several Books of Mr. William Bridg Collected into one Volumn Viz. 1 The great Gospel-Mystery of the Saints Comfort and Holiness opened and applied from Christs Priestly Office 2 Satans Power to Tempt and Christs Love to and Care of His People under Temptation 3 Thankfulness required in every Condition 4 Grace for Grace or the Overflowings of Christs Fulness received by all Saints 5 The Spiritual Actings of Faith through Natural Impossibilities 6 Evangelical Repentance 7 The Spiritual-Life and In-Being of Christ in all Beleevers 8 The Woman of Canaan 9 The Saints Hiding-Place in time of Gods Anger 10 Christs Coming is at our Midnight 11 A Vindication of Ordinances 12 Grace and Love beyond Gifts Cum multis aliis THE English Physitian Adders Tongue ☽ Description THis small Herb hath but one Leaf which grows with the Stalk a fingers length above the ground being fat and of a fresh green colour broad like the Water Plantane but less without any middle Rib in it from the bottom of which Leaf on the inside riseth up ordinarily one somtimes two or three small slender stalks the upper half wherof is somwhat bigger and dented with smal round dents of a yellowish green colour like the Tongue of an Adder or Serpent only this is as useful as they are formidable The Root continues all the year Place It groweth in moist Meadows and such like places Time And is to be found in April and May for it quickly perisheth with a little heat Vertues and use It is temperate in respect of heat but dry in the Second Degree The Juyce of the Leaves drunk with the distilled Water of Horstail is a singular Remedy for all manner of wounds in the Breast Bowels or other parts of the Body and is given with good success unto those who are troubled with Casting Vomiting or bleeding at the Mouth or Nose or otherwise downwards The said Juyce given in the distilled Water of Oaken Buds is very good for Women who have their usual Courses or the Whites flowing down too abundantly It helps sore Eyes The Leaves infused or boyled in Oyl Omphacine or unripe Olives set in the Sun for certain daies or the green Leaves Sufficiently boyled in the said Oyl is made an excellent green Balsom not only for green and fresh Wounds but also for old and invererate Ulcers especially if a little fine clear Turpentine be dissolved therin It also stayeth and represseth all inflamations that arise upon pains by Hurts or Wounds It is an Herb under the Dominion of the Moon in Cancer and therfore if the weakness of the Rententive Faculty be caused by an evil influence of Saturn in any part of the Body governed by the Moon or under the Dominion of Cancer this Herb cures it by Sympathy It cures those Diseases before specified in any part of the Body under the influence of Saturn by Antypathy What parts of the Body are under each Planet and Sign and also what Diseases may be found in my Astrological Judgment of Diseases and for the internal Work of Nature in the Body of Man as Vital Animal Natural and Procreative Spirit of Man The Appreâ—â— Judgment Memory the external Sences viz. Seeing Hearing Smelling Tasting and Feeling the Vertues Attractive Retentive Digestive Expulsive c. under the Dominion of what Planets they are may be found in my Ephemerâ—s for the yeer 1651. in both which you shall find the Chaff of Authors blown away by the Fame of Dr. Reason and nothing but Rational Truths left for the Judgment of the Ingenious to feed upon Lastly To avoid blotting Paper with one thing many times and also to ease your Purses in the price of the Book and withal to make you Studious in Physick you have at the latter end of the Book the way of preserving all Herbs either in Juyce Conserve Oyl Oynâ—ment or Plaister Electuary Pill or Troches Agrimony ♃ Description THis hath divers long leaves some greates some smaller set upon a Stalk all of them dented about the edgesâ— green above and grayish underneath and a little hairy withal Among which ariseth up usually but one strong round hairy brown Stalk two or three Foot high with smaller Leaves set here and there upon it at the top wherof grow many smal yellow Flowers one above another in long Spikes after which come rough heads of Seeds hanging downwards which wil cleave to and stick upon Garments or any thing that shal rub against them The Root is black long and somwhat woody abiding many yeers and shooting afresh every Spring which Root though smal hath a reasonable good scent Place It ' groweth upon Banks near the sides of Hedges or Pales Time And it Flowreth in July and August the Seed being ripe shortly after Vertues and uses It is of a clensing and cutting faculty without any manifest heat moderately drying and binding It openeth and clenseth the Liver helpeth the Jaundice and is very beneficial to the Bowels healing all inward Wounds Bruises Hurts and other distempers The Decoction of the Herb made with Wine and drunk is good against the stinging and biting of Serpents and helps them that have foul troubled or bloody waters and makes them piss cleer spedily It also helpeth the Chollick clenseth the Breast and rids away the Cough A draught of the Decoction taken warm before the Fit first removes and in time rids away the Tertian or Quartan Agues The Leaves and Seed taken in Wine Stayeth the Bloody Fluâ— â—â— appâ—â—â— being stamped with old Swines grease it helpeth old sores Cancers and inveterate Ulcers and draweth forth Thorns Splinters of Wood Nails or any other such thing gotten into the Flesh it helpeth to strengthen the Members that be out of joynt and being bruised and applied or the Juyce dropped in it helpeth foul and imposthuâ—ned Ears The distilled Water of the Herb is good to all the said purposes either inward or outward but a great deal weaker It is an Herb under Jupiter and the Sign cancer and therfore strengthens those parts under that Planet and Sign and removes Diseases in them by Sympathy and those under Saturn Mars and Mercury by Antipâ—thy If they happen in any part of the Body governed by Jupiter or under the Signs Cancer Sagitary or Pisces and therfore must needs be good for the Gout either used â—outwardly in an Oyl or Oyntment or inwardly in an Electuary or Syrup or concreated Juyce for which see the latter end of the Book It is a most admirable remedy for such whole Livers are annoyed either by heat or cold The Liver is the former of Blood and Blood the Nourisher of the Body and Agrimony and Strengthner of the Liver I cannot stand to give you a Reason in every Herb why it cureth such Diseaess but if you please to peruse my Judgment in the Herb Wormwood you shall find them there and it will be well worth your while to consider it in every Herb you shall find them true
or of the Belley but the Roots are most used some chusing the one and some the other to be more effectual to cool bind and restrain all Fluxes in Man or Woman as also the running of the Reins and the passage away of the Seed when one is asleep but the frequent use hereof extinguisheth Venereous actions The Root is likewise very good for those whose Urine is hot and sharp to be boyled in Wine or Water and the Decoction drunk The Distilled water of the Flowers is very effectual for al the Diseases aforesaid both inwardly taken and outwardly applied and is much commended to take away Freckles Spots Sun-burn and Morphew from the Face or other parts of the Body The Oyl made of the Flowers as Oyl of Roses is made is profitably used to cool hot Tumors and the Inflamations of Ulcers and Wounds and to eaâ— the pains and help the Sores The Herb is under the Dominion of the Moon and therefore cools and moistens like the former Liquoris Description OUr English Liquoris riseth up with divers woody Stalks whereon are set at several distances many narrow long green Leavs set together on both sides of the Stalk and an od one at the end very wel resembling a yong Ash-tree sprung up from the Seed This by many yeers continuance in a place without removing and not else will bring forth Flowers many standing together Spike fashion one above another upon the Stalks of the form of Pease Blossoms but of a very pale blue colour which turn into long somwhat flat and smooth Rods wherein is contained smal round hard Seed The Root runneth down exceeding deep into the ground with divers other smaller Roots and Fibres growing with them and shoot out Suckers from the main Roots al about wherby it is much encreased of a brownish colour on the outside and yellow within Place It is planted in Fields and Gardens in divers places of this Land and thereof good profit is made Vertues and use Liquoris boyled in fair Water with some Maidenhair and Figs maketh a good Drink for those that have a dry Cough or Hoarceness Wheesing shortness of breath and for al the Griefs of the Breast and Lungs Phtisick or Consumptions caused by the Distillation of Salt humors on them It is also good in all pains of the Reins the Strangury and heat of Urine The fine Pouder of Liquoris blown through a Quil into the Eyes that have a Pin and Web as they cal it or Rhewmatick Distillations into them doth clens and help them The Juyce of Liquoris is as effectual in al the Diseases of the Breast Lungs the Reins and Bladder as the Decoction The Juyce dissolved in Rose Water with some Guâ—-Tragacanth is a fine licking Medicine for Hoarceness Wheesings c. ♃ ♋ Liverwort Description THe Common Liverwort groweth close and spreadeth much upon the ground in moyst and shadowy places with many sad green leaves or rather as it were sticking flat one to another very unevenly cut in on the edges and crumpled from among which arise smal slender stalks an Inch or two high at most bearing smal star-Starlike Flowers at the tops The Roots are very fine and smal Vertues and use It is a singular good Herb for all the diseases of the Liver both to cool and clense it and helpeth the Inflamations in any part and the yellow Jaundice likewise Being bruised and boyled in small Beer and drunke it cooleth the heat of the Liver and Kidneys and helpeth the runing of the Reins in men the Whites in Women It is a singular remedy to stay the spreading of Tetters Ringworms and other fretting and running Sores Scabs and is an excellent remedy for such whose Livers are corrupted by sursets which causeth their bodies to break out for it fortifies the Liver exceedingly and make it impregnable It being under the command of Jupiter and under the sign Cancer Loos-strife or WillowHearb Discription THe Common yellow Loos-strife groweth to be four or five foot high or more with great round stalks a little crested diversly branched from the middle of them to the tops into great long Branches on al which at the Joynts ther grow long and narrow Leavs but broader below and usually two at a Joynt yet somtimes three or four somwhat like Willow Leaves smooth on the edges and of a faint green colour from the upper Joynts of the branches and at the tops of them also stand many yellow Flowers of five Leaves a piece with diverse yellow threeds in the middle which turn into small round heads containing small cornered Seeds The Roote creepeth under ground almost like Couchgrass but greater and shooteth up every Spring brownish heads which afterwards grow up into stalks It hath no scent nor tast but only astringent Place It groweth in many places of this Land in moyst Meadowes and by water sides Time It Flowreth from June to August Vertues and use This Hearb is good to stay all manner of Bleeding at Mouth or Nose or Wounds and all Fluxes of the Belly and the bloody Flux given either to drinke or taken by Clyster it stayeth also the abundance of Womens Courses It is a singular good wound Hearb for green wounds to stay the bleeding and quickly to close together the lips of the Wound if the herb be bruised and the Juyce only applyed It is often used in Gargles for sore mouthes as also for the secret parts the smoke herof being burned driveth away Flyes and Gnats which use in the night-time to molest people inhabiting neere Marshes and in the Fenney Countryes Loos-Strife with Spiked Heads of Flowers ☽ ♋ Description THis groweth with many woody square stalkes full of Joynts about three foot high at least at everyone wherof stand two long Leaves shorter narrower and of a deeper green colour than the former and some brownish The stalkes are branched into many long stemmes of spiked Flowers half a foot long growing in Rundles one above another out of smal husks very like the Spiked heads of Lavender each of which Flowers have five round pointed Leaves of a Purple Violet Colour or somwhat inclining to redness in which husks stand small round heads after the Flowers are fallen wherein is contained small seed The Root creepeth under ground like unto the yellow but is greater than it and so is the heads of the Leaves when they first appear out of the ground and more brown than the other Place It groweth usually by Rivers and Ditches sides in wet grounds as about the Ditches at and neer Lambeth and in many other places of this Land Time It Flowreth in the months of June and July Vertues and Use. This Herb is no whit inferior unto the former it having not only all the vertues which the former hath but some particular vertues of its own found out by experience as namely The distilled water is a present remedy for hurts and blows on the eyes and for
the yellow Jaundice and the Head-ach and with some Honey or Sugar put therunto clenseth the Breast of Flegm and the Chest of much clammy Humors gathered therin The Decoction of the Roots drunk and a Pultis made of the Berries and Leavs being applied are effectual in knitting and consolidating broken Bones and Parts out of Joynt It is called Bruscus in some places and in Sussex Kneeholly and Knecholm The common way of using it is to boyl the Roots of it and Parsly and Fennel and Smallage in white Wine and drink the Decoction adding the like quantity of Grass Roots to them the more of the Roots you boyl the stronger will the Decoction be it works no ill effects yet I hope you have wit enough to give the strongest Decoction to the strongest Bodies Broom Broomrape ♂ TO spend time in writing a Description herof is altogether needless it being so generally used by all the good Huswifes almost through this Land to sweep their Houses with and therfore very wel known to all sorts of people The Broomrape springeth up in many places from the Roots of the Broom but more often in fields by Hedg sides and on Heaths The Stalk wherof is of the bignels of a Finger or Thumb above two Foot high having a show of Leavs on them and many Flowers at the top of a deadish yellow colour as also the Stalks and Leavs are Place They grow in many places of this Land commonly and as commonly spoyl all the Land they grow in Time And Flower in the Summer Months and give their Seed before Winter Vertues and Use. The Juyce or Decoction of the yong Branches or Seed or the Pouder of the Seed taken in Drink purgeth downwards and draweth Flegmatick and watery humors from the Joynts wherby it helpeth the Dropsie Gout Sciatica and the pains in the Hips and Joynts It also provoketh strong Vomits and helpeth the pains of the Sides and swellings of the Spleen clenfeth also the Reins or Kidnies and Bladder of the Stone provoketh Urin abundantly and hindreth the growing again of the Stone in the Body The continual use of the Pouder of the Leaves and Seed doth cure the Black Jaundice The distilled Water of the Flowers is profitable for al the same purposes it also helpeth Sursets and altereth the Fits of Agues if three or four ounces therof with as much of the Water of the lesser Centaury and a little Sugar put therin be taken a little before the fit cometh and the party be laid down to sweat in their Bed The Oyl or Water that is drawn from the ends of the green sticks heated in the fire helpeth the Toothach The Juyce of the yong Branches made into an Oyment of old Hogs Greas and anointed Or the yong Branches bruised and heated in Oyl or Hogs Greas and laid to the Sides pained by wind as in Stitches or the Spleen easeth them in once or twice using it The same boyled in Oyl is the safest and surest Medicine to kil Lice in the Head or Body of any and is an especial Remedy for Joynt aches and swoln Knees that come by the falling down of Humors The Broomrape also is not without his Vertues The Decoction therof in Wine is thought to be as effectual to avoid the Stone in the Kidnies and Bladder and to provoke Urin as the Broom it self The Juyce therof is a singular good help to cure as wel green Wounds as old and filthy Sores and malignant Ulcers The insolate Oyl wherin there hath been three or four Repetitions of Insusion of the top stalks with Flowers strained and cleered clenseth the Skin of al manner of Spots Marks and Freckles that arise either by the heat of the Sun or the Malignity of humors As for the Broom for as yet I know not what to say to Broomrape in the business but as for Broom Mars owns it and it is exceeding prejudicial to the Liver I suppose by Râ—sâ—n of the Antipathy between Jupiter and Mars therfore if the Liver be disaffected administer none of it Bucks-horn Plantane ♄ Description THis being sown of Seed riseth up at the first with smal long narrow hairy dark green Leavs like grass without any division or gash in them but those that follow are gashed in on both sides the Leavs into three or four gashes and pointed at the ends resembling the Knags of a Bucks Horn wherof it took the name and being well grown round about the Root upon the ground in order one by another therby resembling the form of a Star from among which rise up divers hairy Stalks about a hand breadth high bearing every one a smal long spiky Head like to those of the common Plantane having such like Bloomings and Seed after them The Root is single long and smal with divers strings at it Place They grow in dry Sandy grounds as in Tuttle-Fields by Westminster and divers other places of this Land Time They Flower and Seed in May June and July end their green Leavs do in a manner abide fresh al the Winter Vertues and Use. This boyled in Wine and drunk and some of the Leavs applied to the hurt place is an excellent remedy for the biting of the Viper or Adder which I take to be one and the same The same being also drunk helpeth those that are troubled with the Stone in the Veins or Kidnies by cooling the heat of the parts afflicted strengthning them as also weak Stomachs that cannot retain but cast up their Meat It stayeth al bleedings at Mouth and Nose bloody Urin or the Bloody Flux and stoppeth the Lask of the Belly and Bowels The Leavs herof bruised and laid to their sides that have an Ague suddenly easeth the Fit and the Leavs and Roots beaten with some Bay Salt and applied to the Wrists worketh the same effects The Herb boyled in Ale or Wine and given for some mornings and evenings together staieth the distillations of hot and sharp Rhowms falling into the Eyes from the Head and helpeth al sorts of sore Eyes Venus challengeth the Dominion of this Herb. ♀ ♎ Description THis hath larger Leavs than those of the selfheal but els of the same fashion or rather a little longer in some green on the upper side and in others more brownish dented about the edges somwhat hairy as the square Stalk is also which riseth up to be half a yard high somtimes with the Leavs set by couples from the middle almost whereof upwards stand the Flowers together with many smaler and browner Leaves than the rest on this stalk below set at distances and the stalk bare between them among which Flowers are also smal ones of a bluish and somtimes of an Ash colour fashioned like the Flowers of the Ground-Ivy after which come small round blackish Seed The Root is composed of many strings and spreadeth upon the ground in divers parts round about The White-flowered Bugle differeth not in form or greatness
Grass Called in some Countries Five finger'd Grass Description THis spreadeth and creepeth far upon the ground with long slender strings like Strawberries which take Root again and shooteth forth many Leavs made of five parts and somtimes of seven dented about the edges and somwhat hard The Stalks are slender leaning downwards and bear many smal yellow Flowers theron with some yellow threds in the middle standing about a smooth green head which when it is ripe is a little rough and containeth smal brownish Seeds The Root is of a blackish brown colour seldom so big as ones little finger but growing long with some threds therat and by the smal strings it quickly spreadeth over the ground Place It groweth by Wood sides Hedg sides the Pathwaies in Fields and in the Borders and Corners of them almost through all this Land Time It Flowreth in Summer some sooner some later Vertues and use It is an especial Herb used in all Inflamations and Feavers whether Infectious or Pestilential or among other Herbs to cool and temper the Blood and humors in the Body As also for all Lotions Gargles Injections and the like for sore Mouths Ulcers Cankers Fistulaes and other corrupt Foul or running Sores The Juyce herof drunk about four ounces at a time for certain daies together cureth the Quinsie and the yellow Jaundice and taken for thirty daies together cureth the Falling-sickness The Roots boyled in Milk and drunk is a most effectual remedy for all Fluxes in Man or Woman whether the Whites or Reds as also the Bloody Flux The Roots boyled in Vinegar and the Decoction therof held in the Mouth easeth the pains of the Toothach The Juyce or Decoction taken with a little Honey helpeth the hoarsness of the Throat and is good for the Cough of the Lungs The distilled Water of both Roots and Leavs is also effectual to all the purposes aforesaid and if the Hands be often washed therin and suffered at every time to dry in of it self without wiping it wil in short time help the Palsy or shaking in them The Root boyled in Vinegar helpeth all Knots Kernels hard swellings and lumps growing in any part of the Flesh being therto applied as also al Inflamations and St. Anthonies Fire all Imposthumes and painful Sores with heat and putrefaction the shingles also and all other sorts of running and soul Scabs Sores and Itch. The same also boyled in Wine and applied to any Joynts full of pain and achâ—or the Gout in the Hands or Feet or the Hip-gout called the Sciatica and the Decoction therof drunk the while doth cure them and easeth much pains in the Bowels The Roots are likewise effectual to help Ruptures or Burstings being used with other things available to that purpose taken either inwardly or outwaâ—dly or both as also for Bruises or Hurts by Blows Falls or the like and to stay the bleeding of Wounds in any part inward or outward This is an Herb of Jupiter and therfore strengthens the parts of the Body that he rules let Jupiter be angular and strong when it is gathered and if you give but a scruple which is but twenty grains of it at a time either in white Wine or white Wine Vinegar you shal very seldom miss the cure of an Ague be it what Ague soever in three Fits as I have often proved to the admiration both of my self and others let no Man despise it becaus it is plain and easie the waies of God are all such 't is the ungodliness and impudency of Man that made things hard and hath by so doing made sport for al the Devils in Hell and grieved the good Angels and when you reade this your own Genius if you be any thing at al acquainted with it may dictate to you many as good Conculsions both of this and other Herbs Some hold that one Leaf cures a Quotidian three a Tertian and four a Quartan Ague and a hundred to one if it be not Dioscorides for he is ful of such Whimseys The truth is I never stood so much upon the number of the Leavs nor whether I gave it in Pouder or Decoction If Jupiter were strong and the Moon applying to him or his good aspect at the gathering of it I never knew it miss the desired effects ♀ Clary Description OUr ordinary Garden Clary hath four square Stalks with broad â—ough wrinkled whitish or hairy green Leavs somwhat evenly cut in on the edges and of a strong sweet sent growing some neer the ground and some by couples upon the Stalks The Flowers grow at certain distances with two smal Leavs at the Joynts under them somwhat like unto the Flowers of Sage but smaller and of a whitish blue colour The Seed is brownish and somwhat Flat or not so â—ound as the wild the Roots are blackish and spread not far and perish after the Seed time It is usually sown for it seldom riseth of its own sowing Place This groweth in Gardens Time It Flowreth in June and July some a little later than others and their Seed is ripe in August or therabouts Vertues and use The Seed is used to be put into the Eyes to cleer them from Moats or other such like things gotten within the Lids to offend them as also to clear them from white or red spots in them The Muccilage of the Seed made with Water and applied to Tumors and swellings disperseth and taketh them away as also draweth forth Splinters Thorns or other things gotten into the Flesh. The Leavs used with Vinegar either by it self or with a little Honey doth help hot Inflamations as also Boyls Felons and the hot Inflamations that are gathered by their pains if it be applied before they be grown too great The Pouder of the dried Leavs put into the Nose provoketh neesing and therby purgeth the Head and Brain of much Rhewm and Corruption The Seed or Leavs taken in Wine provoketh to Venery It is of much use both for Men and Women that have weak Backs to help to strengthen the Reins used either by it self or with other Herbs conducing to the same effect and in Tansies often The fresh Leavs dipped in a Batter of Flower Egs and a little Milk and fried in Butter and served to the Table is not unpleasant to any but exceeding profitable for those that are troubled with weak Backs and the effects therof The Juyce of the Herb put into Ale or Beer and drunk bringeth down Womens Courses and expelleth the After-birth It is an usual cours with Men when they have gotten the running of the Reins or Women the Whites then run to the bush of Clary Maid bring hither the Frying Pan fetch me some Butter quickly then to eating fryed Clary just as Hogs eat Acorns and this they think wil cure their Diseas forsooth wheras when they have devoured as much Clary as wil grow upon an Acre of ground their Backs are as much the better as
that Women will not put it in the Pot becaus it makes the Pottage black Pride and Ignorance a couple of Monsters in the Creation preferring Nicity before Health Dodder of Time or Epithimum and other Dodders ♄ Description THis first from Seeds giveth Roots in the Ground which shooteth forth threads or Strings grosser or finer as the property of the Plant wherein it groweth and the Climate doth suffer creeping and spreading on that Plant wheron it fastneth be it high or low These Strings have no Leavs at all upon them but wind and interlace themselves so thick upon a smal Plant that it taketh away all comfort of the Sun from it and is ready to choke or strangle it After these Strings are risen up to that Height that they may draw Nourishment from the Plant they seem to be broken off from the ground either by the strength of ther rising or withered by the heat of the Sun Upon these Strings are found clusters of small Heads or Husks out of which star◠forth whitish Flowers which afterwads give smal pale colour'd Seed somwhat flat and twice as big as Poppy Seed It generally participates of the Nature of that Plant which it climbeth upon but the Dodder of Time is accounted the best and is the only true Epithimum Vertues and use This is accounted the most effectnal for Melanchollick Diseases and to purge black or burnt Choller which is the caus of many Diseases of the Head and Brains as also for the trembling of the Heart faintings and Swounings It is helpful in all Diseases and Griefs of the Spleen and of that Melancholly that ariseth from the windiness of the Hypochondria It purgeth also the Reins or Kidneys by Urin. It openeth Obstructions of the Gall wherby it profiteth them that have the Jaundice as also of the Liver and Spleen purging the Veins of Chollerick and Flegmatick Humors and helpeth Childrens Agues a little Wormseed being put therto The other Dodders do as I said before participate of the Nature of those Plants whereon they grow As that which hath been found growing upon Nettles in the West Country hath by experience been found very effectual to procure plenty of Urin where it hath been stopped or hindred And so of the rest All Dodders are under Saturn Tell not me of Physitians crying up Epithimum or that Dodder which grows upon Time most of which comes from Hymettus in Greece or Hybla in Sicilia becaus those Mountains abound with Time he is a Physitian indeed that hath wit enough to chuse his Dodder according to Nature of the Diseas and Humor peccant we confess Time is the hottest Herb it usually grows upon and therfore that which grows upon Time is hotter than that which grows upon colder Herbs for it draws Nourishment from what it grows upon as well as from the Earth where its Root is and thus you see old Saturn is wise enough to have two Strings to his Bow Sympathy and Antipathy are the two Hinges upon which the whol Moddel of Physick turns and that Physitian which minds them not is like a Door off from the Hooks more likely to do a man a mischief than to secure him then all the Diseases Saturn causeth this helps by Sympathy strengthens al the parts of the Body he rules such as caused by Sol it helps by Antipathy what those Diseases are see my Judgment of Diseases by Astrology and you be pleased to look the Herb Wormwood you shal find a Rational way for it ♃ Dogs-Grass OR Quich-Grass Description IT is well known that this Grass creepeth far about under ground with long white joynted Roots and smal fibres almost at every Joynt very sweet in tast as the rest of the Herb is and interlacing one another from whence shoot forth many fair long grassy Leavs small at the ends and cutting or sharp on the edges The Stalks are joynted like Corn with the like Leavs on them and a long spiked Head with long Husks on them and hard rough Seed in them Place It groweth commonly through this Land in divers plowed grounds to the no smal trouble of the Husbandman as also of the Gardiners in Gardens to weed it out if they can for it is a constant Customer to the place it gets footing in Vertues and use This is the most Medicinable of all the Quith-grasses Being boyled and drunk it openeth Obstructions of the Liver and Gall and the Stoppings of the Urin and easeth the griping pains of the Belly and Inflamations wasteth the matter of the Stone in the Bladder and the Ulcers thereof also The Roots brused and applied doth consolidate Wounds The Seed doth more powerfully expel Urin and stayeth the Lask and Vomitings The distilled Water alone or with a little Wormseed killeth the Worms in Children The way of use is to bruis the Roots and having well boyled them in white Wine drink the Decoction 't is opening but not purging very safe 't is a Remedy against all Diseases coming of Stopping and such are half those which are incident to the Body of man and although a Gardiner be of another opinion yet a Physitian holds half an Acre of them to be worth five Acres of Carrots twice told over Dovesfoot or Cranes-bill ♂ Description THis hath divers small round pale green Leavs out in about the edges much like Mallows standing upon long reddish hairy Stalks lying in a round compass upon the ground among which rise up two or three or more reddish Joynted slender weak and hairy Stalks with some such like Leavs thereon but smaller and more cut in up to the tops where grow many very smal bright red Flowers of five Leavs apiece after which follow smal Heads with smal short bea◠pointing forth as all other sorts of these Herbs do Place It groweth in Pasture Grounds and by the Path sides in many places and wil also be in Gardens Time It Flowreth in June July and August some earlier and some later and the Seed is ripe quickly after Vertues and use It is found by experience to be singular good for the Wind Chollick and pains thereof as also to expel the Stone and Gravel in the Kidnies The Decoction there of in Wine is an exceeding good Wound Drink for those that have inward Wounds Hurts or Bruises both to stay the bleeding to dissolve and expel the congealed Blood and to heal the parts as also to clens and heal outward Sores Ulcers and Fistulaes and for green Wounds many do but bruise the Herb and apply it to the place and it healeth them quickly The same Decoction in Wine fomented to any place pained with the Gout or to Joynt-aches or pain of the Sinews giveth much eas The Pouder or Decoction of the Herb taken for some time together is found by experience to be singular good for Ruptures and Burstings in People either yong or old ☽ Ducksmeat THis is so well known to swim on the top of standing Waters
of Choller which it may well do by a Vomit as daily experience sheweth the Juyce hereof taken in Drink or the Decoction of it in Ale gently performeth the same It is good against the Jaundice and Falling-sickness being taken in Wine as also against difficulty of making Water it provoketh Urin expelleth Gravel in the Reins or Kidneys a dram thereof given in Oximel after some walking or stirring the Body It helpeth also the Sciatica griping of the Belly and the Chollick helpeth the defects of the Liver and provoketh Womens Courses The fresh Herb boyled and made into a Pultis and appled to the Breasts of Women that are swollen with pain and heat as also to the privy parts of Man or Woman the Seat or Fundament or the Arteries Joynts and Sinews when they are inflamed and swoln doth much eas them and used with some Salt helpeth to dissolve Knots or Kernels in any part of the Body The Juyce of the Herb or as Dioscorides saith the Leavs and Flowers with some fine Frankincense in Pouder used in Wounds of the Body Nervs or Sinews doth singularly help to heal them The Distilled Water of the Herb performeth well all the aforesaid Cures but especially for Inflamations or watering of the Eyes by reason of the Defluxion of Rhewm into them This Herb is Venus her Mrs. piece and is as gallant an Universal Medicine for all Diseases coming of heat whatsoever they be or in what part of the Body soever they lie as the Sun shines upon 't is very safe and friendly to the Body of Man yet causeth Vomiting if the Stomach be afflicted if not it purging and it doth it with more gentleness than can be expected 'T is moist and somwhat cold withal thereby causing expulsion and repressing the Heat caused by the motion of the internal parts in Purges and Vomits Lay by your Learned Receipts Take so much Senna so much Scammony so much Colocynthis so much Infusion of Crocus Metallorum c. This Herb alone preserved in a Syrup in a distilled Water in an Oyntment shal do the deed for you in all hot Diseases and it shall do it 1. Safely 2. Speedily Harts-Tongue Description THis hath divers Leavs â—â—ing from the Root every one severally which fold themselvs in their first springing and spreading when they are full grown are about a foot long smooth and green above but hard and with little Sap in them and straked on the back athwart on both sides of the middle Rib with smal and somwhat long brownish marks the bottoms of the Leavs are a little bowed on each side of the middle Rib somwhat narrow with the length and somwhat smal at the end The Root is of many black threds folded or interlaced together Time It is green all the Winter but new Leavs spring every yeer Vertues and Vse Harts-Tongue is much commended against the hardness and stoppings of the Spleen and Liver and against the heat of the Liver and Stomach and against Lasks and the Bloody Flux The Distilled Water therof is also very good against the Passions of the Heart and to stay the Hiccough to help the falling of the Pallat and stay the bleeding of the Gums being gagled in the mouth Dioscorides faith it is good against the stinging or biting of Serpents Jupiter claims Dominion over this Herb therfore is a singular Remedy for the Liver both to strengthen it when weak and eas it when afflicted 't is no matter by what you should do well to keep it in a Syrup all the yeer for though my Author say 't is green all the yeer I scarce beleev it As for the use of it my Directions at latter end will be sufficient and enough for those that are studious in Physick to whet their Brains upon for one year or two The Hazel Nut. THese are so well known to every Boy that they need no Description Vertues and Vse The parched Kernels made into an Electuary or the Milk drawn from the Kernels with Mead or Honeyed Water is very good to help an old Cough and being parched and a little Pepper put to them and drunk digesteth the Distillations of Rhewm from the Head The dried Husks and Shels to the weight of two drams taken in red Wine staieth Lasks and Womens Courses and so doth the red Skin that covers the Kernels which is more effectual to stay Womens Courses And if this be true as it is then why should the Vulgar so familiarly affirm that eating Nuts causeth shortness of Breath than which nothing is falser for how can that which strengthens the Lungues cause shortness of breath I confess the Opinion is far older than I am I knew Tradition was a Friend to Ertors before but never that he was the Father of Slanders or are mens tongues so given to slandering one another that they must slander Nuts too to keep their tongues in â—re If any thing of the Hazel Nut be stopping ' t is the Husks and Shels and no body is so mad to eat them unless Physically and the red Skin which covers the Kernel which you may easily pull off And thus have I made an Apology for Nuts which cannot speak for themselves Hawkweed Description This hath many large hairy leaves lying on the ground much rent or torn on the sides into many gashes like Dandelion but with greater parts more like the smooth sow Thistle from among w th ariseth a hollow rough stalk two or three foot high branched from the middle upward wherin are set at every Joynt longer leaves little or nothing rent or cut in bearing at their top sundrypale yellow Flowers consisting of many small narrow leavs broad pointed and nicked in at the ends set in a double row or more the outermost beeing larger than the inner which form most of the Hawkweeds for there are many kinds of them do hold which turne into down and with the small brownish seeds is blown away with the wind The Roote is long and somwhat greater with many small fibres thereat The whole is full of bitter milke Place It groweth in divers places about Field sides and the path waies in dry grounds Time It flowreth flies away in the SuÌ„merMonths Vertues and use Howkweed saith Dioscorides is cooling somwhat drying and binding and therfore good for the heat of the stomach and gnawings therein for Inflamations and the hot fits of Agues The Juice therof in wine helpeth digestion discusseth wind hindreth crudities abiding in the stomack and helpeth the difficulty of making Water the biting of Venemous Serpents and sting of the Scorpion if the herb be also outwardly applyed to the place and is very good against all other Poysons A scruple of the dryed Juyce given in wine and vinegar is profitable for those that have the Dropsie The decoction of the Herb taken with Honey digeisteth thin flegm in the chest or lungs and with Hysop helpeth the cough The Decoction therof and of wild
the name Cardiaca The Pouder thereof to the quantity of a spoonful drunk in Wine is a wonderful help to Women in their Sore Travails as also for the suffocations or risings of the Mother and from these effects it is likely it took the name of Motherwort with us It also provoketh Urine and Womens Courses clenseth the Chest of cold Flegm oppressing it and killeth the Worms in the Belly It is of good use to warm and dry up the cold Humors to digest and dispers them that are setled in the Veins Joynts and Sinews of the Body and to help Cramps and Convulsions Venus owns the Herb and it is under Leo there is no better Herb to drive Melancholly Vapors from the Heart to strengthen it and make a merry cheerful blith soul than this Herb it may be kept in a Syrup or Conserve therfore the Latins called it Cardiaca Besides it makes Women joyful Mothers of Children and settles their Wombs as they should be therfore we call it Motherwort Mousear Description THis is a low Herb creeping upon the ground by small strings like the Strawberry Plant whereby it shooteth forth smal Roots whereat grow upon the Ground many small and somwhat short Leavs set in a round form together hollowish in the middle where they are broadest of an hoary colour all over and very hairy which being broken do give a white Milk From among these Leavs spring up two or three smal hoary Stalks about a span high with a few smaller Leavs thereon At the tops whereof standeth usually but one Flower consisting of many paler yellow Leavs broad at the points and a little dented in set in three or four rows the greater outermost very like a Dandelyon Flower and a little reddish underneath about the edges especially if it grow in a dry ground which after they have stood long in Flower do turn into Down which with the Seed is carryed away with the Wind. Place It groweth on Ditch Banks and somtimes in Ditches if they be dry and in sandy Grounds Time It Flowreth about June and July and abideth green all the Winter Vertues and Use. The Juyce hereof taken in Wine or the Decoction thereof drunk doth help the Jaundice although of long continuance to drink thereof morning and evening and abstain from other drink two or three hours after It is a special Remedy against the Stone and the tormenting pains thereof as also other Tortures and griping pains of the Bowels The Decoction thereof with Succory and Centaury is held very eflectual to help the Dropsie and them that are inclining thereunto and the Diseases of the Spleen It stayeth the Fluxes of Blood either at the Mouth or Nose and inward Bleedings also for it is a singular Wound Herb for Wounds both inward and outward It helpeth the Bloody Flux and stayeth the abundance of Womens Courses There is a Syrup made of the Juyce hereof and Sugar by the Apothecaries of Italy and other places which is of much account with them to be given to those that are troubled with the Cough or Phtisick The same also is singular good for Ruptures or Burstings The green Herb bruised and presently bound to any fresh cut or Wound doth quickly soder the lips thereof And the Juyce Decoction or Pouder of the dried Herb is most singular to stay the Malignity of spreading and fretting Cankers and Ulcers wheresoever yea in the Mouth or secret parts The distilled Water of the Plant is available in all the Diseases aforesaid and to wash outward Wounds and Sores and to apply Tents or Cloaths wet therein The Moon owns the Herb also and though Authors cry out upon Alchymists for attempting to fix Quick Silver by this Herb and Moonwort A Roman would not have judged a thing by the success if it be to be fixed at all 't is by Lunar Influence Mugwort Description THe common Mugwort have divers Leavs lying upon the ground very much devided or cut deeply in about the Brims somwhat like Wormwood but much larger of a dark green colour on the upper side and very hoary white underneath The stalks rise to be four or five foot high having on it such like Leavs as those below but somwhat smaller branching forth very much toward the top whereon are set very smal pale yellowish Flowers like Buttons which fall away and after them come small Seed inclosed in round Heads The Root is long and hard with many smal Fibres growing from it whereby it taketh strong hold in the ground but both Stalk and Leaf do die down every yeer and the Root shooteth anew in the Spring The whol Plant is of a reasonable good scent and is more easily propogated by the Slips than by the Seed Place It groweth plentifully in many places of this Land by the way sides as also by smal Water-Courses and in divers other places Time It Flowreth and Seedeth in the end of Summer Vertues and Use. Mugwort is with good success put among other Herbs that are boyled for Women to fit over the hot Decoction to draw down their Courses to help the Delivery of the Birth and expel the Afterbirth as also for the Obstructions and Inflamations of the Mother It breaketh the Stone and causeth one to make water where it is stopped The Juyce thereof made up with Mirrh and put under as a Pessary worketh the same effect and so doth the Root also being made up with Hogs Greas into an Oyntment it taketh away Wens and hard Knots and Kernels that grow about the Neck and Throat and easeth the pains about the Neck and more effectually if some Field Daisies be put with it The Herb it self being fresh or the Juyce thereof taken is a special Remedy upon the overmuch taking of Opium Three drams of the Pouder of the dried Leavs taken in Wine is a speedy and the best certain help for the Sciatica A Decoction thereof made with Chamomel and Agrimony and the place bathed therewith while it is warm taketh away the pains of the Sinews and the Cramp This is an Herb of Venus therefore maintaineth the parts of the Body she rules and Remedies the Diseases of the parts that are under her Signs Taurus and Libra The Mulberry-Tree THis is so well known in the places where it groweth that it needeth no Description Time It beareth Fruit in the Months of July and August Vertues and Use. The Mulberry is of different parts the ripe Berries by reason of their Sweetness and slippery moisture opening the Belly and the unripe binding it especially when they are dried and then they are good to stay Fluxes Lasks and the abundance of Womens Courses The Bark of the Root killeth the broad Worms in the Body The Juyce or the Syrup made of the Juyce of the Berries helpeth all Inflamations and Sores in the Mouth or Throat and the Pallet of the Mouth when it is fallen down The Juyce of the Leavs is a Remedy against the biting
Vertues and Use. The Juyce of Hors-Radish given in drink is held to be very effectual for the Scurvy It killeth the Worms in Children being drunk and also laid upon the Belly The Root bruised and laid to the place grieved with the Sciatica Joynt-ach or the hard Swellings of the Liver and Spleen doth wonderfully help them all The Distilled water of the Herb and Roots is more familiar to be taken with a little Sugar for all the purposes aforesaid Garden Radishes are in wantonness by the Gentry eaten as Sallet but they breed but scurvy Humors in the Stomach and corrupt the Blood and then send for a Physitian as fast as you can this is one caus makes the owners of such nice Pallars so unhealthful yet for such as are troubled with the Gravel Stone or stoppage of Urine they are good Physick if the Body be strong that takes them you may make the Juyce of the Roots into a Syrup if you pleas for that use they purge by Urine exceedingly I Know not what Planet they are under I think none of all the Seven will own them Ragwort Description THe greater common Ragwort hath many large and long dark green Leavs lying on the ground very much rent and torn on the sides into many pieces from among which rise up somtimes but one and somtimes two or three square or crested blackish or brownish Stalks three or four foot high somtimes branched bearing diverse such like Leavs upon them at several distances unto the tops where it brancheth forth into many Stalks bearing yellow Flowers consisting of diverse Leaves set as a Pale or Border with a dark yellow thrum in the middle which do abide a great while but at last are turned into Down and with the smal blackish gray Seed are carried away with the wind The Root is made of many Fibres whereby it is firmly fastned into to the ground and abideth many yeers There is another sort hereof different from the former only in this That it riseth not so â—igh the Leavs are not so finely jagged nor of so dark a green colour but rather somwhat whitish soft and woolly and the Flowers usually paler Place They grow both of them wild in Pastures and untilled grounds in many places and oftentimes both of them in one Field Time They Flower in June and July and the Seed is ripe in August Vertues and Use. Ragwort Clenseth Digesteth and Discusseth The Decoction of the Herb to wash the Mouth or Throat that have Ulcers or Sores therein and for Swellings hardness or Impostumations for it throughly clenseth and healeth them as also the Quinsie and the Kings Evil It helpeth to stay Catarrrhes thin Rhewms Defluxions from the Head into the Eyes Nose or Lungs The Juyce is found by experience to be singular good to heal green Wounds and to clense and heal all old and filthy Ulcers in the Privities and in other parts of the Body as also inward Wounds and Ulcers and stayeth the Malignity of fretting or running Cankers and hollow Fistulaes not suffering them to spread further It is also much commended to help Aches and pains either in the Fleshy parts or in the Nervs and Sinews as also the Sciatica or pain of the Hips or Huckle-Bone to bath the places with the Decoction of the Herb or to anoint them with an Oyntment made of the Herb bruised and boyled in old Hogs Suet with some Mastich and Olibanum in Pouder added unto it after it is strained forth In Sussex we call it Ragweed Rattle-grass OF this there are two kinds which I shall speak of Viz. The Red and yellow Description The common red Rattle hath sundry reddish hollow Stalks and somtimes green risâ—ng from the Root lying for the most part on the ground yet some growing more upright with many smal reddish or greenish Leavs set on both sides of a middle Rib finely dented about the edges The Flowers stand at the tops of the Stalks and Branches of a fine purplish red colour like smal gaping hoods after which come flat blackish Seed in small Husks which lying loos therein will Rattle with shaking The Root consists of two or three small whitish strings with some fibres thereat The common Yellow Rattle hath seldom above one round green Stalk rising from the Root about half a yard or two foot high and but few Branches theron having two long and somwhat broad Leavs set at a Joynt deeply cut in on the edges resembling the Comb of e Cock broadest next to the Stalk and smaller to the end The Flowers grow at the tops of the Stalks with some shorter Leavs with them hooded after the same manner that the others are but of a fair yellow colour in most or in some paler and in some more white The Seed is contained in large Husks and being ripe will rattle or make a nois with lying loose in them The Root is small and slender perishing every yeer Place They grow in our Meadows and Woods generally through this Land Time They are in Flower from Midsummer until August be past somtimes Vertues and use The Red Rattle is accounted profitable to heal up Fistulaes and hollow Ulcers and to stay the Flux of Humors to them as also the abundance of Womens Courses or any other Flux of Blood being boyled in red Wine and drunk The Yellow Rattle or Cocks Comb is held to Be good for those that are troubled with a Cough or with Dimness of Sight if the Herb being boyled with Beans and some Honey put thereto be drunk or dropped into the Eyes The whol Seed being put into the Eyes draweth forth any skin Dimness or Film from the sight without trouble or pain Rest-Harrow or Cammoak Description THe common Rest-Harrow riseth up with divers rough woody twigs half a yard or a yard high set at the Joynes without order with little roundish Leavs somtimes more than two or three at a place of a dark green colour without thorns while they are yong but afterwards armed in sundry places with short and sharp Thorns The Flowers come forth at the tops of the twigs and Branches whereof it is ful fashioned like Peas or Broom Blossoms but lesser flatter and somwhat closer of a faint purplish colour after which come smal Pods containing smal flat and round Seed The Root is blackish on the outside and whitish within very tough and hard to break when it is fresh and green and as hard as an Horn when it is dried thrusting down deep into the ground and spreading likewise every piece being apt to grow again if it be left in the ground Place It groweth in many places of this Land as well in the Arable as wast ground Time It Flowreth about the beginning or middle of July and the Seed is ripe in August Vertues and use It is singular good to provoke Urine when it is stopped and to break and drive forth the Stone which the Pouder of the
Bark of the Root taken in Wine performeth effectually Mathiolus saith the same helpeth the Diseas called Hiernia Carnosa the Fleshy Rupture by taking the said Pouder for some Months together constantly and that it hath cuted some which seemed incurable by any other means than by cutting or burning The Decoction thereof made with some Vinegar and gargled in the Mouth easeth the Toothach especially when it comes of Rhewm and the said Decoction is very powerful to open Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen and other parts A Distilled Water made in Balneo Mariae with four pound of the Roots hereof first sliced smal and afterwards steeped in a Gallon of Canary Wine is singular good for all the purposes aforesaid and to clens the passages of the Urine The Pouder of the said Root made into an Electuary or Lozenges with Sugar as also the Bark of the fresh Roots boyled tender and afterwards beaten Into a Consetve with Sugar worketh the like effect The Pouder of the Roots strewed upon the Brims of Ulcers or mixed with any other convenient thing and applied consumeth the hardness and canseth them to heal the better Rocket IN regard the garden Rocket is rather used as a Sallet Herb than to any Physical purposes I shall omit it and only speak of the common wild Rocket The Description whereof take as followeth Description The common wild Rocket hath longer and narrower Leavs much more devided into slender cuts and jags on both sides of the middle Rib than the Garden kinds have of a sad overworn green colour from among which riseth up divers stiff Stalks two or three foot high somtimes set with the like Leavs but smaller and smaller upwards branched from the middle into divers stiff Stalks bearing sundry yeilow Flowers on them made of four Leavs apiece as the others are which afterwards yield smal reddish Seed in smal long Pods of a more bitter and hot biting tast than the Garden kinds as the Leavs are also Place It is found wild in divers places of this Land Time It Flowreth about June and July and the Seed is ripe in August Vertues and Use. The Wild Rocket is more strong and effectual to encreas Sperm and Venereous qualities whereunto also the Seed is more effectual than the Garden kinds It serveth also to help Digestion and provoketh Urine exceedingly The Seed is used to cure the bitings of Serpents the Scorpion and the Shrew-Mouse and other Poysons and expelleth Worms and other noisom Creatures that breed in the Body The Herb boyled or stewed and some Sugar put thereto helpeth the Cough in Children being taken often The Seed also taken in drink taketh away the ill scent of the Armpits encreaseth Milk in Nurses and wasteth the Spleen The Seed mixed with Honey and used on the face clenseth the Skin from Spots Morphew and other discolourings therein and used with Vinegar taketh away Freckles and redness in the Face or other parts and with the Gall of an Ox it amendeth foul Scars black and blew Spots and the marks of the smal Pox. The Wild Rockets are forbidden to be used alone in regard their sharpness fumeth into the Head causing ach and pain therein and are no less hurtful to hot and Chollerick persons for fear of inflaming their Blood and therefore for such we may say a little doth but a little harm For angry Mars rules them and he somtimes will be testy when he meets with Focls Winter Rocket or Cresses Description VVInter Rocket or winter Cresses hath diverse somwhat large sad green Leavs lying upon the ground torn or cut into divers parts somwhat like unto Rocket or Turnep Leavs with smaller pieces next the bottom and broad at the ends which so abide all Winter if it spring up in Autumn when it is used to be eaten from among which riseth up divers smal round Stalks full of branches bearing many smal yellow Flowers of four Leavs apiece after which come smal long Pods with reddish Seed in them The Root is somwhat stringy and perisheth every yeer after the Seed is ripe Place It groweth of its own accord in Gardens and Fields by the way sides in diverse places and particularly in the next Pasture to the Conduit-Head behind Grayes-Inne that brings Water to Mr. Lamb's Conduit in Holbourn Time It Flowreth in May and Seedeth in June and then perisheth Vertues and Use. This is profitable to provoke Urine and helpeth the Strangury and to expel Gravel and the Stone It is also of good effect in the Scurvey It is found by experience to be a singular good Wound Herb to clense inward Wounds the Juyce or Decoction being drunk or outwardly applied to wash foul Ulcers and Sores clensing them by sharpness and hindring or abating the dead Flesh from growing therein and healing them by the drying quality Roses I Hold it altogether needless to trouble the Reader with a Description of any of these sith both the Garden Roses and the Wild Roses of the Bryars are well enough known Take therefore the Vertues of them as followeth And first I shal begin with the Garden kinds Vertues and Use. The White and the Red Roses are cooling and drying yet the White is taken to exceed the Red in both those properties but is seldom used inwardly in any Medicine The bitterness in the Roses when they are fresh especially the Juyce purgeth Choller and watery Humors but being dried and that heat which caused the bitterness being consumed they have then a binding and astringent quality Those also that are not ful blown do both cool and bind more than those that are full blown and the White Roses more than the Red. The Decoction of Red Roses made with Wine and used is very good for the Headach and pains in the Eyes Ears Throat and Gums as also for the Fundament the lower Bowels and the Matrix being bathed or put into them The same Decoction with the Roses remaining in it is profitably applyed to the Region of the Heart to eas the Inflamation therin as also St. Anthonies fire and other Diseases of the Stomach Being dried and beaten to Pouder and taken in steeled Wine or Water it helpeth to stay Womens Courses The yellow threds in the middle of the red Roses which are erroniously called the Rose Seeds being poudered and drunk in the distilled water of Quinces stayeth the overflowing of Womens Courses and doth wonderfully stay the Defluxions of Rhewm upon the Gums and Teeth preserving them from corruption and fastning them if they be loose being washed and gargled therewith and some Vinegar of Squils added thereto The Heads with Seed being used in Pouder or in a decoction stayeth the Lask and spitting of Blood Red Roses do strengthen the Heart the Stomack and the Liver and the retentive Faculties they mitigate the pains that arise from Heat asswage Inflamations procure rest and sleep stay both Whites and Reds in Women the Gonorrhea running of the
be they never so foul or stinking by washing and gargling them therewith and likewise for such Sores as happen in the privy parts of man or Woman Briefly whatsoever hath been said of Bugle or Sanicle may be found herein Saturn owns this Herb and 't is of sober condition like him Sawce alone or Jack by the Hedg Description THe lower Leavs of this are rounder than those that grow towards the tops of the Stalks and are set singly one at a Joynt being somwhat round and broad and pointed at the ends dented also about the edges somwhat resembling Nettle Leavs for the form but of a fresher green colour and not rough or pricking The Flowers are very smal and white growing at the tops of the Stalks one above another which being past there follow smal and long round pods wherein are cantained smal round Seed somwhat blackish The Root is stringy and threddy perishing every yeer after it hath given Seed and raiseth it self again of its own sowing The Plant or any part thereof being bruised smelleth of Garlick but more pleasantly and tasteth somwhat hot and sharp almost like unto Rocket Place It groweth under Walls and by Hedg sides and Pathwaies in Fields in many places Time It Flowreth in June July and August Vertues and Use. This is eaten by many Country people as Sawce to their Salt-fish and helpeth well to digest the crudities and other corrupt Humors ingendred thereby it warmeth also the Stomach and causeth digestion The Juyce thereof boyled with Honey is accounted to be as good as Hedg-Muster for the Cough to cut and expectorate the tough Flegm The Seed bruised and boyled in Wine is a singular good Remedy for the Wind Chollick or the the Stone being drunk warm It is also given to Women troubled with the Mother both to drink and the Seed put into a Cloth and applied while it is warm is of singular good use The Leavs also or Seed boyled is good to be used in Clysters to ease the pains of the Stone The green Leavs are held to be good to heal the Ulcers in the Legs VVinter and Summer Savory BOth these are so well known being entertained as constant Inhabitants in our Gardens that they need no Description Vertues and Use. They are both of them hot and dry especially the Summer kind which is both sharp and quick in tast expelling Wind in the Stomach and Bowels and is a present help for the rising of the Mother procured by Wind provoketh Urine and Womens Courses and is much commended for Women with Child to take inwardly and to smell often unto It cutteth tough Flegm in the Chest and Lungs and helpeth to expectorate in the more easily It quencheth the dull spirits in the Lethargy the Juyce thereof being snuffed or cast up into the Nostrils The Juyce dropped into the Eyes cleareth a dull sight if it proceed of â—â—â— cold humors distilling from the Brain The Juyce heated with a little Oyl of Roses and dropped into the Ears easeth them of the noise and singing in them and of deafness also Outwardly applied w th white flower in manner of a Pultis it giveth ease to the Sciatica and Palsey'd Members heating and warming them and taketh away their pains It also taketh away the pain that comes of stinging by Bees Wasps c. Mercury claims the Dominion over this Herb neither is there a better Remedy against the Chollick and Illiack passions than this Herb keep it dry by you all the yeer if you love your selves and your ease as 't is an hundred pound to a penny if you do not keep it dry make Conserves and Syrups of it for your use and withal take notice that the Summer kind is the best The common white Saxifrage Description THis hath a few smal reddish Kernels or Roots covered with some Skins lying among diverse smal blackish Fibres which send forth diverse round faint or yellowish green Leavs and grayish underneath lying above the ground unevenly dented about the edges somwhat hairy every one upon a little footstalk from whence riseth up a round brownish hairy green stalk two or three foot high with a few such like round Leaves as grow below but smaller and somwhat branched at the top whereon stand pretty large white Flowers of five Leaves apiece with some yellow threds in the middle standing in long crested brownish green Husks After the Flowers are past there ariseth somtimes a round hard head by forked at the top wherein is contained small blackish Seed but usually they fall away without any Seed and it is the Kernels or grains of the Root which are usually called the white Saxifrage Seed and so used Place It groweth in many places of our Land as well in the lower moist as in the upper dry corners of Meadows and graffy sandy places It used to grow neer Lambs Conduit on the back side of Grayes-Inn Time It Flowreth in May and is then gathered as well for that which is called the Seed as to distil for it quickly perisheth down to the ground when any hot weather comes Vertues and use It is very effectual to clense the Reins and Bâ—dder and to dissolve the Stone ingendred in them and to expel it and the Gravel by Urine to provoke Urine also being stopped and to help the Strangury for which purposes the Decoction of the Herb or Roots in white Wine or the Pouder of the smal Kernelly Roots which is called the Seed taken in white Wine or in the same Decoction made with white Wine is most usual The Distilled water of the whol Herb Roots and Flowers is most familiar to be taken It provoketh also Womens Courses and freeth and clenseth the Stomach and Lungs from thick and tough Flegm that troubles them There is not many better Medicines to break the Stone than this Burnet Saxifrage Description YHe greater sort of our English Burnet Saxifrage groweth up with diverse long Stalks of winged Leavs set directly opposite one to another on both sides each being somwhat broad a little pointed and dented about the edges of a sad green colour At the tops of the Stalks stand Umbels of white Flowers after which comes small and blackish Seed The Root is long and whitish abiding long Our lesser Burnet Saxifrage hath much finer Leaves than the former and very smal and set one against another deeply jagged about the edges and of the same colour as the former The Umbels of Flowers are white and the Seed very small and so is the Root being also somwhat hot and quick in tast Place These grow in most Meadows of this Land and are easie to be found being well sought for among the Grass wherein many times they lie hid scarcely to be discern'd Time They Flower about July and their Seed is ripe in August Vertues and use These Saxifrages are as hot as Pepper and Tragus saith by his experience they are more wholsom They have the
another sort called Dutch Scurvy-Grass which is most known and frequent in Gardens which hath diverse fresh green and almost round Leaves rising from the Root nothing so thick as the former yet in some rich ground very large even twice so big as others not dented about the edges nor hollow in the middle every one standing upon a long Footstalk from among these rise up divers long slender weak Stalks higher than the former and with more white Flowers at the tops of them which turn into smaller pods and smaller brownish Seed than the former The Root is white smal and threddy The tast of this is nothing Salt ar all but hath an hot Aromatical spicy tast Time They Flower in April or May and give their Seed ripe quickly after Vertues and Use. The English Scurvey-grass is more used for the Salt tast it beareth w th doth somwhat open and clense but the Dutch Scurvey-grass is of better effect and chiefly used if it may be had by those that have the Scurvey especially to purge and clense the Blood the Liver and the Spleen for all which Diseases it is of singular good effect by taking the Juyce in the Spring every morning fasting in a cup of Drink The Decoction is good for the same purpose and the Herb tunned up in new Drink either by it self or with other things for it openeth Obstructions evacuateth cold clammy and Flegmatick Humors both from the Liver and the Spleen wasting and consuming both the swelling and hardness thereof and thereby bringing to the Body a more lively colour The Juyce also helpeth all foul Ulcers and Sores in the Mouth if it be often gargled therewith and used outwardly clenseth the Skin from spots marks or Scars that happen therein Self-heal Description THe common Self-heal is a small low creeping Herb having many small roundish pointed Leavs somwhat like the Leaves of Wild Mints of a dark green colour without any dents on the edges from among which rise diverse square hairy Stalks scarce a foot high which spread somtime into Branches with diverse such smal Leaves set thereon up to the tops where stand brown spiked Heads of many smal brownish Leaves like scales and Flowers set together almost like the Head of Cassidony which Flowers are gaping and of a blewish purple or more pale blew in some places sweet but not so in others The Root consists of many strings or fibres downward and spreadeth strings also whereby it encreaseth The smal stalks with the Leaves creeping upon the ground shoot forth sibres taking hold of the ground wherby it is made a great ruft in short time Place It is found in Woods and Fields every where Time It Flowreth in May and somtimes in April Vertues and Use. As Self-heal is like Bugle in form so also in the Qualities and Vertues serving for al the purposes whereto Bugle is applied with good success either inwardly or outwardly for inward Wounds or Ulcers wheresoever within the Body for Bruises and Falls and such like hurts if it be accompanied with Bugle Sanicle and other the like Wound Herbs it will be the more effectual and to wash or inject into Ulcers in the parts outwardly where there is cause to repress the heat and sharpness of Humors flowing to any sore Ulcer Inflamation Swelling or the like or to stay the Flux of blood in any Wound or Part this is used with good success as also to clense the foulness of Sores and cause them more speedily to be healed It is an especial Remedy for all green Wounds to soder the lips of them and to keep the place from any further inconveniences The Juyce hereof used with Oyl of Roses to anoint the Temples and Forehead is very effectual to remove the Headach and the same mixed with Honey of Roses clenseth and healeth all Ulcers in the Mouth and Throat and those also in the secret parts And the Proverb of the Germans French and others is verified in this That he needeth neither Physitian nor Chyrurgion that hath Self-heal and Sanicle to help himself Here is another Herb of Venus Self-heal whereby when you hurt you may heal your self 't is indeed a special Herb for inward and outward Wounds take it inwardly in Syrups for inward Wounds outwardly in Unguents and Plaisters for outward The Service-tree THis is so well know in the places where it grows that it needeth no Description Time It Flowreth before the end of May and the Fruit is ripe in October Vertues and use Services when they are mellow are fit to be taken to stay Fluxes Scowring and Castings yet less than Medlars if they be dried before they be mellow and kept all the yeer they may be used in Decoctions for the said purpose either to drink or to bath the parts requiring it and is profitably used in that manner to stay the bleeding of Wounds and at the Mouth or Nose to be applied to the Forehead and Nape of the Neck Smallage THis also is very well known and therefore I shall not trouble the Reader with any Description thereof Place It groweth naturally in wet and Marsh grounds but if it be sown in Gardens it there prospereth very well Time It abideth green all the Winter and Seedeth in August Vertues and Use. Smallage is hotter dryer and much more Medicinable than Parsley for it much more openeth Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen rarifieth thick Flegm and clenseth it and the Blood withal It provoketh Urine and Womens Courses and is singular good against the yellow Jaundice It is very effectual against Tertian and Quartan Agues if the Juyce thereof be taken but especially made into a Syrup The Juyce also put to Honey of Râ—â—es and Barley Water is very good to Gangle the Mouth and Throat of those that have Sores and Ulcers in them and will quickly heal them The same Lotion also clenseth and healeth all other foul Ulcers and Cankers elswhere if they be washed therewith The Seed is especially used to break and expel wind to kill Worms and to help a stinking Breath The Root is effectual to all the purposes aforesaid and is held to be stronger in operation than the Herb but especially to open Obstructions and to rid away an Ague if the Juyce thereof be taken in Wine or the Decoction thereof in Wine be used Sopewort or Bruisewort Description THe Root creepeth under ground far and neer with many Joynts therein of a brown colour on the outside and yellowish within shooting forth in diverse places many weak round Stalks full of Joynts set with two Leaves apiece at every one of them on the contrary side which are ribbed somwhat like unto Plantane and fashioned like the common field white Campion Leaves seldom having any Branches from the sides of the Stalks but set with diverse Flowers at the top standing in long Husks like the wild Campions made of five Leavs apiece round at the ends and a
to be taken inwardly with a little Sugar which Medicine the daintiest Stomach will not refuse but outwardly by applying Cloathes or Spunges wetted therein It is wonderful good for Women to wash their Faces therewith to cleer the Skin and give a lustre thereto Southernwood THis is so well known to be an Ordinary Inhabitant in our Gardens that I shall not need to trouble you with any Description thereof The Vertues are as followeth Time It Flowreth for the most part in July and August Vertues and use Dioscorides saith That the Seed bruised heated in warm Water drunk helpeth those that are Bursten or troubled with Cramps or Convulsions of the Sinews the Sciatica or difficulty in making water and bringeth down Womens Courses The same taken in Wine is an Antidote or Counter poyson against all deadly Poyson and driveth away Serpents and other Venemous Creatures as also the smel of the Herb being Burnt doth the same The Oyl thereof anointed on the Backbone before the Fits of Agues come taketh them away it taketh away Inflamations in the Eyes if it be put with some part of a roasted Quince and boyled with a few crums of bread and applied Boyled with Barely Meal it taketh away Pimples Pushes or Wheals that rise in the Face or other part of the Body The Seed as well as the dried Herb is often given to kill the Worms in Children The Herb bruised and laid to helpeth to draw forth Splinters and Thorns out of the Flesh. The Ashes thereof dryeth up and healeth old Ulcers that are without Inflamation although by the sharpness thereof it biteth sore and putteth them to sore pains as also the Sores in the privy Parts of man or woman The Ashes mingled with old Sallet Oyl helpeth those that have their hair fallen and are bald causing the hair to grow again either on the Head or Beard Diâ—rantes saith That the Oyl made of Southernwood and put among the Oyntments that are used against the French Diseas is very effectual and likewise killeth Lice in the Head The Distilled Water of the Herb is said to help them much that are troubled with the Stone as also for the Diseases of the Spleen and Mother The Germans commend it for a singular Wound Herb and therefore call it Stabwort It is held by all Writers Antient and Modern to be more offensive to the stomach than Wormwood Spignel Description THe Roots of common Spignel do spread much and deep in the ground many strings or branches growing from one Head which is hairy at the top of a blackish brown colour on the outside and white within smelling well and of an Aromatical tast from whence rise sundry long stalks of most fine cut Leaves like hairs smaller than Dill set thick on both sides of the Stalks and of a good scent Among these Leaves rise up round stif stalks with few Joynts and Leaves at them and at the tops an Umbel of fine pure white Flowers at the edges whereof somtimes will be seen a shew of reddish blush colour especially before they be full blown and are succeeded by smal somwhat round Seed bigger than the ordinary Fennel and of a browner colour devided into two parts and crested on the back as most of the Umbelliferous Seeds are Place It groweth wild in Lancashire Yorkshire and other Northern Countries and is also planted in Gardens Vertues and Use. Galen saith The Roots of Spignel are available to provoke Urine and Womans Courses but if too much thereof be taken it causeth Headach The Roots boyled in Wine or Water and drunk helpeth the Strangury and stoppings of the Urine the Wind swellings and pains in the Stomach pains of the Mother and all Joynt Aches If the Pouder of the Roots be mixed with Honey and the same taken as a licking Medicine it breaketh tough Flegm and drieth up the Rhewm that falleth on the Lungs The Roots are accounted very effectual against the stinging or biting of any Venemous Creature and is one of the Ingredients in Methâ—idate and other Antidotes for the same Spleenwort or Ceterach Description THe smooth Spleenwort from a black threddy and bushy Root sendeth forth many long single Leaves cut in on both sides into round dents almost to the middle which is not so hard as that of Pollipodie each devision being not alwaies set opposite unto the other but between each smooth and of a light green on the upper side and a dark yellowish roughness on the back folding or rolling it self inward at the first springing up Place It groweth as well upon stone walls as moist and shadowy places about Bristol and other the West parts plentifully as also on Framingham Castle on Beckonsfield Church in Bakshire at Strowde in Kent and elswhere and abideth green all the Winter Vertues and Use. It is generally used against infirmities of the Spleen it helpeth the strangury and wasteth the Stone in the Bladder and is good against the yellow Jaundice and the Hiccough but the use of it in Women hindreth Conception Mathiolus saith That if a dram of the dust that is on the back side of the Leaves be mixed with half a dram of Amber in Pouder and taken with the Juyce of Purslane or Plantane it will help the running of the Reins Speedily and that the Herb and Root being boyled and taken helpeth all Melanchollick Diseases and those especially that arise from the French Disease Camerarius saith That the Distilled water thereof being drunk is very effectual against the Stone in the Reins and Bladder and that the Ly that is made of the Ashes thereof being drunk for some time together helpeth Splenetick persons It is used in outward Remedies for the same purpose Star-thistle Description THe common Star-thistle hath diverse long and narrow Leaves lying next the ground cut or torn on the edges somwhat deeply into many almost even parts soft or a little woolley all over the green among which rise up diverse weak stalks parted into many Branches all lying or leaning down to the ground that it seemeth a pretty Bush set with diverse the like devided Leaves up to the tops where severally do stand long and small whitish green heads set with very sharp and long white pricks no part of the Plant being else prickly which are somwhat yellowish out of the middle whereof riseth the Flower composed of many small reddish purple threds and in the Heads after the Flowers are past come small whitish round Seed lying in down as others do The Root is small long and woody perishing every yeer and rising again of its own sowing Place It groweth wild in the Fields about London in many places as at Mile-end-Green in Finsbury Fields beyond the Wind-mils and many other places Time It Flowreth early and Seedeth in July and somtimes in August Vertues and use The Seed of this Star-thistle made into Pouder and drunk in Wine provoketh Urine and helpeth to break the Stone and drive it
toward the top into many parts where the Leaves grow smaller again every one standing singly and never two at any Joynt The Flowers are very smal and yellow standing in tufts at the heads of the Branches where afterwards grow the Seed smal and blackish many thick thust together The Root is smal long and woody perishing every yeer after Seed time and rising again plentifully of its own sowing Place It is found growing in many Corn Fields and Pasture grounds in this Land Time It Flowreth in July and the Seed is ripe in August Vertues and Use. Thoroughwax is of a singular good use for all sorts of Bruises and Wounds either inward or outward and old Ulcers and Sores likewise if the Decoction of the Herb with water or Wine be drunk and the places washed therwith or the Juyce or green Herb bruised or boyled either by it self or with other Herbs in Oyl or Hogs Grease to be made into an Oyntment to serve all the yeer The Decoction of the Herb or the Pouder of the dried Herb taken inwardly and the same or the green Leaves bruised and applied outwardly is singular good to cure Ruptures and Burstings especially in Children before it be two old Being also applied with a little Flower and Wax to Childrens Navils that stick forth it helpeth them Tormentil Description THis hath many reddish slender weak Branches rising from the Root lying upon the ground or rather leaning than standing upright with many short Leaves that stand closer to the Stalks than Cinkfoyl doth which this is very like with the Footstalk encompassing the Branches in several places but those that grow next to the ground are set upon long Footstalks each whereof are like the Leaves of Cinkfoyl but somwhat longer and lesser and dented about the edges many of them devided but into five Leaves but most of them into sevens whence it is also called Setfoyl yet some may have six and some eight according to the fertility of the Soyl At the tops of the Branches stand diverse smal yellow Flowers consisting of five Leaves like those of Cinkfoyl but smaller The Root is smaller than Bistort somwhat thick but blacker without and not so red within yet somtimes a little crooked having many blackish fibres thereat Place It groweth as well in Woods and shadowy places as in the open Champion Country about the borders of Fields in many places of this Land and almost in every Broom Field in Essex Time It Flowreth all the Summer long Vertues and Use. Tormentil is most excellent to stay all kind of Fluxes of Blood or Humors in man or woman whether at Nose Mouth Belly or any Wound in the Veins or elswhere The Juyce of the Herb or Root taken in drink not only resisteth all Poyson and Venom of any Creature but of the Plague it self and Pestilential Feavers and contagious Diseases as the Pox Measels Purples c. expelling the Venom and Infection from the Heart by sweating if the green Root be not at hand to be had the Pouder of the dry Root is as effectual a dram thereof being taken every morning The Decoction likewise of the Herbs and Roots made in Wine and drunk worketh the same effect and so doth the distilled water of the Herb and Root being steeped in Wine for a night and then distilled in Balneo Mariae This Water thus distilled taken with some Venice Treacle and the party presently laid to sweat will certainly with Gods help expel any Venom or poyson or the Plague Feaver c. for it is an ingredient of especial respect in all Antidotes or Counterpoysons There is not found any Root more effectual to help any Flux of the Belly Stomach Spleen or Blood than this to be taken inwardly or applied outwardly The Juyce taken doth wonderfully open Obstructions of the Liver and Lungs and thereby in short space helpeth the yellow Jaundice Some use to make Cakes hereof as well to stay all Fluxes as to restrain all Chollerick Belchings and much Vomitings with Loathings in the Stomach The Pouder of the dâ—â—ed Root made up with the white of an Egg and baked upon a hot Tile will do it Andreus Valesius is of opinion That the Decoction of this Root is no less effectual to cure the French Pox than Guajacum or China and 't is not unlikely because it so mightily resisteth putrefaction Lobel saith That Rondelitius used it as Hermodactils for Joynt-aches The Pouder also or Decoction to be drunk or to sit therein as a Bath is an assured Remedy against abortion in Women if it proceed from the over Fluxibility or weakness of the inward retentive faculty as also a Plaister made therewith and Vinegar applyed to the Roins of the Back doth much help not only this but also those that cannot hold their Water the Pouder being taken in the Juyce of Plantane and it is also commended against the worms in Children It is very powerful in Ruptures and Burstings as also for Bruises and Falls to be used as well outward as inwardly The Root hereof made up with Pellitory of Spain and Allum and put into an hollow Tooth not only asswageth the pain but staieth the Flux of Humors which caused it Tormentil is no less effectual and powerful a Remedy for outward Wounds Sores and Hurts than for inward and is therefore a special Ingredient meet to be used in all Wound drinks Lotions and Injections for foul corrupt rotten Sores and Ulcers of the Mouth Secrets or other parts of the Body And to put either the Juyce or Pouder of the Root into such Oyntments Plaisters and such things that are to be applied to Wounds and Soe 's it also dissolveth all Knots Kernels and hardness gathered about the Ears the Throat and Jaws and the Kings Evil if the Leaves and Roots be bruised and applied thereto The same also easeth the pains of the Sciatica or Hip-gout by restraining the sharp Humors that flow thereto The Juyce of the Leaves and Roots used with a little Vinegar is also a special Remedy against the running Sores of the Head or other parts Scabs also and the Itch or any such eruptions in the Skin proceeding of Salt and sharp Humors The same also is effectual for the Piles or Hemorrhoids if they be washed and bathed therwith or with the Distilled water of the Herb and Roots It is found also helpful to dry up any sharp Rhewm that distilleth from the Head into the Eyes causing redness pain waterings Itchings or the like if a little prepared Tutia or white Amber be used with the Distilled water hereof Many Women use this Water as a secret to help themselves and others when they are troubled with the too much flowing of the Whites or Reds both to drink it and inject it with a Syringe And here 's enough only remember the Sun challengeth the Herb. Turnsole or Heliotropium Description THe greater Turnsole riseth
doth purge the Body of Chollerick Humors and asswageth the heat being taken in a draught of Wine or any other Drink The Pouder of the purple Leaves of the Flowers only pick'd and dried and drunk in Water is said to help the Quinsie and the Falling-sickness in Children especially in the beginning of the Disease The Flowers of the White Violets ripeneth and dissolveth Swellings The Herb or Flowers while they are fresh or the Flowers when they are dry are effectual in the Plurisie and all Diseases of Lungs to lenesie the sharpness of hot Rhewms and the Hoarsness of the Throat the heat also and sharpness of Urine and all pains of the Back or Reins and the Bladder It is good also for the Liver and the Jaundice and in al hot Agues to cool the Heat and quench the Thirst But the Syrup of Violets is of most use and of better effect being taken in some convenient Liquor and if a little of the Juyce or Syrup of Lemmons be put to it or a few drops of the Oyl of Vitriol it is made thereby the more powerful to cool the heat and to quench the Thirst and giveth to the drink a Clarret Wine colour and a fine tart â—ellish pleasing the tast Violets taken or made up with Honey doth more clense than cool and with Sugar contrary-wise The dryed Flowers of Violets are accounted among the Cordial Drinks Pouders and other Medicines especially where cooling Cordials are necessary The green Leaves are used with other Herbs to make Plaisters and Pultisces for Inflamations and Swellings and to ease pains wheresoever arising of heat and for the Piles also being fried with Yolks of Eggs and applied thereto Pansies or Heartsease are like unto Violets in all their operations but somwhat hotter and dryer yet very temperate and by viscuous Juyce therein doth somwhat mollifie yet less than Mallows It is conducing in like manner as Violets to the hot Diseases of the Chest and Lungs for Agues Convulsions and Falling-sickness in Children The Decoction helpeth Itch and Scabs being bathed therwith It is said also to soder green Wounds and to help old Sores the Juyce or distilled Water thereof being drunk Vipers Buglofs Description THis hath many long rough Leaves lying on the ground from among which rise up diverse hard round Stalks very rough as if they were thick set w th prickles or hairs wherin are set such like long rough hairy or prickly sad green Leavs somwhat narrow the middle Rib for the most part being white The Flowers stand at the tops of the Stalks branched forth into many long spiked Leaves of Flowers bowing or turning like the Turnsole all of them opening for the most part on the one side which are long and hollow turning up the Brims a little of a Purplish Violet colour in them that are fully blown but more reddish while they are in the Bud as also upon their decay and withering but in some places of a paler purple colour with a long pointel in the middle feathered or parted at the top After the Flowers are fallen the Seeds growing to be ripe are blackish cornered and pointed somwhat like unto the Head of a Viper The Root is somwhat great and blackish and woolly when it groweth toward Seed time and perisheth in the Winter There is another sort little differing from the former only in that it beareth white Flowers Place The first groweth wild almost every where That with white Flowers about the Castle Walls of Lewes in Sussex Time They Flower in Summer and their Seed is ripe quickly after Vertues and Use. It is an especial Remedy against the biting of the Viper and of all other Venemous Beasts or Serpents as also against poyson and poysonful Heâ—â—s Dioscorides and others say That whosoever shall take of the Herb or Root before they be bitten shall not be hurt by the poyson of any Serpent The Roots or Seeds are thought to be most effectual to comfort the Heart and expel Sadness or cause less Melancholly it tempers the Blood and allayeth the hot Fits of Agues The Seed drunk in Wine procureth abundance of Milk in Womens Brests The same also being taken caseth the pains in the Loyns Back and Kidneys The distilled Water of the Herb when it is in Flower or his chiefest strength is excellent to be applied either inwardly or outwardly for all the Griefs aforesaid There is a Syrup made hereof very effectual for the comforting of the Heart and expelling Sadness and Melancholly VVall-Flowers or Winter Gilly-flowers THe Garden kinds are so wel known that they need no Description Description The common single Wall-Flowers which grow wild abroad hath sundry smal long narrow and dark green Leaves set without order upon smal round whitish wooddy Stalks which bear at the tops diverse single yellow Flowers one above another every one having four Leaves apiece and of a very sweet scent after which come long Pods containing reddish Seed The Root is white hard and threddy Place It groweth upon old Church Walls and old Walls of many Houses and on the other stone Walls in diverse places The other sorts in Gardens only Time All the single kinds do Flower many times in the end of Autumn and if the Winter be mild all the Winter long but especially in the Months of February March and April and until the heat of the Spring do spend them But the double kinds continue not Flowring in that manner all the yeer along although they Flower very early somtimes and in some places very late Vertues and Use. Galen in his seventh Book of Simple Medicines saith That the yellow Wall-flowers worketh more powerfully than any of the other kinds and is therefore of more use in Physick It clenseth the Blood and freeth the Liver and Reins from Obstructions provoketh Womens Courses expelleth the Secondine and dead Child helpeth the hardness and pains of the Mother and of the Spleen also stayeth Inflamations and Swellings comforteth and strengthneth any weak part or out of Joynt helpeth to clense the Eyes from mistiness and Films on them and to clense foul and filthy Ulcers in the Mouth or any other part and is a singular Remedy for the Gout and all Aches and Pains in the Joynts and Sinews A Conserve made of the Flowers is used for a Remedy both for the Apoplexie and Palsey The VValnut-Tree THis is so well known that it needeth no Description Time It Blossometh early before the Leaves come forth and the Fruit is ripe in September Vertues and Use. The Bark of the Tree doth bind and dry very much and the Leaves are much of the same temperature but the Leaves when they are older are heating and drying the Second Degree and harder of digestion than when they are fresh which by reason of their sweetness are more pleasing and better digesting in the Stomach and taken with sweet Wine they move the Belly downwards but being old they grieve the
Stomach and in hot Bodies cause Choller to abound and the Headach and are an enemy to those that have the Cough But are less hurtful to those that have colder Stomachs and are said to kill the broad Worms in the Belly or Stomach If they be taken with Onions Salt and Honey they help the biting of a Mad Dog or the Venom or infectious poyson of any Beast c. Oneus Pompeius found in the Treasury of Methridates King of Pontus when he was overthrown a Scrowl of his own Hand-writing containing a Medicine against any Poyson and Infection which is this Take two dry Walnuts and as many good Figgs and twenty Leaves of Rue bruised and beaten together with two or three Corns of Salt and twenty Juniper Berries which taken every morning fasting preserveth from danger of Poyson or Infection that day it is taken The Juyce of the outer green Husks boyled up with Honey is an excellent gargle for sore Mouths the Heat and Inflamations in the Throat and Stomach The Kernels when they grow old are more Oyly and therfore not so fit to be eaten but are then used to heal the Wounds of the Sinews Gangrenes and Carbuncles The said Kernels being burned are then very astringent and will then stay Lasks and Womens Courses being taken in red Wine and stay the falling of the Hair and make it fair being anointed with Oyl and Wine The green Husks will do the like being used in the same manner The Kernels beaten with Rue and Wine being applied helpeth the Quinsie and bruised with some Honey and applied to the Ears easeth the pains and Inflamations of them A piece of the green Husk put unto a hollow Tooth easeth the pains The Catkins hereof taken before they fall off dried and given a dram thereof in Pouder with white Wine wonderfully helpeth those that are troubled with the rising of the Mother The Oyl that is pressed out of the Kernels is very profitably taken inward like Oyl of Almonds to help the Chollick and to expel wind very effectually an ounce or two thereof may be taken at a time The yong green Nuts taken before they be half ripe and preserved with Sugar are of good use for those that have weak Stomachs or Defluxions thereon The distilled water of the green Husk before they be half ripe is of excellent use to cool the heat of Agues being drunk an ounce or two at a time as also to resist the Infection of the Plague if some thereof be also applied to the Sores thereof The same also cooleth the heat of green Wounds and old Ulcers and healeth them being bathed therewith The distilled Water of the green Husks being ripe when they are shelled from the Nuts being drunk with a little Vinegar is also found by experience to be good for those that are infected with the Plague so as before the taking therof a Vein be opened The said Water is very good against the Quinsin being gargled and bathed therewith and wonderfully helpeth Deafness the Noise and other pains in the Ears The Distilled water of the yong green Leaves in the end of May performeth a singular cure on foul running Ulcers and Sores to be bathed with wet Cloathes or Spunges applied to them evening and morning VVold VVeld or Dyers VVeed Description THe common kind groweth bushing with many Leaves long narrow and flat upon the ground of a dark blewish green colour somwhat like unto Woad but nothing so large a little crumpled and as it were round pointed which do so abide the first yeer And the next Spring from among them rise diverse round Stalks two or three foot high beset with many such like Leaves thereon but smaller and shooting forth some smal Branches which with the Stalks carry many smal yellow Flowers in a long spiked Head at the tops of them where afterwards come the Seed which is small and black inclosed in Heads that are devided at the tops into four parts The Root is long white and thick abiding the Winter The whol Herb changeth to be yellow after it hath been in Flower a while Place It groweth every where by the way sides in moist grounds as well as dry in Corners of Fields and by Lanes and somtimes all over the Field in Sussex and Kent they call it Greenweed Time It is in Flower about June Vertues and Use. Mathiâ—lus saith That the Root hereof cutteth tough Flegm digesteth raw Flegm thinneth gross Humors dissolveth hard Tumors and openeth Obstructions Some do highly commend it against the bitings of Venemous Creatures to be taken inwardly and applyed outwardly to the hurt place as also for the Plague or Pestilence The People in some Countries of this Land do use to bruise the Herb and lay it to Cuts or Wounds in the Hands or Legs to heal them Wheat THe several kinds hereof are so well known unto almost all people that it is altogether needless to write any Description thereof Vertues and Use. Dioscorides saith That to eat the Corns of green Wheat is hurtful to the Stomach and breedeth Worms Pliny saith That the Corns of Wheat toasted upon an Iron Pan and eaten is a pleasant Remedy for those that are chilled with cold The Oyl pressed from Wheat between two thick Plates of Iron or Copper heated healeth all Tetters and Ring-worms being used warm and hereby Galen saith he hath known many to be cured Mathiolus commendeth the same Oyl to be put into hollow Ulcers to heal them up and it is also good for Chops in the Hands or Feet and to make a rugged Skin smooth The green Corns of Wheat being chewed and applied to the place bitten by a mad Dog healeth it Slices of Wheat Bread soaked in Red Rose-water and applied to the Eyes that are hot red and inflamed or blood-shotten helpeth them Hot Bread applyed for an hour at a time three daies together perfectly healeth the Kernels in the Throat commonly called the Kings Evil. The Flower of Wheat mixed with the Juyce of Henbane stayeth the Flux of Hurhors to the Joynts being laid theron The said Meal boyled in Vinegar helpeth the shrinking of the Sinews saith Pliny and mixed with Vinegar and Honey boyled together healeth all Freckles Spots and Pimples on the Face Wheat Flower mixed with the Yolk of an Eg Honey and Turpentine doth draw clense and heal and Boyl Plague Sore or foul Ulcer The Bran of Wheat Meal steeped in sharp Vinegar and then bound in a Linnen Cloth and rubbed on those places that have the Scurf Morphew Scabs or Leprosie wil take them away the Body being first well purged and prepared The Decoction of the Bran of Wheat or Barley is of good use to bath those places that are Bursten by a Rupture and the said Bran boyled in good Vinegar and appled to swollen Breasts helpeth them and stayeth all Inflamations it helpeth also the bitings of Vipers which I
throughout the Book Alehoof or Ground-Ivy ♀ Description THis well known Herb lieth spreadeth and crcepeth upon the ground shooting forth Roots at the corners of the tender joynted Stalks set all along with two round Leavs at every Joynt somwhat hairy crumpled and unevenly dented about the edges with round dents at the Joynts likewise with the Leaves towards the end of the Branches come forth hollow long Flowers of a blewish Purple colour with small white spots upon the lips that hang down The Root is smal with strings Place It is commonly found under Hedges and on the sides of Ditches under Houses or in shadowed Lanes and other wast grounds in almost every part of the Land Time They Flower somwhat early and abide so a great while the Leaves continue green untill Winter and somtimes abide except the Winter be very sharp and cold Vertues and use It is quick sharp and bitter in tast and is therby found to be hot and dry a singular Herb for all inward Wounds exulcerated Lungs or other parts either by it self or boyled with other the like Herbs And being drunk it in short time easeth all griping Pains Windy and Chollerick Humors in the Stomach Spleen or Belly helps the yellow Jaundice by opening the stoppings of the Gaul and Liver and Melancholly by opening the stoppings of the Spleen expelleth Venom or Poyson and also the Plague it provoketh Urin and Womens Courses The Decoction of it in Wine drunk for some time together procureth case unto them that are troubled with the Sciatica or Hip Gout as also the Gout in the Hands Knees or Feet and if you put to the Decoction some Honey and a little Burnt Allum it is excellent good to gargle any sore mouth or Throat and to wash the Sores and Ulcers in the privy parts of man or woman It speedily healeth green Wounds being bruised and bound therunto The Juyce of it boyled with a little Hony Vardigrees doth wonderfully clens Fistula's Ulcers and stayeth the spreading or eating of Cancers and Ulcers It helpeth the Itch Scabs Wheals and other breakings out in any part of the Body The Juyce of Celondine Field Daysies and Ground-Ivy clarified and a little fine Sugar dissolved therin and dropped into the Eyes is Sovereign Remedy for all the Pains Redness and Watering of them as also for the Pin and Web Skins and Films growing over the Sight It helpeth Beasts as well as Men The Juyce dropped into the Ears doth wonderfully help the noise and singing of them and helpeth the Hearing which is decayed It is good to Tun up with new Drink for it will so clarifie it in a night that it will be the fitter to be drunk the next morning or if any Drink be thick with removing or any other accident it will do the like in a few hours It is an Herb of Venus and therfore cures her Diseases by Sympathy and those of Mars by Antipathy how to preserve it all the yeer you shall find at the latter end of the Book Alexander ♃ Description IT is usually sown in all the Gardens in Europe and so well known that it needs no further Description Time They Flower in June and July and the Seed is ripe in August Vertues and use It warmethâ— a cold Stomach and openeth stoppings of the Liver and Spleen it is good to move Womens Courses to expel the After-birth to break Wind to provoke Urine and help the Strangury and these things the Seeds wil do likewise if either of them be boyled in Wine or being bruised and taken in Wine it is also effectual against the biting of Serpents And now you know what Alexander Porredg which is so familiar in this City is good for that you may no longer cat it out of ignorance but out of knowledg The Black Alder-Tree ♀ Description THis Tree seldom groweth to any great bigness but for the most part abideth like a Hedg Bush or Tree spreading into Branches the Wood of the Body being white and of a dark red Core or Heart the outward Bark is of a blackish colour with many white spots theron but the inner Bark next unto the Wood is yellow which being chewed will turn the Spittle neer unto a Saffron colour The Leaves are somwhat like those of the ordiuary Alder-Tree or the Foemale Cornel or Dogberry-Tree called in Sussex Dog-wood but blacker and not so long The Flowers are white coming forth with the Leaves at the Joynts which turn into smal round Berries first green afterwards red but blackish when they are through ripe divided as it were into two parts wherin is contained two smal round and flat Seeds The Root runneth not deep into the Ground but spreadeth rather under the upper crust of the Earth Place This Tree or Shrub may be found plentifully in St. Johns Wood by Hornsey and in the Woods upon Hamsted Heath as also at a Wood called the old Park in Barcomb in Sussex neer the Brooks side Time It Flowreth in May and the Berries are ripe in September Vertues and use The inner yellow Bark herof purgeth downwards both Choller Flegm the watry humors of such as have the Dropsie and strengtheneth the inward parts again by binding If the Bark hereof be boyled with Agrimony Wormwood Dodder Hops and some Fâ—â—â—â— with Smalledg Endive and Succory Roots and a reasonable draught taken every morning for some time together it is very effectual against the Jaundice Dropsie and the evil disposition of the Body especially if some suitable purging medicine have been when before to avoid the grosser excrements It purgeth and strengtheneth the Liver and Spleen clensing them from such evilhumors and hardness as they are afflicted with It is to be understood that these things are performed by the dryed Bark for the fresh green Bark taken inwardly provoketh strong Vomitings pains in the Stomach and gripings in the Belly Yet if the Decoction may stand and settle two or three daies until the yellow colour be changed black it will not work so strongly as before but will strengthen the Stomach and procure an Appetite to Meat The outer Bark contrarywise doth bind the Body and is helpful for all Lasks and Pluxes therof but this must also be dried first wherby it wil work the better The inner Bark herof boyled in Vineger is an approved remedy to kill Lice to cure the Itch and take away â—â— by drying them up in a short time It is singular good to wash the Teeth to take away the Pains to fasten those that are loos to clens them and keep them sound The Leaves are good Fodder for Kine to make them give more Milk If in the Spring time you use the Herbs before mentioned and will but take a handful of each of them and to them ad a handful of Elder Buds and having bruised them all boyl them in a Gallon of ordinary Beer when 't is new and having boyled them half an hour ad
from the former saving that the Leavs and Stalks are alwaies green and never brown like the other and that the Flowers therof are very white Place They grow in Woods wet Copses and Fields generally throughout England but the White flowered Bugle is not so plentiful as the other Time They flower from May until July and in the mean time perfect their Seed The Roots and Leavs next therunto upon the ground abiding all Winter Vertues and Use. The Decoction of the Leavs and Flowers made in Wine and taken dissolveth the congeled Blood in those that are bruised inwardly by a fall or otherwise and is very effectual for any inward Wounds Thrusts or Stabs into the Body or Bowels and is an especial help in all Wound-drinks and for those that are Liver-grown as they cal it It is wonderful in curing all manner of Ulcers and Sores whether new and fresh or old and inveterate yea Gangrenes and Fistulaes also if the Leavs bruised be aplied or their Juyce used to wash and bath the places And the same made into a Lotion with some Honey and Allum cureth all sores of the Mouth or Gums be they never so foul or of long continuance and worketh no less powerfully and effectually for such Ulcers and Sores as happen in the secret parts of Men or Women Being also taken inwardly and outwardly applied it helpeth those that have broken any Bone or have any Member out of Joynt An Ointment made with the Leaves of Bugle Scabious and Sanicle bruised and boyled in Hogs-Greas until the Herbs be dry and then strained forth into a Pot for such occasions as shal require it is so singular good for al sorts of hurts in the Body that non that know its usefulness will be without it This Herb is belonging to Dame Venus and if the Vertues of it make you in love with it as they wil if you be wise keep a Syrup of it to take inwardly and an Ointment and Plaister of it to use outwardly alwaies by you The truth is I have known this Herb cure some Diseases of Saturn of which I thought good to quote one Many times such as give themselvs much to drinking are troubled with strange Fancies strange sights in the night-time and some with Voices as also with the Diseas Ephialtes or the Mare I take the reason of this to be according to Fernelius a Melancholly vapor made thin by excessive drinking strong Liquor and so flyes up and disturbs the Fancy and breeds imaginations like it self viz. fearful and troublesom These I have known cured by taking only two spoonfuls of the Syrup of this Herb after Supper two hours when you go to bed But whether this do it by Sympathy or Antipathy is som question all that know any thing in Astrologie know that there is a great Antipathy between Saturn and Venus in matter of Procreation yea such an one that the barreness of Saturn can be removed by none but Venus nor the lust of Venus be repelled by none but Saturn but I am not yet of opinion this is done this way and my reason is because these vapprs though in quality Melancholly yet by their flying upward seem to be somthing Aërial therefore I rather think it is done by Sympathy Saturn being exalted in Libra the house of Venus Selfheal which follows is of the same nature and I am of opinion the same Herb only differs a little in form according to the difference of place they grow in this I am sure they work the same effect ☉ Burnet THe common Garden Burnet is so well known that it needeth no Description There is another sort which is wild the Description wherof take as followeth Description The great wild Burnet hath winged Leavs rising from the Roots like the Garden Burnet but not so many yet each of these Leavs are at the least twice as large as the other aâ—d nicked in the same manner about the edges of a grayish colour on the underside The Stalks are greater and rise higher with many such like Leavs set theron and greater heads at the tops of a brownish green colour and out of them come smal dark purple Flowers like the former but greater The Root is black and long like the other but greater also It hath almost neither scent nor tast therin like the Garden kind Place The first grows frequently in Gardens The Wild kind groweth in divers Countries of this Land especially in Huntington Northampton shires in the Meadows there as also near London by Pancras-Church and by a Causey side in the middle of a Field by paddington Time They flower about the end of June and beginning of July and their Seed is ripe in August Vertues They are accounted to be both of one property but the lesser is more effectual because quicker and more Aromatical It is a friend to the Heart Liver and other the principal parts of a mans Body Two or three of the Stalks with Leavs put into a Cup of Wine especially Clarret are known to quicken the Spirits refresh and cheer the Heart and drive away Melancholly It is a special help to defend the Heart from noisom vapors and from Infection of the Pestilence the Juyce therof being taken in som Drink and the party laid to sweat thereupon They have also a drying and an astringent quality whereby they are available in all manner of Fluxes of Bloud or Humors to stanch bleedings inward or outward Lasks Scourings the Bloudy-flux Womens too abundant Courses the Whites and the Chollerick belchings and castings of the Stomach and is a singular good Wound-herb for all sorts of Wounds both of the Head and Body either inward or outward for all old Ulcers or running Cankers and moist sores to be used either by the Juyce or Decoction of the Herb or by the Pouder of the Herb or Root or the Water of the Distilled Herb or Ointment by it self or with other things to be kept The Seed is also no less effectual both to stop Fluxes and dry up moist Sores being taken in Pouder inwardly in Wine or steeled Water that is wherin hot Gads of Steel have been quenched Or the Pouder of the Seed mixed with the Ointments This is an Herb the Sun challengeth dominion over and is a most precious Herb little inferior to Betony The continual use of it preservs the Body in health and the Spirits in vigor for if the Sun be the preserver of life under God his Herbs are the best in the World to do it by ☉ The Butter-Bur Description THis riseth up in February with a thick Stalk about a foot high whereon are set a few smal Leavs or rather pieces and at the tops a long spiked head of Flowers of a blush or deep red colour according to the soil wherin it groweth and before the Stalk with the Flowers have abidden a month above ground wil be withered and gone blown away with the wind and the Leaves will begin to
upon a several thick Footstalk very brittle of a grayish green colour From among which riseth up a strong thick stalk two Foot high and better with some Leavs theron to the top where it brancheth forth much and on every Branch standeth a large Bush of pale whitish Flowers consisting of four Leavs apiece The Root is somwhat great and shooteth forth many Branches under ground keeping the green Leavs al the Winter Place They grow in many places upon the Sea Coasts as wel on the Kentish as Essex Shores as at Lidd in Kent Colechester in Essex and divers other places and in other Countries of this Land Time They Flower and Seed about the time that other kinds do Vertues The Broth or first Decoction of the Sea Colewort doth by the sharp nitrous and bitter qualities therin open the Belly and purge the Body it clenseth and digesteth more powerfully than the other kind The Seed herof bruised and drunk killeth Worms The Leavs or the Juyce of them applied to Sores or Ulcers clenseth and healeth them and dissolveth Swellings and taketh away Inflamations Calamint or Mountain ☿ ☽ Mint Description THis is a smal Herb seldom rising above a a Foot high with square hoary and woody Stalks and two smal hoary Leavs set at a Joynt about the bigness of Marjoram or not much cigger a little dented about the edges and of a very fierce or quick scent as the whol Herb is The Flowers stand at several spaces of the Stalks from the middle almost upwards which are smal and gaping like to those Mints and of a pale Blush colour after which follow smal reund blackish Seeds The Root is smal and Woody with divers smal sptigs spreading within the ground and dieth not but abideth many yeers Place It groweth on Heaths and Upland dry grounds in many places of this Land Time They Flower in July and their Seed is ripe quickly after Vertues and vse The Decoction of the Herb being drunk bringeth down Womens Courses and provoketh Urin It is profitable for those that are Bursten or troubled with Convulsions or Cramps with shortness of Breath or Chollerick torments and pains in their Bellies or Stomachs it also helpeth the yellow Jaundice and staieth Vomiting being taken in Wine taken with Salt and Honey it killeth al manner of Worms in the Body It helpeth such as have the Leprosie either taken inwardly drinking Whey after it or the green Herb outwardly applied It hindreth Conception in Women being either burned or strewed in the Chamber it driveth away Venemous Serpents It takes away black and blue marks in the Face and maketh black Scars become wel colored if the green Herb not the dry be boyled in Wine and laid to the place or the place washed therwith Being applied to the Hucklebone by continuance of time it spendeth the humors which caused the pain of the Sciatica The Juyce dropped into the Ears killeth the Worms in them The Leavs boyled in Wine and drunk provoketh sweat and openeth Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen it helpeth them that have a Tertian Ague the Body being first purged by taking away the cold Fits The Decoction herof with some Sugar put therto afterwards is very profitable for those that be troubled with the overflowing of the Gal and that have an old Cough and that are scarce able to breath by the shortness of their wind That have any cold distemper in their Bowels and are troubled with the hardness of the Spleen for al which purposes both the Pouder called Diacalaminthes and the Compound Syrup of Calamint which are to be had at the Apothecaries are most effectual Let not Women be too busy with it for it works very violently upon the Foeminin parts ☉ Chamomel THis is so wel known every where that it is but lost time and labor to describe it The Vertues wherof are as followeth A Decoction made of Chamomel and drunk taketh away al pains and Stitches in the Sides The Flowers of Chamomel beaten and made up into Bals with Oyl driveth away al sorts of Agues if the party grieved be anointed with that Oyl taken from the Flowers from the Crown of the Head to the Soal of the Foot and afterwards laid to sweat in his Bed and that he sweat wel This is Nichessor an Egyptian's Medicine It is profitable for all sorts of Agues that come either from Flegm or Melancholly or from an Inflamation of the Bowels being applied when the Humors causing them shal be concocted and there is nothing more profitable to the sides and Region of the Liver and Spleen than it The bathing with a Deeoction of Chamomel taketh away weariness easeth pains to what part of the Body soever they be applied it comforteth the Sinews that are overstrained mollifieth al Swellings It moderately comforteth al parts that have need of warmth digesteth and dissolveth whatsoever hath need therof by a wonderful speedy property It easeth al the pains of the Chollick and Stone and al pains and torments of the Belly and gently provoketh Urin. The Flowers boyled in Poster Drink provoketh Sweat and helpeth to expel Colds Aches and Pains whersoever and is an excellent help to bring down Womens Courses A Syrup made of the Juyce of Chamomel with the Flowers and white Wine is a Remedy against the Jaundice and Dropsie The Flowers boyled in a Ly are good to wash the Head and comfort both it and the Brain The Oyl made of the Flowers of Chamomel is much used against al hard swellings pains or aches shrinking of the Sinews or Cramps or pains in the Joynts or any other part of the Body being used in Clisters it helpeth to dissolve wind and pains in the Belly anointed also it helpeth Stitches and pains in the Sides Nichessor saith the Egyptians dedicated it to the Sun becaus it cured Agues and they were like enough to do it for they were the arrantest Apes in their Religion that ever I red of Bacchinus Pena and Lobel commend the Syrup made of the Juyce of it and Sugar taken inwardly to be excellent for the Spleen Also this is certain that it most wonderfully breaks the Stone some take it in Syrup or Decoction others inject the Juyce of it into the Bladder with a Syring my Opinion is That the Salt of it taken half a dram in a morning in a little White or Rhehish Wine is better than either that it is excellent for the Stone appears by this which I have seen tried viz. That a Stone that hath been taken out of the Body of a man being wrapped in Chamomel will in time dissolve and in a little time too ♄ Campions wild Descriptions THe white wild Campion hath many long and somwhat broad dark green Leavs lying upon the ground with divers Ribs therin somwhat like Plantane but somwhat hairy broader and not so long The hairy Stalks rise up in the middle of them three or
success for sore Mouths and Throats Tragus saith That a dram of the Seed taken in Wine with a little Saffron openeth Obstructions of the Liver and is good for the yellow Jaundice if the party after the taking therof be laid to sweat wel in his Bed The Seed also taken in Wine causeth a speedy Delivery of Women in Childbirth if one draught suffice not let her drink a second and it is effectual The Spaniards use to eat a piece of the Root hereof in a morning fasting many daies together to help them being troubled with the Stone in the Reins or Kidneys Coltsfoot or Foalsfoot ♀ Description THis shooteth up a fiender Stalk with small yellowish Flowers somwhat early which fall away quickly and after they are past come up somwhat round Leavs somtimes dented a little about the edges much lesser thicker and greener than those of Butterbur with a little down or Freez over the green Leaf on the upper side which may be rubbed away and whitish or mealy underneath The Root is smal and white spreading much under ground so that where it taketh it whil hardly be driven away again if any little piece be abiding therin and from thence springeth fresh Leavs Place It groweth as well in wet grounds as in drier places Time And Flowreth in the end of February the Leavs beginning to appear in March Vertues and use The fresh Leavs or Juyce or a Syrup made therof is good for a hot dry Cough for wheesings and shortness of breath The dry Leavs are best for those that have thin Rhewms and Distillations upon the Lungs causing a Cough for which also the dried Leavs taken as Tobacco or the Root is very good The distilled water herof simply or with Elder Flowers and Nightshade is a singular remedy against al hot Agues to drink two ounces at a time and apply Cloathes wet therein to the Head and Stomach which also doth much good being applied to any hot Swellings or Inflamations it helpeth St. Anthonies Fire and Burnings and is singular good to take away Wheals and smal Pushes that arise through heat As also the burning heat of the Piles or privy parts cloathes wet therin being therunto applied ♄ Comfry ♑ Description THe common great Comfry hath divers very large and hairy green Leavs lying on the ground so hairy or prickly that if they touch any tender part of the Hands Face or Body it will caus it to itch The Stalk that riseth up from among them being two or three Foot high hollow and cornered is very hairy also having many such like Leavs as grow below but lesser and lesser up to the top At the Joynts of the Stalks it is divided into many branches with some Leavs theron and at the ends stand many Flowers in order one above another which are somwhat long and hollow like the finger of a Glove of a pale whitish colour after which come smal black Seed The Roots are great and long spreading great thick Branches under ground black on the outside and whitish within short or easie to break and ful of a glutinous or clammy Juyce of little or no tast at al. There is another sort in al things like this save only it is somwhat less and beareth Flowers of a pale purple colour Place They grow by Ditches and Water Sides and in divers Fields that are moist for therin they chiefly delight to grow The first generally through al the Land and the other but in some several places By the leave of my Author the first grow often in dry places Time They Flower in June and July and give their Seed in August Vertues and use The great Comfry helpeth those that spit blood or make a Bloody Urin The Root boyled in Water or Wine and the Decoction drunk helpeth al inward Hurts Bruises and Wounds and the Ulcers of the Lungs causing the Flegm that oppresseth them to be easily spit forth It staieth the defluxions of Rhewm from the Head upon the Lungs the Fluxes of Blood or humors by the Belly Womens immoderate Courses as well the Reds as the Whites and the running of the Reins hapning by what caus soever A Syrup made therof is very effectual for all those inward Griefs and Hurts and the distilled Water for the same purpose also and for outward Wounds and Sores in the Fleshy or Sinewy part of the Body whersoever as also to take away the fits of Agues and to allay the sharpness of Humors A Decoction of the Leavs herof is available to all the purposes though not so effectual as of the Roots The Roots being outwardly applied helpeth fresh Wounds or Cuts immediatly being bruised and laid therunto and is especial good for Ruptures and broken Bones yea it is said to be so powerful to consolidate and Knit together that if they be boyled with dissevered pieces of Flesh in a pot it will joyn them together again It is good to be applied to Womens Breasts that grow sore by the abundance of Milk coming into them as also to repress the overmuch bleeding of the Hemorrhoids to cool the Inflamation of the parts therabouts and to give eas of pains The Roots of Comfry taken fresh beaten smal and spread upon Leather and laid upon any place troubled with the Gout do presently give eas of the pains and applied in the same manner giveth eas to pained Joynts and profiteth very much for running and moist Ulcers Gangrenes Mortifications and the like for which it hath by often experience been found helpful This is also an Herb of Saturn and I suppose under the Sign Capricorn cold dry and earthy in quality what was spoken of Clowns Woundwort may be said of this ♃ Costmary or Alecost THis is so frequently known to be an Inhabitant in almost every Garden that I suppose it needless to write a Descriptition therof Time It Flowreth in June and July Vertues and use The ordinary Costmary as well as Maudlin provoketh Urin abundantly and moistneth the hardness of the Mother It gently purgeth Choller and Flegm extenuating that which is gross and cutting that which is tough and gluttenous clenseth that which is foul and hindreth putrefaction and corruption it dissolveth without Attraction openeth Obstructions and healeth their evil effects and is a wonderful help to al sorts of day Agues It is astringent to the Stomach and strengtheneth the Liver and al the other inward parts and taken in Whey worketh the more effectually Taken fasting in the morning it is very profitable for the pains in the Head that are continual and to stay dry up and consume all thin Rhewms or distillations from the Head into the Stomach and helpeth much to digest raw humors that are gathered therein It is very profitable for those that are fallen into a continual evil disposition of the whol Body called Cachexia being taken especially in the beginning of the Diseas It is an
Decoction of the Leavs Bark or Root being bathed healeth broken Bones The Water that is found in the Bladders on the Leavs while it is fresh is very effectual to clens the Skin and make it fair â—â—â— if clothes be often wet therin and applied to the Ruptures of Children it helpeth them if they be after wel bound up with a Truss The said Water put into a Glass and set in the Ground or els in Dung for twenty five daies the Mouth therof being close stopped and the bottom set upon a lay of ordinary Salt that the Feces may settle and the Water become very clear is a singular and Soveraign Balm for green Wounds being used with soft tents The Decoction of the Bark of the Root somented mollifieth hard tumors and the shrinking of the Sinews The Roots of the Elm boyled for a long time in Water and the fat rising on the top therof being clean scummed off and the place anointed therwith that is grown Bald and the Hair fallen away will quickly restore them again The said Bark ground with Brine and Pickle until it come to the form of a Pultis and laid on the place pained with the Gout giveth great eas The Decoction of the Bark in Water is excellent to bath such places as have burned with fire ♃ Endive Description THe common Garden Endive beareth a longer and a larger Leaf than Succory and abideth but one yeer quickly running up to Stalk and Seed and then perisheth It hath blue Flowers and the Seed of the ordinary Endive is so like Succory Seed that it is hard to distinguish them Vertues and Vse The Decoction of the Leavs or the Juyce or the distilled Water of Endive serveth well to cool the excessive Hear in the Liver and Stomach and in the hot Fits of Agues and all other Inflamations in any part of the Body it cooleth the heat and sharpness of the Urine and the Excoriations in the Uritory parts The Seed is of the same property or rather more powerful and besides is available for the faintings swounings and passions of the Heart Outwardly applied they serve to temper the sharp Humors of fretting Ulcers hot Tumors and Swellings and Pestilential Sores and wonderfully helpeth not only the redness and Inflamation in the Eyes but the dimness of the Sight also They are also used to allay the pains of the Gout You cannot use it amiss a Syrup of it is a fine cooling Medicine for Feavers ☿ Elecampane Description THis shooteth forth many large Leavs long and broad lying neer the ground smal at both ends somwhat soft in handling of a whitish green on the upper side and gray underneath each set upon a short Footstalk from among which rise up divers great and strong hairy Stalks three or four foot high with some Leavs thereon compassing them about at the lower ends and are branched toward the tops bearing divers great and large Flowers like those of the Corn Marigold both the Borden of Leavs and the middle thrum being yellow which turn into Down with long small brownish Seed among it and is carried away with the wind The Root is great and thick branched forth divers waies blackish on the outside and white within of a very bitter tast and strong but good sent especially when they are dryed no part els of the Plant having any smel Place It groweth in the moist Grounds and shadowy places oftner than in the dry and open Borders of Fields and Lanes and in other wast places almost in every County of this Land Time It Flowreth in the end of June and July and the Seed is ripe in August The Roots are gathered for use as well in the Spring before the Leaves come forth as in Autumn or Winter Vertues and use The fresh Roots of Elecampane preserved with Sugar or made into a Syrup or Conserve are very effectual to warm a cold and windy Stomach or the pricking therin and Stitches in the Sides caused by the Spleen and to help the Cough shortness of Breath and wheesing in the Lungs The dried Root made into Pouder and mixed with Sugar and taken serveth to the same purposes and is also profitable for those that have their Urine stopped or the stopping of Womens Courses the pains of the Mother and of the Stone in the Reins Kidneys or Bladder It resisteth Poyson and stayeth the spreading of the Venom of Serpents as also of putrid and pestilential Feavers and the Plague it self The Roots and Herb beaten and put into new Ale or Beer and dayly drunk cleareth strengthneth and quickneth the Sight of the Eyes wonderfully The Decoction of the Roots in Wine or the Juyce taken therin killeth and driveth forth all manner of Worms in the Belly Stomach and Maw and gargled in the mouth or the Root chewed fastneth loos Teeth and helpeth to keep them from Putrefaction And being drunk is good for those that spit Blood helpeth to remove Cramps or Convulsions and the pains of the Gout the Sciatica the loosness and pains in the Joynts or those Members that are out of Joynt by cold or moisture hapning to them applied outwardly as well as inwardly and is good for those that are bursten or have any inward bruis The Roots boyled well in Vinegar beaten afterwards and made into an Oyntment with Hogs Suet or Oyl of Trotters is an excellent remedy for Scabs or Itch in yong or old The places also bathed or washed with the Decoction doth the same it also helpeth all sorts of filthy old putrid Sores or Cankers wheresoever In the Roots of this Herb lieth the chief effect for all the Remedies aforesaid The distilled Water of the Leavs and Roots together is very profitable to clens the Skin of the Face or other parts from any Morphew Spots or Blemishes therein and maketh it cleer Eringo or Sea-Holly ♀ ♎ Description THe first Leavs of our ordinary Sea-Holly are nothing so hard and prickly as when they grow old being almost round and deeply dented about the edges hard and sharp pointed and a little crumpled of a bluish green colour every one upon a long Footstalk but those that grow up higher with the Stalk do as it were compass it about The stalk it self is round and strong yet somwhat crested with Joynts and Leavs set therat but more divided sharp and prickle and branches rising from thence which have likewise other smaller Branches each of them bearing several bluish round prickly Heads with many smal jagged prickly Leavs under them standing like a Star and are somtimes found greenish or whitish The Root groweth wonderful long even to eight or ten Foot in length set with Rings or Circles toward the upper part but smooth and without Joynts down lower brownish on the outside and very white within with a pith in the middle of a pleasant tast but much more being artificially preserved and candy'd with Sugar Place It is found
Oyntments and Plaisters of it were kept in your Houses Flower-de-luce Description THis is so well known being nursed up in most Gardens that I shall not need to spend time in writing a Description thereof Time The Flaggy kinds thereof have the most Physical uses the Dwarf kinds thereof flower in April the greater sorts in May. Vertues and Vse The Juyce or Decoction of the green Roots of the Flaggy kind of Flower-de-luce with a little Honey drunk doth purge and clens the Stomach of gross and tough Flegm and Choller therin It helpeth the Jaundice and the Dropsie by evacuating those humors both upwards and downwards and becaus it somwhat hurteth the Stomach is not to be taken but with Honey and Spicknard The same being drunk doth eas the pains and torments of the Belly and Sides the shaking of Agues the Diseases of the Liver and Spleen the Worms in the Belly the Stone in the Reins Convulsions or Cramps that come of cold Humors it also helpeth those whose Seed passeth from them unawars It is a Remedy against the bitings and stingings of Venemous Creatures being boyled in Water and Vineger and drunk Being boyled in Wine and drunk it provoketh Urine helpeth the Chollick bringeth down Womens Courses and made up into a Pessary with Honey and put up into the Body draweth forth the dead Child It is much commended against the Cough to expectorate tough Flengm It much easeth pains in the Head and procureth sleep Being put into the Nostrils it procureth Neesing and therby purgeth the Head of Flegm The Juyce of the Root applied to the Piles or Hemorrhoids giveth much eas The Decoction of the Roots gargled in the Mouth easeth the Toothach and helpeth a Stinking breath The Oyl called Oleum Irinum if it be rightly made of the great broad Flag Flower-de-luce and not of the great Bulbous blue Flower-de-luce as is used by some Apothecaries and Roots of the same of the Flaggy kinds is very effectual to warm and comfort all cold Joynts and Sinews as also the Gout and Sciatica and mollisieth dissolveth and consumeth Tumors or Swellings in any part of the Body as also of the Matrix It helpeth the Cramp and Convulsion of the Sinews The Head and Temples anointed therwith helpeth the Catark or thin Rhewm distilling from thence and used upon the Breast or Stomach helpeth to extenuate the cold tough Flegm It helpeth also the pains and noise in the Ears and the stench of the Nostrils The Root it self either green or in Pouder helpeth to clens heal and incarnate Wounds and to cover the naked Bones with Flesh again that Ulcers have made bare and is also very good to clens and heal up Fistulaes and Cankers that are hard to be cured Fluellin Description THis shooteth forth many long Branches partly lying upon the Ground and part standing upright set with almost round Leavs yet a little pointed and somtimes more long than round without order theron somwhat hoary and of an evil greenish white colour at the Joynts all along the Stalks and with the Leavs come forth smal Flowers one at a place upon a very small short Footstalk gaping somwhat like Snapdragons or rather like Toadflax with the upper Jaw of a yellow colour and the lower of a Purplish with a smal heel or Spur behind after which come small round Heads containing smal black Seed The Root is smal and threddy dying every yeer and raiseth it self again of its own sowing There is another sort of Lluellin which hath longer Branches wholly trailing upon the ground two or three foot long and somtimes more thinner set with Leavs theron upon smal Footstalks The Leaves are a little larger and somwhat round and cornered somtimes in some places on the edges but the lower part of them being the broadest hath on each side a smal point making it seem as if they were Ears somwhat hairy but not hoary and of a better green colour than the former The Flowers come forth like the former but the colours therein are more white than yellow and the Purple not so fair It is a larger Flower and so are the Seed and Seed Vessels The Root is like the other and perisheth every yeer Place They grow in divers Corn Fields and in borders about them and in other fertile Grounds about Southfleet in Kent abundantly at Buckworth Hamerton and Richwersworth in Huntingtonshire and in divers other places Time They are in Flower about June and July and the whol Plant is dry and withered before August be done Vertues and Vse The Leavs bruised and applied with Barley Meal to watering Eyes that are hot and inflamed by defluxions from the Head doth very much help them as also the Fluxes of Blood or Humors as the Lask Bloody Flux Womens Courses and staieth all manner of bleeding at Nose Mouth or any other place or that cometh by any Bruis or Hurt or bursting a Vein and wonderfully it helpeth all those inward parts that need consolidating or strengthening and is no less effectual both to heal and close green Wounds as to clens or heal all foul or old Ulcers fretting or spreading Cankers or the like Bees are industrious and go abroad to gather Honey from each Plant and Flower but Drones lie at home and eat up what the Bees have taken pains for Just so do our Colledg of Physitians lie at home and domineer and suck out the Sweetness of other Mens Labors and Studies themselvs being as ignorant in the Knowledg of Herbs as a Child of four yeers old as I can make appear to any Rational man by their last Dispensatory now then to hide their Ignorance there is not a readier way in the World than to hide Knowledg from their Country men that so no Body might be able so much as to smel out their Ignorance when Simples were more in use mens Bodies were in better health by far than now they are or shall be if the Colledg can help it The truth is this Herb is of a fine cooling drying quality and an Oyntment or Plaister of it might do a Man a courtesie that hath any hot virulent Sores 't is admirable for the Ulcers of the French Pox and being a gallant Antivenerian Medicine under the Dominion of Saturn if taken inwardly may cure the Diseas It was at first called Foemale Speedwel but a Shentle man of wales whose Nose was almost eaten off with the Pox and so neer the matter that the Docters commanded it to be cut off being cured by only the Use of this Herb to honor the Herb for saving his Nose whol gave it one of her own Country names LLUELLIN Foxglove Description THis hath many long and broad Leavs lying upon the Ground dented about the edges a little soft or woolly and of a hoary green colour among which rile up somtimes sundry Stalks but one very often bearing such Leavs thereon from the bottom to the middle from
Flux and Womens Courses and is no â—ess prevalent in all Ruptures or Burstings being drunk inwardly and outwardly applied It is a Severaign Wound Herb inferior to none both for inward and outward Hurts green Wounds and old Sores and Ulcers are quickly cured therewith It is also of especial use in all Lotions for Sores or Ulcers in the Mouth Throat or privy parts of Man or Woman The Decoction also helpeth to fasten the Teeth that are loos in the Gums Venus claims the Herb and therefore to be sure it restores Beauty lost Goutwort or Herb-Gerrard Description THis is a low Herb seldom rising half a yard high having sundry Leavs standing on brownish green Stalks by threes snipped about and of a strong unpleasant savour The Umbels of Flowers are white and the Seed blackish the Root runneth in the Ground quickly taking up a great deal of room Place It groweth by Hedg and Wall sides and often in the borders or Corners of Fields and in Gardens also Time It Flowreth and Seedeth about the end of July Vertues and use Goutwort had not his name for nothing but upon good experience to help the cold Gout and Sciatica as also Joynt aches and other cold Griefs The very bearing of it about one easeth the pains of the Gout and defends him that bears it from the Diseas Gromel OF this I shall briefly describe three kinds which are principally used in Physick the Vertues whereof are alike though somwhat different in their manner and form of growing Description The greater Gromel groweth up with slender hard and hairy Stalks trailing and taking Root in the ground as it lieth thereon and parted into many other smaller Branches with hairy dark green Leavs thereon At the Joynts with the Leavs come forth very smal blew Flowers and after them hard stony roundish Seed The Root is long and woody abiding the Winter and shooting forth fresh Stalks in the Spring The smal wild Gromel sendeth forth divers upright hard branched Stalks two or three foot high full of Joynts at every of which groweth smal long hard and rough Leavs like the former but lesser among which Leavs come forth small white Flowers and after them grayish round Seed like the former The Root is not very long but with many Strings thereat The Garden Gromel hath divers upright slender woody hairy Stalks brown and crested very little branched with Leavs like the former and white Flowers after which in rough brown Husks is contained a white hard round Seed shining like Pearls greater than either of the former The Root is like the first described with divers Branches and Strings thereat which continueth as the first doth all Winter Place The two first grow wild in barren or untilled places and by the way sides in many places of this Land The last is a Nursling in the Gardens of the curious Time They all Flower from Midsummer unto September somtimes and in the mean time the Seed ripeneth Vertues and use These are accounted to be of as singular force as any other Herb or Seed whatsoever to break the Stone and to avoid it and the Gravel either in the Reins or Bladder as also to provoke Urine being stopped and to help the Strangury The Seed is of greatest use being bruised and boiled in white Wine or in Broth or the like or the Pouder of the Seed taken therin Two drams of the Seed in Pouder taken with Womens Breast-Milk is very effectual to procure a speedy Delivery to such Women as have sore pains in their Travail and cannot be delivered The Herb it self when the Seed is not to be had either boyled or the Juyce therof drunk is effectual to all the purposes aforelaid but not so powerful or speedy in operation The Herbe belongs to Dame Venus and therfore if Mars caus the Chollick or Stone as usually he doth if in Virgo this is your cure Winter Green Description THis sendeth forth 7. 8. or 9. Leaves from a smal brownish creeping Root every one standing upon a long Footstalk which are almost as broad as long round pointed of a sad green colour and hard in handling and like the Leaf of a Pear-tree from whence ariseth a slender weak Stalk yet standing upright bearing at the top many smal white and sweet smelling Flowers laid open like a Star consisting of five round pointed Leavs with many yellowish threds standing in the middle about a green Head and a long stile with them which in time groweth to be the Seed Vessel which being ripe is found five square with a smal point at it weerin is contained Seed as small as dust Place It groweth seldom in the Fields but frequently in the Woods Northwards viz. In Yorkshire Lancashire and Scotland Time It Flowreth about June or July Vertues and Vse Winter-Green is a singular good Wound Herb and an especial Remedy for to heal green Wounds speedily the green Leavs being brused and applied or the Juyce of them A Salve made of the green Herbs stamped or the Juyce boyled with Hogs Lard or with Sâ—llet Oyl and Wax and some Turpentine added unto it is a Soveragn Salve and highly extolled by the Germans who much use it to heal all manner of Wounds and Sores The Herb boyled in Wine and Water and given to drink to them that have any inward Ulcers in their Kidneys or Neck of the Bladder doth wonderfully help them It staieth also all Fluxes whether of Blood or Humors as the Lask Bloody Flux Womens Courses and bleeding of Wounds and taketh away any Inflamation rising upon pains of the Heart It is no less helpful for foul Ulcers hard to be cured as also for Cankers or Fistulaes The distilled Water of the Herb doth effectually perfrom the same things Groundsel Description OUr common Groundsel hath a round green and somwhat brownish Stalk spread toward the top into Branches set with long and somwhat narrow green Leavs cut in on the edges somwhat like the Oak Leavs but lesser and round at the ends at the tops of the Branches stand many smal green Heads out of which grow small yellow threds or thrums which are the Flowers and continue many daies blown in that manner before it pass away into Down and with the Seed is carried away in the wind The Root is smal and threddy and soon perisheth and as soon riseth again of its own sowing so that it may be seen many Months in the Yeer both green and in Flower and Seed for it will Spring and Seed twice in a yeer at least if it be suffered in a Garden Place This groweth almost every where as wel on the tops of Walls as at the foot among Rubbish and untilled grounds but especially in Gardens Time It Flowreth as is said before almost in every Month through the yeer Vertues and use The Decoction of the Herb saith Dioscorides made with Wine and Drunk `helpeth the pains in the Stomach proceeding
OUr common Henbane hath very large thick soft woolly Leavs lying upon the ground much cut in or torn on the edges of a dark ill grayish green colour among which rise up divers thick short Stalks two or three foot high spread into divers smaller Branches with lesser Leavs on them and many hollow Flowers scarce appearing above the Husks and usually torn on the one side ending in five round points growing one above another of a deadish yellow colour somwhat paler toward the edges with many purplish Veins therein and of a dark yellowish purple in the bottom of the Flower with a smal pointel of the same colour in the middle each of them standing in hard close Husk which after the Flower is past groweth very like the Husk of Asarabacca and somwhat sharp at he top Points wherein is contained much smal Seed very like Poppy Seed but of a dusky grayish colour The Root is great white and thick branching forth divers waies under ground so like a Parsnip Root but that it is not so white that it hath deceived divers The whol Plant more than the Root hath a heavy ill soporiferous smell somwhat offensive Place It commonly groweth by the way sides and under Hedg sides and Wals. Time It Flowreth in July and springeth again yeerly of its own Seed I doubt my Author mistook July for June if not for May. Vertues and Vse The Leavs of Henbane do cool all hot Inflamations in the Eyes or any other part of the Body and are good to asswage all manner of Swellings of the Cods or Womens Breasts or els where if they be boyled in Wine and either applied themselves or the Fomentation warm it also asswageth the pain of the Gout the Sciatica and all other pains in the Joynts which arise from an hot caus And applied with Vinegar to the Forehead and Temples helpeth the Headach and want of sleep in hot Feavers The Juyce of the Herb or Seed or the Oyl drawn from the Seed doth the like The Oyl of the Seed is helpful for the Deafness Nois and Worms in the Ears being dropped therein the Juyce of the Herb or Root doth also the same The Decoction of the Herb or Seed or both killeth Lice in Man and Beast The fume of the dried Herb Stalks and Seed burned quickly healeth Swellings Chilblains or Kibes in the Hands or Feet by holding them in the fume thereof The Remedy to help those that have taken Henbane is to drink Goats Milk Honyed Water or Pine Kernels with Sweet Wine or in the absence of these Fennel Seed Nettle Seed the Seed of Cresses Mustard or Radish as also Onions or Garlick taken in wine do all help to free them from danger and restore them to their due temper again Take notice that this Herb must never be taken inwardly outwardly an Oyl Oyntment or Plaister of it is most admirable for the Gout to cool the Venerial heat of the Reins in the French Pox to stop the Tooth-ach being applied to the aching side to allay all Inflamations and to help the Diseases before premised I wonder in my Heart how Astrologers could take on them to make this an Herb of Jupiter and yet Mizaldus a man of a penetrating Brain was also of this Opinion as wel as the rest the Herb is indeed under the Dominion of Saturn and I prove it by this Argument All the Herbs which delight most to grow in Saturnine places are Saturnine Herbs But Henbanc delights most to grow in Saturnine places and whol Cart loads of it may be found neer the places where they empty the common Jakes and scarce a stinking Ditch to be found without it growing by it Ergo 't is an Herb of Saturn Herb Robert Description THis riseth up with a reddish stalk two foot high having divers leaves thereon upon very long and reddish footstalkes divided at the ends into three or five divisions each of them cut in on the edges some deeper then others and all dented likewise about the edges which often tims turn reddish At the tops of the stalk come forth divers flowers made of five leavs much larger then the Doves foot and of a more reddeish colour after which come beak heads as in others The Roote is small and threddy and smelleth as the whole plant very strong almost stinking Place This groweth frequently every where by way sides upon ditch banks and wast grounds whersoever one goeth Time It flowreth in June and July chiefly and the seed is ripe shortly after Vertues and use Herb Robert is commended not only against the stone but to stay bloud where or howsoever flowing it speedily healeth all green wounds and is effectual in old ulcers in the peivy parts or else where You may perswade your self this is true and also conceive a good reason for it if you you doe but consider 't is an herb of Venus for al it hath gotten a mans name Herb True-love OR One-berry Description THe ordinary Herb True-love hath a small creeping Root running under the upper crust of the ground somwhat like a Coutchgrass Root but not so white shooting forth stalks with leavs some wherof carry no berries though others do every stalk smooth without Joynts and blackith green rising about half a foot high if it bear berries otherwise seldom so high bearing at the top four leaves set directly one against another in maner of a Cross or a Riband tied as it is called on a True-loues Knot which are each of them a part somwhat like unto a Nightshade Leaf but somwhat broader having somtimes but three Leavs somtimes five somtimes six and these somtimes greater than in others In the middle of the four Leavs fiseth up one smal slender Stalk about an inch high bearing at the top thereof one Flower spread open like a Star consisting of four small and narrow long pointed Leavs of a yellowish green colour and four other lying between them lesser than they in the middle wherof standeth a round dark purplish Bâ—tton or Head compassed about with eight smal yellow Mealy thâ— eds with three colours make it the more conspicuous and lovely to behold This Button or Head in the middle when the other Leavs are withered becometh a blackish Purple Berry full of Juyce of the bigness of a reasonable Grape having within it many white Seeds The whol Plant is without any manifest tast Place It groweth in Woods and Copseâ— and somtimes in the corners or borders of Fields and wast Grounds in very many places of this Land and abundantly in the Woods Gopses and other places about Chisselhurst and Maidstone in Kent Time They spring up in the middle of April or May and are in Flower soon after The Barries are ripe in the end of May and in some places in June Vertues and Vse The Leavs or Berries hereof are effectual to expel poyson of all sorts especially that of the Aconites as also the
containing very smal brownish Seed which falling on the ground wil plentifully spring up before Winter if it have moisture The Root is round and most usually smooth grayish without and white within having smal fibres at the head of the Root and bottom of the Stalk Place It groweth very plentifully in many places of this Land but especially in all the West parts thereof upon stone and mud Wals upon Rocks also and in stony places upon the ground at the Bottom of old Trees and somtimes on the Bodies of them that are decayed and rotten Time It usually Flowreth in the begining of May and the Seed is ripening quickly after sheddeth it self so that about the end of May usually the Leavs and Stalks are withered dry and gone until September that the Leavs spring up again and so abide all Winter Vertues and Use. The Juyce or the distilled water being drunk is very effectual for al Inflamations and unnatural heats to cool a fainting hot Stomach or a hot Liver or the Bowels The bruised Herb or the place bathed with the Juyce or distilled Water thereof and outwardly applied healeth Pimples Redness St. Anthonies Fire and other outward heats and Inflamations The said Juyce or Water helpeth much also to heal sore Kidneys torn or fretted by the Stone or exulcerated within and easeth the pâ—ns It also provoketh Urine and is available for the Dropsie and helpeth to break the Stone cooling the Inflamed parts and other pains of the Bowels and the bloody Flux It is singular good to cool the painful Piles or Hemorrhoidal Veins the Juyce being used as a Bath unto them or made into an Oyntment It is no less effectual to give eas of pains to the hot Gout the Sciatica and the Inflamations and Swellings in the Cods It helpeth the Kernels or Knots in the Neck or Throat called the Kings Evil healeth Kibes and Chilblains if they be bathed with the Juyce or anointed with an Oyntment made thereof and some of the skin of the Leaf laid upon them It is also used in green Wounds to stay the Blood and to heal them quickly Venus challengeth the Herb under Libra ♄ Knapweed Description The common sort herof hath many long and somwhat broad darke green leaves rising from the Root deeply dented about the edges and somtimes a little rent or torne on both sides in two or three places and somwhat hairy withal among which riseth up a strong round stalk four or five foot high devided into many branches at the tops wherof stand great scalygreen heads from the middle of them thrust forth a number of dark purplish red thrumms or threds which after they are withered and past ther is found divers black Seeds lying in a great deal of down somwhat like unto a Thistle Seed but smaller The Root is white hard and woody with divers fibres annexed therunto which perisheth not but abideth with leavs theron all the winter shooting out fresh every Spring Place It groweth in most Feilds and Meadows and about their borders and Hedges and in many wast grounds also almost every where Time It usually flowreth in June and July and the seed is ripe shortly after Vertues and Use. This Knaproeed helpeth to stay Fluxes both of blood at the mouth or nose or other outward parts and those veins that are inwardly broken or inward wounds as also the Fluxes of the belly It stayeth the distillations of thin and sharp humors from the head upon the stomach and Lungs it is good for those that are bruised by any fall blowes or otherwise It is very profitable for those that are bursten and have a Rupture by drinking the decoction of the Hearbe and roots in wine and applying the same outwardly to the place It is singular good in al running sores cankrous and fistulous drying up the moysture and healing them up gently without sharpness it doth the like to running sores or scabs of the head or other parts It is of special use for the soreness of the Throat swelling of the Vvula and Jawa and excellent good to stay the bleeding and heale up all green wounds Saturn challengeth the herb for his own ♄ Knot-grass Description THis is generally so wel known that it needeth no Description Place It groweth in every County of this Land by the High-way sides and by foot paths in Fields as also by the sides of old Walls Time It springeth up late in the Spring and abideth until Winter when all the branches perish Vertues and Use. The Juyce of the common kind of Knot-grass is most effectuall to stay bleeding at the mouth being drunke in steeled or red Wine and the bleeding at the Nose to be applyed to the Forehead and Temples or to be squirted up into the Nostrils And no less effectuall to coole and temper that heat of the blood stomach and to stay any Flux of the blood or humers as Lask Bloodyflux Womens courses and Running of the Reins It is singular good to provoke Urine helpe the strangurie and allay the heate that cometh therby and it is powerful by Urin to expel the Gravell or stone in the kidneys or Bladder a dram of the pouder of the Herb being taken in wine for many dayes together Being boyled in wine and drunke it is profitable to those that are stung or bitten by venemous creatures and very effectual to stay al defluxions of rhewmatick humors upon the stomach killeth Worms in the belly or stomack quieteth inward paines that arise from the heat sharpness corruption of blood and Choller The distilled water herof taken by it self or w th the pouder of the Herb or seed is very effectual to al the purposes aforesaid and is accounted as one of the most Soveraign remedies to cool all manner of inflamations breakings out through heate hot Swellings and Impostumations Gangrenes and Fistulous Cankers or foule filthy Ulcers being applyed or put into them but especially for all sorts of Ulcers and sores happening in the privie parts of men or women It helpeth all fresh and green Wounds and speedily helpeth them The Juyce dropped into the Ears cleanseth them being soule and having running matter in them Saturn seems to me to own the Hearb and yet some hold the sun out of doubt 't is Saturn it is very prevalent for the premises as also for btoken Joynts and Ruptures ♀ Ladies-Mantle Description THis hath many leavs rising from the Root standing upon long hairy footstalkes being almost round but a little cut in on the edges into eight or ten parts more or less making it seem like a Star with so many corners and points and dented round about of a light green colour somwhat hard in handling and as if it were folded or plaited at first and then crumpled in divers places and a little hairy as the Stalk is also which riseth up among them to the height of two or three foot with such like Leavs thereon but smaller and being weak
blindness so as the Christaline humor be not perished or hurt and this hath been sufficiently proved true by the experience of a man of judgment who kept it long to himself as a great sccret It also cleareth the Eyes of dust or any other thing gotten into them and preserveth the Sight It is also very much available against Wounds and Thrusts being made into an Oyntment on this manner To every ounce of the Water ad two drams of May Butter without Salt and of Sugar and Wax of each as much also let them boyl gently all together Let Tents be dipped in the Liquor that remaineth after it is cold and put into the Wounds and the place covered with a Linnen cloth doubled and anointed with the Oyntment and this is also an approved Medicine It likewise clenseth and healeth all foul Ulcers and Sores wheresoever and staieth their Inflamations by washing them with the Water and laying on them a green Leaf or two in the Summer or dry Leaves in the Winter This Water gargled warm in the Mouth and somtimes drunk also doth cure the Quinsie or Kings Evil in the Throat The said Water applied warm taketh away all Spots Marks and Scars in the Skin And a little of it drunk quencheth thirst when it is extraordinary The Herb is an Herb of the Moon and under the Sign Cancer neither do I know a better Preserver of the Sight when 't is well nor a better Curer of sore Eyes than Eyebright taken inwardly and this used outwardly 't is cold in quality ☉ ☿ Lovage Description THis hath many long and great Stalks of large winged Leavs devided into many parts like Smallage but much larger and greater every Leaf being cut about the edges broadest forwards and smallest at the Stalk of a sad green colour smooth and shining from among which rise up sundry strong hollow green Stalks five or six foot yea somtimes seven or eight foot high full of Joynts but lesser Leavs set at them than grow below and with them toward the tops come forth long Branches hearing at their tops large Umbels of yellow Flowers and after them flat brownish Seed The Root groweth thick great and deep spreading much and enduring long of a brownish colour on the outside and whitish within The whol Plant and every part of it smelleth strong and Aromatically and is of an hot sharp biting tast Place It is usually planted in Gardens where if it be suffered it groweth huge and great Time It Flowreth in the end of July and seedeth in August Vertues and Use. It openeth cutteth and digesteth Humors and mightily provoketh Womens Courses and Urine Half a dram at a time of the dried Root in Pouder taken in Wine doth wonderfully warm a cold Stomach helping digestion and consuming all raw superfluous moisture therein easeth al inward gripings and pains dissolveth wind and resisteth Poyson and infection It is a known and much practised Remedy to drink the Decoction of the Herb for any sort of Ague and to help the pains and Torments of the Body and Bowels coming of cold The Seed is effectual to al the purposes aforesaid except the last and worketh more powerfully The distilled water of the Herb helpeth the Quinsie in the Throat if the Mouth and Throat be gargled and washed therewith and helpeth the Pluresie being drunk three or four times Being dropped into the Eyes it taketh away the redness or dimness of them it likewise taketh away Spots or Freckles in the Face The Leavs bruised and fried with a little Hogs Lard laid hot to any Botch or Boyl wil quickly break it It is an Herb of the Sun under the Sign Taurus if Saturn offend the Throat as he alwaies doth if he be occasioner of the Malady and in Taurus in the Genesis this is your cure Lungwort Description THis is a kind of Moss that groweth on sundry sorts of Trees especially Oaks and Beeches with broad grayish tough Leavs diversly folded crumpled and gashed in on the edges and somtimes spotted also with many smal spots on the upper side It was never seen to bear any Stalk or Flower at any time Vertues and Use. This is of great use with many Phystians to help the Diseases of the Lungs and for Coughs Wheesings and shortness of breath which it cureth both in Man and Beast It is very profitably put into Lotions that are taken to stay the moist Humors that flow to Ulcers and hinder their healing as also to wash all other Ulcers in the privy parts of Man or Woman It is an excellent Remedy boyled in Beer for broken-winded Horses Iuâ—â— seems to own the Herb. Madder Description THe Garden Madder shooteth forth many very long weak four square reddish Stalks trailing on the Ground a great way very rough or hairy and full of Joynts At every of those Joynts come forth divers long and somwhat narrow Leavs standing like a Star about the Stalks rough also and hairy toward the tops whereof come forth many smal pale yellow Flowers after which come smal round Heads green at first and reddish afterwards but black when they are ripe wherin is contained the Seed The Root is not very great but exceeding long running down half a mans length into the grouund red and very clear while it is fresh spreading divers waies Place It is only manured in Gardens or larger Fields for the profit that is made thereof Time It Flowreth towards the end of Summer and the Seed is ripe quickly after Vertues and Use. It hath an opening quality and afterwards to bind and strengthen It is an assured Remedy for the yellow Jaundice by opening the Obstructions of the Liver and Gall and clensing those parts It openeth also the Obstructions of the Spleen and diminisheth the Melanchollick humor It is available for the Palsey and Sciatica and effectual for Bruises inward or outward and is therfore much used in Vulnerary Drinks The Root for all those aforesaid purposes is to be boyled in Wine or Water as the caus requireth and some Honey or Sugar put therunto afterwards The Seed herof taken with Vinegar and Honey helpeth the Swellings and Hardness of the Spleen The Decoction of the Leaves and Branches is a good Fomentation for Women to sit over thar have not their Courses The Leavs and Roots beaten and applied to any part that is discoloured with Freckles Morphew the white Scurf or any such deformity of the Skin clenseth them throughly and taketh them away Maidenhair Description OUr common Maidenhair doth from a number of hard black Fibres send forth a great many blackish shining brittle Stalks hardly a span long in many not half so long on each side set very thick with smal round dark green Leavs and spotted on the back of them like other Ferns Place It groweth much upon old Stone Wals in in the West parts and Wales in Kent and divers other places of this Land It joyeth
likewise to grow by Springs Wels and rockie moist and shadowy places and is alwaies green Wall-Rue Or ordinary White Maidenhair Description THis hath very fine pale green Stalks almost as fine as hairs set confusedly with divers pale green Leavs on very short Foot-stalks somwhat neer unto the colour of Garden Rue and not much differing in form but more diversly cut in on the edges and thicker smooth on the upper part and spotted finely underneath Place It groweth in many places of this Land as at Dartford and the Bridg at Ashford in Kent at Beconsfield in Buckinghamshire at Wolley in Huntingtonshire on Frammingham Castle in Suffolk on the Church wals at Mayfield in Sussex in Summerset Shire and divers other places of this Land and is green in Winter as well as in Summer Vertues and use The Vertues of both these are so neer alike that although I have described them and their places of growing severally yet I shall in writing the Vertues of them joyn them both together as followeth The Decoction of the Herb Maidenhair being drunk helpeth those that are troubled with the Cough shortness of breath the yellow Jaundice diseases of the Spleen stopping of Urin and helpeth exceedingly to break the Stone in the Kidneys in all which Diseases the Wall Rue is also very effectual It provoketh Womens Courses and staieth both Bleedings and Fluxes of the Stomach and Belly especially when the Herb is dry for being green it loosneth the Belly and avoideth Choller and Flegm from the Stomach and Liver it clenseth the Lungs and by rectifying the Blood causeth a good colour to the whol Body The Herb boyled in Oyl of Chamomel dissolveth Knots allayeth Swellings and drieth up moist Ulcers The Ly made there of is singular good to clens the head from Scurf and from dry and running Sores stayeth the falling or shedding of the Hair and causeth it to grow thick fair and wel coloured for which purpose some boyl it in Wine putting some Smallage Seed thereto and afterwards some Oyl The Wall Rue is as effectual as Maidenhair in all Diseases of the Head and falling or the recovering of Hair again and generally for all the aforementioned Diseases and besides The Pouder of it taken in drink for fourty daies together helpteh the burstings in Children Golden Maidenhair Description TO the two former give me leave to ad this and I shall do no more but only describe it unto you and for the Vertues refer you unto the former sith whatsoever is said of them may be also said of this It hath many small brownish red hayres to make up the form of Leavs growing about the ground from the Root and in the middle of them in Summer rise smal Stalks of the same colour set with very fine yellowish green hairs on them and bearing a smal gold yellow head lesser than a Wheat Corn standing in a great Husk The Root is very smal and threddy Place It groweth on Bogs and Moorish places and also on dry shadow places at Hampstead Heath and elswhere Mallows and Marsh-Mallows THe Common Mallowes are generally so well known that they need no Description Our common Marsh-mallows have diverâ— soft hoary white stalkes rising to be three or four foot high spreading forth many Branches the Leavs wherof are soft and hairy somwhat lesser then the other Mallow Leaves but longer pointed cut for the most part into some few deivisions but deep The Flowers are many but smaller also then the other Mallows white or tending to a blush colour After which come such like round cases and Seed as in the other Mallows The Roots are many and long shooting from one Head of the bigness of a Thumb or Finger very pliant tough and bending like Liquoris of a whitish yellow colour on the outside and more white within full of a slimy juyce which being layd in water will thicken it as if it were gelly Place The Common Mallows grow in every countrey of this Land The Common Marsh Mallowes in most of the Salt Mashes from Woolwich downe to the Sea both on the Kentish and Essex Shoares and in diverse other places of this Land Time They Flower all the Summer Months even until the Winter do pull them down Vertues and Use. The Leavs of either of the sorts above named and the Roots also boyled in Wine or Water or in Broth with Parsley or â—ennel Roots doth help to open the Body and is very convenient in hot Agues or other distempers of the Body to apply the Leavs so boyled warm to the Belly It not only voideth hot Chollerick and other offensive Humors but easeth the pains and torments of the Belly coming thereby and are therefore used in all Clysters conducing to those purposes The same used by Nurses procureth them store of Milk The Decoction of the Seed of any of the common Mallows made in Milk or Wine doth Merveilously help excoriations the Phtisick Plurisie and other Diseases of the Chest and Lungues that proceed of hot causes if it be continued taking for some time together The Leavs and Roots work the same effects They help much also in the excoriations of the Guts and Bowels and hardness of the Mother and in all hot and sharp diseases thereof The Juyce drunk in Wine or the Decoction of them therein doth help Women to a speedy and easie Delivery Pliny saith That whosoever shal that take a spoonful of any of the Mallows shal that day be free from all Diseases that may come unto him and that it is special good for the Falling-sickness The Syrup also and Conserve made of the Flowers are very effectual for the the same Diseases and to open the Body being costive The Leavs bruised and laid to the Eyes with a little Honey taketh away the Impostumations of them The Leavs bruised or rubbed upon any place stung with Bees Wasps or the like presently taketh away the pains redness and Swellings that rise thereupon and Dioscorides saith The Decoction of the Leavs and Roots helpeth all sorts of Poyson so as the Poyson be presently voided by Vomit A Pultis made of the Leavs boyled and bruised whereunto some Bean or Batley Flower and Oyl of Roses is an especial Remedy against all hard Tumors and Inflamations of Impostums and Swellings of the Cods and other parts and easeth the pains of them as also against the hardness of the Liver or Spleen being applied to the places The Juyce of the Mallows boyled in old Oyl and applied taketh away al roughness of the Skin as also the Scurf Dandrif or dry Scabs in the Head or other parts if they be anointed therewith or washed with the Decoction and preserveth the Hair from falling off It is also effectual against Scaldings and Burnings St. Anthonies fire and all other hot red and painful Swellings in any part of the Body The Flowers boyled in Oyl or Water as every one is disposed
wherunto a little Honey and Allum is put is an excellent Gargle to wash clens and heal any sore Mouth or Throat in a short space If the Feet be bathed or washed with the Decoction of the Leavs Roots and Flowers it helpeth much the Defluxions of Rhewm from the Head If the Head be washed therewith it staieth the falling and shedding of the Hair The green Leavs saith Pliny beaten with Nitre and applied draweth out Thorns or Pricks in the Flesh. The Marsh Mallows are more effectual in al the Diseases before mentioned The Leavs are likewise used to loosen the Belly gently and in Decections for Clysters to eas al pains of the Body opening the strait Passages and making them slippery whereby the Stone may descend the more easily and without pain out of the Reins Kidneys and Bladder and to eas the torturing pains thereof But the Roots are of more especial use for those purposes as well as for Coughs Hoarsness shortness of Breath and Wheesings being boyled in Wine or Honeyed Water and drunk The Roots and Seeds hereof boyled in Wine or Water is with good success used by them that have Excoriations in the Guts or the bloody Flux by qualifying the violence of the sharp fretting Humors easing the pains and healing the Soreness It is profitably taken of them that are troubled with Ruptures Cramps or Convulsions of the Sinews and boyled in white Wine for the Impostumes of the Throat commonly called the Kings Evil and of those Kernels that rise behind the Ears and inflamations or Swellings in Womens Breasts The dried Roots boyled in Milk and drunk is special good for the Chin-Cough Hippocrates used to give the Decoction of the Roots or the Juyce therof to drink to those that were wounded and ready to faint through loss of Blood and applied the same mixed with Honey and Rozin to the Wounds As also the Roots boyled in Wine to those that had received any Hurt by Bruises Falls or Blows or had any Bone or Member out of Joynt or any Swelling pain or ach in the Muscles Sinews or Arteries The Muccilage of the Roots and of Linseed and of Fennugreek put together is much used in Pultises Oyntments and Plaisters to mollifie and digest all hard Swellings and the Inflamation of them and to eas pains in any part of the Body The Seed either green or dry mixed with Vinegar clenseth the Skin of the Morphew and al other discolourings being bathed therewith in the Sun You may remember that not long since there was a raging Diseas called the Bloody Flux the Colledg of Physitians not knowing what to make of it called it the Plague in the Guts for their wits were at ne plus ultra about it My son was taken with the same Diseas and the excoriation of his Bowels was exceeding great my self being in the Country was sent for up the only thing I gave him was Mallows bruised and boyled both in his Milk and Drink in two daies the blessing of God being upon it it cured him and I here to shew my thankfulness to God in communicating it to his Creatures leav it to posterity ☿ ♈ Sweet Marjerom THis is so wel known being an Inhabitant in every Garden that it is needless to write any Description thereof neither of the Winter Sweet Marjerom nor Pot Marjerom Place They grow commonly in Gardens some sorts there are that grow wild in the Borders of Corn Fields and Pastures in sundry places of this Land but it is not my purpose to insist upon them The Garden kinds being most used and useful Time They Flower in the end of Summer Vertues and use Our common Sweet Marjerom is warming and comfertable in cold Diseases of the Head Stomach Sinews and other parts taken inwardly or outwardly applied The Decoction thereof being drunk helpeth al the Diseases of the Chest which hinder the freeness of breathing and is also profitable for the Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen It helpeth the cold Griefs of the Womb and the windiness thereof and the loss of Speech by resolution of the Tongue The Decoction thereof made with som Pellitory of Spain and long Pepper or with a little Acorus or Origanum being drunk is good for those that are beginning to fall into a Dropsie for those that cannot make Water and against pains and torments in the Belly it provoketh Womens Courses if it be put up as a Pessary Being made into Pouder and mixed with Honey it taketh away the black marks of Blows and Bruises being therto applied It is good for the Inflamations and watering of the Eyes being mixed with fine Flower and laid unto them The Juyce dropped into the Ears easeth the Pains and singing nois in them It is profitably put into those Oyntments and Salves that are made to warm and comfort the outward parts as the Joynts and Sinews for Swellings also and places out of Joynt The Pouder thereof snuffed up into the Nose provoketh neezing and thereby purgeth the Brain and chewed in the Mouth draweth forth much Flegm The Oyl made thereof is very warming and comfortable to the Joynts that are stiff and the Sinews that are hard to mollifie and supple them Marjerom is much used in all odoriferous Waters Pouders c. that are for Ornament or delight It is an Herb of Mercury and under Aries and is therfore an excellent Remedy for the Brain and other parts of the Body and Mind under the Dominion of the same Planet ☉ ♌ Marigolds THese being so pelentifull in every Garden are so well known that they need no Description Time They Flower al the Summer long and somtimes in the Winter if it be mild Vertues and Use The Flowers either green or dryed are used much in Possets broths and drinkes as a comforter of the Heart and spirits and to expell any malignant or pestilential quality which might annoy them It is an Herb of the Sun and under Leo they strengthen the heart exceedingly and are very expulsive and little less Effectual in the smal pox and measles than Saffron The Juyce of Marigold Leaves mixed with Vinegar and any hot swelling bathed with it instantly giveth ease and asswageth it A plaister made with the dry Flowers in pouder hogs greas Turpentine and Rozin and applyed to the breast strengthens and succours the heart infinitly in feavers whether pestilential or not pestileutiall ♂ Masterwort Description Common Masterwort hath divers stalks of winged Leaves devided into sundry parts three for the most part standing together at a small footstalk on both sides of the greater and three likewise at the end of the stalk somwhat broad and cut in on the edges into three or more devisions all of them dented about the brims of a dark green colour somwhat resembling the Leaves of Angelica but that these grow lower to the ground on lesser stalks among which
rise up 2. or 3. short stalks about 2. foot high and slender with such like Leavs at the Joynts as grow below but with lesser fewer devisions bearing Umbels of white Flowers and after them small thinne flat blackish seed bigger than Dil seeds The Root is somwhat greater and groweth rather sideways than down deep into the ground shooting forth sundry heads which tast sharp biting on the Tongue and is the hottest and sharpest part of the Plant and the seed next unto it beiug somewhat blackish on the outside and smelling well Place It is usually kept in Gardens with us in England Time It Flowreth and seedeth about the end of August Vertues and Use. The Root of Masterwort is hotter than Pepper and very available in all cold Grelfes and Diseases both of Stomach and body dissolving very powerfully upward and downward It is also used in a decoction with wind against all cold rhewms or distillations upon the Lungs and shortnes of breath to be taken morning and evening it also provokerh Urin and helpeth to break the Stone and expel the Greavell from the Kidneys procuereth womens Courses and expelleth the dead birth is singular good for the strangling of the Mother and other such like Feminine Diseases It is effectuall also aganist the Dropsie Cramps and the Falling sicknes for the decection in wine being gargled in the Mouth draweth down much water and flegm from the brain purging easing it of what oppresseth it It is of a rare quality against al sorts of cold poyson to be taken as there is cause It provoketh sweat But left the tast herof or of the seed which worketh to the like effect though not so powerfully should be too offensive the best way is to take the water distilled both from the Herb and Root The Juyce herof dropped or Tents dipped therin and applyed either to green wounds or filthy rotten Ulcers and those that come by invenomed Weapons doth soon clens and heal them or isthey be bathed with the distilled water The same is also very good to help the Gout coming of a cold cause It is an Herb of Mars Sweet Maudlin Description COmmon Maudlin have somwhat long and narrow Leaves snip'd about the edges the stalks are two foot high bearing at the topps many yellow flowers Set round together and all of an equal height â—in umbles tufts like unto Tansy after which flowereth small whitish Seed almost as big as Wormseed The whol Herb is sweet and bitter Place and Time It groweth in Gardens and Flowreth in June and July Vertues and use The Vertues hereof being the same with Costmary or Alecost I shal not trouble you to make any repetition thereof left my Book grow too big but rather refer you unto Costmary for satisfaction The Medlar Description THis Tree groweth neer the bigness of the Quince Tree spreading Branches reasonable large with longer and narrower Leaves than either the Apple or Quince and not dented about the edges At the end of the Sprigs stand the Flowers made of Five white great broad pointed Leavs nicked in the middle with some white threds also after which cometh the Fruit of a brownish green colour being ripe bearing a Crown as it were on the top which were the five green Leaves and being rubbed off or fallen away the head of the Fruit is seen to be somwhat hollow The Fruit is very harsh before it be mellowed and hath usually five hard Kernels within it There is another kind hereof differing nothing from the former but that it hath some Thorns on it in several places which the other hath not and the Fruit is smal and not so pleasant Time They grow in this Land and Flower in May for the most part and bear ripe Fruit in September and October Vertues and use They are very powerful to stay and Fluxes of Blood or Humors in Man or Woman the Leavs have also the like quality The Fruit eaten by Women with Child stayeth their longings after unusual meats and is very effectual for them that are apt to miscarry and be delivered before their time to help that malady and make them joyful Mothers The Decoction of them is good to gargle and wash the Mouth Throat and Teeth when there is any defluxion of Blood to stay it or of Humors which causeth Pains and Swellings It is a good bath for Women to sit over that have their Courses flow too abundantly or for the Piles when they bleed too much If a Pultis or Plaister be made with dried Medlars beaten and mixed with the Juyce of red Roses whereunto a few Cloves and Nutmeg may be added and a little red Correl also and applied to the Stomach that is given to casting or loathing of meat it effectually helpeth The dried Leavs in Pouder strewed on fresh bleeding Wounds restraineth the Blood and healeth up the Wound quickly â—â— The Medlar stones made into Pouder and drunk in Wine wherein some Parsley Roots have lien infused all night or a little boyled do break the Stone in the Kidneys helping to expel it The Fruit is old Saturns and sure a better Medicine he hardly hath to strengthen the retentive faculty therfore it staies Womens Longings the good old Man cannot endure Womens minds should run a gadding Also a Plaister made of the Fruit dried before they be rotten and other convenient things and applied to the Reins of the Back stops Miscarriage in Women with Child Melilot or Kings Claver Description THis hath many green Stalks two or three foot high rising from a tough long white Root which dieth not every yeer set round about at the Joynts with smal and somwhat long wel smelling Leavs set three together unevenly dented about the edges The Flowers are yellow and well smelling also made like other Trefoyls but smal standing in long Spikes one above another for an hand breath long or better which afterwards turn into long crooked Cods wherein is contained flat Seed somwhat Brown Place It groweth plentifully in many places of this Land as in the edg of Susfolk and in Essex as also in Huntingtoushire and in other places but most usually in Corn Fields in corners of Meadows Time It Flowreth in June and July and is ripe quickly after Vertues and Use. Melilot boyled in Wine and applied mollifieth all hard Tumors and Inflamations that happen in the Eyes or other parts of the Body as the Fundament or privy parts of Man or Woman and somtimes the Yolk of a roasted Egg or fine Flower or Poppy Seed or Endive is added unto it It helpeth the spreading Ulcers in the Head it being washed with a Ly made thereof It helpeth the pains of the Stomach being applied fresh or boyled with any of the aforenamed things It helpeth also the pains of the Ears being dropped into them and steeped in Vinegar and Rose-Water it mitigateth the Headach The Flowers of Melilot and Chamomel are much used to
mean the common kind that it needeth no Description There is a greater kind than the ordinary sort found wild with us which so abideth being brought into Gardens and differeth not from it but only in the largeness of the Leavs and Stalks in rising higher and not creeping upon the ground so much The Flowers whereof are Purple growing in Rundles about the Stalk like the other Place The first which is common in Gardens groweth also in many moist and watery places of this Land The second is sound wild in Essex in divers places by the High-way from London â—to Colechester and thereabouts more abundantly than in other Countries and is also planted in their Gardens in Essex Time They Flower in the latter end of Summer about August Vertues and Use. Dioscorides saith That Peny-royal maketh thin tough Flegm warmeth the coldness of any part whereto it is apylied and digesteth raw or corrupt matter Being boyled drunk it provoketh Womens Courses and expelleth the dead Child and afterbirth and staieth the disposition to Vomit being taken in Water and Vinegar mingled together And being mingled with Honey and Salt it avoideth Flegm out of the Lungs and purgeth Melancholly by the Stool Drunk with Wine it helpeth such as are bitten or stung with Venemous Beasts and applied to the Nostrils with Vinegar reviveth those that are fainting and swouning Being dried and burnt it strengtheneth the Gums It is helpful to those that are troubled with the Gout being applied of it self to the place until it wax red and applied in a Plaister it taketh away spots or marks in the Face Applied with Salt it profiteth those that are Splenetick or Liver-grown The Decoction doth help the Itch if washed therwith Being put into Baths for Women to sit therein it helpeth the Swelling and hardness of the Mother The green Herb bruised and put into Vinegar clenseth foul Ulcers and taketh away the marks and bruises of blows about the Eyes and all discolourings of the Face by fire yea and the Leprosie being drunk and outwardly applied Boyled in Wine with Honey and Salt it helpeth the Toothach It helpeth the cold Griefs of the Joynts taking away the pains and warming the cold parts being fast bound to the place after a bathing or sweating in an hot hous Pliny addeth that Penny-royal and Mints together help faintings or swounings being put into Vinegar and put to the Nostrils to be smelled unto or a little thereof put into the Mouth It easeth the Headach and the pains of the Breast and Belly stayeth the gnawing of the Stomach and inward pains of the Bowels being drunk in Wine it provoketh Womens Courfes and expelleth the dead child and afterbirth Being given in Wine it helpeth the Falling-sickness Put into unwholsom or stinking Water that men must drink as at Sea and where other cannot be had it maketh them the less hurtful It helpeth Cramps or Convulsions of the Sinews being applied with Honey Salt and Vinegar It is very effectual for the Cough being boyled in Milk and drunk and for Ulcers or Sores in the Mouth Mathiolus saith The Decoction thereof being drunk helpeth heâ—Jaundice and Dropsie and all pains of the Head and Sinews that come of a cold caus and that it helpeth to clearâ— and quicken the Eye-sight Applied to the Nostrils of those that have the Falling-sicknessâ— or the Lethargy or put into the Mouth it helpeth them much being bruised and with Vinegar applied And applied with Barley Meal it helpeth Burnings by fire and put into the Ears easeth the pains of them The Herb is under Venus Peony Mas. Femina Description THe Male Peony riseth up with many brownish Stalks whereon grow many fair green and somtimes reddish Leavs one set against another upon a Stalk without any particular devision in the Leaf at all The Flowers stand at the tops of the Stalks consisting of five or six broad Leavs of a fair purplish red colour with many yellow threds in the middle standing about the Head which after riseth to be the Seed Vessels devided into two three or four rough crooked Pods like Horns which being ful ripe open and turn themselves down one edge to another backward shewing within them divers round black shining Seed having also many red or Crimson grains intermixed with the black whereby it maketh a very pretty shew The Roots are great thick and long spreading and running down reasonable deep in the Ground The ordinary Female Peony hath many Stalks and more Leavs on them than the Male the Leavs not so large but nicked diversly on the edges some with great and deep others with smaller cuts and devisions of a dark or dead green colour The Flowers are of a strong heady scent most usually smaller and of a more purple colour than the Male with yellow thrums about the Head as the Male hath The Seed Vessels are like Horns as in the Male but smaller the Seed also is black but less shining The Roots consist of many thick and short tuberous clogs fastned at the ends of long strings and all from the Head of the Root which is thick and short and of the like scent with the Male. Place and Time They grow in Gardens and Flower usually about May. Vertues and Use. The Root of the Male Peony fresh gathered hath been found by experience to cure the Falling-sickness but the surest way is besides hanging it about the Neck by which Children have been cured to take the Root of the Male Peony washed clean and stamped somwhat smal and lay it to infuse in Sack for twenty four Hours at the least after strain it and take first and last morning and evening a good draught for sundry daies together before and after a full Moon and this will also cure older persons if the Disease be not grown too old and past cure especially if there be a due and orderly preparation of the Body with Posset drink made of Betony c. The Root is also effectual for Women that are not sufficiently clensed after Childbirth and such as are troubled with the Mother for which likewise the black Seed beaten to Pouder and given in Wine is also available The black Seed also taken before bed time and in the morning is very effectual for such as in their sleep are troubled with the Diseas called Ephialtes or Incubus but we do commonly cal it the Night-Mare a diseas which Melancholly persons are subject unto It is also good against Melanchollick Dreams The Distilled water or Syrup made of the Flowers worketh the same effects that the Root and the Seed do although more weakly The Female is often used for the purposes aforesaid by reason the Male is so scarce a Plant that it is possessed by few and those great Lovers of Rarities in this kind It is an Herb of the Sun and under the Lyon Physitians say Male Peony Roots are best but Dr. Reason told me male Peony was best for men and
female Peony for women and he desires to be judged by his brother Dr. Experience The Roots are held to be of most Vertue then the Seeds next the Flowers and last of all the Leavs Pepperwort or Dittander Description OUr common Pepper-wort sendeth forth somwhat long and broad Leavs of a light blewish green colour finely dented about the edges and pointed at the ends standing upon round hard Stalks three or four foot high spreading many Branches on all sides and having many smal white Flowers at the tops of them after which follow small Seed in small Heads The Root is slender running much under ground and shooting up again in many place and both Leavs and Root are very hot and sharp of tast like Pepper for which caus it took the name Place It groweth Naturally in many places of this Land as at Clare in Essex neer also unto Exceter in Devonshire upon Rochester common in Kent in Lancashire and divers other places but is usually kept in Gardens Time It Flowreth in the end of June and in July Vertues and Use Pliny and Paulus AEgineta say that Pepperwort is very effectual for the Sciatica or any other Gout or pain in the Joynts or any other inveterate grief the Leavs hereof to be bruised and mixed with old Hogs grease and applied to the place and to continue thereon four hours in Men and two hours in women the place being afterwards bathed with Wine and Oyl mixed together and then wrapped with Wool or Skins after they have sweat a little It also amendeth the Deformities or discolourings of the Skin and helpeth to take away Marks Scars and Scabs or the foul marks of burning with fire or iron The Juyce hereof is in some places used to be given in Ale to drink to women with child to procure them a speedy delivery in Travail Here 's another Martial Herb for you make much of it Perwinkle Description THe common sort hereof hath many Branches trayling or running upon the ground shooting out smal Fibres at the Joynts as it runneth taking thereby hold in the ground and Rooteth in divers places At the Joynts of these Branches stand two small dark green shining Leavs somwhat like Bay Leavs but smaller and with them come forth also the Flowers one at a Joynt standing upon a tender Footstalk being somwhat long and hollow parted at the brims somtimes into four somtimes five Leavs the most ordinary sort are of a pale blue colour some are pure white and some of a dark reddish Purple colour The Root is little bigger than a Rush bushing in the ground and creeping with his Branches far about whereby it quickly possesseth a great compass and is therfore most usually planted under Hedges where it may have room to run Place Those with the pale blue and those with the white Flowers grow in Woods and Orchards by the Hedg sides in diverse places of this Land But those with the Purple Flowers in Gardens only Time They Flower in March and April Vertues and Use. The Perwincle is a great binder staying bleeding both at Mouth and Nose if some of the Leavs be chewed The French use it to stay Womens Courses Dioscorides Galen and AEgineta commend it against the Lask and Fluxes of the Belly to be drunk in Wine Venus owns this Herb and saith that the Leavs eaten by man and wife together causeth love between them St. Peters-wort Name IF Superstition had not been the Father of Tradition as well as Ignorance the Mother of Devotion this Herb as well as St. Johns wort had found some other name to be known by but we may say of our Fore-fathers as St. Paul of the Athenians I perceive that in many things you are too Superstitious Yet seing it is come to that pass that Custom having gotten possession pleads Prescription for the name I shall let it pass and come to the Description of the Herb which take as followeth Description It riseth up with square upright Stalks for the most part somwhat greater and higher than St. Johns wort and good reason too St. Peter being the greater Apostle ask the Pope else for though God would have the Saints equal the Pope is of another Opinion but brown in the same mannor having two Leavs at every Joynt somwhat like but larger than St. Johns wort and a little rounder pointed with few or no Holes to be seen therein and having somtimes some smaller Leavs rising from the Bosom of the greater and somtimes a little hairy also At the tops of the Stalks stand many Starlike Flowers with yellow threds in the middle very like those of St. Johns wort insomuch that this is hardly discerned from it but only by the largeness of height the Seed being also alike in both The Root abideth long sending forth new shoots every yeer Place It groweth in many Groves and small low Woods in divers places of this Land as in Kent Huntington Cambridg and Nothampton shires as also neer water Courses in other places Time It Flowreth in June and July and the Seed is ripe in August Vertues and Use. It is of the same property with St. Johns wort but somwhat weak and therefore more seldom used Two drams of the Seed taken at a time in Honeyed water purgeth Chollerick Humors as saith Dioscorides Pliny and Galen and thereby helpeth those that are troubled with the Sciatica The Leavs are used as St. Johns wort to help those places of the Body that have been burnt with Fire There is not a straw to chuse between this and St. Johns wort only St. Peter must have it lest he should lack Pot-herbs Pimpernel Discription COmmon Pimpernel hath diverse weak square Stalks lying on the ground beset all along with two smal and almost round Leavs at every Joynt one against another very like Chickweed but hath no Footstalks for the Leavs do as it were compass the Stalk The Flowers stand singly each by themselvs at them and the Stalks consisting of five round small pointed Leavs of a fine pale red colour tending to an Orange with so many threds in the middle in whose places succeed smooth round Heads wherein is contained smal Seed The Root is smal and fibrous perishing every yeer Place It groweth every where almost as well in the Meadows and Cornfields as by the Way-sides and in Gardens arising of it self Time It Flowreth from May unto August and the Seed ripeneth in the mean time and falleth Vertues and Use. This is of a clensing and attractive quality whereby it draweth forth Thorns or Splinters or other such like things gotten into the Flesh and put up into the Nostrils purgeth the Head and Galen saith also they have a drying faculty whereby they are good to soder the lips of Wounds and to clens foul Ulcers The distilled Water or Juyce is much esteemed by French Dames to clense the Skin from any roughness deformity or discolouring thereof Being boyled in Wine and given to drink it
is a good Remedy against the Plague and other Pestilential Feavers if the Party after taking it warm lie in his bed and sweat for two hours after and use the same twice at least It helpeth also all stingings and bitings of Venemous Beasts or mad Dogs being used inwardly and applied outwardly The same also openeth the Obstructions of the Liver and is very available against the Infirmities of the Reins it provoketh Urine and helpeth to expel the Stone and Gravel out of the Kidneys and Bladder and helpeth much in all inward Wounds and Ulcers The Decoction or distilled Water is no less effectual to be applied to all Wounds that are fresh and green or old filthy fretting and running Ulcers which it very effectually cureth in short spaces A little Honey mixed with the Juyce and dropped into the Eyes clenseth them from cloudy mists or thick Films which grow over them and hinder the sight It helpeth the Toothach being dropped into the Ear on the contrary side of the pain It is also effectual to eas the pains of the Hemorrhoids or Piles Ground Pine or Chamepitys Description OUr common Ground Pine groweth low seldom rising above an handbreadth high shooting forth divers smal Branches set with slender smal long narrow grayish or whitish Leavs somwhat hairy and devided into three parts many times many bushing together at a Joynt and somtimes some growing scatteredly upon the Stalks smelling somwhat strong like unto Rozin the Flowers are somwhat smal and of a pale yellow colour growing from the Joynts of the Stalks all along among the Leavs after which come small long and round Husks The Root is smal woody perishing every yeer Place It groweth more plentifully in Kent than in any other Country of this Land as namely in many places from on this side Dartford along to Southfleet Cotham and Rochester and upon Chattam down hard by the Beacon and half a mile from Rochester in a Field nigh a Hous called Salsey Time It Flowreth and giveth Seed in the Summer Months Vertues and Use. The Decoction of Ground Pine drunk doth wonderfully prevail against the Strangury or any inward pains arising from the Diseases of the Reins and Urine and is especial good for all Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen and gently openeth the Body for which purpose they were wont in former times to make Pills with the Pouder thereof and the Purple Figs. It marveilously helpeth all the Diseases of the Mother used inwardly or applied outwardly procuring Womens Courses and expelling the dead Child and afterbirth yea it is so powerful upon those Feminine parts that it is utterly forbidden to Women with Child in that it will caus abortment or delivery before the time It is as effectual also in all pains and Diseases of the Joynts as Gouts Cramps Palseys Sciatica and Aches either the Decoction of the Herb in ' Wine taken inwardly or applied outwardly or both for some time together for which purpose the Pills made with the Pouder of Ground Pine and of Hermodactils with Venice Turpentine are very effectual These Pills also are special good for those that have the Dropsie to be continued for some time The same is a special good help for the Jaundice and for griping pains in the Joynts Belly or inward parts It helpeth also all Diseases of the Brain proceeding of cold and Flegmatick Humors and Distillations as also for the Falling-sickness It is an espcial Remedy for the Poyson of the Aconites of all sorts and other poisonful Herbs as also against the stinking of any Venemous Creature It is a good Remedy for a cold Cough especially in the beginning For all this purposes aforesaid the Herb being tunned up in new Drink and drunk is almost as effectual but far more acceptable to weak and dainty Stomachs The Distilled Water of the Herb hath the same effects but more weakly The Conserve of the Flowers doth the like which Mathiolus much commendeth against the Palsey The green Herb or the Decoction thereof being applied dissolveth the hardness of Womens Breasts and all other hard Swellings in any other part of the Body The green Herb also applied or the Juyce thereof with some Honey not only clenseth putrid stinking foul and Malignant Ulcers and Sores of all sorts but healeth and sodereth up the lips of green Wounds in any part also Let Women forbear it if they be with Child for it works violently upon the Foeminine part and Mars owns it I tell them but so Plantane THis groweth so familiarly in Meadows and Fields and by Pathways and is so well known that it needeth no Description Time It is in its beauty about June and the Seed ripeneth shortly after Vertues and Use. The Juyce of Plantane clarified and drunk for divers daies together either of it self or in other drink prevaileth wonderfully against all torments or Excoriations in the Guts or Bowels helpeth the distillations of Rhewm from the Head ond staieth all manner of Fluxes even Womens Courses when they flow too abundantly It is good to stay spitting of Blood and all other Bleedings at the Mouth or the making of foul or bloody water by reason of any Ulcer in the Reins or Bladder and also staveth the too free bleeding of Wounds It is held an especial Remedy for those that are troubled with the Phtisick or Consumption of the Lungs or Ulcers in the Lungs or Coughs that come of heat The Decoction or Pouder of the Roots or Seed is much more binding for all the purposes aforesaid than the Leavs Dioscorides saith That three Roots boyled in Wine and taken helpeth the Tertian Ague and four the Quartan Ague But letting pass the number as Fabulous I conceive the Decoction of divers Roots may be effectual The Herb but especially the Seed is held to be profitable against the Dropsie the Falling-sickness the yellow Jaundice and stoppings of the Liver and Reins The Roots of Plantane and Pellitory of Spain beaten to Pouder and put into hollow Teeth taketh away the pains of them The clarified Juyce or distilled Water dropped into the Eyes cooleth the Inflamations in them and taketh away the Pin and Web and dropped into the Ears easeth pains in them and helpeth and restoreth the Hearing The same also with Juyce of Housleek is profitable against all Inflamations and breakings out in the skin and against Burnings or Scaldings by fire or Water The Juyce or Decoction made either of it self or other things of like nature is of much use and good effect for old and hollow Ulcers that are hard to be cured and for Cankers and Sores in the Mouth or privy parts of Man or Woman and helpeth also the pains of the Piles in the Fundament The Juyce mixed with Oyl of Roses and the Temples and Forhead anointed therewith easeth the pains of the Head proceeding from heat and helpeth Lunatick and Phrenetick persons very much as also the bitings of Serpents or a Mad Dog The same
fasting or put among other Purgers as shall be thought convenient clensing the Stomach Liver and Blood opening Obstructions and helping those griefs that come thereof as the Jaundice Dropsie swelling of the Spleen Tertian and day Agues and the pricking pain of the sides and also it stayerh spitting of Blood The Pouder taken with Cassia dissolved and a little wash'd Venice Turpentine clenseth the Reins and strengthneth them afterwards and is very effectual to stay the running of the Reins or Gonorrea It is also given for the pains and swellings in the Head for those that are troubled with Melancholly and helpeth the Sciatica the Gout and the Cramp The Pouder of Rubarb taken with a little Mummia and Madder Roots in some red Wine dissolveth clotted Blood in the Body hapning by any fall or bruise and healeth burstings and broken parts as well inward as outward The Oyl likewise wherein it hath been boyled worketh the like effects being anointed It is used to heal those Ulcers that happen in the Eyes and Eyelids being steeped and strained as also to asswage the Swellings and Inflamations and applied with Honey or boyled Wine it taketh away all black and blue Spots or Marks that happen therein Whey or white Wine are the best Liquors to steep it in and thereby it worketh more effectually in opening Obstructions and purging the Stomach and Liver Many do use a little Indian Spicknard as the best Correcter thereof Mars claims Predominancy over all these wholsom Herbs you cry out upon him for an infortune when God created him for your good only he is angry with Fools what dishonor is this not to Mars but to God Himself Meadow Rue Description THis riseth up with a yellow stringy Root much spreading in the ground and shooting forth new sprouts round about with many Herby green Stalks two foot high crested all the length of them set with Joynts here and there and many large Leavs on them as well as below being devided into smaller Leavs nicked or dented in the forepart of them of a sad green colour on the upperside and pale green underneath Toward the top of the Stalk there shooteth forth divers short Branches on every one thereof there stand two three or four smal round Heads or Buttons which breaking the skin that incloseth them shew forth a tuft of pale greenish yellow threds which falling away there comes in their places small three cornre'd Cods wherein is contained smal long and round Seed The whol Plant hath a strong unpleasant scent Place It groweth in many places of this Land in the Borders of moist Meadows and by Ditch sides Time It Flowreth about July or the beginning of August Vertues and Use. Dioscorides saith that this Herb bruised and applied perfectly healeth old Sores and the distilled water of the Herb and Flowers doth the like It is used by some among other Pot-herbs to open the Body and make it soluble but the Roots washed clean and boyled in Ale and drunk provoketh to the Stool more than the Leavs but yet very gently The Root boyled in Water and the places of the Body most troubled with Vermine or Lice washed therewith while it is warm destroyeth them utterly In Italy it is used against the Plague and in Saxony against the Jaundice as Camerarious saith Garden Rue THis is so well known both by this name and the Name Herb of Grace that I shal not need to write you any further Description of it But shall only shew you the Vertues of it as followeth Vertues and Use. It provoketh Urine and Womens Courses being taken either in Meat or Drink The Seed thereof taken in Wine is an Antidote against all dangerous Medicines or deadly Poysons The Leavs taken either by themselves or with Figs and Walnuts is called Metbridates his Counter poyson against the Plague and causeth all Venemous things to become harmless Being often taken in Meat or Drink it abateth Venery and destroyeth the ability to beger Children A Decoction made thereof with some dried Dill Leavs and Flowers easeth all pains and torments inwardly to be drunk and outwardly to be applied warm to the place grieved The same being drunk helpeth the pains both of the Chest and Sides as also Coughs hardness of breathing the Inflmations of the Lungs and the tormenting pains of the Sciatica and the Joynts being anointed or laid to the places as also the shaking Fits of Agues to take a draught before the Fit come Being boyled or infused in Oyl it is good to help the wind Chollick the hardness or windiness of the Mother and freeth women from the strangling or suffocation thereof if the Share and the Parts thereabouts be anointed therewith It killeth and driveth forth the Worms of the Belly if it be drunk after it is boyled in Wine to the half with a little Honey It helpeth the Gout or pains in the Joynts of Hands Feet or Knees applied thereunto and with Figs it helpeth the Dropsie being bathed therewith being bruised and put into the Nostrils it staieth the Bleeding thereof It helpeth the swelling of the Cods it they be bathed with a Decoction of Rue and Bay Leaves It taketh away Wheals and Pimples if being bruised with a few Mirtle Leavs if it be made up with Wax and applied It cureth the Morphew and taketh away all sorts of Warts if boyled in Wine with some Pepper and Nitre and the places rubbed therewith and with Allum and Honey helpeth the dry Scab or any Tetter or Ringworm The Juyce thereof warmed in a Pemegranate Shel or Rind and dropped into the Ears helpeth the pains of them The Juyce of it and Fennel with a little Honey and the Gall of a Cock put thereto helpeth the dimness of the Eyelight An Oyntment made of the Juyce therof with Oyl of Roses Ceruss and a little Vinegar and anointed cureth St. Anthonies Fire and all foul running Sores in the Head and the stinking Ulcers of the Nose or other parts The Antidote used by Methridateâ— every morning fasting to secure himself from any Poyson or Infection was this Take twenty Leavs of Rue a little Salt a couple of Walnuts and a couple of Figs beaten together into a Mass with twenty Juniper Berries which is the quantity appointed for every day Another Electuary is made thus Take of Nitre Pepper and Cummin Seed of each equal Parts of the Leaves of Rue clean picked as much in weight as all the other three weighed beat them well together and put to as much Honey as will make it up into an Electuary but you must first steep your Cummin seed in Vinegar twenty four hours and then dry it or rather toast it in a hot Fire-shovel or in an Oven and it is a Remedy for the pains or griefs of the Chest or Stomach of the Spleen Belly or Sides by Wind or Stitches of the Liver by Obstructions of the Reins and Bladder by the stopping of Urine and helpeth also to
extenuate fat corpulent Bodies What an Infamy is cast upon the Ashes of Methridates or Methradates as the Augustanes read his name by unworthy people they that deserve no good report themselves love to give nonâ— to others Viz. That that renowned King of Pontus fortified his Body by Poyson against Poyson He cast out Devils by Beelzebub the Prince of Devils what a sot is he that knows not if he had accustomed his Body to cold Poysons hot Poysons would have dispatch'd him or the contrary if not corrosions would have done it the whol world is at this very time beholding to him for his Studies in Physick and he that useth the quantity of but a Hazel Nut of that Recept every morning to which his name is adjoyned shall to admiration preserve his Body in health if he do but consider that Rue is an Herb of the Sun and under Leo and gather it and the rest accordingly Rupture wort Description THis spreadeth very many threddy Branches round about upon the ground about a span long devided into many other smaller parts full of small Joynts set very thick together whereat come forth two very small Leavs of a fresh yellowish green colour branches and all where groweth forth also a number of exceeding smal yellowish Flowers scarce to be discerned from the Stalks and Leavs which turn into Seed as smal as the very dust The Root is very long and smal thrusting down deep into the ground This hath neither smel nor tast at first but afterward hath a little astringent tast without any manifest heat yet a little bitter and sharp withal Place It groweth in dry sandy and Rockie places Time It is fresh and green all the Summer Vertues and use Rupture wort hath not his name in vain for it is found by experience to cure the Rupture not only in Children but also in Elder Persons if the Diseas be not too inveterate by taking a dram of the Pouder of the dried Herb every day in Wine for certain daies together Or the Decoction made in Wine and drunk Or the Juyce or distilled water of the green Herb taken in the same manner and helpeth all other Fluxes either in men or Women Vomitings also and the Gonorrhea or running of the Reins being taken any of the waies aforesaid It doth also most assuredly help those that have the Strangury or have their Urine stopped or are troubled with the Stone or Gravel in their Reins or Bladder The same also helpeth much all Stitches in the Side all griping pains in the Stomach or Belly the Obstructions of the Liver and cureth the yellow Jaundice likewise It killeth also the Worms in Children Being outwardly applied it conglutineth Wounds notably and helpeth much to stay Defluxions of Rhewm from the Head to the Eyes Nose and Teeth being bruised green and bound thereto Or the Decoction of the dried Herb to bath the Forehead and Temples or the Nape of Neck behind It also drieth up the moisture of Fistulous Ulcers or any others that are foul and spreading They say Saturn causeth Ruptures if he do he doth no more than he can cure if you want wit he will teach you though to your cost this Herb is Saturns own and is a notable Antivenerian Rushes ALthough there are many kinds of Rushes yet I shall only here insist upon those which are best known and most Medicinal as the Bulrushes and other of the soâ—t and smooth kinds which grow so commonly in almost every place of this Land and are so generally noted that I suppose it needless to trouble you with any Description of them Briefly then take the Vertues of them as followeth Vertues and Uices The Seeds of these soft Rushes saith Dioscorides and Galen toasted saith Pliny being drunk in Wine and Water stayeth the Lask and Womens Courses when they come down too abundantly but it causeth Headach It provoketh sleep likewife but must be given with caution lest the party that takes it wake not until the Resurrection Pliny saith The Root boyled in water to the consumption of one third helpeth the Cough Thus you see that Conveniences have their Inconveniences and Vertue is seldom unaccompanied with some Vices What I have written concerning Rushes is to satisfie my Country-mens Question Are our Rushes good for nothing Yes and as good let alone as taken There are Remedies enough without them for every Diseas and therforo as the Proverb is I care not a Rush for them or rather they will do you as much good as if one had given you a Rush. Rye THis is so well known in all the Countries of this Land and especially to the Country people who feed much thereon that if I should describe it they would presently say I might well have spared that Labor Its Vertues follow Vertues and use Rye is more digesting than Wheat The Bread and the Leaven thereof ripeneth and breaketh Impostumes Boyls and other Swellings The Meal of Rye put between a double cloth and moistned with a little Vinegar and heated in a Pewter dish set over a Chafing-dish of coals and bound fast to the Head while it is hot both much eas the continual pains of the Head Mathiolus saith That the ashes of Rye straw put into Water and suffered therein a day and a night and the Chops of the Hands or Feet washed therewith doth heal them Saffron THe Herb needs no Description it being known generally where it grows Place It grows frequently at Walden in Essex and in Cambridg-sbire Vertues and use It is an Herb of the Sun and under the Lion and therfore you need not demand a reason why it strengthens the heart so exceedingly Let not abov ten grains be given at one time for if the Sun which is the Fountain of Life may dazle the Eyes and make them blind a Cordial being taken in an immoderate quantity may hurt the Heart instead of helping it It quicken the Brain for the Sun is exalted in V as well as he hath his House in SL it help Consumption of the Lungs help difficulty of breathing it is an excellent thing in Epidemical Diseases as Pestilences smal Pox and Measles It is a notable expulsive Medicine and a notable Remedy for the yellow Jaundice My own Opinion is but I have no Author for it that Hermodactils is nothing else but the Roots of Saffron dried and my reason is that the Roots of all Crocus both white and yellow purge Flegm as Hermodactils do and if you please to dry the Roots of any Crocus neither your eye nor your tast shal distinguish it from Hermodactils Sage OUr ordinary Garden Sage needeth no Description Time It Flowreth in or about July Vertues and use A Decoction of the Leavs and Branches of Sage made and drunk saith Dioscorides provoketh Urine bringeth down Womens Courses helpeth to expel the dead Child and causeth the hairs to become black It staieth the bleeding of Wounds and clenseth foul Ulcers or Sores The seid
which by weakness useth to be often out of place or will not stay in long when it is set also to knit and joyn broken Bones in any part of the Body the Roots being bruised and applied to the place Yea it hath been found by late experience that the Decoction of the Root in Wine or the bruised Root put in Wine or other drink and after a nights infusion strained forth hard and drunk hath holpen both man and Beast whose Bones have been broken by any occasion which is the most assured refuge of help to people of diverse Countries of this Land that they can have It is no less effectual to help Rupture and Burstings the Decoction in Wine or the Pouder in Broth or Drink being inwardly taken and outwardly applyed to the place The same is also available for inward or outward Bruises Falls or Blows both to dispel the congealed blood and to take away both the pains and the black and blew Marks that abide after the hurt The same also or the distilled water of the whol Plant used to the Face or other part of the Skin clenseth it from Morphew Freckles Spots or Marks whatsoever leaving the place fresh fair and Lovely for which purpose it is much used by the Italian Dames Saturn owns this Plant for he loves his Bones well Sampire Description THe Rock Sampire groweth up with a tender green Stalk about half a yard or two foot high at the most branching forth almost from the very bottom and stored with sundry thick and almost round somwhat long Leavs of a deep green colour somtimes three together and somtimes more on a Stalk and are sappy and of a pleasant hot or spicy tast At the tops of the Stalk and Branches stand Umbels of white Flowers and after them come large Seed bigger than Fennel Seed yet somwhat alike The Root is great white and long continuing many yeers and is of a hot spicy tast likewise Place It groweth on the Rocks that are often moistened at the least if not overflown with the Sea water Time And it Flowreth and Seedeth in the end of July and August Vertues and Use. It is a safe Herb very pleasant both to the tast and Stomach helping digestion and in some sort opening the Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen provoking Urine and helping thereby to wash away the Gravel and Stone ingendred in the Kidneys or Bladder Sanicle Description THe ordinary Sanicle sendeth forth many great round Leavs standing upon long brownish stalkes every one somewhat deeply cut or divided into five or six parts and some of those also cut in somwhat like the Leaf of a Crowfoot or Doves-foot and finely dented about the edges smooth and of a dark green shining colour and somtimes reddish about the Brims from among which riseth up smal round green Stalks without any Joynt or Leaf thereon saving at the top where it brancheth forth into Flowers having a Leaf devided into three or four parts at that Joynt with the Flowers which are smal and whit starting out of smal round greenish yellow heads many standing together in a tuft in which afterward are the Seeds contained which are smal round rough Burs somwhat like the Seeds of Cleavers and stick in the same manner upon any thing that they touch The Root is composed of many black strings or fibres set together at a little long head which abideth with the green Leavs all the Winter and perish not Place It is found in many shadowy Woods and other places of this Land Time It Flowreth in June and the Seed is ripe shortly after Vertues and Use. It is exceeding good to heal all green Wounds speedily or any Ulcers Impostumes or bleedings inwardly It doth wonderfully help those that have any Tumors in any part of their Bodies for it represseth and dissipateth the Humors if the Decoction or Juyce thereof be taken or the Pouder in drink and the Juyce used outwardly For there is not found any Herb that can give such present help either to Man or Beast when the Disease falleth upon the Lungs or Throat and to heal up all the putrid Malignant Ulcers in the Mouth Throat and Privities by gargling or washing with the Decoction of the Leavs and Root made in Water and a little Honey put thereto It helpeth to stay Womens Courses and all other Fluxes of Blood either by the Mouth Urine or Stool and Lasks of the Belly the Ulceration of the Kidneys also and the pains in the Bowels and the Gonorrhea or running of the Reins being boyled in Wine or Water and drunk The same also is no less powerful to help any Ruptures or Burstings used both inwardly and outwardly and briefly it is effectual in binding restraining consolidating heating drying and healing as Comfry Bugle Self-heal or any other of the Consounds or Vulnerary Herbs whatsoever This is one of Venus her Herbs to cure either Wounds or what other mischiefs Mars inflicteth upon the Body of Man Sarasens Consound Description THis groweth very high somtimes with brownish Stalks and other whiles with green and hollow to a mans height having many long and narrow green Leavs snip'd about the edges somwhat like those of the Peach-Tree Tree or Willow Leavs but not of such a white green colour The tops of the Stalks are furnished with many pale yellow Starlike Flowers standing in green heads which when they are fallen and the Seed ripe which is somwhat long smal and of a yellowish brown colour wrapped in down is therewith carried away with the wind The Root is composed of many strings or fibres set together at a head which perish not in Winter but abide although the Stalks dry away and no Leaf appeareth in Winter The tast hereof is strong and unpleasant and so is the smel also Place It groweth in moist and wet grounds by Wood sides and somtimes in the moist places of shady Groves as also by the water side Time It Flowreth in July and the Seed is soon ripe and carryed away with the wind Vertues and Use. Among the Germans this Wound Herb is preferred before all others of the same quality Being boiled in Wine and drunk it helpeth the indisposâ—ion of the Liver and freeth the Gall from Obstructions whereby it is good for the yellow Jaundice and for the Dropsie in the beginning of it for all inward Ulcers of the Reins or elswhere and inward Wounds and Bruises And being steeped in Wine and then distilled the Water thereof drunk is singular good to ease all gnawings in the Stomach or other pains of the Body as also the pains of the Mother And being boyled in Water it helpeth continual Agues And this said Water or the simple Water of the Herb distilled or the Juyce or Decoction are very effectual to heal any green Wound or old sore or Ulcer whatsoever clensing them from corruption and quickly healing them up It is no less effectual for the Ulcers in the mouth or Throat
forth The Root in Pouder and given in Wine and drunk is good against the Plague or Pestilence and drunk in the mornings fasting for some time together is very profitable for a Fistula in any part of the Body Baptista Sardus doth much commend the distilled Water hereof being drunk to help the French Disease to open Obstructions of the Liver and clense the Blood from corrupted Humors and is profitably given against Quotidian or Tertian Agues Strawberries THese are so well known through this Land that they need no Description Time They Flower in May ordinarily and the Fruit is ripe shortly after Vertues and use Strawberries when they are green are cold and dry but when they are ripe they are cold and moist The Berries are excellent good to cool the Liver the Blood and the Spleen or an hot Chollerick stomach to refresh comfort the fainting Spirits to quench Thirst They are good also for other Inflamations yet it is not arniss to refrain them in a Feaver lest by their putrefying in the Stomach they encrease the Fits The Leavs and Roots boyled in Wine and Water and drunk do likewise cool the Liver and Blood and asswage all Inflamations in the Reins and bladder provoketh Urine and allayeth the heat and sharpness thereof The same also being drunk stayeth the Bloody Flux and Womens Courses and helpeth the Swellings of the Spleen The Water of the Berries carefully distilled is a Soveraign Remedy and Cordial in the panting and beating of the Heart and is good for the yellow Jaundice The Juyce dropped into foul Ulcers or they washed therewith or the Decoction of the Herb and Root doth wonderfully clense and help to cure them Lotions and Gargles for sore Mouthes or Ulcers therin or in the privy Parts or elswhere are made with the Leaves and Roots hereof which is also good to fasten loose Teeth and to heal spungy soul Gums It helpeth also to stay Catarrhs or Desluxions of Rhewm into the Mouth Throat Teeth or Eyes The Juyce or Water is singular good for hot and red Inflamed Eyes if dropped into them or they bathed therewith it is also of excellent property for all Pushes Wheals and other breakings forth of hot sharp Humors in the Face and Hands or other parts of the Body to bath them therewith and to take away any redness in the Face or Spots or other Deformities in the Skin and to make it cleer and smooth Some use this Medicine Take so many Strawberries as you shall think fitting and put them into a Distillatory or body of Glass fit for them which being well closed set it in a bed of Horsdung for twelve or fourteen daies and afterwards distill it carefully and keep it for your use It is an excellent water for hot inflamed Eyes and to take away any film or Skin that beginneth to grow over them and for such other defects in them as may be helped by any outward Medicine Venus owns the Herb. Succory Description THe Garden Succory hath longer and narrower Leaves than Endive and more cut in or torn on the edges and the Root abideth many yeers It beareth also blew Flowers like Endive and the Seed is hardly distinguished from the Seed of the smooth or ordinary Endive The wild Succory hath diverse long Leaves lying on the ground very much cut in or torn on the edges on both sides even to the middle rib ending in point somtimes it hath a red Rib down the middle of the Leaves from among which riseth up a hard round woody stalk spreading into many Branches set with smaller and lesser devided Leaves on them up to the tops where stand the Flowers which are like the Garden kind as the Seed is also only take notice that the Flowers of the Garden kind are gone in one Sunny day they being so cold that they are not able to endure the Beams of the Sun and therfore most delight in the shadow The Root is white but more hard and woody than the Garden kind The whol Plant is exceeding bitter Place This groweth in many places of our Land in wast untilled and barren Fields The other only in Gardens Vertues and Use. Garden Succory as it is more dry and less cold than Endive so it openeth more An handful of the Leavs or Roots boyled in Wine or Water and a draught thereof drunk fasting driveth forth Chollerick and Flegmatick Humors openeth Obstructions of the Liver Gall and Spleen helpeth the yellow Jaundice the Heat of the Reins and of the Urine the Dropsie also and those that have an evil disposition in their Bodies by reason of long sickness evil Diet c. which the Greeks call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cachexia A Decoction thereof made with Wine and drunk is very effectual against long lingring Agues and a dram of the Seed in Pouder drunk in Wine before the Fit of an Ague helpeth to drive it away The Distilled Water of the Herb and Flowers if you can take them in time hath the properties and is especial good for hot Stomachs and in Agues either Pestilential or of long continuance for swounings and Passions of the Heart for the heat and Headach in Children and to the blood and Liver The said water or the Juyce or the bruised Leaves applied outwardly allayeth Swellings Inflamations St. Anthonies Fire Pushes Wheals and Pimples especially used with a little Vinegar as also to wash pestiferous Sores The said Water is very effectual for sore Eyes that are inflamed with redness and for Nurses Breasts that are pained by the abundance of Milk The wild Succory as it is more bitter so it is more strengthning to the Stomach and Liver English Tobacco Description THis riseth up with a thick round Stalk about two foot high whereon do grow thick fat green Leaves nothing so large as the other Indian kinds somwhat round pointed also and nothing dented about the edges The Stalk brancheth forth and beareth at the tops divers Flowers set in green Husks like the other but nothing so large scarce standing above the Brims of the Husks round pointed also and of a greenish yellow colour The Seed that followeth is not so bright but larger contained in the like great Heads The Roots are neither so great nor woody and perishing every yeer with the hard Frosts in Winter but riseth generally of its own sowing Place This came from some parts of Brassiile as is thought and is more familier to our Country than any of the other sorts early giving ripe Seed which the others seldom do Time It Flowreth from June somtimes to the end of August or later and the Seed ripeneth in the mean time Vertues and Use. It is found by good experience to be available to expectorate tough Flegm from the Stomach Chest and Lungs The Juyce thereof made into a Syrup or the distilled water of the Herb drunk with some Sugar or without if you will Or the smoke taken by a
a Soldier hath I say when Mars was free from War he called a Councel of War in his own Brain to know how he should do poor sinful man good desiring to forget his in being called an Infortune He musters up his own Forces and places them in Bâ—ttalia â—h quoth he why do I hurt a poor silly Man or Woman His Angel Answers him 'T is because they have ofâ—ended their God Look back to Adam Well saies Mars though they speak evil of me I 'le do good to them Death's cold my Herbs shall heat them They are full of ill Humors else they would never have spoken ill of me my Herb shall clense them and dry them They are poor weak Creatures my Herb shall threngthen them they are dul witted my Herb shall fortifie their Apprehensions and yet amongst Astrologers all this doth not deserve a good word â—h the Patience of Mars Faelix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas Inque domus superum scandere cura fiâ—t Oh happy he that can the Knowledg gain To know th' eternal God made nought in vain To this I add I know the reason causeth such a Dearth Of Knowledg 't is becaus men love the Earth The other day Mars told me he met with Venus and he asked her what the Reason was that she accused him for abusing Women he never gave them the Pox in the Dispute they fell out and in anger parted and Mars told me that his brother Saturn told him that an Antivenerial Medicine was the best against the Pox. Once a Month he meets with the Moon Mars is quick enough of speech and the Moon not much behind hand neither are most Women The Moon looks much after Children and Children are much troubled with the Worms she desued a Medicine of him he bad her take his own Herb Wormwood He had no sooner parted with the Moon but he met with Venus and she was as drunk as a Bitch Alâ—s poot Venus quoth heâ— What thou a Fortune and be drunk I 'le give thee an Antipathetical Cure take my Herb Wormwood thou shalt never get a Surfet by drinking A poor silly Country-man hath got an Ague and cannot go about his business he wishes he had it not and so do I but I 'le tell him a Remedy whereby he may prevent it Take the Herb of Mars Wormwood and if Infortunes will do good what will Fortunes do Some say the Lungs are under Jupiter and if the Lungs then the breath and yet a man somtimes gets a stinking breath and yet Jupiter is a Fortune forsooth up comes Mars to him Come Brother Jupiter thou knowest I sent thee a couple of Trines to thy Houses last night the one from Aries and the other from Scorpio give me thy leave by Sympathy to cure the poor man by drinking a draught of Wormwood Beer every morning The Moon was weak the other day and she gave a man two terrible mischiefs a dull Brain and a weak sight Mars lâ—ies by his Sword and comes to her Sister Moon saith he This man hath anger'd thee but I beseech thee take notice he is but a Fool prithee be patient I will with my Herb Wormwood cure him of both Infirmities by Antipathy for thou knowst thou and I cannot agree with that the Moon began to quarrel Mars not delighting much in Womens Tongues went away and did it whether she would or no. He that reades this and understands what he reades he hath a Jewel more worth then a Diamond He that understands it not is as little fit to give Physick There lies a Key in these words which will unlock if it be turned by a wise hand the Cabbinet of Physick I have delivered it so plainly as I durst 't is not upon Wormwood only that I wrote but upon all Plants Trees and Herbs He that understands it not is unfit in my Opinion to give Physick This shall live when I am dead and thus I leave it to the World not caring â— Halfpenny whether they like or dislike it The Grave equals all men and therefore shall equal me with the Princes until which time the Eternal Providence is over me then the ill tongue of a praâ—ling Priest or of one who hath more Tongue than Wit or more Pride than Honesty shall never trouble me Wisdom is justified of her Children and so much for Wormwood Yarrow Description IT hath many long Leaves spread upon the ground and fine cut and devided into many smal parts Its Flowers are white but not all of a whiteness and staied in Knots upon diverse green Stalks which rise from amongst the Leaves Place It is very frequent in all Pastures Time It Flowers late even in the latter end of August Vertues and Use. An Oyntment of them cures Wounds and is most fit for such as have Inflamations it being an Herb of Dame Venus It stops the Terms in Women being boyled in white Wine and the Decoction drunk as also the Bloody Flux the Oyntment of it is not only good for green Wounds but also for Ulcers and Fistulaes especially such as abound with moisture It staies the shedding off of Hair the Head being bathed with the Decoction of it inwardly taken it helps the retentive faculty of the Stomach it helps the running of the Reins in men and the whites in women and helps such as cannot hold their water and the Leaves chewed in the Mouth ease the Toothach and these Vertues being put together shew the Herb to be drying and binding Achilles is supposed to be the first that leâ—t the Vertues of this Herb to posterity having learned them of his Master Chyron the Centaure and certainly a very profitable Herb it is in the Camp and perhaps therfore called Militaris DIRECTIONS HAving in diverse places of this Treatise promised you the way of making Syrups Conserves Oyls Oyntments c. of Herbs Roots Flowers c. whereby you may have them ready for your use at such times when otherwise they cannot be had I come now to perform what I promised and you shall find me rather better than worse than my word That this may be done Methodically I shall devide my Directions into two grand Sections and each Sections into several Chapters and then you shall see it look with such a Countenance as this is Sect. 1. Of gathering drying and keeping Simples and their Juyces Chap. 1. Of Leaves of Herbs c. Chap. 2. Of Flowers Chap. 3. Of Seeds Chap. 4. Of Roots Chap. 5. Of Barks Chap. 6. Of Juyces Sect. 2. Of making and keeping Compounds Chap. 1. Of Distilled Waters Chap. 2. Of Syrups Chap. 3. Of Juleps Chap. 4. Of Decoctions Chap. 5. Of Oyls Chap. 6. Of Electuaries Chap. 7. Of Conserves Chap. 8. Of Preserves Chap. 9. Of Lohochs Chap. 10. Of Oyntments Chap. 11. Of Plaisters Chap. 12. Of Pultisses Chap. 13. Of Troches Chap. 14. Of Pills Chap. 15. The way of fitting Medicines to Compound Diseases Of all
spring which being ful grown are very large broad being somwhat thin and almost round whose thick red foot stalks about a foot long stand towards the middle of the Leavs The lower parts being divided into two round parts close almost one to another and of a pale green colour and hoary underneath The Root is long and spreading under ground being in some places no bigger than ones Finger in others much bigger blackish on the outside white within of a bitter and unpleasant tast Place and Time They grow in low and wet grounds by Rivers and Waters side their Flower as is said rising and decaying in February and March before the Leavs which appear in April Vertues and use The Roots hereof are by long experience found to be very available against the Plague and Pestilential Feavers by provoking Sweat if the Pouder therof be taken in Wine it also resisteth the force of any other Poyson The Root hereof taken with Zedoà ry and Angelica or without them helps the rising of the Mother The Decoction of the Root in Wine is singular good for those that wheeze much or are short-winded It provoketh Urin also and Womens courses and killeth the flat and broad Worms in the Belly The Pouder of the Root doth wonderfully help to dry up the moisture of sores that are hard to be cured and taketh away all spots and blemishes of the skin It were wel if Gentlewomen would keep this Root preserved to help their poor Neighbors It is fit the Rich should help the Poor for the Poor cannot help themselvs ♀ The Bur-Dock IT is so well known even to the little Boys who pul off the Burs to throw and stick upon one another that I shal spare to write any Description of it Place They grow plentifully by Ditches and Water-sides and by the High-waies almost every where through this Land Vertues and use The Bur Leavs are cooling moderatly drying and discussing withal whereby it is good for old Ulcers and Sores A dram of the Roots taken with Pine Kernels helpeth them that spit foul â—â—â—tery and bloudy Flegm The Leavs applied on the places troubled with the shrinking of the Sinews or Arteries give much case The Juyce of the Leavs or rather the Roots themselvs given to drink with old Wine doth wonderfully help the bitings of any Serpents And the Root beaten with a little Salt and laid on the place suddenly easeth the pain thereof and helpeth those that are bit with a mad-Dog The Juyce of the Leavs taken with Honey provoketh Urin and remedieth the pain of the Bladder The Seed being drunk in Wine forty daies together doth wonderfully help the Sciatica The Leavs bruised with the White of an Egg and applied to any place burnt with Fire taketh out the Fire gives sudden ease and heal s it up afterwards The Decoction of them fomented on any fretting sore or Canker stayeth the corroding quality which must be afterwards anointed with an Ointment made of the same Liquor Hogs-Greas Nitre and Vinegar boyled together The Roots may be preserved with Sugar and taken fasting or at other times for the said purposes and for Consumptions the Ston and the Lask The Seed is much commended to break the Stone and cause it to be expelled by Urin and is often used with other Seeds and things to that purpose Venus challengeth this Herb for her own and by its Leaf or Seed you may draw the Womb whith way you pleas either upward by applying it to the Crown of the Heed if in case it fal out or downward in fits of the Mother by applying it to the Soals of the Feet Or if you would stay it in its place apply it to the Navel and that is one good way to stay the Child in it See more of it in my Guide for Women Cabbages and Coleworts ☽ IShal spare a labor in writing a Description of these sith almost every one that can but write at all may describe them from his own knowledg they being generally so well known that Descriptions are altogether needless Place These are generally planted in Gardens Time Their flowering time is towards the middle or end of July and the Seed is ripe in August Vertues and use The Cabbages or Colewors boyled gently in Broth and eaten do open the Body but the second Decoction doth bind the Body The Juyce therof drunk in Wine helpeth those that are bitten by an Adder and the Decoction of the Flowers bringeth down Womens Courses Being taken with Honey it recovereth hoarsness or loss of the voice The often eating of them wel boyled helpeth those that are â—â—â—ing into a Consumption The Pulp of the middle Ribs of Coleworts boyled in Almond Milk and made up into an Electuary with Honey being taken often is very profitable for those that are pursie and short-winded Being boyled twice and an old Cock boyled in the Broth and drunk it helpeth the pains and obstructions of the Liver and Spleen and the Stone in the Kidnies The Juyce boyled with Honey and dropped into the corner of the Eye cleareth the sight by consuming any Fnâ— or cloud begining to dim it it also consumeth the Canker growing therin They are much commended being eaten before meat to keep one from surfetting as also from being drunk with too much Wine or quickly make a man sober again that is drunk before For as they say there is such an Antipathy or enmity between the Vine and the Colewort that the one will die where the other groweth The Decoction of Coleworts taketh away the pain and ach and allayeth the swellings of swoln and gouty Legs and Knees wherein many gross and watry humors are fallen the place being bathed therwith warm It helpeth also old and fiâ—thy sores being washed therewith and healeth all smal Scabs Pushes and Wheals that break out in the Skin The Ashes of Colewort Stalks mixed with old Hogs-Grease are very effectual to anoint the Sides of those that have had long pains therin or any other place pained with Melancholly and windy humors This was surely Chrysiptus his god and therfore he wrote a whol Volumn of them and their Vertues and that none of the least neither for he would be no smal Fool he apropriates them to every part of the Body and to every Diseas in every part and honest old Cato they say used no other Physick I know not what Mettals their Bodies were made of this I am sure cabbages are extream windy whether you take them as Meat or as Medicine yea as windy Meat as can be eaten unless you eat Bagpipes or Bellows and they are but seldom eaten in our daies and Colâ—wort Flowers are somthing more tollerable and the wholsomer Food of the two The Moon challengeth the Dominion of the Herb. The Sea Colewort ☽ Description THis hath divers somwhat long and broad large thick wrinkled Leavs somwhat crumpled upon the edges growing each
four foot high and somtimes more with divers great white Joynts at several places theron and two such like Leavs therat up to the top sending forth Branches at the several Joynts also al which bear on several Footstalks white Flowers at the tops of them consisting of five broad pointed Leavs every one cut in on the end unto the middle making them seem to be two apiece smelling somwhat sweet and each of them standing in large green striped hairy Husks large and round below next to the Stalk The Seed is smal and grayish in the hard Heads that come up afterwards The Root is white and long spreading divers fangs in the ground The Red Wild Campion groweth in the same manner as the White but his Leavs are not so plainly ribbed somwhat shorter rounder and more woolly in handling The Flowers are of the same form and bigness but in som of a pale in others of a bright red colour cut in at ends more finely which maketh the Leavs seem more in number than the other The Seed and the Roots are alike The Roots of both sorts abiding many years Ther are forty five kinds of Campions more those of them which are of Physical uses having the like Vertues with these above described which I take to be the two chiefest kinds Place They grow commonly through this Land by Fields Hedg-fides and Ditches Time They flower in Summer som earlier than others and some abiding longer than others Vertues and use It is sound by experience that the Decoction of the Herb either the White or Red being drunk doth stay inward bleedings and applied outwardly it doth the like And being drunk helpeth to expel the Urin being stop'd and Gravel or the Stone in the Reins or Kidnies Two drams of the Seed drunk in Wine purgeth the Body of Chollerick humors and helpeth those that are ftung by Scorpions or other venemous Beasts and may be as effectual for the Plague It is of very good use in old Sores Ulcers Cankers Fistulaes and the like to clens and heal them by consuming the moist humors falling into them and correcting the putrifaction of Humors offending them ☿ Carrots THe Garden kind are so wel known that they need no Description but because they are of les◠Physical use than the Wild kind as indeed almost in all Herbs the Wild are most effectual in Physick as being more powerful in operation then the Garden kinds I shal therfore briefly describe the wild Carrot Description It groweth in a manner altogether like the Tame but that the Leavs and Stalks are somwhat whiter and rougher The Stalks bear large tufts of white Flowers with a deep Purple spot in the middle which are contracted together when the Seed begins to ripen that the◠middle part being hollow and low and the outer Stalks rising high maketh the whol Umbel to shew like a Birds-Nest The Root is small long and hard unfit for meat being somwhat sharp and strong Place The Wild kind groweth in divers parts of this Land plentifully by the Fields sides and in untilled places Time They flower and seed in the end of Summer The Vertues The Wild kind breaketh Wind and removeth Stitches in the Sides provoketh Urin and Womens Courses and helpeth to break and expel the Stone The Seed also of the same worketh the like effect and is good for the Dropsie and those whose Bellies are swollen with Wind helpeth the Chollick the Stone in the Kidnies and the rising of the Mother being taken in Wine or boyled in Wine and taken and helpeth Conception The Leavs being applied with Honey to running Sores or Ulcers doth clense them I suppose the Seeds of them perform this better than the Roots And though Galen commend Garden Carrots highly to break Wind yet experience teacheth that they breed it first and we may thank Nature for expelling it not they The Seeds of them expel Wind indeed and so mend what the Root marreth ☿ Caraway Description IT beareth divers Stalks of fine cut Leavs lying upon the ground somwhat like to the Leavs of Carrots but not bushing so thick of a little quick tast in them from among which riseth up a square Stalk not so high as the Carrot at whose Joynts are set the like Leavs but smaler and finer and at the top smal open tufts or Umbels of white Flowers which turn into smal blackish Seed smaler than the Anniseed and of a quicker and hotter tast The Root is whitish smal and long somwhat like unto a Parsnep but with more wrinckled Bark and much less of a little hot and quick tast and stronger than the Parsnep and abideth after Seed-time Place It is usually sown with us in Gardens Time They flower in June or July and seed quickly after Vertues and use Caraway Seed hath a moderat sharp quality wherby it breaketh Wind and provoketh Urin which also the Herb doth The Root is better food than the Parsnep and is pleasant comfortable to the Stomach helping digestion The Seed is conducing to all the cold griefs of Head and Stomach the Bowels or Mother as also the wind in them and helpeth to sharpen the Eye-sight The Pouder of the Seed put into a Pultis taketh away black and blue spots of Blows or Bruises The Herb it self or with some of the Seed bruised and fryed laid hot in a bag or double cloth to the lower part of the Belly easeth the pains of the wind Chollick The Roots of Caraways eaten as men eat Parsnips strengthen the Stomacks of ancient people exceedingly and they need not make a whol meal of them neither and are fit to be planted in every ones Garden Caraway Comfects once only dipped in Sugar and half a spoonful of them eaten in the morning fasting and as many after each meal is a most admirable Remedy for such as are troubled with Wind. ☉ Celandine Description THis hath divers tender round whitish green Stalks with greater Joynts than ordinary in other Herbs as it were Knees very brittle and easie to break from whence grow Branches with large tender long Leavs much divided into many parts each of them cut in on the edges set at the Joynts on both sides of the Branches of a dark bluish green colour on the upper side like Columbines and of a more pale bluish green underneath ful of a yellow sap when any part is broken of a bitter tast and strong scent At the tops of the Branches which are much divided grow gold yellow Flowers of four Leaves apiece after which come smal long pods with blackish seed therin The Root is somwhat great at the head shooting forth divers other long Roots and smal Strings reddish on the outside and yellow within ful of a yellow sap therein Place It groweth in many places by old Walls by the Hedges and way sides in untilled places and being once planted in a Garden especially in some shady place it wil remain there Time They flower all the