Selected quad for the lemma: virtue_n

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A09011	Theatrum botanicum: = The theater of plants. Or, An herball of a large extent containing therein a more ample and exact history and declaration of the physicall herbs and plants that are in other authours, encreased by the accesse of many hundreds of new, rare, and strange plants from all the parts of the world, with sundry gummes, and other physicall materials, than hath beene hitherto published by any before; and a most large demonstration of their natures and vertues. Shevving vvithall the many errors, differences, and oversights of sundry authors that have formerly written of them; and a certaine confidence, or most probable conjecture of the true and genuine herbes and plants. Distributed into sundry classes or tribes, for the more easie knowledge of the many herbes of one nature and property, with the chiefe notes of Dr. Lobel, Dr. Bonham, and others inserted therein. Collected by the many yeares travaile, industry, and experience in this subject, by Iohn Parkinson apothecary of London, and the Kings herbarist. And published by the Kings Majestyes especial	Parkinson, John, 1567-1650.; Marshall, William, fl. 1617-1650, engraver.	1640 (1640)	STC 19302; ESTC S121875	2,484,689	1,753

after the name of his chiefest Phisition whose brother Musa healed Augustus who also wrote much in commendation of it I have called it in English rather a thorne or thorny plant than a thistle for that it hath no resemblance with any thistle or thistle like plant neither is it venemous or poysonous though violent in heate the Anteuphorbium hath no other name in any Author that hath written of it onely Dodonaeus who first gave us the figures of both these plants thinketh this may be some species of Telephium or Orpine The Vertues Although neither Dioscorides nor Galen have made mention of any purging qualitie in the Euphorbium yet Pliny for got it not making mention thereof in his 26. Booke and 8. Chapter and Mesues hath found and declared it and so hath Aetius Paulus and Actuarius who have exactly delivered their knowledge therein that it doth mightily purge the waterish humors of the dropsie and tough viscous flegme from the joynts and the more remote parts of the body and therefore helpeth the gout and Sciatica by cleansing consuming and eradicating those grosse humors that lie deepely hid in the hollownesse of the joynts and sinewes but because it heateth the body and fretteth the bowels extremely corroding them and the stomacke and inflaming the liver it is necessary that it be corrected before it be given and that it be grossely not finely beaten to pouder as also that such things be mixed with it as may allay the violent heate and sharpenesse and such are cold and aromaticall seedes and such things also as may make it slippery the more easily and speedily to passe away and therefore made into pills with hony may be effectuall and that the quantities of these correctors be so plentifull that they may cover the superficies thereof It being so dangerous therefore the advise to be taken is that it be not used inwardly but in cold windie and temperate bodies and not in hot and dry constitutions but outwardly applied it is of exceeding good use as mixed with the oyle of Wallflowers or any other digesting oyle it wonderfully helpeth all cold diseases of the sinewes as palsies and shakings or trembling of the joynts and sinewes as also crampes and convulsions or shrinkings aches lamenes that come from cold a plaister made up with it oyle and waxe is availeable for all these recited griefes as Galen saith The pouder of Euforbium mixed with Auxungis and anointed cureth all scurfes and scaldnesse of the head and with Beares grease causeth haire to grow on the head or any parts of the body where haire doth usually grow it being shed or not appearing upon some cause applied also with oyle to the temples of such as are drousie dull and heavie to sleepe which we call the Lethargie doth quicken their senses and causeth them to be more lively the nape of the necke being anointed with the oyle of Euforbium recovereth their speech againe that have lost it by reason of the Apoplexie or any other casualtie it being mixed with vinegar and applied taketh away the markes and scarres of wounds and all other foule spots or blemishes in the outward skin The Anteuphorbium is the chiefest if not the onely remedy against the violent heate and piercing qualitie of the Euphorbium for the juyce thereof being very cooling and slimie tempereth it so well and speedily that it never faileth to give ease CHAP. XXX Sena Sene or purging Sene. THere are two sorts of this purging Sene tree differing very little betweene themselves as also three or foure sorts of base or bastard sorts more churlish then the other in working as you shall heare by and by 1. Sena Alexandrina Sene of Alexandria This Sene by the judgement of those that have written thereof groweth not above a cubite high with slender branches set with many leaves together on a ribbe somewhat like unto Licoris being narrow and pointed which being dryed and brought over unto us if they bee 1.2 Sena Alexandrina Italicae Sene of Alexandria and of Italy fresh will smell very like unto fresh new made hay the flowers stand at the tops of the branches one above another being as Matthiolus saith for wee have never seene them beare flower in England of a yellow colour like unto the flowers of Coleworts that is consisting of five leaves laid open but some rather thinke the flowers are formed like unto those of the Spanish Broome or of the bastard Sena called Colutaea as most plants that beare cods do with purveines running thorough every leafe after which come crooked thinne huskes fashioned somewhat like a halfe Moone in the middle part whereof the skinnes of the huskes growing so close together that they can hardly be parted growe flat seed very like unto grape kernels but of a blackish greene colour and somewhat flat Italic● the whole plant perisheth as it is sayd every yeare and must be new sowne of them that will have it 2. Sena Italica The Sene of Italy This Sene differeth in no other thing from the former but in the forme of the leaves which are not so narrow and pointed but broader and rounder which difference is plainly to be discerned by comparing the leaves of that Sene that commeth over from Alexandria with that which groweth in Italy and therefore there needeth no more to be sayd thereof The Place The first groweth as it is generally thought in Arabia Faelix and in Syria also as some say and brought to Alexandria in Egypt as many other things are which from thence is transported unto all other Countries The other Matthiolus saith was in his time frequently sowen in the Duke of Florence his dominions in Italy many Acres in a field being sowne therewith they will hardly spring up with any leaves in our Country for experience hath beene made thereof many times The Time They flower in the Summer moneths but in Italy as Matthiolus saith it must not be sowne untill May and will not indure but unto Autumne The Names Mesues and other Arabians call it Sena but Hermolaus Senna it is generally held by all good Authors that it was not knowne to the ancient Greeke and Latine writers Dioscorides Theophrastus Galen Pliny c. or others that did transcribe their copies although some would referre it to Dioscorides his Delphinium others to Pelecynum some to Peplium others to Empetron some to Alypon and others to the Cercis or third Colutea of Theophrastus or to his first Colutaea all which are quite contrary thereunto and can by no meanes agree unto them The Arabians being the first finders out thereof and of the purging quality therein who did much use the huskes or cods as wee call them but later experience hath found the leaves to bee of more effect with us The Vertue The leaves of Sene howsoever used are a very safe and gentle purger as well made into pouder and the weight or a French Crowne or dramme thereof taken in Wine or Ale or broth

fasting as the infusion of halfe an ounce in Wine or Ale for a night or the decoction of halfe an ounce or if need be of six drammes with some other herbes or rootes but because they are a little windie a few Aniseed or Fennell seede and a little Ginger is to be added unto them to helpe to correct that evill quality and then they purge melancholy choller and flegme from the head and braine the lungs and the heart the liver and the spleene clensing all those parts of such evill humours as by possessing them are the causes of those diseases incident unto them and comforting the stomacke especially if some cordiall or stomachicall helper be put with it for Mesues saith it hurteth the stomacke but Monardus and Matthiolus denye that it can doe so in regard that Sene hath somewhat a bitter taste partaking of heat and drynesse all which qualities are knowne rather to strengthen the stomack then to trouble or weaken it it strengtheneth the senses both of sight and hearing and procureth mirth by taking away that inward humour which was the inward cause of sadnesse in the minde opening the obstructions of the bowells and causing a fresh and lively habit in the body prolonging youth and keeping backe old age Divers things are added hereunto to quicken the working thereof and to make it the more effectuall as Rubarbe Agaricke Cassia Fistula drawne Syrupe of Roses c. according as the nature of the disease the age strength and necessitie of the patient doe require Serapio saith it wonderfully helpeth such as are distracted of their senses by the extremitie of the fits in agues or in other diseases which wee call raving or talking idle or such as are growne sottish their braines being overdulled or growing into a frensye or madnesse by inflammations of the braine the epilepsie also or the Falling sicknesse and the headach all sorts of Palsies which are the resolutions of the sinewes the lowsie evill also and all sorts of itches scabs and wheales or pushes c. whatsoever Sena likewise is an especiall ingredient among other things put into a bag to make purging Beere or Ale fit to be taken in the spring of the yeare not onely for all those diseases afore mentioned but also to clense the blood from all sharpe humours mixed or running therewith Purging Prunes also and purging Curranes are made herewith by boyling Sene and some other opening herbes and rootes or if yee will without them with some Anniseede Fennell seede Cinamon Ginger and Cloves some of these or all of them a little quantity and according to the proportion of your Prunes or Currans being set to stew with the decoction of your Sene and other things above specified these may be given to the daintiest stomack that is without offence and without danger to open the body and purge such humours above specified as troble the body And because the decoction of Sene is too unpleasant to many weak and tender stomacks even the smell thereof doth cause them to refuse any potion made therewith the infusion thereof for a night in warme embers and strained forth in the morning is much lesse offensive yet no lesse purging In that infusion while it is warme you may dissolve some Manna or put thereto some Syrupe of Roses and so take it Cassia fistula also may be drawne with the decoction of Sene corrected as aforesayd so given of it selfe or made into a bole with Rubarbe poudered or with the pouder of Sene leaves a little Anniseed and Licoris together some also I have knowne that after they have infused Sene Rubarbe Agarick Tamarinds Tartar with a few Anniseeds or Fennellseeds Cinamon and Cloves in white wine whereunto some have put thereto juice of Fumiterry for a whole day and night then distilling the water from them they keepe it to drinke with some Sugar put thereto as a most dainty and pleasant purge After this manner waters may be distilled from other things as Mecoacan Turbith Scamony and all the sorts of purgers infused in wine or the juice of Fumitery or other herbs as may be thought meete whereunto being distilled Sugar Manna or Syrope of Roses or Rubarbe may be added and so drunke for the purposes aforesaid For the manner of distilling these things if they be done in glasse they will be more neate and dainty and the glasse body to bee set i● sand or ashes the water distilled will be the stronger in efficacy from the ingredients and the weaker if the glasse body be set in Balneo with water yet may they bee distilled in an ordinary Still so as it be close If this Sent might be made to grow with us here in England in any quantity or in any of our plantations abroad which are more warmely scituate a water might bee distilled from the whole plant while it is greene and fresh according to the manner of other waters distilled from herbs which would bee as dainty a purger as could be taken The lye wherein Sene and Camomill flowers are boyled is mervelous good for weake braines to confort and strengthen them as also for the sight and hearing if the head bee washed therewith the same lye also is very profitable for the sinewes that are stiffe with cold or shrunke with crampes to helpe to warme comfort and extend them it helpeth also to take away the itch in the body and the hands if they bee washed therewith as Durantes saith and is a vaileable to clense and cure foule Vlcers and sores The Itilian Sene worketh the same effects before specified but more weakely in every part CHAP. XXXI Colutaea Bastard Sene. OF the Bastard sorts of Sene there are many differing much one from another as shall be shewed you in this Chapter 1. Colutaea vesicaria vulgaris Ordinary Bastard Sene with bladders This greater Bastard Sene groweth in time to be a tree of a reasonable greatnesse the stem or trunck being of the bignesse of a mans arme or greater covered with a blackish greene ragged barke the wood whereof is harder then of an Elder but with a pith in the middle of the branches which are divided many wayes having divers winged leaves composed of many small round pointed or rather flat pointed leaves set at severall distances and somewhat like unto Licoris or the Hatchet fitch among which come forth yellow flowers like unto Broome flowers and as large after which come thinne swelling cods like unto thinne transparant bladders wherein are conteined blacke seede set upon a middle ribbe within the bladders which being a little crushed betweene the fingers will give a cracke like a bladder full of winde the roote groweth great and wooddy branching forth divers wayes 2. Colutaea scorpioides major The great Scorpion podded Bastard Sene. This bastard Sene groweth nothing so great or tall but shooteth out sundry stalkes from the roote the elder whereof have a whitish barke and the younger a greene with winged leaves set thereon

knowing that whereof he writeth but denying that which is found true by good experience and saying that in one place which hee contrarieth in an other as in his 16. Booke and 21. Chapter hee reckoneth the Larch tree among those wild trees that doe not shed their leaves and are sharpe pointed where it seemeth he tooke the Larch tree for the Pine tree as hee doth in the 30. of the same 16. Booke and whereas Theophrastus in his third Booke and tenth Chapter speaking of the difference betweene the Pine and Pitch tree saith that the Pine tree being burnt downe to the rootes springeth not from them againe but as some say the Pitch tree doth as it hapned in Lesbos when the wood Pyrrheus was fired which was stored with Pitch trees This very narration Pliny lib. 16. cap. 139. in citing applieth to the Larch tree which Theophrastus doth to the Pine tree And in another place Theophrastus saith that a kinde of femall Pine is called Egis or Egida and Pliny saith the femall Larix is called Egida by all which places it may be plainely seene that Pliny mistooke the Larch tree for the Pine tree For Theophrastus hath not made mention of the Larix in all his History whereby many did judge that it did not grow in Greece for else he would have knowne it and spoken of it In one place againe Pliny maketh the leaves of the Larch tree to be soft woolly thicke and fat and in another place hard drie againe he saith that the Larch tree hath not flowers nor any cones to commend it when as they have cones and the blossomes on them are very beautifull and lastly Pliny saith it should seeme following Vitruvius who before him said the same that the wood of the Larch tree will not burne nor make a cole nor will consume in the fire any otherwise than a stone when as himselfe saith and acknowledgeth as Vitruvius also doth that it yeeldeth forth a Rossen and how could any man thinke that a tree yeelding Rossen should not burne when as the very earth and stones that have any bituminous or resinous qualitie in them will burne exceedingly as is plainely seene in our turfe in pit and sea coales which maintaine our fires in many places of our Land and elsewhere also This I thought good to set downe not so much to declaime against Pliny as to forewarne others that translate or write others opinions to be judicious and examine by reason whether that which others have written agree with the truth of the matter and not hand over head either beleeve or set downe whatsoever others have written be it true or false Concerning the cleare Turpentine of this tree called Venice Turpentine there is some controversie among Writers some alleadging it to be taken from the Firre tree as Fuschius and others and Matthiolus contending there against that of his owne knowledge and experience it is onely taken from the Larch tree and no other for no other Turpentine was to be had in the former times for many ages because the Merchants neglected to bring the true Turpentine of the Terebinthus Turpentine tree and therefore this onely was used and no other sort of Turpentine was fit to be taken inwardly instead of the true from the Turpentine tree which we doe usually call Cipresse Turpentine because as it is thought the best is gathered in the Iland Cyprus those about Trent as Matthiolus saith use to call it Larga derived as is likely from Laricea yet Pliny Galen and others of the ancients have set downe that the Larch yeeldeth whitish yellow Rossen like unto the hony of Athens or Spaine but in little quantitie and soone waxing drie which is that Gumme or Rossen that sweateth out of the tree in Summer of its owne accord without boring There is also some controversie and contrarietie both in the ancient and moderne Writers concerning Agaricke Dioscorides and Galen thinking it to be a roote like unto that of Silphium yet doubting somewhat thereof Dioscorides saith that some hold it to be a Mushrome or Excrescence engendred from the rottennesse of the trees as Mushromes are from the earth Pliny writeth lib. 16. cap. 8. that it was said that those trees that bare Acornes in the countries of France did beare Agaricke and in his 25. Booke and 9. Chapter he saith that Agaricke was but a Mushrome of a white colour growing upon a tree about the Bosphorus and in another place that it groweth upon the Cone-bearing trees among the which the Larch tree is the chiefest whereby it is plaine that the ancients did not well know it Brasavolus saith that in riding neare Comalch he found Agaricke upon diverse Oakes and in especially upon Ilex or evergreene Oake which saying Matthiolus contradicteth saying that in all Tuskany and other places of Italy as also in diverse countryes of Germany Carniola and Dalmatia which abound with all the kindes of Oake he could never see nor so much as heare that any Agaricke grew on them but that he saw diverse other hard dry Mushromes both white and blacke called touchwood growing upon diverse wherewith the people use to take fire that the steele and flint doe give and use it in stead of Match to discharge their fowling peeces with all As also that he never saw Agaricke growing upon any tree but the Larch tree onely in all the mountaines of Trent and Anania where there be many Oakes growing as well as Firres Pines and Pitch trees and Larch trees abundantly yet many doe affirme there is growing in many places upon the bodies of many trees a kinde of white Mushrome so like unto Agaricke that many mistake it for Agaricke The Vertues There is in the leaves barke and fruit of the Larch tree the same temperature that is in the Pine tree the Turpentine thereof taken to the quantitie of an ounce will gently open the belly and move to the stoole provoke urine clense the reines kidnies and bladder and helpeth to breake and avoid the gravell and stone and to give case to those that have the gout if it be first washed with Plantaine and Rose water then made into pills with the pouder of white Amber red Corall Masticke and a little Camphire it doth wonderfully helpe to stay the Gonorrhea or running of the reines if they be taken for certaine dayes together and taken simply rowled in Sugar it helpeth it well it is profitable also for the Ptisicke or Consumption of the lungs being taken with hony in an Electuary it helpeth to expectorate rotten flegme from those are troubled with a continuall cough the Turpentine as it is the clearest for inward uses and serveth in stead of the true Turpentine so is it the best also for outward salves and doth both draw clense and heale all sores or ulcers either new or old and greene wounds also and therefore there is scarce any salve made for ulcers and greene wounds wherein Turpentine is not put there is

Arsmart and in some countries Red-knees The Vertues The milde Arsmart is of a cooling and drying qualitie and the other contrarie is hot and drie the first is very effectuall for putrid ulcers either in man or beast to kill the wormes and clense the putrified places the juyce thereof dropped in or otherwise applied it likewise consumeth all cold swellings and dissolveth the congealed bloud of bruises by strokes falls c. a peece of the roote or some of the seede bruised and held to an aking-tooth taketh away the paine the leaves bruised and laid to the joint that hath a selon thereon taketh it away the juyce dropped into their eares that have wormes in them destroyeth them quickly if the herbe be strowed in a chamber it will soone kill all the Fleas therein and if the herbe or juyce thereof be put to horses or other cattelles sores it will drive away the Flyes that will sticke thereto even in the hottest time of Summer a good handfull of the herbe put under a horses saddle will make him travell better although hee were halfe tired before The milde Arsmart is held to be good against hot empostumes and inflammations at the beginning and to heale greene wounds CHAP. XXIII Ptarmica vulgaris Common field Pelletory or Sneeseworte NExt unto Dittander should follow Tarragon called Tarchon and Dracunculus hortensis oscule●us being of the like hot and sharpe biting taste but that I have entreated therof in my former Book as also of the garden Dragons whose figure I herewith shew you must in this Chapter shew you the Ptarmica vulgaris ordinarily called wilde Pelletory and Sneeseworte of which kinde also I have set forth one with double flowers in my former Booke Pyrethrum also vulgare called by us Pelletory of Spaine although set forth in my former Booke Vnto this I must adde an other stranger scarce knowne so much as by name to our Nation This common Pelletory shooteth forth divers brittle stalkes a yarde high and more spread into sundry branches whereon are set narrow long leaves pointed at the ends and finely dented about the edges standing one above another up to the toppes where grow many white flowers in a round tuft together somewhat like unto those of Yarrow or Millfoyle with a very small yellowish thrumme in the middle bordered about with very short whitish leaves dented in at the broad ends which passing away leave behinde them small heades with chaffie seede therein the roote is long and whitish joynted at severall distances creeping farre about under ground both leafe and roote are of an hot sharpe biting taste like unto the tree Pelletory of Spaine whereof it tooke the name 2. Pyrethrum vulgare officinarum Pelletory of Spaine This is a small low plant bearing many finely cut long leaves upon the stalkes lying on the ground much larger than Camomill bearing at the toppes of each one single large flower having a pale or border of many leaves white on the upperside and reddish underneath set about the middle yellow thrumme but not standing so close joyned at the bottome as the Camomill flowers doe but more severed one from another it beareth small whitish seede which is hardly found and discerned from the chaffe the roote is long growing downeright of the bignesse of a mans finger or thumbe in our countrie but not halfe so great where it groweth naturally with divers fibres from the sides of a very hot sharpe and biting taste drawing much water into the mouth being a while chewed after it hath beene dried but nothing so much while it is fresh and greene the plant is very tender with us not enduring our Winter unlesse it be very carefully preserved 3. Ptarmica Alpina sive Dracamalus Alpinus Scabiosae folio Wilde Pelletory with Scabions leaves This mountaine Pelletory hath round stalkes about a foote high spreading some branches towards the toppes whereon are set divers long pale greene leaves on both sides one above another as in the former but jagged or deepely cut in on both sides somewhat like unto a Scabious leafe at the toopes of the stalkes and branches stand Ptarmica vulgaris Common field Pelletory or Sneeseworte Dracunculus major vulgaris Ordinary Dragons 2. Pyrethrum vulgare officinarum Pelletory of Spaine the flowers somewhat larger than the other else not much unlike having a border or pale of white leaves set about a middle thrumme the roote hereof is more stringy and fibrous than the other The Place The first groweth in fields and medowes by the hedge sides and path wayes almost every where and in lanes also and wast grounds the other in Spaine and divers other countries the last was found in the mountainous fields of Helvetia or Switserland and other parts there abouts The Time The first and last flower in the end of Iune and in July and the second not untill August with us and seldome giveth ripe seede unlesse carefully preserved in the Winter The Names It is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ptarmica quod est Sternutatoria or Storuntamentoria as it is also in Latine from the effect of provoking sneesing The first is diversly called by divers Tragus calleth it Tanacetum album sive acutum Millefolium primum Gesner in hortis Tarchon sylvestre vel aquaticum in collect stirpium Draco aquaticus Brunfelsius Pyrethrum Cordus on Dioscorides Pyrethrum sylvestre Dodonaeus Draco sylvestris sive Ptarmica Bauhinus referreth it to that plant which Lugdunensis calleth Mencha Sarasenica species altera Myconij and yet maketh it also a kinde of Costmarie Thalius Ptarmica sylvestris Germanica Clusius Ptarmica pratensis Lobel Ptarmica folio Taracanis vel Sterun●eria Matthiolus Fuchsius Gesner and others Ptarmica and B● Dracunculus pratensis serrato folio the second is called by all ●thors Pyrethrum and of some Salivari● but Gesner in hortis addeth Germanicum as it is thought Matthiolus Lugdunensis and all other alterum Lobel officinarum and Bauhinus flore Bellidis the last is set forth onely by Bauhinus who calleth it Dracunculus Al● folio ●cabiosae it is called by the Arabians Ma●arcaraba or 〈…〉 by the Italians ●tro by the Spaniards Peliere by the Fr●ch Pis d' Alexandre by the Germans and Dutch Bertram it is ●ed in English wilde Pelletory or wilde Pelletory of Spaine as the second is called the true Pelletory of Spaine The Vertues Wilde Pelletory is hot and dry in the second degree while it is fresh and greene but in the third degree when it is dry An ounce of the juice hereof taken in a draught of Muscadine an houre or two before the ●it of an Ague and presently layd to sweat will assuredly drive away the Ague at the second or third time taking at the farthest the herbe dryed or the roote chiefly chewed in the mouth draweth downe from the head much fleg●e and is thereby availeable to ease the paines in the head and teeth and to draw forth cold rheume catarrhes and defluxions upon

former times was much used to be put into sweete oyntments and commended by Gulen and others to bethe best next unto that of the Codar tree 4. Populus Lybica The Aspen tree The Aspe is somewhat like unto the blacke Poplar for the growing but lesser then either it or the white and with a darker coloured barke the leaves are also blacker harder and rounder then those of the other and a little unevenly dented about the edges and in some places spotted with white spots hanging by longer and slenderer footestalkes which by their continuall shaking and striking one against another make a noyse although the aire be calme the catkins hereof are longer and of a brownish ash colour which continue a while and then fall away with the seede in it the wood is white but nothing so tough This tree saith Pliny hath the best Mushromes growing under it 5. Populus rotundifolia Americana The round leafed Indian Poplar tree The branches onely of this tree were brought from the West Indies unto Mr. Morgan who was Queene Elizabeths Apothecary and by Doctor Lobel caused to be drawne to the life which he exhibited in his Adversaria and Dutch Herball the branches were a little crooked full of joynts at three or foure inches distance and at each a large perfect round leafe without any dent on the edges but where it is set on the short footestalke being thicke rougher and broader then the leaves of Arbor Iudae at the setting to of every which leafe commeth forth a small long catkin like a thong compassed with many small graines much resembling those of the Poplar for which cause he called it a Poplar the taste whereof was very astringent somewhat heating and saltish The Place and Time The foure former sorts grow in moist woods and by waters sides in sundry places of the land yet the white is not so frequent as the other The last is declared of what Country breeding it is their time is likewise expressed that the catkins come forth before the leaves and ripen in the end of Summer but it should seeme that the last hath leaves and catkins altogether The Names The white Poplar is called in Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 because of the whitenesse in Latine Populus alba and Farfarus of the Ancients the blacke is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Populus nigra but with Tragus it is his first Populus alba the Aspe is taken by many good Authours to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Theophrastus because he joyneth it next unto the two former lib. 3. c. 14. saying it is like unto the white Poplar which may breede some doubt whether he meaneth the Aspe or no which hath no such divided leaves as the white hath Gaza translateth it Alpina which it seemeth he doth from Pliny who called it montana as well as Lybica the other are expressed to be of Lobel his declaration and of none before him Homer in his fifth Iliad calleth the white Poplar 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab Acheronte because wheen Hercules had overcome Cerberus he came crowned with this Poplars branches which he found growing by the river Acheron in triumph of that victory and from his example all that with glory have conquered their enemies in fight were wont to weare a garland of the branches thereof their errour that Suceinum yellow Amber was the gum of the blacke Poplar is so ridiculous that but to name it is sufficient conf●tation especially seeing Matthiolus hath done it before The Arabians call the white and blacke Poplar Haur and Haur rom● the Italians Popolo bianco and nero the Spaniards Alamo blanco and nigril●io the French Abeau and Peuplier and Tremble the Germanes Bellen Poppelbaum and Sarbaum the Dutch Abeelboom and Popelier wor● and we in English the white and blacke Poplar tree and the other the Aspe or Aspen tree The Vertues The white Poplar saith Galen is of a mixt temper that is of an hot watery and of a thinne earthy essence and therefore it is of a clensing property the weight of an ounce in pouther of the barke of the white Poplar being drunke saith Dioscorides is a remedy for those that are troubled with the Sciatica or the Strangury and thereupon Serenus hath these Verses Saepius occultus victa coxendice morbus Perfurit gressus diro languore moratur Populus alba dabit medicos de cortice potus The juyce of the leaves dropped warme into the eares easeth the paines in them the young bourgeons or eyes before they breake out into leaves bruised and a little honey put to them is a good medicine for a dull sight The blacke Poplar is held to be more cooling then the white and therefore some have with much profit applyed the leaves brui●ed with vinegar to the places troubled with the gout the seede is held good against the falling sickenesse to be drunke in vinegar the water that droppeth from the hollow places of the blacke Poplars doth take away warts pushes wheales and other the like breakings out in the body the young blacke Poplar buds saith Matthiolus are much used by women to beautifie their haire bruising them with fresh butter and strayning them after they have beene for some time kept in the Sunne the oyntment called Populeon which is made of this Poplar is singulas good for any heate or inflammation in any part of the body and doth also temper the heate of wounds it is much used to dry up the milke in womens brests after their delivery or when they have weyned their children The Aspen leaves are in the like manner cooling and are used for the same purposes that the blacke is but are in all things farre weaker Tragus it seemeth putteth the blacke Poplars instead of the white and the Aspen instead of the blacke as his descriptions and figures declare CHAP. XVII Taxus The Yew tree THe Yew tree groweth with us in many places Taxus The Yew tree to be a reasonable great tree spreading many large branches which make a goodly shadow covered with a reddish rugged barke the body and elder boughes being more grayish and the younger redder whereon grow many winged leaves that is many long and narrow darke greene leaves somewhat soft in handling and not hard as the Firre tree leaves are whereunto they are compared by many set on both sides of a middle stalke alwayes abiding greene and not falling away in Winter the flowers are small and yellow growing along close to the branches where afterwards the berries come forth of the bignesse and colour of the Holly or Asparagus berries sweete with a little bitternesse and procuring no harme to them that eate them for any thing that I have heard the wood hereof is reddish tough and strong The Place and Time This groweth in many places of this Land but planted in all whether at home or abroad it flowreth usually in Aprill or May and the berries be ripe in Semptember and October The Names It is called

true was planted in the West Indies and brought from thence very fresh into Spaine CHAP. XXIII Cinamomum Canella Cassia Cinamon and Cassia C●namoni folium bacillum A leafe and sticke of Cinamon Corten Cinamomi vel Cassia lignea officinarum Xilocassia Lobelij Lobel his Cassia lignea I thinke it not amisse in this place to make mention of some other barkes of trees and rootes that have beene brought both out of the East and West Indies The first whereof called white Cinamon being in long roules Canella alba white both within and without turned together like unto Cinamon is thicke and more tough then Cinamon the taste is somewhat hot and resemble Cloves rather then Cinamon both in taste and sent being very aromaticall yet lesse in each quality then Cloves so that one would thinke he had smelt and tasted weake Cloves Another sort rouled like Cinamon not very thicke which the Dutch as Clusius said lib. Exot. 4. c. 2. An Cassia veterum Clusio brought out of India comming from the Moluccas and Iava and which he doubteth whether it be not the Cassia of the ancients or some of the sorts whereof Dioscorides maketh mention some of it was whitish on the outside and some more browne like the worser sort of Cinamon of no unpleasant taste yet not so sharpe as Cinamon and having a little clamminesse in the chewing the people use the pouther in their meates Another Clusius maketh mention of in the same Booke and third Chapter which was a foote long or more Canella alba ex arbore and three inches in circuite at the lower end and two inches at the top had the outer barke thinner then the inner for it had two and was very rugged full of chinkes and with some holes and sometimes two at a place in a certaine order all the length thereof but set a thwart thereon which seemed to be the places where the leaves grew both the barkes were of an excellent sweete and aromaticall sent and quicke taste especially the outermost Monardus speaketh of a Canell of the new world growing in Quito Canella novi orbis the trees saith he that beareth this Cinamon are of a meane bignesse and ever greene as most of the Indian trees are the leaves are like to those of the Bay tree the fruite is like unto a little hat as broad as a Doller or Spanish peece of eight and sometimes greater the brimmes being of their thickenesse and both inside and outside of a darke purplish colour smooth within and rugged without the toppe being higher and had a stalke whereby it did hang and was fastened to the tree this fruit was in taste very like unto that of Cinamon with some astriction joyned thereto and the pouther of them strewed on their viands was used for Cinamon the barke of the tree was thicke and had no taste or smell of Cinamon the fruite onely being of use and good to comfort the heart and stomacke dissolve winde mend a stinking breath procureth a good colour in the face and to provoke womens courses CHAP. XXIV Coculus Indus Cocculus Indi THese berryes or round seed the Italians call Cocco di Levante and the French accordingly they are of a blackish ashcolour on the outside Coculus Indus Coculus Inde having a white kernell within them of an hot taste drawing water into the mouth and as it seemeth grow many together like Ivy berryes yet each by it selfe on a stalke some thinking them to grow upon a kinde of Nightshade others on a kinde of Tithymall or Spurge Caesalpinus calleth them Galla orientalis others Baccae orientales They are wholly spent either to make baites to catch fish with other things for that purpose or the pouther used to kill lice and vermine in childrens heads CHAP. XXV Costus Costus THese hither parts of Asia minor and Africa besides all Europe as it is supposed for many ages of these later times have wanted not onely the use but the knowledge of the true Costus of any of the three sorts that Dioscorides mentioneth especially Europe and it was the Arabians that first brought in the devision thereof into sweete and bitter when as neither Dioscorides nor Pliny make any mention Costus Indicus Clusij Costi diversae species Divers sorts of Cotes exhibited for Costus of bitternesse although Galen doth but of sweetenesse in taste none of them all but Actuarius onely who is one of the later Greeke Writers Garcias to excuse the Arabians of this their division of Costus into dulcis and Amarus saith that it might be that while the Costus was fresh it is white and hath no bitternesse in it but growing old it groweth blacke and gathereth some bitternesse to it by the decaying but the Apothecaries shops especially in Europe shew two sorts farre differing the one from the other both in forme and substance Of late dayes indeed they have beene more carefull and industrious to know the right and to search for it and use it the Portugals therefore from the Indies brought in one sort which as Garcias saith was onely used there and no other but as Clusius noteth it in his Scholia thereon this being a ferulous spongy stalke with the toppe onely of the roote to it differeth from those of Dioscorides and Pliny the one intimating it to be a roote by saying it was used to be adulterated or falsefyed by obtruding the rootes of Helemium Comagenium for it which were neither very hot nor very sweete in sent and Pliny saying plainely it is a roote but there hath beene very lately brought unto us a sort of roote called Costus and taken by many to be the Syriacus yet some thinke it to be the Arabicus of Dioscorides being somewhat yellowish on the outside and white within smelling and tasting somewhat sweete like Orris which therefore I judge cannot be right which as Pliny saith is very hot in taste and very sweete in sent and Galen giveth it such a degree of heate besides the bitternesse that it will exulcerate the skinne many therefore have substituted Zedoaria in the want thereof which is the best substitution that can be agreeing both in forme and degree most of all thereunto and therefore divers have contended that it was the true Costus but in regard Zedoaria hath more bitternesse and lesse sweetnesse therein it cannot be Costus yet may be admitted as the substitute thereof but omne simile non est idem Some againe hold Angelica to be the blacke or Indian Costus but being a homebred plant so it cannot be and besides hath no such bitternesse and sharpenesse therein as Galen giveth to Costus The Arabians call it Cost or Cast those of Surrat Vplot and in Malacca where they much use it Pucho The Vertues hereof as Dioscorides hath set them downe of the true Costus which as is beforesaid is doubtfull whether we have or no are these It provoketh urine and womens courses and helpeth the diseases of

the mother as well by bathing as fuming two ounces thereof being drunke helpeth the biting of Vipers and is good against the paines of the brest convulsions or the windy stitches swellings or puffings in the stomacke sides or body being taken with wormewood in wine and being taken with sweet wine it provoketh Venery it killeth the broad wormes of the belly it is used with oyle to annoynt the body before the cold fit of agues to warme it and thereby to expell it as also against the weakenesse of the sinewes and the hip-goute and amendeth the discolouring or blemishes of the skinne and face using it with hony and water and as Galen addeth by reason of the light bitternesse and much sharpenesse and heate it will exulcerate CHAP. XXVI Cubebae Cubebs CVbebs are small berries somewhat sweete no bigger then Pepper cornes but more rugged or crested not so blacke nor solid being either hollow or with a kernell within it of a hot glowing taste not fierce as Pepper and having each a small short stalke at them like a taile and therein very like to a kind of Pepper was for a while wont to be brought to us which the Portugals called Pimenta del rabo Piper caudatum Pepper with a taile and was forbidden by the King of Portugall to be brought any more least it should spoyle the sale of the other Pepper this saith Garcias groweth on trees lesse then Apple trees with leaves thereon narrower then Cubeba Cubebs those of Pepper running on trees like Ivy or rather like Pepper but not like unto Ruscus called Myrtus sylvestris as Matthiolus Silvaticus thought as Serapio set it downe but falsely the flower is sweete and the fruite groweth clustring together yet not in bunches as Grapes but more separate Caesalpinus tooke them to be Amomum many others out of Avicen and other Authours tooke them to be the Carpesium of Galen and some to be the seed of Vitex or Agnus Castus The Arabians call them Quabebe and Quabebe chini but in Java where they grow plentifully enough and are there of so great account that it is said they boyle them in water before they part with them fearing they might be sowne and grow in some other place and use them much to stirre up Venery and to warme and strengthen the stomacke overcome with flegme or winde and doe purge the brest of thicke tough humours helpe the spleene dissolve wind and are very profitable for the cold griefes of the wombe being long chewed with Masticke they draw much flegme and rheume from the head and strengthen the braine or memory CHAP. XXVII Curcama Turmericke IT is very likely that Turmericke is Dioscorides his Cyperus Indicus which he saith hath a roote like Ginger giving a yellow colour like Saffron being bitter in taste and a present helpe to take away haire all which notes agree notably hereunto the roote being much liker to Ginger then unto any kinde of Cyperus and therefore we may marveile the more why Dioscorides should referre it to Cyperus unlesse he had understood of those that had seene it that it did grow like unto a Cyperus and is very yellow both within and without bitter in taste and may serve for the haire as it is specified although peradventure the force is halfe lost by the long carriage but this is not the Curcuma of Serapio or Avicen as Matthiolus hath well noted which is no other then the greater Celandine whose roote is yellow and therefore the Apothecaries in former times tooke it for Curcuma and put it into the composition called Diacurcuma Garcias and Christophorus a Costa call it Crocus Indicus and say that the Indians call it Alad and Manjale the Arabians Habet and Curcum the Turkes and Persians Saroth and Darsard that is lignum luteum it beareth larger and thinner leaves then Millet of a paler greene colour Curcuma Turmericke a stalke full of leaves compassing one another to the toppe the roote is slender and yellow neere unto the forme of Ginger nothing so bitter being fresh by reason of the moisture in it as when it is dry It is of great use with many for the yellow jaundise either the pouther or the decoction being taken for it doth open the obstructions of the gall and other parts it is of very good use in old and inveterate griefes and sickenesses and an evill disposition of the body called Cachexia and is very profitable against the dropsie it is much used to colour divers small workes of wood instead of Saffron the Indians use it much both to season and colour their meates and brothes because it is to be had better cheape than Saffron and as Garcias saith is put into those medicines are made for the eyes and for the itch if some juyce of Orrenges and the oyle of the Cocar or Indian nut be mixed with it CHAP. XXVIII Folium Indum sive Malabathrum Folium Indum or Indian leafe THat Dioscorides and the other Auncient writers had divers false relations of drugges and other things brought unto them which they have set downe in their writings may be well discerned by this called Malabathrum which they said as they were informed did grow in ponds and watery places swimming thereon as the Lens palustris Duckes meate doth for it is well knowne now and so set downe by Garcias ab Orta and other the later writers that they are the leaves of a great tree growing on land farre from waters in Cambaia as well as in divers other places of the East Indies and called Tamalapatra by them which by corruption was first changed into the Greekes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and then into Malabathrum but by the Arabians Cadagi Indi that is Folium Indum and Folium Indum sive Molabathrum Folium Indum or Indian leafe are faire broad leaves with three ribbes onely in them a little pointed at the ends which have beene brought unto us although very sparingly and among them some yet abiding on their branches two usually at a joynt tasting somewhat hot like unto Bay leaves the barke of the branches also tasting like unto them among these leaves likewise have beene found sometimes a small fruite like unto an Ackorne in the cup which it is most probable is the fruite of the tree and gathered with the leaves but hath beene formerly supposed by some to be the fruite of the Cinamon tree and by others obtruded for Carpobalsamum Some have taken these to be the leaves of the Clove tree but they are therein much deceived for they have not those three eminent ribs in them that these have which is a note to distinguish them from all other leaves almost but some more probably have taken the leaves of the tree called Betre or Tembul to be folium Indum because they have also some ribs in them as Marcus Oddo doth in his examination of Theriaca Andromachi but is also deceived for the Folium Indum is not familiarly eaten as the Tembul or