יהוה Ecce dedi vobis omnes herbas smentantes semen qiue sunt Gen 1. 29. Excideret ne tibi diuini muneris Author Praesentem monstrat quaelibet herba Deum Ceres Pomona THE HERBALL OR GENERALL Historie of Plantes Gathered by John Gerarde of London Master in CHIRVRGERIE Very much Enlarged and Amended by Thomas Johnson Citizen and Apothecarye of LONDON THEOPHRASTUS DIOSCORIDES London Printed by Adam Islip Joice Norton and Richard Whitakers Anno 1633. Io Payne sculp VIRIS PRVDENTIA VIRTVTE ARTE RERVMQVE VSV SPECTATISSIMIS DIGNISSIMIS RICHARDO EDWARDS RECTORI SIVE MAGISTRO EDWARDO COOKE LEONARDO STONE GVARDIANIS CAETERISQVE CLARISS SOCIET PHARMACEVT LOND SOCIIS HOS SVOS IN EMACVLANDO AVGENDOQVE HANC PLANTARVM HISTORIAM LABORES STVDIORVM BOTANICORVM SPECIMEN AMORIS SYMBOLVM EX ANIMO D. D. VESTRAE PVBLICAEQVE VTILITATIS STVDIOSISSIMVS THOM. IOHNSON TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE HIS SINGVLAR GOOD LORD AND MASTER SIR WILLIAM CECIL KNIGHT BARON OF Burghley Master of the Court of Wards and Liueries Chancellor of the Vniuersitie of Cambridge Knight of the most noble Order of the Garter one of the Lords of her Maiesties most honorable Priuy Councell and Lord high Treasurer of England AMong the manifold creatures of God right Honorable and my singular good Lord that haue all in all ages diuersly entertained manv excellent wits and drawne them to the contemplation of the diuine wisdome none haue prouoked mens studies more or satisfied their desires so much as Plants haue done and that vpon iust and worthy causes For if delight may prouoke mens labor what greater delight is there than to behold the earth apparelled with plants as with a robe of embroidered worke set with Orient pearles and garnished with great 〈◊〉 of rare and costly iewels If this varietie and perfection of colours may affect the eye it is such in herbs and floures that no Apelles no Zeuxis euer could by any art expresse the like if odours or if taste may worke satisfaction they are both so 〈◊〉 in plants and so comfortable that no confection of the Apothecaries can equall their excellent vertue But these delights are in the outward sences the principall delight is in the minde siugularly enriched with the knowledge of these visible things setting forth to vs the inuisible wisedome and admirable workmanship of almighty God The delight is great but the vse greater and ioyned often with necessity In the first ages of the world they were the ordinarie meate of men and haue continued euer since of necessaire vse both for meates to maintaine life and for medicine to recouer health The hidden vertue of them is such that as Pliny noteth the very bruite beasts haue found it out and which is another vse that he obserues from thence the Dyars tooke the beginning of their Art Furthermore the necessary vse of these fruits of the earth doth plainly appeare by the great charge and care of almost all men in planting and maintaining of gardens not as ornaments onely but as a necessarie prouision also to their houses And here beside the 〈◊〉 to speake againe in a word of delight gardens especially such as your Honor hath furnished with many rare Simples do singularly delight when in them a man doth behold a flourishing shew of Sommer beauties in the midst of Winters force and a goodly spring of floures when abroad a leafe is not to be seene Besides these and other causes there are many examples of those that haue honored this science for to passe by a multitude of the Philosophers it may please your Honor to call to remembrance that which you know of some noble Princes that haue ioyned this study with their most important matters of state Mithridates the great was famous for his knowledge herein as 〈◊〉 noteth Euax also King of Arabia the happy garden of the world for principall Simples wrot of this argument as Pliny sheweth Diocletian likewise might haue had his praise had he not drowned all his honour in the bloud of his persecution To conclude this point the example of Solomon is before the rest and greater whose wisedome and knowledge was such that hee was able to set out the nature of all plants from the highest Cedar to the lowest Mosse But my very good 〈◊〉 that which sometime was the study of great Philosophers and mightie Princes is now neglected except it be of some few whose spirit and wisdome hath carried them among other parts of wisedome and counsell to a care and studie of speciall herbes both for the furnishing of their gardens and furtherance of their knowledge among whom I may iustly affirme and publish your Honor to be one being my selfe one of your seruants and a long time witnesse thereof for vnder your Lordship I haue serued and that way employed my principall study and almost all my time now by the space of twenty yeares To the large and singular furniture of this noble Island I haue added from 〈◊〉 places all the varietie of herbes and floures that I might any 〈◊〉 obtaine I haue laboured with the soile to make it fit for plants and with the plants that they might delight in the soile that so they might liue and prosper vnder our clymat as in their natiue and proper countrey what my successe hath beene and what my furniture is I leaue to the report of them that haue 〈◊〉 your Lordships gardens and the little plot of myne owne especiall care and husbandry But because gardens are priuat and many times finding an ignorant or a negligent successor come soone to ruine there be that haue sollicited me first by my pen and after by the Presse to make my Labors common and to free them from the danger whereunto a garden is subiect wherein when I was ouercome and had brought this History or report of the nature of Plants to a iust volume and had made it as the Reader may by comparison see richer than former Herbals I found it no question vnto whom I might 〈◊〉 my 〈◊〉 for considering your good Lordship I found none of whose fauor and 〈◊〉 I might sooner presume seeing I haue found you euer my very good Lord and Master Again considering my duty and your Honors merits to whom may I better recommend my Labors than to him vnto whom I owe my selfe and all that I am able in any seruice or 〈◊〉 to performe Therefore vnder hope of your Honorable and accustomed fauor I present this Herball to your Lordships protection and not as an exquisite Worke for I know my meannesse but as the greatest gift and chiefest argument of duty that my labour and seruice can affoord where of if there be no other fruit yet this is of some vse that I haue ministred Matter for Men of riper wits and deeper iudgements to polish and to adde to my large additions where any thing is defectiue that in time the Worke may be perfect Thus I humbly take my leaue beseeching God to grant
six leaues not so large as the former and then many other little leaues mixed with threds comming sorth of the middle Now there are purple welts which runne betweene the first and second ranke of leaues in the floure and so in the rest This floures in May and it is Narcissus pleno flore quintus of Clusius ‡ ‡ 13 Narcissus flore pleno medio versicolore Double Daffodill with a diuers coloured middle 14 Narcissus totus albus Milke white Daffodill 6 This late flouring Daffodill hath many fat thicke leaues full of juice among the which riseth vp a naked stalke on the top whereof groweth a faire white floure hauing in the middle a ring or yellow circle The seed groweth in knobby seed vessels The root is bulbous or Onion fashion It floureth later than the others before described that is to say in April and May. 7 The seuenth kinde of Daffodill is that sort of Narcissus or Primerose peerelesse that is most common in our countrey gardens generally knowne euery where It hath long fat and thicke leaues full of a slimie juice among which riseth vp a bare thicke stalke hollow within and full of juice The floure groweth at the top of a yellowish white colour with a yellow crowne or circle in the middle and floureth in the moneth of Aprill and sometimes sooner The root is bulbous fashion 8 The eighth Daffodill hath many broad and thicke leaues fat and full of juice hollow and spongeous The stalkes floures and roots are like the former and differeth in that that this plant bringeth forth many floures vpon one stalk and the other fewer and not of so perfect a sweet smel but more offensiue and stuffing the head It hath this addition Polyanthos that is of many floures wherein especially consisteth the difference 9 The Italian Daffodill is very like the former the which to distinguish in words that they may be knowne one from another is impossible Their floures leaues and roots are like sauing that the floures of this are sweeter and more in number 15 Narcissus Iuncifolius praecox Rush Daffodill or Iunquilia 16 Narcissus Iuncifolius serotinus Late flouring Rush Daffodill 10 The double white Daffodill of Constantinople was senr into England vnto the right honourable the Lord Treasurer among other bulbed sloures whose roots when they were planted in our London gardens did bring forth beautifull floures very white and double with some yellownesse mixed in the middle leaues pleasant and sweet in smell but sinee that time we neuer could by any industrie or manuring bring them vnto flouring againe So that it should appeare when they were discharged of that birth or burthen which they had begotten in their owne country and not finding that matter soile or clymate to beget more floures they remaine euer since barren and fruitlesse Besides we found by experience that those plants which in Autumne did shoor forth leaues did bring forth no floures at all and the others that appeared not vntill the Spring did flourish and beare their floures The stalks leaues and roots are like vnto the other kindes of Daffodils It is called of the Turks Giul Catamer lale That is Narcissus with double floures Notwithstanding we haue receiued from beyond the seas as well from the Low Countries as also from France another sort of greater beautie which from yeare to yeare doth yeeld forth most pleasant double floures and great encrease of roots very like as well in stalkes as other parts of the plant vnto the other sorts of Daffodils It differeth onely in the floures which are very double and thicke thrust together as are the floures of our double Primrose hauing in the middle of the 〈◊〉 some few chiues or welts of a bright purple colour and the other mixed with yellow as aforesaid ‡ 11 This alsowith double white floures which Clusius sets forth in the sixth place is of the same kinde with the last described but it beares but one or two floures vpon a stalke whereas the other hath many 12 This which is Clusius his Narcissus flore pleno 2. is in roots leaues and stalkes very like the precedent but the floures are composed of six large white out-leaues but the middle is filled with many faire yellow little leaues much like to the double yellow wall-floure They smel sweet like as the last mentioned 13 This differs from the last mentioned onely in that it is lesse and that the middle of the floure within the yellow cup is filled with longish narrow little leaues as it were crossing each other Their colour is white but mixed with some greene on the outside and yellow on the inside ‡ 14 The milke white Daffodill differeth not from the common white Daffodill or Primrose peerelesse in leaues stalkes roots or floures sauing that the floures of this plant hath not any other colour in the floure but white whereas all the others are mixed with one colour or other ‡ 17 Narcissus juncifolius Roseoluteus Rose or round floured Iunquilia ‡ 18 Narcissus juncifolius amplo calice White Iunquilia with the large cup. ‡ 19 Narcissus juncifolius reflexus flore 〈◊〉 The white reflex Iunquilia 15 The Rush Daffodill hath long narrow and thicke leaues very smooth and flexible almost round like Rushes whereof it tooke his syrname Iuncifolius or Rushie It springeth vp in the beginning of Ianuarie at which time also the floures doe shoot forth their buds at the top of small rushy stalkes sometimes two and often more vpon one stalke made of six small yellow leaues The cup or crowne in the middle is likewise yellow in shape resembling the other Daffodills but smaller and of a strong sweet smell 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is bulbed white within and couered with a blacke skin or filme 16 This Rush Daffodil is like vnto the precedent in each respect sauing that it is altogether lesser and longer before it come to flouring There is also a white floured one of this kinde ‡ 17 There is also another Rush Daffodill or Iunquilia with floures not sharpe pointed but round with a little cup in the middle the colour is yellow or else white This is Lobels Narcissus juncifolius flore 〈◊〉 circinitatis roseo 18 There is also another Iunquilia whose leaues and stalkes are like those of the first described Rushy Daffodill but the cup in the middest of the floure is much larger The colour of the floure is commonly white Clusius calls this Narcissus 1 〈◊〉 amplo calice 19 There are three or foure reflex Iunquilia's whose cups hang downe and the sixe incompassing leaues turne vp or backe whence they take their names The floures of the first are yellow those of the second all white the cup of the third is yellow and the reflex leaues white The fourth hath a white cup and yellow reflex leaues This seemes to be Lobels Narcissus montanus minimus coronatus 20 This is like to the ordinarie lesser Iunquilia but that the floures are very double consisting of many long and large
slender and branched the floures are sometimes purplish but more often yellow The rootes are slender with certaine threds or strings hanging on them ‡ There is also another varietie hereof with the leaues lesse diuided and much smoother than the two last described hauing yellow floures and cods not so deeply joynted as the last described this is that which is set sorth by Matthiolus vnder the name of Lampsana 3 Water Chadlock groweth vp to the height of three foot or somewhat more with branches slender and smooth in respect of any of the rest of his kinde set with rough ribbed leaues deeply indented about the lower part of the leafe The floures grow at the top of the branches vmble or tust fashion sometimes of one colour and sometimes of another ‡ The root is long tough and sull of strings creeping and putting forth many stalkes the seed vessells are short and small 〈◊〉 hath this vnder the title of Raphanus 〈◊〉 alter ‡ 2 Rapistrum aruense alterum Another wilde Charlocke 3 Rapistrum aquaticum Water Chadlocke ¶ The Place Wilde Turneps or Rapes doe grow of themselues in fallow fields and likewise by highwayes neere vnto old walls vpon ditch-bankes and neere vnto townes and villages and in other vntoiled and rough places The Chadlocke groweth for the most part among corne in barraine grounds and often by the borders of fields and such like places Water Chadlocke groweth in moist medowes and marish grounds as also in water ditches and such like places ¶ The Time These doe floure from March till Summer be farre spent and in the meane season the seed is ripe ¶ The Names Wilde Turnep is called in Latine Rapistrum Rapum syluestre and of some Sinapi 〈◊〉 or wild mustard in high Dutch 〈◊〉 in low Dutch 〈◊〉 in French Vclar in English Rape and Rape seed Rapistrum aruorum is called Charlock and Carlock ¶ 〈◊〉 Temperature The seed of these wild kindes of Turneps as also the water Chadlock are hot and drie as mustard seed is Some haue thought that Carlock hath a drying and clensing qualitie and somewhat digesting ¶ The Vertues Diuers vse the seed of Rape in steed of mustard seed who either make hereof a sauce bearing the name of mustard or else mixe it with mustard seed but this kinde of sauce is not so pleasant to the taste because it is bitter Galen writeth that these being eaten engender euill blood yet Disoscorides saith they warme the stomacke and nourish somewhat CHAP. 3. Of Nauewes ¶ The Kindes THere be sundrie kindes of Nape or Nauewes degenerating from the kindes of Turnep of which some are of the garden and other wilde or of the field ¶ The Description 1 NAuew gentle is like vnto Turneps in stalkes floures and seed as also in the shape of the leaues but those of the Nauew are much smoother it also differeth in the root the Turnep is round like a globe the Nauew root is somewhat stretched forth in length 1 Bunias Nauew Gentle 2 Bunias 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Wilde Nauew 2 The small or wilde Nauew is like vnto the former sauing that it is altogether lesser The root is small somewhat long with threads long and tough at the end thereof ¶ The 〈◊〉 Nauew-gentle requireth a loose and yellow mould euen as doth the Turnep and prospereth in a fruitfull soile he is sowen in France Bauaria and other places in the fields for the seeds sake as is likewise that wild Colewort called of the old writers Crambe for the plentifull increase of the seeds bringeth no small gaine to the husbandmen of that countrey because that being pressed they yeeld an oile which is vsed not onely in lampes but also in the making of sope for of this oile and a lie made of certaine ashes is boiled a sope which is vsed in the Lowe-countries euery where to scoure and wash linnen clothes I haue heard it reported that it is at this day sowen in England for the same purpose The wilde Nauew groweth vpon ditch bankes neere vnto villages and good townes as alsovpon fresh marshie bankes in most places ¶ The Time The Nauew is sowen floureth and seedeth at the same time that the Turnep doth ¶ The Names The Nauew is called in Latine Napus and also Bunias in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Germaines call it Steckruben the Brabanders Steckropen in Spanish Naps in Italian Nauo the Frenchmen Naueau in English Nauew-gentle or French Naueau The other is called Napus sylvestru or wild Nauew ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The Nauew and the Turnep are all one in temperature and vertues yet some suppose that the Nauew is a little drier and not so soone concocted nor 〈◊〉 downe so easily and doth withall ingender lesse winde In the rest it is answerable to the Turnep ‡ The seeds of these taken in drinke or broth are good against poyson and are vsually put into Antidotes for the same purpose ‡ CHAP. 4. Of Lyons Turnep or Lyons leafe Leontopet alon Lyons leafe ¶ The Description LYons Turnep or Lyons leafe hath broad leaues like vnto Coleworts or rather like the pionyes cut and diuided into sundry great gashes the stalke is two foot long thicke and full of iuyce diuiding it selfe into diuers branches or wings in the tops whereof stand red floures afterward there appeareth long cods in which lie the seeds like vnto tares or wilde chichs The root is great bumped like a Turnep and blacke without ¶ The Place It groweth among corne in diuers places of Italy in Candie also and in other Prouinces towards the South and East The right honorable Lord Zouch brought a plant hereof from Italy at his returne into England the which was planted in his garden But as farre as I doe know it perished ¶ The Time It floureth in winter as witnesseth Petrus Bellonius ¶ The Names The Grecians call it 〈◊〉 that is Leonis folium or Lyons leafe Plinie doth call it also Leontopetalon Apuleius Leontopodion yet there is another plant called by the same name There bee many bastard Names giuen vnto it as Rapeium Papauerculum Semen Lconinum Pes Leoninus and Brumaria in English Lyons leafe and Lyons Turnep ¶ The Temperature Lyons Turnep is of force to digest it is hot and drie in the third degree as Galen teacheth ¶ The Vertues The root saith Dioscorides taken in wine doth helpe them that are bitten of Serpents and it doth most speedily alay the paine It is put into glisters which are made for them that bee tormented with the Sciatica CHAP. 5. Of Radish ¶ The Kindes THere be sundrie sorts of Radish whereof some be long and white others long and blacke some round and white others round or of the forme of a peare and blacke of colour some wilde or of the field and some tame or of the garden whereof we will intreat in this present chapter †1 Raphanus sativus Garden Radish †2 Radicula satina minor Small garden Radish ¶ The Description 1 THe
small and white each consisting of foure leaues The seeds be placed vpon the branches from the lowest part of them to the top exceeding sharpe and hot in taste and of a yellowish colour The roote is small and woody 5 Grecian mustard hath many leaues spred vpon the ground like those of the common Daisie of a darke greenish colour from the midst whereof spring vp stalkes two foote long diuided 1 Thlaspi Dioscoridis Treacle 〈◊〉 2 Thlaspi Vulgatiss mum Mithridate Mustard 3 Thlaspi maius Knaues Mustard 4 Thlaspi minus Bowyers Mustard 5 Thlaspi Graecum Grecian Mustard 6 Thlaspi 〈◊〉 Clownes Mustard 7 Thlaspi Clypeatum Lobelij Buckler Mustard 8 Thlaspi minus Clypeatum Small Buckler Mustard †6 Clownes mustard hath a short white fibrous root from whence ariseth vp a stalke of the height of a foot which a little aboue the root diuides it selfe into some foure or fiue branches and these againe are subdiuided into other smaller so that it resembles a little shrub longish narrow leaues notched after the manee of Sciatica Cresses by turees garnish these branches and these leaues are as bitter as the smaller Centaury The flowers stand thicke togéther at the tops of these branches in manner of little vmbels and are commonly of a light blew and white mixed together being seldome onely white or yellow After the flowers succeed seed vessels after the manner of the other plants of this kinde and in them is conteined a small hot seed †7 Buckler mustard hath many large leaues spread vpon the ground like Hieracium or Hawkeweede somewhat more toothed or snipt about the edges among which comes vp stalkes small and brittle a cubit high garnished with many small pale yellowish flowers in whose place succeed many round flat cods or pouches buckler fashion conteining a seed like vnto the others 8 Small Buckler Mustard is a very small base or low plant hauing whitish leaues like those of wild Time set vpon small weake and tender branches The flowers grow at the top like the other buckler Mustard The seed vessels are like but not so round somewhat sharpe pointed sharp in taste burning the tongue The whole plant lieth flat vpon the ground like wild Tyme ¶ The Place Treacle or rather Mithridate Mustard growes wild in sundry 〈◊〉 in corn fields ditch banks and in sandy drie and barren ground I haue found it in corne fields betweene Croydon Godsstone in Surrey at South-fleete in Kent by the path that leadeth from Harnsey a small village by London vnto Waltham crosse and in many other places The other do grow vnder hedges oftentimes in fields and in stonie and vntoiled places they grow plentifully in Bohemia and Germany they are seene likewise on the stonie bankes of the riuer Rhene They are likewise to be found in England in sundrie places wilde the which I haue gathered into my garden ‡ I haue found none but the first and second growing wilde in any part of England as yet but I deny not but that some of the other may be found though not all ‡ ¶ The Time These treacle Mustards are found with their flowers from May to Iuly and the seed is ripe in the end of August ¶ The Names The Grecians call these kindes of herbes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the huske or seed vessell which is like a little shield They haue also other names which be found among the bastard words as Scandulaceum Capsella Pes gallinaceus Neither be the later writers without their names as Nasturtium tectorum and Sinapi rusticum it is called in Dutch Wilde 〈◊〉 in French 〈◊〉 sauuage in English Treacle Mustard dish Mustard Bowyers Mustard of some Thlaspi after the Greeke name Churles mustard and wilde Cresses ‡ 1 This is Thlaspi Dioscoridis Drabae aut Chamelinae folio of Lobell Thlaspi Latius of Dodonaeus and the second Thlaspi of Matthiolus 2 This Thlaspi Vulgatissimum Vaccariae folio of Lobell the first Thlaspi of Matthiolus and second of Dodonaeus and this is that Thlaspi whose seed is vsed in shops 3 This is Thlaspi majus of Tabernamontanus 4 This is Thlaspi minus of Dodonaeus Thlaspi 〈◊〉 of Fuchsius Thlaspi minus hortense Osyridis solio c. of Lobell and Nasturtium sylvestre of Thalius 5 This is Alysson of Matthiolus Thlaspi Graecum Polygonati folio of Lobell and Tabern 6 This the Author of the Hist. Lug. calls Nasturtium sylvestre Tabern calls it Thlaspi 〈◊〉 7 Lobell termes this Thlaspi parvum Hieracifolium and Lunaria Lutea Monspeliensium 8 This is Thlaspi minus clypeatum Serpillifolio of Lobell ‡ ¶ The Temperature The seed of these kindes of Treacle Mustards be hot and drie in the end of the third degree ¶ The Vertues The seed of Thlaspi or treacle Mustard eaten purgeth colour both vpward and downeward prouoketh flowers and breaketh inward aposthumes The same vsed in clysters helpeth the sciatica and is good vnto those purposes for which Mustard seed serueth ¶ The Danger The seed of these herbes be so extreame hot and vehement in working that being taken in too great a quantitie purgeth and scoureth euen vnto bloud and is hurtfull to women with child and therefore great care is to be had in giuing them inwardly in any great quantitie CHAP. 20. Of Candie Mustard ¶ The Description CAndie mustard excelleth all the rest as well for the comely floures that it bringeth forth for the decking vp of gardens and houses as also for that it goeth beyond the rest in his physicall vertues It riseth vp with a very brittle stalke of a cubit high which diuideth it selfe into sundry bowes or branches set with leaues like those of stocke gillifioures of a gray or ouerworne greene colour The floures grow at the top of thes stalke roundt hicke clustering together like those of Scabious or diuels bit sometimes blew often purple carnation or horse flesh but seldome white for any thing that I haue seen varying according to the soile or Clymate The seed is reddish sharpe and biting the tongue wrapped in little huskes fashioned like an heart ‡ There is a lesser variety of this with white well smelling flowers in other respects little differing from the ordinary ‡ Thlaspi Candiae Candie Mustard ‡ Thlaspi Candiae parvum slo albo Small Candy mustard with a white floure ¶ The Place This growes naturally in some places of Austria as also in Candy Spaine Italy from whence I receiued seeds by the liberality of the right Honorable the Lord Edward Zouch at his returne into England from those parts ‡ Clusius found the later as he trauelled through Switzerland into Germany ‡ ¶ The Time It floureth from the beginning of May vnto the end of September at which time you shall haue floures and seeds vpon one branch some ripe ond some that will not ripen at all ¶ The Name †This plant is called by Dodonaeus but not rightly Arabis and Draba as also Thlaspi Candiae which last name is reteined by most writers
which barks doth flow the vpper barke being wounded a white Balsam like vnto teares or drops of a most sweet sauour and singular effects for one drop of this which thus 〈◊〉 out of the tree is worth a pound of that which is made by decoction the fruit hereof is small in respect of the others it seldome exceedeth the bignes of a Pease of a bitter taste inclosed in a narrow huske of the length of a finger something thin and of a white colour which the Indians do vse against head-ache which fruit of most is that we haue before described called Carpobalsamum It is also written that in the Island called Hispaniola there groweth a small tree of the height of two men without the industry of man hauing stalkes or 〈◊〉 of the colour of ashes whereon do grow greene leaues sharpe at both ends but more greene on the vpper side than on the lower hauing a middle rib somewhat thicke and standing out the foot-stalkes whereon they grow are somewhat reddish among which leaues commeth fruit growing by clusters as long as a mans hand fingers and all the stones or graines in the fruit be few and greene but growing to rednesse more and more as the fruit waxeth ripe From the which is gathered a juice after this manner they take the young shootes and buds of the tree and also the clusters of the fruit which they bruise and boile in water to the thickenesse of hony which being strained they keepe it for their vses They vse it against wounds and vlcers it stoppeth and stancheth the bloud maketh them cleane bringeth vp the flesh and healeth them mightily and with better successe than true Balsame The branches of the tree being cut do cast forth by drops a certaine cleare water more worth than Aqua vitae most wholesome against wounds and all other diseases proceeding from cold causes if it be drunken some few daies together ¶ The Place These trees grow in diuers parts of the world some in Aegypt and most of those countries adiacent there groweth of them in the East and West Indies as trauellers in those parts report ¶ The Time These trees for the most part keepe greene winter and Sommer ¶ The Names Balsame is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine also Balsamum of the Arabians Balseni Balesina and Belsan in Italian Balsamo in French Baume The liquor that floweth out of the tree when it is wounded is called Opobalsamum the wood 〈◊〉 the fruit Carpobalsamum and the liquor which naturally floweth from the tree in Aegypt Balsamum ¶ The Temperature Balsame is hot and dry in the second degree with astriction ¶ The Vertues Naturall Balsame taken in a morning fasting with a little Rosewater or wine to the quantitie of fiue or six drops helpeth those that be asthmatike or short of winde it preuaileth against the paines of the bladder and stomacke and comforteth the same mightily and also amendeth a stinking breath takes away the shaking fits of the quotidian 〈◊〉 if it be taken two or three times It helpeth consumptions clenseth the barren wombe especially being annointed vpon a pessary or mother suppositorie and vsed The stomacke being annointed therewith digestion is helped thereby it also preserueth the stomacke from obstructions and windinesse it helpeth the hardnesse of the spleene easeth the griefes of the reines and belly proceeding of cold causes It also taketh away all manner of aches proceeding of cold causes if they be annointed therewith but more speedily if a linnen cloth be wet therein and laid thereon vsed in the same manner it dissolueth hard tumors called 〈◊〉 and strengthneth the weake members The same refresheth the braine and comforteth the parts adioining it helpeth the palsie convulsions and all griefes of the sinewes if they be annoitned therewith The maruellous effects that it worketh in new and greene wound were heere too long to set downe and also superfluous considering the skilfull Chirurgion whom it most concerneth doth know the vse thereof and as for the beggerly Quacksaluers Runnagates and knauish Mountibanks we are not willing to instruct them in things so far aboue their reach capacitie and worthinesse CHAP. 146. Of a kinde of Balme or Balsame Tree ¶ The Description THis tree which the people of the Indies do call Molli groweth to the bignesse of a great tree hauing a trunke or body of a darke greene colour sprinkled ouer with many ash coloured spots the branches are many and of very great beautie whereupon do grow leaues not vnlike to those of the Ash-tree consisting of many small leaues set vpon a middle rib growing narrower euer towards the point euery particular one jagged on the sides like the teeth of a saw which being plucked from the stem yeeldeth forth a milkie juice tough and clammie 〈◊〉 like the bruised leaues of Fenell and as it seemeth in taste somewhat astringent the 〈◊〉 grow in clusters vpon the twiggie branches like those of the Vine a little before the grapes be formed after followeth the fruit or berries somewhat greater than Pepper cornes of an oilic substance greene at the first and of a darke reddish colour when they be ripe ‡ The first of the sigures was taken from a tree only of three yeeres growth but the latter from a tree come to his full growth as it is affirmed in Clusius his Cur. Poster It differs only in that the leaues of the old trees are not at all snipt or diuided on the edges ‡ 1 Molli siue Molly Clusij Lobelij The Balsame tree of Clusius and Lobels description ‡ 2 Molle arboris adult ae ramus A branch of the old tree of Molle ¶ The Place This tree saith a learned Physition called Ioh. 〈◊〉 doth grow in the King of Spaine his garden at Madryll which was the first that euer he did see since which time Iohn Ferdinando Secretary vnto the foresaid king did shew vnto the said Fragosus in his owne ' garden a tree so large and of such beautie that he was neuer satisfied with looking on it and meditating vpon the vertues thereof Which words I haue receiued from the hands of a famous learned man called Mr. 〈◊〉 Browne Dr. in Physicke and Physition to the Queenes 〈◊〉 at the impression hereof faithfully translated out of the Spanish tongue without adding or taking any thing away They grow plentifully in the vales and low grounds of Peru as all affirme that haue trauelled to the VVest Indies as also those that haue described the singularities thereof My selfe with diuers others as namely Mr. Nicholas Lete a worshipfull Merchant of the Citie of London and also a most skilfull Apothecary Mr. Iames Garret who haue receiued seeds hereof from the right Honorable the Lord Hunsdon Lord high Chamberlaine of England worthy of triple honour for his care in getting as also for his curious keeping rare and strange things brought from the farthest parts of the world which seedes we haue sowne in our gardens where