likewise in his Prognosticks he saith that it is necessary that S. Anthonies sire should breake forth and that it is death to haue it driuen in which is to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not onely of S. Anthonies fire but also of other like burstings out procured by 〈◊〉 For by vsing of these kindes of cooling and repelling medicines the bad corrupt and sharpe 〈◊〉 are driuen backe inwardly to the chiese and principall parts which cannot be done without great danger and hazard of life And therefore we must not vnaduisedly lightly or rashly 〈◊〉 such kinde of medicines vpon the comming out of Saint Anthonies fire the shingles or such 〈◊〉 pimples and blemishes of the skinne The iuice of the greene leaues of Garden Nightshade mixed with Barley meale is very 〈◊〉 applied vnto Saint Anthonies fire and to all hot inflammations The iuice mixed with oile of Roses Ceruse and Littarge of gold and applied is more 〈◊〉 and effectuall to the purposes before set downe Neither the iuice heereof nor any other part is vsually giuen inwardly yet it may without any danger The leaues stamped are profitably put into the ointment of Popler buds called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and it is good in all other ointments made for the same purpose ‡ 2 The barke of the root of Sleepie Nightshade taken in the weight of 31. hath a 〈◊〉 qualitie yet is it milder then Opium and the fruit thereof vehemently prouokes vrine But as Pliny saith the remedies hereof are not of such esteeme that we should long insist vpon them especially seeing wee are furnished with such store of medicines lesse harmefull yet seruing 〈◊〉 the same purpose ‡ CHAP. 56. Of sleepy Nightshade Solanum Laethale Dwale or deadly Nightshade ¶ The Description DWale or sleeping Nightshade 〈◊〉 round blackish stalkes six foot high wherupon do grow great broad 〈◊〉 of a darke greene colour among which doe grow small hollow flowers bel fashion of an ouerworne purple colour in the place wherof come forthgreatround berrios of the bignesse of the blacke cherry greene at the 〈◊〉 but when they be ripe of the color of 〈◊〉 iette or burnished horne soft and full of purple iuice among which iuice lie the 〈◊〉 like the berries of Iuy the root is very great thicke and long lasting The Place It groweth in vntoiled places neere vnto high waies and the sea marshes and such like places It groweth very plentifully in Holland in Lincolnshire and in the I le of Ely at a place called Walsoken neere vnto Wisbitch I found it growing without the gate of Highgate neere vnto a pound or pinsold on the left hand The Time This flourisheth all the Sommer and Spring beareth his seed and flower in Iuly and August ¶ The Names It is called of Dioscorides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Theophrastus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Latines 〈◊〉 somniferum or sleeping Nightshade and Solanum laethale or deadly Nightshade and Solanum 〈◊〉 raging Nightshade of some Apollinaris minor vlticana and Herba Opsago in English Dwale or sleeping Nightshade the Venetians and Italians call it Bella dona the Germanes Dollwurtz the low Dutch Dulle besien in French Morelle mortelle it commeth very neere vnto 〈◊〉 his Mandragoras which differeth from Dioscorides his Mandragoras ¶ The Nature It is cold euen in the fourth degree ¶ The Vertues This kinde of Nightshade causeth sleep troubleth the minde bringeth madnesse if a few of the berries be inwardly taken but if moe be giuen they also kill and bring present death 〈◊〉 in his 6. booke doth likewise write of Mandrake in this manner Mandrake causeth sleepe and if also much of it be taken it bringeth death The greene leaues of deadly Nightshade may with great aduice be vsed in such cases at Pettimorrell but if you will follow my counsell deale not with the same in any case and banish it from your gardens and the vse of it also being a plant so furious and deadly for it bringeth such as haue eaten thereof into a dead sleepe wherein many haue died as hath been often seen and prooued by experience both in England and else where But to giue you an example heeréof it shall not be amisse It came to passe that three boyes of Wisbich in the I le of Ely did eate of the pleasant beautifull fruite hereof two whereof died in lesse than eight houres after that they had eaten of them The third child had a quantitie of hony and water mixed together giuen him to drinke causing him to vomit often God blessed this meanes and the child recouered Banish therefore these pernicious plants out of your gardens and all places neere to your houses where children or women with child do resort which do oftentimes long and lust after things most vile and filthie and much more after a berry of a bright shining blacke colour and of such great beautie as it were able to allure any such to eate thereof The leaues heereof laid vnto the temples cause sleepe especially if they be imbibed or moistened in wine vineger Iteaseth the intollerable paines of the head-ache proceeding of heate in furious agues causing rest being applied as aforesaid CHAP. 57. Of winter Cherries ¶ The Description 1 THe red winter Cherrie bringeth forth stalkes a cubit long round slender smooth and somewhat reddish reeling this way and that way by reason of his weakenesse not able to stand vpright without a supporter whereupon do grow leaues not vnlike to those of common Nightshade but greater among which leaues come forth white floures consisting of fiue small leaues in the middle of which leaues standeth out a berry greene at the first and red when it is 〈◊〉 in colour of our common Cherry and of the same bignesse inclosed in a thinne huske or little bladder it is of a pale reddish colour in which berrie is conteined many small flat seeds of a pale colour The rootes be long not vnlike to the rootes of Couch-grasse ramping and creeping within the vpper crust of the earth farre abroad whereby it encreaseth greatly 2 The blacke winter Cherrie hath weake and slender stalkes somewhat crested and like vnto the tendrels of the vine casting it selfe all about and taketh hold of such things as are next vnto it whereupon are set jagged leaues deepely indented or cut about the edges almost to the middle ribbe The floures be very small and white standing vpon long foote-stalkes or stemmes The skinnie bladders succeed the floures parted into three sells or chambers euery of the which conteineth one seed and no more of the bignesse of a small pease and blacke of colour hauing a marke of white colour vpon each berrie in proportion of an heart The roote is very small and threddie ¶ The Place The red winter Cherrie groweth vpon old broken walls about the borders of fieldes and in moist shadowie places and in most gardens where some cherish it for the beautie of the berries and others for the great and worthy vertues thereof 2 The blacke
deeper yellow tending to blacknesse of the forme and shape of a single Marigold whereupon I haue named it the Sunne Marigold The seed as yet I haue not obserued ¶ The Place These plants do grow of themselues without setting or sowing in Peru and in diuers other prouinces of America from whence the seeds haue beene brought into these parts of Europe There hath been seen in Spaine and other hot regions a plant sowne and nourished vp from seed to attain to the height of 24. foot in one yeare ¶ The Time The seed must be set or sowne in the beginning of Aprill if the weather be temperate in the most fertile ground that may be and where the Sun hath most power the whole day ¶ The Names The floure of the Sun is called in Latine Flos Solis taking that name from those that haue reported it to turne with the Sun the which I could neuer obserue although I haue endeuored to finde out the truth of it but I rather thinke it was so called because it doth resemble the radiant beames of the Sun whereupon some haue called it Corona Solis and Sol Indianus the Indian Sunne floure others haue called it Chrysanthemum 〈◊〉 or the golden floure of Peru in English the floure of the Sun or the Sun floure ¶ The Temperature They are thought to be hot and dry of complexion ¶ The Vertues There hath not any thing been set downe either of the antient or later writers concerning the vertues of these plants notwithstanding we haue found by triall that the buds before they be floured boiled and eaten with butter vineger and pepper after the manner of Artichokes are exceeding pleasant meat surpassing the Artichoke far in procuring bodily lust The same buds with the stalks neere vnto the top the hairinesse being taken away broiled vpon a gridiron and afterward eaten with oile vineger and pepper haue the like property CHAP. 260. Of Jerusalem Artichoke ONe may wel by the English name of this plant perceiue that those that vulgarly impose names vpon plants haue little either iudgement or knowledge of them For this plant hath no similitude in leafe stalke root or manner of growing with an Artichoke but onely a little similitude of taste in the dressed root neither came it from Ierusalem or out of Afia but out of America whence Fabius Columna one of the first setters of it forth fitly uames it Aster Peruuianus tuberosus and Flos solis Farnesianus because it so much resembles the Flos solis and for that he first obserued it growing in the garden of Cardinall Farnesius who had procured roots thereof from the West Indies Pelliterius calls this 〈◊〉 Indicum tuberosum and 〈◊〉 in his Prodromus sets this forth by the name of 〈◊〉 latifolium Brasilianum but in his Pinax he hath it by the name of Helianthemum Indicum tuberosum Also our Countreyman Mr. Parkinson hath exactly deliuered the history of this by the name of Battatas de Canada Englishing it Potatoes of Canada now all these that haue written and mentioned it bring it from America but from far different places as from Peru Brasil and Canada but this is not much material seeing it now grows so wel plentifully in so many places of England I will now deliuer you the Historie as I haue receiued it from my oft mentioned friend Mr. Goodyer who as you may see by the date took it presently vpon the first 〈◊〉 into England ‡ Flos Solis Pyramidalis Ierusalem Artichoke ¶ The Description Flos solis Pyramidalis parvo flore tuberosa radice 〈◊〉 Indicum quorundam 1 THis wonderfull increasing plant hath growing vp from one root one sometimes two three or more round green rough hairy straked stalks commonly about twelue foot high sometimes sixteene foot high or higher as big as a childs arme full of white spungious pith within The leaues grow all alongst the stalkes out of order of a light green color rough sharp pointed about eight inches broad and ten oreleuen inches long deeply notched or indented about the edges very like the leaues of the common flos solis Peruanus but nothing crompled and not so broad The stalkes diuide themselues into many long branches euen from the roots to their very tops bearing leaues smaller and smaller toward the tops making the herbe appeare like a little tree narrower and slenderer toward the top in fashion of a steeple or Pyramide The floures with vs grow onely at the toppes of the stalkes and branches like those of the said flos solis but no bigger than our common single Marigold consisting of twelue or thirteene straked sharpe pointed bright yellow bordering leaues growing foorth of a scaly small hairie head with a small yellow thrummie matter within These floures by reason of their late 〈◊〉 which is commonly two or three weeks after Michaelmas neuer bring their seed to perfection it maketh shew of abundance of small heads neere the tops of the stalkes and branches forth of the bosomes of the leaues which neuer open and floure with vs by reason they are destroyed with the frosts which otherwise it seemes would be a goodly spectacle The stalke sendes foorth many small creeping roots whereby it is fed or nourished full of hairie threddes euen from the vpper part of the earth spreading farre abroad amongst which from the maine root grow forth many tuberous roots clustering together sometimes fastened to the great root it selfe sometimes growing on long strings a foot or more from the root raising or heauing vp the earth aboue them and sometimes appearing aboue the earth producing from the increase of one root thirty forty or fifty in number or more making in all vsually aboue a pecke many times neere halfe a bushell if the soile be good These tuberous roots are of a reddish colour without of a soft white substance within bunched or bumped out many waies sometimes as big as a mans fist or not so big with white noses or peaks where they will sprout or grow the next yeare The stalkes bowed downe and some part of them couered ouer with earth send forth smal creeping threddie roots and also tuberous roots like the 〈◊〉 which I haue found by experience These tuberous roots will abide 〈◊〉 in the earth all winter though the stalkes and rootes by the which they were nourished vtterly rot and perish away and will beginne to spring vp againe at the beginning of May seldome sooner ¶ The Place Where this plant groweth naturally I know not in Anno 1617 I receiued two small roots thereof from Master Franqueuill of London no bigger than hens egges the one I planted and the other I gaue to a friend mine brought mee a pecke of roots wherewith I stored Hampshire ¶ The Vertues These rootes are dressed diuers waies some boile them in water and after stew them with sacke and butter adding a little Ginger others bake them in pies putting Marrow Dates Ginger Raisons of the Sun Sacke c.
described The floures grow on the tops of the branches in maner of a crowne whereupon some haue called it Coronilla in shape like those of the pease and of a yellow colour the cods as yet we haue not seen and therefore not expressed in the figure 5 This small bastard Sene groweth like a small shrub creeping vpon the ground halfe a cubit high bringing forth many twiggie branches in maner of those of the Spanish broome wherupon do grow leaues like those of Lentils or the Strangle Tare with many smal leaues set vpon a middle rib somewhat fat or full of iuice of the colour of the leaues of Rue or Herbegrace of an astringent and vnpleasant taste the floures grow at the tops of the branches of a yellow colour in shape likethose of the smallest broome after which come little crooked cods like the clawes or toes of a bird wherein is contained seed somwhat long blacke and of an 〈◊〉 taste the root is long hard tough and of a wooddy substance 6 There is also found another sort hereof not much differing from the former sauing that this plant is greater in each respect wherein especially consisteth the difference ¶ The Place Colutea or bastard Sene groweth in diuers gardens and commeth vp of seed it quickly commeth to perfection insomuch that if a sticke thereof be broken off and thrust into the ground it quickly taketh root yea although it be done in the middle of summer or at any other time euen as the sticks of Willow or Elder as my selfe haue often prooued the which bring forth floures and fruit the next yeere after The second with Scorpion cods groweth likewise in my garden the last doth grow in diuers barren chalky grounds of Kent towards Sittinbourne Canturbury and about Southfleet I haue not seene them elsewhere the rest are strangers in England ¶ The Time They floure from May till summer be well spent in the meane season the cods bring forth ripe seed ¶ The Names This shrub is called of Theophrastus in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the diphthong 〈◊〉 in the second sillable in Latine as Gaza expoundeth it Coloutea or Colutea in high Dutch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in French Baguenaudier they are deceiued that thinke it to be Sena or any kinde thereof although we haue followed others in giuing it to name Bastard Sene which name is very vnproper to it in low Dutch it is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and we may vse the same name Sene tree in English This Calutea or bastard Sene doth differ from that plant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with v in the second syllable of which Colytea Theophrastus writeth in his third booke ‡ The fifth is the Polygala 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 ‡ ¶ The Nature and Vertues Theophrastus neither any other hath made mention of the temperature or faculties in working of these plants more than that they are good to fatten cattell especially sheepe CHAP. 12. Of 〈◊〉 ¶ The Description 1 THe first kinde of Liquorice hath many 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rising vp to the height of two or three cubits beset with leaues of an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 colour consisting of many small leaues set vpon a middle rib like the leaues 〈◊〉 Colutea or the 〈◊〉 tree somewhat glutinous in handling among which come small knops growing vpon short stems betwixt the leaues and the branches clustering together and making a round forme and shape out of which grow small blew floures of the colour of an English Hyacinth after which succeed round rough prickly heads consisting of diuers rough or 〈◊〉 huskes closely and thicke compact together in which is contained a flat seed the root is straight yellow within and browne without of a sweet and pleasant taste 2 The common and vsuall Liquorice hath stalkes and leaues very like the former sauing that his leaues are greener and greater and the floures of a light shining blew colour but the floures of this are succeeded by longish cods that grow not so thicke clustring together in round heads as the former but spike fashion or rather like the wilde Vetch called 〈◊〉 or Galega the cods are small and flat like vnto the Tare the roots are of a brownish colour without and yellow within like Box and sweeter in taste than the former ¶ The Place These plants do grow in sundry places of Germany wilde and in France and Spaine but they are planted in gardens in England whereof I haue plenty in my garden the poore people of the North parts of England do manure it with great diligence wherby they obtain great plenty thereof replanting the same once in three or foure yeares ¶ The Time Liquorice floureth in Iuly and the seed is ripe in September 1 Glycyrrhiza Echinata Dioscoridis Hedge-hogge Licorice ‡ 2 〈◊〉 vulgaris Common Licorice ¶ The Names The first is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Dulc is radix or sweet Root this Licorice is 〈◊〉 knowne either to the Apothecaries or to the vulgar people we call it in English Dioscorides his Licorice It is most euident that the other is 〈◊〉 or Licorice the Apothecaries call it by a corrupt word Liquiritia the Italians Regalitia the Spaniards Regeliza and Regalitia in high Dutch Suszhotz Suszwurtzel in French Rigolisse Raigalisse and Reglisse in low Dutch 〈◊〉 suethout in English common Licorice Pliny calleth it Scythica herba it is named Scythice of the countrey Scythia where it groweth ¶ The Temperature The Nature of Dioscorides his Licorice as Galen saith is familiar to the temperature of our bodies and seeing it hath a certaine binding quality adioined the temperature thereof so much as is hot and binding is specially of a warme buality comming neerest of all to a meane temperature besides for that it is also sweet it is likewise meanely moist For as much as the root of the common Licorice is sweet it is also temperately hot and moist notwithstanding the barke thereof is something bitter and hot but this must be scraped away the fresh root when it is full of juice doth moisten more than the dry ¶ The Vertues The root of Licorice is good against the rough harshnesse of the throat and brest it openeth the pipes of the lungs when they be stuffed or stopped and ripeneth the cough and bringeth forth flegme The iuice of Licorice made according to Art and hardned into a lumpe which is called 〈◊〉 Liquiritiae serueth well for the purposes aforesaid being holden vnder the tongue and there suffered to melt Moreouer with the juice of Licorice Ginger and other spices there is made a certaine bread or cakes called Ginger-bread which is very good against the cough and all the infirmities of 〈◊〉 lungs and brest which is cast into moulds some of one fashion and some of another The iuice of Licorice is profitable against the heate of the stomacke and of the mouth The same is drunke 〈◊〉 wine of Raisons against the infirmities of the liuer and chest scabs or sores of the bladder and diseases of the
Grano the Spaniards Trigo the French men Bled ou Fourment in England we call the first White-Wheat and Flaxen Wheat Triticum Lucidum is called Bright Wheat Red Wheat is called in Kent Duck-bill Wheate and Normandy Wheat ¶ The nature Wheat saith Galen is very much vsed of men and with greatest profit Those Wheats do nourish most which be hard and haue their whole substance so closely compact as they can scarcely be bit asunder for such doe nourish very much and the contrary but little Wheat as it is a medicine outwardly applied is hot in the first degree yet can it not manifestly either dry or moisten It hath also a certaine clamminesse and stopping qualitie ¶ The vertues Raw Wheat saith Dioscorides being eaten breedeth wormes in the belly being chewed and applied it doth 〈◊〉 the biting of mad dogs 3 Triticum Typhinum Flat Wheat 4 Triticum multiplici spica Double eared Wheat The floure of wheat being boyled with honey and water or with oyle and water taketh away all inflammations or hot swellings The bran of Wheat boyled in strong Vineger clenseth away scurfe and dry scales and dissolueth the beginning of all hot swellings if it be laid vnto them And boyled with the decoction of Rue it slaketh the swellings in womens brests The graines of white Wheat as Pliny writeth in his two and twentieth booke and seuenth chapter being dried brown but not burnt and the pouder thereof mixed with white wine is good for watering eyes if it be laid thereto The dried pouder of red Wheat boyled with vineger helpeth the shrinking of sinewes 5 Triticum lucidum Bright Wheat The leauen made of Wheat hath vertue to heate and draw outward it resolueth concocteth and openeth all swellings bunches tumors and felons being mixed with salt The fine floure mixed with the yolke of an egge honey and a little saffron doth draw and heale byles and such like sores in children and in old people very well and quickely Take crums of wheaten bread one pound and an halfe barley meale 〈◊〉 ij Fennigreeke and Lineseed of each an ounce the leaues of Mallowes Violets Dwale Sengreene and Cotyledon ana one handfull boyle them in water and oyle vntill they be tender then stampe them very small in a stone morter and adde thereto the yolks of three egges oyle of Roses and oyle of Violets ana 〈◊〉 ij Incorporate them altogether but if the inflammation grow to an Erysipelas then adde thereto the juice of Nightshade Plantaine and Henbane ana 〈◊〉 ij it easeth an Erysipelas or Saint Anthonies fire and all inflammations very speedily Slices of fine white bread laid to infuse or steepe in Rose water and so applied vnto sor̄e eyes which haue many hot humors falling into them doth easily defend the humour and cease the paine The oyle of wheat pressed forth betweene two plates of hot iron healeth the chaps and chinks of the hands feet and fundament which come of cold making smooth the hands face or any other part of the body The same vsed as a Balsame doth excellently heale wounds and being put among salues or vnguents it causeth them to worke more effectually especially in old vlcers CHAP. 47. Of Rie ¶ The Description THe leafe of Rie when it first commeth vp is somewhat reddish afterward greene as be the other graines It groweth vp with many stalks slenderer than those of wheat and longer with knees or ioynts by certaine distances like vnto Wheat the eares are orderly framed vp in rankes and compassed about with short beards not sharpe but blunt which when it floureth standeth vpright and when it is filled vp with seed it leaneth and hangeth downward The seed is long blackish slender and naked which easily falleth out of the huskes of it selfe The roots be many slender and full of strings ¶ The place Rie groweth very plentifully in the most places of Germany and Polonia as appeareth by the great quantitie brought into England in times of dearth and scarcitie of corne as hapned in the yeare 1596 and at other times when there was a generall want of corne by reason of the aboundance of raine that fell the yeare before whereby great penurie ensued as well of cattell and all other victuals as of all manner of graine It groweth likewise very wel in most places of England especially towards the North. Secale Rie ¶ The time It is for the most part sowen in Autumne and sometimes in the Spring which proueth to be a Graine more subiect to putrifaction than that which was sowen in the fall of the leafe by reason the Winter doth ouertake it before it can attaine to his perfect maturitie and ripenesse ¶ The Names Rie is called in high Dutch 〈◊〉 in Low-Dutch 〈◊〉 in Spanish Centeno in Italian Segala in French Seigle which soundeth after the old Latine name which in Pliny is Secale and Farrago lib. 18. cap. 16. ¶ The temperature Rie as a medicine is hotter than wheat and more forcible in heating wasting and consuming away that whereto it is applied It is of a more clammy and obstructing nature than Wheat and harder to digest yet to rusticke bodies that can well digest it it yeelds good nourishment ¶ The vertues Bread or the leauen of Rie as the Belgian Physitians affirme vpon their practise doth more forcibly digest draw ripen and breake all Apostumes Botches and Byles than the leuen of Wheat Rie Meale bound to the head in a Linnen Cloath doth asswage the long continuing paines thereof CHAP. 48. Of Spelt Corne. ¶ The Description SPelt is like to Wheat in stalkes and eare it groweth vp with a multitude of stalks which are kneed and joynted higher than those of Barley it bringeth forth a disordered eare for the most part without beards The cornes be wrapped in certaine dry huskes from which they cannot easily be purged and are joyned together by couples in two chaffie huskes out of which when they be taken they are like vnto wheat cornes it hath also many roots as wheat hath whereof it is a kinde ¶ The place It groweth in fat and fertile moist ground ¶ The time It is altered and changed into Wheat it selfe as degenerating from bad to better contrary to all other that do alter or change especially as Theophrastus saith if it be clensed and so sowen but that not forthwith but in the third yeare ¶ The Names The Grecians haue called it 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 the Latines Spelta in the Germane tongue 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 in low Dutch 〈◊〉 in French Espeautre of most Italians Pirra Farra of the Tuscans Biada of the Millanois Alga in English Spelt Corne. Dioscorides maketh mention of two kindes of Spelt one of which he names 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or single another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which brings forth two cornes ioyned together in a couple of huskes as before in the description is mentioned That Spelt which Dioscorides calls Dicoccos is the same that Theophr and Galen do name Zea. The most ancient Latines
little bels of an ouer-worne purple colour hanging down their heads euery one hauing his owne foot-stalke of two inches long as also his pestell or clapper from the middle part of the floure which being past and withered there is not found any seed at all as in other plants but is increased onely in his root ¶ The Place This Persian Lilly groweth naturally in Persia and those places adiacent whereof it tooke his name and is now by the industrie of Trauellers into those countries louers of Plants made a Denizon in some few of our London gardens ¶ The Time This plant floureth from the beginning of May to the end of Iune ¶ The Names This Persian Lilly is called in Latine Lilium Persicum Lilium Susianum Pennaciò Persiano and Pannaco Persiano either by the Turks themselues or by such as out of those parts brought them into England but which of both is vncertaine Alphonsus Pancius Physition to the Duke of Ferrara when as he sent the figure of this Plant vnto Carolus Clusius added this title Pennacio Persiano è Piantabellissima è specie di Giglio ó Martagon diuerso della corona Imperiale That is in English This most elegant plant Pennacio of Persia is a kinde of Lilly or Martagon differing from the floure called the Crowne Imperiall Lilium Persicum The Persian Lilly ¶ The Nature and Vertues There is not any thing knowne of the nature or vertues of this Persian Lilly esteemed as yet for his rarenesse and comely proportion although if I might be so bold with a stranger that hath vouchsafed to trauell so many hundreds of miles for our acquaintance we haue in our English fields many scores of floures in beauty far excelling it CHAP. 108. Of the Crowne 〈◊〉 ¶ The Description THe Crowne Imperial hath for his root a thicke firme and solid bulbe couered with a yellowish filme or skinne from the which riseth vp a great thicke fat stalke two cubits high in the bare and naked part of a darke ouerworne dusky purple colour The leaues grow confusedly about the stalke like those of the white Lilly but narrower the floures grow at the top of the stalke incompassing it round in forme of an Imperiall crowne whereof it tooke his name hanging their Corona Imperialis The Crowne Imperiall Corona Imperialis duplici corona The double Crowne Imperiall Corona Imperialis cum semine Crowne Imperiall with the seed heads downward as it were bels in colour it is yellowish or to giue you the true colour which by words otherwise cannot be expressed if you lay sap berries in steepe in faire water for the space of two houres and mix a little Saffron with that infusion and lay it vpon paper it sheweth the perfect colour to limne or illumine the floure withall The backside of the said floure is streaked with purplish lines which doth greatly set forth the beauty thereof In the bottome of each of these bells there is placed six drops of most cleere shining sweet water in tast like sugar resembling in shew faire Orient pearles the which drops if you take away there do immediately appeare the like notwithstanding if they may be suffered to stand still in the floure according to his owne nature they wil neuer fall away no not if you strike the plant vntill it be broken Amongst these drops there standeth out a certaine pestell as also sundry smal chiues tipped with small pendants like those of the Lilly aboue the whole floures there growes a tuft of green leaues like those vpon the stalke but smaller After the floures be faded there 〈◊〉 cods or seed-vessels six square wherein is contained flat seeds tough and limmer of the colour of Mace The whole plant as well roots as floures do sauour or smell very like a Fox As the plant groweth old so doth it wax rich bringing forth a Crowne of floures amongst the vppermost greene leaues which some make a second kinde although in truth they are but one and the selfe same which in time is thought to grow to a triple crowne which hapneth by the age of the root and fertilitie of the soile whose figure or tipe I haue thought good to adioyne with that picture also which in the time of his infancie it had ¶ The Place This plant likewise hath been brought from Constantinople amongst other bulbous roots and made Denizons in our London gardens whereof I haue great plenty ¶ The Time It floureth in Aprill and sometimes in March when as the weather is warme and pleasant The seed is ripe in Iune ¶ The Names This rare strange Plant is called in Latine Corona Imperialis and Lilium Byzantinum the Turks doe call it Cauale lale and Tusai And as diuers haue sent into these parts of these roots at sundry times so haue they likewise sent them by sundry names some by the name Tusai others Tousai and Tuyschiachi and likewise Turfani and Turfanda ‡ Clusius and that not without good reason iudgeth this to be the Hemerocallis of Dioscorides mentioned lib. 3. cap. 120. ¶ The Nature and Vertues The vertue of this admirable plant is not yet knowne neither his faculties or temperature in working CHAP. 109. Of Dogs Tooth ¶ The Description 1 THere hath not long since beene found out a goodly bulbous rooted plant and termed Satyrion which was supposed to be the true Satyrion of Dioscorides after that it was cherished and the vertues thereof found out by the studious searchers of nature Little difference hath bin found betwixt that plant of Dioscorides and this Dens caninus except in the colour which as you know doth commonly vary according to the diuersitie of places where they grow as it falleth out in Squilla Onions and the other kindes of bulbous plants It hath most commonly two leaues very seldome three which leafe in shape is very like to Allium Vrsinum or Ramsons though farre lesse The leaues turne downe to the groundward the stalke is tender and flexible like to Cyclamen or Sow-bread about an handfull high bare and without leaues to the root The proportion of the floure is like that of Saffron or the Lilly floure full of streames of a purplish white colour The root is bigge and like vnto a date with some fibres growing from it vnto the said root is a small flat halfe round bulbe adioyning like vnto Gladiolus or Corn-flag 2 The second kinde is farre greater and larger than the first in bulbe stalke leaues floure and cod It yeeldeth two leaues for the most part which do close one within another and at the first they doe hide the floure for so long as it brings not out his floure it seemes to haue but one leafe like the Tulipa's and like the Lillies though shorter and for the most part broader wherefore I haue placed it and his kindes next vnto the Lillies before the kinds of Orchis or stones The leaues which it beareth are spotted with many great spots of a darke purple colour and
slender and branched the floures are sometimes purplish but more often yellow The rootes are slender with certaine threds or strings hanging on them ‡ There is also another varietie hereof with the leaues lesse diuided and much smoother than the two last described hauing yellow floures and cods not so deeply joynted as the last described this is that which is set sorth by Matthiolus vnder the name of Lampsana 3 Water Chadlock groweth vp to the height of three foot or somewhat more with branches slender and smooth in respect of any of the rest of his kinde set with rough ribbed leaues deeply indented about the lower part of the leafe The floures grow at the top of the branches vmble or tust fashion sometimes of one colour and sometimes of another ‡ The root is long tough and sull of strings creeping and putting forth many stalkes the seed vessells are short and small 〈◊〉 hath this vnder the title of Raphanus 〈◊〉 alter ‡ 2 Rapistrum aruense alterum Another wilde Charlocke 3 Rapistrum aquaticum Water Chadlocke ¶ The Place Wilde Turneps or Rapes doe grow of themselues in fallow fields and likewise by highwayes neere vnto old walls vpon ditch-bankes and neere vnto townes and villages and in other vntoiled and rough places The Chadlocke groweth for the most part among corne in barraine grounds and often by the borders of fields and such like places Water Chadlocke groweth in moist medowes and marish grounds as also in water ditches and such like places ¶ The Time These doe floure from March till Summer be farre spent and in the meane season the seed is ripe ¶ The Names Wilde Turnep is called in Latine Rapistrum Rapum syluestre and of some Sinapi 〈◊〉 or wild mustard in high Dutch 〈◊〉 in low Dutch 〈◊〉 in French Vclar in English Rape and Rape seed Rapistrum aruorum is called Charlock and Carlock ¶ 〈◊〉 Temperature The seed of these wild kindes of Turneps as also the water Chadlock are hot and drie as mustard seed is Some haue thought that Carlock hath a drying and clensing qualitie and somewhat digesting ¶ The Vertues Diuers vse the seed of Rape in steed of mustard seed who either make hereof a sauce bearing the name of mustard or else mixe it with mustard seed but this kinde of sauce is not so pleasant to the taste because it is bitter Galen writeth that these being eaten engender euill blood yet Disoscorides saith they warme the stomacke and nourish somewhat CHAP. 3. Of Nauewes ¶ The Kindes THere be sundrie kindes of Nape or Nauewes degenerating from the kindes of Turnep of which some are of the garden and other wilde or of the field ¶ The Description 1 NAuew gentle is like vnto Turneps in stalkes floures and seed as also in the shape of the leaues but those of the Nauew are much smoother it also differeth in the root the Turnep is round like a globe the Nauew root is somewhat stretched forth in length 1 Bunias Nauew Gentle 2 Bunias 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wilde Nauew 2 The small or wilde Nauew is like vnto the former sauing that it is altogether lesser The root is small somewhat long with threads long and tough at the end thereof ¶ The 〈◊〉 Nauew-gentle requireth a loose and yellow mould euen as doth the Turnep and prospereth in a fruitfull soile he is sowen in France Bauaria and other places in the fields for the seeds sake as is likewise that wild Colewort called of the old writers Crambe for the plentifull increase of the seeds bringeth no small gaine to the husbandmen of that countrey because that being pressed they yeeld an oile which is vsed not onely in lampes but also in the making of sope for of this oile and a lie made of certaine ashes is boiled a sope which is vsed in the Lowe-countries euery where to scoure and wash linnen clothes I haue heard it reported that it is at this day sowen in England for the same purpose The wilde Nauew groweth vpon ditch bankes neere vnto villages and good townes as alsovpon fresh marshie bankes in most places ¶ The Time The Nauew is sowen floureth and seedeth at the same time that the Turnep doth ¶ The Names The Nauew is called in Latine Napus and also Bunias in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Germaines call it Steckruben the Brabanders Steckropen in Spanish Naps in Italian Nauo the Frenchmen Naueau in English Nauew-gentle or French Naueau The other is called Napus sylvestru or wild Nauew ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The Nauew and the Turnep are all one in temperature and vertues yet some suppose that the Nauew is a little drier and not so soone concocted nor 〈◊〉 downe so easily and doth withall ingender lesse winde In the rest it is answerable to the Turnep ‡ The seeds of these taken in drinke or broth are good against poyson and are vsually put into Antidotes for the same purpose ‡ CHAP. 4. Of Lyons Turnep or Lyons leafe Leontopet alon Lyons leafe ¶ The Description LYons Turnep or Lyons leafe hath broad leaues like vnto Coleworts or rather like the pionyes cut and diuided into sundry great gashes the stalke is two foot long thicke and full of iuyce diuiding it selfe into diuers branches or wings in the tops whereof stand red floures afterward there appeareth long cods in which lie the seeds like vnto tares or wilde chichs The root is great bumped like a Turnep and blacke without ¶ The Place It groweth among corne in diuers places of Italy in Candie also and in other Prouinces towards the South and East The right honorable Lord Zouch brought a plant hereof from Italy at his returne into England the which was planted in his garden But as farre as I doe know it perished ¶ The Time It floureth in winter as witnesseth Petrus Bellonius ¶ The Names The Grecians call it 〈◊〉 that is Leonis folium or Lyons leafe Plinie doth call it also Leontopetalon Apuleius Leontopodion yet there is another plant called by the same name There bee many bastard Names giuen vnto it as Rapeium Papauerculum Semen Lconinum Pes Leoninus and Brumaria in English Lyons leafe and Lyons Turnep ¶ The Temperature Lyons Turnep is of force to digest it is hot and drie in the third degree as Galen teacheth ¶ The Vertues The root saith Dioscorides taken in wine doth helpe them that are bitten of Serpents and it doth most speedily alay the paine It is put into glisters which are made for them that bee tormented with the Sciatica CHAP. 5. Of Radish ¶ The Kindes THere be sundrie sorts of Radish whereof some be long and white others long and blacke some round and white others round or of the forme of a peare and blacke of colour some wilde or of the field and some tame or of the garden whereof we will intreat in this present chapter †1 Raphanus sativus Garden Radish †2 Radicula satina minor Small garden Radish ¶ The Description 1 THe
haue them in our gardens rather for pleasure than profit or any good qualitie as yet knowne ¶ The Time It is kept in pots and tubs with earth and such like in houses during the extremity of Winter because it cannot indure the coldnesse of our colde climate and is set abroad into the Garden in March or Aprill it floureth in May and the fruit is ripe in September ¶ The Names Tree Nightshade is called in Latine Solanum Arborescens of some Strychnodendron and some iudge it to be 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 it is Pseudocapsicum of Dodonaeus ¶ The Nature and Vertues We haue not as yet any thing set downe as touching the temperature or vertues of this Plant but it is referred of some to the kindes of Ginnie pepper but without any reason at all for Ginny pepper though it bring forth fruit very like in shape vnto this plant yet in taste most vnlike for that Capsicum or Ginny pepper is more sharpe in taste than our common pepper and the other hath no taste of biting at all but is like vnto the Berries of Garden Nightshade in taste although they differ in colour which hath moued some to call this plant red Nightshade of the colour of the berries and Tree Nightshade of the wooddy substance which doth continue and grow from yeare to yeare and Ginnie pepper dieth at the first approch of Winter CHAP. 70. Of Balme Apple or Apple of Hierusalem 1 Balsamina mas The male Balsam Apple 2 Balsamina foemina The female Balsam Apple The Description 1 THe male Balme Apple hath long small and tender branches set with leaues like those of the vine and the like small clasping tendrels wherewith it catcheth hold of such things as do grow neere vnto it not able by reason of his weakenesse to stand vpright without some pole or other thing to support it The floures consist of fiue small leaues of a meane bignesse and are of a faint yellow colour which being past there doe come in place long Apples something sharpe toward the point almost like an egge rough all ouer as it were with small harmelesse prickles red both within and without when they be ripe and cleaue in sunder of themselues in the Apple lieth great broad flat seeds like those of Pompion or Citrull but something blacke when they be withered The root is threddie and disperseth it selfe far abroad in the ground 2 The female Balm Apple doth not a little differ from the former it bringeth forth stalks not running or climing like the other but a most thicke and fat truncke or stocke full of iuice in substance like the stalks of Purslane of a reddish color and somewhat shining The leaues be long and narrow in shape like those of Willow or the Peach tree somewhat toothed or notched about the edges among which grow the floures of an incarnate colour tending to blewnesse hauing a small spur or taile annexed thereto as hath the Larks heele of a faire light crimson colour in their places come vp the fruit or Apples rough and hairy but lesser than those of the former yellow when they be ripe which likewise cleaue asunder of themselues and cast abroad their seedes much 〈◊〉 vnto Lentils saith mine Author But those which I haue from yeare to yeare in my Garden bring forth seed like the Cole-florey or Mustard seed whether they be of two kindes or the climate 〈◊〉 alter the 〈◊〉 it 〈◊〉 disputable ¶ The Place These plants do prosper best in hot Regions they are strangers in England and doe with great labour and industrie grow in these cold Countries ¶ The Time They must be sowne in the beginning of Aprill in a bed of hot horse dung euen as Muske-Melons Cucumbers and such like cold fruits are and replanted abroad from the said bed into the most hot and fertile place of the Garden at such time as they haue gotten three leaues a 〈◊〉 ¶ The Names Diuersly 〈◊〉 this plant been named some calling it by one name and some by another euery one as it seemed good to his fancie Baptista Sardus calleth it Balsamina 〈◊〉 others Viticella and Charantia as also Pomum 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 of Hierusalem in English Balme 〈◊〉 Italian Caranza in the Germane tongue Balsam opffel in French Merueille some of the Latines haue called it Pomum mirabile or maruellous Apples It is thought to be named Balsamina because the oile wherein the ripe Apples be steeped or infused is taken to bee profitable for many things as is Opobalsamum or the liquour of the plant Balsamum The female Balsam Apple is likewise called 〈◊〉 and oftentimes in the Neuter Gender Balsaminum Gesner chooseth rather to name it Balsamina amygdaloides 〈◊〉 Cordus Balsamella others Balsamina foemina in English the Female Balme Apples ¶ The Nature The fruit or apples hereof as also the leaues doe notably drie hauing withall a certaine moderate coldnesse very neere to a meane temperature that is after some hot in the first and drie in the second degree ¶ The 〈◊〉 The leaues are reported to heale greene wounds if they be bruised and laid thereon and taken with wine they are said to be a remedie sor the collicke and an effectuall medicine for burstings and convulsions or crampes The leaues of the male Balsamina dried in the shadow and beaten into pouder and giuen in wine vnto those that are mortally wounded in the body doth cure them inwardly and helpeth also the Collicke The oile which is drawne forth of the fruit doth cure all greene and fresh wounds as the true naturall Balsam it helpeth the crampes and convulsions and the shrinking of sinewes being annointed therewith It profiteth women that are in great extremitie of childe-birth in taking away the paine of the matrix causing easie deliuerance beeing applied to the place and annointed vpon their bellies or cast into the matrix with a syring and easeth the dolour of the inward parts It cureth the Hemorrhoides and all other paines of the fundament being thereto applied with lint of old clouts The leaues drunken in wine heale ruptures I finde little or nothing written of the property or vertues of the female kinde but that it is thought to draw neere vnto the first in temperament and vertue Oile oliue in which the fruit the seede taken forth is either set in the Sun as we dowhen wee make oile of roses or boiled in a double glasse set in hot water or else buried in hot horse dung taketh away inflammations that are in wounds It doth also easily and in short time consolidate or glew them together and perfectly cure them It cureth the vlcers of the dugs or paps the head of the yard or matrix as also the inflammation thereof being iniected or conueied into the place with a syringe or mother pessarie This apple is with good successe applied vnto wounds prickes and hurts of the sinewes It hath great force to cure scaldings and burnings it taketh away scarres and blemishes if in the meane time the pouder
to be Anemone 〈◊〉 of Theophrastus 3 Clusius calls this Anemone Limonia or Ranunculus syluarum flo pleno albo 4 And he stiles this Anem limonia or Ranunc syl 〈◊〉 pleno purpurascente ‡ ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The faculties and temperature of these plants are referred to the garden sorts of Anemones CHAP. 79. Of Bastard Anemones or Pasque floures ¶ The Description 1 THe first of these Pasque floures hath many small leaues finely cut or iagged like those of Carrots among which rise vp naked stalkes rough and hairie whereupon doe grow beautifull floures bell fashion of a bright delaied purple colour in the bottome whereof groweth a tuft of yellow thrums and in the middle of the thrums it thrusteth forth a small purple pointell when the whole floure is past there succeedeth an head or knop compact of many gray hairy lockes and in the solide parts of the knops lieth the seed flat and hoarie euery seed hauing his owne small haire hanging at it The root is thicke and knobby of a finger long running right downe and therefore not like vnto those of the Anemone which it doth in all other parts very notably resemble and whereof no doubt this is a kinde 2 There is no difference at all in the leaues roots or seedes betweene this red Pasque floure and the precedent nor in any other point but in the colour of the floures for whereas the other are of a purple colour these are of a bright red which setteth forth the difference 3 The white Passe floures hath many fine iagged leaues closely couched or thrust together which resemble an Holi-water sprinckle agreeing with the others in rootes seedes and shape of floures sauing that these are of a white colour wherein chiefely consisteth the difference ‡ 4 This also in shape of roots and leaues little differs from the precedent but the floures are lesser of a darker purple colour and seldome open or shew themselues so much abroad as the other of the first described to which in all other respects it is very like 5 There is also another kinde with leaues lesse diuided but in other parts like those already described sauing that the floure is of a yellow colour something inclining to a red ‡ 1 Pulsatilla vulgaris Purple Passe floure 2 Pulsatilla rubra Red Passe floure ¶ The Place Ruellius writeth that the Passe floure groweth in France in vntoiled places in Germanie they grow in rough and stonie places and oftentimes on rockes Those with purple floures doe grow verie plentifully in the pasture or close belonging to the parsonage house of a small village six miles from Cambridge called Hildersham the Parsons name that liued at the impression hereof was Mr. Fuller a very kind and louing man and willing to thew vnto any man the said close who desired the same ¶ The Time They floure for the most part about Easter which hath mooued mee to name it Pasque Floure or Easter floure and often they doe floure againe in September ‡ The yellow kinde floures in May. ‡ ¶ The Names †Passe floure is called commonly in Latine Pulsatilla and of some Apium risus herba venti Daleschampius would haue it to be Anemone Limonia Samolus of Pliny in French Coquelourdes in Dutch 〈◊〉 in English Pasque floure or Passe floure and after the Latine name Pulsatill or Flaw floure in Cambridge-shire where they grow they are named Couentrie bels 3 Pulsatilla flore albo White Passe floure ‡ 4 Pulsatilla flore minore The lesser purple Passe floure ¶ The Temperature Passe floure doth extremely bite and exulcerateth and eateth into the skinne if it be stamped and applied to any part of the body whereupon it hath been taken of some to be a kinde of Crowfoot and not without reason for that it is not inferiour to the Crowfoots and therefore it is hot and drie ¶ The Vertues There is nothing extant in writing among Authours of any peculiar vertue but they 〈◊〉 onely for the adorning of gardens and garlands being floures of great beautie CHAP. 80. Of Adonis floure ¶ The Description 1 THe first hath very many slender weake stalkes trailing or leaning to the ground set on 〈◊〉 part with fine iagged leaues very deepely cut like those of Camomill or rather those of May-weed vpon which stalkes do grow small red floures in shape like the field Crowfoot with a blackish greene pointell in the middle which being growne to 〈◊〉 turneth into a small greenish bunch of seeds in shape like a little bunch of grapes The root is small and threddie 2 The second differeth not from the precedent in any one point but in the colour of the floures which are of a perfect yellow colour wherein 〈◊〉 the difference ¶ The Place The red floure of Adonis groweth wilde in the West parts of England among their 〈◊〉 euen as May-weed doth in other parts and is likewise an enemie to corne as May-weed is from thence I brought the seed and haue sowne it in my garden for the beautie of the floures sake That with the yellow floure is a stranger in England 1 Flos Adonis flore rubro Adonis with red floures ¶ The Time They floure in the Sommer moreths May Iune and Iuly and sometimes later ¶ The Names Adonis floure is called in Latine Flos Adonis and Adonidis of the Dutchmer 〈◊〉 in English wee may call it 〈◊〉 Maythes by which name it is called of them that dwell where it groweth naturally and generally Red Camomill in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eranthemum our London women 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rose-a-rubie ¶ The Temperature There hath not beene any that hath 〈◊〉 of the Temperature hereof 〈◊〉 so farre as the taste thereof 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is something hot but not much ¶ The Vertues The seed of Adonis flower is thought to bee good against the stone amongst the Ancients it was not knowne to haue any other facultie albeit experience hath of late taught vs that the seed stamped and the pouder giuen in wine ale or beere to drinke doth wonderfully and with great effect helpe the collicke CHAP. 81. Of Dockes ¶ The Kindes DIoscorides setteth forth foure kindes of Dockes wilde or sharpe pointed Docke Garden Docke round leafed Docke and the Soure Docke called Sorrell besides these the later Herbarists haue added certaine other Dockes also which I purpose to make mention of ¶ The Description 1 THat which among the Latines signifieth to soften case or purge the bellie the 〈◊〉 signification hath 〈◊〉 among the Graecians whereof Lapathum and 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 do reade tooke their names sor herbes which are vsed in pottage and medicine very well 〈◊〉 to haue the power of cleansing of these there be many kindes and differences great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where growing among whom is that which is now called sharpe pointed Docke or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Docke It groweth in most medowes and by running streames hauing long narrow leaues 〈◊〉 and hard pointed among the which commeth vp
ordinarie but at the bottome of the stalke aboue the fibrous roots it hath a bulbe greenish within and couered with two or three skins it growes in moist and 〈◊〉 low places of Holland ‡ 1 Ophris 〈◊〉 Twaiblade ‡ 3 Ophris bifolia bulbosa Bulbous Twaiblade ¶ The Place The first groweth in moist medowes fenny grounds and shadowie places I haue fonnd it in many places as at South fleet in Kent in a Wood of Master Sidleys by Long-field Downes in a Wood by London called Hampstead Wood in the fields by High-gate in the Woods by Ouenden neere to Clare in Essex and in the Woods by Dunmow in Essex The second sort is seldome seene ¶ The Time They floure in May and Iune ¶ The Names It is called of the later Herbarists Bifolium and Ophris ¶ The Nature and Vertues These are reported of the Herbarists of our time to be good for greene wounds burstings and ruptures whereof I haue in my vnguents and Balsams for greene wounds had great experience and good successe CHAP. 88. Of Adders-Tongue ¶ The Description 1 OPhioglosson or Lingua Serpentis called in English Adders tongue of some Adders Grasse though vnproperly riseth forth of the ground hauing one leafe and no more fat or oleous in substance of a finger long and very like the yong and tender leaues of Marigolds from the bottome of which leafe springeth out a small and tender stalke one finger and a halfe long on the end whereof doth grow a long small tongue not vnlike the tongue of a serpent whereof it tooke the name 2 I haue seene another like the former in root stalke and leafe and 〈◊〉 in that this plant hath two and sometimes more crooked tongues yet of the same fashion which if my iudgment faile not chanceth per accidens euen as we see children borne with two thumbes vpon one hand which moueth me so to thinke for that in gathering twenty bushels of the leaues a man shall hardly finde one of this fashion 1 Ophioglosson Adders-Tongue ‡ 2 Ophioglosson abortivum Mis-shapen Adders-Tongue ¶ The Place Adders-Tongue groweth in moist medowes throughout most parts of England as in a Meadow neere the preaching Spittle adioyning to London in the Mantels by London in the medowes by Cole-brooke in the fields in Waltham Forrest and many other places ¶ The Time They are to be found in Aprill and May but in Iune they are quite vanished and gone ¶ The Names Ophioglossum is called in shops Lingua serpentis Linguace and Lingualace it is also called Lancea Christi Enephyllon and Lingua vulneraria in English Adders tongue or Serpents tongue in Dutch Natertonguen of the Germanes Nater zungelin ¶ The Nature Adders-tongue is dry in the third degree ¶ The Vertues The leaues of Adders tongue stamped in a stone morter and boyled in Oile Oliue vnto the consumption of the iuyce and vntill the herbes be dry and partched and then strained will yeeld a most excellent greene oyle or rather a balsam for greene wounds comparable vnto oyle of S. Iohns wort if it do not farre surpasse it by many degrees whose beauty is such that very many Artists haue thought the same to be mixed with Verdigrease CHAP. 89. Of One-berry or Herbe True-loue and Moone-wort 1 Herba Paris One-Berry or Herbe True-loue 2 Lunaria minor Small Moone-wort ¶ The Description 1 HErbe Paris riseth vp with one small tender stalke two hands high at the very top whereof come forth foure leaues directly set one against another in manner of a Burgundian Crosse or True-loue knot for which cause among the Antients it hath bin called Herbe True 〈◊〉 In the midst of the said leafe comes forth a star-like floure of an herby or grassie colour out of the middest whereof there ariseth vp a blackish browne berrie the root is long and tender creeping vnder the earth and dispersing it selfe hither and thither 2 The small Lunary springeth forth of the ground with one 〈◊〉 like Adders-tongue iagged or cut on both sides into fiue or six deepe cuts or notches not much vnlike the leaues of Scolopendria or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a greene colour whereupon doth grow a small naked stem of a finger long bearing at the top many little seeds clustering together which being gathered and laid in a platter or such like thing for the space of three weekes there will fall from the same a fine dust or meale of a whitish colour which is the seed if it bring forth any The root is slender and compact of many small threddy strings ‡ In England saith Camerarius there growes a certaine kinde of Lunaria which hath many leaues and sometimes also sundry branches which therefore I haue caused to be delineated that other Herbarists might also take notice hereof Thus much Camerarius Epit. Mat. p. 644. where he giues an elegant figure of a varietie hauing more leaues and branches than the ordinary otherwise not differing from it 3 Besides this varietie there is another kinde set forth by Clusius whose figure and description I thinke good here to set downe This hath a root consisting of many fibres somewhat thicker than those of the common kinde from which arise one or two winged leaues that is many leaues set to one stalke and these are like the leaues of the other Lunaria but that they are longer thicker and more diuided and of a yellowish greene colour Amongst these leaues there comes vp a stalke fat and juycie bearing a greater tuft of floures or seeds for I know not whether to cal them than the ordinarie but otherwise very like thereto It groweth in the mountaines of Silesia and in some places of Austria ‡ ‡ 3 Lunaria minor ramosa Small branched Moon-wort ¶ The Place Herba Paris groweth plentifully in all these places following that is to say in Chalkney wood neere to wakes 〈◊〉 seuen miles from Colchester in Essex and in the wood by Robinhoods well neere to Nottingham in the parsonage orchardat Radwinter in Essex neere to Saffron Walden in Blackburne at a place called Merton in Lancashire in the Moore by Canturbury called the Clapper in Dingley wood six miles from Preston in Aundernesse in Bocking parke by Braintree in Essex at Hesset in Lancashire and in Cotting wood in the North of England as that excellent painefull and diligent Physition Mr. Doctor Turner of late memorie doth record in his Herbal Lunaria or small Moone-wort groweth vpon dry and barren mountaines and heaths I haue found it growing in these places following that is to say about Bathe in Somersetshire in many places especially at a place called Carey two miles from Bruton in the next Close vnto the Church-yard on Cockes Heath betweene Lowse and Linton three miles from Maidstone in Kent it groweth also in the ruines of an old bricke-kilne by Colchester in the ground of Mr. George Sayer called Miles end it groweth likewise vpon the side of Blacke-heath neere vnto the stile that leadeth vnto Eltham house about an hundred paces
〈◊〉 hard by a Gentlemans house called Mr. Leonard dwelling vpon Dawes heath in Southfleet and in Swainescombe wood also neere vnto Grauesend ¶ The Time They floure and flourish in the end of August ¶ The Names It is called in English Golden Rod in Latine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because the branches are like a golden rod in Dutch Gulden roede in French verge d'or 1 Virga aurea Golden Rod. 2 Virga aurea Arnoldi Villanouani Arnold of the new towne his Golden rod. ¶ The Temperature Golden Rod is hot and dry in the second degree it clenseth with a certaine astriction or binding qualitie ¶ The Vertues Golden Rod prouoketh vrine wasteth away the stones in the kidnies and expelleth them and withall bringeth downe tough and raw flegmatick humors sticking in the vrine vessels which now and then do hinder the comming away of the stones and causeth the grauell or sand which is brittle to be gathered together into one stone And therefore Arnoldus Villanouanus by good reason hath commended it against the stone and paine of the kidnies It is of the number of those plants that serue for wound-drinks and is reported that it can fully performe all those things that Saracens Consound can and in my practise shall be placed in the formost ranke Arnoldus writeth That the distilled water drunke with wine for some few dayes together worketh the same effect that is for the stone and grauell in the kidnies It is extolled aboue all other herbes for the stopping of bloud in sanguinolent vlcers and bleeding wounds and hath in times past beene had in greater estimation and regard than in these dayes for in my remembrance I haue knowne the dry herbe which came from beyond the sea sold in Bucklers Bury in London for halfe a crowne an ounce But since it was found in Hampstead wood euen as it were at our townes end no man will giue halfe a crowne for an hundred weight of it which plainly setteth forth our inconstancie and sudden mutabilitie esteeming no longer of any thing how pretious soeuer it be than whilest it is strange and rare This verifieth our English prouerbe Far fetcht and deare bought is best for Ladies Yet it may be more truely said of phantasticall Physitions who when they haue found an approued medicine and perfect 〈◊〉 neere home against any disease yet not content therewith they wil seeke for a new farther off and by that meanes many times hurt more than they helpe Thus much I haue spoken to bring these new fangled 〈◊〉 backe againe to esteeme better of this admirable plant than they haue done which no 〈◊〉 hath the same vertue now that then it had although it growes so neere our owne homes in neuer so great quantitie CHAP. 103. Of Captaine Andreas Dorias his Wound-woort Herba Doria L'obelij Dorias Woundwoort ¶ The Description THis plant hath long and large thicke and fat leaues sharp pointed of a blewish greene like vnto Woad which being broken with the hands hath a prettie spicie smell Among these leaues riseth vp a stalk of the height of a tal man diui led 〈◊〉 the top into many other branches whereupon grow small yellowish floures which turneth into downe that flieth away with the wind The root is thick almost like Helleborus albus Of which kinde there is another like the former but that the leaues are rougher somewhat bluntly indented at the edges and not so fat and grosse ‡ Herba Doria altera This herbe growes vp with a green round brittle stalke very much champhered sinewed or surrowed about foure or fiue foot high full of white pith like that of Elder and sendeth forth small branches the leaues grow on the stalk outof order are smooth sharpe pointed in shape like 〈◊〉 of Herba Doria but much shorter narrower the broadest and longest seldome being aboue ten or eleuen inches long and scarce two inches broad and are more finely and smally nickt or indented about the edges their smell being nothing pleasant but rather when together with the stalke they are broken and rubbed yeeld forth a smell hauing a small touch of the smell of Hemlocke Out of the bosomes of these leaues spring other smaller leaues or branches The floures are many and grow on small branches at the tops of the stalkes like those of Herba Doria but more like those of Iacobaea of a yellow colour as well the middle button as the small leaues that stand round about euery floure hauing commonly eight of those small leaues Which beeing past the button turneth into downe and containeth very small long seedes which flie away with the winde The root is nothing else but an infinite of small strings which most hurtfully spread in the ground and by their infinite increasing destroyeth and starueth other herbes that grow neere it It s naturall place of growing I know not for I had it from Mr. Iohn Coys and yet keep it growing in my garden Iohn Goodyer ‡ ¶ The Place These plants grow naturally about the borders or brinkes of riuers neere to Narbone 〈◊〉 France from whence they were brought into England and are contented to be made denizons in my garden where they flourish to the height aforesaid ¶ The Time They floured in my garden about the twelfth of Iune ¶ The Nature The roots are sweet in smell and hot in the third degree ¶ The Vertues Two drams of the roots of Herba Doria boiled in wine and giuen to drinke draweth downe waterish humors and prouoketh vrine The same is with good successe vsed in medicines that expell poison ‡ All these Plants mentioned in the three last Chapters to wit Solidago Virga aurea and this 〈◊〉 Dorea are by 〈◊〉 fitly comprehended vnder the title of Virga aurea because they are much alike in shape and for that they are all of the same facultie in medicine ‡ CHAP. 105. Of Felwoort or Baldmoney ¶ The Kindes THere be diuers sorts of Gentians or Felwoorts whereof some be of our owne countrey others more strange and brought further off and also some not before this time remembred either of the antient or later writers as shall be set forth in this present chapter ¶ The Description THe first kinde of Felwoort hath great large leaues not vnlike to those of Plantaine very well resembling the leaues of the white Hellebore among which riseth vp a round hollow stalke as thicke as a mans thumbe full of ioints or knees with two leaues at each of them and towards the top euery ioint or knot is set round about with small yellow starre-like floures like a coronet or garland at the bottome of the plant next the ground the leaues do spread themselues abroad embracing or clipping the stalke in that place round about set together by couples one opposite against another The seede is small browne flat and smooth like the seeds of the Stocke Gillo-floure The roote is a finger thicke The whole Plant is of a bitter taste 1 Gentiana maior Great
11. 〈◊〉 of Clusius 4 I take this to bee Clusius his Gentiana fugax 4. or Gentiana 10. We may call this in 〈◊〉 Small Autumne Gentian ¶ Their Temperature and Vertues These by their taste and forme should be much like to the greater Gentians in their operation and working yet not altogether so effectuall ‡ CHAP. 106. Of Calathian Violet or Autumne Bel-floure ¶ The Description AMong the number of the base Gentians there is a smal plant which is late before it commeth vp hauing stalks a span high and sometimes higher narrow leaues like vnto Time set by couples about the stalkes by certaine distances long hollow floures growing at the top of the stalks like a cup called a Beaker wide at the top and narrower toward the bottome of a deepe blew colour tending to purple with certain white threds or chiues in the bottome the 〈◊〉 at the mouth or brim is fiue cornered before it be opened but when it is opened it appeareth with fiue 〈◊〉 or pleats The whole plant is of a bitter taste which plainly sheweth it to be a kinde of wilde Gentian The root is small and perisheth when it hath perfected his seed and recouereth it selfe by 〈◊〉 of the same Pneumonanthe Calathian Violet ¶ The Place It is found sometimes in Meadowes oftentimes in vntilled places It groweth vpon Long-field downes in Kent neere vnto a village called Longfield by 〈◊〉 vpon the chalkie cliffes neere Greene-Hythe and Cobham in Kent and many other places It likewise groweth as you ride from Sugar-loafe hill vnto Bathe in the West countrey ‡ This plant I neuer found but once and that was on a wet Moorish ground in Lincolnshire 2. or 3. miles on this side Caster and as I remember the place is called Netleton Moore Now I suspect that our Authour knew it not first because he describes it with leaues like vnto Time when as this hath long narrow leaues more like to Hyssop or Rosemary Secondly for that he saith the root is small perisheth when as it hath perfected the seed whereas this hath a liuing stringie and creeping root Besides this seldome or neuer growes on 〈◊〉 cliffes but on wet Moorish grounds and Heaths wherefore I suspect our Authour tooke the small Autumne Gentian described by me in the fourth place of the last Chapter for this here treated of ‡ ¶ The Time The gallant floures hereof be in their brauerie about the end of August and in September ¶ The Names ‡ This is thought to be Viola Calathiana of Ruellius yet not that of Pliny and those that desire to know more of this may haue recourse to the 〈◊〉 chapter of the first booke of the 2. Pempt of Dodon his Latine Herball whence our Authour tooke those words that were formerly in this place though he did not well vnderstand nor expresse them ‡ It is called Viola Autumnalis or Autumne Violet and seemeth to bee the same that 〈◊〉 Cordus doth call Pneumonanthe which he saith is named in the Germane tongue 〈◊〉 or Lung-floure in English Autumne Bel-floures Calathian Violets and of some Haruestbels ¶ The Temperature This wilde Felwoort or Violet is in Temperature hot somewhat like in facultie to Gentian whereof it is a kinde but far weaker in operation ¶ The Vertues The latter Physitions hold it to be effectuall against pestilent diseases and the bitings stingings of venomous beasts CHAP. 109. Of Venus Looking-glasse ¶ The Description 1 BEsides the former Bel-floures there is likewise a certaine other which is low and little the stalkes whereof are tender two spans long diuided into many branches most commonly lying vpon the ground The leaues about the stalks are little sleightly nicked in the edges The floures are small of a bright purple colour tending to blewnes very beautifull with wide mouths like broad bels hauing a white 〈◊〉 or thred in the middle The floures in the day time are wide open and about the setting of the Sun are shut vp and closed fast together in fiue corners as they are before their first opening and as the other Bel-floures are The roots be 〈◊〉 slender and perish when they haue perfected their seed ‡ 2 There is another which from a small and wooddy root sendeth vp a straight stalk sometimes but two or three inches yet otherwhiles a foot high when as it lights into good 〈◊〉 This stalke is crested and hollow hauing little longish leaues crumpled or sinuated about the edges set thereon and out of the bosomes of those leaues towards the top of the stalke and sometimes lower come little branches bearing little winged cods at the tops of which in the middest of fiue little greene leaues stand small purple floures of little or no beauty which being past the cods become much larger and containe in them a small yellowish seed and they still retaine at their tops the fiue longish greene leaues that incompassed the floure This plant is an annuall like as the former ‡ 1 Speculum Veneris Venus Looking-glasse ‡ 2 Speculum Veneris minus Codded corne violet ¶ The Place It groweth in ploughed fields among the corne in a plentifull and fruitfull soile I found it in a field among the corne by Greene-hithe as I went from thence toward Dartford in Kent and in many other places thereabout but not elswhere from whence I brought of the seeds for my Garden where they come vp of themselues from yeare to yeare by falling of the seed ‡ That which is here figured and described in the first place I neuer found growing in England I haue seene only some branches of it brought from Leiden by my friend Mr. William Parker The other of my description I haue diuers times found growing among the corn in Chelsey field and also haue had it brought me from other places by Mr. George Bowls Mr. Lconard Buckner ‡ ¶ The Time It floureth in Iune and Iuly and the seed is ripe in the end of August ¶ The Names It is called 〈◊〉 Aruensis and of some O nobrychis but vnproperly of other Cariophyllus 〈◊〉 or corne Gillofloure or Corne pinke and Speculum Veneris or Ladies glasse The Brabanders in their tongue call it Urowen Spiegel ‡ Tabernamontamus hath two figures thereof the one vnder the name of Viola aruensis and the other by the title of Viola Pentagonia because the floure hath fiue folds or corners 2 This of my description is not mentioned by any Author wherefore I am content to follow that name which is giuen to the former and terme it in Latine Speculum Veneris minus and from the colour of the floure and codded seed vessell to call it in English Codded Corne Violet ¶ The Temperature and Vertues We haue not found any thing written either of his vertue or temperature of the antient or late Writers CHAP. 110. Of Neesing root or Neesewoort 1 Helleborus albus White Hellebor 2 Helleborus albus praecox Timely white Hellebor ¶ The Description 1 THe first kinde of white Hellebor
colour and in shape like those of the common Mint the smell of this comes neere to that of the water Mint This is the Mentastrifolia aquatica hirsuta siue 〈◊〉 3. Dioscoridis of Lobel in the hist Lugd it is called Mentastrum minus spicatum 6 The stalke of this is some cubit and halfe high square and full of pith the leaues are like in shape to those of Cat-Mint but not hoarie but rather greene the tops of the branches are set with roundles of such white floures as those of the Cats-mint the smell of this plant is like to that of the Horse-Mint whence Clusius calls it Mentastrum montanum primum It floures in August and growes in the mountainous places of Austria 7 The same Author hath also set forth another by the name of Mentastrum tuberosa radice It hath roughish stalkes like the former and longish crumpled leaues somewhat snipt about the edges like those of the last described the floures grow in roundles alongst the tops of the branches and are white of colour and like those of Cat-Mint The root of this which as also the leaues is not well exprest in the figure is like a Radish and blackish on the out side sending sorth many succours like to little Turneps and also diuers fibres these succours taken from the maine root will also take root and grow It floures in Iune Clusius receiued the seed of it from Spaine ‡ ¶ The Place They grow in moist and waterie places as in medowes neere vnto ditches that haue water in them and by riuers ¶ The Time They floure when the other Mints do and reuiue in the Spring ¶ The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Sisymbrium in high-Dutch Roszmuntz Massermuntz in French Menthe 〈◊〉 in English Water Mint Fish-Mint Brooke-Mint and Horse-mint ¶ The Temperature Water Mint is hot and dry as is the Garden Mint and is of a stronger smell and operation ¶ The Vertues It is commended to haue the like vertues that the garden Mint hath and also to be good against the stinging of Bees and Waspes if the place be rubbed therewith The sauour or smell of the Water-Mint reioyceth the heart of man for which cause they vse to strew it in chambers and places of recreation pleasure and repose and where feasts and banquets are made There is no vse hereof in physicke whilest we haue the garden Mint which is sweeter and more agreeing to the nature of man CHAP. 228. Of Mountaine Mint or Calamint ¶ The Description 1 MOuntaine Calamint is a low herbe seldome aboue a foot high parted into many branches the stalkes are foure square and haue ioynts as it were out of euery one whereof grow forth leaues something round lesser than those of Basill couered with a very thinne hairy downe as are also the stalkes somwhat whitish and of a sweet smell the tops of the branches are gallantly deckt with 〈◊〉 somewhat of a purple colour then groweth the seed which is blacke the roots are full of strings and continue 2 This most excellent kinde of Calamint hath vpright stalkes a cubit high couered ouer with a woolly mossinesse beset with rough leaues like a Nettle somewhat notched about the edges among the leaues come forth blewish or sky-coloured floures the root is wooddy and the whole plant is of a very good smell 3 There is another kinde of Calamint which hath hard square stalks couered in like manner as the other with a certaine hoary or fine cotton The leaues be in shape like Basill but that they are rough and the floures grow in roundles toward the tops of the branches sometimes three or foure vpon a stemme of a purplish colour The root is threddy and long lasting †4 There is a kinde of strong smelling Calamint that hath also square stalks couered with soft cotton and almost creeping by the ground hauing euermore two leaues standing one against another small and soft not much vnlike the leaues of Penny-Royall sauing that they are 〈◊〉 and whiter the floures grow about the stalks like wharles or garlands of a blewish purple colour the root is small and threddy the whole plant hath the smell of Penny-Royal whence it hath the addition of 〈◊〉 odore 1 〈◊〉 montana vulgaris Calamint or Mountaine Mint 2 Calamintha montana praestantior The more excellent Calamint 3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Common Calamint 3 Calamintha odore 〈◊〉 Field Calamint ¶ The Place It delighteth to grow in mountaines and in the shadowy and grauelly sides thereof it is found in many places of Italy and France and in other countries it is brought into gardens where it prospereth maruellous well and very easily soweth it selfe I haue found these plants growing vpon the chalkie grounds and highwayes leading from Grauesend vnto Canturbury in most places or almost euery where ‡ I haue onely obserued the third and fourth to grow wilde with vs in England ‡ ¶ The Time It flourisheth in Sommer and almost all the yeare thorow it bringeth forth floures and seed from Iune to Autumne ¶ The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as though you should say Elegans aut vtilis Mentha a gallant or profitable Mint the Latines keepe the name Calamintha Apuleius also nameth it amisse Mentastrum and confoundeth the names one with another the Apothecaries call it Montana Calamintha Calamentum and sometime Calamentum montanum in French Calament in English Mountain Calamint ‡ The fourth is certainly the second Calamint of Dioscorides and the true 〈◊〉 of the Antients ‡ ¶ The Temperature This Calamint which groweth in mountaines is of a feruent taste and biting hot and of a thin substance and dry after a sort in the third degree as Galen saith it digesteth or wasteth away thin humors it cutteth and maketh thicke humors thin ¶ The Vertues Therefore being inwardly taken by it selfe and also with meade or honied water it doth manifestly heate prouoketh sweat and consumeth superfluous humors of the body it taketh away the shiuerings of Agues that come by fits The same also is performed by the sallet oyle in which it is boyled if the body be anointed and well rubbed and chafed therewith The decoction thereof drunke prouoketh vrine bringeth downe the monethly sicknesse and expelleth the childe which also it doth being but onely applied It helpeth those that are bruised such as are troubled with crampes and convulsions and that cannot breathe vnlesse they hold their necks vpright that haue the wheesing of the lungs saith 〈◊〉 and it is a remedie saith 〈◊〉 for a cholericke passion otherwise called the Felony It is good for them that haue the yellow jaundice for that it remoueth the stoppings of the liuer and gall and withall clenseth being taken afore-hand in Wine it keepeth a man from being poysoned being inwardly taken or outwardly applied it cureth them that are bitten of Serpents being burned or strewed it driues serpents away it takes away black
whereof most are very dangerous to be taken into the body and therefore they require a very exquisite moderation with a most exact and due manner of tempering not any of them are to be taken alone by themselues because they are of most violent force and therefore haue the greater need of correction The knowledge of these plants is as necessarie to the Physitian as of other herbes to the end they may shun the same as Scribonius Largus saith and not take them ignorantly or also if necessitie at any time require that they may vse them and that with some deliberation and speciall choice and with their proper correctiues For these dangerous Simples are likewise many times of themselues beneficiall and oftentimes profitable for some of them are not so dangerous but that they may in some sort and oftentimes in fit and due season profit and do good if temperature and moderation be vsed of which there be foure kindes as Dioscorides writeth one with broad leaues another that is downy the third very small and the fourth with a white floure the later herbarists haue obserued also many moe all these may be brought into two principall kindes so that one be a garden or 〈◊〉 one and the other wilde and of these some are common and others rare or forreigne Moreouer there is a difference both in the roots and in the leaues for one hath a bumped or knobby root another a long leafe as Speare-wort and first of the wilde or field Crowseet 〈◊〉 the Reader vnto the end of the stocke and kindred of the same for the temperature and vertues 1 Ranunculus pratensis etiamque hortensis Common Crow-foot 2 Ranunculus surrectis cauliculis Right Crow-foot 3 Ranunculus aruorum Crow foot of the fallowed field 4 Ranunculus Alpinus albus White mountaine Crow-foot ¶ The Description 1 THe common Crow-foot hath leaues diuided into many parts commonly three sometimes fiue cut here and there in the edges of a deepe greene colour in which stand diuers white spots the stalkes be round something hairie some of them bow downe toward the ground and put forth many little roots whereby it taketh hold of the ground as it traileth along some of them stand vpright a foot high or higher on the tops whereof grow small floures with fiue leaues apiece of a yellow glittering colour like gold in the middle part of these floures stand certaine small threds of like colour which being past the seeds follow made vp in a rough ball the roots are white and threddy 2 The second kinde of Crow-foot is like vnto the precedent sauing that his leaues are fatter thicker and greener and his small twiggy stalkes stand vpright otherwise it is like of which kind it chanced that walking in the field next to the Theatre by London in the company of a worshipfull merchant named Mr. Nicolas Lete I found one of this kinde there with double floures which before that time I had not seene ¶ The Place They grow of themselues in pastures and medowes almost euery where ¶ The Time They floure in May and many moneths after ¶ The Names Crow-foot is called of Lobel Ranunculus pratensis of Dodonaeus Ranunculus hortensis but vnproperly of Pliny Polyanthemum which he saith diuers name Batrachion in high-Dutch 〈◊〉 in low Dutch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in English King Kob Gold cups Gold knobs Crowfoot and Butter-floures ¶ The Description 3 The third kinde of Crow-foot called in Latine Ranunculus aruorum because it growes commonly in fallow fields where corne hath beene lately sowne and may be called Corne Crow-foot hath for the most part an vpright stalke of a foot high which diuides it selfe into other branches whereon do grow fat thicke leaues very much cut or iagged resembling the leaues of Sampire but nothing so greene but rather of an ouerworne colour The floures grow at the top of the branches compact of fiue small leaues of a faint yellow colour after which come in place clusters of rough and sharpe pointed seeds The root is small and threddy 4 The fourth Crow-foot which is called Ranunculus Alpinus because those that haue first written thereof haue not found it elsewhere but vpon the Alpish mountains notwithstanding it groweth in England plentifully wilde especially in a wood called Hampsted Wood and is planted in gardens hath diuers great fat branches two cub its high set with large leaues like the common Crow-foot but greater of a deepe greene colour much like to those of the yellow Aconite called Aconitum luteum Ponticum The floures consist of fiue white leaues with small yellow chiues in the middle smelling like the floures of May or Haw-thorne but more pleasant The roots are greater than any of the stocke of Crow-feet ¶ The Place and Time Their place of growing is touched in their description their time of flouring and seeding answereth the other of their kindes ¶ The Names The white Crow-foot of the Alps and French mountaines is the fourth of Dioscorides his description for he describeth his fourth to haue a white floure more hath not bin said touching the names yet Tabern calls it Batrachium album in English white Crow-foot ¶ The Description 5 Among the wilde Crow-feet there is one that is syrnamed Illyricus which brings forth slender stalks round and of a meane length whereupon doe grow long narrow leaues cut into many long gashes somthing white and couered with a certaine downinesse the floures be of a pale yellow colour the root consisteth of many small bumpes as it were graines of corne or little long bulbes growing close together like those of Pilewort It is reported that it was first brought out of Illyria into Italy and from thence into the Low-Countries notwithstanding we haue it growing very common in England ‡ But only in gardens that I haue seene ‡ 6 The sixth kinde of Crow-foot called Ranunculus bulbosus or Onion rooted Crow-foot and round rooted Crow-foot hath a round knobby or onion-fashioned root like vnto a small Turnep and of the bignesse of a great Oliue from the which rises vp many leaues spred vpon the ground like those of the field Crow-foot but smaller and of an ouerworne greene colour amongst which rise vp slender stalkes of the height of a foot whereupon do grow floures of a feint yellow colour ‡ This growes wilde in most places and floures at the beginning of May. ‡ ¶ The Place It is also reported to be found not only in Illyria and Sclauonia but also in the Island Sardinia standing in the Midland or Mediteranian sea ¶ The Names This Illyrian Crow foot is named in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Apium syluestre or wilde Smallage also Herba Sardoa it may be saith my Author that kinde of Crowfoot called 〈◊〉 risus and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and this is thought to be that Golotophillis of which Pliny maketh mention in his 24. booke 17. chap. which being drunke saith he with wine and myrrh causeth a man to see
yet is it not so good as Laser of Cyrene it is good also to smell vnto and to be applied vnto the nauels of women vexed with the choking or rising of the mother CHAP. 392. Of common Louage ¶ The Description ANtient writers haue added vnto this common kinde of Louage a second sort yet knowing that the plant so supposed is the true Siler montanum and not Leuisticum though others haue also deemed it Laserpitium These two suppositions are easily answered sith they bee sundrie kindes of plants though they be very neere in shape and faculties one vnto another This plant Leuisticum vulgare Common Louage being our common garden Louage hath large and broad leaues almost like to smallage The stalks are round hollow and knottie 3. cubits high hauing spoky 〈◊〉 or bushy rundles and at the top of the stalks of a yellow colour a round flat and browne seed like the seede of Angelica the root is long and thicke and bringeth forth euery yeare new stems ¶ The Place The right Leuisticum or Louage groweth in sundry gardens and not wild as far as I know in England ¶ The Time Louage floureth most commonly in Iuly and August ¶ The Names It is called in Latine 〈◊〉 and by some Ligusticum of other some Siler montanum but not truly in High Dutch 〈◊〉 in French Liuische in Low Dutch Lauetse in English Louage ¶ The Nature This plant is hot and drie in the third degree ¶ The Vertues The roots of Louage are very good for all inward diseases driuing away ventosities or windinesse especially of the 〈◊〉 The seed thereof warmeth the stomack helpeth digestion wherefore the people of Gennes in times past did vse it in their meates as wee doe peppet according to the testimonie of Ant. Musa The distilled water of Louage cleareth the sight and putteth away all spots lentils freckles and rednesse of the face if they be often washed therewith CHAP. 393. Of Cow Parsnep ¶ The Description THis plant Sphondylium groweth in all Countries and is knowne by the name of wilde Parsnep or Sphondylium whereunto it effectually answereth both in his grieuous and ranke sauour as also in the likenesse of the root wereupon it was called Sphondylium and of the Germanes Acanthus but vntruly the leaues of this plant are long and large not much vnlike the leaues of wilde Parsnep or Panax 〈◊〉 deepely notched or cut about the edges like the teeth of a saw and of an ouerworne greene colour The floures grow in tusts or rundles like vnto wilde Parsneps the root is like to Henbane this herbe in each part thereof hath an euill sauour and differeth from the right Acanthium not onely in faculties but euen in all other things ¶ The Place This plant groweth in fertile moist medowes and feeding pastures very commonly in all parts of England or elsewhere in such places as I haue trauelled ¶ The Time Sphondylium floureth in Iune and Iuly ¶ The Names It is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine likewise Sphondylium the in shops of High and Low Germany Sphondylium Cow Parsnep Branca vrsina who vnaduisedly in times past haue vsed it in clysters in stead of Brancke Vrsine and thereupon haue named it Bernclaw in English Cow Parsnep medow Parsnep and Madnep ¶ The Nature Cow Parsnep is of a manifest warm complexion ¶ The Vertues The leaues of this plant do consume and dissolue cold swellings if they be bruised and applied thereto The people of Polonia and Lituania vse to make drinke with the decoction of this herbe and leuen or some other thing made of meale which is vsed in stead of beere and other ordinarie drinke The seede of Cow parsnep drunken scoureth out flegmaticke matter through the guts it healeth the iaundice the falling sicknesse the strangling of the mother and them that are short winded Also if a man be falne into a dead sleepe or a sw o ne the fume of the seed will waken him ag 〈◊〉 If a pihrenticke or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 head bee annointed with oile wherein the leaues and roots haue beene sodden it helpeth him very much and such as be troubled with the head-ache and the lethargie or sicknesse called the forgetfull euill CHAP. 394. Of Herbe Frankincense ¶ The Description 1 THere hath beene from the beginning diuers plants of sundry kindes which men haue termed by this glorious name Libanot is onely in respect of the excellent and 〈◊〉 smell which they haue yeelded vnto the sences of man somewhat resembling 〈◊〉 The sent and smell Dioscorides doth ascribe to the root of this first kinde which bringeth forth a long stalk with ioints like Fennell whereon grow leaues almost like Cheruill or Hemlocks sauing that they be greater broader and thicker at the top of the stalkes grow spokie tassels bearing whitish floures which do turne into sweet smelling seed somewhat flat and almost like the seed of Angelica The root is blacke without and white within hairie aboue at the parting of the root and stalke like vnto Meum or Peucedanum and sauoreth like vnto Rosine or Frankincense 2 The second kinde of Libanot is hath also a straight stalke full of knots and ioints the leaues are like vnto Smallage the floures grow in tassels like vnto the former and bring forth great long and vneuen seed of a sharpe taste the root is like the former and so is the whole plant very like but lesser 3 The third kinde of Libanot is differeth somewhat from the others in forme and shape yet it agreeth with them in smell which in some sort is like Frankinsence the leaues are whiter longer and rougher than the leaues of Smallage the stalks do grow to the height of two cubits bearing at the top the spokie tufts of Dill somewhat yellow the root is like the former but thicker neither wanteth it hairie tassels at the top of the root which the others also haue before rehearsed 1 Libanotis Theophrasti maior Great herbe Frankinsence 2 Libanotis Theophrasti minor Small herbe Frankinsence 〈◊〉 Libanotis Theophrasti nigra Blacke herbe Frankinsence 4 Libanotis Galeni Cachrys verior Rosemarie Frankincense 4 I cannot 〈◊〉 among all the plants called Libanotides any one more agreeable to the true and right Libanotis of Dioscorides than this herbe which ariseth vp to the height of fiue or six cubits with the cleere shining stalks of Ferula diuiding it selfe from his knottie ioints into sundry arms or branches set full of leaues like Fennell but thicker and bigger and fatter than the leaues of Cotulafoetida of a grayish greene colour bearing at the top of the stalks the tufts of 〈◊〉 or rather of Carrots full of yellow floures which being past there succeedeth long flat seed like the seed of the Ash tree smelling like 〈◊〉 or Frankincense which being chewed filleth the mouth with the tast of Frankincense but sharper all the rest of the plant is tender and somewhat hot but not vnpleasant the plant is like vnto Ferula
of May the seed is ripe in August ¶ The Names It is called in Latine Anisum in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in high-Dutch Anisz in low-Dutch Anissaet in Italian Aniso in Spanish 〈◊〉 in French Anis in English Anise and Annise seed ¶ The Temperature Galen writeth That the seed of Anise is hot and dry in the third degree after others it is hot in the second degree and much lesse than dry in the second degree for it ingendreth milke which it could not do if it were very dry as Galen in his chapter of Fennell doth whether hee will or no declare and testifie in that it doth ingender milke his opinion is that it is not hot aboue the first degree which thing also may be in Anise seed both by this reason and also because it is sweet Therefore to conclude Anise seed is dry in the first degree and hot in the second ¶ The Vertues The seed wasteth and consumeth winde and is good against belchings and vpbraidings of the stomacke allayeth gripings of the belly prouoketh vrine gently maketh aboundance of milke and stirreth vp bodily lust it stayeth the laske and also the white flux in women Being chewed it makes the breath sweet and is good for them that are short winded and quencheth thirst and therefore it is fit for such as haue the dropsie it helpeth the yeoxing or hicket both when it is drunken or eaten dry the smell thereof doth also preuaile very much The same being dried by the fire and taken with honey clenseth the brest very much from flegmaticke superfluities and if it be eaten with bitter almonds it doth helpe the old cough It is to be giuen to yong children and infants to eate which are like to haue the falling sicknes or to such as haue it by patrimonie or succession It taketh away the Squinancie or Quincie that is a swelling in the throat being gargled with 〈◊〉 vineger and a little Hyssop gently boiled together CHAP. 414. Of Bishops Weed Herbe-William or Ameos ¶ The Description 1 THe common Ameos especially with vs here in England hath round greene stalks with diuers boughes and branches and large long leaues diuided into diuers other narrow long and small leaues dented or snipt about the edges hauing at the top of the stalke white floures in great spoky tufts which bring forth a little sharpe and bitter seed the root thereof is white and threddie 2 This excellent and aromaticall Ameos of Candy hath tufts and leaues like Daucus Creticus and a root like vnto the garden Carrot of a yellow colour and hot seed like Origanum of an excellent spicie sauour or smell growing in spoky tufts or roundles like Carum it hath beene brought from Candy and Syria into Venice and from Venice into France Flanders and England where we haue often sowne it but without doubt we haue beene beguiled therein by the deceitful drugmasters who haue first boyled it or vsed some other false and deceitfull deuice to bring greater admiration vnto the Venice treacle for the confection whereof this seed is a chiefe and most principall ingredient Ammi vulgare Common Bishops-weed 2 Ammi Creticum Candy Bishops-weed 3 There is another kinde of Ameos which is an herbe very small and tender hauing stalkes a foot and a halfe high very small and tender beset with leaues like vnto Dill finely iagged and somewhat slender and at the top of the stalkes grow little tufts or spokie white rundles which afterwards do turne into small gray seed hot and sharpe in taste The root is small and slender ¶ The Place These plants do all grow in my garden except Ammi Creticum whereof hath beene sufficiently spoken in the description ‡ 3 Ammi perpusillum Small Bishops-weed ¶ The Time They floure in Iune and Iuly and yeeld their seed in the end of August ¶ The Names The Grecians call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latines also Ammi diuers call it Cuminum Aethiopicum others Cuminum Regium or Comin Royall in shops Ammios or Ameos in the Genitiue case the Germanes Amey in English Ameos or Ammi of some Herbe-William Bull-wort and Bishops-weed ¶ The Temperature The seed of Ameos is hot and dry in the later end of the third degree ¶ The Vertues It auaileth against gripings of the belly in making of vrine against the bitings of serpents taken in wine and also it bringeth downe the floures being applied with honey it taketh away blacke and blew spots which come of stripes the seed of Sison doth also the like for it is hot and dry and that in the third degree likewise of thin 〈◊〉 prouoking vrine and bringing downe the desired sicknesse The seed of Ameos is good to be drunken in wine against the biting of all manner of venomous beasts and hath power against all maner of poyson pestilent feuers or the plague and is vsed in the correcting of Cantharides whereby those flies are made medicinable to be applied to the body without danger Ameos brayed and wingled with honey scattereth congealed bloud and putteth away blacke and blew markes which come by stripes or falls if it be applied 〈◊〉 in manner of a plaister CHAP. 416. Of Cheruill ¶ The Description 1 THe leaues of Cheruill are slender and diuersly cut something hairy of a whitish green the stalks be short slender round and hollow within which at the first together with the leaues are of a whitish green but tending to a red when the seeds are ripe the floures be white and grow vpon scattered tufts The seed is long narrow slender sharpe pointed the root is full of strings ‡ 2 There is found in Iune and Iuly almost in euerie hedge a certaine plant which Tabernamont and Bauhine fitly cal Chaerophyllum or Cerefolium syluestre and the figure was vnsitly giuen by our Author for Thysselinum It hath a whitish wooddy root from which arise round red and hairy stalkes some two cubits high sometimes more and oft times somewhat big and swolne about the ioynts and they are not hollow but full of pith toward the top it is diuided into sundry branches which on their tops carry vmbels of small pure white little floures which are succeeded by longish seeds The leaues are vsually parted into three chiefe parts and these againe subdiuided into fiue and they are snipt about the edges soft and hairy of a darke greene or else reddish colour It floureth in Iune and Iuly and then ripens the seed ‡ 3 Great Cheruill hath large leaues deepely cut or iagged in shew very like vnto Hemlocks of a very good and pleasant smell and taste like vnto Cheruill and something hairy which hath caused vs to call it sweet Cheruill Among these leaues riseth vp a stalke somwhat crested or furrowed of the height of two cubits at the top whereof grow spoky tufts or rundles with white floures which do turne into long browne crested and shining seed one 〈◊〉 being as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fennell seeds which being greene do
it hath attained to the height of fourteene or fifteene foot in my garden and likewise groweth fairer and greater than from whence it came as it 〈◊〉 with other plants that come hither from hot regions as for example our great Artichoke which first was brought out of Italy into England is become by reason of the great moisture which our countrey is subiect vnto greater and better than those of Italy insomuch that diuers Italians haue sent for some plants of our Artichokes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be of another kinde neuerthelesse in Italy they are small and dry as they were before 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it hapneth to this Ferula as we haue said This foresaid stalke diuideth it selfe toward the top into diuers other smaller branches whereon are set the like leaues that grow next the ground out much lesser At the top of the branches at the first budding of the floures appeare certaine bundles inclosed in thin skins like the yolke of an egge which diuers call Corculum Ferulae or the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Ferula which being brought to maturitie open themselues into a tuft or vmbel like that of 〈◊〉 of a yellowish colour after which come the seed in colour and fashion like those of the 〈◊〉 but longer and greater alwaies growing two together so closely ioyned that it cannot be discerned to be more than one seed vntill they be diuided the root is very thicke and great full of a certaine gummie iuyce that floweth forth the root being bruised broken or cut which being dried or hardned is that gum which is called Sagapenum and in some shops Serapinum ‡ 3 Panax Asclepium Ferulaefacie Aesculapius his All-heale 2 There is likewise another smaller 〈◊〉 like 〈◊〉 the former in each respect sauing that it is altogether lesse the root likewise being wounded yeeldeth forth a sap or iuyce which when it is hardned is called Galbanum of the Assyrians Metopium I haue likewise another sort sent mee from Paris with this title Ferulanigra which prospereth exceeding well in my garden but difference I cannot finde any from the former sathat the leaues are of a more blacke or swart colour ‡ 3 I know not where more fitly than in this place to giue you the historie of that Ferula or Ferulaceous plant that Dodonaeus Lobel and others haue set downe vnder the name of Panax Asclepium The stalke hereof is slender a cubit high crested and ioynted and from these ioynts proceed leaues bigger than those of Fennell and also rougher and of a strong smell at the tops of the branches grow vmbels of yellow floures the seed is flatrish like that of the other Ferula the root long white and of a strong smell This growes naturally in Istria ‡ ¶ The Place These plants are not growing wilde in England I haue them all in my garden ¶ The Time They floure in Iune and Iuly they perfect their seed in September not long after the stalke with his leaues perish the root remaineth fresh and greene all Winter ¶ The Names The first is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Ferula in Italian Ferola in Spanish 〈◊〉 in English Herbe Ferula and Fennell Gyant ¶ The Temperature These plants with their Gums are hot in the third degree and dry in the second ¶ The Vertues The pith or marrow called Corculum Ferulae as Galen teacheth is of an astringent or binding qualitie and therefore good for them that spit bloud and that are troubled with the 〈◊〉 Dioscorides saith that being put into the nosthrils it stayeth bleeding and is giuen in Wine to those that are bitten with Vipers It is reported to be eaten in Apulia rosted in the embers first wrapped in leaues or in old clouts with pepper and salt which as they say is a pleasant sweet food that stirreth vp lust as they report The seed doth heate and attenuate or make thinne it is a remedie against cold fits of an Ague by procuring sweat being mixed with oyle and the body anointed therewith A dram of the iuyce of 〈◊〉 which beareth Sagapenum purgeth by siege tough and slimie humors and all grosse flegme and choler and is also good against all old and cold diseases which are hard to be cured it purgeth the brain and is very good against all diseases of the head against the Apoplexie and Epilepsie Being taken in the same manner it is good against crampes palsies shrinkings and paines of the sinewes It is good against the shortnesse of breath the cold and long cough the paine in the side and brest for it mundifieth and clenseth the brest from all cold flegme and rheumaticke humors Sagapenum infused or steeped in vineger all night and spread vpon leather or cloath scattereth dissolueth and driueth away all hard and cold swellings tumors botches and hard lumpes growing about the ioynts or elsewhere and is excellent good to be put into or mingled with all oyntments or complaisters which are made to mollifie or soften The iuyce of Ferula Galbanifera called Galbanum drunke in wine with a little myrrh is good against all venome or poyson that hath beene taken inwardly or shot into the body with venomous darts quarrels or arrowes It helps womens paineful trauel if they do take therof in a cup of wine the quantitie of a bean The perfume of Galbanum helpeth women that are grieued with the rising of the mother and is good for those that haue the falling sicknesse Galbanum softneth mollifieth and draweth forth thornes splinters or broken bones and 〈◊〉 cold and flegmaticke humors seruing in sundry ointments and emplaisters for the 〈◊〉 of Surgerie and hath the same physicall vertues that are attributed vnto Sagapenum CHAP. 428. Of Drop-wort or Filipendula 1 Filipendula Drop-wort 2 Filipendula montana Mountaine Drop-wort ¶ The Kindes THere be diuers sorts of Drop-worts some of the champion or fertill pastures some of more moist and dankish grounds and some of the mountaine ¶ The Description 1 THe first kinde of Filipendula hath leaues growing and spred abroad like feathers each leafe consisting of sundry small leaues dented or snipt round about the edges growing to the stalke by a small and slender stem these leaues resemble wilde Tansie or Burnet but that they be longer and thicker set like feathers as is aforesaid among these rise vp stalkes a cubit and a halfe high at the top whereof grow many faire white floures each small floure consisting of six slender leaues like a little star bushing together in a tuft like the floures of Medesweet of a soft sweet smell the seed is small and groweth together like a button the roots are small and blacke whereupon depend many little knops 〈◊〉 blacke pellets much like the roots of the female Peonie sauing that they be a great deale smaller 2 The second kinde of Filipendula called of Pena in his Obseruations Oenanthe siue Philipendula alter a montana is neither at this day very well knowne neither did the old writers heretofore once write
it be drunke thrise a day some ten or twelue spoonfuls at a time It helpeth them that are strangled with eating of Mushroms or toad stoois if it be drunk with vineger And being taken with wine it is good against the poison of Ixia being a viscous matter proceeding from the thistle 〈◊〉 and of Hemlock and against the biting of the shrew mouse and of the Sea Dragon it is applied to the 〈◊〉 or inflammations of the throat with honie and niter and with water to night wheales and with hony to swartish markes that come vpon bruses It is applied after the same manner to dim eies and to mattering eares 〈◊〉 Camerarius of 〈◊〉 commendeth it greatly against the iaundice giuing of the floures of Wormwood Rosemarie Sloes of each a small quantitie and a little saffron boiled in wine the body first being purged and prepared by the learned Physition CHAP. 449. Of Small leafed Wormewood Absinthium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Austrian Wormewood ¶ The Description SMall leafed Wormwood bringeth forth very many little branches slender a span or a foot high full of leaues lesse by a great deale and tenderer than the former most finely and nicely minced the floures like those of the former hang vpon the little branches and sprigs the roots are small creeping ouertwhart 〈◊〉 whence do rise a great number of yong sprouts this VVormwood also is somewhat white and no lesse bitter than the broad leafed one and hath not so ranke or so vnpleasant a smell but rather delightfull ¶ The Place It grows plentifully in Mysia Thracia Hungarie and Austria and in other regions neere adioining it is also found in Bohemia and in many vntilled places of Germanie it is a garden plant in the low Countries and in 〈◊〉 ¶ The Time It bringeth forth floures and seed in Autumne a little while after when winter commeth the herbe withereth away but the roote remaineth aliue from which leaues and stalks do come againe in the spring ¶ The Names ‡ This Lobel calls Absinthium Ponticum Tridentinum Herbariorum Clusius Absinthium tenuifolium Austriacum Tabernamontanus Absinthium Nabathaeum 〈◊〉 wee may call it in English small leaued Wormwood ‡ ¶ The Temperature Small leafed VVormwood is of facultie hot and drie it is as bitter also as the broad leafed one and of like facultie ¶ The Vertues The faculties are referred vnto the common VVormwood CHAP. 450. Of Sea Wormewood ¶ The Description 1 THe white or common Sea VVormwood hath many leaues cut and diuided into infinite fine iags like those of Sothernwood of a white hoaric colour and strong smell but not vnpleasant among which rise vp tough hoarie stalks set with the like leaues on the top wherof do grow smal yellowish floures the root is tough and creepeth far abroad by means whereof it greatly increaseth 1 Absinthium marinum album VVhite Sea VVormwood 2 Absinthium marinum repens Creeping Sea 〈◊〉 2 The broad 〈◊〉 Sea VVormwood hath very many soft leaues growing close by the ground of a darke swart colour nothing so 〈◊〉 cut or iagged as the other of his kinde the floures grow vpon the tops of the stalks of a yellowish colour the root is tough and creeping ‡ This hath many weake slender branches commonly two foot long at their ful growth red of colour and creeping vpon the ground the leaues are small narrow long and iagged or parted towards their ends into sundry parcels they are greene aboue and grayish vnderneath the toppes of the branches are set with many little stalkes some inch long which vpon short foot-stalkes comming out of the bosomes of little longish narrow leaues carry small round knops like as in other plants of this kind the taste is a little bitterish and the smell not vnpleasant this growes with Mr. Parkinson and others and as I remember it was first sent ouer from the Isle of Rees by Mr. Iohn Tradescant Lobel in his Obseruations mentions it by the name of Absinth 〈◊〉 supinum Herbariorum and 〈◊〉 sets it forth by the title of Absinthium repens ‡ ¶ The Place Thse VVormwoods do grow vpon the raised grounds in the salt marshes neere vnto the sea in most places of England which being brought into gardens doth there flourish as in his naturall place and retaineth his smell taste and naturall qualitie as hath beene often proued ‡ I haue not heard that the later growes wilde in any place with vs in England ‡ ¶ The Time These bring forth floures and seeds when the other Wormwoods 〈◊〉 ‡ The later scarce seedes with vs it floures so late in the yeare ‡ ¶ The Names Sea VVormwood is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Absinthium marinum and likewise 〈◊〉 in Dutch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of diuers Santonicum as witnesseth Dioscorides neuerthelesse there is another Santonicum differing from sea VVormwood in English of some women of the countrey Garden Cypresse ¶ The Temperature Sea VVormwood is of nature hot and drie but not so much as the common ¶ The Vertues Dioscorides affirmeth that being taken of it selfe or boiled with Rice and eaten with hony it killeth the small wormes of the guts and gently looseth the belly the which Pliny doth also affirme The iuice of sea VVormwood drunke with wine resisteth poison especially the poison of Hemlockes The leaues stamped with figs salt-peter and the meale of 〈◊〉 and applied to the belly sides or flankes help the dropsie and such as are spleenticke The same is singular against all inflammations and heat of the stomacke and liuer exceeding all the kindes of VVormwood for the same purposes that common VVormwood serueth It is reported by such as dwell neere the sea side that the cattell which do feed where it groweth become fat and lusty very quickly The herbe with his stalks laid in chests presses and ward-robes keepeth clothes from moths and other vermine CHAP. 451. Of Holy Wormewood Sementina Holie VVormewood ¶ The Description THis Wormwood called Sementina and Semen sanctum which we haue Englished Holy is that kinde of Wormwood which beareth that seed which we haue invse called VVormeseed in shops Semen Santolinum about which there hath been great controuersie amongst writers some holding that the seed of Santonicum Galatium to be the true VVormseed others deeming it to be that of Romanum Absinthium it doth much resemble the first of the sea VVormwoods in shape and proportion it riseth vp with a wooddie stalke of the height of a cubite diuided into diuers branches and wings whereupon are set very small leaues among which are placed clusters of seeds in such abundance that to the first view it seemeth to be a plant consisting all of seed ¶ The Place It is a forreine plant the seeds being sowne in the gardens of hot regions doe prosper well in these cold countries it will not grow at all Neuertheles there is one or two companions about London who haue reported vnto mee that they had great store of it growing in their gardens
Names The Artichoke is called in Latine Cinara of Cinis Ashes wherewith it loueth to be dunged Galen calleth it in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but with k and v in the first syllable of some it is called Cactos it is named in Italian 〈◊〉 Archiocchi in Spanish Alcarrhofa in English Artichoke in French Artichaux in low-Dutch Artichoken whereupon diuers call it in Latine Articocalus and Articoca in high-Dutch Strobidorn The other is named in Latine commonly not onely Spinosa cinara or prickly Artichoke but also of Palladius Carduus of the Italians Cardo and Cardino of the Spaniards Cardos of the French men Chardons Leonhartus Fuchsius and most writers take it to be Scolymus Dioscoridis but 〈◊〉 Dioscoridis hath the leafe of Chameleon or Spina alba with a stalke full of leaues and a prickly head but neither is Cinara the Artichoke which is without prickles nor the Artichok with prickles any such kinde of herbe for though the head hath prickles yet the stalke is not full of leaues but is many times without leaues or else hath not past a leafe or two Cinara doth better agree with that which Theophrastus and Pliny call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cactus and yet it doth not bring forth stalkes from the root creeping alongst the ground it hath broad leaues set with prickles the middle ribs of the leaues the skin pilled off are good to be eaten and likewise the fruit the seed and down taken away and that which is vnder is as tender as the braine of the Date tree which things Theophrastus and Pliny report of Cactus That which they write of the stalkes sent forth immediately from the root vpon the ground which are good to be eaten is peraduenture the ribs of the leaues euerie side taken away as they be serued vp at the table may be like a stalke except euen in Sicilia where they grew only in 〈◊〉 time It bringeth forth both certaine stalks that lie on the ground and another also standing straight vp but afterwards being remoued and brought into Italy or England it bringeth forth no more but one vpright for the soile and clyme do much preuaile in altering of plants as not onely Theophrastus teacheth but also euen experience it selfe declareth and of Cactus Theophrastus writeth thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cactus groweth onely in Sicilia it bringeth forth presently from the root stalkes lying along vpon the ground with a broad and prickly leafe the stalkes being pilled are fit to be eaten being somewhat bitter which may be preserued in brine it bringeth forth also another stalke which is likewise good to be eaten ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The nailes that is the white and thicke parts which are in the bottome of the outward scales or flakes of the fruit of the Artichoke and also the middle pulpe whereon the downy seed stands are eaten both raw with pepper and salt and commonly boyled with the broth of fat flesh with pepper added and are accounted a dainty dish being pleasant to the taste and good to procure bodily lust so likewise the middle ribs of 〈◊〉 leaues being made white and tender by good cherishing and looking to are brought to the table as a great seruice together with other junkets they are eaten with pepper and salt as be the raw Artichokes yet both of them are of ill iuyce for the Artichoke containeth plenty of cholericke iuyce and hath an hard substance insomuch as of this is ingendred melancholy iuyce and of that a thin and cholerick bloud as Galen teacheth in his book of the Faculties of nourishments But it is best to eate the Artichoke boyled the ribbes of the leaues are altogether of an hard substance they yeeld to the body a raw and melancholy iuice and containe in them great store of winde It stayeth the inuoluntarie course of the naturall seed either in man or woman Some write that if the buds of yong Artichokes be first steeped in wine and eaten they prouoke vrine and stir vp the lust of the body I finde moreouer that the root is good against the ranke smell of the arme-holes if when the pith is taken away the same root be boyled in wine and drunke for it sendeth forth plenty of 〈◊〉 vrine whereby the ranke and rammish sauor of the whole body is much amended CHAP. 480. Of Golden Thistles ¶ The Description 1 THe stalkes of Golden Thistle rise vp forthwith from the root being many round and branched The leaues are long of a beautifull green with deepe gashes on the edges and set with most sharpe prickles the floures come 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 of the leaues set in a 〈◊〉 chaffie knap very like to Succorie floures but of colour as yellow as gold in their places come vp broad flat and thin seeds not great nor wrapped in downe the root is long a finger thicke 〈◊〉 soft and good to be eaten wherewith swine are much delighted there issueth forth of this thistle in what part soeuer it is cut or broken a iuyce as white as milke ‡ There is some varietie of this Thistle for it is found much larger about Montpelier than it is in Spaine with longer branches but fewer floures the leaues also are spotted or 〈◊〉 with white like as the milke Thistle whence Clusius whom I here follow hath giuen two figures thereof the former by the name of Scolymus Theophrasti H spanicus and the other by the title of 〈◊〉 Theophrasti Narbonensis This with white spots 〈◊〉 saw growing this yere with Mr. 〈◊〉 at South Lambeth ‡ 1 Carduus Chrysanthemus Hispanicus The Spanish golden Thistle ‡ Carduus Chrysanthemus 〈◊〉 The French golden Thistle 2 The golden Thistle of Peru called in the West Indies 〈◊〉 del Inferno a friend of mine brought it vnto me from an Island there called Saint Iohns Island among other seeds What reason the inhabitants there haue to call it so it is vnto me vnknowne vnlesse it be because of his fruit which doth much resemble a fig in shape and bignesse but so full of sharpe and venomous prickles that whosoeuer had one of them in his throat doubtlesse it would send him packing either to heauen or to hell This plant hath a single wooddy root as big as a mans thumbe but somwhat long from which ariseth a brittle stalke full of ioynts or knees diuiding it selfe into sundry other small branches set full of leaues like vnto the milke Thistle but much smaller and straked with many white lines or streakes and at the top of the stalks come 〈◊〉 faire and goodly yellow floures very like vnto the sea Poppy but more elegant and of greater beauty hauing in the midst thereof a small knop or boll such as is in the middle of our wild Poppy but full of sharpe thorns and at the end thereof a stainc or spot of a deepe purple after the yellow floures be fallen this foresaid knop groweth by degrees greater and greater vntill it come to full maturitie which openeth it selfe at
bringeth forth a stalke groweth euery where in Germany and is a stranger in England ¶ The Time They floure and seed in Iuly and August and many times later ¶ The Names The former is called in Latine Carlina and Cardopatium and of diuers Carolina of 〈◊〉 the first Romane Emperor of that name whose armie as it is reported was in times past through the benefit of this root deliuered and preserued from the plague it is called in high Dutch Eberwurtz in low Dutch French and other languages as likewise in English Carline and Carline Thistle it is Dioscorides his Leucacantha the strong and bitter roots shew the same the faculties also are answerable as forthwith we will declare Leucacantha hath also the other names but they are counterfeit as among the Romanes Gniacardus and among the Thuscans Spina alba or white Thistle yet doth it differ from that Thistle which Dioscorides calleth Spina alba of which he also writting apart doth likewise attribute to both of them their owne proper faculties and operations and the same differing The later writers do also call the other Carlina altera and Carlina humilis or minor low or little Carline but they are much deceiued who go about to referre them both to the Chamaeleons for in Italy Germany or France Chamaeleones the Chamaeleons do neuer grow as there is one witnesse for many Petrus Bellonius in his fift booke of Singularities who sufficiently declareth what difference there is betweene the Carlines and the Chamaeleons which thing shall be made manifest by the description of the Chamaeleons ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The root of Carline which is chiefely vsed is hot in the later end of the second degree and dry in the third with a thinnes of parts and substance it procureth sweate it driueth forth all kinde of wormes of the belly it is an enemy to all maner of poisons it doth not onely driue away infections of the plague but also cureth the same if it be drunke in time Being chewed it helpeth the tooth-ache it openeth the stoppings of the liuer and spleene It prouoketh vrine bringeth downe the menses and cureth the dropsie And it is giuen to those that haue been dry beaten and fallen from some high place The like operations Dioscorides hath concerning Leucacantha Leucacantha saith he hath a root like Cyperus bitter and strong which being chewed easeth the paine of the teeth the decoction thereof with a draught of wine is a remedie against paines of the sides and is good for those that haue the Sciatica or ache in the huckle bones and for them that be troubled with the crampe The iuyce also being drunke is of like vertues CHAP. 482. Of wilde Carline Thistle ¶ The Description 1 THe great wilde Carline Thistle riseth vp with a stalke of a cubit high or higher diuided into certaine branches the leaues are long and very full of prickles in the edges like those of Carline the floures grow also vpon a prickely head being set with threds in the middest and paled round about with a little yellowish leaues the root is slender and hath a twinging taste 2 Carolus Clusius describeth a certaine other also of this kinde with one onely stalke slender short and not aboue a handfull high with prickly leaues like those of the other but lesser both of them couered with a certaine hoary downe the heads or knaps are for the most part two they haue a pale downe in the midst and leaues standing round about being somewhat stiffe and yellow the root is slender and of a reddish yellow 1 Carlina syluestris maior The great wilde Carline Thistle 2 Carlina syluestris minor The little wilde Carline Thistle ¶ The Place The great Carline is found in vntoiled and desart places and oftentimes vpon hills ‡ It groweth vpon Blacke Heath and in many other places of Kent ‡ The lesser Carline Carolus Clusius writeth that he found growing in dry stony and desart places about 〈◊〉 a city of Spaine ¶ The Time They floure and flourish in Iune and Iuly ¶ The Names It is commonly called in Latine and that not vnfitly Carlina syluestris for it is like to Carline in floures and is not very vnlike in leaues And that this is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is so much the harder to affirme by how much the briefer Theophrastus hath written hereof for he saith that this is like bastard saffron of a yellow colour and fat iuyce and Acorna differs from Acarna for Acarna as Hesychius saith is the Bay tree but Acorna is a prickly plant ¶ The Temperature and Vertues It is hot especially in the root the twinging taste thereof doth declare but seeing it is of no vse the other faculties be vnsearched out CHAP. 483. Of Chamaeleon Thistle ¶ The Kindes THere be two Chamaeleons and both blacke the vertues of their roots to differ and the roots themselues do differ in kinde as Theophrastus declareth 1 Chamaeleon niger The blacke Chamaeleon Thistle 2 Chamaeleon niger Salmanticensis The Spanish blacke Chamaeleon ¶ The Description 1 THe leaues of blacke Chamaeleon are lesser and slenderer than those of the prickely Artichoke and sprinckled with red spots the stalke is a cubit high a finger thicke and somewhat red it beareth a tufted rundle in which are slender prickely floures of a blew colour like the Hyacinth The root is thicke blacke without of a close substance sometimes eaten away which being cut is of a yellowish colour within and being chewed it bites the tongue 2 This blacke Chamaeleon hath many leaues long and narrow very full of prickles of a light greene in a manner white the stalke is chamfered a foot high and diuided into branches on the tops whereof stand purple floures growing forth of prickly heads the root is blacke and sweet in taste This is described by Clusius in his Spanish Obseruations by the name of Chamaeleon Salmanticensis of the place wherein he found it for he saith that this groweth plentifully in the territory of Salmantica a city in Spaine but it is very manifest that this is not blacke Chamaeleon neither doth Clusius affirme it ¶ The Place It is very common saith Bellonius in Lemnos where it beareth a floure of so gallant a blew as that it seemeth to contend with the skie in beautie and that the floure of Blew-Bottle being of this colour seemes in comparison of it to be but pale It groweth also in the fields neere Abydum and hard by the riuers of Hellespont and in Heraclea in Thracia Chamaeleon Salmanticensis groweth plentifully in the territorie of Salmantica a city in Spaine ¶ The Time They floure and flourish when the other Thistles do ¶ The Names The blacke Chamaeleon is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Chamaeleon niger of the Romans Carduus niger and Vernilago of some Crocodilion in English the Chamaeleon Thistle or the Thistle that changeth it selfe into many shapes and colours ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The
Rhamnus and being broken or bruised smelleth like Rocket 8 This eighth kinde of Cytisus which Pena setteth forth is doubtlesse another kinde of 〈◊〉 resembling the former in leaues floures and cods sauing that the small leaues which are alwaies three together area little snipt about the edges the whole plant is slenderer softer and greener rather resembling an herbe than a shrub the root is small and single 9 This bastard or mis-begotten shrub Trefoile or bastard Cytisus groweth vp like a shrub but not of a wooddy substance hauing tender stalks smooth and plaine whereon do grow hairy leaues like the other diuers set vpon one foot-stalke contrarie to all the rest the floures grow along the stems like those of the stocke Gillofloures of a yellow colour the root is tough and wooddy 8 Cytisus 8. The eighth shrub Trefoile 9 Cytisus adulterinus 〈◊〉 Alysson fruticans Bastard shrub Trefoile ¶ The Place These plants were first brought into Italy and Greece from one of the 〈◊〉 of Cyclades called Cyntho or Cynthusa and since found in many places of France as about Montpelier Veganium and other places they are strangers in England though they grow very plentifully in Scotland as it is reported whereof I haue two sorts in my garden that is to say Cytisus Maranthae or the horned Cytisus and likewise one of the smallest that is to say the third in number ‡ The second groweth in the garden of Mr. Iohn 〈◊〉 ‡ ¶ The Time These plants floure for the most part in May Iune and Iuly and some after the seed is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 September ¶ The Names The Grecians and Latines do call this shrub 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Cynthusa an Island before mentioned in which place they are in great estimation for that they do so wonderfully feed cattell and encrease milke in their dugs nourish sheepe and goats which bring yong ones good for store and increase One Author doth call these plants in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say in Latine 〈◊〉 foenum fertile or fruitfull Hay for that the kindes hereof cause milke to encrease maketh good bloud and iuice augmenteth strength and multiplieth the naturall seed of generation they may be called in English milke Trefoile of the store of milke which they encrease ¶ The Temperature The leaues of milke Trefoile do coole as Dioscorides writeth they asswage swellings in the beginning if they be stamped and laid vnto them with bread the decoction thereof drunke prouoketh vrine Galen teacheth that the leaues of Milke Trefoile haue a digesting or wasting qualitie mixed with a waterie and temperate facultie as haue those of the Mallow ¶ The Vertues Women saith Columella if they want milke must steepe dry milke Trefoile in fairewater and when it is throughly soked they must the next day mix a quart or thereabouts of the same pressed or strained forth with a little wine and so let it be giuen vnto them to drinke and by that meanes they themselues shall receiue strength and their children comfort by abundance of milke Hippocrates reckoneth vp Milk-Trefoile among those things that encrease milke in his booke of the Nature of women and of womens diseases Also Aristomachus of Athens in Pliny commandeth to giue with wine the dry plant and the same likewise boiled in water to nurses to drinke when their milke is gone Democritus and Aristomachus do promise that you shall want no Bees if you haue milke Trefoile for them to feed on for all writers with one consent do conclude as Galen saith that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gather of the floures of Milke Trefoile very great store of honie Columella teacheth that Milke Trefoile is notable good for hennes Bees Goats Kine and all kinde of Cattell which quickely grow fat by eating thereof and that it yeeldeth very great store of milke The people of Betica and Valentia where there is great store of Cytisus doe vse it very much for the Silke Worms to hang their web vpon after they haue been well fed with the leaues of Mulberries Milke Trefoile is likewise a maruellous remedie against the Sciatica and all other kindes of gouts CHAP. 12. Of Bastard Milke-Trefoiles ¶ The Description 1 THis riseth vp with little stalks from the root brittle very many in number parted into wings and branches about which grow many leaues lesser than those of the medow Trefoile of colour greene the floures about the tops of the twigs be orderly placed in maner like ears of colour yellow lesser than those of broom otherwise all alike in their places grow vp slender cods long narrow and lesser than the cods of Broome rough also and hairy in which do lie little blackish seeds the root is long and groweth deepe and oftentimes creepeth aslope 2 The second kinde of bastard Milke-Tresoile is like vnto the former in plentifull stalkes and twigges but 〈◊〉 it is lower and more downie neither doe the stalkes thereof stand vpright but rather incline to the one side the leaues also are somewhat greater but yet lesser than those of the medow Trefoile wholly white and they 〈◊〉 open themselues out but keep alwaies folded with the middle rib standing out the floures likewise be closelier ioined together and compacted as it were into a little head and be also something greater the cods in like manner are a little bigger and hairy and of a blackish purple or murrey the root groweth deepe in the ground being diuided into a few sprigs it oftentimes happeneth to grow in one place more hairie or downie than in another the more hairie and downie it is the more white and 〈◊〉 it is for the hairinesse doth also bring with it a certaine whitish colour 3 The third kinde of bastard Milke Trefoile bringeth forth a companie of young shoots that are somewhat writhed and crooked long leaues of a faire greene colour the floures are closed together long white or else galbineous sweetly smelling that is to say hauing the smel of honie the shrub it selfe is alwaies greene both Sommer and Winter ‡ This growes some foot or better high with slender hoarie branches set with leaues three standing together vpon a very short stalke and the middle leafe is as long againe as the other two they are very white and 〈◊〉 and the yellow floures grow out of the bosomes of the leaues all alongst the stalks This is that mentioned in the vertues of the former chapter at F for the Silke wormes to worke vpon ‡ 4 The fourth shrub is likewise one of the wilde kinde though in face and stature like the manured 1 Pseudocytisus 1. The first bastard shrub Trefoile 2 Pseudocytisus 2. The 2. bastard shrub Trefoile 3 Cytisus semper 〈◊〉 The euer-greene shrub Trefoile 4 Pseudocytisus hirsutus The hairie bastard tree Trefoile ¶ The Place These kindes of Milke Trefoiles are found in Morauia so called in our age which in times past was named Marcomannorum prouincia and in the vpper Pannonia otherwise called Austria neere to high
Rosins saith Galen that haue this kinde of moisture and clamminesse ioined with them do as it were binde together and vnite dry medicines and because they haue no euident biting qualitie they doe moisten the vlcers nothing at all therefore diuers haue very well mixed with such compound medicines either Turpentine Rosin or Larch Rosin thus far Galen Moreouer Larch Rosin performeth all such things that the Turpentine Rosin doth vnto which as we haue said it is much like in temperature which thing likewise Galen himselfe affirmeth Agaricke is hot in the first degree and dry in the second according to the old writers It cutteth maketh thin clenseth taketh away obstructions or stoppings of the intrailes and purgeth also by stoole Agaricke cureth the yellow iaundice proceeding of obstructions and is a sure remedie for cold shakings which are caused of thicke and cold humors The same being inwardly taken and outwardly applied is good for those that are bit of venomous beasts which hurt with their cold poison It prouoketh vrine and bringeth downe the menses it maketh the body well co loured driueth forth wormes cureth agues especially quotidians and wandring feuers and others that are of long continuance if it be mixed with fit things that serue for the disease and these things it performes by drawing forth and purging away grosse cold and flegmaticke humors which cause the diseases From a dram weight or a dram and a halfe to two it is giuen at once in substance or in pouder the weight of it in an infusion or decoction is from two drams to fiue But it purgeth slowly and doth somewhat trouble the stomacke and therefore it is appointed that Ginger should be mixed with it or wilde Carrot seed or Louage seed or Sal gem in Latine Salfossilis Galen as Mesue reporteth gaue it with wine wherein Ginger was infused some vse to giue it with Oxymel otherwise called syrrup of vineger which is the safest way of all Agaricke is good against the paines and swimming in the head or the falling Euill being taken with syrrup of vineger It is good against the shortnesse of breath called Asthma the inueterate cough of the lungs the ptysicke consumption and those that spet bloud it comforteth the weake and seeble stomacke causeth good digestion and is good against wormes CHAP. 45. Of the Cypresse tree Cupressus satiua syluestris The Garden and wild Cypresse tree ¶ The Description THe tame or manured Cypresse tree hath a long thicke and straight body whereupon many slender branches do grow which do not spred abroad like the branches of other trees but grow vp alongst the body yet not touching the top they grow after the fashion of a steeple broad below and narrow toward the top the substance of the wood is hard sound well compact sweet of smell and somewhat yellow almost like the yellow Saunders but not altogether so yellow neither doth it rot nor wax old nor cleaueth or choppeth itself The leaues are long round like those of Tamariske but fuller of substance The fruit or nuts do hang vpon the boughes being in manner like to those of the Larch tree but yet thicker and more closely compact which being ripe do of themselues part in sunder and then falleth the seed which is shaken out with the winde the same is small flat very thin of a swart ill fauoured colour which is pleasant to Ants or Pismires and serueth them for food Of this diuers make two kindes the female and the male the female barren and the male fruitfull Theophrastus reporteth that diuers affirme the male to come of the female The Cypresse yeelds forth a certaine liquid Rosin like in substance to that of the Larch tree but in taste maruellous sharpe and biting The wilde Cypresse as Theophrastus writeth is an high tree and alwaies greene so like to the other Cypresse as it seemeth to be the same both in boughes body leaues and fruit rather than a certaine wilde Cypresse the matter or substance of the wood is sound of a sweet smell like that of the Cedar tree which rotteth not there is nothing so crisped as the root and therefore they vse to make precious and costly workes thereof ‡ I know no difference betweene the wilde and tame Cypresse of our Author but in the handsomnesse of their growth which is helped somewhat by art ‡ ¶ The Place The tame and manured 〈◊〉 groweth in hot countries as in Candy Lycia Rhodes and also in the territorie of Cyrene it is reported to be likewise found on the hills belonging to Mount Ida and on the hills called Leuci that is to say white the tops whereof be alwaies couered with snow Bellonius denieth it to be found vpon the tops of these hills but in the bottoms on the rough parts and ridges of the hills it groweth likewise in diuers places of England where it hath beene planted as at Sion a place neere London sometime a house of Nunnes it groweth also at Greenwich and at other places and likewise at Hampsted in the garden of Mr. Wade one of the Clerkes of her Maiesties priuy Councell The wilde kinde of Cypresse tree groweth hard by Ammons Temple and in other parts of the countrey of Cyrene vpon the tops of mountaines and in extreme cold countries Bellonius affirmeth that there is found a certaine wilde Cypresse also in Candy which is not so high as other Cypresse trees nor groweth sharpe toward the top but is lower and hath his boughes spred flat round about in compasse he saith the body thereof is also thicke but whether this be Thya of which Theophrastus and Pliny make mention we leaue it to consideration ¶ The Time The tame Cypres tree is alwaies greene the fruit may be gathered thrice a yeare in 〈◊〉 May and September and therefore it is syrnamed Trifera The wilde Cypres tree is late and very long before it buddeth ¶ The Names The tame Cypres is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine 〈◊〉 in shops Cypressus in Italian Cypresso in French and Spanish Cipres in high-Dutch Cipressenbaum in low-Dutch Cypresse boom in English Cypres and Cypres tree The fruit is named in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Pilulae Cupressi Nuces Cupressi and Galbuli in shops Nuces Cypressi in English Cypres nuts or clogs This tree in times past was dedicated to Pluto and was said to be deadly whereupon it is thought that the shadow thereof is vnfortunate The wilde Cypres tree is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from this doth differ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being a name not of a plant but of a mortar in which dry things are beaten Thya as Pliny writeth lib. 13. cap. 16. was well knowne to Homer he sheweth that this is burned among the sweet smells which Circe was much delighted withall whom he would haue to be taken for a goddesse
boyled in oyle Oliue and kept therein kill the wormes in children if you anoint their bellies therewith and the leaues poudered and giuen in milke or Muscadell do the same The leaues dried and beate into fine pouder and strewed vpon those kindes of excrescences sub praeputio called Caroles and such like gotten by dealing with vncleane women take them away perfectly curing and healing them but if they be inueterate and old and haue been much tampered withall it shall be necessarie to adde vnto the same a small quantitie of Auripigmentum in fine pouder and vse it with discretion because the force of the medicine is greatly increased thereby and made more corrosiue CHAP. 51. Of Tamariske 1 Tamariscus Narbonensis French Tamariske 2 Tamariscus Germanica Germane Tamariske ¶ The Description 1 THe first kinde of Tamariske groweth like a small hedge tree couered with a reddish barke hauing many branches set and bedeckt with leaues much like vnto Heath among which come forth small mossie white floures declining to purple which turne into a pappous or downie seed that flieth away with the winde as that of Willow doth the root is wooddie as the roots of other shrubs be and groweth diuers waies 2 The Germane Tamariske hath many wooddie branches or shoots rising from the root with a white bark hauing his leaues thicker and grosser than the former and not so finely iagged or cut The floures are reddish and larger than the former growing not vpon foot-stalkes many thick clustering together as those of the former but each a 〈◊〉 distance from another on the tops of the branches spike fashion and begin to floure below which do turne into seed that is likewise carried away with the winde ¶ The Place Tamariske groweth by running streames and many times by riuers that breake forth and not seldome about fenny grounds commonly in a grauelly soile for it best prospereth in moist and stony places it is sound in Germany Vindelicia Italy Spaine and also in Greece The Tamarisks do also grow in Egypt and Syria as Dioscorides writeth and likewise in Tylus an Island in Arabia as Theophrastus noteth the wood wherof saith he is not weak as with vs in Greece but strong like 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or timber or any other strong thing this Tamariske Dioscorides doth call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say tame or planted and saith that it bringeth forth fruit very like to Galls in taste rough and binding Petrus Bellonius in his second booke of singularities reporteth that hee saw in Egypt very high Tamarisks and great like other trees and that sometimes in moist places by riuers sides and many times also in dry and grauelly grounds where no other trees did grow which now and then did beare hanging on the boughes such a multitude of Galls that the inhabitants call Chermasel as being ouer loden they were ready to breake Both these grow and prosper well in gardens with vs here in England ¶ The Time These trees or shrubs floure in May and in the later end of August their seed is carried away with the wind ¶ The Names They are called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latine also Myrica and Tamarix in shops Tamariscus of Octautus Horatianus Murica Dioscorides maketh that which groweth in Greece and Italy to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 orwilde Tamariske it is named in high Dutch Tamarischen holk and Pork in low Dutch 〈◊〉 Tamarlschboome in Italian Tamarigio in Spanish Tamarguira and Tamariz in French Tamaris in English Tamariske ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Tamariske hath a clensing and cutting facultie with a manifest drying it is also somewhat astringent or binding and by reason of these qualities it is very good for an hard spleen being boyled with vineger or wine either the root or leaues or tender branches as Galen writeth Moreouer Dioscorides teacheth that the decoction of the leaues made with wine doth waste the spleene and that the same is good against the tooth-ache if the mouth be washed therewith that it bringeth downe the Menses if the patient sit therein that it killeth lice and nits if the parts be bathed therewith The ashes of burnt Tamariske hath a drying facultie and greatly scouring withall and a little binding The floures and downie seed of the greater Tamariske doth greatly binde insomuch as it commeth very neere to the Gall named Galla Omphacitis but that the roughnesse of taste is more euident in the Gall the which floures are of an vnequall temperature for there is ioined to the nature therof a great thinnesse of parts and clensing facultie which the Gall hath not as Galen writeth These floures we fitly vse saith Dioscor in stead of Gall in medicines for the eies and mouth It is good to stanch bloud and to stay the laske and womens whites it helpeth the yellow iaundice and also cureth those that are bit of the venomous spider called Phalangium the barke serueth for the same purposes The leaues and wood of Tamariske haue great power and vertue against the hardnesse and stopping of the spleene especially the leaues being boiled in water and the decoction drunke or else 〈◊〉 in a small vessell of Ale or Beere and continually drunke and if it bee drunke forth of a cup or dish made of the wood or timber of Tamariske is of greater efficacie CHAP. 52. Of Heath Hather or Linge ¶ The Kindes THere be diuers sorts of Heath some greater some lesser some with broad leaues and some narrower some bringing forth berries and others nothing but floures ¶ The Description 1 THe common Heath is a low plant but yet wooddie and shrubby scarce a cubit high it bringeth forth many branches whereupon do grow sundry little leaues somewhat hard and rough very like to those of Tamariske or the Cypresse tree the floures are orderly placed alongst the branches small soft and of a light red colour tending to purple the root is also wooddie and creepeth vnder the vpper crust of the earth and this is the Heath which the Antients tooke to be the right and true Heath 1 Erica vulgaris sive Pumila Common or dwarfe Heath ‡ Erica vulgaris hirsuta Rough leaued Heath There is another Heath which differeth not from the precedent sauing that this plant bringeth forth floures as white as snow wherein consisteth the difference wherefore we may call it Erica pumila alba Dwarfe Heath with white floures 2 The great Heath which Carolus Clusius at his being in England found in the barren grounds about Windsor which in his Spanish trauels he maketh the first kinde groweth to the height of two cubits seldome higher full of branches couered with a blackish barke whereon are set in very good order by couples small rough square leaues finer than those of Tamariske or Cypresse The floures inclose the little twiggie branches round about at certaine distances from the lower part to the top fashioned like little bottles consisting of foure parts of a shining
and rheumaticke bodies or for vnhealthie and cold stomackes The common blacke Cherries do strengthen the stomack and are whole somer than the red Cherries the which being dried do stop the laske The distilled water of Cherries is good for those that are troubled with heate and inflammations in their stomackes and preuaileth against the falling sicknesse giuen mixed with wine Many excellent Tarts and other pleasant meats are made with Cherries sugar and other delicat spices whereof to write were to small purpose The gum of the Cherrie tree taken with wine and water is reported to helpe the stone it may do good by making the passages slippery and by tempering alaying the sharpnesse of the humors and in this maner it is a remedy also for an old cough Dioscorides addeth that it maketh one well coloured cleareth the sight and causeth a good appetite to meat CHAP. 131. Of the Mulberrie tree 1 Morus The Mulberrie tree 2 Morus alba The white Mulberrie tree ¶ The Description 1 THe common Mulberie tree is high and ful of boughes the body wherof is many times great the barke rugged that of the root yellow the leaues are broad and sharp pointed something hard and nicked on the edges in stead of floures are blowings or 〈◊〉 which are downie the fruit is long made vp of a number of little graines like vnto a blacke-Berrie but thicker longer and much greater at the first greene and when it is ripe blacke yet is the 〈◊〉 whereof it is full red the root is parted many waies 2 The white Mulberrie tree groweth vntill it be come vnto a great and goodly stature almost as big as the former the leaues are rounder not so sharpe pointed nor so deeply snipt about the edges yet sometimes sinuated or deeply cut in on the sides the fruit is like the former but that it is white and somewhat more tasting like wine ¶ The Place The Mulberry trees grow plentifully in Italy and other hot regions where they doe maintaine great woods and groues of them that there Silke wormes may feed thereon The Mulberry tree is fitly set by the slip it may also be grafted or inoculated into many trees being grafted in a white Poplar it bringeth forth white Mulberies as Beritius in his Geoponickes reporteth These grow in sundry gardens in England ¶ The Time Of all the trees in the Orchard the Mulberry doth last bloome and not before the cold weather is gone in May therefore the old Writers were wont to call it the wisest tree at which time the Silke wormes do seeme to reuiue as hauing then wherewith to seed and nourish them selues which all the winter before do lie like small graines or seeds or rather like the dunging of a flesh 〈◊〉 vpon a glasse or some such thing as knowing their proper time both to performe their duties for which they were created and also when they may haue wherewith to maintaine and preserue their owne bodies vnto their businesse aforesaid The berries are ripe in August and September Hegesander in Athenaeus affirmeth that the Mulberie trees in his time did not bring forth fruit in twentie years together and that so great a plague of the gout then raigned and raged so generally as not onely men but boies wenches eunuchs and women were troubled with that disease ¶ The Names This tree is named in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Morus in shops Morus Celsi in high Dutch 〈◊〉 in low Dutch 〈◊〉 boom in French Meurier in English Mulberry tree The 〈◊〉 is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Morum in shops Morum Celsi in high Dutch 〈◊〉 in Italian Moro in French Meure in Spanish 〈◊〉 and Mores in English Mulberry ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Mulberries being gathered before they be ripe are cold and dry almost in the third degree and do mightily binde being dried they are good for the laske and bloudy flix the pouder is vsed in meat and is drunke with wine and water They stay bleedings and also the 〈◊〉 they are good against inflammations or hot swellings of the mouth and iawes and for other inflammations newly beginning The ripe and new gathered Mulberries are likewise cold and be ful of iuice which hath the taste of wine and is something drying and not without a binding qualitie and therefore it is also mixed with medicines for the mouth and such as helpe the hot swellings of the mouth and almonds of the throat for which infirmities it is singular good Of the iuice of the ripe berries is made a confection with sugar called Diamorum that is after the manner of a syrrup which is exceeding good for the vlcers and hot swellings of the tongue throat and almonds or Vuula of the throat or any other malady arising in those parts These Mulberries taken in meat and also before meat do very speedily passe through the belly by reason of the moisture and slipperinesse of their substance and make a passage for other meats as Galen saith They are good to quench thirst they stir vp an appetite to meat they are not hurtfull to the stomacke but they nourish the body very little being taken in the second place or after meat for although they be lesse hurtfull than other like fruits yet are they corrupted and putrified vnlesse they speedily descend The barke of the root is bitter hot and drie and hath a scouring facultie the decoction hereof doth open the stoppings of the 〈◊〉 and spleen it purgeth the belly and driueth forth wormes The same bark being steeped in vineger helpeth the tooth ache of the fame effect is also the decoction of the leaues and barke saith Dioscorides who sheweth that about haruest time there issueth 〈◊〉 of the root a iuice which the next day after is found to be hard and that the same is very good against the tooth-ache that it wasteth away Phyma and purgeth the belly Galen saith that there is in the leaues and first buds of this tree a cerraine middle facultie both to binde and scoure CHAP. 132. Of the Sycomore tree Sycomorus The Sycomore tree ¶ The Description THe Sycomore tree is of no small height being very like to the mulberie tree in bignesse shew as also in leafe the fruit is as great as a Fig and of the same fashion very like in iuice and taste to the wilde Fig but sweeter and without any grains or seeds within which groweth not forth of the tender boughes but out of the body and great old armes very fruitfully this tree hath in it plenty of milkie iuice which so soon as any part is broken or cut doth issue forth ¶ The Place It groweth as Dioscorides writeth very plentifully in Caria and Rhodes and in sundry places of Egypt as at the great Cayre or Alkaire and in places that doe not bring forth much wheat in which it is an helpe and sufficeth in stead of bread
corne when there is scarsitie of victuals Galen writeth that he 〈◊〉 a plant of the Sycomore tree like to the wilde Fig tree fruit and all ¶ The Time It bringeth forth 〈◊〉 three or foure times in one yeare and oftner if it be 〈◊〉 with an iron knife or other like instrument ¶ The Names This tree is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Fig tree and the Mulbery tree in Latine Sycomorus 〈◊〉 Celsus nameth it backward Morosycos the Egyptians of our time do call it Ficus 〈◊〉 or Pharao his Fig tree as witnesseth Bellonius and it is likewise termed Ficus Aegyptia Egyptian Fig tree and also Morus Aegyptia or Egyptian Mulberrie tree We cal it English Sycomore tree after the Greek and Latine and also Mulberry Fig tree which is the right Sycomore tree and not the great Maple as we haue said in the chapter of the Maple The fruit is named in Greeke Sycomoron and in Italian Sycomoro and Fico d'Egitto ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The fruit of the Sycomore tree hath no sharpnesse in it at all as Galen saith It is somwhat sweet in raste and is of temperature moist after a sort and cold as be Mulberries It is good saith Dioscorides for the belly but it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is without any nourishment and troublesome to the stomacke There issueth forth of the barke of this tree in the beginning of the Spring before the fruit appeareth a liquour which being taken vp with a spunge or a little wooll is dried made vp into fine cakes and kept in gallie pots this mollifieth closeth wounds together and dissolueth grosse humours It is both inwardly taken and outwardly applied against the bitings of serpents hardnesse of the milt or spleene and paine of the stomacke proceeding of a cold cause this liquor doth very quickly putrifie CHAP. 133. Of the Fig tree ¶ The Description 1 THe garden Fig tree becommeth a tree of a meane slature hauing many branches full of white pith within like Elderne pith and large leaues of a darke greene colour diuided into sundry sections or diuisions The fruit commeth out of the branches without any floure 〈◊〉 all that euer I could perceiue which fruit is in shape like vnto Peares of colour either whitish or somewhat red or of a deep blew full of small graines within of a sweet and pleasant taste which beeing broken before it be ripe doth yeeld most white milk like vnto the kindes of Spurge and the leaues also beeing broken doe yeeld the like liquour but when the Figges be ripe the iuice thereof is like honie 1 Ficus The Fig tree ‡ 2 Chamaeficus The dwarfe Fig tree 2 The dwarfe Fig-tree is like vnto the former in leaues and fruit but it neuer groweth aboue the height of a man and hath many small shoots comming from the roots whereby it greatly increaseth There is also another wilde kinde whose fruit is neuer ripe Theophrastus nameth it Erincos 〈◊〉 Caprificus ¶ The Place The Fig trees do grow plentifully in Spain and Italy and many other countries as in England where they beare fruit but it neuer commeth to kindely maturitie except the tree be planted vnder an hot wall whereto neither North nor Northeast windes can come ¶ The Time The dwarfe Fig tree groweth in my garden and bringeth forth ripe and very great fruit in the moneth of August of which Figs sundry persons haue eaten at pleasure In England the Fig trees put not forth their leaues vntill the end of May where oftentimes the fruit commeth forth before the leaues appeare ¶ The Names The Fig tree is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and of diuers for difference sake betweene it and the wild Fig tree 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Ficus and Ficus satiua and Vrbana in high Dutch Feygenbaum in low-Dutch Uijgheboom in French Figuier in Italian Fico in Spanish Higuera in English Fig tree The fruit is named in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Ficus and the vnripe fruit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Grossus that which is dried is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Carica in high-Dutch Feygen in low-Dutch Uijghen in French Figues in Italian Fichi in Spanish Higos in 〈◊〉 Fig the little seeds which are found in them are named by Galen 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cechramides ¶ The Temperature The greene Figs new gathered are somewhat warme and moist the dry and ripe Figs are hot almost in the third degree and withall sharpe and biting The leaues also haue some sharpnesse with an opening power but not so strong as the iuice ¶ The Vertues The dry Figs do nourish better than the greene or new Figs notwithstanding they ingender not very good bloud for such people as do feed much thereon doe become low sie Figs be good for the throat and lungs they mitigate the cough and are good for them that be short winded they ripen flegme causing the same to be easily spet out especially when they be sodden with Hyssop and the decoction drunke Figges stamped with Salt Rew and the kernels of Nuts withstand all poyson and corruption of the aire The King of Pontus called Mithridates vsed this preseruatiue against all venom and poyson Figs stamped and made into the forme of a plaister with wheat meale the pouder of Fenugreek and Lineseed and the roots of marish Mallowes applied warme do soften and ripen impostumes phlegmons all hot and angry swellings and tumors behinde the eares and if you adde thereto the roots of Lillies it ripeneth and breaketh Venerious impostumes that come in the flanke which impostume is called Bubo by reason of his lurking in such secret places in plaine English termes they are called 〈◊〉 Figs boiled in Wormwood wine with some Barly meale are very good to be applied as an implaister vpon the bellies of such as haue the dropsie Dry Figges haue power to soften consume and make thinne and may be vsed both outwardly and inwardly whether it be to ripen or soften impostumes or to scatter dissolue and consume them The leaues of the Fig tree do waste and consume the Kings Euill or swelling kernells in the throat and do mollifie waste and consume all other tumors being finely pouned and laid thereon but after my practise being boiled with the roots of marish Mallowes vntill they be soft and so incorporated together and applied in forme of a plaister The milky iuyce either of the figs or leaues is good against all roughnesse of the skinne lepries spreading sores tetters small pockes measels pushes wheales 〈◊〉 lentiles and all other spots scuruinesse and deformitie of the body and face being mixed with 〈◊〉 meale and applied it doth also take away warts and such like excrescences if it be mingled with some fattie or greasie thing The milke doth also cure the tooth-ache if a little lint or cotton be wet therein and put into the hollownesse of the tooth It openeth
the veines of the hemorrhoids and looseneth the belly being applied to the fundament Figs stamped with the pouder of Fenugreeke and vineger and applied plaisterwise doe ease the intollerable paine of the hot gout especially the gout of the feet The milke thereof put into the wound proceeding of the biting of a mad dog or any other venomous beast preserueth the parts adioyning taketh away the paine presently and cureth the hurt The greene and ripe Figs are good for those that be troubled with the stone of the kidneyes for they make the conduits slipperie and open them and do also somewhat clense whereupon after the eating of the same it hapneth that much grauell and sand is conueyed forth Dry or barrell Figs called in Latine Caricae are a remedie for the belly the cough and for old infirmities of the chest and lungs they scoure the kidnies and clense forth the sand they mitigate the paine of the bladder and cause women with child to haue the easier deliuerance if they feed thereof for certaine dayes together before their time Dioscorides saith that the white liquor of the Fig tree and iuice of the leaues do curdle milke as rennet doth and dissolue the milke that is cluttered in the stomacke as doth vineger It bringeth downe the menses if it be applied with the yolke of an egge or with yellow wax CHAP. 134. Of the prickly Indian Fig tree Ficus Indica The Indian Fig tree Fructus The fruit ¶ The Description THis strange and admirable plant called Ficus Indica seemes to be no other thing than a multiplication of leaues that is a tree made of leaues without body or boughes for the leafe set in the ground doth in short space take root and bringeth out of it selfe other leaues from which do grow others one after another till such time as they come to the height of a tree hauing also in the meane season boughes as it were comming from those leaues sometimes more otherwhiles sewer as Nature list to bestow adding leafe vnto leafe whereby it occupieth a great piece of ground these leaues are long and broad as thicke as a mans thumbe of a deepe greene colour set full of long slender sharpe and whitish prickles on the tops of which leaues come forth long 〈◊〉 not vnlike to those of the manured Pomegrenat tree of a yellow colour after which commeth the fruit like vnto the common Fig narrow below and bigger aboue of a greene colour and stuffed full of a red pulpe and iuice staining the hands of them that touch it as do the Mulberries with a bloudy or sanguine colour the top of which Figs are inuironed with certaine scaly leaues like a crowne wherein are also contained small graines that are the seeds the which being sowne do bring forth plants round bodied like vnto the trunke of other trees with leaues placed thereon like the other which being set in the ground bring forth trees of leaues as we haue shewed ‡ Vpon this plant in some parts of the West Indies grow certain excrescences which in continuance of time turn into Insects and these out-growings are that high prized Cochenele wherwith they dye colours in graine ‡ ¶ The Place This plant groweth in all the tract of the East and West Indies and also in the countrey 〈◊〉 now called Virginia from whence it hath beene brought into Italy Spaine England and other countries in Italy it sometimes beareth fruit but more often in Spaine and neuer as yet in England although I haue bestowed great pains and cost in keeping it from the iniury of our cold 〈◊〉 It groweth also at S. Crux and other places of Barbary and also in an Island of the Mediterranean sea called Zante about a day and nights sailing with a meane winde from Petrasse a port in Morea where my seruant William Marshall before remembred did see not only great store of those trees made of leaues but also diuers other round bodied plants of a woody substance from whence he brought me diuers plants thereof in tubs of earth very fresh and greene which flourished in my garden at the impression hereof ¶ The Time These plants do grow greene and fresh both Winter and Sommer by the relation of my foresaid seruant notwithstanding they must be very carefully kept in these countries from the extremitie of Winter ¶ The Names This is thought to be the plant called of Pliny 〈◊〉 whereof he hath written lib. 21. ca. 17. in this manner About Opuns is the herbe Opuntia to mans taste sweet and it is to be maruelled that the root should be made of the leaues and that it should so grow Opuns is a city neere vnto Phocis in Greece as Pausanias Strabo and Pliny testifie but it is commonly called in Latine Ficus Indica of the Indians Tune and Tunas and also Anapallus as testifieth Bellonius in 〈◊〉 Indian Fig tree There is a certaine other described for the Indian Fig tree by Theophrastus lib. 4. which Pliny lib. 12. cap. 5. doth eloquently expresse almost in the same words but 〈◊〉 into Latine whereof we intend to speake in the next chapter ¶ The Temperature and Vertues We haue no certaine instruction from the Antients of the temperature of faculty of this plant or of the fruit thereof neither haue we any thing whereof to write of our owne knowledge more than that we haue heard reported of such as haue eaten liberally of the fruit hereof that it changed their vrine to the colour of bloud who at the first sight thereof stood in great doubt of their life thinking it had been bloud whereas it proued afterwards by experience to be nothing but the tincture or colour the vrine had taken from the iuice of the fruit and that without all hurt or griefe at all It is reported of some that the iuice of the fruit is excellent good against vlcers of long continuance ‡ Cochenele is giuen alone and mixed with other things in maligne diseases as pestilent feuers and the like but with what successe I know not ‡ CHAP. 135. Of the arched Indian Fig tree ¶ The Description THis rare and admirable tree is very great straight and couered with a yellowish bark tending to tawny the boughes and branches are many very long tough and flexible growing very long in short space as do the twigs of Oziars and those so long and weake that the ends thereof hang downe and touch the ground where they take root and grow in such sort that those twigs become great trees and these being growne vp vnto the like greatnesse doe cast their branches or twiggy tendrels vnto the earth where they likewise take hold and root by meanes wherof it commeth to passe that of one tree is made a great wood or desart of trees which the Indians do vse for couerture against the extreme heate of the Sun wherewith they are grieuously vexed some likewise vse them for pleasure cutting downe by a direct line a long walke or as it
in China they do not abstaine from fish for they are there great gluttons When the report of this root was divulged abroad euery man wonderfully desired to see and vse it because they did not well like of the strict dyet they were forced to obserue in the vse of Guajacum Besides the inhabitants of these countries by reason of their idle life are much giuen to gluttony About this time the China ships arriue at Malaca bringing a small quantitie of this root for their owne vse But this little was sought for with such earnestnesse that 〈◊〉 gaue an excessiue rate for it but afterwards the Chinois bringing a greater quantitie the price fell and it was sold verie cheape From this time Guajacum began to be out of vse and banished the Indies as a Spaniard that would famish the Natiues Thus much Garcias concerning the first vse thereof in the East Indies 1 The China now in vse is a root of the largenesse of that of the ordinarie Flag or Iris palustris and not much in shape vnlike thereto but that it wants the rings or circles that are imprinted in the other the outer coat or skin of this root is thin sometimes smooth otherwhile rugged of a brownish red colour and not to be separated from the substance of the root which is of an indifferent firmenesse being not so hard as wood but more sollid than most roots which are not of shrubs or trees the colour is sometimes white with some very small mixture of rednesse otherwhiles it 〈◊〉 a greater mixture of red and some are more red than white it is almost without tast yet that it hath is dry without any bitternesse or acrimonie at all The best is that which is indifferently ponderous new firme not worme-eaten nor rotten and which hath a good and fresh colour and that either white or much inclining thereto The plant whose root this is if we may beleeue Christopher A Costa hath many small prickly and flexible branches not vnlike the Smilax aspera or the prickly Binde-weed the biggest of these exceedeth not the thickenesse of ones little finger The leaues are of the bignesse of those of the broad leaued Plantaine the roots are as large as ones hand sometimes lesse sollid heauy white and also sometimes red and many oft times growing together 1 China vulgaris Officinarum True China 2 Pseudo-China Bastard China It groweth aboundantly in the territorie of China and is also found in Malabar Cochin Cranganor Coulan Tanor and other places The Chinois call it Lampatan in Decan they call it Lampatos in Canarin Bouti the Arabians Persians and Turks terme it Choph-China 2 This other root whose figure you see here exprest was sent from London to Clusius in the yeare 1591 by Iames Garret being brought out of Wingandecaow or Virginia with this inscription Chinae species A kinde of China Clusius caused this figure thereof to be drawne and thus describeth it This root saith hee was very knotty and formed with out-growings or bunches standing out of a reddish colour and it yet retained at the top some part of the stalke being somwhat like vnto that of Smilax aspera or common rough Binde-weed hard wooddy and full of veines as the stalks of Smilax aspera the substance of the root was also reddish as the root of the common Flagge at the first of a 〈◊〉 taste it being old for so it was when I receiued it and then drying Now I iudge this the same that the writer of the Virginian Historie mentions in his chapter of roots and saith it was broughtinto England for China though the Natiues knew no vse thereof but they vse another root very like China which they call Tsinaw of which beeing cut beaten and pressed out with water they draw a iuice wherewith they make their bread Thus much Clusius to whose words I thinke it not amisse to adde that which Mr. Thomas Hariot who was the writer of the Virginian historie here mentioned by Clusius hath set downe concerning this thing Tsinaw saith he is a kinde of root much like vnto that which in England is called the China root brought from the East Indies And we know not any thing to the contrarie but that it may be of the same kinde These roots grow many together in great clusters and doe bring forth a Brier stalk but the leafe in shape is far vnlike which being supported by the trees it groweth neeerest vnto wil reach or clime to the top of the highest From these roots whilest they be new or fresh being chopt into small pieces and stampt is strained with water a iuice that maketh bread and also beeing boiled a very good spoonemeat in manner of a gelly and is much better in taste if it be tempered with oyle This Tsinaw is not of that sort which by some was caused to be brought into England for the China root for it was discouered since and is in vse as is aforesaid but that which was brought hither is not yet knowne neither by vs nor by the inhabitants to serue for any vse or purpose although the roots in shape are very like Thus much Hariot ¶ The Temperature and Vertues China is thought to be moderately hot and drie the 〈◊〉 thereof made alone or with other things as the disease and Symptomes shal require is much commended by Garcias for to cure the French pox but chiefely that disease which is of some standing yet by most it is iudged lesse powerfull than 〈◊〉 or Sarsaparilla It attennates moues sweat and dries and therefore resists putrifaction it strengthens the liuer helpes the dropsie cures maligne vlcers scabbes and lepry It is also commended in Consumptions The decoction of this root saith Garcias besides the diseases which haue communitie with the Poxe conduces to the cure of the Palsie Gout Sciatica schirrous and oedematous tumours It also helps the Kings-euill It cureth the weakenesse of the stomacke the inueterate head-ache 〈◊〉 stone and vlceration of the bladder for many by the vse of the decoction hereof haue beene cure which formerly receiued help by no medicine CHAP. 26. Of Costus ¶ The 〈◊〉 THis simple medicine was briesely described by Dioscorides who mentions three indes thereof but what part of a plant whether root wood or fruit he hath not exprest but 〈◊〉 may probablely coniecture it is a root for that he writes toward the end of the Chapter where 〈◊〉 treats thereof 〈◊〉 1. cap. 15. that it is adulterated by mixing therewith the roots of Helenium 〈◊〉 now a root cannot well be adulterated but with another Also Pliny lib. 12. cap. 12. 〈◊〉 it a root but neither any of the antient or moderne Writers haue deliniated the plant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 root should be this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 makes three sorts as I haue said the Arabian being the 〈◊〉 which was white light strong and well smelling the Indian which was large light and 〈◊〉 the Syrian which was heauie of the colour of Box and strong smelling Now Pliny