Leavs in a little Drink to caus Vomitings The Roots have also the same Vertue though they do not operate so forcibly yet they are very effectual against the biting of Serpents and therfore is put as an ingredient both into Metbridate and Venice Treacle The Leaves and Roots being boyled in Ly and the Head often washed therwith while it is warm comforteth the Head and Brain that is ill affected by taking cold and helpeth the Memory I shall desire Ignorant people to forbear the use of the Leavs the Roots purge more gently and may prove beneficial in such as have Cancers or old putrified Ulcers or Fistulaes upon their Bodies to take a dram of them in Pouder in a quarter of a pint of white Wine in the morning The truth is I fancy Purging and Vomiting Medicines as little as any Man breathing doth for they weaken Nature nor shall never advise them to be used unless upon urgent necessity If a Physitian be Natures servant it is his duty to strengthen his Mistris as much as he can and weaken her as little as may be ♃ Asparagus Sparagus or Sperage Description IT riseth up at first with divers whitish green scaly Heads very brittle or easie to break while they are yong which afterwards rise up into very long and slender green stalks of the bigness of an ordinary riding wand at the bottom of most or bigger or lesser as the Roots are of growth on which are set divers branches of green Leavs shorter and smaller than Fennel to the top at the joynts wherof come forth small mossie yellowish Flowers which turn into round Berries green at the first and of an excellent red colour when they are ripe shewing like Beads of Corral wherin are contained exceeding hard black Seeds The Roots are dispersed from a spongeous Head into many long thick and round strings wherby it sucketh much Nourishment out of the ground and encreaseth plentifully thereby Jupit Prickly Asparagus Sparagus or Sperage Description IT groweth usually in Gardens and some of it grows wild in Appleton Meadow in Glouce stershire where the poor people do gather the Buds or yong Shoots and sell them cheaper than our Garden Asparagus is sold at London Time They do for the most part Flower and bear their Berries late in the yeer or not at all although they are housed in Winter Vertues and use The yong Buds or branches boyled in ones ordinary broth maketh the Belly soluble and open and boyled in white Wine provoketh Urin being stopped and is good against the Strangury or difficulty of making water it expelleth the gravel and stone out of the Kidneys and helpeth pains in the Reins And boyled in white Wine or Vineger it is prevalent for them that have their Arteries loosned or are troubled with the Hip-Gout or Sciatica The Decoction of the Roots boyied in Wine and taken is good to cleer the sight and being held in the Mouth easeth the Toothach And being taken fasting several mornings together stirreth up bodily lust in Man or Woman whatsoever some have written to the contrary The Garden Asparagus nourisheth more than the wild yet hath it the same effects in al the asorementioned Diseases The Decoction of the Roots in white Wine and the Back and Belly bathed therwith or kneeling or lying down in the same or sitting therin as a Bath hath been found effectual against pains of the Reins and Bladder pains of the Mother and Chollick and generally against all pains that happen to the lower parts of the Body and no less effectual against stiff and benummed Sinews or those that are shrunk by Cramps and Convulsions and helpeth the Sciatica ☉ Ash-Tree THis is so wel known that time wil be mis-â—pent and Paper wasted in writing a Description of it and therfore I shall only insist upon the Vertues of it Vertues and use The yong tender Tops with the Leaves taken inwardly and some of them outwardly applied are singular good against the biting of the Viper Adder or any other Venemous Beast And the Water distilled therfrom being taken a smal quantity every morning fasting is a singular Medicine for those that are subject to a Dropsie or to abate the greatness of those who are too gross or fat The Decoction of the Leaves in white Wine helpeth to break the Stone and expel it and cureth the Jaundice The Ashes of the Bark of the Ash made into Ly and those Heads bathed therwith which are Leprous Scabby or Scal'd they are therby cured The Kernels within the Husks commonly called Ashen Keys prevaileth against Stitches and pains in the sides proceeding of Wind and avoideth away the stone by provoking Urin. I can justly except against none of all this save only the first viz. That Ash-tree Tops and Leaves are good against the biting of Serpents and Vipers and I suppose this had its rise from Gerard or Pliny both which hold that there is such an Antipathy between an Adder and an Ash-tree that if an Adder be compassed round with Ash-tree Leaves she wil sooner run through the fire than through the Leaves the contrary to which is the truth as both my eyes are witnesses the rest are Vertues somthing likely only if it be in Winter when you cannot get the Leaves you may safely use the Bank instead of them the Keys you may easily keep all the year gathering them when they are ripe ♃ Avens Description THe ordinary Avens hath many long rough dark green winged Leavs rising from the Root every one made of many Leavs set on each side of the middle Rib the largest three wherof grow at the ends and are snip'd or dented round about the edges the other being smal pieces somtimes two and somtimes four standing on each side of the middle rib underneath them among which do rise up divers rough or hairy Stalks about two foot high branching forth with Leavs at every Joynt not so long as those below but almost as much cut in on the edges some into three parts some into more On the Tops of the Branches stand smal pale yellow Flowers consisting of five Leavs like the Flowers of Cynkfoyl but larger in the middle wherof standeth a smal green Head which when the Flower is fallen groweth to be rough and round being made of many long greenish purple Seeds like grains which wil stick upon your Cloathes The Root consists of many brownish strings or fibres smelling somwhat like unto Cloves especially those which grow in the higher hotter and drier grounds and in the freer and clear Air. Place They grow wild in many places under Hedg sides and by the Pathwaies in Fields yet they rather delight to grow in shadowy than in Sunny places Time They Flower in May and June for the inost part and their seed is ripe in July at the furthest Vertues and use It is good for the Diseases of the Chest or Breast for pains and Stitches in the Sides
put into the Nostrils purgeth the Head helpeth the nois in the Ears and the Tooth-ach the Juyce snuffed up the Nose helps a stinking Breath if the caus lies in the Nose as many times it doth if any bruis have been there as also want of smel coming that way Water-Betony ♃ ♋ Description FIrst of the Water-Betony which riseth up with square hard greenish Stalks and somtimes brown set with broad dark green Leavs dented about the edges with notches somwhat resembling the Leavs of the Wood-Betony but much larger two for the most part set at a Joynt The Flowers are many set at the tops of the Stalks and Branches being round bellied and open at the Brims and divided into two parts the uppermost being like a Hood and the lowest like a Lip hanging down of a dark red colour which passing away there comes in their places smal round Heads with smal points in the ends wherin lie smal and brownish Seeds The Root is a thick Bush of strings and threds growing from an Head Place It groweth by Ditchsides Brooks and other Water-courses generally through this Land and is seldom found far from the Waters sides Time It Flowreth about July and the Seed is ripe in August Vertues and Use. It is of a clensing quality the Leavs bruised and applied are effectual for all old and filthy Ulcers and especially if the Juyce of the Leavs be boyled with a little Honey and tents dipped therin and the Sores dressed therwith as also for Bruises or Hurts whether inward or outward The distilled water of the Leaves is used for the same purposes as also to bath the Face or Hands spotted or blemished or discolored by Sunburning I confess I do not much fancy distilled Waters I mean such Waters as are distilled cold some vertue of the Herb they may happliy have it were a strange thing else but this I am confident of that being distilled in a Pewter Stil as the vulgar and apish fashion is both Chymical Oyl and Salt is left behind unless you burn them and then all is spoiled Water and al which was good for as little as can be by such a Distillation You have the best way of Distillation in my Translation of the London Dispensatory The Colledg of Physitians having as much skil in Distillations as an Ass hath reading Hebrew Water-Betony is an Herb of Jupiter in cancer and is apropriated more to Wounds and Hurts in the Breast than Wood-Betony which follows ♃ ♈ Wood-Betony Description THe Common or Wood-Betony hath many Leavs rising from the Root which are somwhat broad and round at the ends roundly dented about the edges standing upon long Footstalks from among which rise up smal square slender but yet upright hairy Stalks with some Leaves thereon two apiece at the Joynts smaller than the lower whereon are set several spiked Heads of Flowers like Lavender but thicker and shorter for the most part and of a reddish or purple colour spotted with white spots both in the upper and lower part The Seeds being contained within the Husks that hold the Flowers are blackish somwhat long and uneven The Roots are many white threddy strings the Stalk perisheth but the Root with some Leavs theron abides al the Winter The whol Plant is somwhat smal Place It groweth frequently in Woods and delighteth in Shady-places Time And it flowreth in July after which the Seed is quickly ripe yet in its prime in May. Vertues and Vse Antonius Musa physitian to the Emperor Augustus caesar wrote a peculiar Book of the Vertues of this Herb and amongst other Vertues saith of it That it preserveth the Lives and Bodies of Men free from the danger of Epidemical Diseases and from Wicchcrafts also It is found by daily experience to be good for many Diseases It helpeth those that loath or cannot digest their Meat those that have weak Stomachs or sower belchings or continual rising in their Stomach using it familiarly either green or dry either the Herb the Root or the Flowers in Broth drunk or Meat or made into Conserve Syrup Water Electuary or Pouder as every one may best frame themselvs unto or as the time or season requireth taken any of the aforesaid waies It helpeth the Jaundice Falling-sickness the Palsie Convulsions or shrinking of the Sinews the Gout and those that are inclined to Dropsies those that have continual Pains in their Head although it turn to Phrensie The Pouder mixed with pure Honey is no less available for al sorts of Coughs or Colds Wheesing or shortness of Breath Distillations of thin Rhewm upon the Lungues which causeth Consumptions The Decoction made with Mead and a little Penyroyal is good for those that are troubled with putrid Agues whether Quotidian Tertian or Quartan and to draw down and evacuate the Blood and humors that by falling into the Eyes do hinder the Sight The Decoction therof made in Wine and taken killeth the Worms in the Belly openeth Obstructions both of the Spleen and Liver careth Stitches and Pains in the Back or Sides the Torments and griping pains of the Bowels and the wind Chollick and mixed with Honey purgeth the Belly helpeth to bring down Womens Courses and is of especial use for those that are troubled with the falling down of the Mother and pains therof and causeth an easie and speedy delivery of Women in Childbirth it helpeth also to break and expel the Stone either in the Bladder or Kidneys The Decoction with Wine gargled in the Mouth easeth the Toothach It is commended against the sting or biting or Venemous Serpents or Mad Dogs Being used inwardly and applied outwardly to the place A dram of the Pouder in Betony taken with a little Honey in some Vinegar doth wonderfully refresh those that are overwearied by travail it staieth bleedings at the Mouth or Nose and helpeth those that pise or spit Blood and those that are Bursten or have a Rupture and is good for such as are bruised by any fall or otherwise The green Herb bruised or the Juyce applied to any inward hurt or outward green Wound in the Head or Body wil quickly heal and close it up as also any Veins or Sinews that are cut and will draw forth any broken Bone or Splinter Thorn or other thing gotten into the Flesh It is no less profitable for old Sores or filthy Ulcers yea though they be Fistulaus and hollow but some do advise to put in a little Salt to this purpose Being applied with a little Hogs Lard it helpeth a Plague-Sore and other Boyls and Pushes The fumes of the Decoction while it is warm received by a Funnel into the Bars caseth the pains of them destroyeth the Worms and cureth the running Sores in them The Juyce dropped into them doth the same The Root of Betony is displeasing both to the tast and Stomach whereas the Leavs and Flowers by their sweet and spicy tast are comfortable both in Meat and Medicine There are some of the many
them The distilled Water of the Herb hath the same properties and may be used for all the Effects aforesaid Briony or VVild Vine ♂ Description THe Common white Briony groweth ramping upon the Hedges sending forth many long rough very tender branches at the beginning with many very rough broad Leavs theron cut for the most part into five partitions in form very like a Vine Leaf but smaller rougher aud of a whitish or hoary green colour spreading very far spreading and twining with his smal Claspers that come forth at the Joynts with â—he Leavs very far on whatsoever standeth next it At the several Joynts also especially towards the top of the Branches cometh forth a long Stalk bearing many whitish Flowers together in a long tuft consisting of five smal Leaves apiece laid open like a Star after which come the Berries separated one from another more than a Cluster of Grapes green at the first and very red when they are through ripe of no good sent but of a most loathsom tast provoking Vomit The Root groweth to be exceeding great with many long Twines or Branches growing from it of a pale whitish colour on the outside and more white within and of a sharp bitter loathsom tast Place It groweth on Banks or under Hedges through this Land the Roots lie very deep Time It Flowreth in July and August som earlier and some later than others Vertues and Vse The Roots of the Briony purge the Bell with great Violence troubling the Stomach and hurting the Liver and therfore not rashly to be taken but being corrected is very profitable for the Diseases of the Head as Falling-sickness Giddiness and Swimmings by drawing away much Flegm and Rhewmatick humors that oppress the Head as also the Joynts and Sinews and is therfore good for Palseys Convulsions Cramps and Stitches in the Sides and the Dropsie and in provoking Urin it clenseth the Reins and Kidnies from Gravel and the Stone by opening the Obstructions of the Spleen and consumeth the hardness and swellings therof The Decâ—ction of the Root in Wine drunk once a week at going to bed clenseth the Mother and helpeth the rising therof expelleth the dead Child and Afterbirth but is not to be used by Women with Child for fear of abortion a dram of the Root in Pouder taken in white Wine bringeth down their Courses An Electuary made of the Roots and Honey doth mightily clens the Chest of Rotten Flegm and wonderfully help an old strong Cough those that are troubled with shortness of Breath and is very good for them that are brused inwardly to help to expel the clotted or congealed Blood The Leavs Fruit and Root do clens old and filthy Sores are good against al fretting and running Cankers Gangrenes and Tetters and therfore the Berries are by some Country People called TetterBerries The Root clenseth the Skin wonderfully from al black and blow Spots Freckles Morphew Leprosie soul Scars or other deformity whatsoever as also al running Scabs and Manginess are healed by the Pouder of the dried Root or the Juyce therof but especially by the fine white hardned Juyce The distilled water of the Roots worketh the same effects but more weakly The Root bruised and applied of it self to any place where the Bones are broken helpeth to draw them forth as also Splinters and Thorns in the Flesh and being applied with a little Wine mixed therwith it breaketh Boyls and helpeth Whitlows on the Joynts For al these latter beginning at Sores Cankers c. apply it outwardly and take my advice along with you you shal find in my Translation of the London Dispensatory among the Preparations at latter end a Medicin called Foeculae Brioniae take that and use it you have the way there how to make it and mix that with a little Hogs Greas or other convenient Oyntment and use it at your need As for the former Diseases where it must be taken inwardly it purgeth very Violently and needs an abler hand to correct it than most Country people have therfore it is a better way for them in my opinion to let the Simple alone and take the Compound Water of it mentioned in my Dispensatory and that is far more safe being wisely corrected ♂ Brooklime Description THis sendeth forth from a creeping Root that shooteth forth strings at every Joynt as it runneth divers and sundry green Stalks round and sappy with some branches on them somwhat broad round deep green and thick Leavs set by couples theron from the Bosom wherof shoot forth long Footstalks with sundry smal blue Flowers on them that consist of five smal round pointed Leavs apiece There is another sort nothing differing from the former but that it is greater and the Flowers of a paler blue Colour Place They grow in â—mal standing Waters and usually neer Watercresses Time And Flower in June and July giving Seed the next Month after Vertues and use Brooklime and Watercresses are generally used together in Diet Drinks with other things serving to purge the Blood and Body from ill Humors that would destroy health and are helpful for the Scurvy They do also provoke Urin and help to break the Stone and pass it away they procure Womens Courses and expel the dead Child Being fried with Butter and Vinegar and applied warm it helpeth all manner of Tumors or Swellings and Inflamations Such drinks ought to be made of Sundry Herbs according to the Malady offending I shal give a plain and easie Rule at the latter end of the Book ♂ Butchers-Broom Description THe first shoots that sprout from the Root of Butchers-Broom are thick whitish and short somwhat like those of Asparagus but greater these rising up to be a foot and an half high are spread into divers Branches green somwhat crested with the roundness tough and flexible wheron are set somwhat broad and almost round hard Leavs sharp and prickly pointed at the ends of a dark green colour two for the most part set at a place very close or neer together about the middle of the Leaf on the back or lower side from the middle Rib breaketh forth a smal whitish green Flower consisting of four smal round pointed Leavs standing upon little or no foot-Foot-stalk and in the place wherof cometh a smal round Berry green at the first and red when it is ripe wherin are two or three white hard round Seeds contained The Root is thick white and great at the Head and from thence sendeth forth divers thick white long tough strings Place It groweth in Copses and upon Heaths and wast grounds and oftentimes under or neer the Holly-Bushes Time It shooteth forth his yong buds in the Spring and the Berries are ripe in or about September The Branches and Leavs abiding green al the Winter Vertues and use The Decoction of the Roots made with Wine openeth Obstructions provoketh Urin helpeth to expel Gravel and the Stone the Strangury and Womens Courses as also
the yellow Jaundice and the Head-ach and with some Honey or Sugar put therunto clenseth the Breast of Flegm and the Chest of much clammy Humors gathered therin The Decoction of the Roots drunk and a Pultis made of the Berries and Leavs being applied are effectual in knitting and consolidating broken Bones and Parts out of Joynt It is called Bruscus in some places and in Sussex Kneeholly and Knecholm The common way of using it is to boyl the Roots of it and Parsly and Fennel and Smallage in white Wine and drink the Decoction adding the like quantity of Grass Roots to them the more of the Roots you boyl the stronger will the Decoction be it works no ill effects yet I hope you have wit enough to give the strongest Decoction to the strongest Bodies Broom Broomrape ♂ TO spend time in writing a Description herof is altogether needless it being so generally used by all the good Huswifes almost through this Land to sweep their Houses with and therfore very wel known to all sorts of people The Broomrape springeth up in many places from the Roots of the Broom but more often in fields by Hedg sides and on Heaths The Stalk wherof is of the bignels of a Finger or Thumb above two Foot high having a show of Leavs on them and many Flowers at the top of a deadish yellow colour as also the Stalks and Leavs are Place They grow in many places of this Land commonly and as commonly spoyl all the Land they grow in Time And Flower in the Summer Months and give their Seed before Winter Vertues and Use. The Juyce or Decoction of the yong Branches or Seed or the Pouder of the Seed taken in Drink purgeth downwards and draweth Flegmatick and watery humors from the Joynts wherby it helpeth the Dropsie Gout Sciatica and the pains in the Hips and Joynts It also provoketh strong Vomits and helpeth the pains of the Sides and swellings of the Spleen clenfeth also the Reins or Kidnies and Bladder of the Stone provoketh Urin abundantly and hindreth the growing again of the Stone in the Body The continual use of the Pouder of the Leaves and Seed doth cure the Black Jaundice The distilled Water of the Flowers is profitable for al the same purposes it also helpeth Sursets and altereth the Fits of Agues if three or four ounces therof with as much of the Water of the lesser Centaury and a little Sugar put therin be taken a little before the fit cometh and the party be laid down to sweat in their Bed The Oyl or Water that is drawn from the ends of the green sticks heated in the fire helpeth the Toothach The Juyce of the yong Branches made into an Oyment of old Hogs Greas and anointed Or the yong Branches bruised and heated in Oyl or Hogs Greas and laid to the Sides pained by wind as in Stitches or the Spleen easeth them in once or twice using it The same boyled in Oyl is the safest and surest Medicine to kil Lice in the Head or Body of any and is an especial Remedy for Joynt aches and swoln Knees that come by the falling down of Humors The Broomrape also is not without his Vertues The Decoction therof in Wine is thought to be as effectual to avoid the Stone in the Kidnies and Bladder and to provoke Urin as the Broom it self The Juyce therof is a singular good help to cure as wel green Wounds as old and filthy Sores and malignant Ulcers The insolate Oyl wherin there hath been three or four Repetitions of Insusion of the top stalks with Flowers strained and cleered clenseth the Skin of al manner of Spots Marks and Freckles that arise either by the heat of the Sun or the Malignity of humors As for the Broom for as yet I know not what to say to Broomrape in the business but as for Broom Mars owns it and it is exceeding prejudicial to the Liver I suppose by Râ—sâ—n of the Antipathy between Jupiter and Mars therfore if the Liver be disaffected administer none of it Bucks-horn Plantane ♄ Description THis being sown of Seed riseth up at the first with smal long narrow hairy dark green Leavs like grass without any division or gash in them but those that follow are gashed in on both sides the Leavs into three or four gashes and pointed at the ends resembling the Knags of a Bucks Horn wherof it took the name and being well grown round about the Root upon the ground in order one by another therby resembling the form of a Star from among which rise up divers hairy Stalks about a hand breadth high bearing every one a smal long spiky Head like to those of the common Plantane having such like Bloomings and Seed after them The Root is single long and smal with divers strings at it Place They grow in dry Sandy grounds as in Tuttle-Fields by Westminster and divers other places of this Land Time They Flower and Seed in May June and July end their green Leavs do in a manner abide fresh al the Winter Vertues and Use. This boyled in Wine and drunk and some of the Leavs applied to the hurt place is an excellent remedy for the biting of the Viper or Adder which I take to be one and the same The same being also drunk helpeth those that are troubled with the Stone in the Veins or Kidnies by cooling the heat of the parts afflicted strengthning them as also weak Stomachs that cannot retain but cast up their Meat It stayeth al bleedings at Mouth and Nose bloody Urin or the Bloody Flux and stoppeth the Lask of the Belly and Bowels The Leavs herof bruised and laid to their sides that have an Ague suddenly easeth the Fit and the Leavs and Roots beaten with some Bay Salt and applied to the Wrists worketh the same effects The Herb boyled in Ale or Wine and given for some mornings and evenings together staieth the distillations of hot and sharp Rhowms falling into the Eyes from the Head and helpeth al sorts of sore Eyes Venus challengeth the Dominion of this Herb. ♀ ♎ Description THis hath larger Leavs than those of the selfheal but els of the same fashion or rather a little longer in some green on the upper side and in others more brownish dented about the edges somwhat hairy as the square Stalk is also which riseth up to be half a yard high somtimes with the Leavs set by couples from the middle almost whereof upwards stand the Flowers together with many smaler and browner Leaves than the rest on this stalk below set at distances and the stalk bare between them among which Flowers are also smal ones of a bluish and somtimes of an Ash colour fashioned like the Flowers of the Ground-Ivy after which come small round blackish Seed The Root is composed of many strings and spreadeth upon the ground in divers parts round about The White-flowered Bugle differeth not in form or greatness
Grass Called in some Countries Five finger'd Grass Description THis spreadeth and creepeth far upon the ground with long slender strings like Strawberries which take Root again and shooteth forth many Leavs made of five parts and somtimes of seven dented about the edges and somwhat hard The Stalks are slender leaning downwards and bear many smal yellow Flowers theron with some yellow threds in the middle standing about a smooth green head which when it is ripe is a little rough and containeth smal brownish Seeds The Root is of a blackish brown colour seldom so big as ones little finger but growing long with some threds therat and by the smal strings it quickly spreadeth over the ground Place It groweth by Wood sides Hedg sides the Pathwaies in Fields and in the Borders and Corners of them almost through all this Land Time It Flowreth in Summer some sooner some later Vertues and use It is an especial Herb used in all Inflamations and Feavers whether Infectious or Pestilential or among other Herbs to cool and temper the Blood and humors in the Body As also for all Lotions Gargles Injections and the like for sore Mouths Ulcers Cankers Fistulaes and other corrupt Foul or running Sores The Juyce herof drunk about four ounces at a time for certain daies together cureth the Quinsie and the yellow Jaundice and taken for thirty daies together cureth the Falling-sickness The Roots boyled in Milk and drunk is a most effectual remedy for all Fluxes in Man or Woman whether the Whites or Reds as also the Bloody Flux The Roots boyled in Vinegar and the Decoction therof held in the Mouth easeth the pains of the Toothach The Juyce or Decoction taken with a little Honey helpeth the hoarsness of the Throat and is good for the Cough of the Lungs The distilled Water of both Roots and Leavs is also effectual to all the purposes aforesaid and if the Hands be often washed therin and suffered at every time to dry in of it self without wiping it wil in short time help the Palsy or shaking in them The Root boyled in Vinegar helpeth all Knots Kernels hard swellings and lumps growing in any part of the Flesh being therto applied as also al Inflamations and St. Anthonies Fire all Imposthumes and painful Sores with heat and putrefaction the shingles also and all other sorts of running and soul Scabs Sores and Itch. The same also boyled in Wine and applied to any Joynts full of pain and achâ—or the Gout in the Hands or Feet or the Hip-gout called the Sciatica and the Decoction therof drunk the while doth cure them and easeth much pains in the Bowels The Roots are likewise effectual to help Ruptures or Burstings being used with other things available to that purpose taken either inwardly or outwaâ—dly or both as also for Bruises or Hurts by Blows Falls or the like and to stay the bleeding of Wounds in any part inward or outward This is an Herb of Jupiter and therfore strengthens the parts of the Body that he rules let Jupiter be angular and strong when it is gathered and if you give but a scruple which is but twenty grains of it at a time either in white Wine or white Wine Vinegar you shal very seldom miss the cure of an Ague be it what Ague soever in three Fits as I have often proved to the admiration both of my self and others let no Man despise it becaus it is plain and easie the waies of God are all such 't is the ungodliness and impudency of Man that made things hard and hath by so doing made sport for al the Devils in Hell and grieved the good Angels and when you reade this your own Genius if you be any thing at al acquainted with it may dictate to you many as good Conculsions both of this and other Herbs Some hold that one Leaf cures a Quotidian three a Tertian and four a Quartan Ague and a hundred to one if it be not Dioscorides for he is ful of such Whimseys The truth is I never stood so much upon the number of the Leavs nor whether I gave it in Pouder or Decoction If Jupiter were strong and the Moon applying to him or his good aspect at the gathering of it I never knew it miss the desired effects ♀ Clary Description OUr ordinary Garden Clary hath four square Stalks with broad â—ough wrinkled whitish or hairy green Leavs somwhat evenly cut in on the edges and of a strong sweet sent growing some neer the ground and some by couples upon the Stalks The Flowers grow at certain distances with two smal Leavs at the Joynts under them somwhat like unto the Flowers of Sage but smaller and of a whitish blue colour The Seed is brownish and somwhat Flat or not so â—ound as the wild the Roots are blackish and spread not far and perish after the Seed time It is usually sown for it seldom riseth of its own sowing Place This groweth in Gardens Time It Flowreth in June and July some a little later than others and their Seed is ripe in August or therabouts Vertues and use The Seed is used to be put into the Eyes to cleer them from Moats or other such like things gotten within the Lids to offend them as also to clear them from white or red spots in them The Muccilage of the Seed made with Water and applied to Tumors and swellings disperseth and taketh them away as also draweth forth Splinters Thorns or other things gotten into the Flesh. The Leavs used with Vinegar either by it self or with a little Honey doth help hot Inflamations as also Boyls Felons and the hot Inflamations that are gathered by their pains if it be applied before they be grown too great The Pouder of the dried Leavs put into the Nose provoketh neesing and therby purgeth the Head and Brain of much Rhewm and Corruption The Seed or Leavs taken in Wine provoketh to Venery It is of much use both for Men and Women that have weak Backs to help to strengthen the Reins used either by it self or with other Herbs conducing to the same effect and in Tansies often The fresh Leavs dipped in a Batter of Flower Egs and a little Milk and fried in Butter and served to the Table is not unpleasant to any but exceeding profitable for those that are troubled with weak Backs and the effects therof The Juyce of the Herb put into Ale or Beer and drunk bringeth down Womens Courses and expelleth the After-birth It is an usual cours with Men when they have gotten the running of the Reins or Women the Whites then run to the bush of Clary Maid bring hither the Frying Pan fetch me some Butter quickly then to eating fryed Clary just as Hogs eat Acorns and this they think wil cure their Diseas forsooth wheras when they have devoured as much Clary as wil grow upon an Acre of ground their Backs are as much the better as
vehement hot things send up but ill favor'd vapors to the brain in chollerick men 't wil ad fuel to the fire in men oppressed by melancholly t'wll attenuate the humor and send up strange sancies and as strange visions to the head therfore let it be taken in wardly with great moderation outwardly you may maken â—â—â— bold with it Mars owns the herb Germander Discription COmmon Germander shooteth forth sundry stalks with small and somwhat round leavs dented about the edges The Flowers stand at the tops of a deep purple colour The Root is composed of divers sprigs which shoot forth a great way round about quickly overspreading a ground Place It groweth usually with us in Gardens Time And flowreth in June or July Vertues and use This taken with Honey saith Dioscorides is a remedy for Coughs for hardnes of the Spleen and difficulty of Urine helpeth those that are fallen into a Dropsie especially at the beginning of the diseas a Decction being made therof when it is green drunk It also bringeth down Womens Courses and expelleth the dead child It is most effectual against the poyson of al Serpents being drunk in Wine and the bruised herb outwardly applyed used with Honey it denseth old and soul Ulcers and made into an Oyl and the Eyes anoynted therwith taketh away their dimness and moystness It is like wise good for the paines in the sides and Cramps The Decetion thereof taken for some daies together driveth away and cureth both Tertian and Quartan Agues It is also good against all diseases of the brain as continual Headach Falling Sicknes Melancholly Drowsines and Dulnes of spirit Convulsions and Palseys A dâ—â—m of the seed taken in Pouder purgeth by Urine and is good against the yellow Jaundice The Juyce of the leaves dropped into the eares killeth the worms in them The tops therof when they are in flower steeped twenty four hours in a draught of white Wine and drunk killeth wormes in the belly It is a most prevalent Herb of Mercury and strengthens the brain and apprehention exceedingly you may see what humane vertues are under Mercury in the latter end of my Ephemeris for 1651. strengthen them when weak relieve them when drooping by this Herb. Stinking Gladwin Description THis is one of the kinds of Flower-de-luces having divers Leavs rising from the Roots very like a Flower-de-luce but that they are sharp edged on both sides and thicker in the middle of a deeper green colour narrower and sharper pointed and of a strong ill scent if they be bruised between the fingers In the midle riseth up a reasonable strong Stalk a yard high at least beareth 3 or 4 Flowers at the top made somwhat like the Flowers of the Flower-de-luce with three upright Leaves of a dead Purplish Ash-colour with some Veins discoloured in them the other three do not fall down nor the three other smal ones are so arched nor cover the lower leaves as the Flower-de-luce doth but stand loose or asunder from them After they are past there come up three square hard Husks opening wide into three parts when they are ripe wherin lie reddish seed tâ—rning black when it hath abidden long The Root is like that of the Flower-de-luce but reddish on the outside and whitish within very sharp and hot in tast of as evil a scent as the leavs Place This groweth as well on the upland grounds as also in moist places in woods and shadowy places by the Sea side in many places of this Land and is usually nursed up in Gardens Time It flowreth not until July and the seed is ripe in August or September yet the Huskes after they are ripe opening themselves will hold their seeds within them for 2 or 3. Months and not shedd them Vertues and Vse It is used by many countrey people to purge corrupt tough Flegm and Choller which they do by drinking the decoction of the Roots and some to make it work more gently do but infuse the sliced roots in Ale and some take the leavs which seryeth wel for the weaker stomachs The Juyce herof put up or snuffed up the nose causeth neezing draweth from the head much corruption the pouder therof doth the same The Pouder therof drunke in wine helpeth those that are troubled with Cramps and Convulsion or W th the Gout or Sciatica and giveth eas to those that have any griping pains in their body or belly and helpeth those that have the Strangury It is given W th much profit to those that have had long Fluxes by the sharp evil quality of humors which it stayeth having first clensed purged them by the drying and binding property therin The Root boyled in wine and drunk doth effectually procure womens courses and used as a Pessary worketh the same effects but causeth Abortion in women with child Half a dram of the seed beaten to pouder and taken in wine doth speedily caus one to pis which otherwis cannot The same taken with vinegar dessolveth the hardnes swellings of the spleen The Root is very effectual in all Wounds and specially of the head as also to draw forth any splinters Thornes Broken bones or any other thing sticking in the flesh without causing pain being used with a little Verdigreese and Honey and the great Centaury Root The same boyled in Vinegar and laid upon any Tumor or Swelling doth very effectually dissolve and consume them yea even the swellings of the Throat called the Kings evil The Juyce of the Leavs and Roots healeth the Itch and all running or spreading Scabs or Sores and Blemishes or Scars in the Skin wheresoever they be Golden Rod. Description THis riseth up with brownish smal round Stalks two foot high and somtimes more having thereon many narrow and long dark greene leaves very seldom with any dents about the edges or any strakes or white spots therin yet they are somtimes so found divided at the tops into many small branches with divers small yellow flowers on every one of them all which are turned one way and being ripe do turn into down are caried away with the wind The Root consisteth of many small fibres which grow not deep in the ground but abideth all the winter therin shooting forth new branches every yeer the old ones dying downe to the ground Place It groweth in the open places of woods and Copses both moyst and dry grounds in many places of this Land Time It Flowreth about the Month of July Vertues and use Arnoldus de villa nova commendeth it much against the Stone in the Reins and Kidneys and to provoke Urine in abundance whereby also the Gravel or Stone may be avoided The Decoction of the Herb green or dry or the distilled Water therof is very effectual for inward Bruises as also to be outwardly applied it stayeth bleedings in any part of the Body and of Wounds also the Fluxes of Humors the Bloody
bad Livers and for such as have Itches and running Tetters The Pouder hereof taken or the Decoction killeth Worms The green Leavs bruised and boyled in old Hogs Greas unto an Oyntment healeth the biting of Dogs abateth the Swellings of Womens Breasts and taketh away the Swelling and Pains that come by any pricking of Thorns or such like means and used with Vinegar it clenseth and healeth Tetters There is a Syrup made of Horehonnd to be had at the Apothecaries very good for old Coughs to rid the tough Flegm as also to avoid cold Rhewm from the Lungs of old Folks and for those that are Astmatick or short winded Horstail Description OF this there are many kinds but I shall not trouble you nor my self with any large Description of them which to do were but as the Proverb is to find a knot in a Rush All the kinds hereof being nothing else but knotted Rushes some with Leavs and some without Take the Description of the most eminent sort as followeth The greater Horstail at the first springing hath Heads somwhat like those of Asparagus and after grow to be hard rough hollow Stalks joynted at sundry places up to the top a foot high so made as if the lower part were put into the upper whereat grow on each side a Bush of smal long Rush-like hard Leavs each part resembling a Hors Tail from whence it was so called At the tops of the Stalks come forth smal Catkins like to those of Trees The Root creepeth under ground having Joynts at sundry places Place This as most of the other sorts hereof groweth in wet grounds Time They spring up in April and their blooming Catkins in July seeding for the most part in August and then perish down to the ground rising afresh in the Spring Vertues and use Horstail the smoother rather than the rough and the Leaved rather than the Bare are most Physical It is very powerful to stanch bleedings whersoever either inward or outward the Juyce or Decoction thereof being drunk or the Juyce Decoction or distilled Water applied outwardly It staieth also al sorts of Lasks and Fluxes in Man or Woman and the pissing of Blood and healeth also not only the inward Ulcers and excoriations of the Entrails Bladder c. but al bther sorts of foul moist and running Ulcers and soon sodereth together the tops of green Wounds It cureth also Ruptures in Children The Decoction hereof in Wine being drunk provoketh Urin and helpeth the Stone and the Strangury and the distilled Water thereof drunk two or three times in a day a smal quantity at a time as also easeth the Intrails or Guts and is effectual against a Cough that cometh by distillation from the Head The Juyce or distilled Water being warmed and hot Inflamations Pustules or red Wheals and other breakings out in the Skin being bathed therewith doth help them and doth no less eas the Swellings heat and Inflamations of the Fundament or Privy parts in Man or Woman The Herb is belonging to Saturn yet is very harmless and excellent good for the Premises Houfleeks or Sengreen ♃ THese are so wel known unto my Country Men that I shal not need to write any Description of them Place It groweth commonly on Walls and Houssides and flowreth in July Vertues and use Our ordinary Housleek is good for all inward heats as wel as outward and in the Eyes or other parts of the Body A Posset made with the Juyce of Housleek is singular good in al hot Agues for it cooleth and tempereth the Blood and Spirits and quench the thirst and is also good to stay al hot Defluxions of sharp and salt Rhewms in the Eyes the Juyce being dropped into them or into the Ears helpeth them It helpeth also other Fluxes of Humors into the Bowels and the immoderate Courses of Women It cooleth and restraineth also all other hot Inflamations St. Anthonies Fire Scaldings and Burnings the Shingles fretting Ulcers Cankers Tetters Ringworms and the like and much easeth the pain of the Gout proceeding from an hot caus The Juyce also taketh away Warts and Corns in the Hands or Feet being often bathed therwith and the Skin of the Leavs being laid on them afterwards It easeth also the Head-ach and distempered heat of the Brain in Phrensies or through want of sleep being applied to the Temples and Forehead The Leavs bruised and laid upon the Crown or Seam of the Head staieth bleeding at the Nose very quickly The distilled Water of the Herb is profitable for all the purposes aforesaid The Leavs being gently rubbed on any place stung with Nettles or Bees doth quickly take away the Pain It is an Herb of Jupiter and it is reported by Myzaldus to preserve it grows upon from Fire and Lightning ☿ Houndstongue Description THe great ordinary Houndstongue hath many long and somwhat narrow soft hairy darkish green Leavs lying on the ground somwhat like unto Bugloss Leavs from among which riseth up a rough hairy Stalk about two foot high with some smaller Leavs thereon and branched at the top into divers parts with a smal Leaf at the Foot of every Branch which is somwhat long with many Flowers set along the same which Branch is crooked or turned inwards before it Flowreth and openeth by degrees as the Flowers do blow which consist of four smal purplish red Leavs of a dead colour scarce rising out of the Husk wherein they stand with some threds in the middle It hath somtimes a white Flower After the Flowers are past there cometh rough flat Seed with a smal pointel in the middle easily cleaving to any Garment that it toucheth and not so easily pulled off again The root is black thick and long hard to break and ful of a clammy Juyce smelling somwhat strong of an evil scent as the Leavs also do Place It groweth in most places of this Land in wast grounds and untilled places by high way sides Lanes and Hedg sides Time It Flowreth about May and June and the Seed is ripe shortly after Vertues and Use. The Root is very effectually used in Pills as wel as in Decoctions or otherwise to stay al sharp and thin Defluxions of Rhewm from the Head into the Eyes or Nose or upon the Stomach or Lungs as also for Coughs or shortness of breath The Leaves boyled in Wine saith Dioscorides but others do rather appoint it to be made with Water and to ad thereto Oyl and Salt mollifieth or openeth the Belly downwards it also helpeth to cure the biting of a mad Dog some of the Leavs being also applied to the Wound The Leavs bruised or the Juyce of them boyled in Hogs Lard and applied helpeth the falling away of the Hair which cometh of hot and sharp humors as also for any place that is scalded or burnt The Leavs bruised and laid to any green Wound doth heal it up quickly The Root baked under the Embers wrapped in Past or wet
or of the Belley but the Roots are most used some chusing the one and some the other to be more effectual to cool bind and restrain all Fluxes in Man or Woman as also the running of the Reins and the passage away of the Seed when one is asleep but the frequent use hereof extinguisheth Venereous actions The Root is likewise very good for those whose Urine is hot and sharp to be boyled in Wine or Water and the Decoction drunk The Distilled water of the Flowers is very effectual for al the Diseases aforesaid both inwardly taken and outwardly applied and is much commended to take away Freckles Spots Sun-burn and Morphew from the Face or other parts of the Body The Oyl made of the Flowers as Oyl of Roses is made is profitably used to cool hot Tumors and the Inflamations of Ulcers and Wounds and to eaâ— the pains and help the Sores The Herb is under the Dominion of the Moon and therefore cools and moistens like the former Liquoris Description OUr English Liquoris riseth up with divers woody Stalks whereon are set at several distances many narrow long green Leavs set together on both sides of the Stalk and an od one at the end very wel resembling a yong Ash-tree sprung up from the Seed This by many yeers continuance in a place without removing and not else will bring forth Flowers many standing together Spike fashion one above another upon the Stalks of the form of Pease Blossoms but of a very pale blue colour which turn into long somwhat flat and smooth Rods wherein is contained smal round hard Seed The Root runneth down exceeding deep into the ground with divers other smaller Roots and Fibres growing with them and shoot out Suckers from the main Roots al about wherby it is much encreased of a brownish colour on the outside and yellow within Place It is planted in Fields and Gardens in divers places of this Land and thereof good profit is made Vertues and use Liquoris boyled in fair Water with some Maidenhair and Figs maketh a good Drink for those that have a dry Cough or Hoarceness Wheesing shortness of breath and for al the Griefs of the Breast and Lungs Phtisick or Consumptions caused by the Distillation of Salt humors on them It is also good in all pains of the Reins the Strangury and heat of Urine The fine Pouder of Liquoris blown through a Quil into the Eyes that have a Pin and Web as they cal it or Rhewmatick Distillations into them doth clens and help them The Juyce of Liquoris is as effectual in al the Diseases of the Breast Lungs the Reins and Bladder as the Decoction The Juyce dissolved in Rose Water with some Guâ—-Tragacanth is a fine licking Medicine for Hoarceness Wheesings c. ♃ ♋ Liverwort Description THe Common Liverwort groweth close and spreadeth much upon the ground in moyst and shadowy places with many sad green leaves or rather as it were sticking flat one to another very unevenly cut in on the edges and crumpled from among which arise smal slender stalks an Inch or two high at most bearing smal Starlike Flowers at the tops The Roots are very fine and smal Vertues and use It is a singular good Herb for all the diseases of the Liver both to cool and clense it and helpeth the Inflamations in any part and the yellow Jaundice likewise Being bruised and boyled in small Beer and drunke it cooleth the heat of the Liver and Kidneys and helpeth the runing of the Reins in men the Whites in Women It is a singular remedy to stay the spreading of Tetters Ringworms and other fretting and running Sores Scabs and is an excellent remedy for such whose Livers are corrupted by sursets which causeth their bodies to break out for it fortifies the Liver exceedingly and make it impregnable It being under the command of Jupiter and under the sign Cancer Loos-strife or WillowHearb Discription THe Common yellow Loos-strife groweth to be four or five foot high or more with great round stalks a little crested diversly branched from the middle of them to the tops into great long Branches on al which at the Joynts ther grow long and narrow Leavs but broader below and usually two at a Joynt yet somtimes three or four somwhat like Willow Leaves smooth on the edges and of a faint green colour from the upper Joynts of the branches and at the tops of them also stand many yellow Flowers of five Leaves a piece with diverse yellow threeds in the middle which turn into small round heads containing small cornered Seeds The Roote creepeth under ground almost like Couchgrass but greater and shooteth up every Spring brownish heads which afterwards grow up into stalks It hath no scent nor tast but only astringent Place It groweth in many places of this Land in moyst Meadowes and by water sides Time It Flowreth from June to August Vertues and use This Hearb is good to stay all manner of Bleeding at Mouth or Nose or Wounds and all Fluxes of the Belly and the bloody Flux given either to drinke or taken by Clyster it stayeth also the abundance of Womens Courses It is a singular good wound Hearb for green wounds to stay the bleeding and quickly to close together the lips of the Wound if the herb be bruised and the Juyce only applyed It is often used in Gargles for sore mouthes as also for the secret parts the smoke herof being burned driveth away Flyes and Gnats which use in the night-time to molest people inhabiting neere Marshes and in the Fenney Countryes Loos-Strife with Spiked Heads of Flowers ☽ ♋ Description THis groweth with many woody square stalkes full of Joynts about three foot high at least at everyone wherof stand two long Leaves shorter narrower and of a deeper green colour than the former and some brownish The stalkes are branched into many long stemmes of spiked Flowers half a foot long growing in Rundles one above another out of smal husks very like the Spiked heads of Lavender each of which Flowers have five round pointed Leaves of a Purple Violet Colour or somwhat inclining to redness in which husks stand small round heads after the Flowers are fallen wherein is contained small seed The Root creepeth under ground like unto the yellow but is greater than it and so is the heads of the Leaves when they first appear out of the ground and more brown than the other Place It groweth usually by Rivers and Ditches sides in wet grounds as about the Ditches at and neer Lambeth and in many other places of this Land Time It Flowreth in the months of June and July Vertues and Use. This Herb is no whit inferior unto the former it having not only all the vertues which the former hath but some particular vertues of its own found out by experience as namely The distilled water is a present remedy for hurts and blows on the eyes and for
likewise to grow by Springs Wels and rockie moist and shadowy places and is alwaies green Wall-Rue Or ordinary White Maidenhair Description THis hath very fine pale green Stalks almost as fine as hairs set confusedly with divers pale green Leavs on very short Foot-stalks somwhat neer unto the colour of Garden Rue and not much differing in form but more diversly cut in on the edges and thicker smooth on the upper part and spotted finely underneath Place It groweth in many places of this Land as at Dartford and the Bridg at Ashford in Kent at Beconsfield in Buckinghamshire at Wolley in Huntingtonshire on Frammingham Castle in Suffolk on the Church wals at Mayfield in Sussex in Summerset Shire and divers other places of this Land and is green in Winter as well as in Summer Vertues and use The Vertues of both these are so neer alike that although I have described them and their places of growing severally yet I shall in writing the Vertues of them joyn them both together as followeth The Decoction of the Herb Maidenhair being drunk helpeth those that are troubled with the Cough shortness of breath the yellow Jaundice diseases of the Spleen stopping of Urin and helpeth exceedingly to break the Stone in the Kidneys in all which Diseases the Wall Rue is also very effectual It provoketh Womens Courses and staieth both Bleedings and Fluxes of the Stomach and Belly especially when the Herb is dry for being green it loosneth the Belly and avoideth Choller and Flegm from the Stomach and Liver it clenseth the Lungs and by rectifying the Blood causeth a good colour to the whol Body The Herb boyled in Oyl of Chamomel dissolveth Knots allayeth Swellings and drieth up moist Ulcers The Ly made there of is singular good to clens the head from Scurf and from dry and running Sores stayeth the falling or shedding of the Hair and causeth it to grow thick fair and wel coloured for which purpose some boyl it in Wine putting some Smallage Seed thereto and afterwards some Oyl The Wall Rue is as effectual as Maidenhair in all Diseases of the Head and falling or the recovering of Hair again and generally for all the aforementioned Diseases and besides The Pouder of it taken in drink for fourty daies together helpteh the burstings in Children Golden Maidenhair Description TO the two former give me leave to ad this and I shall do no more but only describe it unto you and for the Vertues refer you unto the former sith whatsoever is said of them may be also said of this It hath many small brownish red hayres to make up the form of Leavs growing about the ground from the Root and in the middle of them in Summer rise smal Stalks of the same colour set with very fine yellowish green hairs on them and bearing a smal gold yellow head lesser than a Wheat Corn standing in a great Husk The Root is very smal and threddy Place It groweth on Bogs and Moorish places and also on dry shadow places at Hampstead Heath and elswhere Mallows and Marsh-Mallows THe Common Mallowes are generally so well known that they need no Description Our common Marsh-mallows have diverâ— soft hoary white stalkes rising to be three or four foot high spreading forth many Branches the Leavs wherof are soft and hairy somwhat lesser then the other Mallow Leaves but longer pointed cut for the most part into some few deivisions but deep The Flowers are many but smaller also then the other Mallows white or tending to a blush colour After which come such like round cases and Seed as in the other Mallows The Roots are many and long shooting from one Head of the bigness of a Thumb or Finger very pliant tough and bending like Liquoris of a whitish yellow colour on the outside and more white within full of a slimy juyce which being layd in water will thicken it as if it were gelly Place The Common Mallows grow in every countrey of this Land The Common Marsh Mallowes in most of the Salt Mashes from Woolwich downe to the Sea both on the Kentish and Essex Shoares and in diverse other places of this Land Time They Flower all the Summer Months even until the Winter do pull them down Vertues and Use. The Leavs of either of the sorts above named and the Roots also boyled in Wine or Water or in Broth with Parsley or â—ennel Roots doth help to open the Body and is very convenient in hot Agues or other distempers of the Body to apply the Leavs so boyled warm to the Belly It not only voideth hot Chollerick and other offensive Humors but easeth the pains and torments of the Belly coming thereby and are therefore used in all Clysters conducing to those purposes The same used by Nurses procureth them store of Milk The Decoction of the Seed of any of the common Mallows made in Milk or Wine doth Merveilously help excoriations the Phtisick Plurisie and other Diseases of the Chest and Lungues that proceed of hot causes if it be continued taking for some time together The Leavs and Roots work the same effects They help much also in the excoriations of the Guts and Bowels and hardness of the Mother and in all hot and sharp diseases thereof The Juyce drunk in Wine or the Decoction of them therein doth help Women to a speedy and easie Delivery Pliny saith That whosoever shal that take a spoonful of any of the Mallows shal that day be free from all Diseases that may come unto him and that it is special good for the Falling-sickness The Syrup also and Conserve made of the Flowers are very effectual for the the same Diseases and to open the Body being costive The Leavs bruised and laid to the Eyes with a little Honey taketh away the Impostumations of them The Leavs bruised or rubbed upon any place stung with Bees Wasps or the like presently taketh away the pains redness and Swellings that rise thereupon and Dioscorides saith The Decoction of the Leavs and Roots helpeth all sorts of Poyson so as the Poyson be presently voided by Vomit A Pultis made of the Leavs boyled and bruised whereunto some Bean or Batley Flower and Oyl of Roses is an especial Remedy against all hard Tumors and Inflamations of Impostums and Swellings of the Cods and other parts and easeth the pains of them as also against the hardness of the Liver or Spleen being applied to the places The Juyce of the Mallows boyled in old Oyl and applied taketh away al roughness of the Skin as also the Scurf Dandrif or dry Scabs in the Head or other parts if they be anointed therewith or washed with the Decoction and preserveth the Hair from falling off It is also effectual against Scaldings and Burnings St. Anthonies fire and all other hot red and painful Swellings in any part of the Body The Flowers boyled in Oyl or Water as every one is disposed
Milk or Cream of these Kernels being drawn forth with some Vervain Water and applied to the Forehead and Temples doth much help to procure rest and sleep to sick persons wanting it The Oyl drawn from the Kernels the Temples being therewith anointed doth the like The said Oyl put into Clysters easeth the pains of the wind Chollick and anointed on the lower part of the Belly doth the like and dropped into the Ears caseth the pains of them The Juyce of the Leavs doth the like being also anointed on the Forhead and Temples it helpeth the Megrim and all other pains in the Head If the Kernels be bruised and boyled in Vinegar until they become thick and applied to the Head it merveilously procure the Hair to grow again upon bald places or where it is too thin Lady Venus owns this Tree and by it opposeth the ill effects of Mars and indeed for Children and yong people nothing is better to purge Choller and the Jaundice than the Leavs and Flowers of this Tree being made into a Syrup or Conserve let such as delight to please their lust regard the Fruit but such as love their health and their Childrens let them regard what I say they may safely give two spoonfuls of the Syrup at a time 't is as gentle as Venus her self The Pear-tree THese are so well known that they need no Description Vertues and Use. For their Physical use they are best discerned by their tasts All the sweet or lushious sorts whether manured or wild do help to move the Belly downward more or less Those that are harsh and sowr do on the contrary bind the Belly as much and the Leavs do so also Those that are moist do in some sort cool but harsh or wild sorts much more and are very good in repelling Medicines as if the wild sorts be boyled with Mushroms it maketh them the less dangerous The said Pears boyled with a little Honey helpeth much the oppressed Stomach as al sorts of them do some more some less but the harsher sorts do most cool and bind serving well to be bound to green wounds to cool and stay the Blood and heal up the wound without further trouble or Inflamation as Galen saith he hath found by experience And wild Pears do sooner close up the Lips of green Wounds than the others Schola Salerni adviseth to drink much Wine after Pears or els they say they are as bad as poyson nay and they curs the Tree for it too but if a poor man find his Stomach oppressed by eating Pears 't is but working hard and it will do as wel as drinking Wine The Trce belongs to Venus and so doth the Apple-tree Pellitory of the Wall Description THis riseth up with many brownish red tender and weak clear and almost transparent stalks about two foot high upon which grow at the several Joynts two Leavs somwhat broad and long of a dark green colour which afterwards turn brownish smooth on the edges but rough and hairy as the Stalks are also At the Joynts with the Leavs from the middle of the stalks upwards wher it spreadeth into some branches stand many smal pale purplish Flowers in hairy rough Heads or Husks after which come smal black and rough Seed which will stick to any cloth or Garment that shall touch it The Root is somwhat long with many smal Fibres thereat of a dark reddish colour which abideth the Winter although the Stalks and Leavs perish and spring afresh every yeer Place It groweth wild generally through this Land about the borders of Fields and by the sides of Walls and among Rubbish It will endure well being brought into Gardens and planted on the shady side where it will spring of its own sowing Time It flowreth in June and July and the Seed is ripe soon after Vertues and Use. The dried Herb Pellitory made up into an Electuary with Honey or the Juyce of the Herb or the Decoction thereof made up with Sagar or Honey is a singular Remedy for any old or dry Cough the shortness of breath and Wheesing in the Throat Three ounces of the Juyce thereof taken at a time doth wonderfully help stopping of the Urine and to expel the Stone or Gravel in the Kidneys or Bladderâ— and is therfore usually put among other Herbs used in Clisters to mitigate pains in the Back Sides or Bowels proceeding of wind stopping of Urine the Gravel or Stone as aforesaid If the bruised Herb sprinkled with some Muskadine be warmed upon a Tile or in a Dish upon a few quick coals in a Chasing-dish and applied to the Belly it worketh the same effect The Decoction of the Herb being drunk easeth pains of the Mother and bringeth down Womens Courses it also easeth those griefs that arise from Obstructions of the Liver Spleen and Reins The same Decoction with a little Honey added thereto is good to gargle a sore Throat The Juyce held a while in the Mouth easeth pains in the Teeth The distilled water of the Herb drunk with some Sugar worketh the same effects and clenseth the Skin from Spots Freckles Purples Wheals Sunburn Morphew c. The Juyce dropped into the Ears easeth the noise in them and taketh away the pricking and shooting pains therein The same or the distilled Water asswageth hot and swelling Impostumes Burnings and Scaldings by fire or Water as also all other hot Tumors and Inflamations or breakings out of Heat being bathed often with wet Cloathes dipped therein The said Juyce made into a Liniment with Ceruss and Oyl of Roses and anointed therewith clenseth foul rotten Ulcers and stayeth spreading or creeping Ulcers and the running Scabs or Sores in Childrens Heads and helpeth to stay falling of the Hair from off the Head The said Oyntment or the Herb applied to the Fundament openeth the Piles and easeth their pains and being mixed with Goats Tallow helpeth the Gout The Juyce is very effectual to clens Fistulaes and to heal them up safely or the Herb it self bruised and applied with a little Salt It is likewise so effectual to heal any green Wound that if it be bruised and bound thereto for three daies you shall need no other Medicine to heal it further A Pultis made hereof with Mallows and boyled in Wine with Wheat Bran and Bean Flower and some Oyl put thereto and applied warm to any bruised Sinew Tendon or Muscle doth in a very short time restore them to their strength taking away the pains of the Bruises and dissolveth the congealed Blood coming of Blows or Falls from high places The Juyce of Pellitory of Wall clarified and boyled into a Syrup with Honey and a spoonful of it drunk every morning by such as are subject to the Dropsie if continuing that cours though but once a week if ever they have the Dropsie let them come but to me and I will cure them gratis Peny-royal Description THis is so well known unto all I
Poplars which are most familiar with us Viz. The Black and the White both which I shall here describe unto you The white Poplar groweth great and reasonable high covered with a thick smooth white Bark especially the Branches having large Leavs cut into several devisions almost â— a Vine Leaf but not of so deep a green on the upper side and hoary white underneath of a reasonable good scent the whol form representing the Leaf of Coltsfoot The Catkins which it bringeth forth before the Leavs are long and of a faint reddish colour which fall away bearing seldom good Seed with them The Wood hereof is smooth soft and white very finely waved whereby it is much esteemed The Black Poplar groweth high â— straiter than the White with a grayish Bark bearing broad and green Leaves somwhat like Ivy Leavs not cut in on the edges like the White but whol and dented ending in a point and not white underneath hanging by slender long Footstalks which with the Air are continually shaken like as the Aspin Leavs are The Catkins hereof are greater than of the White composed of many round green Berries as it were set together in a long Cluster containing much downice matter which being ripe is blown away with the wind The clammy Buds hereof before they spread into Leavs are gathered to make the Unguentum Populeon and are of a yellowish green colour and smal somwhat sweet but strong The Wood is smooth tough â—and white and easie to be cloven On both these Trees groweth a sweet kind of Musk which in former times was used to be put into sweet Oyntments Place They grow in moist Woods and by water sides in sundry places of the Land yet the white is not so frequent as the other Time Their time is likewise expressed before The Catkins coming forth before the Leavs and ripen in the end of Summer Vertues and Use. The White Poplar saith Galen is of a clensing property The weight of one ounce in Pouder of the Bark thereof being drunk saith Dioscorides is a Remedy for those that are troubled with the Sciatica or the Strangury The Juyce of the Leavs dropped warm into the Ears easeth the pains in them The yong clammy Buds or Eyes before they break out into Leavs bruised and a little Honey put to them is a good Medicine for a dull Sight The Black Poplar is held to be more cooling than the White and therefore the Leavs bruised with Vinegar and applied helpeth the Gout The Seed drunk in Vinegar is held good against the Falling-sickness The Water that droppeth from the hollow places of this Tree taketh away Warts Pushes Wheals and other the like breakings out in the Body The yong black Poplar Buds saith Mathiolus are much used by Women to beautifie their hair bruising them with fresh Butter and straining them after they have been kept for some time in the Sun The Oyntment called Populeon which is made of this Poplar is singular good for all heat or Inflamation in any part of the â—â—â—â—â—y and tempereth the heat of Wounâ—â—his much used to dry up the Milk in Womens Breasts When they have weyned their Children Poppy OF this I shal describe three kinds Viz. The Whites and Black of the Garden and the Erratick wild Poppy or Corn Rose Discription The white Poppy hasth at first four or five whitish green Leavs lying upon the ground which rise with the Stalk compassing it at the bottom of them and are very large much cut or torn in on the edges and dented also besides The Stalk which is usually four or five foot high hath somtimes no Branches at the top usually but two or three at most bearing every one but one Head wrapped in a thin Skin which boweth down before it be ready to blow and then rising and being broken the Flower within it spreadeth it self open and consisteth of four very large White round Leavs with many whitish round threds in the middle set about a small round green Head having a Crown or Star-like cover at the Head thereof which growing ripe becometh as large as a great Apple wherein are contained a great number of smal round Seed in several partitions or devisions next unto the shell the middle thereof remaining hollow and empty All the whol Plant both Leavs Stalks and Heads while they are fresh yong and green yield a Milk when they are broken of an unpleasant bitter tast almost ready to provoke casting and of a strong heady smel which being condensate is called Opium The Root is white and woody perishing as soon as it hath given ripe Seed The Black Poppy little differeth from the former until it beareth his Flower which is somwhat less and of a black Purplish colour but without any purple spots in the bottom of the Leaf The Head of Seed is much less than the former and openeth it self a little round about the top under the Crown so that the Seed which is very black will fall out if one turn the Head thereof downwards The wild Poppy or Corn Rose hath long and narrow Leavs very much cut in on the edges into many devisions of a light green colour and somtimes hairy withal The Stalk is blackish and hairy also but not so tall as the Garden kinds having some such like Leavs thereon as grow below parted into three or four Branches somtimes whereon grow smal hairy Heads bowing down before the Skin break wherein the Flower is inclosed which when it is ful blown open is of a fair yellowish red or crimson colour and in some much paler without any spot in the bottom of the Leavs having many black soft threds in the middle compassing a smal green Head which when it is ripe is not bigger than ones little finger end wherin is contained much black Seed smaller by half than that of the Garden The Root perisheth every yeer and springeth again of its own sowing Of this kind there is one lesser in all the parts thereof and differeth in nothing els Places The Garden kinds do not naturally grow wild in any place but are all sown in Gardens where they grow The Wild Poppy or Corn Rose is plentiful enough and many times too much in the Corn Fields of all Countries through this Land and also upon Ditch Banks and by Hedg sides The smaller wild kind is also found in Corn Fields and also in some other place but not so plentiful as the former Time The Garden kinds are usually sown in the Spring which then Flower about the end of May and somwhat earlier if they spring of their own sowing The Wild Kinds Flower usually from May until July and the Seed of them is ripe soon after the Flowring Vertues and use The Garden Poppy Heads with Seeds made into a Syrup is frequently and to good effect used to procure rest and sleep in the sick and weak and to stay Catarrh's and Defluxions of hot thin Rhewms from the Head into the Stomach
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
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
Woods and somtimes in the dryer in divers Countries of this Nation Time They flower from the begining of the spring all the summer long Vertues and use The Archangels are somwhat hot and dryer than the stinking Nettles and used with better success for the stopping and hardness of the Spleen than they by using the Decoction of the Herb in Wine and afterwards applying the Herb hot unto the Region of the Spleen as a Plaister or the Decoction with Spunges The Flowers of the White Archangel are preserâ—ed or conserved to be used to stay the Whitâ—s and the Flowers of the Red to stay thâ— Reds in Women It makes the Heart merry drives away Melancholly quickens the Spirits is good against Quartan Agues stancheth bleedings at Mouth or Nose if it be sâ—amped and applied to the nape of the Neck The Herb also brused and with some Salt and Vinegar and Hogs Greas laid upon any hard tumor or swelling or that which is vulgarly called the Kings Evil doth help to dissolve or discuss them and being in like manner applied doth much allay the pains and give eas to the Gout Sciatica and other aches of the Joynts and Sinews It is also very effectual to heal all green Wounds and old Ulcers also to stay their fretting gnawing and spreading It draweth forth Splinters and such like things gotten into the flesh and is very good against bruises and burnings But the yellow Archangel is most commended for old filthy corrupt Sores and Ulcers yea although they grow to be hollow and to dissolve tumors The chief use of them is for Women it being an Herb of Venus and may be found in my Guide for Women ♂ Arsmart Description of the Mild. THis hath broad Leaves set at the great red Joynts of the Stalks with semicircular blackish marks on them usually yet somtimes without The Flowers grow in long Spikes usually either blush or whitish with such like Seed following The Root is long with many strings thereat perishing yeerly this hath no sharp tast as another sort hath which is quick and biting but rather sowr like Sorrel or els a little drying or without tast Place It grows in watery Plashes Ditches and the like which for the most part are dry in Summer Time It Flowreth in June and the Seed is ripe in August Vertues and use It is of a cooling and drying quality and very effectual for purrified Ulcers in Man or Beast to kill the Worms and clens the putrified Places The Juyce therof dropped in or otherwise applied consumeth all cold Swellings and dissolveth the congealed Blood of bruises by strokes falls c. A piece of the Root or some of the Seed bruised and held to an aching Tooth taketh away the pain The Leaves bruised and laid to the Joynt that hath a Fellon theron taketh it away The Juyce deâ—royeth Worms in the Ears being dropped into them if the hot Arsmart be strewed in a Chamber it will soon kill all the Fleas and the Herb or Juyce of the cold Arsmart put to Horses or other Cattels sores will drive away the Flie in the â—ottest time of Summer A good handful of the hot biting Arsmart put under a Horses Saddle will make him travel the better although he were half tired before The mild Arsmart is good against hót Imposthumes and Inflamations at the beginning and to heal green Wounds All Authors chop the Vertues of both sorts of Arsmart together as men chop Herbs for the Pot when both of them are of clean contrary qualities The hot Arsmart groweth not so high or tall as the mild doth but hath many leaves of the colour of Beach leaves very seldom or never spotted in other particulars it is like the former but may easily be known from it if you will be but pleased to break a Leaf of it cross your Tongue for the hot will make your Tongue to smart so will not the cold if you see them both together you may easily distinguish them becaus the mild hath far broader Leaves And out Colledg of Physitians out of their learned care for the publick good Anglice their own gain mistake the one for the other in their New-Master-Piece wherby they discover 1. Their Ignorance 2. Their Carelesness and he that hath but half an eye may see their pride without a pair of Spectacles I have done what I could to distinguish them in their Vertues and when you find not the contrary named use the cold The truth is I have not yet spoken with Dr. Reason nor his Brother Dr. Experience concerning either of them both ♂ Asarabacca Description A Sarabacca hath many Heads rising from the Roots from whence come many smooth Leaves every one upon his own Footstalk which are rounder and bigger than Violet Leaves thicker also and of a darker green shining colour on the upper side and of a paler yellow green underneath little or nothing dented about the edges from among which rise smal round hollow brown green husks upon short stalks about an inch long divided at the brims into five divisions very like the Cups or Heads of the Henbane Seed but that they are smaller and these be all the Flowers it carrieth which are somwhat sweer being smelled unto and wherein when they are ripe is contained smal cornered rough Seeds very like the Kernels or Stones of Grapes or Raisons The Roots are small and whitish spreading divers waies in the ground and encreasing into divers Heads but not running or creeping under ground as some other creeping Herbs do They are somwhat sweet in smell resembling Nardus but more when they are dry than green and of a sharp but not unpleasant tast Place It groweth frequently in Gardens Time They keep their Leaves green all Winter but shoot forth new in the Spring and with them come forth those Heads or Flowers which give ripe Seed about Midsummer or somwhat after Vertues and use This Herb being drunk not only provoketh vomiting but purgeth downward and by Urin also purging both Choller and Flegm if you ad to it some Spicknard with the Whey of Goats Milk or Honeyed Water it is made more strong but it purgeth Flegm more manifestly than Choller and therfore doth much help pains in the Hips and other parts it being boyled in Whey it wonderfully helpeth the Obstruction of the Liver and Spleen and therfore profitable for the Dropsie and Jaundice being steeped in Wine and drunk It helps those continual Agues that come by the plenty of stubborn humors An Oyl made therof by setting it in the Sun with some Laudanum added to it provoketh sweating the rige of the Back being anointed therwith and therby driveth away the shaking Fits of Agues It will not abide any long boyling for it loseth its chiefest strength therby nor much beating for the finer Pouder doth provoke Vomits and Urin and the courser purgeth downwards The common Use herof is to take the Juyce of five or seven
Herbs in making such Balms as are necessary for the curing of Wounds either green or old and especially if the Nervs of Sinews be hurt ♀ ♈ The Bramble OR Black-Berry-Bush THis is so wel known that it needeth no Descrption The Vertues therof are as followeth Vertues and use The Buds Leavs and Branches while they are green are of a good use in the Ulcers and putrid sores of the Mouth and Throat and for the Quinsie and likewise to heal other fresh Wounds and Sores but the Flowers Fruit unripe are very binding and so profitable for the Bloudy-flux Lasks and are a fit remedy for spitting of Bloud Either the Decoction or Pouder of the Root being taken is good to break or drive forth Gravel and the Stone in the Reins and Kidnies The Leavs and Brambles aswel green as dry are excellent good Lotions for sores in the Mouth or secret parts The Decoction of them of the dried Branches do much bind the Belly and are good for the too much flowing of Womens Courses The Berries or the Flowers are a powerful remady against the Poyson of the most venemous Serpents as wel drunk as outwardly applied helpeth the sores of the Fundament and the Piles The Juyce of the Berries mixed with Juyce of Mulberries do bind more effectually and help fretting and eating sores and Ulcers whersoever The Distilled Water of the Branches Leaves and Flowers or of the Fruit is very pleasant in tast and very effectual in Feavers and hot distempers of the Body Head Eyes and other parts and for al the purposes aforesaid The Leaves boyled in Ly and the Head washed therewith healeth the Itch and the running sores therof and maketh the Hair black The Pouder of the Leaves strewed on cankrous and running Ulcers doth wonderfully help to heal them Some use to condensate the Juyce of the Leaves and some the Juyce of the Berries to keep for their use all the year for the purposes aforesaid It is a Plant of Venus in Aries You shall have som Directions at the latter end of the Book for the gathering of al Herbs and Plants c. If any ask the Reason why Venus is so prickly Tel them 't is because she is in the house of Mars ♀ Blites Description OF these there are two sorts commonly known Viz. White and Red. The White hath Leavs somwhat like unto Beets but smaller rounder and of a whitish green colour every one standing upon a smal long Footstalk The Stalk riseth up two or three foot high with such like Leavs theron The Flowers grow at the top in long round tufts or clusters wherein are contained smal and round Seed The Root is very full of threeds or strings The red Blites is in all things like the white but that his Leavs and tufted heads are exceeding red at first and after turn more Purplish There are other kinds of Blites which grow wild differing from the two former sorts but little only the wild are smaler in every part Place They grow in Gardens and wild in many places of this Land Time They seed in August and September Vertues and use They are all of them cooling drying and binding serving to restrain the Fluxes of Bloud in either man or woman especially the Red which also stayeth the overflowing of women's Reds as the white Blite stayeth the Whites in Women It is an excellent secret you cannot wel fail in the use they are al under the Dominion of Venus There is one other sort of wild Blites like the other wild kinds but having long and spike heads of greenish Seed seeming by the thick setting together to be al Seed This sort the Fishes are delighted with and it is a good and usual Bait for Fishes will bite fast enough at them if you have but wit enough to catch them when they bite ♃ ♌ Borrage Bugloss THese are so wel known to be Inhabitants in every Garden that I â—old it needless to describe them Time They flower in June and July and the Seed is ripe shortly after Vertues and use They are very Cordial The Leaves or Roots are to very good purpose used in putrid and Pestilential Feavers to defend the Heart and hlp to resist and expel the Poyson or the Venom of other Creatures the Seed is of the like effect and the Seed and Leavs are good to encrease Milk in Womens Breasts The Leavs Flowers and Seed all or any of them are good to expel Pensiveness and Melancholly it helpeth to clarifie the Bloud and mitigate heat in Feavers The Juyce made into a Syrup prevaileth much to all the purposes aforesaid and is put with other cooling opening clensing Herbs to open obstructions and help the yellow-Jaundice and mixed with Fumitory to cool clens and temper the Blood therby it helpeth the Itch Ringworms and Tetters or other spreading Scabs or Sores The Flowers candied or made into a Conserve are helping in the former causes but are chiefly used as a Cordial and is good for those that are weak with long sickness and to comfort the Heart and Spirts of those that are in a consumption or troubled w th often swoonings or passions of the Heart The Distilled Water is no less effectual to all the purposes aforesaid and helpeth the redness and inflamation of the Eyes being washed therewith The dried Herb is never used but the green yet the Ashes therof boyled in Mead or Honyed Water is available against Inflamations and Ulcers in the Mouth or Throat to wash and gargle it therewith The Roots of Bugloss are effectual being made into a licking Electuarie for the Cough and to condensate thin flegm and Rhewmatick Distillations upon the Lungs They are both Herbs of Jupiter and under Leo both great Cordials great strengthners of Nature ♄ Bluebottles THese are so wel known generally unto my Country men to grow among their Corn that I suppose it needless to write any Description therof There are other kinds which I purposely omit both in this and others my intent being only to insist most principally upon the vulgarly known and commonly growing Flowers and Herbs Time They Flower and Seed in the Summer Months Vertues and use The Pouder or dried Leavs of the Bluel ottle or Cornflower is given with good success to those that are bruised by a sal or have broken a Vein inwardly and void much Blood at the Mouth being taken in the Water of Plantane Horstail or the greater Comfry It is a Remedy against the Poyson of the Scorpion and resisteth al other Venoms and Poysons The Seed or Leavs taken in Wine is very good against the Plague and al infectious Diseases and is very good in Pestilential Feavers The Juyce put into fresh or green Wounds doth quickly soder up the Lips of them together and is very effectual to heal al Ulcers and Sores in the Mouth The Juyce dropped into the Eyes taketh away the heat and inflamation in
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
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-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
Flux and Womens Courses and is no â—ess prevalent in all Ruptures or Burstings being drunk inwardly and outwardly applied It is a Severaign Wound Herb inferior to none both for inward and outward Hurts green Wounds and old Sores and Ulcers are quickly cured therewith It is also of especial use in all Lotions for Sores or Ulcers in the Mouth Throat or privy parts of Man or Woman The Decoction also helpeth to fasten the Teeth that are loos in the Gums Venus claims the Herb and therefore to be sure it restores Beauty lost Goutwort or Herb-Gerrard Description THis is a low Herb seldom rising half a yard high having sundry Leavs standing on brownish green Stalks by threes snipped about and of a strong unpleasant savour The Umbels of Flowers are white and the Seed blackish the Root runneth in the Ground quickly taking up a great deal of room Place It groweth by Hedg and Wall sides and often in the borders or Corners of Fields and in Gardens also Time It Flowreth and Seedeth about the end of July Vertues and use Goutwort had not his name for nothing but upon good experience to help the cold Gout and Sciatica as also Joynt aches and other cold Griefs The very bearing of it about one easeth the pains of the Gout and defends him that bears it from the Diseas Gromel OF this I shall briefly describe three kinds which are principally used in Physick the Vertues whereof are alike though somwhat different in their manner and form of growing Description The greater Gromel groweth up with slender hard and hairy Stalks trailing and taking Root in the ground as it lieth thereon and parted into many other smaller Branches with hairy dark green Leavs thereon At the Joynts with the Leavs come forth very smal blew Flowers and after them hard stony roundish Seed The Root is long and woody abiding the Winter and shooting forth fresh Stalks in the Spring The smal wild Gromel sendeth forth divers upright hard branched Stalks two or three foot high full of Joynts at every of which groweth smal long hard and rough Leavs like the former but lesser among which Leavs come forth small white Flowers and after them grayish round Seed like the former The Root is not very long but with many Strings thereat The Garden Gromel hath divers upright slender woody hairy Stalks brown and crested very little branched with Leavs like the former and white Flowers after which in rough brown Husks is contained a white hard round Seed shining like Pearls greater than either of the former The Root is like the first described with divers Branches and Strings thereat which continueth as the first doth all Winter Place The two first grow wild in barren or untilled places and by the way sides in many places of this Land The last is a Nursling in the Gardens of the curious Time They all Flower from Midsummer unto September somtimes and in the mean time the Seed ripeneth Vertues and use These are accounted to be of as singular force as any other Herb or Seed whatsoever to break the Stone and to avoid it and the Gravel either in the Reins or Bladder as also to provoke Urine being stopped and to help the Strangury The Seed is of greatest use being bruised and boiled in white Wine or in Broth or the like or the Pouder of the Seed taken therin Two drams of the Seed in Pouder taken with Womens Breast-Milk is very effectual to procure a speedy Delivery to such Women as have sore pains in their Travail and cannot be delivered The Herb it self when the Seed is not to be had either boyled or the Juyce therof drunk is effectual to all the purposes aforelaid but not so powerful or speedy in operation The Herbe belongs to Dame Venus and therfore if Mars caus the Chollick or Stone as usually he doth if in Virgo this is your cure Winter Green Description THis sendeth forth 7. 8. or 9. Leaves from a smal brownish creeping Root every one standing upon a long Footstalk which are almost as broad as long round pointed of a sad green colour and hard in handling and like the Leaf of a Pear-tree from whence ariseth a slender weak Stalk yet standing upright bearing at the top many smal white and sweet smelling Flowers laid open like a Star consisting of five round pointed Leavs with many yellowish threds standing in the middle about a green Head and a long stile with them which in time groweth to be the Seed Vessel which being ripe is found five square with a smal point at it weerin is contained Seed as small as dust Place It groweth seldom in the Fields but frequently in the Woods Northwards viz. In Yorkshire Lancashire and Scotland Time It Flowreth about June or July Vertues and Vse Winter-Green is a singular good Wound Herb and an especial Remedy for to heal green Wounds speedily the green Leavs being brused and applied or the Juyce of them A Salve made of the green Herbs stamped or the Juyce boyled with Hogs Lard or with Sâ—llet Oyl and Wax and some Turpentine added unto it is a Soveragn Salve and highly extolled by the Germans who much use it to heal all manner of Wounds and Sores The Herb boyled in Wine and Water and given to drink to them that have any inward Ulcers in their Kidneys or Neck of the Bladder doth wonderfully help them It staieth also all Fluxes whether of Blood or Humors as the Lask Bloody Flux Womens Courses and bleeding of Wounds and taketh away any Inflamation rising upon pains of the Heart It is no less helpful for foul Ulcers hard to be cured as also for Cankers or Fistulaes The distilled Water of the Herb doth effectually perfrom the same things Groundsel Description OUr common Groundsel hath a round green and somwhat brownish Stalk spread toward the top into Branches set with long and somwhat narrow green Leavs cut in on the edges somwhat like the Oak Leavs but lesser and round at the ends at the tops of the Branches stand many smal green Heads out of which grow small yellow threds or thrums which are the Flowers and continue many daies blown in that manner before it pass away into Down and with the Seed is carried away in the wind The Root is smal and threddy and soon perisheth and as soon riseth again of its own sowing so that it may be seen many Months in the Yeer both green and in Flower and Seed for it will Spring and Seed twice in a yeer at least if it be suffered in a Garden Place This groweth almost every where as wel on the tops of Walls as at the foot among Rubbish and untilled grounds but especially in Gardens Time It Flowreth as is said before almost in every Month through the yeer Vertues and use The Decoction of the Herb saith Dioscorides made with Wine and Drunk `helpeth the pains in the Stomach proceeding
Papers or in a wet double Cloth and thereof a Suppository made and put up into or applied to the Fundament doth very effectually help the painful Piles or Hemorrhoids The distilled Water of the Herb and Roots is very good to al the purposes aforesaid to be used as wel inwardly to drink as outwardly to wash any sore places for it healeth al manner of Wounds and Punctures and those foul Ulcers that arise by the French Pox. Mizaldus ads to this that the Leavs laid under the Feet wil keep the Dogs from barking at you Houdstongue becaus it ties the Tongue of Hounds whether it be true or not I never tried yet I have cured the biting of a mad Dog with this only Medicine St. Johns-wort Description THe common St. Johns-wort shooteth forth brownish upright hard round Stalks two foot high spreading many Branches from the sides up to the tops of them with two smal Leavs set one against another at every place which are of a deep green colour somwhat like the Leavs of the lesser Centaury but narrower and ful of smal holes in every Leaf which cannot be so wel perceived as when they are held up to the light At the tops of the Stalks and Branches stand yellow Flowers made of five Leavs apiece with many yellow threds in the middle which being bruised do yeild a reddish Juyce like blood after which come smal round Heads wherein is contained smal blackish Seed smelling like Rozin The Root is hard and woody with divers strings and fibres at it and of a brownish colour which abideth in the ground many yeers shooting anew every Spring Place This groweth in Woods and Copses as wel those that are shady as open to the Sun Time They Flower about Midsummer and in July and their Seed is ripe in the latter end of July or in August Vertues and use St. Johns-wort is as singular a Wound Herb as any other whatsoever either for inward Wounds Hurts or Bruises to be boyled in Wine and drunk or prepared into Oyl or Oyntment Bath or Lotion outwardly It hath power to open Obstructions to dissolve Swellings to close up the Lips of Wounds and to strengthen the parts that are weak feeble The Decoction of the Herb and Flowers but of the Seed especially in Wine being drunk or the Seed made into Pouder and drunk with the Juyce of Knotgrass helpeth al manner of spitting and Vomiting of Blood be it by any Vein broken inwardly by Bruises Falls or howsoever The same helpeth those that are bitten or stung by any Venemous Creature And is good for those that are troubled with the Stone in their Kidneys or that cannot make water and being applied provoketh Womens Courses Two drams of the Seed of St. Johns-wort made into Pouder and drunk in a little Broth doth gently expel Choller or congealed Blood in the Stomach The Decoction of the Leavs and Seeds being drunk somwhat warm before the Fits of Agues whether they be Tertians or Quartanes doth alter the fits and by often using doth take them quite away The Seed is much commended being drunk for forty daies together to help the Sciatica the Falling sickness and the Palsey It is under the Coelestial Sign Leo and under the Dominion of the Sun it may be if you meet with a Papist that is an Astrologer he will tel you St. John made it over to him by a Letter of Attourney especially if withal he be a Lawyer also Ivy. Description THis is so well known to every Child also to grow in Woods upon the Trees and upon the stone Walls of Churches Houses c. and somtimes to grow alone of it self though but seldom Time It Flowreth not until July and the Berries are not ripe til Christide that they have felt the Winter Frosts Vertues and use A pugil of the Flowers which may be about a dram saith Dioscorides drunk twice a day in red Wine helpeth the Lask and Bloody Flux It is an enemy to the Nerves and Sinews being much taken inwardly but very helpful unto them being outwardly applied Plâ—â—y saith that the yellow Berries are good against the Jaundice and taken before one be set to drink hard preserveth from drunkenness and helpeth those that spit Blood and that the white Berries being taken inwardly or applied outwardly killeth the Worms in the Belly The Berries are a singular Remedy to prevent the Plague as also to free them from it that have got it by drinking the Berries therof made in Pouder for two or three daies together They being taken in Wine do certainly help to break the Stone provoke Urine and Womens Courses The fresh Leavs of Ivy boyled in Vinegar and applied warm to the sides of those that are troubled with the Spleen Ach or Stitch in the sides doth give them much eas The same applied with some Rosewater and Oyl of Roses to the Temples and Forehead easeth the Headach though it be of long continuace The fresh Leavs boyled in Wine and old filthy Ulcers that are hard to be cured washed therewith doth wonderfully help to clens and heal them it also quickly healeth green Wounds as also it is effectual to heal al Burnings and Scaldings and all kind of ezuicerations coming thereby or by Salt Flegm or hot Humors in other parts of the Body The Juyce of the Berries or Leavs snuffed up into the Nose purgeth the Head and Brain of thin Rhewm that maketh Defluxions into the Eyes and Nose and cureth the Ulcers and Stench therin The same dropped into the Ears helpeth the old and running Sores of them Those that are troubled with the Spleen shal find much eas by continual drinking out of a Cup made of Ivy so as the drink may stand some smal time therin before it be drunk Cato saith that Wine put into such a Cup wil soak through it by reason of the Antipathy that is between them There seems to be a very Antipathy between Wine and Ivy for if any have got a surfet by drinking Wine his speediest cure is to drink a draught of the same Wine wherein a handful of Ivy Leavs being first bruised have been boyled Kidneywort or WallPenyroyal ♀ ♎ Description THis hath many thick flat and round Leavs growing from the Root every one having a long Footstalk fastned underneth about the middle of it and a little unevenly waved somtimes about the edges of a pale green colour and somwhat hollow on the upper side like a Sawcer from among which rise one or more tender smooth hollow Stalks half a foot high with two or three smal Leavs thereon usually not round as those below but somwhat long and devided at the edges The tops are somtimes devided into long Branches bearing a number of Flowers set round about a long spike one above another which are hollow and like a little Bell of a whitish green colour after which come smal Heads containing very smal brownish Seed which falling on the ground wil plentifully spring up before Winter if it have moisture The Root is round and most usually smooth grayish without and white within having smal fibres at the head of
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
be put together in Clisters to expel Wind to eas pains also into Pultices for the same purpose and to asswage Swellings or Tumors in the Spleen or other parts helpeth Inflamations in any part of the Body The Juyce dropped into the Eyes is a singular good Medicine to take away any Film or Skin that cloudeth or dimmeth the Eyesight The Head often washed with the distilled Water of the Herb and Flowers or a Ly made therwith is effectual for those that have suddenly lost their senses as also to strengthen the Memory to comfort the Head and Brains and to preserve them from pains and the Apoplexie French and Dogs Mercury Description THis riseth up with a square green stalk full of Joynts two foot high or ther abouts with two Leaves at every Joynt and branches likewise from â—oth sides of the stalk set with fresh green Leaves somwhat broad and long about the bigness of the Leaves of Bassell finely dented about the edges towards the topps of the stalks and branches come forth at every Joynt in the Male Mercury two small round green heads standing together upon a short footstalk which growing ripe are the seeds not having any Flower In the female The stalk is longer spike fashion set round about with smal green husks which are the Flowers made like smal branches of Grapes which give no seed but abide long upon the stalks without shedding The Root is composed of many smal Fibres which perisheth every year at the first approach of winter and riseth again of its own sowing and where it once is suffered to sow it self the ground will never want it afterwards even both sorts of it Dogs Mercury Discription HAving described unto you that which is called French Mercury I come now to shew you in a Description this kind also This is likewise of two kinds Male and Female having many stalks slenderer lower than Mercury and without any branches at all upon them The Male is set with two Leavs at every Joynt somwhat greater than the Female but more pointed and full of Veins and somwhat harder in handling of a darker green colour and less dented or snip'd about the edges At the Joynts with the Leavs come forth longer Stalks than the former with two hairy round Seeds upon them twice as big as those of the former Mercury The tast hereof is Herby and the smel somwhat strong and Virulent The Female hath much harder Leavs standing upon longer Foot-stalks and the stalks are also longer From the Joynts come forth Spikes of Flowers like the French Female Mercury The Roots of them both are many and full of smal Fibres which run under ground and mat themselves very much not perishing as the former Mercuries do but abiding the Winter and shoot forth new Branches every yeer for the old die down to the ground Place The Male and Female French Mercury are found wild in divers places of this Land as by a Village called Brookland in Rumney Marsh in Kent The Dogs Mercury in sundry places of Kent also and elswhere but the Female more seldom than the Male. Time They flourish in the Summer months and therein give their Seed Vertues and Use. The Decoction of the Leavs of Mercury or the Juyce thereof in Broth or Drunk with a little Sugar put to it purgeth Chollerick and waterish Humors Hippocrates commendeth it wonderfully for Womens Diseases and applied it to the secret parts to eas the pains of the Mother and used the Decoction of it both to procure Womens Courses and to expel the Afterbirth And gave the Decoction thereof with Mirrh or Pepper or used to apply the Leavs outwardly against the Strangury and Diseases of the Reins and Bladder He used it also for sore and watering Eyes and for the Deafness and pain in the Ears by dropping the Juyce therof into them and bathing them afterwards in white Wine The Decoction thereof made with Water and a Cock Chicken is a most safe Medicine against the hot fits of Agues It also clenseth the Breast and Lungs of Flegm but a little offendeth the Stomach The Juyce or distilled Water snuffed up into the Nostrils purgeth the Head and Eyes of Catarrhes and Rhewms Some use to drink two or three ounces of the distilled water with a little Sugar put to it in the morning fasting to open and purge the Body of gross viscuous and Melancholly Humors It is wonderful if it be not Fabulous that Dioscorides and Theophrastus do relate of it Viz. That if Women use these herbs either inwardly or outwardly for three daies together after Conception and their Courses be past they shal bring forth Male or Female Children according to that kind of Herb they use Mathiolus saith That the Seed of both the Male and Female Mercury boyled with Wormwood and drunk cureth the yellow Jaundice in a speedy manner The Leavs or the Juyce rubbed upon Warts taketh them away The Juyce mingled with some Vinegar helpeth all running Scabs Tetters Ringworms and the Itch. Galen saith that being applied in manner of a Pultis to any Swelling or Inflamation it digesteth the Swelling and allayeth the Inflamation and is therfore given in Clysters to evacuate the Belly from offensive Humors The Dogs Mercury although it be less used yet may serve in the same manner to the same purpose to purge waterish and Melanchollick Humors Mercury they say owns this Herb but I rather think ' t is Venus and am partly confident of it too for I never read that Mercury ever minded Womens businesses so much I beleev he minds his study more Mint Description OF all the kinds of Mints the Spear-Mint or Heart-Mint being most useful I shal only describe it as followeth Spear-Mint hath divers round Stalks and long but narrowish Leavs set thereon of a a dark green colour The Flowers stand in Spiked Heads at the tops of the Branches being of a pale blush colour The smel or scent hereof is somwhat neer unto Bassilâ— It encreaseth by the Root under ground as all the others do Place It is an usual Inhabitant in Gardens And becaus it seldom giveth any good Seed the defect is recompensed by the plentiful encreas of the Root which being once planted in a Garden will hardly beâ—rid out again Time It Flowreth not until the beginning of August for the most part Vertues and Use. Dioscorides saith It hath an heating binding and drying quality and therefore the Juyce taken with Vinegar staieth Bleeding It stirreth up Venery or Bodily lust Two or three Branches thereof taken with the Juyce of sowr Pomegranates stayeth the Hiccough Vomiting and allayeth Choller It dissolveth Impostumes being laid too with Barley Meal It is good to repress the Milk in Womens Breasts and for such as have swollen flagging or great Breasts applied with Salt it helpeth the biting of a Mad Dog with Mead or Honeyed Water it easeth the pains of the Ears and taketh away the roughness of the Tongue
mean the common kind that it needeth no Description There is a greater kind than the ordinary sort found wild with us which so abideth being brought into Gardens and differeth not from it but only in the largeness of the Leavs and Stalks in rising higher and not creeping upon the ground so much The Flowers whereof are Purple growing in Rundles about the Stalk like the other Place The first which is common in Gardens groweth also in many moist and watery places of this Land The second is sound wild in Essex in divers places by the High-way from London â—to Colechester and thereabouts more abundantly than in other Countries and is also planted in their Gardens in Essex Time They Flower in the latter end of Summer about August Vertues and Use. Dioscorides saith That Peny-royal maketh thin tough Flegm warmeth the coldness of any part whereto it is apylied and digesteth raw or corrupt matter Being boyled drunk it provoketh Womens Courses and expelleth the dead Child and afterbirth and staieth the disposition to Vomit being taken in Water and Vinegar mingled together And being mingled with Honey and Salt it avoideth Flegm out of the Lungs and purgeth Melancholly by the Stool Drunk with Wine it helpeth such as are bitten or stung with Venemous Beasts and applied to the Nostrils with Vinegar reviveth those that are fainting and swouning Being dried and burnt it strengtheneth the Gums It is helpful to those that are troubled with the Gout being applied of it self to the place until it wax red and applied in a Plaister it taketh away spots or marks in the Face Applied with Salt it profiteth those that are Splenetick or Liver-grown The Decoction doth help the Itch if washed therwith Being put into Baths for Women to sit therein it helpeth the Swelling and hardness of the Mother The green Herb bruised and put into Vinegar clenseth foul Ulcers and taketh away the marks and bruises of blows about the Eyes and all discolourings of the Face by fire yea and the Leprosie being drunk and outwardly applied Boyled in Wine with Honey and Salt it helpeth the Toothach It helpeth the cold Griefs of the Joynts taking away the pains and warming the cold parts being fast bound to the place after a bathing or sweating in an hot hous Pliny addeth that Penny-royal and Mints together help faintings or swounings being put into Vinegar and put to the Nostrils to be smelled unto or a little thereof put into the Mouth It easeth the Headach and the pains of the Breast and Belly stayeth the gnawing of the Stomach and inward pains of the Bowels being drunk in Wine it provoketh Womens Courfes and expelleth the dead child and afterbirth Being given in Wine it helpeth the Falling-sickness Put into unwholsom or stinking Water that men must drink as at Sea and where other cannot be had it maketh them the less hurtful It helpeth Cramps or Convulsions of the Sinews being applied with Honey Salt and Vinegar It is very effectual for the Cough being boyled in Milk and drunk and for Ulcers or Sores in the Mouth Mathiolus saith The Decoction thereof being drunk helpeth heâ—Jaundice and Dropsie and all pains of the Head and Sinews that come of a cold caus and that it helpeth to clearâ— and quicken the Eye-sight Applied to the Nostrils of those that have the Falling-sicknessâ— or the Lethargy or put into the Mouth it helpeth them much being bruised and with Vinegar applied And applied with Barley Meal it helpeth Burnings by fire and put into the Ears easeth the pains of them The Herb is under Venus Peony Mas. Femina Description THe Male Peony riseth up with many brownish Stalks whereon grow many fair green and somtimes reddish Leavs one set against another upon a Stalk without any particular devision in the Leaf at all The Flowers stand at the tops of the Stalks consisting of five or six broad Leavs of a fair purplish red colour with many yellow threds in the middle standing about the Head which after riseth to be the Seed Vessels devided into two three or four rough crooked Pods like Horns which being ful ripe open and turn themselves down one edge to another backward shewing within them divers round black shining Seed having also many red or Crimson grains intermixed with the black whereby it maketh a very pretty shew The Roots are great thick and long spreading and running down reasonable deep in the Ground The ordinary Female Peony hath many Stalks and more Leavs on them than the Male the Leavs not so large but nicked diversly on the edges some with great and deep others with smaller cuts and devisions of a dark or dead green colour The Flowers are of a strong heady scent most usually smaller and of a more purple colour than the Male with yellow thrums about the Head as the Male hath The Seed Vessels are like Horns as in the Male but smaller the Seed also is black but less shining The Roots consist of many thick and short tuberous clogs fastned at the ends of long strings and all from the Head of the Root which is thick and short and of the like scent with the Male. Place and Time They grow in Gardens and Flower usually about May. Vertues and Use. The Root of the Male Peony fresh gathered hath been found by experience to cure the Falling-sickness but the surest way is besides hanging it about the Neck by which Children have been cured to take the Root of the Male Peony washed clean and stamped somwhat smal and lay it to infuse in Sack for twenty four Hours at the least after strain it and take first and last morning and evening a good draught for sundry daies together before and after a full Moon and this will also cure older persons if the Disease be not grown too old and past cure especially if there be a due and orderly preparation of the Body with Posset drink made of Betony c. The Root is also effectual for Women that are not sufficiently clensed after Childbirth and such as are troubled with the Mother for which likewise the black Seed beaten to Pouder and given in Wine is also available The black Seed also taken before bed time and in the morning is very effectual for such as in their sleep are troubled with the Diseas called Ephialtes or Incubus but we do commonly cal it the Night-Mare a diseas which Melancholly persons are subject unto It is also good against Melanchollick Dreams The Distilled water or Syrup made of the Flowers worketh the same effects that the Root and the Seed do although more weakly The Female is often used for the purposes aforesaid by reason the Male is so scarce a Plant that it is possessed by few and those great Lovers of Rarities in this kind It is an Herb of the Sun and under the Lyon Physitians say Male Peony Roots are best but Dr. Reason told me male Peony was best for men and
that need cooling and drying and therefore helpeth all Fluxes of the Belly or Stomach Bloody Fluxes and Womens Courses being either drunk or applied as also for those that void Blood at their Mouth or at any other place and for Distillations of Rhewms into the Eyes especially if it be used with Tutiae Queen of the Meadows Meadow-sweet or Mead-sweet Description THe Stalks of this are reddish rising to be three foot high somtimes four or five foot having at the Joynts there of large winged Leavs standing one above another at distances consisting of many and somwhat broad Leavs set on each side of a middle rib being hard rough or rugged crumpled much like to Elm Leavs having also some smaller Leavs with them as Agrimony hath somewhat deepiy dented about the edges of a sad green colour on the upper side and graish underneath of a pretty sharp scent and tast somwhat like unto Burnet and a Leaf hereof put into a Cup of Claret Wine giveth also a fine rellish to it At the tops of the Stalks and Branches stand many tusts of small white Flowers thrust thick together which smel much sweeter than the Leavs and in their places being fallen come crooked and cornered Seed The Root is somwhat woody and blackish on the outside and brownish within with diverse greater strings and lesser Fibres set thercat of a strong scent but nothing so pleasant as the Flowers and Leavs and perisheth not but abideth many yeers shooting forth anew every Spring Place It groweth in moist Meadows that lie much wet or neer the Courses of Water Time It Flowreth in some place or other all the three Summer Months that is June July and August and their Seed is ripe quickly after Vertues and Use. It is used to stay all manner of Bleedings Fluxes Vomitings and Womens Courses and also their Whites It is said to alter and take away the fits of Quartan Agues and to make a merry heart for which purpose some use the Flowers and some the Leavs It helpeth speedily those that are troubled with the Chollick being boyled in Wine and with a little Honey taken warm it openeth the Belly but boyled in red Wine and drunk it stayeth the Flux of the Belly Being outwardly applied it healeth old Ulcers that are Cankrous or eaten or hollow and Fistulous for which it is by many much commended as also for the Sores in the Mouth or secret parts The Leavs when they are full grown being laid upon the Skin will in a short time raise Blisters thereon as Tragus saith The water thereof helpeth the heat and Inflamation in the Eyes Venus claims dominion over the Herb. The Quince-Tree Description THe Ordinary Quince-tree groweth often to the height and bigness of a reasonable Apple-tree but more usually lower and crooked with a rough Bark spreading Arms and Branches far abroad The Leavs are somwhat like those of the Apple-tree but thicker harder and fuller of Veins and white on the under side not dented at all about the edges The Flowers are large and white somtimes dash'd over with a Blush The Fruit that followeth is yellow being neer ripe and covered with a white Freez or Cotton thick set on the yonger and growing less as they grow to be through ripe bunched out often times in some places some being liker an Apple and some a Pear of a strong heady scent and not durable to keep and is sowr harsh and of an unpleasant tast to eat fresh but being scalded roasted baked or preserved becometh more pleasant Place and Time It best likes to grow neer Ponds and Water-sides and is frequent through this Land and Flowreth not until the Leavs be come forth The Fruit is ripe in September or October Vertues and Use. Quinces when they are green helps all sorts of Fluxes in man or Woman and Chollerick Lasks Castings and whatsoever needeth Astriction more than any way prepared by fire Yet the Syrup of the Juyce or the Conserve are much conducible much of the binding quality being consumed by the fire If a little Vinegar be added it stirreth up the languishing Appetite and the Stomach given to casting Some Spices being added it comforteth and strengthneth the decayed and fainting Spirits and helpeth the Liver oppressed that it cannot perfect the digestion and correcteth Choller and Flegm If you would have them Purging put Honey to them instead of Sugar and if more Laxative for Choller Rubarb for Flegm Turbith for warery Humors Scammony but if more forcibly to bind use the unripe Quinces with Roses and Acacia or Hypocistis and some torrefied Rubarb To take of the crude Juyce of Quinces is held a Preservative against the force of deadly poyson for it hath been found most certain true that the very smel of a Quince hath taken away all the strength of the Poyson of White Hellebore If there be need of any outward binding and cooling of any hot Fluxes The Oyl of Quinces or other Medicines that may be made thereof are very available to anoint the Belly or other parts therewith It likewise strengtheneth the Stomach and Belly and the Sinews that are loosned by sharp Humors falling on them and restraineth immoderate sweatings The Muccilage taken from the Seeds of Quinces boyled a little in Water is very good to cool the Heat and heal the Sore Breasts of Women The same with a little Sugar is good to lenefie the harshness and hoarsness of the Throat and roughness of the Tongue The Cotton or Down of Quinces boyled and applied to Plague Sores healeth them up and said as a Playster made up with Wax it bringeth hair to them that are bald and keepeth it from falling if it be ready to shed Radish and Horse-Radish THe Garden Radish is so wel known that it needeth no Description Description The Hors-Radish hath his first Leavs that rise before Winter about a foot and a holf long very much cut in or torn on the edges into many parts of a dark green colour with a great Rib in the middle After these have been up a while others follow which are greater rougher broader and longer whol and not devided as the first but only somwhat roundly dented about the edges The Stalk when it beareth Flowers which is but seldom is great rising up with some few lesser Leavs thereon to three or four foot high spreading at the top many smal Branches of whitish Flowers made of four Leavs apiece after which come smal Pods like those of Shepheards-Purs but seldom with any Seed in them The Root is great long white and rugged shooting up divers Heads of Leavs which may be parted for encreas but it doth not creep within ground nor run above ground and is of a strong sharp and bitter tast almost like Mustard Place It is found wild in some places of this Land but is chiefly planted in Gardens where it joyeth in a moist and shadowy place Time It Flowreth but seldom but when it doth it is in July
Bark of the Root taken in Wine performeth effectually Mathiolus saith the same helpeth the Diseas called Hiernia Carnosa the Fleshy Rupture by taking the said Pouder for some Months together constantly and that it hath cuted some which seemed incurable by any other means than by cutting or burning The Decoction thereof made with some Vinegar and gargled in the Mouth easeth the Toothach especially when it comes of Rhewm and the said Decoction is very powerful to open Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen and other parts A Distilled Water made in Balneo Mariae with four pound of the Roots hereof first sliced smal and afterwards steeped in a Gallon of Canary Wine is singular good for all the purposes aforesaid and to clens the passages of the Urine The Pouder of the said Root made into an Electuary or Lozenges with Sugar as also the Bark of the fresh Roots boyled tender and afterwards beaten Into a Consetve with Sugar worketh the like effect The Pouder of the Roots strewed upon the Brims of Ulcers or mixed with any other convenient thing and applied consumeth the hardness and canseth them to heal the better Rocket IN regard the garden Rocket is rather used as a Sallet Herb than to any Physical purposes I shall omit it and only speak of the common wild Rocket The Description whereof take as followeth Description The common wild Rocket hath longer and narrower Leavs much more devided into slender cuts and jags on both sides of the middle Rib than the Garden kinds have of a sad overworn green colour from among which riseth up divers stiff Stalks two or three foot high somtimes set with the like Leavs but smaller and smaller upwards branched from the middle into divers stiff Stalks bearing sundry yeilow Flowers on them made of four Leavs apiece as the others are which afterwards yield smal reddish Seed in smal long Pods of a more bitter and hot biting tast than the Garden kinds as the Leavs are also Place It is found wild in divers places of this Land Time It Flowreth about June and July and the Seed is ripe in August Vertues and Use. The Wild Rocket is more strong and effectual to encreas Sperm and Venereous qualities whereunto also the Seed is more effectual than the Garden kinds It serveth also to help Digestion and provoketh Urine exceedingly The Seed is used to cure the bitings of Serpents the Scorpion and the Shrew-Mouse and other Poysons and expelleth Worms and other noisom Creatures that breed in the Body The Herb boyled or stewed and some Sugar put thereto helpeth the Cough in Children being taken often The Seed also taken in drink taketh away the ill scent of the Armpits encreaseth Milk in Nurses and wasteth the Spleen The Seed mixed with Honey and used on the face clenseth the Skin from Spots Morphew and other discolourings therein and used with Vinegar taketh away Freckles and redness in the Face or other parts and with the Gall of an Ox it amendeth foul Scars black and blew Spots and the marks of the smal Pox. The Wild Rockets are forbidden to be used alone in regard their sharpness fumeth into the Head causing ach and pain therein and are no less hurtful to hot and Chollerick persons for fear of inflaming their Blood and therefore for such we may say a little doth but a little harm For angry Mars rules them and he somtimes will be testy when he meets with Focls Winter Rocket or Cresses Description VVInter Rocket or winter Cresses hath diverse somwhat large sad green Leavs lying upon the ground torn or cut into divers parts somwhat like unto Rocket or Turnep Leavs with smaller pieces next the bottom and broad at the ends which so abide all Winter if it spring up in Autumn when it is used to be eaten from among which riseth up divers smal round Stalks full of branches bearing many smal yellow Flowers of four Leavs apiece after which come smal long Pods with reddish Seed in them The Root is somwhat stringy and perisheth every yeer after the Seed is ripe Place It groweth of its own accord in Gardens and Fields by the way sides in diverse places and particularly in the next Pasture to the conduit-Conduit-Head behind Grayes-Inne that brings Water to Mr. Lamb's Conduit in Holbourn Time It Flowreth in May and Seedeth in June and then perisheth Vertues and Use. This is profitable to provoke Urine and helpeth the Strangury and to expel Gravel and the Stone It is also of good effect in the Scurvey It is found by experience to be a singular good Wound Herb to clense inward Wounds the Juyce or Decoction being drunk or outwardly applied to wash foul Ulcers and Sores clensing them by sharpness and hindring or abating the dead Flesh from growing therein and healing them by the drying quality Roses I Hold it altogether needless to trouble the Reader with a Description of any of these sith both the Garden Roses and the Wild Roses of the Bryars are well enough known Take therefore the Vertues of them as followeth And first I shal begin with the Garden kinds Vertues and Use. The White and the Red Roses are cooling and drying yet the White is taken to exceed the Red in both those properties but is seldom used inwardly in any Medicine The bitterness in the Roses when they are fresh especially the Juyce purgeth Choller and watery Humors but being dried and that heat which caused the bitterness being consumed they have then a binding and astringent quality Those also that are not ful blown do both cool and bind more than those that are full blown and the White Roses more than the Red. The Decoction of Red Roses made with Wine and used is very good for the Headach and pains in the Eyes Ears Throat and Gums as also for the Fundament the lower Bowels and the Matrix being bathed or put into them The same Decoction with the Roses remaining in it is profitably applyed to the Region of the Heart to eas the Inflamation therin as also St. Anthonies fire and other Diseases of the Stomach Being dried and beaten to Pouder and taken in steeled Wine or Water it helpeth to stay Womens Courses The yellow threds in the middle of the red Roses which are erroniously called the Rose Seeds being poudered and drunk in the distilled water of Quinces stayeth the overflowing of Womens Courses and doth wonderfully stay the Defluxions of Rhewm upon the Gums and Teeth preserving them from corruption and fastning them if they be loose being washed and gargled therewith and some Vinegar of Squils added thereto The Heads with Seed being used in Pouder or in a decoction stayeth the Lask and spitting of Blood Red Roses do strengthen the Heart the Stomack and the Liver and the retentive Faculties they mitigate the pains that arise from Heat asswage Inflamations procure rest and sleep stay both Whites and Reds in Women the Gonorrhea running of the
up with one upright Stalk about a foot high or more deviding it self almost from the bottom into diverse smaller Branches of a hoary colour at each Joynt of the Stalk and Branches grow two smal broad Leaves somwhat white or hoary also At the tops of the Stalks and Branches stand many small white Flowers consisting of four and somtimes five very small Leaves set in order one above another upon a smal câ—ooked spike which turneth inwards like a bowed finger opening by degrees as the Flowers blow open after which in their places come smal corner'd Seed four for the most part standing together The Root is smal and threddy perishing every yeer and the Seed shedding every yeer raiseth it again the next Spring Place It groweth in Gardens and Flowreth and Seedeth with us in England notwithstanding it is not natural to this Land but to Italy Spain and France where it groweth plentifully Vertues and Use. Dioseorides saith That a good Handful of this which is called the greater Turnsole boyled in Water and drunk pnrgeth both Choller and Flegm And boyled with Cummin and drunk helpeth the Stone in the Reins Kidneys or Bladder provoketh Urine and Womens Courses and causeth an easie and syeedy delivery in Childbirth The Leaves bruised and applied to places pained with the Gout or that have been out of joynt and newly set are full of pain do give much case The Seed and the Juyce of the Leaves also being rubbed with a little Salt upon Warts Wens and other hard Kernels in the Face Eyelids or any other part of the Body will by often using take them away 'T is an Herb of the Sun and a good one too Meadow Trefoyl or Honeysuckles THese are so well known especially by the name of Honeysuckles White and Red that I need not describe them Place They grow almost every where in this Land Vertues and Use. Dodoneus saith The Leaves and Flowers are good to ease the griping pains of the Guts the Herb being boyled and used in a Clyster If the Herb be made into a Pultis and applied to Inflamations it will ease them The Juyce dropped into the Eyes is a familier Medicine with many Country people to take away the Pin and Web as they call it in the Eyes it also allayeth the Heat and bloodshooting of them Country people do also in many places drink the Juyce hereof against the biting of an Adder and having boyled the Herb in water they first wash the place with the Decoction and then lay some of the Herb also to the hurt place The Herb also boyled in Swines Grease and so made into an Oyntment is good to apply to the biting of any Venemous Creature The Herb also bruised and heated between two Tiles and applied hot to the share causeth them to make water who had it stop'd before It is held likewise to be good for Wounds and to take away Scars The Decoction of the Herb and Flowers with the Seed and Root taken for some time helpeth Women that are troubled with the Whites The Seed and Flowers boyled in Water and after made into a Pultis with some Oyl and applied helpeth hard Swellings and Impostumes Of Tefoyl or three leaved Grass there are very many sorts described by Authors but one I have found out which I never red of the Leaf is but small and it beareth a small yellow Flower in the midst of each Leaf of the Herb is a perfect picture of a Heart in red colour it grows plentifully in a Field between Longford and Bow also I found one Root in the High-way between Chadwel and Rumford in Essex as also another in the High-way between Horn-Church and Upminster in the same County the tast is somthing more hot and spicy than the tast of the rest is Tutsan or Park Leaves Description THis hath many brownish shining round Stalks crested all the length thereof rising to be two and somtimes three foot high branching forth even from the bottom having diverse Joynts and at each of them two fair large Leaves standing of a dark blewish green colour on the upper side and of a yellowish green underneath turning reddish towards Autumn but abiding on the Branches all the Winter At the tops of the Stalks and Branches stand large yellow Flowers and Heads with Seed which being greenish at the first and afterwards reddish turn to be of a blackish purple colour when they are through ripe with smal brownish Seed within them and then yield a reddish Juyce or Liquor of a reasonable good scent somwhat resinous and of an harsh or stiptich tast as the Leaves also and the Flowers be although much less but do not yield such a cleer Claret Wine Liquor as some say it doth The Root is brownish somwhat great hard and woody spreading well in the ground Place It groweth in many Woods Groves and Wooddy Grounds as Parks and Forrests and by Hedg sides in many places of this Land as in Hampsted Wood by Railey in Essex in the Wild of Kent and in many other places needless to recite Time It Flowreth later than St. Johns or St. Peters wort Vertues and Use. Tutsan purgeth Chollerick Humors as St. Peters wort is said to do for therein it worketh the same effects both to help the Sciatica and Gout and to heal burnings by fire It stayeth also the bleeding of Wounds if either the green Herb be bruised or the pouder of the dry be applied thereto It hath been accounted and certainly is a soveraign Herb to heal any Wound or Sore either outwardly or inwardly and therfore alwaies used in Drinks Lotions Balms Oyls Oyntments for any sort of green Wound or old Ulcers and Sores in all which the continual experience of former Ages hath confirmed the use thereof to be admirable good though it be not so much in use now as when Physitians and Chirurgeons were so wise as to use Herbs more than now they do It is an Herb of Saturn and a most noble Antivenerian Garden Valerian Description THis hath a thick short grayish Root lying for the most part above ground shooting forth on all sides other such like small pieces or Roots which have all of them many long and great strings or fibres under them in the ground whereby it draweth nourishment From the Heads of these Roots spring up many green Leaves which at first are somewhat broad and long without any devision at all in them or denting on the edges but those that rise up after are more and more devided on each side some to the middle Rib being winged as made of many Leaves together on a Stalk those upon the Stalk in like manner are more devided but smaller towards the top than below The Stalk riseth to be a yard high or more somtimes branched at the top w th many smal whitish Flowers somtimes dash'd over at the edges with a pale purplish colour of a little scent which paffing
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
especial friend and help to evil weak and cold Livers The Seed is familiarly given to Children for the Worms and so is the infusion of the Flowers in white Wine given them to the Quantity of two ounces at a time It maketh an excellent Salve to clens and heal old Ulcers being boyled with Oyl Olive and Adders Tongue with it and after it is strained to put a little Wax Rozin and Turpentine to bring it into a convenient Body Cudweed or Cottonweed ♄ Description THe common Cudweed riseth up but with one Stalk somtime and somtimes with two or three thick set on all sides with small long and narrow whitish or wooly Leavs from the middle of the Stalk almost up to the top with every Leaf standeth a smal Flower of a dun or brownish yellow colour or not so yellow as others in which Heads after the Flowers are fallen come smal Seed wrapped up with the down therin and is crried away with the Wind. The Root is small and threddy There are other sorts hereof which are somwhat lesser than the former not much different save only that as the Stalk and Leavs are shorter so the Flowers are paler and more open Place They grow in dry barren sandy and gravelly Grounds in most places of this Land Time They Flower about July some earlier some later and their Seed is ripe in August Vertues and use The Plants are all astringent or binding and drying and therfore profitable for Deflnxions of Rhewm from the Head and to stay Fluxes of Blood whersoever The Decoction being made into red Wine and drunk or the Pouder taken therin it also helpeth the Bloody Flux and easeth the torments that come therby stayeth the immoderate Courses of Women and is also good for inward or outward Wounds Hurts and Bruises and helpeth Children both of Burstings and the Worms and the Diseas called Tenasmus which is an often provocation to the Stool and doing nothing being either drunk or injected The green Leavs bruised and laid to any green Wound staieth the bleeding and healeth it up quickly The Decoction or Juyce therof doth the same and helpeth all old and filthy Ulcers quickly The juyce of the Herb taken in Wine and Milk is as Pliny saith a Sovereign remedy against the Mumps and Quinsie and further saith That whosoever shal so take it shal never be troubled with that Diseas again Venus is Lady of it ♀ ♈ Cowslips BOth the Wild and Garden Cowslips are so wel known that I wil neither trouble my self nor the Reader with any description of them Time They Flower in April and May. Vertues and Vse The Flowers are held to be more effectual than the Leavs and the Roots of little use An Oyntment being made with them taketh away Spots and Wrinkles of the Skin Sun-burning and Freckles and ads Beauty exceedingly They remedy all infirmities of the Head coming of Heat and Wind as Vertigo Ephialtes fals apparitions Phrensies Falling-sickness Palsies Convulsions Cramps Pains in the Nerves The Roots eas pains in the Back and Bladder and open the passages of Urine The Leavs are good in Wounds and the Flowers take away trembling If the Flowers be not well dried and kept in a warm place they wil soon putrifie and look green have a special eye over them if you let them see the Sun once a Month it wil do neither the Sun nor them harm Becaus they strengthen the Brain and Nerves and remedy Palsies the Greeks gave them the name Prralisis The Flowers preserved or conserved and the quantity of a Nutmeg eaten every morning is a sufficient Dose for inward Diseases but for Wounds Spots Wrinkles and Sunburning an Oyntment is made of the Leavs and Hogs greas Venus laies claim to the Herb as her own and it is under the Sign Aries and our City Dames know wel enough the Oyntment or Distilled Water of it adds Beauty or at least restores it when it is lost ♄ Sciatica-Cresses Description THese are of two kinds The first riseth up with a round Stalk about two foot high spread into divers Branches whose lower Leavs are somwhat larger than the upper yet all of them cut or torn on the edges somwhat like unto Garden-Cresses but smaller The Flowers are smal and white growing at the tops of the Branches where afterwards grow Husks with smal brownish Seed therin very strong and sharp in tast more than the Cresses of the Garden The Root is long white and woody The other hath the lower leavs whol somwhat long and bread not torn at al but only somwhat deeply dented about the edges towards the ends but those that grow up higher are lesser The Flowers and Seed are like the former and so is the Root likewise and both Root and Seed as sharp as it Place These grow by the way sides in untilled places and by the sides of old Walls Time They Flower in the end of June and their Seed is ripe in July Vertues and use The Leavs but especially the Roots taken fresh in the SuÌ„mer time beaten made into a Pultis or Salve with old Hogs Greas and applied to the place pained with the Sciatica to continue theron four hours if it be on a Man and two hours on a Woman the place afterwards bathed with Wine and Oyl mixed together and then wrapped with Wool or Skins after they have swet a little wil assuredly cure not only the same Diseas in the Hips Hucklebone or other of the Joynts as the Gout in the Hands or Feet but all other old Griefs of the Head as invererate Rhewms and other part of the Body that is hard to be cured And if of the former Griefs any part remain the same Medicine after twenty daies is to be applied again The same is also effectual in the Diseases of the Spleenâ— and applied to the Skin it taketh away the blemishes therof whether they be Scars Leprosie Scabs or Scurf which although it exulcerate the part yet that is to be helped afterwards with a Salve made of Oyl and Wax Esteem of this as another Secret ☽ ♎ Water-Cresses ♄ Description OUr ordinary Water-Cresses spreadeth forth with many weak hollow sappy Stalks shooting out fibres at the Joynts and upwardâ— long winged Leavs made of sundry broad â—sappy and almost round Leavs of a brownish green colour The Flowers are many and white standing on long Footstalks after which come small yellow Seed contained in smal long pods like Horns The whol Plant abideth green in the Winter and tasteth somwhat hot and sharp Place They grow for the most part in the smal standing Waters yet somtimes in smal Rivulets of running Water Time They Flower and Seed in the beginning of Summer Vertues and use They are more powerful against the Scurvy and to clens the Blood and Humors than Brooklime is and serve in al the other uses in which Brooklime is available as to break the
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
Succory made with wine and taken helpeth the wind chollick and hardness of the spleen it procureth rest and sleep hindereth venery and venercous dreams cooleth heats purgeth the stomach encreaseth blood helpeth the diseases of the Reins and Bladder Outwardly applied it is singular good for all the defects and diseases of the eyes used with some womens Milke and is used w th good success in fretting or creeping ulcers elpecially in the beginning The green Herb bruised and with a little Salt applyed to any place burnt with fire before blisters do arise helpeth them as also inflamations St Anthonies fire and al Pushes and eruptions heat and salt Flegm The same applyed with Meal and fair water in manner of a Poultis to any place affected with convulsions and the Cramp or such as are out of Joynt doth give help and ease The distilled water clenseth the skin and taketh away freckles Spots the Morphew or Wrinkles in the face The Hawthorn It is not my intent to trouble you with a Description of this Tree which is so well known that it needeth none It is ordinarily but a Hedg Bush although being pruned and dressed it groweth to be a Tree of a reasonable height As for the Hawthorn tree at Glastenbury which is said to flower yearly on Christmas Dry it rather shews the superstition of those who observe it for the time of its Flowring than any great wonder sith the like may be found in diverse other places of this land as in Whey-street in Rumney Marsh and neer unto Nantwiche in Cheshire by a place called White-Green where if the Winter be milde they will be white blossomes all over before and about Christmas as in May if the weather be frosty it Flowreth not until January or that the hard weather be over Vertues and use The Berries or the seeds in the Berries beaten to pouder and drunk in wine are held singular good against the stone and are good for the dropsy The distilled water of the Flowers stayeth the lask The seeds cleared from the Down bruised and boyled in wine drunk is good for inward tormenting pains If cloathes and spunges be wet in the said distilled water and applyed to any place wherin thornes splinters or the like do abide in the Flesh it will notably draw them forth And thus you see the thorn gives a medicine for his own pricking and so doth almost every thing else Hemlock Description The Common great Hemlock groweth up with a green stalk four or five foot high or more ful of red spots somtimes and at the Joynts very large winged leavs set at them which are divided into many other winged leaves one set against another dented about the edges of a sad green colour branched towards the top where it is full of Umbles of white Flowers and afterwards with whitish flat Seed The Root is long white and somtimes crooked and hollow within the whol Plant and every part hath a strong heady and ill favor'd scent much offending the Senses Place It groweth in all Countries of this Land by Wals and Hedges sides in wast Grounds and untilled places Time It Flowreth and Seedeth in July or thereabouts Vertues and Vse Hemlock is exceeding cold and very dangerous especially to be taken unwardly It may safely be applied to Inflamations Tumors and Swelling in any part of the Body save the Privy parts as also to St. Anthonies fire Wheals Pushes and creeping Ulcers that rise of hot sharp Humors by cooling and repelling the heat The Leavs bruised and laid to the Brow or Forehead is good for their Eyes that are red and swollen as also to take away a Pin and Web growing in the Eye this is a tried Medicine Take a smal Handful of the Herb and half so much Bay Salt beaten together and applied to the contrary Wrest of the Hand for twenty four Hours doth remove it in thrice dressing If the Root hereof be roasted under the Embers wrapped in double wet Papers until it be soft and tender and then applied to the Gout in the Hands or Fingers it will quickly help this evil If any shall through mistake eat the Herb Hemlock instead of Parsly or the Root instead of a Parsnip both which it is very like whereby hapneth a kind of Phrensie or Perturbation of the senses as if they were stupified or drunk The Remedy is as Pliny saith to drink of the best and strongest pure Wine before it strike to the Heart or Gentian put into Wine or a draught of good Vinegar wherewith Tragus doth affirm that he cured a Woman that had eaten the Root Saturn claims Dominion over the Herb yet Iwonder why it may not be applied to the privities in a Priapismus or continual standing of the Yard it being very beneficial for that Diseas I suppose my Authors Judgment was first upon the opposit Disposition of Saturn to Venus in those Faculties and therfore he forbid the applying of it to those parts that it might not caus Barrenness or spoil the Spirit Procreative which if it do yet applied to the Privities it stops lustful thoughts Hemp. THis is so well known to every good Huswife in the Country that I shal not need to write any Description of it Time It is sown in the end of March or beginning of April and is ripe in August or September Vertues and use The Seed of Hemp consumeth Wind and by the much use there of disperseth it so much that it drieth up the natural Seed for Procreation yet being boyled in Milk and taken helpeth such as have a hot dry Cough The Dutch make an Emulsion out of the Seed and give it with good success to those that have the Jaundice especially in the beginning of the Diseas if there be no Ague accompanying it for openeth Obstructions of the Gall and causeth digestion of Choller The Emulsion or Decoction of the Seed staieth Lasks and continual Fluxes easeth the Chollick and allayeth the troublesom Humors in the Bowels and staieth bleeding at the Mouth Nose or other place some of the Leavs being fried with the Blood of that bleed and so given them to eat It is held very good to kill the Worms in man or Beast and the Juyce dropped into the Ears killeth Worms in them and draweth forth Earwigs or other living Creatures gotten into them The Decoction of the Root allayeth Inflamations in the Head or any other parts the Herb it self or the Distilled Water thereof doth the like The Decoction of the Roots easeth the pains of the Gout the hard Tumors or Knots in the Joynts the pains and shrinking of the Sinews and the pains of the Hips The fresh Juyce mixed with a little Oyl and Butter is good for any place that hath been burnt with fire being thereto applied It is a Plant of Saturn and good for something els you see than to make Halters only Henbane Description
the Root and bottom of the Stalk Place It groweth very plentifully in many places of this Land but especially in all the West parts thereof upon stone and mud Wals upon Rocks also and in stony places upon the ground at the Bottom of old Trees and somtimes on the Bodies of them that are decayed and rotten Time It usually Flowreth in the begining of May and the Seed is ripening quickly after sheddeth it self so that about the end of May usually the Leavs and Stalks are withered dry and gone until September that the Leavs spring up again and so abide all Winter Vertues and Use. The Juyce or the distilled water being drunk is very effectual for al Inflamations and unnatural heats to cool a fainting hot Stomach or a hot Liver or the Bowels The bruised Herb or the place bathed with the Juyce or distilled Water thereof and outwardly applied healeth Pimples Redness St. Anthonies Fire and other outward heats and Inflamations The said Juyce or Water helpeth much also to heal sore Kidneys torn or fretted by the Stone or exulcerated within and easeth the pâ—ns It also provoketh Urine and is available for the Dropsie and helpeth to break the Stone cooling the Inflamed parts and other pains of the Bowels and the bloody Flux It is singular good to cool the painful Piles or Hemorrhoidal Veins the Juyce being used as a Bath unto them or made into an Oyntment It is no less effectual to give eas of pains to the hot Gout the Sciatica and the Inflamations and Swellings in the Cods It helpeth the Kernels or Knots in the Neck or Throat called the Kings Evil healeth Kibes and Chilblains if they be bathed with the Juyce or anointed with an Oyntment made thereof and some of the skin of the Leaf laid upon them It is also used in green Wounds to stay the Blood and to heal them quickly Venus challengeth the Herb under Libra ♄ Knapweed Description The common sort herof hath many long and somwhat broad darke green leaves rising from the Root deeply dented about the edges and somtimes a little rent or torne on both sides in two or three places and somwhat hairy withal among which riseth up a strong round stalk four or five foot high devided into many branches at the tops wherof stand great scalygreen heads from the middle of them thrust forth a number of dark purplish red thrumms or threds which after they are withered and past ther is found divers black Seeds lying in a great deal of down somwhat like unto a Thistle Seed but smaller The Root is white hard and woody with divers fibres annexed therunto which perisheth not but abideth with leavs theron all the winter shooting out fresh every Spring Place It groweth in most Feilds and Meadows and about their borders and Hedges and in many wast grounds also almost every where Time It usually flowreth in June and July and the seed is ripe shortly after Vertues and Use. This Knaproeed helpeth to stay Fluxes both of blood at the mouth or nose or other outward parts and those veins that are inwardly broken or inward wounds as also the Fluxes of the belly It stayeth the distillations of thin and sharp humors from the head upon the stomach and Lungs it is good for those that are bruised by any fall blowes or otherwise It is very profitable for those that are bursten and have a Rupture by drinking the decoction of the Hearbe and roots in wine and applying the same outwardly to the place It is singular good in al running sores cankrous and fistulous drying up the moysture and healing them up gently without sharpness it doth the like to running sores or scabs of the head or other parts It is of special use for the soreness of the Throat swelling of the Vvula and Jawa and excellent good to stay the bleeding and heale up all green wounds Saturn challengeth the herb for his own ♄ Knot-grass Description THis is generally so wel known that it needeth no Description Place It groweth in every County of this Land by the High-way sides and by foot paths in Fields as also by the sides of old Walls Time It springeth up late in the Spring and abideth until Winter when all the branches perish Vertues and Use. The Juyce of the common kind of Knot-grass is most effectuall to stay bleeding at the mouth being drunke in steeled or red Wine and the bleeding at the Nose to be applyed to the Forehead and Temples or to be squirted up into the Nostrils And no less effectuall to coole and temper that heat of the blood stomach and to stay any Flux of the blood or humers as Lask Bloodyflux Womens courses and Running of the Reins It is singular good to provoke Urine helpe the strangurie and allay the heate that cometh therby and it is powerful by Urin to expel the Gravell or stone in the kidneys or Bladder a dram of the pouder of the Herb being taken in wine for many dayes together Being boyled in wine and drunke it is profitable to those that are stung or bitten by venemous creatures and very effectual to stay al defluxions of rhewmatick humors upon the stomach killeth Worms in the belly or stomack quieteth inward paines that arise from the heat sharpness corruption of blood and Choller The distilled water herof taken by it self or w th the pouder of the Herb or seed is very effectual to al the purposes aforesaid and is accounted as one of the most Soveraign remedies to cool all manner of inflamations breakings out through heate hot Swellings and Impostumations Gangrenes and Fistulous Cankers or foule filthy Ulcers being applyed or put into them but especially for all sorts of Ulcers and sores happening in the privie parts of men or women It helpeth all fresh and green Wounds and speedily helpeth them The Juyce dropped into the Ears cleanseth them being soule and having running matter in them Saturn seems to me to own the Hearb and yet some hold the sun out of doubt 't is Saturn it is very prevalent for the premises as also for btoken Joynts and Ruptures ♀ Ladies-Mantle Description THis hath many leavs rising from the Root standing upon long hairy footstalkes being almost round but a little cut in on the edges into eight or ten parts more or less making it seem like a Star with so many corners and points and dented round about of a light green colour somwhat hard in handling and as if it were folded or plaited at first and then crumpled in divers places and a little hairy as the Stalk is also which riseth up among them to the height of two or three foot with such like Leavs thereon but smaller and being weak
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
the Dropsie and Stone in the Kidneys in this manner Take of the Seeds of Parsley Fennel Annis and Caraways of each an ounce of the Roots of Parsley Burnet Saxifrage and Carawaies of each one ounce and an half let the Seeds be bruised and the Roots washed and cut smal Let them lie all night in sleep in a pottle of white Wine and in the morning be boyled in a close earthen Vessel until a third part or more be wasted which being strained and cleared take four ounces thereof morning and evening first and last abstaining from drink after it for three hours This openeth Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen and expelleth the Dropsie and Jaundice by Urine Parsnip THe Garden kind hereof is so well known the Root being commonly eaten that I shal not trouble you w th any Description of it But the wild kind being of more Physical use I shall in this place describe unto you Discription The wild Parsnip differeth little from the Garden kind but groweth not so fair and large nor hath so many Leavs and the Root is shorter more woody and not so fit to be eaten and therefore the more Medicinable Place The name of the first sheweth the place of its growth Viz. In Gardens The other groweth wild in divers places as in the Marshes by Rochester and elswhere and flowreth in July the Seed being ripe about the beginning of August the second yeer after the sowing for if they do flower the first yeer the Country people call them Madneps Vertues and use The Garden Parsnep nourisheth much and is good and wholsom Nourishment but a little windy whereby it is thought to procure bodily lust but it fatneth the Body much if much used It is conducible to the Stomach and Reins and provoketh Urine But the wild Parsnep hath a cutting attenuating clensing and opening quality therein It resisteth and helpeth the bitings of Serpents easeth pains and Stitches in the sides and dissolveth wind both in the Stomach and Bowels which is the Chollick and provoketh Urine The Root is often used but the Seed much more The wild being better than the tame shews Dame Nature is the best Physitian Cow-Parsnep Description THis groweth with three or four large spread winged rough Leavs lying often on the Ground or else raised a little from it with long round hairy footstalks under them parted usually into five devisions the two couples standing each against other and one at the end and each Leaf being almost round yet somwhat deeply cut in on the edges in some Leavs and not so deep in others of a whitish green colour smelling somwhat strongly among which ariseth up a round crested hairy Stalk two or three foot high with a few Joynts and Leavs thereon and branched at the top where stand large Umbels of white and somtimes reddish Flowers and after them flat whitish thin winged Seed two alwaies joyned together The Root is long and white with two or three long strings growing down into the ground smelling likewise strongly and unpleasant Place It groweth in moist Meadows and the borders and corners of Fields and neet Ditches generally through this Land Time It Flowreth in July and Seedeth in August Vertues and Use. The Seed hereof as Galen saith is of a sharp and cutting quality and is therefore a fit Medicine for the Cough and shortness of Breath the Falling-sickness and the Jaundice The Root is available to all the purposes aforesaid and is also of great use to take away the hard skin that groweth on a Fistula if it be but scraped upon it The Seed hereof being drunk clenseth the belly from tough Flegmatick matter therein easeth them that are Liver-grown and Womens passions of the Mother as well being drunk as the smoke thereof received underneath and likewise raiseth such as are fallen into a deep sleep or have the Lethargy by burning it under their Nose The Seed and Root boyled in Oyl and the Head rubbed therewith helpeth not only those that are fallen into a Frenzy but also the Lethargy or Drowsie evil and those that have been long troubled with the Headach if it be likewise used with Rue It helpeth also the running Scab and the Shingles The Juyce of the Flowers dropped into the Ears that run and are ful of matter it clenseth and healeth them The Peach-tree Description THe Peach-tree groweth not so great as the Apricock-tree yet spreadeth Branches reasonable well from whence spring smaller reddish twigs whereon are set long and narrow green Leavs dented about the edges The Blosloms are greater than the Plum and of a light Purple colour The Fruit round and somtimes as big as a reasonable Pippin others are smaller as also differing in colours and tasts as russer red or yellow waterish or firm with a frieze or Cotton all over with a cleft therein like an Apricock and a rugged surrowed great Stone within it and a bitter Kernel within the Stone It sooner waxeth old and decayeth than the Apricock by much Place They are nursed up in Gardens and Orchards through this Land Time They Flower in the Spring and Fructifie in Autumn Vertues and use The Leavs of Peaches bruised and laid on the Belly killeth Worms and so they do also being boyled in Ale and drunk and open the Belly likewise and being dried is a safe Medicine to discuss Humors The Pouder of them strewed upon fresh bleeding Wounds stayeth their bleeding and closeth them up The Flowers steeped all night in a little Wine standing warm strained forth in the morning and drunk fasting doth gently open the Belly and move it downwards A Syrup made of them as the Syrup of Roses is made worketh more forcibly than that of Roses for it provoketh Vomiting and spendeth waterish and Hydropick Humors by the continuance thereof The Flowers made into a Conserve worketh the same effect The Liquor that droppeth from the Tree being wounded is given in the Decoction of Coltsfoot to those that are troubled with the Cough or shortness of breath by adding thereto some sweet Wine and putting some Saffron also therein it is good for those that are hoarce or have lost their voice helpeth all defects of the Lungs and those that vomit or spit blood Two drams thereof given in the Juyce of Lemmons or of Radish is good for those that are troubled with the Stone The Kernels of the Stones do wonderfully eas the pains and wringings of the Belly through wind or sharp Humors and help to make an excellent Medicine for the Stone upon all occasions on this manner Take fifty Kernels of Peach Stones and one hundred of the Kernels of Cherry Stones a handful of Eldor Flowers fresh or dried and three pints of Muscadine set them in a closed pot into a bed of Horse dung for ten daies which after distill in Glass with a gentle fire and keep it for your use you may drink upon occasion three or four ounces at a time The
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
toward the top into many parts where the Leaves grow smaller again every one standing singly and never two at any Joynt The Flowers are very smal and yellow standing in tufts at the heads of the Branches where afterwards grow the Seed smal and blackish many thick thust together The Root is smal long and woody perishing every yeer after Seed time and rising again plentifully of its own sowing Place It is found growing in many Corn Fields and Pasture grounds in this Land Time It Flowreth in July and the Seed is ripe in August Vertues and Use. Thoroughwax is of a singular good use for all sorts of Bruises and Wounds either inward or outward and old Ulcers and Sores likewise if the Decoction of the Herb with water or Wine be drunk and the places washed therwith or the Juyce or green Herb bruised or boyled either by it self or with other Herbs in Oyl or Hogs Grease to be made into an Oyntment to serve all the yeer The Decoction of the Herb or the Pouder of the dried Herb taken inwardly and the same or the green Leaves bruised and applied outwardly is singular good to cure Ruptures and Burstings especially in Children before it be two old Being also applied with a little Flower and Wax to Childrens Navils that stick forth it helpeth them Tormentil Description THis hath many reddish slender weak Branches rising from the Root lying upon the ground or rather leaning than standing upright with many short Leaves that stand closer to the Stalks than Cinkfoyl doth which this is very like with the Footstalk encompassing the Branches in several places but those that grow next to the ground are set upon long Footstalks each whereof are like the Leaves of Cinkfoyl but somwhat longer and lesser and dented about the edges many of them devided but into five Leaves but most of them into sevens whence it is also called Setfoyl yet some may have six and some eight according to the fertility of the Soyl At the tops of the Branches stand diverse smal yellow Flowers consisting of five Leaves like those of Cinkfoyl but smaller The Root is smaller than Bistort somwhat thick but blacker without and not so red within yet somtimes a little crooked having many blackish fibres thereat Place It groweth as well in Woods and shadowy places as in the open Champion Country about the borders of Fields in many places of this Land and almost in every Broom Field in Essex Time It Flowreth all the Summer long Vertues and Use. Tormentil is most excellent to stay all kind of Fluxes of Blood or Humors in man or woman whether at Nose Mouth Belly or any Wound in the Veins or elswhere The Juyce of the Herb or Root taken in drink not only resisteth all Poyson and Venom of any Creature but of the Plague it self and Pestilential Feavers and contagious Diseases as the Pox Measels Purples c. expelling the Venom and Infection from the Heart by sweating if the green Root be not at hand to be had the Pouder of the dry Root is as effectual a dram thereof being taken every morning The Decoction likewise of the Herbs and Roots made in Wine and drunk worketh the same effect and so doth the distilled water of the Herb and Root being steeped in Wine for a night and then distilled in Balneo Mariae This Water thus distilled taken with some Venice Treacle and the party presently laid to sweat will certainly with Gods help expel any Venom or poyson or the Plague Feaver c. for it is an ingredient of especial respect in all Antidotes or Counterpoysons There is not found any Root more effectual to help any Flux of the Belly Stomach Spleen or Blood than this to be taken inwardly or applied outwardly The Juyce taken doth wonderfully open Obstructions of the Liver and Lungs and thereby in short space helpeth the yellow Jaundice Some use to make Cakes hereof as well to stay all Fluxes as to restrain all Chollerick Belchings and much Vomitings with Loathings in the Stomach The Pouder of the dâ—â—ed Root made up with the white of an Egg and baked upon a hot Tile will do it Andreus Valesius is of opinion That the Decoction of this Root is no less effectual to cure the French Pox than Guajacum or China and 't is not unlikely because it so mightily resisteth putrefaction Lobel saith That Rondelitius used it as Hermodactils for Joynt-aches The Pouder also or Decoction to be drunk or to sit therein as a Bath is an assured Remedy against abortion in Women if it proceed from the over Fluxibility or weakness of the inward retentive faculty as also a Plaister made therewith and Vinegar applyed to the Roins of the Back doth much help not only this but also those that cannot hold their Water the Pouder being taken in the Juyce of Plantane and it is also commended against the worms in Children It is very powerful in Ruptures and Burstings as also for Bruises and Falls to be used as well outward as inwardly The Root hereof made up with Pellitory of Spain and Allum and put into an hollow Tooth not only asswageth the pain but staieth the Flux of Humors which caused it Tormentil is no less effectual and powerful a Remedy for outward Wounds Sores and Hurts than for inward and is therefore a special Ingredient meet to be used in all Wound drinks Lotions and Injections for foul corrupt rotten Sores and Ulcers of the Mouth Secrets or other parts of the Body And to put either the Juyce or Pouder of the Root into such Oyntments Plaisters and such things that are to be applied to Wounds and Soe 's it also dissolveth all Knots Kernels and hardness gathered about the Ears the Throat and Jaws and the Kings Evil if the Leaves and Roots be bruised and applied thereto The same also easeth the pains of the Sciatica or Hip-gout by restraining the sharp Humors that flow thereto The Juyce of the Leaves and Roots used with a little Vinegar is also a special Remedy against the running Sores of the Head or other parts Scabs also and the Itch or any such eruptions in the Skin proceeding of Salt and sharp Humors The same also is effectual for the Piles or Hemorrhoids if they be washed and bathed therwith or with the Distilled water of the Herb and Roots It is found also helpful to dry up any sharp Rhewm that distilleth from the Head into the Eyes causing redness pain waterings Itchings or the like if a little prepared Tutia or white Amber be used with the Distilled water hereof Many Women use this Water as a secret to help themselves and others when they are troubled with the too much flowing of the Whites or Reds both to drink it and inject it with a Syringe And here 's enough only remember the Sun challengeth the Herb. Turnsole or Heliotropium Description THe greater Turnsole riseth
away there followeth small brownish white Seed that is easily carried away with the wind The Root smalleth more strong than either Leaf or Flower and is of more use in Medicine Place It is generally kept with us in our Gardens Time It Flowreth in June and July and continueth Flowring until the Frosts pull it down Vertues and Use. Dioscorides saith That the Garden Valcrian hath a warming Faculty and that being dryed and given to drink it provoketh Urine and helpeth the Strangury The Decoction therof taken doth the like also and taketh away pains of the sides provoketh Womens Courses and is used in Antidotes Pliny saith That the Pouder of the Root given in drink or the Decoction thereof taken helpeth all stoppings and stranglings in any part of the Body whether they proceed of pains in the Chest or sides and taketh them away The Root of Valerianboyled with Liquoris Raisons and Annis Seed is singular good for those that are short winded and for those that are troubled with the Cough and helpeth to open the passages and to expectorate Flegm easily It is given to those that are bitten or stung by any Venemous Creature being boyled in Wine It is of especial Vertue against the Plague the Decoction thereof being drunk and the Root being used to smell unto It helpeth also to expel the wind in the Belly The green Herb with the Root taken fresh being bruised and applied to the Head taketh away the pains and prickings therein staieth Rhewms and thin Distillations and being boyled in white Wine and the drop thereof put into the eye taketh away the dimness of the sight or any Pin or Web therein It is of excellent property to heal any inward Sores or Wounds as also for outward Hurts or Wounds and draweth any Splinter or Thorn out of the Flesh. Vervain Description THe common Vervain hath somwhat long and broad Leaves next the ground deeply gash'd about the edges and some only deeply dented or cut all alike of a blackish green colour on the upper side and somwhat gray underneath The Stalk is square branched into several parts rising about two foot high especially if you reckon the long spike of Flowers at the tops of them which are set on all sides one above another and somtimes two or three together being small and gaping of a Purplish blew colour and white intermixt after which come small round Seed in small and somwhat long Heads The Root is small and long but of no use Place It groweth generally throughout this Land in diverse places by the Hedges and way sides and other wast grounds Time It Flowreth about July and the Seed is ripe soon after Vertues and Use. Vervain is hot and dry bitter opening Obstructions clensing and healing It helpeth the yellow Jaundice the Dropsie and the Gout the defects of the Reins and Lungs and generally all inward pains and torments of the Body the Leaves being boyled and drunk The same is held to be good against the bitings of Serpents and other Venemous Beasts and against the Plague and both Tertian and Quartane Agues killeth and expelleth Worms in the Belly and causeth a good colour in the Face and Body strengthneth as well as correcteth the Diseases of the Liver and Spleen is very effectual in all Diseases of the Stomach and Lungs as Coughs shortness of Breath and Wheesings and is singular good against the Dropsie to be drunk with some Peony Seeds bruised and put thereto and is no less prevalent for the defects of the Reins and Bladder to clense them of those Humors that ingender the Stone and helpeth to break the Stone and to expel Gravel It consolidateth and healeth also all Wounds both inward and outward and stayeth bleedings and used with some Honey healeth all old Ulcers and Fistulaes in the Legs or other parts of the Body as also those Ulcers that happen in the Mouth or used with old Hogs grease it helpeth the Swellings and pains of the secret parts in man or Woman as also for the Piles and Hemorrhoidsâ— Applied with some Oyl of Roses and Vinegar unto the Forehead and Temples it easeth the inveterate pains and ach of the Head and is good for those that are Frenetick The Leaves bruised or the Juyce of them mixed with some Vinegar doth wonderfully clense the Skin and taketh away Morphew Freckles Pustulaes and other such like Inflamations and deformities of the Skin in any part of the Body The distilled water of the Herb when it is in his full strength dropped into the Eyes clenseth them from Films Clouds or mists that darken the sight and wonderfully strengtheneth the Optick Nerves The said Water is very powerful in all the Diseases aforesaid either inward or outward whether they be old corroding Sores or green Wounds This also is an Herb of Venus and an excellent Herb for the Womb to strengthen it and remedy all the cold griefs of it as Plantane doth the hot the Herb bruised and hung about the Neck helps the Headach The Vine THe Leaves of the English Vine I do not intend to send you to the Canaries for a Medicine being boyled make a good Lotion for sore Mouths being boyled with Barley Meal into a Pultis it cools Inflamations of Wounds the droppings of the Vine when 't is cut in the Spring which Country people call Tears being boyled into a Syrup with Sugar and taken inwardly is excellent to stay Womens longings after every thing they see which is a Disease many Women with Child are subject too the Decoction of Vine Leaves in white Wine doth the like also the Tears of of the Vine drunk two or three spoonfuls at a time breaks the Stone in the Bladder This is a very good Remedy and it is discreetly done to kill a Vine to cure a Man but the Salt of the Leaves is held to be better The Ashes of the burnt Branches will make Teeth that are as black as a coal to be as white as snow if you do but every morning rub them with it Violets THese both Tame and Wild are so well known that they need no Description Time They Flower until the end of July but are best in March and the beginning of April Vertues and Use. All the Violets are cold and moist while they are fresh and green and are used to cool any heat or distemperature of the Body either inwardly or outwardly as Inflamations in the Eyes in the Matrix or Fundament in Impostumes also and hot Swellings to drink the Decoction of the Leaves or Flowers made with Water or Wine or to apply them Pultiâ— wise to the grieved place it likewise easeth pains in the Head caused through want of sleep or in any other place arising of heat being applied in the same manner or with Oyl of Roses A dram weight of the dried Leaves of the Flowers of Violets but the Leaves more strongly
these in order SECT 1. The way of gathering drying and preserving Simples and their Juyces Chap. 1. Of Leaves of Herbs or Trees 1. OF Leaves chuse only such as are green and full of Juyce pick â—hem carefully and cast away such as are any way declining for they will putrifie the rest so shall one handful be worth ten of those you buy in Cheap side 2. Note in what place they most delight to grow in and gather them there for Bettony that grows in the shadow is far better than that which grows in the Sun because it delights in the shadow so also such Herbs as delight to grow neer the Water let such be gathered as grow neer the Water though happily you may find some of them upon dry ground the Treatise will inform you where every Herb delights to grow 3. The Leaves of such Herbs as run up to Seed are not so good when they are in flower as before some few excepted the Leaves of which are seldom or never used in such cases if through ignorance they were not known or through negligence forgotten you had better take the top and the Flowerâ— than the Leaf 4. Dry them well in the Sun and not in the shadow as the swinge of Physitians is for if the Sun draw away the Vertues of Herbs it must needs do the like by Hayâ— by the same Rule which the experience of every Country Farmer will explode for a notable piece of non-sense 5. Such as are Artists in Astrology and indeed none else are fit to make Physitians such I adviâ—e let the Planet that governs the Herb be Angular and â—he stronger the better if they can in Herbs of Saturn let Saturn be in the Ascendent in the Herbs of Mars let Mars be in the Mid-heaven for in those Houses they delight let the Moon apply to them by good Aâ—pectâ— and let her not be in the Houses of their Enemies If you cannot well stay till she apply to them let her apply to a Planet of the same Triplicity if you cannot wait that time neither let her be with a fixed Star of their Nature 6. Having well dryed them put them up in brown Papers sewing the Paper up like a Sack and press them not too hard together and keep them in a dry place neer the fire 7. As for the duration of dryed Herbs a just time cannot â—e given let Authors pâ—ate their pleasures For First Such as grow upon dry grounds will keep better than such as grow on moist Secondly Such Herbs as are full of Juyce will not keep so long as such as are dryer Thirdly Such Herbs as are well dryed will keep longer than such as are ill dried Yet this I say by this you may know when they are corrupted viz. By their loss of colour or smell or both and it they be corrupted reason will tell you that they must needs corrupt the Bodies of those people that take them 8. Gather all Leaves in the hour of that Planet that governs them Chap. 2. Of Flowers 1. THe Flower which is the beauty of the Plant and of none of the least use in Physick groweth yeerly and is to be gathered when it is in its prime 2. As for the time of gathering them let the Planetary hour and the Planet that rules the Plant they come of be observed as we shewed you in the foregoing Chapter as for the time of the day let it be when the Sun shines upon them that so they may be dry for if you gather either Herbs or Flowers when they are wet or dewy they will not keep and this I forgot before 3. Dry them well in the Sun and keep them in Papers neer the fire as I shewed you in the foregoing Chapter 4. So long as they retain their colour and smel they are good either of them being gone so is the Vertue also Chap. 3. Of Seeds 1. THe Seed is that part of the Plant which is endewed with a vitall faculty to bring forth its like and it contains potentially the whol Plant in it 2. As for place let them be gathered from the plants where they delight to grow 3. Let them be full ripe when they are gathered and forget not the Coelestial Harmony before mentioned for I have found by experience that their Vertues are twice as great at such times than at others There is an appointed time for every thing under the Sun 4. When you have gathered them dry them a little and but a little in the Sun before you lay them up 5. You need not be so careful of keeping them so neer the fire as the other before mentioned because they are fuller of Spirit and therefore not so subject to corrupt 6. As for the time of their duration 't is palpable they will keep good many yeers yet this I say they are best the first yeer and this I make appear by a good argument They will grow soonest the first yeer they be set therefore then are they in their prime and 't is an easie matter to renew them yeerly Chap. 4. Of Roots 1. OF Roots chuse such as are neither rotten nor wormeaten but proper in their rast colour and smell such as exceed neither in softness nor hardness 2. Give me leave to be a little critical against the Vulgar received Opinion which is That the Sap falls down into the Root in Autumn and rises again in Spring as men go to Bed at night and rise in the morning and this idle tale of untruth is so grounded in the Heads not only of the Vulgar but also of the Learned that a man cannot drive it out by Reason I pray let such Sap-mongers answer me to this Argument If the Sap fall into the Root in the fall of the Leaf and lie there all the Winter then must the Root grow only in the Winter as experience witnesseth but the Root grows not at all in the Winter as the saâ—c experience teacheth but only in the Summer Ergo If you set an Apple Kernel in the Spring you shall find the Root to grow to a pretty bigness in that Summer and be not a whit bigger next Spring What doth the Sap do in the Root all that while pick straws For God's sake build not your faith upon Tradition 't is as rotten as a rotten Post. The truth is when the Sun declines from the Tropick of Cancer the Sap begins to congeal both in Root and Branch when he toucheth the Tropick of Capricorn and ascends to us ward it begins to wax thin again and by degrees as it congealed But to proceed 3. The dryer time you gather your Roots in the better they areâ— for they have the less excrementitious moisture in then 4. Such Roots as are soft your best way is to dry in the Sun or else hang them up in the Chimney corner upon a string as for such as are hard you may dry them any where 5. Such Roots as are great will keep longer
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