helpeth to expectorate rotten phlegme from those which are troubled with a continual Cough and is profitable also for the Ptisick or Consumption of the Lungs This Turpentine as it is clearest for inward uses and serveth insteed of the true Turpentine so well that they are commonly used out for another so is it best also for outward salves and doth both draw cleanse and heal all sores or ulcers and green wounds and therefore there is scarce a salve for that purpose wherein Turpentine is not Oyl drawn Chymically from Turpentine is singular good to be used in wounds being more drying and consolidating then the Turpentine it self as also to warm and ease the paines of the Joynts and Sinews caused of Cold and being mixed with a little Oxe Gall it is good for the worms and deafness of the ears The water which is distilled with the Oyl is used for freckles and spots in the face and a scruple weight of it taken in white Wine purgeth phlegme by Vomit Some use to mingle Bay Salt and Turpentine together and therewith spread a leathern girdle which being worn about the wast of them that have the Itch cureth them So Parkinson it being an Excrescence is good for all manner of excrescences by Signature CHAP. VI. Of Wood Betony The names SOme of the Greeks call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 others 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it joyeth most in cold places Ruellius in his translation of Dioscorides calls it Cestron â—sychótrophon the Latines call it Betonica and Vetonica from the Vetones a people of Spain that first found out the vertues of it as Pliny saith We in England call it Wood Betony and it hath been formerly called Betayne or Betaine Parkinson adâ—ertiâ—eth that Vetonica and Betonica are diversly taken in divers Authors for Vetonica although it be set down in some Authors for Betonica yet more properly and usually it is understood to be the Caryophylius or Gilliflower and then it is denominated Vetonica altilis The Kinds Of this Betony for of the Water Betony I shall not treat in this place because it is more appropriated to other parts there are four or five sorts differing one from another either in the leaf or flower 1. Common Wood Betonâ— which hath a purple flower 2. Wood Betony with white flowers 3 Betonica minima Alpina Helvetica Small Mountain Betony 4. Betonica Danica Broad-leaved Betony 5. Betonica Alopecuros montana dicta Foxtail Betony That which I shall describe is the Common Wood-Betony The Formâ— The ordinary or Common Betony which because it is most frequent in Woods is called Wood Betony it hath many leaves rising from the root the lowermost whereof are somewhat broad and round at the ends slightly indented about the edges the footstalks being pretty long but those that grow by two and two at the joynts upon the small slender foursquare and somewhat hairy stalks are a great deal lesser The stalk is commonly near a foot high whereon are set several spiked heads of flowers of a reddish or purple colour spotted with white spots all over the seeds are somewhat long and uneven and of a blackish colour The root consists of many white threddy strings like unto those of Plantain the stalk perisheth but the roots with some leaves theron abide all the Winter the whole plant is somewhat small and therefore Gerard was mistaken who sayes that it hath long and broad leaves The Place and Time The Common Betony loveth shadowie places as Woods hedg-rows Copses the borders of pastures Parks c. That with the white flower is more usually found in stiffe clay grounds then in any other mould as in the VVoods by Brumley in Kent in a wood near a Village called Hampsteed and in Broodsworth VVood in Yorkeshire The third groweth on the Alpes of Helvetia or Switzerland The broad leaved or Danish Betony groweth in the Physick Garden at Oxford The last as Lugdunensis saith groweth in the moist vallies that are shadowed with trees of the high hills They flower and flowrish for the most part in the moneths of June and July and the seed ripeneth quickly after The Temperature and Vertues Betony though it grow wilde yet it is set in many Gardens and is hot and dry almost if not quite in the second degree The vertues of it are innumerable as Antonius Musa one of the Physicians of Augustus Caesar who hath written a peculiar Book of this Herb doth testifie but especially it is good for the brain so that as Fernelius writeth Cerebrum vel odore solorecreat hinc Comitiâ—libus furiosisque medetur Paralysin torpentiaque membra persanat The hairy Roots of this Herb are some Signature that it is good for the head If it be stamped and applyed to the fore-head of them that are frantick or possest with Devils it cureth them Boyl it with Vervein and Worm-wood in water and wash the head therewith and grind the same Herbs with some of the water and Wheaten Bran and apply it hot to the mould of the head thrice and it will cause the Head-ach to depart Seeth it with Vervein Hore-hound and Hysop in White-wine and apply them as liot as may be suffered and it cureth the Megrim which is a pain that possesseth one side of the head If the Head-ach proceed of cold Flegm seeth Betony in Wine with a third part of water and apply it For noyses in the head pains and giddiness thereof drink powder of the leaves dryed in the shade or rather eat it with slices of bread steeped in Wine first and last to restore the brain which is done likewise by taking some of the powder of it in Pottage and thus or green it helpeth those that loath their meat for it procureth digestion and allayeth the soure belchings and risings in the stomack if it be used often The Leaves or Flowers boyled in broth and drunk or made into a Conserve Water Electuary or Powder as any one shall like best do help the Jaundies Falling-sickness the Palsie Conâ—ulsions or shrinking of the Sinews the Gout and those which are inclined unto Dropsies those that have continual pains in their head though it turn to Phrensie The Powder mixed with pure Honey is no lesse available for all sorts of Coughs or Colds wheesing or shortness of breath and those Distillations upon the Lungs which cause Consumptions A dram of it taken in the Syrup of Vinegar doth wonderfully refresh those which are wearied by travel it stayeth bleeding at the mouth and nose and helpeth those that pisse blood or spit it The Decoction of it being made with Mead and a little Penny-Royal is good for those that are troubled with Quartan Agues and to draw down and evacuate the blood and humours that by falling into the eyes do hinder sight Being boyled in Wine and taken it killeth the Worms openeth obstructions of Spleen and Liver cureth stitches and pains in the back or sides the torments and griping pains of the Bowels and the
in them and healeth Ulcers there if there be any The young clammy buds or eyes before they break out into leaves bruised and a little Honey put to them is a good Medicine for a dull sight by Signature An ounce of the bark in Powder being drunk saith Dioscorides in wine 't is likely is a remedy for those that are troubled with the Sciatica or Srangury and Serenus is of the same Judgment The black Poplar is held by some to be more cooling then the white and therefore they have with much profit applyed the leaves bruised with Vinegar to places troubled with the Gout and so do the young leaves and buds made into an Ointment with May-butter the seed is held to be good against the falling sicknesse if it be drunk in Vinegar That water that droppeth from the hollow places of the black Poplars doth take away Warts Pushes Wheales and other the like breakings out in the body The young black Poplar Buds saith Matthiolus are used by women to beautifie their hair bruising them with fresh butter and straining them after they have been for some time kept in the Sun The Ointment called Populeon is singular good for any heat or inflammation in any part of the Body and to temper the heat of wounds It is used also to dry up the Miâ—k in Womens Breasts after their delivery and when they have weaned their Children The Aspen leaves are somewhat weaker then those of the black Poplar yet the quantity being augmented they are used for the same purposes CHAP. XXIX Of Nightshade The Names SOme of the Greeks call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but others and that more usually 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In Latine Solanum and Solatrum Uva Lupina and Uva Vulpâ—s Cuculus and Morella Pliny saith it was also called Strumam and Cucubalus but they are thought bastard names and not proper to this plant In English Nightshade Morrel Petty-Morrel and in some places Hounds berries There is a sort hereof which is called Dwale or deadly Nightshade by reason of its pernicious and excesse cold quality and is therefore not to be used but by a skilfull hand but the Common or Garden Nightshade is not dangerous being heretofore planted in Gardens as other herbs for food wherefore it was called Solanum hortense or Garden Nightshade but is now no where used but Physically and is cast out of Gardens The Kinds Dioscorides reckoneth up four sorts 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hortense 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vesicarium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Somniferum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Manicum which are by a later Writer distinguished into ten kinds 1. Common Nightshade 2. Red berried common Nightshade 3. Sleepy Nightshade 4. The true sleepy Nightshade of the Ancient Writers 5. Sleepy Nightshade of another sort 6. Dwale or Deadly Nightshade 7. Hoary Indian Nightshade 8. Red Nightshade or Redweed of Virginia 9. The great Marvel of Peru. 10. The small Mervail of Peru which is a kind of Nightshade besides which there are divers other sorts that I may have occasion to mention elsewhere The Forme The Common Nightshade hath a somewhat upright round green hollow stalk and about a foot high bushing forth into many Branches whereon grow many dark green leaves somewhat broad and pointed at the ends soft and full of juyce larger then the leaves of Basil else somewhat like and a little unevenly dented about the edges at the tops of the stalks and branches come four or five or more white flowers made of five small pointed leaves a piece standing on a stalk together one by or above another with yellow pointells in the middle composed of four or five yellow threds set together which afterwards turn into so many pendulous green berries of the bigness of a small pease full of green Juyce and small whitish round flat seed lying within it the root is white and a little woody when it hath given flower and fruit with many small fibres at it the whole plant is of a waterish insipid taste but the Juyce within the Berries is somewhat viscous like unto a thin mucilage and is of a coolng and binding quality The Place and Time Common Night-shade groweth without planting under old walls and in rubbish by the common Paths and sides of Hedges and Fields and sometimes in Gardens out of which it is cast as a weed Dwale or deadly Night-shade groweth not only in the Woods of Germany but in divers places in our own Land as in the Castle-yard of Framingham in Suffolk in Cambridge-shire Essex c. The rest are strangers and not to be found unless it be in the better sort of Gardens as the Physick Garden at Oxon that at Westminster c. The first and the second die every year and rise of their own sowing the rest dye down to the ground in Winter and shoot afresh in the spring They do not spring out of the ground untill it be late in the year as not untill the latter end of April at the soonest They flowre in Summer even till the beginning of Autumne and then the fruit ripeneth The Temperature Galen saith in his Book of the faculties of simple Medicines that Garden Night-shade is used for those infirmities that have need of cooling and binding for these two qualities it hath in the second degree which thing also he affirmeth in his Book of the faculties of nourishments where he saith that there is no Pot-herb which we use to eat that hath so great astriction or binding as Night-shade hath and therefore Physicians do worthily use it and that seldom as a nourishment but alwayes as a Medicine Dwale is cold even in the fourth Degree The Signature and Vertues The Berries of Night-shade having some similitude with a Bladder are of excellent use to provoke Urine and to expel the stone especially the Seeds contained in them being drunk with White-wine It is commonly used to cool hot Inflammations either inwardly or outwardly being no way dangerous to any that shall use it as the rest of the Night-shades are if it be used moderately for the often taking thereof in too great a quantity procureth the Frenzy the remedy whereof is to take good store of warm honyed water The Juyce dropped into the Ears easeth the pains thereof that arise of heat or Inflammation The distilled water only of the whole Herb is fittest and safest to be taken inwardly The Juyce also clarified and mingled with Vineger is a good Gargarisme for the mouth and throat that is inflamed But outwardly the Juyce of the Herb or Berries with Oyl of Roses and a little Vineger and Cerusse laboured together in a leaden Mortar is very good to anoint all hot Inflammations in the Eys It doth also much good for the Shingles Ringworms and in all running fretting and corroding Ulcers and in moist Fistulaes if the juyce be made up with some Hens-Dung and applyed thereto A Pessary dipped in the Juyce and put up into the Matrix stayeth
hath a thick short knobbed Root blackish without and somewhat reddish within a little crooked or writhed together of an harsh or astringent tast with divers blackish Fibres growing thereat from whence spring up every year divers Leaves standing upon long foot-stalks being somewhat long and broad very like unto a dock-Dock-Leaf and a little pointed at the ends but that it is crumpled of a blewish green colour on the upper side and of an Ash colour gray and a little Purplish underneath having divers veins therein from among which arise divers small and slender stalks about half a yard high almost naked and without Leaves or with very few narrow ones bearing a spiky bush of pale flesh coloured Flowers which being past there abideth small Seed somewhat like unto Sorrel-Seed but greater The Places and Time The two first grow at the foot of Hills and in shadowy moyst Woods near unto them in many places of Germany and in our Country likewise in moyst and watery places particularly in a Meadow about a stones throw above the Abby Mill at St. Albans about an Acres breadth or somewhat more from the River side where the common Bistort groweth plentifully though it be chiefly nourished in Gardens The fourth groweth in VVestmerland about Crosby in Cumberland about Ravenswaith in York-shire Lancashire and divers other places The third groweth on the high Hills in Silesia and other places The two last are round on the Alps in divers places and the last also amongst the Switzers They all flower about the end of May and the Seed is ripe about the beginning of July The Temperature Bistort is cold and dry in the third Degree and very astringent The Signature and Vertues This Plant hath a double Signature both proceeding from the Roots the one from the colour of the inside of them the other from the writhed or twisted form The bloody colour of the Roots betokeneth that it is effectuall to stay the bleeding of the Nose and all manner of inward bleeding and spitting of blood as also any Fluxes of the body in man or woman and likewise vomiting the Powder of the Root in Wine or the decoction thereof being drunk The juyce hereof being put up into the Nose prevaileth much against the Diâ—ease called Polypus and all other Sores or Cancers that happen in the Nose or any other part but the surest way is first to wash them with the distilled water and afterwards to apply the Powder of the Root thereto It is good also to fasten the Gums and to take away the heat and Inflammation that happen as well in the Jawes Almonds of the Throat or Mouth if the decoction of the Roots Leaves or Seeds be used or the juyce of them The Root of Bistort Pellitory of Spain and burnt Allome of each a like quantity beaten small and made into a Past with Honey a little peece thereof put into an hollow Tooth or holden between the teeth if they be not hollow stayeth the defluxions of Rheum upon them when it is the cause of their pain and helpeth to cleanse the Head and void much offensive matter The wreathed form of the Root is a sign that is good against the bitings of Serpents or Snakes for which it is found to be very effectuall as also for the venoming of Toads Spiders Adders or the like venomous Creatures if the place be washed with the water that is distilled from the Root and Leaves A dram of the powdered Root taken in drink expelleth the Venom of the Plague the small Pox Measels Purples or any other infectious Disease driving it forth by sweating The Powder of the Root or the decoction thereof being drunk is very available against Ruptures or burstings or all bruises or falls whatsoever dissolving the congealed blood and easing the pains that happen thereupon The said decoction being made with Wine and drunk hindereth abortion that is when Women are apt to miscarry in Child-bearing the Leaves kill worms in Children and is a great help to them that cannot keep their water if some juyce of Plantain be put thereto which applyed outwardly doth give much help in the Gonorrhaea or running of the Reins A dram of the Powder of the Root taken in the water thereof wherein some red hot Iron or Steel hath been quenched is also an admirable help thereto so as the body be first prepared and purged from the offensive humours The Leaves Seeds or Roots are all very good in Decoctions Drinks or Lotions for invard or outward wounds or other sores and the Powder strewed upon any Cut or Wound in a vein stayeth the immoderate bleeding thereof The Decoction of the Roots in water whereupon some Pomegranate Pills and Flowers are added injected into the Matrix stayeth the access of humours to the Ulcers thereof and bringeth it to its right place being fallen down and stayeth the immoderate Flux of the Courses The Roots are most used in Physick and will keep good a year or two The Dose in Powder is from a scruple to a dram into Decoction from a drachm to two or three which is made by bruising a sufficient quantity of the root suppose two drachms and boyling it in half a pint of Posâ—et drink till about half be consumed then strain it and give the clearest to be drunk in a morning CHAP. XXXVIII Of Tormentil The Names THough none of the Greek writers have mentioned this herb yet it hath got a Greek name and is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ex 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Septem et 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 folium that is Seven-leaves but not properly it being only one leaf cut into seven divisions For there is a general rule in all Leaves whether of herbs or trees that that which falleth away with the stalk and not in parts and at several times is the leaf though it be winged as that of the Ash Elder Walnut tree c. the great Centory Agrimony Danewort Parsnep Valerian c. is or divided as Trefoil Cinquefoil or Tormentil c. is It is called in Latine Tormentilla quia valet adversus tormenta intestinorum from its vertue in easing the torments of the Guts and Heptaphyllum or Septifolium and of some Stellaria from the form of the leaves though that be a name applyed to other plants of the like form In English Tormentil Setfoil or Seven-leaves The Kinds Formerly there was but one sort of Tormentill known but now there are three 1. Common Tormentil 2. The greater Tormentil 3. Silver leafed Tormentil The Forme The common Tormentil hath many reddish slender weak branches rising from the root lying upon the ground or rather leaning then standing upright with many short leaves that stand closer to the stalks as the Cinkfoil doth which this is otherwise somewhat like with the footstalks encompassing the Branches in several places but they that grow next the ground are set upon longer footstalks each whereof are like the leaves of Cinkfoil but somewhat longer and lesser
the pains of the joynts and sinews it strengthneth also the Liver and heart but the Chimicall Oyl doth serve for that and the former purposes much more effectually Being taken inwardly it stayeth vomiting and nauseous subversions and helps the retaining vertue of the stomach and brings good concoction and digestion It stoppeth the Flux of the Belly and profits those that spit blood and that have Coughs being taken with Syrup of Colts-foot or the like it stayeth the acrimony or sharpness of strong purging Medicines and is a good Corrector of them CHAP. LIV. Of Masterwort The Names THis Plant was scarcely known to the Ancients and therefore I cannot tell you by what name they called it but by later Writers it is generally called Imperatoriae as some say from the excellent vertues it hath It is a good Herb indeed but there being many as excellent as it methinks that shouâ—d not be the Reason why it should bear away the Bell from the rest I suppose it rather to be so called because if it meet with a peece of ground it liketh it will so disperse it self on every side that it will prove it self the Generall or sole Commander of the place and so may others haply if they compare the name and the nature of the Plant together And so much also doth the word Magistrantia from whence the word being corrupted comes Astrantia import from the over-mastering of its neighbouring Plants The like might be said of its English name Masterwort It is by some called Pellitory of Spain but falsly that being a small low Plant bearing many finely cut long Leaves upon the stalks lying on the ground like Camomil but somewhat larger Gerard calls it English-Masterwort or false Pellitory of Spain The Kindes As a Lyon brings forth but one Whelp so this mighty Plant is not very numerous in its Progeny for of it there are but two sorts 1. Common Masterwort 2. Mountain Masterwort The Form Common Masterwort hath divers great broad leaves divided into sundry parts three for the most part standing together upon a small footstalk on both sides the greater and three likewise at the end of the stalk each of which leaves are somewhat broad and cut-in on the edges into three or more divisions and all of them besides dented about the brims of a dark green colour and do so much resemble Angelica Leaves that I have known them mistaken for the same yet if they be well regarded they may easily be known asunder for that they grow lower to the ground and upon lesser stalks amongst which rise up two or three short stalks in comparison of Angelica being about half a yard or two foot high and slender with such like leaves at the joynts as grow below but lesser and with fewer divisions bearing umbels of white Flowers and after them small thin flat blackish Seed bigger then Dill-Seed the Root is somewhat great and groweth rather side-wayes then down-right into the ground and is the hottest and sharpest part of any of the rest of the Plant and the Seed next unto it being somewhat blackish on the out-side and smelling well The Places and Time The first is found on sundry Hill in Italy as also in Germany yet it is usually kept in Gardens with them as well as Us The other was found on the Alps in Switzerland They flowre and seed late with us as not untill the end of August The Temperature The Root of Masterwort is hotter then Pepper even to the third Degree compleat and is of very subtle parts The Vertues The Roots of Pellitory of Spain being very rare in England the Roots of Masterwort are the best substitute and are commonly sold in Shops under that Notion The dryed Root being chewed in the mouth draweth down from the head much flegme and is thereby available to ease the pains in the Head and Teeth and to draw forth cold Rheum Catarrhes and Defluxions upon the Lungs or Distillations into the Eys It is available in all cold Diseases and Griefs both of the Stomack and Body dissolving wind very powerfully both upward and downward The same also provoketh Urine and helpeth to break the Stone and expel Gravel from the Kidneys it procureth Womens Courses and expelleth the dead Birth and is singular good for the strangling of the Mother and other the like Womens Diseases it is effectuall also against the Dropsie Cramp and Falling Sicknesse It is of a rare quality against all sorts of cold poysons to be taken as there is cause either more or lesse and provoketh sweat The juyce hereof dropped or Tents dipped therein and applyed either to the green wounds or rotten Ulcers yea although they fret and creep and be almost gangrenated and those also that come by envenomed Weapons doth soon cleanse and heal them or if they be bathed with the distilled water the same also is good to help the Gout comming of cold cause Tragus saith that the Decoction of the Root in Wine being drunk doth revive the ability of generation but surely he had not observed Galens Rule who saith that those things that are so hot to expell wind do not help but hinder nature The other sort is more effectual and especially for Quartane Agues to expel the dead Child to purge the brain and to expell wind and help the Cholick CHAP. LV. Of Corall The Names THough it may seem strange to some at first sight that I should treat of Corall amongst Plants which seemeth more like unto a Stone yet whosoever shall consider the manner of its growing will conclude with the Herbarists of all Ages that it is fitly reckoned amongst them It is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek and Corallium by all that have written of it and thereto rubrum or album c. is set for distinction-sake yet the white is not remembered but by modern Authours the black sorts are called Antipathes and Corallium Nigrum there is a second sort of Antipathes or rough bristly black Corall and is called by the Fishers of Sardinia Sambeggia The Kinds The Sorts of Corall mentioned by later Writers are ten 1. The great red Corall 2. The greater and siner white Corall 3. Loose white Corall 4. Hollow white Corall 5. Knotty and spotted white Corall 6. Starry white Corall 7. Joynted white Corall 8. Black Corall 9. Rough bristly black Corall 10. Yellow Corall The Forme The greater red Corall which I take to be of greatest use is found growing on the Rocks in the Sea like unto a shrub with Arms and Branches breaking forth some into greater and some into lesser sprigs set full of knaggy eminences of a pale or whitish red colour on the out-side for the most part as it is taken forth of the water but being scraped or filed and polished becommeth very fair as it is usually seen yet some will be much more red on the outside at the first taking up and much redder within also being also of a firmer or hard stony
substance after it is kept a while out of the water but plyable whilst it is there The Place and Time Most of these Coralls are found about Marcelles and the Isle of Sardinia and other places of the Mediterranean Sea but seldom on this side unlesse it be upon the Rocks on the west side of England about St. Michaels Mount where Gerard saith that white and yellow Corall do grow They are to be found growing at all times of the year The Temperature All the Sorts of Corall do cool and bind yet the white is thought to be of a colder operation then the red or black The Signature and Vertues The substance both of red and white Corall commeth very near to that of the Teeth but the white being nearest in colour may more properly be said to have their Signature yet we find that the red also is very useful in all the accidents that belong to them As first it helpeth Children to breed their Teeth their Gums being rubbed therewith and to that purpose they have it fastened at the ends of their Whistles it fastneth the Teeth also that are loose and maketh them white it helpeth sore Gums and Ulcers in the mouth and healeth up foul hollow Ulcers in other parts and filleth them with flesh and is used in Medicines for the Eys to stay the Flux of Rheum and takes away the heat and redness thereof by cooling and drying up the moysture and some hang it about the neck of such as have the Falling-Sicknesse The colour of red Corall holds forth by its Signature that it stoppeth bleeding which it doth if it be but held in the hands of those that bleed either at the Nose or Mouth it is commended also to be very effectuall for those that spit blood or be troubled with any other Flux of blood either in Man or Woman and being often taken in Wine or other drink doth diminish the Spleen it helpeth also the Gonorrhea in Men and the Whites in Women It likewise helpeth them much that are troubled with the stopping of their water or that make it by drops and also those that have the tormenting pains of the Stone in the Bladder if the Powder when it is burnt be taken in drink It strengtheneth the Heart Stomack and Liver and is therefore very usefull in the Pestilence against venome and all pestilent Feavers and malignant Diseases it chears the heart and is good against melancholy The Powder taken in Wine or distilled water brings rest to such as have Agues and is good for them that are troubled with the Cramp As it is commended in the Falling Sicknesse so likewise it is said to prevent it if a Child so soon as it is born take ten grains thereof in Black-Cherry-water or in the Mothers Milk Some affirm that it causeth an easie delivery of the birth which it do it must be by some specifick Vertue for experience doth manifest it to be of a binding nature The Chymicall Oyl of Corall is also commended for most of the purposes aforesaid CHAP. LVI Of Corall-wort The Names SEverall Names have been given to this Plant by later Writers for it is conceived that none of the Ancients as Dioscorides or Pliny c. took any cognizance of it Some have called it from the form and colour of the Roots Dentaria Dentillaria Coralloides and Alablastrites as Lobel and Dentaria Coralloide radice All which Names do agree both with the Plant and place it here stands in for the Root of it being white smooth and shining as Teeth ought to be it was fitly named Dentaria Dentillaria and Alablastrites and as fitly Coralloides Dentaria Coralloide Radice the divers small round knobs set together whereof the Root is composed resembling the knaggy Eminences of the Corall especially the white with which it agrees in colour too Others both from the Root and Flowers that are like unto Stock-Gillow-Flowers which were antiently comprehended under the name of Viola called it Viola Dentaria as Dadonaus We in English call it Toothed Violet or Corallwort The Kindes Parkinson presents you with seven sorts of Coralwort 1. Bulbe-bearing tootheâ— Violets 2. Cinquefoile Corallwort 3. Another Cinquefoile Corallwort 4. Trefoile Corallwort 5. Setfoile Corallwort 6. Bulbed narrow leaâ—ed Corallwort 7. The least Corallwort The Forme The bulbe bearing Toothed Violet shooteth forth one or two winged Leaves upon long brownish foot-stalks which in their rising up out of the ground are as it were doubled or folded downwards and then open themselves in seaven leaves most usually and sometimes but five each whereof is somewhat long denied about the edges and Poynted of a sad green colour and set on both sides of the middle Rib one against another the stalk that beareth Flowers riseth up in the same manner with the Leaves and is bare or naked of Leaves unto the middle thereof where it shooteth forth a Leaf and so one of two more up higher each consisting but of five Leaves and sometimes but of three having also the uppermost single at each whereof commeth forth a small round bulbe cloven or as it were divided into some parts of cloves of a sad purplish green colour which being ripe and put into the ground will grow to be a Root and bear Leaves â—â—â—e as the bulbes of a red bulbed Lilly about which at the top stand four or five Flowers in long hâ—â—sks upon short foot-foot-stalks opening into four leaves of a Purplish colour very like unto the Flowers of Stock-Gillow-Flowers or Dames Violets after which come small long Horns or Cods poynted at the ends wherein lye such like Seed as are in the Cods of Dames Violets which will as soon as it is ripe break the Pod and fall out the Root is very smooth white and shining It doth not grow downwards but creepeth along under the upper crust of the ground and consisteth of diveÌ„rs small round knobs set together the tast both of the leaf and Root is somewhat bitter hot and sharp like Radish The Places and Time The first and last have been found in our Land as Parkinson saith the first at Mayfield in Sussex in a Wood called Highreed another Wood therein called Foxholes but for the place of the last he doth not expresse it yet I find that it groweth very plentifully about Croydon in Surrey as also a greater sort of Corallwort not mentioned by him The rest in the shadowy woods of Germany Switzerland and Savoy Naples Italy and divers other places They flower about the end of April and the beginning or middle of May and are withered and gone before July for the most part the roots abiding safe under ground The Temperature The Root of Coralwort is drying binding and strâ—ngthening yet it helpeth to provoke Urine and to expell gravell and the stone as some affirm by a speciall Vertue The Signature and Vertues Both the form of the root of Corallwort which is made as it were of many Teeth set together and the smoothnesse and
though they were covered with Ashes and is usually with Us called Jacobaea marina maritima Sea-Ragwort in English and Rag-weed by some Country people from the raggednesse of the Leaf The Kindes Of Ragwort there be nine sorts 1. The Greater common Ragwort 2. The lesser common Ragwort 3. The first Hungarian broad leafed Ragwort 4. The other broad-leafed Hungarian Ragwort 5. Smooth leafed Ragwort 6. Round leafed hoary Ragwort 7. The common Sea-Ragwort 8. The lesser Sea-Ragwort 9. Broad leafed Sea-Ragwort The Form The greater common Rag-wort hath many large and long dark green Leaves lying on the ground very much rent and torn on the sides into many peeces from among which riseth up sometimes but one and sometimes two or three square or crested blackish or brownish stalks two or three foot high sometimes branched bearing divers such like leaves upon them at severall distances unto the tops where it brancheth forth into many stalks bearing yellow Flowers consisting of divers Leaves set as a pale or border with a dark yellow thrum in the middle which do abide a great while but in the end growing full ripe are turned into down which with the small blackish gray Seed is carryed away with the wind the Root is made of many Fibres some greater and others lesser whereby it is firmly fastned into the ground and abideth many years The Place and Time The two first Sorts grow wild in pastures and untilled Grounds in many places and both together in one Field often times the three next grow in Hungary and Austria the sixth grew in some parts of France but it is not expressed where the seaventh groweth on our own Coasts not far from the Sea in the Isles of Sheppey and Thanet and along the Kentish shore in many places the eighth groweth on the Mediterranean Sea-shore of Italy and other places as by the Sea side in Zeland the last is mentioned by Bauhinus but he expresseth not the place where it groweth Divers of them are nursed up by divers Herbarists and are to be seen in the Physick-Gardens at Oxford and Westminster They flower in June and July and their Seed is ripe in August The Temperature Ragwort is hot and dry in the second Degree as some think with some bitternesse joyned therewith and therefore cleanseth digesteth and discusseth The Vertues The Decoction of Ragwort is very much commended to wash the Mouth or Throat that have Ulcers and Sores therein and for swellings hardnesse or impostumations for it throughly cleanseth and healeth them as also the Quinsey and the Kings Evill It doth help to stay Catarrhes thin Rheums and Defluxions from the Head into the Eyes Nose or Lungs The Juyce is found by continuall experience to be singular good both to heal green wounds and to cleanse and heal all old and filthy Ulcers as well in the Privities as in other parts of the Body and inward Wounds and Ulcers also and stayeth the malignity of fretting or running Cankers and hollow Fistulaes not suffering them to spread further It is much commended also to help Aches and pains either in the fleshy parts or in the Nerve and Sinews as also the Sciatica or pain of the Hips or Huckle-bone to bathe the places with the decoction of the Herb or to anoint them with an Oyntment made of the Herb bruised and boyled in old Hogs-Suet with some Mastick and Olibanum in Powder added unto it after it is strained forth and not before for otherwise it would be to little or no purpose It is held also to be a certain remedy to help the Staggers in Horses and upon that account some call it Stagger-wort and indeed it is not without a Signature thereof the unevennesse of the edges of the Leaves being like unto those uneven motions which Horses make in that Disease CHAP. LXXVI Of Plantaine The Names THE generall appellation that the Greeks have bestowed upon this excellent Simple is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Arnoglossum which they were enduced to do from the form which it doth somewhat represent to wit of a Lambs Tongue It is called in Latine Plantage â—uâ—to à Plantâ vocabulo as if this were the Plant of Plants as indeed it is It is divided also by the Greeks into 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which the Latines call Septinervia and Quinquenervia the first having seven Ribbes Nerves or Veines the other five The generall English name is Plantaine but that which the Greeks call Eptaneuron we call Way-bred because it commonly breeds by the way sides and that which they call Pentaneuron we call Ribbewort and Ribbewâ—rt Plantaine the Latines calling it Plantago angustifolia from the narrownesse of the Lease as they do the other Latif 〈…〉 because it is broader The Kindes The sorts of Plantaine which are most remarkable are ten 1 Common Wayâ—â—ed or Plantaine 2 The greatest Plantaine 3 Hoary Plantaine 4 Rose Plantain 5 Besome Plantaine or Plantaine with spoky tufts 6 The greater Ribwort or Ribwort Plantaine 7 The lesser Ribwort 8 Rose Ribwort 9 Great Water Plantaine 10 Dwarfe Water Plantaine The Forme The common Waybred beareth many fair broad and almost round Leaves saving that they are a little pointed at the end with seven ribs or sinews in most of them running from the one end of the Leafe to the other of a saddish green colour on the upperside but more inclining to yellow underneath from amongst which do rise up divers small slender stalks of about a foot high naked and bare of Leaves up to the top whereon groweth a blackish green spike or scaly head with blossomes like unto those of Corne after which cometh the seed which being small is enclosed in those little husks The Root is made of many white little strings whereby it taketh fast hold in the ground The Places and Time The first groweth by those wayes and paths that are made through Pastures and Meadowes in most places of this Land The second about Mompelier The third is of our owne Land but not so frequently as the first The fourth groweth in St. John Danvers his Garden at Chelsey The sixth and seventh grow very plentifully in Meadowes Fieldes and sometimes in Gardens without invitation or welcome though they be as usefull as any there The eight is found also in this Land but so rarely that it is taken into the best Gardens The two last grow in silent Rivers and standing Waters They flower in the Summer Months of May June and July The Temperature All the sorts of Plantaine are cold and dry in the second degree The Roots and Seed which is of subtile parts are not altogether so cold as the Leaves The Signatures and Vertues Although Plantaine be beneficiall to all the parts of the Body both inward and outward yet because the Mouth is the first part whereinto it is commonly received I have appropriated thereunto and the rather because it hath the Signature of the Tongue which is not only expressed by
burn but especially that which groweth by the Sea-side When the Hoggs were troubled with tuberous Baggs of corruption about their Necks the Country people were formerly wont to give them of the Herb Impious boyled in Milk or the like and they observed that which soever of them refused to take it would assuredly die CHAP. LXXVIII Of Jewes Eares The Names AMongst other Simples there is an Excressence of the Elder or Bore-tree which I shall treat of a part from the Tree it self and with it put a period to those things that are appropriated to the Throat it being of so great use for this part whereas the Elder it self is available to many others Notwithstanding I think that the Grecians took so little notice of it that they scarcely afforded it a Name It is called in Latine Fungus Sambucinus and Auricula Juda some having supposed the Elder-tree to be that whereon Judas hanged himself and that ever since these Mushromes like unto Eates have grown thereon which I will not perswade you to believe It is called in English Jewes Eares the Mushrome of the Elder by some the Gelly and by others the Sponge growing upon the Elder The Kinds My Lord Bacon in his naturall History saith that Jewes-Eâ—res grow upon other Trees besides the Elder as the Ash Fir c. but I suppose he was mistaken There are sometimes growing on those Trees certaâ—n Mushromes but like to Jewes-Eares neither in form nor vertue and therefore not to be called by that Name The Forme This Excrescence called Jewes-Eares is a soft and limber Mushrome which while it is fresh is not very thick but transparent and of a blackish colour of differing forms and sizes for some will be swolne and puffed up in one place more then in another having some resemblance to a Mans Eare some thin on the edge and thick in the middle and some two or three growing together all of them being dryed become of a blackish gray colour and then may be kept a whole year or more safe without spoyling to be used as you need The Places and Times Jewes-Eares grow as I said upon the Elder-tree but not so frequently upon them in other places as upon those that are planted upon Cony-Boroughs for their shadow and shelter I understand not but they may be found there at any time of the Year The Temperature Gerard saith that the jelley of the Elder otherwise called Jewes-Eares hath a binding and drying quality The Vertues Dr. Martin Blochwich Physician-Ordinary of Oshatin in his ingenious Tract called the Anatomy of Elder saith that even common Country Women so soon as they suspect any Disease in the Throat of their young Children they steep the Sponge of Elder in their Drink and when it is swelled they therewith carefully wipe away all the filth of the Palat Gums and Tongue It is likewise used for the same purpose being boyled in Ale or Milk with Columbine Leaves and with a little Pepper and Pellitory of Spain in Powder it helpeth to put up the Uâ—â—la or Palat of the Mouth being fallen down Take of the water or Decoction of Elder-Flowers wherein a little Elder-Honey hath been mixed and add thereunto some Leaves of Self-heal and a Jewes Eare or two and you will find it a sure Experiment for the Quinsey And a Lohoch or licking of the Rhob of Elder inspislated with Sugar with some pulverised Jewes-Eares added thereunto is commodious The distilled water of Jewes-Eares is very profitable for the Dropsie according to Crâ—lliâ—s de signaturis rerâ—â— and a drink made by sleeping three whole dryed Umbels of Elder Flowers and two Jewes-Eares very well dryed in two quarts of White-wine if it be used and no other drink the tumour will vanish away suddenly An handful of Jewes-Eares infused in a quart of the Spirit of Wine and a full draught thereof given to one that is troubled with the suffocation of the Matrix in the time of her fit cureth her The Powder of the Grains of Elder being mixed with an equall part of Jewes-Eares is commended in spitting blood CHAP. LXXIX Of Elecampane The Names HAving appropriated severall Simples to the inside and outside of the Throat the Breast comes next in Order to be provided for both internally and externally to which there is nothing more proper then Elecampane which is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Helenium also in Latine and of some Inula and Enula and Enula Campana some think it took the name from the tears of Helen from whence it sprung which is a Fable others say it was so called because Helen first found it available against biting and stingings of venemous Beasts and others think it took its name from the Island Helena where the best was found to grow We in English call it Elecampane generally yet in some Countries of this Land it is called Sabwort and Horse-heal The Kindes To this Plant which otherwise would be single do some refer the Flowers of the Sun as 1. The greater flower of the Sâ—â— 2. The lesser flower of the Sun 3. The Male flower of the Sun 4. The Marigold Sun flower The Forme Elecampane shooteth forth many large leaves lying neer the ground which are long and broad but small at both ends somewhat soft in handling of a whitish green on the upper side and gray underneath each set upon a short footstalk From amongst which riâ—e â—p divers great and strong hairy stalks two or three foot high with some leaves thereon compassing them about at the lower ends and are branched towards the tops bearing divers great and large flowers like unto those of the flower of the Sun of which it is said to be a kind as I said before both the border of the leaves and the middle Thrum being yellow which is not wholly converted into large seed as in the flower of the Sun but turneth into Down with some long small brownish seed among it and is carried away with the wind the Râ—â—t is great and thick branched forth divers waies blackish on the outside and white within of a very bitter taste but good sent especially when it is dryed no part else of the plant having any smell The Places and Time This is one of the Plants whereof England may boast as much as any for there growes none better in the world then in England let Apothecaries and Druggeists say what they will It groweth in Meadows that are fat and fruitful as in Parsons Meadow by Adderbury as I have been told and in divers other places about Oxfordshire It is found also upon the Mountains and shadowy places that be not altogether dry it groweth plentifully in the fields on the left hand as you go from Dunstable to Puddle hill Also in an Orchard as you go from Colâ—râ—â— to Ditton Ferry which is in the way from London to Windsor and in divers places in Wales particularly in the Orchard of Mr. Peter Piers at Guieruigron neer St. Asaphs The
profitable Reed having long stalks seaven or eight foot high joynted and knee'd like the common walking Canes but that the Leaves come forth of every joynt on every side of the stalk one like unto wings long narrow and sharp pointed The Cane it self or stalk is not hollow as the other Canes and Reeds are but full and stuffed with a spungious substance in taste exceeding sweet The root is great and long creeping along within the inner crust of the earth which is likewise sweet and pleasant but lesse hard or wooddy then other Canes or Reeds from which do shoot many young Cions which are cut away from the main or Mother plant because they should not draw away the nourishment from the old stock and so get unto themselves a little moisture or else some substance not much worth and cause the stock to be barren and themselves little the better which shoots do serve for plants to set abroad for increase The Places and Time The Sugar Cane groweth naturally in the East and West Indies the Barbadoes Madera and the Canary Islands and Barbary also It is planted likewise in many parts of Europe at this day as Spain Portugal Oliba and in Province Some shoots have been planted in England but the coldnesâ—e of the Climate quickly made an end of them The two next in England the fourth in Spain The fifth in Bengala The sixth was found in a Sack full of Costus and Ginger as it was brought from Arabia The seventh was found by Bellonius in a Valley on Mount Athos and in the River Jordan and of this they make their writing Pens in Turkey where the four next sorts are thought to grow The last groweth in Italy and divers other places but all of them delight in moist or watery overflown grounds The Sugar Cane is planted at any time of the year in those hot Countries where it doth naturally grow by reason they fear no frosts to hurt the young shoots at their first planting they are most of them ripe about the end of September The Temperature The Juyce of the Sugar Reed made into Sugar is hot and moist in the first degree or temperately hot and moist and is abstersive or cleansing The Vertues Sugar is good to make smooth the roughnesse of the breast and Lungs cleareth the voice and putteth away hoarsness and the Cough and so doth Sugar Candy It is convenient for the Stomach helpeth the roughnesse and drynesse of the mouth and throat also thirst and drought in Feaverse specially being mixed with water and so taken and it is very profitable for the Reins and Bladder It is used to put sowrenesse and bitternesse out of the mouth of sick persons and may be put into cooling as well as heating and warming Medicines Sugar or White Sugar Candy put into the Eye taketh away the dimnesse and the blood shotten therein It is good to be put into green wounds whilst they are yet bleeding and strewed into foul sores it cleanseth them This is the Physical use of Sugar which hath obtained now a daies so continuall and daily use that it is almost accounted not Physicall and is more commonly used in Confections Syrups and such like as also preserving and conserving sundry fruits as Cherries Damsons Mulberries c. and Flowers as Roses Violets Rosemary Flowers and such like which still retain with them the Name of Sugar as Sugar Roset Sugar Violet c. to write of all which is besides our Intentions Now for our ordinary Reeds The roots as Galen saith have a cleansing quality but not sharp and the Leaves also The fresh Leaves bruised or the roots applyed to those places that have Thorns Splinters or the like in the flesh do draw them forth in a short space the same also applyed with Vinegar helpeth Members out of joynt by Signature and easeth the pains in the Loins the fresh leaves also bruised and applyed unto hot Impostumes Inflammations or St. Anthonies sire easeth them the Ashes made of the outer rind of the stalk mingled with Vinegar helpeth the falling off the hair If the flower or woolly substance happen into the ears it sticketh therein so fast as that by no means it will be gotten forth again but will procure deafnesse withal Some have observed that the Fern and the Reed are at perpetuall enmity the one not abiding where the other is which may b e as my Lord Bacon saith not because of any Antipathy in the plants but because they draw a like nourishment and so starve one the other whereas there is such amity they say between Asparagus and the Reed that they both thrive wondrous well which is because they draw a different Juyce Reeds are alâ—o put to many necessary uses as to thatch houses to serve as walls and defence to Gardiners in the cherishing of their plants to Water-men to trim their boats to Weavers to wind their yarn on and for divers other purposes Nay those that grow in the Indies by reason of the heat of those Climates grow so great and tall that they serve instead of timber both to build their houses and to cover them CHAP. LXXXIII Of the Jujube-Tree The Names THe Tree it self is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek Zizypha and Zinzâ—pha of Columella Zâ—z phus rutila of others Rubra and Punicea and of the Arabians from whom the Apothecaries took it Jujube and â—o do Lobel and Pena The Fruit or Plums arenamed in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an◠〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which are the same that Galen calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In Latine likewise Zizipha and Serica in Shops Jujube in English Jujubes The Kindes Although in former times there were but one sort of Jujube known yet now we have three 1. The greater Jujube-Tree 2. The lesser Jujube-Tree 3. The wild Jujube-tree The Form The Jujube-tree groweth sometimes to be very high but more often to a reasonable height having his Stem or Body bowed or crooked and spreading rather in breadth the Wood whereof is whitish and hard covered with a rugged Bark from whence spread great Branches and from the lesser and slender whitish twigs about a foot long full of Leaves set on both sides not usually directly one against another but one a little above another with an odd one at the end each whereof is small somewhat broad and pointed at the end dented or finely nicked about the edges with long Veins in them smooth and somewhat hard in handling each standing on a short foot-foot-stalk and very like unto the Leaves of Paliurus or Christs Thorn at the foot of every Leaf towards the tops of the Twigs come forth small yellowish Flowers of five Leaves a peece where afterwards stand the fruit which is somewhat like unto a small Plum or Olive but a little long green at the first and then â—t is somewhat harsh and yellowish after but at last red and of a reasonable sweetnesse yet
and Vinegar and some Oyl put thereto ceaseth both the pain and swelling of the Cods and being taken inwardly it stirreth up Lust in those which cannot use the act of Generation because of the sluggish impotency and weakness of their Members which it doth by Signature a Bean very much resembling the Nut of a Mans yard and that was the Reason that Pythagoras so much condemned them their windiness causing Lust which he endeavoured to suppress If fryed Beans be boyled with Garlick and daily taken as meat it helpeth inveterate Coughs almost past cure the hoarsneâ— of the voyce and the Impostumes in the Breast The Husks of them boyled good while in water that is to the thirds stayeth the Lask and the ashes of the said Husks made up with old Hogs-grease helpeth the old pains contusions anâ— wounds of the Sinews the Sciatica also and the Gout Though the Faba veterum be without doubt that true Bean which Dâ—oscorides Galen and other Greek Authours intended when they set down the aforesaid Remedies yet our ordinary Bean-flowre is as proper for all those purposes and may be used to as gooâ— effect CHAP. CII Of Lentills The Names THere is another Sort of Pulse which may be appropriated to the same purpose which the Grecians called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phacos and in Latine Lens Lenticula Pliny saith Lib. 18. Chap. 12. that the Etymon thereof seemeth to be taken quasi lenis dicta sit lenitatisque significationem habet aquanimitatem fieri vescentibus eâ It is seldom used for Mans meat here in England and therefore I cannot justifie any such operation it hath unless he meant it of Cattle who are much pleased with it and for their Food it is sowed in divers Countries In Hampshire they leave out the first syllable and call it Tills and in Oxfordshire Dills The Kinds Of these Lentills I find but three Sorts 1. The greater Lentills 2. Spotted Lentills 3. The lesser Lentill The Forme The greater Lentill hath sundry slender weak Branches somewhat hard two foot long from whence shoot forth at severall places long stalks of small winged Leaves that is many on each side of a middle Rib without any odd one at the end for the middle Rib of each stalk endeth in a small clasper the Flowers are small and rise from between the leaves and the stalks two for the most part at the end of a long foot-foot-stalk of a sad reddish purple colour somewhat like to those of Vetches after which come small short and somewhat flat Cods within which are contained two or three flat round smooth Seeds of a pale yellowish ash colour the Root is fibrous and perisheth yearly The Places and Time The first even beyond the Seas is onely sowne in the Fields as other manured pulses are and so likewise in some places of our Land but doth seldom come to maturity with us if the season be not kindly and dry The second is wild in Portugall The last is most common in England and is sowne in severall Counties thereof being the most pleasant and acceptable The Temperature Galen saith that Lentills hold a mean between hot and cold yet do they dry in the second degree the outer Skin being binding and the inner meat also which is a little harsh and bindeth the Body yet the outer Skin much more it is saith he of contrary qualities for the first decoction thereof doth not bind but loosen the body and therefore they that would have it to bind cast away the first water and use the second which stayeth Lasks and strengtheneth the stomack and all the inward parts Lentils husked saith he lose with their shells the strength of binding and the other qualities that follow it and then nourish more then those that are not husked yet so give they a thick and evill nourishment and slowly passe away neither do they stay Fluxes and Dysenteries as those that are not husked The Vertues The Seeds of the Lentils boyled in Sea-water and applyed to Womens Breasts that are ready to burst through abundance of Milk or have it curdled within them by any cold distemper bringeth them again into good temper It is good also to bind and stay Lasks and Fluxes but with other binding Herbs as Purslane Red Beets Myrtles Dryed Roses Pomegranate Rindes Medlars Servises c. taken with Vinegar they are the more powerful The Decoction thereof with Wheat-flowre applyed easeth the Gout used with Honey it closeth up the lips of Wounds and cleanseth foul Sores being boyled in Vinegar it dissolveth Knots and Kernels and being boyled with Quinces Melilote and a little Rose-water put thereto it helpeth the Inflammations of the Eys and Fundament but for the chaps thereof which need a stronger Medicine it is boyled with dryed Roses and Pomegranate Rindes adding a little Honey to it It likewise stayeth those creeping Cankers that are ready to turn to a Gangrene putting thereto some Sea-water and so it is good for Wheals and running and watering Sores St. Anthonies Fire Kibes c. being used with Vinegar The Decoction thereof is a good lotion for Ulcers either in the mouth privy parts or Fundament adding a few Rose Leaves and Quinces But to eat Lentills or the broth made of them too largely as Galen saith breedeth the Leprosie and Cankers for grosse thick Meat is fit to breed melancholy humours yet it is profitably given to those that are of a watery disposition and evill affected thereby but it is utterly forbidden to those that have dry Constitutions it is also hurtful to the sight dulling it by drying up the moysture and is not convenient for Women that want their Courses but is good for those that have them in too much abundance Dioscorides further addeth that it breedeth troublesome Dreams and is hurtful to the Head the Lungs and the Sinews CHAP. CIII Of Lillies The Names THe Lilly is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Lilium also Rosa Junonis or Junoes Rose because it is reported that it came of her Milk that fell upon the ground For the Poets feign that Hercules whom Jupiter had by Alcumena was put to Junoes Breasts whilest she was asleep and after the sucking there fell away abundance of Milk and that one part was spilt in the Heavens and the other on the Earth and that of this sprang the Lilly and the Circle in Heaven called Lactens Circulus or the milky way or otherwise in English The way to Watling-street Thus much for the white Lilly As for the other Sorts which are many I shall only put down some of them The Kindes Though there be divers Sorts of Lillies yet I shall only set down these 1. The white Lilly 2. The white Lilly of Constantinople 3. The gold red Lilly 4. The red Lilly 5. The fiery red Lilly 6. The great Mountain Lilly 7. The small Mountain Lilly 8. The red Lilly of Constantinople 9. The Persian Lilly 10.
they keep the Rooms cool and make a goodly shew without The last was found by Dr. Penny as Clusius saith by Dantswick The four last were found by Clusius in Germany Austria and Syria and some on the Pyrenean hills and in Savoy and are most of them kept in our â—ardens The first is in flowre in June and the Fruit is ripe in August The second and third flowre about the latter end of April and the beginning of May and so do the rest their fruit being ripe in July or August except the second which hath not been seen to bear any The Temperature The Flowers and Leaves of Hony-suckles are of a cleansing consuming and digesting quality The Vertues A Decoction made of the Leaves or the Flowers and Leaves of Honey-suckles with some Figs and Liquorice added thereunto is very effectuall for the expectorating of flegme from the Chest and Lungs whensoever they shall be overcharged therewith A Syrup made of the Flowers is good likewise to be drunk against the Diseases of the Lungs and Spleen that is stopped being drunk with a little Wine Mr. Culpepper saith that it is fitting that a Conserve of the Flowers of it should be kept in every Gentlewomans House for that he knew no better cure for an Asthma then this Besides it takes away the evill of the Spleen provokes Urine procures speedy delivery to Women in Travel helps Cramps Convulsions and Palsies and whatsoever Griefs come of cold or stoppings The Leaves or Flowers in Powder or the distilled water of them are commended to dry up soul and moyst Ulcers and to cleanse the face and skin from Morphew Sun-burn Freckles and other discolourings of the skin Notwithstanding Parkinson following Galen and Culpepper backing him as usually he doth be the matter right or wrong conceiveth that it is an errour to use the decoction of the Leaves of Hony-suckles or the distilled water of the Flowers in Mouth-waters yet it is certainly found by experience that the said water is good against the soareness of the Throat or Uvula and with the same Leaves boyled or the Leaves and Flowers distilled are made divers good Medicines against Cankers and sore mouths as well in Children as elder people and likewise for Ulcerations and Scaldings in the privy parts of Man or Woman if there be added to the decoction hereof some Honey and Allome or Verdigrease if the Sores require greater cleansing outwardly Provided alwayes that there be no Verdigrease put into the water that must be injected into the secret parts As for the provoking of Urine care must be had that the taking of the decoction be not continued too long for though at first it will but provoke Urine only yet being drunk six dayes together it will make the Urine like blood It causeth also barrennesse in Women and maketh men unable for generation The flowers and leaves are of more use then the seed yet they also help the shortnesse and difficulty of breathing and cure the Hicket CHAP. CXII Of Mullein The Names ITt is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 uro for that it served as a Weeke to put into Lamps to burn in former times and of the Latines Candela Regia and Candelaria because the elder age used the stalks dipped in Suet to burn whether at Funeralls or for private Uses and so likewise the English name Higtaper for Hightaper the h being left out is used in the same manner as a Taper or Torch It hath also some other names in Latine as Thapsus Thlapsus and Tapsus Barbatus and Lanaria In English also some call it Torches some Bullocks Lungwort some Haires beard and some Jupiters Staffe The Kindes There are of this kind besides the Moth Mullein nine sorts 1. Common Mullein 2. Dwarf Mullein of Denmark 3. White Mullein with long leaves 4. Sweet white Mullein 5. Ordinary black Mullein 6. Sweet black Mullein 7. Jagged Mullein 8. Sage leafed Mullein 9. Small Sage leafed Mullein of Syria The Forme The Common white Mullein hath many fair large woolly leaves lying next the ground somewhat longer than broad pointed at the ends and as it were dented about the Edges the stalk riseth up to be four or five foot high if it grow in very rank ground covered over with such woolly leaves as the lowest but lesser so that the stalk can be hardly seen for the multitude of leaves thereon up to the flowers which come forth on all sides of the stalks without any branches for the most part and are many set together in a long spike in some of a gold yellow colour in others more pale consisting of five round pointed leaves which afterwards give small round heads wherein small brownish seed is contained the root is long white and wooddy perishing ever after it hath born seed The Places and Time The first groweth by the side waies and Lanes in many places and for its usefulnesse is taken into some Gardens and so is the second but it groweth naturally only in Denmark in the fields between Cronemberg and Hafnia neer Elsemore The third and fourth grow but in some places of our own Country so that one shall hardly find a plant in a great way The fifth in many places of Kent Surrey Essex and elsewhere The sixth is also sometimes to be found wild abroad but yet scarcely to be met with and indeed unlesse one well exercised in the knowledge of plants do light upon it and know it it will be scarce regarded by a great many others The seventh was found by Lobel neer the ruines of an old Church at Bathe in England The eighth groweth at Padoa or thereabouts and the last in Syria as by its title doth appear They all flower in June and July and bring forth their seed the second year after the sowing except the two last of whose time we cannot resolve you The Temperature Mullein is of a dry temperature the leaves have also a digesting and cleansing quality as Galen affirmeth The Vertues A Decoction of the leaves of Mullein is likewise very good for the Lungs and for those also that are troubled with an old Cough And this our aâ—eâ—tion is confirmed in that the Country people especially the Husbandmen in Kent do give it their Cattle against the Cough of the lungs it being an approved medicine for the same whereupon they call it Bullocks â—ungwort and I theâ—eâ—ore mention it because Cattle are also in some sort to be provided for â—n their â—iâ—eases The said leaves being a little bruised and laid oâ— bound to an Hoâ—es foot that is grievously pricked with shooing â—oth wonderfully heal it in a shoâ—t â—pace-Neither is it useful for Cattle but for men also A small quantity of the root taken in Wine is commended against Lasks and fluxes of the Belly the Decoction thereof gargled in the mouth easeth the paines of the Toothachâ— and bâ—ing drunk it is profitable for those that are bursten and for those that have Cramps and Convulsions If
or Eyes The juyce or water is singular good for hot and red inflamed Eyes if some thereof be dropped into them or they bathed theâ—ewith the â—aid juyce or water is also of excellent property for all Pushes Wheals and other eruptions of hot and sharp humours into the face or hands or other parts of the Body to bathe them therewith and helpeth to take away any redness in the face and spots or other deformities of the Skin and to make the Skin clear and smooth The water of Straw-berries distilled in a body of Classe after they have stood in a bed of hot Horse-dung twelve or fourteen dayes cureth the Lepry by Signature if it be drunk and the Spots be bathed therewith And upon this account they are commended by Râ—imundus Lullâ—us being macerated in the spiâ—it of Wine â—nd used The same is very profitable for most of the purposes aforesaid and also for the Morphew CHAP. CXXIII Of Wood-Sorrel The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the sharp tast that it hath in Latine Trifolâ—um Acetosum and of some Panis Cuculâ— Cuckow-bread either because the Cuckowes deâ—ight to seed thereon or that it beginneth to bâ—ossom when the Cuckow beginneth to â—tter her voyce It is caâ—ed by the Apothecarie in their Shops Alleluja and 〈…〉 jula the one as some think because it was found in Procession whiâ—est the Processioners were singing Alleluja or else because it â—owreth about that time which is used to be between Easter Whâ—tsâ—utide the other came corruptly â—rom Juliola as they of Calabria in Nâ—ples do call it In English Wood-Sorrel Wood-sower Stabwort and Sorrel du bois The Kinds There are two sorts of Wood-Sorrel the one famiâ—iar enough and that is Common Wood-Sorrel the other a stranger as far as I can earn and onâ—y â—herished in the Gardens of those that are curious and that is Wood-Sorrel with yeâ—low Flowers The Form The common Wood-Sorrel groweth low upon the ground without any stalk rising from it hath a number oâ— Leaves comming from the Root made of three Leaves like a Trefoâ—le or three-leafed Grasse every leaf somewhat resembâ—ing an Heart being broad at the ends cut in the middle and sharp towards the stalk of a faint yellowish green colour every one standing on a long red foot-stalk which at their first comming up are close foâ—ded together to the stalk but opening themselves afterwards and are of a fine sowre rellish more pâ—easing them many of the other Sorrels and yielding a juyce which wiâ—l turn red when it is clariâ—ed amongst these leaves rise up divers slender weak foot-stalks not growing above them with every one of them a flower at the top consisting of five small and pointed Leaves Star-fashion of a white colour in most places or in some dasht over with a small shew of blush and in some but on the back side only after the Flowers are past follow small round heads with small yellowish Seeds in them the Roots are nothing but threds or small strings fastened to the end of a small long peece all of them being of a yellowish colour not perishing every year but abiding with some Leaves thereon in the Winter The Places and Time The Common Wood-Sorrel groweth plentifully in many places of this Land in Woods and Wood-sides where it may be moyst and shadowed and in other places that are not too much open to the Sun yet it is known by few except it be by those Herb-women that gather it and sell it to the Apothecaries The other groweth in divers shadowy places about Sevill in Spain and in Gardens at Mompeliar The first flowreth early in April and May the other after Midsummer and so continueth in flowre untill the Autumn colds make it to perish but some Seed is ripe in the mean time The Temperature Wood-Sorrel is as the other Sorrels are cold and dry in the second Degree The Signature and Vertues The Leaves of this Herb representing the Heart are according to their Signature found to be very effectuall for the said part by defending it from the Plague or any other pestilentiall Disease that may ceaze thereon and also by cooling it in Feavers Agues or other sicknesses or faintings that rise from heat a dram of the Conserve thereof being taken every morning or oftner if occasion require It hindereth putrefaction of the blood and Ulcers of the â—â—uth Body quencheth thirst strengtheneth a weak stomach procureth an Appetite stayeth vomiting and is of most singular use in any contagious Disease or Pestilentiall Feaver Of the juyce which will turn red when it is clarified is made a dainty fine Syrup very effectuall also in any of the distempers aforesaid and so is the distilled water of the Herb also Spunges or linnen Cloaths wetted in the juyce and applyed outwardly to any hot tumours and Inflammations doth exceedingly cool and help them the same juyce taken into the mouth and there gargled for some time and after spit forth and fresh taken will wonderfully help a stinking foul Canker or Ulcer therein It is also singular good in wounds Punctures thrusts and stabs into the Body to stay the bleeding and to cleanse and heal the wounds speedily and helpeth well also to stay any hot defluxions or Catarrhs upon the Throat and Lungs CHAP. CXXIV Of Baulm The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Melissophyllum or Meliphyllum id est Apum folium that is Bees-Leaf because the Bees are very much delighted therewith In Latine Melissa and Citragâ— ab odore Citri because it smelleth like a Citron Apiastrum from the pleasure that Bees take in it and Melissophyllum of the effect it being good for Bees We in English call it Bawm from the singular effects therein in imitation of the true naturall Balm The Kinds Besides the Ordinary Baulm which usually groweth in our Gardens there are five other sorts 1. Turky Baulm with a blew Flower 2. Turky Baulm with a white Flower 3. Unpleasant Baulm 4. Great Assyrian Baulm 5. Prickly Assyrian Baulm The Form The Common Garden Baulm hath divers square green stalks with round hard dark green Leaves pointed at the ends like an Heart and a little dented round about the edges set by couples at the joynts of a sweet smell comming nearest to a Citron or a Lemmon the Flowers are small and gaping growing at the tops of the stalks of a pale Carnation colour almost white the Roots fasten themselves strongly in the ground and endure long the leaves and stalks dying down yearly The Places and Time The first groweth no where but in Gardens the two next grow naturally in Moldavia which is under the Turkish Dominion The third at the foot of divers Hills both in Germany and Narbone in France The fourth and fifth in Syria as their Titles do declare The three first flower somewhat earlier in the Summer then the two Assyrian kinds which flower very seldom before the middle of August so that
famous Doctor of Physick whom the Greeks called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Some Bastard Names it hath also as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi Hederula and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi Hederula folium the form of the Leaves being like unto Ivy. Ruellius calleth it Hederalis in Latine but it is better known by the Names of Asclepias and Vincetâ—xicum which last is a generall word for any Counter-poyson and commeth from Vincâ— to over-come and Toxicum Poyson It was anciently called Hirundinaria although both the kinds of Chelidonium majus and minus be called Hirundinaria that is Swallon-vvort ab Hirundine from a Swallow because the pointed Cods when they are open and the Silk appeareth out of them do somewhat resemble a Swallow flying Others say from the Seed which is feathered as it were with Down about it In English it is called Svvallovv-vvort and of some Silken Cicely The Kinds There be only three Sorts of Swallow-wort that I can find 1. Swallow-wort with white Flowers 2. Swallow-wort with black Flowers 3. Swallow-wort of Candy The Form The Swallow-wort with white-flowers riseth up with divers slender weake stalkes to be halfe a yard or two foot long not easy to break yet scarce able to stand upright and therefore for the most part leane or lye down upon the ground if they find not some thing to sustaine them and then somtimes they will twine themselves about it whereon are set two leaves at the joynts being somwhat broad and long pointed at the end of a darke green colour and smooth at the edges at the joynts with the Leaves towards the top of the stalkes and at the tops themselves come forth divers small white flowers consisting of five pointed leaves a piece of an heavy sweet sent after wich come small long pods thick above and growing lesse and lesse to the point wherein by small flat brown seed wrapped in a great deale of white silken down which when the pod is ripe openeth of it selfe and sheddeth both seed and cotton upon the ground if it be not carefully gathered the roots are a great bush of many white strings fastned together at the head smelling somewhat strong while they are fresh and green but more pleasant when they are dryed both leaves and stalkes dye down every yeare to the ground and rise a new in the Spring the stalkes at their first coming up being of a blackish brown colour The Places and Time One or two if not all of these sorts grow in the Physick Garden at Oxford but as for their naturall places the two first grow in rough untilled places and on Mountaines in divers places both in France about Narbone Marscilles and Mompelier and in Italy also and in other places The last grow in Candy whence the seed came which being sowne groweth with us They all flower in the moneths of June and July and somtimes not untill August if the yeare be backward and their Cods with seed are ripe about a Moneth after the empty huske abiding on the dry branches when the seed and silk is shed out and fallen on the ground or blown away with the wind The Temperature The rootes of Swallow-wort are hot and dry and have a soveraigne quality against all poysons but in particular against the Apocinum or Dogsbane The Vertues A Dram of the powder of the roots of Swallow-wort taken in Sorrell or Bnglosse water is very effectuall against all the passions of the heart and if a few Citron seeds be taken therewith in the same manner and measure it easeth all the griping paines of the belly It is likewise effectually given to any that are bitten by any venemous beast or stung by any Serpent or other Creature as also against the biting of a mad dog a dram and an halfe of the root being taken in Carduus water for divers dayes together It is taken also in Wine every day against the Plague or Pestilence The decoction of the rootes made with white-Wine taken for divers dayes together a good draught at a time and sweating presently thereupon cureth the Dropâ—y the same also helpeth the Jaundise provoketh Urine and eaâ—eth the Cough and all defects of the Chest and Lungs The powder of the Rootes taken with Peony seed is good against the Falling sicknesse or what Basil seed or the rind of Pome Citrons is good against Melancholy Taken with the roots of White or Bastard Dâ—ttany it killeth and expelleth the Wormes of the Maw and Belly The rootes are very effectually used with other things in Bathes made for women to â—t over to ease all paines of the Mother and bring down their courses The Decoction likewise of the Roots hereof and of Comfrey made with wine is much commended to help those that are bursten or have a rupture and for them that have bin bruised with a fall or otherwise The powder of the root or leaves is no lesse effectuall to cleanse all putrid rotten and filthy Ulcers and soâ—es wheresoever then the Roots of Aristolochia or Birthwort and may safely be used in all Salves Unguents and Lotions made for such purposes instead thereof the one for the other The Leaves and Flowers boyled and made into a pultis applyed to the hard tumors or swellings of womens Breasts cureth them speedily as also such evil sores as happen in the Matrix although they be inveterate or hard to be cured The Down that is found in the Cods of these herbs doth make a softer stuffing for Cushions or Pillows or the like than thistle down which is much used in some places for the like purposes CHAP. CXXVII Of Goates-Rue The Names THis Hearb being unknown to the Antient Authors hath no Greek Name in Latin it is usually called Galega or Ruta Capraria For they that first found it and the vertues gave that Name of Rue thereunto as finding it no lesse effectuall then the Best Rue and Capraria because it is good for Goates Some call it Gralega and some Herba Gallica as Fracastorius and of some Capraria Some with us call it Italian-Vetch but most Commonly Goates Rue The Kinds The Sorts hereof are but two 1. Common Goates Rue 2. Mountain Goats Rue The Forme The Common or most usuall Goates Rue sendeth forth many round hard stalks three or four foot high whereon grow one above another at severall Joynts Long winged Leaves that is many Leaves set one each side of a middle rib which are small yet somewhat broad and long and pointed at the end smooth on the Edges without any dents somewhat like unto the Leaves of Vetches and of a faint green Colour at the topps of the stalks stand many small Leguminous flowers one above another of a pale blewish purple Colour and in some plants pure white after which come small round pods about â—n inch and an half long a little bunched out in some places but nothing so much as the Orobus or Bitter Vetch wherein lie three or four or five small pale seed
at the ends and snipt or dented round about the edges the other being small pieces sometimes two and sometimes four standing on each side of the middle Rib underneath theâ— amongst which do rise up divers rough or hairy stalks about a foot high branching forth with leaves at every joynt not so long as thoâ—e below but almost as much cut in on the edges some into three parts and some into more on the tops of the branches stand small pale yellow Flowers consisting of five leaves like the Flowers of Cinquefoile but larger in the middle whereof standeth a small green head which when the Flower is fallen groweth to be rough and round being made of many long greenish Purple-Seeds like grains which will stick on your loaths the Roots consist of many brownish strings or Fibres smelling somewhat like â—nto Cloves especially those which grow in the higher hotter and dryer grounds and in the freer and cleare aire but nothing so much or not at all in many other places The Places and Time The first is found wild in many places of this Realm under the hedge sides and by the paths in some fields and delighteth rather to grow in shadowy then Sunny places The second is found upon divers Mountains as Coronos in Bohemia by the Springs of the River Albis as Matthâ—olus saith The third and fourth and likewise the second upon Mount Baldus as Pena relateth The fifth and sixth grow by water sides and in the moyst and wet or marish grounds on the Mountains The last was found by Pena hard by Clatena on the Rhetian Alps in Switzerland They flower in the Moneths of May and June for the most part and their Seed is ripe in July at the farthest The Temperature The Roots and Leaves of Avens are manifestly dry and something hot with a kind of scouring quality The Vertues The Roots of Avens in the Spring steeped in Wine for some continuance of time do give it a delicate savour and tast which being drunk faâ—â—ing every morning comforteth the heart and is a good preservative against the Plague or any other poyson it he peth digeâ—ion warmeth a cold stomaâ—h and openeth the obstructions of the Liver and Spleen It is good also for the Diâ—eases of the Chest or Breast foâ— pains and stitches in the lides and to expel crude and raw humours from the Belly and Stomach by its sweet savour and warming quality it dissolveth congealed Blood happening by falls or bruises and the spitting of blood if the Root either green or dryed be boyâ—ed in Wine and drunk as alâ—o all manner of inward wounds or outward if they be washed or bathed therewith The Decoction also being drunk comforteth the heart and strengtheneth the stomâ—â—h and a cold brain and therefore is good in the Spring to open obstructions of the Liver and helpeth the Wind-Cholick It helpeth also thoâ—e that have Fluxes or are bursten or have a Rupture it taketh away spots or marks in the faâ—e being washed therewith The juyce of the fresh Root or Powder of the dryed Root hath the same effect with the decoction and in callous Ulcers with the juyce of the Roots if a little Verdigrease be added it will avail very much Some do use to lay the Roots dryed amongst Garments to perfume them with the smell thereof and to keep away moaths c. from them CHAP. CXXXIV Of Cloves The Names HAving spoken of Avens which are called Caryophyllata because the Roots smell like Croves I shall now treat concerning Cloves themselves which are called of the later Greeks 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for to the Ancients they were unknown and of the Latines also Caryophillus and Clavus because this small slender fruit is almost like a small Snail and from thence also it is likely the word Cloves came The Tree whereon they grow is called the Clove-tree the description whereof is as followeth The Kindes This Tree groweth to be of a great and tall stature covered with an Ash-coloured Bark the younger Branches being more white having Leaves growing by â—upes one against another somewhat long and narrow like unto the Bay-Tree that beareth narrow Leaves with a middâ—eâ—ib and sundry veines running therethrough each of them stancing on a long footstalk the ends of the branches are divided into many small brown sprigs where on groweth the flower even on the tops of the Cloves themselves which are white at first with their Spâ—igs green afterward lastly reddish before they be beaten off from the tree and being dryed before they be put up grow blackish as we see them having four small tops at the heads of them and a small round head in the middle of them the flower it self standing between those consisteth of four small Leaves like unto a Cherry b ossoâ—n but of an excellent bâ—ew colour as it is confidently reported with three white veines in every leaf divers purpâ—ish threds in the middle of a more dainty â—ne scent then the Clove it self which is a small slender fruit almost like a small naile as I said before being of a hot quick and sharp tast when they are fit to be gathered which is before they be quite ripe but those that do abice longer on the trees do grow some what thicker and greater and are not of half the others goodness being called by most Fusses yet some call the â—â—aâ—ks of the Cloves Fusles they grow of their own sowing and are not grafted Hereout likewise cometh a certain dark red Gum and both it and the Fusses are usually found one amongst another The Places and Time The Clove Tree groweth in divers places of the Malucco Islands It groweth also in Amboyna very well and be reth plentifully being there planted by the Dutch and in others places of the Indies but more scarcely and lesse fruitfull than there Eight yeares after it is is risen out of the ground it beareth fruit and so continueth bearing for an hundred years together as the inhabitants of that Country do affirm who beat the fruit of the Trees with long Poles as we do Walnuts and suffer them to ly there upon the ground until they be throughly dryed there being neither grasse weeds nor any other Herbs to hinder the same by reason that the tree draweth for its nourishment all the moisture for a great circuit round about so that the Cloves are the more conveniently dryed It yeeldeth two Crops in a year that is in June and December thoâ—e Countries affording a double Harvest The Temperature The properties of Cloves are many and excellent being hot and dry in the third degree yet some say the second and of much uâ—e in meat and Medicine The Vertues The Portugall women that dwell in the East-Indies draw from the Cloves when they be it green a certain Liquor by distillation of a most fragrant smell which comforteth the heart and is of all Cordialls the most effectuall There is also extricted from Cloves a certain Oyâ—e or rather a thick
for the Quartane Ague the Lepry and all Paralyticall diseases and they cause a good colour of the face As for their outward use the Citrine are used in Collyries or Medicine for the Eyes with the juyce of Fennell or Rose-water and against the inflammations and flowing of humors to the Eyes The powder thereof with Mastick or Rose-water is used in Vlcers to heale them and dry them The powder of the Kernells is used against dimnesse of the Eyes or to take away the Web therein or the powder thereof infused in Rose-water and dryed and then infused two or three times more and dry them then make it in powder and use it The Bellerick stay the flowing of the Hemorrhoides and helpe the falling of the haire the affected place being bathed with the decoction thereof and the powder strawed on afterwards and it makes the haire become blacker The Chebules and the Emblicks are often brought over unto us preserved whereof the Chebules are more used Physically for such purposes as are before set down then the Emblicks are which being not so harsh in taste as the Chebules are more used as a very pleasant and delicate preserved Plum amongst other junkets then for any Physicall respect CHAP. CL. Of Groundsell The Names IT is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ergerum quia verè senescit the Latines call it Senecio quia citó senescit because it becomes ihoary so soone Tragus takes it to be the Aphaca of Theophrastus especially the Cottonâ— kind called Petrella by Monardus Ferrariensis but it appeares that Traâ—â— was mistaken in that Senecio as well as Aphaca are treated of severally by Theophanstus for two distinct herbes It is called in English Groundsell and Grunsell The Kinds The Ancients have made mention but of one sort of Groundsell but this latter Age hath found out Six 1. Common Groundsell 2. Mountaine Groundsell 3. Myconus Spanish Groundsell 4. Cottony Groundsell 5. Stinking Groundsell 6. Sweet swelling Grunsell The Form Common Groundsell hath a round greene and somwhat brownish Stalk spread toward the top into some branches set with long and somwhat narrow greene Leâ—ves cut in on the edges somwhat like unto Rocket or rather an Oaken Leafe but lesser and round at the ends At the tops of the stalkes and branches stand many smal green knaps or heads out of which grow smal yellow threds or thrums which are the flowers which continue many dayes blown in that manner before it passe away in to down and with the seed is carryed away in the wind the Root is small and threddy and soone perisheth but from the seed that is shed it soone riseth up againe so that it may be seene many moneths in the yeare both green and in flower and seed for it will spring and seed twice in a yeare at the least if it be suffered in a Garden The Places and Time The first is found every where almost as well on the tops of Walles as at the foot if there be any rubbish and in untilled grounds also but especially in Gardens the second is found upon Hills and Mountaines the third was found by Myconus in Spaine and sent to Lyons the fourth groweth by Wood sides the borders of feilds and upon old Walles in many places the fiift groweth in lopped Woods of Hungaria and Austria as Clusius saith and in barren and untilled places the last was sent to Camerarius out of Italy The first flowreth almost every Moneth as I said before the second and fourth do both come somewhat neere unto the other but are not so quick in their decaying the fifth and sixth do flower only in Summer The Temperature Groundsell hath mixt faculties it cooleth and moisteneth and withall digesteth as Paulus Aegineta writeth The Vertues The decoction of Groundsell as Diosecrides saith being made in Wine and dâ—unelpeth the paines in the Stomack proceeding of Choler by causing the disaffected party to Vomit which the juice hereof taken in drink or the decoction of the herbe in ale with some currants gently performeth It is said to be good likewise against the Jaundise and Falling sicknesse being taken in Wine as also against the difficulty of making Water it provoketh Vrine and expelleth Gravell from the Reins a dram thereof given in Oxymel after some walking or stirring the body It helpeth the Sciatica also and the griping paines of the belly called the Chollick Some â—â—re it with Vinegar as a â—allet accounting it good for the sadnesse of the Heart and to helpe the defects of the Liver It is given also by Nurses to their young Children when they are troubled with the Frets as they call it which is a distemper coming cheifely from the Nurses milke being either too Windy or too Sharp if a few Currans and Anniseeds be stewed therewith It is said also to provoke Womens Courses some say also that it stayeth the Whites which Matthiolus saith cannot be in that the one quality is contrary to the other The fresh herb boiled and made into a Pultis and applyed to the Breasts of Women that are swollen with heat and paine as also to the privy parts of Man or Woman the Seat or Fundament or the Arteries Joynts and Sinewes when they are inflamed or swollen doth much ease them and â—sed with some salt helpeth to disolve the Knots or Kernels that happen in any part of the body The juyce of the Herbe or as Dioscorides saith the Leaves and Flowers with some fine Frankincense in powder used in Wounds whether of the body or of the Nerves and Sinewes doth singularly helpe to heale them and so doth the down of the Heads used with Vinegar as the same Author saith but if it be taken in drinke it will choake any one The distilled Water of the Herbe performeth well all the aforesaid properties but especially for the inflammations of the Eyes and watering of them by reason of the defluxion of the Rheâ—â—e into them It is much used to be given to tame Rabbets when they are pot-bellyed through costivenesse to make them gaunt and healthfull CHAP. CI. Of Radish The Names IT is called Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rhaphanos and Rhaphanis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quòd facilè apparet from its speedy growing for it sheweth it selfe speedily some say within three dayes after it is sown It is called in Rhaphanus Radicula and Radix which last name is given unto it quia quam pancissimis magnitudine cedit because it is one of the biggest rootes that is which though it may seeme somwhat strange here in England yet in some places beyond the Seas they grow to be of a wonderfull hignesse as Fuchsius reporteth Some have called the seed hereof Bacanon and Bacanum and others Cacanon The Kinds There be sundry sorts of Radish whereof some be long and white others long and reddish some round and white others round or of the forme of a peare and of a blackish colour some wild
as the former is more effectuall then the seed it selfe The juyce of the green Leaves dropped into the eares dryeth up the moisture and running of them The seed beaten and boyled into a Pultis and applyed to any inflammation or hot Imposthume cooleth them much and doth also take away the pain and black and blew marks that come of bruises and blowes as also the frettings and gallings of the skin the same also applyed with the fine powder of Oaken â—oales helpeth the Hemeroids or Piles when they bleed too much It is singular good also to be applyed to Ruptures both inwardly and outwardly and to stay defluxions of hot and sharp Rhewmes into the eyes and against other destillations of the head and want of sleep The decoction of the seed is good to wash the mouth both to fasten loose teeth and to heal putrid and rotten Gums and the Gum that sometimes issueth out of the tree is good for the ach of hollow teeth being put thereinto The said Leaves are so astringent that they may be substituted instead of Acacia Though the Virginian Sumack be kept only as a rarity or ornament to a Garden or Orchard yet it is conceived that if tryall were made it might work some of the foresaid effects The leaves of Coggygria or Venice Sumack are sold in the Markets of Spain and Italy for great sums of Money unto those that dresse Spanish Leather for which purpose they are very excellent as those of the Coriars Sumack also are the Woods especially of the Roots of every of them are a Commodity that Dyers make much use some of them dying black some yellow and some red The Gall is by the bitternesse and harshnesse found to be both drying and discussing and is very effectuall to kill Wormes in the Belly or Stomack but it worketh much upon the brain causing evill accidents thereunto It keepeth Mothes from Garments and woollen Cloathes giving unto them a good sceâ—t and therefore it is much used to be laid in Wardrobes Chests Presses and the like The Myrtle leafed Sumack and the Venice are almost as effectuall as the first and may be used for the purposes aforesaid but then the quantity must be augmented for they are weaker CHAP. CCLVIII. Of the Myrtle The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from Myrsine an Athâ—nian Maid whom Pallas loved yet because she overcame her in running she killed her for envy and from her dead body sprung up this tree which Pallas loves equally with the Olive as the story saith but Pena thinketh it to be so named because the fresh berries thereof do contend with Myrrhe in their sweet savour It is called in Latine Myrtus and in English Myrtle from the Latine which other Nations imitate also The Apothecaries and Druggist call the Berries Myrtilli The Kindes There be ten sorts of Myrtles at the least 1 The greater leafed Myrtle 2 The smaller leafed Myrtle 3 The greatest open Lawrell Myrtle 4 The strange broad leafed close Myrtle 5 The usuall broad leafed Myrtle 6 The strange narrow leafed Myrtle 7 The Spanish wild Myrtle 8 The small white Myrtle 9 Box leafed Myrtle 10 Double flowred Myrtle The Forme The greater leafed Myrtle riseth up to be three or four foot high though seldome more with us growing after the manner of a small bush with many branches the eldest whereof as also the Stemme are incompassed with a bark of a dark colour that of the younger is green and sometimes red especially at the first shooting forth whereon are set many fresh green Leaves of a sweet smel and pleasant aspect so very like unto the leaves of the Pomegranate tree that groweth with us that they are often taken one for another being somewhat broad and long pointed at the ends and abiding alwayes green At the joynts of the branches where the leaves stand come forth the flowers upon small foot-foot-stalks each of them being made of five small white leaves with threds in the middle of the same colour of a very sweet smell also in the hot Countries where they are naturall but not in ours certain berries which are black when they be ripe succeed the flowers wherein many white crooked seeds are contained The Root disperseth it self into many branches The Places and Time All the sorts of Myrtles grow in Spain Portugall Italy and other hot Countrys in great abundance yet in ours unlesse they be kept in pots and be removed from the extremity of heat and cold they will not live for they abide not the excesse of either as we may gather from those Hemisticks of Virgil and Ovid Amantes frigora Myrtos Metuentem frigora Myrtum as loving shadow to defend them from the heat and shelter to cover them from the cold so that in the Winter we commonly keep them within doors They flower very late with us not untill August at the soonest so that they want time to perfect the fruit but in their naturall places they flower in May their fruit is ripe in September The Temperature Galen saith that the myrtle is endued with contrary qualities that is with a cold and earthy and a warm and thin and therefore it powerfully bindeth and drieth The Vertues Because the Physicians do commonly joyn sumak and myrtle in their Compositions therefore I have set them next to one another in this Book of simples and indeed they are alike effectuall for all effusions of blood at what part soever both in Men and Women the dry rather then the dryed Leaves being beaten and boyled with water and drunk and so it is good against Catarrhes falling to any part of the body the Whites in Women moist Ulcers and fretting or creeping sores The fruit with the seed is good for the tremblings and passions of the heart resisteth the danger that might happen by the sting of Serpents the bitings of venemous Creatures or by poysonfull Mushromes Being drunk in Wine it helpeth a stinking breath cureth the diseases of the bladder provoketh Urine the same heated with wine healeth all Ulcers that are hard to cure and so it is good for blancs wheales and other breakings out of the skin The decoction is good for Women to sit in or over that are troubled with the falling downe of the Mother and is good also for the falling downe of the fundament and the piles Being mixed with Sallet-Oyle or Oyle of Roses and Wine and applyed it helpeth the swelling of the Cods the Impostumes of the fundament and Saint Anthonies fire The decoction of the Leaves is good for the resolution of the Arteries and Joynts and other weaknesses incident thereunto to sit in the same as in a Bath or else to bath that part only which is most amisse and so it helpeth to consolidate those bones that are broken or out of joynt which will otherwise hardly be cured It helpeth the sorenesse of the Nailes and the rising of the skin about
then they will not hinder one another the Onyons being to be drawn betimes and then the Skiâ—rets may have the full use of the ground in Winter which by the February following will be fit for use some of them being broken off to be used for food and some to be planted again for increase which bring forth plentifully every year if the ground be good They flower and seed the second year like as the Pasnep doth but somewhat later but they must not be removed at all The Temperature The Roots of the Skirret which are onely in use are moderate in heat and moisture The Vertues Though the Roots of Skirrets be but of indifferent nourishment yet because they be easily concocted yeeld a reasonable good juyce and are somewhat windy they have been judged effectuall to provoke lust and experimentally proved so to doe being either baked in Pyes as Potatoes after they have beene boyled peeled and pithed or else stewed with Pepper Butter and Salt and so eaten or as others use them to rowle them in Flower and fry them in Butter after they have been boyled peeled and pithed either of which wayes they are more pleasant and more provocative then Parsnep as all agree that eat them They may be also eaten cold with Vinegar and Oyle being first boyled and dressed in manner aforesaid The juyce of the Roots drunke with Goats milke stoppeth the Laske the same drunke with Wine is effectuall for windinesse in the Stomacke and the gripings of the belly and Hicket as some say It doth somewhat respect the Kidneys and Bladder by moving Vrine and a little to consume the Stone and Gravell in them The Egyptian sort is eaten by those of that Country as familiarly as any other root whatsoever CHAP. CCLXXI. Of Pease The Names THis sort of Pulse is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pisum from Pisa being the name of a place where they grew very plentifully and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with an â— which last way of writing seemeth to agree most with the Etymology for it is thought to be derived 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it is covered with a Coat or Hull which is more eminent in this then in any other seeds It is called in Latin Pisum and in English Pease and Peason The Kindes There be diverse sorts of Pease nine whereof I shall reckon up and adde unto them two sorts of Ciches 1. The Rouncivall 2. The greene Hasting The Sugar Pease 4. The spotted Pease 5. The gray Pease 6. The white Hasting 7. The Pease without skin 8. The Rose Pease 9. Fulham Pease 10. White Chiches 11. Red Chiches The Forme Pease doe alwayes come up with long weake hollow and brittle whitish green stalks branched into divers parts putting forth at every joynt where it parteth one broad round leafe compassing the stalke so that it cometh almost through in some sort like unto Thoroughwax the Leaves are winged that is they consist of divers small Leaves set together at a middle rib of a whitish green colour with claspers at the end of the Leaves whereby it catcheth hold of whatsoever standeth next it the Flowers come forth from betweene the Leaves and the stalkes two or three together yet so divided that they stand every one upon a severall footstalke which are either wholly white or purple or mixed white and purple or purple and blew the fruit cometh forth in long and somewhat round Cods whereof some are longer some are shorter some thicker and some slenderer the fruit it selfe also differing some being round some cornered some small some great some white others gray and some spotted the Root is small and quickly perisheth after it hath done bearing The Places and Time Some of these Pease grow onely in Gardens and are supported with stakes and bushes some of them are sown in the Fields by Gardners and are gathered to sell green in the Markets the gray Pease are sowed by Husbandmen to feed their Cattle with the Fulham Pease which came first out of France is so called because the grounds about Fulham neere London doe bring them forward soonest the Rose Pease which is sometimes called the Scottish Pease should be brought out of Scotland by its name The Chiches are very frequent in Spaine but I know not whether they grow there naturally They Flower and seed all the Summer long sooner or later according to the time of their sowing The Temperature Pease especially when they are young are of a mean temperature as most other things are which are used for food they are lesse windy then Beans but passe not through the Body so soon as they The Vertues A dish of young Pease are very pleasant to all sorts of people but especially to young Women who either are or would be with Child for they helpe both the generative and procreative faculty very much and therefore they doe not only eat of them themselves but commend them to their Hasbands notwithstanding they are eaten but not with so much desire by all other sorts of people They are also used to make Pottage wherein many do put in Mints Parsley or some other such hot herbs to give it the better rellish and they be used to the same purpose when they be ripe and dryed especially in the Lent season The said dryed Pease are much used in long Vâ—yages at Sea both for change and also because they are not so salt as those things that lye in powder and are no inconsiderable food in bestedged Cities and Garisons nor in poor Folkes houses being first steeped in running Water Being sodden in Water and a Lye made therewith helpeth spreading sores of the Head the spots of the Face and other discolouring of the skin the same decoction mixt with Honey and Barly meale helpeth spreading sores that are hard to cure being boyled in water with Orâ—bus and applyed to any swellings or aches it helpeth them the broth wherein they have been boyled is good take Purgations withall to cleanse the Stomacke that is raw through cold and moist humors whether of the white or gray but especially the gray the Pottage made of them is good for the Strangury and to take Sena withall morning and evening for the Ague and Rubarbe for the Jaundise the powder of them being made very fine stoppeth bleeding at the Nose The Cloth that is spotted or stained being laid a soak in the Broth wherein Pease have been boyled and then washed in River Water and dryed becometh cleane and spotlesse The white Ciches also boyled and stewed are a dainty dish of a very good rellish and nourishment they increase bodily Lust as much or more then any other sort of Pulse and as it is thought helpe to increase the Seed and also Milke in Womens Breasts The red Ciches have a cleansing faculty whereby they provoke Vrine and breake the Stones in the Kidneys the Cream of them boyled in Water being drunke which olso moveth the
English Solomons-seale from the ordinary Latine name and sometime White-wort or White 〈…〉 The Kindes The sorts of Solomons-seale that I finde mentioned by Authors are twelve 1. Common Solomons-seal 2. Great Solomons-seal 3. The great-flowred Solomons-seal 4. The greatest leased Solomons seal 5. Small Solomons-seale 6. Broad-leafed branched Solomons-seal 7. Solomons-seal of Virginia 8. Clâ—â—ter-like Solomons-seal of America 9. Solomons-seal of Brasil 10. The greater and lesser thorough-leafed yellow Solomons-Seal of America 11. Narrow-leafed Solomons-seal 12. Branched small Solomons-seal The Forme The Common Solomons-seale groweth with a round Stalk about half a yard high bowing or bending down the top set with single Leaves one above another which are somewhat large and like unto the Leaves of the May Lilly of a blewish green colour with some ribs therein and a little yellowish underneath it hath at the foot of every Leaf almost from the bottom small long white and yellow pendulous flowers like unto those of the May Lilly also but ending in five longer points for the most part two together at the end of a small foot-foot-stalk standing all on one side the Stalk under the Leaves which being past there appâ—ar round berries green at first but afterwards of a blackish green tending to blewness wherein lyeth small white hard stony Seed The Root is white and thick full of knobs or joynts which in some places resemble the mark of a Seal the taste thereof is at first sweet but afterwards bitter and somewhat sharp The Places and Time The first groweth in divers places of this Land as in a Wood two miles from Canterbury by Fish-poole Hill as also between Newington and Sittingburne in Kent in Surrey about Horsely in Wiltshire about Alderbury in Hamâ—shire about Odiam c. The rest are not found in England unlesse it be in the Gardens of the most ingenuous Herbalists The Flowers of the common sort are ripe in May and they seed in September The Temperature The roots of Solomons-seale which are most in use are hot and dry containing in them a certain kind of astriction or binding and biting withall The Signature and Vertues The Roots of Solomons-seale doe by the Impresse that is set upon them signifie the wonderful vertue they have in sealing or closing up the Rim of the Belly when it is so bursten that the great Guts fall down into the Cods if the Decoction in Wine or the Powder in Broth or Drink be taken inwardly and outwardly applyed to the place It is also very available in all other Hurts Wounds or outward Sores to heal and close up the lips of those that are green and to dry up and restrain the Flux of Humours into those that are old It is singular good to stay Vomitings and also Bleedings wheresoever as also all Fluxes in Man or Woman whether they be the Running of the Reins in Men or the Whites or Reds in Women The people of divers Countreys of this Land have found by late experience that it is incomparably good to knit and joyn broken bones in any part of the Body even in those which by any weaknesse use to be often out of place or will not stay in long when they are set the Roots being bruised and applyed to the place but the Decoction of the Root in Wine or the bruised Root put in Wine or other Drink and after a nights infusion strained forth hard and drunk soddereth and gleweth together broken Bones very speedily and strangely though the Bones be but slenderly and unhandsomely placed and wrapped up and this it doth not onely in Man but in beasts also the Roots being stamped and outwardly applyed in manner of a Pultis The same also is available for inward or outward Bruises Falls or Blowes both to dispel the congealed Blood and to take away both the paines and the black and blew markes that abide after the hurt Some Authors doe affirme that the powder of the Herb or of the Seed purgeth Phlegme and viscous humours very notably both upward and downward and it is said also that the Root chewed in the Mouth draweth down much Phlegm out of the Head and put up into the Nostrils causeth sneezing but the distilled Water of the whole Herb doth without question cleanse the skin from Morphew Freckles Spots or other marks whatsoever leaving the place fresh fair and lovely after it hath been a few times washed therewith CHAP. CCCXXIV Of the Balsame Apple The Names IT is not conceived that the Greek Writers had any knowledge of this Plant because the name thereof is not so much as found amongst their Writings and therefore it is that the Latine Appellations do so much differ there being no Antiquity to build upon Cordus calleth it Cucumis puniceus Gesner Balsamina pomisera Lobel Balsamina Cucumerina punâ—cea but the most usuall name is Balsamine from the healing property that is in it the Oyle wherein the Apples of it have been steeped being in many things as effectual as the liquor of the Plant Balsa 〈…〉 It is called in English the Balsame Apple or Apple of Jerusalem The Kindes The Kindes hereof are not very numerous being distinguished into two onely 1. The Male Balsame Apple 2. The Female Balsame Apple The Forme The Male Balsame Apple springeth up with divers slender reddish Stalks and Branches shooting forth many clasping Tendrels like a Vine whereby it taketh hold of any Pole or other thing that standeth neer it or else no such thing being neer it lyeth upon the ground not being able to support it self having the Leaves thereon cut in on the edges into sundry divisions like unto those of the White Briony but much smaller tenderer and more divided The Flowers are yellowish white like unto those of the Cucumber coming out at the joynts with the Leaves as they do after which cometh the Fruit which is somewhat long and round poynted at both ends and bunched on the out side with rowes the Skin it self being smooth and very red the Pulp being reddish also within which is the Seed which is rough hard flat and reddish when it is first taken out but after it is dryed it is of a grayish black colour somewhat like unto the Citrul seeds for form and bignesse The Roots are small and stringy yet creeping a good way within the earth The Places and Times These Plants do at present acknowledge no natural place of abode but they are entertained as Sojourners in many of the Gardens of Italy where they come to perfection and their seed is sent over unto us which with labour and industry is made to grow with us but our cold nights being over-early the whole Herb withereth before the Fruit be ripe it being also late before it flowreth The Temperature The Male Balsame-Apple is of a notable drying quality having withall a certain moderate coldnesse The Vertues The powder of the Leaves taken in the distilled Water of Horse-taile or Plantane which are both good for this distemper is
and therefore we in English call it Woody Night-shads Bitter-sweet and of some Felon-wort because it cureth the Felons which happen upon the joynts of the Fingers The Kindes Of this kind of Night-shade there bee onely these two sorts 1. Common woody Night-shade 2. Woody Night-shade with white Flowers The Forme The Common woody Night-shade groweth up with many slender winding brittle woody Stalks as high as a man and sometimes higher folding it self about the Hedges or any thing else that standeth next thereunto yet without any claspers at all covered with a whitish rough Bark having a pith in the middle shooting ouâ— Branches on every side which are green while they are young and so are the new shoots of those that are elder whereon grow many Leaves without order somewhat like unto those of Night-shade but that they are pointed at the ends with two smal Leaves or pieces of Leaves usually growing upon the foot-Foot-stalks between the Leaf and the Branch like little wings of a pale green colour but some of them have but one and some none the Flowers come forth at the tops and sides of the Branches standing many together in fashion of a long Umbell upon short foot-stalks one above another which consist of five narrow and long violet purple coloured Leaves with a long gold-yellow pointel in the middle sticking forth which afterwards turn into round and somewhat long Berries green at the first but red soft and full of juyce when they come to ripenesse of an unpleasant bitter tast though sweet at first wherein many flat white Seeds are contained the Root spreadeth it self into many strings under ground not growing to any great bignesse The Places and Time The first groweth in every Country by the sides of Ditches and Hedges whereon it many times runneth the second is seldome met with but by S. Margarets Church in Rumney Marsh The Leaves come forth in the Spring the Flowers in July and the Berries are ripe in August The Temperature The Leaves and Berries of Bitter-sweet are hot and dry cleansing and wasting away The Vertues The Leaves or Berries of Bitter-sweet stamped with rusty Bacâ—â— applyed to that Joynt of the Fiâ—ger that is troubled with a Felon hath been found by divers Countrey people who are most suâ—jâ—ct thereunto to be very successâ—ful for the â—uring of the same The decoction of the Leaves and tender branches being infused and set over the fire in three pâ—nts of White Wine the Pot wherein it is done being close covered for twelve houres together which being then stâ—ained is a most excellent Drinke to opâ—n the Oâ—structiâ—ns of the Liver Gall and Spleen and is used with good successe not onely in the yellow but black Jaundise and to cleanse Womâ—n hat are newly brought abâ—d a quarter of a Pint thereof being drank for many Mornings together and if you will in the Evenings also The said Infusion is also availeable for difficulty of breathing Bruises Falls and congealed blood in any part of the body and it is good against the Dropsie for it purgeth away waterish and other humors very gently both by Urine and Stool It is also used against putrid Feavers or Agues and when any bone is broken or out of joynt as likewise for Ruptures and Wounds The Sheepherds in Germany as Tragus reporteth doe use to hang it about their Cattles neck when they are troubled with a swimming in the Head causing them to turne round as if they were bewitched and therefore they say it removeth Witchcrafts both in Men and Beasts bâ—t that swimming in the head is no effect of Witchcraft but proceeds from a naturall cause for which this Plant is a specifick remedy as it is for all such like sodaine distempers whatsoever being hung about the the Neck and that is not farre from the head CHAP. CCCXLIII Of Ladies Bedstraw The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gallium or as others have it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Galiunâ— and of some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Galerion and Galarion from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies Milke into which the Women of former times did put this Herb as those of ours doe Runnet to cause the milke to turne into a Curd for the making of Cheese for which purpose it is said to serve very well and therefore divers doe call it â—heese Runnet both here and beyond the Seas It is called in Latine Galium after the Greeâ— and that with white Flowers Mâ—llugo in English Ladies Bedstraw and sometimes Maids haire from the finenesse of the Leaves The Kindes There be but sixe sorts of Ladies Bedstraw in all that I meet with and therefore I shall put them down 1. The Common Ladies Bedstraw 2. Red flowred Ladies Bedstraw 3. Mountain white flowred Ladies Bedstraw 4. The common white flowred Ladies Bedstraw 5. Mountain Ladies Bedstraw of Candy 6. Another Ladies Bedstraw of Candy The Forme The common Ladies Bedstraw riseth up with divers small brown square stalks standing upright at first but after it cometh to be about a foot or half a yard high which is its usuall dimension the tops thereof leane a little downwards being most commonly branched forth into divers parts full of joynts and with divers very fine small Leaves at every one set at equall distances like Wood-roof but much lesse and hardly rough at all at the tops of the branches doe grow forth from several joynts many long tufts or branches of yellow flowers set one above another very thick together consisting of four Leaves a piece of a strong and resinous yet not unpleasant smell The Seed is small and black like Poppy seed two for the most part being joyned neer together The root is somewhat red which having many small threds fastned unto it taketh fast hold of the earth and creepeth a little way also but that which maketh it most to increase is that after the branches are weighed downe to the ground by the heavinesse of the Flowers it taketh root againe at the joynts thereof The Places and Time The first is frequently to be found in many places of this Land in dry Pastures Closes and Medowes and sometimes in those that are wet though I think unknown to most but the place that I particularly remember to abound therewith is Butlers Close at Adlerbury Towns end the second was found in Italy and the third in Germany on divers hills there the fourth is a spontaneal of our own Land and groweth in the Abbey Orchard at Saint Albans and in divers other places the name of the fifth and sixth speaketh their Extraction They flower in May and June and the Seed is ripe in July and August The Temperature Ladies Bedstraw especially that with yellow flowers which is most common is dry and something binding as Galen saith The Vertues Though Mugwort be an Herbe noted amongst the Vulgar for preventing wearinesse upon sore Travell and for doing it away after it is contracted
moisture and not as some falsely suppose from the dunging of those Blackbirds or rather Thrushes which have eaten the Berries hereof so the seeds have been made fitter to grow For it is since found by Experience that there is no shew of seed in that dung they void upon the Trees or elsewhere it being wholly altered in their bellies before the voiding And further the Misselto doth not aâ—waies grow upon the boughs but sometimes from beneath them where it is impossible that either any bird can dung or any of the seed come thither by any other means And therefore he mistook that said Turdus tibi cacat malum The Kinds The sorts of Misselto that I find upon record are three 1. The ordinary Misselto with few and many berries 2. The Misselto of India 3. Misselto of Peru. The Forme Misselto is an Excrescence arising from the branch or arm of the Tree whereon it groweth with a woody stemme parting it self into sundry branches and they spreading again into many other smaller twigs over thwart one another do wrap and interlace one within an other the bark of it is of a light or Popinjay green colour but the leaves are of a brownish green colour which being set by two and two at every Joynt or Knot and at the end likewise are somewhat long and narrow small at the bottom but broader towards the end At the Knots and Joynts of the boughs of the branches grow small yellowish flowers which turn into small white round berries which are so clear that a man may see through them and are full of clammy or Viscous moisture whereof the best Birdlime is made farre exceeding that which is made of Holly Bark Within the berry is contained a small black kernell or seed which hath been put into the ground and other places but was never yet known to grow it being indeed without any root The Place and Time This Excrescence groweth upon Apple-Trees Pear-Trees Crab-Trees and Hasles very plentifully in divers places especially in Essex but that which groweth on the Oak is very rare in England That with many Berries groweth in Germany c. and the other two in the West-Indies Theophrastus saith that the Misselto loseth the leaves in Winter if it grow on those Trees that shed their leaves as Apple-Trees c. do but in every green Tree as Box c. it loseth them not the Reason whereof saith he is the tenacious humidity in the one which the other wanteth but Experience sheweth that it keep th the Leaves fresh and green in the Winter when the Trees whereon they grow have not any of their own left on them in these parts of Europe generally Oâ—dinary Misselto flowreth in the Spring but the Berries are not ripe until Oâ—â—ber and abide on the Branches all the Winter unless the Thrushes and other Birds devour them It is one of those things wherewith Countrey people adorn their houses at Christmas and is celebrated in this old Caroll Holly and Ivy Misselto Give me a red Apple and let me go c. The Temperature Misselto is hot and dry in the third Degree the Leaves and Berries do heat and dry and are of subtle parts for some acrimony is in them which overcommeth the bitterness the Bird-lime doth mollifie hard knots c. which is not of that property as to heat suddenly but after some time as Thapsia doth The Signature and Vertues Crollius saith that Misselto of the Oak and the Bird-lime that is maâ—e therâ—of is very effectual for the curing of the Falling-Sickness and that it doth it by Signature the viscosity and tenacious quality of the Bird-lime repreâ—enting those melancholy and phlegmatick humours consisting of tough and clammy slime by which it is caused or else as Bird-lime doth detain whatsoever it fastens to so this Disease ceasing upon the Body as the Remora doth upon a Ship will suffer it to go no further but maketh it to fall down But some question may arise concerning the Application of the Bird-lime whether it is to be taken inwardly or used outwardly because Gerrard saith if it be inwardly taken it is mortall and bringeth most grievous accidents as that it should make the tongue to be inflamed and swolne the minde to be distracted and the strength of the heart and wits to fail quoting Nicander as I suppose for his Authour If there be any such malicious quality in it it is when it is taken alone for I not only conceive that Crollius meant it should be taken inwardly but I finde it prescribed by that famous and worthy Physitian Mr. Bruel to be taken in Pills after this manner Recâ—pe Visci quercini Seeds and Roots of Piony ana 1. ounce Nutmeg 1. ounce of Aniseeds 1. oun Sacchari buglossati 7. ounces in every Pill 1. ounce And therefore if it be corrected with other Ingredients there is no such great danger as Gerrard repotteth The next Question will be whether the Misselto of other Trees be not as good as that of the Oak Mr. Culpepper rails against the Colledge of Physicians for saying that that which growes upon Oaks hath most vertues Clusius affirms that which growes upon Pear-Trees to be as prevalent and gives order that it shouâ—d not touch the Ground after it is gathered and also saith That being hung about the neck it remedies Witch-craft It is wonder the carping Astrologer had not had a sling at Clusius also for superstition but I conceive he scaped because he was of an Opinion different from the Colledge Matthiolus saith that that of the Cheâ—nut-Tree is as good but most hold that of the Oak to be the best which being made into Powder and given in Drink unto those which have the Falling-â—ickness doth heal them as the same Author speaketh upon his own experience Some have so highly esteemed of the Vertues hereof that they have called it Lignum St. Crucis believing it to help the Falling-Sicknesse Apoplexy and Palsie very speedily not only to be inwardly taken but hung about their necks and some Women have worn it about their necks or on their arms thinking it will help them to conceive Tragus saith that the fresh Wood of any Misselto bruised and the juyce drawn forth and dropped into the Ears that have Imposthumes in them doth help and ease them within a few dayes The Bird-lime mollifieth hard knots tumors and Imposthumes ripeneth and discusseth them and draweth forth thick as well as â—â—in humours â—om the remote places of the Body digesting them and separating them and being mixed with equall parts of Rosin and Wax it mollifieth the hardness of the Spleen and healeth old Ulcers and Sores with Sandatack and Orpment it draweth off foul nails especially if quick Lime and the Lees of Wine be added thereunto CHAP. XIV Of the Quince-Tree The Names HAving handled severall Plants that are approptiated to the Head some by Signature and some without I shall now write of a few which cure the Diseases of the
Apothecaries that were unskifull in the Greek tongue whereas heretofore it was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it doth rejoyce those whose Eyes are troubled with dimnesse But why he would have it called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I know not unlesse he should have alluded to some plant of this kind formerly so called by the Ancients which he seemeth to deny when he sayes that though this herb hath gotten an elegant Greek name yet nothing that I know is found concerning it in any of the more ancient Greek or Latine Authors He saith further that Buglosse is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that Eyebright borrowed its Greek name from thence because as the one drunk in Wine doth cause joy of mind so the other delighteth and cleareth the Eyes So that I conceive the mistake to be on his part 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as well as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying joy or gladnesse for why should we call two things by one name rejecting that which in all probability seemeth to be the right If Buglosse were first called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it seemeth more likely that Eyebright should be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seeing they both signifie alike it being strange to me that there being no want of a word two plants should have the same appellation and therefore in my judgment it is more rightly called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is called also Opthalmica and Ocularia for its effect and we in English call it Eyebright because it makes the Eyes that are dim to become bright The Kinds Parkinson reckoneth up seaven sorts hereof which I have here set down 1. Common Eyebright 2. Small Eyebright 3. Great red Wooddy Eyebright 4. Small red Woody Eyebright 5. Broad leased purple Eyebright 6. Great yellow Eyebright 7. The lesser yellow Eyebright The Forme Common Eyebright is a small low herb rising up usually but with one blackish green stalk a span high or not much more when it is highed but seldom so high spread from the bottom into sundry branches whereon are set small and almost round yet pointed dark green leaves finely snipt about the edges two alwaies set together and very thick At the Joynts with the leaves from the middle upward come forth small white flowers striped with purple and yellow spots or stripes after which follow small round heads with very small seed therein The root is long small and threddy at the end On sâ—me Hills the colour of the flower is sometimes found to vary from those that grow in other places as being more whitish yellow or more purple The Places and Time The first and third are only frequent in this Island the former groweth in dry meddowes by green and grassy waies and in pastures usually on hills sides that stand towards the Sun and the other in many places of Kent in the barren fields and wast grounds about Gravesend and many other places the rest grow some in Italy and at Naples some in Spain and Austria They seldom flower before the beginning of August and continue till September and must be gathered whilest they flower for all physical uses for when they are run to seed as they will be within a while after they are nothing so effectual The Temperature These herbs are by the consent of all Authors hot and dry but in what degree they expresse not I conceive they may be hot in the second and dry in the third for Gerrard saith they are more dry then hot The Signature and Vertues The Purple and yellow spots and stripes which are upon the flowers of Eyebright doth very much resemble the diseases of the Eyes as blood-shot c. By which signature it hath been found out that this herb is very effectual for the curing of the same and for removing dimnesse of sight either the Powder of the dry herb or the Juice of the green The distilled water is very effectuall for the said purpose to be taken either inwardly in Wine or in Broth or to be dropped into the Eyes and used for divers daies together Some also make a Conserve of the flower to the same effect Being used any of these waies it also helpeth a weak Brain or memory and restoreth them being decayed in a short time Arnoldus de Villa Nova in his book of VVines much commendeth the Wine made of Eyebright put into it when it is new made and before it work and certainly if it were tunned up with strong Beer as Worm-wood Scurvy-grasse and the like use to be it would work the like effects as the Wine doth which he saith not only helpeth the dimness of the sight but that the use thereof maketh old men to read small Letters without Spectacles that could hardly read great ones with their spectacles before so that as Mr. Culpepper saith If this Herb were as much used as neglected it would half spoil the Spectacle-makers Trade Arnoldus saith also that it did restore their sight who were blind for a long while before If a sufficient quantity hereof cannot be had to tun up as aforesaid the Powder of the dryed Herb either mixed with Sugar or a little Mace and Fennel-seeds and drunk or eaten in Broth or the said Powders made into an Electuary with Honey do either-way tend to the same effect Divers Authours write that Gold-finches Linnets and some other Birds make use of this Herb for the repairing of their own and their young ones sight CHAP. XXIII Of Clarey The Names ANother Plant whose name doth demonstrate that it is good for the Eyes is Clary quasi Clear Eye because the Seed put into the Eyes doth clear them The Greek name of it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Dioscorides saith for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifieth impetu quodam ferri quemadmodum in Venerem proni because it provoketh to Venery which is another property it hath And Gaza that translated Theophrastus into Latine translateth it Geminalis for the fruitfulness it causeth most likely in bearing Twins in Latine also Horminum The wild sort is known by the name of Oculus Christi in Latine and Wild Clary in English Clary is also called Gallitricum Orvala and of some Tota bona but not properly Scatlea Sclarea Centrum Galli The Kindes There are divers sorts of Clary some manured only called Garden Clary others growing wild as 1. Ordinary Garden Clary 2. The true Garden Clary of Dioscorides 3. Assyrian Clary 4. Low German Clary 5. Our ordinary wild Clary or Oculus Christi 6. Hoary wild Clary with a white Flower 7. Italian wild Clary 8. Wild Clary with Spike Flowers 9. Sage leafed wild Clary 10. Low Candy Clary 11. Torn and narrow leafed Clary 12. Yellow wild Clary or Jupiters Distaff 13. Aethiopian Clary The Formes Ordinary Garden Clary hath four-square stalks with broad rough wrinkled whitish and hairy green leaves somewhat evenly
the nose very quickly The distilled water of the herb is profitable for all the purposes aforesaid the leaves being gently rubbed on any place stung with nettles or bees or bitten with any venemous Creature doth presently take away the pain But take notice that Wall Pepper which though it be a kind of Sedum as to the form yet it is of a very hot sharp and exulcerating quality and raiseth blisters in the skin if it be laid thereupon but a while as forcibly as Ranunculus or Crowfoot will do and therefore it behoveth all those that shall have any occasion to use any of the cooling Stonecrops that they do not mistake this for some of them wherunto it is so like yet it is not without some other good qualities whereof good use may be made for it is said to procure vomiting the Juyce thereof taken with Vinegar and some other drink driveth forth thick cholerick and phlegmatick humours whereby quartane Agues and others of long continuance may be cured and that taken in the same manner it doth expell any poyson or the force of venemous herbs and of the Aconites which vertue notwithstanding is by some referred to the greater kinds but there may be some danger in the taking and therefore may be let alone seeing there be divers medicines to the same purpose in this book Yet it is not altogether unlikely that it should do so for why may not this as well expell the poyson of Aconite as well as Aconite prevail so mightily against the bitings of Scorpions or Vipers or fire fetch out fire which experience telleth us it doth Dioscorides saith that being applyed outwardly with Axungia that is Hogs-suet it will take away knots and kernels as well in the Neck and Throat which is called the Kings-Evil as in any other part of the body and applyed by it self or boyled in Oyl of Roses and the sore piles anointed therewith doth ease the pains and cure them of the grief And thus having given you the vertues of the greater aswell the lesser Houseleeks that grow by land it will not be impertinent to give you those of Aloes or Sea Houseleek also which I shall do in the next Chapter CHAP. XLVIII Of Aloes or Sea Houseleek The Names DIoscorides and all others both ancient and modern writers call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which name some suppose to have been given to it either from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is à sale or else from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à Salo the Sea it self with whose breath it is much delighted It is called also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it groweth not only in the ground but sometimes out of the ground though it be hanged up in an house Some of the modern Herbarists do call it Semper vivum marinum from the thickness of the leaves and likenesse unto Sedum majus or the greater Houseleek called Semper vivum The hardned Juyce thereof is also usually called Aloes of which as Schroderus saith there be four sorts now in use and because there is but one kind except the American of that plant I will set down the kinds of Juyces The Kindes There is 1. A Blackish sort called Aloe Caballina because it is fit only for Horses 2. A more pure sort in colour like the Liver called Aloe Hepatica 3. Another sort called Aloe Succotrina or Succo citrina because the powder thereof is of a citrine or yellow colour or Socotorina rather because there is great plenty of it in the island Socotora 4. The fourth kind is the purest part of the Juyce and is called Aloe lucida because being held up against the Beams of the of the Sun it sheweth very clear like a kind of red glasse The best is that which is most clear and transparent of a redish or yellow Colour being easy to bâ—eak and very bitter The Forme Sea-Houseleek hath divers long fleshy pale green Leaves of the thicknesse of ones finger with divers hard dents or points on both sides of them and pointed at the ends likewise the one enclosing the other at the bottom and standing round the outermost bending for the most part backwards from the middle of which ariseth a short thick stalk little more then a foot high bearing many small bottle-like flowers It beareth seed in husks like unto an Asphodil after the flowers are past the root is thick and about a foot long or lesse within the ground shooting out some thick Fibres at the end The Places and Time It groweth in Arabia Asia Syria and all the East Countries and in India as well a great way within the land as near the Sea side and in the islands there as in Socotora as Garcius saith where the best is made as also in many places in Italy and in Spaiu about Andalousia near the sea shore in such plenty that divers thought to have made good store of Aloes there but after tryall it was not found any way so effectuall as the Indian sort It flowreth in the hotter Countries in the first Summer moneths but never in these colder for it is preserved with great care from the frosts in Winter which will cause it quickly to rot if it feel never so little cold The Temperature Aloe that is to say the juyce that is used in Physick is moderately hot and that in the first Degree but dry in the third extream bitter yet without biting it is also of an emplaistick or clammy quality and something binding The Vertues and Signature Aloes openeth the Belly purgeth the stomach helpeth those that have a pale colour and is used against the yellow Jaundice by Signature not without good successe It is also profitable in the Head-ach when Vapours arise from the stomach in the Night-Mare in the Scorbute or Scurvy in the Falling-sickness and in Rheums It resisteth putrefaction killeth worms of all sorts whether in the belly or stomach nay it is a speciall Antidote against worms and is more proper for the stomach then all other purging Medicines notwithstanding Cardans Opinion to the contrary seeing it doth not only purge away Choler and flegme from it but also comfort it and help it much when it is crude moyst and nauseous It preventeth Arthriticall pains or pains of the joynts it quickeneth the senses by purging obnoxious humours from the brain It provoketh Womens Courses and the Hemorrhoides or Piles but hardly draweth humours from any part above the Liver Being outwardly applyed it hath a consolidating faculty to heal green wounds and dryeth as also mundifieth or cleanseth and takes away all putrifaction in wounds It healeth wounds of the Testicles and Privities it cures the redness of the Eys and consumes the spots growing therein It is good in the Inflammations of the Eys and Apostumes of the Lips Nose and Eys It healeth Ulcers that are hardly brought to cicatrize and especially those in the Fundament and privy Members Being mixed with Oxe-Gall or the juyce of VVormwood and
Palmae cerebrum the brain of the Date-Tree The Kindes Besides the manured Date-Tree there is the wild or low Date-Tree called the Palmito-Tree as I said before and the thorny Palmito The Form The Date-Tree usually groweth very great and tall yet in some places nothing so tall as in others bare of Branches unto the top the Bark whereof is not so well to be said scaly or rugged as knaggy having short knaggs which are the ends of the middle Ribs of the Leaves sticking out round about the Body which give an easie footing like steps to climbe or get up into the tops of the Trees to gather the fruit the Leaves that grow at the top are very long and large made as it were of divers parts and folded together double the middle Rib being thick and almost wooddy but spongy within which do alwayes abide green and hang down-wards with their ends the Flowers are enclosed with a long skinny sheath hanging down from the lower Branches of Leaves and sometimes higher which opening it self at the end into two parts shew forth abundance of white Saffron-like small Flowers hanging by small threds in great bunches together after which come the fruit upon the said threddy foot-foot-stalks green at the first and reddish when they are ripe with a hard firm small long and round whitish stone with a furrow in the middle some Sorts are small and some great some of a lost substance some firmer and harder some whitish some yellowish or reddish or blackish some round like an Apple others long with the roundness some having the top soft some none at all some so sweet and lushious that they will nor abide long unlesse they be pressed into Cakes to be kept others will abide whole for a long time and fit to be sent also into any farr Country yet all of them have a small round hard Crown or Cap at the head which with rubbing one against another falleth off The stones within the fruit notwithstanding that they are so solid and firm as a very stone and can hardly be broken with an Hammer yet having a small hollow place in the middle of them with so â—mall a Kernel therein that it would not be thought to spring thereby yet being put whole into the ground hath shot forth even in this Country long narrow hard Leaves which have abiden in a convenient warm place divers years without any great progresse so little it liketh a cold Climate The Places and Time The manured Date groweth in all the Eastern Countries generally and those have been most commended by some that grow in Judaea and in the valley of â—ericho but Bellonius saith they deserved not Commendations neither were they ripe about Jerusalem above a moneth after they had been gathered in Egypt they grow also in Italy where they are planted but bear no fruit and in Spain by the Sea-side but the fruit is nothing so good as in Cyprus and the Levant The other two sorts the first in Sicilia Candy c. the other in Spain they flowre in April and are ripe in November or later The Temperature Dates are hot and dry almost in the second Degree and astringent or binding especially when they are not through ripe being through ripe they are hot and moyst in the second Degree some say hot and moyst in the first Degree The Vertues Dates yield a grosse and clammy and fatty or impinguating nourishment therefore they heâ—p the hoarsness and roughness of the Throat the sharp Cough by reaâ—on oâ— sharp Rheum falling on the Breast and Lungs and are used also against Consumptions and wasting of the Body The Decoction of them taken allayeth the force of hot Agues and stayeth spitting of blood the pain in the Stomach and Bowels by reason of a Flux and boyled in Water and Honey and taken doth refresh the spirits they somewhat provoke to Venery the Decoction helpeth the weakneâ—â—e and pains in the Back and Bladder they strengthen the weakness of the Liver and Spleen being mixed with other convenient Medicines They are used in Broths against Consumptions and pining Diseases and are counted restorative eâ—pecially the sweet ones Dry Dates being eaten do stop the Belly and stay vomiting of Women with Child and help against miscarrying they stay Womens Courses and the bleeding and falling down of the Fundament and Piles being taken in Red Wine If they be made into a Poultis alone or with other things and applyed to the Stomack and Belly they stay the vomiting of Women with Child The Decoction of Dates or the Leaves of the Date-Tree maketh the hair black being often used and stayeth fretting Ulcers Being mixed with Wax and Saffron they help the black and blew marks remaining after stripes or bâ—owes and reduceth the skin to its naturall colour Date Stones being burnt and washed serve instead of Spodium to binde and restrain the fluent humours into the Eys and to consume the Pin and Web in them and to dry up Pushes being uâ—ed with Spikenâ—rd it stayeth the falling of the hair from the Eye-browes and being mingled with Wine and used it helpeth any Excrescences of the flesh as Wens and such like and bringeth foul Ulcers to Cicatrising and stayeth the spreading of them A Poultis made of them and applyed helpeth any luxation or joynts out of place and they are used in astringent Cataplasms or Pultises They are not to be used by such as are troubled with the Head-ach Collick or hot Livers Diaphaenicon which is the Electuary made of Dates purgeth Choler and Flegme very effectually so it be taken with good caution and advice and that from two drams unto six in White-Wine or a Decoction of Sena as shall be thought fit and is conveniently given in compound and long Agues and in those Diâ—eases which are bred of raw humours as in the Cholick the pains of the back and Mother The Head of the Date or Date brains is very pleasant and savoury to the tast and is much used where they grow to be eaten with Pepper and Salt Of the Leaves of the Palmito they use to make Brooms to sweep the House which will last a long time of them likewise they make Mats and Baskets CHAP. LXIII Of Winter Green The Names IT is called Pyrola in Latine for it hath not found any Greek name à foliorum Pyri arloris similitudine florum etiam similitudine of the likenesse of the Leaves I may say of the flowers also unto Peartree Leaves flowers Divers have taken it to be Limonium but the true Limonium is now so well known that it putteth all out of doubt Some have called it Beta sylvestris as Pliny and Fuschius because it appeareth in the Spring about the time that Garden Beets do but Galen saith there is no wild sort of the Beet Others have called it Tintinnabulum Terrae from the likenesse of the flower to a bell saith Fuschius but is generally of all now a daies called Pyrola in
sharp withall and somewhat clammy when they are ripe flat as it were at the lower end next the stalk whose skin is thicker and harder then a Plum and the stone within it is small firm and solid long round and solid like unto an Olive or Cornelian Cherry-stone both for form and hardnesse All the Branches both greater and smâ—ller are armed with Thorns two alwayes at a joynt whereof the one is long sâ—â—ong sharp pointed and straight and the other crooked both of them of a blackiâ—â— red colour like unto the elder Branches The Roots are long and firm in the Ground The Places and Time The first groweth naturally in Africa Egypt Arabia and Syria and those more Easterly Countries from whence as Pliny saith it was brought into Italy and planted there in his time by Sextus Rampinius in the latter end of Caesar Augustus his Raign which now a dayes is very frequent not only in many Gardens and Orchards of Italy but of Provence in France also It is so tender that it cannot endure long in our Countrey by reason of the cold The other likewise was brought into Italy in these later times from Syria where it is only to be seen and but with a few that are lovers of rarities The last groweth wild in the Fields by the Hedges not far from Verona abundantly as Pena saith They all shoot forth in April at which time the Seeds or Stones are to be set and sowen for increase They flowre in May and their fruit is ripe in September the Leaves falling off shortly after The Temperature Jujubes are temperate in heat and moysture The Vertues They open the Body and gently purge Choler and cleanse the Blood according to Actuarius and Simeon Sethi especially when they are fresh yet Matthiolus following the Opinion of Avicen denyeth that they have any purging quality in them at all But all Authours do agree that they cool the heat and sharpnesse of the Blood and therefore hold them to be good in hot Agues and to help them that have a Cough by bringing away tough flegme and are very profitable also for other Diseases of the Chest and Lungs as shortnesse of breath hot Rheums and Distillations proceeding from hot humours They are also to good purpose used to cleanse the Reins and Bladder from Gravel in making the passages slippery they also stay Vomitings procured by sharp humours But they are hard of digestion nourish very little and do not easily passe through the stomach and are therefore used in decoctions with other Ingredients fitting for the foresaid griefs CHAP. LXXXIV Of the Sebesten or Assyrian Plum-Tree The Names THere are also to be had at the Apothecaries Shops a certain kind of Plums called by them Sebestens in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 à muccoso fructus lentore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 enim muccum significat The Tree whereon this Fruit groweth is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Myxos for the Tree and Myxa and Myxaria for the Fruit. It is thought as Ruellius saith that the Syrians in honour of Augustus called them Sebastae from whence the Arabians called them Sebesten The Kindes The Sorts hereof are two 1. The Sebesten or Assyrian Plum-Tree 2. The wild Sebesten-Tree The Forme The Sebesten-tree groweth somewhat lower then the Plum-tree covered with a whitish Bark the Branches are green whereon grow rounder thicker and harder Leaves then those of the ordinary Plum-Tree the blossoms are white consisting of five Leaves a peece growing many together on a stalk which afterwards turn into small Berries rather then Plums of a blackish green colour when they are ripe every one standing in a little Cup of a sweet tast and glutinous and clammy substance and a very thick skin within which lyeth a three square hard stone with a thick Shell and a small Kernel these are gathered and layd in the Sun whereby they grow wrinckled and so they are kept and brought over unto us in Boxes The Places and Time The first groweth in Syria and is but planted in Egypt as Alpinus saith and from thence were brought into Italy in Pliny his time which were grafted on the Service Tree and do now grow in many places there in their Orchards it is so tender not enduring the cold with us that we can as hardly keep it as cause it to spring the Shell of the Stone being so thick and the Kernel so small The other as Alpinus seemeth to aver growth in Egypt naturally They flowre in May and their Fruit is gathered in September The Temperature Sebestens are temperately cold and moyst and have a thick clammy substance The Vertues They are very effectuall to lenifie or make smooth the hoarsnesse and roughnesse of the Throat which is caused by sharp humours which descend from the Head into the Wine-pipe galling it and fretting it so that unlesse there be means used to stop them and to prevent the Throat from corroding they will run down abundantly and with great force making the Patient to breath with great difficulty Neither are Sebestens good only for the Throat but also do very much help the Cough and wheesings of the Lungs and Distillations upon them by lenifying the passages and causing much flegme to be avoided They also give ease to them that are troubled with pains in their sides and marvellously helpeth those that are troubled with the sharpnesse of their Urine proceeding from Cho 〈…〉 or salt flegme they also drive forth the long worms of the Belly By the judgement both of the Arabians and Greek Physitians they open the body in the fame manner or rather more by reason of the Muscilaginesse in them than Damask Primes yet more when they are green and lesse when they are dry yet the decoction of them or the infusion of them in broth although dryed worketh effectually They serve to cool any intemperate heat of the Stomach or Liver and therefore are good in hot Agues and to purge Choler whereof they come 〈◊〉 saith that he hath found often by his experience that ten drams or twelve at the most of the pulp of Sebestans taken from the Skins and Stones worketh as well and to as good purpose as the pulp of Cassia fistula There is a kind of Birdlime made of these fruits by boyling them a little in water to take away their Skins and Stones and after boyling them more to a consistence the which as M 〈…〉 saith was used in V 〈…〉 to catch Birds but Alpinus saith they use it in Egypt as a Plaister to dissolve hard tumours or swellings CHAP. LXXXV Of Scabious The Names IT hath no Greek Name unless it be as some think that Herb which Aetius calleth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but few dare venter to say it is the same because there is nothing but the bare Name without any Description extant in him yet the Greek word signifieth Scabies in Latine It took the name of Scabiâ—sa
qualities to cure Coughs and other Diseases of the Lungs The Apothecaries call it Farfara and Vngula Caballina and of some Populago from the likenesse of its Leaves to those of the white Poplar which was named of the Ancients Farfarus Many suppose that this may be Tiphyum of Theophrastus as well as the Petasites in that both of them bring their Flowers before the Leaves and therefore are by some called Filii ante patres it being somewhat preposterous and very rare amongst Plants and this was the cause why some Herbarists thought that Colts-foot put â—orth no Flowers supposing that this Plant as others commonly do would have put forth Flowers after the Leaves if any at all Pliny calleth it Farranum Farrugium It is called alâ—o in English Foale-foot and Horse-foot There is a sort hereof called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Cacalia in English Great and strange Colts-foot The Kindes The Colts-foot and the Cacalia make but four kinds 1. Colts-foot 2. Hoary Strange Colts-foot 3. Smooth strange Colts-foot 4. Strange Colts-foot of America The Foorme Colts-foot shooteth up a slender stalk with small yellowish Flowers somewhat early which fall away quickly and after they are past come somewhat round Leaves yet sometimes dented a little about the edges much lesser thicker and greener then those of the Butter-burr with a little Down or Freese over the green Leaf on the upper side which may be rubbed away and whitish or meaâ—y underneath The Root is small and white spreading very much in the ground so that where it taketh it will very hardly be cleansed from it again it any little peece be abiding therein and from thence springing fresh Leaves The Places and Time The first groweth of it self near unto Springs and on the brinks of Brooks and Rivers in wet furrowes by Ditches sides and in other moyst and watery places almost every where and if it be brought into a Garden it will take such possession on a sudden that it will not be quickly outed The second and third grow in sundry Vallies beyond the Seas and by the Bathes where they want not moysture The last in America Virginia and Canada The Leaves and Flowers of the first are seldom or never to be â—ound together the Flowers being past before the Leaves appear It flowers in the end of March and beginning of April the stems and Flowers also quickly fading away After them grow forth the Leaves which remain green all the Summer long The strange Sorts put out their Leaves first and from thence arise the Flowers which bear Seed also in the Summer-time The Temperature Colts-foot whilst it is fresh is cooling and drying but when it is dry the cooling quality which remained in the moysture being evaporate it is then somewhat hot and dry The Vertues This is an Herb generally known to be very available for those that have thin Rheums and Distillations upon the Lungs causing the Cough thereby tâ—â—hiâ—â—en and dry it and then the dryed Leaves are best as the fresh Leaves or Juyce oâ— Syrup made thereof is fittest for an hot dry Cough and for Wheesings and shortnesse of Breath The dryed Leaves taken in a Pipe as Tobacco is hath been found in like manner good for the thin Rheums Distillations and Coughs as also the Root taken in like Sort as some Authours affirm The distilled water hereof simply or with Elder-flowers and Night-shade is a singular Remedy against all hot Agues to drink two Ounces at a time and to have some Cloaths wet therein and applyed to the Head and Stomack The same also applyed to any hot Swellings or other Inflammations doth much good yea it helpeth that Disease called St. Anthonies fire and burnings also and is singular good to take away Wheals and small Pushes that rise through heat as also against the burning heat of the Piles or of the privy parts to apply Cloaths wet therein to the places Matthiolus sheweth that in the Root of this Colts-foot there groweth a certain Cotton or VVhite-wool which being cleansed from the Roots and bound up in Linnen Cloaths and boyled in Lye for a while and afterwards some salt Nitre added unto it and dryed up again in the Sun is the best tinder to take fire being stroke from a Flint that can be The Root of Cacalia steeped in Wine and eaten is also good for the Cough and hoarsnesse which Galen affirmeth of his Cacanum which is thought to be the same for it is without sharpness and good for hoarsness Dioscorides addeth that the Peare-like Grains which are found in his Cacalia beaten and mixed with a Cerot or Oyntment doth make the Skin smooth and will stay the falling of the hair as Pliny saith CHAP. CXI Of Wood-bind or Hony-suckle The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but the Greeks in these dayes call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Periclymenum also and Caprifolium but Pliny mistaking the word Periclymenum setteth down the properties of Clymenum which is Tutsan for it with some it is called Sylvae mater and Matris Sylva Volucrum majus and Lilium inter Spinas and Vinciboscum by Caesalpinus according as his Italians called it In English it hath no other name but VVood-bind and Honey-suckle The Kindes There are divers Sorts of Wood-binds some that are winding about whatsoever standeth next them and for the most part known throughout the Land others are strangers or not so well known there are divers that wind not but stand upright all which being summoned together are in number eight 1. Our ordinary Wood-bind 2. The German red Honisuckle 3. Double Wood-bind or Hony-suckles 4. Dwarf Honisuckle 5. Upright Wood-bind or Hony-suckle 6. Black berried upright Hony-suckle 7. Blew berried upright Hony-suckle 8. The greater upright Hony-suckle I shall not trouble you with the description of the ordinary Hony-suckle but of the upright red berried Hony-suckle as being lesse known The Forme The divers stalks of the Red Berried upright Hony-suckle are somewhat straight and upright about three or four foot high at the least divided and spread into divers Branches covered with a very thin whitish Bark the Leaves stand by couples on the Branches and two likewise at every joynt which are of a whitish green colour smooth and lesser then those of the windy Wood-binds the Flowers also stand by couples at the end of short stalks that come from the joynts with the Leaves and are much smaller then the other never opening or spreading much of a pale whitish colour after which come two red Berries long with the roundnesse both of a bigness in the naturall places and in some open places but seldom so with us for one is usually withered and never commeth to perfection The Places and Time The first groweth abundantly in this Land almost in every Hedge The second came out of Germany The third out of Italy both which are set against our house-sides to run about the Windows where
nor the true Eupatorium The Kinds The sorts of both put together are in all six 1. Ale Coast or Costmary 2. Common Maudlin 3. White Maudlin 4. Small Maudlin 5. Purple sweet Maudlin 6. Fennell leafed Maudlin The Forme Alecoast is a sweet herbe bearing many broad and long pale greene Leaves snipped about the edgsevery one upon a long foostalk among which rise up many long greene round stalkes with such like leaves on them but lesser up to the top where it spreadeth it selfe into three or four branches every one bearing an umbel or tâ—ft of gold yellow flowers somwhat like unto Tansy flowers but lesser which turne into small heads containing small flat long seed The root is somwhat hard and stringy and being divided may be thereby propagated The Places and Time The three first are found only in Gardens with us yet they have been found natural in divers rough untilled places of Tuscany in Italy and Narbone in France the three last grow in dry rocky and barren grounds They do all commonly flower about the moneths of June and July The Temperature Alecoast and Mandlin are both of them hot and dry in the second degree The Vertues â—oâ—th these Herbes are very effectually used by those that are troubled with evill cold and weake Livers for to them it is very freindly and therefore it is very profitable for those that are fallen into a continuall evil disposition of the whole body called Cachexia as hath been formerly said proceeding from the coldnesse of the Liver especially if a dram of the juice being first clarified and afterwards boiled to its due thicknesse which is something thicker then Honey be taken every morning It helpeth the Rickets and VVormes in Children provokes Urine and gently without purging disburdens the body of Choler and Phlegme it is good for the coldnesse of the Mother strengtheneth the Stomack and stayeth Vomiting and so doth the juice being drunk in Wine The Conserve of the Leaves made with Sugar is of very good use to warm and dry the braine and open the stopping thereof and to helpe Rheumes and distillations taken in the quantity of a beane Either of the herbes alone or with Parsnip-seeds boiled in Wine and drunk cureth the griping and torments of the belly or guts as also the flix It is profitable for the greifes of the breast and Lunges it breaketh Imposthumes and draweth evill humours from the eyes and other parts Being boiled either in Wine or Whey and drunk it is good for them which have taken any thing which is too Narcoticall as Opium Hemlock or the like and for biting of Serpents especially if one dram of the Powder of the root thereof be taken in Wine with the like weight of the seed of Wild Parsnips The decoction thereof is good for Women to sit in to provoke sweat to bring down the termes and to ease the paine that cometh by the retention of them The decoction of the flowers is good for many of the purposes aforesaid as also to open the obstructions of the Milt Kidneys and Bladder to take away the skurfe and scab wherewith the head is infested if it be washed therewith and so it killeth the Lice thereof Being put into Ale it giveth thereunto a very pleasant tast as it doth to all Sallets and Sawces wherein it is used and therefore as I conceive is was called Alecoast CHAP. CLXXXIII Of Dockes The Names IT is celled in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod valet exinanire vel ventrem levare because the decoction thereof looseneth the belly It is also called in Latine Lapathum and Ramex Some of the kinds hereof are called in Latine Oxylapathum Hippolapathum and Hydrolapathum from the forme bignesse and place where they grow Bloodwort which is also a kind of Dock is called Lapathum Nigrum of some and Rubrum or Rubens by others Sanguis Draconis herba also and Lapathum sangineum from the bloody colour wherewith the whole Plant is possessed The Kinds The sorts which I shall put under this little are nine though there be divers others that might be referred unto the same 1. The red Dock 2. Sharp-pointed Dock 3. The smaller pointed Dock 4. The Common Wild Dock 5. The round Leafed Dock of Africa 6. The great water Dock 7. The lesser Water-Dock 8. The strong sented Sea-Dock 9. Blood-wort The Forme The red Dock sendeth forth many tough narrowish greene Leaves very much pointed at the ends among which riseth up a suffe hard stalke two or three foot-high set with the like Leaves but smaller still up to the top something like unto sorrell but that it is neither so tender nor sower being rather of a bitterish tast and hath the stalke branched forth towards the top into sundry large sprigges bearing small reddish flowers and brown triangular seed after them The root is great long and many times forked being blackish on the outside and somewhat reddish and yellowish within abiding many yeares but somtime spoiled with extremity of Winter The Places and Time The foure first are most commonly found in moist Meadows and somtimes in upland grounds also The fifth in Africa neere Sophia The sixth and seaventh by sides of running streames in divers places of this land The eighth groweth by the Sea side not farre from Mompelier The last is found wild in some places but not so commonly as in Gardens Most of them rise up at the spring of the yeare flower in June and July and their seed is ripe in August The Temperature All Docks are generally cold some more and some lesse they do all of them dry but not after the same manner yet some think them to be dry in the third degree The Signature and Vertues The reddish and yellowish colour of the inside of the roots of divers Docks do signify that they are good for hot Livers and the Jaundise the red that is in them representing the Liver and the yellow the Janâ—dise and therefore blood-wort is most effectuall for the first and the Dock which hath the yellowest root for the second and for both these purposes they are used with other things to be put into Ale or Beere especially the rootes which have an opening quality in them fit to loosen and make the belly soluble to open obstructions and to coole and clense the blood The decoction of the seed made in Wine or Water and drunk helpeth the wambling paines of the Stomack venemous bitings and the bloody flix The root boiled in Wine and drunk is also good for the Jaundise provoketh Urine and the termes and breaketh and expelleth the Stone and Gravell The same boiled in Vinegar or bruised raw healeth all Scurfs Itch Manginesse and other festering and corroding Scabbs the place being annointed or bathed therewith and the substance of them being stamped and applyed boyled or raw difâ—usseth kernells and swellings behind the Eares helpeth the hardnesse of the Milt the Kings-Evill and stoppeth the too much flowing of
it is dissolved often mixed with pectorall Syrupes honey or juyce of Liquorish to help the Cough or Hoarnesse in the Throat salt and sharp distillations upon the Lungs being taken is an Electuary or put under the tongue gently to distill down and so it taketh away the roughnesse of the tongue which happeneth in many diseases The said Gum is also used in Medicines for the Eyes to allay the heat and sharpnesse of hot rheumes falling into them and being mingled with milk it taketh away white spots growing in the black of the Eyes the itching also of them and wheâ—â—es and scabs that grow upon the Eye-Lids Being somewhat torrefied or dryed â—â— the â—â—re and mixed with the juce or Wine of Quinces and used in a G 〈…〉 er it is good against the bloody Flix Being boyled in Wine with Stechads and drunk it warmeth and cleanseth the breast and Stomack bowels being afflicted with any cold the Cholick the stopping of the Milt and Urine It cleanseth the face and maketh it white if it be steeped a night in Rose water and in the morning a little Borace or Champhire be put thereto and the face be washed therewith It is very effectuall for the sores and chaps of the Mouth Lips and Hands and also for Ulcers in any part being dissolved in Rose water strained some white starch mixed therewith and the place annointed the Muccilage mixed with Honey doth the same and is good for the Leprosy The powder of it is profitable for those that have broken a veine or are troubled with the Craâ—p if it be taken in broth Besides these Physicall uses it serveth to make artificiall beads of which Bracletts are compoâ—ed and it is used many times as a kind of Starch or Glew to bind or stiffen things withall and to make Gentlewomens haire lye in order The roots of the Poterion boyled in Wine and drunk are profitable against the poyson of the red Toad and being made in a Pultis and applyed to any of the Nerves or Sinews that are wounded cut or hurt doth heale them and soâ—â—er them together are also all other kinds of Wounds and Cutts the said decoction of the Roots in Wine a also effectuall for the said purposes to be drunk and for inward Wounds or Veines that are broken Gum Arabick is effectuall for many of the purposes aforesaid but especially for defending the Reines and Bladder from those frettings that cause bloody Urine CHAP. CCXVII Of Spiknard The Names IT is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Nardus in Greek from Naarda a City of Syria near unto Euphrares as Lobel doth conjecture and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi Nardi Spica which is the generall Name of the Indian sort called also Nardus Indica to put a distinction between it and the Celtick and Mountain Spicknard The Celtick Spiknard is supposed by very good Authors to be the Saliunca that Virgil makes mention of in his Eclogues which is more likely because the Vallesians in whose Country it chiefely groweth call it Selliga The Kinds There be Eight sorts of Spiknard 1. Mountain French Spiknard 2. Mountainâ— French Spiknard with tufted Flowers 3. Knobbed mountain Spiknard 4. Long tuberous Mountain Spiknard 5. Bastard French Spiknard 7. Indian Spiknard 6. Italian Spiknard 8. Unsavoury Spiknard The Form Mountain French Spiknard creepeth upon the ground under the loose Leaves and mosse with small long and hard slender roots covered with many short small dry Leaves like Scales sending forth in divers places as it creepeth and spreadeth here and there small blackish fibres whereby it is nourished at the head whereof stand sundry small buttons or heads from which spring many small narrow and somewhat thick green Leaves not divided or dented at all smallest at the bottome and broadest towards the end which change yellow in the end of Summer amongst these Leaves rise up sometimes more and somtimes but one slender stalk without any Leaves thereon at the top whereof stand many small whitish flowers like unto the smallest sorts of Valerian every one upon a slender foot-foot-stalk which afterwards bring small seed like unto them also the whole plant is sweet and more aromaticall then the Indian Spicknard hotter also and sharper in tast then any other sort The Places and Time It may be gathered by the names of most of them to what Country they are naturall and therefore I shall trouble you no farther with the places They all flower and flourish in the summer months of June July and August some earlyer and some latter then others The Temperature Dioscorides saith that the true Indian Spiknard is of an heating and drying faculty and there is no doubt but the other sorts are so likewise seeing they agree very much in their properties or vertues The Vertues All the sorts of Spiknard but especially the Celrick or French Spicknard are of very good use to provoke Urine and to ease the exceeding great paines of the Stone in the Reines or Kidnyes if they be drunk with cold water and so they are profitable to those that have a loathing of their meat swellings or gnawings in their stomacks as also for them that are Liver grown and for them that have the yellow Jaundise It dryeth up the Flux or humors both in the Head and breast and is a speciall Ingredient in Mithridate and other Antidotes against vemone and poyson The decoction used as a Bath for Women to sit in or over in a seat fit for the purpose taketh away the Inflammations of the Mother but to women with Child it is forbidden because it procureth much disquiet and may forceâ— their Courses beyond either their time or conveniency The Oyle made thereof doth both warme those places that are cold and maketh the humors more subtill that were thick and congealed before digesteth those that are crude and raw and also moderatly dryeth and bindeth those that were too loose or flexible and hereby worketh powerfully in all the cold griefes and windinesse of the Head and braine of the Stomack Liver Spleen Reines and Bladder and of the Mother Being â—nuâ—â—ed up into the Nostrills it purgeth the Brain of much Rheume gathered therein and causeth both a good colour and favour to the whole body Being steeped in Wine for certain dayes afterwards distilled in Balneo calâ—do the Water hereof is very usefull in all cold indiâ—poâ—itions of the Members taken inwardâ—y or applyed outwardâ—y for it coâ—nâ—oâ—ten the braine helpeth to stay thin distillations and the cold paines of the Head as also the shaking of the Palsey It helpeth also all passions of the Heart as faintings and 〈…〉 ning◠〈◊〉 the Coâ—lick likewise two or three spoonefulls being taken It is commonly laid up in a new earthen Vessell for Eye Medicines being first made into Powder and then into round Cakes or trochiskes with Wine which being conveniently applyed represse and stay the humors that offend them Being drunk with Wine it helpeth those that are stung or bitten
the beginning of the Spring The Acornes grow upon short stalks two or three for the most part joyned together whoâ—e outer rind or skin is of a yellowish green colour the lower part whereof standeth in a small rough hollow cup the kernell whereof cleweth in two and is of a reasonable sweet tast The rootes are great spreading farre and deepe The Timber or Wood is the most serviceable of all other especially for the building of ships and houses yet the outer part which is called the Sap is not so durable as the innermoâ— which is called the Heart as every one knoweth The Places and Time The first is that of our own Land but the others are more frequent in Italy Spaine and other hot Climates Their long Catkins or bloomings come forth early in the Spring and fall away for the most part before the leaves do come forth the fruit or Acornes are not ripe untill Ostober The Temperature The Leaves and Bark of the Oake and the Acorne cups do bind and dry very much and are somwhat cold withall but the Acornes themselves are neither so cold nor so much binding The Signature and Vertues The fruit of the Oake or Acornes seperated from the Cups do much resemble the Stone in the Bladder and therefore they not only provoke Urine and break the stone but are an especiall remedy for the exulceration of the Bladder and pissing of blood caused by the force of poysonous herbs and corroding medicines as also the virulency of Cantharides being eaten if the decoction of them and the bark made in Milk be taken The Powder of Acornes drunk in Wine are good to help stitches and paines of the sides especially if the powder of Bay-berries be mixed therewith The inner barke of the Tree and the thin skin that covereth the Acorne are most used in Phyâ—ick to stay the spitting of blood and the bloody 〈◊〉 the decoction of the Bark and Powder of the Cups which are much more binding then any other part do stay vomitings or castâ—ngs spitting of blood or bleeding at the Mouth or other flux of blood in Man or Woman Lackes also and the invâ—luntary flux of naturall seed The fume of the Leaves helpeth the strangling the Mother and the bruised Leaves Soder up wounds and keep them from Inflammation The distilled water of the Buds is also good to stay all manner of Fluxes in Man or Woman to coole the Body in pestilentiall and hot burning Feavers for it resisteth the force of the infection as also to coole the heat of the Liver break the Stone and in the Kidneys stay Womens Courses and to asswage all manner of Inflammations being used inwardly or outwardly and the decoction of the Leaves doth the like The water that is found in hollow places of old Okes is very effectuall against any foule or spreading Scab Though the Acornes were formerly used for food yet our Age being able to subsist without them I shall leave them for the Hoggs to seed upon CHAP. CXXXVIII Of Bucks-horne Plantaine The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Coronopus from the similitude it hath with the foot of a Crow which name the Latines do hold as also Cornu cervi or cerviâ—um and Herba stella both of them from the posture of the Leaves It is called Sanguinaria or Sanguinalis and Harenaria the first from its verture in stopping blood and the last from the place of its growing We in English call it Bucks-horne Harts-horne and Bucks-horne Plantaine because the Spiky heads are like those of Plantaine The Kinds The sorts hereof though growing in different Climates may without breaking any great square be brought within the compasse of one Chapter and then the totall summe will be but five 1. Common Bucks-horne Plantaine 2. Prickly Bucks-horne 3. Small Sea Bucks-horne of Naples 4. The small hairy Sea Bucks-horne 5. Upright and creeping Bucks-horne or Wart-Cresses The Forme Common Bucks-horne Plantaine riseth up at first with small long narrow hairy dark green Leaves like Grasse without any division or gash in them but those that follow are gashed in on both sides the Leaves into three or four gashes and pointed at the ends resembling the Knaggs of a Bucks-horne and being well grown lye round about the root upon the ground in order one by another thereby resembling the form of a star from among which rise up divers hairy stalks about an hand breadth high bearing every one a small long spiky head very like unto those of the common Plantaine having such like bloomings and seed after them the root is single long and small with divers fibres annexed thereunto The Places and Time The first usually groweth in dry sandy grounds as in Tuttle fields by Westminster and without the Walls of Greenwich Park on that side that the way lyeth from thence to Eltham and in divers others places of this Land yea it is sown in the Gardens of those that know the Physicall use of it in some places of this Country where it groweth not naturally yet I have not known it eaten as a Sallet herb any where with us though in Italy and France it is frequently so used The second groweth on the rocks in the Island Prochyta The third in many untilled grounds in the Kingdom of Naples near the Sea side The last groweth in moist Countries of this Land on the foot bankes and under Walls and by high way sides especially in thoâ—e places where Hoggs frequent arising as iâ— supposed out of their dung which is the Reason why it is called Harenaria and Swines cresse They all flower and seed in the summer Monthes their green Leaves abiding all the winter The Temperature Bucks-horne is of a binding cooling and drying faculty as the Common sort of Plantaine is The Vertues and Signature Bucks-horne Plantaine boyled in wine and drunk is very effectuall to help those that are troubled with the Stone in the Reâ—nes or Kâ—dneys not that it breaketh the Stone or expelleth it but by cooling the Heat of the parts and strengthening the Reines and Back It stayeth likewise all bleedings and eruptions of Blood whether at the Mouth or Nose whether by Stoole or Urine and helpeth the laske of the bowels and belly and the Dysentery or bloody Flux It helpeth much also those that have weak Stomacks that are so much given to casting or Vomiting that they cannot retain their Meat and this the Herbe doth well but the root more effectually The said decoction drunk and some of the Leaves applyed to the place hurt is an excellent Remedy for the bâ—ting of the Viper or Adder which is supposed to be one and the same It helpeth those that are troubled with the Collick and is held profitable for Agues to weaken their fits and take them away the Leaves being briused and laid to the Sides of them that have them and the Leaves and Roots beaten with some Bay-Salt and applyed to the Hand-wrists worketh the same effects
together of Sinewes if the powder of them be taken in White Wine The oyle which is made of them or the juyce pressed out of them cureth black and blew Markes that come by blowes digesting wasting away the congealed blood that is gathered together in any place it taketh away Scabs and wheales in the skin and helpeth the Itch also especially if a little Quicksilver be tempered therewith till it be mortified it comforteth all cold griefes of the Joynts Nerves Arteries Stomack Belly and Womb so that it helpeth Palsies Convulsions Cramps Aches tremblings and benummednesse in any part wearinesse also and paines of the Limbs wherewith they are many times afflicted which use to travell through wet and dirt by anointing the part affected therewith Some of the said Oyle or the Decoction of the Berries is very convenient to be put into such Clisters which tend to the breaking of wind and easing the torments of the wind Cholick which it performeth even to admiration The said Oyle or juyce of the Berties helpeth the ach and deafnesse of the Eares being dropped thereinto The Leaves may be used to many of the purposes aforesaid yet the ordinary use of them is to boile them in Beer as also to dresse fish with especially Eeles leaving a dainty rellish helping to warm the Stomack and digesting those crudities which they are apt to breed of themselves A bath of the decoction of the Leaves and Betries is of great advantage in womens diseases both for the Mother and other diseases of the Womb as the Stopping of the Courses c. And so likewise for the diseases of the Bladder as the Strangury c. All these Virtues belong to the common Bayes which besides their Ornamentall uses they performe the three last serving onely for the pleasure of those that are taken with the rarity of them and not for any Physicall use that I can learn and therfeore I shall say no more of them CHAP. CCXLIII Of Holly The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Agria by Theophrastas and seemeth to be derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 immitis vel ferox because of the abundance of prickles wherewith it is commonly armed Gaza the interpreter of Theophrastus calleâ— it Aquifolium in Latine yet Agrifolâ—um is a word no lesse but rather more in use then the former as being somwhat more agreeable though at best it be but a Mongrell word We call it Holly or Holme and Hulver in English The Kinds There may be said to be three sorts of Holly 1. The Holly-Tree without prickles 2. The Holly-bush with prickly-Leaves 3. The Holly bush with yellow Berries Yet there be some that affirme that with and that without prickles to be the same having prickles when it is young and low but when it growes old and becommeth great it loseth all the prickles except that at the end and somtimes that also The Forme The Holly that groweth naturally in the fields doth seldome exceed the bignesse of a Bush yet being pâ—anted in Orchards or Closes as I have many times seene it it groweth to the bignesse of a lusty-Tree all in one entire body and not sending forth many shoots from the roote as those which grow natuâ—ally usually do the outer bark whereof is not of so darke a greene colour as that of the lesser bushes but inclining rather to white having under that another vvhich is white also the Leaves are set on the stalks and branches on short foot-stalkes being somvvhat broad hard thick and long smooth shining and of a very fresh yellovvish greene colour not cut round about the edges into round notches or dents and every point of them very sharp and prickly as those of the Bushes are but even on the edges and vvithoug any prickles unlesse perhaps there be one at the end the flowers grovv close to the stalks many of them coming out together round about neere unto the foot of the Leaves each consisting of foure whitish Leaves with four threds in the middle standing about a greene round head which groweth to be small red berries with a little Crown at the top in which is contained four small three-cornered seeds with hard shells but sweet kernells within them though very small The root goeth deep into the ground The Places and Time The first as is said is planted in Orchards and Closes in Oxfordshire and other places where very little or no Holly groweth wild The second groweth very plentifully in divers Woods and Hedg-rowes in the Counties of Buckingham Hartford and Surrey and other places The last groweth in Wilt-shire by VVarder Castle which belongeth to the Lord Arundel They all flower in June but the berries grow not untill the end of October or after being in their greatest beauty about Christmasse because of the berries the Leaves also abiding greene all the Winter The Temperature The Berries of Holly are hot and dry and of thin parts helping to break Wind as Dodonaeus saith The Vertues and Signature It will not be amisse in this place to take notice of the different nay contrary operations of divers Simples which will purge when they are fresh and greene and bind when they be dryed as may be instanced in Holly berries ten or twelve of which being fresh and taken inwardly do help the Collick purging also by stoole grosse clammy and phlegmatick humours which they may very well do by reason of their moisture and slipperynesse but being dryed and so deprived of their former lubricity they bind the belly and stay Dysenteries and Fluxes being beaten to Powder and drunk either in Wine or Broth which the dryed Barke doth also performe and that more effectually The decoction of the Rootes but especially of the Barke of the Root as Matthiolus saith being applyed by way of somentation to those places that have been put out of Joynt doth help them much both to mollify and discusse the hardnesse and tumors which they are subject to and also to consolidate the broken bones An handfull of the Berries boiled in a Pint of Ale to the one halfe which being streined and a little Butter put thereto is a good remedy for the Stone and stoppage of Urine five or six spoonfulls thereof taken at once and this it may be said to do by the Signature which may be gathered from the hardnesse of the seed The powder of the Leaves dryed in an Oven and the pricks taken off being drunk in Ale is commended against the Stitches and pricking paines of the side which the prickles growing on the Leaves do also signify The Sap or juice that droppeth out of the Wood being laid on the fire being dropped into the Eares of those which are inclined to deafenesse removeth that infirmity The Birdlime that is made of the Barke of Holly by putting it into a hole made in moist foggy ground and covering it with boughes of Trees and some earth over them till it be rotten and putrified which will be within
the pain of the breast and the decoction of the Bark in water being drunk is good against pissing in Bed The Bark boyled in water till it be black and thick with Rye meal and Honey added thereunto is available to consume the dead flesh which keepeth wounds oftentimes from healing and cureth the Cankers being applyed The Leaves are good to make Lotions to gargle and wash the mouth and throat as often as they are troubled with swellings sores or Kernels and to stay the distillations of Rhewme into the eyes or other parts as also to coole the heat and inflammation of them and to ease hot pains of the Head the Forehead and Temples being bathed therewith The distilled water of the green Berries is also used for the same effects and so is the water that is distilled from the Flowers only The Mosse that groweth on the Black Thorn draweth Prickles and Thorns out of the Flesh and this it may be said to performe by the Signature which is represented by the Thornes growing on the Bush CHAP. CCLXI Of the Bramble The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Batus in Latine Rubus and Sentis and also Veâ—res whereof Ovid maketh mention speaking how the Hare hides himselfe from the Dogs therein after this manner Aut lepori qui vepre latens â—â—stilia cernit Ora canum Of divers it is called Cynosbatus but not properly saith one for Cynosbatus is generally taken for the wild Rose though there be divers that would have the wild Rose to be Cynâ—rrhodos and this Cynosbatus and this is most consonant to Reason It is called by us in English the Bramble or the Black-Berri-bush and the fruit Black-Berries which the Greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which some have made Vatina in Latine id est Mora Rubi they are called in Shops Mora bali and of some Mora bassi The Kindes All the sorts that are referred hereunto are nine 1. the common Bramble oâ— Black-berry-Bush 2. the small lower ground Bramble 3. sweet mountaine Bramble or Raspis 4. the Dew-berry or Winberry 5. the stony Bramble or rock Raspis 6. our English Knot-berry 7. the Welsh Knot-berry or Lancashire Cloud-berry 8. the Knot-berry of Norway 9. another Knot-berry of Norway The Formes The common Bramble shooteth forth many ribbed branches of a very great length yea so long sometimes that they by reason of their weakness also bend to the ground and sometimes take root againe all thick set with sharp and crooked thorns with leaves likewise growing upon long and prickly Foot-stalks by three and three together which are hard as it were crumpled having smal pricks under the midle ribb of a dark green colour above and grayish underneath which seldome fall away till the extremity of the Winter be past as the Country-Men do observe and the new be ready to succeed them the flowers come forth very plentifully at the end of the branches consisting of five whitish leaves dasht with a little carnation with small threds in the midle which giveth place to the fruit standing every one at some little distance and is made up of severall small graines set together somewhat like unto the Raspis or Mul-berry of a perfect black color and sweet tast when they be ripe but till then they are first green and then reddish harsh and very unpleasant the root groweth to be very great and full of knots The Places and Time The first groweth in every hedge almost the second by hedges and wood-sides and sometimes amongst the ploughed lands in divers parts of this Land the third groweth on hills and in high grounds the fourth is frequent in Cheshire Yorkâ—shire and Lancashire the fift in the rocky and stony places of Huntingdon and Nottinghamshire and in divers parts of Kent and the Islle of Thanet the sixth upon Ingleborough Hill which is one of the highest Hills in England vea so high that it seemeth at least to touch the clouds and therefore some call the fruit thereof Cloudberryes as they do the next whose places may be discovered by their names as the two last may also be They all flower about July and their berries are ripe in September or thereabouts The Temperature The Buds Leaves flowers fruit and root of the Bramble are all of a great binding quality especially the unripe fruit and that more when they have been kept a while then when they are fresh The Vertues and Signature The flowers and unripe fruit of the Bramble are of very great use and prosâ— also for those that are vexed with the bloody-flux Lask and weaknessâ— of the parts coming by either of them which is signified both by the colour of the berries when they are red and also by the crooked thorns which will cause the blood to follow no otherwise then the Exulceration of the Gâ—â—s which accompanieth the bloâ—dy flâ—x and by the same signature it helpeth the spitting of bloâ—d if the decoction thereof be drunk The Bâ—ds Leaves and Branches whilst they are green are of good use in the Ulcers and pâ—â—rid sores of the Mouth and Throat and for the Qâ—insy and likewise to heal other fresh wounds and sores The decoction or powder of the Root being â—â—ken is good to break or drive forth Gravell and the Stone in the Reines and Kidneys The Leaves as well dry as green are good to make Lotions both for sores of the Moâ—th and also of the secret parts The decoction of them and of the dryed branches do much bind the Belly and are good for the too much flowing of Womens Courses The Berries or the Flowers are a powerfull remedy against the poysâ—n of the most venemous Serpents and to help the sores of the Fundament and the Piles whereof they may be said to have the Signature The juyce of them boyled with honey is very good against all hot Ulcers and swellings of the mouth Gâ—â—s Uvula or Palate and Almonds of the â—hroat The said juyce mixed with the juyce of Mulberries do bind more effectually and help fretting and eating sorâ—s and Ulcers wheresoever The same being taken alone or mixed with Hypecistis and Honey is a remedy for Heart burning as some call it which is a gnawing of the Stomack through Choller as also for the Passions of the heart and faintings The distilled Water of the Branches Leaves and Flowers or of the fruit is very pleasant both to the smell and tast and may be given to those that are in hâ—t Feavers and other distemperature of heat in the Body as in the Head Eyes Liver Hands c. and also for the purposes aforesaid The Leaves boyled in Lye and the head washed therewith doth not only allay the itching thereof but the mattering and running sores also and maketh the hair to become black The powder of the Leaves strewed upon Cancrous or running Ulcers are very effectuall for the healing of them The condensate juyce of the Leaves as also of the Berries may be kept all
helpeth the Ague easeth the Strangury breaketh the Stone in the Bladder stayeth the Hicket and is available for those that spit or vomit blood Being taken inwardly or applyed outwardly after it hath been boyled in Rosewater it helpeth the Headech and Frenâ—y and if you make a Vinegar of the Herb as the Vinegar of Roses is made it is excellent good to be used in the Lethargy inwardly or outwardly or both and to stay Vemiting Being taken with Honey Liquoris and Anniseeds in Wine it helpeth a dry Cough and is comfortable both to the Head Stomack and Reines and helpeth to expell wind It is a remedy against venemous brings either taken in drink or outwardly applyed CHAP. CCXC. Of Alexanders The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it is a kind of Parsly that exceedeth all others in bignesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being a word which in composition doth augment the signification of that whereunto it is joyned as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also doth It is also named Hipposelinum by the Latines and Olus atrum either because of its dark green colour or because it maketh the pottage wherein it is boyled to look blackish Galen and others have taken it to be the Smyrnium of the Ancieâ—ts but Dioscorides saith the true Smyrnium is another herb of which the present age seemes to be ignorant It is called in English Alexanders Alizanders and Allisanders The Kindes There be two sorts of Alexanders 1 Garden Alexanders 2 Alexanders of Candy The Forme Garden Alexanders groweth with divers large Leaves which are winged or cut into many parts somewhat resembling Smallage but greater broader rounder and more cut in about the edges of a dark green colour and somewhat an hot and spicy tast and a little bitter withall from amongst which riseth up one or more round and great stalks sometimes a yard high and better whereon grow divers branches with Leaves like unto the lowermost but lesser at the extremities whereof do grow large tufts or umbels of white flowers after which cometh the seed being of a blackish colour not full round but straked on the back and of an hot and bitterish tast as the root also is which being great thick long and blackish on the outside but white underneath it spreadeth it self under the ground into many parts The Places and Time The first is said to be commonly sowne in most Gardens of Europe where they have it yet it hath been found wild also in some Isles about our owne Land by Mr. WILLIAM QUICK the seed whereof being supposed to a different kind from that of the Garden when it was sowed proved to be the same The other came from Candy as its name doth testifie They both flower in June and July and the seed is ripe in August The Temperature The Seed and Roots of Alexanders are hot and dry in the third degree of a cleansing and attenuating faculty The Vertues It is agreed on by all Authors that the seed of Alexanders made into powder and taken in a small Cup of White-Wine either raw or boyled is very powerfull not only in moving the Courses but expelling the after-Birth The same is very profitable also to provoke Urine and to help the Strangury and availeth against the bitings of Serpents and breaketh wind and is therefore good for the Collick The upper part of the Root and the Leaves are very usefull to be boyled together in Broth for the purgation of the blood in the Spring time to which may be also added Nettle tops Elder buds Cleavers Watercresses c. Some eat the Roots hereof raw with Vinegar some stew them and so eat them and that cheifly in the time of Lent to help to digest the crudities and viscous humours that are gathered in the Stomach by the much use of Fish at that time It doth also warm any other cold Stomach and by the bitternesse helpeth to open Stoppings of the Liver and Spleen The Leaves bruised and applyed to any bleeding wound stoppeth the blood and dryeth up the sore without any griefe and maketh such tumors as are hard and scrophulous to come to maturity and ripenesse The Roots preserved in a pickle of Vinegar and Salt are a very wholesome sawce with Meats for it stirreth up the Appetite cleanseth and comforteth the Stomach and removeth stoppings of the breast and shortnesse of breath They are convenient for every Age and Constitution especially the Phlegmatick and such as are subject to be stuffed up upon any distemper The seed hath besides what hath been expressed all the Vertues wherewith the ordinary Parsly seed is endued being altogether void of those evill and hurtfull qualities which are said to be in Parsly seed and is therefore convenient and better then the Garden sort if it can be had It is given in Powder from a Scruple to two Scruples in Decoction from a Dram to two Drams CHAP. CCXCI. Of Anemonies The Names IT is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Anemone 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the Wind because it was anciently believed that these kinds of Flowers did never open themselves but when the wind did blow In Latin also Anemone and Herba Venti We call them in English Anemonies after the Greek name Wind-flowers after the Latin but the common people call them Emones the wild kinds whereof are called Pulsatillâ—es which because they flower about Easter are called Pasque-Flowers Pasque in French signifying Easter and Pass-Flowers The Kindes To reckon up every particular Member of this exceeding numerous Family were almost an Herculean Labour and is thought would gravell the most experienced Florist in Europe and therefore I shall not undertake it but mention a few of those which are common beginning first with the Pulsatillaes not because they are fittest to provoke the Termes but because they grow in our own Land more frequently I mean naturally than the other and yet are taken notice of by few 1. â—he purple Pasque-flower 2 The red Pass flower 3. The double Pass-flower 4. The Pass flower of Denmark 5. The Wood Anemone or Wind-flower 6. Anemone or Wind flower with a tuberous Root 7. The Flesh colour'd Anemone 8. The blew Anemone The Form The purple Pasque-flower hath many leaves lying on the ground somewhat rough or haâ—ry hard in feeling and finely cut into many small Leaves of a dark green colour almost like the leaves of Carrets but finer and smaller from among which rise up naked stalks rough or haâ—ry also for about the middle thereof with some small divided Leaves compassing them above which they rise almost a span each of them bearing one pendulous Flower made of six Leaves and of a fine Violet Purple colour but somewhat deep withall in the middle whereof stand many yellow threds set about a purple pointel after the Flower is past there cometh up instead thereof a bushy head of long seedes which are small and hoary having at the end of every one a small
following sorts 1. Common Medow Trefoile with Purple Flowers 2. White flowred Medow Trefoile 3. Heart Trefoile or spotted Snaile Trefoile 4. Smooth upright narrow leafed Birds foot Trefoile 5. Great codded Trefoile 6. Small codded Trefoile 7. Roundheaded Trefoile 8. Green flowred Trefoile 9. Strawberry or Bladder Trefoile 10. Hop Trefoile 11. Little yellow Trefoile 12. The great Purple Trefoile 13 Knotted Trefoile 14. White Dwarfe Trefoile 15. Burgundy Trefoile or Medick Fodder 16. Yellow-horn Trefoile 17. Smooth Starry Trefoile 18. Marish Trefoile or Buckes Beans 19. Purplewort or Purplegrasse called in Latine Quadrifolium fuscum being as it seems rather a four leafed then a three leafed grasse The Forme Medow Trefoile shooteth up stalks about an handful long and sometimes longer round and somewhat hairy yet for the most part leaning towards the ground whereon grow Leaves consisting of three joined together one standing a little from another of which those that are next the ground and roots are rounder and those which grow higher are longer having for the most part in the midst a white spot like an half Moon from amongst which rise up stalkes of Flowers somewhat longer then the Leaves bearing many deep Purple Crimson flowers together in a tuft rising smaller up to the top which turn into little cods with small seed in them the root spreadeth much and endureth long The Places and Time The two first grow more frequently in Medowes then any of the rest yet there be others that grow there also some in one Countrey and some in another The third groweth in a Field between Longford and Bow as also beyond Southwarke in the right way from London to Croyden and the parts adjacent The eighth in Mr. Stonehouse his Orchard at Darfield The seventeenth groweth in divers Fenny and Moorish places The last groweth in divers Countrey Gardens as well as in the Gardens of the curious who also entertain divers of the other sorts They flower and flourish from May to August The Temperature Medow Trefoile both Leaves and Flowers are thought by some to be câ—oling and binding but others thinke them to be of a digesting and sâ—ppurating quality and there is no doubt but the rest do in some sort follow the Temperature of this The Vertues and Signature The Decoâ—tion of Medow Trefoile with its Flowers Seeds and Roots taken for some time helpeth Women that are troubled with the Whites and consequently the extraordinary over-flowing of their ordinary courses it being more then probable that what is availeable for the fiâ—st is profitable for the second because the first is harder to be cured The Decoction of the Leaves and Fâ—owers having some Honey put thereto and used in a Clyster easeth the fretting paines of the Guts and bringeth forth tough and slimy humors that cleave to the Guts The said Leaves boyled with a little Barrowes grease and used as a Pultis taketh away hot swellings and Inflammations The juice especially of that which is spotted upon the Leaves being strained and dropped into the Eyes or mixed with a little Honey and applyed is a familiar Medicine with divers to take away the Pin and Web as they call it in the Eyes by Signature and so it ceaseth the pain and Inflammation of them when they are bloud-shotten The said Juice is also held to be very available against the biting of an Adder being drank the herbe also being boiled in Water and the place washed with the decoction and then some of the herbe laid to the hurt place also and so is the herbe boiled in Swines grease and made into an oyntment The herbe also bruised and heated between two Tiles and applyed hot to the Share causeth them to make Water who had it stopped before It is held likewise to be good for wounds and to take away Scarres The Burgundy Trefoile called also Foenum Burgundiacum Burgundy Hay and Meddick Fodder is conceived by divers to be that which Dioscorides commends for its cooling property as also that whose Oyle as Aâ—icen saith is very effectuall against the trembling of the Heart An Oyle drawn out from the Seed as it is done from Almonds is said to be good for the Stone In those Countreys where it groweth plentifully it is found so powerfull to fatten Cattle that they are faine to be stinted lest they should grow so fat that suffocation shâ—uld ensue If the March Trefoile be the Isopyrum of Dioscorides as some suppose it to be then the Seed thereof is good against the Cough and other griefes of the Breast or Chest for as Galen saith it cleanseth and cutteth tough and grosse humors and maketh them the easier to be expectorate or spit forth it is also good to purge and cleanse the Liver and to help those that spit blood The Leaves of Purplewort stamped and the Juice given in drinke is very confidently administred and that with good successe not onely to Children but to others also that have the disease called in English the Purples which it doth by Signature And if the Heart Trefolle were used it would be found to be a great strengthner of the Heart and cherisher of the Vitall Spirits relieving the body against Faintings and Swoonings fortifying it against Poysons Pestilence and defending the Heart against the noisome vapors of the Spleen for it resembleth the heart both in forme and colour and surely it hath no so eminent Signatures for nothing CHAP. CCXCIX Of Moneywort The Names IT is called in Latine for Greek name it hath none that I can meet with in any Author Nummularia of the round forme of the Leafe somewhat like unto Money and Serpentaria because it is reported that if Serpents be hurt or wounded they doe recover themselves with this herbe Fuschsius calleth it Centummorbia from its wonderfull efficacy in healing Vlcers and green wounds and Tabermontanus would have it named Hirundinaria because as Swallowes doe usually fly close to the ground so this Plant cleaveth close to the Earth It is called in English Herb two pence Two-penny grasse but usually Money-wort The Kindes Though Moneywort seemeth to be of different sorts because it groweth to be of severall sizes yet that is to be impated to the fertility or â—â—â—rility of the soile they enjoy howsoever there be two sorts thereof 1. Common Moneywort 2. Small Moneywort with purplish Flowers The Forme The Common Moneywort sendeth forth divers long weak and slender branches lying and running upon the ground set with two Leaves at each joynt opposite one to another at equall distances which are almost as round as a penny but that they are a little pointed at the ends smooth and of yellowish green colour at the joynts with the Leaves from the middle forward come forth at the joynts sometimes one and sometimes two yellow flowers standing each upon a small footstalâ—e being composed of five narrow leaves pointed at the ends with some yellow threds in the middle which being past there stand in their places small round heads
smal yellow knobs or bunches set at severall distances from whence arise many small leaves growing in clusters thick together like tassells which fall away at the approach of Winter and gain fresh every spring which is peculiar only to this Tree of all the Rosen bearing Trees The blossoms are very beautiful and delectable being of an excellent fine Crimson Colour and very sweet which afterwards turn into small soft Cones like unto Cypresse Nuts while they are close but longer then they being made up of a multitude of thin Scales like leaves under which ly small seeds having a thin filme growing on them very like to the wings of Bees or Wasps the substance of the wood is very hard of colour somewhat red especially that which is in the middle and very profitable for works of long continuance Yet that report that the wood of the Larch Tree cannâ—â— be set on fire is false it being preferred before all other wood for all 〈…〉 thes work and for Miners to melt the Ore of Mettal because it holdeth fire longest and strongest by reason of the Rosen that is in it The Agarick which groweth on this Tree is a kind of Mushrome or Excrescence not such as is upon other Trees but covered with a hard blackish bark which being cut and pared away that which is underneath is whiter softer more loose and pongy then any other of the Mushromes that is the best which may easily be broken and is light and in the first taste sweet hard and well compact that which is heavy blackish containing in it little threds like sinews is counted pernicious and deadly The liquid Rosen that proceedeth from this Tree is very like in colour and substance to the whiter honey as that of Athens or Spain which notwithstanding issueth not forth of it self but runneth out of the Stock of the Tree when it hath been bored to the very heart with a great and long Augur or Wimble It is commonly called Venice Turpentine though the true Turpentine issue from the tree Terebinthus The figure of this Larch Tree with the Agarick growing upon it you may see lively represented either in Gerrard or Parkinson The Place and Time The Larch Tree groweth in many woods about Trent and Brixia in Italy and neer the river Benacus and Padus and in Galatia a Province of Asia as Dioscorides and Galen do record and in Agaria a countrey of Sarmatia from whence the Agarick took the name in Silesia also Moravia Lusatia As the Agarick is gathered in most of these places so is the Turpentine but especially from the woods about Trent Of all the Cone trees this only is found with out leaves in the Winter in the Spring grow fresh Leaves out of the same knobs from which the former did fall The Cones are to be gathered before winter so soon as the leaves are gone for after the scales are loosed and opened and the seeds drop away The Rosen or Turpentine is to be gathered in the hottest part of the Summer and the Agarick towards the latter end of the year but in November and December especially The Temperature The leaves bark fruit and kernel are of a dry and binding temperature The Agarick is hot in the first degree and dry in the second It cutteth maketh thin cleanseth taketh away obstructions and stoppings of the Entrails and purgeth by stool The Rosen of this Tree is moister then any other Rosen and without either that sharpnesse or biting which some of the others have The Signature and Vertues Agarick whose copped form holds out the Signature of the Head being boyled in Lye with other Cephalical helps comforteth the brain and memory very much It is good for the giddinesse of the head if it be washed therewith as also to stay the rheums and catarrhs thereof and cleanseth it much from scurfe and Dandraffe being taken with the syrup of Vinegar it is good against the pains and swimmings of the head or the falling sickness It purgeth phlegme Choler and Melancholy from the Brain Nerves Muscles Marrow of the Back it cleanseth the Breast Lungs Liver Stomach Spleen Reins Womb Joynts it provokes Urine and the Terms kills Worms helps pains in the Joynts and causeth a good colour It is very seldom or never taken alone because it doth somewhat trouble the stomach and therefore I shall set down a receipt or two The first is the syrup of Roses solutire with Agarick Take of Agarick cut thin an ounce Ginger two drachâ—â—s Sal Gem. one drach Polypodium bruised 2. ounces sprinkle them with white Wine and steep them two daies over warm Ashes in a pound and a half of the infusion of Damask Roses and with two pound of Sugar boyl it into a Syrup It cureth the yellow I amdies proceeding of obstructions and is a sure remedy for Agnes and cold shakings which are caused of thick and cold humors It purgeth phlegme from the Head relieves the senses oppressed by it it provokes the Terms in Women it purgeth the stomach and Liver and provoketh Urine All the aforesaid vertues are attributed to the Pills of Hierâ— with Agarick which are made as followeth Take of Species Hiera Picâ—a Agarick of each half anounce Aloes one ounce Hony Roses so much as is sufficient to make into a Masse according to Art Of this you may safely take a scruple at night going to bed having eat a light supper three hours before and you may safely go about your businesse the next day for it will work very gently and therefore you may continue taking it a week together for it will not work much the first time and consequently affect little Some give it only with Oxymel which is a syrup made with Vinegar and Honey and so it cureth all sorts of Agues either Tertians or Quotidians easeth the griping pains of the stomach and belly or such as have had falls or bruises or are bursten bellyed all which actions it chiefly performeth by purging those gross and vitious humors that trouble the parts and Members of the Body and are causes of all these diseases It is good against shortnesse of breath the inveterate cough of the Lungs the Ptisick Consumption and those that spit blood Half a drach or two scruples being taken in Wine either by infusion or the powder is an Antidote against all Poysons and cureth the bitings of Serpents very quickly It is applyed also outwardly for the same purpose The Rosen or Turpentine of this Tree taken to the quantity of an ounce will gently open the belly and more to the stool provoke Urine cleanse the Reins Kidneys and Bladder and helpeth to break and avoid the gâ—avel and stone and easeth those which have the stone if it be first washed with Plantane or Rose Water then made in Pills with the powder of white Amber Red Coral Mastick and a little Camphir it doth wonderfully help to purge and cleanse the reins and stop the running of them Being taken with honey it
along the leaves shooting forth at the bigger end which when it beareth its Berries are somewhat wrinkled and loose another growing under it which is solid and firm with many small threds hanging thereat The Place and Time The two first sorts grow frequently under Trees and almost under every hedge side throughout the Land The third is found in some places of Germany Clusius saith the fourth came among divers other Roots from Constantinople the fifth is found in Spain and Portugall the sixth in Italy the seventh in Candy The last in Java and Surrat The four first sorts shoot forth Leaves in the Spring and continue but till the middle of Summer or somewhat later their Hoses or Husks appearing before they fall away and their fruit shewing in August The fifth and sixth do shoot forth their green Leaves in Autumne presently after the first frosts have pulled down the stalks with fruits and abide green all the Winter withering in Summer before which their Husks appear The seventh flowreth with his Hose and Clappers very late even in the warm Countries seldom before October or November and the fruit doth there seldom come to perfection the last flowreth and beareth fruit in the Summer as other Herbs do The Temperature Wake-Robin is hot and dry in the third Degree yet Galen affirmeth that it is more sharp and biting in some Countries then in others The Signature and Vertues The Leaves of Wake-Robin either green or dry or the Juyce of them doth cleanse all manner of rotten and filthy Ulcers in what part of the body soever and helpeth the stinking sores in the Nose called Polypus The water wherein the Roots hath been boyled dropped into the Eyes cleanseth them from any film or skin Clouds or Mists which begin to hinder the sight and helpeth the rednesse or watering of them or when by some chance they become black and blevv The Juyce of the Berries boyled in Oyl of Roses or beaten into Powder and mixed with the Oyl and dropped into the Ears easeth pains in them The Root mixed with Bean-flower and applyed to the Throat or Jawes that are inflamed helpeth them and the Roots or Berries beaten with hot Oxe-Dung and applyed easeth the pains of the Gout Tragus reporteth that a dram or more if need be of the spotted VVake-Robin either green or dryed being beaten and taken is a most present and sure Remedy for Poyson and the Plague The Juyce of the Herb taken to the quantity of a spoonful hath the same effect to which if there be a little Vineger added as also to the Root aforesaid it somewhat allayeth the sharp biting tast thereof upon the Tongue The green Leaves bruised and layd upon any Boyl or Plague-sore doth wonderfully help to draw forth the poyson A dram of the Powder of the dryed Root taken with twice so much Sugar in the form of a licking Electuary or the green Root doth wonderfully help those that are pursie and short winded as also those that have the Cough it breaketh digesteth and riddeth away Flegm from the Stomack Chest and Lungs The milk wherein the Root hath been boyled is effectuall also for the same purpose The said Powder taken in Wine or other drink or the Juyce of the Berries or the Powder of them or the Wine wherein they have been boyled provoketh Urine and bringeth down Womens Courses and purgeth them effectually after Child-bearing to bring away the after-birth and being taken with Sheeps milk it healeth the inward Ulcers of the Bowels The Leaves and Roots also boyled in Wine with a little Oyl and applyed to the Piles or falling down of the Fundament easeth them and so doth the sitting over the hot fâ—mes thereof The fresh Roots bruised and distilled with a little milk yieldeth a most soveraign water to cleanse the skin from skurf freckles spots or blemishes whatsoever therein The fresh Roots cut small and mixed with a Sallet will make excellent sport with a sawcy sharking guest and drive him from his over-much boldness and so will the Powder of the dry Root strewed upon any dainty bit that is given him to eat For either way within a while after the taking it it will so burn and prick his mouth and throat that he shall not be able â—o eat any more or scarce to speak for pain The green leaf biteth the Tongue also To take away the stinging of either give the party so served new milk or fresh butter This Plant should be Venereous by its Signature CHAP. XXXIII Of the Flower de Luce. The Names THe Greeks call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quasi Sacra whereupon some have translated it Consecratrix all great and huge things being counted by the Ancients to be Holy but it was called Iris a caelestis Arâ—us similitudine quam flores eâ—us representant from the Rainbow whose various colours the flower thereof doth imitate There have been some heretofore that made a difference between Iris and Ireos according to the Latine verse extant thereof which is this Iris purpureum florem gâ—rit Ireos album but this is an errour proceeding as some suppose from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies a white Lilly and by casting away the first letter becomes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by changing the last syllable as if the Lilly and the Iris were all one of which most Authors make a distinction It is called Radâ—x Marica because it is excellent for the Piles and some have called it Radix Naronica of the River Naron by which great store doth grow The knobbed Iris is called of Matthiolus Hermodactylus Verus because the roots are like unto fingers and from him divers did so call it but most erroneously it being a wild kind of flower de luce as Dodonaeus truly affirmeth Gladwin which is a kind hereof also is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Xyris ob Folii similitudinem quasi Rasorium cultrum aut novaculum dixeris because of it Swordlike or sharpedged Leaf and in Latine Spatula or Spathula faetida for Spatha is taken for a sword as Gladium is and I have heard it called Rost Beef for that the leaves being bruised smell somewhat like it The Flowerdeluce is called in English Iris but most commonly Orris The kinds So many of the sorts as I find set down in Parkinsons Theater of Plants I here set down which are eight 1. The greater Broad leafed Flowerdeluce 2. The greater Narrow leafed Flowerdeluce 3. Portingall Flowerdeluce 4. Broad leafed dwarf Fowerdeluce 5. Stinking Gladwine 6. The first broad leafed bulbed Flowerdeluce of Clusius 7. The greater bulbed Flowerdeluce 8. The lesser bulbed Flowerdeluce to which I adde 1. Iris tuberosa the knobbed Flowerdeluce 2. The common Flowerdelucer 3. Water flags or wild Flowerdeluce The Form The Common Flowerdeluce hath long and large flaggy leaves like the blade of a sword with two edges amongst which spring up smooth and plain stalks half
Ounces of the water may be given morning and evening for a week together if need be The Decoction thereof used for a Bath or Fume to sit over brings down the Flowers and after-Birth It cureth the bitings of mad Dogs or the bitings of any other venomous Creature being bruised with Rue and applyed it taketh away the Morphew Tetters and cures scabbed Heads in Children Dandraffe and Scurf tempered with Honey and the parts anointed therewith The ashes of Garlick being strowed in Ulcers healeth them The smell of Garlick driveth away venomous Creatures and applyed with Figs and Cummin it cures the bitings of the Mouse called a Shrew A Clove of Garlick put into an hollow Tooth that aketh easeth the pain thereof or stamp it with Saffron or Pepper and hold it between the Teeth being bruised and applyed to the Throat it helpeth the Quinsey and swelling thereof The juyce mixed with Saffron and Goose-grease cures the noyse of the Ears being put therein Garlick burned and the ashes mingled with Honey and layd to black and blew marks after bruises taketh them away and helpeth wild-fire and Scabs being bruised and applyed They usually cure the Pip in Poultry with Garlick and being given to Cocks it maketh them to overcome in fighting Notwithstanding all these Vertues raw Garlick eaten too liberally maketh the Eyes dim offendeth and hurteth the stomack causeth thirst hurteth the Kidneys heateth and burneth the blood yieldeth no nourishment to the body and is hurtful to young men and to such as are hot and cholerick and in hot seasons It hurteth Women with Child and such as give suck The juyce of Garlick if it be taken in any great quantity is ranck poyson yet the flesh and all being eaten together moderately is good for such as are cold and moyst and abound with flegmatick grosse and tough humours for old persons and in cold seasons The best way of preparing it for food is to boyl it throughly and to eat it with Oyl Vinegar or such like CHAP. LXXIII Of Liquorice The Names THe Greeks called it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latines Dulcis Radix the Apothecaries Liqueritia Both the Greek and Latine names are derived from the sweetnesse of the Root without dispute Theophrastus in his ninth Book of his History of Plants calleth it Radix Scythica because it groweth very plentifully in Scythia about the Lake Maeotis There be that call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it driveth away thirst if it be held in the mouth There is also a wild sort hereof called Glanx Leguminosa sive Glycyrhiza silvestris Liquorice vetch The Kindes To this kind four sorts may be referred 1. Common Liquorice 2. Dioscorides his Liquorice 3. The most common Liquorice Vetch 4. Another Liquorice Vetch The Forme Common Liquorice riseth up with divers wooddy stalks whereon are set at severall distances many narrow long green Leaves set together on both sides of the stalk and an old one at the end very well resembling a young Ash-Tree sprung up from the Seed This by many years continuance in a place without removing and not else will bring forth Flowers many standing together Spike-Fashion one above another upon the stalks of the forme of Pease Blossoms but of a very pale blew Colour which turn into long somewhat flat and smooth Cods wherein is contained small round hard seed the root runneth down a great way into the ground with divers other smaller roots and Fibres growing with them and shoot out succours from the main roots all about whereby it is much increased of a brownish colour on the outside and yellow within The Places and Time The first sort of liquorice groweth wild in many places of Germany and chiefly about Noremberg but it is not comparable to that which is planted with Us in Gardens here in England being the best in the world even by the confession of those who so much extol out-landish plants of which there is great profit to be made as diligent Gardners can tell you yet now it beginning to become common is not half so profitable as formerly many more places being stored therewith The second in France Spain Italy and in some few gardens here in Enland but flowreth late with Us and seedeth as late if at all The third groweth in many places of this Land as about Cambridge in Claringdon Park by Salisbury and in Butlers close at Adderbury Towns end as you go to Banbury The last groweth only in Germany that I can heareof They flower in July and the Seed is ripe in September The Temperature Liquorice is temperate in heat and moisture and therefore familiar to the Temperature of Mans body as also in that it is sweet and hath a little astriction joyned to it notwithstanding the bark thereof is somewhat bitter and hot but this must be scraped away when it is used the fresh root when it is full of Juyce doth moisten more then dry The Vertues The Root of Liquorice is good against the rough harshnesse of the Throat and Breast it openeth the Pipes of the Lungs when they be stuffed or stopped and ripeneth the Cough and bringeth forth Phlegm The Rob or juyce of Liquorice made according to Aâ—t and hardned into a Lump which is called Succus Liqueritiae serveth well for the purposes aforesaid being holden under the tongue and there suffered to melt and is profitable also against the heat of the Mouth and Stomach and quencheth thirst and is good for green wounds being laid thereupon Moreover with the Juyce of Liquorice Ginger and other Spices with some Wheaten flower Gingerbread is made which is also very good against a Cough and all infirmities of the Breast and Lungs The same is drunk with the Wine of Raisins against the distempers of the Liver and Chest Scabs or Sores of Bladder and diseases of the Kidneys Liquorice boyled in fair water with some Maidenâ—air and Figs maketh a good drink for those that have a dry Cough to digest Phlegme and to expectorate it or hoarsness Wheesing Shortnesse of Breath and for all griefs of the Breast and Lungs Ptisick or Consumptions caused by the distillation of Salt humours on them it is good also in all pains of the Reins the Strangury and heat of the Urine The Scythians are said by chewing this in their mouths to keep themselves from thirst in their long Journeys through the deserts for ten or twelve daies and stayeth hunger also Liquorice boyled in water with a little Cinnamon added to it serveth instead of drink in many places especially if it be set to work with Barm as Beer is and then tunned up and will grow clear strong and heady in time as Beer will do The fine powder of Liquorice blown through a quill into the Eyes that have a Pin and Web as they call it or Rheumatick distillations into them doth cleanse them and help them The Juyce of Liquorice dissolved in Rose Water with some Gum Tragacanth is a fine Lohoch or
the outward Forme thereof but also by the Sinewes and Veine that run thorough it And therefore it availeth very much in divers diseases of the Tongue whether they happen from wounds as biting cutting or the like or from inflammations of that or any other part adjacent as the Mouth Gums Throat c. as also from the Cankers or any other eating sore the decoction juyce or water thereof being often gargled in the mouth or especially a little Vinegar Honey and Allome being mixed therewith The juyce or Herb stayeth the bleeding of the Nose or the bleeding of wounds The clarified Juyce or Water thereof droppâ—d into the eye cooleth the heat thereof as also the Pin and Web thereof and dropt into the eares easeth the pains therein and helpeth deafnesse The same with the juyce of House-leeke is very profitably applyed against all inflammation and breakings out of the skin and against burnings or scalding by Fire or Water The juyce mixed with the Oyl of Roses and the Temples and Forehead annointed therewith easeth the pains of the head proceeding from heat and helpeth frantick and lunatick persons very much as also the biting of Serpents or a madde Dogge The clarified juyce drunk for divers dayes together by it selfe or with some other liquor is wonderfull good to stay spitting of blood and all other bleedings at the Mouth when a vein is broken at the mouth of the Stomack and is likewise effectuall to heal any Ulcer in the Reines or Bladder when bloody or foul water proceedeth therefrom It is held also an especiall remedy for those that have the Consumption of the Lungs or that are troubled with any Ulcer in that part or that have Coughs that come with Heat The same also is commended very much against all torments and frettings in the Guts stayeth the Courses and all other manner of Fluxes as well in Man as Woman The decoction or powder of the Root or Seed is much more binding then the Herbe whereby it helpeth Agues The seed made into powder and mixed with the yolk of an Egge and some wheaten flower and made into a Cake and baked doth stay vomiting or any other Flux or rising in the Stomack The herb but especially the Seed is likewise held to be profitable against the Dropsie Falling-Sicknesse Yellow Jaundise and the stoppings of the Liver or Reines The powder of the dryed Leavs taken in warm drink or Posset drink killeth worms in the Belly The juyce of the Leaves mixed with oyl of Roses is profitably applyed to all hot Gouts in the Hands or Feet especially in the beginning to cool the heat and represse the humors It is also good to be applyed where any bone is out of Joynt to hinder Inflammations Swellings and pains which will arise presently thereupon A decoction of the Leaves killeth Worms that breed in old and foul Ulcers One part of Plantaine-Water and two parts of the brine of powdered beefe boyled together and clarified is a most sure remedy to heal all spreading Scabs and Itch in the Head or Body all manner of Tetters or Ringwormes the Shingles and all other running and fretting sores The Leaves laid upon any place where the skin is scratched of skinneth it again whether it be newly done or not and being made into a Salve with Oyl Wax and Turpentine it cureth deep wounds though the Sinews and Veins be cut asunder whereof it hath the Signature The juyce alone or stamped with Vinegar and applyed to the Feeet that surbated sore and swollen with travell bringeth them again to their right temper CHAP. LXXVII Of Columbines The Names THere is great contesting amongst Authors concerning this Plant whether it were known to the Ancients or not One will have it to be the Pothos of Theophrastus another his Diosanthos another would have it to be the Isopyrum of Dioscorides but Cornutus affirms point blanck that it was not knowne It is generally called by the Writers of a later date Aquileia Aquilina Aquilegia because the folds of the Leaves do somewhat resemble those Pipes called Aquileges which were made as Pliny mentions for the conveying of water which they also contain in them as Cornuâ—us seemeth to inferre especially from that sort of his which came from Canada That this Plant should have likenesse of properties with wild Oâ—tes called in Greek Aegilops seemeth to be altogether improbable It knows no other English name but Columbines The Kindes To set forth the varieties of Columbines according to their colours would be the Task of a Florish I shall only give you those which have different Termes and they are six 1 Single Columbines 2. Double Columbines 3 Double inverted Columbines 4 Rose Columbines 5 Degenerate Columbines 6 Columbines of Virginia The Forme The Columbine hath divers pretty large spread Leaves standing upon stalks about a foot long wheÌ„ they are at their full growth every one being divided into divers parts with large indentures upon the edges of a dark blewish green colour a little resembling Celandine from amongst which arise stalks sometimes two or three foot high divided usually into many branches bearing one long divided leaf at the lower joynt above which the flowers grow every one standing on a long stalk consisting of five hollow Leaves crooked or horned at the ends and turning backwards The flowers being past there arise small long Cods four or five together wherein are contained black shining seedes The Roots are thick and round for a little space within the ground they abide many years sending forth their Leaves in the beginning of the Spring I mentioned not the colour of the flowers because they are so variable The Places and Time The first sort hath been found to grow wild in the woody mountains of Germany but with us they are found only in Gardens as the rest are their place being otherwise unknowne only that of the last which was brought from Virginia by that industrious searcher after rarities Mr. Tredescant the elder They flower commonly about the end of April and the beginning of May perish before the end of June only the Virginian kind flowreth a Month sooner then ordinary The Temperature Columbines are said to be temperate in respect of coldnesse and drynesse and moderately digesting The Vertues Every good Housewife in the Country is hardly now to learne that Columbine Leaves have in them a faculty wherey they are found very effectuall if they be boyled in Milk and given to those that are troubled with sore Mouths oâ— Throats but there be other wayes of using them for the like purposes as for the Kanker Red gum Quinsie Kings-evill c. For the Water Canker in the Mouth drink the seed For the Quinsie drink the seeds often with good Ale or stamp the seeds and herbs with Honey and take it with milk or drink It is good for young Children to drink it against the Red gum To help the Struma or painfull swelling in the Throat called the Kings evill seeth
shall therefore mention those that follow reserving the Marsh Mallowes and its kinds for another Chapter upon another occasion 1. The common Mallow with purplish Flowers 2. The Purplish Mallow with white Flowers 3. Small wild Mallow 4. Single Garden Hollihocks 5. Double Hollihocks 6. French curled Mallowes 7. Fine cut or Vervain Mallowes 8. A strange Mallow called Malva Rosa by Mr. Brown The Forme The common Mallow is so well known as also the Hollihocks that the description of either of them is not so necessary as that of the Vervain Mallow being lesse taken notice of The lower Leaves of it are soft and green somewhat like unto the wild common Mallow Leaves but lesser and more cut in on the edges besides the denting but those that grow up higher upon the stalk whose bark may be broken in the threds like Hemp and is sometimes near as high as the ordinary wild kind is are more cut in and divided somewhat like unto Vervain the Flowers hereof are of a paler purple colour then the common Mallow but in most not so much divided into several Leaves and laid so open but abiding more close or lesse spread and without those stripes oftentimes being smooth and somewhat shining the Seed and Seed Vessels are like the common Mallow the Root also is long tough and white but somewhat more wooddy The Places and Time The first is known to grow every where but the second with white Flowers is more rate growing but in few places as about Ashford and other places in Kent and at Thrapstone in North 〈…〉 c. The third is found under Walls and Hedges in many places The fourth fifth and sixth are Inhabitants of Gardens and so is the seaventh which is found in the Fields also about St. Albans c. The last was shewed me by Mr. Ball in his Garden near Sion House which came with some other Seeds from beyond the Seas They flower about June and July The Temperature The wild Mallows have a certain moderate heat and moystnesse withall The Juyce thereof is slimy clammy or giuing the which are to be preferred before the Garden Mallow or Hollihock but the French Mallow is generally holden to be the wholsomest and as Gerard thinks is that which Hesiod commends It easily descendeth not only because it is moyst but also by reason it is slimy The Vertues Although Mallowes are commonly said to mollifie the belly and make it soluble yet there are other things more effectuall to that purpose I shall therefore appropriate it to the Breasts or Paps of women for it not onely procureth great store of Milk in the Breasts of those Nurses that eare it being boyled and buttered as other herbes commonly are or shred into their pottage but also asswageth the hardnesse of them being boyled and applyed unto them warme as also all other hard Tumors Inflammations of Impostums and swelling of Cods and other parts and easeth the paines of them and likewise the hardnesse of the Liver and Spleen being applyed to the places especially if a Pultis be made by adding some Bean or Barly flower or Oyle of Roses to them The Leaves and Roots also boyled in wine or water or in broth with parsley or Fennell Roots doth help to open the Body and is very convenient in hot Agues or other distempers of the body for by its mollilying quality it not onely voideth hot cholerick or other offensive humors but easeth the paines and torments that come by the stoppings of the belly and to that end the boyled leaves are applyed warm to the Belly and it is used in Clisters for the same purpose The Decoction of the seed of any of the Common Mallowes made in milk or wine doth marvellously help Excoriations of the Bowells Ptisick Pleuresie and other diseases of the Chest and Lungs that proceed of hot causes if it be continued taking for some time together The Leaves and Roots work the same effects The juice drunk in wine or the Decoction made in wine doth help women to an easy speedy delivery The Leaves bruised and laid to the Eys with a little Hony taketh away the Impostumation of them The Leaves rubbed upon any place stung with Bees Waspes or the like taketh away the pains rednesse swelling thereof The juice of Mallows boyled in old Oyl applyed taketh away all roughnesse of the skin as also the falling of the haire the Scurse Dandraffe or Dry-Scabs in the head or other parts if they be anointed therewith or washed with the Decoction the same also is effectuall against Scaldings or Burnings and to help wild-fire and all other hot red and painfull swellings in any part of the body The Flowers boyled in water and a little Honey added is a good Gargle for any sore mouth or throat If the feet be bathed with the Decoction of the Leaves Roots and Flowers it helpeth the flowing down of Rhume from the head which rose out of the Stomack the green leaves beaten with Nitre and applyed draweth out thornes or pricks out of the flesh The roots being made clean from the earth and washed and at the end a little â—cotched with a knife and then rubbed hard upon the teeth taketh a way sliminesse of them and maketh them very white The Vervain-Mallow is thought to be most effectuall for burstings or ruptures and the bâ—oody sâ—ix and also for the shrinking of the Sinewes and Cramp The diuilled water hereof being made when it is in flower worketh the same effects but more weakely yet it is much commended in hot Agues and Feavers Plâ—ny saith that whosoever shall take a spoonefull of the juyce of any of the Mallowes shall for that day be free from all diseases and it is especiall good for the Falling-Sicknesse The Syrup also and Conserve made of the flowers are very effectuall to the same diseases and for Costivenesse The young leaves may be eaten as a Sallet with Salt and Vineger and so the Nurses may eat them CHAP. XCIV Of Dill. The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quód citó crescat from its speedy growing for though it be late before it come up a month or two after Fennell to which it is very like yet it perfecteth its feed as much before it and then fades away And this in my opinion is the likeliest Etymology yet others thinke it to be so called quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 id est invictum quia câ—bi appetentiam excitâ—â— because it provokes appetite or from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is Congressus â—â—â—tio Venerea for which the Antients held it very eâ—â—ectuall It is called in Latin Anethum Anetum In English Dill Aâ—et The Kindes Though there were but one sort of Dill known formerly yet in these latter times two other sorts have been found out as 1. Common Garden Dill. 2. Great Wild Dill 3. Small Wild Dill. The Forme The Common Dill groweth up with seldom more then one stalk
the top also being divided into sundry parts forming a large Umbel of small yellow Flowers which turn into blackish flat Seeds two alwayes joyned together by the little foot-stalk whereon they stand as is usuall in all umbelliferous Plants the two inner sides being somewhat hollow and the outsides round with the longnesse the Root groweth very great and never decayeth branching forth many wayes of a blackish brown on the out-side and somewhat white within yielding a thick juyce being broken in any part which doth quickly condensate and grow into a yellowish gummy substance not smelling any thing strong in our Country as it doth in the hotter Climates The Places and Time The most naturall places of these Plants are as I said before Cyrene in Africa Media and Syria yet they are all found growing as well in Narbone in France among the Rocks that are torrified with the Sun all day as in divers places of Italy Apulia and Florence and divers other places but yieldeth little Gum in Europe They are likewise growing in our English Gardens as in the Physick Garden at Oxford and that at VVestminster They flowre in June and July and the Seed is ripe in the beginning or end of August The Temperature Ammoniacum is hot in the second Degree and dry in the beginning of the same or as some say hot in the third Degree and dry in the second When it is applyed outwardly it is of a dissolving nature The Vertues It being generally supposed that Ammoniacum proceedeth from the Root 〈◊〉 this Fennel Gyant and because it is held good to dissolve the tumours with which sometimes Womens Breasts are affected or brings them to maturity and ripens being applyed thereunto and to decrease the Milk and keep it from curdling being mixed with Vinegar and applyed likewise and therefore I have thus disposed of it Being taken inwardly it purgeth thick flegme from the Head Nerves Stomach Mesentery and also from the Joynts It much prevails in Asthmaes that is in the shortnesse of the breath and in Diseases comming of flegme It is good in old pains of the Head and against stoppings of the Liver it provokes the terms in Women and Urine and is good in any kind of Gout whether Sciatica or Joynt Gout as also in the Falling-Sicknesse It killeth Worms called Ascarides and is excellent against the hardnesse of the Liver or Spleen It bringeth away the dead Child Being outwardly applyed it consumes spongious or proud flesh it softneth Corns and the hard swellings of the Joynts which come by reason of the Gout and draweth forth Corns Splinters and the like if it be dissolved with Vinegar but it is more effectuall if it be mixed with Honey Birthwort and Saffron It consumes Strumaes or Swellings called the Kings Evill and ripeneth all kinds of Impostumes being applyed on Wooll that is not greasie Being mixed with Honey and applyed to the Throat it helpeth the Quinsâ—e and Swelling in the Neck or Throat It taketh away Spots of the Eyes being mixed with Womens Milk and it cleanseth the sight being mixed in Medicines for the Eys Being dissolved with Frankinsence in Vinegar and applyed helpeth Ring-worms It is dangerous to be taken by Women with Child lest it make them miscarry and though it provoke Urine yet too much of it will make one pisse blood Galen setteth down the properties of the Ferula it self in this manner The Seed saith he doth heat and rarifie the pith of the stalk is of a binding quality whereby it helpeth the spitting of blood and those which are troubled with the Collick It is a most acceptable food to Asses but a present poyson to other Creatures especially the Lamprey It doth help the Falling Sicknesse being taken at severall times of the Moon and the fresh Juyce of the Root dropped into the Eys cleareth the dimnesse of the sight CHAP. LXCIX Of Gourds The Names THe Gourd is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Colocyntha Edulis to distinguish it from the wild or bitter Gourd called Colocynthi or Coloquintida In Latine Cucurbitat à concurvatus as it is thought quod faeilè si quid obstiterit quò minùs extendatur incurvescat because it will grow crooked if there be any thing in its way The Kinds Of this kind of Gourds Parkinson reckoneth up seven sorts 1. The greater bottle Gourd 2. The lesser bottle Gourd 3. The Long Gourd 4. The Buckler or Simnell Gourd 5. Rugged Gourds 6. Winter Gourds or Millions 7. Round Indian Gourds or Millions The Foorme The greater bottle Gourd groweth as all other of these kind of herbs do spreading many great rough and hairy arms and branches with several great and broad leaves soft and almost round yet pointed at the ends and sometimes dented about the edges set upon long footstalks and long clasping tendrels like a Vine set at other joynts whereby it climeth taking hold and winding it self about whatsoever poles arbours trees or other things that stand next unto it or else not having whereon to climb or raise it self it lieth on the ground spreading a great compass as the Pompion doth at the several joynts likewise with the leaves come forth several flowers in the same manner as Pompions Cucumbers or Melons but are very large and hollow like Bells ending in five points or corners with a round green head under each of them that will bear fruit for many flowers wither and bear no fruit not having that round green head under the flowers which should grow to be the fruit and will be full and ready to come forwards with the short stiffe stalk under it the colour of the flowers are either white or pale-white or pale-yellow the fruit when it is ripe hath an hard outward rind or shell yellowish large and round bellied flat at the bottom like nâ—ou a gâ—asse bottâ—e smaller up to the neck above which is a smal round formed head whereunto the stalk is fastned and sometimes without any small head being pendulous or hanging down not standing forth or upright within which fruit lie dispersedly many seeds having smooth hard wooddy shells flat and broad at the upper end or head and somewhat pointed below wherein lyeth a sweet white kernel the root consisteth of many long strings spreading much within the ground but perisheth usually with the first frosts The Places and Time The Gourds are cherished in the Gardens of these cold Regions yet the fruit seldom cometh to perfect maturity for want of heat to ripen them In the hot Countries where they come to ripnesse the rinds of them are sometimes of that bignesse that they are used to put in Turpentine Oyl Honey and also serve them for pailes to fetch water in and many other the like uses as in Egypt Syria c. Many of the lesser of them are used to put Tobacco in even here amongst Us in England The best way is to plant them in April in a bed of Horsedung yet so ordered that that they
singular Vertues that it hath in English Holy Thistle and Blessed Thistle but more commonly Carduus Benedictus according to the Latine name Some excellently seen in the knowledge of Simples have made it a kind of Wild Bastard Saffron called in Latine Attractilis and in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because Women in old time were wont to use the stiffe stalk thereof pro fuso colo for a Spindle or a Distaffe It is named also Fucus agrestis and Colus rustica and the Women in Greece as Petrus Bellonius reporteth call Attractylis by a corrupt name Ardactyla even at this day Divers call it Carthamus Sylvestris Cnicus Sylvestris in English Wild Bastard Saffron The Kinds The Sorts hereof as you have already heard are two 1. Carduus Benedictus or the Blessed Thistle 2. Attractylis or Wild Bastard Saffron The Form Carduus Benedictus or Blessed Thistle hath round rough and plyable stalks which being parted into divers Branches do lie flat on the ground the leaves are jagged round about and full of harmless prickles on the edges the heads on the tops of the stalks are set with prickles and invironed with sharp pricking Leaves out of which standeth a yellow Flower the Seed is long and set with white hairs at the top like a Beard the Root is white and parted into strings the whole Herb Leaves and Stalks and also the Heads are covered with a soft and thin Down The Places and Time The first groweth naturally in Lemâ—os which is an Island of the Mediterraâ—ean Sea in the Champion grounds thereof as Petrus Bellonius testifieth It is diligently cherished in Gardens in these Northern parts The second groweth in Candy and in divers Provinces and Islands of Greece and also in Languedock and is entertained in our English Gardens The first flowreth in July and August at which time it is especially to be gathered for Physicall uses for then it will remain good a year or longer Attractylis is very late before it flowreth and seedeth The Temperature As Carduus Benedictus is bitter so it is also hot and dry in the second Degree and withall cleansing and opening Attractylis doth dry and moderately digest as Galen teacheth The Signature and Vertues By the Prickles upon the Stalks and Leaves of Carduus are clearly signified that the herb it self is an excellent remedy for the Pleurisie and Stâ—â—ches wherewith the sides are somtimes distempered if the Decoction in posset drink or the distilled water thereof be taken It helpeth also the swimming of the head strengtheneth the memory and is a good remedy against ceaâ—nesse killeth wormes provoketh Urine and the Courses and driveth out gravel and cleanseth the Stomack It is most excellent in Pestilent Feavers and all contagious Diâ—eases for it expelleth out by sweat all noxious or ill humours It is very good in any kind of Ague either the decoction thereof being taken or half a dram of the Powder in Posset-drink before the fit commeth for divers fits if need require and sweat after it It is very available likewise against Venome and poyson Though the distilled water is useful for the aforesaid Diseases yet the decoction is much better The extract thereof is good against the French Pox and the Quartan Ague The green Herb bruised and applyed is good against hot swellings as Wild-fire Plague-Sores Botches and it is good also to be laid upon the bitings of mad Dogs Serpents Spiders Bees or Wasps or any other venomous Creature The Powder stoppeth blood at the Nose being applyed The juyce thereof cleareth the sight being put into the Eyes and taketh away the redness of them and so doth the water Being bruised with a little Hogs-grease and a little Wheat mixed therewith it cures stubborn and rebellious Ulcers if it be applyed thereto It is used against the Gangrene also For all which notable effects it hath been called Omnimorbia that is a Salve for every Sore CHAP. CLX Of our Ladies Thistle The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 if divers Authours be not mistaken being as is generally supposed that Plant that Dioscorides mentioneth under that name It is called in Latine Carduus Lacteus and Carduus Mariae in English Our Ladies Thistle or the Striped Milky Thistle Some think it to be Leucacantha or Spina Alba of the Antients others take it to be Leucographis Plinii Brunfelfius calleth it Carduus Albus and Camaeleon Matthiolus and Lobel Carduus Lacteus some Carduus Argentatus and Carduus Ramptarius others Carduus Leucographus and Silybum and Acanon Theophrasti The Kinds Although formerly there have been but one sort hereof known to the Herbarists yet of late by the diligent search and observation of some that have been curious there are found of them three in all 1. The common Ladies Thistle 2. Great milky Thistle of a year 3. The small Spanish milk-Thistle The Form The Common Ladies Thistle hath divers very large and broad leaves lying on the ground cut in and as it were crumpled but somewhat hairy on the edges and of a white green shining colour wherein are many lines and strakes of a milky white colour running all over and set with many sharp and stiffe prickles round about amongst which rise up one or more strong round and prickly stalks set full of the like leaves up to the top where at the end of every branch commeth forth a great prickly Thistle-like head strongly armed with pricks and with bright Purple Thrums rising out of the middle of them after they are past the Seed groweth in the said heads lying in a great deal of fine soft white Down which is somewhat flattish and shining large and brown the Root is great spreading in the ground with many strings and small Fibres fastened to them All the whole Plant is bitter in taste and therefore supposed not to be without good effects The Places and Time The first is frequent in many parts of this Realm and particularly in St. Georges Fields near London in great abundance The Seed whereof the second and likewise the last came were brought out of Spain by Guillaume Boel It is thought that the last is the same that Camerarius saith he picked out of Epithyâ—â—â— and that Ranwolsius gave him brought out of Syria because the Seed and Leaves are so very much alike They flower and seed in June July and August when other sorts of Thistles do The Temperature Our Ladies Thistle is hot and dry in the second Degree and bindeth moderately especially the Roots The Signature and Vertues There are upon this Plant also many prickles and therefore it is good for the Stitches of the side and other Diseases thereof by Signature if the Decoction or Powder thereof be taken It is also very effectuall for Agues and to prevent and cure the infection of the Plague as also to open obstructions of the Liver and Spleen and thereby is good against the Jaundies It provoketh Urine breaketh and expelleth the Stone and is
them whose constitutions can endure the working of it causing much tough viscous clammy and corrupt humours that offend the stomack to be avoided for which purpose the Oxymel Helleboratum may be administred with least danger a while after the Patient hath eaten somewhat It is useful against madness and melancholy also against the swimming in the Head Falling-sickness Leprosie Cancer Elephancy and soul diseases of the Skin as also the Quartane Ague It brings down the Courses and kills the Child in the Womb it heâ—ps the old Cough Dropsie Sciatica Gout Cramp pains in the Joynts and Sinews It killeth Mice and Rats being boyled in Milk or mingled with Flower and Honey or Butter or boyled in Milk and set where Flies Wasps Gnats c. do much resort it kills as many as touch it It is used also to provoke sâ—eesing being put into the Nostrils and purgeth the Head of superfluous humours and is good in the Lethargy and such like sleepy Diseases especially if some Leaves of Matjerome in Powder be put to it It cures the Leprosie Scab Iâ—ch and such like foul Diseases of the Skin being used in Hogs-grease or mixed in Oyntments The juyce of the Root dropped into the Ears helps the noise and singing thereof and being boyled in Lie and the Head washed therewith it killeth and helpeth the running Scabs and Sores thereof boyled in Vinegar and the mouth washed therewith it easeth the Tooth-ach The same decoction helpeth Itch and Scabs in the hands and cleanseth â—oul Sores and Ulcers in the Legs and other parts and put into Fistulaes it taketh away the hardness of them A Pessary made thereof and put up brings down the Courses and dead Child It is given in decoction in infusion and in substance in decoction or infusion from a dram to two drams in substance from ten grains to a scruple The lesser wild sort are not known to be used in Physick CHAP. CLVII Of purging Cassia The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cassia Nigra from the black pods wherein it groweth and in Latine Cassia Fistula Cassia or Cassia solutiva It is called Cassia as some think from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quod coriâ—câ—um vocant because pods are like Leather or as others conceive from the sweâ—â—ness of the Flowers like unto Cassia Aromatica or Odorata It is in English called Pudding-Pâ—pe because the Cod is like a Pudding The Kinds Heretofore there was known but one sort of purging Cassia but now there is another called Purging Cassia of Brasil The Form The purging Cassia Tree groweth to be a Tree of a large size or bigness whose Wood is solid and firm yellowish towards the sap or out-side and blackish like Lignum Vitae at the heart covered with a smooth soft and ashcoloured bark very like unto the Wallnut-Tree the Branches are not very great and but thinly stored with winged Leaves consisting of eight or ten lesser for the most part five standing on each side of the stalk without any odd one at the end the Flowers are yellow and large many growing together on a long stalk and hanging down consisting commonly of four and sometimes of five Leaves with many greenish threds in the middle standing about a long slender crooked umbone or Horn of a very sweet scent especially in the morning before the Sun shine upon them but grow weaker in smell as the Sun groweth hotter The small Horn in the middle of the Flower groweth to be the pod which is first green then purple and afterwards black being of divers sizes both for length and greatness some a foot and some a foot and half long and some longer with a hard round wooddy wrinckled shell not very thick nor very hard to break with a seame as it were or a list all along the back and another small one over against it on the other side which cauâ—eth it to be easily broken into two parts by the middle long wayes and distinguished inwardly into many skinny wood-like partitions on both sides of which groweth a lost black substance sweet like Honey which is that part only which is to be used between the said partitions lie round and flat gristly Seed of a dark brownish colour the Roots are great and grow deep in the ground the choyce of the best Cods is that they be moyst within and that the Seeds do not rattle when they are shaken The Places and Time India is conceived to be the naturall place of the first and that it was brought thence into Syria and Armenia and from thence into Egypt where they pâ—ant it in their Orchards and afterwards into Arabia where the use of it was first discovered Most of that which is spent in Europe is brought from Hispaniola where the Spaniards have planted abundance of them The other groweth in Brasil whence it was brought into these parts The first flourisheth chiefly in June and the fruit hanging upon the Tree all the year is gathered much about the time of the flowring for the Tree holding his green Leaf all the Winter hath usually both blossoms and green fruit and ripe all at one time The time of the other is not yet known The Temperature Cassia Fistula is hot and moyst in the first Degree The Vertues and Signature Cassia being taken with Rubarb and a few Anniseeds and Liquorish to correct the windiness thereof cleanâ—eth the Stomach Liver and Mesentery Veins from Choler and â—â—egme clearing the bâ—ood and quenching the heat thereof and is therefore profitable in all hot Agues and Feavers It is aâ—o profitable for such as are troubled with the Pleuriâ—â—e and Jaundiâ—e or heat of the Liver mixed with convenient Liquors It is good likewise for the heat of the Reins and Kidneys and bringeth forth the Stone with Gravel being also a good preservative against it if it be taken with a decoction of Liquorâ—â—e Parsley Roots It is very effectual against all Rheums sharp distillations against choletâ—ck melancholick Diseases It is also often used in all kinds of pectorall Diseases as old Coughs shortness of breath wheesings and the like if it be taken with Agarick as some advise Being outwardly applyed to those that have the Gout it easeth the pains thereof is a good Gargle to asswage mitigate the tumours and swellings of the Throat It is used in Plaisters and Ointments against hot Pimples and other eruptions or breakings out of the Skin to take away the roughness thereof It is a safe Medicine and may be given to Women with Child and all other persons at any time except to such as have moyst weak and slippery Bowels yet given with Spicknard Mastick or Hâ—era picra there is little danger especially to the Guts to which Crâ—llius doth appropriate it by Signature there being some similâ—tude between them The young Cods taken whilest they are small and green boyled a little and then â—aid in the shadow a while to dry and
either a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 coquo quia calor ejus concoctricem facultatem adjuvat because it helpeth concoction or from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ignis because of the eminent heat that is therein In Latine Piper In English Pepper Some call the Pepper of Aethiopiae Piper Aethiopia Piper Aethiopicum Amomum Vita longa and Cardamomum whereof they hold it to be a kind The Kinds Of Pepper there be these five sorts mentioned by Authours 1. Black Pepper 2. White Pepper 3. Long Pepper 4. Pepper of Aethiopia 5. Matthiolus his Pepper The Forme The Plant that beareth the Black-Pepper as also the white groweth up like a Vine among bushes and brambles where it naturally groweth but where it is mannured it is sowen at the bottome of the tree Gausel and the Date Trees whereon it taketh hold and climeth even to the top as doth the Vine ramping and taking hold but not with tendrells as the Vine doth of any other thing it meeteth withall It is full of Joynts and shooteth forth faire and somwhat large Leaves one at a Joynt being almost round but ending in a point greener above and paler underneath with a great middle ribbe and foure other ribbs somwhat lesser spreading from it two on each side smaller veines therein also unto the edges which are not dented but smooth and plaine not thick but somwhat thin and set on a pretty long footstalke The Fruit or Pepper it selfe groweth at the same Joynt but opposite to the Leafe and not betweene the Stalk and the Leafe as some have falsely set it down round about a long Stalk somwhat thinly set along thereon The root hath sundry Joynts creeping in the ground with fibres at the Joynts The Places and Time Black and White Pepper grow in the Kingdome of Malavar and that very good in Malaca also but not so good and also in the Island Sunde and Cude there is great store growing in the Kingdome of China and some in Cananer but not much Pepper of Ethiopia groweth in America in all the tract of the Country where Nata and Carthago are scituated These Plants rise up in the beginning of the Spring and the fruit is gathered in August The Temperature It is hot and dry in the third degree or neere the fourth of an heating or dissolveing quality The Vertues The Black-Pepper is most in use and is good in sawces to give a good tast to meat to provoke appetite and helpe digestion but they are all used to warme cold Stomacks and to consume crude and moist humors therein or distilling from the Head They also help to break and dissolve Wind in the Stomack or Bowells to provoke Vrine to heâ—p the Cough and other diseases of the breast and are effectuall againâ—â— Poyâ—on and venemous bitings either of Serpents or other Vermine and are therefore put into Antidotes â—reacles and other preâ—ervative The same drunk before the â—t of a Feaver or Ague in Posset-drink or laid to or anointed outwardly with Oyâ—e abareth the rigour and shaking thereof and wasteth the swelling of Quinsy if it be taken with Honey That Pepper which is taken inwardly must not be beaten very small for feare of inflaming the blood and other profitable humors of the body but in outward applications there is no danger The Powder thereof snifted up into the nose provoketh sneezing and purgeth the braine of all superfluous moisture and so it doth likewise if it be eaten with Raisins It he peth also the dimnesse of the sight by consuming the Pin and Web or any other excrescence that shall molest it It doth very much strengthen the Nerves and Muscles consuming the watery moisture that causeth shaking in them by its heat and therefore it is that Macer saith thus of it For an Ague Quodque movere solet frigus periodica febris Compescit febris si sumiturante tremorem It doth asswage the fits that Agues make If that you use thereof before you shake It dissolveth the Kings-evill Kernells Wens Hard cold swellings and draweth forth Thornes Shards and Splinters if it be applyed with pitch A Cawdle made with Vine-Leaves hard Egges and Pepper stayeth the bloody Flix and the Powder of long Pepper and the rootes of Cinckfoile drunk in Ale easeth the Chollick It easeth the Tooth-ach being tied in a Clout and chewed on It is best for moist and coâ—d Constitutions but in dry bodyes it consumeth the seed and burneth the blood if it be immoderately used CHAP. CLXV Of the Nutmeg-Tree The Names IT was not known to the ancient Greek Writers Dioscorides or Theophrastus no nor to Galen or Pliny for although some have thought it might be Galen his Chrysobalanos yet they are farre away therein The latter have called it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek from the sweet scent that it yeeldeth and in Latine Nux Aromatites and Nux Myristica for the same reason and Nux Moschata as if it were a Moscho which we call Muske in English The Mace that groweth also upon this Tree is called in Latine Macis but in Banda where they grow the Nutmeg is called Palla and the Mace Bunapalla The Kinds The Nutmeg-Tree and so likewise the fruit are of two sorts as hath been exactly observed by Clusius and by him called Mas and famina the Male and the Female which last is that which is most in use with us and therefore take its description as followes The Forme This Tree is said to be very great and as tall almost as our Peare-Trees spreading many branches which are greene whil'st they are young having faire broad Leaves â—et thereon somwhat like unto the Orenge-Tree-Leaves set on a short stalke unequally on the branches and abide alwayes green thereon The fruit for the Flowers have not been observed groweth at the end of the young branches which are as big as Peaches standing singly for the most part on a thick fat stalk having an outward thick huske furrowed in the middle which divideth it selfe into two parts and growing ripe openeth it selfe shewing the Nut within covered with the Mace cut into severall peices as it were of an orient crimson colour at the first opening but is afterwards changed by the aire to be more dead and yellowish as it is when it is brought to us besides which it is covered also with a black thin hard shell which being broken the Nutmeg it selfe appeareth The Places and Time They both grow in the East-Indies but especially in an Island called Banda whence some have called the Nut Nux Bandensis and in the Islands of Molucca also though not so good as the first as neither be they that do grow in Zeilan The time of flouring is not specified but the fruit is ripe in September The Temperature Nutmegs are hot and dry in the second degree and somwhat astringent Mace is hot in the second degree and dry in the third The Vertues Nutmegs do not only heat but strengthen the Stomack that is cold and weake
Womens courses being applyed to the Matrix The distilled Water of the Herb and Roots being brought into a consistence by being mixed with other proper ingredients worketh the same effects and of it selfe it cleanseth the skin of Freckles Morphewes all other Spots and discolourings therein Blood-wort is as wholesome a Potherb as any that growes in a Garden though it be in these dayes used only by those few which know it to be so CHAP. CLXXXIIII Of Sorrell The Names IT is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greek from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying sharpe because it is sharp both in tast and forme and some Latine writers call it Oxalis after the ordinary Greek name for it hath others also as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it may be said Metaphorically to pierce the tongue like a Raisor with its sharpnesse of Galen it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Acidum lapathum or Acidus Rumex sowre Dock because it is so very like a Dock in severall respects other Latine-writers call it Acetosa and Acedula for its sharpnesse Rumex hortensis Sheepes Sorrell is called Lapatiolum and Acetosella by divers The Kinds The Sorts of sorrel besides Wood sorrell which I have entreated already are Sixteene 1. Ordinary Sorrell 2. Great Sorrell of Germany 3. Round leafed Sorrell 4. Tuberous rooted Sorrel 5. The greater bulbous Sorrell 6. Small Mountaine round leafed Sorrell 7. Creeping Sorrell with broad Leaves 8. Candy Sorrell 9. Sorrell of Naples 10. Marygold Leafed Sorrell 11. Indian Sorrell 12. Indian Sorrell with swollen huskes 13. Mountaine Welch Sorrell 14. Sheepes Sorrell 15. The smallest Sorrell 16. Tall narrow leafed Sorrell The Form Sorrell hath tender greene Leaves long and full of juice broad and forked as it were at end towards the foot-stalke as those of Spinach and Mercury are of a sharpe sowre tast the stalkes are slender bearing purplish long heads somwhat like those of the Dock described in the former Chapter whereof it is a kind wherein lye three-square shining brown seed like but lesser then the other the root is smaller then any of the Docks but the strings thereof go further into the earth then of any other herb somtimes to the depth of three Cubits as the Lord Bacon witnesseth in his naturall History it abideth a long time without decaying having greene Leaves all the Winter except in the very extremity thereof which often taketh away all or most of its Leaves The Places and Times The ordinary Sorrell groweth commonly in Gardens and so doth the Sorrell with round Leaves The tuberous kinds grow in some places neere unto the water side and the sheepes Sorrell groweth in upland grounds where Sheepe use to frequent The two last grow in some sandy and gravelly grounds and upon the bankes of some ditches As for the rest their places are most of them set down in their titles All of them flower and seed in May and June except the Indian sort which flowreth not till July and their seed is ripe in August The Temperature Sorrell is cooling and drying in the second degree and by its sowernesse cutteth tough humours The Vertues The juice of Sorrell in the Summer-time is a profitable sawce in many meates and pleasant to the tast especially if some Sugar be added thereunto It cooleth an hot Stomack moveth appetite to meat tempereth the heat of the Liver openeth the stoppings and preventeth the walling thereof and is effectuall in all hot diseases to coole any inflammation and heat of blood in Agues Pestilentiall or Cholerick or other sicknesse and fainting rising from heat and to refresh the Spirits being almost spent with the violence of furious or fiery fits of Agues and to quench the thirst in them for which there is nothing better then Sorrell-Posset drink which may be made by putting the juice to milk when it beginneth to seeth The Leaves eaten in the morning fasting in the time of Pestilence do mâ—rvailously preserve from infection but much more the conserve thereof which is good for all the purposes aforesaid The seeds thereof brayed and drunk with Wine and Water are very wholesome against the Chollick and fretting of the Guttes it stoppeth the hot Fluxes of Womens Courses or of humours in the bloody Flux or Flux of the Stomack and helpeth it when it is annoyed with repletion The roots also in Decoction or in Powder is effectuall for the said purposes and further it helpeth the Jaundise and expelleth Gravell and the Stone from the Kidneys and a decoction of the Flowers made with Wine and drunk helpeth the Black Jaundise as also the inward Vlcers of the body of Bowells The Leaves wrapped up in a Wort Leafe and roasted under the Embers and applyed to any hard Impostume or Tumor Botch Boile or Plague sores both ripeneth and breaketh it and discusseth Kernells in the Throat if applyed in time The juice with a little Vinegar is profitable to bathe those places which are troubled with the Itch Tetter Ringworm St. Anthonies fire c The distilled Water of the herb is of much good use for all the purposes aforesaid killing Wormes and resisting Poyson CHAP. CLXXXV Of Beets The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Teutlon and Seutlon ab impulsu quòd facilè excrescat because it cometh up within few dayes after the sowing and afterwards groweth very fast untill it attaine to its bignesse which in â—ome hot Countryes will be three foot in length and of a great breadth It is called Beta in Latine quoniam Figuram Luerae Graecae C dum semine turget referre videtur because the figure of it being in seed is somwhat like the Greeke Letter Beta as Columella hath it It is called also Sicula and Sicla by some because it is supposed that it was first brought out of Sicily viz. The White Beet In this place for want of a fitter I shall speake of Spinage because it deserves not a Chapter by it selfe Ob raritatem in usu medico which made the Greeks call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being seldom used in Physick yet amongst Sallets and Pot-herbs there be few more common Some Latine Authors call it Spinachia and Spinaccum others Spanachia supposing it grew originally in Spaine and Olus Hispanicum The Kinds There be nine sorts of Beets and but three of Spinage with put together will make up a Dozen 1. The Common white Beet 2. The Common red Beet 3. The Comon greene Beet 4. The Roman red Beet 5. The Italian Beet 6. Prickly Beets of Candy 7. Sea Beets 8. Yellow Beet 9. Flat stalked Beet 10. The greater Spinage with Prickly Seeds 11. Thelesser Spinage with prickly Seeds 12. Spinage with smooth seeds Spinage sometimes beareth no seed but that is only by accident The Form The Common white Beet hath many great Leaves next the Ground of a whitish greene colour the stalke is great strong and ribbed or crested bearing great store of Leaves
Bladder is the Bladder Nut-Tree which is therefore said to be effectuall to help those which are troubled with the Stone in the Bladder but because it is without any other Vertue unlesse it be to provoke Venery as some affirme having withall divers evill Qualities whereby they are loathsome and overturne the Stomacks of them that eate them I shall passe it by without any description at all only tell you that it is called Nux Vesicaria in Latine supposed to be the Staphylodendron of Pliny Some call it Pistacium Germanicum because they call it by the same name they do the Pistake whereof Scaliger taketh it to be a kind So much I thought good to say of it because it growes in Gardens and Fields in divers places of this land CHAP. CCXXVIII Of Dogs-grasse or Quich-grasse The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Agrostis that is Gramen simply 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because it is of most use In Latine Gramen Caninum and Gramen Caninum medicatum by Lobel following Pliny herein who first called it Canaria quasi à Caniâ—â—â—inventa because Dogges when they are sick at the Stomack do naturally eat hereof fall to their Vomit and are well and therefore others have called it Cynagrostis and Dens Canis from the forme wherein it first appeareth We call it in English Dogs-grasse because Dogs feed thereon Quich-grasse and Couch-grasse from the nature of the rootes which ly so close in the ground that they cannot be got out unlesse the ground be broken up with a Spade The Latine word Gramen is derived à Gradiendo from spreading it selfe for it will overâ—â—â—ne a place speedily The Kindes You may guesse by the severall sorts of Quich-grasse what a huge number of Grasses there be in all this being a subordinate kind and yet hath sixteene under it 1. Common Quich-grasse 2. Quich-grasse with a more spread Panickle 3. The lesser Quich-grasse with a sparsed tuft 4. Low bending Quich-grasse 5. Low bending Quich-grasse of Mompelier 6. A small sweet grasse like Quich-grasse 7. Common bulbed and knotted Quich-grasse 8. Knobbedgrasse with a small round spike 9. Double bulbed 10. The bulbed Grasse of Aleppo 11. The Sicilian Bulbed Grasse 12. Sea spiked Dogs-grasse or Quich-grasse 13. Sea Quich-grasse 14. Sea Dogs-grasse with long roots 15. Sea spiked Dogs-grasse of Mompelier 16. Rough Sea Dogs-grasse The Forme Common Quich-grasse is well known both by Gardiners and Husbandmen to creepe farre about under the ground with long white joynted Rootes and small fibres almost at every joynt very sweet in tast as the rest of the herb is and interlacing one another from whence shoote forth first one and afterwards many faire and long grassy Leaves small at the ends and cutting and sharpe at the edges the Stalkes are joynted like corne with the like Leaves on them and a long spiked Head with long husks on them and hard rough seed in them The Places and Times The first is too common both in Gardens and Ploughed feilds for the Gardeners and Husbandmens store though not for such Physitians as Mr. Culpepper who holds halfe an Acre of it worth five of Carrots or Corne the second and third are nothing so frequent and are more naturall to sandy and chalky grounds the three next are likewise found in feilds that have been Ploughed but ly fallow at present The seaventh is found in some Ploughed Feilds and Medowes of this Land the eighth neere Basil the ninth in Spaine the tenth neere Aleppo the eleaventh neere Verona the three next on our Sea-Coasts especially in Kent the fifteenth about Mompelier and Narbone the last about Venice They flourish most in the Summer but their Rootes endure the hardest Winters The Temperature Dogs-grasse is cold in the first degree and moderate in coldnesse and moisture but the seed is much more cold and dry of some tenuity of parts and somewhat harsh The Vertues and Signature All the sorts of Grasse especially those of Quich-grasse are very effctuall to open the passages of Urine being stopped as also to wast the gravel of the Stone in the Bladder and the Ulcers thereof but that sort which is knobbed is held to be most proper because it hath a kind of Signature And if I should say that some of the other sorts cure the Wormes by Signature I should not say amisse for the rootes of some of them are very like those beds of Wormes which we somtimes see voided from men the juice thereof mixed with Honey and the Powder of Southernwood and taken in drink for Children the juice mingled with an Oxe-Gall and a cloth dipped therein and laid to the Navell will be sufficient and for this purpose the Dogs also eat it who after the taking thereof have been observed to void many Being boiled in white wine and drunk it openeth the Obstructions of the Liver and Gall and easeth the griping paines of the Belly and Inflammations The Roots bruised and applyed are very effectuall for Consolidating Wounds The seed doth more powerfully expell Urine and stayeth the Lask and Vomitings The distilled Water by it self or with a little wormseed killeth the Wormes in Children The way of using it for the diseases of the Reines and Bladder which I forgot to expresse after the Signature is onely to bruise the Roots and having well boiled them in white wine to drink the decoction yet after the benefit of making Water is obtained the decoction must be made in water CHAP. CCXXIX Of Butchers Broom The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oxymyrsine which is as much as Acuta Myrtus in Latine and Prickly Myrtle in English as also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Myrtus Sylvestris 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Myrtacantha Myrtus Spinosa 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 murina Spina and of Theophrastus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Centromyrrhine Pliny saith that it was called in his time Chamaemyrsine and Acaron or rather Aceron which is one of the Bastard Names by all which we may gather that it was taken for the wild Myrtle but falsly for that which was accounted so amongst the Ancients is like unto the manured kind with prickly Leaves and therefore Pliny misâ—ooke when he attributed the faculties of the one to the other It is called in Latine Ruscus and Ruscum and in Shops Bruscus and of some Ruscus Bruscus by Onomaâ—opaeia because of the Russeling noise it maketh when it is moved and of some as Marcellus saith Scopa Regia We call it in English Knee-holme Kneeâ—â—lver Kneeholly Pettigree and Ruscus Bruscus The Kinds Butchers Broom at its first coming up sendeth forth thick whitish short Shoots somewhat like unto those of Asparagus but greater which thing to be about a foot high are spread into divers green branches which are a little crested tough pâ—â—ant and flexible whereon are set somwhat broad and allmost hard Leaves sharp and prickly pointed at the ends of a dark green colour and somewhat like unto Myrtle Leaves
The Herb boiled in Ale or wine and given for some Mornings and Evenings together stayeth the Distillations of hot and sharp Rheums falling into the Eyes from the Head and helpeth all manner of accidents that happen to the Eyes Wart Cresses which are called in Latine Coronopus Râ—ellii and Nasturtium Verrucarium because the seed of it beareth the perfect Signature of the Warts upon a mans hand will consume and take away Warts in a short time the herb being bruised and applyed and so it stoppeth blâ—â—ding most effectually having all the Virtues which are attributed to the former CHAP. CXXXIX Of Sampire The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and sometimes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Crithmum which is the usuall Latin name also yet Petrus Crescentius calleth it Crethmum and Rincum marinum It is also called Feniculum marinum which name the Italians and French follow as neer as their Dialect will permit in shops Creta marina especially beyond Sea In English Sampier and Sampire because it grows upon rocks and Sea Fennell because it somewhat resembles our ordinary Fennell The Kinds To this kind may be referred these four sorts 1. Ordinary Rock Sampire 2. The greater Rock Sampire 3. Thorny Sampire or Sea Parsnep 4. Golden Flowered Sampire The Forme Ordinary Rock Sampire groweth up with a tender green stalk not above halfe a yard or two foot high at the most branching forth almost from the very bottome and stored with sundry thick almost round and somewhat long Leaves of a deep green colour sometimes three together and sometimes more on a stalk being full of sap and of a pleasant hot or spicy tast at the topps of the stalkes and branches stand Umbells of white flowers after them come large seed bigger then Fennell yet somewhat alike the root is great white and long continuing many yeares and is both of a delightfull and pleasant smell and tast The Places and Time The first groweth on the Rocky Cliffes at Dover Winchelsey by Rye and about Southampton and the West and North West of England but especially in the Isle of Wight where there is so great plenty that it is gathered yet not without danger for some have ventured so farr upon the craggy precipices that they have fallen down and broken their nets ' so that it might be said they paid For their sawce and afterwards being pickled up is sent to London and other places The second groweth likewise upon Rocks that are moistened if not somtimes overflown with the Sea water The third near the Sea upon the sands between Whitstable and the Isle of Thanet by Sandwich and by the Sea near VVestchester The last in the miry Marsh in th Isle of Shepey by the way from the Kings Ferry to Sherland house Rock Sampire flourisheth in May and June and must be gathered to be kept in pickle in the beignning of August They all flower and seed in the end of July and August The Temperature Sampire is conceived to be hot and dry in the second degree and of a cleansing or scouring faculty The Vertues Of all the Sawces which are very many there is none so pleasant none so familiar and agreeable to mans body as Sampire both for digestion of Meates breaking of the Stone and voiding of Gravell in the Reines and Bladder It provoketh Urine also and Womens Courses and prevailes against the Jaundâ—se the Leaves seeds and Roots being boiled in Wine and drunk and so it openeth the Obstructions of the Liver and Spleene and all other stoppings of the intralls whatsoever from whence and from ill digestion moâ—â— of the diseases whereunto the fraile Nature of man is subject are caused so that it is great pitty that it is no more in use It is very pleasant both to the Taste and Stomack not only by the Saltnesse but by the Spicynesse in it likewise whereby it is very available to whet a dull Stomack It is eaten raw as well as boyled by those which live where it growes but the best way is to boile it in water till it be tender and then pickled up in a Barrell with a convenient Liquor made of Vinegar Water and Salt it will be fit for ones own occasions at any time or to present to a freind as usually it is or to sell CHAP. CCXL Of Fraxinella or False white Dittany The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chamaemelium which signifies as much as Fraxina humilis or the low or dwarfe Ash because of the resemblance of its winged Leaves to those of the young Ash and therefore it is called in Latine Fraxinella being a diminutive of Fraxinus Yet some do call it Dictamus albus or Dictamnus albus and Diptamus albus to distinguish it from the Dictamnus Creticus which is a farre differing Plant. Some would have it to be Tragium of Dioscorides but besides other differences it yeeldeth no juicy Milke as Tragium is said to doe We in English do either call it Fraxinella and Bastard Dittany from the Latine Dictamus being also a corrupted word but it is more properly to be called False white Dittany then Bastard Dittany because there is another Plant to which the name of Pseudo dictamnus doth more properly belong and therefore a distinct Epithet is necessary to avoid confusion The Kindes But if this Fraxinella be called False white Dittany it must not take its denomination from the flowers for of the four sorts there is but one that hath a white Flower 1. Fraxinella with a reddish Flower 2. Fraxinella with a red Flower 3. Fraxinella with a white Flower 4. Fraxinella with an Ash coloured Flower The Form Fraxinella is a very goodly Plant rising up with divers round hard brownish stalks neere two foot high the lower parts whereof are furnished with many winged Leaves somwhat like unto Liquorice or a small young Ash-Tree consisting of seaven nine or eleaven Leaves set together which are somwhat large and long hard and rough in handling the two first of a darke but the two later of a fresher greene colour and of an unpleasant strong or resinous sent the upper parts of the stalkes are furnished with many flowers growing spike fashion at certaine distances one above another consisting of five long Leaves a peece whereof foure that stand on the two sides are somwhat bending upwards and the fift hanging down but turning up the end of the leafe a little againe having in the middle a tassell of five or six long threds that bow down with the lower Lease and turne up also the ends againe with a little freese or thrum at the end of every one after the flowers are past arise hard stiffe rough clammy husks horned or pointed at the end foure or five standing together somwhat like the seed Vessels of Columbines but greater thicker and harder wherein is contained round shining black seed greater then any Columbine seed by much the root is white large
and spreading many waies under ground if it stand long the whole Plant is more pleasant to the sight then to the smell The Places and Time The naturall places of the sorts aforementioned are in divers parts both of Germany and Italy and that with the white flower about Frank-ford yet they grow with us in our Gardens as in the Physick Gardens at Oxford and that at Westminster and in the Gardens of divers others that are delighted with rarities of this Nature They flower in June and July and their seed is ripe in August The Temperature The Root of Fraxinella or the false white Dittany is hot and dry in the second degree it is of a wasting attennating and opening faculty The Vertues A dram or two of the powder of the roots of Fraxinella taken in wine or broth is very much commended against the Strangury provoketh Urine breaketh the Stone in the Bladder and driveth it forth and so doth the seed taken in the quantity of a dram The same are very effectuall to open obstructions to bring down Womens Courses and to clense that which is soule and contagious It is also a very great preservative both against Poyson and the Venome of Serpents and other Poysonfull Creatures and against the Pestilence and other contagious diseases and is good to kill the Wormes of the belly It warmeth and cleanseth the matrix expelleth the dead Child and After-birth if the part be fumigated with it and Penniroyall or taken in Wine it easeth the paines or torments in the inward parts or bowells and healeth inward hurts and wounds it is much commended against the Epilepsy or falling sicknesse and other cold griefes of the head and braines and is held to be of great use against the French disease to use it with the decoction of Guaiâ—â—m or Pock-wood The Leaves and the juice thereof taken after the same sort worketh the same effects though not so powerfully and being applyed outvvardly it dravveth Thornes and Splinters out of the flesh CHAP. CCXLI. Of Allheale The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Panaces or Panax because it is a Panacaea or remedy for many diseases which names are in use also amongst the Latins Some call it Panax Herculeum supposing Hercules to be the first founder of it but others would rather have it Panax Heracleum from Heraclea a Citty in Candy and though the name Panaxris referred to many pâ—ants as Origanum Sylvestre Centaurium magnum c. yet to this onely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is called in English Hercules Allheale and Hercules Wound wort and Allheale simply The Kindes To this Kind may be referred these seaven sorts 1. Ordinary Allheale of Hercules 2. The true Allheale of Hercules 3. American Allheale of Hercules supposed to be the true Laserwort with shining Leaves 4. Costus-like All-heale 5. The Hungarian Allheale of Hercules 6. The Cluster berry Allheale of America 7. Sweet sented Allheale of America The Forme Hercules Wound-wort spreadeth many large winged Leaves round about upon the ground most of them two foot long consisting of four five or six couples of rough winged Leaves set one against another on a round great foot-stalk furrowed on the upper side each of them likewise consisting of three or four couple of rough but large faire fresh yellowish green Leaves and one at the end all of them finely dented about the Edges tasting a little hot and biting and yeilding forth a yellowish juyce in the Summer called Opopanax much more gummy hot and bitter then the Leaves from which riseth a strong great round green stalk four or five foot high or more with some joynts and Leaves thereat and a few branches towards the top breaking forth into small yellow umbells of flowers which afterward give whitish yellow flat short seed The root is somewhat great and groweth deep into the ground The Places and Time The first is thought to grow in some Places of Italy but I am sure it did grow in the Physick Garden at Oxford and doth still if I be not mistaken as also at the Physick Garden at Westminister and in some other Gardens The second groweth in Naples as Matthiolus saith on the Apennine-hills also and the Sea Coasts by Siena The third came from America is the name of it importeth The fourth as Matthiolus saith groweth on Mount Garganus in Apulia The fifth in Tartaria and Hungaria The two last in America They all flower and seed in the end of Summer The Temperature The juyce or Gum which is of greatest use is hot in the third degree and dry in the second being of a heating mollifying and digesting quality the bark of the root is heating and drying likewise but in a meaner degree having withall a little cleansing property The Vertues The juyce or Gum of Allheale which it is called in shops and of many writters also Opopanax being drunk in honeyed Water or Wine helpeth tâ—e Itchings and sores in the Bladder and is good for the Strangury also and difficuâ—ty in making water It is endued with a speciall property also to purge thick and clammy Phlegme from the more remote parts as the Braine Nerves sensitive parts joynts and breasts and therefore it is profitable for any cold dâ—sease incident to any of those parts as in the Palsy weaknesse of sight old Cough shortnesse of breath Sciaticâ— and in other kinds of Gout It is good for Convulsions and Cramps as also against Windinesse in the Sides Belly Womb or in any other places and therefore it helpeth Stitches the hardnesse of the Spleene the strangling of the Mother bringeth down VVomens Courses and brings away also the Mola or Lumpe of flesh bred in the Womb. It expelleth wormes helpeth the biting of a â—ad Dâ—gge and is good against the poyson of other venemous Creatures Dissolved in Wine and given it helps the Dropsy and taken in Vinegar one hour before the Fit cometh it takes away the cold Fit of an Ague eâ—pecially if some of it be dissolved with the juyce of Smallage and Oyle of Dill and the ridge of the back annointed therewith It is good after falls and bruises to dissolve any congealed blood eâ—pecially in Cold bodies and where no Feaver is Being dissolved wiâ—h Vinegar the juyce of Smallage applyed to the Region of the Spleen softeneth the hardness of it a plaisterg made thereof dissolveth the Kings-Evâ—ll and hard Nodes of the Joynts as also any Plague sore botch or Bile especially being dissolved in Vinegar applyed with the pulp of Raisins in the Sun it eaâ—eth any kind of Gout If the mouth be washed with a decoction of Vinegar made with it it easeth the paine in the Teeth or if it be a hollow tooth let it be stopped with a peece Some commend it against the dimnesse of sight being mixed with other things It is very availeable to cure old Ulcers and Fistulaes and to breed good flesh especially where the bones are bare
The Temperature The seeds of Cotton are said to be hot and moist and the Wool or Cotton it self to be hot and dry The Vertues Of all the seeds I have yet mentioned there is none more absolutely effectuall not only to increase the seed of generation and naturall strength but also to stir up bodily lust then this of Cotton which may be had at any Apothecaries shops It is also used to lenify the harshnesse of the Throat to help those that are short winded by opening the Passages whose obstruction was the cause thereof and those also that have sharp distillations upon the Lungs so that it is also a good remedy for the Cough for it not only dryeth up the Rhewme but causeth tough phlegme to be easily expectorated or avoided It is used likewise in gripings and gnawings of the Stomack and Guts yea though they come by poyson and are good also in all hot or I should rather think in cold Agues The juyce of the Leaves is good for the Lask of young Children and for the gnawing and grinding in the belly The Ashes of the Cotton Wool being being burned is very admirable to stanch the bleeding of Wounds and is used in restâ—ictive Medicines as Bole Armoniack is for which it is more effectuall The oyl pressed out of the seed doth make the skin to become exceeding smooth taking away Spots Freckles and other blemishes thereof Some do think and that not without good reason that the Byssus of the Ancients is the Wool of the Tree of fine Cotton of which the Byssina â—ela or fine white Callicoe Cloth that cometh out of the East Indies is made Common experience telleth us also how profitable Cotton Wool is to make Fustian Cloth Stockings Gloves and divers other necessaries and it is the best Wool that can be to put in an Inkehorn CHAP. CCLXXV Of the Fistick Nut. The Names IT hath gotten divers Greek Names or rather the same Name diversly altered for though 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pistacia be the ordinary Name yet Nicander in one place cals it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phistacia and in another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Possidonius writeth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is called in Latine Pistacia Pistacium and of some Nux Pistacia and the Tree is thought to be the Terebintbus Indica of Theophrastus We call the fruit in English Pistackes and Fistick Nuts and the Tree the Fistick Tree The Forme The Tree which beareth the Fistick Nuts groweth to be of a reasonable large sise in the hot Countryes though but very slender in ours dispersed into sundry branches whose bark is of a dark russet colour the leaves are winged five or seven growing commonly on a stalk the odde one standing alwayes at the end each whereof is broader and larger then those of the Ash but not so sharp pointed smooth almost shining with divers veins therein and of a pale yellowish green colour from amongst which do come forth many white flowers set together on a long cluster and consequently the fruit which are somewhat long and round Nuts bigger then Filberds pointed at the ends with a rough outer shell somewhat like unto the outer shell of an Almond but tough and hard to break yet cleaving into two parts and smooth and white on the inside thereof having a full green Nâ—t or kernell within filling the whole shell the rind and peeling whereof is thick and red the kernell being sweet to smell unto pleasant in â—ast and altogether inoffensive The Plâ—ces and Time The Fistick Tree groweth naturally in Bactria and other parts neer unto the East-Indies being brought from thence into Persia Arabia Syria and Egypt as also into the warmer coasts of Italy and Naples where they thrive and prospeâ— bringing forth their flowers in May and their ripe fruit in September or thereabouts The Temperature Fistick Nuts are of temperature hot and moist The Signature and Vertues The Kernels of the Fistick Nuts may be sade to have the Signature of the Testicles or rather the Nut of the Yard as Crâ—llius saith and therefore the â—ating of them being condited or made into Comfits or otherwise is as condâ—cible for the increasing of seed and stirring up of Vâ—nery as the Kernels of the Pine Apples are being very little inferior in goodnesse to them Whether they be eaten or drunk they be friendly to the Stomack and yeeld to the body no small nourishment for they make even those bodyes which are in a Consumption to recover strength They are good against the stingings and bitings of Serpents and other venemous Creatures by reason of the thin Essence and little bitter substance that is mingled with the sweet in them and for the same caâ—se they â—pen the Obstructions of the Liver and are good also for the Chest and Lunges concocting ripening and expelling the raw humours â—hat many times offend them There is also a little astringent quality in them whereby they strengthen both the Liver and Stomack to be put either in Meates or Medicines They also remove sand and gravell out of the Reines or Kidneys and asswage their pain and are also good for Ulcers CHAP. CCLXXVI Of the Chesnut Tree The Names IT is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Castana and Castanâ—a but mâ—st usually Castanea in Latine and so is the fruit which is also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Sardianae glandes and â—opima Souâ—e have called it Euboida or Euboica and Heracleâ—tâ—ca because as it should seem they grew plentifully in those parts and Gaza translating Theophrastus cals it Avellana Nux but improperly and Agelocâ—us as Athenaeus saith called it Moâ—a and Amoâ—a Though Pliny seemeth to make the Tarentina Salariana Meterano Corâ—liana Balanitis c. to be divers sorts hereof yet indeed they are only the diversity of places which cause this difference of Names The Kinds There are four especiall sorts of Cheâ—nuts 1 The ordinary Chesnut 2 The Horse Chesnut 3 The Dwarfe Chesnut 4. The Chesnut of Peru. 5 Purging Chesnuts of America The Forme The ordinary Chesnut Tree groweth very tall and high bearing great long rough and wrinkled Leaves dented about the edges putting forth at the time of the year divers long Catkins or bloomings somewhat like the Oak but of a more greenish yellow colour the Fruit groweth between the leaves and the branches towards the end of them enclosed in three severall Huskes the outermost whereof is whiâ—ish and prickly like an Urchin which openeth it selfe when it is ripe and sheweth the Nut being flat on the one side and round but flat on the other whose shell or huske is smooth browne and shining a little on the outside but hairy within tough also and not easie to breake under which lyeth the kernell covered with a thin reddish bitter skin or peeling which is of a firme substance and white sweet and pleasant in â—aste formed somewhat like a
be eminent for healing green Wounds yet not for all other diseases as those names import The Forme Clownes Wound-wort groweth up with slender four square green rough Stalks to the height of halfe a yard or two foot surrowed in a little upon every square the joynts standing somewhat farre a sunder with two very long and somewhat narrow dark green Leaves bluntly dented about the Edges and sharp pointed at the end the flowers stand towards the top compassing the stalkes at the joynts as those of Horehound doe but it endeth in a spiked top which Horehound doth not having long and much open gaping hoods of a purplish red colour with whitish spots in them standing in somewhat rough huskes wherein afterwards stand blackish round seeds The root is composed of many long strings with some tuberous long knobs commonly growing amongst them of a pale yellowish or whitish colour the whole plant is of a strong smell somewhat like unto Stinking Horehound The Places and Time Clownes Allheale groweth frequently in most of the Countries of this Land by the sides of severall brooks and ditches and sometimes by the Path-sides and Borders of fields It floureth in August and bringeth its seed to perfection about the end of September The Temperature This kind of Sideritis is hot in the second degree and dry in the first and withal of an earthy quality The Vertues The Leaves of Clownes Wound-wort stamped with Swines grease and applyed unto green Woundes in manner of a Pultis doth heale them in a short time according to the first intention that is by closing up the lips of them without drawing or bringing them to Suppuration or Matter in such absolute manner that it is hard for any one that hath not had the experience thereof to believe It is also very availeable in stanching of bloud and to dry up the Fluxes of humors in old fretting Vlcers Cancers c. that hinder the healing of them Neither is it excellent onely for outward but also for inward Wounds Ruptures of veines bloudy flux spitting pissing or vomiting bloud a syrupe being made thereof and taken now and then a little and so Ruptures or burstings of the belly are speedily even to admiration cured if a Plaister of the Herb or an oyntment of the same be applyed to the place The said Plaister being applyed to any veine that is swollen or Muscle that is cut helpeth it and if there be a little Comfry added to it it will be so much the better CHAP. CCCXXXIV Of Arsmart The Names IT is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hydropiper i. e. Piper aquaticum because one kind of it hath a burning taste like Pepper and Hydropiper in Latine sometimes but generally Perficaria quod folia â—jus Perfica foliis similia sunt because the leaves of it are like unto those of the Peach-tree yet some make this distinction calling the mild or gentle sort Perficaria simply and the other Hydropiper five Perficaria urens in English Water Pepper and Arsmart and in some Countries Red-knees and of some Culrage and Cyderach The Kindes There be foure Sorts of Arsmart growing in our owne Country 1. Dead or Spotted Arsmart 2. Small creeping Arsmart 3. Codded Arsmart or Touchme not 4. Biting Arsmart or Water Pepper The Forme The â—ild or Spotted Arsmart groweth up with Leaves of a middle size both for length and breadth set at the great red joynts of the Stalkes with blackish spots upon them many times almost like a halfe moone but not alwayes the flowers grow in long Spiky heades either of a blush or whitish colour which falling away blackish â—lat seed come in their places The root is long with many fibres thereat perishing yearly this hath no biting tast as the Water Pepper hath which is exceeding hot but is rather like sowre Sorrell or else a little drying or without tast the way of distinguishing one from an other is to breake a leafe of it crosse ones tongue for the biting sort will make the tongue to smart and so will not the other The Places and Time The first groweth very common almost every where in moist and watery Plashes and neer to the brims of Rivers Ditches and running Brooks and sometimes in those Corn-fields that are subject to moisture in the Winter time The second groweth also within the confines of our Countrey and so doth the third but the place thereof is not particularly expressed and therefore some Physick Garden is the surest place to finde them the last is found in like places with the first but not so frequently and is to be known from iâ— by the red spots which it sometimes hath as also by the Diagnostick I have already set down They flower in June and their Seed is ripe in August The Temperature The â—ildâ— or dead Arsmart as it is called is cold and something dry but the Biting Arsmart is hot and dry yet not so hot as Pepper according to Galen The Vertues and Signature The Leaves and Stalkes of the Dead Arsmart being stamped and applyed to green or fresh Wounds doe cool and comfort them exceedingly and keep them from â—â—postumation and inflaâ—mation and so doth the juice of them being dropped thereinto Being applyed in like manner it consumeth all cold swellings and taketh away black and blew markes of the Skin by dissolving the congealed blood happening upon bruises strokes fallâ— c. which is signified by the black spots which are upon the Leaves and being laid to a Joynt that hath a Felon thereon it taketh it away by Signature also A piece of the Root or some of the Seed bruised and held to an aking tooth taketh away the pâ—ine The Juice of it being dropped into the Eares destroyeth the Wormes that are in them and so it is good against deafenesse Two dâ—amms of the powder of the herb taken with a little Vinegar openeth the obstructions of the Liver Being stamped with Wine and applyed to the Matrix it bringeth unto Women their monthly Courses If it be stamped with Rue and Wormwood and all of them fryed together with Butter or Suet and applyed to the Stomach or Bâ—lly it killeth the Wormes in them When a Womans Belly is great and she not with Childe let her boyl of Arsmart Rue and Hyssâ—p of each one handfull in a quart of Ale to the one halfe and drinke thereof first and last it will reduce it to its just measure The distilled Water of the herb mingled with an Oxe Gall and a little Oyle of Spike being annointed upon any place that is troubled with the Gout and a blew woollen cloth laid upon it taketh away the pain thereof Two spoonfulls of the said Water with one of Aqua Vitae being nointed on any place troubled with an Ach for five or sixe dayes taketh it quite away It is said that if a handfull of Arsmart wetted in Water be applyed to a Wound or Sore and afterwards buried in moist ground as the herb rotteth so