first growes vpon the borders of bankes and ditches cast vp and in the borders of fields The second growes in ditches standing waters and riuers as on the stone wall that bordereth vpon the riuer Thames by the Sauoy in London 1 Raphanus syluestris Wilde Radish 2 Raphanus aquaticus Water Radish ¶ The Time They floure in Iune and the seed is ripe in August ¶ The Names †The first of these is Rapistrum flore albo Erucae folijs of Lobell Armoratia or Rapistrum album of Tabernamontanus and Raphanus sylvestris of our Author in English wilde Radish The second is Radicula sylvestris of Dodonaeus and Rhaphanus aquaticus or palustris of others in English water Radish ¶ The Temperature The wilde Radishes are of like temperature with the garden Radish but hotter and drier ¶ The Vertues Dioscorides writeth that the leaues are receiued among the pot herbes and likewise the boiled root which as he 〈◊〉 doth heate and prouoke vrine CHAP. 7. Of Horse Radish ¶ The Description 1 HOrse Radish bringeth forth great leaues long broad sharpe pointed and 〈◊〉 about the edges of a deepe greene colour like those of the great garden Docke called of some Monkes Rubarbe of others Patience but longer and rougher The stalke is slender and brittle bearing at the top small white floures which being past there follow small cods wherein is the seed The root is long and thicke white of colour in taste sharpe and very much biting the tongue like mustard 2 Dittander or pepperwort hath broad leaues long and sharpe pointed of a blewish greene colour like woad 〈◊〉 snipt or cut about the edges like a sawe The stalke is round and tough vpon the branches whereof grow little white floures The root is long and hard creeping farre abroad in the ground in such sort that when it is once taken in a ground it is not possible to root it out for it will vnder the ground creepe and shoot vp and bud forth in many places farre abroad The root also is sharp and biteth the tongue like pepper whereof it tooke the name pepperwort ‡ 3 This which we giue you in the third place hath a small fibrous root the stalke growes vp to the height of two cubits and it is diuided into many branches furnished with white floures after which follow seeds like in shape and taste to Thlaspi or Treacle mustard The leaues are somewhat like those of Woad This is nourished in some Gardens of the Low Countryes and Lobell was the first that gaue the figure hereof and that vnder the same title as wee here giue you it ‡ 1 Raphanus rusticanus Horse Radish 2 Raphanus syluestris Offic. Lepidium Aeginetae Lob. Dittander and Pepperwort ¶ The Place Horse Radish for the most part groweth and is planted in gardens yet haue I found it 〈◊〉 in sundrie places as at Namptwich in Cheshire in a place called the Milne eye and also at a small village neere London called Hogsdon in the field next vnto a farme house leading to Kings-land where my very good friend master Bredwell practitioner in Phisick a learned and diligent searcher of Simples and master William Martin one of the fellowship of Barbers and 〈◊〉 my deere aud louing friend in company with him found it and gaue me knowledge of the place where it flourisheth to this day Dittander is planted in gardens and is to be found wild also in England in sundry places as at Clare by Ouenden in Essex at the Hall of Brinne in Lancashire and neere vnto Excester in the West parts of England It delighteth to grow in sandie and shadowie places somewhat moist ¶ The Time Horse Radish for the most part 〈◊〉 in Aprill or May and the seed is ripe in August and that so rare or seldome seene as that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath written that it bringeth forth no seed at all Dittander floures in Iune and Iuly ¶ The Names Horse Radish is commonly called Raphanus rusticanus or Magnus and of diuers simply Raphanus 〈◊〉 of the high Dutch men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in French Grand raifort of the low Germaines 〈◊〉 in English mountaine radish Great Raifort and Horse Radish It is called in the North part of England Redcole Diuers thinke that this Horse Radish is an enemy to Vines and that the hatred betweene them is so great that if the roots hereof be planted neere to the Vine it bendeth backward from it as not willing to haue fellowship with it It is also reported that the root hereof stamped and cast into good and pleasant wine doth forthwith turne it into vineger but the old writers doe ascribe this enmity to the vine and Brassica our coleworts which the most ancients haue named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Dittander is described of Pliny by the name of Lepidium in his 19. booke 9. Chapter likewise Aegineta maketh mention of this plant by the name Lepidium in shops Raphanus 〈◊〉 and Piperitis the Germans call it 〈◊〉 the lowe Dutch men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the English men Dittander Dittany and Pepperwort 3 Lepidium Annum Annuall Dittander ¶ The Temperature These kindes of wilde Radishes are hot and drie in the third degree they haue a drying and clensing quality and somewhat digesting ¶ The Vertues Horse Radish stamped with a little vineger put thereto is commonly vsed among the Germanes for sauce to 〈◊〉 fish with and such like meates as we doe mustard but this kinde of sauce doth heate the stomacke better and causeth-better digestion than mustard Oximel or syrupe made with vineger and honie in which the rindes of Horse radish haue beene infused three dayes causeth vomit and is commended against the quartaine ague The leaues boiled in wine and a little oile 〈◊〉 added thereto and laid vpon the grieued parts in manner of a Pultis doe mollifie and take away the hard swellings of the liuer and milte and being applied to the bottome of the belly is a remedie for the strangurie It profiteth much in the expulsion of the secondine or after-birth It mittigateth and asswageth the paine of the hip or haunch commonly called Sciatica It profiteth much against the collicke strangurie and difficultie of making water vsed in stead of mustard as aforesaid The root stamped and giuen to drinke killeth the wormes in children the iuyce giuen doth the same an ointment made thereof doth the like being annointed vpon the belly of the child The leaues of Pepperwort but especially the rootes be extreame hot for they haue a burning and bitter taste It is of the number of scorching and blistring simples saith Pliny in his 20. booke the 17. chap. and therefore by his hot qualitie it mendeth the skin in the face and taketh away scabs scarres and manginesse if any thing remaine after the healing of vlcers and such like CHAP. 8. Of Winter Cresses ¶ The Description THe Winter Cresses hath many greene broad smoothe and flat leaues like vnto the common turneps whose stalkes be round and full of branches bringing forth at
Rose commonly called the great Prouince Rose We haue in our London gardens one of the red Roses whose floures are in quantitie and beauty equal with the former but of greater estimation of a perfect red colour wherein especially it differeth from the Prouince Rose in stalks stature and manner of growing it agreeth with our common red Rose ¶ Te Place All these sorts of Roses we haue in our London gardens except that Rose without prickles which as yet is a stranger in England The double white Rose doth grow wilde in many 〈◊〉 of Lancashire in great abundance euen as Briers do with vs in these Southerly parts 〈◊〉 in a place of the countrey called Leyland and in a place called Roughford not far 〈◊〉 Latham 〈◊〉 in the said Leyland fields doth grow our garden Rose wilde in the plowed fields among the 〈◊〉 in such abundance that there may be gathered daily during the time many 〈◊〉 els of Roses equall with the best garden Rose in each respect the thing that giueth great cause of worder is that in a field in the place aforesaid called Glouers field euery yeare that the field is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 corne that yeare the field will be spred ouer with Roses and when it lyeth as they call it ley and not 〈◊〉 then shall there be but few Roses to be gathered by the relation of a curious Gentleman there dwelling so often remembred in our Historie ‡ I haue heard that the Roses which grow in such plenty in Glouers field euery yeare the field is plowed are no other than corne Rose that is red Poppies howeuer our Author was informed ‡ ¶ The Time These floure from the end of May to the end of August and diuers times after by reason 〈◊〉 tops and superfluous branches are cut away in the end of their flouring then do they sometimes floure euen vntill October and after ¶ The Names The Rose is called in Latine Rosa in Greeke 〈◊〉 and the plant it selfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which in Latine keepeth the same name that the floure hath and it is called Rodon as Plutarch saith because it sendeth forth plenty of smell The middle part of the Roses that is the yellow chiues or seeds and typs is called Anthos and Flos Rosae the floure of the Rose in shops Anthera or the blowing of the rose The white parts of the leaues of the floure it selfe by which they are fastened to the cups be named Vngues or 〈◊〉 That is called Calix or the cup which containeth and holdeth in together the yellow part and leaues of the floure Alabastri are those parts of the cup which are deeply cut that compasse the floure close about before it be opened which be in number fiue two haue beards and two haue none and the fift hath but halfe one most do call them Cortices Rosarum or the husks of the roses the shoots of the plant of roses Strabo Gallus in his little garden doth call Viburna The white Rose is called Rosa alba in English the white Rose in high Dutch Weisz Roosen in low Dutch Ditte Roosen in French Rose Blanche of Plinie Spincola Rosa or Rosa Campana The red Rose is called in Latine Rosa rubra the Frenchmen Rose Franche Rose de Prouins a towne in Campaigne of Plinie Trachinia or Praenestina The Damaske Rose is called of the Italians Rosa incarnata in high Dutch Leibfarbige Roosen in low Dutch Prouenice Roose of some Rosa Provincialis or Rose of Prouence in French of some Melesia the Rose of Melaxo a citie in Asia from whence some haue thought it was first brought into those parts of Europe The great Rose which is generally called the great Prouence rose which the Dutch men cannot endure for say they it came first out of Holland and therefore to be called the Holland Rose 〈◊〉 by all likelihood it came from the Damaske rose as a kinde thereof made better and fairer by art which seemeth to agree with truth The rose without prickles is called in Latine Rosa sine spinis and may be called in English the rose without thornes or the rose of Austrich because it was first brought from Vienna the Metropolitan citie of Austrich and giue nto that famous Herbarist Carolus Clusius ¶ The Temperature The leaues of the floures of roses because they doe consist of diuers parts haue also diuers and sundry faculties for there be in them certain that are earthy and binding others moist and watery and sundrie that are spirituall and airie parts which notwithstanding are not all after one sort for in one kinde these excell in another those all of them haue a predominant or ouerruling cold tempe rature which is neerest to a meane that is to say of such as are cold in the first degree moist airie and spirituall parts are predominant in the White roses Damaske and Muske ¶ The Vertues The distilled water of roses is good for the strengthning of the heart refreshing of the spirits and likewise for all things that require a gentle cooling The same being put into iunketting dishes cakes sauces and many other pleasant things giueth a fine and delectable taste It mitigateth the paine of the cies proceeding of a hot cause bringeth sleep which also the fresh roses themselues prouoke through their sweet and pleasant smell The 〈◊〉 of these roses especially of Damask doth moue to the stoole and maketh the belly 〈◊〉 but most 〈◊〉 that of the Musk roses next to them is the iuice of the Damask which is more commonly vsed The infusion of them doth the same and also the syrrup made thereof called in Latine 〈◊〉 or Serapium the Apothecaries call it Syrrup of roses solutiue which must be made of the infusion in which a great number of the leaues of these fresh roses are diuers and sundry times steeped It is profitable to make the belly loose soluble when as either there is no need of other stronger purgation or that it is not fit and expedient to vse it for besides those excrements which stick to the bowels or that in the first and neerest veines remaine raw flegmaticke and now and then cholericke it purgeth no other excrements vnlesse it be mixed with certaine other stronger medicines This syrrup doth moisten and coole and therefore it alayeth the extremitie of heart in hot burning feuers mitigateth the inflammations of the intrails and quencheth thirst it is scarce good for aweake and moist stomacke for it leaueth it more slacke and weake Of 〈◊〉 vertue also are the leaues of these preserued in Sugar especially if they be onely bruised with the hands and diligently tempered with Sugar and so heat at the fire rather than boiled ¶ The Temperature of Red Roses There is in the red Roses which are common euery where and in the other that be of a deep purple called Prouence roses a more earthie substance also a drying and binding qualitie yet not without certaine moisture ioined being in them when
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
copies haue it it is called in high Dutch 〈◊〉 in low Dutch 〈◊〉 in Italian Betula by them of Trent Bedallo in French Bouleau in English Birch tree ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Concerning the medicinable vse of the Birch tree 〈◊〉 his parts there is nothing extant either in the old or new writers This tree saith Pliny in his 16-booke 18. chapter Mirabili candore tenuitate terribilis 〈◊〉 virgis for 〈◊〉 times past the Magistrates roddes were made heereof and in our time also the Schoolemasters and parents do terrifie their children with rods made of Birch It serueth well to the decking vp of houses and banquetting roomes for places of pleasure and 〈◊〉 of streets in the crosse or gang weeke and such like CHAP. 115. Of the Hornebeame or Hard beame Tree Betul us sive Carpinus The Hornebeame tree ¶ The Description BEtulus or the Hornebeam tree grows great and very like vnto the Elme or Wich 〈◊〉 tree hauing a great body the wood or timber whereof is better for arrowes and shafts pulleies for mills and such like deuises than Elme or Wich Hazell for in time it waxeth so hard that the toughnesse and hardnesse of it may be rather compared vnto horn than vnto wood and therefore it was called Hornebeame or Hardbeame the leaues hereof are like the Elme sauing that they be tenderer among those hang certaine triangled things vpon which be found knaps or little heads of the bignesse of Ciches in which is contained the fruit or seed the root is strong and thicke ¶ The Place Betulus or the Hornebeame tree growes plentifully in Northamptonshire also in Kent by Grauesend where it is commonly taken for a kinde of Elme ¶ The Time This tree doth spring in Aprill and the seed is ripe in September ¶ The Names The Hornebeam tree is called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is as if you should say Coniugalis or belonging to the yoke because it serueth well to make 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of in Latine Iuga yokes wherewith oxen are yoked together which are also euen at this time made thereof as witnesseth Benedictus Curtius Symphorianus and our selues haue sufficient knowledge thereof in our owne country and therefore it may be Englished Yoke Elme It is called of some Carpinus and Zugia it is also called Betulus as if it were a kinde of Birch but my selfe better like that it should be one of the Elmes in high Dutch Ahorne in French Carne in Italian Carpino in English Hornebeame Hardbeame Yoke Elme and in some places Witch hasell ¶ The Temperature and Vertues This tree is not vsed in medicine the vertues are not expressed of the Antients neither haue wee any certaine experiments of our owne knowledge more than hath beene said for the vse of Husbandrie CHAP. 116. Of the Elme tree ‡ OVr Author onely described two Elmes and those not so accurately but that I thinke I shall giue the Reader content in exchanging them for better receiued from Mr. Goodyer which are these Vlmus vulg 〈◊〉 folio lato scabro The common Elme 1 THis Elme is a very great high tree the barke of the young trees and boughes of the Elder which are vsually lopped or shred is smooth and very tough and wil strip or pil from the wood a great length without breaking the bark of the body of the old trees as the trees grow in bignesse teares or rents which makes it very rough The innermost wood of the tree is of reddish yellow or brownish colour and curled and after it is drie very tough hard to cleaue or rent whereof aues of Carts are most commonly made the wood next the barke which is called the sap is white Before the leaues come sorth the floures appeare about the end of March which grow on the 〈◊〉 or branches closely compacted or thrust together and are like to the chiues growing in the 〈◊〉 of most floures of a reddish colour afterwhich come flat seed more long than broad not much vnlike the garden Arach seed in forme and bignesse and doe for the most part fall away before or shortly after the leaues spring forth and some hang on a great part of the Sommer the leaues grow on the twigges of a darke greene colour the middle size whereof are two inches broad and three inches long some are longer and broader some narrower and shorter rough or harsh in handling on both sides nickt or indented about the edges and many times crumpled hauing a nerue in the middle and many smaller nerues growing from him the leafe on one side of the nerue is alwaies longer than on the other On these leaues oftentimes grow blisters or small bladders in which at the spring are little wormes about the bignesse of Bed-fleas This Elme is common in all parts of England where I haue trauelled Vlmus minor folio angusto scabro The Narrow leaued Elme 1 Vlmus vulgatiss folio lato scabro The common Elme tree ‡ 2 Vlmus minor folio augusto scabro The narrow leaued Elme ‡ 3 Vlmus folio latissimo scabro Witch Hasell or the broadest leaued Elme 4 Vlmus folio glabro Witch Elme or smooth leaued Elme Vlmus folio latissimo scabro Witch Hasell or the broadest leaued Elme 3 This groweth to be a very great tree and also very high especially when he groweth in moods amongst other trees the barke on the outside is blacker than that of the first and is also very tough so that when there is plenty of sap it will strip or peele from the wood of the boughes from the one end to the other a dozen foot in length or more without breaking whereof are often made cords or ropes the timber hereof is in colour neere like the first it is nothing so firme or strong for naues of Carts as the fruit is but will more easily cleaue this timber is also couered with a white sappe next the barke the branches or young boughes are grosser and bigger and do spread themselues broader and hang more downewards than those of the first the floures are nothing but chiues very 〈◊〉 those of the first kind the seed is also like but something bigger the leaues are much broader and longer than any of the kindes of Elme vsually three or foure inches broad and fiue or six inches long also rough or harsh in handling on both sides snipt or indented about the edges neere resembling the leaues of the Hasell the one side of the leaues are also most commonly longer than the other also on the leaues of this Elme are sometimes blisters or bladders like those on the first kinde This prospereth and naturally groweth in any soile moist or dry on high hills and in low vallies in good plenty in most places in Hampshire wher it is commonly called VVitch Hasell Old men affirme that when long boughes were in great vse there were very many made of the wood of this tree for which purpose it is mentioned in the statutes of England by
Aeterno famae marmore sculpta manet Hic quicquid Zephyrus produxit quicquid Eurus Antiquus quicquid novus orbis haber Intulit in patriam naturamque 〈◊〉 arte Sic nullo cedit 〈◊〉 Britanna solo Quod magis est Graium Latium concludit in vno Margine Anglorum iam facit ore loqui Sic erit 〈◊〉 hinc vt viuas horte 〈◊〉 Cultoris studio nobilitate tui In Plantarum historiam a solertissimo viro Reique Herbariae peritissimo D. Iohanne Gerardo Anglice editam Epigramma EGregiam certè 〈◊〉 decus immortale refertis Tu socijque tui magnum memorabile nomen Illustris DEVORAX raptoribus orbis IBERIS Deuictis classe Anglorum Tuque Dicasta Maxime EGERTONE veterem superans Rhadamanthum HEROVM merito 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 censendus in albo Neclaus vestra minor sacrae pieratis alumni Qui mentes hominum diuina pascitis esca Ornatis Patriam cuncti nomenque Britannum Augetis vobisque viam munitis ad astra Quin agite in partem saltem permittite honoris Phoebei veniant Vates qui pellere gnari Agmina morborum humanae insidiantia vitae Huius ingentes serena fronte labores ANGLO-DIOSCORIDIS Patriae vestraeque saluri Excipite exhaustos paulum huc diuortite in HORTOS Quos CHORTEIA colit quos Flora exornat omnes Naiades Dryades Charites Nymphaeque Britannae Corporibus hic grata salus animisque voluptas Hic laxate animos HABITAVIT NVMEN IN HORTIS Fran. Hering Med. D. Thomas Newtonus Cestreshyrius D. Io. Gerardo amico non vulgari S. POst tot ab ingenuis conscripta 〈◊〉 mystis Herbarum vires qui reserare docent Tu tandem prodis Spartamque hanc 〈◊〉 ornas Dum reliquis 〈◊〉 praeripuisse studes Nec facis hoc rutilo vt possis ditarier auro Nec tibi vt accrescat grandis acervus opum Sed prodesse volens vestitos gramine colles Perlustras agros frondiferumque nemus Indeque Paeonias apis instar colligis herbas Inque tuum stirpes congeris alueolum Mille tibi species plantarum milleque notae Hortulus indicio est quem colis ipse domi Pampineae vites redolens cedrus innuba laurus Nota tibi 〈◊〉 est pinguis oliua tibi Balsama narcyssus rhododaphne nardus amomum Saluia dictamnus galbana nota tibi Quid multis radix stirps flos cum cortice ramus Spicaque cum siliquis est bene nota tibi Gratulor ergo tibi cunctisq Gerarde Britannis Namptwicoque 〈◊〉 gratulor atque meo Nam 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 me genuere parentes Tu meliore tamen sydere 〈◊〉 eras Macte animo pergasque precor 〈◊〉 laborem Vrge etiam vlterius Viuitur ingenio 〈◊〉 habeant alij gemmas nitidosque pyropos Plantas 〈◊〉 flores scribe Gerarde Vale. Vere ex animo tuus Tho. Newton Ilfordensis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To the well affected Reader and peruser of this Booke St. Bredwell Physition greeting OPen is the campe of glorie and honour for all men saith the younger Pliny not onely men of great birth and dignitie or men of office endued witb publique charge and titles are seene therein and 〈◊〉 the garland of praise and preferment waiting to crowne their merits but euen the common souldier likewise so as he whose name and note was crst all obscure may by 〈◊〉 acts of valour obtaine a place among the noble The schoole of science keepeth semblable proportion whose amplitude as not alwaies nor onely men of great titles and degrees labour to illustrate so whosoeucr doth may confidently account of at the least his name to be immortall What is he then that will denie his voice of gracious commendation to the Authors of this Booke to euery one no doubt there is due a condigne measure The first gatherers out of the Antients and augmentors by their owne paines haue 〈◊〉 spread the odour of their good names through all the Lands of learned habitations D. Priest for his translation of so much as Dodonaeus hath thereby left a tombe for his honorable sepulture M. Gerard comming last but not the least hath many waies accommodated the whole worke vnto our English Nation for this Historic of Plants as it is richly replenished by those fiue mens labours laied together so yet could it full ill haue wanted that new accession he hath made vnto it Many things hath he nourished in his garden and obserued in our English fields that neuer came into their pennes to write of Againe the greatest number of these plants hauing neuer been written of in the English tongue would haue wanted names for the vulgar sort to call them by in which defect he hath bin curiously carefull touching both old and new names to make supply And lest the Reader should too often languish with frustrate desire to finde some plant he readeth of rare vertue he spareth not to tell if himselfe haue seene it in England in what wood pasture or ditch the same may be seene and gathered Which when I thinke of and therewithall remember with what cheerefull alacritie and resolute attendance he hath many-yeares tilled this ground and now brought forth the fruit of it whether I should more commend his great diligence to attaine this skill or his large bencuolence in bestowing it on his countrie I cannot easily determine This booke-birth thus brought forth by Gerard as it is informe and disposition faire and comely euery species being referred to his likeliest genus of whose stocke it came so is it accomplished with surpassing varietie vnto such spreading growth and strength of euery lim as that it may seeme some heroicall Impe of illustrious race able to draw the 〈◊〉 and expectation of euery man vnto it Somewhat rare it will be here for a man to moue a question of this nature and depart againe without some good satisfaction Mamfold will be the vse both to the Physition and others for euery man delighteth in knowledge naturally which as Aristotle said is in prosperitie an ornament in aduersitie arefuge But this booke aboue many others will sute with the most because it both plenteously ministreth knowledge which is the food of the minde and doth it also with a familiar and pleasing taste to 〈◊〉 capacitie Now as this commoditie is communicated to all and many shall-receiue much fruit thereof so I wish some may haue the minde to returne a benefit againe that it might not be 〈◊〉 in all that Iuvenall saith Scirevolunt omnes mercedem soluere nemo i. All desire to know none to yeeld reward Let men think that the perfection of this knowledge is the high aduancement of the health of man that perfection is not to be attained but by strong indeuor neither can strong indeuor be accomplished without free maintenance This hath not he who is forced to labour for his daily bread but if hee who from the short houres of his daily and necessarie trauell stealing as it were some for the publike
many other places Small Hard-grasse groweth in moist fresh marishes and such like places Rush-grasse groweth in salt marishes neere vnto the sea where the marishes haue beene ouerflowne with salt water ‡ It also groweth in many wet woods lanes and such places as in the lane going by Totenham Court towards Hampstead The lesser varietie hereof growes on the bogges vpon Hampstead heath ‡ ¶ The Time These kindes of Grasses do grow floure and flourish when the common Medow grasse doth ¶ The Names It sufficeth what hath beene said of the names in the description as well in English as Latine onely that some haue deemed White Dwarfe-grasse to be called Xerampelinum Rush-grasse hath been taken for Holosteum Matthioli ‡ ¶ The Names in particular 1 This I here giue you in the first place is the Gramenminimum Xerampelinum of Lobel it is the Gramen of Matthiolus and Gramen bulbosum of Daleschampius Our Author did not vnderstand what Xerampelinus signified when as he said the white Dwarfe-grasse was so termed for the word imports red or murrey such a colour as the withered leaues of Vines are of 2. Tabern calls this Gramen panniculatum minus 3. Lobel calls this Exile Gramen durius 4. This by Matthiolus was called Holostium by Thalius Gramen epigonatocaulon by Tabernamontanus Gra. 〈◊〉 that is Toad-grasse ‡ ¶ The Nature and Vertues These kindes of Grasses doe agree as it is thought with the common 〈◊〉 grasse in nature and vertues notwithstanding they haue not beene vsed in physicke as yet that I can reade of †The first figure was onely a varietie of the second according to 〈◊〉 yet in my iudgement it was the same with the third which is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 CHAP. 3. Of Corne-Grasse ¶ The Description 1 COrne-grasse hath many grassie leaues resembling those of Rie or rather Otes amongst the which commeth vp slender benty stalkes kneed or ioynted like those of corne whereupon groweth a faire tuft or pannicle not much vnlike to the feather-like tuft of common Reed but rounder compact together like vnto Millet The root is threddy like those of Otes 1 Gramen segetale Corne-grasse 2 Gramen 〈◊〉 Reed-grasse or Bent. 2 Reed-grasse hath many thin grassie leaues like the former the bushy top with his long feather-like pannicles doresemble the common Reed which is lightly shaken with the winde branched vpon a long slender reeden stalke kneed or ioynted like corne The root is small and fibrous ¶ The Place and Time These kindes of Grasses grow for the most part neere hedges in fallow fields in most places Their time of springing flouring and fading may be referred to the common Medow-grasse The Names †The first is called in English Corne-grasse Lobelius calls this Segetum gramen pannicula speciosa latiore others termeit Gramen segetale for that it vsually groweth among corne the which I haue not as yet seene The second is called in English Reed-grasse of Lobelius in Latine Gramen agrorum latiore arundinacea comosa pannicula for that his tuft or pannicles do resemble the Reed and Spicaventi agrorum by reason of his feather-top which is easily shaken with the wind ‡ Some in English much agreeable to the Latine name call these Windle-strawes Now I take this last to be the Grasse with which we in London do vsually adorne our chimneys in Sommer time and we commonly call the bundle of it handsomely made vp for our vse by the name of Bents ‡ ¶ The Temperature and Vertues These Grasses are thought to agree with common Grasse as well in temperature as vertues although not vsed in physicke CHAP. 4. Of Millet Grasse 1 Gramen Miliaceum Millet Grasse 2 Gramen majus aquaticum Great Water-grasse ¶ The Description 1 MIllet Grasse is but a slender Grasse bearing a tuft or eare like vnto the common Medow-grasse but consisting of small seeds or chaffie heads like to Milium or 〈◊〉 whereof it tooke the name The stalke or leaues do resemble the Bent wherewith countrey people do trimme their houses 2 The great Water-grasse in root leafe tuft and reeden stalke doth very well resemble the Grasse called in Latine Gramen sulcatum or Pictum and by our English women Lady-laces because it is stript or furrowed with white and greene streakes like silke laces but yet differs from that that this Water grasse doth get vnto it selfe some new roots from the middle of the stalks and ioynts which the other doth not ‡ This is a large Grasse hauing stalkes almost as thicke as ones little finger with the leaues answerable vnto them and a little rougish the tuft is somewhat like a reed but lesse and whitish coloured ‡ ¶ The Place 〈◊〉 Nature and Vertues The former growes in medowes and about hedges and the later is to be found in most fenny and watery places and haue their vertues and natures common with the other Grasses for any thing that wee can finde in writing The reason of their names may be gathered out of the description CHAP. 5. Of Darnell Grasse ¶ The Description 1 DArnell Grasse or Gramen Sorghinum as Lobel hath very properly termed it hath a brownish stalke thicke and knotty set with long sharpe leaues like vnto the common Dogs Grasse at the top whereof groweth a tuft or eare of a grayish colour somwhat like 〈◊〉 whereof it tooke his name 1 Gramen Sorghinum Darnell Grasse †2 Gramen harundinaceum panniculatum Wilde Reed ‡ 3 Gramen arundinaceum minus The lesser Reed-Grasse ‡ 3 This in root stalkes and leaues is like to the last described but that they are lesser the top or head is a long single spike or eare not seuered or parted into many eares like 〈◊〉 top of the precedent and by 〈◊〉 and the magnitude it may chiefely be distinguished from it This was in the twelfth place in the sixteenth chapter vnder the title of Gramen harundinaceum minus and the Calamogrostis but now described was also there againe in the eleuenth place ‡ ¶ The Place The first growes in fields and orchards almost euery where the other grow in fenny waterish places ¶ The Names 2 This in Lincolneshire is called Sheere-grasse or Henne in other parts of England wild Reed in Latine Calamogrostis out of the Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As for their natures and vertues we doe not finde any great vse of them worth the setting downe CHAP. 6. Of Feather-top Ferne and Wood-grasse ¶ The Description ‡ 1 THis might fitly haue beene put to those mentioned in the foregoing chapter but that our Author determined it for this as may appeare by the mention made of it in the names as also by the description hereof framed from the figure we here giue you ‡ This Grasse is garnished with chaffie and downie tufts set vpon a long benty stalke of two cubits high or somewhat more naked without any blades or leaues for the most part His root is tough and hard ‡ The top is commonly of a
and Triangularis of others Aspalathum and 〈◊〉 in French Souchet in Dutch Galgan in Spanish Iunco odorosa By vs Cyperus and English Galangall ‡ ¶ The names in particular 1 This is called Cyperus longus and Cyperus longus Oderatior in English Common Cyperus and English Gallingall 2 This is called Cyperus rotundus vulgaris Round English Galangall 3 Cyperus rotundus Cyriacus or Aegyptiacus Syrian or Aegyptian round Cyperus 4 Cyperus minor Creticus Candy round Cyperus 5 Cyperus rotundus inodorus Littoreus Round Salt-marsh Cyperus or Galingale ‡ ¶ The nature Dioscorides saith That Cyperus hath an heating qualitie Galen saith The roots are most effectual in medicine and are of an heating and drying qualitie and some doe reckon it to be hot and dry in the second degree ¶ The vertues It maketh a most profitable drinke to breake and expell grauell and helpeth the dropsie If it be boyled in wine and drunke it prouoketh vrine driueth forth the stone and bringeth downe the naturall sicknesse of women The same taken as aforesaid is a remedie against the stinging and poyson of Serpents Fernelius saith The root of Cyperus vsed in Baths helpeth the coldnesse and stopping of the matrix and prouoketh the termes He writeth also that it increaseth bloud by warming the body and maketh good digestion wonderfully refreshing the spirits and exhilarating the minde comforting the senses and encreasing their liuelinesse restoring the colour decayed and making a sweet breath The powder of Cyperus doth not onely dry vp all moist vlcers either of the mouth priuy members and fundament but stayeth the humor and healeth them though they be maligne and virulent according to the iudgement of Fernelius ‡ CHAP. 25. Of Jtalian Trasi or Spanish Galingale 1 Cyperus Esculentus sine Caule flore Italian Trasi or Spanish Galingall without stalke and floure 2 Cyperus Esculentus sine Trasi Italorum Italian Trasi or Spanish Galingall ‡ 1 THe Italian Trasi which is here termed Spanish Galingale is a plant that hath many small roots hanging at stringy fibers like as our ordinary Dropwort roots do but they are of the bignesse of a little Medlar and haue one end flat and as it were crowned like as a Medlar and it hath also sundry streakes or lines seeming to diuide it into seueral parts it is of a brownish colour without and white within the taste thereof is sweet almost like a Chesnut The leaues are very like those of the garden Cyperus and neuer exceed a cubit in length Stalkes flowers or seed it hath none as Iohn Pona an Apothecary of Verona who diligently obserued it nigh to that city whereas it naturally growes affirmes but he saith there growes with it much wild Cyperus which as he judges hath giuen occasion of their error who giue it the stalkes and flowers of Cyperus or English Galingale as Matthiolus and others haue done It is encreased by setting the roots first steeped in water at the beginning of Nouember I haue here giuen you the figure of it without the stalke according to Pona and with the stalke according to Matthiolus and others ¶ The Names The Italian Trasi is called in Greeke by Theophrastus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hist. plant 4. cap. 10. as Fabius Columna hath proued at large Pliny termes it Anthalium the later writers Cyperus Esculentus and Dulcichinum The Italians Trasi and Dolzolini by which names in Italy they are cryed vp and downe the streets as Oranges and Lemmons are here ¶ The 〈◊〉 and vertues The milke or creame of these Bulbous rootes being drunke mundifies the brest and lungs wherefore it is very good for such as are troubled with coughs Now you must beat these roots and macerate them in broth and then presse out the creame through a linnen cloath which by some late Writers is commended also to be vsed in venereous potions The same creame is also good to be drunke against the heate and sharpnesse of the vrine especially if you in making it do adde thereto the seeds of Pompions Gourds and Cucumbers The Citisens of Verona eate them for dainties but they are somewhat windy ‡ ‡ CHAP. 26. Of the true Galingale the greater and the lesser ‡ 1 Galanga major The greater Galingale ‡ 2 Galanga minor The lesser Galingale THe affinitie of name and nature hath induced me in this place to insert these two the bigger and the lesser Galingale first therefore of the greater ¶ The Description 1 The great Galingale whose root onely is in vse and brought to vs from Iava in the East Indies hath flaggy leaues some two cubits high like these of Cats-taile or Reed-mace the root is thicke and knotty resembling those of our ordinary flagges but that they are of a more whitish colour on the inside and not so large Their tast is very hot and biting and they are somwhat reddish on the outside 2 The lesser growing in China and commonly in shops called Galingale without any addition is a small root of a brownish red colour both within and without the taste is hot and biting the smell aromaticall the leaues if we may beleeue Garcias ab Horto are like those of Myrtles ¶ The Names 1 The first is called by Matthiolus Lobell and others Galanga major Some thinke it to be the Acorus of the Ancients and Pena and Lobell in their Stirp Aduers question whither it be not the Acorus Galaticus of Dioscorides But howsoeuer it is the Acorus of the shops and by many vsed in Mithridate in stead of the true The Indians call it Lancuaz 2 The lesser is called Galanga and Galanga minor to distinguish it from the precedent The Chinois call it 〈◊〉 the Indians Lancuaz we in England terme it Galingale without any addition ¶ Their temper and vertue These roots are hot and dry in the third degree but the lesser are somewhat the hotter They strengthen the stomacke and mitigate the paines thereof arising from cold and flatulencies The smell especially of the lesser comforts the too cold braine the substance thereof being chewed sweetens the breath It is good also against the beating of the heart They are vsefull against the Collicke proceeding of flatulencies and the flatulent affects of the wombe they conduce to venery and heate the too cold reines To conclude they are good against all cold diseases ‡ ‡ CHAP. 27. Of Turmericke THis also challengeth the next place as belonging to this Tribe according to Dioscorides yet the root which onely is brought vs and in vse doth more on the outside resemble Ginger but that it is yellower and not so flat but rounder The inside thereof is of a Saffron colour the taste hot and bitterish it is said to haue leaues larger than those of Millet and a leafie stalke There is some varietie of these roots for some are longer and others rounder and the later are the hotter and they are brought ouer oft times together with Ginger ¶ The place It growes naturally in the East-Indies
made hereof but generally with the herbe Spartum described in the 〈◊〉 Chapter CHAP. 34. Of Mat-Weed ¶ The kindes There be diuers kindes of Mat-Weeds as shall be declared in their seuerall descriptions ¶ The Description THe herbe Spartum as Pliny saith growerh of it selfe and sendeth forth from the root a multitude of slender rushie leaues of a cubit high or higher tough and pliable of a whitish colour which in time drawetll narrow together making the flat leafe to become round as is the Rush. The stub or stalke thereof beareth at the top certaine feather-like tufts comming forth of a sheath or huske among the which chaffie huskes is contained the seed long and chaffie The root consisterh of many strings folding one within another by meanes whereof it commeth to the forme of a turfe or hassocke 1 Spartum Plinij Clufio Plinies Mat-Weed 2 Spartum alterum Plinij Hooded Mat-Weed 2 The second likewise Pliny describeth to haue a long stalke not much vnlike to Reed but lesser whereupon do grow many grassie leaues rough and pliant hard in handling as are the Rushes A spokie chaffie tuft groweth at the top of the stalke comming forth of a hood or sinewie sheath such as encloseth the flowers of Onions Leekes Narcissus and such like before they come to flowring with seed and roots like the precedent 3 English Mat-weed hath a rushie root deepely creeping and growing in heapes of sand and grauell from the which arise stiffe and sharpe pointed leaues a 〈◊〉 and a halfe long of a whitish colour very much resembling those of Camels hay The stalke groweth to the height of a cubit or more whereupon doth grow a spike ‡ or eare of some fiue or six inches long somwhat resembling Rie it is the thicknesse of a finger in the midst and smaller towards both the ends The seed is browne as small as Canarie seed but round and somewhat sharpe at the one end ‡ Of this plant neither Sheepe nor any other Cattle will raste or eate 4 The other English Mat-Weed is like vnto the former sauing that the roots of this are long not vnlike to Dogs Grasse but do not thrust deepe into the ground but creepe onely vnder the vpper crust of the earth The tuft or eare is 〈◊〉 and more resembling the head of Canary seed than that of Rie ‡ 5 Lobell giues a figure of another smaller Rush leaued Spartum with small heads but hee hath not described it in his Latine Workes 〈◊〉 I can say nothing certainly of it 6 To this kindred must be added the Feathered Grasse though not partaking with the former in place of growth Now it hath many small leaues of a foots length round green and sharp pointed not much in forme vnlike the first described Mat-weed but much lesse amongst these leaues rise vp many small stalkes not exceeding the height of the leaues which beare a spike vnlike the forementioned Mat-weeds hauing 3 or foure 〈◊〉 ending in or sending vp very fine white Feathers resembling the smaller sort of feathers of the wings of the Bird of Paradise The root consists of many small grassie sibres 3 Spartum Anglicanum English Mat-Weed or Helme 4 Spartum Anglicanum alterum Small English Mat-Weed or Helme ‡ 6 Spartum Austriacum Feather-Grasse ¶ The place 1 2 These two grow in diuers places of Spaine 3 I being in company with M. Tho. Hicks William Broad and three other London 〈◊〉 besides in August 1632 to finde out rare plants in the Island of Tenet found this bigger English one in great plentie as soone as we came to the sea side going betweene Margate and Sandwich 4 5 These it may be grow also vpon our Coasts howeuer they grow neere the sea side in diuers parts of the Low-Countries 6 This elegant Plant Clusius first obserued to grow naturally in the mountaines nigh to the Bathes of Baden in Germany and in diuers places of Austria and Hungarie It is nourished for the beautie in sundrie of our English gardens ¶ The time These beare their heads in the middle and some in the later end of Sommer ¶ The Names 1 This is called Spartum primum Plinij that is the first Mat-Weed described by Pliny in Spaine they call it Sparto the French in Prouence terme it Olpho 2 This is Spartum alterum Plinij Plinie his second Mat-Weed or Hooded Mat-weed it is called Albardin in Spaine 3 This is Spartum tertium of Clusius and Gramen Sparteum secundum Schaenanthinum of Taber Our Author gaue Clusius his figure for his first and Tabernamontanus figure for the second Spartum Anglicanum but I will thinke them both of one plant though Bauhine distinguish them vntill some shall make the contrary manifest This the Dutch call 〈◊〉 and our English in Tenet Helme Turner calls it Sea-Bent 4 This is Spartum herba 4 Batavicum of Clusius Gramen Sparteum or Iunci Spartium of Tabern and our Author gaue Tabern figure in the 23 Chapter of this Booke vnder the title of Iuncus marinus gramineus Lobell calls it Spartum nostras alterum 5 Lobell calls this Spartum nostras parvum 6 Clusius calls this Spartum Austriacum Daleschampius Gramen pinnatum we in England call it Gramen plumosum or Feathered Grasse ‡ ¶ The temperature vertues and vse These kindes of grassie or rather rushie Reed haue no vse in physicke but serue to make Mats and hangings for chambers frailes baskets and such like The people of the Countries where they grow do make beds of them straw their houses and chambers in stead of Rushes for which they do excell as my selfe haue seene Turner affirmeth That they made hats of the English one in Northumberland in his time They do likewise in sundry places of the Islands of Madera Canaria Saint Thomas and other of the Islands in the tract vnto the West Indies make of them their boots shooes Herd-mens Coats fires and lights It is very hurtfull for cattell as Sheere-grasse is The Feather-Grasse is worne by sundry Ladies and Gentlewomen in stead of a Feather the which it exquisitely resembles CHAP. 35. Of Camels Hay 1 Scoenanthum Camels Hay 2 Scoenanthum adulterinum Bastard Camels Hay ¶ The Description 1 CAmels Hay hath leaues very like vnto Mat-Weed or Helme his roots are many in quantitie meane full of small haires or threds proceeding from the bigger Root deeply growing in the ground hauing diuers long stalkes like Cyperus Grasse set with some smaller leaues euen vnto the top where do grow many small chaffie tufts or pannicles like vnto those of the wilde Oats of a reasonable good smell and sauour when they are broken like vnto a Rose with a certaine biting and nipping of the tongue †2 Francis Penny of famous memory a good Physitian and skilfull Herbarist gathered on the coast of the Mediterranean sea between Aigues Mortes and Pescaire this beautifull plant whose roots are creeping and stalkes and leaues resemble Squinanth The flowers are soft pappous and thicke compact and some fiue
haue called Zea or Spelta by the name of Far as Dionysius Halicarnassaeus doth sufficiently testifie The old Romans saith he did call sacred marriages by the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because Zea siue Speltae Spelt Corne. the Bride and Bridegroome did eate of that Far which the Grecians do call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The same thing Asclepiades affirmeth in Galen in his ninth Booke according to the places affected writing thus Farris quod Zea appellant that is to say Far which is called Zea c. And this Far is also named of the Latines Ador 〈◊〉 and Semen adoreum ¶ The temper Spelt as Dioscorides reporteth nourisheth more than Barley Galen writeth in his Bookes of the Faculties of simple Medicines Spelt is in all his temperature in a meane betweene Wheat and Barley and may in vertue be referred to the kindes of Barley and Wheat being indifferent to them both ¶ The vertues The floure or meale of Spelt corne boyled in water with the pouder of red Saunders and a little oyle of Roses and Lillies vnto the forme of a Pultesse and applied hot taketh away the swelling of the legs gotten by cold and long standing ‡ Spelt saith Turner is common about Weisenburgh in high Almanie eight Dutch miles on this side Strausbourgh and there all men vse it for wheat for there groweth no wheat at all yet I neuer saw fairer and pleasamer bread in any place in all my life than I haue eaten there made onely of this Spelt The Corne is much lesse than Wheat and somewhat shorter than Rie but nothing so blacke ‡ CHAP. 49. Of Starch Corne. 〈◊〉 Amyleum Starch Corne. ¶ The Description THis other kind of Spelta or Zea is called of the Germane Herbarists Amyleum Frumentum or Starch corne and is a kinde of grain sowen to that end or a three moneths graine and is very like vnto wheat in stalke and seed but the eare thereof is set round about and made vp with two ranks with certaine beards almost after the manner of Barley and the seed is closed vp in chaffie huskes and is sowen in the Spring ¶ The place Amil corne or Starch corne is sowen in Germanie Polonia Denmarke and other those Easterne Regions as well to feed their cattel and pullen with as also to make starch for the which purpose it doth very fitly serue ¶ The time It is sowen in Autumne or the fall of the leafe and oftentimes in the Spring and for that cause hath beene called Trimestre or three months grain it bringeth his seed to ripenesse in the beginning of August and is sowen in the Low-Countries in the Spring of the yeare ¶ The Names Because the Germanes haue great vse of it to make starch with they do call it 〈◊〉 Wee thinke good to name it in Latine Amyleum frumentum in English it may be called 〈◊〉 after the Germane word and may likewise be called Starch Corne. Tragus and Fuchsius tooke it to be Triticum 〈◊〉 or three moneths wheat but it may rather be referred to the Farra 〈◊〉 Columella speaketh of a graine called Far Halicastrum which is sowen in the Spring and for that cause it is named Trimestre or three moneths Far. If any be desirous to learne the making of Starch let them reade Dodoneus last edition where they shall be fully taught my selfe not willing to spend time about so vaine a thing and not pertinent to the story It is vsed onely to feed cattell pullen and make starch and is in nature somewhat like to wheat or Barley CHAP. 50. Of Barley ¶ The Description BArley hath an helme or straw which is shorter and more brittle than that of Wheat and hath more joints the leaues are broader and rougher the eare is armed with long rough and prickly beards or ailes and set about with sundry rankes sometimes two otherwhiles three foure or six at the most according to 〈◊〉 but eight according to Tragus The graine is included in a long chaffie huske the roots be slender and grow thicke together Barley as Pliny writeth is of all graine the softest and least subiect to casualtie yeelding fruit very quickely and profitably 1 Hordeum Distichon Common Barley 2 Hordeum Polystichum vernum Beare Barley or Barley Big 1 The most vsuall Barley is that which hath but two rowes of Corne in the eare each graine set iust opposite to other and hauing his long awne at his end is couered with a huske sticking close thereto 2 This which commonly hath foure rowes of corne in the eare and sometimes more as wee haue formerly deliuered is not so vsually sowen with vs the eare is commonly shorter than the former but the graine very like so that none who knowes the former but may easily know the later at the first sight ¶ The place They are sowen as Columella teacheth in loose and dry ground and are well knowne all Europe through 2 The second is sowen commonly in some parts of Yorke shire and the Bishopricke of Durham ¶ The Names 1 The first is called of the Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in high Dutch 〈◊〉 in Low Dutch 〈◊〉 in Italian Orzo in Spanish 〈◊〉 in French Orge in English Barley 2 The second is called of the Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Columella calleth it Galaticum and Hippocrates 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of our English Northerne people Big and Big Barley Crimmon saith Galen in his Commentaries vpon the second booke of Hippocrates his Prognosticks is the grosser part of Barley meale being grossely ground Malt is well knowne in England insomuch that the word needeth no interpretation notwithstanding because these Workes may chance into the hands of Strangers that neuer heard of such a word or such a thing by reason it is not 〈◊〉 where made I thought good to lay downe a word of the making thereof First it is steeped in water vntill it swell then is it taken from the water and laid as they terme it in a Couch that is spred vpon an euen floore the thicknesse of some foot and an halfe and thus is it kept vntill it Come that is vntill it send forth two or three little strings or fangs at the end of each Corne then it is spred vsually twice a day each day thinner than other for some eight or ten daies space vntill it be pretty dry and then it is dried vp with the heate of the fire and so vsed It is called in high Dutch 〈◊〉 in low Dutch 〈◊〉 in Latine of later time Maltum which name is borrowed of the Germanes Actius a Greeke Physitian nameth Barley thus prepared 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Bine The which Author affirmeth That a plaister of the meale of Malt is profitably laid vpon the swellings of the Dropsie Zythum as Diodorus Siculus affirmeth is not onely made in Aegypt but also in Galatia The aire is so cold saith he writing of Galatia that the country bringeth forth neither wine nor
3 Vstilago Secalina Burnt Rie CHAP. 58. Of Darnell 1 Lolium album White Darnell 2 Lolium rubrum Red Darnell ¶ The Description 1 AMong the hurtfull weeds Darnell is the first It bringeth forth leaues or stalkes like those of wheat or barley yet rougher with a long eare made vp of many little ones euery particular one whereof containeth two or three graines lesser than those of wheat scarcely any chassie huske to couer them with by reason whereof they are easily shaken out and scattered abroad 2 Red Darnell is likewise an vnprofitable corne or grasse hauing leaues like barly The joints of the straw or stalke are sometimes of a reddish colour bearing at the top a small and tender 〈◊〉 flat and much in forme resembling the former ¶ The place They grow in fields among wheat and barley of the corrupt and bad seed as Galen saith especially in a moist and dankish soile ¶ The time They spring and flourish with the corne and in August the seed is ripe ¶ The Names 1 Darnell is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Arabian Tongue Zizania and Sceylen In French Yuray in Italian Loglio in low Dutch Dolick in English Darnell of some Iuray and Raye and of some of the Latines Triticum temulentum 2 Red Darnell is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Phoenix because of the crimson colour in Latine Lolium Rubrum and Lolium Murinum of some Hordeum Murinum and Triticum Murinum in Dutch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in English Red Darnell or great Darnell Grasse ¶ The temperature Darnell is hot in the third degree and dry in the second Red Darnell drieth without sharpenesse as Galen saith ¶ The 〈◊〉 The seed of Darnell Pigeons dung oile Oliue and pouder of Lineseed boiled to the sorme of a plaister consume wennes hard lumpes and such like excrescenses in any part of the body The new bread wherein Darnel is eaten hot causeth drunkennesse in like manner doth beere or ale wherein the seed is fallen or put into the Malt. Darnell taken with red wine stayeth the flux of the belly and the ouermuch flowing of womens termes Dioscorides saith That Darnell meale doth stay and keepe backe eating sores Gangrenes and putrified vlcers and being boyled with Radish roots salt brimstone and vineger it cureth spreading scabs and dangerous tetters called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and leprous or naughty scurfe The seed of Darnell ginen in white or Rhenish wine prouoketh the flowers or menses A fume made thereofwith parched barly meale myrrh saffron and frankinsence made in form of a pultesse and 〈◊〉 vpon the belly helps conception and causeth easie deliuerance of child-bearing Red Darnell as Dioscorides writeth being drunke in sowre or harsh red Wine stoppeth the laske and the ouermuch flowing of the flowers or menses and is a remedie for those that pisse in bed ¶ The Danger Darnell hurteth the eyes and maketh them dim if it happen in corne either for bread or drinke which thing Ouid in his first booke Fastorum hath mentioned in this verse Et careant lolijs oculos vitiantibus agri And hereupon it seemeth that the old prouerbe came That such as are dimme sighted should be said Lolio victitare CHAP. 59. Of Rice Oryza Rice ¶ The Description RIce is like vnto Darnell in shew as Theophrastus saith it bringeth not forth an eare like corne but a certaine mane or plume as Mill or Miller or rather like Panick The leaues as Pliny writeth are fat and full of substance like to the blades of leeks but broader but if neither the soile nor climate did alter the same the plants of Rice that did grow in my garden had leaues soft and grassie like barly The floure did not shew it selfe with me by reason of the iniurie of our vnseasonable yere 1596. Theophrastus concludeth that it hath a 〈◊〉 of a purple colour But saith my Author Rice hath leaues like vnto Dogs grasse or Barley a small straw or stem full of ioynts like corne at the top whereof groweth a bush or tuft farre vnlike to barley or Darnell garnished with round knobs 〈◊〉 small gooseberries wherein the seed or graine is contained euery such round knob hath one small rough aile taile or beard like vnto barley hanging thereat Aristobulus as Strabo reporteth sheweth That Rice growes in water in Bactria and neere Babylon and is two yards high and hath many eares and bringeth forth plenty of seed It is reaped at the setting of the seuen starres and purged as Spelt and Otemeale or hulled as French Barley ¶ The place It groweth in the territories of the Bactrians in Babylon in Susium and in the lower part of Syria It groweth in those dayes not onely in those countries before named but also in the fortunate Islands and in Spaine from whence it is brought vnto vs purged and prepared as we see after the manner of French Barley It prospereth best in fenny and waterish places ¶ The time It is sowen in the Spring in India as Eratosthenes witnesseth when it is moistned with Sommer showers ¶ The Names The Grecians call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or as Theophrastus saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latines keepe the Greeke word Oryza in French it is called Riz in the Germane tongue 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 in English Rice ¶ The temperature and vertues Galen saith That all men vse to stay the belly with this graine being boiled after the same manner that Chondrus is In England we vse to make with milke and Rice a certaine food or pottage which doth both meanly binde the belly and also nourish Many other good kindes of food is made with this graine as those that are skilfull in cookerie can tell CHAP. 60. Of Millet Milium Mill or Millet ¶ The Description MIlium riseth vp with many hairy stalkes knotted or jointed like wheat The leaues are long and like the leaues of the Common Reed It bringeth forth on the top of the stalke a spoky bush or mane called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 like the plume or feather of the Pole reed hanging downewards of colour for the most part yellow or white in which groweth the seed small hard and glistering couered with a few thinne huskes out of which it easily falleth The roots be many and grow deep in the ground 2 Milium nigrum is like vnto the former sauing that the eare or plume of this plant is more loose and large and the seed somewhat bigger of a shining blacke colour ¶ The place It loueth light and loose mould and prospereth best in a moist and rainy time And after Columella it groweth in greatest aboundance in Campania I haue of it yearely in my garden ¶ The time It is to be sowen in Aprill and May and not before for it ioyeth in warme weather ¶ The Names It is named of the Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of some 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and of Hippocrates Paspale as Hermolaus saith
vertues ‡ The faculties of the starry Hyacinths are not written of by any But the Lilly leaued Iacinth which growes naturally in a hill in Aquitaine called Hos where the Herdmen call it Sarahug is said by them to cause the heads of such cattell as feed thereon to swell exceedingly and then kils them which shewes it hath a maligne and poysonous qualitie Clus. ‡ CHAP. 78. Of Autumne Hyacinths 1 Hyacinthus Autumnalis minor Small Autumne Iacinth 2 Hyacinthus Autumnalis major Great Autumne Iacinth ¶ The Description 1 AVtumne Iacinth is the least of all the Iacinths it hath small narrow grassy leaues spread abroad vpon the ground in the middest whereof springeth vp a small naked stalke an handfull high set from the middle to the top with many small starre-like blew floures hauing certaine small loose chiues in the middle The seed is blacke contained in small huskes the root is bulbous 2 The great Winter Iacinth is like vnto the precedent in leaues stalkes and floures not differing in any one point but in greatnesse ‡ 3 To these I thinke it not amisse to adde another small Hyacinth more different from these last described in the time of the flouring than in shape The root of it is little small white longish with a few fibres at the bottome the leaues are small and long like the last described The stalke which is scarce an handfull high is adorned at the top with three or foure starry floures of a blewish Ash colour each floure consisting of six little leaues with six chiues and their pointals of a darke blew and a pestill in the middest It floures in Aprill ‡ ¶ The place †The greater Autumne Iacinth growes not wilde in England but it is to be found in some gardens The first or lesser growes wilde in diuers places of England as vpon a banke by the Thames side betweene Chelsey and London †¶ The time They floure in the end of August and in September and sometimes after ¶ The Names 1 The first is called Hyacinthus Autumnalis minor or the lesser Autumne Iacinth and Winter Iacinth 2 The second Hyacinthus Autumnalis major the great Autumne Iacinth or Winter Iacinth 3 This is called by Lobell Hyacinthus parvulus stellaris vernus The small starry Spring Iacinth CHAP. 79. Of the English Iacinth or Hare-Bels 1 Hyacinthus Anglicus English Hare-bels 2 Hyacinthus albus Anglicus White English Hare-bels ¶ The Description 1 THe blew Hare-bels or English Iacinth is very common throughout all England It hath long narrow leaues leaning towards the ground among the which spring vp naked or bare stalkes loden with many hollow blew Floures of a strong sweet smell somewhat stuffing the head after which come the coddes or round knobs containing a great quantitie of small blacke shining seed The root is bulbous full of a slimy glewish juyce which wil serue to set feathers vpon arrowes in stead of glew or to paste bookes with whereof is made the best starch next vnto that of Wake-robin roots 4 Hyacinthus Orientalis caeruleus The blew Orientall Iacinth 5 Hyacinthus Orientalis Polyanthos Many floured Orientall Iacinth 2 The white English Iacinth is altogether like vnto the precedent sauing that the leaues hereof are somewhat broader the Floures more open and very white of colour 3 There is found wilde in many places of England another sort which hath Floures of a faire carnation colour which maketh a difference from the other ‡ There are also sundry other varieties of this sort but I thinke it vnnecessarie to insist vpon them their difference is so little consisting not in their shape but in the colour of their Floures ‡ The blew Hare-bels grow wilde in woods copses and in the borders of fields euery where thorow England The other two are not so common yet do they grow in the woods by Colchester in Essex in the fields and woods by South-fleet neere vnto Graues-end in Kent as also in a piece of ground by Canturbury called the Clapper in the fields by Bathe about the woods by Warrington in Lancashire and other places ¶ The time They floure from the beginning of May vnto the end of Iune ¶ The Names 1 The first of our English Hyacinths is called Hyacinthus Anglicus for that it is thought to grow more plentifully in England than elsewhere of Dodonaeus Hyacinthus non scriptus or the vnwritten Iacinth 2 The second Hyacinthus Belgicus candidus or the Low-Countrey Hyacinth with white Floures ‡ 3 This third is called Hyacinthus Anglicus aut 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Carnation Hare-bels ‡ 6 Hyacinthus Orientalis polyanthos alter The other many-Floured Oriental Iacinth ‡ 7 Hyacinthus Orientalis 〈◊〉 Reddish purple Oriental Iacinth ‡ 8 Hyacinthus Orientalis albus White Oriental Iacinth ‡ 9 Hyacinthus Brumalis Winter Iacinth ¶ The Description 4 The Orientall Iacinth hath great leaues thicke fat and full of juyce deepely hollowed in the middle like a trough from the middle of those leaues riseth vp a stalke two hands high bare without leaues very smooth soft and full of juice loden toward the top with many faire blew Floures hollow like a bell greater than the English Iacinth but otherwise like them The root is great bulbous or Onion fashion couered with many scaly reddish filmes or pillings such as couer Onions 5 The Iacinth with many Floures for so doth the word Polyanthos import hath very many large and broad leaues short and very thicke fat or full of slimy juyce from the middle whereof rise vp strong thicke grosse stalkes bare and naked set from the middle to the top with many blew or skie coloured Floures growing for the most part vpon one side of the stalke The root is great thicke and full of slimy juyce ‡ 10 Hyacinthus Orientalis caule folioso Orientall Iacinth with leaues on the stalke ‡ 11 Hyacinthus Orientalis florepleno The double floured Oriental Iacinth ‡ 6 There is another like the former in each respect sauing that the floures are wholly white on the inside and white also on the outside but three of the out-leaues are of a pale whitish yellow These floures smell sweet as the former and the heads wherein the seeds are contained are of a lighter greene colour ‡ 7 There is come vnto vs from beyond the seas diuers other sorts whose figures are not extant with vs of which there is one like vnto the first of these Oriental Iacinths sauing that the floures thereof are purple coloured whence it is termed Hyacinthus purpuro rubeus 8 Likewise there is another called Orientalis albus differing also from the others in colour of the floures for that these are very white and the others blew 9 There is another called Hyacinthus Brumalis or winter Iacinth it is like the others in shape but differeth in the time of flouring ‡ 14 Hyacinthus obsoleto flore Hispanicus major Thegreater dusky floured Spanish Iacinth ‡ 15 Hyacinthus minor Hispanicus The lesser Spanish Iacinth ‡ 16 Hyacinthus Indicus 〈◊〉 The tuberous rooted Indian Iacinth ¶
he hated his knife poysoned with the iuyce of this Hemerocallis for to cut his meate withall he suspecting no treachery cut his victuals therewith and so eat them the other abstaining therefrom and saying that he had no stomacke Some few dayes after he that did eate the victuals died which shewed the strong and deadly qualitie of this plant which therefore as Clusius saith cannot be the Scilla Epimenidia of Pliny which was eatable and without malignitie ‡ CHAP. 95. Of Leekes 〈◊〉 Porrum capitatum Headed or set Leeke ‡ 2 Porrum sectivum aut tonsile Cut or vnset Leeke ¶ The Description 1 THe leaues or the blades of the 〈◊〉 be long somewhat broad and very many hauing a keele or crest in the backside in smell and taste like to the Onion The stalks if the blades be not often cut do in the second or third yeare grow vp round bringing forth on the top floures made vp in a round head or ball as doth the Onion The seeds are like The bulbe or root is long and slender especially of the vnset Leeke That of the other Leeke is thicker and greater ‡ 2 Most Writers distinguish the common Leeke into Porrum capitatum 〈◊〉 and Lobel giues these two figures wherewith we here present you Now both these grow of the same seed and they differ onely in culture for that which is often cut for the vse of the kitchen is called Sectivum the other which is headed is not cut but spared and remoued in Autumne ‡ ¶ The Place It requireth a meane earth fat well dunged and digged It is very common euery where in other countries as well as in England ¶ The Time It may be sowne in March or Aprill and it to be remoued in September or October ¶ The Names The Grecians call it 〈◊〉 the Latines Porrum The Emperour Nero had great pleasure in this root and therefore he was called in scorne Porrophagus But Palladius in the masculine gender called it Porrus the Germanes 〈◊〉 the Brabanders 〈◊〉 the Spaniards Puerro the French Porrean the English-men Leeke or Leekes ¶ The Temperature The Leeke is hot and dry and doth attenuate or make thinne as doth the Onion ¶ The Vertues Being boyled it is lesse hurtfull by reason that it loseth a great part of his sharpenesse and yet being so vsed it yeeldeth no good iuyce But being taken with cold herbes his too hot quality is tempered Being boyled and eaten with Ptisana or barley creame it concocteth and bringeth vp raw humors that lie in the chest Some affirme it to be good in a loch or licking medicine to 〈◊〉 the pipes of the lungs The iuyce drunke with honey is profitable against the bitings of venomous beasts and likewise the leaues stamped and laid thereupon The same iuyce with vineger frankincense and milke or oyle of roses dropped into the eares mitigateth their paine and is good for the noyse in them Two drams of the seed with the like weight of myrtill berries drunk stop the spitting of bloud which hath continued a long time The same ingredients put into Wine keepe it from souring and being alreadie soure amend the same as diuers write It cutteth and attenuateth grosse and tough humors ‡ Lobel commends the following Loch as very effectuall against phlegmatick Squinances and other cold catarrhes which are like to cause suffocation This is the description thereof Take blanched almonds three ounces foure figges soft Bdellium halfe an ounce iuyce of Liquorice two ounces of sugar candy dissolued in a sufficient quantitie of iuyce of Leekes and boyled in 〈◊〉 to the height of a 〈◊〉 as much as shall be requisit to make the rest into the forme of an Eclegma ‡ ¶ The Hurts It heateth the body ingendreth naughty bloud causeth troublesome and terrible dreames offendeth the eyes dulleth the sight hurteth those that are by nature hot and cholericke and is noysome to the stomacke and breedeth windinesse CHAP. 96. Of Ciues or 〈◊〉 and wilde Leekes ¶ The Kindes THere be diuers kindes of Leekes somewilde and some of the garden as shall be declared Those called Ciues haue beene taken of some for a kinde of wilde Onion but all the Authors that I haue beene acquainted with do accord that there is not any wild Onion 1 Schoenoprason Ciues or Chiues 2 Porrum vitigineum French Leekes or Vine Leekes 3 Ampeloprason siue porrum siluestre Wilde Leeke ¶ The Description 1 CIues bring forth many leaues about a hand-full high long slender round like to little rushes amongst which grow vp small and tender stalkes sending forth certaine knops with floures like those of the Onion but much lesser They haue many little bulbes 〈◊〉 headed roots fastned together out of which grow downe into the earth a great number of little strings and it hath both the smell and taste of the Onion and Leeke as it were participating of both 2 The Vine Leeke or French Leeke groweth vp with blades like those of Leekes the stalke is a cubit high on the top whereof standeth a round head or button couered at the first with a thinne skinne which being broken the floures and seeds come forth like those of the Onion The bulbe 〈◊〉 headed root is round hard and sound which is quickly multiplied by sending forth many bulbes ‡ 3 The wilde Leeke hath leaues much like vnto those of Crow-garlicke but larger and more acride The floures and seeds also resemble those of the Crow-garlicke the seeds being about the bignesse of cornes of wheat with smal strings comming forth at their ends ‡ ¶ The Time and Place 1 Ciues are set in gardens they flourish long and continue many yeares they suffer the cold of Winter They are cut and polled often as is the vnset Leeke 2 The Vine-leeke groweth of it selfe in Vineyards and neere vnto Vines in hot regions wherof it both tooke the name Vine-Leeke and French Leeke It beareth his greene leaues in Winter and withereth away in the Sommer It groweth in most gardens of England ‡ Thus farre our Author describes and intimates to you a garden Leeke much like the ordinarie in all respects but somewhat larger But the following names belong to the wilde Leeke which here we giue you in the third place ‡ ¶ The Names Ciues are called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shoenoprasum in Dutch 〈◊〉 as though you should say Iunceum Porrum or Rush Leeke in English Ciues Chiues Ciuet and Sweth in French Brelles 2 The Vine-leeke or rather wild Leeke is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the place where it naturally groweth it may be called in Latine Porrum Vitium or Vitigineum Porrum in English after the Greeke and Latine Vine Leeke or French Leeke ¶ The Temperature Ciues are like in facultie vnto the Leeke hot and dry The Vine leeke heateth more than doth the other Leeke ¶ The Vertues Ciues attenuate or make thinne open prouoke vrine ingender hot and grosse vapours and are
‡ The small sort I haue had many yeares growing in my garden but the greater I haue not had till of late giuen me by my louing friend M. Iames Garret Apothecarie of London ¶ The Time These Lillies of the mountaine floure at such time as the common white Lilly doth and sometimes sooner ¶ The Names The great mountaine Lilly is called of Tabernamontanus Lilium Saracenicum receiued by Master Garret aforesaid from Lisle in Flanders by the name of Martagon Imperiale of some Lilium Saracenicum mas It is Hemerocallis flore rubello of Lobel The small mountaine Lilly is called in Latine Lilium montanum and Lilium syluestre of Dodonaeus Hemerocallis of others Martagon but neither truly for that there is of either other Plants properly called by the same names In high Dutch it is called Goldwurtz from the yellownesse of the roots in low Dutch Lilikens van Caluarien in Spanish Lirio Amarillo in French Lys Sauvage in English Mountaine Lilly ¶ The Nature and Vertues There hath not beene any thing left in writing either of the nature or vertues of these plants notwithstanding we may deeme that God which gaue them such seemely and beautifull shape hath not left them without their peculiar vertues the finding out whereof we leaue to the learned and industrious Searcher of Nature CHAP. 105. Of the Red Lillie of Constantinople 1 Lilium Bizantinum The red Lilly of Constantinople ‡ 2 Lilium Byzantinum flo purpuro sanguineo The Byzantine purplish sanguine-coloured Lilly ¶ The Description 1 THe red Lilly of Constantinople hath a yellow scaly or cloued Root like vnto the Mountaine Lilly but greater from the which ariseth vp a faire fat stalke a finger thicke of a darke purplish colour toward the top which sometimes doth turne from his naturall roundnesse into a flat forme like as doth the great mountaine Lilly vpon which stalk grow sundry faire and most beautifull floures in shape like those of the mountaine Lilly but of greater beauty seeming as it were framed of red wax tending to a red leade colour From the middle of the floure commeth forth a tender pointall or pestell and likewise many small chiues tipped with loose pendants The floure is of a reasonable pleasant sauour The leaues are confusedly set about the stalke like those of the white Lilly but broader and shorter ‡ 2 This hath a large Lilly-like root from which ariseth a stalke some cubit or more in height set confusedly with leaues like the precedent The floures also resemble those of the last described but vsually are more in number and they are of a purplish sanguine colour ‡ 3 Lilium Byzantinum flo dilute rubente The light red Byzantine Lilly ‡ 4 Lilium Byzantinum miniatum polyanthos The Vermilion Byzantine many-floured Lilly 3 This differs little from the last but in the colour of the floures which are of a lighter red colour than those of the first described The leaues and stalkes also as Clusius obserueth are of a lighter greene 4 This may also more fitly be termed a varietie from the former than otherwise for according to Clusius the difference is onely in this that the floures grow equally from the top of the stalke and the middle floure rises higher than any of the rest and sometimes consists of twelue leaues as it were a twinne as you may perceiue by the figure ‡ ¶ The Time They floure and 〈◊〉 with the other Lillies ¶ The Names The Lilly of Constantinople is called likewise in England Martagon of Constantinople of Lobel Hemerocallis Chalcedonica and likewise Lilium Bizantinum of the Turks it is called Zufiniare of the Venetians Marocali ¶ The Nature and Vertues Of the nature or vertues there is not any thing as yet set down but it is esteemed especially for the beautie and rarenesse of the floure referring what may be gathered hereof to a further consideration ‡ CHAP. 106. Of the narrow leaued reflex Lillies ¶ The Description ‡ 1 THe root of this is not much vnlike that of other Lillies the stalke is some cubit high or better the leaues are many and narrow and of a darker green than those of the ordinarie Lilly the floures are reflex like those treated of in the last chap. of a red or Vermilion colour This floures in the end of May wherefore Clùsius calls it Lilium rubrum praecox The early red Lilly ‡ 1 Lilium rubrum angustifolium The red narrow leaued Lilly ‡ 3 Lilium mont flore flauo punctato The yellow mountaine Lilly with the spotted floure 2 This Plant is much more beautiful than the last described the roots are like those of Lillies the stalke some cubit and an halfe in height being thicke set with small grassie leaues The floures grow out one aboue another in shape and colour like those of the last described but ofrtimes are more in number so that some one stalke hath borne some 48 floures The root is much like the former ‡ 4 Lilium mont flore flauo non punctato The yellow Mountaine Lilly with the vnspotted floure 3 This in roots is like those afore described the stalke is some 2 cubits high set confusedly with long narrow leaues with three conspicuous nerues running alongst them The floures are at first pale coloured afterwards yellow consisting of six leaues bended backe to their stalkes marked with blackish purple spots 4 There is also another differing from the last described onely in that the floure is not spotted as that of the former ¶ The Place These Lillies are thought Natiues of the Pyrenean mountaines and of late yeares are become Denizons in some of our English gardens ¶ The Time The first as I haue said floures in the end of May the rest in Iune ¶ The Names 1 This is called by Clusius Lilium rubrum praecox 2 Clusius names this Lilium rubrum praecox 3. angustifolium Lobel stiles it Hemerocallis Macedonica and Martagon Pomponeum 3 This is Lilium slauo flore maculis distinctum of Clusius and Lilium montanum flauo 〈◊〉 of Lobel 4 This being a varietie of the last is called by Clusius Lilium flauo flore maculis 〈◊〉 distinctum ¶ The Temper and Vertues These in all likelihood cannot much differ from the temper and vertues of other Lillies which in all their parts they so much resemble ‡ CHAP. 107. Of the Persian Lilly ¶ The Description THe Persian Lilly hath for his root a great white bulbe differing in shape from the other Lillies hauing one great bulbe firme or solid full of juyce which commonly each yeare setteth off or encreaseth one other bulbe and sometimes more which the next yeare after is taken from the mother root and so bringeth forth such floures as the old plant did From this root riseth vp a fat thicke and straight stemme of two cubits high whereupon is placed long narrow leaues of a greene colour declining to blewnes as doth those of the woade The floures grow alongst the naked part of the stalke like
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
colour red the which do clip or embrace the stalkes almost round about like the leaues of Thorow-wax At the top of the stalke groweth a faire bush of very red floures among the which floures do grow many small sharpe pointed leaues The seed I could neuer obserue being a thing like dust that flieth in the winde 2 The other Marish handed Satyrion differeth little from the precedent but in the leaues and floures for that the leaues are smaller and narrower and the floures are faire white gaping wide open in the hollownesse whereof appeare certaine things obscurely hidden resembling little helmets which setteth forth the difference 1 Serapias Dracontias palustris Marish Dragon Satyrion 2 Serapias palustris leptophylla 〈◊〉 The other Marish handed Satyrion 3 This third handed Satyrion hath roots fashioned like an hand with some strings fastned to the vpper part of them from which riseth vp a faire stiffe stalke armed with large leaues very notably dasht with blackish spots clipping or embracing the stalke round about at the top of the stalke standeth a faire tuft of purple floures with many greene leaues mingled amongst the same which maketh the bush or tuft much greater The seed is nothing else but as it were dust like the other of his kinde ‡ and it is contained in such twined vessels as you see exprest apart by the side of the figure which vessels are not peculiar to this but common to most part of the other Satyrions ‡ 4 The creeping rooted Orchis or Satyrion without testicles hath many long roots dispersing themselues or creeping far abroad in the ground contrarie to all the rest of the Orchides which Roots are of the bignesse of strawes in substance like those of Sopewort from the which immediately doth rise foure or fiue broad smooth leaues like vnto the small Plantaine from the which shooteth vp a small and tender stalke at the top whereof groweth a pleasant spikie eare of a whitish colour spotted on the inside with little speckes of a bloudie colour The seed also is very small 3 Palma Christi palustris The third handed marish Satyrion 4 Palma Christi radice repente Creeping Satyrion ‡ 5 Palma Christi maxima The greatest handed Satyrion It delights to grow in grounds of an indifferent temper not too moist nor too dry It floures from mid-May to mid-Iune ‡ The Place They grow in marish and fenny grounds and in shadowie woods that are very moist The fourth was found by a learned Preacher called Master Robert Abbot of Bishops Hatfield in a boggy groue where a Conduit head doth stand that sendeth water to the Queenes house in the same towne ‡ It growes also plentifully in Hampshire within a mile of a market Towne called Petersfield in a moist medow named Wood-mead neere the path leading from Peters-field towards Beryton ‡ ¶ The Time They floure and flourish about May and Iune ‡ ¶ The Names ‡ 1 This is Cynosorchis 〈◊〉 of Lobell and Gemma 2 This is Cynosorchis palustris alter a Leptaphylla of Lobell Testiculus Galericulatus of Tabernamontanus 3 Lobell and Gemma terme this Cynosorchis palustris altera Lophodes velnephelodes 4 This is Orchis minor radice repente of Camerarius 5 This by Lobell and Gemma is called Cynosorchis macrocaulos siue Conopsoea ¶ The Temperature and Vertues There is little vse of these in physicke onely they are referred vnto the handed Satyrions whereof they are kindes notwitstanding Dalescampius hath written in his great Volume that the Marish Orchis is of greater force than any of the Dogs stones in procuring of lust Camerarius of Noremberg who was the first that described this kinde of creeping Orchis hath set it forth with a bare description onely and I am likewise constrained to do the like because as yet I haue had no triall thereof CHAP. 118. Of Birds nest 1 Satyrium abortinum siue Nidus anis Birds nest ¶ The Description 1 BIrds Nest hath many tangling roots platted or crossed one ouer another very intricately which resembleth a Crowes nest made of stickes from which riseth vp a thicke soft grosse stalk of a browne colour set with small short leaues of the colour of a dry Oken leafe that hath lien vnder the tree all the winter long On the top of the stalke groweth a spikie eare or tuft of floures in shape like vnto Maimed Satyrion whereof doubtlesse it is a kinde The whole plant as well sticks leaues and floures are of a parched browne colour ‡ I receiued out of Hampshire from my often remembred friend Master Goodyer this following description of a Nidus auis found by him the twenty ninth of Iune 1621. ¶ Nidus avis flore caule 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an Pseudoleimodoron Clus. Hist. Rar plant pag. 270. This riseth vp with a stalke about nine inches high with a few smal narrow sharpe pointed short skinny leaues set without order very little or nothing at all wrapping or inclosing the stalke hauing a spike of floures like those of Orobanche without tailes or leaues growing amongst them which fallen there succeed small seed 〈◊〉 The lower part of the stalke within the ground is not round like Orobanche but slender or long and of a yellowish white colour with many small brittle roots growing vnderneath confusedly wrapt or solded together like those of the common Nidus auis The whole plant as it appeareth aboue ground both stalkes leaues and floures is of a violet or deepe purple colour This I found wilde in the border of a field called Marborne neere Habridge in Haliborne a mile from a towne called 〈◊〉 in Hampshire being the land of one William Balden In this place also groweth wilde the 〈◊〉 called Corona fratrum Ioh. Goodyer ¶ The Place This bastard or vnkindely Satyrion is very seldome seene in these Southerly parts of England It is reported That it groweth in the North parts of England neere vnto a village called Knaesborough I found it growing in the middle of a Wood in Kent two miles from Grauesend neere vnto a worshipfull Gentlemans house called Master William Swan of Howcke Greene. The wood belongeth to one Master Iohn Sidley which plant I did neuer see elsewhere and because it is very rare I am the more willing to giue you all the markes in the wood for the better finding it because it doth grow but in one piece of the Wood that is to say The ground is couered all ouet in the same place neere about it with the herbe Sanycle and also with the kinde of Orchis called 〈◊〉 or Butter-fly Satyrion ¶ The Time It floureth and flourisheth in Iune and August The dusty or mealy seed if it may be called seed falleth in the end of August but in my iudgement it is an vnprofitable or barren dust and not any seed at all ¶ The Names It is called Satyrium abortirum of some Nidus auis in French Nid d'oiseau in English Birds nest or Goose-nest in Low-Dutch Uogels nest in High-Dutch Margen
like as Rocket doth neither doe we know what other vse this herbe hath CHAP. 12 Of garden Cresses ¶ The Description 1 GArden Cresses or Towne Cresses hath small narrow iagged leaues sharpe and burning in taste The stalks be round a cubite high which bring sorth many small white flowers andafter little flat huskes or seede vessels like to those of she pheards purse wherein are contained seeds of a browne reddish colour The roote dieth when the seede is ripe 2 There is another kinde in taste like the former but in leaues farre different which I recouered of seedes sent me from Robinus dwelling in Paris The stalkes rise vp to the height of a foot garnished with many broad leaues deepely cut or indented about the edges the middle of the leafe is deckt and garnished with many little small leaues or rather shreds of leaues which make the same like a curlde fanne of feathers The seede is like the former in shape 3 Spanish Cresses riseth forth of the ground like vnto Basill afterwards the leaues grow larger and broader like those of Marigolds among the which riseth vp a crooked lymmer stalke whereupon do grow smaall tufts or spokie rundles of white flowers The seede followeth browne of colour and bitter in taste The whole plant is of a loathfome smell and sauour 4 Stone-Cresse groweth flat vpon the ground with leaues iagged and cut about the edges like the oake leafe resembling well the leaues of shepheardes purse I haue not seene the flowers and therefore they be not exprest in the figure notwithstanding it is reported vnto me that they bee small and white of colour as are those of the garden Cresses The seed is contained in small pouches or seede vessels like those of Treacle mustard or Thlaspi ¶ The Place Cresses are sowne in gardens it skils not what soile it be for that they like any ground especially if it be well watered ‡ M. Bowles found the fourth growing in Shropshire in the fields about Birch in the parish of Elesmere in the grounds belonging to M. Richard Herbert and that in great plenty ‡ ¶ The Time It may be sowne at any time of the yeere vnlesse it be in Winter it groweth vp quickly and bringeth forth betimes both stalke and seede it dieth euery yeere and recouereth it selfe of the fallen or shaken seed 1 Nasturtium hortense Garden Cresses ¶ The Names Cresses is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Nasturtium in English Cresses the Germaines call it kersse and in French Cresson the Italians Nasturtio and Agretto of some towne Cresses and garden Karsse It is called Nasturtium as Varro and 〈◊〉 thinke à narribus torquendis that is to say of writhing the nosthrils which also by the loathsome smell and sharpnesse of the seede doth cause sneesing ‡ The first is called Nasturtium hortense Garden Cresses 2 Nasturtium hortense crispum Garden Cresses with crispe or curled leaues 3 Nasturtium Hispanicum or Latifolium Spanish Cresses or Broad-leaued Cresses 4 This is Nasturtium 〈◊〉 of Tabernamontanus and not of Lobell as out Author termed it Stone Cresses ‡ ¶ The Temperature The herbe of garden Cresses is sharpe and biting the tongue and therefore it is very hot and drie but lesse hot whilest it is yong and tender by reason of the waterie moisture mixed therewith by which the sharpenesse is somewhat allaied The seede is much more biting then the herbe and is hot and drie almost in the fourth degree ¶ The Vertues Galen saith that the Cresses may be eaten with bread Velutiobsonium and so the Antient 〈◊〉 vsually did and the low-Countrie men many times doe who commonly vse to feed of Cresses with bread and butter It is eaten with other sallade hearbes as Tarragon and Rocket and for this cause it is chiefely sowen It is good against the disease which the Germaines call Scorbuch and Scorbuye in Latine Scorbutus which we in England call the Scuruie and Scurby and vpon the seas the Skyrby it is as good and as effectuall as the Scuruie grasse or water Cresses Dioscorides saith if the seed be stamped and mixed with hony it cureth the hardnesse of the milt with Vineger and Barley meale parched it is a remedie against the Sciatica and taketh away hard swellings and inflammations It scoureth away tetters mixed with brine it ripeneth felons called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it forcibly cutteth and raiseth vp thicke and tough humors of the chest if it be mixed with things proper against the stuffing of the lungs Dioscorides saith it is hurtfull to the stomacke and troubleth the belly 3 Nasturtium Hispanicum Spanish Cresses 4 Nasturtium Petreum Stone Cresses It driueth forth wormes bringeth downe the floures killeth the child in the mothers womb and prouoketh bodily lust Being inwardly taken it is good for such as haue fallen from high places it dissolueth cluttered bloud and preuenteth the same that it do not congeale and thicken in any part of the body it procureth sweat as the later Physitions haue found and tried by experience CHAP. 13. Of Indian Cresses ¶ The Description CResses of India haue many weake and feeble branches rising immediately from the ground dispersing themselues far abroade by meanes whereof one plant doth occupie a great circuit of ground as doth the great Bindeweede The tender stalkes diuide themselues into sundry branches trailing likewise vpon the ground somewhat bunched or swollen vp at euery ioint or knee which are in colour of a light red but the spaces betweene the ioints are greene The leaues are round like wall peniwort called Cotyledon the footestalke of the leafe commeth forth on the backeside almost in the middest of the leafe as those of Frogbit in taste and smell like the garden Cresses The flowers are dispersed throughout the whole plant of colour yellow with a crossed starre ouerthwart the inside of a deepe orange colour vnto the backe part of the same doth hang a taile or spurre such as hath the Larkes heele called in Latine Consolida Regalis but greater and the spurre or heele longer which being past there succeed bunched and knobbed cods or seede vessels wherein is contained the seede rough browne of colour and like vnto the seedes of the beete but smaller ¶ The Place The seedes of this rare and faire plant came first from the Indies into Spaine and thence into France and Flanders from whence I receiued seede that bore with me both flowers and 〈◊〉 especially those I receiued from my louing friend Iohn Robin of Paris ¶ The Time The seedes must be sowen in the beginning of Aprill vpon a bed of hot horse dung and some fine sifted earth cast thereon of an handfull thicke The bed must be couered in 〈◊〉 places with hoopes or poles to sustaine the mat or such like thing that it must be 〈◊〉 with in the night and layd open to the Sunne in the day time The which being sprung vp and hauing gotten three leaues you must replant them abroad in
to them other two being by most Writers adiudged to be of the same Tribe or kindred The vertues of 〈◊〉 first were by our Author out of Dodonaeus formerly put to the Thlaspi Candiae Chapter 20. from whence I haue brought them to their proper place in the end of this present Chapter ¶ The Description †1 The first hath crested slender yet firme stalkes of some foot long which are set with leaues of some inch in length broad at the setting on sinuated about the edges and sharpe pointed their colour is a whitish greene and taste acride the leaues that are at the bottome of the stalke are many and larger The tops of the stalkes are diuided into many branches of an vnequall length and sustain many floures each whereof consists of soure litle white leaues so that together they much resemble the vmbell of the Elder when it is in floure Little swolne seed vessels diuided into two cells follow the fading floures the seed is whitish about the bignesse of millet the root also is white slender and creeping †2 This hath creeping roots from which arise many branches lying vpon the ground here and there taking root also the leaues which vpon the lower branches are many are in forme and colour much like those of the last described but-lesse and somewhat suipt about the edges The stalkes are about a handfull high or somewhat more round greene and hairy hauing some leaues growing vpon them The floures grow spoke fashion at the top of the stalkes white and consisting of foure leaues which fallen there follow cods conteining a small red seed 1 Draba Dioscoridis Turkie Cresses ‡ 2 Draba prima repens The first creeping Cresse 3 From a small and creeping root rise vp many shootes which while they are young haue many thicke juicy and darke greene leaues rose fashion adorning their tops out of the middest of which spring out many slender stalkes of some foot high which at certain spaces are encompassed as it were with leaues somewhat lesser then the former yet broader at the bottome the floures cods and seed are like the last mentioned 4 There is a plant also by some refer'd to this Classis and I for some reasons thinke good to make mention thereof in this place It hath a strong and very long root of colour whitish and of as sharpe a taste as Cresses the stalkes are many and oft times exceed the height of a man yet slender and towards their tops diuided into some branches which make no vmbell but carry their floures dispersed which consist of foure small yellow leaues after the floure is past there follow long slender cods conteining a small yellowish acride seed The leaues which adorne this plant are long sharpe pointed and snipt about the edges somewhat like those of Saracens Confound but that these towards the top are more vnequally cut in ‡ 3 Draba altera repens The other creeping Cresse ¶ The Time The first of these floures in May and the beginning of Iune The 2 and 3 in Aprill The fourth in Iune and Iuly ¶ The Place None of these that I know of are found naturally growing in this kingdome 〈◊〉 last excepted which I thinke may be sound in some places ¶ The Names 1 This by a generall consent of 〈◊〉 Anguillara Lobell c. is iudged to be the Arabis or Draba of the Ancients 2 Draba alter a of Clusius 3 Draba tertia succulento folio of Clusius Eruca Muralis of Daleschampius 4 This by Camerarius is set forth vnder the name of Arabis quorundam and he affirmes in his Hor. Med. that he had it outof 〈◊〉 vnder the name of Solidago The which is very likely for without doubt this is the very plant that our Author mistooke for Solidago 〈◊〉 for he bewraies himselfe in the Chapter of Epimedium whereas he saith it hath cods like Sarraccens Consound when as both he and all other giue no cods at all to Sarracens Consound My very good friend Mr. Iohn Goodyer was the first I thinke that obserued this mistake in our Author for which his obseruation together with some others formerly and hereafter to be remembred I acknowledge my selfe beholden to him ¶ The Vertues attributed to the first 1 Dioscorides saith that they vse to eate the dryed seed of this herbe with meate as we do pepper especially in Cappadocia They vse likewise to boyle the herbe with the decoction of barly called Ptisana which being so boiled concocteth and bringeth forth of the chest tough and raw flegme which sticketh therein The rest are hot and come neere to the vertues of the precedent ‡ CHAP. 25. Of Shepheards-purse ¶ The Description 1 THe leaues of Shepheards purse grow vp at the first long gashed in the edges like those of Rocket spred vpon the ground from these spring vp very many little weake stalks diuided into sundry branches with like leaues growing on them but lesser at the top whereof are orderly placed small white floures after these come vp little seed vessels flat and cornered narrow at the stem like to a certaine little pouch or purse in which lieth the seed The root is white not without strings ‡ There in another of this kinde with leaues not sinuated or cut in ‡ 2 The small Shepheards purse commeth forth of the ground like the Cuckow floure which I haue Englished Ladie-smockes hauing small leaues deepely indented about the edges among which rise vp many small tender stalkes with floures at the top as it were chasse The huskes and seed is like the other before mentioned ¶ The Place These herbes do grow of themselues for the most part neere common high waies in 〈◊〉 and vntilled places among rubbish and old walls 1 Bursa Pastoris Shepheards purse 2 Bursa Pastoria minima Small Shepheards purse ¶ The Time They floure flourish and seed all the Sommer long ¶ The Names Shepheards purse is called in Latine Pastorus bursa or Pera pastoris in high Dutch 〈◊〉 in low-Dutch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in French Bourse de pasteur on Curé in English Shepheards purse or scrip of some Shepheards pouch and poore mans Parmacetie and in the North part of England Toy-wort Pick-purse and Case-weed ¶ The Temperature They are of temperature cold and dry and very much binding after the opinion of Ruellius 〈◊〉 and Dodonaeus but Lobel and Pena hold them to be hot and dry iudging the same by their sharpe taste which hath caused me to insert them here among the kindes of Thlaspi considering the fashion of the leaues cods seed and taste 〈◊〉 which do so wel agree together that I might very well haue placed them as kindes thereof But rather willing to content others that haue written before than to please my selfe I haue followed their order in marshalling them in this place where they may stand for cousine germanes ¶ The Vertues Shepheards purse stayeth bleeding in any part of the body whether the iuyce or the decoction thereof be drunke or whether it be
thereof quite altered as Cassius and Dionysius Vticensis doe write in their bookes of tillage yet doth not Athenaeus ascribe that vertue of driuing away drunkennesse to the leaues but to the seeds of Colewoort Moreouer the leaues of Colewoorts are good against all inflammations and hot swellings being stamped with barley and meale and laid vpon them with salt and also to breake carbuncles The iuyce of Colewoorts as Dioscorides writeth being taken with floure-deluce and niter doth make the belly soluble aud being drunke with wine it is a remedie against the bitings of venomous beasts The same being applyed with the powder of Fennugreeke taketh away the paine of the gout and also cureth old and foule vlcers Being conueied into the nosthrils it purgeth the head being put vp with barley meale it bringeth downe the floures Pliny writeth that the iuyce mixed with wine and dropped into the eares is a remedie against deafenesse The seed as Galen saith driueth forth wormes taketh away freckles of the face sun-burning and what thing soeuer that need to be gently scoured or clensed away They say that the broth where in the herbe hath beene sodden is maruellous good for the sinewes and ioynts and likewise for Cankers in the eies claled in Greeke Carcinomata which cannot be healed by any other meanes if they be washed therewith CHAP. 41. Of Rape-Cole ¶ The Description 1 THe first kinde of Rape Cole hath one single long root garnished with many threddy strings from which riseth vp a great thicke stalke bigger than a great Cucumber or great Turnep at the top whereof shooteth forth great broad leaues like vnto those of Cabbage Cole The floures grow at the top on slender stalkes compact of foure small yellow floures which being past the seed followeth inclosed in litle long cods like the sed of Mustard 2 The second hath a long fibrous root like vnto the precedent the tuberous stalke is very great and long thrusting forth in some few places here and there small footstalkes whereupon doe grow smooth leaues sleightly indented about the edges on the top of the long Turnep stalke grow leane stalkes and floures like the former ‡ This second differs from the former onely in the length of the swolne stalke whence they call it Caulorapum longum or Long Rape Cole ‡ ¶ The Place They grow in Italy Spaine and some places of Germanie from whence I haue receiued seedes for my garden as also from an honest and curious friend of mine called master Goodman at the Minories neere London 1 Caulorapum rotundum Round rape Cole ¶ The Time They floure and flourish when the other Colewoorts doe whereof no doubt they are kinds and must be carefully set and sowne as muske Melons and Cucumbers are ¶ The Names They are called in Latine Caulorapum and Rapocaulis bearing for their stalkes as it were Rapes and Turneps participating of two plants the Colewort and Turnep whereof they tooke their names ¶ The Temperature and Vertues There is nothing set downe of the faculties of these plants but are accounted for daintie meate contending with the Cabbage Cole in goodnesse and pleasant taste CHAP. 42. Of Beets ¶ The Description 1 THe common white Beet hath great broad leaues smooth and plain from which rise thicke crested or chamfered stalks the floures grow along the stalks clustering together in shape like little starres which being past there succeed round and vneuen 〈◊〉 seed The root is thicke hard and great 1 Beta alba White Beets 2 Beta rubra Red Beets ‡ 3 Beta rubra Romana Red Roman Beet 2 There is another sort like in shape and proportion to the former sauing that the leaues of this be streaked with red here and there confusedly which setteth forth the difference 3 There is likewise another sort hereof that was brought vnto me from beyond the seas by that courteous merchant master Lete before remembred the which hath leaues very great and red of colour as is all the rest of the plant as well root as stalke and floures full of a perfect purple iuyce tending to rednesse the middle rib of which leaues are for the most part very broad 〈◊〉 thicke like the middle part of the Cabbage leafe which is equall in goodnesse with the leaues of Cabbage being boyled It grew with me 1596. to the height of viijcubits and did bring forth his rough and vneuen seed very plentifully with which plant nature doth seeme to play and sport herselfe for the seeds taken from that plant which was altogether of one 〈◊〉 and sowen doth bring 〈◊〉 plants of many and variable colours as the worshipfull gentleman master Iohn Norden can very well testifie vnto whom I gaue some of the seeds 〈◊〉 which in his garden bruoght forth many other of beautifull colours ¶ The Place The Beete is sowen in gardens it loueth to grow in a 〈◊〉 and fertile ground ‡ The ordinary white Beet growes wilde vpon the sea-coast of Tenet and diuers other places by the Sea for this is not a different kind as some would haue it ‡ ¶ The Time The fittest time to sow it is in the spring it flourisheth and is greene all sommer long and likewise in winter and bringeth forth his seed the next yeare following ¶ The Names The Grecians haue named it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latines Beta the Germanes Maugolt the Spaniards Aselgas the French de la Porée des 〈◊〉 and Beets Theophrastus saith that the white Beete is surnamed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say 〈◊〉 or of Sicilia hereof 〈◊〉 the name Sicla by which the Barbarians and some Apothecaries did call the Beet the which word we in England doevse taken for the same ¶ The Nature The white Beets are in moisture and heate temperate but the other kinds are drie and all of them abstersiue so that the white Beete is a cold and moist pot-herbe which bath ioyned with it a certaine salt and nitrous quality by reason whereof it 〈◊〉 and draweth flegme out of the nosthrils ¶ The Vertues Being eaten when it is boyled it quickly descend eth looseth the belly and prouoketh to the stcole especially being taken with the broth wherein it is sodden it nourisheth little or nothing and is not so wholesome as 〈◊〉 The iuyce conueied vp into the nosthrils doth gently draw sorth flegme and purgeth the head The great and beautifull Beet last described may be vsed in winter for a sallad herbe with vineger oyle and salt and is not onely pleasant to the taste but also delightfull to the eye The greater red Beet or Roman Beet boyled and eaten with oyle 〈◊〉 and pepper is a most excellent and 〈◊〉 sallad but what might be made of the red and beautifull root which is to be preferred before the leaues as well in beauty as in goodnesse I refer vnto the curious and cunning cooke who no doubt when he hath had the view thereof and is assured that it is both good and wholesome will make thereof
mostpart vpon one side of the stalke blew of colour with a like little spot of yellow as the others turning themselues backe againe like the taile of a Scorpion There is another of the land called Myosotis Scorpioides repens like the former but the floures are thicker thrust together and doe not grow all vpon one side as the other and part of the floures are blew and part purple confusedly mixt together ¶ The Place 1 2 These Scorpion grasses grow not wilde in England notwithstanding I haue receiued seed of the first from beyond the seas and haue dispersed them through England which are esteemed of gentlewomen for the beauty and strangenesse of the crooked cods resembling Caterpillers The others doe grow in waters and streames as also on drie and barren bankes ¶ The Time The first floureth from May to the end of August the others I haue found all the sommer long ¶ The Names ‡ 1 Fabius Columna iudges this to be the Clymenon of Dioscorides others call it Scorpioides and Scorpioides bupleuri folio 2 This is the Scorpioides of Matthiolus Dod. Lobell and others and I iudge it was this plant our Author in this place intended and not the Scorpioides Leguminosa of the Aduersaria for that hath not a few leaues but many vpon one rib and besides Dodonaeus whom in descriptions history our Author chiefely followes describes this immediatly after the other Guillandinus Caesalpinus and Bauhine iudge it to be the Telephium of Dioscorides 3 This and the next want no names for almost euery writer hath giuen them seuerall ones Brunfelsius called it Cynoglossa minor Tragus Tabernamontanus and our Author page 537. of the former edition haue it vnder the name of Euphrasia Caerulea Dodonaeus cals it Scorpioides foemina Lonicerus Leontopodium Caesalpinus Heliotropium minus in palustribus Cordus and Thalius Echium palustre 4 This is Auricula muris minor tertia Euphrasia quarta and Pilosella sylvestris of Tragus Scorpioides mas of Dodonaeus Alsine Myosotis and Myosotis hirsuta repens of Lobell Heliotropium minus alterum of Caesalpinus Echium minimum of 〈◊〉 and Echium palustre alterum of Thalius our Authour had it thrise first in the precedent chapter by the name of Heliotropium rectum with a figure secondly in this present chapter without a figure and thirdly pag. 514. also with a figure vnder the name of Pilosella flore caeruleo ‡ ¶ The Nature and Vertues There is not any thing remembred of the temperature yet Dioscorides saith that the laeues of Scorpion grasse applyed to the place is a present remedy against the stinging of Scorpions and likewise boyled in wine and drunke preuaileth against the said bitings as also of adders snakes and such venomous beasts being made in an vnguent with oile wax and a little gum Elemni is profitable against such hurts as require a healing medicine CHAP. 55. Of Nightshade ¶ The Kindes THere be diuers Nightshades whereof some are of the garden and some that loue the fields and yet euery of them found wilde whereof some cause sleepinesse euen vnto death others cause sleepinesse and yet Physicall and others very profitable vnto the health of man as shall be declared in their seuerall vertues ¶ The Description 1 GArden Nightshade hath round stalkes a foot high and full of branches whereon are set leaues of a blackish colour soft and full of iuice in shape like to leaues of Basill but much greater among which doe grow small white floures with yellow pointals in the middle which being past there succeed round berries greene at the first and blacke when they be ripe like those of Iuy the root is white and full of hairy strings ‡ 2 The root of this is long pretty thicke and hard being couered with a brownish skin from this root grow vp many smal stalks of the height of a cubit and better somewhat thick withall the leaues that grow alongst the stalke are like those of the Quince tree thicke white soft and downye The floures grow about the stalke at the setting on of the leafe somewhat long and of a pale colour diuided into soure parts which are succeeded by seeds contained in hairy or woolly receptacles which when they come to ripenesse are red or of a reddish saffron colour ‡ ¶ The Place This Nightshade commeth vp in many places and not only in gardens of which not withstanding 1 Scorpioides Bupleuri folio Penae L'Obelij Scorpion grasse or Caterpillers ‡ 2 Scorpioides 〈◊〉 Matthiolus his Scorpion 〈◊〉 ‡ 3 〈◊〉 scorpioides palustris Water Scorpion grasse ‡ 4 Myosotis scorpioides aruensis 〈◊〉 Mouse-eare Scorpion grasse ‡ 2 This growes not with vs but in hotter Countries Clusius found it growing among rubbish at Malago in Spaine ‡ 1 Solanum Hortense Garden Nightshade ‡ 2 Solanum 〈◊〉 Sleepie Nightshade ¶ The Time It flowreth in Sommer and oftentimes till Autumne be well spent and then the fruit commeth to ripenesse ‡ 2 This Clusius found in flower and with the seede ripe in Februarie for it liueth many yeares in hot Countries but in cold it is but an annuall ‡ ¶ The Names It is called of the Graecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Latines Solanum and Solanum Hortense in shops Solatrum of some Morella Vua Lupina and Vua Vulpis in Spanish likewise Morella and Yerua Mora Marcellus an old Phisicke writer and diuers others of his time called it Strumum Plinie in his 27. booke chap. 8. sheweth that it is called Cucubalus both these words are likewise extant in 〈◊〉 among the confused names of Nightshade who comprehending all the kindes of Nightshade together in one chapter being so many hath strangely absurdly confounded their names In English it is called Garden Nightshade Morel and Petie Morell in French Morelle Gallobelgis feu ardent quiamedetur igni sacro ¶ The Temperature Nightshade as Galen saith in his booke of the faculties of simple medicines is vsed for those infirmities that haue need of cooling and binding for these two qualities it hath in the second degree which thing also hee affirmeth in his booke of the faculties of nourishments where hee saith that there is no pot-herbe which wee vse to eat that hath so great astriction or binding as Nightshade hath and therefore Physitious do worthily vse it and that seldome as a nourishment but alwaies as a medicine ¶ The Vertues 1 Dioscorides writeth that Nightshade is good against S. Anthonies fire the shingles paine of the head the heart burning or heat of the stomacke and other like accidents proceeding of 〈◊〉 and biting humours Notwithstanding that it hath these vertues yet it is not alwaies good that it should be applied vnto those 〈◊〉 for that many times there hapneth more dangers by applying of these remedies than of the disease it selfe for as 〈◊〉 writeth in the 6. book of his Aphorismes the 25. particular that it is not good that S. 〈◊〉 fire should be driuen from the outward parts to the inward And
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
hath leaues like vnto great Gentian but much broader and not vnlike the leaues of the great Plantaine folded into pleats like a garment pleated to bee laied vp in a chest amongst these leaues riseth vp a stalke a cubite long 〈◊〉 towards the top full of little starre-like floures of an herbie green colour tending to whitenesse which being past there come small huskes containing the seed The root is great and thicke with many small threds hanging thereat 2 The second kinde is very like the first and differeth in that that this hath blacke reddish floures and commeth to flouring before the other kinde and seldome in my garden commeth to seeding ¶ The Place The white Hellebor groweth on the Alps and such like mountains where Gentian doth grow It was reported vnto me by the bishop of Norwich that white Hellebor groweth in a wood of his owne neere to his house at Norwich Some say likewise that it doth grow vpon the Mountaines of Wales I speake this vpon report yet I thinke not but that it may be true Howbeit I dare assure you that they grow in my garden at London where the first kinde floureth and seedeth very well ¶ The Time The first floureth in Iune and the second in May. ¶ The Names Neesewoort is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Veratrum Album Helleborus albus and Sanguis Herculeus The Germans call it 〈◊〉 nieswurt the Dutchmen 〈◊〉 the Italians Elleboro bianco The Spaniards Verde gambre blanco the French Ellebore blanche and we of England call it white Hellebor Nieswoort Lingwoort and the root Neesing pouder ¶ The Temperature The root of white Hellebor is hot and drie in the third degree ¶ The Vertues The root of white Hellebor procureth vomite mightily wherein consisteth his chiefe vertue and by that means voideth all superfluous slime and naughtie humors It is good against the falling sicknesse phrensies sciatica dropsies poison and against all cold diseases that bee of hard curation and will not yeeld to any gentle medicine This strong medicine made of white Hellebor ought not to be giuen inwardly vnto delicate bodies without great correction but it may more safely be giuen vnto Country people which feed grossely and haue hard tough and strong bodies The root of Hellebor cut in small pieces such as may aptly and conueniently be conueied into the Fistulaes doth mundifie them and taketh away the callous matter which hindereth curation and afterward they may be healed vp with some incarnatiue vnguent fit for the purpose ‡ This facultie by Dioscorides is attributed to the blacke Hellebor and not to this ‡ The pouder drawne vp into the nose causeth sneesing and purgeth the braine from grosse and slimic humours The root giuen to drinke in the weight of two pence taketh away the fits of agues killeth Mice and rats being made vp with honie and floure of wheat Pliny addeth that it is a medicine against the Lousie euill CHAP. 111. Of Wilde white Hellebor ¶ The Description 1 HElleborine is like vnto white Hellebor and for that cause we haue giuen it the name of Helleborine It hath a straight stalke of a foot high set from the bottome to the tuft of floures with faire leaues ribbed and chamfered like those of white Hellebor but nothing neere so large of a darke greene colour The floures bee orderly placed from the middle to the top of the stalke hollow within and white of colour straked here and there with a dash of purple in shape like the floures of Satyrion The seed is small like dust or motes in the Sun The root is small full of iuice and bitter in taste 2 The second is like vnto the first but altogether greater and the floures white without any mixture at all wherein consisteth the difference 3 The third kind of Helleborine being the 6. after Clusius account hath leaues like the first described but smaller and narrower The stalke riseth vp to the height of two spans at the top whereof grow faire shining purple coloured floures consistiug of six little leaues within or among which lieth hid things like small helmets The plant in proportion is like the 〈◊〉 of this kinde The The root is small and creepeth in the ground 1 Helleborine Wilde white Hellebore 3 Helleborine 〈◊〉 6. Clusij Narrow leafed wilde Neesewoort ¶ The Place They bee found in dankish and shadowie places the first was found growing in the woods by Digges well pastures halfe a mile from Welwen in Hartfordshire it groweth in a wood fiue miles from London neere vnto a bridge called Lockbridge by Nottingham neere Robinhoods well where my friend Mr. Steuen Bredwell a learned Physition found the same in the woods by Dunmowe in Essex by Southfleet in Kent in a little groue of Iuniper and in a wood by Clare in Essex ¶ The Time They floure in May and Iune and perfect their seed in August ¶ The Names The likenesse that it hath with white Hellebor doth shew it may not vnproperly bee named Helleborine or wilde white Hellebor which is also called of Dioscorides and Pliny 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Epipactis But from whence that name came it is not apparant it is also named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ¶ The Temperature They are thought to be hot and drie of nature ¶ The Vertues The faculties of these wilde Hellebors are referred vnto the white Neesewoort whereof they are kindes It is reported that the decoction of wilde Hellebor drunken openeth the stoppings of the Liuer and helpeth any imperfections of the same CHAP. 112. Of our Ladies Slipper ¶ The Description 1 OVr Ladies Shoo or Slipper hath a thicke knobbed root with certaine marks or notes vpon the same such as the roots of Solomons Seale haue but much lesser creeping within the vpper crust of the earth from which riseth vp a stiffe and hairy stalke a foot high set by certaine spaces with faire broad leaues ribbed with the like sinewes or nerues as those of the Plantaine At the top of the stalke groweth one single floure seldome two fashioned on the one side like an egge on the other side it is open empty and hollow and of the forme of a shoo or slipper whereof it tooke his name of a yellow colour on the outside and of a shining deepe yellow on the inside The middle part is compassed about with foure leaues of a bright purple colour often of a light red or obscure crimson and sometimes yellow as in the middle part which in shape is like an egge as aforesaid ‡ 2 This other differs not from the former vnlesse in the colour of the floure which in this hath the foure long leaues white and the hollow leafe or slipper of a purple colour ‡ 1 Calceolus Mariae Our Ladies Slipper ‡ 2 Calceolus Mariae alter The other Ladies Slipper ¶ The Place Ladies Slipper groweth vpon the mountains of Germany Hungary and Poland I haue a plant thereof in my garden which I receiued from
high which are garnished from the top of the plant vnto the ground with leaues like Beets disorderly placed This whole plant is exceeding full of milke insomuch as if you do but breake one leafe of the plant many drops of a milky iuyce will fall vpon the ground The root is very great and full of milk also likewise the knops wherein the seed should be are empty and void of seed so that the whole plant is altogether barren and must be increased with slipping of his root 1 Campanula persicifolia Peach-leaued Bell-floure 2 Campanula lactescens pyramidalis Steeple milky Bell-floure 3 The small Bell-floure hath many round leaues very like those of the common field Violet spred vpon the ground among which rise vp small slender stems disorderly set with many grassie narrow leaues like those of flax The small stem is diuided at the top into sundry little branches whereon do grow pretty blew floures bell-fashion The root is small and threddy 4 The yellow Bell-floure is a very beautifull plant of an handfull high bearing at the top of his weake and tender stalkes most pleasant floures bel-fashion of a faire and bright yellow colour The leaues and roots are like the precedent sauing that the leaues that grow next to the ground of this plant are not so round as the former ‡ Certainly our Author in this place meant to set forth the Campanula lutea linifolia store volubilis described in the Aduers pag. 177. and therefore I haue giuen you the figure thereof ‡ 3 Campanula rotundifolia Round leaued Bell-floure 4 Campanula lutea linifolia Yellow Bell-floure 5 Campanula minor alba siue purpurea Little white or purple Bel-floure 5 The little white Bell-floure is a kinde of wilde Rampions as is that which followeth and also the last saue one before described This small plant hath a slender root of the bignesse of a small straw with some few strings anexed thereto The leaues are somwhat long smooth and of a perfect greene colour lying flat vpon the ground from thence rise vp small tender stalkes set heere and there with a few leaues The floures grow at the top of a milke white colour 6 The other small Bell-floure or wilde Rampion differeth not from the precedent but onely in colour of the floures for as the others are white these are of a bright purple colour which sets forth the difference ‡ 7 Besides these here described there is another very small and rare Bell-floure which hath not beene set forth by any but onely by Bauhine in his Prodrom vnder the title of Campanula Cymbalariae folijs and that fitly for it hath thinne and small cornered leaues much after the maner of Cymbalaria and these are set without order on very small weake and tender stalkes some handfull long and at the tops of the branches grow little small and tender Bell-floures of a blew colour The root like as the whole plant is very small and threddy This pretty plant was first discouered to grow in England by Master George Bowles Anno 1632. who sound it in Montgomerie shire on the dry bankes in the high-way as one rideth from Dolgeogg a Worshipfull Gentlemans house called Mr. Francis Herbert vnto a market towne called Mahuntleth and in all the way from thence to the sea side It may be called in English The tender Bell-floure ‡ ¶ The Place The two first grow in our London gardens and not wilde in England The rest except that small one with yellow floures do grow wilde in most places of England especially vpon barren sandy heaths and such like grounds ¶ The Time These Bell-floures do flourish from May vnto August ¶ The Names Their seuerall titles set forth their names in English and Latine which is as much as hath been said of them ¶ The Temperature and Vertues These Bell-floures especially the foure last mentioned are cold and dry and of the nature of Rampions whereof they be kindes CHAP. 118. Of Rampions or wilde Bell-floures 1 Rapuntium majus Great Rampion 2 Rapuntium parvum Small Rampion ¶ The Description 1 THe great Rampion being one of the Bell-floures hath leaues which appeare or come forth at the beginning somewhat large and broad smooth and plaine not vnlike to the leaues of the smallest Beet Among which rise vp stemmes one cubit high set with such like leaues as those are of the first springing vp but smaller bearing at the top of the stalke a great thicke bushy 〈◊〉 full of little long floures closely thrust together like a Fox-taile which small floures before their opening are like little crooked hornes and being wide opened they are small blew-bells sometimes white or sometimes purple The root is white and as thicke as a mans thumbe 2 The second kind being likewise one of the bel-floures and yet a wild kind of Rampion hath leaues at his first comming vp like vnto the garden Bell-floure The leaues which spring vp afterward for the decking vp of the stalke are somewhat longer and narrower The floures grow at the top of tender and brittle stalkes like vnto little bells of a bright blew colour sometimes white or purple The root is small long and somewhat thicke 3 This is a wilde Rampion that growes in woods it hath small leaues spred vpon the ground bluntly indented about the edges among which riseth vp a straight stem of the height of a cubit set from the bottome to the top with longer and narrower leaues than those next the ground at the top of the stalkes grow small Bell-floures of a watchet blewish colour The root is thicke and tough with some few strings anexed thereto ‡ There is another varietie of this whose figure was formerly by our Author set forth in the fourth place of the last chapter it differs from this last onely in that the floures and other parts of the plant are lesser a little than those of the last described ‡ 3 Rapunculus nemorosus Wood Rampions ‡ 4 Rapunculus Alpinus 〈◊〉 Horned Rampions of the Alpes ‡ 4 This which growes amongst the rockes in the highest Alpes hath a wooddy and verie wrinckled root an handfull and halfe long from which arise many leaues set on pretty long stalks somewhat round and diuided with reasonable deepe gashes hauing many veines and being of a darke greene colour amongst these grow vp little stalkes hauing one leafe about their middles and three or foure set about the floure being narrower and longer than the bottome leaues The floures grow as in an vmbell and are shaped like that Chymicall vessell we vsually call a Retort being big at their bottomes and so becomming smaller towards their tops and hauing many threds in them whereof one is longer than the rest and comes forth in the middle of the floure it floures in August Pona was the first that described this vnder the name of Trachelium 〈◊〉 minus 5 The roots of this other kinde of horned Rampion grow after an vnusuall manner for first or
for the most part all the yeere long but especially in winter whereupon the people in Cheshire do call them Winter-Gillofloures ¶ The Names The Wallfloure is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Viola lutea and Leucoium luteum in the Arabicke tongue Keyri in Spanish Violettas Amarillas in Dutch Uiolieren in French Girofflees iaulnes Violieres des murailles in English Wall-Gillofloure Wall-floure yellow stocke Gillofloure and Winter-Gillofloure ¶ The Temperature All the whole shrub of Wall-Gillofloures as Galen saith is of a clensing faculty and of thinne parts ¶ The Vertues Dioscorides writeth that the yellow Wall-floure is most vsed in physicke and more than the rest of stocke-Gillofloures whereof this is holden to be a kinde which hath mooued me to preferre it vnto the first place He saith that the juice mixed with some vnctious or oilie thing and boiled to the forme of a lyniment helpeth the chops or rifts of the fundament The herbe boiled with white wine honie and a little allom doth cure hot vlcers and cankers of the mouth The leaues stamped with a little bay salt and bound about the wrists of the hands taketh away the shaking fits of the Ague ‡ A decoction of the floures together with the leaues is vsed with good successe to mollifie Schirrous tumors The oile also made with these is good to be vsed to anoint a Paralyticke as also a goutie part to 〈◊〉 paine Also a strong decoction of the floures drunke moueth the Courses and expelleth the dead childe ‡ CHAP. 120. Of Stocke Gillofloures 1 Leucoium album siue purpureum siue violaceum White purple or Violet coloured Stocke Gillofloure ‡ 2 Leucoium flore multiplici Double Stocke Gillofloure ¶ The Description 1 THe stalke of the great stocke Gillofloure is two foot high or higher round and parted into diuers branches The leaues are long white soft and hauing vpon them as it were a downe like vnto the leaues of willowe but softer the floures consist of foure little leaues growing all along the vpper part of the branches of a white colour exceeding sweet of smell in their places come vp long and narrow cods in which is contained broad flat and round 〈◊〉 The root is of a wooddy substance as is the stalke also The purple stocke Gillofloure is like the precedent in each respect sauing that the floures of this plant are of a pleasant purple colour and the others white which setteth forth the difference of which kinde we haue some that beare double floures which are of diuers colours greatly esteemed for the beautie of their floures and pleasant sweet smell 3 Leucoium spinosum Creticum Thornie Stocke Gillouers This kinde of Stocke 〈◊〉 that beareth floures of the colour of a Violet that is to say of a blew 〈◊〉 to a purple colour which setteth forth the difference betwixt this plant the other stocke Gillofloures in euery other respect is like the precedent 2 ‡ There were formerly 3 figures of the single Stocks which differ in nothing but the colour of their floures wherefore we haue made them content with one haue giuen which was formerly wanting a figure of the double Stock of which there are many and prettie varieties kept in the garden of my kinde friend Mr. Ralph Tuggye at VVestminster and set forth in the bookes of such as purposely treat of floures and their varieties ‡ ‡ 3 To these I thinke it not amisse to adde that plant which Clusius hath set forth vnder the name of Leucoium spinosum Creticum It growes some foot or more high bringing forth many stalkes which are of a grayish colour and armed at the top with many and strong thorny prickles the leaues which adorne these stalkes are like those of the stocke Gillouer yet lesse and somewhat hoary the floures are like those of Mulleine of a whitish yellow colour with some purple threds in their middles the cods which succeede the floures are small and round containing a little seed in them They vse saith Honorius Bellus to heat ovens therewith in Candy where it plentifully growes and by reason of the similitude which the prickles hereof haue with Stoebe and the white colour they cal it Gala Stivida or Galastivida and not because it yeelds milke which Gala signifies ¶ The Place 1. 2. These kindes of Stocke Gillofloures do grow in most Gardens throughout England ¶ The Time They floure in the beginning of the Spring and continue flouring all the Sommer long ¶ The Names The Stocke Gillofloure is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Viola alba in Italian Viola bianca in Spanish 〈◊〉 blanquas in English Stocke Gillofloure Garnsey Violet and Castle Gillofloure ¶ The Temperature and Vertues They are referred vnto the VVal-floure although in vertue much inferiour yet are they not vsed in Physicke except amongst certaine Empericks and Quacksaluers about loue and lust matters which for modestie I omit Ioachimus Camerarius reporteth that a conserue made of the floures of Stocke Gillofloure and often giuen with the distilled water thereof preserueth from the Apoplexy and helpeth the palsie CHAP. 121. Of Sea Stocke Gillofloures ¶ The Kindes OF Stocke Gillofloures that grow neere vnto the Sea there bee diuers and sundrie 〈◊〉 differing as well in leaues as floures which shall bee comprehended in this Chapter next following 1 Leucoium marinum flore candido L'obelij White Sea Stocke Gillofloures 2 Leucoium marinum purpureum L'obelij Purple sea Stocke Gillofloures 3 Leucoium marinum latifolium Broad leafed sea stocke Gillofloure ¶ The Description 1 THe Sea stocke 〈◊〉 hath a small wooddy root very threddie from which riseth vp an 〈◊〉 white stalke of two foot high diuided into diuers small branches whereon are placed confusedly many narrow leaues of a 〈◊〉 hoarie substance The floures grow at the top of the branches of a whitish colour made of foure little leaues which being past there follow long coddes and seed like vnto the garden stocke Gillofloure ‡ 2 The purple stocke Gillofloure hath a very long tough root thrusting it selfe deepe into the ground from which rise vp thicke fat soft and hoarie stalkes The leaues come forth of the stalkes next the ground long soft thicke full of 〈◊〉 couered ouer with a certaine downie 〈◊〉 and sinuated somewhat 〈◊〉 on both sides after the manner you may see exprest in the figure of the 〈◊〉 described in this Chapter The stalke is 〈◊〉 here and there with the like leaues but lesser The floures grow at the top of the stalkes compact of soure small leaues of a light purple colour The seede is contained in long crooked cods like the garden stocke Gillofloure ‡ The figure of Lobels which here we giue you was taken of a dried plant and therefore the leaues are not exprest so 〈◊〉 as they should be ‡ 3 This sea stock Gillofloure hath many broad leaues spred vpon the ground somwhat snipt or cut on the edges amongst which rise vp small naked stalkes bearing at
Fleawoort or Fleabane from a thick long liuing fibrous root sends forth many stalkes of some yard high or more hard wooddy rough fat and of an ou erworne colour the leaues are many without order and alternately embrace the stalkes twice as big as those of the Oliue tree rough and fat being as it were besmeared with a gumminesse or fattinesse and of a yellowish greene colour the floures grow after a sort spoke fashion standing at the ends of footstalkes comming out of the bosomes of the leaues and they are yellow and round almost like to Groundswell and flie away in downe like as they doe the seed is small and ash coloured 〈◊〉 whole plant is fattie and glutinous with a strong yet not altogether vnpleasant smell This growes not that I know of in these cold Countries vnlesse sowne in gardens Clusius sound it by Lisbone and in diuers places of Spaine He as also Dodonaeus Lobel and others call this Conyzamaior and it is thought to be the Conyzamas of Theophrastus and Conyzamaior of Dioscorides 2 The lesser seldome sends vp more than one stalke and that of a cubit high yet vsually not so much it is diuided into little branches and also rough and glutionous as the precedent but more greene The leaues are three times lesse than those of the former somewhat shaped like those of Toad-flax yet hairy and vnctious the tops of the branches as in the bigger carrie lesse and lesse shining and sightly floures vanishing in like sort into downe The root is single and annuall and the whole plant more imelling than the former This is iudged the Conyza foemina of 〈◊〉 and Con. minor of Dioscorides it is the Con. minor of Gesner Lobel Clusius and others It growes in diuers of Spaine and Prouince in France but not here vnlesse in Gardens 3 Conyzamedia Middle Fleawoort 4 Conyzaminima Dwarfe Fleabane 3 The root of this middle kinde is prettie large and fibrous from whence ariseth a branched stalke of some cubite high engirt at certaine spaces with thicke rough grayish greene leaues at the tops of the branches grow pretty faire yellow floures of the bignes of a little Marigold which fading turne to downe and are carried away with the winde This floures in Iuly and August and may be found growing in most places about riuers and pond sides as in S. Iames his Parke Tuthill fields c. This is Conyzamedia of Matthiolus Dodonaeus and others Some haue referred it vnto the Mints as Fuchsius who makes it Calaminthae 3. genus and Lonicerus who calls it Mentha Lutea In Cheape-side the herbe-women call it Herbe Christopher and sell it to Empericks who with it as they say make Medicines for the eyes but against what affect of them or with what successe I know not 4 In like places or rather such as are plashy in winter this may be plentifully found growing The roots are small and fibrous from whence ariseth a branched stalke some foot high set with small longish leaues somewhat roundish pointed soft also and woolly with a smell not altogether vnpleasant like as the last described the floures are composed of many yellowish threds like to the middle part of Camomill floures or those of Tanscy and as the former turne into downe and are carried away with the winde it floures in Iuly and August This is the Conyzaminor of Tragus Mathiolus and others Lobel and Dodon call it Conyzaminima 5 This cut leaued Fleabane hath small fibrous roots from which arise thicke crested hollow stalks diuided towards the tops into sundry branches the leaues that incompasse the stalke are gashed or else onely sinuated on the edges the floures are star fashion and yellow and also flie away in downe the whole plant is couered ouer with a soft and tender downe and hath somewhat the smell of Honie This is a varietie of the third and is called by Dodon Conyzaemediae altera Lobel names it Conyza helenit is folijs laciniatis 6 The figure which you haue in this sixth place was formerly vnfitly giuen by our Authour for Solidago Saracenica it hath a large root which sends foorth many fibres and a crested hollow stalke some two cubites or more high which is vnorderly set with long yet narrow snipt leaues somewhat hairie and sharpe pointed the toppe is diuided into branches which beare prettie large yellow floures made after the manner of those of Ragwort and like as they are also carried away with the winde This Thalius cals Conyzamaxima serratifolia It is the Lingua maior of Daleschampius and the Consolida palustris of Tabernamontanus It groweth neere water sides and floures towards the latter end of Sommer I haue not yet heard that it doth grow wilde amongstvs ‡ 5 Conyza folijs laciniatis Great iagged leaued Fleabane ‡ 6 Conyza palustris serratifolia Water snipt Fleabanc ‡ 7 Conyza Austriaca Clusij Austrian Fleabane ‡ 8 Conyza incana Hoary Fleabane ‡ 9 Conyza Alpina pilosissima Hairie Fleabane of the Alpes 10 Conyza Caerulea 〈◊〉 Blew floured 〈◊〉 7 The stalkes of this are about a foot high straight stiffe hard and couered with a 〈◊〉 downe the leaues at the root grow vpon long stalkes and are soft and 〈◊〉 but those which are higher vp haue a short or else no stalke at all and rubbed they yeeld no vnpleasant smell and tasted they are somwhat bitter and acride The floures that grow vpon the tops of the branches are large and fashioned like those of Elecampane and are of the same yellow color The root is long slender and blackish creeping and putting vp new stalkes it hath many white fibres and a resinous smell Clusius sound it growing on dry hilly places in Austria and calls it Conyza 3. 〈◊〉 8 This which Lobel sets forth vnder the title of Conyza helentis 〈◊〉 incana I take to be the same Plant that I last figured and described out of Clusius onely the root is better exprest in Clusius his figure otherwise by the 〈◊〉 I cannot find any difference though 〈◊〉 reckon it vp in his Pinax as differing therefrom 9 This also seemes not much to differ from the last mentioned but onely in the hairinesse of the leaues and stalkes and that the floures are smaller This 〈◊〉 cals Conyza 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 incana Helenitis because the floures and leaues haue some semblance of 〈◊〉 and Mellita 〈◊〉 that they smell somewhat like Honie These last grow vpon mountaines but none of them with vs in England that I can yet heare of 10 This hath a small fibrous and yellowish root of a very hot and biting taste which sends vp diuers longish leaues about the head thereof the stalke is some foot and halfe high and set alternately with twined longish narrow and somewhat rough leaues of an ouerworne greene colour the top of the stalke and branches are 〈◊〉 with 〈◊〉 set in longish scaly heads like those of 〈◊〉 the outer little leaues are of a 〈◊〉
kinde of Tithymale 20 As in name so in shape this twentieth resembleth Peplus and commeth in likelihood neerer the signification of Peplum or Flammeolum than the other therefore Dioscorides affirmeth it to be 〈◊〉 amphilaphes for that it bringeth foorth a greater plentie of branches more closely knit and wound together with shining twists and claspers an handfull and a halfe long The leaues are lesser than those of Peplus of an indifferent likenesse and resemblance betweene Chamaesyce and wilde Purslane The seed is great and likethat of Peplus the root is small and single 21 The one and twentieth kinde may be easily knowne from the two last before mentioned although they be verie like It hath many branches and leaues creeping on the ground of a pale greene colour not vnlike to Herniaria but giuing milke as all the other Tithymales doe bearing the like seed pouch and floures but smaller in each respect 22 The two and twentieth kinde of Tithymale hath a round root like a small Turnep as euery Authour doth report yet my selfe haue the same plant in my garden which doth greatly 〈◊〉 of which I haue giuen diuers vnto my friends whereby I haue often viewed the roots which do appeare vnto me somewhat tuberous and therein nothing answering the descriptions which 〈◊〉 Pena and others haue expressed and set sorth This argueth that either they were 〈◊〉 and described the same by 〈◊〉 say or else the plant doth degenerate being brought from his 〈◊〉 soile The leaues are 〈◊〉 all alongst a small rib like 〈◊〉 somewhat 〈◊〉 greene aboue and reddish 〈◊〉 The seed groweth among the leaues like the seed of Peplus The whole plant is full of milke like the other Tithymales ‡ Our Authour 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 taxes other Writers of plants 〈◊〉 Pena by name which 〈◊〉 that he either neuer read or else vnderstood not what they writ for neither of them nor any other that I know of resembles the root of this to a Turnep but say it hath a tuberous peare fashioned root c as you may see in Diosc. lib. 4. cap. 177. and in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pag. 204. The leaues also grow not by couples one against another as in 〈◊〉 but rather alternately or else without any certaine order as in other Tithymales ‡ ‡ 23 This saith 〈◊〉 hath also a tuberous root but not peare fashioned like as the former but almost euery where of an equall thicknesse beeing about an inch and sometimes two inches long and the lower part thereof is diuided into soure other roots or thicke sibers growing smaller by little and little and sending forth some few fibers it is blacke without and white within full of a milkie iuice the 〈◊〉 are short and weake set with little leaues like those os the former the floures are of a yellowish red colour and the seede is contained in such vessels as the other Tithymales This is 〈◊〉 tuberosus or Ischas 〈◊〉 of Clusius ‡ ¶ The Place The first kinde of Spurge groweth by the Sea side vpon the rowling Sand and Baich as at Lee in Essex at Lang-tree point right against Harwich at Whitstable in Kent and in many other places The second groweth in grounds that lie waste and in 〈◊〉 earable soile almost euery where The third and fourth as also the foureteenth and eighteenth grow in gardens but not wilde in England The ninth Spurge called Characias groweth in most VVoods of England that are drie and warme The eighteenth and nineteenth grow in salt marshes 〈◊〉 the sea as in the isle of Thanet by the sea side betwixt Reculvers and Margate in great 〈◊〉 ¶ The Time These plants floure srom Iune to the end of Iuly ¶ The Names 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is called in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Spanish 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in high Dutch Dolfer milch that is to say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Wolfes milke Wood Spurge is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The first is called in English Sea Spurge or Sea VVartwoort The second Sun Spurge the third and sourth Mirtle Spurge the sisth Cypresse Spurge or among women VVelcome to our house the sixth Pine Spurge the seuenth shrub Spurge and tree Mirtle Spurge the eighth and ninth 〈◊〉 Spurge the 〈◊〉 Broad leafed Spurge the thirteenth Great Tree Spurge the 〈◊〉 and sisteenth Quack saluers Spurge the sixteenth Venice Spurge the seuenteenth Dwarfe Spurge the eighteenth common Spurge the nineteenth and twentieth Petie Spurge the one and twentieth Spurge Time The two and twentieth True Apios or the knobbed 〈◊〉 ¶ The Temperature All the kinds of Tithymales or Spurges are hot and drie almost in the fourth degree of a sharp and biting qualitie sretting or consuming First the milke and sap is in speciall vse then the fruit and leaues but the root is of least strength The strongest kinde of Tithymale and of greatest force is that of the sea Some write by report of others that it inflameth exceedingly but my selfe speak by experience for walking along the sea coast at Lee in Essex with a Gentleman called Mr. Rich dwelling in the same towne I tooke but one drop of it into my mouth which neuerthelesse did so inflame and swell in my throte that I hardly escaped with my life And in like case was the gentleman which caused vs to take our horses and poste for our liues vnto the next farme house to drinke some milk to quench the extremitie of our heate which then ceased ¶ The Vertues The iuice of Tithymale I do not meane sea Tithymale is a strong medicine to open the bellie and causing vomite bringeth vp tough flegme and cholericke humours Like vertue is in the seed and root which is good for such as fall into the dropsie being ministred with discretion and good aduice of some excellent Physition and prepared with his Correctories by some honest Apothecarie The iuice mixed with honie causeth haire to fall from that place which is anointed therewith if it be done in the Sun The iuice or milke is good to stop hollow teeth being put into them warily so that you touch neither the gums nor any of the other teeth in the mouth with the said medicine The same cureth all roughnesse of the skin manginesse leprie scurfe and running scabs and the white scurfe of the head It taketh away all manner of warts knobs and the hard callousnesse of 〈◊〉 hot swellings and Carbuncles It killeth fish being mixed with any thing that they will eat These herbes by mine aduise would not be receiued into the bodie considering that there be so many other good and wholesome potions to be made with other herbes that may bee taken without perill CHAP. 140. Of Herbe Terrible 1 Alypum montis 〈◊〉 Herbe Terrible 2 Tarton-Raire Gallo-Prouinciae Gutwoort ¶ The Description 1 HErbe Terrible is a small shrub two or three cubits high bran ched with many small twigges hauing a thin rinde first browne then purple with many little and thinne leaues like Myrtle The floures are rough like the middle of Scabious floures of a blew purple
you may see what difference you can obserue by them for Clusius saith Lobels is but an handfull high yet tells he not vs how high his growes neither instances how they differ neither can I gather it by Lobels description but I coniecture it is thus That of Clusius his description is taller more white and hairy and hath the floures growing along little foot-stalks and not in manner of an vmbel as in the other ‡ 4 Besides these two creeping hoary S. Iohns worts here described there is another small kinde which is called by Dodonaeus Hypericum minus and by Lobel Hypericum minimum supinum Septentrionale It growes some handfull or more high with weake and slender branches set with leaues like those of the ordinarie kinde but lesse the floures are also like those of the first described but fewer in number and lesse It is to be found in dry and barren grounds and floures at the same time as the the former 5 I haue obserued growing in S. Iohns wood and other places that kinde of S. Iohn Wort which by Tragus is called Hypericum pulchrum and both by him and Lonicerus is thought to be Dioscorides his Androsaemum the which we in English may for distinctions sake call Vpright Saint Iohns wort It hath roots like those of the ordinarie kinde from which arise straight slender stalks some cubit high set at equall spaces with pretty smooth leaues broad and almost incompassing the stalke at their setting on and being sometimes of a green and otherwhiles of a reddish colour towards the top they are parted into some few branches which beare such yellow floures as the common kinde but somewhat smaller It floures about the same time as the former or a little after ‡ 3 Hypericum tomentosum Clusij Woolly S. Iohns wort of Clusius ‡ 4 Hypericum supinum glabrum Small creeping S. Iohns wort ¶ The Place They grow very plentifully in the pastures in euery countrey ¶ The Time They floure and flourish for the most part in Iuly and August ¶ The Names S. Iohns wort is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Hypericum in shops Perforata of diuers Fugadaemonum in Dutch San Iohans kraut in Italian Hyperico in Spanish Caraconzillo in French Mille Pertuys in English S. Iohns wort or S. Iohns 〈◊〉 ¶ The Temperature S. Iohns wort as Galen teacheth is hot and dry being of substance thinne ¶ The Vertues S. Iohns wort with his floures and seed boyled and drunken prouoketh vrine and is right good against the stone in the bladder and stoppeth the laske The leaues stamped are good to be layd vpon burnings scaldings and all wounds and also for rotten and filthy vlcers The leaues floures and seeds stamped and put into a glasse with oyle Oliue and set in the hot Sunne for certaine weekes together and then strained from those herbes and the like quantitie of new put in and sunned in like manner doth make an oyle of the colour of bloud which is a most precious remedy for deepe wounds and those that are thorow the body for 〈◊〉 that are prickt or any wound 〈◊〉 with a venomed weapon I am accustomed to make a 〈◊〉 oyle hereof the making of which ye shall receiue at my hands because that I know in the world there is not a better no not naturall balsam it selfe for I dare vndertake to cure any such wound as absolutely in each respect if not sooner and better as any man whatsoeuer shall or may with naturall balsam Take white wine two pintes oyle oliue foure pounds oile of Turpentine two pounds the leaues floures and seeds of S. Iohns wort of each two great handfulls gently bruised put them all together into a great double glasse and set it in the Sunne eight or ten dayes then 〈◊〉 them in the same glasse per balneum Mariae that is in a kettle of water with some 〈◊〉 in the bottome wherein the glasse must stand to boyle which done straine the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the herbes and do as you did before putting in the like quantitie of herbes floures and seeds but not any more wine And so haue you a great secret for the purposes aforesaid Dioscorides saith That the seed drunke for the space of fourty dayes together cureth the 〈◊〉 and all aches that happen in the hips The same Author saith That being taken with Wine it taketh away Tertian and Quartane Agues CHAP. 159. Of Saint Peters wort or square S. Johns Grasse 1 Ascyron S. Peters wort ¶ The Description 1 SAint Peters wort groweth to the height of a 〈◊〉 and a halfe hauing a straight vpright stalke somewhat browne set by couples at certaine distances with leaues much like those of S. Iohns wort but greater rougher and rounder pointed from the bosome of which leaues come forth many smaller leaues the which are not bored through as those of S. Iohns wort are yet sometime there be some few so bored through The floures grow at the top of the branches of a yellow colour the leaues and floures when they are bruised do yeeld forth a bloudy iuyce as doth S. Iohns wort whereof this is a kinde The root is tough and of a wooddy substance ‡ 2 Vpon diuers boggy grounds of this kingdome is to be found growing that S. Peters Wort which Clusius describes in his Auctarium by the name of Ascyrum supinum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 This sends forth diuers round hairy creeping stalkes which heere and there put out new fibres or roots and these are set at certaine spaces with very round and hairie leaues of a whitish colour two at a ioynt and on the tops of these stalkes grow a few small yellow floures which consist of fiue leaues a piece these stalks seldome send forth branches vnlesse it be one or two at the tops It may well be called in English Round leaued S. Peters wort ‡ ¶ The Place S. Peters wort or S. Iohns Grasse groweth plentifully in the North part of England especially in Landsdale and Crauen I haue found it in many places of Kent especially in a copse by Master Sidleys house neere Southfleet ¶ The Time It floureth and flourisheth when S. Iohns wort doth ¶ The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latines haue no other name but this Greeke name Ascyron It is called of some Androsaemum Galen maketh it both a kinde of Tutsan and S. Iohns Wort and saith it is named Ascyron and Ascyroides in English S. Peters wort Square or great S. Iohns grasse and of some Hardhay Few know it from S. Iohns wort ¶ The Temperature This herbe is of temperature hot and dry ¶ The Vertues It is endued with the same vertues that S. Iohns wort is endued withall The seed saith Dioscorides being drunke in foure ounces and a halfe of Meade doth plentifully purge by siege cholericke excrements Galen doth likewise affirme the same CHAP. 160. Of Tutsan or Parke-leaues ¶ The Description 1 THe stalkes of Tutsan be straight round
desired sicknesse prouoketh vrine applied in bathes and fomentations it procureth sweat being boyled in wine it helpeth the ague it easeth the strangurie it stayeth the hicket it breaketh the stones in the bladder it helpeth the Lethargie frensie and madnesse and stayeth the vomiting of bloud Wilde Time boyled in wine and drunke is good against the wambling and gripings of the bellie ruptures convulsions and inflammations of the liuer It helpeth against the bitings of any venomous beast either taken in drinke or outwardly applied Aetius writeth That Serpillum infused well in Vineger and then sodden and mingled with rose water is a right singular remedie to cure them that haue had a long phrensie or lethargie Galen prescribeth one dram of the iuyce to be giuen in vineger against the vomiting of bloud and helpeth such as are grieued with the spleene CHAP. 174. Of Garden Time ¶ The Description 1 THe first kinde of Time is so well knowne that it needeth no description because there is not any which are ignorant what Thymum durius is I meane our common garden Time 2 The second kinde of Time with broad leaues hath many wooddy branches rising from a threddy root beset with leaues like Myrtus The floures are set in rundles about the stalke like Horehound The whole plant is like the common Time in taste and smell 1 Thymum durius Hard Time 2 Thymum latifolium Great or broad leaued Time 3 Time of Candy is in all respects like vnto common Time but differeth in that that this kinde hath certaine knoppy tufts not much vnlike the spikes or knots of Stoecados but much lesser beset with slender floures of a purple colour The whole plant is of a more gracious smell than any of the other Times and of another kinde of taste as it were sauouring like spice The root is brittle and of a wooddy substance 4 Doubtlesse that kinde of Time whereon Epithymum doth grow and is called for that cause Epithymum and vsed in shops is nothing else than Dodder that growes vpon Time and is all one with ours though Matthiolus makes a controuersie and difference thereof for Pena trauelling ouer the hills in Narbone neere the sea hath seene not onely the garden Time but the wilde Time also loden and garnished with this Epithymum So that by his sight and mine owne knowledge I am assured that it is not another kinde of Time that beareth Epithymum but is common Time for I haue often found the same in England not onely vpon our Time but vpon Sauorie and other herbes also notwithstanding thus much I may coniecture that the clymate of those Countries doth yeeld the same forth in greater aboundance than ours by reason of the intemperance of cold whereunto our countrey is subiect 3 Thymum Creticum Time of Candy 4 Epithymum Graecorum Laced Time ¶ The Place These kindes of Time grow plentifully in England in most gardens euery where except that with broad leaues and Time of Candy which I haue in my garden ¶ The Time They flourish from May vnto September ¶ The Names The first may be called hard Time or common garden Time the second Broad leaued Time the third Time of Candy our English women call it Muske Time the last may be called Dodder Time ¶ The Temperature These kindes of Time are hot and dry in the third degree ¶ The Vertues Time boyled in water and hony drunken is good against the cough and shortnes of the breath it prouoketh vrine expelleth the secondine or after-birth and the dead childe and dissolues clotted or congealed bloud in the body The same drunke with vineger and salt purgeth flegme and boyled in Mede or Methegline it cleanseth the breast lungs reines and matrix and killeth wormes Made into pouder and taken in the weight of three drams with Mede or honied vineger called Oxymel and a little salt purgeth by stoole tough and clammie flegme sharpe and cholericke humors and all corruption of bloud The same 〈◊〉 in like sort is good against the Sciatica the paine in the side and brest against the winde in the side and belly and is profitable also for such as are fearefull melancholike and troubled in minde It is good to be giuen vnto those that haue the falling sicknesse to smell vnto 〈◊〉 after Galen is of more effectuall operation in physicke than Time being hot and dry in the third degree more mightily cleansing heating drying and opening than Cuscuta 〈◊〉 right good effect to eradicat melancholy or any other humor in the spleen or other disease sprung by occasion of the spleene It helpeth the long continued paines of the head and besides his singular effects about spleneticall matters it helpeth the lepry or any disease of melancholy all quart aine agues and such like griefes proceeding from the spleene Dioscorides saith Epithymum drunke with honied water expelleth by siege flegme and melancholy Of his natiue propertie it relieueth them which be melancholieke swolne in the face and other parts if you pound Epithymum and take the fine pouder thereof in the quantity of foure scruples in the liquour which the Apothecaries call Passum or with Oxymell and salt which taketh away all flatuous humours and ventosities CHAP. 175. Of Sauorie ¶ The Kindes THere be two kindes of Sauorie the one that indureth VVinter and is of long continuance the other an annuall or yearely plant that perisheth at the time when it hath perfected his seed and must be sowne againe the next yeare which we call Sommer Sauorie or Sauorie of a yeare There is likewise another which is a stranger in England called of Lobel Thymbra S. 〈◊〉 denying it to be the right Satureia or Sauorie whether that of Lobel or that we haue in our English gardens be the true winter Sauorie is yet disputable for we thinke that of S. Iulians rocke to be rather a wilde kinde than otherwise ‡ Pena and Lobel do not denie 〈◊〉 affirme it in these words Nullus non fatetur Satureiam veram that is which none can denie to be the true Satureia or Sauorie Vid. 〈◊〉 pag. 182. ‡ 1 Satureia hortensis VVinter Sauorie 2 Satureia hortensis aestiva Sommer Sauorie ¶ The Description 1 WInter Sauorie is a plant resembling Hyssope but lower more tender and brittle it bringeth forth very many branches compassed on euery side with narrow and sharpe pointed leaues longer than those of Time among which grow the floures from the bottome to the top out of small husks of colour white tending to a light purple The root is hard and wooddie as is the rest of the plant 2 Sommer Sauorie groweth vp with a slender brittle stalke of a foot high diuided into little branches the leaues are narrow lesser than those of Hysope like the leaues of winter Sauorie 〈◊〉 thinner set vpon the branches The floures stand hard to the branches of a light purple tending to whitenesse The root is small full of strings and perisheth when it hath perfected his seed 3
same very double When the floure hath long flourished and is waxen old then comes there in the middest of the floure a certaine browne yellow thrumme such as is in the midst of the Daisie which floure being gathered when it is young may be kept in such manner as it was gathered I meane in such freshnesse and well liking by the space of a whole yeare after in your chest or elsewhere wherefore our English women haue called it Liue-long or Liue for euer which name doth aptly answer his effects ‡ Clusius receiued this plant out of England and first set it forth by the name of Gnaphalium Americanum or Argyrocome ‡ 9 This plant hath three or foure small grayish cottony or woolly stalkes growing strait from the root and commonly diuided into many little branches the leaues be long narrow whitish soft and woolly like the other of his kinde the floures be round like buttons growing very many together at the top of the stalkes but nothing so yellow as Mouse-eare which turne into downe and are caried away with the winde 10 〈◊〉 siue Herba impia Herbe impious or wicked Cudweed 11 Leontopodium siue Pes Leoninus Lions Cudweed 10 The tenth is like vnto the last before mentioned in stalkes leaues and floures but much larger and for the most part those floures which appeare first are the lowest and basest and they are ouertopt by other floures which come on younger branches and grow higher as children secking to ouergrow or ouertop their parents as many wicked children do for which cause it hath beene called Herbaimpia that is the wicked Herbe or Herbe Impious 12 Leontopodium 〈◊〉 Small Lyons Cudweed ‡ 13 Gnaphalium oblongo 〈◊〉 Long leaued Cudweed ‡ 14 Gnaphalium minus latiore 〈◊〉 Small broad leaued Cudweed 12 This small kinde of 〈◊〉 being likewise a kind of Cotton-weed neither by Dioscorides or any other antient writer once remembred hath one single stalke nine inches in height and the leaues of Gnaphalium montanum which leaues and stalkes are white with a thicke hoary woollinesse bearing at the top pale yellow floures like Gnaphalium montanum the root is slender and wooddy ‡ 13 This which Clusius calls Gnaphalium 〈◊〉 2. hath small stalkes so ne handfull high or somewhat more of which some stand vpright others lie along vpon the ground being round hairy and vnorderly set with soft hoary leaues ingirting their stalkes at their setting on and sharpe pointed at their vpper ends The tops of the stalkes carry many whitish heads full of a yellowish downe the root is thicke and blackish with some fibres 14 This sends vp one stalke parted into seuerall branches set here and there with broad 〈◊〉 and hoarie leaues and at the diuision of the branches and amongst the leaues grow seuen or eight little heads thicke thrust together being of a grayish yellow colour and full of much downe the root is vnprofitable and perishes as soone as it hath perfected his seed Clusius calls this 〈◊〉 Plateau 3. he hauing as it seemes receiued them both from his friend Iaques Plateau ‡ ¶ The Place The first groweth in the darke woods of Hampsted and in the woods neere vnto Deptford by London The second groweth vpon dry sandy bankes The third groweth at a place called Merezey six miles from Colchester neere vnto the sea side ‡ I also had it sent me from my worshipfull friend Mr. Thomas Glynn who gathered it vpon the sea coast of Wales ‡ The rest grow vpon mountaines hilly grounds and barren pastures The kinde of Gnaphalium newly set forth to wit Americanum groweth naturally neere vnto the Mediterranean sea from whence it hath beene brought and planted in our English gardens ‡ If this be true which our Author here affirmes it might haue haue had a fitter at least a neerer denomination than from America yet Bauhine affirmes that it growes frequently in Brasill and it is not improbable that both their assertions be true ‡ ¶ The Time They floure for the most part from Iune to the end of August ¶ The Names Cotton-weed is called in Greeke Gnaphalion and it is called Gnaphalion because men vse the tender leaues of it in stead of bombaste or Cotton as Paulus Aegineta writeth Pliny saith it is called Chamaexylon as though he should say Dwarfe Cotton for it hath a soft and white cotton like vnto bombaste whereupon also it was called of diuers 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 of others Centunculus Centuncularis and Albinum which word is found among the bastard names but the later word by reason of the white colour doth reasonably well agree with it It is also called Bombax Humilis filago and Herba Impia because the yonger or those floures that spring vp later are higher and ouertop those that come first as many wicked children do vnto their parents as before touched in the description in English Cotton-weed Cud-weed Chaffe-weed and petty Cotton ¶ The Nature These herbes be of an astringent or binding and drying qualitie ¶ The Vertues Gnaphalium boyled in strong lee cleanseth the haire from nits and lice also the herbe being laid in ward-robes and presses keepeth apparell from moths The same boyled in wine and drunken killeth wormes and bringeth them forth and preuaileth against the bitings and stingings of venomous beasts The fume or smoke of the herbe dried and taken with a funnell being burned therein and receiued in such manner as we vse to take the fume of Tabaco that is with a crooked pipe made for the same purpose by the Potter preuaileth against the cough of the lungs the great ache or paine of the head and clenseth the brest and inward parts CHAP. 206. Of Golden Moth-wort or Cudweed ¶ The Description 1 GOlden Moth-wort bringeth forth slender stalkes somewhat hard and wooddy diuided into diuers small branches whereupon do grow leaues somewhat rough and of a white colour very much iagged like Southernwood The floures stand on the tops of the stalkes ioyned together in tufts of a yellow colour glittering like gold in forme resembling the scaly floures of Tansie or the middle button of the floures of Camomil which being gathred before they be ripe or withered remaine beautifull long time after as my selfe did see in the hands of Mr. Wade one of the Clerks of her Maiesties Counsell which were sent him among other things from Padua in Italy For which cause of long lasting the images and carued gods were wont to weare garlands thereof whereupon some haue called it Gods floure For which purpose 〈◊〉 King of Egypt did most diligently obserue them as Pliny writeth 1 Elyochryson siue Coma aurea Golden Moth-wort ¶ The Place It growes in most vntilled places of Italy and Spaine in medowes where the soile is barren and about the banks of riuers it is a stranger in England ¶ The Time It floures in August and September notwithstanding Theophrastus and Plmy reckon it among the floures of the Spring ¶ The Names Golden Moth-wort is called of Dioscorides Elichryson
but of a darke purple colour The whole plant is very bitter and vngratefull to the taste Lobel calls this Cyanus repens 10 This is like the last described but that the leaues are much smaller or narrower also the scaly heads of this are of a finer white siluer colour and this plant is not possessed with such bitternesse as the former Lobel calls this Cyanus minimus repens ‡ ¶ The Place The first groweth in my garden and in the gardens of Herbarists but not wilde that I know of The others grow in corne fields among wheat Rie Barley and other graine it is sowne in gardens which by cunning looking to doth oft times become of other colours and some also double which hath beene touched in their seuerall descriptions ‡ The two last grow wilde about Montpellier in France ‡ ¶ The Time They bring sorth their floures from the beginning of May vnto the end of haruest ¶ The Names The old Herbarists called it 〈◊〉 flos of the blew colour which it naturally hath most of the later sort following the common 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 call it Flos frumentorum for the Germans name it 〈◊〉 in low-Dutch 〈◊〉 in French Blaueole and Bluet in Italian Fior campese and Bladiseris i. Seris 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 as though it should be called Blaptisecula because it hindereth and annoyeth the Reapers by dulling and turning the edges of their sickles in reaping of corne in English it is called Blew-Bottle Blew-Blow Corne-floure hurt-Sickle ‡ Fabius Columna would haue it to be the Papauer spumeum or Heracleum of the Antients ‡ ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The faculties of these floures are not yet sufficiently knowne Sith there is no vse of them in physicke we will leaue the rest that might be said to a further consideration notwithstanding some haue thought the common Blew-Bottle to be of temperature something cold and therefore good against the inflammation of the eyes as some thinke CHAP. 252. Of Goats Beard or Go to bed at noone ¶ The Description 1 GOats-beard or Go to bed at noone hoth hollow stalks smooth and of a whitish green colour whereupon do grow long leaues crested downe the middle with a swelling rib sharpe pointed yeelding a milky iuyce when it is broken in shape like those of Garlick from the bosome of which leaues thrust forth small render stalks set with the like leaues but lesser the floures grow at the top of the stalkes consisting of a number of purple leaues dasht ouer as it were with a little yellow dust set about with nine or ten sharpe pointed greene leaues the whole floure resembles a starre when it is spred abroad for it shutteth it selfe at twelue of the clocke and sheweth not his face open vntill the next dayes Sun doth make it floure anew whereupon it was called Go to bed at noon when these floures be come to their full maturitie and ripenesse they grow into a downy Blow-ball like those of Dandelion which is carried away with the winde The seed is long hauing at the end one piece of that downie matter hanging at it The root is long and single with some few threds thereto anexed which perisheth when it hath perfected his seed yeelding much quantitie of a milky 〈◊〉 when it is cut or broken as doth all the rest of the plant 2 The yellow Goats beard hath the like leaues stalkes root seed and downie blow-balls that the other hath and also yeeldeth the like quantitie of milke insomuch that if the pilling while it is greene be pulled from the stalkes the milky iuyce followeth but when it hath there remained a little while it waxeth yellow The floures hereof are of a gold yellow colour and haue not such long 〈◊〉 leaues to garnish it withall wherein consisteth the difference 1 Tragopogon purpureum Purple Goats-beard 2 Tragopogon 〈◊〉 Yellow Goats-beard 3 There is another small sort of Goats-beard or Go to bed at noone which hath a thicke root full of a milky sap from which rise vp many leaues spred vpon the ground very long narrow thin and like vnto those of grasse but thicker and grosser among which rise vp tender stalkes on the tops whereof do stand faire double yellow floures like the precedent but lesser The whole plant yeeldeth a milkie sap or iuyce as the others do it perisheth like as the other when it hath perfected his seed This may be called Tragopogon minus angustifolium Little narrow leaued Goats-beard ¶ The Place The first growes not wild in England that I could euer see or heare of except in Lancashire vpon the banks of the riuer Chalder neere to my Lady Heskiths house two miles from Whawley it is sowen in gardens for the beauty of the floures almost euery where The others grow in medows and fertil pastures in most places of England It growes plentifully in most of the fields about London as at Islington in the medowes by Redriffe 〈◊〉 and Putney and in diuers other places ¶ The Time They floure and flourish from the beginning of Iune to the end of August ¶ The Names Goats-beard is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Barbahirci and also Coma in high-Dutch Bocxbaert in low-Dutch Josephes 〈◊〉 in French Barbe de 〈◊〉 and Sassify in Italian Sassefrica in Spanish Barba Cabruna in English Goats 〈◊〉 Iosephs floure Star of Ierusalem Noone-tide and Go to bed at noone ¶ The Temperature These herbes are temperate betweene heate and moisture ¶ The Vertues The roots of Goats-beard boyled in wine and drunke asswageth the paine and pricking stitches of the sides The same boyled in water vntill they be tender and buttered as parseneps and carrots are a most pleasant and wholsome meate in delicate taste farre surpassing either Parsenep 〈◊〉 Carrot which meate procures appetite warmeth the stomacke preuaileth greatly in consumptions and strengthneth those that haue been sicke of a long lingring disease CHAP. 253. Of Vipers-Grasse 1 〈◊〉 siue Scorzonera Hispanica Common Vipers Grasse 2 Viperaria humilis Dwarfe Vipers Grasse 3 Viperaria Pannonica Austrian Vipers grasse ‡ 4 Viperaria angustifolia 〈◊〉 Hungary Vipers grasse 5 Viperaria Pannonica angustifolia Narrow leafed Vipers grasse ¶ The Description 1 THe first of the Viper grasses hath long broad leaues fat or ful bodied vneuen about the edges sharpe pointed with a high swolne ribbe downe the middle and of an ouerworne colour tending to the colour of Woade among which riseth vp a stiffe stalke smooth and plaine of two cubits high whereon do grow such leaues as those next the ground The flours stand on the top of the stalkes consisting of many small yellow leaues thicke thrust together very double as are those of Goates beard whereof it is a kinde as are all the rest that 〈◊〉 follow in this present chapter the root is long thicke very brittle continuing many yeeres yeelding great increase of roots blacke without white within and yeelding a milkie juice as 〈◊〉 the leaues also like vnto the
Goates beard 2 The dwarfe Vipers grasse differeth not from the precedent sauing that it is altogether lesser wherein especially consisteth the difference †3 The broad leafed Austrian Vipers-grasse hath broad leaues sharpe pointed vneuen about the edges of a blewish greene colour the stalke riseth vp to the height of a foot or better on the top whereof do stand faire yellow 〈◊〉 very double greater and broader than any of the rest of a resonable good smell The seed followeth long and sharpe like vnto those of Goates-beard The root is thicke long and full of a milkie juice as are the leaues also 4 The narrow leaued Hungary Vipers-grasse hath long leaues like to those of Goates-beard but longer and narrower among which riseth vp a slender hollow stalke stiffe and smooth on the top whereof do stand faire double floures of a faire blew colour tending to purple in shape like the other of his kinde of a pleasant sweet smell like the smell of sweet balls made of Benzoin The seed is conteined in small cups like those of Goates beard wrapped in a downie matter that is caried away with the winde The root is not so thicke nor long as the others very single bearded at the top with certain hairy thrums yeelding a milkie juice of a resinous taste and somewhat sharpe withall It endureth the winter euen as the others do ‡ 5 This whose figure was by our Authour put to the last description hath leaues like those of Goates-beard but stiffer and shorter amongst which there growes vp a short hollow stalke some handfull high set with a few short leaues bearing a yellow floure at the top almost like that of the last saue one but lesse the seed is conteined in such cups as the common Vipers-grasse and being ripe is caried away with the leastwinde The root is blacke with a wrinkled barke and full of milke hauing the head hairy as also the last described hath This by Clusius is called Scorsonera humilis angustifolia Pannonica ‡ ¶ The Place and Time Most of these are strangers in England The two first described do grow in my garden The rest are touched in their seuerall titles They floure and flourish from May to the end of Iuly ¶ The Names Vipers-grasse is called of the Spaniards Scorzonera which soundeth in Latine Viperaria or Viperina or Serpentaria so called because it is accounted to be of force and efficacy against the poisons of Vipers and serpents for Vipera or a viper is called in Spanish Scurzo it hath no name either in the high or low Dutch nor in any other more than hath been said that I can reade in English we may call it Scorzoner after the Spanish name or Vipers-grasse ¶ The Temperature They are hot and moist as are the Goates-beards ¶ The Vertues It is reported by those of great iudgement that Vipers-grasse is most excellent against the infections of the plague and all poisons of venomous beasts and especially to cure the bitings of vipers of which there be very many in Spaine and other hot countries yet haue I heard that they haue been seen in England if the juice or herbe be drunke It helpeth the infirmities of the heart and such as vse to swoune much it cureth also them that haue the falling sickenesse and such as are troubled with giddinesse in the head The root being eaten either rosted in embers sodden or raw doth make a man merry and remoueth all sorrow The root condited with sugar as are the roots of Eringos and such like worke the like effects but more familiarly being thus dressed CHAP. 254. Of Marigolds ¶ The Description 1 THe greatest double Marigold hath many large fat broad leaues springing immediately from a fibrous or threddy root the vpper sides of the leaues are of a deepe greene and the lower side of a more light and shining greene among which rise vp stalkes somewhat hairie and also somewhat jointed and full of a spungious pith The floures in the top are beautifull round very large and double something sweet with a certaine strong smell of a light saffron colour or like pure gold from the which follow a number of long crooked seeds especially the 〈◊〉 or those that stand about the edges of the floure which being sowne commonly bring forth single floures whereas contrariwise those seeds in the middle are lesser and for the most part bring forth such floures as that was from whence it was taken 2 The common double Marigold hath many 〈◊〉 thicke crumpled leaues set vpon a grosse and spungious stalke whereupon do grow faire double 〈◊〉 floures hauing for the most part in the middle a bunch of threddes thicke thrust together which being past there succeed such crooked seeds as the first described The root is thicke and hard with some threds annexed thereto 1. 2. Calendula maior polyanthos The greater double Marigold 4 Calendula multiflora 〈◊〉 Double globe Marigold 6 Calendula simplici 〈◊〉 Single Marigold 7 Calendula 〈◊〉 Fruitfull Marigold 3 The smaller or finer leafed double Marigold groweth vpright hauing for the most part one stem or fat spongeous stalke garnished with smooth and fat leaues confusedly The floures grow at the top of the small branches very double but lesser than the other consisting of more fine iaggednesse and of a faire yellow gold colour The root is like the precedent 4 The Globe-flouring Marigold hath many large broad leaues rising immediately forth of the ground among which riseth vp a stalke of the height of a cubit diuiding it selfe toward the top into other smaller branches set or garnished with the like leaues but confusedly or without order The floures grow at the top of the stalkes very double the small leaues whereof are set in comely order by certaine rankes or rowes as sundry lines are in a Globe trauersing the whole compasse of the same whereupon it tooke the name Orbiculata 5 The fifth sort of double Marigold differeth not from the last described sauing in the colour of the floures for this plant bringeth forth floures of a straw or light yellow colour and the others not so wherein consisteth the difference ‡ All these fiue here described and which formerly had so many figures differ nothing but in the bignesse and littlenesse of the plants and floures and in the intensenesse and remisnesse of their colour which is either orange yellow or of a straw colour ‡ 6 The Marigold with single floures differeth not from those with double floures but in that it consisteth of fewer leaues which we therefore terme Single in comparison of the rest and that maketh the difference 7 This fruitfull or much bearing Marigold is likewise called of the vulgar sort of women Iacke-an-apes on horsebacke it hath leaues stalkes and roots like the common sort of Marigold differing in the shape of his floures for this plant doth bring forth at the top of the stalke one floure like the other Marigolds from the which start forth
leafe and are not onely indented about the edges but each leafe is diuided into six or more 〈◊〉 or cuts deepely hacked greenish aboue and of an ouerworne 〈◊〉 colour 〈◊〉 hot in taste from the middle whereof shooteth forth a bar or naked stalke six inches long somewhat purple in colour bearing at the top a 〈◊〉 of small hollow floures looking or 〈◊〉 downewards like little bells not vnlike in forme to the common Cowslips but of a sine deepe red colour 〈◊〉 to purple hauing in the middle a certaine ring or circle of white and also certaine pointals or strings which turne into an head wherein is contained seed The whole plant is couered as it were with a rough woollinesse the root is fibrous and threddy ¶ The Place These plants are strangers in England their naturall countrey is the Alpish mountains of Heluetia they grow in my garden where they flourish exceedingly except Butterwort which groweth in our English squally wet grounds and will not yeeld to any culturing or transplanting it groweth especially in a field called Crag-Close and at Crosby Rauenswaith in Westmerland vpon Ingleborow fels twelue miles from Lancaster and in Harwood in the same countie neere to Blackburne ten miles from Preston in Aundernesse vpon the bogs and marish grounds and in the boggie medowes about Bishops Hatfield and also in the fens in the way to Wittles meare from London in Huntingdonshire ‡ It groweth also in Hampshire and aboundantly in many places of Wales ‡ ¶ The Time They floureand flourish from May to the end of Iuly ¶ The Names The first is called Sanicula guttata taken from the spots wherewith the floures are marked of Lobel Geum Alpinum 〈◊〉 it a kind of Auens in English spotted Sanicle of our London dames Pratling Parnell The second is called Pinguicula of the fatnesse or 〈◊〉 of the leafe or of fatning in Yorkeshire where it doth especially grow and in greatest aboundance it is called Butterworts Butter-root and whiteroot but the last name belongeth more properly to Solomons Seale ¶ The Temperature and Vertues They are hot and dry in the third degree The husbandmens wiues of Yorkshire do vse to anoint the dugs of their kine with the fat and oilous iuyce of the herbe Butterwort when they are bitten with any venomous worme or chapped rifted and hurt by any other meanes They say it rots their sheepe when for want of other food they eat 〈◊〉 CHAP. 277. Of Fox-Gloues ¶ The Description 1 FOx-gloue with the purple floure is most common the leaues whereof are long nicked in the edges of a light greene in manner like those of Mullein but lesser and not so downie the stalke is straight from the middle whereof to the top stand the floures set in a course one by another vpon one side of the stalke hanging downwards with the bottome vpward in forme long like almost to finger stalks whereof it tooke his name Digitalis of a red purple colour with certaine white spots dasht within the floure after which come vp round heads in which lies the seed somewhat browne and as small as that of Time The roots are many slender strings 2 The Fox-gloue with white floures differs not from the precedent but in the colour of the floures for as the others were purple these contrariwise are of a milke-white colour 3 We haue in our gardens another sort hereof which bringeth forth most pleasant yellow floures and somewhat lesse than the common kinde wherein they differ ‡ This also differs from the common kind in that the leaues are much smoother narrower and greener hauing the nerues or vrines running alongst it neither are the nerues snipt nor sinuated on their edges ‡ 4 We haue also another sort which we call Digitalis ferruginea whose floures are of the colour of rusty iron whereof it tooke his name and likewise maketh the difference ‡ Of this sort there is a bigger and a lesser the bigger hath the lower leaues some foot long of a darke green colour with veines running along them the stalks are some yard and halfe high the floures large 1 Digitalis purpurea 〈◊〉 Fox-gloues 2 〈◊〉 alba White Fox-gloues ‡ 3 Digitalis lutea Yellow Fox-gloues ‡ 4 Digitalis 〈◊〉 Dusky Fox-gloues 5 The lesser duskie Fox-gloue hath much lesse leaues and those narrow smooth and exceeding greene amongst which comes vp a stalke some foot high hauing small floures of the colour of the last described This I obserued the last yeare 1632 in floure with Mr. Iohn Tradescant in the middle of Iuly It may fitly be called Digitalis ferruginea minor Small duskie Fox-gloues ‡ ¶ The Place Fox-gloue groweth in barren sandie grounds and vnder hedges almost euery where Those with white floures do grow naturally in Landesdale and Crauen in a field called Cragge close in the North of England likewise by Colchester in Essex neere Excester in the West parts and in some few other places The other two are strangers in England 〈◊〉 thelesse they do grow with the others in my garden ¶ The Time They floure and flourish in Iune and Iuly ¶ The Names Fox-gloues some call in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and make it to be Verbasci speciem or a kinde of Mullein in Latine Digitalis in High Dutch 〈◊〉 and fingher 〈◊〉 in Low Dutch 〈◊〉 in French Gantes nostre dame in English Fox-gloues ‡ Fabius Columna thinks it to be that Ephemerum of Dioscorides described in his fourth booke and cap. 75. ‡ ¶ The Temperature The Fox-gloues in that they are bitter are hot and drie with a certaine kinde of clensing qualitie ioined therewith yet are they of no vse neither haue they any place amongst medicines according to the Antients ¶ The Vertues Fox-gloue boiled in water or wine and drunken doth cut and consume the thicke toughnesse of grosse and slimie flegme and naughtie humours it openeth also the stopping of the liuer spleene and milt and of other inward parts The same taken in like manner or boiled with honied water or sugar doth scoure and clense the brest ripeneth and bringeth forth tough and clammie flegme They serue for the same purposes whereunto Gentian doth tend and hath beene vsed in stead thereof as Galen saith ‡ Where or by what name Galen either mentions or 〈◊〉 this which our Authour cites him for I must confesse I am ignorant But I probably coniecture that our Authour would haue said Fuchsius for I onely finde him to haue these words set downe by our Authour in the end of his Chapter of Digitalis ‡ CHAP. 278. Of Baccharis out of Dioscorides ¶ The Description 1 ABout this plant Baccharis there hath beene great contention amongst the old and new writers Matthioius and Dodonaeus haue mistaken this plant for Conizamaior or Coniza Helenitis Cordi Virgil and Athenaeus haue confounded Baccharis and Azarum together but following the antient writers it hath many blackish rough leaues somewhat bigger than the leaues of Primrose amongst which riseth vp a stalke two
here placed the same for the reasons rendred in my Proeme The seed is blacke and groweth in round huskes the root is long and small thrusting it selfe far abroad and into the earth like the other Binde-weeds 2 Soldanella or mountaine Binde-weed hath many round leaues spred vpon the ground not much vnlike the former but rounder and more full of veines greener of a bitter taste like sea Binde-weed among which commeth forth a small and tender stalke a handfull high bearing at the top little floures like the small Bell-floure of a sky colour The root is small and threddy ‡ 3 Soldanella Alpina minor Small Mountaine Bindweed ‡ 3 There is of this kinde another hauing all the parts smaller and the leaues redder and rounder the floures also blew and composed of one leafe diuided into fiue parts and succeeded by a longish cod round and sharp pointed ‡ ¶ The Place The first grows plentifully by the Sea shore in most places of England especially neere to Lee in Essex at Mersey in the same countie in most places of the Isle of Thanet and Shepey and in many places along the Northern coast The second groweth vpon the mountains of Germanie and the Alpes it groweth vpon the mountains of VVales not far from Cowmers Meare in North-Wales ¶ The Time These herbes do floure in Iune and are gathered in August to be kept for medicine ¶ The Names The first called Soldanella is of the Apothecaries and the Antients called Marina Brassica that is to say Sea Co'ewoort but what reason hath moued them so to doe I cannot conceiue vnlesse it be penurie and scarsitie of names and because they know not otherwise how to terme it of this I am sure that this plant and Brassica are no more like than things which are most vnlike for Brassica Marina is the Sea Colewoort which doth much resemble the garden Cabbage or Cole both in shape and in nature as I haue in his due place expressed A great fault and ouersight therefore it hath been of the old writers and their successors which haue continued the custome of this error not taking the paines to distinguish a Binde-weed from a Cole-woort But to auoid controuersies the truth is as I haue before shewed that this Soldanella is a Bindeweed and cannot be esteemed for a Brassica that is a Colewoort The later Herbarists call it Soldana and Soldanella in Dutch Zeewind that is to say Convoluulus Marinus of Dioscorides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i Brassica Marina in English Sea VVithwinde Sea Bindweed Sea-bels Sea-coale of some Sea Fole-foot and Scottish Scuruie-grasse The second is called Soldanella montana in English Mountaine Bindweed ¶ The Nature Sea Bindeweed is hot and drie in the second degree the second is bitter and very astringent ¶ The Vertues Soldanella purgeth downe mightily all kinde of watrish humours and openeth the stoppings of the liuer and is giuen with great profit against the dropsie but it must be boiled with the broth of some fat meat or flesh and the broth drunke or else the herbe taken in pouder worketh the like effect Soldanella hurteth the stomack and troubleth the weake and delicate bodies which doe receiue it in pouder wherefore aduice must be taken to mix the said pouder with Annise seeds Cinnamon ginger and sugar which spices do correct his malignitie Practitioners about Auspurge and Rauispurge cities of Germanie do greatly boast that they haue done wonders with this herbe Soldanella montana saying that the leaues taken and emplaistred vpon the nauell and somewhat lower draw forth water from their bellies that are hydroptike that is troubled with water or the dropsie this effect it worketh in other parts without heating It doth also wonderfully bring flesh in wounds and healeth them Dioscorides witnesseth that the whole herbe is an enemie to the stomacke biting and extremely purging both sodden and taken with meat and bringeth troublesome gripings thereunto and doth oftentimes more hurt than good ‡ My friend Mr. Goodyer hath told me that in Hampshire at Chichester and 〈◊〉 they make vse of this for Scuruio-grasse and that not without great errour as any that know the qualities mayeasily perceiue CHAP. 308. Of the Grasse of Parnassus 1 Gramen Parnassi Grasse of Parnassus ‡ 2 Gramen Parnassi flore duplici Grasse of Parnassus with double floures ¶ The Description 1 THe Grasse of Parnassus hath small round leaues very much differing from any kind of Grasse much resembling the leaues of Iuie or Asarabacca but smaller and not of so darke a colour among these leaues spring vp small stalkes a foot high bearing little white floures consisting of fiue round pointed leaues which beeing falne and past there come vp round knops or heads wherein is contained a reddish seed The root is somewhat thicke with many strings annexed thereto 2 The second kinde of Gramen Parnassi doth answer the former in each respect sauing that the leaues are somewhat larger and the floures double otherwise verie like ¶ The Place The first groweth very plentifully in Lansdall and Crauen in the North parts of England at Doncaster and in Thornton fields in the same countrie moreouer in the Moore neere to Linton by Cambridge at Hesset also in Suffolke at a place named Drinkstone in the medow called Butchers mead ‡ Mr. Goodyer found it in the boggy ground below the red well of Wellingborough in Northampton shire and Mr. William Broad obserued it to grow plentifully in the Castle fields of Berwicke vpon Tweed ‡ The second is a stranger in England ¶ The Time These herbes do floure in the end of Iuly and their seed is ripe in the end of August ¶ The Names Valerius Cordus hath among many that haue written of these herbes said something of them to good purpose calling them by the name of Hepatica alba whereof without controuersie they are kindes in English white Liuerwoort although there is another plant called Hepatica alba which for distinction sake I haue thought good to English Noble white Liu erwoort The second may be called Noble white Liuerwoort with the double floure ¶ The Nature The seed of Parnassus Grasse or white Liuer-woort is drie and of subtill parts ¶ The Vertues The decoction of the leaues of Parnassus Grasse drunken doth drie and strengthen the feeble and moist stomacke stoppeth the bellie and taketh away the desire to vomite The same boiled in wine or water and drunken especially the seed thereof prouoketh vrine breaketh the stone and driueth it forth CHAP. 309. Of white Saxifrage or Golden Saxifrage ¶ The Description 1 THe white Saxifrage hath round leaues spred vpon the ground and somewhat iagged about the edges not much vnlike the leaues of ground Iuie but softer and smaller and of a more faint yellowish greene among which riseth vp a round hairie stalke a cubit high bearing at the top small white floures almost like Stockgillofloures the root is compact of a number of blacke strings whereunto are fastened very
on the hils of Lincolnshire and in Somersetshire by the house of a gentleman called Mr. Hales vpon a Fox-borough also not far from Mr. Bamfields neere to a towne called Hardington The first two kindes do grow in my garden where they prosper well ‡ I cannot learne that this growes wilde in England ‡ ¶ The Time Sow-bread floureth in September when the plant is without leafe which doth afterwards spring vp continuing greene all the Winter couering and keeping warme the seede vntill Midsommer next at what time the seed is ripe as aforesaid The third floureth in the spring for which cause it was called Cyclamen 〈◊〉 and so doth also the fourth ¶ The Names Sow bread is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Tuber terrae and Terrae rapum of Marcellus Orbicularis of Apuleius Palalia Rapum Porcinum and Terrae malum in shops Cyclamen Panis porcinus and Arthanita in Italian Pan Porcino in Spanish Mazan de Puerco in High Dutch Schweinbrot in Low Dutch Uetckins broot in French Pain de Porceau in English Sow-bread Pliny calleth the colour of this floure in Latine Colossinus color in English Murrey colour ¶ The Nature Sow-bread is hot and drie in the third degree ¶ The Vertues The root of Sow-bread dried into pouder and taken inwardly in the quantitie of a dram and a halfe with mead or honied water purgeth downeward tough and grosse flegme and other sharpe humours The same taken in wine as aforesaid is very profitable against all poison and the bitings of venomous beasts and to be outwardly applied to the hurt place The pouder taken as aforesaid cureth the iaundise and the stoppings of the liuer taketh away the yellow colour of the bodie if the patient after the taking hereof be caused to sweat The leaues stamped with honie and the iuice put into the eies cleereth the sight taketh away al spots and webs pearle or haw and all impediments of the sight and is put into that excellent ointment called Vnguentum Arthanitae The root hanged about women in their extreame trauell with childe causeth them to be deliuered incontinent and taketh away much of their paine The leaues put into the place hath the like effect as my wife hath prooued sundrie times vpon diuers women by my aduise and commandement with good successe The iuice of Sow-bread doth open the Hemorrhoids and causeth them to flow beeing applied with wooll or flocks It is mixed with medicines that consume or waste away knots the Kings euill and other 〈◊〉 swellings moreouer it clenseth the head by the nostrils it purgeth the belly being annointed therwith and killeth the childe It is a strong medicine to destroy the birth being put vp as a pessarie It scoureth the skin and taketh away Sun-burning and all blemishes of the face pilling of the haire and marks also that remaine after the small pocks and mesels and giuen in wine to drinke it maketh a man drunke The decoction thereof serueth as a good and effectuall bath for members out of ioint the gout aud kibed heeles The root being made hollow and filled with oile closed with a little wax and rosted in the hot embers maketh an excellent ointment for the griefes last rehearsed Being beaten and made vp into trochisches or little flat cakes it is reported to be a good amorous medicine to make one in loue if it be inwardly taken ¶ The Danger It is not good for women with childe to touch or take this herbe or to come neere vnto it or stride ouer the same where it groweth for the naturall attractiue vertue therein contained is such that without controuersie they that attempt it in maner abouesaid shall be deliuered before their time which danger and inconuenience to auoid I haue about the place where it groweth in my garden fastened sticks in the ground and some other stickes I haue fastened also crosse-waies ouer them lest any woman should by lamentable experiment finde my words to bee true by their stepping ouer the same ‡ I iudge our Author something too womanish in this that is led more by vain opinion than by any reason or experience to confirme this his assertion which frequent experience shews to be vaine and friuolous especially for the touching striding ouer or comming neere to this herbe ‡ CHAP. 311. Of Birthwoorts ¶ The Kindes BIrthwoort as Dioscorides writeth is of three sorts long round and winding Plinie hath added a fourth kinde called Pistolochia or little Birthwoort The later writers haue ioined vnto them a fifth named Saracens Birthwoort 1 Aristolochia longa Long Birthwoort 2 Aristolochiarotunda Round Birthwoort ¶ The Description 1 LOng Birthwoort hath many small long slender stalkes creeping vpon the ground tangling one with another very intricately beset with round leaues not much vnlike Sowbread or Iuie but larger of a light or ouerworne greene colour and of a grieuous or lothsome smell and sauour among which come forth long hollow floures not much vnlike the floures of Aron but without any pestell or clapper in the same of a dark purple colour after which do follow small fruit like vnto little peares containing triangled seeds of a blackish colour The root is long thicke of the colour of box of a strong sauour and bitter taste 2 The round Birthwoort in stalkes and leaues is like the first but his leaues are rounder the floures differ onely in this that they be somewhat longer and narrower and of a faint yellowish colour but the small flap or point of the floure that turneth backe againe is of a darke or blacke purple colour The fruit is formed like a peare sharpe toward the top more ribbed and fuller than the former the root is round like vnto Sow-bread in taste and sauour like the former 3 Aristolochia clematitis Climing Birthwoort ‡ 4 Aristolochia Saracenica Saracens Birthwoort ‡ 5 Pistolochia Small Birthwoort 3 Climing Birthwoort taketh hold of any thing that is next vnto it with his long and clasping stalks which be oftentimes branched and windeth it selfe like Bindweed the stalks of the leaues are longer whose leaues be smooth broad sharpe pointed as be those of the others the floures likewise hollow long yellow or of a blackish purple colour the fruit differeth not from that of the others but the roots be slender and very long sometimes creeping on the top of the earth and sometimes growing deeper being of like colour with the former ones 4 There is a fourth kinde of Birthwoort resembling the rest in leaues and branched stalkes yet higher and longer than either the long or the round the leaues thereof be greater than those of Asarabacca the floures hollow long and in one side hanging ouer of a yellowish colour the fruit is long and round like a peare in which the seeds lie seuered of forme three square of an ill fauored blackish colour the root is somewhat long oftentimes of a mean thicknesse yellow like to the colour of Box not inferior in bitternesse either
Vine but tenderer and for the length and great spreading therof it is very fit to make shadows in arbors the leaues are smooth like Iuie but somewhat bigger and being broken are full of milke amongst which come forth great white and hollow floures like bells The seed is three cornered growing in small huskes couered with a thin skin The root is small white and long like the great Dogs grasse 2 Smilax 〈◊〉 minor is much like vnto the former in stalkes leaues floures seed and roots sauing that in all respects it is much smaller and creepeth vpon the ground The branches are small and smooth the little leaues tender and soft the floures like vnto little bells of a purple colour the seed three cornered like vnto the others 3 Convolvulus minimus spicae-folius Lauander leafed Binde-weed 4 Convolvulus argenteus 〈◊〉 Siluer leafed Binde-weed 3 This Bindweed Pena saith he neuer saw but in the brinks of quicke-sets and Oliuets in Prouence Sauoy and Narbone notwithstanding I found it growing in the corne fields about great Dunmow in Essex in such abundance that it doth much hurt vnto their corne This kind of Bindweed or Volubilis is like vnto the small Bindweed before mentioned but it hath a finer floure plaited or folded in the compasse of the bell very orderly especially before the Sun rise for after it opens it selfe the welts are not so much perceiued and it is of a darke purple colour the seed is not vnlike the rest cornered and flat growing out of slender branches which stand vpright and thicke together proceeding out of a wooddy white root The leaues are long and narrow resembling Linaria both in colour and hairinesse in taste drying and somewhat heating 5 Volubilis nigra Blacke Bindweed ‡ 4 The stalkes and branches of this are some cubite long slender weake and hairy so that they lie vpon the ground if they haue nothing to sustaine them vpon these without any order grow leaues shaped like those of luy or the marsh Mallow but lesse and couered ouer with a siluer-like downe or hairinesse and diuided somewhat deep on the edges sometimes also curled and otherwhiles onely snipt about The floure growes vpon long stalkes like as in other plants of this kinde and consists of one folding lease like as that of the last mentioned and it is either of a whitish purple or else absolute purple colour The root is small and creeping It growes in many places of Spaine and there floures in March and Aprill Clusius calls this Convoluulus Altheae folio and saith that the Portugals name it Verdezilla and commend it as a thing most effectuall to heale wounds Our Authour gaue the figure hereof how fitly let the Reader iudge by the name of Papauer cornutum luteum minus making it a horned Poppy as you may see in the former Edition Pag. 294. ‡ †5 This kinde of Bindweed hath a 〈◊〉 root full of threddie strings from which rise vp immediatly diuers trailing branches wherupon grow leaues like the common field Bindweed or like those of Orach of a black green colour whereof it tooke his name the floures are smal and like those of Orach the seed is black three square like but lesse than that of Buck-wheat The whole plant is not onely a hurtfull weed but of an euill smell also and too frequently found amongst corne Dodonaeus calls this Convolvulum 〈◊〉 and Helxine Cissampelos Tabernamontanus Volubilis nigra and Lobel Helxine Cissampelos altera Atriplicis effigie ¶ The Place All these kindes of Bindweeds do grow very plentifully in most parts of England ‡ The third and fourth excepted ‡ ¶ The Time They do floure from May to the end of August ¶ The Names The great Bindweed is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Smilax Laeuis of Galen and Paulus Aegineta 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is surnamed Laeuis or smooth because the stalkes and branches thereof haue no prickles at all Dolichus called also Smilax hortensis or Kidney beane doth differ from this and likewise Smilax the tree which the Latines call Taxus in English the Yew tree The later Herbarists do call this Bindweed Volubilis maior Campanella Funis arborum Convoluulus albus and Smilax laeuis maior in like manner Pliny in his 21. booke 5. chapt doth also name it Conuoluulus It is thought to be Ligustrum not the shrub priuet but that which Martial in his first booke of Epigrams speaketh of writing against Procillus The small Bindweed is called Convoluulus minor and Smilax laeuis minor Volubilis minor in high Dutch Windkraut in Low Dutch Wrange in French Liseron in Italian Vilucchio in Spanish Campanilla Yerua in English Withwinde Bindeweed and Hedge-bels ¶ The Nature These herbs are of an hot and dry temperature ¶ The Vertues The leaues of blacke Bindweed called Helxine Cissampelos stamped and strained and the iuice drunken doth loose and open the bellie exceedingly The leaues pound and laid to the grieued place dissolueth wasteth and consumeth hard lumps and swellings as Galen saith The rest of the Bindweeds are not fit for medicine but vnprofitable weeds and hurtfull vnto each thing that groweth next vnto them CHAP. 318. Of Blew Bindweed ¶ The Description 1 BLew Bindweed bringeth forth long tender and winding branches by which it climeth vpon things that stand neere vnto it and foldeth it selfe about them with many turnings and windings wrapping it selfe against the Sun contrary to all other things whatsoeuer that with their clasping tendrels do embrace things that stand neere vnto them whereupon doe grow broad cornered leaues very like vnto those of Iuie something rough and hairy of an ouerworne russet greene colour among which come forth most pleasant floures bell fashion somthing cornered as are those of the common Bindweed of a most shining azure colour tending to purple which being past there succeed round knobbed seed vessels wherein is contained long blackish seed of the bignesse of a Tare and like vnto those of the great hedge Bindweed The root is threddy and perisheth at the first approchof Winter 1 Convolvulus Caeruleus Blew Binde-weed ‡ 2 Convolvulus caeruleus folio rotundo Round leaued blew Bindweed ‡ 2 There are also kept in our gardens two other blew floured Bindweeds The one a large and great plant the other a lesser The great sends vp many large and long winding branches like those of the last described and a little hairie the leaues are large and roundish ending in a sharpe point the floures are as large as those of the great Bindweed and in shape like them but blew of colour with fiue broad purplish veines equally distant each from other and these floures commonly grow three neere together vpon three seuerall stalks some inch long fastened to another ‡ 3 Convolvulus caeruleus minor folio oblongo Small blew Bindweed 3 This small blew Bindweed sendeth forth diuers long slender creeping hairie branches lying flat vpon the ground vnlesse there be something for
the edges the floure resembles a crosse with foure sharpe pointed rough leaues of a whitish blew colour which containe diuers small loose little leaues in their middles The root is long and lasting It growes vpon the rocky places of mount Baldus in Italy where Pona found it and he calls it Clemat is cruciata Alpina ‡ ‡ 6 Clematis cruciata Alpina Virgins Bower of the Alps. ¶ The Place These plants do not grow wilde in England that I can as yet learne notwithstanding I haue them all in my garden where they flourish exceedingly ¶ The Time These plants do floure from August to the end of September ¶ The Names There is not much more found of their names than is expressed in their seuerall titles notwithstanding there hath beene somewhat said as I thinke by hearesay but nothing of certaintie wherefore let that which is set downe suffice We may in English call the first Biting Clematis or white Clematis Biting Peruinkle or purging Peruinkle Ladies Bower and Virgins Bower ¶ The Temperature The leafe hereof is biting and doth mightily blister being as Galen saith of a causticke or burning qualitie it is hot in the beginning of the fourth degree ¶ The Vertues Dioscorides writeth that the leaues being applied do heale the scurfe and lepry and that the seed beaten and the pouder drunke with faire water or with mead purgeth flegme and choler by the stoole CHAP. 328. Of Wood-binde or Hony-suckle The Kindes THere be diuers sorts of Wood-bindes some of them shrubs with winding stalks that wrappe themselues vnto such things as are neere about them Likewise there be other sorts or kindes found out by the later Herbarists that clime not at all but stand vpright the which shall bee set forth among the shrubbie plants And first of the common Woodbinde ¶ The Description 1 WOodbinde or Honisuckle climeth vp aloft hauing long slender wooddie stalkes parted into diuers branches about which stand by certaine distances smooth leaues set together by couples one right against another of a light greene colour aboue vnderneath of a whitish greene The floures shew themselues in the topps of the branches many in number long white sweet of smell hollow within in one part standing more out with certaine threddes growing out of the middle The fruit is like to little bunches of grapes red when they be ripe wherein is contained small hard seed The root is wooddie and not without strings 2 This strange kind of Woodbind hath leaues stalks and roots like vnto the common Woodbinde or Honisuckle sauing that neere vnto the place where the floures come forth the stalkes 〈◊〉 grow through the leaues like vnto the herbe Thorow-wax called Perfoliata which leaues do resemble little saucers out of which broad round leaues proceed faire beautifull and well smelling floures shining with a whitish purple colour and somewhat dasht with yellow by little and little stretched out like the nose of an Elephant garnished within with small yellow chiues or threddes and when the floures are in their flourishing the leaues and floures do resemble saucers filled with the floures of Woodbinde many times it falleth out that there is to be found three or foure saucers one aboue another filled with floures as the 〈◊〉 which hath caused it to be called double Hony-suckle or Woodbinde 1 Periclymenum Woodbinde or Honisuckles 2 Periclymenum perfoliatum Italian Woodbinde ¶ The Place The VVoodbinde groweth in woods and hedges and vpon shrubbes and bushes oftentimes winding it selfe so straight and hard about that it leaueth his print vpon those things so wrapped The double Honisuckle 〈◊〉 now in my garden and many others likewise in great plenty although not long since very rare and hard to be found except in the garden of some diligent Herbarists ¶ The Time The leaues come forth betimes in the spring the floures bud forth in May and Iune the fruit is ripe in Autumne ¶ The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Volucrum maius of Scribonius Largus Syluaemater in shops Caprifolium and Matrisylua of some Lilium inter spinas in Italian vincibosco in High Dutch Geysbladt in Low Dutch Gheytenbladt and Mammekens Cruit in French Cheurefueille in Spanish 〈◊〉 in English VVoodbinde Honisuckle and Caprifoly ¶ The Temperature There hath an errour in times past growne amongst a few and now almost past recouerie to bee called againe being growne an errour vniuersall which errour is how the decoction of the leaues of Honisuckles or the distilled water of the floures are rashly giuen for the inflammations of the mouth and 〈◊〉 as though they were binding and cooling But contrariwise Honisuckle is neither cold nor binding but hot and attenuating or making thinne For as Galen saith both the fruit of VVoodbinde and also the leaues do so much attenuate and heat as 〈◊〉 somewhat too much of them be drunke they will cause the vrine to be as red as bloud yet do they at the first onely prouoke vrine ¶ The Vertues Dioscorides writeth that the ripe seed gathered and dried in the shadow and drunke vnto the quantitie of one dram weight fortie daies together doth waste and consume away the 〈◊〉 of the spleene remoueth wearisomnesse helpeth the 〈◊〉 and difficultie of breathing cureth the hicket procureth bloudie vrine after the sixt day and causeth women to haue speedie trauell in childe bearing The leaues be of the same force which being drunk thirty daies together are reported to make men barren and destroy their naturall seed The floures steeped in oile and set in the Sun is good to annoint the bodie that is benummed and growne verie cold The distilled water of the floures are giuen to be drunke with good successe against the pissing of bloud A syrrup made of the floures is good to be drunke against the diseases of the lungs and spleene that is stopped being drunke with a little wine Notwithstanding the words of Galen or rather of 〈◊〉 it is certainely found by experience that the water of Honisuckles is good against the sorenesse of the throte and uvula and with the same leaues boiled or the leaues and floures distilled are made diuers good medicines against cankers and sore mouths as well in children as elder people and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vlcerations and 〈◊〉 in the priuie parts of man or woman if there be added to the decoction hereof some allome or Verdigreace if the sore require greater clensing outwardly 〈◊〉 alwaies that there be no Verdigreace put into the water that must be iniected into the secret parts CHAP. 329. Of Jasmine or Gelsemine 1 Iasminum album VVhite Gessemine 2 Iasminum Candiflorum maius Great white Gessemine ¶ The Description 3 Iasminum luteum Yellow Iasmine 2 Lobel reporteth that he saw in a garden at Bruxels belonging to a reuerend person called Mr. Iohn Boisot a kinde of 〈◊〉 very much differing from our Iasmine which he nourished in an earthen pot it grew not aboue saith he to the height of a cubit
and Vertues There is a certaine clammie iuice in the leaues of the Venice Mallow whereupon it is thought to come neere vnto the temperature of the common Mallow and to be of a mollifying facultie but his vse in Physicke is not yet knowne and therefore can there be no certaintie affirmed CHAP. 356. Of Cranes-bill ¶ The Kindes THere be many kindes of Cranes-bil whereof two were known to Dioscorides one with the knobby root the other with the Mallow leafe Geranium Columbinum Doues foot or Cranes-bill ¶ The Description DOues-foot hath many hairy stalks trailing or leaning toward the ground of a brownish color somewhat kneed or iointed wherupon do grow rough leaues of an ouerworne green colour round cut about the edges and like vnto those of the common Mallow amongst which come forth the floures of a bright purple color after which is the seed set together like the head and bil of a bird wherupon it was called Cranes-bill or Storks-bill as are also all the other of his kinde The root is slender with some fibres annexed thereto ‡ 2 There is another kinde of this with larger stalkes and leaues also the leaues are more deeply cut in and diuided and the floures are either of the same colour as those of the common kinde or else somewhat more whitish This may be called 〈◊〉 columbinum maius 〈◊〉 foliis Great Doues foot 3 To this kinde may also fitly be referred the Geranium Saxatile of 〈◊〉 the root is smal and threddy the leaues are smoother redder more bluntly cut about the edges and transparent than those of the first described yet round and otherwise like them the floures are small and red and the bills like those of the former Master Goodyer found it growing plentifully on the bankes by the high way leading from Gilford towards London neere vnto the Townes end ‡ ¶ The Place It is found neere to common high waies desart places vntilled grounds and specially vpon mud walls almost euery where ¶ The Time It springeth vp in March and Aprill floureth in May and bringeth his seede to ripenesse in Iune ¶ The Names It is commonly called in Latine Pes Columbinus in High Dutch Scarter kraut in Low Dutch Duyuen voet in French Pied de Pigeon hereupon it may be called Geranium Columbinum in English Doues-foot and Pigeons-foot of Dioscorides Geranium alterum of some Pulmonia and Gruina ¶ The Temperature Doues foot is cold and somewhat drie with some astriction or binding hauing power to soder or ioine together ¶ The Vertues It seemeth saith my Author to be good for greene and bleeding wounds and asswageth inflammations or hot swellings The herbe and roots dried beaten into most fine pouder and giuen halfe a spoonfull fasting and the like quantitie to bedwards in red wine or old claret for the space of one and twentie daies together cureth miraculously ruptures or burstings as my selfe 〈◊〉 often prooued whereby I haue gotten crownes and credit if the ruptures be in aged persons it shall be needfull to adde thereto the powder of red snailes those whithout shels dried in an ouen in number nine which fortisi the herbs in such sort that it neuer faileth although the rupture be great and of long continuance it likewise profiteth much those that are wounded into the body and the decoction of the herbe made in wine preuaileth mightily in healing inward wounds as my selfe haue likewise proued CHAP. 357. Of Herbe Robert Geranium Robertianum Herbe Robert ¶ The Description HErbe Robert bringeth forth slender weake and brittle stalks somewhat hairie and of a reddish colour as are oftentimes the leaues also which are iagged and deepely cut like vnto those of Cheruile of a most loathsome stinking smell The floures are of a most bright purple colour which being past there 〈◊〉 certaine smal heads with sharpe beaks or bils like those of birds the root is small and threddie ¶ The Place Herbe Robert groweth vpon old walls as wel those made of bricke and stone as those of mud or earth it groweth likewise among rubbish in the bodies of trees that are cut downe and in moist and shadowie ditch banks ¶ The Time It floureth from Aprill till Sommer be almost spent the herbe is green in winter also and is hardly hurt with cold ¶ The Names It is called in high Dutch Ruprechts kraut in low Dutch Robrechts kruit and thereupon it is named in Latine Ruberta and Roberti herba Ruellius calleth it Robertiana and we Robertianum of Tabernamontanus Rupertianum in English Herbe Robert Hee that conferreth this Cranes bill with Dioscorides his third Sideritis shall plainely perceiue that they are both one and that this is most apparently Sideritis 3. Dioscoridis for Dioscorides setteth downe three Sideritides one with the leafe of Horehound the next with the leafe of Fearne and the third groweth in walls and Vineyards the natiue soile of Herbe Robert agree thereunto and likewise the leaues being like vnto Cheruile and not vnlike to those of Corianders according to Dioscorides description ¶ The Temperature Herbe Robert is of temperature somewhat cold and yet both scouring and somewhat binding participating of mixt faculties ¶ The Vertues It is good for wounds and vlcers of the dugs secret parts it is thought to stanch bloud which thing Dioscorides doth attribute to his third Sideritis the vertue of this saith he is applied to heale vp bloudy wounds CHAP. 358. Of knobbed Cranes-bill Geranium tuberosum Knobbie Cranes-bill ¶ The Description THis kinde of Cranes-bill hath many flexible branches weake and tender fat and full of moisture wheron are placed very great leaues cut into diuers small sections or diuisions resembling the leaues of the tuberous Anemone or Wind-floure but somewhat greater of an ouerworn greenish colour among which come forth long foot-stalks whereon do grow faire floures of a bright purple colour and like vnto the smallest brier Rose in forme which being past there succeed such heads and beaks as the rest of the Cranes-bill haue the root is thick bumped or knobbed which we call tuberous ¶ The Place This kinde of Cranes-bill is a stranger in England notwithstanding I haue it growing in my garden ¶ The Time The time answereth the rest of the Cranes-bills ¶ The Names Cranes bill is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Gruinalis commonly Roftrum Gruis or Rostrum Ciconiae of the likenesse of a Cranes-bill or storkes-bill of some Acus moscata but that name doth rather belong to another of this kind it is also called Acus Pastoris in Italian Rostro di grua in French Bec de Grue in Spanish Pico di 〈◊〉 pico del grou in High Dutch Storckenschuable in Low Dutch Oiieuoers beck in English Storks-bill Cranes-bill Herons-bill and Pincke-needle this is also called for distinctions sake Geranium tuberosum and Geranium bulbosum it is likewise Geranium primum Dioscoridis or Dioscorides his first Cranes-bill ¶ The Temperature The roots of this Cranes-bill haue
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
them all notwithstanding it approcheth neerest vnto the Cinkefoiles hauing stalkes a foot high whereupon grow leaues diuided into fiue parts and jagged round about the edges like the teeth of a saw hauing the pale yellow floures of Pentaphyllum or Tormentilla within which are little mossie or downy threddes of the colour of saffron but lesser than the common Auens 8 The eighth kinde of Cinkefoile according to the opinion of diuers learned men who haue had the view thereof and haue iudged it to be the true Leucas of Dioscorides agreeable to Dioscorides his description is all hoary whereupon it tooke the addition Incanum The stalkes are thicke wooddy and somewhat red wrinckled also and of a browne colour which rise vnequall from the root spreading themselues into many branches shadowing the place where it groweth beset with thicke and notched leaues like Scordium or water Germander which according to the iudgment of the learned is thought to be of no lesse force against poison than Pentaphyllon or Tormentilla being of an astringent and drying quality Hereupon it may be that some trying the force hereof haue yeelded it vp for Leucas Dioscoridis This rare plant I neuer found growing naturally but 〈◊〉 the hollownesse of the peakish mountaines and dry grauelly vallies ‡ 11 Quinquefolium syluaticum minus flo albo Small white floured wood Cinkefoile ‡ 12 Quinquefolium minus flo aureo Small golden floured Cinkefoile ‡ 9 This hath the like creeping purple branches as the last described the leaues are narrower more hairy and deeper cut in the floures are also of a 〈◊〉 golden colour in other respects they are alike ‡ 10 The wood Cinkefoile hath many leaues spred vpon the ground consisting of fiue parts among which rise vp other leaues set vpon very tall foot-stalkes and long in respect of those that did grow by the ground and somewhat snipt about the ends and not all alongst the edges The floures grow vpon slender stalkes consisting of fiue white leaues The root is thicke with diuers sibres comming from it ‡ 13 Pentaphyllum fragiferum Strawberry Cinkfoile 12 This from a blacke and fibrous root sends forth creeping branches set with leaues like the common Cinkfoile but lesse somewhat hoary and shining the stalks are some handfull high and on their tops carry large floures in respect of the smalnesse of the plant and these of a faire golden colour with saffron coloured threds in their middle the seedes grow after the manner of other Cinkfoiles this floures in Iune and it is Clusius his Quinquefolium 3. aureo flore ‡ 13 There is one of the mountain Cinkfoiles that hath diuers slender brittle stalks rising immediatly out of the ground whereupon are set by equall distances certain iagged leaues not vnlike to the smallest leaues of Auens the floures are white and grow at the top hauing in them threds yellow of colour and like to the other Cinkfoiles but altogether lesser The root is thicke tough and of a wooddie substance ‡ The seedes grow clustering together like little Strawberries whence Clusius calls it Quinquefolium fragiferum ‡ ¶ The Place They grow in low and moist medowes vpon banks and by high waies sides the second is onely to be found in gardens The third groweth in the woods of Sauena and Narbon but not in England The fourth groweth in a marsh ground adioining to the land called Bourne ponds halfe a mile from Colchester from whence I brought some plants for my garden where they flourish and prosper well The fifth groweth vpon Beestone castle in Cheshire the sixth vpon bricke and stone wals about London especially vpon the bricke wall in Liuer-lane The place of the seuenth and eight is set forth in their descriptions ¶ The Time These plants do floure from the beginning of May to the end of Iune ¶ The Names Cinkfoile is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Quinquefolium the Apothecaries vse the Greek name Pentaphyllon and sometime the Latine name There be very many bastard names wherewith I will not trouble your eares in High Dutch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Low Dutch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Italian Cinquefoglio in French Quinte fueille in Spanish Cinco en rama in English Cinkfoile Fiue finger Grasse Fiue leaued grasse and Sinkfield ¶ The Temperature The roots of Cinkfoile especially of the first do vehemently drie and that in the third degree but without biting for they haue very little apparant heat or sharpnesse ¶ The Vertues The decoction of the roots of Cinkfoile drunke cureth the bloudy flixe and all other fluxes of the belly and stancheth all excessiue bleeding The iuice of the roots while they be yong and tender is giuen to be drunke against the diseases of the liuer and lungs and all poison The same drunke in Mead or honied water or wine wherein some pepper hath been mingled cureth the tertian or quartaine feuers and being drunken after the same manner for thirty daies together it helpeth the falling sicknesse The leaues vsed among herbes appropriate for the same purpose cureth ruptures and burstings of the rim and guts falling into the cods The iuice of the leaues drunken doth cure the Iaundice and 〈◊〉 the stomacke and liuer The decoction of the roots held in the mouth doth mitigate the paine of the teeth staieth putrifaction and all putrified vlcers of the mouth helpeth the inflammations of the almonds throat and the parts adioining it staieth the laske and helpeth the bloudy flix The root boiled in vineger is good against the shingles appeaseth the rage of fretting sores and cankerous vlcers It is reported that foure branches hereof cureth quartaine agues three tertians and one branch quotidians which things are most vaine and sriuolous as likewise many other such like which are not onely found in Dioscorides but also in other Authors which we willingly withstand Ortolpho Morolto a learned Physition commended the leaues being boiled with water and some Lignum vitae added therto against the falling sicknesse if the patient be caused to sweat vpon the taking thereof He likewise commendeth the extraction of the roots against the bloudy flix CHAP. 383. Of Setfoile or Tormentill Tormentilla Setfoile ¶ The Description THis herbe Tormentill or Setfoile is one of the Cinkfoiles it brings forth many stalks slender weake scarse able to lift it selfe vp but rather lieth downe vpon the ground the leaues be lesser than Cinkefoile but moe in number somtimes fiue but commonly seuen whereupon it tooke his name Setfoile which is seuen leaues and those somewhat snipt about the edges the floures grow on the toppes of slender stalkes of a yellow colour like those of the Cinkfoiles The root is blacke without reddish within thicke tuberous or knobbie ¶ The Place This plant loueth woods and shadowie places and is likewise found in pastures lying open to the Sun almost euery where ¶ The Names 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 May vnto the end of 〈◊〉 ¶ The Names It is called of the later Herbarists Tormentilla some
herbe described growes on the hills which diuide Silesia from Morauia called in times past the counntrey of the Marcomans also it is said to be found on other mountaines and hills in the North parts of England ¶ The Names The Grecians doe name it of the mountaines 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which the Latines also for that cause doe call Apium Montanum and Montapium in English mountaine Parsley in Latine Apium but Dioscorides maketh Petroselinum or stone Parsley to differ from mountaine Parsley for saith he we must not be deceiued taking mountaine Parsley to be that which groweth on 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rocke Parsley is another plant of some it is called 〈◊〉 in Latine 〈◊〉 in English much good for it is so named because it is good and profitable 〈◊〉 many things and this is not altogether vnproperly termed Orcoselinum or mountaine Parsley for it groweth as we haue said on mountaines and is not vnlike to stone Parsley the seed is not like to that of Cumin 〈◊〉 if it were so who would deny it to be Oreoselinum or Dioscorides his mountaine Parsley ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Oreoselinum or mountaine Parsley is as Galen saith like in faculty vnto Smallage but more effectuall Dioscorides writeth that the seed and root being drunke in wine prouoke vrine 〈◊〉 downe the menses and that they are mixed with counterpoisons diureticke medicines and medicines that are hot The root of 〈◊〉 or much good is also hot and dry and that in the later end of the second degree it maketh thin it cutteth openeth prouoketh breaketh the stone and expelleth it 〈◊〉 the stoppings of the liuer and spleene and cureth the yellow jaundise being chewed it helpeth the tooth-ach and bringeth much water out of the mouth CHAP. 399. Of stone Parsley of Macedonie 1 Petroselinum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bastard stone Parsley 2 Petroselinum Macedonicum 〈◊〉 The true Parsley of Macedonia ¶ The Description OF stone Parsley very little is written of the old writers Dioscorides onely saith that this hath seed like to that of Ameos but of a more pleasant smell sharpe aromaticall or spiced touching the forme of the leaues the colour of the floures and fashion of the 〈◊〉 he writeth nothing at all and Pliny is more briefe as for Theophrastus he doth not so much as name it making mention onely of Parsley Alexander Smallage and mountaine Parsley 1 For stone Parsley Leonhartus Fuchsius hath set down a plant hauing leaues not 〈◊〉 and cut after the manner of garden Parsley but long and snipped round about made vp and fastened to a 〈◊〉 or stem in the midst something like but yet not altogether to the first leaues of the lesser Saxifrage the stalke is slender and a cubit and a halfe high the floures on the spokie tufts are white the seed something blacke like to that of Ameos and garden Parsley very sweet of smell something sharpe or biting the root is slender and full of strings 2 Lobel also in stead of the right stone Parsley describeth another which the Venetians call stone Parsley of Macedonia this hath leaues like those of garden Parsley or rather of the Venetian Saxifrage which is the blacke herbe Frankincense formerly described the stalke is a cubit high the spokie tufts something white the seed small quickely vading as he saith inferiour to that of garden Parsley in temperature and vertues but whether this be the true and right stone Parsley he addeth he is ignorant ¶ The Place It groweth on craggy rocks and among stones but the best in Macedonia whereupon it beareth the surname Macedonicum of Macedonia ¶ The Time It floureth in the sommer moneths ¶ The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the stony places where it groweth in Latine Petrapium and Petroselinum Macedonicum in English stone Parsley the Apothecaries know it not they are farre deceiued that would haue the herbe which Fuchsius pictureth to be Amomum for Amomum differeth from this as it is very plaine by the description thereof in Dioscorides but we hold this for the true stone Parsley till such time as we may learne some other more like in leaues to the Parslies and in seed such as that of stone Parsley ought to be and the very seed it selfe may cause vs to hold this opinion being so agreeing to the description as no herbe more for it is sharpe and biting and of a sweeter smell than is that of Ameos and of a more spicy sent yet do not the leaues gainesay it which though they haue not the perfect forme of other Parsleyes yet notwithstanding are not altogether vnlike ‡ The first of these is thought by Anguillara Turner Gesner Cordus and others to be the Sison of Dioscorides and Tragus calls it Amomum Germanicum and the seeds in shops retaine the name of Sem. Amomi The second is thought by Columna to be the second Daucus of Dioscorides ‡ ¶ The Temperature The seed of stone Parsley which is most commonly vsed is hot and dry hauing withall a cutting quality ¶ The Vertues It prouoketh vrine and bringeth downe the floures it is profitable against winde in the stomacke and collicke gut and gripings in the belly for it is as Galen saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say a waster or consumer of winde it is a remedy against paine in the sides kidnies and bladder it is also mixed in counterpoisons Dioscorides ‡ CHAP. 400. Of Corne Parsley or Hone-wort ¶ The Description THis herbe commeth vp at the first from seed like Parsley with two small long narrow leaues the next that spring are two small round smooth leaues nickt about the edges and so for two or three couples of leaues of the next growth there are such round leaues growing on a middle rib by couples and one round one also at the top after as more leaues spring vp so the fashion of them also change that is to say euery leafe hath about eight or nine small smooth greene leaues growing on each side of a middle rib one opposite against another and one growing by it selfe at the top and are finely snipt or indented about the edges in forme resembling those of Sium odoratum Tragi but not so bigge long or at all brownish amongst which rise vp many small round straked stalkes or branches about two foot long now and then aboue twenty from one root sometimes growing vpright sometimes creeping not farre from the ground joynted or kneed ‡ Selinum Sij folijs Honewoort and diuiding themselues into very many branches at euery joynt groweth one lease smaller than the former which together with the lowermost-perish so that there is seldome one greene leafe to be seen on this herbe when the seed is ripe the floures are white and grow most commonly at the tops of the branches sometimes at most of the joynts euen from the earth in vneuen or vnorderly vmbells euery floure hauing fiue exceeding small leaues flat and broad at the toppe and in the middle
described but of a pleasing smell and taste something like that of the common Cheruill amongst these leaues grow vp flender stalks a little hairy diuided into short green and slender branches carrying little vmbels consisting of fiue six seuen or eight smal white floures composed of fiue leaues apiece with a darke purplish chiue in the middle the floures are succeeded by or rather grow vpon long slender cods which become some inch long and resemble those of the last described It floures in Iune as Clusius affirmeth who giues vs the history of it and he receiued it from Honorius Bellus out of Candy who writes that in the Spring time it is much vsed in sallads and desired for that it much excites to Venery He also thinks this plant to be the Anthriscus of Pliny and by the same name Clusius sets it forth Columna hath called it Aniso-marathrum because the smell and taste is betweene that of Anise and Fennell ‡ ¶ The Place It groweth in most corne fields in England especially among wheate and barley ¶ The Time It floureth in May the seed is ripe in August with corne ¶ The Names The Latines call it Scandix hauing borrowed that name of the Grecians who call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we finde among the bastard words that the Romans did call it Scanaria and Acula of the seed that is like vnto a needle Ruellius describeth it vnder the name Pecten 〈◊〉 is of others Acus Veneris and Acus Pastoris or Shepheards Needle wilde Cheruill and Ladies combe in high-Dutch Naelde Karnel This is that herbe saith Pliny lib. 22. cap. 22. which Aristophanes obiected in sport to the Poet Euripides that his mother was wont to sell no right pot-herbe but Scandix or Shepheards needle meaning as I take it Visnaga wherewith the Spaniards doe picke their teeth when they haue eaten no meate at all except a few oranges or such a like trifle called also Scandix ¶ The Temperature Shepheards needle saith Galen is an herbe somewhat binding and bitter in taste insomuch that it is hot and dry either in the later end of the second degree or in the beginning of the third ¶ The Vertues Dioscorides saith it is eaten both raw and boyled and that it is an wholesome pot-herbe among the Greekes but in these dayes it is of small estimation or value and taken but for a wilde Wort as appeareth by Aristophanes taunting of Euripides as aforesaid The decoction thereof is good for the bladder kidneyes and liuer but as I deeme hee meant Cheruill when he set the same downe to be vsed in physicke CHAP. 418. Of Tooth-picke Cheruill ¶ The Description 1 THe first of these Tooth-picke Cheruils beareth leaues like wilde Turneps a round stalke furrowed ioynted blackish and hairy diuided into many branches on the tops whereof grow spokie tufts beset round about with many small leaues The floures thereof are whitish after commeth the the seed which being once ripe do cluster and are drawne together in a round thicke tuft like a small birds nest as be those of the wilde Carrot whose seeds whoso toucheth they will cleaue and sticke to his fingers by reason of the glutinous or slimie matter they are possessed with The root is small and whitish bitter in taste as is all the rest of the plant 2 The Spanish Tooth-picke hath leaues floures and knobby stalkes like vnto wilde carrots sauing that the leaues are somewhat finer cut or iagged thicker and tenderer but not rough or hairy at all as is the former of a bitter taste and a reasonable good smell among which rise vp bushie rundles or spokie tufts like those of the wilde Carrot or Birds nest closely drawne together when the seed is ripe at what time also the sharpe needles are hardned fit to make Tooth-pickes and such like for which purpose they do very fitly serue ¶ The Place Both of them grow in Syria and most commonly in Cilicia the later is to be found likewise in Spaine almost euery where and I haue it likewise in my garden in great plentie ¶ The Time They floure in my garden about August and deliuer their seed in October ¶ The Names That which the Grecians call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latines do likewise name Gingidium and it is called in Syria Lepidium yet is there another Lepidium It is reported among the bastard names to be called by the Romans Bisacutum of which name some shew remaines among the Syrians who commonly call the later 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this is named in English Tooth-picke Cheruill 1 Gingidium latifolium Broad Tooth-picke Cheruill 2 Gingidium Hispanicum Spanish Tooth-picke Cheruill ¶ The Temperature and Vertues There is saith Galen great increase of Gingidium in Syria and it is eaten no otherwise than Scandex is with vs at Pergamum it is saith he very wholesome for the stomacke whether it be eaten raw or boyled notwithstanding it is euident that it is a medicine rather than a nourishment As it is bitter and binding so is it likewise of a temperate heate and drinesse The heate is not very apparant but it is found to be dry in the later end of the second degree as also the said Author alledgeth in his discourse of the faculties of simple medicines Dioscorides doth also write the same This pot-herbe saith he is eaten raw sodden and preserued with great good to the stomacke it prouoketh vrine and the decoction thereof made with wine and drunke is profitable to scoure the bladder prouoketh vrine and is good against the grauell and stone The hard quills whereon the seeds do grow are good to cleanse the teeth and gums and do easily take away all filth and baggage sticking in them without any hurt vnto the gums as followeth after many other Tooth-picks and they leaue a good sent or sauor in the mouth CHAP. 419. Of Mede-sweet or Queene of the Medowes ¶ The Description 1 THis herbe hath leaues like those of Agrimonie consisting of diuers leaues set vpon a middle 〈◊〉 like those of the Ash tree euery small leafe sleightly snipt about the edges white 〈◊〉 the inner side and on the vpper side crumpled or wrinkled like vnto those of the Elme Tree whereof it tooke the name Vlmaria of the similitude or likenesse that the leaues haue with the Elme leaues The stalke is three or foure foot high rough and very fragile or easie to bee broken of a reddish purple colour on the top whereof are very many little floures 〈◊〉 and growing together of a white colour tending to yellownesse and of a pleasant sweete 1 Regina 〈◊〉 Queene of the Medow smel as are the leaues likewise after which come the seeds small crookedly turning or winding one with another made into a fine little head The root hath a sweet smel spreding far abroad blacke without and of a darkish red colour within ‡ 2 There is also another which by 〈◊〉 Tragus Lonicerus Gesner and others is called Barba Capri it hath large wooddie rootes
obscuritie and darknesse of the same CHAP. 421. Of Burnet 1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Garden Burnet 2 Pimpinella syluestris Wilde Burnet ¶ The Kinds Bvrnet of which we will intreat doth differ from Pimpinella which is also called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Burnets is lesser for the most part 〈◊〉 in gardens notwithstanding it groweth in barren fieldes where it is much smaller the other greater is 〈◊〉 wilde ¶ The Description 1 GArden Bumet hath long leaues made vp together of a great many vpon one stem euery one whereof is something round nicked on the edges somwhat 〈◊〉 among these riseth a stalke that is not altogether without leaues something chamsered vpon the tops whereof grow little round heads or knaps which bring sorth small floures of a 〈◊〉 purple colour and after them cornered seeds which are thrust vp together The root is long the whole plant doth smell something like a Melon or Cucumber 2 Wilde Burnet is greater in all parts it hath wider and bigger leaues than those of the sormer the stalke is longer sometimes two cubits high the knaps are greater of a darke purple colour and the seed is likewise cornered and greater the root longer but this Burnet hath no pleasant smell at all ‡ 3 There is kept in some gardens another of this kinde with very large leaues stalkes and heads for the heads are some inch and halfe long yet but slender considering the 〈◊〉 and the floures as I remember are of a whitish colour in other respects it differs not from the precedent it may fitly be called Pimpinella sanguisorba hortensis maxima Great Garden 〈◊〉 ‡ ¶ The Place The small Pimpinell is commonly planted in gardens notwithstanding it doth grow wilde vpon many barren heaths and pastures The great wilde Burnet groweth as Mr. Lyte saith in dry medowes about Viluord and my selfe haue found it growing vpon the side of a causey which crosseth the one halfe of a field whereof the one part is carable ground and the other part medow lying between Paddington and Lysson 〈◊〉 neere vnto London vpon the high way ¶ The Time They floure 〈◊〉 Iune vnto the end of August ¶ The Names The later herbarists doe call Burnet Pimpinella sanguisorba that it may differ from the other and yet it is called by seuerall names 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Gesner had rather it should be called 〈◊〉 of the smell of Melons or Pompious to which it is like as we haue said of others it is named Pimpinella or Bipennyla of most men Solbastrella in High Dutch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in French Pimpennelle 〈◊〉 in English Burnet It agreeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say with Dioscorides his second Iron-woort the leafe and especially that of the lesser sort which we haue written to consist of many nicks in the edges of the leaues and this may be the very same which Pliny in his 24 book chapter 17. 〈◊〉 to be named in Persia Sissitiepteris because it made them merry he also calleth the same Protomedia and Casigneta and likewise 〈◊〉 for that it doth 〈◊〉 agree with wine to which also this Pimpinella as we haue said doth giue 〈◊〉 pleasant sent neither is that repugnant that Pliny in another place hath written De Sideritibus of the Iron-woorts for it osten falleth out that he intreateth of one and the selfe same plant in diuers places vnder diuers names which thing then 〈◊〉 sooner when the writers themselues do not well know the plant as that Pliny did not well know Sideritis or Iron-woort it is euen thereby manisest because he setteth not downe his owne opinion hereof but other mens ¶ The Temperature Burnet besides the drying and binding facultie that it hath doth likewise meanly coole and the lesser Burnet hath likewise with all a certaine superficiall sleight and temperate sent which when it is put into the wine it doth leaue behind it this is not in the dry herbe in the iuice nor in the decoction ¶ The Vertues Burnet is a singular good herb for wounds which thing Dioscorides doth attribute to his second Ironwoort and commended of a number it stancheth bleeding and therefore it was named Sanguisorba as well inwardly taken as outwardly applied Either the iuice is giuen or the decoction of the pouder of the drie leaues of the herbe beeing 〈◊〉 it is outwardly applied or else put among other externall medicines It staieth the laske and bloudy flix it is also most effectuall to stop the monthly course The lesser 〈◊〉 is pleasant to be eaten in sallads in which it is thought to make the heart 〈◊〉 and glad as also being put into wine to which it yeeldeth a certaine grace in the drinking The decoction of Pimpinell drunken cureth the bloudy flix the spitting of bloud and all other fluxes of bloud in man or woman The herbe and seed made into pouder and drunke with wine or water wherein iron hath beene quenched doth the like The leaues of Pimpinell are very good to heale wounds and are receiued in drinkes that are made for inward wounds The leaues of Burnet steeped in winc and drunken comfort the heart and make it merry and are good against the trembling and shaking thereof CHAP. 422. Of English Saxifrage ¶ The Description 1 THis kinde of Saxifrage our English women Physitions haue in great vse and is familiarly knowne vnto them vouchsafing that name vnto it of his vertues against the stone it hath the leaues of Fennel but thicker and broader very like vnto Seseli pratense Monspeliensium which addition Pena hath bestowed vpon this our English Saxifrage among which riseth vp a stalke of a cubit high or more bearing at the top spokie rundles beset with whitish yellow floures the root 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thicke blacke without and white within and of a good sauour 1 Saxifraga Anglicana facie Seseli pratensis English Saxifrage ‡ 2 Saxifraga Pannonica Clusq Austrian Saxifrage ‡ 2 Clusius hath set forth another plant not much different from this our common Saxifrage and called it Saxifraga Pannonica which I haue thought fit here to insert the leaus saith he are much 〈◊〉 than those of Hogs-Fennell and somewhat like those of Fumitorie the stalkes are some soot high slender hauing some few small leaues and at the top carrying an vmbel of white floures the root is not much vnlike that of Hogs-Fennel but shorter and more acride it is 〈◊〉 at the top thereof whence the stalkes and leaues come forth it growes vpon some hils in Hungarie and Au stria and floures in Iuly ‡ ¶ The Place Saxifrage groweth in most fields and medowes euery where through out this our kingdome of England ¶ The Time It floureth from the beginning of May to the end of August ¶ The Names Saxifraga Anglicana is called in our mother tongue Stone-breake or English Saxifrage 〈◊〉 and Lobel call it by this name Saxifraga Anglicana for that it groweth more plentifully in England than in any other countrey ¶ The Nature Stone-breake is hot
and the rocke asoresaid this hath been thought good to eat ‡ The figure of this our Authour formerly gaue yet vnfitly it not agreeing with that description for Oreoselinum it may be he thought it the same with that of 〈◊〉 his description because he sound it vnder the same title in 〈◊〉 This is the Selinum montanum pumilum of Clusius and the Peucedani facie pusilla planta of Pena and Lobel whersore 〈◊〉 was mistaken in his Pinax whereas he refers that of Lobel to his third Peucedanum the root of this is black without and white within but short yet at the top about the thicknesse of ones 〈◊〉 the leaues are small and green commonly diuided into siue parts and these againe subdiuided by threes the 〈◊〉 is some sixe inches or halfe a foot high diuided into sundry branches crested 〈◊〉 and at the toppes of the branches euen when they first shoot vp appeare little vmbels of white floures very small and consisting of fiue leaues apiece The seed is blacke shining and round two being ioined together as in most vmbelliferous plants It floures in May and ripens the 〈◊〉 in Iuly I receiued in Iuly 〈◊〉 some plants of this from Bristow by the meanes of my 〈◊〉 mentioned friend 〈◊〉 George 〈◊〉 who gathered it 〈◊〉 Saint 〈◊〉 Rocke whereas the Authours of the Aduersaria report it to grow ‡ 1 Peucedanum Sulphurwoort 2 Peucedanum maius Great Sulphurwoort ‡ 3 Peucedanum pumilum Dwarfe Hogs-Fennell ¶ The Place The first kinde of Peucedanum or Hogs Fennell groweth very plentifully on the South side of a wood belonging to Waltham at the Nase in Essex by the high-way side also at Whitstable in Kent in a medow neere to the sea side sometime belonging to Sir Henry Crispe and adioyning to his house there It groweth also in great plenty at Feuersham in Kent neere vnto the hauen vpon the bankes thereof and in the medowes adioyning The second kinde groweth vpon the sea coasts of Montpellier in France and in the coasts of Italy ¶ The Time These plants do floure in Iune Iuly and August ¶ The Names The Grecians call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latines in like manner Peucedanos or Peucedanum and also Pinastellum most of the shops and likewise the common people name it Foeniculum Porcinum of diuers Stataria of the Prophets 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say a good Angell or Ghost in high-Dutch Harstrang Schweffel wurkel Sewfenckel in Italian and French Peucedano in Spanish 〈◊〉 in English Hore-strange and Hore-strong Sow-Fennell or Hogs Fennell Sulphur-wort or Brimstone-wort It is called Peucedanum and Pinastellum of the Greeke and Latine words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Pinus ¶ The Temperature These herbes especially the yellow sap of the root is hot in the second degree and dry in the beginning of the third ¶ The Vertues The yellow sap of the root of Hogs Fennell or as they call it in some places of England Horestrange taken by it selfe or with bitter almonds and Rue is good against the shortnesse of breath it asswageth the griping paines of the belly dissolueth and driueth away ventositie or windinesse of the stomacke it wasteth the swelling of the milt or spleene looseth the belly gently and purgeth by siege both flegme and choler The same taken in manner aforesaid prouoketh vrine easeth the paine of the kidneyes and bladder causeth easie deliuerance of childe and expelleth the secondine or after-birth and the dead childe The sap or iuyce of the root mixed with oyle of Roses or Vineger and applied easeth the palsie crampes contraction or drawing together of sinewes and all old cold diseases especially the Sciatica It is vsed with good successe against the rupture or burstings in yong children and is very good to be applied vnto the nauels of children that stand out ouer much The decoction of the root drunke is of like vertue vnto the iuyce but not altogether so effectuall against the foresaid diseases The root dried and made into pouder doth mundifie and clense old stinking and corrupt sores and vlcers and healeth them it also draweth forth the corrupt and rotten bones that hinder the same from healing and likewise splinters and other things fixed in the flesh The said pouder or iuyce of the root mixed with oyle of Roses causeth one to sweat if the body be anointed therewith and therefore good to be put into the vnction or ointment for the French disease The congealed liquor tempered with oyle of Roses and applied to the head after the manner of an ointment is good for them that haue the Lethargie that are franticke that haue dizzinesse in the head that are troubled with the falling sicknesse that haue the palsie that are vexed with convulsions and crampes and generally it is a remedie for all infirmities of the sinewes with Vineger and oyle as Dioscorides teacheth The same being smelt vnto reuiueth and calleth them again that be strangled with the mother and that lie in a dead sleepe Being taken in a reare egge it helpeth the cough and difficultie of breathing gripings and windinesse which as Galen addeth proceedeth from the grossenesse and clamminesse of humors It purgeth gently it diminisheth the spleene by cutting digesting and making thin humours that are thicke it causeth easie trauell and openeth the matrix A small piece of the root holden in the mouth is a present remedie against the suffocation of the mother CHAP. 427. Of Herbe Ferula or Fennell Gyant ¶ The Kindes DIoscorides maketh mention of a Ferula out of which is gathered the Gum Sagapene and 〈◊〉 he declareth that the Gums Galbanum and Ammoniacum are liquors of this herb 〈◊〉 but what difference there is in the liquors according to the clymat or countrey where it groweth he doth not set downe for it may be that out of one kinde of Ferula sundry iuyces may be gathered that is to say according to the diuersitie of the countries where they grow as we haue said for as in Laser the iuyce of Laserwort that groweth in Cyrene doth differ from that liquor which groweth in Media and Syria so it is likely that the herbe Ferula doth bring sorth in Media Sagapenum in Cyrene Ammoniacum and in Syria Galbanum Theophrastus saith that the herbe Ferula is diuided into mo kindes and he calleth one great by the name of Ferula and another little by the name Ferulago 1 Ferula Fennell Gyant ‡ 2 Ferulago Small Fennell-Gyant ¶ The Description 1 FErula or Fennell Gyant hath very great and large leaues of a deepe greene colour cut and iagged like those of Fennell spreading themselues abroad like wings amongst which riseth vp a great hollow stalke somewhat reddish on that side which is next vnto the Sun diuided into certaine spaces with ioynts or knees like those of Hemlocks or Kexes of the bignesse of a mans arme in the wrest of the height of foure or fiue cubits where it groweth naturally as in Italy Greece and other hot countries notwithstanding
it 〈◊〉 vp lower neere to shorter and lesser trees or shrubs yet doth it not fasten it selfe to the trees with any 〈◊〉 or clasping aglets much lesse doth it winde it selfe about 〈◊〉 yet doth it delight to stand neere and close vnto them ¶ The Place The titles and descriptions shew the place of their growing the last Bellonius reporteth to grow in diuers vallies of the mountaine Olympus and not far from Ragusa a citie in Sclauonia ¶ The Time They floure from Aprill to the end of Sommer ¶ The Names Horse-taile is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hippuris in Latine 〈◊〉 and Equinalis of Plinie in his 15. booke 28 chap. Equisetis of the likenesse of a horse haire of some Salix equina in shoppes Cauda equina in high Dutch Schaffthew in low Dutch Peertsteert in Italian Coda di Cauallo in Spanish Coda de mula in French 〈◊〉 de cheual and Caquene in English Horse-taile and Shaue-grasse Shaue-grasse is not without cause named Asprella of his ruggednesse which is not vnknowne to women who scoure their pewter and woodden things of the kitchin therewith which the German women call 〈◊〉 and therefore some of our huswiues do call it Pewterwoort Of some the tenth is called Ephedra Anobasis and Caucon ¶ The Temperature Horse-taile as Galen saith hath a binding facultie with some bitternesse and therefore it doth mightily dry and that without biting ¶ The Vertues Dioscorides saith that Horse-taile being stamped and laied to doth perfectly cure wounds yea though the sinewes be cut in sunder as Galen addeth It is of so great and so singular a vertue in healing of wounds as that it is thought and reported for truth to cure the wounds of the bladder and other bowels and helpeth ruptures or burstings The herbe drunke either with water or wine is an excellent remedy against bleeding at the nose and other fluxes of bloud It staieth the ouermuch flowing of womens floures the bloudy flix and the other fluxes of the belly The iuice of the herbe taken in the same manner can do the like and more effectually Horse-taile with his roots boiled in wine is very profitable for the vlcers of the kidnies bladder the cough and difficultie of breathing CHAP. 459. Of Sea-Cluster or Sea Raison 1 Vuamarina minor Small Sea Grape ¶ The Description 1 SMall Sea Grape is not vnlike to horstaile it bringeth forth slender stalks almost like rushes set with many little ioints such as those are of the Horse-taile and diuided into many wings and branches the tops whereof are sharpe pointed somewhat hard and pricking it is without leaues the floursgrow in clusters out of the ioints with little stems they are small and of a whitish green colour the fruit consisteth of many little pearles like to the vnripe berries of Raspis or Hind-berry when it is ripe it is red with a saffron colour in taste sweet and pleasant the seede or kernell is hard three square sharpe on euery side in taste binding the root is iointed long and creeps aslope the plant it selfe also doth rather lie on the ground than stand vp it groweth all full of small stalkes and branches casting themselues all abroad 2 Carolus Clusius hath set forth another sort of sea Grape far different from the precedent it riseth vp to the height of a man hauing manie branches of a wooddie substance in form like to Spanish Broome without any leaues at all wherupon doe grow clusters of floures vpon slender foot-stalks of a yellowish mossie or herby colour like those of the Cornell tree after which come the fruit like vnto the mulberrie of a reddish colour and sower taste wherein lieth hid one or two seeds like those of Millet blacke without and white within the root is hard tough and wooddie 2 Vuamarina maior Great shrubbie sea Grape 3 Tragos Matthioli Bastard Sea Grape 3 Tragon Matthioli or rather Tragos improbus 〈◊〉 which he vnaduisedly called Tragon is without controuersie nothing else but a kinde of Kali this plant riseth vp out of the ground with stalks seldome a cubite high diuided into sundry other grosse thicke and writhen branches set or armed with many pricking leaues of the colour and shape of 〈◊〉 and somewhat thicke and fleshie among which come forth such prickley burres as are to be seen in Tribulus 〈◊〉 as that it is hard for a man to touch any part thereof without pricking of the hands the floures are of an herbie colour bringing forth flat seed like vnto Kali the 〈◊〉 is slender and 〈◊〉 vnder the turfe of the earth the whole plant is full of clammie iuice not any thing astringent but somewhat saltish and of no singular vertue that is yet knowne wherefore I may conclude that this cannot be Tragos Dioscoridis and the rather for that this Tragon of Matthiolus is an herbe and not a shrub as I haue before spoken in Vuamarina neither beareth it any berries or graines like wheat neither is it pleasant in taste and smell or any thing astringent all which are to be found in the right Tragos before expressed which as Dioscorides saith is without leaues neither is it thorney as Tragus improbus Matthioli is this plant I haue found growing in the Isle of Shepey in the tract leading to the housc of Sir Edward 〈◊〉 called Sherland ¶ The Place It loueth to grow vpon dry banks and sandy places neere to the sea it is found in Languedocke not far from Montpelier and in other places by the sea side and is a stranger in England ¶ The Time When it groweth of it selfe the fruit is ripe in Autumne the plant it selfe remaineth long green for all the cold in Winter ¶ The Names It is called of the later Herbarists Vuamarina in French Raisin de Mer of the pearled fruit and the likenesse that it hath with the Raspis berrie which is as it were a Raison or Grape consisting of many little ones it is named in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but it is not called Tragus or Traganos of a Goat for so signifieth the Greeke word or of his ranke and rammish smell but because it bringeth forth fruit fit to be eaten of the Verbe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth to eat it may be called Scorpion because the sprigs thereof are sharpe pointed like to the Scorpions taile ¶ The Temperature The berries or Raisons and especially the seed that is in them haue a binding quality as we haue said and they are drie in the later end of the second degree ¶ The Vertues Dioscorides writeth that the Raisons of sea Grape do stay the flix and also the whites in women when they much abound CHAP. 460. Of Madder ¶ The Kindes THere is but one kinde of Madder onely which is manured or set for vse but if all those that 〈◊〉 like vnto it in leaues and manner of growing were referred thereto there should be many 〈◊〉 as Goose-grasse soft 〈◊〉 our Ladies Bedstraw Woodroofe and Crosse-woort
seene yong Ashes growing vpon a bog but beholding it a little neerer I might easily distinguish it from the Ash by the browne rough and round graines that grew on the top of the branches which yet are not the seed thereof but are very like vnto the seed The root is great and thicke folded and couered ouer with many scales and interlacing roots hauing in the middle of the great and hard wooddy part thereof some small whitenesse which hath beene called the heart of Osmund the water-man Filix florida siue Osmunda Regalis Water Ferne or Osmund Royall ¶ The Place It groweth in the midst of a bog at the further end of Hampsted heath from London at the bottome of a hill adioyning to a small cottage and in diuers other places as also vpon diuers bogges on a heath or common neere vnto Bruntwood in Essex especially neere vnto a place there that some haue digged to the end to finde a nest or mine of gold but the birds were ouer fledge and flowne away before their wings could be clipped ‡ It did grow plentifully in both these places but of late it is all destroyed in the former ‡ ¶ The Time It flourisheth in Sommer as the former Fernes the leaues decay in Winter the root continueth fresh and long lasting which being brought into the garden prospereth as in his natiue soile as my selfe haue proued ¶ The Names It is called in Latine Osmunda it is more truly named Filix palustris or aquatilis some terme it by the name of Filicastrum most of the Alchimists call it Lunaria 〈◊〉 Valerius Cordus nameth it Filix latifolia it is named in high-Dutch Grosz Farn in low-Dutch Groot Uaren 〈◊〉 Uaren in English Water-Ferne Osmund the Water-man of some Saint Christophers herbe and Osmund ¶ The Temperature The root of this also is hot and dry but lesse than they of the former ones ¶ The Vertues The root and especially the heart or middle part thereof boiled or else stamped and taken with some kinde of liquor is thought to be good for those that are wounded dry-bearen and 〈◊〉 that haue fallen from some high place and for the same cause the Empericks do put it in decoctions which the later Physitians do call wound-drinks some take it to be so effectuall and of so great a vertue as that it can dissolue cluttered bloud remaining in any inward part of the body 〈◊〉 that it also can expell or driue it out by the wound The tender sprigs thereof at their first comming forth are excellent good vnto the purposes aforesaid and are good to be put into balmes oyles and consolidatiues or healing plaisters and into vnguents appropriate vnto wounds punctures and such like CHAP. 467. Of Polypodie or wall-Ferne 1 Polypodium Wall Ferne or Polypodie of the wall 2 Polypodium quercinum Polypodie of the Oke ‡ 3 Polypodium Indicum Indian Polypody ¶ The Description 1 THe leaues of Polypodie might be thought to be like those of male Ferne but that they are far lesser and not nicked at all in the edges these do presently spring vp from the roots being cut on both the edges with many deepe gashes euen hard to the middle rib on the vpper side they are smooth on the nether side they are lightly powdred as it were with dusty markes the root is long not a finger thick creeping aslope on which are seen certaine little buttons like to those pits and dents that appeare in the tailes of cuttle fishes this hath in it a certaine sweetnesse with a taste something harsh this kinde of Ferne likewise wanteth not onely floures and seed but stalkes also 2 Polypodie of the Oke is much like vnto that of the wall yet the leaues of it are more finely cut smooth on the vpper side of a pale green color together with the stalkes and middle ribs on the nether side rough like those of Ferne this Ferne also liueth without a stalke it groweth without seed the root hath many strings fastned to it one folded within another of a meane bignesse and sweet in taste it sendeth forth heere and there new dodkins or springs whereby it increaseth ‡ 3 Clusius in his Exotickes lib. 4. cap. 17. giues vs the History of an Indian Ferne or Polypody found amongst the papers of one Dr. Nicholas Colie a Dutch Physitian who died in his returne from the East-Indies The root of it was six inches long and almost one thicke of the same shape and colour as the ordinarie one is from this came vp three leaues of which the third was lesser than the other two the two larger were eleuen inches long and their breadth from the middle rib which was very large was on each side almost fiue inches the edges were diuided almost like an Oken case from the middle rib came other veines that ran to the ends of the diuisions and betweene these be smaller veines variously diuaricated and netted which made the leafe shew prettily The colour of it was like that of a dry oken leafe Where Dr. Colie gathered this it was vncertaine for he had left nothing in writing ‡ ¶ The Place It groweth on the bodies of old rotten trees and also vpon old walls and the tops of houses it is likewise found among rubbish neere the borders of fields especially vnder trees and thornes and now and then in woods and in some places it groweth ranke and with a broader leafe in others not so ranke and with a narrower leafe That which groweth on the bodies of old Okes is preferred before the rest in stead of this most do vse that which is found vnder the Okes which for all that is not to be termed Quercinum or Polypodie of the Oke ¶ The Time Polypody is greene all the yeere long and may be gathered at any time it bringeth forth new leaues in the first spring ¶ The Names The Grecians call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the holes of the fishes Polypi appearing in the roots it is called in Latine Polypodium after the Greeke name and many times Filicula as though they should say 〈◊〉 Filix or little Ferne the Italians name it Polipodio the Spaniards Filipodio and Polypodio in high Dutch Engelfusz Baumfarn Dropffoourtz in low Dutch Boom varen in French Polypode and we of England Polypodie that which groweth vpon the wall we call Polypodie of the wall and that on the Oke Polypodie of the Oke ¶ The Temperature Polypodie doth dry but yet without biting as Galen writeth ¶ The Vertues Dioscorides writeth that it is of power to purge and to draw forth choler and flegme Actuarius addeth that it likewise purgeth melancholy other suppose it to be without any purging sorce at all or else to haue very little of the same minde is also Iohannes Monardus who thinketh it purgeth very gently which thing is confirmed by Experience the mistris of things For in very deed Polypody of it selfe doth not purge at all but onely serueth a little
afterwards the whole flocke vntill such time as the Shepheard take it forth of her mouth as Plutarch writeth CHAP. 485. Of bastard Sea Hollies ¶ The Description THis Eryngium which Dodonaeus in his last edition calleth Eryngium planum and Pena more fitly and truely Eryngium Alpinum caeruleum hath stalkes a cubite and a halfe high hauing spaces 〈◊〉 euery ioint the lower leaues are greater and broader and notched about the edges but those aboue are lesser compassing or enuironing each ioint star-fashion beset with prickles which are soft and tender not much hurtful to the hands of such as touch them the knobs or heads are also prickley and in colour blew The root is bunchie or knottie like that of Helenium that is Elecampane blacke without and white within and like the Eringes in sweetnesse and taste 2 The second bastard Sea Holly whose picture is set forth in Dodonaeus his last Edition veric gallantly being also a kind of Thistle hath leaues like vnto the former Erynges but broader next the rootes than those which grow next the stalkes somewhat long greenish soft and not prickley but lightly creuised or notched about the edges greater than Quince leaues The stalks grow more than a cubit high on the tops whereof there hang downwards fiue or six knobs or heads in colour and floures like the other hauing three or foure whitish roots of a foot long 1 Eryngium caeruleum Blew Sea Holly 2 Eryngium spurium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Bastard Sea Holly 3 Eryngium 〈◊〉 Clusij Dwarfe Sea Holly 4 Eryngium Montanum Mountaine Sea Holly ‡ 5 Eryngium pusillum planum Small smooth Sea Holly 4 The fourth kinde of bastard Sea Holly which 〈◊〉 calleth Eryngium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and is the fourth according to 〈◊〉 his account is like to the Erynges not in 〈◊〉 but in taste this beareth a very small and slender stalke of a meane height whereupon doe grow three or foure leaues seldom fiue made of 〈◊〉 leaues set vpon a midd'e rib narrow long hard and of a darke greene 〈◊〉 dented on both edges of the leafe like a saw the 〈◊〉 is a cubit high iointed or kneed and diuiding it selfe into many branches on the tops whereof are round tufts or vmbels wherin are contained the floures and after they be vaded the seedes which are small somewhat long well smelling and sharpe in taste the 〈◊〉 is white and long not a finger thicke in taste sweet but afterwards somewhat 〈◊〉 and in sent and 〈◊〉 not vnpleasant when the root is dried 〈◊〉 may be crumbled in pieces and therefore quickly 〈◊〉 ‡ 5 This is a low plant presently from the root diuided into sundry branches slender round lying on the ground at each ioint grow leaues without any certain order broad toward their ends and narrower at their setting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 about their edges those next the root were some inch broad and two or more long of a yellowish greene colour the stalkes are parted into sundry branches and at each ioint haue little leaues and rough and greene heads with 〈◊〉 floures in them the roots creepe and are somewhat like those of Asparagus This neither Clusius nor Lobel found wilde but it grew in the garden of Iohn 〈◊〉 of Tourney a learned Apothecarie verie skilfull in the knowledge of plants whereupon they both called it Eryngium pusillum planum Moutoni ‡ ¶ The Place These kindes of sea Holly are strangers in England we haue the first and second in our London gardens ¶ The Time They floure and flourish when the Thistles do ¶ The Names These plants be Eryngia spuria or bastard Sea Hollies and are lately obserued and therefore they haue no old names The first may bee called in Latine Eryngium Borussicum or Non spinosum Sea Hollie without prickles The second is called by Matthiolus Eryngium planum or flat Sea Holly others had rather name it Alpinum Eryngium or Sea Holly of the Alpes The third is rightly called Eryngium pumilum little Sea Huluer 〈◊〉 maketh the fourth to be Crithmum quartum or the fourth kinde of Sampier and others as Dodonaeus and Lobel haue made it a kinde of Sea Huluer ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Touching the faculties hereof we haue nothing to set downe seeeing they haue as yet no vse in medicine nor vsed to be eaten But yet that they be hot the very taste doth declare CHAP. 486. Of Star-Thistle ¶ The Description 1 THe Star-Thistle called Carduus stellatus hath many soft frizled leaues deepely cut or gasht altogether without prickles among which riseth vp a stalke diuiding it selfe into many other branches growing two foot high on the tops whereof are small knops or heads like the other Thistles armed round about with many sharpe prickles fashioned like a blasing star which at the beginning are of a purple colour but afterwards of a pale bleak or whitish colour the seed is small flat and round the root is long and browne without 1 Carduus stellatus The Star-Thistle 2 Carduus Solstitialis Saint Barnabies Thistle 2 Saint Barnabies Thistle is another kinde of Star-Thistle notwithstanding it hath prickles no where faue in the head onely and the prickles of it stand forth in manner of a star the stalks are two cubits high parted into diuers branches softer than are those of star-Thistle which stalks haue velmes or thin skins cleauing vnto them all in length by which they seeme to be foure-square the leaues are somewhat long set with deep gashes on the edges the floures are yellow and consist of threds the seed is little the root long and slender ¶ The Place The two first do grow vpon barren places neere vnto cities and townes almost euery where ¶ The Time They floure and flourish especially in Iuly and August ¶ The Names The first is called in Latine Stellaria as also Carduus Stellatus and likewise Carduus Calcitrapa but they are deceiued who take it to be Eryngium or Sea 〈◊〉 or any kinde thereof Matthiolus saith that it is called in Italian Calcatrippa in high Dutch Dallen distel in low Dutch Sterre distell in French 〈◊〉 in English Star-Thistle S. Barnabies Thistle is called in Latine 〈◊〉 spina because it floureth in the Sommer Solstice as Gesner saith or rather because after the Solstice the prickles thereof be sharpest of Guillandinus Eryngium but not properly and Stellaria 〈◊〉 Augerij who with good successe gaue it against the stone dropsies greene sicknesse and quotidian feuers It is called in English as aboue said Saint Barnabies Thistle ¶ The Temperature The Star-Thistle is of a hot nature ¶ The Vertues The seed is commended against the strangurie it is reported to driue forth the stone if it bee drunke with wine Baptista Sardus 〈◊〉 that the distilled water of this Thistle is a remedie for those that are infected with the French Pox and that the vse of this is good for the liuer that it taketh away the stoppings thereof That it clenseth the bloud from corrupt and putrified humours That it
two roundish leaues both the stalke and leaues haue a little soft downinesse or hairinesse on 〈◊〉 the floures grow clustering together on the tops of the stalks in shape bignesse and colour like 〈◊〉 of the last described but commonly more in number they are also succeeded by such 〈◊〉 as those of the former 6 The figure which 〈◊〉 hath set forth 〈◊〉 of an old Manuscript in the Emperors Library being there figured for Coronopus seemes to be of the last described or some plant very like thereto though the fiue leaues at each ioint be not 〈◊〉 in such order as they should be yet 〈◊〉 the parts are well exprest 〈◊〉 to the drawing of those times for you 〈◊〉 finde 〈◊〉 antient expressions come so neere as this doth ‡ 7 There is a kinde of Clauer growing about 〈◊〉 in France that hath many twiggie tough branches comming from a wooddy root whereon are set leaues three together 〈◊〉 the maner of the other Trefoiles so new hat long 〈◊〉 and of a hoarie or ouerworne 〈◊〉 colour The floures are yellow and grow at the tops of the branches like those of Broome 7 Lotus 〈◊〉 sive 〈◊〉 Scribonij Largi Hoarie Clauer ‡ 8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 siliqua cornuta Yellow horned 〈◊〉 ‡ This sends vp many branches from one root some 〈◊〉 or more long commonly lying along vpon the ground round flexable and diuided into sundrie branches the leaues stand together by threes and are like those of the true Medica or Burgundie Trefoile but much lesse the floures grow clustering together on the tops of the branches like in shape to those of the 〈◊〉 of a yellow colour and not without smell they are succeeded by such yet narrower crooked coddes as the Burgundy 〈◊〉 hath but the Painter hath not wel expressed them in these cods are contained seeds like those also of that Trefoile and such also is the root which liues long and much increases It growes in Hungarie Austria and Morauia it floures in Iune and 〈◊〉 Clusius calls it Medica flore flavo 〈◊〉 Lens maior repens and Tragus Meliloti maioris species 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith that about Nimes in Narbone it is found with floures either yellow white greene blew purple blacke or mixed of blew and greene and hee calleth it Trifolium syluestre 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 ‡ ¶ The Place The seuerall titles of most of these plants set 〈◊〉 their naturall place of growing the rest grow in most fertile fields of England ¶ The Time They floure and flourish most of the sommer moneths ¶ The Names There is not much to be said as touching their names more than hath beene set downe ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The temperature and faculties of these Trefoiles are 〈◊〉 vnto the common 〈◊〉 Trefoiles CHAP. 497. Of the great Trefoiles or winged Clauers ¶ The Description 1 THe great Hares foot being a kinde of 〈◊〉 hath a hard and wooddie root 〈◊〉 of blacke threddie strings from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 diuers tough and feeble 〈◊〉 whereupon do grow leaues set together by threes making the whole plant to resemble those of the Medow Trefoile the floures grow at the top of the stalks composed of a bunch of gray 〈◊〉 among the which soft matter commeth forth small floures of a most bright purple colour 〈◊〉 resembling the floures of the common medow Trefoile but far greater Lobel calls this Lagopus maximus folio facie Trifolij pratensis Dodonaeus Lagopus maior folio Trifolij ‡ 1 Lagopus maximus The great Hares foot Trefoile ‡ 2 Lagopus maior spica 〈◊〉 Great large headed Hares foot ‡ 2 This elegant plant which Tragus hath set forth for Cytisus Lobel by the 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 altera folio prinnato and Clusius for his Trifolij maioris 3. altera species hath stalkes some 〈◊〉 and better high whereon grow leaues set together by threes long 〈◊〉 and lightly 〈◊〉 about the edges with elegant nerues or veines running from the middle rib to the sides of the leaues which are most conspicuous in hot Countries and chiefly then when the leafe begins to decay At the tops of the branches in long and large heads grow the floures of an elegant sanguine colour This floures in May and Iune and growes wilde vpon some mountaines of Hungary and Austria I haue seene them both this and the former growing in the gardens of some of our Florists 3 This other great kinde of Hares-foot sends forth one slender yet stiffe stalke whereon grow leaues whose foot-stalkes are large at the setting on encompassing the stalkes the leaues themselues grow by threes long narrow and 〈◊〉 pointed of a grayish colour like those of the common Hares-foot the spike at the top is soft and downy with little reddish floures amongst the whitish hairinesse This growes wilde in Spaine Clusius calls it Lagopus angustifolius Hispanicus maior There is another sort of this descrbed by Lobel and Pena in the Aduers whose leaues are longer and narrower than this the whole plant also is oft times lesser they call it Lagopus altera 〈◊〉 folia ‡ ‡ 3 Lagopus angustifoiius Hispanicus Narrow leafed Spanish Hare 〈◊〉 4 Lagopodium Pes leporis 〈◊〉 Hares-foot Trefoile 4 The small Hares-foot hath a round rough and hairy stalke diuiding it selfe into diuers other branches whereupon do grow small leaues three joined together like those of the small yellow Trefoile the floures grow at the very point of the stalkes consisting of a rough knap or bush of haires or downe like that of Alopecuros or Fox-taile of a whitish colour tending to a light blush with little white floures amongst the downinesse the root is small and hard ¶ The Place The first groweth in the fields of France and Spaine and is a stranger in England yet it groweth in my garden The small Hare-foot groweth among corne especially among Barly and likewise in barren pastures almost euery where ¶ The Time They 〈◊〉 and flourish in Iune Iuly and August ¶ The Names The great Hare-foot Trefoile is called of Tragus Cytisus of Cordus Trifolium magnum of Lobclius 〈◊〉 maximum and Lagopodium in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in English the great Hares-soot The last being the smallest of these kindes of Trefoiles is called Lagopus and 〈◊〉 Leporis in Dutch Hasen pootkens in high Dutch Hasen fusz in French 〈◊〉 de lieure in English Harefoot ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The temperature and faculties are referred vnto the other Trefoiles whereof these are kindes notwithstanding Dioscorides saith that the small Hares-foot doth binde and dry It stoppeth saith he the laske if it be drunke with red wine But it must be giuen to such as are feuerish with water CHAP. 498. Of Water Trefoile or Bucks Beanes Trifolium paludosum Marsh Trefoile ¶ The Description 1 THe great Marsh Trefoile hath thicke fat stalkes weake and tender full of a spungious pith very smooth and of a cubit long whereon do grow leaues like to those of the garden Beane set vpon the stalkes three joined
together like the other Trefoiles smooth shining and of a deepe greene colour among which toward the top of the stalkes standeth a bush of feather like floures of a white colour dasht ouer slightly with a wash of light carnation after which the seed followeth contained in small buttons or knobby huskes of a browne yellowish colour like vnto Millet and of a bitter taste the roots creepe diuers waies in the middle marish ground being full of joints white within and full of pores and spungie bringing forth diuers by-shoots stalkes and leaues by which meanes it is easily increased and largely multiplied 2 The second differeth not from the precedent sauing it is altogether lesser wherein consisteth the difference if there be any for doubtlesse I thinke it is the selfe same in each respect and is made greater and lesser according to his place of growing clymate and countrey ¶ The Place These grow in marish and Fenny places and vpon boggie grounds almost euery where ¶ The Time They floure and flourish from Iune to the end of August ¶ The Names Marish Trefoile is called in high Dutch 〈◊〉 that is to say Castoris Trifolium or Trifolium fibrinum in low Dutch of the likenesse that the leaues haue with the garden Beanes 〈◊〉 that is to say 〈◊〉 Hircinus or Boona Hircina the later Herbarists call it Trifolium palustre and Paludosum of some 〈◊〉 in English marsh-Clauer marsh-Trefoile and Buckes-Beanes ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The seed of Isopyrum saith Dioscorides if it be taken with meade or honied water is good against the cough and paine in the chest It is also a remedy for those that haue weake 〈◊〉 and spet bloud for as Galen saith it clenseth and cutteth tough humours hauing also adjoined with it 〈◊〉 astringent or binding quality CHAP. 499 Of sweet Trefoile or garden Clauer Trifolium odoratum Sweet Trefoile ¶ The Description SWeet Trefoile hath an vpright stalk hollow and of the height of two cubirs diuiding it selfe into diuers branches whereon do grow leaues by three and three like to the other Trefoiles sleightly and superficiously nicked in the edges from the bosom wherof come the floures euery one standing on his owne single foot-stalk consisting of little 〈◊〉 husks of a light or pale blewish colour after which 〈◊〉 vp little heads or knops in which lieth the seed of a whitish yellow colour and lesser than that of Fenu-greeke the root hath diuers strings the whole plant is not onely of a whitish green colour but also of a sweet smell and of a strong 〈◊〉 or spicie sent and more sweet when it is dried which smel in the gathered and dried plant doth likewise continue long and in moist and rainie weather it smelleth more than in hot and drie weather and also when it is yet fresh and greene it loseth and recouereth againe his smell seuen times a day whereupon the old wiues in Germanie do call it Sieuen gezeiten kraut that is the herbe that changeth seuen times a day ¶ The Place It is sowne in gardens not onely beyond the seas but in diuers gardens in England ¶ The Time It is sowne in May it floureth in Iune and Iuly and perfecteth his seed in the end of August the same yere it is sowne ¶ The Names It is commonly called in Latine Trifolium odoratum in high Dutch as we haue said Sieuen gezeiten in low Dutch Seuenghetijcruijt that is to say an herb of seuen times it is called in Spanish Trcbol real in French Treffle oderiferant in English Sweet Trefoile and garden Clauer it seemeth to be Lotus Vrbana or satiua of which Dioscorides writeth in his fourth booke neuerthelesse diuers Authors set downe Melilot for Lotus vrbana and Trifolium odoratum but not properly ‡ The Gardiners and herbe women in Cheapside commonly call it and know it by the name of Balsam or garden Balsam ‡ ¶ The Temperature Galen saith that sweet Trefoile doth in a meane concoct and drie and is in a meane and temperate facultie betweene hot and cold the which faculties vndoubtedly are plainely perceiued in this sweet Trefoile ¶ The Vertues The iuice pressed forth saith Dioscorides with hony added thereto clenseth the vlcers of the eies called in Latine 〈◊〉 and taketh away spots in the same called Albugines and remooueth such things as doe hinder the sight The oile whrein the floures are infused or steeped doth perfectly cure greene wounds in very short space it appeaseth the paine of the gout and all other aches and is highly commended against ruptures and burstings in young children The iuice giuen in white wine cureth those that haue fallen from some high place auoideth congealed and clotted bloud and also helpeth those that do pisse bloud by meanes of some great bruise as was prooued lately vpon a boy in Fanchurch street whom a cart went ouer whereupon he did not onely pisse bloud but also it most wonderfully gushed forth both at his nose and mouth The dried herbe laied among garments keepeth them from Mothes and other vermine CHAP. 500. Of Fenugreeke ¶ The Description 1 FEnugreeke hath a long slender trailing stalke greene hollow within and diuided into diuers small branches whereon do grow leaues like those of the medow Trefoile but rounder and 〈◊〉 greene on the vpper side on the lower side tending to an ash colour among which come small white floures after them likewise long slender narrow cods in which do lie small vneuen seeds of a yellowish colour which being dried haue a strong smell yet not vnpleasant the root is small and perisheth when it hath perfected his seed 1 Foenumgraecum Fenugreeke ‡ 2 Foenumgraecum syluestre Wilde Fenugreeke 2 There is a wilde kinde hereof seruing to little vse that hath small round branches full of knees or ioints from each ioint proceedeth a smal tender footstalk whereon do grow three leaues and no more somewhat snipt about the edges like vnto those of Burgundie Haie from the bosoms whereof come forth small yellow floures which turne into little cods the root is thicke tough and pliant ¶ The Place Fenugreeke is sowne in fields beyond the seas in England wee sow a small quantitie thereof in our gardens ¶ The Time It hath two seasons of sowing according to Columella of which one is in September at what time it is sowne that it may serue for fodder against winter the other is in the end of Ianuarie or the beginning of Februarie notwithstanding we may not sow it vntill Aprill in England ¶ The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or as it is found in Pliny his copies Carphos in Latine 〈◊〉 Graecum Columella saith that it is called Siliqua in Pliny we read Silicia in Varro Silicula in high Dutch 〈◊〉 in Italian Fiengreco in Spanish Alfornas in French Fenegrec and in English 〈◊〉 ¶ The Temperature and Vertues It is thought according to Galen in his booke of the Faculties of nourishments that it is one of those
order composed of three leaues and sometimes of fiue or else the two lower leaues are diuided into two parts as Hop leaues are now and then of a light greene colour both aboue and vnderneath The floures grow on the tops of the branches racematim many together sometimes white sometimes of a very light purple colour euery floure containing fiue leaues which are crompled or wrinkled and do not grow plaine the fruit followes first green and afterwards blew euerie berry composed of one or two graines seldome oboue foure or fiue growing together about the bignesse of corans wherein is contained a stony hard kernell or seed and a iuyce of the colour of Claret wine contrarie to the common Rubus or Bramble whose leaues are white vnderneath the berries being ripe are of a shining blacke colour and euery berry containes vsually aboue forty graines closely compacted and thrust together The root is wooddy and lasting This growes common enough in most places and too common in ploughed fields Sept. 6. 1619. Iohn Goodyer ‡ 3 The Raspis or Framboise bush hath leaues and branches not much vnlike the common Bramble but not so rough nor prickly and sometimes without any prickles at all hauing onely a rough hairinesse about the stalkes the fruit in shape and proportion is like those of the Bramble red when they be ripe and couered ouer with a little downinesse in taste not very pleasant The root creepeth far abroad whereby it greatly encreaseth ‡ This growes either with prickles vpon the stalkes or else without them the fruit is vsually red but sometimes white of colour ‡ 1 Rubus The Bramblebush 2 Rubus Idaeus The Raspis bush or Hinde-berry 4 Stone Bramble seldome groweth aboue a foot high hauing many small flexible branches without prickles trailing vpon the ground couered with a reddish barke and somwhat hairy the leaues grow three together set vpon tender naked foot-stalkes somewhat snipt about the edges the floures grow at the end of the branches consisting of foure small white leaues like those of the Cherry tree after which come small Grape-like fruit consisting of one two or three large transparent berries set together as those of the common Bramble of a red colour when they be ripe and of a pleasant taste but somewhat astringent The roots creepe along in the ground very farre abroad whereby it greatly increaseth 4 Chamaemorus called in the North part of England where they especially doe grow Knot-berries and Knought-berries is likewise one of the Brambles though without prickles it brings forth small weake branches or tender stems of a foot high whereon do grow at certaine distances rough leaues in shape like those of the Mallow not vnlike to the leaues of the Gooseberrie bush on the top of each branch standeth one floure and no more consisting of fiue small leaues of a dark purple colour which being fallen the fruit succeedeth like vnto that of the Mulberrie whereof it was called Chamaemorus dwarfe Mulberry at the first white and bitter after red and somwhat pleasant the root is long something knotty from which knots or ioynts thrust forth a few threddie strings ‡ I take that plant to which our Author hereafter hath allotted a whole chapter and called Vaccinia nubis or Cloud-berries to be the same with this as I shall shew you more largely in that place ‡ 4 Rubus Saxatilis Stone blacke Berry bush 5 Chamaemorus Knot berry bush ¶ The Place The Bramble groweth for the most part in euery hedge and bush The Raspis is planted in gardens it groweth not wilde that I know of except in the field by a village in Lancashire called Harwood not far from Blackburne I found it among the bushes of a causey neere vnto a village called Wisterson where I went to schoole two miles from the Nantwich in Cheshire The stone Bramble I haue found in diuers fields in the Isle of Thanet hard by a village called 〈◊〉 neere Queakes house sometimes Sir Henry Crispes dwelling place ‡ I feare our Author mistooke that which is here added in the second place for that which he figured and described in the third now the fourth which I know not yet to grow wilde with vs. ‡ Knot-berries do loue open snowie hills and mountaines they grow plentifully vpon 〈◊〉 hils among the heath and ling twelue miles from Lancashire being thought to be the highest hill in England They grow vpon Stane-more betweene Yorkshire and Westmerland and vpon other wet Fells and mountaines ¶ The Time These floure in May and Iune with the Roses their fruit is ripe in the end of August and September ¶ The Names The Bramble is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in French Ronges Loi Duyts Brelmers in Latine Rubus and Sentis and Vepres as Ouid writeth in his first booke of Metamorpho sis Aut Leporiqui vepre latens hostilia cernit Oracanum Or to th'Hare that vnder Bramble closely lying spies The hostile mouthes of Dogs Of diuers it is called Cynosbatus but not properly for Cynoslatus is the wild Rose as we haue written in high-Dutch Bremen in low-Dutch Breemen in French Rouce in Italian Garza in English Bramble bush and Black-berry bush The fruit is named in Latine Morum rubi and as Fuchsius thinketh Vacinium but not properly in shops Mora Bati and in such shops as are more barbarous Mora Bassi in English Blacke-berries The Raspis is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Rubus Idaeus of the mountaine Ida on which it groweth in English Raspis Framboise and Hinde-berry ¶ The Temperature and 〈◊〉 The yong buds or tender tops of the Bramble 〈◊〉 the floures the leaues and the vnripe fruit do very much dry and binde withall being chewed they take away the heate and inflammation of the mouth and almonds of the throat they stay the bloudy flix and other fluxes and all maner of bleedings of the same force is their decoction with a little honey added They heale the eyes that hang out hard knots in the fundament and stay the hemorrhoids if the leaues be layd thereunto The iuyce which is pressed out of the stalks leaues and vnripe berries and made hard in the Sun is more effectuall for all those things The ripe fruit is sweet and containeth in it much iuyce of a temperate heate therefore it is not vnpleasant to be eaten It hath also a certaine kinde of astriction or binding qualitie It is likewise for that cause wholsome for the stomack and if a man eat too largely therof saith Galen he shall haue the head-ache but being dried whilest it is yet vnripe it bindeth and drieth more than the ripe fruit The root besides that it is binding containeth in it much thin substance by reason whereof it wasteth away the stone in the kidnies saith Galen Pliny writeth that the berries and floures do prouoke vrine and that the decoction of them in wine is a present remedie against the stone The leaues of the Bramble boiled in
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
or low Furze 6 Genista 〈◊〉 minor siue Nepa Theophr Scorpion Furzes 6 The smallest of all the Furzes is that of the Antients called Nepa or Scorpion Furze as the word Nepa seemeth to import it is a stranger in England it hath beene touched of the Antients in name onely which fault they haue beene all and euerie of them to be complained of being so briefe that nothing can be gathered from their description and therefore I refer what might hereof be said to a further consideration ‡ This hath a thicke wooddy blacke root some halfe foot long from whence arise many slender branches some foot high which are set with many stiffe and sharpe prickles growing somewhat after the maner of the wilde prickly Sperage the yong plants haue little leaues like those of Tragacanth the old ones none the floures are smal and come forth at the bottome of the prickles and they are succeeded by broad cods wherein the seed is contained It growes in diuers places of France and Spaine and is thought to be the Scorpius of Theophrastus which 〈◊〉 translates Nepa ‡ ¶ The Place The common sort hereof are very well knowne to grow in pastures and fields in most places of England The rest are likewise well knowne to those that curiously obserue the difference ¶ The Time They floure from the beginning of May to the end of September ¶ The Names Furze is commonly called Genista spinosa in high-Dutch 〈◊〉 in English Furze Furzen bushes Whinne Gorsse and Thorne-Broome This thorny Broome is taken for Theophrastus his Scorpius which Gaza nameth Nepa the name Scorpius in Pliny is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say signifying many things and common to certaine Plants for besides this Scorpius of which he hath made mention lib. 25. cap. 5. setting downe Theophrastus his words where he maketh Aconitum Thelyphonon to be Scorpius lib. 23. cap. 10. and likewise other plants vnder the same title but vnproperly ¶ The Temperature and Vertues There is nothing written in Theophrastus concerning the faculties of Scorpius spinosus or Furze Pliny seemeth to attribute vnto it the same vertues that 〈◊〉 hath notwithstanding the later Writers do agree that it is hot and dry of complexion the seeds are vsed in medicines against the stone and staying of the laske CHAP. 21. Of Cammocke Furze Rest-Harrow or Petty Whinne ¶ The Kindes THere be diuers sorts of Rest-Harrow which some haue inserted among the smooth Broomes others among those with prickles whereof some haue purple floures and likewise ful of prickles others white floures and sharpe thornes some also purple floures others white and also yellow and euery of them void of prickles 1 Anonis siue Resta Bouis Cammocke or Rest-Harrow 3 Anonis non 〈◊〉 Purple Rest-Harrow without prickles ¶ The Description 1 CAmmocke or ground Furze riseth vp with stalkes a cubit high and often higher set with diuers ioynted branches tough pliable and full of hard sharpe thornes among which do grow leaues in forme like those of S. Iohns wort or rather of the Lentill of a deep green colour from the bosome of which thorns and leaues come forth the 〈◊〉 like those of Peason of a purple colour after which do come the cods in which do lie flat seed the root is long and runneth far abroad very tough and hard to be torne in pieces with the plough 〈◊〉 that the oxen can hardly passe forward but are constrained to stand still whereupon it was called Rest-Plough or Rest-Harrow 4 Anonis siue Spinalutea Yellow Rest-Yarrow 2 We haue in our London pastures and likewise in other places one of the Rest-Harrowes not differing from the precedent in stalkes leaues or prickles the onely difference is that this plant bringeth forth white floures and the others not so whence we may call it Anonis flore albo Cammocke with white floures 3 Rest-Harrow without thornes hath a tough hoary rough stalke diuided into other rough branches whereon are set without order long leaues sharpe pointed sleightly cut about the edges of an hoary colour and somewhat hairy from the bosome whereof commeth forth purple Pease-like floures of a reasonable good smell the root is verie tough long and wooddy 4 The yellow floured Cammock is a 〈◊〉 in these parts it is only found in the cold Easterne countries for ought that I can learne it differs not from the last described sauing that the floures hereof are of a darke yellow colour wherein it differeth from all the other of his kinde ¶ The Place These grow in 〈◊〉 grounds in fertile pastures and in the borders of fields in a fat fruitful and long lasting soile it is sooner found than desired of husbandmen because the tough and wooddie roots are combersome vnto them for that they stay the plough and make the oxen stand ¶ The Time They send forth new shoots in May they be ful growne in Autumne and then those that of nature are prickly be fullest of sharpe thornes they floure in Iuly and August ¶ The Names Cammocke is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and likewise in Latine Anonis and Ononis Of Herbarists commonly Aresta Bouis and Remora aratri because it maketh the Oxen whilest they be in plowing to rest or stand still it is also called Acutella of the stiffe and sharpe thorns which prick those that passe by in French Areste beuf and Boucrande Crateuas nameth it Aegipyrus in high-Dutch Stalkraut in low-Dutch Prangwortele in Italian Bonaga in Spanish Gattilhos in French Arreste beuf Beuf Bouerande in 〈◊〉 Cammocke Rest-Harrow Petty Whinne and ground Furze ¶ The Temperature The root of Cammocke is hot in the third degree as Galen saith it cutteth also and maketh thinne ¶ The Vertues The barke of the root drunke with Wine prouoketh vrine breaketh the stone and driueth it sorth The root boyled in water and vineger allayeth the paine of the teeth if the mouth be often washed therewith hot Pliny reporteth that being boyled in Oxymel or the syrrup made with honey and vineger till the one halfe be wasted it is giuen to those that haue the falling sicknesse 〈◊〉 reporteth that he knew a man cured of a rupture by taking of the pouder of this root for many moneths together The tender sprigs or crops of this shrub before the thornes come forth are preserued in pickle and be very pleasant sauce to be eaten with meat as sallad as a Dioscorides teacheth CHAP. 22. Of Goose-berrie or Fea-berry Bush. ¶ The Kindes THere be diuers sorts of the Goose-berries some greater others lesse some round others long and some of a red colour the figure of one shall serue for the rest ‡ I will not much insist vpon diuersities of fruits because my kinde friend Mr. Iohn Parkinson hath sufficiently in his late Worke discoursed vpon that subiect onely because I iudge many will be desirous to know their names and where to get them I will briefely name the chiefe varieties
our Kingdome affords and such as are desirous of them may finde them with Mr. Iohn 〈◊〉 liuing in Old-street The sorts of Goose-berries are these the long greene the great yellowish the blew the great round red the long red and the prickly Goose-berrie Vua Crispa Goose-berries ¶ The Description THe Goose-berry bush is a shrub of three or foure cubits high set thicke with 〈◊〉 sharpe prickles it is likewise full of branches slender wooddy and prickly whereon doe grow round leaues cut with deepe gashes into diuers parts like those of the Vine of a very greene colour the floures be very smal of a whitish greene with some little purple dashed here and there the fruit is round growing scatteringly vpon the branches greene at the first but waxing a little yellow through maturitie full of a winie iuyce somewhat sweet in taste when they be ripe in which is contained hard seed of a whitish colour the root is woodie and not without strings anexed thereto There is another whose fruit is almost as big as a small Chery and very round in forme as also another of the like bignesse of an inch in length in taste and substance agreeing with the common sort We haue also in our London gardens another sort altogether without prickles whose fruit is very smal lesser by much than the common kinde but of a perfect red colour wherein it differeth from the rest of his kinde ¶ The Place These plants do grow in our London 〈◊〉 and elsewhere in great aboundance ¶ The Time The leaues come forth in the beginning of Aprill or sooner the fruit is ripe in Iune and Iuly ¶ The Names This shrub had no name among the old Writers who as we deeme knew it not or else esteemed it not the later writers call it in Latine Crossularia and oftentimes of the berries Vua Crispa 〈◊〉 spina Vua spinella and Vua Crispina in high-Dutch 〈◊〉 in low-Dutch Stekelbesien in Spanish Vua Crispa or Espina in Italian Vua spina in French Groiselles in English Goose-berry Goose-berry bush and Fea-berry bush in Cheshire my natiue countrey ¶ The Temperature The berries of this bush before they be ripe are cold and dry and that in the later end of the second degree and also binding ¶ The Vertues The fruit is vsed in diuers sauces for meate as those that are skilfull in cookerie can 〈◊〉 tel than my selfe They are vsed in broths in stead of Veriuice which maketh the broth not onely-pleasant to the taste but is greatly profitable to such as are troubled with a hot burning ague They are diuersly eaten but how soeuer they be eaten they alwaies ingender raw and cold bloud they nourish nothing or very little they also stay the belly and stench bleedings 〈◊〉 stop the menses or monethly sickenes except they happen to be taken into a cold stomack then do they not helpe but rather clog or trouble the same by some manner of 〈◊〉 The ripe berries as they are sweeter so doe they also little or nothing binde and are something hot and yeeld a little more nourishment than those that be not ripe and the same not crude or raw but these are seldome eaten or vsed as sauce The iuice of the greene Gooseberties cooleth all inflammations Erysipelas and Saint Anthonies fire They prouoke appetite and coole the vehement heate of the stomacke and liuer The young and tender leaues eaten raw in a sallad prouoke vrine and driue forth the stone and grauell CHAP. 23. Of Barberries ¶ The Kindes There de diuers sorts of Barberries some greater others lesser and some without stones Spina acida siue Oxyacantha The Barberry bush ¶ The Description THe Barberry plant is an high shrub or bush hauing many young straight shootes and branches very full of white and prickly thornes the rinde whereof is smooth and thin the wood it selfe yellow the leaues are long very greene slightly nicked about the edges and of a sowre taste the floures be yellow standing in clusters vpon long stemmes in their places come vp long berries slender red when they be ripe with a little hard kernell or stone within of a sowre and sharpe taste the root is yellow disperseth it selfe farre abroad and is of a wooddy substance Wee haue in our London gardens another sort whose fruite is like in forme and substance but one berry is as big as three of the common kinde wherein consisteth the difference We haue likewise another without any stone the fruite is like the rest of the Barber ries both in substance and taste ¶ The Place The Barberrie bush groweth of it selfe in vntoiled places and desart grounds in woods and the borders of fields especially about a Gentlemans house called Mr. Monke dwelling in a village called Iuer two miles from Colebrooke where most of the hedges are nothing else but Barberry bushes They are planred in gardens in most places of England ¶ The Time The leaues spring forth in Aprill the floures and fruite in September ¶ The Names Galen calleth this thorne in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who maketh it to differ from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in his booke of the Faculties of simple medicines but more plainely in his booke of the Faculties of Nourishments where he 〈◊〉 vp the tender springs of Barberries among the tender shoots that are to be eaten such as Oxyacanthus or the Hawthorne bringeth not sorth wherein he plainely 〈◊〉 a difference Oxyacantha the Barbery bush and 〈◊〉 the Hawthorne tree Dioscorides hath not made mention of this Thorne for that which he calleth Oxyacantha in the Foeminine gender is Galens Oxyacanthus in the Masculine gender Auicen seemeth to containe both these shrubs vnder the name of Amyrberis but we know they are neither of affinitie or neighbourhood although they be both prickly The shrub it selfe is called in shops Barbaries of the corrupted name 〈◊〉 of the later writers Crespinus in Italian Crespino in Spanish Espino de maiuelas in high Dutch Paisselbeer in low Dutch Sauseboom in French Espine vinette and thereupon by a Latine name 〈◊〉 Spina acida and Oxyacantha Galeni ‡ In English a Barbery bush or Piprige Tree according to 〈◊〉 Turner ‡ ¶ The Temperature The leaues and berries of this thorne are cold and dry in the second degree and as 〈◊〉 affirmeth they are of thin parts and haue a certaine cutting qualitie ¶ The Vertues The leaues are vsed of diuers to season meate with and in stead of a 〈◊〉 as be those of 〈◊〉 The decoction thereof is good against hot burnings and cholericke agues it allaieth the 〈◊〉 of the bloud and tempereth the ouermuch heate of the liuer The fruite or berries are good for the same things and be also profitable for hot laskes and 〈◊〉 the bloudy flixe and they stay all manner of superfluous bleedings The greene leaues of the Barbery bush stamped and made into sawce as that made of Sorrell called greene sauce doth coole hot stomackes and those that are vexed with
the Italians Pece liquida in high Dutch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in low Durch 〈◊〉 in French Poix foudire in Spanish Pex liquida certaine Apothecaries Kitran and we in English Tar. And of this when it is boiled is made a harder Pitch this is named in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Arida or sicca Pix of diuers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as though they should say Iterata Pix or Pitch iterated because it is boiled the second time A certaine kinde hereof being made clammie or 〈◊〉 is named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in shops Pix naualis or Ship Pitch in high Dutch Bach in low Dutch Steenpeck in Italian Pece secca in French Poix seche in Spanish Pez seca in English Stone Pitch ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Pitch is hot and dry Tarre is hotter and stone pitch more drying as Galen writeth Tar is good against inflammations of the almonds of the throte and the uvula and likewise the Squincie being outwardly applied It is a remedie for mattering eares with oile of Roses it healeth the bitings of Serpents if it be beaten with salt and applied With an equall portion of wax it taketh away foule ilfauoured nailes it wasteth away swellings of the kernels and hard swellings of the mother and fundament With barly meale and a boies vrine it consumeth 〈◊〉 or the Kings euill it staieth eating vlcers if it be laid vnto them with brimstone and the barke of the Pitch Tree or with branne If it be mixed with fine Frankincense and a cerote made thereof it healeth chops of the fundament and feet Stone Pitch doth mollifie and soften hard swellings it ripens and maketh matter and wasteth away hard swellings and inflammations of kernels it filleth vp hollow vlcers and is fitly mixed with wound medicines What vertue Tarre hath when it is inwardly taken we may reade in Dioscorides and Galen but we set downe nothing thereof for that no man in our age will easily vouchsafe the taking There is also made of Pitch a congealed smoke or blacke which serueth 〈◊〉 the same purposes as that of the Rosins doth CHAP. 43. Of the Firre or Deale Tree ¶ The Description 1 THe Firre tree groweth very high and great hauing his leaues euer greene his trunke or body smooth euen and straight without ioints or knots vntill it hath gotten branches which are many and very faire beset with leaues not much vnlike the leaues of the Ewe tree but smaller among which come forth floures vpon the taller trees growing at the bottomes of the leaues like little catkins as you may see them exprest in a branch apart by themselues the fruit is like vnto the Pine Apple but smaller and narrower hanging downe as the Pine Apple the timber hereof excelleth all other timber for the masting of ships posts rails deale boords and sundry other purposes 1 Abies The Firre tree ‡ 2 Abies mas The male Firre tree 2 There is another kinde of Firre tree which is likewise a very high and tall tree and higher than the Pine the body of it is straight without knots below waxing smaller and smaller euen to the very top about which it sendeth forth boughes foure together out of one and the selfe same part of the body placed one against another in manner of a crosse growing forth of the foure sides of the body and obseruing the same order euen to the very top out of these boughes grow others also but by two and two one placed right against another out of the sides which bend downwards when the other beare vpwards the leaues compasse the boughes round about and the branches thereof they be long round and blunt pointed narrower and much whiter than those of the Pitch tree that is to say of a light greene and in a manner of a white colour the cones or clogs be long and longer than any others of the cone trees they consist of a multitude of soft scales they hang downe from the end of the twigs and doe not easily fall downe but remaine on the tree a very long time the kernels in these are small not greater than the kernels of the Cherrie stone with a thinne skin growing on the one side very like almost to the wings of Bees or great Flies the timber or substance of the wood is white and clad with many coats like the head of an Onion ‡ Abietis ramus cumjulis A branch with Catkins or floures ¶ The Place The Firre trees grow vpon high mountains in many woods of Germany and Bohemia in which it continueth alwaies greene it is found also on hils in Italy France other countries it commeth downe oftentimes into the vallies they are found likewise in Pruse Pomerania Liefeland Russia especially in Norway where I haue seene the good liest trees in the world of this kinde growing vpon the rockie and craggie mountaines almost without any earth about them or any other thing sauing a little mosse about the roots which thrust them selues here and there into the chinkes and cranies of the rockes and therefore are easily cast downe with any extreme gale of winde I haue seen these trees growing in Cheshire Staffordshire and Lancashire where they grew in great plenty as is reported before Noahs floud but then being ouerturned and ouerwhelmed haue lien since in the mosses and waterie moorish grounds very fresh and sound vntill this day so full of a resinous substance that they burne like a Torch or Linke and the inhabitants of those countries do call it Fir-wood and Fire-wood vnto this day out of this tree issueth the rosin called Thus in English Frank insence but from the young Fir trees proceedeth an excellent cleare and liquid Rosin in taste like to the peelings or outward rinde of the Pomecitron ¶ The Time The time of the Fir tree agreeth with the Pine trees ¶ The Names The tree is called in Latine Abies in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 amongst the Graecians of our time the same name remaineth whole and vncorrupt it is called in high Dutch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 Thannen baum in Low Dutch Witte Dennen boom or Abel-boom and Mast-boom in Italian Abete in Spanish Abeto in English Firre-tree Mast-tree and Deale-tree The first is called in rench du Sap or Sapin the other is Suiffe The liquid rosin which is taken forth of the barke of the young Firre-trees is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Lachryma abietis and Lachryma 〈◊〉 in the shops of Germany as also of England Terebinthina Veneta or Venice Turpentine in Italian Lagrimo diuers do thinke that Dioscorides calleth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Oleasa Resina or oile Rosin but oile Rosin is the same that Pix liquida or Tar is Arida Abietum Resina or drie Rosin of the Fir trees is rightly called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latine 〈◊〉 Resina it hath a sweet smell and is oftentimes vsed among other perfumes in stead of Frankincense ¶ The Temperature
heath The white formerly mentioned in the third description and here againe in the place seems only a varietie of the second hauing white berries as far as I can gather by our Author for it is most certaine that it is not that which he figured and I haue described in the third place ‡ ¶ The Time The Wortle berries do floure in May and their fruit is ripe in Iune ¶ The Names VVortle berries is called in high-Dutch Hepdelbeeren in low-Dutch Crakebesien because they make a certaine cracke whilest they be broken betweene the teeth of diuers Hauerbesien the French men Airelle or Aurelle as Iohannes de Choul writeth and we in England VVorts VVhortle berries Blacke-berries Bill berries and Bull-berries and in some places VVin-berries Most of the shops of Germany do call them Myrtilli but properly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are the 〈◊〉 of the Myrtle tree as the Apothecaries name them at this day This plant hath no name for ought wee can learne either among the Greekes or antient Latines for whereas most doe take it to be Vitis Idaea or the Corinth tree which Pliny syrnameth 〈◊〉 it is vntrue for Vitis Idaea is not only like to the common Vine 〈◊〉 is also a kinde of Vine and 〈◊〉 who hath made 〈◊〉 hereof doth call it without an Epethete 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 simply as a little after we wil declare which without doubt he would not haue done if he had found it to differ from the common Vine For what things soeuer receiue a name of some plant the same are expressed with some 〈◊〉 added to be known to differ from others as Laurus Alexandrina Vitis alba Vitis nigra Vitis syluestris and such like Moreouer those things which haue borrowed a name from some plant are like thereunto if not wholly yet either in leafe or fruit or in some other thing Vitis alba nigra that is the white and blacke Bryonies haue leaues and clasping tendrels as hath the common Vine and clyme also after the same manner Vitis syluestris or the wilde Vine hath such like stalks as the Vine hath and bringeth forth fruit like to the little Grapes Laurus Alexandrina and Chamedaphne and also Daphnoides are like in leaues to the Laurell tree Sycomorus is like in fruit to the Fig tree and in leaues to the Mulberry tree Chamaedrys hath the leafe of an Oke Peucedanus of the Pine tree so of others which haue taken their names from some other but this low shrub is not like the Vine either in any part or in any other thing This Vitis Idaea groweth not on the vppermost and snowie parts of mount Ida as some would haue it but about Ida euen the hill Ida not of Candy but of Troas in the lesser Asia which 〈◊〉 in his fifth booke of Geographie chap. 3. doth call Alexandri Troas or 〈◊〉 his Troy whereupon it is also aduisedly named of Pliny lib. 14. cap. 3. Vitis Alexandrina no otherwise than 〈◊〉 Laurus is said of Theophrastus to grow there Laurus syrnamed 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 quaedam or a certaine Fig tree and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say the Vine are reported saith he to grow properly about Ida. Like vnto this Vine are those which Philostratus in the life of Apollonius reporteth to grow in Maeonia and Lydia scituated not far from Troy comparing them to those vines which grow in India beyond Caucasus The Vines there saith he be very small like as be those that do grow in Maeonia and Lydia yet is the wine which is pressed out of them of a maruellous pleasant taste This Vine which growes neere to mount Ida is reported to be like a shrub with little twigs and branches of the length of a cubit about which are grapes growing aslope blacke of the bignes of a beane sweet hauing within a certaine winie substance soft the leafe of this is round vncut and little This is described by Pliny lib. 14 cap. 3. almost in the selfe same words It is called saith he Alexandrina vitis and groweth neere vnto Phalacra it is short with branches a cubit long with a blacke grape of the bignes of the Latines Beane with a soft pulpe and very little with very sweet clusters growing aslope and a little round leafe without cuts And with this description the little shrub which the Apothecaries of Germany do call 〈◊〉 doth nothing at all agree as it is very manifest for it is low scarce a cubit high with a few short branches not growing to a cubit in length it doth not bring forth clusters or bunches nor yet fruit like vnto grapes but berries like those of the Yew tree not sweet but somewhat 〈◊〉 and astringent in which also there are many little white flat seeds the leafe is not round but more long than round not like to that of the Vine but of the Box tree Moreouer it is thought that this is not found in Italy Greece or in the lesser Asia for that Matthiolus affirmeth the same to grow no where but in Germanie and Bohemia so far is it from being called or accounted to be Vitis Idaea or Alexandrina The fruit of this may be thought not without cause to be named Vaccinia sith they are berries 〈◊〉 they may be termed of Baccae berries Vaccinia as though they should be called Baccinia Yet this letteth not that there may be also other Vaccinia's for Vaccinia is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dictio or a word of diuers significations Virgil in the 〈◊〉 booke of his Bucolicks Eclog. 10. affirmeth that the written Hyacinth is named of the Latines Vaccinium translating into Latine Theocritus his verse which is taken out of his tenth Eidyl 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Virgil Et nigrae Violae sunt Vaccinia nigra Vitruvius lib. 7. of his Architecture doth also distinguish Vaccinium from the Violet and sheweth that of it is made a gallant purple which seeing that the written Hyacinth cannot do it must needs be that this Vaccinium is another thing than the Hyacinth is because it serues to giue a purple dye Pliny also lib. 16. cap. 18. hath made mention of Vaccinia which are vsed to dye bond-slaues 〈◊〉 with and to giue them a purple colour But whether these be our 〈◊〉 or Whortle berries it is hard to affirme especially seeing that Pliny reckoneth vp Vaccinia amongst those plants which grow in waterie places but ours grow on high places vpon mountaines subiect to windes neither is it certainly knowne to grow in Italy Howsoeuer it is these our Whortles may be called Vaccinia and do agree with Plinies and Vitruvius his Vaccinia because garments and linnen cloath may take from these a purple die The red Whortle berries haue their name from the blacke Whortles to which they be in form very like and are called in Latine Vaccinia rubra in high-Dutch Rooter Heidelbeere in low-Dutch Roode Crakebesien the French men Aurelles Rouges they be named in English Red Worts or red Wortle berries Conradus
Gesnerus hath called this plant Vitis Idaea rubris 〈◊〉 but the growing of the berries doth shew that this doth farre lesse agree with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 than the blacke for they do not hang vpon the sides of the branches as do the black which deceiued them that thought it to be Vitis Idaea but from the tops of the sprigs in clusters As concerning the names of the other they are touched in their seuerall descriptions ¶ The Temperature These Vaccinia or Wortle berries are cold euen in the later end of the second degree and dry also with a manifest astriction or binding qualitie Red Wortle berries are cold and dry and also binding ¶ The Vertues The iuyce of the blacke Wortle berries is boyled till it become thicke and is prepared or kept by adding hony and sugar vnto it the Apothecaries call it Rob which is preferred in all things before the raw berries themselues for many times whilest they be eaten or taken raw they are offensiue to a weake and cold stomacke and so far are they 〈◊〉 binding the belly or staying the laske as that they also trouble the same through their cold and raw qualitie which thing the boiled 〈◊〉 called Rob doth not any whit at all They be good for an hot stomacke they 〈◊〉 thirst they mitigate and allay the heate of hot burning agues they stop the belly stay 〈◊〉 cure the bloudy flix proceeding of choler and helpe the felonie or the purging of choler 〈◊〉 and downwards The people of Cheshire do eate the blacke 〈◊〉 in creame and milke as in these South parts we eate Strawberries which stop and binde the belly putting away also the desire to vomit The red Wortle is not of such a pleasant 〈◊〉 as the blacke and therefore not so much vsed to be eaten but as I said before they make the fairest carnation colour in the world CHAP. 74. Of the Marish Worts or Fenne-Berries Vaccinia palustria Marish Worts ¶ The Description THe Marish Wortle berries grow vpon the bogs in marish or moorish grounds creeping thereupon like vnto wilde Time hauing many small 〈◊〉 and tender stalkes layd almost flat vpon the ground beset with smal narrow leaues fashioned almost like the leaues of Thyme but lesser among which come forth little berries like vnto the common blacke Wortle berrie in shape but somewhat longer sometimes all red and sometimes spotted or specked with red spots of a deeper colour in taste rough and astringent ¶ The Place The Marish Wortle growes vpon bogs and such like waterish and fenny places especially in Cheshire and Staffordshire where I haue found it in great plenty ¶ The Time The Berries are ripe about the end of Iuly and in August ¶ The Names They are called in high-Dutch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say Fen-Grapes or FenBerries and Marish-worts or Marish-Berries Valerius Cordus nameth them Oxycoccon wee haue called them Vacciniapalustria or Marish Wortle berries of the likenesse they haue to the other berries some also call them Mosse-Berries or Moore-berries ¶ The Temperature These Wortle berries are cold and dry hauing withall a certain thinnesse of parts and substance with a certaine binding qualitie adioyned ¶ The 〈◊〉 They take away the heate of burning agues and also the drought they quench the furious heate of choler they stay vomiting restore an appetite to meate which was lost by reason of cholericke and corrupt humors and are good against the pestilent diseases The iuice of these also is boyled till it be thicke with sugar added that it may be kept which is good for all things that the berries are yea and far better CHAP. 75. Of Cloud-berry Vaccinia Nubis Cloud-berries ¶ The Description THe Cloud-berrie hath many small threddy roots creeping farre abroad vnder the vpper crust of the earth and also the mosse like vnto Couch-grasse of an ouerworn reddish colour set here and there with smal tufts of hairy strings from which rise vp two small stalks hard tough and of a wooddy substance neuer more nor lesse on which doe stand the leaues like those of the wilde Mallow and of the same 〈◊〉 full of small nerues or sinewes running in each part of the same between the leaues commeth vp a stalke likewise of a wooddy substance whereon doth grow a small floure consisting of fiue leaues of an herby or yellowish green colour like those of the wilde Auens After commeth the fruit greene at the first after yellow and the sides next the Sun red when they be ripe in forme almost like vnto a little heart made as it were of two but 〈◊〉 no more but one open aboue and closed together in the bottom of a harsh or sharpe taste wherein is contained three or foure little white seeds ¶ The Place This plant groweth naturally vpon the tops of two high mountaines among the mossie places one in 〈◊〉 called Ingleborough the other in Lancashire called Pendle two of the highest mountaines in all England where the clouds are lower than the tops of the same all Winter long whereupon the people of the countrey haue called them Cloud-berries found there by a curious gentleman in the knowledge of plants called Mr. Hesketh often remembred ¶ The Time The leaues spring vp in May at which time it floureth the fruit is ripe in Iuly ¶ The Temperature The fruit is cold and dry and very astringent ¶ The Vertues The fruit quencheth thirst cooleth the stomacke and allayeth inflammations being eaten as Worts are or the decoction made and drunke CHAP. 76. Of shrub Heart-Wort of Aethiopia ¶ The Description THis kind of 〈◊〉 being the Aethiopian Sesely hath blackish stalks of a wooddy substance this plant diuideth it selfe into sundry other armes or branches which are beset with 〈◊〉 sat and 〈◊〉 leaues fashioned somewhat like the Wood-binde leaues but thicker and Seseli Aethiopicum srutex 〈◊〉 Sesely or Hart-woort of Ethiopia more gummie approching very neere vnto the leaues of Oleander both in shape and substance being of a deepe or darke green colour and of a very good sauour and smell and continueth greene in my garden both winter and Sommer like the Bay or Laurell The floures do grow at the tops of the branches in yellow rundles like the floures of Dill which being past there succeedeth a darke or duskie seed resembling the seed of 〈◊〉 and of a bitter taste The root is thicke and of a wooddy substance ¶ The Place It is found both in stony places and on the sea coasts not farre from Marsilles and likewise in other places of Languedocke it also groweth in Ethiopia in the darke and 〈◊〉 woods it groweth in my garden ¶ The Time It flourisheth floureth and seedeth in Iuly and August ¶ The Names The Grecians call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latines likewise Aethiopicum Seseli the Aegyptians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Dogs horrour in English Sesely of 〈◊〉 or Ethiopian Hartwoort ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Sesely of Ethiopia is thought to haue the same
the name of VVitch Hasell as 8. El. 10. This hath little affiaitie with 〈◊〉 which in Essex is called VVitch Hasell Vlmus folio glabro VVitch Elme or smooth leauen Elme 4 This kinde is in bignesse and height like the first the boughes grow as those of the VVitch Hasell doe that is hanged more downewards than those of the common Elme the barke is blacker than that of the first kinde it will also peele from the boughes the floures are like the first and so are the seeds the leaues in forme are like those of the first kinde but are smooth in handling on both sides My worthy friend and excellent Herbarist of happy memorie Mr. William Coys of Stubbers in the parish of Northokington in Essex told me that the wood of this kinde was more desired for naues of Carts than the wood of the first I obserued it growing very plentifully as I rode between Rumford and the said Stubbers in the yeere 1620. intermixed with the first kinde but easily to be discerned apart and is in those parts vsually called VVitch Elme ‡ ¶ The Place The first kinde of Elme groweth plentifully in all places of England The rest are set forth in their descriptions ¶ The Time The seeds of the Elme sheweth it selfe first and before the leaues it falleth in the end of Aprill at what time the leaues begin to spring ¶ The Names The first is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Vlmus in high Dutch 〈◊〉 holtz 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in low Dutch Oimen in French Orme and Omeau in Italian Olmo in Spanish Vlmo in English Elme tree The seed is named by Plinie and Columella Samera The little wormes which are found with the liquor within the small bladders be named in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Culices and Muliones The other Elme is called by Theophrastus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which Gaza translateth Montiulmus or mountaine Elme Columella nameth it Vernacula or Nostras Vlmus that is to say Italica or Italian Elme it is called in low Dutch Herseleer and in some places Heerenteer ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The leaues and barke of the Elme be moderately hot with an euident clensing facultie they haue in the chewing a certaine clammie and glewing qualitie The leaues of Elme glew and heale vp greene wounds so doth the barke wrapped and swadled about the wound like a band The leaues being stamped with vineger do take away scurffe Dioscorides writeth that one ounce weight of the thicker barke drunke with wine or water purgeth flegme The decoction of Elme leaues as also of the barke or root healeth broken bones very speedily if they be fomented or bathed therewith The liquor that is found in the blisters doth beautifie the face and scoureth away all spots freckles pimples spreading tetters and such like being applied thereto It healeth greene wounds and cureth ruptures newly made being laid on with Spleenwoort and the trusse closely set vnto it CHAP. 117. Of the Line or Linden Tree ¶ The Description 1 THe female Line or Linden tree waxeth very great and thicke spreading forth his branches wide and farre abroad being a tree which yeeldeth a most pleasant shadow vnder and within whose boughes may be made braue sommer houses and banqueting arbors because the more that it is surcharged with weight of timber and such like the better it doth flourish The barke is brownish very smooth and plaine on the outside but that which is next to the timber is white moist and tough seruing very well for ropes trases and halters The timber is whitish plaine and without knots yea very soft and gentle in the cutting or handling Better gunpouder is made of the coles of this wood than of VVillow coles The leaues are greene smooth shining and large somewhat snipt or toothed about the edges the floures are little whitish of a good sauour and very many in number growing clustering together from out of the middle of the leafe out of which proceedeth a small whitish long narrow leafe after the floures succeed cornered sharpe pointed Nuts of the bignesse of Hasell Nuts This tree seemeth to be a kinde of Elme and the people of Essex about Heningham wheras great plenty groweth by the way sides do call it broad leafed Elme 1 Tilia faemina The female Line tree 2 Tilia mas The male Line tree 2 The male Tilia or Line tree groweth also very great and thicke spreading it selfe far abroad like the other Linden tree his bark is very tough and pliant and serueth to make cords and halters of The timber of this tree is much harder more knottie and more yellow than the timber of the other not much differing from the timber of the Elme tree the leaues hereof are not much vnlike luy leaues not very greene somewhat snipt about the edges from the middle whereof come forth clusters of little white floures like the former which being vaded there succeed small round pellets growing clustering together like Iuy berries within which is contained a little round blackish seed which falleth out when the berry is ripe ¶ The Place The female Linden tree groweth in some woods in Northampton shire also neere Colchester and in many places alongst the high way leading from London to Henningham in the countie of Essex The male Linden tree groweth in my Lord Treasurers garden at the Strand and in sundry other places as at Barn-elmes and in a garden at Saint Katherines neere London ‡ The female growes in the places here named but I haue not yet obserued the male ‡ ¶ The Time These trees floure in May and their fruit is ripe in August ¶ The Names The Linden tree is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Tilia in high Dutch Linden and Lindenbaum in low Dutch Linde and Lindenboom the Italians Tilia the Spaniards Teia in French Tilet and Tilieul in English Linden tree and Line tree ¶ The Temperature The barke and leaues of the Linden or Line tree are of a temperate heat somewhat drying and astringent ¶ The Vertues The leaues of Tilia boiled in Smithes water with a piece of Allom and a little honey cure the sores in childrens mouthes The leaues boiled vntill they be tender and pouned very small with hogs grease and the pouder of Fenugrecke and Lineseed take away hot swellings and bring impostumes to maturation being applied thereto very hot The floures are commended by diuers against paine of the head proceeding of a cold cause against dissinesse the Apoplexie and also the falling sicknesse and not onely the floures but the distilled water thereof The leaues of the Linden saith Theophrastus are very sweet and be a fodder for most kinde of cattle the fruit can be eaten of none CHAP. 118. Of the Maple tree ‡ 1 Acer maius The great Maple †2 Acer minus The lesser Maple ¶ The Description THe great Maple is a beautifull and high tree with a barke of a meane smoothnesse
vnpleasant although somewhat soure 7 This Cherrie-tree with double floures growes vp vnto a small tree not vnlike to the common Cherrie-tree in each respect sauing that the flours are somewhat doubled that is to say three 〈◊〉 foure times double after which commeth fruit though in small quantitie like the other common Cherrie 8 The double floured Cherrie-tree growes vp like vnto an hedge bush but not so great nor high as any of the others the leaues and branches differ not from the rest of the Cherrie-trees The floures hereof are exceeding double as are the floures of Marigolds but of a white colour and smelling somewhat like the Hawthorne floures after which come seldome or neuer any fruit although some Authors haue said that it beareth sometimes fruit which my selfe haue not at any time seen notwithstanding the tree hath growne in my garden many yeeres and that in an excellent good place by a bricke wall where it hath the reflection of the South sunne fit for a tree that is not willing to beare fruit in our cold climat 11 Cerasus nigra The common blacke Cherry-tree 12 Chamaecerasus The dwarfe Cherry-tree 9 The Birds Cherry-tree or the blacke Cherry-tree that bringeth forth very much fruit vpon 〈◊〉 branch which better may be vnderstood by sight of the figure than by words springeth vp 〈◊〉 an hedge tree of small stature it groweth in the wilde woods of Kent and are there vsed for 〈◊〉 to graft other Cherries vpon of better taste and more profit as especially those called the Flanders Cherries this wilde tree growes very plentifully in the North of England especially at a 〈◊〉 called Heggdale neer vnto Rosgill in 〈◊〉 and in diuers other places about 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and there called Hegberrie-tree it groweth likewise in Martome Parke 〈◊〉 miles from Blackeburne and in Harward neere thereunto in Lancashire almost in euery hedge the leaues and branches differ not from those of the wilde Cherry-tree the floures grow alongst the small branches consisting of fiue small white leaues with some greenish and yellow thrums in the middle after which come the fruit greene at the first blacke when they be ripe and of the bignesse of Sloes of an harsh and vnpleasant taste 10 The other birds Cherry-tree differeth not from the former in any respect but in the colour of the berries for as they are blacke so on the contrary these are red when they be ripe wherein they differ 11 The common blacke Cherry-tree growes vp in some places to a great stature there is no difference betweene it and our common Cherry-tree sauing that the fruit hereof is very little in respect of other Cherries and of a blacke colour 12 The dwarfe Cherry-tree groweth very seldome to the height of three cubits the 〈◊〉 or body small couered with a darke coloured blacke whereupon do grow very limber and pliant twiggy branches the leaues are very small not much vnlike to those of the Priuite bush the floures are small and white after which come Cherries of a deepe red colour when they be ripe of taste somewhat sharpe but not greatly vnpleasant the branches laid downe in the earth quickly take root whereby it is greatly increased My selfe with diuers others haue sundry other sorts in our gardens one called the Hart Cherry the greater and the lesser one of a great bignesse and most pleasant in taste which we call Luke Wardes Cherry because he was the first that brought the same out of Italy another we haue called the Naples Cherry because it was first brought into these parts from Naples the fruit is very great sharpe pointed 〈◊〉 like a mans heart in shape of a pleasant taste and of a deepe blackish colour when it is ripe as it were of the colour of dried bloud We haue another that bringeth forth Cherries also very greatb igger than any Flanders Cherrie of the colour of Iet or burnished horne and of a most pleasant taste as witnesseth Mr. Bull the Queenes Maiesties Clockemaker who did taste of the fruit the tree bearing onely one Cherry which he did eate but my selfe neuer tasted of it at the impression hereof We haue also another called the Agriot Cherry of a reasonable good taste Another we haue with fruit of a dun colour tending to a watchet We haue one of the dwarffe Cherries that bringeth forth fruit as great as most of our Flanders Cherries whereas the common sort hath very small Cherries and those of an harsh taste These and many sorts more we haue in our London gardens whereof to write particularly would greatly enlarge our volume and to small purpose therefore what hath been said shall suffice ‡ I must here as I haue formerly done in Peares Apples and other such fruites refer you to my two friends Mr. Iohn Parkinson and Mr. Iohn Millen the one to furnish you with the history and the other with the things themselues if you desire them ‡ ¶ The Time The Cherrie-trees bloome in Aprill some bring forth their fruit sooner some later the red Cherries be alwaies better than the blacke of their owne kinde ¶ The Names The Cherry-tree is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and also in Latine Cerasus in high-Dutch 〈◊〉 in low-Dutch 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 in French Cerisier in English Cherry-tree The fruit or Cherries be called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in Latine likewise Cerasa in English Cherries the Latine and English names in their seuerall titles shall suffice for the rest that might be said ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The best and principall Cherries be those that are somewhat sower those little sweet ones which be wilde and soonest ripe be the worst they containe bad juice they very soon putrifie and do ingender ill bloud by reason whereof they do not onely breed wormes in the belly but troublesome agues and often pestilent feuers and therefore in well gouerned common wealths it is carefully prouided that they should not be sold in the markets in the plague time Spanish Cherries are like to these in faculties but they do not so soone putrifie they be likewise cold and the iuice they make is not good The Flanders or Kentish Cherries that are through ripe haue a better juice but watery cold and moist they quench thirst they are good for an hot stomacke and profitable for those that haue the ague they easily descend and make the body soluble they nourish nothing at all The late ripe Cherries which the French-men keep dried against winter and are by them called Morclle and we after the same name call them Morell Cherries are dry and do somewhat binde these being dried are pleasant to the taste and wholesome for the stomacke 〈◊〉 as Prunes be and do stop the belly Generally all the kindes of Cherries are cold and moist of temperature although some more cold and moist than others the which being eaten before meat doe soften the belly very gently they are vnwholsome either vnto moist
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
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and is full of venome or poison as the former especially those which grow vpon the Ilex Oliue and Oke trees There is likewise a kinde of Musbrum called Fungus Fanaginosus growing vp in moist and shadowie woods which is also venomous hauing a thicke and tuberous stalke an handfull high of a duskish colour the top whereof is compact of many small diuisions like vnto the hony combe Fungus sambucinus sive Auricula 〈◊〉 Iewes eares Fungi lethales 〈◊〉 non esculenti Poysonous Mushrums There is also found another set forth vnder the title Fungus virilis penis arecti forma which wee English Pricke Mushrum taken from his forme 3 Fungus orbicularis or Lupi crepitus some do call it Lucernarum fungus in English Fusse balls Pucke Fusse and Bulfists with which in some places of England they vse to kill or smolder their Bees when they would driue the Hiues and bereaue the poore Bees of their meat houses and liues these are also vsed in some places where neighbours dwell far asunder to carry and reserue fire from place to place whereof it tooke the name Lucernarum Fungus in forme they are very round sticking and cleauing vnto the ground without any stalks or stems at the first white but afterward of a duskish colour hauing no hole or breach in them whereby a man may see into them which being troden vpon do breath forth a most thin and fine pouder like vnto smoke very noisome and hurtfull vnto the eies causing a kinde of blindnesse which is called Poor-blinde or Sand-blinde Fungi lethales sive non esculenti Poisonous Mushrums There is another kinde of Fungus or Mushrum which groweth in moist medowes and by ditch sides fiue or six inches high couered ouer with a skin like a piece of sheepes leather of a russet colour which being taken away there appeareth a long and white stumpe in forme not much vnlike to an handle mentioned in the title or like vnto the white and tender stalke of Aron but greater this kinde is also full of venome and poison There is likewise a kinde of Mushrum with a certaine round excrescence growing within the earth vnder the vpper crust or face of the same in dry and grauelly grounds in Pannonia and the Prouinces adioining which do cause the ground to swel and be full of hils like Mole-hils The people where they grow are constrained to dig them vp and cast them abroad like as we do Mole-hils spoiling their grounds as Mole-hils are hurtfull vnto our soile these haue neither stalks leaues fibres nor strings annexed or fastened vnto them and for the most part are of a reddish colour but within of a whitish yellow the Grecians haue called this tuberous excrescence Idna and the Latines Tubera the Spaniards do call them Turmas de 〈◊〉 in English 〈◊〉 may call them Spanish Fusse bals ¶ The Place Mushrums come vp about the roots of trees in 〈◊〉 places of medowes and Ley Land newly Fungus fauiginosus Hony-comb'd Mushrome Fungus Virilis Penis effigie Pricke Mushrom Tubera terrae Fusse-balls or Puckfists turned in woods also where the ground is sandy but yet dankish they grow likewise out of wood forth of the rotten bodies of trees but they are vnprofitable and nothing worth Poisonsome Mushroms as Dioscorides saith groweth where old rusty iron lieth or rotten clouts or neere to serpents dens or roots of trees that bring forth venomous fruit Diuers esteeme those for the best which grow in medowes and vpon mountaines and hilly places as Horace saith lib. ser. 2. satyr 4. pratensibus optima fungis 〈◊〉 alijs malè creditur The medow Mushroms are in kinde the best It is ill trusting any of the rest ¶ The Time Diuers come vp in Aprill and last not till May for they flourish but whilest Aprill continues others grow later about August yet all of them after raine and therefore they are 〈◊〉 one yere sooner and another later Mushroms saith Pliny grow in shoures of raine they come of the slime of trees as the same Author affirmeth ¶ The Names They are called in Latine Fungi in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Italian Fonghi in Spanish Hungos Cugumenos in French 〈◊〉 which word the low-Countrey men also vse and call them Campernoellen in high-Dutch Schwemme 〈◊〉 in English Mushroms Toad-stooles and Paddock-stooles The Mushroms that come vp in Aprill are called in Latine of some Spongiolae of the Italians 〈◊〉 and in high-Dutch Morchel They that are of a light red are called of some Boleti among the later ones which rise and fall away in seuen dayes The white or those which be somewhat yellow are called in Latine Suilli which the later Physitions name Porcini or Swine Mushroms Suilli saith Pliny are dried being hanged vpon rushes which are thrust through them The dry ones are in our age also eaten in Bohemia and Austria they that grow by the roots of Poplar trees are called of the Latines Populnei Poplar Mushroms Puffes-fists are commonly called in Latine Lupi crepit us or Wolfes fists in Italian Vescie de Lupo in English Puffes-fists and Fusse-balls in the North. Pliny nameth them Pezicae as though he should say flat Tree Mushroms be called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Fungi arborum and Fungi arborei in English tree Mushroms or Touch-wood in high-Dutch also Schwemme They are all thought to be poisonsome being inwardly taken Nicander writeth that the Mushroms of the Oliue tree the Ilex tree and of the Oke tree bring death ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Galen affirmes that they are all very cold and moist and therefore do approch vnto a venomous and murthering facultie and ingender a clammy pituitous and cold nutriment if they be eaten To conclude few of them are good to be eaten and most of them do suffocate and strangle the eater Therefore I giue my aduice vnto those that loue such strange and new fangled meates to beware of licking honey among thornes lest the sweetnesse of the one do not counteruaile the sharpnesse and pricking of the other Fusse-balls are no way eaten the pouder of them doth dry without biting it is fitly applied to merigalls kibed heeles and such like In diuers parts of England where people dwell farre from neighbours they carry them kindled with fire which lasteth long whereupon they were called Lucernarum Fungi The dust or pouder hereof is very dangerous for the eyes for it hath been often seen that diuers haue been pore-blinde euer after when some small quantitie thereof hath been blowne into their eyes The countrey people do vse to kill or smother Bees with these Fusse-balls being set on fire sor the which purpose it fitly serueth ‡ The fungous excrescence of the Elder commonly called a Iewes eare is much vsed against the inflammations and all other sorenesses of the throat being boiled in milke steeped in beere vineger or any other conuenient liquor ‡ CHAP. 168. Of great Tooth-wort or Clownes Lung-wort ¶ The
that qualitie that if a stake be driuen into it that part of the stake which is within the ground will be a firme and hard stone and all that which is aboue the ground retaineth his former substance and nature Also my selfe being at Rougby about such time as our fantasticke people did with great concourse and multitudes repaire and run headlong vnto the sacred Wells of Newnam 〈◊〉 in the edge of Warwickshire as vnto the water of life which could cure all diseases I went from thence vnto these Wells where I found growing ouer the same a faire Ash tree whose boughes did hang ouer the spring of water whereof some that were seare and rotten and some that of purpose were broken off fell into the water and were all turned into stones Of these boughes or parts of the tree I brought into London which when I had broken in pieces therein might be seene that the pith and all the rest was turned into stones yea many buds and flourings of the tree falling into the said water were also turned into hard stones still retaining the same shape and fashion that they were of before they were in the water I doubt not but if this water were proued about the hardning of some Confections Physicall for the preseruation of them or other special ends it would offer greater occasion of admiration for the health and benefit of mankinde than it doth about such things as already haue been experimented tending to very little purpose CHAP. 171. Of the Goose tree Barnacle tree or the tree bearing Geese Britannicae Conchae anatiferae The breed of Barnacles ¶ The Description HAuing trauelled from the Grasses growing in the bottome of the fenny waters the Woods and mountaines euen vnto Libanus it selfe and also the sea and bowels of the same wee are arriued at the end of our Historie thinking it not impertinent to the conclusion of the same to end with one of the maruells of this land we may say of the world The historie whereof to set forth according to the worthinesse and raritie thereof would not only require a large and peculiar volume but also a deeper search into the bowels of nature than my intended purposewil 〈◊〉 me to wade into my sufficiencie also considered leauing the historie thereof rough hewen vnto some excellent men learned in the secrets of nature to be both fined and refined in the mean space take it as it falleth out the naked and bare truth though vnpolished There are found in the North parts of Scotland and the Islands adiacent called Orchades certain trees whereon do grow certaine shells of a white colour tending to russet 〈◊〉 are contained little liuing creatures which shells in time of maturitie do open and out of them grow those little liuing things which falling into the water do become fowles which we call 〈◊〉 in the North of England brant Geese and in Lancashire tree Geese but the other that do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the land perish and come to nothing Thus much by the writings of others and also from the mouths 〈◊〉 people of those parts which may very well accord with truth But what our eyes haue seene and hands haue touched we shall declare There is a small Island in Lancashire called the Pile of Foulders wherein are found the broken pieces of old and bruised ships some whereof haue been cast thither by shipwracke and also the trunks and bodies with the branches of old and rotten trees cast vp there likewise whereon is found a certaine spume or froth that in time breedeth vnto certaine shels in shape like those of the Muskle but sharper pointed and of a whitish colour wherein is contained a thing in forme like a lace of silke finely wouen as it were together of a whitish colour one end whereof is fastned vnto the inside of the shell euen as the fish of Oisters and Muskles are the other end is made fast vnto the belly of a rude masse or Iumpe which in time commeth to the shape and 〈◊〉 of a Bird when it is perfectly formed the shell gapeth open and the first thing that appeareth is the foresaid lace or string next come the legs of the bird hanging out and as it groweth greater it openeth the shell by degrees til at length it is all come forth and hangeth onely by the bill in short space after it commeth to full maturitie and falleth into the sea where it gathereth feathers and groweth to a fowle bigger than a Mallard and lesser than a Goose hauing blacke legs and bill or beake and feathers blacke and white spotted in such manner as is our Mag-Pie called in some places a Pie-Annet which the people of Lancashire call by no other name than a tree Goose which place aforesaid and all those parts adioyning do so much abound 〈◊〉 that one of the best is bought for three pence For the truth hereof if any doubt may it please them to repaire vnto me and I shall satisfie them by the testimonie of good witnesses Moreouer it should seeme that there is another sort hereof the historie of which is true and of mine owne knowledge for trauelling vpon the shore of our English coast betweene Douer and Rumney I found the trunke of an old rotten tree which with some helpe that I procured by Fishermens wiues that were there attending their husbands returne from the sea we drew out of the water vpon dry land vpon this rotten tree I found growing many thousands of long crimson bladders in shape like vnto puddings newly filled before they be sodden which were very cleere and shining at the nether end whereof did grow a shell fish fashioned somewhat like a small Muskle but much whiter resembling a shell fish that groweth vpon the rockes about Garnsey and Garsey called a Lympit many of these shells I brought with me to London which after I had opened I found in them liuing things without forme or shape in others which were neerer come to ripenes I found liuing things that were very naked in shape like a Bird in others the Birds couered with soft downe the shell halfe open and the Bird ready to fall our which no doubt were the Fowles called Barnakles I dare not absolutely auouch euery circumstance of the first part of this history concerning the tree that beareth those buds aforesaid but will leaue it to a further consideration howbeit that which I haue seene with mine eyes and handled with mine hands I dare confidently auouch and boldly put downe for veritie Now if any will obiect that this tree which I saw might be one of those before mentioned which either by the waues of the sea or some violent wind had been ouerturned as many other trees are or that any trees falling into those seas about the Orchades will of themselues beare the like fowles by reason of those seas and waters these being so probable coniectures and likely to be true I may not without preiudice gainesay or indeauour to 〈◊〉 ‡ The
the hardnesse of the spleene and all infirmities of the bloud The root boyled in wine stamped and applied plaisterwise vnto the cods doth wonderfully abate the swelling of the same and helpeth all hardnesse and collections of humors The quantitie of two scruples and an halfe of the root drunke in foure ounces of Muskadel helpeth them that be bruised with grieuous beating or falls The root is with good successe mixed in counterpoysons In our age it is put into Eclegma's that is medicines for the lungs and especially when the lungs and chest are opprest with raw and cold humors ‡ The root of this preserued is very pleasant to the taste and comfortable to the stomacke and heart so that the Turks at Constantinople take it fasting in the morning against the contagion of the corrupt aire And the Tartars haue it in such esteeme that they will not drinke Water which is their vsuall drinke vnlesse they haue first steeped some of this root therein ‡ ¶ The choice The best Acorus as Dioscorides saith is that which is substantiall and well compact white within not rotten full and well smelling Pliny writeth That those which grow in Candia are better than those of Pontus and yet those of Candia worse than those of the Easterne countries or those of England although we haue no great quantitie thereof ¶ The faculties of the true Calamus out of Dioscorides ‡ It being taken in drinke moueth vrine wherefore boyled with the roots of grasse or Smallage seeds it helpeth such as are hydropick nephritick troubled with the strangurie or bruised It moues the Courses either drunke or otherwise applied Also the fume thereof taken by the mouth in a pipe either alone or with dried Turpentine helpes coughs It is boyled also in baths for women and decoctions for Glysters and it enters into plaisters and perfumes for the smells sake ‡ CHAP. 46. Of Corne. THus farre haue I discoursed vpon Grasses Rushes Spartum Flags and Floure deluces my next labour is to set downe for your better instruction the historie of Corne and the kindes thereof vnder the name of Graine which the Latines call Cerialia semina or Bread-corne the Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of which wee purpose to discourse There belong to the historie of Graine all such things as be made of Corne as Far Condrus Alica Tragus Amylum Ptisana Polenta Maza 〈◊〉 or Malt Zythum and whatsoeuer are of that sort There be also ioyned vnto them many seeds which Theophrastus in his eighth booke placeth among the graines as Millet Sorgum Panicke Indian wheat and such like Galen in his first booke of the Faculties of nourishments reckoneth vp the diseases of Graine as well those that come of the graine it selfe degenerating or that are changed into some other kinde and made worse through the fault of the weather or of the soile as also such as be cumbersome by growing among them doe likewise fitly succeed the graines And beginning with corne we will first speake of Wheat and describe it in the first place because it is preferred before all other corne 1 Triticum spica mutica White Wheate ¶ The Description 1 THis kinde of Wheate which Lobelius distinguishing it by the care calleth Spica Mutica is the most principal of all other whose eares are altogether bare or naked without awnes or chaffie beards The stalke riseth from a threddy root compact of many strings joynted or kneed at sundry distances from whence shoot forth grassie blades and leaues like vnto Rie but broader The plant is so well knowne to many and so profitable to all that the meanest and most ignorant need no larger description to know the same by 2 The second kinde of Wheat in root stalkes joints and blades is like the precedent differing onely in care and number of graines whereof this kinde doth abound hauing an eare consisting of many ranks which seemeth to make the eare double or square The root and graine is like the other but not bare and naked but bristled or bearded with many small and sharpe eiles or awnes not vnlike to those of Barley 3 Flat Wheat is like vnto the other kindes of Wheat in leaues stalkes and roots but is bearded and bordered with rough and sharpe ailes wherein consists the difference ‡ I know not what our Author means by this flat Wheat but I conjecture it to be the long rough eared Wheat which hath blewish eares when as it is ripe in other things resembling the ordinary red wheat ‡ 4 The fourth kinde is like the last described and thus differeth from it in that that this kind hath many smal ears comming forth of one great eare the beards hereof be shorter than of the former kind 5 Bright wheate is like the second before described and differeth from it in that that this kind is foure square somewhat bright and shining the other not ‡ I thinke it a very fit thing to adde in this place a rare obseruation of the transmutation of one species into another in plants which though it haue beene obserued of ancient times as by Theophrastus de caus plant lib. 3. cap. 6. whereas amongst others hee mentioneth the change of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Spelt into oates and by Virgill in these verses Grandia saepe quibus mandauimus Hordea sulcis 〈◊〉 Lolium steriles dominantur 〈◊〉 That is In furrowes where great Barley we did sow Nothing but Darnel and poore Oats do grow yet none that I haue read haue obserued that two seuerall graines perfect in each respect did grow at any time in one eare the which I saw this yeare 1632 in an eare of white Wheat which was found by my very good Friend Master Iohn Goodyer a man second to none in his industrie and searching of plants nor in his iudgement or knowledge of them This eare of wheat was as large and faire as most are and about the middle thereof grew three or foure perfect Oats in all respects which being hard to be found I held very worthy of setting downe for some reasons not to be insisted vpon in this place ‡ ¶ The place Wheat groweth almost in all the countries of the world that are inhabited and mannured and requireth a fruitfull and fat soile and rather Sunny and dry than watery grounds and shadowie for in a dry ground as Columella reporteth it groweth harder and better compact in a moist and darke soile it degenerateth sometime to be of another kinde 2 Triticum aristis circumvallatum Bearded Wheat or Red-Wheat ¶ The time They are most commonly sowen in the fall of the leafe or Autumne somtime in the Spring ¶ The Names Wheat is called of the Grecians 〈◊〉 of the Latines Triticum and the white Wheate Siligo Triticum doth generally signifie 〈◊〉 kinde of Corne which is threshed out of the eares and made clean by fanning or such ordinary meanes The Germans call it 〈◊〉 in low Dutch 〈◊〉 in Italian
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