standing waters elswhere This description was made vpon sight of the plant the 2. of Iune 1622. Tribulus aquaticus minor muscat 〈◊〉 floribus 1 Tribulus aquaticus Water Caltrops ‡ 2 Tribulus aquaticus minor quercus floribus Small water Caltrops or Frogs-lettuce ‡ 3 Tribulus aquaticus minor Muscatellae floribus Small Frogs-Lettuce ¶ The Place Cordus saith that it groweth in Germany in myrie lakes and in citie ditches that haue mud in them in Brabant and in other places of the Low-countries it is found oftentimes in standing waters and springs Matthiolus writeth that it groweth not only in lakes of sweet water but also in certaine ditches by the sea neere vnto Venice ¶ The Time It flourisheth in Iune Iuly and August ¶ The Names The Grecians call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latins Tribulus aquatilis and aquaticus and Tribulus lacustris the Apothecaries Tribulus marinus in High Dutch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Brabanders 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and of the likenesse of yron nailes 〈◊〉 the French men Macres in English it is named water Caltrops Saligot and Water nuts most do call the fruit of this Caltrops Castaneae aquatiles or water 〈◊〉 nuts ¶ The Temperature Water Caltrop is of a cold nature it consisteth of a moist essence which in this is 〈◊〉 waterie than in the land Caltrops wherein an earthie cold is predominant as Galen saith ¶ The Vertues The herbe vsed in manner of a pultis as Dioscorides teacheth is good against all inflammations or hot swellings boiled with honie and water it perfectly healeth cankers in the mouth sore gums and the Almonds of the throat The Thracians saith Plinie that dwell in Strymona do fatten their horses with the leaues of Saligot and they themselues do feed of the kernels making very sweet bread thereof which bindeth the belly The green nuts or fruit of Tribulus aquaticus or Saligot being drunke in wine is good for them which are troubled with the stone and grauell The same drunke in like manner or laied outwardly to the place helpeth those that are bitten with any venomous beast and resisteth all venome and poison The leaues of Saligot be giuen against all inflammations and vlcers of the mouth the 〈◊〉 and corruption of the iawes and against the Kings euill A pouder made of the nuts is giuen to such as pisse bloud and are troubled with grauell and it doth bind the belly very much ‡ The two lesser water Caltrops here described are in my opinion much agreeable in temper to the great one and are much fitter Succidanea for it then Aron which some in the composition of Vnguentum Agrippae haue appointed for it ‡ CHAP. 299. Of water Sengreene or fresh water Soldier Militaris Aizoides Fresh water Soldier ¶ The Description FResh water Soldier or water Housleeke hath leaues like those of the herbe Aloe or Semper vivum but shorter and lesser setround about the edges with certaine stiffe and short prickles amongst which commeth forth diuers cases or huskes verie like vnto crabbes clawes out of which when they open grow white floures consisting of three leaues altogether like those of Frogs-bit hauing in the middle little yellowish threds in stead of roots there be long strings round white vetic like to great Harp-strings or to long wormes which falling downe from a short head that brought sorth the leaues go to the bottom of the water and yet be they seldome there fastened there also grow from the same other strings aslope by which the plant is multiplied after the manner of Frogs-bit ¶ The Place ‡ I found this growing plentifully in the ditches about Rotsey a smal village in Holdernesse And my friend Mr. William Broad obserued it in the Fennes in Lincolne-shire ‡ The leaues and floures grow vpon the top of the water and the roots are sent downe through the water to the mud ¶ The Time It floures in Iune and sometimes in August ¶ The Names It may be called Sedum aquatile or water Sengreen that is to say of the likenesse of herbe Aloe which is also called in Latine Sedum of some Cancri chela or Cancri forficula in English VVater Housleeke Knights Pondwoort and of some Knights water Sengreene fresh water Soldier or wading Pondweed it seemeth to be Stratiotes aquatilis or Stratiotes potamios or Knights water Wound-woort which may also be named in Latine Militaris aquatica and Militaris 〈◊〉 or Soldiers Yarrow for it groweth in the water and floteth vpon it and if those strings which it sendeth to the bottome of the wat er be no roots it also liueth without roots ¶ The Temperature This herbe is of a cooling nature and temperament ¶ The Vertues This Housleeke staieth the bloud which commeth from the kidneies it keepeth green wounds from being inflamed and it is good against S. Anthonies fire and hot swellings being applied vnto them and is equall in the vertues aforesaid with the former CHAP. 300. Of Water Yarrow and water Gillofloure 1 Viola palustris Water Violet ‡ Viola Palustris tenuifolia The smaller leaued water violet ¶ The Description 1 WAter Violet hath long and great iagged leaues very finely cut or rent like Yarrow but smaller among which come vp small stalkes a cubit and a halfe high bearing at the top small white floures like vnto stocke Gillofloures with some yellownes in the middle The roots are long and small like blacke threds and at the end whereby they are fastened to the ground they are white and shining like Chrystall ‡ There is another varietie of this plant which differs from it only in that the leaues are much smaller as you may see them exprest in the figure ‡ 2 Water Milfoile or water Yarrow hath long and large leaues deepely cut with many diuisions like 〈◊〉 but finelier iagged swimming vpon the water The root is single long and round which brings vp a right straight and slender stalke set in sundry places with the like leaues but smaller The floures grow at the top of the stalke tuft fashion and like vnto the land Yarrow 3 This water Milfoile differeth from all the kindes aforesaid hauing a root in the bottom of the water made of many hairy strings which yeeldeth vp a naked slender stalke within the water and the rest of the stalke which floteth vpon the water diuideth it selfe into sundry other branches and wings which are bedasht with fine small iagged leaues like vnto 〈◊〉 or rather resembling hairy tassels or fringe than leaues From the bosomes whereof come forth small and tender branches euery branch bearing one floure like vnto water Crow-foot white of colour with a little yellow in the midst the whole plant resembleth water Crow-foot in all things saue in the broad leaues †4 There is another kinde of water violet very like the former sauing that his leaues are much longer somewhat resembling the leaues of Fennell fashioned like vnto wings and the floures are somewhat smaller yet white with yellownesse in their middles and shaped
foot high diuided into sundry branches whereon grow vmbels of whitish floures the seeds are like but larger than those of the common Parsley and when they are ripe they commonly sow themselues and the old roots die and the young ones beare seed the second yeere after there sowing ‡ ¶ The Place It is sowne in beds in gardens it groweth both in hot and cold places so that the ground be either by nature moist or be oftentimes watered for it prospereth in moist places and is delighted with water and therefore it naturally commeth vp neere to fountaines or springs Fuchsius writeth that it is found growing of it selfe in diuers fenny grounds in Germany ¶ The Time It may be sowne betime but it slowly commeth vp it may oftentimes be cut and cropped it bringeth forth his 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 be ripe in Iuly or August ¶ The 〈◊〉 Euery one of the 〈◊〉 is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but this 〈◊〉 named 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say Apium hortense the Apothecaries and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 name it Petroselinum in high 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in low Dutch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in French du Persil in Spanish 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Salsa in Italian 〈◊〉 in English Persele Parsely common Parsley and garden Parsley Yet is it not the true and right Petroselinum which groweth among rockes and 〈◊〉 whereupon it tooke his name and whereof the best is in Macedonia therefore they are 〈◊〉 who thinke that garden Parsley doth not differ from stone Parsley and that the onely difference is for that Garden Parsley is of lesse force than the wilde for wilde herbes are more strong 〈◊〉 operation than those of the garden ¶ The Temperature Garden Parsley is hot and dry but the seed is more hot and dry which is hot in the second degree and dry almost in the third the root is also of a moderate heate ¶ The Vertues The leaues are pleasant in sauces and broth in which besides that they giue a 〈◊〉 taste they be also singular good to take away stoppings and to prouoke vrine which thing the roots likewise do notably performe if they be boiled in broth they be also delightful to the taste and agreeable to the stomacke The seeds are more profitable for medicine they make thinne open prouoke vrine dissolue the stone breake and waste away winde are good for 〈◊〉 as haue the dropsie draw downe menses bring away the birth and after-birth they be commended also against the cough if they be mixed or boiled with medicines made for that purpose lastly they resist poisons and therefore are mixed with treacles The roots or the seeds of any of them boiled in ale and drunken cast forth strong venome or poison but the seed is the strongest part of the herbe They are also good to be put into clysters against the stone or torments of the guts CHAP. 367 Of water Parsley or Smallage Eleoselinum siue Paludapium Smallage ¶ The Description SMallage hath greene smooth and glittering leaues cut into very many parcels yet greater and broader than those of common Parsley the stalkes be chamfered and diuided into branches on the tops whereof stand little white floures after which doe grow seeds something lesser than those of common Parsley the roote is fastened with many strings ¶ The Place This kinde of Parsley delighteth to grow in moist places and is brought from thence into gardens ‡ It growes wilde abundantly vpon the bankes in the salt marshes of Kent and Essex ‡ ¶ The Time It flourishes when the garden Parsley doth and the stalke likewise commeth vp the next yeere after it is sowne and then also it bringeth forth seeds which are ripe in Iuly and August ¶ The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Gaza Paludaplum in shops Apium absolutely without any addition in Latine Palustre Apium and Apium rusticum in high Dutch 〈◊〉 in low Dutch 〈◊〉 and of diuers 〈◊〉 in Spanish and Italian Apio in French de 〈◊〉 in English Smallage Marsh Parsley or water Parsley ¶ The Temperature This Parsley is like in temperature and vertues to that of the garden but it is both hotter and drier and of more force in most things this is seldome eaten neither is it 〈◊〉 good for 〈◊〉 but it is very profitable for medicine ¶ The Vertues The juice thereof is good for many things it clenseth openeth attenuateth or maketh thin it remooueth obstructions and prouoketh vrine and therefore those syrrups which haue this mixed with them as that which is called Syrupus 〈◊〉 open the stoppings of the liuer and spleene and are a remedy for long lasting agues whether they be tertians or quartains and all other which proceed both of a cold cause and also of obstructions or stoppings and are very good against the yellow jaundise The same juice doth perfectly cure the malicious and venomous vlcers of the mouth and of the almonds of the throat with the decoction of Barly and Mel Rosarum or hony of Roses added if the parts be washed therewith it likewise helpeth all outward vlcers and foule wounds with hony it is profitable also for cankers exulcerated for although it cannot cure them yet it doth keep them from putrifaction and preserueth them from stinking the seed is good for those things for which that of the Garden Parsley is yet is not the vse thereof so safe for it hurteth those that are troubled with the falling sickenesse as by euident proofes it is very well knowne Smallage as Pliny writeth hath a peculiar vertue against the biting of venomous spiders The juice of Smallage mixed with hony and beane floure doth make an excellent mundificatiue for old vlcers and malignant sores and staieth also the weeping of the cut or hurt sinewes in simple members which are not very fatty or fleshie and bringeth the same to perfect digestion The leaues boiled in hogs grease and made into the forme of a pultis take away the paine of felons and whitlowes in the fingers and ripen and heale them CHAP. 398. Of Mountaine Parsley Oreoselinum Mountaine Parsley ¶ The Description THe stalke of mountaine Parsley as Dioscorides writeth is a span high growing from a slender root vpon which are branches and little heads like those of Hemlock yet much slenderer on which stalkes do grow the seed which is long of a sharpe or biting taste slender and of a strong smell like vnto Cumin but we can not find that this kinde of Mountaine Parsley is knowne in our age the leaues of this we here giue are like those of common parsley but greater and broader consisting of many slender footstalkes fastened vnto them the stalke is short the floures on the spoked tufts be white the seed small the root is white and of a meane length or bignesse in taste somewhat biting and bitterish and of a sweet smell ¶ The Place Dioscorides writeth that mountaine Parsley groweth vpon rockes and mountaines And Dodonaeus affirmeth that this
colour with fiue threds comming forth of their middles with as many smaller and shorter haires The seed is contained in flatter heads than those of the first described containing a blacke but not shining seed It floures in Iune and Iuly and ripens the seed in August It growes naturally vpon diuers hils in Germany 7 Matthiolus and Dodonaeus haue vnder the name of Linum syluestre and Lobel by the name of Linum marinum luteum Narbonense set forth another yellow floured wilde flaxe This growes with slender stalkes some cubite high set with leaues like those of flaxe but somewhat lesser and fewer in number at the tops of the stalkes grow floures smaller than those of the common Line and yellow of colour It growes naturally vpon the coasts of France that lie towards the Mediterranean sea but not in England that I haue heard of ‡ ¶ The Place They grow generally in grauelly grounds The first groweth in well mannured places as in gardens and such like soiles The second groweth by the sea side The third and fourth grow vpon rockes and cliffes neere to the sea side I haue seene them grow vpon the sea bankes by Lee in Essex and in many places of the Isle of Shepey They grow also betweene Quinborow and Sherland house ‡ I haue not seene any of these growing wilde but onely the fifth of my description ‡ ¶ The Time They floure from May to the middest of August ¶ The Names Their names are sufficiently exprest in their seuerall titles ¶ The Nature and Vertues The faculties of these kindes of Wilde-flax are referred vnto the manured flax but they are seldome vsed either in Physicke or chirurgerie CHAP. 168. Of Blacke Saltwoort ¶ The Description IN old time say the Authours of the Aduersaria this plant was vsed for meat and receiued among the 〈◊〉 It was called Glaux by reason of the colour of the leaues which are of a blewish gray colour called in Latine Glaucus color such as is in the Sallow leafe of others it is called Galax or Glax and Eugalacton quasi lactea or lactisica because it is good to increase milke in the brests of women if it be much vsed Ruellius and others haue set downe Galega Securidica Polygala and many other plants for the true Glaux which hath bred a confusion The true Glaux of Dioscorides hath many small branches some creeping on the ground and some standing vpright tender and small beset with many little fat leaues like Tribulus terrestris or Herniaria growing along the stalks by couples betweene whom grow small purple floures which being past there succeed certaine little bullets or seed vessels The root is very small and threddy and taking hold of the vpper face of the earth as it doth run abroad by which meanes it doth mightily increase Glaux exigua maritima Bla cke Saltwoort ¶ The Place The true Glaux or Milkwoortgroweth very plentifully in salt places marshes neere the sea from whence I haue brought it into my garden where it prospereth as well as in his natiue soile I found it especially betweene Whitstable and the Isle of Thanet in Kent and by Grauesend in the same countie by Tilbery Block-house in Essex and in the isle of Shepey going from Kings ferry to Sherland house ¶ The Time It floureth in May and the seed is ripe in Iune ¶ The Names The names haue beene sufficiently spoken of in the description It shall suffice to call it in English Sea Milkwoort ¶ The Nature Paulus Acgineta saith it is hot and moist of temperature ¶ The Vertues This Milkwoort taken with milke drinke or pottage ingendereth store of milke and therefore it is good to be vsed by nurses that want the same CHAP. 169. Of Milke-woort ¶ The Description 1 THere haue beene many plants neerely resembling Polygala and yet not the same indeed which doth verifie the Latine saying Nullum simile est idem This neere resemblance doth rather hinder those that haue spent much time in the knowledge of simples than increase their knowledge And this also hath been an occasion that many haue imagined a sundry Polygala vnto themselues and so of other plants Of which number this whereof I speake is one obtaining this name of the best writers and herbarists of our time describing it thus It hath many thick spreading branches creeping on the ground bearing leaues like them of Herniaria standing in rowes like the Sea Milkwoort among which do grow small whorles or crownets of white floures the root being exceeding small and threddie 2 The second kinde of Polygala is a small herbe with pliant slender stems of a wooddie substance an handfull 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the ground the leaues be small narrow like to Lintels or little Hyssope The floures grow at the top of a blew color fashioned like a little bird with wings taile and bodie easie to be discerned by them that doe obserue the same which being past there succeed small 〈◊〉 like those of 〈◊〉 pastoris but lesser The root is small and wooddie 3 This third kinde of Polygala or Milkewoort hath leaues and stalkes like the last 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and differeth from it herein that this kinde hath smaller branches and the leaues are not so thicke thrust together and the floures are like the other but that they bee of a red or purple colour 4 The fourth kinde is like the last spoken of in 〈◊〉 respect but that it hath white floures otherwise it is very like 5 Purple Milkewoort differeth 〈◊〉 the others in the colour of the floures it bringeth soorth 〈◊〉 branches than the precedent and the sloures are of a purple colour wherein especially consisteth the difference 1 Polygala repens Creeping Milke-wort 2 Polygala flore coeruleo Blew Milke-wort 3 Polygalarubris floribus Red Milkewort 4 Polygala albis floribus White Milkewort 6 The sixth Milke-wort is like vnto the rest in each respect sauing that the floures are of an ouerworne ill fauoured colour which maketh it to differ from all the other of his kinde ¶ The Place 5 Polygala purpurea Purple Milke-wort These plants or Milke-worts grow commonly in euery wood or fertil pasture wheresoeuer I haue trauelled ¶ The Time They floure from May to August ¶ The Names Milke-wort is called by Dodonaeus Flos Ambarualis so called because it doth especially flourish in the Crosse or Gang weeke or Rogation weeke of which floures the maidens which vse in the countries to walke the Procession doe make themselues garlands and nosegaies in English we may call it Crosse-floure Procession-floure Gangfloure Rogation-floure and Milkewort of their vertues in procuring milke in the brests of nurses Hieronymus Tragus as also Dioscorides calleth it Polygalon ‡ Gesner calls this Crucis flos and in his Epistles he nameth it Amarella it is vulgarly knowne in Cheapside to the herbe-women by the name of Hedge-Hyssop for they take it for Gratiola or Hedge-Hyssop and sell it to such as are ignorant for the same ‡ ¶ The Vertues
Satureia SanctiI uliani Rocke Sauorie ‡ 4 Satureia Cretic Candie Sauorie 3 This small kinde of Sauorie which Lobel hath set forth vnder the title of Thymbra S. Iuliani because it groweth 〈◊〉 vpon the rough cliffes of the 〈◊〉 sea in Italie called Saint Iulians rocke hath tender twiggie branches an handfull high of a wooddie substance set ful of leaues from the bottome to the top very thicke thrust together like vnto those of Time sauing that they be 〈◊〉 narrower bringing forth at the top of the sprigs a round spikie tuft 〈◊〉 small purplish floures The whole plant is whitish tending to a bleake colour and of a verie hot and sharpe taste and also well smelling ‡ 4 This in the opinion of Honorius Bellus Clusius and Pona is thought and not without good reason to be the true Thymbra or Satureia of Dioscorides and the Antients for besides that it agrees with their description it is to this day called in Candie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clusius describes it thus It sends forth many branches immediately from the roote like as Tyme and those quadrangular rough and of a purplish colour vpon these growe alternately little roughish leaues much like those of the true Tyme and out of their bosomes come little branches set with the like but lesser leaues The toppes of the branches are compassed with a rundle made of manie little leaues whereout come floures of a fine purple colour and like the floures of Tyme beeing diuided into foure parts whereof the lower is the broader and hangs downe The vpper is also broad but shorter and the other two lesse Out of the middle of the floure come fiue whitish threds pointed with browne and a forked stile The seed is small and blacke like that of Tyme The root hard and wooddie It floured with Clusius who receiued the seedes out of Candie from Honorius Bellus in October and Nouember ‡ ¶ The Place They are sowne in Gardens and bring foorth their floures the first yeare of their sowing ¶ The Time They floure in Iuly and August ¶ The Names Sauorie is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 neither hath it any other true name in Latine than Thymbra The Interpreters would haue it called Satureia wherein they are repugnant to Columella a Latine Writer who doth shew a manifest difference betweene Thymbra and Satureia in his tenth booke where hee writeth that Sauorie hath the taste of Tyme and of Thymbra or the Winter Sauorie Et Satureia Thymi referens Thymbraeque saporem †Notwithstanding this assertion of Columella Pliny lib. 19. cap 8. makes Satureia or Sauorie to be that Thymbra which is called also Cunila Sauorie in High Dutch is called Kunel Saturey and Sadaney in Low Dutch Ceulen which name as it seemeth is drawne out Cunila in Italian Sauoreggia in Spanish Axedrea and Sagorida in French Sarriette in English Sauorie Winter Sauorie and Sommer Sauorie ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Winter Sauorie is of temperature hot and drie in the third degree it maketh thin cutteth it clenseth the passages to be briefe it is altogether of like vertue with Time Sommer Sauorie is not full so hot as winter Sauorie and therefore saith Dioscorides more fit to be vsed in medicine it maketh thin and doth maruellously preuaile against winde therefore it is with good successe boiled and eaten with beanes peason and other windie pulses yea if it be applied to the belly in a fomentation it forthwith helpeth the affects of the mother proceeding from winde CHAP. 176. Of Dodder Cuscuta sivc Cassutha Dodder ¶ The Description CVscuta or Dodder is astrange herbe altogether without leaues or root like vnto threds very much snarled or wrapped together confusedly winding it selfe about bushes and hedges and sundry kindes of herbes The threds are somewhat red vpon which grow here there little round heads or knops bringing forth at the first slender white floures afterward a small seed ¶ The Place This herbe groweth vpon sundry kindes of herbes as vpon Tyme VVinter Sauorie Germander and such like taking his name from the herbe whereupon it doth grow as that vpon Tyme is called Epithymum vpon Line or flaxe Epilinum and so of others as Dodonaeus setteth forth at large yet hath he forgotten one among the rest which groweth very 〈◊〉 in Sommer setshire vpon nettles neither is it the least among many either in beautie or operation but comparable to the best Epithymum following therefore the example of Dioscorides I haue thought good to call it Epiurtica or rather 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so of the rest according to the herbes whereon they do grow ¶ The Names The greatest is called in shops euery where Cuscuta and of diuers because it groweth vpon 〈◊〉 or Lyne Podagra Lini the better learned do name it Cassutha or Cassytha and Gesnerus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Arabians Kessuth and Chasuth in Dutch Schorfte and Dranghe in High Dutch Filkraut in French Goute d'Lin and Tigne de Lin in English Dodder The lesser and 〈◊〉 which wrappeth it selfe vpon Time and Sauorie is called of Dioscorides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Apothecaries keep the name Epithymum others among whom is Actuarius name that Epithymum which groweth vpon Tyme onely and that which groweth on Sauorie Epithymbrum and that also which hangeth vpon Stoebe they terme Epistoebe giuing a peculiar name to euery kind ¶ The Nature The nature of this herb changeth and altereth according to the nature and qualitie of the herbs whereupon it groweth so that by searching of the nature of the plant you may easily finde out the temperament of the laces growing vpon the same But more particularly it is of temperature somewhat more drie than hot and that in the second degree it also clenseth with a certaine astrictiue or binding qualitie and especially that which is found growing vpon the bramble for it also receiueth a certaine nature from his parents o n which it groweth for when it groweth vpon the hotter herbes as Tyme and Sauory it becommeth hotter and drier and of thinner parts that which commeth of Broome prouoketh vrine more forcibly and maketh the belly more soluble and that is moister which groweth vpon flaxe that which is found vpon the bramble hath ioined with it as wee haue said a binding qualitie which by reason of this facultie ioyned with it is good to cure the infirmities of the Liuer and Milt for seeing that it hath both a purging and binding facultie vnited to it it is most singular good for the entrals for Galen in his thirteenth Booke of the Methode of curing doth at large declare that such Medicines are fittest of all for the Liuer and Milt ¶ The Vertues Dodder remooueth the stoppings of the liuer and of the milt or spleene it disburdeneth the veines of flegmaticke cholericke corrupt and superfluous humours prouoketh vrine gently and in a meane openeth the kidneies cureth the yellow iaundise which are ioyned with
like those of the last described And the seed also growes like vnto that of the Water 〈◊〉 last described 5 There is also another kinde of water Milfoile which hath leaues very like vnto water Violet smaller and not so many in number the stalke is small and tender bearing yellow gaping floures fashioned like a hood or the small Snapdragon which caused Pena to put vnto his 〈◊〉 this additament Galericulatum that is hooded The roots are small and threddy with some few knobs hanging thereat like the sounds of fish 2 Millesolium aquaticum Water Yarrow 3 Millesolium siue 〈◊〉 flore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aquatici 〈◊〉 facie Crow-foot or water Milsoile ‡ 6 To these may we adde a small water Milfoile set sorth by Clusius It hath round greene stalkes set with many ioynts whereout come at their lower ends many hairy fibres whereby it taketh hold of the mud the tops of these stems stand some handfull aboue the water and at each ioynt stand fiue long finely winged leaues very greene and some inch long which wax lesse and lesse as they stand higher or neerer the top of the stalke and at each of these leaues about the top of the stem growes one small white floure consisting of six little leaues ioyned together and not opening themselues and these at length turne into little knobs with foure little pointals standing out of them Clusius calls this Myriophyllon aquaticum minus ‡ ‡ 4 Millefolium tenuifolium Fennell leaued water Milfoile ‡ 5 Millefolium palustre galericulatum Hooded water Milfoile ¶ The Place They be found in lakes and standing waters or in waters that run slowly I haue not found such plenty of it in any one place as in the water ditches adioyning to Saint George his field neere London ¶ The Time They floure for the most part in May and Iune ¶ The Names The first is called in Dutch water Uiolerian that is to say Viola aquatilis in English Water Gillofloure or water Violet in French Gyroflees d'eaue Matthiolus makes this to be also Myrophylli 〈◊〉 or a kinde of Yarrow although it doth not agree with the description thereof for neither hath it one stalke onely nor one single root as Myriophyllon or Yarrow is described to haue for the roots are full of strings and it bringeth forth many stalkes The second is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Millefolium and Myriophyllon and also Supercilium Veneris in shops it is vnknowne This Yarrow differeth from that of the land the rest are sufficiently spoken of in their titles ¶ The Nature and Vertues Water Yarrow as Dioscorides saith is of a dry facultie and by reason that it taketh away hot inflammations and swellings it seemeth to be of a cold nature for Dioscorides affirmeth that water Yarrow is a remedie against inflammations in greene wounds if with vineger it be applied greene or dry and it is giuen inwardly with vineger and salt to those that haue fallen from a high place Water Gillofloure or water Violet is thought to be cold and dry yet hath it no vse in physicke at all CHAP. 301. Of Ducks meate Lens palustris Ducks meate ¶ The Description DVckes meate is as it were a certaine greene mosse with very little round leaues of the bignesse of Lentils out of the midst whereof on the nether side grow downe very fine threds like haires which are to them in stead of roots it hath neither stalke floure nor fruit ¶ The Place It is found in pounds lakes city ditches and in other standing waters euery where ¶ The Time The time of Ducks meate is knowne to all ¶ The Names Duckes meate is called in Latine Lens lacustris Lens aquatilis and Lens palustris of the Apothecaries it is 〈◊〉 Aquae Lenticula in high-Dutch Meerlinsen in low-Dutch 〈◊〉 and more vsually Enden gruen that is to say Anatum herba Ducks herbe because Ducks doe feed thereon whereupon also in English it is called Ducks meate some terme it after the Greeke water Lentils and of others it is named Graines The Italians call it Lent 〈◊〉 in French Lentille d eaue in Spanish Lenteias de agua ¶ The Temperature Galen sheweth that it is cold and moist after a sort in the second degree ¶ The Vertues Dioscorides saith that it is a remedie against all manner of inflammations Saint Anthonies fire and hot Agues if they be either applied alone or else vsed with partched barley meale It also knitteth ruptures in young children Ducks meate mingled with fine wheaten floure and applied preuaileth much against hot swellings as Phlegmons Erisipelas and the paines of the ioynts The same doth helpe the fundament fallen downe in yong children CHAP. 302. Of Water Crow-foot 1 Ranunculus aquatilis Water Crow-foot ¶ The Description 1 WAter Crow-foot hath slender branches trailing far abroad whereupon grow leaues vnder the water most finely cut and iagged like those of Cammomill Those aboue the water are somwhat round indented about the edges in forme not vnlike the smal tender leaues of the mallow but lesser among which do grow the floures small and white of colour made of fine little leaues with some yellownesse in the middle like the floures of the Straw-berry and of a sweet smell after which there come round rough and prickly knaps like those of the field Crowfoot The roots be very small hairy strings ‡ There is sometimes to be found a varietie of this with the leaues lesse and diuided into three parts after the manner of an Iuy leafe and the floures are also much lesser but white of colour with a yellow bottome I question whether this be not the Ranunculus hederaceus Daleschampij pag. 1031. of the hist. Lugd. ‡ 2 There is another plant growing in the water of smal moment yet not amisse to be remembred called Hederula aquatica or water Iuie the which is very rare to finde neuerthelesse I found it once in a ditch by Bermondsey house neere to London and neuer elsewhere it hath small threddy strings in stead of roots and stalkes rising from the bottome of the water to the top wherunto are fastned small leaues swimming or floting vpon the water triangled or three cornered like to those of barren Iuie or rather noble Liuerwort barren of floures and seeds 2 Hederula aquatica Water Iuie ‡ 3 Stellaria aquatica Water Starwort 3 There is likewise another herbe of small reckoning that floteth vpon the water called Stellaria aquatica or water Star-wort which hath many small grassie stems like threds comming from the bottome of the water vnto the vpper face of the same whereupon do grow smal double floures of a greenish or herby colour ‡ I take this Stellaria to be nothing else but a water Chickeweed which growes almost in euery ditch with two long narrow leaues at each ioynt and halfe a dozen or more lying close together at the top of the water in fashion of a starre it may be seene in this shape in the end of
many small reddish graines or round roots as bigge as pepper cornes which are vsed in medicine and are called Semen Saxifragae albae that is the seede of white Saxifrage or Stone-breake although beside these foresaid round knobbes it hath also small seed contained in little huskes following his floure as other herbes haue 1 Saxifraga alba White Saxifrage 2 Saxifraga aurea Golden Saxifrage ‡ 3 Saxifraga albapetraea White Rocke Saxifrage 2 Golden Saxifrage hath round compassed leaues bluntly indented about the borders like the former among which rise vp stalkes a handfull high at the top whereof grow two or three little leaues together out of the middle of them spring small floures of a golden color after which come little husks wherein is contained the red seed not vnlike the former the roote is tender creeping in the ground 〈◊〉 long threds or haires ‡ 3 Pona hath set forth this plant by the name of Saxifraga alba petraea and therefore I haue placed it here though I thinke I might more fitly haue ranked him with 〈◊〉 rutaceo folio formerly described It hath a small single root from which arise diuers fat longish leaues somewhat hairy and diuided into three parts amongst those rises vp a round knottie stalke roughish and of a purplish colour some halfe foot high diuided into sundry branches which carry white floures consisting of fiue leaues apiece with some yellowish threds in their middles these falling there remaines a cup containing a very small seed It floures at the end of Iune in the shadowie places of the Alpes whereas Pona first obserued it ‡ ¶ The Place The white Saxifrage groweth plentifully in sundrie places of England and especially in a field on the left hand of the high way as you goe from the place of execution called Saint Thomas Waterings vnto Dedford by London It groweth also in the great field by Islington called the Mantles also in the greene places by the sea side at Lee in Essex among the rushes and in sundrie other places thereabout and else where ‡ It also growes in Saint Georges fields behinde Southwarke ‡ The golden Saxifrage groweth in the moist and marish grounds about Bathe and Wels also in the Moores by Boston and Wisbich in Lincolnshire ‡ and Mr. George Bowles hath found it growing in diuers woods at Chisselhurst in Kent Mr. Goodyer also hath obserued it abundantly on the shadowie moist rockes by Mapledurham in Hampshire and I haue found it in the like places in Yorkshire ‡ ¶ The Time The white Saxifrage floureth in May and Iune the herbe with his floure are no more seen vntill the next yeare The golden Saxifrage floureth in March and Aprill ¶ The Names The first is called in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Alba in English white 〈◊〉 or white Stone-breake The second is called Golden Saxifrage or golden Stone-breake ¶ The Nature The first of these especially the root and seed thereof is of a warme or hot complexion Golden Saxifrage is of a cold nature as the taste doth manifestly declare ¶ The Vertues The root of white Saxifrage boiled in wine and drunken prouoketh vrine clenseth the kidneis and bladder breaketh the stone and driueth it forth and is singular good against the strangurie and all other griefes and imperfections in the reines The vertues of golden Saxifrage are yet vnto vs vnknowne notwitstanding I am of this minde that it is a singular wound herbe equall with Sanicle CHAP. 310 Of Sow-bread ¶ The Description 1 THe first being the common kinde of Sowbread called in shops Panis porcinus and Arthanita hath many greene and round leaues like vnto Asarabacca sauing that the vpper part of the leaues are mixed here and there confusedly with white spots and vnder the leaues next the ground of a purple colour among which rise vp little stemmes like vnto the stalks of violets bearing at the top small purple floures which turne themselues backward beeing full blowne like a Turks cap or Tulepan of a small sent or 〈◊〉 or none at all which being past there succeed little round knops or heads which containe slender browne seedes these knoppes 1 Cyclamen orbiculato folio Round Sowbread 2 Cyclamen folio Heder Iuie Sowbread ‡ 3 Cyclamen Vernum Spring Sowbread ‡ 4 Cyclamen Vernum album White floured Sowbread ‡ 5 An Cyclaminos altera hederaceis folijs planta 2 The second kinde of Sowbread hath broad leaues spred vpon the ground sharpe pointed somewhat indented about the edges of a darke greene colour with some little lines or strakes of white on the vpper side and of a darke reddish colour on that side next the ground among which rise vp slender foot-stalks of two or three inches long at the tops whereof stand such floures as the precedent but of a sweeter smell and more pleasant colour The seed is also wrapped vp in the stalk for his further defence against the iniurie of winter The root is somewhat greater and of more vertue as shall be declared 3 There is a third kinde of Sowbread that hath round leaues without peaked corners as the last before mentioned yet somewhat snipt about the edges and speckled with white about the brims of the leaues and of a blackish colour in the middle the floures are like to the rest but of a deeper purple the root also like but smaller and this commonly floures in the Spring ‡ 4 This in leaues and roots is much like the last described but the floures are smaller snow white and sweet smelling There are diuers other varieties of these plants which I thinke it not necessarie for me to insist vpon wherefore I referre the curious to the Garden of floures set forth by Mr. Iohn Parkinson where they shall finde satisfaction ‡ 5 There is a plant which I haue set forth in this place that may very well be called into question and his place also considering that there hath been great contention about the same and not fully determined on either part which hath moued me to place him with those plants that most do resemble one another both in shape and name this plant hath greene cornered leaues like to Iuie long and small gaping floures like the small Snapdragon more hath not been said of this plant either of stalke or root but is left vnto the consideration of the learned ‡ The plant which our Author here would acquaint you with is that which Lobel figures with this title which I here giue and saith it was gathered amongst other plants on the hils of Italy but in what part or place or how growing he knew not and he onely questions whether it may not be the Cyclaminos altera of Dioscorides lib. 2. cap. 195. ‡ ¶ The Place Sow bread groweth plentifully about Artoies and Vermandois in France and in the Forest of Arden and in Brabant but the second groweth plentifully in many places of Italie It is reported vnto mee by men of good credit that Cyclamen or Sow-bread groweth vpon the mountaines of Wales
Pliny lib. 14. cap. 9. saith that Cute was first deuised for a bastard hony ¶ Of Wine TO speake of Wine the 〈◊〉 of Grapes which being newly pressed forth is called as we haue said Mustum or new wine after the dregs and drosse are setled and now it appeareth pure and cleere it is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Vinum in English Wine and that not vnproperly For certaine other 〈◊〉 as of Apples Pomegranats Peares Medlars or Seruices or such as otherwise made for examples sake of barley and Graine be not at all simply called wines but with the name of the thing added whereof they do consist Hereupon is the wine which is pressed forth of the pomegranat berries named Rhoites or wine of pomegranats out of Quinces Cydonites or wine of Quinces out of Peares 〈◊〉 or Perry and that which is compounded of barley is called Zythum or Barley wine in English Ale or Beere And other certaine wines haue borrowed syrnames of the plants that haue beene steeped or infused in them and yet all wines of the Vine as Wormwood wine Myrtle wine and Hyssop wine and these are all called artificiall wines That is properly and simply called wine which is pressed out of the grapes of the vine and is without any manner of mixture The kindes of wines are not of one nature nor of one facultie or power but of many differing one from another for there is one difference thereof in taste another in colour the third is referred to the consistence or substance of the wine the fourth consisteth in the vertue and strength thereof Galen addeth that which is found in the smell which belongs to the vertue and strength of the wine That may also be ioyned vnto them which respecteth the age for by age wines become hotter and sharper and doe withall change oftentimes the colour the substance and the smell for some wines are sweet of taste others austere or something harsh diuers of a rough taste or altogether harsh and most of them sufficient sharpe there be likewise wines of a middle sort inclining to one or other qualitie Wine is of colour either white or reddish or of a blackish deepe red which is called blacke or of some middle colour betweene these Some wine is of substance altogether thin other some thicke and fat and many also of a middle consistence One wine is of great strength and another is weake which is called a waterish wine a ful wine is called in Latine Vinosum There be also among these very many that be of a middle strength There is in all wines be they neuer so weake a certaine winie substance thin and hot There be likewise waterie parts and also diuers earthy for wine is not simple but as Galen testifieth in his fourth booke of the faculties of medicines consisteth of parts that haue diuers faculties Of the sundry mixture and proportion of these substances one with another there rise diuers and sundry faculties of the wine That is the best and fullest wine in which the hot and winie parts do most of all abound and the weakest is that wherein the waterie haue the preheminence The earthy substance abounding in the mixture causeth the wine to be austere or something harsh as a crude or raw substance doth make it altogether harsh The earthy substance being seuered falleth downe and in continuance of time sinketh to the bottome and becomes the dregs or lees of the wine yet it is not alwaies wholly seuered but hath both the tast and other qualities of this substance remaining in the wine All wines haue their heate partly from the proper nature and inward or originall heate of the vine and partly from the Sun for there is a double heate which ripeneth not only the grapes but also all other fruits as Galen testifieth the one is proper and naturall to euery thing the other is borrowed of the Sun which if it be perceiued in any thing it is vndoubtedly best and especially in the ripening of grapes For the heate which proceeds from the Sun concocteth the grapes and the iuyce of the grapes and doth especially ripen them stirring vp and increasing the inward and naturall heat of the wine which otherwise is so ouerwhelmed with aboundance of raw and waterish parts as it seemes to be dulled and almost without life For vnlesse wine had in it a proper and originall heate the grapes could not be so concocted by the force of the Sun as that the wine should become hot no lesse than many other things naturally cold which although they be ripened and made perfect by the heate of the Sun do not for all that lose their originall nature as the fruits iuyces or seeds of Mandrake Nightshade Hemlocke Poppy and of other such like which though they be made ripe and brought to full perfection yet still retaine their owne cold qualitie Wherefore seeing that wine through the heate of the Sunne is for the most part brought to his proper heate and that the heate and force is not all alike in all regions and places of the earth therefore by reason of the diuersitie of regions and places the wines are made not a little to differ in facultie The stronger and fuller wine groweth in hot countries and places that lie to the Sun the rawer and weaker in cold regions and prouinces that lie open to the North. The hotter the Sommer is the stronger is the wine the lesse hot or the moister it is the lesse ripe is the wine Notwithstanding not onely the manner of the weather and of the Sunne maketh the qualities of the wine to differ but the natiue propertie of the soile also for both the tast and other qualities of the Wine are according to the manner of the Soile And it is very well knowne that not only the colour of the wine but the taste also dependeth vpon the diuersity of the grapes Wine as Galen writeth is hot in the second degree and that which is very old in the third but new wine is hot in the first degree which things are especially to be vnderstood concerning the meane betweene the strongest and the weakest for the fullest and mightiest being but Horna that is as I take it of one yeare old are for the most part hot in the second degree The weakest and the most waterish wines although they be old do seldome exceed the second degree The drinesse is answerable to the heate in proportion as Galen saith in his booke of Simples but in his bookes of the gouernment of health he sheweth that wine doth not onely heate but also moisten our bodies and that the same doth moisten and nourish such bodies as are extreme dry and both these opinions be true For the faculties of wine are of one sort as it is a medicine and of another as it is a nourishment which Galen in his booke of the faculties of nourishments doth plainly shew affirming that those qualities of the
thin parts hot and dry in the later end of the third degree especially the purest spirits thereof for the purer it is the hotter it is the dryer and of thinner parts which is made more pure by often distilling This water distilled out of wine is good for all those that are made cold either by a long disease or through age as for old and impotent men for it cherisheth and increaseth naturall heate vpholdeth strength repaireth and augmenteth the same it prolongeth life quickeneth all the senses and doth not only preserue the memory but also recouereth it when it is lost it sharpeneth the sight It is fit for those that are taken with the Catalepsie which is a disease in the braine proceeding of 〈◊〉 and cold and are subject to dead sleepes if there be no feuer joined it serueth for the weakenesse trembling and beating of the hart it strengtheneth and heateth a 〈◊〉 stomacke it consumeth winde both in the stomacke sides and bowels it maketh good concoction of meate and is a singular remedy against cold poisons It hath such force and power in strengthening of the hart and stirreth vp the instruments of the senses that it is most effectuall not onely inwardly taken to the quantitie of a little spoonefull but also outwardly applied that is to say set to the nosthrils or laid vpon the temples of the head and to the wrests of the armes and also to foment and bath sundry hurts and griefes Being held in the mouth it helpeth the tooth-ache is is also good against cold cramps and convulsions being chafed and rubbed therewith Some are bold to giue it in quartaines before the fit especially after the height or prim of the disease This water is to be giuen in wine with great iudgement and discretion for seeing it is extreme hot and of most subtill parts and nothing else but the very spirit of th wine it most speedily peirceth through and doth easily assault and hurt the braine Therefore it may be giuen to such as haue the apoplexie and falling sicknesse the megrim the headach of long continuance the Vertigo or giddinesse proceeding through a cold cause yet can it not be alwaies safely giuen for vnlesse the matter the efficient cause of the disease be small and the sicke man of temperature very cold it cannot be ministred without danger for that it spredeth and disperseth the humours it filleth or stuffeth the head and maketh the sicke man worse and if the humours be hot as bloud is it doth not a little increase inflammations also This water is hurtfull to all that be of nature and complexion hot and most of all to cholericke men it is also offensiue to the liuer and likewise vnprofitable for the kidnies being often and plentifully taken If I should take in hand to write of euery mixture of each infusion of the sundry colours and euery other circumstance that the vulgar people doe giue vnto this water and their diuers vse I should spend much time but to small purpose ¶ Of Argall Tartar or wine Lees. The Lees of wine which is become hard like a crust and sticketh to the sides of the vessell and wine casks being dried hard sound and well compact and which way be beaten into powder is called in shops 〈◊〉 in English Argall and Tartar These Lees are vsed for many things the siluer-Smiths polish their siluer herewith the Diers vse it and it is profitable in medicine It doth greatly dry and wast away as Paulus Aegineta saith it hath withall a binding facultie proceeding from the kinde of wine of which it commeth The same serueth for moist diseases of the body it is good for them that haue the greene sicknes and the dropsie especially that kinde that lieth in the flesh called in Latine Leucophlagmatica being taken euery day fasting halfe a penny weight or a full penny weight which is a dram and nine graines after the Romanes computation doth not onely dry vp the waterish excrements and voideth them by vrine but it preuaileth much to clense the belly by siege It would worke more effectually if it were mixed either with hot spices or with other things that breake winde or else with diuretickes which are medicines that prouoke vrine likewise to be mixed with gentle purgers as the sicke mans case shall require The same of it selfe or tempered with oile of Myrtles is a remedy against soft swellings as Dioscorides teacheth it staieth the laske and vomiting being applied outwardly vpon the region of the stomacke in a pultis and if it be laid to the bottome of the belly and secret parts it stoppeth the whites wasteth away hot swellings of the kernels in the flankes and other places which be not yet exulcerated it asswageth great brests and dryeth vp the milke if it be annointed on with vineger These Lees are oftentimes burnt if it become all white it is a signe of right and perfect burning for till then it must be burned being so burnt the Grecians terme it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Aegineta saith the Apothecaries call it Tartarum vstum and Tartarum calcinatum that it to say burnt or calcined Tartar It hath a very great causticke or burning qualitie it clenseth and throughly heateth bindeth eateth and very much drieth as Dioscorides doth write being mixed with Rosin it maketh rough and ill nailes to fall away Paulus saith that it is mixed with causticks or burning medicines to increase their burning qualitie it must be vsed whilest it is new made because it quickly vanisheth for the Lees of wine burned do soone relent or wax moist and are speedily resolued into liquor therefore he that would vse it dry must haue it put in a glasse or glassed vessell well stopped and set in a hot and dry place It melteth and is turned into liquor if it be hanged in a linnen bag in some place in a celler vnder the ground The Apothecaries call this liquor that droppeth away from it oile of Tartar It retaineth a causticke and burning quality and also a very dry facultie it very soon taketh away leprie scabs retters and other filth and deformitie of the skin and face with an equall quantitie of Rose water added and as much Ceruse as is sufficient for a liniment wherewith the blemished or spotted parts must be anointed ouer night ¶ The briefe summe of that hath been said of the Vine THe iuyce of the greene leaues branches and tendrels of the Vine drunken is good for those that vomit and spit bloud for the bloudy flix and for women with childe that vomite ouermuch The kernell within the grapes boyled in water and drunke hath the same effect Wine moderately drunke profiteth much and maketh good digestion but it hurteth and distempereth them that drinke it seldome White wine is good to be drunke before meate it preserueth the body and pierceth quickely into the bladder but vpon a full stomacke it rather maketh oppilations or stoppings because it doth swiftly driue downe
sweet white good to be eaten and most pleasant in taste ¶ The Place and Time This Skirret is planted in Gardens and especially by the root for the greater and thicker ones being taken away the lesser are put into the earth againe which thing is best to be done in March or Aprill before the stalks come vp and at this time the roots which be gathered are eaten raw or boiled ¶ The Names This herbe is called in Latin Sisarum and also in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latines do likewise call it Siser and diuers of the later Herbarists 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 or Seruilla the Germans name it 〈◊〉 Tragus Zam garren Rapunkelen in the Low-countries Suycker wortelen that is to say Sugar roots and oftentimes 〈◊〉 in Spanish Cherinia in Italian Sisaro in French Cheruy in English Skirret and Skirwort And this is that Siser or Skirret which Tiberius the Emperour commanded to be conueied vnto him from Gelduba a castle about the riuer of Rhene as Pliny reporteth in lib. 19. cap 5. The Skirret is a medicinable herb and is the same that the foresaid Emperour did so much commend insomuch that he desired the same to be brought vnto him euery yeare out of Germanie It is not as diuers suppose Serapio his Secacul of which he hath written in his 89. chapter for Secacul is described by the leafe of Iulben that is to say of the pease as Matthiolus 〈◊〉 expoundeth it and it bringeth forth a black fruit of the bignesse of a Cich-pease full of moisture and of a sweet taste which is called Granum Culcul But the Skirret hath not the lease of the pease neither doth it bring forth fruit like to the Ciche pease whereupon it is manifest that the Skirret doth very much differ from Serapio his Secacul so farre is it from beeing the same ¶ The Nature and Vertues The roots of the Skirret be moderately hot and moist they be easily concocted they nourish meanly and yeeld a reasonable good iuice but they are something windie by reason whereof they also prouoke lust They be eaten boiled with vineger salt and a little oile after the manner of a sallad and oftentimes they be fried in oile and butter and also dressed after other fashions according to the skil of the cooke and the 〈◊〉 of the eater The women in Sueuia saith Hieronymus Heroldus prepare the roots hereof for their husbands and know full well wherefore and why c. The iuice of the roots drunke with goats milke stoppeth the laske The same drunke with wine putteth away windinesse out of the stomacke and gripings of the belly and helpeth the hicket or yeoxing They stir vp appetite and prouoke vrine CHAP. 407. Of Carrots ¶ The Description 1 THe leaues of the garden Carrots are of a deepe greene colour composed of many fine Fennell-like leaues very notably cut or iagged among which riseth vp a stalk straight and round foure cubits high somwhat hairie and hollow hauing at the top round spoked tufts in which do grow little white floures in their places commeth the seed rough and hairie of a sweet smell when it is rubbed The root is long thicke and single of a faire yellow colour pleasant to be eaten and very sweet in taste 1 Pastinaca sativa tenuifolia Yellow Carrot ‡ 2 Pastinaca satiua airo-rubens Red Carrot 2 There is another kinde hereof like to the former in all parts and differeth from it only in the colour of the root which in this is not yellow but of a blackish red colour ¶ The Place These Carrots are sowne in the fields and in gardens where other pot herbes are they require a loose and well manured soile ¶ The Time They are to be sowne in Aprill they bring forth their floures and seed the yeare after they be sowne ¶ The Names The Carrot is properly called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for that which we haue termed in Latine by the name of Pastinaca latioris folij or the Garden Parsnep is described of the old writers by another name this Carrot is called in Latine likewise Pastinaca sativa but with this addition tenuifolia that it may differ from the garden Parsnep with broad leaues and white roots Theophrastus in the ninth booke of his historie of plants nameth this Staphylinus or Carrot 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and writeth that it groweth in Arcadia and saith that the best is found in Spartensi Achaia but doubtlesse he meant that Daucus which we call 〈◊〉 that may be numbred among the Carrots Galen in his booke of the faculties of Simple medicines doth also make it to be Daucus but yet not simply Dancus for he addeth also Staphilinus or Pastinaca in High Dutch it is called Geel ruben in Low Dutch Geel Peen Geel Pooten and Geel 〈◊〉 in French Carrotte and Racine iaulne in Italian Pastinaca in Spanish Canahoria in English Yellow Carrots the other is called red Carrot and blacke Carrot ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The root of the yellow Carrot is most commonly boiled with fat flesh and eaten it is temperately hot and something moist The nourishment which commeth thereof is not much and not verie good it is something windie but not so much as be the Turneps and doth not so soon as they passe through the bodie The red Carrot is of like facultie with the yellow The seed of them both is hot and drie it breaketh and consumeth windinesse prouoketh vrine as doth that of the wilde Carrot CHAP. 408. Of Wilde Carrot Pastinaca syluestris t enuifolia Wilde Carrot or Bees-nest ¶ The Description THe leaues of the wilde Carrot are cut into diuers slender narrow parcels very like vnto those of the garden Carrots but they be somewhat whiter and more hairie the stalks be likewise hairie and somewhat rough the floures are little and stand vpon broad spoked tuftes of a white color of which tuft of floures the middlemost part is of a deep purple the whole tuft is drawn together when the seedis ripe resembling a birds nest whereupon it hath been named of some Birds-nest the root slender and of a mean length ¶ The Place It groweth of it selfe in vntoyled places in fields and in the borders thereof almost euerie where ¶ The Time It floures and flourishes in Iune and Iuly the seed is ripe in August ¶ The Names The wilde Carrot is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Pastinaca syluestris tenuifolia in shops Daucus and it is vsed in stead of the true Daucus and not amisse nor vnprofitably for Galen also in his time doth testifie that it was taken for Daucus or bastard Parsly and is without doubt Dauci sylucstris genus or a wilde kinde of bastard Parsly so called of Theophrastus in high Dutch it is named Wild Pastenen Uogol nest in Low Dutch Uogels nest and Wilde 〈◊〉 Crookens cruyt in French Pastena de Sauvage in English wilde Carrot and after the Dutch Birds-nest and in some places Bees-nest
one side or other like a small tree or hedge-bush the floures grow vpon the tender sprayes or twiggie branches by couples not vnlike in shape and colour to the common Wood-binde but altogether lesser and of a white colour hauing within the same many hairy chiues like the other of his kinde after which come red berries ioyned together by couples the root is tough and 〈◊〉 2 The stalkes of the second be oftentimes of a meane thicknesse the wooddy substance somwhat whitish and soft the branches be round and couered with a whitish barke notwithstanding in the beginning when the sprayes be yong they are somewhat reddish The leaues be long like those of the common Hony-suckle soft and of a white greene on the lower side they be whiter and a little hairy the floures be lesser than any of the Wood-bindes but yet of the 〈◊〉 fashion and of a whitish colour ioyned together by couples vpon seuerall slender foot-stalkes like little wilde Cherries of a red colour the one lesser oftentimes than the other 3 Periclymenum rectum fructu 〈◊〉 Vpright Wood-binde with blew berries 4 Periclymenum rectum fructu rubro Cherry Wood-binde 3 This strange kinde of Wood-binde which Carolus Clusius hath set forth in his Pannonicke Obseruations riseth vp oftentimes to the height of a man euen as the former doth which diuides it selfe into many branches couered with a rough blacke barke that choppeth and gapeth in sundrie clefts as the barke of the Oke The tender branches are of a whitish greene colour couered with a woolly hairinesse or an ouerworne colour whereupon do grow leaues set by couples one against the other like vnto the common Wood-binde of a drying bitter taste the floures grow by couples likewise of a whitish colour The fruit succeedeth growing like little Cherries each one on his owne foot-stalke of a bright and shining blew colour which being bruised doe die the hands of a reddish colour and they are of a sharpe winie taste and containe in them many small flat seeds The root is wooddy dispersing it selfe far abroad 4 This kind of vpright Wood-bind groweth vp likewise to the height of a man and oftentimes more high like to the last described but altogether greater The berries hereof are very blacke wherein especially is the difference ‡ The leaues of this are as large as Bay leaues sharpe pointed greene aboue and whitish vnderneath but not hairy nor snipt about the edges the floures grow by couples of a whitish purple or wholly purple to these paires of floures there commonly succeeds but one berry larger than any of the former of the bignesse of a little cherry and of the same colour hauing two marks vpon the top therof where the floures stood ‡ Periclymeni 3. 4. flores The floures of the third and fourth 5 Chamaepericlymenum Dwarfe Hony-suckle 5 To the kindes of Wood-bindes this plant may likewise be referred whose picture with this description was sent vnto Clusius long since by that learned Doctor in physicke Thomas Penny of our London colledge of famous memorie it riseth vp with a stalke of a foot high whereupon are set by couples faire broad leaues one right against another ribbed with certaine nerues like those of Plantaine sharpe pointed and somewhat hollowed in the middle like Spoon-wort from the bosome of which leaues come forth small floures not seene or described by the Author after which commeth forth a cluster of red berries thrust hard together as those of Aaron or priests pint The root is tough and very slender creeping far abroad vnder the vpper crust of the earth whereby it occupieth much ground ¶ The Place These plants are strangers in England they grow in the woods and mountaines of Switzerland Germany Sauoy and other those parts tending to the East East North-East and East and by South I haue a plant of the 〈◊〉 kinde in my garden the rest as yet I haue not 〈◊〉 and therefore cannot write so liberally thereof as I could wish ‡ The dwarfe Hony-suckle growes in the maritime parts of Norway and Sweden the countries thereabout ‡ ¶ The Time They floure for the most part when the others do that is to say in May and Iune and their fruit is ripe in September ¶ The Names Vpright Wood-binde or Hony-suckle is called Periclymenum stans and Periclymenum rectum 〈◊〉 vpright Wood-binde of Dodonaeus Xylosteum in high-Dutch Honds kirsen that is to say Canum Cerasa or Dog Cherries The English names are expressed in their seuerall titles It hath bin called Chamaecerasus but not truly ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Touching the temperature and vertues of these vpright Wood-bindes we haue no experience at all our selues neither haue we learned any thing of others CHAP. 10. Of Sene. Sena folijs obtusis Italian Sene. ¶ The Description SEne bringeth forth stalks a cubit high set with diuers branches the leaues are long winged consisting of many small leaues like those of Liquorice or of bastard Sene the floures come forth of the bottom of the wings of colour yellow standing vpon slender foot-stalks from which after the floures be gone hang forked cods the same bowing inward like a halfe-moone plain and flat in 〈◊〉 are contained seeds like to the seeds or kernells of grapes of a blackish colour The root is slender long and vnprofitable which perisheth when the leaues are gathered for medicine and the seeds be ripe and must be sowne againe the next yeare euen as we do corne There is another kinde of Sene growing in Italy like the other in each respect sauing that it is greater and hath not that force in purging that the other hath ¶ The Place and Time This is planted in Syria and Egypt also in Italy in Prouince in France in Languedoc It hardly groweth in high and low Germany neither in England it prospereth in hot Regions and cannot away with cold for that cause it is in Italy sowne in May and continueth no longer than Autumne the best is brought from Alexandria and Egypt The Arabians were the first that found it out ¶ The Names The Persians call it Abalzemer as Mesue his copy teacheth the Apothecaries 〈◊〉 by which name it was knowne to Actuarius the Grecian and to the later Latines it is called in English Sene. ¶ The Temperature Sene is of a meane temperature neither hot nor cold yet inclining to heate and dry almost in the third degree it is of a purging facultie and that by the stoole in such sort as it is not much troublesome to mans nature hauing withall a certaine binding qualitie which it leaueth after the purging ¶ The Vertues It voideth forth 〈◊〉 and cholericke humors also grosse and melancholike if it be helped with something tending to that end It is a singular purging medicine in many diseases fit for all ages and kindes It purgeth without violence or hurt especially if it be tempered with Anise seed or other like sweet smelling things added or with gentle purgers or
lenitiue medicines It may be giuen in pouder but commonly the infusion thereof is vsed The quantitie of the pouder is a dram weight and in the infusion foure fiue or more It may be mixed in any liquor It is in the decoction or in the infusion tempered with cold things in burning agues and other hot diseases in cold and long infirmities it is boyled with hot opening simples and such like or else it is steeped in wine in which manner as familiar to mans nature it draweth forth gently by the stoole almost without any kinde of paine crude and raw humors Most of the Arabians commend the cods but our Physitions the leaues rather for vnlesse the cods be full ripe they ingender winde and cause gripings in the belly For they are oftentimes gathered before they be ripe and otherwise easily fall away being shaken downe by the wind by reason of their weake and slender stalks Some also thinke that Sene is hurtfull to the stomacke and weakneth the same for which cause they say that Ginger or some sweet kinde of spice is to be added whereby the stomacke may be strengthned Likewise Mesue noteth that it is slow in operation and therefore Salgem is to be mixed with it Moreouer Sene purgeth not so speedily as stronger medicines do Notwithstanding it may be helped not only by Salgem but also by other purging things mixed therewith that is to say with simple medicines as Rubarb Agaricke and others and with compounds as that which is called Catholicon or the Electuarie Diaphoenicon or that which is made of the iuyce of Roses or some other according as the condition or qualitie of the disease and of the sicke man requireth The leaues of Sene are a familiar purger to all people but they are windie and do binde the bodie afterwards very much disquieting the stomack with rumbling and belching for the auoiding of which inconuenience there must be added Cinnamon Ginger Annise seed and Fennell seed Raisins of the Sun and such like that do breake winde which will the better help his purging qualitie Sene doth better purge when it is infused or steeped than when it is boyled for doubtlesse the more it is boiled the lesse it purgeth and the more windie it becommeth Take Borage Buglosse Balme Fumitorie of each three drams Sene of Alexandria very wel prepared and pouned two ounces strow the pouder vpon the herbes and distill them the water that commeth thereof reserue to your vse to purge those that liue delicately being ministred in white wine with sugar in condited confections and such dainty waies wherein delicate and fine people do greatly delight you may also as was said before adde hereunto according to the maladie diuers purgers as Agaricke Mirobalans c. The pouder of Sene after it is well prepared two ounces of the pouder of the root of Mechoacan foure drams pouder of Ginger Anise seeds of each a little a spoonfull of Anise seeds but a very little Ginger and a modicum or small quantitie of Salgemmae this hath beene proued a verie fit and familiar medicine for all ages and sexes The patient may take one spoonful or two therof fasting either in pottage some supping in drink or white wine This is right profitable to draw both flegme and melancholy from the brest and other parts The leaues of Sene and Cammomil are put in baths to wash the head Sene opens the inward parts of the body which are stopped and is profitable against all griefes of the principall members of the body Take Sene prepared according to art one ounce Ginger half a quarter of an ounce twelue cloues Fenell seed two drams or in stead thereof Cinnamon and Tartar of each halfe a dram pouder all these which done take thereof in white wine one dram before supper which doth maruellously purge the head Handle Sene in maner aboue specified then take halfe an ounce thereof which don adde thereto sixty Raisins of the Sunne with the stones pickt out one spoonfull of Anise seeds braied boile these in a quart of ale till one halfe be wasted and while it is boiling put in your Sene let it stand so till the morning then straine it and put in a little Ginger then take the one halfe of this potion and put thereunto two spoonfulls of syrrup of Roses drinke this together I meane the one halfe of the medicine at one time and if the patient canot abide the next day to receiue the other halfe then let it be deferred vntil the third day after Sene and Fumitorie as Rasis affirmeth do purge adust humors and are excellent good against scabs itch and the ill affection of the body If Sene be infused in whey and then boyled a little it becommeth good physicke against melancholy clenseth the braine and purgeth it as also the heart liuer milt and lungs causeth a man to looke yong ingendreth mirth and taketh away sorrow it cleareth the sight strengthneth hearing and is very good against old feuers and diseases arising of melancholy CHAP. 11. Of bastard Sene. ¶ The Description 1 Colutea and Sene be so neere the one vnto the other in shape and shew that the 〈◊〉 Herbarists haue deemed Colutea to be the right Sene. This bastard Sene is a shrubby plant growing to the forme of a hedge bush or shrubby tree his branches are straight brittle and wooddy which being carelesly broken off and as negligently prickt or stucke in the ground will take root and prosper at what time of the yeare soeuer it be done but slipt or cut or planted in any curious sort whatsoeuer among an hundred one will 〈◊〉 grow these boughes or branches are beset with leaues like Sena or Securidaca not much vnlike Liquorice among which come forth faire broome-like yellow floures which turne into small cods like the sownd of a fish or a little bladder which will make a cracke being broken betweene the fingers wherein are contained many blacke flat seeds of the bignesse of Tares growing vpon a small rib or sinew within the cod the root is hard and of a wooddy substance 1 Colutea Bastard Sene. 2 Colutea Scorpioides Bastard Sene with Scorpion cods 2 Bastard Sene with Scorpion cods is a small wooddy shrub or bush hauing leaues branches and floures like vnto the former bastard Sene but lesse in each respect when his small yellow floures are fallen there succeed little long crooked cods like the long cods or husks of 〈◊〉 his Scorpioides whereof it tooke his name the root is like the root of the Box tree or rather resembling the roots of Dulcamara or Bitter-sweet growing naturally in the shadowie woods of Valena in Narbone whereof I haue a small plant in my garden which may be called Scorpion Sene. 3 Colutea scorpioides humilis Dwarfe bastard Sene. 4 Colutea scorpioides montana 〈◊〉 Mountaine bastard Sene. 5 Colutea minima siue Coronilla The smallest bastard Sene. 4 This mountaine bastard Sene hath stalks leaues and roots like the last
thereof quite altered as Cassius and Dionysius Vticensis doe write in their bookes of tillage yet doth not Athenaeus ascribe that vertue of driuing away drunkennesse to the leaues but to the seeds of Colewoort Moreouer the leaues of Colewoorts are good against all inflammations and hot swellings being stamped with barley and meale and laid vpon them with salt and also to breake carbuncles The iuyce of Colewoorts as Dioscorides writeth being taken with floure-deluce and niter doth make the belly soluble aud being drunke with wine it is a remedie against the bitings of venomous beasts The same being applyed with the powder of Fennugreeke taketh away the paine of the gout and also cureth old and foule vlcers Being conueied into the nosthrils it purgeth the head being put vp with barley meale it bringeth downe the floures Pliny writeth that the iuyce mixed with wine and dropped into the eares is a remedie against deafenesse The seed as Galen saith driueth forth wormes taketh away freckles of the face sun-burning and what thing soeuer that need to be gently scoured or clensed away They say that the broth where in the herbe hath beene sodden is maruellous good for the sinewes and ioynts and likewise for Cankers in the eies claled in Greeke Carcinomata which cannot be healed by any other meanes if they be washed therewith CHAP. 41. Of Rape-Cole ¶ The Description 1 THe first kinde of Rape Cole hath one single long root garnished with many threddy strings from which riseth vp a great thicke stalke bigger than a great Cucumber or great Turnep at the top whereof shooteth forth great broad leaues like vnto those of Cabbage Cole The floures grow at the top on slender stalkes compact of foure small yellow floures which being past the seed followeth inclosed in litle long cods like the sed of Mustard 2 The second hath a long fibrous root like vnto the precedent the tuberous stalke is very great and long thrusting forth in some few places here and there small footstalkes whereupon doe grow smooth leaues sleightly indented about the edges on the top of the long Turnep stalke grow leane stalkes and floures like the former ‡ This second differs from the former onely in the length of the swolne stalke whence they call it Caulorapum longum or Long Rape Cole ‡ ¶ The Place They grow in Italy Spaine and some places of Germanie from whence I haue receiued seedes for my garden as also from an honest and curious friend of mine called master Goodman at the Minories neere London 1 Caulorapum rotundum Round rape Cole ¶ The Time They floure and flourish when the other Colewoorts doe whereof no doubt they are kinds and must be carefully set and sowne as muske Melons and Cucumbers are ¶ The Names They are called in Latine Caulorapum and Rapocaulis bearing for their stalkes as it were Rapes and Turneps participating of two plants the Colewort and Turnep whereof they tooke their names ¶ The Temperature and Vertues There is nothing set downe of the faculties of these plants but are accounted for daintie meate contending with the Cabbage Cole in goodnesse and pleasant taste CHAP. 42. Of Beets ¶ The Description 1 THe common white Beet hath great broad leaues smooth and plain from which rise thicke crested or chamfered stalks the floures grow along the stalks clustering together in shape like little starres which being past there succeed round and vneuen 〈◊〉 seed The root is thicke hard and great 1 Beta alba White Beets 2 Beta rubra Red Beets ‡ 3 Beta rubra Romana Red Roman Beet 2 There is another sort like in shape and proportion to the former sauing that the leaues of this be streaked with red here and there confusedly which setteth forth the difference 3 There is likewise another sort hereof that was brought vnto me from beyond the seas by that courteous merchant master Lete before remembred the which hath leaues very great and red of colour as is all the rest of the plant as well root as stalke and floures full of a perfect purple iuyce tending to rednesse the middle rib of which leaues are for the most part very broad 〈◊〉 thicke like the middle part of the Cabbage leafe which is equall in goodnesse with the leaues of Cabbage being boyled It grew with me 1596. to the height of viijcubits and did bring forth his rough and vneuen seed very plentifully with which plant nature doth seeme to play and sport herselfe for the seeds taken from that plant which was altogether of one 〈◊〉 and sowen doth bring 〈◊〉 plants of many and variable colours as the worshipfull gentleman master Iohn Norden can very well testifie vnto whom I gaue some of the seeds 〈◊〉 which in his garden bruoght forth many other of beautifull colours ¶ The Place The Beete is sowen in gardens it loueth to grow in a 〈◊〉 and fertile ground ‡ The ordinary white Beet growes wilde vpon the sea-coast of Tenet and diuers other places by the Sea for this is not a different kind as some would haue it ‡ ¶ The Time The fittest time to sow it is in the spring it flourisheth and is greene all sommer long and likewise in winter and bringeth forth his seed the next yeare following ¶ The Names The Grecians haue named it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latines Beta the Germanes Maugolt the Spaniards Aselgas the French de la Porée des 〈◊〉 and Beets Theophrastus saith that the white Beete is surnamed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say 〈◊〉 or of Sicilia hereof 〈◊〉 the name Sicla by which the Barbarians and some Apothecaries did call the Beet the which word we in England doevse taken for the same ¶ The Nature The white Beets are in moisture and heate temperate but the other kinds are drie and all of them abstersiue so that the white Beete is a cold and moist pot-herbe which bath ioyned with it a certaine salt and nitrous quality by reason whereof it 〈◊〉 and draweth flegme out of the nosthrils ¶ The Vertues Being eaten when it is boyled it quickly descend eth looseth the belly and prouoketh to the stcole especially being taken with the broth wherein it is sodden it nourisheth little or nothing and is not so wholesome as 〈◊〉 The iuyce conueied vp into the nosthrils doth gently draw sorth flegme and purgeth the head The great and beautifull Beet last described may be vsed in winter for a sallad herbe with vineger oyle and salt and is not onely pleasant to the taste but also delightfull to the eye The greater red Beet or Roman Beet boyled and eaten with oyle 〈◊〉 and pepper is a most excellent and 〈◊〉 sallad but what might be made of the red and beautifull root which is to be preferred before the leaues as well in beauty as in goodnesse I refer vnto the curious and cunning cooke who no doubt when he hath had the view thereof and is assured that it is both good and wholesome will make thereof
many and diuers dishes both faire and good CHAP. 43. Of Blites ¶ The Description 1 THe great white Blite groweth three or foure foot high with grayish or white round stalkes the leaues are plaine and smooth almost like to those of the white Orach but not so soft nor mealy the floures grow thrust together like those of Orach after that commeth the seed inclosed in little round flat husky skinnes 2 There is likewise another sort of Blites very smooth and flexible like the former sauing that the leaues are reddish mixed with a darke greene colour as is the stalke and also the rest of the plant 3 There is likewise found a third sort very like vnto the other sauing that the stalkes branches leaues and the plant is altogether of a greene colour But this growes vpright and creepes not at all 4 There is likewise another in our gardens very like the former sauing that the whole Plant traileth vpon the ground the stalks branches and leaues are reddish the seed is small and clustering together greene of colour and like vnto those of Ruellius his Coronopus or Bucks-horne ‡ 1 Blitum majus album The great white Blite 2 Blitum majus rubrum The great red Blite ¶ The Place The Blites grow in Gardens for the most part although there be found of them wilde many times ¶ The Time They flourish all the Summer long and grow very greene in Winter likewise ¶ The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Blitum in English Blite and Blites in Fr ench Blites or Blitres ‡ 3 Blitum minus album The small white Blite ‡ 4 Blitum minus rubrum The small red Blite ¶ The Nature The Blite saith Galen in his sixth booke of the faculties of simple medicines is a pot-hearbe which serueth for meate being of a cold moist temperature and that chiefely in the second degree It yeeldeth to the body small nourishment as in his second booke of the faculties of nourishments he plainly shewes for it is one of the pot-herbes that be vnsauoury or without taste whose substance is waterish ¶ The Vertues The Blite doth nourish little and yet is fit to make the belly soluble though not vehemently seeing it hath no nitrous or sharpe qualitie whereby the belly should be prouoked I haue heard many old wiues say to their seruants Gather no Blites to put into my pottage for they are not good for the eye-sight whence they had those words I know not it may be of some Doctor that neuer went to schoole for that I can finde no such thing vpon record either among the old or later Writers CHAP. 44. Of Floure-Gentle ¶ The Kindes THere be diuers sorts of floure-Gentle differing in many points very notably as in greatnesse and smallnesse some purple and others of a skarlet colour and one aboue the rest wherewith Nature hath seemed to delight her selfe especially in the leaues which in variable colours do striue with the Parats feathers for beautie 1 Amaranthus purpureus Purple Floure-Gentle 2 Amaranthus 〈◊〉 Scarlet Floure-Gentle 3 Amaranthus tricolor Floramor and 〈◊〉 4 Amaranthus Pannicula sparsa Branched Floure-Gentle ¶ The Description 1 PVrple floure Gentle riseth vp with a stalke a cubit high and sometime higher streaked or chamfered alongst the same often reddish toward the root and very smooth which diuideth it selfe toward the top into small branches about which stand long leaues broad sharpe pointed soft slippery of a greene colour and sometimes tending to a reddish in stead of floures come vp eares or spokie tufts very braue to looke vpon but without smell of a shining light purple with a glosse like veluet but far passing it which when they are bruised doe yeeld a iuyce almost of the same colour and being gathered doe keepe their beauty a long time after insomuch that being set in water it will reuiue againe as at the time of his gathering and it remaineth so many yeares whereupon likewise it hath taken its name The seed standeth in the ripe eares of colour blacke and much glittering the root is short and full of strings ‡ 5 Amaranthus pannicula incurua holoserica Veluet Floures Gentle 2 The second sort of floure Gentle hath leaues like vnto the former the stalke is vpright with a few small slender leaues set vpon it among which doe grow small clusters of scaly floures of an ouerworne scarlet colour The seed is like the former 3 It far exceedeth my skill to describe the beauty and excellency of this rare plant called Floramor and I thinke the pensill of the most curious painter wil be at a stay when he shall come to set him downe in his liuely colours but to colour it after my best manner this I say Floramor hath a thicke knobby root whereupon doe grow many threddy strings from which riseth a thicke stalke but tender and soft which beginneth to deuide himselfe into sundry branches at the ground and so vpward whereupon 〈◊〉 grow many leaues wherein doth consist his beauty for in few words euery leafe doth resemble in colours the most faire and beautifull feather of a Parrat especially those feathers that are mixed with most sundry colours as a stripe of red and a line of yellow a dash of white and a rib of green colour which I canot with words set forth such are the sundry mixtures of colours that nature hath bestowedin her greatest iollitie vpon this floure the floures doe grow betweene the foot-stalkes of those leaues and the body of the stalke or trunke base and of no moment in respect of the leaues being as it were little chassie husks of an ouerworne 〈◊〉 colour the seed is blacke and shining like burnished horne ‡ I haue not seene this thus variegated as our Author mentions but the leaues are commonly of three colours the lower part or that next to the stalke is greene the middle red and the end yellow or else the end red the middle yellow and the bottome greene ‡ 4 This plant hath a great many of threds and strings of which his roots doe consist From which doe rise vp very thicke fat stalkes crested and streaked exceeding smooth and of a shining red colour which begin at the ground to diuide themselues into branches whereupon doe grow many great and large leaues of a darke greene colour tending to rednesse in shew like those of the red Beet streaked and dasht here and there with red mixed with greene The floures grow alongst the stalkes from the middest thereof euen to the top in shape like Panicum that is a great number of chaffie confused eares thrust hard together of a deepe purple colour I can compare the shape thereof to nothing so 〈◊〉 as to the veluet head of a Stag compact of such soft matter as is the same wherein is the seed in colour white 〈◊〉 and bored through the middle ‡ 5 This in stalkes and leaues is much like the purple floure Gentle but the heads are larger
smel vpon which plant if any should chance to rest and sleepe he might very well report to his friends that he had reposed himselfe among the chiese of Scoggins heires ¶ The Place It groweth vpon dunghills and in the most filthy places that may be found as also about the common pissing places of great princes and Noblemens houses Sometime it is found in places neere bricke kilns and old walls which doth somewhat alter his smell which is like tosted cheese but that which groweth in his naturall place smells like stinking salt-fish whereof it tooke his name Garosmus ¶ The Time It is an herbe for a yeare which springeth vp and when the seed is ripe it perisheth and recouereth it selfe againe of his owne seed so that if it be gotten into a ground it cannot be destroyed ¶ The Names Stinking Orach is called of Cordus Garosmus because it smelleth like stinking fish it is likewise called Tragium Germanicum and Atriplex 〈◊〉 olens by Pena and Lobel for it smelleth more stinking than the rammish male Goat whereupon some by a figure haue called it Vulvaria and it may be called in English stinking Mother-wort ¶ The Nature and Vertues There hath been little or nothing set down by the Antients either of his nature or vertues notwithstanding it hath beene thought profitable by reason of his stinking smell for such as are troubled with the mother for as Hyppocrates saith when the mother doth stifle or strangle such things are to be applied vnto the 〈◊〉 as haue a ranke and stinking smell CHAP. 47. Of Goose-foot ¶ The Description 1 GOose-foot is a common herbe and thought to be a kinde of Orach it riseth vp with a stalke a cubit high or higher somewhat chamfered and branched the leaues be broad smooth sharpe pointed shining hauing certaine deepe cuts about the edges and resembling the foot of a goose the floures be small something red the seed standeth in clusters vpon the top of the branches being very like the seed of wilde Orach and the root is diuided into sundry strings ‡ 2 This differs from the last described in that the leaues are sharper cut and more diuided the seed somewhat smaller and the colour of the whole plant is a deeper or darker greene ‡ 1 Atriplex syluestris latifolia siue Pes Anserinus Goose-foot ‡ 2 Atriplex syluestris latifolia 〈◊〉 The other Goose-foot ¶ The Place It growes plentifully in obscure places neere old walls and high-waies and in desart places ¶ The Time It flourisheth when the Orach doth whereof this is a wilde kinde ¶ The Names The later Herbarists haue called it Pes anserinus and Chenopodium of the likenesse the leaues haue with the foot of a Goose in English Goose-foot and wilde Orach ¶ The Temperature This herbe is cold and moist and that no lesser than Orach but as it appeareth more cold ¶ The Vertues It is reported that it killeth swine if they do eate thereof it is not vsed in Physicke and 〈◊〉 lesse as a sallade herbe CHAP. 48. Of English Mercurie Bonus Henricus English Mercurie or good Henrie ¶ The Description GOod Henrie called Tota bona so named of the later Herbarists is accounted of them to be one of the Dockes but not properly This bringeth forth very many thicke stalkes set with leaues two foot high on the branches wherof towards the top stand greene floures in clusters thicke thrust together The seed is flat like that of the Orach whereof this is a kinde The leaues be fastened to long foote-stalkes broad behinde and sharpe pointed fashioned like the leaues of Aron or Wake-robin white or grayish of colour and as it were couered ouer with a fine meale in handling it is fat and olious with a very thicke root and parted into many diuisions of a yellow colour within like the sharpe pointed Docke ¶ The Place It is commonly found in vntilled places and among rubbish neere common waies old walls and by hedges in fields ¶ The Time It floureth in Iune and Iuly especially ¶ The Names It is called of some 〈◊〉 Anserinus and Tota bona in English All-Good and Good Henrie in Cambridgshire it is called Good king Harry the Germanes call it Guter Heinrick of a certaine good qualitie it hath as they also name a certaine pernicious herbe Malus Henricus or bad Henry It is taken for a kinde of Mercurie but vnproperly for that it hath no participation with Mercurie either in forme or quality except yee will call euery herbe Mercurie which hath power to loose the belly ¶ The Temperature Bonus Henricus or Good Henrie is moderately hot and dry clensing and scouring withall ¶ The Vertues The leaues boiled with other pot-herbes and eaten maketh the body soluble The same brused and laid vpon greene wounds or foale and old vlcers doth scoure mundisie and heale them CHAP. 49. Of Spinach Spinacia Spinach ¶ The Description 1 SPinach is a kinde of Blite after 〈◊〉 notwithstanding I rather take it 〈◊〉 kinde of Orach It bringeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and tender leaues of a darke greene colour full 〈◊〉 juice sharpe pointed and in the largest part 〈◊〉 neather end square parted oftentimes with a deepe gash on either side next to the 〈◊〉 foot-stalke the stalke is round a foot high 〈◊〉 within on the tops of the branches stand little floures in clusters in whose places doth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prickly seed The root consisteth of many small threds 2 There is another sort found in our 〈◊〉 like vnto the former in goodnesse as also in 〈◊〉 sauing that the leaues are not so great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 deepely gasht or indented and the seed 〈◊〉 prickles at all for which cause it is called 〈◊〉 Spinach ¶ The Place It is sowne in gardens without any great 〈◊〉 or industrie and forsaketh not any ground being but indifferent fertill ¶ The Time It may be sowne almost at any time of 〈◊〉 yeere but being sowne in the spring it quickly groweth vp and commeth to perfection within two moneths but that which is sowne in the fall of the leafe groweth not so soone to perfection yet continueth all the win terand seedeth presently vpon the first spring ¶ The Names It is called in these daies Spinachia of some Spinacheum olus of others Hispanicum olus 〈◊〉 nameth it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Arabians and Serapio call it Hispane the Germanes Spinet in 〈◊〉 Spinage and Spinach in French Espinas ¶ The Nature Spinach is euidently cold and moist almost in the second degree but rather moist It is 〈◊〉 the pot-herbes whose substance is waterie and almost without taste and therefore quickly 〈◊〉 deth and looseth the bellie ¶ The Vertues It is eaten boiled but it yeeldeth little or no nourishment at all it is something windie and easily causeth a desire to vomit it is vsed in sallades when it is young and tender This herbe of all other pot-herbes and sallade herbes maketh the greatest diuersitie of 〈◊〉 and sallades CHAP. 50. Of Pellitorie of the wall ¶ The
ten graines with water wherein honey hath beene sodden The root boyled with vineger and the same holden hot in the mouth easeth the paine of the teeth The seed is vsed by Mountibanke Tooth-drawers which runne about the countrie for to cause wormes come forth of mens teeth by burning it in a chasing-dish with coles the party holding his mouth ouer the fume thereof but some crafty companions to gaine mony conuey small lute string into the water persuading the patient that those small creeping beasts came out of his mouth or other parts which he intended to ease CHAP. 67. Of yellow Henbane or English Tabaco Hyoscyamus luteus Yellow Henbane ¶ The Description YEllow Henbane groweth to the height of two cubits the stalke is thicke 〈◊〉 and greene of colour full of a spongeous pith and is diuided into sundry branches set with smooth and euen leaues thick and ful of juice The floures grow at the tops of the branches orderly placed of a pale yellow colour something lesser than those of the blacke Henbane The cups wherein the floures do stand are like but lesser tenderer and without sharpe points wherein is set the husk or cod somwhat 〈◊〉 full of very small seed like the seed of Marjerome The root is small and threddy ¶ The Place Yellow Henbane is sowen in gardens where it doth prosper exceedingly insomuch that it cannot be destroyed where it hath once 〈◊〉 it 〈◊〉 and it is dispersed into the most parts of England ¶ The Time It floureth in the Sommer moneths and 〈◊〉 till Autumne be farre spent in which time the seed commeth to perfection ¶ The Names Yellow Henbane is called Hyoscyamus 〈◊〉 of some Petum and Petun of others 〈◊〉 of Nicot a Frenchman that brought the seeds from the Indies as also the seeds of the 〈◊〉 Tabaco whereof this hath beene taken for a kinde insomuch that Lobel hath called it 〈◊〉 Hyoscyamus or doubtfull Henbane as a plant participating of Henbane and Tabaco and it is 〈◊〉 of diuers in stead of Tabaco and called by the same name for that it hath beene brought from 〈◊〉 a place so called in the Indies as also from Virginia and Norembega for Tabaco which doubtlesse taken in 〈◊〉 worketh the same kinde of drunkennesse that the right Tabaco doth ‡ Some vse to call this 〈◊〉 in English being a name taken from the Latine ‡ ¶ The Nature This kinde of Henbane is thought of some to be cold and moist but after Lobel it rather 〈◊〉 than cooles at all because of the biting taste as also that rosenninesse or gummines it is 〈◊〉 sessed of which is euidently perceiued both in handling and chewing it in the mouth ¶ The Vertues This herbe auaileth against all apostumes tumors inueterate vlcers botches and such like 〈◊〉 ing made into an vnguent or salue as followeth Take of the greene leaues three pounds and an halfe stampe them very small in a stone morter of Oyle Oliue one quart set them to boyle in 〈◊〉 brasse pan or such like vpon a gentle fire continually stirring it vntill the herbes seem blacke and will not boyle or bubble any more then shall you haue an excellent greene oyle which being strained from the 〈◊〉 or drosse put the cleare and strained oyle to the fire againe adding thereto of wax halfe a pound of rosen foure ounces and of good Turpentine two ounces melt them all together and keepe it in pots for your vse to cure inueterate vlcers apostumes burnings greene wounds and all cuts and hurts in the head wherewith I haue gotten both crownes and credit It is vsed of some in stead of Tabaco but to small purpose or profit although it do stupifie and dull the sences and cause that kinde of giddinesse that Tabaco doth and likewise spitting which any other herbe of hot temperature will do as Rosemary Time winter Sauorie sweet Marjerome and such like any of the which I like better to be taken in smoke than this kinde of doubtfull henbane CHAP. 68. Of Tabaco or Henbane of Peru. ¶ The Kindes THere be two sorts or kindes of Tabaco one greater the other lesser the greater was brought into Europe out of the prouinces of America which we call the West Indies the other from Trinidada an Island neere vnto the continent of the same Indies Some haue added a third sort and others make the yellow 〈◊〉 a kinde thereof †1 Hyoscyamus Peruvianus Tabaco or Henbane of Peru. †2 Sana Sancta Indorum Tabaco of Trinidada ¶ The Description 1 TAbaco or Henbane of Peru hath very great stalkes of the bignesse of a childes 〈◊〉 growing in fertile and well dunged ground of seuen or eight foot high diuiding it selfe into sundry branches of great length whereon are placed in most comely order very faire long leaues broad smooth and sharpe pointed 〈◊〉 and of a light greene colour so fastned about the stalke that they seeme to embrace and compasse it about The floures grow at the top of the stalkes in shape like a bell-floure somewhat long and cornered hollow within of a light carnation 〈◊〉 tending to whitenesse toward the brimmes The seed is contained in long 〈◊〉 pointed cods or seed-vessels like vnto the seed of yellow Henbane but somewhat smaller and browner of colour The root is great thicke and of a wooddy substance with some 〈◊〉 strings anexed thereunto 2 Trinidada Tabaco hath a thicke tough and fibrous root 〈◊〉 which immediately rise vp long broad leaues and smooth of a greenish colour lesser than those of Peru among which riseth vp a stalke diuiding it selfe at the ground into diuers branches whereon are set confusedly the like leaues but lesser at the top of the stalks stand vp long necked hollow floures of a pale purple 〈◊〉 to a blush colour after which succeed the cods or seed-vessels including many small seeds like vnto the seed of Marjerome The whole plant perisheth at the first approch of Winter ‡ 3 Tabacum minimum Dwarfe Tabaco ‡ 3 This third is an herbe some spanne or better long not in face vnlike the precedent neither defectiue in the hot and burning taste The floures are much lesse than those of the yellow Henbane of a greenish yellow The leaues are small and narrower those of Sage of Ierusalem The root is small and fibrous ‡ ¶ The Place These were first brought into Europe 〈◊〉 of America which is called the West Indies in which is the prouince or countrey of Peru but being now planted in the gardens of Europe it prospereth very well and commeth from seed in one yeare to beare both floures and seed The which I take to be better for the constitution of our bodies than that which is brought from India and that growing in the Indies better for the people of the same Countrey notwithstanding it is not so thought nor receiued of our Tabaconists for according to the English Prouerbe Far fetcht and deare bought is best for Ladies ¶ The Time Tabaco must be sowen in the most
high which are garnished from the top of the plant vnto the ground with leaues like Beets disorderly placed This whole plant is exceeding full of milke insomuch as if you do but breake one leafe of the plant many drops of a milky iuyce will fall vpon the ground The root is very great and full of milk also likewise the knops wherein the seed should be are empty and void of seed so that the whole plant is altogether barren and must be increased with slipping of his root 1 Campanula persicifolia Peach-leaued Bell-floure 2 Campanula lactescens pyramidalis Steeple milky Bell-floure 3 The small Bell-floure hath many round leaues very like those of the common field Violet spred vpon the ground among which rise vp small slender stems disorderly set with many grassie narrow leaues like those of flax The small stem is diuided at the top into sundry little branches whereon do grow pretty blew floures bell-fashion The root is small and threddy 4 The yellow Bell-floure is a very beautifull plant of an handfull high bearing at the top of his weake and tender stalkes most pleasant floures bel-fashion of a faire and bright yellow colour The leaues and roots are like the precedent sauing that the leaues that grow next to the ground of this plant are not so round as the former ‡ Certainly our Author in this place meant to set forth the Campanula lutea linifolia store volubilis described in the Aduers pag. 177. and therefore I haue giuen you the figure thereof ‡ 3 Campanula rotundifolia Round leaued Bell-floure 4 Campanula lutea linifolia Yellow Bell-floure 5 Campanula minor alba siue purpurea Little white or purple Bel-floure 5 The little white Bell-floure is a kinde of wilde Rampions as is that which followeth and also the last saue one before described This small plant hath a slender root of the bignesse of a small straw with some few strings anexed thereto The leaues are somwhat long smooth and of a perfect greene colour lying flat vpon the ground from thence rise vp small tender stalkes set heere and there with a few leaues The floures grow at the top of a milke white colour 6 The other small Bell-floure or wilde Rampion differeth not from the precedent but onely in colour of the floures for as the others are white these are of a bright purple colour which sets forth the difference ‡ 7 Besides these here described there is another very small and rare Bell-floure which hath not beene set forth by any but onely by Bauhine in his Prodrom vnder the title of Campanula Cymbalariae folijs and that fitly for it hath thinne and small cornered leaues much after the maner of Cymbalaria and these are set without order on very small weake and tender stalkes some handfull long and at the tops of the branches grow little small and tender Bell-floures of a blew colour The root like as the whole plant is very small and threddy This pretty plant was first discouered to grow in England by Master George Bowles Anno 1632. who sound it in Montgomerie shire on the dry bankes in the high-way as one rideth from Dolgeogg a Worshipfull Gentlemans house called Mr. Francis Herbert vnto a market towne called Mahuntleth and in all the way from thence to the sea side It may be called in English The tender Bell-floure ‡ ¶ The Place The two first grow in our London gardens and not wilde in England The rest except that small one with yellow floures do grow wilde in most places of England especially vpon barren sandy heaths and such like grounds ¶ The Time These Bell-floures do flourish from May vnto August ¶ The Names Their seuerall titles set forth their names in English and Latine which is as much as hath been said of them ¶ The Temperature and Vertues These Bell-floures especially the foure last mentioned are cold and dry and of the nature of Rampions whereof they be kindes CHAP. 118. Of Rampions or wilde Bell-floures 1 Rapuntium majus Great Rampion 2 Rapuntium parvum Small Rampion ¶ The Description 1 THe great Rampion being one of the Bell-floures hath leaues which appeare or come forth at the beginning somewhat large and broad smooth and plaine not vnlike to the leaues of the smallest Beet Among which rise vp stemmes one cubit high set with such like leaues as those are of the first springing vp but smaller bearing at the top of the stalke a great thicke bushy 〈◊〉 full of little long floures closely thrust together like a Fox-taile which small floures before their opening are like little crooked hornes and being wide opened they are small blew-bells sometimes white or sometimes purple The root is white and as thicke as a mans thumbe 2 The second kind being likewise one of the bel-floures and yet a wild kind of Rampion hath leaues at his first comming vp like vnto the garden Bell-floure The leaues which spring vp afterward for the decking vp of the stalke are somewhat longer and narrower The floures grow at the top of tender and brittle stalkes like vnto little bells of a bright blew colour sometimes white or purple The root is small long and somewhat thicke 3 This is a wilde Rampion that growes in woods it hath small leaues spred vpon the ground bluntly indented about the edges among which riseth vp a straight stem of the height of a cubit set from the bottome to the top with longer and narrower leaues than those next the ground at the top of the stalkes grow small Bell-floures of a watchet blewish colour The root is thicke and tough with some few strings anexed thereto ‡ There is another varietie of this whose figure was formerly by our Author set forth in the fourth place of the last chapter it differs from this last onely in that the floures and other parts of the plant are lesser a little than those of the last described ‡ 3 Rapunculus nemorosus Wood Rampions ‡ 4 Rapunculus Alpinus 〈◊〉 Horned Rampions of the Alpes ‡ 4 This which growes amongst the rockes in the highest Alpes hath a wooddy and verie wrinckled root an handfull and halfe long from which arise many leaues set on pretty long stalks somewhat round and diuided with reasonable deepe gashes hauing many veines and being of a darke greene colour amongst these grow vp little stalkes hauing one leafe about their middles and three or foure set about the floure being narrower and longer than the bottome leaues The floures grow as in an vmbell and are shaped like that Chymicall vessell we vsually call a Retort being big at their bottomes and so becomming smaller towards their tops and hauing many threds in them whereof one is longer than the rest and comes forth in the middle of the floure it floures in August Pona was the first that described this vnder the name of Trachelium 〈◊〉 minus 5 The roots of this other kinde of horned Rampion grow after an vnusuall manner for first or
inflammation of the Vuula The seed of Nettle stirreth vp lust especially drunke with Cute for as Galen saith it hath in it a certaine windinesse It concocteth and draweth out of the chest raw humors It is good for them that cannot breathe vnlesse they hold their necks vpright and for those that haue the pleurisie and for such as be sick of the inflammation of the lungs if it be taken in a looch or licking medicine and also against the troublesome cough that children haue called the Chin-cough Nicander affirmeth that it is a remedie against the venomous qualitie of Hemlocke Mushroms and Quick-siluer And Apollodoris saith that it is a counterpoyson for Henbane Serpents and Scorpions As Pliny witnesseth the same Author writeth that the oyle of it takes away the stinging which the Nettle it selfe maketh The same grossely powned and drunke in white wine is a most singular medicine against the stone either in the bladder or in the reines as hath beene often proued to the great ease and comfort of those that haue been grieuously tormented with that maladie It expelleth grauell and causeth to make water The leaues of any kinde of Nettle or the seeds do worke the like effect but not with that good speed and so assuredly as the Romane Nettle CHAP. 238. Of Hempe 1 Cannabis mas Male or Steele Hempe ‡ 2 Cannabis foemina Femeline or Female Hempe ¶ The Description 1 HEmpe bringeth forth round stalkes straight hollow fiue or six foot high full of branches when it groweth wilde of it selfe but when it is sowne in fields it hath very few or no branches at all The leaues thereof be hard tough somewhat blacke and if they be bruised they be of a ranke smell made vp of diuers little leaues ioyned together euery particular leafe whereof is narrow long sharpe pointed and nicked in the edges the seeds come forth from the bottomes of the wings and leaues being round somewhat hard full of white substance The roots haue many strings 2 There is another being the female Hempe yet barren and without seed contrarie vnto the nature of that sex which is very like to the other being the male and one must be gathered before the other be ripe else it will wither away and come to no good purpose ¶ The Place Hempe as Columella writeth delighteth to grow in a fat dunged and waterie soile or plaine and moist and deepely digged ¶ The Time Hempe is sowne in March and Aprill the first is ripe in the end of August the other in Iuly ¶ The Names This is named of the Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also of the Latines Cannabis the Apothecaries keep that name in high-Dutch 〈◊〉 hanff of the Italians Canape of the Spaniards Canamo in French Chanure of the Brabanders Kemp in English Hempe The male is called Charle Hempe and Winter Hempe the female Barren Hempe and Sommer Hempe ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The seed of Hempe as Galen writeth in his bookes of the faculties of simple medicines is hard of digestion hurtfull to the stomacke and head and containeth in it an ill iuyce notwithstanding some do vse to eate the same 〈◊〉 cum alijs tragematis with other junkets It consumeth winde as the said Author saith in his booke of the faculties of medicines and is so great a drier as that it drieth vp the seed if too much be eaten of it Dioscorides saith That the iuyce of the herbe dropped into the eares asswageth the paine thereof proceeding as I take it of obstruction or stopping as Galen addeth The inner substance or pulpe of the seed pressed out in some kinde of liquor is giuen to those that haue the yellow jaundice when the disease first appeares and oftentimes with good successe if the disease come of obstruction without an ague for it openeth the passage of the gall and disperseth and concocteth the choler through the whole body Matthiolus saith that the seed giuen to hens causeth them to lay egges more plentifully CHAP. 239. Of wilde Hempe 1 Cannabis Spuria Wilde Hempe ‡ 2 Cannabis Spuria altera Bastard Hempe ‡ 3 Cannabis Spuria tertia Small Bastard Hempe ¶ The Description 1 THis wilde Hempe called Cannabis Spuria 〈◊〉 Bastard Hempe hath smal slender hoary and hairie stalkes a foot high beset at euery ioynt with two leaues smally indented about the edges somewhat like a Nettle The floures grow in rundles about the stalkes of a purple colour and sometimes also white the root is little and threddy 2 There is likewise another kind of wild Hempe which hath 〈◊〉 stalkes and leaues like the former but the floures are greater gaping wide open like the floures of Lamium or dead Nettle whereof this hath been taken for a kinde but hee that knoweth any thing may easily discerne the sauor of hempe from the smell of dead Nettle The floures are of a cleare and light carnation colour declining to purple 3 There is also another kinde of wilde Hempe like vnto the last before mentioned sauing that it is smaller in each respect and not so hairy The lease is somewhat rounder the root small and threddy the 〈◊〉 is larger being purple or white with a yellow spot in the inside ¶ The Place These kinds of wild or bastard Hempe do grow vpon hills and mountaines and barren hilly grounds especially in earable land as I haue often seene in the corne fields of Kent as about Grauesend 〈◊〉 and in all the tract from thence to Canturbury and in many places about London ¶ The Time These herbes do floure from Iuly to the end of August ¶ The Names It shall suffice what hath been set downe in the titles 〈◊〉 the Latine names in English Wilde Hempe Nettle Hempe and Bastard Hempe ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The temperature and faculties are referred to the 〈◊〉 Hempe notwithstanding they are not vsed in physicke where the other may be had CHAP. 240. Of Water-Hempe ¶ The Description 1 WAter-Hempe or Water-Agrimony is seldome found in 〈◊〉 regions for which cause it is called Eupatorium Cannabinum foemina Septentrionalium and groweth in the cold Northerne countries in moist places and in the midst of ponds slow running riuers and ditches The root continueth long hauing many long and slender strings after the nature of water herbes the stalkes grow a cubit and a halfe high of a darke purple colour with many branches standing by distances one from another The leaues are more indented and lesse hairy than the male kind the floures grow at the top of a browne yellow colour 〈◊〉 with blacke spots like Aster atticus which consisteth of such a substance as is in the midst of the Daisie or the Tansie floure and is set about with small and sharpe leaues such as are about the Rose which causeth the whole floure to resemble 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and it sauoreth like gum Elemni Rosine or Cedar wood when it is burned The seed is long 〈◊〉 Pyrethrum closely thrust together and lightly cleaueth
here placed the same for the reasons rendred in my Proeme The seed is blacke and groweth in round huskes the root is long and small thrusting it selfe far abroad and into the earth like the other Binde-weeds 2 Soldanella or mountaine Binde-weed hath many round leaues spred vpon the ground not much vnlike the former but rounder and more full of veines greener of a bitter taste like sea Binde-weed among which commeth forth a small and tender stalke a handfull high bearing at the top little floures like the small Bell-floure of a sky colour The root is small and threddy ‡ 3 Soldanella Alpina minor Small Mountaine Bindweed ‡ 3 There is of this kinde another hauing all the parts smaller and the leaues redder and rounder the floures also blew and composed of one leafe diuided into fiue parts and succeeded by a longish cod round and sharp pointed ‡ ¶ The Place The first grows plentifully by the Sea shore in most places of England especially neere to Lee in Essex at Mersey in the same countie in most places of the Isle of Thanet and Shepey and in many places along the Northern coast The second groweth vpon the mountains of Germanie and the Alpes it groweth vpon the mountains of VVales not far from Cowmers Meare in North-Wales ¶ The Time These herbes do floure in Iune and are gathered in August to be kept for medicine ¶ The Names The first called Soldanella is of the Apothecaries and the Antients called Marina Brassica that is to say Sea Co'ewoort but what reason hath moued them so to doe I cannot conceiue vnlesse it be penurie and scarsitie of names and because they know not otherwise how to terme it of this I am sure that this plant and Brassica are no more like than things which are most vnlike for Brassica Marina is the Sea Colewoort which doth much resemble the garden Cabbage or Cole both in shape and in nature as I haue in his due place expressed A great fault and ouersight therefore it hath been of the old writers and their successors which haue continued the custome of this error not taking the paines to distinguish a Binde-weed from a Cole-woort But to auoid controuersies the truth is as I haue before shewed that this Soldanella is a Bindeweed and cannot be esteemed for a Brassica that is a Colewoort The later Herbarists call it Soldana and Soldanella in Dutch Zeewind that is to say Convoluulus Marinus of Dioscorides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i Brassica Marina in English Sea VVithwinde Sea Bindweed Sea-bels Sea-coale of some Sea Fole-foot and Scottish Scuruie-grasse The second is called Soldanella montana in English Mountaine Bindweed ¶ The Nature Sea Bindeweed is hot and drie in the second degree the second is bitter and very astringent ¶ The Vertues Soldanella purgeth downe mightily all kinde of watrish humours and openeth the stoppings of the liuer and is giuen with great profit against the dropsie but it must be boiled with the broth of some fat meat or flesh and the broth drunke or else the herbe taken in pouder worketh the like effect Soldanella hurteth the stomack and troubleth the weake and delicate bodies which doe receiue it in pouder wherefore aduice must be taken to mix the said pouder with Annise seeds Cinnamon ginger and sugar which spices do correct his malignitie Practitioners about Auspurge and Rauispurge cities of Germanie do greatly boast that they haue done wonders with this herbe Soldanella montana saying that the leaues taken and emplaistred vpon the nauell and somewhat lower draw forth water from their bellies that are hydroptike that is troubled with water or the dropsie this effect it worketh in other parts without heating It doth also wonderfully bring flesh in wounds and healeth them Dioscorides witnesseth that the whole herbe is an enemie to the stomacke biting and extremely purging both sodden and taken with meat and bringeth troublesome gripings thereunto and doth oftentimes more hurt than good ‡ My friend Mr. Goodyer hath told me that in Hampshire at Chichester and 〈◊〉 they make vse of this for Scuruio-grasse and that not without great errour as any that know the qualities mayeasily perceiue CHAP. 308. Of the Grasse of Parnassus 1 Gramen Parnassi Grasse of Parnassus ‡ 2 Gramen Parnassi flore duplici Grasse of Parnassus with double floures ¶ The Description 1 THe Grasse of Parnassus hath small round leaues very much differing from any kind of Grasse much resembling the leaues of Iuie or Asarabacca but smaller and not of so darke a colour among these leaues spring vp small stalkes a foot high bearing little white floures consisting of fiue round pointed leaues which beeing falne and past there come vp round knops or heads wherein is contained a reddish seed The root is somewhat thicke with many strings annexed thereto 2 The second kinde of Gramen Parnassi doth answer the former in each respect sauing that the leaues are somewhat larger and the floures double otherwise verie like ¶ The Place The first groweth very plentifully in Lansdall and Crauen in the North parts of England at Doncaster and in Thornton fields in the same countrie moreouer in the Moore neere to Linton by Cambridge at Hesset also in Suffolke at a place named Drinkstone in the medow called Butchers mead ‡ Mr. Goodyer found it in the boggy ground below the red well of Wellingborough in Northampton shire and Mr. William Broad obserued it to grow plentifully in the Castle fields of Berwicke vpon Tweed ‡ The second is a stranger in England ¶ The Time These herbes do floure in the end of Iuly and their seed is ripe in the end of August ¶ The Names Valerius Cordus hath among many that haue written of these herbes said something of them to good purpose calling them by the name of Hepatica alba whereof without controuersie they are kindes in English white Liuerwoort although there is another plant called Hepatica alba which for distinction sake I haue thought good to English Noble white Liu erwoort The second may be called Noble white Liuerwoort with the double floure ¶ The Nature The seed of Parnassus Grasse or white Liuer-woort is drie and of subtill parts ¶ The Vertues The decoction of the leaues of Parnassus Grasse drunken doth drie and strengthen the feeble and moist stomacke stoppeth the bellie and taketh away the desire to vomite The same boiled in wine or water and drunken especially the seed thereof prouoketh vrine breaketh the stone and driueth it forth CHAP. 309. Of white Saxifrage or Golden Saxifrage ¶ The Description 1 THe white Saxifrage hath round leaues spred vpon the ground and somewhat iagged about the edges not much vnlike the leaues of ground Iuie but softer and smaller and of a more faint yellowish greene among which riseth vp a round hairie stalke a cubit high bearing at the top small white floures almost like Stockgillofloures the root is compact of a number of blacke strings whereunto are fastened very
with oyle of roses and dropped into the contrarie eare doth ease the tooth-ache and that the berries make the haire blacke Iuy in our time is very seldome vsed saue that the leaues are layd vpon little vlcers made in the thighes legs or other parts of the body which are called Issues for they draw humors and waterish substance to those parts and keepe them from hot swellings or inflammations that is to say the leaues newly gathered and not as yet withered or dried Some likewise affirme that the berries are effectuall to procure vrine and are giuen vnto those that be troubled with the stone and diseases of the kidneyes The leaues laid in steepe in water for a day and a nights space helpe sore and smarting waterish eyes if they be bathed and washed with the water wherein they haue beene infused CHAP. 316. Of rough Binde-weed 1 Smilax Peruviana Salsa parilla Rough Binde-weed of Peru. 2 Smilax aspera Common rough Binde-weed ¶ The Description 3 Smilax aspera Lusitanica Rough Binde-weed of Portugall 2 The common rough Binde-weed hath many branches set full of little sharpe prickles with certaine clasping tendrels wherewith it taketh hold vpon hedges shrubs and whatsoeuer standeth next vnto it winding and clasping it selfe about from the bottom to the top whereon are placed at euery ioint one leafe like that of Iuy without corners sharpe pointed lesser and harder than those of smooth Binde-weed oftentimes marked with little white spots and garded or bordered about the edges with crooked prickles The floures grow at the top of crooked stalks of a white colour and sweet of smell 〈◊〉 commeth the fruit like those of the wilde Vine greene at the first and red when they be ripe and of a biting taste wherein is contained a blackish seed in shape like that of hempe The root is long somewhat hard and parted into very many branches 3 This rough Binde-weed found for the most part in the barren mountaines of Portugal differeth not from the precedent in stalkes and floures but in the leaues and fruit for the leaues are softer and lesse prickly and sometimes haue no prickles at all and they are also oftentimes much narrower the fruit or berry is not red but blacke when as it commeth to be ripe The root hereof is one single root of a wooddy substance with some fibres annexed thereto wherein consisteth the difference ¶ The Place Zarza parilla or the prickly Binde-weed of America groweth in Peru a prouince of America in Virginia and in diuers other places both in the East and West Indies The others grow in rough and vntilled places about the hedges and borders of fields on mountaines and vallies in Italy Languedock in France Spaine and Germany ¶ The Time They floure and flourish in the Spring their fruit is ripe in Autumne or a little before ¶ The Names It is named in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gaza Theophrastus his Translator names it Hedera Cilicia as likewise Pliny who lib. 24. cap. 〈◊〉 writeth that it is also syrnamed Nicophoron Of the Hetrurians Hedera spinosa and Rubus ceruinus of the Castilians in Spaine as Lacuna saith Zarza parilla as though they should say Rubus viticula or Bramble little Vine Parra as Matthiolus interpreteth it doth signifie a Vine and Parilla a small or little Vine Diuers affirme that the root brought out of Peru a prouince in America which the later Herbarists do call Zarza is the root of this Bindeweed Garcias Lopius 〈◊〉 granteth it to be like thereunto but yet he doth not affirme that it is the same Plants are 〈◊〉 found to be like one another which notwithstanding are proued not to be the same by some little difference the diuers constitution of the weather and of the soile making the difference Zarzaparilla of Peru is a strange plant and is brought vnto vs from the Countries of the new world called America and such things as are brought from thence although they also seeme and are like to those that grow in Europe notwithstanding they doe often differ in vertue and operation for the diuersitie of the soile and of the weather doth not only breed an alteration in the form but doth most of all preuaile in making the vertues and qualities greater or lesser Such things as grow in hot places be of more force and greater smell and in cold of lesser Some things that are deadly and pernitious being remoued wax milde and are made wholesome so in like manner although Zarza parilla of Peru be like to rough Binde-weed or to Spanish Zarza parilla notwithstanding by reason of the temperature of the weather and also through the nature of the soile it is of a great deale more force than that which groweth either in Spaine or in Africke The roots of Zarza parilla of Peru which are brought alone without the plant be long and slender like to the lesser roots of common liquorice very many oftentimes hanging from one head in which roots the middle string is hardest They haue little taste and so small a smell that it is not to be perceiued These are reported to grow in Honduras a prouince of Peru. They had their name of the likenesse of rough Binde-weed which among the inhabitants it keepeth signifying in Spanish a rough or prickly vine as Garcias Lopius witnesseth ¶ The Temperature The roots are of temperature hot and dry and of thin and subtill parts insomuch as their decoction doth very easily procure sweat ¶ The Vertues The roots are a remedie against long continuall paine of the ioynts and head and against cold diseases They are good for all manner of infirmities wherein there is hope of cure by sweating so that there be no ague ioyned The cure is perfected in few dayes if the disease be not old or great but if it be it requireth a longer time of cure The roots here meant are as I take it those of 〈◊〉 parilla whereof this Smilax aspera or rough Binde-weed is holden for a kinde notwithstanding this of Spain and the other parts of Europe though it be counted lesse worth yet is it commended of Dioscorides and Pliny against poysons The leaues hereof saith Dioscorides are a counterpoyson against deadly medicines whether they be drunke before or after CHAP. 317. Of smooth or gentle Binde-weed 1 Smilax lenis siue laeuis maior Great smooth Binde-weed 2 Smilax lenis minor Small Binde-weed ¶ The Description 1 IT is a strange thing vnto me that the name of Smilax should be so largely extended as that it should be assigned to those plants that come nothing neere the nature and scarsly vnto any part of the forme of Smilax indeed But we will leaue controuersies to the further consideration of such as loue to dance in quag-mires and come to this our common smooth Smilax called and knowne by that name among vs or rather more truly by the name of Convolvulus maior or Volubilis maior It beareth the long branches of a
Indian Pompion 6 Pepo Indicus angulosus The cornered Indian Pompion Melones aquatici edules Virginiani The Virginian Water-Melon This Melon or Pompion is like and fully as bigge as the common Pompion in spreading running creeping branches leaues floures and clasping tendrels the fruit is of a very blackish greene colour and extendeth it selfe in length neere foure inches long and three inches broad no bigger nor longer than a great apple and grow alongst the branches forth of the bosomes of the leaues not farre from the root euen to the toppes of the branches containing a substance pulpe and flat seed like the ordinary Pompion the root is whitish and disperseth it selfe verie farre abroad in the earth and perisheth about the beginning of VVinter October the tenth 1621. Iohn 〈◊〉 ‡ ¶ The Place All these Melons or Pompions be garden plants they ioy best in a fruitfull soile and are common in England except the last described which is as yet a stranger ¶ The Time They are planted at the beginning of Aprill they floure in August the fruit is ripe in September ¶ The Names The great Melon or Pompion is named in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine likewise Pepo The fruits of them all when they be ripe are called by a common name in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in English Millions or Pompion Whereupon certaine Physitions saith Galen haue contended that this fruit ought to be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say in Latine Pepo Cucumeralis or Cucumber Pompion Pliny in his ninth booke the fifth Chapter writeth that Cucumeres when they exceed in greatnesse are named 〈◊〉 it is called in High Dutch 〈◊〉 in Low Dutch Pepoenen in French Pompons ¶ The Temperature and Vertues All the Melons are of a cold nature with plenty of moisture they haue a certaine clensing qualitie by meanes whereof they prouoke vrine and do more speedily passe through the bodie than do either the Gourd Citrull or Cucumber as Galen hath written The pulpe of the Pompion is neuer 〈◊〉 raw but boiled For so it doth more easily descend making the belly soluble The nourishment which commeth hereof is little thin moist and cold bad saith Galen and that especially when it is not well digested by reason whereof it maketh a man apt and readie to fall into the disease called the Cholericke Passion and of some the 〈◊〉 The seed clenseth more than the meat it prouoketh vrine and is good for those that are troubled with the stone of the kidnies The fruit boiled in milke and buttered is not onely a good wholesome meat for mans body but being so prepared is also a most physicall medicine for such as haue an hot stomacke and the inward parts inflamed The flesh or pulpe of the same sliced and fried in a pan with butter is also a good and wholsome meat but baked with apples in an ouen it doth fil the body with flatuous or windie belchings and is food vtterly vnwholesome for such as liue idlely but vnto robustious and rustick people nothing 〈◊〉 that filleth the belly CHAP. 346. Of Wilde Pompions ¶ The Description 1 AS there is a wilde sort of 〈◊〉 of Melons Citruls and Gourds so likewise there be certaine wilde Pompions that be so of their owne nature These bring forth rough stalks set with sharp thorny prickles The leaues be likewise rough the floures yellow as be thoseof the garden Melon but euery part is lesser The fruit is thicke round and sharp pointed hauing a hard greene rinde The 〈◊〉 or meat whereof and the middle pith with the seed are like those of the garden Pompion but very bitter in taste 2 The second is like vnto the 〈◊〉 but it is altogether lesser wherein consisteth the difference 1 Pepomaior syluestris The great wilde Pompion 2 Pepo minor syluestris The small wilde Pompion ¶ The Place These Melons do grow wilde in Barbarie Africa and most parts of the East and West Indies They grow not in these parts except they be sowne ¶ The Time Their time of flouring and flourishing answereth that of the garden Pompion ¶ The Names Although the Antient Physitions haue made no mention of these plants yet the thing it selfe doth shew that there be such and ought to be called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine 〈◊〉 syluesters in English wilde Melons or Pompions ¶ The Temperature Like as these wilde Melons be altogether of their owne nature very bitter so be they also of temperature hot and drie and that in the later end of the second degree They haue likewise a clensing facultie not inferior to the wilde Cucumbers ¶ The Vertues The wine which when the pith and seed is taken forth is powred into the rinde and hath remained so long therein till such time as it becommeth bitter doth purge the belly and bringeth forth flegmaticke and cholerick humors To be briefe the iuice hereof is of the same operation that the wilde Cucumber is of and being dried it may be vsed in stead of Elaterium which is the dried iuice of the wilde Cucumber CHAP. 347. Of Gourds ¶ The Kindes THere be diuers sorts of Gourds some wilde and others tame of the garden some bringing forth fruit like vnto a bottle others long bigger at the end keeping no certaine forme or fashion some greater others lesser ‡ I will onely figure and describe two or three of the chiefest and so passe ouer the rest because each one vpon the first sight of them knowes to what kinde to referre them ‡ ¶ The Description 1 THe Gourd bringeth forth very long stalkes as be those of the Vine cornered and parted into diuers branches which with his clasping tendrels taketh hold and 〈◊〉 vpon such things as stand neere vnto it the leaues be very great broad and 〈◊〉 pointed almost as great as those of the Clot-Burre 〈◊〉 softer and somewhat couered as it were with a white freese as be also the stalkes and branches like those of the marish Mallow the floures be white and grow forth from the bosome of the leaues in their places come vp the fruit which are not all of one fashion for oftentimes they haue the forme of flagons or bottles with a great large belly and a small necke The Gourd saith Pliny lib. 19. cap. 〈◊〉 groweth into any forme or fashion that you would haue it either like vnto a wreathed Dragon the leg of a man or any other shape according to the mould wherein it is put whilest it is young being suffered to clime vpon any Arbour where the fruit may hang it hath beene seene to be nine foot long by reason of his great weight which hath stretched it out to the length The rinde when it is ripe is verie hard wooddy and of a yellow colour the meate or inward pulpe is white the seed long flat pointed at the top broad below with two peakes standing out like hornes 〈◊〉 within and sweet in taste 2 The second differeth not from the precedent
much as that of the former 3 This which is Clusius his Filix pumila saxatilis prima and which I take to be the Dryopteris or Filix arborea of Tragus hath blacke slender long creeping roots with few small hard hairy fibres fastned to them of a very astringent taste from these rise vp sundry stalkes a foot high diuided into certaine branches of winged leaues like to those of the female Ferne but much lesse tenderer and finer cut and hauing many blackish spots on their lower sides This differs from the two former in that the leaues are branched which is a chiefe difference and Bauhinus did very well obserue it if he had as well followed it when he diuided Filix into ramosa non ramosa ‡ ¶ The Place It is oftentimes found in sunny places in the vallies of mountains and little hils and in the tops of the trunks of trees in thicke woods ¶ The Time The leaues hereof perish in Winter in the Spring new come forth ¶ The Names This is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Querna Filix Oribasius in his eleuenth book of physicall Collections calleth it Bryopteris of the mosse with which it is found for as Dioscorides writoth it groweth in the mosse of Okes. The Apothecaries in times past miscalled it by the name of Adiantum but they did worse in putting it in compound medicines in stead of Adiantum Valerius Cordus calleth it Pteridion in low-Dutch Cijcken baren the Spaniards Helecho de Roble it is named in English Oke-Ferne Petty-Ferne and it may most fitly be called Mosse-Ferne ¶ The Temperature and Vertues Oke-Ferne hath many tastes it is sweet biting and bitter it hath in the root a harsh or choking taste and a mortifying qualitie and therefore it taketh away haires Dioscorides saith further that Oke-Ferne stamped roots and all is a remedie to root vp haires if it be applied to the body after sweating the sweat being wiped away CHAP. 469. Of blacke Oke-Ferne ¶ The Description 1 THere is also a certaine other kinde of Ferne like to the former Oke-Ferne of 〈◊〉 his description but the stalkes and ribs of the leaues are blackish and the leaues of a deeper greene colour this groweth out also immediately from the root and is likewise diuersly but not so finely indented the root is made vp of many strings not vnlike to the male Ferne but much lesser 2 The female blacke Ferne is like vnto the male sauing his leaues are not so sharpe at the points more white and broad than the male wherein consisteth the difference ¶ The Place They grow likewise vpon trees in shadowie woods and now and then in shadowie sandy banks and vnder hedges 1 Onopteris mas The male blacke Ferne. ¶ The Time They remaine greene all the yeare long otherwise than Polypodie Maidens haire do yet do they not cease to bring forth new leaues in Summer they are destitute of floures and seed as is the former ¶ The Names This is called of diuers of the later Herbarists Dryopteris nigra or blacke Oke-Ferne of the likenesse that it hath with Dryopteris which we haue called in English Oke-Ferne or mosse Ferne of others Adiantum nigrum or blacke Maidens haire that it may differ from the former which is falsly called Adiantum There are of the later Herbarists who would haue it to be Lonchitis aspera or rough Spleen-wort but what likenesse hath it with the leaues of Scolopendrium none at all therfore it is not Lonchitis aspera much lesse Adiantum Plinij which differeth not from Adiantum Theophrasti for what he hath of Adiantum the same he taketh out of Theophrastus the right Adiantum we will describe hereafter Notwithstanding blacke Oke-Ferne was vsed of diuers vnlearned Apothecaries of France and Germany for Adiantum or Maiden-haire of Lumbardy but these men did erre in doing so yet not so much as they who take Polypodie of the Oke for the true Maiden-haire ¶ The Temperature and Vertues The blacke Oke-Ferne hath no stipticke qualitie at all but is like in facultie to Trichomanes or English Maiden-haire CHAP. 470. Of Harts-tongue ¶ The Description 1 THe common kinde of Harts-tongue called 〈◊〉 that is to say a plant consisting only of leaues bearing neither stalke floure nor seed resembling in shew a long tongue whereof it hath been and is called in shops Lingua ceruina that is Harts tongue these leaues are a foot long smooth and plaine vpon one side but vpon that side next the ground straked ouerthwart with certaine long rough markes like small wormes hanging on the backside thereof The root is blacke hairy and twisted or so growing as though it were wound together 2 The other kind of Ferne called Phyllit is multisida or Laciniata that is iagged Harts tongue is very like vnto the former sauing that the leaues thereof are cut or iagged like a mans hand or the palme and browantles of a Deare bearing neither stalke floure nor seed 3 There is another kinde of Harts-tongue called Hemionitis which hath bred some controuersie among writers for some haue tooke it for a kinde of Harts-tongue as it is indeed others describe it as a proper plant by it selfe called Hemionitis of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Mulus a Mule because Mules do delight to feed thereon it is barren in seeds stalkes and floures and in shape it agreeth very well with our Harts-tongue the roots are compact of many blackish haires the leaues are spotted on the backside like the common Harts-tongue and differ in that that this Hemionitis in the base or lowest parts of the leaues is arched after the manner of a new Moone or a forked arrow the yongest and smallest leaues being like vnto the great Binde-weed called Volubilis 1 Phyllitis Harts-tongue 2 Phylliiis 〈◊〉 Finger Harts-tongue ‡ 3 Hemionitis maior Mules Ferne or Moone-Ferne ‡ 4 Hemionitis minor Small Moone-Ferne ‡ 5 Hemionitis perigrina Handed Moone-Ferne 5 There is a kinde of Ferne called also Hemionitis but with this addition Peregrina that is very seldome found and hath leaues very like to Harts-tongue but that it is palmed or branched in the part next the ground almost in manner of the second Phyllitis at the top of the leaues otherwise they resemble one another in nature and forme ¶ The Place The common Harts-tongue groweth by the waies sides as you trauell from London to Exceter in great plenty in shadowie 〈◊〉 and moist stonie vallies and wels and is much planted in gardens The second I found in the garden of Master Cranwich a Chirurgion dwelling at Much-dunmow in Essex who gaue me a plant for my garden ‡ Mr. Goodyer found it wilde in the banks of a lane neere Swaneling not many miles from Southampton ‡ It groweth vpon Ingleborough hils and diuers other mountains of the North of England ¶ The Time It is greene all the yeare long yet lesse greene in winter in Sommer it now and then bringeth forth new
much core and many great stony kernels others fewer and likewise one of Naples called Aronia 1 Mespilus sativa The manured Medlar ‡ 2 Mespilus sativa altera The other Garden Medlar ¶ The Description 1 THe manured Medlar tree is not great the body whereof is writhed the boughes hard not easie to be broken the leaues be longer yet narrower than those of the apple tree darke greene aboue and somewhat whiter and hairy below the floures are white and great hauing 〈◊〉 leaues a piece the fruit is small round and hath a broad compassed nauell or crowne at the top the pulpe or meat is at the first white and so harsh or choking that it cannot be eaten before it become soft in which are contained fiue seeds or stones which be flat and hard ‡ 2 There is another which differeth from the last described in that the leaues are longer and narrower the stocke hath no prickles vpon it the fruit also is larger and better tasted in other respects it is like to the last described This is the Mespilus fructu prestantiore of Tragus and Mespilus Domestica of Lobel ‡ 3 The Neapolitane Medlar tree groweth to the height and greatnesse of an Apple tree hauing many tough and hard boughes or branches set with sharp thornes like the white Thorne or Hawthorne the leaues are very much cut or 〈◊〉 like the Hawthorne leaues but greater and more like Smallage or Parsley which leaues before they fal from the tree do wax red among these leaues come forth great tufts of floures of a pale herby colour which being past there succeed small long fruit lesser than the smallest Medlar which at the first are hard and greene of colour but when they be ripe they are both soft and red of a sweet and pleasant taste wherein is contained three small hard stones as in the former which be the kernels 〈◊〉 seeds thereof 3 Mespilus Aronia The Neapolitane Medlar ‡ 4 Chamaemespilus Dwarfe Medlar 4 There is a dwarfe kinde of Medlar growing naturally vpon the Alpes and hils of Narbone and on the rocks of Mount Baldus nigh Verona which hath been by some of the best learned esteemed for a kinde of Medlar others whose iudgements cannot stand with truth or probability haue supposed it to be 〈◊〉 of the Alpes this dwarfe Medlar groweth like a small hedge tree of four or fiue cubits high bearing many smal twiggie wands or crops beset with many slender leaues green aboue and of a skie colour vnderneath in shew like to a dwarfe Apple tree but the fruit is very like the Haw or fruit of the white Thorne and of a red colour ‡ The floures come forth in the Spring three or foure together hollow and of an herbie colour it growes in diuers places of the Alpes it is the Chamaemespilum of the Aduers and the Chamaemespilus Gesneri of Clusius ‡ ¶ The Place The Medlar trees do grow in Orchards and oftentimes in hedges 〈◊〉 Briars and Brambles being grafted in a white Thorne it prospereth wonderfull well 〈◊〉 bringeth forth fruit twise or thrise bigger than those that are not grafted at all almost as great as little apples we haue diuers sorts of them in our Orchards ¶ The Time It is very late before Medlars be ripe which is in the end of October but the floures come forth timely enough ¶ The Names The first is called in Greeke by Theophrastus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine Mespilus in high Dutch Nespelbaum in low Dutch Mispelboome in French 〈◊〉 in English Medlar tree The Apple or fruit is named in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine likewise Mespilum in high Dutch 〈◊〉 in low Dutch Mispele in Italian Nespolo in French Nefsle in Spanish Nesperas in English Medlar Dioscorides affirmeth that this Medlar tree is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and of diuers Sitanion Galen also in his booke of the faculties of simple medicines nameth this Epimelis which is called as he saith by the countrey men in Italy Vnedo and groweth plentifully in Calabria for vnder the name of Mespilus or Medlar tree he meaneth no other than Tricoccus which is also named Aronia The Neapolitane Medlar tree is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Galen calleth it Epimelis The fruit hereof is called Tricoccos of the three graines or stones that it hath they of Naples call it Azarolo and we may name it in English three graine Medlar or Neapolitane Medlar or Medlar of Naples ¶ The Temperature The Medlars are cold drie and astringent the leaues are of the same nature the dwarfe Medlar is dry sharpe and astringent ¶ The Vertues Medlars do stop the belly especially when they be greene and hard for after that they haue been kept a while so that they become soft and tender they doe not binde or stop so much but are then more fit to be eaten The fruit of the three grain Medlar is eaten both raw and boiled and is more wholesome for the stomacke These Medlars be oftentimes preserued with sugar or hony and being so prepared they are pleasant and delightfull to the taste Moreouer they are singular good for women with childe for they strengthen the stomacke and stay the lothsomnesse thereof The stones or kernels of the Medlars made into pouder and drunke doe breake the stone expell grauell and procure vrine CHAP. 99. Of the Peare tree ¶ The Description TO write of Peares and Apples in particular would require a particular volume the stocke or kindred of Peares are not to be numbred euery country hath his peculiar fruit my selfe knows one curious in grasfing and planting of fruits who hath in one piece of ground at the point of three score sundry sorts of Peares and those exceeding good not doubting but if his minde had been to seeke after multitudes he might haue gotten together the like number of those of worse kinds besides the 〈◊〉 of those that be wilde experience sheweth sundry sorts and therefore I thinke it not amisse to set downe the figures of some few with their seuerall titles as well in Latine as English and one generall description for that that might be said of many which to describe apart were to send an owle to Athens or to number those things that are without number ‡ Our Author in this chapter gaue eight figures with seuerall titles to them so I pluckt a peare from each tree and put his title to it but not in the same order that he obserued for hee made the Katherine peare tree the seuenth which I haue now made the first because the figure expresses the whole tree ‡ ¶ The generall description THe Peare tree is for the most part higher than the Apple tree hauing boughes not spread abroad but growing vp in height the body is many times great the timber or wood it selfe is very tractable or easie to be wrought vpon exceeding fit to make moulds or prints to be grauen on of colour tending to
and couered with a most hard shell wherein is contained a kernel of a most venomous and poysonsome qualitie wherewith the men being angry with their wiues do poyson them and likewise the women their husbands they likewise vse to dip or anoint and invenome their arrowes therewith the more speedily to dispatch their enemies Which kernell they take forth with some conuenient instrument leauing the shell as whole as may be not touching the kernell with their hands because of its venomous qualitie which would spoile their hands and sometimes take away their life also In which shells they put some little stones and tye them vpon strings as you may perceiue by the figure which they dry in the Sunne and after tye them about their legs as we do bells to set forth their dances and Morosco Matachina's wherein they take great pleasure by reason they thinke themselues to excell in those kindes of dances Which ratling sound doth much delight them because it setteth forth the distinction of sounds for they tune them and mix them with great ones and little ones in such sort as we doe chimes or bells 2 There is also another sort hereof differing onely in forme they are of the like venomous qualitie and vsed for the same purpose ‡ The fruit of Higuerro is like that of a gourd in pulpe and it may be eaten the shape of the fruit is round whereas the former is three cornered ‡ ¶ The Place These do grow in most parts of the West Indies especially in some of the Islands of the Canibals who vse them in their dances more than any of the other Indians ‡ You may see these vpon strings as they are here figured amongst many other varieties with 〈◊〉 Iohn Tradescant at South Lambeth ‡ ¶ The Time We haue no certaine knowledge of the time of flouring or bringing the fruit to maturitie ¶ The Names and Vse We haue sufficiently spoken of the names and vse hereof therefore what hath beene said may suffice CHAP. 158. Of the vomiting and purging Nuts 1 Nuces vomicae Vomiting Nuts 1 Nuces purgantes Purging Nuts ¶ The Description 1 AVicen and Serapio make Nux vomica and Nux 〈◊〉 to be one whereabout there hath been much cauelling yet the case is plaine if the text be true that the 〈◊〉 Apple's Nux Methel Of the tree that beareth the fruit that is called in shops 〈◊〉 vom 〈◊〉 Nux Methel we haue no certaine knowledge some are of opinion that the fruit is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 herbe and not the nut of a tree and therefore since the case among the learned resteth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 leaue the rest that might be said to a further consideration The fruit is round flat like a little 〈◊〉 of a russet ouerworne colour fat and firme in taste sweet and of such an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that it is 〈◊〉 possible to stampe it in a mortar to powder but when it is to be vsed it must be grated or scraped with some instrument for that purpose 2 There be certaine Nuts brought from the Indies called purging Nuts of their qualitie in purging grosse and filthie humors for want of good instruction from those that haue trauelled the Indies we can write nothing of the tree it selfe the Nut is somewhat long ouall or in shape like an egge of a browne colour within the shell is contained a kernell in taste sweet and of a purging facultie ¶ The Place and Time These Nuts do grow in the desarts of Arabia and in some places of the East Indies we haue no certaine knowledge of their springing or time of maturitie ¶ The Names 〈◊〉 affirmeth the vomiting Nut to be of a poisonous qualitie cold in the fourth degree hauing a stupifying nature and bringeth deadly sleepe ¶ The Vertues Of the Physicall vertues of the vomitting Nuts we thinke it not necessarie to write because the danger is great and not to be giuen inwardly but mixed with other compositions and that very curiously by the hands of a faithfull Apothecarie The pouder of the Nut mixed with some flesh and cast vnto crowes and other rauenous fowles doth kill and so dull their sences at the least that you may take them with your hands They make also an excellent sallet mixed with some meat or butter and laied in the garden where cats vse to scrape to burie their excrements spoyling both the herbes and also seeds new sowne CHAP. 159. Of diuers sorts of Indian fruits ¶ The Kindes THese fruits are of diuers sorts and kinds wherof we haue little knowledge more than the fruits themselues with the names of some of them therefore it shall 〈◊〉 to set forth vnto your view the forme onely leauing vnto Time and those that shall succeed to write of them at large which in time may know that that in this time of infancie is vnknowne ‡ OVr Authour formerly in this Chapter set forth diuers figures of Indian fruits and amongst the rest Beritinus Cacao Cocci Orientales Buna 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. but he gaue but onely three descriptions and these either false or to no purpose wherefore I haue omitted them and in this chapter giuen you most of these fruits which were formerly figured therin together with an addition of sundry other out of Clusius his Exotickes whose figures I haue made vse of and here giuen you all those which came to my hands though nothing so many as are set sorth in his Exotickes neither if I should haue had the figures would the shortnesse of my time nor bignesse of the booke being already growne to so large a volume suffer mee to haue inserted them therefore take in good part those I here giue together with the briefe histories of them ¶ The Description 1 THe first and one of the best knowne of these fruits are the Cubibae called of the Arabian Physitions Cubibe and Quabeb but of the vulgar Quabebochini in Iaoa where they plentisully grow 〈◊〉 the other Indians the Malayans excepted call them Cubas sini not for that they grow in China but because the Chinois vse to buy them in Iaoa and Sunda and so carry them to the other ports of India The plant which carries this fruit hath leaue 1 Cubibae Cubibs 2 Cocci Orientales Cocculus Indi cubibe Cocci 3 Fagara 4 Mungo 5 Buna ‡ 6 Amomum verum ‡ 7 Amomum spurium ‡ 8 Vmomis 9 Beritinus ‡ 10 Nuces insanae Mad Nuts These are hot and dry in the beginning of the third degree wherefore they are good against the cold and moist affects of the stomacke and flatulencies they helpe to clense the breast of tough and thicke humours they are good for the spleene for hoarsnesse and cold affects of the wombe chewed with Masticke they draw much slegmaticke matter from the head they heat and comfort the braine The Indians vse them macerated in wine to excite venerie 2 The Plant which carries this fruit is vnknowne but the berrie is well knowne in shoppes by the name of Cocculus
singular remedie for all those that be in a consumption of the lungs and especially the distilled water thereof for as the herbe doth keep and hold fast the moisture and dew and so fast that the extreme drying heate of the Sun cannot consume and waste away the same so likewise men thought that herewith the naturall and radical humidity in mens bodies is preserued and cherished But the vse therof doth otherwise teach and reason sheweth the contrarie for seeing it is an extreme biting herb and that the distilled water is not altogether without this biting qualitie it cannot be taken with safety for it hath also bin obserued that they haue sooner perished that vsed the distilled water hereof than those that abstained from it and haue followed the right and ordinarie course of diet Cattell of the female kinde are stirred vp to lust by eating euen of a small quantity which thing hath greatly 〈◊〉 their vain opinion without sence or reason for it doth not moue nor prouoke cattell to lust for that it increaseth the substance of the seed but because through his sharp and biting qualitie it stirreth vp a desire to lust which before was dulled and as it were asleepe It strengthneth and nourisheth the body especially if it be distilled with wine and that liquour made thereof which the common people do call Rosa Solis If any be desirous to haue the said drinke effectuall for the purposes aforesaid let them lay the 〈◊〉 of Rosa Solis in the spirit of wine adding thereto Cinnamon Cloues Maces Ginger Nutmegs Sugar and a few graines of Muske suffering it so to stand in a glasse close stopt from the aire and set in the Sun by the space of ten daies then straine the same and keep it for your vse CHAP. 161. Of Mosse of trees ¶ The Description TRee Mosse hath certaine things like haires made vp as it were of a multitude of slender leaues now and then all to be iagged hackt and finely carued twisted and interlaced one in another which 〈◊〉 fast to the barkes of trees hanging downe from the bodies one of this kinde is more 〈◊〉 quernus The Mosse of the Oke of other trees slender and thin another more thicke another shorter another longer all of them 〈◊〉 the most being of a whitish colour yet oftentimes there is a certaine one also which is blacke but lesser and thinner the most commendable of them all as Pliny saith be those that are whitish then the reddish and lastly such as be blacke ¶ The Place This Mosse is found on the Oke tree the white and blacke Poplar tree the Oliue tree the 〈◊〉 tree the Apple tree the Peare tree the Pine tree the wilde Pine tree the Pitch tree the Firre tree the Cedar tree the Larch tree on a great sort of other trees The best as 〈◊〉 saith is that of the Cedar tree the next of the Poplar in which kinde the white and the sweet smelling Mosse is the chiefest the blackish sort is of no account Matthiolus writeth that in Italy that Mosse is sweet which groweth on the Pine tree the Pitch tree the Fir tree the Larch tree and the sweetest that of the Larch tree ¶ The Time Mosse vpon the trees continueth all the yeare long ¶ The Names It is called of the Grecians 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Latins Muscus the Arabians and some Apothecaries in other countries call it Vsnea in high Dutch Mosz in low Dutch Mosch the French men Lu Mousch the Italians Musgo in Spanish Musco de los arbores in English Mosse tree Mosse or Mosse of trees ¶ The Temperature Mosse is somewhat cold and binding which notwithstanding is more and lesse according vnto the nature and facultie of that tree on which it groweth and especially of his barke for it taketh vnto it selfe and also retaineth a certaine propertie of that barke as of his breeder of which hee is ingendred therefore the Mosse which commeth of the Oke doth coole and very much binde besides his owne and proper facultie it receiueth also the extreme binding quality of the Oke barke it selfe The Mosse which commeth of the Cedar tree the Pine tree the Pitch tree the Fir tree the Larch tree and generally all the Rosine trees are binding and do moreouer digest and soften ¶ The Vertues Serapio saith that the wine in which Mosse 〈◊〉 been steeped certain daies bringeth sound sleep strengtheneth the stomacke staieth vomiting and stoppeth the belly 〈◊〉 writeth that the decoction of Mosse is good for women to sit in that are troubled with the whites it is mixed with the oile of Ben and with oiles to thicken them withall It is fit to be vsed in compositions which serue for sweet perfumes and that take away wearisomnesse for which things that is best of all which is most sweet of smell CHAP. 162. Of ground Mosse ¶ The Kindes THere groweth also on the supersiciall or vppermost part of the earth diuers Mosses as also vpon rocks and stony places and marish grounds differing in forme not a little ¶ The Description 1 Muscus 〈◊〉 vulgaris Common ground Mosse 2 Muscus 〈◊〉 scoparius Beesome ground Mosse 3. 4. Muscus capillaris siue Adianthuni aureum 〈◊〉 minus Goldilockes or golden Maiden-haire the bigger and lesse 2 Beesome Mosse which seldome or neuer is found but in bogs and marish places yet sometimes haue I found it in shadowie dry ditches where the Sun neuer sheweth his face it groweth vp 〈◊〉 a cubit high euery particular leafe consisting of an innumerable sort of hairy threds set vpon a middle rib of a shining blacke colour like that of Maiden-haire or the Capillare Mosse Adianthum 〈◊〉 whereof it is a kinde 5 Muscus 〈◊〉 floridus Flouring branched Mosse ‡ Of this Adiamhum aureum there are three kindes different onely in magnitude and that the two bigger haue many hairie threds vpon their branches when as the least hath onely three or foure close to the root and this is the least of plants that I euer yet saw grow ‡ 4 Of this there is also another kinde altogether lesser and lower This kind of mosse groweth in moist places also commonly in old mossie and rotten trees likewise vpon rocks and oftentimes in the chinks and crannies of stone walls 5 There is oftentimes found vpon old Okes and Beeches and such like ouer-grown trees a kinde of Mosse hauing many slender branches which diuide themselues into other lesser branches whereon are placed confusedly very many small threds like haires of a greenish ash colour vpon the ends of the tender branches sometimes there commeth forth a floure in shape like vnto a little buckler or hollow Mushrom of a whitish colour tending to yellownes and garnished with the like leaues of those vpon the lower branches 6 Muscus Pyxidatus Cup or Chalice Mosse 6 Of this Mosse there is another kinde which Lobel in his Dutch Herbal hath set forth vnder the title of Muscus Pyxtdatus which I