out of the summities of its surcles is fair broad and patulous like a Marigold but larger subluteous in its orb and circumdated with little angust long leaves supernally whitish and on the contrary fide of a purple colour in the middle of its orb and between the leaves issues a small long and odorate seed It s root is crass long and of a blackish red colour It grows in many places of Italy and Spain and fruticates flourishes and perfects its seed when it is sown in Gardens in Holland but it grows more copiously and floridly in hot and Eastern Regions and we enumerate it amongst our indigenous Plants because we have it in Europe and the Western Countryes-pretty plentifull There is another Plant which by its acrimonious odour moves sternutation which Apothecaries call wild Pyrethrum because by its vellicative sapour it moves the gust like Bartram and promotes spittle which grows in mountainous and incultivated places also in meadows and hedges Pyrethrum's root is hot in the fourth degree detained in the mouth it projects flegm copiously and therefore it helps the tooth-ache proceeding from a frigid cause it helps also the diuturnal head-ache the Apoplexy Epilepsy Palsey and all affections arising from flegm congested in the head CHAP. II. Of Mustard MUstard is no Aliment sometimes a Medicament often a Condiment for it is most conveniently admixed to viscid and glutinous dishes especially in winter that their viscidity may be corrected and the ventricle thereby roborated for it admirably helps such as have dull palats and nauseate their meat But because by its acrimony it importunely affects the gust it is not onely grinded with vinegar to mitigate its fervour but mixed with sweet wine to obdulcorate its acrimony and so is made a gratefull Condiment which many for its vulgarity disestimate Mustard is either sative or spontaneous the sative is of two sorts the one hath leaves like Rape but lesser and more sharp with a round hispid sharp stalk of two cubits height or more brachiated with many boughs about which erupt luteous flowers orderly disposed to which long thin and sharp husks succeed wherein a little round seed is included of a yellow colour and mordaceous gust The other sative Mustard is so like the former that they seem onely to dissent in colour of their seeds which in the former is luteous in this a blackish red the leaves of this are somewhat more like Rocket than the other in all other things they are the same The wild grows spontaneously in any dry place and sometimes in humid places brinks and hedges it is less than the former bearing lesser leaves jagged almost like Shepherds-purse but more acute it emits luteous quadrifolious flowers it afterwards puts forth its seed in husks which it varies sometimes bearing white sometimes red seed This Plant denominates a noble Medicament they call Synapismum which is celebrated to many uses as to inveterate Head-achs Epilepsy Vertigo difficulty of breathing distillations and the Gout Mustard is hot and dry in the fourth degree it incides attenuates Vires extracts detained in the mouth it moves flegm brayed and snuffed up the nose it causes sternutation it excites women suffocated with the histerical passion but such as have imbecil and caliginous eyes should altogether eschew it CHAP. III. Of Thlaspi or Treacle-Mustard MUstard and Thlaspi are rightly described in the same series for both agree if 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
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 Rapium unde 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 * A Town in 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 There is another sort thereof with leafs like Bank-cresses which is called Lapsana as also a third kind with leafes like rocket and white flowers all of them bear small black round seeds included in Cods Radish roots are eaten raw turneps not without coction all calefie open and move urine CHAP. XXVI Of Anemone or Wind-flower WE have above treated onely of such Calefactives whose Roots were most celebrated save that at the beginning of this Section we described
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 Females he goes also more stoutly The Female Vipers are of a yellowish colour with an elated neck reddish eyes and lucent of an inverecund and fierce aspect their heads are broad their tails short macilent squamous and all a like gracile not gradually so their passages neerer their tails their bellies more prominent and their pace flower The Latines call it Vipera because Vi parit that is it is forced to bring forth or else because Vivum parit that is it brings forth living young contrary to the mode of other Serpents which first lay eggs and the Viper indeed procreates eggs like them of fishes but every egge hath a young living Viper involved onely in a membrane Yet it sometimes happens that the last seeking egress before the first and impatient of longer delay erodes his Parents belly and sides and so it is produced a Matricide but that as seldom happens as when the Male thrusts his head into the Females mouth in copulation the Female satiated with the sweetness of the pleasure obtruncabes the Male which I think is never When other Serpents in winter run into caverns Vipers onely absoond themselves under stones and depose their old age like other Reptiles Vipers are preferred before all other Serpents in the confection of this Theriack because when compounded of others its vertue is more tabifical Gal Cap. 10. Lib. de Theriaca The Heads and tails which contain the most virulent poyson must be abscinded for the Viper hath the most pernicious head of all venenate beasts Dioscorides holds it ridiculous that any set certain measure of the Head and tail should be prescinded The internals Spina Dorsi and the belly must likewise be abjected There are both in Italy and France very idoneous Vipers for this solemn confection as in the Pictavian fields whence many are brought to Paris of whose flesh we make Pastils and use their fat in Vigo his emplaster whose extraction and preparation is easie The fat must first be taken with its skins and washed in clear cold water till it be sincere then may the membranes be separated then must the fat be melted in a double vessel and continually agitated with a wooden stick when it is melted it must be percolated into cold water which may be abjected and the fat kept and reposed in a convenient vessel some wash it again that it may depose all its poyson I can scarce assent to their opinion who believe that such live long as eat Vipers flesh for it procreates very ill succe and digests and siccates vehemently so that they who eat it are grievously cruciated with thirst and thence cognominated Dipsades Galen saith that some are of opinion that such as are bitten by Vipers cannot be cured by drinking but will burst ere they can quench their thirst Galen proves by many Histories that Vipers conduce to the Leprous There was saith he a Leper in Asia who was foetid to look on and graveolent who at first was conversant and did eat with his companions till some of his company began to be inquinated and he of such a horrid and detestable a form as none could indure to look on him then they bound him in a Cottage neer the river and gave him daily aliment The next Summer about the rising of the Dog-star when a servant brought fragrant wine to the reapers and set the pot by the river-side when they came to drink the Boy poured out the wine into a cup and with the wine a dead Viper the reapers being therewithal afrighted quenched their thirst with water and sent the wine to the Leper pitying his condition and judging it better for him to die therewith then to live in that misery but he drinking thereof was unexpectedly cured his skin falling off like a shell from a locust And another event not much unlike this happened in Mysia not far from our City There was a rich man but Leprous who was in love with his maid that was beautiful but she hating so descormed a man clandestinely kept other lovers company the diseased in hopes of recovery betook himself to some Fountains of hot water wherewith the vicine parts abounded which were squalid and full of Vipers one whereof crept into his wine pot the wench perceiving that a Viper was there suffocated was glad she had such an opportunity put into her hands she then gives a cup of it to her Master who drinking of it was perfectly cured as the precedent Galen recenseates more stories whereby he proves that Vipers cure the Leprosie We have shewed in our Antidotary how it must be prepared before it ingrede the confection of the Theriack CHAP. 31. Of Scinks THe flesh of the Reins of this Beast is a special Antidote against
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 â„ž of the flowers of Stoecados â„¥ iiij Thyme Calamint Origanum of each â„¥ j. ss Sage Betony the flowers of Rosemary of each â„¥ j. ss the seeds of Rue Piony and Fennel of eachÊ’ 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 Ê’ ij 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 â„ž of Liquorice scraped and bruised â„¥ ij white Maiden-hair â„¥ j. dryed Hyssop â„¥ 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 â„¥ 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 some disallow of because the syrupe is confected for purgation and the Rose-water is astrictive to whose opinion Joubertus subscribing substitutes the water of the infusion of Roses as less astrictive but this water is therefore commixed that the syrupe may thereby participate of an astrictive quality and assumed in the beginnings of diseases stay the fluent humours and coct such as have delabed The infusion may be desumed for want of the water but not as less astrictive This syrupe consists not onely of simple but compound Medicaments to wit of Penidees which are made of Barly Water and Sugar cocted in such proportion and Art that a very solid mass arises thence so tractable that it adheres not to ones fingers but may be drawn into small long crass short or intorted threads alwayes white and hence its name is Alphenicum It stayes the humours flowing from the brain Vires cocts such as are fallen helps the cough and causes the expectoration of cocted humours CHAP. 6. Syrupus Jujubinar or Syrupe of Jujubees D.M. â„ž of Jujubees n. lx Violets the feeds of Mallows of eachÊ’ v. Liquorice scraped and bruised Maiden-hair Barley of each â„¥ j. the seeds of Quinces white Poppies Melons Lettice Gumme Thraganth of eachÊ’ iij. boyl them in lb iiij of Fountain-water to the Colature adde of sugar lb ij to bring it into the consistency of a Syrupe The COMMENTARY In confecting this syrupe the cleansed Barly must first be cocted then the Jujubs added then the Liquorice afterwards Maidens-hair and the seeds of Melons Lettice and Poppy at length Violet-flowers and Tragacanthum in the end lest by longer coction it become fume It should be included with Mallowes and Quinces-seed in a linen cloth and then cocted with the rest in four or five pounds of water to the absumption of the third part and elixated with the said quantity of sugar into the consistency of a syrupe the coction should not be to the half unless the weight of sugar be abated It conduces to hoarseness cough pleurisy it cocts Vires moves and educes spittle and that of Violets and is a mean betwixt the syrupe of Poppy it cohibits all fluxions and cocts the defluxed humours CHAP. 7. Syrupus de Hyssopo or Syrupe of Hyssop D. Mes â„ž of dryed Hyssop the roots of Smallage Fennel Liquorice of eachÊ’ x. Barley â„¥ ss the seeds of Mallows and Quinces Gumme Thraganth of eachÊ’ iij. Maiden-hairÊ’ vj. Jujubees Sebestens of each n. xxx Raisins stoned â„¥ j. ss dryed Figs fat Dates of each n. x. boyl them in a sufficient quantity of water to lb iiij to the Colature adde Penidees lb ij make it up into a Syrupe The COMMENTARY This syrupe is cognominated from Hyssop its Basis in the confection whereof its Author Mesue is so far from defining a quantity of water that he mentions no water at all but they should take eight pounds wherein they should coct the Barly half an hour then inject the incided roots to be elixated a quarter of an hour then all the fruits at length the seeds bound in a linen cloth with Tragacanthum and at last pretty dry Hyssop true Maidens-hair or in its stead vulgar Maidens-hair Penidees made without starch must be added to the Colature by coction reducted to three pounds and clarified some had rather put in sincere sugar others the water of sape and sugar but it is best to confect it according to Mesue's description The same Author describes more preparations of this same syrupe but this we have transcribed is the most usual and best This syrupe conduces much to difficulty of breathing Vires pectoral dolours from a cold cause it takes away obstructions moves flours and deterges sand from the reins and bladder CHAP. 8. Syrupus de Aretemisia or Syrupe of Mugwort D. Fern. â„ž the leaves of Mugwort m. ij the roots of Orris Enula-campane Madder Piony Lovage Fennel of each â„¥ ss the leaves of Peny-royal Origanum Calamint Nep Balm Basil Carrets Savin Marjoran Hyssop Horehound Germander Groundpine St. Johns-wort Feverfew and Betony of each m. j. the seeds of Anis Petroseline Fennel Rue Gith of eachÊ’ iij. bruise those that are to be bruised and macerate them 24 hours in Hydromel lb viij boyl them to lb v. and with lb v. of Sugar coct it into a Syrupe The COMMENTARY This syrupe of Mugwort first described by Matthaeus containing a mass of Medicaments perperously congested was rightly castigated by Fernelius who substracting such things as were not known inconvenient and supervacancous left onely such as were usesul as Plantius well observed for when it is in vain to adde more where the thing may be better done by fewer
upon no grounds use to stimulate Venery for they afford little of genital matter or flatulent spirits to the body but much Melancholical succe The cauls of the vulgar not of the Spanish Artichock should be selected for that is a kinde of Carduus as both of them seem to be depromed from that stock onely one of them hath by culture attained a more fair aspect and gracious sapour They are more celebrated for Junkets for the whole then Diet for the sick Condited Roots CHAP. 11. Radix Poeoniae condita or The condited Root of Poeony â„ž of the Roots of Poeony washed and purged lb ij boyl them in water till they grow soft then repose them to dry in a shade that their humidity may be evaporated then boyl them again with the like weight of Sugar with a little portion of the aforesaid decoction to the body of an Electuary which take from the fire and repose in a vessel for use The COMMENTARY Some Roots should be condited onely in the Spring before their succe be immitted into their branches boughs and leaves others in Autumn when Plants demit their leaves for then much of the Plants vertue goes into the Roots and then the humour is more throughly cocted then at other times others may be condited both in the Spring Summer and Autumn being alwayes succulent whose cauls are either not erupted or grown up or else dryed They must then be collected in that feason wherein their vertue is most prealent as the Roots of Ragwort and Rainbow in the Spring the Root of Poeony in August according to Sylvius or rather in March the Roots of Enula Bryony and Maidens-grass in Autumn as we have shewed at large in our Institutions Cap. 13. Lib. 1. Some of them are amare sharp and insuave which before their conditure should be often macerated in water others are grateful which being one day infused in warm water may in the same or another be cocted forthwith as the Roots of Poeony which may be well condited according to this prescribed form or some other of the like sort when they are cocted and the Sugar cocted like a soft Electuary affunded upon them if they become crude the liquor must be again cocted and that again repeated till they cease 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 Sea-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 repose them afterward in a 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 till 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 affine for both of them are hot 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 nourishes 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 spissitude 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 them 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 thus they may be better purged 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 Enulae conditae or The condited roots of Enula-campane â„ž of the roots of Enula-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 Sugar 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 flatulency help concoction resist poysons and pestilent virulent diseases CHAP. 15. Radices Satyrii conditae or The condite roots of Satyrion â„ž of Satyrion roots washed
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 calour 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 Irio others Tortela 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 Lamium 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 leaves 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 leaves which is seldome if at all used in Medicinal Confections Some now of late make a syrup of the flowers of other Nettles for the affections of the lungs and breast which they call Syrupus de Lamis but its effect doth not celebrate it CHAP. VI. Of Flower de luce or Orris ACertain Lilly whose flower in its variegated colour emulates the Rain-bow painted in an opake cloud opposite to the Sun is thence called Iris whereof I have