Alypum of Dioscorides or no for that some copies differ from others in the description of the forme of the plant some having the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is like fennell and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 somewhat red say others whereupon Lobel and Pena are bold to affirme in their Adversaria that our age knoweth no herb that may so wel or more truely both in the forme and purging vertues resemble Dioscorides his Alypum except the Ferulas then this herbe here set forth altering that word onely which as he saith may be a fault such as is common in many other places of his worke in the transcribers and hereupon as it is probable Mesues grounded his opinion that Turbith was the roote of a ferulous plant Clusius saith that diverse professors in the Vniversitie at Valentia did call an herbe which he therefound Hippoglossum supposing it to be the true Hippoglossum of Dioscorides whereunto it can as he saith be nothing like the properties being so differing except in a little appearance of likenesse in the leaves Clusius also doth not acknowledge it to be Alypum but misliketh of their judgement that doe referre it thereunto because the leaves are so dry that they seeme to be without any juyce in them whereupon the Spaniards call it siempre enxuta and from the round head of flowers which is paler in the middle than round about doe call it Coronilla de frayles Coronula fratrum the Friers Crowne and of some as he saith Segulhada but others of good judgement doe hold them to be both but one plant the diversity if any be to consist in the climate Dalechampius as Lugdunensis setteth it forth was of opinion that it might be Empetron of Dioscorides which others as he saith called Phacoides onely led thereunto by the purging quality and growing neere the Sea as Empetron doth and because that the Crithmum or Faeniculum marinum is disprooved by most not to be Empetron which many heretofore thought to be so and among the rest Pandulphus Collinutius in his defense of Plinye against Leonicerus for it is certainely seene that Plinye hath confounded that Empetrum which is a Saxifrage with the other which is a purger because it hath no purging quality in it at all but seeing we hold this Alypum to be the right or neerest it of Dioscorides I cannot see what reason can move any to thinke it to be Empetrum also seeing Dioscorides maketh them two distinct herbes in severall chapters and placed the one the very next unto the other some also as Lugdunensis saith take it for Ptarmica or for the third sort of Conyza Bauhinus in his Pinax calleth it Thymelaea foliis acutis capitulo Succisae sive Alypum Monspeliensium The other is called Tartou raire by Lugdunensis and Lobel and is so called as hee saith in the Isles of Corsica and Sardinia and all along the Sea coasts of Liguriae and Marseilles Dalechampius saith that many doe referre this to the Sesamoides magnum of Dioscorides which he hath mentioned in his fourth booke and 147 chapter with leaves of Groundsell or Rue and therefore Dalechampius in the description hereof saith the leaves are like Râ—e which in my judgement doth very hardly agree thereunto but much lesse unto Groundsell whereunto they are also compared Furthermore he saith also that peradventure this may be that Helleborus of Theophrastus whose seede is like Sesamum and wherewith in Anticyra as he saith they used to make purgations but the extreame purging quality herein shewing it as Pena saith to be a new plant of our ages finding and not well knowne to be mentioned by any of the ancient writers Greekes Arabians or Latines hath caused diverse to referre it as I say some to Sesamoides and others to Theophrastus his Helleborus with the fruite of Sesamum and yet whosoever will advisedly consider the seede of all the sorts of Hellebores both the white and the backe shall not finde them much unlike the seedes of Sesamum it selfe Alphonsus Pontius of Ferrara tooke it to be Cneorum of Theophrastus the roote hereof as Pena saith is like unto the Turbith of Alexandria and hath not so much heate or bitternesse therein nor other evill taste as others have Bauhinus calleth it Thymaelea foliis candicantibus sericiistar mollibus The Vertues The seede of Alypum saith Dioscorides or herbe terrible purgeth downeward blacke choller or melancholy if it be taken in the like quantity with Epithymum and a little salt and Vinegar put to it in the taking but he saith it doth a little exulcerate the bowells the common people in Narbone but especially the Quacksalvers and women leeches as Pena saith notwithstanding they find the effect to purge with such violence yet doe often gives making a decoction with the leaves flowers or seede or otherwise make them into powder and give it then with wine or broth the smallest quantity thereof to be taken in chicken broth saith Plinye is two drammes a meane quantitie is foure drammes and the greatest portion to be given at once is sixe drammes Clusius saith that the Landlopers in Spaine doe usually give the decoction hereof unto those that are troubled with the French disease and that with good successe as it is reported the other Gutworte or Trouble belly is as violent in working as the former or rather much more for the violence thereof is so unlimited that it oftentimes causeth immoderate fluxes even to blood and excoriations especially if the dryed leaves be given unadvisedly in powder and mixed with some potable liquor and driveth forth cholericke flegmaticke and watery humors in aboundance the roote likewise worketh powerfully for the same diseases which if it were Theophrastus his Helleborus or Dioscorides Sesamum were unprofitable or of no use the seede onely with them and not the roote having the propertie and power of purging Advice therefore before taken and preparation both of the physicke and body the quantity also the disease and strength of the patient considered it may be admitted to be given where better and safer things cannot on the suddaine be had CHAP. XXI Thymelaea Spurge Olive THere remaine yet some other violent workers which shall be declared in this and the next Chapters following and first of the Thymelaeas and then all the sorts of Chamaelaea and Sanamunda of Clusius because they are so like both in forme and nature and let me also adjoyne the small Sesamoides of Dalechampius for the neere affinitie with them 1. Thymelaea Spurge Olive This Spurge Olive hath diverse tough stalkes rising to the height of two or three foote sometimes in the naturall places and much lower in some other of the thicknesse also of ones thumbe covered with an ash coloured barke and spread into many branches whereon grow many small clammie flat pointed leaves somewhat like unto Mirtle leaves or rather unto the narrow leaves of the Olive tree for they are larger and broader than the leaves of Flaxe whereunto
unto Mura and in the toppe of Iura The second groweth in the like places among those Alpes of the Valdenses that respect Italy called Vnderflumen and Engronia as also upon the mountaine Baldus which is not farre from Verona the last his place is declared in the description The Time They all but the last doe flower in Iune and Iuly which are the spring Moneths of the Alpes and their seede is ripe in August The Names It is called in Greeke by Dioscorides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aconitum Pardalianches because the herbe killeth Leopards Wolves and all other foure footed beasts very seedily It is called of diverse also Thora from the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is corruptio venenum aut mors Theophrastus describeth it in his ninth Booke and ninth Chapter under the name of Thelyphonon because it is a speedy death to females or because being put into the secret parts of females it speedily killeth even within a day Gesner and others take it to be Limeum of Pliny in his 17. Booke and 10. Chapter which he saith is an herbe so called by the Gaules wherewith they doe make a medicine to dippe their arrow heads in when they hunt wild beasts which they call Cervaria Gesner saith also it was called of some in his countrie Lunaria because the leaves were round like unto a full Moone himselfe calleth it Thora Venenata and Toxicum Valdensium Clusius maketh it to be his third Ranunculus grumosa radice and Lobel calleth it Phthora Valdensium Matthiolus in contempt of Gesner calleth it Pseudo aconitum Pardalianches as though it were but a base kind of Aconite without force or vertues which it seemeth he rather uttered in the heate of his contention and contestation with Gesner who alledged that this was the truer Aconitum Pardalianches of Dioscorides than in the truth of the matter it being the nearest to Dioscorides his description in all other parts as well as in the rootes which are shining white like Alablaster and the strongest and speediest poison of all manner of herbes It may be called in English either round leafed Wolfes bane or Leopards bane to distinguish it from the former The Vertues Dioscorides giveth no other properties to this kinde of Aconite then death to all foure footed beasts being given to them in flesh besides the helpe it giveth to the eyes in easing their paines being put with other things that are for that purpose Theophrastus and Pliny after him say that it is a remedy against the Scorpion being taken in warmed wine for it killeth nature if it finde not an enemie in nature whom it may kill against whom it striveth and spendeth its strength to overcome it that it might free nature of danger thus saith Pliny it was called Scorpio because the roote was like a Scorpions taile it seemeth also it was upon the like occasion called Theriophonon because it killeth Serpents for they say that the Scorpion is a stonied and looseth both strength and motion being onely touched with the Aconite and receiveth life and strength againe if it bee touched or rubbed with white Ellebor It is found by most certaine experience that it is the fiercest and speediest poyson surpassing all other that groweth on the ground and that they used to say in the former times there was not found any remedie against it although many things had beene tryed but of later times the industry of man hath found out his Antigonist or Counterpoyson which is the Anthora before declared Gesner in libro de Lunariis reciteth that if a sword dart or arrow be but touched with the juyce thereof and therewith either man or beast wounded that any blood be drawne the malignity thereof so quickly pierceth inwardly that it presently killeth corrupting and congealing all the blood unlesse that part round about the wound be instantly cut away and that it killeth any wild beast so wounded after three or foure leapes or springings but that which is more wonderfull in my opinion he saith that the flesh of that beast so killed is not deadly or dangerous to any that shall eate thereof therein peradventure like the baite that is given to fish to make them lye on the toppe of the water easie to be taken with ones hand and yet not hurtfull to be eaten and Plinye saith it killeth fish whereby as hee saith it is knowne that that poyson is an enemie to the blood For he saith that if any blood should fall into the pot where this poyson is kept it will presently loose its strength It is said also that it is so pernicious that if it be but held in the hand a little time it will almost take away the senses as also that one but smelling thereto after he had gathered it fell downe as dead and with much a doe was recovered CHAP. III. Doronicum sive Aconitum supposititiâ—m The supposed Wolfes bane I Doe adjoyne this hearbe Doronicum next unto the Wolfes banes because many doe hold it a kind thereof which how true or false you shall heare by and by in his place Of this kinde there are found diverse sorts differing either in rootes or leaves one from another and some for the likenesse or flowers or manner of growing are referred unto them as shall be presently declared 1. Doronicum vulgare The most common supposed Wolfes bane The most common Doronicum that hath beene longest known unto us and kept in our gardens many of the rest being found of later yeares hath diverse leaves rising from the roote every one standing upon a long foote stalk which are somewhat round greater than the Romane Sowbread leaves soft and gentle in the handlig somewhat hayrie and of a fresh greene colour from among which riseth up diverse greene roundish stalkes about a yard high or more parted at the toppe sometime into one or two branches every one carrying a large flower somewhat like the Corne Marigold but much larger having many narrow long yellow leaves as a border set about a middle thrumme somewhat yellower which when it falleth away turneth into small whitish doune 1. Doronicum vulgare The most common supposed Wolfes bane 2. Doronicum minus The lesser supposed Wolfes bane 3. Doronicum brachiata radice Scorpion rooted supposed Woolfes bane with very small blackish seede which is carryed away with the winde the rootes are small thicke and short creeping or lying under the upper crust of the earth with divers small fibres shooting from them downe into the ground and increasing divers such like tuberous rootes round about it which are tender and not hard somewhat whitish and with some joynts therein and greenish on the upper side next unto the upper face of the ground Some would make these rootes to resemble a dead Scorpion because of the joynts which are like scales therein the former part next the leaves being thicke to be the body and the other part being small to be the taile which is somewhat sweete in taste and a
are somewhat broad like unto the lower leaves of 〈…〉 those grow higher on the stalkes are smaller and smaller being as small as Fennell at the highest the flowers 〈◊〉 white and the seede somewhat long like in taste unto Dill or Cumin that is sharpe 13. Daucus pratensis Dalechampij Wilde Dauke with water Milfoile leaves This fine leafed Dauke hath divers long stalkes of most fine leaves set many together at spaces one against another very like unto the water Yarrow or Milfoile being soft and of a fresh greene colour the stalke hath some few joynts and fine long leaves like Fennell set at them with branches rising from thence likewise bearing large umbells of flowers which are reddish at the beginning and white when they are open somewhat bitter and sharpe but well smelling 14. Daucus Petroselini vel Coriandri folio sive Bunium Dalechampij Rockie wilde Dauke The wilde Dauke that groweth in rough and rockie or stony places riseth up from a small white branched well smelling roote hairy at the head with sundry long stalkes of leaves so nearely resembling Parsley that many are deceived at the first sight untill they better heede it the stalke is square tall and of a fingers thicknesse with finer leaves thereon like the finer leaves of Corianders and umbells of flowers like Dill the seede is smaller then Henbane seede of a good sent 15. Daucus stellatus Starre headed Dauke This Dauke hath sundry leaves at the ground are somewhat like unto Parsley but smelling well like the Candy Dauke and tasting hot the stalke hath sundry branches set with the like leaves at them and yellow umbells of flowers which are succeeded by small seede vessells having five small leaves like thornes under them representing little starres five or six small threds rising from the bottome to the toppes making every head seeme like a Cone each standing separate by it selfe on its owne footstalke smelling sweet and aromaticall in taste the roote is thicke and long like unto a Parsley or Parsnep roote and eaten familiarly by the Natives either raw or boyled and held good to procure Vrine womens courses and Venery 16. Daucus Alsaticus Dauke of Germany This Germane Dauke hath a thicke root somewhat long with sundry great strings thereat and at the head many haires from whence come divers large winged leaves made of many parts set one against another among whom one or two reddish stalkes seldome more doe rise to a mans height divided into many branches and they into lesser with the like but smaller leaves at the joynts and at the toppes stand large umbells of yellowish flowers and somewhat flat seede succeeding them The Place and Time The two first sorts grow not onely in Candy but in many places and countries the shorter thicker set and more hoary leaves in the warmer and the longer thinner set and lesse hoary in the colder countries of Germany Swisserland and Savoy most of the rest are declared in their titles or descriptions many of them flower and seede somewhat earlier then others yet all before the end of Autumne The Names The Greekes call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Latines also Daucus Daucum and Daucium Dioscorides made three sorts thereof the first he named Creticus the second Selinoides that is with leaves like Parsley and the third with leaves like Coriander which severall sorts hath caused many learned men to suppose divers herbes to be the same which are since found much differing and yet the certainetie of the two last is not fully assured but that some doe justly question those are held to be the truest For as for the first it is in these times and so hath beene for a good while in Italy France Germany c. well knowne and onely used now a dayes in all the compositions wherein Daucus is appointed to be put whereas formerly the common wilde Carrot which is in most things like the 〈◊〉 except the roote which is more hard and wooddy and more physicall and not edible as it is was wholly used of all in stead of the true Candy kinde but to come to the declaration of these here set downe The first is now well knowne to be the true Daucus Creticus of Dioscorides as Lobel Matihiolus Gesner and others have observed and so set it downe the second also is acknowledged to be so like the first that the climate and country onely maketh the difference as I sayd before and so say Gesner Camerarius Lobel and others the third and fourth 〈…〉 shewed in their descriptions to whom they belong and how they called them the fift is diversly 〈…〉 Trâ—gus and Matthiolus call it Dioscorides his second Daucus and Dodonaeus the other kinde of Libaâ—â—tis of Dioscorides and Theophrastus Camerarius Gesner and Fuchsius to be Seseli Pelopoâ—â—nse Lobel saith it is 〈…〉 and Clusius as I sayd giveth the figure of this for his Seseli montanum alterum whose description 〈…〉 â—â—presse the next or sixt here set downe which Bauhinus in his Pinax entituleth Daucus montanus 〈…〉 but I have for the neare resemblance unto the former Selinoides called it maximus because it is greater 〈…〉 the seventh is exprest to be from Honorius Bellus of Candy as it is set downe in his first Epistle to 〈◊〉 and by Pona in his Italian Baldus in the same words the eighth and ninth are remembed onely by Bauhinus 〈…〉 and described in his Prodroneus the foure next unto them are expressed in their titles or description◠〈…〉 fit for them the foureteenth is as I sayd in the title cailed Bunium Dalechampij by Lugdâ—â—ensis which 〈…〉 calleth as it is in the title also Daâ—eus petroseliui vel coriandrifolio but concerning this Bumium I mâ—st 〈…〉 thereof here as I promised before in the Chapter of Bulbo castanum that is to shew you that this 〈◊〉 Dalechampij is referred by 〈◊〉 to the kindes of Daucus the description and figure thereof are both so answerable thereunto but yet I must withall give you my opinion thereof which is that I thinke this her be is rather forced then yelding freely of it selfe to take upon it this title the composure of the description being so punctually applyed to every part of Dioscorides his description moving that doubt in me ven I would bee loth to derogate eyther from the accurate judgement or sinceritie of so learned an Herbarist as Dalechampij was The Arabians call it Dauco and Giezar 〈…〉 and all other nations doe for the most part follow the Latine as 〈◊〉 as their Dialect will permit or else following the French Carot Savage as some doe with us to call them 〈◊〉 Carots or rather as is more fit Dauke according to the Latine because there is another herbe more properly called wilde Carrot The Vertues Although the herbe of the true Dauke is by the watery moisture therein lesse effectuall then the seede as Galen 〈◊〉 which hath that powerfull heate therein that it is a principall medicine to helpe the strangurie to
sharpe thornes Palma Hairi The thorny American Palme tree bearing fruite as bigge as an hand-ball but pointed at one end having within it a fine snow white kernell the wood of this tree is as blacke as blacke marble and sincketh in water because of the heavinesse and therefore some have thought it to be Ebony but Thevet contradicteth that opinion with these reasons first that Ebony is a wood more blacke or shining and then that Ebony beareth no thornes and lastly Ebony is not found in America but in Ethiopia and the East Indies about Calecut c. The Indians of this wood make them swords which for the massinesse give a mighty blow and will breake both scull and bones where it lighteth on any although it doth not cut as our swords doe they make also arrowes of them which by reason of their hardnesse like iron and the points of them burned to make them so penitrable that they will be able to pierce a good corselet CHAP. CXLV Palma scriptoria aliae arbores cujus folia cortices chartae vicem praebent The writing Palme tree and sundry others whose leaves and barkes have supplyed the office and want of Paper THere are sundry sorts of trees growing both in the East and West Indies although none of the Nations of the West Indians except the Mexicanes know any use of writing or Letters before the Spaniards first entrance among them but the Spaniards there made use of divers in the want of paper whose leaves and barkes have beene used to write on besides the ancient paper Reed which served the former Greekes and Latines to that purpose for many ages whereof Pliny hath largely intreated and Guilandinus as largely commented upon him Palmeta humilia scriptoria and whereof I have entreated also in another place of this Worke as namely sundry dwarfe Date trees whose leaves have so smooth a surface that they served them very finely to write on that is with a small pointed iron to engrave their characters therein There is also growing in the Country of Mangi Tal. which is neere the Tartars and Chineses a certaine tree called Tal and Vguetal whose leaves are very large and through all those Countries are used to be written on it beareth fruite like unto great Turneps whose meate under the outer rinde or barke is tender sweete and edible Oviedus maketh mention of two certaine trees growing in Hispaniola Guajabara the lesser called Guajabara by the Indians and by the Spaniards Vuero because the fruite thereof are like Grapes the wood whereof is reddish sound and thicke and fit to make coales it beareth the fruite more loosely separate in sunder then the Grape and of the colour of the Mulberry or Rose having little substance thereon to be eaten for they be as great as an Hasell Nut and a stone within it is almost as great the leaves of this tree are broad and round as bigge as the palme of ones hand as thicke as two Ivy leaves and greene and sometimes reddish whereon the Spaniards used to write with an iron pen or pointell on both sides of the leaves but they must be fresh gathered and presently written upon which Letters then will appeare white in the greene or reddish leaves that they may be easily read notwithstanding the middle ribbe and the other veines therein in that they will not hinder ones hand very much Copâ—y The other tree they call Copey growing greater and taller whose leaves are round like unto the other but twice as large and thicke as they and therefore better to write on the middle ribbe and veines being also smaller and thereby Copey Thicke writing leaves or Printed Cards Guiahara New Spaines thin writing leaves hindering the pointell from the graving thereon so much the lesse these leaves also the Spaniards made use of for playing cards engraving the formes of Kings Arboris solia sex brachiorum Queenes c. thereon and would not easily be broken Nicholaus Costinus in his journall setteth downe that neere the City Cael where pearles are found there groweth a tree whose leaves are so large that two or three men may be kept dry in their journeyes having one of them spread to cover them for they are of sixe braces or fathomes in length and as many in breadth which leaves also serve them very fitly to write upon each of them being so thinne and plyable withall that being foulded up handsomely together one may carry one of them in their hand Metl sive Maguey Mexicanorum Duret also among his admirable plants remembreth the Melt or Mangey of the Mexicanes or rather Metl and Maguei which is the Aloe Americana set forth in the second Classis of this Worke of whose leaves they made use to write or engrave what Records they would keepe Papyrisera arbor clusij prima or what else they thought good Clusius also maketh mention in his first Booke of Exotickes and fourth Chapter of two sorts of barkes of trees fit to write on the one white and like unto the thinnest parchment which was gotten in Iava by those that returned home with Sir Francis Drake in his long voyage over the world which by tryall was found fit to write on And as he saith it might be was taken from that tree that Antonius Pigafetta maketh mention of in his journall that in the Island Tidore the women cover their privy parts with a certaine cloath made of the barke of a tree in this manner after it hath beene steeped so long in water that it is growne soft they beate it with woodden mallets unto what length and breadth they please making it so thinne as silke having the crosse veines running through it And it may as likely be such as the Chineses make their paper some Bookes of herbes being brought into the Low Countries as Clusius saith having both the figures of the herbes in them and the descriptions Secunda and vertues also peradventure for they had Chineses Characters on the sides of the figures The other barke of the tree was not white but somewhat reddish but of so smooth and fine a polished surface as no paper could be smoother and plainer and was not thicke or grosse but without any difficulty might be parted into six leaves each of them very well enduring to be written on with our ordinary incke and yet not sinke any whit through it which barke as he saith might have beene separated into more leaves if one would have been curious about them CHAP. CXLVI Palma pinus sive Conifera The Pine or Conebearing Palme tree THis strange kinde of tree being brought by certaine English Merchants or Marriners from the parts of Guinea where they traded was of a wonderfull composure for the toppe bough with the fruite thereon was as it were mixed of the nature of the Date and Pine tree together the wood being light and spongy and wholly made of threds or haires the outside or barke being
alijs a Satyris nomen traxisse putant eo quod coitus marcessentes stimulat some also call it Thymbra in Latine and some take Satureia Thymbra to bee differing plantes The Arabians call it Sahuter or Sahutar the Italians Savoreggia Coniella Peverella the Spanyardes Axadrea Segurella the French Savoreè Sauriette Sadreè the Germanes Kunel Zwibe Hysope Sature the Dutch Kenle and winter Kenle and we in English Savorye There is much controversie among our moderne writers what hearbe should certainely be the Thymbra of Dioscorides which in his time as it should seeme was most familiarly known therfore giveth no further description thereof then that it was like unto Tyme but lesse and more tender having heads of greene flowers and that it grew in rough and stony places Matthiolus giveth us one Lobel another Clusius a third and each entitle theirs to be Vera legitima Matthiolus because it was sent for it Pena because he founde it growing on Saint Iulians Rocke in the Florentine dominion and Clusius because Honorius Bellus sent him the seede from Candye who saith that the Candit Greekes call it to this day usually Thrubi Thrumbi but it is certaine that neither our winter or summer Savory doe answere unto the Thymbra of Dioscorides for that neither of them is like or lesse then Tyme although they are familiarly eaten by divers nations being put into brothes meates c. as Dioscorides saith of his garden Thymbra which as he saith is much lesse then the wilde sort of Thymbra The first is generally called with us Satureia hyberna Winter Savorye and by Camerarius perennis by Lobel Satureia sive Thymbra altera by Caesalpinus Satureia Hortensis By Brunfelsius Hyssopus Agrestis but Thymbrasyl by Anguilara by Gesner in hortis Thymbra agrestis Satureia montana by Bauhinus The second is generally called Satureia sativa hortensis or Thymbra sativa by most writers but Tabermontanus Caesalpinus only call it Cunila and Thymbra agrestis Gesner in hortis Thymbra vera and Bauhinus Satureia hortensis sive cunila Plinij but I somewhat doubt whether Pliny meant this Satureia to be Cunila in his 19. booke and 8. chap. or some of the other sorts And for the name Cunila it is by him referred to divers other plants for Origanum Heracleoticum is called by him Cunila gallinacea Lib. 20. c. 16. and Origanum sylvestre Cunila bubula as Dioscorides hath it also as shall bee shewed hereafter Levisticum also otherwise called Panaces is falsely called Cunila bubula by Cratevas as Pliny sheweth both in the 8. chapter of his 19. booke and in the 15. chap. of his 20. Againe in the 10. chap. of his 32. booke he nameth an other herbe Cunila capitata which in the fourth chap. of his 24. booke hee seemeth to name Policnemum whereof also Dioscorides maketh mention in an other place he saith that Cunila is called Cunilago Columella also calleth Satureia Cunila but he maketh Thymbra and Satureia to be two sundry herbes lib. 9. chap. 4. de re rustica as also in this verse Et Satureia Thymi referens Thymbraeque saporem but Pliny in his 19. booke and 8. chap. maketh them to bee both one The third sort is called by Lobel and Pena Thymbra vera S. Iuliani Lugdunensis and Tabermontanus Thymbra vera Penae Bauhinus in his notes upon Lugdunensis saith that the Saxifraga vera Dioscoridis of Matthiolus is this Thymbra vera of Lobel and Pena which it is very probable to be both figure and description answering well thereunto as any that will compare them may see The fourth is called by Clusius Thymbra legitima Prosper Alpinus Thymbra Cretensis and Pona Thymbra Legitima Dioscoridis and so doe I thinke also no other that wee know comming neerer thereunto The Vertues Our Savory of both sorts is hot and dry in the third degree especially the summer kinde which is both sharpe and quicke in taste expelling winde in the stomacke and bowels and is a present helpe for the rising of the mother procured by winde provoketh Vrine and womens courses and is much commended for women with child to take inwardly and to smell often thereunto Some that from Satyris thinke Satureia to be derived say it helpeth the disease called Satyriasis or Pryapismus and to helpe dull or decayed coiture others taking it to bee derived a saturando say it is in familiar use with many to procure a good appetite unto meate and to take away all manner of loathing to the same it cutteth tough flegme in the chest and lunges and helpeth to expectorate it the more easily it helpeth to quicken the dull spirites of the Lethargye the juice being snuffed or cast up into the nostrills the juice also is of good use to be dropped into the eyes to cleare the dull sight if it proceede of raw thinne colde humours distilling from the braine the juice also heated with a little oyle of Roses and dropped into the eares easeth them of the noyse and singing in them and deafenes also outwardly applyed with white flower in manner of a poultis giveth ease to the Sciatica or hippe gowte or paralyticall members by heating and warming them and taking away the paine it taketh away also the stinging of bees waspes c. CHAP. III. Thymum Serpillum Tyme and Mother of Tyme I Have joyned both these sorts of Tyme in one Chapter for the neere vicinity they have together both in name and nature yet eache by themselves they having many sorts apart 1. Thymum legitimum capitatum The true Tyme of the ancients The true Tyme is a very tender plant having hard and hoarye brittle branches spreading from a small woody stemme about a foote and a halfe high whereon are set at severall joynts and by spaces many small whitish or hoary greene leaves of a quicke sent and taste at the toppes of the branches stand small whitish greene heads somewat like unto the heads of Stoechas made as it were of many leaves or scales out of which start forth small purplish flowers not having any other seede as Theophirastus and some other of the old authors have set it downe and therefore appoint the flowers only to be sowne as if there were no seede in the heads thinking it to spring of the flowers alone which was an errour in them by tradition not experience for we have found it otherwise 2. Thymum durius vulgare Our common garden Tyme Our ordinary garden Tyme is also a small low woody plant with brittle branches and small hard greene leaves on them well knowne to most having small white purplish flowers standing with some leaves in roundles round about the toppes of the stalkes the seede is small and browner then Marjerome seede the roote is woody and abideth well divers winters if they be not too violent and the plants not growne too great or woody which then will perish therein 3. Thymum durius Candidius Hoarye Tyme Among the seedes of the
betweene them both the difference whereof consisteth chiefly in the smell which is like the smell of Aniseed 5. Ocimum Indicum Indian Basill The Indian Basill hath a square reddish greene stalke a foot high or better from the joynts whereof spread out many branches with broad fat leaves set thereon two alwayes at a joynt one against another as the Basils have but somewhat deepely cut in on the edges and oftentimes a little crumpled standing upon long reddish foot stalkes of a darke purple colour spotted with deeper purple spots in some greater in others lesse the flowers stand at the tops of the stalkes spike fashion of a white colour with reddish stripes and veines running thorow them set or placed in darke purple coloured huskes the seed is greater and rounder than any of the former and somewhat long withall the root perisheth like the rest The whole plant smelleth strong like unto the ordinary Basill and Camfire put together 6. Ocimum Crispum Curld Basill This curled Bassill is of the kinde of the Indian Bassill having such like large leaves cut in somewhat deepely on the edges and curled or crumpled as they are sometimes as also with swelling bunches like bladders on them but wholly of a greene colour without any spot on them as the stalkes are also the flowers hereof are likewise wholly white without any spot in them the smell hereof is somewhat strong resembling the spotted Indian kinde and is very likely to be but a degenerate kinde risen from the seed thereof being gathered in these colder Countries 7. Ocimum minus angustifolium Small dented Basill This small Basill groweth not so like any of the former Bassills or the small fine bush Bassill in the bushing branches thereof but rather somewhat resembling the wild Bassill or Clinopodium having fewer stalkes and branches with small narrow leaves a little snipt or indented about the edges two alwayes set together at a joynt but more sparsedly on the branches the flowers grow at the tops of the branches somewhat like unto Bassil of a white colour but bending a little more backward the smell hereof is smaller than any of the other Bassils The Place These plants grow onely in Gardens with us as also in Italy and other places where they are cherished their naturall being not knowne to us onely the Indian and curld Basill are said to come first from the West-Indies into Spaine and from thence into other places The Time They all flower in the heate of Summer and some of them latter The Names There is some controversie among Writers concerning this plant in three or foure particular matters first for the etymologie or derivation of the word some thinking it to be derived from the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Latine ocyus that is a celeritate crescendi from the speedy springing of the seed which is usually within three or foure dayes if it be a hot and dry time without raine for moysture turneth it into a gelly as any one may see that will looke on it after it hath taken wet which is written with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Secondly as some thinke from the Greeke word â—oleo which signifieth to smell or give a savour as commonly taken in the worst sence as in the best and so would have the word to be Ozimum of the sweet smell thereof Thirdly whether it should be Ocymum as it is to be found in divers ancient Writers or Ocimum Fourthly what Ocymum is of the ancient Writers for by divers it is taken to be that kinde of graine called Fagopyrum or Tragopyrum in English Buckwheate or else a kinde of medley of Corne or Pulse sowne together as many ancient Writers have set it downe as shall be shewed in his proper place whereunto I shall referre you And lastly about the vertues as shall be shewed presently It is called by the latter Greeke Writers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Basilicum because the smell thereof being so excellent is fit for a Kings house The first two sorts of these Bassils are by all Authors so called as I doe The second is the same Ocymus that Prosper Alpinus saith groweth in the Gardens of Alexandria in Egypt The third is so called by Lobel and others The fourth is onely set forth in the great Booke of the Bishop of Eystot his garden the fift is called Hispanicum by Camerarius and Tabermontanus and Indicum by Chusius and others The sixt is as is said in the description a degenerate kind of the last before it The last is so called by Estetensis as is here expressed The Arabians call it Berandaros and Badobrog the Italians Basilico the Spaniards Albahaca the French Basilic the Germanes Basilgen and Basilgram the Dutch Basilicom and we in English Bassill The Vertues Bassill in all Countries for the most part is of little use in Physick but rather used as a sweet smelling hearbe to sweeten or perfume any thing or else used outwardly to comfort and warme cold members Dioscorides saith that being eaten in any plentifull manner it dulleth the sight maketh the belly soluble stirreth up wind provoketh urine with-draweth the millâ—e and is of hard digestion Galen also saith it is accounted among those things that are hot in the second degree but because it hath an excrementitious moysture joyned with it it is not fit to be taken inwardly and in another place that it is an hearbe for sawce or meate hurtfull to the stomack breeding ill juyce and hard to be digested It is held by Crysippus as Pliny saith who inveied bitterly against the use thereof to be hurtfull both for the stomack urine and eye-sight and besides causeth a kinde of madnesse and lethargie and other diseases of the liver c. And that those of Affrica say that if any have eaten Bassill that day he is stung by a Scorpion that he cannot be saved which saying is quite contrary to that of Dioscorides that saith from those of Affrica that he shall have no paine or danger that is stung by a Scorpion if he have eaten Bassill before Pliny setteth downe that in his time it was defended from such calumnies as Crisippus cast upon it and was commended to be profitable against the sting of Scorpions and some other venemous Serpents and found to be helpfull and wholsome for those are given to swouning used with vineger and smelled unto used with oyle of Roses or Mirtles and Vineger is good against the paines of the head it is profitably applyed to those are troubled with the lethargie the jaundise and dropsie It is good to be put into the eares of young children with a little goose-grease to helpe them of paines thereof the juyce oâ— the seed bruised put into the nostrils procureth neesing it is good also for the trembling of the heart it provoketh Venery and therefore was given to horses to make them apt to breed Some of the ancient Writers likewise have set downe that the seed is good
Ilva in the Levant Seas as Camerarius saith but it hath beene found wild in our owne Country as it hath beene affirmed unto mee as well as the other naked kinde The fift groweth in Egypt as Prosper Alpinus saith and is onely naturall to that Country The sixth was found in Spaine by Myconus a learned Physitian of Barcinona and sent to Molinaus who composed the great Herball called Lugdunensis The seventh Clusius found upon the Mountaines of Stiria which are part of the Alpes The last Pena saith grew plentifully neare the Fishermens Cottages at the foote of Mons Caetius in Narbone in France The Time They all flower in Iune and Iuly but the Sea plant is the latest The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Parthenium quasi virginalis quia mulierum morbis uterinis medetur inde vulgo Matricaria It is called also febrifuga from whence I thinke our English name Featherfew or Feaverfew is derived it being good to expell feavers or agues It is held by most of the later Writers to be the true Parthenium of Dioscorides yet Lobel and Pena even as Brasavolus and Fuchsius before them whom Matthiolus doth confute by many reasons alleadged doe shew that both the face or forme of the leaves compared by Dioscorides to Coriander but lesser as also the properties given to Parthenium can by no meanes be found in this Matricaria but may all most truely and plainely be found in Cotulafaetida or stinking Mayweed the discourse is too long here to recite I therefore referre you to the place where you may read it at large in the description of Parthenium in their Adversaria as also in Lugdunensis in the Chapter of Matricaria Parthenium as Galen saith was called in his time Anthemis Helxine Linozostis and Amaracus and Pliny affirmeth that Helxine was called Perdicium and Parthenium and in another place he saith that it was called Leucanthemum and Tamnacum and that Celsus called it Perdicium and Muralium so that hereby it may be seene that Parthenium was a word applyed to many hearbes Fuchsius would make Matricaria to be the second kinde of Dioscorides his Arthemisia called Leptophyllos that is tennifolia and Parthenium to be Cotuba faetida which as I said before Matthiolus disproveth the second is so called by divers Authors as it is in the title and by Tabermontanus Arthemisia tenuifolia flore pleno the third is a species not spoken of by any Author before as I take it The fourth sort Camerarius calleth Matricaria altera ex Ilva of Tabermontanus Arthemisia tenuifolia odorata and Bauhinus Matricaria odorata and we Matricaria grati odoris because it is of so good a scent The fifth Prosper Alpinus saith is called in Egypt Achaovan and he thereupon called it Parthenium inodorum in English Vnsavory Featherfew The sixth was judged by Myconus that sent it out of Spaine as is before said to be another Parthenium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and it may be that of Hippocrates which many judge to bee Cetula faetida Bauhinu calleth it Matricaria folijs Abrotani The seventh Clusius calleth Parthenium Alpinum Camerarius Matricaria sive Parthenium Alpinum and Bauhinus Matricaria Alpina Chamaemeli folijs The last Lobel and Pena call Cotula sive Parthenium marinum minimum and Lugdunensis Parthenium maritimum minimum and is likewise the Chamaemelum maritimum of Dalechampius set out in the same place of Lugdunensis for they are both one as may be gathered both by the figure and description although the flowers in Lobels figure be more obscured in English small Sea Featherfew The Italians call it Maetricaria and Amarella the French Espargoutte the Germanes Mutterkraut and Meltram the Dutch Modecruit and we in English as I said before Featherfew or rather Feaverfew The Vertues It is chiefly used for the diseases of the mother whether it be the strangling or rising of the mother or the hardnesse or inflammations of the same applyed outwardly thereunto or a decoction of the flowers in wine with a little Nutmegge or Mace put therein and drunke often in a day is an approved remedy to bring downe womens courses speedily and to warme those parts oppressed by obstructions or cold as also helpeth to expell the dead birth and the afterbirth For a woman to sit over the hot fumes of the decoction of the hearbe made in water or wine is effectuall also for the same purposes and in some cases to apply the boyled hearb warme to the privie parts The decoction thereof made with some Sugar or honey put thereto is used by many with good successe as well to helpe the cough and stuffing of the chest by cold as also to cleanse the reines and bladder and helpe to expell the stone in them The powder of the hearbe as Dioscorides saith taken in wine with some Oxymel purgeth like to Epithymum both choler and flegme and is availeable for those that are short winded and are troubled with melancholy and heavinesse or sadnesse of the spirits It is very effectuall for all paines in the head comming of a cold cause as Camerarius saith the hearbe being bruised and applied to the crowne of the head It is also profitable for those that have the Vertigo that is a turning and swimming in their head It is also drunke warme I meane the decoction before the accesse or comming of an ague as also the hearbe bruised with a few cornes of Bay-salt and some put beaten glasse thereto but I see no reason wherefore and applyed to the wrestes of the hand to take away the fits of agues Some doe use the distilled water of the hearbe and flowers to take away freckles and other spots and deformities in the face And some with good successe doe helpe the winde and collicke in the lower part of the belly and some say it is good also for the winde in the stomack by bruising the hearbe and heating it on a tyle with some wine to moisten it or fryed with a little wine and oyle in a Frying-panne and applyed warme outwardly to the places and renewed as there is need It is an especiall remedy against Opium that is taken too liberally It is an hearbe among others as Camerarius saith much used in Italy fryed with egges as wee doe Tansies and eaten with great delight the bitternesse which else would make it unpleasant being taken away by the manner of dressing CHAP. XXX Chamaemelum Camomill I Have divers sorts of Camomill to shew you in this Chapter some common and well knowne to most others more rare and heard of but by a few and unto them I thinke it not amisse to joyne the Mayweeds because they are as well the like stinking as lesse or not sweet 1. Chamaemelum vulgare Ordinary Camomill Our ordinary Camomill is well knowne to all to have many 1. Chamaemelum vulgare Ordinary Camomill flore pleno Double Camomill small trayling branches set with very fine leaves bushing and spreading thick over the ground taking
to the height of a man but usually much lower with one wooddy grayish stemme or stalke dividing it selfe into some branches but fewer than the former two alwayes set at a joynt the leaves stand likewise two together somewhat greater and waved a little at the edges of a sad greene colour above but not shining and more hoary underneath the flowers stand at the joynts with the leaves towards the toppes of the stalkes of a white colour without any hood above and with sundry threads in the middle the lower leaves hanging downewards the smell hereof is lesse sweet and more bitter than the former but abideth with stalkes and leaves thereon greene like the rest but will require a little more care for the Winters provision in our Country 4. Teucrium Alpinum inodorum Vnsavory Tree Germander of the Alpes This small low shrub hath divers hairy and wooddy stalkes not above an hand breadth high bending downewards and dividing it selfe into many smaller branches whereon are set very small hoary leaves somewhat rugged or wrinckled and dented a little about the edges like unto the uppermost small leaves of wood Sage the flowers are very large for the proportion of the plant being like unto Germander and hooded of a puplish blue colour standing spike fashion at the toppes of the stalkes the roote is stringy and white the whole plant hath little or no scent The Place The first groweth in the rocky places of sundry hills in Italy and other Countries the second came from Candy to Clusius the third Clusius saith he found neare the Sea coasts in Spaine not farre from Hercules pillars as also in the Iland of Cules the last as Bauhinus saith was found on the greater hill of Saint Bernard in Switzerland The Time These sorts of Germander doe flower somewhat later than the former The Names The Greekes call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the Latines Tencrium also a Tenero inventore teste Plinio some also call it Quercula major In the last Chapter the opinion of Dodonaeus is set downe concerning Teucrium and Chamaedrys but he doth not in my opinion declare the whole truth which from the rest of Dioscorides text may bee gathered for of Chamaedrys he saith folia habet effigie divisura quercus it hath leaves like the Oake both for shape and divisions 3. Teucrium Baeticum Tree Germander of Spaine which argueth them to bee greater than of Teucrium whereof hee saith Trissaginis est similitudine tenuifolio non multum a Cicere alieno so that Teucrium hath lesser leaves than Chamaedrys yet like the lesser ones thereof and not much differing from those of Ciche pease and with such leaves is the Teucrium furnished Pliny in his 25. Booke and 5. Chapter hath fouly erred in the description of Teucrium where he saith it is called Hemionitis or Hermion as Matthiolus hath it having neither flower nor seed which some would call Asplenion or Splenion as he hath it and then telleth fables how the vertue thereof was knowne to be good against the spleene in that the Swine that eate thereof were found to have no milt And againe that the intrailes of beasts being cast upon the hearbe the milt or spleene of them onely lying nearest was consumed scilicet of the dead beast and then addeth by and by the true description although somewhat varying from that of Dioscorides of Teucrium so that he confoundeth both Hemionitis and Teucrium together in one description Matthiolus saith that some did take Teucrium to be Crassula major or Fabainversa called by others Telephium The first is simply called Teucrium by Matthiolus Lobel and many other Authors and by Clusius Teucrium vulgare fruticans but by Dodonaeus Chamaedrys altera seu assurgens the second Clusius calleth Teucrium Creticum saying it was sent by the name of Chamaedrys major and Bauhinus Teucrium Creticum incaenum the third Clusius calleth Teucrium fruticans Boeticum and so doe Lugdunensis Tabermontanus and others that have taken it from him Bauhinus calleth it Teucrium peregrinum folio sinuoso and maketh a quere which Clusius had made before an Pederota Pausaniae the last Bauhinus in his Pinax and Prodromus calleth Teucrium Alpinum inodorum magno flore and yet is the same with his Teucrium folijs Scorodoniae as any may well see that will compare them together for Camerarius who had his from Candy by the name of Scordium verum sheweth that it hath the leaves of Scorodonia but lesse The Vertues Galen maketh Teucrium to be hot in the second degree and dry in the third and of thinne parts and cutting also whereby it is helpefull for the spleene it is saith Dioscorides used either greene or dry and is good to consume the spleene being inwardly or outwardly applyed it is also used against the sting of venemous creatures CHAP. XL. Scordium Water Germander SSordium being a kinde of Germander must be next entreated of yet for that it smelleth of Garlick it must be separated from them and with it the other of his kinde and some also for the affinity in name or smell are not unfit to be joyned together in this Chapter 1. Scordium legitimum Water Germander Water Germander from a small roote full of white strings spreading in the ground and creeping or running about also shooteth forth divers weake square hairy branches which take roote in divers places as they lye and spread whereby it encreaseth much whereon doe grow many leaves two alwayes at a joynt which are somewhat larger and longer than garden Germander leaves of a sad or darke greene colour whereon yet there is a shew of hairinesse and hoarynesse somewhat soft in handling full of veines and dented about the edges of a scent somewhat strong resembling Garlicke the flowers are small red and gaping standing at the joynts with the leaves towards the toppes of the branches we have not observed what seed it beareth 2. Scorodonia sive Scordium alterum quibusdam Salvia agrestis Wood Sage Wood Sage riseth up with square hoary stalkes two foote high at the least having two leaves set at every joynt thereon which are somewhat like unto Sage leaves but smaller softer whiter and rounder a little dented about the edges and smelling somewhat strongly at the tops of the stalkes and branches stand the flowers on a slender long spike turning themselves all one way when they blow and are of a pale or whitish colour smaller than Sage but hooded and gaping like unto them the seed is blackish and round foure usually set in a huske together the roote is long and stringy with divers fibres thereat and endureth many yeares 3. Scordotis Plinij primum The first Garlicke Germander of Pliny Because Dodonaeus Lobel Pena and Dalechampius have set forth divers hearbes for the true Scordotis of Pliny as some Scorodonia or Salvia agrestis some Stachys and others Gallitricum none of them having the smell of Scordium or the vertues that Pliny giveth to his Scordotis
of Tabarmontanus Aster luteo flore of Gerard Aster hirsâ—us of Bauhinus Aster luteus hirsutus Salicis folio The seventh is Clusius his Austriacus quartus of Bauhinus Aster luteus linaria rigido glabro folio The eighth came first to us by the Virginian name Aquascomense some thinke that the Virginian name of the ninth is Wisanck but falsely but the tenth and eleventh without names and therefore we have given them such names as seemed to us most convenient and as are in their titles untill some fitter may be given by other The eleventh Lobel in his observations calleth Aster Conyzoides as I and all others doe but the twelfth was so entituled by Boelius as it is here set downe The thirteenth is called generally Aster Atticus Italorum purpureo or caeruleo flore The fourteenth is a species of the last Atticus Italorum flore purpureo whereof both Clusius and Camerarius make mention The fifteenth is Clusius his Aster Austriacus quintus which he saith may be called Amellus Alpinus in that it doth resemble the Amellus of Virgil. Lugdunensis calleth it Aster purpureus montanus Bauhinus Aster montanus caeruleus magno flore folijs oblongis The sixteenth Bauhinus onely remembreth by the name of Aster hirsutus Austriacus caruleus magno flore The seventeenth Lobel calleth Aster minor Narbonensium Tripolij flore linariae folio medio purpureus The two last have their names given by us as we thinke sittest for them There hath beene formerly some controversie among Writers what plant should bee Aster Atticus of Dioscorides divers allowing of that Aster Atticus flore luteo which is set forth in this my former Booke whereof the 2. here set forth as I said is a kind nearest thereunto others refusing it utterly because it hath no purple colour in the flower which that of Dioscorides hath both in the description thereof by him as many doe translate that part in the description of the flower to be purpureum luteum whereas the new Editions have Purpureum luteumve and in the vertues where he saith that divers say that the purple of the flower or in the flower is good to heale the sores of the groine and rather allowing of the 13. kinde here set forth as likewise in my other Booke whereof those with purple flowers here described are species to be both the true Aster Atticus of Dioscorides and the true Amellus of Virgil which he describeth in the fourth Booke of his Georgicks and that most plainely in these Verses Est etiam flos in pratis cui nomen Amello Fecere agricolae facilis quaerentibus herba Namque uno ingentem tollit de cespite sylvam Aureus ipse sed in folijs quae plurima circum Funduntur viola sublucet purpura nigra Sapè deum nexis ornatae torquibus arae Asper in ore saepâ—r tonsis in vallibus illum Pastores curvae legunt propè flumina Melle Yet Guilandinus misliketh hereof and although he allow of it to be After Atticus yet not to be Amellus whom as I take it Matthiolus doth convince he nameth no man but saith that some would make that hearbe which by the judgement of all men is Chelidonium minus to be the Amellus of Virgil which neither the flower being all yellow though standing like a Starre not having any purple colour therein which Virgil saith Amellus hath for his words Aureus ipse which is the flower hath in folijs quae plurima circumfunduntur the purple colour of the violet but not so faire and cannot be referred to the leaves of that plant neither the stature or forme of Chelidonium which is low lying upon the ground and Amellus rising high and bearing a bush of flowers at the toppe of his stalke as Virgil saith uno ingentem tollit de cespite sylvam neither the time of the flowring for Chelidonium flowreth in the Spring and Amellus in the end of Summer when the fields are mowed as he saith Tonsis in vallibus illâ— Pastores legunt prope flumina Melle Pena and Lobel in their Adversaria also would make Tripolium to be the nearest unto Amellus of Virgil because the flower is purple starre fashion and yellow in the middle and that it usually groweth in moist places neare unto Rivers as Virgil saith of his which hath the greatest probability next unto this of any other hearbe but Virgil his words asper in ore sapor which is harsh or binding agreeth not unto Tripolium and because I find no other Author agreeing thereunto and that this is most commonly received of all I dare not forsake so great reasons and so many judgements and adhere to this one of Pena and Lobel The Vertues Dioscorides saith that the purple leaves of the flowers boyled in water was held to bee good for the paines and sore in the groine as also the use of the fresh hearbe in oyle to anoynt the place and likewise the dryed flowers to be taken into the right hand of the patient bound to the place that is grieved it taketh away inflammations in those places it helpeth children also that have the falling sicknesse and those that are troubled with the Quinsie It helpeth an hot stomacke the inflammations of the eyes and the fundament when it is fallen downe if an oyntment be made of the greene hearbe and old Hogs grease it helpeth them that are bitten by a mad Dogge as Cratevas saith it consumeth the swellings of the throat and driveth away Serpents if it be burned Galen saith it is called Bubonium not onely because that being anoynted but also that being hung or tyed to the places it healeth the sores in the groine for it hath not onely a digesting but also no small cooling quality and repressing being of a mixt property like the Rose Pliny addeth that being bound to the place it is profitable for the paine in the hippes CHAP. XLVI Ruta Rue or Hearbe grace THere are foure or five speciall sorts of hearbes called by the name of Rue having little likenesse thereunto but onely some shew in the leaves which are these First Ruta Canina whereof I meane to speake among the Scrophularias The second is Ruta pratensis called also Thalictrum which you shall finde in the next Classis The third is Ruta Muraria which shall bee spoken of among other Capillare hearbes and the fourth is Ruta Capraria sive Galega which shall be declared among the Alexiphariâ— Counterpoisons Divers other hearbes have beene entituled Ruta by singular Authors as you shall finde among the names of them whereof to make mention here were needlesse I rather referre you to the places specified But of our ordinary or garden Rue common enough through all this Realme there are some other sorts thereof which are here to be remembred with them although not usually bred or to be easily kept in the gardens of our land 1. Ruta hortensis major The greater ordinary garden Rue or Hearbe of Grace This ordinary garden Rue groweth up with hard
somewhat neere thereunto but upon better thoughts I thinke that Chambdaphnae may be more truely referred to the Laurus Alexandrina of Matthiolus whose leaves are small like unto Bay leaves and the berries red when they be ripe standing upon the leaves and if you would aske me then which is the Laurus Alexandrina of Dioscorides I would answere you that it is that Laurus Alexandrina legitima that Lobel hath set forth in his Appendix to his Adversiaria whose branch I communicated to him to set forth as I had it from Pisa whose leaves come neerer unto Dioscorides his description than either that of Matthiolus or of any other as you shall further understand in his proper place the other is called Chamaedaphnoides id est Laureola Cretica by Prosper Alpinus lib. de plantis exoticis The Vertues The leaves and berries hereof are as violent a purger and do heate and inflame the throat bringing the stomack of whomsoever shall take thereof and drive them into as many dangerous diseases as any of the former yet taken advisedly it purgeth flegme from the stomack and oftentimes by vomit also it procureth womens courses and being chewed in the mouth it draweth down from the head and braine much corrupt matter that would offend it Many Emperickes do give the berries sometimes but the leaves more often to evacuate the watery humors in the dropsie and think they finde good successe thereupon as also to ease the paines of the collick doe give the powder of the leaves in a little broth the berries and leaves hereof when they are fresh boyled in oyle and afterwards strayned forth this oyle being annointed on the belly looseneth the belly and helpeth the collicke and being anointed on the backe and raines provoketh urine and helpeth the piles CHAP. XXIII Laurus Tinus sive sylvestris The Wilde Bay tree I Shall in this chapter shew you the wilde Bay trees and joyne it next unto the Laureola both for the name and nature thereof 1. Laurus Tinus Lusitanicus The first wild Baye of Clusinus or of Portingall The wilde Bay tree riseth up to the height of an hedge bush or the Dog-berrie tree having diverse long square stalkes full of branches and faire large broad leaves somewhat like unto Bay leaves set in order 1. Laurus Tinus Lufitanica caerulea bacâ—a The first wilde Bay of Clusius or of Portingall 2. Laurus Tinus alter vel 2. Clusii The second Wilde Bay of Clusius thereupon two alwayes set together at a joynt one against another but of a darke greene shining colour of no sent at all in them and of a bitter sharpe unpleasant taste troubling the stomacke causing loathing and casting withall as the toppes of the branches and twigs stand many small sweete smelling flowers in clusters consisting of five white leaves a peece after which succeede small berries being somewhat long flat and cornered of an excellent pale bright blew colour inflaming and burnig the mouth and throate of whosoever shall taste it that it is almost insupportable and not but in a long time and by drinking milke and holding it in the mouth to be taken away or eased this abideth greene all the winter 2. Laurus Tinus alter vel 2. Clusii The second wilde Bay tree of Clusius This other wilde Bay tree riseth to be a bush much about the same bignesse with the former having stronger stalkes and more plentifully branching forth which are reddish being young and more greene with the rednesse when they are older whereon grow the leaves in the same order but somewhat longer narrower and more full of veines than it the flowers stand at the toppes of the twigs and branches in the same manner that the other doe but are more purple and lesse sweete than they which afterwards give smaller fuller and blacker berries than the former this so holdeth his greene leafe all the winter without shedding 3. Laurus Tinus sylvestris alter sive tertius The third wilde Bay tree This wilde Bay groweth seldome to be a tree of any height but abideth low shooting forth many slender branches covered with a darke greene barke with sad greene smooth leaves set by couples thereon somewhat resembling Bay leaves without any smell the flowers grow in tuftes or clusters at the ends of the branches somewhat reddish while they are in bud but whiter being open with reddish edges consisting of five leaves a peece smelling sweete there seldome followeth any fruite but are blacke round berries when it beareth yet not perfect to spring againe in any that I have seene 4. Laurus Tinus Cretica fruticosa The shrubby wilde Bay of Candye This Bay tree groweth low and shrubby bearing many slender round short branches covered with a black bark with knotty joynts wheron are set 5 or 6 or more leaves like the former but smaller upon short foot stalks which are wholly without sent but heating the mouth and tongue with a little astriction the fruite or seede is as small as a pepper corne with a thin rind opening into three parts like a Spurge seed containing within each part a small long whitish kernell like to a graine of wheate smelling strong and tasting somewhat bitter and heating or burning the mouth and tongue The Place The first groweth in Portugall and Spaine in diverse places as Clusius saith in Italy also on the hils of Florence and Romania and in the wood Valena in Narbone and among the dwarfe scarlet Oakes in many places of Mount Cetus or Sestius neere Mompelier in France The second as Clusius saith he found in the Monestery of Pera longa in Portugall and neere the Seaside also in other parts of Spaine the third he saith he onely saw in Boysot his garden raysed from Italian seede which afterwards communicating the suckers thereof became familiar in many other Herbarists Gardens there as it doth also with us in our Country and the last in Candye The Time The first flowred in Iuly and August and the fruite was ripe in October in some places of Portugall when as in other places Clusius saith he found it in flower in November with the fruite on it then also the second flowreth also and beareth ripe fruite much about the same time the third flowreth with us onely in December and continueth flowring Ianuary and February if the winter be not too early or too extreame The Names It is called by Theophrastus in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Laurus sylvestris in his first booke and 15 chapter among those trees that are ever greene which Gaza translateth onely Laurus not naming sylvestris at all for it is not remembred by Dioscorides or Galen or other of the Greeke writers Plinye maketh mention thereof in his 15 booke and 30 chapter and in other places calling it Tinus which some understand to be this Laurus sylvestris wilde Bay M. Cato also remembreth it in l. de re rustica by the name of Laurus sylvestris and no other ancient Latine writer
all the winter and flower in May their fruite is ripe in September The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Zizypha Zinzipha of Columella Ziziphus of Clusius Ziziphus rutila of others Rubra and Punicea and of the Arabians from whom the Apothecaries tooke it Iujube and so doe Lobel and Pena Anguillara thinketh it to be the Lotus of Athaenaeus as also the Lotus of Theophrastus that grew in the Island Pharis mentioned in lib. 4. c. 4. which is most likely for it hath a dented leafe as he saith like unto Ilex whereunto this is more like than the leafe of the Lotus arbor whereof I have made mention in my former booke Some doe thinke that this fruite is that which Galen in 2. alimentorum calleth Serica and unto this opinion many doe adhere especially because Avicen entreating of Injubes calleth them Serica for his title is thus De Iujubis idest Sericiâ— yet it is no other likely but that he was mistaken for many worthy and learned men doe doubt of it but Pliny maketh mention of Sericum before Galens time in his 15. booke and 14. chap. to be one of the kindes of Tuberes which we take to be Nuciperficae Nectorins for in his 16. booke 25. chap. he reckoneth the Tuberes with the Almonds Peaches and Apricocks as if they were all of one kindred and in his 17 booke and 10. chap. he saith that the Tuberes are best grafted on the Wilde Plumme c. and therefore it is likely he thought them of that kinde of Plummes of the colour of raw silke and we have a yelloW Nectorin neere unto that colour whereof came the name which maketh me thinke that Galen his Sericum should not differ from Plinyes seeing they lived not any long time one before the other in Rome and therefore the name could not bee there altered for Galen rather allowing of those things that were conducible to medicine and we know that Iujubes are so then of such as did please the palate onely as Nectorins are and were fit and desired of wanton women and children onely as he saith did not greatly commend the fruite for any good to the bodies health yet I verily thinke and of this opinion is Cornarius also that his and Plinyes Sericum are all one And although Matthiolus seemeth to finde fault with Plinye his booke to be false in naming but one sort of Zizyphus and two of the Tuberes when as Columella Avicen and Sethi make two sorts of Zizyphus yet assuredly their other white Zizyphus is good onely to kill all foure footed beasts in the same manner that Oleander doth The other Cordus in his history of plants maketh mention of and calleth it Iujuba minor and which maketh me to thinke it to bee a Tuber it is very probable to be the Paliurus Africanus of Theophrastus and the Zizyphus sylvestris of Lugdunensis for I thinke he knew not the next hereunto which I call sylvestris and is called Zizyphus sylvestris also of Caâ—rarius of Lobel Pena Iujuba sylvestris who think it to be Rhamnus altera or Paliurus Theophrasti mentioned in his 4. booke and 4. chap. of Iohannes Pona in the description of Mons Baldus Chamaezizypha and Zyzypha sylvestris The Arabians call it Hanen and Hanab and Zufalz of the Italians Guggiole the Spaniardes Azufeosa Acofeiso the French Iujubes and of some Guindoules the Germanes Rothustbeere and Brustbeerlin the Dutch Iujuben and in English Iujubes The Vertues The Iujubes especially while they are fresh much more than being dry doe open the body and gently purge choller and clense the blood thus saith Actuarius and Simeon Sethi yet Matthiolus following the opinion of Avicen denyeth that they have any purging quality in them at all all authors doe agree that they coole the heate and sharpenesse of the blood and therefore good in hot agues and doe helpe them that have a cough to expectorate tough flegme and is good for the other diseases of the chests and lungs as shortnesse of breath but distillations c. proceeding from hot humors it is also to good purpose used to clense the raines and the bladder from gravell which it performeth by the viscuous quality in them in making the passages slippery and the gravell and stones to avoyd the more easily they also stay vomitings procured by sharpe humours but they are hard of disgestion and doe not easily passe out of the stomack being eaten either fresh or dryed they are therefore used in decoctions alwayes with other things sit and convenient for those griefes aforesaid CHAP. XLIIII 1. Myxos sive Sebesten The Sebesten or Assyrian Plum THe Sebesten tree groweth somewhat lower then the Plum tree covered with a whitish barke the branches are greene whereon grow rounder thicker and harder leaves then they the blossomes are white consisting of five leaves a peece growing many together on a long stalke which afterwards turne into small Berries rather then Plums of a blackish greene colour when they are ripe every one standing in a little cup of a sweete taste and glutinous or clammy substance and a very thicke skinne within which lyeth a threesquare hard stone with a thicke shell and a small kernell these are gathered and laid in the Sunne whereby they grow wrinkled and Sebesten The Sebesten or Assirian Plum so they are kept and brought over unto us in boxes 2. Sebesten sylvestris The wilde Sebesten The wild Sebesten is in all things like the other but that it groweth lower more like unto a hedge bush and with lesser and thinner leaves the flowers and fruit are alike but lesse The Place The first groweth in Syria and is but planted in Egypt as Alpinus saith and from thence were brought into Italy in Pliny his time which were grafted on the Service tree and do now grow in many places there in their Orchards it is so tender not enduring the cold with us that wee can as hardly keepe it as cause it to spring the shell of the stone being so thicke and the kernell so small The other as Alpinus seemeth to averre is naturall of Egypt The Time They flower in May and the fruit is gathered in September The Names The tree is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the fruit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a muccoso fructus lentore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 enim muccum significat in Latine myxos for the tree and Myxa and Myxaria for the fruit it is thought as Ruellius saith that the Syrians in honour of Augustus called them Sebastae from whence the Arabians called them Sebesten and the Apothecaries in their shops use that name onely The Vertues The Sebestens by the judgement of both Arabians and Greekes doe open the body in the same manner or rather more by reason of the muccilagines in them then Damaske prunes yet more while they are greene and lesse when they are dry yet
sides if it obtaine a strong fat ground and a warme place diverse stalkes of leaves like unto the other or else abideth bare or without branches Sesamum The oyly purging pulse Sesamum two for the most part set at a joint and at each joynt of the stalke up to the toppe commeth forth one flower of a whitish colour which is somewhat long like vnto a Bell flower made of one leafe without division at the edges having a few long threds at the bottome not rising so high that they may be seene without opening the flower after the flowers are past there come up in their steede small long hard cods having three or foure or five ribbes or crestes which doe open themselves into so many parts having in each part small whitish yellow flat seedes lying therein the roote is somewhat great and long with many strings and fibres at it taknig as fast hold in the ground as a Sowthistle doth both leaves stalkes and seedes are very bitter while they are greene that cattle will not touch them but being dried they become more pleasant for them to eate and the seede becommeth more oyly than Linseede from whence is pressed forth a whitish oyle very sweete while it is fresh and will not in a long time decay or grow stronger The Place It groweth naturally in the Indies and other Easterly countries but is onely sowen in the fields of Syria Egypt Sicily Candy Greece and other places there abouts it is to be had but in the gardens of lovers of rare plants in all Italy neither in the transalpine countries the Apothecaries in our land doe seldome use either seed or oyle few or none of them ever saw the seede much lesse the plant The Time It floweth not untill July and ripeneth not the seede untill September The Names It is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke and Sesamum and Sesama in Latine of all Writers thereof Alpinus saith it is called in Egypt Sempsem the oyle thereof Syris and the foot and grounds of the oyle Thaine All Authours almost doe number it among the graines and cornes as a kinde thereof and not of the pulse which doe all for the most part beare cods yet of diverse fashions but why they should doe so I cannot conceive any other reasons than that it was put into bread as Poppy seede was the seede being somewhat like unto Millet and that it was sowen in the fields as other graine and pulse were for Theophrastus in distinguishing the kinds of graine lib. 8. cap 1. maketh 3. sorts the first wheate barly c. the second beanes pease c. the 3. Millet Panicke and Sesamum whereof corne beareth spikes or eares pulse beare cods and those that are like Millet Panicke c. doe beare a juba or maine for so he calleth that reede-like tuft or bushy feather like toppe which the Millet and Panicke doe beare and setteth downe Sesamum omong them now Sesamum hath no such bushy feather toppe as Panicke or Millet or as the like have but rather severall cods as the pulse allthough in differing manner but Galen in prim◠Alimentorū doth number it among the pulses and saith it was in his time eaten of many as pulses are Bellonius in the 29. Chapter of his third booke of Observations setteth downe the manner of making the oyle of Sesamum which if any be desirous to know I referre him to the Author The Vertues The seede and oyle of Sesamum are all of one qualitie and temperature being neere the second degree of heate and moisture both mollifying and dissolving but the leaves especially while they are greene are more cooling fit to represse the inflammations and griefes of the eyes by way of fomenting them the seede is taken inwardly in decoctions or other wayes or used in glisters to loosen the belly when it is bound or pained by the chollicke which it worketh by his unctuous or oylie quality and therefore the oyle is often used for the same purposes both Dioscorides and Galen say that it troubleth and overturneth the stomack by reason of his unctuosity and doth hardly digest with them that eate it yeeldeth a grosse nourishment unto the body and filleth it up with fat flesh quickly it causeth a stinking breath because it often sticketh in the teeth when it is eaten whereby it is offensive Alpinus saith that the Egyptians use the decoction of the seede to those that are troubled with the cough the shortnesse of breath the pleuresie or hard scirrhous swellings of the liver and Mesues saith it lenifieth the roughnesse or hoarsenesse of the throat and voyce making it cleare and free of paine it cureth the bitings of the horned serpent Cerastes and easeth the paines of the head proceeding of the heate of the sunne the decoction of both herbe and seedes with some honye is very profitable for women to sit in whose wombes are hard or swollen and to bring downe their courses when they are stayed as also to wash their heads that are much troubled with dandraffe or scurfe or dry scabbes the herbe or seede stayeth vomiting taken in an egge Mesues saith also that the seede or oyle doth fatten the body and encreaseth sperme The oyle is of great use and effect to anoint the face or hands or any other part of the body to clense the skinne and to take away sunburning morphew freckles spots or scarres or any other deformities of the skinne proceeding of melancholy it is good also to anoint any part scalded or burnt with fire it helpeth those finewes that are hard or shrunke or those veines that are too great The seede was in ancient times much used in bread for to relish and make it sweeter as also in cakes with honey as Poppie seed was CHAP. XLVII Iris. The Flowerdeluce THere are so many sorts of Flowerdeluces that to shew you them all here againe having described them all exactly in my former booke would make this booke too voluminous I must therefore referre you thereunto and give you here some descriptions and figures with the vertues 1. Jris major latifolia The greater broade leafed Flowerdeluce This Flowerdeluce hath many heads of very broad and flat greene leaves enclosing or foulding one another at the bottome and after divided in sunder with thinne edges on both sides like a sword and thickest in the middle from the middle of some of these heads of leaves riseth up a round stiffe stalke two or three foote high bearing at the toppe one two or three large flowers out of severall huskes or skinnes consisting of nine leaves three whereof fall downe having a freeze neere the bottomes three other smaller than they bowed or arched cover the bottomes of the falling leaves each of them divided at the ends and turning up a little and three other the largest of them all stand upright but bow themselves a little that they may all for the most part meete together at their toppes
stalke hereof riseth to be about a foote high the leaves are in forme and colour like the ordinary or the last but larger enduring greene all the winter the flowers grow spike fashion on the toppe of the stalke formed like those of the Hollow roote whose bellies are blush and mouthes gold or paler yellow the seede is conteined in crooked long pods being round flattish and yellowish the roote is thicke and fibrous the whole plant is more bitter than the ordinary and therefore more effectuall 6. Fumaria alba latifolia Climing Fumiterrie The climing Fumiterrie riseth up with small slender stalkes not able to sustaine themselves but catching hold by certaine small tendrels it sendeth forth at the ends of the smaller branches on any thing that standeth nigh unto it whereby it climeth upon the hedges or other hearbes it sendeth forth diverse stalkes of small leaves set 2 or 3 or more together not dented or divided on the edges at all of a blewish greene colour very like unto Fumiterry at the toppes likewise of the small branches come forth many small whitish flowers tipt with blush set together nothing like the former but made like small long hollow huskes or Bell flowers ending in five small points after which come small seede enclosed in small broad huskes or pods the roote is small and long growing downe deepe into the ground and abideth the winter shooting forth new branches for the old perish every yeare 7. Fumaria tuberosa flore viridi Bulbous Fumiterry with a greene flower This hath diverse greene stalkes with such like leaves thereon as the small Hollow roote hath but somewhat larger and greener at the toppes of the stalkes 5. Fumaria semper virens Americana siliquosa Indian Fumiterrie 8. Et Bulbosa Americana Knobbed Indian Fumiterrie stand small greenish flowers at severall places with diverse small greene leaves set under them the roote is two or three times bigger than the roote of the small Capnes fabacea radice but yellow like unto it and the stalkes with leaves and flowers perishing as quickely as the others 8. Fumaria tuberosa Americana Knobbed Indian Fumiterry This kinde of Fumiterrie hath two small round solide rootes like testicles with diverse small fibres thereat from betweene which riseth up a stalke of sundry winged leaves two set together at a joynt variously divided and so smally that they almost resemble Iuniper leaves of a blewish greene colour the flowers have sundry colours in them but supposed of some to be but white it is almost without either sent or taste The Place The first groweth aswell in the corne fields almost every where as in gardens also and that with white flowers in Cornwall in their corne fields The second groweth in the fields of Spaine in many places as also in the fields and Vineyards about Mompelier and in other places also The third groweth in Candy from whence Clusius saith he had the seede The fourth groweth on the hils in Apulia and Calabria in the Kingdome of Naples and some other places in Italy and in Illyria also The fift groweth in Virginia and the backe parts thereof called Canada The sixt by the hedge sides and among bushes in some places of Brabant in the low Countries and about Frontignana and Mompelier in France it is found about Naples with a yellow flower as it is reported the seaventh is found likewise in the woods of Germany and the last in America or the West Jndies The Time They all flower early even in May for the most part yet the yellow flowreth much later as many times not untill August and their seede ripeneth shortly after The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Capnos and Capnion quasi fumus eo quod succus occulis indi◠lachrimationem movet sicut fumus claritatem eorum efficit in Latine Fumaria Fumus Terrae of the Arabians Scheiteregi of the Italians Fumoterre and Fumostomo of the Spaniards Palonima of the French Fumoterre of the Germans Erdrauch and Danben Kropf as Tragus saith and of the Dutch Grijsciom and Duive Kernel The first is of all Authors called Fumaria or Capnos Fumaria of Lobel The second is called Fumaria minor or tenuifolia to distinguish it from the other The third is remembred by Clusius by the name in the title and it may be also the Syriaca of Camerarius The fourth is called Fumaria Coridalis of Matthiolus and of some as he saith Split of Gesner and Tabermontanus Fumaria montana of Lobel Fumaria lutea montana who taketh it also to be Chelidonium capnitis of Aetius of Camerarius and Anguillara Corydalis of Caesalpinus Split vulgo and Split Illirica or Sclavonica herba of others The fifth hath its name in the title and reckoned a kind of the fourth The sixt is called Capnos of Lobel who saith it is also called of some Split albuni of Dodonaeus it is thought to be the first Capnos Plinij which hee saith was called in his time Pedes gallinaci and saith also that some called it Corydalis and Splith and the common sort Corydalion hee calleth it also Fumaria altera and Capnos phragmites as Gesner doth also but divers of the best moderne Herbarists doe rather thinke that the Radix Cava is the Capnos prior Plinij then this Camerarius Fumaria Clematites and Bauhinus Fumaria claviculis donata and is his sixt Fumaria and yet is the same with his second if there be not a greater and a lesser as some doe set it downe The seventh is the Radix Cava viridi flore of Lobel which although Bauhinus thought it to be referred to the Radix Cava as a sort thereof yet the roote sheweth it to belong unto the Capnos fabacea radice and so both his description and the title which afterward he amended do declare The Arabians call it Schehiterig and Sabeteregi The Italians Fumoterra the Spaniards Palamilha the French Fumoterre the Germanes Erdtrauch and Katzenkernel the Dutch Erdtrook and Duynekervel The Vertues By the bitternesse of common Fumiterry it is by diverse of the best moderne Writers held to be hot and not cold as diverse others from the Arabians have set downe and sharpenesse joyned therewith it doth open and clense and by the drienesse doth strengthen and binde after the clensing The juyce or syrupe made thereof or the decoction made in wheye by it selfe with some other purging or opening herbes and rootes to cause it worke the better it selfe being but weake is very effectuall for the liver and spleene opening the obstructions and clarifying the bloud from saltish cholericke and adust humors which is the cause of the lepry scabbes tetters and itches and other such like breakings out in the skinne and after the purging doth strengthen all the inward parts not leaving any evill qualitie behind it and therefore is reckoned a most safe remedy against all the diseases that rise from those
upon long foote stalkes each whereof are like unto the leaves of Cinkefoile or five leafed grasse but somewhat longer and lesser and dented about the edges many of them divided but into five leaves but most of them into seaven whereof it tooke the name Setfoile and standing round with the divisions like a starre and therefore called Stellaria yet some may have sixe and some eight as the fertilitie of the soile and nature list to worke at the toppes of the branches stand divers small yellow flowers consisting of five leaves like unto those of Cinkefoile but smaller the roote is smaller than Bistort somewhat thicke but blacker without and not so red within yet sometimes a little crooked having many blackish fibres thereat 2. Tormentilla Alpina major The greater Tormentill This Tormentill differeth not from the former but in the largenesse of the leaves and rootes which are much greater and redder and of a better sent in all things else agreeing with the former 3. Tormentillae argentea Silver leafed Tormentill This white Tormentill hath many short low and thicke spread reddish stalkes with leaves like unto a Cinkefoile but much smaller than the first and consisting of five leaves in many of them and sixe and seaven in most of them sometimes more being somewhat longer each of them set upon very long footestalkes greene on the upperside and of a silver shining white colour underneath smooth and not snipt at all about the edges the flowers are smaller than in the first by the halfe and of a white colour set about the stalkes at the toppes at severall distances and standing in small huskes wherein afterwards is contained small yellowish seede the 1. Tormentilla vulgaris Tormentill or Setfoile 3. Tormentilla argentea Silver leafed Tormentill roote is thicke and somewhat long joynted or knotted blackish on the outside and somewhat reddish within with many fibres thereat The Place The common sort groweth as well in woods and shadowie places as in the open champion countrie about the borders of fields in many places of this land The second groweth among the Helvetians or Switsers as also in the county of Tiroll the last groweth upon the Alpes in divers rockie or stony places as also upon the Pyrâ— Mountaines and among the Savoyards likewise The Time They doe all flower in the Sommer from the beginning to the end but the last is latest The Names It hath beene not set forth by any of the antient Greeke or Latine Writers yet it hath obtained a Greeke naâ—e from the forme 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heptaphyllum or Septifolium Setfoile or Seven leaves but not properly for they are not seaven leaves but the number is seven of the divisions of every leafe for to speake properly it is but one leafe cut into five or seven divisions and not seven leaves for this is a generall rule in all leaves whether of herbes or of trees that what leafe falleth away wholly together with his stalke and not in partes and at severall times is but one leafe whether winged as we call it as the leaves of the Ash tree the Elder the Wallnut tree Horse Chesnut Virginia Sumacke c. the great Centory Agrimony Danewort Parsnep Valerian the Trefoiles Cinkefoiles and this Setfoile in herbes for in all these and the like the whole stalke with the leaves falleth away together and not any part of those leaves at one time and part at another as in all other tree and herbes that have not winged divided leaves Although this narration be somewhat prolixe and extravagant yet I hope to some good purpose in regard the use thereof may be profitable to young Herbarists that know not or regarded not so much before the first is called Tormentilla vulgaris and of some Stellaria from the forme of the leaves and yet there are divers other herbes called Stellaria as shall be shewed in their places and some Consolida rubra from the efficacie and colour of the root The Second Camerarius in horto calleth Tormentilla Alpina and Bauhinus Tormentilla Alpina vulgaris major The last is very variably entituled by divers as Pentaphyllum argenteum of Anguillara Pentaphyllum Alpinum petrosum minimum by Lobel Pentaphyllum petraeum Alpinum of Tabermontanus Caesalpinus taketh it to be Alchimillae alterum genus and Clusius somewhat leaneth to that opinion yet calleth it Heptaphyllon Tragus taketh it to be the true Pentaphyllum of Dioscorides and Theophrastus because it is found as often almost to have but five leaves as seaven and Gesner in hortis Germaniae Argentarea petraea of Camerarius Stellaria argentea and Argentea Heptaphyllos montana and of Lugdunensis Tormentilla candida Dalechamâ— it is very likely to be the Pentapyllum lupini folium of Thalius in Harcynia sylva Bauhinus calleth it Tormentilla Alpina flore sericeo Some also doe thinke it is Chrysogonum of Dioscorides but thereof he hath but a very short description saying Crysogonon busheth thickely with Oaken leaves whose flower is very like unto Verbascum Coronarium the roote whereof is like a Turneppe very red within and blacke without but this herbe hath not leaves like an Oake neither is the flower of any such beauty or respect that it might be put into garlands as the Verbascum Coronarium which is thought to be the Lychinis Coronaria Rosecampion with the red flower a fit and usuall flower for garlands for no other Verbascum is knowne to be put to that use neither is the roote like a Turneppe whereby you may see what great difference there is betweene this and that But the true Chrysogonum of Dioscorides Ranwolfinus found among the corne fields not farre from Aleppo in Syria as Lugdunensis setteth it forth in his Appendix to the generall History of Plants and Pona also sheweth in his Italian description of Mount Baldus as you shall have it more fully in his proper place the Germans call it Blutwurtzell and Rotwortzell that is radix Sanguinaria and radix rubra and some after the Latine Tormentill as most of the other Nations doe The Vertues Tormentill is of the same temperature and qualitie that Bistort is which hath caused divers to account it a kinde thereof being cold in the second and drie in the third degree and therefore most excellent to stay all kindes of fluxes of bloud or humors in man or woman whether at the nose mouth belly or any wound in the veines of any where else the juyce of the herbe or roote taken in drinke not only resisteth all poyson or venome of any creature but of the plague and pestilence it selfe and pestilentiall feavers and infectious diseases as the pockes measells purples c. by expelling the venome and infection from the heart by sweating if the greene roote is not at hand or not to be had readily the powder of the drie roote is as effectuall to the purposes aforesaid to take a dramme thereof every morning the decoction likewise of the herbes and rootes made in wine and drinke worketh
fourth in Hungary and Austria The fifth and sixth in Candy The seaventh and tenth in Spaine The eighth and ninth on the hils in the Kingdome of Naples as Columna reporteth The eleventh and twelfth in Candy The Time They all flower in Sommer and their seede is quickely ripe after The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Echium 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Alcibiadion and Alcibion or Alcibiacum of the first finder thereof who being bitten by a Viper gathered this herbe and chewing it and swallowing downe the juice and applying the rest of the herbe to the bitten place freed himselfe from danger Apuleius saith it was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 theriorrhizon Viperee radix and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the forme of the seede which as Dioscorides saith is like the head of a Viper and thereof tooke the name Echium yet some others say from the effects in the rootes to cure the bitings of the Viper in Latine also Echium of most Authours yet of some Buglossum silvestre viperinum Serpentaria and some also tooke it for Anchusa as Thalius and Caesalpinus and under that name saith the seede of the Candy sorts were sent him Cordus on Dioscorides called the first Lycopsis and Lonicerus Buglossum sylvestre Camerarius and Matthiolus mention the second Clusius the third fourth fifth and sixth and the seventh in his Curae posteriores Columna the eighth and ninth and Bauhinus the tenth under their severall titles as they are here expressed the two last by Alpinus in his booke de plantis exoticis It is called of the Italians Echis and Buglossa Salvatica Of the Spaniards Yerva di las bivoras Of the French Borrache sauuage and L'herbe aux viperes Of the Germans wild ocksen song Of the Dutch men wild ossentonghe In English wild Buglosse and Vipers Buglosse The Vertues It is as you have heard by the first finder out of it an especiall remedy against the biting of the Viper and of all other Serpents or venemous creatures as also against poyson and poysonfull herbes it is added further by Dioscorides and others that whosoever shall take of the herbe or roote before they be bitten shall not be hurt by the poyson of any Serpent And I thinke from this and some other the like qualities in herbes to heale the diseases whereof some forme may be seene in them hath come the application of many other whose formes have beene imagined to have beene found in them which they call Signaturae plantarum whereof Crollius in his Basilica chymica hath given demonstration of all the parts of the body from the head to the foote and moreover of many the diseases of the body and of divers other things whereof they that will reade his worke may be better informed that desire the knowledge thereof the rootes or seedes are thought to be most effectuall for the foresaid causes as also to comfort the heart and to expell sadnesse and causelesse Melancholy it tempers the blood and allayes the hot fits of agues the seede drunke in wine procureth aboundance of milke in womens brests the same also being taken easeth the paines in the loines backe and kidneies the distilled water of the herbe when it is in his chiefest strength that is in flower is excellent to be applyed inwardly or outwardly for all the griefes aforesaid There is a syrupe made hereof very effectuall for the comforting of the heart and expelling sadnesse and melancholly which is made in this manner Take of the clarified juice of the common wilde or Vipers Buglosse foure pound of fine Sugar three pound of the infusion of the flowers thereof one pound boyle these gently unto the consistence of a syrupe which keepe by you to use as you shall have cause But because it is somewhat hard to presse forth this juice by reason of the sliminesse thereof it is fit that after you have beaten the herbe well you set it close covered in a cold cellar or other cold and moist place for two daies and nights and then wring or presse forth the juice and clarifie it with the whites of egges beaten and passed gently of it selfe through a thicke Hippocras bagge and because many know not how to make the infusion before spoken of rightly as it should be it is thus Gather of the flowers of the said wild Buglosse a good quantity which you shall put into a pot with some water being made boyling hot aforehand stoppe the pot close untill it be cold and then wring forth the infusion you may renew the infusion by putting in fresh flowers as before once or twice more if you will have it strong of the flowers CHAP. XXX Fraxinella sive Diptamnus albus False white Dittany I Have given you the descriptions of all the sorts of false Bastard Dittany or white Dittany in my former Booke whereunto I referre you I shall onely here exhibite the figure and amplifie the Vertues Fraxinella may more fitly be called false white Dittany then bastard Dittany because there is one already set forth in the first Tribe or Classis by the name of Pseudodictamnus Bastard Dittany least two herbes should be called by one name and then neither should be well understood when they were called for distinct epithites is most requisite therefore to avoid confusion The Vertues The false white Dittany then is heating and drying the rootes which are most in use doe attenuate or make thin grosse humours it openeth obstructions provoketh the menstrnes and urine and clenseth that which is foule and contagious It is very effectually both against poyson and the venome of Serpents and other poysonfull creatures and against the pestilence and other contagious diseases to take a dramme or two of the powder of the roote in wine or broth the same also taken killeth the wormes of the belly breaketh the stone causing it to avoid in the urine it warmeth and cleanseth the matrixe expelleth the dead childe and after-birth if the part be fumigated with it and Penniroyall or taken in Wine it easeth the paines and torments in the inward parts or bowels and healeth inward hurts and wounds it is much commended against the Epilepsie or falling sicknesse and other cold griefes of the head and braines and is hel◠to be of great good use against the French disease to use it with the decoction of Guaiacum Fraxinella vulgaris The most common false white Dittany CHAP. XXXI Galega Goats Rue BEcause this herbe is so effectuall against all infections 1. Galega sive Ruta Capraria Goats Rue I could do no lesse then insert it here and take it from the other leguminous plants where it might be placed which otherwise I would not have done and hereunto I must adjoyne another for the neerenesse both for forme and vertues 1. Galega vulgaris Common Goats Rue The common or most usuall Goats Rue sendeth forth many round hard stalkes foure or five foote high whereon
grow one above another at severall joynts long winged leaves that is many leaves set on each side of a middle ribbe which are small yet somewhat broad and long and pointed at the end smooth on the edges without any dentes somewhat like unto the leaves of Vitches and of a faint greene colour at the toppes of the stalkes stand many small Leguminous flowers one above another of a pale blewish purple colour and in some plants pure white after which come small round pods about an inch and a halfe long a little bunched out in some places but nothing so much as the Orobus or bitter Vetch wherein lie three or foure or five small pale seede like unto a Vetch the roote is white and wooddy spreading well in the ground and abiding divers yeares 2. Galega montana Dalechampij Mountaine Goats Rue This other Goats Rue shooteth forth divers round hard stalkes nothing so high as the former whereon groweth such a like winged leafe at every joynt but broader and thicker set together smooth also on the edges but having the middle ribbe of every leafe raised up a little high at the toppe of the stalkes stand divers such like flowers as the former but all on one side of a pale colour tending to yellow which afterward yeeld small long blackish pods wherein lie small flattish seede like unto Lentills the roote is somewhat great and blacke sending forth very long strings whereby it fasteneth it selfe deepe in the ground The Place The first groweth commonly wilde by the way sides of moist fields and medowes both in Italy Savoy and other places as also found of late growing wilde in the Medowes by Linton in Cambridge shire the other not but upon the toppes of mountaines where any plaines are found The Time They flower in the end of Iune and Iuly and the seede is ripe in August The Names This herbe hath not beene knowne to the ancient Authors and therefore hath no name but is usully called in Latine Galega or Ruta Capraria for they that first found it and the vertues gave that name of Ruta thereunto as finding it no lesse effectuall than the best Rue some call it Gralega and some Herba Gallica as Fracastorius and of some Capraria the Florentines call it Lavanese in other parts of Italy it hath divers other names as Gesner saith Castracane Lavanna Thorina or Taurina Martanica Sarracena Capragina Herbanese and Giarga as Brasavolus saith Some with us call it Italian Vetch but most commonly Goates Rue The other Lugdunensis calleth Galega montana and Bauhinus referreth it to the Orobus Pannonicus of Clusius which it cannot be for he saith it perisheth every yeare and also to the Arachus latifolius of Dodonaeus which it cannot be neither for Dodonaeus saith his Arachus is called of divers Ervum Venetum which differeth little or nothing at all from Clusius his first Orobus Pannonicus so that in this as in very many other things he is much mistaken The Vertues Goates Rew is most effectuall against the bitings or stings of any venemous creature yea those Italians and others as Pena and Lobel say that use to gather Vipers which are certainely Adders with us by the judgement of the best doe account it more effectuall to preserve them being bitten or stung than any Treakle of the best making or to defend them from any other infection and therefore eare it continually as other herbes in sallets or otherwise in their meates and brothes It is no lesse powerfull and effectuall against poison then the plague or pestilence or any infectious or pestilentious fevers or diseases that breake forth into spots or markes as the measells purples and the small pocks in all which it is admirable what effects it worketh both to preserve from the infection and to cure them that are infected to take every morning some of the juice thereof as also to eate the herbe it selfe every morning fasting but it will be the more effectuall if the juice be taken with a little good Treakle and some Tormentill rootes in powder mixed with Cardus benedictus water or with some vinegar and fine Bolearmonicke and Treakle in the said water and presently to sweat two houres thereupon which it causeth also in some sort it selfe and may be used as well when any is infected as when any feare themselves to be infected with the plague a spoonefull also of the juice given in a morning fasting is very effectuall to kill the wormes in children or the herbe it selfe fried with a little oyle of bitter Almons and laid hot unto the navell as also to helpe the falling sicknesse before it grow strong and old upon them it is very profitably applied to the belly pained with gripings of winde and the collicke being fried and laid to warme in the same manner also laid upon plague sores before they be broken either disperseth them yet defending the heart not striking it inwardly or draweth them forth and healeth them it is also effectually applied with vinegar to gangrene◠running ulcers and sores to stay the malignitie of them in their fretting and spreading and to defend the vital spirits from danger it is held also to be very cordiall to preserve the heart from palpitations tremblings and swounnings and against melancholike vapours oppressing it Some use a Syrupe made of the juice and some of the distilled water as a more familiar medecine to take upon all occasions inwardly for all the purposes aforesaid and some use to make an oyle of the flowers digested in the Sun by often repetitions of infusion to make the wrests of the hands where the pulse is felt as also the region of the heart to defend it from the diseases aforesaid and danger of infection it is no lesse effectuall for Sheepe Goates and Cattle for from the experience of Goat-heards therein came the name of Capraria added unto it it fatteneth hennes also wonderfully and causeth them to lay egges the more plentifully The other Mountaine Goates Rew is held also almost as effectuall against poyson and infection of the plague as the other CHAP. XXXII Phalangium Spiderwort THere are divers sorts of Spiderworts some of antient knowledge others of later accesse of all which I have given the descriptions in my former Book which although I meane not to repeate here again yet I thinke it not amisse both to give you some of their names figures and to set downe their vertues It is thought it tooke the name 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phalangium and Phalangites from the forme of the seede vessells others from the forme of the leaves like to that Spiders legges in going but more certainely I thinke from the propertie of curing the dangerous poison of that great Spider For which purpose both Dioscorides and Galen doe commend the flowers leaves and seedes of it as also against the verulencie of Scorpions and other Serpents and to discusse the torments that rise from their hurts or
of Saxifrage whatsoever to clense the reynes and bladder and to dissolve the stone engendered in them and to expell it and the gravell by urine to provoke urine also abundantly being stopped and to helpe the strangury or pissing by droppes for which purposes the decoction of the herbe or rootes in white wine or the powder of the small kernelly rootes which is called the seede taken in white wine or in the same decoction made with white wine is most usuall The distilled water of the whole herbe rootes and flowers as it is effectuall in a manner so it is much more familiar to be taken of any that hath neede thereof it provoketh also womens courses and freeth and clenseth the stomacke and lungs from thicke and tough flegme that troubleth it and causeth it the more easily to be avoided CHAP. II. Saxifraga alba Petraea White Rocke Saxifrage THis white Rocke or Mountaine Saxifrage I have joyned next unto the former for the neare affinitie it hath therewith It sendeth forth from a small long reddish roote with some fibres thereat divers somwhat hairy leaves longer deepelier cut in on the edgds than those of the former among which riseth up a brownish hairy stalke about a foote and a halfe high stored with branches from the bottome to the toppe at the ends whereof stand the flowers in greene huskes consisting of five very white leaves a peece having some yellowish threds in the middle standing about a head or umbell which in time growing to be the seede vessell hath divers small seede Saxifraga alba petraea White Rocke Saxifrage contained within it the taste of the leaves are sweetish at the first but a little sharpe afterwards The Place It groweth on Mount Baldus not farre from Verona in the territory of the Venetians The Time This flowreth in the naturall places in the end of Iune and the seede is ripe soone after and perisheth wholly afterwards The Names It is called by Pona who set forth the description of Mount Baldus and what plants doe grow in every part thereof by the name of Saxifragia alba petraea but Bauhinus according to his usuall manner in all things almost that may be altered doth vary the name twise calling it first in his Phytopinax Alfine Tridactylites Alpina but afterwards in his Pinax changing his former minde calleth it Sedum tridactylites Alpinum majus album and none of them both in my opinion answerable to so famous an Herbarists judgement as to referre them to such plants as yeeld so small likenesse for unto the Alfines whereunto I said he referred it at the first but disclaimeth it afterwards although it may seeme to have some resemblance in the white flowers yet the leaves and other parts thereof withstandeth that comparison and unto any kinde or sort of Sedum it hath in my judgement farre lesse correspondencie which sheweth a strong conceit in him beyond compare to make his later opinion worse than the former which as is judged in most should be more considerate and exact but surely I thinke it doth so nearely resemble as I said before the former white Saxifrage both in forme and qualitie that it is most fitly to be referred unto it and unto no other plant so likely the chiefe differences consisting in the forme of the branches leaves and rootes as you may plainely perceive both by the discription and figure The Vertues It hath no doubt the same properties that the former hath both the name arguing it and the likenesse of face in growing not reclaiming and the taste especially whereby the qualitie is chiefely discerned answering thereunto and although there is not any authorities extant to warrant this my conceit yet those foreremembred conditions therein may plead a strong perswasion of veritie and untill it be contradicted by sufficient triall and experience to be otherwise I hold it may passe for currant as a Saxifrage CHAP. III. Saxifraga aurea Golden Saxifrage GOlden Saxifrage is a small low herbe having many Saxifraga aurea Golden Saxifrage round leaves lying on the ground bluntly endented about the edges somewhat like the former common Saxifrage but not hairy somewhat thicker also and of a darker greene colour among which rise up divers slender and weake stalkes little above a hand bredth high with such like leaves on them as grow below up to the toppes where among the leaves come forth very small gold yellow flowers not easily observed and falling away so quickly that they are so seldome seene with them and after they are past there appeare in their places small round heads wherein is contained small round reddish seede the roote is composed of a number of small strings or fibres the whole plant is almost insipide or without taste but nothing hot that it may be judged to be effectuall to dissolve or expell the stone The Place It alwayes groweth in moist places by Well sides or other standing and sometimes running waters and sometimes also in moorish grounds as about Tidnaham in the Forrest of Deane at Ashford and Iden in Kent at Chepstow in Essex and in divers other places The Time It flowreth in May and sometimes in Aprill but abideth greene all the rest of the yeare and perisheth not like the last The Names It is called Saxifraga aurea of most Writers from the forme of the leaves and colour of the flowers scarse any well knowing whereunto better to referre it Lobel from the naturall place of the growing and insipidity of the taste calleth it Lichenis facie natalitijs and Besteris that set forth the huge great booke of the Bishop of Eystot his garden following Lobel calleth it Hepatica palustriâ— Tabermontanus calleth it Chrysosplenium Vlisses Aldroandus tooke it to be a kinde of Erysinum but farre unlikely The Vertues The insipide taste as I said before doth not argue any certaine effect or property to worke upon the stone or gravell either to dissolve or expell it unlesse it be by some specificall or hidden property therein yet assuredly it could not in my opinion have received the name of a Saxifrage among so many authors without some proper effect therefore which rose no doubt from some Empyricall observation and practise which gave it both the name and the opinion unlesse it might from the likenesse of the leaves as I said before judged which because I cannot maintaine nor disprove I leave it for others to disprove if they can CHAP. IV. Saxifraga vera Dioscoridis Matthioli Matthiolus his true Saxifrage of Dioscorides THe true Saxifrage of Dioscorides according to the judgement of Matthiolus and others from whom he received it is a small low shrubby Plant that sendeth forth divers small wooddy and somewhat hairy stalkes full of joynts close set one unto another having divers small short and whitish narrow leaves growing divers together at every joynt at the toppe whereof come forth very small purplish white flowers set with some leaves under them this doth somewhat resemble Time both in the
Wellingborough in Northamptonshire the fourth and fifth in Candy the sixth and seaventh in Naples and the last in Bavaria They all flower late The Names Lobel and Pena say that the third Saxifrage of Matthiolus which some call magna Matthioli and others major Italorum is the same which they have set forth in the first place in their Adversaria although it grow not so great and entitle it also Saxifraga antiquiorum but I enterposed my opinion of that in the last Chapter but Bauhinus supposeth them to be two severall plants calling that of Matthiolus Caryophyllus Saxifragus and that of Lobel Caryophyllus Saxifragus strigosior the second is a species as Lobel thinketh of the former as is said in the description and commeth nearest to the second sort of Candy Saxifrage but differing in the flowers yet Lobel doubteth if it may not be a kinde of Chickeweede but sure he need not doubt it nor that it was Synanchice Dalechampij The third here expressed commeth nere likewise unto Columna his first Neapolitane Saxifrage but that ours groweth in morish and his in rocky places and that the flowers of his have but foure leaves and ours five round pointed and his sharpe Alpinus maketh mention of the Candy kindes and Columna of the Neapolitane which he entitleth Alsme Saxifraga mantana maritina the last Camerarius and Pona call Saxifraga Bavarica but Bauhinus putteth a doubt or quaere whether it be not the Saxifraga magna Matthioli when as Pona in the description of mount Baldus mentioneth the magna Matthioli in divers places thereof and describeth and giveth the figure of Bavarica distinctly The vertues The Italians doe wonderfully extoll with praises the vertues of their Saxifrages and so doe the Candiots and Neapolitanes likewise to breake and dissolve the stone in the reines and kidneies and bladder and to procure urine and to confirme the truth thereof Matthiolus saith he received from Calzolarius an Apothecary of Vecâ— such great stones of sundry persons that were voided in making of their urine that it could hardly be beleeved that they could passe through the pipes from the bladder to give him knowledge how powerfull in operation these are that can expell the stone in the kidnies and bladder be they never so great the other Saxifrages except the third have the same properties taken in wine or in a draught of the decoction of them with Quich grasse rootes doth effectually performe as much as the former to dissolve and breake the stone CHAP. VI. Gramen Parnassi vulgare The common grasse of Parnassus THis Grasse of Parnassus hath many leaves rising from the roote not altogether round but ending in a point smaller and thicker than Violet leaves with many ribbes or long veines in them of a fresh greene colour every one standing on a long foote stalke among which there ariseth divers slender weake stalkes scarse a foote high and scarse able to stand upright whereon grow at the severall joynts such like leaves but smaller without any foote stalke but having the stalke joyning so close to it that it seemeth almost to runne through it the toppes of the stalkes are naked and bare of leaves unto the flowers for a good way which are white and consist of five leaves standing round and in the middle a small round greene head or button with some yellow threds about them which in time growing to be ripe is a round button wherein is contained small reddish seede the roote is a small blackish threddy bush of fibres not perishing as divers of the former doe Gramen Parnassi duplicato flore Double flowred Grasse of Parnassus This is in all things like the former saving in the flower which hath a row of smaller leaves within the other outermost which maketh a shew of the double flower this seldome giveth any seede as the former The Place The first groweth in many moist moorish grounds in England as in the Moores neere Lynton and Cambridge at Hesset and Drinkestone in Suffolke in the Butchers close thereby in a Medow close on the backeside of the Parsonage house of Burton and at the bottome of Barton hills in Beafordshire as also in the middle of the great Towne-field of Hadington which is about a mile from Oxford and on the other side of Oxford in the pasture next unto Botley in the high way The other was found in the country of Brabant The Time They flower not untill about Saint James tide and the seede is ripe a moneth after The Names It is called Gramen Parnassi and judged by most to be the right Gramen Parnassi of Dioscorides although Gesner in hortis Germaniae saith that the right is not knowne to any in our dayes but saith withall that the Polonians doe call it Euneadynamis It is very probable that this herbe grew most plentifully upon Mount Parnassus whereon cattell feeding became fat and well liking as our Clover or three leaved grasse doth with us and thereupon took the name as is usuall in divers countries to call herbes by the name of Grasse although they have no likenesse with Grasse indeede and this may answer Mr. Gerards finding fault with the name of Parnassus Grasse Cordus Gramen Parnassi flore simplici Singlâ— Parnassus Grrsse Gramen Parnassi duplici Double flowred Parnassus Grasse in his history of plants calleth it Hepatica alba Gesner in Collectione stirpium Vnifolium palustre Lobel calleth it Gramen Parnassi hederaceum recentiorum Tabermontanus Gramen hederaceum and Flos hepaticus The other is called by Lobel Gramen Parnassi duplicato flore The Vertues Paulus Aegineta saith that Parnassus grasse is temperately cold of thinne parts and somewhat sowre the juice of the herbe or the decoction thereof or of the rootes doth dissolve and expell stones and gravell from the reines and bladder gathered therein and provoketh urine aboundantly and the seede thereof taken in powder worketh more forcibly then either the herbe or roote and withall doth stay any vomitings from the stomacke and any fluxe of the belly the decoction of the rootes made with wine being drunke doth ease torments and griping paines in the bowels and the ulcers that are in the bladder it helpeth also against the biting of any venemous beast the juice of the herbe or roote is good to coole any inflammation or heate in the eyes to dry up the running or watering in them and to cleare them from mistinesse or cloudy skinns that obscure the sight if it be mixed with a little hony and dropped into them it is held also effectuall to ease the toothache being gargled in the mouth the herbe or roote or seede either the juice decoction or powder is very effectually applyed to close up greene wounds that are much subject to bleeding and restraineth inflammations that may disease the party or hinder the cure CHAP. VII Lachryma Iob. Iobs Teares I Have thought good to place this plant in a Chapter by it selfe and not with the kindes of Gromel
Echium minus Lithospermo congener of Gesner in his Appendix the Anchusa arvensis alba of Thalius and Lithospermum arvense radice rubra of Bauhinus who likewise saith it is the Lithospermum nigrum of Lugdunensis but surely either Lugdunensis is much mistaken in his description and figure or Bauhinus in his reference and opinion for Lugdunensis describeth it and so the figure expresseth to have many small leaves set together at spaces about the stalkes like as a small Madder hath which doth not correspond with any Lithospermum The seaventh Tragus and Camerarius call Passerina and Lingua Passerina and thereupon may be called Sparrw-wort as well as small Gromell with flaxen leaves and is the fourth Lithospermum of Dodonaeus the Passerina herbariorum uni caulis of Lobel and Pena Lingua passerina of Tabermontanus Passerina Linaria of Gerard reckoning it with the Linaria's Bauhinus calleth it Lithospermon Linariae folio Germanicum and referreth it also unto the Linaria altera botryodes montana of Fabius Columna whose description and figure in my judgement doth utterly disclaime it the last he calleth Lithospermum linariae folio Monspeliacum and Lobel and Lugdunensis Lithospermum linariae folio The Vertues The three first kindes are hot and dry in the second degree as all diureticke things for the most part are and are both most and I thinke onely used the rest either not at all or very seldome which if they should they are not found to be halfe so effectuall as any of them which are accounted to be of as singular force to breake the stone and to avoid it and the gravell engendred either in the reines or bladder as also to provoke urine being stoppeâ— and to helpe the strangury or making of water by drops as any other herbe or seede whatsoever the seede is of greatest use and chiefly used to be bruised and boyled in white wine or in broth or the like or the powder of the seede taken in white wine or in broth or the like as a barley creame or Amond milke made with the kernells of the foure greater cold seedes and the seedes of Gromell boyled in the Barly-water is both a pleasant safe and effectuall medicine for the stone to be drunk in the morning fasting for three dayes together when you are troubled with the fits thereof this is probatum upon divers Matthiolus saith that if a dramm and a halfe of the seed of each of the Gromells the greater and the lesser he meaneth halfe a dramme of Spleenwort or Miltwast and two scruâ—ples of white Amber being all made into powder mixed together and taken for many dayes together fasting is the juice of Plantane Purslane and Lettice is singular good to helpe the Gonorhaea or running of the reines two drammes also of the seede in powder taken with womens breasts milke is very effectuall to procure a speedy â—livery to such women as have sore paines in their travaile and cannot be delivered for with this onely medicine saith Matthiolus he hath holpen many women in those cases the herbe it selfe when the seede is not to be had â—ther boyled or the juice thereof drunk is effectual to all the purposes aforesaid but not so powerful or speedy in operation the decoction also to be bathed or fomented as also to sit in is much commended for an outward remedy CHAP. IX Filipendula Filipipendula or Droppewort OF this Filipipendula or Droppewort there hath beene formerly knowne but one kind Lugdunensis setteth forth one greater and Bauhinus hath added thereunto another much lesser Dodonaeâ— Lobel and others have called another plant Filipendula montana which Clusius calleth Alectorolophos Alpina as a species thereof but I dare not allow of their opinions therein not finding them to agree in rootes or flowers or seede and but a little in leaves I will therefore speake in this Chapter of the ordinary sorts and of the others in the next but for the Oenanthes as they are so called and by that name knowne to us in these dayes because they be rather umbelliferous plants I thinke it fitter to speake of them in that Classis of umbelliferous plants with the other Saxifrages that are of that Tribe then joyne them together with these 1. Filipendula vulgaris Common or ordinary Filipendula This Filipendula shooteth forth divers long winged leaves that is many small leaves some bigger and some lesser set on each side of a middle ribbe and each of them dented about the edges somewhat resembling Burner and wild Tansy or rather Agrimony or betweene them all but harder in handling among which leaves ariseth up one or more stalkes two or three foote high having some such leaves thereon as grow below and sometimes also divided into other branches spreading at the toppe into many white sweete smelling flowers consisting of five leaves a peece with some threds in the middle of them standing together in a tuft or umbell each upon a small footestalke which after they have abiden a good while open and blowne doe fall away and in their places appeare small round chaffy heads like buttons wherein are the chaffy seed set and placed the roote consisteth of many small blacke tuberous peeces fastened together by many small long blackish strings which runne from one unto another 2. Filipendula altera major Another great Filipendula This other Filipendula is so like the former in the leaves that it can scarse be discerned from the other the flowers at the toppe of the stalke are of a white enclining to a purple made of five leaves a peece like the other after which the heads beare round and blackish seede within them the rootes are very many and somewhat longer and whiter enclining to rednesse but fastned together by long strings and fibres as the former 3. Filipendula minor Small Filipendula The small Filipendula hath two or three such like leaves as the former rising from the roote but much smaller and more neerely resembling the wild Tansy leaves but not white as they are but of the same darke greene colour with the former from among which the stalke that is scarse an handbredth high ariseth up sometimes without division therein and sometimes also parted into two or three other branches whereon stand many smaller white sweeter flowers then the former but with threds therein like them and set together in an umbell in the same manner after which come the seede many set together formed almost like unto a small bunch of grapes the rootes are many and glandulous or tuberous like the former but smaller and redder yet tyed together by strings like them The Place The first is common in many places of this Land as well upon and about St. Vincents rocke by Bristow and neare Sion in the meddow there as also in the corners of dry fields and meddowes and their hedges sides the second as Lugdunensis saith groweth on the toppes of very cold mountaines the last was found in the stony rough grounds about Mompelier
whole plant both leaves flowers and seede are of a strong and grievous sent and of a very sharpe and quicke taste 3. Camphoratae congener sive Anthyllis altera Italorum Ground Pine not stinking The other Ground Pine that smelleth not so strong as the former sorts doe groweth upright in the same manner with divers upright slender stalkes and many small leaves set at the joynts some of them being longer and some shorter then others all covered with a small woollinesse the flowers are very small standing many together at the toppes of the branches of a pale yellowish colour and of an astringent and drying taste The Place The first groweth neare unto Mompelier and Nemausium especially out of the rifts and chinkes of the old walls of the Amphitheater there and seldome in any other part of France or Italy as Pena saith yet Lugdunensis saith it prospereth better in fertile and moyst places then in such as are barren and dry The second groweth both in sandy dry grounds and in rotten moorish grounds likewise The last groweth in many places of Italy but whether naturally of that country or no is not signified but they there keepe it in their gardens where most usually it is to be seene The Time All these flower very late or not at all with us and are very hardly preserved in the winter being tender comming from so hot and dry places The Names None of these plants were knowne to the antient writers eyther Greekes or Latines by any the names of their herbes knowne to us now a dayes the name Camphorata is taken from Camphora because the sent is thought to be so like unto Camfire as divers doe imagine but surely then it smelleth otherwise in the hotter countries then they doe in ours for with us the former two have a grievous heady sent yet nothing so fierce and quicke in my judgement as Camfire is Anguillara first and others afterwards as also Pena and Lobel referre the former unto the Chamaepeuce of Pliny whereof he maketh mention in his 24. Booke and 15. Chapter saying that Chamaepeuce hath leaves like unto the Larche tree but Lugdunensis saith that divers did rather referre this to the Selago of the sayd Pliny mentioned in his 24. Booke and 11. Chapter where he saith that Selago is like unto Savine Divers also tooke it to bee the Cneorum nigrum of Dioscorides and Theophrastus but the learned of Mempelier called it Camphorata major and so doth Lobel call it Camphorata Monspeliensium Bauhinus calleth it Camphorata hirsuta when as according to Lugdunensis his description the roughnesse belongeth rather to the second in the stalkes and leaves and not unto this first Divers also tooke it to bee Ericae prius genus a kind of Heath others to be Hyssopus nemorensis and some also to be that Musci terrestris genus that Tragus doth set forth by the name of Sabina sylvestris Our London dispensatorie or pharmacopaeia Londinensis in the description of Vnguentum Marciatum maketh Camphorata to be Abrotanum which is utterly untrue yet I think it may very well be the substitute or succedanium thereof for that oyntment and Lugdunensis also saith that divers did referre the second which he calleth Champhorata minor Dalechampij to the Chamaepeuce of Pliny aforesaid but Bauhinus calleth it Camphorata glabra as though this were smooth which as I sayd before is contrary The last is called Anthyllis altera by Anguillara and others The learned in Italy as Lobel in his observations saith referre it to the second sort of Anthyllis of Dioscorides but because as he there saith it is not sweet as that second Anthyllis of Dioscorides should be hee doth rather judge the Iva Moschata Monspeliensium to be the truer Anthyllis altera then this Anthyllis Italorum Gerard hath much erred in calling this Anthyllis lentifolia and yet his figure doth expresse this Anthyllis Italorum and not Anthyllis lentifolia although his description doth Bauhinus calleth it as Lobel and others before him have done Camphoratae congener Tabermontanus Camphorata altera The Vertues These herbes are all of them of a drying faculty and are very profitably used inwardly to stay defluxions from the head that fall into the eyes and upon the Lungs and outwardly in bathes to stay running humours that rest in the joynts as the Goute Crampes Palsies and Aches it is no lesse effectuall for the Nerves and Sinewes to comfort and strengthen them to be made into a salve or oyntment and is availeable both in fresh wounds and old running ulcers and sore and therefore divers doe account it of the same propertie with Southernwood for all the purposes whereunto it is used CHAP. XLIX Coris The faire Heath Low Pine THere are three sorts of herbes called Coris the one Matthiolus first set forth and made knowne the other Honorius Bellus of Candy and Pena and Lobel set out the last which are as followeth 1. Coris Matthioli Matthiolus his faire Heath Low Pine This springeth up to the height of a foote or more with divers hard wooddy reddish stalkes full of joynts and many small and long thicke fat leaves set together at every of them somewhat like unto the Spergula or Francke Spurry at the toppes of the stalkes stand divers flowers each of them upon a short foote stalke consisting of five or sixe leaves somewhat like unto Hypericum S. Iohns woâ— or Ornithogalum Starre of Bethelem as Lobel compareth them but of a whitish red colour with yellow threds in the middle yet Matthiolus and others say the flowers are all yellow like Hipericum smelling somewhat sweete the seede is enclosed in round heads the roote is somewhat long and wooddy with many threddy fibres thereat this keepeth his greene leaves all the winter but turne somewhat of a yellowish red colour towards Autumne or seede time 2. Coris legitima Cretica Belli The Candye faire Heath Low Pine This Candiot as Bellus saith groweth to be a cubit and a halfe high in good ground branching forth many wayes and bearing many small leaves like unto Heath on the woody stalkes and branches the flowers at the toppes are not unlike to S. Iohns wort and yellow which passe into seede enclosed in huskes like it also the roote is long spreading and wooddy abiding with greene leaves thereon all the winter 3. Coris Monspeliensium The purple faire Heath Low Pine This faire Heath Low Pine riseth up likewise with many round wooddy and reddish stalkes not so high as the former having many small long thick roundish leaves set thereon without order most commonly yet sometimes conformable one unto another somewhat like unto the great kinde of Heath the tops of the stalkes are stored with a great spiked tuft or bush of purplish blew flowers but pale red with us smelling somewhat sweete each consisting of foure leaves a peece double forked as it were at the ends two whereof that stand uppermost are greater than the other two that are
most nor standing fully upright but leaning downewards with small narrow smooth leaves and small yellow flowers 4. Hypericum numulariae folio Round leafed S. Iohns wort This little S. Iohns wort is as small an herbe as the last whose small reddish square branches rise no higher than it having two leaves set one against another at every joynt up to 7. Hypericum frutescens Americanum flore albo Indian S. Iohns wort with white flowers the toppes and are almost round like unto Money-wort or hearbe two pence of a darke or sad greene on the upperside and whitish underneath spotted sometimes with reddish spotts and strakes the flowers are of a paler yellow colour than the former but somewhat large in comparison of the plant with divers yellow threds in the middle the roote is small and long 5. Hypericum tomentosum majus Hispanicum Great woolly S. Iohns wort The greater woolly S. Iohns wort hath divers hayrie whitish woolly branches lying upon the ground and shooting forth fibres very thicke set with such like leaves as the Common S. Iohns wort hath but hoarie white and woolly at the joynts towards the toppes and at the toppes also stand paler and smaller flowers than in the common after which come seede vessels like unto the other sorts and so is the seede and wooddy roote 6. Hypericum supinum tomentosum minus Small creeping Woolly S. Iohns wort The lesser woolly S. Iohns wort is in most things like the greater but that it is smaller the branches having the woolly leaves not so thicke set together smaller and rounder than the former 7. Hypericum frutescens Americanum flore albo Indian S. Iohns wort with white flowers The Indian S. Iohns wort riseth up with sundry wooddy stems almost to a mans height covered with a whitish barke from whence spring on all sides divers branches set thicke with greene leaves narrow below and broad and round at the ends sometimes 2 or 3 at a place from which joynts also rise divers white flowers made of foure leaves a peece the leaves fall away every yeere and rise againe in the spring the wooddy stems abiding The Place The first foure sorts grow in woods and copses as well those that are shadie as open to the sunne the fift Clusius found in Salamanca and Valentia in Spaine the sixt likewise is often found in our Country as well on dry barren grounds as in moorish and wet fields the last was brought from the North-west parts of America The Time They doe all flower about Midsommer and in Iuly and some of them later and their seede is ripe in the end of Iuly and August for the most part The Names It called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hypericon which the Latines doe retaine and yet some have called it Fugadaemonum superstitiously imagining that it will drive away devills and some call it Perforata or Porosa from the many small holes are to be seene in the leaves but we finde that in Dioscorides his time the name Hypericum was given unto five severall hearbs that is to Ruta sylvestris Onobrychis Hypericum Ascyrum and Coris as in his Commentaries is extant to be seene and concerning this Hypericum also he saith that in his time it was called Androsaemum of the bloody colour the flowers yeeld and Chamaepytis of the resinous sent of the seede and heads and yet all these herbes are severally described by Dioscorides in severall chapters of his Commentaries Marcellus Florentinus from the Greeke word Leucâ—ion in the text of Dioscorides whereunto he compareth the flowers of Hypericum would thereupon interpret the flowers thereof to be white and Plinye also mistaking the Greeke word in Dioscorides as it is very frequent in him where Dioscorides compareth the seede vessels of Hypericum unto a barly corne that is somewhat long and round he saith that the seede ripeneth at the time when as barly is ripe The Arabians call it Reofricon Reiofaricon and as others have it Hensericou Nelifricon the Italians Hyperico parforata herba di San Giouainni the Spaniards Coraconcillâ— the French Mille pertuis Tourcheron the Germanes S. Iohanskraut and Harthaâ— the Dutch S. Iohns cruiit and we in English S. Iohns wort The first is generally now adayes by all authors taken to be the true Hypericon of Dioscorides as both the bloody colour of the flowers and the resinous sent of the heads and seede thereof doe declare being two principall notes thereof the second is thought to be Hypericum pulchrum of Tragus and the smaller sort of Thalius I cannot otherwise thinke but that it is also the Hypericum Syriacum of Lobel for such a one hath beene found in many places of this Land with many small leaves set at a joynt in the same manner Bauhinus calleth it Hypericum minus erectum as I doe in the title yet he maketh Lobel his Syriacum to be another sort the third is the Hypericum exignum of Tragus the Hypericum minus of Gesner and Dodonaeus Hypericum minimum supinum Septentrionale of Lobel and the Hypericum supinum tertium minimum of Clusius which Bauhinus calleth Hypericum minus supinum vel supinum glabrum the fourth is as I take it the Hypericum tertium of Tragus which Bauhinus in his Pinax maketh his second sort and describeth it in his Prodromus under the same name in the title the fift Clusius calleth Hypericum supinum tomentosum Hispanicum which as he saith Iohannes Plasa of Valentia called Ruta sylvestris of Dioscorides but Ruellius putteth that among the bastard names Bauhinus calleth it Hypericum supinum tomentosum majus vel Hispanicum and yet maketh this to be Lobel his Hypericum minimum supinum Septentrionalium which he referred before to the minus vel supinum glabrum but it cannot be both this and that because the one hath smooth greene leaves and is lesser than the Spanish kinde which is woolly and so is not that 〈◊〉 the sixth is the Hypericumalterum tomentosum of Lobel but Clusius checketh Lobel in making this and his former tementosum Hispanicum to be both one Bauhinus calleth it Hypericum supinum tomentosum â—nut vel Monspeliacum and thinke it to be the Androsaemum album Dalechampij of Lugdunensis which I see no reason why he should so judge in that the figure expresseth an upright and not a bending plant and there is no description given of it The last hath the name imposed upon it as is fittest I thinke for it The Vertues S. Iohns wort is as singular a wound herbe as any other whatsoever eyther for inward wounds hurts or bruises to be boyled in wine and drunke or prepared into oyle or oyntment bathe or lotion outwardly for being of an hot and drying quality with subtill parts it hath power to open obstructions to dissolve tumours to consolidate or soder the lips of wounds and to strengthen the parts that are weake and feeble the decoction of the herbe and flowers but of the seed especially in wine being drunke or the seed
and called by Bauhinus Lychnis sylvestris minima flore parvo the eighth and ninth are not spoken of by any other the last is called Muscus floridus by Gesner and Caryophyllus sylvestris 9. or pumilio Alpinus by Clusius and by Pona Ocimoid â—scosus Alpinus by Bauhinus Lychnis Alpina pumila folio graminos sive Muscus Alpinus Lychnitis flore Every one hath his English name in his title fit to distinguish them The Vertues All or most of these herbes are of later knowledge so that there is but little sayd of their vertues yet by their 〈◊〉 some of them being somewhat drying and astringent may be profitably applyed to stay the fluxes of blood and humors and thereby also conduce to the healing of old and moyst Vlcers or sores the Sea kinds taste somewhat bâ—ackish yet not unsavory so that they are often eaten cold as a Sallet herbe or stewed and so eaten CHAP. LXXIX Saponaria Sopewort or Bruisewort AS a supplement to the wilde Campions I have some other sorts of herbes to bring to your consideration which both for face or forme and for use and properties are so like unto the former that they might well be taken as species of the same gonas 1. Saponaria vulgaris Common Sopewort or Bruisewort Having shewed you in my former booke the double Saponaria and under it in a sort described the single or common kinde it might seeme needelesse here againe to set it forth which indeede I would not have done but that being briefe as well in the description as in the vertues in that place I thought good here to enlarge my selfe and therefore to insert the description thereof as well as another sort thereof with it The roote creepeth under ground farre and neare with many joynts therein of a browne colour on the outside and yellowish within shooting forth in divers places many weake round stalkes full of joynts set with two leaves a peece at every one of them on the contrary side which are ribbed somewhat like unto Plantane and fashioned like the common field white Campion leaves seldome having any branches from the side of the stalkes but set with divers flowers at the toppe standing in long huskes like the wilde Campion made of five leaves a peece round at the ends and a little dented in the middle of a pale Rose Colour almost white sometimes paler and sometimes of a deeper colour of a reasonable good sent 2. Saponaria Anglica convoluto folio Hollow leafed Sopewort This kind of Sopewort which is peculiar to our owne land in the forme and manner of the running of the roote is very like unto the former but much smaller sending forth divers weake round stalkes with fewer joynts then in the former and at every one of them one leafe and seldome more which eyther compasseth the stalke at the bottome as many of them doe or being hollow the whole leafe like a pipe or trunke compasseth it before it open it selfe on the outside or sometimes doth not open it selfe at all and are ribled like the former somewhat 1. Saponaria vulgaris Common Sopewort 2. Saponaria Anglica convoluto folio Hollow leafed Sopewort broader and rounder at the ends these stalkes have no branches at all but from some of the upper joynts and at the toppes stand three or foure flowers upon slender footestalkes in long huskes made of five leaves for the most part somewhat broader at the ends then the former and uneven and many times breaking the huskes wherein they stand on the one side or other of a pale white colour enclining to a blush especially on the sides of little or no sent at all wee never yet observed the seede or seede vessells being increased sufficiently by the roote The Place The first groweth wilde in many low and wet grounds of this lands by the brookes and sides of running waters and is brought for the flowers sake into many country gardens also to serve to decke up their houses the other was first found and set forth by Mr. Gerard in his Herball and hath not beene found to grow any where else then in that little Grove called the Spinny which is neare unto Lichborrow in Northamptonshire The Time They both flower in July and usually not before and so cotinue all August and part of September before they will be quite spent The Names This Herbe is usually called Saponaria because it serveth in stead of Sope to wash any thing withall therefore Fuschius first of all other writers as I take it set it forth for the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Struthium of Dioscorides Galen Theophrastus and Pliny which commeth from the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth Canas purgare candidaâ— facere but quite differeth from it as you shall heare by and by for although this as well as many others may be called Serâ—thia of their scouring and clensing quality yet none of them have the right description of Strathium which of the Latines is called Radicula and Lanaria herba and by some others also transferred to this Saponaria but â—neously and overpassed by Dioscorides as too well knowne in his dayes and therefore needed no descriptions and but remembred onely by Theophrastus in his sixt Booke and third Chap. of his history of Plants among those herbes whose leaves are prickley Pliny in his 19. Booke and third Chap. describeth Struthium at large his owne words I thinke fit to set downe and afterwards interpret them that all may know what little care and judgement divers have shewed in referring the more obscure Plants of the ancients in not duly comparing and examining their Authors words and declarations At quae vocatur Radicula saith Pliny lavandis demum lanis succum 〈◊〉 mirum quantum conferens candori mollitiaeque Aeque nascitur sativa ubique sed sponte praecipue in Asia Syriâ— saxosis asperis locis trans Euphratem tamen laudatissima caule ferulaceo tenui ipso cibis indigenarum expetito tingenti quicquid sit cum quo decoquatur folio Olea Struthium Graeci vocant floret astate grato aspectu verum sive odore spinosa caule lanuginoso semen ei nullum radix magna quae conciditur ad quem dictum est usum which may be thus Englished But that herbe which is called Radicula hath a juice or sappe therein fit to wash clothes it is wonderfull to see what whitenesse and smoothnesse thereby it giveth unto them The manured sort groweth with many in divers places but of it owne accord in Asia and Syria in rocky and rugged places but the chiefest and most praise worthy groweth beyond Euphrates having a small ferulous stalke which the inhabitants doe eate with their meats and is apt to colour or dye any thing that shall be boyled with it and hath the leafe of an Olive tree the Greekes call it Struthium It flowreth in Summer and is pleasant to behold but without any sent being prickly and the stalke woolly it beareth no seede
Fragaria Alpina fructu compresso Flat Strawberries There is no difference in this kinde from our ordinary Strawberrie but in the fruit which is more flat than round and hath a strake or list every berrie of a taste neare a Raspis this also usually beareth fruit againe in the Autumne 3. Fragaria Helvetia nana Dwarfe Strawberries Divers may judge that this Strawberrieâ— smallnesse commeth by the barrennesse of the soyle wherein it groweth but that is not so for it is well knowne to most that those hills of the Swissers have no barren ground upon them this hath very small triparted leaves next the ground closer set together upon short foote stalkes than any other and those that are set on both sides of the long branch not above foure inches long which lieth creeping on the ground grow lesse and without stalke the flower standeth at the end of the branch many times but one at a place which consisteth of five round leaves like a Strawberrie but larger then agreeth with the proportion of the plant and is of a yellowish colour what fruite this beareth wee have not yet scene or knowne certainely This commeth neare unto the description of the Fragariae affinis sericea planta of Bauhinus his brother formerly so calling it which as he saith is the Leucas Dioscoridis Adversariorum and giveth thereunto a small head containing small seâ—de therein but this was brought us from the Alpes by one Flescher a Silefian a young Doctor in Physicke but very skillfull in simples who perished in Virginia by tasting some poysonfull herbe and therefore I thinke it should beare a Strawberrie like head whereunto I am the rather perswaded because that as Bauhinus citeth although wrongfully Fragaria vulgaris Common Strawberries 3. Fragaria Helvetica nâ— Dwarfe Strawberries as I thinke for I cannot finde it in him Gesner in hortis that he should call one Fragaria parva flore luteo the rootes are blacke and stringie 4. Fragaria minime vesca Barren or unprofitable Strawberries This Strawberrie is in the growing altogether like the ordinary kindes with leaves triparted standing on severall stalkes and flowers in the same manner but smaller the fruite onely maketh the difference betwixt them which being small and many set together are sere and drie without sappe and of an harsh unpleasant taste The Place The three first plants grow upon divers of the Alpes and other places of Germany and the last in our owne Land in most woods and the fields sides neare unto them in Cornewall as Lobel saith but in other places also The Time They flower in May when the other sorts doe for the most part or somewhat later and the fruite is ripe quickly after The Names The whole plant is called in Latine Fragaria and the berries Fraga a fructus fragrantia odoris gustus for it hath no certaine Greeke name that I know unlesse as Tragus thinketh it may be referred to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Dioscorides or as others thinke to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Comaron of Apuleius but neither of them is likely others suppose that Dioscorides did understand this plant under his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some have called it Rubus Idaeus non spinosus but there is a shrubbe like unto the Raspis that beareth no thornes as I have shewed in my former Booke Pliny maketh mention of Fraga lib. 25. c. 9. Servius calleth them Mora terrestria and therefore some would referre it to the Chamaebatus the Italians call the plant Fragheria and the berries Fraghe and Fragole the French Fraisier and Fraises the Germans call the fruit Erdbeer and the Dutch Erdtbesien and we in English Strawberries The first here set forth is the third Fragaria of Tragus which he saith the people about Spires in Germany doe call Harbeer and Gesner in hortis Germaniae calleth Fragaria species minor the second is called by Caesalpinus Fragariae genus in Alpibus and Bauhinus Fragaria bis fructum gerens the third is likely to be the Fragaria flore luteo of Bauhinus who citeth Gesner in hortis as I said in the description to call it so and I thinke it may as well agree unto the Leucas of Lobel which Bauhinus seemeth to make another plant differing therefrom calling it Fragaria affinis sericea incana for the descriptions are very correspondent the last is that which Lobel calleth Fragaria sylvestris minime vesca sive sterilis but is not that which Gerard calleth Fragaria vesca sive sterilis which is another plant as I have shewed before The Vertues These Strawberries that are here set forth and fit to be eaten are of the same qualitie with the other garden kinds expressed in my former Booke the leaves of them all being cooling in the first degree and yet some say hot and drying in the second the roote is more drying and binding the berries while they are greene are cold and drie but when they are ripe they are cold and moist the berries are excellent good to coole the liver the bloud and spleene or an hot chollericke stomacke to refresh and comfort the fainting spirits and to quench thirst they are good also for other inflammations yet it behoveth one to be cautelous or rather to refraine them in a fever least by their putrefying in the stomacke they encrease the fits and cause them to be the more fierce the leaves and rootes boiled in wine and water and drunke doe likewise coole the liver and bloud and asswage all inflammations in the raines and bladder provoketh urine and allaieth the heate and sharpenesse thereof the same also being drunke staieth the bloudy flixe and womens courses and helpeth the swellings of the spleene the water of the berries carefully distilled is a soveraigne remedy and cordiall in the palpitations of the heart that is the panting and beating of the heart and is good for the overflowing of the gall the yellow jaundise the juyce dropped into foule ulcers or they washed therewith or with the decoction of the herbe and roote doth wonderfully clense them and helpe to cure them All lotions and gargles that are made for sore mouthes or ulcers therein or in the privie parts or else where are made with the leaves and rootes hereof which is good also to fasten loose teeth and to heale spungie foule gummes the same also helpeth to stay catarrhes or defluxions of rheume into the mouth throate teeth or eyes the juyce or water is singuler good for hot and red inflamed eyes if some thereof be dropped into them or they bathed therewith the said juyce or water is also of excellent propertie for all pushes wheales and other eruptions of hot and sharpe humours into the face or hands or other parts of the body to bath them therewith and helpeth to take away any rednesse in the face and spots or other deformities of the skinne and to make the â—kin cleare and smooth some use thereof to make a water for hot inflammations in the eyes and to take away any
also Turkie Million or Cowcumber because that others doe call it Cucumis Turcicus The Vertues The Citrull is of the same temperature with the Gourde that is cold and moist the seede is most of use in the Apothecaries shoppes and reckoned one of the foure greater cold seedes being used as Gourdes Millions and Cowcumbers to coole the heate of the fits of agues and the distemperature of the liver and bloud to quench thirst and to take away the drinesse and roughnesse of the tongue caused thereby and is as availeable for the stone the heate of the raines and the sharpenesse and stopping of urine as any of the rest It is thought more convenient for macilent bodies and that are growne feeble and weake by long sicknesse in regard of the greater sweetnesse more than in the Gourde as aforesaid and generally both leaves branches juyce and distilled water hereof is as effectually applied for all those diseases that the Gourdes before mentioned are and therefore neede not againe be repeated I shall referre you to the Chapter going before for the rest CHAP. XXIII Intubacea plantae Endive or Succory like herbes or plants VNder this generall name of Plantae Intubacea Succory like herbes is comprehended so great a varietie that to expresse them in some methodicall manner I must distribute them into severall Chapters under their principall heads or titles whereunto they are to be referred which are Endivia Cichorium Deus Leonis Choudrilla Sonchus Lampsana Hieracium Lactuca Senetio and Iacoba◠of some of which I have spoken both in my former Booke namely of all the sorts of Garden Lettice and in this Worke of all the sorts of Iacobaea and Senetio First then to beginne with Endive the kindes whereof also I have shewed Endivia sativa Garden Endive Intubus sive Endivia minor angustifolia Small Garden Endive you in my former Booke and therefore I will make no further description of them but give you the figure of the usuall garden kinde and expresse a wilde sort here but withall set out the Vertues of them more amply than formerly I have done Intubus sive Endivia minor angustifolia Small garden Endive This small Endive hath many very long leaves lying on the ground narrower than the first garden Endive and somewhat more bitter the stalke is slenderer more full of branches and lower than the other bearing at the tops small blew flowers like the common Endive after which follow the like seede also and the roote perishing in like mannner The Place This is onely planted in Gardens as well beyond the seas as in our country as the other sorts are The Time It flowreth and perisheth with the other sorts if it be sowen in the Spring but if at Midsommer it will then abide the beginning of Winter and will well serve to be used as the others be The Names The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Latine Intibus Intubus or Intubum doth denominate as well Endive as Succory and therefore both they and the kinds therof are called after the Greek Serides or Intubacea after the Latin Dioscorides maketh two kindes of Seris the one tame the other wilde and of each two sorts of the tame he saith the one hath a broad leafe like unto Lettice which is our ordinary garden kind and called by Matthiolus Intubus major and of others Intubum sativum the other hath a narrow leafe and is somewhat bitter in taste which is this Endive here set forth by the judgement of the best moderne writers and is called by Matthiolus Intubus and Endivia minor by Lacuna Intubus hortensis alter by Gesner in hortis Intubum angustifolium Scariola aliquibus by Clusius in historia plantarum Cichorium sativum by Lobel Seriola aut Endiviola who saith that the name of Scariola given to this Endive was but the corruption of the times which should have beene called Seriola quasi parva Seris and therefore wheresoever Scariola is appointed in any medicine this sort of Endive is intended thereby and should be used Endive is called by the Arabians Dumbebe Anubebe or Endeba by the Italians Endivia and this small kinde Endivia minore and in the Apothecaries shoppes beyond the seas Scariola domestica by the Spaniards Endivia by the French Endivie by the Germanes Endivien by the Dutch Endivie and by us in English Endive and this sort small Endive The Vertues All the garden Endives are cold in the second degree at the least but are more moist and lesse drie than Succory or the kinds thereof which is more bitter and serveth well to coole the excessive heate in the liver and stomache and in the hot fits of agues and all other inflammations in any part of the body to use the decoction of the leaves or the juyce or distilled water the same also helpeth to coole the heate and sharpenesse in the urine and the excoriations in the uritorie parts the seede is of the same propertie or rather more powerfull and besides is availeable for the faintings and swounings and passions of the heart outwardly applied they serve to temper the sharpe humours of 〈◊〉 ulcers hot tumors and swellings and pestintiall sores and wonderfully helpeth not onely the rednesse and inflammations in the eyes but the dimmenesse of the sight also they are also used to allay the paines of the goute They are all used in sallats familiarly both Summer and Winter when as being whited they are the more tender and delicate very pleasing to the stomacke and refreshing the weake and fainting spirits CHAP. XXIIII Cichorium Succory OF the Succories there are many sorts some accounted tame or of the Garden others wilde or of the fields c. of the most usuall Garden kinde I have spoken in my former booke and of the other sorts I am to entreate here but because I should pester one place too much to set them forth all in one Chapter I must handle them severally and speake of those kinds of Succory here in this Chapter that heare blew flowers or come nearest the Garden kinde and of others that beare yellow flowers in the Chapter following 1. Cichorium flore rubello Red flowred Succory The red flowred Succory is in the long leaves a little more divided on the edges in the tall and high round stalkes in the forme of the flowers and seede and in the long white roote abiding yearely like unto the Garden Succory the onely difference hereof consisteth in the colour of the flowers which in this are of a pale red delayed colour which will degenerate as I have often observed in my Garden turning to bee blew I meane those plants that rise from the seede of the red and not the same plants that have borne red flowers Of this kinde likewise there is one that beareth white flowers not differing else Flore albo but that the seede hereof as well as the other will give blew flowred plants 2. Cichorium sylvestre Wilde Succory Wilde Succory hath divers long
whereof standeth upright scarse an hand breadth high the rest are lower and bend downewards each of them bearing a small yellow 1. Dens leonis vulgaris Common Dandelion 6. Dens leonis Monspaliensium sive Asphodeli buâ—bâ—liâ— Bulbed or clogged Dandelion flower like unto other Dandelions turning into downe and flying away with the wind carrying the seede with it which is somewhat long and broad with hard haires like beardes at the tops the roote is small and blackish without and white within very sweete in taste as the leaves are also and so tender to keepe that it perisheth with the first cold it feeleth and must therefore be housed which then will endure many yeares giving seede yearely 5. Dens leonis minor aspero folio Small rough Dandelion The small rough Dandelion sendeth forth sundry small leaves lying round about the roote of two or three inches long and one inch broade divided or torne in on the sides each of them set with small smooth sharpe prickes or haires like as the prickly Sowthistle hath the stalkes are about two inches high and beare each of them a large pale yellow flower like the rest and turned into downe the roote is small and whitish 6. Dens leonis Monspeliensium sive Asphodeli bulbulis Bulbed or clogged Dandelion This Asphodell rooted Dandelion spreadeth many large and blewish greene hairy leaves upon the ground unevenly waved or cut in on the edges but not deepely gashed as the common Dandelion is of a bitter and sharpe taste like unto it from which rise sundry bare or naked stalkes with severall flowers at the toppes of them larger and more double than it and of a paler yellow colour which passe into downe like the rest the rootes are sundry long tuberous and slender clogges like unto those of the Asphodill but smaller shorter and more pointed at the ends 7. Dens leonis Gadensis Dandelion of Cadis in Spaine This plant so like in face unto a little Dandelion hath made me contrarie unto others opinions place it in the same ranke with them It hath a number of long leaves a spanne long or more rising from a long white tender roote â—he middle ribbe of the leafe is bare from the roote to the halfe length of the leafe and then it hath many râ—s or cuts on each side very much resembling the leafe of the ordinary Dandelion but smaller and narrower the flowers likewise stand upon long foote stalkes as the Dandelion doth being small and yellow and doe turne into downe that is carried away in the winde with the seede which is small long and reddish like unto some of the Hawkeweedes It groweth in the Iland of Gades which wee call Cales or Cadis as Guillaume Böel saith who brought it us out of Spaine and called it Cichorium Gadense Clusius it seemeth not well marking the plant being drie and never having seene it greene or growing tooke it from Böel and calleth it in his Curae posteriores Cichorium sylvestre pumilum sive Hedipnois and saith it is altogether like unto it though lesse but how like it is upon this description truely set downe as before I leave it to any judicious to determine It flowreth in Iuly August and September and the seede is soone ripe after the flower is past the roote liveth all the Winter if it be milde or else it perisheth with the hard frostes The Place The first is too frequent in all medowes and pasture grounds but the second is more rare yet often to be met with the third groweth in Austria the fourth in Italy as it is suspected because it came from thence the fift and sixt about Mompeliar as also about Florence and in other parts of Italy especially the sixt and the last in Spaine The Time They flower in the Summer moneths yet as is well knowne the first is found in some place or other in flower every moneth in the yeare The Names The Dandelion is not certainely intituled by any Greeke denomination for it is certaine it is not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chondrilla but hath divers Latine names as Dens leonis Vrinaria Corona and Caput monachi Rostrum porcinum and as Anguilara thinketh Chrondrilla Galeni the first is usually called of most of the later writers Dens leonis but Tragus tooke it to be Hieracium majus and Cordus in historia to be Hieracium parvum Gesner in hortis Hieracium miâ—s Thalius and Dodonaeus Chondrilla altera and Caesalpinus as divers others also doe to be the Aphaca of Theophrastus in lib. cap. 7. and 10. among the Wortes divers also take it to be Hedypnois Plinij lib. 28. c. 8. but the most judicious rather take the former Cichorium luteum to be it Fuchsius calleth it Hedypnois major and Lugdunensis Hedypnois Dalechampij Lonicerus calleth it Taraxacon minus and is generally held to be the true Taraxacon of Serapia and Avicen and so used with us in all compositions whereunto Taraxacon is appointed the second Cesalpinus calleth Aphaca angustioris folij the third is called by Columna Hieracium foetidum and Camerarius calleth the fourth Trinciatilla the fift is also of Bauhinus mentioned by the name in the title the sixt is called by Matthiolus Cichorium Constantinopolitanum because as hee saith hee received it from Angerius de Busbeque the Emperours agent at Constantinople but Lobel and Pena say that hee needed not to extoll this plant as a stranger being to be had plentifully in his owne country of Siena and Tuscane Liguria and other places of Italy whereof he was ignorant as also about Mompelier whereupon they called it Dens leonis Monspeliensium Asphodeli bulbulis and withall suppose it to be the Chondrilla altera Dioscoridis or Perdion rather Perdicion of Theophrastus which hath more rootes than leaves Tabermontanus calleth it Dens leonis altera the last is mentioned sufficiently in the description the Italians call Dandelion Dente de leon the Spaniards Diente de leon the French Dent de lyoâ— and Pisse en lict the Germanes Pfaffenblat Korlkraut and Pfaffenrorlin the Dutch Papencruyt Houtsroosen and Canckerbloemen and we in English Pisse a bed and Dandelion The Vertues Dandelion is neare in propertie unto the wilde Succory and by the bitternesse doth more open and clense and is therefore very effectuall for the obstructions of the liver gall and speene and the diseases that arise from them as the jaundise and the hypochondriacall passion it wonderfully openeth the uritorie parts causing abundance of urine not onely in children whose meseraicall veines are not sufficiently strong to containe the quantitie of urine drawne in the night but that then without restraint or keeping it backe they water their beds but in those of old age also upon the stopping or yeelding small quantitie of urine it also powerfully clenseth apostumes and inward ulcers in the uritorie passages and by the drying and temperate qualitie doth afterwards heale them and for those purposes the rootes being buried a while in sand and whited which taketh
downe and is carried away with the winde the roote is somewhat great and long with some fibres thereat 5. Hieracium Dentis leonis folio asperum Rough Dandelion-like Hawkeweede This small Hawkeweede hath divers long and narrow hairy leaves reddish at the bottome next the roote deepely â—d or torne on the edges being about two inches loâ— from which rise one or two or more bare or naked stalkes rough or hairy bearing each of them a double yellow flower like unto the Hawkeweedes passing into downe the roote is small somewhat like a finger with a few fibres hanging thereat 6. Hieracium minus glabrum Small Hakeweede with smooth shining leaves This little Hawkeweede riseth little above a spanne â—gh with smooth fresh greene stalkes branched forth into others set with few but smooth shining greene leaves long and narrow being little torne on the edges compassing the stalkes at the bottome and eared as the third the flowers that grow at the toppes are of a faire gold yellow colour lesser than any other Hawkeweede each standing on a foote stalke about an inch long which as the rest doe passe away with the winde the roote is small long and whitish 7. Hieracium hirsutum ferè umbellatum Small Hawkeweede with umbel-like flowers This small Hawkeweeke hath five or sixe small leaves lying upon the ground waved or cut on the edges like unto the common Hawkweede having a soft downe like haires on the upperside of the leaves and smooth without haires underneath full of a bitter milke from among which riseth up aslender hairy stalke about a foote high or more bearing at the toppe divers small flowers set together as it were in a tuft or umbell of a gold yellow colour like in forme unto others as also in the downie heades the roote liveth long being composed of many small white stringes which shooteth forth and spreadeth it selfe also into many heads above ground which shoote forth branches rooting also in the ground as they lie The Place The first groweth in divers places about fields sides and the path wayes in dry grounds the second is of Candy the third of Spaine the fourth of Italy the fift in our owne Land as well as about Mompelier Naples and Spaine â—e sixt about Basil the last about Vienna in Austria The Time They doe all flower and flie away in the Sommer moneths The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 accipiter an Hawke Sic dictum volunt quod accipitres sibi hujus succo aciem oculâ—rum acuere dicunâ—r as divers other herbes tooke their names some from beasts as Elaphoboscum a Cerâ—o others from birds as Chelidonium ab Hirundine Perdicion a Perdice in Latine also Hieracium and of some Accipitrina and because they doe partake of Sow-thistles as well as of Succory I have placed them betweene them both the Italians call it Hâ—eracio the French L'herbe d'espervier the Germanes Hanks kraut the Dutch Havickscruiâ—de and we in English Hawkeweede and of some yellow Succory the first here set forth is the Hieracium majus of Matthiolus Fuchsius Dodonaeus Lobel and others the Taraxacon majus of Lonicerus Intubus secundus of Tragus as it is thought and Hieracium Sonchites or Sonchi folio of divers but of Lugdunensis Hieracium minus because he setteth forth the Chondrilla prior Dioscoridis for Hieracium magnum as I shewed you in the last Chapter save one the second Gâ—sner and Camerarius onely make mention of the one in hortis Germania the other in 〈◊〉 Medico by the name of Hieracium Creticum pro Endivia lucea missum and there sheweth why hee called it Creticum even because he found the like seede among Epithymum that came from Candy the third Bauhinus setteth forth by the name of Deus leonis latifolius arborescens saying it came to him out of Signor Contarinos of 〈◊〉 his garden by the â—ame of Hieracium Hispanicum and therefore I have so called it and placed it here and 〈…〉 the Dandelioâ—s as hee doth in his Pinax the fourth Lobel in his Dutch Herball and Icones calleth 〈…〉 floribus deâ—tis leonis bulbosi because being very like it yet differeth in the long roote the fift Bauhinus â—keth of two sorts calling them Hioracium dentis leonis folio hirsutie aspirum magis laciniatum and miâ— laciâ—atum but I thinke they are both one and therfore doe not distinguish them Columna calleth it Hieracâ—um â—letâ— saxatile montanum â—he sixt Bauhinus calleth Hieracium minus glabium and the last Clusius describeth for h◠〈◊〉 Hieâ— but the figure be setteth for it is much differing from the description there of but answereth well the description of the eleaventh and it may be was but the Printers faulâ— in transposing the letter I being set before the X that should have beene set after thereby making it XI when it is set IX The Vertues Hakeweede saith Dioscorides is cooling somewhat drying and binding and therefore is good for the heate of the stomacke and for inflammations and the hot fits of agues and gnawings of the stomacke the quantitie of a scruple of the dried juice saith Pliny taken in Posca Posset that is vinegar and water mixed purgeth the belly yet he saith in another place that a small quantitie bindeth the belly the said juyce taken in wine helpeth digestion discusseth winde and hindereth any crudities to abide in the stomacke it helpeth also the difficultie in making water the same likewise taken in wine helpeth the bitings of venemous Serpents and of the Phalangiâ— and the sting of the Scorpion if the herbe also be outwardly applied to the place and helpeth also all other poysons except that of Cerussa or those that hurt the bladders or that kill by strangling a scruple of the dried juyce given in wine and vinegar is profitable for those that have the dropsie the decoction of the herbe taken with hony digesteth thinne flegme in the chest or lungs and with Hyssope doth helpe the cough the decoction thereof and of wilde Succory made in wine and taken helpeth the wind collike and those that are melancholike or have hard spleenes it procureth rest and sleepe it hindereth venery and venereous dreames cooleth heates purgeth the stomacke encreaseth bloud and helpeth the diseases of the reines and bladder Outwardly applied it is singular good for all the defects and diseases of the eyes used with some womens milke it is also used with good successe in fretting or creeping ulcers especially in the beginning the greene herbe bruised and with a little salt applied to any place burnt with fire before blisters doe arise doth helpe them as also inflammations Saint Anthonies fire and all pushes and eruptions of heate and salt flegme the same applied with meale and faire water in manner of a pultis to any place affected with convulsions and the crampe or such as are out of joynt doth give helpe and ease The distilled water is of good use in many of the diseases aforesaid and the fare
Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so in Latine also Corion and Corianon but usually Coriandrum and derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is that kinde of noysome flie or worme that is called Cimex in Latine a wall Louse or Punie in English whose stinking smell Coriander doth much imitate There hath beene formerly some controversie betweene Avicen and Galen and others also about Coriander some condemning the use as hurtfull and dangerous by reason of the grievous smell and that it maketh the voyce hoarse procureth a kind of frensie 1. Coriandrum vulgare Ordinary Coriander 2. Coriandrum alterum minus odorum The lesser sweete Coriander like unto drunkennesse and that the juice thereof being drunke causeth death and that it is very cold all these properties the Arabian Physitions give it the correction therefore of the seede they appoint to bee by steeping it all night in Vinegar and dryed up againe to be safely used but Lobel seemeth to refuse this preparation saying that the coldnesse of the Vinegar can draw forth none of the foule and stinking spirits from it but rather the drying of it of it selfe or by the fire as it is used when they are made into Comfits without any other preparation and then is not found hurtfull but rather comfortable to the stomacke c. as also by the continuall use of it in meates and medicines among many countrey people of it selfe without preparation and some commending the use because when the seede is dry it hath a warming sweete and no noysome smell or taste the noysome vapours subsisting onely in the moysture and not in the drying as wee may see in many fruits which being not ripe are so hard and harsh that scarse one can eate them without harme but being ripe are both mellow and sweete heate onely working this effect the hotter countries for the most part giving the mellower and sweeter fruit The first is called by all writers Coriandrum the second is mentioned by Lobel and Dodonaeus giveth the figure without description Lugdunensis onely remembreth the last The Arabians call it Casberra and Elcosbur the Italians Coriandro the Spaniards Culantro the French Coriandre the high and low Dutch Coriander and we in English Coriander and Coliander The Vertues First for greene Coriander and the cooling qualitie thereof the juice as is before said being drunke killeth them that take it outwardly applyed it dissolveth knots and kernells being mixed with Wheate or Barley Flower as also Saint Anthonies fire being used with bread and running and fretting sores wheales pushes and carbuncles and botches rising in the skinne or flesh and taketh away the swelling and inflammation of the cods either the juice or greene herbe applyed the juice thereof made into an ointment with Cerusse Litarge Vinegar and Oyle of Roses doth the like Now for the dryed seede of Coriander which is most in use and being taken in sweete wine killeth the Wormes in the body and encreaseth coiture it is also good against the Serpent that is called Amphisbaena eyther drunke or layd to the bitten place it is very comfortable to the stomacke by heating and drying the cold and moisture thereof helpeth digestion and represseth the vapours therein that rise upwards and resisteth forcible paines of the winde chollicke and the stopping of Vrine and being a nourishment of a temperate qualitie it helpeth to encrease both blood and Sperme CHAP. XXIIII Caucalis Bastard Parsley OF these Caucalides I have above a dozen sorts to expresse here in this Chapter some whereof have small fine cut leaves others are larger and broad some well knowne of a long time to many and others of later invention 1. Caucalis vulgaris floribus albis The common Bastard Parsley This Bastard Parsley riseth up with a short stalke not above halfe a yard high set at the joynts with whitish rough diversly cut leaves smaller then Parsley furnished at the toppes with small sweete umbells of white flowers the outermost being the greatest after which succeede divers rough prickly round seede two alwayes joyned together which maketh them but halfe round when they are parted 2. Caucalis Hispanica Spanish Bastard Parsley This Spanish kind hath divers crested rough stalkes and leaves very like unto the former but the umbells of white flowers are smaller and growing more round together as it were into the forme of a round head and the seede which followeth is greater very much striped and rough but not prickly as this it being broken in any part giveth a sweete milke the roote perisheth after seede likewise but giveth no milke 3. Caucalis major flore sature rubente Deepe red flowred Bastard Parsley This red flowred kinde hath larger winged leaves then the former being divided and cut in after the manner of the lesser Burnet Saxifrage leaves the flowers hereof are larger then of the first and of an equall bignesse but of a deepe red colour 4. Caucalis maxima The greatest Bastard Parsley This greatest kinde bringing forth many upright tall stalkes three or foure foote high or more sometimes being crefted and hollow within with divers joynts on them and the stalkes of the long and large winged leaves compassing them at the bottome which leaves are large almost like Angelica leaves set by couples on the middle rib and an oâ—de one at the end all of them finely dented about the edges and of a darke greene colour at the toppes of the stalkes grow large umbells of white flowers somewhat purplish or of a blush colour underneath after which come very large and flat rough seede with a double point at the head and prickley round about the roote is white and wooddy 5. Caucalis Anglica flore rubeute English Bastard Parsley with reddish flowers This English kinde groweth about two foote high of an Olive greene colour with a strong round crested rough and hairy stalke set at the joynts which are two or three inches in sunder with leaves three or foure inches long consisting of seaven or nine narrow hairy leaves set by couples somewhat deepely dented about the edges the soote of the stalke being a broad thinne skinne or filme and from betweene it and the stalke come forth lesser stalkes of leaves towards the toppe parted into three or foure branches which at three inches distance doe each of them from one center shoote forth foure five or six equall stems about an inch and a halfe long a peece having a thinne skin running all the length of them and the two innermost strings being of a darke red colour composing a spokie umbell at the toppes of each stemme grow five or sixe long rough hairy small knaps or bottomes crowned with flowers of a pinkie red colour consisting of five leaves a peece the outer most where of sheweth like two by the folding of it inward and the inner foure with five chives and a double pointell shew not halfe so big as it when they are full blowen in the center
except the last and worketh more powerfully the Germanes and other Nations in times past used both the rootes and seede in stead of Pepper to season their meates and brothes and found them as comfortable and warming to the stomacke the distilled water of the herbe helpeth the quinsie in the throate if the mouth and throate be gargled and washed therewith and helpeth the plurefie if it be drunke three or foure times the said water also dropped into the eyes taketh away the rednesse or the dimmenesse of the eyes it likewise taketh away spots or freckles in the face the leaves of Lovage bruised and fried with a little hogges larde and laid hot on any botch or 〈◊〉 will quickely breake it the greene rootes may be kept in pickle made with salt and vinegar for a long time but preserved with Sugar is more pleasant CHAP. XXXV Laserpitium Laserwort BEcause Lovage was called Laserpitium Germanicum I thought good a little to declare the true Laserpitium or Laser of the ancients both to shew what it was and what with divers it is now taken to be and withall to joyne both the French kinde and that which Alpinus hath set out for the true Laserpitium Gallicum French Laserwort The French Laserwort hath a great long roote bigger than that of Ferula Fennell giant of a grayish or ash colour on the outside and white within full of a fat or thicke juyce and smelling sweete from whence rise up great stalkes as thicke and high as the Ferula whereon are set divers stalkes of winged leaves like into Smallage but thicker harder and of a darker greene colour somewhat deepely dented about the edges and sometimes more deepely jagged than others at the toppes of the branches and stalkes stand large umbells of flowers like unto Ferula and after them large flat winged seede like unto Angelica of the colour of Boxe and smelling sweete 2. Laserpitium Alpino Alpinus his Laserwort The stalke of this Laserwort saith Alpinus groweth to be of three cubits in height hollow and of the bignesse of a great Ferula stalke having large winged leaves set thereon somewhat like the great Selinum or sweete Parsley and greater than those of wilde Angelica yeelding a milke being broken the umbells of flowers at the toppes yeeld large broad flat seede as Theophrastus saith of his the roote is great and as thicke as ones arme yeelding also a milke when it is broken which is white at the first but groweth yellow being drie the proportions hereof is extant upon some of the ancient copines of Iupiter Ammon as Alpinus saith 3. Laserpitium antiquorum The true Lasewort of the ancients Dioscorides describeth the true Laserpitium in this manner it groweth saith he in Syria Armenia Media and Lybia with a Ferulous stalke which they call Maspetum and leaves like to Apium and with a broad seede the Laser or juyce is taken from the roote and from the stalke by scarifying them that is preferred to be best that is 〈◊〉 red transparent like unto Myrrhe and not greene of a strong sent and sweete taste which being moistened 1. Laserpitium Gallicum French Laserwort 2. Laserpitium Alpius Alpinus his Laserwort with water quickly becommeth white if any shall taste the Cyrenian sort it will move and stirre all the humours in the body to a sweate with a moist sweet sent so that his breath shall smell well that hath tasted but a little that of Media and Syria is not so forcible or good and giveth a stranger unwholsome sent All the sorts of Laser are adulterated with Sagapen or with Beane flower before they are dried the falsehood whereof may be found out by the taste by the smell by sight ot by the wetting or washing it in water Some doe call the stalke Silphium the roote Magydaris and the leaves Maspetum the most effectuall is the Laser the next are the leaves and the stalkes last This is Dioscorides his text but Theophrastus doth more largely expresse it and Pliny from him which is too tedious to insert here I will therefore but onely mention a few of those things that are most pertinent and not expressed before which are these the seede is broad spread like a leafe and called folium and is as yellow as gold the stalke is annuall as is that of Ferula the flesh of the cattle that feede thereon doth taste most savoury the stalke is eaten by men sundry wayes dressed or boyled it groweth wilde by nature and will not abide to be manured or transplanted Pliny saith that in his time it was not to be had but after the weight of silver and that it was so much destroyed that onely one branch was brought unto the Emperour Nero of all that could be found in his time and Pliny saith also that it groweth in plenty on mount Parnassus Thus farre Theophrastus and Pliny whereby it may be seene what losse there is of it by the great esteeme was made of it and by the vertues it had which they have expressed and how hard a thing it is to find out the true plant of all that are knowne now unto us although divers have referred sundry herbes thereunto as is formerly set downe and yet still is by divers for some would make Benzoin the sweete gumme to be the Laser and called it Asadulcis which is a word but derived from Laser as it is most likely and is so farre fâ—om reason that I wonder how men could be drawen so to thinke the Benzoin being the gumme of a great tree in the East Indies as all may know that will enquire after it and is neither hot sharpe nor bitter as Laser is said to be but it is very probable that the Apothecaries who had many of their names from the Arabian authors had these likewise of Assadulcis and Assafaetida and peradventure rose from Serapio his two sorts of Laser one pure and the other impure but that he saith the pure is of a stronger sent and the impure of small sent The Arabians call the plant Anjuden the juyce Altith and Avicen Almarut and the Indians Imga and Imgara The Place and Time This former sort was found about Marselles in France as Lobel in Adversaria saith and adjudged the truest by Rondeleteus of any other that he had seene before flowring and seeding in the end of the yeare as Ferula doth the other is expressed in the narration before Alpinus saith it was first seene in Cardinall Bembo his Garden and afterwards in that of the Mussares The Names It hath not found any other name since the first invention than Laserpium and Silphium which was given it at the first by Lobel onely Bauhinus calleth it Gallicum and Tabermontanus Massilioticum the other is declared in the description sufficiently The Vertues There is not extant in any that hath written of the French kinde for what disease it is effectuall and therefore we can say no more thereof but of the true Laser Dioscorides hath given a very
stalkes with the leaves and in other places of the stalkes likewise come forth the flowers many standing together spike-fashion of a sullen blush colour made almost like hoods which fall away with us not bearing any fruit and the leaves and stalkes perishing before Winter new raising themselves in the Spring 7. Lathyrus sylvestris flore luteo Tare everlasting This ramping wilde Vetch or Tare as the country people call it because it is the most pernicious herbe that can grow on the earth for corne or any other good herbe that it shall grow by killing and strangling them it groweth somewhat like unto the first but the leaves are smaller the flowers are yellow many upon a stalke and after small round cods with blackish small seede in them the roote is small and rough running infinitely under ground not to be destroyed The Place and Time The first and second are usually cherished in Gardens for the beauty of the flowers as I said in my former booke and likewise hath beene found wilde with us as is before said if it be not the third which is entituled of Dodoneus the fourth is said by Gerard to grow in many places with us as Hamsted Coume Parke c. but we rather thinke it was the next for the rootes of those wee have hitherto found in our woods and hedges sides have beene more wooddy then the other sorts which growing in our Gardens wee have seene to be more tender and came to us from beyond Sea the last is found oftener then men would have it being a plague to Field or Orchard whereinto it once getteth they all flower from the end of Iuly to the end of August The Names This Pulse the Greekes call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lathyrus but is diversly called by divers moderne writers in Latine for some call it Lathyrus sive Cucircula and by Bauhinus Cicercula by others Lathyris as Lobel c. but unfitly for Lathyris is generally taken for Spurge againe Aracus or Cicera as Dodonaeus yet Tabermontanus to put a difference betweene them calleth them Lathyris leguminosa Matthiolus calleth the first Chymenum Caesalpium Ervilium Tragus Pisum Graecorum Fuchsius Ervum sylvestre The fourth is called Apios by Fuchsius and Tragus but Pseudoapios by Matthiolus Chamae balanus by Dodonaeus and Tabermontanus Terrae glandes by Lobel and Pena Glandes terrestres by Clusius and Arachidna Theophrasti by Columna who saith hee can finde none come so neare that of Theophrastus as this the last is called by Dodonaeus in the Chapter of Terrae glandes Legumen terrae glandibus simile by Thalius Lathyrus sylvestris floribus luteus and Bauhinus addeth thereunto folijs Viciae the rest are specified with their descriptions The Vertues Galen saith that Lathyrus is in substance much like to Ervilia and Phaselus and that the countrey people in his countrey of Asia did use them not onely as they of Alexandria and other Cities did their Phaseli and Ervilia but made them into a pultage as they did Lentills but saith hee it is of a thicker consistence then they and therefore nourisheth more CHAP. V. Lathyrus annuus Yearely or Annuall Cichelings THe other sorts of Lathyrus which are annuall as I said before in the devision of Lathyus in the former Chapter I reserved to be here set together distinct from the former 1. Lathyrus annuus major Baeticus The great Spanish annuall Cicheling This hath two or three flat stalkes a yard long or more welted as it were with skinnes or filmes on both edges having two small leaves at each joynt where shoote forth the branches bearing two reasonable long and broad leaves about the middle thereof one against another with a twining clasper running out betweene them the flowers stand singly upon long footstalkes of a deeper purple colour but lesser then the Garden kinde first described in the last Chapter after which succeede long pale coloured cods very like unto them as the seede within them is likewise the roote is small not running deepe nor growing great but perisheth every yeare 2. Lathyrus Baeticus elegans siliquis Orobi Spanish partie coloured Cichelings This springeth up into divers branches a fadom long with such like welts or skinny membranes on both sides at every joynt whereof come forth long leaves divided at the toppe into two other smaller leaves and higher upwards set with six leaves on both sides and on the middle betweene them commeth forth a small clasping tendrell whereby it catcheth hold of every thing standeth next unto it at the joynts likewise come forth the flowers either one or two at the most upon long footstalkes like unto the other of his kind the upper leafe of a fine Crimson or Orenge colour and the other in the middle of a perfect white after the flower is past commeth the fruit in long pods every seede bunching out like the pods of Orobus and as bigge almost as the smaller Pease 3. Lathyrus major siliqua brevi The greater short codded Cicheling This in manner of growing differeth little from the former onely the flower hath the inner leaves white 2. Lathyrus Baeticus elegans siliquis Orobi Spanish partie coloured Cichelings 3. Lathyrus major siliqua brevi The greater short codded Cicheling and the outer somewhat purplish the cods that follow 8. Lathyrus Baticus flore luteo Yellow Spanish Cicheling are thicke and short with small round blackish Pease within them 4. Lathyrus minor siliqua brevi The lesser short codded Cicheling The difference betweene this and the last consisteth more in the smallnesse then in any other thing saving that the cods hereof have a little roughnesse on them Lathynis parvus alter Wee have another smaller then the last agreeing in most things else saving the cod which is longer and smaller 5. Lathyrus major angustissimo folio Grasse leafed Cicheling The stalke hereof is slender and weake the leaves long and narrower then grasse sometimes two and sometimes three together the flowers stand each upon a stalke of a blewish purple and sometimes reddish the fruit is small and blackish contained in small short coddes crooked at the ends 6. Lathyrus minor angustissimo folio Fennell-like leafed Cicheling This is smaller weaker and tenderer in all parts then the last the leaves are as small thin and long as Fennell the coddes and seede are like the last onely the flowers are of a pale reddish colour 7. Lathyrus palustris Lusitanicus Spanish Marsh Cichelings This in the beginning differeth little from the first but that the flowers stand usually two together the outer leafe of a bright purple and the middlemost of a pale purple the cods are slenderer and as long as the first of a pale colour with small spotted Pease within them turning blacke when they are dry 8. Lathyrus Baeticus flore luteo Yellow Spanish Cicheling This Spanish kind is in bignesse forme of stalkes and leaves like the first of these here set downe onely the flowers are all yellow with purple veines in them
after which follow cods very like and of the same bignesse with the first but the Pease are smaller and rougher or as it were netted The Place and Time All these sorts except the sixt which I found in clensing of Anneseede to use grow in Spaine and from thence were brought with a number of other rare seedes besides by Guillaume Boel and imparted to Mr. Coys of Stabbers in Essex in love as a lover of rare plants but to me of debt for going into Spaine almost wholly on my charge hee brought mee little else for my mony but while I beate the bush another catcheth and eateth the bird so while I with care and cost sowed them yearely hoping first to publish them another that never saw them unlesse in my Garden nor knew of them but by a collaterall friend prevents me whom they knew had their descriptions ready for the Presse The Names Their severall names are expressed in their titles none of them being published before except you may referre the fift unto Bauhinus his Lathyrus major angustissimo folio described in his Prodrâ—mus whereunto it is most like The Vertues I have not understood that they serve for meate or medicines to any of the people where they are naturall but utterly neglected and should never have beene further knowen as it in like manner falleth out in all countries unlesse a cunning curious searcher such as this Boel was happen to pry carefully over the coasts of them CHAP. VI. Cicercula Winged or cornered Cichelings I Have you see divided this Chapter from the two former although they may bee and are called Lathyri by many good authors upon good grounds as I take it for although in growing they are like Lathyrus yet some of them have their cods winged and others not winged and all have foure or cornered Pease within them I thinke therefore these formes doe argue a specificall diversitie fit to be distinguished being all annuall also 1. Cicercula sive Lathyrus sativus flore albo White flowred winged Cicheling This Cicheling hath weake winged stalkes trayling on the ground if they be not helped like as all the former have with two small leaves at the joynts and two other narrower leaves likewise on the branches which end in divided claspers the flowers are white that stand on long footstalkes and after them somewhat flat and short cods with two little narrow filmes all along the backe of them the seede within them is somewhat larger then the wild sorts flat white and cornered the roote is small and fibrous perishing every yeare 2. Cicercula flore purpureo Blackish purple winged Cichelings This other is in manner of growing like the former the flowers onely and the fruit declare the difference for the flowers are of a darke dead purple and the cods that 1.2 Cicercula flore alb vet purp co Winged Cichelings with white or blackish purple flowers 3. Cicercula Bâ—tica sive Aegyptiaca Clusij Blew flowred Cicheling 4. Cicercula flore rubente Red flowred Cichelings follow are small and with filmes at their backes like the last the seede within them are cornered but of a darke colour almost blacke 3. Cicercula Baetica Egyptiaca Clusij Blew flowred Cichelings This also differeth in nothing from the former but in that it hath larger leaves and the flowers pale blew on the outside and the inner leaves more blew the cods are small and almost round winged at the backe like the former wherein lye browne cornered seede 4. Cicercula flore rubente Red flowred winged Chichelings The manner of the growing hereof is in all things like the former but that the greene leaves are narrower and longer then the last and the flowers are of a kind of dead Orenge colour after which follow somewhat short round cods with brownish cornered seede 5. Circercula sive Lathyrus Baeticus dumetorum Spanish bash Cichelings Vnto these kinds of Cichelings let me adde this as comming nearer unto them then unto Vetches for this hath divers long weake stalkes with filmes on the edges at the joynts are two small leaves and from betweene them come forth the branches having divers small darke greene leaves set on them somewhat round at the ends sometimes three on a side and sometimes but two yet not alwayes one against another from the bosome of the stalke and the branch commeth forth usually two flowers on a long footestalke the upper leafe being reddish and the other purplish after which come long smooth cods without my filme at the backe having within them round but depressed or somewhat flat seede of a brownish colour The Place and Time All these sorts were brought us out of Spaine although they grow in other countries also they flower and beare ripe fruit when the former doe The Names The three first are remembred by our moderne writers Dodonaeus calling the former Aracus sive Lathyrus minor and Cicercula Lobel Lathyris angustiore gramineo folio Camerarius Lathyrus flore albo Lacuna called it Ervum Fuchsius Ervum album sativum by Tragus Pisum Graecorum sativum and by Cordus on Dioscorides Phascolus minor aliquibus Ervum angulosum the second Dodonaeus calleth Aracus sive Cicera and Camerarius Lathyrus flore purpureo the third Clusius calleth Cicercula Aegyptiaca and Camerarius Aracus Hispanicus sive Lathyrus Aegyptiacus the fourth was called by Boel Lathyrus Baeticus flore miniato and the last by him also Lathyrus Baeticus Dâ—â—â—torum The Vertues All of them as Boel saith are eaten by the poore people in Spaine in the want of bread for where these are food seldome doe they taste of any bread of Corne they are all of a compact substance and therefore nourish more but are hardlyer concocted CHAP. VII Orchas sive Ervilia Winged wilde Pease OF this kinde of Pulse I have onely seene and noursed up with me two sorts much differing in the manner of growing and fruit from any of the other Pulses as shall be shewed 1. Ervilia flore fructu albo The white winged wild Pease This kind of Pease hath two or three stalkes at the most which are broad and flat welted or winged at the sides with somewhat long leaves shooting from them small at the setting to the stalke and broader to the end as it were growing from the middle ribbe of the other 1. Ochâ—us sive Ervilia flore fructu albo The white wilde winged Pease at the toppe whereof standeth two or three twining claspers this never shooteth forth any branches that ever I could see but the leaves from almost the bottomes of the stalkes upwards are parted as it were at the toppe of them into one or two smaller leaves or rather one or two smaller leaves grow at the toppe of them with the claspers between them at the foote of these leaves come forth single flowers like the former Cicheling wholly white which turne into small round and long cods with small crooked points at the ends and filmes at the backes wherein are conteined small round whitish
shape like Wheate or Barley which maketh blacke bread and of an ill taste as Mnesitheus told Galen The Place and Time The first was anciently sowen in Greece Asia and the East countries and accounted by them to bee next in goodnesse unto the finest Wheate being a Winter Corne the second is sowen in many places of Italy and France and will abide in a moist ground holding firme the Winters injuries yet prospereth best in a more fruitfull dry soile and is a Winter Corne sowen in September and October and reaped in Iuly The last is a Summer Corne growing in many places of Italy c. where but in want of better they make no bread of it The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Latine also Zea which Gaza translateth Semen taking it as it is likely from Pliny who before him said that Zea was Far or Adoreum which was called also Semen as the most singular Corne of any other The second is thought by many to be the Zea of Theophrastus and Galen but as I said it is more likely to bee the Zea of Dioscorides for these two authors have in many things given names to Plants the one farre differing from the other as may bee knowne by the Mandragores the one so farre differing from the other as though they had not lived in one and the same countrey or rather in one and the same world and is therefore generally called by most writers Zea dicoccos and peradventure was the old Romanes Far and Ador or semen Adoreum of the later Romanes and is now called Spelta the last is variably called by divers For Matthiolus calleth it Zea simplex and referreth it to Dioscorides his second Zea which most do call Monococcos and is thought to be that Briza of Galen which he saw in the fields of Thracia and Macedonia and tooke it to be Zea which is a forcible argument in my judgement that Zea is bearded and called Spelta by Dodonaeus Lobel and Lugdenensis as also by Tragus and Casalpinus or Frumentum Monococcum by Dodoneus the French call the second Espeaute the Germanes Spelt Welsche Weyson and Romsche Weysen and the last S. Peters Kern and Eiâ— Kern the Italians Pirra and in some places Biadaas Matthiolus saith and by that name have I received such a Corne out of Italy as you shall finde it set downe at the end of the description of the second sort of Barley The Vertues Galen saith his Zea is in a meane betweene Wheate and Barley and Dioscorides saith it nourisheth not so much a Wheate yet more then Barley yet is acceptable to the stomacke CHAP. IIII. Tipha sive Triticum Tiphinum Light Wheate TIpha riseth up with a single and slender stalke or straw the eare is long and round bearded with long hard sharpe aunes somewhat closely set together the graine is small and light but hard and of a redder colour then Wheate inclosed in divers chaffie huskes hard to be beaten out this groweth well in a leane soyle and desireth not a ritch or fat ground as Zea doth 2. Triticum Tiphinum alterum sive Hispanicum Spanish Light Wheate This other light Wheate differeth from the former in 1.2 Tipha Dodonaei Triticum Tiphinum Hispanicum Dodonaeus his Light Wheate and that of Spaine these particulars the stalkes are shorter then Wheate and slenderer the eare is small and bearded with long and sharpe aunes like Barley the Graine or Corne is somewhat like Wheate but lesser and yellower and is inclosed but in single huskes easie to be beaten out which sheweth it to be differing The Place and Time Trogus saith that the first is most sowen in the mountainous places of Alsatia and seldome in any other of the countries of Germany and especially because their wilde Swine that will bee feeding upon and destroying any other Corne will not touch this or very hardly because the sharpe aunes will pricke them and if they should take much of it it would quickly hurt them and oftentimes choake them the other groweth in Spaine and in the Canaries as Lugdunensis saith for it is often found among the Canary seede that is brought from thence and are both Summer Cornes that is sowen in the Spring and reaped in the end of Summer The Names It is called is Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Tipha in Latine but of our later writers Tipha cerealis and Triticum Tiphinum that it may bee distinguished from the other Tipha the marish plant called Reede Mace The first is not knowne to any in our Land but remembred by Dodonaeus and Tragus as his third sort of Wheate Lugdunensis saith that Dodonaeus is much deceived in thinking this Tipha was that which the French men called Meteil and they of Lyoâ—s de la Mescla that is our Maslin being a mixture of Wheate and Rie sowen together The Vertues Galen sheweth that the bread that is made of Tipha is pleasant and much desired both by countrey men and citizens if it be eaten hot is better then that which is made of Olyra yet if it grow to be two or three dayes old and then eaten it will lye heavie on the stomacke and hard to bee digested some doe thinke that this is the sweete Corne that Homer sheweth Hector speaking to his Horses promiseth to give them for as it is said it may bee given Horses without any harme when as Wheate cannot CHAP. V. Olyra Soft Wheate THis soft Wheate or Amelkern as Dodonaeus saith the Germanes called it groweth as great and high as wheate the eare is sharpely bearded like Barley whose graines or cornes being inclosed in chaffie huskes like unto Zea are being clensed like unto Wheate The Place and Time This groweth saith Galen as well as the other in Asia c. and Pliny saith in Egypt Syria c. as also in France and Italy but Matthiolus saith he knew of none growing there in his time It is saith Dodonaeus sowen in divers places of Germany and is a Summer Corne as many thinke Olyra Soft Wheate yet saith himselfe Olyra and Far Clusinum are Winter Cornes The Names 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke is called Olyra also in Latine Gaza translateth it Siligo which Pliny saith maketh the sweetest bread and hee altered it to Siligo which maketh the finest white bread yet Pliny doth not say that it is Siligo although Hermolaus Budaeus and Ruellius did so thinke for Lugdunensis saith he can finde no such thing in Pliny who saith it is the Arinca of the Gaules being proper to their country Dodonaeus calleth it Amyleum frumentum from the Germanes Amelkern as is said before and thinketh it also to bee the Far Halicastrum of Columella and not much to differ in any thing from the Oriza Germanica of Tragus who called it also Far candidum and Tragus cerealis thinking Tragus to bee a kind of graine of it selfe when as it is but a kinde of meate or pultage made of Corne as
reede Some also call this as well as the next by the name of Sedge The Vertues Matthiolus giveth such a property hereunto that the pouther should helpe children when they are bursten being mixed with Betony and the rootes of Gladioll and Horse-tongue but others doe utterly contest against it to be taken inwardly being too dangerous in that it would rather strangle then helpe them for it is usually known and mixed as a baite to kill Mice Dioscorides onely saith that the flocky substance mixed with Axungia is good to heale burnings it is held by good Authors to be used in the place of the true Paper reede for those uses it is appointed It doth moderately clense and dry and being applyed to the bleeding places stancheth blood The leaves hereof are usually kept to make Mats and for childrens chaires and many other the like uses CHAP. XXXVIII Sparganium The Burre Reede OF this kinde of Reede I have foure sorts to shew you two whereof are generally remembred by most Writers a third as the least of them all is mentioned by Bauhinus but we have a fourth sort lately brought from Virginia 1. Sparganium ramosum Branched Burre Reede This branched Reede hath larger broader and rougher leaves then those of the Reede mace yet three â—re as it were like them and sharpe both at the edges and points among which riseth a rough round stalke two foote high with the like but lesser leaves on them dividing it selfe toward the toppe into sundry branches bearing on them divers small greene burres which are not rough at the first but growing ripe are hard and prickly somewhat resembling the rough burres of Platanus the Plane tree with a leafe at the joynt no to the toppe the roote busheth into many strings and fibres 2. Sparganium non ramosum Vnbranched Burre Reede This other burre Reede groweth up in the like manner with leaves somewhat broader then the former and a single lower stalke not branched at all but bearing the like balles or burres but somewhat softer and not so prickly with a leafe at every one of them likewise the roote also is like the other 3. Sparganium minimum The least Burre Reade This small Burre reede hath a stalke about two inches high rising from a small roote composed of a few long 1. Sparganium ramosum Branched Burre Reede 1. 2. Sparganium majus ramosum nâ—n ramosum Branched and Vnbranched Burre Reede 2. Sparganium non ramosum Vnbranched Burre Reede 4. Sparganium majus sive ramosum Virginianum The great branched Burre Reede of Virginia stringes or fibres on the toppe whereof standeth a small round head and another lesse then it thereupon of the same forme and colour of the former having foure or five long narrow leaves standing on each side of the stalcke and rising higher then the stalke it selfe 4. Sparganium majus sive ramosum Virginianum The great branched Burre reede of Virginia This kinde of Burre reede hath onely two or three very long and somewhat bread 〈◊〉 greene leaves rising from the roote and in the midst of them a strong round stalke without any leaves thereoâ—â— and branching forth neare the toppe into many round somewhat prickly Burres of the bignesse of a Wallâ—â— without any shew of flowers appearing thereon The roote is somewhat knobby at the head with divers strings thereat The Place and Time These Burre Reedes grow in watery ditches ponds and rivers usually or by the sides of them in sundry parts of this Land except the two last the one whereof in Germany the other in Virginia brought by Mr. Tradescant the younger they flourish with the Reede mace or thereabouts The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quod folijs ejus latis vitilium modo lentis prâ— fascijâ— nutrices utantur in Latine also Sparganium and Xiphidion also as Dioscorides saith in his time The first is called Sparganium generally by most Authors yet Anguilara Ruellius and Dodonaeus take it to be 〈◊〉 Theophrasti Dodonaeus also and Thalius call it Platanaria because the burres of it as I said are like those of the Plane tree Lonicerus taketh it to be Carex Lugdunensis maketh it to be Phleos faemina of Theophrastâ—s but as I have formerly shewed there is great difference betweene his Phleos and Phleum this last being a moorish plant and the other a thorny The second is called Sparganium alterum by Lobel Lugdunensis and others and Plaâ—aâ—â—â—ia altera by Dodonaeus who findeth fault with that which Matthiolus set forth for Sparganium and saith this without branches doth better agree to Dioscorides his description having burres at the toppe of the stalke The third Bauhinus onely maketh mention of and the last by no other before The Vertues Galen onely saith that Sparganium is of a drying faculty and Dioscorides that the roote taken in wine is good against the poyson of Serpents CHAP. XXXIX Papyrus The Paper Reede THe ancient Reede called Papyrus by Theophrastus Dioscorides Pliny and others whereof the Paper and bookes were made that were used in their and their former times we may out of their writings describe unto you if it be the same which Alpinus and others say groweth now in Egypt and they call by that name however we will shew you what they said it was and how it grew and withall shew you how Alpinus and others describe it now and likewise shew you another sort thereof as it is taken 1. Papyrus antiquorum Nilotica The Paper Reede of the ancients growing in Nilus This ancient Paper reede which Theophrastus from him Pliny do describe growing say they not in the depth of the River Nilus but in the pooles of Egipt whereinto the River Nilus hath broken out and in the River it selfe also yet not in the depth of the streame but neere the bankes where the water is onely about two cubits from the shore or lesse whose roote is of the thickenesse of a great mans wrist or fist as he can graspe Pliny hath an armes thicknesse about tenne cubits in length spâ—eading divers of the long but small and thicke rootes above on the toppe of the mudde and earth wherein it groweth from whence rise three square corned stalkes they are in the Text termed Papyros which I so translate for of leaves they have no mention of foure cubits bignesse almost spreading into many parts and growing smaller to the toppe where it carrieth an unprofitable bush or tuft without any fruite or seed This is Theophrastus his Pyperus Nilotica Alpino The Paper Reede of Nilus now growing relation word for word as neere as the description could be brought into sence which Pliny hath altered in some things and curtalled in others setting downe Thyrsus for Câ—â—a they being of different forme yet Vestingius saith the tuft expresseth them both and leaving out Theophrastus his foure cubits greatnesse which is somewhat difficult well to understand and to apply to the purpose therefore will I here give you the description
as Dioscorides before him did set it downe The leaves heated under the ashes untill they grow yellow and applyed to the hard swellingâ— of the fundament that bâ—eede being like unto the Hemorrhoides doe stay the bleeding and ease the paines and being used with hony they clense foule ulcers CHAP. XIV Stachys palustris Marsh base Horehound THis hath square round and hairy stalkes about two foote high with two somewhat long and narrow darke greene leaves and gray underneath Stachys palustris Marsh base Horehound pointed at the ends and dented about the edges with round dents like Betony set at every joynt and somewhat a strong unsavoury sent at the upper joynts with the leaves come forth sundry pale reddish flowers set in rankes like unto Betony the roote is somewhat long and thicke joynted at severall spaces with fibres at them The Place and Time It groweth in the plashy places of low grounds in sundry Countries and flowreth in Iuly The Names Camerarius calleth it Stachys palustris Gesneri but Gesner himselfe in Collations stirpium calleth it Betonica faetidâ— and questioneth whether it should not be the Herba Iâ—daica Lugdunensis saith it is Clymenum minus Dalechampij and Thalius calleth it Sideritis primae gravis â—doris Cosalpinus Terâ—iola because it cureth a tertian ague Besler in the great hortus Eystetensis saith it was called with them Lysimachia galericulata adulterina and Gerard Marrubium aquaticum acutum yet it is not his Pinax Câ—loni as some would thinke which is not of so strong a sent as this neither is the leafe of this so long nor rootes so Serephâ—lâ—us The Vertues It is a singular good wound herbe serving both to heale greene wounds and foule old Vlcers the juyce taken in some drinke an houre before the fit of an ague will lessen and alter the fit and at two or three times taking quite rid it away CHAP. XV. Conyza palustris major The greater Marsh or water Fleabane THe roote hereof is thicke and diversly spread sending forth hollow and crested stalkes three foote high with sundry joynts and branches Conyza palustris Marsh Fleabane bearing two long leaves at each joynt which are dented about the edges greene on the upper side and gray or woolly underneath at the toppes of the stalkes and branches stand many small yellow flowers together like unto those of Ragwort which when they are ripe the seede flyeth away with the winde Minor aquaticâ— There is another smaller and lower then this growing in the like watery places the leaves will be sometimes much lesse dented or jagged on the edges then in others the flowers likewise stand not but one on a stalke for the most part and yellow The Place and Time The place is declared by the titles and description and their time of flowring and seeding is the end of Sommer The Names The former is the Conyza aquatica of Gesner in hortis Conyza maxima serrati folia of Thalius Lingua major Dalechampij of Lugdunensis called Consolida palustris by Tabermontanus and Solidago Sarsaenica by Gerard according to his figure but not description The other is called Conyza aquatica both by Thalius and Bauhinus and that which hath more jagged leaves may be also the Conyza Helenitis folijs laciniatis of Lobel The Vertues This is as effectuall a wound herbe as any is used and is also as availeable to all the purposes that the other Conyza's are applyed whereunto I referre you for brevities sake CHAP. XVI Oenanthe aquatica Water Dropwort THere are two sorts of this Water Dropwort a greater and a lesser both which are exhibited by Lobel in his Ieones under one title as one would thinke but distinguished the one by Oenanthe aquatica which is the lesser the other which is the greater by Oenanthe quarta Matthioli but confounded in his Observations both titles being referred to one which confusion I would avoid and shew you them both distinctly The greater hath divers large spread leaves next the ground and lying thereon cut into many divisions somewhat resembling Parsley but much smaller among which rise crested thicke hollow stalkes with leaves on them cut into longer and finer divisions bearing white flowers at the toppe which turne into close umbels of small flat grayish seede somewhat lesser then Fennell seede the roote hath sundry small white knobs growing among the strings 2. Oenanthe aquatica minor The lesser Water Dropwort The lesser hath very finely cut small leaves lying on the ground before the stalke beginneth to rise which then being carryed up with it scarse seeme to be leaves but rather like the ribbes of leaves of a darke and shining greene colour as the stalke is also which resembleth a Rush very nearely and below the toppe thereof which is pointed like a Rush and not at the toppe as the figure expresseth it breaketh forth a small umbell of small whitish sweete flowers which turne afterward into as small seede as Smallage but blacker the roote hath many small kernels among the fibres which are as small as haires or finer 3 Oenanthe altera minor Africana The small Water Dropwort of Barbary This other lesser sort being brought us by Boel from Barbary doth most â—â—erly resemble the last small sort in the 1. Oenanthe aquatica major The greater Water Dropwort 2. Oenanthe aquatica minor The lesser water Dropwort 3. Oenanthe altera minor Africana The small water Dropwort of Barbary fine leaves but differeth in the toppe which is at the toppe of the staâ—ke the tuft being larger and the seede bigger The Place and Time Both the former grow in wet grounds neere brookes sides with 〈◊〉 in many places yet will they both endure in Gardens but are not there so great and large as in their naturall places the lesser flowâ—eth and seedeth 〈◊〉 then the other usually the lesser is pâ—â— before the greater be in flower which is not untill August The last was gathered about Sapphi in Barbary by Boel aforesaid The Names The greater is the Oenanthe quarta of Matthiolus exhibited both by him and Lobel separately in the figure which may bee plainely discerned not to be all one with the other and as my selfe have observed them in mine owne Garden Bauhinus who as it should seeme knew it not was deceived by Lobel his confounding of the figures and titles Lugdunensis calleth it Siser palustre and Tabermontanus and Gerard Filipendula aquatica The lesser is referred by Bauhinus to both these sorts to quarta Matthioli and to Oenanthe aquatica which is this of Lobel although expressed in the figure without any kernells to the rootes if it doe not represent another plant which both Dodonaeus and Lonicerus referre to Siâ—â—â— or Laver Dodonaeus calleth it Iuncus odâ—ratus aquatilis I know not by what reason but onely that the stalke is in colour and fashion not much unlike a Rush but nothing else is like it The Vertues They are both of them good to provoke urine when it is stopped
Corallina dictus Hard Sea Mosse or Coralline ACcording to the method before prescribed I am in this Chapter to shew you all those sorts of hard Mosses that are either Coralline or come neerest to them 1. Muscus marinus sive Corallina alba efficinarum Common white Coralline The ordinary Coralline which is used in the Apothecaries shoppes is a sort of white hard or stony Mosse growing usually on the Rocks in or neere the Sea rising either from the stones thereof or from the shels of Scallops Oysters or the like and groweth not above an handfull high spreading sundry small branches like a greene herbe with divers small short leaves like haires thereon which is soft under the water but taken forth groweth as hard almost as a 1. Muscus marinus sive Corallina alba Common white Coralline stone This is our ordinary Coralline which is gathered in all our Coasts Westwards and in these Northerne parts of Europe as farre as I can learne but some have affirmed that it hath beene found somewhat reddish growing upon the Corall it selfe which is not found but in the deeper Mediterranean Seas on Rockes under water 2. Muscus marinus niger Germanicus sive Corallina nigra Blacke Germane Coralline This groweth like unto a Coralline with branches and fine cut leaves but blackish of colour which is a sort seldome heard of before and creepeth as it groweth 3. Muscus marinus sive Corallina rubeus Reddish Coralline This sort of Coralline hath no branched stalkes like the former nor spreading much but growing more upright hath longer leaves thereon then the other as fine as Fennell and of a reddish colour 4. Muscus marinus latifolius sive Corallina latifolia Broad Coralline This broad Coralline spreadeth leaves as it were on both sides of a middle stalke each whereof is broad and parted into sundry divisions 5. Muscus marinus longifolius sive Corallina longa Long Coralline This Coralline hath divers upright stalkes set with two three or foure long leaves by spaces one above another in three or foure rowes each whereof is somewhat flat and dented or cut in all along the edges 6. Muscus marinus squammatus sive Corallina squammata Scaly Coralline This sixt sort of Coralline hath sundry sprigs with joynts at them like unto scales and small hairy Mosse like leaves on each side of them being wholly white 3. Muscus marinus rubeus sive Corallina rubeus Reddish Coralline 6. Muscus marinus squammatus sive Corallina squammata Scaly Coralline The Place and Time All these Mosses are expressed to grow on the Rockes and stones in and by the Sea and are to be found growing at all times of the yeare The Names All these sorts may be referred to the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Muscus marinus before set forth both their place of breeding and manner of growing declaring it and came to be called Corallina chiefly from that sort that grew upon Corall it selfe The first is the Muscus marinus of Matthiolus Dodonaeus Lugdunensis and others Lobel calleth it Corallina and Lugdunensis Fucus capillaceus The second Bauhinus onely remembreth in his Pinax to have received it from the Balticke Sea calling it Muscus capillaceus multisidus niger The third is the Muscus marinus vulgatissimus of Lobel and the second Muscus marinus of Dodonaeus Tabermentanus and Gerard. The fourth is the Muscus Coralliformis of Lobel The fifth is the Corallina minima in the new Gerard whose description doth nothing answer the figure for Gerards figure is quite differing from this yet is answerable to his description The last is called by Lobel Muscus candidus Coralloides squammulis loricatis and is the third Muscus marinus of Dodonaeus although the new Gerard doth entitle another figure by that name and giveth a description farre differing from his figure The Vertues Coralline is in a manner wholly spent among us to kill the wormes in children or in elder persons and as the matter so the manner not knowne but in these latter times to Authours but by what quality it worketh this effect is not declared by any for it is altogether insipide or without taste of heate or cold as Corall it selfe is and if Corall be so much commended against the stone and fluxes crampes the falling sicknesse and melancholly c. as you shall heare in its proper Chapter doe not thinke but these may conduce somewhat thereunto also CHAP. LIV. Frutices Coralloides sive Corallinae fruticantes Shrub Corallines VNto the Corallines mentioned in the last Chapter I must adjoyne sundry forts of wooddy gritty or stony shrub like Corallines as I may so call them of severall differing matters and formes which I would place in a Chapter by themselves and neither mingle them with the former Corallines nor with the next Corals because different from both 1. Corallina fruticans alba The white crusted Shrub Coralline This white Shrub Coralline groweth up from the Rocke or some shell in forme of a small shrub or low tree to a cubits height more or lesse with a flat stemme or trunke below and sundry 〈◊〉 branches also issuing from it on both sides and not round like an ordinary shrub or tree which branches are divided into other smaller sprigs above and those againe into lesser it is wholly covered over or crusted with a white hâ—â—d crust like unto Coralline or white Corall but rough or rugged the middle part or heart being wooddy and bending like the branch of a tree yet very hard also 2. Corallina fruticans rubra Red crusted shrub Coralline This red Coralline is like the former in all things saving that the colour hereof is in some wholly of a reddish colour Lutea and in others the branches part white and part purplish And another sort there is also that is of a whitish yellow spotted which as I take it Bauhinus calleth Corallina pallide flavescontis coloris lutea punctata for I thinke them both one 3. Corallina lignosa ruffescens Ericae facis Brownish wooddy Coralline or Sea Heath This sort also groweth flat like the former and from some stone or Rocke riseth halfe a yard high or better with divers spread branches divided againe into other smaller ones somewhat like unto Heath spreading almost to a yards breadth all covered with a thinne brownish barke and a very hard wooddy substance underneath set thicke with small knots or bunches as if they were the buds of flowers easily rubbed to pouther the whole plant being of a saltish taste 4. Corallina plumata sive Myriophyllum Pelaginus Cortusi Clusio The Sclavonian Sea Feather This Sea Coralline for so in substance it is not unlike and Cortusus found the effects to be alike also groweth not as the former from some stone or shell but out of the 1 2. Corallina fruticans alba vel rubra The white or red crusted shrub Coralline ground in the Sea from a roote fastened therein with very hairy fibres growing up with a slender stalke as Clusius ghessed by the sight of
flat some of a browne yellow colour others pale yellow or almost white some also close and hard others more loose and open and some of a fine thinne substance and others of a courser and thicker Bauhinus relateth that some sorts were called Hircina another Velaris another Ramosa fistulosa with divers other names I will therefore onely shew you that Sponges like other excâ—â—essences are bred in the Sea growing from some stone Rocke c. or the ground it selfe and by the Seas operation in some places differing from others brought to the forme as well as 1. Spongia marina usualis The ordinary Sea Sponges 2. Spongia infundibuli forma A Funnell like Spong 3. Spongia ramosa Britanica The branched English Sponge 4. Spongia ramosa altera Anglica Another branched English Sea Sponge colour that it holdeth being as all know of a soft substance neither stony wooddy nor herbe like but rather like a peece of wooll or cloth so wrought together by nature that being full of holes it is ready to receive and hold much water and by pressing or wringing ready to yeeld it out againe but as it encreaseth in the water it gathereth into it or else there is driven into the holes thereof divers small gritty stones which are usually found therein declaring the breeding thereof not to be farre from the ground by the receipt of these stones Aristotle in his fifth booke and 16. Chapter de historia animalium saith that divers did thinke and say in his time that Sponges had sence in them for that as they say they would shrinke if any did plucke them and were hard to be pulled up and that they doe so likewise when the surges of the Sea would breake them off from their residence but saith Aristotle in the same place divers did doubt of the trueth of that relation and those were they that dwelt at Toronna I have beene bold to insert this proofe of Aristotle in this place to refute the opinion of those that hold Sponges and the like to be Zoophytae sensitive creatures for all though affirmed in Aristotles time yet doubted of them also and therefore wee that have beene better taught and in a Schoole of farre greater knowledge both of Divine and humane things may well cast of such fond conceits 2. Spongia infundibuli forma Funnell like Sponge This Sponge Clusius hath set forth to have seene cleaving to a very hard blacke stone of twelve pound weight and was broad above and narrow below where it grew to the stone like unto a funell or to the flower of an herbe yet not of an equall height at the brims which also were so turned inwards that they seemed to be like leaves foulded inwards One saith Clusius I remember I saw while I lived at Mompelier that did most exactly resemble the forme of a very large hat 5. Spongia ramosa fistulosa Veneta The Venetian Sea hollow Sponge 6. Arbuscula marina spongiosa Coralloides A Spongie Corall like tree 3. Spongia ramosa Britanica The branched English Spong This saith Lobel I found in the I le of Portland among other Sea excrements which for substance and colour you would say was a Sponge but if you marke the forme of branches in it you would say it was neere a Coralline for it was neere a handfull and a halfe high full of blisters soft and easie to be bowed any way Some would take this to be the Isados Plocamon of Pliny that was like unto Corall without leaves growing hard changing the colour to be blacke and ready to breake if it fall which is more likely to be the Antipathes or blacke Corall of Dioscorides 4. Spongiosa marina Anglica planta nodosa The English soft Sea ragged staffe This soft Spongie plant hath beene found on our Kentish Sea shore by Master Iohnson and his Associates in a simpling voyage to those parts and is about the thickenesse of ones thumbe about a foote in length set with many tuberous uneven or knagged excressences on all sides like unto short branches being very sappy and of a soft Spongious substance and of a brownish yellow colour it was not observed growing but broken and among other such like things cast upon the shore 5. Spongia ramosa fistulosa Veneta The Venetian Sea hollow Sponge The Venetian kinde groweth on Rockes in the Sea like other excressences rising up as it were with stalkes and breaking out on all sides into sundry short branches the substance whereof is Spongy and hollow as soft at the first as the crumme of bread which may then be made into paste and afterwards being dry may bee made into pouther 6. Arbuscula marina spongiosa Coralloides A Spongie Corall like tree From the largenesse hereof Clusius calleth this a shrubbe or low tree being three foote high and seven inches compasse at the bottome which although it seemed firme and solid yet was but of a Spongie substance and white and cutting like unto dry Ginger both the trunck or body with the many branches thereon were set full of knobs the branches themselves ending in greater which were spongy on the inside but without any seede in the seeming places and marked on the outside like starres The whole plant was covered with a thinne knobby reddish barke which colour Clusius who first set it forth doubted was not naturall because he saw others the like which had a white coate but of so salt a taste that the salt it selfe did not exceede it Altera Within a while after Clusius saith he saw another which was six foote high or more being wholly flat and halfe a foote broad and two inches thicke set with branches and knobs in the like manner The Place Time and Names Are sufficiently declared in their descriptions so that I shall not neede further to insist thereon The Grecians call it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Latines Spongia and so doe both the Italians and Spaniards The Arabians Afferagi alhairi or alâ—ar The French Esponge The Germanes Badschwam The Vertues Sponges are put to many uses buth civill and Physicall as for fomentations or bathings which moistened and applyed containe the warmth of the decoction much longer and stronger then either linnen or woollen cloth peeces of Sponges very well dryed and put into hollow ulcers that are ready to close before they be throughly clensed and healed doth open the sores againe being to be pulled forth by the thred is fastened thereto before it be put in the ashes thereof mixed with a little wine or vinegar is used to cleare the eyes when they are blood shotten or watering the stones in the Sponge are used by some to be given to them that are troubled with the stone to helpe to breake it and cause it to passe away with the urine The Venetian Spongie plant is said to clense the face being washed with a decoction made thereof in honyed water and is a remedy for them that have eaten dangerous Mushromes to be boyled in Vinegar and taken
greenish heads on them The Place and Time All these are in a manner particularly declared where they are most usually growing and are in their perfection in the Summer time The Names Mosse in generall is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and in the Atticke tongue Sphagnum and Hypnum and Pliny thereupon in one place calleth it in Latine Bryon and Sphagnum and in another place Sphagnos sive Phacos sive Bryon in Latine it is usually called Muscus and properly betokeneth any herbe that is composed of haires or threds instead of leaves The first here set forth is the Muscus terrestris vulgaris of Lobel and Dodonaeus and thought by Bauhinus to be the Muscus hortensis of Tragus but I suppose rather his is the last that I here set forth in this Chapter and none other that I know growing so familiar in Gardens The second is the Muscus montanus of Tabermontanus and Muscus terrestris of Gerard which Bauhinus calleth Muscus Denticulato sâ—â—ilis because it is very like the small Denticulatus but that it rooteth not as it lyeth The third is the Muscus scoparius of Lobel and others and Selago tertia of Thalius The fourth is called Muscus clavatus by Lobel and Dodonaeus who calleth it also Lycopodium Tragus Matthiolus and others Muscus terrestris and is the Selaginis species altera of Thalius Gesner in fractimontis descriptione calleth it Muscus â—â—sinus and set it forth for Chamaepeuce Cordis in historia but Thalius saith it was imposed on him by others for Cordus sent the true Chamaepeuce to Gesner a little before his death Anguilara and Caesalpinus say that it was of long time used in the shops of Italy c. for true Spica Celtica The fifth of both sorts is called Muscus terrestris by some and denticulatus by others and Lusitanicus by Clusius The sixth of both sorts is mentioned onely by Bauhinus in his Pinax and Prodâ—omus and so is the seventh aâ—so The eight is called by Bauhinus Muscus ramosus erectus major minor The ninth is called by Lobel Muscus in ericetis proveniens and by Bauhinus as it is in the title Muscus parvus stellaris The tenth is by Bauhinus onely called as it is in the title Muscur stellatus roseus The eleventh is the Muscus pyxidatus alabastriculos imitans by Lobel the other sort whereof Bauhinus calleth Muscus pyxiodes saxatilis as he did the former of Lobel pyxiodes terrestris The twelfth is called Muscus ceranoides major minor by Bauhinus and no doubt is the Muscus câ—rniculatus of Tabermontanus and Gerard however his Corrigidor hath put as he saith a better in the place namely the Filix petraea of Tragus when as no other Authour doth referre it to any of the Mosses but Bauhinus who mistooke his reference herein for as I shewed in the description thereof among the Fearnes that hath spots on the leaves as other Fearnes and Capillare herbes have which argueth it plainely to be of that family and no Mosse and Bauhinus his description of his Muscus ceranoides major doth plainely agree with this corniculatus The last although best knowne to many yet little regarded by most and not mentioned before by any except Tragus if his be it The Vertues All the Mosses are somewhat cooling and drying and thereby stay fluxes and bleedings these earth or ground Mosses especially the first and the fourth are held to be singular good to breake the stone and to expell and drive it forth by urine being boyled in wine and drunke the herbe bruised and boiled in water and then applyed to any inflammations or paineâ— rising from a hot cause doth allay and ease them and therefore many doe apply it to the hot gout to ease the paines thereof The cup Mosse is said to helpe the chincough in children effectually if they drinke the pouther thereof for certaine daies together The club Mosse hung in a vessell of wine that hath lost the vigour and vertue so much as is convenient for the bignesse of the vessell is said in short time to recover it againe whereupon Brunfelsius called it Wein kraut the Wine herbe CHAP. LX. Muscus herbae formis coralliformis Mosses that resemble some herbes or Corall THere be divers other sorts of Mosses that have some resemblance either to some herbes or to Corall and because I thought it fittest to ranke them together I have as you see kept them out of the last Chapter to insert them here into this 1. Muscus clavatus Cupressiformis Cypresse like Mosse This small Mosse abideth alwayes greene sending forth sundry hard branched stalkes with very short and thicke leaves setled upon them somewhat resembling the branch of a Cypresse being of a darke greene colour from the top whereof sometimes come forth small and soft spiked beads standing on small foote stalkes Another somewhat like hereunto is remembred by Bauhinus Altera which he entituleth Muscus Cupressi formis ramosus to distinguish it 2. Muscus Abietis facie Firre like Mosse The Firre like Mosse groweth close upon the ground and creeping thereon with sundry long branched stalkes with fine short hayrie greene leaves set on both sides of the middle thereof resembling a Firre tree branch whereof it tooke the name 3. Muscus Filicinus Ferne like Mosse There be divers sorts of this Mosse some bigger and some lesser than others all of them rising up with sundry stalkes some blackish some reddish and fine leaves on them much like to Ferne leaves but in some more finely jagged or cut into severall parts than in others on the toppes of the branches of the lesser sort hang small round pointed crooked heads 4. Muscus Polytrichoides Maiden haire Mosse There are three sorts of this Mosse the one hath many short stalkes thicke covered with short but somewhat 1. Muscus clavatus Cupressiformis Cypresse Mosse 3. Muscus filicinus Ferne-like Mosse 8. Muscus Corallinus montanus Mountaine Coralline like Mosse 9. Muscus Coralloides saxatilis Rockie Corrall like Mosse hard Alii duo rough haire like leaves the other is lesse in each part and the leaves not rough or hard at all the third is the least and the leaves smoothest the first groweth in wet wood grounds and the other upon old walls 5. Muscus saxatilis Ericoides Stone Heath Mosse This small Mosse hath many small hairelike leaves next the ground like unto the common ground Mosse among which rise rough stalkes an hand bredth high in some places bare of leaves and covered in the rest with many such like small leaves as are growing on the Erica Coris the faire heath low Pine but without order on the tops of each whereof standeth a small head 6. Muscus terrestris coralloides incanus Hoary Corall like Mosse This Mosse is all hoary white about a foote high whose upright branches are thicke solide and not hollow divided into many branches each whereof is like a stagges horne and sharpe or small at the ende 7. Muscus
generally by all Dentaria and major the lesser being called by Clusius Dentaria aphyllos and Dentaria coralloide radice and minor by others The Italians as Matthiolus saith call Orobanche Herba Tora because Kine eating thereof will presently goe to the Bull some also as he saith Herba Lupa and some Coda di leâ—ne Because we had no proper English name for the former sorts and I thought it improper to call them Broome tapes as that is called which groweth from the Broome I have given them another English one fitting their property as I take it yet let every one doe as they thinke meetest The Vertues Dioscorides saith of his times that it was used to be eaten as other herbes are either raw or boyled with pulse which would helpe their digestion Galen saith it is cold and dry in the first degreeâ— our people doe many times use the latter sort in medicines for the Lungs having received it as a tradition from their ancestours and therefore called the greater Lungwort we have no other properties of any of these herbes to open unto you CHAP. XVII Cyclamen Sowbread ALthough I have given you in my former Booke a doozen sorts or more of Cyclamen or Sowbread for whose knowledge I must referre you thereunto a figure of one or two being here shewed you instead of the rest yet I have a strange plant to exhibite to your consideration which was found and sent for a bastard kinde thereof and withall shew you the properties of the right more amply Pro Cyclamino verno spurio missa plauta A strange plant sent for a bastard Sowebread of the Spring It had a tuberous roote varying from the forme of the Cyclamen roote being long and thicke small at the head and broad at the bottome with a dent in somewhat like unto the forme of an heart as it is pictured on the cards or rather like those pin-pillow-purses that poore women use to sticke their pinnes round about the brims or edges having a hard thicke skinne of a brownish colour with sundry hard long rough fibres underneath and about it from the toppe whereof rose divers somewhat round leaves a little pointed resembling those of the violet but smaller some being larger and smaller then others with three five or seven nerves or ribs in them each upon a long footestalke and of a brownish greene colour from among which riseth up a reddish stalke divided from the bottome into three or foure branches with the like leaves on them and at the head of every branch two or three small greenish yellow mossy flowers much like unto those of the Ribes or red Currans with divers yellow threds in the middle The Place and Time This grew on the Pyraenean hils sent by Venerius to Iohn Hogheland and other his friends in the low countries and flowring in the Spring time Cyclamen autumâ—ale folia Hâ—derae Ivy leafed Sowbread Pro Cyclamino verno spurio missa planta A strange plant sent for a bastard Sowbread of the Spring The Names â—â—â—rius sent this for a differing kind of Cyclamen by the title it beareth but as the description and figure declare â— is much different therefrom almost in every particular and therefore not knowing what other denomination 〈◊〉 it must hold the first imposed for me untill I or some other can better dispose of a more certainty The Vertues The plant being rare and lately found out and known but to few I have not yet learned that any experience hath 〈◊〉 thereof whether it hath any medicinal or other property therein but because in my former Booke I was 〈◊〉 in declaring the vertues of the true Sowbread I think good upon so fit an occasion to expatiate them furâ—â— here Although Mesues doth determine the degrees hereof to be hot and dry in the beginning of the third yet 〈◊〉 doth not so but saith only 70. Simplicium that it cutteth clenseth opneth the mouths of the veines drawâ—â— and digesteth which is plainely seene by the particular operations thereof for the juyce of it openeth the heâ—â—rrhoides or piles and strongly mooveth to the stoole being put up in wooll and saith Mesues it avoideth tough 〈◊〉 used in a glister it is also mixed with such medicines as discusse swellings kernels and other hard knots in any part of the body it helpeth also the pinne and webbe in the eyes being infused with honey as also avoideth it by the nostrils which Mesues also affirmeth and that by snuffing up the juice the head and braine is purged from those humours that offend it the ache also and daily paines of it and the Meagrome Galen further saith that if the belly be bathed with the juice it will forceably moove it downewards and kill the birth or to be put up in a 〈◊〉 and although the roote is weaker then the juyce yet the roote being either drunke or applyed provoketh 〈◊〉 and is profitable for those that have the yellow jaundice to drive it forth by sweating if after the 〈◊〉 of three drams thereof in powther in Meade or honied water they be carefully ordered to sweate it 〈◊〉 also to cleanse all the deformities or discolourings of the skin and the freckles and spots thereof as well 〈◊〉 â—s dry applyed to the region of the spleene it easeth the hardnesse thereof some also saith he gave the dryed 〈◊〉 to them that are pursie or short winded Matthiolus saith that the distilled water from the rootes snuffed 〈◊〉 into the nostrils stayeth their bleeding wonderfully and that if six ounces of that water be drunke with an 〈◊〉 of fine sugar it will stay the blood that commeth from the brest stomacke or Liver in a wonderfull manner or if any veine be broken in them and this is his attestation to hinder saith he the violence thereof in purging it is 〈◊〉 to mixe there with some Masticke or Nutmegge or a scruple of Rubarbe many have been holpen of the hardnesse and swelling of the spleene by the use thereof which could not be holpen by other things It easeth also the paines and torments in the bowels which we call the chollicke If saith he the roote hereof be beaten with new Peach stone kernels and bitter Almonds and after laid to steepe in Aquavitae for three dayes a drop or two of the expressed creame therof dropped into the eares that are deafe or have much noise in them helpeth them the juice mixed with honey or Plantane water helpeth all maner of sores in the mouth or throate being gargled therewith and the toothache also Dioscorides saith many of the same things and besides that the decoction thereof leâ—eth wounds the running sores also in the head bones or members out of joynts kibes or chillblanes and the â—oote Pliny saith the roote is good against the venome of Serpents and that it will kill Swine which is conâ—â—y to the received opinion of most that they are delighted therewith and greedily devoure the rootes after they have rooted them up from whence came
Plumme but much lesse and of a softer substance very sweete thus farre Theophrastus Now let me descant a little hereon and compare them First the leaves of Persea saith Theophrastus are most like unto the leafe of the Peare tree and this saith Clusius is like unto the greatest Bay leafe the one is almost as broad as long and the other twice as long as broad besides it is small pointed the flowers of Persea are like the Peare tree which are much larger then those of the Bay and doe not grow so many together as this doth nor at the ends of the branches like this the fruite of Clusius is blace of this greene of that like a Peare of this as bigge as a peare but like an Almond of this the stone is like a Plumme of that like an Heart which is round and not flat as that plumme stone is that hath ripe fruite onely in Autumne this at all times of the yeare And besides all these which are differences sufficient to distinguish them I doe not finde almost any plant either herbe or tree growing in the West Indies to be like unto those that grow in Europe the lesser Asia or the hither part of Africa and therefore by all probabilities this of Clusius cannot be that of Theophrastus yet this sheweth an excellent judgement in Clusius to referre this tree to that Persea but in any judgement this Persea of Theophrastus is most likely to be some kinde of Myrobolane or else some other fruite not knowne to us It was called saith Clusius by them where he saw it Mamay but he was afterwards enformed by Doctor Tonar that it was not Mamay but called Aguacate by the Indians Some have thought this Persea to be all one with the Persica arbor as Palladius calleth it or Malus Persica of Dioscorides Gaza translating Theophrastus in some places rendereth it Persica and in others Persea as Pliny in one place also confoundeth them both together although in another he distinctly speaketh of Persea and separateth it himselfe from Persica but how much they differ one from another the descriptions of both doth plainely declare to any The Peach is called by the Arabians Sauch and Chauch by the Italians Persiche by the Spaniards Pexegos by the French Pesches by the Germans Pfersichbaum by the Dutch Perseboom and by us Peach The Vertues Some are of opinion that the leaves of Peaches are of a cold quality but Galen sheweth that the buds and leaves have an excellent bitter quality that if they be bruised and laid on the belly they will kill the wormes and so will they doe also if they be boyled in Ale and drunke and open the belly likewise and also is a safe medicine to discusse humours being dryed and the pouther of them strewed upon fresh bleeding wounds doth both stay their bleeding and close them up the flowers being steeped all night in a little Wine standing warme strained forth in the morning and drunke fasting doth gently open the belly and move it downewards and a Syrupe made of them by reiterate infusions as the Syrupe of Roses is made is found to worke more forceably then that of Roses for that it provoketh vomitting and spendeth waterish and Hydropicke humours by the continuance thereof the flowers condited or made into a conserve worketh to the same effect the gumme or rather the liquour that droppeth from the tree being wounded is given in the decoction of Coltsfoote unto those that are troubled with the cough or with shortnesse of breath by adding thereto some sweete wine and putting some Saffron also therein it is good for those that are hoarse or have lost their voyce helpeth all the defects of the lungs and those that vomit or spit blood Two drammes thereof given in the juyce of Lemmons or of Radish is good for those that are troubled with the stone it is said some given in Plantaine or Purslane water stayeth the casting or spitting of blood the kernels of the stones doe wonderfully ease the paines and wringings of the belly through winde or sharpe humours and are much commended to be effectuall to breake and drive forth the stone which that they may the more powerfully worke I commend this water unto you to drinke upon occasion three or foure ounces at a time Take fifty kernels of Peach stones and an hundred of the kernels of Cherry stones a handfull of Elder flowers fresh or dryed and three pints of Muscadine set them in a closed pot into a bed of Horse dung for ten dayes which afterwards stilled in glasse with a gentle fire keepe for your use The milke or creame of these kernells being drawne forth with some Verven water being applyed to the forehead and temples doth much helpe to procure rest and sleepe to sicke persons wanting it the oyle likewise drawne from the kernels doth the same being annointed the said oyle put into glisters doth ease the paines of the chollicke proceeding from winde and annoynted on the lower part of the belly doth the like and dropped into the eares easeth the paines of them the juyce of the leaves doth the like killeth the wormes and ulcers in them being also annoynted on the forehead and temples it helpeth the Megrome and other paines in the head If the kernels be bruised and boyled in vinegar untill they become thicke and applyed to the head or other places that have shed the haire and are bald it doth marvellously procure the haire to grow againe The Peaches themselves being eaten by reason of their sweetenesse and moisture doe soone putrefie in the stomacke and therefore Galen adviseth that they be never taken after but before meate alwaies so shall they make the rest to passe away the more speedily with them or else taken after they corrupt the rest in the stomacke with themselves The Nectarin hath a firmer substance and a more delectable taste for which it is most accepted being of no use in Physicke that I know The Persea is not used with any CHAP. LXXXII Amygalus The Allmond tree THe Almond is so like unto the Peach in every part thereof and yet differing from it that I can doe no lesse then joyne it next in a severall Chapter and although there are sundry sorts of sweete Almonds some great and some small others long and some short and a bitter kinde also yet being in the whole surface so like one unto another that they can be distinguished by no other thing then the Allmond I will onely give you one description and shew you their differences herein which I thinke shall be sufficient Amygdalus The Allmond tree The Allmond tree groweth greater and higher then any Peach and is therefore usually planted by it selfe and not against a wall and never grafted that I have seene and knowne that would take and abide but is alwayes planted of a stone put into the ground where you would have it to grow for it hardly suffereth a transplanting the body thereof becomming
The Virginian Locus tree A very like tree hereunto hath beene sent and brought us out of Virginia growing to be a very great tree and of an exceeding height with Master Tradâ—scant whose body is covered with a smooth barke the young branches being greene and set with somewhat sharpe prickles at every joynt where the winged leaves come forth 1. Pseudoacacia Americana Robini Robinus his false Acacia of America 2. Arbor siliquosa Virginensis spinosa Locus nostratibus dicta The Virginia Locus tree 3. Arbor spinosa Indica muricatis siliquis The prickly codded Indian tree 4. Siliquosa spinosa trifolium Indica arbor dicta The Indian Corall tree which are set in the like manner with the other with an odde one at the end and some not but are somewhat shorter and rounder we have not seene the tree to beare any flowers with us as yet nor fruite but the cods that came to us were small long and somewhat flat like unto the pods of Laburnum Beane trefoile but longer thinner and blacker containing small grayish shining flat and round seede 3. Arbor spinosa Indica muricatis siliquis The prickely codded Indian tree The seede taken out of the prickly huskes of a tree that was brought from the West Indies was sowne by Master George Willmer at Stratford Bow and rose up that yeare to be three or foure foote high branched forth on all sides and set with small sharpe crooked thornes both on the maine stemme and branches having sundry winged leaves set on them very much resembling the last Virginian Locus I can give you no further relation hereof in that the plant perished in the next Winter after the first springing for want of such due keeping as was fit for such tender plants that come out from warme Countries The figure of the prickely huske or pod you may see set on the side of the figure with the grayish pease taken thereout also which was as hard as a stone with a white kernell within them yet not sinking in the water 4. Siliquosa spinosa trifolia Indica Coral arbor dicta The Indian Corall tree Clusius first and since him Baptista Ferrarius by the sight thereof growing both at Rome and in Spaine hath enlarged the description of this tree which I will contract into one and tell it you thus It riseth up with many stemmes whose younger barke is smooth and greene the elder paler and more rugged spreading fairely with branches armed with small crooked whitish thornes and with faire broad fresh greene and almost round leaves like unto those of Arbor Iudae Iudas tree but that they end in a point whose footestalkes also as Clusius hath expressed have the like crooked thornes on them which leaves are three alwayes set together the two lowest opposite on short footestalkes the end one on a longer the flowers are Pease fashion or like those of Phaseolus the Kidney Beane of an orient red colour like Corall of which colour also are the Beanes or fruite in pods like unto other Phaseoli it is very tender to keepe not abiding the least cold aire for as Clusius setteth it downe Signior de Tonar the chiefest Physitian of Savill in Spaine in his time having two trees hereof growing which by one Winters over sharpenesse had them both spoyled therewith I have not altered the name hereof whereby it is generally knowne but if I might adopt one as I thinke more fitting thereunto I would entitle it Phaseolus arboreus spinosus Indicus floroâ—allinâ— The Place and Time All these foure sorts came from the severall part of America but we cannot tell you where distinctly for the two last but the first it is likely came from Canada the French plantation and the second from Virginia The flowring and seeding is likely to be at the time of other trees at the Spring and Fall The Names The first as I said Conutus calleth Acacia Americana such a glorious title doth he set upon so unbeseeming a Plant I have put Robinus name thereto because it is generally called Acacia Robini The second is called Locus by our Nation resident in Virginia The third came to us without name but it is likely to be the Bonduch Indiano of Pona in his Italian Baldus which he referreth to Clusius his first strange fruite in the 30. Chapter of his second Booke of Exotickes as also to the first in the 15. Chapter of his third Booke The fourth was first set forth by Clusius in his Appendix to his History of Plants sent him by Tovar out of Spaine and enlargeth the description thereof especially of the flowers in his second Appendix Baptista Ferrarius in his Flora or deflorum cultura setteth it forth bravely but without flowers as having not as then shewed them The Vertues None of these have beene tryed to what griefe or disease they are a remedy but onely the third which if it be Pona his Bonduch as I am certainely perswaded it is then he saith these particulars are attributed unto it to ennoble it The Egiptians in Alexandria account it the guardian of their children in tying it about their neckes to defend them from all evill chances to preserve one from the venome of the Scorpion to helpe the Megrime by taking some of the pouther into the nose and the torture or writhing of the mouth is availeable also against the falling sickenesse by taking the quantity of two Pepper cornes at a time the quantity of a Cich Pease taken in Wine helpeth the chollicke and the quartaine ague is a remedy for any poyson which saith he I have not yet tryed the fruite saith he was sent from Constantinople and these Vertues affirmed to be in it and there esteeme it of great worth CHAP. CII Gossipium The Cotton tree or plant I Have foure sorts of Cotton trees or plants to shew you that have come to our knowledge or that we can be assured of although Bauhinus saith there is one with a white seede which is his first whereof I never heard or read and is likely to be mistaken for all those Authours that he doth cite for it doe all intend the annuall Cotton whose seed is in lumpes and blacke 1. Gossipium arboreum The tree of fine Cotton This Cotton riseth up with a wooddy stemme to be nine or ten cubits high spreading wooddy branches and many broad greene leaves on them parted on the edges into three or five divisions somewhat like a Vine leafe but softer and whiter at the ends of the smaller sprigges come forth the flowers two or three at a place but 1. Gossipium arboreum The tree of fine Cotton 2. Gossipium frutescens animum The bush or Lumpe Cotton 3. Gossipium Indicum spinosum Thorny Indian Cotton 4. Gossipium Iavanense longifolium The long leafed Cotton tree of Iava each upon a slender footestalke set in a broad huske of two leaves very much jagged at the toppes and containing therein a large yellowish flower somewhat like a bell flower
thing that is kept in the ayre but never loseth it sent being kept close in a glasse or the like This is used inwardly and outwardly for divers good uses and although in some it causeth a kinde of loathing to the stomacke if it touch the tongue in drinking foure or five droppes in wine fasting yet it helpeeth the weakenesse of the stomacke the Tissicke and shortnesse of breath those that are pursie and the paines and difficulty in making water it moveth also womens courses and causeth a good colour and a sweete breath rectifieth the evill disposition of the liver openeth obstructions and preserveth youthfullnesse even in aged persons that have much used it and helpeth the barrennesse in women being outwardly used it is singular good to heale any fresh or greene wound and old ulcers and sores also it easeth paines in the head or necke and swelling in any part of the body the places thereof being annoynted therewith or a cloth wet therein and applyed it helpeth digestion strengtheneth the stomacke dissolveth winde easeth the spleene and the Sciatica the strangury and stone and discusseth all nodes and hardnesse of tumours being applyed warme to the places pained it warmeth and comforteth the sinewes and keepeth them from shrinking Balsamum album Another white and very cleere Balsame of a very sweet sent Monardus saith was brought likewise from the continent of America in some good quantity which was taken by incision from very great trees full of branches to the bottome whose outer barke is thicke like Corke under which there is a thinner from whence being slit the Balsamum droppeth forth the fruite hereof is very small even no bigger then a Pease and of a bitter taste inclosed in the end of a long thinne white cod wherewith the Indians doe smoake their heads against the paines thereof and rheumaticke destillations This liquour or Balsamum is accounted of much more vertue then the former one droppe being said to be of more force and effect then a great deale of the other There is another sort of precious Balsamum saith Monardus brought from Tolu Balsamum de Tolu which is a Province betweene Carthagena and Nombre de Dios and is gathered by incision from small low trees like unto low Pines full of branches but with the leaves of the Carob tree abiding greene alwayes the manured yeelding more liquour then the wild and is of great account with the Indians and Spaniards being taught by them it is of a gold red colour of a middle consistence and very clammy or glutinous of a sweete and pleasant taste not provoking vomit as other sorts of Balsamum will doe and of an excellent sent like unto a Lemmon whereof a droppe being let fall into the hand will smell egregiously through all the place Vnto this Monardus attributeth all the vertues of the true Arabian Balsame and much more then unto any of the former which because I would not make a double repetition of things I referre you unto them CHAP. X. Bdellium The Gumme called Bdellium ALthough Dioscorides hath given no description of the tree that beareth Bdellium nor any part thereof yet Pliny in his twelfth Booke and ninth Chapter setteth it downe that it is blacke or of a sad forme and of the bignesse of the white Ollive tree having leaves like an Oke and fruite like the wild Fig tree which how truely expressed resteth doubtfull for Lobel setteth forth a sticke of a thorny tree found among drugges with divers peeces of gumme cleaving to it most likely to be Bdellium or Myrrhe which are very like one unto another being both gathered from cruell thorny trees and Thevet saith that he saw in one wood of trees two thousand of these Bdellâ—â— fructâ—â— quibusdam acceptus quem potius cuci Theophrastâ— fructum opitatur sorts growing mixed together and that in such countries that are subject to snow yet the best Authours say that Arabia is the chiefe place where they grow which I thinke never saw or felt snow yet in Genesis 2. verse 12. we read that Bdellium and the Onix stone beside Gold grew in the Land of Havilah which is interpreted to be Eastward from Persia so that both the tree and the gum thereof are called by one name for the choyse wherof Dioscorides setteth downe that it should be cleere like glew fat on the inside easily melting or dissolving pure or cleane from drosse sweete in the burning like unto Vnguis odoratus for so I construe it although divers Authours doe diversly interpret those words some making Vnguis to be a note of white peeces in the gumme like the naile of ones hand but in my judgement the Vnguis is referred by Dioscorides to the sweete fumes of Bdellium in the burning whereunto it is like for having said that it was suffitu odoratum he would rather shew what sent it had namely of unguis odoratus and bitter in taste which are such noâ—es as we can hardly find in any that is brought to us for we find little bitternesse in any and lesse sweetnesse in the burning of it or Vnguis odoratus but strong and unpleasant rather neither is it soft or easie to be dissolved but hard and not to be dissolved equally but into graines or knots without warmth yet is ours of a sad browne colour somewhat like glew and much like unto Myrrhe so that they are often mistaken one for another but that Bdellium is harder dryer and browner but there are sundry sorts thereof as Matthiolus sheweth and Bauhinus in his note upon him that he hath seene for not onely in former times there was much â—dulterating of drogues by the Indians as it was supposed but most probable by the Arabians who were the chiefe Merchants for those places and for those things and I thinke the Iewes learned that art of them and have exceeded them in cunning The properties hereof are heating and mollefieth haâ—d tumours and the nodes of the necke throate or sinewes or of other parts any way applyed it provoketh urine and womens courses and breaketh the stone it is good for the cough and for those that are bitten or stung by Serpents it helpeth to discusse the windinesse of the spleene and the paines of the sides it is good also for those that are burstâ—â— and have a rupture it mollefieth the hardnesse of the mother and dryeth up the moistnesse thereof and draweth forth the dead birth CHAP. XI Behen album ruâ—rum White and red Ben. THe ancient Authours have beene both very briefe in declaring these two sorts of Drogues and are also not aâ— one among themselves what the true Ben album rubrum should be for Actuarius and Myrepsus maâ—â— the Herâ—â—â—â—llis to be Ben how then can any of our Moderne Writers find out the true Ben of the Ancients yet divers have appropriated sundry herbes unto them but they have all come farre short thereof not onely in the thing but especially in the properties Clusius