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
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
though they had pissed in their shoos nay perhaps much wors As for that trick of curing the Eyes by it I can as yet say nothing to it for the rest it may be effectual We will grant that Clary strengthens the Back but this we deny That the cans of the running of the Reins in Men or the Whites in Women lies in the Back though the Back may somtimes be weakned by them and therfore the Medicine is as proper as for me when my Toe is sore to lay a Plaister to my Nose Cleavers or Goosgrass ♄ Description THe common Cleavers hath divers very rough square Stalks not so big as the Tag of a Point but rising up to be two or three yards high somtimes if it meet with any tall Bushes or Trees wheron it may climb yet without any Claspers or els much lower â—â— lying upon the Ground full of Joynts and at every of them shooteth forth a Branch besides the Leavs therat which are usually six set in a round compass like a Star or the Rowel of a Spur from between the Leavs at the Joynts towards the tops of the Branches come forth very smal white Flowers every one upon a smal threddy Footstalk which after they are fallen there do shew two smal round rough Seeds joyned together like two Testicles which when they are ripe grow hard and whitish having a little hole on the side somwhat like unro a Navil Both Stalks Leavs and Seeds are so rough that they wil cleav to any thing shal touch them The Root is small and very threddy spreading much in the Ground but dieth every yeer Place It groweth by the Hedg and Ditch Sides in many places of this Land and is so troublesom an Inhabitant in Gardens that it rampeth upon and is ready to choak what ever grows next it Time It. Flowreth in June and July and the Seed is tripe and falleth again in the end of July or August from whence it â—pringeth up again and not from the old Roots Vertues and use The Juyce of the Herb and Seed together taken in Wine helpeth those that are bitten with an Adder by preserving the Heart from the Venom It is familiarly taken in Broth to keep them lean and lank that are apt to grow fat The distilled Water drunk twice a day helpeth the yellow Jaundice and the Decoction of the Herb in experience found to do the same and stayeth Lasks and Bloody Fluxes The Juyce of the Leavs or they a little bruisep and applied to any bleeding wound stayeth the Bleeding The Juyce is also very good to close up the Lips of green Wounds and the Pouder of the dried Herb strewed therupon doth the same and likewise helpeth old Ulcers Being boyled with Hogs Greas it healeth al sorts of hard Swellings or Kernels in the Throat being anointed therwith The Juyce dropped into the Ears taketh away the pains of them It is a good remedy in the Spring eaten being first chopped smal and boyled well in Water-gruel to clens the Blood and strengthen the Liver thereby keeping the Body in health and fitting it for that change of Season that is coming Clowns Woundwort ♄ Description IT groweth up somtimes to three or four Foot high but usually about two Foot with square green rough Stalks but slender joynted somwhat far asunder and two very long and somwhat narrow dark green Leavs bluntly dented about the edges thereat ending in a long point The Flowers stand toward the tops compassing the Stalks at the Joynts with the Leavs and end likewise in a spiked â—op having long and much open gaping hoods of a Purplish red colour with whitish spots in them standing in somwhat rough Husks wherin afterwards stand blackish round Seeds The Root is composed of many long strings with some tuberous long Knobs growing among them of a pale yellowish or whitish colour yet at some times of the year these knobby Roots in many places are not seen in the Plant The whol Plant smelleth somwhat strongly Place It groweth in sundry Counties of this Land both North and West and frequently by Path sides in the Fields neer about London and within three or four miles distance about it yet it usually grows in or neer Ditches Time It Flowreth in June and July and the Seed is ripe soon after Vertues and use I is singularly effectual in all fresh and green Wounds and therfore beareth not this name for nought And is very available in stanching of Blood and to dry up the Fluxes of Humors in old fretting Ulcers Cancers c. that hinder the healing of them A Syrup made of the Juyce of it is inferior to none for inward Wounds Ruptures of Veins Bloody Flux Vessels broken spitting pissing or vomiting Blood Ruptures are excellently and speedily even to admiration cured by taking now and then a little of the Syrup and applying an Oyntment or Plaister of the Herb to the place Also if any Vein be swelled or Muscle cut apply a Plaister of this Herb to it and if you ad a little Comfry to it 't wil not do amiss I assure the Herb deservs Commendations though it have gotten but a Clownish name and whoever reades this if he try it as I have done will commend it as well as I. I have done only take notice that it is of a dry Earthy quality and under the Dominion of the Planet Saturn Cocks-Head ♀ Description THis hath divers weak but rough Stalks half a yard long leaning downwards beset with winged Leavs longer and more pointed than those of Lentils and whitish underneath from the tops of these Stalks arise up other slender Stalks naked without Leavs unto the tops where there grow many smal Flowers in manner of a Spike of a pale reddish â—olâ—â—r with some blueness among themâ— after which rise up in their places round rough and somwhat flat Heads The Root is tough and somwhat woody yet liveth and shooteth anew every yeer Place It groweth under Hedges and somtimes in the open Fields in divers places of this Land Time They Flower all the Months of July and August and the Seed ripeneth in the mean while Vertues and use It hath a power to rarifie and digest and therfore the green Leavs bruised and laid as a Plaister disperseth Knots Nodes or Kernels in the Flesh and if when it is dry it be taken in Wine it â—elpeth the Strangury and being anointed with Oyl it provoketh Sweat It is a singular Food for Cattel to caus them to give store of Milk and why then may it not do the like being boyled in the ordinary drink of Nurses ☽ Columbines THese are so wel known growing in almost every Garden that I think I may save the expence of time in writing a Description of them Time They Flower in May and abide not for the most part when June is past perfecting their Seed in the mean time Vertues and use The Leavs of Columbines are commonly used in Lotions with good
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
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
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
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
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
when they are half boyled you husk them and then stew them I cannot tell you how for I never was Cook in al my life they are wholsomer Food ♃ French-Beans Description THe French or Kidney Bean ariseth up at first but with one ftalk which afterwards divideth its self into many Arms or Branches but also weak that if they be not sustained with sticks or poles they wil lie fruitless upon the ground at several places of these Branches grow forth long footstalks with every one of them three broad round and pointed green Leavs at the end of them towards the tops wherof come forth divers Flowers made like unto Pease Blossoms of the same colour for the most part that the fruit wil be of that is to say white yellow red blackish or of a deep purple but white is most usual after which come long and slender flat Pods some crooked some straight with a string as it were running down the Back therof wherein are contained flattish round fruit made to the fashion of a Kidney the Root is long and spreadeth with many strings annexed to it and perisheth every year There is also another sort of French Beans commonly growing with us in this Land which is called the Scarlet flowred Bean. This ariseth up with sundry Branches as the other but runs up higher to the length of Hop-poles about which they grow twining but turning contrary to the Sun having Foot-stalks with three Leaves on each as on the other The Flowers also are in fashion like the other but many more set together and of a most Orient Scalet Colour The Beans are larger than the ordinary kind of a deep Purple colour turning black when it is ripe and dry The Root perisheth also in Winter Vertues The ordinary French Beans are of an casie digestion they move the Belly provoke Urin enlarge the Breast that is straitned with shortness of Breath engender Sperme and incite Venery And the Scarlet-coloured Beans in regard of the glorious beauty of their colour being set near a Quickset Hedg wil bravely adorn the same by climing up theron so that they may be discerned a great way not without admiration of the beholder at a distance But they wil go near to kil the Quicksets by cloathing them in Scarlet ♀ Ladies-Bedstraw Description THis ariseth up with divers smal brown and square upright Stalks a yard high or more somtimes branched forth into divers parts ful of Joynts and with diverse very fine small Leaves at ever one of them little or nothing rough at al At the tops of the Branches grow many long tufts or branches of yellow Flowers very thick set together from the several Joynts which consist of four smal Leavs apiece which smel somwhat strong but not unpleasant The Seed is smal and black like Poppy seed two for the most part joyned together The Root is reddish with many smal thrids fastned unto it which take strong hold of the ground and creepeth a little And the Branches leaning a little down to the ground take Root at the Joynts therof wherby it is easily encreased Ther is also another sort of Ladies-Bedstraw growing frequently in England which beareth white Flowers as the other doth yellow but the Branches of this are so weak that unless it be sustained by the Hedges or other things near which it groweth it wil lie down on the ground the Leaves a little bigger than the former and the Flowers not so plentiful as those and the Root here of is also thridy and abiding Place They grow in Meadows and Pastures both wet and dry and by the Hedges Time They flower in May for the most part and the Seed is ripe in July and August Vertues and use The Decoction of the former of these being drunk is good to fret and break the Stone and provokes urin stayeth inward bleedings and healeth inward Wounds The Herb or Flower bruised and put up into the Nostrils stayeth their bleeding likewise The Flowers and the Herb made into an Oyl by being set in the Sn◠and changed after it hath stood ten or twelve daies or into an Ointment being boyled in Axungia or Sallet-Oyl with some Wax melted therein after it is strained either the Oyl made therof or the Ointment do help Burnings with Fire or Scalding with Water the same also or the Decoction of the Herb and Flower is good to bath the Feet of Travellers and Lacquies whose long running causeth weariness and stifness in their Sinews and Joynts If the Decoction be used warm and the Joynts afterwards anointed with the Ointment It helpeth the dry Scab and the Itch in Children And the Herb with the white Flower is also very good for the Sinews Arteries and Joynts to comfort and strengthen them after travel cold and pains They are both Herbs of Venus and therfore strengthen the patrs both internal and external which she rules Beets Description THere are two sorts of Beets which are best known generally and wherof I shal principally intreat at this time Viz. The White and the Red Beets and their Vertues The Common White Beet hath many great Leaves next the ground somwhat large and of a whitish green colour The Stalk is great strong and ribbed bearing great store of leaves upon it almost to the very top of it The flowers grow in very long tufts smal at the ends and turning down their Heads which are smal pale greenish vellow Burrs giving cornered prickled Seed The Root is great long and hard and when it hath given Seed of no use at all The Common Red Beet differeth not from the White but only it is lesser and the Leaves and the Roots are somwhat red The Leaves are differently red in som only with red strakes or veins som of a fresh red and others of a dark red The Rot here of is red spungy and not used to be eaten The White Beet doth much loosen the Belly and is of a clensing and digesting quality and provoketh Urin The Juyce of it openeth obstructions both of the Liver and Spleen and is good for the Headaches and swimmings therein and turnings of the Brain and is effectual also against al venemous creatures and applied upon the Temples stayeth Inflamations in the Eyes it helpeth Burnings being used without Oyl and with a little Allum put to it is good for St. Anthonies fire It is also good for al Wheals Pushes Blisters and Blains in the Skin The Herb boyled and laid upon Chilblains or Kibes helpeth them The Decoction therof in Water and some Vinegar healeth the Itch if bathed therwith and clenseth the Head of Dandraf Scurff and dry Scabs and doth much good for fretting and running Sores Ulcers Cankers in the Head Legs or other parts and is much commended against Baldness and shedding of Hair The red Beet is good to stay the Bloody Flux Womens Courses and the Whites and to help the yellow Jaundice The Juyce or the Root
Vertues Antony Musa an expert Physitian for it was not the practice of Octavius Caesar to keep Fools about him apropriates to Betony It is a very precious Herb that 's certain and most fitting to be kept in a mans hous both in Syrup Conserve Oyl Oyntment and Plaister The Flowers are usually Conserved The Herb is apropriated to the Planet Jupiter and the Sign Aries ♄ The Beech-Tree IN treating of this Tree you must understand that I mean the great Mast Beech which is by way of distinction from that other smal rough sort called in Sussex the smal Beech but in Essex Hornbeam I suppose it needless to describe it being already so wel known to my Countrymen Place It groweth in Woods amongst Oaks and other Trees and in Parks Forrests and Chases to feed Deer and in other places to fatten Swine Time It bloometh in the end of April or begining of May for the most part and the Fruit is ripe in September Vertues and use The Leavs of the Beech-Tree are cooling and binding and therefore good to be applied to hot Swelling to discuss them The Nuts do much nourish such Beasts as feed thereon The Water that is found in the hollow places of decaying Beeches will cure both Man and Beast of any Scurf Scab or running Tetters if they be washed therwith You may boyl the Leavs into a Pultis or make an Ointment of them when time of year serves ♄ BILBERRIES called also by som Whorts and Whortleberries Descriptions OF these I shal only speak of two sorts which are commonly known in England Viz The Black and the Red Bilberries And first of the Black This smal Bush creepeth along upon the ground scarce rising half a yard high with divers smal dark green Leaves set on the green Branches not alwaies one against another and a little dented about the edges At the foot of the Leaves com forth smal hollow pale blush coloured Flowers the brims ending in five points with a reddish threed in the middle which pass into smal round Berries of the bigness and colour of Juniper Berries but of a Purple sweetish sharp tast the Juyce of them giveth a Purplish colour to their Hands and Lips that eat and handle them especially if they break them The Root groweth asloop under ground shooting forth in sundry places as it creepeth This loseth its Leaves in Winter The Red Bilberry or whortle-bush riseth up like the former having sundry harder Leaves like the Box-Tree Leaves green and round pointed standing on the several Branches at the tops whereof only and not from the sides as in the former com forth divers round flowers of a pale red color after which succeed round reddish sappy Berries when they are ripe of a sharp tast The Root runneth in the ground as the former but the Leaves of this abide al Winter Place The first groweth in Forrests on the Heaths and such like barren plaaces The Red grows in the North parts of this Land as Lancashire Yorkshire c. Time They slower in March and April and the Fruit of the Black is ripe in June and July Vertue and use The Black Bilberries are good in hot Agues and to cool the heat of the Liver and stomach they do somwhat bind the Belly and stay Vomitings and Loathings The Juyce of the Berries made into a Syrup or the Pulp made into a Conserve with Sugar is good for the purposes aforesaid as also for an old Cough or an Ulcer in the Lungs or other diseases therein The Red Whorts are more binding and stop Womens Courses spitting of Blood or any other Flux of Blood or Humors being used aswel outwardly as inwardly Bifoyl or Twayblade Description THis smal Herb from a Root somewhat sweet shooting downwards many long strings riseth up a round green Stalk bare or naked next the ground for an inch two or three to the middle therof as it is in age or growth as also from the middle upward to the Flowers having only two broad Plantan-like Leaves but whiter set at the middle of the Stalk one against another and compasseth it round at the bottom of them Place It is a usual Inhabitant in Woods Copses and in many other places in this Land There is another sort growes in wet grounds and Marshes which is somwhat differing from the former It is a smaler Plant and greener having somtimes three Leaves the Spike of Flowers is less than the former and the Roots of this do run or creep in the ground They are much and often used by many to good purpose for Wounds both green and old and to consolidate or knit Ruptures The Birch-Tree ♀ Description THis groweth a goodly tall straight Tree fraught with many Boughes and slender Branches bending downward the old ones being covered with a discoloured chapped Bark and the yonger being browner by much The Leaves at their first breaking out are crumpled and afterward like the Beech Leaves but smaler and greener and dented about the edges It beareth smal short Catkins somwhat like those of the Hazel-Nut-tree which abide on the Branches a long time until growing ripe they fall on the ground and their Seed with them Place It usually groweth in Woods Vertues The Juyce of the Leaves while they are yong or the distilled Water of them or the Water that coms out of the Tree being bored with an Augur and distilled afterwards any of these being drunk for som time together is available to break the Stone in the Kidnies or Bladder and is good also to wash sore Mouths ♄ Birds-Foot THis smal Herb groweth not above a span high with many Branches spread on the ground set with many wings of small Leaves The Flowers grow upon the Branches many smal ones of a pale yellow colour being set at a head together which afterwards turn into so many smal joynted Cods with Seeds in them the Cods well resembling the Claws of smal Birds whence it took its name There is another sort of Birds-Foot in all things like the former but a little larger the Flowers of a pale whitish red colour and the Cods distinct by Joynts like the other but a little more crooked and the Roots do carry many smal white Knots or Kernels amongst the Strings Place These grow on Heaths and many open untilled places of this Land Time They flower and seed in the end of Summer Vertues and use They are of a drying binding quality and therby very good to be used in Wound-drinks as also to apply outwardly for the same purpose But the latter Birds-foot is found by experience to break the Stones in the Back or Kidnies and drive them forth if the Decoction therof be taken and it wonderfully helpeth the Rupture being taken inwardly and outwardly applied to the place All Salts have best operation upon the Ston as Ointments Plaisters have upon Wounds and therfore if you may make a Salt of this for the Stone the way how to do so
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
Plague The Juyce of the Herb taken to the quantity of a spoonful hath the same effect But if there be a little Vinegar added therunto as well as unto the Root aforesaid it somwhat all ayeth the sharp biting tast therof upon the Tongue The green Leavs bruised and laid upon any Boyl or Plague Sore doth wonderfully help to draw forth the Poyson A dram of the Pouder of the dried Root taken with twice so much Sugar in the form of a licking Electuary or the green Root doth wonderfully help those that are pursie and short winded as also those that have a Cough it breaketh digesteth and riddeth away Flegm from the Stomach Chest and Lungs The Milk wherin the Root hath been boyled is effectual also for the same purpose The said Pouder taken in Wine or other Drink or the Juyce of the Berries or the Pouder of them or the Wine wherein they have been boyled provoketh Urine and bringeth down Womens Courses and purgeth them effectually after Child-bearing to bring away the After-birth Taken with Sheeps Milk it healeth the inward Ulcers of the Bowels The distilled Water herof is effectual to all the purposes aforesaid A spoonful taken at a time healeth the Itch And an ounce or more taken at a time for some daies together doth help the Rupture The Leavs either green or dry or the Juyce of them doth clens all manner of rotten and filthy Ulcers in what part of the Body soever and healeth the stinking Sores in the Nose called Polipus The Water wherin the Root hath been boyled dropped into the Eyes clenseth them from any Film or Skin Clouds or Mists which begin to hinder the Sight and helpeth the watering or redness of them or when by some chance they become black and blue The Root mixed with Bean Flower and applied to the Throat or Jaws that are inflamed helpeth them The Juyce of the Berries boyled in Oyl of Roses or beaten into Pouder and mixed with the Oyl and dropped into the Ears and easeth pains in them The Berries or the Roots beaten with hot Ox Dung and applied easeth the pains of the Gout The Leavs and Roots boyled in Wine with a little Oyl and applied to the Piles or the falling down of the Fundament easeth them and so doth sitting over the hot fumes therof The fresh Roots bruised and distilled with a little Milk yieldeth a most Sovereign Water to clens the Skin from Scurff Freckles Spots or Blemishes whatsoever therin Authors have left large Commendation of this Herb you see but for my part I have neither spoken with Dr. Reason nor Dr. Experience about it ♀ ♋ Daisies THese are so well known to almost every Child that I suppose it is altogether needless to write any Description of them Take therfore the Vertues of them as followeth Vertues and Vse The greater wild Daisie is a Wound Herb of good respect often used in those Drink◠or Salvs that are for Wounds either inward or outwards The Juyce or distilled Water of these or the smal Daisies doth much temper the heat of Choller and refresheth the Liver and other inward parts A Decoction made of them and drunk helpeth to cure the Wounds made in the hollowness of the Breast The same also cureth al Ulcers and Pustles in the Mouth or Tongue or in the secret parts The Leavs bruised and applied to the Cods or to any other parts that are swollen and hot doth resolve it and temper the Heat A Decoction made hereof with Walwort and Agrimony and the places fomented or bathed therewith warm giveth great eas to them that are troubled with the Palsy Stiatica or the Gout The lame also disperseth and dissolveth the Knots or Kernels that grow in the Flesh or any part of the Body and the Bruises and Hurts that come of Fals and Blows They are also used for Ruptures and other inward Burnings with very good success An Oyntment made hereof doth wonderfully help al Wounds that have Inflamations about them or by reason of moist humors having access unto them are kept long from healing and such are those for the most part that happen in the Joynts of the Arms or Legs The Juyce of them dropped into the running Eyes of any doth much help them The Herb is under the Sign Cancer and under the Dominion of Venus and therfore excellent good for Wounds in the Breast and very fitting to be kept both in Oyls Oyntments and Plaisters as also in Syrup DANDELYON ♂ Vulgarly called Piss-a-beds Description THis is wel known to have many long and deeply gashed Leavs lying on the ground round about the Head of the Root the ends of each Gash or Jag on both sides looking downwards towards the Root the middle rib being white which broken yieldeth abundance of bitter Milk but the Root much more from among the Leavs which alwaies abide green arise many slender weak naked Footstalks every one of them bearing at the top one large yellow Flower consisting of many rows of yellow Leavs broad at the points and nicked in with a deep spot of yellow in the middle which growing ripe the green Husk wherin the Flower stood turneth it self down to the Stalk and the Head of down becometh as round as a Ball with long reddish Seed underneath bearing a part of the Down on the Head of every one which together is blown away with the Wind or may be at once blown away with ones Mouth The Root growth downwards exceeding deep which being broken off within the ground wil notwithstanding shoot forth again and wil hardly be destroyed where it hath once taken deep Root in the ground Place It groweth frequent in al Meadows and Pasture Grounds Time It Flowreth in one place or other almost all the yeer long Vertues and use It is of an opening and clensing quality and thefore very effectual for the Obstructions of the Liver Gall and Spleen and the Diseases that arise from them as the Jaundice Hypocondriacal Passion It wonderfully openeth the Passages of the Urin both in yong and old It powerfully clenseth Aposthumes and inward in the Uritory passages and by the drying and temperate quality doth afterwards heal them for which purpose the Decoction of the Roots or Leavs in white Wine or the Leavs chopped as Potherbs with a few Allisanders and boyled in their Broth is very effectual And whoso is drawing towards a Consumption or an il Disposition of the whol Body called Cachexia by the use herof for sometime together shal find a wonderful help It helpeth also to procure rest and sleep to Bodies distempered by the Heat of Ague Fits or otherwise The distilled Water is effectual to drink in Pestilential Feavers and to wash the Sores You see here what Vertues this common Herb hath and that 's the reason you French and Dutch so often eat them in the Spring and now if you look a little further
as Ponds Pools and Ditches that it is needless further to describe it Vertues and use It is effectual to help Inflamations and St. Anthonies fire as also the Gout either applied by it self or in a Pultis with Barley Meal The distilled Water herof is by some highly esteemed against all inward Inflamations and Pestilent Feavers as also to help the redness of the Eyes the Swellings of the Cods and of the Breasts before they be grown too much The fresh Herb applied to the Forehead easeth the Pains of the Head-ach coming of heat Cancer claims the Herb and the Moon wil be Lady of it a word is enough to a Wise man Down or Cotton-Thistle ♂ Description THis hath many large Leavs lying on the ground somwhat cut in and as it were crumpled on the edges of a green colour on the upper side but covered over with a long hairy Wool or Cottony Down set with most sharp and cruel pricks from the middle of whose Heads of Flowers thrust forth many Purplish Crimson Treds and sometimes although more seldom white ones The Seed that followeth in these Heads lying in a great deal of fine white Down is somwhat large long and round like the Seed of Ladies Thistle but somwhat paler The Root is great and thick spreading much yet it usually dieth after Seed time Place It groweth on divers Ditches Banks and in the Corn-fields and High-waies generally every where throughout the Land Time It Flowreth and beareth Seed about the end of Summer when other Thistles do Flower and Seed Vertues and use Pliny and Dioscorides write That the Leavs Roots hereof taken in Drink helpeth those that have a Crick in their Neck wherby they cannot turn their Neck but their whol Body must turn also Sure they do not mean those that have got a Crick in their Neck by being under the Hangmans Hands Galen saith that the Root and Leavs hereof are of an heating quality and good for such Persons as have their Bodies drawn together by some Spasme or Convulsion as it is with Children that have the Rickets or rather as the Colledg of Physitians will have it the Rachites for which name for the Diseas they have in a particular Treatise lately set forth by them Learnedly Disputed and put forth to the publick view that the World may see they took much pains to little purpose Mars owns the Plant and manifests to the World that though it may hurt your Fingers it will help your Body for I fancy it much for the Premises ♀ The Elder-Tree I Hold it needless to write any Description of this sith every Boy that plaies with a Potgun will not mistake another Tree instead of Elder I shall therfore in this place only describe the Dwarf Elder called also Danewort and Walewort ♀ The Dwarf Elder Description THis is but an Herb every yeer dying with his Stalks to the ground and rising again afresh every Spring and is like unto the Elders both in form and quality rising up with a four square rough hairy Stalk four foot high or more somtimes The winged Leavs are somwhat narrower than the Elder but els very like them The Flowers are white with a dash of Purple standing in Umbels very like the Elder also but more sweet in scent after which come smal blackish Berries full of Juyce while they are fresh wherein there lie smal hard Kernels or Seed The Root doth creep under the upper crust of the ground springing afresh in divers places being of the bigness of ones finger or Thumb somtimes Places The Elder-Tree groweth in Hedges being planted there to strengthen the Fences and Partitions of Grounds and to hold up the Banks by Ditches and Water-courses The Dwarf Elder groweth Wild in many places of England where being once gotten into a Ground it is not easily gotten forth again Times Most of the Elder-Trees Flower in June and their Fruit is ripe for the most part in August But the Dwarf Elder or Wallwort Flowreth somwhat later and his fruit is not ripe until September Vertues and Vse The first Shoots of the common Elder boyled like Asparagus the yong Leavs Stalks boyled in Fat Broth doth mightily carry forth Flegm and Choller The middle or inner Bark boyled in Water and given to drink worketh much more violently and the Berries either green or dry expel the same humors and is often given with good success to help the Dropsie The Bark of the Root boyled in Wine or the Juyce therof drunk worketh the same effects but more powerfully than either the Leavs or Fruit. The Juyce of the Root taken doth mightily provoke Vomit and purgeth the watery Humors of the Dropsie The Decoction of the Root taken cureth the biting of the Adder and biting of Mad Dogs It mollifieth the hardness of the Mother if Women sit therin â—nd openeth the Veins and bringeth down their Courses The Berries boyled in Wine performeth the same effect and the hair of the Head washed therwith is made black The Juyce of the green Leavs applied to the hot Inflamations of the Eyes asswageth them The Juyce of the Leavs snuffed up into the Nostrils purgeth the Tunicles of the Brain The Juyce of the Berries boyled with a little Honey and dropped into the Ears helpeth the pains of them The Decoction of the Berries in Wine being drunk provoketh Urine The distilled Water of the Flowers is of much use to clear the Skin from Sunburning Freckles Morphew or the like and taketh away Headaches coming of a cold caus the Head being bathed therwith The Leavs or Flowers distilled in the Month of May and the Legs often washed with the said distilled Water it taketh away the Ulcers and Sores of them The Eyes washed therewith it taketh away the redness and Blood-shot And the Hands washed morning and evening therwith helpeth the Palsey and shaking of them The Dwarf Elder is more powerful than the Common Elder in opening and purging Choller Flegm and Water in helping the Gout the Piles and Womens Diseases coloreth the Hair black helpeth Inflamation in the Eyes and pains in the Ears the biting of Serpents or a Mad Dog Burnings and Scaldings the wind Chollick Chollick and Stone the difficulty of Urine the cure of old Sores and Fistulous Ulcers Either Leavs or Bark of Elder stripped upward as you gather it causeth Vomiting but stripped downward it purgeth downwards Also Dr. Butler in a Manuscript of his commends Dwarf Elder to the Sky for Dropsies viz. to drink it being boyled in white Wine to drink the Decoction I mean not the Elder ♄ The Elm-Tree THis Tree is so well known growing generally in all Countries of this Land that it is needless to describe it Vertues and Vse The Leavs herof bruised and applied healeth green Wounds being bound thereon with its own Bark The Leavs or the Bark used with Vinegar cureth Scurf and Lepry very effectually The
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
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
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
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
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
Wild Tansie stayeth the Lask and all Fluxes of Blood in men or women which some say it will do if the green Herb be worn in the shoos so it be next the Skin and 't is true enough that 't wil stop the Terms if worn so and the Whites too for ought I know It stayeth also spitting or Vomiting of Blood The Pouder of the dried Herb taken in some of the distilled Water helpeth the Whites in women but more especially if a little Coral and Ivory in Pouder be put to it It is also much commended to help Children that are bursten and have a Rupture being boyled in Water and Salt Being boyled in Wine and drunk it easeth the griping pains of the Bowels and is good for the Sciatica and Joynt Aches The same boyled in Vinegar with Honey and Allum and gargled in the Mouth easeth the pains of the Toothach fastneth loose Teeth helpeth the Gums that are sore and setleth the pallat of the Mouth in its place when it is fallen down It clenseth and healeth the Ulcers in the Mouth or secret parts and is very good for Inward Wounds and to close the lips of green Wounds as also to heal old moist corrupt running Sores in the Legs or elswhere Being bruised and applied to the Soles of the Feet and the Hand-wrests it wonderfully cooleth the hot fits of Agues be they never so violent The distilled water clenseth the skin of all discolourings therein as Morphew Sun-burning c. as also Pimples Freckles and the like and dropped into the Eyes or cloaths wet therein and applied taketh away the heat and Inflamations in them Now Dame Venus hath fitted women with two Herbs of one name one to help Conception the other to maintain beauty and what more can be expected of her What now remains for you but to love your Husbands and not to be wanting to your poor Neighbors Thistles OF these there are many kinds growing here in England which are so well known that they need no Description Their difference is easily known by the places where they grow Viâ— Place Some grow in Fields some in Meadows and some among the Corn others on Heaths Greens and wast grounds in many places Time They all Flower in July and August and their Seed is ripe quickly after Vertues and Use. All these Thistles are good to provoke Urine and to amend the stinking smell thereof as also the rank smel of the Armpits or of the whol Body being boyled in Wine and drunk and are said also to help a stinking breath and to strengthen the Stomach Pliny saith that the Juyce bathed on the place that wanteth hair it being fallen off will cause it to grow again speedily Sure Mars rules it it is such a prickly business The Melancholly Thistle Description THis riseth up with a tender single hoary green Stalk bearing thereon four or five long hoary green Leaves dented about the edges the points whereof are little or nothing prickly and at the top usually but one Head yet somtimes from the bosom of the uppermost Leaf there shooteth forth another smaller Head scaly and somwhat prickly with many reddish Purple Thrums or Threds in the middle which being gathered fresh will keep the colour a long time and fadeth not from the Stalk in a long time while it perfecteth the Seed which is of a mean bigness lying in the Down The Root hath many long Strings fastned to the Head or upper part which is blackish and perisheth not There is another sort little differing from the former but that the Leaves are more green above and more hoary underneath and the Stalk being about two foot high beareth but one large scaly Head with threds and Seeds as the former Place They grow in many moist Meadows of this Land as well in these Southern as in the Northern parts Time They Flower about July or August and their Seed ripeneth quickly after Vertues and Use. Their Vertues are but a few but those not to be despised for the Decoction of the Thistle in Wine being drunk expels superfluous Melancholly out of the Body and make a man as merry as a Cricket superfluous Melancholly causeth care fear sadness despair envy and many evils more besides but Religion teacheth to wait upon Gods Providence and cast our care upon Him who careth for us what a fine thing were it if men and women could live so and yet seven yeers care and fear makes a man never the wiser nor a farthing the richer Dioscorides saith the Root born about one doth the like and removes all diseases of Melancholly Modern Writers laugh at him let them laugh that wins my Opinion is that 't is the best Remedy against all Melancholly Diseases that grows they that please may use it 't is under Capricorn and therefore under both Saturn and Mars one rids Melancholly by Sympathy the other by Antipathy Our Ladies Thistle Description THis hath diverse very large and broad Leaves lying on the ground cut in and as it were crumpled but somwhat hairy on the edges of a white green shining colour wherein are many lines and strakes of a milky white colour running all over and set with many sharp and stift prickles all about Among which riseth up one or more strong round and prickly stalks set full of the like Leaves up to the top where at the end of every Branch cometh forth a great prickly Thistle like head strongly armed with pricks and with bright purple Thrums rising out of the middle of them after they are past the Seed groweth in the said heads lying in a great deal of soft white Down which is somwhat flattish and shining large and brown The Root is great spreading in the ground with many strings and smal fibres fastned thereto All the whol Plant is bitter in tast Place It is frequent on the Bank of almost every Ditch Time It Flowreth and Seedeth in June July and August Vertues and Use. Our Ladies Thistle is thought to be as effectual as Carduus Benedictus for Agues and to prevent and cure infection of the Plague as also to open Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen and thereby is good against the Jaundice It provoketh Urine breaketh and expelleth the Stone and is good for the Dropsie It is effectual also for the pains in the sides and many other inward pains and gripings The Seed and distilled water are held powerful to all the purposes aforesaid and besides it is often applied both inwardly to drink and outwardly with Cloathes or Spunges to the Region of the Liver to cool the distemperature thereof and to the Region of the Heart against swounings and passions of it It clenseth the blood exccedingly and in Spring if you please to boyl the tender Plant but cut off the Prickles unless you have a mind to choak your self it will change your blood as the season changes and that 's the way to be safe as to change as
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
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
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
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